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Home Technology Snap blocks Al Jazeera in Saudi Arabia to “comply with local laws”
Snap blocks Al Jazeera in Saudi Arabia to “comply with local laws”
Snap has bowed to pressure from the government of Saudi Arabia to censor a news channel operated by the Qatar-based news broadcaster, Al Jazeera, from the Snapchat Discover section of its app. The development was reported earlier by the WSJ.
Al Jazeera launched a Snap Discover channel in English in December 2015 — but only launched its Arabia news channel in May this year.
A spokesperson for Snap provided TechCrunch with the following statement explaining the decision: “We make an effort to comply with local laws in the countries where we operate.”
We understand that Saudi Arabia’s Communications and Information Technology Commission, acting on behalf of the Ministry Of Culture and Information, informed Snap that Al Jazeera’s Discover Publisher Channel was in violation of Article 9 of the Saudi law of Printed Material and Publication, and Article 6 of the Saudi Anti-Cyber Crime Law.
Article 9 of the Saudi law of Printed Material and Publication includes a series of censured clauses pertaining to media — including not inciting feuds and spreading dissent among citizens, and not jeopardizing the country’s security or serving foreign interests in conflict with national interest; while Article 6 of the Anti-Cyber Crime Law censures the: “production, preparation, transmission, or storage of material impinging on public order, religious values, public morals, and privacy, through the information network or computers.”
So, tl;dr, the law enshrines a regime of total state-control of media. Reporters Without Borders ranks Saudi Arabia as 168th in the World Press Freedom Index, noting in a summary of the country that: “Saudi Arabia has no independent media, the authorities tolerate neither political parties, unions, nor human rights groups, and the level of self-censorship is extremely high. The Internet is the only space where freely-reported information and views can circulate, albeit at great risk to its citizen journalists. ”
Al Jazeera has long been accused by the Saudis of being a tool for Qatar to stoke opposition to regional governments. And the broadcaster has certainly courted controversy.
This summer a group of Saudi-led Middle Eastern nations also broke off diplomatic ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting and sheltering Islamist groups — an accusation it denies.
The wider political context here is a regional power struggle, with Saudi and its Gulf allies seeking to maintain the political status quo and viewing Qatari as a destabilizing risk.
At the time of writing Al Jazeera had not responded to a request for comment but, in a statement to the WSJ, a spokesperson for the broadcaster couched Snap’s decision to close its channel in Saudi Arabia as “an attempt to silence freedom of expression”.
“The fundamental question that Al Jazeera is asking is, how could a U.S. company which is publicly traded, and which stands for freedom of speech where access to social media is a constitutional right, deny these rights to others?” the spokesperson added.
We understand Al Jazeera’s Snap content has not been removed from Snap’s apps in other countries in the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Kuwait, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Yemen, Tunisia, and Oman.
The content is also still available in Al Jazeera’s home territory of Qatar.
Snap launched the Discover feature in January 2015, introducing a new section to Snapchat where users could consume content created by broadcasters, publishers, music labels, artists and so on — packaged up in the Snap Stories form.
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Roger Bolton
Roger Bolton is the president of the Arthur W. Page Society, the premier professional association for senior corporate communications executives. He has been named one of the Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business Behavior by Trust Across America, a program of Next Decade, Inc. Previously, he served as senior vice president of communications at Aetna, a $35 billion provider of health care benefits, with responsibility for all internal and external communications, advertising, brand management and corporate public involvement. He also chaired Aetna’s Council for Organizational Effectiveness – a group of senior executives responsible for helping the company achieve high performance through culture change – and served on the board of the Aetna Foundation. Before Aetna, Bolton was IBM’s director of corporate media relations and director of communications for the IBM server and software groups.
Prior to his business career, Bolton served as assistant secretary of the Treasury for public affairs under President George H.W. Bush, assistant U.S. trade representative for public affairs in the Executive Office of the President under President Reagan, and special assistant to President Reagan in the White House, with responsibility for the president’s relations with business and labor. He is a recipient of the U.S. Treasury Distinguished Service Award.
Sandra Clark
Sandra Clark has been a vice president at WHYY, Philadelphia’s public radio station, since mid-2016. Prior to joining public media, she was a managing editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer, where she rose through a number of editorial positions before joining the senior leadership team. In her spare time, she also serves as managing editor for the student blog, Because Arcadia, at Arcadia University in Glenside, Pennsylvania, an opportunity to mentor and grow young writers. During much of the 1990s, Clark worked for the Peace Corps in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde, and for Africare in Mozambique running a variety of programs.
Clark is the former board president of the Pennsylvania Associated Press Media Editors and currently serves on the boards of the Associated Press Media Editors (APME) and William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas and an M.B.A. from Arcadia University.
Suki Dardarian
Dardarian joined Minneapolis’ Star Tribune in April of 2014 as senior managing editor and vice president, overseeing news and digital. Prior to that, she spent 15 years in senior management at The Seattle Times, including roles as managing editor and director of audience development/innovation. After graduating from the University of Washington with a bachelor’s degrees in communications and political science, Dardarian reported for The Everett Herald, The News Tribune and The Seattle Times. She is also a former president of the Associated Press Media Editors.
During her time as managing editor at The Times, it earned two Pulitzer Prizes, for breaking news and investigative reporting. Also, a project she edited for the News Tribune was a Pulitzer finalist in explanatory reporting. In 2016, the Star Tribune was a Pulitzer finalist in local reporting for its examination of Minnesota’s treatment of people with disabilities. This year a Star Tribune project on the state’s failure to adequately handle cases of elder abuse was awarded the APME grand prize for Public Service.
Ellyn Fisher
Ellyn Fisher is the senior vice president of public relations and social media for the Ad Council. She promotes the organization and its more than 40 public service communications programs, including Smokey Bear and “Love Hates No Labels,” the Ad Council’s iconic diversity and inclusion effort. During her 15 years of experience, Fisher has developed an expertise in media relations, influencer engagement, community management, content development and strategic partnerships. She has served on the American Cancer Society’s Communications and Marketing Advisory Board. Fisher is an alumna of Penn State and has served on the Advertising/PR Board of the Bellisario College of Communications and currently serves on Penn State’s Communications and Marketing Committee. She received Penn State’s Alumni Achievement Award in 2012.
Marie Hardin
Marie Hardin has been the dean of Penn State's Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications since July 2014. She joined Penn State's faculty in 2003, and previously served as associate dean for undergraduate and graduate education, capping levels of responsibility that grew regularly during her tenure at the University. Hardin’s research has focused on issues of diversity, ethics and professionalism in sports journalism. She is author of more than 80 journal articles and book chapters and is co-editor of a book on sports and digital media, published by Routledge. Hardin was also the director of the Arthur W. Page Center between 2010 and 2014.
Aedhmar Hynes
Aedhmar Hynes is the former CEO of Text100, a global marketing communications agency that boasts a diverse list of clients, including IBM, Johnson & Johnson, American Express and AirBnB. She has become a recognized voice in global leadership within public relations. For decades, she has been described as a “natural disrupter” and an agent of change within the industry. Hynes graduated from The National University of Ireland—Galway and is currently a member of its foundation board. She is a member of Page Society board of trustees and its current chair. Hynes received the Global Technology Award for Communications and was named one of the top 50 most powerful people by PRWeek the past three years. She received the Page Society Distinguished Service Award, the Plank Center Milestones in Mentoring Agency Award, and was named 2018 Global Professional of the Year.
Jon Iwata
Jon Iwata is Executive in Residence at the Yale School of Management, an appointment he received upon his retirement from IBM in 2018. He led IBM’s global marketing, communications and corporate citizenship organization for nearly a decade. He was most recently IBM Senior Vice President and Chief Brand Officer. Iwata has reported to three IBM CEOs during two decades of significant transformation of the information technology industry, global business and geopolitics. In addition to his fellowship at Yale, Iwata is a trustee of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, and a director of the Ladies Professional Golf Association. He is an inductee of the Marketing Hall of Fame, the CMO Club Hall of Fame and the Page Society Hall of Fame. He was named a Brand Genius by AdWeek in 2017. Iwata is co-inventor of a U.S. patent for advanced semiconductor lithography technology.
Maril MacDonald
Maril MacDonald, CEO of Gagen MacDonald and past president of the Arthur W. Page Society, is well respected for her expertise in the field of communications and strategy execution. Prior to founding Gagen MacDonald, she led communication and brand strategy for International Truck and Engine Corporation, and with CEO John Horne, directed a cultural turnaround that eventually led International to the Wall Street Journal’s “Top 10 Performers” list and Business Week’s “Top 50 Companies”.
Chicago-based Gagen MacDonald offers clients leadership assessment and coaching, organizational design, diversity strategies and information flow management. The firm, formerly known as Matha MacDonald LLC, changed to Gagen MacDonald in honor of MacDonald’s father and to personify the integrity his name represents. She was named by PR Week as one of “the 50 Most Powerful Women in PR” and recognized as a “PR All-Star” by Inside PR.
William G. Margaritis
Bill Margaritis is a business consultant and investor. He oversaw corporate branding, internal and external communications, government relations and corporate responsibility programs for Hilton Worldwide. Margaritis previously served as senior vice president for FedEx Corporation for 16 years, overseeing reputation management, investor relations, public relations, employee communications and CSR programs for FedEx Corp. and its subsidiaries globally.
Prior to joining FedEx, Margaritis was vice president of Bechtel International, based in London and was responsible for managing public relations and marketing communications for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Southwest Asia. He also worked in Washington, D.C., and Athens, Greece, for separate divisions of the company. Margaritis also has broad experience in government affairs through positions with Occidental Petroleum, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and the Michigan State Senate. In 1984, Margaritis served as deputy director of the Reagan-Bush re-election campaign for the state of Michigan.
Tom Martin
Tom Martin has served as the executive-in-residence in the Department of Communication at the College of Charleston since 2007. In this role, Martin works with the students, faculty and administration of the College to enhance the relationship between the Communication Department and the business community, and to help its students successfully transition into the business world. As EIR, Martin teaches undergraduate classes, organizes student trips, serves as a mentor to students, and works with the Department’s Advisory Council of which he is a past chair. In 2016 he launched the Martin Scholars program, a selective mentoring, networking and learning program for graduating seniors in Communication.
Martin was formerly vice president of corporate communications for the Federal Express Corporation, where he was responsible for worldwide public relations, investor relations and employee communications for the Fortune 150 Company. He was also responsible for the public relations and internal communications efforts for the launch of the FedEx brand in 1994. He serves on the board of the PRSA Foundation, and has also served as a trustee of the Arthur W. Page Society. He was chairman of the Society from 2004 to 2005 and received its Distinguished Service Award in 2011. He is active in SVP-Charleston, a philanthropic partnership investing in non-profits. Tom is also a member the PR News Hall of Fame.
John S. Nichols
John Nichols, emeritus professor of communications, is the founding director of the Page Center. Nichols taught international communications at Penn State since he joined the faculty in 1977 and specialized in Cuban communication issues for nearly three decades. His current research focuses on international propaganda, the right to travel, and the role of media in conflict. Nichols is the co-author or contributing author of three books that have received the Choice "Outstanding Academic Book" award and is the author of numerous other publications in international communications and foreign affairs. He is a past chair of the University Faculty Senate and, in 1999, won Penn State's "Most Innovative Teacher" award. His Ph.D. is from the University of Minnesota.
Bill Nielsen
Advisory Board Chair
Willard “Bill” Nielsen is a former corporate vice president of public affairs at Johnson & Johnson and a management communications consultant. He specializes in organizational vision and values, corporate communications, public relations, public affairs and corporate coaching, drawing on experience gained over 30 years in both industry and agency leadership positions.
Nielsen serves on the Boards of Trustees of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Josephson Institute of Ethics. He also serves on the Advisory Board for the TEDMED Conferences. He retired as corporate vice president of public affairs, at Johnson & Johnson in 2004, after 17 years with the company. He joined Johnson & Johnson in 1988, following 18 years as a public relations agency consultant with Carl Byoir & Associates and Hill and Knowlton. Nielsen served two terms as president of the Arthur W. Page Society and was inducted into that organization’s Hall of Fame in September 2003. He is a past chairman of The Seminar. He also chaired the board of the Institute for Public Relations and continues as an emeritus director, and served on the Board of Directors of the Global Public Affairs Institute. He is a member of, The Wisemen and the Public Relations Society of America.
Dave Samson
Dave Samson has been the general manager of public affairs for Chevron Corporation since 2004. He oversees the multi-billion-dollar company’s communications strategies, from digital engagement and media relations to risk-mitigation and internal communications. Previously, Samson was head of worldwide communications at Levi Strauss & Co. He also led international communications at both IBM and Oracle, and was a partner and managing director at Ketchum Public Relations. A member of the Page Hall of Fame, Samson is the immediate past chair of the Society and past chair of the general committee for the American Petroleum Institute. He graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s in journalism and the University of Phoenix with an MBA.
Gary Sheffer
Gary Sheffer is currently the Sandra R. Frazier professor of public relations at Boston University. Prior to this position, he was a senior corporate strategist at Weber Shandwick. Sheffer served as vice president of corporate communications and public affairs for General Electric for 13 years. He was GE’s chief global reputation officer, developing protocols for crisis, risk assessment and tactical execution. Gary also served as chairman of the Arthur W. Page Society. He is on the board of the Institute for Public Relations (IPR) and is a founder/board member of the GE-Reagan Scholarship Program. He is a graduate of Siena College.
Denise Bortree
Page Center Director
Denise Bortree is an associate professor in the department of advertising and public relations in the Bellisario College of Communications at Penn State and the director of the Arthur W. Page Center. She brings more than 10 years of industry experience to the position, including work as communications manager for two Fortune 500 companies. Bortree’s research focuses on sustainability, corporate social responsibility, and nonprofit communication. Her research on volunteer communication led to her selection by the United Nations Volunteers to write for its State of the World’s Volunteerism study. Her work at the Page Center has resulted in two co-edited books and a number of peer reviewed publications.
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Tag Archive for Chula Vista
San Diego bike rider killed after going through red light; third SoCal bicyclist killed this week
September 19, 2018 / bikinginla / One comment
A San Diego-area man has been killed while riding his bike, the third bicycling fatality in Southern California this week.
According to the Union-Tribune, the 44-year old victim was struck by the driver of a pickup truck in Chula Vista around 10 pm last night.
The paper reports the collision occurred at Second Avenue and Palomar Street, where witnesses say the victim, who has not been publicly identified, went through the red light on southbound Second.
However, San Diego’s NBC-7 says he was traveling east on Palomar, which would mean the driver was on Second.
He suffered severe head and injuries, and died after being taken to a local hospital.
The 22-year old driver stayed at the scene; police don’t believe drugs or alcohol use was a factor.
A street view shows a four lane road with left turn bays on Palomar, and a two lane street on Second. Palomar has a 35 mph speed limit, while residential Second should have a 25 mph limit.
The severity of the victim’s injuries, despite wearing a helmet, would suggest that the driver may have been traveling faster than that.
This is at least the 36th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 7th that I’m aware of in San Diego County.
It comes after a bicyclist was killed in LA’s San Fernando Valley on Monday, and another was the victim of a fatal hit-and-run in Torrance yesterday.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and all his loved ones.
Category: Bicycle Safety, Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: bicycling fatality, Chula Vista, San Diego County
Bike rider killed in Chula Vista; 65th SoCal cycling fatality this year
September 5, 2014 / bikinginla / 7 comments
Sometimes, all it takes is a single mistake.
That seems to be what happened in Chula Vista, as a bike rider was killed in a collision Friday afternoon.
According to the Union-Tribune and other sources, the cyclist, who was identified only as a 60-year old man, was riding south on the 800 block of Hilltop Drive, near Telegraph Canyon Road, around 3:10 pm. According to witnesses, he was on the far right edge of the road when he suddenly made a sharp left turn directly in front of a pickup traveling in the same direction.
He was declared dead at the scene, after the driver was unable to avoid hitting him. No word on why the victim may have turned without warning, or apparently looking for traffic before turning.
This is the 65th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 7th in San Diego County. It’s also the 2nd cycling death in Chula Vista this year, and the 5th since 2012.
My deepest sympathy and prayers for the victim and his loved ones.
Morning Links: DUI drivers get well-deserved extended sentences, and a careful Menifee cyclist mourned
July 27, 2014 / bikinginla / 4 comments
Good news as a couple of outrageous high-profile legal cases come to a conclusion.
A Chula Vista car thief is sentenced to 14 years, 8 months in prison for the death of bike rider David Voigt. Michael Reyes, who was already on probation for car theft and meth possession, was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty earlier this year to gross vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence, auto theft, possession of methamphetamine and other charges.
Reyes was behind the wheel of a car he had just stolen after a day of drinking when he crossed onto the wrong side of the road and hit Voigt head-on, killing the husband and father before crashing into a tree and power pole.
And a Colorado woman gets a well-deserved 10 years for killing a cross-country cyclist after falling asleep while driving with cocaine and anti-depressants in her system — while on her way to a court hearing on a previous DUI arrest.
Menifee remembers fallen cyclist Matt Carp for his caring and passion for riding, while a friend describes him as the safest bike rider he’s ever ridden with.
Unfortunately, sometimes that’s not enough.
Compounding the heartbreak, Carp’s oldest son took his own life following his father’s death, in a tragedy of Shakespearean proportions.
As expected, Vincenzo Nibali rode to victory on the Champs Elysees after dominating the Tour de France from the first stage to the last. He says he couldn’t have won without improved drug testing to level the playing field.
Improvements in bike technology are increasing the risk of serious injuries in the peloton. And the legendary Jens Voight calls it a TdF career after 340 stages.
The Wall Street Journal looks at Sunday’s big race in Paris; no, the other one. As expected, Marianne Vos took the inaugural women’s La Course race, as British favorite Lizzie Armistead crashed out near the end. The NY Times notes Vos won a race she worked to get started.
Meanwhile, Brit rider Emma Pooley observes that women’s cycling is an underdeveloped asset.
Mayor Garcetti promises urban acupuncture to transform the city’s future Great Streets; I know exactly where I’d like to stick the first needle or two.
Better Bike’s Mark Elliot offers an insightful response to the recent Times editorial criticizing Councilmember Gill Cedillo’s ill-advised veto of the planned North Figueroa road diet. Two other letter writers, not so much. As often happens, a pair of self-proclaimed bike riders insist no one will ever ride to work or to go shopping simply because they can’t imagine themselves doing it, ignoring the fact that countless others cyclists do it every day.
A sarcastic Burbank letterset decries planned bike lanes on Verdugo, saying it doesn’t matter how many motorists or homeowners are inconvenienced if it placates bike riders. Sounds about right to me.
A Pasadena rider suffers serious head injuries when he’s hit by a car while walking his bike across Los Robles Ave; fortunately, he’s expected to survive. This is why I always prefer to ride rather than walk my bike across an intersection; on foot, you’re a sitting duck.
A Santa Ana cyclist vows to fight after he’s ticketed for not registering his bike and riding on the sidewalk; several SoCal cities — including LA — cancelled their bicycle registration requirements after police used them to target bike riders.
Newport Beach asks cyclists to comment on the city’s proposed bike plan.
A Riverside cyclist is rescued after intentionally riding his bike off a paved pathway on Mt. Rubidoux.
An Oxnard cop becomes a Facebook hero after he buys a little girl a new princess bike to replace the one she had stolen.
The family of a fallen San Luis Obispo cyclist files suit against the driver who took his life.
The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition offers advice on how to avoid dooring and what to do if it happens anyway.
People for Bikes asks why don’t more African-Americans ride them?
How to teach anyone to ride a bike in five easy steps.
Remarkably, an Oregon rider is back on his bike after three surgeries for benign brain tumors.
An Indiana man keeps riding at age 83.
A North Carolina rider says every cyclist lives with “the fear.”
Canada is missing the boat — or rather, the bike — on cycling tourism.
A Vancouver pedestrian suffers a broken back when she’s hit by a speeding cyclist and knocked off a seawall. Seriously, show some extra caution around people on foot; some pedestrians may be clueless, but they’re the only ones more vulnerable than we are out there.
The Guardian follows a single New York Citi Bike around the city for a day; here’s what happened when they tried the same experiment in London.
Yet another young driver tweets about running down bike riders, yet another employer pays the price for her stupidity.
An American cyclist who spent the last two decades circling the globe to promote world peace is killed by a drunk driver near Moscow.
Tokyo looks to London for bicycling inspiration.
An Indian army officer sets a new record for riding a bike 103 kilometers — 64 miles — with a bottle of water balanced on his head; not surprisingly, there was no old record. And an Illinois bike rider is pleasantly surprised when a cop tickets the tailgating driver behind him. Thanks to my aspiring filmmaker nephew Adam Sputh for the heads-up; if there are any admissions officers for the USC film school reading this, save him a place in the class of 2019.
Category: Legal Cases, Morning Links / Tags: bicycling, Chula Vista, David Voigt, Los Angeles, Michael Reyes, sometimes justice really does prevail
Update: Chula Vista bike rider killed by drunk driver in stolen car
March 3, 2014 / bikinginla / 8 comments
A drunk driver. A stolen car. A dead cyclist.
A San Diego area bike rider has lost his life at the hands of a criminal apparently too drunk to control the car he stole.
According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, 29-year old Michael Reyes was traveling westbound on Chula Vista’s East J Street at Dennis Avenue around 4:15 pm Monday when he somehow crossed into oncoming traffic. He hit cyclist head-on before crossing over the sidewalk and crashing into a utility pole.
Reyes allegedly admitted to the police that he had been drinking, and that the silver Nissan Maxima he was driving had been stolen earlier that afternoon. Inside the car, police found property that appeared to come from other car burglaries.
The 44-year old bike rider, who has not been publicly identified, was taken to UC San Diego Medical Center where he died.
There was nothing the victim could have done to avoid the collision. He does not appear to have done anything to contribute in any way to his own death, other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time, sharing the same planet with a drunk on a crime spree.
If there is any justice, his killer won’t be back behind the wheel of any car, stolen or otherwise, for a very long time.
This is the 20th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first in San Diego County. This is also the fourth cyclist killed in Chula Vista since 2012.
Update: The victim has been identified as 44-year old Chula Vista resident David Voight. According to San Diego’s 10News, Voight was a regular bike commuter, and was just eight blocks from his home when he was killed.
Category: Bicycle Safety, Injuries and Fatalities, Violence & Crime / Tags: bicycling fatality, Chula Vista, collateral damage, David Voight, DUI, Michael Reyes, San Diego County
Another bike victim In San Bernardino; cyclist seriously injured in Chula Vista; and charges in October OC hit-and-run
February 21, 2014 / bikinginla / 8 comments
Let’s hope bad news just comes in twos this time.
Less than 24 hours after news broke that a bike rider had lost his life at the hands of a drunk driver in Huntington Beach Wednesday night, news is coming in that another rider died earlier that evening, this time in San Bernardino.
According to the Press-Enterprise, the 43-year old cyclist, who has not been publicly identified, was riding west on the 1200 block of West Kendall Drive around 6:40 pm when she swerved across the roadway. While riding against traffic in the number 1 (left) lane of the roadway, she was apparently hit head-on by an eastbound Mustang driven by a 20-year old woman.
She was pronounced dead at the scene.
No word on why she suddenly started riding against traffic. But let this serve as a reminder to never ride salmon — let alone in the middle of the roadway — and always be aware of other traffic on the roadway before making any sudden moves.
This is the 15th bicycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the second in San Bernardino County.
My prayers and sympathy for the victim and all her loved ones.
More bad news comes from San Diego County, where a bike rider suffered life threatening injuries in a collision with a truck in Chula Vista.
According to San Diego’s 10News, the victim was apparently crossing the offramp to the southbound I-805 at Bonita Road when he was hit by a truck exiting the freeway around 10 pm Wednesday.
Google’s satellite view shows what appears to be a bike lane leading up to the offramp.
Police say the driver stayed at the scene and did not appear to be under the influence.
The station reports initial evidence suggests the rider was at fault. However, traffic exiting the freeway is required to yield to through traffic; unless the victim was riding against traffic or failed to observe a traffic signal, it’s hard to imagine how he could have been at fault.
If police are saying he did go through a red light, the question is whether there are any independent witnesses other than the truck driver to attest to that, and if the signalization provided enough time to get across the intersection.
Either way, it sounds like prayers or good wishes are in order once again.
Jeffrey Fylling forwards word that Orange County prosecutors have filed charges against the truck driver who killed 19-year old cyclist Manuel Morales Rodriguez last October.
Forty-eight year old Filemon Reynaga was to be arraigned on Friday on one count of felony hit-and-run causing death and a misdemeanor charge of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence.
Reynaga is accused of hitting Rodriguez as he pulled his semi truck out of an Anaheim driveway, then dragging the victim and his bike under his truck for up to 150 feet before fleeing the scene without stopping. Rodriguez was then hit by a second vehicle, which remained at the scene, and died as a result of inures suffered in the two collisions.
If convicted, Reynaga faces up to five years in state prison. He’s currently free on a ridiculously low $50,000 bail.
Finally, while we’re on the subject, I received this email from a rider troubled by all the recent bicycling deaths in Orange County, following the death of Matthew Liechty on Edwards Street in Huntington Beach on Wednesday. (Note: I added the links.)
But take fair warning. It’s a difficult read. And the last line hits like a punch in the gut.
Edwards became an alternate commute route for me after Roger Lippmann’s slaughter… until I realized that swinging over to PCH took me right past Becki Lee James’ house, which creeps me out. And now I’m disinclined take Goldenwest (whose “vicious hills” had become “gentle rollers” pretty quick after I abandoned the flat PCH commute) because I’ll picture the crunched-up Camry in the Ralph’s parking lot.
Have I ever passed this Matt Liechty on my commute? Was he the guy with the really, really bright headlamp? Were the distant sirens I heard last night responding to this incident?
What. the. holy. serious. fuck. Can’t I have a single fucking street on my commute where somebody hasn’t been slaughtered? Is that too much to ask?
And that piece you linked to recently about ghosts… I see those ghosts everywhere, sometimes in visual incarnations. New flowers on Lippmann’s memorial, a year and a half later? I hit the brakes and looked out at the sunshine sparkling on the water and wanted to apologize to him at the top of my lungs because he got a death sentence and his killer only got six years. Every time I pass 9th Street in Sunset Beach, every time, I still see the sea breeze blowing the ashes left behind by the flares set down for the investigation of Kenneth Prevatte’s death: gray ashes, grey asphalt, gray clouds. At 43rd & Wadsworth, where nobody from Perry’s office which announced it could be bothered to show up for a joke of a so-called press conference, I nearly caused a pile-up on RWNN last summer when I recognized the intersection as we entered it and idiotically froze, because I was seeing the ghost that no one else on that ride saw.
I see these ghosts because if I forget then I’ve left a rider behind and I can’t leave a rider behind.
Category: Bicycle Safety, Bikes & the Law, Hit-and-Run, Injuries and Fatalities, Legal Cases / Tags: bicycling fatality, Chula Vista, Filemon Reynaga, Morales Rodriguez, San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, San Diego County
Bike rider killed in Sunday Chula Vista collision; two riders injured in separate SoCal shootings
April 29, 2013 / bikinginla / 4 comments
This was not a good weekend to be a bike rider in Southern California.
Following on the heels of Saturday’s infamous Mulholland motorcycle crash that mowed down two riders — more on that later — word comes this morning that a bike rider died in the San Diego suburb of Chula Vista Sunday night.
Multiple sources are reporting that the 59-year old rider, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, was crossing Palomar Street at Industrial Boulevard when he was struck by a westbound vehicle and critically injured around 7:30 pm. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died later last night.
The driver remained on the scene; police said drugs or alcohol did not appear to be a factor.
No other details are available at this time.
This is the 19th bicycling fatality in Southern California this yea, and the third in San Diego County. The victim is also the second bike rider to die in San Diego County in the past week.
My deepest sympathy for the victim and his loved ones.
Adding to the weekend’s carnage was the apparently unrelated shootings of two bike riders over the weekend.
According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, an unidentified rider was shot and wounded while riding on the Rio Hondo Bike Path around 4 pm Sunday.
The man reported hearing gunshots from an unknown location before discovering he had been hit by two bullets. Fortunately, his injuries were not life-threatening.
In a separate case, the L.A. Times reports that a 27-year old man was shot in the back from a passing car while riding his bike along South Hoover Street at Manchester Avenue around 3:45 this morning.
The victim is in stable condition at at local hospital. No description of the suspect or the vehicle used is currently available.
Thanks to Rick Risemberg for the link to the Times article.
Police say the shooting may have been gang-related, not surprising given the drive-by nature of the incident.
Category: Bicycle Safety, Injuries and Fatalities, Violence & Crime / Tags: bicycling fatality, Chula Vista, San Diego County, shootings
Update: 8th Southern California cyclist killed in last 8 days, as Chula Vista cyclist dies in solo fall
I don’t even know what to say any more.
In the single worst period in memory for Southern California cyclists, eight riders have now died since Friday of last week, as a Chula Vista cyclist succumbed to injuries suffered yesterday in a solo fall.
According to a release from the Chula Vista police, a 39-year old bike rider, who has not been publicly identified pending notification of next of kin, was riding northbound on Broadway near C Street around 2:50 pm. A witness saw him lose control going downhill and tumble on the roadway, suffering a serious head injury.
He died shortly after being transported to the UC San Diego Medical Center.
The report notes that the victim was not wearing a helmet; for once, that actually might matter, since this would seem to be exactly the sort of collision bike helmets are designed to protect against.
Eight deaths.
A rate of one a day, distributed throughout the seven county SoCal region — although, as you’ll see below, San Diego County has suffered far more than their share, accounting for well over half of the cycling deaths in the last week.
And from a wide spectrum of causes, from solo falls to late night hit and runs, and cyclists of seemingly every possible description.
If there’s a common element, I can’t find it. And I have no idea how to stop this outrageous streak of roadway carnage.
All I know is this can’t go on.
It just can’t.
At the end of May, we were on a pace for just 48 bicycling deaths this year; as of today, that’s risen to 68.
This is the 37th cycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the 10th in San Diego County — the same rate as Los Angeles County, but with less than one-third the population. He was also the fifth cyclist to die in San Diego County in just the last eight days.
And he was the eighth cyclist to die in a solo riding incident since the first of the year.
My prayers and condolences to the victim and his loved ones. And my prayers for everyone who rides today; may you all return home safely.
Thanks to Sam at Bike SD for the heads-up.
Update: The San Diego Union-Tribune identifies the victim as 39-year old George Sandoval of Chula Vista. According to the paper, Sandoval was riding on the sidewalk when he began of steer his bike into the street; his front wheel somehow detached and his fork dug into the road, throwing his over his handlebars and onto the street. He was pronounced dead a little more than an hour later.
Let this be a reminder to have your bike checked out by a qualified mechanic on a regular basis to avoid mechanical failures like this.
Category: Bicycle Safety, Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: bicycling fatality, Chula Vista, San Diego County, solo bike collision
Breaking news: arrest made in Mel’s Drive-In beating case; two cycling victims identified
May 8, 2012 / bikinginla / 2 comments
Just a quick note, as my other job — the one that actually results in income on all too rare occasions — is keeping me tied up tonight.
However, I don’t want the day to pass without a quick update on a few cases we’ve discussed here recently.
First up, I’ve received confirmation that the driver who severely beat a cyclist in front of Mel’s Drive-In in Sherman Oaks last month has been identified, and an arrest has been made.
According to LAPD bike liaison Sgt. David Krumer, the victim was supposed to be told of the arrest today (Monday).
As you may recall, the cyclist was riding on Ventura Blvd when he was honked at, then dangerously buzzed by a pickup truck coming up from behind. When he saw the same truck at Mel’s Drive-In moments later, he stopped to confront the driver.
But instead of arguing with the rider, the driver responded by knocking him down and repeatedly kicking him in the face.
There was some concern that the driver of the Oregon-licensed truck would leave the state before an arrest could be made — particularly since the LAPD detective in charge of the case had reportedly taken no action 48 hours after the assault due to a heavy caseload.
And there was some question whether the person driving the truck — and who attacked the cyclist — was the owner of the truck.
There’s no word yet on the identity of the driver, or what charges he will face.
But the simple fact that an arrest has been made is a positive step forward.
Today also put names to the victims of two fatal bike collisions.
The cyclist killed in a solo fall yesterday has been identified as 47-year old Luis H. Esparza of La Puente. According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, he was riding on the sidewalk when he collided with a raised metal mailbox and fell into the street, striking his head on the curb.
The incident took place in the Bassett area of unincorporated L.A. County.
And no, Esparza was not wearing a helmet, even though this is exactly the sort of collision bike helmets are designed to protect against.
This time, it may have cost him his life.
Finally, Philip Young forwarded word today that the cyclist killed while riding past an elementary school in Chula Vista last January was 77-year old Robert Howard Marshall. Marshall was a 20-year Navy veteran who had served in Korea and Vietnam, and left behind a wife, four children, 10 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Maybe it’s just me. But it strikes me as vital to put a name to every cycling victim when we can, so we can remember them for the people they were, and not just tragic statistics.
Category: Bicycle Safety, Bikes & the Law, Injuries and Fatalities, Violence & Crime / Tags: bicycling, bicycling fatalities, Chula Vista, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Luis H. Esparza, Mel's Drive-In, Robert Howard Marshall, violence against bicyclists
Bad day in San Diego area, as one cyclist is killed and another critically injured
January 20, 2012 / bikinginla / 3 comments
Just heartbreaking.
A 77-year old cyclist was killed while riding past a school in Chula Vista Thursday morning, and another cyclist suffered life-threatening injuries in a second collision Thursday afternoon.
In the first case, the victim was riding past Chula Vista’s Rice Elementary School when an employee of the school, described only as “elderly,” pulled out of the parking lot around 8:30 am, hitting the cyclist with her Jeep Cherokee. The rider, whose name has been withheld, was taken to a nearby hospital where he died about an hour later.
It’s unsure if the driver will face charges, though the police note the victim did have the right-of-way.
This is the 5th cycling fatality in Southern California this year, and the first in San Diego County. And we’re less than three weeks into the new year.
In the second case, a cyclist in his mid 40’s was riding in the bike lane on Sorrento Valley Blvd east of Whispering Heights Lane when he was rear-ended by a Toyota driven by a 75-year old woman about 1:05 pm.
The San Diego Union Tribune reports the rider was thrown from his bike and run over by the car, which ended up against a tree with the unconscious cyclist trapped underneath. A police spokesman said at least three witnesses saw the collision; one told police the driver was using a cell phone just before the collision.
According to the paper, doctors say he will be a paraplegic if he survives.
My heart and prayers to both victims and their loved ones.
Update: The victim has been identified as Robert Howard Marshall of Chula Vista, a 20-year Navy veteran of Korea and Vietnam. He leaves behind his wife, four children, 10 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
That’s what’s so heartbreaking about any traffic fatality. It’s not a statistic, but a real human being with a life and loved ones. And whose death leaves a huge hole that can never be filled in the live of everyone who knew him.
Thanks to Philip Young for forwarding the identification.
A couple of other quick notes.
A memorial service will be held for Hollywood writer/producer Carol Schreder at noon Sunday, March 4th at the Aero Theater at Montana and 14th in Santa Monica. As you may recall, she was killed by an out-of-control van on Mulholland Hwy in the Malibu Hills last month; at last word, the CHP was still unwilling to take action against the driver, despite repeated reports that he was speeding and driving recklessly prior to the collision.
Bike advocate Richard Risemberg, aka Mr. Bicycle Fixation, writes to remind us about this weekend’s midnight bike movies at the Vista Theater in Silverlake, with four short films all set in the world of L.A. bicycling.
Finally, congratulation to new LACBC board members Herbie Huff, Lynn Ingram and Efren Moreno. Alex Amerri was elected board president at the board meeting on Wednesday, with Steve Boyd as Vice President and Greg Laemmle elected Treasurer; Scott Moore continues as Secretary. Alex replaces outgoing President Chet Kostrzewa, who has done a great job guiding the Coalition through a period of rapidly expanding influence over the past few years and will be very missed.
My apologies to everyone looking for an analysis of last year’s cycling fatalities, as I had promised on Twitter Thursday. Unfortunately, today’s bad news takes precedence; barring any further breaking news, I’ll have the story online Monday. Look for some very surprising findings, including the possibility that neither L.A. or the door zone is as dangerous as you might think.
Category: Bicycle Safety, Injuries and Fatalities / Tags: bicycle fatality, bicycle injuries, Carol Schreder, Chula Vista, LACBC, San Diego
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Net Traveller
About technology, travel and lifestyle, by Tom Worthington.
Mango Trees Hazard on Queensland Railway
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) issued its final report on "Collision of passenger trainT842 with station platform, Cleveland,Queensland, 31 January 2013", 20 December 2013. The ATSB found the train wheels slipped due to contamination from nearby trees. "Slippery rail" is a well known in the railway industry. While the cause is usually due to leaves on the track, it can be remarkably hard to predict or combat. As part of the investigation ATSB found there were trees next to, or overhanging the railway line at the top 10 locations where trains had overrun station platforms. One aspect not covered in the report is if the type of vegetation effects rail slip.
The most instances on the Brisbane rail network of station overrun occurred at Lindum railway station. Figure 19 on page 31 of the report shows an overhead shot of the station, pointing to trees nearby. I attended school nearby and recognise the grove of Mango trees in the photo. These trees have a much more dense foliage than native eucalyptus and drop sticky sap filled leaves and twigs as well as fruit. I have suggested to the ATSB that perhaps this causes more wheel slip that other vegetation.
Posted by Tom Worthington at 4:06 PM
Labels: ATSB, Brisbane, Queensland, railways, Safety Critical Systems
Wireless Broadband for the Community
Eco Rating of Mobile Phones
Sydney Double-Decker Express Commuter Bus
Finnish Green ICT Sector Action Program
Wireless Broadband for Regional Australia
Universal Startup Pitch Deck
Hawkei Australian Protected Vehicle for Prime Mini...
Bulk Energy Storage for Renewable Energy
Random Hacks of Kindness Sydney Judging
Santa-land Under the Archway in Sydney
Humanitarian Computing Completion in Sydney
Salvage Shipping Containers Using Twistlocks
Kamerian Defence Force Threat to Australia
Australian Designed High Speed Warships for Austra...
Canberra, ACT, Australia
Tom Worthington is an independent computer professional, educational design consultant and an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the Research School of Computer Science at the Australian National University. A Certified Professional member of the Australian Computer Society, in 2015 Tom received a national gold Digital Disruptors Award for "ICT Education" and in 2010 was Canberra ICT Educator of the Year. Tom previously worked on IT policy for the Australian Government and in 1999 he was elected a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society for his contribution to the development of public Internet policy. He is a Past President, Honorary Life Member, Certified Professional and a Certified Computer Professional of the society as well as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a voting member of the Association for Computing Machinery and a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Tom has a Masters of Education (specializing in Distance Education) from Athabasca University, a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education from the Australian National University and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment from the Canberra Institute of Technology.
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G Government Affairs
More than 1,000 private entities have access to terror watch list, government says
By By Rachel Weiner | The Washington Post, For The Washington Post , On 22 February 2019, Read Original
Muslims who have been put on the government’s secretive terrorism watch list are demanding to know more about the 1,441 private entities that have access.
The number was revealed recently through litigation in federal court in Alexandia, Virginia. It's one of a half-dozen lawsuits related to the watch list filed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations. On Friday, CAIR will ask a federal judge to force the government to release the names of the private entities and explain how they access the list.
The massive, classified database was created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to track people deemed potentially dangerous who had not committed crimes. In litigation, CAIR has argued that the terrorism database and the no-fly list that comes out of it ensnare and stigmatize innocent people.
In a deposition last October, an FBI official said he was "not aware of any" private entities that had access to the database through the National Crime Information Center.
In a court filing, which was first reported by the Associated Press, the FBI acknowledged that more than 1,000 actually did have that access.
These firms are providing criminal justice services, according to the FBI - for example, private prisons, university police and private security companies that work in government facilities or hospitals. The Transportation Security Administration also shares watch list information with airlines.
But lawyers for CAIR say they believe the dissemination goes further, citing plaintiffs who say they have had trouble getting loans or keeping bank accounts open without explanation.
CAIR's attorneys argue that the conflicting information from the FBI casts its handling of the list into doubt and shows the need for more transparency.
"Either they knew that they were being deceitful or the FBI exercises so little care with the watch-listing system which implicates more than a million people," said CAIR attorney Gadeir Abbas.
An FBI spokesman did not immediately return a request for comment.
Hassan Shibly, one of the plaintiffs and the leader of CAIR Florida, said he has been on and off the watch list since he was 18 years old and has gone through long searches at airports at least 20 times.
"It's just a consistently humiliating experience that doesn't make the country any safer," said Shibly, now 32.
All 25 plaintiffs were taken off the list after filing the lawsuit, but Abbas said they have continued to face problems because of their earlier inclusion.
Devlin Barrett contributed to this report.
Civil Rights, Islamophobia, Government Affairs
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Childhood Abuse and Dead Rock Stars
Solo Rock Stars Die Young by Tom Jacobs
Do you dream of being a rock star? Do you hope to live a long life?
If so, you’d better start prioritizing—or, at the very least, join a band. Because from Elvis Presley to Amy Winehouse, solo pop superstars are disproportionately likely to die young (although not necessarily at age 27).
That’s one finding of a study just published in the British journal BMJ Open, which takes a close look at mortality among rock and pop icons of the past half-century. And just like the rest of us, it finds, famous musicians are more likely to die from substance abuse if they had troubled childhoods.
A team of researchers led by Mark Bellis, director of the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University, looked at the mortality rates and childhood experiences of 1,489 rock and pop stars who gained fame between 1956 and 2006. Comparisons were made across the decades, and between European and American musicians.
Confirming earlier studies, the researchers report famous musicians are more likely than their fans to prematurely enter rock and roll heaven. Specifically, they found the gap in life expectancy between pop stars and the public widened consistently until 25 years after the musicians first became famous.
After that, for reasons that aren’t clear, mortality rates for European stars gradually revert back to those of the general population, while the gap remains wide for American stars. (Are reunion tours bad for your health?)
The researchers found solo performers were about twice as likely to die earlier than expected (that is, earlier than the average for their demographic category) as members of a band. Among North American solo stars, nearly 23 percent died before their time, compared to just over 10 percent of band members. Among Europeans, the figures were 9.8 percent for solo stars and 5.4 percent for members of a band.
This could reflect that solo stars tend to be more famous than band members and thus face a different set of pressures and temptations. Or, the researchers speculate, the support of fellow musicians could be a “protective factor” against certain self-destructive behaviors.
That said, the study strongly suggests those behaviors are rooted in experiences that occurred far before a musician achieved fame—or perhaps even before they picked up an instrument.
Using biographical sources, Bellis and his colleagues determined whether each star had suffered one of more “adverse childhood experiences,” including physical abuse, sexual abuse, or living with a mentally ill, suicidal or chronically ill person. They then matched these results with the cause of death of the 132 rock and pop stars who died over this 50-year period.
They found over 47 percent of those who died from chemical misadventure or other “risk-related causes” such as suicide or violence had suffered some form of childhood adversity. The figure was only 25 percent for those who died of other causes.
“Consideration of childhood experiences brings into question whether even limitless resources in adulthood can undo the impact of adverse childhoods,” the researchers note. Money and fame can give people easy access to the high-risk lifestyle that childhood traumas predisposed them to gravitate towards. That can literally be a lethal combination.
This finding is particularly disturbing given how many young people think of these musicians as role models, and/or dream of being pop stars. Amateur talent shows such The X Factor, which has its season finale this week, consistently receive some of the highest ratings on television.
“A better understanding of the underlying causes of risk-taking in performers may help deglamorize such behavior,” the researchers conclude, “and reduce its appeal to fans and would-be rock and pop stars.”
Indeed, it would mark a major cultural shift if the heavy-partying lifestyle of pop stars was seen not as an enviable perk of fame, but rather as a sign that these talented but troubled people are, in many cases, destructively coping with some deep childhood wounds.
“It is better to know nothing than to keep in mind fixed ideas based on theories whose confirmation we constantly seek.”
“It is better to know nothing than to keep in mind fixed ideas based on theories whose confirmation we constantly seek.” Claude Bernard
Aultruism = Counting Favors in Monkees
Area of Monkey Brain Keeps Tally of Altruistic Acts
…monkeys have a specific area in their brains to keep track of altruistic acts…They used electrodes to directly record neuronal activity in three areas of the prefrontal cortex, an area that is known to be involved in social decision-making while the monkey performed reward-related tasks. Continue reading →
How the Brain Handles Different Goals
The best-laid plans: How we update our goals based on new information
Princeton University researchers have identified mechanisms that govern how the brain incorporates information about new situations into our existing goals…. updating goals takes place in a region known as the prefrontal cortex, and appears to involve signals associated with the brain chemical dopamine. …”We have found a fundamental mechanism that contributes to the brain’s ability to concentrate on one task and then flexibly switch to another task,” Continue reading →
“…peoples’ cognitive skills – such as the ability to make rapid comparisons, remember unrelated information and detect relationships – peak at about the age of 22, and then begin a slow decline starting around age 27.”
A new study indicates that some aspects of peoples’ cognitive skills – such as the ability to make rapid comparisons, remember unrelated information and detect relationships – peak at about the age of 22, and then begin a slow decline starting around age 27.
Read more at: http://phys.org/news156751524.html#jCp
” “Intriguingly, people who regularly played computer games did perform significantly better in terms of both reasoning and short-term memory. And smokers performed poorly on the short-term memory and the verbal factors, while people who frequently suffer from anxiety performed badly on the short-term memory factor in particular”
yea gaming!
“After detoxification and even after prolonged abstinence, heroin cues still exert implicit appetitive effects in heroin users. This implies that drug–induced adaptations of reward circuits are long–lasting, resulting in a highly stable addiction memory.”
Sad and very dangerous.
‹Older posts
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Brain Institute Receives Over $7 Million for Research on Neurophilosophy of Free Will
March 5, 2019, 9 a.m.
(WE ARE HIRING!)
Several labs in this joint project are hiring postdocs. For details on list of job openings, job requirements and how to apply, please click here.
If you have any other question about this project, please contact us at freewill@brain.chapman.edu.
Front (left to right):
Uri Maoz, Chapman University/UCLA/Caltech (Project Leader); Liad Mudrik, Tel Aviv University; Manuel Vargas, UCSD (collaborator on the project); Alfred Mele, Florida State University; Adina Roskies, Dartmouth College; Tim Bayne, Monash University; Gideon Yaffe, Yale University
Back (left to right):
John-Dylan Haynes, Charite - Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Tillmann Vierkant, University of Edinburgh; Tim O'Connor, Indiana University Bloomington; Patrick Haggard, University College London; Hans Liljenström, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences /Sigtuna Foundation; Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Duke University; Aaron Schurger, Chapman University/INSERM; Mark Hallett, NIH; Pamela Hieronymi, UCLA; Frederick Eberhardt, Caltech (collaborator on the project)
Not in the photo:
Ned Block, NYU; Gabriel Kreiman, Harvard; Ueli Rutishauser, Cedars Sinai Medical Center/Caltech (collaborator on the project)
The newly-minted Institute for Interdisciplinary Brain and Behavioral Science (The Brain Institute) at Chapman University, with Dr. Uri Maoz as project leader, is the recipient of a total of $7.04 million to study how the human brain enables conscious control of decisions and actions. The John Templeton Foundation funded $5.34 million; the Fetzer Institute funded $1.55 million; and the remaining $150,000 comes from the Fetzer Memorial Trust. This is Chapman’s largest non-federal research grant to date. With the Chapman Brain Institute serving as the central hub, this grant supports research efforts at 17 universities spanning four continents: including Charité Berlin (Germany), Dartmouth, Duke, Florida State University, Harvard, Indiana University Bloomington, NIH, Monash University (Australia), NYU, Sigtuna (Sweden), Tel Aviv University (Israel), University College London (UK), University of Edinburgh (UK), UCLA, and Yale.
The project will launch at an international conference on the Neuroscience of Free Will that the Brain Institute and Crean College of Health and Behavioral Sciences at Chapman University will host March 14-18. A celebratory Grand Opening Dedication and Ribbon Cutting is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 13, at the Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science campus, located at 14725 Alton Parkway, Irvine. The event and light brunch to follow is open to the entire campus community.
“We were pleased to establish Chapman’s Brain Institute and to bring the faculty associated with it to Chapman University last year,” said Daniele Struppa, Ph.D., Chapman University president. “Their approach to research reflects Chapman’s goal of combining research with teaching and involving undergraduate and graduate students at all levels in the process. We are grateful for this grant from the Templeton Foundation and the Fetzer Institute, which recognizes Chapman as a leader in this developing field.”
Uri Maoz, Ph.D.
“This grant aims to create a new field in the study of the brain—the neurophilosophy of free will,” said Uri Maoz, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology and computational neuroscience at Chapman University. “The extent and scope of human free will have been debated by philosophers for millennia. In recent decades, neuroscientists have joined the discussion, leading to some interesting discoveries. The current project, however, represents a four-year effort forging structured, close collaborations on these questions between eight neuroscientists (including Dr. Aaron Schurger, assistant professor of psychology, the latest faculty recruit to the Brain Institute at Chapman) and nine philosophers from around the world. Hopefully, in 10 years we will look back at the grant and say that’s where it all started,” said Dr. Maoz.
Amir Raz, Ph.D.
“This large-scale investment, by the John Templeton Foundation and the Fetzer Institute, comes to the Brain Institute even before its official launch next month,” said Amir Raz, Ph.D., Chapman University professor of psychology and brain sciences and director of the Brain Institute. “Work at the Brain Institute addresses fundamental questions of human experience: do we have free will? Are we, in fact, free to do what we wish? What is the role of consciousness in our decisions? We are grateful for the opportunities the combined grant offers as well as the testament it provides to confidence in our work.”
Aaron Schurger, Ph.D.
“The Templeton Foundation and Fetzer Institute grant acknowledge that consequential, complex questions find answers only when approached through the lenses of multiple disciplines and their research techniques,” said Janeen Hill, Ph.D., dean of Crean College. “Chapman University’s and Crean College’s commitment to brain science and its inherent interdisciplinarity is reinforced by the significance of this combined grant.”
Entitled “Consciousness and Free Will: A Joint Neuroscientific-Philosophical Investigation,” the grant aims to advance efforts in the neurophilosophy of free will. For example, researchers at the Brain Institute and their collaborators will use advanced analysis techniques of brain activity and strive to decode decisions and actions before they take place. Or they will use various techniques to compare human brain activity when people make arbitrary decisions (e.g., when asked to randomly raise their left or right hand) and deliberate ones (e.g., when asked to raise their left or right hand to donate to one charity or another).
“This grant, placing Chapman as a leader in neuroscience, reflects our deepening commitment to research and to academic excellence,” said Glenn Pfeiffer, Ph.D., provost of Chapman University. “This announcement comes soon after the recent elevation of Chapman University to Carnegie Classification R2, signifying ‘high research activity.’ We have never been stronger as a research institution than we are right now.”
“In fact,” said Thomas Piechota, Ph.D., PE, vice president of research, “this is an opportune time to partner with Chapman University. The research being conducted by the Brain Institute and throughout Chapman is exciting and innovative. Our faculty are exemplary researchers and the involvement of students of every level – including first-year undergraduates – is a fundamental part of the personalized education that we offer.”
Hosted at the Rinker Health Science campus in Irvine, as well as on the Orange campus, the Brain Institute comprises a network of interdisciplinary researchers who conduct empirical investigations into the cognitive neuroscience of altered planes of consciousness, neuropsychology, volition, formal models of higher brain functions among other fields. Our work draws on clinical populations, healthy volunteers, and innovations in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data.
“Questions about consciousness and free will are of enduring interest in both philosophy and the sciences. This project will feature field-leading researchers on these two topics, using rigorous and collaborative methods to advance our understanding of both of them. It is, therefore, a perfect fit for the John Templeton Foundation, and we are pleased to support Chapman in this initiative,” said John Churchill, director of philosophy and theology programs at the John Templeton Foundation.
“We are drawn to this work because of its cutting-edge exploration of free will, the breadth of the research effort Chapman University has developed, and the scale of this major funding collaboration with Templeton,” said Mohammed Mohammed, Fetzer Institute program director of research, discovery, and development. “We are excited about this venture into the intersection of philosophy and neuroscience.”
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Brazil’s Agribusiness Exports Much Better ...
Book Tells Story of New ...
Brazil’s Agribusiness Exports Much Better than Anticipated
by Danilo Macedo August 10, 2009
Brazil's current scenario for agriculture is much better than the forecasts made in late 2008, when the global financial crisis was reflected on national agriculture due to the outflow of foreign capital. This evaluation is by Agriculture minister Reinhold Stephanes, who on Friday, August 7, made a balance of the sector priorities for the second half.
Stephanes said that the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the dollar greatly exceeded the reduction of prices of agricultural commodities on the foreign market, stimulating the growth of the volume exported by 4.5% in the first months of the year.
"The balance should continue positive in 2009, as Brazil is the main net exporter of agricultural products in the world and the value of exports is six times the value of imports," he said.
Among the priorities of the ministry up to the end of the year, the minister of Agriculture pointed out the great challenge to Brazilian agribusiness expansion on the international market, mainly in the livestock sector.
He said that it is necessary to improve trade relations with China, with whom Brazil is negotiating the authorization for the sale of pork, as is the case with Japan.
With regard to South Africa, the country is trying to reopen the chicken and pork market, closed since 2005. Talks with Russia are proceeding for greater quotas for meats that may be imported from Brazil.
According to Stephanes, the government should also closely accompany the mechanisms for the trade of wheat, which should start being harvested next month.
Despite the last study by the National Food Supply Company (Conab) estimating a slight reduction, he believes that if the climate helps, there may be a slight growth of between 5% and 10% in the grain crop when compared to the 6 million tons harvested in 2008.
The target, up to 2012, is to reach production of around 60% of the needs of the population, which should reach around 11 million tons of wheat this year.
The minister of Agriculture said that the information he has heard from Argentina, the main wheat supplier for the national market, should have further crop reduction, thus further reducing exports to Brazil. "This year they sowed little over half the volume they had planted in the same period last year," he said.
The minister added that, if this takes place, the possibility of a lower Common Foreign Tariff (TEC) for countries outside the Mercosur may be evaluated, but taking into consideration the maintenance of prices on the domestic market.
Reinhold Stephanes
Danilo Macedo
Book Tells Story of New Arab Immigrants to Brazil: the Muslims
Friends Shelve Corruption Charges Against Brazilian Senate President
Brazilian Women Find Their Voice Against Repression and the Government
A Ballerina’s Tale: From Brazil’s City of Steel to the Spotlights of the World
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Tag: Black History Month
Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit,” Is the Greatest Song Ever Recorded
In a few simple lyrics and one magnificent performance, the track tells the story of endless struggle struggle, of boundless pain, and ultimately of resilience. It is everything music can be and should be, all in three minutes.
To ask the question of the greatest song of all time will often leave many music fans scoffing and claiming the question to be unanswerable. To some extent, they’re right. This question, as with anything else in music, does come down to personal opinion, and though there is some understanding that one’s choice aught to be historically important and maybe even performed by fairly well known artist, there’s no agreement as to what balance should be struck between cultural significance and sonic quality, let alone what role one’s personal taste may play into the decision. All of this being said, I have come to the position that one song in particular is uniquely poised to be chosen. I’m speaking of Billie Holiday’s 1939 masterpiece, “Strange Fruit.”
It’s difficult to know where to begin on this track, but we’ll start with an understanding of the pedigree involved with the song’s recording. The Cafe Society Band handles the brunt of the instrumental load. They’re one of the most revered African American jazz bands of the era, accompanying the likes of Nat King Cole and Miles Davis, along with many more. Their main gig came as the house band for the Cafe Society, which was known for political cabaret performances and for being the first integrated nightclub in New York.
Of course, the real star is Billie Holliday, who likely needs no introduction, but will receive one nonetheless. She has six singles and two albums inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, in addition to 23 Grammy Awards, all given after her tragic death in 1959. She had a horribly difficult upbringing in 1920’s Philadelphia, including surviving an attempted rape at the age of 11 and losing her father to a treatable lung disorder for which he was refused care on the grounds of his skin color just a few years later. In spite of this, she went on to release some of the most popular and influential music in the entire history of Jazz music, sell out Carnegie Hall in the 1948, and is now regarded as one of the greatest vocalists in American history. And she simply has no better performance than that which she gave on “Strange Fruit.”
On the song, Holiday’s command of silence and subtlety is simply breathtaking. The emotion conveyed in her twisting, spinning vocal mannerisms is absolutely haunting, and when she uses the full extent of her vocal power, there is no listener in the world who wouldn’t feel a chill striking directly to the bone. Buried in the many facets of her voice is the howling cry of an oppressed people that simply can’t be ignored. Unimaginable anger, unfathomable anguish, and unbreakable resolve all ring through her voice. This is to say nothing of the lyrics.
Taken from a poem written by American songwriter and poet Abel Meeropol who used the pseudonym of Lewis Allan at the time for fear of anti-semitic bigotry, the lyrics focus on lynching in the American South. He was inspired by the infamous and horrendous photo of two men, Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith, being lynched in front of an excited crowd in Marion, Indiana in 1930. It isn’t only the topic of the lyrics but the fearless way in which the lyrics describe the “Strange Fruit,” as “black bodies, swaying in the summer breeze.” They go on to speak to the state of the decaying bodies much like rotting fruit, touching on smells and horrific imagery. It is, genuinely, one of the most powerful pieces of writing put to paper and there are very few ways to describe the sense of horror and disgust it inspires without simply reading the lyrics, which I must insist that anyone reading this piece do, immediately.
Most important of all, however, is the history surrounding the song and Holiday’s performance of it. While reports vary on how she came across the song itself, she debuted it at the Cafe Society in 1939, which was, as previously mentioned, New York’s first integrated night club. The song quickly became a regular for her along with rules for it’s performance. She would close with it, the waiters would stop all service in advance, and the room would be completely dark, except for a spotlight on Holiday’s face. There would be no encore. During the musical introduction, Holiday stood with her eyes closed, both praying and preparing herself for the performance.
She had extreme difficulty getting the track recorded as her label, Columbia, denied her, fearing repercussions from record retailers in the South. She also faced great fear of retaliation for even performing the song, though she chose to keep performing it as the imagery reminded her of her father and his unfair treatment from the medical community. Holiday went to her friend, Milt Gabler, who owned an alternative Jazz label called Commodore. She performed the piece a cappella and moved him to tears, convincing him to record the track with the help of the Cafe Society band and pianist, Sonny White. Holiday’s recording of the track eventually sold one million copies upon release, which was extremely rare for the time. It would be a large hit for Holiday throughout her career and was named as the “Best Song of the Century,” by Times Magazine in 1999.
All this being said, strip away sales, political importance, and historical pertinence, and “Strange Fruit,” is still the greatest song of all time. It is the most harrowing cry of pain ever put to record.
In a few simple lyrics and one magnificent performance, the track tells the story of endless struggle, of boundless pain, and ultimately of resilience. It is everything music can be and should be, all in three minutes.
Author brendonsbeatsPosted on February 5, 2019 February 4, 2019 Categories ThoughtsTags Billie Holiday, Black History Month, Greatest Song Ever, Strange FruitLeave a comment on Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit,” Is the Greatest Song Ever Recorded
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Immigration and British Citizens by Jean Calder
I’ve been interested to read responses to one of my recent blogs, Labour Fails to Listen.
In his comment, Jim Grozier disagreed with what I’d said about immigration. He wrote: “I have a major problem with one paragraph, and one phrase in particular – “the rights of British people” – sent a shiver down my spine.” He added “Surely the only rights British people have are *human* rights – the same rights that the immigrants have – so why should British people be favoured over non-British people?”
I find these ideas fascinating. I am an immigrant. I remain immensely grateful to the UK for taking me in in 1972 and for providing me with a better and safer life than I would have had in South Africa. I’ve worked hard since I’ve been here and, like most immigrants, have tried to give something back. However, back in the 1970s I never for one moment thought I had a right to the same services and benefits as British-born people. It simply would never have occurred to me, given that neither my parents nor I had contributed, by our work or our taxes.
I worked for three years in order to gain what was then called ‘resident status’ and then went to Sussex University as a mature student on a full grant. I will always be grateful for this. However, if the government of the time had decided that immigrants like me needed to work for five or seven years rather than three, because British born people needed the places or because the country couldn’t afford it, I would have accepted it. I wouldn’t have liked it, but it would have seemed to me fair and completely reasonable that the country should look after its own young people first. I’ve never had any difficulty with this notion, though I would expect that after a certain period of legal residence and contribution, rights would equalise.
It seems strange to suggest that British citizenship should bring with it no rights other than basic human rights. As Britons, we don’t live in a supranational European state or a world without borders. The nation state still exists and so long as it does, continues to confer particular rights and responsibilities on its citizens. This is true in all countries, not just our own. It seems to me absurd to suggest that national governments should, in all circumstances, give equal weight to the well being of visitors or settlers, whatever the hardship this may cause to the people of the host nation.
Tony Greenstein commented that apparent concern about immigrants’ undercutting wages “has been the staple argument of racists for over 120 years.” He is right, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t in some cases true. My point is that, over several years, an unscrupulous political elite in the UK developed a deliberate strategy of bringing in workers for the purpose of undercutting wages and conditions and undermining unionised labour. Unskilled jobs which could have been carried out by British people were, quite legally, advertised abroad rather than in the UK. Skill shortages were not addressed by a state education and training establishment, which, over decades, failed to prepare indigenous workers for key trades and professions, for example in building, nursing and medicine. One result is an NHS staffed by low-paid agency workers with poor English – and well-paid doctors from abroad, who could perhaps have better served their countries by working at home.
Jim ended his comment by recalling MP Dennis Skinner’s Commons speech in which he attacked UKIP MPs and referred to what he called his “United Nations heart bypass” operation. He said: “..it was done by a Syrian cardiologist, a Malaysian surgeon, a Dutch doctor, a Nigerian registrar, and these two people here talk about sending them back from whence they came. And if they did that in the hospitals in London, half of London would be dead in six months.”
It was a moving and amusing speech and a wonderful piece of polemic, but Skinner should surely also have asked why our very wealthy country fails to train enough people to staff its NHS. After all, tiny cash-strapped Cuba manages to produce enough doctors and nurses to meet its own needs and has for decades been able to export them, as required, to war zones and disaster areas around the world. I have to ask, if they can do it, why can’t we?
I’ll respond to Tony’s comments about Lutfur Rahman and islamophobia, Ireland and feminism at a later date.
Filed under: Capitalism, Politics, UK Politics | Tagged: British citizenship, Cuba, Dennis Skinner, human rights, Immigration, Jean Calder, Jim Grozier, NHS, skill shortages, Tony Greenstein, undercutting wages | Leave a comment »
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LibreriaNorma.com
Muchoslibros.com
Das Corpus Juris Civilis.
Carl Eduard Otto, Bruno Schilling, Carl Friedrich Ferdinand Sintenis
WENTWORTH Press, 2018 M08 8 - 858 páginas
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
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As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Das Corpus juris civilis, Volumen4
Carl Eduard Otto,Bruno Schilling,Carl Friedrich Ferdinand Sintenis
Das corpus juris civilis, Volumen7,Parte2
Título Das Corpus Juris Civilis.
Autores Carl Eduard Otto, Bruno Schilling, Carl Friedrich Ferdinand Sintenis
Editor Carl Friedrich Ferdinand Sintenis
Editor WENTWORTH Press, 2018
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LEE v. WASHINGTON
LEE v. WASHINGTON(1968)
Argued: November 7, 1967Decided: March 11, 1968
A three-judge District Court declared Alabama statutes requiring racial segregation in prisons unconstitutional and established a schedule for desegregation. The State's challenges of the judgment based on Fed. Rule Civ. Proc. 23 (relating to class actions), the claimed constitutionality of the statutes, and the failure to allow for necessary prison security and discipline, held to be without merit.
263 F. Supp. 327, affirmed.
Nicholas S. Hare, Special Assistant Attorney General of Alabama, argued the cause for appellants. With him on the briefs were MacDonald Gallion, Attorney General, Gordon Madison, Assistant Attorney General, and J. M. Breckenridge.
Charles Morgan, Jr., argued the cause for appellees. With him on the brief were Orzell Billingsley, Jr., and Melvin L. Wulf.
This appeal challenges a decree of a three-judge District Court declaring that certain Alabama statutes violate the Fourteenth Amendment to the extent that they require segregation of the races in prisons and jails, and establishing a schedule for desegregation of these institutions. The State's contentions that Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, which relates to class actions, was violated in this case and that the challenged statutes are not unconstitutional are without merit. The remaining contention of the State is that the specific orders directing desegregation of prisons and [390 U.S. 333, 334] jails make no allowance for the necessities of prison security and discipline, but we do not so read the "Order, Judgment and Decree" of the District Court, which when read as a whole we find unexceptionable.
The judgment is affirmed.
MR. JUSTICE BLACK, MR. JUSTICE HARLAN, and MR. JUSTICE STEWART, concurring.
In joining the opinion of the Court, we wish to make explicit something that is left to be gathered only by implication from the Court's opinion. This is that prison authorities have the right, acting in good faith and in particularized circumstances, to take into account racial tensions in maintaining security, discipline, and good order in prisons and jails. We are unwilling to assume that state or local prison authorities might mistakenly regard such an explicit pronouncement as evincing any dilution of this Court's firm commitment to the Fourteenth Amendment's prohibition of racial discrimination. [390 U.S. 333, 335]
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‘The Original Ginny Moon’ by Benjamin Ludwig
May 6, 2017 May 6, 2017 / Jaclyn Bauer
What would it be like to be different? Truly different? What would it be like to be loved despite your differences? These questions are the very questions that set the foundation for The Original Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig.
Ginny Moon, the main character is a teenager girl with autism, an adopted teenage girl with autism who is looking for her baby doll. Ginny was taken by social services from her mother when she was nine-years-old after the police stormed her mother Gloria’s apartment and found signs of drug use, abuse, and cat-slaughter. Now, Ginny is living with her Forever Mom and her Forever Dad in her Forever Home. The only problem is, she left her baby doll at Gloria’s.
For five years Ginny has been trying to get back to Gloria. Not really because she loves Gloria, she’s not even sure she knows how to fee love, and she knows that Gloria abused her and that she used to go hungry and get beat up. All the same, though, she has to get back to Gloria’s, because that’s where she left her baby doll when the police came to take her away. She hid her baby doll in a suitcase so it would be safe, but she doesn’t know if anyone ever found it, and she knows Gloria’s not taking care of it, because that was Ginny’s job, and now she’s not doing her job, so she has to go back.
The trouble is, her Forever Family is intent on not letting her get in touch with Gloria. So, years go by, and Ginny does her best to find Gloria, but it’s not until a friend in Room Five, where all the kids who are special go to class, gets on the internet for her and helps her track Gloria down. Now, Ginny is on a mission to get kidnapped by Gloria so she can find her baby doll and make sure it’s getting enough milk and that it’s diapers are getting changed.
A beautiful and soul moving book that shows the truth behind and beyond what it means to have an intellectual disability, The Original Ginny Moon is one of the most important books of our time. Told from Ginny’s perspective, the reader gets so close to Ginny that despite the complete absurdity of her thought process or the danger of her actions, the reader understands, the reader sees it her way, the reader wants her to succeed even though that’s not what the reader wants at all. Ludwig has an amazing ability to draw you in and show you what the world is like from Ginny’s eyes, and it’s so hard to get out, and you don’t want to get out because it’s so sad, and beautiful, and earth shaking.
Ludwig is a master of both language and form in The Original Ginny Moon, juxtaposing perfectly the terse, literalistic prose with an intense and interwoven story of love, betrayal, and redemption. The Original Ginny Moon is an absolute must read. It offers an opening into the world of disabilities that will be hard to ever match.
Slated for release by Park Row Books on May 2, 2017, The Original Ginny Moon is available for preorder at your local bookstore.
FTC Disclaimer: This book was given to me in return for a fair and honest review of the text.
Fiction, Uncategorized
adoption, autism, book review, fiction, Park Row Books
← ‘Extraordinary Adventures’ by Daniel Wallace
‘Rigor Mortis: How Sloppy Science Creates Worthless Cures, Crushes Hope, and Wastes Billions’ →
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Home / Ceramic Tech Today / Materials & Innovations / Other materials stories that may be of interest
July 27, 2016|April Gocha
[Image above] Credit: NIST
‘Rivet graphene’ proves its mettle
Nanoscale “rivets” give graphene qualities that may speed the wonder material’s adoption in products like flexible, transparent electronics, according to researchers at Rice University. The researchers report the creation of “rivet graphene,” 2-D carbon that incorporates carbon nanotubes for strength and carbon spheres that encase iron nanoparticles, which enhance both the material’s portability and its electronic properties.
Electricity generated with water, salt, and a 3-atoms-thick membrane
Researchers at EPFL have developed an osmotic power generation system that consists of two liquid-filled compartments separated by a thin membrane made of molybdenum disulfide. The membrane has a nanopore through which seawater ions pass into the fresh water until the two fluids’ salt concentrations are equal. As the ions pass through the nanopore, their electrons are transferred to an electrode—which is what is used to generate an electric current.
‘Green’ electronic materials produced with synthetic biology
University of Massachusetts at Amherst A new strain of bacteria that spins out extremely thin and highly conductive wires made up of solely of non-toxic, natural amino acids has been developed by scientists. They say the wires, which rival the thinnest wires known to man, avoid the harsh chemical processes typically used to produce nanoelectronic materials.
Graphene photodetectors: Thinking outside the 2-D box
Research led by The Institute of Photonic Sciences demonstrates a novel way to detect low-energy photons using vertical heterostructures made by stacking graphene and other 2-D semiconducting materials. By studying the photoresponse of these atomically thin sandwiches, the researchers have shown that it is possible to generate a current by heating electrons in graphene with infrared light and extracting the hottest electrons over a vertical energy barrier.
New technique for testing nanomaterials
A University of California, Irvine engineer has invented a method for analyzing nanowires at temperatures approaching 800ºF in first-ever experiments, showing the valuable role the materials could play in converting excess heat from machines and electronics into useable electricity.
New milestone in printed photovoltaic technology
Together with colleagues from Imperial College London and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg researchers have now managed to find an alternative to fullerenes. While fullerenes only absorb a very small amount of light, the new molecule is able to convert a very large amount. The more sunlight absorbed, the higher the efficiency.
Key improvement for fuel cells: Work improves understanding of process that stops reactions
Washington State University researchers have determined a key step in improving solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), a promising clean energy technology. The researchers determined a way to improve one of the primary failure points for the fuel cell, overcoming key issues that have hindered its acceptance.
New light harvesting potentials uncovered: Quantum-confined bandgap narrowing mechanism
Researchers for the first time have found a quantum-confined bandgap narrowing mechanism where UV absorption of the grapheme quantum dots and TiO2 nanoparticles can easily be extended into the visible light range. Such a mechanism may allow the design of a new class of composite materials for light harvesting and optoelectronics.
Researchers discover key mechanism for producing solar cells
Researchers from the University of Houston have reported the first explanation for how a class of materials changes during production to more efficiently absorb light, a critical step toward the large-scale manufacture of better and less-expensive solar panels.
The future of perovskite solar cells has just got brighter, come rain or shine
A team of researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) has found a new method to improve not only the efficiency, but stability and humidity tolerance of perovskite solar cells. The scientists have designed a hydrophobic conducting polymer that has high hole mobility without the need of additives, which tend to easily absorb moisture in the air.
NIST reveals valuable fundamentals of a stacked, cracked jack of all trades
There is a crack in everything, Leonard Cohen sang; that’s how the light gets in. Now a team led by scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has explored the properties of a promising class of materials with new capabilities that depend on those cracks. Their results could help open the way for practical applications from nonvolatile computer memory to quick-dimming windows.
Making a multi-use, stiff carbon foam using bread
Sturdy, lightweight carbon foam has many structural and insulating applications in aerospace engineering, energy storage, and temperature maintenance. Current methods to create this material run into difficulties when trying to make the product strong, lightweight, environmentally friendly and low-cost. Now, a group reports a method to produce such a carbon foam by using super-toasted bread.
Molecular switch for controlling color, fluorescence
Researchers have developed a molecular switching technique to control the visible color and fluorescent properties of a compound by using hydrogen and oxygen gas. This innovative work is environmentally friendly since it uses the energy from the two gases to switch the color and fluorescence of a compound and produces only water as a byproduct.
Mixing topology and spin in a gadolinium, platinum, and bismuth compound
Recently a team of researchers at MIT and collaborators at NIST, Carnegie Mellon University, and the Beijing Institute of Technology have experimentally demonstrated a “hybrid material” that is both intrinsically magnetic and has a topological character. They studied a compound of gadolinium, platinum, and bismuth, known as a ternary compound. The correlated material is more than the sum of its parts, showing quantum mechanical corrections to electrical properties at an unprecedented scale.
Computational design tool transforms flat materials into 3-D shapes
A new computational design tool can turn a flat sheet of plastic or metal into a complex 3-D shape, such as a mask, a sculpture or even a lady’s high-heel shoe. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne say the tool enables designers to fully and creatively exploit an unusual quality of certain materials—the ability to expand uniformly in two dimensions.
Scientists glimpse inner workings of atomically thin transistors
With an eye to the next generation of tech gadgetry, a team of physicists at The University of Texas at Austin has had the first-ever glimpse into what happens inside an atomically thin semiconductor device. In doing so, they discovered that an essential function for computing may be possible within a space so small that it’s effectively one-dimensional.
Technology marries light-harvesting nanoantennas to high-reaction-rate catalysts
In a find that could transform some of the world’s most energy-intensive manufacturing processes, researchers at Rice University have unveiled a new method for uniting light-capturing photonic nanomaterials and high-efficiency metal catalysts.
