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Conscious plants!? Surely you jest!
By Frank Balsinger on July 3, 2019 • ( Leave a comment )
Nominal Science Editor at The Guardian opines thusly: Group of biologists tries to bury the idea that plants are conscious.
It’s a fascinating read. Enjoy it.
But…let’s have some fun with this.
Lincoln Taiz, front and center in the article, et al, is a biologist with a PhD who is taking issue with a small set of botanists who propose the apparently laughable idea that plants have consciousness. Now, Lincoln Taiz is apparently a well-respected professional in his field, and has several publications under his name. They’re all in plant biology. He’s even written a textbook on plant physiology. What we’re not supposed to notice is that he doesn’t have any kind of background at all in medicine, psychology, psychiatry, neurobiology, or even vertebrate biology. He’s had no apparent involvement at all in the interdisciplinary field of consciousness studies. What we might be looking at here is a classic case of Dunning-Kruger.
Sadly, the hypothesis he and his buddies are refuting so vigorously looks absurd. Yet the notion that it’s absurd begs the question that consciousness is somehow utterly dependent upon a particular kind of organ found only in particular kinds of living things, and only if with the right degree of something called complexity. That’s kind of like assuming that there’s no aliens because we’ve detected none who have advanced only as far as we have. I’m not suggesting the good doctor attempt to disprove a negative, but is it too much of a stretch to suggest that maybe, just as it’s too soon to say with any degree of certainty that there simply are no aliens, it’s possibly a bit premature to go throwing one’s misapplied weight around with definitive it cannot be’s in this context, either?
We have our sensorium, certainly more than five senses big, and detect the environmental cues most relevant to our safety and reproduction.
Plants, on the other hand, detect certain chemicals in the air, or in the soil, or in the water and, upon detection, proceed to start doing things quite a bit differently at a biochemical level that then changes the physical shape of various plant tissues at microscopic levels, which, from the outside, appears to us like volitional movement. We’re supposed to be unsurprised when we hear how much more sensitive a dog’s olfactory sense is compared to our own, but be aghast at the idea that plants might have an apparatus analogous to our olfactory sense when they principally “communicate” by chemicals in trace amounts transmitted through soil and air and water?
If you have the right combination of stimuli, probably some combination of physical stimuli in the form of light striking your retina and maybe the detection of specific trace chemicals in the air with your olfactory sense, possibly with a very specific ratio of all manner of proteins and enzymes and the like all secreted and circulated just so, you’re likely to experience a wide-spread change in the physical shapes of a great many of your own cells, specifically ones in muscle tissue, such that your articulated skeleton moves either toward (or away from) the stimulus in ways evolved over millions upon millions of years such that the body flexing its appendages about does so in ways generally conducive to survival and reproduction. And, after countless tiny little iterations of this cellular behavior, prompted by chemical signals and, for that matter, regulated by chemical signals, you finally reach your coffee mug and bring it (mostly flawlessly) to your mouth for a sip (with only a little waste).
Is that always volitional? How many times have you done just that without even realizing it? Good ol’ autopilot. Do you remember sleeping through the alarm clock the last time you overslept? Probably not, even if you remember waking up afterward. Were any of your movements while the alarm was going off volitional, even though likely prompted by an external stimulus?
Then of course, there’s simple instinct. Take the standard YouTube video of someone putting a snack in front of a sleeping dog’s nose. The nose starts going, and before the pooch even seems to be fully “conscious,” it’s nibbling at the snack and seems to “come to” gleefully, already about the business of enjoying a treat.
But plants? We’re supposed to think that’s absurd. I don’t know that it is, or that it isn’t. I’m not the doctor here, and I’m making no Dunning-Kruger-inspired prognostications beyond my expertise. I can, however, acknowledge that some scientists have a hypothesis that they’re testing. That’s science for you. Criticizing their methodology without first establishing that your own proposed criteria are of necessity the best, maybe even the only ones, well, that doesn’t strike me as science at all.
For that matter, even philosophically the question is begged that consciousness is itself the emergent property and not the other way around. How we could test that, I do not know.
What I think I know is that as an aspiring critical thinker, I’m supposed to weigh the quality of the evidence in front of me. I’m supposed to vet my sources. I’m supposed to take the evidence for the pro and the con and all points in between (and elsewhere) and consider them. If I’m faced with what appears to be a valid argument (possibly in form only), I’m supposed to make sure that the reasoning is also sound before I accept the conclusion.
I do know that I’m not a science editor.
So I hope you’ll pardon me if, in these anti-intellectual, anti-science times when science itself may be our best and last hope when it comes to existential crises, I take umbrage with a so-called science editor who unapologetically trots out an article like this present bit of pseudo-scientific twaddle as though it has any legitimacy.
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Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher acquitted. Are we getting the whole story?
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« Falling Skies Season Three Production Photo - First Look | Main | Catching Up With Amanda Tapping »
Sons Of Anarchy Live Chat w/Executive Producer Kurt Sutter
Sons of Anarchy kicks off its adrenaline-charged fifth season on Tuesday, September 11 at 10:00 PM ET/PT, but first…on September 11 at 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT, executive producer Kurt Sutter and the cast will sit down inside the SOA clubhouse for an exclusive chat on FXNetworks.com and webcasted across multiple platforms. Hosted by Russell Brand, the SOA Live Premiere Chat is a forum for both casual and super fans to get exclusive inside access to the fifth season of Sons of Anarchy. From rants and raves to discussion of where each episode is taking the show, the SOA Live Premiere Chat will get viewers amped for the episode premiering only one hour later.
The Live Premiere Chat will stream on FXNetworks.com, the official FX Facebook profile, official SOA Facebook profile and handheld IOS platforms, iPhone and iPad. The FX branded landing page and FX/Sons of Anarchy Facebook profiles will also embed the vendor’s chat module with the live chat, Twitter and Facebook discussion with the video feed.
Live Chat Time: 9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT
Sites, Partners and Platforms:
FXNetworks.com – http://www.fxnetworks.com/soa/livechat - Available for PC, Mac and iPad
Facebook: SOA official group page - https://www.facebook.com/SonsofAnarchy
Facebook – FX official group page - https://www.facebook.com/FX - Available for PC, Mac and iPad
Livestream.com - official streaming partner - http://www.livestream.com/sonsofanarchy/
For handheld devices including – iPhone and Android – http://m.livestream.com/sonsofanarchy - iPad and iPhones will only display the live chat and not archived content
After the chat, tune to FX at 10:00 PM ET/PT to see the season five premiere, Sovereign.
Tags: Drama, Entertainment, FX Network, Kurt Sutter, Sons of Anarchy, TV
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Gambling in Kiribati / Online gambling
Simon’s Guide to Gambling in Kiribati
Guide to Gambling in Kiribati
Kiribati, officially the Republic of Kiribati is an island nation located in the central Pacific Ocean. The country comprises of 33 atolls, reef islands, and a raised coral island, Banaba. Kiribati’s population is just over 100,000 citizens, half of them living in the Tarawa atoll. The country’s capital is Tarawa, which is an island in itself. Kiribati’s official languages are English and Gilbertese. The dominant religion is Christianity (Roman Catholic) due to the missionaries during the 19th century. The nation is not diverse ethnically as more than 98% of the population is Micronesian. Kiribati does not have a military, it relies on Australia and New Zeland for its defence. The Republic of Kiribati is one of the poorest countries in the world. Its economy relies heavily on foreign aid.
The first European ships arrived in the late 17th century. The territory became a British colony in the late 19th century as Gilbert and Ellice Islands. Kiribati, during World War II, got occupied by Japanese forces until 1943, when the US forces drove them out in one of the bloodiest battles in World War II, the Battle of Tarawa. After World War II, the country remained a British colony and was used by the British and the United States for nuclear weapons testing. The Gilbert Islands became independent as the Republic of Kiribati 1979. Since then, Kiribati gained membership in multiple organizations like the Commonwealth of Nations, the IMF, the World Bank, and the United Nations.
Gambling in Kiribati is legal and regulated since the Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1988.* However, there aren’t any lands based casinos currently operating on the islands. Online gambling is not yet regulated so the only option for players to play online is to visit an offshore online casino.
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*Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1988
Casino gambling in Kiribati
Bingo in Kiribati
Poker in Kiribati
Sports betting in Kiribati
Lottery in Kiribati
Bitcoin gambling in Kiribati
Online casino gambling in Kiribati: not regulated
Gambling became legal in Kiribati due to the Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1988. This act gives a legal background on how to conduct gambling in the country. However, there is not much information about casino gambling there, so it’s not clear whether it’s legal or not to operate one in Kiribati. On the other hand, games of chance like lotteries, bingo, and sports betting are completely legal if the operator meets the requirements. Online gambling is not yet regulated but players can enjoy all the popular casino games like poker, blackjack, and roulette for example in numerous offshore online casinos.
Online bingo in Kiribati: not regulated
Bingo is a quite popular game amongst players around the world, especially in the United States. Bingo is legal in Kiribati but unfortunately, there are no land-based bingo halls in the country at the moment. Online gambling is not yet regulated, so the only option for players from Kiribati to enjoy a good bingo game is to visit an offshore online casino. Numerous foreign online casinos accept players from Kiribati.
Online poker in Kiribati: not regulated
Poker is quite possibly the most popular casino game ever created. The main reasons behind its ever growing popularity are the constant television broadcasts, the regularly held world championships, and its competitive nature. Many would argue that poker requires more skill than luck but it still counts as a form of gambling. Although gambling is legal in Kiribati there aren’t any casinos in the country offering poker tables to players. Online gambling is not regulated yet, so the only way for players to enjoy a good poker game is to visit an offshore online casino.
Online sports betting in Kiribati: not regulated
Kiribati competes in the Commonwealth Games since 1988 and the Summer Olympics since 2004. In 2014, an I-Kiribati weightlifter won the gold medal in the Commonwealth games, the biggest success in the country’s sports history. Sports betting is one of the most popular forms of gambling in the world. Sports betting is legal in Kiribati if the bookmaker acquired the proper licences to operate. Online gambling is not yet regulated in the country, so the only option for players from Kiribati is to visit an offshore online casino.
Online lottery in Kiribati: not regulated
The lottery is arguably the most common form of gambling out there. It is safe to say that where gambling is legal there is a national lottery. The main governing body of the lottery in Kiribati was established in 1988 as the Kiribati National Lottery Board. However, there is little to no information online if there is a regularly drawn lottery or not as of now. Online gambling is not yet regulated so players from Kiribati “have” to visit an offshore online casino to play. Numerous foreign online casinos accept I-Kiribati players.
Bitcoin gambling in Kiribati: not regulated
Bitcoin is a digital currency often referred to as a “cryptocurrency” first introduced in 2008. It quickly became popular worldwide as an alternative mean of payment. Bitcoin gambling appeared shortly after the inception of the currency and continues to gain popularity as more and more online casinos started to specialize in it. Because Bitcoin is still a relatively new phenomenon only just a handful of countries issued laws concerning it. Some countries, like Norway or Lithuania, see Bitcoin as an asset rather than a currency. Bitcoin trades (due to the currency’s digital nature) mostly occur via the internet so technically Bitcoin gambling falls into the online gambling genre which is not regulated in Kiribati yet. As of now, there aren’t any specific laws in Kiribati concerning Bitcoin gambling or Bitcoin in general. Many offshore online casinos accept players from Kiribati.
This page is part of Simon’s List – Legal Status of Online Gambling – a definitive guide to the legal status of all forms of online gambling activities in every country around the world.
Last updated: 2016.02.02.
Simon's Guide to Gambling in Kiribati
An overview of gambling's legal status in Kiribati.
Gabor Nemeth
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Tag Archives: Eric Steig
A few answers regarding sea level rise
Because of the holidays, I did not get an immediate response from several climate experts I contacted following Nels Sultan’s comments about sea level rise in a blog post regarding “king tides.”
Earth at the winter solstice, Dec. 22, 2011 / NOAA photo
If you recall, Nels was making the point that the sea level in Seattle has been rising at a steady rate of .68 feet, or about 8 inches, per century since 1898, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
His post included this statement:
“There is no real basis for the claims that sea levels will rise by 2.6 feet or 7 feet, or more. Globally, sea level rise has NOT accelerated. As found and reported by many researchers who specialize in this, including the eminent professor Bob Dean and other coastal experts.”
As a reporter, I’m not inclined to shoot back a response. I’d rather discuss the issue with experts in the field. That is what I did, and I think I have a better handle on the issue.
What I’m hearing is that the original estimates by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change — a rise of between 7 inches and 2 feet by the end of the century — remain reasonable, but conservative given that they did not account for increased melting of the Greenland ice sheet. See this explanation by Stefan Rahmstorf soon after the release of the 2007 IPCC report. By the way, the range above accounts for the minimum and maximum across six climate-change scenarios.
Ever since, researchers have been trying to find ways to account for the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, but the uncertainties remain high. A widely cited paper by W.T. Pfeffer, J.T. Harper and S. O’Neel suggests that “most likely” starting point for further refinement is .8 meter, or 31 inches, of sea level rise by 2100.
In some ways, the authors of the Pfeffer paper were trying to limit some of the extremes being reported by others, so they concluded that sea level rise could not be more than 6 feet by 2100. Some folks have reported 6 feet as the top of the range, as unlikely as that extreme may be. Check out this explanation posed by Real Climate and this response by Pfeffer and his collaborators.
As for the Houston-Dean paper that Nels Sultan mentioned, those authors created “various problems” in their assumptions, according to Eric Steig, professor of Earth and Space Sciences at the University of Washington. One major problem was the starting date of 1930, as explained by Stefan Rahmstorf in Real Climate:
“Other start dates either before or after this minimum show positive acceleration. Picking 1930 for this analysis is thus a classic cherry-pick, and according to the authors that is no accident. They write in the paper: ‘Since the worldwide data of Church and White (2006)…appear to have a linear rise since around 1930, we analyzed the period 1930 to 2010.’ The interval was thus hand-picked to show a linear rise rather than acceleration.
“Houston & Dean use their result to question the future acceleration of sea level rise predicted by Vermeer & Rahmstorf (2009) for the 21st Century as a consequence of global warming. They argue that the 1930s acceleration minimum calls into question the semi-empirical link between global temperature and global sea level proposed by us in that paper. However, it is clear they never bothered to check this, because quite the opposite is the case: our semi-empirical formula predicts this acceleration minimum, as the graph above shows. As it turns out, this is an expected outcome of the mid-20th-Century plateau in global temperature.”
I also discussed this issue of sea level rise with Lara Whitely Binder, outreach specialist for the UW’s Climate Impacts Group. While sea level rise means one thing on the world scale, she told me, the local impacts can be quite different.
If you live in Neah Bay on the Olympic Peninsula, for example, you are not likely to see any sea level rise until at least 2080. That’s because the entire land mass is uplifting as a result of movement along the tectonic plates, and the uplift is predicted to be faster than sea level rise until late in the century.
On the other hand, Central and South Puget Sound may not be uplifting at all and could be sinking, which would intensify the effects of sea level rise. Areas built on fill, including portions of Olympia, also could be sinking as the fill settles, Lara said.
In addition to global rise in sea level and local tectonic shifts, factors affecting regional sea level rise include thermal expansion of ocean waters and changes in onshore and offshore wind patterns.
During El Niño events, sea level can rise as much as 12 inches for several months at a time. The Climate Impacts Group analyzed more than 30 scenarios from global climate models and concluded that the change in wind patterns as a result of climate change could decrease sea level by as much as 1 inch or possibly increase it by as much as 6 inches. Review the white paper “Sea Level Rise in the Coastal Waters of Washington State” (PDF 2.4 mb) for more details.
How much an individual property is affected by sea level rise depends on the slope of the beach. Given the same rate of rise, water will affect a house sooner when it is built on a gradually sloping beach as opposed to a steep slope. In any case, tides and weather will always play a major role in water levels.
Lara told me that a group of West Coast researchers is working on a new report about sea level for publication later this year by the National Academy of Sciences. I’ll try to review that paper when it comes out.
I wish to thank Eric Steig, Lara Whitely Binder, Cliff Mass, David Montgomery and Nate Mantua for responding to my inquiry.
January 4, 2012 Climate change, Education, Planning, Research, ShorelinesClimate change, Current sea level rise, Effects of global warming, Eric Steig, global warming, Greenland ice sheet, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Lara Whitely Binder, Oceanography, Sea level, Stefan Rahmstorf
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Tag Archives: Fiona Shaw
Birth of Fiona Shaw, Actress & Director
Fiona Mary Shaw, accomplished classical actress and theatre and opera director, is born in Farranree, County Cork on July 10, 1958. She is best known for her role as Petunia Dursley in the Harry Potter films and her role portraying Marnie Stonebrook in the HBO series True Blood.
Shaw attends secondary school at Scoil Mhuire in Cork. She receives her degree at University College Cork. She trains at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London and is part of a ‘new wave’ of actors to emerge from the Academy. She receives much acclaim as Julia in the Royal National Theatre production of Richard Sheridan‘s The Rivals (1983).
Shaw’s theatrical roles include Celia in As You Like It (1984), Madame de Volanges in Les Liaisons Dangereuses (1985), Katherine in The Taming of the Shrew (1987), Lady Franjul in The New Inn (1987), Young Woman in Machinal (1993), for which she wins the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress, Winnie in Happy Days (2007), and the title roles in Electra (1988), The Good Person of Sechuan (1989), Hedda Gabler (1991), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1998) and Medea (2000). She performs T. S. Eliot‘s poem The Waste Land as a one-person show at the Liberty Theatre in New York City to great acclaim in 1996, winning the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show for her performance.
Shaw plays Miss Morrison in the 1984 The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes episode “The Adventure of the Crooked Man” and Catherine Greenshaw in Agatha Christie’s Marple episode “Greenshaw’s Folly” in 2013.
Shaw notably plays the male lead in Richard II, directed by Deborah Warner in 1995. She has collaborated with Warner on a number of occasions, on both stage and screen. She has also worked in film and television, including My Left Foot (1989), Mountains of the Moon (1990), Three Men and a Little Lady (1990), Super Mario Bros. (1993), Undercover Blues (1993), Persuasion (1995), Jane Eyre (1996), The Butcher Boy (1997), The Avengers (1998), Gormenghast (2000), and five of the Harry Potter films in which she plays Harry Potter‘s aunt Petunia Dursley. She has a brief but key role in Brian DePalma‘s The Black Dahlia (2006).
In 2009, Shaw collaborates with Deborah Warner again, taking the lead role in Tony Kushner‘s translation of Bertolt Brecht‘s Mother Courage and Her Children. In a 2002 article for The Daily Telegraph, Rupert Christiansen describes their professional relationship as “surely one of the most richly creative partnerships in theatrical history.” Other collaborations between the two women include productions of Brecht’s The Good Woman of Szechuan and Henrik Ibsen‘s Hedda Gabler, the latter adapted for television.
Shaw appears in The Waste Land at Wilton’s Music Hall in January 2010 and in a Royal National Theatre revival of London Assurance in March 2010. In November 2010, She stars in Ibsen’s John Gabriel Borkman at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin alongside Alan Rickman and Lindsay Duncan. The play is also staged in New York’s Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2011.
Shaw appears in season four of American TV show True Blood. Her character, Marnie Stonebrook, has been described as an underachieving palm reader who is spiritually possessed by an actual witch. Her character leads a coven of necromancer witches who threaten the status quo in Bon Temps, erasing most of Eric Northman‘s memories and leaving him almost helpless when he tries to kill her and break up their coven.
In 2012, Shaw appears in the Royal National Theatre revival of Scenes from an Execution by Howard Barker.
The world’s largest solo theatre festival, United Solo Theatre Festival, recognizes her performance in The Testament of Mary on Broadway with the 2013 United Solo Special Award.
In 2018 Shaw begins portraying Carolyn Martens, head of the MI6 Russian Desk, in BBC America‘s Killing Eve, for which she wins the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Television Series. Later the same year, she plays a senior MI6 officer in Mrs. Wilson.
Categories: Arts & Music, Film, Radio, & Television, Irish History | Tags: Abbey Theatre, Agatha Christie's Marple, Alan Rickman, As You Like It, BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Television Series, BBC America, Bertolt Brecht, Brian DePalma, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Cork, County Cork, Deborah Warner, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show, Dublin, Electra, Eric Northman, Fiona Shaw, Gormenghast, Happy Days, Harry Potter, HBO, Hedda Gabler, Henrik Ibsen, Howard Barker, Jane Eyre, John Gabriel Borkman, Killing Eve, Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Liberty Theatre, Lindsay Duncan, London, London Assurance, Machinal, Medea, Mother Courage and Her Children, Mountains of the Moon, Mrs. Wilson, My Left Foot, Necromancy, New York City, Persuasion, Petunia Dursley, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, Richard II, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Royal National Theatre, Rupert Christiansen, Scenes from an Execution, Super Mario Bros., T.S. Eliot, The Adventure of the Crooked Man, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Avengers, The Black Dahlia, The Butcher Boy, The Daily Telegraph, The Good Person of Sechuan, The New Inn, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Rivals, The Taming of the Shrew, The Testament of Mary, The Waste Land, Three Men and a Little Lady, Tony Kushner, True Blood, Undercover Blues, United Solo Theatre Festival, University College Cork, Wilton's Music Hall | Permalink.
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England Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms
Explore thousands of Roman Catholic sacramental registers from the dioceses of Birmingham, Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Westminster in England. Baptism records will reveal your ancestor’s baptism date, the parish, parents’ names, and godparents’ names.
Baptism year
Browse Parish
Browse Diocese
Browse County
Mother's first name(s)
Father's first name(s)
Search England Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms
Learn more about these records
With every result, you will find an image of the original transcript from the diocese archive and a transcript of the pertinent details about your ancestor. The amount of information you find in each record can vary depending on the age of the record, its legibility, and the amount of information recorded by the parish priest at the time of the event. Within most transcripts, you will find the following facts:
Baptism date
Deanery
Archive reference
Records year range
Images may provide additional information about your ancestor such as the names of your ancestor’s godparents, the minister who performed the baptism, and residence. Some registers will even include notes about the individual’s marriage.
Earlier church records were written freehand in register books, but in later years, they were recorded formally in printed registers. Until the 1960s, Latin was the official language of the Catholic Church. Therefore, until that time, many official church records were recorded in Latin. Even the names of individuals were Latinized.
Common Latin words or phrases found on England Roman Catholic baptism records
Baptizandi - baptized
Cognomen - surname
Die - day
Domicilium - residence
Filia or Filius - daughter or son
Matrina fuit - godmother was
Mensis - month
Natus - birth
Patrinus fuit - godfather was
Sponsoribus - sponsors
This collection of Roman Catholic baptisms includes records from various Archdiocesan Archives in England, Findmypast is dedicated to adding further dioceses to this collection of Roman Catholic records. Records are available to view up to 1907. The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales placed a 110-year closure period on all sacramental records. Some of the parishes within these dioceses have retained their sacramental registers and are not included in the collection. Most of the sacramental registers date from the 19th century. Prior to 1918 most parishes were loosely organised into missions.
The Roman Catholic Church in England has a long and tumultuous history. From the years of the Reformation until the Catholic Relief Acts of the late 18th century, Catholics were persecuted and denied many privileges in English society. Members of the Roman Catholic Church were not allowed to attend universities, sit as Members of Parliament, purchase land, or even worship openly. However, these restrictions were not always enforced, and there are many examples of exceptions. In the late 18th century and early 19th century, Parliament began to pass a series of relief acts, which reversed their restrictions. In 1791, Catholic worship was legalised, and they were relieved of particular educational and political limitations. Prior to the legalisation of Catholic worship, Roman Catholic missions were often attached to foreign embassies for protection. For example, Our Lady of the Assumption & St Gregory of Warwick Street was traditionally under the protection of the Bavarian embassy.
Catholicism in England also celebrates a rich history of devotional and charitable works—from the legacies of Saints Thomas More, Thomas Becket, and Margaret Ward to the numerous educational institutions. The Catholic Church grew from the 19th century onwards, especially with the influx of immigrants from Ireland, Italy, and Ukraine.
Mother Margaret Mary Hallahan
Within the England Roman Catholic parish baptisms, you will find the baptism records for Margaret Hallahan, the foundress of the Dominican Sisters of Congregation of St Catherine of Siena. The religious order, which is still flourishing today, was dedicated to working within the community by nursing the sick and running an orphanage. Her baptism record tells us that Margarita Hallahan was born 23 January 1802 and baptised 27 January 1802. Her parents were Edmundi and Catherina. Her parents were poor Irish immigrants who died early in Margaret’s life. At the age of nine, Margaret became an orphan. Margaret Hallahan began her vocational work with factory girls under the guidance of soon-to-be Bishop Ullathorne.
Searching England Roman Catholic parish baptisms
Use the name variants option when searching for your ancestor in order to capture both the English and Latin versions of your ancestor’s name. For example, when searching for Edward, the name variant option will also search for the Latin translations Edwardi.
Begin your search with only your ancestor’s name and year. Then you can go back and edit your search if necessary.
England Roman Catholic parish marriages
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Westminster Roman Catholic census 1893
England Roman Catholic baptisms parish list
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Sea to Snow
Communications and consulting
For two decades, I’ve been exploring, analyzing, filming, and writing about the American West and beyond. When not at work, I love to bike, hike, ski, snowboard, and spend time in the great outdoors.
I’m director of the Water Desk, a water journalism initiative at the University of Colorado Boulder that focuses on Western water issues and the Colorado River.
From 1998 to 2006, I covered environmental and other issues for the Napa Valley Register, Tucson Citizen, Arizona Daily Star, and High Country News. I won awards for my deadline, feature, and explanatory writing, including two first prizes from the Arizona Associated Press Managing Editors for stories on water and border issues. My 2010 book, Endangered, grew out of a yearlong series I did on Arizona’s endangered species, which was a finalist for the John B. Oakes Award for Distinguished Environmental Journalism.
As a reporter, I got certified as a wildland firefighter by the Coronado National Forest, which allowed me to embed with crews battling some of the largest blazes in the Southwest’s recorded history. My coverage of the 2002 wildfires, including the 470,000-acre Rodeo-Chediski Fire, was honored in the Best of the West contest. In 2006, I was named one of eight fellows of the Alicia Patterson Foundation, sponsor of the nation’s oldest writing fellowship for journalists.
Before becoming a reporter, I worked for the Urban Institute in Washington; the Arizona League of Conservation Voters in Tucson; the National Parks Conservation Association in Oakland; and the Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley. I’ve also taught English in Ecuador and journalism at Pima Community College.
I worked for seven years at California Environmental Associates, a San Francisco-based firm that helps foundations and NGOs with strategic and business planning.
At CEA, I was a lead writer of the Design to Win report, which outlined an investment strategy for philanthropists interested in fighting global warming. Design to Win helped inspire the Hewlett, Packard, and McKnight foundations to commit more than $1 billion to create ClimateWorks, a global philanthropic network dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
I’m now the owner of Sea to Snow LLC, which provides communications and consulting services. My work currently focuses on water issues, non-profit journalism, philanthropy, climate change, and photo/video. I can only accept consulting assignments that don’t conflict with my journalism.
I grew up on Long Island, graduated from Yale with a bachelor’s in Ethics, Politics and Economics, and earned a master’s in political science from UC Berkeley. I now live in Denver, Colorado with my wife, daughter, and dog.
Please call 303-330-9487 or email to learn more about me and my business.
Mitch Tobin
Owner, Sea to Snow Consulting
© 2019 Sea to Snow LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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Home > Home > Putting Energy In Perspective
Putting Energy In Perspective
It’s not just the semiconductor industry that’s focused on saving power anymore. It’s now a global target. But even that isn’t enough.
November 22nd, 2013 - By: Ed Sperling
The resurgent interest in 2.5D stacked die, the introduction of ultra-low-power memory and the relentless focus on low power for the Internet of Things are rather predictable progressions to engineers working in the semiconductor industry. What’s less obvious is how these changes are filtering out into the rest of the market and where it needs to go next.
While many people have been talking about saving energy and reducing power, that effort is bearing fruit in ways that are much more obvious to many more people.
In automobiles, for example, most people are familiar with the Tesla, the Nissan Leaf and various other electric and mostly electric models such as the Volt. But behind the scenes, just as in the semiconductor world, there has been the same kind of debate and testing of power-train designs for improving energy efficiency as in the chip world. In the case of plug-in hybrids and turbo-diesels, the mileage numbers have been steadily rising. But just as with stacked die, new engine power train architectures have been under development for years. The announcement by Toyota that it has developed a car powered by a hydrogen fuel cell is the latest example of that, and Hyundai is poised to introduce one next year.
In the LED world, the price of energy-saving bulbs continues to drop to the point where entire displays have begun cropping up in places such as Home Depot and even neighborhood hardware stores. Two years ago, the price of an LED bulb made most people break out a calculator to figure out how long it would take for a payback. Now they’re flying off the shelves, with more big companies now jumping in alongside players such as Cree.
Even in home and portable electronics, there has been a focus on deep sleep cycles and rapid wake-up rather than light sleep, which is what got the set-top box industry in trouble with the National Resources Defense Council back in 2011. The majority of new cable boxes and TVs really really do go to sleep when they’re supposed to (which may be more than can be said for most people who work in the semiconductor industry).
Still, the big challenge going forward will be more than just powering down individual pieces. It’s great to see the focus on energy efficiency cropping up everywhere. But there also are more devices everywhere, and the real advantage of everything being connected is being able to power down many more pieces of the personal, business or even larger grids for longer periods of time. This is a massive challenge, and one that people are only starting to consider. But in energy, this isn’t just the next big thing. It’s the thing, and it needs to be recognized by all of the various pieces that feed into it.
Tags: Cree energy efficiency fuel cells National Resources Defense Council NRDC set-top boxes Toyota
Ed Sperling
(all posts)
Ed Sperling is the editor in chief of Semiconductor Engineering.
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Enabling Practical Processing in and near Memory for Data-Intensive Computing June 23, 2019 by Technical Paper Link
Copy-Row DRAM (CROW) : Substrate for Improving DRAM June 22, 2019 by Technical Paper Link
U.S. Senate Report On The Equifax Breach June 22, 2019 by Technical Paper Link
Machine Learning Based Prediction: Health Behavior on BP October 12, 2018 by Technical Paper Link
Autonomous Vehicle Navigation in Rural Environments without Detailed Prior Maps (MIT) May 15, 2018 by Technical Paper Link
Process Modeling Exploration for... Coventor
Wide Band Gap—The Revolution I... Applied Materials
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“A Hearty Welcome: Removing Hetero-sexism from our Church Culture”
I was invited to offer a workshop at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Oxford in Mississippi as part of their seeking to become designated by our denomination as a Welcoming Congregation. In talking with the leadership in what had been covered, it became apparent that there was a need to discuss heterosexism. My process in putting this workshop together included exploring what our Unitarian Universalist Association had in their resources on their website. To my surprise while the website ( http://www.uua.org/re/youth/identity-based/queer/47416.shtml) acknowledged the word heterosexism there was very little on the website in terms of resources on heterosexism. And so began my journey to find what exactly was out there. So what follows here are some resources I found and some of the things that I used or created in putting together a workshop on heterosexism.
I began the workshop with passing out a Heterosexism Scale. It was not a perfect scale because some of the questions assumed the person taking the test was heterosexual. But taken as a tease to begin the thinking process and used as a personal self awareness of how pervasive heterosexism is, this test was effective. I did not ask for participants to share their scores as that was for them, but I did ask for participants to share if they were surprised by anything that was on the test. Discussion was good and it served to set the tone for the journey we were beginning. I purposely had the test be the first piece of the workshop before doing any icebreaker because I wanted people to have a sense of where they may be regarding heterosexism. Source: Heterosexism Scale created by Celeste Bowman, CASAC of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services in New York State
I followed this with an icebreaker asking for their name and one thing taught as a child about gender roles. For example I was taught that boys do not cry. I purposely had the icebreaker follow the test because I wanted people to have a sense of where they may be regarding heterosexism.
Then I introduced two definitions:
Homophobia v Heterosexism
Homophobia: The American Heritage Dictionary (1992 edition) defines homophobia as “aversion to gay or homosexual people or their lifestyle or culture” and “behavior or an act based on this aversion.” Other definitions identify homophobia as an irrational fear of homosexuality
Heterosexism: The system of oppression of persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender based on homophobia/ transphobia. It includes these three components:
The assumption that all people are heterosexual.
Prejudice and discrimination against persons who are LGBTIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Asexual) based on the assumption that heterosexuality is the only “normal” sexual orientation and therefore preferable.
Systemic display of homophobia in societal institutions, laws, and policies by excluding the needs, concerns, and life experiences of persons who are LGBTIA.
Examples of Heterosexism:
Assuming that everyone you meet is heterosexual.
Assuming that everyone has or is interested in having an opposite-sex partner.
Assuming that all mothers and fathers are heterosexual.
Assuming all sexually active women use birth control.
Assuming that all unmarried people are “single,” while in reality they may have a same-sex partner.
Assuming all children live in families with a male-female couple in parental roles.
Using language that presumes heterosexuality in others, such as husband or wife, instead of gender neutral language such as partner.
Using official forms which allow only for designation as married or single.
Denying equal employment benefits to people with same-sex partners (i.e. spousal insurance).
Omitting any discussion of persons who are LGBTIA as part of educational curricula.
This definition and examples comes from the Safe Zone training manual at Duke University.
I handed out a more detailed sheet on heterosexism that gives examples in several categories: Family, Education, Healthcare, Workplace, Legal System, and Media. This handout was adapted from two sources:
Adapted from © Teaching for Diversity and Social Justice, Second Edition, Routledge, 2007 AND James Madison University in Virginia
We discussed the legal aspects of heterosexism and pointed out that while the US Supreme Court ruling on Lawrence v. Texas in 2003 struck down sodomy laws it did not remove sodomy laws in many states. For example Mississippi’s law is still on the books and is unenforceable as it pertains to homosexual behavior but it is still considered criminal behavior.
The legislation is MS 97-29-59. Unnatural intercourse
Every person who shall be convicted of the detestable and abominable crime against nature committed with mankind or with a beast, shall be punished by imprisonment in the penitentiary for a term of not more than ten years.
Because this law is still on the books the law can and will influence other laws and interpretations. “Mississippi sexuality education law dictates that if homosexuality is taught, it must be presented as ‘unnatural and dangerous’ and be discussed within the context of Mississippi’s law outlawing sodomy.”
Source: http://www.abstinenceworks.org
It also influences Judges decisions in custody cases. “A Mississippi court used the state’s sodomy law to justify denying custody of a boy to his gay father, despite the fact that the court also found that the father would provide better care because the boy’s stepfather was physically abusive to his mother.” http://www.thetaskforce.org/issues/nondiscrimination/sodomy
This example shows how heterosexism is institutionalized. My use of the example of Mississippi was because I was talking to a congregation in Mississippi. However, there are some 13 states where Sodomy was struck down by the Lawrence v Texas US Supreme Court case but the laws were not repealed which means they are still on the books and still influences the writing and enforcing of other laws pertaining to Sexual Minorities. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodomy_laws_in_the_United_States
For example in Alabama, where I am currently living, former (now re-instated) state Chief Justice Roy Moore denied a lesbian mother custody of her child based on the state’s sodomy law stating, “Common law designates homosexuality as an inherent evil, and if a person openly engages in such a practice, that fact alone would render him or her an unfit parent.” Moore also wrote approvingly of the state’s right to imprison or even execute homosexuals.
I introduced an exercise that was created for college students. The exercise has more to do with gender roles but I used this exercise to not only discuss gender roles but also to discuss the history of pink and blue being designated for specific genders and used this exercise to also introduce microaggressions.
A June 1918 article from the trade publication Earnshaw’s Infants’ Department said,
“The generally accepted rule is pink for the boys, and blue for the girls. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl.”
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/When-Did-Girls-Start-Wearing-Pink.html
This led to an important discussion on how capitalism markets heterosexism and gender differences. It was in the 1940’s when pink was re-classified for girls and blue for boys. And I pointed out that photos of boys in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s had them wearing white dresses and long locks of hair. These were considered gender neutral clothing for ease of diaper changes and cleaning. it wasn’t until a boy was about 6 years old that his hair was cut short and he wore knickers. Keep in mind the changes that were occurring in the world after World War I, Freud was arguing for heterosexual expressions of sex for pleasure instead of being for procreation only and denouncing homosexual expressions as effeminate and deviant. Factories were once again booming and needed to find ways to sell their wares. Suffragists were fighting for women’s right to vote. Lots of changes were taking place that were causing a divide between what was feminine and what was masculine behavior in ways that were not brought to the surface before.
Exercise: Straight sculptures 20 minutes
Ask for two volunteers to come to the front of the room. One volunteer will play a 10-year old girl, the other a 10-year-old boy. Distribute pink and blue sticky note labels to the rest of the participants. Instruct the rest of the group that they are now responsible for “training” the children to act in their appropriate gender roles, and especially to handle themselves so that they will never be suspected of being lesbian (the girl) or gay (the boy). Students can act the part of older brothers/sisters, parents, coaches, teachers, and so forth. The task is for the male students to write their instructions on post-it paper for the “boy,” and for the female students to do so for the “girl.” When they have prepared their paper, they take turns, one at a time, in affixing their notes to the appropriate character’s arms, sleeves, or shoulders, explaining the instruction in the tone of voice appropriate to the part they’re playing (“parental voice” for parent, for example).
Instructions can include any of the following, and other things participants can think of:
• Colors of clothing you wear
• Type of clothing you wear
• Hair color/arrangement you choose
• How to sit in a chair
• How to walk
• Voice you use to talk
• Things you talk about
• Jewelry you wear
• Appropriate athletic activities
• Appropriate subjects to do well in
• Kind of car to be seen driving
• Appropriate jobs/careers to train for
• How you greet other people of your gender
• How you show affection to other people of your gender
Have participants complete the exercise. Then, have each of the two volunteers take turns walking into the room, pulling up a chair, sitting down, and saying hello to the class, doing their best to enact and obey all of the instructions that have been attached to them. Encourage them to have fun, exaggerating their roles if they wish.
At the close of their performance, stop the action and have each actor say how it felt to act out this role—funny, odd, uncomfortable, “normal,” &c.
Have everyone applaud the actors. Have participants break into mixed-gender triads or groups of four. Have participants take turns answering the following questions:
• What ways do I act or dress, or avoid acting or dressing, in order to keep from being called “gay,” “fag,” “butch,” or any other names that might identify me, even in fun, as lesbian or gay?
• What ways am I limited, or what does it cost me, to have to do these actions?
Return everyone’s attention to the full group. Have a few share what they notice in their own experience regarding these questions: what does it cost participants to protect themselves from being identified as gay/lesbian? What is the fear about being so identified? Who are they most likely to be afraid of? Remind participants to speak for themselves, not referring to what other people in their small group said.
This exercise worked well over all. Because most of the participants were older than the exercise was originally designed, the discussion questions did not take well because most of the participants were no longer concerned about being called gay or queer. But this exercise did bring up the topic of peer pressure their children are feeling in schools to conform to heterosexist rules and how they might encourage their children to be who they are.
Telling the two volunteers how to act in this exercise is an example of being microaggressive. So the other benefit of this exercise was to introduce the notion of microaggressions.
“Micro-aggressions are the brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral, and environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial, gender, sexual orientation, and religious slights and insults to the target person or group.” (Microaggressions in Every Day Life: Race, Gender and Sexual Orientation by Derald Wing Sue)
I gave additional examples from the website microaggressions.com
“Oh, you’re dressing like a lady today. You should keep that up. You make a much better girl.”Nurse where I work to me, a 22 year-old who identifies as male. Makes me embarrassed about my body, afraid, sad.
“LGBT people are six times more likely to attempt suicide than normal people.” A lecture on suicide prevention at UCLA.
“Of course I love you, I just prefer the straight part of you to the gay part.” My ex-girlfriend after telling her I’m bisexual.
“My mom says she is okay with my sexuality but doesn’t want me to tell anyone else in case I change my mind”. Age: 16
“Stop acting like a princess! You’re acting like a princess!! Ooh… little princess… boo hoo.”Parents talking to their crying, four-year-old son.
“Oh my god! Will you be my new gay best friend? We can go shopping for clothes!” A straight, female coworker to me upon learning that I, a male, had a boyfriend. I said, “No” and walked away, confused. I don’t have any interest in shopping or clothing, much less being a “gay best friend.” It makes me angry that just by coming out, I can instantly be transformed into a romantic comedy stock character even when someone had seen me as a real person prior to knowing that I’m gay.
“Bisexual people don’t exist. Gay people just say that so they can walk down the hall with a girl holding hands.” Kurt on Glee, a seemingly gay friendly show. Made me feel TIRED.
Group Discussion: We have been discussing the effects of heterosexism on LGBT people, but what are the effects on Heterosexuals? Martin Luther King said something along the lines of when one group is oppressed we are all oppressed. How does heterosexism oppress heterosexuals?
I had the group discuss this for a bit and then closed the discussion with some quotes from this resource on the topic, especially highlighting those not mentioned.
Detrimental Effects of Heterosexism & Homophobia on Heterosexual People
Taken from Diversity Works, Pelham, MA
“We often think only of how heterosexism and homophobia are hurting LGBT people. However, this oppression also limits and harms members of the dominant group, heterosexuals. The most effective heterosexual allies have recognized that it is in their own self-interests to interrupt heterosexism and homophobia.
Limited cultural exposure perpetuates myth and mystery about LGBT persons.
Lack of information causes heterosexuals to live with a false, distorted reality.
Codes of behavior determined by homophobia impose rigid patterns of interaction and relationship among heterosexuals.
Close friendships between men and between women are limited by fears and not valued as highly as cross gender relationships.
Deep love, support, and nurturing is assumed to be available only from the other sex.
Contact between women and men is always sexualized. Other forms of friendship and intimacy are not recognized as options.
Heterosexuals consciously and unconsciously modify and restrict their own self-expression to avoid being targeted as gay or lesbian.
Behaviors that do not conform to traditional gender roles are suspect.
The full range of individuality is squelched.
Contact with lesbian, gay, and bisexual people is avoided, depriving us of their friendship, the appreciation of LGBT people, and the dispelling of our socialized ignorance.
We are kept ignorant about friends and family members who may not be out as an LGBT person. Distance and fear are maintained in these relationships.
Fully appreciating and loving our own bodies is limited by our socialized fears of homosexuality.”
We also discussed in detail What is Heterosexual privilege?
Privilege is the overall unearned advantages and rights that systematically empower certain groups over others. Heterosexual privileges are the benefits gained automatically by being heterosexual that are denied to homosexuals. It can also be the benefits an LGBT person gains by claiming heterosexual identity and denying homosexual / transgender identity.
We closed the workshop with the beginnings of what we can do next specifically as a congregation. I posed this as a group discussion:
Group Discussion: How can I contribute to a Homophobia/Heterosexism free environment? What would we need to do as a congregation to create a heterosexism free environment?
The workshop participants discussed this by also including what they are currently doing that helps create a heterosexism free environment. Such as the two bathrooms in their building are not gender designated but open to all.
I used the following to highlight areas that might not have been mentioned:
· Be non-judgmental. Sexual orientation and gender identity is not something to be judgmental of or ashamed about. Be supportive and open to listen to friends no matter what their sexual orientation or gender identity.
· Remember that it is not possible to assume someone’s sexual orientation based on what you perceive it to be. Assuming that everyone is heterosexual “unless you know otherwise” or assuming someone who is “acting gay” is homosexual puts people into specific roles that create certain stereotypes about people. It can be hurtful to assume one’s sexual orientation.
· Engage in inclusive practices. Create work, study and living environments in which gender and sexual diversity are included, modeled and valued.
· Be mindful of the language you use with others. One of the main ways heterosexism thrives is through language. Saying things such as “that shirt is gay” or “that guy throws like a girl” could be offensive to others. Use words that are gender inclusive like partner instead of wife, boyfriend, etc.
Speak up against teasing, harassing, slurs, comments that you witness against those who do not fit in with gender roles or heterosexual characteristics. Silence condones and encourages such behaviors.
· Educate yourself. If there are things you don’t know or understand about LGBQ issues, do some research, ask questions or contact a group that deals with these issues.
Source: GenEq is a department within Campus Life & Leadership, http://cll.berkeley.edu Last updated 02/06/2008
The workshop went well. People seemed energized by the discussions and empowered to begin to ensure a heterosexist free environment. If you would like me to present this workshop to your congregation please feel free to contact me. It will be an evolving piece of work. It was clear that this was only the beginning of a deeper and broader conversation to be had within this congregation. Blessings,
Tags: heterosexism, homophobia, Microaggressions, Unitarian Universalism, Welcoming Congregations, workshop
We Must Change
Last Sunday, I gave what was perhaps the most emotional sermon ever as I reflected, as did many throughout America, on the events that occurred in Sandy Hook. My personal connections to the community made it all the harder for me to function in the hours and days after the event.
I have read many perspectives over the last few days and have come to the conclusion that the recent events in Clackamas, OR and Sandy Hook, CT have more to do with our love for violence than it does with guns. Guns are only a small piece of the puzzle.
There are folks who believe that banning assault rifles is the solution. I agree that assault rifles have no purpose except for killing mass numbers of people. However, banning weapons will not prevent murders from weapons any more than banning abortions would prevent terminating pregnancies or banning cocaine and crack would prevent drug addiction. The only outcome of outlawing weapons, abortions, crack/cocaine is force these underground giving organized crime syndicates another market to exploit. Plus the number of deaths annually by assault rifles is small compared to the number of deaths by all firearms, whether those deaths are homicides, suicides, or accidental. So a ban on assault rifles only covers a small dent in the overall issue of gun violence, just as gun violence is a small piece of the over all issue of violence. It might seem a victory for gun control advocates but it does not address the problem. It is comparable to swatting at a fly when a tiger is on the prowl.
That tiger is violence in American culture. We have a love affair with violence. John Lennon is quoted as saying “We live in a world where we have to hide to make love, while violence is practiced in broad daylight.”
We begin early in our lives to enculturate our children to violence. When I was young it was watching Tom and Jerry Cartoons and The Three Stooges. We would laugh at their antics but the underlying theme was violence. Today the children are given video games of World of Warcraft and Call of Duty and the Halo series. The animations are increasingly lifelike. One of the purposes of games in any culture is to teach various skills that will enable the player to survive in that culture. Games like Candy Land or Shoots and Ladders teach young children how to cooperate with one another, Chess teaches strategic thinking, and World of Warcraft, Halo? They teach how to become immune to the horrors of war and death. They teach how to be callous in the face of violence–both in the receiving of it and in the perpetrating of it.
I am not going to join the chorus that is trying to blame video games on the recent shooting in Sandy Hook. The factors that led this young man to commit these heinous actions are far too complex to simply point to one factor as the scape goat. That said, our culture’s willingness to lift up these games as desirable products for children and adults is a symptom of this nation’s pathology. It is an indication that our culture is mentally ill when violence is glorified as entertainment. It makes our culture no different than the Roman Empire when people were thrown to the lions and gladiators for sport. We look at that ancient empire and think how barbaric yet our actions are no less barbaric.
We further enculturate our children to violence when we teach our children that it is acceptable to be violent towards women. The recent misogynist statements by our elected officials that rape is only legitimate if no pregnancy occurs or that god (small g deliberately used) ordained the rape for purposes of pregnancy is part of this normative approach to violence in our culture. How many times are our young teens told that when a partner says ‘no’ to sex, that they do not really mean ‘no’? Or that if a woman does not resist sexual advances that she therefore wanted the sex? Unwanted sexual advances are violent and our culture lifts this up as acceptable behavior unless the behaviors become brutal and leaves outward visible marks. Then we might prosecute but what always comes up is that the woman dressed in a manner to invite such advances. Resulting in all bets are off and the violent act is once again seen as acceptable. Violence against others in any form is never acceptable behavior is the message we need to be sending.
We honor and lift up spiritual violence as a normative in our culture as well. Our churches preach that homosexuals deserve death because that is what one of the six verses in the Bible state. The fact that the same Bible says the same for working on the sabbath is over looked (Exodus 35:2). We do spiritual violence to our gay, transgender, and intersex children when we spout such violence from the pulpit. Yet we abhor the actions of Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church, not because they are saying anything differently than most conservative congregations in America but because they are are putting into action the words that our ministers have stated from the pulpit. So spiritual violence is fine but acting on that spiritual violence by making it also physical violence, not fine. We are a very sick and demented culture. Those preachers who preach spiritual violence against sexual minorities are the same as Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church–a matter of degrees in action does not make it acceptable nor moral.
Our theology is even steeped in violence. The whole idea of a savior needing to be brutally tortured and killed for our sins reveals a god that is equally violent and non-loving. That is not the good news, that is the violent news. The good news message of Jesus is not found in his brutal death but rather in his life, the love and compassion he showed, the belief or rather trust he held that each of us have the potential to reveal the realm of love. His death, as Gracie Allen might say, is the comma not the period.
Spiritual violence against another person is not appropriate behavior. Words cut just as deep into the heart as a knife does and can shape that young person into being violent, not only against others but destructive against their own being as well. It is well documented that the most virulent homophobic person is one that struggles with their own sexual orientation. The result is they project violently all the self hatred and self-rejection they have out into the world. We need to learn how to love our neighbor as ourselves. Spewing hatred and violence towards others means we neither love our neighbors nor ourselves.
The events in Clackamas, OR and Sandy Hook, CT are horrifying. I hope that we will not only look to substantive legislation like stricter controls on gun registration, not only those sold new but those sold used, just as we do with car registrations. Stricter regulations on requiring gun safety courses for all gun users and locking guns away securely when not in use. But if that is all that we do, then we are doing ourselves a disservice. We also need to change our desire to fantasize being violent, acted out through our video games. We need to correct our theology so it reveals a loving God who wept over his son’s death (the sun went dark and the earth quaked) and not gloried in his son’s violent death. We need to examine how insurance companies handle mental health issues–having a limited maximum number of sessions or day stays in a hospital is not helpful for people who are psychically hurting. We need to learn how to solve our problems with rationality and not with violent words and fighting. We need to learn how to treat each other with respect, how to respect and honor each other.
In short, we need to create a new culture here in the United States. A culture of love and equanimity. A culture of humility. A culture where non-violence is lifted up and valued. This is more than just a few feel good legislative bills proposed and passed but in such a water down version so the legislation is impotent. We need to change our heart. We must change or we will self-destruct in our psychosis as a nation.
on December 20, 2012 at 2:45 pm Comments (1)
Tags: American culture, Clackamas OR, Gun Control, homophobia, Rape, Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting, Spiritual violence, theology, Unitarian Universalism, violence, violence agaist women, Violent video games
Throwing the First Stone
10 October 2010 © Rev. Fred L Hammond
Unitarian Universalist Congregation Tuscaloosa
There once was a young boy who dreaded going to school. Oh he was bright enough. And he liked the subjects well enough. But he did not like getting on the school bus because even though there were plenty of seats, he had to fight to get one. The bus driver would yell at him for not sitting down immediately, oblivious to the fact that the other students on the bus would refuse to let him sit. And then when he arrived at school, he always had his books knocked out from under his arms. This was before back packs were allowed in school. He was told he carried them like a girl. When he tried to carry them in the more manly fashion at his hip, they would be knocked from his arms. The books would scatter to the floor and then others would gleefully kick the books down the hall. He would be late for class trying to retrieve them. The teachers would then send him to the principal for being late. No amount of explaining what happened would make a difference. It was his fault that he was late for class yet again.
Sometimes he would just be shoved in the hall way. Once could be considered an accident, perhaps, but five or six shoves in a row by the other boys passing by was a deliberate act. It was thought funny by the girls. Sometimes the shoving and knocking the books to the floor were combined. One would shove, another knock, and a few more would kick the books down the hall.
And there would be the threats of violence after school let out. He somehow managed to slip through the crowd to avoid those encounters, even when he planned to hang out in town instead of catching the bus home.
He tried to man up. He tried to be tough. He tried to let the name calling and the physical affronts to his person roll off his back. But he could not. He knew crying would confirm in everyone’s mind that he was indeed what they called him; a faggot, a sissy, a homo, those were the names used then. He didn’t want to live anymore, not like this.
One day after enduring what seemed like a continuous onslaught of bullying; he entered his next class and sat sideways at his desk. He was numb. His whole body just vibrated numbness. His teacher asked him to turn around in his seat. There was no response. His teacher asked him again, and then, the tears began to fall. The young boy just began sobbing full body sobs.
The teacher took him outside of the classroom and talked with him. Found out what had been happening. The guidance counselor came and also listened to his story. The guidance counselor gave a stern lecture to his classmates about their behaviors. Told them in no uncertain terms that their treating of this young boy was wrong and they must stop this behavior or suffer the consequences of what could happen to this young boy which would be on their conscience forever. They would be held responsible.
Life got better for this young boy after that. Oh he still got the verbal taunts but it was nothing compared to the daily emotional and physical torment that he received that year.
The media has highlighted several suicides of young people this past month as a result of bullying. Whether it was verbal taunts, physical assaults, or cyber-bullying, the results were the same, the ending of a young person’s life. These young people were either gay or thought to be gay by their peers. Their life was driven into the ground and their possibility and the hope for shining their light brightly in the world was snuffed out.
It is difficult to know how many teens commit suicide because of homophobia. The once touted 3 in 10 deaths is now considered to be grossly overestimated and it is now thought that the deaths of sexual minorities is no greater than in any other demographic. But this does not diminish the seriousness or the grief these families are suffering because of the loss of their children.
And the young people that we heard about in the news do not comprise every teen that committed suicide this past month or even this past week, only those we heard about. According to a U.S. Suicide Statistics of 2001, a young adult between the ages 15-24 ends their life every 2 hours and 12 minutes. So that means we only heard of a very few of the young people who died this past month at their own hands out of the roughly eleven young people who died every day. The numbers add up quickly and these are only statistics on the completed suicides, not the incompleted attempts of suicide. It is the third leading cause of death in this age group after accidents and homicides. It is the 5th leading cause of death in children age 5-14.
Gay, Lesbian Straight Educators Network (GLSEN) has been conducting an annual survey[1] of high school students since 1999 on bullying as it relates to sexual orientation. Here are a few findings from 2009’s survey: 84.6% of LGBT students reported being verbally harassed, 40.1% reported being physically harassed and 18.8% reported being physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.
Being out in school had positive and negative repercussions for LGBT students – outness was related to higher levels of victimization, but also higher levels of psychological well-being.
On October 1 2009, a new law went into effect in Alabama mandating all schools to have an anti-bullying policy. It is basically a good law but there are few flaws. It is only aimed at student to student bullying and did not include harassment from authority figures such as teachers or coaches. It defines bullying as an ongoing pattern by an individual and it requires the victim of the bullying or their parent to fill out a written form to report the bullying. A onetime bullying event or an oral report is not sufficient to bring actions against the bully-er. Yet, as we know in the recent suicide of Tyler Clementi, a onetime event on the internet is all it might take. The law did not specify any specific class for protection. Focus on the Family attempted to make the case that Alabama’s anti-bully legislation would open the door for gay activists to seek special protections.
Our school district in Tuscaloosa already had a fairly comprehensive bullying policy in place which did include sexual orientation as part of its policy. The law now reinforces their policy. A recent news story states that Tuscaloosa is considering broadening their policy to jurisdictions beyond school property such as “when a student interferes with another student’s educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the operations of a school or school-sponsored activity.[2]” This would include cyberbullying through an electronic device such as the internet and sexting, the sending of explicit photographs and texts through a cell phone.
Tuscaloosa would become the first school system in Alabama to have a broad jurisdiction policy on bullying. It is certainly a step in the right direction. GLSEN affirms this action as being a positive step. Their report confirms that “Students attending schools with an anti-bullying policy that included protections based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression heard fewer homophobic remarks, experienced lower levels of victimization related to their sexual orientation, were more likely to report that staff intervened when hearing homophobic remarks and were more likely to report incidents of harassment and assault to school staff than students at schools with a general policy or no policy.[3]”
There are other positive actions that could be done to reduce bullying behavior as it relates to sexual orientation and gender expression. GLSEN stated that schools with Gay-Straight alliances increased the positive experiences sexual minority students had and reduced the reports of negative experiences. Having safe zones and supportive teachers “contributed to a range of positive indicators including fewer reports of missing school, fewer reports of feeling unsafe, greater academic achievement, higher educational aspirations and a greater sense of school belonging.[4]”
There are currently no gay straight alliances in our public high schools. University of Alabama has two student groups, Spectrum and OUTlaw, as well as a faculty/ staff group on campus. So where are students in high school to go where they will be accepted for who they are and not fear being bullied? –Where they will be encouraged to explore the light that is the essence of their being and nurtured to allow that light to shine bright?
I will let those questions sit for a moment. I want to shift our attention to why this is a concern for us today. What is it about bullying, and why is bullying sexual minority youth so important for us to examine and to end it? The reason is not just because a few individuals commit suicide, albeit a very sound reason indeed. There is something else at work in bullying sexual minority youth and suicides are just one of the consequences of this behavior.
Iris Marion Young in her essay Five Faces of Oppression looks at oppression not in the traditional format of a few people in power oppressing the masses as in tyrannical forms of government but as a form of systems that are in place to maintain dominant culture. She describes oppression as being structural. There are embedded in the dominant culture “unquestioned norms, habits, and symbols, in the assumptions underlying institutional rules and the collective consequences of following those rules.[5]”
So while the intent is good to pass anti-bullying legislation or passing laws protecting rights of sexual minorities for housing, employment, etc., the assumptions of what is normal behavior remains operative in the culture. Those who affirm the dominant culture resent what they see as the deteriorating of their traditional values and norms with the passage of such laws.
While all of the five faces of oppression, Young describes also apply to homophobia and bullying on some level, there are two that I want to highlight specifically. She describes what she calls Cultural Imperialism which is the universalization of a dominant group’s experience and culture. This becomes considered as the norm and therefore the norm for all of humanity. So in America, up until very recently, one did not see positive images of gays on television. If gays were viewed on television or in the movies it was in negative, often stereotypical images. It was the gay man dying of AIDS. It was the flamboyant gay who everyone could laugh at. It was the manipulative and weak-spirited Mr. Smith on Lost in Space who preyed upon unsuspecting young Will Robinson and therefore had to be under constant surveillance. These images sent very strong messages of what gays deserved, of what manhood was, and the dangers to our children. They each deserved what they got.
Young writes, “The dominant group reinforces its position by bringing the other groups under the measure of the dominant norms.[6]” These groups become reconstructed as deviant and inferior and as the other. The stereotype becomes the known example of these other groups. Those who do not fit that stereotype are rendered invisible. Young writes, “Just as everyone knows that the earth goes around the sun, so everyone knows that gays are promiscuous…[7]”
We see these assumptions in operation when Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church declares that “God hates Fags” or when the Family Research Council declares “… that homosexuality is unhealthy, immoral and destructive to individuals, families and societies.[8]“ Those who are members of the groups targeted even if they refuse these stereotype values and desire “recognition as human, capable of activity, full of hope and possibility;[9]” they must react to the dominant culture’s perception of them as different, inferior, and immoral. The further they are from the stereotype the more invisible they become because the dominant culture only sees the stereotype and not the person before them. It is assumed that they meet the stereotype even when they do not. The dominant culture does not recognize that they have a perspective on the culture that is based on their status within the culture. Simone Weil said, “Someone who does not see a pane of glass does not know that he does not see it. Someone who, being placed differently, does see it, does not know the other does not see it.[10]”
The dominant culture does not see the pane of glass through which their world view is shaped and altered. It then is up to those who are placed differently and do see the pain of glass to point it out and demand that it be recognized as such—a perspective and not a universal truth.
Cultural Imperialism feeds into another face of oppression which is systemic violence. Groups which are oppressed live with the reality that they “must fear random, unprovoked acts on their persons or property, which have no motive but to damage, humiliate, or destroy the person.[11]”
Taken on its face, no one, not even Focus on the Family, which advocated not passing the Alabama anti-bullying bill, believes bullying behavior is good. Their stance against the law was purely on the basis that it might condone or encourage sexual minorities to come further out of the closet. Bullying then becomes one method to send a clear message to sexual minorities that they are not to be seen as a valued contributing member of the society. Those caught in bullying might only receive light punishment and to that extent the acts are acceptable behaviors. Bullying is therefore on some level viewed as an acceptable behavior in society because it serves the function of maintaining the dominant culture’s control.
The work that must be done to bring bullying to an end is on the cultural level. It will take diligent and persistent messaging into the main culture stream to change what is considered boys simply being boys. This is more than passing laws and school policies against bullying. In order to change the culture, positive interactions on the relational level with the perceived other must become the norm. Our work for justice lies in the vigilant vanguard position of overt acceptance of different perspectives, different cultural norms across all avenues of being human. This includes sexual orientation, gender expression, racial and ethnic, and class differences—all must be in our sights for radical acceptance in order to change the cultural norm of oppression.
To bring this back to the question asked earlier. Where are students in highschool to go where they will be nurtured and encouraged to explore the light that is the essence of their being? Our youth group which meets every Sunday is one place where gay teens are welcomed. Because there does not exist a gay straight alliance in schools, our youth group becomes one of the places where gay, and lesbian, transgender, bi, questioning, and intersexed teens are free to gather to ask the questions they need to ask and relax in who they are.
Many of the teens who attend the youth group are not from families from this congregation. And so this youth group becomes our congregation’s calling card into the community. We need to do all we can to support them in their journey. We must listen to their experiences, honor their integrity, and show unconditional love for their dignity as people here with us.
A few weeks ago, our teens offered a worship service that was poignant and moving. They could only have done that particular service if they knew that we loved them. We do love them. We must continue to love them and celebrate their lives here. We can support them by standing up to bullying that we see in our schools and elsewhere. We might not be able to change the nation but we can and we must do all that we can to change the culture where we live.
You might have surmised the identity of the young boy at the beginning of this sermon as my personal experience of seventh grade. You would be right. I was very close to failing that grade level until a teacher and guidance counselor intervened. That was all it took, two people who believed in me and acted on my behalf to turn that year around. I still struggled with my gay identity. I still faced random acts of taunting against me but things began to change that day. And I found other people who also accepted me and valued me as I am and life got better. I want to make sure that every gay teen who walks through our doors knows what I have come to know. There are people who love them, and cherish them, and life will get better.
Not everyone in the world is looking to throw the first stone. Here is a place where stones are put aside for building bridges of hope and love. Blessed Be.
Benediction: In the Hebrew scriptures Leviticus states “you shall the love the alien as yourself, for you were once the alien in the land of Egypt.[12]” The land of Egypt is anywhere we felt isolated and different from the dominant culture. It is the place where we are the other, the outsider of the group, the one longing for acceptance. We all know what that feels like; we have been there, therefore love the other as if he or she is not the other but rather us here in this setting. Love the other as you would love yourself. Go in peace.
[1] http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/library/record/2624.html?state=research&type=research
[2] Jamon Smith Staff Writer “New plan to prevent bullying examined” Tuscaloosa News September 17 2010.
[4] http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/library/record/2624.html?state=research&type=research.
[5] Iris Marion Young, “Five Faces of Oppression” as accessed at http://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/young.pdf
[7] IBID
[8] as found at http://www.peacefire.org/BaitAndSwitch/attributions.html
[10] IBID
[12] Leviticus 19:34
on October 11, 2010 at 4:22 pm Comments (5)
Tags: Anti-Bullying Legislation in Alabama, Bullying, Five Faces of Oppression, Gay rights, GLSEN, homophobia, Iris Marion Young, Tuscaloosa, Unitarian Universalism
MPB and Fresh Air Closure
I did not realize my blog with fewer than 50 readers a day would suddenly go viral on this story with over 3900 hits in one day–and the day is not over. Nor did I realize that Rachel Maddow would pick up on this story. I speculated on what possibly could have been “recurring inappropriate content” as MPB Director Kevin Farrell wrote in an email to a listener as the explanation for dropping the popular show. I looked at one weeks worth of programs, reviews, political commentary because if this was indeed a recurring event than it would have to be, well–recurring.
I raised the question of positive images of gays and lesbians as the recurring theme in that weeks show as a possible suspect. Here in the south, homosexuality is still very much an inappropriate topic. Especially when it comes to gay rights. I asked the question was this the recurring theme that was deemed inappropriate?
I asked this question because homophobia comes in all shapes and sizes. Some of it can be internalized and hidden from view and therefore denied. It is insidious in our society, tucked here and there allowing institutionalized policies to rationalize homophobia as being something else entirely. I have never heard anything on Fresh Air that I thought as inappropriate content, let alone recurring. But maybe because as a gay man, I long for positive gay messages on our airways that when ever I hear them, I leap for joy.
One of the comments that I received stated “It was dropped because someone called the IHL building and was placed on hold. the hold music is MPN/NPR and (they claim) Gross was talking about sex in an interview. So, someone who doesn’t even listen to NPR got it pulled off the air.” I held off on publishing this comment because I wanted to verify its information in some manner. The verification came earlier today via email, the source was an insider at MPB. And it was confirmed by another edition of the Rachel Maddow Show.
But this is not a topic that Terry Gross has on a recurring basis. So that leads me to continue to wonder what else is considered “recurring inappropriate content?”
I received a comment from Unity Mississippi stating my post has damaged both the image of Mississippi and MPB where many are allies to the cause of gay rights.
I do not regret in the least of my speaking out and raising the question. In a state where homophobia and sex-phobia run hand in hand enabling high rates of sexual transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, the question needed to be raised. Homophobia is a powerful oppressor which debilitates peoples lives. To allow one caller, obviously not comfortable with their own sexuality–straight, gay or bi– who does not even listen to NPR is a sure indication of how much power is given to those who are fearful of the other.
Homophobia comes in all shapes and sizes and if those who claim to be allies of the GLBT community cave in to the demands of one caller, then I suspect that internalized homophobia or in this case sex-phobia is also at work. I can not and will not allow my life to be shaped by homophobia in any form, from any source, from my gay friends who claim I have damaged the image of Mississippi ( by reinforcing stereotypes) and gay friendly MPB to those who stridently and publicly work against my procuring civil rights. Nor will I bend towards the tugs of homophobia that society has still lodged within my own heart.
My fervent hope is that after the Board at MPB meets today that they will reconsider their positions and return to the airways of Mississippi one of the best shows on NPR, Fresh Air with Host Terry Gross. That they will not allow themselves to be held hostage by one caller or many callers from offering the best in programming that is available. Shows like Fresh Air offer a life line in Mississippi for so many people who want to be exposed to the vast market place of ideas. It does so respecting the inherent worth and dignity of the person being interviewed. The program shows respect of others regardless of their life stories and that is so needed today.
on July 15, 2010 at 6:59 pm Comments (5)
Tags: Fresh Air, Gay rights, homophobia, Kevin Farrell, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, Rachel Maddow Show, Unitarian Universalism, Unity Mississippi
Mississippi Public Broadcast drops “inappropriate” Fresh Airi
Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) dropped the very popular Fresh Air hosted by Terri Gross. The drop came at Christmas time in 2009. It then returned for a brief period and now is again off the MPB’s airways. An email dated July 12 2010 from Kevin Farrell, director of MPB radio, states “MPB no longer airs this program [Fresh Air] due to recurring inappropriate content.”
Just what was this inappropriate content? Mr. Farrell did not elaborate. A look at the programs that aired recently on Fresh Air reveals these interviews: July 13th, “A Psychiatrist’s Prescription for his Profession; ” July 12th, “Missing ‘Priceless’ Artwork? Call Robert Wittman; ” July 9th, “Colin Firth: A Leading Man in ‘A Single Man’; ” and July 8th, “Generating Changes In The Electrical Power Grid.” Anything inappropriate in these stories?
Recent reviews included these: July 13th, “Robert Randolph: A Gospel Guitarist’s Secular ‘Road’;” July 12th, “A Star Named Marilyn (But Not The One You Think; ” and July 9th, “Cholodenko’s ‘Kids’ Flick: More Than Just All Right.” Anything that stands out as recurring and inappropriate here?
Recent political topics included “CPAC, The Tea Party And The Remaking Of The Right,” “Connecting The Dots Between PhRMA And Congress,” and “‘Clinton Vs. Starr’: A ‘Definitive’ Account.” Anything inappropriate that the average American could not handle in these topics?
Now what could possibly be inappropriate about the content of these shows? Couldn’t possibly be the interview with Colin Firth regarding his role in “A Single Man.” He plays the part of a gay man grieving the loss of his partner. The story line of grieving the death of a loved one is as old as the story of David and Jonathan in First Samuel of the Hebrew Scriptures. And it certainly could not be the movie review of Cholodenko’s “The Kids Are Alright.” That story line of parents dealing with their rebellious teens goes all the way back to Adam and Eve. Oh wait, the parents are both lesbians. Nah, it couldn’t be that.
Unless what is inappropriate is that these story lines reveal homosexuals as being just as affected by universal themes as everyone else. Now that we can’t have because that would mean gays, lesbians, bi’s, and transgender folks live just as mundane a life as everyone else. It would mean that they are not the evil incarnate bent on destroying the American dream, baseball and apple pie, too. They are just trying to reach the American dream like everyone else. Now that is inappropriate!!!
One of the beauties of public radio is that it will air shows that commercial radio is too scared to air. It will offer a point of view that challenges us to think about life in new and unique ways. Thinking is something that Americans seem afraid to do these days. Based on the rise of the Tea Party with its hate and fear based jargon and the slanderous distortions coming from Fox News, people in America have forgotten how to think for themselves and seem willing to surrender their minds to the emotion of fear.
MPB seems to be following suit in reducing its programming to the amusement and entertainment shows like “Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me” and “Only a Game. ” Not that there is anything wrong with these fine shows but public radio is meant to be something more than just idle amusement. It is supposed to be an alternative to network radio and television not more of the same. And in Mississippi where a girl cannot even take her girlfriend to a school prom because it might be distracting, there is a definite need for a forum where an alternative to homophobia can be heard.
No, this certainly cannot be the inappropriate content that Mr. Farrell is referring to because free speech is a constitutional right of the first amendment. He clearly knows that to censor any programming on public radio simply because it does not match someone’s political or religious views is against the first amendment. Right Mr. Farrell?
on July 13, 2010 at 4:53 pm Comments (18)
Tags: First Amendment, Fresh Air, Gay rights, homophobia, Kevin Farrell, Mississippi Public Broadcasting, National Public Radio, Terri Gross, Unitarian Universalism
Amazon Glitch, Twitter, Hacker and Truth
We are in a new age. Yesterday, I received reports that Amazon the online bookseller mogul had deranked thousands of books across a variety of categories that had one common theme; positive gay images. Amazon stated it was a glitch in their software programming. People across the nation begin to use Twitter to decry this event. Gay authors brought forward official communiques from Amazon stating their works were deranked because of an alleged “new” Amazon policy to derank adult books. This did not make sense when many of these books were written for children, were health related or simply had nothing to do with adult content. Something was a foot. After my checking with Amazon’s releases on the subject, checking various claims that gay authors were making on various blogs, finding some of the titles re-ranked again, I called it a hate crime.
Amazon still claims it to be a computer program glitch. Yesterday afternoon, a well known Hacker by the pseudonym of Weev, is claiming credit for the debacle. He claims to have done it as revenge against the gay community in San Francisco for allegedly targeting his Craigs List ads looking for women who want to shoot up with him. One of his tactics he claims was to target Amazon’s feedback program of stating a particular book as inappropriate–meaning adult content. Amazon is still claiming that the de-ranking of 50K+ titles of gay related themes was a glitch, yet this feedback program that customers could target items as inappropriate is no longer available.
Yesterday, I received cautionary advice from a colleague, Christine Robinson about jumping quickly on the news that sails on the tsunamis known as Twitter. It is good advice. I did what I thought was due diligence in checking the claims before I wrote my post. My sensitivity to homophobia as a gay male is acutely heightened and so it is a button if pushed, I respond.
I still find it hard to believe this was a programming glitch. Unless that is what hacker’s do; find programming glitches to exploit with their computer terrorism. In which case, Amazon can deny the hacker’s success, save themselves from the apparent embarrassment of being hacked, and place into the software the safeguards needed to avoid the glitch from being exploited again.
These are the new days in which we live. Computers are now the threads that bind our lives together. Hackers are the new proponents of hate crimes. Twitter is both the new rumor mill and a power to contend with for corporations–for good or ill. And the Truth, well, it is still out there waiting for the light of day. Blessings,
on April 14, 2009 at 9:40 am Comments (2)
Tags: Amazon, homophobia, twitter, Unitarian Universalist
Day of Silence
Today, thousands of students across the country participated in the Day of Silence. I do not know how many or if any students in Mississippi participated. This has been an annual event sponsored by GLSEN (Gay Lesbian Straight Educators Network) to bring attention to the plight of sexual minorities being harrassed, bullied, and yes, even killed for being gay in schools.
This year’s Day of Silence is in memory of Larry King, a 14 year old boy who was killed by another student because Larry sent a valentines card to him. The idea that receiving a valentine card from some one the same gender is so horrific that the only proper recourse is to shoot him goes against all rational human logic. Yet, in our society, thousands believe that of all the verses in Leviticus that can be set aside as not being applicable to 21st century living, the one verse that must be upheld is the one that refers to men lying with men as with a woman being an abomination and should be killed. The teenager who shot and killed Larry King thought this was the appropriate way to respond to receiving a card offering admiration and affection.
There are two victims of this death; Larry and Brandon, the boy who killed him. GLSEN is seeking to end homophobia so that no one, not another Larry, not another Brandon, will have to be victims of fear. If there is a GLSEN chapter near you, invite them to speak in your congregations about homophobia and the work they are doing to end it in schools. Find out how you can support their work. I have linked their website to this post. Blessings,
on April 25, 2008 at 10:33 pm Comments Off on Day of Silence
Tags: Day of Silence, GLSEN, homophobia
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Climate Change Communication in Japan
Midori Aoyagi
Climate change communication in Japan is characterized by governmental campaigns for carbon dioxide emission reduction and mass media coverage of international events on climate change ... More
Climate change communication in Japan is characterized by governmental campaigns for carbon dioxide emission reduction and mass media coverage of international events on climate change issues. A series of governmental campaigns included “Cool Biz,” “Warm Biz,” and “Team Minus 6%” for the Kyoto protocol; “Challenge 25” for the Hatoyama initiative; “Fun to Share” and “Cool Choice” for the new mid-term Greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 26%. Those campaigns are popular among public. As for media coverage of international events on climate change issues, one of the biggest events was the COP3 in Kyoto, in 1997; another is the release of AR5 from 2006 to early 2007, and following events of the G8 summits of Heiligendamm, Germany in 2007, and of Toyako, Japan in 2008.
Until now, not much attention has been paid to climate change communication research, as social scientists seldom join research projects concerning climate change science. But recent severe weather, such as stronger or early-season typhoons, heavier rainfalls, early arrival of spring (e.g., earlier bloom of cherry blossoms), and the bleaching of coral reefs bring awareness not only to the general public but also to social scientists. Lack of participation by social scientists in climate change communication research has meant a very narrow range of communication with the public. Experts try to “teach” the science of climate change, and actions such as “50 easy things for tackling global warming,” but it seems those are not what ordinary people want to know. Furthermore, there seems to be no debate on what climate change will bring us, what kinds of energy we should choose, who might be more vulnerable. Debate on ethical issues, justice issues, and sharing of responsibility will be need to be part of future climate change communication.
Climate Change Communication in Mexico
Javier Urbina-Soria and Karina Landeros-Mugica
This is an advance summary of a forthcoming article in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Climate Science. Please check back later for the full article. ... More
This is an advance summary of a forthcoming article in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Climate Science. Please check back later for the full article.
Mexico has always stood out as an active and committed participant at international meetings on climate change; it was one of the first countries to fulfill the mandates of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and has submitted five national communications. Furthermore, in the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) held in Cancun, Mexico, in 2011, the Mexican government proposed the creation of a Green Climate Fund (GCF), which was approved and is already operating. Interest in climate change has increased within political, economic, and environmental domains. In the past, most academic and social studies focused on knowledge, beliefs, perception, and social representation of climate change, and only a few of them spoke to the communication process. Moreover, most inquiries centered on the review of literature or descriptive studies for specific samples. Specifically on climate change communication research, there is still a lot to be done; only a few studies on the subject have been completed. Most of the publications show campaigns, workshops, or educational programs that aim to increase knowledge and improve understanding of climate change. The National Strategy on Climate Change along with the Special Program on Climate Change included two lines of action: a) risk perception research and divulgation, and b) risk communication and environmental education. However, it was not until 2006 that the government started to invest in campaigns about climate change, like an internet portal, chats and workshops, stories for kids, or guides for efficient use of household energy. By 2007 and 2008, attention came not only from scientists but also from society; this was due mainly to coverage of the topic in the mass media, along with several publications for specific audiences (children, young, adults, specialists, politicians, and stakeholders). From 2008 to 2014, climate change topics were introduced in educational and cultural programs for students, especially at elementary and high school levels. Also, several publications and videos were released for the general public. In 2015, the first dialog between journalists was held to emphasize the important roll that journalists have when they broadcast scientific information. Nowadays, politicians and stakeholders are the main actors on communicating climate change, leaving academics, journalists, and broadcasters aside. Concerning the main topics, threats and disasters dominate the headlines, while information about mitigation or adaptation are hardly mentioned. Around the world, as well as in Mexico, there is a new discourse focused on future perspectives, accountability, and social legacy instead of immediacy. Mexico has enough material and technological infrastructure: mass media, libraries, museums, communication technologies, among others. However, these have been underutilized, because mass media treatment of ecological subjects have been fugacious, irregular, and surviving, limiting their development and strengthening.
Climate Change Communication in Middle East and Arab Countries
Mikkel Fugl Eskjær
In terms of climate change, Middle East and Arab countries cover a vast and diverse region with stark variations in natural resources, ecological footprints, and political priorities. It ... More
In terms of climate change, Middle East and Arab countries cover a vast and diverse region with stark variations in natural resources, ecological footprints, and political priorities. It includes large oil and gas producing nations (the Gulf States) as well as resource-depleted countries (Jordan, Syria). Most countries rely on carbon energy, while a few have developed an alternative vision based on renewables (Morocco). It is home to both highly affluent countries (e.g., UAE) as well as poor and conflict-ridden societies (Iraq, the Levant, Yemen).
Although the region as a whole is particularly vulnerable to climate change due to low levels of socio-ecological resilience, potential conflicts over natural resources (e.g., water), and almost chronic refugee and immigration crises, there are considerable differences in the region’s adaptive resources and mitigation strategies. This regional heterogeneity, however, is rarely reflected in the region’s climate change communication, which (with a few exceptions) tends to follow similar communicative patterns.
Long-running social and religious conflicts in the Middle East have pushed climate change down the agenda of public opinion and news reporting in most Arab countries. Moreover, many Arab countries share a semi-authoritarian media system, which seems to exacerbate this tendency. In order to avoid crossing editorial redlines, climate change reporting is mostly copyedited from international news agencies. Local reporting is sparse as it may easily touch on sensitive issues concerning inadequate governance. Consequently, climate change has traditionally been covered as foreign news with a focus on international climate change negotiations—and hence limited relevance for a regional readership.
However, new information technology and an increasing focus on raising awareness on climate change points toward alternative channels of climate change communication in Middle Eastern and Arab countries.
Climate Change Communication in New Zealand
Rhian Salmon, Rebecca Priestley, Michele Fontana, and Taciano L. Milfont
Climate change communication in Aotearoa New Zealand occurs through multiple channels, including public communication by experts; formal and informal science-policy dialogues; and ... More
Climate change communication in Aotearoa New Zealand occurs through multiple channels, including public communication by experts; formal and informal science-policy dialogues; and publication of popular books, documentaries, and media reports. There is, in addition, a wide array of climate change communication activities that are less well documented, such as those that utilize the education system, social media, art, community events and festivals, and co-production processes related to adaptation and mitigation choices.
Although research into the communication of climate change is in its infancy in the country, data on public attitudes toward climate change over the past decade indicate that most New Zealanders believe climate change is occurring, is anthropogenic, and is a serious concern. This is mirrored by research into media coverage on climate change, which shows that mainstream news reports are largely consistent with the scientific consensus and reports issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and do not give much coverage to skeptical or catastrophic viewpoints.
Climate Change Communication in Norway
Marianne Ryghaug and Tomas Moe Skjølsvold
Climate change research, activities, and initiatives in Norway started relatively late, by international comparison. From the beginnings in the early 2000s, research has mainly followed ... More
Climate change research, activities, and initiatives in Norway started relatively late, by international comparison. From the beginnings in the early 2000s, research has mainly followed two paths: First, media studies, typically focusing on traditional newspaper representations of climate change and the surrounding debate, and second, research on public perceptions of climate change. Initially, the research field was dominated by media studies and science and technology studies (STS). As climate change and related controversies made headlines during the mid-2000s, the authorities implemented several engagement activities and research programs to improve climate change communication, typically aiming at public education on climate change. Teaching the public about climate change as a scientific phenomenon along the lines of the “knowledge deficit model” was a favored strategy.
Research on climate change media coverage indicated that the issue was reported in the same way as other news stories: the journalistic principles of newsworthiness often led newspapers to cover global warming as a contested phenomenon, in which harsh scientific controversy was played out. Thus, the Norwegian media framed the issue similar to U.S. newspapers, giving voice to both concerned climate scientists as well as climate skeptics (representative of “balanced” reporting). Studies of public perceptions of climate change demonstrated that public opinions were largely influenced by this “balanced reporting”: although most people believed the climate threat was real, the many accounts of scientific controversy made people uncertain, and many people questioned the urgency of the issues. This was, of course, not only a result of the media accounts, but also of what the public interpreted as political inertia. Following this, a debate about the ethics of journalism surfaced, and the media increasingly downplayed the controversy angle. Recent research indicates that this may have had paradoxical consequences; downplaying controversy has made climate change less newsworthy, and it has thus been given less priority by Norwegian media.
Recently, more disciplinary groups have become interested in climate change communication, from psychology to linguistics, political science, and philosophy. Accordingly, research trajectories have multiplied, and at least two new strands surfaced: how science is communicated in traditional and new social media and the use of climate change knowledge in so-called “climate change services.” The latter strand of research typically also relates to climate change adaptation work, to a greater extent than the earlier works, where the focus has mainly been on mitigation.
Climate Change Communication in Peru
Bruno Takahashi and Alejandra Martinez
Peru is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet. More than 65% of the country is covered by the Amazon rainforest, and the Andes region is home to more than 70% of the world’s ... More
Peru is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet. More than 65% of the country is covered by the Amazon rainforest, and the Andes region is home to more than 70% of the world’s tropical glaciers. This abundance of natural resources also makes the country highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.
The Peruvian government therefore requires the development and implementation of action plans to adapt to the present and future impacts of climate change. At the same time, it requires the development of sound communication strategies that include collaboration with stakeholders such as the media and nongovernmental organizations. Media coverage of climate change can have important implications for policy decision making. This is especially salient in a context of low information availability where media reports play an important role in filling knowledge gaps that in turn can affect the way policies are developed.
Climate change, as an environmental and social issue in Peru, is not highly politicized, as it is in countries such as the United States and Australia. There is no major debate about the reality of climate change, the scientific evidence, or the need for political action and technological and policy innovations. This approach is also reflected in the media’s coverage of the issue. Peru’s media tend to focus on climate change mostly during key policy events. Among these major events was the capital city of Lima’s hosting in 2010 of the V meeting of Latin American, Caribbean, and European Union countries, where the main topics of discussion were climate change and poverty. In addition, Lima hosted the COP20, which preceded the Paris meeting in 2015 that led to a major global agreement. The media’s coverage of these events was intense. These were the exceptions: A good proportion of Peru’s newspaper coverage comes from international news wire agencies. Coverage from those sources focuses mostly on mitigation actions, instead of adaptation, which is more relevant to vulnerable countries such as Peru. This coverage is in line with the government’s view of mitigation as a business opportunity. There is, however, a lack of studies that explore, first, the factors that affect this coverage, and, second, the way other mediums such as television or radio cover the issue.
Strategic communication by governmental organizations, as well as accurate and fact-based media reporting about climate change, is necessary to better communicate the urgency and magnitude of the problem to the general public, grassroots organizations, industry, and international agencies, among others.
Climate Change Communication in Portugal
Ana Horta and Anabela Carvalho
In Portugal, global politics tend to dominate climate change communication. Policy-oriented news stories prevail, being very much influenced by international events, dynamics, and actors, ... More
In Portugal, global politics tend to dominate climate change communication. Policy-oriented news stories prevail, being very much influenced by international events, dynamics, and actors, especially European ones, whereas national politicians and officials tend to be given less space. Climate change is thus mainly (re)presented as a global issue, distant from local realities, in spite of the vulnerabilities that the country faces. National policy makers tend to adopt a technocratic discourse that comes across as “rational” and fairly optimistic, with little contestation by environmental groups or others. A “green economy” discourse has prevailed in the media, with investment on renewable energy being depicted as the way to both stimulating the economy and addressing climate change. Scientific knowledge tends to be represented as consensual and national scientists tend to avoid dramatization. Although public opinion surveys have shown that the population considers climate change a serious problem and skepticism regarding its anthropogenic causes is low, surveys have also revealed high levels of ignorance and self-evaluated lack of information. In spite of a traditionally weak environmental movement and lack of public engagement, the population has shown a consistent sense of collective responsibility to tackle climate change. The economic and financial crisis up until the mid-2010s considerably affected the already fragile media system and turned political and public attention to economy-related topics. News coverage of climate change, in all its complexity, has been constrained by a lack of specialized reporters and increased dependency on the pro-activity of news sources.