Ceramic Tech Today, Materials & Innovations, Other materials
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Director & Staff
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Camp Honey Creek's Director is Sandra Schmitt, former Director of Camp Arrowhead from 1983 to 2001. Known by all as "Schmitty," she brings over 50 years of experience in the camping profession to Camp Honey Creek. Her vision and leadership are an inspiration to many of her peers, campers and parents.
Schmitty received her B.S. degree from North Texas State University and her Masters in Guidance & Counseling from St. Mary's University in San Antonio. She taught in the Texas public school system for six years before devoting her life to the camping profession.
Schmitty is a Past President of C.A.M.P. (Texas Camping Association), a long-time member of the Hunt School Board and an active member of Notre Dame Church in Kerrville.
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Big Pharma seeks even greater profits from longer patents in CETA and the TPP
The Swiss-based transnational Novartis International AG is the world's largest pharmaceutical corporation in terms of sales.
In 2014, Novartis posted an operating income of $10.7 billion on net sales of $58 billion. And according to reports filed by the company with the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada, it is also interested in so-called 'free-trade' agreements. Those documents state, "Novartis is working through our Industry Association, Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) on the monitoring" of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) "and the impact to Intellectual Property (IP) in Canada", as well as "on the implementation" of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
Why might that be?
The Globe and Mail has reported, "These days, the brand-name drug companies continue to lobby Canadian trade negotiators to further extend patent protection, confirms [Canada's pharmaceutical industry's lobby group] Rx&D’s president, Russell Williams... In the negotiations leading up to [CETA] between Canada and the European Union, which was largely completed in 2014 and now awaits ratification in Europe, the European drug makers and Rx&D pressed for, and won, an increase in drug patents from 20 to 22 years in cases of regulatory delay (that is, where government safety concerns delay introduction of a drug)."
In addition, "Canada freely ceded similar drug patent extensions within the new 12-nation Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership (TPP), which includes Japan and the U.S., the countries that are home to all of the Big-Pharma firms not based in Europe. ...[That's because] the brand-name giants pushed for extended patent protection not just for traditional drugs but also for the new class of biotech-derived drugs known as biologics." In that instance, Bloomberg has reported, "The [TPP] establishes at least a five-year minimum period during which brand-name drug companies have exclusive rights to sell treatments made from living organisms, known as biologics, after they’ve been approved."
The provisions in CETA and the TPP are highly profitable for transnational corporations like Novartis, but harmful to the public interest.
Council of Canadians health care campaigner Michael Butler has noted, "It is estimated that changes to patent protection for pharmaceutical drugs in CETA could end up costing our public health care system anywhere between $850 million to $1.65 billion annually. This is up to 13 per cent of the total drug costs Canadians pay annually." Additionally, in 2010 biologics comprised over 14 percent of the Canadian pharmaceutical market and cost the Canadian health care system more than $3 billion a year; biologics are expected to grow to approximately 20 percent of the market over the next decade.
The director-general of the World Health Organization has stated, "If these agreements open trade yet close the door to affordable medicines we have to ask the question: is this really progress at all."
That is a very legitimate concern. The Globe and Mail has reported that, "Nearly one-quarter of Canadians say they or someone in their home can’t afford prescribed drugs and are splitting pills and skipping doses to make the medicine go further – or not renewing or even filling prescriptions, according to a [July 2015] poll."
And the National Post has reported, "Canadians who can't afford their prescriptions add between $7 and $9 billion in costs to the health care system, a new report states. ...Many don’t fill prescriptions because they can’t afford to, a phenomena exacerbated by the patchwork of coverage in different provinces. Those who can’t or won’t fill their prescriptions end up back in hospital and the phenomena leads to 'higher mortality'...If universal coverage were combined with other strategies, the Mowat report estimates national pharmacare could save Canadians and their governments a combined $14 billion a year."
That report also notes that we now spend more annually on prescription drugs than doctors.
Highly profitable transnational corporations have been successfully lobbying governments for longer patents through 'free trade' deals. Those longer patents mean greater profits for Big Pharma, higher drug costs for you and me, billions of dollars in additional costs to the health care system, and higher mortality rates for those who cannot afford these drugs.
Brent Patterson's blog
Brent Patterson
Former Political Director, The Council of Canadians
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Google surpassed Apple as the world’s most highly valued company in January for the first time since 2010. (Back then each company was worth less than 200 billion. Now each is valued at well over 500 billion.) While Google’s new lead lasted only a few days, the company’s success has implications for everyone who lives within the reach of the Internet. Why? Because Google is ground zero for a wholly new subspecies of capitalism in which profits derive from the unilateral surveillance and modification of human behavior. This is a new surveillance capitalism that is unimaginable outside the inscrutable high velocity circuits of Google’s digital universe, whose signature feature is the Internet and its successors. While the world is riveted by the showdown between Apple and the FBI, the real truth is that the surveillance capabilities being developed by surveillance capitalists are the envy of every state security agency. What are the secrets of this new capitalism, how do they produce such staggering wealth, and how can we protect ourselves from its invasive power?
“Most Americans realize that there are two groups of people who are monitored regularly as they move about the country. The first group is monitored involuntarily by a court order requiring that a tracking device be attached to their ankle. The second group includes everyone else…”
Some will think that this statement is certainly true. Others will worry that it could become true. Perhaps some think it’s ridiculous. It’s not a quote from a dystopian novel, a Silicon Valley executive, or even an NSA official. These are the words of an auto insurance industry consultant intended as a defense of “automotive telematics” and the astonishingly intrusive surveillance capabilities of the allegedly benign systems that are already in use or under development. It’s an industry that has been notoriously exploitative toward customers and has had obvious cause to be anxious about the implications of self-driving cars for its business model. Now, data about where we are, where we’re going, how we’re feeling, what we’re saying, the details of our driving, and the conditions of our vehicle are turning into beacons of revenue that illuminate a new commercial prospect. According to the industry literature, these data can be used for dynamic real-time driver behavior modification triggering punishments (real-time rate hikes, financial penalties, curfews, engine lock-downs) or rewards (rate discounts, coupons, gold stars to redeem for future benefits).
Bloomberg Business Week notes that these automotive systems will give insurers a chance to boost revenue by selling customer driving data in the same way that Google profits by collecting information on those who use its search engine. The CEO of Allstate Insurance wants to be like Google. He says, “There are lots of people who are monetizing data today. You get on Google, and it seems like it’s free. It’s not free. You’re giving them information; they sell your information. Could we, should we, sell this information we get from people driving around to various people and capture some additional profit source…? It’s a long-term game.”
The announcement came rolling from the Eccles Building at 2 p.m. Eastern…
No rate hike today.
Jerome Powell has decided to sit on his hands — for now.
In his very words:
It’s important that monetary policy not overreact to any one data point… The FOMC will closely monitor the implications of incoming information for the economic outlook and will act as appropriate to sustain the expansion.
That is precisely why the next move will be a rate cut.
We have reckoned lots lately about the inverted yield curve… and the recessionary menace it represents.
The 10-year versus 3-month yield curve recently inverted to its lowest level since April 2007.
Meantime, 10-year Treasury yields hover at two-year lows — 2.04%. One Bloomberg opinion piece instructs us to prepare for 1% yields.
As the old-timers know… the bond market gives a truer economic forecast than the chronically dizzied stock market.
Meantime, the New York Fed’s recession model reveals a 30% probability of recession within the next year.
It last gave those same odds in July 2007 — merely five months before the Great Recession was underway.
JP Morgan places the odds of recession in the second half of this year at 40%.
And Morgan Stanley gives a 60% likelihood of recession within the next year — the highest since the financial crisis.
Yes, the Federal Reserve will soon be cutting rates.
One clue?
Conspicuously absent from today’s statement was the word “patient.” Thus Mr. Powell telegraphs that he is ready to move.
Federal funds futures presently give nearly 90% odds of a July rate cut.
The market further expects as many as three rate cuts by this time next year — perhaps four.
We are compelled to restate the blindingly obvious:
The Federal Reserve has lost its race with Old Man Time.
The opening whistle blew in December 2015… when Janet Yellen came off the blocks with a 0.25% rate hike.
If the Federal Reserve could cross the 4% finishing line in time, it could tackle the next recession with a full barrel of steam.
Alas… it never made it past 2.50%.
The Federal Reserve cannot return to “normal.”
The stock market will yell blue murder and take to violent rebellion if it tried — as happened last December.
No, Wall Street has Mr. Powell in its hip pocket — as it had Janet Yellen, as it had Ben Bernanke, as it had Alan Greenspan before him.
But it is not only the Federal Reserve…
Last year the world’s major central banks were pledging to “normalize.”
But now they are in panicked retreat…
All have taken to their heels, hoofing 180 degrees the other way.
Both the Bank of Japan and European Central Bank are now gabbling openly about rate cuts and/or additional quantitative easing.
“It’s all in the open now. Front and center. The new global easing cycle has begun before the last one ended.”
This is the considered judgment of Sven Henrich, he of NorthmanTrader.
We must agree.
Yet the central banks have only themselves to blame…
They grabbed hold of the poisoned apple during the financial crisis.
They gulped… and took the first fateful nibble. It proved nectar to the stock market.
Encouraged by the results, they soon munched the full dose… and later went plowing through the entire tainted orchard:
Zero interest rates, QE 1, 2 and 3 — Operation Twist — the lot of it.
Even with trade war raging and recession hovering, stocks are within 1% of record heights.
And so the banks are too far gone in sin to turn back now.
Their greatest casualty?
Capitalism itself.
Henrich on the wages of central bank sin:
Let’s call a spade a spade: Equity markets and capitalism are broken. Neither can function on any sort of growth trajectory without the helping hand of monetary stimulus. Global growth figures, expectations and projections are collapsing all around us and markets are held up with promises of more easy money, in fact are jumping from central bank speech to central bank speech while bond markets scream slowdown.
We fear Mr. Henrich is correct.
We further fear capitalism will get another good round pummeling in the years to come…
The Federal Reserve’s false fireworks will land as duds against the next recession.
Cries will then go out for the artificial savior of government spending — Modern Monetary Theory (MMT).
Free college tuition… universal Medicare… jobs for all… a $15 minimum wage…a possible Green New Deal…
These and more will be in prospect.
Politicians will go running through the Treasury as a bull runs through a china shop… and leave the nation’s finances a shambles.
Only then — too late — will they discover that debt and deficits matter after all…
Brian Maher
Managing editor, The Daily Reckoning
It was always just a matter of time before the reemergence of establishment Democrats reminded people why they were booted from power in 2016. As ugly as Donald Trump is and as not constructive as his tenure in the White House has been, the Democratic establishment would rather lose with establishment candidates and retrograde policies than loosen its grip on its service to the oligarchs.
Phrased differently, if Democrats cared about ‘defeating Trump,’ they would offer programs that people want. But they are so firmly in the grip of corporate interests and the oligarchs that they won’t do so. The Republicans are just as beholden, but they offer fewer (manufactured) illusions. They represent the interests of capital. This transparency provides political clarity for those who oppose their policies.
Graph: American politicians act as if the rich minority should control our politics. Policies in the public interest are invariably corrupted through the legislative process to serve them. This is a near perfect inversion of democratic control where the richest 1% + 9% would only exist at the behest of the polity. Because it concentrates wealth, capitalism is antithetical to democracy. American elections will remain a farce until democratic control is put in place.
When announcing a congressional Medicare for All hearing recently, senior Democrats sought to control the admissible language to exclude the phrase ‘Medicare for All.’ They intend to focus instead on ‘access’ to healthcare which keeps health insurers as the extractive layer that has given the U.S. the most expensive healthcare system in the world with the worst outcomes.
What this signals, for those to whom it isn’t yet obvious, is that there are no circumstances short of revolution that will move the Democrats from service to their rich patrons. Given the stakes of environmental crisis, deaths of despair overtaking the hinterlands and military inclinations pushing the U.S. toward wars it can’t win, Democrats are signaling that they would rather go down with the U.S.A. Titanic than offer up the solutions being put forward by young socialists.
Lest the larger picture be missed here, American capitalism, for which claims of ‘efficiency’ have been used to shape and rebuild the world, has produced the least efficient healthcare system in the world in order to fill the pockets of a class that feeds on human misery. Thanks to Obamacare, health insurance executives are now the most overpaid in the entire insurance industry. This, as medical bankruptcies are undiminished since passage of the law.
The illusion of political competition facilitates the lie of democratic control. Republicans deny climate science while the Democrats place the interests of the businesses that are degrading the environment ahead of the popular will when they craft nominally public policies. Look again at the graph above: given the numbers in terms of citizens represented (executives + oligarchs), why would they have any say in the determination of public policies in a democracy?
As was the case in 2016 and for decades prior, the so-called political center is a radical outlier in terms of formulating policies in the public interest. Fifteen times as many people in the U.S. die every year from not being able to afford healthcare than have died in all of the terrorist attacks of the last century. The political ‘center’ is code for the interests of capital. It is killing the planet and bleeding the polity dry. It functioned as misdirection when the vestiges of the New Deal were intact— before ‘precariat’ described everyone who isn’t in the 1%.
The West is now four decades into a neoliberal ‘experiment’ that has failed on its own terms, but that shows no signs of either waning from its own contradictions or being dislodged politically. The political ossification that it has created comes through class control of the public sphere, domination of the political process via campaign contributions and the economic role that corporations have assumed at the heart of Western political economy.
Graph: CO2 emissions are both fact and metaphor for the seemingly unstoppable march toward environmental Armageddon. The capitalist version of a Green New Deal is premised on greatly increasing destructive environmental production in order to reduce it at some as-yet unspecified future date. As basic arithmetic has it, 5 + 1 = 6, not 4. An eco-socialist GND requires getting capitalists out of the way while the American political establishment exists to keep them in control. Source: c2es.org
While confusion has been sown around the meaning of ‘corporatism’ that stood at the center of (Benito) Mussolini’s vision of the good life, a defining characteristic of both Italian and German fascism was capitalist-state alliances where state power was used for the benefit of select capitalists and select state actors. Labor unions were systematically disempowered, and the interests of powerful economic and state actors were put forward as those of the polity.
An irony of the present is that with all the mechanisms of capitalist-state control— a capitalist media that places business interests ahead of civic accountability; corporate control that regulates the lives of citizens as surely as totalitarian regimes throughout history; and the systematic immiseration and debasement of the democratic core of the polity; a plurality is still able to look past its own interests to the public good.
A secondary irony is that as true as denunciations of Donald Trump and the Republican Party may be, the Democratic establishment has no history of challenging the substance of their programs in recent decades. Establishment Democrats want to preclude a Green New Deal and Medicare for All as surely as Republicans do. Differences between the Parties are over how to best do so— outright opposition versus killing them legislatively.
And in fact, this difference in strategy suggests the basis of bourgeois loathing of the ‘lesser’ classes. Republicans deny climate science (the ignorant heathens) while Democrats accept its conclusions while continuing to let their donor class dictate policy that perpetuates environmental degradation. Given the stakes, the Paris Accord was a fig leaf placed over a missing environmental policy when Barack Obama gave it rhetorical support.
Here is the IPCC (UN) report, released a mere two years after Mr. Obama left office, stating that far more radical action is needed to address climate change. Here is IPBES (UN) report, released a mere two years after Mr. Obama left office, stating that far more radical action is needed to address mass extinction. Environmentalists have been providing evidence that radical action is needed for five decades.
The method of the Democrat’s grift is to hand public policy to business interests just as Republicans do, but through abstract devices like trade agreements. ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) writes local, state and Federal policies that Republicans put forward as legislative proposals. Democrats push trade agreements that have Investor-State Dispute Settlement clauses to prevent governments from passing laws in the public interest.
As the graph of total CO2 emissions (above) suggests, the effect is a continuity in public policies hidden behind a veil of faux political competition. The American bourgeois congratulates itself on its clear understanding of climate change while earning its living in the service of the oligarchs and corporate chiefs who benefit from environmental degradation. Democratic politicians sooth psyches through language of ‘working toward’ and ‘access’ that gets its professional class constituents from one PowerPoint presentation to the next. The point: the bourgeois are an impediment to effective public policies, not its guardians.
With their growing use of loyalty oaths and exclusionary tactics, Democrats have adopted the logic of the radical right for the reasons of the radical right— to protect the business interests of their donor class from rising bolshevism (socialism) and market mishaps. But commies didn’t crap the environment. And market mishaps are an aspect of capitalism, not socialism. So, Democrats are joining Republicans to protect capitalists from the consequences of their own practices.
Those not directly benefitting from it want to be protected from capitalist predation. Medicare for All, a Green New Deal, raising taxes on the rich and having a political voice are popular with the little people. The political establishment also exists to protect the oligarchs and corporate executives from democratic accountability.
The self-aggrandizing ‘Art of War’ drivel of 1980s capitalist mythology posed capitalist warriors competing against one another in the rough and tumble marketplace. By 2000 or so this had given way to K Street lobbyists, congress and the Federal Reserve doing back alley deals to protect them from market failure. Payday loans, government granted monopolies and instigating wars to sell munitions all combine state with private power to extract economic rents— market competition has nothing to do with it.
Any honest assessment of American business— war, financial gamesmanship, environmental degradation and pillaging the polity, would make evident that some fair portion of the oligarch class 1) belongs in prison and 2) should be made to give up its ill-gotten gains. Some politely worded version of this political program would likely win any election hands down, suggesting that the actual political center is a few miles left of the political establishment.
Graph: Any environmental accounting based in history would place the U.S., and more precisely capitalism, front and center as both cause and beneficiary of environmental degradation. The U.S. + the E.U., really Germany and Britain, caused climate change through greenhouse gas emissions from the dawn of the industrial revolution to the present. China has become to major emitter only recently. But Chinese emissions built the export economy that flooded the West with cheap imports. In other words, Western emissions were outsourced. Source: c2es.org
A question to be answered sooner rather than later is: what configuration of political economy is needed to resolve the multiple crises that are underway? With political hopefuls offering policy proposals going into the 2020 elections, those that aren’t tied to workable political economy are likely to be little more than empty posturing.
A Green New Deal and Medicare for All would alter economic relationships. The establishment posture is: we need for ‘our’ political proposals to serve multiple economic interests. Not addressed is that it is these very interests who turned a livable environment and health care into political problems in need of resolution. So why would they be 1) left intact and 2) considered ‘partners’ in resolving the problems they have created?
The path of least resistance within the establishment frame is market-friendly proposals like carbon taxes and public-private partnerships to build renewable energy technologies. The logic is to increase the use of environmentally destructive technologies to reduce them at some future point. Again, 5 + 1 = 6, not 4. The only path to meeting IPCC and IPBES (above) goals will be to reduce cumulative environmental degradation, meaning 5 – 1 = 4.
All of the establishment plans, including those from socialists, are variations on 5 + 1 = 6, again meaning that environmental degradation must increase to reduce it at some future point. This is the same capitalist ‘growth’ logic that isn’t working. Any plan that isn’t at least cognizant of this paradox should be rejected out of hand. Moving from industrial to human-scale agriculture will require land redistribution. If people can reconnect with ‘the world,’ they might even be happier for it.
Through the concentration of economic power, capitalism is antithetical to democracy. Capitalist ‘freedom’ is the freedom of the oligarchs to exert political control through this power. This contradiction explains why the polity has little to no influence over government policies, causing growing antipathy toward the political establishment. Democrats aren’t going to voluntarily abandon their donors and Republicans wouldn’t even pretend to, suggesting that the preferred direction of the political establishment will continue to be hard right.
As Democrats are in the process of demonstrating, existing political economy must be gotten out of the way before there is any chance that solutions to current crises will be workable.
MARC STEINER Welcome to The Real News Network. I’m Marc Steiner. It’s great to have you all with us. We’re living in a very dangerous time, as many of you know, when it comes to our environment and our future. There was an article written by one of our colleagues here at Real News for Jacobin called “Socialism or Extinction.” Dharna Noor wrote it. She is one of the leaders of the Climate Bureau here at The Real News and it is a devastating article that makes you wake up. Either you could get totally depressed, or you say, “what do we do to stop this?” Dharna, hi.
DHARNA NOOR Hi. Thanks for having me.
MARC STEINER So I’m— You know, I read the article. I said, my first reaction was, “oh my God. I’m so depressed. Now what do I do?”
DHARNA NOOR Yeah.
MARC STEINER So, I mean, we’ll talk about some of the things you wrote about in here, but you really were trying to put the dangers we face about the environment and our Earth at the foot of capitalism and the foot where our societies are taking us.
DHARNA NOOR Yeah. I mean, it’s definitely a bummer and the question of how not to be depressed, I think, is not one to be undermined. I actually think it’s really important and it’s important to, sort of, deal with the scale of this kind of problem, of issues like in this case, mass extinction and the climate crisis. But also, I guess it’s important that we find a way to collectively not let that depression inhibit our ability to act. Something that’s really important for me is to note that there are ways that we can combat the, for instance, the mass extinction crisis, that would also make life for humanity far better in the short-term. In a sense, this article is just a list of ways that we can do that, a list of facts. But there’s ways that, I think, if we make a more just food system, for instance, we could have short-term benefits and of course long-term benefits. In a sense, I think that gives me hope. It means that, you know, at least fighting the greatest crises of our time will not necessarily make life worse for people. In fact, I think in many cases, it will make life better for many people.
MARC STEINER You know, what you put in this article and it was really well-done and really well- written.
DHARNA NOOR Thanks, Marc.
MARC STEINER And for me, it was also overwhelming because you have to wrestle with the reality in your face. You know, when you write about 40 percent of all amphibian species, one-third of all coral reefs, all marine mammal societies are just being devastated, pollinators are gone, 85 percent of our wetlands on the earth have been decimated with development or for whatever other reason— but to stop that onslaught is the question, which is not an easy thing to answer because people keep saying capitalism is the problem. Perhaps capitalism is a problem, but capitalism isn’t going anywhere tomorrow morning, and the earth is slowly dying, rapidly dying. Losing species, as you wrote, is one thousand times faster than ever before.
DHARNA NOOR Yeah, yeah. I mean, I of course do not disagree that capitalism is the problem, but I also don’t think that it’s true that, you know, until we abolish the profit motive, we can’t make any real changes. I do think that it’s important to fight for reforms that could come long before we get to anything like socialism. For instance, we don’t need to dismantle capitalism to change what kinds of crops get subsidized. We could easily, I think I said in the article, feed a billion more people or even billions more people if we just started prioritizing growing food for people instead of food that gets fed to livestock, which is far less efficient in terms of land use and its footprint in terms of energy. We could, kind of, you know, we could subsidize things like oats instead of corn, which is less energy-intensive to grow. So there are things that we could do, I think, in a reformist sense in the meantime, but I think it is important to, sort of, keep the end goal in mind and to see that the thing driving this is really the motive to grow our profits above everything else, above taking care of the planet and people’s health.
MARC STEINER I think part of the subtext that drives your entire article is just what you just said. You know, when I think about what you wrote about in terms of the farming system that we have in this country. Let’s talk about our own country, right? And to change the nature of farming— And I live out in the country now. I’m surrounded by this beautiful rural area and all the corn that I hate to see growing is all chemical corn, as we call it, chemical soy, because that’s where the marketplace is. That’s what the farmers have to grow if they want to make a living and keep their land because they want people buying their stuff. And so, and these are gigantic farms that are growing all of our strawberries and everything else. So the question is, it would take a real struggle for people to begin to understand what we’re facing for this to change. I think people can be complacent because you go to grocery and buy what you want and come home. You don’t know you’re breathing in plastics every other second every time you do— a credit card’s worth a day they say now in terms of size. I mean, this is part of opening minds in a political struggle, and that’s the question of how do you think you can get to that?
DHARNA NOOR Yeah, and I guess I don’t want to make it seem like there won’t be any sacrifices. It’s true that maybe we won’t have as many choices in the grocery store if we do create a more just farming system, but I think it’s pretty clear that the benefits outweigh that. I mean, a million species, a million plant animal species alone at risk of extinction is huge, and that doesn’t even include things like, you know, microscopic organisms that could have huge effects on other kinds of species and on human life. Plus, quite frankly, monoculture is just not the only way to grow good-tasting crops. I mean, we could prioritize eating and cooking and enjoying the taste of things that are indigenous to our country. I don’t think that that would be such a huge loss for people and we could save, quite literally, billions of lives in the process.
MARC STEINER Talk about this Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services that you focused your piece on and the stuff that came out of that. So talk a bit about what they are, who they are, what this report really was, and how it came out.
DHARNA NOOR So this is a UN group, a UN group of scientists. It’s, sort of, the leading group in the world on studying ecosystems, studying life on Earth. And this is the most comprehensive report that’s ever been produced on biodiversity in the history of the world. I think that that’s not contested. I mean, it’s an analysis of—
MARC STEINER When did this come out?
DHARNA NOOR This came out about a month ago.
MARC STEINER That’s what I thought.
DHARNA NOOR Right. Interestingly, very soon after the IPCC’s Report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Report, just six months ago or something, which was similarly devastating but also had a similar message. Which is, you know, it’s not too late to change our future. Just, it will take radical, transformative change in, sort of, every sector of the economy, of social life, of political life.
MARC STEINER So when this comes out like this and it—My biggest interest is when you take stuff like this, when you learn that nearly three quarters of the world’s freshwater resources are now devoted to crop or livestock production, and the amount of methane that comes out of that livestock production pollutes the air, that our industrial farming, as you wrote about, is the second biggest polluter on the planet earth after the energy industry itself. So the question is, people aren’t just going to be moved by that polar bear behind us, right?
DHARNA NOOR Agreed.
MARC STEINER [laughs] Unfortunately, so it’s how you popularize the discussion for people to understand what it means for the future, for their children’s future.
DHARNA NOOR I agree, and I do want to say that I think there have been some takes on this report, and on other environmental reports before it, that seemed to assert that it’s elitist or wrong to be sad about nonhuman life being threatened.
MARC STEINER Yes, right.
DHARNA NOOR I don’t really agree. I don’t think that it’s elitist to be concerned about tigers being absent from 96 percent of their natural territory. I don’t think that that’s wrong. I think that it’s human to be concerned about nonhuman life and I don’t think that’s wrong. However, I will say that I think that there’s no question that it’s important that we are honest about the way that this crisis, the mass extinction crisis specifically, impacts human life. You know, it’s not just that mass extinction itself could threaten human life because we depend so much on the ecosystems of the rest of the world. We depend on, you know, a fair climate, we depend on biodiversity for food and for a climate that we can live in. But also, the drivers of this biodiversity crisis are actually the drivers of much, much human suffering themselves. So it’s not just that biodiversity loss is bad for human life. It’s also that, you know, industrial agriculture has been devastating for farmers. Farmers have lost many, many profits, as these four companies that control the majority of the world’s industrial agriculture actually are growing. So it’s not just that eventually these systems will be bad for people. I think right now there are millions of people suffering because of these systems that are driving this crisis.
MARC STEINER And we covered the Monsanto-Bayer merger and all the rest that are happening that are devastating the food industry. You know, when you write about two-thirds of the people of Asia go hungry. One out of six children starve in the developing world and die from starvation. In a country like ours, which is apoplectic on some sectors over immigration and people coming into America, this was driving people to leave. This was driving people to move because they have no choice. They’ve got to move. You know, I interviewed Baba Aye earlier today about what’s going on in Mali and the war going on Mali, and that’s all being fueled by the climate crisis and by the urge to get more minerals out of West Africa.
DHARNA NOOR Yeah and Africa is—Of course, it’s always the countries populated by people of color, poorer countries, that are suffering the worst effects of all of this. I know that that’s at this point kind of obvious, but I think it bears repeating. And that’s not just true of the climate crisis. It’s true of biodiversity loss, as well.
MARC STEINER So I’m curious in this article—And you said you didn’t make up the title, you didn’t come up with the title “Socialism or Extinction.” Jacobin did, [laughs] which is cool.
DHARNA NOOR Yeah. Shout out to Ella Mahony [laughs] who came up with that title.
MARC STEINER Right. But so, I’m curious how this kind of research in putting this article together about this report, how does it affect your work? What has it taught you about what needs to happen, and what kind of stories you need to talk about, and how you need to do that?
DHARNA NOOR I mean, it’s a hard question. On the one hand, this was a—To be perfectly honest, I was writing this at, sort of, a difficult time anyway. I was writing most of this article on my laptop, sitting in the hospital, as my grandfather was threatened with his own mortality. So it was, you know—
MARC STEINER He’s okay now, right?
DHARNA NOOR Yeah. Yeah. He’s living now. Yeah. I should say that. But, I mean, it was an emotional time anyway. I mean, I felt like I was potentially grieving the life of somebody so close to me, who’s nearing the end of their life, and then also grieving, in a sense, the future of so many other people’s lives— human and nonhuman alike. And it’s not easy, obviously, to reckon with a crisis of this scale. I mean, I already find it really difficult to recon with something as huge as the climate crisis, and then this report argues that the biodiversity crisis, which is separate. I mean, it’s inextricable from the climate crisis, but it is a separate crisis in and of itself, is on the same scale of the climate crisis. That’s huge and devastating, but in a sense, that makes it kind of easier to write about.
I mean, you don’t need to develop some incredible narrative to show that. The statistics speak for themselves. I heard David Wallace-Wells, the acclaimed climate journalist, David Wallace-Wells— much has been made of his newest work— say in an interview, these statistics have all of the poetry that you need in them. You don’t need to prove to somebody that a million species facing extinction is bad. I mean, that’s just—The scale of that problem is obvious if you encounter these kinds of statistics. The question is, I think, as you’re saying, how to make this relevant to human beings. I think actually the IPBES Report does that really, really well. It makes a strong case that shows that humanity will be affected by this crisis. I just think it’s important to again show that it’s already affecting human life.
MARC STEINER Well, I think it’s very important for the viewers here, people on YouTube, to know that you have taken the Climate Bureau seriously in helping push that here at The Real News. This article is just, kind of, the heart of why this heart beats so strong and what you have to do. So I just want to say that I really do appreciate the article you wrote—
MARC STEINER In Jacobin, “Socialism or Extinction,” about what we face, and we look forward to a great deal many reports come out from you and the other folks at the Climate Bureau here.
DHARNA NOOR Thanks so much for having me, Marc.
MARC STEINER Dharna, this is great. And that was Dharna Noor and I’m Marc Steiner here of The Real News. We both are. So we’ll be both talking to you again soon about many things. Take care.
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Famous Monsters of Filmland #263 - 100 Years of Universal
Famous Monsters #263 is a journey through 100 years of Universal Pictures. The house that Laemmle built has become the first name in horror and Sci-Fi, and we acknowledge everything from James Whale's BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN to THE DARK CRYSTAL. We're also celebrating 30 years of the monster classic THE THING, the John Carpenter masterpiece that almost ended his career but in the following decades became one of the most revered monster movies of the modern age. Featuring 100 YEARS OF UNIVERSAL cover by Paul Garner.
Famous Monsters of Filmland #263 - The Thing
Famous Monsters of Filmland #281 - Rick Baker Bride
Famous Monsters of Filmland #264 - Herman Munster
Famous Monsters of Filmland #264 - Munsters
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Designer in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
First Name c0c89e02
Last Name 422efd49
Email 66ab1bcc
4a7bcad1 Email me about jobs like this
The goal of the Design Consultant is to suggest design ideas that incorporate functionality and aesthetics. He/she will assist customers in selecting tile, wood and stone products of various colors, textures, patterns and designs.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Meet with customers to determine preferences, purpose, function, types of materials and budget when planning interior and exterior environments.
Integrate findings and knowledge of interior design to formulate a plan and sell the appropriate products to complete the plan.
Meet sales goals that are established by the General Manager.
Associate or bachelor’s degree in Interior Design preferred.
Three (3) years of interior design experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential functions of the job, as determined by the company.
Prior retail sales experience.
Knowledge of hard surface flooring is a plus.
Strong analytical and communication skills (oral and written).
Proficient in basic mathematical skills.
Must be self-motivated and able to multi-task in a fast paced environment.
Ability to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner.
Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal skills.
Occasional travel may be required by car.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to a warehouse environment and moving vehicles. The noise level in the work environment is typically quiet to moderate.
Sedentary Work – Ability to exert 10 - 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time.
NOTE: All duties and responsibilities listed are considered to be essential job functions and requirements, and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Marginal functions of the position (those that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties) have not been included. However, the omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or logical assignment to the position.
This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee, and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the business and requirement of the job change.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: I acknowledge that I am applying to a position at Floor & Decor as a Designer and as part of the interview process I may be asked to complete a design skill assessment exercise. If I am asked to complete a design skill assessment exercise, I understand that the interview process will not be completed until I have completed the design skill assessment exercise. I understand that throughout the interview process I am not an employee and that Floor & Decor has no obligation to treat me as an employee. I understand that I am not guaranteed a job at Floor & Decor upon the completion of the interview process. I have no expectation of pay during the interview process. I understand that, during the interview process, I may use or create F&D tools, materials, designs, and other resources, all of which will remain at all times the properties and interests of the company.
Las Vegas Nevada United States Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, 89108 Design Services Design Services
It’s great being part of a culture where entrepreneurship and team spirit are not just buzzwords. If you love working with a great group of people and desire the opportunity to grow, this is the place for you. PURPOSEThe goal of the Design Consul...
First Name 22b3f0f7
Last Name 7bdc29e9
Email b12fc253
Department and Location b011db35
Departments 0a610065 Departments 166a4680 Accounts Payable Admin Customer Care Operations Customer Care Services Customer Service Design Services Distribution Operations Distribution Operations Leadership Distribution Warehouse Ecommerce Inventory Merchandising Leadership Merchandising Operations Operations Pro Services Product Review Store Operations Store Operations Leadership Store Operations Specialist Store Sales Store Sales Specialist Supply Chain Systems Support & Enhancements Technology Warehouse
Locations d7629e7a Locations 97bf083a Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States Alexandria, Virginia, United States Arlington, Texas, United States Arlington Heights, Illinois, United States Arvada, Colorado, United States Atlanta, Georgia, United States Aurora, Illinois, United States Austin, Texas, United States Avon, Massachusetts, United States Birmingham, Alabama, United States Bloomingdale, Georgia, United States Boynton Beach, Florida, United States Bridgeton, Missouri, United States Brookfield, Wisconsin, United States Buford, Georgia, United States Burlingame, California, United States Carson, California, United States Charlotte, North Carolina, United States Chicago, Illinois, United States Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Clearwater, Florida, United States Concord, North Carolina, United States Countryside, Illinois, United States Dallas, Texas, United States Denver, Colorado, United States Devon, Pennsylvania, United States Downey, California, United States Draper, Utah, United States Edgemere, Maryland, United States El Paso, Texas, United States Everett, Washington, United States Farmingdale, New York, United States Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States Fort Myers, Florida, United States Fort Worth, Texas, United States Fountain Valley, California, United States Fullerton, California, United States Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States Glendale, Arizona, United States Greensboro, North Carolina, United States Gretna, Louisiana, United States Gurnee, Illinois, United States Hampton, Virginia, United States Henderson, Nevada, United States Henrico, Virginia, United States Hialeah, Florida, United States Hilliard, Ohio, United States Hollywood, Florida, United States Houston, Texas, United States Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Jacksonville, Florida, United States Katy, Texas, United States Kennesaw, Georgia, United States Knoxville, Tennessee, United States Lakeland, Florida, United States Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Levittown, Pennsylvania, United States Littleton, Colorado, United States Lombard, Illinois, United States Louisville, Kentucky, United States Marietta, Georgia, United States McDonough, Georgia, United States Memphis, Tennessee, United States Mesa, Arizona, United States Mesquite, Texas, United States Miami, Florida, United States Milpitas, California, United States Mission Viejo, California, United States Moorestown, New Jersey, United States Moreno Valley, California, United States Morrow, Georgia, United States Nashville, Tennessee, United States New Orleans, Louisiana, United States Norco, California, United States North Charleston, South Carolina, United States North Richland Hills, Texas, United States Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States Orlando, Florida, United States Overland Park, Kansas, United States Paramus, New Jersey, United States Pasadena, Texas, United States Phoenix, Arizona, United States Plano, Texas, United States Pompano Beach, Florida, United States Port St. Lucie, Florida, United States Reno, Nevada, United States Reynoldsburg, Ohio, United States Riverdale, Utah, United States Rocklin, California, United States Roswell, Georgia, United States Saint Petersburg, Florida, United States San Antonio, Texas, United States San Diego, California, United States Sanford, Florida, United States Santa Ana, California, United States Sarasota, Florida, United States Saugus, Massachusetts, United States Savannah, Georgia, United States Seattle, Washington, United States Skokie, Illinois, United States Smyrna, Georgia, United States St. Louis, Missouri, United States Sugar Land, Texas, United States Tampa, Florida, United States Tempe, Arizona, United States The Colony, Texas, United States Thornton, Colorado, United States Tucson, Arizona, United States Utica, Michigan, United States Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States Wayne, New Jersey, United States West Palm Beach, Florida, United States Wichita, Kansas, United States Woodbridge, Virginia, United States Woodland Hills, California, United States
First Name 9b02e70b
Last Name 35198997
Email bdcbf1c2
be217602 Email me about jobs like this
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Police Search Rural Illinois Area For Woman Missing Since '92
College Football Spotlight: Conference Perception Key As Big 12 Makes Statement
Filed Under:Baylor, Big 12, college, College Football, College Football Spotlight, College Sports, Kansas State, Kevin McGuire, NCAA, NCAAF, Oklahoma, Texas, west virginia
NORMAN, OK - SEPTEMBER 13: Quarterback Justin Worley #14 of the Tennessee Volunteers looks to throw under pressure from linebacker Eric Striker #19 of the Oklahoma Sooners September 13, 2014 at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
Virginia Tech laid an egg at home against a good East Carolina team a week after handling Ohio State in Columbus the previous week. USC was taken down on the road at Boston College a week after scoring a huge Pac-12 win against two-time defending conference champion Stanford. As they say in college football, momentum will only carry you so far. Let this be a lesson to all around college football that no game should be taken for granted. This season, perhaps more than most, wins are more valuable than ever before and only a few select programs may be able to weather the storm that comes with a loss along the way to the College Football Playoff.
Virginia Tech and USC were not likely to be realistic playoff contenders at the end of the season, and the chances to play for a conference championship were not affected by this weekend’s results (USC is still 1-0 in the Pac-12 and Virginia Tech has yet to play an ACC game), but the losses taken this weekend do affect the overall perception of the conferences. Never before have conferences had to ban together to support other member schools in non-conference action.
Perception is everything this season. USC losing to Boston College dings the Pac-12’s reputation, although the conference overall is still doing well. The Eagles’ victory should also give the ACC a boost and prove this is not a conference that is simply Florida State and everybody else. But then again, Virginia Tech losing at home to East Carolina negates the positive gain from Boston College’s victory.
As it turned out, this past weekend in college football happened to be a successful weekend for the Big 12. After witnessing the dismal performance of the Big Ten the previous week, the Big 12 was thrown under the microscope with a good handful of games against power conference opponents. There were some highs and lows, but the Big 12 avoided a complete meltdown the way the Big Ten has experienced the past couple of weeks.
Oklahoma defended its home field against a rising SEC team, Tennessee. The Big 12 notched three victories over the Big Ten, including two on Big Ten soil with West Virginia clipping Maryland with a last-second field goal and Iowa State getting the last laugh against Iowa thanks in part to Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz calling a timeout on what proved to be a missed field goal. The Big 12 nearly recorded a victory against the Pac-12, but UCLA proved to have just enough in the tank to get by Texas. The ACC, Pac-12 and SEC may have the most valuable wins in non-conference play thus far, but the Big 12 completed the task of separating itself from the Big Ten. Come playoff selection time, that could be a huge factor.
Conference play will begin picking up this week. The ACC’s star battle will see Florida State take on a Clemson squad that may be the biggest threat to the Seminoles. Oklahoma travels to a confident West Virginia. LSU hosts undefeated Mississippi State. Alabama welcomes Florida. But there will also be some key non-conference match-ups as well. Defending SEC champion Auburn heads to Kansas State for a Thursday night match-up. This could be the Big 12’s last chance to leave a huge impression on the selection committee.
There are just four spots available for the College Football Playoff. The race is already heating up.
Kevin McGuire is a Philadelphia area sports writer covering the Philadelphia Eagles and college football. McGuire is a member of the FWAA and National Football Foundation. Follow McGuire on Twitter @KevinOnCFB. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
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About Connected Learning
Constance M. Yowell
Connie is the Director of Education at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. She oversees a $50 million program on Digital Media and Learning, one of the first philanthropic efforts in the US to systematically explore the effects of digital media on young people and its implications for the future of learning and education.
Prior to joining the Foundation, Dr. Yowell conducted extensive research on the connections among educational research, policy and practice. She was an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois, where she published scholarly work on the complex interplay among young people’s emerging identity, their social context and achievement. Her research integrated the fields of adolescent psychological development and organization change to address the problem of high school dropout among immigrant students in the United States.
Equally committed to developing educational and social policies for young people, Dr. Yowell has worked worked closely with teachers and administrators in the Chicago Public Schools to develop and implement literacy curricula for Latino youth. She also served as evaluator and program coordinator for youth development programs in New York City.
Most recently, Dr. Yowell received the Distinguished Fellows Award from the William T. Grant Foundation, an award to support scholars seeking to bridge research and practice, under which she is working with the National Writing Project to develop approaches that integrate web 2.0 technologies into the social practices of teachers.
Revolution: Thank You, Brother Mike
It was more than 10 years ago that I first met Brother Mike, before the launch of our Digital Media and Learning initiative and before the birth of the Digital Youth Network program....
Categories: Digital Citizenship, Educational Practice
Connected Learning: Designed to Mine the New Social, Digital Domain
Focus on education has perhaps never been greater. As we seek to understand the impact of the internet and this age of connection, it has focused attention on a topic of extraordinary...
Category: Connected Learning
Reimagining Learning
Teaching and education in America has been a very hot subject in the news. In recent days, there have been lengthy pieces on “building a better teacher,” the ripple effects of a...
Category: Educational Practice
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Connected Learning in Teaching Practice
Connected Learning in Libraries
Connected Educators
Connected Civics
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Colorado Triathlete
Your news source for triathlon in Colorado since 1999!
Garrard, Middaugh Take USA Triathlon Winter Nationals
January 15, 2011 | By USA Triathlon
Top Finishers Will Represent the U.S. at ITU Winter Worlds
story | results
January 15, 2011 (Midway, UT) – Standout off-road triathletes Emma Garrard and Josiah Middaugh took their talents to the snow Saturday, earning the overall national titles at the 2011 USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon National Championship at Soldier Hollow.
Josiah Middaugh captured the men’s title (USA Triathlon/Scott Sine)
Middaugh (Vail, Colo.) posted a winning time of 56 minutes, 31 seconds to edge two-time defending champion Brian Smith (Gunnison, Colo.), who finished in 57:16 in the 5-kilometer run, 10-kilometer mountain bike and 8-kilometer cross-country ski event.
Garrard (Park City, Utah) grabbed the women’s title in 1:07:48 to finish more than 2 minutes clear of the closest women’s competitor.
By virtue of their victories, Garrard and Middaugh secured spots on the U.S. team for the 2011 ITU Elite Winter Triathlon World Championship, which is slated for March 26-27 in Jamijarvi, Finland. The top three male and female American finishers claimed the right to represent the United States.
Heather Best (Fairbanks, Alaska) took second in the women’s race in 1:10:15, and Paula Hudson (Park City, Utah) grabbed third in 1:12:24. Ben Sim finished third in the men’s race in 58:38, followed by two-time champion Mike Kloser (Vail, Colo.) in 1:00:31.
Both Middaugh and Garrard grabbed the lead on the run. Middaugh held an 8-second advantage over Smith entering T1 and extended his margin on the bike. Smith made up ground on the ski portion of the race but finished 45 seconds back of Middaugh.
Garrard, who was seventh at the world championship and teamed with Best and Rebecca Dussalt to earn the women’s relay world title a year ago, had a 6-second lead following the run, dropped to second on the bike but regained the lead with a 24:24 ski split to take the title.
For the second consecutive year USA Triathlon’s Winter Nationals were held in conjunction with the BASH Winter Tri. Soldier Hollow was the 2002 Winter Olympic venue for cross-country skiing and biathlon.
US Athletes Set for Saturday’s ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships USA Triathlon Winter Triathlon National Championship Smith, Dussault Repeat as USA Triathlon Winter Champions Garrard, Smith Lead U.S. at ITU Winter Triathlon World Championships USA Triathlon Winter Nationals Slated for Saturday in Utah
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Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame Announces 2019 Inductees
New Westminster, BC – The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame is proud to announce its 2019 class of inductees, which includes players Duane “Dewey” Jacobs, Dan “Teeter” Teat, Kevin Brunsch and John Wilson, veteran Dave Wilfong, builders Chuck Miller, George “Potsy” Burrows and Paul Dal Monte, along with the 1984-85 Whitby Warriors Junior A Lacrosse Club.
These new inductees bring the total number honoured in lacrosse's national shrine to 536 - 158 Builders, 324 Players and 54 Veterans (those who played in 1980 or before). There are also 22 teams inducted under the Team category.
The formal induction banquet and ceremonies will be held Saturday, November 9, 2019 at the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame in the ANVIL Centre in New Westminster, British Columbia.
The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame's class of 2019 includes the following Players, Veteran, Builders and Team
Honoured in the player category:
Duane “Dewey” Jacobs
Duane Jacobs was the assistant captain of the Ontario Lacrosse Association Major Series Six Nations Chiefs when the team won 3 Mann Cup championships in a row in 1994, 1995 and 1996. As a member of the National Lacrosse League’s Rochester Nighthawks he won the Champions Cup in 1997. The 6’1” 205-lb. left handed shooter tallied 591 total points in 194 regular season Senior A, Major and professional games, and 185 points in 78 playoff games.
Dan “Teeter” Teat
Dan Teat was a formidable Minor, Junior and Senior lacrosse player in the Brampton, Ontario system. A great playmaker and perennial top-ten scorer, Teat was a member of the Mann Cup winning Brampton Excelsiors in 1993, 1998, 2002, 2008 and 2009. In 2011 he added a sixth Mann Cup as an assistant coach. In the winter Teat played 14 seasons in the National Lacrosse League and won the Champions Cup with the Rochester Nighthawks in 1997. In 297 Major Series league and playoff games from 1993 to 2009 he tallied 1,241 total points. He scored 52 total points in 35 Mann Cup games and in 211 NLL games he counted 670 total points.
Kevin Brunsch
Kevin Brunsch was an outstanding two-way player with the Coquitlam Adanacs from 1993 to 2003. A two-time Western Lacrosse Association 1st team all-star, Brunsch led the Adanacs to three Mann Cup finals, ultimately winning the championship in 2001. In 207 regular season Senior A games he scored 658 total points, and in 97 playoff games he tallied 160 points.
In 15 seasons in the Western Lacrosse Association with the Burnaby Lakers and Coquitlam Adanacs, John Wilson tallied 992 points in 394 games. A perennial top-ten scorer, Wilson played on his first Mann Cup winning team as a New Westminster Salmonbellies call up in 1989. He won another Mann Cup in 2001 with the Coquitlam Adanacs. In 1994 Wilson played for Team Canada at the World Cup in London, England and at the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, BC.
Honoured in the Veteran category:
Dave Wilfong
Dave Wilfong experienced his first pro championship as a Jr. A pick up with the 1969 Peterborough Lakers. He won a President’s Cup with the Brampton Excelsiors in 1972, a Nations Cup with the Rochester Griffins in 1974, and a Mann Cup with New Westminster in 1976. Wilfong also played field with the Canadian national team at the World Championships in Australia in 1974. In his best season he scored 93 goals and had 62 assists with the pro Long Island team in 1975. In 228 Major, Senior and professional games he tallied 653 points.
Honoured in the builder category:
Chuck Miller was active in Guelph Minor Lacrosse as a coach, referee, tournament convener and fundraiser from 1972 to 2000. In addition, in the 1980s through 2001, he founded the Royal City Regals Lacrosse Association, a Guelph Junior team, and operated a women’s under 20 lacrosse program. Simultaneously, Miller was, first, the OLA’s Vice-President of coaching and then VP of officiating. From 1994 to 2003 he served as both a Director of the Canadian Lacrosse Association and President of the Ontario Lacrosse Association. In 2003 he chaired the Minto Cup and in 2005 Miller was awarded the Lester B. Pearson Award for his contribution to lacrosse and the development of young Canadians.
George “Potsy” Burrows
George Burrows’s lacrosse playing days spanned the field and box eras. Born in 1918, Burrows, a goaltender, played his first lacrosse game in Brampton, Ontario in 1926 and his last game for the Senior Brampton Excelsiors in 1947. Between the end of WWII, in which he served in the RCAF, and 1965 he helped launch the Lakeshore Minor League and served as a Minor and OLA referee. A life member of the Brampton Excelsior Lacrosse Club, Burrows has been honoured for his dedication to lacrosse by the City of Brampton, the NLL’s Toronto Rock, the Brampton Sports Hall of Fame and the Ontario Lacrosse Hall of Fame.
Paul Dal Monte
As a lacrosse player Paul Dal Monte was on 3 Minto Cup winning Burnaby Cablevision teams and 3 Mann Cup winning New Westminster Salmonbellies teams. As a coach Dal Monte’s Burnaby Lakers Junior teams won 8 consecutive B.C. championships and competed in 8 Minto Cup championships, winning three. As head coach of the National Lacrosse League’s Vancouver Ravens he took the expansion team to the playoffs twice in 3 years. In 2002 he served as an assistant coach for Team Canada at the Heritage Cup and in 2003 at the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships. After coaching teams, he took on coaching coaches for the B.C. Lacrosse Association. In 2017 he was appointed Commissioner of the Western Lacrosse Association.
Honoured in the team category:
1984-85 Whitby Warriors Junior A Lacrosse Club
The Whitby Warriors won the 1984 Minto Cup and repeated the feat in 1985. The 1984 team, led by Joe Nieuwendyk and John Fusco, was 22-2 in the regular season, 12-1 in the Ontario playoffs, and defeated the Ben Hieltjes led New Westminster Salmonbellies in a one game Minto Cup final. In 1985 the team was 19-5 in the regular season, 8-0 in the Ontario playoffs, and in 7 games beat the Gary and Paul Gait led Esquimalt Legion to capture a second straight Minto Cup.
For additional information on the inductees or the induction banquet, please visit the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame website at www.clhof.org.
About the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame
The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, chartered in 1964, Honours Players, Builders and Teams through an Annual Induction Process. Induction of new members is made to preserve the memory of stars of yesteryear, but the Hall is more than a repository of names and photos of our greatest players, builders and teams; it is also the keeper of our national summer sport's history. The Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame honours the tradition of lacrosse from its very roots, with displays honouring the First Nations through exhibits showing the game's transition into modern life.
David Lancaster
Email: dlancaster@clhof.org
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Research & Program Areas
CMCD Affiliates
The Merck Childhood Asthma Network (MCAN) Cross-Site Evaluation
While asthma affects children in every community across the country, low income and minority children bear the heaviest burden of the disease and its consequences, including death. Compared with white non-Hispanic children, asthma is 60% higher among African-American children and nearly 300% higher among Puerto Rican children. The Merck Childhood Asthma Network, Inc. (MCAN) targeted four high risk cities with nearly $4 million for programs that combined evidence-based science, case management and asthma trigger removal plans to manage a disease that requires more than the right medical care. Programs in Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA; and San Juan, Puerto Rico – all cities with high rates of childhood asthma – enrolled children and families in the most comprehensive asthma management research program ever designed for the community level. By the end of the programs’ funding period in 2014, over 1,200 children had enrolled in one of the four programs.
CMCD investigators are in the final analysis and dissemination phase of a cross-site qualitative and quantitative evaluation that assessed both processes and outcomes associated with the MCAN. There were two elements of the evaluation. Our evaluation has two goals, (1) identify the impacts of care coordination on patients and families, including impacts on access to care, care quality, and service use; and (2) identified the factors aiding and deterring translation of the key aspects of evidence-based interventions in real-world settings.
MCAN Program Sites
Chicago, IL:
Addressing Asthma in Englewood Project
A collaborative effort of the University of Illinois School of Public Health and the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, this program centered around a community educator model that linked children with asthma to appropriate services, education programs in schools, community groups, and local agencies on the south side of Chicago. It included a home visit case management program to enhance asthma education and identification and mitigation of asthma triggers.
Los Angeles, CA:
Los Angeles Unified School District Asthma Program
Asthma nurses within the LA Unified School District, the nation’s second largest school district, provided services to children with poor control of symptoms. The program involved a care coordination and education model that extended beyond the immediate school clinic to include system changes between health, educational, and community settings. The program triaged students and families into the appropriate level of intervention, improved the coordination of care between schools, clinics, and community providers, and focused on measuring symptom reduction and school days missed.
Philadelphia, PA:
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Asthma Navigator Program
This Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia program utilized asthma health care navigators located within three of its primary care centers. Navigators worked with primary care providers as integral members of the family’s asthma care team, assisting families in the identification and reduction of asthma triggers in the home and providing self-management education and other support and resources for families of high risk children with asthma.
San Juan, Puerto Rico:
La Red de Asma Infantil de Merck de Puerto Rico
This program involved evidence-based interventions as part of an asthma care coordination program across home, health care, and community settings. A team from University of Puerto Rico and RAND Health implemented the program in the in partnership with the HealthproMed Federally Qualified Health Center in San Juan, Puerto Rico. “La Red” aimed to promote asthma-friendly communities throughout the island of Puerto Rico and to enhance access to quality asthma health care for this highly vulnerable and underserved community.
For more information about the Center for Managing Chronic Disease’s MCAN evaluation, contact Dr. Mary Janevic at mjanevic@umich.edu.
For more information about MCAN, visit their website.
Asthma & Allergies, Children & Youth, Community
Return to Research and Program Areas
Center for Managing Chronic Disease
1415 Washington Heights
Phone: (734) 647-6155 | Fax:(734) 763-7379
Resources for People Living with Chronic Disease
© 2019 The Regents of the University of Michigan | U-M Home
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Home News Transcript News Transcript News Freehold Regional will place three referendum questions before voters on Nov. 5
Freehold Regional will place three referendum questions before voters on Nov. 5
PETER ELACQUA, Staff Writer
The Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education will place three referendum questions before voters in the district’s eight sending municipalities on Election Day, Nov. 5.
In October 2018, voters in the district rejected a one-question $39.8 million facilities improvement referendum by a count of 4,300 “no” votes to 3,411 “yes” votes.
According to district administrators, the referendum in November will address the same issues that were placed before voters in October, with the exception of the replacement of a boiler at Marlboro High School. That project and a project to place air conditioning in the auditorium at Manalapan High School will be funded in the 2019-20 budget.
As for the Nov. 5 referendum, Superintendent of Schools Charles Sampson said, “Given that (the 2019 referendum) is essentially the same scope of work as the (2018) referendum, and after listening to feedback we received from the communities after the October election, we felt (offering multiple questions) was another approach that would allow the communities some opportunity to make some more specific selections.”
The Nov. 5 referendum was discussed by district administrators and board members during the March 18 board meeting.
Question No. 1, which administrators said could cost about $20 million, is expected to include security initiatives such as interior door locks, security vestibules and public address systems; roofing and paving work; and auditorium renovations at Freehold High School.
Question No. 2, which could cost about $12 million, includes bleacher replacements and new STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) rooms at each high school.
Question No. 3, which could cost about $8.5 million, includes the installation of synthetic turf athletic fields at Freehold Township High School, Manalapan High School and Marlboro High School, and a new media center at Colts Neck High School.
Administrators said Question No. 2 and Question No. 3, together or individually, can only pass if Question No. 1 is approved by voters.
Assistant Superintendent for Business Administration Sean Boyce said the New Jersey Department of Education would fund a portion of the eligible costs of the projects that are being proposed in the Nov. 5 referendum. For the 2018 referendum, the state was prepared to fund 30 percent of the $39.8 million total, he said.
Peter Bruno, one of Howell’s two representatives on the school board, asked why the referendum was being presented to voters as three separate questions.
“Based on the feedback we’ve heard, we felt using three questions was another approach to give the community a choice” of what they want to approve, Boyce said.
Bruno said he believed that approach “can be a little confusing.”
“The feedback (in 2018) was that one question was confusing,” Sampson said. “We think we are going to bring clarity to the taxpayers with three questions” in November.
Amy Fankhauser, who is also a representative from Howell, asked why the passage of questions No. 2 and No. 3 is contingent on the passage of No. 1.
“No. 1 is the high priority items that need to be done or we cannot function,” Sampson said. “No. 2 and No. 3 are items we can put off longer.”
There was no discussion of the referendum questions’ possible impact on property taxes during the March 18 meeting.
“We have been efficient, we have waited until our debt is off the books from the construction of Colts Neck High School to move forward with this referendum,” Sampson said. “We are using two-thirds of that (former Colts Neck debt) to be repurposed into the schools (through the referendum) and one-third as tax relief to the taxpayers.
“When we put the referendum up for vote in November, we will categorize it in multiple questions in order to make it more palatable to those who have strong objections to things that are in there.
“The first question is going to be a significant amount of work that is going to have to happen in this district regardless, and while we are on this funding path (of losing state aid), that work will cannibalize the academic programs for our students unless it gets done in some other ways,” Sampson said.
Heshy Moses, who is Freehold Borough’s representative on the board and was a long-time teacher and coach in the district, said, “We sincerely hope that people will take the time to see what these questions are all about.”
construction referendum
Freehold Regional High School District
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Call for Partners
CSSF Board
CSSF Board Recognizes Senator Ernest “Fritz” Hollings
Coastal and Ocean Partners
Photo Courtesy Tony Pratt Photography· © 2018 All Rights Reserved
Photo Courtesy Kip Evans Photography · © 2018 All Rights Reserved
The Coastal States Stewardship Foundation is dedicated to supporting our nation’s ocean and coastal resources by:
Improving coastal and ocean decision-making, information sharing, and dissemination of best coastal and ocean management practices;
Supporting collaboration among individuals in the coastal community, the private sector, non-governmental community, international organizations, and coastal and ocean managers at the state, local, and federal levels;
Identifying and expanding opportunities for the public to become involved in protection, restoration and conservation of the coastal and ocean environment and enhancing the quality of life in coastal communities including the Great Lakes;
Improving public awareness and understanding of state coastal and ocean management programs, the public trust and the environmental, cultural and social values of the nation’s coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes resources.
The Coastal States Stewardship Foundation is dedicated to supporting comprehensive and coordinated management, conservation, and enhancement of our nation’s coast and ocean resources for their intrinsic value and for the benefit of current and future generations. Our nation faces unprecedented challenges from coastal storms, sea level rise, water quality degradation, and declining marine life and fisheries. We are dedicated to supporting on-the-ground efforts to make more informed and coordinated decisions about the ecological, economic and social well-being of our nation’s coast and ocean resources.
Brian Baird, President
The Coastal States Stewardship Foundation is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions made out to CSSF are deductible under section 170 of the Code.
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Welcome to Coldplaying!
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Coldplay: The Band. The Music.
Upland HS's Production of Romeo & Juliet Inspried by Ghost Stories
Thread starter Christa42
Christa42
Irresponsible baby clutching onto aeroplane wing
Honorary Coldplayer
Coldplayer
Came across this today doing my morning Google of Coldplay News. That High School sounds like it has a great Musical Director. Lucky kids.
http://www.dailybulletin.com/20150130/upland-high-school-rocks-shakespeare-with-modern-musical
[h=1]Upland High School rocks Shakespeare with modern musical[/h]
Upland High School students Cassandra Costa and Fernando Rivera will star in the production “Romeo and Juliet: A Star-Crossed Musical.” courtesy photo
UPLAND >> Upland High School Theatre Department is proving again that you can take a classic piece of literature and make it modern and relevant.
Their upcoming production, “Romeo and Juliet: A Star-Crossed Musical,” features Shakespeare’s timeless language and story surrounded by contemporary rock/pop music and modern day attire. The production is inspired by Coldplay’s Grammy nominated album, “Ghost Stories.”
The production is Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 p.m. while the Sunday performance is at 2:30 p.m. in the Highlander Auditorium located on the campus of Upland High School, 565 West 11th Street.
When Michele Richardson, theatre teacher and director, bought the album in early May, she immediately felt the presence of a tragic love story.
Richardson said she knew she wanted to do something imaginative with this piece of art but she wasn’t quite sure what.
In late September, a student asked why the school had never performed “Romeo and Juliet.” Richardson said a light bulb instantaneously went on in her head and the production was born. She spent three months organizing the music and was inspired for the title of the play by her friend, Jason Williams, who is a writer for the television show, “Brain Games.”
“I really wanted to expose the students and the audience to some great hidden gems from the eighties and nineties such as World Party and Days of the New and as well as current Indie darlings (acts), the Head and the Heart and Nightmare and the Cat,” she said.
This is Richardson’s second time working with “Romeo and Juliet” but her approach this time is quite different from the first. The play is almost two completely different genres in one. The first half of the piece is quite happy, fun, and romantic, but after the wedding, the action takes a dark turn with violence and death. It is almost as if Shakespeare set out to write a comedy or romance and then suddenly changed his mind. Through this process, students have explored the in-depth nature of the script as well as the power of music to tell a story and to invoke an emotion.
kspillers2
Coldplay Traveler
I knew you would! How ecstatic would you be if you were in HS and got to do this? What a great musical director!
I was so busy the night of the grammys reporting, sorry I did not respond to your tweets! God I loved Beck & Chris's performance. I just posted a new vid of it in the thread
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Press Release back to list
THE CW ANNOUNCES 2017-18 FALL SCHEDULE
“Supergirl” Soars on Mondays at 8pm,
Followed by Thrilling New Military Drama “Valor”
Tuesday Stays Super-Powered With “The Flash” Back at 8pm,
Followed by “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”
Wednesday is Two Hours of Delicious Drama With “Riverdale” at 8pm and
the Reimagined “Dynasty” at 9pm
The Winchester Boys and Team Arrow are Back-to-Back on Thursday,
with “Supernatural” at 8pm and “Arrow” at 9pm
Friday Nights Double the Laughs with “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” at 8pm
Paired with “Jane The Virgin,” Moving to Its New Night at 9pm
“Life Sentence,” Starring Lucy Hale, and New DC Series “Black Lightning”
Set for Midseason
NEW YORK (May 18, 2017) – The CW presents its 2017-18 primetime schedule to advertisers, affiliates, and national media today at the New York City Center in New York City, with the multi-platinum, multi-Grammy Award-winning rock band Muse opening the show with the worldwide debut performance of their new single, “Dig Down.”
“The CW has transformed over the past few years, from a linear network into a true multi-platform success. Whether it’s on broadcast, on VOD, OTT, digital, or mobile, we are reaching those viewers everywhere they are, with opportunities for our advertisers across every platform,” said Mark Pedowitz, President, The CW.
“Next season we have four new scripted series, continuing our mission of adding more original programming to schedule all year long. In the fall, we have the action-packed new military drama VALOR, and a new version of the iconic soap DYNASTY, giving us two new female-focused series that add more balance to our primetime lineup. For midseason, we have the heartwarming comedy LIFE SENTENCE, starring Lucy Hale, a terrific actress; and we have the exciting new series BLACK LIGHTNING, based on the DC character. Next season, we will have our strongest schedule ever, with a broad range of series to appeal to both women and men, across a wide range of demographics. And we will continue to provide our advertisers new opportunities to reach our audience, the youngest of any broadcaster, on every platform.”
SUPERGIRL returns for its third season on Mondays (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT) followed by the new military drama VALOR, starring Christina Ochoa and Matt Barr (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT).
Tuesdays remain super-heroic, with the fourth season of THE FLASH (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT) once again followed by DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT).
RIVERDALE moves to a new night on Wednesday (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT), followed by the new drama DYNASTY, a reimagining of the classic primetime soap from executive producers Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (“The O.C.” and “Gossip Girl”) and Sallie Patrick (“Revenge”) (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT).
Thursday nights reunite the Winchester brothers with Team Arrow, with SUPERNATURAL (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT) followed by ARROW (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT), now on a new night.
CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND is back on Friday nights (8:00-9:00pm ET/PT), followed by JANE THE VIRGIN on a new night (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT).
The CW will launch its 2017-18 season in October, with premiere dates to be announced later. The season will once again kick off with the exclusive telecast of the IHEARTRADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL. The CW will also celebrate the holiday season with an exclusive telecast of the IHEARTRADIO JINGLE BALL; air dates will be announced at a later date.
Following is The CW’s 2017-18 Primetime Schedule and accompanying details on all the programs. Artwork is available at www.cwtvpr.com.
THE CW’s 2017-18 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
8:00-9:00 PM SUPERGIRL
9:00-10:00 PM VALOR (New Series)
8:00-9:00 PM THE FLASH
9:00-10:00 PM DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW
8:00-9:00 PM RIVERDALE (New Night)
9:00-10:00 PM DYNASTY (New Series)
8:00-9:00 PM SUPERNATURAL
9:00-10:00 PM ARROW (New Night)
8:00-9:00 PM CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND (New Time)
9:00-10:00 PM JANE THE VIRGIN (New Night)
All Times ET/PT
(@TheCWSupergirl #Supergirl)
SUPERGIRL is an action-adventure drama based on the DC character Kara Zor-El, (Melissa Benoist) Superman’s (Kal-El) cousin who, after 12 years of keeping her powers a secret on Earth, decides to finally embrace her superhuman abilities and be the hero she was always meant to be. Twelve-year-old Kara escaped the doomed planet Krypton with her parents’ help at the same time as the infant Kal-El. Protected and raised on Earth by her foster family, the Danvers, Kara grew up in the shadow of her foster sister, Alex (Chyler Leigh), and learned to conceal the phenomenal powers she shares with her famous cousin in order to keep her identity a secret. Years later, Kara was living in National City and still concealing her powers, when a plane crash threatened Alex’s life and Kara took to the sky to save her. Now, Kara balances her work as a reporter for CatCo Worldwide Media with her work for the Department of Extra-Normal Operations (DEO), a super-secret government organization whose mission is to keep National City – and the Earth – safe from sinister threats. At the DEO, Kara works for J’onn J’onzz (David Harewood), the Martian Manhunter, and alongside her sister, Alex, and best friend, Winn Schott (Jeremy Jordan). Also in Kara’s life are media mogul Cat Grant (Calista Flockhart), James Olsen (Mehcad Brooks), a photo journalist who moonlights as Guardian, a masked vigilante, Lena Luthor (Katie McGrath), and Mon-El of Daxam (Chris Wood), whose planet was ravaged by Krypton’s destruction. As Kara struggles to navigate her relationships and her burgeoning life as a reporter, her heart soars as she takes to the skies as Supergirl to fight crime. Based on characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, SUPERGIRL is from Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (“The Flash,” “Arrow”), Andrew Kreisberg (“The Flash,” “Arrow”), Sarah Schechter (“Arrow,” “The Flash”), Robert Rovner (“Private Practice,” “Dallas”) and Jessica Queller (“Gilmore Girls,” “Gossip Girl,” “Felicity”).
9:00-10:00 PM VALOR
(@CW_Valor #Valor)
An elite unit of U.S. Army helicopter pilots called the Shadow Raiders are sent on a top secret mission to Somalia, a mission that goes terribly awry. Only two members of the team return safely: Warrant Officer Nora Madani (Christina Ochoa), one of the unit’s first female helicopter pilots, and her commanding officer, Captain Leland Gallo (Matt Barr), while the whereabouts of their comrade Jimmy Kam (W. Tre Davis) are unknown. Now back in the U.S., Madani and Gallo are the only ones who know the truth about what really went wrong in Somalia. Nora’s boyfriend, First Lieutenant Ian Porter (Charlie Barnett), suspects she’s not telling him the full story, and Jess Kam (Corbin Reid), Jimmy’s wife and Nora’s friend, is frustrated and furious at being kept in the dark. Meanwhile Thea, (Melissa Roxburgh) the enigmatic CIA officer charged with investigating the failed mission, has her own suspicions about what occurred. With Nora still recovering from a gunshot wound suffered during the mission, the commander of the Shadow Raiders, Col. Robert Haskins (Nigel Thatch), grounds her from flying. But when it’s discovered that Jimmy is alive and being held captive by a group of ruthless terrorists, Nora is determined to join Gallo back in the cockpit to rescue their friend. As preparation and training intensify, Nora and Gallo grow closer, and soon find themselves torn between duty, honor and desire as they wonder who they can trust, and whether the secrets they’re hiding will help save Jimmy… or put them all in terrible danger. VALOR stars Matt Barr (“Sleepy Hollow”), Christina Ochoa (“Animal Kingdom”), Charlie Barnett (“Chicago Fire”), W. Trè Davis (“Shades of Blue”), Corbin Reid (“How to Get Away With Murder”), Nigel Thatch (“Selma”) and Melissa Roxburgh (“Star Trek Beyond”). From CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Bill Haber (“Rizzoli & Isles”), Anna Fricke (“Being Human”), Kyle Jarrow (“Lost Generation”) and Michael Robin (“Nip/Tuck”).
(@CW_TheFlash #TheFlash)
Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) lived a normal life as a perpetually tardy C.S.I. in the Central City Police Department. Barry’s life changed forever when the S.T.A.R. Labs Particle Accelerator exploded, creating a dark-matter lightning storm that struck Barry, bestowing him with super-speed and making him the fastest man alive — The Flash. But when Barry used his extraordinary abilities to travel back in time and save his mother’s life, he inadvertently created an alternate timeline known as Flashpoint; a phenomenon that gave birth to the villainous speed god known as Savitar, and changed the lives of Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker) and Wally West (Keiyan Lonsdale) forever. With the help of his adoptive father, Joe West (Jesse L. Martin), his lifelong best friend and love interest Iris West (Candice Patton), and his friends at S.T.A.R. Labs -- Cisco Ramon (Carlos Valdes), C.S.I Julian Albert (Tom Felton), and an Earth-19 novelist named H.R. Wells (Tom Cavanaugh) -- Barry continues to protect the people of Central City from the meta-humans that threaten it. Based on the characters from DC, THE FLASH is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (“Arrow,” “Supergirl”), Andrew Kreisberg (“Arrow,” “The Flash”), Sarah Schechter (“Arrow,” “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”) and Todd Helbing (“Black Sails”).
(@TheCW_Legends #LegendsofTomorrow)
After the defeat of Eobard Thawne and his equally nefarious Legion of Doom, the Legends face a new threat created by their actions at the end of last season. In revisiting a moment in time that they had already participated in, they have essentially fractured the timeline and created anachronisms – a scattering of people, animals, and objects all across time! Our team must find a way to return all the anachronisms to their original timelines before the time stream falls apart. But before our Legends can jump back into action, Rip Hunter (Arthur Darvill) and his newly established Time Bureau call their methods into question. With the Time Bureau effectively the new sheriffs in town, the Legends disband – until Mick Rory (Dominic Purcell) discovers one of them in the middle of his well-deserved vacation in Aruba. Seeing this as an opportunity to continue their time travelling heroics, Sara (Caity Lotz) wastes no time in getting the Legends back together. We reunite with billionaire inventor Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh), the unconventional historian-turned-superhero Nick Heywood (Nick Zano), and Professor Martin Stein (Victor Garber) and Jefferson “Jax” Jackson (Franz Drameh), who together form the meta-human Firestorm. Once reunited, the Legends will challenge the Time Bureau’s authority over the timeline and insist that however messy their methods may be, some problems are beyond the Bureau’s capabilities. Some problems can only be fixed by Legends. Based on the characters from DC, DC’S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (“Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Supergirl”), Marc Guggenheim (“Arrow,” “Trollhunters,” “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters”), Andrew Kreisberg (“Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Eli Stone,” “Warehouse 13”), Phil Klemmer (“The Tomorrow People,” “Chuck”) and Sarah Schechter (“Arrow,” “The Flash”)
8:00-9:00 PM RIVERDALE
(@CW_Riverdale #Riverdale)
The first season of RIVERDALE found our characters reeling from the tragic death of high school golden boy Jason Blossom. For many who had seen their home as perfect, safe, and innocent, the investigation into Jason’s murder peeled back the layers of their hometown to reveal a place bubbling over with secrets, mysteries, and scandals. Archie Andrews (KJ Apa), for instance, grew from a sweet, all-American kid into a young man acutely aware of the darker side of life—he broke his best friend’s heart, had a forbidden relationship with his music teacher, and grappled with whether he wanted to follow in his dad’s salt-of-the-earth footsteps. On the positive side, Archie repaired his friendship with Jughead Jones (Cole Sprouse), found some success as a musician—thanks in part to Josie McCoy (Ashleigh Murray) and her band, the Pussycats—and found a new romantic interest in femme fatale Veronica Lodge (Camila Mendes). New to town, Veronica spent the season trying to atone for her “bad girl” past, all the while wrestling with her beloved father’s criminal legacy—and contending with a mother, Hermione (Marisol Nichols), who might not be as innocent as she claimed. Veronica became fast-friends with Archie’s girl-next-door neighbor, Betty Cooper (Lili Reinhart), who did some growing up of her own this season. After Archie’s rejection, Betty threw herself into running the school paper, “The Blue and Gold,” where she discovered a better romantic match in sardonic outsider Jughead. Together, they tracked down Betty’s sister Polly (guest star Tiera Skovbye), who had been sent away by their overbearing mother Alice (Mädchen Amick). Under the guise of writing for the school paper, Betty and Jughead investigated Jason Blossom’s death—which led to them discover that Jughead’s father—FP Jones (guest star Skeet Ulrich)—was involved with covering up Jason’s murder. Meanwhile, Jason’s twin sister Cheryl (Madelaine Petsch) ruled the school as Riverdale High’s venomous, merciless Red Queen—until she learned the true identity of Jason’s killer. As the town breathed a collective sigh of relief that Jason’s killer had been found out, another terrible crime occurred, in a space that had been considered one of the town’s safest, most innocent places. If Jason Blossom’s murder revealed the slimy underbelly beneath Riverdale’s surface, as we enter Season Two, the shooting of Fred Andrews threatens to plunge the entire town into utter darkness. Based on the characters from Archie Comics, RIVERDALE is from Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios, in association with Berlanti Productions, with executive producers Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (“Supergirl,” “Glee”), Greg Berlanti (“Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Supergirl,” “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”), Sarah Schechter (“Arrow,” “The Flash,” “Supergirl,” “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”) and Jon Goldwater (Archie Comics).
9:00-10:00 PM DYNASTY
(@CW_Dynasty #Dynasty)
Fallon Carrington (Elizabeth Gillies) is charismatic, cunning, and poised to become the new COO of her father’s global energy empire – or so she thinks. When her father, Blake Carrington, (Grant Show) summons Fallon and her brother, Steven, (James Mackay) home to the family compound in Atlanta, Fallon is horrified to learn that the reunion isn’t to announce her promotion – but rather to make the acquaintance of their stepmother-to-be, Cristal (Nathalie Kelley). Cristal is stunning – and almost as young as Fallon, as Fallon is quick to point out – but she isn’t just some flimsy gold-digger to be scared off. Cristal is driven, principled, a savvy publicity maven at Carrington Atlantic, and she truly loves Blake. However, the wealth and privilege of the Carringtons’ world proves challenging to her, as she clashes with the staff, including Blake’s butler Anders (Alan Dale), as well as Fallon, who all make it very clear Cristal doesn’t belong. Family dynasties flow through blood, and Fallon would sooner draw blood than call Cristal “Mom.” Fallon asks Culhane (Robert Christopher Riley), the family’s chauffeur – and Fallon’s secret lover – to help expose Cristal for the fraud Fallon thinks she is. But when that backfires, and Blake chooses Cristal over his own daughter, Fallon sidles up to Blake’s biggest rival, Jeff Colby (Sam Adegoke), mixing business and pleasure to seek her revenge… leaving a jealous Culhane to watch from the sidelines. While the Carringtons’ rocky relationships prove the theory that family sticks together no matter what, Cristal is reminded of exactly that when her nephew, Sammy Jo (Rafael de la Fuente), arrives with a suitcase full of secrets from Cristal’s past. Now Cristal’s carefully concealed history could bring her future crashing down – and who knows who else she might take down with her. DYNASTY stars Grant Show (“Melrose Place”), Elizabeth Gillies (“Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll”), Nathalie Kelley (“UnReal,” “The Vampire Diaries”), James Mackay (“The Leftovers”), Alan Dale (“The O.C.”), Sam Adegoke (“Murder in the First”), Robert Christopher Riley (“Hit the Floor”), and Rafael de la Fuente (“Empire”). From CBS Television Studios in association with Fake Empire, with executive producers Josh Schwartz (“Gossip Girl), Stephanie Savage (“Gossip Girl”), Sallie Patrick (“Revenge”), Esther and Richard Shapiro (the creators of the original “Dynasty”) and Brad Silberling (“Jane The Virgin”).
(@CW_SPN #Supernatural)
The exciting journey of the Winchester brothers continues as SUPERNATURAL enters its thirteenth season. Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) have encountered every kind of supernatural threat, facing down monsters, demons, and gods. Saving people, hunting things, and keeping the world safe. In the show’s twelfth season, the Winchesters were reunited with their long-dead mother, and joined forces with the British arm of the Men of Letters. But things turned from bad to worse, with the return of Lucifer and the surprising revelation that the Devil is expecting a child. Now, Sam and Dean find themselves facing a creature of almost unimaginable power… one that could save the world… or destroy it. SUPERNATURAL is from Warner Bros. Television in association with Wonderland Sound and Vision, with executive producers Robert Singer (“Midnight Caller”), Andrew Dabb and Phil Sgriccia.
9:00-10:00 PM ARROW
(@CW_Arrow #Arrow)
After a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the North China Sea. He returned home to Star City, bent on righting the wrongs done by his family and fighting injustice. As the Green Arrow, he protects his city with the help of former soldier John Diggle (David Ramsey), computer-science expert Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards), his vigilante-trained sister Thea Queen (Willa Holland), Deputy Mayor Quentin Lance (Paul Blackthorne), brilliant inventor Curtis Holt (Echo Kellum), and his new recruits, street-savvy Rene Ramirez (Rick Gonzalez) and meta-human Dinah Drake (Juliana Harkavy). Oliver has finally solidified and strengthened his crime-fighting team only to have it threatened when unexpected enemies from his past return to Star City, forcing Oliver to rethink his relationship with each member of his “family”. Based on the characters from DC, ARROW is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (“The Flash,” “Supergirl”), Marc Guggenheim (“DC’s Legends of Tomorrow,” “Eli Stone”), Wendy Mericle (“Desperate Housewives,” “Eli Stone”), Andrew Kreisberg (“The Flash,” “Eli Stone,” “Warehouse 13”) and Sarah Schechter (“The Flash,” “DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”).
8:00-9:00 PM CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND
(@CW_CrazyXGF #CrazyExGirlfriend)
When last we left our intrepid and at least slightly nutty heroine, Rebecca Bunch (Rachel Bloom), she was at her wedding, abandoned at the altar by her obsession, Josh Chan (Vincent Rodriguez III). In that moment, Rebecca found herself in a cliffhanger. Literally, because she, like, almost flung herself off a cliff. Instead, she found an unexpected well of strength inside herself and finally stood up to her abandoning father, flanked by her fierce girl squad. Phew. It was QUITE the wedding. So, what’s a girl to do now? Why, get revenge of course. Because Josh Chan, love of her life? He’s crossed over to the dark side -- ergo, he must die, unless of course he sees the error of his ways and realizes he and Rebecca are meant to be. But will he? It might be a bit tough to figure out, since he ran off the day of the wedding to be a priest. (Did we mention it was QUITE the wedding?) There’s also the matter of Rebecca’s friends and how far they will follow her attraction now that it’s turned possibly just a touch fatal. Paula (Donna Lynne Champlin), now in training to be a legal eagle, has to decide how far to walk the gangplank for her cookie, Rebecca. Meanwhile, Valencia (Gabrielle Ruiz) and Heather (Vella Lovell) will be facing giant obstacles and challenges in their personal lives. Hey, it’s not like anyone in West Covina ever gets to just be happy. In season three, we will also spend more time with a new man in Rebecca’s orbit, mega WASP Nathaniel Plimpton III (Scott Michael Foster), who will collide with her like a very handsome meteor. He may seem all alpha on the outside, but has his own daddy issues to work out. See above, no one in the Cov gets to just be happy right away. In OTHER WeCo news, supercouple White Josh (David Hull) and Darryl (Pete Gardner) will be challenged by Darryl’s baby fever. Will Darryl give up his yen for a baby Darryl or Darrylette? And how will Rebecca be entangled in their plans? And what about Rebecca’s mental health? Will she finally turn her attention to the fuel for her romantic fire? This and more, accompanied by a bejillion songs and dances, coming up next on season three of CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND. From CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television, CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND is executive produced by Rachel Bloom, along with Aline Brosh McKenna (“The Devil Wears Prada”), Marc Webb (“500 Days of Summer,” “The Amazing Spider-Man” films), Erin Ehrlich (“Awkward”), Michael Hitchcock (“Glee”) and Sarah Caplan (“Ray Donovan”).
9:00-10:00 PM JANE THE VIRGIN
(@CWJaneTheVirgin #JaneTheVirgin)
It’s been quite a year (or three) for Jane Villanueva (Gina Rodriguez). Although she got married, her husband Michael (Bret Dier) was shot on their wedding night! But luckily, he lived to tell the tale. And then, at long last… Jane had sex. That’s right, friends, she’s Jane The Virgin no more! And let me tell you, married life was everything she had hoped for… until the worst thing ever happened and Michael died from complications from his injury. I know. It was a heartbreaker. We pick our story up three years later and Jane’s life is certainly not what she planned. First of all, she’s a widow, like her Abuela (Ivonne Coll). But she’s also channeled that grief into a book about her love story with Michael… And guess what? It was being published! So that was good news! Oh, and also on the bright side – Jane’s parents – Xo (Andrea Navedo) and Ro (Jaime Camil) – finally found their way back to each other and got engaged. And speaking of finding their way back to each other, Jane and Rafael (Justin Baldoni) are now the closest of friends. And it’s a good thing, because remember their cute, snuggly son Mateo? Well, he’s now quite the handful – to put it mildly. And to make matters worse – Rafael’s other kids were frickin’ angels. Yup, that’s right, the twins he had with Petra were smart and well-behaved and pretty damn near perfect. Oh, and Petra (Yael Grobglas) was kicking butt professionally too. See, she’d transformed the sleek Marbella into a kids’ hotel. And business was booming until everyone’s (not) favorite employee Scott was found dead during the inaugural pirate treasure hunt! I know, OMG, right? And soon, Petra and her twin sister Anezka were both suspects! But you know who it actually was… ? Actually, I’m not going to spoil it, but trust me – it was straight out of a telenovela… which this is, after all. JANE THE VIRGIN is produced by CBS Television Studios and Warner Bros. Television, in association with Electus, with executive producers Jennie Snyder Urman (“Emily Owens, M.D.”), Ben Silverman (“The Biggest Loser”), Gary Pearl (“10.5: Apocalypse”) and Jorge Granier (“Que el Cielo Me Explique”).
MIDSEASON
(@BlackLightning #BlackLightning)
Jefferson Pierce (Cress Williams) is a man wrestling with a secret. As the father of two daughters and principal of a charter high school that also serves as a safe haven for young people in a New Orleans neighborhood overrun by gang violence, he is a hero to his community. Nine years ago, Pierce was a hero of a different sort. Gifted with the superhuman power to harness and control electricity, he used those powers to keep his hometown streets safe as the masked vigilante Black Lightning. However, after too many nights with his life on the line, and seeing the effects of the damage and loss that his alter ego was inflicting on his family, he left his Super Hero days behind and settled into being a principal and a dad. Choosing to help his city without using his superpowers, he watched his daughters Anissa (Nafessa Williams) and Jennifer (China Anne McClain) grow into strong young women, even though his marriage to their mother, Lynn (Christine Adams), suffered. Almost a decade later, Pierce’s crime-fighting days are long behind him…or so he thought. But with crime and corruption spreading like wildfire, and those he cares about in the crosshairs of the menacing local gang The One Hundred, Black Lightning returns — to save not only his family, but also the soul of his community. Based on the characters from DC, BLACK LIGHTNING is from Berlanti Productions and Akil Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (“Arrow,” “The Flash”), Salim Akil & Mara Brock Akil (“Being Mary Jane,” “The Game,” “Girlfriends”), and Sarah Schechter (“Arrow,” “The Flash”). The Black Lightning character was created by Tony Isabella with Trevor Von Eeden.
(@CW_Lifesentence #LifeSentence)
LIFE SENTENCE follows Stella (Lucy Hale), a girl who has spent the last eight years living like she was dying (because she was). Just like the “manic pixie dream girl” heroines in her favorite sappy cancer movies, Stella traveled the world, faced her darkest fears and found true love on a whirlwind trip to Paris. But when Stella finds out that her cancer has been cured, she is suddenly forced to face the long-term consequences of the “live in the moment” decisions she made, including marrying a total stranger. And if that’s not enough, she also finds out that her “perfect family” isn’t so perfect after all. Turns out, because she was dying, everyone in her life hid their problems from her. But, now that she’s well, all bets are off. Stella is shocked to learn that her parents, Peter (Dylan Walsh) and Ida (Gillian Vigman), have fallen out of love, partly because Peter spent their retirement helping Stella make the most of her final days, and partly because Ida has fallen in love with her best friend (Stella’s godmother), Poppy. Also, it turns out Stella may be responsible for the fact that her sister, Elizabeth (Brooke Lyons), gave up her own dreams to take care of Stella and start a family with her husband Diego (Carlos PenaVega), just to give her parents something positive to focus on. Then there’s Stella’s often overlooked brother, Aiden (Jayson Blair), who’s pushing 30 and still lives above the garage, sells Adderall to soccer moms and uses Stella’s cancer to guilt them into sleeping with him. And, of course, there’s her husband Wes (Elliot Knight), a handsome Londoner who she agreed to spend the rest of her life with, thinking that would only be six to eight months, tops. Now that their forever just got a whole lot longer than they were expecting, Wes begins to worry that he can’t continue to pretend to be her perfect husband for the rest of his life. With a real future suddenly in front of her, Stella’s cinematic life snaps into reality, and instead of living like she’s dying, she will have to learn to live like she’s living, and help her family and friends do the same. This multi-generational, coming-of-age story proves that we all end up living somewhere between our dreams and reality… and maybe that’s okay. LIFE SENTENCE stars Lucy Hale (“Pretty Little Liars”), Elliot Knight (“Once Upon A Time”), Dylan Walsh (“Nip/Tuck”), Gillian Vigman (“The Hangover”), Jayson Blair (“Whiplash”), Brooke Lyons (“The Affair”) and Carlos PenaVega (“Big Time Rush”). From Doozer Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios, with executive producers Erin Cardillo (“Fuller House,” “Significant Mother”) Richard Keith (“Fuller House,” “Significant Mother”), Bill Lawrence (“Scrubs,” “Cougar Town”), Jeff Ingold (“Ground Floor”), Oliver Goldstick (“Pretty Little Liars”) and Lee Toland Krieger (“The Age of Adaline,” “Riverdale”).
(@CWThe100 #The100)
For four seasons, THE 100 have fought to survive. That fight has torn them apart, turned them against each other, and taken the lives of their closest friends. Season Four introduced our heroes to the harsh truth that the human race is doomed to face an unbeatable enemy: the remaining nuclear reactors on Earth have melted down and are setting the atmosphere on fire. Our heroes had very little time to prepare for the worst, with every possible solution disappearing almost as quickly as they were able to come up with them. With a literal countdown to the end of the world, our heroes will be forced to go to unimaginable lengths to make it out alive – with or without each other. In the aftermath of Praimfaya, they must begin again, and with Season Five our heroes will have to examine their responsibility to the new place they call home, and the future generations who will inhabit it. Can they begin again and celebrate what remains, or will the frailties of human nature cost them their one chance to rise from the ashes? Based on the book series by Kass Morgan, THE 100 is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Alloy Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios with executive producers Jason Rothenberg and Leslie Morgenstein (“The Vampire Diaries”).
(@CWiZombie #iZombie)
Olivia “Liv” Moore (Rose McIver) was a rosy-cheeked, disciplined, over-achieving medical resident who had her life path completely mapped out…until the night she attended a party that unexpectedly turned into a zombie feeding frenzy. As one of the newly undead, Liv is doing her best to blend in and look as human as possible. Based upon characters created by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred, and published by DC Entertainment’s Vertigo, iZOMBIE is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Spondoolie Productions and Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Rob Thomas (“Veronica Mars,” “Party Down,” “Cupid”), Diane Ruggiero-Wright (“Veronica Mars,” “The Ex List,” “That’s Life”), Danielle Stokdyk (“Veronica Mars,” “Party Down,” “Cupid”) and Dan Etheridge (“The Carrie Diaries,” “Veronica Mars,” “Party Down”).
(@CWOriginals #TheOriginals)
Season four of THE ORIGINALS begins on the fifth anniversary of the Mikaelson family’s greatest defeat. In the years since, the Original hybrid Klaus (Joseph Morgan) has been held prisoner by Marcel Gerard (Charles Michael Davis), while his siblings lie trapped in an enchanted sleep. When Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) finally succeeds in reviving them, the newly-awakened Mikaelsons execute a daring rescue of the captive Klaus. Once reunited, the family finds themselves faced with an even bigger threat: the revival of an ancient evil that has strong ties to their most vulnerable family member, Hope (Summer Fontana). After a devastating attack by this nightmarish entity, the Mikaelsons discover there is only one way to save themselves -- they must stand their ground in New Orleans and forge an alliance with the very enemies who hate them most, both Marcel and the leader of the New Orleans witches, Vincent Griffith (Yusuf Gatewood). But as their horrifying adversary closes in, the Mikaelsons find that they are facing an evil even more powerful than themselves, one with intimate knowledge of their family’s greatest weakness. With everything at stake -- their city, their family, and their very immortality -- the Mikaelsons must find a way to stand together, even as their secrets threaten to tear them apart. THE ORIGINALS is from Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with My So-Called Company, Alloy Entertainment, Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios. Julie Plec (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Kyle XY,” “Wasteland”) and Leslie Morgenstein (“The Vampire Diaries,” “Gossip Girl”) are executive producers.
Paul Hewitt, 818/977-6171
Paul.Hewitt@CWTV.com
Alana Russo, 818/977-5993
Alana.Russo@CWTV.com
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C:\ Home » Movies » Category 8: The End Is Near (2013)
Category 8: The End Is Near (2013)
A research program abandoned by the best solar physicist when the Pentagon wanted to put it to military use has been resumed by his former deputy. Her incompetence and the Defense secretary's haste cause it to be tested too soon, stirring unprecedented solar flares, ultimately a plasma causing disasters on all continents. Only the genius can think of a way out, only to be victimized by the secretary, who needs to cover up. Even when it turns out the earth's core has stopped spinning, spelling an unimaginable seismic apocalypse, the genius must still evade special forces to stay free and save the world again.
That description says something about the quality of the movie huh?
It's the sequel to this movie, or: mini-series. Two episodes. TV movie. Whatever you wish to call it. Similar to the previous two that I've reviewed it deals with a natural/man-made disaster, and similar to the last two... it was crap. Special effects were... not as crappy as they have been though! That bit was a nice surprise. The final scene in particular was pretty cool.
I didn't recognize any of the crew from the previous, but they were decent, so both cast and production were OK, but it's just not a very compelling story or script. It doesn't have that intricate intrigue or well-kept suspense you need for a good catastrophe movie, just a lot of filler. It's how these series often go, though. So that's that! I think I might be done with this series... of series? Or movies.
Interesting how they went from The End of The World to The End is Near btw. Aren't these supposed to be getting worse and worse?
posted by Cyber on Friday, August 17th, 2018 (4:54 PM) in Movies.
184 Hits / 308 Words [ Print ] [ Tweet ] [ ]
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All That Twitter, Snapchat May Not Be Bad for Teens
TUESDAY, May 7, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Teens spend countless hours glued to their phones and tablets, continually posting to social media, but British researchers report that might not be as terrible as many parents may think.
It appears that teens who are less satisfied with their lives do tend to spend more time on Snapchat, Instagram and the like, but the link between life satisfaction and time spent on social media was "trivial," the research found.
"The previous literature was based almost entirely on correlations with no means to dissociate whether social media use leads to changes in life satisfaction or changes in life satisfaction influence social media use," explained researcher Amy Orben, a lecturer in psychology at the University of Oxford.
But by applying new modeling methods to an eight-year survey of households in the United Kingdom, the researchers were able to tease out data that gave them a better understanding of the effect of social media.
The survey looked at how much time teens spent on social media during a normal school day and compared this with their life satisfaction ratings.
The researchers did find lower life satisfaction increased the time spent on social media, while less time on social media was tied to higher life satisfaction.
This finding was stronger among girls than boys, but even so, the connection was tenuous, they noted.
Co-lead author Andrew Przybylski, director of research at Oxford Internet Institute, said this finding is an important step in understanding the effects of social media.
"Given the rapid pace of technological advancement in recent years, the question of how our increasing use of technology to interact with each other affects our well-being has become increasingly important," Przybylski said in an Oxford news release.
"With most of the current debate is based on lackluster evidence, this study represents an important step towards mapping the effects of technology on adolescent well-being," he said.
These findings hint at what the effect of social media might be on teens, but more and better data are needed to really understand the impact of social media, the researchers added.
"Applying transparent and innovative statistical approaches, we show that social media effects are not a one-way street, they are nuanced, reciprocal, possibly contingent on gender, and arguably trivial in size," the researchers concluded.
The study was published May 6 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The Pew Research Center has more about social media (https://www.pewinternet.org/2018/05/31/teens-social-media-technology-2018 ).
-- Steven Reinberg
SOURCE: University of Oxford, news release, May 6, 2019
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Cancer Medicine Advances on Many Fronts
New drug approvals, more targeted therapies the highlights of 2008
TUESDAY, Dec. 23, 2008 (HealthDay News) -- The war against cancer gathered steam in 2008, as new drugs tackled the toughest cancers with some success, and advances were made in both disease prevention and risk factor identification.
A new report from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) details 12 "major" advances and 19 "notable advances" across the gamut of cancer prevention, screening, treatment and survival in the past year.
"These specific advances . . . reflect a maturation, if you will, of the whole approach of personalized medicine to oncology care," said ASCO President Dr. Richard L. Schilsky, a professor of medicine at the University of Chicago Medical Center. "And some of the reports deal with targeted therapies being used in a broader array of diseases. We're beginning to see the utility of targeted therapies expand across many, many diseases, and we're increasingly able to identify those patients who are most likely to benefit from those targeted therapies."
Sugary Sodas, Juices Tied to Higher Cancer Risk
Millions of Life Years, Billions of Dollars Lost to Cancer Each Year
The report was expected to be published online Dec. 22 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
One of the most impressive reports of the year serves as a backdrop to these advances, pointed out Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of hematology/oncology at Ochsner Health System in Baton Rouge, La. That was a study showing the first reported decline in the number of U.S. men and women developing and dying from cancer.
Nevertheless, some 1.4 million people received the devastating diagnosis of cancer in 2008, and half a million people died from the disease.
Following are the 12 major advances of 2008 identified by ASCO, divided into six general areas and not ranked in order of importance.
In the area of hard-to-treat cancers:
Cetuximab (Erbitux), a monoclonal antibody, when added to chemotherapy, increased overall survival by as much as 21 percent in patients with non-small cell lung cancer which expressed the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Patients receiving Erbitux in a recent trial lived an average of 11.3 months vs. 10.1 months in those receiving a placebo. Lung cancer is the number-one cancer killer among men and women; only 5 percent of those diagnosed with this type of lung cancer survive five years.
The new chemotherapy drug Gemcitabine (Gemzar) doubled disease-free survival from 6.9 months to 13.4 months in pancreatic cancer patients, and increased overall survival from 20.2 months to 22.8 months in patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer who had undergone surgery. Again, only 5 percent of people receiving this diagnosis live five years.
In the area of new drug approvals:
Bendamustine (Treanda) "eliminated" chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in one-third of patients compared with 2 percent who went with current standard therapy, and extended survival without a recurrence to 21.7 months from 9.3 months. The drug was approved in March of 2008 and is now indicated as first-line treatment for the disease.
Bevacizumab (Avastin), another monoclonal antibody, was approved (in conjunction with the chemotherapy drug paclitaxel (Taxol) for women with previously untreated HER2-negative, metastatic breast cancer. A trial the year before had found the combination doubled disease-free survival compared with women receiving chemo alone. A second trial, this one from 2008, confirmed the findings.
In the area of reducing cancer recurrence:
Women with breast cancer who have already taken tamoxifen for five years and who take additional hormone therapy in the form of an aromatase inhibitor or more tamoxifen may reduce even further the chances of the cancer coming back.
Adding the osteoporosis drug zoledronic acid (Zometa) in premenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer also undergoing suppression of ovarian function and hormonal therapy with tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor reduced the risk of recurrence.
Giving one year of pegylated interferon treatment to people with stage III melanoma who had already undergone surgery reduced the risk of recurrence by 18 percent; the four-year recurrence-free survival rate for those on interferon was 45.6 percent vs. 38.9 percent for those not taking the treatment. Overall survival was the same.
In the area of personalized medicine:
Patients with newly diagnosed advanced colorectal cancer who have the normal version of the KRAS gene benefited from Erbitux, according to a study released last year. Those with a mutation in the gene did not benefit, a finding which will help guide treatment.
In the area of risk factors:
Women who take birth control pills reduce their risk for ovarian cancer by 20 percent for every five years they are on the pill.
Between 1973 and 2004, the incidence of head-and-neck cancers related to the HPV virus increased by 0.8 percent. The incidence of these cancers not associated with HPV stayed the same, then declined during the same period. The increase could be due to changes in sexual behavior, for example, an increase in oral sex.
In the area of access to care:
A significant shortage of oncologists in the United States (up to 4,000) is predicted by 2020, even as the number of cancer patients will continue to rise.
Childhood cancer survivors are up to 10 times more likely than their healthy siblings to develop heart disease 30 years after their initial cancer, although researchers emphasized that the absolute rates were still low.
The report also included two recommendations: Increase funding for clinical cancer research and boost the number of participants in clinical trials, which hovers at around 5 percent of all adult cancer patients who could be participating in such trials.
"The good news is that we continue to make great progress in cancer," Schilsky said. "All of that is based upon the strength of our research programs in this country, which are now really beginning to suffer. We've had five years of essentially flat funding to the National Cancer Institute, which really translates into an approximate 15 percent decrease in the budget. At a time when we have more opportunity and are making more progress than ever, the government is essentially pulling the rug out from under us."
"There have been significant advances, [but] if you're a patient out there or have a loved one who has cancer, the results are still not satisfying," said Dr. Otis Webb Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society. "We have made definite positive steps, but they are steps. We haven't arrived. The problem is there are no home runs, just a bunch of bunt singles."
View the full report at the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
SOURCES: Richard L. Schilsky, M.D., president, American Society of Clincial Oncology, and professor, medicine, University of Chicago Medical Center; Jay Brooks, M.D., chairman, hematology/oncology, Ochsner Health System, Baton Rouge, La.; Otis Webb Brawley, M.D., chief medical officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta; Clinical Cancer Advances 2008: Major Research Advances in Cancer Treatment, Prevention and Screening
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Apply to the School of Architecture
CURRENT WORK: Guy Nordenson
Wednesday, February 19, 2014, 7 - 9pm
Corning Museum of Glass Expansion, Corning NY (Thomas Phifer and Partners) | photo: Gilbane + Welliver
This lecture is co-sponsored by the Architectural League of New York.
Recognized for his independent research and innovative, collaborative work with architects, Guy Nordenson, principal of the New York firm Guy Nordenson and Associates, is a structural engineer and professor of architecture and structural engineering at Princeton University. He began his career as a draftsman in the joint studio of R. Buckminster Fuller and Isamu Noguchi, and has practiced structural engineering since 1978. In 1987 Nordenson established the New York office of Ove Arup & Partners, serving as its director until 1997, when he began independent practice.
The structural engineer for over one hundred projects worldwide, Nordenson has worked on the Museum of Modern Art expansion in New York, the Jubilee Church in Rome, the Simmons Residence Hall at MIT, the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City. Current projects include the expansion of the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, and the Menil Drawing Center in Houston.
Nordenson’s research has included earthquake engineering, including code development, technology transfer, and long-range planning for FEMA and the USGS. He led the development of the New York City Seismic Code from 1984 to its enactment into law in 1995. His research project “On the Water | Palisade Bay” won the 2007 AIA College of Fellows Latrobe Research Prize, was published in 2010, and served as the inspiration for the MoMA workshop and exhibition Rising Currents. His books include Seven Structural Engineers – The Felix Candela Lectures in Structural Engineering, and the collection of essays Patterns and Structure. Nordenson was awarded the AIA’s Institute Honors for Collaborative Achievement Award and was the first engineer to be elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He co-founded the Structural Engineers Association of New York, is Commissioner and Secretary of the New York City Public Design Commission, and is a member of the New York City Panel on Climate Change.
Moderated by Henry Cobb
FREE TO CURRENT COOPER UNION STUDENTS/FACULTY/STAFF AND ARCHITECTURAL LEAGUE MEMBERS.
For additional ticketing info please click here.
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Steeped In Tradition: The Salt Grass Trail
Everything’s bigger in Texas, and this trail ride is no exception!
Susan L. Ebert
Salt Grass Trail riders leaving the 7IL Ranch lunch stop.
Although the sun’s out today as I navigate the sweeping bends in the ranchlands west of Houston, last night’s torrential downpour has dumped eight inches of rain overnight and swelled the Brazos River over its banks. My Jeep cuts a motorboat-like wake through roadway puddles that have become veritable lakes. As the gushing water flows over dips in the road from the already saturated fields, I top a rise and spot several dozen riders—the Desperados I’m looking for—their yellow slickers gleaming in the mid-winter grayness as their mounts slosh through the mud.
Even a good drenching can’t dampen the spirits of the Desperados, who have designated this day for their “Warm-Up Ride” in preparation for the main event: when they join up with up to 5,000 other riders converging in Houston to celebrate the opening of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Everything’s bigger in Texas, and this is no exception: It’s the largest trail ride in the world.
Rider Lana Hirtz, during a lunch stop, “moving out” after watering the family horses.
The idea for the ride hatched around a lunch counter in Brenham, Texas, back in 1952: Mayor Reese Lockett and three of his buddies, reminiscing about the old cattle drive routes, decided to saddle up and follow the old Salt Grass Trail into Houston for the opening of Houston Fat Stock Show. Lockett soon had newspapers and television stations vying for coverage. As they rode toward Houston, a dozen or so other riders fell in. By the end of that decade, Lockett’s little “publicity stunt” had swelled to more than 2,000 riders accompanied by nearly 100 wagons and comprised men, women, and children from all walks of life.
Celebrating its 65th anniversary this year, the Salt Grass Trail Ride boasts more than 1,500 riders and 28 wagons. Furthermore, it planted the seeds for a dozen more trail rides, 10 from across Texas and two others originating in Logansport, Louisiana and Reynosa, Mexico (see sidebar). All thirteen trail rides—each with its own distinct personality—merge in Houston’s Memorial Park for the Downtown Rodeo Parade that opens the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. But arguably none can match the exuberance of “The Granddaddy of ’Em All,” the Salt Grass.
The ride takes its name from the region’s signature salt grass, which does not die back during winter as do other grasses. Early cattlemen would overwinter their herds on the mineral-rich, salt-tolerant, thick grass to fatten up before driving them east to market in New Orleans.
Dr. Steve Schwartz & Lucy Newson with SGTR after riding through downtown in the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo parade.
Among the Salt Grass Trail Ride’s 28 wagons, arguably none are as fashion-conscious as the Desperados, Wagon No. 13. Small wonder that this is the group Western fashion designer Pat Dahnke has ridden with for the past 30 years, and that she serves as the dress code officer. “We took some ribbing when we first started wearing matching outfits,” she says, “but now it’s caught on and every major wagon coordinates their outfits. With the Salt Grass Trail Ride stretching out for a mile or more as we wend our way to Houston, it’s such an impressive sight.”
Beverly Wilson Smith, who serves as wagon boss, is the longest-riding woman in the Desperados, having participated for 42 years. Dahnke’s daughter Tara, the group’s wrangler, has also been with the Desperados for 30 years, riding with her mother since she was a child. As do the other trail rides, the Desperados welcome new participants, and have hosted riders from Singapore, Iraq, Germany, and France.
Pat Dahnke riding on the Desperados wagon.
Life on the Trail
The warm-up ride that I’m witnessing today is much like what the first Saturday of the trail ride will be: An 8-mile circle ride to get everyone tuned up for the ride.
“Sunday, it really starts,” says Dahnke. “Cattle call is at 6 a.m., and the first thing we do is feed and water the horses. Then, breakfast and breaking camp: the camp movers must have all the motorhomes, trucks, and trailers out before the ride begins at 8:30 a.m. We’ll cover from 15 to 18 miles a day, breaking for lunch at noon and back in the saddle by 12:45 p.m. We’ll ride until 4:30 or 5, feed and water the horses and have a great supper from the cook shack. Then, the campfires, music, and dancing begin.”
They’ll repeat this schedule for a full week, before converging with the other trail rides uniting in Houston.
Winding through the backroads of Texas on the Salt Grass Trail Ride.
Much like today, March weather in Texas can be capricious, bringing torrential rains, cold snaps, and the occasional tornado to test the riders’ mettle. “One year we had a tornado come through at 4 p.m., just as we were making camp,” says Dahnke. “Foot-and-a-half-thick trees were snapping like toothpicks, and the sky turned bruised purplish black with an ominous yellow glow. It was no big deal to the horses—they were used to being out in the elements—and their calmness helped keep the riders calm.”
Lest the schedule sound too formidable, I glean a few tidbits that rarely make it outside the Desperados (what happens on the ride, stays on the ride, after all). With the vague references to wild pajama parties … luxurious motor home parties …hilarious costume parties complete with Elvis and Billy Gibbons look-alikes … dancing on tables until they splintered … the ride also delivers plenty of fun and shenanigans as well as regimented discipline. Friendships bloom, romances blossom, and family ties are strengthened.
SGTR rides into the Houston Farm & Ranch Club presenting flags. LEFT TO RIGHT: Tammy Holsey, Sabra Booth, Rhonda Laumen, and Lucy Newson.
“People in the Western world are so genuine and down-to-earth,” says Dahnke. “We have riders from all walks of life, all sharing this common experience. Everyone’s looking around to see what they can help someone else with, whether it’s a broken strap, a thrown shoe, whatever. After sharing the week together, it’s almost overwhelming when we finally ride into the city and join thousands more riders for the Downtown Rodeo Parade. There’s nothing like it in the world.”
The Thirteen Trail Rides
Hankering to experience the camaraderie of a multi-day trail ride capped off with over-the-top pageantry? Trail riders come not only from Texas, but from across the country and around the world. Each trail ride has its own personality, so see which one best suits your style.
1) Los Vaqueros originate in Reynosa, Mexico, cross the border at Hidalgo, Texas, and ride 386 miles. They’ve participated for 44 years. Two of their five wagons are equipped for handicapped children so that 10 to 12 special needs children can experience the ride for a day or two.
2) Originating at the historical San Antonio Mission Espada, the Mission Trail Ride covers 235 miles and has 27 years under its belt. The ride celebrates the early cattle drives that went east to New Orleans. Over the years, it’s provided more than $150,000 in scholarship grants and educational programs.
3) Northeastern Trail Ride, now in its 25th year, begins in Beaumont and covers 108 miles. This trail ride pays homage to the Buffalo Soldiers, and considers their ride to be a spiritual journey. It’s donated $30,000 to Prairie View A&M University each year for the past 10 years.
4) The Logansport Louisiana-based Old Spanish Trail Ride, participating in its 62nd year, covers the second-longest route after Los Vaqueros, trekking 206 miles. The ride makes an annual stop at an assisted-living home in Livingston, Texas, to share their experiences with the residents.
5) Prairie View Trail Ride, known as the “Mother” of the Black Trails, joined the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in 1958, becoming the first African-American HLSR trail ride and the oldest in the U.S. They ride 87 miles from Hempstead, Texas, and focus their charitable efforts on public schools.
6) Salt Grass Trail Ride, celebrating its 65th anniversary, covers 101 miles from its starting point in Cat Spring, Texas. With 1,500 riders and 28 wagons, it’s both the longest-running and largest of the trail rides. Salt Grass has awarded a show scholarship for the past consecutive nine years.
7) The 63-year-old Sam Houston Trail Ride is the second-oldest trail ride after the Salt Grass, and follows the 70-mile route that Sam Houston took from Montgomery, Texas, to Houston in the mid-1800s. Their charitable efforts include local fire departments and graduating high school seniors.
8) Heading out from Rosenberg, Texas, the Southwest Trail Ride covers 120 miles. Now in its 24th year, Southwest has as its mission to perpetuate the heritage of the black cowboy and to support the youth of Harris and surrounding counties through education, scholarship, and community service.
9) Southwestern Trail Ride emanates from West Columbia, Texas, and covers 100 miles. Now in its 44th year, it’s given more than $80,000 in college scholarships and makes annual stops at elementary schools along the way to educate youth about the trail ride and to give them wagon rides.
10) Saddling up in Shepherd, Texas for its 109-mile ride, the 57-year-old Spanish Trail Ride prides itself on being a family ride dedicated to teaching young people about the hardships and rewards of pioneer life. It supports a number of 4-H and FFA chapters in its members’ hometowns.
11) Texas Cattlemen’s Trail Ride, launching from Magnolia, Texas, is in its 32nd year and covers 70 miles. This ride comprises retired policemen, U.S. veterans, and their families and features the Support Our Troops Wagon, which bears the dog tags of every fallen soldier from Montgomery County from the Korean War to the present.
12) 56-year-old Texas Independence Trail Ride covers 108 miles from its origin in Brazoria, Texas. The ride splintered off from the Salt Grass Trail Ride in 1961, and prides itself on its authenticity. The ride focuses its charitable giving on assisting families with unexpected illnesses and other life tragedies.
13) Valley Lodge Trail Ride begins in Brookshire, Texas, and rides 75 miles to Houston. Now in its 58th year, Valley Lodge has earned the moniker of the “Champagne Ride” for its longstanding reputation for gourmet meals. Valley Lodge was the third ride to receive its charter from the HLSR.
Photos courtesy of Sallie Gillispie.
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Tags: cowgirl horse horses houston livestock show and rodeo salt grass trail salt grass trail ride slidermain trail ride trail rides trail riding
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‘Brothers In Atlanta’ Comedy Series Not Going Forward At HBO
HBO has opted not to proceed with Brothers In Atlanta, its comedy series created by and starring Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin, directed by Tim Story and produced by Lorne Michaels.
The network had been trying to get the project off the ground for several years. It originally ordered a Riddle and Salahuddin comedy pilot produced by Michaels in 2013, with the duo playing Atlanta reporters. It didn’t go to series, but the pay cable network liked Riddle and Salahuddin and the Atlanta setting and decided to take another try with a new concept. It became Brothers In Atlanta, which went to pilot with Story directing and was picked up to series in April. The show will not go forward.
“After assessing our programming needs, we talked to Bashir and Diallo and decided moving forward didn’t make sense for us at the time,” HBO said in a statement to Deadline. “We feel they are immensely talented, and we hope to work with them in the future.”
HBO, which is coming off winnin
g the best comedy series Emmy for Veep, has two new half-hour series coming up: Issa Rae’s Insecure, about the awkward experiences and racy tribulations of a modern-day African-American woman, and the Sarah Jessica Parker-starring Divorce, about a married woman considering divorce.
Written by former Late Night With Jimmy Fallon writers-performers Riddle and Salahuddin, Brothers In Atlanta was about best friends Langston (Riddle) and Moose (Salahuddin), who are struggling entertainers trying to navigate relationships and life in the black Mecca of Atlanta. The pilot also featured Maya Rudolph as Moose’s demanding boss, Shirle, an R&B diva whose heyday was in the ’90s, and Jaden Smith as Curtis, a “New Atlanta” teenager and Langston’s rowdy neighbor with unpredictable interests and suspicious income.
This article was printed from https://deadline.com/2016/01/brothers-in-atlanta-comedy-series-canceled-hbo-1201688455/
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Tag Archives: Economic Costs of Sleep Deprivation
BBC’s Day of the Body Clock (BBC News / PNAS / Science / NHS Choices / Lancet)
Summary Cancer, heart disease, type-2 diabetes, infections and obesity have been linked to insufficient and / or disrupted sleep. Full Text Link Reference Gallagher, J. (2014). ‘Arrogance’ of ignoring need for sleep. London: BBC Health News, May 12th 2014. Irregular … Continue reading →
Posted in Animal Studies, BBC News, For Doctors (mostly), For Nurses and Therapists (mostly), For Researchers (mostly), In the News, International, NHS Digital (Previously NHS Choices), Quick Insights, UK, Universal Interest | Tagged Addenbrookes Hospital, Adverse Effects in Heart Surgery and Circadian Rhythm, Adverse Events in Open Heart Surgery and Circadian Rhythm, Appropriate Timing of Sleep, Bad Health Among Shift Workers, Bazian, BBC Health News, BBC Reality Check Team, BBC Reality Check: Short-Term Sleep Disruption, BBC’s Day of the Body Clock, Behaviorally Assessed Sleep and Susceptibility to Common Colds, Behind the Headlines, Best Time to Take Medications (Body Clock), Blood Triglyceride Levels, Blue Light, Body Clock, Breast Cancer, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital: Boston, Caffeine and the Body Clock, Caffeine and the Human Circadian Clock, Caffeine Intake, Center for Biomedical Genetics: Erasmus University Medical Center, Centre for Health 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Economic Costs of Sleep Deprivation, Entrain app, Erasmus University Medical Center, eReaders: Short-Wavelength Light, Evelina Children's Hospital (London), Experimental Physiology (Journal), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences: University of Surrey, False Memories, Forced Desynchrony of Sleep, Frontiers in Public Health, Full Moon (Lunar Influences on Sleep), Full Sleep Cycles, Gene Networks, Genetic Research, Genomics, German Aerospace Center, Germany, Glasgow, Global Sleep Patterns, Harvard Medical School, Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), Health Risks of Shift Work, Health Survey for England, Health Survey for England Statistics on Shift Work, Heart Surgery, Human Circadian Clock, Institute for Medical Psychology: Ludwig-Maximilian University, Institute of Aerospace Medicine: German Aerospace Center, Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine: University of Glasgow, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences: University of Glasgow, 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Life Sciences: University of Glasgow, School of Psychology: University of Glasgow, Science Advances (Journal), Science Journal, Science Translational Medicine, Scroll Free September Campaign: Royal Society for Public Health (2018), Shift Work "Ages" the Brain, Shift Work and Health, Shift Work and Health and Lifestyle, Shift Work and Lifestyle Factors, Shift Work Causes Genetic Disruption, Shift Work Doubles Breast Cancer Risk, Shift Work Increases Diabetes Risk, Shift Work Prevalence, Shift Work Statistics (UK), Shift Working, Short-Wavelength Light, Skin Fibroblasts, Skirball Institute: New York University School of Medicine, Sleep, Sleep Deprivation, Sleep Deprivation and False Memories, Sleep Disturbance, Sleep Duration, Sleep Fragmentation, Sleep Hygiene, Sleep Learning, Sleep Patterns, Sleep Training, Sleeping Well, Smartphones: Automatic "Bedtime Mode", Social Jetlag, Sporting Ability, Suprachiasmatic Nuclei (SCN) in the Hypothalamus, Sweden, Tablets: Automatic "Bedtime Mode", Time Since Awakening, Timely Sleep Facilitates Memory Consolidation, Timing of Operations (Heart Surgery), Transcriptome, Triglycerides, Triglycerides Levels, Type 2 Diabetes, UK Biobank, Unconscious Racist or Sexist Bias (Sleep Modification), United States, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, University of Birmingham, University of California, University of Cambridge, University of Colorado, University of Glasgow, University of Manchester, University of Michigan, University of Missouri, University of Oxford, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, University of Sheffield, University of Surrey, USA, World Sleeping Patterns, Wound Healing Time (Circadian Clock), Zero-Hours Contracts | Leave a comment
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Tag Archives: Islamic State
Reuters reported on Thursday that the Senate moved Wednesday to advert a shutdown of U.S. domestic security agency this weekend by voting to clear the way for funding a funding bill that does not include the immigration issue. The vote came shortly after an appeal from the current and two former Security secretaries appealed to Congress to avoid the shutdown and give full funding for the department of Homeland Security this year. The final hurdle for passage will fall to the conservative Republicans in the House of Representatives who still oppose the bill and procedural negotiations that could delay the final vote beyond Friday’s funding deadline for the department. The agency set up after 9/11 coordinates domestic efforts to combat security threats like the recent Somali based Islamic militants against U.S. shopping malls and encompasses the Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration as well as border, immigration and several other federal agencies. The original bill would of funded the agency with $39.7 billion until Republicans against Democratic President Barack Obama’s executive order lifted deportation threats of undocumented immigrants got in the way causing Republicans to approve the bill adding a provision to ban spending on the order. This in turn caused a deadlock that lasted weeks between Republicans and Democrats leading up to Wednesday’s vote. The 98-2 vote cleared the way to take out the House’s immigration provisions and leave the vote on immigration orders for a later date under the plan designed by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell to end the deadlock. The overwhelming bipartisan support for McConnell’s approach means there is strong support for drama free funding for Homeland Security. Democrats have called for a clean Homeland bill all along without any immigration restrictions as Obama had threatened to veto the House passed measure. House Speaker John Boehner declined to tell Reuters if he would put the bill to a House vote even thought the deadline ends at midnight Friday. If no deal is reached, then Homeland Security would be forced to furlough about 30,000 employees or 15 percent of its workforce. This translate to many of the essential personnel such as airport and border security agents would have to wait to be paid until new funding is approved. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and some of his predecessors pleaded at a news conference for Congress to swiftly pass the funding bill. A cut-off in funds also would suspend grants to states to support local counter-terrorism activities.
As security issues at home become increasingly worrisome, the White House has said President Barack Obama would be open to negotiating with Congress for new authorization for military force against Islamic State militants including a three year limit on U.S. military action and use of American troops, according to the AP’s Nedra Pickler, Obama open to changes to military authority against IS. After a weeklong holiday break, lawmakers returned to Washington Monday and have started to consider the proposal with some Republicans saying it is too restrictive for the mission to succeed and some Democrats wanting more limitations on Obama’s authority so the U.S. doesn’t sign on for another open ended war. Obama is open to discussing every aspect of his proposal but firmly opposed to any geographic restriction on where the U.S. military pursues ISIS with strongholds in Iraq and Syria but have been operating across international boundaries. White House press secretary Josh Earnest stated, “I’m not at all going to be surprised if there are members of Congress who take a look at this legislation and decide, ‘Well, I think there are some things that we should tweak here, and if we do, we might be able to build some more support for. So I think it is fair for you to assume that this reflects a starting point in conversations.” Obama argues he doesn’t need new authority to legally pursue the militant group as he has been launching strikes based on authorizations given to President George W. Bush after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. However, critics say Obama’s use of this authority is a stretch and the White House has taken a new position making it clear it doesn’t see reliance on this authorization as ideal. Once new authority is signed into law, the White House says Obama will mot longer rely on the 2001 approved authority to purse the group and rely solely on the new powers. The White House added that Congress could make that clear in the new authorization. The change also prevents any future president from interpreting the law the way Obama has since last year. On Wednesday, the U.S. Justice Department announced the arrest of three men accused of planning or supporting ISIS in Syria, AP’s Deepti Hajela reports, Feds: 3 accused in Islamic State plot vocal about beliefs. Two men are charged with plotting to help the Islamic State group as evident by both online and personal conversations about their commitment and desire to join the extremists, federal authorities reported. Akhror Saidakhmetov, 19, was arrested at Kennedy Airport, where he was attempting to board a flight to Istanbul, with plans to head to Syria, authorities said. Another man, 24-year-old Abdurasul Hasanovich Juraboev, had a ticket to travel to Istanbul next month and was arrested in Brooklyn, federal prosecutors said. The two were held without bail after a brief court appearance. A third defendant, Abror Habibov, 30, is accused of helping fund Saidakhmetov’s efforts. He was ordered held without bail in Florida. If convicted, each faces a maximum of 15 years in prison. New York Police Department Commissioner William Bratton said this was the first public case in New York involving possible fighters going to the Islamic State, but he hinted at other ongoing investigations. According to the federal complaint, Saidakhmetov said he intended to shoot police officers and FBI agents if his plan to join the IS group in Syria was thwarted. Loretta Lynch, who is Obama’s choice to be U.S. attorney general, said “The flow of foreign fighters to Syria represents an evolving threat to our country and to our allies.” The Islamic State group largely consists of Sunni militants from Iraq and Syria but has also drawn fighters from across the Muslim world and Europe.
While the U.S. fights to thwart and contain the Islamic State, the rest of the world has not been so lucky in keeping ISIS as bay. On Tuesday, AP’s Zeina Karam reported, Dozens of Christians abducted by Islamic militants in Syria, the Islamic State militants before dawn raided homes in a cluster of villages along the Khabur River in northeastern Syria abducting at least 70 Christians as thousands fled to safer areas. The captives’, mostly women and children, fate was unclear Tuesday as relatives said mobile phone service was cut off and land lines were not working and heavy fighting in the area was reported. The Islamic State group has a history of killing captives, including foreign journalists, Syrian soldiers and Kurdish militiamen. Most recently, militants in Libya affiliated with the extremist group released a video showing the beheading of 21 Egyptian Christians. While the U.S. and coalition of regional partners conduct airstrikes against the group, the group has repeatedly targeted religious minorities since taking a third of both Syria and Iraq. The British based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights working with a network of activist in Syria have reported the number of Christians held by the group at 90. The extremists could use the Assyrian captives to try to arrange a prisoner swap with the Kurdish militias it is battling in northeastern Syria. Hassakeh province, where a majority of the captives come from, is strategically important due to sharing a border with Turkey and areas controlled by IS in Iraq. Kurdish militiamen from the People’s Protection Units, or YPG, backed by the coalition airstrikes, have made advances in the province in a new offensive launched this week. Heavy fighting broke out in the province Monday as Kurdish fighters and IS militants battled for control of villages near the Iraqi and Turkish borders. The Kurds have been one of the most effective foes of IS, a reputation they burnished in recent months by repelling an assault by the extremists on the town of Kobani on the Turkish border. The coalition carried out hundreds of airstrikes that helped the Kurds break the siege in January.
As the world tries to get a grip on the seemingly phantom group called ISIS, the ongoing ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia seems once again to have fallen apart as fighting continues to rage and Russia refuses to loosen its grip on Ukraine. On Wednesday, AP reported Russian courts refused to release Ukrainian prisoners whose fate has attracted global attention as Moscow’s City Court turned down an appeal by Nadezhda Savchenko’s lawyers leaving her to remain behind bars pending an investigation, according to the article, Russian court refuses to release Ukrainian prisoner. Savchenko, a Ukrainian military officer captured by Russia-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine in June and put in custody in Russia, is awaiting trial on charges of involvement in the deaths of two Russian journalists in eastern Ukraine. She denies the accusations. Russia claims Savchenko voluntarily crossed the border into Russia before she was detained, but she said she was dragged across the border into the Russian custody. Savchenko has been on a hunger strike since Dec. 13 demanding her release, and her lawyers on Wednesday voiced concern about her condition. More than 11,000 people including prominent cultural figures have petitioned Russian President Vladimir Putin urging Savchenko’s release. Even while in jail, Savchenko was elected to the Ukrainian parliament and named a delegate to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The European Union and the United States have urged her release. Pavel Polityuk and Anton Zverev reported, Kiev Says It Can’t Withdraw Weaponry As Attacks On Ukrainian Troops Persist, the Ukrainian military said Monday it could not leave the front line in the east as required by the ceasefire due to pro-Russian separatists who advanced last week were attacking its position making it difficult to withdraw heavy weaponry. A truce to end fighting that has killed more than 5,600 people appeared stillborn last week after rebels ignored it to capture the strategic town of Debaltseve in a punishing defeat for Kiev. Nevertheless, the peace deal’s European sponsors still hold out hope it can be salvaged, now that the Moscow-backed separatists have achieved that objective. Spokesman Vladislav Seleznyov said in a televised briefing: “Given that the positions of Ukrainian servicemen continue to be shelled, there can not yet be any talk of pulling back weapons.” Anatoly Stelmakh, another military spokesman, said rebel forces had attacked the village of Shyrokyne overnight, along the coast on the road to Mariupol, a port of half a million that Kiev fears could be the next big rebel target. Rebel commander Eduard Basurin denied the fighters had launched any such attack, and said the situation was calm. Nearly a million people have been driven from their homes by the war between pro-Moscow separatists in eastern Ukraine and government forces. Last week’s ceasefire was reached after the rebels abandoned a previous truce to launch their advance, arguing that previous battle lines had left their civilians vulnerable to government shelling. Kiev says the rebels are reinforcing near Mariupol for a possible assault on the port, the biggest city in the two rebellious provinces still in government hands. Defense analyst Dmytro Tymchuk, who has close ties to the military, said rebels had brought 350 fighters and 20 armored vehicles including six tanks to the area.
Posted in 2015, budget, conflict, congress, controversial, crime, death, democracy, goverment, hostage, human rights, insurgency, international, Islamic State, law, lawmakers, militants, military, news, peace, politics, protest, religion, Russia, terrorism, tragedy, United Nations, United States, US, video, violence, war, white house, world, world financial crisis, world health
Tagged Boehner, CIA ISIS, Coptic Christians, East Ukraine Truce, Egypt Libya Islamic State, Egyptians Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, FBI ISIS, homeland security, Homeland Security Funding, Isis, ISIS abductions Syria, ISIS Homeland Security, ISIS plot in US, Isis Syria, ISIS Threat, Islamic Caliphate, Islamic State, middle East, Migrant Workers, Mitch McConnell, Obama Isis, Obama war authority, POTUS, POTUS ISIS, Syria, Syria Fighting, Syria Violence, Syria War, Syria War Crimes, Syria War Crimes Investigation, Terrrorism, U.S. Congress, U.S. ISIS plot, U.S. ISIS Threat, U.S. President Barack Obama, U.S. Senate, Ukraine, Ukraine Ceasefire, Ukraine Civil War, Ukraine Crisis, Ukraine Fighting, Ukraine Peace Deal, Ukraine Pro Russia Separatists, UN War Crimes Panel, video, War Crimes ISIS, War Crimes Syria, WorldPost
October 12, 2014 by craftymcclever
As the spread of Ebola continues outside of West Africa to the United States and Europe, the death toll continues to increase and more cases arise forcing areas outside thew outbreak zone to take preventative measures and contain the virus. On Friday, the infected nursing assistant, Teresa Romero who tested positive Monday for Ebola, according to a spokeswoman for Madrid’s regional health agency said on conditions of anonymity, was scheduled to start a round of the experimental anti-Ebola drug ZMapp after Spain obtained some of the drug, the Associated Press reports, Spain: Ebola nurse “stable” after serious downturn. Spanish Prime Minister Marian Rajoy visited the Madrid hospital where the nurse is being treated on Friday despite harsh criticism from unions and oppositions politicians claiming that the nation’s health system provided substandard high risk disease training and protective gear to doctors, nurses and ambulance personnel. Rajoy did announce Spain will set up a high level special commission to prevent an outbreak of Ebola that will meet daily, additionally he praised Spanish health care workers and said the World Health Organization thinks “the risk is very low that this disease will spread in the future” in Spain and Europe. Romero, 44, is the first person known to have caught the disease outside West Africa in the current Ebola outbreak. She was helping to care for a Spanish priest infected in West Africa who died at the hospital on Sept. 25. Health authorities suspect she may have been infected after touching her gloved hand to her face while taking off protective gear. Romero’s husband is also quarantined, along with a nurse who displayed possible symptoms but tested negative for Ebola in a first test and will undergo a second one. Ten people who came into contact with Romero checked themselves into the hospital voluntarily for observation for 21 days instead of staying at home. On Wednesday, the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S. died despite intense but delayed treatment, forcing the government to expand airport examinations to guard against the spread of Ebola, the Associated Press reports, US Ebola patient dies; airport screening expanded. The checks will include taking the temperatures of hundreds of travelers arriving from West Africa at five major American airports. The new screenings will begin Saturday at New York’s JFK International Airport and then expand to Washington Dulles and the international airports in Atlanta, Chicago and Newark. An estimated 150 people per day will be checked, using high-tech thermometers that don’t touch the skin. The White House said the fever checks would reach more than 9 of 10 travelers to the U.S. from the three heaviest-hit countries – Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. A delay in diagnosis and treatment for Duncan and the infection of a Spanish nurse have raised worries about Western nations’ ability to stop the disease. Obama via teleconference with mayors and local officials said: “As we saw in Dallas, we don’t have a lot of margin for error. If we don’t follow protocols and procedures that are put in place, then we’re putting folks in our communities at risk.” AP reports that health authorities scrambled to respond to the disease Wednesday:
– “In Spain, doctors said they may have figured out how a nurse became the first person infected outside of West Africa in this outbreak. Teresa Romero said she remembered once touching her face with her glove after leaving the quarantine room where an Ebola victim was being treated. Romero’s condition was stable.
-A social media campaign and a protest by Spanish animal rights activists failed to save Romero’s dog, Excalibur. The pet was euthanized under court order out of fear it might harbor the Ebola virus.
– In Sierra Leone, burial teams returned to their work of picking up the bodies of Ebola victims, after a one-day strike to demand overdue hazard pay.
– Health workers in neighboring Liberia also were threatening a strike if their demands for more money and personal protective gear are not met by the end of the week. The average health worker salary is currently below $500 per month, even for the most highly trained staff.
-The World Bank estimated that the economic toll of the largest Ebola outbreak in history could reach $32.6 billion if the disease continues to spread through next year.
In Washington, Secretary of State John Kerry made a plea for more nations to contribute to the effort to stop the disease ravaging West Africa, saying the international effort was $300 million short of what’s needed. He said nations must step up quickly with a wide range of support, from doctors and mobile medical labs to basic humanitarian aid such as food.”
Meanwhile, the hardest hit countries have seen a dramatic increase in casualties due to the Ebola outbreak and children orphaned by the deadly virus are now struggling more than ever before to survive. Liberia, a country with large, deeply religious, families, an aunty or relative usually takes in a child who lost a parent, but Ebola has changed that bond for fear of contagion and death, Krista Larson reports, How Children Orphaned By Ebola Fight For Survival. According to the U.N. children’s agency, at least 3,700 children across Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone have lost one or more parents to Ebola and the figure is expected to double by mid-October with many children left to fend for themselves and continue to live in infected homes. ON Friday, the U.N. special envoy on Ebola said the number of cases is probably doubling every three to four weeks and without a mass global mobilization “the world will have to live with the Ebola virus forever,” Edith M. Lederer reports, UN envoy: Ebola cases doubling every 3-4 weeks. David Nabarro told the U.N. General Assembly the response needed to be 20 times greater. U.N. Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson said in order to counteract the exponential growth of the virus, a massive scale up of financial resources, medical staff and equipment is needed. Unfortunately, only one quarter of the $1 billion the U.N. agencies have appealed for to tackle the disease has been funded. Eliasson told diplomats from most of the 193 U.N. member states, “I now appeal to all member states to act generously and swiftly. Speed is of the essence. A contribution within days is more important than a larger contribution within weeks.” Nabarro, a 35 year public heath veteran dealing with disease outbreaks and pandemics, has never encountered the challenge of such an outbreak that has moved from rural areas into towns and cities that is now “affecting a whole region and … impacting on the whole world.” Anthony Banbury, head of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response, warned that a failure to help Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea – the three worst affected countries – “while we have the chance could lead to unpredictable but very dire consequences for the people of the countries and well beyond.” He added, “As long as there is one case of Ebola in any one of these countries, no country is safe from the dangers posed by this deadly virus.” Both Nabarro and Banbury cited the importance of traditional burial practices in the West African countries, noting that this is a time when the bodies of Ebola victims are most toxic and any touching can transmit the disease. Banbury said, “To defeat the virus we will have to change behavior. We are late, but it is not too late to fight and win this battle.” According to the Geneva based U.N. agency, the World Health Organization, reports 4,033 confirmed, probable or suspected Ebola deaths have been recorded. All but nine are int he three hardest hit countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea with eight of those in Nigeria and one in the United States. The defeat of Sirleaf’s proposal in the House of Representatives came as U.S. military forces worked on building a hospital for stricken health workers in Liberia, the country that has been hit hardest by the epidemic. Liberian Lawmakers rejected the president’s proposal to give her further power to restrict movement and public gatherings and the authority to appropriate property “without payment of any kind or any further judicial process” to combat Ebola. Liberia has 2,316 recorded deaths due to Ebola, which is the most of any country as the WHO reports. Sirleaf’s government imposed a three-month state of emergency beginning Aug. 6, but critics have accused the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s approach to fighting Ebola since then as ineffective and heavy handed. In August, a quarantine of Monrovia’s largest shantytown sparked unrest and was derided as counterproductive before being lifted. The Committee to Protect Journalists has accused Sirleaf’s government of trying to silence media outlets criticizing its conduct. Meanwhile, the U.S. military was rushing to set up a 25-bed hospital to treat health workers who may contract Ebola. The arrival of 100 U.S. Marines on Thursday brings to just over 300 the total number of American troops in Liberia. The Marines and their aircraft will help with air transportation and ferrying of supplies, overcoming road congestion in Monrovia and bad roads outside the capital, said Capt. R. Carter Langston, spokesman for the U.S. mission. A priority will be transporting building materials to treatment unit sites. The U.S. has said it will oversee construction of 17 treatment units with 100 beds each. The 101st Airborne Division is expected to deploy 700 troops by late October and the U.S. may send up to 4,000 soldiers to help with the Ebola crisis, depending on what is needed. In Mali, a health ministry spokesman said two more people had begun participating in the first phase of a study for a possible Ebola vaccine. Mali has not had any cases of Ebola, but it borders the outbreak zone. University of Maryland researchers announced Thursday that the first study of a possible vaccine was underway, and that three health care workers in Mali had received the experimental shots developed by the U.S. government. Health ministry spokesman Markatie Daou said, “Today, we are at five people vaccinated. We envision vaccinating between 20 and 40 people for this first phase and the results are expected next month.”
While the world battles and struggles to control the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, ISIS also known as the Islamic State continues to besiege strategic towns on the border of Syria raising concern and criticism over Turkey’s lack of action and the effectiveness of the U.S. coalition. According to Akbar Shahid Ahmed, 3 New Findings On ISIS Weapons That You Should Know About, the Islamic State militants are wielding arms manufactured in 21 different countries including the U.S. a new report released Monday reports. Ahmed reports: “The study of ammunition captured during the Islamic State’s battles with Kurdish forces in northern Iraq and Syria in July and August highlights the diverse array of arms sources fueling the extremist group, also known as ISIS. Investigators from the arms monitoring group Conflict Armament Research cataloged more than 1,700 bullet cartridges by their country of origin and their date of manufacture. The report says most of the related arms appear to have been seized by ISIS from opposing forces — from national armies to foreign-backed rebel groups across Syria and Iraq.” James Bevan, Director of the European Union funded Conflict Armament Research, told the New York Times, “The lesson learned here is that the defense and security forces that have been supplied ammunition by external nations really don’t have the capacity to maintain custody of that ammunition.” As the article states, three key takeaways from the report are as follows:
1. Most of the Islamic State’s arms ultimately came from China, Russia and the U.S.
“Two of the biggest sources of the militants’ weaponry, the report says, are supplies wrested from the Syrian army, which possesses a significant stock of Soviet- and Russian-made arms that is still being replenished, and supplies captured in Iraq, many of which were made in America.
Between them, China, Russia, the now-defunct Soviet Union, the U.S. and Serbia provided more than 80 percent of the ammunition in the sample collected, according to a New York Times analysis of the report.”
2. Some militants in Syria are learning how to make weapons more difficult to trace.
“Numerous former U.S. officials told the Center for Public Integrity that they are already skeptical that the new supplies of U.S. weapons heading to certain Syrian rebel groups — whose arming was approved by Congress last month — will be safe from the Islamic State’s hands.
Keeping track of weaponry is unlikely to be easier this time around, one investigator indicated to the Center for Public Integrity. The investigator said that militants within Syria — he did not specify which group — are now using oxyacetylene torches to remove the serial numbers from some foreign weapons. They have even added new serial numbers. That makes it more difficult to trace the arms back to their original provider and to attempt to control their flow, the investigator said.”
3. Arms are constantly passed between various fighting groups.
“The many foreign weapons within Syria and Iraq are not only ending up with the Islamic State, the report explains. It describes how Kurdish forces have used battles against the militants to restore their own supplies of ammunition.
As if all that bad news weren’t bad enough, here’s a bonus from one of Conflict Armament Research’s earlier reports: The Islamic State appears to possess anti-tank rocket launchers, made in the former Yugoslavia, that it seized from other Syrian rebels.
The Islamic State’s weaponry — particularly heavy armaments not documented in the new report — has been a key factor in campaigns like the group’s ongoing assault on the Kurdish town of Kobani in Syria.”
On Wednesday night, Islamic State fighters launched a renewed assault on the Syrian city of Kobani as at least 21 people were killed amid riots in neighboring Turkey where Kurds rose up against the government for doing nothing to protect their kin, according to Reuters, Renewed assault on Kobani; 21 dead in Turkey as Kurds rise. Heavily outgunned defenders said Islamic Sate militants pushed into two districts of the Kurdish town, despite U.S.led air strikes that the Pentagon acknowledge would not be enough. In Istanbul and Ankara, street battles erupted between Kurdish protestors and police as fallout from the Iraq and Syrian war threatened to unravel the Kurdish peace process. Washington said its war planes hit nine Syrian targets along with coalition ally the United Arab Emirates included six near Kobani and struck five ISIS positions in Iraq. Nevertheless, Kobani remained under intense bombardment from Islamic State emplacements, within sight of Turkish tanks at the nearby frontier that have so far done nothing to help. Asya Abdullah, co-chair of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), told Reuters from inside the town, “Tonight, (Islamic State) has entered two districts with heavy weapons including tanks. Civilians may have died because there are very intense clashes.” U.S. officials were quoted voicing impatience with the Turks for refusing to join the coalition against Islamic State fighters who have seized wide areas of Syria and Iraq. Turkey says it could join only if Washington agrees to use force against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the Sunni Muslim jihadists fighting him in a three-year-old civil war. Turkey’s own Kurds, who make up the majority in the southeast of the country, say President Tayyip Erdogan is stalling while their brethren are killed in Kobani. Others died in clashes between protesters and police in the eastern provinces of Mus, Siirt and Batman. Thirty people were wounded in Istanbul, including eight police officers. Disturbances spread to other countries with Kurdish and Turkish populations. Police in Germany said 14 people were hurt in clashes there between Kurds and radical Islamists. In Turkey, parliament voted last week to authorize cross-border intervention, but Erdogan and his government have so far held back, saying they will join military action only as part of an alliance that also confronts Assad. Erdogan wants the alliance to enforce a “no-fly zone” to prevent Assad’s air force flying over Syrian territory near the Turkish border and create a safe area for an estimated 1.2 million Syrian refugees in Turkey to return. While Turkey has taken in the wounded and displaced from Kobani, Turkey has deep reservations about deploying its own army in Syria and beyond being a target for ISIS, Turkey fears being sucked into Syria’s three year civil war.
On Friday, the AP reported, Islamic State group shells Syrian border crossing, that the Islamic State group shelled a Syrian border crossing with Turkey to try and capture it and cut off Kobani, a local Kurdish official and Syrian activists said. The official, Idriss Nassan, said Islamic State fighters aim to seize the crossing in order to close the noose around the town’s Kurdish defenders and prevent anyone from entering or leaving Kobani. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the militants shelled several areas in Kobani, including the border crossing, which is the town’s only gateway to Turkey. Nassan, referring to the Islamic State group by its Arabic acronym, said: “Daesh is doing all it can to take the border crossing point through the farmlands east of the city. They think there might be help (for the Kurdish militia) coming through the crossing so they want to control the border.” Meanwhile, Ryan Gorman reports, Iraqi journalist among more than a dozen people executed by ISIS terrorists, a dozens people on Friday evening were executed by ISIS terrorists including an Iraqi journalist and his brother. Raad al-Azzawi, 37, and an Iraqi citizen, was reportedly killed Friday evening near Tikrit for refusing to work for the terror group, according to AFP. His brother and two other civilians were also executed. The cameraman was among about 20 people captured last month in an ISIS raid on Samara, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The execution of an Iraqi journalist is proof ISIS is no longer waging war on just the West, but on anyone who they fear may oppose their attempt to put a stranglehold on the region, according to RSF. U.S. journalists James Foley and Stephen Sotloff, along with a Briton and a French citizen, are among the Westerners also executed by the insurgents. In a statement, U.S. Central Command said the U.S. military conducted on Friday and Saturday six airstrikes against Islamic State militants near Kobani as well as three airstrikes with Dutch militaries against targets in Iraq near Tal Afar and Hit. In multiple airdrops near Baiji, U.S. aircraft delivered 8 tons of ammunition, more than 2,000 gallons (7,800 liters) of water and more than 7,300 halal meals, the statement said. It said Iraqi forces control Baiji, 110 miles (180 km) north of Baghdad, but Islamic State “continues to conduct operations” in the area.
Posted in 2014, activism, al-Qaida, bombing, civil rights, congress, controversial, crime, death, disease, goverment, health, hostage, human rights, insurgency, international, Iran, Iraq War, Islamic State, militants, military, news, peace, people, politics, protest, rally, terrorism, tragedy, United Nations, United States, US, video, violence, war, wellness, white house, world, world health
Tagged Ayn Al Arab, Ayn Al Arab Syria, China ISIS, Conflict Armament Research, Dallas Ebola, Dallas Ebola Fever, Dallas Ebola Patient Fever, Dallas Ebola Temperature, Ebola, Ebola Liberia, Ebola Orphans, Ebola Virus, Ebola West Africa, Isil, ISIS Arms, ISIS Weapons, Islamic State, Islamic State Ammunition Weapons, Kobane, Kobane Isis, Kobani, Kobani Kurds, Liberia Ebola, Liberia News, NBC Crew quarantine, NBC ebola quaratine, Orphans Global Motherhood, Russia Isis Arms, Syria, Syrian Civil War, Thomas Eric Duncan Fever, Thomas Eric Duncan Temperature, Turkey, Turkey ISIS, Turkey Islamic State, Turkey Islamic State Syria, US Isis Arms, video
October 7, 2014 by craftymcclever
On Monday, a nurse in Spain was the first person to be diagnosed outside the outbreak zone in West Africa, raising further concerns across the globe, according to the Associate Press, New concern worldwide as nurse in Spain gets Ebola. In the U.S., President Barack Obama said the government is weighing an order for more careful screening of airline passengers arriving from he region. In dealing with potential Ebola cases, Obama said, “we don’t have a lot of margin for error.” Already hospitalized in the U.S., a critically ill Liberian man, Thomas Duncan, has received an experimental drug in Dallas as another American video journalist who returned from Liberia arrived Monday at the Nebraska Medical Center for treatment has shown signs of improvement. Ashoka Mukpo, 33, was able to walk off the plane before being loaded on a stretcher and taken to an ambulance, and his father said his symptoms of fever and nausea appeared mild. The Spanish nurse had been part of a team that treated two missionaries flown home to Span after contracting Ebola in West Africa. The nurse only showed signs of fever, but the infection was confirmed by two tests, according to Spanish health officials. She was being treated in isolation, while authorities drew up a list of people she had had contact with. Medical workers in Texas were among Americans waiting to find out whether they had been infected by Duncan, the African traveler. In Washington, the White House continued to rule out any blanket ban on travel from West Africa. People leaving the outbreak zone are checked for fevers before they’re allowed to board airplanes, but the disease’s incubation period is 21 days and symptoms could arise later. Nancy Castles, a spokeswoman for Los Angeles International Airport, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has had employees on site at more than a dozen major international airports in the U.S. like LAX for many years. Screening of passengers starts with Customs and Border Protection agents, who work with CDC when they have a case they are concerned about. Obama said the U.S. will be “working on protocols to do additional passenger screening both at the source and here in the United States.” The Obama administration maintains that the best way to protect Americans is to end the outbreak in Africa. To that end, the U.S. military was working Monday on the first of 17 promised medical centers in Liberia and training up to 4,000 soldiers this week to help with the Ebola crisis. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said, “The tragedy of this situation is that Ebola is rapidly spreading among populations in West African who don’t have that kind of medical infrastructure.” The virus has taken a heavy toll on health care workers in a region where shortages of doctors and nurses before Ebola were rampant and so far the disease has killed or sickened more than 370 in the hardest hit countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Airlines have dealt with previous epidemics, such as the 2003 outbreak in Asia of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome. The U.S. didn’t ban flights or impose extra screening on passengers during the SARS outbreak or the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Both of those were airborne diseases that spread more easily than the Ebola virus, which is spread by contact with bodily fluids. The SARS death rate was about 10 percent, higher for older patients. Its new relative MERS, now spreading in the Middle East, appears to be more deadly, about 40 percent. About half of people infected with Ebola have died in this outbreak. The Ebola outbreak this year has killed more than 3,400 people in West Africa, the World Health Organization estimates, and it has become an escalating concern to the rest of the world. Mukpo is the fifth American sick with Ebola brought back from West Africa for medical care. The others were aid workers – three have recovered and one remains hospitalized. On Tuesday, Reuters reports, More cases of Ebola in Europe unavoidable: WHO, the World Health Organization believes more cases Ebola will likely occur in Europe but the continent is well prepared to control the disease. Speaking to Reuters just hours after Europe’s first local case of Ebola infection was confirmed in a nurse in Spain, the WHO’s European director, Zsuzsanna Jakab, said further such events were “unavoidable”. Spanish health officials said four people had been hospitalized to try and stem any further spread of Ebola there after the nurse became the first person in the world known to have contracted the virus outside of Africa. Jakab told Reuters via phone interview for her Copenhagen office: “Such imported cases and similar events as have happened in Spain will happen also in the future, most likely. It is quite unavoidable … that such incidents will happen in the future because of the extensive travel both from Europe to the affected countries and the other way around.” Several countries in the WHO’s European region, including France, Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, Norway and Spain, have treated patients repatriated after contracting the disease in West Africa, where Ebola has been raging through Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia since March. Cases have also been imported into Nigeria, Senegal and the United States. Jakab said that within Europe, health workers caring for repatriated Ebola patients, as well as their families and close contacts, were most at risk of becoming infected. With case numbers in the West Africa rising exponentially, experts say it is only a matter of time before Ebola spreads internationally, but they stress the chances of sporadic cases leading to an outbreak in Europe, the United States or elsewhere beyond Africa are extremely low. Jakab added, “If they see any need for support or advice, we are always behind them. We are well prepared. I really don’t think that at this stage we should be worried about these particular cases. This was to be expected. We expected it in other parts of the region – and it came in Spain, but it did not come totally as surprise.”