Climate Change Communication in Russia
Dmitry Yagodin
In the Russian case, climate change communication links to critical issues of domestic and foreign policy. Russia is one of the leaders in the global carbon market, but its outdated ... More
In the Russian case, climate change communication links to critical issues of domestic and foreign policy. Russia is one of the leaders in the global carbon market, but its outdated industrial sector needs modernization based on energy efficient technologies. Russia is an ambitious international player seeking high moral positions in addressing global problems such as climate change, but its growing isolation and authoritarianism strangle free public discussions about climate change on a national scale. This article reviews the development of climate change communication as practice and as a field of academic research in Russia. By outlining the relevant scholarly field, the article splits the discussion into two parts—the realities of communication in climate politics and environmental communication. The section on climate politics touches upon Russia’s climate policy, the development of environmental movement since the 1960s, and the question of indigenous peoples. The environmental communication section highlights historical and more recent roles of environmental journalism, points to a generally low volume of climate change coverage, and raises questions about the potential of alternative media. The article concludes that the Russian field of communication research focusing on climate change is growing, but needs a more systematic approach, international comparisons, and research designs that would include more types of empirical materials.
Climate Change Communication in Singapore
Shirley S. Ho and Agnes S. F. Chuah
Climate change is not a new topic, but it remains an unsolved issue for most countries in the world. Singapore, a small island nation, is not spared from climate change. The issue is ... More
Climate change is not a new topic, but it remains an unsolved issue for most countries in the world. Singapore, a small island nation, is not spared from climate change. The issue is worsened because Singapore is not endowed with natural resources and the country is mainly dependent on imported fossil fuels to generate energy. The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon into the air, intensifying the greenhouse effect. Furthermore, the recurring episodes of haze in Singapore have posed a threat to public health. Realizing the importance of public perceptions on climate change mitigation, the Singapore government and academic researchers have conducted studies to understand public perceptions of climate change. Although the general public do not have great concern about climate change, research suggests that interpersonal communication, information campaigns, and mass communication may have an impact on public awareness of climate change. Attention to mass media, such as newspapers and television, has been found to shape public perception of climate change in Singapore and increase public knowledge of climate change. In addition, the Singapore government has introduced the topic of climate change into the education system to cultivate sustainability among the young generations. Campaigns and programs were funded and organized by the Singapore government as well as the non-governmental organizations to raise the awareness of climate change among Singaporeans. In order to sustain public awareness and concern about climate change, continuous communication strategies are necessary.
Climate Change Communication in South Korea
Sei-Hill Kim, Myung-Hyun Kang, and Jeong-Heon Chang
Climate change is a significant issue in South Korea, and the news media are particularly important because they can play a central role in communicating information about climate change, ... More
Climate change is a significant issue in South Korea, and the news media are particularly important because they can play a central role in communicating information about climate change, a complex phenomenon on which the public in general lacks expert knowledge.
The amount of climate change coverage increased in South Korean newspapers until 2009 and started to decline thereafter. The increase seems to have been driven primarily by international news and domestic politics. Until 2007, the increase in news coverage—as well as its short-term peaks—coincided with major international events, such as the releases of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports. After 2007, the amount was affected not only by international events but also by domestic politics, such as the Lee administration’s “Low Carbon, Green Growth” policy, which became an important part of the national agenda. In terms of the nature of news coverage, newspapers represented the perspectives of climate change believers for the most part, while it was relatively hard to find skeptics’ arguments. News stories relied heavily on such authoritative international figures as the IPCC for information, which often led to conclusions that climate change is real and that human activities are primarily responsible. There are also political reasons for this point of view. President Lee, and his successor, President Park, maintained strong and ambitious environmental policies. As an important part of the president’s agenda, these policies might have affected the nature of news coverage, setting the tone of news articles in favor of strong environmental regulations. Lack of scientific expertise among news writers seems to affect the nature of news coverage as well. The lack of expert knowledge has often resulted in heavy reliance on press releases, newsworthy events, and scandals, instead of providing in-depth analyses of scientific backgrounds in climate change reporting. Another consequence was a heavy reliance on international news. The largest number of climate change articles was found as part of international news, while such articles rarely appeared in the science sections.
Climate Change Communication in Spain
María Carmen Erviti and Bienvenido León
It is not easy to determine the precise moment when climate change became a public communication issue in Spain. Among early references, the national newspaper El País published a story ... More
It is not easy to determine the precise moment when climate change became a public communication issue in Spain. Among early references, the national newspaper El País published a story titled “World climate is going to change,” on November 17, 1976, and the term “global warming,” imported from the United States, appeared frequently in the media, from 1988 onward. However, academic research about communication of this important issue is relatively recent. A seminar held in 2005 warned that there were “no specific studies on the way the Spanish citizenry is facing the climate change threat” (II Seminario de Comunicación, Educación y Participación frente al Cambio Climático, Lekaroz, Navarra). This seminar precipitated the first study on public perception of climate change in Spain. According to more recent research, 90.1% of Spanish citizens are aware that climate change is happening, whereas only 4.6% are not. Historical records indicate that awareness has grown consistently in the early 21st century, with awareness levels that are similar to those of other countries. However, although there exists a strong consensus within the scientific community on the existence and the anthropogenic origin of climate change, polls indicate that only a small part of the Spanish population (39.0%) is aware of this agreement; a figure that is similar to that of other countries, such as the United States. In addition, two thirds of the Spanish population (64.4%) believe that climate change is mainly a consequence of human activities; a higher percentage than in other countries, like the United States. This ambivalent picture is not surprising, considering climate change is a marginal topic for mainstream Spanish media. According to a study conducted in 2005 and 2011, only 0.2% of all stories in the main national newspapers and 0.19% of national TV news focused on climate change, a lower percentage than in other countries. Media coverage of this issue has fluctuated since the 1990s, depending on several factors, like the existence of links to current affairs (such as international climate summits), notable report publications (from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), and public engagement efforts (such as the Al Gore film An Inconvenient Truth). As far as the quality of the coverage is concerned, research shows similar trends to those detected internationally, including politicization, superficiality, and catastrophism. However, compared to other countries, there is a lower representation of skeptic viewpoints in the Spanish media that may be related to a weaker public visibility of skeptic think tanks and personalities.
Academic interest in climate change communication has risen since 2010. Only four publications (books or articles) were released from 2001 to 2005, whereas more than 30 appeared in the period 2011–2015. Research has primarily focused on public perception and media coverage of climate change and has been conducted mainly by four universities (Universidad Complutense, Universidad de Málaga, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, and Universidad de Navarra). Communication actions related to climate change have been carried out by several nongovernmental organizations, often as part of international events and campaigns. In the early 21st century, national and regional public institutions have conducted several campaigns to communicate and raise climate change awareness, producing several exhibitions and publications, mainly on climate change mitigation.
Several forums have suggested that the current weaknesses could benefit from a closer relationship among the media and scientific institutions. This could contribute to provide more credible information on the reality of climate change, as well as the options for mitigation and adaptation. Future research could also address climate change coverage in online media and social networks, as well as reception studies, currently underrepresented in academic studies conducted in the country.
Climate Change Communication in Switzerland
Heinz Bonfadelli
The contribution summarizes the topic of climate change communication in Switzerland. The development of the topic of “climate change” is described and located within the general area of ... More
The contribution summarizes the topic of climate change communication in Switzerland. The development of the topic of “climate change” is described and located within the general area of environmental politics in Switzerland, based on the specifics of Switzerland as a small, federal state, and non-EU member with direct democratic political processes. Climate change communication then is analyzed based on the results of several content analyses, mostly of Swiss print media, which focus on intensity of coverage, topics, and media frames. In the last part, the perception of and attitudes towards environment and climate change are presented and compared to other countries, based on public opinion survey data.
Climate Change Communication in the Netherlands
Art Dewulf, Daan Boezeman, and Martinus Vink
Climate change communication in the Netherlands started in the 1950s, but it was not until the late 1970s that the issue earned a place on the public agenda, as an aspect of the energy ... More
Climate change communication in the Netherlands started in the 1950s, but it was not until the late 1970s that the issue earned a place on the public agenda, as an aspect of the energy problem, and in the shadow of controversy about nuclear energy. Driven largely by scientific reports and political initiatives, the first climate change wave can be observed in the period from 1987 to 1989, as part of a broader environmental consciousness wave. The Netherlands took an active role in international climate change initiatives at the time but struggled to achieve domestic emission reductions throughout the 1990s. The political turmoil in the early 2000s dominated Dutch public debate, until An Inconvenient Truth triggered the second climate change wave in 2006–2007, generating peak media attention and broad societal activity. The combination of COP15 and Climategate in late 2009 marked a turning point in Dutch climate change communication, with online communication and climate-sceptic voices gaining much more prominence. Climate change mitigation was pushed down on the societal and political agenda in the 2010s. Climate change adaptation had received much attention during the second climate change wave and had been firmly institutionalized with respect to flood defense and other water management issues. By 2015 a landmark climate change court case and the Paris Agreement at COP21 were fueling climate change communication once again.
Climate Change Communication in the United Kingdom
Alison Anderson
There is a comparably lengthy history of climate change communication research in the United Kingdom that can be traced back to the late 1980s. As is the case for media research in ... More
There is a comparably lengthy history of climate change communication research in the United Kingdom that can be traced back to the late 1980s. As is the case for media research in general, most attention has historically focused on print media and elite newspapers in particular. The British public appears to have a rather ambivalent response to climate change, and most people do not view it as a pressing threat. While surveys suggest that most citizens believe that climate change is occurring and is at least partly caused by human activity, skeptic views have received greater prominence in the mainstream media than in many other comparable countries. Climate deniers have received considerable space on the opinion pages of some right-leaning British newspapers. This is no doubt linked to vigorous denial campaigns mounted by climate-skeptic think tanks in the United Kingdom. The left-of-center Guardian newspaper (and its counterpart Sunday edition, The Observer) has led the way on climate change reporting, far exceeding the amount of space devoted to the topic by other print news outlets—yet it has one of the lowest readerships. While traditional media remain important agenda setters, online and social media are increasingly significant sources of news—especially for younger individuals. Future climate communication scholarship should play a vital role in informing stakeholder strategies and better understanding the complex linkages between media framing, political agendas, and public perceptions.
Climate Change Communication in Turkey
Mehmet Ali Uzelgun and Ümit Şahin
The case of Turkey provides some insight into the socio-political and communicative processes taking place at the periphery of global climate governance efforts. Turkey’s 12-year delayed ... More
The case of Turkey provides some insight into the socio-political and communicative processes taking place at the periphery of global climate governance efforts. Turkey’s 12-year delayed entry into the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change regime (in 2004) and its being one of the last signatories to the Kyoto Protocol (in 2009) has hampered climate-relevant efforts in the country in many ways. This includes institutionalization at national and local levels, the development of relevant national policies, and communication activities.
Climate change communication activities in Turkey can be divided into two major categories: the earlier advocacy activities, and the period of mass communication. The earlier activist or advocacy group communication efforts began around 2000, and have contributed significantly to mainstreaming climate change. Paralleling the government’s position towards the issue in many ways, the national-level media activities have remained nominal until 2007, when escalating local weather extremes were widely associated with climate change.
Research in climate change communication in Turkey commenced only recently. Although the studies are limited both in scope and quantity, existing evidence suggests that 2007 was crucial in setting the terms of the debate in the country. Mobilizations at both international and national levels in 2009 made that year another landmark for climate change communication and policy in Turkey. International organizations and governance agencies have also taken active roles in both communication and research activities, and in the translation of governance tools developed at the international level to the national level.
A review of the above-mentioned efforts suggests that a bottom-up direction of climate change communication efforts, and a minority-influence framework—in which minor advocacy and expert groups are supported by global policy norms and scientific knowledge in taking the issue to the national agenda—may be useful in understanding the dynamics taking place in industrializing countries such as Turkey.
Climate Change Communication on Facebook, Twitter, Sina Weibo, and Other Social Media Platforms
Edson C. Tandoc Jr. and Nicholas Eng
While initial research on climate change communication focused on traditional media, such as news coverage of climate change and pro-environmental campaigns, scholars are increasingly ... More
While initial research on climate change communication focused on traditional media, such as news coverage of climate change and pro-environmental campaigns, scholars are increasingly focusing on the role of social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Sina Weibo. Social media platforms provide a space for three important domains of climate change communication: information, discussion, and mobilization. First, social media platforms have been used by scientists, activists, journalists, and ordinary people to share and receive reports about climate change. Policymakers and academics also use social media for climate change research. Second, social media platforms provide users with a space to discuss climate change issues. Scientists and journalists use social media to interact with the public, who also use social media to criticize policies, as well as media coverage. Finally, social media platforms have been used to coordinate rescue and relief operations in the aftermath of climate change–related disasters, as well as to organize movements and campaigns about climate change. However, most research about climate change communication in social media spaces are based on quantitative analysis of tweets from Western countries. While this body of work has been illuminating, our understanding of social media’s increasingly important role in climate change communication will benefit from a more holistic research approach that explores social media use in climate change communication across a variety of platforms, cultures, and media systems.
Climate Change Conspiracy Theories
Joseph E. Uscinski, Karen Douglas, and Stephan Lewandowsky
An overwhelming percentage of climate scientists agree that human activity is causing the global climate to change in ways that will have deleterious consequences both for the environment ... More
An overwhelming percentage of climate scientists agree that human activity is causing the global climate to change in ways that will have deleterious consequences both for the environment and for humankind. While scientists have alerted both the public and policy makers to the dangers of continuing or increasing the current rate of carbon emission, policy proposals intended to curb carbon emission and thereby mitigate climate change have been resisted by a notable segment of the public. Some of this resistance comes from those not wanting to incur costs or change energy sources (i.e., the carbon-based energy industry). Others oppose policies intended to address climate change for ideological reasons (i.e., they are opposed to the collectivist nature of the solutions usually proposed). But perhaps the most alarming and visible are those who oppose solutions to climate change because they believe, or at least claim to believe, that anthropogenic climate change is not really happening and that climate scientists are lying and their data is fake.
Resistance, in this latter case, sometimes referred to as climate “skepticism” or “denialism,” varies from region to region in strength but worldwide has been a prominent part of a political force strong enough to preclude both domestic and global policy makers from making binding efforts to avert the further effects of anthropogenic climate change. For example, a 2013 poll in the United States showed that almost 40% believed that climate change was a hoax.
Climate skeptics suggest the well-publicized consensus is either manufactured or illusory and that some nefarious force—be it the United Nations, liberals, communists, or authoritarians—want to use climate change as a cover for exerting massive new controls over the populace. This conspiracy-laden rhetoric—if followed to its logical conclusion—expresses a rejection of scientific methods, scientists, and the role that science plays in society.
Skeptic rhetoric, on one hand, may suggest that climate skepticism is psychological and the product of underlying conspiratorial thinking, rather than cognitive and the product of a careful weighing of scientific evidence. On the other hand, it may be that skeptics do not harbor underlying conspiratorial thinking, but rather express their opposition to policy solutions in conspiratorial terms because that is the only available strategy when arguing against an accepted scientific consensus. This tactic of calling into question the integrity of science has been used in other scientific debates (e.g., the link between cigarette smoking and cancer).
Opinion surveys, however, support the view that climate change denialism is driven at least partially by underlying conspiratorial thinking. Belief in climate change conspiracy theories also appears to drive behaviors in ways consistent with the behaviors of people who think in conspiratorial terms: Climate change conspiracy theorists are less likely to participate politically or take actions that could alleviate their carbon footprint. Furthermore, some climate skeptics reject studies showing that their skepticism is partially a product of conspiratorial thinking: They believe such studies are themselves part of the conspiracy.
Climate Change Policy in the European Union
Tim Rayner and Andrew Jordan
The European Union (EU) has long claimed, with some justification, to be a leader in international climate policy. Its policy activities in this area, dating from the early 1990s, have had ... More
The European Union (EU) has long claimed, with some justification, to be a leader in international climate policy. Its policy activities in this area, dating from the early 1990s, have had enormous influence within and beyond Europe. The period since ca. 2000 in particular has witnessed the repeated emergence of policies and targets that are increasingly distinct from national ones and sometimes globally innovative. They encompass a wide array of instruments (e.g., market-based, informational, voluntary, as well as regulatory). Policy development has been motivated by a mixture of concerns: to avoid national differences in policy causing distortions of the EU’s internal market; to enhance the domestic legitimacy of the wider project of European integration; to improve energy security; and to increase economic competitiveness through “ecological modernization.” Climate policy has also offered a means to enhance the standing of the EU as a global actor. The EU has, in general, been influential in international negotiations, for example, in its promotion of the 2°C warming limit and advocacy of emission reduction “targets and timetables.” In turn, its own policy has been shaped by developments at global level, as with the surprisingly enthusiastic adoption of the “flexible mechanism” of emissions trading. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that acute challenges to policy coherence and effectiveness—applying to emerging policy on adaptation, as well as mitigation—lie ahead in a Europe that is more polarized between its more environmentally conscious Member States and those in central and eastern Europe who have extracted significant concessions to protect their fossil fuel–intensive sectors. Although the Paris Agreement of 2015 offers an important opportunity to “ratchet up” the ambition of EU policy, it is proving to be a difficult one to seize.
The Climate Change Regime
Philipp Pattberg and Oscar Widerberg
Policy, Politics, and Governance, Risk Management and Adaptation, Management of Technology and Mitigation, Future Climate Change Scenarios
In 1992, when the international community agreed on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the science of climate change was under development, global ... More
In 1992, when the international community agreed on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the science of climate change was under development, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were by and large produced by developed countries, and the concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere had just surpassed 350 ppm. Some 25 years later, climate change is scientifically uncontested, China has overtaken the United States as the world’s biggest emitter of CO2, and concentrations are now measured above 400 ppm. Against this background, states have successfully concluded a new global agreement under the UNFCCC, the 2015 Paris Agreement. Prior to the Paris Agreement, the climate regime focused on allocating emission reduction commitments among (a group of) countries. However, the new agreement has turned the climate regime on its feet by introducing an approach based on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Under this approach, states decide their ambition levels independently instead of engaging in negotiations about “who does what.” The result is a more flexible system that for the first time includes all countries in the quest to reduce GHG emissions to keep temperature increase below 2°C compared to preindustrial levels. Moreover, the international climate regime has transformed into a regime complex, denoting the broad activities of smaller groups of states as well as non-party actors, such as cities, regions, companies, and non-governmental organizations along with United Nations agencies.
Climate Change Scenarios and African Climate Change
Kerry H. Cook
Climate Systems and Climate Dynamics, Modeling, Future Climate Change Scenarios, Climate of Africa, Forecasting
Accurate projections of climate change under increasing atmospheric greenhouse gas levels are needed to evaluate the environmental cost of anthropogenic emissions, and to guide mitigation ... More
Accurate projections of climate change under increasing atmospheric greenhouse gas levels are needed to evaluate the environmental cost of anthropogenic emissions, and to guide mitigation efforts. These projections are nowhere more important than Africa, with its high dependence on rain-fed agriculture and, in many regions, limited resources for adaptation. Climate models provide our best method for climate prediction but there are uncertainties in projections, especially on regional space scale. In Africa, limitations of observational networks add to this uncertainty since a crucial step in improving model projections is comparisons with observations. Exceeding uncertainties associated with climate model simulation are uncertainties due to projections of future emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Humanity’s choices in emissions pathways will have profound effects on climate, especially after the mid-century.
The African Sahel is a transition zone characterized by strong meridional precipitation and temperature gradients. Over West Africa, the Sahel marks the northernmost extent of the West African monsoon system. The region’s climate is known to be sensitive to sea surface temperatures, both regional and global, as well as to land surface conditions. Increasing atmospheric greenhouse gases are already causing amplified warming over the Sahara Desert and, consequently, increased rainfall in parts of the Sahel. Climate model projections indicate that much of this increased rainfall will be delivered in the form of more intense storm systems.
The complicated and highly regional precipitation regimes of East Africa present a challenge for climate modeling. Within roughly 5º of latitude of the equator, rainfall is delivered in two seasons—the long rains in the spring, and the short rains in the fall. Regional climate model projections suggest that the long rains will weaken under greenhouse gas forcing, and the short rains season will extend farther into the winter months. Observations indicate that the long rains are already weakening.
Changes in seasonal rainfall over parts of subtropical southern Africa are observed, with repercussions and challenges for agriculture and water availability. Some elements of these observed changes are captured in model simulations of greenhouse gas-induced climate change, especially an early demise of the rainy season. The projected changes are quite regional, however, and more high-resolution study is needed. In addition, there has been very limited study of climate change in the Congo Basin and across northern Africa. Continued efforts to understand and predict climate using higher-resolution simulation must be sustained to better understand observed and projected changes in the physical processes that support African precipitation systems as well as the teleconnections that communicate remote forcings into the continent.
PRINTED FROM the OXFORD RESEARCH ENCYCLOPEDIA, CLIMATE SCIENCE (oxfordre.com/climatescience). (c) Oxford University Press USA, 2019. All Rights Reserved. Personal use only; commercial use is strictly prohibited (for details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).
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Home Cepac Makes Multi-million-pound Investment in Corrugated Box Factory
“The spirit in the plant has been significantly buoyed by this announcement. The investment is absolutely key to our future strategic objectives. Under Cepac’s ownership the plant has thrived and we are all very excited about the future and our plans for continued expansion.” A significant part of the site’s heritage has been its involvement in the production of paper-based materials for almost 130 years and the site was originally developed for the manufacture of graphic papers. In the process of digging the foundations for the new buildings some notable artefacts from the factory’s history have been unearthed in the form of 16 granite mill stones.
Richard Moore continued: “The stones are absolutely enormous and, we believe, weigh about four tonnes each. They’re roughly around five feet in diameter and two feet thick. We had no idea they were there. They had been buried in the rubble and then concreted over. We’ve preserved them and plan on making them into an architectural feature to reflect our heritage.”
Ground was broken on the site in early June and foundations are due to be laid this week (w/c 10 July) with steel work on the new buildings to follow. Richard Moore added: “This investment will enable us to partner with many new customers and increase our service offering to our existing customer base. We are extremely excited about the future of our plant and meeting our strategic growth targets.”
http://www.cepacandme.com/
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iPhone 5 Rumors, The Next iPhone Will Be Thinner & Lighter
Yesterday I wrote about where 15 million iPhone 5’s have been ordered for September.
Well today, we may have more insight into the upcoming iPhone 5 – or it may even be called the iPhone 4s.
The next generation iPhone is expected to be a much lighter, and much thinner version compared the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3 series.
Along with this news, it is expected that the iPhone 5 could be hitting the shelves by the 3rd quarter of 2011.
According to AllThingsD:
Some suppliers of components to Apple say the new version of the iPhone is expected to be thinner and lighter than the iPhone 4 and sport an eight-megapixel camera. One person said the new iPhone will operate on Qualcomm Inc.’s wireless baseband chips.
“Apple’s sales estimates of the new iPhone is quite aggressive. It told us to prepare to help the company meet its goal of 25 million units by the end of the year,” said a person at one of Apple’s suppliers. “The initial production volume will be a few million units … we were told to ship the components to assembler Hon Hai in August.”
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Robin Chandler Duke
From SourceWatch
Ms. Robin Chandler Duke, "of New York City, New York, began her career at the New York Journal American in the 1940s as a writer on women’s issues.
"She subsequently joined a New York brokerage firm, Orvis Brothers, as a Registered Representative of the New York Stock Exchange. Ambassador Duke served on the Board of Directors of American Home Products (a major American pharmaceutical company), Rockwell International (a major contractor for the space shuttle), International Flavors and Fragrances, and a major New York bank.
"Prior to becoming US Ambassador to Norway, Ms. Duke was a Director of the US-Japan Foundation, the Lucile and David Packard Foundation and the United Nations Association of the United States. She served as Vice Chairman of the Institute of International Education and was on its Advisory Board. She was a Co-Chair of the Millennium Project of the Friends of Art and Preservation in Embassies project to make a gift to the nation of 200 works of original American art. She formed the original committee for the Restoration of Blair House in the Kennedy Administration.
"In 1980, President Carter accorded Ms. Duke the Personal Rank of Ambassador during her service as the Chair of the US Delegation to the 21st Session of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
"Ms. Duke is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a fellow of the Academy of Arts and Sciences. She served with her late husband, Angier Biddle Duke, when he was Ambassador in Spain, Denmark and Morocco and in Washington where he was Chief of Protocol for Presidents Kennedy and Johnson." [1]
"In 1961 Duke met U.S. Ambassador Angier Biddle Duke, and they were married seven months later. Her commitment to family planning efforts led her to take on an extraordinary variety of roles. She served as president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, president of the National Abortion Rights Action Committee, consultant for the United Nation Fund for Population Activities, chair of Population Action International, trustee of the Planned Parenthood Foundation, and U.S. ambassador to Norway." [1]
Director, United Nations Association of the United States of America
Director, World Childhood Foundation
Trustee, United States-Japan Foundation
Life Trustee, Institute of International Education
Emeriti Trustee, David and Lucile Packard Foundation [2]
Board of Overseers, International Rescue Committee
Emeritus Chair, Population Action International [3]
Emeriti Director, Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation [4]
Advisory Board, Tolstoy Foundation [5]
Winner (1997), Margaret Sanger Award [6]
1 Resources and articles
1.1 Related Sourcewatch
Resources and articles
Related Sourcewatch
↑ Robin Chandler Duke, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, accessed November 25, 2011.
↑ Trustees Emeriti, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, accessed September 16, 2007.
↑ Directors, Population Action International, accessed May 1, 2008.
↑ Directors, Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation, accessed November 20, 2009.
↑ Board, Tolstoy Foundation, accessed December 19, 2010.
↑ Margaret Sanger Award, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, accessed November 25, 2011.
"Biography", Accessed January 2007.
Retrieved from "https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Robin_Chandler_Duke&oldid=544620"
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DSW Shows Loss In Q4
Posted by SGB Media | Mar 19, 2019 | Footwear, SGB Updates, Update
DSW Inc. reported a loss on an adjusted basis of $5.4 million, or 7 cents a share, against adjusted earnings of $30.8 million, or 38 cents, a year ago.
On a reported basis, the loss in the latest period came to $45.7 million, or 58 cents a share, against earnings of $12 million, or 15 cents, a year ago.
Sales for the quarter were $838.6 million vs. $723.4 million a year earlier. Analysts had predicted sales of $840 million for the quarter.
Full-year highlights include:
Full-year reported a net loss for fiscal 2018 was $0.26 loss per diluted share, including net after-tax charges of $1.92 per diluted share from adjusted items
Full-year Adjusted EPS for fiscal 2018 was $1.66 per diluted share, which included $0.12 per diluted share from the wind-down of operations of exited businesses; Adjusted EPS at mid-point of guidance, which excluded the wind down of operations of exited businesses
Repurchased two million of company shares during the fourth quarter; including dividends, returned over $127 million to shareholders in fiscal 2018
Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share
Chief executive officer, Roger Rawlins, stated, “Fiscal 2018 was one of the best years in our company’s history from a comparable sales and earnings growth standpoint. We crossed the $3 billion revenue threshold for the first time and drove a +6 percent increase in comparable sales as we strengthened connections with our customers. We built a compelling product assortment, including the expansion of DSW Kids, a differentiated services offering with our W Nail Bar partnership, and the relaunch of our award-winning loyalty program. At the same time, we strategically positioned our company to grow share and enhance profitability through transformative acquisitions, creating an infrastructure that positions us to be a significant force in the footwear industry for years to come.”
The company achieved several important milestones in fiscal 2018:
Total company revenues hit a new high of $3.2 billion;
Strongest Adjusted EPS growth since 2013 and best year-over-year comparable sales performance since 2011;
Continued momentum in the core business with five consecutive quarters of positive comparable sales and seven consecutive quarters of positive footwear comparable sales;
DSW Kids expanded to every store and is a significant growth driver;
Digital demand grew over 30 percent;
Relaunched the VIP Program, which was named a Top Ten 2018 Most Innovative Loyalty Program by Shopify, in the company of well regarded programs such as Sephora, Amazon Prime and Starbucks. Our new program drove significant enrollment increases and contributed to higher brand engagement and retention rates and transactions per member;
Completed two major acquisitions that added two new segments, Canada Retail and Brand Portfolio, to the business; and
Further differentiated our in-store customer experience with the introduction of the W Nail Bar concept store, which generated significant revenues in its first year.
Full Year Operating Results
Total revenue increased 13.3 percent to $3.2 billion, including $310.0 million from the acquisitions of the Canadian business (Canada Retail Segment) and Camuto Group (Brand Portfolio Segment).
For the fifty-two week period, comparable sales increased by 6.1 percent compared to last year’s 0.4 percent decrease.
Reported gross profit, as a percent of sales, increased 100 bps due to lower product costs and occupancy leverage.
Reported operating expenses, as a percent of sales, increased 380 bps driven by increased marketing investments, higher incentive compensation, and the impact of acquisition-related costs, lease exit and restructuring charges.
Reported net loss was $20.5 million, or $0.26 loss per diluted share.
Adjusted net income was $134.9 million, or $1.66 per diluted share, which included a loss of $0.12 per diluted share from the wind down of operations for the exited businesses, which were not reflected in the company’s guidance.
Excluding the additional 53rd week in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2018 Adjusted net income grew 14.3 percent and Adjusted EPS grew 13.7 percent compared to the prior year.
On December 11, DSW raised its full year outlook for Adjusted EPS in the range of $1.70 to $1.85 per diluted share, compared to its previous range of $1.60 to $1.75 per diluted share. Guidance does not include charges related to exit costs, restructuring or acquisition-related expenses or the impact of exited businesses.
Balance Sheet Highlights
Cash and investments totaled $169 million at year-end 2018 compared to $301 million the prior year, and debt totaled $160 million at the end of fiscal 2018 compared to no debt outstanding at the end of the prior year reflecting the funding of two acquisitions and share repurchase activity in fiscal 2018.
The company ended the year with inventories of $645 million compared to $502 million at the end of fiscal 2017. Excluding inventories from the acquisitions, inventories per square foot increased by 5.9 percent year-over-year.
For the full year, the company repurchased a total of two million shares for a total of $47.5 million and has $476.6 million remaining under its share repurchase program. Since 2013, the company has returned $753 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.
Regular Dividend
DSW Inc.’s Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.25 per share. The dividend will be paid on April 12, 2019 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 1, 2019.
Long-Range Plan
The company also announced a 3-year Long-Range Plan, which the company will discuss in detail at its Investor Day today. The company will also provide its outlook for Fiscal 2019 at the Investor Day.
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Donald Glover Inks New Overall Deal with FX Productions + 'Atlanta' Won't Return Until 2018
Donald Glover Still basking in the glow of his 2 wins at Sunday's Golden Globe Awards ceremony for his hit new FX series "Atlanta," Donald Glover has decided to extend his relationship with FX, and has inked an overall deal with FX Productions that will see the multi-hyphenate develop new projects for FX and other networks or streaming services. And while he continues to write, produce, direct and star in "Atlanta," which was previously renewed for a second season, fans will have to wait until 2018 for the series to return because Glover will be busy this year, starting with his playing Lando Calrissian in the upcoming "Star Wars" Han Solo standalone film, which begins shooting this month. But anything good is worth the wait, right? “Donald is a remarkable artist, effortlessly shifting from actor to writer, producer, director and musician to create one amazing project after another,” said FX president of original programming Nick Grad. “'Atlanta' was just the beginning, the breakout comedy of the year and a series revered as much for its originality as its honest look at the experience of being aspiring, young and black in that legendary city. We’re proud to partner with Donald in an overall deal that will allow him to continue turning his creative vision into incredible television.” FX - one of my favorite basic cable TV networks when it comes to original scripted series - clearly recognizes talent and is intent on locking down Glover for as long as they can. No word on what other projects he's considering creating via this new deal with FX Productions, whether for the FX channel or other networks or streaming platforms. The specific terms of the deal were not released. In other FX news, "American Horror Story" has been renewed through 2019 — meaning expect at least 2 more seasons of the series, pushing it to 9. Although no word on what actors will return, like Angela Bassett, or Cuba Gooding Jr., Andre Holland and Adina Porter who all starred in the most recent season. The network also set premiere dates for its new Ryan Murphy anthology series "Feud" (Sunday, 5th March, 10pm), as well as the return of "The Americans" and The Americans" (Tuesday, March 7th, 10pm) and "Archer" ( Wednesday, April 5th, 10pm).
by Shadow and Act on April 20th 2017
POSTED IN: Television
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Category Archives: Pakistan Defence
Several experts said the prototype's body appeared to borrow from the F-22 and other U.S. stealth aircraft, but they couldn't tell from the photographs how advanced it was in terms of avionics, composite materials or other key aspects of stealth technology.
I am little busy these days so please hold on a next post in series “Nuclear Power Dilemma” will be up soon. Meanwhile, read the following two pieces appeared in New Scientist and The Wall Street Journal, both making same excuses, and seems to be in highly nervous. China’s J-20, stealth aircraft, is it really stealth or just looked stealthy? One of my posts last year I referenced to one Chinese military source citing the revelation of stealth aircraft and aircraft carrier by China. Though the quoted time I put was around 10 years according to Chinese authorities, but this I don’t really think is applicable. From my opinion, China is still far away in stealth arms race, however, I really do hope that J-20 is in real a handy stealth aircraft and waiting anxiously for more on the issue. Anyway, have a read, I will soon update the blog with my recent post.
Has China’s new jet launched a stealth arms race?
China’s first flight test of its new high-tech J-20 stealth military jet on 11 January has drawn a lot of attention, particularly because it came during the visit of US defense secretary Robert Gates. What it means is another question, and the answers are complex. Military analysts had known China was developing a combat plane in the class of the US F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, but they had not expected it to make its first appearance in December, Aviation Week and Space Technology reported. Several high-speed ground tests, in which the craft’s front wheel rose off the ground, preceded the first flight.
China has released videos of the new jet on the ground, taking off, and landing at Chengdu. The New York Times quoted a Hong Kong analyst as saying the plane flew for 15 minutes over the airfield. With two distinctive angled tail fins like those of the F-22, it’s clearly intended to be stealthy. The Times also reports it is intended carry missiles and fly long distances when refueled in the air. The demonstration worries some analysts because it’s the first aircraft to challenge the performance of the F-22, the top of the US air force’s fleet. “We have become accustomed to a world where our air power is dominant,” Rand Corporation analyst Roger Cliff told Newsweek. “But that dominance is now in question.” Once the J-20 is deployed, in that scenario, US top guns would lose their high-performance stealth advantage and no longer rule the skies. o so fast, says Aviation Week. New, more powerful radars using active electronically scaled arrays can pick up fainter and fainter targets, and are fast catching up to stealth technology. “Anti-stealth will bring into question all stealth designs,” it says, hinting that the US may already have airborne radars able to spot stealth aircraft.
Moreover, perfecting stealth technology takes time. The US started its F-22 programme in the 1980s. To an experienced eye, the stealthy look of the Chinese jet “is just sort of cobbled together,” Teal group analyst Richard Aboulafia told The Wall Street Journal . He thinks China may be able to deploy the new aircraft in a decade, but by then the US should have better technology.
That sounds eerily familiar. We used to call it an arms race.
Actual Article
China’s J-20 Fighter: Stealthy or Just Stealthy-Looking?
When the First grainy images of China’s J-20 fighter appeared online, they seemed to confirm the fears of some China watchers: Beijing appeared to be on track to develop a “fifth generation” aircraft that featured the radar-eluding properties of advanced U.S. aircraft like the F-22 Raptor. But exactly how stealthy is the J-20? And does it mean that China can challenge the U.S. for control of the skies? In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Richard Aboulafia, an aviation analyst with the Teal Group, an aerospace and defense consulting firm, said China is still years away from perfecting stealth aircraft. “It’s certainly stealthy-looking,” Mr. Aboulafia said. It looks like it’s got some of the faceting and some of the shaping that characterizes the front of the F-22, for example. “But then you look the details and you realize this thing is just sort of cobbled together,” he added. Take, for instance, the canards: forewings close to the nose of the aircraft that provide maneuverability. According to Mr. Aboulafia, “There’s no better way of guaranteeing a radar reflection and compromise of stealth” than adding canards to the aircraft. The same goes for the engine nozzles, which Mr. Aboulafia said were clearly not designed to be stealthy, as well the large overall size of the aircraft. Still, appearance of the J-20 prototype was a dramatic prelude to Chinese President Hu Jintao’s visit to Washington this week. But Mr. Aboulafia said that China still lacks the command-and-control networks, aerial refueling capabilities and other systems that allow the U.S. to project air power around the globe. What China does seem to be on track to produce, Mr. Aboulafia said, were aircraft that may eventually be on par with fighters like the F-22, which was designed by the U.S. in the 1980s. “It’s quite possible that in 10 years they have a functioning equivalent of the F-22, but by then, the West will have moved on to something far more impressive,” he said.
China’s New Stealth Race
And off-course don’t forget to hit a review of China’s New Stealth Race, first published after appearance of J-20 on TV on Wall Street Journal U.S. officials played down Chinese advances on the plane, which American intelligence agencies believe will likely be operational around 2018. “We are aware that the Chinese have recently been conducting taxi tests and there are photos of it,” said Pentagon spokesman Col. David Lapan. “We know they are working on a fifth-generation fighter but progress appears to be uneven.” China has made rapid progress in developing a capability to produce advanced weapons, also including unmanned aerial vehicles, after decades of importing and reverse engineering Russian arms. The photographs throw a fresh spotlight on the sensitive issue of China’s military modernization just as Washington and Beijing try to improve relations following a series of public disputes in 2010. The Chinese prototype looks like it has “the potential to be a competitor with the F-22 and to be decisively superior to the F-35,” said Mr. Fisher. The J-20 has two engines, like the F-22, and is about the same size, while the F-35 is smaller and has only one engine. China’s stealth-fighter program has implications also for Japan, which is considering buying F-35s, and for India, which last month firmed up a deal with Russia to jointly develop and manufacture a stealth fighter.
The J-20 currently has two prototypes for test flight. One use the Russian AL-31 engines, and the other use the Chinese WS-10G engines, which are newer and provide more thrust. The Chinese counterpart of the X-37B, named “Shenlong”, did make the maiden flight in 2010. The program is very secretive and rarely known to the outside world. The entire J-20 project were created to defeat the F-22, and chances are, if a common analyst can think of a problem, real aerospace engineers would have thought of it too, and then found a solution. America had a head start, with post war German technology and brainpower transfer taking a large portion of the credit, however head start will only give you the lead for a while, its the smarter ones that’ll lead int he long run. As Professor Keith Hayward, Head of Research, Royal Aeronautical Society, notes in an upcoming analysis of the Chinese aerospace industry for the February issue of Aerospace International magazine: “China’s wider commercial relationships with developing world states are also providing useful leverage in forging deals.” China, then wants to move from just producing aircraft for its own domestic consumption, and a red-hot product like the J-20 could help it achieve this, far more than any slightly overweight A320 lookalike like the C919. Furthermore, with ‘Western-equivalent’ Chinese AAMs missiles to ‘bundle’ it with, any nation buying a J-20 would get an extremely capable weapon system – that will be ‘good enough’ for the majority of air forces and cheap enough to buy in siginficant numbers. Engines, too, are as of the moment an unknown. Previously reliant on Russia for engines any, development in powerplants would signify a greater leap forward than the pure airframe and some analysts have suggested a new Chinese engine, the Shenyang WS 15 may power the J-20. However, notably the J-20 also uses a divertless supersonic intake (DSI) and is only the third aircraft to sport this feature after the F-35 and Pakistan Air Force’s JF-17, suggesting that Chinese experience with this technology has been successful so far and it has brought benefits. armament China is now making great strides in guided weapons of all types. Its AMRAAM-type AAM, the PL-12, reportedly outranges the original US weapon. A short-range dogfight missile, the PL-ASR has been described as ‘very scary’ by one western missile expert. Meanwhile China is reported to be working on a long-range ramjet powered missile – the PL-13 comparable to Europe’s MBDA Meteor which, if introduced today, would outrange anything in the (white) US inventory. In short, Western missile experts in private are noticeably rattled by this progress and maintain that any gap in quality between western and Chinese air-to-air weaponry is fast closing.I sincerely hope best for J-20, by no means argue with Chinese abilities to compete in stealth race.
Filed under Air Defence, Barak Obama, Chengdu Aircraft, China, China Air Force, China Defence, Chinease Defence, Chinese Defence, F-22, F-22 raptor, F-35, Fifth Generation Combat Aircraft, J-20, PAk-FA, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Air Force F16, Pakistan Air Force JF 17, Pakistan Defence, Rao Qamar Suleman, Stealth China, Wall Street
Tagged as air forces of the world, chinese internet, f-35, f22, j-20 china, pak-fa, people's liberation army, stealth race, US DoD
AESAs aim their "beam" by broadcasting radio energy that interfere constructively at certain angles in front of the antenna. They improve on the older passive electronically scanned radars by spreading their broadcasts out across a band of frequencies, which makes it very difficult to detect over background noise. AESAs allow ships and aircraft to broadcast powerful radar signals while still remaining stealthy. Above is AESA on F22
The AN/APG-77 is a multifunction radar installed on the F-22 Raptor fighter aircraft. It is one of the most advanced radar today. More than 100 APG-77 AESA radars have been produced to date by Northrop Grumman, and much of the technology developed for the APG-77 is being used in the APG-81 radar for the F-35 Lightning II. The APG-77v1 was installed on F-22 Raptors from Lot 5 and on. This provided full air-to-ground functionality (high-resolution synthetic aperture radar mapping, ground moving target indication and track (GMTI/GMTT), automatic cueing and recognition, combat identification, and many other advanced features).
APG-77 is based on Active Electronically Steered Array (AESA) technology. The AESA includes multiple individual active transmit/receive (T/R) elements within the antenna. Depending upon the precise implementation, there may be anywhere between 1000 and 2000 of these individual T/R elements which, together with the RF feed, comprise the AESA antenna. As for the passive ESA, these elements are highly redundant and the radar can continue to operate with a sizeable percentage of the devices inoperative. This graceful redundancy feature means that the radar antenna is extremely reliable; it has been claimed that an AESA antenna will outlast the host aircraft. The fact that the transmitter elements reside in the antenna itself means there is no standalone transmitter – there is an exciter but that is all. As before, there is clearly a need for a receiver as well as an RDP and signal processor. The active T/R elements are controlled in the same way as the phase shifters on the passive ESA, either by using a beam-steering computer (BSC) or by embedding the beam-steering function in the RDP.
The ability to control many individual T/R modules by software means confers the AESA with immense flexibility of which only a few examples are: First each radiating element may be controlled in terms of amplitude and phase, and this provides superior beam-shaping capabilities for advanced radar modes such as terrainfollowing, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and inverse SAR (ISAR) modes. Secondly Multiple independently steered beams may be configured using partitioned parts of the multidevice array. Thirdly If suitable care is taken in the design of the T/R module, independent steerable beams operating on different frequencies may be accommodated and Finally The signal losses experienced by the individual T/R cell approach used in the AESA also bring considerable advantages in noise reduction, and this is reflected in improved radar performance.
The AN/APG-80 system is described as "agile beam", and can perform air-to-air, search-and-track, air-to-ground targeting and aircraft terrain-following functions simultaneously and for multiple targets. As a SAR system utilizing NG's fourth-generation transmitter/receiver technologies, it has a higher reliability and twice the range of older, mechanically-scanned AN/APG-68 radar systems. Above is F-16 APG-80 Radar
One dramatic improvement is the noise figure; it is especially significant achieving such an improvement so early in the RF front end. This results in a remarkable range improvement for the AESA radar. A number of US fighter aircraft are being fitted or retrofitted with AESA radars, these are F-22 Raptor, F-18E/F (Upgrade version) fitted with AN/APG-79, F-16E/F (Block 60) fitted with AN/APG-80, F-15 and F-35 fitted with AN/APG-81. Taking for example F-16, it is interesting to see a dofference in performance between two batches (Block 50) and Block 60. Former had target detection radar range of 50 miles, which was improved to 70 miles with AESA radards (for reference F-22 covers 125miles range). The F-16 Block 60 (now the F-16E/F) shows an improvement from 45 to 70 nm (þ55%), while the F-15C range has increased from 60 to 90 nm (þ50%). Apart from the obvious improvement in range, it has been stated by a highly authentic source that AESA radar confers 10–30 times more in radar operational capability compared with a conventional radar (Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force, 2001).
The F-16E (single seat) and F-16F (two seat) are newer F-16 variants. The Block 60 version is based on the F-16C/D Block 50/52 and has been developed especially for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It features improved AN/APG-80 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, avionics, conformal fuel tanks (CFTs), and the more powerful GE F110-132 engine. However the batch bought by Pakistan Air Force (F-16C/D) is equipped with AN/APG-68 (V)9 Radar Systems. Only the Block 60 aircraft, destined for the UAE, are to be equipped with a more advanced version – the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. The APG-68(V)9 offers 30 percent increase in detection range, improved search-while-track mode (four vs. two tracked targets) and larger search volume and improved track while scan performance. Its single target track performance has also been improved. On air/ground missions, the new radar becomes an effective sensor, utilizing its high-resolution synthetic aperture radar mode, which allows the pilot to locate and recognize tactical ground targets from considerable distances. Although previous radars had some Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capabilities, the new version generates imagery-class (2 feet resolution) high resolutions pictures, comparable to pictures delivered by the most modern commercial satellites. These pictures can be acquired from very long range, at all weather conditions and provide an effective, real-time source for the targeting of long range, precision guided weapons. The radar also has increased detection range in sea surveillance mode, and enhanced ground moving target identification and mappinc capability. The radar features an inertial measurement unit that improves dynamic tracking performance and provides an auto-boresight capability, which increases accuracy.
Filed under AESA, APG-68, APG-80, Electronic Warfare, F-16, F-22, F-22 raptor, F-35, F/A-18, Fifth Generation Combat Aircraft, Flight Simulation, FLIR Systems, Foreign Office Pakistan, Lockheed martin F-16, Pakistan, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Air Force F16, Pakistan Air Force JF 17, Pakistan Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan Defence, Pakistan-Afghnistan Border, RADAR, Radars, Radio Frequency, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aviation, Sixth Generation Fighter Jet, US Department of Defense, US Navy
Tagged as AESA, APG-68, APG-80, electronic warfare, F-16, pakistan air force
January 2, 2011 · 1:49 am
'I am well aware of Air developments in other countries and my Government is determined that the Royal Pakistan Air Force will not lag behind. M A Jinnah
This post is an effort to understand and articulate the power of information superiority in warfare from a Joint perspective. War is a product of its age. The tools and tactics of how we fight have always evolved along with technology. Often in the past, military organizations pioneered both the development of technology and its application. Such is not the case today. The advant of Information Technology, has changed the meaning of war. As I highlighted in some of my previous posts War today is no more same as war few decades back – here I am pointing to Electronic Warfare, Network Centric Warfare, Use of Artificial Intelligence in Battlefield, Unmanned Vehicles and so on. This post however, is to see how Network Centric Warfare (NCW) embodies the characteristics of the Information Age; and to identify the challenges in transforming this concept into a real operational capability. For more on Electronic Warfare and Artificial Intelligence see my following posts: Intellegent Warfare Electronic Support Measures and War Toys – Artificial Intelligence on Battlefield. I intend to show that How Well did Pakistan Air Force understands the Network Centric Warfare.
Society has changed. The underlying economics and technologies have changed. So we should be surprised if Global forces’ did not. For nearly 200 years, the tools and tactics of how we fight have evolved with military technologies. Now, fundamental changes are affecting the very character of war. Who can make war is changing as a result of weapons proliferation and the fact that the tools of war increasingly are marketplace commodities. By extension, these affect the where, the when, and the how of war. In 1998, U.S Navy published a report on the origin of Network Centric Warfare and how U.S Society and Business has adapted it. This report pointed out the transition from “platform-centric warfare” to “network-centric warfare”: It further goes on and suggested:
Network-centric warfare and all of its associated revolutions in military affairs grow out of and draw their power from the fundamental changes in American society. These changes have been dominated by the co-evolution of economics, information technology, and business processes and organizations, and they are linked by three themes:
– The shift in focus from the platform to the network
– The shift from viewing actors as independent to viewing them as part of a continuously adapting ecosystem
– The importance of making strategic choices to adapt or even survive in such changing ecosystems
These changes in the dimensions of time and space are increasing the pace of events, or operating tempo, in many different environments. Responsiveness and agility are fast becoming the critical attributes for organizations hoping to survive and prosper in the Information Age. With little observation of what is going around in Business, and civil sectors I don’r think that it is wrong to say that – the changes these affecting these organisations due to the advant of Information Technology are driven by changes in the environments they operate and capabilities they have in their disposal. Similarly, for military battle space has changed and become a case of Information Superiority. So what exactly is NCW and Why networking?
Network Centric Warfare
From a broad perspective the introduction of networking techniques into warfighting systems is the military equivalent of the digitisation and networking drive we observed in Western economies between 1985 and 1995. Military networking, especially between platforms, is far more challenging than industry networking due to the heavy reliance on wireless communications, high demand for security, and the need for resistance to hostile jamming. The demanding environmental requirements for military networking hardware are an issue in their own right.A high speed network permits error free transmission in a fraction of the time required for voice transmission, and permits transfer of a wide range of data formats. In a more technical sense, networking improves operational tempo (optempo) by accelerating the Observation-Orientation phases of Boyd’s Observation-Orientation-Decision-Action (OODA) loop. Identified during the 1970s by US Air Force strategist John Boyd, the OODA is an abstraction which describes the sequence of events whihc must take place in any military engagement. The opponnent must be observed to gather information, the attacker must orient himself to the situation or context, then decide and act accordingly.
Observation-Orientation-Decision are all about gathering information, distributing information, analysing information, understanding information and deciding how to act upon this information. The faster we can gather, distribute, analyse, understand information, the faster we can decide, and arguably the better we can decide how and when to act in combat. Networking is a mechanism via which the Observation-Orientation phases of the loop can be accelerated, and the Decision phase facilitated. Well implemented networking can contribute to improved effectiveness in other ways. One such technique is ‘self synchronisation’ which permits ‘directive control’. Rather than micromanage a warfighting asset with close control via a command link tether, warfighters are given significant autonomy, defined objectives, and allowed to take the initiative in how they meet these objectives.
NCW focuses on the combat power that can be generated from the effective linking or networking of the warfighting enterprise. It is characterized by the ability of geographically dispersed forces (consisting of entities) to create a high level of shared battlespace awareness that can be exploited via self-synchronization. Furthermore, NCW is transparent to mission, force size, and geography. The mathematical bottom line in NCW is a very simple one: networking can permit a significant improvement in operational tempo, where a shortage of targeting information is the bottleneck to achieving a high operational tempo, but networking itself has very little impact on the absolute ability of a force to deliver weapons against targets, that being constrained by the capabilities and number of combat platforms in use.
It can be argued that networking produce its greatest gains in combat effect during battlefied strike and close air support operations, especially against highly mobile and fleeting ground targets. No less interesting are the effects observed in demand for specific types of assets to support networked interdiction and strike operations. Air Power Australia – An Australian Defence THink tank, cites that: Bigger is better in the networked strike game, so much so that a recent discussion piece by US analyst Price Bingham in the ISR Journal predicted the demise of the classical battlefield interdiction tasked fighter-bomber, in favour of larger bombers and UCAVs. This is a direct challenge to the basic rationale for the Joint Strike Fighter family of battlefield interdiction and close air support fighters, and the longer term use of legacy designs like the F-16 and F/A-18 variants. According to those who are in favour of NCW, A key issue for all networking is the Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance capability supporting it. Networks like all computing systems obey the Garbage-In Garbage-Out rule – without accurate high quality ISR systems feeding the network, it is little more than high speed digital plumbing between platforms, with nothing useful to carry. However, one can equally finds the disadvantage of this In-Out system (i will come on this issue later).
U.S aside, Russia has capitalised on this by aggressively marketing ISR platforms like the A-50 AWACS, digital datalinking products – the Soviets were deeply enamoured of digital air defence networks – and counter ISR systems. The latter include long range AAMs like the R-172, R-37 and Kh-31 variants, as well as airborne and land mobile high power jamming equipment, and very long range SAMs like the S-400 and Imperator series. As the ranges of our sensors and weapons increase and as our ability to move information rapidly improves, we are no longer geographically constrained. Hence, in order to generate a concentrated effect, it is no longer necessary to concentrate forces.
The prerequisite for an NCW capability is the digitisation of combat platforms. A combat aircraft with a digital weapon system can be seamlessly integrated in an NCW environment by providing digital wireless connections to other platforms. Without the digital weapon system, and its internal computers, NCW is not implementable.
The term Network Centric Warfare also carries some baggage. By mistake, some have focused on communication networks, not on warfare or operations where the focus should rightly be.
Networks are merely a means to an end; they convey “stuff” from one place to another and they are the purview of technologists. NCW does not focus on network-centric computing and communications, but
rather focuses on information flows, the nature and characteristics of battlespace entities, and how they need to interact. NCW is all about deriving combat power from distributed interacting entities with significantly improved access to information.
There has been little effort to capitalise on the new technology of ad hoc network protocols, designed for self organising networks of mobile platforms, although the JTRS WNW effort looks promising. The DARPA GLOMO program in the late 1980s saw considerable seed money invested, but did not yield any publicised dramatic breakthroughs. Ad hoc networking remains a yet to be fully explored frontier in the networking domain, one which is apt to provide a decisive technology breakthrough for NCW.
Technological Challegnes
Security and Robustness of transmission, Transmission capacity, Message and signal routing, and Signal format and communications protocol compatibility are some issues concerning NCW. It is essential that dissimilar platforms and systems can communicate in an NCW environment. This problem extends not only to the use of disparate signal modulations and digital protocols, but to the use of partially incompatible implementations of what is ostensibly the same signal modulation or communications protocol.
Global Defence Industry
Most regional nations are now operating, deploying or shopping for Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) aircraft. Russia is actively marketing digital datalinks, like the TKS-2 and older APD-518, and marketing counter-ISR weapons like the Novator R-172 (KS-172) or Kh-31 series missiles. Russia is also marketing high power jamming equipment, especially pods using Digital RF Memory (DRFM) technology, and there is a good prospect of a Growler-ski based on the Su-32 materialising before the end of the decade.
In practical terms, by 2010-2015 regional opponents without AEW&C, long range counter-ISR missiles and jamming pods are likely to be the obliging exception to the rule. US thinking is not surprisingly centred in using F/A-22As to sanitise airspace permitting unhindered use of ISR platforms and networks, and the program to replace the lost capabilities of the EF-111A Raven with the B-52J or EB-52, equipped with high power stand-off jamming equipment to disrupt opposing networks and ISR sensors.
Pakistan Airforce and Network Centric Warfare
NCW must be properly understood before it can be used as a basis for strategic planning decisions. Clearly this was not been the case in many key areas of the Pakistan’s MoD. The situation however changes in 2010.
The Saab 2000 Erieye AEW&C, developed for the Pakistan Air Force, on display
JF-17 operation, new batch of F-16, inclusion of Saab 2000 erieye, and ZDK 03 AWACS aircarfts are all part of step taken by Pakistan Air Force, to meet the NCW and Electronic Warfare requirements, which indeed are less than none. SAAB signed an 8 billion kronor provisional contract to supply 6 Saab 2000 erieye to Pakistan, which was finalized in June 2006 at four aircraft, one of which has been delivered to date. This aircraft (shown above) incorporates the Erieye Radar System, and Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEWCS) and is based on based on the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.
The Erieye AEW&C mission system radar is an active, phased-array, pulse-Doppler sensor that can feed an onboard operator architecture or downlink data (via an associated datalink subsystem) to a ground-based air defence network. The system employs a large aperture, dual-sided antenna array housed in a dorsal ‘plank’ fairing. The antenna is fixed, and the beam is electronically scanned, which provides for improved detection and significantly enhanced tracking performance compared with radar-dome antenna systems. Erieye detects and tracks air and sea targets out to the horizon, and sometimes beyond this due to anomalous propagation — instrumented range has been measured at 450 km. Typical detection range against fighter-sized targets is approximately 425 km, in a 150° broadside sector, both sides of the aircraft. Outside these sectors, performance is reduced in forward and aft directions. Other system features include: Adaptive waveform generation (including digital, phase-coded pulse compression); Signal processing and target tracking; Track While Scan (TWS); Low sidelobe values (throughout the system’s angular coverage); Low- and medium-pulse repetition frequency operating modes; Frequency agility; Air-to-air and sea surveillance modes; and Target radar cross-section display.
Pakistan Air Force JF-17
JF-17 comprises of two VHF/UHF radios, one of them having capacity for data linking. The data link can be used to exchange data with ground control centres, AWACS/AEW aircraft and other combat aircraft also equipped with compatible data links. The ability to data link with other “nodes” such as aircraft and ground stations allows JF-17 to become part of a network, improving the situational awareness of the pilot as well as other entities in the network.
The JF-17 has a defensive aids system (DAS) made up of various integrated sub-systems. A radar warning receiver (RWR) gives data such as direction and proximity of enemy radars to the pilot and electronic warfare (EW) suite, housed in a fairing at the tip of the tail fin for greater coverage, that interferes with enemy radars. The EW suite is also linked to a missile approach warning (MAW) system to help it defend against radar-guided missiles. The MAW system uses several optical sensors mounted on the airframe (two of which can be seen at the base of the vertical stabiliser) that detect the rocket motors of missiles and gives 360 degree coverage. The DAS systems will also be enhanced by integration of a self-protection radar jamming pod which will be carried externally on one of the aircraft’s hardpoints. Electronic support measures and defensive aids are used extensively to gather information about threats or possible threats. DAS Systems – They can be used to launch devices (in some cases automatically) to counter direct threats against the aircraft. They are also used to determine the state of a threat and identify it. To my knowledge it uses KJ8602A Airborne Radar Warning Receiver. The KJ8602A airborne radar warning receiver (RWR) is designed to detect incoming radar signals; identify and characterise these signals to a specific threat; and alert the aircrew through the cockpit video/audio warning. The KJ8602A features several external antennae mounted on the vertical fin tip, both wingtips, and underneath the forward fuselage. Once the hostile radar signal is detected, the KJ8602A analyses those received signals and identify the signal sources according to the stored emitter identification data (EID), and alerts the pilot. The system can also automatically trigger the chaff/flare dispenser or other onboard ECM systems to counter the incoming threats.
The JF-17s in service with the PAF are fitted with an Italian Grifo S-7 multi-track, multi-mode, pulse Doppler radar radar. The radar has 25 working modes and a non-break-down time of 200 hours, and is capable of “look-down, shoot-down”, as well as for ground strike abilities. Alternatively, the aircraft can be fitted with the Thales RC400, GEC Marconi Blue Hawk, Russian Phazotron Zemchug/Kopyo, and Chinese indigenous KLJ-7 developed by Nanjing Research Institute of Electronics Technology (NRIET). The first 42 production aircraft currently being delivered to the Pakistan Air Force are equipped with the NRIET KLJ-7 radar. In December 2010, Pakistan Air Force’s Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar Suleman announced that KLJ-7 radar will be built at Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), in Kamra, north of Islamabad
The KLJ-7 uses a mechanically-steered slotted array antenna and bears similarities with the various Russian radars imported in the 1990s. Russian radar design houses Phazotron and NIIP had worked closely in the past with the Chinese radar design bureaus and provided technical assistance as well as operational models of Russian-made radar sets that were used as benchmarks in the process of these Chinese firms developing their own design. Up to 20 units of the Phazotron Zhemchoug ('Pearl) radar were imported in the mid-1990s for evaluation along with 2 units of Phazotron (NIIR) RP-35, which is the upgraded version of the Zhemchoug
The KLJ-7 has multiple modes, both beyond-visual-range (BVR) and close-in air-to-air modes, ground surveillance modes and a robust anti-jamming capability. The radar can reportedly manage up to 40 targets, monitor up to 10 of them in track-while-scan (TWS) mode and simultaneously fire on two BVR targets. The detection range for targets with a radar cross-section of 5 square meters is stated to be ≥105 km (≥85 km in look-down mode). Surface sea targets can be detected at up to 135 km. It has been reported that KLJ-7 also has modes to support a range of NATO weaponry, including the Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder short-range and AIM-7 Sparrow medium-range air-to-air missiles. The RADAR operates at Ground Moving Target Indication/Ground Moving Target Track (GMTI/GMTT), Range While Search (RWS), Sea Single Target Track (SSTT), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Doppler Beam Sharpening (DBS), Situational Awareness Mode (SAM), Velocity Search (VS) and many other. Pakistan’s move to develop these RADARS at home, and extending their capibility to next level will surely provide them an advantage over its compitators.
Four Chinese ZDK-03 AEW&C aircraft have also been ordered. Which are PAF-specific version of the KJ-200, incorporating a Chinese AESA radar similar to the Erieye mounted on the Shaanxi Y-8F600 transport aircraft. Currently PAF’s No.24 Blinders squadron operates three Dassault Falcon 20 aircraft in the ELINT (Electronic signals intelligence) and ECM (Electronic countermeasures) roles. Former refers to intelligence-gathering by use of electronic sensors. Its primary focus lies on non-communications signals intelligence. The data gathered are typically pertinent to the electronics of an opponent’s defense network, especially the electronic parts such as radars, surface-to-air missile systems, aircraft, etc. ELINT can be used to detect ships and aircraft by their radar and other electromagnetic radiation; commanders have to make choices between not using radar (EMCON), intermittently using it, or using it and expecting to avoid defenses. ELINT can be collected from ground stations near the opponent’s territory, ships off their coast, aircraft near or in their airspace, or by satellite. However, ECM, are a subsection of electronic warfare which includes any sort of electrical or electronic device designed to trick or deceive radar, sonar or other detection systems, like infrared (IR) or lasers. It may be used both offensively and defensively to deny targeting information to an enemy. The system may make many separate targets appear to the enemy, or make the real target appear to disappear or move about randomly. It is used effectively to protect aircraft from guided missiles (refer to my precvious post for ECM and ESM).
The Shaanxi Y-8 or Yunshuji-8 aircraft is a medium size medium range transport aircraft produced by Shaanxi Aircraft Company in China, based on the Soviet Antonov An-12.
KJ-200, incorporates an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Radar (aka active phased array radar). This radar possess many advantages over conventional passive scanned radar, one is that the different modules can operate on different frequencies. Additionally, the solid-state transmitters are able to broadcast effectively at a much wider range of frequencies, giving AESAs the ability to change their operating frequency with every pulse sent out. AESAs can also produce beams that consist of many different frequencies at once, using post-processing of the combined signal from a number of transmitter-receiver modules (TRMs) to re-create a display as if there was a single powerful beam being sent. AESAs are so much more difficult to detect, and so much more useful in receiving signals from the targets, that they can broadcast continually and still have a very low chance of being detected. This allows the radar system to generate far more data than if it is being used only periodically, greatly improving overall system effectiveness. Similar type is featured on F-22 and F/A 18 Super Hornet.
Critics of NCW argue that system is prone to Chaos, and thus link the system with Chaos Theory – to some extent they are right, but as I have mentioned earlier, system integration in NCW is no easy, and prone to may fatel error if neglected. As far as PAF analysis is concerned, I have treid my best to include what I could and keep it simple. However, I will include the advances from Navy side some other time. Also, if reader is interested to explore more about the Network Centric Warfare, please refer to US DoD Report to Congress and Thought Systems and Network Centric Warfare
Filed under Chaos Theory, Dopplar Radar, Electronic Counter Measures, EMCON, Erieye radar, F-22, Foreign Office Pakistan, GMTI/GMTT, KJ8602A, KLJ-7, Network Centric Warfare, OODA, Pak-Af, Pakistan, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Air Force F16, Pakistan Air Force JF 17, Pakistan Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan Defence, Pakistan Navy, Pakistan-China, Pakistan-India Wars, RADAR, Rao Qamar Suleman, RC400, Russia, S-300 Missiles, S-400 missiles, Saab 2000 Erieye, Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aviation, U.S DoD, ZDK 03
Tagged as electronic warfare, JF-17, KJ8602A, KLJ-7 radar, Mirage, network centric war, pakistan air force, radar, RC400, Saab 2000 erieye, ZDK 03
Dilemmas of Small Nuclear Forces, 4-series of articles highlighting the Nuclear Doctrine of Pakistan, its command and control system. The series contain 3 articles: First article (below) explore the Rise of Nuclear Deterrence, Second: is subjected to Post-1998 Doctrinal Contemplation, Third: Confidence-Building Measures between India and Pakistan, and Fourth: concludes with the military objectives of Pakistan’s nuclear weapons and highlights from the Nuclear Security Summit 2010.
A doctrine could be defined as a set of principles formulated and applied for a specific purpose, working towards a desired goal or aim. A nuclear doctrine would consequently consist of a set of principles, and instructions for the employment or non-employment of nuclear weapons and other associated systems. Until 2005, India and Pakistan were the only states outside the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to declare, openly, their nuclear weapons capability. In 1998, they tested nuclear weapons and since then, deployed ballistic missiles, enunciated nuclear doctrine, and made organizational changes to their nuclear establishments. In 2002, they teetered on the brink of war in Kashmir. The second half of this article dilate somewhat the factors that have conceived the concept which has formulated the nuclear doctrine of Pakistan. I certainly believe that in South Asia a balance of power cannot be maintained by conventional means alone. This article endeavours to construct a proto Pakistani nuclear use doctrine from its declaratory and operational postures, in particular from the statements and interviews of the Pakistani political and military leaders and government officials. Initially reflecting upon its pre-1998 nuclear strategy, which has got critical implications for the post-tests doctrinal contemplation.
Pakistan is believed to have been developing a nuclear capability since the early 1970s. In May 1998, Pakistan responded to India’s nuclear tests by testing a series of nuclear weapons and declaring itself a nuclear weapon power. Pakistan, like India, has supported comprehensive disarmament proposals at the United Nations and Conference on Disarmament, but did not join the CTBT for similar reasons as India. Pakistan has proposed a number of bilateral or regional initiatives which India has not supported. These include a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in South Asia and joining the NPT. India opposes these on the grounds that they do not address the nuclear threat India faces from China and the other NWS. Pakistan and India have concluded a number of bilateral confidence building measures including a hot-line agreement and an agreement not to attack each other’s nuclear power facilities.
While all these (including Pakistan, India, North Korea and Israel) small nuclear powers are in the process of developing their nuclear force structures, two key questions that have arisen are: How, when and for what purposes do they plan to use nuclear weapons? And what command. The word “small” here distinguishes these nation and their doctrines from U.S.A, UK, France and Russia. Prime focus is to understand the emerging structure of Pakistan’s Nuclear Doctrine.
President Barack Obama greets Pakistan's Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington April 12, 2010. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
In The Myth of Independence, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (president of Pakistan in December 1971) argued that modern wars should be conceived of as total wars, and in this type of war Pakistan needed nuclear weapons. Bhutto’s thinking, as will be analysed below, had far-reaching impacts on Pakistan’s nuclear strategy, and on its doctrinal contemplation. Soon after assuming Presidency of Pakistan on 20th December 1971 he took the decision to initiate a nuclear weapons project. This decision was taken against the backdrop of three specific factors: firstly, it was a direct consequence of the 1971 war where Pakistan’s conventional inferiority was demonstrated for the third time, at the cost of almost half of its territory; secondly, Pakistani leaders in general (particularly Bhutto) were convinced that India was determined to build a nuclear arsenal; and thirdly, Bhutto believed that only nuclear weapons could guarantee the national survival of Pakistan against the Indian threat.8 It is evident that Pakistan’s nuclear weapons project was initiated to deter Indian nuclear as well as conventional aggression, an aim that endured in the subsequent years and today constitutes one of the central pillars of Pakistan’s nuclear use doctrine.
Brass Tacks Crisis – First Nuclear Deterrence Posture [1986-1987]
After India and Pakistan held nuclear tests in 1998, experts have debated whether their nuclear weapons contribute to stability in South Asia. Experts who argue that the nuclear standoff promotes stability have pointed to the U.S.-Soviet Union Cold War as an example of how deterrence ensures military restraint.
First employment of Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent stratagy was during the 1986-1987 brasstacks crisis between India and Pakistan. With the crisis peaking in January 1987, India had deployed 400,000 troops, or about half the Indian army, within 100 miles of Pakistan. It began when India had launched the largest ever military exercises in the subcontinent, called Operation Brass Tacks. The exercise would take place not in India’s far north, where the always tense state of Kashmir is located, but in the desert area of Rajastan, a few hundred miles from the Pakistani border, which, a the Pakistani government was sure to note, was and ideal location from which to launch a cross border operation into the Pakistani state of Sindh that could cut Pakistan in half. The exercises included bulk of Indian Army, and was comprised of the nine infantry, three mechanised, three armoured and one air assault divisions, and three armoured brigades under four corps HQ with all theparaphernalia for a real war, concentrated on Pakistan’s sensitive border areas. This was bigger than any NATO exercise – and the biggest since World War II. Also planned was an ambitious amphibious operation by the Indian Navy with one division, in Korangi area of Karachi. Another feature of the exercise was a decision by General Sundarji to integrate Indias special weapons, including tactical nuclear into day-to day field maneuvers of the troops.
Pakistani military analysts saw Brass Tacks as a threatening exhibition of an overwhelming conventional force. Some even suspected that India wanted to launch swift surgical strikes at the Sikh terrorists’ training and planning sites inside Pakistan. Pakistan responded with maneuvers of its own that were located close to India’s state of Punjab. The crisis atmosphere was heightened when Pakistan’s premier nuclear scientist Abdul Qadir Khan revealed in a March 1987 interview that Pakistan had manufactured a nuclear bomb. Although Khan later retracted his statement, India stated that the disclosure was “forcing us to review our option.” Interview by Dr A.Q Khan’s interview to Indian journalist, Kuldip Nayar records:
what the CIA has been saying about our possessing the bomb is correct and so is the speculation of some foreign newspapers … They told us that Pakistan could never produce the bomb and they doubted my capabilities, but they now know we have done it … Nobody can undo Pakistan or take us for granted. We are there to stay and let it be clear that we shall use the 10 bomb if our existence is threatened.
Formal and impromptu talks between the leaders of the two countries finally resulted in a number of new CBMs between India and Pakistan. These were important and covered a number of areas. For example, the Agreement on the Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and Facilities was signed on December 31, 1988, in Islamabad by the two foreign secretaries and witnessed by the two prime ministers, Rajiv Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto, respectively. Earlier fears of impending attack on the facilities resulting in an all-out war fed the need for the agreement.
Kashmir – Second Nuclear Deterrence Posture [1990]
Kashmir has been a flashpoint since Indian and Pakistani independence in 1947. Many analysts have feared that nuclear weapons could be used if conventional hostilities over Kashmir were to spiral out of control, especially if, as in 1965 Indo-Pakistan conflict
Pakistan again advanced a nuclear deterrent posture in 1990 in the context of a spiralling crisis over the disputed territory of Kashmir, which developed against the backdrop of an acute separatist insurgency in the Indian. Reportedly, New Delhi planned for surgical air strikes against the militant training camps inside Pakistani territory, which prompted Islamabad to assemble a crude nuclear bomb and modify several American supplied F-16 aircrafts for its delivery. The crisis was eventually averted through diplomatic intervention from Washington, but Islamabad firmly believed that Pakistan’s deterrence posture prevented India from carrying out the planned strike. This crisis also marked the emergence of a nascent mutual nuclear deterrence in the Indo-Pakistani context.
Command and Control of Nuclear Deterrence
What did emerge during this period, primarily in the context of the 1986-87 Brasstacks crisis and the 1990 Kashmir episode, was a general notion of nuclear deterrence, which implied that Pakistan would use nuclear weapons to counter India’s nuclear as well as conventional aggression. to build a robust nuclear command structure. However, former Army chief of staff General Mirza Aslam Beg has claimed that the Pakistani leadership realised the necessity of establishing a command structure,
given the tension, mutual mistrust and suspicion between India and Pakistan, it is dangerously tempting for each to launch an attack before being attacked which could escalate to a nuclear level.
Bhutto had established a National Nuclear Command Authority (NNCA) in the 1970s, which institutionalised the nuclear decision-making and assumed the responsibility of developing a nuclear force structure and appropriate alert posture. (‘NNCA Responsible for Safeguarding Nuclear Programme, The News, 2 June 1998).
Pakistan Nuclear Capabilities and Thinking
Most observers (SIPRI Yearbook 1995, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, 1998) estimate that Pakistan has enough nuclear material (highly enriched uranium and a small amount of plutonium) for 30 to 50 nuclear weapons. Like India, Pakistan is thought to have a small stockpile of nuclear weapons components and can probably assemble some weapons fairly quickly. Pakistan could deliver its nuclear weapons using F-16s (shown above) it purchased from the United States provided the appropriate “wiring” has been added to make them nuclear-capable. In the 1980s, Pakistan moved assiduously to acquire ballistic missile capabilities and now deploys short-range ballistic missiles and a small number of medium-range missiles. AQ Khan, former head of Khan Research Laboratories, maintained that only the medium-range Ghauri missiles would be usable in a nuclear exchange (given fall-out effects for Pakistan of shorter-range missiles). Other observers view the 30 to 50 Hatf2 short-range (300km) missiles (modified Chinese M-11s) as potential delivery vehicles for nuclear weapons. Ghauri missiles (1350 and 2300km), which reportedly are based on the North Korean No-Dong and Taepo-Dong-1, are capable of reaching New Delhi with large payloads.
It is believed that Because of its fears of being overrun by larger Indian forces, Pakistan has rejected the doctrine of no-first-use. In May 2002, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram, stated that “We have not said we will use nuclear weapons. We have not said we will not use nuclear weapons. We possess nuclear weapons. So does India ...We will not neutralize the deterrence by any doctrine of no first use
On June 4, 2002, President Musharraf went a step further then his UN ambassador sna stated that: “The possession of nuclear weapons by any state obviously implies they will be used under some circumstances. In recent years, Pakistan apparently has taken steps toward refining command and control of nuclear weapons. In April 1999, General Musharraf announced that the Joint Staff Headquarters would have a command and control arrangement and a secretariat, and a strategic force command would be established. With some experience and the passage of time a degree of sophistication will certainly be introduced in Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine of the first-use of nuclear weapons to provide the government more options in the use of nuclear weapons. This would also avoid unessential collateral damage to cities and other population centres in both countries. The object would be to employ nuclear weapons if attacked yet cause the least civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.
Refferences
Escalation Control in South Asia,’ in Escalation Control and Nuclear Option in South Asia, eds M. Krepon, R. W. Jones, and Z. Haider, The Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington, D.C., 2004, p. 89.
Z. A. Bhutto, The Myth of Independence, Oxford University Press, Lahore, 1969, p. 153.
B. Chakma, ‘Road to Chagai: Pakistan’s Nuclear Programme, Its Sources and Motivations, Modern Asian Studies, vol. 36, no. 4, 2002, p. 887.
P. Hoodbhoy, ‘Nuclear Deterrence – An Article of Faith,’ The News (Rawalpindi), 17 March 1993.
‘NNCA Responsible for Safeguarding Nuclear Programme, Says Beg,’ The News, 2 June 1998.
S. H. Hasan, ‘Command and Control of Nuclear Weapons in Pakistan,’ Swords and Ploughshares, vol. 9, no. 1, 1994, p. 13.
Images: Title: Nicholson cartoon (www.nicholsoncartoons.com.au), and Reuters
Filed under Al-Qaeda, ASN Technology, Asymmetric Weapons, Ballistic missiles, Barak Obama, Brass Tacks Crisis, Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, Centre for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA), China, China Defence, Chinease Defence, Chinese M-11, CIA, Cold War, Current Affairs, Dr A Q Khan, Drone Attacks Pakistan, F-16, Fifth Generation Combat Aircraft, Foreign Office Pakistan, General Pervez Mushuraf, Ghauri, Hatf2, India, India Special Weapons, Iran, ISI, Islamabad, Israel, Joint Staff Headquarters, Kashmir Conflict, Kuldip Nayar, Lockheed Martin, Lockheed martin F-16, Mirza Aslam Baig, Muslim World, Myth of Independence, National Nuclear Command Authority, NATO, New Delhi, NNCA Pakistan, No-Dong, Northa Korea, Nuclear Doctrine, Nuclear Security Summit 2010, Operation Brass Tacks, Pak-Af, Pakistan, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Air Force F16, Pakistan Air Force JF 17, Pakistan Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan Defence, Pakistan-Afghnistan Border, Pakistan-China, Pakistan-India Wars, President Musharraf, Quetta, Rao Qamar Suleman, S-300 Missiles, Safeguarding Nuclear Programme, shorter-range missiles, Sindh, South Asia, Taepo-Dong-1, The wilds of Waziristan, U.S Policy on Pakistan and Afghanistan, United Nations, US Department of Defense, Weapons of Mass Destruction, WMDs, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Tagged as ballistic missiles, China, CIA, Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan, Ghauri missiles, Hataf2, India, Myth of Independence, Nuclear doctrine, Nuclear weapons, Pakistan nukes, WMDs
Pakistan International Airlines – Losses Continue to Flow
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)’s public relations team seemed to be very active this month. A month started with Russian airspace closure to PIA’s flights – The restriction came at a time when Russia had liberalised its airspace through historic relaxation of its airspace regulations. According to the sources, this was resulted due to PIA’s late move to airspace renewal on-time. Since, Russia is a quickest way to get to Europe, this move offcourse have serious implictaions on ill-fated PIA, who is already suffering badly when it comes to figures. The move will result in 15 to 20 minutes of extra flying time for most of the flights from Pakistan to Europe, the United States and Canada and back and increase the cost of flights. About 80 flights a week using Russian airspace for overflight will be affected.
Getting Figures Right
The state-run airline currently services domestic and international routes with a fleet of Boeing 777, Boeing 747, Airbus A310, Boeing 737 and ATR-42 aircraft. PIA suffered a loss of 135.8 million dollars in the first nine months of the year, according to its third-quarter financial report posted on the airline’s website. Accumulated losses stood at 88 billion rupees (one billion dollars). The national flag-carrier plans to induct 16 new aircrafts, lay off over 4,000 non-essential employees and double its revenue though aggressive marketing in the next five years. Ailing state carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is asking the government, saddled with its own mounting debt, to write off losses of 1.7 billion dollars to save it from looming bankruptcy – Now this is like putting an extra burden on billion dollar debt government.
Violation of airline safety conduct
PIA was created out of private airline Orient Airways in 1955, just eight years after Pakistan came into existence, and today has a fleet of 40 planes, a combination of Boeing 747s, 777s, 737s, Airbuses and ATR aircraft. Performing well until the 1970s when corruption and overstaffing hit company fortunes, PIA’s reputation was further battered in the 1980s as it failed to maintain its fleet. The airline recently imposed new rules to force pilots to fly on its terms, after a row over working hours and pension benefits led pilots to adopt an unofficial “go slow” protest leading to flight delays. Pilots said they were routinely forced to fly 12 hours per day, two hours more than the civil aviation rules allow, and occasionally for as long as 18 hours. Violation of airline safety conduct is something of a norm to PIA, but its not just PIA, the recent accident of Airblue also rasied the issue to retiring age of Captain and number of flights. To my knowledge of travelling with national flag, PIA operates B777, from New York to Karachi/Lahore – the route in past was operated by B747, who was used to make regular stops at Manchester to pick/drop passengers. This has not only reduced the operating life of the aircraft but also, cabin environemnt was no less than an attraction to newly board passengers like me, who see half of the cabin full of dead bodies. Excessive operation of used jumbos, resulted in 747 ban to European airspace, which finally resulted in grounding these plans. Now same routine is being adapted by B777. Worse of all, I have also travelled in PIA’s A310-300 who marginally meets the distance requirements of 3500 nautical miles distance between Manchester and Lahore.With 9 Boeing 777 in service (both long and extended range) why I had to travel on A310, I simply don’t know, may B777 were busy somewhere else. So far most of the planes operational in PIA including new 777 is active on conventional manual controls – some not even incorportaing the Glass Cockpit technology. Almost any new highly automated aircraft is brought down technologically by PIA engineers. Its not that PIA’s pilots aren’t interested in new technology, its PIA who is not bother to spend on training.
Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) system
The national flag-carrier plans to induct 16 new aircrafts, lay off over 4,000 non-essential employees and double its revenue though aggressive marketing in the next five years. Under a five-year strategic programme, the PIA plans to acquire an Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) system and implement it across the organisation to streamline business processes, strengthen controls and introduce financial discipline. An ERP is an integrated computer-based application used to manage internal and external resources including tangible assets, financial resources, materials and human resources. Under the programme, a sound system of internal controls will be established. The management is set to have a zero-tolerance policy for fraud and irregularities. A set of strategies will be implemented to turn around operations and make PIA a sustainable and profitable entity.Growth in revenue will be achieved through induction of new aircraft and expansion of the existing network. The airline also plans to pass on the increase in fuel prices to customers as it believes that the rapid escalation of airline expenditure in the recent past is mainly due to an unprecedented increase in fuel prices. Realising that retention of ageing 747 aircraft means continued increase in maintenance cost, the old aircraft will be phased out. Replacing the ageing 737 aircraft is a priority while the A310 aircraft will be replaced as and when financial resources allow investment. The 737NG or A320 are being considered as replacement. ATRs (short-haul European aircraft) will be acquired to increase frequency and capacity on socio-economic routes. It is planned to retain all types of 777 and ATRs in the fleet beyond 2014. During Haj season one 777 will be acquired on wet lease in each year from 2012 to 2014 when an A310 is also planned to be inducted into the fleet. Operational restructuring and human resource rationalisation is also part of the survival and turnaround plan as overstaffing is one of the PIA’s main problems which involves significant costs, clogs communications channels, diverts management’s attention from key airline issues and makes job responsibilities more obscure.
Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) – if implemented it may serve the purpose, but I must point out that success of ERP implementation highly relies on investment in training (for IT personnel) as well as the coporate policy protection of the data, as well as controlling the way it is been used under ERP. I see this as a big transition, so big that I fear of the PIA implementation and data protection under ERP system. The blurring of company boundaries can cause problems in accountability, lines of responsibility, and employee morale. Furthermore, Once a system is established, switching costs are very high for any partner (reducing flexibility and strategic control at the corporate level).
Many have blamed privatisition and years of bad planning for the fate of PIA, it is actually the years of corruption, nepotism, bad management and poor planning, that is truely responsible for the loss the airline is suffering today.
Filed under Airbus A310-300, Boeing, Boeing 737 next generation, Boeing 777, Boeing 787, Engineering, Flight Global, Flight Simulation, Foreign Office Pakistan, Global Aviation, Islamabad, Manchester, Ministry of Defence Pakistan, Orient Airways, Pakistan, Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Pakistan Defence, Pakistan International Airlines
Tagged as Boeing 777 Pia, Orient Airways, PIA Boeing 777, PIA deficit, Russian airspace closure
Gurdians of Islamic Skies: Iran’s Claim to Soviet S-300 missile Replication
It was not a long ago when Iran kicked off one of its periodic air defense exercise, in order to protect their nuclear sites. Started on 16th November, the exercise lasted five days and featured Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and its paramilitary Basij forces joining in. Interestingly, The monitoring network of Iran’s air defense forces has discovered 194 previously unknown flying routes outside the country’s airspace, not only that Iranian Air Defense Forces has identified 1,612 flying routes (4 unknowns within the countary) inside the country, some are currently used by countary’s civilian airline industry. This identification resulted, during Iran’s Air Defence and Missile System tests, conducted same week. This air defence exercise was named Defenders of the Sky of Vellayat III
Iran has made contradictory claims about its plans for an S-300 substitute, a missile Iran was supposed to buy from Russia who made an abrupt about-face on a big U.S. priority, two months ago. S-300 is highly advanced anti-aircraft missile system. It’s easy to see why the Iranians want the S-300. The current anti-aircraft material they purchased from Russia is the TOR M-1, which is good for shooting down airplanes, helicopters or missiles from about 10 kilometers away. But the S-300 is a serious upgrade: it’s what the Soviets used during the last decade of the Cold War to protect its key installations from NATO cruise missiles and bombers. Versions developed in the late 1990s have a range of 200 kilometers and can even take out some ballistic missiles. Russia sold 29 Tor-M1 missile systems to Iran under a $700 million (£386 million) in 2008 (contract signed in 2005). When this latter deal was accomplished in 2008, defence analyset Dan Goure commented:
“If Tehran obtained the S-300, it would be a game-changer in military thinking for tackling Iran. That could be a catalyst for Israeli air attacks before it is operational,”
Russia has been Iran’s big-power benefactor on matters technical and military for the past decade-plus. But over the past year, it’s been pulled in different directions by the U.S.’s “Reset” strategy, an aggressive diplomatic push to hug Russia tightly. When Russia backed off, Iran now has a very serious message for Russia and the world The Iranian Defense Ministry announced that Tehran plans to produce long-range air defense missiles without foreign aid. Iran has made similarly bold claims about a new advanced and indigenously-built air defense radar. It announced last month that it was building an upgraded air defense radar system with a 3,000km range, an apparent improvement over its older 400km range systems.