While it seems the threat of Ebola can be controlled through a coordinated effort, the threat of ISIS seems far from under anyone’s control as the group captures new territory raising concerns for Turkey. On Monday Daren Butler reports, Islamic State raises flag in eastern Kobani, Kurds say town has not fallen, the Islamic State after a three week assault has raised its flag on a building on the outskirts of the Syrian frontier town of Kobani, but the town’s Kurdish defenders said its fighters had not reached the city center. A black flag was visible from across the Turkish border atop a four story building close to the scene of some of the most intense fighting in recent days. American and Gulf State warplane air strikes have failed to halt the assault on Kobani which it has surrounded on three sides and pounded with heavy artillery. Local sources inside Kobani confirmed that the group had plants its flag, but Kurdish forced had repelled further advances. Ismail Eskin, a journalist in the town, said, “ISIL have only planted a flag on one building. That is not inside the city, it’s on the eastern side. They are not inside the city. Intense clashes are continuing. The bodies of 25 (Islamic State) fighters are there.” Despite the presence of Turkish tanks along the border and within sight of the town, Kurdish please for more effective military help have gone unanswered. Islamic State also fought intense battles over the weekend for control of Mistanour, a strategic hill overlooking Kobani. Beheadings, mass killings and torture have spread fear of the group across the region, with villages emptying at their approach and an estimated 180,000 people fleeing into Turkey from the Kobani region. Turkish hospitals have been treating a steady stream of wounded Kurdish fighters being brought across the frontier. Esmat al-Sheikh, head of the Kobani Defense Authority, said via phone early Monday: “If they enter Kobani, it will be a graveyard for us and for them. We will not let them enter Kobani as long as we live. We either win or die. We will resist to the end.” Last Week, the co-chair of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) told Reuters that Islamic State had a large arsenal from its de facto capital Raqqa to assault Kobani. Asya Abdullah said, “If (Islamic State) is defeated here in Kobani, it will be defeated in Raqqa and throughout Syria. We are happy about the U.S. air strikes. But really, this is not enough. We need more air strikes to be effective against (Islamic State) weapons, to eradicate and destroy (them).” On Monday, Kurdish politicians confirmed that the PYD’s other co-chair, Saleh Muslim, had met Turkish officials to urge them to allow weapons into Kobani from Turkey, although no further details were available. Over the weekend, President Tayyip Erdogan vowed to retaliate if Islamic State attacked Turkish forces, and on Monday Turkish tanks deployed along the border for the second time in a week, some with guns pointing towards Syria, apparently in response to stray fire. Last month, the Islamic State group released 46 Turkish hostages and a parliamentary motion last week renewed a mandate to allow Turkish troops to cross into Syria and Iraq leasing many to believe Ankara may be planning a more active role. According to Butler: “For three decades, Ankara has fought an armed insurgency by its own Kurdish PKK militants demanding greater autonomy in Turkey’s southeast. Analysts say it is now wary of helping Syrian Kurdish forces near Kobani as they have strong links with the PKK and have maintained ambiguous relations with Assad, to whom Turkey is implacably opposed. Against that are warnings from the leaders of Turkey’s Kurds that allowing Syria’s Kurds to be driven from Kobani would spell the end of Erdogan’s delicately poised drive to negotiate an end to his own Kurdish insurgency and permanently disarm the PKK.” Ryan Gorman reports, ‘Boots in the air’: US combat troops engage ISIS rebels as Canada deploys soldiers to Iraq, the U.S. military has begun to fight ISIS in Iraq despite Obama’s promise to not put boots on the ground as Canada sends reinforcements to help in the fight. On Sunday, Army attack helicopters began an assault on insurgent positions outside Baghdad, according to Central Command announced. Early Monday, Canadian officials announces that an advanced team of hundreds of soldiers is also on its way to Iraq. This strike changes the U.S. strategy in Iraq from one of using drones and fighter jets for targeted air strikes to combat troops directly engaging the militants. News of the escalation by the Army came shortly before Canada announced plans to send an advance team of 600 soldiers to Iraq, according to the CBC. Previous reports suggested the Canadian military would not send ground combat troops abroad. But it was also previously reported the U.S. would not engage ISIS in ground combat. Turkey’s president on Tuesday said the Islamic State is about to capture the Syrian border town of Kobani where the Kurdish forces are outgunned and struggle to repel the extremists with limited aid from U.S. led coalition airstrikes, the Associate Press reports, Turkey: Syrian border town about to fall to IS. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the coalition air campaign launched last month would not be enough to halt the Islamic State advance and called for greater cooperation with the Syrian opposition, which is fighting both the Islamic State and forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad. Erdogan told Syrian refugees in the Turkish town of Gaziantep, near the border: “Kobani is about to fall. We asked for three things: one, for a no-fly zone to be created; two, for a secure zone parallel to the region to be declared; and for the moderate opposition in Syria and Iraq to be trained and equipped.” Erdogan said more than 200,000 people have fled the fighting in and around Kobani in recent weeks. Their flight is among the largest single exoduses of the three-year Syrian conflict. The Observatory, which relies on a network of activists across Syria, said Tuesday that 412 people have been killed since the Kobani fighting began.
As disease, war and famine are running rampant in much of the world and little justice can be found, the Supreme Court of the United States have finally done the best thing it could of possibly done…absolutely nothing. By the Supreme Court declining to review petitions from lower courts whose jurisdiction covers nearly a dozen states, the highest court in the land has made same sex marriage legal Monday in 11 additional states. Even though the decision was announced quietly, the resulting shock waves have reverberated across the nation, according to Ryan Gorman, Supreme Court effectively legalizes same-sex marriage in 11 more states. The court validated three federal appeals covering Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming, according to Bloomberg. By declining to hear the petitions brought forth from the jurisdictions, the Supreme Court left intact appeals courts decisions to strike down same-sex marriage bans in the locales. Couples in those states should soon be able to obtain marriage licenses and be legally wed. The announcement led a large group of same-sex marriage supporters gathered outside the court to celebrate. They cheered, waved flags, hugged each other and embraced the landmark decision. Supreme Court and #SSM (a same-sex marriage hashtag) immediately shot to the top of trending topics in the United States on Twitter. A case can only be reviewed it at least four of the nine sitting justices want to hear it. The justices also did not signal if they would be willing to hear a same-sex marriage case in the future. No reason was given for the decision. The court has previously showed support for gay marriage when it struck down a federal law last year denying benefits to same-sex married couples. Refusing to hear an appeals on lower court decisions to strike down same-sex marriage bans sets a precedent. The remaining 20 states banning gay marriage will likely also be bound to appeals courts decisions should their bans be overturned. The unions are now legal in a total of 30 states, plus the District of Columbia. Same-sex couples in multiple states across America are getting married after Monday morning’s landmark Supreme Court decision to not hear same-sex marriage cases. Wyoming’s justification for not recognizing the marriage license applications is on the grounds it’s state constitution clearly defines marriage as between a man and a woman. The stipulation was originally made during the state’s founding in order to prevent polygamy. Legal experts believe an injunction will have to be granted by a federal court in order for same-sex marriages in the state to proceed. Monday’s non-decision came 16 years to the day that Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old college student, was tortured in Wyoming for being gay. He died six days later. It is not clear when marriage licenses will be issued to couples in the other states, while the remaining 20 states have constitutional bans on the unions. The Associate Press reports, Status of gay marriage in all 50 states, the number of states where the practice is legal has skyrocketed from 19 to 30, in addition to Washington, D.C. Here’s the legal status of gay marriage in all 50 states:
WHERE GAY MARRIAGE IS LEGAL (And when it was legalized):
– CALIFORNIA (2013)
– COLORADO (Oct. 6, 2014) – Pueblo and Larimer counties began issuing marriage licenses to gay couples Monday, although official guidance from state Attorney General John Suthers is still pending.
– CONNECTICUT (2008)
– DELAWARE (2013)
– HAWAII (2013) – The state Legislature legalized gay marriage last year. Meanwhile, an appeal is pending of a federal court ruling that upheld Hawaii’s previous ban.
– ILLINOIS (June 2014)
– INDIANA (Oct. 6, 2014) – Gov. Mike Pence reaffirmed his commitment to traditional marriage but said people are not free to disobey the Supreme Court decision to reject an appeal of a ruling striking down Indiana’s gay marriage ban. County clerks issued a few licenses to same-sex couples.
– IOWA (2009)
– KANSAS (Oct. 6, 2014) – The American Civil Liberties Union says the Supreme Court decision in the 10th Circuit cases affects Kansas because it’s in that circuit; the group plans to seek a federal court ruling to block Kansas’ constitutional ban on gay marriage. Gov. Sam Brownback was defiant, saying he swore to uphold the constitution, and some same-sex couples who applied for marriage licenses were turned away.
– MAINE (2012)
– MARYLAND (2013)
– MASSACHUSETTS (2004) – The first state to legalize gay marriage.
– MINNESOTA (2013)
– NEW HAMPSHIRE (2010)
– NEW JERSEY (2013)
– NEW MEXICO (2013)
– NEW YORK (2011)
– NORTH CAROLINA (Oct. 6, 2014) – The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina says it will seek an immediate ruling in federal court overturning the state’s ban. North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper has previously said he wouldn’t challenge such a ruling.
– OKLAHOMA (Oct. 6, 2014) – The Tulsa County Court Clerk’s Office issued a marriage license Monday to Mary Bishop and Sharon Baldwin, the couple who successfully challenged the state’s ban on gay marriage. Several other Oklahoma counties also issued same-sex marriage licenses.
– OREGON (May 2014)
– PENNSYLVANIA (May 2014)
– RHODE ISLAND (2013)
– SOUTH CAROLINA (Oct. 6, 2014) – A lawyer for a gay couple seeking to overturn the state’s ban on gay marriage said she will ask a federal judge to immediately rule in their favor. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said he will continue to fight to uphold the ban.
– UTAH (Oct. 6, 2014) – Gay couples in Utah began applying for marriage licenses, and a handful of same-sex weddings occurred in Salt Lake County after Gov. Gary Herbert directed state agencies to recognize the marriages Monday.
– VERMONT (2009) – The first state to offer civil unions, in 2001.
– VIRGINIA (Oct. 6, 2014) – Gay couples started marrying in Virginia. Thirty-year-old Lindsey Oliver and 42-year-old Nicole Pries received the first same-sex marriage license issued from the Richmond Circuit Court Clerk’s office then were married by gay-rights advocate The Rev. Robin Gorsline.
– WASHINGTON, D.C. (2010)
– WASHINGTON STATE (2012)
– WEST VIRGINIA (Oct. 6, 2014) – Attorney General Patrick Morrisey was studying the implications for the state in light of the Supreme Court decision.
– WISCONSIN (Oct. 6, 2014) – County clerks began accepting applications from gay couples for marriage licenses which, by Wisconsin law, can’t be issued until after a five-day waiting period. In Milwaukee and Dane counties, where most of the roughly 500 same-sex weddings took place this summer before a federal judge’s decision was put on hold, a few couples applied for licenses.
– WYOMING (Oct. 6, 2014) – A state case, scheduled for a court hearing Dec. 15, is similar to gay marriage cases in federal court but Wyoming supporters weren’t ready Monday to declare unconditional victory. They say same-sex marriage could be legal in the state by year’s end.
WHERE GAY MARRIAGE IS NOT LEGAL AND CASES ARE PENDING:
– ALABAMA
– ALASKA
– ARIZONA – In a ruling that called into question Arizona’s gay marriage ban, a U.S. District Court judge handed a victory Sept. 12 to a gay man denied death benefits after losing his spouse to cancer.
– ARKANSAS – A state judge in May struck down the state’s ban. The state Supreme Court brought marriages to a halt and is weighing state officials’ appeal. Same-sex couples are also suing the state in federal court. The attorney general’s office has asked that proceedings in both cases be put on hold while the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether to take up a case from Utah.
– FLORIDA – A federal judge declared the state’s ban unconstitutional in mid-August, joining state judges in four counties. He issued a stay delaying the effect of his order, meaning no marriage licenses would be issued immediately issued for gay couples.
– GEORGIA
– IDAHO – State officials are appealing a federal judge’s decision to overturn the state’s ban. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel in San Francisco heard arguments Sept. 8 along with appeals from Hawaii and Nevada.
– KENTUCKY – Two Kentucky cases were among six from four states heard in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati on Aug. 6. Rulings are pending on recognition of out-of-state marriages, as well as the ban on marriages within the state.
– LOUISIANA – A parish judge ruled Sept. 22 that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional; the attorney general has appealed to the state’s Supreme Court.
– MICHIGAN – The state’s ban was overturned by a federal judge in March following a rare trial that mostly focused on the impact on children. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati heard arguments Aug. 6, and a ruling is pending.
– MISSISSIPPI
– MISSOURI – Attorney General Chris Koster announced Monday he wouldn’t appeal a state court order that Missouri recognize same-sex marriages legally performed in other states. But two other same-sex marriage cases are pending in Missouri. One is a federal challenge in Kansas City; the other is a St. Louis case that focuses on city officials who issued marriage licenses to four same-sex couples to trigger a legal test of the ban.
– MONTANA
– NEBRASKA
– NEVADA – Eight couples are challenging Nevada’s voter-approved 2002 ban, which a federal judge upheld a decade later. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel heard arguments Sept. 8, along with appeals from Hawaii and Idaho.
– NORTH DAKOTA
– OHIO – Two Ohio cases were argued Aug. 6 in the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and a ruling is pending. In one, two gay men whose spouses were dying sued to have their out-of-state marriages recognized on their spouses’ death certificates. In the other, four couples sued to have both spouses listed on their children’s birth certificates.
– SOUTH DAKOTA
– TENNESSEE – The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Aug. 6 on an appeal of a federal judge’s order to recognize three same-sex couples’ marriages while their lawsuit against the state works through the courts. A ruling is pending.
– TEXAS – A federal judge declared the state’s ban unconstitutional, issuing a preliminary injunction. The state is appealing to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, which is soon expected to set a date for arguments.
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Tagged Canada ISIS, Canadian troops Iraq, CDC, Duncan Ebola, Ebola, Ebola Liberia, Ebola Nebraska, Ebola Spain, Ebola Spread, Ebola U.S., Ebola West Africa, Iraq airstrikes U.S., Isil, Isis, Islamc State Syria, Islamic State, Islamic State Iraq, Islamic State Kobani, marriage equality, Same Sex Marriage, Supreme Court Defense Of Marriage Act, Supreme Court DOMA, Supreme Court Gay Marriage, Supreme Court same sex marriage, Texas Ebola, Turkey Erdogan Islamic State, Turkey ISIS, U.S. Syria airstrikes, U.S. Troops Iraq, Who Ebola
In Tuesday afternoon press conference, the Federal authorities and the Center for Disease Control confirmed the first diagnosed case of Ebola in the United States and the local station WFAA was the first to report the patent testing positive in Dallas, according to Ryan Gorman, First US case of deadly Ebola virus confirmed in Dallas. The male patient recently traveled to Liberia, leaving the country on September 19 and arriving in the U.S. the following day, according to the CDC’s Dr. Thomas Frieden. The person exhibited no symptoms until about five days later. He sought care on the 26th, was admitted to a hospital on the 28th and tested positive on the 30th, Frieden explained, adding the man is “critically ill.” The patient has been placed into isolation in Texas and will be treated in the state. A CDC team already on the ground in Texas will work to identify all individuals that have come into contact with the infected individual and monitor those people for the next 21 days, Frieden added. Frieden declined to say if the individual is an American citizen, but did disclose he is in the country to “visit family.” Dallas County Health and Human Services director Zachary Thompson told WFAA that the city is more than able to contain and treat the isolated patient. Health official have reported that more than 3,000 people have died during the recent outbreak in West Africa and three Americans were transported to Atlanta for treatment after contracting Ebola, but this is the first case outside that region. Frieden said, “Ebola is a scary disease. We’re really hoping for the recovery of this individual. We’re [also] stopping it in it’s tracks in the United States.” The Associated Press reports, Ebola case stokes concerns for Liberians in Texas, Stanley Gaye, president of the Liberian Community Association of Dallas-Fort Worth, said the 10,000-strong Liberian population in North Texas is skeptical of the CDC’s assurances because Ebola has ravaged their country. Gaye said at a community meeting Tuesday evening, “We’ve been telling people to try to stay away from social gatherings. We need to know who it is so that they (family members) can all go get tested. If they are aware, they should let us know.” Vice president Roseline Sayon said, “We don’t want to get a panic going.We embrace those people who are coming forward. Don’t let the stigma keep you from getting tested.” Blood tests by Texas health officials and the CDC separately confirmed his Ebola diagnosis Tuesday. State health officials described the patient as seriously ill. Goodman said he was able to communicate and was hungry. Passengers leaving Liberia pass through rigorous screening, but those checks are no guarantee that an infected person not showing symptoms will be stopped from boarding, according to Binyah Kesselly, chairman of the Liberia Airport Authority’s board of directors. Ebola is believed to have sickened more than 6,500 people in West Africa, and more than 3,000 deaths have been linked to the disease, according to the World Health Organization. But even those tolls are probably underestimates, partially because there are not enough labs to test people for Ebola. Two mobile Ebola labs staffed by American naval researchers arrived this weekend and will be operational this week, according to the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia. The labs will reduce the amount of time it takes to learn if a patient has Ebola from several days to a few hours. The U.S. military also delivered equipment to build a 25-bed clinic that will be staffed by American health workers and will treat doctors and nurses who have become infected. The U.S. is planning to build 17 other clinics in Liberia and will help train more health workers to staff them.
While the man is now receiving treatment for Ebola, new details have emerged about the days before the he was admitted to the hospital. the Associated Press reports, Dallas ER sent Ebola-infected patient home, a Dallas emergency room sent home the man with Ebola last week knowing he had told a nurse he had been to West Africa specifically Liberia and officials at the hospital are considering if they would of acted differently if they entire staff knew. The decision by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital to release the patient, who had recently arrived from Liberia, could have put others at risk of exposure to Ebola before the man went back to the ER a couple of days later when his condition worsened. A nine-member team of federal health officials was tracking anyone who had close contact with the man after he fell ill on Sept. 24. The group of 12 to 18 people included three members of the ambulance crew that took him to the hospital, as well as a handful of schoolchildren. They will be checked every day for 21 days, the disease’s incubation period. “That’s how we’re going to break the chain of transmission, and that’s where our focus has to be,” Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Associated Press Wednesday. The patient explained to a nurse last Thursday that he was visiting the U.S. from Africa, but that information was not widely shared, said Dr. Mark Lester, who works for the hospital’s parent company. “Regretfully, that information was not fully communicated” throughout the medical team, Lester said. Instead, the man was diagnosed with a low-risk infection and sent home. He was prescribed antibiotics, according to his sister, Mai Wureh, who identified her brother, Thomas Eric Duncan, as the infected man in an interview with The Associated Press. Duncan has been kept in isolation at the hospital since Sunday. He was listed in serious but stable condition. But the diagnosis, and the hospital’s slip-up, highlighted the wider threat of Ebola, even far from Africa. Since the man had no symptoms on the plane, the CDC stressed there is no risk to his fellow passengers. Reuters reports, Dallas Ebola patient vomited outside apartment on way to hospital, two days after he was sent home from the hospital, the man was seen vomiting on the ground outside his apartment complex as he was taken into an ambulance. The New York Times said that Duncan, in his mid-40s, helped transport a pregnant woman suffering from Ebola to a hospital in Liberia, where she was turned away for lack of space. Duncan helped bring the woman back to her family’s home and carried her into the house, where she later died, the newspaper reported. Four days later Duncan left for the United States, the Times said, citing the woman’s parents and neighbors. Airline and hotel company shares dropped sharply on U.S. markets on Wednesday over concerns that Ebola’s spread outside Africa might curtail travel. Drugmakers with experimental Ebola treatments in the pipeline saw their shares rise. A Liberian official said the man traveled through Brussels to the United States. United Airlines said in a statement that the man took one of its flights from Brussels to Washington Dulles Airport, where he changed planes to travel to Dallas-Fort Worth. As of Thursday morning, Ryan Gorman reports, Texas officials now looking at 100 people possibly infected with deadly Ebola virus, Texas State Health Department spokesperson Carrie Williams said in a statement: “We are working from a list of about 100 potential or possible contacts. The number will drop as we focus in on those whose contact may represent a potential risk of infection.” Officials previously said they were looking at about 80 people while Duncan was being cared for in a Dallas hospital. Authorities explained they are casting a wide net in order to make sure no one goes untreated and any potential outbreak can be immediately contained. In the article, US Ebola patient’s family under quarantine as he faces criminal charges in Liberia, Gorman reports that Duncan’s family has been placed under quarantine and Thomas Duncan will face criminal charges in Liberia. Officials hand-delivered the order to Thomas Duncan’s relatives Wednesday night after they reportedly violated an official request to not leave home, WFAA reported. The Liberian citizen reportedly lied on his health form to gain entry to the U.S. Duncan’s family is now under a strict quarantine until October 19. They are legally prohibited from leaving their Dallas home for any reason. Duncan lying on his health form has prompted Liberian officials to announce they will file criminal charges against him for carrying the deadly virus through Europe and two U.S. cities, the Associated Press reported.
While the U.S. now may be dealing with the deadly virus, the outbreak in Western African countries continues to grow at an alarming rate and the local health facilities are ill-equipped to deal. Eline Gordts reports, 5 People Are Infected With Ebola Every Hour In Sierra Leone, according to new data released Wednesday by the International Charity Save the Children, five people in Sierra Leone are infected with Ebola every hour. According to Save the Children, an estimated 765 new cases of Ebola were reported in Sierra Leone just last week, while the country currently only has 327 beds for patients available. Without drastic efforts to curtail the spread of the disease, 10 people will be infected every hour in the country before the end of October, Save the Children said. In a press release about the numbers, Rob MacGillivray, the organization’s director in Sierra Leone, said: “We are facing the frightening prospect of an epidemic which is spreading like wildfire across Sierra Leone, with the number of new cases doubling every three weeks.” The spread of Ebola remains persistent in Sierra Leone, according to the WHO, and there’s strong evidence that the disease is reaching new districts. According to estimates by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the number of Ebola cases in Liberia and Sierra Leone could rise to 1.4 million by January if the disease is not effectively fought. Only 30 percent of patients survive Ebola.
Meanwhile, as protest rage in Hong Kong, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has refused to step down Thursday and offered to talk to defuse a week of massive demonstrations that are the biggest challenge to Beijing’s authority since China took over from Britain in 1997, according to the Associated Press, Hong Kong leader offers talks with protesters. Student leaders of the protest did not respond to Leung’s announcement, however, Occupy Central said in a statement: “[Occupy Central] hopes the talks can provide a turning point in the current political stalemate. However, we reiterate our view that Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying is the one responsible for the stalemate, and that he must step down.” The protesters want Beijing to reverse its decision that all candidates in an inaugural 2017 election for chief executive must be approved by a committee of mostly pro-Beijing elites. They say China is reneging on its promise that the city’s top leader will be chosen through “universal suffrage.” Earlier in the day, police brought in supplies of tear gas and other riot gear, and the protesters prepared face masks and goggles as tensions rose in the standoff outside the imposing government compound near the waterfront. Police warned of serious consequences if the protesters tried to surround or occupy government buildings, as they had threatened to do if Leung didn’t resign by the end of Thursday. Leung said shortly before midnight that the authorities would continue to tolerate the protests as long as participants did not charge police lines, but urged them to stop their occupation of much of the downtown area. He said, “I urge students not to charge into or occupy government buildings. … It’s not about my personal inconvenience. These few days the protesters’ occupation of key areas of the city has already seriously affected Hong Kong’s economy, people’s daily lives and government functioning.” Joanna Chiu reports, Hong Kong leader rejects protestors’ demands, Hong Kong’s free press and social media has allowed protestors a voice and exposure that may prevent China from cracking down in the same way it does on restive minorities and dissidents living in the mainland, where it is harshly punished. With dozens of bus routes canceled and subway entrances closed, Hong Kong’s police and fire department renew calls for protestors to clear the streets. Many of the protesters were born after an agreement with Britain in 1984 that pledged to give China control of the city of 7 million, and have grown up in an era of affluence and stability, with no experience of past political turmoil in mainland China. Their calls for a great say in their futures have widespread support among many in Hong Kong disillusioned by a widening gap between the city’s ultra-wealthy tycoons and the rest of the population. Didi Tang reports, No images of Hong Kong protests in China’s media, China’s government has cut off news about Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests to the rest of the country, a clampdown so thorough that no image of the rallies has appeared in state-controlled media, and at least one man has been detained for reposting accounts of the events. By contrast, media in semiautonomous Hong Kong have been broadcasting nonstop about the crowds, showing unarmed students fending off tear gas and pepper spray with umbrellas as they call for more representative democracy in the former British colony. Censorship of microblogs – including phrases such as “tear gas” – has kept online discussion muted. The image-sharing Instagram service was shut down in China over the weekend. Activist Wang Long in the southern city of Shenzhen, who reposted news about the protests on the instant messaging service WeChat, was detained Monday by police on suspicion of causing trouble, his lawyer friend Fan Biaowen said.
While the government of China unites against a Hong Kong democracy and face off against pro-democracy protestors, the U.S. led coalition to fight ISIS continues to struggle to gain ground against the militant group as Turkey decides whether to join the fight publicly or take a background role. CNN reports, Airstrikes pound ISIS targets; bomb blasts kill 30 schoolchildren in Syria, a day after Britain’s military launched its first campaign, Turkish soldiers and tanks along the border with Syria on Tuesday gear up for a possible fight. Meanwhile, Turkey’s government put a motion before parliament asking for the authorization to take military action against ISIS. Lawmakers are expected to debate the measure in a special session Thursday before voting, Anadolu, Turkey’s semiofficial new agency, reports. Tony Abbot told Parliament in Canberra that Australian aircraft started flying over Iraq in support of allied operations Wednesday. However, the government is awaiting an invitation from Iraq before a final decision to commit Australian forces to airstrikes. Retired U.S. Marine general coordinating the U.S. led coalition against ISIS, John R. Allen told CNN, “It’s actually an important moment where so many countries from so many different backgrounds share that view (that ISIS poses a threat to the region), that this is an opportunity to create partnership across those lines of effort that would achieve real effect.” According to a military think tank, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, the airstrikes have cost $1 billion. The U.S. military said Tuesday that it was the busiest day for airstrikes against ISIS since the military campaign began, with 28 total, including the two UK strikes. More strikes were carried out Wednesday by the United States and a partner nation, the U.S. military said, including around the predominantly Kurdish town of Kobani in Syria, known in Arabic as Ayn al Arab. Other strikes hit ISIS targets in Iraq northwest of Mosul, near the Haditha Dam and northwest of Baghdad. Tuesday, British planes helped Kurdish troops who were fighting ISIS in northwestern Iraq, dropping a bomb on an ISIS heavy weapon position and shooting a missile at an armed pickup truck, the UK’s Defense Ministry said. Britain joins the United States and France as countries that have hit ISIS in Iraq with airstrikes, while Belgium and Denmark have also said they also will provide planes. Of those nations, only the United States along with some Arab countries have struck ISIS positions in neighboring Syria. In Syria, where a 3½ year old civil war rages on between government forces and rebel groups including ISIS, twin blasts struck Wednesday near a school in the nation’s third-largest city, Homs. The death toll has climbed to 39, with at least 30 children between the ages of 6 and 9 killed, according to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The toll was confirmed by the London-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which collects information about civilian casualties in the country. Turkey’s debate over whether to step into the fray comes as the flood of refugees from Syria has escalated, with 150,000 people fleeing to Turkey in recent days. Meanwhile, ISIS fighters armed with tanks and heavy weapons advance on Kobani in northern Syria, destroying villages in their path. If ISIS takes Kobani, it will control a complete swath of land from its self-declared capital of Raqqa to the Turkish border, more than 60 miles away. On Wednesday, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, according to the Associate Press report, Turkey considers Iraq, Syria incursions: “In the struggle against terrorism, we are open and ready for every kind of cooperation. However, Turkey is not a country that will allow itself to be used for temporary solutions. An effective struggle against ISIL or other terror organizations will be our priority. The immediate removal of the administration in Damascus, Syria’s territorial unity and the installation of an administration which embraces all will continue to be our priority.” The motion cites the continued threat to Turkey from Kurdish rebels who are fighting for autonomy from bases in northern Iraq; the threat from the Syrian regime; as well as the newly emerged threat from the Islamic State militants and other groups in Syria and Iraq. It also cites a potential threat to a mausoleum in Syria that is considered Turkish territory. The tiny plot of land that is a memorial to Suleyman Shah, the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire, is guarded by Turkish troops. The government enjoys a majority in parliament and the motion was expected to pass despite opposition from two parties.
As the human tragedy of war unfolds in the Middle East, several credible and widely known organizations this week have released reports on the human impact on climate change that has caused wildlife populations to plummet and bodies of water to recede or disappear and the record increase of Antarctic sea ice. John Heilprin reports, Humans To Blame For Major Decline In Wildlife Populations, WWF Report Finds, that a study Tuesday from the Swiss based WWF reports that 3,000 species of wildlife around the world have see their numbers plummet due to human threats to nature with a 52 percent decline in wildlife populations between 1970 and 2010. It says improved methods of measuring populations of fish, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles explain the huge difference from the 28-percent decline between 1970 and 2008 that the group reported in 2012. Most of the new losses were found in tropical regions, particularly Latin America. WWF describes the study it has carried out every two years since 1998 as a barometer of the state of the planet. The latest “Living Planet” study analyzed data from about 10,000 populations of 3,038 vertebrate species from a database maintained by the Zoological Society of London. It is meant to provide a representative sampling of the overall wildlife population in the world, said WWF’s Richard McLellan, editor-in-chief of the study. It reflects populations since 1970, the first year the London-based society had comprehensive data. Each study is based on data from at least four years earlier. In the new WWF study, hunting and fishing along with continued losses and deterioration of natural habitats are identified as the chief threats to wildlife populations around the world. Other primary factors are global warming, invasive species, pollution and disease. Ken Norris, science director at the London society, said, “This damage is not inevitable but a consequence of the way we choose to live. There is still hope. Protecting nature needs focused conservation action, political will and support from industry.” Ryan Gorman reports, The world’s fourth-largest lake is almost completely dry, the vast Aral Sea has all but disappeared as seen in new satellite photos released by NASA. Officials in the Soviet Union began diverting water from the Aral Sea in the 1960s to irrigate desert land in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, according to the space agency. This effort has virtually drained it dry. The port cities Aralsk, Kazakhstan, and Moynaq, Uzbekistan, dependent on the lake’s 22 varieties of fish, began to crumble, officials claim. Less water led to higher concentrations of salt and other pollutants, it eventually became a public health hazard. Contaminated soil then blew off the dry lake bed onto neighboring farms and contaminated them, officials said. Less water also led to colder winters since the water’s moderating effect on the local climate was all but diminished. Kate Sheppard reports, Cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions Could Save 3,500 Lives Per Year: Report, a study released Tuesday says that reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants in order to curb global warming will save up to 3,500 American lives or nine lives per day and prevent 1,000 hospitalizations. The study, by researchers at Harvard, Syracuse and Boston universities, finds that the “co-benefits” of cutting carbon include reductions in sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, and mercury, which have been linked to respiratory illness, heart attacks and early deaths. The study looked at three scenarios for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One would only require changes at power plants. The second would set a state-based standard and allow reductions to come from throughout the electricity sector. The third would require power plants to make changes up to a certain cost. The researchers said the second scenario yielded the most co-benefits, reducing greenhouse gas emissions 35 percent from 2005 levels, while cutting sulfur dioxide and mercury emissions 27 percent, and nitrogen oxide emissions 22 percent. That scenario also was the most similar to the draft standard for reducing power plant emission that the Environmental Protection Agency released in June, which calls for a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The EPA’s own estimates of the benefits of its draft rules projected that they would prevent 2,700 to 6,600 premature deaths. The study found health benefits across the lower 48 states. Benefits were highest in places where more people are currently exposed to pollutants, and in the places with the worst air quality. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Missouri, Virginia, Tennessee and Indiana would see the most avoided deaths, the researchers concluded. Climate Central reports, Antarctic Sea Ice Just Hit A New Maximum, But That Doesn’t Mean The Continent’s Not Warming, a boom in Antarctic sea ice will surpassed 7.7 million square miles for the first time ever and will set a new record and nearly every day has set a record for the day in the satellite record for 2014, according to Ted Scambos, a senior scientist with the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado. The boom in ice around the southernmost continent in the past few years is in contract to the decades long decline of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean where the Arctic sea ice hit its sixth lowest extent at the end of this summer with the ice’s edge coming within 5 degrees latitude of the North Pole. That Arctic ice melt is robustly connected to the overall warming of the planet. The loss of reflective, white ice also amplifies the warming around the North Pole; as more dark, open ocean is exposed to incoming sunlight, the water absorbs those rays, heats even more and melts more ice. The growth of Antarctic sea ice may also, paradoxically, be connected to global warming, though the exact combination of causes is still a major area of study. And just what the causes turn out to be will affect how long the Antarctic growth will go on for. The Associated Press reports, 35,000 Walrus Come Ashore In Northwest Alaska, an estimated 35,000 walrus were photographed Saturday about 5 miles north of Point Lay, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Due to the fact these Pacific walrus cannot find sea ice to rest on in the Arctic waters, many have come ashore in record numbers to the beaches of northwest Alaska. The enormous gathering was spotted during NOAA’s annual arctic marine mammal aerial survey, spokeswoman Julie Speegle said by email. The survey is conducted with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the agency that oversees offshore lease sales. Andrea Medeiros, spokeswoman for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, said walrus were first spotted Sept. 13 and have been moving on and off shore. Observers last week saw about 50 carcasses on the beach from animals that may have been killed in a stampede, and the agency was assembly a necropsy team to determine their cause of death. Pacific walrus spend their winters in the Bering Sea as females give birth on sea ice and use the ice to dive for food on the shallow shelf. When the temperatures warm in summer and the edge of the sea ice receded north, females and their young ride the edge of the ice into the Chukchi Sea, north of the Bering Sea. Unfortunately, in recent years, sea ice has receded beyond the shallow continental shelf and into the Arctic Ocean water with depths that exceed 2 miles preventing walrus from diving to the bottom. The World Wildlife Fund said walrus have also been gathering in large groups on the Russian side of the Chukchi Sea. Margaret Williams, managing director of the group’s Arctic program, said via phone from Washington, D.C.. “It’s another remarkable sign of the dramatic environmental conditions changing as the result of sea ice loss. The walruses are telling us what the polar bears have told us and what many indigenous people have told us in the high Arctic, and that is that the Arctic environment is changing extremely rapidly and it is time for the rest of the world to take notice and also to take action to address the root causes of climate change.”
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Tagged Air Pollution, Air Quality, Alaskan Walrus, Animal Populations, Antarctic Ice Antarctic Sea, Antarctica, Antarctica Ice, Antarctica Sea Ice, Bejiing, California Drought, CDC Ebola 2014, Clean Power Plan, Climate Central, Climate Change, Climate Change 35000 Walrus Come Ashore, Climate Change Attribution, Co Benefits, Decline in Wildlife, Democracy Hong Kong, Democracy in China, Ebola CDC, Ebola Crisis, Ebola Death Toll, Ebola Liberia, Ebola Texas, Ebola US, Ebola West Africa, Ebola WHO, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, Extreme Weather, Extreme Weather Floods, Floods, Generation Change, Generation Change Climate Change, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Harvard, Harvard University School of Public Health, health, Hong Kong China democracy, Hong Kong democracy rally, Ice Antarctic Sea, Ice Extent Climate Change Ice Melting, Isil, ISIS Beheadings, Isis Beheads Women, Isis Women, Islamic State, Islamic State Beheadings, Islamic State Syria, Islamic State Women, Living Planet Report, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, nature, NOAA, Ozone Pollution, Poaching, Pollution, Power Plants, Reuters, Sea Level Rise, Sixth Extinction, Syria News, Thomas Karl, Turkey Iraq, Turkey ISIS, Turkey Syria, video, Walrus Alaska, Walrus Come Ashore, Wildlife Killing, Wildlife Population Decline, Wildlife Populations, Wwf Living Planet Report, Wwf Report, Wwf Wildlife Report
Obama Defends Syria Strikes as the Stock Market Drops, While Turkey and France Defend Their Roles in the Fight Against ISIS
On Tuesday, President Bashar Assad of Syria said he supports any international effort against terrorism as he tries to position his government on the side of the U.S. led coalition conducting airstrikes against the Islamic State in Syria, Albert Aji and Ryan Lucas report, U.S.-Led Airstrikes Kill At Least 10 Civilians In Syria: Activists. One Syrian activist group reports dozens of Islamic state fighter were killed in the pre-dawn strikes, while several activist also reported at least 10 civilians killed. Some rebels fighting against Assad welcomed the American led airstrikes, but many expressed frustration that the coalition is only targeting the Islamic State group and not the Syrian government. In a statement posted to Twitter, Harakat Hazm, a rebel faction who has received U.S. made advanced weapons, said, “The only party benefiting from the foreign intervention in Syria is the Assad regime, especially in the absence of a real strategy to bring it down.” The air campaign also hit al-Qaida’s branch in Syrian, the Nusra Front, which has fought against the Islamic State group. Washington considers it a terrorist group threatening the U.S., although Western-backed Syrian rebel groups frequently cooperate with Nusra Front fighters on the battlefield. State news agency SANA reports, In an meeting Tuesday with an Iraqi envoy, Assad voiced his support and Syria is “”decisively continuing in the war it has waged for years against extremist terrorism in all its forms.” He also stressed that all nations must commit to stop support for terrorism — an apparent reference to countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar who are strong backers of Syrian rebels, whom the Syrian government calls terrorists. Though Damascus required permission before an international strike on Syrian soil could occur in recent weeks, the United States has ruled out any coordination with Assad’s government. Damascus said Syria “stands with any international effort to fight terrorism, no matter what a group is called — whether Daesh or Nusra Front or something else.” In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the United States informed Syria through the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. of its intent to take action, but did not request the Assad government’s permission or coordinate with Damascus. The Lebanese Shiite militant Hezbollah group, which has dispatched fighters to Syria to bolster Assad’s forces, condemned the strikes along with Syria’s allies, Iran and Russia. In a televised speech, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah said, “We are against an international coalition, whether it is against the regime … or whether it is against Daesh. This is an opportunity, pretext, for America to dominate the region again.” According to the report: “The strikes, conducted by the U.S., Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, hit Islamic State training compounds and command centers, storage facilities and vehicles in the group’s de facto capital, Raqqa, in northeastern Syria, and the surrounding province, U.S. officials said. They also struck territory controlled by the group in eastern Syria leading to the Iraqi border. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that at least 70 Islamic State group fighters were killed and more than 300 wounded. Rami Abdurrahman, the Observatory head, said about 22 airstrikes hit Raqqa province in addition to 30 in Deir el-Zour province. Farther west, the strikes hit the village of Kfar Derian, a stronghold of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front.”
Meanwhile, after a second day of U.S. strikes in Syria, addressing the United Nations General Assembly, U.S. President Barack Obama called for united action to confront violent extremist Wednesday, according to CNN, More airstrikes against ISIS as Obama urges action at U.N. against extremism. Airstrikes were carried out overnight Tuesday into Wednesday against five more targets: four in Iraq and one in Syria, the U.S. Central Command said. Speaking in New York, Obama said, “It is no exaggeration to say that humanity’s future depends on us uniting against those who would divide us along fault lines of tribe or sect; race or religion. This is not simply a matter of words. Collectively, we must take concrete steps to address the danger posed by religiously motivated fanatics, and the trends that fuel their recruitment.” According to Obama, the world must focus on four areas to defeat ISIS: First, ISIS must be degraded and ultimately destroyed; Second, it is time for the world to explicitly reject the ideology of al Qaeda and ISIS; Third, the world must address the cycle of conflict, including sectarian conflict, that creates the conditions that terrorists thrive on; And fourth, Arab and Muslim countries must focus on the potential of their people, especially youths. Obama warned, “Already, over 40 nations have offered to join this coalition. Today, I ask the world to join in this effort. Those who have joined ISIL should leave the battlefield while they can. Those who continue to fight for a hateful cause will find they are increasingly alone. For we will not succumb to threats; and we will demonstrate that the future belongs to those who build, not those who destroy.” Obama’s call for action comes as he faces questions about his decision to bomb terror groups in Syria without approval from the U.N. Security Council or U.S. Congress. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom’s lawmakers will soon debate whether their country will join the U.S. and France in conducting airstrikes in Iraq. British Prime Minister David Cameron has recalled Parliament early to discuss the possibility. Parliament will meet Friday to “debate the UK’s response to the request from the Iraqi government for airstrikes to support operations against (ISIS) in Iraq,” a Downing Street representative said Wednesday. A U.S. law enforcement official with knowledge of the warning told CNN that concerns over possible backlash from terror groups over the U.S. strikes has prompted Homeland Security to warn law enforcement agencies of lone wolf terror attacks on American soil. On Wednesday, CNN reports, U.N. Security Council passes anti-terror resolution, U.N. Security Council members unanimously passed a draft anti-terror resolution to address the growing threat of foreign terrorist fighters. U.S. President Barack Obama said the resolution requires nations to “suppress the recruiting, organizing, transporting, equipping” and financing of “foreign terrorist fighters.” Regarding Syria specifically, Obama said, “The only lasting solution to Syria’s civil war is political: an inclusive political transition that responds to the legitimate aspirations of all Syrian citizens, regardless of ethnicity or creed. Cynics may argue that such an outcome can never come to pass. But there is no other way for this madness to end, whether one year from now or 10. I can promise you America will remain engaged in the region, and we are prepared to engage in that effort. I can promise you that the United States of America will not be distracted or deterred from what must be done…We are heirs to a proud legacy of freedom, and we are prepared to do what is necessary to secure that legacy for generations to come.”
President Barack Obama took his call for world cooperation against terror, climate change, Ebola and a host of other issues to the United Nations Wednesday, saying the world stands at a crossroads “between war and peace; between disorder and integration; between fear and hope.” Besides the growing threat of ISIS, Obama also addressed a variety of other international crises currently facing the global community. Obama said regarding Ukraine that the country represents “a vision of the world in which might makes right — a world in which one nation’s borders can be redrawn by another, and civilized people are not allowed to recover the remains of their loved ones because of the truth that might be revealed (referring to Malaysia airline Flight 17 shot down in Ukraine).” Obama stated that if Russia rolls back its involvement, then the U.S. “will lift our sanctions and welcome Russia’s role in addressing common challenges.” In the fight against Ebola, while the U.S. has promised to send medical workers and the military to build treatment centers in Africa, the President called for a “broader effort to stop a disease that could kill hundreds of thousands, inflict horrific suffering, destabilize economies, and move rapidly across borders.” As far as the Iranian nuclear program, Obama addressed it by saying, “We can reach a solution that meets your energy needs while assuring the world that your program is peaceful.” Regarding global poverty, Obama said, “We will do our part — to help people feed themselves; power their economies; and care for their sick,” he said. “If the world acts together, we can make sure that all of our children can enjoy lives of opportunity and dignity.” As far as climate change, Obama said the United States will work on the isue within its own borders, but “we can only succeed in combating climate change if we are joined in this effort by every major power. That’s how we can protect this planet for our children and grandchildren.”
While France has definitively joined the fight against the extremist group, Turkey is still mulling over the idea as it considers its options. According to Aomar Quali and Paul Schemm, France Won’t Stop Fight Against Islamic State Militants Despite Kidnapping, IN a video posted Monday, the group calling itself the Jund al-Khilafah said it would kill Frenchman Herve Gourdel in 24 hours unless France ended its participation in airstrikes against the Islamic State in Iraq. Speaking to reporters at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, French President Francois Hollande said he had “plenty of confidence” in Algerian security forces that “everything will be done so that we can recover our compatriot.” He added, “As grave as the situation is, we will give in to no blackmail, no pressure, no ultimatum. No terrorist group can in any way influence France’s position, will, and freedom. I repeat it here … we will continue to provide our support to the Iraqi authorities.” That would include weapons deliveries to those fighting the Islamic State group and continued air support for Iraqi troops and Kurdish peshmerga forces. French forces on Friday joined the U.S. in carrying out airstrikes against extremists who have overrun large areas of Syria and Iraq. Herve Gourdel, a mountaineering guide from Nice, was taken Sunday night while driving through the Djura Djura mountains in Algeria’s rugged Kabylie region, which remains one of the last active areas of operation for al-Qaida in Algeria. He was taken with four Algerian companions who were later released. The U.S. embassy in Algiers renewed its travel warning for Algeria Tuesday, urging Americans traveling there to “exercise vigilance” in their movements. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports, Turkey Mulls Military Role Against ISIS, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Turkish reports in New York he is considering expanding support for Western and Arab operations against the Islamic State group to include military involvement following only hours after the U.S. and Arab allies launched airstrikes against the Islamic State targets in Syria. Erdogan spoke as a sideline to the annual meeting of world leaders at the United Nations a day after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he expected Turkey to play a bigger role in the fight against ISIS after Ankara secured the release of 49 Turkish hostages being held by the group. Turkey is a main backer of Syrian rebels trying to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad, and has allowed thousands of foreign fighters cross into Syria along their common border.
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Islamic State Hits Syria Hard As U.S. and Allies Ramp up Offensive, Ukraine and Russia Make Progress and Catalonia Looks For Independence Following Scotland’s Vote
On Thursday, Islamic State fighters besieged a Kurdish city in northern Syria after seizing 21 villages forcing neighboring Kurds in Turkey to call to arms followers to resist the group’s advance, Tom Perry and Laila Bassam report, Islamic State Seizes Syrian And Kurdish Villages In Major Assault. The attack on Ayn al-Arab, Kobani in Kurdish, came two days after U.S. military officials said the Syrian opposition would be needed in order for the Syrian Kurds to defeat the Islamic State. U.S. President Barack Obama last week said he would strike the radical Islamist group that used Syria as a base to advance its pan to reshape the Middle East according to the radical views of Sunni Islam. The United States is conducting air strikes against Islamic State in Iraq and now Obama has authorized surveillance flights over Syria. Ocalan Iso, deputy head of the Kurdish forces in Kobani, told Reuters via Skype, “We’ve lost touch with many of the residents living in the villages that ISIS (Islamic State) seized.” The Kurds appealed for military aid from other Kurdish group including the Kurdistan Workers’ Party who issued a call for young men in Turkey’s southeast to join the fight in norther Syria. On their website, in a statement, PKK said, “The youth of northern Kurdistan (southeast Turkey) should go to Kobani and take part in the historic, honorable resistance.” As night fell, a Reuters witness said 3,000 men, women and children waited at the Turkish border 6 miles from Kobani as Turkish forces stopped the crowd from crossing. Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters in Ankara: “We’re ready to help our brothers who are building up at the borders regardless of their ethnicity, religion and sect. But our priority is to deliver aid within Syria’s borders.” Redur Xelil, spokesman for the YPG, said Islamic State had encircled Kobani, telling Reuters via Skype.: “We call on world powers to move to halt this barbaric assault by ISIS.” Obama’s plan to expand support for groups fighting Islamic State in Syria focus on Sunni Muslim insurgents deemed moderate by Washington. On Friday, several thousand Syrians mostly Kurds crossed into Turkey finding refuge from the Islamic State militants who took over villages in northern Syria in the past 28 hours, the Associated Press reported, Syrian Kurds fleeing IS group cross into Turkey. In a statement on his website, Masoud Barzani, the president of Iraq’s largely autonomous Kurdish region, said the Islamic State’s “barbaric and terrorist acts” on the Kobani area in northern Syria “threaten the whole entirety of the Kurdish nation and it has targeted the honor, dignity and existence of our people.” He also said, “The ISIS terrorists perpetrate crimes and tragedies wherever they are, therefore they have to be hit and defeated wherever they are.” The main Kurdish forces in Syria called the People’s Protection Unit or YPK have been battling the Islamic State for more than a year, but is viewed with suspicion by mainstream Syrian rebels and there Western supporters due to their supposed link to President Bashar Assad’s government. Meanwhile, France on Friday conducted its first airstrikes against the Islamic State group destroying a logistics depot that it controlled, Iraqi and French officials said, according to Jamey Keaten, France strikes Islamic State group’s depot in Iraq. President Francois Hollande confirmed the hit in northern Iraq, saying, “Other operations will follow in the coming days with the same goal – to weaken this terrorist organization and come to the aid of the Iraqi authorities. There are always risks in taking up a responsibility. I reduced the risks to a minimum.” Qassim al-Moussawi, spokesman for the Iraqi military, said four French airstrikes hit the town of Zumar, killing dozens of extremist fighters. France has become the first foreign country to publicly add military aid to the United Stated airstrikes against the group. In Washington, Congress approved with a vote of 78-22 in the Senate, a bill already approved by the House 273-156 Wednesday, to allow funding for the government after the end of the budget year on Sept. 30 and allow the U.S. military to train and equip Syrian rebels for a war against ISIS on Thursday night, the Associated Press reported, Strong Senate vote for Obama on Syria rebel aid. In the Senate, 44 Democrats, 33 Republicans and one independent voted for the bill, while 9 Democrats, 12 Republicans and one independent opposed it. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told one House committee that Obama “is not going to order American combat ground forces into that area.” Obama’s general plan is to have U.S. troops train Syrian rebels at camps in Saudi Arabia, a process that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, said could take a year. Kathleen Miles reports, Iranian Foreign Minister: America Helped Create ISIS And Is Taking The Wrong Approach … Again, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Wednesday that the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the U.S created ISIS and foreign military presence will only create new terrorists. During a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations, Zarif said: “If you look at the essence of ISIS, it’s the product of foreign invasion. Foreign presence in any territory creates a dynamic for demagogues like ISIS to use the resentment in the population of being occupied.” He noted that the Islamic State began with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, an Islamist leader of the anti-American insurgency in Iraq after the 2003 U.S. invasion. He continued on to say: “As a principle, we do not believe that injection of foreign forces, either air or ground, solves our problem. We continue to have serious doubts about the willingness and ability of the U.S. to seriously engage this menace across the board –- and not just pick and choose where to engage. People need to be realistic. The so-called Syrians moderates — look at what’s happening on the ground — they control no territory. They can have no influence in fighting against either ISIS or the Syrian government. Syria is either controlled by the government or by ISIS. The U.S. cannot effectively fight against both at the same time.” Referring to the meeting in Paris and the U.S. led coalistion to fight ISIS, Zarif said: “Most participants in that meeting in one form or another provided support to ISIS … at the end of the day, creating a Frankenstein that came to haunt its creators. [Extremists] do not fly into Iraq. They come on foot from somewhere, and they don’t come from Iran. You can look at the addresses, and I believe every location was [represented] around the table in Paris.”
On Thursday, Ukrainian President Poroshenko renewed his call for American weaponry during his address to a joint meeting of Congress, expressing his appreciation for non lethal assistance from the U.S. but saying it was not enough to quell the violence in eastern Ukraine. the Associated Press reports, Ukraine’s pleas for lethal aid from US go unmet. Poroshenko, before heading to the White House to meet with Obama, said, “Blankets and night vision goggles are important, but one cannot win a war with a blanket.” The White House announced a new $46 million security package for Ukraine’s military that included counter mortar radar to detect incoming artillery fire, vehicles and patrol boats, body armor and heavy engineering equipment. In addition, $7 million will go to humanitarian organizations to assist people affected by the violence. Regarding his discussion with Obama and the desire for lethal American military assistance, Poroshenko told reporters: “I am satisfied with the level of our cooperation with the United States of America in the defense and security sector. I cannot say more, but I am satisfied.” In the Oval Office, Obama sat side by side with Poroshenko declaring, “The people of the United States stand with the people of Ukraine.” Ukraine and the Russian-backed separatists agreed to a cease-fire on Sept. 5, but the deal has been violated repeatedly. Both sides have promised to regroup and continue fighting, if required. Poroshenko came to Washington seeking lethal military assistance to help push back the Russian forces. His request has support from some members of the Obama administration, as well as lawmakers on Capitol Hill, where the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted unanimously Thursday to advance legislation that would authorize $350 million for military assistance including anti-tank weapons. Senator Robert Menendez, D-N.J., who chairs the committee, said, “President Putin has upended the international order, and a slap on the wrist will not deter future Russian provocations. In the face of Russian aggression, Ukraine needs our steadfast and determined support, not an ambiguous response. ” Obama has argued more weapons into the conflict will not de-escalate the situation. However, Steven Pifer, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, said, “The more costly the Ukrainians can make any fighting for the Russians, the less Moscow’s interest in resuming the conflict.” While sanction from both the European Union and the United States have had a negative impact on Russia’s economy, they have done little to detour PUtin’s tactics. Meanwhile, back in Ukraine, Yuras Karmanau and Mstyslav Chernov report, Ukraine, Russia, Rebels Agree To Buffer Zone In Peace Talks, Saturday that sporadic artillery fire hit part of eastern Ukraine hours after negotiators agreed to create a buffer zone between government troops and pro-Russian militants by halting their advances, pulling back heavy weapons and withdrawing foreign fighters. Despite a ceasefire agreement that has been in place since Sept. 5, the fighting between the two sides has been deadly. Shelling could be heard in Donetsk and rebels opened fire on the village of Stakhanovets in the Luhansk region, according to the Interior Ministry. Ukrainian national security council spokesman Volodymyr Polyoviy said Saturday that about 20 rebels and one soldier had been killed in clashes but did not specify if those took place after the negotiators agreed on the buffer zone around 4 a.m. The deal reached by representatives of Ukraine, Russia, the Moscow-backed rebels and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe says the two sides should stay where they were Friday and make no attempt to advance. According to the report: “Under the deal, each party must pull back artillery of 100 millimeters (about 4 inches) or larger at least 15 kilometers (9 miles), setting up a buffer zone that would be 30 kilometers (19 miles) wide. The longer-range artillery systems are to be pulled even farther back to make sure the parties can’t reach one another. The deal also specifically bans flights by combat aircraft over the area of conflict and setting up new minefields.” NATO’s top general, U.S. Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, hopes the agreement announced Saturday to create a buffer zone between Ukrainian government troops and the pro-Russian militants will succeed in stabilizing the situation. On Friday, Reuters reports, US, Canada send jets to intercept Russian aircraft, that U.S. and Canadian fighter jets intercepted Russian aircraft flying near U.S. and Canadian air space this week, a military spokesman confirmed. On Wednesday, six Russian aircraft entered the United States’ air defense identification zone (ADIZ), an area beyond sovereign U.S. airspace, according to a statement from NORAD, a U.S. and Canadian aerospace command, and U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM). In response, “two Alaskan-based F-22 fighter jets acting under the authority of NORAD identified and intercepted two Russian IL-78 refueling tankers, two Russian Mig-31 fighter jets and two Russian Bear long-range bombers in the ADIZ, west of Alaska,” the statement said. On Thursday, Canadian fighter jets intercepted two Russian Bear long-range bombers in the Canadian ADIZ. John Cornelio, a spokesman for NORAD and NORTHCOM, said that such intercepts had happened over 50 times in the last five years as Russian aircraft conducted exercises.
Meanwhile, Scotland’s vote for independence from Britain ended with voters resoundingly rejecting independence, but helped pave the way for a possible vote for Catalonia who wants independence from Spain, Jil Lawless and Danica Kirka report, Scots reject independence in historic vote. The historic vote and referendum ultimately prevented the rupture of a 307 year old union with England and brought a sigh of relief to Britain’s political establishment including Prime Minister David Cameron, who faced demands for his resignation if Scotland broke away. The vote on Thursday saw an unprecedented turn out of 85 percent with 55 percent against independence and 45 percent in favor. Alistair Darling, head of the no campaign, said Friday from Glasgow: “We have chosen unity over division. Today is a momentous day for Scotland and the United Kingdom as a whole.” Cameron from his Downing Street office lived up to his promise to Scotland to give new powers on taxes, spending and welfare and the new plans will be agreed upon by November with draft legislation by January. He added, “We will ensure that those commitments are honored in full. We have heard the voice of Scotland, now the voices of millions in England must be heard.” Cameron also said people in other parts of the U.K. should also have more rights to govern their own affairs, particularly in England. The No campaign won the capital city, Edinburgh, by a margin of 61 percent to 38 percent and triumphed by 59 percent to 41 percent in Aberdeen, the country’s oil center. The Yes campaign won Glasgow, Scotland’s biggest city, but it was not enough. The vote to keep the U.K. together helps it avoid substantial loses to its territory and oil reserves and prevents it from having to find an new base for its nuclear arsenal housed in Scotland. The no vote also allowed the United Kingdom to keep its influence within international institutions including 28 nation European Union, NATO and the United Nations. Additionally, Britain avoids a prolonged period of financial insecurity that were predicted by Scotland’s independence. AOL reports, Catalonia pushes for independence following Scottish vote, hours after the vote on Friday, Spain’s Catalonia region took steps toward holding their own independence referendum. Catalonia’s regional parliament authorized a consultation vote on independence for the region with a presumptive November 9 date. However, the Spanish government condemned the possible vote as illegal. Due to Spain’s painful financial crisis, nearly two million people lined the streets of Barcelona a week earlier in support of independence. The decades-old independence movement has also been bolstered by Scotland’s referendum. Catalonia’s President Artur Mas told reporters he admired the U.K.’s commitment to a democratic referendum and expected the same process from Madrid. “It is more important to hold the referendum than the independence. … This represents high-quality democracy.” But Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who opposes Catalan independence, has been quick to congratulate Scotland for choosing not to break with the U.K. Catalan independence faces a battle due to the Spanish constitution that requires the authorization by Spanish parliament for any referendum. Spain will most likely take the Catalan parliament’s new law to the country’s constitutional court that favors Madrid over Barcelona. If held, Catalonia’s planned referendum would not result in legal separation from Spain, but provide President Mas with a political mandate to pressure Madrid for independence.
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Tagged 'Abdul Wahhab, Abd Al Wahhab, Air Strikes ISIS, America ISIS, Arming Syrian Rebels, Barack Obama, Catalonia Independence Vote, Catalonia Referendum, Catalonia Scotland, Catalonia Spain, Coalition of Repenters, Iran ISIS, Iran Nuclear, Iran Syria, Iran Zarif, Iranian Foreign Minister, Iraq Iran, Isil, Isis, ISIS Iran, Isis Iraq, Isis Syria, ISIS U.S., Islamic State, Islamic State Barack Obama, Islamic State Group, Islamic State Iran, Islamic State Iraq, Islamic State Syria, Islamic State Threat Obama, Islamic State War, Javad Zarif, John Kerry, Kurdish Villages, Mohammad Javad Zarif, obama, Obama Isil, Obama Isis, Obama Isis War, Rebels Ceasefire, Reuters, Russia Rebels, Russian separatists, Saudi Arabia, Scotland Britain, Scotland Independence Vote, Scotland Referendum Vote, Scotland UK, Scotland Votes No Independence, Secretary of State John Kerry, Separatists Ukraine, Syria Paris, Syria Peace, Syria Peace Talks, Syrian rebel aid congress, Syrian Rebel vote Congress, U.S. Air Strikes ISIS, Ukraine, Ukraine Buffer Zone, Ukraine cease fire, Ukraine Ceasefire, Ukraine Moscow, Ukraine Putin, Ukraine Russia, Ukraine Russia Peace Talks, Ukraine Russian Separatists, Vladmir Putin, Wahhabism, Zarif, Zarif Nuclear
Ukraine at War Despite Ceasefire with Rebels and the U.S. Continues to Rally Support Against an Ever Growing Islamic State
On Saturday, despite a ceasefire between Kiev’s forces and Moscow backed rebels in the east, Ukraine is ‘still in a state of war” with Russia, according to the country’s prime minister shortly after a second convoy of Russian trucks rolled into Ukraine, the Associated Press reports, Ukraine Prime Minister says country still in ‘state of war’. Speaking to a conference of politicians and business leaders in Kiev, Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s goal is to take all of Ukraine: “He cannot cope with the idea that Ukraine would be a part of a big EU family. He wants to restore the Soviet Union.” The second convoy of Russian trucks that entered through rebel held territory in eastern Ukraine on Saturday with 2,000 tons of humanitarian aid. The last truck crossed early Saturday from the Russian border town Donetsk, 120 miles east of the Ukrainian city with the same name, Rayan Farukshin, a spokesman for Russia’s custom agency, told the Associated Press via phone. News Agency ITAR TASS reported 250 trucks were heading toward the city of Luhansk. Col. Andriy Lysenko, a spokesman for the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council, told journalist Saturday the trucks entered illegally: “Ukraine border guards and customs were not allowed to examine the cargo and vehicles. Representatives of the Red Cross don’t accompany the cargo, nobody knows what’s inside.” President Petro Poroshenko has tried to since last week’s ceasefire to prove that improvements on the ground have happened in eastern Ukraine, but Friday, he admitted that the deal has been riddled with violations. Galina Balzamova, a representative of the ICRC’s Moscow office said, “We were not officially notified of an agreement between Moscow and Kiev to ship the cargo.” Lysenko said 6 Ukrainian servicemen have died since the truce and 12 rebel fighters have been killed by Ukrainian forces near Seas of Azov city of Mariupol. A Saturday statement from the Donetsk city council said that fighting occurred throughout the night near the airport with two shells hitting a residential building in the area and reported no causalities. Laura Mills and Peter Leonard report, Ukraine government repels rebel attack on airport, the convoy of 200 white trucks crossed the border with humanitarian aid to Ukraine on Saturday without Kiev’s consent but was met with silence by Ukraine’s leaders. Yury Stepanov, a Russian overseeing the convoy, said: “Early in the morning, we entered Ukraine to bring aid to Luhansk. We came in around 215 vehicles.” The aid arrived as fighting continued between pro-Russian rebels and government forces. Stepanov said the goods consisted mainly of food such as rice sugar and canned fish and beef, but included medicine, technical equipment and clothes. While local workers unloaded boxes, several carloads of armed militiamen in camouflage arrived to inspect the scene. Stepanov said his team was responsible for delivery, while distribution will be handled by local authorities which means the separatist leaders of the self proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic. Gennady Tsepkalo, a senior separatist officials, said, “The militia will feed itself separately. This is for the residents of the Luhansk People’s Republic.” The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s observer mission to the Russian-Ukrainian border said Saturday that ed220 trucks cross into Ukraine, none of which were inspected by the Ukrainian side or accompanied by the ICRC. Allowing more humanitarian aid into the region was one component of the 12-point deal.
Meanwhile, across the world, ISIS continues to grow stronger as the U.S. continue to rally support internationally in the fight to stop the Islamic extremist, while some neighboring Arab countries in the Middle East choose not to participate. On Sunday, Prime Minister David Cameron summoned military and security chiefs for an emergency meeting in response to the beheading of a British hostage and a threat against another, Gregory Katz reports, UK’s Cameron calls emergency meeting after killing. The meeting was in response to the release of a video showing the beheading of British aid worker David Haines and the threat of another with death by Islamic extremists. Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it saw no reason to doubt the authenticity of the video. Haines is the third Westerner to be executed with the first two being U.S. journalists. President Barack Obama said the United would stand with Britain in an expanded effort against terror groups. “We will work with the United Kingdom and a broad coalition of nations from the region and around the world to bring the perpetrators of this outrageous act to justice, and to degrade and destroy this threat to the people of our countries, the region and the world,” he said. Germany and France also condemned the killing during their international conference Monday to combat IS. French President Francois Hollande said, “The odious assassination of David Haines shows once more the need for the international community to mobilize against the base and cowardly Daesh.” German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called the Haines killing “an abhorrent act of barbaric violence beyond all limits of human civilization” and said the Paris meeting comes at the right time. Some British lawmakers called for Britain to launch air strikes against Islamic State forces after the killing. Desmond Butler reports, Turkey seeks behind-the-scene role in NATO coalition, that Turkey has decided to take a behind the scenes role in the war with the Islamic State group as it wants to keep its soldiers out of combat operations and declined to allow NATO to use its bases or territories to launch air attacks. The reason is rooted in two dilemmas: the Islamic State groups has dozens of Turkish hostages including diplomats and Turkey is wary of boosting its rebellious Kurdish minority in the battle against Islamic State enemies in Iraq. Even though NATO allies have shown publish support for Turkey, they would like more action from heir ally. Butler reports: “They would chiefly like to see Turkey tighten its border controls, stem the flow of fighters transiting Turkey from Western Countries and the Middle East, and crack down on oil smuggling from Syria that finances the Islamic State group. They could also benefit from closer intelligence cooperation and possibly the use of Incirlik Airbase in southern Turkey as a base from which to launch strikes against the group.” Western governments are alarmed by the Islamic State’s ability to smuggle Iraqi and Syrian oil across Turkey’s borders and while Turkey has cracked down, analysts say that Turkey is not able to police the smuggling across its 750 mile border with Iraq and Syria. Both U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Chick Hagel were in Ankara last week on successive trips to press Turkey on its role, but failed to get a pledge of support in combating IS. In addition, Turkey decline to sign a U.S. brokered statement by Middle Eastern countries last week denouncing the Islamic State group and pledging to fight it. Another reason for hesitation is a three decade long conflict with the Kurdish minority that has cost tens of thousands of lives. Last year, Kurdish rebels declared a ceasefire and began withdrawing fighters from Turkey into bases in norther Iraq, but tensions rose again as the Kurdish Workers’ Party, or PKK, accused Turkey of not boosting Kurdish rights quickly enough. Government officials say there are signs that Kurds from Turkey are crossing the border to help PKK militants in Iraq and Syria fight the Islamic State group. Teams of security officials operating at Turkish airports and bus stations have interrogated more than 500 people over the last four months and have deported 107 to their countries of origin, according to one official in the Turkish prime minister’s office. Officials also say they are fighting oil smuggling, but face challenges across a more than 550 mile border with Syria. Lori Hinnant reports, Iran says rejects US call to fight IS militants, Iran will not join the international coalition to fight the militant group. Neither Iran nor Syria, who share most of their borders with Iraq, was invited Monday to the international conference in Paris. Opening the diplomatic conference intended to discuss how to combat the group, French President Francois Hollande said, “The terrorist threat is global and the response must be global. There is no time to lose.” The killing of David Haines, a British aid worker, added to the urgency for a clear strategy to fight the well organized Sunni group who has amassed members from all over the world and makes $3 million a day from oil smuggling, human trafficking, theft and extortion, according to U.S. intelligence officials and private experts. Iraq’s President Fouad Massoum called for a coordinated military and humanitarian approach, as well as regular strikes against territory in the hands of the extremists and the elimination of their funding. According to Hinnant: “Western officials have made clear they consider Syrian President Bashar Assad part of the problem, and U.S. officials opposed France’s attempt to invite Iran, a Shiite nation, to the conference in Paris.” Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Iranian state television, said his government refused American requests for cooperation, warning that another U.S> incursion would result “in the same problems they faced in Iraq in the past 10 years.” Ahead of the conference, France’s foreign minister acknowledged many of the countries at the meeting Monday probably financed Islamic State’s advances, while Haider al-Abadi, in his first interview aired Sunday as Iraqi prime minister, told state run al-Iraqiyya that he has given France approval to use Iraq airspace and said all such authorizations must come from Baghdad.
Posted in 2014, activism, al-Qaida, bombing, civil rights, conflict, congress, controversial, crime, death, democracy, disease, economy, goverment, hostage, human rights, insurgency, international, Iran, Iraq War, Islamic State, law, militants, military, news, peace, people, politics, Russia, terrorism, tragedy, United Nations, United States, US, violence, war, white house, world
Tagged Congress Midterm Elections, Congress U.S. Obama, East Poroshenko Ukraine, Fighting East Ukraine War, GOP, Gop Approval Rating, Haines beheaded Syria, human rights violations Iraq, Iran ISIS, Iran NATO Coalition, Iran U.S., Iraqi airstrikes, Isil, Isis, ISIS beheading, Isis Syria, Islamic State, Islamic State America, Islamic State Barack Obama, Islamic State Syira Iraq, Islamic State War Obama, Lebanese Soldier Beheaded, Lebanon, Lebanon News, Lebanon syria, Midterms, NATO Coalition, NATO Coalition Turkey, New York-based Human Rights Watch, Prime Minister David Cameron, pro-Russian rebels, Republican Party, Republicans Approval Rating, Republicans Gop, state of war Ukraine, Syria, Syria Refugees Lebanon, Syrian refugees, Syrians Lebanon Revenge Attacks, Turkey ISIS, Turkey U.S., UK David Haines, UK Prime MInister David Cameron ISIS, UK Prime Minister ISIS, Ukraine Ceasefire, Ukraine Prime Minister, Ukraine Russia, video, Vladimir Putin Russia, War Obama
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Roger Allam to star in 'The Truth Commissioner'
Filed under: News, Northern noir, TV & film
One of this autumn's highlights from BBC Northern Ireland is the adaptation of David Park's novel The Truth Commissioner (2008).
Roger Allam (Endeavour, The Thick of It) and Sean McGinley (Roddy Doyle's Family, The Fall, Love/Hate) head the cast.
Set in a post-Troubles Northern Ireland, the political thriller examines the unintended fallout from the peace process.
Career diplomat Henry Stanfield (Allam) has just been appointed as Truth Commissioner to Northern Ireland, with a commission based on the South African model of Truth and Reconciliation.
While troubled by his estrangement from his daughter and the consequences of his infidelities, he soon uncovers some bloody and inconvenient truths about those now in power.
Veteran Republican and recently appointed government minister Francis Gilroy (McGinley) risks losing what feels tantalisingly close to his grasp.
Meanwhile retired detective James Fenton (Ian McElhinney), on his way to an orphanage in Romania with a van of supplies, will soon have to confront his past betrayal of a teenage boy.
The film is directed by Declan Recks (Eden, Big Swinger, Pure Mule), with a script by Eoin O'Callaghan. The locations include Belfast, Derry and Bangor.
"The Truth Commissioner is a fine, crafted novel, but it is also an important book... his best writing to date."
- Eileen Battersby, Irish Times
David Park was born in east Belfast and now lives with his family in County Down. He went to Queen's University and was a teacher for 24 years. All his earlier novels were written on holidays and in the evenings.
After the collection of short stories Oranges from Spain (1990) he went on to write novels including The Healing (1992), The Rye Man (1994), The Big Snow (2002) and Swallowing the Sun (2004).
He only became a full-time writer with the publication of his eighth book, The Light of Amsterdam (2012), which was shortlisted for the 2014 IMPAC Prize. The Poets' Wives (2014) was Belfast's Choice for One City One Book in 2014.
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Illustration by Daniel Hertzberg
Charles Wheelan ’88
The Rationing
(W.W. Norton)
The United States of America, land of plenty, faces a shortage. The only remedy for a killer pathogen that’s spreading rapidly is in limited supply, and the president and his advisors have tough calls to make. No amount of American exceptionalism will suffice. To get through the calamity, the White House must wheel and deal with a range of other countries, all of which have a plentiful supply of a miracle-cure called Dormigen they can offer. At a price.
Told through the eyes of a naïve, self-deprecating, and funny narrator who is a scientist working with the crisis team, The Rationing is a cinematic, snappy, satiric page-turner. Set in the near future, after Elizabeth Warren has lost 49 states in a presidential election and the Dartmouth basketball team has actually won games in the NCAA tournament, it’s a rollicking tale, even with the threat of a massive die-off looming. Wheelan includes bits of local flavor for alumni: His narrator—a Dartmouth alum—returns to Hanover for a chat with a bio prof, a doting scientist who prods his erstwhile student to tease out the riddle of the virus.
Wheelan, who teaches public policy and economics at Dartmouth, injects his story with political plot points about executive power, the limits of the U.S. Constitution, and how prepared a superpower might be in dealing with potential catastrophe. But with a cast of characters that includes the usual suspects—heroes, villains, idiots—political theory never trumps plot.
This is Wheelan’s first foray into fiction. A former correspondent for The Economist and a one-time congressional candidate, he is the author of Naked Statistics and Naked Economics. His turn to fiction started during a sabbatical year in 2009, and he completed the novel while on a round-the-world trip with his family seven years later.
“The overarching theme is that government matters,” he tells DAM. “It really does. All the characters are flawed, but they muddle along, reminding us that there are things the public sector must do well, and this is one of them.” It’s no spoiler to say that in The Rationing’s final reckoning, Wheelan makes his point by having the world’s largest democracy (look it up) play a vital role as the novel races to its conclusion. —Sean Plottner
Read an excerpt from The Rationing
Thomas Bird ’64
(Oxford University Press)
A pioneering neurogeneticist and founder of one of the first clinics to treat those with Huntington disease looks back on 40 years of caring for hundreds of patients with this progressive degenerative genetic brain disorder. His essays expose the ravages of this disease with stories of distress that celebrate human resiliency and optimism.
Henry M. Paulson Jr. ’68 and Timothy F. Geithner ’83
Firefighting: The Financial Crisis and Its Lessons
(Penguin Books)
Former treasury secretaries Paulson and Geithner teamed with former Fed chair Ben Bernanke to battle the 2008 financial inferno. Now they join forces to explain why the economy tanked and Washington, D.C., responded as it did, and together they offer prescriptions for preventing future economic firestorms.
Alexander Nazaryan ’02
(Hachette Books)
Donald Trump was “coming not to save Washington, but to destroy it,” writes Nazaryan, a Yahoo News national correspondent. He concludes that the president’s goal of rolling back the administrative state, from Obamacare to the EPA, is failing because he has been “undone by his own courtiers’ ” corruption and incompetence.
Priya Krishna ’13
Indian (-ish)
(Houghton Mifflin)
Simplified traditional Indian recipes that can be dished up in 20 minutes—that’s the goal of this cookbook from Bon Appetit writer Krishna. A Dallas native, she grew up loving her mother’s Americanized cooking. Her book introduces many recipes with stories about her family that help demystify the subcontinent’s cuisine for beginners. Try a recipe from Indian (-ish).
Jeff Kuhn ’80, who suffered severe burns to his body and a rare neuromuscular disease, shares his story of recovery and resilience in Blue Sky Lightning: How to Survive and Thrive When Life Blindsides You (Lioncrest Publishing).
Educator Jacquelyn Chappel ’96 offers ways for teachers to consider international education and how to best engage students to consider their place in the world in Engendering Cosmopolitanism Through the Local: Engaging Students in International Literature Through Connections to Personal Experience and Culture (Peter Lang).
Serin Houston ’00, an assistant professor of geography and international relations at Mount Holyoke College, uses Seattle as a case study to consider ideas about environmentalism, privilege, oppression, and economic growth in Imagining Seattle: Social Values in Urban Governance (University of Nebraska Press).
Career educator William Meyer ’02 offers techniques for incorporating mindfulness into the classroom in Three Breaths and Begin: A Guide to Meditation in the Classroom (New World Library).
Marin Sardy, Adv’07, author and adjunct professor at Pace University, chronicles the impact of schizophrenia on her family and the treatment of the mentally ill in society inThe Edge of Every Day (Pantheon).
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Eminem Takes New Zealand Political Party to Copyright Trial
Dawn Ellmore - Eminem Takes New Zealand Political Party to Copyright Trial
US-based music publishers for Eminem are suing New Zealand’s conservative National Party for alleged copyright infringement of the rapper’s 2002 acclaimed “Lose Yourself” used as the party’s successful soundtrack for a 2014 election campaign TV advert (entitled “Eminem Esque”) that was run 186 times before being pulled off the air.
Internal conservative National Party emails given in evidence seemed to indicate similarities between the TV advert and Eminem quoted as a “sound-alike” and being called “Eminem Esque” seemed to indicate that the party was clear it was using a copyrighted song. The conservative National Party however said it purchased the track through an Australian-based supplier and doesn’t believe it has infringed copyright.
Eminem’s music publishers revealed they would never have permitted the use of the song in any political advertisement irrespective of the political party concerned. The music publishers are seeking both a cash settlement and an acknowledgement from the court that the National Party breached copyright.
The case (originally filed in 2014) was recently heard by a judge in a judge-only trial and her decision is expected in 3 months time.
Source: http://buff.ly/2p0PlW8
US-based music publishers for Eminem are suing New Zealand's conservative National Party for alleged copyright infringement of the rapper's 2002 acclaimed "Lose Yourself" used as the party's successful soundtrack for a 2014 election campaign TV advert (entitled "Eminem Esque") that was run 186 times before being pulled off the air.
Eminem, Eminem Esque, New Zealand, New Zealand's conservative National Party, Political Party, trial
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Michigan Mercy sister a trailblazer in forming modern health systems
Daniel Meloy
Jun 28, 2018 Local
Sr. Mary Maurita Sengelaub, RSM, holds the ring she received when she first entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1945, bearing the inscription, “All for Jesus.” Over her 73 years in religious life, Sr. Maurita worked with the Sisters of Mercy to expand Catholic health care in Michigan and beyond, forming the precursor to modern-day health care systems. Dan Meloy | The Michigan CatholicSr. Maurita is pictured in 1985 at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Australia, where she worked with the Sisters of St. John of God to establish the first Catholic health care system in the country. Courtesy of the Sisters of MercySr. Mary Maurita Sengelaub, RSM, left, enjoys tea with the nurses at Mercy Hospital in Bay City in the mid-1950s, where she served as an administrator. Courtesy of the Sisters of Mercy
Sr. Mary Maurita Sengelaub, RSM, holds the ring she received when she first entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1945, bearing the inscription, “All for Jesus.
” Over her 73 years in religious life, Sr. Maurita worked with the Sisters of Mercy to expand Catholic health care in Michigan and beyond, forming the precursor to modern-day health care systems. Dan Meloy | The Michigan Catholic
Approaching her 100th birthday, Sr. Maruita Sengelaub reflects on a lifetime of helping others
FARMINGTON HILLS — Sitting in the garden of the Mercy Life Center in Farmington Hills on a beautiful spring day, Sr. Mary Maurita Sengelaub, RSM, can reflect on a lifetime of watching others bloom.
Approaching her 100th birthday on June 28, Sr. Maurita reflected on a lifetime’s worth of accomplishments that have impacted the course of Catholic health care in the United States.
Sr. Maurita still has the ring she received when she entered the Sisters of Mercy in September 1945, inscribed with the motto, “All for Jesus.
”Since making her vows, Sr. Maurita has been a force in Catholic health care, serving as a nurse, teacher, hospital administrator and a health care advocate for people in need.
“Throughout my life, it’s been my faith, my prayer life that has guided be along as a Sister of Mercy and a nurse,” Sr. Maurita told The Michigan Catholic. “To give my life as a beautiful offering of the faith. When I was discerning entering the Sisters’ convent, two angels came to me while I was praying. And three words came to my head: generosity, perfection and love.
”Those words inspired Sr. Maurita to embark on a more than 60-year career in Catholic health care, stretching from Grand Rapids to Washington, D.C.
Sr. Maurita’s journey began in 1918 when she was born in Reed City, Mich.
, the eldest of four girls. In 1940, Sr. Maurita graduated from the Mercy Central School of Nursing in Grand Rapids in 1940 and continued her education at Saint Louis University, earning a master’s in hospital administration in 1954.
She returned to Michigan to train Sisters of Mercy to become nurses in Grand Rapids and Bay City. She eventually became an administrator Mercy Hospital in Bay City and later St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Grand Rapids, where she worked with the administrator of the other two Mercy hospitals in the area, the beginning of a collaborating partnership that formed a prototype of a health care system.
Sr. Maurita is pictured in 1985 at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane, Australia, where she worked with the Sisters of St. John of God to establish the first Catholic health care system in the country. Courtesy of the Sisters of Mercy The future Sr. Maurita’s time as an administrator exposed her to the life of the Sisters of Mercy and their sense of service.
“When I went to the School of Nursing in Grand Rapids, there were three young Sisters of Mercy in the class,” Sr. Maurita said. “There were very sweet, dear sisters and I enjoyed visiting them. My first assignment was to the Sisters of Mercy hospital in Bay City, where I got to know the sisters even more. My time of teaching was coming to an end. It was 1945, the war just ended, but I thought maybe I should go to the military instead of teaching.
”The superior of the Sisters of Mercy had other ideas, suggesting she join the order instead. Sr. Maurita always had religious life in the back of her mind, especially after one of her younger sisters perished in a car accident.
Upon making her vows, Sr. Maurita worked at several Catholic hospitals in Michigan, taught nursing at Mercy College in Detroit, and was administrator at St. Mary’s Mercy Hospital in Grand Rapids.
Her contributions to Catholic health care reached the national level in 1967, while in a leadership position with the Sisters of Mercy in Bethesda, Maryland, she in conjunction with other religious orders, formed the National Migrant Worker Council, to address the health care needs of migrant workers across the country.
“No one at the time was thinking about the migrant workers, so we had the Migrant Health Program, working with other religious communities. We went to these big heads of land in every state, talking to the workers, taking care of their medical needs no matter where they went, getting them treatment at the nearest Sisters of Mercy hospital.
”In 1970, Sr. Maurita was elected as the first religious woman to lead the Catholic Hospital Association.
“One of my greatest privileges was working for the Catholic Hospital Association with the Jesuits,” Sr. Maurita said. “What we were doing was creating a system of 28 Mercy hospitals in Michigan, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin and working with the national Catholic Hospital office.
”Having migrant workers use Mercy Hospitals as outlets for health care needs, no matter where they moved, laid the groundwork for the modern-day health care systems now ubiquitous in health care today.
Sr. Mary Maurita Sengelaub, RSM, left, enjoys tea with the nurses at Mercy Hospital in Bay City in the mid-1950s, where she served as an administrator.
Courtesy of the Sisters of Mercy“As an administrator, I was always a big advocate for other admins at area hospitals sharing information and sharing resources; we always did more together,” Sr. Maurita said.
After stepping down from her leadership role with the Sisters of Mercy, Sr. Maurita continued to consult for religious congregations on how better to serve those on the margins. She was a key consultant in Mercy Health Services, forming national and international health networks.
After spending more than 60 years in Catholic health care, Sr. Maurita wants to see Catholic hospitals today maintain the Catholic identity that sets them apart from other hospitals.
“As head of the Catholic Hospital Association, I wanted to continue the work the Jesuit priests started, the ones I learned from at Saint Louis, especially working with the poor,” Sr. Maurita said. “Patients who come to Catholic hospitals have physical needs, but also spiritual needs that need to be address. At Catholic hospitals, patients receive the Blessed Sacrament. They have the privileged benefit of the presence of Catholic sisters in the hospital, and it’s also a benefit to the doctors, nurses and staff there. That’s what it means live out mercy, to say yes to Jesus.”
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All posts tagged "Indian Institute of Management Lucknow"
New post graduate programme in IIM- Trichy
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IIM Bangalore ranked top in Business Management Research: Study
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Campus Management Corp, provider of enterprise software products and services for higher education, has announced that Indian Institute of Management, Udaipur has...
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Current and Forthcoming
Outset Study
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The place to discover contemporary drawing
Russell Crotty
Installation photograph of Drawing on Space at fa projects, London middle:: Oliver Zwink, Square, 2002 foreground: Russell Crotty, Badlands Radio, 2002 background: Russell Crotty, NGC 6960 The Veil Nebula in Cygnus, 2000 Photo: Steve White
Russell Crotty (b. 1956, San Rafael, California) lives in Ojai, California and works in Ventura, California. He studied at University of California Irvine and San Francisco Art Institute. Known for paper-coated suspended globes and large-scale books containing a fervent network of ballpoint pen lines and color washes, Crotty’s vast body of work challenges the definition of drawing, pushing the genre towards minimal sculptural installation. Although often reflective of a ravished and diminishing natural world, installations of the work create a decidedly calm and optimistic spacial experience. Selected career highlights include: Embassy of the United States, Beijing, China; ART in Embassies Program, U.S. Dept. of State (2008); and Visual Arts Fellowship, National Endowment for the Arts (1991). Selected exhibitions include: Art=Text=Art: Private Languages / Public Systems, (Sally and Wynn Kramarsky Collection), UB Anderson Gallery, University at Buffalo, NY; traveling exhibition (2014); Ballpoint Pen Drawing Since 1950, The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, Ridgefield, CT (2013); Revealed: Turner Contemporary Opens, Turner Contemporary, Margate, England (2011); Aligned with the Coast, Galerie Suzanne Tarasieve, Paris (2011); Compass in Hand: Selections from The Judith Rothschild Foundation Contemporary Drawings Collection, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY: traveling exhibition (2009); and Drawing on Space, Drawing Room, London (2002). Crotty has work in many collections, including: Museum of Modern Art, New York; Whitney Museum of American Art; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Museum of Contemporary Art Miami; and High Museum of Art, Atlanta. He is represented by: Shoshana Wayne Gallery, Santa Monica, CA; Hosfelt Gallery, San Francisco, CA; CRG Gallery, New York, NY; Galerie Suzanne Tarasieve, Paris, France; and Michel Soskine, Madrid, Spain. www.russellcrotty.com
19 June – 27 July 2002 Drawing on Space
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Venezuela’s ‘Anti-Semitic’ Leader Admits Jewish Ancestry
Michal Shmulovich
Nicolas Maduro defends Caracas’s policies toward Israel, says his grandparents were Sephardic Jews who converted to Catholicism
Venezuela’s newly elected President Nicolas Maduro celebrates his victory at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, April 14, 2013. (photo credit: AP/Ramon Espinosa)
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has dismissed accusations that his country’s ties with Iran are fostering anti-Semitism in Latin America, explaining that Caracas is critical of Israel’s policies, not the Jewish people.
In an interesting twist, Maduro, the political successor of the late president Hugo Chávez, told the press last week that he himself was descended from Sephardic Jewish ancestors. Maduro and his predecessor, Chávez, have widely been regarded as anti-Semitic, in part for their close relations to Iran, vocal criticism of Israel, and rough treatment of Venezuela’s Jewish population.
Maduro, from the United Socialist Party, is a former bus driver and union leader. He was a member of Chávez’s inner circle and previously held the posts of vice president and minister of foreign affairs. He assumed the day-to-day responsibilities of the presidency after Chávez’s death, and then won the top spot by a small margin in April, defeating Henrique Capriles, the governor of Miranda, who is the Catholic grandson of Holocaust survivors.
“My grandparents were Jewish, from a [Sephardic] Moorish background, and converted to Catholicism in Venezuela… The mother of [Minister of Communication and Information] Ernesto Villegas also comes from a similar background,” Maduro said last week, according to Aporrea, a Venezuelan news portal supportive of Chávez’s socialist platform and reform initiatives.
“I’m sorry to hear about the statements made by Claudio Epelman, director of the Latin American Jewish Congress, who I know and have received many times, saying that there’s anti-Semitism in Venezuela and implicating Chávez and me in it,” Maduro said.
“He can accuse me, but he should leave Chávez out of it,” he added.
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Secretary Detzner Honors Florida Heritage Month Award Winners (1)
Contact: Chris Cate
Secretary Detzner Honors Florida Heritage Month Award Winners
Awards ceremony begins tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Mission San Luis in Tallahassee
Tallahassee, Florida –
Secretary of State Ken Detzner will honor Florida’s Heritage Month Award winners at a ceremony tomorrow at Mission San Luis in Tallahassee. The 10th annual Florida Heritage Month Awards ceremony is part of a month-long celebration from March 15 to April 15, recognizing Floridians who have made contributions to the state in historic preservation, literature, folk heritage, public service, the arts and entertainment.
"Florida Heritage Award winners are uniquely talented individuals who help make our state a tremendous cultural destination," said Secretary of State Ken Detzner. "By recognizing these great cultural talents and the arts they represent, we hope to promote how arts and culture can create economic vitality, enhance quality of life and instill community pride."
The 2013 Florida Heritage Month Awards ceremony is a free event. The Viva Florida 500-themed ceremony includes Florida Folk Heritage Awards, Secretary of State Historic Preservation Awards, Florida Book Awards and the induction of artists into the 2013 Florida Artists Hall of Fame. Induction into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame is the highest cultural honor that the state can bestow upon an individual.
Florida Heritage Month Awards Event Information:
TIME: Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the ceremony expected to last from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Mission San Luis
2100 West Tennessee Street
Tallahassee, Florida, 32304
10th Annual Florida Heritage Month Award Winners:
Florida Folk Heritage Awards
Laurence Cutts (Chipley) – Laurence Cutts is a third-generation beekeeper who was inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2012. He has been Florida’s Chief Apiary Inspector and was instrumental in a statewide effort to reduce beehive losses caused by varroa mites and small-hive beetles. Mr. Cutts recently invented the Beetle Blaster, an improved trap for the small-hive beetle, and continues to raise queens, keep bees, teach workshops, and promote beekeeping worldwide.
Reverend O.L. Samuels (Tallahassee) – Reverend O. L. Samuels is a visionary, self-taught artist and sculptor who carves animals, biblical figures, mythical creatures and more out of wood, which he ornaments with paint, metal, fabric, and found objects. He began working with wood as a small child. His work has been featured worldwide, including at the White House, Smithsonian American Museum of Art and the Arkansas Museum of Art.
Neri Torres (Miami) – Neri Torres is one of the state’s most highly regarded traditional dancers, and has served as the principal dancer and choreographer for Gloria Estefan. Ms. Torres was instilled with a passion for Afro-Cuban dance traditions by her family and numerous other musicians who practiced in their home in Havana, Cuba. She is also the founder of IFE-ILE, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, promotion and cultivation of Afro-Cuban culture and folklore, known especially for the annual IFE-ILE Afro-Cuban Dance Festival in Miami.
Secretary of State Historic Preservation Awards
Senator Bob Williams Public Employee Award
Roger C. Smith, Ph.D. (Tallahassee) – Dr. Roger Smith has served as the State Underwater Archaeologist for the Florida Department of State’s Bureau of Archaeological Research since 1987. He has worked to bring the importance of maritime heritage to the attention of the public by partnering with waterfront communities throughout Florida to establish 11 Historic Shipwreck Preserves, develop Florida’s Maritime Heritage Trail, and record the sites of 13 shipwrecks in the Florida Keys to establish the 1733 Spanish Galleon Trail. He is the author of three books, as well as numerous academic journal articles, and popular magazine features.
Mary Call Darby Collins Volunteer Award
Kenneth R. Smith, FAIA (Jacksonville) – Kenneth Smith, FAIA, is a Jacksonville architect who has designed numerous restoration projects of Florida’s historically significant sites, including Florida’s first contemporary lighthouse restoration of the St. Augustine Lighthouse. He has received 39 design awards from the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation since 1987 in recognition of his preservation work on historic buildings around the state, and was awarded The Henry John Klutho Award for Outstanding Lifetime Achievement by the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 2010. He was elevated to fellowship in the American Institute of Architects in 2000.
Florida Book Awards
Unspoken by Henry Cole (Florida/Virginia) – Henry Cole has illustrated more than 80 popular picture books, including the multimillion-selling Moose series and other bestsellers.
Counting backwards by Laura Lascarso (North Florida) – Laura Lascarso’s debut novel is Counting Backwards. She lives in north Florida with her husband, two children, three chickens, and a dog named Lucy.
The Tenth Saint by D.J. Niko (West Palm Beach) – D.J. Niko is the nom de plume of Daphne Nikolopoulos, the editor-in-chief of Palm Beach Illustrated magazine and editorial director of the Palm Beach Media Group.
Live by Night by Dennis Lehane (Boston/Florida’s Gulf Coast) – Dennis Lehane is the author of nine previous novels, including the New York Times bestsellers Gone, Baby, Gone; Mystic River; and Shutter Island.
In the Kingdom of the Sea Monkeys by Campbell McGrath (Miami) – Campbell McGrath has won the Kingsley Tufts Prize and fellowships from the Guggenheim and MacArthur Foundations. He teaches in the creating writing program at Florida International University.
Weeki Wachee Mermaids by Lu Vickers (Florida) and Bonnie Georgiadis (Tarpon Springs) – In addition to her novel Breathing Underwater, Lu Vickers has published Weeki Wachee, City of Mermaids, a History of One of Florida’s Oldest Roadside Attractios; and Cypress Garden, America’s Tropical Wonderland. Bonnie Georgiadis began at Weeki Wachee in 1953 when she was 17 years old and has wrote and choreographed seven underwater shows.
The New New Deal: The Hidden Story of Change in the Obama Era by Michael Grunwald (Florida) – Michael Grunwald is a senior national correspondent for Time magazine. He has won the George Polk Award for national reporting, the Worth Bingham Award for investigative reporting, and numerous other prizes. He has also written The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and Politics of Paradise.
Florida Non-fiction
Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King (New York, NY) – Gilbert King has written about U.S. Supreme Court history for the New York Times and the Washington Post. He is the author of The Execution of Willie Francis: Race, Murder and the Search for Justice in the American South.
Florida Lifetime Achievement Award for Writing
Enid Shomer (Tampa) – Enid Shomer’s work has been collected in more than 50 anthologies and textbooks, including Best American Poetry and New Stories from the South: The Year’s Best. For her book Imaginary Men, she received the Iowa Fiction and the LSU/Southern Review Prizes for the best first collection of short fiction by an American. She received the Gold Medal in Fiction from the State of Florida for Tourist Season and the Washington Prize for Stalking the Florida Panther. Her poems and stories have appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, The New Yorker, The Paris Review and many other places.
Florida Artists Hall of Fame
Gloria Estefan: Singer/Recording Artist (Miami) – In 1976, Gloria Estefan began her career as a lead singer for the Miami Sound Machine, a popular local Miami band performing at nightclubs, festivals and cultural events. Now a multiple Grammy award-winner, Ms. Estefan enjoys a worldwide reputation as a prominent recording artist and film actor. Her contributions to the Florida community include many hurricane relief concerts, AIDS research benefits, and her well-known advocacy work to strengthen Florida boating safety regulations.
Frank Thomas: Songwriter/Folk Balladeer (Lake Wales) – Frank Thomas is known as the dean of Florida Folk Music. He has received the Florida Folk Heritage Award, Jullian Prescott History Award, Florida Historical Society Golden Quill Award, the Stetson Kennedy Foundation Fellow Man & Mother Earth Award, and a state resolution honoring him from former Governor Lawton Chiles. Thomas’s original Florida songs have been performed for decades in every part of the state and on radio. His reputation includes being the patriarch of balladeers at the state’s annual heritage celebration, the Florida Folk Festival, where he showcases the state’s finest songwriters.
Laura Woodward: Painter (Palm Beach) – One of Florida’s most important Nineteenth Century woman artists, and one of the earliest and greatest publicists of Florida as a “tropical paradise,” Laura Woodward changed the course of history in Florida by influencing Henry Flagler’s choice of resort location with her ideas and naturalistic paintings of the Palm Beach area. She raised awareness of Florida before the time of color photography by exhibiting her works widely, thus promoting tourism to the state. Prior to moving to Florida, Ms. Woodward was an acclaimed Hudson River School Artist and among the most distinguished of American women artists painting at that time. She was also one of the very first professional artists to paint natural images in the wild areas of the Everglades.
On display at the awards ceremony will be a Viva Florida 500 retablo (photo attached) by artist Nicario Jiménez, a former Heritage Award Winner who donated the retablo today in honor of Florida’s 500th anniversary. The retablo, a portable wooden box with handcrafted figures, highlights Native Americans, the arrival of Ponce de Leon, the cultural traditions of the state’s varied Latino communities, Florida’s agricultural industry and Florida’s natural beauty.
Residents and visitors can find more information about Florida Heritage Month and related events at www.floridaheritagemonth.com.
About Viva Florida 500
Viva Florida 500 is a statewide initiative led by the Florida Department of State, under the leadership of Governor Rick Scott, to highlight the 500 years of historic people, places and events in present-day Florida since the arrival of Juan Ponce de León to the land he named La Florida in 1513. While Florida’s Native American heritage dates back more than 12,000 years, Spain’s claim in 1513 began a new era in a place where the world’s cultures began to unite and transform into the great nation we know today as the United States of America. The Viva Florida 500 commemoration is ongoing throughout 2013, and includes more than 300 events statewide. For more information, visit www.VivaFlorida.org.
Ron DeSantis, Governor
Laurel M. Lee, Secretary of State
Questions or comments? Contact Us
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Copyright © 2019 State of Florida, Florida Department of State.
R.A. Gray Building
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Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
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Borough of New Britain, PA
Ch 7 Auditor, Independent
Ch 14 Blighted Property Review Committee
Ch 37 Nature Preserve Committee
Ch 40 Officers and Employees
Ch 43 Parks and Recreation Committee
Ch 46 Pensions
Ch 46 Art I Police Pension Plan
§ 46-1 Establishment of plan.
§ 46-3 Administration.
§ 46-4 Retirement requirements and benefits.
§ 46-5 Contributions.
§ 46-6 Credit for military service.
§ 46-7 Termination of plan.
§ 46-8 Participant's rights and municipality's right to terminate.
§ 46-9 Investments.
§ 46-10 Amendments.
§ 46-11 Construction of plan.
Ch 46 Art II Nonuniformed Employees Pension Plan
§ 46-12 Establishment of plan; effective date.
§ 46-13 Definitions.
§ 46-14 Administration.
§ 46-15 Retirement requirements and benefits.
§ 46-16 Contributions.
§ 46-17 Credit for military service.
§ 46-18 Termination of plan.
§ 46-19 Participant's rights and municipality's right to terminate.
§ 46-20 Investments.
Ch 52 Planning Commission
Ch 58 Police
Ch 90 Advertising Materials
Ch 99 Alarm Systems
Ch 108 Animals
Ch 144 Burning, Open
Ch 151 Cable Communications
Ch 165 Construction Codes, Uniform
Ch 176 Disorderly Conduct
Ch 208 Firesafety and Emergency Equipment Inspections
Ch 220 Grading, Drainage and Erosion Control
Ch 234 Hazardous Materials
Ch 280 Numbering of Buildings
Ch 295 Parks and Recreation
Ch 315 Public Events and Gatherings
Ch 317 Public Property, Tampering With
Ch 328 Real Estate Registry
Ch 333 Rental Property Registration
Ch 350 Shade Tree Commission
Ch 365 Solid-Fuel-Burning Appliances and Chimneys
Ch 375 Stormwater Management
Ch 385 Subdivision and Land Development
Ch 406 Transient Retail Businesses and Door-To-Door Solicitation and Peddling
Ch 420 Weapons
Ch 430 Weeds and Vegetation
Ch A460 Cable Franchise Agreements
Derivation Table
Ch DT Derivation Table
Agendas Comprehensive Plans Minutes
Borough of New Britain, PA / Part I: Administrative Legislation
Chapter 46 Pensions
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of New Britain as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
Officers and employees — See Ch. 40.
Article I Police Pension Plan
Article II Nonuniformed Employees Pension Plan
[Adopted 12-8-1992 by Ord. No. 256]
A pension plan is hereby established for the full-time police employees pursuant to and in compliance with the Act of May 29, 1956, P.L. 1804, as amended.[1] Such plan shall be under the direction of the Borough Council and shall be applied under such regulations as Council may prescribe. The effective date of this plan shall be January 1, 1993.
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 767 et seq.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
The governing body of the Borough of New Britain acting in the capacity of administrator of the Police Employees Pension Plan established pursuant to this article.
The persons which may be appointed to serve in an advisory capacity to the Council in the administration of the plan.
The monies received by a participant in each and every month, including base pay, longevity pay, night differential, overtime, and any other such increments. Payments made for unused vacation time will be included for computation of retirement benefits. Payments made for unused "sick time" will not be included for computation of retirement benefits.
The monies paid by the employer to the plan and/or the payroll deductions made monthly from the compensation of the participants and paid to the plan, except that "contributions" in § 46-5B shall mean the participant's total contributions accumulated during the period of employment and participation in this plan.
The Borough of New Britain.
FUTURE SERVICE LIABILITY
The value of any participant's benefits which shall accrue by virtue of that participant's service rendered subsequent to the enactment of this article.
Every person duly appointed from time to time by the employer as a full-time police employee working not less than 40 hours per week with a definite compensation subject to reasonable vacation and sick leave, to be included in the plan upon date of hire.
The Police Employees Pension Plan established pursuant to this article.
Total aggregate service with the employer, not necessarily continuous, beginning upon date of hire.
The cessation of service by the participant for any reason including disability, resignation, and employer termination. Death shall not be considered a termination within the meaning of this article. Voluntary leaves of absence without pay shall not be considered a termination for purposes of this article; but no period of such leave shall be computed in the total service for pension benefit purposes.
UNFUNDED LIABILITY
The present value of any participant's benefits accrued prior to the enactment of this article by virtue of that participant's prior service.
The Council shall administer the plan by such regulations as shall from time to time be necessary for the effective maintenance of the plan; provided that no regulation shall be contrary to the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and/or applicable federal regulations.
The Council may appoint a Committee which shall act as an advisory body to the Council in the administration of the Plan according to the regulations established pursuant to this article.
Membership; meetings.
The Committee shall consist of three members, which number shall include the Borough Manager, the Chairman of the Police Committee, and the third shall be chosen by a majority of the participants in the plan.
All persons so designated shall serve at the pleasure of the Council. Any member may resign upon written notice to the Council and the Committee. Any vacancies in the Committee arising from resignation, death, or removal shall be filled by the Council by the procedure set out herein for the member of the Committee whose resignation, death, or removal has created the vacancy.
The Committee shall meet no less than annually, and shall serve without compensation for their services.
Procedures; records.
The Committee shall act by such procedure as the Committee shall establish; provided that all decisions shall be by majority vote. The Committee may authorize one of its members to execute any document or documents on behalf of the Committee, may adopt by-laws and regulations as it deems necessary for the conduct of its affairs, and may appoint such accountants, counsel, specialists or such other personnel as it may deem desirable for the proper administration of the plan; provided that all such executions of documents, adoptions of by-laws and regulations, and appointments shall be submitted to the Council for approval.
The Committee shall keep a record of all its proceedings and acts which shall relate to the plan, and shall keep all such books of accounts, records and other data as shall be necessary for the proper administration of the plan. All actions of the Committee shall be communicated to the Council in a timely fashion.
All such reasonable expenses incurred in the administration of the plan, including but not limited to fees for the services of specialists including actuaries, accountants, consultants, and legal counsel shall be approved by the Council and all may be paid from the plan; provided that no such payment shall be contrary to the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
No member of the Council or the Committee established pursuant to this article shall incur any liability for any action or failure to act, excepting only liability for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The employer shall indemnify each member of the Council and the Committee against any and all claims, loss, damages, expense, and liability arising from any action or failure to act, except for such that is the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct of such member.
Eligibility for normal retirement.
A participant in the plan may retire from active employment on the first day of the month following the attainment of age 50; provided that the participant has completed 25 or more years of service with the employer.
[Amended 12-10-2013 by Ord. No. 356]
If there is any participant in the plan who was a member of the police force of the employer prior to December 21, 1965, that participant may retire following the attainment of age 60, provided that the participant has completed 20 or more years of service with the employer.
A participant shall retire on the first day of the month following the attainment of age 70.
In order to become entitled to benefits, a member shall have a maximum period of total police service not less than an aggregate of 25 years part-time and full-time service in New Britain Borough and shall have attained the age of 50 years, after which he may retire from active duty, except that any full-time officer employed by New Britain Borough on the date this article becomes effective has an aggregate of 18 years service in New Britain Borough shall be entitled to benefits.
[Added 6-13-1995 by Ord. No. 264; amended 4-14-2015 by Ord. No. 361]
Normal retirement benefit.
A participant who shall complete the age and service requirements as set forth in this article shall receive a pension for life in an amount equal to 1/2 of the participant's average monthly compensation, based on the participant's last 36 months of compensation, or that percentage and based on that number of months as shall be prescribed by statute of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania subsequent to the adoption of this article.
Such pension shall be payable from the assets of the plan without reduction for the amount of any social security benefits to which the participant may be or become entitled.
Designation of beneficiaries.
Each participant shall have the right to name the beneficiary or beneficiaries for pre-retirement death benefits incidental to policies of insurance purchased primarily to fund the participant's pension, provided that the ownership of such policies shall remain in the plan and shall be endorsed to prevent the assignment of ownership to the insured.
If the participant shall fail to name a beneficiary or beneficiaries, such benefits as would have accrued to the participant's beneficiary or beneficiaries shall be paid to the participant's estate.
Each participant may, from time to time, change the beneficiary or beneficiaries in such form and in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Council, and following such procedure as may be required by the insurance company.
Widows'/widowers' and children's benefit.
In the event of the death of a participant who was receiving a retirement pension, a disability pension, or who had qualified for a retirement pension but had not retired, that participant's widow may be entitled during her lifetime, or so long as she does not remarry, to receive a pension equal to 50% of the "Straight Life Annuity" pension the participant was receiving or would have been receiving had the participant been retired at the time of his death.
If no widow/widower survives, or if she/he survives and subsequently dies or remarries, then the child or children under the age of 18 years of the deceased eligible participant shall be entitled to receive a pension calculated at 50% of the pension to which the participant was entitled.
Termination.
If for any reason a participant shall terminate service with the employer prior to becoming vested, that participant shall be entitled to a refund of that participant's contributions, plus interest at a rate of 6% per annum. Such interest shall be uniform for all participants.
If a participant shall subsequently return to service and return to the plan the contributions plus interest which were refunded to that participant upon termination, the participant shall be entitled to credit for the prior years of service to the extent of the return of contributions.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to allow credit for service not actually given to the employer, except as specifically provided in § 46-6.
Deferred Retirement Option Program (DROP).
[Added 12-10-2013 by Ord. No. 356]
Definitions. As used in this subsection, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
The Deferred Retirement Option Plan created as an optional form of benefit under the existing New Britain Borough Police Pension Plan.
DROP PARTICIPANT ACCOUNT
A separate ledger account created to accumulate the DROP pension benefit for a DROP participant.
A full-time New Britain Borough police officer covered by the plan.
A member who is eligible for normal retirement and who has elected to participate in the DROP program.
The New Britain Borough Police Pension Plan adopted pursuant to Act 600.[1]
Eligibility. Effective January 1, 2013, full-time police employees of the New Britain Borough Police Department who have not retired prior to the implementation of the DROP, may enter into DROP on the first day of any month following completion of 25 years of credited service and attaining the age of 50, for a maximum period of 60 months.
Written election. A police employee of the New Britain Borough Police Department electing to participate in DROP must complete and execute a "DROP option form" prepared by New Britain Borough, which shall evidence the police employee's participation in DROP. The form must be signed by the police employee and notarized and submitted to New Britain Borough within 60 days prior to the date on which the police employee wishes DROP to be effective. The DROP option notice shall include an irrevocable notice to the Borough, by the police employee, that the police employee shall resign from employment with the New Britain Borough Police Department effective on a specific date (the "resignation date"). In no event shall the resignation date be shorter than 12 months nor longer than 60 months from the execution of the DROP option form. An officer shall cease to work as a New Britain Borough police officer on the officer's resignation date, unless the Borough terminates or honorably discharges the officer prior to the resignation date. In addition, all retirement documents required by the Police Pension Board Administration must be filed and presented to the New Britain Borough Council for acceptance and approval of retirement and payment of pension. Once a retirement application has been approved by the New Britain Borough Council, it is irrevocable.
Limitation on pension accrual. After the effective date of the DROP option, the member shall no longer earn or accrue additional years of continuous service for pension purposes.
Benefit calculation. For all police pension plan purposes, continuous service of a member participating in the DROP shall remain as it existed on the effective date of commencement of participation in the DROP. Service thereafter shall not be recognized or used for the calculation or determination of any benefits payable by the New Britain Borough Police Pension Plan. The average applicable compensation of the member for pension calculation purposes shall remain, as it existed on the effective date of commencement of participation in the DROP. Earnings and increases in earnings thereafter shall not be recognized or used for the calculation or determination of any benefits payable by the pension plan. The pension benefit payable to the members shall increase only as a result of cost of living adjustments in effect on the effective date of the member's participation in the DROP or by applicable cost of living adjustments granted thereafter.
Payments to the DROP account. The monthly retirement benefits that would have been payable had the member elected to cease employment and receive a normal retirement benefit, shall, upon the member commencing participation in DROP, be paid into the separate account established to receive the participant's monthly pension payments. The account shall be designated as the DROP account. Interest shall be compounded and credited monthly at an annual rate of two percent or at a rate earned by the plan as a whole. All interest credited to the DROP participant account shall be included in the final cash settlement.
Early termination. A participant may withdraw from the DROP program at any time and no penalty shall be imposed for early termination of DROP participation. However, the participant shall not be permitted to make any withdrawals from the DROP participant account until DROP participation has ended.
Accrual of nonpension benefits. After an officer elects to participate in the DROP program, all other contractual benefits shall continue to accrue with the exception of those provisions relating to the police pension plan and the buyback of accrued but unused sick or vacation time. Prior to participating in the DROP, an officer may request payment for any accrued but unused sick or vacation time which the Borough would, by contract if that is the case, be obligated to buy back from the officer upon retirement. An officer may utilize leave time during DROP period, but the Borough shall not be required to buy back any such unused leave time at the end of the DROP period.
Payout. Upon the termination date set forth in the member's DROP option notice or such date as New Britain Borough separates the member from employment, the retirement benefits payable to the member or the member's beneficiary, if applicable, shall be paid to the member or beneficiary and shall no longer be paid to the member's DROP account. Within 30 days following termination of a member's employment pursuant to their participating in the DROP, the balance in the member's DROP account shall be paid to the member in a single lump-sum payment or at the member's option, in any fashion permitted by law. Such payment shall be made subject to any federal withholding as may be required, or as a direct rollover to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). If the participant or beneficiary fails to elect a method of payment within 60 days after the participant's termination date, the retirement system shall pay the balance as a lump sum. As a condition of participation in DROP, the officer acknowledges that New Britain Borough plays no role nor has any responsibility in advising the officer regarding the appropriate payout vehicle. Accordingly, any officer participating in DROP assumes all financial consequences for his/her participation in DROP, including, but not limited to, the manner in which a permitted payout from the DROP account is made. The participating officers agree to hold New Britain Borough harmless for any tax consequences which flow directly or indirectly from the officer's participation in DROP.
Disability during DROP. If a member becomes temporarily disabled during his participation in DROP, any such time lost due to disability shall be counted towards the member's resignation date. Upon return to duty, membership in DROP shall continue with the remaining time left prior to the member's resignation date. If eligible, the member shall receive disability pay in the same amount as disabled police officers that are not participating in DROP. In no event shall a member on temporary disability have the ability to draw from his DROP account. However, notwithstanding any other provision in this subsection, if an officer is disabled and has not returned to work as of the date of his required resignation, then such resignation shall take precedence over all other provisions herein and said officer shall be required to resign. Nothing contained in this plan shall be construed as conferring any legal rights upon any police employee or other person to the continuation of employment nor shall participation in the DROP program supersede or limit in any way the right of New Britain Borough to honorably discharge a police employee based upon an inability to perform his or her full duties as a police officer. If a DROP participant becomes eligible for a disability pension benefit due to a permanent disability under Act 600 and terminates employment for any reason, the monthly normal retirement benefit shall cease.
Death. If a DROP member dies before the DROP account balances are paid, the participant's beneficiary under Act 600 shall have the same rights as the member to withdraw the account balance. The monthly benefit credited to the participant's DROP participant account during the month of the participant's death shall be the final monthly benefit for DROP participation. If the death of a DROP member is in the performance of duties so as to trigger the killed-in-service benefit afforded under Act 51, the killed-in-service benefit shall be paid as set forth in Act 51.
Forfeiture of benefits. Notwithstanding an officer's participation in the DROP, an officer who is convicted or pleads guilty to engaging in criminal misconduct which constitutes a "crime related to public office or public employment," as that phrase is defined in Pennsylvania's Pension Forfeiture Act, 43 P.S. §§ 1311–1314, shall forfeit his right to receive a pension, including any amounts currently deposited in the DROP account. In such a case, the member shall only be entitled to receive the contributions, if any, made by the member to the plan, without interest.
Account manager. The Borough and the Association will mutually agree upon an investment manager to administer the DROP accounts. The Borough and the Association further agree that the Borough shall not be responsible for any investment loss incurred in the plan or any/all DROP accounts or for the failure of an investment or investments to earn a specific or expected return or to earn as much as any other opportunity, whether or not such other investment opportunity was offered or available to participants in the plan. As a condition of participation in the DROP, participating officers agree to hold the Borough harmless for any financial loss incurred as the result of any aspect of DROP participation, including the initial decision to enter DROP.
Cost of management for DROP. The Association and the Borough agree that any costs or fees associated with the management of the DROP accounts shall be paid directly from the Police Pension Plan and not by the Borough.
Amendment. Any amendments to this DROP plan shall be consistent with the provisions covering deferred retirement option plan set forth in any applicable collective bargaining agreement and shall be binding upon all future DROP participants and upon all DROP participants who have balances in their deferred retirement option accounts. The DROP may only be amended by a written instrument, not by any oral agreement or past practice.
Construction. In the consideration of applications and claims under this Deferred Retirement Option Program, the provisions in this Subsection F shall prevail over any provisions of Article I of his chapter deemed to be inconsistent with the provisions of this Subsection F.
Nonalienation of benefits and vesting.
No benefit under the plan shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or charge. Nor shall any such benefits be in any manner liable for or subject to garnishment, attachment, execution, levy, or other legal process.
In the event that any participant should cease to be employed, for any reason, as a full-time police officer of the Borough of New Britain before completing superannuation retirement age and service requirements hereunder, but after having completed 12 years of total service, such participant shall be entitled to vest his or her retirement benefits by filing with Borough Council, within 90 days of the date he or she ceases to be a full-time police officer, a written notice of his or her intention to vest. Upon reaching the date which would have been his or her superannuation retirement date if he or she had continued to be employed as a full-time police officer, he or she shall be paid a partial superannuation retirement allowance determined by applying the percentage his or her years of service bears to the years of service which he or she would have rendered had he or she continued to work until his or her superannuation retirement date to the gross pension, using however, the monthly average salary during the thirty-six-month period immediately prior to his or her termination of employment.
Disability benefit. A participant who becomes totally and permanently disabled so that he cannot perform his normal duties as a police officer as a result of a service connected accident or occurrence, shall be entitled to receive the normal retirement benefit for life, or for so long as the disability remains both total and permanent.
[Added 2-11-1997 by Ord. No. 272]
Surviving spouses; retirement in consequence of permanent injury.
[Added 9-9-2002 by Ord. No. 291]
The surviving spouse of a member of the police force or a member who retires on pension who dies, or if no spouse survives, or if he or she survives and subsequently dies, then the child or children under the age of 18 years, or if attending college, under or attaining the age of 23 years, of a member of the police force or a member who retires on pension who dies, shall, during his or her lifetime, in the case of a surviving spouse, or until reaching the age of 18 years, or if attending college, under or attaining the age of 23 years, in the case of a child or children, be entitled to receive a pension calculated at no less than 50 per centum of the pension the member was receiving or would have been receiving had he or she been retired at the time of death.
The surviving spouse of a member of the police force who dies before his or her pension has vested, or if no spouse survives, or if he or she survives and subsequently dies, the child or children under the age of 18 years, or if attending college, under or attaining the age of 23 years, of the member of the police force shall be entitled to receive repayment of all money which the member invested in the pension fund plus interest or other increases in value of the member's investment in the pension fund, unless the member has designated another beneficiary for this purpose.
Any member of the police force who retires in consequence of a permanent injury incurred in service shall receive a pension calculated at a rate of no less than 50 per centum of the member's salary at the time the disability was incurred, provided that any member who receives benefits for the same injuries under the Social Security Act (49 Stat. 620, 42 U.S.C. § 301 et seq.) shall have his or her disability benefit offset or reduced by the amount of such benefit.
The surviving spouse of a member of the police force who is killed in service, or if no spouse survives, or if he or she survives and subsequently dies, the child or children under the age of 18, or if attending college, under or attaining the age of 23 years, of the member of the police force shall be entitled to receive a pension calculated at 100 per centum of the member's salary at the time of death.
The governing body of the Borough of New Britain may, on an annual basis, by ordinance or resolution, reduce or eliminate payments into the fund by members without the necessity of conducting an actuarial study.
For purposes of this article, the phrase "attending college" shall mean the eligible children are registered at an accredited institution of higher learning and are carrying a minimum course load of seven credit hours per semester.
Insofar as these amendments affect the benefits available to surviving spouses, the amendments shall apply to surviving spouses whose spouse died on or before April 17, 2002, and who were not remarried as of that date.
Nothing herein shall be deemed to amend, change, or repeal any of the provisions of this article except for the provisions of this article which are contrary to the requirements of Act 30 of 2002,[2] and to the specific provisions of this article.
Editor's Note: See 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 767.
Contributions of the employer.
It shall be the liability of the employer to fund the past service liability as determined by the actuary, provided that such liability may be funded over a period not to exceed 30 years, such period commencing with the passage of this article.
It shall be the liability of the employer to fund for the future service cost of the plan.
It shall be the responsibility of the employer to maintain the actuarial soundness of the plan.
Contributions to the plan paid by the employer shall be at an amount determined by an annual actuarial study, which study shall be completed on a calendar-year basis.
Contributions of the participants.
Where positions covered by the plan are included in an agreement under the Federal Social Security Act, monthly contributions paid to the plan by the participants shall be at a rate calculated by multiplying the social security offset percentage listed in § 46-4B(2) by 3% and then subtracting the resultant percentage from 5%. Such contributions shall be on that portion of monthly compensation for which social security taxes are payable. Contributions to the plan paid by the participants on that portion of monthly compensation that exceeds the amount for which social security taxes are paid shall be at the rate of 5%.
Contributions to the plan paid by the participants may be reduced or eliminated if a current actuarial study indicates that such reduction or elimination for that year will not adversely affect the actuarial soundness of the plan. Should the current actuarial study so indicate, the reduction or elimination of contributions by the participants shall be effected by resolution, and shall be effective for one calendar year only.
Allocation of commonwealth funds. The payments made by the State Treasurer to the employer from the monies received from the taxes paid on the premiums of foreign casualty insurance companies for purposes of retirement or disability benefit pensions for municipal employees shall be used as follows:
To reduce the unfunded liability, or after such liability is funded;
To apply against the annual obligation of the employer for future service cost, or to the extent that the payments may be in excess of such obligation;
To reduce or eliminate the contributions paid by the participants.
Allocation of assets of existing pension plans. Any assets of any existing pension plans for the police employees of the Borough are hereby transferred to the plan established pursuant to this article, and shall be applied against the unfunded liability.
Gifts, bequests, and grants. All other monies and property received by the plan, including gifts, bequests, devises, and grants shall be applied against the employer portion of the future service cost unless otherwise specifically provided.
Any participant in the plan with at least six months of service with the employer who thereafter shall enter the military service of the United States of America shall have credited to that participant's service record for pension benefit purposes only the initial term of military service of the participant, provided that the participant returns to service with the employer within six months after said participant's separation from such military service.
Upon termination of the plan, the assets shall be distributed as follows.
Sufficient funds shall be maintained to provide the pension benefits prescribed in § 46-4 for all participants who have retired prior to the termination of the plan, or who are eligible to retire at the time of the termination of the plan.
Sufficient funds shall be maintained to provide the vested pension benefits, if included in this article, for all participants who are eligible for such benefits.
Of the remaining funds, those which can be identified as contributions of the employer, or contributions other than from participants or from the commonwealth allocations, shall be distributed as the Council sees fit, provided that such distribution is made on a uniform basis.
All funds in excess of the funds described in Subsections A, B and C above shall be returned to the commonwealth as unused funds pursuant to the Act of May 12, 1943, P.L. 259, as amended, 72 P.S. § 2263.1 et seq.
Neither the establishment of the plan hereby created, nor any modification thereof, nor the creation of any fund or account, nor the payment of any benefits, shall be construed as giving to any participant or other person any legal or equitable right against the employer, or any officer or employee thereof, or the Council except as herein provided.
Under no circumstances shall the plan hereby created constitute a contract for continuing employment for any participant or in any manner obligate the employer to continue or to discontinue the services of an employee.
This plan has been established and shall be maintained by the employer in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The plan shall continue for such period as may be required by such laws; provided that the employer may, by its own action, discontinue this plan should such laws provide, and the employer reserves the right to take such action in its sole and absolute discretion. Upon termination, the employer shall have no liability hereunder other than that imposed by law.
All investments by the Council of the assets of this plan shall comply with such regulations as the state and the Council shall establish for the purpose of investing such funds.
The Council may also purchase retirement annuities, or retirement income endowment policies, or a combination of both, which provide a cash value with which to fund pensions; provided that the Council shall determine the value of any policies purchased, the company with which the contracts shall be made, and the time to purchase such policies. The Council shall also have the obligation to insure that the policies purchased provide benefits on a uniform scale, and that such policies are endorsed to the ownership of the plan.
The Council reserves the right to amend at any time in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of the plan; provided that no such amendment shall authorize or permit any part of the plan to be used or diverted to purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of the participants, their beneficiaries, or their estates. Nor shall any amendment divest a participant of benefits vested if included in this article. All such amendments shall comply with the applicable statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
This plan shall be constructed according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and all provisions hereof shall be administered according to the laws of such commonwealth.
Wherever any words are used herein in the masculine gender, they shall be construed as though they were also used in the feminine gender in all cases where they would so apply; and wherever any words are used herein in the singular form, they shall be construed as though they were also used in the plural form in all cases where they would so apply.
Headings of articles and paragraphs of this instrument are inserted for convenience of reference. They constitute no part of this plan, and are not to be considered in the construction thereof.
[Adopted 9-9-2008 by Ord. No. 327; amended in its entirety 11-10-2015 by Ord. No. 367[1]]
Editor’s Note: This ordinance provided that it would be effective retroactive to 1-1-2008.
A pension plan is hereby established for the Borough's full-time, nonuniformed employees pursuant to and in compliance with the Borough Code, as amended. Such plan shall be under the direction of Borough Council of the Borough of New Britain and shall be applied under such regulations as Borough Council may prescribe. The effective date of this article generally shall be January 1, 2008. However, this article, except as it revises the existing nonuniformed employees pension plan, is intended as a continuation of that plan for state aid purposes. In addition, revisions made subsequent to such effective date are separately identified.
The governing body of the Borough of New Britain acting in the capacity of administrator of the nonuniformed pension plan established pursuant to this article.
The persons who may be appointed to serve in an advisory capacity to the Borough Council in the administration of the plan.
The monies paid by the employer to the plan and/ or the payroll deductions made monthly from the salaries of the participants and paid to the plan; except that "contributions" in § 46-15D shall mean total contributions paid by the participant and accumulated during the period of employment and participation in this plan.
Every person duly appointed from time to time by the employer as a full-time nonuniformed employee working not less than 35 hours per week at a definite salary, subject to reasonable vacation and sick leave, to be included in the plan upon date of hire.
The nonuniformed pension plan established pursuant to this article.
The amount of compensation received by a participant in each and every month, including base pay, overtime pay, longevity pay, shift differential, and any other such increments. The term "salary" shall include regular payments made for vacation time, sick time, compensation time, personal days and bereavement leave but shall not include lump sum payments for any unused days for any of the foregoing listed benefits.
Total aggregate service, not necessarily continuous, with the employer.
The cessation of service by the participant for any reason including disability, resignation and employee termination. Death shall not be considered a termination within the meaning of this article. Voluntary leaves of absence without pay shall not be considered a termination for the purposes of this article; but no period of such leave shall be computed in the total service for pension benefit purposes. Leaves of absence with pay shall not be considered a termination within the meaning of this article (provided that the municipality is able to certify to the Department of the Auditor General that such participant on a leave of absence with pay is within the definition of a participant as set forth herein); but such leaves may be computed in the total service for pension benefit purposes.
The Borough Council shall administer the plan by such regulations as shall from time to time be necessary for the effective maintenance of the plan, provided that no regulation shall be contrary to the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and/or applicable federal regulations. Borough Council may appoint such accountants, counsel, specialists or such other personnel as it deems desirable for the proper administration of the plan.
The Borough Council may, in its discretion, appoint a Committee to act as an advisory body to the Borough Council in the administration of the plan according to the regulations established pursuant to this article.
All such reasonable expenses incurred in the administration of the plan, including, but not limited to, fees for the services of specialists including actuaries, accountants, consultants and legal counsel, shall be approved by Borough Council and all may be paid from the plan, provided that no such payment shall be contrary to the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
No member of Borough Council or the Committee established pursuant to this article shall incur any liability for any action or failure to act, excepting only liability for its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The employer shall indemnify each member of Borough Council and the Committee against any and all claims, loss, damages, expense and liability arising from any action or failure to act, except for such that is the result of gross negligence or willful misconduct of such member.
Eligibility for normal retirement. A participant in the plan may retire from active employment on the first day of the month following the attainment of age 65, provided that the participant has completed 10 or more years of service with the employer.
A participant whose date of hire occurred before January 1, 2015, who shall complete the age and service requirements as set forth in this article shall receive a pension for life in the amount equal to 0.5% for each full year of service (up to a maximum of 50 years) times the participant's average monthly salary over the participant's last 36 months of employment, or that percentage and based on that number of months as shall be prescribed by statute of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania subsequent to the adoption of this article. The maximum benefit shall be 25% of such member's average monthly salary, so calculated. The eligible member may elect to have the monthly benefit paid in the form of a joint and fifty-percent survivor annuity, or any other actuarially equivalent option available, to be calculated at the time benefits become payable. This election may be made during the period of six months ending on the date on which payments commence and is revocable in writing during this election period.
[Amended 7-12-2016 by Ord. No. 374]
A participant whose date of hire occurred on or after January 1, 2015, shall have established, by the employer, a defined contribution pension plan. The employer shall contribute to such plan at least annually, an amount equal to 5% of such participant's salary, as such is defined in this chapter, provided, however, that the maximum annual contribution shall be $3,800. Such participant who shall have completed the age and service requirements as set forth in this article shall receive such defined contribution pension in a lump sum equal to the cash balance of the participant's defined contribution account.
Subject further to those limitations imposed by the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, no offset or reduction from the benefit here provided for shall be made for any social security retirement benefits, workmen's compensation or other benefits to which the participant is also entitled.
The benefit herein provided shall be payable solely from the assets of the plan.
Vested benefit.
A vested deferred monthly benefit shall be provided for any participant whose date of hire occurred before January 1, 2015, and whose termination date occurs prior to the participant's normal retirement date, provided that the participant shall have completed a minimum of five years of service with the employer and shall have notified the employer, in writing, of such intention to vest at least 30 days prior to the participant's date of termination. This benefit shall be computed in the same manner as set forth in this article. Such vested deferred monthly benefit shall be paid to the participant upon attainment of that participant's normal retirement age as set forth in this article.
A vested deferred benefit shall be provided for any participant whose date of hire occurred on or after January 1, 2015, and whose termination date occurs prior to the participant's normal retirement date, provided that the participant shall have completed a minimum of five years of service with the employer and shall have notified the employer of such intention to vest at least 30 days prior to the participant's date of termination. This benefit shall be the value of such participant's defined contribution plan account, the distribution of which, however, shall be deferred as hereinafter set forth. The cash balance of the participant's defined contribution retirement account shall be paid to the participant upon attainment of that participant's normal retirement age as set forth in this article.
The surviving spouse of a participant who dies before his or her pension has vested shall be entitled to receive repayment of all money which the participant invested in the pension fund, plus interest, or other increases in value of the participant's investment in the pension fund, unless the participant has designated another beneficiary for this purpose.
The employer's contributions, along with interest or other increases related to the employer's contributions to the cash balance of a participant's defined contribution retirement account set aside for any participant whose date of hire occurred on or after January 1, 2015, and who did not complete the minimum of 10 years of service set forth above shall be considered forfeited and used to defray any current or future required employer contributions to this plan.
If for any reason a participant shall terminate service with the employer prior to becoming vested, that participant shall be entitled to a refund of that participant's contributions plus interest at a rate of 6% per annum. Such interest shall be uniform for all participants.
If a participant shall subsequently return to service and return to the plan the contributions plus interest which were refunded to the participant upon termination, the participant shall be entitled to credit for the prior years of service to the extent of the return of contributions.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to allow credit for service not actually given to the employer, except as specifically provided for in Article VI.
Survivor benefit.
As to those participants whose date of hire occurred before January l, 2015, the following survivor benefits apply:
In the event of the death of a participant who was vested but not yet receiving a retirement pension, or who had qualified for a normal retirement pension but had not yet retired, that participant's spouse, so long as the spouse does not remarry, shall be entitled to receive a monthly pension equal to 50% of the pension the participant was entitled to or would have been receiving had the participant been retired at the time of the participant's death.
If no spouse survives, or if a spouse survives and subsequently dies or remarries, then the child or children under the age of 18 years of the deceased eligible participant shall be entitled to receive a monthly pension equal to 50% of the pension to which the participant was entitled.
For those participants whose date of hire occurred on or after January 1, 2015, the following survivor benefits apply:
In the event of the death of a participant who was vested but had not yet received the balance of the defined contribution account, or who had qualified for a normal retirement pension but had not yet retired, that participant's spouse shall be entitled to receive the value of the retirement account of the participant by filing an appropriate written request with the employer.
In the event of the death of a participant who was vested but not yet receiving a retirement pension, or who had qualified for a normal retirement pension but had not yet retired and who is not survived by a spouse, the value of such participant's defined contribution retirement account shall be distributed in accordance with the most recent beneficiary designation form on file with the employer, and if none then unto his or her estate.
Nonalienation of benefits and vesting. No benefit under the plan shall be subject in any manner to anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, or charge. Nor shall any such benefits be in any manner liable for or subject to garnishment, attachment, execution, levy or other legal process. Further, all benefits granted herein shall vest in the participant upon completion of the requirements for eligibility, and that participant's benefits shall continue in the amount and in the form in which that participant first became entitled to them.
Contributions of the employer. Contributions to the plan by the employer shall be in an amount determined by the annual minimum municipal obligation (MMO) calculation, prepared in accordance with Act 205 of 1984,[1] which is certified to the governing body of the Borough by September 30 and included in the Borough budget for the following year.
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 895.101 et seq.
Contributions of participants.
Participants whose employment began prior to January 1, 2015, are not currently required or permitted to contribute to the plan. Any future changes in the contribution requirement for participants may be enacted by ordinance or resolution.
Participants whose employment began subsequent to January 1, 2015, may, but are not required to, contribute to their defined contribution plan. Such voluntary contributions shall be made on a pre-tax basis.
Allocation of commonwealth funds. Any payments made by the State Treasurer to the employer from the monies received from the taxes paid on the premiums of foreign casualty insurance companies for purposes of retirement or disability benefit pensions for municipal employees shall be used as follows:
To reduce the unfunded liability; or
After such liability is funded, to apply against the annual obligation of the employer for future service cost; or
To the extent that the payments may be in excess of such obligations, to reduce or eliminate the contributions paid by the participants
Allocation of assets of existing pension plans. Any assets of any existing pension plans for the full-time nonuniformed employees of the Borough are hereby transferred to the plan established pursuant to this article and shall be applied against the unfunded liability.
Gifts, bequests and grants. All other monies and property received by the plan, including gifts, bequests, devises and grants shall be applied equally against the participant and the employer portions of the future service cost unless otherwise specifically provided.
Any participant in the plan with at least six months of service with the employer who thereafter shall enter the military service of the United States of America shall have credited to the participant's employment record for pension benefit purposes all of the time spent by the participant in such military service, provided that the participant returns to service with the employer within six months after said participant's separation from such military service.
Upon termination of the plan, the assets shall be distributed as follows:
Sufficient funds shall be maintained to provide the pension benefits prescribed in Article IV for all participants who have retired prior to the termination of the plan, or who are eligible to retire at the time of the termination of the plan.
Sufficient funds shall be maintained to provide vested pension benefits prescribed in Article IV for all participants who are eligible for such benefits.
Any funds representing contributions from the remaining participants shall be returned to such participants with interest at a rate of 6% per annum.
Of the remaining funds, those which can be identified as contributions of the employer, or contributions other than those identified as unused commonwealth allocations, shall be distributed as the Borough Council sees fit, provided that such distribution is made on a uniform basis.
All funds in excess of the funds described in Subsections A, B, C and D above shall be returned to the Commonwealth as unused funds pursuant to the act of May 12, 1943, P.L. 259, No. 120, as amended, 72 P.S. § 2263.1 et seq.
Neither the establishment of the plan hereby created, nor any modification thereof, nor the creation of any fund or account, nor the payment of any benefits, shall be construed as giving to any participant or other person any legal or equitable right against the employer or any officer or employee thereof or the Borough Council except as herein provided.
Under no circumstance shall the plan hereby created constitute a contract for continuing employment for any participant or in any manner obligate the employer to continue or to discontinue the services of an employee.
This plan has been established and shall be maintained by the employer in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The plan shall continue for such period as may be required by such laws, provided that the employer may, by its own action, discontinue the plan should such laws provide, and the employer reserves the right to take such action in its sole and absolute discretion. Upon termination, the employer shall have no liability hereunder other than that imposed by law.
All investments by the Borough Council of the assets of this plan shall comply with any applicable state statutes, rules and regulations with respect to municipal investments for nonuniformed pension funds and with such regulations as the Borough Council shall establish for the purpose of investing such funds.
Borough Council reserves the right to amend, at any time in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of the plan, provided that no such amendment shall authorize or permit any part of the plan to be used or diverted to purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of the participants, their beneficiaries, or their estates. Nor shall any amendment divest a participant of benefits vested by the provisions of Article IV. All such amendments shall comply with the applicable statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The plan shall be construed according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and all provisions hereof shall be administered according to the laws of such Commonwealth.
Wherever any words are used herein in the masculine gender, they shall be construed as though they were also used in the feminine gender in all cases where they would so apply; and wherever any words used herein are in the singular form, they shall be construed as though they were also used in the plural form in all cases where they would so apply.
Headings of articles and paragraphs of this instrument are inserted for convenience of reference. They constitute no part of this plan and are not to be considered in the construction thereof.
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Sometimes referred to as "The Mitten" or "The Hand" because of its shape, the Lower Peninsula of Michigan is generally flat and comprises two-thirds of Michigan’s land mass. The Lower Peninsula is often divided into the sub regions of Northern Michigan, West Michigan, Mid-Michigan, Southeast Michigan and the Flint/Tri Cities area (also known as "the Thumb"). The peninsula is marked by many lakes, marshes and inland rivers.
Detroit is the largest city in Michigan and is famous as both the Motor City and Motown. Detroit is also the only U.S. city that bordered by a Canadian city on the South. Grand Rapids is the second largest city in Michigan and the primary urban center in the Western half of the state. The city has long been a major manufacturing center. Lansing is Michigan's capital city and is home to Michigan State University. The area is an important center for government, educational and research institutions. Best known as the home of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is a known for high tech industry and a vibrant arts and entertainment scene. Dearborn the hometown of Henry Ford and is the location of the Ford Motor company’s headquarters.
Known as the nation’s center for the automobile industry, Michigan is also a leader in information technology, business and manufacturing. Mining remains important in the state, in particular limestone, salt, and iron ore. The vast majority of Michigan’s farmlands can be found in the Lower Peninsula. Among the most important crops in the state are corn, soybeans, wheat and sugarbeets.
The state’s lakes and waterways provide ample opportunity for fishing and boating, and in the summer thousands flock to beaches and lake front resorts. Outdoor enthusiasts enjoy 99 state parks and thousands of miles of hiking and bike trails. Hunting is a major pastime in Michigan, and peninsulas offer excellent opportunities to hunt big game, small game, waterfowl and upland game birds. Michigan is also a fantastic place for golfers, with over 900 golf courses (more than any other state) long summer hours and a persistent autumn season. All of the major professional sports leagues have a team that call Michigan home, and heated college rivalries keep sports fans entertained all year long.
Each winter Michigan transforms into a snow covered landscape ideal for winter sports. Michigan boasts some the Midwest’s best downhill skiing and snowboarding resorts, miles of cross-country and snowmobile trails and even the U.S. National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum. All told, some 840 runs, and 40 terrain parks can be found within Michigan’s peninsulas.
Michigan also boasts world-class educational institutions, outstanding museums and extensive public libraries throughout the state. There are at least 7 symphony orchestras in the state, and many cities host individual concert seasons. Over 45 wineries can be found in Michigan, located in some of the most beautiful areas of the state.
Separated from the Lower Peninsula by the Straits of Mackinac, the Upper Peninsula (or simply, the "U.P.") is characterized by dense forests and rugged lakeshores. Bordered by Northern Wisconsin, Southern Ontario, and three of the Great Lakes, the Upper Peninsula makes up almost one-third of Michigan’s land mass. Steep highlands in the western portion of the peninsula give way to flatter lands of the Great Lakes Plain in the east.
Marquette is the largest city on the Upper Peninsula, and is a major port on Lake Superior for shipping center for iron ore. The city is also home to Northern Michigan University. Sault Ste. Marie is Michigan’s oldest city, and is separated by its twin city of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario by the waters of the St. Mary’s River. The Soo Locks, which allow ships to pass between Lake Superior and the lower Great Lakes, are located here.
Economy and Industry
Whereas mining was once the predominant industry in the Upper Peninsula, tourism drives the economy of the region today. The unique geography and remote beauty of the U.P. bring in thousands of visitors from the Lower Peninsula and Wisconsin every year. With huge stretches of land and low population densities, the peninsula is a prime spot for camping, hiking, fishing, boating, snowmobiling and hunting. Logging also remains a key business for the U.P. as well.
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3 Blockbusters With Inspirational Speeches That Can Blow Your Mind
We enjoy movies for their action, adventure, cinematography, special effects, as well as the hot babes, and hunks. But movies also allow us to learn the art and science of crafting inspirational speeches!
Here are 3 movies that contain some of the greatest inspirational speeches that have caught my attention.
Movie #1: Independence Day – World Independence Day Speech
I watched Independence Day when the movie first appeared in 1996. Apart from the movie’s captivating plot and life-like special effects on an alien invasion to Earth, what caught my attention was the inspirational speech delivered by President Whitmore (acted by Bill Pullman) as he rallied his troops from America (and around the world) for a final resistance against the annihilation of the human race.
“… the fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice, “We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight!””
Movie #2: Braveheart – Freedom Speech
Another great movie of heros and war. This movie tells the story of the legendary thirteenth century Scottish hero named William Wallace (acted by Mel Gibson). Wallace rallied the Scottish against the English monarch and Edward I (acted by Peter Hanly) by gathering a group of amateur warriors against the professionally trained English army.
“And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here, and tell our enemies, that they may take our lives, but they will never take our freedom?!”
Movie #3: Rocky Balboa – How Hard You Can Get Hit Speech
Rocky (acted by Sylvester Stallone) yearned to recapture a bit of his glory days, and re-entered the ring for a few low-profile, local matches. All that changed when Rocky accepted a challenge to fight the world’s reigning heavyweight champion, Mason “the Line” Dixon (acted by Antonio Tarver).
In the movie, Rocky delivered a speech that resonated with his true life story (the true story of Sylvester Stallone and how he struggled his way to fame). Many words of wisdom in the speech:
“It ain’t how hard you get hit, but how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take, and keep moving forward.”
And there you have it, 3 wonderful movies you can watch during the upcoming week if you have yet to watch them all. Be inspired, and learn a tip or two from the inspirational speeches that emerged memorably from these movies.
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On Cameron, Europe and other demons
The EU has already become Anglophone, and French diplomats and journalists alike complain that their language has been completely marginalised in Brussels. (Photo: aldask)
By Nikos Chrysoloras
BRUSSELS, 17. Jan 2013, 20:33
To an outsider here in Brussels, Britain’s stance towards Europe is utterly incomprehensible. Like it or not, the EU is the largest market in the world, while the unification process has ensured that, for the first time in our continent’s history, war is just a distant memory of the past, not a bleak prospect for the future.
Take every issue that really matters to our troubled world, from environmental protection, to human rights, democracy and peace, and you will see that Europe is a global leader and a prominent force for good. True, Europe’s response to the economic crisis has been weak, to say the least, while its decision making system is broken. But the same could be argued for the American political system, following the dramatic negotiations on the fiscal cliff and the debt ceiling. Does this mean that the US is also beyond salvation?
The UK could play a leading role in the process of reforming and strengthening the EU, possibly THE leading role.
There are several reasons for that: first of all, it could capitalise on its close relationships with all the Eastern European countries, since Britain was the main advocate of the enlargement process, and the new member states have not forgotten that. Second, Britain could find strong allies among the traditionally market friendly open economies of Scandinavia. Moreover, the so-called “capital of Europe” has already become Anglophone, and French diplomats and journalists alike complain that their language has been completely marginalised in Brussels.
Paris has its own structural and competitiveness problems, and it is very likely that French influence in Europe will wane over time. Finally, due to historical reasons, the peoples of Europe have a natural aversion to German dominance, while Berlin has so far been reluctant to assume a hegemonic role in Europe. Do the headcount and you will see that the balance of power in Brussels could easily turn in London’s favor. Indeed, in the medium term, Britain could even challenge Germany’s place as “first among equals” in Europe.
But under the Conservatives, the UK has already given up on this prospect, almost as if this economic and political giant right on its shores didn’t exist. No matter what Mr Cameron will say in his Europe speech (meant to take place on 18 January but now postponed), the ugly truth is that for diplomats, lobbyists, and the media in Brussels, the UK has not just failed to capitalise on its potential, but has already assumed an “observer status” in the EU.
Many European journalists just don’t care about the British briefings ahead of EU Summits, because the UK’s voice in these Summits is rarely ever heard. According to some diplomats, Mr. Cameron looks “bored” (!) in the meetings with the leaders of the largest economic bloc of the world. The countries of the so-called “White Commonwealth” (Canada, Australia, New Zealand) cannot rely anymore on Britain to defend their interests in Europe, because Britain’s political influence is diminishing at a speed no one ever expected.
Even more worrying are the data from the H.R departments of the EU. Over the last four years, the number of British technocrats and executives promoted to senior European posts has dropped to almost zero. According to some accounts, the number of new recruits in the European institutions from Britain has decreased by almost 60 percent and it now almost equals the number of Estonian nationals.
Britain has already said so many “no” and asked for so many opt-outs, that soon no one will care in Brussels whether it stays or goes. This obsession with “repatriating” powers from Europe is also incomprehensible, given the fact that most of the important issues today – from cybercrime to trade – require a regional or global approach, and the traditional nation-state looks like a parochial structure for tackling them.
Sure, Mr Cameron is right that if Britain leaves the EU, it would not collapse. It will still be a large economy. But compared to the giants of the East, the US and the Eurozone, it will be relegated to the “second division” of economic powerhouses. True, it will still be a nuclear power. But so is Pakistan. It will still have the special relationship with the United States. But Washington has made it clear that it wants its closest ally to have a say in Brussels. It will still have the Commonwealth of allies. But to these nations, Britain will be of little diplomatic use outside the EU.
I understand that Britons are islanders and have their own ways. But contrary to the urban myths and outright lies of the British yellow press, the EU has never asked them to start driving on the right, drink in liters instead of pints, change their pubs for bistros, and count in kilometers, instead of miles. Britain is deeply European in what really matters - its respect for the rule of law, democracy, and those inalienable rights that define human dignity.
The future of Britain in Europe will of course be decided by its people, and its government. But since I have lived, studied, and worked in this country for six years, and grown to love it as a second homeland, I feel obliged to say that the Conservative backbenchers are pushing it towards a monumental diplomatic and political error of unimaginable proportions. Europe also stands to lose so much, as without Britain it will become even more bureaucratic, inward looking, and rigid.
My apartment in Athens was next to the Allied cemetery. Everyday, its views reminded me that when darkness befell upon our continent, Britain defended it at a great cost. Today, Britain can lead the way towards a more dynamic, transparent, prosperous and accountable Europe, in a world where the balance of power is rapidly shifting to the East. Future generations will never forgive those who ignored the call of logic, and instead led their country into irrelevance.
Dr. Nikos Chrysoloras is a Brussels based EU correspondent for Kathimerini, Greece’s leading newspaper and a Research Fellow at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP)
The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author's, not those of EUobserver.
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Engel Remarks on U.S. Policy Toward Kosovo
hers. And there is all kind of insults from a train and other things, giving propaganda against Kosovo by Serbia, pushed to the Serbian-Kosovo border that helps to escalate tensions rather than bring them down.
“As a result of a Serbian INTERPOL arrest warrant, French authorities recently detained former Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, who has already been acquitted twice by an international tribunal. You know, we in the United States have this wonderful thing of no double jeopardy. If you go trial and you’re acquitted, you cannot be tried on the same thing again. That isn’t true of many countries. And so, Ramush Haradinaj was accused of war crimes, went to The Hague, spent many many weeks and months there, was acquitted, and then was recharged again and had to go back to The Hague to have another trial, on which he was again acquitted. Now Serbia has manipulated INTERPOL to try to get a third trial on the same, on essentially the same matter, for Ramush Haradinaj again. This to me is unconscionable and shows tremendous bad faith on the part of the Serbian government.
“Serbia also fought Kosovo’s membership in UNESCO—ultimately, a self-defeating act, because among Kosovo’s most cherished historic cultural institutions are its 13th-century Serbian Orthodox Churches. Kosovo did not get into UNESCO. It failed by three votes and again the Serbian interruption played a major role in preventing them from getting into UNESCO. The United States fought to have Kosovo into UNESCO, but ultimately again lost by three votes.
“Kosovo and Serbia have sat down across the negotiating table in talks facilitated by the European Union. Those talks showed some progress. They resulted in an agreement calling for normalization. I even nominated, at that time, the Prime Ministers of Kosovo and Serbia, along with the EU’s former foreign policy head, Baroness Catherine Ashton, for the Nobel Peace Prize.
“Unfortunately, today, I question these successes. What kind of normalization involves stoking tensions among a neighbor’s minority population and standing in the way of international integration? That’s what Serbia is doing to Kosovo, and it should be stopped.
“And you know in terms of Ramush Haradinaj, trying to try him again, I don’t know why the government of Serbia seems intent on rekindling twenty- and thirty-year-old Balkan wars. There were terrible things that happen in war and terrible things that happened on both sides, but the man was found innocent twice, and this is nothing more than bad faith on the part of the Serbian government and harassment.
“It might come as a surprise to you, Mr. Speaker, but nine years on as a free and independent country, Kosovo still has no army. That’s right: a sovereign nation-state without an army. It has a small, lightly-armed Security Force, but nothing resembling the large, Russian-equipped Serbian military just next door.
“Earlier this month, Kosovo took a small step toward establishing its army: legislation was submitted to parliament. Like the legislative process here in the United States, the introduction of a bill is only the opening note on a much larger and longer sheet of music, a score which involves consultation with regional partners, the international community, domestic minorities, and NGOs.
“We all know how this process works. There’s back and forth. There’s give and take. Supporters and opponents alike are welcome into the arena, and all positions are heard. The process accounts for everybody’s concerns in some way or another.
“So what’s in this proposal? What would Kosovo’s army look like?
“It would be multiethnic, just as the Kosovo Security Force and the Kosovo Police are now. It would partner with western countries and, hopefully, NATO in pursuit of greater regional and international stability. It would be defensive and non-threatening to Kosovo’s neighbors.
“Mr. Speaker, it would be exactly what the United States wants to see in a partner.
“Yet, while Kosovo slowly moves to set up its small defensive force, Serbia is beefing up its military with full Russian backing. It is taking deliveries of T-72 tanks, MIG-29 fighters, and S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, courtesy of Moscow and Vladimir Putin.
“So I’m a little confused, Mr. Speaker.
“Kosovo, a country we support and which supports us, wants what every other country in the world has: a basic army, in which its citizens can serve their nation, and probably serve alongside our own military if given the chance. What do we do? We offer rebukes and diplomatic threats. We make it clear that we don’t support Kosovo having an army at this time. That is absolutely absurd and is a position that we ought to change and change quickly.
“Yet Russian weapons and materiel are pouring into Serbia, courtesy of Vladimir Putin. And as far as I can tell, the United States has stood in silence.
“So regardless, Mr. Speaker, America’s relations with Kosovo are strong and the future is bright. We need to stay on that course. Kosovo is a young country, and I have been there many many times. It’s not even ten years old. We know better than anyone that building a democracy is hard work. Sometimes you’ll face setbacks. Sometimes you need a helping hand. That’s why American support is more important than ever. That’s why the United States should work to deepen our ties, enrich our mutual understanding, and continue to bring stability to the entire Balkan region. That’s the way to a more prosperous, democratic, and multi-ethnic Kosovo, and that’s the way for the United States to see a Balkan region free, at peace, and part of the whole of Europe.