“If the maximum range of our radar systems was 400km in the past, we have this good news for the people that we have started making a radar system covering an area with the radius of 3,000km which can identify all objects flying around the country at law altitudes,” Commander of Khatam ol-Anbia Air Defense Base Brigadier General Ahmad Miqani. The Iranian Defense Ministry had announced in October that the country has succeeded in improving the range of its mid-range Mersad missile defense system. Also, Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi announced at the same time that the country’s radar systems are capable of detecting every target in the air.
Iran SAMs - Photo Mehr
Referring to the production of radar equipment and instruments inside the country, he thre nother bold statement saying that:
“Iran has gained self-sufficiency in producing radar systems and it is no more dependant on any foreign countries in this ground”.
Damn Uncle SAM
Why on this plant S-300 is so important, where it has never fired a missile in a real conflict? Well to be honest this what its engineers say. The S-300 is a series of Russian long range surface-to-air missile systems (SAM). The S-300 system was developed to defend against aircraft and cruise missiles for the Soviet Air Defence Forces. Subsequent variations were developed to intercept ballistic missiles. Although never fired the missiles did got a chance to breath in open air, when they were deployed by Soviet Union in 1979, designed for the air defense of large industrial and administrative facilities, military bases, and control of airspace against enemy strike aircraft. The S-300 is regarded as one of the most potent anti-aircraft missile systems currently fielded. Its radars have the ability to simultaneously track up to 100 targets while engaging up to 12. S-300 deployment time is five minutes. An evolved version of the S-300 system is the S-400 – a missile capable of cruising at Mach 12 with the range of 400km. The S-400’s NATO reporting name is SA-21 Growler, and the system was previously known as S-300PMU-3. It overshadows the capabilities of the other systems from the S-300 series. Russia operates 5 battalions as of 2010 and will arm more before 2020. Although various variants of S-300 emerged, though they were all evolved from three basic configurations S-300P, S-300V, and S-300F. Latter is the naval version of S-300P with the range of 7–90 km and maximum target speed up to Mach 4 while engagement altitude was reduced to 25-25,000 m (100-82,000 ft). S-300P system broke substantial new ground, including the use of a phased array radar and multiple engagements on the same Fire-control system (FCS). Nevertheless, it had some limitations. It took over one hour to set up this semi-mobile system for firing and the hot vertical launch method employed scorched the Transporter erector launcher (TEL). Finally S-300V (quite different from other two of its catagory) designed to act as the top tier army air defence system, providing a defence against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft, replacing the SA-4 ‘Ganef’. The “GLADIATOR (S-300V NATO Reporting name)” missiles have a maximum engagement range of around 75 km (47 miles) while the “GIANT” missiles can engage targets out to 100 km (62 miles) and up to altitudes of around 32 km (100,000 ft). In both cases the warhead is around 150 kg (331 lb).
A detailed specification both both S-300 and S-400 classes can be accessed from Asia’s New SAMs Though in nutshell The original warhead weighed 100 kg (220 lb), intermediate warheads weighed 133 kg (293 lb) and the latest warhead weighs 143 kg (315 lb). All are equipped with a proximity fuze and contact fuze. The missiles themselves weigh between 1,450 kg (3,200 lb) and 1,800 kg (3,970 lb). Missiles are catapulted clear of the launching tubes before their rocket motor fires, which can accelerate at up to 100 g (1 km/s²). They launch straight upwards and then tip over towards their target, removing the need to aim the missiles before launch. The missiles are steered with a combination of control fins and through thrust vectoring vanes. The sections below give exact specifications of the radar and missiles in the different S-300 versions. It should be noted that since the S-300PM most vehicles are interchangeable across variations.
Awesome Iran – Diplomatically Isolated
Iran another contender in arms race
Iran said it successfully test-fired what it claims is an upgraded S-200 surface-to-air missile. The S-200, developed by the Soviet Union during the Kennedy administration and designed to hit big, fat slow-moving bombers, had been magically souped-up, according to the Iranians, to be just as powerful as the 20 years more advanced S-300 missile system. The interesting point to take out from this is that, Iran managed to achive this within span of few months. I can certainly understand the westeran fear over Iran’s S-300 deal. Although Tehran claimed that it has developed a replica of S-300, I personally doubt Iran’s ability to duplicate the Russian missile system. It may be the case that Iranian authorities misspelled S-300 instead of S-200, if not that I am eager to see the new replica. It’s all the more bizarre because Iran actually does have a number of credible unconventional options at its disposal that should make anyone think twice about attacking its nuclear facilities. It’s right next door to America’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and could create a lot of headaches for the United States in the event of an attack.
Filed under Afghanistan, AGm-113 Hellfire, Air Defence, Asia's New SAMs, Ballistic missiles, Basij forces, Black Ops, Cold War, Fire-control system, Foreign Office Pakistan, GLADIATOR, Global Aviation, Global Times, Iran, Iran's Air Defence and Missile System, Iranian Defense Ministry, ISI, Islamabad, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Israel, Muslim World, NATO, Pakistan, Pakistan Defence, S-300 Missiles, S-400 missiles, SD-10 Missile, Soviet Union, surface-to-air missile, Tehran, War on Terror
Tagged as GLADIATOR, Iran Air defence exercies, Iran's Air Defence and Missile System, radar, SAM
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SHAPE International Band / Band Leadership
Chief Warrant Officer Four James Bettencourt
Chief Warrant Officer Four James M. Bettencourt proudly assumed command of the SHAPE International Band in September 2018. He is a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts and a graduate of New Bedford High School.
Mr. Bettencourt holds both a Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance and Bachelor of Education degrees from Boston University and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Columbia Southern University. His previous assignments include the United States Military Academy at West Point, the Army Ground Forces Band, Fort McPherson, Georgia, US Army School of Music, Norfolk, Virginia and the US Army Europe Band and Chorus in Heidelberg, Germany.
Mr. Bettencourt has been assigned as Commander for the 282nd Army Band, Fort Jackson, South Carolina; the First Armored Division Band, Wiesbaden, Germany; the US Army Signal Corps Band, Fort Gordon; Georgia and the Army Materiel Command Band, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. His training includes the Primary Leadership Development Course, Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course, Warrant Officer Candidate School, Warrant Officer Basic Course, the Warrant Officer Advanced Course, and the Warrant Officer Staff Course.
Mr. Bettencourt is a veteran of the Iraqi Sovereignty and Operation New Dawn Campaigns, deploying to Iraq as Commander of the First Armored Division Band in 2010. He has been married to the former Miss Erika Lynn Mills of Lake Mary, Florida since 1997 with whom he has two daughters. Mr. Bettencourt's awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (6th award), Army Commendation Medal (6th award), Army Achievement Medal (5th award), Meritorious Unit Citation, Iraq Campaign Medal (two campaign stars), Army Good Conduct Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
Master Sergeant Stephanie Doehr
Master Sergeant Stephanie Doehr assumed duties as the Deputy Director of the SHAPE International Band in March 2019. She is a native of LaGrange, Ohio and is a graduate of Keystone High School. She received her Baccalaureate of Science, Health and Wellness degree from Purdue University Global and is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science, Nutrition and Wellness from Liberty University.
Master Sergeant Doehr has served in a multitude of leadership positions from Section Leader to First Sergeant since enlisting in the United States Army in 2004 as a flute player and vocalist. Her previous assignments include two tours with the 82nd Airborne Division Band, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, two tours with the 392nd Army Band, Fort Lee, Virginia, and she served as Senior Leaders Course Small Group Leader and Deputy Commandant with the Army School of Music Noncommissioned Officer Academy in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Master Sergeant Doehr graduated the Basic Airborne Course, Warrior Leaders Course, Advanced Leaders Course (Commandant’s List), Senior Leaders Course, Equal Opportunity Leaders Couse, Master Resilience Trainer Course, Sexual Harassment/Assault Prevention Course, Cadre Training Course, Basic Instructor Training Course, Faculty Development Course, Middle Manager Course, Foundation Training Developer Course, Instructor Evaluator Course, and Small Group Instructor Training Course.
Master Sergeant Doehr deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2007 and 2011. Her awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (3rd award), Army Commendation Medal (4th award), Army Achievement Medal (4th award), Afghanistan Campaign Medal (two campaign stars), NATO ISAF Medal (two campaign stars), Basic Army Instructor Badge, Meritorious Unit Citation (2nd award), Army Good Conduct Medal (5th award), and the National Defense Service Medal.
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Sharing Stories Foundation
strengthening of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island cultures and languages
Board, Executives and Advisory Council
Program Facilitators
Recent Annual Reports
Digital Storytelling Program
National Overview
Language App
Exhibition & Installation
Cultural Mapping
Films by Location
Sharing Our Stories print books
Cross Curriculum Priority Area
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER HISTORIES AND CULTURES
The SharingStories resources in the modules Community, Country and Culture are designed to assist students and teachers in their engagement with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures Cross Curriculum Priority Area.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are strong, rich and diverse. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity is central to this priority and is intrinsically linked to living, learning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, deep knowledge traditions and holistic world view.
A conceptual framework based on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ unique sense of Identity has been developed as a structural tool for the embedding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures within the Australian curriculum. This sense of Identity is approached through the interconnected aspects of Country/Place, People and Culture. Embracing these elements enhances all areas of the curriculum.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander priority provides opportunities for all learners to deepen their knowledge of Australia by engaging with the world’s oldest continuous living cultures. This knowledge and understanding will enrich their ability to participate positively in the ongoing development of Australia.
Organising ideas
For each cross-curriculum priority, a set of organising ideas reflects the essential knowledge, understandings and skills for the priority. The organising ideas are embedded in the content descriptions and elaborations of each learning area as appropriate.
Code Organising ideas
Country/Place
OI.1 Australia has two distinct Indigenous groups, Aboriginal Peoples and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
OI.2 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities maintain a special connection to and responsibility for Country/Place throughout all of Australia.
OI.3 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have unique belief systems and are spiritually connected to the land, sea, sky and waterways.
OI.4 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies have many Language Groups.
OI.5 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ ways of life are uniquely expressed through ways of being, knowing, thinking and doing.
OI.6 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have lived in Australia for tens of thousands of years and experiences can be viewed through historical, social and political lenses.
OI.7 The broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies encompass a diversity of nations across Australia.
OI.8 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have sophisticated family and kinship structures.
OI.9 Australia acknowledges the significant contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people locally and globally.
This information is accessed from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) website.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the content on this site may contain images and references to deceased persons.
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Home / zimbabwe / The African Free Trade Agreement entered into force
The African Free Trade Agreement entered into force
zimbabwe June 1, 2019 zimbabwe
NAIROBI –
On Thursday, the African continental free trade agreement came into force, with 24 out of 54 countries ratifying it.
The plan was signed at the African Union summit in Kigali in 2016 after four years of negotiations, with Burkina Faso as the last country to join.
The agreement aims to facilitate the free movement of goods and people across the continent.
Charles Kohouthu, head of the East African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, says African countries that trade with each other will benefit the continent.
FILE – The African and Heads of State and Government set up an agreement to establish the African continental free trade zone in Kigali, Rwanda, 21 March 2018, at the African Union Summit
"The African continental free trade area, if we use this framework to increase or enhance trade in Africa, would mean adding value to our raw materials," he said. "These natural resources, which we have in abundance instead of exporting them raw, will use the demand on the continent so that we can process them in a way that our own users in Africa can use."
With imported goods flooding the African Asian market, some African countries are implementing mechanisms and laws to protect their farmers and industries.
"Our infrastructure is outward," said Fred Muhongsa, a professor of economics at the University of Makerere in Kampala. "We do not have transport routes, airports and air transport that connect Africa with Africa for trade purposes." "A lot of trade is looking outside Africa, outside Africa."
Also, African countries are seeking measures to block other goods, he added.
"We have a number of local laws that come against the free trade abroad, which will be detailed, we also have standards, most of the African countries have no common standard, so one country decides to use non-tariff measures, they have to decide and say that your standard is not good, so it will not go through that, "said Muhunza.
Thirty African nations have not yet signed the trade agreement on the continent. By July, signatories must find ways to work.
The Chemo Tester identifies which formulation works for each patient
Two businessmen from Zimbabwe were killed in South Africa
One of the new color schemes of Nintendo Joy-Con is basically Waluigi-themed
Prevent the formation of biofilm to reduce the risk of hospital infections
African Games: Team Zim U23 is not involved
Aker Solutions beat forecasts despite price pressure
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Hyundai Is Back for the Super Bowl, Marking Its 11th Appearance in 12 Years
Innocean currently developing Big Game creative
Last year's Hyundai Super Bowl ad featured the brand's non-profit, Hyundai Hope on Wheels.
Hyundai will return to Super Bowl LIII, its fourth year in a row advertising in the NFL’s championship game and the brand’s 11th appearance in the past 12 years.
Innocean, Hyundai’s agency of record, is in the process of developing the campaign which includes a 60-second spot in the first quarter, a 30-second pregame ad and experiential activations in the host city of Atlanta.
“After more than a decade of Super Bowl experience and well-regarded creative executions, we are excited to return to the Big Game with fresh, new content that uses the successful formula we’ve refined over the years,” Dean Evans, CMO of Hyundai Motor America said in a statement. “The Super Bowl is America’s largest stage that allows us to entertain a massive audience while sharing our latest brand and product messages.”
In the past three Super Bowls, Hyundai has made its marks with compelling, ambitious creativity and effectiveness.
Last year, the brand featured its non-profit Hyundai Hope on Wheels (which benefits pediatric cancer) in an ad that surprised its customers. Using metal detectors as “hope detectors” at Hyundai’s NFL Super Bowl Experience, those who passed through not only saw a version of the ad but also met some of the pediatric cancer survivors and family members their Hyundai purchase have helped.
With close to 27 million views across a range of platforms, the ad finished as the second highest ranked automotive ad on USA Today’s Ad Meter.
In 2017, Innocean and Hyundai—working with the U.S. Department of Defense—filmed a spot during the game at both NRG Stadium in Houston and a military base in Poland. “A Better Super Bowl” aired at the end of the game (won by the New England Patriots in overtime) and ranked as the “most effective” in emotional and practical metrics by ad-tech platform Unruly.
For Super Bowl 50 in 2016, Hyundai, an official NFL sponsor, enlisted three all-star directors and two mega-stars for a suite of four ads designed to tap into “universal truth.” Peter Berg, director of films like Friday Night Lights and Lone Survivor, helmed spots featuring Kevin Hart and Ryan Reynolds. “First Date,” starring Hart, won top honors in USA Today’s Ad Meter while “Ryanville,” featuring Reynolds, finished fifth. Another ad, “The Chase,” landed in sixth, making Hyundai the only advertiser with three ads in the top 10.
For all the latest Super Bowl advertising news—who’s in, who’s out, teasers, full ads and more—check out Adweek’s Super Bowl LIII Ad Tracker. And join us on the evening of Feb. 3 for the best in-game coverage of the Super Bowl commercials anywhere.
https://adweek.it/2tG6hpN
Doug Zanger
Doug Zanger is senior editor at Adweek focusing on creative. He is based in Portland, Oregon and unabashedly loyal to the Pacific Northwest.
Paid Media Strategist (Work From Home)
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131.181 Coal mining license revocation for or denial to delinquent taxpayer or his agent, contract miner, or delegate. (1) Whenever it is determined that a taxpayer, who holds a license to mine coal in Kentucky under KRS 351.175, is a "delinquent taxpayer" as defined in subsection (3) of this section,
the Department of Revenue shall, after giving notice as provided in subsection (4) of this
section, submit the name of the taxpayer to the Department for Natural Resources for
revocation of the license issued under KRS 351.175. (2) If it is determined that a person who is an agent, contract miner, or delegate of a delinquent taxpayer as defined in subsection (3) holds a license to mine coal for the delinquent
taxpayer in Kentucky under KRS 351.175, the Department of Revenue shall, after giving
notice as provided in subsection (4) of this section, submit the name of the agent, contract
miner, or delegate to the Department for Natural Resources for revocation of the license
issued under KRS 351.175 to mine coal for the delinquent taxpayer. (3) Any of the following situations is sufficient to cause a taxpayer to be classified as a "delinquent taxpayer" for purposes of this section:
(a) When a taxpayer has an overdue state tax liability arising directly or indirectly from the mining, transportation, or processing of coal, for which all protest and appeal
rights granted by law have expired and has been contacted by the department
concerning the overdue tax liability. This does not include a taxpayer who is making
current timely installment payments on the overdue tax liability under agreement with
the department. (b) When a taxpayer has not filed a required tax return as of thirty (30) days after the due date or after the extended due date, and has been contacted by the department
concerning the delinquent return. This applies only to tax returns required as the
result of the taxpayer's involvement in the mining, transportation, or processing of
coal. (c) When an owner, partner, or corporate officer of a proprietorship, partnership, or corporation holding a license under KRS 351.175, held a similar position in a
business whose license was revoked as a "delinquent taxpayer", and the tax liability
remains unpaid. (4) At least twenty (20) days in advance of submitting a taxpayer's name to the Department for Natural Resources as provided in subsection (1) or (2) of this section, the department shall
notify the taxpayer by certified mail that the action is to be taken. The notice shall state the
reason for the action and shall set out the amount of any tax liability including any
applicable penalties and interest and any other area of noncompliance which must be
satisfied in order to prevent the submission of his name to the Department for Natural
Resources as a "delinquent taxpayer." (5) If it is determined that an applicant for a license to mine coal under the provisions of KRS 351.175 is a delinquent taxpayer as defined in subsection (3) of this section, or is an agent,
contract miner, or delegate of a delinquent taxpayer, the Department for Natural Resources
shall refuse a mine license to the applicant. Effective: June 20, 2005 History: Amended 2005 Ky. Acts ch. 85, sec. 122, effective June 20, 2005. -- Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 271, sec. 1, effective July 14, 1992. -- Created 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 233, sec. 35,
effective June 17, 1978. Legislative Research Commission Note (6/20/2005). 2005 Ky. Acts chs. 11, 85, 95, 97, 98, 99, 123, and 181 instruct the Reviser of Statutes to correct statutory references to agencies and
officers whose names have been changed in 2005 legislation confirming the reorganization of
the executive branch. Such a correction has been made in this section.
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Skatells Jewelers
Music Friday: Impossibly Cute ‘Trolls’ Are Feeling ‘Like Diamonds or Some Gold’ in ‘Hair Up’
Posted on December 30, 2016 by Skatells Jewelers spartanburg
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you fun songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, the impossibly cute cast of characters from the blockbuster animated film Trolls sing about bling in “Hair Up,” the opening track from the official motion picture soundtrack.
In this feel-good anthem written by Justin Timberlake and four collaborators, the overly optimistic Trolls — voiced by Timberlake, Gwen Stefani and Ron Funches — put their hair in the air and have a fever for diamonds and gold.
They sing, “I’ve got a fever coming on / And now it’s beating on my bones / I feel like diamonds or some gold / So DJ play it that’s my song.”
The film focuses on two trolls who are on a quest to save their village from the woefully pessimistic Bergens, creatures who can only gain happiness by consuming Trolls. The mismatched duo of perpetually happy Poppy (voiced by Anna Kendrick) and overly cautious curmudgeonly Branch (Timberlake) embark on a rescue mission full of adventures and mishaps.
At one point in the movie, a Zen-like Troll named Creek (Russell Brand) is held captive in the jewel that decorates the king’s mantle. While the Trolls are successful in stealing the jewel, they are dismayed to discover that it is empty. Creek has betrayed them to save himself.
Since Trolls was released in theaters on October 8, it has generated more than $150 million in box office revenue in the U.S. and $330 million worldwide.
Trolls: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released on September 26 and zoomed to #3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart. It also charted in 13 other countries. The Trolls official promotional trailer, which includes snippets from “Hair Up,” has been viewed more than 3.9 million times on YouTube.
The film features five original songs performed by Timberlake, Ariana Grande, Anna Kendrick and Gwen Stefani.
We’ve included two videos at the end of this post. The first is the Trolls promotional trailer and the second is the full audio track of “Hair Up.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…
Written by Justin Timberlake, Max Martin, Shellback, Savan Kotecha and Oscar Holter.
Hair in the air, hair in the air
Put your hair
Put your hair in the air
I’ve got a fever coming on
And now it’s beating on my bones
I feel like diamonds or some gold
So DJ play it that’s my song
Go, go, go, go, go
Go, go, go, go, go, go
Let’s go crazy
We ain’t never gonna stop
Put your hair in the air (hair up)
We don’t care (hair up)
Hair up in the air, hair up in the air, hair up in the air
Trolls Trailer…
“Hair Up” audio track…
Credits: Screen captures via YouTube.com.
Country Star Kelsea Ballerini’s New Engagement Ring Is ‘Classic and Beautiful, Like Her’
Red-hot country star Kelsea Ballerini got the greatest gift on Christmas morning — a marriage proposal and a beautiful diamond engagement ring from the love of her life, Australian musician Morgan Evans.
The ring features a large round center stone framed by a cushion-shaped halo of smaller round diamonds. The cushion halo adds extra surface area and a larger look than a conventional round halo. This effect is achieved by using diamonds of various sizes to fill out the halo around the center stone. The ring also has a dainty diamond-embellished band.
“I had the ring custom made with a diamond I picked from a local designer here in Nashville,” Morgan told People Style. “I wanted it to be classic and beautiful, like her.”
On Sunday, the 23-year-old Ballerini — a nominee for Best New Artist at the 2017 Grammy Awards in February — let her fan base in on the exciting news with a series of photos posted to Instagram and Twitter. The songstress has 669,000 followers on Instagram and 180,000 on Twitter.
When Morgan popped the question, we’re guessing Ballerini responded with the title of her latest single, “Yeah Boy.”
Ballerini posted a romantic outdoor photo showing her and her new fiancé embracing in a park, her left arm extended toward the camera with the new ring in full view. The photo includes a caption that references exactly how long it’s been since the two met while co-hosting Australia’s Country Music Channel Awards in March.
“This morning, 9 months and 13 days later, he got down on one knee in the kitchen while I was burning pancakes and asked me to marry him,” she wrote. “Loving him has been the greatest gift of my life. And now I get to do it for life. #HECALLEDDIBS.”
Evans, 31, posted the same photo to his Instagram page with this romantic caption: “When you know, you know… she’s perfect.”
On Twitter, the “Love Me Like You Mean It” singer posted a close-up shot of the ring with a caption that read, “My heart is bursting from loving this human so much.”
Ballerini used the Instagram Boomerang app on Monday to post a cute mini-video of herself drinking from a mug that’s printed with the phrase, “Does this ring make me look engaged?”
The couple has yet to set a wedding date.
Credits: Photos via Instagram/KelseaBallerini, Instagram/MorganEvansMusic.
Survey: Consumers Consider Color and Clarity More Than Any Other Factors When Buying Gems
Color and clarity are the most important factors influencing a consumer’s gem-buying decision, according to a recent study conducted on behalf of Gemfields, one of the world’s leading suppliers of responsibly sourced precious stones.
The study of 12,900 U.S. consumers between the ages of 21 and 64 revealed that when it comes to purchasing rubies, sapphires and emeralds, color is the key consideration, followed by clarity, carat weight and, to a much lesser degree, the country of origin.
The survey also showed that millennials (those born between 1982 and 2004) have a greater fondness for precious gemstones than other groups. Overall, 41% of millennials said that they had acquired jewelry featuring a ruby, emerald or sapphire within the past 24 months. That percentage is significantly higher than the 31% registered by the overall survey sample.
As an interesting side note, millennials are nearly twice as likely as non-millennials to use social media and mobile devices to research jewelry and gemstones.
Precious gemstone owners love to wear their jewelry, according to the survey. Exactly 43% of women reported that they wear their rubies, emeralds or sapphires every day. About one in four said they wear the gemstone jewelry at least once a week and just 7% noted that they only wear the jewelry on special occasions.
Another interesting finding was related to multiple purchases. Nearly four in 10 (38%) of those who had purchased fine gemstone jewelry during the prior 24 months had actually gotten two items. Fifteen percent acquired three pieces and 10% had bought four or more.
For the overall sample, the average price paid for a piece of precious stone jewelry was $1,386, although men ($2,048) and affluent buyers ($2,499) with incomes of $100,000-plus were apt to pay significantly more.
Half of the respondents who said they purchased precious colored stone jewelry in the past two years and two-thirds of those in affluent households said they are likely to buy another piece within the next year.
The study, which reflects a nationally representative sample, was conducted for Gemfields by a third party to determine the overall size and potential of the U.S. market and to better understand consumers’ beliefs and perceptions about the value, price and use of precious gemstone jewelry.
Credits: Carmen Lúcia Ruby, Logan Sapphire and Maximilian Emerald courtesy of Smithsonian/Chip Clark.
Gold Coin Donations Make the Holiday Bright for The Salvation Army
Anonymous donations of valuable gold coins — including one recovered from a 300-year-old shipwreck — made the 2016 holiday season bright for Salvation Army chapters from Florida to Oregon.
The Salvation Army’s bell ringing season starts each November and runs through Christmas Eve. Most of the donations come in the form of pocket change and paper money, but this year a bunch of benefactors generously dropped gold coins into the iconic red kettles.
In Sebastian, Fla., an anonymous donor decided to hand his coin donation to veteran bell ringer Jim Bessy. The 300-year-old gold escudo, which is said to be worth several thousand dollars, had been recovered from the wrecks of the Spanish treasure ships known as the 1715 Plate Fleet. The donor didn’t want to drop the gold escudo into the kettle because he feared it would get mixed in with the other loose coins.
The coin, which was recovered off the Florida coast and encased in plastic with the label “1715 Fleet 1 Escudo,” will benefit the operations of the Salvation Army chapter in Vero Beach.
“This coin will help bring light on so many stories of families in need right here in Indian River County,” Salvation Army Lt. Jay Needham told USA Today. “With this great contribution and so many more from around this generous community, we are able to help people that are in need during the Christmas season and into the New Year.”
In past years, we’ve written about anonymous benefactors dropping diamond and gold jewelry into the Salvation Army kettles during the Christmas season. This year, the most surprising donations were in the form of 1-ounce gold coins worth about $1,200 apiece. Here’s the rundown, as compiled by USA Today…
• In Wisconsin, exactly 80 2016 American Eagle 1-ounce gold coins were dropped into Salvation Army kettles in locations near Manitowoc County and Green Bay. One-ounce South African gold Krugerrands were also scooped from red kettles in Mukwonago and De Pere.
• In Colorado, a pair of 1-ounce South African gold Krugerrands were found in red kettles in Fort Collins. Salvation Army Capt. Isaias Braga told USA Today that in years past an anonymous gold coin donor always returned to The Salvation Army to buy back the item at $1,000 more than its value.
• In Kentucky, Salvation Army officials discovered a 1-ounce South African gold Krugerrand in a red kettle at a Louisville Walmart.
• In Montana, a new Salvation Army lieutenant found a 1-ounce American Buffalo gold coin while sorting red kettle donations in Bigfork.
• In Oregon, an anonymous donor placed an Austrian 100-corona gold coin into a kettle in Salem. The 1915 coin is worth about $1,100.
The Salvation Army red kettle program can track its origins to 1891, when Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee was distraught because so many poor individuals in San Francisco were going hungry. During the holiday season, he resolved to provide a free Christmas dinner for the destitute and poverty-stricken. He only had one major hurdle to overcome — funding the project.
According to The Salvation Army’s official website, McFee’s red kettle idea was inspired by his days as a sailor in Liverpool, England. There, he remembered an iron kettle called “Simpson’s Pot” into which passers-by tossed a coin or two to help the poor.
The next day McFee placed a similar pot at the Oakland Ferry Landing at the foot of Market Street. Beside the pot, he placed a sign that read, “Keep the Pot Boiling.” He soon had the money to see that the needy people were properly fed at Christmas.
Credits: Images via Facebook/1715 Fleet – Queens Jewels, LLC; Red kettle via Facebook/SalvationArmyUSA.
Town of Nördlingen, Germany, Sits in a Massive Crater Filled With 72,000 Tons of Diamonds
The picturesque Bavarian town of Nördlingen, Germany, is situated in a crater filled with 72,000 tons of diamonds, according to a story posted Friday by Smithsonianmag.com.
Although the town’s origins date back to 898 A.D., it wasn’t until 50 years ago that scientists realized that the 9-mile-wide depression, known as the Ries crater, was formed by the impact of an asteroid. The intense pressure resulting from the asteroid crashing into the Earth caused the graphite-bearing rock in the region to transform into diamonds.
“We assume that the asteroid was a stony one with a weight of [approximately] three billion tons,” Gisela Pösges, a geologist and deputy director of the Ries Crater Museum in Nördlingen told Smithsonianmag.com. “[We think that] the asteroid was a similar size to the town of Nördlingen, about one kilometer (less than three-quarters of a mile) across.”
The diamonds formed from the asteroid impact will never find their way to the center of an engagement ring. The largest ones are 0.3mm in size (barely 1/100th of an inch). A 1mm diamond, by comparison, weighs 0.005 carats.
The high-pressure impact didn’t only create diamonds, but also a material called suevite, which is a rock embedded with angular fragments of glass, crystal and diamonds.
Interestingly, when medieval residents set out to build the majestic St.-Georgs-Kirche church in the center of town, they used local materials to create the structure, including chunks of suevite. In fact, most of the town’s structures were constructed with diamond-infused suevite.
“Our church, St. Georgs, is made of suevite [and contains] about 5,000 carats of diamonds,” Pösges told Smithsonianmag.com. “But they’re so tiny… that they have no economic value, only scientific value. You can observe the diamonds only with a microscope.”
Scientists estimate that the asteroid impact on Nördlingen generated 60 gigapascals of pressure. To turn carbon into diamonds, it takes between 24 and 136 gigapascal of pressure.
Guided tours of the diamond town of Nördlingen are regularly offered by the Ries Crater Museum, where suevite samples are on display.
Credits: Nördlingen photo via BigStockPhoto.com; Map by Googlemaps.com; Relief map by Batholith (Wikimedia Commons) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Suevite by H. Raab (User: Vesta) (Own work) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY-SA 2.0 at], via Wikimedia Commons.
Music Friday: Straight No Chaser’s Viral ‘12 Days of Christmas’ Captures the Spirit of the Season
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you the coolest songs with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the lyrics or title. With Christmas only two days away, we bring you one of YouTube’s most popular Christmas song videos of all time — Straight No Chaser’s witty and masterfully arranged rendition of “The 12 Days of Christmas.” To date, the original version of SNC’s “12 Days” has been viewed more than 20 million times.
As everyone knows, the jewelry reference in this holiday favorite comes on the fifth day of Christmas when “my true love gave to me, five golden rings.”
The a cappella group’s “12 Days” is famous for its clever infusions of other songs, such as “I Have a Little Dreidel” and Toto’s “Africa.” SNC’s version of the popular Christmas song was inspired by a 1968 comic arrangement of the song by Richard C. Gregory, a faculty member of The Williston Northampton School in western Massachusetts.
Originated on the campus of Indiana University in 1996, Straight No Chaser is truly a grassroots, internet-inspired phenomenon. The 10-man group owes its worldwide fame to a video of its 1998 performance that was first posted to YouTube eight years later. That video went viral and caught the attention of Atlantic Records CEO Craig Kallman, who signed the group to a five-album deal in 2008.
Straight No Chaser is currently celebrating its 20th anniversary and supporting its I’ll Have Another… Christmas Album with live shows in Indianapolis, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Honolulu and Maui. The album, which was released in October, sits at #12 on the U.S. Billboard Holiday Albums chart, having peaked at #4.
Check out the video of Straight No Chaser’s live performance of “The 12 Days of Christmas.” It is guaranteed to brighten your holidays and bring a smile to your face. Enjoy!
Credit: Promotional photo via Facebook.com/StraightNoChaser.
Precious Metal Value of the 23 Gold Medals Michael Phelps Wears on the Cover of SI Will Surprise You
For the first time ever, swimming icon Michael Phelps graces the cover of Sport Illustrated wearing every one of his 23 Olympic gold medals. That’s nearly 14.5 pounds of precious metal, but what is it really worth?
The size of gold medals have varied over Phelps’ four Olympic appearances. In 2004, the medals of the Athens Games weighed 135 grams. Four years later, the Beijing medals grew to 200 grams. In 2012, the London Games awarded 412-gram gold medals, and in 2016, the Rio de Janeiro medals weighed a whopping 500 grams (1.1 pounds).
If each of Phelps’ medals were made of pure gold — as they were back in 1912 — the entire gold cache would tally $239,235.
But, alas, starting in 1916, gold medals were made mostly of silver. The International Olympic Committee mandated that gold medals must be plated with at least 6 grams of 24-karat gold over 96% pure silver.
As we do the math, we find that the gold content in each Phelps medal is worth about $219. The total gold value of the 23 medals is an unspectacular $5,034. The silver value of the complete group is $3,274.
The combined value of all the gold and silver in the gold medals is $8,308, less than the price of Phelps’ round-trip, first-class airfare from Los Angeles to Rio de Janeiro.
While the most decorated Olympic athlete won’t get rich by melting down his Olympic hardware, he has already amassed a fortune in multi-million-dollar sponsorship deals with high profile companies, such as Speedo, Visa, Omega watches, Subway, Kellogg, Under Armour, Head and Shoulders, Louis Vuitton, Procter & Gamble, Hilton hotels, HP and Powerbar. Coupled with the prize money earned at competitions, Phelps’ net worth is estimated at $55 million.
In the Sports Illustrated article, the 31-year-old Phelps didn’t offer much hope to fans wishing to see him competing in the Olympic pool at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
“If I do get the desire to come back, great,” Phelps told SI. “Right now, I just don’t see it.”
Phelps’ wife, Nicole, believes that the person who may be able to convince the vaunted swimmer to compete again is his son, Boomer. It’s going to take a little while before Boomer can communicate that message to his dad. He’s only seven months old.
Overall, Phelps has won 28 Olympic medals — 23 gold, 3 silver and 2 bronze.
The December 22nd issue marks the 12th time Phelps has appeared on a Sports Illustrated cover. The record is held by basketball star Michael Jordan, who has enjoyed the honor 50 times.
Credit: Michael Phelps cover by Sports Illustrated.
‘Offcuts’ Removed During the Faceting of Super-Large Diamonds Reveal Their Deep-Earth Origin, Says GIA Study
The world’s largest diamonds, such as the Cullinan or Constellation, have a much different composition and structure than their smaller counterparts, states a breakthrough study by the Gemological Institute of America. Unlike smaller diamonds that materialized at a relatively shallow depth of 90 to 125 miles amid oxygen-rich rocks, the biggest diamonds formed 200 to 500 miles below the surface within patches of oxygen-deprived liquid metal.
The stunning revelations were based on research led by GIA Postdoctoral Research Fellow Evan Smith, who studied the “offcuts,” or remnants, of large rough diamonds that had been faceted into precious gemstones. The offcuts offered a window into the workings of the Earth’s deep mantle because their inclusions are teeming with other elements. Typically, these flaws are removed during the cutting and polishing process to enhance the perfection of the end product. For the researchers at GIA, the neatly preserved inclusions held all the value even though some were no wider than a human hair.
“You really couldn’t ask for a better vessel to store something in,” Smith told NPR. “Diamond is the ultimate Tupperware.”
The GIA obtained eight fingernail-sized remnants for this study. After grinding them down and analyzing them with microscopes, lasers, electron beams and magnets, the team concluded that the diamonds contained a solidified mixture of iron, nickel, carbon and sulfur.
Unexpectedly, they also found traces of fluid methane and hydrogen, which led them to conclude that pure carbon crystallized to form diamonds in an oxygen-deprived mix of molten metallic liquid in Earth’s deep mantle.
“Some of the world’s largest and most valuable diamonds… exhibit a distinct set of physical characteristics that have led many to regard them as separate from other, more common, diamonds. However, exactly how these diamonds form and what they tell us about the Earth has remained a mystery until now,” explained Dr. Wuyi Wang, GIA’s director of research and development, and an author of the study.
The breakthrough research, which was featured in the most recent issue of Science magazine, is significant because it offers a glimpse beneath Earth’s tectonic plates — an area largely inaccessible for scientific observation.
Despite their origins far below the Earth’s surface, diamonds can blast to the surface during volcanic eruptions. The vertical superhighways that take the diamonds on their 100-plus mile journey are called kimberlite pipes.
Credit: Diamond “offcuts” by Evan Smith; © GIA. Constellation photo courtesy of Lucara Diamond.
Carrie Ann Inaba’s Engagement Ring From Robb Derringer Took Her Breath Away
Dancing With the Stars’ judge Carrie Ann Inaba couldn’t be more elated with the 3.68-carat oval-cut diamond engagement ring that actor Robb Derringer placed on her finger during a bonfire-lit proposal at the site of their magical first date.
The ring features a number of secret, symbolic, unseen elements, including an oval-cut ruby that is flush-set on the inside of the band. Also hidden from view are inscriptions of their first names and two flush-set birthstones, a ruby for him and a garnet for her.
The oval center stone — Inaba’s preferred diamond shape — is accented by an 18-karat rose gold band embellished with 120 round brilliant-cut diamonds.
“When Robb put it on my finger, it took my breath away,” she wrote in an Instagram post. “It is beautiful and elegant.”
Derringer collaborated with French-born celebrity jeweler Jean Dousset to create an amazing ring for his bride-to-be.
In an Instagram post directed at the jeweler, Derringer commented about the design process: “You made the experience of conceptualizing and creating Carrie’s ring, the symbol of my love and commitment to her, one of the most enjoyable and anticipated components of this most beautiful event in our lives.”
“Exhilarating is the best way to describe Robb’s dedication and thoughtfulness in creating the most perfect ring for Carrie Ann,” the great-great grandson of iconic jeweler Louis Cartier told People Style. “True love is alive and well!”
Celebrity stylist Michael O’Connor estimated the value of the ring at $100,000.
“We shared our desire to commit to one another for life by beginning that journey in a very intimate and private way, just the two of us, alone on the beach with a bonfire, a bottle of Aubert Chardonnay and the majestic Pacific Ocean that has always been an integral force in both our lives,” Inaba told People Style. “Getting engaged where we had that perfect first date, was really such poetic destiny.”
Noted Derringer on his Instagram page, “So overjoyed to share the best thing that has ever happened to me when @carrieanninaba made me the luckiest guy in the world in saying… yes.”
The 48-year-old Inaba, who is a dancer, choreographer, actress, game show host and singer, is best known for her work since 2005 on ABC-TV’s Dancing with the Stars.
Derringer, 49, played Kyle Sloane on ABC-TV’s General Hospital during 2014 and 2015 and will soon take the role of Scooter Nelson on NBC-TV’s Days of Our Lives.
Images by Carrie Ann Inaba; Instagram.com/robbderringer.
Mass. State Troopers Recover Elderly Couple’s Wedding Rings Alongside Interstate Highway
Two Massachusetts state troopers recently went above and beyond the call of duty to recover the wedding rings of a senior couple who had lost them alongside Route I-495 in Wareham — about 20 miles from the historic Plymouth Rock.
On December 8, troopers Kurt Bourdon and Jonathan O’Loughlin responded to midday calls from concerned drivers regarding two elderly individuals with metal detectors who were walking along the breakdown lane of the busy interstate highway.
The Cape Cod couple told the troopers that a day earlier they had been on a road trip when they decided to pull over to swap driving responsibilities. During the first part of the drive, the wife was the passenger and had taken off her rings, resting them on her lap. When they pulled over to the shoulder of the highway to switch positions, she forgot about the rings and they slipped off her lap and into the grass.
Many miles later, the distraught wife realized that the rings were missing.
The couple attempted to retrace their route, but neither could remember the exact location of the stop. They did remember that it took place on I-495 in the town of Wareham. Unfortunately, the town has four exits that span eight miles.
The rings were lost on December 7. The next day, they returned with metal detectors and a determination to find the keepsake jewelry, which included two diamond wedding bands and a diamond engagement ring.
“This couple was in their 70s and had been married for 46 years,” Bourdon told Wareham Week. “One of the rings had belonged to her mother. [Trooper O’Loughlin] and I related to them like they were our parents.”
Instead of shutting down their potentially dangerous search, the troopers offered to help.
“We were looking at a legitimate 8-mile stretch of road to search,” said Bourdon. “But the engagement ring had belonged to her mother and was very important to her.”
After scouring the roadside for 90 minutes, the troopers spotted something sparkly in the grass at the highway’s 3-mile marker. Despite the needle-in-a-haystack odds against them, the troopers had found the rings.
The troopers handed the rings to the husband, who had been searching the same stretch of highway about 75 yards behind.
The husband was ecstatic and relieved, but instead of howling the awesome news to his wife, the sly septuagenarian decided to tell her a little white lie.
“He went up to her and said, ‘Hon, why don’t we call it a day,’” Bourdon told Wareham Week. “She started crying, thinking they were going to give up, and then he showed her the rings and instantly she went from crying tears of sadness to tears of joy.”
A few days later, the couple expressed their appreciation by delivering a large gift basket to the Bourne State Police Barracks, where Bourdon and O’Loughlin are stationed.
Bourdon told Wareham Week that he and O’Loughlin were happy to help. “They are great people,” he said.
“I was pleased and really happy that the troopers took the extra time and effort to find the ring and make everything right,” Massachusetts State Police Lt. James Plath, Bourne Barracks commander, told WickedLocal.com.
Credits: Jewelry photo courtesy of Kurt Bourdon; Map by Googlemaps.com; Logo via Massachusetts State Police.
Music Friday: ‘What About That Brand New Ring?’ Asks a Jilted Man in ‘Don’t Pull Your Love’
Scientist Employs RFID Technology to Revive Cultured Pearl Farming in Hong Kong
Los Alamos Particle Accelerator Helps Unravel the Mystery of the Golden ‘Ram’s Horn’
Stay Cool This Summer With Frozen Treats That Resemble Colorful Gemstones
Panthers’ Greg Olsen Films In-Progress Marriage Proposal: ‘Best Thing I’ve Ever Witnessed’
WEDDING NOTES™
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Follow @skatells
www.skatellsjewelers.com
For Almost 50 YEARS In BUSINESS, Skatells Jewelers has been one of the most trusted names in jewelry in the Spartanburg region. We are a well-established Family-Owned Jewelry Store that has grown with our community from a small store to a multiple brand jewelry retailer. We have served generations of families as their trusted jeweler for brilliant diamonds, beautiful fine jewelry, elegant watches, treasured gifts, custom made styles and expert jewelry repairs. A family tradition since 1964, with each independent store owned by the family members. Owners Beth and Doug opened our Spartanburg store here in 1996.
At Skatells Jewelers our mission has always been a tradition of trust, high ethical standards, knowledge of our jewelry products and services, Competitive pricing and value to our customers.
Today our family-owned and -operated business, is considered by customers around the world as their preferred choice for purchasing diamonds, designer brands, custom creations and fine jewelry. and now three generations of Skatell family members have had the pleasure and honor of helping several generations of our customers celebrate some of the most important events of their lives.
I added a video to a @YouTube playlist youtu.be/cxaqzZ9r-E8?a Sunset Summits CommunityTweeted 8 months ago
I added a video to a @YouTube playlist youtu.be/aM9xnvQ_pDE?a Caffeinate & Dominate Your Under Eye Area | Dominique SachseTweeted 9 months ago
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Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge, TN
2757 Parkway • Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Discover the history of American crime at Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge — if you dare! This expansive museum features artifacts from notorious crimes, criminals, and prisons such as Alcatraz. Featuring five hands-on galleries, guests can learn about everything from crime scene investigation to crime in pop culture. From mugshots to forensic science, this crime museum has it all.
Located at the entrance to The Island in Pigeon Forge.
Additional parking located behind the building and at The Island.
Plan to spend 2 to 3 hours, or more if you're a crime buff.
The museum features over 500 authentic artifacts.
Open 365 days a year.
Lockers are available for rent on a first come, first served basis.
A crime museum featuring an in-depth look at American crime history as a whole, not just the penitentiary on Alcatraz Island.
Look for the famous O.J. Simpson chase Bronco, John Dillinger’s death mask, Al Capone’s rosary, a submachine gun from the movie Scarface, and Ted Bundy’s VW Beetle.
from Alcatraz East Crime Museum
Explore American History from a different perspective. Five unique galleries burrow deep into the studies of criminal intent, criminal profiles, the penal system, victims, crime prevention, forensic science, law enforcement and the Judiciary Branch of government. The museum is 25,000 square feet spread over 2 floors and includes over 100 interactive exhibits.
Located at the entrance to the Island in Pigeon Forge, Alcatraz East has 20 exhibit areas highlighting 5 themes: History of American Crime, Consequences of Crime, CSI, Crime Fighting, Counterfeit & Pop Culture.
Kids can enjoy:
- Jail Cell Escape
- Prohibition Shooting Gallery
- Modern Police Shooting Range
- Heist Laser Maze (additional cost)
- Numerous Photo Ops
- Our Top Detective Challenge! (additional cost)
Some of our famous artifacts include:
- John Dillinger’s Car
- Al Capone’s Rosary
- The Bronco used in the OJ Simpson chase
- Al Pacino’s machine gun from Scarface
Temporary Exhibit - "It Happened Here: Tennessee Crimes & Justice"
From local stories of moonshiners and vigilantes to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that rocked the nation, those interested in learning more about the state’s notorious crime history can do so at the new temporary exhibit, “It Happened Here,” open now through May 5, 2019.
Note: Hours may vary for special events, holidays and seasonally.
Alcatraz East Crime Museum is located at 2757 Parkway • Pigeon Forge, TN 37863
Frequently Asked Questions about Alcatraz East Crime Museum
How long does it take to complete the museum?
Guests should allow about 2 to 3 hours to complete the entire museum.
Is there somewhere to buy food and/or beverages at the museum?
The museum does sell drinks and snacks but does not have an eating facility. Fortunately, the museum is located at the Island, so there are plenty of places within walking distance to grab a snack or a meal.
Is the museum appropriate for children?
The museum is appropriate for all ages. Please do note that due to the nature of the museum, there is mature content. The museum has gone to great lengths to ensure that children and adults alike have a pleasant experience.
The museum is open 365 days a year from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm. Hours are subject to change based on seasonality or events.
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John Corabi live at The Rockpile in Toronto, Ontario, Canada Concert Review
Posted on March 26, 2017 by Tyson Briden in Uncategorized // 0 Comments
JOHN CORABI PLAYS A SET OF SONGS SPANNING HIS ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER
Date: March 16 2017
Venue: The Rockpile
Reviewer: Tyson Briden
Photos: Olivier
The Baz Littlerock Band:
For those who are unfamiliar with Baz Littlerock, he has doubled as the singer, for the past 15 years in the Bon Jovi tribute act, Bon Jovi Forever. This is not an easy task. There are those who can pull this off, and those who fail miserably. In the case of Baz Littlerock, he is the most dead on Bon Jovi vocalist out there. I will even go out on a limb and say that Littlerock sounds more like Jon Bon Jovi these days, then Bon Jovi himself. For fans of Bon Jovi, Bon Jovi Forever is a must see. There are other Bon Jovi tribute acts in Southern Ontario, but they lack that one key ingredient — a singer who sounds exact.
With all this said, Littlerock was not out performing as Jon Bon Jovi on this particular evening. Littlerock and his band were at The Rockpile to prep the crowd up for John Corabi. Littlerock and co. did a nice job of mixing covers with original material. The band started their set off with a kick ass cover of Van Halen’s “Jump.” Keyboardist John E. Keys was spot on with his duplication of Eddie Van Halen’s classic keyboard line. Littlerock’s set was powerful and possessed the energy of a great opener. Bassist Darryl “The Rock N’ Roll Kid” Coleman and drummer Kevin “Keggy” Kunkel fit nicely in the pocket as the band performed two originals. “Live It Up” and “Me And My Guitar” went over very well with the crowd. Next up, the keyboard work of Keys was on display once again as the band did a great version of the Guns N’ Roses epic classic, “November Rain.” Littlerock played the guitar solos with the same feeling that the great Slash would and I am positive that Slash himself would be impressed.
Littlerock switched gears again and did a nice cover of Sweeney Todd’s classic “Roxy Roller.” From there, it was back to the originals. They performed the last two of the four the band would do on this night. “Perfect Crime” and “To Lean On” were catchy tunes that still kept the audience’s attention. Littlerock then asked the audience if they had seen the movie Rockstar. It was at this point that Coleman broke into the bass intro to “We All Die Young.” To keep the performance moving, it was only natural that Littlerock do something by the band that he has made a living emulating for the past 15 years. Littlerock introduced the song by stating that ¾ of this band are members of Bon Jovi Forever. They quickly broke into “It’s My Life.” The band ended this stellar performance by doing Journey‘s “Separate Ways.” A nice end to a great performance and exactly what you come to expect from the opener.
John Corabi:
As John Corabi entered the stage, the crowd quickly erupted. The presence of this man was felt immediately, wearing cool glasses, t-shirt, vest, scarf and sporting a very long, but neat beard. Corabi introduced himself and mentioned his son Ian would be playing along with him on percussion this evening. Corabi seemed to be in very good spirits as he joked about his son being “his bitch” on this particular tour and that his goal was to send young Ian Corabi to therapy by the end of the tour.
Corabi then slammed into “Love (I Don’t Need It Anymore)” from the first Union record. It was very well done and I couldn’t help but sing along. Corabi then spoke about his acoustic solo album that came out a couple years prior. From this album he performed “If I Never Get To Say Goodbye” with exuberance and feeling. Being that this was an acoustic show, Corabi did a great job of engaging his audience. He mentioned his love for the late great David Bowie and he would perform something off the Ziggy Stardust album, but not the one you’re expecting. It was a song I was not familiar with, but I thoroughly enjoyed Corabi’s distinct voice covering a truly amazing artist. “Lady Stardust” was played as if Corabi had written it himself. It was at this time that Corabi performed a song from his latest project, The Dead Daisies. As Corabi was ready to perform “Something I Said” from The Dead Daisies’ Revolucion album, Corabi stated that there is talk of The Dead Daisies possibly performing in Toronto in August of this year. The crowd at the Rockpile cheered wildly at the mention of such an event.
John Corabi playing acoustic cover version of The Dead Daisies‘ “Something I Said” in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on March 16, 2017:
John Corabi Something I Said Dead Daisies Cover
The rockpile Toronto march 16 2017
“Mother, Father, Son” from The Scream’s masterpiece Let It Scream was up next. It was great to hear Corabi perform old and new material spanning his 25 year career. This song gave me the same feeling that it had back in 1993 when I purchased the album. This song’s lyrical content has always appealed to me. As I stated Corabi was very open with the audience. Corabi went into this very cool story about The Dead Daisies being in Europe last summer. The band was to perform in Paris a week after the terrorist attacks took place. The Dead Daisies were apprehensive about doing the show, but charged on and made the decision that the show must go on. It was at this show that Corabi met a fan that wanted to thank the band for playing the show regardless of the turn of events. The fan stated that the band were his heroes. The fan then proceeded to tell Corabi that he had been one of the hostages. Corabi was taken back by this and told the fan that “we’re not heroes, you’re the hero.” The way Corabi told this story was very heart felt and with much emotion. Corabi said for the rest of his life, he will never forget that meeting with this fan. “When You And I” was then announced and Corabi did a great rendition of this great song from the Revolucion album.
It would not be a Corabi show without the man touching on his Mötley Crüe material. Just before performing “Misunderstood,” Corabi went on to say that the long awaited Corabi/Mötley 94 live album from his 2014 tour would see the light of the day this year. Not to mention a new The Dead Daisies live album. So expect two live albums in 2017. “Misunderstood” sounded fantastic as Corabi picked every note precisely on his 12 String Acoustic guitar. Keeping up in true fashion to the classic Mötley album, Corabi went straight into “Loveshine.” The crowd sang along to both these classic songs. For many, this album is believed to be the best Mötley Crüe album ever.
John Corabi playing acoustic cover version of Mötley Crüe‘s “Misunderstood” in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on March 16, 2017:
John Corabi Misunderstood
“Everything’s Alright” from Union’s Blue Room album would be Corabi’s next song. Corabi had asked the audience what they wanted to hear and someone shouted this song out. It sounded just as good acoustically as it does with the full band on the original album. From there it was back to the Mötley 94. Corabi played the opening notes to “Driftaway” and the crowd was focusing on his every move by this point in the performance. For Corabi’s next composition, he would play one that I love, but I couldn’t understand why he would give up one of his own songs to perform this one. It would be “Home Sweet Home” — a Mötley Crüe classic from long before he joined the band. Don’t get me wrong, it was a great rendition of the song and he had the crowd singing along to it, but it’s just not a song I associate John Corabi with.
It was at this point in the show, Corabi would bring up a special guest from the audience. Guitarist Gerry Finn of the Killer Dwarfs. Finn immediately plugged in his guitar and they proceeded to play the Beatles classic’s “Oh Darling” which Union released on the reissue of their self-titled debut album. It was great to hear Corabi sing this song. This was one that I always felt Corabi did a tremendous job on. As Corabi and Finn conversed, they established they would perform the Rod Stewart classic “Maggie May.” Corabi had done this song on a tribute album a number of years back. Corabi stated to the audience, “Hold on, gotta see if I remember this.” It was quickly decided he remembered it. Finn did a great job emulating the licks that were originally done on the song. By the expressions on his face, you could tell he was doing his best to remember the original guitar lines. Whether they were exact didn’t matter, Finn did a fantastic job.
John Corabi with Gerry Finn (Killer Dwarfs) playing acoustic cover version of Rod Stewart‘s “Maggie May” in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on March 16, 2017:
John Corabi / Gerry Finn Maggie May
With the show quickly coming to an end, Corabi and Finn started into the Mötley classic “Hooligan’s Holiday.” It’s funny, this song for being so heavy on album, really comes across great in an acoustic setting. The last song of the night, although never a big hit in Top 40 terms, is one that to Corabi fans is a classic. “Man In The Moon” by The Scream closed things out perfectly. In all, I thoroughly enjoyed this performance. Corabi is really a great songwriter and performer. His personality shows in his music and he engages the audience so well with his seriousness and humour, which were all used at the appropriate times throughout the show. This is third time I have seen Corabi perform acoustically and he never disappoints. I look forward to the next show with Corabi, be it The Dead Daisies or solo.
John Corabi’s setlist:
01. Love (I Don’t Need It Anymore) (Union)
02. If I Never Get To Say Goodbye
03. Lady Stardust (David Bowie cover)
04. Something I Said (The Dead Daisies)
05. Mother, Father, Son (The Scream)
06. With You And I (The Dead Daisies)
07. Misunderstood (Mötley Crüe)
08. Loveshine (Mötley Crüe)
09. Everything’s Alright (Union)
10. Driftaway (Mötley Crüe)
11. Home Sweet Home (Mötley Crüe)
12. Oh Darling (The Beatles cover)
13. Maggie May (Rod Stewart cover)
14. Hooligan’s Holiday (Mötley Crüe)
15. Man In The Moon (The Scream)
Crued (Mötley Crüe tribute band):
Crued was the last band of the evening. It was very to cool to see their stage set up lurking behind. The double bass drum kit with the Shout At The Devil pentagram stood out and created anticipation for the crowd. Being that I am a huge Mötley fan and have been since I was 10 years old, I am always curious to see how this band would come across.
Crued came out in true rock n roll fashion. Decked to the nines in their Mötley stage gear. The confusing part for me was this. The Nikki Sixx character was dressed in the long beige leather coat that Sixx wore on the 1994 album. The Tommy Lee character was dressed as the modern day Tommy Lee. The Mick Mars resembled the Mars of the Dr. Feelgood era. As for the Vince Neil character, he was a little more confusing because he had long red hair, in more of an Axl Rose way and he wore leather that was somewhat Too Fast For Love era, but not quite. Mötley Crüe were always a band that you knew what era they were from because of their stage wear. They changed and evolved as each album came out. With that said, the band itself was very tight and sounded dead on.
The Nikki Sixx lookalike was also wearing sunglasses and really looked like Nikki Sixx. He had all of Sixx‘s cool moves down. As for the others, they looked good and believable with the exception of the singer. He did his best, but didn’t remind me of Vince Neil. His vocals were decent though and sounded close to that of Vince Neil. To be honest, it was such a strange element that night. Live heavy band, then acoustic artist and then an over the top, very loud band. So in terms of adjusting your ears, it was a little hard and not the ideal situation.
All and all, Crued were decent and did a good job of imitating Mötley Crüe. For me as a big Mötley fan, I feel that some bands are just harder to duplicate. Mötley is one of them. So my hats off to Crued for their stage set up, costumes and overall sound.
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Ernest Rutherford is called the Newton of atomic physics. He was recognized by his fellow scientists as a man of colossal energy and tireless enthusiasm. As he himself remarked he lived in the “heroic age of physics”. Ernest Rutherford was born in New Zealand. He graduated from New Zealand University and entered Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1919 he was appointed a Professor of experimental physics in the University of Cambridge. E. Rutherford’s early researches concerned electromagnetic waves. His experiments led him to develop a magnetic detector, which at that time was the best detector of electromagnetic waves. His detector was later used by Marconi, one of the inventors of the radio, in his well-known investigations. Rutherford’s big triumph began when he turned his attention to radioactivity. His brilliant researches established the existence and nature of radioactive transformations. He also investigated the electrical structure of matter and the nuclear nature of atom. He was one of the founders of the atomic theory of physics and creators of the first atomic model. He stated that the atom consisted of a nucleus around which electrons revolved in orbits. Even today his works did not lose their importance.
The great english scientist isaac newton was born.
The Educational System of Great Britain The educational system of G. B. is extremely complex and bewildering. It is very difficult to generalize particular types of schools as schoolsdiffer from one to the other. The department...
Customs and Traditions There are many customs and traditions in England. And I wouldlike to tell you some of them. First tradition is called “Wrongside of the bed”. When people are bad tempered...
The History of the Olympic Games Long ago ancient Greeks often waged wars. Small states suffered and lost much even if they did not take any side and stayed out of wars. The ruler of such...
Constitutional Monarchy Britain is a parliamentary democracy with a constitutional monarch – Queen Elisabeth II as a head of state. The British constitution, isn’t set out in a single document. Instead it...
Church Holidays – Церковные праздники Church holidays are days set aside by the church for celebrating various events from the life of Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints. The most important holiday in Russian...
Culture – Учреждения культуры All manner of general and esoteric societies, institutions, museums and foundations can be found in England. One of its more prestigious learned societies is the Royal Society (1660), which awards...
The Geographical Position of Great Britain – Географическое положение Великобритании (3) The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland covers an area of some 244 thousand square miles. It is situated on the British Isles. The British Isles are separated...
The Doctor. Our Health – Доктор. Наше здоровье When we are ill, we call the doctor, and he examines us diagnoses and the illness. When we have a headache, a stomachache, a sore throat, a cold or a...
Religion Religion is a system of thought, feeling, and action that is shared by a group and that gives the members an object of devotion; a code of behavior by which...
British Homes – Жилища англичан There are 22 million homes in Britain – big homes and small homes, old cottages and new buildings, houses and flats. (Americans say “apartment” but British people say “flat”). Many...
Racing There are all kinds of racing in England – horse-racing, motor-car racing, boat-racing, dog-racing, and even races for donkeys. On sports days at school boys and girls run races, and...
My Plans for the Future – Мои планы на будущее (2) I am a school leaver and a problem of choosing a profession is the most urgent for me now. As the most of my friends I am going to enter...
Cold War – “Холодная война” Cold War The Cold War was the open yet restricted struggle that developed after World War II between the United States and its allies and the Soviet Union and its...
New Zealand – Новая Зеландия (1) New Zealand (1) New Zealand is an island country in the Southwest Pacific Ocean. It lies about 1600 km southeast of Australia and about 10 500 km southwest of California....
Charles Spencer Chaplin With shoes and trousers too big for him, and jacket too tight, moustache, bowler hat and walking cane the famous tramp portrayed by Charlie Chaplin as the little man suffering...
About me My full name is Bushueva Valeria Dmitrievna. I was born in Moscow, Russia in 2002. I’m 11 years old. About my appearance, I’m tall and thin (probably), I have big...
Sports and Olympic Games – Спорт и Олимпийские игры Many people all over the world are interested in sport. Sport helps people to stay healthy and makes them more organized and better disciplined in their daily activities. They have...
My Favourite Actors – Мои любимые актеры My favourite actors are Mel Gibson and Whoopi Goldberg. Whoopi Goldberg came a long way to her present international success. Her mother was divorced and poor. Whoopi chose a very...
My Friends – Мои друзья (2) As we live in society, we meet a lot of people during our lives. We communicate with all these people, but our attitudes towards each of these people are different....
Restaurants in London – Рестораны Лондона The British have taken good ideas from all over the world. You can eat Chinese, Indian, Italian and Greek food in any big city. There is a fantastic variety of...
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Editors' ChoiceInflammation
NO Switch in Lung Inflammation
L. Bryan Ray
Science, Science Signaling, AAAS, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Science Signaling 18 Nov 2008:
Vol. 1, Issue 46, pp. ec397
DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.146ec397
The secreted protein surfactant protein D (SP-D) serves a protective function in the lung, binding to invading microorganisms to initiate immune defense responses. But its actions are more complicated than that. The protein also binds to other signaling proteins, like the receptor complex of CD91 and calreticulin, or to signal inhibitory regulatory protein α (SIRP α), thereby activating the tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1. The former appears to be a pro-inflammatory stimulus mediated by the tail domain of the protein, whereas the latter is anti-inflammatory and appears to depend on the head domain. Guo et al. now provide evidence that propensity of SP-D to promote one or the other of these opposing effects is strongly influenced by S-nitrosylation of two cysteine residues in the hydrophobic tail region of the protein. Mutagenesis studies identified two cysteine residues that were required for S-nitrosylation and showed that the S-nitrosylated protein dissociated from the usual large multimers into trimers. In an in vivo model of lung inflammation in rats and mice, the authors showed evidence of S-nitrosylation of SP-D when inflammation was induced, and this effect was lost in mice lacking the nitric oxide–producing enzyme iNOS. Although effects of S-nitrosylation could partly result from dissociation of the multimeric state in which the tail domains are buried and cannot interact with other proteins, S-nitrosylation also appears to have other effects, because cysteine mutants that also caused dissociation did not have equivalent effects on stimulation of chemotaxis of cultured macrophages. The results may aid in understanding the complicated roles of NO in the lung, where it is necessary for helpful functions like airway dilation and immune responses but can also contribute to pathological events like acute lung injury or asthma.
C.-J. Guo, E. N. Atochina-Vasserman, E. Abramova, J. P. Foley, A. Zaman, E. Crouch, M. F. Beers, R. C. Savani, A. J. Gow, S-Nitrosylation of surfactant protein-D controls inflammatory function. PLoS Biol. 6, e266 (2008). [Online Journal]
Vol 1, Issue 46
You are going to email the following NO Switch in Lung Inflammation
By L. Bryan Ray
Science Signaling 18 Nov 2008 : ec397
S-nitrosylation of a lung surfactant protein determines whether it has pro- or anti-inflammatory effects.
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U.S. President Barack Obama releases original birth certificate
The White House today released a detailed Hawaii birth certificate in an attempt to put to rest the issue of President Barack Obama’s legitimacy to hold the office of president. Shortly after the unexpected release, the president spoke live on national television, explaining, “We do not have time for this kind of silliness.”
President Obama noted that the issue of his birthplace began during his campaign. “I have watched with bemusement, I’ve been puzzled at the degree at which this thing just kept on going,” he said, and blamed media culture for perpetuating the controversy. The president did not answer reporters’ questions nor explain why the document was not released until now.
The long form birth certificate released by the White House. Image: The White House.
“We’re not going to be able to solve our problems if we get distracted by sideshows and carnival barkers,” he said, noting the severe problems the nation faces and the importance of the decisions that need to be made. Obama said the problems could not be resolved “if we are distracted.”
The U.S. Constitution states that only a “natural born” citizen of the country can become president. Some have contended that Obama was born overseas and is thus disqualified from holding the office. Although a recent poll by CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll showed that most Americans believe Obama was “definitely or probably born in the United States”, according to CNN, 40 percent of Republicans doubted Obama is a natural born citizen eligible to be president.
The newly released document, signed by the obstetrician and Obama’s mother, shows that Obama was born in Honolulu on August 4, 1961 of a Caucasian mother born in Kansas and and an African father born in Kenya. It was signed on August 7 and 8.
Prominent businessman Donald Trump has been highlighting the question of Obama’s birthplace recently as he mulled over whether to run for the presidency himself, and took credit for its release today. “He should have done it a long time ago,” he told journalists. “I am really honored to play such a big role in hopefully, hopefully getting rid of this issue.”
Filed under Politics, World News Tagged with birth certificate, Caucasian, CNN/Opinion Research Corporation, Hawaii, Kansas, Kenya, long form birth certificate, natural born, Obama's birthplace, Republicans, U.S. Constitution, U.S. President Barack Obama, White House
Renowned Indian guru Śrī Satya Sai Baba dies aged 84
Śrī Satya Sai Baba, one of India’s most prominent spiritual leaders and revered by millions of followers worldwide, died Sunday in a Puttaparthi hospital, following a cardiac arrest. He was 84 and had been in hospital since last month, suffering from kidney failure and respiratory problems.
Followers and devotees of Śrī Baba considered him to be the manifestation of a “living God” on Earth and believed he had powers of magic, such as being able to pull things from out of thin air.
Former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was one of Śrī Baba’s followers, as was international test cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.
Sathya Sai Baba, Indian spiritual guru.
Worshippers carried Baba’s image through the streets of Bangalore and extra police were deployed in his hometown of Puttaparthi. In Delhi, masses gathered in temples and some refused to accept Baba’s death.
With an estimated six million followers, Baba saw donations allow for the expansion of his home village to include many temples, a hospital offering free medical care, a university, and an airport. His first permanent facility opened 60 years ago.
Born Sathyanarayana Raju, Baba decided at the age of fourteen that he was the reincarnation of 19th-century guru Sai Baba of Shirdi. The legend runs that Baba was stung by a scorpion and then sang religious chants in a language previously unknown to him. He predicted his death in 2019, as well as a third and final reincarnation in Karnataka state in 2023.
Nobody has been appointed to take over running the trust that promotes the faith, which has over 1,200 centres worldwide. There are fears the family and trust could argue, leading to a government takeover. “If the government has to take over the affairs of Sai Baba’s mission that could spell its end,” warned one devotee.
“Some people out of their mean-mindedness are trying to tarnish the image of Sai Baba,” said Baba in 2000, after allegations of sexual abuse were made against him by young men, claims the BBC highlighted in 2004. “I am not after name and fame. So, I do not lose anything by their false allegations. My glory will go on increasing day by day,” Baba added.
Claims that Śrī Baba was a charlatan and allegations of sexual abuse dogged him constantly. In 1993, six people “died violently in the spiritual leader’s private rooms,” The Guardian reported. No full explanation has ever been given for the deaths, though speculation of a money dispute has been raised.
In a statement, current Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that the death of the guru was an “”irreparable loss” to India, adding, “He was a spiritual leader who inspired millions to lead a moral and meaningful life even as they followed the religion of their choice.”
The guru’s body is being kept at the hospital amid appeals for his devotees not to flood them to see his body. The public viewing of Śrī Baba’s body will take place Monday and Tuesday, and a funeral will follow. There are to be four days of mourning in his home state, Andhra Pradesh, by decree of the state government.
Filed under World News Tagged with Andhra Pradesh, Puttaparthi, spiritual leader, Śrī Satya Sai Baba
Anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s spaceflight marks fifty years of human space travel
On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin lifted off on Vostok 1, the first human spaceflight in history, completing one orbit of the Earth in just under two hours. Tuesday marks the anniversary of Gagarin’s flight and fifty years of human space travel.
Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, the first human in space, completing one orbit of the Earth in just under two hours.
Celebrations were to take place all over the world and aboard the International Space Station. Yuri’s Night, started in 2001 for fortieth anniversary celebrations, is a global celebration of the history of spaceflight, including the first Space Shuttle launch on April 12, 1981, the twentieth anniversary of Gagarin’s flight. There were to be more than 400 events in 71 countries celebrating Yuri’s Night this year.
Gagarin’s flight lasted 108 minutes, just under two hours, and consisted of one full orbit around the Earth. His trip to orbit came just four years after the launch of Sputnik 1 and the beginning of the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR).
Vostok I capsule used by Yuri Gagarin, now on display at the RKK Energiya Museum outside of Moscow.
The crew on board the International Space Station (ISS) also marked the fiftieth anniversary by delivering a message from space. While addressing viewers, station commander Dmitry Kondratyev referred to the portrait of Gagarin floating next to him as a representation of the achievement of “humankind at large”.
A movie, entitled First Orbit, was filmed in parts in space when the orbit of the ISS matched that of Gagarin’s flight. The movie, produced by filmmaker Christopher Riley, was filmed by ESA astronaut Paolo Nespoli and matches the radio communications, times, and views of the flight. The film is freely available to the public and made its debut on Tuesday to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the human race becoming a space-faring species.
Filed under Space News Tagged with astronaut Paolo Nespoli, Dmitry Kondratyev, ESA, First Orbit, human space travel, International Space Station, RKK Energiya Museum outside of Moscow, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, Soviet Union, space race, Sputnik 1, USSR, Vostok I, Vostok I capsule, Yuri Gagarin
A380 collides with regional jet at JFK airport
On Monday, an Air France Airbus A380, operating as Air France Flight 007, collided with a Comair Bombardier CRJ-700, operating as Comair flight 553/Delta Connection flight 6293 in Delta Connection livery, on a taxiway at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. The A380 had 520 people onboard, and the smaller plane had 66.
An Air France Airbus A380 Image: Andy Mitchell.
The Comair jet had just arrived from Boston Logan International Airport, and was stopped on the tarmac, awaiting a gate to offload passengers. The A380 was preparing to depart for Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, and was taxiing along a taxiway when its wingtip struck the tail of the other plane. The impact spun the CRJ around 90 degrees and resulted in some damage to both planes.
A Delta Connection Bombardier CRJ-700 Image: Mark Wagner.
A passenger on board the A380 said that “It really felt just like a speedbump or like hitting a pothole—a jolt—but it didn’t feel right [it felt] like that shouldn’t be happening.”
LiveATC.net captured the recording of the flight deck and ground control communications before and after the incident. In the recording, one can hear controllers giving taxi instructions to the Air France plane, then later a controller calling for emergency personnel to the intersection of taxiways Alpha and Mike.
The National Transportation Safety Board plans to investigate the incident, and will study the flight recorders, air traffic control recordings, and data from radar on the ground.
Filed under Aviation, World News Tagged with A380, Air France Airbus A380, Air France Flight 007, Air France plane, air traffic contro, Airbus A380, Comair jet, Delta Connection Bombardier CRJ-700, flight deck, John F. Kennedy International Airport, National Transportation Safety Board, Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, radar
Crisis at stricken Japan nuclear plant escalates to level of Chernobyl; six killed in aftershock
The crisis at a stricken nuclear plant on the northeast coast of Japan is now as severe as the disaster at Chernobyl in 1986, officials have said. Radiation is continuing to leak from the plant, which was damaged during the devastating magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami last month, which left thousands dead. Japanese authorities have warned the crisis is now a “major accident” with “wider consequences” than previously thought.
A spokesperson for NISA, the Japanese government nuclear authority, said officials had upgraded the crisis to a level seven on the International Nuclear Event Scale—the same applied to the Chernobyl disaster—because of a number of factors, including the detection of radiation in crops. “We have upgraded the severity level to seven as the impact of radiation leaks has been widespread from the air, vegetables, tap water and the ocean,” he said.
A new magnitude 6.6 aftershock yesterday triggered a mudslide which left six people dead. Image: United States Geological Survey.
TEPCO, the operator of the plant, has warned radiation was continuing to leak from the site and the magnitude of the crisis could exceed that of Chernobyl. Despite this, Japanese nuclear safety officials have insisted the leakage of radiation was small compared to the devastated plant in the former Soviet Union. “In terms of volume of radioactive materials released, our estimate shows it is about ten percent of what was released by Chernobyl,” one nuclear official said.
The news comes as a new blow after another powerful aftershock yesterday which left at least six people dead after they were killed in a mudslide in the city of Iwaki. The landslide, which destroyed numerous homes, was triggered by a magnitude 6.6 aftershock which came exactly a month after the 9.0 magnitude earthquake. Fire officials in the city said three people had already been rescued and taken to hospital, and emergency workers were working to free an unknown number of others.
The devastated Fukushima I nuclear power plant pictured five days after the initial earthquake. Image: DigitalGlobe.
Workers at the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant returned after they were briefly evacuated following the earthquake, and officials issued tsunami warnings for the northeast coast which were later cancelled. Workers have been fighting a desperate battle to prevent the reactors from overheating and entering meltdown. Raging fires burned into the night after the earthquake, and TEPCO reported widespread power outages; hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses had power cut off.
Reports of the change in severity at the damaged nuclear plant followed the announcement that the exclusion zone around the site was to be expanded. A spokesperson for the government confirmed the radius of the zone would be expanded to include another five communities over the next several weeks. He stressed there was “no need to evacuate immediately” but said concerns had been raised over health risks from the leaking radiation.
The International Nuclear Events Scale; the accidents at the Fukushima I have been elevated to level seven, the highest level on the scale, putting it on par with the Chernobyl disaster, originally the accidents were rated at level five, the same level of the Three Mile Island accident. Image: Silver Spoon.
The new development at the plant and the aftershock are new blows to a country wounded after the massive earthquake in March, which caused a tsunami that washed away whole towns and villages along the country’s northeast coast. Thousands of bodies have been recovered, and many more are still unaccounted for, many left under mounds of rubble or washed out to sea. More than 150,000 people remain displaced, living in emergency shelters.
Before the aftershock struck yesterday, survivors of the first earthquake marked the time it hit a month ago with a moment of silence across the country. Writing to seven international newspapers, Naoto Kan, the Japanese prime minister, expressed his gratitude to people globally for their support. “Through our own efforts and with the help of the global community, Japan will recover and come back even stronger. We will then repay you for your generous aid,” he wrote. “With this in our hearts, we now stand together dedicated to rebuilding the nation.”
Filed under World News Tagged with aftershock, Chernobyl, DigitalGlobe, earthquake, Fukushima, Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, International Nuclear Event Scale, Japan crisis, Japan Nuclear crisis, Japan nuclear plant, Japanese prime minister, leaking radiation, major accident, Naoto Kan, nuclear plant, Nuclear Radiation, radioactive materials, TEPCO, tsunami
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Boston, Chicago complete major AHL deal
The Chicago Blackhawks, parent club of the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals, have acquired forward Kris Versteeg and a conditional draft pick from the Boston Bruins, parent club of the AHL’s Boston Bruins, in exchange for forward Brandon Bochenski.
Versteeg, 20, is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound rookie right wing from Lethbridge, Alta. He has appeared in 43 games for Providence this season, scoring 22 goals and 27 assists for 49 points. He has registered five power play goals and a plus-15 rating.
The Boston Bruins’ fifth-round draft choice (134th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft leads Providence in scoring this season. He signed a three-year entry-level deal with Boston over the summer.
Bochenski, 24, is a 6-foot, 193-pound right wing from Blaine, Minn. In 35 games with Norfolk this season, Bochenski led the team with 33 goals and added 33 assists for 66 points. He ranks fourth in the AHL scoring race, second in goals and second in power-play goals (16). His 33 goals tied a Norfolk franchise record for goals in a single season.
In 10 games with the Blackhawks, Bochenski notched two goals and two penalty minutes. Bochenski signed a one-year deal with Chicago over the summer. The Blackhawks originally acquired Bochenski (along with a 2006 second round draft pick) in a trade with the Ottawa Senators for Tyler Arnason on Mar. 9, 2006.
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TV Doctor
CAROL COOPER: What I Did at 50
June 25, 2019 traceintime1 Comment
I’m happy to welcome Carol Cooper onto my blog today, as part of my ‘What I did at 50’ series. I first met Carol at the London Book Fair in 2013. Hi, Carol! Tell us about your life up to and at fifty and beyond…
Carol Cooper
Thank you very much for having me on your blog, Tracey. I’m a slow learner, and turning fifty taught me a lot.
Back in my twenties, I dreamed of living in Hampstead and writing novels. However, I couldn’t afford Hampstead rents at the time and didn’t know how to write a book. In fact I knew nothing much except how to pass exams. I did however write a few music reviews, which got me into some of the best gigs in Cambridge.
Studying took up the next few years. Once I qualified as a doctor, I began writing light-hearted articles for other medics, and eventually for Punch and other titles. To me, Punch has always been an iconic magazine, and I was thrilled when it became one of my regular outlets.
You asked about turning fifty, though, so I’ll fast-forward. By my forties, I had three teenaged sons and was a GP in a partnership in Chorleywood, Herts. I’d often been a part-time doctor, but had always worked, with only five weeks off after giving birth to my first child, and six months after having twins. This was considered exceptionally generous at the time.
Alongside this, I was also busy as a ‘media medic’, as some call it. As the doctor for The Sun newspaper, my role was to supply a medical opinion at short notice on topics that could range from hangover remedies to radiation spills. I also popped up a lot on radio and TV, especially on Sky News who gave me a regular slot. It was a fun time. I never knew what might come up next so it was like working in A&E, though without getting my hands dirty.
Inspired by my children and my work, I wrote a string of non-fiction books, among them the very popular Twins and Multiple Births and the Baby & Child Q & A Book. The only sadness was that my marriage had broken down by then, though my ex and I remain friendly.
Carol’s book Twins & Multiple Births: the essential parenting guide from pregnancy to adulthood.
Around my fiftieth birthday, I was teaching nurses in the practice, as well as medical students who sometimes did attachments with us. But the biggest change came when I left the partnership. The decision was triggered by the birthday of my eldest son, who insisted on waiting for me to come home from work before opening his cards and presents.
I had an evening clinic and the last patient took a while. I recall her telling me, “This won’t take a minute, doctor.” She was right. It took more like half an hour.
Just as I’d thought I’d finished, I got a call from a local care home. The elderly patient in question had already been visited several times in the last few days. The staff didn’t think she needed further medical attention but the family were insistent, so I went, taking the usual time and care even though it became clear that there was nothing more any doctor could do for her.
When I was finally driving home, it struck me somewhat late in the day (in every sense of the phrase) that I couldn’t have it all, despite everything I’d told myself. Anyone could be a GP, I concluded, but only one person could be a mother to my sons.
After I left the practice, I still wanted to see patients, but got pickier about the hours, so I worked on a very part-time basis. This allowed me to spend more time with my sons, teach medical students at Imperial College, and carry on with my media work and non-fiction books.
With over half my allotted time up on the big parking meter of life, I returned to ideas that had been simmering for a while. I’d already attended a weekend course led by the legendary Ruth Rendell who convinced me that I could write fiction, especially if it involved dialogue or sex. Spurred on by her advice, I finally finished a novel. I also moved to Hampstead when I downsized from the family home in Chorleywood. But it still wasn’t plain sailing. When my agent decided that One Night at the Jacaranda wasn’t her thing, I self-published my debut novel, followed two years later by Hampstead Fever.
Hampstead Fever
BUY Hampstead Fever HERE
Set in Hampstead, the book follows the intertwined lives of six Londoners whose various emotions boil over in the hot summer of 2013. This is the year I got married to Jeremy with whom, coincidentally, I’d worked at Punch all those years ago.
Readers often wonder why my novels have short scenes and feature multiple viewpoints. The answer is that it mirrors my profession. Every ten minutes, someone new comes into a GP’s consulting room, and I try to put myself in their shoes.
Although my career hasn’t taken a straight path, nothing has been wasted. There’s a lot of life experience in my novels, and, while all the characters are purely imaginary, there’s more than a whiff of authenticity in the stressed GP, the struggling journalist, and the newly single mother. I was delighted when WH Smith picked Hampstead Fever for a front-of-store promo in their travel bookshops.
Cathy from WH Smith at Gatwick Airport, holding a copy of Hampstead Fever
I’ve just finished a more literary novel. The Girls from Alexandria centres around Nadia, an Egyptian of Syrian origin who’s now seventy and has symptoms that might be dementia. To avoid being sent to a care home, she needs to find her only remaining relative, a sister who disappeared decades ago. As it’s set mostly in Egypt in the 1950s and 1960s, the book draws on my experience of growing up in Alexandria. I’m not sure when it’ll be published, but it has been pure joy revisiting old memories, just as Nadia does in the novel as she tries to piece clues together.
Hampstead Fever BUY HERE
Connect with Carol on Twitter
Read Carol’s blog Pills & Pillow-Talk
Carol’s Website
Author page on Facebook Carol Cooper’s London Novels
Find Carol on Instagram
UncategorizedAuthor, Dr Carol Cooper, Hampstead Fever, life story, Media Medic, TV Doctor, Twins and Multiple Births, What I did at 50, writer
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The British Monarchy-Offa of Mercia
http://monarchs.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_british_monarchyoffa_of_mercia
The First King of England
Offa was the King of Mercia from 757 until his death in July, 796. Offa came to the throne during a period of civil war following the assassination King Aethelbald.
During the first half of the Eighth Century, Aethalbald was one of Britain’s most dominant kings, controlling much of the territory south of the Humber River. Aethelbald was one of a number of strong Mercian kings who ruled during the Seventh and Eighth Centuries.
Background on Offa of Mercia
The power attained by Offa made him one of the most important rulers in Britain’s early medieval history. No contemporary accounts of Offa survive, except for an account of Offa that appears in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, which was written in the 12th Century. However, the account of Offa found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is considered to be biased because it was written to cast Britain’s Wessex region in a favourable light. As a result it may not be totally accurate.
Offa’s Rise to Power
Aethelbald was the ruler of Mercia from 716 until his death in 757. According to primary sources he was “treacherously murdered at night by his own bodyguards.” Following the death of Aethelbald, Offa found himself in conflict with Beornred, who also tried to claim the throne. Given the somewhat tribal nature of Britain’s many kingdoms before the Norman Invasion, it is believed that Offa took time to solidify control over the kingdom before claiming the throne. Based on royal charters written later in his reign, it is believed that Offa ascended to the throne in 758.
Offa and Kent
Little is known about Mercia during the Eighth Century. However, it is believed that Offa used the unstable situation in Kent to solidify his rule in Mercia. At that time Kent had a history of joint kingship, with one king usually being dominant over the other. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records a battle between Offa and the Kentish kings that occurred at Otford in 776. The outcome of the battle was not recorded, but based on several royal charters written later in Offa’s reign, it is believed that Offa put down a Kentish rebellion against his rule. There are references in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle to Kent as “an ordinary province” which suggests that Kent was directly annexed by Offa following the Battle of Otford. Additionally, there are also references to the destruction of the Kentish royal bloodlines as a direct result of Mercian control.
Offa and Sussex
Evidence of interference in Sussex also comes in the form of royal charters. As with Kent, the exact course of events is unclear. What little evidence there is indicates that Sussex was composed of a group of small interdependent kingdoms. It is believed that the kingdoms of western Sussex submitted to Offa’s rule early in his reign. The kings of east Sussex did not, however.
According to 12th Century chronicler Simeon of Durham, Offa, “defeated the people of Hastings” in the year 771. More recently, doubts have been expressed regarding the accuracy of this date and it has been suggested that Offa did not consolidate his control over Sussex until 780 as with Kent.
Offa’s Legacy
The title most often used by Offa, and the one that most commonly appears on royal charters attributed to his reign is “Rex Merciorium” or King of the Mercians. However, some of his charters as well as Mercian coins also refer to Offa as “Rex Anglorum” or King of the English. As a result Offa is believed to have been the first ruler in British history to be referred to as the King of England.
Offa died either on July 26 or 29 in the year 796. He is buried in Bedford and was succeeded by his son Ecgfrith, who only ruled for 141 days before being assassinated by his father’s enemies.
Works CitedBede, HE, V, 23, p. 324
Simon Keynes, “Mercia”, in Lapidge, Encyclopaedia of Anglo-Saxon England, p. 307
Kirby, Earliest English Kings, p. 165
Yorke, Kings and Kingdoms, p. 32.
Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England, p. 207–208; Kirby, Earliest English Kings, p. 165.
Blackburn & Grierson, Medieval European Coinage, p. 279.
Stenton, Anglo-Saxon England, p. 224.
You’re currently reading “The British Monarchy-Offa of Mercia,” an entry on Wordsmith
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Tuesday / July 16.
HomeNewsboxRalph Branca, Who Gave Up ‘Shot Heard Round the World,’ Dies at 90
Ralph Branca, Who Gave Up ‘Shot Heard Round the World,’ Dies at 90
In baseball lore the moment has been preserved in amber, alongside Lou Gehrig’s farewell at Yankee Stadium, Don Larsen’s perfect game in a World Series and “the Catch,” Willie Mays’s spectacular over-the-shoulder, warning-track snare of a Series blast at the same Polo Grounds, three years after Thomson’s “shot.”