“Meanwhile, France should send Ramush Haradinaj home. Enough is enough already. We cannot stand for anymore of this nonsense.
“The United States should stand by Kosovo. Kosovo is a free and independent country. For many years they were fed all sorts of lies about the United States during the old communist regime in the ‘50s and ‘60s and ‘70s, but you know what? The people of Kosovo didn’t believe a word of it. So I would say to my colleagues, and to my friends, and to all of our American citizens, when you visit Kosovo you’ll know and you’ll be proud to be an American, because people come up to you in the street want to touch you, want to talk to you, want to do everything and be everything American. And those are the types of friends that we need.
“America does much for many many people around the world, many many nations, and sometimes we feel it is not appreciated. But not in Kosovo. Everything that the United States has helped that country with is appreciated from everyone, from the Prime Minister to the President, to people in government, to the average people in the street. I very often have people coming up to me in the street, wanting to talk to me, they recognize me. They say, “Thank you. Thank you to America for standing by us for our independence. Thank you to America for being strong and keeping us strong.” And so those are the kinds of friends I want to have. Those are the types of people I want to have.
“So I would say to the people of Kosovo and the government of Kosovo: the United States stands by you and always will stand by you. And I would say to the government of Serbia: we support the aspirations of the Serbian people to enter the European Union, but Serbia ought to stop doing what it’s doing to block Kosovo. Serbia ought to stop its belligerent moves against Kosovo. Both countries should go into the European Union, and eventually NATO. And each one should not help, not stop each other, they should help each other.”
Permalink: https://foreignaffairs.house.gov/2017/3/engel-remarks-us-policy-toward-kosovo
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HomePosts tagged 'multiculturalism'
Mark Collett: White people blamed for failures of multiculturalism [video]
13.10.2017 farnesius multiculturalism, White Genocide, white nationalism
Rocking MrE: How multiculturalism is used to destroy nation states [video]
6.2.2017 6.2.2017 farnesius globalism, multiculturalism, White Genocide
The more radically different people are, the more they will compete with one another for control of power. This leads to conflict, hence the reason that diversity plus proximity equals war… global elites want to create order out of chaos. They do this by stoking up tension between different groups, some with pre-existing animosity in unavoidable proximity to one another. This then pave the way for government intervention that forces people to sacrifice freedom for security… so, not only is there conflict when radically different cultures come into close proximity with one another, but this also requires a heavy hand to maintain order, i.e., the actions of a strong-arm interventionist state that keeps people in line through authoritarian methods. This is what the true goal of the multiculturalism agenda is, and this leads to a monoculture that destroys real multicultural identity.
Rocking MrE
University professor calls for white genocide on Twitter as “satire”
27.12.2016 6.1.2017 farnesius cultural marxism, multiculturalism, SJW, White Genocide
http://www.infowars.com/drexel-university-denounces-professor-who-wished-for-white-genocide/
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/12/26/drexel-professor-draws-ire-after-posting-white-genocide-tweet-on-christmas.html
Drexel University has “denounced” their professor’s tweet that said: “All I want for Christmas is White Genocide“, but imagine if someone made a similar tweet about blacks or Jews – they would’ve already got fired, wouldn’t they? It wouldn’t help even if the tweeter said it was just “satire” or a “joke”.
Also, this professor – probably at least partly Jewish judging by his name George Ciccariello-Maher – is self-admittedly a communist and obviously an anti-white cultural marxist like so many American university professors. In his pathetic apologetic response he plays the victim like a true social justice warrior and says that White Genocide is a “figment of racist imagination” and that it “should be mocked”, and also that “white supremacy is on the rise” and that “we must fight it by any means”. That’s a dead giveaway, he equates resisting White Genocide, i.e., the displacement and replacement of white people in their countries, to the ridiculous notion of “white supremacy”. I.e., he clearly is for ethnic cleansing of white people. You’re either for or against it, there’s no middle ground.
His follow-up tweet was as follows: “To clarify: when the whites were massacred during the Haitian revolution, that was a good thing indeed.” So, apparently he’s also fine with white people actually being massacred when it suits his agenda – not just being softly genocided through replacement migration and forced multiculturalism.
Update, January 6, 2017:
Ciccariello-Maher seems to also have a history of rabidly anti-white statements as the following excerpt from an article by Jim Goad highlights:
Ciccariello-Maher’s own words—in which he repeatedly takes a sadistic glee in the notion of violent white extinction—reveal he is absolutely full of shit. He wrote a 2014 paper called “‘So Much the Worse for the Whites’: Dialectics of the Haitian Revolution” in which he argues that the wholesale slaughter of Haiti’s white inhabitants was a righteous act leading toward “universal emancipation,” and we all know how well that all worked out for Haiti.
In 2013, the mystifyingly employed professor stated “Yacub made a lot of white folks,” citing a brain-damaged theory of the Nation of Islam that an evil black professor created white people roughly 6,000 years ago.
In 2015, he wrote, “Abolish the White Race.”
In 2016 he wrote about an alleged conversation with his son, whom daddy has apparently brainwashed to the point where sonny-boy is talking about poisoning white people. Late in the year Ciccariello-Maher wrote about sending “Racist Crackers” to gulags.
http://takimag.com/article/laughing_about_white_genocide_jim_goad#axzz4Ut52sMO8
The cult of “white privilege” is ethno-masochism [video]
15.12.2016 15.12.2016 farnesius cultural marxism, multiculturalism, White Genocide
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IFI Open Day 2017
Tags: Air France, Albert Finney, Amelie, Andy Warhol, Babe Ruth, Bette Davis, Brian F O'Byrne, Bruce McDonald, Canada, Carl Reiner, Cary Grant, Cillian Murphy, Colin Farrell, Colm Meaney, Danny Boy, David Wilmot, Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid, Deirdre O'Kane, Delicatessen, Dermot Dunne, Dominique Pinon, Easy Riders Raging Bulls, Elliot Harris, Emilio Estevez, Gabriel Byrne, Good Vibrations, Harold Lloyd, Henri Georges Clouzot, Howard Hawks, Humphrey Bogart, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, IFI, IFI Open Day, IFI Open Day 2017, Intermission, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, John Turturro, Kelly MacDonald, Lauren Bacall, Leigh Brackett, Leonard Zelig, Marc Caro, Marcia Gay Harden, Mark O'Rowe, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, Miller's Crossing, Molly Parker, Nick Roth, Nouvelle Vague, Nova Scotia, NYC, Peter Biskind, Raymond Chandler, Roy Scheider, Short Term 12, Sorcerer, Speedy, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Steve Martin, Submarine, Sweeney Todd, Talking Movies, Temple Bar, The Big Sleep, The Coen Brothers, The Cohens and Kellys, The Exorcist, The French Connection, The Jerk, The Louvre, The Mighty Ducks, The Purple Rose of Cairo, The Wages of Fear, Twin Peaks, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me, Twin Peaks: The Return, Weirdos, William Faulkner, William Friedkin, Woody Allen, Yurodny Ensemble, Zelig
The IFI is holding its annual Open Day on Saturday September 16th with a line-up of free movies running from 1pm to 11pm. As well as free movies, the customary barbecue in the courtyard and special discount on annual IFI membership, there are a number of tours and a jazz brunch in the cafe bar.
In addition to the one preview, handful of old favourites, and several sheer oddities, there are chances to lift the curtain and see the wizard; with talks from the IFI Archive staff and tours of the Projection Booth. The ‘Ask an Archivist’ desk in the foyer will give visitors the opportunity to learn about different film stocks, preservation, restoration, digitisation, and even view and handle film. But projection tours to go behind the little window of flickering light, and check out the busy working of the specialised department; handling anything from digital, to 16mm and 35mm, up to 70mm – the IFI being the only cinema in the country that can run 70mm reels; are sadly sold out. As always IFI Membership will be available at a discounted rate for the Open Day and there’s a BBQ on the terrace from 16.00 onwards. And this year Air France are running a competition for a pair of return flights to Paris so that one might finally fulfil that nagging desire to run thru the Louvre as if in a nouvelle vague picture.
But what are the free movies? Well, here is a guide to the 12 films being shown in Temple Bar.
The Mighty Ducks (13.00)
It’s 25 years since the IFI opened its door in Temple Bar, and there is one notable film also turning 25 this year that has been much discussed this summer. But enough about Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me… Emilio Estevez is Gordon Bombay, a cut-throat lawyer sentenced to community service after a DUI, who coaches an unruly youth ice-hockey team with ruthlessness to earn redemption.
The Big Sleep (13.15)
A high water-mark of film noir, The Big Sleep was adapted by William Faulkner and Leigh Brackett from the first of Raymond Chandler’s hard-boiled novels about PI, and all-round shop-soiled Galahad, Philip Marlowe. The great Howard Hawks directs Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in a murky tangle of shady LA characters, innuendo laden dialogue, literate zingers, and baffling plotting. Just don’t ask who killed the chauffeur.
Speedy (13.30)
Harold Lloyd’s final silent film from 1928 sees his customary ‘glasses’ character this time appearing as a baseball-obsessed New Yorker determined to save the city’s last horse-drawn streetcar, just as another expression of a fine, noble, and disinterested nature, and also to impress the girl whose grandfather owns it. 86 minutes of rapid-fire sight gags and elaborate comedy set-ups ensue, and a cameo from Babe Ruth to boot.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture (15.10)
Robert Wise, director of The Sound of Music, was the unlikely figure picked to lead the crew of the starship Enterprise into the new frontier of cinema. 132 minutes, a regrettable portion of which is lovingly sustained shots of the post-Star Wars VFX accompanied by Jerry Goldsmith’s new Trek theme, sees Kirk, Spock, Bones, et al investigate a mysterious alien entity posing a threat.
Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (15.30)
Steve Martin continued his fruitful collaboration with director Carl Reiner after The Jerk with this homage to 1940s film noir. While Woody Allen was busy inserting Len Zelig into world events, Reiner and Martin wrote a zany plot and built a farcical amount of sets in order to have Martin interact with old footage of Humphrey Bogart, Veronica Lake, Alan Ladd, and many more.
Intermission (15.40)
Cillian Murphy woos Kelly MacDonald, Colin Farrell is obsessed with woks, bus-driver Brían F. O’Byrne is aggrieved at a kid, David Wilmot is being unnerved by Deirdre O’Kane’s lust, and vainglorious Garda Colm Meaney is being filmed by documentarians. The blackly comic intersections of Mark O’Rowe’s screenplay no longer seem as impressive as they initially did back in 2003 when everyone was talking about brown sauce in tea.
MILLER’S CROSSING, Albert Finney, Gabriel Byrne, 1990. TM and Copyright (c) 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All Rights Reserved.
Sorcerer (17.30)
William Friedkin decided, for reasons passing understanding, to use his post-French Connection and Exorcist clout to remake Henri-Georges Clouzot’s 1953 suspense classic The Wages of Fear. Roy Scheider stars in a tale of men driving trucks with highly unstable nitroglycerine over rickety bridges on a mission to extinguish an oil well blaze. This is remembered now for Easy Riders, Raging Bulls’ account of its disastrous production and reception.
Miller’s Crossing (18.00)
The Coen Brothers stepped up their ambitions from indie noir and screwball comedy with this expansive Prohibition-era gangster film. Gabriel Byrne is right-hand man to Albert Finney’s mob boss. When Byrne is banished, over John Turturro’s bookie and Marcia Gay Harden’s moll, it begins a deadly game of cat and mouse between rival gangs; featuring much double-crossing, hard-boiled badinage, and a spectacularly OTT use of ‘Danny Boy’.
Delicatessen (18.10)
Amelie creator Jean-Pierre Jeunet and his one-time directing partner Marc Caro’s 1991 debut is a queasily slapstick spin on Sweeney Todd. Clapet is a landlord in an apartment building in post-apocalyptic France, who controls his tenants’ food supply via his butcher’s shop; prime cuts from the men he hires. Louison (Dominique Pinon) fills the regular vacancy, but his love for Clapet’s daughter complicates matters in this queasy comedy.
Weirdos (20.00)
In 1976 Nova Scotia fifteen-year-old Kit and his girlfriend Alice run away from home in order to reunite with his estranged mother (Molly Parker), while the USA bombastically celebrates its bicentennial. Accompanied by Kit’s imaginary version of Andy Warhol, the two undertake a road trip during which they confront the difficulties they face in their teenage romance. Quirky and comedic, Bruce McDonald’s film features beautifully photographed Canadian landscapes.
??? (20.20)
The audience choice is yet to be announced but voting for the shortlist of 10 drawn up by IFI staff has closed. Here’s hoping for Hunt for the Wilderpeople! Although as that screened in preview at last year’s Open Day having it again as a returning favourite might be pushing it. Past winners include Submarine, Good Vibrations, Short Term 12, and Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
The Cohens and Kellys (20.30)
A genuine oddity is a silent movie in prime time on Open Day… Accordionist Dermot Dunne and saxophonist Nick Roth, Artistic Director of the Yurodny Ensemble, will provide a live musical accompaniment, drawing heavily on Irish and Jewish folk music. The 1926 film is an ethnic comedy of the broadest of stock characters in 1920s NYC: Irish cop, Jewish storekeeper, cheerful Irish wife, Jewish mother.
So, those are the films, but that’s only planning’s first step… Sadly after two years of running five sets of films; which saw movies begin near 11pm and end near 1am; things are back to the traditional four in this 25th anniversary year. Trying to do four films was always an endurance marathon, but to get into five films was surely beyond mere mortals, and yet undoubtedly somebody did try in those two years… But even to do four movies one must sort out strategy, for two sets of reasons.
One can, obviously, only watch one of the three films running, but the film chosen from each set determines what films are available in subsequent sets. Choose The Big Sleep from the first set of films, and it becomes damn near impossible to see Star Trek: The Motion Picture from the second set of films. To make a quick-change from Star Trek: The Motion Picture to Sorcerer involves having to leave one screen and join a queue for another screen, with neither film starting on time, especially as some introductory speaker always overdoes curating their favourite film. The unexpected can derail well-laid plans as some films will be unexpectedly in demand whilst others unexpectedly languish, and it is impossible to predict which. Might one casually pick up a ticket for Miller’s Crossing a minute before it starts as Talking Movies’ occasional guest writer Elliot Harris once memorably did for The Purple Rose of Cairo? And how can popularity be predicted in the absence of announced screens? After all amongst past audience choice winners Good Vibrations and Short Term 12 did not make Screen 1, yet Submarine did. One needs a good mental map of run-times and queue-times for improvised plans.
And then there’s the second, newer reason to sort strategy if attempting multiple films. Tickets were allocated, 4 per person, first come first served, at 11am; which saw a queue forming from 9.30am, snaking to Dame Street. The days of that Open Day morning buzz are gone. For the second year in a row queues will form inside the IFI, a desk for each movie, an hour before screenings –2 tickets per person. Multiple movie devotees must work together, because they’d have to not be watching a movie in order to queue for tickets for the next movie; reducing them to a mere 2 movies! Expect the queue to form 30 minutes before tickets will be disbursed. Don’t expect pseudo-economists trading off queuing during films they don’t mind missing in order to get extra tickets for a film they do want to see, in order to get someone to queue for them for a later film they want to see.
Top 7 Joel Schumacher Movies
Filed under: Talking Movies — Fergal Casey @ 11:01 am
Tags: 24, Ally Sheedy, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Andrew McCarthy, Anne Rice, Batman & Robin, Bozz, Brad Renfro, Brat Pack, Colin Farrell, Dead Man Walking, Demi Moore, Edward Hermann, Emilio Estevez, Emmy Rossum, Flatliners, Gerard Butler, Hope Davis, Jason Patric, Joel Schumacher, John Grisham, Judd Nelson, Julia Roberts, Kiefer Sutherland, Lestat, Oliver Platt, Patrick Wilson, Phone Booth, Reaganomics, Rob Lowe, St Elmo's Fire, Susan Sarandon, The Client, The Lost Boys, The Phantom of the Opera, Thelma & Louise, Tigerland, Tommy Lee Jones, Top 7 Joel Schumacher Movies
It’s easy to make fun of the director of Batman & Robin, and God knows I’ve done it myself, but I’ve always had a soft spot for Joel Schumacher. He doesn’t have a distinct visual style or trademark thematic concerns so he’ll never be acclaimed as an auteur, but as a journeyman director he reclaims the original meaning of that word as he’s a skilled practitioner of his craft whose name usually guarantees solid entertainment.
(7) The Phantom of the Opera
This was the last Schumacher film that did decent box-office, despite lukewarm reviews, and it’s a solid adaptation. Hilariously the then unknown cast has become retrospectively impressive as the disfigured Phantom Gerard Butler tries to win the ingénue singer Emmy Rossum away from the foppish Patrick Wilson. Lloyd Webber’s music is the star, but Schumacher stages the numbers well, especially in the underground lair.
(6) St Elmo’s Fire
Schumacher co-wrote and directed the definitive Brat Pack movie. Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Ally Sheedy, and Judd Nelson, all give some of their best 1980s performances in a film about college graduates with great expectations struggling to live up to the promises of Reaganomics by self-actualising (and, pace Judd, becoming Republicans) while being buffeted by the unpredictable desires of their own hearts.
(5) The Lost Boys
Schumacher coaxed a star-making performance from Kiefer Sutherland as the villain while creating an influential version of vampires: forget Anne Rice’s philosophical angst, these are eternally teenage bad boys, bloodily partying to rock music. The great Edward Hermann’s dignity is hilariously abused by the kids who suspect he’s a vampire master. Jason Patric’s hero is anaemic opposite Kiefer, but there Anne Rice’s Louis/Lestat template is observed.
(4) Tigerland
Schumacher ‘discovered’ Colin Farrell by directing him in this incendiary first lead performance as rebellious Texan Bozz, causing discontent at a training camp for Vietnam. Part of Schumacher’s atonement for Batman & Robin, this was a defiant move to truly gritty drama, even down to the rough shooting style, and it worked – Farrell’s charisma making a fairly archetypal arc about the assumption of responsibility seem emotive and fresh.
(3) Flatliners
“Today’s a good day to die…” Schumacher’s second film with Kiefer confirmed his striking ability to foster young talent (Julia Roberts, Hope Davis and Oliver Platt) who would quickly go on to even bigger things. Medical students experiment with stopping their hearts to allow brief excursions into the afterlife, only to find they’ve unexpectedly brought back their own worst demons. Schumacher creates creeping dread with numerous nail-biting sequences.
(2) Phone Booth
Schumacher’s second film with Farrell deployed considerable visual flair, not least in its extensive split-screens, to make its titular fixed location properly cinematic. Farrell’s sleazy arrogant agent is reduced to a gibbering wreck while pinned down by Kiefer’s insidious, and verbally taunting, sniper. Part glorious high concept executed well, and part cheeky reversal of Kiefer’s 24 comeback, this was Schumacher announcing his return to the glossy mainstream.
(1) The Client
The pre-eminent John Grisham adaptation is powered by Susan Sarandon’s charm and doggedness, the latter so underpinned by integrity that even antagonist Tommy Lee Jones eventually respects it. Sarandon may have won an Oscar for Dead Man Walking but (along with Thelma & Louise) this is the film for which she’ll be fondly remembered. Schumacher also drew a great performance from Brad Renfro as her young client, and mixed nicely orchestrated suspense with a wonderfully warm humanity.
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(Redirected from Interactive Systems Engineering)
Systems engineering techniques are used in complex projects: spacecraft design, computer chip design, robotics, software integration, and bridge building. Systems engineering uses a host of tools that include modeling and simulation, requirements analysis and scheduling to manage complexity.
Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary field of engineering and engineering management that focuses on how to design and manage complex systems over their life cycles. At its core, systems engineering utilizes systems thinking principles to organize this body of knowledge. The individual outcome of such efforts, an engineered system, can be defined as a combination of components that work in synergy to collectively perform a useful function.
Issues such as requirements engineering, reliability, logistics, coordination of different teams, testing and evaluation, maintainability and many other disciplines necessary for successful system development, design, implementation, and ultimate decommission become more difficult when dealing with large or complex projects. Systems engineering deals with work-processes, optimization methods, and risk management tools in such projects. It overlaps technical and human-centered disciplines such as industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, control engineering, software engineering, electrical engineering, cybernetics, organizational studies, civil engineering and project management. Systems engineering ensures that all likely aspects of a project or system are considered, and integrated into a whole.
The systems engineering process is a discovery process that is quite unlike a manufacturing process. A manufacturing process is focused on repetitive activities that achieve high quality outputs with minimum cost and time. The systems engineering process must begin by discovering the real problems that need to be resolved, and identifying the most probable or highest impact failures that can occur – systems engineering involves finding solutions to these problems.
2.1 Origins and traditional scope
2.2 Evolution to broader scope
2.3 Holistic view
2.4 Interdisciplinary field
2.5 Managing complexity
4 Systems engineering topics
4.1 System
4.2 The systems engineering process
4.3 Using models
4.4 Modeling formalisms and graphical representations
4.5 Other tools
5 Related fields and sub-fields
QFD House of Quality for Enterprise Product Development Processes
The term systems engineering can be traced back to Bell Telephone Laboratories in the 1940s.[1] The need to identify and manipulate the properties of a system as a whole, which in complex engineering projects may greatly differ from the sum of the parts' properties, motivated various industries, especially those developing systems for the U.S. Military, to apply the discipline.[2]
When it was no longer possible to rely on design evolution to improve upon a system and the existing tools were not sufficient to meet growing demands, new methods began to be developed that addressed the complexity directly.[3] The continuing evolution of systems engineering comprises the development and identification of new methods and modeling techniques. These methods aid in a better comprehension of the design and developmental control of engineering systems as they grow more complex. Popular tools that are often used in the systems engineering context were developed during these times, including USL, UML, QFD, and IDEF0.
In 1990, a professional society for systems engineering, the National Council on Systems Engineering (NCOSE), was founded by representatives from a number of U.S. corporations and organizations. NCOSE was created to address the need for improvements in systems engineering practices and education. As a result of growing involvement from systems engineers outside of the U.S., the name of the organization was changed to the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) in 1995.[4] Schools in several countries offer graduate programs in systems engineering, and continuing education options are also available for practicing engineers.[5]
Concept[edit]
Some definitions
Simon Ramo considered by some to be a founder of modern systems engineering defined the discipline as:"...a branch of engineering which concentrates on the design and application of the whole as distinct from the parts, looking at a problem in its entirety, taking account of all the facets and all the variables and linking the social to the technological."[6] — Conquering Complexity, 2004.
"An interdisciplinary approach and means to enable the realization of successful systems"[7] — INCOSE handbook, 2004.
"System engineering is a robust approach to the design, creation, and operation of systems. In simple terms, the approach consists of identification and quantification of system goals, creation of alternative system design concepts, performance of design trades, selection and implementation of the best design, verification that the design is properly built and integrated, and post-implementation assessment of how well the system meets (or met) the goals."[8] — NASA Systems Engineering Handbook, 1995.
"The Art and Science of creating effective systems, using whole system, whole life principles" OR "The Art and Science of creating optimal solution systems to complex issues and problems"[9] — Derek Hitchins, Prof. of Systems Engineering, former president of INCOSE (UK), 2007.
"The concept from the engineering standpoint is the evolution of the engineering scientist, i.e., the scientific generalist who maintains a broad outlook. The method is that of the team approach. On large-scale-system problems, teams of scientists and engineers, generalists as well as specialists, exert their joint efforts to find a solution and physically realize it...The technique has been variously called the systems approach or the team development method."[10] — Harry H. Goode & Robert E. Machol, 1957.
"The systems engineering method recognizes each system is an integrated whole even though composed of diverse, specialized structures and sub-functions. It further recognizes that any system has a number of objectives and that the balance between them may differ widely from system to system. The methods seek to optimize the overall system functions according to the weighted objectives and to achieve maximum compatibility of its parts."[11] — Systems Engineering Tools by Harold Chestnut, 1965.
Systems engineering signifies only an approach and, more recently, a discipline in engineering. The aim of education in systems engineering is to formalize various approaches simply and in doing so, identify new methods and research opportunities similar to that which occurs in other fields of engineering. As an approach, systems engineering is holistic and interdisciplinary in flavour.
Origins and traditional scope[edit]
The traditional scope of engineering embraces the conception, design, development, production and operation of physical systems. Systems engineering, as originally conceived, falls within this scope. "Systems engineering", in this sense of the term, refers to the building of engineering concepts.
Evolution to broader scope[edit]
The use of the term "systems engineer" has evolved over time to embrace a wider, more holistic concept of "systems" and of engineering processes. This evolution of the definition has been a subject of ongoing controversy,[12] and the term continues to apply to both the narrower and broader scope.
Traditional systems engineering was seen as a branch of engineering in the classical sense, that is, as applied only to physical systems, such as spacecraft and aircraft. More recently, systems engineering has evolved to a take on a broader meaning especially when humans were seen as an essential component of a system. Checkland, for example, captures the broader meaning of systems engineering by stating that 'engineering' "can be read in its general sense; you can engineer a meeting or a political agreement."[13]:10
Consistent with the broader scope of systems engineering, the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge (SEBoK)[14] has defined three types of systems engineering: (1) Product Systems Engineering (PSE) is the traditional systems engineering focused on the design of physical systems consisting of hardware and software. (2) Enterprise Systems Engineering (ESE) pertains to the view of enterprises, that is, organizations or combinations of organizations, as systems. (3) Service Systems Engineering (SSE) has to do with the engineering of service systems. Checkland[13] defines a service system as a system which is conceived as serving another system. Most civil infrastructure systems are service systems.
Holistic view[edit]
Systems engineering focuses on analyzing and eliciting customer needs and required functionality early in the development cycle, documenting requirements, then proceeding with design synthesis and system validation while considering the complete problem, the system lifecycle. This includes fully understanding all of the stakeholders involved. Oliver et al. claim that the systems engineering process can be decomposed into
a Systems Engineering Technical Process, and
a Systems Engineering Management Process.
Within Oliver's model, the goal of the Management Process is to organize the technical effort in the lifecycle, while the Technical Process includes assessing available information, defining effectiveness measures, to create a behavior model, create a structure model, perform trade-off analysis, and create sequential build & test plan.[15]
Depending on their application, although there are several models that are used in the industry, all of them aim to identify the relation between the various stages mentioned above and incorporate feedback. Examples of such models include the Waterfall model and the VEE model.[16]
Interdisciplinary field[edit]
System development often requires contribution from diverse technical disciplines.[17] By providing a systems (holistic) view of the development effort, systems engineering helps mold all the technical contributors into a unified team effort, forming a structured development process that proceeds from concept to production to operation and, in some cases, to termination and disposal. In an acquisition, the holistic integrative discipline combines contributions and balances tradeoffs among cost, schedule, and performance while maintaining an acceptable level of risk covering the entire life cycle of the item.[18]
This perspective is often replicated in educational programs, in that systems engineering courses are taught by faculty from other engineering departments, which helps create an interdisciplinary environment.[19][20]
Managing complexity[edit]
The need for systems engineering arose with the increase in complexity of systems and projects,[21][22] in turn exponentially increasing the possibility of component friction, and therefore the unreliability of the design. When speaking in this context, complexity incorporates not only engineering systems, but also the logical human organization of data. At the same time, a system can become more complex due to an increase in size as well as with an increase in the amount of data, variables, or the number of fields that are involved in the design. The International Space Station is an example of such a system.
The International Space Station is an example of a largely complex system requiring Systems Engineering.
The development of smarter control algorithms, microprocessor design, and analysis of environmental systems also come within the purview of systems engineering. Systems engineering encourages the use of tools and methods to better comprehend and manage complexity in systems. Some examples of these tools can be seen here:[23]
System architecture,
System model, Modeling, and Simulation,
Optimization,
System dynamics,
Systems analysis,
Statistical analysis,
Reliability analysis, and
Taking an interdisciplinary approach to engineering systems is inherently complex since the behavior of and interaction among system components is not always immediately well defined or understood. Defining and characterizing such systems and subsystems and the interactions among them is one of the goals of systems engineering. In doing so, the gap that exists between informal requirements from users, operators, marketing organizations, and technical specifications is successfully bridged.
Scope[edit]
The scope of systems engineering activities[24]
One way to understand the motivation behind systems engineering is to see it as a method, or practice, to identify and improve common rules that exist within a wide variety of systems.[citation needed] Keeping this in mind, the principles of systems engineering – holism, emergent behavior, boundary, et al. – can be applied to any system, complex or otherwise, provided systems thinking is employed at all levels.[25] Besides defense and aerospace, many information and technology based companies, software development firms, and industries in the field of electronics & communications require systems engineers as part of their team.[26]
An analysis by the INCOSE Systems Engineering center of excellence (SECOE) indicates that optimal effort spent on systems engineering is about 15-20% of the total project effort.[27] At the same time, studies have shown that systems engineering essentially leads to reduction in costs among other benefits.[27] However, no quantitative survey at a larger scale encompassing a wide variety of industries has been conducted until recently. Such studies are underway to determine the effectiveness and quantify the benefits of systems engineering.[28][29]
Systems engineering encourages the use of modeling and simulation to validate assumptions or theories on systems and the interactions within them.[30][31]
Use of methods that allow early detection of possible failures, in safety engineering, are integrated into the design process. At the same time, decisions made at the beginning of a project whose consequences are not clearly understood can have enormous implications later in the life of a system, and it is the task of the modern systems engineer to explore these issues and make critical decisions. No method guarantees today's decisions will still be valid when a system goes into service years or decades after first conceived. However, there are techniques that support the process of systems engineering. Examples include soft systems methodology, Jay Wright Forrester's System dynamics method, and the Unified Modeling Language (UML)—all currently being explored, evaluated, and developed to support the engineering decision process.
Main article: List of systems engineering at universities
Education in systems engineering is often seen as an extension to the regular engineering courses,[32] reflecting the industry attitude that engineering students need a foundational background in one of the traditional engineering disciplines (e.g., aerospace engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering)—plus practical, real-world experience to be effective as systems engineers. Undergraduate university programs explicitly in systems engineering are growing in number but remain uncommon, the degrees including such material most often presented as a BS in Industrial Engineering. Typically programs (either by themselves or in combination with interdisciplinary study) are offered beginning at the graduate level in both academic and professional tracks, resulting in the grant of either a MS/MEng or Ph.D./EngD degree.
INCOSE, in collaboration with the Systems Engineering Research Center at Stevens Institute of Technology maintains a regularly updated directory of worldwide academic programs at suitably accredited institutions.[5] As of 2017, it lists over 140 universities in North America offering more than 400 undergraduate and graduate programs in systems engineering. Widespread institutional acknowledgment of the field as a distinct subdiscipline is quite recent; the 2009 edition of the same publication reported the number of such schools and programs at only 80 and 165, respectively.
Education in systems engineering can be taken as Systems-centric or Domain-centric:
Systems-centric programs treat systems engineering as a separate discipline and most of the courses are taught focusing on systems engineering principles and practice.
Domain-centric programs offer systems engineering as an option that can be exercised with another major field in engineering.
Both of these patterns strive to educate the systems engineer who is able to oversee interdisciplinary projects with the depth required of a core-engineer.[33]
Systems engineering topics[edit]
Systems engineering tools are strategies, procedures, and techniques that aid in performing systems engineering on a project or product. The purpose of these tools vary from database management, graphical browsing, simulation, and reasoning, to document production, neutral import/export and more.[34]
System[edit]
There are many definitions of what a system is in the field of systems engineering. Below are a few authoritative definitions:
ANSI/EIA-632-1999: "An aggregation of end products and enabling products to achieve a given purpose."[35]
DAU Systems Engineering Fundamentals: "an integrated composite of people, products, and processes that provide a capability to satisfy a stated need or objective."
IEEE Std 1220-1998: "A set or arrangement of elements and processes that are related and whose behavior satisfies customer/operational needs and provides for life cycle sustainment of the products."[36]
INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook: "homogeneous entity that exhibits predefined behavior in the real world and is composed of heterogeneous parts that do not individually exhibit that behavior and an integrated configuration of components and/or subsystems."[37]
INCOSE: "A system is a construct or collection of different elements that together produce results not obtainable by the elements alone. The elements, or parts, can include people, hardware, software, facilities, policies, and documents; that is, all things required to produce systems-level results. The results include system level qualities, properties, characteristics, functions, behavior and performance. The value added by the system as a whole, beyond that contributed independently by the parts, is primarily created by the relationship among the parts; that is, how they are interconnected."[38]
ISO/IEC 15288:2008: "A combination of interacting elements organized to achieve one or more stated purposes."[39]
NASA Systems Engineering Handbook: "(1) The combination of elements that function together to produce the capability to meet a need. The elements include all hardware, software, equipment, facilities, personnel, processes, and procedures needed for this purpose. (2) The end product (which performs operational functions) and enabling products (which provide life-cycle support services to the operational end products) that make up a system."[40]
The systems engineering process[edit]
The systems engineering process encompasses all creative, manual and technical activities necessary to define the product and which need to be carried out to convert a system definition to a sufficiently detailed system design specification for product manufacture and deployment. Design and development of a system can be divided into four stages, each with different definitions:[41]
task definition (informative definition),
conceptual stage (cardinal definition),
design stage (formative definition), and
implementation stage (manufacturing definition).
Depending on their application, tools are used for various stages of the systems engineering process:[24]
Using models[edit]
Models play important and diverse roles in systems engineering. A model can be defined in several ways, including:[42]
An abstraction of reality designed to answer specific questions about the real world
An imitation, analogue, or representation of a real world process or structure; or
A conceptual, mathematical, or physical tool to assist a decision maker.
Together, these definitions are broad enough to encompass physical engineering models used in the verification of a system design, as well as schematic models like a functional flow block diagram and mathematical (i.e., quantitative) models used in the trade study process. This section focuses on the last.[42]
The main reason for using mathematical models and diagrams in trade studies is to provide estimates of system effectiveness, performance or technical attributes, and cost from a set of known or estimable quantities. Typically, a collection of separate models is needed to provide all of these outcome variables. The heart of any mathematical model is a set of meaningful quantitative relationships among its inputs and outputs. These relationships can be as simple as adding up constituent quantities to obtain a total, or as complex as a set of differential equations describing the trajectory of a spacecraft in a gravitational field. Ideally, the relationships express causality, not just correlation.[42] Furthermore, key to successful systems engineering activities are also the methods with which these models are efficiently and effectively managed and used to simulate the systems. However, diverse domains often present recurring problems of modeling and simulation for systems engineering, and new advancements are aiming to crossfertilize methods among distinct scientific and engineering communities, under the title of 'Modeling & Simulation-based Systems Engineering'.[43]
Modeling formalisms and graphical representations[edit]
Initially, when the primary purpose of a systems engineer is to comprehend a complex problem, graphic representations of a system are used to communicate a system's functional and data requirements.[44] Common graphical representations include:
Functional flow block diagram (FFBD)
Model-based design
Data flow diagram (DFD)
N2 chart
IDEF0 diagram
Use case diagram
Sequence diagram
Signal-flow graph
USL function maps and type maps
Enterprise architecture frameworks
A graphical representation relates the various subsystems or parts of a system through functions, data, or interfaces. Any or each of the above methods are used in an industry based on its requirements. For instance, the N2 chart may be used where interfaces between systems is important. Part of the design phase is to create structural and behavioral models of the system.
Once the requirements are understood, it is now the responsibility of a systems engineer to refine them, and to determine, along with other engineers, the best technology for a job. At this point starting with a trade study, systems engineering encourages the use of weighted choices to determine the best option. A decision matrix, or Pugh method, is one way (QFD is another) to make this choice while considering all criteria that are important. The trade study in turn informs the design, which again affects graphic representations of the system (without changing the requirements). In an SE process, this stage represents the iterative step that is carried out until a feasible solution is found. A decision matrix is often populated using techniques such as statistical analysis, reliability analysis, system dynamics (feedback control), and optimization methods.
Other tools[edit]
Systems Modeling Language (SysML), a modeling language used for systems engineering applications, supports the specification, analysis, design, verification and validation of a broad range of complex systems.[45]
Lifecycle Modeling Language (LML), is an open-standard modeling language designed for systems engineering that supports the full lifecycle: conceptual, utilization, support and retirement stages.[46]
Related fields and sub-fields[edit]
Many related fields may be considered tightly coupled to systems engineering. The following areas have contributed to the development of systems engineering as a distinct entity:
Cognitive systems engineering
Cognitive systems engineering (CSE) is a specific approach to the description and analysis of human-machine systems or sociotechnical systems.[47] The three main themes of CSE are how humans cope with complexity, how work is accomplished by the use of artifacts, and how human-machine systems and socio-technical systems can be described as joint cognitive systems. CSE has since its beginning become a recognized scientific discipline, sometimes also referred to as cognitive engineering. The concept of a Joint Cognitive System (JCS) has in particular become widely used as a way of understanding how complex socio-technical systems can be described with varying degrees of resolution. The more than 20 years of experience with CSE has been described extensively.[48][49]
Like systems engineering, configuration management as practiced in the defense and aerospace industry is a broad systems-level practice. The field parallels the taskings of systems engineering; where systems engineering deals with requirements development, allocation to development items and verification, configuration management deals with requirements capture, traceability to the development item, and audit of development item to ensure that it has achieved the desired functionality that systems engineering and/or Test and Verification Engineering have proven out through objective testing.
Control engineering and its design and implementation of control systems, used extensively in nearly every industry, is a large sub-field of systems engineering. The cruise control on an automobile and the guidance system for a ballistic missile are two examples. Control systems theory is an active field of applied mathematics involving the investigation of solution spaces and the development of new methods for the analysis of the control process.
Industrial engineering is a branch of engineering that concerns the development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of integrated systems of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy, material and process. Industrial engineering draws upon the principles and methods of engineering analysis and synthesis, as well as mathematical, physical and social sciences together with the principles and methods of engineering analysis and design to specify, predict, and evaluate results obtained from such systems.
Interface design and its specification are concerned with assuring that the pieces of a system connect and inter-operate with other parts of the system and with external systems as necessary. Interface design also includes assuring that system interfaces be able to accept new features, including mechanical, electrical and logical interfaces, including reserved wires, plug-space, command codes and bits in communication protocols. This is known as extensibility. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) or Human-Machine Interface (HMI) is another aspect of interface design, and is a critical aspect of modern systems engineering. Systems engineering principles are applied in the design of network protocols for local-area networks and wide-area networks.
Mechatronic engineering
Mechatronic engineering, like systems engineering, is a multidisciplinary field of engineering that uses dynamical systems modeling to express tangible constructs. In that regard it is almost indistinguishable from Systems Engineering, but what sets it apart is the focus on smaller details rather than larger generalizations and relationships. As such, both fields are distinguished by the scope of their projects rather than the methodology of their practice.
Operations research supports systems engineering. The tools of operations research are used in systems analysis, decision making, and trade studies. Several schools teach SE courses within the operations research or industrial engineering department,[citation needed] highlighting the role systems engineering plays in complex projects. Operations research, briefly, is concerned with the optimization of a process under multiple constraints.[50]
Performance engineering
Performance engineering is the discipline of ensuring a system meets customer expectations for performance throughout its life. Performance is usually defined as the speed with which a certain operation is executed, or the capability of executing a number of such operations in a unit of time. Performance may be degraded when operations queued to execute is throttled by limited system capacity. For example, the performance of a packet-switched network is characterized by the end-to-end packet transit delay, or the number of packets switched in an hour. The design of high-performance systems uses analytical or simulation modeling, whereas the delivery of high-performance implementation involves thorough performance testing. Performance engineering relies heavily on statistics, queueing theory and probability theory for its tools and processes.
Program management and project management
Program management (or programme management) has many similarities with systems engineering, but has broader-based origins than the engineering ones of systems engineering. Project management is also closely related to both program management and systems engineering.
Proposal engineering
Proposal engineering is the application of scientific and mathematical principles to design, construct, and operate a cost-effective proposal development system. Basically, proposal engineering uses the "systems engineering process" to create a cost effective proposal and increase the odds of a successful proposal.
Reliability engineering
Reliability engineering is the discipline of ensuring a system meets customer expectations for reliability throughout its life; i.e., it does not fail more frequently than expected. Next to prediction of failure, it is just as much about prevention of failure. Reliability engineering applies to all aspects of the system. It is closely associated with maintainability, availability (dependability or RAMS preferred by some), and logistics engineering. Reliability engineering is always a critical component of safety engineering, as in failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) and hazard fault tree analysis, and of security engineering.
Risk Management, the practice of assessing and dealing with risk is one of the interdisciplinary parts of Systems Engineering. In development, acquisition, or operational activities, the inclusion of risk in tradeoff with cost, schedule, and performance features, involves the iterative complex configuration management of traceability and evaluation to the scheduling and requirements management across domains and for the system lifecycle that requires the interdisciplinary technical approach of systems engineering. Systems Engineering has Risk Management define, tailor, implement, and monitor a structured process for risk management which is integrated to the overall effort.[51]
The techniques of safety engineering may be applied by non-specialist engineers in designing complex systems to minimize the probability of safety-critical failures. The "System Safety Engineering" function helps to identify "safety hazards" in emerging designs, and may assist with techniques to "mitigate" the effects of (potentially) hazardous conditions that cannot be designed out of systems.
Scheduling is one of the systems engineering support tools as a practice and item in assessing interdisciplinary concerns under configuration management. In particular the direct relationship of resources, performance features, and risk to duration of a task or the dependency links among tasks and impacts across the system lifecycle are systems engineering concerns.
Security engineering
Security engineering can be viewed as an interdisciplinary field that integrates the community of practice for control systems design, reliability, safety and systems engineering. It may involve such sub-specialties as authentication of system users, system targets and others: people, objects and processes.
From its beginnings, software engineering has helped shape modern systems engineering practice. The techniques used in the handling of the complexities of large software-intensive systems have had a major effect on the shaping and reshaping of the tools, methods and processes of Software Engineering.
Systems science portal
Engineering portal
Arcadia (engineering)
Design review (U.S. government)
Enterprise systems engineering
List of production topics
List of systems engineers
List of types of systems engineering
Management cybernetics
Structured systems analysis and design method
System of systems engineering (SoSE)
System accident
Systems development life cycle
Systems thinking (e.g. theory of constraints, value-stream mapping)
System information modelling
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^ "LML Specification" (PDF). LML Steering Committee. p. 4. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
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Blockley, D. Godfrey, P. Doing it Differently: Systems for Rethinking Infrastructure, Second Edition, ICE Publications, London, 2017.
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US DoD MIL-STD-499 System Engineering Management
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Systems engineering.
Wikiquote has quotations related to: Systems engineering
Wikiversity has learning resources about Systems engineering
ICSEng homepage.
INCOSE homepage.
INCOSE UK homepage
PPI SE Goldmine homepage
Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge
Systems Engineering Tools List of systems engineering tools
DoD Systems Engineering ODASD/SE site with guidance including reference materials
NDIA Systems Engineering Division
Engineering Synergy
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Arthur David Hall III
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Kristian Zahrtmann
Kristian Zahrtmann, circa 1900
Peder Henrik Kristian Zahrtmann, known as Kristian Zahrtmann, (31 March 1843 – 22 June 1917) was a Danish painter. He was a part of the Danish artistic generation in the late 19th century, along with Peder Severin Krøyer and Theodor Esbern Philipsen, who broke away from both the strictures of traditional Academicism and the heritage of the Golden Age of Danish Painting, in favor of naturalism and realism.
He was known especially for his history paintings, and especially those depicting strong, tragic, legendary women in Danish history. He also produced works of many other genres including landscapes, street scenes, folk scenes and portraits.
He had a far-reaching effect on the development of Danish art through his effective support of individual style among his students during the many years he taught. In addition, his bold use of color dazzled contemporaries and has been seen as an anticipation of Expressionism by art historians.
1 Youth and artistic training
2 Artistic career begins
3 Leonora Christina and other historical subjects
4 Student travels
5 Beyond painting
6 Later artistic career
7 Other works
Youth and artistic training[edit]
He was born in Rønne, Denmark, on the island of Bornholm to chief doctor for the island Carl Vilhelm Zahrtmann and wife Laura Pauline. He was the oldest child among seven boys and two girls. After graduating from Rønne Realskole at seventeen years of age, he was sent to Sorø Academy, where he studied painting with landscape painter Johannes Georg Smith Harder (also known as Hans Harder). He was often a guest at the home of the Academy’s Director, poet Bernhard Severin Ingemann and his wife, where he had the chance to socialize with teachers of the school and other guests, such as Hans Christian Andersen. He graduated in 1862, and received his cand. phil in 1863. During these years he lived with a family whose daughter was a painter, which inspired him also to try his luck as an artist.
After graduating he came to Copenhagen, where during the winter 1863-1864 he studied drawing at the Technical Institute under Christian Hetsch and architect Ferdinand Vilhelm Jensen. He also received private instruction from genre painter Wenzel Ulrich Tornøe during this same time. He then began his studies in October 1864 at the Royal Danish Academy of Art (Danish: Det Kongelige Danske Kunstakademi) where he studied under Johan Adolph Kittendorff, Wilhelm Marstrand, Jørgen Roed, Niels Simonsen, and Frederik Vermehren, a fellow graduate of Sorø Academy. Classmates included August Jerndorff, Peder Severin Krøyer, and Rasmus Frederik Hendriksen.
Artistic career begins[edit]
Leonora Christina in the Garden of Frederiksborg Palace, 1887
He graduated from the Academy in 1868, and exhibited for the first time at Charlottenborg the following year with "En Konfirmandinde paa Bornholm" ("A Young Girl Being Confirmed on Bornholm"). He exhibited regularly at Charlottenborg 1869-1891, and sporadically afterwards.
He became friends with painter Otto Haslund and Pietro Købke Krohn, later Museum Director, with whom he shared a studio.
Leonora Christina and other historical subjects[edit]
He had already become interested in the story of the heroic 17th century daughter of a Danish king, Leonora Christina Ulfeldt (also known as Eleanor Christine), before the 1869 posthumous publication of her 1674 autobiographical narrative Jammers Minde ("Remembrance of Misery"), which he had received as a birthday gift from Haslund and Krohn.
Countess Leonora Christina of Schleswig-Holstein, King Christian IV's daughter by his morganatic love marriage to a noble Danish maiden, had fallen from grace because of her husband Corfits Ulfeldt's high treason. She was then imprisoned for 22 years in the Blue Tower (Blåtårn) in Copenhagen Castle, and spent her final years in the solitude of the Maribo Cloister.
Zahrtmann commemorated her story in a series of 18 large paintings over many years. The first of these paintings was made public in 1871, Slotsfogden skjæmter med Kvinderne i den nylig fængslede Kongedatters Kammer paa Blaataarn ("Castle Keeper Banters with Women in the Chamber of the King's Daughter in the Blue Tower"). The painting won him a Neuhausen Prize (Neuhausenske Præmie), was sold to Niels Laurits Høyen's influential Art Union (Kunstforeningen), and was followed by a series of other paintings on the same theme. These paintings established his reputation as one of the leading artists of his time.
Other pictures in the series include: Leonora Christina forlader Fængselet ("Leonora Christina Leaves Prison", 1873); Leonora Christina i Fængselet ("Leonora Christina in Prison", 1875) in the Hirschsprung Collection; Corfits Ulfeldt og Leonora Christina ("Corfitz Ulfeldt and Leonora Christina"); Dronning Sophie Amalies Død ("Queen Sophie Amalie’s Death", 1882); Leonora Christina paa Maribo Kloster ("Leonora Christina at Maribo Cloister", 1883), both in the collection of the Danish National Gallery; and three versions of Leonora Christina undersøges af Sophie Amalies Tjenerinder ("Leonora Christina Undressed and Searched by Sophie Amalie’s Maids", 1886, 1888, 1894) in the Hirschsprung Collection.
At the same time he explored other motifs, although Leonora Christina was an obsession that followed him throughout life. In 1872 he made a portrait of Georg Brandes, who summered near Zahrtmann at Christiansholm near Klampenborg north of Copenhagen.
A 19th-century oil recreating the frivolous court of Christian VII by Kristian Zahrtmann at the Saatchi Gallery
In 1873 he won another Neuhausen Prize for Sigbrit gennemgår toldregnskaberne med Christian II ("Sigbrit Reviews Tax Accounts with Christian II"), and exhibited a preparatory painting for Job og hans Venner ("Job and His Friends"), which won him the Academy’s gold medallion. The final painting of "Job and His Friends" is considered one of his masterpieces and won him the Academy’s gold medallion in 1887.
In 1873 he also painted "Scene from the Court of Christian VII 1772" to retell the tragic story of Queen Caroline Matilda on the centenniel of the fall of Johann Friedrich Struensee. The painting is in the Hirschsprung Collection. Characteristically for Zahrtmann, he made several other paintings over the years depicting the story of these figures.
Student travels[edit]
He tried to extract a travel stipend from the Academy three times, which should have been due him as winner of the large gold medal, but the funds were not forthcoming until two years later. Zahrtmann spent the summer of 1873 at Hornbæk (Helsingør municipality) in the company of fellow painters Peder Severin Krøyer and Viggo Johansen.
He finally traveled to Italy in December 1875 with financing from his father, before he received a travel grant from the Academy. 1875-1878 he resided in Italy (Rome, Siena, Amalfi and Saracinesco), where he produced a number of paintings. He later returned to Italy many times, including in 1882-1884 on an Ancher Fund grant along with artists Joakim Skovgaard, Theodor Esbern Philipsen, and Viggo Pedersen. He was fascinated by everyday life there, by the strong Italian sun, the vivid colors, and the exotic splendor of Catholic Church rites which he depicted in many paintings.
In June 1883 he traveled for the first time to Civita d'Antino, a mountain town he came to consider his second home. Between 1890 and 1911 he spent every summer in Civita d'Antino, living with the Cerroni family and gathering friends and students in an annual artist colony. He was named an honorary citizen of the town in 1902.
He also traveled to Greece several times, as well as to France and Portugal.
He exhibited at the World’s Exhibition in Paris in 1878, 1889, and 1900, and in Chicago in 1893.
Zahrtmann's School
(Poul S. Christiansen, 1899)
Beyond painting[edit]
The Artists Studio School was established in the winter 1882-1883 as a protest against the Art Academy’s policies and as an alternative to its educational program. It was led by Laurits Tuxen, and Peder Severin Krøyer was hired as one of its teachers. Zahrtmann taught at the school from 1885 to 1908. In 1893 he became the leader of its preparatory class, which under him turned into an independent department. He had some 200 students from the Scandinavian countries. Because of his prominence as a teacher, the school was often simply referred to as "Zahrtmann’s School". Some of his students included Funen artists Peter Hansen, Fritz Syberg, Poul S. Christiansen, Johannes Larsen, Johannes Wilhjelm, and Oluf Hartmann as well as modern painters Karl Isakson, Edvard Weie, Harald Giersing, and Olaf Rude.
He helped establish the "Free Exhibition" (Den frie Udstilling), an alternative exhibition space, which opened in 1891.
Later artistic career[edit]
Zahrtmann made a number of portraits of his parents, including one of his father in 1887 and one of his mother, who played a significant role in his life, in 1899-1901. These, as well as a large format painting of both parents in their living room from 1895–1901, are in the collection of the Bornholm Art Museum.
In 1900 he overwintered in Portofino where he painted the color-drenched landscapes Havnen i Portofino, 1900 ("Harbour in Portofino, 1900") and Min frokostbord i Portofino, 1900 ("My Lunch Table in Portofino, 1900").
He won a bronze medallion at the World Exhibition in Paris 1900.
Adam in Paradise
Socrates and Alcibiades
Late in life Zahrtmann produced a number of paintings of nude men, including Prometheus (1906), Sokrates og Alkibiades (1907, 1911), and Adam i Paradis (in two versions, 1913–14). In an era that was still shaken by the Great Scandinavian Sexual Morality Debate of the outgoing 19th century, these works were immediately scored as scandalous violations of public decency. The treatment of Adam is particularly provocative, with its vital, young, muscular Adam casually concealing his manhood with a sprig of fig leaves while leaning back in a lush, vividly colored botanic paradise, the snake arched halfway up his leg and darting its tongue. Museums primly declined to purchase these homoerotic works, and most are still in private hands. Zahrtmann never married, and rumors were rife in Copenhagen society concerning his sexual proclivities.[1]
Zahrtmann also painted a number of self-portraits in his later years, including one painted in 1913 that is considered one of his finest works. It is in the collection of the National Historic Museum at Frederiksborg Palace.
He bought land on Fuglebakken in Frederiksberg and built a house, which was designed by Hans Koch and Zahrtmann himself. He called the house "Casa d’Antino" and moved in autumn 1912.
Zahrtmann appeared in a 1913 silent-era documentary film about himself entitled Kristian Zahrtmann, which was directed by Sophus Wangøe, also known as Sophus Wangöe.
In June 1917 he was hospitalized with appendicitis. After an apparent improvement his condition worsened, and he died on 22 June in Frederiksberg. He was buried in Vestre Cemetery, Copenhagen. A relief with the theme of "Leonora Christina Leaves the Prison" decorates his grave. The relief was drawn by architect Thorvald Bindesbøll and painter Joakim Skovgaard, and was carved from Bornholm granite by Larsen Stevns.
In Civita d’Antino a memorial plaque was set into the wall of the Cerroni house near the town gate. A monument with a statue of Zahrtmann was erected on the open plaza in front of his house, and the plaza is named after him.
A portrait of him by Vilhelm Hammershøi (1899) is found in the Hirschsprung Collection.
Other works[edit]
San Lidano fest i Civita d’Antino ("San Lidano Celebration in Civita d’Antino") (1890), privately owned.
Kejser og kejserinde Friedrich på villa Carnazvore i oktober 1887 ("Kaiser Friedrich and the Empress at Villa Carnazvore, October 1887") (1900), privately owned.
Det mystiske bryllup mellem biskoppen og abbedissen af Pistoja fejres uden for S. Peitro år 1500 ("The Mystical Wedding between the Bishop and the Abbess of Pistoja Is Celebrated Outside of St. Peters in the Year 1500") (1894–1895), Bornholm Art Museum.
List of Danish painters
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kristian Zahrtmann.
^ According to historian Wilhelm von Rosen, Zahrtmann was a transvestite who went so far as to crossdress on a number of semi-public occasions. See Who's Who in Gay and Lesbian History from Antiquity to World War II, ed. Robert Aldrich and Garry Wotherspoon (London: Routledge, 2001), pp. 501-502. ISBN 0-415-15982-2.
KID Kunst Index Danmark ("Art Index Denmark")
Danish Biographical Encyclopedia ("Dansk biografisk Leksikion")
Storstrøm Art Museum, Bornholm Art Museum, Funen Art Museum, "Kristian Zahrtmann 1843-1917" (1999)
KulturNav: 205f2dbd-ebdd-494b-b539-9869e7a02091
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kristian_Zahrtmann&oldid=889113087"
People from Bornholm
19th-century Danish painters
Danish male painters
Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts alumni
19th-century painters of historical subjects
Burials at Vestre Cemetery, Copenhagen
Articles containing Danish-language text
Wikipedia articles with KULTURNAV identifiers
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Model dwellings company
Model dwellings companies (MDCs) were a group of private companies in Victorian Britain that sought to improve the housing conditions of the working classes by building new homes for them, at the same time receiving a competitive rate of return on any investment. The principle of philanthropic intention with capitalist return was given the label "five per cent philanthropy".[1]
2 Model dwellings
3.1 The Society for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes
3.2 The Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes
3.3 The Peabody Trust
3.4 The Improved Industrial Dwellings Company
3.5 The Artizans', Labourers' and General Dwellings Company
3.6 East End Dwellings Company
3.7 Four Per Cent Industrial Dwellings Company
3.8 Other companies
4 Other schemes
4.1 Baroness Burdett Coutts
5 Criticism and support
5.1 Contemporary
The precursor to the aims of MDCs was the work of Edwin Chadwick and others in exposing the sanitary conditions of slums in large metropolitan areas. Once Chadwick's reforms had been implemented poverty remained rife in the overcrowded inner cities, and reformers had to look elsewhere for the solution to the problems of the working class. The publication of Engels' The Condition of the Working Class in England in 1844 and The Communist Manifesto, as well as fear of further uprisings such as that of the Chartists in 1848, increased concern for the welfare of the working class amongst the middle and upper classes.
Model dwellings[edit]
Peabody Square Model Dwellings in Blackfriars Road, Southwark.
Out of this environment, various societies and companies were formed to meet the housing needs of the working classes. Improved accommodation was seen as a way of ameliorating overcrowding, as well as the moral and sanitary problems resulting from that. The movement started in a small way in London, with the Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes and Society for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes finding difficulty in raising sufficient capital to build commercially viable projects. Support from public figures and demonstrations at the Great Exhibition all improved public awareness, if not raising investment.
The middle of the century saw the peak in MDC building, with around twenty-eight separate companies operating in London prior to the 1875 Cross Act.[2] The movement picked up pace again after the Act, which granted local authorities the right to clear slum dwellings, however the entrepreneurial focus of the companies was restricted by an inability to make a competitive return and the intervention of large-scale municipal housing. The most successful builders post-1875 were those making a smaller return, such as the Four Per Cent Industrial Dwellings Company, and the East End Dwellings Company, often founded on religious principles as much as commercial.
Companies[edit]
The Society for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes[edit]
Main article: Labourer's Friend Society
The first of these companies was formed out of the Labourer's Friend Society, which in 1844 agreed to change its name and purpose towards building houses for labourers that might be adopted by others as a template.[1] Their first urban building project was completed in 1846 at Bagnigge Wells, Pentonville, designed by Henry Roberts.[3]
Although the Society for Improving the Condition of the Labouring Classes (SICLC) had the Prince Consort as its first president and contributed to the Great Exhibition of 1851,[4] their block dwellings, in particular, were subject to criticism. The design of SICLC dwellings paid particular attention to sanitation and ventilation but was otherwise functional and utilitarian, and the resulting estate was seen as grim and unpleasant.[1]
The Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes[edit]
Main article: Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes
The Metropolitan Association for Improving the Dwellings of the Industrious Classes (MAIDIC) was formed in 1841, earlier than the SICLC, but spent several years acquiring capital to begin its building projects. These commenced after the company obtained a Royal Charter which established the Company on more commercial grounds, guaranteeing a minimum return of five per cent on investment.[1] This was outlined in the Company's resolution:
That an association be formed for the purpose of providing the labouring man with an increase of the comforts and conveniences of life, with full return to the capitalist.[1]
The first MAIDIC blocks were completed in 1848, constituting twenty-one two room apartments and ninety three room apartments in Old St Pancras Road, again on an 'associated' model - that is, with shared amenities such as lavatories and kitchen. This type of large, block residence with shared facilities became the norm for model dwellings companies.
The MAIDIC was one of the largest MDCs and by 1900 housed over 6,000 people.[5]
The Peabody Trust[edit]
Main article: Peabody Trust
The Peabody Trust was founded after an unprecedented donation in 1862 of £150,000, by the American banker George Peabody for the good of the poor in London. A committee was set up to choose the most appropriate way to spend the money, and it was decided to build a number of block dwellings for the very poorest of the city. These apartments were of similar design to other companies, but rents were offered at lower levels, leading to complaints from other MDCs.[6] Tenancy in a Peabody Dwelling came with strict rules: rents had to be paid weekly and punctually, and many trades were not permitted to be carried on at the dwellings. There was also a night-time curfew and a set of moral standards to be adhered to.[7]
The Improved Industrial Dwellings Company[edit]
Main article: The Improved Industrial Dwellings Company
The largest MDC working in central London was the Improved Industrial Dwellings Company (IIDC), founded by Sir Sydney Waterlow in 1863, which housed around 30,000 individuals by 1900.[5] Its rigorous selection procedure, rules and financial regulations meant that the IIDC was one of the more financially successful of these firms.[8][9]
The Artizans', Labourers' and General Dwellings Company[edit]
Main article: The Artizans', Labourers' and General Dwellings Company
The Artizans' Company became one of the largest of the MDCs, concentrating on suburban, low-rise estates rather than the central, high-rise model of other companies. It was founded by a former labourer, William Austin, in 1867 and immediately set about building and selling model dwellings first in Battersea, then Salford, Gosport and elsewhere. Their first major contribution to the MDC movement came at Shaftesbury Park in Battersea, a large, suburban estate opened by Lord Shaftesbury in 1872 as a "workmen's city" for "clerks, artisans and labourers".[5] Building continued at a larger estate in Kilburn, Queen's Park, then a still larger estate at Hornsey, Noel Park, and finally Leigham Court in Streatham. The company also diversified into block dwellings and other, more commercially minded estates such as Pinnerwood Park near Harrow.
By 1900, the Artizans' Company provided dwellings for 42,000 people in over 6,400 residences[5]
East End Dwellings Company[edit]
Main article: East End Dwellings Company
The EEDC was founded in 1882 by a committee from the parish of St Jude, Whitechapel, headed by Canon Samuel Barnett.[10] The company was one of the most successful providers of housing to the very poor in the East End of London, being founded along religious lines rather than being preoccupied with capital return on investment, which was the biggest reason behind the lack of success of earlier builders.
Following Octavia Hill's principles of female residence managers, the company employed female rent collectors including Beatrice Potter (later Webb, co-founder of the London School of Economics) and Ella Pycroft. The company built a large number of dwellings in what is now the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, starting with Katharine Buildings in 1885.
Four Per Cent Industrial Dwellings Company[edit]
Main article: Four Per Cent Industrial Dwellings Company
The Four Per Cent Company was founded by a group of Anglo-Jewish philanthropists in 1885, headed by the banker Nathan Rothschild, 1st Baron Rothschild. They built large residences across Spitalfields and Whitechapel, later branching out towards Hackney and South London, with a remit to provide (although not exclusively) for destitute Jews in the East End.
The company later renamed itself the Industrial Dwellings Society (1885) Ltd., and is today known as IDS.[11]
Other companies[edit]
There were a large number of companies operating in the nineteenth century, particularly in London, around twenty-eight at the time of the Cross Act. Other names include the South London Dwellings Company (founded by Emma Cons), the Chelsea Park Dwellings Company, the National Dwellings Society, the City and Central Dwellings Company, the London Labourers' Dwellings Society (founded by William Alexander Greenhill), the Real Property Investment Association and later the Guinness Trust, Lewis Trust and Sutton Trust.[1]
Outside of London, the Pilrig Model Dwellings Company and Edinburgh Co-Operative Building Company were active in Edinburgh, Scotland, building a number of what have come to be referred to as colony houses. Other companies, such as the Chester Cottage Improvement Company and the Newcastle upon Tyne Improved Industrial Dwellings Company built in specific areas only. Other buildings were erected by individuals, such as Hugh Jackson's New Court, in Camden Town, London, and Sir James Gowan's Rosebank Cottages in Edinburgh.
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Improved Industrial Dwellings Company was set up by James Hall of Hall Brothers Steamship Company, Tynemouth, after visiting Sir Sydney Waterlow's establishment in London.[12] It built 108 flats at Garth Heads between 1869 and 1878; the chairman, directors and shareholders were mostly prominent local businessmen. The company was wound up in 1968 and the buildings at Garth Heads are currently used for private student accommodation.[13]
Other schemes[edit]
Baroness Burdett Coutts[edit]
Main article: Angela Burdett-Coutts, 1st Baroness Burdett-Coutts
Baroness Burdett-Coutts was a private philanthropist who gave to many and varied charitable endeavours. One of the most significant private inputs into the provision of working class housing was Columbia Square in Bethnal Green, a block estate completed in 1857. Architecturally, it was a precursor to the imposing Peabody Dwellings, having been designed by Peabody's architect, Henry Darbishire. The addition of a grand marketplace modelled on Saint Chapelle in Paris made the design distinct, but the project was seen overall as a failure, finally being demolished in 1960.[1]
Criticism and support[edit]
Contemporary[edit]
The MDC movement was strongly supported by individuals like Lord Shaftesbury,[14] who was president of the Artizan's Company for some time, for providing a plan to "completely alter for the better the domiciliary habits of the people of the metropolis".[15] Others, such as Engels, criticised the movement as "Proudhonist", and a means of ensuring the longevity of capitalism through a process of embourgeoisement.[16]
In the twentieth century and beyond, opinions over the MDC movements have tended towards two positions. The first, adopted by free market economists, asserts that the financial success of some of these companies shows that they could have been a significant help to the poor, if their operation was not interrupted by the arrival of social housing in the form of London County Council estates.[17][18] Others argue that the failure of MDCs to meet the needs of the very poorest demonstrates that they were a stepping stone towards the inevitable necessity of state intervention to solve the housing crisis.[1][7][19] MDCs have been particularly criticised for failing to provide for the very poorest of society, concentrating on the labour aristocracy, the upper strata of the working classes.[5][7]
Dennis, R. (1989) The Geography of Victorian Values: philanthropic housing in London, 1840-1900. Journal of Historical Geography 15(1), pp. 40–54
Morris, S. (2001) Market solutions for social problems: working-class housing in nineteenth-century London. Economic History Review 54(3), pp. 525–54
Stedman Jones, G. (1984) Outcast London: a study in the relationship between classes in Victorian society. London: Penguin
Tarn, J.N. (1973) Five Per Cent Philanthropy. London: Cambridge University Press
Wohl, A.S. (1977) The Eternal Slum: housing and social policy in Victorian London. London: Edward Arnold
List of existing model dwellings
Prince Albert's Model Cottage
^ a b c d e f g h Tarn, J.N. (1973) Five Per Cent Philanthropy. London: CUP
^ White, J. Rothschild Buildings: life in an East End tenement block, 1887-1920, p.19
^ Goold, David. "Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report (April 11, 2017, 1:07 am)". ScottishArchitects.org.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
^ Archives, The National. "The Discovery Service". NationalArchives.gov.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
^ a b c d e Wohl, A.S. (1977) The eternal slum: housing and social policy in Victorian London. London: Edward Arnold
^ Dennis, R. (1989) The Geography of Victorian Values: philanthropic housing in London, 1840-1900. Journal of Historical Geography 15(1), pp.40-54
^ a b c Stedman Jones, G. (1984) Outcast London: a study in the relationship between classes in Victorian society. London: Penguin
^ Tarn, J.N. (1968) The Improved Industrial Dwellings Company London:s.n.
^ Connor, JE and Critchley, BJ (1984) The Red Cliffs of Stepney: History of Buildings erected by the East End Dwellings Co. 1885-1949, Connor and Butler
^ "IDS Housing Association - Hackney & elsewhere in London". IDS.org.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
^ Hayward, William (1896). James Hall of Tynemouth: A Beneficent Life of a Busy Man of Business. American Libraries. Internet Archive: Hazell, Watson and Viney, London. p. 327.
^ "Garth Heads". Newcastle Residential Areas. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
^ Welch, Caroline (2006) Noel Park: A Social and Architectural History. London: Haringey Council Libraries, Archives & Museum Services
^ Engels, F. The Housing Question, Der Volkstaat 26 June 1872
^ Morris, S. (2001) Market solutions for social problems: working-class housing in nineteenth-century London. Economic History Review 54(3), pp. 525–54
^ Whelan, R. (2008) British social housing and the voluntary sector. Journal of Economic Affairs 28(2), pp. 5–10
^ Gauldie, E. (1974) Cruel habitations: a history of working-class housing 1780-1918. London: Allen & Unwin
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Model_dwellings_company&oldid=900073124"
Philanthropic organisations based in the United Kingdom
Housing in London
Model dwellings
Planned municipal developments
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For the Lauren Jauregui song, see More Than That (Lauren Jauregui song).
"More than That"
Single by Backstreet Boys
from the album Black & Blue
May 29, 2001[1]
Franciz & LePont Studio
(Bergshamra, Sweden)
EMI Studios (Strings)
(Stockholm, Sweden)
September 2000 (Vocals)
Parc Studios
(Orlando, FL)
April 2001(Remix)
Battery Studios
(New York City, New York)
3:44 (Album Version)
3:42 (Special Radio Mix)
Jive Records
Songwriter(s)
Adam Anders, Franciz & LePont
Franciz, LePont[2]
Backstreet Boys singles chronology
(2001) "More than That"
(2001) "Drowning"
A sample from "More than That" by Backstreet Boys
"More than That" on YouTube
"More than That" is a song by American boy band Backstreet Boys. It was released on May 29, 2001 as the third single from their fourth studio album Black & Blue (2000). The song was written by Adam Anders and produced by Franciz and LePont.[1]
It reached number 27 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and ran for 20 weeks, and number 12 on the UK Singles Chart, ending their 13th consecutive Top 10 run, the last being "The Call" which peaked at number eight. It performed poorly compared to other singles of the Backstreet Boys, selling only 800,000 copies and failing to reach Top 10 in any of their main markets. However, it did very well on TRL, where the video was retired on August 17, 2001.
The song appeared the band's first compilation album The Hits – Chapter One.
2 Track listing
3.1 Weekly charts
3.2 Year-end charts
Music video[edit]
The music video for "More Than that" was directed by Marcus Raboy in April 2001. The video features two sets of scenes: one in which the band sings in a desert hangar with a large movie screen behind them showing various scenes behind them, including a desert, a city with a busy traffic, a cloudy sky, lightning, and sunbreak. The other scenes feature the band both walking in the desert, as a group, and driving in two convertibles; one with AJ McLean as the driver and Nick Carter as the passenger and the other one driven by Brian Litrell with Howie Dorough on the passenger seat and Kevin Richardson at the back down a desert road. Helicopter shots were taken first time on a Backstreet Boys video while they were driving in the desert on the video. The footage on the large screen is also used in the video itself.
The video debuted at number one on TRL on May 15, 2001 and the Nickelodeon's Top 10 music.[3]
Track listing[edit]
"More Than That" (Special Radio Mix) - 3:42
"More Than That" (Album Version) - 3:44
"The Call" (Neptunes Remix with Rap) - 3:53
"More Than That" (Hani Mixshow Remix) - 6:38
Charts[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
Chart (2001)
Australia (ARIA)[4] 25
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[5] 27
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[6] 44
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[7] 14
Canada (MuchMusic Countdown)[8] 12
Germany (Official German Charts)[9] 25
Ireland (IRMA)[10] 21
Italy (FIMI)[11] 25
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[12] 35
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 28
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 29
Poland (Polish Airplay Charts)[15] 2
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[16] 12
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[17] 9
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[18] 11
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 28
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[20] 12
UK Indie (Official Charts Company)[21] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[22] 27
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[23] 14
Year-end charts[edit]
^ a b Unterberger, Richie. "AllMusic: More than That (Song)". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
^ "Backstreet Boys - More Than That". Discogs. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
^ "The TRL Archive - Recap: May 2001". Classic.atrl.net. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
^ "Australian-charts.com – Backstreet Boys – More Than That". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
^ "Austriancharts.at – Backstreet Boys – More Than That" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
^ "Ultratop.be – Backstreet Boys – More Than That" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
^ "Ultratop.be – Backstreet Boys – More Than That" (in French). Ultratip.
^ "MuchMusic (Canada) Weekly Single Charts for 2001". Retrieved November 20, 2018.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Backstreet Boys – More Than That". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – More Than That". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
^ "Italiancharts.com – Backstreet Boys – More Than That". Top Digital Download. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 24, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved November 20, 2018.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Backstreet Boys – More Than That" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
^ "Charts.nz – Backstreet Boys – More Than That". Top 40 Singles.
^ "Polish Airplay Charts - Lista krajowa 26/2001". PiF PaF Production. Archived from the original on February 28, 2002. Retrieved December 27, 2016. CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
^ "Top of the Year 2001" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on December 9, 2002. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – Backstreet Boys – More Than That". Singles Top 100.
^ "Swisscharts.com – Backstreet Boys – More Than That". Swiss Singles Chart.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
^ "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "Backstreet Boys Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
^ "Årslista Singlar - År 2001" (in Swedish). Hitlistan. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
Backstreet Boys singles
"We've Got It Goin' On"
"I'll Never Break Your Heart"
"Get Down (You're the One for Me)"
"Quit Playing Games (with My Heart)"
"Anywhere for You"
Backstreet's Back
"Everybody (Backstreet's Back)"
"As Long as You Love Me"
"All I Have to Give"
"I Want It That Way"
"Larger than Life"
"Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely"
"The One"
"Shape of My Heart"
The Hits – Chapter One
"Drowning"
Never Gone
"Incomplete"
"Just Want You to Know"
"Crawling Back to You"
"I Still..."
"Inconsolable"
"Helpless When She Smiles"
"Straight Through My Heart"
"Bigger"
NKOTBSB
"Don't Turn Out the Lights"
In a World Like This
"In a World like This"
"Madeleine"
"Show 'Em (What You're Made Of)"
"Don't Go Breaking My Heart"
"Chances"
"No Place"
"God, Your Mama, and Me"
"Christmas Time"
"It's Christmas Time Again"
This 2000s pop song-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=More_than_That&oldid=902951957"
2001 singles
Backstreet Boys songs
Jive Records singles
Pop ballads
Songs written by Adam Anders
Music videos directed by Marcus Raboy
2000s pop song stubs
CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown
CS1 Romanian-language sources (ro)
CS1 Swedish-language sources (sv)
Singlechart usages for Australia
Singlechart usages for Austria
Singlechart usages for Flanders
Singlechart usages for Wallonia Tip
Singlechart usages for Germany2
Singlechart usages for Ireland2
Singlechart called without artist
Singlechart usages for Italy
Singlechart usages for Dutch40
Singlechart called without song
Singlechart usages for Dutch100
Singlechart usages for New Zealand
Singlechart usages for Scotland
Singlechart usages for Sweden
Singlechart usages for Swiss
Singlechart usages for UK
Singlechart usages for UKindie
Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100
Singlechart usages for Billboardpopsongs
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National Register of Historic Places listings in Charlevoix County, Michigan
Location of Charlevoix County in Michigan
This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Charlevoix County, Michigan.
This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Charlevoix County, Michigan, United States. Latitude and longitude coordinates are provided for many National Register properties and districts; these locations may be seen together in a map.[1]
There are 24 properties and districts listed on the National Register in the county.