It was immortalized in American literature by Don DeLillo, who opened his 1997 novel, “Underworld,” with an extended passage that puts the reader in the stadium on that fall Wednesday afternoon in 1951 — a lyrical re-creation of the event that carries echoes of the Giants’ radio announcer Russ Hodges’s disbelieving call as the ball headed for the fence and sailed over the Dodgers’ left fielder Andy Pafko, culminating, as pandemonium erupted, with the joyous, repeated declaration, “The Giants win the pennant!”
The Shot Heard ‘Round The World Video by Jim Murphy
“Pafko at the wall,” Mr. DeLillo wrote. “Then he’s looking up. People thinking where’s the ball. The scant delay, the stay in time that lasts a hairsbreadth. And Cotter standing in section 35 watching the ball come in his direction. He feels his body turn to smoke. He loses sight of the ball when it climbs above the overhang and he thinks it will land in the upper deck. But before he can smile or shout or bash his neighbor on the arm. Before the moment can overwhelm him, the ball appears again, stitches visibly spinning, that’s how near it hits, banging at an angle off a pillar-hands flashing everywhere.
“Russ feels the crowd around him, a shudder passing through the stands, and then he is shouting into the mike and there is a surge of color and motion, a crash that occurs upward, stadium-wide, hands and faces and shirts, bands of rippling men, and he is outright shouting, his voice has a power he’d thought long gone — it may lift the top of his head like a cartoon rocket.
“He says, ‘The Giants win the pennant.’ ”
As for the unlucky pitcher, Mr. DeLillo wrote:
“Branca turns and picks up the rosin bag and throws it down, heading toward the clubhouse now, his shoulders aligned at a slant — he begins the long dead trudge. Paper falling everywhere.”
Branca, a strapping right-hander who had won 13 games in the regular season, had started and lost the opener of a two-of-three-game playoff series, yielding home runs by Thomson and Monte Irvin in the Giants’ 3-1 victory at Ebbets Field. But the Dodgers won the next day at the Giants’ home turf, the Polo Grounds in Upper Manhattan, setting the scene for the climactic game.
The Dodgers took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning behind the starting pitcher, Don Newcombe, who was still on the mound. Then the Giants struck, scoring a run and putting men on second and third with only one out. Thomson, who had hit 31 home runs that season, was coming to bat.
Dodgers Manager Charlie Dressen phoned his bullpen, where a coach, Clyde Sukeforth, was watching Branca and another of the team’s leading pitchers, Carl Erskine, warm up.
Dressen asked who was ready.
Erskine had just bounced a curveball, Sukeforth told the manager.
Dressen summoned Branca. Branca threw a fastball, and Thomson took a strike. Branca then delivered a second fastball, this one high and perhaps a bit inside.
The ball flew off Thomson’s bat on a line toward the 16-foot-high green wall in left field.
“Sink, sink, sink,” Branca told himself.
Branca in 2011. “A guy commits murder and he gets pardoned after 20 years,” he once said.
Raymond McCrea Jones/The New York Times
Hodges made the call: “There’s a long drive … it’s gonna be … I believe — the Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!”
Thomson had delivered a three-run homer to give the Giants a 5-4 victory, capping a pennant drive known as “the Miracle of Coogan’s Bluff” and sending them into the World Series against the Yankees. (In that Series, the Yankees doused the Giants’ hopes for a title in six games.)
After the loss, Branca sat on the wooden stairs of the clubhouse, a two-level affair, his head bowed, his shoulders hunched.
In the Polo Grounds parking lot, his fiancée, Ann Mulvey, the daughter of James and Dearie Mulvey, part owners of the Dodgers, had been waiting for him. She was accompanied by her cousin, the Rev. Pat Rowley, a Jesuit priest.
When Branca emerged, he asked Father Rowley, “Why me?”
The priest told him, “Ralph, God chose you because he knew you’d be strong enough to bear this cross.”
Branca bore that burden without complaint even after learning a few years later that Giants players had been tipped to forthcoming pitches for much of the 1951 season through a scheme in which the Giants used a telescope in the Polo Grounds’s center-field clubhouse to pick up opposing catchers’ signals.
Details of the sign stealing were publicly revealed by Joshua Prager in The Wall Street Journal in 2001 and in his book “The Echoing Green” in 2006.
Thomson, who died at age 86 in August 2010, always maintained he was not tipped that Branca would be throwing a fastball on what became that fateful home-run pitch.
But Branca was convinced otherwise. “When you took signs all year, and when you had a chance to hit a bloop or hit a home run, would you ignore that sign?” Branca said in an interview weeks before Thomson’s death. “He knew it was coming. Absolutely.”
Ralph Theodore Joseph Branca was born on Jan. 6, 1926, in Mount Vernon, N.Y., the 15th of 17 children of John Branca, a trolley-car conductor, and his wife, Katherine.
After pitching for New York University as a freshman in spring 1944, he made his debut for the Dodgers in June.
At 6 feet 3 inches and 220 pounds, with an outstanding fastball, he flourished in 1947 when he went 21-12. He was 14-9 and 13-5 the following seasons, making the National League All-Star team all three years.
After a losing season in 1950, he rebounded to go 13-10 — until that playoff series with the Giants.
Branca encountered more misfortune at the Dodgers’ spring training camp in 1952. A chair he was sitting on tipped over on a newly waxed floor and he fell backward onto a soft-drink bottle. His back was thrown out of alignment, tilting his pelvis and affecting his leg motion.
He never regained his form, winning only 12 more games with the Dodgers, the Detroit Tigers, the Yankees and the Dodgers again, finishing his career in 1956 with an 88-68 record.
Branca rejected speculation that the Thomson homer affected his psyche. “They were saying that Bobby’s home run was such a trauma that I couldn’t go on,” he told Sports Illustrated 40 years later. “That’s ridiculous. If you play sports, you expect to lose some. If I hadn’t been hurt, that home run wouldn’t have affected me at all.”
After retiring from baseball, Branca became an insurance salesman and served as president of the Baseball Alumni Team, which provides financial aid to needy baseball figures.
Branca and his 16 brothers and sisters were raised Roman Catholic. But in 2011, Prager, the author of the book on Thomson’s home run, told Branca that genealogical research had determined that his mother, who arrived in America from Hungary at age 16, was born Jewish, that her birth name was Kati Berger, and that two of her siblings had died in concentration camps.
According to traditional Jewish law, Branca and his siblings were Jewish. “Maybe that’s why God’s mad at me — that I didn’t practice my mother’s religion,” Prager quoted Branca as saying with a smile that perhaps betrayed newfound reflection on his baseball fate. “He made me throw that home run pitch. He made me get injured the next year.”
Branca lived at the Westchester Country Club in Rye. In addition to his nephew John, his survivors include his wife, Ann; two daughters, Patti and Mary Ellen; and two grandsons. Bobby Valentine, the former major league player and manager and a broadcaster, who is now the athletic director at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn., is a son-in-law.
Through the years, Branca appeared with Thomson at old-timers’ games, baseball dinners and cruises. They turned over a portion of their earnings from joint appearances to charity and became friends. And Branca grew resigned to being known solely as a classic goat of baseball history.
“Nobody remembers that at 21, I won 21 games,” he once said. “Nobody remembers that at 25, I had 75 wins. All they remember is the homer.”
Correction: November 23, 2016
Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this obituary misidentified John Branca, who confirmed the death. He is Ralph Branca’s nephew, not his son.
Letter of Recommendation: Letter of Recommendation: High-School-Football Games
Jailed by Egypt, Honored for His Photojournalism
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The effect of television on our children
The effect of television on our children is an issue that has been widely debated throughout the world. A great deal of research has been conducted on this topic, and psychologists agree that television has the potential to generate both positive and negative effects in young people. A child’s developmental level is a critical factor in determining how deeply the medium affects them. Television has the potential to expose children to inappropriate topics such violence, sexuality and offensive language.
Consequent to the level of violence shown on TV, it has been revealed that there was a gradual increase in crimes in Australia from the year 1995-1998 (UNSW, 1996,Internet). However, despite the negative effects television has had on children, television has also been accepted as a wonderful tool in the instruction of teaching in schools or at home. Children can develop a broader understanding of nature, culture and the environment around them. This essay will discuss the positive and negative effects of television on children and how these effects manifested themselves in today’s society.
The age range for children that will be discussed in this essay is from nine to fourteen years old. Firstly the “level of social and cultural poison is higher today than in the past”, says Garbarino (1999,129). Drive-by fistfights rarely resulted in deaths; but today’s drive-by shootings usually do. Kids are bombarded with warnings about lethal consequences of sex, kidnapping, weapons at school and the high probability of divorce. Adults are less available to nurture their children; fathers too often disappear from their children’s lives after separation and divorce.
According to Garbarino, the lack of adult supervision and time spent doing constructive, cooperative activities are important toxic aspects and compound the effects of other negative influences in the social environment. These and other factors contribute to the documented increases in negative feelings such as apathy, sadness, other forms of emotional distress and behaviour problems among the young. Television has been a major influence on how society behaves.
Recent research conducted by Bandura (2000,59) suggests that televised violence may be responsible for up to 15 percent of violent behaviour in children and teenagers. This suggests that television communicates to a child that violence is the way to resolve a conflict. For many young people television has become a predominant activity in their day, therefore replacing other activities at home such as social interaction with family and friends. Moreover, research carried out by Dr. Elizabeth (1992,11) supports Gabarino’s research by stating, “…
There is no gene for violence. Violence is a learned behaviour, which is often learned in the home environment Children are more aggressive and grow up more likely to become involved in violence either as a victimizer or as a victim–if they witness violent acts” With the amount of television that children watch on a daily basis, violence is constantly being viewed by children, thus playing a part in their behavioural development. The possible reasons for children spending so much time in front of Television are very difficult to figure out.
A survey was conducted by David (1994, 132), who interviewed 30 children and spoke to each separately about how television has influenced their life. Questions were asked such as: How many hours a day do you watch television? Why is it that you enjoy watching T. V so much? What is it that interests you most about the programs? . David found that the most common reason among these children for watching TV was the fact that when they got home after school there was usually no one else there.
Because they were alone with nothing to do, they just turned on the TV and would watch something that interested them until their mum or dad came home from work. David continues to mention that the children believed that when they watch TV they did not feel mentally or physically challenged, therefore allowing them to relax. On a positive note, when monitored by the parents, television can be used as an educational instrument for children. It assists in teaching children about the environment around them. It can also assist in influencing how the children behave.
An example of television being used in this positive manner is the anti-smoking and anti-drink and driving campaigns that the government broadcast. Furthermore, children often acquire a hero from one of the many programs they watch. The child admires this individual/s, may he/she be real or a cartoon, and try to imitate them. This can create serious problems, for instance, especially when the child tries to re-enact action scenes from the program. An example of this was an incident that happened in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Peter, 1996,159) with a little boy who had made Superman his hero.
He enjoyed watching Superman movies and cartoon films. His parents and him were living in a unit in the 8th floor of an apartment building. His mum loved him very much and she always tried to make him happy because he was the only child she had. One day he asked his mum to buy him a superman suit, and she did. A week later the boy was watching the latest Superman movie and he decided to imitate him by jumping off the balcony and trying to fly. He died. This is not an isolated incident. Parents should carefully monitor what their children watch.
Finally, television has become a leading sex educator in Canada today. The average teenager views more than 14,000 sexual references annually (CPA, 2001,Internet). Television exposes children to adult sexual behaviours in ways that portray these actions as normal and risk-free, sending the message that because these behaviours are frequent, everybody does it . So children get influenced by the media and will be excited in trying sex just like the other and that creates serious problems to our children and the society.
Thus, in summary, although television has had detrimental effects on children and the society throughout history, and, in today’s world, people seem to be not considering this as a very serious problem. Television can be viewed as both positive and negative influence on children. A parent’s monitoring of programmes plays a big factor in whether this medium becomes a positive or negative in their child’s life. Moreover, parents must engage their children in conversation about and help them to understand it and what lesson can be learned from it ( The Global Media Atlas,2001,128).
The History of Television
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is defined as a severe difficulty in focusing and maintaining attention
Child Development essay
How, why, and to what effect do contemporary British fictions depict times other than the present
Is sociology scientific
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Political Upheaval Rocks Global Hotspots
November 20, 2017 November 20, 2017 by The Chaos Report /
Collapse Of Talks This Morning To Form A New Government Leaves Germany’s Future In Doubt
As well as that of Europe’s longest-running leader, Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Without bogging you down in the details of German politics (American politics are bad enough!), after a marathon negotiating session, one of the parties that had committed to joining a ruling coalition after September’s elections walked out. Its leader saying curtly: “It is better not to rule than to rule falsely. Goodbye!”
Options now?
Forming a different coalition with parties that had previously been spurned by, or had spurned Merkel.
Running a minority government, which would only work if other parties are so fragmented they would not be able to provide coherent opposition.
Calling a new election, just 3 months after the last. Which would not only be an embarrassment but would likely put more power into the hands of Far-Right parties that made huge inroads in the last.
The issues that led to today’s crisis: Refugees and climate change. More specifically, differences centered around:
Capping the number of refugees allowed into Germany. And at what number. (Germany has taken in far more refugees from Syria than any other Western Country, outpacing the U.S. by more than 10-to-1 even though the U.S. is 4 times the size of Germany in terms of population. That’s led to a backlash in Germany).
Controlling (or not) whether refugees would have rights to later bring other family members over.
And whether or not to accelerate the shuttering of coal-fueled power plants.
Zimbabwe’s 93-Year Old President Takes To TV To Resign, Only He Doesn’t Resign
After his effective ouster by the military that we told you about last week, Zimbabwe’s only leader so far, Robert Mugabe, took to the airwaves for what was expected to be a resignation address. Only that’s not what happened. Instead, another twist that will likely result in the despot’s demise by impeachment early this week.
While there is some glimmer of hope the country might transform into a fledgling Democracy, this piece in the Atlantic suggests that might be some distance off, and the recent (though surprising) action is the result of opportunistic individuals finally sensing some weakness in their previously ruthless leader, and looking to fill that void (and enrich) themselves.
The New York Times offers some perspective, and a dramatic account of the events leading up to the current situation.
Lebanon’s Ex-Prime Minister Is Out Of Saudi Arabia, But Not Yet Back In Lebanon
We told you last week about Lebanon’s ex-Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, who many believed was being held in Saudi Arabia against his will, after resigning from his post while in Saudi Arabia. Well, he’s out. But he’s not yet back in Lebanon where that country’s President is refusing to recognize the resignation until it’s done on home turf.
And Hariri isn’t hurrying. He spent the week-end in Paris, where he met with French President Macron, And he’s expected to stop off in Egypt tomorrow and meet with President Sisi, before purportedly getting back to Lebanon later in the week.
It’s interesting to us that very important world leaders are making time to sit down with someone who is by his own proclamation, an ex-head of state…Which makes us think this is far from over.
Trump Seems To Be Insisting On Making Legacy Of His Asia Trip Whether He’s Been Thanked Enough For Getting UCLA Basketball Players Out Of Trouble In China
After 3 UCLA basketball players were arrested, then released, for shoplifting in China, Trump Tweeted this:
They thanked him.
But then this weekend, the dad of one of the athletes baited Trump: questioning his involvement, to which the President Tweeted this:
To which Conservative columnist Bill Kristol Tweeted this:
Which brings us to the reason we are bringing this up today in the first place. Because Kristol’s got it only partly right. After the 1st Tweet we weren’t completely convinced, but after the 2nd, it seems pretty crystal-clear: this isn’t about gratitude, this is about race. (Or at least about underscoring the futility of doing favors for your “enemies”).
And While We’re At It: We Are Sick And Tired Of Americans Thinking They Have Carte Blanche To Behave Like Idiots Overseas
In some ways we think Trump should’ve “left them in jail”, and let the school deal with it, not U.S. taxpayers (that’s who Trump works for BTW).
We realize our opinion is not shared by everybody, but we do not understand why the U.S. Government wastes money and resources on Americans who are rightfully charged. You are visiting someone else’s home: abide by their rules. It’s that simple. Shoplifting’s even simpler. It’s illegal in the U.S. So it’s probably illegal in China.
Yes, these are just kids, and are probably deserving of some kind of break.
At the same time, it’s not likely (despite Trump saying so) that they were “headed for 10 years in jail!” (Actually, in a Tweet late last night, Trump reeled that back to “5-10 years”). Anyway, sure, it would’ve been no picnic. And we won’t minimize the seriousness of being detained by Chinese police. But in a lot of cases such as these, those arrested are held for a short period of time and if they apologize and show sufficient remorse, are ordered to pay restitution and deported, never allowed to set foot in that country again. So they might’ve missed some games.
Trump’s Budget Director Says It’s Cool If Final Tax Cut Bill Doesn’t Include Partial Obamacare Repeal
Mick Mulvaney said he’s OK with taking out a measure “if it’s an impediment” that’s in the pending Senate version, but not in the House version that already passed. That would eliminate the part of Obamacare that requires people to buy health insurance. Presumably, including it would save the government money because if people aren’t forced to sign up, fewer will sign up, and that will get the government off the hook on paying subsidies. Trump’s Tweeted several times pushing for it to be included, almost like it was his idea in the first place.
Roll Call has a real neat “cheat sheet” about “The 10 Things To Watch As The Tax Bill Moves Forward“.
One related thing we’ve been wondering about: if people are getting used to Obamacare, and like the coverage and subsidies they’re getting, isn’t it possible they’ll buy it anyway even if the individual mandate is repealed? The Congressional Budget Office says the answer is no: significant numbers of people won’t buy insurance. And while the CBO is great at what it does, it’s best when it has past data to base its projections on, which in this case it doesn’t. Which is a fancy way of saying we’re not so sure…The New York Times perhaps answers the question for us, although in a slightly different context.
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Next PostThe Future Of Online Journalism
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Trump’s Most Dangerous Appointment Yet
March 23, 2018 March 23, 2018 by The Chaos Report /
And Yes, We Include Gen. Flynn And Bannon In That
Trump’s incoming National Security Adviser John Bolton speaks at a Conservative voters’ conference last month
Why is John Bolton replacing the recently ousted H.R. McMaster as National Security Adviser and did not come into the Trump Administration as Secretary of State? Simple: National Security Adviser does not require a Senate confirmation. (Bolton did previously serve as George W. Bush’s Ambassador to the U.N., but that was a recess appointment, and he resigned when it became clear the Senate was not going to approve him to continue in that job.)
We crossed paths with Bolton in several green rooms back in our days as TV journalists, and never have we met a person before or since who was more publicly rude to or dismissive of his own staff. In addition, based on TV appearances going back decades, we can say he has consistently remained imperious as hell, a war monger, and a genuine lunatic who goes around talking about “pre-emptive strikes” as the solution to most any conflict involving the U.S. And we do not say things like that about anyone lightly.
He will lead us into armed conflict. He will get people killed.
David Sanger in The New York Times has a pretty good analysis, in which he calls Bolton’s rise, along with Mike Pompeo’s recent appointment as Secretary of State, the creation of an “historically hard-line foreign policy team“.
The only hope is Trump quickly gets fed up with his haughtiness, now that they’ll be spending a lot of time together (not just the occasional conversation on the phone, or Trump catching Bolton on Fox, where he’s a commentator).
And we’d better hope Chief of Staff Kelly sticks around, because set Trump and Bolton loose together in the Oval Office with that “nuclear button” around and who knows what kind of hell-on-earth they’ll be capable of cooking up.
Hey, Wall Street: You Know That Trade War Y’all Thought Trump Would Never Get Around To? It’s Happening…
Trump is slapping $60-billion in tariffs on China. It’s not exactly clear yet which products will fall under the tariffs. That’ll be announced in a little while. But it’ll be a wide range. Probably in the thousands. China says it will retaliate, at first mainly targeting agricultural products. As we’ve said before, Trump does kind of have a point here: outright theft of intellectual property by China is rampant, the Chinese government has repeatedly lied about opening markets, and Chinese companies often start joint ventures or invest in U.S. companies as a way of acquiring technology that they then use to set up parallel companies, which then try to drive the co-owned brand out of business.
But for Trump, again it all comes down to people laughing at us. The President saying: “I really believe they cannot believe they’ve gotten away with this for so long”. Here’s a clip (click on the photo to watch):
For Wall Street, the issue is inflation. A steady supply of cheap imports from China is one of the main reasons there hasn’t been major inflation in the U.S. for decades. A trade war will mean prices will go up. Trump’s folks keep saying the impact on consumers will be minimal. But cumulatively it adds up. At any rate, the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed down more than 700 points after the announcement (and that was before the announcement about McMaster being replaced).
And in some ways, if things go bad, Wall Street will be to blame as much as Trump: because they lapped up his corporate giveaways and deregulation like giddy children gorging on candy, and assumed the trade war talk was just posturing and bluster. They assumed there was never going to be significant inflation in the U.S., just like they assumed 10 years ago that real estate prices could never go down. You know what they say about “assume”: it makes an “ass” out of “u” and “me”.
There’s another, broader issue at play here. Trump and his administration talk about the (for now) economic battle with China as a battle for world dominance. It is. But Trump’s “America First” approach is enabling China to successfully court countries that would much prefer doing business with the U.S. Trump Administration officials talk about China’s new Silk Road initiative as some kind of nefarious plot to co-opt regional economies, when it only really took off after Trump pulled out of the Trans Pacific Partnership, which would’ve aligned many of those same countries with the U.S. against China. (China was deliberately excluded from that pact).
Trump’s go-it-alone attitude excludes the possibility of joining forces with allies like Canada and the EU who are also hurt by unfair trade practices in China, and might’ve participated in a more powerful effort with the U.S. leading the way. That’s just not the way Trump operates, but it brings increased risk to his operation.
In The Meantime, Trump Administration Exempts More Than 50% Of All U.S. Steel Imports From Tariffs
Canada and Mexico were already exempt, pending NAFTA negotiations. Leading suppliers South Korea, Brazil and the European Union now join that list. That accounts for about half of all U.S. steel imports. (There are already huge tariffs on Chinese steel that date back to the Obama administration.)
Shakeup In Trump’s Legal Team Too
Remember just a few days ago when Trump lambasted the “Failing New York Times” for falsely implying there was tension between him and his legal team? Tweeting:
Well, turns out is was Trump who was false.
The lead lawyer on Trump’s team in charge of the Mueller investigation, John Dowd resigned because, as the New York Times puts it “Mr. Trump signaled that he was prepared to ignore his advice”. Trump earlier this week brought in combative Fox commentator and former federal prosecutor Joe diGenova, after he began to adopt a more aggressive stance against the Mueller investigation, calling the Special Counsel out by name, repeatedly in Tweets (something he hadn’t done before).
John Dowd, out.
Interestingly, Dowd being gone may actually increase the chance Trump does a face-to-face with Mueller (because Dowd had been advising against this). Unless, of course, Trump fires Mueller first.
Meanwhile, Fox News reports that diGenova’s wife, Victoria Toensing, also a Fox News Commentator, will be joining on too. Toensing has represented several people during their interviews with Mueller’s team, and also Blackwater founder Erik Prince, but says there’s no conflict of interest.
(As a footnote, in the “we called it” department: Remember when we said we were suspicious about White House Spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ Tweet a week ago that “there are no changes” at the National Security Council? Because it was in the present tense, when something in the future tense: “will be no changes“, would’ve been more appropriate. And how it made us believe even more that McMaster was on his way out?)
$1.3-Trillion Spending Bill Passes, President Is Expected To Sign It Today (But You Never Know…)
The final tally in the Senate vote early this morning was 65-32. In the House it was 256-167, with the “no” votes pretty evenly split between Republicans angry that the measure didn’t do things like defund Planned Parenthood, while some Democrats protested the fact that it didn’t include a DACA fix. Meanwhile, leadership from both parties declared victory.
And because the bill came in at 2,232 pages, lots of people won’t get around to reading it until over the weekend, so expect lots more interesting details to trickle out. For now, the Washington Post has a pretty good round up of what’s in it. Including a provision that blocks a Trump Administration proposal that would’ve allowed restaurant owners to pool and redistribute tips, even keep them if they wanted.
“This Can Be A Very Mean-Spirited Town, But You Don’t Have To Choose To Participate In That”
Those well-chosen words were the parting words from departing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. We don’t feel the need to add anything more, you all know by now we like Rex Tillerson, and he says it all as far as we’re concerned in this clip (click on the photo to play):
And The Week Ain’t Over Yet…
Politico’s Eric Geller Tweets that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein has a new conference schedule for this morning to announce a major cyber law enforcement action:
Last But Not Least, Don’t Forget The Parkland Students’ March
If you can’t make it to the biggie in D.C. tomorrow, there are many events you can participate in all around the country. Just check here. As as we’ve said, it’s not just about marching, it’s about voting.
If you need something to inspire you, read this Op-Ed piece by the CEO of Dick’s Sporting Goods, which ran earlier this week in the Washington Post.
See you out there!
(Interestingly, as students from Florida make their way to Washington, Trump is making his way to Florida. He’ll weekend at Mar-a-Lago.)
Previous PostHere’s An Idea: Maybe Facebook Should Consider Not Collecting So Much Personal Data In The First Place
Next PostSPECIAL BREAKING NEWS REPORT: President Threatens To Kill $1.3-Trillion Budget Deal, Shut Gov’t Down Because It Doesn’t Include Full Funding For His Wall
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Manitoba Radio Station Ready to Use Lethal Force Against Threats
TheGunBlog.ca — A Manitoba radio station told staff to be ready to protect their lives with lethal force after facing threats and a series of break-ins, and after police were late or absent responding to calls for help. The owner said his wife and children have left town.
CJ104 Radio in Swan River, a town of some 4,000 people about 480 km northwest of Winnipeg, has begun patrols by people holding a firearm licence although they aren’t necessarily armed, said Bill Gade, the owner.
“Our message is: Whatever force you use against us, we’ll use that much and maybe slightly more than that,” Gade told TheGunBlog.ca today by telephone. “We don’t intend to drive around shooting people.”
‘Use Lethal Means’
Staff “have been instructed to use lethal means of ending your threat,” the country-music station said in a Facebook article on Aug. 24 and reprinted below. The post is titled “A Statement on Domestic Terrorism.”
“We looked at the Criminal Code and how far we could go, what we could say,” Gade said today by phone.
Update 28 Aug.: Background Info on Bill Gade at ValleyBiz.ca
Canadians across the country are asking for greater means to protect themselves from potentially deadly threats as break-ins, home invasions and gang attacks rise in major cities and on isolated homesteads. If they act too soon, they could be convicted of crimes including murder. If they act too late, they could be dead.
Disarm, Obey
Police generally instruct residents worried about their safety to remain unarmed, to obey attackers and call 9-1-1 in an emergency. Many attackers and robbers count on their targets being defenceless.
The federal government aims to pass Bill C-71 as a new law to confiscate more firearms and add new restrictions on people with a firearm licence. It’s also examining broader gun bans aimed at licence holders beyond Bill C-71.
We have very incomplete info on this case, so best to avoid judging who's right/wrong or suggesting how it should be solved.
It's important to have the “legal” right to use force to defend oneself from unjustified threats/attacks. I think Canada has that.
— TheGunBlog.ca 🇨🇦❤️🔫 (@TheGunBlog) August 28, 2018
‘Licensed to Carry’
On the first break-in at CJ104, a masked person cut the phone, electricity and Internet lines at the back of the station while other people broke windows out front on the street, Gade said. Then about 10 days ago an unidentified person said they would burn down the station if it didn’t stop broadcasting, he said.
“No one has ever seen anything like that in Swan River,” Gade said. “We haven’t been able to identify anything that might have triggered this.”
Gade cited evidence from surveillance cameras and neighbours who saw the perpetrators.
The Facebook post said the patrols would include at least one member who is “licensed to carry firearms.”
Transport vs. Carry
Gade said by phone today he was referring to a person with a firearm Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), not an Authorization To Carry (ATC).
More than 2 million Canadian men and women have a PAL that allows hunters and sport shooters to transport unloaded firearms. An ATC is a rare, hard-to-obtain permit that allows the holder to carry a loaded firearm on their person for protection.
Read: More Than 90,000 Canadians Are Allowed to Carry Guns Every Day
The Swan River detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police asked that Gade’s patrols not have firearms in the vehicles, he said. He passed on that request, he said.
On the first break-in, the RCMP took about 50 minutes to arrive, Gade said. Even though the police station is about six blocks from the radio station, it isn’t staffed 24 hours. Officers need to get up, get dressed, get a car and get a partner before they can respond to a call, Gade said. If they are responding to another call, they could be a couple hours away.
After another break-in attempt, the police refused to come out, he said. Then last Friday after Gade wrote on Facebook how he planned to deal with the threats, police came.
RCMP, Mayor
“The response time from when we posted on Facebook was almost immediate,” Gade said. “Phone calls started almost immediately to see if anyone is here.”
They slid notes under the door and left voicemails, he said.
The RCMP and Mayor Glen McKenzie didn’t respond to e-mails and voicemails from TheGunBlog.ca seeking comment today after business hours.
The police said in a statement to 680 CJOB “that promoting this type of armed vigilante activity is not acceptable,” Global News reported yesterday. (Reprinted below.)
‘It’s Tough’
“I know they have concerns, and maybe they’re frustrated that maybe things aren’t moving as fast as they would like, but the RCMP are the professionals, and they’re trained to deal with these kinds of things,” the mayor was quoted as telling CBC News on Aug. 25. “So I’d say let them do their jobs.”
Gade said he was back at the police station for 2 hours this morning. He has changed wardrobe to avoid recognition, and his wife and children have left town.
“It’s tough,” he said by phone. “I don’t know what we’re supposed to do to be safe.”
CJ104 Radio – The Voice of the Valley
A Statement on Domestic Terrorism
As many residents of Swan River are aware, last weekend CJ Radio received an anonymous threat. In the threat, it was indicated that we had one week to cease business operations in Swan River or our business would be burned to the ground.
Coupled with a rash of recent break ins, break in attempts and damage to our building, we have no choice but to consider the threat credible.
To be clear, we consider any threat of a similar nature to be domestic terrorism whether it is directed at our company, another company or an individual. No one in Canada should face such threats.
Throughout the week we have heard from many of you — both those who enjoy the radio station and those who don't always appreciate it’s news and editorial coverage. We are glad to report that even those who don't always share our views can agree that a threat of this nature is inappropriate.
Over the past few weeks staff from CJ Radio and 83 North have been providing patrols throughout the downtown area of Swan River. During that time, we have identified numerous safety issues and found several suspicious persons at large. There are no doubt some great reasons to be “on the town” at 3 a.m. — but we along with most would expect people with good reasons for being out to not hide in bushes, wear face masks in summer or make other attempts to hide their identity.
We appreciate the many of you who recognize us on patrol and wave or say hi. We hope that at least some citizens and businesses in the downtown area have felt safer knowing someone else is watching and monitoring.
Over the past few nights, many concerned citizens have called police when they have seen suspicious persons. We along with the RCMP appreciate those calls and encourage you to keep making them ANYTIME you see something that you question. As taxpayers, we spend over a million dollars a year for police protection for JUST the town area. Your gut instinct is usually correct — if something feels wrong, it probably is and it is worth the time to have someone check it out. Your call could easily be the missing piece into solving the out of control crime issue in Swan River.
As angry as we are with the people who have made threats against our business, and those who have broken in or tried to break in … we understand that those actions don't equate just cause for a life to be lost.
In the past few days a couple incidents have called into question the personal safety of our staff who have been patrolling or providing overnight occupancy at our offices. At this time, Swan River RCMP are simply unable to provide a level of protection that is consistent with unarmed patrols being able to receive assistance when needed. We are simply unwilling to place the safety of unarmed staff at the level of risk currently presented by the lack of police presence in Swan River.
Therefore, we wish to make two points very clear.
First, we are instituting substantial changes to our patrol schedules and methods. Those changes are effective immediately. Do not assume that someone you see at night is our staff patrolling. Our staff will ONLY be traveling in well marked vehicles — you will immediately know if what you see is related to our patrols. If you see something that is not marked as CJ Radio or the RCMP, you should report it to police.
Second, we have made the decision that any patrols or overnight occupancy efforts will include at least one member who is licensed to carry firearms. This is not a decision we take lightly. We assure you that any such efforts will be within the scope of the appropriate firearms laws.
The deadline for us to cease operations in Swan River expires this weekend. As you may have deduced, we will be doing no such thing.
Should you see a fire at our offices, please call 911.
Should you be the person or persons responsible for the threats, break ins, damage and attempts — please consider this statement fair warning. We consider your death to be a direct consequence of your choice to be a criminal. We have instructed all of our staff to defend themselves using non-lethal methods where possible. Should you take actions that cause them to fear for their lives, they have been instructed to use lethal means of ending your threat. We regret that because of you, our town is not currently considered safe. Please move to another town, we and the entire area have had enough of you.
We feel compelled by the number of people who seem to misunderstand this post to clarify something. This post deals with our current issue and is unique to our issue. Certainly there is no portion of it that compels others to use force to defend themselves — it clearly asks that others call police. Prior to anyone in Canada assuming they are protected as “self-defense” you should at a minimum consult the Criminal Code of Canada. It contains a wealth of information about when to use non-lethal force, the amount of force allowed, as well as details on when you can legally use lethal force. As our situation is no doubt different then the situation of those reading this post, please apply the law to your own situation instead of assuming the application to our situation matches yours. If you are in doubt of what the Criminal Code says, you should consult a lawyer. As per the Criminal Code, the portion of the post that deals with our staff fearing for their lives deals with the genuine fear and provocation referred to in the Criminal Code. The portion that deals with our staff being told to use non-lethal force when possible deals with the concept of appropriate force to defend and stop an attack on their person. None of our staff consider that merely breaking a window and entering our building is justification for lethal force.
Swan River (Manitoba) RCMP Statement
To 680 CJOB
Printed by Global News, 26 Aug. 2018
The Swan River RCMP became aware of the post on the evening of August 24, 2018, and immediately contacted the person responsible to explain that promoting this type of armed vigilante activity is not acceptable. Further, he was advised that anyone engaging in such an activity will be stopped by the RCMP as it is a clear risk to public safety. We continue to monitor and engage in discussion with the person who made the post. The Swan River RCMP will respond to all calls that require police assistance. The RCMP will also follow-up on all complaints and carry-out comprehensive investigations as required. Public safety is our priority and Swan River residents can be assured that our officers, who also live in the community, are committed to providing the best policing services possible.
Albertans Seek Info on Armed Defence, Edmonton Journal Reports
Ministry of Justice (Nov. 2016): Reforms to Self-Defence and Defence of Property: Technical Guide for Practitioners
Tags: Self-Defence
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That Metal Show 14th Season Underway and Don Jamieson is Excited
Published by Dan Murphy at March 11, 2015
“That Metal Show” is back for its 14th season, and Eddie Trunk, Jim Florentine, and Don Jamieson are back on stage chilling out with a “Who’s Who” of heavy metal royalty.
Jamieson says he’s excited for the new season … but that’s nothing new. “I’m always excited when our little Wayne’s World of a show starts a new season,” Jamieson said in an interview for The Interrobang. ”I’m excited that VH-1 Classic hasn’t found a better show to replace us with. People say to me, ‘Man, they must love you over there.’ I guess they do, but they also don’t have anything to put on other than us, so we win the war of attrition.”
That sensibility of not taking themselves too seriously has been one of the charms of “The Metal Show,” which debuted on VH-1 Classic in November 2008. Jamieson is the passionate superfan who wears his love of metal on his black tee shirt sleeve. Trunk is the front man, a rock-and-roll encyclopedia who can rattle off album names and trivia quicker than some of the guests he interviews. Florentine is the comic sniper, a laidback everyman with excellent timing and coolness to spare.
The vibe has remained simple and genuine – three metalheads talking about what they love and shooting the breeze with a weekly guest. Jamieson credits the “fierce loyalty” of the fans for the show’s success. “Metalheads are fiercely loyal,” he said. “They find something they like and, as long as you don’t take too much of a left turn, they’ll stay with you forever. I’m still listening to Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. In the 1990s, I didn’t put on a flannel and get depressed. I stuck with the music I’ve loved since I was nine years old. I think I’m pretty typical of a metal fan.”
While loyal to the old favorites, Jamieson says one of his goals is reaching out to more diverse musicians and bringing them on to the show. We’d like to broaden the spectrum of guests,” Jamieson said. “Go even more classic rock on one hand, so we can have bands like Heart or Mick Jones from Foreigner or Leslie West on, but also going to the other extreme where we could have Johan Hegg from Amon Amarth on, and all the other stuff in between. I think that’s what’s important – pushing the boundaries further and further apart on both sides so that we can grow our audience and include more people in.
“We already have the classic audience, the people like me who are still listening to Judas Priest, and Kiss, and Motorhead, and Black Sabbath. But we can also include the people now who are into the newer stuff that’s out there, like Avenged Sevenfold and stuff like that.”
Guests that have already appeared this season have included Geddy Lee of Rush, Anthrax, Mary Ramone, and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, among others. Jamieson said Ace Frehley and Zakk Wylde will return this season, and we will also see Max Cavalera, The Pretty Reckless, and Robin Zander of Cheap Trick this season as well. Jamieson said “The Metal Show” appeals to fan because he, Trunk, and Florentine are metal fans first and foremost, and that the show isn’t over-produced.
“It’s a hang. It’s not an interview show,” Jamieson said. “Slash it down, let’s start talking and see where this thing goes.
“We might have a cool exterior when we’re talking to Lemmy or Ted Nugent or whoever, but inside we’re giddy fans. That’s genuine.”
Jamieson said there is a strong chemistry between himself, Trunk, and Florentine. Each brings something unique to the table, and they try to make their interviews as off-the-cuff and spontaneous as they can. “We still don’t know what’s going to happen until we got out there,” he said. “We don’t talk to the interviewees beforehand, we just go out and do it. I think it would come off as kind of fake if we had it set up where I ask a question and then Jim asks a question and then Eddie asks a question. We just go out there. Between the three of us, if we can’t talk to Alice Cooper for an hour, we’re definitely in the wrong business.”
While heavy-hitters like Aerosmith, Rob Zombie, King Diamond, Slash, and Tony Iommi have graced their stage at the Metropolis Studios, Jamieson said there are still some big names he wants to bring on for a hang. “We haven’t had Gene and Paul from KISS on. We’ve heard from the bad boys, Peter and Ace, but we haven’t heard from the corporate bigwigs yet. Obviously, there’s an open door for those guys. We haven’t had Ozzy on yet. We haven’t had anybody from Van Halen,” he said. “There are definitely some big names out there for us.”
“The Metal Show” airs at 9 p.m. EST Saturdays on VH-1 Classic.
Watch more late night tv comedy clips.
Dan Murphy is a freelance writer in Buffalo. Pre-order his new book documenting the rise of women’s wrestling from sideshow to WWE main event on Amazon.com, "Sisterhood of the Squared Circle: The History and Rise of Women’s Wrestling"
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Tag: Syracuse Orange
Way-too-early ACC football power rankings
May 3, 2017 May 5, 2017 by Nicholai Babis, posted in college football, sports
Photo via Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
Spring games are over, recruiting is wrapping up, and it’s time to start seeing how teams will square off against each other next season. Here are the JR Report’s thoughts on how the ACC will shape up, going from best to worst for both ACC divisions.
The Seminoles ended last season on a high note by finishing 10-3, including an Orange Bowl win, with two of their losses coming by less than 3 points.
Although they lost running back Dalvin Cook to the NFL, FSU isn’t losing any sleep. They will replace Cook with freshmen running back Cam Akers, who is the No. 1 ranked running back in his class.
In his senior year of high school, Akers rushed for 2,105 yards and 34 touchdowns in addition to passing for 3,128 yards and 31 touchdowns.
The Noles are also bringing in the No. 4 ranked freshman running back, Khalan Laborn, and the No. 15 ranked RB Zaquandre White.
As for returning running backs, the Seminoles have junior RB Jacques Patrick, Cook’s former backup.
Most importantly, Florida State has quarterback Deondre Francois coming into his sophomore year after a 3,350-yard freshmen season. He is a dynamic dual-threat and presumably will get better each game he plays.
With a strong veteran defense and a promising recruiting class, the Seminole’s don’t lack anything on the other side of the football. They are no doubt the top of the ACC and a favorite to play in the conference championship.
The biggest question mark for the Tigers is who will replace future Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson.
The Tigers have two main contenders: junior Kelley Bryant and redshirt freshman Zerrick Cooper. While Bryant hasn’t seen much of the field, he has completed 13 of his 16 passes and has one touchdown. Cooper passed for 1,132 yards and 14 touchdowns in his senior year of high school.
If Clemson can’t find the right QB fit for the team, they won’t stand a chance against Florida State.
That being said, Clemson still has a strong defense that stops both the run and the pass. Clemson has three players who had more than 50 solo tackles in the 2016 season: Van Smith (65), Kendall Joseph (59), and Ben Boulware (58). Smith and Joseph will both return.
In fact, the Tigers might have the best defense in the country next season, although it’s a bit too early to tell.
Cardinals QB Lamar Jackson led his team to a breakout season his freshman year, and won the Heisman on the way. Photo via Bobby Ellis/Getty Images
3. Louisville
The Louisville Cardinals have been in and out of national attention for the last couple of years for various upset wins and surprise losses.
They might not be starting next season in the top 10, but they have the potential to climb their way back up.
Louisville is coming back with Heisman-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson. If he gets the O-line support he needs to succeed, the Cardinals will be a powerful force. Jackson was sacked a whopping 46 times, including being sacked 11 times in a loss to Houston.
Receiver Dez Fitzpatrick was signed in 2016 and showed promise during the spring game. Jackson needs adequate protection and needs to get the ball into the hands of his receivers if the Cardinals have title aspirations, but, in my opinion, they won’t be able to do enough to win the division this year.
Dynamic NC State RB Matt Dayes graduated this past year, leaving a lot of questions as to who will replace him. Photo via NC State Athletics
4. NC State
NC State has a great team coming into next season but might struggle because of the stiff competition in the Atlantic division.
The Wolfpack have several players returning from injury that could make a difference on the field this fall and have bolstered their recruiting department to help in future seasons.
Nyheim Hines and Jaylen Samuels seek to replace running back Matt Dayes. Hines had 782 yards at RB last year, while Samuels had 565.
NC State’s defense is one of the top in the country—the NCAA had them at No. 24 in total defense after the 2016 season. The Pack had 37 sacks as a team last year, and their entire D-line will be seniors. The O-line will have four returners, and NC State will return a total of 16 starters from last year.
Photo via Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
5. Wake Forest
The Demon Deacons ended their season on a high note with a Military Bowl win against Temple. They went 7-6 on the season and had a close game against the Seminoles.
The Deacons leave a lot to be desired on offense. They need to find someone to carry the ball, as the team averaged only 4 yards per carry last season, while the O-line allowed 39 sacks. Without a doubt, there is a lot of work need to be done.
6. Boston College
The Eagles also ended their season at 7-6, with notable wins against Wake Forest and NC State.
They struggle to throw the football, only completing 46.5% of their passes last season. There also isn’t any apparent heir at quarterback, making it improbable they improve much from 2016.
Many of their receivers are returning, however, so we’ll see if any quarterbacks can take up the mantle and make plays.
Photo via Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports
7. Syracuse
Syracuse had a rough year, finishing 4-8. The Orange have a pretty difficult schedule for a team of their caliber—they had games against USF, Notre Dame, Clemson, FSU, and NC State to keep them busy—and they couldn’t pull through last year.
They gave up over 38 points per game and weren’t able to generate much noise on offense either.
They are in a rebuilding process and are unlikely to make any noise next season.
(Coastal Division on next page below)
Tagged ACC, Boston College Eagles, Clemson Tigers, college football, Duke Blue Devils, featured, football, FSU Seminoles, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Louisville Cardinals, Miami Hurricanes, NC State Wolfpack, Pittsburgh Panthers, sports, Syracuse Orange, UNC Tar Heels, Virginia Cavaliers, Virginia Tech Hokies, Wake Forest Demon Deacons
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It’s time to change the date.
Political, Social
Change The Date Of Australia Day Source: TKK
For as long as I can recall there has been a division in the Australian community over having Australia’s national day of celebration on the anniversary of Captain Arthur Phillip R.N. being rowed ashore in Sydney Cove amid a gale on the 26th January, 1788. Upon setting foot ashore he proceeded to raise the Union Jack and proclaim British sovereignty over the eastern half of this amazing continent. Establishment of the Colony of New South Wales, and Phillip’s role as governor, followed soon after on the 7th February.
These two ceremonies also brought about the start of 230 years, to date, of state sponsored genocide of the indigenous population of this wide brown land.
So where does Australia stand on the position of having our national day of celebration on the same date as invasion day, the day that heralded the start of the genocide? Recently the Australia Institute conducted a poll[1] of a nationally representative sample of 1417 Australians about their knowledge and attitudes about Australia Day.
Infographic: Australia Institute Australia Day Poll (Supplied: The Australia Institute)[2]
According to the poll 56 per cent of Australians don’t mind when we hold Australia Day, as long as we have a day to celebrate being a nation. Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute, “This polling shows that while Australia Day is important to most Australians, most people are laid back about the date we celebrate on.”
Half (49%) agreed that Australia Day should not be on a day that is offensive to Indigenous Australians, while 36% disagreed. However, only 37% agreed that the current date of Australia Day is offensive to Indigenous Australians, while 46% disagreed.
“When asked to choose which date Australia Day should be celebrated on, less than a quarter (23%) chose the current date from a range of options,” said Bennett.
Australia Day, a history
Australia Day throughout historySource: Public Domain
There has been many names, dates and versions for what is known as Australia Day throughout the years. Most recently “Invasion Day” then there is “Australia Day”, “Anniversary Day”, “Foundation Day”, and “ANA Day”. I’m not sure if that last one was some sort of pathetically bad joke at the time as ANA stands for Australian Natives’ Association. The Australian Natives’ Association[3] was a mutual society founded in Melbourne, Australia in April 1871 as the Victorian Natives’ Association. “Its membership was restricted to white men born in Australia” and “consisted mainly of energetic middle-class men aged under 50”.
According to Bill Brown, a multiplatform features producer, in an article for ABS South East NSW; Australia[4] celebrated the first Australia Day on 30 July 1915. It was the original Australia Day, a national event to raise funds for troops wounded at Gallipoli.
According to Wikipedia[5], although there was no official recognition of the colony’s anniversary, with the New South Wales Almanacks of 1806 and 1808 placing no special significance on 26th January, by 1808 the date was being used by the colony’s immigrants, especially the emancipated convicts, to “celebrate their love of the land they lived in” with “drinking and merriment”. The 1808 celebrations followed this pattern, beginning at sundown on 25 January, and lasted into the night, the chief toast of the occasion being Major George Johnston. Johnston had the honour of being the first officer ashore from the First Fleet, having been carried from the landing boat on the back of convict James Ruse.
The Politics
According to ABC News, earlier this week[6], one of the Prime Minister’s Indigenous affairs advisers, Professor Chris Sarra, told ABC’s 7.30 that holding Australia Day on January 26 was dividing Australians and excluding Indigenous people.
“Regrettably I don’t think Australia Day, and what it represents, is a day that most people in the Aboriginal community want to celebrate,” says Professor Chris Sarra. Professor Sarra goes on to say “I say that mindful that you get one or two Aborigines who say what people want to hear, but that’s not a true and accurate reflection of what most of the Aboriginal community thinks.”
He said there had been “dog-whistling” from some commentators and politicians claiming that Australia Day was under attack, and said a different date would be celebrated by all Australians.
“When I hear people create more division and hate and animosity, that Australia Day is under threat, I just think it lacks integrity,” Professor Sarra said.
“I just think we can be better than that, let’s stop the dog whistling … let’s be sophisticated.”
Prime Minister Turnbull has rejected calls to change the date of Australia Day.
In a video posted to Facebook[7] on the 15th January Mr Turnbull said “I’m disappointed by those who want to change the date of Australia Day, seeking to take a day that unites Australia and Australians and turn it into one that would divide us.”
“Australia Day is a day to come together and celebrate what unites us, what inspires us, what gives all of us reason to be proud that we are Australian.”
Mr Turnbull’s position that it not the date itself, but those that are wanting to change the date that are the ones, dividing the community is certainly not reflected by the majority of participants in The Australia Institute’s Australia Day Poll. This shows that this is yet another issue he is out of touch with.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce certainly doesn’t leave Mr Turnbull out in the cold saying that the Coalition was concentrating on the practical rather than the philosophical.
“We are building inland rail systems, they (The Greens) are talking about Australia Day … this is the difference. They dwell in the philosophical, we build the things that actually make our nation stronger,” he said.
Mr Joyce said he felt “completely at ease” and “proud of Australia Day” and that “We take into account every person who makes up this great nation”.
Is Mr Joyce being ironic, and not in an Alanis Morissette kind of way, with his words “…we build the things that actually make our nation stronger” and “We take into account every person who makes up this great nation”? Surely our nation would be stronger if we acted on this so called “philosophical” situation and took every person into account and changed the date!
When Northern Territory’s Nigel Scullion MP, who has held the Indigenous Affairs portfolio since 2013, was questioned by the ABC’s AM[8] on his position that not a single Indigenous person has ever expressed to him, as the Indigenous Affairs Minister, that they want the date changed he is quoted as stating: “That’s correct, that’s correct, absolutely correct. This is not something that comes up at all. And outside of Chris (Professor Sarra) I can tell you there has been no one as a fact.”
According to Rod Little, co-chair of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, the Indigenous Affairs Minister should be aware that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people also want Australia Day moved from January 26th.
“This has been going on for more than 80 years, so it’s not new. It should be a pulse on the calendar,” Mr Little said. “So I find it surprising. If the Minister is the Minister for Indigenous Affairs he absolutely should be informing himself.”
Mr Little said changing the date was an issue the National Congress had discussed at length through their membership and communities.
Federal Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt — a Yamatji-Wongi-Noongar man — said he had a different experience with the public on the issue and he “was surprised to hear his colleague’s statement about the lack of Indigenous engagement.”
“Some of the [Indigenous] leadership have been very vocal,” Mr Wyatt said. “Certainly I’ve had individuals who have that view talk to me, I’ve had them text me, even as late as yesterday.”
I’ll leave the last words to Ebony Bennett, deputy director of the Australia Institute:
“The national conversation about Australia Day is an opportunity for all of us to learn about and reflect on Australia’s history, especially the more than fifty thousand years of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, and to ask ourselves what kind of country we want to be in the future.”
—**TIME TO CHANGE THE DATE!**—
[1] http://www.tai.org.au/content/australians-laid-back-about-australia-day-poll
[2] Page 9 of Australia Institute Polling Brief – Australia Day http://www.tai.org.au/sites/defualt/files/Polling%20Brief%20-%20Australia%20Day.pdf
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Natives%27_Association
[4] http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2015/07/27/4281586.htm
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_Day
[6] http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-17/indigenous-adviser-calls-for-australia-day-date-change/9334474
[7] https://www.facebook.com/malcolmturnbull/videos/10156167474656579/
[8] http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-15/greens-local-council-numbers-australia-day-changethedate-push/9329266
[9] http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-19/indigenous-mp-says-he-finds-indigenous-ministers/9342744
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"The Lens has brought a level of investigative reporting to some important topics that the other local media choose not to cover." -Keith Crawford
Keith Crawford
The Lens (https://thelensnola.org/2010/01/27/okeefe-neither-pimp-nor-journalist/)
O'Keefe: Neither pimp nor journalist
By The Editors | January 27, 2010
More on Government & Politics
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Since four men were arrested by the FBI for illegally entering U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu’s New Orleans office, many news media outlets have been quick to identify one of them, James O’Keefe, as a journalist – often an “investigative journalist.” They’ve also identified O’Keefe as a guy who dressed as a pimp and entered ACORN offices with a woman dressed as a prostitute to discuss scams for government funding.
A frame grab from one of O'Keefe's videos
Both are inaccurate descriptions. The journalist tag is tenuous at best, and we’ll get back to that. As for posing or dressing as a pimp, that is inarguably wrong. His partner in the videos, Hannah Giles, definitely was scantilly clad while discussing prostitution services with ACORN employees, but there’s no proof O’Keefe joined her in costume.
Last year, O’Keefe released a number of videos where he says in his narration that he introduced himself as a number of different characters.
In his Baltimore video, his voiceover references a scenario of “a man pretending to run for Congress one day,” which accompanies a back shot of him walking into an ACORN office dressed in a blue dress shirt with white khakis.
In San Bernadino, he says he’s “the up-and-coming local politician who wants to use illicit sex money from underage girls to fund my future Congressional campaign,” with no footage of how he is dressed.
In New York City, he says he’s Giles’ “pimp boyfriend banker with the intention of using illicit sex money to fund my future Congressional campaign.” This footage doesn’t show him, though presumably he’s disguised as a banker.
In D.C., he says he’s “playing the role of a pimp with the intention of running for Congress,” with no images of his attire, but the ACORN employee refers to him as a “Georgetown law student.”
In Philadelphia, he repeats the pimp boyfriend running for Congress statement, and this time gives us a frontal of himself in a blue shirt, white pants and a tie.
So why did virtually every reporter get this wrong? There are spliced shots of O’Keefe dressed outlandishly as a pimp (think Harvey Keitel in “Taxi Driver”) walking with Giles in an outfit straight out of “Leaving Las Vegas.” Those same pimp scenes are sprinkled throughout all of O’Keefe’s videos, leaving one with the impression that this is how he dressed when speaking with ACORN, but there’s no video of this happening. O’Keefe never turned his hidden camera on himself, so we don’t know.
Meanwhile, a quick roundup of this week’s media coverage:
A Times-Picayune article has a photo caption that says “Filmmaker James O’Keefe dressed as a pimp before entering ACORN offices last year.”
The accompanying Times-Picayune article reads O’Keefe “was hailed as a conservative hero for dressing as a pimp and taping ACORN employees offering advice on how he and a partner could get away with running an international underage prostitution scheme.”
On WGNO.com, Web site of ABC Channel 26 news: “In the videos, O’Keefe and Giles, disguised as a pimp and prostitute, appear to receive advice on tax evasion and underage prostitution from ACORN employees.”
On WDSU.com, Web site of NBC channel 6 news: “The most well-known of the suspects is O’Keefe, a 25-year-old whose hidden-camera expose posing as a pimp with his prostitute infuriated the liberal group ACORN.”
AP: “O’Keefe, a 25-year-old who posed with an associate as a pimp and prostitute to film undercover videos at offices of the liberal community group ACORN…”
Stories that state O’Keefe was wearing pimp clothes when speaking to ACORN officials should be able to show images of this, but they haven’t. References to O’Keefe “posing” as a pimp isn’t fair either because viewers are led to believe that only due to what O’Keefe says in his voiceovers, not how he actually introduced himself to ACORN employees. Further, while O’Keefe and prostitute-garbed Giles discuss sex services and money, O’Keefe only refers to Giles as his “girlfriend.”
In the Landrieu office stunt, O’Keefe attempted to record his fake phone repairmen accomplices with his cellphone’s camera. Somehow, this is being construed as “journalism.”
O’Keefe told a media outlet after his ACORN stunts: “I happen to call what I do shoe leather journalism and not advocacy journalism, so, I would consider it just journalism.”
But holding a camera to record a stunt that you choreographed doesn’t make you a journalist anymore than walking into an office in business-casual attire with your “girlfriend” dressed as a sex worker makes you a pimp.
No worse fate
Lil’ Liddy ordered to stay in New Jersey
Recent reports indicate the four men accused of tampering with the phones in U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu’s New Orleans office were not attempting to place a wiretap but instead may have been attempting to elaborately prove her staff’s disinterest in answering constituent phone calls. I have a pretty hard time believing all of that planning went into proving something that could have been tested by simply calling the office and recording the conversation from the privacy of your own parents’ house in New Jersey.
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The Lens (https://thelensnola.org/2016/06/15/state-says-its-still-waiting-on-gusman-to-prove-deputies-should-get-extra-pay/)
State says it’s still waiting on Gusman to prove deputies should get extra pay
By Charles Maldonado | June 15, 2016
More on Criminal Justice
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A month after Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman claimed he had won a lawsuit against the Louisiana Department of Treasury to force it to pay bonuses to some of his deputies, the case remains unresolved.
Last week, a lawyer for the state told a judge that Gusman hasn’t followed through with what seemed last month to be a formality: written job descriptions, signed by the sheriff to pledge that they’re accurate.
Instead, Gusman has handed over unsigned Word documents that the Department of Treasury says are useless. Even that took almost a month, wrote Thomas Enright Jr., executive counsel for the department.
The dispute concerns 38 Orleans Parish sheriff’s deputies who Gusman said should get a supplement of $500 a month. The state offers the extra pay to deputies who are directly involved in law enforcement. For Orleans Parish deputies, that means at least half of their time must be spent supervising inmates.
In April, the state legislative auditor reported that Gusman may have misused more than $1 million in supplemental pay over three years because he submitted paperwork requesting the supplement for 56 deputies who didn’t appear to qualify. That included administrative staff, kitchen workers and maintenance personnel.
Two months before that report came out, the Treasury Department began withholding the supplemental pay for 38 deputies still employed by Gusman. He sued after the report was released, claiming that those deputies were entitled to the bonuses.
The two sides met in court last month and verbally reached a deal, as long as Gusman provided full job descriptions for all the employees and the Treasury department signed off on them.
Gusman announced that he had won the case.
Since then, he has provided two batches of job descriptions, one in late April and another this month.
But there’s no sign of who prepared them, and the sheriff hasn’t signed them, Enright wrote. Normally sheriffs are required to sign the forms requesting supplements, promising that the information is accurate.
“It is simply untenable to expect Defendant [the Department of Treasury] to disburse public funds based on unsigned, unverified information — particularly when the submitted expressly refuses to do so,” Enright wrote in a letter to East Baton Rouge Parish Civil District Judge Janice Clark last week.
Gusman spokesman Phil Stelly did not respond to repeated requests to comment on this story.
Enright also objected to Gusman’s proposed agreement to end the lawsuit because it appears to require the department to continue paying the bonus to these deputies regardless of their job duties.
An alternate agreement, prepared by Enright, would make it clear that the deputies would receive the pay in the future only if they work in eligible positions.
“If it becomes apparent to this Honorable Court that no agreement was actually reached on the day of the hearing … the Defendant respectfully requests this matter be set for trial,” Enright wrote.
Some of the job descriptions Gusman’s office submitted to the Department of Treasury do not match the ones provided verbally outside court in May, Enright wrote.
And the ones provided in writing to the Department of Treasury differ from the ones Gusman gave to U.S. District Judge Lance Africk in February in a separate matter, the federal consent decree over the parish jail.
One example is Michael Carr, a maintenance worker, a job that state law specifically excludes from supplemental pay.
This is how Gusman described Carr’s duties in the federal court filing: “Performs duties associated with installing, repairing and maintaining pipes, fixtures and other plumbing for water and wastewater distribution and disposal” at the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.
And this is how he described Carr’s duties to the Department of Treasury: “Care, custody and control of inmates assigned to assist the Facilities Maintenance Division. Responsible for general maintenance of the jail facilities.”
Treasury spokeswoman Michelle Millhollon told The Lens that the department is prepared to pay the 30 deputies that appear to be eligible as soon as the sheriff “submits their names on a signed, dated list.”
That leaves eight others. The department wasn’t able to determine whether five of them should get the bonus based on Gusman’s job descriptions.
Gusman has voluntarily removed the last three from his supplemental pay list, though he insisted in a letter to State Treasurer John Kennedy that they are still eligible. He didn’t explain why he removed them, writing, “This is simply a decision I have made in my discretion.”
About Charles Maldonado
Charles Maldonado is the editor of The Lens. He previously worked as The Lens' government accountability reporter, covering local politics and criminal justice. Prior to joining The Lens, he worked for Gambit, New Orleans’ alternative newsweekly, where he covered city hall, criminal justice and public health. Before moving to New Orleans, he covered state and local government for weekly papers in Nashville and Knoxville, Tenn.
More by Charles
Political connections, contributions helped utility consultants keep lucrative contracts for decades, former council members say
By Michael Isaac Stein | March 28, 2019
New Orleans City Council members have come and gone over the past three decades. But a group of consultants who help them regulate Entergy, and charge millions per year, have remained remarkably consistent.
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Traditional media’s handling of Momo is far scarier than the story itself
by Bryan Clark — in Insider
It starts with a single message. Hours later, if at all, the WhatsApp, Messenger, or YouTube account gets a disturbing reply, typically including violent imagery. And then the instructions start. They often start as a form of compliance testing before moving on to more disturbing instructions involving self-harm and, ultimately suicide.
It’s called “The Momo Challenge,” and it’s a hoax.
Debunked for the first time in 2018, the Momo Challenge is again making the rounds, mostly on local news affiliates. The story hopped between smaller affiliate networks on Wednesday, mostly warning of the dangers posed to children. By the end of the day, the swell of news stories had become a tsunami after Kim Kardashian-West shared a message about the dangers of Momo to her 129 million followers.
It was a good-natured attempt, one that involved leveraging a massive social following into forcing action from YouTube in removing the accounts.
YouTube responded by noting that these types of videos would be removed in accordance with its terms of service, although it hadn’t seen a single example of them on the platform. Just today, YouTube doubled down on the sentiment, stating it would no longer allow monetization on videos featuring Momo — the same videos that don’t exist, according to its previous statement.
Representatives from YouTube could not be reached to clarify the statement.
For YouTube, Momo is little more than an internet hoax, news cycle fodder spun by clueless pundits insistent on driving cheap clicks with sensationalist headlines. For the rest of the tech press, this is equally true. Momo isn’t a topic of great consideration in these types of newsrooms, as it wasn’t a real story in 2018, and it still isn’t today. There has been zero corroborated evidence of any child ever taking his or her own life after taking part in the challenge.
A post shared by 𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐍 𝐌𝐈𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐑𝐒 (@between.mirrors) on Jul 15, 2018 at 9:33am PDT
Momo was the creation of a Japanese artist Keisuke Aisawa in 2016. The real title of the work is “Mother Bird,” and it’s unclear how it came to be associated with the name Momo, or the Latin American social media accounts perpetrating the hoax.
It’s been a predictable trope in recent years that nonsensical stories would turn into sensationalist headlines about the epidemic of kids falling ill after eating Tide Pods, dying while snorting condoms on YouTube, or asphyxiating on spoonfuls of cinnamon. For media, it’s the shock and awe reaction that drives its predictable response to barely-there trends — which sometimes become self-fulfilling prophecy later.
The Tide Pod challenge, for example, led to zero deaths, and fewer than 50 reported harmful exposures by 13- to 19-year-olds, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.
On YouTube, the bulk of Momo videos are those explaining the hoax itself — videos that should remain monetized. Those deserving of de-monetization are videos that purport to show conversations between the creators and Momo, videos that are largely fictional representations.
The true danger of Momo videos is that of unethical creators willing to spin the hype wheel and further the hoax in an effort to monetize these videos. YouTube, though, seems to be about as concerned with the spread of misinformation pertaining to Momo as it is about flat-earth theories, 9/11 hoaxes, and misrepresenting dead children from Sandy Hook Elementary. It took Kim Kardashian, after all, to force the platform to take action on Momo — a debunked hoax.
If you’re looking for an internet challenge to be afraid of, this isn’t it. Media should instead look to The Blue Whale Challenge. Unlike Momo, this challenge has been linked to 150 suicides since its inception, mostly by Russian teens.
The challenge gets its name from blue whales, who are known to beach themselves in an apparent effort to end their own life. It takes place over 50 days and in order to play users must join an online community sometimes referred to as the “Sea of Whales.” Once there, you’ll be locked into an agreement with an administrator who guides you through the game. Players must complete a task each day, with the final task being to end their own life.
In February of 2017, two girls teenage girls, 15 and 16, held hands and walked off the top of a 14-story building in Siberia. The pair left messages on their social network accounts on day 50 saying “end,” perhaps to signify they had reached the end of the game. They were just two of more than 130 separate cases of suicide in Russia linked to the “game.”
YouTube still plays host to numerous Blue Whale Challenge videos, complete with ads to signify that they are being monetized. There’s also little in the way of concern from the same frantic luddite’s on the local news who embarked on a mission to freak out parents in exchange for views. And while tragic, Blue Whale Challenge suicides reflect an infinitesimally small percentage of teen internet users. Is it worth a conversation with your kids about mental health, and the dark corners of the internet? Absolutely. Is it worthy of prime time headlines and fear-mongering? Of course not. Though you could certainly make the argument that video creators shouldn’t be profiting from uploading these types of videos: Paging Kim Kardashian…
For parents, it’s the internet’s conventional wisdom that still holds true. The web is a wonderful place, but it also happens to contain some of the darkest themes of the human condition. It’s not where you’d send your kids for an unsupervised playdate. It certainly isn’t a place where teens should be given unfettered access. Momo, in this case, tells us more about the state of parenting in the digital age than it does about the internet’s darkest corners.
It begs the question whether it’s really the internet that parents fear, or their children if they start limiting access to it.
Read next: What TikTok’s Chinese predecessor can reveal about its future
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Well, its official The Yankees have been eliminated from the Wild Card race and it appears the Mets will get in. Nothing left to do this weekend other than play spoiler, and watch who gets to play in the WC games.
I remember five years ago on the last day of the season we saw one of the wildest days in baseball as several teams were fighting for a playoff spot. I remember sitting with my significant other (yes, she’s a baseball fan) and my remote firmly in hand watching the Yankee-Rays game and switching back and forth to catch the playoff chaos unfold.
The Red Sox and Rays were tied for the Wild Card, which was unreal in itself considering the fact that less than a month earlier, Boston held a nine-game lead in the Wild Card standings. After an awful September, they were fighting for their lives in Baltimore. The Rays were doing the same at home against the Yanks who already clinched the AL East title. The Yankees were cruising past the Rays, holding a cozy 7-0 lead in the eighth inning. Game over, right? Instead, the Yankees coughed up six runs in the eighth, followed by a game tying homer from Dan Johnson (who?) in the bottom of the 9th. It was Johnson’s first major league hit since April of that year. Meanwhile Boston held a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the ninth, with the bases empty and the O’s down to their last out. Boston actually had the bases loaded in the top half of the ninth, but a double play ended their bid for insurance runs.
Clicking back to the Yankee game, the Bombers fail to score in the top of the 12th, so back to the Red Sox game. Chris Davis doubles with two outs in the ninth, followed by another double from Nolan Reimold to tie the game. Robert Andino then hit the walk-off, leaving the Red Sox wondering what had just happened. Click-Evan Langoria (a Yankee killer) is at bat. He rips a line drive walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th to beat the Yankees, and just like that, the Rays were in and the Sox were out. That was just the half of it.
The Braves are in a do-or-die situation for Game 162 against the Phillies. Meanwhile, the surging Cardinals looked to sneak in as the Wild Card team with a win in Houston. Im watching that game and the Cards are winning something like 6-0, so quickly I hit the remote once gain. Back to Atlanta, Braves are holding a one-run lead against the Phils with Craig Kimbrel and his 46 saves looking to shut the door. He didn’t. The Phillies tied the game and eventually took the lead in the 13th on a bloop hit from Hunter Pence to seal Atlanta’s fate. Meanwhile in St. Louis , it’s a final, the Cards beat the Astros 7-0.
I want to thank, my remote, YES, ESPN, FOX and MLB Network for one of the best days in baseball history. Without looking it up, do you remember who won the World Series??
A Grand Ending
Like his playing days, Mark Texiera’s playing time had dwindled. Last night he was in the the line-up and good thing he was. Teixeira hit a game-winning grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Yankees staved off playoff elimination at the last possible instant with a 5-3 victory over their rivals the Boston Red Sox.
We all know the Yankees chances of making the playoffs are almost impossible, but just for one night, their very slim hopes were kept alive. The Bombers had only one infield hit and trailed 3-0 heading into the ninth, with Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel jogging in from the bullpen on a misty and blustery night in the Bronx. Brett Gardner led off the inning with a single, and Kimbrel then walked Jacoby Ellsbury and Gary Sanchez. Brian McCann, Kimbrel’s former battery mate in Atlanta, fought off four two-strike pitches to work a 10-pitch walk that forced in a run and spelled the end of Kimbrel’s night.
Red Sox manager John Farrell turned to Joe Kelly, who struck out Starlin Castro and retired Didi Gregorius on a foul popup. With the Yankees down to their last out, Teixeira launched a 99 mph fastball on an 0-1 count into the New York bullpen in right-center. Yankees relievers raised their arms in excitement, and Teixeira puffed his cheeks and spread his arms wide as he rounded first base. The 36-year-old slugger, in his 14th and final big league season, tossed his helmet as happy Yankee players poured out of the dugout to swarm him at home plate.
I have always like Texiera, especially his defense, but have been critical of his constant injuries and his habit of striking out looking. He has had his moments in his 8 years as a Yankee and I have to admit I’ll miss him. If the 409th home run of his career happens to be his last, I’ll have no complaints. Thanks Tex!
Dellin Betances has hit a wall in September and hit it hard. He’s allowed 13 runs in 8.1 innings this month while also putting 19 guys on base. Two nights ago Dellin faced three batters and didn’t retire any of them before giving way to Tommy Layne. Opponents have hit .282/.404/.385 against Betances in September. Dellin Betances is officially broken
The biggest problem with Betances, as it often is, are the walks and an overall lack of control. He’s walked eight in 8.1 innings this month after walking 20 batters in his first 63.2 innings of the season. The other night Dellin threw three strikes out of eleven total pitches, and he wasn’t exactly missing just off the plate. It wasn’t a bunch of borderline calls going against him. He was all over the place!
A few years back the Yankees project him as a starter. He walked 69 batters in 74.2 innings as Triple-A starter in 2012, then another 16 in 24 innings in 2013 before being moved to the bullpen full-time. Forced into the closer role due to the dismantling of “no Run DMC”, Control continues to plague him. Usually control problem are due to a pitcher’s mechanics. Why have Betances’ mechanics fallen out of whack? There are a million possible reasons. It could be fatigue. Mental, physical or both. Maybe he tired, or maybe the pressure of closing for the New York Yankees is just too much. If you witnessed his meltdown in Toronto, you know what I mean.
At 28 he is still part of the Yankee youth movement. He is a total mess right now, and to me it seems to be mechanical more than anything. He’s just out of sorts and needs to get himself back on track. It’s not the first time he’s gone through this — it’s the first time he’s done at the MLB level, but not in his life — and chances are it won’t be the last. He’s worked his way out of it before. Will the Yankees look at him as their closer of the future, or do they move him back to set-up guy? Only Brian Cashman, Joe Giardi and Dellin Betances can answer that.
The Blue Jays tried to play schoolyard bully Monday night, but the Yankees threw the knockout punch and won in come from behind fashion 7-5.
It all started in the first inning when Yankee starter Luis Severino struggling with control plunked Josh Donaldson on the elbow. Donaldson said nothing and ran down to first base. It was clear it wasn’t intentional as Severino walked 2 batters later in the inning. The usually arrogant and flamboyant Jays weren’t happy because Jose Bautista got hit in the back in Friday’s game, and Marcus Stroman got into a jawing contest with the Yankees on Saturday. So how did the Jays respond? In typical Toronto fashion. J.A. Happ threw at Chase Headley not once, but twice. The first pitch missed behind his legs, and the second got him right in the hip. Home plate umpire Todd Tichenor finally realized what was happening and warned both benches. Joe Girardi came out of the dugout and argued Happ should have been ejected because hey, he threw at Headley twice, but no luck. Tichenor ejected Girardi and the benches cleared, albeit briefly. Even by baseball standards, that brawl was nothing.
That wasn’t the end of it. In the top of the second, Severino came out and stood up for his teammate. His first pitch of the inning was behind Justin Smoak’s legs, and his second was in Smoak’s calf. Tichenor ejected Severino after the second pitch, but by then all hell was breaking loose. Smoak started to walk about towards the mound and Severino basically told him to bring it on. CC Sabathia stormed out of his dugout on his one good knee and was right in the middle of the fracas locking up with Donaldson. You can’t see it in that clip, but YES showed another replay angle later in the game where Sabathia was basically laughing in Donaldson’s face. Possibly at his stupid haircut. Martin tried to get at Gary Sanchez, but others intervened. There was a lot of shoving and yelling. The loudest mouths were of course Donaldson and Bautista, who else!
So, after all of that, the Yankees were down their manager, their starter, their bench coach, and their pitching coaching. Robbie Thomson and Larry Rothschild were ejected in addition to Severino. No one on the Blue Jays was ejected, hilariously. The umpires simply did a terrible job. Happ should have been ejected after hitting Headley. Maybe the umps were intimated by the Jays and their crowd.
We go to the eighth inning and it’s 3-2 Toronto, with Mark Texiera at the plate. Next thing you know Tex launches one deep to right. Teixeira watched his leave the park and then flipped his bat high in the air before settling into cruise control around the bases. He went back to the dugout jawing at Blue Jays, who apparently had a problem with something one of their leaders, Jose Bautista, has made his trademark. What goes around comes around.
Without going into anymore detail, Arron Hicks hit one in the ninth along with a few singles and the Yankees took a 4 run lead. Delin Betances continued his meltdown giving up 2 runs, walking 2 and hitting a batter, but reliever Tommy Lanye came in with the bases loaded and got the save.
It’s ok when a Blue Jay shows up a team, but it’s not ok when it’s done to them. The Blue Jays are a bunch of talented but immature bullies. It’s about time team’s start pushing back. First it was the Rangers and last night it was the Yankees. F**k You Toronto!
Remember the seven-game win streak that brought the Yankees to within one game of a wildcard spot? It was only two weeks ago. Well, the Yankees are now 3-11 in the 14 games since, including 1-9 against teams other than the Rays. The latest loss, New York’s 4th straight, was a 4-3 walk-off loss to the Blue Jays on Sunday. Didi Gregorius ended the team’s pathetic 33-inning scoreless streak with a leadoff home run in the seventh inning, which tied the game 1-1. With a 3-1 lead the Bullpen failed them again. Delin Betances pitched parts of 2 innings. Again he walked a lead off batter (Josh Donaldson), and again he was a victim of a stolen base. Then, after failing to get a call on a check swing on a 2-2 pitch by Jose Bautista, Betances hung a curve that Bautista lashed into center field for an RBI single. It took Betances, who was making his 70th appearance, 26 pitches to escape that eighth inning, but Girardi sent him out in the 9th to nail down what promised to be a 3-2 Yankees win. But after Betances walked Melvin Upton Jr. to start the ninth -- after again failing to get a call, both he and Girardi believed, from home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi -- the manager replaced Betances with Tyler Clippard. Clippard allowed two ninth-inning runs, one on a squeeze bunt and the other on an infield hit. The result: another loss to the Blue Jays.
The Yankees, who had temporarily regained their footing in late August and early September, had simply forgotten how to win again. They will fail to make the postseason for the third time in the past four seasons. And with one game left against the Blue Jays and three each against the Orioles and Boston Red Sox, it is possible they won't even finish at .500, a fate that hasn't befallen them since 1992. They still need 3 more wins to avoid that indignity, and as we have seen, wins are no longer easy to come by for this team.
No doubt about it the Giants should have beaten the Redskins yesterday. They could’ve put themselves in prime position in the NFC East, with a 3-0 record after three weeks while keeping the Redskins winless. But NO, once again they found a way to lose. 11 penalties for 128 yards, three turnovers (two interceptions and one fumble), an ejection, missed tackles, struggles on third down, blown coverage’s, missed assignments, drops and poor clock management. The result was an embarrassing 29-27 loss.
It may be a moot point following a loss, but the matchup within the matchup everyone waited for was won by Beckham Jr. with ease. Beckham had seven receptions for 121 yards. He dropped an eighth and Eli Manning missed him on two or three others — including one that would have been a 60-plus yard touchdown. Odell would trade the win over Norman for a win over the Redskins. But this debate should now be put to bed. One is great and the other is elite. Now Big Blue needs to avoid another debate: Are they the same old Giants or the better playoff bound New York Giants.
I’m not really an avid golf fan, but I know that Arnold Palmer was responsible for making golf the popular sport that it is today. Palmer died yesterday at age 87 in Pittsburg. Before Palmer burst on the scene, golf was a sport only enjoyed by the wealthy country club crowd. Palmer ranked among the most important figures in golf history, and it went well beyond his 7 major championships and 62 PGA Tour wins. His good looks, devilish grin and hard-charging style of play made the elite sport appealing to one and all. And it helped that he arrived about the same time as television moved into most households, a perfect fit that sent golf to unprecedented popularity. Palmer, was part of the alluring "Big Three," with Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player.
Palmer was a rather ubiquitous presence in advertising over the course of his career. I've seen him in many TV commercials. My favorites were the Hertz Rental ones with O.J. Simpson. Palmer went on to live a good life. OJ went on to jail.
three way tie
In 22 seasons of wild-card-era zaniness, it has never happened. In 48 seasons of division play, packed with epic endings and crazy finishes, it has never happened. Never, ever, in all that time, has baseball had to break a three-way tie for any playoff spot. Let alone two.
This 2016 season could make history as The New York Mets, San Francisco Giants and St. Louis Cardinals battle for two wild card spots. Last night, the Mets and Giants both won 1 run games, the Cardinals didn’t play. There is a very good chance all 3 teams could end up tied. Imagine three teams, Two spots. Nine games left in each of their seasons. A three way tie? So, how would baseball break that tie? Thanks for asking.
Here is how:
First, let’s tell you, with 99.9 percent certainty, who would play whom and when.
Monday, Oct. 3: Mets at Cardinals. The winner would win the first wild-card spot and host the NL wild-card game on Oct. 5.
Tuesday, Oct. 4: Loser of the Mets-Cardinals game plays the Giants in San Francisco. The winner heads for either New York or St. Louis to play in the wild-card game the next day. The loser heads for the putting green .
Wednesday, Oct. 5: The survivors play in the NL wild-card game. The winner goes on to Chicago to play the Cubs in the NLDS. As for the loser, see above.
The three teams do not have any games remaining with each other, so those head-to-head records are final. The Mets and Cardinals have identical combined head-to-head records while the Giants lag. The Cardinals would have top priority among the three because of their superior intradivision record over the Mets and head-to-head-record over the Giants. Thus the home game vs the Mets.
Remember back in 2012 when on the last day of the season several teams had a chance for the AL wild card? There was a similar wild card tie breaker in play Evan Langoria’s late home run against the Yankees eliminated that chance. Wouldn’t it be fun to actually see this 3 way tie? With any luck, baseball fans get to see history made. And the winner gets rewarded with a series against the Cubs. Good luck with that.
Yoenis Cespedes swung hard, and the ball sliced through the September night, the Mets’ playoff hopes riding on every play at this critical time of the season. He jogged out of the batter’s box, and the crowd at Citi Field roared, thinking, like Cespedes and the entire Mets dugout, that he had clobbered a three-run home to erase a night of missed opportunities and mistakes.
Atlanta Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte had another thought in mind. He raced back to the center-field wall. He jumped, reached up over the wall with his glove outstretched and then fell back to the warning track. He caught the ball. The cheering crowd was not quite sure how to react until Inciarte held up his glove with the trophy and pulled out the ball as proof. And with a catch that Inciarte called the best of his life, the Mets fell, 4-3, capping a woeful sweep at the hands of the Braves, whose play belied their lowly record at the worst possible time. Yes (Randy), the Mets were swept!
If the Mets (80-72) miss out on a playoff spot, remember last night. Most importantly remember how the Mets could not beat the struggling Braves in 2016, because they certainly will. They could have taken sole possession of the wild-card lead had Cespedes' shot cleared the fence (or they had not blown a 3-0 lead earlier), but they remain in a three-way tie for a pair of wild-card spots with the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants after all three teams lost on Wednesday. The Mets are in a dogfight in the wild-card battle with 10 games remaining instead of secure in a postseason spot and flirting with the first-place Washington Nationals. Step it up boys, or step out of the way.
Can The Braves Sweep?
Robert Gsellman had another decent game on the mound Tuesday night as the Atlanta Braves defeated the Mets by a score of 5-4.
The third time around the order has been an albatross for Gsellman thus far. Since he became a starter, opponents are batting .250 against him their first two times through the lineup. The third time around though? They are batting .455 against him.
Gsellman escaped all troubles through the first five innings of the game. As the Braves though came to bat in the top of the sixth, the wheels began to fall off. They scored 2 in the 6th and his night was done. The bullpen takes over and the Braves score 3 in the 7th. The Mets do put up 3 in the 8th, but it’s another loss.
Gsellman’s final line ended with 5.1 innings pitched while allowing five hits and two runs. He walked two batter while striking out six. Both runs scored after Gsellman departed the game with the bases loaded and one out in the sixth inning, snapping his scoreless streak at 10.2 innings pitched.
Two things to note: In the eighth inning with runners on base and two outs, the Braves brought in a lefty to pitch to Bruce. In an unlikely scenario, Collins pulled Bruce and inserted Eric Campbell of all people. Soup though would come through, helping the Mets to pull within one run. In the ninth inning, with two outs and the tying run on second base, Yoenis Cespedes fell down swinging at strike two before missing on a curveball to end the game. Cespedes, who was hitless in four at-bats Tuesday, is batting just .203 with three HR and 13 RBI in 17 games during September.
The remaining schedule was supposed to be a strength for this Mets team, but that has yet to hold true. They have now dropped the first two games of this series and must win tonight to avoid being swept. The Cardinals and Giants won their respective games Tuesday night and we now have a three-way tie atop the Wild Card standings. It is sure to be an fascinating end to the season. If I’m a Met fan, I’d be worried. Oh wait… their always worried.
Oh Joe
I think Joe Girardi is a pretty good manager. You wouldn’t have the Yankees in the Wild Card hunt, after you traded away some their big pieces if he wasn’t. But Joe has one glaring fault- he micromanages. Yes maybe over manages is a better word. He manages l every game like it is the 7th game of the world series. In the the last 10 games, he has pushed every wrong button and on every occasion it has blown up in his face, especially this past weekend.
The Yankees rolled into Fenway last Thursday just four games out of first and looking to transform themselves from AL East afterthought to 2016 postseason contender. Now, a mere four days later, the Yankees left Boston a broken team, outplayed, outclassed and embarrassed by the Boston Red Sox. Oh, and eight games out of first, and it’s on Joe. And to make things worse, This weekend marked the Red Sox’ last home series against the Yankees in David Ortiz’ illustrious career. But as one Yankee Killer gets set to retire, another is emerging. Look up Hanley Ramirez. That’s not Joe’s fault, or is it?
It seems like Joe looks in his book, processes the numbers and makes his decision. Over the weekend Joe pulled Tanaka too early, left CC in too late and way to often, went to a subpar bullpen, including his burnt out closer who has lost the ability to throw strikes or to throw to a base. The lineup he put out on Sunday night was a joke, even with the injuries. His handling of his pitchers has been dismal at best. Watching Joe, game after game, replace good pitching with wishful pitching is to watch rose bushes pulled and replaced with seedlings that — who knows? — could grow as weeds. Joe, it’s ok to manage with your gut on occasion. Maybe even use some common sense. Maybe even manage like it’s not the 9th inning of game seven.
The Buffalo Bills dismissed offensive coordinator Greg Roman Friday afternoon. And, after that process, Roman submitted a statement to The Buffalo News thanking the fans and the Bills organization. Roman did help engineer the top rushing attack in the league in 2015, orchestrating a unit that averaged 152 yards per game.
However, Buffalo’s offensive performance through two weeks this season left plenty to be desired in both the running and passing game, which ultimately led to his termination. Rumor has it Rex and Roman didn’t get along. Perhaps the team owners, the Pegula’s should consider firing Rex since the team has given up 50 points in 2 games and sits at the bottom of the NFC east standings. Haven’t heard a word out of the so call “defensive genius” windbag whose team is 0-2.
While the Giant offense was bumbling, and literally fumbling, its way through Sunday afternoon the defense kept marching back onto the field and turning Drew Brees and the Saints away. New Orleans punted on its first 5 possessions and 7 times overall, scored just one touchdown, and finished with 288 total yards of offense. Eli on the other hand, (aside from a fumble when he was sacked), was pretty good. He went 32-of-41 for 368 yards, and could probably have completed another half-dozen throws had he gotten help from his receivers. The one exception was rookie Sterling Shepard who had 8 catches, for 117 yards.
It wasn’t pretty, but they won. And now were 2-0 (the first time in 8 years). It’s too early to call next weeks game against the Redskins a Big game, but wouldn’t it be nice to be 3-0?
That loud noise you heard at the end of last night’s Yankee game was the coffin slamming shut. While the team went 3-10, Joe Giardi went to his inept bullpen way too man times and the Yankees were kicked out of the Wild Card race, highlighted by a four-game sweep at Fenway Park. In each game of the Boston series the Yanks took a lead and the inevitable happened. A walk, a big hit, a crucial error or a home run and it was game over. They lost all of them.
The infusion of youth at the trade deadline gave the Yankees a jolt that unexpectedly carried a disappointing, listless team back into playoff contention. For the fans it was a view into the future. It was fun, but now it’s over. Now at least looking toward 2017 we have HOPE!
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Tag Archives: The Howling
1981, ★★½, Horror
The Howling (1981, Joe Dante)
27 November 2008 Andrew Wickliffe 2 Comments
All due respect to Rick Baker, but Rob Bottin’s werewolf transformation in The Howling is superior. The transformation lasts so long it’s no longer shocking, just interesting. It’s so deliberate, it got me wondering what the werewolf would do if he needed to change in a pinch… if he didn’t have three or four minutes to spare.
The Howling is actually a really peculiar movie, both technically and in terms of plotting.
It is, possibly, Joe Dante’s straightest work. He’s making a regular picture here, with newsroom stuff, with cop stuff. It’s different from anything else I’ve seen of his–when Belinda Balaski is running from a werewolf, he handles it without any humor. It’s beautiful direction, even if there is a strange animated shot at one point (which makes little sense, because there’s some fine stop motion at the end, so why didn’t they just use it earlier too).
But The Howling is actually full of humor. The last shot of the film is a hamburger cooking, it’s goofy. There are constant, omnipresent references to werewolf films–there are ten characters named after werewolf movie directors–there’s a clip from The Wolf Man, there’s even a picture of Lon Chaney hanging on a wall–in story. But these references are somehow detached from the rather serious and straightforward way Dante tells the story. He’s got Kevin McCarthy giving a straight performance–Kevin McCarthy giving a straight performance in a Joe Dante film. It’s incredible.
Where The Howling gets in trouble is Dee Wallace. It isn’t just her performance, which is okay (though she’s never quite believable as a go-getter anchorwoman), but the way John Sayles’s script treats her. The concept–reporter discovers her elite psychiatric resort is really a colony of werewolves–really seems to imply she ought to be the main character. But she isn’t. She isn’t even the first to discover the werewolves. She isn’t even the second… wait, yes, she is. She is the second.
But Sayles avoids giving Wallace much to do and the film suffers for it. There are big plot holes–for example, it’s never explained why Wallace is invited to the werewolf club. It’s also never explained why her husband–played by Wallace’s real-life husband, Christopher Stone–accompanies her.
No, where Sayles finds the most interest–and maybe Dante too–is with Dennis Dugan (yes, Dennis Dugan) and Balaski. Both of them are fantastic, full of chemistry, having a great time, as TV news producers investigating. Their scenes are wonderful–they get the Dick Miller scene and it’s a doozy–and the film comes alive whenever either are onscreen.
The Howling also skirts around being particularly disturbing. Wallace is having real psychological problems, occasionally represented onscreen as dream sequences, but it’s hard to imagine her having a really hard time. Her basic recovery is just too fast.
There’s some good acting from John Carradine and Slim Pickens. Patrick Macnee has less to do than Wallace, if it’s even possible. Stone leaves a lot to be desired… Robert Picardo’s got a small part and he’s fantastic.
What’s nicest about the film is the way it gets so much better in the last third. The first act and most of the second invite all these questions, all this thinking–the last act doesn’t bother with it, but still manages to close with a great scene. Unfortunately, it isn’t the last scene in the film, just the last scene in the narrative. The final scene’s a misstep, because The Howling spends so much time as a rather quiet movie about people, only to go with a big comic finish.
It’s nice for a film to take its entire running time to impress (or close to it–the last shot’s awesome, but it’s a diversion from dealing with the emotional aftereffects of the previous scene); makes the viewing experience all the more rewarding (and somehow exciting).
Directed by Joe Dante; screenplay by John Sayles and Terence H. Winkless, based on the novel by Gary Brandner; director of photography, John Hora; edited by Dante and Mark Goldblatt; music by Pino Donaggio; produced by Jack Conrad and Michael Finnell; released by AVCO Embassy Pictures.
Starring Dee Wallace (Karen White), Patrick Macnee (Dr. George Waggner), Dennis Dugan (Chris), Christopher Stone (Bill Neill), Belinda Balaski (Terry Fisher), Kevin McCarthy (Fred Francis), John Carradine (Erle Kenton), Slim Pickens (Sam Newfield), Elisabeth Brooks (Marsha Quist), Robert Picardo (Eddie Quist), Margie Impert (Donna), Noble Willingham (Charlie Barton), James Murtaugh (Jerry Warren), Jim McKrell (Lew Landers), Don McLeod (T.C. Quist) and Dick Miller (Walter Paisley).
OTHER FILMS DIRECTED BY JOE DANTE
Dee WallaceEmbassy PicturesJohn CarradineKevin McCarthyPatrick MacneePino DonaggioRobert PicardoSlim PickensThe Howling
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Amazing views! On the map Ocean Beach doesn't look like much, but when you get there it's bigger than you think. It's a pretty amazing view, especially if you get there for the sunset, which I did. It's no LA though. It has great waves if you're a surfer. Obviously colder in the winter. The smell of fresh ocean air is so calming and warming. However, it is usually packed. There's tons of tourists and locals. Barely any parking.
Thanks for the great list of vacation destinations! But when you are going to Panama I can recommand going to San Blas instead of Bocas. Why? Because Bocas is way to crowded and full with tourists! San Blas is more prestine and in my opinion more beautiful. Here check these pictures out http://sanblas-islands.com/pictures/. But if you want luxury and good Wi-Fi then skip San Blas, it is pretty back to basic 🙂 Greets!
Ocean Beach City Beach is the main beach in the San Diego neighborhood of Ocean Beach. This is a wide sandy beach that has formed at the south side of the San Diego River mouth. Looking north you can see the neighborhood of Mission Beach on the other side of the rock jetties that protect the Mission Bay Entrance Channel. The southern view from City Beach is dominated by the Ocean Beach Pier which extends about a half-mile out into the Pacific Ocean. If you are visiting here for the first time you should walk out to the end of the pier to take in the view of the city. Below the pier and south of it you’ll find extensive tide pools that are exposed at low tide.
The uniform made its Olympic debut at Sydney's Bondi Beach in the 2000 Summer Olympics amid some criticism.[178] It was the fifth largest television audience of all the sports at the 2000 Games. Much of the interest was because of the sex appeal of bikini-clad players along with their athletic ability.[179] Bikini-clad dancers and cheerleaders entertain the audience during match breaks in many beach volleyball tournaments, including the Olympics.[177][180] Even indoor volleyball costumes followed suit to become smaller and tighter.[177]
Spectacular scenery, stunning tropical sunsets and warm blue sea surrounds the island of Phuket, in Thailand, one of the most popular beach destinations in the world. You’ll find a range of experiences and accommodations to fit your budget. Vibrant nightlife and partying carries on in Patong Beach, while remote romantic hideaways can be found not far away. Explore outlying islands like Ko Phi Phi, made popular by the movie The Beach, or relax in high class at one of the ultra-plush all-inclusive resorts that line the coast.
Miles of beaches , old world village atmosphere, historic portuguese fort and buildings and pretty good diving with clear water in Summer….it’s cheap to rent if you arrive in august before high season , weather good , people are super friendly and internet is ok, my wife teaches english online and it seems ok, I teach diving here. It’s really how you imagine Brazil to be 50 years ago. Big tourist center , but also easy to get a really remote place . I like it , Portuguese helps you make friends though , which I speak
The small, crescent shaped island of Molokini off the southwestern coast of Maui is a popular destination for snorkeling and diving. In fact, the waters and colorful reefs here are so rich with life, Molokini was named a State Marine Life and Bird Conservation District. Molokini is only accessible by boat tour. Tours are available from nearby Maalaea Harbor in Kihei and Lahaina Harbor on Maui’s western shores.
Trikini 1967 The trikini appeared briefly in 1967, defined as "a handkerchief and two small saucers."[161] It reappeared in the 1990s as a bikini bottom with a stringed halter of two triangular pieces covering the breasts,[162] and in the 2000s as a costume of three separate pieces.[163] The trikini top comes essentially in two separate parts.[164] The name of this woman's bathing suit is formed from the word "bikini", replacing "bi-", meaning "two", with "tri-", meaning "three".[165] In a variation the three pieces are sold as part of one continuous garment.[166] A variation is called strapless bikini[167] or a no string bikini, often a combination of two pasties with a matching maebari-style bottom.[168]
Discovering a tropical island paradise that hasn’t lost its authentic beauty to stampeding tourists yet is a rare occurrence nowadays. If you were to visit the island of Koh Phi Phi in Thailand during the early 1990s, you would have found beautiful coral reef systems, untouched marine fauna and crystal clear blue waters — fast-forward to 2017 and you’ll find fast food restaurants and hotels on every corner. What was once an immaculate tropical island has since suffered major damage due to increasing amounts of visitors. Here are five beautiful under-the-radar tropical places to visit before the tourists take over.
Hi Kyle… interesting roundup. I’ve been to most of the places you mention over the past twelve years — the period of time I have been living as a “global gypsy.” I know San Marcos well, love the Oaxaca coast, used to really love my village in Goa until the tourists discovered it, and I really love Africa — for those who want a chill cheap life, Swaziland is an interesting choice, hugged by South Africa and Mozambique. It home to the Bushfire Festival, one of the most acclaimed music/ art/ culture/festivals in the world. I also really love Kenya and the beautiful Diani Beach. Ok, here’s my current situation: I have grown weary (and older!) of living out of a backpack and am currently looking for a base. I have also accidentally adopted a rescue dog and am traveling with him. As such I need a beach destination with calm waters b/c he loves to swim — so Oaxaca is out. I also make and sell jewelry so some tourists are needed. I am currently on Roatan and it is just not resonating. It is more expensive than I expected and doesn’t seem to have that sort of “mindful” community I prefer. So… any suggestions? I’m really stymied… I sometimes feel there is such a thing as too much freedom… peace and out.
Diving while snorkeling requires that you learn to force your ears to “pop” to equalize pressure and swim below the surface more comfortable. You also need to practice expelling water from your snorkel by forcing a strong burst of air through the tube as you clear the water’s surface. Special “purge snorkels” are available on the market for those who want an extra line of protection against getting water in your mouth.
Key West snorkeling tours provide the number one rated snorkeling tours in Key West all on one website to make it easy for you to find the best one to fit your Key West vacation. So grab a mask and a snorkel and join us on one of our daily adventures that take you out on the beautiful waters of Key West for a full day of fun and adventure. Snorkel the most popular Key West attraction, the living coral reef, and relax on the boat ride out and back. There are so many different ways to do a snorkeling trip:
11:00am, 3:00pm moderate 3.5 hrs Food & Beverages
You may think that crochet is just boho chic textile, but thanks to the hottest designers in swimwear, there's more to the fabric than flower crowns and #dumpsterfyres . Aussie label She Made Me is reinventing the trend with crop tops you can wear off the beach, while Kiini is trimming their neoprene styles with brightly woven details. See how crochet's association with festival style is officially done with the best bikinis, monokinis, and more, featured here.
Kangaroo Island houses what was voted Australia's most beautiful beach. So our tropical island pictures round up would not be complete without including it! Kangaroo Island is not only beautiful, there are so many things to see and do. Especially for wildlife lovers. Kangaroos, Koalas, Seals and don't forget about a place so remarkable, it is actually called, the Remarkables! Check it out here!
1:00pm moderate 3 hrs Beverages
THINGS TO DO IN KEY WEST KEY WEST WEDDINGS PRIVATE CHARTERS KEY WEST VACATION PACKAGES Contests & Giveaways
This is not a wow beach but not a bad beach. It's a beach and a big one. Found my way here in a Sunday after a morning run. It was a nice enough beach to take the time to enjoy. A lot of surfers enjoying the sets rolling in which made it relaxing. It is a nice long stretch and people let their dogs off leash to enjoy it as well. So if you don't like dogs I suggest not going here.
What is it about the islands that make life better? Is it the tropical breeze coming in from the ocean? Is it the sound of the waves crashing on the shore? Maybe its the laid back vibe or the perfect sunset that you see no matter what island you are visiting.When I think of our times in the islands, nothing but perfection springs to mind. All the complications and stresses of life completely melt away in the tropical heat and are instantly replaced by the tranquility of a deserted beach or seaside cabana.
Diving Thunderball Grotto, immortalized in the James Bond movie Thunderball, and the black coral gardens of Bimini are not to be missed. The crystal clear waters of the Bahamas are the clearest in the world and offer fantastic visibility of up to 200 feet or more. Discovered by Columbus, exploited by the Spanish and plundered by pirates, the Bahamas now happily welcome visitors today. It is a great family vacation spot, with something for everyone: From fascinating historic tours and lavish resorts for ultimate pampering, to fishing, boating, kayaking, diving or doing nothing at all on one of the spectacular white beaches. Best tropical vacations: Best Things to Do in Nassau, Bahamas.
Culebra Island is beautiful. I just got back to Canada from Puerto Rico. I was there for a month. I loved Culebra so much I went back twice. On my second trip I spent two nights camping at Playa Flamenco. I paid $20 USD per night for a sweet little camping spot (section E). I saw turtles, amazing, colourful fish and met some wonderful people. The snorkelling was okay in terms of being able to see under water but the reefs are not healthy. There was plenty of coconut to pick to drink the water inside and eat the meat. I found passion fruit, mangoes (not ripe), almonds (not ripe) and another really weird looking fruit I don’t know the name of. While I didn’t enjoy the main island of Puerto Rico as much as I’d hoped, I would go back to Culebra if the opportunity ever arose. I made some friends (Perri and Hector–owners) at a little place in town called, “Aqui Me Quedo” who I will never forget their kindness and hospitality.
The ocean’s most impressive creatures spend most of the time at depths, that are often only accessible to scuba divers. However, in the case of the Galapagos, there is iconic marine life that feasts on nutrient-rich reefs found all throughout the archipelago. Take for example, the Galapagos green turtles, which nest on the beaches and are a frequent sight at most snorkeling sites (December to March is a great time to see pregnant females very close to shore). Blacktip reef sharks also love the shallow coastal waters. While they might appear threatening at first, these small and sometimes inquisitive sharks are very safe to swim with and make for some beautiful moments in the water.
We believe in summer forever, and we’ve got swimwear year-round at Urban Outfitters. Whether you’re preparing for a tropical destination trip, relaxing by the pool or heading out for a perfect beach day, we’ve got a variety of swimsuits in every style + color to fit your mood. Make a splash in the perfect boho one-piece bathing suit, or rock a classic bikini top + high-waisted bottoms for a retro vibe. Don’t forget about pool floats and towels for the ultimate pool or beach party.
The pair built the Cliff House, a resort hotel, and subdivided the area into lots. To promote their subdivision, Carlson and Higgins organized various activities, including mussel roasts and concerts. Despite their efforts, the development did not do well, because it was two and a half hours by carriage from downtown San Diego. They rented a locomotive, but by that time, the boom ended and the development was put on hold. The Ocean Beach Railroad, launched in April 1888, was a casualty of the economic decline.[5] Passengers could take a ferry from San Diego to Roseville in Point Loma to ride the train to the Cliff House. Later, Higgins committed suicide, and a fire started by a fallen chandelier burnt down the Cliff House in 1898. Carlson sold the Ocean Beach tract to an Eastern financier, delaying its development for 20 years.
Almost all of the Earth's islands are natural and have been formed by tectonic forces or volcanic eruptions. However, artificial (man-made) islands also exist, such as the island in Osaka Bay off the Japanese island of Honshu, on which Kansai International Airport is located. Artificial islands can be built using natural materials (e.g., earth, rock, or sand) or artificial ones (e.g., concrete slabs or recycled waste).[14][15] Sometimes natural islands are artificially enlarged, such as Vasilyevsky Island in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, which had its western shore extended westward by some 0.5 km in the construction of the Passenger Port of St. Petersburg.[16]
Secluded private island hideaways were built to offer vacationers what they can’t find anywhere else: a castaway-like experience that makes you feel completely connected to the ocean. Some of the islands offer ultra-luxury villas with private pools while others are more unassuming and built to blend with nature. At night, stroll along the sandy beach, feet touching the sand, and gaze up at the incredible night sky. Yasawa Island Resort, located in the remote Yasawa Group, is an incredible place for scuba diving, secluded beach picnics and beaches dotted with palm trees. Visit our Fiji travel page for more amazing ideas. Find out more: Best Fiji Honeymoon Ideas
The small cottages, bungalows, single-family homes and two-storied apartments in the residential areas, were filled with college students from several local colleges, joined by a good number of sailors, retirees and middle-class families. Some of the bungalows built as tourist accommodations atop the cliffs on either side of Niagara Avenue are still in use as businesses and homes.[12]
The quiet island of Koh Kradan, off Thailand’s west coast in the Andaman Sea, is home to Hat Chao Mai National Park where you can snorkel atop untouched corals and beds of anemones, home to tons of clownfish. The island itself offers accommodation, albeit the rustic variety. Those seeking a more posh experience can bed down on the nearby island of Koh Lanta and take a day trip.
An unincorporated United States territory, Puerto Rico is a small island in the northeast Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic. If you are looking for unique tropical places to visit, the island is covered with green mountains, thundering waterfalls and the magnificent tropical vegetation of El Yunque National Forest. Surrounded by fine sand beaches and rich, vibrant coral reefs, Puerto Rico, which translates to “rich port,” is a popular tourist destination for those who love snorkeling, surfing, diving and sailing.
It is no less beautiful once you land, with posh resorts in which tiny thatched-roof bungalows are perched over the water, each with a private pool. Bora Bora is also a divers’ paradise, with healthy unspoiled reefs rich with sea creatures of all kinds. The dormant volcano rises to two peaks, Mount Pahia and Mount Otemanu, the highest point being 727-feet high and offering spectacular views and great hikes. More tropical vacation destinations and best island vacations: Bora Bora Honeymoon
The Super Snorkel‘s full-face, polycarbonate lens is seamless and crystal clear to give you a 180-degree view of your surroundings. With the additional GoPro attachment on top, this mask is ideal for the photo enthusiast, since you have an unobstructed view of the LCD screen of your camera through the lens. Snap away and share your photos with friends and family.
The Park and Cliff House Railroad ran west along California Street and then along the coast to turn south on 48th Avenue. This 36-inch (91 cm) narrow-gauge railway began service in 1887 with six 2-4-2T Baldwins (C/N 8955, 8961, 8973, 8974, 9065 & 9073). The company was reorganized as the Ferries and Cliff House Railroad with two more 2-4-2T Baldwins (C/N 9756 & 9763) built in 1889. These locomotives were widely distributed during the first decade of the 20th century. One went to the Diamond and Caldor Railway, one to the Oahu Railway and Land Company, one to the San Jose and Santa Clara Electric Company, one to the Glynn and Peterson Lumber Company, and two to the Red River Lumber Company in Westwood, California.[8]
In 1951, Eric Morley organized the Festival Bikini Contest, a beauty contest and swimwear advertising opportunity at that year's Festival of Britain. The press, welcoming the spectacle, referred to it as Miss World,[70][71] a name Morley registered as a trademark.[72] The winner was Kiki Håkansson of Sweden, who was crowned in a bikini. After the crowning, Håkansson was condemned by Pope Pius XII,[6][73][74] while Spain and Ireland threatened to withdraw from the pageant.[75] In 1952, bikinis were banned from the pageant and replaced by evening gowns.[76][77] As a result of the controversy, the bikini was explicitly banned from many other beauty pageants worldwide.[78][79] Although some regarded the bikini and beauty contests as bringing freedom to women, they were opposed by some feminists[6][80] as well as religious and cultural groups who objected to the degree of exposure of the female body.
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The Tech Submit Campus Life Stories Campus Tips Tsarnaev friend pleads guilty to obstruction, faces 7 years max
Tsarnaev friend pleads guilty to obstruction, faces 7 years max
Prosecutors: Man sought to protect bombing suspect
By Jess Bidgood Aug. 22, 2014
BOSTON — A college friend of the surviving Boston Marathon bombing suspect, who denied last year that he hindered the investigation into blasts at the finish line of the race, changed his plea to guilty on Thursday.
Dias Kadyrbayev, 20, entered guilty pleas to one count of obstruction of justice and one of conspiracy to obstruct justice in federal court.
“Do you think you know enough to be able to plead guilty?” Judge Douglas P. Woodlock asked.
Kadyrbayev took a deep breath. “I think I do,” he said.
In a plea agreement, federal prosecutors said they would seek no more than seven years in prison for Kadyrbayev. Woodlock will not say whether he plans to accept the deal until a sentencing hearing on Nov. 18.
Kadyrbayev’s lawyer, Robert Stahl, indicated he would seek less than seven years for his client but declined to provide further details. Outside the court, he said Kadyrbayev had made “an error in judgment that he’s paying for dearly.”
Federal prosecutors say that in the days after the April 15, 2013, bombing, which left three people dead and more than 260 wounded, Kadyrbayev and Azamat Tazhayakov, his roommate who was also a friend of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s, realized that their friend was the bombing suspect and tried to destroy evidence that might tie him to the crime.
Kadyrbayev and Tazhayakov are accused of entering Tsarnaev’s dormitory room at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and removing a backpack containing fireworks, a laptop and other items. Several hours later, according to prosecutors, Kadyrbayev put the backpack in a trash bin near the apartment he shared with Tazhayakov in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It was found in a nearby landfill.
The same day, April 18, Tsarnaev and his older brother, Tamerlan, are accused of shooting and killing an MIT police officer named Sean Collier before leading the authorities on a chase that ended in Tamerlan’s death. Dzhokhar eluded the authorities for another day before he was found wounded in a boat in a backyard in Watertown, Massachusetts.
Earlier this summer, Tazhayakov was convicted of the same charges that Kadyrbayev faces, after about a week of testimony.
The jury heard testimony from several witnesses, including law enforcement agents and Tsarnaev’s college roommate. The jurors were told that it was Kadyrbayev, not Tazhayakov, who first discovered the backpack and who disposed of it. Tazhayakov was nevertheless convicted, suggesting that Kadyrbayev’s defense team would have faced an uphill climb at trial.
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One man is an island
Tim Duncan’s first magazine cover — ever
Photo Illustration by Brent Lewis/The Undefeated
By Justin Tinsley @JustinTinsley
Photographer Terry Doyle jumped at the opportunity to travel to St. Croix. She was new to her career in 1995—much like Tim Duncan was to the national spotlight. Doyle met the forward in his hometown of Christiansted for an ESPN College Basketball photo shoot. The mag was a market test for what eventually became ESPN The Magazine. Twelve editions were published, and this Duncan cover, dated Winter 1995, was the premiere. He was age 19 and a junior at Wake Forest University.
During the 1995-96 season, the Demon Deacon averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds, three assists and four blocks a game on 56 percent shooting. Those numbers ballooned to 20 and 15 on 61 during his senior campaign. “Everyone at ESPN was well aware Duncan would eventually become the No. 1 pick,” says Gary Hoenig, editor-in-chief of the issue (and now editorial director of The Players’ Tribune).
…the quiet and intense young man before her would end up with three Finals MVP trophies
But Doyle? She was more interested in capturing a moment than imagining that 21 years later, the quiet and intense young man before her would end up with three Finals MVP trophies. Or that only 13 players in NBA history would finish their careers with more points than The Big Fundamental, and only five with more rebounds. She couldn’t have imagined that Duncan’s final game might come as a semifinal defeat at the hands of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder. But if May 12 2016 was the omega chapter of Tim Duncan’s life in a gray and black No. 21 jersey, Doyle (and all of us) can sleep at night knowing she photographed one of the ten greatest basketball players in the game’s history.
With respect to a grown man salt and pepper beard — Father Time has been good to Duncan. As for the ‘95 images of him, sweaty in his Wake Forest uni, staring downward after dunking on a chain-linked rim? “I’m 5’2 and he’s almost seven feet,” Doyle says with a laugh. “It was me looking up at this basketball player [like] this won’t be hard to get some incredible angles. I felt incredibly short.”
Aside from a dip in on-court production, it seems not much has changed about The Big Fundamental. He’s still the same ol’ (silent yet cordial) G. “He was incredibly polite to me and our whole crew,” Doyle remembers. “If I asked him to try this and that, he was very agreeable. Anybody we ran into on the island would always say how nice he was.”
Each week in CoverStories, The Undefeated team goes behind the cover of iconic magazine, album and books covers. Plus some surprises.
Justin Tinsley is a culture and sports writer for The Undefeated. He firmly believes “Cash Money Records takin’ ova for da ’99 and da 2000” is the single-most impactful statement of his generation.
This Story Tagged: Cover Stories NBA San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan
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The Union congratulates the NCD Alliance on its 10 year anniversary
The NCD Alliance, founded on the vision for a world where everyone has the opportunity for a healthy life, free from preventable suffering, stigma and death caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), celebrated its 10th anniversary this week.
The Union, a founding member of the NCD Alliance, congratulates the organisation on leading the global NCD movement. José Luis Castro, Executive Director of The Union, served as Chair and then President of the NCDA Board until May 2019. He said:
“It was an honour to have assumed the role of first President of NCD Alliance during such a historic and transformative period. The global NCD movement – our network, NCDA supporters and advisers, federations, and team – is stronger than ever. We are more informed and assertive, more determined and relentless, more connected and unified. I am optimistic that together we will turn the tide on NCDs, ensuring that they take less of a toll on the lives of people everywhere. I would like to congratulate the incoming President and Board, I have no doubt that under their leadership NCDA will continue to go from strength to strength”.
The new Board of the NCD Alliance was elected on 19 May and Todd Harper took over from José Luis Castro as the incoming President. José continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the organisation.
“Together we are stronger”, says José Luis Castro in this heartfelt message, where he thanks to all who contributed to a decade of the NCD Alliance.
Learn more about the work of the NCD Alliance.
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Former employee of Lieutenant Colonel Riad Ezeddine.
Lieutenant Colonel Riad Ezeddine from the village of Bachita, inland from Tyre.
Tony Khalife on Al Jadeed
In late April, 2019, Tony Khalife, host of a TV programme on Al Jadeed, aired the plight of an Ethiopian domestic worker who had run away from her employers and been found on the street by a Lebanese family who took her in and gave her food and water. She had been beaten black and blue and had bruises over her whole body.
The Lebanese described the treatment she’d received as extremely cruel.
The family called the police and she was taken away. A few days later, she turned up at their house again. She said the police had returned her to her employers who had given her a fresh beating for running away.
This time, the employer and his son came to the house to take her back. The worker implored the family not to release her to them, certain they would beat her up again. The employer admitted his wife had given the worker a ‘couple of smacks’ but that her bruises were self-inflicted, something that was patently untrue due to the location of many of the bruises on the woman’s back.
The family called Tony Khalife for assistance and said that they had received threats and warnings not to go on the programme. Tony did not reveal the identity of the abusive employer, instead referring to him as a member of the security apparatus and a person of influence. He did, however, refer the case to the head of General Security and was hopeful of a positive outcome for the victim. We have been able to discover the abuser’s name. He is Lieutenant Colonel Riad Ezeddine from the village of Bachita, inland from Tyre. He and his abusive wife and son should not enjoy anonymity.
We are a very low-budget Canadian nonprofit. We depend on all our donors to fight for these women, donations big and small. You can make a difference. Will you consider donating help us continue this vital work?
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Mail & Guardian Online Network... ------------------------------------------------- Mail & Guardian Online Thought Leader - Blogs, opinion, analysis
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South Africa’s rape crisis
5 June 2014 One Young World
By Sadé Savings, One Young World Ambassador from South Africa. One of the greatest challenges facing South African women today is the increasingly prevalent and horrifically brutal acts of sexual violence being perpetuated against women and small children. Statistics SA reveals that South Africa has one of the highest rates of rape in the world,…
You can represent Mandela in his absence
11 December 2013 One Young World
By Amukelani Mayimele This is one of those days where society is watching everything we say about Nelson Mandela. We are almost challenged to sound politically correct in our writing and in our sharing of memories of Madiba. Many have succumbed to the pressure and society’s dictatorship on how we should react and think about…
Stealing black people’s pain
14 October 2013 One Young World
By Gcobani Qambela and Simamkele Dlakavu The results of the last South African census revealed a South Africa deeply divided along racial lines, with the black majority “still at the bottom of the rung” according to President Jacob Zuma. In terms of average annual income, a white household earns about R365 000 while a black household…
Young people are the majority and should act like it
15 July 2013 One Young World
By Frederik de Ridder In 2009, 23 million people registered to vote, and 18 million voted. In 2014, 21 million people in SA will be between the ages of 18-35 years. Seven million people will be between the ages of 18-24 years and 4 million young people will not be in employment, education or training. Also in 2014, 1 million…
How not to write about African women and sex
9 July 2013 One Young World
By Gcobani Qambela This weekend I read a New York Times (NYT) article that is guilty of all traditional, white, western feminist mishaps when it comes to writing about African women and their sexuality. The article titled “Talking About Sex in Mali” is bereft of any holistic overview of the lives African women and is…
Facebook’s ‘other’ gender problem
10 June 2013 One Young World
By Gcobani Qambela I have always kept the “About” me section on my Facebook very minimal. But recently I decided to update it and fill it up a little. I was shocked when I got to the icon on “gender” to find that it offered only two options for me to choose from and those…
Preparing a generation to manage Liberia’s oil sector
By Urias Goll Liberia’s quest to explore for hydrocarbon (petroleum) offshore its territorial waters dates back to the late sixties. Some believe the government’s decision for exploration activities was made in 1940s. Creating a long-term approach for capacity development has been on the fringe of decision-making. As usual, the government and decision-makers wanted to prove…
Kids have dreams…
29 May 2013 One Young World
By Simamkele Dlakavu We all know apartheid history too well but unfortunately it persists in the present. As Zwelinzima Vavi said: “Apartheid will not end and black people will not have real freedom until free and high quality education becomes a reality.” I am a product of township education like most black youth in SA….
Loving on Mugabe’s lap
By Gcobani Qambela May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (Idaho), presents an opportunity for us young people, the so-called “future leaders” of the continent, to reflect deeply about what we are going to do differently to our many ageing African homophobic and misogynistic leaders when it comes to our treatment of non-heterosexual…
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Freedom without responsibility a recipe for failure
30 April 2013 One Young World
By Erik de Ridder Freedom Day is a useful focal point to consider efforts at making freedom a lived reality for all. Moreover, it is an opportunity to reflect on the need for a different type of engagement in South Africa. On the part of those who enjoy different freedoms, Freedom Day is an opportunity…
One Young World is a UK-based not-for-profit that gathers together the brightest young people from around the world, empowering them to make lasting connections and develop lasting solutions to some of the world's most pressing issues. At the annual One Young World Summit, the most valuable young talent from global and national companies, NGOs, universities and other-forward thinking organisations are joined by world leaders, acting as the One Young World Counsellors.
One Young World - Home!
One Young World - home! Check out the 2010 highlights video, impacts at www.oneyoungworld.com/impacts, profiles of ambassadors, delegates and hopeful candidates as well as counsellors and sponsors info!
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Bungee Jumping Near Santa Rosa, CA
Bonnie Singleton, Leaf Group
Santa Rosa is in the heart of California wine country and close to natural resources ideal for bungee jumping. (Photo: Karl Weatherly/Photodisc/Getty Images )
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Santa Rosa, less than an hour north of San Francisco, lies west of Yosemite National Park and several national forests and state parks. The natural scenic beauty of the area makes it popular for outdoor activities that take advantage of the mountains and waterways, including bungee jumping. If you're willing to take a leap of faith over steep drops while anchored only by a tether, various bungee-jumping tours and packages in the Santa Rosa area might just be for you.
Bungee jumping dates back to ancient cultures, including the Aztecs, who used the activity as a rite of passage into manhood. Although the first jumpers used vines, today's bungee jumping involves an elastic cord or band attached to your body that allows you to freefall from fixed structures like cliff overhangs, bridges and even buildings. The bungee cord keeps you from falling to the ground and allows you to bounce back up and fall again until all the energy from the stretch of the cord is exhausted.
Northern California has a number of destinations frequented by bungee jumpers, including the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California, between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park. Other spots include the historic Bridge to Nowhere, built in 1936 and located in the San Gabriel Mountains and several bridges with drops ranging from 120 feet to 220 feet. You can even jump between two giant trees in a redwood forest.
Icarus Bungee (icarusbungee.com), based in Alameda, specializes in bridge jumps. Icarus holds jumping events up to three times a month, year-round, usually in the very early morning or occasionally in the evening. Members of law enforcement and the military receive discounts. Bungee Adventures (bungeeadventures.net) arranges weekly jumps from trees, bridges and rocks in remote areas, at heights of up to 1,200 feet. Although jumps are usually performed using a body harness, you can opt for an ankle harness for an extra fee. Bungee America (bungeeamerica.com) is the only company in California licensed to bungee jump from the Bridge to Nowhere. The company offers several options, including front dive, back dive, front flips, back flips, elevator drop, ankle harness and even night jumps.
Santa Rosa, California in JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember
The temperature in Santa Rosa, California in July tends to be very predictable, so you can generally count on the forecast and travel light.
The temperature in Santa Rosa, California in July is somewhat unpredictable, so be on the safe side and prepare for a variety of conditions.
The temperature in Santa Rosa, California in July is highly unpredictable, so use the forecast as a guide, but be ready for anything!
Modern bungee jumping is relatively safe, especially when you use a body harness, but accidents can happen. Reported injuries include severe eye hemorrhages, whiplash and neck and nerve damage. You should avoid jumping if you have heart or circulatory disorders, breathing problems, recent surgery or problems with your back, legs, neck or head. Some bungee treks are in remote areas requiring a multi-mile hike over rough terrain, requiring you to be in good physical shape and to wear appropriate footwear and sun protection. Most bungee operators have minimum and maximum weight limits, typically no less than 80 pounds and no more than 250 pounds.
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Bonnie Singleton has been writing professionally since 1996. She has written for various newspapers and magazines including "The Washington Times" and "Woman's World." She also wrote for the BBC-TV news magazine "From Washington" and worked for Discovery Channel online for more than a decade. Singleton holds a master's degree in musicology from Florida State University and is a member of the American Independent Writers.
Karl Weatherly/Photodisc/Getty Images
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Singleton, Bonnie. "Bungee Jumping Near Santa Rosa, CA." Travel Tips - USA Today, https://traveltips.usatoday.com/bungee-jumping-near-santa-rosa-ca-101352.html. Accessed 17 July 2019.
Singleton, Bonnie. (n.d.). Bungee Jumping Near Santa Rosa, CA. Travel Tips - USA Today. Retrieved from https://traveltips.usatoday.com/bungee-jumping-near-santa-rosa-ca-101352.html
Singleton, Bonnie. "Bungee Jumping Near Santa Rosa, CA" accessed July 17, 2019. https://traveltips.usatoday.com/bungee-jumping-near-santa-rosa-ca-101352.html
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The rotating sign on the east end of Coddingtown Mall, Santa Rosa, California; anchor store Macy's is seen in the background
City of Santa Rosa A-26 Invader WW II attack bomber, Pacific Air Coast Museum, Charles M. Schulz Sonoma County Airport, Santa Rosa, California
The intersection of 4th & D Streets, Downtown Santa Rosa, California, United States.
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Six to Be Recognized at Sixth Annual Women Students Celebration Event
Congressional candidate Eloise Gomez Reyes is keynote speaker at event that recognizes leadership, civic engagement and overcoming adversity
By Ross French on February 21, 2014
Six UC Riverside students will be honored at the Celebration for a Day of Appreciation and Recognition of Women Students on Thursday, March 6, 2014. Front row, from left – Remi Rehman, Vickie Vertiz, and Divya Sain. Back row from left – Gabriela Bobadilla, Katherine Tsai, and Jacklyn Kozich. Photo by Richard Zapp
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Six University of California, Riverside students will receive awards for efforts in leadership and civic engagement, social justice and overcoming adversity at the fourth annual Celebration for a Day of Appreciation and Recognition of Women Students on Thursday, March 6, 2014.
The event, which is free and open to the public, is organized by the UCR Women’s Resource Center and sponsored by campus and community partners and is part of the campus’ annual celebration of Women’s History Month. It will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. in HUB 302S. An RSVP is requested.
“This annual celebration forwards the university’s strategic plan for diversity and former Chancellor Tim White’s Proclamation for A Day of Appreciation and Recognition of Women Students,” said Women’s Resource Center Director Adrienne Sims.
Eloise Gomez Reyes
The keynote speaker is Eloise Gomez Reyes, a long-time Inland Empire resident who is running for the congressional seat in the 31st district.
A native of Colton, she worked in the onion fields at the age of 12 with mother and five siblings to earn money for school clothes. She attended San Bernardino Valley College, then graduated from USC. She later earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School and began her legal career representing injured workers and unions in workers comp cases. She later moved back to Colton and started her own law office, which she has run for more than two decades. She is a founding Board member of the Inland Empire Community Health Center in Bloomington, is on the Executive Board for the Children’s Spine Foundation, and served on the Dean’s Medical School Mission Committee here at UC Riverside.
Sims said she is looking forward to hearing Reyes speak.
“Eloise Gomez Reyes, is not only a local – she was born and raised in Colton, but she’s a frontrunner for the IE – the first Latina to start to her own law practice here. Her experiences give a strong voice to women’s issues,” Sims said.
Information on the awards and the recipients
Leadership and Civic Engagement Award
The award is presented to an undergraduate and graduate student who devotes extra-ordinary time and effort towards leadership and civic engagement activities.
Katherine Tsai
Undergraduate Student Honoree: Katherine Tsai, Biology
Katherine is an exemplary academic who is majoring in biology. In addition to forwarding academic excellence, she devotes countless hours to helping others. Her drive to improve humankind pushes her to optimize leadership roles in which she can make positive impacts on fellow students and other communities.
Vickie Vertiz
Graduate Student Honoree: Vickie Vertiz, Creative Writing
A self-identified Xicana with a background in community activism and advocacy, Vickie, through academic work, volunteerism and community service, demonstrates a commitment to bettering all our communities. As a leader, her goal is to rectify power imbalances.
Social Justice Award
The award is presented to an undergraduate and graduate student who works to create a society based on principles of equality and solidarity.
Gabriela Bobadilla
Undergraduate Student Honoree: Gabriela Bobadilla, Spanish
Gabriela’s work with the anti-human trafficking task force and her commitment to social justice issues in Riverside’s local community are unparalleled. Her work with Operation SafeHouse and the Child Leaders Project in Riverside show her hard work and dedication to key causes.
Remie Rahman
Graduate Student Honoree: Remie Rahman, Education
Remie is among the first to volunteer for and respond to social justice platforms. What stands out is her tireless contribution to social issues organizations and programs, like the R.E.A.C.H. Peer Educators, Project LEAD, and the recent Student of Color Conference.
Overcoming Adversity Award
The award is presented to an undergraduate and graduate student who withstands a misfortune, setback, or debilitating circumstance.
Jacklyn Kozich
Undergraduate Student Honoree: Jacklyn Kozich, Psychology
Jacklyn has overcome what seemed to be insurmountable bouts of adversity, including family tragedies and her own blunt trauma and disability. A Navy veteran, she served the USS Boxer, an amphibous assault carrier that participated in the rescue Captain Richard Phillips of the MV Maersk Alabama from Somali pirates. That rescue is the subject of the recent blockbuster film “Captain Phillips.”
Divya Sain
Graduate Student Honoree: Divya Sain, Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics
Despite medical challenges, including limited mobility, Divya is an outstanding student who recently receivied the Guru Gobind Singh Graduate Fellowship, which is only awarded to one UC student per year. She will complete her Ph.D. in December.
A flyer for the WRC event.
J.D. Warren
E-mail: john.warren@ucr.edu
E-mail: wrc@ucr.edu
Women's Resource Center website
Event RSVP website
Archived under: Politics/Society, Adrienne Sims, celebration of women, press release, women's resource center
Coming out Muslim: Radical Acts of Love
[Feb 22, 2017]
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George Harrison Vinyl Box and Expanded Biography Scheduled for Release
George Harrison's back catalog is making its way back to vinyl — along with an expanded edition of his biography — to mark what would have been the former Beatle's 74th birthday.
The Vinyl Collection is scheduled to arrive in stores Feb. 24, the same day Genesis Publications is set to release an extended version of Harrison's 1980 book I Me Mine. In the box, which is available to pre-order now, fans can look forward to faithfully reproduced versions of his 12 solo studio LPs as well as the 1992 concert collection Live in Japan, all remastered from the original tapes, pressed on 180-gram vinyl and housed in a hardcover slipcase.
Each of the Vinyl Collection titles are being made available individually, although its triple-LP edition of Harrison's landmark 1970 release All Things Must Pass will only be put out in a limited run. Exclusive to the box are a pair of 12-inch picture disc singles — one for "When We Was Fab" and the other for "Got My Mind Set on You," both from his hit 1987 Cloud Nine album.
I Me Mine, meanwhile, now picks up where the original 1980 edition left off, spanning more than 630 pages and the duration of Harrison's solo career. Boasting commentary "told in his words and through 141 songs with hand written lyric sheets faithfully reproduced in full color," the expanded book "features lyrics to more than 50 songs not previously included, as well as new photographs, many unpublished until now." Like The Vinyl Collection, it's available to pre-order now.
Finally, the truly devoted (and financially fortunate) Harrison fan is now able to invest in the "George Harrison Essential III Turntable," manufactured in a limited run of 2500 units and featuring artwork based on an exclusive Shepard Fairey design. Take a look at the player — or pre-order yours — at Harrison's official site.
George Harrison, 'The Vinyl Collection' Album Listing
Wonderwall Music (1968)
Electronic Sound (1969)
All Things Must Pass (1970)
Living in the Material World (1973)
Dark Horse (1974)
Extra Texture (1975)
Thirty Three & 1/3 (1976)
George Harrison (1979)
Somewhere in England (1981)
Gone Troppo (1982)
Cloud Nine (1987)
Live in Japan (1992)
Brainwashed (2002)
12" Picture Disc Singles of "When We Was Fab" and "Got My Mind Set on You"
See George Harrison and Other Rockers in the Top 100 Albums of the '70s
Next: Top 10 George Harrison Songs
Filed Under: George Harrison
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11 Things You Didn’t Know About Christopher Lee
Chris Eggertsen 06.11.15 4 years ago
As you've no doubt heard, acting legend Christopher Lee died on Sunday at the age of 93. With nearly 300 acting credits to his name and roles in some of the most famous franchises in movie history — from “Dracula” to James Bond to “Star Wars” to “Lord of the Rings” — he left an indelible footprint on cinema history and will sorely be missed for his elegance, charm, and formidable, multi-faceted talent.
To commemorate the passing of the prolific British thespian, below are 11 things you may not have known about this brilliant performer of stage and screen, culled from various interviews he's given over the years.
1. He only appeared in the last few Hammer “Dracula” movies out of a sense of obligation.
“This happened with the third film, and the fourth film, and the fifth film. I turned them all down. I said 'no.' And I got these terrible telephone calls from Hammer, saying 'what's this I hear about you saying you won't do this?' This happened three times, three films. I said 'no, I'm not gonna do it. I don't have to, I don't want to.' 'You've got to! You've got to! You have to! You must!' And I said, 'why?' And they said 'because we've already sold it to the Americans with you in the part! 'Which annoyed me a bit. And then, which I'll never forget: 'Think of the people you'll put out of work if you don't do it.' Well that's a dreadful thing to say to somebody. So I can truthfully say, the only reason I made three, four and five or whatever it was, was because all the crew were my friends, were like my family, and I wasn't gonna put them out of work.”
2. He named the 1998 film “Jinnah,” in which he played Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah, his most important movie and best performance.
“I know it's he best thing I've ever done, by a long, long way. It's a very good movie. It's a very good movie. And everybody in it is very good. And it is truthful too, historically accurate. …Everywhere it's been seen, it's had wonderful reviews as a pictures, and i must say the best reviews I have ever had in my life as an actor, but nobody will show it. They won't show it. The distributors will not show it at the moment. Because they're afraid. And up to a point — I say up to a point — one can understand that. …because this is the story of a Muslim leader, the people in the West who don't really understand and don't know about this history, they get worried, they get frightened, they think my god, if you put this picture on in the theater, maybe somebody will put a bomb there or set fire to the place…but for me, it's a great tragedy and for everybody who was connected with the film, because it is a very good picture. It is actually my best performance, no question.”
3. He named “The Wicker Man” his best film.
“I think the best film…was 'The Wicker Man.' It's a wonderful part for me, written by one of our greatest playwrights Anthony Shaffer.”
4. He has held a number of Guinness world records, including: Most screen credits for a living actor (reached in 2007), most onscreen sword fights, and oldest videogame voice actor (for his role in the Nintendo DS game “Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days”).
5. He suffered a permanent injury to his hand during while filming a sword fight with Errol Flynn in 1955's “The Dark Avenger.”
“Then it's Errol's turn to come in and do the closer shots. …we had these enormous swords…and they were very heavy and difficult to wield, but I was a lot younger then. And we had this terrific fight. And the first shot was okay, it was very short. Then there was one where he had to cut at my leg…well, he did that and the blade hit a table, and that was the result. A souvenir of Errol Flynn. Course it was after lunch.”
6. He was told that he was too tall and “foreign looking” to be an actor when he first started out.
“I have quite definitely proved a great many people wrong. …you ignore it, it simply isn't true. It doesn't annoy me. I think it's pathetic.”
7. He witnessed the last public execution by guillotine in France in 1939 (Eugène Weidmann on July 17)
“I did see the last public execution in France in 1939. It was because somebody took me, a friend of my family's. And I turned away at the crucial moment. But I shan't ever forget that.”
8. Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond novels, was his cousin. He later played the Bond villain Francisco Scaramanga in “The Man with the Golden Gun.”
“Ian Fleming was my cousin. There is a Scaramanga, I have met him, he is a Greek, and presumably — as he knew Ian Fleming — this is where Ian got the name. …The fact that I happen to have been a distant cousin of Ian Fleming did in fact have nothing to do with [me getting the part], because Ian's been dead for some years now, and he never lived alas to see me play a part that he had written. Although he many a time did say to me, I can't understand why you don't play in one of the Bond pictures.”
9. He spoke a number of different languages, including German (see below), French, Italian and Spanish
10. He was shocked to find out that he was completely cut from “Return of the King.”
“When the third film came on, I couldn't believe what I saw. Because I wasn't in it. And the scene is one of the most important scenes in the whole trilogy. Cause it's Saruman, the great mortal enemy, the most evil of them all, against the Fellowship. And I'm on top of the Tower of Orthanc at Isengard, looking down at the Fellowship, and saying very nasty things to them. …A long sequence. Final confrontation between the Fellowship and their greatest enemy, and it wasn't in the film. Nobody could understand this. There were millions of hits on the internet — not just from Tolkien fans and the film fans, but everybody who had seen the first two. Cause they said, 'what happened to Saruman?' 'Buy the extended DVD.'”
11. He released two albums of “symphonic metal,” both named after his actual ancestor Charlegmane
Here's the incredible music video for “The Bloody Verdict of Verden”:
R.I.P., Sir Lee.
TAGSCharlegmaneCHRISTOPHER LEEChristopher Lee deadChristopher Lee diesChristopher Lee DraculaDracula HammerErrol FlynnFrancisco Scaramangaian flemingJinnahReturn of The KingSARUMANThe Lord of the Rings Return of the KingThe Man with the Golden GunTHE WICKER MAN
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Home / News / Israel’s Answer To Amy Winehouse, Leat set for UK debut release
Israel’s Answer To Amy Winehouse, Leat set for UK debut release
RJ Frometa October 18, 2016 News Leave a comment 68 Views
Be prepared to be taken back a few decades with the lovely Leat, a singer songwriter from Israel, ready to take on the rest of the world with her vintage approach to making music, the music she loves and connects to, she’s a born romantic and optimist, she invites the listener into her world and what a world to be invited into. Watch here
Growing up listening to The Temptations, Jackson 5, Elvis and Cat Stevens, she is influence by Dolly Parton, Jersey Boys Johnny Cash, Tracy Chapman and even modern day great Amy Winehouse and Craig David. Leat has a broad knowledge of music and the music she creates, she uses equipment from the 50’s and 60’s even the drum kit was vintage, after the recording process she takes her music to a studio and uses a machine that makes the songs sound like they were recorded in an analogue way.
Transport back into the 50’s and 60’s with her new EP Flying On A Kite, the name came from her feeling that she had let her kite rise and dream, as a lot of people say she’s a dreamer, and with the EP she finally felt that she was on the right path. The EP was produced by Noam Akrabi, who she says helped her dream to come to life, they connect and understand each other’s style.
Leat is a self-proclaimed feminist and independent woman, and is very typically Israelian, a strong woman, this may also be because she spent two years in the army as it is mandatory in Israel, it also comes across in her music and performance style, even performing at eight and a half months pregnant whilst a war started in Israel, sirens went off before the performance warning them, but in her own words Leat explains ‘as I was so far along with my pregnancy, I couldn’t delay, and although we had a war outside, the club was full of people, it was a night to remember.’
The lead single off of the EP is ‘Wait For Me’ following in the style of the rest of the EP, it has an extremely vintage feel and transports you back to an era where music was pure and honest with a definite romantic feel, the single was influenced by the TV programme MadMen which is based in the 50s/60’s, most of the women were stay at home housewives and are at their husbands beck and call, her husband calls to say he will be home late but the wife actually knows he is cheating on her, she is too afraid to speak her mind, the song is upbeat and happy because Leat knows that in this day and age she can be a woman with her own mind and thoughts, just like a man. Leat raised money for the video off of Crowd Funding raising two thousand pounds to complete the visuals.
Previous PLAGUE VENDOR Announces New Album ‘By Night’ + Shares Video for “New Comedown”
Next INTERVIEW: The Soul Shakers
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MOBILE Guest
For the Internet of things, the cost of cheap will be steep
Michael K. Daly, Raytheon January 10, 2015 9:00 PM
Above: The August smart door lock.
Image Credit: August
In 2014, the Internet of things (IoT) moved beyond a buzzword; it became a security risk.
Gartner forecasts there will be almost five billion connected devices by the end of this year and 25 billion in 2020. However, the deployment of cost-efficient sensors and devices that has allowed the IoT to grow will also make its network less secure, creating major vulnerabilities in the cyber ecosystem and possibly becoming a counterweight on the U.S. economy.
More companies and brands than ever are recognizing the value of networking their products while, at the same time, developers are conjuring up innovative new ways to make user experiences more rich through the use of IoT devices and sensors.
Networked devices that are currently in the marketplace include home and office mainstays such as door locks, thermostats, picture frames, garage-door operators, and audio and video systems.
But at the Black Hat conference this past year, hackers compromised the Google Nest thermostat to reveal the weaknesses of these connected devices and appliances.
As the IoT market matures, these widely deployed and low-cost sensors and devices are less likely to be viewed as worth continued maintenance. Offering a constant stream of security patches and updates to keep low-cost devices safe and functional for the long term requires money. If vulnerabilities are discovered, patches or updates might be issued, but only in the first year or two. The vendor expectation is that users will need to buy a full replacement or live with the risks — not to mention that users are not very likely to manage patches and updates for non-critical devices.
Cheap and vulnerable devices will linger on networks like ticking time bombs, and the choice will be to either replace them or tolerate them with their liabilities.
The biggest challenges for home users or business IT departments are managing the patches, security controls — including firewall, authentication, and intrusion prevention systems — and configurations, which are the internal settings of the device. With more connected devices entering the system, it is nearly impossible to keep track of all the configurations and updates for every device in these environments.
Simply tolerating the risks of low-cost devices could incite major long-term challenges for our economy.
We could begin to see a steady stream of digital annoyances and service disruptions when hackers use these devices to commit crimes or other forms of “vandalism.” Additionally, growing reliance on data emanating from the IoT, whether pertaining to home maintenance or business operations, requires reliable devices.
The high rate at which devices are subverted by security flaws, or simply made obsolete because of a lack of vendor support, will cost the economy greatly. We must acknowledge the risks and adapt before they become truly detrimental to our personal and professional lives.
Adapting to this new environment will require new services. While businesses and security practices will not undergo rapid transformation, we will see long term changes in how we handle the security of these IoT systems and devices. We can expect information security departments to move from hiring security experts to hiring security services from the consumer level to the largest enterprises. The complexity of managing IoT security controls will require dedicated services that are provided by organizations actively collaborating with manufacturers and vendors.
We don’t want to lose the benefits of the IoT, so we must ensure its security to ensure its value.
Michael K. Daly is chief technology officer for cybersecurity and special missions at Raytheon.
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Theodore E. Dumont
Born November 20, 1919 in Belleview, Kentucky, Theodore E. Dumont graduated from the University of Cincinnati. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and later the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Between the wars, he joined the Civil Aeronautics Administration, the precursor to the Federal Aviation Administration, where he was quickly recognized as a specialist in helicopter airframe design. At the CAA, he initiated certification efforts for the Bell 47B and B3, the first commercial helicopters to win agency certification. Later, as Sikorsky’s FAA coordinator, he participated in the certification of nearly all Sikorsky civil helicopters designed during his tenure, including the S-55C, S-58, S-58T, S-61A, S-61L, S-61N, S-62A, S-64A, E and F models. Ted led the HAI regulations committee as its chairman from 1976 to 1988 and served as chairman of the Rotorcraft Working Group of the FAA Research, Engineering, and Development Advisory Committee. As a consultant, he supported Kaman Aerospace’s efforts to certify the KMAX and Erickson Air-Crane’s certification for the S-64E and F helicopter. Ted was honored as an AHS Fellow in 1999. At HAI, he received the Lawrence D. Bell Award and later the HAI Fellow Award. In 1985, he was recognized with the FAA Silver Medal for Service to Rotorcraft Safety.
Theodore E. (“Ted”) Dumont passed away on November 2, 2005 in Milford, Connecticut. A longtime member and supporter of both the American Helicopter Society and Helicopter Association International, Ted devoted the bulk of his career to Sikorsky Aircraft, where he served as chief of civil aviation regulations.
AHS Update: Vertiflite Winter 2005
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Quiçama National Park
Quiçama National Park, also known as Kissama National Park (Portuguese: Parque Nacional do Quiçama or Parque Nacional da Quissama), is a national park in northwestern Angola. It is the only functioning national park in all of Angola, with the others being in disrepair due to the Angolan Civil War.
The park is approximately 70 km from Luanda, the Angolan capital. The park covers 3 million acres (12,000 km²), more than twice the size of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. The park is bordered on the west by 120 km of the Atlantic Ocean’s coast. The Cuanza River forms the northern boundary, while the Longa River constitutes the southern border. The Portuguese name Quiçama is spelled in English and other languages as Kissama, Kisama or Quicama. The spelling Kissama in English is the closest to the Portuguese phonetic. What is now Quiçama National Park was formed as a game reserve in 1938. In January 1957, it was proclaimed a national park by the Portuguese administration of the Overseas Province of Angola. The park once was home to an abundance of large game animals such as elephants and Giant Sable, but after wide-scale poaching during 25 years of civil war, the animal population was virtually eliminated. In 2001, the Kissama Foundation, a group of Angolans and South Africans, initiated ‘Operation Noah’s Ark’ to transport animals, especially elephants, from neighbouring Botswana and South Africa. These animals, who were from overpopulated parks in their home countries, adapted well to the move. Noah’s Ark was the largest animal transplant of its kind in history and has given the park momentum to be restored to its natural state.
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New Look for Koreatown's Wilshire Gate Tower
33-story building would rise across from Wilshire/Vermont Station.
November 01, 2017, 2:55PMSteven Sharp Comments
Next week, the Los Angeles City Planning Commission will consider developer Jia Long USA's proposal to construct a mixed-use high-rise building near the Wilshire/Vermont subway station in Koreatown.
The project, dubbed Wilshire Gate, would rise from a property at 631 S. Vermont Avenue, replacing Denny's restaurant and an adjoining parking lot. Plans call for a 33-story, 450-foot-tall building, featuring 250 apartments - including 22 very low-income units - 200 hotel rooms, 16,000 square feet of office space, a 483-stall parking garage and ground-floor retail uses.
Since first revealed earlier this year, Jia Long has tapped architecture firm Pei Cobb Freed to refine the look of the proposed tower, along with Archeon Group and YKD Landscape. New renderings portray a boxy high-rise building, wrapped with glass and aluminum panels. A green wall at the back of the property obscures above-grade parking levels, while amenities activate the tower's podium and roof levels.
Construction of Wilshire Gate would occur over approximately 24 months, although a groundbreaking date has not been announced.
The property abuts the future site of the Korean American National Museum, which will also feature a housing component. Opposite Vermont Avenue, Trammell Crow Company is preparing to redevelop a series of L.A. County properties with apartments and office space.
33-Story Mixed-Use Tower to Rise Near Wilshire and Vermont (Urbanize LA)
YKD Landscape
Pei Cobb Freed
Archeon Group
Wilshire Gate
Jia Long USA
631 S. Vermont Avenue
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How I Got Over: The Soul of Aretha Franklin
By Emily J. Lordi
DAVID RITZ’S new biography of Aretha Franklin, Respect, is not the book Franklin wanted written. The Queen of Soul already published the book she wanted, From These Roots, which Ritz himself ghostwrote in the late 1990s and which Franklin’s booking agent compares to “one long press release.” That profoundly idealized account of Franklin’s life left Ritz with an archive of unpublished material that at last finds expression in Respect. Ritz is careful to state that his version of the singer’s life is but a version. But it is the richest record of her friends’ and family’s words that we are likely to get.
People in any way touched by celebrity always have a story to tell about it, but Franklin’s witnesses are an exceptionally incisive group. As ghostwriter to the stars of American music, Ritz knows how to assemble these voices; and, in the mode of Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler, to whom he dedicates this book, he also knows to stay out of their way. Respect consequently reads like a series of inner-circle conversations held at the barbershop, beauty salon, or kitchen table. We hear from Franklin’s gospel mentor Reverend James Cleveland, her sisters Carolyn and Erma and brothers Cecil and Vaughn, Jerry Wexler, booking agent Ruth Bowen, musical peers Billy Preston, Etta James, Ray Charles, Carmen McRae, and Luther Vandross. The commentary of her siblings is especially brilliant, as when Erma compares the Franklin sisters’ relative degrees of talent to the Jackson 5, or Cecil describes Aretha’s ability to sing jazz, blues, and gospel with equal facility: “In the language of the jazzman, that’s what’s called a motherfucker.” When these siblings’ voices drop out of the narrative in the years of their deaths (Carolyn in 1988, Cecil in 1989, Erma and half-brother Vaughn in 2002), the loss is palpable.
The voice we don’t hear — in addition to those of Franklin’s partners and sons — is the singer’s own. Presumably since Franklin has already told her side of her story, Ritz privileges other voices, which tend to undermine Franklin’s version of events or note that many of her plans never materialize. That pattern grows tiresome. But at the same time, Ritz presents a clearer picture not only of Franklin’s delusions but also of her grandeur than she could have presented herself. Artistic genius might be better assessed by the outsiders it affects than by the person who possesses and is possessed by it.
Here’s what the outsiders have to say: Franklin consistently idealizes her life to the point of releasing — the year one of her homes burns down and two of her siblings die — an album called So Damn Happy. Petty and competitive, she gets mad when Atlantic signs another female soul singer, Roberta Flack; when Natalie Cole successfully records material that Franklin passes on recording herself; and when Beyoncé introduces Tina Turner as “the queen” when everyone should know there’s only one. Some of her diva antics are hilarious, as when she shows up longtime rival Barbra Streisand by singing “Funny Girl” in front of her at the1969 Grammy’s, and asks that the members of Oprah’s studio audience wear gowns and tuxedos to honor her appearance on the show. Some career moves are ruthless, as when she insists on recording an album of songs, Sparkle, which Curtis Mayfield has promised to her sister Carolyn. She is both meaner and more socially committed than one might expect: Ritz highlights her tireless service to Martin Luther King’s freedom movement, her public support for Angela Davis, her plan for an unrealized conference that would “deal with how the Black woman specifically and Black people in general are treated around the world,” and her appearance at a high-profile same-sex marriage in 2011.
Above all and appropriately, Respect depicts Franklin as an ambitious musical genius whose career is her “essential relationship.” As a child she seems exceptional even in a world of gospel wonder-children, to which she arrives as if from a “distant musical planet.” “Here’s how it worked,” her brother Cecil explains, “Aretha heard a song once and played it back immediately, note for note. If it was an instrumental, she duplicated it perfectly. If it was a vocal, she duplicated it just as perfectly. She got all the inflections right […] Her ear was infallible.” She used that infallible ear to arrange many of her own greatest hits, from “Chain of Fools” to “Natural Woman,” writing piano lines, background harmonies, and drum breaks. Yet it is not until Amazing Grace, her live-at-church 1972 brainchild, that she receives producer credit.
Few aspects of popular music history are so unyielding as the tendency to locate influence and innovation solely in the work of male artists. It is therefore surprising, although it shouldn’t be, to learn that Ray Charles’s recording of “Lucky Old Sun,” and Otis Redding’s version of “Try a Little Tenderness” were both inspired by Franklin’s recordings of those songs; that she overdubs her main vocal lines with her own harmonies seven years before Marvin Gaye makes that technique famous on What’s Going On; that Eric Clapton was once too intimidated to play guitar with her; that her 1967 recording of Otis Redding’s “Respect” set the template for socially conscious and commercially viable soul music for years to come; that Gaye was profoundly validated when she sang his “Wholy Holy” on Amazing Grace — the album with which, moreover, Franklin helped to “invent modern gospel.”
She may not say much in conversation, but she is “a musician who talks through music,” as James Cleveland states. (Her spoken introduction to “Angel” admits as much: there she explains that Carolyn, the song’s composer, called her up with “something that I want to say” and decided that “rather than go through a long-drawn-out thing,” she would let the song speak for her.) If Franklin’s singing seems to “[channel] more emotion than one human being could bear,” her art is also her lifeline: “She transform[s] her extreme pain to extreme beauty,” Erma Franklin says, “That’s my sister’s gift.” She is also a consummate listener, drawing Thelonious Monk’s harmonic inventions, Astrud Gilberto’s bossa nova style, and post-disco beats into her work; in this sense her records reflect not only sublimated pain but also a lifetime of listening.
Her trust in the music, along with her indefatigable optimism, has carried Franklin through seven decades in the music industry — from Columbia to Arista to her own label Aretha’s Records, from LPs to mp3s, from gospel to soul to post-disco, pop, and opera. She reportedly believes that every next song will be her biggest hit, that if her fifties were a good decade, her sixties should be better. Whether or not she is right, Ruth Bowen notes that “what it comes down to is this: no one can tell Aretha shit.”
Toward the end of the book, Ritz states what is incontestable: “The survival of Aretha’s career, both artistically and commercially, [is] […] nothing short of remarkable.” But so is the survival of Aretha herself. Since the 1960s she has moved through a valley of losses — Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Martin Luther King, her father, all her siblings, Luther Vandross, Jerry Wexler, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston — with a reasonable reluctance to speak about pain and an unreasonable capacity to endure it. Not to mention that, as Billy Preston states, “On any given night, when that lady sits down at the piano and gets her body and soul all over some righteous song, she’ll scare the shit out of you. And you’ll know […] that she’s still the best fuckin’ singer this fucked up country has ever produced.”
Emily J. Lordi is an assistant professor of English at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Respect: The Life of Aretha Franklin
By David Ritz
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY
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Adventures in Cultural Appropriation
By En Liang Khong
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The Never-Healing Wound
By Susan R. Grayzel
THE NUMBERS continue to astound. Of the more than 47 million men mobilized by the five great powers in 1914 (Austria-Hungary, Germany, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom), about 18.5 million would be injured in battle. If we include the shocking number of those who died before the war’s end as a result of wounds sustained in battle — perhaps 10 million from these same states — then it would be easy to agree with Emily Mayhew that being wounded was one of the most shared experiences of combatants.[i] Given her assertion that wounding was the common denominator of the war, it is astonishing that it has taken this long for the story of the wounded and, more importantly, the variety of actors who came into contact with them during this conflict to gain the full attention of scholars. Mayhew’s Wounded is thus, as advertised in its original subtitle (A New History of the Western Front in World War I; changed for the paperback to The Long Journey Home From the Great War), a “new” history of that most evocative battle zone of the First World War: the Western Front.
To some extent, of course, all wars are about injured bodies. What may be more familiar to most students of the First World War are the enormous death tolls that resulted from the waging of this modern war, the last major conflict in which the numbers of combatant dead would overwhelm those of civilians. From that point forward, the proportion would be reversed. By intermingling voices from the documents that are our lifeline into the past with depictions of more speculative encounters with injured bodies, Mayhew helps put the most recognizable stories of the war alongside those of the unfamiliar and unknown.
In part, Mayhew achieves her aim because although she starts with the stark sense of injury and death, the numbers that almost circumvent analysis, she quickly leaves the aggregate behind to focus on the deeply personal. She uses the accounts of 32 carefully selected individuals to illustrate what the damages inflicted by this war meant to both those who experienced them and those who witnessed and treated them. Mostly, this book foregrounds the wounded by focusing almost exclusively on those who sought to help them, such as nurses, doctors, stretcher-bearers, and orderlies. Mayhew also includes chaplains and noncombatant volunteers, and tries to give space to all those who aided the wounded on their journeys from the trenches of northern France and Belgium to the casualty clearing stations to the ambulance trains to the vital care centers at railway terminuses.
Aside from four chapters that each succinctly trace the story of one wounded individual in 1915, 1916, 1917, and 1918, the rest of the book is organized into group case studies of individuals who shared a common task or worked in a common location such as an ambulance train, the Furnes Railway Station, or the London Ambulance Column. The book carefully traces what wartime encounters with maimed bodies did to these men and women, and Mayhew’s brief epilogue traces the postwar history (when available) of those who survived.
Mayhew has benefited enormously from the skillful selection of her rich eyewitness voices. Paraphrasing, rather than quoting directly, Mayhew lets us feel the anguish of Nurse Elizabeth Boon as she wrote letters to the bereaved, recounting the last moments of their dying sons, but not reporting to the families that she always carried a comb in her pocket as many “were so weak they couldn’t brush the hair out of their eyes” in wards where “dying men slept silently, with no raving or weeping, their shallow breaths occasionally catching before resuming.” Mayhew takes us through the weekly ordeal of Chaplain Cyril Horsley-Smith, who, upon burying the dead, “carefully recorded each man’s name, dates and the location of his grave for the bereaved families and the authorities. […] There was no joy or fulfillment, just dread and fear and the cold touch of death on his hand, night after night.” Mayhew’s prose alternates between the prosaic and the lyrical, but the overall impact is of a historian doing her utmost to pay homage to her subjects.
Its tight focus is one of the strengths, and one of the limitations, of Wounded. As advertised, it is very much about the celebrated war of the Western Front, about the stories of participants from the British Isles who were articulate enough to have left a record of their experiences. Despite the recent attention of scholars to the colonial dimensions of this war — including those of imperial subjects fighting in Europe — and to the other theaters of this war, the world that Mayhew reveals is hauntingly familiar to those who have read any of the heralded literary accounts of this war from a British perspective, especially the poems of Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon. In part this is due to the canonization of their works and the absence of equivalently celebrated accounts by colonial or even commonwealth soldier-authors that captured the postwar or indeed wartime imagination.[ii] Mayhew’s subjects show us rats, mud, rotting bodies, gaping shell holes, barbed wire, and the ever-present stench of death, reinforcing rather than challenging the iconography of this war’s most famous battle zone.
Further, Mayhew is less concerned about what happened to the injured once they made it beyond the purview of their institutional caregivers. Thus a reader may wonder about the thousands and thousands of family members (mainly women) who had to cope with, and minister to, the men in their lives who had been greatly, at times permanently, altered by their wounds. Mayhew provides evidence of, but says little about, how integral those on the so-called home front were to the ability to sustain the war effort, including tending to the wounded. The men and the few women in Mayhew’s story often poured their hearts out to their (mainly) female relations at home, but their relationships to these people on the home front do not receive sustained attention. Her book allows us to witness afresh the heartbreak that accompanied the damaging of young lives and the toll such losses took on those who treated, comforted, carried, stitched, wiped, bandaged, and buried them. But although the book follows trends in recent scholarship that seek to connect the war at home with the war of the battle lines, Mayhew’s approach to her subject falls just short of its potential to reveal fully the ways in which the wounded body intimately connected the lives of civilians and warriors, of women and men.
Moreover, readers seeking to learn fully the larger context for why wounded men suffered, what motivated them to participate in this conflict, or even what pressures were put upon them culturally or politically will need to look elsewhere. As Mayhew acknowledges in her introduction, her book is more akin to a novel filled with impressions and gripping details that may lead the curious to other versions of this war that elaborate on why it happened and what it meant. It will be a long time, however, before a careful reader of this book will forget details like the lavender sachets that arrived from Norfolk, which nurses used to mask the smell of rot and gangrene in the wards, or that one could tell a stretcher-bearer by his hands, “a mix of blisters and calluses, first rubbed raw and then scar-cracked and worn.”
During the centenary, there will be many books, conferences, and public lectures on who started the war and who won it, on which side had more inept or more skilled military and political leaders, and on whether we owe all the woes of the 20th century to this conflict or just a specific few. What Emily Mayhew has given us at the start of this four-year process is a humane and intimate look at the toll those grand political and military schemes took on the men and women who felt and tended the mangled bodies of the millions of wounded.
[i] Figures here are drawn from Table 6.1, Aggregate Military Casualties and Civilian Deaths of the Belligerents 1914-18, in The World War I Databook, eds. John Ellis and Michael Cox (London, 2001), 269-270. All such numbers are estimates, approximate and still in dispute. The dead are usually listed as “dead and/or missing,” and determining the exact cause of death — injuries alone or injuries compounded by disease or disease itself — is also not available in every instance. Nonetheless, the sheer scale is undeniable.
[ii] As works by Richard Fogarty, Joe Lunn, David Omissi, Richard Smith, and Tyler Stovall have demonstrated, the participation of colonial troops raised crucial questions about masculinity, about racial hierarchies, and about the contrast between imagined ideas of ideal soldiers and idealized landscapes and the varied conditions of battle zones and the conduct of the war. Furthermore, what we know of their experiences in their own words comes mainly from letters and oral histories rather than novels or poems that dominate the cultural memory of this war.
Susan R. Grayzel is Professor of History at the University of Mississippi.
The Long Journey Home From the Great War
By Emily Mayhew
The 'Inevitable' World War
Painting World War I, Not Quite by Number
By Ève Morisi
The Ghosts of the Great War
By John Daniel Davidson
On les aura!
Jingo Unchained: What World War I Wrought
By Zach Dorfman
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Scoring the Miss Universe Top 5 Questions
Did you know that the Onstage Question is often the most watched segment of any pageant television broadcast? Why? Because everyone tunes in to see how the contestants will answer tough current events questions. And at the end of each answer, you probably mentally score the contestants and decide who gave the best response. Just like you, I like to evaluate each contestant and here’s how I scored the 2018 Miss Universe Top 5 questions.
Question 1: “Social media has become a prominent factor in the way we perceive one another. Do you believe social media has had a positive or negative effect on the way we judge beauty?”
Miss Venezuela: “Social media [is] what we make of [it]. We must use social media in a positive way and take away any criticisms. Behind every photo, every social media account, there is a good person, a human who can feel. And we all deserve respect.”
Score: I gave this answer a solid 8. It was a decent answer, she stuck with the basic topic, and she understood the negative impact of social media.
I scored her down because while she stayed on topic, she didn’t actually answer the question. The question asked how social media has changed the way we judge beauty. Her answer basically encouraged us to be kind and remember that there’s a real person behind each post. Instead, she might have indicated that women now often take 30 pics to get one that will look good on social media. And that all those selfies may increase pressure for women to always look picture perfect. Then she might have concluded by applauding the celebrities and models posting naked face selfies and point out that we can use social media to create a diverse and realistic definition of beauty.
Tip for You: Make sure that you directly answer the question. When in doubt, repeat the keywords of the question somewhere during your answer. And yes, this simple tip even works when answering Miss Universe Top 5 questions.
Question 2: “What do you think has been the most important social movement of your generation, and why?”
Miss Thailand: “I think the most important social movement, so far, is that we’re having an aging population. So the most important movement in our time is definitely the youth. So the youth is the future. The youth is something we have to invest in because they are the ones who are going to look after the Earth that we live in.”
Score: I gave this answer a 7 for multiple reasons. 1) She never actually identified a social movement. A social movement is a group of people working toward a common goal that they feel will benefit society. The push for civil rights during the 1950s and 1960s was a social movement. 2) Instead of identifying one social movement, she identified 3 issues that will impact her generation: the aging population, youth as the future world leaders, and environmental protection (“look after the Earth that we live in.”) 3) But, she didn’t explain how she felt these issues would impact her generation.
To get a great score for this answer, you must select a social issue ahead of time. It’s almost impossible to think of a social movement on-the-spot.
If you have a platform, you could use the general topic of your platform as your social issue. Let’s pretend my platform is related to support for military veterans. Since the bulk of veterans are over the age of 55, I might talk about advocacy for our aging population. I might say, “I’m concerned about the growing portion of our population that is over the age of 55. We must ensure that we have adequate systems in place to provide health care, family support, and long-term care without over-taxing the millennial generation. I believe that by working together, we can provide programs to care for our much-loved parents and grandparents.” My issue here is an aging population, and the social movement is improved health care and support for seniors.
If you don’t have a platform, pick a social movement issue that you feel is important. Then come up with three reasons why it’s important and two suggestions to improve the current situation.
Tip for You: Always have a social issue that you’re prepared to discuss. Remember; a social movement is a specific goal that benefits society.
Question 3: “Sexual harassment has been at the forefront of recent headlines. Why is it important for men and women to work together in tackling this issue?”
Miss Jamaica: “Sexual harassment is a form of abuse and no abuse should be tolerated whether in the workplace or in society. I believe that men and women should come together and be professional, leave this act alone, and anything that happens, such as sexual harassment, should be taken into the law and should be dealt with. Thank you.”
Score: I gave this answer a score of 9+. This is a good, solid answer that demonstrates she understands what sexual harassment is (vs. sexual assault.) She indicates that sexual harassment is unacceptable and you get the feeling that she would be a strong advocate for women on this issue.
My only suggested improvement for this answer is that she should have included at least one sentence with detailed information. This is a very general answer. Specific details would have demonstrated that she understood why this topic has been in the news. After her first sentence she could have added, “With the recent harassment allegations against Harvey Weinstein and the birth of the #MeToo movement, I feel that we must address this issue.” By mentioning Harvey Weinstein and the #MeToo movement, she would have indicated that she knows exactly what triggered this question.
Tip for You: Try to include details in at least one sentence whenever possible.
Question 4: “Terrorism is one of the main threats facing our world today. As Miss Universe, you will lead discussions on current issues with communities all over the globe. How would you go about explaining terrorism?”
Miss Columbia: “I have never been a victim or [have had] a family member [be] a victim of terrorism. I cannot really explain how it feels to be one of them. But if I had the opportunity to speak to a child, I would tell them that, ‘Please, your generation and my generation, we cannot be full of weapons. Please, more books, more culture, more friendships, and more love.’ Thank you.”
Score: Unfortunately, I had to give this answer a 6. Miss Columbia was fabulous, but this was the worst answer of the evening. She spent the first two sentences of her answer explaining that she doesn’t really know anything about terrorism. This might be okay if the title she’s competing for represents a country where terrorism is not an issue. But as Miss Universe, she will be expected to talk about issues that impact the global community. And for the global community, terrorism is an important issue.
Even if you’ve never experienced terrorism, you can probably talk about its devastating impact. Maybe you’ve seen video or pictures in the media of people who have lost homes and loved ones to terrorism. You don’t need to have experienced something personally to explain it. She could have said, “Terrorism encourages followers to engage in violence to achieve political or social goals. It can include a mass shooting at a mosque, bombing at an airport, or driving a truck through a bike path crowded with people. Terrorism is wrong, no matter what group is involved. We must all work together to end terrorism.
Tip for You: Miss Universe Top 5 questions aren’t always complicated. Resist the temptation to over analyze the question. Sometimes it just takes a little common sense to deliver a great answer.
Question 5: “Women make up 49 percent of the global workforce. What do you believe is the most important issue facing women in the workplace today, and why?”
Miss South Africa: “In some cases, women get paid 75 percent of what men earn for doing the same job, working the same hours. And I do not believe that that is right. I think we should have equal work for equal pay for women all over the world. Thank you.”
Score: I scored this answer as a strong 9+. It’s a good, solid answer. She’s prepared with a statistic on the issue and understands the ‘equal job, equal pay’ concept. She also gives the impression that she’d be a strong advocate for working women.
My only critique of her answer is that she does not include any suggestions to achieve pay equity for women. While I admit achieving pay equity on a global level could be a challenge, she could have mentioned the importance of equal access to education for girls and young women. Or she could have talked about the fact that in some countries women are limited by social and religious expectations and unable to pursue a career. Then she could have really stepped up her game and suggested that we shatter the glass ceiling by electing a woman as Secretary General of United Nations. Now, she wouldn’t need to include all of these suggestions. Just one suggestion would have been enough for me to give her a 10.
Tip for You: When answering a question about a problem, suggest a potential action step or solution.
So there you have it, my scores of the Miss Universe Top 5 questions and advice on how each question could have been even better.
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Tag Archives: sex
World Religions: Islam – Lecture 10: Women and Change in Islam
The following bits represent my notes and thoughts as I watch The Great Courses, “Great World Religions: Islam” by John L. Esposito. A few things are worth noting:
I encourage those with an interest to seek out the original source material. You can do that on The Great Courses website. My notes are just a pale shadow of the whole course but they might whet your proverbial whistle.
These are just my notes and not an attempt to encapsulate the whole course. As such, it should be painfully obvious that I’m no expert and at times prone to oversimplification and outright error.
There is no third thing. I just can’t stand having only two things in a list.
Lecture 10: Women and Change in Islam
The West judges Islam’s treatment of women in terms of the extremes we see in the news. In reality, the conditions are widely varied from country to country (Note that this lecture is somewhat dated and some of these may no longer be strictly true):
Egypt – Women can serve in parliament, but can’t be judges
Morocco – 20% of the judges in the country are women
Saudi Arabia – Can own land, but are restricted to feminine professions and cannot drive
Kuwait – Could not vote until 2005 (after this lecture was recorded)
Iran – Wear chadore or hijab, but are professionals and serve in parliament
Pakistan – A woman served as prime minister
Afghanistan – Cannot attend school; must be accompanied by a male outside the home at all times
The veil or hijab, burqa or chadore is seen as a sign of repression by the west. The practice varies widely from a simple head scarf to full body covering. When the tradition started in early Islam it was seen as a sign of high rank within the community.
While the west sees it as a sign of submission, Muslim women for the most part view it as an act that allows them to be free from exploitation as sex objects. Western women in short skirts and makeup are seen as the ones who are victims of a male society. In fact, some modern Muslim women have taken up the burqa again despite the fact that their mother’s eschewed them just a generation before. To the modern Muslim woman, wearing of the veil means that they are valued for who they are and what they have to contribute, not there mere physical characteristics.
Early in its history, Islam gave women rights they’d not had under previous systems. The Quran is emphatic that men and women are equal in the eyes of Allah and both are equally responsible for upholding the five pillars of Islam. It gave women the right to own property and restricted divorce and polygamy. Even more importantly it ended the practice of child marriage.
If this is so, then why the inequality we see today? It must be understood that even with the Quranic edicts in place to establish equality, the larger Muslim society was still largely patriarchal. In the very earliest days of Islam many women leaders arose and were held up as examples to be emulated. In fact, it was typical for women to be the first within a household to convert to Islam. Over centuries, however, the older and more traditional patriarchal tendencies eroded this foundation to the more erratic one we have today.
Much disagreement about this continues even today as old rules are brought under scrutiny. The law, for example, that in a trial the testimony of two women counts the same as one man still holds sway in over a dozen countries including Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. The reasoning for this being that women, it is judged, are not of the proper “temperament” to make these judgments.
View back-to-back on the YouTube Playlist
Lecture 1– Islam Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Lecture 2 – The Five Pillars of Islam
Lecture 3 – Muhammad-Prophet and Statesman
Lecture 4 – God’s Word-The Quranic Worldview
Lecture 5 – The Muslim Community-Faith and Politics
Lecture 6 – Paths to God-Islamic Law and Mysticism
Lecture 7 – Islamic Revivalism-Renewal and Reform
Lecture 8 – The Contemporary Resurgence of Islam
Lecture 9 – Islam at the Crossroads
Lecture 10 – Women and Change in Islam
Lecture 11 – Islam in the West
Lecture 12 – The Future of Islam
Filed under religion, The Qur'an, Uncategorized
Tagged as burka, burqa, chadore, change, conservative, egypt, hijab, history, islam, muslim, quran, reform, saudi arabia, sex, sexual repression, women, yemen
Book Reviews for the week ending 6/7….
Rather a light week this week, it seems. Do you have a book you’d like reviewed? Email me at slavenrm@gmail.com and let me know what you’ve got.
MORE DROPPINGS FROM THE DRAGON: A Hitchhiker’s Guide To Sales by Richard Plinke
The nutshell view on this book is that essentially, it is a disconnected series of random conceptual tidbits about the process of being a salesman. No, scratch that, more generally it is about being a human who interacts with other humans and how to do that in such a way that people both respect you and know that they’re being respected in return. It should be noted that your reviewer this evening is a software developer by trade so if there’s one thing we know how to do it’s look down on puny humans. This book completely contradicts all of my time-worn strategies for putting humans in their places and making sure they know exactly how worthless they are to me!
To the positive, this book really does have a great sense of “person.” What do I mean by that? Well, as the reader one can really sense the author’s personality lurking behind the printed page. Mr. Plinke is just the sort of person who #1: would hate being called Mr. Plinke and #2: would be a delight to sit down and have a conversation with. He’s witty, easy-going and filled with lots of introspective insights that would make an evening fly by like a flatulent dragon on a updraft. The book isn’t really all that much about sales; it’s not about ‘closing strategies’ and all that specific rot but really strikes me more as a simple guide to being a professional in human society.
To the negative, I’m not terribly sure that every reader will necessarily fall in line behind my opinion on this topic. The author appealed to me at least somewhat because he unceasingly decided to quote my favorite songs and movies over and over and over again until I was dizzy with the ambrosia of nostalgia. Those who have less of a visceral relationship with Douglas Adams and every Beatles song ever might be left rather wondering who in the heck he’s talking about.
In summary, Plinke has endeavored successfully to both amuse and teach something at the same time. While he’s not going to have any crowd rolling uncontrollably with rather a different color of underwear than they came in with, he does manage quite nicely to give one something to think about as well as keeping things light and entertaining. If the world lived by Plinke’s guidance we’d all be quite a bit happier. And get along a whole lot better as well.
Fortune Smiles by Adam Johnson
This book is comprised of six very dark but very different stories. The protagonists range from child pornographer to North Korean defector to cancer patients. In each case, the characters are facing some key turning point in their lives, for better or worse.
Years ago Johnson’s previous novel, “The Orphan Master’s Son” son, showed up on my doorstep as an ARC for review
and after reading it I kept the book around when I usually give away my ARCs to other readers. Similarly with “Fortune Smiles” I felt like this book was one to keep on the shelf forever. Johnson’s first three stories are breathtaking and kept me up late to finish them. His characters are so bold and candidly portrayed that you can’t peel your eyes off of them wondering what they’re going to do next. The stories are solid, gripping and original as well as potent and unforgiving in their honesty to the darkness they portray.
To the negative, the last half of the book, while still entertaining, does tend to flag a bit. The stories of North Korean defectors and an ex-warden in an East German political prison camp were certainly timely but failed to hold my attention as keenly. Perhaps I had become accustomed to Johnson’s style again but I didn’t feel quite as pulled along as I did with the first three stories.
In summary, at least in part this series of stories is a masterpiece. It is brutal and deals with people at their absolute basest level. It unapologetically paints portraits that make the reader cringe and yet also nod with some element of recognition.
Small and Tall by Uri Newman
This book strikes me as a simple melding of two books I read to my kids when they were younger. It’s the old Muppets big/tall story plus Green Eggs and Ham. I’ll quote one page as illustration:
“I do not need
to be here and there.
to jump on the wall.
to do it at all.”
So I suppose that’s potentially interesting to kids but it’s nothing terribly new or original.
Moving on, the illustrations are simple line art and reasonably entertaining but don’t be thinking there’s anything more complex than the cover hiding on the pages in between. Also worth noting, perhaps, that the villain’s face is a dead ringer for Snidely Whiplash
The story illustrates the differences between adults and children. The two characters banter back and forth for 30 pages about which one is best. The man says he’s best because he’s bigger and gets to do things. The child argues that he’s best because he gets to just sit around and play all day. Again, nothing terribly original about that and the characters don’t come to any agreement so much as they agree to disagree.
So all in all, I’m not sure my kids would have been terribly interested but maybe yours would be. The book is free of misspellings and grammar problems so that alone puts it head and shoulders above a lot of free children’s books out there.
Turning Blue by Stuart Canterbury
The nutshell on this book is, essentially, exactly what you’d expect from the blurb. It’s the day to day grind (no pun intended) of shooting X-rated films. It dives into depths (no pun intended) that you wouldn’t expect and isn’t afraid to expose (ok, pun intended) all the behind the scenes rigmarole that goes into them. It is at times mundane but that’s one thing that makes it so obviously realistic. It’s not all about the Money Shot.