This National Park Service list is complete through NPS recent listings posted July 12, 2019.[2]
Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap
Download coordinates as: KML · GPX
Current listings[edit]
Name on the Register[4]
Date listed[5]
Beaver Island Light Station
(#78001495) S of St. James on Beaver Island
45°34′35″N 85°34′21″W / 45.576389°N 85.5725°W / 45.576389; -85.5725 (Beaver Island Light Station) St. James The yellow brick lighthouse keeper's dwelling at this site was constructed in 1866. The attached 46-foot (14 m) cylindrical tower was built in 1858, to replace an 1852 tower. The decagonal lantern room offers panoramic vistas of the Lake. The tower is open to the public from 8:00 a.m. though 9:00 p.m. during the summer.
Boyne City Central Historic District
(#12001071) Water, Pearl, Lake, Ray & Main Sts.
45°12′46″N 85°00′48″W / 45.21278°N 85.0133°W / 45.21278; -85.0133 (Boyne City Central Historic District) Boyne City This district encompasses the primary commercial area of Boyne City, and the adjacent Pearl Street residential district. Buildings in the district date substantially from Boyne City's heyday in 1900-1910.
Boyne City Water Works Building
(#98001060) 210 E. Division St.
45°12′17″N 85°00′49″W / 45.204722°N 85.013611°W / 45.204722; -85.013611 (Boyne City Water Works Building) Boyne City This water works building served the Boyne City populace from 1910 until 1988, when a new pump building replaced it. It was vacant and unused until 2011, when it was refurbished and placed back into service as a booster station.
Charlevoix City Park Site
(#72000602) Park between Bridge Street and Round Lake[6]
45°19′00″N 85°15′30″W / 45.316667°N 85.258333°W / 45.316667; -85.258333 (Charlevoix City Park Site) Charlevoix The site is a Woodland period occupation, approximately AD 1000 - AD 1300.
Charlevoix South Pierhead Light
(#05000346) S pier at harbor entrance, 0.3 WNW of US 31 drawbridge
45°19′13″N 85°15′54″W / 45.320278°N 85.265°W / 45.320278; -85.265 (Charlevoix South Pierhead Light) Charlevoix The first light in Charlevoix, built in 1884, was located on the north pier. This light was replaced in 1948 with the current steel structure, which was located on the south pier. The lens and lantern from the old structure were transferred to the new one.
Chicago and West Michigan Railroad Charlevoix Station
(#95001393) Chicago Ave.
45°19′03″N 85°14′35″W / 45.3175°N 85.243056°W / 45.3175; -85.243056 (Chicago and West Michigan Railroad Charlevoix Station) Charlevoix This building, constructed in 1892, served rail passengers until 1962. It has been renovated, and is currently owned by the Charlevoix Historical Society.
East Jordan Lumber Company Store Building
(#08000586) 104 Main St.
45°09′15″N 85°07′39″W / 45.154246°N 85.127563°W / 45.154246; -85.127563 (East Jordan Lumber Company Store Building) East Jordan Built in 1899, this building shares a wall with the adjoining Votruba Block. Both buildings have been rehabilitated to form the Main Street Center office complex.
Garden Island Indian Cemetery Upload image February 17, 1978
(#78001494) On island,
45°48′10″N 85°30′30″W / 45.802778°N 85.508333°W / 45.802778; -85.508333 (Garden Island Indian Cemetery) Garden Island[7] Also designated 20CX12, this Indian Cemetery holds about 3500 graves, and has been called the largest Indian cemetery in the United States.
Greensky Hill Mission
(#72000603) E of Charlevoix at jct. of US 31 and CR 630
45°19′42″N 85°11′05″W / 45.328333°N 85.184722°W / 45.328333; -85.184722 (Greensky Hill Mission) Charlevoix This church was founded in 1844 by Peter Greensky (1807-1866) also known as Shagasokicki, a Chippewa chief who had been converted to Christianity and became a preacher. The first services were held in makeshift buildings of bark and boughs until the 1850s, when a church was constructed from lumber brought by canoe from Traverse City.
Horton Bay General Store
(#91001411) 05115 Boyne City Rd., Bay Township
45°17′06″N 85°04′48″W / 45.285°N 85.08°W / 45.285; -85.08 (Horton Bay General Store) Horton Bay Dating from 1877/78, the Horton Bay General Store is mentioned in two of Ernest Hemingway's short stories, "Up in Michigan" and "The Last Good Country." The store has operated more or less continuously since its construction.
Horton Bay House-Red Fox Inn
45°17′06″N 85°04′45″W / 45.285°N 85.079167°W / 45.285; -85.079167 (Horton Bay House-Red Fox Inn) Horton Bay Dating from 1877/78, the Red Fox Inn is mentioned in Ernest Hemingway's short story, "Up in Michigan," and tradition has it that the inn's proprietor during the 1910s and 20s, Vollie Fox, taught Hemingway how to fish. It is now a memoriabili and book store.
Horton Bay School
(#00001603) 04991 Boyne City-Charlevoix Rd.
45°17′04″N 85°04′37″W / 45.2845°N 85.077°W / 45.2845; -85.077 (Horton Bay School) Bay Township Built during the 1885/86 school year, this school was moved to its present location in the late 1940s, and served students until 1963.
Loeb Farms Barn Complex
(#95001392) 05052 M-66 Hwy. N., SE of Charlevoix, Marion Township
45°16′43″N 85°13′46″W / 45.278611°N 85.229444°W / 45.278611; -85.229444 (Loeb Farms Barn Complex) Charlevoix Now known as Castle Farms, this complex was constructed in 1918 by Albert Loeb, who was the Vice President of Sears, Roebuck and Company as a model farm to showcase livestock.
Mormon Print Shop
(#71000386) Main and Forest Sts.
45°44′46″N 85°31′16″W / 45.746111°N 85.521111°W / 45.746111; -85.521111 (Mormon Print Shop) St. James The Mormon Print Shop was built in 1850 by the followers of James Strang, who founded a Mormon sect after the death of Joseph Smith. It is now used by the Beaver Island Historical Society as a historical museum, the Old Mormon Print Shop Museum
Mt. McSauba Site
(#76001025) Near Mt. McSauba, north of Charlevoix, Michigan[8]
45°20′10″N 85°15′00″W / 45.336111°N 85.25°W / 45.336111; -85.25 (Mt. McSauba Site) Charlevoix Also designated 20CX23, the site is an encampment on a dune.
O'Neill Site
(#71001019) 5 km south of Charlevoix, Michigan[9]
45°17′10″N 85°20′40″W / 45.286111°N 85.344444°W / 45.286111; -85.344444 (O'Neill Site) Charlevoix Also designated 20CX18, this is a partially stratified Late Woodland period site.
Pewangoing Quarry Upload image June 20, 1972
(#72001471) Along Lake Michigan, north of Norwood, Michigan[10]
45°14′50″N 85°22′55″W / 45.247222°N 85.381944°W / 45.247222; -85.381944 (Pewangoing Quarry) Norwood Township Also designated 20CX20, this site provided flint used in tool-making from the Early Archaic through Late Woodland periods.
Pi-wan-go-ning Prehistoric District Upload image October 3, 1973
45°15′10″N 85°22′45″W / 45.252778°N 85.379167°W / 45.252778; -85.379167 (Pi-wan-go-ning Prehistoric District) Norwood This district includes three sites: Pewangoning Quarry (20CX20); Whiskey Creek (20CX22); and Fritz Trail (20CX21) where chert was quarried.
Pine River Site
(#72001472) Pine River channel[12]
45°19′10″N 85°15′40″W / 45.319444°N 85.261111°W / 45.319444; -85.261111 (Pine River Site) Charlevoix Also designated 20CX19, this is a multicomponent site, with evidence of occupation during the Archaic (c. 3000 BC), Middle Woodland (c. AD 100), and Late Woodland periods (c. AD 1400).
John J. and Eva Reynier Porter Estate
(#98000269) 01787 M-66 S
45°10′44″N 85°09′45″W / 45.178889°N 85.1625°W / 45.178889; -85.1625 (John J. and Eva Reynier Porter Estate) South Arm Township Also known as Elm Pointe, this estate was built for John J. Porter and his wife Eva in about 1925. John J. Porter and his father William P. Porter headed the East Jordan Lumber Company and later the East Jordan Canning Company. The estate is now a public park, and houses the East Jordan Portside Art and Historical Society Museum.
Feodar Protar Cabin
(#72000604) SW of St. James, on Beaver Island
45°42′13″N 85°33′48″W / 45.703611°N 85.563333°W / 45.703611; -85.563333 (Feodar Protar Cabin) St. James Constructed by an Irish settler in about 1860, this log cabin was the home of Feodar (or Feodor) Protar from 1893 to 1925. Protar, a somewhat eccentric Russian emigre, was a self-taught and unlicensed physician, and served as Beaver Island's only doctor for many years.
Votruba Block
45°09′16″N 85°07′39″W / 45.154352°N 85.127521°W / 45.154352; -85.127521 (Votruba Block) East Jordan Built in 1899, this building shares a wall with the adjoining East Jordan Lumber Company Store Building. Both buildings have been rehabilitated to form the Main Street Center office complex.
Wolverine Hotel
(#86000261) 300 Water St.
45°12′54″N 85°00′58″W / 45.215°N 85.016111°W / 45.215; -85.016111 (Wolverine Hotel) Boyne City The Wolverine Hotel, also known as the Dilworth Hotel or the Wolverine-Dilworth Inn, was built in 1911/12. It is the only remaining hotel in the Boyne area dating from the turn-of-the-century era when Boyne City was a booming lumber town.
Wood Site Upload image May 19, 1976
(#76001026) Along Lake Michigan[13]
45°22′00″N 85°07′00″W / 45.366667°N 85.116667°W / 45.366667; -85.116667 (Wood Site) Hayes Township The Wood Site was a seasonally occupied fishing camp used during the Late Woodland period.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to National Register of Historic Places in Charlevoix County, Michigan.
List of National Historic Landmarks in Michigan
National Register of Historic Places listings in Michigan
List of Michigan State Historic Sites in Charlevoix County, Michigan
^ The latitude and longitude information provided in this table was derived originally from the National Register Information System, which has been found to be fairly accurate for about 99% of listings. For about 1% of NRIS original coordinates, experience has shown that one or both coordinates are typos or otherwise extremely far off; some corrections may have been made. A more subtle problem causes many locations to be off by up to 150 yards, depending on location in the country: most NRIS coordinates were derived from tracing out latitude and longitudes from USGS topographical quadrant maps created under the North American Datum of 1927, which differs from the current, highly accurate WGS84 GPS system used by most on-line maps. Chicago is about right, but NRIS longitudes in Washington are higher by about 4.5 seconds, and are lower by about 2.0 seconds in Maine. Latitudes differ by about 1.0 second in Florida. Some locations in this table may have been corrected to current GPS standards.
^ "National Register of Historic Places: Weekly List Actions". National Park Service, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved on July 12, 2019.
^ Numbers represent an ordering by significant words. Various colorings, defined here, differentiate National Historic Landmarks and historic districts from other NRHP buildings, structures, sites or objects.
^ National Park Service (2008-04-24). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
^ The eight-digit number below each date is the number assigned to each location in the National Register Information System database, which can be viewed by clicking the number.
^ The NRIS gives the location of the Charlevoix City Park Site as "Address Restricted," bur references ( United States Army. Corps of Engineers (1978), Charlevoix Harbor, Maintenance of Existing Structures, Negative Declaration and EA ) place it between Bridge Street and Round Lake in Charlevoix. Geo-coordinates a approximate.
^ The NRIS lists the Garden Island Indian Cemetery as "Address Restricted." However, references place it on Garden Island. Geo-coordinates are approximate.
^ The NRIS lists the Mt. McSauba Site as "Address Restricted." However, references place it at Mt. McSauba. Geo-coordinates are approximate.
^ The NRIS lists the O'Neill site as "Address Restricted." However, references place it at the mouth of Inwood Creek. Geo-coordinates are approximate.
^ The NRIS lists the Pewangoing Quarry as "Address Restricted." However, references James Vol Hartwell (May 29, 2010), "Pi-wan-go-ning Arrowhead Quarry", Petosket News place it just North of Norwood, near Whiskey Creek. Geo-coordinates are approximate.
^ The NRIS lists the Pine River site as "Address Restricted." However, references ( J. Alan Holman; Margaret B. Holman (2009), The Michigan Roadside Naturalist, University of Michigan Press, pp. 158–159, ISBN 9780472024599 ) place it at the north side of the Pine River channel. Geo-coordinates are approximate.
^ The NRIS lists the Wood site as "Address Restricted." However, references ( H. R. Crane; James B. Griffin (1972), "UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN RADIOCARBON DATES XIV", Radiocarbon, 14 (1): 155–194 ) place it north of Charlevoix. Geo-coordinates are approximate.
Lists by state
Lists by associated state
Municipalities and communities of Charlevoix County, Michigan, United States
County seat: Charlevoix
Boyne City
East Jordan
Boyne Falls
Civil townships
Boyne Valley
Peaine
South Arm
Bay Shore‡
Horton Bay
Walloon Lake
Grand Traverse Indian Reservation‡
Little Traverse Bay Reservation‡
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=National_Register_of_Historic_Places_listings_in_Charlevoix_County,_Michigan&oldid=889166120"
Charlevoix County, Michigan
Lists of National Register of Historic Places in Michigan by county
National Register of Historic Places in Charlevoix County, Michigan
Lists of coordinates
Geographic coordinate lists
Articles with Geo
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Shri Krishna Singh (politician)
Dr. Shri Krishna Sinha
Premier of Bihar Province
20 July 1937 – 31 October 1939
Muhammad Yunus
Governor's rule
Member Of Constituent Assembly
9 December 1946 – 26 January 1950
Post Created
Post Abolished
1st Chief Minister of Bihar
2 April 1946 – 31 January 1961
Deputy CM
Dr Anugrah Narayan Sinha
Position Created
Deep Narayan Singh
2nd Finance Minister of Bihar
5 July 1957 – 31 January 1961
Khanwa, Bengal Presidency, British India
Patna, Bihar, India
Sri Babu, Bihar Kesari
Shri Krishna Singh (21 October 1887 – 31 January 1961), was the first Chief Minister of the Indian state of Bihar (1946–61). Except for the period of World War II, Sinha was chief minister of Bihar from the time of the first Congress Ministry in 1937 until his death in 1961.[1] Along with the nationalists Rajendra Prasad[2] and Anugrah Narayan Sinha, Singh is regarded among the Architects of Modern Bihar. He led the Dalit entry into the Baidyanath Dham temple (Vaidyanath Temple, Deoghar), reflecting his commitment to the upliftment and social empowerment of dalits.[3] He was the first Chief Minister in the country to abolish the zamindari system.[4] He underwent different terms of imprisonment for a total of about eight years in British India. S.K.Sinha's mass meetings brought hordes of people to hear him.[5] He was known as "Bihar Kesari" for his lionlike roars when he rose to address the masses.[5] His close friend and eminent Gandhian Bihar Vibhuti Dr. Anugrah Narayan Sinha in his essay mere Shri Babu wrote that, "Since 1921, the History of Bihar has been the history of the life of Shri Babu".[6]
The former President of India, Pratibha Patil, released a book on the letters of exchange between Sinha and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru titled Freedom and Beyond.[7][8] The Nehru-Sinha correspondence touches on subjects such as Indian democracy in the making in early years of Independence, Centre-State relations, role of governor, turbulence in Nepal, Zamindari abolition and education scenario.[7][8] Sinha was known for his scholarship and erudition and he had given his personal collection of 17,000 books to the public library in Munger in 1959 which is now named after him as Sri Krishna Seva Sadan.[9]
2 Independence movement
4 Indian National Congress Resolution on conferring Bharat Ratna to Sri Babu
5 Bharatiya Janata Party on Sri Babu
Singh was born on 21 October 1887 in Khanwa in Nawada district of Bihar. Although some biographers have wrongly mentioned his birthplace as Maur, a village in Munger district, it was his father who came from Maur.[10] His paternal village is Maur, near Barbigha in the then Munger District that is now part of Sheikhpura District. His mother, who was also an unassuming and religious-minded person, died of plague when he was five years old. He was educated in the village school and at Zila School in Munger. In 1906 he joined Patna College, which was then an affiliate of the University of Calcutta. He studied law and started practicing in Munger from 1915. In the meantime, he married and had two sons, Shivshankar Sinha and Bandishankar Singh (more commonly known as Swaraj Babu) who later held various posts in the state government.[11]
Independence movement[edit]
Singh first met Mahatma Gandhi in 1916 at Central Hindu College, Benares and later at Shah Muhammad Jubair's house in December 1920. At Munger, he vowed to work relentlessly to free India from the British rule.[11] He gave up practising law in 1921 to take part in Gandhi's non-cooperation movement.[11]
He was arrested for the first time in 1922 at Jubair's house and Congress Seva Dal was declared illegal. For this he was known as Bihar Kesari by the people. He was released from jail in 1923 and on the day of Tulsi Jayanti performed in the play Bharat Darshan at Central School, Kharagpur. In the same year he became member of the All India Congress Committee.[11]
In 1927, Singh became member of the Legislative Council and in 1929 became General Secretary of Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC). In 1930, he played an important role in the Namak Satyagrah at Garhpura. He suffered severe scalding injuries to his hands and chest while being arrested, was imprisoned for six months and then was again arrested and imprisoned for two years during Civil Disobedience movement. He was released after Gandhi–Irwin Pact and again started with his nationalist work and work with the Kisan Sabha. On 9 January 1932 he was sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1,000. He was released from Hazaribagh Jail in October 1933. He was involved in relief and rehabilitation after the 1934 Nepal–Bihar earthquake. He was the President of Munger Zila Parishad from 1934 to 1937. In 1935, he became member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
Singh was also the President of the BPCC in 1936 with Anugrah babu as his deputy, a member of its working committee and[6] in fact, Shri Krishna Sinha & Anugrah Narayan Sinha were the life and soul of the Provincial Working Committee and of the Congress organisation in the state for over thirty years. This long period of service at the help of the state is a proof not only of the great popularity and confidence which he enjoyed in the party but it symbolises also his great qualities as a co-ordinator between party and government.[12]
On 20 July 1937, he became the Premier of Bihar province when Congress came to power. Under the Government of India Act of 1935, Sinha formed his Cabinet at Patna on 20 July 1937. He and[13] his colleague Anugrah Narayan Sinha disagreed with the governor on the issue of the release of political prisoners and resigned. The then governor had to accede to the demands for release of prisoners from Cellular Jail (Kalapani) and Bihar Tenancy Act was reformed in favour of peasants. They then resumed office. But they again resigned in 1939, as did all Congress chief ministers, over the question of involving India in the Second World War without the consent of the Indian people. Along with Anugrah Narayan Sinha, a prominent Gandhian and the first Deputy Chief Minister cum Finance Minister of Bihar,[13] he is considered one of the makers of modern Bihar.[11]
Singh was always interested in self-study and his ideas and speeches were noted for their wisdom. He was a staunch opponent of casteism and defended the oppressed and the oppressed. Impressed by his courage, in 1940 Gandhi described him as "the first Satyagrahi" of Bihar while his fellow colleague Anugrah Babu was the second Satyagrahi.[14] He was jailed for nine months (22 November 1940 – 26 August 1941). When the Quit India movement started in 1942, he was arrested on 10 August. He was released in 1944 from Hazaribagh jail after he became seriously ill. In the same year his wife died at Prince of Wales Medical College.[11]
As the former Chief Minister of Bihar he attended the Simla Conference and also became the member of Constituent Assembly of India which framed the Constitution of India.[14]
Singh served Bihar continuously from 1946 until his death on 31 January 1961 at the age of 73. In 1978, the Ministry of Culture established a science museum called Srikrishna Science Centre. The biggest conference hall in Patna, Shri Krishna Memorial Hall is also named after him.[11]
Almost all the development projects in Bihar during this period involved the leadership pair of S.K.Singh and A. N. Singh. It includes several river valley projects right from Koshi, Aghaur and Sakri to other such river projects. The first five-year plan period was given to the development in rural development works mainly in the agricultural sector. Bihar became the top state in the country's first five-year plan. From the second five-year plan period, Sinha brought several heavy industries like Barauni Oil Refinery, HEC plant at Hatia, Bokaro Steel Plant, Barauni Fertiliser Plant, Barauni Thermal Power Station, Maithon Hydel Power Station, Sulphur mines at Amjhaur, Sindri Fertiliser Plant, Kargali Coal Washery etc. for the all round development of the state.[15]
Arun Kumar says Singh made an immense contribution in the cultural and social development of the state. He established the Rajendra Chatra Niwas at Calcutta for Bihari students, the Anugraha Narayan Sinha Institute of Social Studies (ANSISS) at Patna, Lok Rangshala of the Bihar Sangit Nritya Natya Parishad, Sanskrit College at Patna, Ravindra Bhavan at Patna, Bhagvan Buddha's statue at Rajgir Venu Van Vihar as well as orphanage at Muzaffarpur.[15] Lok Rangshala of the Bihar Sangit Nritya Natya Parishad, Sanksrit College at Patna, Ravindra Bhavan at Patna, Lord Buddha's statue at Rajgir Venu Van Vihar, as well as an orphanage at Muzaffarpur were opened by him.[16]
In a formal legal sense, the Chief Minister can be persuaded or forced in the interim to resign or retire by the legislature to which the Council of Ministers is collectively responsible. Sinha successfully defied a motion of no-confidence on five occasions.[17]
Sinha maintained good working relations with the secretariat officials and protected police from demoralization because police, having done away with pre-independence legacy no longer symbolised tyranny, domination, intimidation and oppression. He emphasised that in democratic India, policemen symbolised efficiency, service, protection, and help to the people. Caste played no role in promotion, transfer, posting and in working relationship of police officials with ministers or the Chief Minister in the fifties.[18] S. Q.Rizvi, a retired senior Indian Police Service official, said, "About the qualities of head and heart of this great man, it could be summed up in three words 'Humanism, Integrity and Secularism'. Dr. S. K. Sinha was a great leader and idealist endowed with great intellectual attainments. But what to me appeared the most prominent feature was that as a politician he had absolute integrity. A rare quality in a political leader of an area besieged with problems of caste and of low level mental make-up."[11]
Sinha was a progressive leader who introduced substantive land reform legislations at the early period of Bihar's history. He favoured the growth of agricultural capitalism and he wanted to do away with the constraints and hindrances in the way of the growth of productive forces in agriculture, but some critics thought he was less enthusiastic about post-zamindari agrarian reforms. Yet, leftists grant credit to Sinha for getting the Bihar Tenancy Act passed in the early years.[19]
Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer said that Sinha was among those who were "heavyweights in their own right and brought into political administration a texture of nationalism, federalism, realism, and even some touch of pragmatic socialism", and that he "lived poor, died poor and identified himself with the poor."[6]
The present Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, while observing Sri Babu's 124th Birth Anniversary in 2011, also attended by Sushil Modi, Jagannath Mishra, Ramashray Prasad Singh, Mahachandra Prasad Singh and others said, "Mr. Sinha's contributions, as the first Chief Minister of Bihar, cannot be over-stated. He was the first one to sow the seeds of progress in the state and his administrative skills are yet to be matched."[20]
Indian National Congress Resolution on conferring Bharat Ratna to Sri Babu[edit]
A unanimous resolution was also adopted to confer Bharat Ratna to Bihar Kesari Sri Babu at Sadaqat Ashram, the Congress headquarters in Patna attended by veteran party leaders like former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, former Kerala & Nagaland Governor Nikhil Kumar, former union minister of state Shakeel Ahmad, former union minister of state K.K.Tiwary, Congress legislature party leader in the state assembly & former Speaker Sadanand Singh, and national media panelist Prem Chand Mishra, and the AICC general secretary and in charge of Bihar, C. P. Joshi, among others who spoke on Shri Krishna Sinha's profile and his contributions to social and economic development of the state of Bihar.[21] They, in their turn, recalled several state and national leaders of the party cutting across religion and castes established and promoted by Sinha based on their merit.[21]
Bharatiya Janata Party on Sri Babu[edit]
The Bharatiya Janata Party also organised a function to celebrate the birth anniversary of Sri Babu.[22] The BJP functionaries who addressed the function included Rajya Sabha member and senior BJP leader Dr. C. P. Thakur, leader of opposition in the state assembly Prem Kumar and former Union minister Sanjay Paswan.[22] The party's senior functionaries on Sunday hailed the state's first CM, Sri Krishna Sinha, a Congress man, as the tallest leader who achieved all-round development of the state under his rule.[22]
On the 127th Birth Anniversary of Sri Babu in 2014, the present minister of communication (independent charge) and minister of state for railways in the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi Cabinet, Shri Manoj Sinha praised Bihar's first CM Sri Krishna Sinha for being a practitioner of good governance from the day he took over the reins of the state.[23] He said, "Today everybody in the country and the world over has been talking about good governance. Sri Babu was its 'pratimoorti (embodiment)'".[23] The minister, who is a Member of Parliament from Ghazipur in UP, surprised the audience by saying that his elder uncle had been private secretary of Sri Babu for five years.[23] He said, "Sri Babu, earlier, was influenced by Sri Aurobindo and Surendranath Banerjee, and pledged in the Ganga at Munger to dedicate his life to the service of the country, holding a copy of the Gita in one hand and a 'kripan' in another. Later, he came under the spell of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and was considered a 'garam dal neta' like him. However, in 1916, he heard the speech of Mahatma Gandhi at Kamakhya. There he realized that this man alone could lead the struggle for country's independence. After that, he became his lifelong follower."[23]
List of Chief Ministers of Bihar
^ Walter Hauser (February 1997). "Changing images of caste and politics". Retrieved 8 April 2008.
^ Late Sri Krishna Singh. jamui.bih.nic.in
^ Arun Kumar (25 January 2005). "Bhumihars rooted to the ground in caste politics". The Times of India. India. Retrieved 5 April 2008.
^ Abhay Singh (6 July 2004). "BJP, Cong eye Bhumihars as Rabri drops ministers". The Times of India. India. Retrieved 21 March 2008.
^ a b Sharma, L.N. (2013). Politics and Good Governance. Regal Publications, New Delhi. pp. 310 (at p. 277). ISBN 978-81-8484-269-2.
^ a b c Kumar (principal editor), Dr. Vijay (2013). Srkrishna Sinha Smriti Granth: Vichar aur Darshan. Patna: Bihar State Archives. pp. 692 (at p. 164). ISBN 978-93-81456-18-7.
^ a b Pranava K Chaudhary (1 June 2009). "Prez releases book on Nehru, Sri Babu letters". The Times of India. India. Retrieved 1 June 2009.
^ a b "Sri Babu promoted L N Mishra, reveals recently released letters to Nehru". Bihar Times. 2 June 2009. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 2 June 2009.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 23 April 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2009. CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
^ Ramachandra Prasad; Ashok Kumar Sinha (1987). Shri Krishna Sinha: a biography. N.K. Enterprises.
^ a b c d e f g h Prasad, R.C. (1987). Shri Krishna Sinha: A Biography. N.K.Enterprises, New Delhi. p. 186.
^ Sharma, L.N. (2013). Politics and Good Governance. Regal Publications, New Delhi. p. 212. ISBN 978-81-8484-269-2.
^ a b "First Bihar Deputy CM cum Finance Minister; A N Sinha". Indian Post. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
^ a b Prasad, R.C. (1987). Shri Krishna Sinha: A Biography. N.K.Enterprises, New Delhi.
^ a b Arun Kumar (1 January 1998). "Shri Babu: A Visionary Par Excellence". Tribute to a legend: a Times Special Report, The Times of India.
^ Sharma, L.N. (2013). Politics and Good Governance. Regal Publications, New Delhi. p. 11. ISBN 978-81-8484-269-2.
^ "Government Observes S. K. Sinha's Birth Anniversary". Patna Daily. India. 22 October 2011. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
^ a b "C P Joshi hints at organizational restructuring in Bihar Congress". The Times of India. 22 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^ a b c "BJP netas hail vision of state's first CM". The Times of India. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
^ a b c d Abhay Singh (20 October 2014). "Bihar's first CM Shri Krishna Sinha practised good governance: BJP". The Times of India. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shri Krishna Singh (politician).
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Strong and stable
Theresa May in 2017
"Strong and stable" or "strong and stable leadership" was a phrase often used by the British Prime Minister Theresa May in the run up to the 2017 United Kingdom general election.[1][2] The phrase has been criticised as an example of May's tendency to talk in sound bites and critics of May's leadership have suggested that the truth is that she is "weak and wobbly".
2 Use by Theresa May and others
3 References in the media
Poster in Shoreditch, London, mocking the phrase during the election campaign
According to the Financial Times, the phrase may have originated from former Prime Minister David Cameron's resignation speech after the UK voted to leave the European Union: "stability . . . strong, determined and committed leadership".[3] David Cutts, professor of political science at the University of Birmingham, has described the phrase as an example of compressing information to provide helpful cues to voters and reduce the time needed to acquire information.[4]
The phrase became a cult internet meme during the election campaign and was criticised for its repetition. Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's coordinator for Brexit-related affairs, parodied the phrase by saying "Any Brexit deal requires a strong and stable understanding of the complex issues involved".[5]
Use by Theresa May and others[edit]
"Strong and stable" was described as a cliché and led to criticism that May was an ineffective political campaigner who could only talk in slogans.[6][7] In an interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr, May was stopped after saying "strong and stable" in the first 30 seconds, and was asked to not use sound bites.[8]
Artist Jeremy Deller designed a poster parodying the phrase and mocking the government's Brexit process.[9] At a press conference during the election campaign, a reporter suggested that May was "weak and wobbly" rather than "strong and stable".[10] This was repeated by other news outlets.[11] At another point in the election campaign, a man presented opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn with two bananas, one bearing the word "strong" and the other with the word "stable." Corbyn found the incident amusing even though the man had intended to suggest that his politics were bananas.[12]
After the election, May reportedly wanted to drop her "strong and stable" slogan because she felt it was making her look "stupid", and it was widely considered that the phrase had been overused and was becoming ever less effective.[13]
References in the media[edit]
As of 2019, the phrase was still being associated with May in the press.[14]
^ "'Strong and Stable' versus 'for the Many not the Few'". University of Birmingham. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
^ "'Dreadful night' when Theresa May's strong and stable fantasy evaporated". The Guardian. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
^ "The surprising origins of May's 'strong and stable' slogan". Financial Times. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
^ Cutts, David. "'Strong and Stable' versus 'for the Many not the Few'". University of Birmingham. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
^ Poole, Steven (10 May 2019). "Strong and stable leadership!' Could Theresa May's rhetorical carpet-bombing backfire?". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
^ "European media delight in covering anti-Brexit march". The Guardian. 24 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
^ "If Jacinda Ardern was in No 10, imagine how different Brexit would be". The Guardian. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
^ "Theresa May lasts just 30 seconds when asked on Marr "not to used soundbites"". The Independent. 30 April 2017. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
^ "It's not Brexit (yet), but is it art, asks new London show". Reuters. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
^ "May challenged on being weak and wobbly". Channel 4 News. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
^ Quinn, Carolyn (24 May 2018). "When 'Strong and Stable' became 'Weak and Wobbly'". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
^ Gilbert, Simon (9 May 2017). "This is why Jeremy Corbyn was offered 'strong and stable' bananas". Coventry Telegraph.
^ Jimmy Nsubuga (12 June 2017). "Prime Minister Theresa May 'wanted to drop strong and stable slogan' | Metro News". Metro.co.uk. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
^ "For EU, Brexit has trashed May's 'strong and stable' image". Washington Post. 22 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
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Synthon
For Dutch pharmaceutical company, see Synthon (company).
This article may be too technical for most readers to understand. Please help improve it to make it understandable to non-experts, without removing the technical details. (September 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
In retrosynthetic analysis, a synthon is a destructural[clarification needed] unit within a molecule which is related to a possible synthetic operation. The term was coined in 1967 by E. J. Corey.[1] He noted in 1988 that the "word synthon has now come to be used to mean synthetic building block rather than retrosynthetic fragmentation structures".[2] It was noted in 1998[3] that the phrase did not feature very prominently in Corey's 1981 book The Logic of Chemical Synthesis,[4] as it was not included in the index. Because synthons are charged, when placed into a synthesis a neutral form is found commercially instead of forming and using the potentially volatile charged synthons.
2 Alternative use in synthetic oligonucleotides
3 Carbanionic synthons
4 Carbocationic synthons
Example[edit]
In planning the synthesis of phenylacetic acid, two synthons are identified: a nucleophilic "COOH−" group, and an electrophilic "PhCH2+" group. Of course, both synthons do not exist per se; synthetic equivalents corresponding to the synthons are reacted to produce the desired reactant. In this case, the cyanide anion is the synthetic equivalent for the COOH− synthon, while benzyl bromide is the synthetic equivalent for the benzyl synthon.
The synthesis of phenylacetic acid determined by retrosynthetic analysis is thus:
PhCH2Br + NaCN → PhCH2CN + NaBr
PhCH2CN + 2 H2O → PhCH2COOH + NH3
C2 synthons - acetylene, acetaldehyde
-C2H4OH synthon - ethylene oxide
carbocation synthons - alkyl halides
carbanion synthons - Grignard reagents, organolithiums, substituted acetylides
Alternative use in synthetic oligonucleotides[edit]
This term is also used in the field of gene synthesis—for example "40-base synthetic oligonucleotides are built into 500- to 800-bp synthons".[5]
Carbanionic synthons[edit]
Comparison between retrosynthetic analysis and the chemical synthesis for an ester alkylation
In 1967, E. J. Corey introduced the concept of a synthon in retrosynthetic analysis.[1] Planning the steps of a complex molecule synthesis requires recognizing key synthons and identifying how they can be assembled into a desired product.[6] In many retrosynthetic bond disconnections, the bond is broken heterolytically instead of homolytically, generating a carbocationtic and a carbanionic synthon. Most polar-mechanism reactions, whether they are nucleophilic displacements, 1,2-carbonyl additions, Michael reactions, or other processes, involve the fusion of a nucleophilic fragment and an electrophilic fragment.
There are a wide variety of carbanionic synthons available to the organic chemist for the construction of complex molecules. These include enolates, organometallics, acetylides, malonates, and carbanions generated in situ after addition to olefins. An example of a carbanionic synthon for an ester enolate is shown in fig. 1. A carbon-carbon bond alpha to a carbonyl can usually be disconnected to an enolate equivalent and a carbon electrophile. In this case, the enolate is generated by direct deprotonation of the substrate with lithium diisopropyl amide (LDA) base. The electrophile is methyl iodide.
Since synthons are idealized structures, it is often difficult to find equivalent chemical compounds in the real world. Many carbanion synthons, as drawn, present stability issues that render the molecule’s existence in reality impossible. For example, an acyl anions are not stable species, but the acyl anion synthon can be used to represent reagents such as lithiated dithianes, which are nucleophilic and often used in umpolung chemistry.[7]
Carbocationic synthons[edit]
Fig. 1: Strategic disconnection en route to the hops ether
Many retrosynthetic disconnections important for organic synthesis planning use carbocationic synthons. Carbon-carbon bonds, for example, exist ubiquitously in organic molecules, and are usually disconnected during a retrosynthetic analysis to yield carbocationic and carbanionic synthons. Carbon-heteroatom bonds, such as those found in alkyl halides, alcohols, and amides, can also be traced backwards retrosynthetically to polar C-X bond disconnections yielding a carbocation on carbon. Oxonium and acylium ions are carbocationic synthons for carbonyl compounds such as ketones, aldehydes and carboxylic acid derivatives. An oxonium-type synthon was used in a disconnection en route to the hops ether,[8] a key component of beer (see fig.1). In the forward direction, the researchers used an intramolecular aldol reaction catalyzed by titanium tetrachloride to form the tetrahydrofuran ring of hops ether.
Another common disconnection that features carbocationic synthons is the Pictet-Spengler reaction. The mechanism of the reaction involves C-C pi-bond attack onto an iminium ion, usually formed in situ from the condensation of an amine and an aldehyde. The Pictet-Spengler reaction has been used extensively for the synthesis of numerous indole and isoquinoline alkaloids.[9]
Carbanion alkylation is a common strategy used to create carbon-carbon bonds. The alkylating agent is usually an alkyl halide or an equivalent compound with a good leaving group on carbon. Allyl halides are particularly attractive for Sn2-type reactions due to the increased reactivity added by the allyl system. Celestolide (4-acetyl-6-t-butyl-1,1-dimethylindane, a component of musk perfume) can be synthesized using a benzyl anion alkylation with 3-chloro-2-methyl-1-propene as an intermediate step.[10] The synthesis is fairly straightforward, and has been adapted for teaching purposes in an undergraduate laboratory.
^ a b E. J. Corey (1967). "General methods for the construction of complex molecules" (PDF). Pure and Applied Chemistry. 14: 30–37. doi:10.1351/pac196714010019.
^ E. J. Corey (1988). "Robert Robinson Lecture. Retrosynthetic thinking—essentials and examples". Chem. Soc. Rev. 17: 111–133. doi:10.1039/CS9881700111.
^ W. A. Smit, A. F. Buchkov, R. Cople (1998). Organic Synthesis, the science behind the art. Royal Society of Chemistry. ISBN 0-85404-544-9. CS1 maint: Multiple names: authors list (link)
^ Elias James Corey; Xue-Min Cheng (1995). The logic of chemical synthesis. Wiley-Interscience. ISBN 0-471-11594-0.
^ Sarah J. Kodumal; Kedar G. Patel; Ralph Reid; Hugo G. Menzella; Mark Welch & Daniel V. Santi (November 2, 2004). "Total synthesis of long DNA sequences: Synthesis of a contiguous 32-kb polyketide synthase gene cluster". PNAS. 101 (44): 15573–15578. Bibcode:2004PNAS..10115573K. doi:10.1073/pnas.0406911101. PMC 524854. PMID 15496466.
^ Corey E (1988). "Robert Robinson Lecture. Retrosynthetic thinking?essentials and examples". J. Chem. Soc. Rev. 17: 111–133. doi:10.1039/cs9881700111.
^ Smith, Amos B.; Adams, Christopher M. (June 2004). "Evolution of Dithiane-Based Strategies for the Construction of Architecturally Complex Natural Products". Accounts of Chemical Research. 37 (6): 365–377. doi:10.1021/ar030245r.
^ Linderman, Russell J.; Godfrey, Alex. (August 1988). "Novel synthesis of tetrahydrofurans via a synthetic equivalent to a carbonyl ylide". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 110 (18): 6249–6251. doi:10.1021/ja00226a052.
^ Whaley, W. M.; Govindachari, T. R. (1951). "The Pictet-Spengler Synthesis of Tetrahydroisoquinolines and Related Compounds". In Adams, R. (ed.). Organic Reactions. VI. New York: John Wiley and Sons. p. 151. doi:10.1002/0471264180.or006.03. CS1 maint: Uses authors parameter (link)
^ Kagabu, Shinzo; Kojima, Yuka (May 1992). "A synthesis of indane musk Celestolide". Journal of Chemical Education. 69 (5): 420. Bibcode:1992JChEd..69..420K. doi:10.1021/ed069p420.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Synthon&oldid=897169688"
Organic synthesis
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Varnell, Georgia
City in Georgia, United States
Varnell City Hall
Location in Whitfield County and the state of Georgia
0 sq mi (0 km2)
600/sq mi (233/km2)
cityofvarnell.com
Varnell is a city in Whitfield County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,491 at the 2000 census.
The Georgia General Assembly incorporated Varnell in 1968.[4] The community was named after M.P. Varnell, a railroad official.[5]
Varnell is located at 34°53′58″N 84°57′52″W / 34.89944°N 84.96444°W / 34.89944; -84.96444 (34.899367, -84.964573).[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km2), all land.
1880 99 —
1980 282 −10.2%
Est. 2016 1,795 [1] 2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
As of the 2010 Census Varnell had a population of 1,744. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 83.0% white (74.8% non-Hispanic white), 4.3% black or African American, 0.6% Native American, 1.5% Vietnamese, 1.3% other Asian, 8.0% some other race (0.3% non-Hispanic of some other race) and 1.4% from two or more races. 17.3% of the population was Hispanic or Latino, with the largest portion of that being the 14.0% of the population that was Mexican.[8]
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,491 people, 510 households, and 421 families residing in the city. The population density was 606.9 people per square mile (234.0/km²). There were 526 housing units at an average density of 214.1 per square mile (82.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.73% White, 4.76% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 3.55% from other races, and 2.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.23% of the population.
There were 510 households out of which 43.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.3% were non-families. 12.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.92 and the average family size was 3.21.
In the city, the population was spread out with 30.2% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,875, and the median income for a family was $48,674. Males had a median income of $34,000 versus $25,216 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,214. About 5.8% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.
^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
^ "Varnell". GeorgiaGov. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 241. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
^ 2010 general profile of population and housing characteristics for Varnell from the US Census]
Municipalities and communities of Whitfield County, Georgia, United States
County seat: Dalton
Rocky Face
Ruralvale
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Cities in Whitfield County, Georgia
Dalton metropolitan area
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Violin Concerto No. 2 (Paganini)
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The Violin Concerto No. 2 in B minor, Op. 7, was composed by Niccolò Paganini in Italy in 1826. In his Second Concerto, Paganini holds back on the demonstration of virtuosity in favor of greater individuality in the melodic style. The third movement of Paganini's Second Concerto owes its nickname "La Campanella" or "La Clochette" to the little bell which Paganini prescribes to presage each recurrence of the rondo theme. The character of the bell is also imitated in the orchestra and in some of the soloist's passages featuring harmonics. The outcome is a very transparent texture, which gains extra charm of gypsy coloration of the rondo theme. This movement has served as the basis of compositions by other composers, such as the Étude S. 140 No. 3 "La campanella" by Liszt, and Strauss I's Walzer à la Paganini Op. 11.
The concerto is in three movements:
Allegro maestoso (in B minor, ending in B major)
Adagio (in D major)
Rondo à la clochette (in B minor)
The piece is played and referenced to by Ethan Gold, acted by Fab Filippo in the multi-award-winning North American Drama Queer as Folk.
This article about a concerto is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Violin concertos by Niccolò Paganini
No. 1 in D/E-flat major, Op. 6, M.S. 21
No. 2 in B minor, Op. 7, M.S. 48
No. 3 in E major, M.S. 50
No. 4 in D minor, M.S. 60
No. 5 in A minor, M.S. 78
No. 6 in E minor, M.S. 75 (incomplete)
List of compositions by Niccolò Paganini
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Violin_Concerto_No._2_(Paganini)&oldid=868135757"
1826 compositions
Compositions in B minor
Concerto stubs
Articles lacking sources from September 2008
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Breitbart London – Latest News | Breitbart
March 14, 2018 52 No comment
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Student Loan Bankruptcy Discharge
Kinney v. National Collegiate Master Student Loan Trust: Bankruptcy Judge Thad Collins discharges student loans that a man cosigned for his niece
by Richard Fossey
Written by Richard Fossey
Anthony Kinney, a 52-year-old working guy with a modest job in the plastic industry, co-signed three student loans for his niece. His niece defaulted, and National Collegiate Master Student Trust I (probably an investment fund) began efforts to collect on two of the loans from Kinney.
Kinney filed for bankruptcy to discharge the loans, and he made two arguments. First, he argued that the Bankruptcy Code’s “undue hardship” rule didn’t apply to him because he only cosigned the loans and received no benefit from them. Second, Kinney maintained that paying back his niece’s loans would be an undue hardship.
Bankruptcy Judge Thad Collins declined to rule on Kinney’s first argument, but he agreed with Kinney that repaying the loans would be an undue hardship. In ruling for Kinney, Judge Collins interpreted “undue hardship” under the “totality of circumstances” standard, which is the standard used in the Eighth Circuit.
Judge Collins noted that Kinney made about $37,000 a year and was never likely to make more than $40,000. Moreover, Kinney had no financial resources other than his job, and his 401K retirement account only contained about $3,000.
Judge Collins also examined Kinney’s living expenses, which he found to be reasonable and necessary. Kinney’s resources were adequate to maintain a modest living standard, the Judge determined, but not enough to maintain a minimal standard of living if forced to pay his niece’s student loans, which were accruing interest at more than 12 percent. In addition, Kinney was living with an aunt and uncle while he went through bankruptcy, but this was a short-term solution to his housing needs. Kinney’s future housing costs were definitely headed upward.
Judge Collins concluded his brief opinion by observing that Kinney was “in a very precarious financial situation,” with no savings and minimal retirement funds. Having found that Kinney had no capacity to make loan payments, the Judge ruled that “requiring [Kinney] to repay either of the two loans . . . would result in undue hardship.”
Judge Collins ended his opinion with a brief comment about the fact that Kinney was a cosigner of his niece’s student loans. Although Kinney’s cosigner status was legally insignificant to the Judge’s undue hardship determination, Judge Collins found it relevant that Kinney received no educational benefit from his niece’s student loans. In Judge Collins’ opinion, the lack of educational benefit weighed against Kinney’s creditor.
Why is the Kinney case important? Two reasons:
First, the case illustrates the terrible consequences that people can face when they cosign a relative’s student loans. The original lender probably didn’t care whether Kinney’s niece could pay back her loans because it knew that Kinney was also on the hook.
Second, Judge Collin’s succinct decision went to the heart of the matter concerning student-loan debt. It was quite clear that Kinney would never be able to pay back his niece’s student loans, which were accruing interest at 12 percent and which had nearly doubled in size since she originally borrowed the money.
Isn’t the ability to repay a student loan the only reasonable consideration when an overwhelmed student-loan debtor files for bankruptcy? And when it is clear that a college-loan borrower cannot repay his or her student loans, why not give that borrower the fresh start the bankruptcy courts were established to provide?
Thank God for bankruptcy judges like Judge Thad Collins. We need more judges like him. – Source
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Richard Fossey
Richard Fossey is a professor at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, Louisiana. He received his law degree from the University of Texas and his doctorate from Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is editor of Catholic Southwest, A Journal of History and Culture.
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Video Gallery past editions
Next festival will take place December 26 2016- January 2 2017
Home >> Blogs >> capri's blog >> Andrea Bocelli biopic MUSIC OF SILENCE wins special award at Capri, Hollywood Film Festival
Andrea Bocelli biopic MUSIC OF SILENCE wins special award at Capri, Hollywood Film Festival
Lady Monika Bacardi, Andrea Iervolino, Andrea Bocelli, Toby Sebastian and Roberto Sessa
The Award Will Be Presented to the Film’s Producers, Screenwriter and Cast Members
At Ceremonies on December 30th in Anacapri
Today the Board of the Capri in the World Institute today announced that “The Music of Silence,” Michael Radford’s Italian language film about the early life of the world renown tenor Andrea Bocelli, will receive the ‘Capri - Biopic of the Year - Award’ at the 22nd edition of Capri, Hollywood – The International Film Festival, which takes place here from December 27, 2017 through January 2, 2018. The award will be accepted by producers and Ambi Group principals Andrea Iervolino and Lady Monika Bacardi, co-screenwriter Anna Pavignano and cast members Toby Sebastian, Luis Ranieri, Ennio Fastastichini and Jordi Molla, at ceremonies on December 29th at Cinema Paradiso in Anacapri, Italy.
Directed and co-written by Radford (“Il Postino,” “The Merchant of Venice”), a two-time Oscar®-nominee, the Ambi Media Group and Picomedia production was filmed in Rome and Tuscany. It chronicles the life of a young Bocelli, who was born with a serious eye condition that eventually leads to his blindness. But Bocelli nevertheless rises above the challenges, driven by great ambitions towards his passion and becomes a global musical superstar. Ambi financed the film in which Antonio Banderas also stars and is handling world sales.
In making the announcement, the noted Italian filmmaker and Festival Board Member Marina Cicogna said: “We are extremely pleased to honor this enchanting film about the early life of our dear friend Andrea Bocelli, which was brought to the screen by Michael Radford, Andrea Iervolino and Lady Monika Bacardi, each of whom has a long history with our festival. It’s based on his memoir in which Bocelli tells his own story in the form of an autobiographical novel, and has a cast of top tier Italian actors. We’re certain it will entertain audiences as it rolls out to cinemas throughout the world.”
Tony Renis, songwriter, music producer and honorary president of the Capri in the Word Institute added: “Having worked with Bocelli throughout his career, I can attest to the authenticity of the story and the way in which it chronicles his beginnings and his rise to stardom. As an added plus, the film features songs that Bocelli composed when he was young but have never before been released, which takes it to a higher level of motion picture entertainment. Our board unanimously chose to honor it, which delights me very much.”
The following awards have previously been announced for this year’s edition of Capri Hollywood: “A Ciambra” director Jonas Carpignano was named the Festival’s ‘Rising Star’; “Cinderella the Cat” by Alessandro Rak, Ivan Cappiello, Marino Guarnieri and Dario Sansone is the ‘Best European Animation Movie”; “Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of our Lives” is the Best Documentary Film'; British filmmaker Trudie Styler will be receive the “Person of the Year” Award.
The 22nd edition of the Capri, Hollywood - The International Film Fest will be co-chaired by the Oscar®-winning Italian make-up artist Alessandro Bertolazzi and Israeli is dedicated to the beauty and talent of Elizabeth Taylor. The festival traditionally offers a fundamental contribution to the season of the global Awards, bringing celebrities and awaited film productions to the Gulf of Naples.
Since 1995 Capri Hollywood has promoted tourism in southern Italy during the winter highlighting new ideas for recreation and exploration of the region; the event has the support of the Italian Ministry of Culture, (Cinema Division) and of the Municipality of Anacapri.
01.12.2017 | capri's blog
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Matteo Garrone’s Dogman will be honored as European Movie of the Year at the 2018 Capri, Hollywood
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Jonas Carpignano, director of “A Ciambra”, will receive the ‘Rising Star Award’ at the 22nd edition of Capri, Hollywood
Dame Helen Mirren and Taylord Hackford honored at Capri for their carreer
“The Comedian,” by Taylor Hackford, starring Robert De Niro, will open the 21st edition of Capri, Hollywood
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Fact-Checking Won’t Save Us From Fake News
By Brooke Borel
Filed under Media
Published Jan. 4, 2017
Illustrations that depict the Great Moon Hoax, a historical example of fake news.
We’ve used this phrase so many times in the past two months that it’s almost lost meaning — partly because it can mean so many different things. Depending on who you talk to, “fake news” may refer to satirical news, hoaxes, news that’s clumsily framed or outright wrong, propaganda, lies destined for viral clicks and advertising dollars, politically motivated half-truths, and more.
Whatever definition you pick, fake news is worrying media folks. Stories meant to intentionally mislead are an affront to journalism, which is supposed to rely on facts, reality and trust.
As such, news about fake news has boomed. So have proposed solutions. Already we’ve seen lists of fake news sites; browser extensions that identify fake news sites, flag questionable Facebook posts and correct Donald Trump’s tweets; and calls for social media companies to take responsibility for allowing fake news to thrive.
Fact-checking is key to journalism — it’s a skill and a service that’s instrumental in providing the information to the public. My first job in journalism was as a fact-checker and, later, a research editor; as a journalist I’ve had many fact-checkers save me from dumb mistakes. I even wrote a book on how to do it well: “The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking.” Fact-checking politicians’ statements or articles after they’ve published — a close relative of the type of fact-checking that goes on behind the scenes in journalism — has been instrumental in holding politicians accountable. I know what fact-checking can do, and how important it is. But to combat fake news, it’s simply not enough.
Don’t get me wrong — fact-checking is a start, and some of it may even help. But for all the hand-wringing, hot takes and congratulatory posts about the latest fact-checking heroics, fake news continues to do what it does best: adapt. Google and Facebook may block well-known abusers from advertising networks, but the fake newsmakers will just launch new sites. Facebook is partnering with fact-checkers, but the groups that will do the work — ABC News, The Associated Press, FactCheck.org, PolitiFact and Snopes — already face partisan criticism.
Fake news purveyors have even co-opted the term “fake news.” In early December, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones published his own list of fake news sites. At the top are The New York Times and The Washington Post.
The stakes are high: Fake news has consequences. Take Pizzagate, a conspiracy claiming that a pizza parlor in Washington, D.C., houses a child sex ring led by Hillary Clinton. In early December, a man went to the restaurant armed with an AR-15 rifle, ostensibly to free imprisoned children. He fired the weapon, although he didn’t hit anyone. Then, he saw that there was no evidence of the ring and surrendered.
Facebook and Google keep giving users more of what they want to see through proprietary algorithms. This may be great for entertainment, but it doesn’t help when it comes to news, where it may just strengthen existing bias.
Despite the consequences, some readers don’t seem to care. In a recent poll from Pew Research Center, 88 percent of respondents said fake news is a source of at least some confusion. But 23 percent admitted to sharing fake news, and 14 percent said they shared a story they knew was fake. Against this backdrop, President-elect Donald Trump can unapologetically make outlandish claims that can be easily proved wrong.
I’m as distressed as any journalist is to watch fake news spread, even as available facts can disprove it. But if facts don’t matter, what does? The history of news — and the power structures that control its spread and consumption — may offer clues on how to wrangle fake news in a way that fact-checking alone can’t.
Step one is to consider that fake news may be a fight not over truth, but power, according to Mike Ananny, a media scholar at the University of Southern California. Fake news “is evidence of a social phenomenon at play — a struggle between [how] different people envision what kind of world that they want.”
Ideological fake news lands in the social media feeds of audiences who are already primed to believe whatever story confirms their worldview, said Angela Lee, a journalism and emerging media professor at the University of Texas at Dallas. Readers also share stories for the LOLs. “You don’t only share things because they are true,” Lee said. “You share things that entertain you, that start a conversation between you and your friends.”
Stories such as Pizzagate aren’t meant to inform, but to seed doubt in institutions, distract and flood newsfeeds with conflicting and confusing information. And if fake news isn’t about facts, but about power, then independent fact-checking alone won’t fix it — particularly for readers who already distrust the organizations that are doing the fact-checking.
So how can we strip power from fake news? How do we prevent the next Pizzagate?
The history of news is filled with examples of how powerful groups have worked to control information. History also provides examples of how newsmakers and readers have reacted to false stories. In the 14th through 16th centuries in Europe, for example, kings, the church and international merchants ran the earliest organized news networks. With this power came control. These groups were “so concerned with accuracy and corroboration that you can see very early an unstated code of journalistic ethics being developed,” said Andrew Pettegree, a professor of modern history at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
These powerful figures needed accurate information in order to make informed decisions. As Pettegree writes in “The Invention of News”: “Lives, fortunes, even the fate of kingdoms could depend on acting on the right information.”
But at the time, newspapers focused on foreign news; news writers weren’t too keen on turning clear-eyed reports locally, for fear of angering the powerful groups that supported the publishers. Instead, local news came from political pamphlets, newsletters and word of mouth.
By the 17th century in Europe, as postal routes diversified, merchants gained a greater hold on the news — particularly entrepreneurs with money to spend. But even with this shift in power, there were consequences for reporting false information. In the Netherlands, for example, the legal system fined and even banned publishers who put out fake reports, said Arthur Der Weduwen, a doctoral candidate in history at St. Andrews who is researching early Dutch newspapers. Authorities banned one publisher, a “real troublemaker” named Gerard Lodewijk van der Macht, four times. Each time he moved to a new city and started over.
In the early United States, the story is a little different, said Andie Tucher, a historian and journalist at Columbia University. At first, political parties controlled the press, using it in partisan fights. Then, in the 1830s, the first American commercialized papers emerged. These penny presses claimed to be independent from politics, and they published real news next to “humbugs” like the Great Moon Hoax, which claimed that an English astronomer had discovered fantastical beasts living on the moon.
Illustrations depicting the Great Moon Hoax.
Such stories were entertainment. They “were not meant to deceive” but to give readers who weren’t used to having newspapers cater to them “a way to bond, to discuss, to have arguments with each other — to feel smart,” Tucher said.
Commercialization shifted power again — from the political parties to readers and advertisers. The readers wanted fun, enticing stories, which the advertisers supplied for profit.
But the news increasingly fractured over the following centuries, so much that a concise, clear narrative is hard to discern, Tucher said. Multiple powerful figures tugged back and forth over information; with each new technology, newsmakers had to adapt.
And then came the internet. We can’t blame it for all our woes, but it has made for a fast and loose free-market news system. Optimists suggest this market self-corrects — the Invisible Hand of Fact-Checking. “There is a participatory ethic that runs through the internet — the marketplace model of free speech, which says, well, eventually the truth will come out,” Ananny said. “That’s what the internet is based on. If there’s a problem, add more speech. And that’s not what this historical moment calls for. It calls for skepticism. For waiting. For pause.”
When I asked the historians whether one type of fake news — the version that mimics real news with the intent to deceive, which spreads rapidly online — is a new strain, they said yes.
“Nothing prepared me for the 2016 development of deliberately circulated, utterly false stories,” Pettegree said.
In today’s fractured media landscape, there are many groups with power that could be smarter in wielding it. Let’s consider three: the media, tech platforms and readers. Of course, none is a monolith. But let’s start with a broad view.
Media outlets keep trying to debunk fake news. This won’t work, particularly for readers who have already decided that the traditional press is fake news — and, fair or not, partisan. Research suggests that the more partisan a topic, the more likely people who identify strongly with one side will double down on their argument even if they are presented with facts that counter it.
Maybe, instead, the media should do a better job of distinguishing real news from fake news, to regain readers’ trust. Click-based advertising has left us adrift in a sea of inaccurate, sensational headlines, even at legitimate news outlets; this makes it easier for dramatic fake news headlines to survive. Aggregation has us spreading stories with no original research or corroboration, and it makes everyone look bad when outlets fall for fake bait. Over the holidays, a heartwarming story about a Santa Claus who visited a child’s deathbed went viral. Three days later, the Knoxville News Sentinel, which originally published the story, retracted it, but not before it had spread to CNN, Fox, USA Today and more.
Maybe the news should stop trying so hard to entertain.
Political reporting could improve by refusing to force false balance — an attempt at impartiality and objectivity that can backfire. Science reporters have known this for a long time: Stories about vaccines or climate change shouldn’t give equal space to deniers who think that vaccines cause autism or that climate change is a hoax. There may be two sides to these fights, but they don’t have equal data and facts, which show that vaccines are generally safe and that climate change is real. The same should go for stories about politics: Presenting politicians’ statements and simply letting readers decide what’s true doesn’t work when one side is lying.
Refocusing coverage may help. According to Emily Thorson, a political scientist at Boston College, there is one area where people will change their minds when faced with the facts: policy, particularly when it isn’t perceived to be partisan. By covering policies rather than candidates’ antics, the press may be able to persuade with facts after all.
“There is a tendency to blame voters, but it’s really hard to find [policy] information. It’s hard to figure out what the candidates’ policies would actually mean for your life because the media spent so much time on horse-race coverage, what they did or didn’t say, or whether they were lying,” Thorson said. “Academics have been saying this about journalism for a long time, but I think it was especially magnified in this campaign.”
As for tech, fact-checking and blocking fake news sites from advertising dollars is a start, but it’s not enough. Facebook and Google keep giving users more of what they want to see through proprietary algorithms. This may be great for entertainment, but it doesn’t help when it comes to news, where it may just strengthen existing bias. “Facebook was not designed for this purpose,” said Claire Wardle, research director at First Draft News, a network of newsmakers and academics who provide resources on checking and verifying stories on social media. “It has become the civic town hall, but it was never designed to be.”
Tech’s role isn’t only about stifling fake news on social media. Some companies and academics are building algorithms that can help fact-check portions of the web. Here, the key will be not only computer programming, but also transparency in terms of how those algorithms are constructed and building trust by showing how a fact-check is sourced, said Dhruv Ghulati, co-founder of the fact-checking system Factmata.
As for readers, we’re the ones consuming all this news. Our clicks feed ads and show media companies what sorts of stories go viral — which can lead to more of those types of stories. Social media has also effectively turned us all into publishers. Each time you like a Facebook post, your connections become a new audience. And it has your implicit signature of approval. We can think before we click: Who is providing this news? Do they have incentives to lie? And if we see our connections spreading lies, how might we confront them?
“We should have the sense of responsibility that anything you click on will affect other people,” Lee said. “I always tell my students: ‘Click like you mean it.’”
But whether we can collectively organize to break the cycle of fake news may depend on how high the stakes climb — and how willing we are to push back against it. “I don’t want to sound alarmist, and I don’t mean to sound pessimistic, but in some ways the way a cycle changes is that people get really tired of it. They get sick of how it makes them carry on public life,” Tucher said. “Enough people decide they aren’t going to do it anymore.”
Brooke Borel is a science journalist and the author of “Infested” and “The Chicago Guide to Fact-Checking.”
@brookeborel
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Margaret Berrisford
Margaret Berrisford has lived 100 years, and she’s spent 22 of them volunteering at the Haven of Our Lady of Peace operated by Sacred Heart. It all started when her husband was in the hospital with cancer. It was summertime, and it was very hot. “Dr. Prevatt would tell me to go home and rest,” Margaret recalls. “But I told him, if I leave I lose my parking space, and I’m really more comfortable staying in this cool building, walking around and seeing what all is going on.”
During one of her walks, she made her way to the Volunteer Office. But with a terminally ill husband and a mother who had suffered two strokes, there were people who needed her. After her husband passed away and she settled her mother at the old Haven, Margaret was free to volunteer – so she went and signed up.
“I spent a lot of time at the hospital,” she says. “If someone saw me in uniform and asked me to do something, I did it.” In 2001, the Haven moved to its new building. Margaret was the first resident who had not come over from the original location. They moved 89 people – and a cat.
The cat would later keep Margaret company as she created new volunteer opportunities for herself. After breakfast one day, she stopped in the front office. The mail had been delivered early, but it never got to the residents until the evening. So Margaret volunteered to deliver the mail and newspapers, as well as the occasional package and all the flowers she could carry.
“The cat rode with me,” she says. “I got this old wheelchair – you can tell it’s an antique – and the cat sat on top of the stack of newspapers.” Families who have visited the Haven over the past 18 years affectionately call Miss Margaret “the cat lady” or “the mail carrier.” She continued her mail route until she had trouble walking. But Margaret wasn’t done yet.
When the Haven acquired an electric piano for the chapel, she suggested they dedicate it by singing gospel songs. They did that on a Tuesday, and they never stopped. Margaret played the piano during “Gospel Time,” and for other services, as needed.“In a way, I was just the office flunkie,” she says with a smile. “Whatever they needed, they knew I would do it.”
Over the years, she’s met many family members and visitors, happily explaining the process of getting yourself into a nursing home. There are still nurses at the Haven who took care of Margaret’s mother.“I have no family … the Haven is my family,” she shares. “When I got into the Mother Seton Guild, it was as good as getting into a sorority in college. I said, ‘I’ve made it!’ It’s been a good life.”
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You are at:Home»News»Leaks»Galaxy S9 & Galaxy S9+ to feature dual cameras, 6GB of RAM
Galaxy S9 & Galaxy S9+ to feature dual cameras, 6GB of RAM
By Matt Kinne on October 19, 2017 Leaks
We are still months away from a Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ unveiling, but that doesn’t mean the rumors can’t start flowing. The Galaxy S8 and S8+ have been Samsung’s best selling devices of all time, but the new S9 duo is sure to top it.
The new information comes from Bejamin Geskin (@VenyaGeskin1) who has been a renown iPhone leaker for some time. Along with providing us the new Galaxy S9 duo’s new logos, he also was kind enough to share the specifications and model numbers. According to Geskin, the S9 and S9+ will follow in the Note 8’s footsteps sporting dual cameras and 6GB of RAM. The leak also claims the cameras will be improved from the Note 8, although it doesn’t specify in which aspects.
As for storage, it looks like Samsung is sticking with a microSD slot. This time though, 128GB of storage might be the default option, or the only option; we do not know at this point. Powering the device’s in the United States and China will be the Snapdragon 845 processor. Outside of those two countries, the devices will employ Samsung’s in-house Exynos 9 Octa 10nm processor.
The model number on the unlocked S9 and S9+ are SM-G960F and SM-G965F respectively. Both models do come with dual SIM variants, designated with a U after the model number. Geskin also leaked out the Verizon models numbers, which will be denoted with a V at the end of the model number.
“The next generation of the innovative Galaxy S8 and S8+" pic.twitter.com/oN0VeJ4Yib
— Benjamin Geskin (@VenyaGeskin1) October 19, 2017
What are your thoughts on the first S9 and S9+ leaks? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
The Galaxy S9 and S9+ may be available in a new color variant
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Posted in Events, The Arts
Cade Visitors Get a History Lesson With ‘The Flying Ace’ Film Exhibit
Gainesville Downtown June 16, 2019 Leave a comment
The new exhibit tells the story of Norman Studios, which began in Jacksonville a century ago and specialized in making films featuring all-black casts.
In this age when technological advances are occurring at breakneck speed, the Cade Museum of Creativity & Invention is dialing things back to a more simple and quieter time — the silent-film era of a century ago.
In its newest exhibit, “The Flying Ace,” the Cade takes visitors back to the early 1900s, when Jacksonville was known as “The Winter Film Capital of the World.” And, more specifically, when Norman Studios was producing “race films” that used all-black actors cast in non-stereotypical roles during the Jim Crow era.
“There was a market for African Americans who wanted to see films that depicted them in positive ways,” said Barbara Wingo, the Norman Studios Silent Film Museum vice president who worked with the Cade Museum to establish “The Flying Ace” exhibit.
The exhibit features the 75-minute silent film, The Flying Ace, that runs on a continuous loop. It is the only complete film from Norman Studios still in existence.
Visitors can also read about the history of Norman Studios and its owner, Richard E. Norman Jr., and view artifacts from the silent-film era, including a Magic Lantern, a Baby Pathescope 9.55 mm projector and camera, as well as intertitle cards and items from the old Eagle Film Manufacturing Co. in Jacksonville.
Norman, a white man, was an inventor, entrepreneur and artist who saw a need to make race films, especially after 1915’s Birth of a Nation showed viciously racist portrayals of blacks. That Norman made his films in the segregated Deep South only made things more interesting.
“It’s a story that just has to be shared and told,” said Phoebe Cade Miles, co-founder of the museum and daughter of Dr. Robert Cade, who invented Gatorade more than 50 years ago.
Barbara Wingo from Norman Studios stands in front of some of the displays associated with “The Flying Ace” exhibit. (Photograph by Gainesville Downtown)
Miles added that the exhibit, which continues through August in the museum’s upper level, is a perfect complement to the museum’s current six-week Aviation theme in the Rotunda as well as the Optics, Film & Photography theme that begins July 10.
“Our mission is to transform communities by inspiring and equipping the next generation of inventors, entrepreneurs and visionaries,” Miles said. “Every generation builds on inventions of previous generations, and it’s important to introduce people to inventions and teach them about the inventive mindset.”
Wingo said the goal of “The Flying Ace” exhibit is twofold. One is to tell the story of Jacksonville’s early role in the silent-film industry that involved some 30 production companies and included the Eagle Film Manufacturing Co., or “Eagle City,” in the historic Arlington neighborhood. The other goal is to share the story of Richard Norman’s film-making career with emphasis on his 1926 film, The Flying Ace.
Visitors to the Cade Museum examine a replica of the plane used in The Flying Ace film, which is being shown in the background. (Photograph by Gainesville Downtown)
The movie was filmed at the Norman Studios complex and other locales, including Mayport. Despite the aviation subject of the film, no stunt pilots were required because of Norman’s ingenuity led to the simulation of the air-combat stunts long before CGI came along.
The lead character in Norman’s mystery/adventure film is a World War I flying ace (Lawrence Criner) returning to his role as a railroad detective. The film concludes with the hero solving the mystery of a missing railroad payroll and rescuing the heroine (Kathryn Bush) from the villain’s (Steve Reynolds) burning plane.
A portion of the movie poster for Richard Norman’s The Crimson Skull.
Norman produced, directed, shot and edited The Flying Ace and all other Norman Studios films, including The Bull-Dogger (1921) and The Crimson Skull (1922)
Norman’s five-building complex, now a National Historic Landmark, survives in Jacksonville’s Old Arlington neighborhood, but it is not yet open as a museum. The mission of the Norman Studios Silent Film Museum board is to preserve, present and promote the history of silent motion pictures and race films through the reunification and restoration of the Norman Studios complex as a museum, education, film and community center.
Learn more by visiting the Norman Studios website.
To draw attention to the Norman Studios project, the Cade Museum will host a special screening of The Flying Ace on June 28 from 6-8 p.m. that will feature live music accompanying the film.
The Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention is located at 811 S. Main St., Gainesville. Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m. For further info, visit the Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention website.
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Aart Schuurman Hess
As Goodly Foods CEO, Aart brings a tremendous love for good, honest food to the table. With an extensive experience in both the private and public sector, food has played a key role in his life and career.
Aart brings a wide and varied skill set to the position of Chief Executive Officer. Before joining Goodly Foods, Aart acted as the CEO of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank where he was instrumental in successfully executing the new vision and first strategic plan in the history of the organization. Prior to working at the Food Bank, Aart held executive roles as the Interim CEO (2-years) and Chief Administrative Officer of The Mustard Seed Alberta. Aart also held an executive role in a Dutch private equity investment firm, as well as senior-level positions in the airline food service and food manufacturing industries, where he successfully executed the move and start up of the world’s largest airline catering kitchen.
Outside his daily work life, Aart served as Chair of the Board of Food Secure Canada, as President of the Dutch Canadian Business Club of Calgary and Chair of the Tax & Economic Affairs Committee of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. He is an active member the Rotary Club of Tsawwassen, with a focus on community services and events.
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It ain't what you don't know that gets you in trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so. — Mark Twain
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Gabriel and the Hour Book - Evaleen Stein
◄ Previous Chapter
The Count's Tax
And in this happy manner the spring and summer wore away and the autumn came. Brother Stephen felt very cheerful, for the beautiful book grew more beautiful week by week; and he was very proud and happy, because he knew it was the loveliest thing he had ever made.
Indeed, he himself was so cheerful, that as the autumn days, one after another, melted away, it was some little time before he noticed that Gabriel was losing his merriness, and that he had begun to look sad and distressed. And finally, one morning, he came looking so very unhappy, that Brother Stephen asked, with much concern:
"Why, lad, whither have all thy gay spirits taken flight? Art thou ill?"
"Nay, sir," answered Gabriel, sadly; "but oh, Brother Stephen, we are in so much trouble at home!"
At this the monk at once began to question him, and learned that Gabriel's family were indeed in great misfortune.
And this is how it came about: in those days the peasant folk had a very hard time indeed. All of the land through the country was owned by the great nobles; and the poor peasants, who lived on the little farms into which the land was divided, had few rights. They could not even move to another place if they so wished, but were obliged to spend all their lives under the control of whatever nobleman happened to own the estate on which they were born.
They lived in little thatched cottages, and cultivated their bits of land; and as rent for this, each peasant was obliged to help support the great lord who owned everything, and who always lived in a strong castle, with armed men under his command.
The peasants had to raise wheat and vegetables and sheep and cows, so that the people of the castles might eat nice, white bread, and nut cookies and roast meat; though the poor peasants themselves had to be content, day after day, with little more than hard, black bread, and perhaps a single bowl of cabbage or potato soup, from which the whole family would dip with their wooden spoons.
Then, too, the peasants often-times had to pay taxes when their noble lord wished to raise money, and even to follow him to war if he so commanded, though this did not often happen.
And now we come to the reason for Gabriel's troubles. It seems that the Count Pierre de Bouchage, to whose estate Gabriel's family belonged, had got into a quarrel with a certain baron who lived near the town of Evreux, and Count Pierre was determined to take his followers and attack the baron's castle; for these private wars were very common in those days.
But Count Pierre needed money to carry on his little war, and so had laid a very heavy tax on the peasants of his estate; and Gabriel's father had been unable to raise the sum of money demanded. For besides Gabriel, there were several little brothers and sisters in the family, Jean and Margot and little Guillaume, who must be clothed and fed; and though the father was honest and hard-working yet the land of their little farm was poor, and it was all the family could do to find themselves enough on which to live.
When peasant Viaud had begged Count Pierre to release him from the tax, the count, who was hard and unsympathetic, had become angry, and given orders that the greater part of their little farm should be taken from them, and he had seized also their little flock of sheep. This was a grievous loss, for out of the wool that grew on the sheep's backs, Gabriel's mother every winter made the warm, homespun clothes for all the family.
Indeed, Count Pierre had no real right to do all this; but in those times, when a noble lord chose to be cruel and unjust, the poor peasants had no way to help matters.
And this was not all of Gabriel's woes; for only a few days after he had told these things to Brother Stephen, when he went home at night, he found his mother crying bitterly, and learned that Count Pierre, who was having some trouble raising his money, and so had become more merciless than ever, had that day imprisoned his father at the castle, and refused to release him unless some of the tax were paid.
This was the hardest blow of all; and though the other children were too young to understand all that had befallen them, poor Gabriel and his mother were so distressed that neither slept that night; and the next morning when the little boy arose, tired out instead of rested by the long night, he had scarcely the heart to go away to the Abbey, and leave things so miserable at home. But his mother thought it best for him to keep on with his work with Brother Stephen, because of the little sum he earned; and then, too, he felt that he must do his part to help until King Louis's book was finished. After that, he did not know what he could do! He did not know how he could best try to take his father's place and help the family; for, after all, he knew he was only a little boy, and so things seemed very hopeless!
Indeed the grief and poverty that had come upon them at home made Gabriel so sad that Brother Stephen was quite heart-broken, too, for he deeply loved the lad. As he worked, he kept trying all the while to think of some way to help them; but as the monk had passed all his life within the walls of the Abbey, he knew but little of the ways of the outside world; and he had no money of his own, or he would gladly have paid the tax himself.