So to the positive, as I’ve noted, it does feel exceptionally real. I’m no fan of this particular genre so I’m not terribly well qualified to say it, but no author would include so much detail that can’t be construed as particularly interesting unless it added quite a bit to the realism of the story. One wonders at times if Canterbury wrote a book or if he just transcribed a series of recordings. Also, the book styles itself as ‘hilarious’ but I’d put it more in the category of ‘quirky.’ At no point did I laugh during the reading of this book but it was filled with quite unusual characters that represented their archetypes very well. It’s quite a varied cast of characters from the oleaginous producer to the high-maintenance stars themselves.
To the negative, for all the realism it’s almost too real. Sure, events transpire in the book but they’re all fairly low-key. Even when the cops bust in or people die it’s somehow a non-event and things just move on rather unaffected. There’s a very non-emotional vibe to the whole thing. It’s as if characters are doing things which should be very charged emotionally and should be important but they’re somehow carried off as irrelevant and no big deal. Come to think of it, that sort of sums up the entire x-rated industry, doesn’t it?
So to summarize, this is a solidly written book with some potential to entertain those who have an interest in this particular segment of the movie industry. Personally I found it a tad flat but if you’re into this sort of thing I can see how you’d really love the behind-the-scenes view on this genre.
Fraternity House by Arthur Jay
I received this book free for review from the author in exchange for an honest review. Despite the privilege of receiving a free book, I’m absolutely candid about it below because I believe authors and readers will benefit most from honest reviews rather than vacuous 5-star reviews.
The nutshell view on this book is that it’s entirely what it claims to be. It covers, in three highly amusing parts, the life of a college Frat brother in the late 70s/early 80s (I’m not sure we’re ever told specifically but this is based on the choice of music in the book). The general structure and organization of the house is laid bare for all to see along with life as a fully-formed brother and as a pledge (or poop).
To the positive side, this book really is entertaining, if you have any interest in such debauchery. It puts forth the good and the bad in somewhat equal measure and doesn’t hold back. It’s candid about alcohol and drug use and hazing and all the sordid details of life in the fraternity. We also get a cringe worthy view of house discipline and initiation rites. The book is broken up into numerous sections of less than 10 pages so you can easily read a bit and come back to it without difficulty. It’s a well-organized book even for someone who’s not an avid reader. It’s very easily digested.
The only real negatives are fairly trivial. Firstly the writing does wobble at times. The text suffers from a few typographical errors and misused words. It’s nothing a fairly gentle editing couldn’t rectify. Secondly, the book ends rather abruptly. I won’t make any attempt to spoil the ending but I did find myself expecting a final reflection on life in a Frat house. Perhaps something with a philosophical bent or some words of advice to future poops. After turning the last page I felt that I’d been pushed off a cliff about 10 pages too early.
In summary, this is a vastly entertaining book and an honest one. There’s no huge crescendo of action but it just very consistently lays down the events as they transpired for all to see. It probably helps that the statute of limitations is long expired on all these shenanigans. A recommended read but you’ll want to ignore some of the textual issues and take it for what it is.
Tagged as 3-star reviews, adam johnson, amazon, arthur jay, book reviews, books, fiction, fortune smiles, fraternity house, frats, greek life, kids books, porno, pornography, reviews, richard plinke, sales, sex, stuart canterbury, turning blue, x-rated film
Of Ink, Wit, and Intrigue – Samuel Pepys meets Dorian Gray (4/5)
As usual I paid nothing for this book but instead received it for free in exchange for a review. This time it was from NetGalley. Despite that repeated and wonderful kindness, I give my scrupulously honest opinions below.
This book is, to put it loosely, a bit of an outlier in the modern literary world. It’s set in mid-1600 England and is the fictionalized life of John Wilmot, Second Earl of Rochester. It’s written in a diary format so the whole thing reminds me very strongly of a cross between The Diary of Samuel Pepys (who makes a brief cameo appearance) and The Picture of Dorian Gray.
To the positive, this is a unique and richly rendered exhibit of life during these times. The reader is treated to all the usual plagues and illnesses and their accompanying treatments as well as all the common entertainments of the day. As a work of crystallized history it is a wonder. The main character is also delightfully scandalous and easily and promptly disliked by the reader. This is a rich and very detailed verbal tapestry.
Unfortunately, to the negative, it comes across at times as almost impenetrably dense and shares many of the negative attributes one can ascribe to Pepy’s diary. It’s an abundantly curious historical artifact but it hardly makes for popular reading.
To summarize, this is a book that for some will be a miracle. It is that detailed historical period novel that you’ve always wanted that grinds all the way down to the daily choice of ‘vittles’ as the protagonist puts it. If, however, you are not prepared for what is at times a laborious grind of a read, then there are better choices. Only you can judge whether you prefer your history entertaining or overflowing with detail. Unfortunately it does not seem possible that both can occur simultaneously.
Visit our review on Amazon.com to let us know what you think and don’t forget to vote our review helpful if you find it so. If you don’t then that’s fine too but please let us know what we missed!
Filed under historical fiction
Tagged as 4-star reviews, amazon, book reviews, books, crime, debauchery, england, history, infidelity, John Wilmot, london, reviews, samuel pepys, sex
69 things I do with my Wang – Funniest thing about this book is probably the title (2/5)
As usual I received this book free for the purposes of review. This time it was directly from the author via email. Despite that kindness I give my candid opinions below.
This is a pretty simple book; it’s just a series of pictures featuring the author’s old WANG computer posed in various situations that lend themselves to puerile puns about penises. Enough said.
On the good side, this is intended to be a wacky madcap book with its mind in the gutter and, as the kids say, the book “owns” that about itself. It is exactly what it intends to be which is to be respected. So I give the author credit for staying true to the theme.
The downside, however, is that most of the content just isn’t funny. There are a few that make you nod in vague appreciation but nothing in this made me crack a smile. I can be a somber sort at times but I’m not THAT somber; this just quite cut it. Moving on from the words, much of the photography was also found wanting. Picture sizes varied wildly and each page is only about half filled. It felt like the author might have been stretching a bit to get to 69.
In summary, I can see the potential for this book but it needs more … something. There are only so many penis puns after all and maybe 69 is just too many.
Filed under books, comedy
Tagged as 2-star reviews, 69, amazon, attempted comedy, book free, book reviews, books, comedy, computing, funny, penis, penises, photography, reviews, sex, wang, wangs
Movie Reviews: Girlfriend 19 – Not really any plot to speak of but instead detailed emotional forensics on what it’s like to break up with someone
Please click the photo to visit the review on Amazon and vote it helpful. While you’re there watch the movie and leave your own review.
I watched this movie because it looked lonely and unreviewed on Amazon Instant Watch and I’m reasonably glad I did but it’s important to know what you’re getting into.
First and foremost, this movie is not broken. It starts out with about 60 seconds of complete blackness and almost no audio and very slowly brightens to reveal a woman’s hand. We scrambled around a bit wondering why the movie wasn’t starting only to realize that the movie was starting but very slowly. So be aware of that oddity.
So, the plot is really not much of a plot so it’s impossible to “spoiler” much of anything. The slowly-appearing opening scene features a couple in bed yet also in the process of breaking up. About 5 minutes into it he’s finally out the door and the rest of the movie covers the next 2-3 days as she deals with the emotional aftermath of the situation. It’s a deep and (I’m told) accurate view of breaking up from the woman’s perspective but it’s not a movie driven by events. She talks to her friends, she flashes back to before the relationship, she talks to her ex, she flashes back to events with her ex, around and around for 90 minutes.
In summary, it wasn’t a movie that took our breath away but it was reasonably thought provoking. Guys will have a bit more trouble with this movie since it’s not really their perspective on things but it’s a pretty accurate and it will spur some potential conversation if you’re open-minded about the whole topic. Most definitely not a first-date movie though.
Tagged as amazon, Amazon Instant Watch, breakups, cinema, fiction, film, girlfriends, girls, heartbreak, life, movies, relationships, review, reviews, sex, theater, theatre, writing
Books: Golden Boy: A Novel by Abigail Tarttelin
Firstly and as usual, I should note that I received this book via a GoodReads giveaway. Despite the kindness of receiving a book for nothing, my candid opinions follow below.
I won’t bother to summarize as the book’s description does quite a nice job of that on its own. It may be worth noting that I just picked up the book without the benefit of the summary so I was fairly surprised at the opening few chapters. In almost all ways I have come increasingly to believe that the less you know about a book going in the better off you are. As general note, however, one should know that this is a circumspect style narrative in which we hear from five different narrators. Our protagonist is the eldest son in a family of four and each of the family members (plus a love interest) take it in turns to give their side of the story. This can make for a sometimes fractured but very illuminating style of reading once you figure out who all the names are attached to.
It is usually somewhere around this point that I tend to go into a positives/negatives section but for once I’m rather at a loss for anything negative to say. This book deals with a very serious and intimate issue (again, no spoilers) but does so in such a candid and informative way that I found myself rather taken aback. I received this book almost a year ago but didn’t really pay it much attention. I left it moldering on the shelf for a long time and now find myself disappointed that I didn’t bump it to the front of the reading queue long ago. The whole thing just drips with realism and sincerity while asking serious questions about what exactly it means to be male or female in modern society. It is uniquely informative and entertaining while bringing to the forefront a very real problem that faces a not insignificant portion of the population.
In summary, this is a book to be treasured not only for its narrative flair but also what it has to say about us as a species and is sure to cause endless conversation in groups that read it. Golden Boy is one of those rare books that makes me wish I had more than five stars to give out.
** Click the book cover image to view the full review on Amazon and as always we appreciate any ‘helpful’ votes!
Tagged as blogging, book reviews, books, family, fiction, goodreads, hermaphrodites, intersex, intersexual, literature, pulp literature, reading, review, reviews, sex, sexuality, writing
Sweet Holy Motherfucking Everloving Delusional Bastard by Jerome Segundo
As usual, I won this book from the author in what I would categorize as a quasi-GoodReads giveaway. Despite that kind consideration my candid opinions follow.
The story masquerades as a not-so-typical twenty-something memoir; our three protagonists, who could not be any more dissimilar, find themselves in a series of amusing and illuminating situations that reveal much about the mental state of men at this particular time of life.
On the positive side, once the reader is properly engaged with the novel (it did take a while for me to get into the flow of it) the story really is quite difficult to pull away from. While the specific hijinks engaged in are difficult for me to relate to personally, the story really does capture one’s attention. The author’s use of language and wordplay, along with the illustration of the relationship between the three male leads is both amusing and intellectually insightful. The group of three guys makes you rather pine for a trio of strong friends to hang out with (though one could do without the felony convictions). Lastly, the author includes some rather vivid descriptions of sexual encounters which are sprinkled throughout the novel at reasonably appropriate intervals. While I’m not typically one who seeks out such things, Segundo executes these descriptions with a wonderful and evocative realism that is rare in the genre.
The only real negative I would point out in any of this is that the book is so thoroughly provocative that it will be difficult for it to find any market whatsoever. Its title alone assures that it cannot make any uncensored appearance on the New York Times Best Seller List. The book has a lot to say and crystallizes well some key differences between the way genders view the world but sadly the whole thing is stuck behind a title that creates such a visceral reaction in many that the message is lost to the universe as a whole.
In summary, you can’t judge a book by its title. Segundo has delivered entertainment and also a strong sociological point that may sadly never make its way to any sort of popular consumption. The author’s use of language is playful, entertaining and well-executed. Another good book doomed to obscurity by insufficient marketing.
Tagged as blog, book reviews, books, comedy, conviction, crime, drama, entertainment, felony, fiction, goodreads, humor, language, life, literature, psychology, pulp literature, reading, relationships, review, reviews, sex, sociology, writing
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Folk/Indie
Rock/Pop/Alternative
Heyward Howkins
The Stone Foxes
And The Kids
Biiko
Brother Dege
Dog Society
The Falling Birds
J.R. Alexander (Message to Bears)
Lee Koch
Lelica
Nicole Vaughn
Of the Poet
Tuned In, Turned Up
From One Music Lover to Another
Posts Tagged ‘Band’
♫ Milo Greene – “Silent Way”
Posted: August 16, 2013 by Tuned In, Turned Up in Music Recommendations, Rock/Pop/Alternative
Tags: Band, Cinematic, Milo Greene, Music, Pop
Artist: Milo Greene
Album: Milo Greene
Song: Silent Way
Genre: Cinematic Pop
Interview: Of the Poet
Posted: July 6, 2013 by Tuned In, Turned Up in Interviews, Of the Poet
Tags: Americana, Band, Chicago, Folk, Harmony, interview, Lyrics, Music, Of the Poet, Standby, Trio, Urban Country
Of the Poet is an Americana/Urban Country Trio based in Chicago, IL comprised of Jordyn Dickson (vocals), Kyle Goeken (vocals/guitar) and Dan Tallian (guitar/mandolin). Their debut EP, “Standby” released July 2, 2013. Of the Poet spoke with Tuned In, Turned Up about their new EP, musical influences, and their goals for the future.
K: Americana/Homegrown/Sing It To The Skies/Urban Country
This record is far from perfect, and I’m glad it came out that way. We recorded it in 2 days at Earth Analog studio right outside Champaign, IL with my cousin Kyle Prillaman who not only engineered and mixed the whole thing, but played drums on it for us as well. The whole experience was surreal and quick and dirty and I think we all thrived on that energy and I’m really proud of what we accomplished.
J: Couldn’t have said it better myself
D: Kyle’s got it. Thanks, Kyle.
Who are some of the artists or musicians that have inspired both your overall sound and each of you as songwriters?
K: Neil Young, John Mayer, The Black Keys, The Gaslight Anthem.. Dan introduced me to Butch Walker and I’ve been lost in his writing style ever since.. Bands like The Lone Bellow, Young the Giant, The Last Bison, and The Civil Wars have been on repeat lately..
J: I think we can all agree that The Lone Bellow has been a big inspiration for us. They’re a three piece with chilling harmonies and insanely poetic lyrics. We listen to them as a group to get inspired. I recently started writing. I’ve always had a great connection to Bob Dylan’s early folk stage writing style and experimented in that sort of “walking blues” format.
D: I’ve always been inspired by and loved the Blues. Whether it’s old electric Buddy Guy type blues, Chuck Berry type blues rock, or newer stuff like Alabama Shakes and The Black Keys, I can’t get enough of it. Angus Young, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jack White too.. But I also came from a punk rock background so I still love heavy, fast, simple chord progressions. More recently, though, I’ve had on The Lone Bellow, Young the Giant, Dustin Kensrue, Johnny Cash, The Lumineers…
What are you guys most excited about with the release of your first EP, “Standby”?
K: Knowing so many of our friends and family are in our corner and rooting us on is super humbling and we’re really excited about playing for them. The response we’ve gotten already from this record is incredible and it’s been really fun seeing so many different people coming together and supporting us.
J: I’m most excited about our friends and family being able to hear what we’ve been working on for six months now! We’re ready to get out there and start playing shows. I think we have such a great connection and energy when the three of us are together, live.
D: To get back on stage! Before Kyle and I met, we had been in various bands playing shows since High School and when we got together a few years ago we both agreed we missed performing live. Now that we’ve written a handful of songs we’re proud of, we can get back to it. That, and just finally being able to get some new music out into the world for people to hear.
How did the three of you meet and what made you decide to form a band?
K: I owe a lot of this to a friend of ours named Eric Farias aka “This Guy”. I transferred to Columbia College in 2009 and sat next to Eric in my intro to typography class. Turns out, the guy sitting next to him was Dan. We all got to talking, and Eric, pointing to Dan goes, “Hey! You play guitar? This guy (pointing to me) can sing! You guys should play music together.” 4 years and a Jordyn later, here we are 🙂
J: Dan and I work together. One day he popped his head into my cubical and said: “hey you play guitar, right? Do you sing?” After that, I went and jammed with the two of them. They taught me the songs they had been working on and it sort of became a routine for us. I honestly feel so lucky to have fallen into this. They’re both so talented- it’s really awesome when we all get in a room together and start collaborating.
D: Haha! Eric. Funny kid. Yeah, I think we just all have a passion for creating some beautiful music.
If you could each select one artist or musician to collaborate with (dead or alive), whom would you choose, and why?
K: I would love to work with Jack White.. He’s incredibly driven.. The man simply handles his business and pays no mind to anything else. He’s motivated by positivity and I admire that incredibly.
J: I think I’d have to say Neil Young. His music has so much depth and range. What an amazing experience that would be.
D: Butch Walker. He’s an unbelievably talented artist and producer …and I’m a sucker for a good hook. I’ve been into his music for years, but saw him live recently for the first time and it was one of the best shows i’ve seen to this day. I love his energy. And he just seems like a cool ass dude to hang out with.
Aside from music, what is each of your favorite pastime activities?
K: I’m a graphic designer by trade, but I’m a huge nerd for hockey and baseball. The Hawks and the St. Louis Cardinals, respectively.
J: Professionally, I am an interior designer and enjoy all forms of art. I also really love doing yoga.
D: I’m also a graphic designer and love what I do, but if I’m not working or playing music, I love throwing on a movie, getting comfortable in a big blanket and eating a big ass root beer float.
What are some goals you have for your music that you’d like to achieve over the next few years?
K: We’ve built up a homegrown base we’re extremely thankful for.. we’ve just got to keep at it, keep writing, keep building the momentum, and remaining focused on the music above all else.
J: My biggest goal for us right now is to get out there and perform live as much as possible. Further down the road I would love for us to be able to put out a full length album.
D: Over the next few years I just want us to keep playing and writing new music. Recording a full length eventually would be great but I want to let this thing grow and see what happens next!
Listen to the entire “Standby” EP:
Of the Poet’s EP, “Standby” can be downloaded on their website.
Additional Of the Poet music and information can be found at:
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Fun Fact #27: How AC/DC Got Their Name
Posted: May 24, 2013 by Tuned In, Turned Up in Fun Facts
Tags: ACDC, Angus Young, Band, Fun Fact, Malcolm Young, Music, name, rock n roll, Sewing
Even the people that don’t like the Rock ‘N’ Roll music of the band AC/DC, recognize it when they hear it. They’re one of the classic Rock bands known to even the least educated of music fans. We know their music, we know their style, and we know the influence they’ve had over other rock ‘n’ roll bands. What most people don’t know however, is where they got their name.
AC/DC was an acronym written on the back of Angus and Malcolm Young’s sister’s sewing machine. The letters are an abbreviation for “alternating current/direct current”, which indicates that the machine was capable of using either type of power to operate. The band felt as though the name captured the essence of their “power-driven” performances, and so it stuck.
Grateful Dead – “St. Stephen”
Posted: March 6, 2013 by Tuned In, Turned Up in Quotes
Tags: Aoxomoxoa, Band, Grateful Dead, Lyrics, man, Music, Psychodelic, Quote, Rock, St Stephen
“Talk about your plenty, talk about your ills. One man gathers what another man spills.”
Pink Floyd – “Wish You Were Here”
Posted: January 26, 2013 by Tuned In, Turned Up in Quotes
Tags: Band, Love, Lyrics, Music, pink floyd, Quotes, wish you were here
“We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl. Year after year, running over the same old ground. What have we found? The same old fears.”
The Who – “Behind Blue Eyes”
Posted: January 6, 2013 by Tuned In, Turned Up in Quotes
Tags: Band, behind blue eyes, dreams, Lyrics, Pop, Quotes, Rock, the who, who's next
“My dreams they aren’t as empty as my conscience seems to be.”
♫ Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s – “Broadripple Is Burning”
Posted: December 15, 2012 by Tuned In, Turned Up in Folk/Indie, Music Recommendations
Tags: Band, broadripple, broadripple is burning, chamber pop, folk rock, harmonica, Indiana, indianapolis, Indie Rock, Margot & the nuclear so and so's, Music, not animal
Artist: Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s
Album: Not Animal
Song: Broadripple is Burning
Genre: Indie Rock; Folk Rock; Chamber Pop
Fun Fact #7: How Led Zeppelin Got Its Name
Posted: December 14, 2012 by Tuned In, Turned Up in Fun Facts
Tags: Band, entwistle, Fun Fact, jimmy page, keith moon, led zeppelin, Music, name, the new yardbirds, the who, the yardbirds
When The Yardbirds split up, the band still had several tour dates in Scandinavia that they’d committed to, so Keith Relf and Chris Dreja allowed Jimmy Page to use the name “The New Yardbirds” in order to fulfill these commitments. Dreja then issued a cease and desist letter, so that after these tour dates were completed, Page would have to change the band’s name.
While out drinking with Keith Moon and John Entwistle from the band, The Who, Page made a comment about starting a band with the two of them. In response, Moon joked about that going down like a “lead zeppelin”. When Jimmy then formed his own band, he remembered this expression, and decided to use it as the band’s name. He got rid of the “a” so there would be no confusion over the pronunciation in America.
Incubus – “Aqueous Transmission”
Posted: December 13, 2012 by Tuned In, Turned Up in Quotes
Tags: Alternative, Aqueous Transmission, Band, Incubus, morning view, Music, Rock
“I’m in this boat alone, floating down a river named emotion”
♫ Coconut Records – “West Coast”
Posted: December 12, 2012 by Tuned In, Turned Up in Music Recommendations, Rock/Pop/Alternative
Tags: Alternative, Band, coconut records, Indie, jason schwartzman, Music, nighttiming, Pop, Rock, west coast
Artist: Coconut Records
Album: Nighttiming
Song: West Coast
Genre: Indie Pop
♫ Chet Faker – “I’m Into You”
♫ King Charles – “Love Lust”
♫ MØ – “Say You’ll Be There”
♫ Ships Have Sailed – “Someday” (EP)
Interview: The Falling Birds
Our music recommendation of the day! Give it a listen. ♫ @Chet_Faker - "I'm Into You" wp.me/p2HPoF-y5 4 years ago
Music recommendation of the day ♫ King Charles - "Love Lust" @KingCharlesUK wp.me/p2HPoF-y2 4 years ago
RT @BestMusicLyric: "None but ourselves can free our minds." -Bob Marley 'Redemption Song' 4 years ago
We're obsessed with this #SpiceGirls cover by Danish Singer-Songwriter, MØ (@MOMOMOYOUTH) Listen here! wp.me/p2HPoF-xZ 5 years ago
This EP from @ShipsHaveSailed will leave your mind racing... give it a listen! @WillCGuitar wp.me/p2HPoF-xg 5 years ago
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South Park: Returns for Season 16 on March 14th
by Trevor Kimball, February 27, 2012
Comedy Central is trumpeting the return of their animated favorite, South Park, on March 14th at 10pm.
The cable channel is kicking off season 16 for Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s beloved/hated comedy show. They ordered 14 episodes this time around but will be splitting the season into two parts. No word on when the second group will air but there will be plenty of original installments after that. South Park has already been renewed through season 20.
Here’s the press release about the start of season 16 and the release of season 15 on DVD and Blu-Ray:
“South Park” IS BACK WITH ALL-NEW EPISODES! THE 16TH SEASON BEGINS ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14 AT 10:00 P.M. ON COMEDY CENTRAL
“South Park: The Complete Fifteenth Season Uncensored” DVD And Blu-Ray
Arrives In Stores On Tuesday, March 27
All-New Season 16 Episodes Available In HD Exclusively On xBox LIVE, iTunes, Sony
Playstation Network, Amazon Video On Demand, Vudu, And in SD on Samsung Media Hub And InDemand
New Episodes Also Available On SouthParkStudios.com
NEW YORK, February 27, 2012 – “South Park” returns for its 16th season with seven all-new episodes beginning on Wednesday, March 14 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on COMEDY CENTRAL, followed by an all-new season of “Ugly Americans” at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT.
On Tuesday, March 27, “South Park: The Complete Fifteenth Season” will be released on Blu-ray and DVD by COMEDY CENTRAL Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment. In addition to all fourteen uncensored episodes from “South Park’s” landmark 15th season, the Blu-ray and DVD include the groundbreaking documentary “6 Days to Air: the Making of South Park”, a first-ever look behind-the-scenes at South Park Studios that gives fans an insider’s look at the making of an episode. The bonus features are rounded out with “6 Days to Air: Behind the Scenes of ‘City Sushi,'” mini-commentaries by creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and never-before-seen deleted scenes.
What do you think? Are you still watching South Park? Are you looking forward to season 16?
Image courtesy Comedy Central.
More about: South Park, South Park: canceled or renewed?
South Parkon Comedy Central: Cancelled or Renewed for Season 23?
South Park: Season 22 Viewer Votes
South Park: Season 22 Ratings
South Park: Comedy Central Series Demands Own Cancellation
South Park: Cancelled or Renewed for Season 22 on Comedy Central?
South Park: Comedy Central to Air 254 Episodes Ahead of Season 21 Premiere
South Park: Season 21 Premiere on Comedy Central Delayed
South Park: Win Season 19 on DVD! (Ended)
South Park: Creators Discuss the Future of the Comedy Central Series
South Park: Season 20 Premiere Announced by Comedy Central
South Park: Season 17 Begins September 25th
South Park: Episodes Per Season Reduced
South Park: New Episodes Start September 26th
South Park: Renewed Through Season 20
South Park: TV Series Returns October 5th, Renewed for Seasons 16 & 17
gayfish
Show went slightly downhill last season or 2, hope it rebounds this year.
\m/ (>.<) \m/
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« Russian Criminals Tattoo
Fantasy paintings by Alexandr Rokhmistrov »
Beautiful tennis player Anna Kournikova
Famous Russian tennis player Anna Kournikova was born on 7 June 1981. Her beauty and celebrity status made her one of the best known tennis stars worldwide. Noteworthy, Anna was the youngest participant of the Olympic Games in the history of Russia (in all sports). And at the time of her debut at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta Anna was 15 years and 47 days old. Meanwhile, Kournikova’s tennis career has been curtailed, and possibly ended, by serious back and spinal problems in the past several years.
Speaking about her personal life, noteworthy is her relationship with Pavel Bure, an NHL ice hockey player. Bure and Kournikova became engaged in 2000. Interestingly, a reporter took a photo of them together in a Florida restaurant just at the moment when Bure asked Kournikova to marry him.
However, later Kournikova started dating pop star Enrique Iglesias in 2001. In fact, Kournikova and Iglesias have been in a long term relationship for more than 12 years now. In May 2013 she married him.
Russian tennis player Anna Kournikova
Meanwhile, in September 2010, Kournikova received U.S. citizenship. She spoke about it in October issue interview for magazine “Maxim”, published the same month. According to Kournikova, she always felt like a half-Russian and half-American, and it did not matter, she had a passport or not. However, having started to work with organizations that help the U.S. military overseas, she decided that obtaining U.S. citizenship – the “next logical step”. In November 2010, she became an American citizen. In 2011, Men’s Health named her one of the “100 Hottest Women of All-Time”, ranking her at No. 29.
Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova have been dating for 12 years, and clearly the love between Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova is stronger than ever. The singer whisked his tennis playing girlfriend away in a speed boat for a romantic ride around Biscayne Bay in Miami.
Tennis player Anna Kournikova
at a press briefing in Yekaterinburg, Russia
Listening to stories in Yekat, Russia.
Taking a photo with girls in Yekaterinburg, Russia
Gorgeous Anna Kournikova
Blonde beauty Anna Kournikova
Stunningly beautiful Anna Kournikova
Born in Russia Anna Kournikova
Charming Anna Kournikova
A couple of Anna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias
Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova
Iglesias and Kournikova. The couple is leaving Italian eatery Prime one twelve in South Beach Florida. Saturday November 13, 2010
Happy together Anna Kournikova and Enrique Iglesias
Pavel Bure and Anna Kournikova
Enrigue drove the boat around Biscayne Bay, Miami
Pop singer Enrique Iglesias and tennis player Anna Kournikova arrive at the MTV Video Music Awards 29 August 2002 in New York. Iglesias was a presenter at the awards show and nominated for the Viewer’s Choice award
The couple have been together since 2001
With Enrique, 37, in the driving seat, Anna, 31, could enjoy the view of the Floridian coastline of their home town
facebook.com/Kournikova
dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2319690
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Rahm Emanuel Was Freddie Mac Board Member When They Cooked The Books
Posted on November 8, 2008 by wasteofmyoxygen
Astonishing. Change. Yep, this is a glimpse at the near future under Barack Obama. He is going to bring about lots of change. He offered the position of Chief of Staff to Rahm Emanuel.
There are many disturbing aspects to this pick. Emanuel may be a genius in tax evasion. He may be part of the Illinois corruption machine, I wonder if Rezko is going to out Emanuel too. He is extremely partisan, possibly more so than Obama himself.
The most disturbing is his past position as a Clinton appointed Board of Director at Freddie Mac during the time it was deceiving investors. This is the change that Obama wants to bring about. Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae are the leading cause of today’s financial crisis and Barack is bring in one of the people responsible for the meltdown to be his Chief of Staff.
Not to mention his extensive ties to Wall Street. He spent many years working as an investment banker and earned millions, he also has received about $1.5 million in campaign funds from Wall Street, making them his single largest financial backer. This year alone, Wall Street backed him heavily even though he had no real competition, he was the large recipient in the House.
My fellow Americans who voted for Barack Obama you have been duped. Your vote was stolen from you.
More Change You Can Believe In!
President-elect Barack Obama’s newly appointed chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, served on the board of directors of the federal mortgage firm Freddie Mac at a time when scandal was brewing at the troubled agency and the board failed to spot “red flags,” according to government reports reviewed by ABCNews.com.
According to a complaint later filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Freddie Mac, known formally as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, misreported profits by billions of dollars in order to deceive investors between the years 2000 and 2002.
Emanuel was not named in the SEC complaint (click here to read) but the entire board was later accused by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) (click here to read) of having “failed in its duty to follow up on matters brought to its attention.”
In a statement to ABCNews.com, a spokesperson said Emanuel served on the board for “13 months-a relatively short period of time.”
The spokesperson said that while on the board, Emanuel “believed that Freddie Mac needed to address concerns raised by Congressional critics.”
Freddie Mac agreed to pay a $50 million penalty in 2007 to settle the SEC complaint and four top executives of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation were charged with negligent conduct and, like the company, agreed to settle the case without admitting or denying the allegations.
The actions by Freddie Mac are cited by some economists as the beginning of the country’s economic meltdown.
The federal government this year was forced to take over Freddie Mac and a sister federal mortgage agency, Fannie Mae, pledging at least $200 billion in public funds.
Freddie Mac records have been subpoenaed by the Justice Department as part of its investigation of the suspect accounting procedures.
Emanuel was named to the Freddie Mac board by President Bill Clinton in 2000 and resigned his position when he ran for Congress in May, 2001.
During the years 2000, 2001 and 2002, according to the SEC, Freddie Mac substantially misrepresented its income to “present investors with the image of a company that would continue to generate predictable and growing earnings.”
The role of the 18-member board of directors, including Emanuel, was not addressed in the SEC’s public action but was heavily criticized by the oversight group (OFHEO) in 2003.
The oversight report said the board had been apprised of the suspect accounting tactics but “failed to make reasonable inquiries of management.”
The report also said board members appointed by the President, such as Emanuel, serve terms that are far too short “for them to play a meaningful role on the Board.”
As a Congressman, Emanuel recused himself from any votes dealing with Freddie Mac until just this year.
In dealing with the nation’s economic crisis, the new White House chief of staff will almost certainly be involved in discussions about the house and mortgage markets.
Emanuel’s spokesperson said, “As White House chief of staff he will work with President-elect Obama and his economic advisers to help ensure we protect taxpayers and homeowners.”
Filed under: Economics, Politics, Under Reported | Tagged: Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Change You Can Believe In, Fannie Mae, Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, Freddie Mac, Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, Rahm Emanuel, SEC | 3 Comments »
Barack Obama+Fannie Mae+Freddie Mac = Financial Disaster
Posted on October 8, 2008 by wasteofmyoxygen
Unfortunately John McCain did not go after Barack last night with the truth. John, please in the next debate bring this too the table along with everything Sarah has been doing. This is what the American people need to here from you. This will instill their confidence. The Presidential Debates are were you can reach out to those undecided voters.
Filed under: Politics | Tagged: Barack Obama, Election 2008, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac | 1 Comment »
Democrats Omit Freddie & Fannie From Investigation Into Financial Collapse
Congressional Liberals are still trying to avoid being blamed in the financial crisis. In order to prevent themselves from being implicated they are trying to keep Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac out of ANY investigation into the collapse of the financial market which started with Fannie and Freddie…
Congressional Democrats and Republicans traded accusations Monday over what and whom to blame for the financial crisis amid startling new revelations surrounding the bankruptcy of the Lehman Brothers investment bank.
Democrats aimed their harshest attacks at deregulation and CEO pay, using former Lehman Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Fuld as an example during a recess hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) also released internal documents showing Lehman’s compensation committee recommended $20 million in “special payments” to three departing executives on Sept. 11, four days before the firm filed for bankruptcy.
Republicans, for their part, launched a campaign to pin the financial meltdown on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and attacked Waxman for not holding a hearing to dig into the now-nationalized mortgage giants.
“Any hearing on oversight that does not begin with Fannie and Freddie and [former Fannie Mae CEO] Franklin Raines will be a sham,” said Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.). “This is like investigating a train robbery and only talking to the dining car stewards.”
The GOP attack from the dais came as the National Republican Campaign Committee and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) sent nearly simultaneous news releases criticizing Fannie and Freddie.
Boehner’s statement echoed Mica’s, saying, “Chairman Waxman’s refusal to hold hearings to examine their role says a lot about where the Democrats’ priorities lie.”
The mortgage giants aren’t part of the five-hearing investigation Waxman is planning for the rest of October, but Waxman said he is looking into their failure. He said committee staffers are reviewing documents and he might call a hearing.
“I don’t think we ought to use these hearings to be partisan,” Waxman said. “To look at Lehman is appropriate. To look at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is appropriate.”
Waxman also retorted that looking back at Congress’s interaction with Fannie Mae could be dangerous territory for the GOP, since it controlled Congress for 12 years until 2007.
The presidential campaign played a key role at the hearing, with Republicans pointing to Barack Obama’s national finance chairman’s involvement in a bank failure, and Democrats highlighting an embarrassing e-mail from President Bush’s cousin, a Lehman board member, that mocked attempts to rein in executive compensation.
The e-mails showed Fuld and Bush’s cousin, George H. Walker, mocking a recommendation from a Lehman subsidiary that executives give up their bonuses.
“Sorry team,” Walker wrote in the e-mail. “I’m not sure what’s in the water at 605 Third Avenue [the address of the subsidiary] today. I’m embarrassed and I apologize.”
Fuld added in an e-mail, “Don’t worry, they are only people who think about their own pockets.”
In a two-hour run-up to Fuld’s testimony, Democrats chomped at the bit to sink their teeth into the former CEO, having pored over his prepared statement and found he did not take responsibility for Lehman’s failure.
“He’s going to come in here and say it was everybody’s fault but his own,” said Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.). “The people on my block, in Baltimore, if they do poorly, they get fired. They don’t get a bonus.”
But Fuld, who’d listened to the first part of the hearing, headed off the lawmakers when he sat down at the witness table by taking responsibility.
“I want to make one thing clear,” Fuld said. “I take full responsibility for the decisions I made and the actions that I took. With the benefit of hindsight, would I have made decisions differently? Yes.”
Waxman, though, faulted Fuld for not acknowledging anything he’d done wrong. He also tallied Fuld’s compensation from 2000 to 2007 at $484.5 billion, and noted that Lehman’s shareholders have lost their investment and the economy has been plunged into chaos.
“Is this fair?” Waxman asked.
Fuld took off his glasses and shifted in his seat. He said he wasn’t paid that much, and he and Waxman eventually agreed he’d been paid $350 million. But he never answered Waxman’s question of fairness.
In his prepared testimony, Fuld said the financial crisis was greater than any single firm.
“As incredibly painful as this is for all of those connected to or affected by Lehman Brothers — this financial tsunami is much bigger than any one firm or industry,” Fuld said.
Fuld resisted efforts by Republicans to tie Lehman’s bankruptcy to Fannie Mae.
When Mica asked what Lehman’s financial exposure was to the mortgage buyer, Fuld demurred. “De minimis,” he said.
Mica then held up Lehman’s contributions and lobbying expenditures of $300,000 over 10 years, and said Fannie Mae spent $175 million during the same time.
“You were out-lobbied,” Mica said. “What would you say to that?”
Fuld again held back, saying, “I think that’s more a matter for your committee.”
He also bucked Democrats’ attempts to see if he’d say that Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s ties to Lehman rival Goldman Sachs biased him against bailing out Lehman and helping Goldman trading partner AIG.
But he did make it clear that he still didn’t understand why the federal government bailed out other companies, but not his.
“Until the day they put me in the ground, I will wonder,” Fuld said. “I do not know why we were the only one.”
Filed under: Politics | Tagged: AIG, Elijah Cummings, Fannie Mae, Franklin Raines, Freddie Mac, Goldman Sach, Henry Paulson, Henry Waxman, John Mica, Lehman Brothers, Richard Fuld | Leave a comment »
An Inconvenient Truth For Liberals
Posted on September 28, 2008 by wasteofmyoxygen
The truth behind the economic crisis. Liberals would have you believe that this is all the fault of McCain. They use the Bush administration as a proxy to attack McCain. The truth of the matter is the Bush administration, McCain and the conservative base has been warning and trying to prevent this mess.
Detailed points of 2004 attempt to regulate Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by Conservatives and the undermining by Liberals in Congress. Please listen to the whole think. Listen to the Money Made by the leaders of Fannie Mae…
Filed under: Economics, Economy, Politics | Tagged: Barack Obama, Barney Franks, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Government Bailout, John McCain | 1 Comment »
Supplement Bailout By Having Banks Contribute Through Insurance Purchases
The Republicans want the bailout to implement an insurance program to reduce the taxpayers liability and risk in the bailout of financial giants. The plan would require the banks to pay for insurance on some of the mortgage risk, thus reducing the amount of money the government must use to purchase these bad mortgages. This is good for us as taxpayers, I am curious on how much they would be responsible for and how much of a reduction it would be on the bailout numbers…
I would like to see the banks have to be responsible for at least half of the amount.
After temporarily derailing the Bush administration’s $700 billion proposal to bail out the financial system on Thursday, House Republicans pared back their goals on Friday and demanded that the plan rely at least partly on an industry-financed insurance program for troubled mortgages.
Issuing a vague declaration of “economic rescue principles” to limit the use of taxpayer money, the Republican lawmakers focused primarily on the insurance program.
The proposal would have banks and investment firms that own mortgages and mortgage-backed securities pay premiums for insurance that would guarantee them against losses if the mortgages default.
Supporters of the plan said it would restore confidence in mortgage-backed securities without putting taxpayer money at risk. “Instead of making the taxpayers pay, the securities holders would pay,” said Representative Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican who helped create the plan.
That would be sharply different from the plan developed by Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr., which would have the government buy up to $700 billion worth of currently unsalable mortgage-backed securities.
Treasury officials have argued that their plan would address the heart of the financial crisis, which is that banks and investment firms are holding vast quantities of securities that have little or no market value. By having the government buy up and hold those securities until the panic dies down, Mr. Paulson has been hoping to free the balance sheets of financial institutions, allow them to raise fresh capital from investors and start making loans again.
But Republican lawmakers said on Friday that they were not trying to scrap Mr. Paulson’s plan entirely. Instead, they said, they would simply try to insert an insurance program into the overall package.
“We don’t want to undermine the negotiations,” Mr. Ryan said. “We want to honor the spirit of the negotiations.”
That was a retreat from Thursday, when John A. Boehner of Ohio, the House Republican leader, told President Bush and Democratic Congressional leaders that most House Republicans would oppose the administration’s plan.
The idea of the insurance plan, championed by Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, was to reduce uncertainty and restore confidence without actually using taxpayer money.
The federal government would guarantee the underlying mortgages in a mortgage-backed security, much as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have done for years and as the Federal Housing Administration does, as well.
In theory, the cost of that insurance would be borne by the companies that hold the mortgages or mortgage-backed securities.
Treasury officials had already told Republican lawmakers they had considered an insurance approach, but rejected it. The problem, from Mr. Paulson’s standpoint, was that insuring against mortgage defaults would do little to increase liquidity, or the amount of money available for making loans. By contrast, the Treasury plan would inject hundreds of billions of dollars in fresh, although borrowed, money into the marketplace.
But the insurance plan could pose other risks to taxpayers. The government would be insuring the riskiest and most default-prone mortgages made during the housing bubble, including loans that required no down payment and no income verification by the borrowers.
The allure of insuring mortgages, rather than buying them as Mr. Paulson would, is that the government would not have to put up any taxpayer money. But because the government would be guaranteeing nearly all mortgages in the country, since it already owns Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, taxpayers could face big losses if losses from defaults turn out to be higher than expected.
Many House Republicans, including Mr. Ryan, had come up with a far more detailed rival plan earlier in the week that included Republican policy evergreens like new tax breaks and more flexible regulation as well as the insurance idea.
Some lawmakers wanted to at least temporarily eliminate taxes on capital gains and dividends, though senior Republicans knew they had no chance of getting that past Democratic leaders.
Members of the Republican Study Group, a group of conservative House Republicans, proposed lifting the mortgage market by letting companies reap retroactive tax rebates from their current losses. A company would be able to apply its losses this year against its profits from any of the last five years and get a rebate for taxes it had already paid.
But with lawmakers hoping to wrap up their work by Monday, Republicans dropped the idea as impractical because it would take too long for the Joint Committee on Taxation to estimate the measure’s cost.
On the regulatory front, some House Republicans championed the idea of relaxing what are known as mark-to-market rules that require investment firms to revise the value of their securities in line with changes in market prices of those securities.
Over the last year, Wall Street’s biggest investment banks have been forced to take huge write-downs on mortgage-related holdings, not because the securities were actually losing money but because the securities had become almost impossible to sell in the open market. For many securities, especially the arcane derivative securities known as “collateralized debt obligations,” there are virtually no buyers and no market prices.
“If you don’t have to sell the securities today, you shouldn’t have to mark it at today’s value,” said Peter Ferrara, a senior researcher at the Institute for Policy Innovation, a research group in Virginia with ties to many Republican lawmakers.
But Mr. Ryan said the issue was complicated. While critics of the current rules complained that they artificially understated a company’s financial position, other experts argue just as vehemently that marking to market is a crucial way of preventing companies from covering up bad investments.
Filed under: Economics, Economy, Politics | Tagged: Fannie Mae, Federal Housing Administration, Freddie Mac, Government Bailout, Henry Paulson, John A. Boehner | 2 Comments »
Freddie, Fannie and Mac Daddy Obama
The liberals outright deny any responsibility for the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fallout. They squarely point the finger at Bush and McCain.
Well something the Fourth Column will not report well on is how this is the liberals fault.
Back in 2005 Daniel Mudd gave a speech to the Black Caucus, including Barack Obama. In his speech he indicated Fannie Mae was in trouble because it had lent more money to minorities and undeserved individuals than any other company in history.
Mudd’s “Family” represents a good number of the minorities that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac gave mortgages to… Think about it people. This was his “Conscience” and his conscience remained silent in hopes of getting a little coin into their own pockets.
What has Obama done since then to bring this problem to light? Nothing. What has Obama done since then to prevent this fallout? Nothing. What has Obama gained from this? $126,349
I am still looking for an article about a democrat bill passed in the late 90’s that opened up the mortgage industry to financial institutions that had previously been restricted…
Is this the man you want running America? No.
A stunning example of the incredible disconnect between the mainstream media and the blogosphere is this video of the interim Fannie Mae CEO, Daniel Mudd, addressing the Congressional Black Caucus, including Barack Obama, at their swearing-in ceremony in 2005. Although this video is spreading quickly in the blogosphere, you have yet to see or hear anything about it in the MSM. As you can see in the video, Mudd talks about the problems of Fannie Mae yet that didn’t keep Obama and other Democrats from taking large contributions from that organization or doing anything to try to fix it. Here is a transcript of CEO Mudd addressing the Democrats (emphasis mine):
Good morning members of the Congressional Black Caucus. I am humbled to come here today to reaffirm the friendship and partnership between Fannie Mae and the Congressional Black Caucus. Fannie Mae is determined to keep tearing down the barriers to deliver on the American dream and that means we need to work together with the CBC. So many of you have been good friends to Fannie Mae and our mission. You’ve been friends through thick and thin. We have indeed come upon a difficult time for Fannie Mae. There is much to be done inside my company and I humbly ask you to help us and to help me. If there are areas where we are missing. If there are areas where we could do better, we’d like to hear it from our friends and I’d be so bold as to say our family first.
It is true that Fannie Mae has lent more money to more minorities and more underserved individuals than any single company in history.
We will work hard inside our company to resolve the serious matters before us to put our house in order and to forge a new future. And all the while you will see Fannie Mae reaching out and listening to the caucus. Over a century of endeavor you have earned the reputation as the conscience of Congress. In many ways I want to tell you today you are also the conscience of Fannie Mae. Keeping us on course to serve those who need serving the most.
As of this writing, a check on Google News shows NO news outlet has so much as mentioned this video despite the fact of Obama being present and later receiving $126,349 from Fannie Mae. Ask yourself this, if the CEO of Fannie Mae had addressed a similar “family” speech to a group of congressional Republicans who had received big donations from that organization, do you not think the video would have already appeared on the nightly news of the major networks?
H/T: Gateway Pundit
Now John McCain has finally gotten the balls up to say it like it is. Barack Obama had his hands in the Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae Cookie Jar...
ObamaMac
Senator Obama talks a tough game on the financial markets but the facts tell a different story. He took more money from Fannie and Freddie than any Senator but the Democratic chairman of the committee that regulates them. He put Fannie Mae’s CEO who helped create this disaster in charge of finding his Vice President. Fannie’s former General Counsel is a senior adviser to his campaign. Whose side do you think he is on? When I pushed legislation to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, Senator Obama was silent. He didn’t lift a hand to avert this crisis. While the leaders of Fannie and Freddie were lining the pockets of his campaign, they were sowing the seeds of the financial crisis we see today and enriching themselves with millions of dollars in payments. That’s not change, that’s what’s broken in Washington.
At Iowa, McCain “gets in your face” mano a mano (that is, he doesn’t delegate his surrogates, but gives a speech to America, Obama included), and he focuses on the facts. This is a very concrete speech, which appropriately boasts his virtues and clearly exposes Obama’s failings:
U.S. Senator John McCain will deliver the following remarks as prepared for delivery in Cedar Rapids, IA, today:
I’m happy to be introduced by Governor Palin, but I can’t wait until I introduce her to Washington. Let me offer an advance warning to the big spending, greedy, do nothing, me first, country second crowd in Washington and on Wall Street: change is coming.
We need reform in Washington and on Wall Street. The financial markets are in crisis. Times are tough. Enormous strain is being put on working families and individuals in America. I know that the events unfolding can be difficult to understand for many Americans. The dominoes that we have seen fall this week began with the corruption and manipulation of our home loan system. The reason this crisis started was the abuses that took place within our home loan agencies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and within our home loan system.
Two years ago I warned this Administration and Congress that regulations for our home loan agencies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, needed to be fixed.
But nothing was done.
There was no transparency into the books of Wall Street banks. Banks and brokers took on huge amounts of debt and they hid the riskiest investments. Mismanagement and greed became the operating standard while regulators were asleep at the switch.
The primary regulator of Wall Street, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) kept in place trading rules that let speculators and hedge funds turn our markets into a casino. They allowed naked short selling — which simply means that you can sell stock without ever owning it. They eliminated last year the uptick rule that has protected investors for 70 years. Speculators pounded the shares of even good companies into the ground.
The Chairman of the SEC serves at the appointment of the President and has betrayed the public’s trust. If I were President today, I would fire him.
We cannot wait any longer for more failures in our financial system. Structures like the resolution trust corporation that dealt with the failed savings and loan industry were designed to clean up the system and worked. Today we need a plan that doesn’t wait until the system fails. I am calling for the creation of the mortgage and financial institutions trust — the MFI. The priorities of this trust will be to work with the private sector and regulators to identify institutions that are weak and take remedies to strengthen them before they become insolvent. For troubled institutions this will provide an orderly process through which to identify bad loans and eventually sell them.
This will get the treasury and other financial regulatory authorities in a proactive position instead of reacting in a crisis mode to one situation after the other. The MFI will enhance investor and market confidence, benefit sound financial institutions, assist troubled institutions and protect our financial system, while minimizing taxpayer exposure. Tomorrow I will be talking in greater detail about the crisis facing our markets and what I will do as President to fix this crisis and get our economy moving again.
Senator Obama has never made the kind tough reform we need today. His idea of reform is what his party leaders in Congress order him to do. We tried for bipartisan ethics reform and he walked away from it because his bosses didn’t want real change. I know how to make the change that Senator Obama and this Congress is afraid of. I’ve fought both parties to shake up up Washington and I’m going to do it as President.
Those same Congressional leaders who give Senator Obama his marching orders are now saying that this mess isn’t their fault and they aren’t going to take any action on this crisis until after the election. Senator Obama’s own advisers are saying that crisis will benefit him politically. My friends, that is the kind of me-first, country-second politics that are broken in Washington. My opponent sees an economic crisis as a political opportunity instead of a time to lead. Senator Obama isn’t change, he’s part of the problem with Washington.
When AIG was bailed out, I didn’t like it, but I understood it needed to be done to protect hard working Americans with insurance policies and annuities. Senator Obama didn’t take a position. On the biggest issue of the day, he didn’t know what to think. He may not realize it, but you don’t get to vote present as President of the United States.
While Senator Obama and Congressional leaders don’t know what to think about the current crisis, we know what their plans are for the economy. Today Senator Obama’s running mate said that raising taxes is patriotic. Raising taxes in a tough economy isn’t patriotic. It’s not a badge of honor. It’s just dumb policy. The billions in tax increases that Senator Obama is proposing would kill even more jobs during tough economic times. I’m not going to let that happen.
I have seen tough times before. I know how to shake-up Wall Street and Washington. I will get this economy moving. I will lead us through this crisis by fighting for you, and when I am President we will be stronger than ever before.
UPDATE: McCain’s there. Congress is not. For a good analysis of the Democrat Congress’ pusillanimous conduct with regard to the current economic situation, please go here. The only saving grace in their show of cowardice is that, given their political/economic views, it’s probably better for the economy if they run away.
Who will clean up this mess?… Not Obama and Biden.
Conservatives will be left cleaining this up…
C. Edmund Wright
Grown ups are always having to step in and clean up the messes left by the children. Such is the case all too often in our government.
It was announced yesterday that the Treasury is going to take over the two huge quasi-public lending corporations Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In short, without doing this the housing markets would have continued to decline and more problems would have been manifest throughout the entire finanical industry. When you calculate the loss of wealth as home prices and stock prices continue to decline, the consequences would have been almost unthinkable. This is wealth counted on by a lot of middle class taxpyers who depend on their home value and their 401K’s for retirement.
(For this reason, do not get swayed by the taxpayer protection arguments against this move. As a taxpyer, and a home owner, this is a win on balance. It will help the value of homes and it may or may not cost the taxpayer. The Chrysler take over decades ago actually ended up benefitting the taxpayers.)
As Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson said this morning on CNBC’s Squawk Box,
“I’m not happy about it…but it had to be done. I have to fight the battle that is in front of me.” Paulson went on to say that the problem with Fannie and Freddie were ingrained in their respective charters, which is to say put together by Democrat controlled congresses decades ago. Paulson, in great new tone fashion, did not mention which party controlled congress when these charters were drawn up. But I will.
Stock picking guru Jim Cramer, who applauded the move by Paulson, admitted that Fannie and Freddie were in the back pockets of Democrats in Congress. Cramer is normally a big Democrat, though his opinions today indicate that he would be doing intellectual gymnastics to stay that way. These are the two lenders, by the way, that donated millions to Jesse Jackson’s various racial organizations over the years. These are the two organizations that backstopped big liberal Anthony Mozillo as his Countrywide Mortgage Corporation sold “predatory” mortgages to undeserving (and apparently financially illiterate) borrowers over the years so he could hand out sweetheart deals to congressional Democrats like Chris Dodd and others.
Warren Buffet, the billionaire investor, also applauded the move by Paulson as “exactly the right thing” to do and indicated that these problems are decades in the making. Buffet was mum on the fact that these institutions are the Democrat’s babies and did not elaborate on just what “decades in the making” meant.
Many of the so-called “creative mortgages” were designed in response to politically correct and racially motivate legislation demanding that lenders have more minorities in their customer portfolio. Again, this was not something that came from the right side of the aisle.
And all of this came crashing down as the oil markets soared and people in the sub prime market had to choose between groceries, gas or mortgage payments. More liberal policies at work when you look at our energy situation over the past 30 years of course. Choosing to pay the former, these defaulting mortgages jump-started the mortgage-housing meltdown. These problems were the worst, of course, in liberal-controlled states like Michigan and California where government has driven businesses away and taxes up. And the result has been a cascading down of home values, bank failures and more deterioration of millions of 401K plans. It’s no wonder that Dick Armey says that “economic illiteracy” is required to join the Democrat caucus in congress.
So today, the grown ups had to step in and do what they did. This may or may not be good for the taxpayer in all of us. It is certainly necessary for the stockholder and homeonwer in all of us. Even if you don’t own a home, this is good for you since having your landlord go broke will not help anyone.
The conservative philosopher in us is split, of course. This is kind of a quasi-socialist step that was needed to correct what were simply liberal fallacies. (makes you wonder if there was a grand plan afterall?) Free marketeers cannot like this part of it. The worst part could the precedent it might set for the auto industry, ailing of course thanks to the liberal energy policies on top of liberal union power.
Filed under: Politics, Under Reported | Tagged: Barack Obama, Black Caucus, Daniel Mudd, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, John McCain, Wall Street | 1 Comment »
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Posts from September 2017
The precarity and possibility of this political moment: A conversation with Chris Crass pt. 2
By: Lucy Duncan
Chris Crass is a longtime organizer, educator, and writer working to build powerful working class-based, feminist, multiracial movements for collective liberation. He is a one of the leading voices in the country calling for and supporting white people to work for racial justice. He joined with white anti-racist leaders around the country to help launch the national anti-racist network Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ), which works in white communities for racial justice. Rooted in his Unitarian Universalist faith he works with congregations, seminaries, and religious and...
Youth organize against police militarization in their communities
By: Linda Sanchez
For several years, AFSC has been deeply involved in opposing the police militarization program known as Urban Shield in the Bay Area. Urban Shield is a global weapons expo and SWAT training exercise that brings together law enforcement agencies and first responders from the U.S. and around the world—including those forces known for severe human rights abuses, including Mexico and the apartheid state of Israel—to collaborate on new forms of surveillance, state repression, and state violence..
Since 2007, Urban Shield has been held in Alameda...
Standing with Juana in sanctuary
By: Andrew Willis Garcés
Community members continue efforts to keep Juana in the U.S. with her family where she belongs.
It was an odd scene for the Fourth of July in High Point, North Carolina—40 people milling around an office park, all with cellphones stuck to their ears, the afternoon sun beating down on platters of food and tubs of ice cream on folding tables set up in the parking lot. A large emblem posted on the front of the building gave more away: “U.S. Senator, Thom Tillis.” The festive phone-callers were all leaving voicemails on his answering machine in Washington, D.C. to say, “Sorry we...
6 essential readings on protests and the NFL
By: Nia Eubanks-Dixon
By: AFSC
After President Trump called for the firing of NFL players who take a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality, over 200 football players participated in solidarity actions over the weekend. Here’s what we’re reading to learn more.
1. For the NFL, it was ‘Choose Your Side Sunday’, by Dave Zirin via The Nation
What we’re reading: This week in health care
This week, efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act ramped up again, this time via the Graham-Cassidy bill. While a recent announcement by Sen. John McCain means the bill is unlikely to move forward, it will likely not be the last of such efforts. Meanwhile, demands for a more just health care system are continuing to grow. Here’s what we’re reading to learn more.
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TOPICS:Kanye WestKim Kardashiansaudi arabia
Riyadh | The public display by American rapper Kanye West of his financial difficulties has brought him an unexpected offer from Saudi King Salman’s youthful son and heir, Prince Mohammed: $10 million for the opportunity to spend one night with his wife, reality television star, Kim Kardashian.
Kanye West created a worldwide commotion in February, by bashfully announcing on Twitter that he was $53 million in personal debt. The impecuniousness, he noted, was the result of following his dreams in the fashion industry.
The self-designated “greatest artist of all times” publicly solicited the help of Mark Zuckerberg, whom he asked for $1 billion to keep making art. He also said he would be willing to accept money from Google’s Larry Page or any other rich benefactor.
No billionaire has answered his plea yet, but the Philadelphia Police has extended a helping hand and offered him a job as a police officer.
We R hiring,@kanyewest! Starting salary of $47,920; u could be debt-free by the year 3122! https://t.co/EHV6nhwuGY pic.twitter.com/TzSTK2zEGr
— Philadelphia Police (@PhillyPolice) 18 février 2016
The Saudi Defence Minister, Prince Mohamad Bin Salman, made a controversial offer yesterday, during a press conference, that could solve Kanye West’s money problems,
The powerful prince, who has an estimated wealth of more than a billion dollars, offered to pay the rapper $10M to spend one night with his wife.
“I have no interest whatsoever in his music or his clothing,” Prince Mohamad told reporters, “but his wife, she is a treasure of inestimable value. I would gladly pay $10M or even more to spend one night with her.”
Prince Mohamad Bin Salman says that he doesn’t care about Kanye West or his music, but that he would gladly pay for his wife.
Neither Kanye West nor Kim Kardashian, have reacted to the offer yet, but it has already provoked violent reactions from various feminist organizations.
In an interview with CBS, the spokeswoman for the Women’s Liberation Action Network, Jane Austin, called the offer “an insult to women across the world”, saying that it shows how women are still treated as objects in certain parts of the world.
The National Organization for Women even called for a protest, which is to take place in front of the Saudi embassy in Washington, on Saturday.
Saudi Man Faces 1,000 Lashes for Having Sex With Vacuum Cleaner
Saudi Arabia: American tourist arrested for refusing to trade his wife to a prince for 45 camels
Saudi woman dies after husband leaves her in car for 10 hours
6 Comments on "Saudi Prince offers $10M to spend one night with Kim Kardashian"
khan mast | February 11, 2017 at 5:13 pm | Reply
It means that Saudi royals are very lustful and no women in their country is secure from their savagery and lust for sex
wahabism | February 11, 2017 at 3:42 pm | Reply
fucking saudi wahabis burn in the deepest part of the HELL!!
Lt Col Tahir Anjum (Retd) 39t PMA | February 11, 2017 at 3:02 pm | Reply
,,,,,,,,,,shocked. How can he brazenly say that, when the punishment for committing adultery is death by stoning by their law. A limit to hypocrisy and equally to women whom they consider playthings. Mr Trump you have banned certain people to enter your country, I would certainly like to solicit your views on this………….. maybe he says the same thing to you
TyrannyInAllIysForms | February 19, 2017 at 1:53 pm |
The surf class has certain rules established to control it. The ruling class has a different set of rules and does whatever it wants – doesn’t matter what ideology, it’s always the same. In order to prevent this, you have to establish a govt of, for, and by The People. Throw off theocratic tyranny – off with the hypocrits!
Abdul Rashid Dulloo | February 11, 2017 at 10:10 am | Reply
As the saying goes,” Excess of everything is bad.” Too much money with Saudi nationals has made them sick.
Dr.Najjar | February 11, 2017 at 2:15 am | Reply
It doesn’t make since. Prince Mohammed is very smart Man and he will never say that.
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Home » Fourth of July » 'Salute to America' abstains…
‘Salute to America’ abstains from political tone, highlights historical achievements and military
Abigail Constantino
July 4, 2019, 11:55 PM
In the shadow of the monuments and looming storms, crowds streamed into D.C. for Fourth of July celebrations. Some came to hear President Donald Trump's speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, some came to see the fireworks show, and some came to join several protests along the National Mall.
In the shadow of the monuments and looming storms, crowds streamed into D.C. for Fourth of July celebrations.
Some came to hear President Donald Trump’s speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, some came to see the fireworks show and some came to join several protests along the National Mall.
Trump salutes America
Trump tweeted that the weather was “looking good,” before heading toward the Lincoln Memorial to deliver a speech for the “Salute to America” portion of the festivities. Trump spoke as it rained on and off. His address started on time, around 6:30 p.m.
His speech was largely apolitical; he did not segue into his political agenda or his re-election campaign. Instead he focused on achievements of Americans throughout history.
He pointed to special guests and historical figures from U.S. history who have contributed to the story of the country. These included an official from NASA who was involved in the moon landing, a woman who provided hundreds of meals to victims of Hurricane Michael and a nun who helped victims of the 9/11 attacks.
Trump touched upon moments and people in U.S. history, including Frederick Douglass, Betsy Ross, Martin Luther King Jr. and women’s suffrage.
Among the special guests who were in the ticketed VIP section were Gold Star families, relatives of U.S. military members who have died in battle.
Trump’s speech enumerated the branches of the military, punctuated by a show of military vehicles and the traditional songs of each branch.
The speech ended with the singing of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” a flyover by the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels and a rendition of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.”
Watch a video of Trump’s speech.
WTOP’s Mike Murillo reported there was some back and forth between protesters and supporters of Trump, but it was fairly peaceful between the two groups.
“Even though everybody has different opinions,” Kevin Malton, a Trump supporter from Middlesboro, Kentucky, told The Associated Press. “Everybody’s getting along.”
But Daniela Guray, a 19-year-old from Chicago who held a “Dump Trump” sign, said she was subjected to a racial epithet while walking along the Constitution Avenue parade route and told to go home.
A group of Trump’s supporters played the national anthem on a bugle, just steps away from an inflatable image of Trump sitting on a toilet.
“It’s unpatriotic,” said one supporter of the inflatable. “Like a half-naked Trump on a toilet … there’s kids out here. Kids don’t need to see that.”
July 4 – National Mall – Curated tweets by WTOP
Outside the White house, two people were arrested during a protest where a U.S. flag was burned, according to a Secret Service news release.
There were concerns that Trump’s address would be like one of his political rallies, especially when it became known there would be a ticketed section at the Lincoln Memorial.
Trump set aside a historic piece of real estate — a stretch of the Mall from the Lincoln Memorial to the midpoint of the reflecting pool — for a mix of invited military members, Republican and Trump campaign donors, and other bigwigs, The Associated Press reported.
Those tickets came at no cost, but the White House did not say specifically how they were allocated.
Local officials expressed concern over the cost of the celebrations and what the heavy military vehicles the president requested would do to D.C. area road infrastructures.
Susan Foulds, of D.C., said that it’s depressing how the July Fourth celebrations in D.C. have been co-opted. “So many people showing up to this Republican political rally on a day that’s meant for all Americans,” she said.
Fireworks lit the D.C. sky on July 4, 2019. (WTOP/Jared Ruderman) (WTOP/Jared Ruderman)
The explosions filled the air with smoke that it became hard to see the fireworks. (WTOP/Jared Ruderman) (WTOP/Jared Ruderman)
Fireworks seen from the Lincoln Memorial explode over the Potomac River for Independence Day, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (AP/Andrew Harnik)
Fireworks light the sky near the Lincoln Memorial, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (AP/Alex Brandon)
Crowds gathered around the National Mall Thursday evening for Independence Day activities. (WTOP/Dave Dildine) (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Military planes fly over Independence Avenue in D.C. Thursday evening. (WTOP/Dave Dildine) (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
People wait for President Donald Trump to speak at an Independence Day celebration in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Thursday, July 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, Pool) (AP/Susan Walsh)
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 04: People gather on the National Mall ahead of President Donald Trump’s speech during Fourth of July festivities on July 4, 2019 in Washington, D.C. Trump is holding a “Salute to America” celebration on the National Mall on Independence Day this year with musical performances, a military flyover, and fireworks. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) (Getty Images/Stephanie Keith)
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 04: Bands perform during the opening festivities of President Donald Trump’s “Salute to America” ceremony in front of the Lincoln Memorial, on July 4, 2019 in Washington, D.C. The presentation will feature armored vehicles, a flyover by Air Force One, and several flyovers by other military aircraft. (Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images) (Getty Images/Sarah Silbiger)
Air Force One flies over the National Mall. (WTOP/Mike Murillo) (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 04: People gather on the National Mall ahead of President Trump’s speech during Fourth of July festivities on July 4, 2019 in Washington, DC. President Trump is holding a “Salute to America” celebration on the National Mall on Independence Day this year with musical performances, a military flyover, and fireworks. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) (Getty Images/Stephanie Keith)
The U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon performs during an Independence Day celebration in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (AP/Alex Brandon)
Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence, arrive for an Independence Day celebration in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (AP/Alex Brandon)
The U.S. Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps performs in the rain during an Independence Day celebration in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (AP/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump speaks during an Independence Day celebration in front of the Lincoln Memorial, Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (AP/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump, arrives speaks to an Independence Day celebration in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, Thursday, July 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) (AP/Andrew Harnik)
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 04: People pass by a sculpture of President Donal Trump on a toilet during the Fourth of July festivities on July 4, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) (Getty Images/Stephanie Keith)
Supporters of President Donald Trump who did not wish to provide their names, walk on the National Mall in Washington as rain falls before Independence Day celebrations, Thursday, July 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (AP/Patrick Semansky)
A National Guard vehicle sits parked at a security perimeter near the National Mall in Washington before Independence Day celebrations, Thursday, July 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (AP/Patrick Semansky)
The security line on 17th Street and Constitution Avenue moves along. (WTOP/Michelle Basch) (WTOP/Michelle Basch)
A protester and Trump supporters engage in a conversation during the July Fourth activities at the National Mall. (WTOP/Mike Murillo) (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
Crowds flock to the National Mall for July Fourth celebrations. (WTOP/Dave Dildine) (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
A protester unwraps a sculpture depicting President Donald Trump holding a cell phone on a toilet before Independence Day celebrations, Thursday, July 4, 2019, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (AP/Patrick Semansky)
A Baby Trump balloon stands on the National Mall in Washington before Independence Day celebrations, Thursday, July 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (AP/Patrick Semansky)
Everett Loud, of Corning, N.Y., and dressed as President Abraham Lincoln, stands near a sculpture of President Donald Trump holding a cell phone while sitting on a toilet before Independence Day celebrations, Thursday, July 4, 2019, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (AP/Patrick Semansky)
A supporter of President Donald Trump who gave his name as Moto Moto, left, of Brooklyn, N.Y., debates with protesters in front of a sculpture of President Donald Trump holding a cell phone while sitting on a toilet before Independence Day celebrations, Thursday, July 4, 2019, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (AP/Patrick Semansky)
Kathleen Otal, of Arlington, Va., holds up a sign before Independence Day celebrations, Thursday, July 4, 2019, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (AP/Patrick Semansky)
National Park Service rangers view a Baby Trump balloon before Independence Day celebrations, Thursday, July 4, 2019, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (AP/Patrick Semansky)
Members of the District of Columbia National Guard walk near a Baby Trump balloon before Independence Day celebrations, Thursday, July 4, 2019, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (AP/Patrick Semansky)
Protester Robert Kennedy grabs for a rope as he helps move a Baby Trump balloon into position before Independence Day celebrations, Thursday, July 4, 2019, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (AP/Patrick Semansky)
A supporter of President Donald Trump makes her way through a security checkpoint before Independence Day celebrations, Thursday, July 4, 2019, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (AP/Patrick Semansky)
Protesters move a Baby Trump balloon into position before Independence Day celebrations, Thursday, July 4, 2019, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (AP/Patrick Semansky)
People photograph a Baby Trump balloon as it is moved into position before Independence Day celebrations, Thursday, July 4, 2019, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (AP/Patrick Semansky)
An inflatable image of President Donald Trump as a baby has been deflated, so protesters are using a flag image of it instead. (WTOP/Mike Murillo) (WTOP/Mike Murillo)
Threat of severe weather
Multiple outlets reported that the west front of the U.S. Capitol was evacuated due to severe weather. The West Lawn of the Capitol is the site of the annual “A Capitol Fourth” event.
The threat of severe weather caused one of the scheduled performers, the U.S. Navy Band’s Country Current show, to cancel its performance.
People got a temporary reprieve from the sweltering heat enough to take out their umbrellas, as the region got pelted by heavy rain just around 3 p.m., sending some attendees to take cover under umbrellas, trees, tents or even under a raised platform.
The threat of thunderstorms affected a group of protesters, as well. An inflatable “Baby Trump” balloon figure had to be deflated as the rain moved in at the National Mall.
Among the changes in this year’s July Fourth celebration was the launch site of the fireworks display. This year they were launched at West Potomac Park. They had been launched from a location along the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool for the last several years.
Two of the U.S. biggest pyrotechnic companies, Phantom Fireworks and Fireworks by Grucci, donated their services and products to this year’s show. The CEO for Phantom Fireworks spoke with Trump on Chinese tariffs in a private meeting just weeks before donating $750,000 worth of fireworks for the “Salute to America” July 4 show.
The stunning display started off with fireworks that hung in the air like slow-falling glitter and some that spelled out U-S-A, WTOP’s Michelle Basch reported form the National Mall. But the explosions left so much smoke in the air that they became hard to see.
“It looked like a colorful thunderstorm,” Basch said.
July 4 – Fireworks – Curated tweets by WTOP
WTOP’s Mike Murillo and Michelle Basch, who reported from the National Mall in D.C., and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
PHOTOS: Fourth of July across the US
From parades to protests, here’s what the Fourth of July looked like across the United States this year. See photos.
Trump asks Americans to ‘stay true to our cause’
PHOTOS: DC area celebrates Fourth of July
My Take: What a week in America
Fourth of July Government News Holiday News Local News Washington, DC News White House
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Actress and Activist
I feel a bit like the golden child. But you only know that when you look back, and see the people who touched you, and how friends, camp counselors, people who denied you humanity that you overcame. People who said you couldn't, and you shouldn't, and you won't, and you will never — and you did.
Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award Winner
Whoopi Goldberg was born Caryn Johnson in New York City. Her mother, a nurse and teacher, raised her daughter and a son on her own after Whoopi’s preacher father left the family. The future star spent the first years of her life in a public housing project in Manhattan. Drawn to the theater from earliest childhood, she made her performing debut at age eight with the Helena Rubinstein Children’s Theatre at the Hudson Guild. After dropping out of high school at 14, she lied about her age to find work as a summer camp counselor, and to sing in the choruses of the Broadway shows Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar and Pippin. After surviving an early experience with drug addiction, she married at age 18, and gave birth to a daughter, Alexandrea.
1985: Steven Spielberg directing Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times awarded the film four stars, calling it “the year’s best film.” He praised Whoopi Goldberg, calling her role “one of the most amazing debut performances in movie history.”
After breaking with her husband, she and Alexandrea moved to California in 1974. The following year she helped found the San Diego Repertory Theatre and joined the improvisational theater group Spontaneous Combustion. It was at this time that Caryn Johnson adopted her distinctive stage name — Whoopi Goldberg — and began to develop the character monologues that were to make her famous. After moving to the San Francisco Bay Area, she joined another improvisational group, the Blake Street Hawkeyes, and acquired a large local following for her work as a stand-up comedian. Soon she was touring the U.S. and Europe with her one-woman production, The Spook Show.
1985: Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover in a dramatic scene from the hit motion picture The Color Purple.
In 1983, Whoopi Goldberg brought The Spook Show to New York’s Dance Theater Workshop, where it attracted immediate critical attention. The legendary director Mike Nichols saw her perform, and the following year presented her on Broadway in a revised version of her solo act, titled simply Whoopi Goldberg. The one-woman show played to sold-out audiences into 1985, and brought her to the attention of director Steven Spielberg. Spielberg cast her in the leading role in his film of Alice Walker’s acclaimed novel The Color Purple. Making her film debut in this coveted role instantly established Goldberg as one of Hollywood’s leading dramatic actresses. Her powerful performance brought her a Golden Globe and her first Oscar nomination.
1990: Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, and Whoopi in the romantic thriller Ghost, the year’s highest-grossing film.
Goldberg followed her triumph in The Color Purple with a successful comic vehicle, Jumping Jack Flash, but her next few comedies proved to be box office disappointments. Dramatic performances in the films Clara’s Heart and The Long Walk Home won her critical praise but also failed to find the large audiences the studios were banking on. At the close of the 1980s, Whoopi Goldberg was still very much in demand as a live performer, and with her friends Robin Williams and Billy Crystal, she headlined the popular Comic Relief television specials to support charities aiding the homeless.
1991: Whoopi Goldberg holds her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, won for her role in Ghost, in Los Angeles.
In 1990, Goldberg began two seasons starring in the television sitcom Baghdad Café. In the same year, her faltering film career revived suddenly with her supporting role in the surprise hit Ghost. In the opinion of many critics, it was her performance as a phony — if well-intentioned — psychic that made the film a stand-out. Once again, the film industry was excited about Whoopi Goldberg, and she took home the year’s Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. She followed this victory with the box-office smash Sister Act, which cast her as a hard-boiled nightclub singer hiding out in a convent. The worldwide success of this comedy catapulted Whoopi Goldberg into the ranks of Hollywood’s top stars and led inevitably to a sequel. At the time of Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit, she was the highest paid actress in history.
1992: Whoopi Goldberg in the motion picture Sister Act, one of the decade’s most financially successful comedies.
Goldberg earned continued respect from critics as well, with her appearance as a police detective in Robert Altman’s The Player. She also enjoyed success on television, with a recurring guest role, “Guinan,” on Star Trek: The Next Generation, a character she reprised in two Star Trek movies. Her other film successes in the 1990s included Made In America; Corinna, Corinna; Boys on the Side; and a voiceover role in the animated classic The Lion King. A late night talk program, The Whoopi Goldberg Show, proved the comedian and actress to be a serious and thoughtful observer of the political scene, but was cancelled after a single season. Goldberg won rave reviews hosting the annual Oscar telecast in 1994 and hosted the program again in 1996, 1999 and 2002. The following year, she starred in the TV sitcom Whoopi for a single season. She has also produced television series such as Strong Medicine on the Lifetime channel and Whoopi’s Littleburg on Nickelodeon.
2014: Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie Perez, Rosie O’Donnell and Nicolle Wallace on ABC’s television talk show The View.
On the 20th anniversary of her Broadway success, Whoopi Goldberg revived her one-woman show for another successful run at New York’s Lyceum Theatre. Over the course of her career, she has won every major honor awarded by the entertainment industry: the Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Awards. She has also received the Mark Twain Award for American Humor, presented in a 2001 ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
February 28, 2016: Whoopi Goldberg and her daughter, Alex Martin, attend the 88th Annual Academy Awards.
Whoopi Goldberg has long been one of the most recognizable and best-loved figures in American popular culture. Since the summer of 2007, she has been a daily presence in American homes, as co-host of ABC’s morning talk show The View. She has continued an active movie career, voicing the character of Stretchy in Toy Story 3, and appearing in the live-action film Madea Goes to Jail and 2010’s For Colored Girls, adapted from the celebrated play by Ntozake Shange. She has written a number of books, including a collection of humorous essays, Book, and the children’s books Alice and Whoopi’s Big Book of Manners, as well as the Sugar Plum Ballerinas series. In 2010, she published a book of humorous observations on contemporary manners, Is It Just Me?: Or Is It Nuts Out There?
Today, Whoopi Goldberg is one of America’s best known and most cherished entertainers. Her films The Color Purple, Ghost and Sister Act have won her an international following. Her appearances as host of the annual Oscar broadcast and as a regular on such television programs as Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Hollywood Squares have brought her into the homes of millions of Americans.
Over the course of a turbulent early life, she survived poverty, drug addiction, single motherhood and a stint on welfare in the 1970s to become the world’s most highly paid actress in the early 1990s. She has also become a highly visible spokesperson for humanitarian causes, campaigning for the rights of children and the homeless, and supporting the struggles against AIDS and substance abuse.
Over the course of her career, Whoopi Goldberg has achieved success as a comedian, dramatic actress, writer and producer, and has won the top honors in her profession, including an Oscar and the Mark Twain Award for American Humor. Millions of Americans watch her every day as co-host of the daily television discussion program The View.
1960: Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jacqueline, ride up Broadway in a parade. As a youngster, Whoopi Goldberg was inspired by Kennedy when he campaigned in her New York neighborhood.
When you were growing up, was there a particular experience that meant a lot to you?
Whoopi Goldberg: Yeah. When John Kennedy was running for president he came to my neighborhood. It was the hottest day in a century. It was like 9,000 degrees. People came from all over Manhattan to my neighborhood to see this guy who talked about my country, and my part in it. This was the coolest thing.
What did seeing JFK tell you?
This guy who was going to be the president was coming to my neighborhood to tell me that he was thinking of me. I mean, because I took it very personally. I thought it was very, very cool. I’m a big believer in whistle stops, you know. I believe it’s good for the people you’re supposed to represent to see you, to feel your essence. So that you as a politician know that when you’re setting legislation, you’re setting it for real people. People who will be affected by what you decide.
1990: Whoopi Goldberg in the film Ghost. It won awards for Best Supporting Actress for Goldberg and Best Original Screenplay. For her performance, Goldberg won the Golden Globe and Saturn Awards in addition to the Oscar.
When did you know what you wanted to do?
Whoopi Goldberg: Oh, from birth. I knew as soon as I hit that light. I was waving! It’s always been. It’s as much a part of my whole being as breathing. I always knew this was it. I didn’t know it was going to be like this, you know. But I always knew that I wanted to act.
1991: Denzel Washington presenting Whoopi Goldberg with the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Ghost.
Did you have support at home?
Whoopi Goldberg: I grew up in a time when it would never have occurred to anyone to tell me there was anything I couldn’t do. You know, I grew up in a time when the country was very pro the people who lived in it. That’s why as many changes were able to happen… the March on Washington came into reality. People really believed that they had a stake in the country. So there were all kinds of invitations to make the country better. So there was never for me, anyone saying, “No, you’re going to fail,” or “No, there’s no place for you.” The only thing my mom every said to me was, “It may be tough, but what isn’t?”
1994: Actress and comedian Whoopi Goldberg, host of the 66th Academy Awards. (John D. Kisch/Getty Images)
What do you say to kids who want to be actors?
Whoopi Goldberg: Come on! Come on! You know, be an actor because you love to act. Don’t be an actor because you think you’re going to get famous, because that’s luck. But if it’s what you want to do with your whole heart and soul, come on. Go everywhere, learn everything. Learn Shakespeare. Shakespeare is great fun. Don’t be thrown by the words. The words are the same words that we use with a little different implementation. Write things for yourself. Come on, it’s a great way to spend time. It’s a great way to learn history. It’s a great way to learn all kinds of things. But only come if you’re coming to play. If you’re not coming to play, you should get another gig to supplement your acting.
Were there any books that made a particular impression on you?
Whoopi Goldberg: I’m dyslexic, so there weren’t a whole lot of books in my early life. But I did love stories. I love fairy tales and I love spooky stories. Anything with a good 25- to 30-minute brain trip for me to go on. I still like to be read to.
1995: Whoopi Goldberg has help putting her footprints in the wet cement in the forecourt of Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California. Goldberg’s hands, feet and hair braids were imprinted in the sidewalk. (AP)
When did you find out you were dyslexic?
Whoopi Goldberg: When I was a grown woman.
Keys to success — Perseverance
When I was a kid they didn’t call it dyslexia. They called it… you know, you were slow, or you were retarded, or whatever. And so, I learned from a guy who was running a program who I met one day and he had written out on a board a sentence. And I said to him, “You know, I can’t read that.” And he said, “Why not”? And I said, “Because it doesn’t make any sense to me.” So he said, “Well, write down what you see under each. Whatever you see, write exactly what you see underneath.” And so, he brought me to letters by coordinating what I saw to something called an A, or a B, or a C, or a D, and that was pretty cool. Once you got into the habit of doing it, it became much easier.
Probably, by the time people see this in 2025, they will have been able to eliminate it. They will be able to eliminate it with just an adjustment, a little implant.
What you can never change is the effect that the words “dumb” and “stupid” have on young people. So we must always be vigilant when those two words get stuck in our throat. “Hey, dummy! God, you’re so stupid.” You know. Just remember that what those leave you with are forever, you know. Be it in 1810, or 4010, you know. The effect that they have is the same.
1995: Comedians and co-hosts, from left, Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg and Robin Williams sing and dance the 1940s-era opening number to Comic Relief VII Saturday night in Los Angeles. The event, in its seventh year, is put on to raise awareness and funds for America’s homeless men, women and children. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
It doesn’t seem to have stopped you.
Whoopi Goldberg: No. Because I knew I wasn’t stupid, and I knew I wasn’t dumb. My mother told me that. Everybody told me I wasn’t stupid or dumb. If you read to me, I could tell you everything that you read. They didn’t know what it was. They knew I wasn’t lazy, but what was it? It’s like in the early days when little girls complained about having cramps. Their mothers, and their mother’s mothers were just sort of left to deal with it, because it was all in your head.
It took 25 or 30 years for people to understand that menstrual cramps are a real thing, that PMS is a real chemical change in the body. Think of all those little girls whose mother said to them, “Why do you just want attention?” It’s still new information that these things are actual body problems. Postpartum depression is a real, viable thing. Now they can help people.
2010: Thandie Newton and Whoopi Goldberg star in the drama motion picture For Colored Girls. (Colbert)
What was the most exciting moment in your career?
Whoopi Goldberg: Sitting at the table during Color Purple and looking up and suddenly realizing I was acting in front of Steven Spielberg was pretty cool. It was pretty good. Because it was like, suddenly, I got it. I was there. I was in a movie. Not only was I in a movie, but I had a big part in the movie, you know. And I just started laughing and laughing. It took about 25 minutes to compose myself, but it was pretty remarkable. Because, you know, there was an idea whose time had come, for me. And that it was with Steven Spielberg was pretty cool.
What did getting the Academy Award mean to you?
Whoopi Goldberg: It was pretty cool, I have to say. I liked it. I would like to do it again one day. It was very cool. I used to make speeches when I was a kid, you know, thanking all the little people. And suddenly, there I was having to make a real speech! I touch my Oscar every day. I move him from one place to the other and then back.
Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winner Whoopi Goldberg. (Timothy Greenfield-Sanders)
You also hosted the awards.
Whoopi Goldberg: Oh, yes. I liked it. When else are you going to get to play with several billion people? It’s just one more thing I can write in my diary: Dear Diary, played for two billion today. I have this whole book of things that I’ve gotten to do. I’ve gotten to play at the White House, which is kind of neat. I’ve been all over the world. I’ve met amazing people. Life can be grand. It can be tough, but it can be grand.
What does the American Dream mean to you?
Keys to success — The American Dream
Whoopi Goldberg: I am the American Dream. I am the epitome of what the American Dream basically said. It said you could come from anywhere and be anything you want in this country. That’s exactly what I’ve done. The great divide between my era and the eras that come after me is that you are not getting the encouragement and the “hands-on” from your government. A lot of times your teachers have been left out in the cold. So it’s hard for them to focus the way that teachers were focused when I was a kid. There’s not a lot of work out there as there were when I was a kid. We had programs that were set up by the country. So, the fact that you’re making it now, makes you 5,000 times the person that those who came before you were. Because we had a lot of help, and there’s very little help out there now.
What was your childhood like?
Whoopi Goldberg: I grew up in Manhattan, in New York, a place called Chelsea. And I grew up around lots of different people. So we all grew up speaking a smattering of Greek, Italian, Spanish, Indian, Chinese, Yiddish. I had a great time. There were all sorts of things to play with and to go and be part of. Which now you can do on interactive things like this. You couldn’t go and talk to Leonard Bernstein; you could only go watch him conduct. Something I’m very sorry for.
Were your parents comfortable?
Whoopi Goldberg: I can’t speak for what they were. I was comfortable. I knew we weren’t Rockefellers, but it was never an issue because we went to places we needed to go — Coney Island, we went on the Circle Line, we had Central Park. There were things you could do without tons of money.
So, I truly don’t know what my mom was doing financially. I know that we ate, and times weren’t like they are now. I don’t know that my mother could have achieved all she achieved on her income today. In today’s market, at her income level, I’m sure we would be dirt poor. But back then we weren’t.
What was it about acting that you knew it was right for you?
Whoopi Goldberg: I have two theories on that. One theory I believe is that when people die the spirit flies from them and fragments, and goes into people who are just coming into being. I believe I got hit with a lot of fragments from various people, that’s my first theory.
Like who?
Whoopi Goldberg: John Garfield. I feel a very great affinity to him. That’s a whole other discussion.
That’s why you were so effective in Ghost.
Whoopi Goldberg: Probably, because it’s my belief. I think probably that did help me a lot in Ghost,
I believe that we keep the circle. The circle doesn’t break, it just reinvents. The other thing is, I just love the idea that I could go be a princess from Greenland in the movies and it’s cool. There’s no one to say, no, you can’t be from Greenland. There’s no one saying, you can’t be from Hungary. So the idea that you can go into the past, the present and the future, you know, I just think it’s too cool.
You can be anybody.
Whoopi Goldberg: Anybody, and anything. Who’s to say? I could be this great, big microphone, if I had to be. You never know.
What persons were important to you?
Whoopi Goldberg: I think I’m one of those people who was affected, really, truly, by everybody that I met, in a very magical kind of way, you know. I feel a bit like the golden child. But you only know that when you look back, and see the people who touched you and how friends, and camp counselors, and people who denied your humanity, that you overcame, you know. All those people who said you couldn’t, and you shouldn’t, and you won’t, and you will never — and you did. All those people affected me, and went into making me the sum total of what I became, and what I’ve become.
Are there teachers that stand out?
Whoopi Goldberg: No, not really. Just fragments of speech that I remember from various times, but can’t necessarily put faces to. But there are people whose goal in life was to instill the positive ideal that you could go forward. That anything you wanted was yours for the taking, with a commitment to hard work. And knowing that it wasn’t always going to be easy. People who taught me that the hardest thing to be in this world is someone who disagrees with popular people. To take unpopular stances in front of popular people. It’s easy to be unpopular with unpopular people, but it’s harder to be unpopular with popular people. The people that instilled that in me, I take my hat off to. Because that is the foundation that has allowed me to do exactly as I please, and be and look just like I want to.
I think you’re really talking about having guts.
Whoopi Goldberg: I don’t know if it’s guts, I think it is. I think of guts as something that gives you that Kirk Douglas look. But I think what I mean is the knowledge that it is okay to feel differently than the pack. That that is a fundamental right. That it’s okay to disagree. It’s better to be able to disagree and have a dialogue, than to go along with the pack and be truly unhappy. I don’t want to be truly unhappy. I mean, there’s enough out there to piss me off. You know, to bother me. I’m sorry, there’s enough out there to bother me.
Do you remember the first time you acted on the stage?
Whoopi Goldberg: I was a teapot. I was a small teapot, short and stout, here was my handle, this was my spout. And I was like seven. It was the greatest. I was just bowing, and bowing. They had to come get me off the stage. I just kept bowing. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.” You know. All the other pots are gone. Born ham, that’s basically me. It’s the truth. My mom told me. I’d forgotten it. She also tells the story of my birth. I’m almost half kidding when I say I came out and waved. My mother says that I came out head, arm, other arm, thumb in mouth, immediately. They were astounded, because generally that’s not what you do. I was born clear, you know. They just kept calling people. I was just hanging out, thumb in my mouth. Some people are just born that way.
What characteristics do you think are most important for success?
Whoopi Goldberg: We’re born with success. It is only others who point out our failures, and what they attribute to us as failure. I think the idea that you know who your inner self is on a daily basis, because… you know. What’s good for you 25 years ago may not be good for you now. So, to keep in touch with that, I think that’s the first ingredient for success. Because if you’re a successful human being, everything else is gravy, I think.
What are the difficult aspects of your success?
Whoopi Goldberg: People expecting me to be more than I am. Expecting me to live up to their expectations, when perhaps I can’t. People forgetting that I get cranky, and I get crabby, and I don’t always want to be Whoopi Goldberg. Some days I’m just not in the mood. The lack of privacy is tough.
I went to the bathroom once and people followed me in, and a lady put her hand up under the stall with a pen and a piece of paper, wanted my autograph. I said, could I just finish what I’m doing first? So sometimes people just forget, or they grab you and they don’t realize that, you know, you’re a person that feels. They grab my hair. People grab my hair and go, Whoopi!! And not realize that I don’t mind saying hello, but hey! That hurt, you know. Or when you’re rushing, or you’re preoccupied and you just can’t stop. People aren’t always understanding. And so you feel bad because you don’t want them to think ill of you. And you come to a place where you say, “You know what? Too bad. I have to go.” So that’s kind of tough.
Is it harder to be centered when you’re well known?
Whoopi Goldberg: The reality is, I’m quite off-center. It’s a daily workout trying to implement those things that you believe. It’s hard sometimes, and I’m cranky and crabby. I don’t always practice what I preach, but I do pay for it when I realize that I haven’t.
It’s a lot of work just being human. You add celebrity on top of that and it’s like 45 lives.
Thank you, Whoopi. It’s been a pleasure.
Whoopi Goldberg Gallery
This page last revised on November 2, 2016
Television Hall of Fame
Singer, Songwriter and Rapper
Music Impresario
Six Tony Awards
Oscar for Lifetime Achievement
Media Entrepreneur
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ADGM and the Monitoring and Control Centre enter into an MoU to bolster security compliance
ADGM RA 08/07/2018
The Registration Authority of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the leading international financial centre of Abu Dhabi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Abu Dhabi Monitoring and Control Centre (MCC). The MoU was signed by Dhaher Bin Dhaher Al Mheiri, CEO of the Registration Authority of ADGM and Saeed Saif Al Neyadi, Director General of MCC. The MoU aims to facilitate the exchange of information and co-operation in relation to matters regarding monitoring & control compliance within ADGM's Free Zone.
The agreement will utilize the criteria and standards of MCC for monitoring and control compliance within the jurisdiction of ADGM. It will enable both parties to collectively organize monitoring and controlling procedures to ensure that public and private establishments within the jurisdiction comply with the standards and criteria set by MCC.
The MoU establishes a strategic platform for the mutual exchange of information in connection with common tasks and duties, compliance reports and confirmation and verification of information in the event of non-compliance.
The memorandum also seeks to strengthen mutual collaboration and assistance through systematic communication on all information related to each parties' obligations, joint awareness campaigns targeted towards both public and private entities within ADGM and mutually agreed initiatives to improve professional and technical skills of both parties' staff.
Dhaher Bin Dhaher Al Mheiri, CEO of the ADGM Registration Authority, said: "The agreement with MCC provides enhanced co-operation on monitoring and control standards within ADGM’s jurisdiction. The joint collaboration will pool together expertise in the field to meet mutual goals. The resulting increase in safety and security measures will aim to instil greater business and investor confidence in ADGM and Abu Dhabi as a whole."
Saeed Al-Neyadi, Director General of MCC, added: "The agreement between MCC and ADGM achieves real benefits towards a more secure working environment and provides assurance that guidelines are adhered to. It also gives rise to an official platform where both parties can have open dialogue on matters relating to control and monitoring while proactively seeking initiatives for greater collaboration and furthering Abu Dhabi as a world-class business hub."
Compliance measures within ADGM are a fundamental component in safeguarding the integrity and transparency of the international financial centre. The establishment of the MoU will foster an official cooperative relationship to ensure all relevant establishments in ADGM are compliant with MCC's standards and to strengthen ADGM's position as a secure financial environment.
About Abu Dhabi Global Market:
Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), an international financial centre (IFC) located in the capital city of the United Arab Emirates, opened for business on 21 October 2015. Established by UAE Federal Decree as a broad-based financial centre, ADGM plays a pivotal role in positioning Abu Dhabi as a global centre for business and finance. It serves as a strategic link between the growing economies of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia and the rest of the world.
Based in Abu Dhabi, home to one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds and one of the highest concentrations of high-net-worth-individuals in the world, ADGM's strategy is anchored by Abu Dhabi's key strengths including private banking, wealth management, asset management and financial innovation. Comprising three independent authorities: the Registration Authority, the Financial Services Regulatory Authority and ADGM Courts, it enables registered financial institutions, companies and entities to thrive and operate within an international regulatory framework based on Common Law.
Since its inception, ADGM has been awarded the "Financial Centre of the Year (MENA)" for two consecutive years for its initiatives and contributions to the financial and capital markets industry in the region.*
As part of its mandate, ADGM oversees and governs the Al Maryah Island, a designated financial free zone covering 114-hectares of financial and commercial services including residential, retail, leisure, hotel and office developments. For more details of ADGM, please visit www.adgm.com or follow us on Twitter: @adglobalmarket and Linked: ADGM
* Source: The Global Investor Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Awards
For more information Kindly contact:
Afra AL Rashdi
Senior Manager - PR and media
Email: Afra.alrashdi@adgm.com
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USGS Genetics Research Sheds Light on Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus in Great Lakes’ Fish
Released: 1/23/2008 1:44:50 PM
U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey
Reston, VA 20192 Jim Winton
Catherine Puckett
A devastating virus that has killed thousands of fish in the Great Lakes over the past few years is different from other strains of the same virus found in Europe and the West Coast of the United States, according to new genetic research by the U.S. Geological Survey. The Great Lakes' strain of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) is the only strain outside of Europe that has been associated with significant die-offs of freshwater fish species.
VHSV is a rhabdovirus that is the causative agent of one of the most dangerous viral diseases of fish, said Dr. Jim Winton, a fisheries scientist at the USGS Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) in Seattle. The virus belongs to a family of viruses that includes rabies. The disease causes internal bleeding in fish, but is not harmful to people.
Winton and co-authors Gael Kurath and William Batts recently authored a new USGS fact sheet that describes important genetic information about isolates of VHSV from Great Lakes region (see Molecular Epidemiology of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus in the Great Lakes Region factsheet).Other strains of the VHS virus are found in continental Europe, North Pacific Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea and North Sea.
"This Great Lakes strain appears to have an exceptionally broad host range," said Winton. "Significant die-offs have occurred in muskellunge, freshwater drum, yellow perch, round goby, emerald shiners and gizzard shad."
Genetic research at the WFRC and by colleagues from Canada showed that this strain of the virus was probably introduced into the Great Lakes in the last 5 to 10 years, and that the fish die-offs occurring among different species and in different lakes should be considered as one large ongoing epidemic. The USGS genetic research also indicated that the Great Lakes' strain of the virus was not from Europe, where three other strains of the virus occur, but more likely had its origin among marine or estuarine fish of the Atlantic seaboard of North America. The strain is genetically most like samples of VHSV recovered during 2000-2004 from diseased fish in areas of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Canada.
The Great Lakes' strain has now been isolated from more than 25 species of fish in Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair, Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Saint Lawrence River and from inland lakes in New York, Michigan and Wisconsin. Experts fear the disease could potentially spread from the Great Lakes into new populations of native fish in the 31 states of the Mississippi River basin. Also, if VHS virus is introduced into the aquaculture industry, it could lead to trade restrictions as well as direct losses from the disease.
Regulatory agencies in the United States and Canada have already placed restrictions on the movement of fish or fish products that could pose a risk for the spread of VHS virus to regions outside of the known geographic range. These restrictions include requirements for viral examinations by standard methods.
For information on how to detect and confirm VHS virus, see Fisheries: Aquatic and Endangered Resources Program.
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SEO.com is a certified Google Partner, and our team is filled with specialists in SEO (search engine optimization), PPC (pay per click), eCommerce, social media, Google AdWords, conversion optimization, site usability, databases, apps, and more. Our developers and teams combine creativity and top technical expertise to manage the most effective up to date websites.
So, although adding new pages does increase the total PageRank within the site, some of the site’s pages will lose PageRank as a result. The answer is to link new pages is such a way within the site that the important pages don’t suffer, or add sufficient new pages to make up for the effect (that can sometimes mean adding a large number of new pages), or better still, get some more inbound links.
John Lincoln is CEO of Ignite Visibility, one of the top digital marketing agencies in the nation and the number 698 fastest growing company in the USA in the 2017 Inc. 5000. As a digital marketing expert and in-demand public speaker, Lincoln is consistently named one of the top influencers in the industry. In 2017, he was the recipient of the Search Engine Land "Search Marketer of the Year" award. Ignite Visibility crafts custom digital marketing strategies for clients, including services in SEO, social media, paid media, email marketing, Amazon and more.
“Brick Marketing has been a dependable, professional SEO company that has helped us get results. In the last 6 months of using their services, visits to our website have increased by almost 30%. Our dedicated SEO Specialist was pleasant to deal with. Her suggestions for articles and press releases were industry specific. Brick Marketing always answered our phone calls and emails within an hour which made us feel valued as a client. I would recommend Brick Marketing to all businesses to handle their SEO needs.”
If your company is business-to-business (B2B), your digital marketing efforts are likely to be centered around online lead generation, with the end goal being for someone to speak to a salesperson. For that reason, the role of your marketing strategy is to attract and convert the highest quality leads for your salespeople via your website and supporting digital channels.
Great Post, I am agree with you. currently Google keeps change in algorithmic program methods thus in gift state of affairs everybody ought to have an honest quality website, quality content. Content is quality {and ought to|and will|and may} be contemporary on your web site and conjointly it should be associated with the subject. it’ll assist you in your ranking.
Did you know 73 percent of consumers report decreased confidence in a brand if that brand’s name, address and phone (NAP) aren’t correct across directories, websites and maps applications? If that doesn't scare you enough into wanting to keep your listings updated across directories such as YP.com and Yelp, did you also know search engines also lose confidence in your business if your local listings aren’t consistent? You need to ensure your local business is listed, but you also need to monitor your listings across the web for accuracy and immediately submit a correction when it becomes outdated — and it will become outdated due to the barrage of data sources and signals used to keep listings "accurate."
Example: Go to my UK Holidays and UK Holiday Accommodation site – how’s that for a nice piece of link text ;). Notice that the url in the browser’s address bar contains “www.”. If you have the Google Toolbar installed, you will see that the page has PR5. Now remove the “www.” part of the url and get the page again. This time it has PR1, and yet they are the same page. Actually, the PageRank is for the unseen frameset page.
SERP stands for Search Engine Results Page. A SERP is the web page you see when you search for something on Google. Each SERP is unique, even for the same keywords, because search engines are customized for each user. A SERP typically contains organic and paid results, but nowadays it also has featured snippets, images, videos, and location-specific results.
Totally agree — more does not always equal better. Google takes a sort of ‘Birds of a Feather’ approach when analyzing inbound links, so it’s really all about associating yourself (via inbound links) with websites Google deems high quality and trustworthy so that Google deems YOUR web page high quality and trustworthy. As you mentioned, trying to cut corners, buy links, do one-for-one trades, or otherwise game/manipulate the system never works. The algorithm is too smart.
Every company with a website will have analytics, but many senior managers don't ensure that their teams make or have the time to review and act on them. Once a strategy enables you to get the basics right, then you can progress to continuous improvement of the key aspects like search marketing, site user experience, email and social media marketing. So that's our top 10 problems that can be avoided with a well thought-through strategy.
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Although GoTo.com started PPC in 1998, Yahoo! did not start syndicating GoTo.com (later Overture) advertisers until November 2001.[14] Prior to this, Yahoo's primary source of SERPS advertising included contextual IAB advertising units (mainly 468x60 display ads). When the syndication contract with Yahoo! was up for renewal in July 2003, Yahoo! announced intent to acquire Overture for $1.63 billion.[15] Today, companies such as adMarketplace, ValueClick and adknowledge offer PPC services, as an alternative to AdWords and AdCenter.
A lot goes into building a winning PPC campaign: from researching and selecting the right keywords, to organizing those keywords into well-organized campaigns and ad groups, to setting up PPC landing pages that are optimized for conversions. Search engines reward advertisers who can create relevant, intelligently targeted pay-per-click campaigns by charging them less for ad clicks. If your ads and landing pages are useful and satisfying to users, Google charges you less per click, leading to higher profits for your business. So if you want to start using PPC, it’s important to learn how to do it right.
Search queries—the words that users type into the search box—carry extraordinary value. Experience has shown that search engine traffic can make (or break) an organization's success. Targeted traffic to a website can provide publicity, revenue, and exposure like no other channel of marketing. Investing in SEO can have an exceptional rate of return compared to other types of marketing and promotion.
Black hat SEO attempts to improve rankings in ways that are disapproved of by the search engines, or involve deception. One black hat technique uses text that is hidden, either as text colored similar to the background, in an invisible div, or positioned off screen. Another method gives a different page depending on whether the page is being requested by a human visitor or a search engine, a technique known as cloaking. Another category sometimes used is grey hat SEO. This is in between black hat and white hat approaches, where the methods employed avoid the site being penalized, but do not act in producing the best content for users. Grey hat SEO is entirely focused on improving search engine rankings.
Game advertising - In-Game advertising is defined as "inclusion of products or brands within a digital game."[50] The game allows brands or products to place ads within their game, either in a subtle manner or in the form of an advertisement banner. There are many factors that exist in whether brands are successful in their advertising of their brand/product, these being: Type of game, technical platform, 3-D and 4-D technology, game genre, congruity of brand and game, prominence of advertising within the game. Individual factors consist of attitudes towards placement advertisements, game involvement, product involvement, flow or entertainment. The attitude towards the advertising also takes into account not only the message shown but also the attitude towards the game. Dependent of how enjoyable the game is will determine how the brand is perceived, meaning if the game isn’t very enjoyable the consumer may subconsciously have a negative attitude towards the brand/product being advertised. In terms of Integrated Marketing Communication "integration of advertising in digital games into the general advertising, communication, and marketing strategy of the firm"[50] is an important as it results in a more clarity about the brand/product and creates a larger overall effect.
From an SEO perspective, there is no difference between the best and worst content on the Internet if it is not linkable. If people can’t link to it, search engines will be very unlikely to rank it, and as a result the content won’t drive traffic to the given website. Unfortunately, this happens a lot more often than one might think. A few examples of this include: AJAX-powered image slide shows, content only accessible after logging in, and content that can't be reproduced or shared. Content that doesn't supply a demand or is not linkable is bad in the eyes of the search engines—and most likely some people, too.
We are a small marketing agency searching for a digital ad placement specialist. We have several clients in various industries who are in need of Google AdWords, Facebook ads, and the ability to create retargeting campaigns (such as Facebook Lookalike or Google Remarketing). Ad creative will be supplied internally by our agency. Our agency's process is to request an estimate from a freelancer, relay it to our client, and if the client accepts the proposal we move forward with the freelancer. Ideally, we'd like to work with someone consistent and reliable who would be available to work on current and future clients. Required skills: -SEO/PPC proficient -Google Webmaster proficient -Facebook Marketing -Search Engine Marketing -Management and adjustment of campaigns Plus, but not required skills: - Google Adwords certified less more
A generalization of PageRank for the case of ranking two interacting groups of objects was described in [30] In applications it may be necessary to model systems having objects of two kinds where a weighted relation is defined on object pairs. This leads to considering bipartite graphs. For such graphs two related positive or nonnegative irreducible matrices corresponding to vertex partition sets can be defined. One can compute rankings of objects in both groups as eigenvectors corresponding to the maximal positive eigenvalues of these matrices. Normed eigenvectors exist and are unique by the Perron or Perron-Frobenius theorem. Example: consumers and products. the relation weight is the product consumption rate.
Make it as easy as possible for users to go from general content to the more specific content they want on your site. Add navigation pages when it makes sense and effectively work these into your internal link structure. Make sure all of the pages on your site are reachable through links, and that they don't require an internal "search" functionality to be found. Link to related pages, where appropriate, to allow users to discover similar content.
However, websites can offer PPC ads. Websites that utilize PPC ads will display an advertisement when a keyword query matches an advertiser's keyword list that has been added in different ad groups, or when a content site displays relevant content. Such advertisements are called sponsored links or sponsored ads, and appear adjacent to, above, or beneath organic results on search engine results pages, or anywhere a web developer chooses on a content site.[1]
Facebook Ads, which has an unparalleled targeting system (and also allows you to advertise on Instagram). Facebook Ads has two main strengths: retargeting based on segmented marketing and custom audiences and the ability to introduce your brand to customers who didn’t know they wanted it. Google AdWords is all about demand harvesting, while Facebook Ads is all about demand generation.
Using Dr Dave Chaffey's approach, the digital marketing planning (DMP) has three main stages: Opportunity, Strategy and Action. He suggests that any business looking to implement a successful digital marketing strategy must structure their plan by looking at opportunity, strategy and action. This generic strategic approach often has phases of situation review, goal setting, strategy formulation, resource allocation and monitoring.[60]
“I have had the good fortune to work with SEO expert Nick Stamoulis and his team at Brick Marketing and it was clear form the get go that Nick had superior knowledge of marketing on the internet. The SEO campaign and technical writing that Brick Marketing provides has been impressive, where in the past we struggled to find the high levels of competence in these two skill sets. Were only just beginning with Brick Marketing and look forward to growing with their expert guidance. Thank you Nick Stamoulis and the Brick Marketing team!”
To answer your question, David, take a look at Jim’s comment below. Yes, you can and SHOULD optimize PR by directing link equity at important pages and internally linking within a theme. PageRank is a core part of the Google ranking algo. We don’t get visibility into PageRank as a number or score, but you need to know about the concept in order to direct your internal, strategic linking and navigation.
Digital media is so pervasive that consumers have access to information any time and any place they want it. Gone are the days when the messages people got about your products or services came from you and consisted of only what you wanted them to know. Digital media is an ever-growing source of entertainment, news, shopping and social interaction, and consumers are now exposed not just to what your company says about your brand, but what the media, friends, relatives, peers, etc., are saying as well. And they are more likely to believe them than you. People want brands they can trust, companies that know them, communications that are personalized and relevant, and offers tailored to their needs and preferences.
It is beneficial to have the inbound links coming to the pages to which you are channeling your PageRank. A PageRank injection to any other page will be spread around the site through the internal links. The important pages will receive an increase, but not as much of an increase as when they are linked to directly. The page that receives the inbound link, makes the biggest gain.
PageRank is one of many, many factors used to produce search rankings. Highlighting PageRank in search results doesn’t help the searcher. That’s because Google uses another system to show the most important pages for a particular search you do. It lists them in order of importance for what you searched on. Adding PageRank scores to search results would just confuse people. They’d wonder why pages with lower scores were outranking higher scored pages.
Unlike the first example, this URL does not reflect the information hierarchy of the website. Search engines can see that the given page relates to titles (/title/) and is on the IMDB domain but cannot determine what the page is about. The reference to “tt0468569” does not directly infer anything that a web surfer is likely to search for. This means that the information provided by the URL is of very little value to search engines.
How many times do we need to repeat the calculation for big networks? That’s a difficult question; for a network as large as the World Wide Web it can be many millions of iterations! The “damping factor” is quite subtle. If it’s too high then it takes ages for the numbers to settle, if it’s too low then you get repeated over-shoot, both above and below the average - the numbers just swing about the average like a pendulum and never settle down.
In the past, the PageRank shown in the Toolbar was easily manipulated. Redirection from one page to another, either via a HTTP 302 response or a "Refresh" meta tag, caused the source page to acquire the PageRank of the destination page. Hence, a new page with PR 0 and no incoming links could have acquired PR 10 by redirecting to the Google home page. This spoofing technique was a known vulnerability. Spoofing can generally be detected by performing a Google search for a source URL; if the URL of an entirely different site is displayed in the results, the latter URL may represent the destination of a redirection.
How are you transforming mass online marketing to one-to-one interaction and engagement in your online marketing plans? How do you become a source of valued content for your customer? Always focus on the customer care. Be consultative in your online conversation. Seek to ask and go deeper into a prospect's business challenge, and be very honest in your marketing campaigns to ensure you are progressively qualifying the prospect.
In 1998, two graduate students at Stanford University, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, developed "Backrub", a search engine that relied on a mathematical algorithm to rate the prominence of web pages. The number calculated by the algorithm, PageRank, is a function of the quantity and strength of inbound links.[21] PageRank estimates the likelihood that a given page will be reached by a web user who randomly surfs the web, and follows links from one page to another. In effect, this means that some links are stronger than others, as a higher PageRank page is more likely to be reached by the random web surfer.
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When a loved one loses their sight
sight loss
Blindness is something that affects the whole family. When a loved one loses their sight the effects can be devastating for everyone involved, making the need for specialist support to help everyone overcome the challenges faced absolutely vital.
Currently in the UK, 1.8 million people are living with sight loss in the UK, and 1.4 million of these are over the age of 85.
The role of Blind Veterans UK
Over 59,000 ex-Service men and women are experiencing severe sight loss1. Most of these are battling sight loss alone, without any of the specialist support available, because they don’t know about the support available or they don’t realise they’re eligible.
Blind Veterans UK is the national charity for blind and vision impaired ex-Service men and women, providing lifelong training, equipment, rehabilitation and emotional support to help veterans, and their families and carers, adjust to life with sight loss and live full, independent lives.
When Sally Baldwin’s 91-year-old mother Eleanor lost her sight, she says her mum’s world got a lot smaller as she felt unable to do many things for herself. But, that’s all changed now, since Eleanor’s son told her about Blind Veterans UK and encouraged her to get in touch, because of her time as a Wren in the Second World War.
Since getting in touch with Blind Veterans UK, Eleanor says the support she has received has been so valuable in helping her realise that she can still do so much despite her sight loss. She’s been able to regain much of the independence she lost when she first lost her sight, and has even ridden a tandem bike and tried her hand at hobbies such as acoustic rifle shooting, archery and bowls.
Blind Veterans UK provides specialist sight loss support to veterans at home, in the community and at its three centres, in Brighton, Sheffield and Llandudno, so that each and every veteran can access support wherever and whenever they need to.
Eleanor is one of over 4,000 veterans currently receiving support from Blind Veterans UK, and just like Eleanor, 87% of the veterans supported are over the age of 75 and 61% have lost their sight due to age-related macular degeneration. What this means though is that there are still tens of thousands of veterans with sight loss currently battling sight loss alone.
Sally says: “Blind Veterans UK has supported my mum superbly. I would definitely encourage anyone who has a parent who served in the Armed Forces and now lives with severe sight loss to get in touch with the charity.”
Tips to help anyone with severe sight loss
If your parent or relative is now battling severe sight loss, here’s some of the ways you can help them at home:
Making things easy to find – Establish places for things around the home, and make sure they’re always in their ‘right’ place, making themmuch easier to find and help facilitate independence
Verbal communication – This is so important when someone loses their sight. Conversations like introducing yourself when you’re nearby, or letting your loved one know when you’re putting something near them, will help them know what’s going on
Technology – There are plenty of gadgets, apps and software that can help when someone loses their sight, such as a liquid level indicator that sits on the side of a mug and beeps when the mug is full, so they can make a cup of tea without having to rely on someone else to do it for them.
Social – Sight loss can be incredibly isolating, so finding activities and groups can make the world of difference. Being able to meet other people in a similar situation through Blind Veterans UK often inspires veterans to realise that sight loss is not the end
Seek specialist support – There are lots of local and national organisations, like Blind Veterans UK, that are there for people with sight loss
1 Blind Veterans UK’s survey of the vision impaired ex-Service population, 2015-40
If your parent has lost their sight, has just been diagnosed with sight loss, or is beginning to notice their sight deteriorating, and they have served in the Armed Forces, or did National Service, then get in touch with Blind Veterans UK. Call 0800 389 7979 or visit www.noonealone.org.uk for more information.
This article was published in April 2016
If you found this article interesting you may like to read:
What happens during a cataract operation?
5 tips for preventing falls in the home
Is loneliness now an epidemic among older people?
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Actor's Express
887 W. Marietta Street
Suite J-107
http://www.actors-express.com/aboutus/index.html
AE has long been considered one of the most daring, provocative and consistently excellent theatres in Atlanta.
Actor's Express was founded in 1988 by Chris Coleman and Harold M. Leaver. Originally located in a church basement on Clairmont Road, the Express soon moved to a location in Inman Park, where it remained until 1994. Since that time, AE has been located in West Midtown's King Plow Arts Center, a sprawling complex converted from a former plow factory.
Founder Chris Coleman led the theatre until 2000. He was succeeded by Wier Harmon, who served as Artistic Director until 2003. Upon Harmon's departure, Jasson Minadakis became Artistic Director and served until 2006. Since July 2007, Freddie Ashley has been Artistic Director.
AE has long been considered one of the most daring, provocative and consistently excellent theatres in Atlanta! AE's work perennially appears on local best-of lists and has garnered dozens of awards.
Actor's Express is a theatre that challenges and reflects contemporary human experiences in an inclusive environment. We seek to jumpstart individual transformations through the shared adventure of our live performances, which range from daringly provocative to audaciously hilarious.
Actor's Express constantly develops new talent, pushes boundaries and encourages people to question their place in the world. Our work creates emotional connections between audience and artist, catalyzing discussion on the complex issues of the contemporary human experience. We stay one step ahead of the conversation - our audiences expect to be challenged when they attend our programming.
We firmly believe the relevance and vitality of the American theatre depends upon a continual infusion of new work and the nurturing of new playwrights. Playwrights are the chroniclers, critics and prophets of our times. They offer stories about the way we live, love, and sacrifice, and provide new insights into our shared humanity. Actor's Express is committed to championing the emerging voices of the American stage.
Our primary goals are four-fold: to nurture the next generation of playwrights through workshops, readings, and full productions of new plays; to develop and nurture Atlanta's artistic community through rigorous theatre training; to catalyze the dialogue essential to the vitality of our neighborhood and our city; and to enhance Atlanta's reputation nationally as a thriving center for live performance.
We perform many innovative performances throughout the year, to see how amazing our actors and actresses are please enjoy this clip and pictures of our rendition of Murder Ballad and our past performances.
Dates and times vary upon scheduled performances.
The box office opens one hour prior to events.
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Helicopter Rescue at 14,000 Feet
The TSR-2 in Flight
On the Prowl
Climb into the cockpit of a Grumman EA-6B Prowler in this silent video produced by VAQ-209-the "Star Warriors"-a squadron based at Naval Air Facility Washington, D.C., Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. The two-seat Grumman A-6 Intruder, an all-weather, Vietnam-era attack airplane for the U.S. Navy, later became the four-seat, advanced electronic warfare Prowler, which added two electronic countermeasures officers behind the pilot and bombardier/navigator. The arm extending from the front of the aircraft and visible through the windscreen is a probe to take on fuel in flight.Today, in addition to the Star Warriors, the EA-6B operates out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. These Prowlers periodically operate aboard the Navy's aircraft carriers, one of which, the USS George Washington, has a squadron forward-deployed at Naval Air Station Atsugi, Japan.Roughly half a century after the first A-6 Intruder flew, the Prowler's days are numbered as the Boeing EA-18G "Growler," a variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet, gradually assumes its job. Video: U.S. Navy/VAQ-209 (5:12)
If the spinning 38-foot tiltrotors of the V-22 Osprey look odd, theyll soon become more familiar. The U.S. Marine Corps begins operational use of the aircraft in September 2007. The Osprey can transport 24 combat troops or up to 20,000 pounds of cargo. With its vertical/short takeoff and landing capabilities, it can fit in tight spots like a helicopter, but can fly twice as fast. In this video, distributed by V-22 manufacturer Boeing during the 2007 Paris Airshow at Le Bourget, the Osprey is seen doing its thingflying like an airplane, taking off like a helicopter, and dropping commandos like Pez. Variants of the V-22 will be ready for use by the Air Force and Special Operations Command in 2009. Video: Boeing
Osprey in Flight (4:26)
The X-47B, an unmanned combat vehicle built as a demonstration aircraft for the U.S. Navy, had its inaugural flight at California's Edwards Air Force Base on February 4, 2011. The Navy hasn't committed to an operational vehicle, but is planning for the X-47B to make an unmanned aircraft carrier landing in 2013. Video: US Navy/Northrop Grumman
X-47B First Flight (1:04)
One of James McDonnell's early concepts, the XP-67 Moonbat was a blended-wing-body design whose performance, thanks to anemic engines, was stamped FAIL. But get a load of the demo flight (and stellar landing) filmed by the U.S. Army Air Forces Air Technical Service Command in 1944. Video: U.S. Army Air Corps
The XP-67 Moonbat (2:08)
A helicopter pilot uses skills learned at the High Altitude Army Aviation Training Site in Colorado to pull off a mountain rescue. On September 21, 2013, HAATS instructor Anders Nielsen flew his Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk to rescue a fallen climber from North Maroon Peak, near Aspen. He had to land a wheel on a small rock to anchor his helicopter. (Video: Mountain Rescue Aspen)
Helicopter Rescue at 14,000 Feet (1:56)
Climb into the cockpit of a Grumman EA-6B Prowler in this silent video produced by VAQ-209-the "Star Warriors"-a squadron based at Naval Air Facility Washington, D.C., Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. The two-seat Grumman A-6 Intruder, an all-weather, Vietnam-era attack airplane for the U.S. Navy, later became the four-seat, advanced electronic warfare Prowler, which added two electronic countermeasures officers behind the pilot and bombardier/navigator. The arm extending from the front of the aircraft and visible through the windscreen is a probe to take on fuel in flight.Today, in addition to the Star Warriors, the EA-6B operates out of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. These Prowlers periodically operate aboard the Navy's aircraft carriers, one of which, the USS George Washington, has a squadron forward-deployed at Naval Air Station Atsugi, Japan.Roughly half a century after the first A-6 Intruder flew, the Prowler's days are numbered as the Boeing EA-18G "Growler," a variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet, gradually assumes its job. Video: U.S. Navy/VAQ-209
On the Prowl (5:12)
From the first flight test of the TSR-2 XR219 bomber at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire, England, in September 1964, engineers of the British Aircraft Corporation shot (silent) footage from all angles, in both black and white and color. For the first takeoff, pilot Roland Beamont, with navigator Donald Bowen in the second seat, pitched the TSR-2 into a steep climb with afterburner, buzzed the English countryside, then circled for approach-to-landing maneuvers. During initial tests, the TSR-2 engineers could not perfect the sequence in which the gear retracted into the fuselage after takeoff or descended before landing; the footage shows the first success, on test flight number 10. In his first landings, Beamont flew at a rate of descent too steep and fast to avoid a perilous, embarrassing bounce at touchdown. He smoothed out subsequent landings and deployed a parachute to brake the aircraft to a stop on a short field. After each flight, Beamont and Bowen are met by a white-coated ground crew for debriefing. Footage Courtesy of Imperial War Museum, Duxford, England.
The TSR-2 in Flight (1:21)
On January 20, 1974, General Dynamics test pilot Phil Oestricher readied the first YF-16 for its first hop, a brief flight just a few feet above the runway. But the simulator Oestricher had trained in did not adequately portray control-stick forces, and he hadnt learned to judge how much aileron he was commanding. After liftoff, the YF-16 could barely be controlled, and Oestricher decided it would be safer to take off, try to regain control, and land.
The F-16's First Flight (0:45)
Photographer and writer Ed Darack hops in an MV-22 Osprey along with U.S. Marines in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan. The action starts in a rocky, remote combat outpost (COP) called the Castle, then switches to a rolling takeoff from a paved airfield at Camp Bastion. The Ospreys then climb over agricultural areas to the Helmand River Valley. As the Tiltrotor reaches altitude, the view through its starboard window shows its engine nacelle switching from the vertical mode used for takeoff to an efficient horizontal orientation for level flight, as the hum of the Rolls-Royce engine changes pitch. Pilots point to a hole in the clouds used as a visual flight reference. As the Ospreys reach a machine gun range, the gunner loads and readies the .50 caliber and blasts away. The Ospreys land at another remote COP before touching down at the bustling Kandahar Air Field in Kandahar City, home to fighters and heavy transports. Video: Ed Darack
Ospreys Over Afghanistan (3:52)
This sequence from the 1947 Air Force film "Liberators Over Europe" captures some of the B-24's best-known missions.
Liberators Over Europe (6:00)
Popular Newest
On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens became the largest and most destructive volcanic eruption in U.S. history. By the end of its cycle of fire and fury, 57 people had died.
Footage of the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption (3:47)
By 1953, six years after the Bell X-1 first went supersonic, that airplane and others were routinely flying at more than twice the speed of sound. On December 17, 1953the 50th anniversary of the Wright brothers first powered flight at Kitty HawkMajor Yeager sat down at the Pentagon for an informal press briefing to discuss his own Mach 2.43 flight in the X-1 five days earlier. Video: Department of Defense, Courtesy National Archives and Records Administration
Chuck Yeager Press Conference, 1953 (2:41)
This ordinary small town holds extraordinary significance for aviation: its home to Elvis private jet, an airplane demolition yard, and the most famous aircraft that no ones ever seen.
Roswell's Bizarre Aircraft Boneyard (2:17)
Just one minute away from landing, both of this planes engines suddenly fail.
How to Land a Boeing 777 Without Any Engines (3:58)
This rare footage shot during the Vietnam War shows the Douglas A-26 Invader operating at England Air Force Base in Louisiana and at Nakhon Phanom RTAFB in Thailand. The final scenes at the Vintage Flying Museum at Meacham Field in Fort Worth, Texas, show the last airworthy A-26A, "Special K," now owned and being restored by the Pacific Prowler organization chaired by Jim Terry. Video: Nolan Schmidt/Franklin Poole/Pacific Prowler Organization
Truck Killer:The A-26A (4:34)
On May 6, 1968, more than a year before his moon landing, Neil Armstrong had a narrow escape in the lunar landing research vehicle. Video: NASA
Armstrongs Close Call (1:32)
A former Grumman worker talks about the lunar lander he and his colleagues built. Video by Mike Marcucci
“An Engineering Masterpiece” (2:29)
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Medvedev urges economic rethink
President says Russia must build high-tech economy to end dependence on oil and gas.
Dmitry Medvedev made his annual state of the nation speech in an ornate Kremlin hall [Reuters]
Shift in tone
Medvedev said Russia's giant state-corporations, which were created during Putin's presidency from 2000 to 2008 and control large parts of the Russian economy, "have no future".
"The nation's prestige and welfare can't depend forever on the achievements of the past"
Dmitry Medvedev,
Russian president
"Inefficient companies must be liquidated, while those who are competitive must be transformed into joint-stock companies controlled by the government," he said in the speech at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia's capital.
Analysts have said the structure of the state corporations, which oversee sectors like car manufacturing, aviation, nuclear energy and arms, has given vast powers to the associates who head them.
Neave Barker, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Moscow, said the president's speech was "a real departure from the kinds of speeches that have been given in previous years by previous presidents, including Medvedev himself".
He said during his address last year it was believed that Medvedev was speaking the words of Putin, when he issued a stern warning to the US not to repeat the mistakes of the past, just as Obama was being elected.
"But over the year it seems as if the tone has certainly shifted," Barker said.
"There are issues where Putin will continue to play a key role, but this was definitely a change of tone in terms of rhetoric coming from the Russian president."
'Achievements of the past'
Medvedev said the country has relied on an ageing Soviet industrial base and has had to draw most of its revenues from exports of energy resources.
"The nation's prestige and welfare can't depend forever on the achievements of the past," he said.
Years of burgeoning energy prices have stymied efforts to modernise the economy and created an illusion that structural reforms could wait, Medvedev told told hundreds of officials in an ornate hall.
The president insisted that modernisation would "be based on the values and institutions of democracy".
"Instead of an archaic society in which a few think and decide for all, we will be a society of smart, free and responsible people," he said.
But he also cautioned that "any attempts to rock the situation, destabilise the government and rend society under slogans of democracy must be stopped".
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Arsenal Chiefs Reveal Just How Involved Unai Emery Is In Transfers
Two of Arsenal’s most powerful figures have revealed just how involved head coach Unai Emery is in the process of transfers (via The Mirror).
The role of the football manager has changed a lot in the last decade with Arsenal experiencing much of that change in the last six months.
The club has been overhauled at the top with new roles for new people and the title of ‘manager’ was one of the first to go.
Traditionally, the manager would be the most powerful person at a football club but things have changed.
Now, Arsenal’s chiefs have revealed just how involved head coach Unai Emery is in things like transfers.
“He plays an active part. He is not a manager he is a head coach. His main responsibility is the first team,” said Head of Football Raul Sanllehi.
“But that needs to be as strong as possible. He needs to analyse the weaknesses and strengths and see how to improve it.
“We have a really good team who are always striving to optimise the main resource we have, which is the players. And we work as a team.
“One of the values of the club is togetherness. We are in this together. We work as a team and Unai is definitely part of the decision-making process.”
It’s an interesting setup at Arsenal. Just a year ago and most of the major decisions at the club were taken – at least in part – by one man: Arsene Wenger. Now, the power is shared by a group of people with transfer duties seemingly the responsibility of several people.
More Stories: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Raül Sanllehí, Unai Emery, Vinai Venkatesham
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TT: In our hands
This is absolutely, positively not a political blog and never will be, but the most art-relevant story I read this weekend appeared in the Washington Post‘s “Outlook” section. It’s a piece by Everett Ehrlich, Bill Clinton’s undersecretary of commerce for economic affairs, on the economic reasons why the Internet is bringing about the decline of the two major political parties:
To an economist, the “trick” of the
Internet is that it drives the cost of information down to virtually
zero. So…smaller information-gathering
costs mean smaller organizations. And that’s why the Internet has made
it easier for small folks, whether small firms or dark-horse
candidates such as Howard Dean, to take on the big ones….
Say you want to buy an appliance, or a vacation. You know
there are bargains out there, but it takes time and energy to find
them. That’s what economists call the “transaction cost” of a
purchase. This cost of acquiring information is everywhere: the time
it takes to call a friend or to learn something in a newspaper. Or the
time and resources it takes a company to find out where to find parts
and to make sure they show up at an assembly line on time.
Back when it cost a great deal to learn and know things — when
transaction costs were very high — big corporations had to solve the
problem of coordinating information, such as what customers wanted to
buy, what parts were being produced and shipped, how to make sure
prices covered costs, and so on. The advent of mass production and
similar “process” technologies let firms produce and sell things —
cars, steel, oil, chemicals, food — on a much larger scale, so there
was suddenly much more information to coordinate.
Companies solved this problem by creating massive bureaucratic
pyramids… Now, however, with internal communications networks and the speed of
the Internet, you don’t need a horde of people in a big pyramid to
handle all that information. Firms have become “flatter” and “faster,”
and the “networked” or “virtual” company has come into being — groups
of firms that use shared networks to behave as if they were part of
the same company….
Now anyone with a Web site and a server, a satellite
transponder and about $100 million can have — in a matter of months
— much of what the political parties have taken generations to build.
Technology, of course, has changed politics before. Television changed
the two parties, for example, but it didn’t make the parties obsolete.
In fact, in the day of Richard M. Nixon and John F. Kennedy,
television strengthened the two-party duopoly (the economist’s term
for a shared monopoly), as only those two parties had the resources to
use it competitively.
But the Internet doesn’t reinforce the parties — instead, it
questions their very rationale. You don’t need a political party to
keep the ball rolling — you can have a virtual party do it just as
Read the whole thing here. Then think about how it applies to the myriad ways in which the Internet has already transformed the world of art, from the decline of the classical recording industry to eBay’s inadvertent creation of a worldwide “single market” for art auctions to the inauguration of artsjournal.com and its associated blogs.
I can’t say it often enough: The Web changes everything. Any artist who doesn’t understand that, and isn’t acting on the knowledge, is going to get left behind. Likewise any arts journalist. Even if economicspeak makes your eyes glaze over, read Everett Ehrlich’s piece (which is written in plain English, not jargon) and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about. Believe me, your time will be well spent.
TT: Sooner or (much) later
Fred Kaplan has a great story in this morning’s New York Times on why so many classic films have yet to show up on DVD:
Sometimes films are not on DVD for less Byzantine reasons. Older films especially are often in poor condition. The negative has deteriorated, if not vanished; existing prints are scratched or worse. Repairing the damage, and finding the best film and archival materials for bonus extras take much time and money.
A few years ago, only specialty houses like the boutique Criterion Collection bothered with the effort. Now many big studios are following its example.
In a recent industry survey by the Consumer Electronics Association, asking people what they liked best about DVD’s, “picture quality” was the highest-scoring reply, cited by 81 percent of respondents. Studios that may once have rushed a disc to market are now taking greater care, even at some expense. “The marketing people have told us that picture quality is a premium,” said MGM’s Mr. Grossman.
Paramount knows there’s demand for a DVD of “The African Queen,” but the studio is in no rush, letting its archivists search for better film materials.
Then again, the ascending power of the marketing departments works both ways. To boost profits, they encourage better-looking DVD’s. Yet for the same reason, they prevent many films from becoming DVD’s at all.
“A lot of old films, including some well-known old films, don’t sell in large volume,” Mr. Grossman said. “If you’re going to have to spend big money for restoration, and then you’ve got the costs of packaging and advertising, it’s a barely break-even proposition.”
Another video-distribution executive agreed: “Unless it’s `Casablanca’ or `Citizen Kane,’ the studios will sell 100 times more copies of a bad action film made three years ago than they’ll sell of a great film that they’ve dug out of the archive.”
Sigh. Of course we all knew that, but it’s still discouraging to hear, especially given the fact that none of the Budd Boetticher-Randolph Scott Westerns have made it to DVD yet–and only one of them, Comanche Station, was transferred to videocassette. (Copies now sell for $90 and up.) These films are universally admired by critics, yet they never even turn up on TV. Would somebody at the Criterion Collection please get with the program? I guarantee that DVDs of Seven Men From Now, The Tall T, Decision at Sundown, Buchanan Rides Alone, Ride Lonesome and Comanche Station would get plenty of ink, from me and plenty of other cinephiles.
P.S. My essay on the Boetticher-Scott films will appear in A Terry Teachout Reader–yet another reason to order your copy in advance!
“A further reason for my hatred of National Socialism and other ideologies is quite a primitive one. I have an aversion to killing people for the fun of it. What the fun is, I did not quite understand at the time, but in the intervening years the ample exploration of revolutionary consciousness has cast some light on this matter. The fun consists in gaining a pseudo-identity through asserting one’s power, optimally by killing somebody–a pseudo-identity that serves as a substitute for the human self that has been lost.”
Eric Voegelin, Autobiographical Reflections
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You are here: Home / 2004 / August / Archives for 9th
Archives for August 9, 2004
TT: Blog-o-rama
August 9, 2004 by Terry Teachout
Here’s some of what I picked up in the course of the past week’s Web surfing:
– I’m a Stephen Sondheim fan, but not a buff or cultist (there’s a difference). Something Old, Nothing New is very funny on the latter:
The term “Sondheim-Firster” was a term I invented to describe the sort of person who likes Stephen Sondheim but doesn’t really like musicals. Some of the qualifications for Sondheim-Firster status were:
– Loves SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE and PASSION above all other musicals. Lukewarm about COMPANY and MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. Thinks INTO THE WOODS is kind of a sellout. Hasn’t seen A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM….
– Approvingly calls any Sondheim song “dissonant,” whether it is or not….
– Ends a discussion of any Sondheim musical with the phrase “audiences weren’t ready for it.”…
– Evaluates *any* pre-1970 musical, including Sondheim’s, by saying that it has “hints of what was to come later.”
– Kind of bored by FOLLIES — too many show tunes in it — but knows it must be good because it makes middle-aged people uncomfortable.
I know the type.
– Says
…something slant:
I am always suspicious of writers who are able to compose finely honed reflections on their first days somewhere new and far away — in elaborate travelogs or journals or carefully crafted daybooks. Not that I’m a great stickler for accuracy, but the minute accounts of the strange, the fabulous, the new so often smack of disingenuous forms of writerly wish fulfillment. If there was any truth in their descriptions, their journals would more likely read:
Day 1 — Tired.
Day 2 — Still tired.
Day 3 — Overwhelmed.
Or is that just me?
– Alex took thoughtful note of my posting on the orange alert:
Terry Teachout asks some heavy questions about the point or pointlessness of writing about art in a dangerous time, and answers them movingly. What would I do if only a day remained? It doesn’t do my mood much good to contemplate such questions, but at some point or another I would reach for Brahms’ Intermezzos Opus 117, and in particular the first, which since age seventeen or so has been the music closest to my heart. Some years ago Radu Lupu made an irreplaceable recording of Brahms’ late piano music. It offers something more than beauty — it gives sympathy, compassion, companionship. Other than that, I’d want to get out of the house and leave art behind. When, on September 11, I left the building from which I’d watched the terror unfold and joined the endless crowd of people walking up Seventh Avenue, I felt one of the most powerful emotions of my life, which was the feeling of belonging to a mass. Strange how seldom our so-called mass culture provides such a feeling. Even the rowdiest entertainments return us to the suburbs of solitude, our disconnectedness rushing back in.
– Similarly thoughtful reflections on TV talk from Shades of Gray (Umbrae Canarum):
What are we to expect from timed, limited, and narrow discussions on the television? Can we expect a serious, and deep, dialogue on any issue that will serendipitously end when a commercial break is required? Or is it more like what one anticipates in a WWE match – a choreographed conflict, with its ups-and-downs, its upsets and sure-things, always completed just in time for this message from “Old Spice”?
Perhaps it is no big thing. And yet, these are the types of shows that are (supposedly) “smart” television. Get away from O’Reilly – think of any other roundtable style program. If it does not degenerate into a shouting match, filled with the quick soundbite tidbits, the sheer lack of time prevents anything more than a superficial consideration of the ideas on the table. Can deep thinking, can true understanding, come from this sort of thing?…
Is there an avenue for the type of conversation that truly is enlightening? I don’t know. Especially now, it seems often more the result of dumb luck (or divine providence, depending on your view) that a discussion can come about among the learned, concerned for the good, the true, the beautiful. In previous centuries, where literacy was lacking for many, perhaps these types of dialogues came about more easily, since the number actually able to discuss in an educated way was smaller. Now, we are almost all to a person half-educated, trying to speak the same way, or have chattering pundits speak for us.
But therein lies the problem. What appears to be the avenue for true intellectual discussion seems destroyed by increased literacy and education. There is no way to go back to before. Indeed, I doubt few if any of us would want to go back to such a time. So what now? Perhaps, as time goes on, those who are in love with the Intellect (as Barzun would define it) will find ways. What those ways would be, my imagination is lacking.
One word: radio. It’s not perfect, but in the past couple of years I’ve taken part in a number of radio interviews and conversations that were both pleasurable and stimulating. Especially in this new age of streaming audio, I have a good feeling about the future of radio as a creative medium.
– Thanks to Gnostical Turpitude, I learned that the Guardian ran an interesting profile of Paul Fussell, one that confirmed my longstanding impression of him as a person whom I’d rather read than meet (his vanity is forever peeping through). Nevertheless, Fussell tossed off any number of observant remarks to his interlocutor, as when he observed that H.L. Mencken, once his favorite satirist, was “deficient in the tragic sense.” Into those five words are packed much of what it took me a whole book
to explain.
– Caroline, or Change, which I loathed and panned (much to its dyspeptic author’s displeasure), is closing on Broadway after an unexpectedly short run. One of the show’s money men explains why:
Rocco Landesman, the president of Jujamcyn Theaters and a producer of “Caroline,” said the show’s advance sales took a precipitous drop at the end of August.
“The week of the convention would be absolutely disastrous for us to keep open,” he said. “The Republicans are going to be occupied with the convention, and anyone who’s not a Republican is going to be out of town.”
Ah, yes, the celebrated Mr. Anyone, first cousin to Ms. Everyone I Know. In fact, a recent poll indicated that only 10% of New Yorkers plan to be out of town during the Republican convention. To Mr. Landesman, the rest of us peasants are presumably chopped liver–which may help to explain why Caroline, or Change is closing.
– Finally, Lileks pays a visit to Starbucks:
I was behind a fellow who had ten years on me; he was schooled in the old ways of joe. He placed his order thus:
“A cup of coffee, black.”
“Room for cream?”
I was next. What would I like?
“I’d like a medium coffee,” I said, since I’ll be gol-durned if I ever say “venti” to these people. I’ll give them Beijing for Peking, Hindu for Hindoo, but medium will be Medium until the day I die. “Black.”
Kids today. They don’t know. They’ve lost the lingo. When you’ve established that the nature of your coffee is BLACK, cream no longer enters into the picture. Ever. But you could walk up and say “Blorg chulavista spaz mocha” and she’d ask “Room for cream?” It’s the script. Hidden cameras record her every word. They beat her with burlap sacks stuffed with beans if she doesn’t say the words.
I’m perfectly willing to admit (albeit through clenched teeth) that the self-conscious avoidance of affectation is itself an affectation. In any case, I’ve never been much of a coffee drinker, and you’re not likely to see me stroll into a Starbucks save for the purpose of ordering a mocha frappucino, a drink the mere uttering of whose name makes me cringe with embarrassment. Nevertheless, I know the Old Ways of Joe from black-and-white movies, and if you should ever hear me use Italian to specify the size of a drink in any country other than Italy, you’ll know the pod people have paid me a visit.
TT: Words to the wise
The Film Society of Lincoln Center’s “Dark Streets and Vast Horizons: The American Vision of Anthony Mann” opens Wednesday at the Walter Reade Theater and runs through Aug. 29. If you’re a dyed-in-the-wool film buff, that’s all I’ll need to tell you (in fact, you’ll already know about it). If not, here’s part of what the Film Society’s Web site has to say about Mann:
Anthony Mann, born Emil Anton Bundesmann, began his career in show business on the New York stage, first as a child actor, then as a production manager, and finally as a director. He was brought to Hollywood by David O. Selznick, and he shot many of the screen tests for Gone with the Wind and Rebecca. He left Selznick in the mid-40s and began his movie-directing career making a series of visually distinctive B pictures, each one more inventive than the next. Of his film noirs of the late 40s, most of them made with the great cameraman John Alton, Manny Farber wrote: “The films of this tin-can de Sade have a Germanic rigor, a caterpillar intimacy, and an original dictionary of ways in which to punish the human body.” You can lose yourself in the velvety shadows of those films, and in their beautifully, almost geometrically precise action. Then, in the early 50s, Mann went outdoors with James Stewart and quietly altered the Western genre. Until they quarrelled during the production of Night Passage in 1957, Mann and Stewart made eight marvelous films together, the last seven in a row. The best of them introduced a new frankness to American cinema, thanks to the boldness of Stewart’s often dangerously neurotic characterizations, and to the almost supernatural acuity of Mann’s eye for the great outdoors….
To which I’d add only that it was Mann, not Alfred Hitchcock, who first put Jimmy Stewart in touch with the dark side of the force, making it possible for him to draw on the near-paralyzing fear he had known as a pilot in World War II and thereby adding a dangerous, disturbing edge to his already accomplished acting. The Stewart you see in Winchester ’73 (and, to a lesser extent, in the last reel of Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life) is the Stewart of whom Hitchcock would later make such fruitful use in Vertigo.
Mann’s Westerns are seen quite regularly on cable TV, but not such earlier exercises in film noir at its hardest and toughest as Raw Deal, which have to be sought out on DVD, usually in blurred, flimsy prints. In any case, you have no idea what you’ve been missing if you’ve never seen a classic Western in a theater. Now that the Film Society of Lincoln Center is finally screening all of Mann’s major work, I plan to go as often as my schedule permits. I’ve never seen any of these films on a large screen, nor have I ever seen a decent print of any of Mann’s pre-Stewart films. I can’t wait.
– The Naked Spur (1955, with Stewart and Robert Ryan), Aug. 11 and 13
– Bend of the River (1952, with Stewart), Aug. 11 and 12
– The Man from Laramie (1955, with Stewart), Aug. 12, 14, and 16
– Winchester ’73 (1950, with Stewart and Dan Duryea), Aug. 14
– T-Men (1947, with Dennis O’Keefe), Aug. 21 and 24
– Raw Deal (1948, with O’Keefe and Raymond Burr), Aug. 22 and 24
– Man of the West (1959, with Gary Cooper), Aug. 27 and 29
– Men in War (1957, with Ryan), Aug. 27
For more information, go here.
“Music, as long as it exists, will always take its departure from the major triad and return to it. The musician cannot escape it any more than the painter his primary colors, or the architect his three dimensions. In composition, the triad or its direct extensions can never be avoided for more than a short time without completely confusing the listener. If the whim of an architect should produce a building in which all those parts which are normally vertical and horizontal (the floors, the walls and the ceilings) were at an oblique angle, a visitor would not tarry long in this perhaps ‘interesting’ but useless structure. It is the force of gravity, and no will of ours, that makes us adjust ourselves horizontally and vertically. In the world of tones, the triad corresponds to the force of gravity. It serves as our constant guiding point, our unit of measure, even in those sections of compositions which avoid it.”
Paul Hindemith, The Craft of Musical Composition (1937, trans. Arthur Mendel)
TT: Speaking of reviewers
Supermaud has a review in this week’s Washington Post Book World. It’s really, really good.
(I do, however, have a question: why didn’t she mention her blog in the reviewer’s bio?)
TT: Reality check
Just for the sake of argument, let’s suppose the following:
I’m the editor of an important book-review supplement. You’re a well-known professional writer of good repute. I commission a review of a controversial book from you. You submit a piece that is extremely strident in tone (but not obscene or actionably libelous) and with whose political implications I disagree very strongly. What should I do?
Here are some possible answers:
(A) Kill the review without further discussion.
(B) Rewrite and publish the review without consulting you.
(C) Insist that you rewrite the review to bring it into line with my views.
(D) Insist that you rewrite the review, leaving the opinions intact but toning down the rhetoric considerably.
(E) Sit on the review for two months, then run it in the back of the book.
(F) Run the review on time and feature it prominently, but with a disclaimer stating that it does not represent my views.
(G) Run the review on time and feature it prominently.
These things happen. They’ve all happened to me at one time or another. But if you answered anything but (G), you have no business being a book-review editor. Period. End of discussion. And if I did anything but (G), my guess is that you’d post a violent anti-me rant on your blog (assuming you had a blog) before the sun went down, accusing me of censorship, prior restraint, and every other awful thing you could think of.
Of course I’m talking about Leon Wieseltier’s review
of Nicholson Baker’s Checkpoint in this week’s New York Times Book Review. And Sam Tanenhaus, the editor of the Book Review, is an old friend of mine (with whom I have not discussed this matter), meaning that you’re perfectly welcome to disregard anything I have to say in light of that disclosure. Nevertheless, the fact remains that the First Commandment of Book-Review Editing is that a review commissioned from a professional writer should be published essentially as is, unless it’s actionably libelous or incompetently written (by which I mean “written,” not “argued”). To kill, rewrite, or request the revision of a review because you disagree with what it says smacks of censorship, perhaps not de jure but certainly de facto, and compromises the integrity of your publication.
Like him or not–and I don’t, to put it mildly–Leon Wieseltier is a distinguished editor and writer who runs one of the most admired book-review sections in the magazine business. If you ask him to review a book for you, it’s on the assumption that you’ll run what he writes. If I asked any of you to review a book for me, it would be on the same assumption.
I’m not defending Checkpoint, which I haven’t read. I’m not defending Wieseltier, whose writing I don’t admire, meaning that I wouldn’t have asked him to review Checkpoint in the first place. I’m not defending Wieseltier’s review, which I thought inadequately argued to the point of unseriousness (I think Beatrice gets this just right). I’m not holding forth on the complexity of life in the bloody crossroads (though I think it’s worth pointing out that a novelist who writes novels with political content invites political comment–you can’t have it both ways). I’m just trying, not for the first time, to explain how the book-review business works, and to encourage the many bloggers who are understandably angry about Wieseltier’s review to ask themselves some searching questions about how they think it ought to work.
Start with this one: how would you feel if you thought a review of yours had been killed because of the political views you expressed in it? Or if the editor excused his decision to kill the review by telling you, “I don’t feel that you’ve made your case”?
Then try this one: if you were the editor of a magazine, how would you feel if your readers took it for granted that you agreed with every word printed in it?
UPDATE: The Elegant Variation responds:
I don’t think a single blogger is taking issue with Wieseltier because he evinces political ideas we might disagree with. We object because he didn’t fulfill his brief as a book reviewer. (If his piece had appeared in The Week in Review, I doubt you’d have heard a peep about it.) Let me pose yet another counter-scenario – I manage to land a NYTBR freelance gig and, reviewing a controversial novel, I hand in, word-for-word, the piece in question. What do you think my future as a reviewer would look like?
Of course I see what Mark means, but it’s beside my point: when you ask professional writers to review books for you, you should print what they write, whether you like it or not. I suspect that a lot of people who are weighing in on this issue think otherwise, and I wonder if they realize how slippery a slope they’re standing on.
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California Science Center Space Shuttle
LOS ANGELES (CBS) — The Space Shuttle Endeavour has been cleared for landing at a Southern California museum. According to NASA, after Endeavour’s final mission at the end of March, it will journey.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and California Science Center president Jeffrey Rudolph, joined by other museum and city officials, lead the space shuttle Endeavour to its new home after its.
California Science Center / Space Shuttle Endeavor. You will find the Endeavor exhibit entrance inside our Ecosystems gallery. Your experience will begin with.
Endeavour Timed Reservations are required Monday – Friday (10 a.m. to 1.
A CHRONOLOGY OF DEFINING EVENTS IN. NASA HISTORY, 1958-1998 1 Oct. 1958 On this date the National Aeronautics and Space Administration began operation. At the time it consisted of only about 8,000 employees and an annual budget of $100 million.
Dennis Jenkins, Project Director Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at the California Science Center Foundation pulls a line as the space shuttle external propellant tank ET- 94, arrives aboard a.
In what should prove to be the mother of all publicity stunts, a showroom-stock 2012 Toyota Tundra will tow the space shuttle Endeavour to its final resting place at the California Science Center. How.
The John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC, originally known as the NASA Launch Operations Center) is one of ten National Aeronautics and Space Administration field centers.Since December 1968, Kennedy Space Center has been NASA’s primary launch center of human spaceflight. Launch operations for the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs were carried out from Kennedy Space Center Launch.
Space Shuttle Endeavour is a retired orbiter from NASA's Space Shuttle program and the fifth and final operational.
Mar 29, 2019 · First we toured all the normal exhibits you would expect to find at a renowned science center. Then we absorbed the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Now this is something you don’t find at most science.
LOS ANGELES — Space shuttle Endeavour’s transfer from NASA to the California Science Center for its public display was signed and sealed Tuesday (Oct. 11). Now all that remains for the retired orbiter.
Oct 13, 2012. The space shuttle Endeavour is transported to The Forum arena for a stopover and celebration on its way to the California Science Center from.
NASA’s space shuttle was the world’s first reusable spacecraft. It launched like a rocket and returned to Earth like a glider. It was designed to carry large payloads — such as satellites.
The U.S. Space & Rocket Center® (USSRC) is the official NASA Visitor Information Center for the Marshall Space Flight Center. Exhibits include the world’s only full-scale Space Transportation System display (space shuttle) including an External Tank, a set of twin Solid Rocket Boosters and the development test article Shuttle Orbiter, Pathfinder; as well as the National Historic Landmark.
Apr 29, 1990 · Other articles where Discovery is discussed: Sultan ibn Salman Al Saud:.flew on the space shuttle Discovery as part of a seven-member international crew. During the seven-day mission, Sultan represented the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (ARABSAT) and took part in the deployment of the organization’s satellite, ARABSAT-1B.
Endeavour space shuttle at the California Science Center. The California Science Center provides an innovative model for science learning by combining.
Oct 9, 2014. A crew at the California Science Center adds a portable space lab and storage pod to retired space shuttle Endeavour's cargo bay.
LOS ANGELES, May 31, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — The California Science Center, in partnership with Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., unveiled the Toyota Tundra full-size pick-up truck used to tow.
Oct 30, 2016. Take a wheelchair accessible tour of the California Science Center and see the Space Shuttle Endeavour up close with this guide.
Sept. 1, 2016 — One year after its removal from the space shuttle Endeavour, a metal water tank has been returned by NASA to the California Science Center and reinstalled inside the retired orbiter.
From there, Endeavour will depart in October on a two-day road trip to the California Science Center. Before going on public exhibit, Endeavour’s ferry flight will give the public and thousands of.
LOS ANGELES — NASA’s space shuttle fuel tank ET-94 has come home to the California Science Center, arriving after a slow journey through the city that was watched by thousands of cheering Angelenos.
189 reviews of Space Shuttle Endeavour "Awesome experience! Definite must for all that. Environment: the California Science Center. I think there is a fee for.
The Space Shuttle was a spacecraft which was used by the American National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA.Space Shuttles were used to carry astronauts and cargo into space. Cargo such as satellites, parts of the International Space Station or scientific instruments were taken up into space by the space shuttle. It was a unique spacecraft because it could be used again and again.
Jan 18, 2013. Trees cut down to make way for space shuttle Endeavour during its journey on Los Angeles streets to the California Science Center are.
Business and community leader Steve Soboroff has been selected by the California Science Center Foundation as senior advisor for its project to transport and permanently exhibit the Space Shuttle.
They got there around 5:30 a.m., in the dark. The space shuttle Endeavour made its final journey traveling 12-miles from Los Angeles International Airport, through Inglewood, to the California Science.
Since before the dawn of history, the possibilities of flying and exploring the stars have excited our minds to great feats of imagination and ingenuity.
Space shuttle: Space shuttle, partially reusable rocket-launched vehicle designed to go into orbit around Earth, to transport people and cargo to and from orbiting spacecraft, and to glide to a runway landing on its return to Earth’s surface. It was developed by.
Jul 22, 2016. The California Science Center opened in 1998, on the site of what. we intend to display— like the space shuttle Endeavour—and that help.
Shop our Endeavour web-store featuring the many new and exclusive space shuttle Endeavour products offered at the Science Center.
The 154-foot-long (47 meter) external tank, riding atop an uncovered flatbed barge, entered the famous waterway on its journey to the California Science Center in Los Angeles, where it will be.
Embark on a journey of discovery as you explore over 150 interactive exhibits at the California Science Center including the newest addition to the collection of space artifacts – the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which completed 25 missions in space and traveled 122,883,151 miles. See an engineering marvel up close and learn about the science behind Endeavour’s operation and historic achievements.
Space Shuttle Endeavour Exhibition Endeavour: The California Story. Overview. Endeavour: The California Story is an introduction to the space shuttle orbiter.
At the USGS EROS Center, we study land change and produce land change data products used by researchers, resource managers, and policy makers across the nation and around the world.
LOS ANGELES – The giant orange space shuttle fuel tank known as ET-94 is making one final journey on Saturday as it heads on Los Angeles-area roads to the California Science Center, where it will be.
Discover an aquarium with a giant kelp forest, an actual space shuttle and. The California Science Center is one of the United States' foremost museums.
Help your students put science in motion in Florida. Put your investigative skills to use at Epcot®, Kennedy Space Center and more. See an itinerary.
The test shuttle Enterprise made its first appearance mated to supportive propellant containers and boosters as it was rolled from the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center en route to.
MARINA DEL REY, Calif. (KABC) — A 66,000 pound NASA space shuttle fuel tank will journey through the streets of Los Angeles on its way to the California Science Center on Saturday. The 16.5 mile trek.
Space Shuttle Endeavour on display in the California Science Center's Samuel Oschin Pavilion. Please reserve your passes online or by phone. Explore over.
Space Shuttle Disaster. An investigation uncovers the human failures and design flaws behind the 2003 Columbia tragedy. Airing June 22, 2011 at 9 pm on PBS Aired June 22, 2011 on PBS
Learn about the shuttle program by visiting Endeavour Together followed by a visit to the Samuel Oschin Pavilion to see the Space Shuttle Endeavour.
The Space Shuttle Endeavour is expected to arrive soon at its permanent home at the California Science Center in Exposition Park, but the logistics to deliver it there could be almost as complicated.
The California Science Center, which last May announced it was receiving NASA’s External Tank 94 (ET-94) to mate with the space. of the shuttle," Jeff Rudolph, the Science Center’s president and.
You will find the Endeavor exhibit entrance inside our Ecosystems gallery. Your experience will begin with a visit to Endeavor: The California Story, a companion exhibit introducing Endeavor and its relationship to California.
EXPOSITION PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — NASA’s last remaining space shuttle external tank, known as ET-94, is scheduled to arrive in Marina del Rey in one week. Once it arrives in Marina del Rey, it.
Get tickets for the upcoming Space Shuttle Endeavour event at California Science Center in Los Angeles.
While we are building Endeavour's permanent home, a new addition to the Science Center called the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, Endeavour can be.
Space Shuttle Endeavour/California Science Center – Los Angeles. Everyone gets spaced out living in Los Angeles, so what better way to spend Memorial Day.
View of the orange @casciencecenter space shuttle external tank from a plane in New Orleans at @NASA pic.twitter.com/tKDg2l9XBd California Science Center President Jeffrey Rudolph, standing atop a.
The 66,000-pound tank started its journey through the streets of Los Angeles beginning at midnight, causing several road closures as crews navigated the orange space shuttle. While the shuttle, which.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Business and community leader Steve Soboroff has been selected by the California Science Center Foundation as senior advisor for its project to.
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Baron Asset Fund (BARIX)
CUSIP 068278605
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R6 Shares
Share Class Retail Institutional R6 Shares
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The Fund invests mainly in mid-sized U.S. companies that have matured beyond their start-up phase and have significant secular growth opportunities. Diversified.
QUARTERLY LETTER
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2018 Baron Investment Conference
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As of Jul 16, 2019
Daily Change ($)
Daily Change (%)
Fund Highlights
1Q19 Baron Asset Fund Letter
Barron's Profile | Andrew Peck
Forbes Interviews Andrew Peck on Baron Asset Fund
The Wall Street Journal Ranks Seven Baron Funds Among "Category Kings"
Overall (out of 539 Funds)
Ratings based on risk-adjusted returns as of 06/30/2019
Category:US Fund Mid-Cap Growth
Risk & Return1
Andrew Peck Portfolio Manager
years of exp 23
years at baron 21
1Source: FactSet SPAR.
Morningstar classifies funds as being large-cap, mid-cap, or small-cap based on the market capitalization of the fund’s stock holdings; and as value, blend, or growth based on the value-growth orientation of the stock holdings. The nine possible combinations of these characteristics correspond to the nine squares of the Morningstar Style Box—size is displayed along the vertical axis and style is displayed along the horizontal axis.
The Overall Morningstar Rating for a fund is derived from a weighted-average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five- and (if applicable) ten-year ratings. For the period ended 12/31/2018 the Baron Asset Fund was awarded 4-star Morningstar Rating for the 3-year and 4-star for the 5-year. Morningstar 3-year star rating is based on risk adjusted returns with 542 funds in category; and 5-year star rating is based on risk adjusted returns with 489 funds in category.
The Morningstar Rating™ for funds, or "star rating", is calculated for managed products (including mutual funds, variable annuity and variable life subaccounts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, and separate accounts) with at least a three-year history. Exchange-traded funds and open-ended mutual funds are considered a single population for comparative purposes. It is calculated based on a Morningstar Risk-Adjusted Return measure that accounts for variation in a managed product's monthly excess performance, placing more emphasis on downward variations and rewarding consistent performance. The top 10% of products in each product category receive 5 stars, the next 22.5% receive 4 stars, the next 35% receive 3 stars, the next 22.5% receive 2 stars, and the bottom 10% receive 1 star. The Overall Morningstar Rating for a managed product is derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its three-, five-, and 10-year (if applicable) Morningstar Rating metrics. The weights are: 100% three-year rating for 36-59 months of total returns, 60% five-year rating/40% three-year rating for 60-119 months of total returns, and 50% 10-year rating/30% five-year rating/20% three-year rating for 120 or more months of total returns. While the 10-year overall star rating formula seems to give the most weight to the 10-year period, the most recent three-year period actually has the greatest impact because it is included in all three rating periods.
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$89.45 -$0.45 -0.50% 1.93% 1.93% 34.90%
Quarterly Returns
Monthly Returns
Prices Performance Growth of 10k Historical Performance Distributions
QTD1
YTD1
Since Inception
Expense Ratio2
BARIX - Baron Asset Fund - I
2.61% 23.54% 13.65% 17.96% 12.68% 15.77% 11.73% 1.04% 1.04%
Russell Midcap Growth Index
-1.51% 17.81% 6.87% 13.88% 10.28% 15.29% 10.07%
-2.56% 10.73% 3.78% 11.72% 9.66% 13.95% 9.58%
1Not annualized.
2Expense ratios are as of the fiscal year ended 9/30/2018
Performance for the Institutional Shares prior to 5/29/2009, is based on the performance of the Retail Shares, which have a distribution fee. The Institutional Shares do not have a distribution fee. If the annual returns prior to 5/29/2009, did not reflect this fee, the returns would be higher.
Historical Performance for the year 1987 is annualized for the period from inception on 6/12/1987 through 12/31/1987.
Performance data quoted represents past performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate; an investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. The Fund's transfer agency expenses may be reduced by the expense offsets from an unaffiliated transfer agent, without which performance would have been lower. Current performance may be lower or higher than the performance data quoted above.
5.40% 26.08% 13.94% 16.49% 11.10% 16.02% 10.28%
4.30% 18.54% 10.42% 14.19% 10.71% 14.70% 9.79%
Since Inception 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
Expense ratios are as of the fiscal year ended 9/30/2017
Baron Asset Fund
2018 0.14% -4.75% -4.38%
2017 26.49% 25.27% 21.83%
2016 6.51% 7.33% 11.96%
2015 0.20% -0.20% 1.38%
2014 9.77% 11.90% 13.69%
2011 -2.68% -1.65% 2.11%
2008 -40.75% -44.32% -37.00%
2007 10.13% 11.43% 5.49%
2000 0.36% -11.75% -9.10%
1992 13.90% 8.71% 7.62%
1990 -18.49% -5.13% -3.10%
1987 2.98% -18.81% -16.66%
Short-Term Capital Gain
Long-Term Capital Gain
Re-Invest NAV
Calendar-Yr Return
07/24/2019 07/25/2019 07/26/2019 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.029 $0.029
11/28/2018 11/29/2018 11/30/2018 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $4.732 $4.732 $73.73 0.14%
11/27/2017 11/28/2017 11/29/2017 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $4.941 $4.941 $71.52 26.49%
11/28/2011 11/29/2011 11/30/2011 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $7.767 $7.767 $45.00 -2.68%
12/19/2008 12/22/2008 12/23/2008 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $2.048 $2.048 $33.90 -40.75%
Standard Deviation (%)
Alpha (%)
R-Squared (%)
Tracking Error (%)
Upside Capture (%)
Downside Capture (%)
Except for Standard Deviation and Sharpe Ratio, the performance based-characteristics above were calculated relative to the Baron Asset Fund's(BARAX) benchmark (Russell Midcap Growth Index). Performance statistics for additional periods will be provided on request. Source FactSet: SPAR.
Prices Prices Quarterly Returns Monthly Returns Performance Characteristics Risk & Return1 Growth of $10K Historical Performance Distributions
2.61% -1.51% -2.56%
12.68% 10.28% 9.66%
Expense Ratio2 - Gross
Expense Ratio2 - Net
*As of 05/31/19
*Annualized as of 06/30/19
All Time 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years
Select Year Select Year 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2002 2001 2000 1998 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987
07/24/2019 11/28/2018 11/27/2017 11/28/2016 06/27/2016 12/02/2015 12/01/2014 11/25/2013 11/28/2012 11/28/2011 12/13/2010 05/27/2009 12/19/2008 12/19/2007 11/17/2006 11/21/2005 11/22/2004 11/20/2002 11/14/2001 11/15/2000 12/27/1998 12/26/1996 12/26/1995 12/27/1994 12/27/1993 12/28/1992 12/29/1991 12/27/1990 12/27/1989 12/27/1988 12/21/1987
$0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.041 $0.000 $0.000 $0.000 $0.318 $0.000 $0.000 $0.198 $0.155 $0.048 $0.026
$73.73 $71.52 $60.15 $57.09 $58.66 $64.19 $60.81 $48.63 $45.00 $55.03 $36.92 $33.90 $63.49 $59.24 $56.97 $49.13 $35.09 $40.85 $54.69 $50.81 $35.66 $29.24 $21.67 $20.85 $17.49 $15.60 $11.67 $14.51 $12.77 $10.06
0.14% 26.49% 6.51% 6.51% 0.20% 9.77% 39.25% 15.63% -2.68% 21.66% 31.85% -40.75% 10.13% 14.64% 12.47% 27.13% -19.99% -10.12% 0.36% 4.27% 21.96% 35.28% 7.42% 23.48% 13.90% 34.00% -18.49% 24.97% 34.42% 2.98%
Characteristics Characteristics Holdings Contributors/Detractors
# of Equity Securities / % of Net Assets
61 / 97.7%
Turnover (3 Year Average)
Active Share
Median Market Cap
$14.95 billion $9.20 billion
$19.94 billion $17.18 billion
EPS Growth (3-5 year forecast)
Price/Earnings Ratio (trailing 12-month)
Price/Sales Ratio
Current Expense Ratio Date
The Net Assets include all share classes combined.
Price/Book Ratio and Price/Sales Ratio are calculated using the Weighted Harmonic Average. Source: FactSet PA. Internal valuation metrics may differ.
% of Net Assets
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.
IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (IDXX) is the leading provider of diagnostics to the veterinary industry.
IDEXX has continued to benefit from secular growth spending on pets, due to a growing human-animal bond, favorable demographics, increased use of diagnostics, and enhanced focus on preventative care. We think IDEXX has the best menu of diagnostics, which it has continuously improved by spending six times more on R&D annually than all its competitors combined. The company's products are sold via a razor/razorblade model, which creates high retention rates and incremental margins. IDEXX generates strong cash flow, which it has returned to shareholders via repurchases.
Health Care 6.1%
Gartner, Inc.
Gartner, Inc. (IT) is the leading independent provider of research and analysis on the information technology industry.
Gartner has a vast addressable market, which management estimates exceeds $70 billion annually, implying a penetration rate of less than 3%. IT is rapidly changing and growing in strategic importance, leading users to turn to third-party providers for insight into trends. The low price of Gartner’s research relative to its value has created strong renewal trends, with retention rates running above 100%. We think management can improve results with its recent acquisition of CEB, accelerating growth towards 15%+ over the next three years.
Information Technology 5.6%
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc.
Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. (MTD) is the world’s largest provider of weighing instruments for use in laboratory, industrial, and food retailing applications.
Mettler has a track record of consistent growth. The company has strong brand recognition, customer diversification, pricing power, and margin expansion opportunities. We think the business has attractive financial characteristics, including high returns on capital, minimal capital requirements, and strong free cash flow generation. The company uses all of its free cash flow to repurchase its stock. We believe the management team is an excellent steward of capital and skilled at developing sales and marketing initiatives to enhance growth.
Verisk Analytics, Inc.
Verisk Analytics, Inc. (VRSK) provides information about risk to companies in the insurance, financial services, and energy industries. Verisk enables these businesses to better understand and manage their risks and optimize their decision-making processes.
We think Verisk has a unique competitive position. The company is investing to expand its product set in Insurance, Financials, and Energy, creating a path to sustained high single-digit organic growth. Verisk generates robust margins, which we believe can grow modestly over time with scale, excluding the impact of any future M&A. Verisk has been generating significant levels of free cash flow, which it has been using to repurchase stock and make acquisitions.
Industrials 4.4%
Verisign, Inc.
Verisign, Inc. (VRSN) provides internet infrastructure services worldwide. It offers registry services that operate the authoritative directory of .com, .net, .cc, .tv, and .name domain names, as well as the back-end systems for various .gov, .jobs, and .edu domain names.
Verisign is a defensive business with high barriers to entry, resulting from its contract with Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, where it provides registry for .com domains globally. We believe the company should benefit from global expansion of .com and additional domain names. We think shareholders will benefit from substantial return of capital through buybacks made possible by Verisign's significant free cash flow generation capability over the next several years.
Vail Resorts, Inc.
Vail Resorts, Inc. (MTN) is the largest operator of ski resorts in the U.S. It owns 20 resorts in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, including Vail and Breckenridge in Colorado, Whistler Blackcomb in Canada, and Stowe in Vermont. Its RockResorts brand offers luxury ski lodging properties.
Most of Vail's revenues come from its ski resorts. The company has been upgrading its properties to offer new and higher quality services and amenities and summer recreational activities, which we believe should help attract more visitors and allow it to continue to raise lift ticket prices. Vail is also focused on increasing season-pass sales and has been acquiring resorts to enhance the attractiveness of its multi-resort season pass. The company generates strong free cash flow that it is using for increased dividends, debt reduction, and share buybacks.
Consumer Discretionary 3.2%
Guidewire Software, Inc.
Guidewire Software, Inc. (GWRE) is a leading provider of core systems software to the global P&C insurance industry.
Guidewire is a small player in a vast addressable market and has been benefiting from the inevitable need for P&C insurers to upgrade 30-year-old systems. The company offers best-in-class functionality, as evidenced by its growing installed base and 100% retention rates, and we believe it has a significant amount of off- balance sheet revenue. We think the company’s launch of data and digital applications meaningfully expand the total addressable market, and growing demand for cloud deployments could increase prices by two to three times.
FactSet Research Systems, Inc.
FactSet Research Systems, Inc. (FDS) provides financial information to the global investment community.
FactSet serves only a small part of the addressable market, which we estimate is roughly $20 billion annually. The company has been taking market share and offering broader data sets and more advanced portfolio analytics than its competitors, and has a highly regarded customer service model. FactSet has also been expanding into the fixed income and wealth management markets. Its products are sticky, leading to retention rates of over 95% and high visibility. FactSet generates robust free cash flow, which it has returned to shareholders via share repurchases and dividends.
Financials 2.8%
ANSYS, Inc.
ANSYS, Inc. (ANSS) is the market leader in simulation- driven product development. Engineers use its simulation software to test the effects of real-world forces on a design without a physical model.
ANSYS's software allows engineers to test a broad range of designs, enabling lower development costs, reduced time to market, and optimized products. The company has high recurring revenue and customer retention rates in excess of 95%. It generates high margins due to the scalability of its software and significant levels of free cash flow, which it has reinvested in R&D and niche acquisitions. The company has also increased the pace of its share repurchases and has a strong long-term opportunity and an attractive valuation, in our view.
CoStar Group, Inc.
CoStar Group, Inc. (CSGP) is the leading provider of information and marketing services to the commercial real estate industry.
CoStar has built a proprietary database through primary and data collection research over a 20-year period, creating high barriers to entry. We think CoStar suite should grow at mid-teens rates, and we believe that the new Loopnet marketing platform can grow even faster. The Apartments.com platform has emerged as the dominant multifamily ILS and should revenue in excess of 20%. The company is starting to expand into Europe, creating additional greenfield opportunities that should offer high margin growth. Costar's balance sheet and cash generation creates M&A optionality.
Top Ten Fund Holdings based on net assets. Portfolio holdings may change over time.
Illumina, Inc.
SBA Communications Corp.
Real Estate 2.5%
Worldpay, Inc.
Roper Technologies Inc.
Bio-Techne Corporation
Arch Capital Group Ltd.
The Charles Schwab Corp.
MarketAxess Holdings Inc.
Veeva Systems Inc. Cl - A
IDEX Corporation
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
Willis Towers Watson Public Limited Company
The Cooper Companies, Inc.
Equinix, Inc.
Wix.com Ltd.
Teleflex Incorporated
CBRE Group, Inc.
FleetCor Technologies, Inc.
SS&C Technologies Holdings, Inc.
Choice Hotels International, Inc.
First Republic Bank
Booking Holdings Inc
CDW Corporation
Liberty Broadband Corporation - Cl C
Communication Services 1.0%
Zillow Group, Inc. - Cl. C
IAC/InterActiveCorp
Aspen Technology, Inc.
Hyatt Hotels Corp.
Rollins, Inc.
Sage Therapeutics, Inc.
The Toro Company
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.
Expedia Group, Inc.
BWX Technologies, Inc.
Align Technology, Inc.
Amphenol Corporation
MAXIMUS, Inc.
ANGI Homeservices, Inc. - A shares
Alexander's, Inc.
Fastenal Co.
A.O. Smith Corporation
Tradeweb Markets Inc.
CrowdStrike, Inc.
Zoom Video Communications, Inc.
Waters Corporation
Windy City Investments Holdings, L.L.C.-2
Windy City Investments Holdings, L.L.C.
GICS SECTOR BREAKDOWN
Sub-Industry
Colors of Sub-Industry bars correspond to the GICS sector chart.
Contributors/Detractors
Detractors
Quarterly as of 06/30/19
Top Detractors
1.50% -0.15%
Source: FactSet PA.
The September 4, 2017 issue of Barron's profiled Andrew Peck, portfolio manager of Baron Asset Fund. In the piece, In Search of Bigger Fish, Andrew discusses his approach to finding promising growth companies in the often-overlooked mid-cap space.
The July 26 online edition of Forbes features Baron Asset Fund in an interview of portfolio manager Andrew Peck by former Forbes Investors Advisory Institute president Wally Forbes. In the piece, "A Stock That Is Like Switzerland and Another One With a Very Compelling Razor/Razor Blade Model," Peck discussed two stocks in the Fund and why he likes them. Read the article at www.forbes.com.
Baron Investment Funds Trust Semi-Annual Financial Report
Baron Investment Funds Trust Annual Financial Report
XBRL Filings
XBRL Data File
The information provided herein is derived from a portion of the Baron Fund's prospectus (the ”Prospectus”). The Prospectus contains additional information about the Baron Funds. You should carefully read the Prospectus before investing in any of the Baron Funds.
Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of the investment carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectuses contain this and other information about the Funds. You may obtain them from the Funds’ distributor, Baron Capital, Inc., by calling 1-800-99BARON or visiting www.BaronFunds.com. Please read them carefully before investing.
RISKS: Securities issued by medium sized companies may be thinly traded and may be more difficult to sell during market downturns. Even though the Fund is diversified, it may establish significant positions where the Adviser has the greatest conviction. This could increase volatility of the Fund’s returns.
The Fund may not achieve its objectives.
Performance for the Institutional Shares prior to 5/29/2009 is based on the performance of the Retail Shares, which have a distribution fee. The Institutional Shares do not have a distribution fee. If the annual returns for the Institutional Shares prior to 5/29/2009 did not reflect this fee, the returns would be higher.
Prior to February 15, 2007, the Fund's strategy was to invest primarily in small and mid-sized growth companies. Since then, the Fund's investment strategy has shifted to mid-sized companies.
Industry sector or sub-industry group levels are provided from the Global Industry Classification Standard (“GICS”), developed and exclusively owned by MSCI, Inc. (“MSCI”) and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”). All GICS data is provided “as is” with no warranties. The Adviser may have reclassified/classified certain securities in or out of a sub-industry. Such reclassifications are not supported by S&P or MSCI.
Definitions (provided by BAMCO, Inc.): The indexes are unmanaged. The Russell Midcap® Growth Index measures the performance of medium-sized U.S. companies that are classified as growth, and the S&P 500 Index of 500 widely held large-cap U.S. companies. The indexes and the Fund are with dividends, which positively impact the performance results. Russell Investment Group is the source and owner of the trademarks, service marks and copyrights related to the Russell Indexes. Russell is a trademark of Russell Investment Group. Index performance is not fund performance. Investors cannot invest directly in an index. Standard Deviation : measures the degree to which a fund’s performance has varied from its average performance over a particular time period. The greater the standard deviation, the greater a fund’s volatility (risk). Sharpe Ratio is a risk-adjusted performance statistic that measures reward per unit of risk. The higher the Sharpe ratio, the better a fund’s risk adjusted performance. Alpha : measures the difference between a fund’s actual returns and its expected performance, given its level of risk as measured by beta. Beta : measures a fund’s sensitivity to market movements. The beta of the market (Russell Midcap Growth) is 1.00 by definition. R-Squared : measures how closely a fund’s performance correlates to the performance of the benchmark index (Russell Midcap Growth Index), and thus is a measurement of what portion of its performance can be explained by the performance of the index. Values for R-Squared range from 0 to 100, where 0 indicates no correlation and 100 indicates perfect correlation. Tracking Error : measures how closely a fund’s return follows the benchmark index returns (Russell Midcap Growth Index). It is calculated as the annualized standard deviation of the difference between the fund and the index returns. Information Ratio: measures the excess return of a fund divided by the amount of risk the fund takes relative to the benchmark index (Russell Midcap Growth Index). The higher the information ratio, the higher the excess return expected of the fund, given the amount of risk involved. Upside Capture : explains how well a fund performs in time periods where the benchmark’s returns (Russell Midcap Growth Index) are greater than zero. Downside Capture : explains how well a fund performs in time periods where the benchmark’s returns (Russell Midcap Growth Index) are less than zero. EPS Growth Rate (3-5 year forecast) : indicates the long-term forecasted EPS growth of the companies in the portfolio, calculated using the weighted average of the available 3-to-5 year forecasted growth rates for each of the stocks in the portfolio provided by FactSet Estimates. The EPS Growth rate does not forecast the Fund’s performance. Price/ Earnings Ratio (trailing 12-months) : is a valuation ratio of a company’s current share price compared to its actual earnings per share over the last twelve months. Price/Book Ratio: is a ratio used to compare a company’s stock price to its tangible assets, and it is calculated by dividing the current closing price of the stock by the latest quarter’s book value per share. Price/Sales Ratio : is a valuation ratio of a stock’s price relative to its past performance. It represents the amount an investor is willing to pay for a dollar generated from a particular company’s operations. Price/Sales is calculated by dividing a stock’s current price by its revenue per share for the last 12 months. Weighted Harmonic Average: is a calculation that reduces the impact of extreme observations on the aggregate calculation by weighting them based on their size in the fund. This information does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy securities by anyone in any jurisdiction where it would be unlawful under the laws of that jurisdiction to make such offer or solicitation. Active Share is a term used to describe the share of a portfolio’s holdings that differ from that portfolio’s benchmark index. It is calculated by comparing the weight of each holding in the Fund to that holding’s weight in the benchmark. Positions with either a positive or negative weighting versus the benchmark have Active Share. An Active Share of 100% implies zero overlap with the benchmark. Active Share was introduced in 2006 in a study by Yale academics, M. Cremers and A. Petajisto, as a measure of active portfolio management.
The prospective performance of the companies discussed herein is based on our internal analysis and reflect our opinions only. We cannot promise future returns and our opinions are a reflection of our best judgment at the time of publication. Our views are not intended as recommendations or investment advice to any person and are subject to change at any time based on market and other conditions and Baron has no obligation to update them. Investing in the stock market is always risky. Current and future portfolio holdings in the Baron Funds are subject to risk.
Top Ten Holdings, Portfolio Holdings, and Sector Breakdown based on net assets. Positions smaller than 0.05% round to 0.0%. Portfolio holdings may change over time.
One year turnover information to the most recent quarter and average market cap (unweighted) is available upon request.
Distributions prior to 5/29/2009 were for the Retail Share class only.
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Daily Share Prices
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Stories selected
'I was a child carer - it made me who I am today'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-44876858
From the age of 12, writer Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett helped look after her severely autistic brother. Like hundreds of thousands of other young carers, she took on major responsibilities early - but says it made her the person she is today.
Being a young carer makes you different from your friends. This is one of the first things that you learn. You visit their houses after school and notice how different their lives are from yours. Their houses seem tidy, quiet and peaceful.
Mine was the opposite.
My younger brother is severely autistic. He was diagnosed when he was four, but we knew there were issues before then.
Even as a baby, he wouldn't stay still when you tried to hold him - my mum, Anna, said he was like an octopus wriggling in her arms.
As a toddler, he was hyperactive. He tore through our house, leaving chaos in his wake. He would climb furniture and banisters, empty cereal packets and cartons of orange juice on the floor, scribble on the walls.
He didn't sleep. He didn't talk. We knew our lives would be changed by his autism, but we didn't realise by how much.
I am six years older than my brother, and cared for him along with my mum until I left home in North Wales at 18 (my parents separated when I was 12).
It's been estimated that 700,000 children and young people across the UK, some as young as five years old, are caring for family members. But the true number is likely to be much higher, as many are hidden from view.
I know what an isolating and difficult experience it can be - growing up, I had no idea there were so many other children out there in similar positions, caring for ill and disabled relatives.
When you are a carer, it can be hard to relate to your friends, with their "normal" lives.
You have responsibilities. You have to grow up very quickly. You can't muck about and be so carefree.
I certainly didn't misbehave - I felt that my mum, who did the lion's share of the caring, had enough to deal with, without me being naughty as well. My brother barely slept and she was exhausted most of the time from getting up more than four times a night. I would care for him while she snatched an hour of sleep and, as I got older, for much longer stretches so that she could go to work or spend the evening with her then partner.
I did have moments where I felt quite separate from my classmates, who were still having their dinner cooked for them when I was preparing meals from scratch. On the other hand, being able to cook stood me in good stead in the long run, as did many other skills and traits I learned from being a carer - responsibility, compassion, empathy, selflessness, multi-tasking, patience and generosity.
A sense of humour was a must, especially when it came to toilet trouble. Mum and I cleared up enough poo for a lifetime (this may be why, at 31, I am still not sure how I feel about having children).
It taught me basic plumbing - give me some string and a coat-hanger and I can fix a broken toilet - but also how to laugh when you're up the proverbial creek. You had to, because otherwise you would cry. Then again, we did lots of that too.
We had two floods and a fire, and endless weird and embarrassing moments. People loved my brother - he was a very cute child with a huge goofy smile and big blue eyes, but his behaviour was - how can I put it? - unpredictable.
Sometimes when we were out and about he would take his clothes off and run around while we chased after him, waving his trousers desperately like a flag. He was always falling into lakes and rivers, or reaching into people's bags of chips and plucking them out.
He had no sense of fear so you had to be hyper-alert. He once ran into a field with a bull, which was terrifying. Thankfully we got him out in time.
He also had tantrums in public and people would stare and make comments. I always confronted them when this happened - being a young carer made me quite feisty. I had a keen sense of injustice from a young age and that has translated into my journalism, particularly when it comes to the hardship and discrimination that disabled people often face.
Schoolwork was difficult as sleep was disrupted, and the house was really noisy all the time.
I learned how to concentrate even if all around me was total chaos. I developed a love of reading and tore through several library books a week. In a way, being a carer is what made me a writer. When things were difficult, I needed a way to escape, and reading provided that, but it also made me interested in people.
You learn so much about humanity when you are looking after someone vulnerable and you need empathy, a vital skill when it comes to creating your own characters.
Teachers didn't always understand. I'm not surprised that Carers Trust Wales have found that many children who are carers are not known to local authorities. Adults often don't think to ask, or when you try to explain why your homework is late, or indeed why you are, they will just say that you are making excuses. I'll never forget the horrible reaction of an after-school drama teacher who refused to accept that I had missed a rehearsal because I had to look after my brother.
Nevertheless, for every nasty person there were many more kind ones.
I had a couple of close friends who lived nearby - Hannah and Kate - who have always been there, and would keep me company when I was on my own with my brother at home because mum had to work or pick up a prescription. (Hannah is now a mental health nurse and says her experience looking after my brother helped inspire her to pursue that career.)
As I grew older, I opened up to more friends about my home situation. They were all really supportive, treating my situation as though it were no different from anyone else's. Sometimes people act as though they are uncomfortable around my brother because of his strange seeming mannerisms and noises, but they never did. They helped me realise that there is no such thing as a normal family.
My mum trusted me, and in many ways that worked out quite well - as long as I made sure my brother was OK, I could have people over and she could benefit from finally having a bit of a social life. Often friends would help put him to bed, and I remember being particularly touched to find my friend Sam reading him a bedtime story.
Leaving home was hard. By that time, my brother was in a special school, staying overnight during the week and coming home at the weekends. Yet I still felt like I was abandoning my mum, who was finding it increasingly difficult to cope.
My brother had grown very big and strong and she couldn't control him any more. He had also developed epilepsy, which needed careful management and supervision, and his obsessive-compulsive disorder meant that taking him outside was more and more difficult. She became very isolated.
I missed them both terribly, because although things had been hard at times, we were a family.
I cried for two weeks, and I think the sadness and the exhaustion are with me even now.
Although I have a good job and a happy life, there are some days where I still feel very low.
When my brother was nearly 15, things became so difficult for my mum that he went into school full-time. He is now 25 and lives in a care home. He is very happy there - his carers are brilliant, and I see him as much as I can for walks on the beach and trips out for lunch.
I am grateful for how lucky we are - not everyone receives such good government support. If the help hadn't been there, I might never have left home. I certainly wouldn't have gone to university or have established a career as a writer.
Whenever I meet young carers, I want to give them a hug and tell them that I know what they are going through.
They should be given more support - both practical and respite care. I certainly would have benefited from some counselling.
No child's education should suffer because they are looking after a family member, they should be encouraged by adults, and given the help they need.
Sometimes I am asked if I wish my brother had been "normal". It's a strange question, because it's essentially asking me if I wish he were a different person.
Obviously, I wish that he did not have to suffer, which he does as a result of his epilepsy and anxiety. But I love my brother for who he is, and looking after him has been the defining experience of my life.
Caring has made me strong as well as sensitive. It has made me a kinder person and given me the motivation to fight for social justice. But most of all I feel lucky to have felt such profound, unconditional love for my little brother. That has been a gift.
Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett is the author of The Tyranny of Lost Things. Follow her on Twitter @rhiannonlucyc.
All photos supplied by Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett and family.
A selection of your comments:
I was a child carer for my severely autistic brother who is 18 months younger than myself. I never really thought that I was until I read this article but it really spoke to me (especially the random sprinting and the poo!). I love my brother and there is no question he made me a better person but he has had a huge impact on my family.
Jessica Sutcliffe, London
Wow. Wow. Wow. Rhiannon's words here could almost be my own - word for word. The big difference is that I was a boy and it was my sister and as a male you do not have the close emotional support Rhiannon received from her friends. My friends were great but not in any way could they understand how I had to care for my younger sister - in every way. We also grew up in a very closed family in a rural area which did not help. While I wish I had someone to help direct me then, I have done OK. I am now the guardian for my sister. As we live in a rural area she unfortunately now lives 3.5 to four hours by car from home but like Rhiannon with her brother, I am very, very grateful that she now receives the care she deserves and it allows my other sister and I to lead "normal" lives.
Reading Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett's story was unnerving because she was writing about my childhood. My brother is severely autistic, six years younger than me and my parents separated when I was nine years old. Before reading her story, I had not thought of myself as a "carer" though. I had thought of that title as being my mum's. I felt a responsibility towards my mum and felt terrible to be abandoning her (and him). My brother is now in full-time care, visiting my mum some weekends. We are very lucky in so many ways, but I wonder if people realise that it is not just the physical exercise of caring for your loved one, but the mental and emotional burden. Is he happy, is he safe? Are the staff at his home treating him well and being kind to him?
Rachel Cook, London
Caring from a young age absolutely shaped who I am now! It's difficult, but looking around I am constantly reminded how lucky I am, in many ways I'm stronger than my peers and it's helped me become successful. You can't resent an experience that builds you, helps you become who you are and be happy as you are. Good luck to anyone who is experiencing this now, it does get better, honestly, also you're not alone!
Cara Hunter, Bedworth
This reflection resonates so much with my own situation. I have a younger brother who has ASD and severe learning disability (SLD). I now work as a Behavioural Specialist with children who have SLD and severe challenging behaviour. I feel my experiences give me a greater understanding and sense of empathy with the families I work with. My experiences with my brother and the people I have met through him have very strongly influenced my life - and for the better!
Mandy Griffin, Antrim
I was a young carer for my mum who has bipolar disorder. Growing up was quick, I was cooking, washing, cleaning, ironing, managing medication and providing constant support emotional and practical from age eight. All whilst also my helping look after my younger brother of three years. Making sure he and I got to school, dressed appropriately and fed. School was a challenge, I'd often have done a shift before getting there, exhausted. Homework time was difficult, finding time for anything for me was impossible. My family were my saving grace - grannies, aunties, uncles, cousins. They helped out with mum and looked after us when mum was too unwell to be at home with us. We survived it. It made us a close family. Not only that, it's shaped my future for the better. I was lucky enough at the age of 16 to have been linked in with my local young carers organisation. It gave me the chance to be a young person, to meet other young carers to know I wasn't alone and to go places and do things I never got the chance to growing up.
Marc Howard, Motherwell
I have four beautiful daughters. My third daughter has Rett syndrome which is a severe, neurological condition effecting all aspects of her life. I was absolutely devastated when I found out that my daughters are classed as young carers. It terrifies me. I want them to have a normal life. I realise that their life won't be normal but I'm desperate for it to be happy. Although my daughters are still very young, I do think that already they show a lot more love and kindness and empathy than other children that age. Our journey as a family really scares me - all we have to face in the future dealing with the difficulties Rett syndrome brings. However, I want to protect all of my daughters as much as possible. I want them to be happy and feel loved, feel secure and cared for.
Eva Hodgson, Tynemouth
I think it is so incredibly important to raise awareness of young carers for it is often assumed that every young person has it easily. I was a young carer for many years growing up and if people (both in schools and elsewhere) had a broader understanding of what it may be like as a carer, I think that it would benefit both the carer and the wider community.
James, Gosport
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Famous People in History
By: Nicolas Soames
Narrated by: Trevor Nichols, Katinka Wolf
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Here are the stories of nine great adventures and the lives of the men who took part in them. They pushed back the frontiers of man's knowledge of the world by their vision, courage, and sheer doggedness. They were very different people, from bold adventurers facing the unknown with enjoyment to careful, more scientific individuals. Their journeys are placed within their historical context, but also contain the words of the men themselves.
Great Inventors and Their Inventions
Narrated by: Benjamin Soames
Nine remarkable men produced inventions that changed the world. The printing press, the telephone, powered flight, recording, and other innovations have made the modern world what it is. But who had these ideas and made realities of them? As David Angus explains, they were very different: quiet, boisterous, confident, or withdrawn. But all had a moment of vision that they combined with single-minded determination to battle through numerous obstacles and produce something that really worked.
History in a nutshell
By Green on 05-12-13
Great Scientists and Their Discoveries
Narrated by: Benjamin Soames, Clare Corbett
Nine remarkable men produced inventions that changed the world. The printing press, the telephone, powered flight, recording and others have made the modern world what it is. But who were the men who had these ideas and made reality of them? As David Angus shows, they were very different - quiet, boisterous, confident, withdrawn - but all had a moment of vision allied to single-minded determination to battle through numerous prototypes and produced something that really worked. This is a fascinating account for younger listeners.
By: Jen Green
Which king liked to bathe while the band played Rule Britannia? Which queen was so fat she needed a hoist to get on the throne? Which prince shut his wife out of Westminster Abbey to prevent her from being crowned? Who was the blood-thirstiest monarch of them all? Kings and Queens of England is a no-holds-barred account of the British monarchy with the gossip and gore left in, and nothing left out! It leaves no stone unturned in its mission to portray kings and queens as they really were, warts and all.
Who Was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?
By: Yona Zeldis McDonough
Narrated by: Kevin Pariseau
Born in Austria in 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed his first piece of music, a minuet, when he was just five years old! Soon after, he was performing for kings and emperors. Although he died at the young age of 35 Mozart left a legacy of more than 600 works. This fascinating biography charts the musician's extraordinary career and personal life while painting a vivid cultural history of 18th-century Europe.
Famous Composers
By: Darren Henley
Narrated by: Aled Jones
Following on the success of The Story of Classical Music, Darren Henley and Aled Jones combine forces again to tell, in more detail, the lives of six key composers: Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven, Dvořák, and Shostakovich. Their colourful lives and their love of music is told against the backdrop of some of their finest works - an ideal combination.
By A Lee on 29-08-18
British History for Dummies
By: Sean Lang
Putting history into a perspective, this is an engaging, entertaining and educational trip through time, packing in equal parts fun and facts. Recently updated, British History For Dummies introduces listeners to recent events, including British actions in Afghanistan, and David Cameron's formation of Britain's first coalition Cabinet since World War II. But don't worry - British History For Dummies doesn't skimp on the old stuff! It's a riotous, irreverent account of the people and events that have shaped Britain.
Fantastic. Reminds you to be proud to be British.
Mythology: Mega Collection
Classic Stories from the Greek, Celtic, Norse, Japanese, Hindu, Chinese, Mesopotamian and Egyptian Mythology
By: Scott Lewis
Narrated by: Madison Niederhauser, Oliver Hunt
Do you know how many wives Zeus had? Or how the famous Trojan War was caused by one beautiful lady? Or how Thor got his hammer? Give your imagination a real treat. This Mega Mythology Collection of eight audiobooks is for you....
Schoolboy Errors - 25 x 5 stars misleading
By Anonymous User on 11-01-19
Tales from the Greek Legends
By: Edward Ferrie
The great myths of Ancient Greece have inspired mankind for centuries. Each of the heroes has to undergo trials of strength and courage to prove his valor against a host of monsters - the Minotaur, half man, half bull; Hydra, the many-headed serpent; Medusa the Gorgon. Meanwhile, the gods, lead by Zeus the Thunderer from his seat on Mount Olympus, watch, encourage, help - and sometimes hinder.
Good, but a bit boreing in places.
By: Antony Beevor
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
A magisterial, single volume history of the greatest conflict the world has ever known, by our foremost military historian. The Second World War began in August 1939 on the edge of Manchuria and ended there exactly six years later with the Soviet invasion of northern China. The war in Europe appeared completely divorced from the war in the Pacific and China, and yet events on opposite sides of the world had profound effects.
Concise, Interesting and Entertaining
By David on 16-08-12
The Complete Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn Collection
By: Mark Twain
Narrated by: Henry Adams
This is the complete Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn audio collection of the four original stories written by Mark Twain. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is an 1876 novel about a young boy growing up along the Mississippi River. It is set in the 1840s in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, inspired by Hannibal, Missouri, where Twain lived as a boy. Also included are The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), Tom Sawyer Abroad (1894), and Tom Sawyer, Detective (1896).
The Complete Wizard of Oz Collection
By: L. Frank Baum
Narrated by: Pierre Moreau
This is the complete Wizard of Oz audio collection of the 14 original stories written by L. Frank Baum. The "Oz books" form a book series that begins with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) and relate the fictional history of the Land of Oz. Oz was created by author L. Frank Baum, who went on to write 14 full-length Oz books.
The Brilliant World of Tom Gates
Tom Gates, Book 1
By: Liz Pichon
Narrated by: Rupert Grint
Honest, silly, and laugh-out-loud funny...the first book in Liz Pichon's hugely popular, award-winning Tom Gates series. Tom Gates is the master of excuses for late homework: dog attacks, spilt water, lightning... Tom's exercise book is full of his doodles, cartoons and thoughts as well as comments from his long-suffering teacher, Mr Fullerton.
By: Julia Donaldson
Narrated by: Imelda Staunton, Jim Carter, Steven Pacey
A funny tale of kindness and friendship, with a superb rhyming refrain for children to join in with, from the creators of The Gruffalo. George wished he wasn't the scruffiest giant in town. So when he sees a new shop selling giant-sized clothes, he decides it's time for a new look: smart trousers, smart shirt, stripy tie, shiny shoes. Now he's the smartest giant in town...until he bumps into some animals who desperately need his help - and his clothes!
My daughter loves this.
By Dizzle Fizzle on 24-12-18
The Epic Story of the First Ascent
By: Mick Conefrey
Narrated by: Barnaby Edwards
On the morning of 2 June 1953, the day of Queen Elizabeth's coronation, the first news ebbed through to the British public of a magnificent achievement: Everest had finally been conquered. Drawing on first-hand interviews and unprecedented access to archives, this is a groundbreaking new account of that extraordinary first ascent. In a thrilling tale of adventure and courage, Mick Conefrey reveals that what has gone down in history as a supremely well-planned attempt was actually beset by crisis and controversy, both on and off the mountain.
Man! That story is epic!
By carrosvoss on 12-09-14
More Great Inventors and Their Inventions
One thing that hasn't changed much at all in the last 10,000 years is the human brain. The relentless curiosity of the human mind, combined with our ability to solve problems, has resulted in huge innovation and change. Here, then, are some of the most revolutionary ideas of the last 300 years.
Great Men and Women in the History of Medicine
With the growth of civilization came more scientific methods, generally discovered by significant individuals. This informative and entertaining audiobook presents the major figures in the history of medicine, from Hippocrates in Ancient Greece to the Roman doctor Galen and the medieval abbess Hildegard of Bingen. It also explores the Arabs Ibn Sina and Al-Razi and the start of major anatomical investigations during the Renaissance by Andreas Vesalius.
Best book I have listened to in years
By V A on 30-06-19
Editor reviews
The stories of nine men and women whose lives changed the course of history are told in this beautifully written and produced program for young people. Trevor Nichols reads the stories of Columbus, Shakespeare, Lord Nelson, Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln. Katinka Wolf, herself a fluent Dutch speaker and Anne Frank expert, tells the story of Anne Frank, as well as those of Elizabeth I, Mozart and Florence Nightingale. The script includes Briticisms that might be alien to American listeners, and the Mozart segment contains language that some parents may find objectionable, but the quality and the educational value of this production outweigh any negatives.
Here are the stories of nine people whose energy, imagination, courage, and determination changed the world. From Christopher Columbus who set off into unknown seas in a small ship in the 15th century, to a young girl, Anne Frank, caught in the turmoil of the 20th, who wrote a remarkable diary while in hiding in Amsterdam during the Second World War. Their personalities and their achievements make them heroes and heroines for our time also.
This program features short biographies of Christopher Columbus, Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Lord Nelson, Charles Darwin, Florence Nightingale, Abraham Lincoln, and Anne Frank.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.
(P)1999 NAXOS AudioBooks Ltd.;©1999 NAXOS AudioBooks Ltd.
The Life and Works of Bach
Good subject, but way too much personal opinion
Being an enthusiastic history buff, I very much enjoyed the subject matter but was put off by the author's judgments and personal criticisms. This might not bother other readers, however, I prefer history to be shared as a factual matter rather than presented with the author's prejudice as to what is good, bad or indifferent. I will most likely not purchase the second volume on the subject from this author.
It's too short to be able to do justice. I liked it to a readers digest version. 2/5 rating
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MBS in South Korea, ahead of G20 in Japan
SEOUL, South Korea - The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, began his trip to the Asia Pacific region on Wednesday as his plane touched down in the South Korean capital of Seoul.
The Crown Prince was met at the Seoul International Airport by South Korean President Moon Jae-in.
Jae-in had invited the crown prince to visit his country on behalf of King Salman who approved the visit, according to a statement carried by the Saudi news agency SPA.
Crown Prince Salman was expected to meet with the president and other South Korean officials to discuss bilateral relations, particularly in relation to trade.
At the conclusion of his visit to South Korea the crown prince will fly on to Japan where he will represent the Saudi delegation at the G20 summit being staged in Osaka on Friday and Saturday.
The crown prince has also arranged a number of meetings with heads of state including Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was unclear whether he will have a meeting with U.S, President Donald Trump who is also attending.
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Home › Perspective/Opinion › The Question of Child Labour and the Problematic Loopholes in the Law: A Critique of the Child Labour Amendment Bill of 2015
The Question of Child Labour and the Problematic Loopholes in the Law: A Critique of the Child Labour Amendment Bill of 2015
India ranks quite high in a sector it does not need to and that dark sector is that of child labour. It has been a serious issue for the country for decades now and no effectively positive result has come out of any governmental endeavours till now. One may easily blame it on the fact that the system is corrupt and it does not work; the solution is to aim for a wider social reform and systematic change. But at the very basic, the law should not be left with ample amount of loopholes that the exploiters can play around with. A good example of it would be the amendment to Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, proposed by the UPA government in 2012 and passed by the present NDA government in the Budget Sessions of 2015.
THE AMENDMENT BILL PROBLEMS:
The amendment bill was primarily welcomed by Child Rights activists because it proposed setting up of a national age level to impose a complete ban on employment of children under the age of 14 at commercial spaces. It also prohibits children aged between 14-18 years from employment in hazardous occupations and processes. In addition to that, the final amendment aspires to link this to the age limit (14yrs and below) under children’s Right to Education Act, 2009.
On surface level, all of them are met by the passed amendment bill of 2012; then what seems to be the problem? Well, like most cases, the problem lies in between the lines. The main problem that struck most activists as well as the reflective civil body, is the part where the Government’s official announcement of the approval of Amendment bill 2012 mentions that “an exception has been made.” Then it goes on to describe the exception in two parts; the first part reads:
“where the child helps his family or family enterprises, which is other than any hazardous occupations or processes set forth in the Schedule, after his school hours or during vacations;” (Press Information Bureau, Government of India, The Union Cabinet , 13th May, 2015)
and the second part approves of a child working not as a labour but as an artist in audio-visual entertainment industry under safe conditions and contract. Now the first part, In other words, says that child labour is legit when you are in family business. Along with it remain a vast amount of problematic ambiguities regarding the definition of “hazardous occupations” and how to legally control exploitation of children in family enterprises.
In a report on the Amendment Bill made by The Standing Committee on Labour highlights this problem:
“The Committee are not able to understand as to how the Ministry proposes to keep a check on children working in their homes. The Ministry is itself providing loopholes by inserting this proviso since it would be very difficult to make out whether children are merely helping their parents or are working to supplement the family income.”
Now that we are back to ‘loophole’s, there is a cause behind the politics of placing these loopholes here and there. A report published by Maplecroft, a global risk analysis firm, says:
“A new study has identified the key emerging economies that supply the world with manufactured goods and natural resources, and that are fuelling the global economic recovery, as the countries with the worst record of under-age workers within their labour markets.
The Child Labour Index and map, produced by global risks advisory firm Maplecroft, rates 68 countries as ‘extreme risk’ with Bangladesh, China, India, Nigeria and Pakistan amongst those with the most widespread abuses of child workers.”
Countries with higher poverty rates rank foremost in the chart because of the need for children to supplement the family income and sustain basic life needs. No wonder India takes its rightful place in the list. But the child labour problem in India is worsen by poor enforcement of laws and faulty systems. The PIB (Press Information Bureau) announcement shows the government justifying this loophole by saying:
“In a large number of families, children help their parents in their occupations like agriculture, artisanship etc. and while helping the parents, children also learn the basics of occupations. Therefore, striking a balance between the need for education for a child and the reality of the socio-economic condition and social fabric in the country, the Cabinet has approved that a child can help his family or family enterprise, which is other than any hazardous occupation or process, after his school hours or during vacation” – and not setting up any legal structure to support a thorough procedure of investigation and regulation on the very euphemistic ‘family enterprises’ and how many hours children are actually putting into work or if they are at all part of a certain family or not.
IN-DEPTH STUDY:
‘Family enterprises’ are clearly under unorganized sector, thus if it is made into a legal category it would be extremely hard to govern due to its undefined range. Hence, more scope for exploitation! It is especially harmful for female children who are anyway denied education and forced into domestic chores – a lifetime of unpaid labour factory custom-made for women. It also re-establishes caste-based occupations of potters, cobblers, weavers and other Dalit sects in India, allowing children to be engaged in the trades from their formative years. In India, the family enterprises cover pretty much everything that can be categorized as stressful risky work; from the notorious beedi (cigarettes) making industry to gem polishing, carpet weaving, handloom, power-loom, fireworks to different agricultural and artisanship sectors. Not to mention, the demand for child labour is pretty high in these sectors. The agricultural sector employs, mostly through family links, almost 70% of the child labour force taken into account. Yet the Bill stays silent on this matter, letting the children work in unregulated environment of the ill-reputated BT cottonfields.
Thanks to this Amendment, now only four out of the past schedule of 16 hazardous occupations and 65 processes are recognized by law and apart from the four the other sectors would not be monitored. In these other sectors then, there is no one to regulate the working conditions, or monitor the number of hours or the amount of labour children are putting in, and in due course lagging in studies for.
The Report of the Standing Committee also says that such after-school work can have adverse affect on the physical and mental health of the children as well as affecting their studies. They propose – since helping out parents with normal family chores is normal to children in the Indian context – the removal of such provisions from the Bill to reduce the exploitation of this loophole.
This Report appears to be extremely important for its detailed critique of the Bill and the following rejection of the proposed reformations by the cabinet. The Report also shows that the “Ministry have not made any efforts to identify hazardous occupations and have haphazardly copied from the Factories Act” – which was passed in 1948. Since then, the world has progressed quite a lot and new hazardous conditions for child labour has taken place – such as the use of chemical fertilizer and insecticides in agriculture, the unregulated repurposing of e-waste et cetera. These are not covered by the old and redundant Factory Acts. It also fails to take into account ILO Convention 138 by ignoring the psychological health issue of child and adolescent workers. In this regard, the report emphasizes that even if the adolescent is employed in an apparently non-hazardous industry, such as domestic service, it does not account for the mental trauma they may suffer from work conditions or employers in such places.
Another problem facing all the improbable rescuing, monitoring, regulating child labour exploitation and the few goods the revised law in question could do is the major reduction of budget (almost 40% decrease) in the 2015 sessions for the Ministry of Women and child Development.
Statistics from the Ministry of Labour shows that in the period of 2004-2014, the conviction of child labour employers has earned the government around 8 million INR. From this money – which was supposed to be spent on rescuing, rehabilitating, and giving welfare to child labourers – only 0.1million INR was spent on these during the mentioned period.
All these sketchy moves made by the government can be deciphered, in relation to the economic crisis and 2015 cutbacks in budget on education, women and children development, as a cruel attempt to alleviate poverty by sourcing children’s income into the family based economy. But these are only going to bind the poor to an unending cycle of poverty and increase the scope of child labour exploitation.
MORE FAILURES OF THE SYSTEM:
The amendment comes as a slap on the Right to Education (RTE) Act of 2009 which seeks to provide education for every child between the age of 6 to 15. This act was somewhat implemented properly through many organizations and different bodies of the education sector. As a positive result, child labour statistics decreased from 12.6 million (2001) to 4.3 million (2014) in 13 years. This Child Labour Amendment Bill of 2012 is set to cut down on that progress as it is going to encourage parents to engage children in exhaustive labour through many exploitative ways that poverty necessarily paves for them. Activists are apprehending an increase in school drop-out and the illiteracy rate. Many industries will take this chance to gulp these children down into illegal work, instead of hiring adults, as that is cost-effective and this will also further result in increased unemployment.
This course of things is surely going to affect the work ground created by activists like Kailash Satyarthi (Nobel Peace Prize winner) who has worked hard to rescue children from bonded labour and exploitation no matter how much the government denies the existence of child slavery. A hike in child trafficking to work under some illicit shield of family business or bonded labour is just what these activists are afraid of. The sad scenario of bonded child labour or rather slavery in India can be grasped from the following example, which also shows the inefficiency of the existing law and order system (and we are to trust this system to eradicate child labour problem in the first place):
The PBS New Heroes documentary shows Kailash Satyarthi’s undercover raid to free slaves especially children from a stone quarry under Indian mafias. From our urban and international knowledge, people believe that slavery has mostly been abolished in developing countries like India. But the documentary shows that on a thorough inspection, one finds various instances of child trafficking for slave trades, especially girl child for sex trade and so on. In the remotest of the places, the poorest of the people sell themselves to the rich pimps put to work by mafias, and by ending up with unpayable debt they have to find themselves as lifelong or generation long slaves. This whole process of buying and selling is illegal and more than often done under the eyes of the state government which gets some illegal commissions from these trades as well.
Along with such examples of grave concern, you can find numerous kids working in dangerous conditions right under the nose of the state authorities; from the roadside teashop to the railway food stalls. Well, as expected, nobody says anything. Until the amendment of 2012 was passed, children working in the vicinity of railway tracks was considered dangerous and illegal under the existing Child Labour Act; now it is all too vague thanks to the omission of all these specifications regarding hazardous and dangerous occupations and processes. After all these interactions with the “fabric of social reality” that the Parliament’s cabinet states to have considered to arrive at the decision of letting children work under family businesses, and opening the doors to exploitation almost impossible to regulate, the amendment bill seems to be more full of cons than pros.
WRAPPING UP THE THREADS:
On a concluding note we must look back at history once to understand how redundant and rather affecting the new Amendment to the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, actually is. Quoting the Cabinet’s press release from PIB again, the main argument for the ‘loophole’ can be found: “In a large number of families, children help their parents in their occupations like agriculture, artisanship etc. and while helping the parents, children also learn the basics of occupations.” This very argument is quite retrograde and falls in the same line of argument the Government had made to allow the children to labour under family’s line of work and skill based training which is not feasible either as I have already argued. Back then, those works done even in hazardous conditions, were permissible. The Government’s concern for child labour at all was born when the Child Labour Prevention bill was first pushed forward in 1985 by an NGO . That was the first time people started talking about this grave problem. But back then, the immediate motto was to make the work conditions less hazardous for children rather than completely banning child labour. The aspiration towards which all the reformations and regulations moved was to actually abolish child labour nonetheless. This 2012 amendment bill was that much awaited aspiration coming into existence but with all the wrong motives under its cover. So from that perspective, we did not progress much at all. The only impressionable differences that took place in the Amendment (2012) passed in 2015 are: a) it bans child labour in hazardous occupations (though leaving loopholes under the categorical ambiguity of “family enterprises”), b) insists that children must continue with their education facilitated by the RTE act, c) makes a distinction between group of children up to 14 years and group of adolescents of 14-18years, and their corresponding treatment, and d) it has increased penalties on employers of child workers. Other than these, not much improvement can be found in the Amendment and the latest version of the law, even though the socio-economic reality of the country has changed a lot from before. It is definitely not shaped as per the present time’s critical aspects and conditions.
Written by Aritry Das and edited by Pallab Deb
Photo : Wikipedia Commons
July 8, 2016 July 8, 2016 by Eye Art Collective
Category: Perspective/Opinion, Politics.Tag: bonded labour, child labour, Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, Child Labour Amendment Bill of 2012, Child Labour Prevention bill, hazardous occupations, Indian mafias, mental trauma, Ministry of Labour, Ministry of Women and child Development., PBS New Heroes documentary, Right to Education (RTE) Act
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Oath’s Pledge To Advertisers: Trusted Brands, Data And Distribution
CANNES – Sailing against companies like Facebook and Google, Oath—the combined AOL-Yahoo entity—finds itself navigating deeply competitive waters. So it’s apt that the person chosen to pilot the new vessel, John DeVine, not only ran Yahoo’s global operations but also is a former U.S. Navy officer.
Oath is a portfolio of more than 50 media and tech entities that Verizon accumulated with its acquisition of AOL and, most recently, Yahoo. It’s hoping that its “ton of quality brands” from Yahoo’s news and sports franchises to Huffington Post, TechCrunch and others will represent a trusted port for marketers in a sea of not always reputable options.
“We’re really excited about the reaction we’re getting to the Oath name and the Oath brand and the Oath value proposition,” says DeVine as the company made its debut at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity.
Oath is hoping that the perception of trust will be a big differentiator.
“When you put the trusted brands, the trusted data and the trusted distribution together, we think there’s really an opportunity that the marketplace is looking for to build brands with trust,” says DeVine, who served in the Navy before founding and leading McKinsey & Co’s B2B/B2C Customer Experience Practice. He joined Yahoo four years ago.
Mobile, video and content marketing are keystones of the company’s strategy. “We think brands will be built on the mobile device,” he says. “Oath is investing in building out quality video ad supply but also really innovative ad positions that let marketers and let brand builders get their brand out in video.”
At Cannes, DeVine is inspired by the work he’s seen in virtual and augmented reality, 360 video and holographic advertising, among other things. “It’s just great to see the innovation that’s happening.”
He also perceives a desire on the part of marketers to change the way they engage with consumers on their phones. Not just a “one-way, interruptive ad protocol but something that’s really much more interactive and two-way.
“So I think the creativity that’s happening there around the mobile device and the way to bring brands through the phone is really energizing.”
This video is part of Beet.TV’s Coverage of Cannes Lions 2017. For more from the series, please visit this page.
By Steve Ellwanger on July 6, 2017 @steveellwanger
Beet.TV Coverage of Cannes Lions 2017Tagged AOL, Yahoo, Verizon, Oath, John DeVine, McKinsey & Co.
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10 of the Worst Bathroom Design Fails Ever
Your privacy is very important, particularly when you’re at your most vulnerable excreting your bodily waste. Bathroom design goes a long way in ensuring that your privacy is respected and that you are as comfortable as possible.
Unfortunately, not everyone sees things this way. Some just believe the bathroom is a place to let loose without caring who sees. With that, here are the 10 of some of the worst bathroom fails. Not surprisingly, most of these involve just plain bad urinal design.
This broken privacy screen has made possible some really, awkward situations. But try to be cool about it and don’t take a peek.
Source: imgur
Might as well look ’em dead in the eye and shit like a boss.
Be a gentleman and never use the urinal in the corner.
Close enough to fist bump. Just make sure you do that before you wipe.
Proper urinal etiquette dictates that you should avoid the middle urinal.
It would be nice to take a piss while you shit right next to me.
Just try to imagine five guys at once doing number two. Yeesh.
There was more than enough space for a privacy screen. Like, way more.
Use the end ones only. And no peeking.
This is perhaps the only situation where ‘excuse me’ doesn’t apply. So if you’re using the urinal to the left, you’ll be blocking the passage to the urinal on the right. Similarly, if you’re using the urinal on the right, then someone came in after you and started using the one on the left, you’d have to wait a bit until they finished their business. Seriously, who approved this?
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Now what are you waiting for? Share away!
October 11, 2015 By Who Approved This?
#bathroom fails
#bathroom interior design
#urinal design
Who Approved the OpenX Package Opener’s Packaging?
Who Approved This Dangerous Driveway?
Because some things make you wonder. On the never ending quest to highlight everything that made us ask that very important 3 word question - Who Approved This?
Reply Blues Thompson December 22, 2016 at 1:58 pm
The laws ought to be changed so that each and every person in each and every gender has to right to decide whether or not to have privacy, including in the bathroom, therefore, the laws on bathrooms ought to be changed so that each and every place, including public place, is allowed (not required, but allowed) to have both bathrooms with privacy and bathrooms without privacy therefore, I request that all of the following laws be created and passed; I think it would be a good idea if the laws of the City of Greater New York, the laws of the State of New York, the laws of all of the other states of the USA, the laws of all other areas under USA control, and the rest of the world were changed so that (1) each and every person in each and every gender is given the legal right to decide whether or not to have privacy, including in the toilet and in the shower, (2) every public place would be required to have at least a female bathroom with privacy and a male bathroom with privacy, and (3) each and every public place that has these aforementioned bathrooms would be allowed (not required, but allowed) to also have other types of bathrooms, including but not limited to a mixed-gender bathroom with privacy and a mixed-gender bathroom without privacy in order to give each and every person of all genders a choice on whether or not to be seen naked by people of all genders, whether or not to see people of all genders naked, whether or not to expose one’s private parts to any person of any gender whatsoever, and whether or not to see the private parts of any person of any gender whatsoever, that whoever objects to all this will just simply use a bathroom that gives privacy and if they also want only to be with the gender they were born with, this request will be granted. This proposal for a change of laws is all about each and every individual person’s choice. By the term bathrooms with privacy, I mean that a public place ought to be required to have at least several single person restrooms plus a female bathroom with several toilets and each toilet has a stall and a door, plus a male bathroom with several toilets and each toilet has a stall and a door. The kind of law I want to be passed says that a public place that has several single person restrooms, a female bathroom with several toilets and each toilet has a stall and a door, and a male bathroom with several toilets and each toilet has a stall and a door is allowed (not required but allowed) to also have other types of bathrooms, including but not limited to (1) a mixed gender bathroom with several toilets and each toilet has a stall and a door, and (2) a mixed gender bathroom with several toilets, none of the toilets has a stall, and none of the toilets has a door. This law that I request is designed to give each and every person of all genders a choice on whether or not to have privacy, whether to not to be seen naked by any person of any gender whatsoever, whether or not to see any person of any gender naked, whether or not to expose one’s private parts to any person of any gender whatsoever, and whether or not to see the private parts of any person of any gender whatsoever. Under this proposed law, whoever wants privacy gets privacy and whoever does not want privacy does not get privacy. It is all about each and every individual person’s choice. Please give your feedback and please reply.
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Sarah Dowie
for Invercargill
Eric Roy
Mark Billcliff (separated in 2018)
sarahdowie.national.org.nz
Sarah Maree Dowie (born c. 1975) is a New Zealand politician who was elected to the New Zealand parliament at the 2014 general election as a representative of the New Zealand National Party and holds the Invercargill seat.
Invercargill is an electorate of the New Zealand Parliament that has existed since 1866. Since the 2014 election, the electorate's representative is Sarah Dowie of the National Party.
Early life and career
Dowie's parents, Ann and Alan Dowie, [1] were both police officers. [2] At age 15 in 1990, she was a member of a semi-professional dance group that performed in the Soviet Union. [2] Before her election to Parliament, she worked as a lawyer. [1] [2]
The Soviet Union, officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), was a socialist state in Eurasia that existed from 30 December 1922 to 26 December 1991. Nominally a union of multiple national Soviet republics, its government and economy were highly centralized. The country was a one-party state, governed by the Communist Party with Moscow as its capital in its largest republic, the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. Other major urban centres were Leningrad, Kiev, Minsk, Alma-Ata, and Novosibirsk.
Dowie attended the University of Otago, studying law and ecology. After graduating, Dowie worked for the law firm Macalisters and later the Department of Conservation. [2] Dowie joined the National Party and was affiliated with their "Blue Greens" environmentalist faction. [2] She is married to Mark Billcliff, a former first class cricketer for Otago, but it is understood they have separated. [3] Dowie has two young children. [1]
The University of Otago is a collegiate university located in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. It scores highly for average research quality, and in 2006 was second in New Zealand only to the University of Auckland in the number of A-rated academic researchers it employs. In the past it has topped the New Zealand Performance Based Research Fund evaluation.
The Department of Conservation (DOC) is the public service department of New Zealand charged with the conservation of New Zealand's natural and historical heritage.
Mark Billcliff is a New Zealand former cricketer. He played two first-class matches for Otago in 1998/99.
2014 –2017 51st Invercargill 57 National
2017 –present 52nd Invercargill 41 National
Dowie was selected by the National party to replace retiring MP Eric Roy in the Invercargill electorate; at the time, she had a low profile. [4] In the 2014 election, she won with a large margin to Labour's Lesley Soper. [5] [1] She was returned again in 2017 with a slightly reduced margin, but still beating Labour candidate Liz Craig, who was elected to parliament from the Labour list. She also defeated sitting New Zealand First MP Ria Bond, who was too far down the list to be re-elected.
Eric Wilbur Roy is a New Zealand former politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for the National Party. He was first elected in 1993 and served, with one three-year break, until 2014.
On 25 January 2019, Dowie was revealed as the MP who had an affair with fellow MP Jami-Lee Ross. Ross had disclosed this in October 2018, but the news media chose not to name her at the time. After it was learned that a police investigation had been launched into a text message allegedly sent by Dowie to Ross, media revealed her identity. If the message is found to breach the Harmful Digital Communications Act, Dowie could face up to 3 years in prison, or 14 years if Ross had tried to commit suicide. [6] [2]
Jami-Lee Matenga Ross is a New Zealand politician who has been the Member of Parliament for the Botany electorate in Auckland since the March 2011 Botany by-election, when he became the youngest Member of Parliament at the time. He was previously a local government politician on the Auckland Council and, before that, was on the Manukau City Council from the age of 18.
The 48th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. Its composition was determined at a general election held on 17 September 2005. The new parliament met for the first time on 7 November 2005. It was dissolved on 3 October 2008.
The 2008 New Zealand general election was held on 8 November 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand parliament. The conservative National Party, headed by its parliamentary leader John Key, won the largest share of votes and seats, ending nine years of government by the social-democratic Labour Party, led by Helen Clark. Key announced a week later that he would lead a National minority government with confidence-and-supply support from the ACT, United Future and Māori parties. The Governor-General swore Key in as New Zealand's 38th Prime Minister on 19 November 2008. This marked an end to nine years of Labour Party government, and the beginning of the Fifth National Government of New Zealand which would govern for 9 years, until its loss to the Labour Party in the 2017 general election.
John Baldwin Munro, better known as J. B. Munro, was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. He was also a notable disability advocate.
William Mortimer Clarence Denham was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.
Waitaki is an electorate for the New Zealand House of Representatives that crosses the boundary of North Otago and South Canterbury towns on the East Coast of the South Island. The electorate was first established for the 1871 election that determined the 5th New Zealand Parliament. It has been abolished and re-established several times and in its early years was a two-member electorate for two parliamentary terms. The current electorate has existed since the 2008 election and is held by Jacqui Dean of the National Party.
The Mayor of Invercargill is the head of the municipal government of Invercargill, New Zealand, and presides over the Invercargill City Council. The mayor is directly elected using a First Past the Post electoral system. The current mayor is Tim Shadbolt, who is also the longest-serving mayor for Invercargill. There have been 43 mayors so far.
The 1873 Invercargill by-election was a by-election during the 5th New Zealand Parliament in the Southland electorate of Invercargill. The by-election occurred following the resignation of MP William Henderson Calder and was won by John Cuthbertson.
Shane Raymond Reti is a New Zealand politician who was elected to the New Zealand parliament at the 2014 general election as a representative of the New Zealand National Party.
Ria Iris Daphne Bond is a New Zealand politician and former hairdresser. She was appointed to the House of Representatives as a New Zealand First list MP following Winston Peters winning the March 2015 Northland by-election.
The 2016 New Zealand National Party leadership election was held on 12 December 2016 to determine the next Leader of the National Party and the 39th Prime Minister of New Zealand. A secret exhaustive ballot of the 59-member National parliamentary caucus was to be used in the event of a contested leadership.
Hamish Richard Walker is a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the National Party.
The 1875 Wallace by-election was a by-election held on 6 August in the Wallace electorate in Southland during the 5th New Zealand Parliament.
1 2 3 4 Berwick, Louise; Mcdougall, Nicci; Mcleod, Hannah (20 September 2014). "Soper won't stand again as Dowie wins city vote". The Southland Times . Retrieved 26 September 2014.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Savory, Logan (25 January 2019). "Sarah Dowie: A journey from talented dancer to representing Invercargill in parliament". Stuff.co.nz . Retrieved 25 January 2019.
↑ Houlahan, Mike (26 January 2019). "Dowie's reign as Invercargill MP looks to be over". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
↑ "Invercargill Nats hopeful hits ground running". The Southland Times . 24 March 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
↑ "Official Count Results -- Invercargill (2014)". Electoral Commission . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
↑ "Barry Soper: Sarah Dowie, the police inquiry, and the text from her phone". Newstalk ZB.
Sarah Dowie MP official site
Eric Roy Member of Parliament for Invercargill
Jonathan Coleman (Northcote)
Nuk Korako
Current members of the New Zealand House of Representatives
Korako
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Zeus - Chief God of Ancient Greece
Zeus, in Greek mythology, is the chief god. Before he became “Master of the Universe” and “Guarantor of World Order”— using his chief weapon, the thunderbolt, to demonstrate his power—he had a more humble start.
At least ... that’s what the ancients believed.
Before he became god of heaven, sender of rain and keeper of all things sacred on Mount Olympus, Zeus was a baby who was nearly devoured by his father (Cronus, King of the Titans).
Why would a father want to swallow his child? Because, according to what Cronus believed, one of his children would dethrone him. To avoid that situation, he made sure that none of his children survived.
Except ... when it came to Zeus, Rhea (the child’s mother) made a switch.
Instead of wrapping her baby in swaddling clothes (the narrow strips of cloth which mothers, in ancient times, used to restrict their infant’s movements), she wrapped a stone. She hid Zeus in a cave, on the island of Crete, where he was guarded by young warriors (called Curetes) who would clash their weapons whenever the child cried.
Cronus was thus deceived and, true to his worry, defeated when his son became a man.
Leading a revolt against the Titans (of whom his father was chief), Zeus dethroned Cronus and divided dominion over the world between himself and two other gods:
Poseidon became ruler of the seas;
Hades became ruler of the underworld.
Those two - Poseidon and Hades - were actually Zeus’ brothers. Did they also survive their father’s efforts to destroy them? Apparently ... they weren’t actually dead. When he grew older, Zeus freed his brothers (who then helped him achieve victory over the Titans).
Homer, the Greek poet, tells us that Zeus—as ruler of heaven—lived on top of Mount Olympus (the highest point in Greece). That, in theory, was actually a great place for a weather god to reside.
Other Greek gods lived with Zeus, at Mt. Olympus, but he was chief among them and all—including his wife, Hera—were ultimately subject to his will.
Living at the top of Olympus helped Zeus in other ways. From on high, he could look down on mankind. He could see everything, which helped him to reward good and punish evil. He understood everything, which helped him to dispense justice.
There wasn’t much, in the minds of ancient Greeks, that Zeus couldn’t do.
To honor their chief god, the Greeks built an amazing temple for Zeus. Phidias, the most-famous sculptor of the ancient world, built a huge statue of him (which became one of the seven wonders of the ancient world).
Ancient Greek artists depicted their chief god as a mature and dignified male who wore a beard. His power shone through his hefty build, and his two-most important symbols were a thunderbolt and an eagle.
The impact of Zeus continues to this day. The main purpose of the ancient Olympic Games, for example, was to honor him. While the point of the original Olympics is now long-lost to history, people throughout the world still gather to celebrate the prowess of athletes.
And ... while peace is not declared during the modern games, as it was during the ancient games ... athletics still has the power to temper animosity between people of differing perspectives.
Phidias’ majestic statue of Zeus was long-ago ruined, as was the Great Temple of Zeus at Olympia, but we can still see some of the statues which exemplified him.
The Artemision Zeus, pictured at the top of this page, is probably the most-famous of the survivors. (Archaeologists still debate whether the statue, created around 460 B.C., actually depicts Poseidon.) Today we can see it at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
Click on the image for a better view.
Updated Last Revision: Jun 09, 2017
Image depicting the statue of Artemision Zeus, described above, by Tilemahos Efthimiadis. Online via Wikimedia Commons; license CC BY-SA 2.0.
For a more in-depth background on Zeus, see the article about him at Pantheon.org.
In-text images:
Giovanni Francesco Romanelli (1610–1662) created the fresco of Zeus/Jupiter - chief god of the ancient Greeks/Romans - depicted with both a lightning bolt and an eagle as he leads a revolt against the Titans (whose generation included his father, King Cronus). The 17th-century fresco is located in the Bibliothèque Mazarine (France’s oldest library). Image online via the BnF (the National Library of France).
Photo of Mount Olympus by Alina Zienowicz, online via Wikimedia Commons. License: CC BY-SA 3.0
1815 artistic interpretation of the great statue of Zeus in Olympia, sculpted by Phidias, by Antoine Chrysostome Quatremère de Quincy (1755–1849). About 12 meters high, the statue was decorated with gold and ivory plus other precious stones and paintings. Online via Wikimedia Commons.
Bos, Carole "Zeus - Chief God of Ancient Greece" AwesomeStories.com. Mar 18, 2015. Jul 17, 2019.
<http://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/144848>.
Learning Tasks Questions to Ponder ? Media Stream
Fresco of Zeus - Romanelli
Mount Olympus - Small
Ruins at the Great Temple of Zeus
Statue of Zeus - Wonder of the Ancient World
Pillars of the Great Temple of Zeus
Archeological Wonders
Six out of Seven of the Seven Wonders of the World by Jason Noles and Jacob Farber
What A Wonder! The Statue of Zeus and the Great Pyramid of Giza
Wonders of the Ancient World - Arson at the Temple of Artemis
The Mythical Legend of Zeus by Mary Hughes
One of the Seven Wonders - Statue of Zeus by Dayanie Ortiz
The Seven Wonders by Yatziel Rivera
OLYMPIA: HOST OF THE GAMES
Athena - Greek Goddess of Wisdom
Perseus - Clash of the Titans
Perseus - Son of Zeus
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Vincent Van Gogh - THE ATTACKS CONTINUE
1. EARLY LIFE
2. AN ARTIST IS BORN
3. STUDYING ART, FEELING PAIN
4. THE FIRST MASTERPIECE
5. THE PARIS YEARS
6. INFLUENCE of JAPANESE ART
7. EARLY LIFE in ARLES
8. THE BANDAGED EAR
9. VINCENT at SAINT-REMY
10. THE ATTACKS CONTINUE
11. PAINTING in AUVERS-sur-OISE
12. WORRIES and TURMOIL
13. VINCENT COMMITS SUICIDE
14. THE SADNESS WILL LAST FOREVER
While still a patient at Saint-Paul Hospital in Saint-Rémy, Vincent continued to paint what he observed (among other things). This oil-on-canvas, which measures 74 x 92 cm, depicts “The Road Menders.” Vincent created it during November of 1889. Today it is owned by the Museum of Art in Cleveland, Ohio. Click on the image for a better view.
After Dr. Peyron allowed him to resume painting, Vincent still had attacks. By mid-August, his self-portrait reveals a man who seems sadder than usual. By the next month, he appears without his characteristic beard and moustache, apparently thinking about more independent days as he paints his bedroom in Arles.
By the last part of 1889, Vincent seemed somewhat better. He was allowed to paint outside again, taking full advantage of the privilege as he recorded scenes at, and near, the hospital. Theo, meanwhile, had married Johanna (Jo) Bonger and, while the young couple looked forward to a happy life, Theo himself was unwell.
A bit of good news may have helped Vincent's emotional state. Theo had arranged for six of his brother's paintings to be shown at a Brussels exhibition called Les XX. As 1889 progressed, van Gogh continued to paint while a patient at Saint-Paul.
However, on the 23rd of December - the first anniversary of his ear-slashing incident - Vincent had another major attack. He told his brother what happened:
Odd that I had been working perfectly calmly on some canvases that you will soon see, and that suddenly, without any reason, the aberration seized me again. (Vincent to Theo, 1st or 2nd of January, 1890.)
Within a week, van Gogh recovered and resumed painting. Because of the weather, and his medical condition, he mostly stayed indoors where he copied the works of other artists.
During the early months of 1890, Vincent suffered more attacks. During the spring, even as he painted peaceful, beautiful scenes, his emotional state was not stable. It was becoming clear that he needed to go north - closer to Paris and his brother - instead of remaining in the south where he had no family and few friends.
After doing some research, Theo found a physician who could care for Vincent. Dr. Paul Gachet, a therapist who lived in Auvers-sur-Oise, seemed to be a good choice. His home was an hour's train ride from Paris - and Theo - so Vincent agreed with the proposal.
On the 16th of May, 1890, Vincent took the overnight train to Paris. It would be his last lengthy journey.
Original Release: May 01, 2008
Bos, Carole "THE ATTACKS CONTINUE" AwesomeStories.com. May 01, 2008. Jul 17, 2019.
<http://www.awesomestories.com/asset/view/THE-ATTACKS-CONTINUE-Vincent-Van-Gogh/1>.
August, 1889 - Vincent's Self-Portrait
Self-Portrait - Vincent without His Beard
Vincent's Bedroom in Arles
Wheat Field with Cypresses
Garden of Saint Paul's Hospital, The
Corridor in the Asylum
Trees in the Garden of Saint-Paul Hospital
Road Menders, The - Vincent's Painting
Johanna (Jo) Bonger van Gogh
Blossoming Almond Tree
Theo and Johanna van Gogh
Drawing - Cypresses with Two Women in Foreground
Paul Gachet - Home of Vincent's Doctor
Paul Gachet, Photo - Vincent's Doctor
Pink Roses in Vase - Vincent van Gogh
Road with Cypress and Star
Saint Paul Hospital, Saint-Remy - Vincent's Home
Vase with Irises
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News from BACP
12 December: Voluntary sector counselling's critical role in helping young people
Voluntary sector counselling's critical role in helping young people
BACP research found young people expressed high levels of satisfaction with their care and showed significant improvements
Voluntary and community sector counselling services play a critical role in helping young people who have fallen through a gap in mental health services provision, new research suggests.
Young people seen by trained counsellors in services run by charities and community organisations expressed very high levels of satisfaction with their care and showed significant improvements, according to the research conducted by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), University of Roehampton and advice and counselling network Youth Access.
Their study comes several weeks after the Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield voiced concern that only a small fraction of children who need mental health support were able to access NHS children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).
Why is this research important?
One in eight children in England is living with a mental health problem, according to figures released by NHS Digital last month.
With trends showing girls and young adults at greater risk of experiencing mental health issues, the present study suggests that voluntary sector (VCS) providers will play an increasingly vital role in ensuring mental health support reaches young people who are most in need and often underserved in statutory or school-based services.
The study found a higher proportion of young women using the voluntary sector services compared to NHS and school-based services, as well as serving an older client group of young adults.
Researchers believe this study shows the services may bridge a crucial gap in provision for young adults who are often at risk of falling through gaps in the move from child to adult NHS services or as they leave school and go on to work or university.
In addition, the services were widely accessed by marginalised young people, such as those from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups.
The research published today in Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice is the first of its kind to shed light on an area of counselling that has typically been overlooked.
Who took part in the research?
More than 2,100 young people aged between 11 and 25 years old were surveyed for the research to gauge the level of accessibility and satisfaction with counselling from nine VCS services in England* that operate Youth Access’s model of Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Services (YIACS); a holistic approach to young people’s health and wellbeing concerns which aims to address a wide range of social, legal, practical, emotional and mental health needs in a coordinated way.
In general, young people accessing these services experienced significant short-term reductions in psychological distress, at levels comparable with statutory and school-based services.
The researchers compared their findings to previous studies looking at the effectiveness of both school-based counselling and statutory services such as CAMHS.
What does BACP say?
The paper’s lead author, BACP senior research fellow, Charlie Duncan said:
“With over-stretched NHS services, long waiting lists, increase in demand and schools struggling to support young people with mental health problems, it’s crucial the role of voluntary sector counselling services are not overlooked.
“These voluntary sector services provide a vital opportunity to support some of our most vulnerable young people who may feel there is no one out there to help them or listen to their problems.
“Our research gives us the evidence that VCS counselling services are associated with positive changes in young people’s lives, are accessible to those from a variety of backgrounds and also that young people are happy with their care and treatment.”
In general, young people accessing VCS services experienced significant short-term reductions in psychological distress
What does Youth Access say?
James Kenrick, CEO of Youth Access, said:
“The voluntary sector isn’t just picking up low-level cases and overflow from CAMHS. In the face of increasing demand, person-centred youth counselling services - on the high streets where young people live - are a cornerstone of a system that works for everyone.
“Without investing in the largely untapped potential of the voluntary sector to serve the most marginalised young people, the Government will fail to achieve its ambition to ‘transform’ young people’s mental health services – and, ultimately, will fail young people once more.”
A young person's view
Natalie Spence, a young person who received counselling at her local Youth Information Advice and Counselling Service (YIACS), said:
“After struggling to get counselling through CAMHS, my therapist basically disappeared after a couple of really difficult sessions. By the time they found someone else I was too old for CAMHS and adult services wouldn’t take me till I was 18.
“Luckily I was also in touch with a local youth advice and counselling service at Berwick Youth Project - who have been amazing. I’m 23 now and for 10 years they’ve been my lifeline. From helping me deal with the death of my Dad to making sure I had a laptop to start Uni, they consistently go above and beyond for me. After my own experiences, I couldn’t imagine building that sort of trust anywhere else.”
Natalie Spence
Work done by VCS organisations should be key focus
The University of Roehampton's Professor Mick Cooper, who is also a BACP member, said:
“As the government decides how to spend money to support young people across the country, the work being done by VCS organisations should be a key focus. The need for mental health treatments among young people and young adults seems to be increasing, and we need to ensure that all members of our community have access to these much-needed services.
“Our study not only shows how satisfied clients are with counselling within the voluntary and community sector, but also how the accessibility that VCS counselling can provide may be a critically important factor in supporting young people’s mental health needs.
Read the full research paper here.
*A total of 2,144 young people were recruited from nine VCS Youth Information, Advice and Counselling Services (YIACS) in nine areas of London, Yorkshire, the north west and south west of England between June 2014 and June 2016. Data on gender, age, ethnicity, number of sessions, problem descriptions and initial levels of psychological distress as well as levels of service satisfaction were collected over an average period of 16.7 weeks.
© Copyright 2019 BACP. All rights reserved.
BACP is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 02175320)
Registered address: BACP House, 15 St John’s Business Park, Lutterworth, Leicestershire LE17 4HB
BACP also incorporates BACP Enterprises Ltd (company number 01064190)
BACP is a registered charity (number 298361)
This page was printed from https://www.bacp.co.uk/news/news-from-bacp/2018/12-december-voluntary-sector-counsellings-critical-role-in-helping-young-people/
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National BIM standards needed in UAE
Adoption of building information modelling is still low in the region, Brookfield Multiplex exec says
The UAE needs a national building information modelling (BIM) standard to ensure the technology is adequately implemented on local projects, says an expert in the field.
Although the Dubai Municipality’s mandate last year to use BIM on large-scale projects is a move in the right direction, a stronger focus on BIM is needed at a national level, says Pavithran Kv, design and BIM director at Brookfield Multiplex.
“We don’t have a national BIM standard in the UAE, so everyone tends to follow ad hoc standards. The Dubai Municipality has taken the initiative of implementing BIM and making it mandatory, and it’s much appreciated. But at the same time, there is no BIM standard put in place to follow,” he says, noting that the UAE could look at countries like the UK, which already have such standards in place.
“I would say the Dubai Municipality should initiate forming a consortium of professionals within the industry and delegates from different government departments to form a protocol for workflow for the region.”
Although there is awareness around the region of the benefits of using BIM on projects, adoption is still low, he argues. “Construction is teamwork. When it comes to subcontractors, we see low BIM adoption. Ideally, everyone should be at the same level, but the industry is not there yet. The BIM maturity of the construction industry as a whole has to be improved, as BIM adoption in the region is still at a considerably low level.”
BIM usage need not be restricted to large construction firms, and there is value in adopting the technology for small- and medium-sized contractors and projects as well, says Hady Amal, sales manager for the MENA region at Bentley Systems, a provider of BIM software.
Bentley Systems provides packages scaled to suit the needs of organisations of different sizes, Amal notes, adding that there are cases where contractors have seen the value of BIM on small projects.
“One of our users… on a small villa project has estimated that they have saved up to 25% of their time in using BIM on the project. So I believe that BIM is as useful on small projects as it is on larger and complex projects,” Amal says.
Source: http://meconstructionnews.com/10342/national-bim-standards-needed-in-uae-contractor-says
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Use of BIM in both the public and private sectors is increasing albeit with differing levels of application.
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Memorandum of Understanding for mutual cooperation between the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and the IFRS Foundation
BCBS Descriptive |
PDF full text
| 4 pages
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and the IFRS Foundation ("Foundation") have agreed to formalise their interaction through the publication of a Memorandum of Understanding ("MoU"). Such arrangements already exist between the IFRS Foundation and a number of organisations, including, for example, the International Organization of Securities Commissions.
Why formalise the IFRS Foundation and the Committee's relationship?
The relationship between the Committee and the IFRS Foundation is a long-standing one. The Committee has been an observer at the Foundation's Monitoring Board since the Monitoring Board's creation and has been continuously represented at the IFRS Advisory Council. The BCBS's Accounting Experts Group regularly interacts with representatives of the Foundation's standard-setting board, the International Accounting Standards Board ("Board"), in the form of bilateral and multilateral meetings, public comments on proposed accounting standards or amendments and other ad hoc contributions. In addition:
several issues cut across accounting and regulatory standards: classification categories and valuation of financial instruments; liquidity and capital standards; scope of consolidation; credit impairment and provisioning; disclosure; and the implementation of regulatory and accounting standards and related interpretation issues;
at the Group of Twenty summit in London on 2 April 2009, the G20 Leaders called on "the accounting standard setters to work urgently with supervisors and regulators to improve standards on valuation and provisioning and achieve a single set of high-quality global accounting standards";
as representatives of public authorities, the Committee and Foundation have a responsibility to demonstrate that there is effective coordination and cooperation among standard setters and regulators, when and where relevant.
What form could such a formalised relationship take?
Even though the relationship between the Foundation and the BCBS pre-exists its formal recognition, there is value in agreeing an MoU via a public statement endorsed by both organisations. This MoU is not intended to change the relationship between the two bodies, but rather seeks to formalise the existing relationship, and thereby strengthen it. The MoU respects the independence of each organisation in form and in substance. As set out in the attached MoU, both organisations:
recognise that they have many common issues and objectives;
commit themselves to meeting and discussing issues in the deliberation phase of their respective policy development processes to ensure an understanding of each side's motivation for a proposed standard or reform; and
agree to work together where relevant and when this can benefit the high-level objective of serving the public interest while recognising the essential criteria of their continued independence - from each other and from other groups.
Press release: 5 September 2017
Basel Committee comment letters to other organisations
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Boys and Girls Clubs to get free supply of opioid overdose-reversing spray
by Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press
Posted Jun 19, 2019 7:00 am MDT
The overdose-reversal drug Narcan is displayed during training for employees of the Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC), Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, in Philadelphia. Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada locations across the country are getting a free supply of an opioid overdose-reversing drug. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Matt Rourke
CALGARY — Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada locations across the country are getting a free supply of an opioid overdose-reversing drug.
The youth organization is announcing a three-year partnership with Adapt Pharma Canada, which makes Narcan, or naloxone hydrochloride.
The nasal spray will be available at 700 Boys and Girls Clubs locations across the country.
That includes after-school programs, youth hubs, emergency shelters, group homes and high schools.
Jeff Dyer, CEO of the group’s Calgary chapter, says staff are already trained to inject naloxone and the nasal spray will be much easier to administer.
Dyer says three youths involved with the clubs in Calgary died in the past year after taking drugs laced with fentanyl, a powerful opioid.
Naloxone would have saved their lives, he added.
“No doubt, in the future, it can save many more,” Dyer said.
“We don’t have a handle on the opioid crisis in our country, so this is one way to tackle it in the interim.”
The Canadian Institute for Health Information says that youth aged 15 to 24 saw a 53 per cent increase in opioid poisonings between 2013 and 2017 — one of the fastest growing cohorts.
Dyer said many of the young people his organization serves are particularly vulnerable because they are often dealing with homelessness and trauma.
The spray will be kept locked up and under the supervision of Boys and Girls Club staff. But in some cases, where youth are homeless or living on their own, Dyer said they can be given the drug to take with them in case they or someone they know overdoses.
Adapt Pharma’s general manager said the partnership is significant.
“It means we’re able to reach even more young people in our communities and ensure that the resources and information they need are readily available to them,” said David Renwick in a release.
“The goal is to get as much naloxone in the community as possible.”
Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press
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Home The Source: Open Your Mind, Change Your Life
The Source: Open Your Mind, Change Your Life
Tara Swart
Vermilion London
Psychology;
Life-changing opportunities pass us by every day - now we can train our minds to seize them. Self-help books like The Secret promise that we can tap into the 'law of attraction' to control our destiny, simply by changing our thoughts. If we strip away the mystique, at the heart of this idea is a fundamental truth that is backed up by the latest breakthroughs in neuroscience- most of the things we want from life - health, happiness, wealth, love - are governed by our ability to think, feel and act; in other words, by our brain.
Dr Tara Swart, a neuroscientist and executive coach with a background in psychiatry, is convinced beyond all doubt of our ability to alter how our brains work - and transform our lives. In The Source, she draws on the latest cognitive science and her experience coaching highly successful people to reveal the secret to mastering our minds.
With a four-step plan to awaken the power of your brain, this unique guide to life combines science and spirituality in a way that is open-minded and practical.
By: Tara Swart
Imprint: Vermilion London
Dr Tara Swart is a neuroscientist and leadership coach. She is passionate about teaching others how to apply learnings from neuroscience to enhance their everyday lives. Tara holds a BSc in Biomedical Science and a PhD in Neuropharmacology from King?s College, London and a medical degree (BM BCh) from Oxford University. She is a senior lecturer at MIT Sloan and King?s College and she teaches at Oxford Said Business School. She is the co-author of Neuroscience for Leadership (Palgrave), winner of the 2016 CMI Management Book of the Year. In 2016 she was named as Neuroscientist-in-Residence at the Corinthia Hotel, London.Twitter @taraswartInstagram drtaraswartwww.taraswart.com
A game-changing blend of neuroscience and no-limits advice. If you have a nagging sense that you are capable of so much more, this book is for you. -- Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times #1 bestselling author of Triggers, Mojo, and What Got You Here Won't Get You There A game-changing blend of neuroscience and no-limits advice. If you have a nagging sense that you are capable of so much more, this book is for you. * Marshall Goldsmith, New York Times #1 bestselling author of Triggers, Mojo, and What Got You Here Won't Get You There * Tara Swart is an extremely calming presence, all the more so for being palpably intelligent. Her brain appears to require no boosting. I'd sign up in an eye blink... I like her - a lot * Hannah Betts, The Times * Dr Tara Swart is friendly, charming, and knows what she's talking about. Having qualified as a doctor, then trained as a neuroscientist, she worked as a psychiatrist before going into private practice as a highly sought-after expert to the rich and famous * Janet Street-Porter, Daily Mail * Neuroscientist Dr Tara Swart works with some of the City's highest-earning and most respected leaders in finance, law and media * Evening Standard *
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Justin Williams Is the Most Important Bike Racer You Don’t Know
He just won back-to-back national road and criterium championships—but his influence is extending well beyond the racecourse
By Sarah Bartlett
Joe Jefferson
The people in Justin Williams’s inner circle always knew he was a tenacious champion. But after the USA Cycling Amateur Road National Championships in Hagerstown, Maryland, two weekends ago, everyone else did too: Williams won both the road race on Friday, July 27, and the criterium two days later. Even more impressive, he did it without a team.
The double championship wins cap off a pivotal year even for the 29-year-old Los Angeles native, who is known for his past victories at high-profile crits like Dana Point Grand Prix and Tour de Delta at BC Superweek. In 2018, Williams landed on the podium in 30 out of 35 races. He was crowned the California state criterium champion. He snapped up a second-place finish in the rain at Red Hook Crit Brooklyn.
But Justin Williams is winning more than races. He is arguably becoming one of the most influential cyclists in the U.S., an increasingly louder voice for inclusion and innovation in the sport. He's also gained visibility through his work with CNCPT, the development race team he founded, where he mentors a talented group of African American and Hispanic riders. His dynamic personal brand has enabled him to sign Specialized, Monster Energy, and Assos as sponsors. If you’re still not impressed, he’s also on the cover of the newest issue of Bicycling.
It’s hard to imagine anything Justin Williams can’t do, but in his social media posts, Williams has hinted that it hasn’t been an easy road. We sat down with him to talk about what catalyzed his biggest year yet, the obstacles and prejudice he’s had to overcome, and how he wants to make cycling the coolest sport in America.
Two years ago on Instagram you posted that 2017 would be the best year you’ve ever had. It was a pretty great year for you, but it seems that 2018 may have been The Year of Justin Williams.
It’s the most fun I have ever had in cycling and winning Nationals this year… I couldn’t write a better ending for the season. This was my first season riding solo [Williams, who is a Category 1, has raced on pro teams the past few years, the most recent being Cylance], and it made a huge difference. I was able to control my schedule, and focus on what I needed to do to be the best athlete in each event.
Winning the national championship road race.
Bruce Buckley
In the past two weeks you have been crowned the new California State Criterium Champion, and the National Road and Criterium Champion. Tell us about your race strategy. Were there any key decisions that helped you secure these wins?
Every moment of a race is about quick decisions. The way I read a race is, I identify the best guys in the race and I watch them make mistakes. At the end of the day, what makes me so good is the ability to see things before they happen. In every course, there are spots that can be manipulated to your advantage. I often walk around the course and get an idea for what things look like. You need to figure out where you can hide, where the momentum is high enough that if someone attacks they are not going to get very much space, where you can be the fastest person on the course, and where the field is weak. All of that stuff is what makes a great crit racer. I am never the strongest guy in the race, but I win races because I am great at manipulating courses and riders, and using that to my advantage.
There’s a POV video of the finish at the California state championship race where you’re sitting around sixth wheel, attack and pass five riders, and then bridge up and fly by two racers that are off the front. Based on the on-screen stats, you held around 40mph for nearly a minute. The video has more than 63,000 views right now on your brother Cory Williams’s Instagram. That was wildly impressive.
Robin Carpenter was off the front. He attacked with one [lap] to go. He’s such an amazing athlete that no one could do anything about it. I was hoping that the field would hold some momentum to chase him down, but that didn’t happen, so I had to put it all out there and go earlier than I usually would. The sweet spot for an ideal sprint for me is 200 meters, but I had to make the quick decision to go at about 800 meters. Rob had about a 10-second lead on the field, and if I had waited even a few more seconds I wouldn’t have been able to catch him. I ended up sprinting for over a minute to win the race. You can’t write that kind of stuff.
This is how you win Jus!
A post shared by Cory Williams (@nationsnumber1beast) on Jul 28, 2018 at 3:02pm PDT
You have one of the best sprints around. How did your training and racing throughout the season prepare you for these championship wins?
I rode hyper-aggressive in the local [early season] races. I committed to breakaways, and consistently rode hard in the front to build my engine and anaerobic endurance. As a sprinter, if you have that second set of tools it opens up so many doors—being able to ride at threshold for 30 minutes and then still have something in the tank for the sprint. It’s something I never had to develop before, because typically as a sprinter your teammates are doing a lot of the work and you just have to navigate the last few laps. It was important for me to develop that skill set this year because I was going to be on my own. When you’re being marked in a race [as a sprinter], the rest of the riders are always trying to get away from you, so the percentage of races that come down to field sprints isn’t high. It’s my job to build the skills to counteract that.
You’ve posted on your social media about how some people doubted you, and even re-posted a compilation video from Cory’s Instagram, showing other racers heckling you guys. What’s been your experience with overcoming critics and cynics?
The hardest thing in my career as an athlete has been people being dismissive of me and looking for any weakness to use as an excuse to write me off. And that’s life. I love when people talk shit because at the end of the day, that motivates me. It’s something I’ve dealt with my whole career. I want everyone who follows me to understand that you can’t make excuses. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what’s going on in your personal life. It’s really hard to sacrifice and go after what you want, but when you really want something, you have to figure out what it takes and put yourself in a position to make that happen. There’s going to be roadblocks, but you can’t let those distract you from what your end goal is.
What are some of the biggest roadblocks you’ve faced?
I’ve had some really great mentors, but it’s hard when you feel alone in a sport where no one really understands you or how you think, because you’re a minority. I have amazing friends that ride bikes, but at the end of the day, when you’re not feeling right about something, even if it’s not a racial thing, sometimes you feel like race comes into play because you’re the only one that looks like you do, and you’re trying to figure out why you are being treated a certain way. It’s almost too easy to make it about race, and cycling is a brutal sport so I’m sure it wasn’t always about race, but that lingers over some of the experiences I’ve had. That’s why I want to make this sport great for everyone.
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Your sponsorships for the 2018 season include Specialized, Monster Energy, and Assos. How did you get to a place where you were able to work with big sponsors and stay true to your personal brand?
It was really important to me this year to only represent sponsors who see and support my vision. At the end of the day anyone who’s associated with me or the CNCPT team has to believe in the vision of making cycling better for the people who are coming after us, and in creating a space where people from any walk of life can feel comfortable.
This season also marked your move to the Specialized-Rocket Espresso team for fixed gear racing, and you got a lot of attention for your second-place finish in the pouring rain at Red Hook Crit Brooklyn. Will we see you claim the top of the podium at Red Hook Crit Milan in October?
I would love to win in Milan. I got beat in Brooklyn by an Italian, so I feel it’s only right that I beat an Italian in Italy. I feel like I’m home when I’m around fixed gear riders. Some of them are fiercely competitive, but as soon as you step off the bike, everyone is so loving and positive. That’s why fixed gear racing is going to go so far. The community is way more colorful. Not everyone there has a golden-spoon background. I can connect on a different level to a kid that I know has had similar struggles to me. Everyone is treated like equals—whether white, black, Hispanic, Italian, anything.
Some will say it’s photo shopped - haha. A huge thank you to everyone who has believed in my vision and direction. This year has been the most beautiful experience. @bicyclingmag
A post shared by Justin Williams (@juswilliamz) on Aug 7, 2018 at 9:17am PDT
What can we expect to see from you in 2019 and beyond?
I truly believe that you should be the change you want to see in the world. I want more people to fall in love with the sport like how I fell in love with it. Everyone that I’ve ever taken to one of my races has loved the sport and had a good time. To me, that shows that it’s possible to sell cycling to the masses.
Winning is great. Everyone loves a winner. But focusing on the road to winning, and showing that the person who is winning cares about helping those around them—I think the public can fall in love with that. American cycling is so cool, and criteriums are the perfect vessel for creating something that is worthy of television and high-dollar sponsors. My goal is to be part of the spark that pushes the sport in that direction. It’s about making cycling a sustainable sport for the future generations, so that they can actually make a comfortable living off of this thing that we all love. I am going to ride a bike no matter what for the rest of my life. And if I can ride a bike and look at some kid who is doing it professionally and “living the dream” because of some of the steps I’m taking now, then there is nothing that would make me prouder.
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Nyree Dawn Porter
Alternative Title: Ngaire Dawn Porter
Nyree Dawn Porter, (Ngaire Dawn Porter), New Zealand-born British actress (born Jan. 22, 1940, Napier, N.Z.—died April 10, 2001, London, Eng.), became one of British television’s first romantic sex symbols for her portrayal of the mistreated beauty Irene Forsyte in The Forsyte Saga, the BBC’s 26-part adaptation of John Galsworthy’s novel sequence. The series, which was first broadcast in 1967, achieved equal success in the U.S. and numerous other countries and brought Porter international fame. Although she starred in the TV series The Protectors in the 1970s and had a successful stage and screen career, she never fully escaped the image of Irene. Porter was appointed OBE in 1970.
Britannica Explores
100 Women Trailblazers
Meet extraordinary women who dared to bring gender equality and other issues to the forefront. From overcoming oppression, to breaking rules, to reimagining the world or waging a rebellion, these women of history have a story to tell.
Margaret Maud Tyzack
Margaret Maud Tyzack , British actress (born Sept. 9, 1931, London, Eng.—died June 25, 2011, London), was a versatile character actress perhaps best known for her roles in several television miniseries in the 1960s and ’70s, notably as the naive Winifred Forsyte Dartie in The Forsyte Saga (1967);…
Romeo and Juliet: …roles to young, inexperienced actors Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, who at the time of filming were ages 15 and 17, respectively. The acclaimed director provided his trademark sweeping production design, emulating the actual societal conditions in which the story takes place. His version resonates with a realism that previous…
Vanessa Redgrave, British actress of stage and screen, who received numerous accolades—including an Oscar, two Emmys, a Tony, and a Laurence Olivier Award—for her performances. She was also a longtime political activist, supporting the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Irish…
Bob Hope, British-born American entertainer and comic actor, known for his rapid-fire delivery of jokes and one-liners and for his success in virtually all entertainment media. He was also known for his decades of overseas tours to entertain American troops, and he received numerous awards and…
Anthony Hopkins, Welsh stage and film actor of burning intensity, often seen at his best when playing pathetic misfits or characters on the fringes of insanity. Hopkins had early ambitions to be a concert pianist. He began acting at age 18 when he joined a YMCA dramatic club. He received a…
Napier, New Zealand
April 10, 2001 (aged 61)
NZ On Screen - Biography of Nyree Dawn Porter
Bob Dylan, American folksinger who moved from folk to rock music in the 1960s, infusing the lyrics of…
Vincent van Gogh, Dutch painter, generally considered the greatest after Rembrandt van Rijn, and one…
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Cyrus Grace Dunham
Cyrus Grace Dunham is an American writer and activist. Dunham appeared in the independent film Tiny Furniture, which was written and directed by their older sister, filmmaker and actress Lena Dunham.
Books by Cyrus Grace Dunham
A Year Without a Name
by Cyrus Grace Dunham - Autobiography, Biography, Gay & Lesbian, Memoir, Nonfiction
Beginning as Grace and ending as Cyrus, Dunham brings us inside the chrysalis of gender transition, asking us to bear witness to an uncertain and exhilarating process that troubles our most basic assumptions about who we are and how we are constituted. Written with disarming emotional intensity in a voice uniquely theirs, A YEAR WITHOUT A NAME is a potent, thrillingly unresolved meditation on queerness family and desire.
Browse by last name: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
View all by author »
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UNIC Annual Report: Strong but Unequal Growth in the European Market
Exhibition News • Vassiliki Malouchou • June 18 2019
The European box office topped 8.1 billion euros in 2018, a 5.6% year-on-year decrease as admissions dipped 3.3%, according to UNIC’s annual report published on Monday, the first day of CineEurope. According to the European trade body, despite a slight decrease, 2018 marked the fourth consecutive year that European cinemas crossed 1.29 billion admissions.
UNIC’s 38 European nations, which include Russia and Turkey, are responsible for 22% of the global box office. 2018’s success reiterates “the continued cultural, social and economic importance of cinema-going for Europe today and its key position on the global stage,” said UNIC’s CEO, Laura Houlgatte, in her keynote speech at CineEurope.
France regained its status as the leading cinephile European country, with 201.1 million admissions, in front of Russia with 200.5 million admissions and the U.K. with 177 million. 2018 was a record year for the U.K., where admissions reached their highest levels since 1970, but also for Poland (59.7 million admissions) and Turkey (70.4 million), as attendance was bolstered by a strong slate of local productions.
With an average of 1.5 admissions per capita, Ireland (3.3), France (3.1), Estonia (2.8) and the U.K. (2.7) had the highest individual consumption of films in the region. Ireland and France were also the leaders in screen density with 108 and 91 screens per million inhabitants, respectively.
The Balkans witnessed the highest growth, both in terms of admissions and theatrical returns, increasing as much as 18% and 19.9% respectively in Serbia. However, German-speaking countries faced another consecutive dip as admissions and the box office strongly decreased in Germany (- 13.9% admissions / -14.8% box office), Switzerland (-12.9% /-12.5%), and Austria (-11.4% / -9.5%), partly because of competition from the World Cup and record-breaking heat waves. With years of recession, Southern Europe faced similar declines with drops in Greece (-7.4% / -7.7%) and Italy (-6.9% / -5%).
The European box office was dominated by American content, with Bohemian Rhapsody becoming the top hit in 8 countries and Avengers: Endgame in 6. However, local productions gained momentum. The number one films in Serbia, Poland, Luxemburg, Lithuania, Denmark and Turkey were local. Turkey had the largest national film market share, rising to 62.5% compared to the average 29.4% for the region.
For Houlgatte, Europe’s commitment to cultural diversity is responsible for such a successful year at the box office. “For one, it reflects the key role of cinemas as spaces where cultural diversity can truly flourish. The significance of the cinema experience in terms of ensuring access to diverse and inclusive film content, via the highest-quality means possible, cannot be overstated. We pride ourselves on the diversity of our content in Europe.”
The report also highlighted the continuous investment of European operators to provide high-quality, state-of-the art experiences for their audiences. In particular, eventful, immersive and digitally connected experiences were on the rise in the area.
Despite last month’s European Union elections, which saw the rise of far-right populist parties, and the growth of streaming players that don’t abide by the rules of the game, Houlgatte reiterated UNIC’s commitment to protect European cinema in collaboration with European institutions, and—refraining from quoting Helen Mirren—saluted the industry’s continuous efforts to uphold longstanding business models. “Cinemas are not only here to stay—we’re here to grow and continue to bring audiences together all over the world to share in the unmatched big-screen experience. The clearer we can shout that message, the better.”
European box office Laura Houlgatte UNIC
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