The Little Colour Grinder
Brother Stephen's Inspiration
Gabriel Interviews the Abbot
The Hour Book
Gabriel's Prayer
The Book Goes to Lady Anne
Lady Anne Writes to the King
The King's Messenger
Gabriel's Christmas
The King's Illuminator
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Three Lessons Higher Ed Can Learn From Charter Schools
Nia Ariel Davis |
Today's Students
While various aspects of the charter school model remain at the center of hot-button political debates, there are many lessons that can be learned from their successes and failures. A more nuanced look reveals that, when done well, charter schools can provide a high-quality—and greatly personalized—educational experience to students.
The stories found at successful charter schools provide not only examples of programs for other K-12 schools to emulate, but also lessons for higher education at a time when many colleges and universities are struggling to meet the needs of today’s students. Here are three lessons higher ed can learn from high-performing charter schools.
Involve many stakeholders.
High-performing charter schools include many stakeholders working together to create a system that is responsive to all of their needs. Such stakeholders include students, families, teachers, school administrators, community organizations, and even local and state government. Bringing diverse voices together to support students often results in new approaches to learning that, when scaled, contribute to greater success for an entire cohort of learners.
Likewise, a college’s list of stakeholders should begin with and extend far beyond the students they are serving to include community members, employers, taxpayers, and local, state, and federal governments. When all stakeholders are engaged with and responding to one another, the community as a whole can work together to create and sustain an environment that enables students to succeed during college and after graduation.
Meet students where they are.
E.L. Haynes Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., pledges to “prepare every student of every race, socioeconomic status and home language to reach high levels of academic achievement and to succeed in college.” To better serve its diverse student body from pre-K through 12th grade, the school has adopted a competency-based approach to education, allowing students to move through a flexible but intentionally designed set of standards at a pace that makes the most sense for them.
E.L. Haynes is a part of a growing number of high-performing schools that recognize if they are to help students succeed, they must systematically take into account the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and levels of learning of the many individuals in their classrooms.
Today’s college students are more diverse than ever before, entering postsecondary education with a wide array of experiences and levels of learning. Nearly 40 percent of college students are now over the age of 25, and approximately a quarter are parents. More than 60 percent of students work while in college. They require a style of instruction and delivery that allows for—and even encourages—greater flexibility in learning. High-quality competency-based education is a powerful delivery model that can help colleges and universities meet these students where they are.
Treat innovation as ongoing.
When things are going well or there are no glaring problems, it’s easy to stop focusing on innovation and trying new things. Many abide by the old adage “don’t fix what isn’t broken.” But while it’s important to not simply innovate for innovation’s sake, conversations about what schools and institutions can do to better help their students succeed should never stop.
Innovation is a defining characteristic of Peak to Peak K-12 Charter School in Colorado. Earlier this year, the school convened its first Innovation Summit, bringing together stakeholders from across the state and country to discuss and explore how to better prepare students for 21st-Century educational pursuits and careers. At the end of the summit, school leaders stressed the importance of developing “a problem-solving mindset and culture at the school.” That mindset has led the school to adopt a variety of innovative programs designed to help their students succeed.
Peak to Peak’s current strategic plan also includes building a space that will be known as the “Innovation Hub.” The building would include flexible learning spaces for students and a dedicated area for local businesses to work with students through internship or apprentice opportunities.
The higher education system—designed for recent high-school graduates with neither work nor parenting responsibilities—does not provide today’s college students with the best tools for success. As the needs of today’s students continue to change, the systems of support in higher education should adapt. Adopting a mindset of ongoing innovation could help all stakeholders in the system remain open to the shifts required for improved college student access and success.
Higher education leaders and policymakers should look to successful models practiced by high-performing charter schools, including involving many stakeholders, meeting students where they are, and treating innovation as ongoing. Ultimately, success —from pre-K through higher education — stems from a steadfast commitment to supporting students. As conversations about the strengths and challenges of our current postsecondary education system continue, the most important lesson higher education can learn from high-performing charter schools is to put today’s students first.
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Comment, News | 11/11/2013, 21:37
TAR Party Secretary Chen Quanguo on New Propaganda and Control of Social Media Strategy
High Peaks Pure Earth has strayed from the usual material and this time translated an article by Party Secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) Chen Quanguo that was published in the primary theoretical journal of the Central Committee of the Communist Party “Qiushi” (literally meaning Seeking Truth) and was posted online on their website on November 1, 2013.
The article is a commentary on a speech made by China’s President Xi Jinping on August 19, 2013 at the National Propaganda and Ideology Work Conference. Media reports about this speech honed in on Xi’s “combative” approach towards media in order to “wage a war to win over public opinion” as well his order for the “propaganda apparatus to form a strong internet army to seize the ground of new media”.
Chen’s article reflects Xi’s speech while focusing solely on TAR and has already attracted a fair share of media interest such as this Reuters piece of November 2, 2013 titled “China says will stamp out Dalai Lama’s voice in Tibet” and see also this round-up by China Digital Times. The media reports focus mostly on the part of the article where Chen stressed the need to prevent the influence of the Dalai Lama by preventing the distribution of the Dalai Lama’s images, speeches and writings on the internet. In closer reading of the article, the article is interesting in gauging existing policies and practices in the TAR. Chen’s article could be an indication of strategic positioning by Chen Quanguo, who was appointed TAR Party Secretary in 2011 under Hu Jintao. Chen’s article begins by endorsing Xi Jinping’s August Speech and adopts the “Chinese Dream” slogan coined by Xi Jinping to replace Hu Jintao’s “Harmonious Society”. By using the same language and guidelines established by Xi Jinping, Chen and the TAR Regional CCP are demonstrating their allegiance to Xi and the new leadership.
Despite the anti-separatist and ideological struggles mentioned in the article being nothing new when it comes to CCP policy in TAR, Chen’s article contains a considerable amount of information about his approaches to both traditional and new media, fields that High Peaks Pure Earth are particularly interested in. It’s commonly known for example that the Chinese government employs an army (50 cent army) of netizens to write comments on websites and social networks and in his article, Chen states his intention to utilise the “vast Party and Youth League members to establish a contingent of websites commentators, who are politically reliable and who are good at using website language”. It looks as though Chen wants websites to replicate the structure of a work unit (danwei) in that “CCP branches should be established at all websites”.
Screenshot of Chen Quanguo’s Article as Published by Qiushi
“Ensuring the Security of Tibet’s Ideological Realm with the Spirit of Daring to Show The Sword”
—— Conscientiously Studying and Implementing the Important Essence of the Speech Made by the General Secretary Xi Jinping at the National Propaganda and Ideology Work Conference
(Source: Qiushi (“Seeking Truth”), No. 21, 2013, By Chen Quanguo, Party Secretary of TAR)
Xi Jinping, the General Secretary, emphasised and pointed out in his important speech at the National Propaganda and Ideology Work Conference that economic construction is the central work for the CCP, and the ideological work is very important work for the CCP. He warned that the entire Party should shoulder the political and leadership responsibilities to continuously raise the ability and level of leading propaganda and ideology work.
As an ethnic border region, Tibet is at the forefront of the anti-separatist struggle. At present, the exchanges, mingling and contestation among various ideology and culture have become more frequent, in particular, the hostile forces have colluded with the clique of the fourteenth Dalai Lama, and have considered Tibet as a key area for infiltration and separatist activities and as the main battlefield for sabotaging and causing disturbances. They have tried all means to contend for the battlefield, popular feeling and the common people, thus, all their efforts have made Tibet the teeth of the storm in the struggle of the ideological realm. Therefore, we have fully realised the extreme importance and urgency of strengthening the work of the ideological realm. We should not slack our efforts to strengthen the work of the ideological realm and truly shoulder the important political responsibility entrusted to us by the Party and the people.
To vie for the control of the commanding point: Strengthen the work of the ideological realm by intensifying the “responsibility” with the spirit of having the courage to shoulder one’s responsibilities. Party committees of various levels should place the work of ideological realm on the important work agenda, forming the leadership working team of ideological work with the Party Secretary as the head and establishing the system of regular meetings. We should strengthen the political responsibility of the “Chief” of Party Committees of various levels, requiring them to lead the work and face the challenges directly. They are required to take the lead to listen to and watch state media as well as the local Party newspaper, the local radio station and the local TV station. They should also take the lead to control the orientation of the local media and the public opinion.
To firmly control the “two battlefields”. We should always adhere to the principle of the Party’s controlling of the media, always persist in having politicians run newspapers, to be in charge of journals, radio stations, TV stations and news websites. We should also adhere to the main principle of propagating the main themes and spreading positive energies. On the one hand, we should firmly control the “battlefield” of the traditional media. We should strengthen the principle and policy of publicising the Party’s theories and lines, firmly publicising the care and concerns for people of various ethnic groups in Tibet bestowed by the Central Committee of the CCP headed by Comrade Xi Jinping. We should persist in disseminating the earth-shaking and tremendous changes that have occurred in the new socialist Tibet and publicising the new stable, peaceful and happy life of people of various ethnic groups in Tibet. We have to ensure that the content of reports are on important pages of newspapers, at important radio frequencies and in the golden time slots on TV should not be less than 95%. Meanwhile, we should move our focus downward to the grassroots level by strengthening the rate of coverage and the actual effectiveness of dissemination of Tibet TV station, Tibet Radio Station, People’s Daily, Tibet Daily and others. On the other hand, we should also firmly control the “battlefield” of the newly emerged media. A Party working committee in charge of the work of internet to be headed by the Deputy Party Secretary of TAR should be formed, and CCP branches (CCP groups) should be established at all websites which have conditions to do so. As for those websites which do not have conditions to establish CCP branches, we should dispatch two or three political instructors to be in charge of Party construction, realising our goal of “complete coverage” for the Party construction at websites in the entire region. We should speed up the process of improving and perfecting the internet information office of three levels, including Autonomous Region level, Prefectural (Municipal) level and County (City and Township) level, strengthening the control over the information management of websites and actively engaging in propaganda on websites and in the struggle for the control of the public opinion on websites. We should speed up the process of establishing a network TV station of Tibet and run such important news websites as China’s Tibet News Website and the website of the Voice of China’s Tibet efficiently and well. We should speed up the process of promoting the establishment of Tibet channels or Tibet websites in mainstream domestic websites so as to make Tibetan cyberspace more clear and bright.
Construct and strengthen “Three Contingents”. We should establish a contingent of propaganda, ideology and culture, who are loyal to the Party, to the motherland and to the people. We should strengthen the training for cadres for propaganda, ideology and culture, appointing a full-time propaganda committee member for each town. We should put forth an effort to train a group of excellent propaganda cadres, who are politically reliable and who are in complete mastery of their professional work. At the same time, we should also train a group of news interviewing and editing staff, who are devoted to their duties, who love their positions and are dedicated to their job and who are moral and noble. Furthermore, we should train a contingent of cadres in charge of propaganda on websites and the control and management of websites, whose standpoints are steadfast, whose reactions are fast and who are trustworthy. To continuously increase the positive voices on websites, we will rely on the Party and Youth League organisations of various levels and the vast Party and Youth League members to establish a contingent of websites commentators, who are politically reliable and who are good at using website language. We will also depend on the contingent in charge of website security of public security forces to establish a contingent of website police force, which is in complete mastery of their professional work and whose reactions are fast and timely. We will build a contingent of intellectuals with high quality, who are obedient to the Party, who are grateful to the grace of the Party and who follow the Party. We will strengthen the education, care and training of the intellectuals, putting forth great effort to train a group of core members for Marxism education, whose political standpoints are steadfast and whose professional quality are high. To ensure that they will unite around the party in the greatest degree, we should establish a system of communication and networking for such special groups as leaders of website opinions, network writers, contracted writers, freelance writers, independent actors, actresses and singers.
Strengthening the “Four systems”. Strengthening the system of positive propaganda and guidance. The propaganda departments and offices of various levels should take the initiative to choose topics to arrange news publicity, establish the system of news liaison personnel so as to expand the coverage for positive propaganda. Furthermore, we should strengthen the system of responding to emergencies. We should also speed up strengthening the platform of monitoring social and public sentiment, understand the trend of important public opinion on time and conscientiously guide the public opinion of emergencies. We have to strengthen the leadership system of being co-administered by relevant government functional departments. We should foster the concept of “great propaganda” and implement the supporting policy for steadily increasing the investment of public finance. The work pattern of the unified leadership by the Party Committee, the division of labour and co-operation among the various functional departments and participation and support by the entire society. The system of supervising, rewarding and punishing should be strengthened. We should praise and reward working units and individuals who have implemented the policies of the central government, have conscientiously publicised the central work of the TAR Party Committee and TAR People’s Government, whose effectiveness of propaganda is great and whose contribution is outstanding. Meanwhile we should punish those who have violated the disciplines for news reports and whose orientation of propaganda is erroneous.
Grasp firmly the point of putting forth one’s effort: Carry out the work of the ideological realm with innovations
We should adhere to the principle of guiding people with ideals and beliefs. Ideals and beliefs are just like “calcium” for Communists. We should combine our efforts to study, publicise and implement the series of important speeches made by the General Secretary Xi Jinping as well as our effort to study the socialist theoretical system with Chinese characteristics with the gist of the Eighteenth Party Congress. We will compile a book (in both Tibetan and Chinese) consisting of important speeches made by the General Secretary, the editorials and the reviews, and will issue a copy to every cadre who is a Party member so that he can study it carefully. We should also allow cadres stationed in villages, cadres stationed in monasteries, the head of two friendship families and cadres’ effort to assist one’s friendship family in rural regions to play their role in publicising the gist of important speeches made by the General Secretary. In doing so, the speeches will be known to all and impress deeply in everyone’s mind. We should also promote the project of studying and constructing Marxism, and co-operate among various government functional departments to establish “the Research Base of Key Reality Issues in Tibet of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences”. We should have Marxist theories as one of the core required courses for Party schools of various levels (College of Administration), which should account for over 60% of the total class periods. We should also draft and put into effect “The Suggestion of Strengthening the Ideological and Political Work in Colleges and Universities”, and compile textbooks for ideological and political education in six universities and colleges in TAR so as to ensure Marxism, the history of the CCP and history of our country will be included in textbooks, in classes and in people’s mind.
We should adhere to uniting people through the “Chinese Dream”. We should carry out “the Great discussion of the Chinese Dream”, “Fulfilling the Chinese Dream” and implement the “Chinese Dream – Five Actions of Civilising Tibet”. We should interview and edit a series of news reports titled “The Chinese Dream – The Story of Tibet”, and film the documentary titled “The Chinese Dream – My Dream”. We should explain and publicise the TV documentary and thematic public service announcements to the people. We will also publicise the deeds of 100 model workers who are dedicated to their work in the activity entitled “Chinese Dream – Starting from me”. This will enable the people of various ethnic groups to thoroughly understand, to realise the Chinese dream, one must follow China’s path under the leadership of the CCP, propagate the spirit of China, coalesce the power of China. They should more thoroughly understand the intrinsic relationships among the dream of the country, the dream of the nation and the dream of individuals.
We should adhere to affecting people with thematic activities. We will thoroughly carry out patriotic education. We will focus on unearthing historical relics revealing the administration and rule of Tibet by the successive central governments and “red” historical remains. We will take full advantage of the dominant position of the patriotic education base, and we will sing loud and clear the melody of “The CCP is Good”, ”Socialism is Good”, “Reform and the Open-Door Policy is good”, “The Great Motherland is Good” and “People of Various Ethnic Groups are Good”. We will thoroughly carry out educational activities focusing on core values with such themes as patriotism, unity, harmony, development and civilisation. We will actively promote the core values to be introduced into government institutions, enterprises, villages, local communities, schools, military camps and monasteries so that the core values will deeply take root in the minds of people of various ethnic groups in the entire Autonomous Region. We will thoroughly carry out the educational activities of comparing Old Tibet with the New Tibet, instructing people of various ethnic groups to be grateful to the Party, listen to the Party and follow the Party. We will thoroughly carry out the activity of national unity and progress. We should persist in observing “March 28” the anniversary of the liberation of Tibet’s million serfs and engaging in a month of publicising national unity in September. Each year we will convene an assembly to commend the actions promoting national unity and progress, and will continuously consolidate the great situation in which various ethnic groups live harmoniously together, are united and work in concert and develop harmoniously.
We will persist in inspiring people with “the spirit of Old Tibetans”. By means of holding seminars and symposiums of publicising model deeds, we will thoroughly unearth the rich connotation of “the spirit of Old Tibetans”. We will spare no effort to propagate the excellent tradition of “lack oxygen but do not lack spirit” and will endow the tradition with new characteristics of the time. We will be able to pay special attention to politics, be able to be especially innovative, able to endure hardship, able to especially shoulder responsibilities, able to especially make contributions. Thus, we will be able to have “the spirit of Old Tibetans” shine on the Tibetan plateau.
Closely Seizing the Focus: Engage in the Work of the Ideological Realm with the Spirit of Daring to Show the Sword
We should resolutely carry out the struggle against separatist activities. By means of exposing and critiquing separatist activities via theories, refuting with public opinion, publicising and explaining policies as well as expounding by using one’s own experience as example, we should thoroughly expose and criticise the wrongdoings of the fourteenth Dalai lama’s clique, including the reactionary nature of their politics, hypocrisy of their religion, deception of their tricks. We should also thoroughly expose and criticise the Dalai Clique’s reactionary scheme of the so-called “Middle Way”, “Greater Tibet” and “high degree of autonomy”. We should educate and guide cadres and ordinary people of various ethnic groups to separate Tibetan Buddhism from the fourteenth Dalai Lama, and separate the fourteenth Dalai lama from the title of the Dalai Lama so that they will consciously make a clear break from the fourteenth Dalai Lama’s clique. Their standpoint in the important political principle like the anti-separatist struggle is firm and will be highly consistent with standpoints of the Central Party Committee.
We should resolutely resist infiltration and sabotages. We have to actively construct the “three-in-one” anti-infiltration prevention and control system, consisting of ground, air and cyberspace, and put forth great efforts to implement “The New Western Project”. We should strengthen the building up of experimental capability of broadcasting, and carry out the special action of checking and confiscating illegal satellite reception equipments so as to ensure the qualification rate of experimental broadcasting reached over 99%, and in key areas the rate will reach 100%. We will strike hard against separatists who enter Tibet to engage in counter-revolutionary propaganda; we will intensify the supervision and management of new media such as networks and websites. We will also put into effect the practice of having telephone and network clients register with their true identities, and effectively and timely monitor and obstruct reactionary speeches and harmful information. We should try our best to enable the voices and images of the Central Party Committee to be heard and seen in the vast territory of over 1.2 million square kilometres, and prevent voices and images of hostile forces and the fourteenth Dalai Lama’s clique from being heard and seen.
We should resolutely struggle against erroneous ideological trends and views. Focusing on seven special topics such as “Constitutional Government and Democracy”, ”Universal Values”, “Civil Society”, “Neoliberalism”, “Views of News” and “Historical Nihilism”, we will form central groups to study these topics and arrange experts to refute mistaken ideological trends and views. In doing so, we will be able to educate and guide the vast Party members, cadres, experts and scholars to have a clear understanding of the essence of the erroneous ideological trends and views and their dangers. Meanwhile, we should strike hard against the actions of attacking leaders of the Party, attacking Socialism, attacking national unity, distorting the history of the Party and history of the country, starting rumours and spreading rumours, slandering and sensationalising on the internet. We should resolutely punish and regulate fake information, violation of rights on internet and obscene and pornographic materials, and guide the websites and netizens voluntarily adhere to the “Seven Bottom Lines” for spreading information on the internet (the seven bottom lines are the bottom line of laws and legal regulations, the bottom line of the socialist system, the bottom line of national interests, the bottom line of the legal rights of citizens, the bottom line of social public order, the bottom line of morality and prevailing customs and the bottom line of the veracity of information).
This post is also available in: Chinese (Simplified)
Tags: Chen Quanguo
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Bristol University to the Somme
Posted on 3 July 2016 by Robert Bickers
There are 173 names recorded on the University of Bristol’s memorial to those who died in the First World War. Captain W. J. Mason is one of these. A Lecturer in Economics, and head of the department, William John Mason was killed 100 years ago today, at La Boisselle on the Somme. He was 27.
William John Mason, 1915. Source: Imperial War Museum Collections
An LSE graduate, Will Mason was appointed to his post at Bristol in early 1914, and his role also included delivering lectures for the Workers’ Education Association at the recently-established University Settlement in Barton Hill. Mason joined the University’s Officer Training Corps at the outbreak of the war, was gazetted to the Gloucester Regiment in November 1914, arriving in France in July 1915. In January the following year he was promoted to Captain, serving with the 8th Gloucesters. Some 32 members of the university’s teaching staff were on active service by the time he was killed. An earlier report in September 1915 had outlined the University staff’s contributions to the war effort. Some 14 members of the Arts Faculty staff were listed. Amongst these, History’s Professor George Hare Leonard was spending most of his spare time engaged in YMCA work; the Lecturer in History and tutor for women students, May Staveley, a Quaker, had worked over the previous summer with the Friends Relief Commission in France; their fellow historian William Luther Cooper, who had joined the department in 1913 and would later become the University’s first salaried Librarian, was waiting to take up a commission in the Royal Field Artillery. May Staveley was also honorary secretary of the University of Bristol Women’s War Work Fund which, amongst other activities, ran the University Hostel for Belgian refugees.
Captain Mason was a ‘brilliant teacher’, reported the WEA’s regional secretary, with a ‘genial disposition’. He was one of ‘the three brilliant men of my generation’ of LSE students, recalled Baroness Mary Stocks four decades later. The University of Bristol’s Council recorded its ‘deep grief’ at the news. The 8th Gloucesters — mostly ‘untried’ men — had gone into battle at La Boiselle at 3.15 on the morning of 3 July to reinforce the attempt to take and hold the heavily fortified village. Mason was one of the six officers killed that day. The village was secured on 4 July; the battalion’s total casualties by then totalling 302 killed, wounded or missing. ‘A truly bloody scene’, recorded their commander, the village flattened as ‘if the very soul had been blasted out of the earth and turned into a void’. Into that void had gone William John Mason, and his name is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. The University’s memorial tablet was unveiled on 4 July 1924 in the Wills Memorial Building by Field Marshall Lord Methuen, who could not resist using the occasion to offer indirect but tart observations on the recently-established Labour government. After the service a trumpeter played the Last Post, the final notes echoing through the corridors of the otherwise silenced building.
W.J. Mason included along with some of The Gloucestershire Regiment’s missing, Thiepval Memoria.l Pier and Face 5 A and 5 B. Source: Ancestry Family Tree.
Sources include Western Daily Press, 20 September 1915, p. 9; 17 July 1916, p. 4; 11 November 1916, p. 4; 5 July 1924, p. 5, National Archives, WO 95/2085/1, ‘8 Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment (1915 Jul – 1919 Mar)’; Adrian Carton de Wiart, Happy Odyssey (1950), pp. 58-59.
Posted in First World War, University history | Tagged Barton Hill Settlement, Gloucester Regiment, Refugees | Leave a reply
Malaysian Linkages, Old and New
Posted on 1 July 2016 by administrator
Andrew Hillier – who recently completed a PhD at the University of Bristol – shares his research in this blog, which addresses the history of Malaysian diaspora by exploring its spaces, places, furnishings and memorials.
Walter and Betty Medhurst arrived in Melaka (Malacca) in 1817. A printer by trade, Walter had been sent by the London Missionary Society (LMS) to the Ultra-Ganges region, to assist Robert Morrison and William Milne in the task of printing and distributing translations of the Bible and other tracts. But Medhurst was fired with evangelical zeal and his principal aim was to become a missionary himself. Two years after his arrival, having acquired a reasonable command of Chinese and shown a fervent devotion to the Gospel, he was ordained and spent a further two years in Malacca before moving to Penang. His fervour did not always endear him to his colleagues and as a result, a year later, he was transferred to Batavia (present-day Jakarta), where he lived for the next twenty years. The objective was to enter China and begin the mass ‘conversion of the heathen’ and so, when the first treaty ports were opened in 1843, Medhurst immediately embarked on this task.
As the first of my forbears to ‘go east’, the Medhursts are the starting point for my thesis, in which I explore the relationship between family and empire through the lens of four generations, who lived and worked in east and south-east Asia. Although they only spent four years in Malaysia, this was a formative time for Walter and Betty and, whilst Medhurst wrote of his experiences in China: Its State and Prospects (1838), I wanted to see the places for myself. In the event, apart from a fine memorial to William Milne in the Dutch Church in Malacca (plate 1), I found little evidence of the LMS, since, after the opening of the treaty ports, it removed its operations to Hong Kong.
However, the visit proved rewarding because there is a lively interest in the history of both Malacca and George Town (as Penang’s port-city is still called), spear-headed by Khoo Salma Nasution, who also runs her own publishing house. This contributed to the two port-cities being jointly listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in July 2008. In the words of the Declaration, their rich multi-cultural heritage had been preserved and maintained over several centuries and could still be seen in their ‘…unique architecture, culture and townscapes’. Of this, three elements were of particular interest.
1. Memorial tablet to William Milne, Dutch Church, Malacca.
First, the vibrant plural society of Chinese, Malay and Indian, which greeted Medhurst on his arrival, can still be found in both the buildings and the everyday life. Secondly, whereas Britain was the only European power to colonise Penang, in Malacca, the presence of the Portuguese and, later, the Dutch had plainly influenced the port-city’s development. Thirdly, leaving aside the European presence, what had given rise to the plural society in both settlements was the mass migration, principally of Chinese but also of Indians, Indonesians and others, which had begun in the 1500s. Accordingly, by the early 1800s, within the framework of Britain’s formal empire, there was an informal empire or diaspora, promoted by the Chinese both economically and culturally. Moreover, family had played a key role in stimulating and consolidating this process.
To understand this, it is logical to begin with Malacca because it was there that the Portuguese first landed in 1511, and established a safe haven for their voyages to and from the Spice Islands. Whilst there is little tangible evidence of this now, by inter-marrying, they added to the island’s plural society and left an enduring Catholic legacy. When the Dutch arrived, they introduced a very different version of Christianity and European culture, which shaped the city’s development during the seventeenth and eighteenth century. By the time the British formally acquired the Settlement in exchange for Bencoolen in 1824, the port had lost its importance, with Penang providing better facilities and Singapore already becoming a busy entrepôt. As a result, it is the Dutch influence which continues to exemplify the European presence.
It is evident in the simple lines of the Dutch Reformed Church which overlooks the central square, in the administrative buildings, such as the Stadthuys, and in the street architecture, where the Dutch style of merchant house, locally known as a ‘shophouse’ was introduced. A typical example can be found in Heeren Street, adjoining Jonkers Street. Totally derelict twenty years ago, it has been carefully restored by the Heritage of Malaysia Trust. It illustrates how Dutch building methods and materials were used in the construction of such houses and how, later, it served the needs of a Chinese merchant and his family. The shop’s façade contains one large shutter which would fold down to serve as a counter for displaying wares (plate 2).
2. Facade of restored shop-house, Heeren Street, Malacca, 2016.
Inside, there is a central open courtyard, with the family rooms being at the rear (plate 3). On the bench are examples of the original Dutch bricks which were shipped as ballast and then used for building. Fittingly, inside, there is a Vermeer print to show how closely the design matches that of similar houses in Delft. Here, therefore, we have strong linkages between Dutch and local Malaysian society.
3. The Inside courtyard of the shop-house
About 50 metres down the same street is a strikingly different building – one built by a rich Peranakan Chinese, or as they are more usually called now, a baba-nyonya. These were the Chinese who, from the 1500s, came over to settle and, often leaving a wife at ‘home’ on the mainland, to whom they would return from time to time, married a ‘local’ woman, either Malay or Indonesian. Contrary to Western colonial culture, where such inter-marriage was frowned upon, this class became respected and often affluent and formed a key part of the local community.
This is all brought together in the baba & nyonya Heritage Museum, the former home of a baba, Chan Cheng Siew (1865-1919), whose father had first migrated from China and who, having made a fortune in rubber and other investments, built this lavish mansion for himself and his family (plate 4).
4. The Former Home of a Rich Peranakan, Malacca.
Whilst it is Chinese in its overall appearance and much of its furnishings, with chairs and tables made of Chinese black-wood and decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay, the fashion was to import and use British materials: plasterwork, tiles from Stoke on Trent, wrought iron pillars and beams manufactured by Macfarlanes in Glasgow and art nouveau glass for windows, chandeliers and artefacts (plates 5).
5 5. Eclectic Peranakan Style importing British influences.
Further down the same street is Hotel Puri, the ancestral home of Tan Kim Seng, a third generation Chinese, born in Malacca, whose grandfather, like many others, first came from the Eng Choon district of Fujian in the eighteenth century. The current house, which was built in 1876, retains many of the original Chinese features as well as a library where the story of the Tan dynasty is displayed. By chance, I got talking to a cleaning lady who told me the history of her family, which was Indian, third generation Malay. Taking me to a map, she described the trajectory of their lives which now extended to Singapore, Italy, Britain and Canada, which she still visited. Thus, Malacca’s plural culture, underpinned by family connection, continues to thrive.
A similar pattern can be found in Penang where, in the nineteenth century, wealthy Chinese and Peranakan families established themselves, living and working alongside the British. It is illustrated by two houses, previously derelict but which have been restored by entrepreneurs dedicated to preserving Penang’s heritage. The Blue Mansion was built by one of Penang’s richest merchants, Cheong Fatt Tze, who arrived penniless from Guangdong in the mid-nineteenth century, and went on to amass a fortune through rubber, coffee and tea investments, and was appointed Consul-General to the Qing government in the 1890s. The house comprises 38 rooms, 5 courtyards and seven staircases and is a typical mixture of Chinese and European taste. One of its most distinctive features is the ‘cut and paste shard’ porcelain decoration on the outside of the building, the restoration of which could only be done by craftsmen brought over from the People’s Republic of China. Cheong left eight wives and six sons but none of them were able to continue his legacy.
The Pinang Peranakan Mansion was owned by a very different type of Straits Chinese. Chung Keng Kwee made his fortune through tin mining and other more dubious enterprises and was one of the principal leaders of the Chinese secret societies, until they were outlawed in the 1880s. Born in 1821, Chung came from a family of farmers living in a remote Hakka village in the region of Zengcheng, east of Guangzhou. Coming to the mainland in search of his father, he quickly established himself as an astute businessman and was appointed leader of one of the secret societies. Frequently in dispute with other Chinese Clans, the rivalries culminated in the Larut Wars which indirectly led to the Pangkor Treaty (1874) and the introduction of a British Resident as ‘adviser’ to the Sultan. Whilst the house has been restored to reflect this family history, the contents are primarily Peranakan, albeit it is difficult to define that style precisely.
The importance of family in these processes is exemplified in the ancestral home of the Khoo Clan, Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi. The Khoo family originated from Sin Kang Village in Fujian and was one of the Five Big Clans that formed the backbone of the Hokkien community in early Penang. According to the Kongsi curator, Lawrence Cheah, the birth of the first Khoo clansman in Penang took place in 1775. His son married a local woman and their children were thus baba nyonya. The earliest Khoo clansmen to Penang earned their livelihoods as fishermen and small-time merchants but, when Francis Light established the port-city in 1786, the Clan began to build their fortune, bringing over from China not only their own kinsmen but also substantial contingents of Chinese labour.
6. The Khoo Ancestral Temple, Penang
In 1850 the Clan bought the land on which their home now stands, presided over by its giant ancestral temple. In the adjoining rooms, the Clan’s history is displayed, with memorial tablets recording its members’ achievements, amongst whom are a number of UOB alumni (plate 7).
7. Bristol Alumni, Khoo Temple.
Each year, coming from all over East and South-east Asia and further afield, the Clan assembles at the Kongsi and nowhere could better represent the importance which the Chinese still attach to ancestral worship and filial piety than this set of magnificent buildings.
Whilst the formal British presence is represented by standard colonial architecture – Fort Cornwallis, former government buildings and a number of churches – the everyday life can be found in the street architecture and arcades, and, of course, in the Christian Cemetery. In this tranquil, if somewhat unkempt, setting, the hazards and heartache of colonial life can be found inscribed on gravestones and memorials. The following provide a few poignant examples.
8. Tombstones, Christian Cemetery, George Town.
Considering these lives in the context of this society, two questions occurred to me. First, what sort of contact took place between the British and this affluent Chinese/ Peranakan community? That there was a degree of intellectual interaction is evident from the Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia, produced and edited by James Logan between 1847 and 1858, and the proceedings of various learned societies – see Su Lin Lewis, ‘Between Orientalism and Nationalism: The Learned Society and the Making of “South East Asia”’, 10 (2013) Modern Intellectual History, pp. 353-374. But it would be interesting to know how this developed when imperialism became more strident. Secondly, given the appetite for British materials and furnishings, how was the exercise of designing, ordering and shipping from Britain performed? Might there be private archives with records of such transactions and what would they tell us about these relationships? Given the number of UOB alumni, perhaps there is scope for forging linkages between the University and Penang to explore these sort of questions.
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Hmong National and World News
The Hmong Times National and World section brings you highlights that affect our Hmong Community here in Minnesota. With a special attention given to honoring our veterans and their contributions to our way of life.
What Does the Political Chaos in the U.S. Mean to Hmong Citizens?
For many Hmong citizens, all these political ripples and struggles between the powers that be may seem like two bickering children fighting over a piece of candy but it affects us more than we think.
Kou Yang Book Explores Homeland Of ‘Sayaboury – Land Of A Million Elephants Of Laos’
Kou Yang, a professor emeritus of ethnic studies at California State University, Stanislaus, is also originally from the area of Sayaboury, Laos, and recently published his latest book on the history and impact of the region on the Hmong world.
SEARAC Co-Sponsors CA Legislation To Improve Cultural Competence In Mental Health
Southeast Asian Americans experience high rates of PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
The 2019 Hmong National Development Conference Urges Attendees To Be Bold And Unleash Their Potential
Every other year Hmong Americans gather for one of the largest events in the Hmong community. The Hmong National Development Conference, or HNDC for short, attracts more than 1,000 attendees from across the country who meet and share their knowledge and experiences and rekindle their pride in their cultural heritage.
The Anti-Poverty Soldier
New research highlights important strategies to lift people out of poverty. But nonprofit expert asks, “Are they enough?”
Laos, Hmong Veterans Honored At National Ceremonies At Arlington National Cemetery, Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Washington, D.C. and Arlington, Virginia, May 17, 2018. Lao and Hmong veterans of the Vietnam War in Laos are being honored at national ceremonies and policy events according to the Center for Public Policy Analysis (CPPA) in Washington, D.C.
Laos, Hmong Veterans Laud Passage, Enactment, By U.S. Congress, President Trump Of Burial Honors Bill
Lao and Hmong-American U.S. Secret Army veterans of the Vietnam War in Laos, and their refugee families across the United States, are lauding the passage, and seeking timely and appropriate implementation, of the “Hmong Veterans’ Service Recognition Act” by President Donald Trump and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), according to the Center for Public Policy Analysis.
The Anti-Poverty Soldier – America’s Immigrants Are A Source Of Strength, Dignity, And Pride
Last month, set against the nationwide remembrances of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the central news story for several days was around what was said and by whom in a White House meeting to address the proposed Graham-Durbin DREAM Act of 2017.
Costa, Hmong & Lao American Veterans Celebrate Legislative Victory
On March 29, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-16) was joined by Special Guerrilla Unit (SGU) veterans and veterans organization leaders to announce and celebrate the enactment of the Hmong Veterans’ Service Recognition Act as incorporated into last week’s appropriations law.
Headstone Chaos At Mountain View Cemetery – Fresno, CA
On February 7th, Kabao Xiong saw pictures posted on Facebook of headstones being removed from the Mountain View Cemetery located at 1411 W. Belmont Avenue in Fresno, California.
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Odysseus and the Epicureans
Odysseus between Scylla and Charybdis
Odysseus was one of the classic role models for the Stoics. And he was my favorite mythological hero when I was a kid. Both excellent reasons for this mini-series on the legendary Greek hero and how he has been interpreted through the lenses of a number of Hellenistic philosophies. These notes are based on my reading of the excellent From Villain to Hero: Odysseus in Ancient Thought, by Silvia Montiglio. We have looked at how the Cynics and the Stoics tackled the question of Odysseus, and it is now the turn of the Epicureans. I am skipping Montiglio’s treatment of the Platonists, but I will conclude next time with a jump forward in time, to Dante’s take on Ulysses in the Divine Comedy, where Cato the Younger — another Stoic role model — is also featured, as the only pagan outside of Hell.
Montiglio begins the chapter with Heraclitus’ famous accusation that Epicurus used Odysseus’ praise of feasting and singing to further his nefarious philosophy: “What Odysseus said falsely, unwisely, and hypocritically at the court of Alcinous, Epicurus pronounces as the goal of life, and claims to be speaking the truth.” But this doesn’t make much sense once we consider that the Epicureans’ praise of pleasure was not at all concerned with feasting and singing as if there were no tomorrow: “the kind of pleasure Epicurus deems the end of life is a permanent repose of the mind (‘katastematic’ pleasure), not the enjoyment derived from pleasurable activities (‘kinematic’ pleasure).”
Indeed, Montiglio adds, the only Epicurean author of which we have inherited a direct treatment of Odysseus is the Syrian Philodemus, who actually mocks the Greek hero “for his bottomless belly”: “By dissociating his Epicurean value-system from Odysseus’ parasitic hunger, Philodemus strongly suggests that Odysseus’ supposed hedonism was targeted by opponents of Epicureanism as evidence for the ‘shamefulness’ of that doctrine, rather than being exploited by the Epicureans themselves to defend it.”
Turns out, it is the Stoic Seneca who probably correctly described the Epicurean take on Odysseus’ stories, when he pointed out that the Epicureans “praised the condition of a state at peace” in their treatment of the episode in which Odysseus arrives in the country of the Phaeacians.
Indeed, the same Philodemus mentioned above wrote On the Good King, where he criticizes the Phaeacians as “luxurious” (thus, again, rejecting the image of Epicureans as hedonists), but praises them for their rigorous physical training and the consequent securing of peace. And Odysseus is likened to them and in particular to their king Alcinous, because he, too, was physically vigorous and presided over a peaceful kingdom. All of this makes sense, for Montiglio, because Philodemus was writing within the historical context of the late Roman Republican period, in the midst of civil war.
“Philodemus [made his treatise appealing to the Roman elite] by avoiding any reference to a specific political contingency and by drawing his examples from the Homeric world, whose multiple rulers could be proposed as models to a Roman aristocrat less offensively than a single monarch. Of all the Homeric heroes Odysseus was the most suitable to embody the ideal ruler in this context because he was not the king of kings but a primus inter pares, as it were, and the most effective and cooperative of all his peers.”
Philodemus in turn influenced a young Virgil, whom he knew personally, and consequently Virgil’s picture of Ulysses in the Aeneid is — Montiglio claims — less negative than it is often assumed.
Philodemus praises Odysseus for the firm intervention he makes in the Iliad to restore order to the Greek camp, thus helping to secure Agamemnon’s imperiled leadership. This very much appealed to Virgil, who wrote his poem within the context of the Pax Romana imposed by the first emperor, Octavian Augustus.
In On the Good King, Philodemus, an Epicurean, praises Odysseus for not claiming to be better than the heroes of earlier times, in contrast with Hector’s prideful defiance of the gods. Odysseus also corrected Achilles, for both his anger against Agamemnon and his excessive grief over Patroclus. His appeal to moderation in mourning is proverbial, and would have been appreciated by the Stoics as well.
Both Plutarch (a middle Platonist, not an Epicurean) and Philodemus, moreover, approve of Odysseus’ reassurance of his companions when they are steering their ship near the monster Charybdis. At first glance, it may appear that the hero is vaingloriously boasting of the wit that got him and his shipmates out of trouble in the episode of the Cyclop Polyphemus, but “this kind [of] self praise belongs to a man who offers his virtue and knowledge to his friends as security to lift their spirits. For at critical moments an important element for success is the respect and confidence placed in a man who has the experience and abilities of a leader.” Odysseus, that is, is boasting for the practical purpose of injecting courage in his crew, not out of vain pride. Moreover, for the Epicureans it was also important that Odysseus was praising intellectual, not merely physical, talent, since the emphasis on the former is what distinguished the sect from that of the Cyrenaics.
As Montiglio writes: “This preference for mental qualities over physical ones even on the battlefield resonates with the Socratic tradition, especially with Antisthenes, who reconfigured the very notion based on Odysseus’ intelligence against Ajax’s brutish force.”
In an “interlude” within the chapter, Montiglio seeks to explain why Philodemus presents Odysseus to his fellow Romans not as an impossible ideal, a Socrates, say, but rather as a practical model of political virtue. Throughout the Homeric poems, Odysseus acknowledges the mutability of human affairs, and braves whatever Fate throws at him in the best way he can.
Again in the episode of his visit to the island of the Phaeacians, his compassion shines through: “This picture of Odysseus accords with the humane sympathy he shows for his victims already in the Odyssey. At the court of Alcinous he asks the bard to sing of the ruse of the Wooden Horse, his major feat in the war. His response to the song is poignant and disquieting: he weeps like a woman who clings to her dying husband while the enemy drags her into slavery … As many a reader has seen, by means of this simile Odysseus is portrayed in the act of identifying with the victims of the war he won, especially the weakest ones, the Trojan women doomed to be enslaved. The celebration of his major achievement in the war draws tears of empathy from him. He feels no joy or pride.”
For the Epicureans, friendship and mentorship were crucial to a life worth living. Accordingly, Philodemus also sees Odysseus as a good teacher and friend, who knows when it is time to speak frankly and when that is not, in fact, appropriate: “His ideal is not an Achilles-type, for whom outspokenness is a rigid principle, but a flexible, sensitive teacher-friend-doctor, who knows when and how frank speech is beneficial.”
Moreover, Ulysses repeatedly deflects flattery, because he knows himself, and a man who is following the Delphic Oracle’s advise to Socrates needs no flattery. Odysseus is also praised for his solitary and rather unemotional stance: “This role of Odysseus as unemotional friend is in keeping with his fundamental solitude. In the Iliad Odysseus has no personal friend and shows no special attachment to anyone. There is no Patroclus, no Pylades, no Pirithous, no Euryalus at his side. His association with Diomedes is no intimate friendship, but the relationship between a mature man and his young and ambitious apprentice.” There is a big difference between this sort of solitary demeanor and that of Achilles, a tragic figure. Achilles cannot be anyone’s mentor, because he is unconcerned with other people’s welfare (except that of his lover and friend, Patroclus).
Overall, then, we have seen that the three sects we examined — the Cynics, the Stoics, and the Epicureans — each found a way to interpret the figure of Odysseus, sometimes twisting the earlier sources a bit, in a way congruous with their respective teachings. The Cynics emphasized the episode of Odysseus in rags. The Stoics paid particular attention to his ability to accept circumstances and deal with them in the best way he can. And the Epicureans emphasized his humility and love of peace.
Of course, there is no truth of the matter about who Odysseus really was, since he is a mythological figure. Accordingly, it makes little sense to criticize, say, the Cynics for twisting the “facts” to fit their philosophy, as that is the role of mythological figures: to be reinterpreted in new ways by successive generations. Indeed, what we learn from Montiglio’s philosophical journey is how members of different Hellenistic schools saw themselves and what they thought was important or valid, in a sense using their treatment of the story of Odysseus as a mirror through which to better understand the differences among those schools. It is a testament to the art of Homer and the ancient poets who put together the original Epic Cycle, of which the Iliad and Odyssey are two of the twelve parts, that three millennia later we can still appreciate one of the most enduring creations of their lyrical imagination.
This entry was posted in History & Biographies, Stoic role models and tagged From Villain to Hero on May 30, 2017 by Massimo.
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2 thoughts on “Odysseus and the Epicureans”
Josef Mendoza May 30, 2017 at 12:30 pm
Dear Massimo,
I enjoy reading and contemplating your admirable Stoic Blog posts during my NYC subway commutes.
However, in the interest of a historically accurate account of philosophical dialogue, I would urge a minor correction to your recent posting on the Odysseus of the Epicureans.
Surely a few keys were missed when typing or editorial oversight missed the erroneous report on Silvia Montiglio’s description of Heraclitus’ “famous accusation” against Epicurus. Unless the reference is to a name-sake of the Stoic ancestor Heraclitus, who died circa 475BCE, surely it would have been impossible for him to have directly accused Epicurus (d. 270BCE) of anything untoward.
The charitable interpretation would seem to be that Stoic “Heraclitean” and Epicurean followers must have been intended. Whether that impacts your readers’ confidence in the veracity of your Stoic accounts and advocacy are matters that are outside of your control. Nevertheless, you may want to amend the post for historical accuracy and clarify your intended true meaning for the sake of validity.
Josef Mendoza Philosophy jmendoza@bmcc.cuny.edu jmendoza7@mercy.edu
On Tue, May 30, 2017 at 7:02 AM, How to Be a Stoic wrote:
> Massimo posted: ” Odysseus was one of the classic role models for the > Stoics. And he was my favorite mythological hero when I was a kid. Both > excellent reasons for this mini-series on the legendary Greek hero and how > he has been interpreted through the lenses of a numb” >
Massimo Post author May 30, 2017 at 1:48 pm
Josef,
Thanks for the correction, but the same thought had, in fact, occurred to me, so that I had double checked Montiglio’s text: she refers not to Heraclitus the pre-Socratic philosopher (this one: http://tinyurl.com/ycnjgfgq), which, as you point out, would be absurd. Rather, she is talking about a commentator and grammarian of the I century (this one: http://tinyurl.com/yby6xx94), who wrote a book on Homeric Problems.
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Tag Archives: mathematician
Movie Time …. “The Imitation Game”!!
“SOMETIMES IT’S THE PEOPLE WHO NO ONE IMAGINES ANYTHING OF THAT DO THE THINGS THAT NO ONE CAN IMAGINE”
~Quote from the movie~
It is already a c. I just saw “The Imitation Game” … a movie depicting Alan Turing’s story, the decoding of “war messages” by Germany & his personal story. He was an exquisitely talented man … tormented by his hidden, illegal homosexuality. Convicted in England. He chose chemical castration rather than jail time. He committed suicide at 41 years of age. He’s the “father of computers”.
Humanity owes him quite a lot! Hats off, Mr. Turing!!
Alan Mathison Turing, OBE, FRS (23 June 1912 – 7 June 1954) was a British pioneering computer scientist, mathematician, logician, cryptoanalyst, philosopher, mathematical biologist, and marathon and ultra distance runner. He was highly influential in the development of computer science, providing a formalization of the concepts of “algorithm” and “computation” with the Turing machine, which can be considered a model of a general purpose computer. Turing is widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence.
During the Second World War, Turing worked for the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) at Bletchley Park, Britain’s codebreaking centre. For a time he led Hut 8, the section responsible for German naval cryptanalysis. He devised a number of techniques for breaking German ciphers, including improvements to the pre-war Polish bombe method, an electromechanical machine that could find settings for the Enigma machine. Winston Churchill said that Turing made the single biggest contribution to Allied victory in the war against Nazi Germany. Turing’s pivotal role in cracking intercepted coded messages enabled the Allies to defeat the Nazis in several crucial battles. It has been estimated that the work at Bletchley Park shortened the war in Europe by as many as two to four years.
After the war, he worked at the National Physical Laboratory, where he designed the ACE, among the first designs for a stored-program computer. In 1948 Turing joined Max Newman’s Computing Laboratory at Manchester University, where he assisted development of the Manchester computers and became interested in mathematical biology. He wrote a paper on the chemical basis of morphogenesis, and predicted oscillatingchemical reactions such as the Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction, first observed in the 1960s.
Turing was prosecuted in 1952 for homosexual acts, when such behavior was still criminalized in the UK. He accepted treatment with oestrogen injections (chemical castration) as an alternative to prison. Turing died in 1954, 16 days before his 42nd birthday, from cyanide poisoning.
The autopsy concluded that the cause of death was asphyxia due to cyanide poisoning and ruled a suicide.
An inquest determined his death a suicide; his mother and some others believed it was accidental. In 2009, following an Internet campaign, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made an official public apology on behalf of the British government for “the appalling way he was treated”. Queen Elizabeth II granted him a posthumous pardon in 2013.
“As it appears in …. “
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing
The Imitation Game is a 2014 historical thriller film about British mathematician, logician, cryptoanalyst and pioneering computer scientist Alan Turing, a key figure in cracking Nazi Germany’s Enigma code that helped the Allies win the Second World War, only to later be criminally prosecuted for his homosexuality. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing and is directed by Morten Tyldum with a screenplay by Graham Moore, based on the biography Alan Turing: The Enigma by Andrew Hodges.
“It will work”
It had its world premiere at the 41st Telluride Film Festival in August 2014. It also featured at the 39th Toronto International Film Festival in September where it won “People’s Choice Award for Best Film”, the highest award of the festival. It had its European premiere as the opening film of the 58th BFI London Film Festival in October and was released theatrically in the United Kingdom on 14 November, and in the United States on 28 November.
~~SOURCES~~
http://www.turing.org.uk/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/alan_turing
~~The Imitation Game – Official Trailer~~
~~Published on Jul 21, 2014~~
In THE IMITATION GAME, Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Alan Turing, the genius British mathematician, logician, cryptologist and computer scientist who led the charge to crack the German Enigma Code that helped the Allies win WWII. Turing went on to assist with the development of computers at the University of Manchester after the war, but was prosecuted by the UK government in 1952 for homosexual acts which the country deemed illegal.
#MovieTime #TheImitationGame #MajorMotionPicture #BritishPioneeringComputerScientist #Mathematician #Logician #Cryptoanalyst #Philosopher #Mathematical #Biologist #MarathonUltraDistanceRunner #BenedictCumberbatch #CrackGermanEnigmaCode #AlliesWinWWII #ProsecutedUKGovernment #1952 #Homosexuality #CountryDeemedIllegal #BelousovZhabotinskyReaction #TheEnigma #AndrewHodges #Asphyxia #CyanidePoisoning #RuledSuicide
#WeAllAreOne #ItIsWhatItIs #DrRex #hrexachwordpress
~~RELATED~~
https://hrexach.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/alan-turing-father-of-modern-computing-and-much-more/
https://hrexach.wordpress.com/2013/06/24/alan-turing/
Posted in #CyanidePoisoning #RuledSuicide, Activism, Advertisement, Art, Asphixia, Autobiography, Awareness, Blogging, British, Career, Celebration, Celebrities, Computer, Death, Earth, Education, Emotional, Energy, Entertainment, Equality, Family, Government, Graphics, Grief, History, Human, Men, Science, Wisdom, Women, WordPress, World | Tagged "It Is What It Is", #CyanidePoisoning #RuledSuicide, #MovieTime #TheImitationGame #MajorMotionPicture #BritishPioneeringComputerScientist #Mathematician #Logician #Cryptoanalyst #Philosopher #Mathematical #Biologist #MarathonUltraDistanceRunner #Benedic, Alan Mathison Turing, Alan Turing, Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction, British pioneering computer scientist, cryptoanalyst, Dr Rex Equality News Information Education, logician, mathematical biologist, mathematician, Movie time, philosopher, The Imitation Game, youtube video LGBT community Orlando Florida We all are one | 2 Replies
The world is still asleep …. Leonardo da Vinci!!
Posted on September 22, 2014 by Dr. Rex
~~September 22, 2014~~
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (Italian; 15 April 1452 – 2 May 1519) was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer. His genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance humanist ideal. Leonardo has often been described as the archetype of the Renaissance Man, a man of “unquenchable curiosity” and “feverishly inventive imagination”.
He is widely considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time and perhaps the most diversely talented person ever to have lived. According to art historian Helen Gardner, the scope and depth of his interests were without precedent and “his mind and personality seem to us superhuman, the man himself mysterious and remote”. Marco Rosci states that while there is much speculation about Leonardo, his vision of the world is essentially logical rather than mysterious, and that the empirical methods he employed were unusual for his time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci
~~Animated Hero Classics: Leonardo da Vinci~~
Nest Learning Videos
~~Published on Mar 8, 2012~~
Animated Hero Classics: Leonardo da Vinci on DVD
Leonardo Da Vinci shows that rarely do genius and humility live side-by-side in the same person. Yet who could dispute that Leonardo da Vinci- master painter, celebrated artist, and brilliant inventor, centuries ahead of his time-could lay claim to both titles?
The Animated Hero Classic Series on DVD consists of 20 inspiring and educational stories of heroic men and women, with the emphasis placed on their accomplishments in world history and social sciences. The series focuses on the role in which they contributed to developing social, economic and political structures as well as in establishing and spreading ideas that helped to transform the world forever.
Posted in Activism, Angelic, Art, Awareness, Blogging, Cartoon, Celebrities, Earth, Education, Emotional, Energy, Entertainment, Equality, Graphics, History, Human, Images, Information, Inspiration, Italy, Lessons, Life, Motivational, News, Photography, Pictures, Profession, Roman, Spiritual, Story, Wisdom, WordPress, World, youtube video | Tagged anatomist, Animated Hero Classics, architect, art historian Helen Gardner, botanist, cartographer, Dr Rex Equality News Information Education, emphasis placed accomplishments world history social sciences, engineer, epitomized Renaissance humanist ideal, geologist, greatest painters, inventor, Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci, man "unquenchable curiosity" "feverishly inventive imagination, mathematician, most diversely talented person ever to have lived, musician, Nest Learning Videos, rarely do genius humility live side-by-side same person, Renaissance Man, sculptor, world still asleep Leonardo da Vinci, writer, youtube video LGBT community Orlando Florida We all are one | 2 Replies
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Nigeria’s President, Buhari signs N8.92 trillion 2019 budget
Posted on May 27, 2019, 11:21 am
Nigeria’s President Buhari signs N8.92 trillion 2019 budget
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, signed the country’s long-awaited 2019 appropriation bill into law.
President had submitted the 2019 budget of N8.83trillion to the Senate but was increased by about N10billion by the Upper House, bringing the amount to N8.92trillion.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dignitaries who witnessed the signing of the budget, which took place at the mini-conference hall of the president, included the Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari also witnessed the signing of the budget.
Others at the event were the Ministers of Finance (Zainab Ahmed), Budget and National Planning (Sen. Udoma Udu Udoma), Information and Culture (Lai Mohammed) and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Sen. Danjuma Goje,
The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National AssemblyMatters (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang and his counterpart for the House of Representatives, Umar El-Yakub were also at the event.
NAN reports that on June 6, 2018, Buhari signed the 2018 appropriation bill of N9.120 trillion.
Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, after the signing of the bill, the president said the 2018 Budget will help his government to consolidate the achievements of previous budgets and deliver on Nigeria’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) 2017-2020.
He expressed his happiness with the implementation of the 2017 budget, which saw the N1.5 trillion implementation of capital projects during the 2017 fiscal year, and said the government will work hard to recreate the same achievement and generate the revenues required to finance projects and programmes that’ll significantly improve the economy.
NAN also reports that during the signing of the 2018 bill, the president further noted, with dismay, the cuts made by the National Assembly to the bill he originally presented.
He said the legislature made cuts amounting to N347 billion in the allocations to 4,700 projects submitted to them for consideration and introduced 6,403 projects of their own amounting to N578 billion.
The president said he only signed the bill because he didn’t want to further slow down the pace of recovery of Nigeria’s economy, and further disclosed that he’ll send “a supplementary and/or amendment budget” to the national assembly to rectify the critical issues he raised.
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The Clash “Sandinista!”
1980 feels like the end of the world to me, and this feels like a post-Clash album. A lot of it is nearly unlistenable, sloppy noodling, but I would never get rid of this record, and every so often I listen to it all the way through, all six sides! My favorite way to think about it is: my friend Elissa said she thought there should be a tribute band called Sandinista! who just play the songs on this record. I imagine them playing it in order, maybe taking a break after every 12 songs, playing a regular night somewhere, doing the same songs in the same order week after week. I’d go every week! I’m sure a lot of other people would, too.
The song “Lose This Skin” struck me in an odd way—I think I heard it recently somewhere but I’m not sure where, like in a movie soundtrack. But I don’t know where. A few other really good songs: “The Leader,” “Kingston Advice,” and “The Street Parade.”
The Clash “London Calling”
By rayspeen 2 Comments
From 1979, this is The Clash’s third terminal album in a row. This one REALLY feels like the end! It’s an irresistible record because they sound like they’re having so much fun that you feel like you’re in the band! But for the most part, it’s pretty soft, bordering on mushy. They’re too much in love—with their music, music they like, the USA, drugs, maybe, themselves maybe (Mick Jones), with dancing, with women. I guess you can hardly blame them, they were such a hot band at this point. A lot of people put this record in their top ten of all time. Whenever I think of it, partly due to nostalgia, I guess, I always have a warm feeling about it, and I think it’s my favorite Clash record. But then I actually listen to it and realize it’s my least favorite (of the first three). There’s not a single enduring song.
The Clash “Give ’em Enough Rope”
This came out in 1978, before the US version of their first album, but this one REALLY sounds like it’s all over. There’s a real world-weariness to it. But it’s also, strangely, the BEST Clash album. Anyway, the title no doubt refers to them, already aware of their mortality as a band, accelerated due to all of the attention and accolades and proclamations of “best band in the world” and all that. The “enough rope” is drugs, cuteness, and permission to turn into a reggae band.
Anyway, I really loved this record, and it still has a nostalgic appeal because I used to start out weekends popping open the first beer along with the beginning of “Safe European Home.” You put this record on and before you can take a breath it’s over. Not bad.
I haven’t been able to listen to The Clash in like 20 years, and at ONE TIME they were just about my favorite band! So this is interesting, listening to these records, trying to figure out what happened. I have TWO COPIES of their first LP, why? Oh, one is an English import, it came out in 1977, while the US version didn’t come out until ’79. The covers are almost identical, but the song order is completely different, and there are several songs unique to each record—these are some of the best songs on either record, too: “Deny”, “Cheat”, “Protex Blue”, “Clash City Rockers”, “Complete Control”, “White Man in Hammersmith Palais”, “Jail Guitar Doors”, and “I Fought the Law”. That explains why I have both records.
Otherwise, among the best songs here is “Hate & War.” Among the worst (which I STILL can’t listen to) “Police & Thieves.”
In a way, this record (either of them) seems like the end of The Clash’s career, at least if you’re thinking about The Clash as a really good punk band from England. This is it.
Cheap Trick “In Color…”
“and in Black and White” (also 1977) They made a mistake– the cute guys on the Harleys should have been in black and white and the nerdy guys on the mopeds in color. It’s PAINFUL to look at BOTH the cute guys being cute AND the nerdy guys being nerdy, which is interesting. It’s just painful. And it’s even MORE painful to look at the album fold-out where they are ALL trying to be cute.
I remember reading an article about these guys where they had stories about each being from some exotic locale, when in fact they were all from the asshole of the Midwest, northern Illinois. You can actually listen to this album, except for “I want you to want me”– which makes me glad I used my “At Bukokan” for skeet shooting. “Downed” holds up pretty well.
The fact that they named their band “Cheap Trick” leads you to believe that they were well aware that the gimmick of the two cute guys and two nerdy guys is fresh for about 45 minutes– or one album, if you’re lucky. That they kept it up after this record (from 1977) is a good illustration that there is no greater curse than success. But then, they are playing this New Year’s in Hawaii, while I’ll be scraping puke out of toilet stalls at the Sizzler in Cudahy, so I guess the joke’s on me.
I can’t listen to much of this anymore, but I still like “He’s a Whore” and “Taxman” (not the Beatles’ Taxman, this one’s better). There is a side “A” and a side “1”– I bet they were the only band to use THAT joke. Which is lost on a CD release, as of course is the charm of the two sides of albums. I don’t need to go on about THAT.
This is the first Cars album from 1978. It sounded fresh then, and parts of it still sound interesting, but there is something about this record that bothers me. I don’t know what it is– I can’t put my finger on it. It’s like they knew too much exactly what they were doing. There is no element of chance.
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Saudi Arabia says oil facilities near Riyadh attacked
Saudi Arabia said explosive-laden drones had struck oil pumping stations in the Riyadh region on Tuesday in what it called an act of terrorism two days after Saudi oil tankers were sabotaged off the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
The energy minister of the world’s largest oil exporter said the attack on two oil pumping stations had not disrupted oil production or exports of crude and petroleum products.
Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih, in comments run by state media, said the two recent attacks threatened global oil supplies and proved the need to counter “terrorist groups behind such destructive acts” including the Iranian-backed Houthi militias in Yemen.
Houthi-run Masirah TV earlier on Tuesday cited a military official saying the Houthis had launched drone attacks on “vital Saudi installations”. A Saudi-led military coalition has been fighting the Houthis in Yemen for four years.
Tuesday’s attack and the operation against commercial vessels off the coast of the UAE on Sunday took place as the United States and Iran exchanged angry words over sanctions and the U.S. military presence in the region.
The UAE has not revealed details on the nature of the attack on ships near Fujairah, a bunkering hub lying just outside the Strait of Hormouz, or blamed any party or country.
Iran was a prime suspect in the sabotage on Sunday although Washington had no conclusive proof, a U.S. official familiar with American intelligence said on Monday.
Iran has denied involvement and described the attack on the four commercial vessels as “worrisome and dreadful”. It has called for an investigation.
The U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia said Washington should take what he called “reasonable responses short of war” after it had determined who was behind the attacks near Fujairah.
“We need to do a thorough investigation to understand what happened, why it happened, and then come up with reasonable responses short of war,” Ambassador John Abizaid told reporters in the Saudi capital Riyadh in remarks published on Tuesday.
“It’s not in (Iran’s) interest, it’s not in our interest, it’s not in Saudi Arabia’s interest to have a conflict.”
Washington has increased sanctions on Tehran, saying it wants to reduce Iranian oil exports to zero, after quitting the 2015 nuclear pact between Iran and global powers last year.
The U.S. Maritime Administration said last week that Iran could target U.S. commercial ships including oil tankers sailing through Middle East waterways. Tehran has called the U.S. military presence “a target” rather than a threat.
A fifth of global oil consumption passes through the Strait of Hormuz from Middle East crude producers to markets in Asia, Europe, North America and beyond. The narrow waterway separates Iran from the Arabian Peninsula.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards threatened last month to close the Hormuz chokepoint if Tehran was barred from using it.
U.S. President Donald Trump wants to force Tehran to agree a broader arms control accord and has sent an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the Gulf in a show of force against what U.S. officials have said are threats to U.S. troops in the region.
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Good governance 101https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/good-governance-101/
Good governance 101
It is not about size, scope or ideology. Rather, it is about getting things done.
Written by Vikram S Mehta | Published: September 1, 2014 1:46:37 am
The writer is the chairman of Brookings India and senior fellow, Brookings Institution.
From this author
India should use diplomatic tools at its disposal to help de-escalate US-Iran tensions
Over The Barrel: How to boost the energy drive
Non-dollar based trading regime holds key to breaking US stranglehold over oil trade
By removing independent directors from PSU boards, the government is signalling its disdain for corporate governance, due process and institutional integrity.
The prime minister has hoisted his administration’s flag on the masthead of good governance. This is a welcome and timely objective. The question is, what does the prime minister mean by “good”? He campaigned on the slogan of “minimum government, maximum governance”. This would suggest that he equates “good” with “small”. There is merit in this equation. Our government is bloated, inefficient and wasteful. It needs to be slimmed down. But I am sure this does not capture the totality of the PM’s intent. He knows that governance is not about big versus small, maximum or minimum. The financial crisis that roiled the Western world in 2008-09 was at least in part the result of slackened government supervision over the financial community. The crony capitalism that led to the 2G scam and “coalgate” was also partly due to the institutional and power vacuum created by delicensing.
“Good” governance 101 for the 21st century is not about size, scope or ideology. It is about getting things done. It is about narrowing the distance between the governor and the governed. It requires strong institutions, rule of law, technology, information and talent. The executive must be empowered; the judiciary unencumbered and capable of providing timely justice; and Parliament functional for debates and legislation. It requires entrepreneurial decision-making and a systemic receptivity to new ideas and innovative solutions. It requires a government that encourages lateral entry of talent and the forging of partnerships and collaborations with business, academics and civic society. It is a government that is “smart” and biased towards action. These are different requirements from those when the world was not so connected, competitive and challenged by problems like global warming that do not respect national boundaries.
The question is, do the prime minister’s political and party colleagues understand the nature of these requirements? Do they recognise that good governance can only be built on the above pillars? I ask these questions because I am perplexed by the logic of decisions that are reportedly under consideration, or have been taken. I do not understand why, for instance, the government would wish to compel the resignation of the independent directors on the boards of large public sector entities simply because they were appointed by the previous government, or why it would wish to circumscribe the autonomy of the IITs by bringing them under the umbrella of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The only explanation I can think of is that some members of the government have not fully appreciated the need to adapt to these new requirements and are stuck in the groove of siloed and self-serving politics.
I know that several ministers have reshuffled their senior civil servants simply because they did not want to deal with appointees of the previous government. I can understand this decision, although I do not support it. I understand it because ministers have the prerogative to choose their own teams. I do not support it because civil servants should be insulated from political exigency. Else they cannot proffer unbiased and professional advice. What I cannot understand or support is the decision to remove the independent directors from the boards of economically significant PSUs like ONGC and Indian Oil. The reason I do not understand or support the decision is because the government gains little but loses, potentially, a lot. After all, it is not as if these directors have substantive influence. They are not involved in management and are outvoted by the government representative. On the other hand, they provide a strategic sounding board, act as a check against corporate malfeasance and inject gravitas. Most directors are individuals of eminence and integrity. By removing them, the government is signalling its disdain for corporate governance, due process and institutional integrity. In a similar vein, I do not understand the logic of subserving the operational and academic integrity of world-class institutions like IITs to a bureaucratic and procedure-bound organisation like the UGC. In and of themselves, these two examples are trivial, but when seen through the lens of “good” governance, they show that the narrative of governance is not contemporaneous with the demands and complexity of a digitised, global and competitive world.
The prime minister could take a major step towards “good” governance by removing the deadweight of the prevention of corruption act that is presently on the shoulders of civil servants. As I have written before, this act exposes officials to the charge of corruption if they take a decision that is deemed to have benefitted a private entity. There is no statute of limitation and so a person can be hauled up by the CBI long after she has retired. It is no wonder, therefore, that civil servants have preferred to sit on files or simply pass them on to the next desk rather than put signatures to paper. The “act of omission” has been a safer bet than the “act of commission”. The prime minister has already lightened somewhat the weight by meeting the 70-odd secretaries to the government of India and by assuring them of his safeguard. But if he wants to galvanise his bureaucracy into an action and problem-solving mode, he should remove the weight totally by amending the act through an ordinance.
The prime minister is also looking to redefine the Planning Commission. If he does decide to reincarnate it as a government-financed think tank, he should task the new entity to find answers to questions such as: What must be done to modernise governance? What changes must be made to improve the delivery and quality of service? What needs to be done to inject a spirit of entrepreneurialism and innovation into decision-making? What, in short, must be done to create a government that is contemporaneous and “works”, to borrow from US President Barack Obama? These are not easy questions, but the new body could be the forum where big data on the subject of governance is collated, organised and disseminated, new ideas are generated through crowdsourcing, public-private collaborations are forged, relevant e-governance technologies are leveraged and lateral talent is located. It could be a strategic planning tool for incentivising productivity, efficiency and innovation. It could be the body that puts flesh around the word “good” and in the process, aligns everyone around the promise that the prime minister made from the ramparts of Red Fort on August 15.
The writer is chairman, Brookings India, and senior fellow, Brookings Institution
2G scam
1 The human factor
2 The eternal critic of the self
3 A death in the family
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90K6E
80K6 family
Radar 36D6
Radar MR18
SMSR "Trassa"
SR "69L01"
RCP-1M
MM-36D6
Mobile Power Plant ED-80
MCP1
6UF77
Poroshenko visited the State Enterprise ”Research and Production Complex ”Iskra”
Poroshenko visited the State Enterprise ”Research and Production Complex ”Iskra” and talked to the company's team during his working trip to the Zaporizhia Oblast. The Armed Forces received modern radar equipment, the President handed over certificates for radar stations intended for control the airspace and guiding the means of air defence.
The Head of State emphasized that the plant's products play an important role in protecting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and thanked the labor collective for their diligent work and high professionalism. "This pearl of the Military-industrial complex of Ukraine plays an extremely important role in ensuring the state's defence capability," said Petro Poroshenko about the State Enterprise " Research and Production Complex “Iskra ".
The President point out the importance of the military-industrial complex to work 100% for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He also added that the Law "On National Security of Ukraine", that had been approved the day before by the Verkhovna Rada, would guarantee the budget financing of the military-industrial complex for the next years.
The President stressed that it was important that high-tech military production was based on the use of Ukrainian component parts or those that had been produced in cooperation with the partner countries of Ukraine.
Support of the defence industry is the priority for our country. It made it possible to develop and launch "our counterbalanced stations which characteristics are higher than what we have been offered on foreign markets."
"The contribution that everyone of you made to defence the country is not less than the contribution of soldier and diplomats, which provide support to Ukraine", - said the president to the company's staff.
"You the impossible – you restored production in such short terms. You saved the documentation of the companies located on the occupied territories and employed developers. Thanks to you the defence capacity was not diminished", said Petro Poroshenko and thanked the team for their devoted work.
tel. +38 (061) 271-22-11
e-mail: iskra@iskra.zp.ua
84, Magistralna St.,
Zaporizhzhia, 69071, Ukraine
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May/June 2011 Elwood McQuaid
Eying the Ashes
Almost 50 years ago in America, the cry “Burn, baby, burn!” swept across Los Angeles, California, as riots that began in the Watts neighborhood raged out of control. They would be the first wave of a tide of destruction and rebellion that represented the dismal 1960s.
In a street that had become a war zone, a teenager surveyed the wreckage of a pillaged store and with no semblance of remorse said, “You just take and run, and you burn when there is nothing more to take.” The aftermath of those riots in August 1965 was 34 dead, 1,032 injured, 3,952 arrested, and more than $40 million in property damage.1
However, rather than fixing the grievances within the black community, Joe R. Hicks, former executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, wrote in the Los Angeles Times that the riots “only made things worse. And since then the problems have metastasized.”2
The Watts riots evoked the theme of virtually every out-of-control mob on the planet: Burn the establishment to the ground and wait to see what arises from the ashes.
Wishing a Way to Paradise
When mobs took over the streets in Egypt in February, copycat riots broke out around the Middle East and in some American cities. The premise was that defying order would be the best route to achieve desired goals. Too often, however, such demonstrations turn to chaos, instigate violence, and reap bitter results.
For example, at the height of the demonstrations in Wisconsin, Michael Capuano, a seven-term Democratic congressman from Massachusetts, declared, “Every once and awhile you need to get out on the streets and get a little bloody when necessary.” The Boston Herald said the comment “drew wild applause and cheers.” Capuano now says he regrets his “choice of words.” However, the inflammatory rhetoric is a bad omen and should be a wake-up call to all loyal Americans.
The protests and violence that have cascaded like dominoes across the Middle East have exposed the underbelly of dark forces that feel the time is right to subjugate the region. At the same time, the West’s staggering ignorance, naiveté, and unrealistic appraisals of the area’s driving forces strain the limits of comprehension.
There is no greater manifestation of this delusional thinking than the statement by U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper to a congressional committee. “The term ‘Muslim Brotherhood,’” he said, “is an umbrella term for a variety of movements, in the case of Egypt, a very heterogeneous group, largely secular, which has eschewed violence and has decried al-Qaeda as a perversion of Islam.”3
Clapper is not the lone voice of such gross misinformation. From politicians to media moguls to correspondents, the message resonates that to be on the “right side,” we must join the milling masses stiffing the system. With many, it’s all about being on the winning side when governments collapse. And therein lies the problem. Which side is the “right side,” and who will emerge as the new powerbrokers?
No one questions that most oppressed people desire to be free, particularly in the heavy-handed totalitarian regimes of the Middle East. But with no discernable democratic leaders in charge of the march toward change, who is organized to take control when the dust settles?
Enter the Muslim Brotherhood
The group that is organized to rise to the top across the region is the Muslim Brotherhood. This is not a passel of benign, secular do-gooders. And any Western attempt to sanitize this Islamist menace disgraces all obligations to honesty and to the people struggling for a free and democratic government.
Early on, Brotherhood spokesmen proclaimed a disinterest in leading any new governments that might materialize from the chaos. This is a ruse. At issue is the power to control, even if only behind the scenes, until the time is right to impose the Allah-vested regime they espouse.
We could wonder if this bait-and-wait method can succeed. If Westerners learned anything from history, they would already know. But we don’t learn from history, and the tutorials staring us in the face are evidence of our collective dereliction. The bait-and-wait process transformed Iran into the tyrannical mullacracy now threatening us all. In the Gaza Strip, after Israel’s now-lamented unilateral withdrawal in 2005, jihadist Hamas went from a bit player to a daily threat to Israeli citizens by wresting power from the feckless Palestinian Authority. Hezbollah terrorists, helped by Syria and Iran, have grown from an Islamist nuisance to the power in control of Lebanon.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s true nature was seen on October 6, 1981, with the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. As a column of army vehicles passed the reviewing stand during festivities commemorating Egypt’s attack on Israel in October 1973 (the Yom Kippur War), assassins charged the stand, throwing grenades and firing weapons into the gathering of dignitaries that included the president.
The attackers were later identified as Islamist nationalists associated with the Muslim Brotherhood and using the name Islamic Jihad. In the eyes of the Brotherhood, Sadat’s capital crime was making peace with Israel in 1979.
The strain of hatred for Israel still runs deep in the ideological minds of the new breed of Brotherhood leaders who may eventually become Egypt’s headliners. They assert that the peace treaty should no longer be recognized, which is another way of proclaiming the resumption of a state of war with the Jewish nation. Incidentally, the Hamas element now controlling Gaza claims to be an affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Brotherhood’s goals are not confined to regional conquest; its objectives are global. In short, it seeks to convert Muslim countries into states ruled by Sharia (Muslim) law, reestablish the Caliphate, and ultimately dominate the world. Its slogan makes the case: “Allah is our objective; the Prophet is our leader; the Qur’an is our law; jihad is our way; dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope.”
The imposition of Sharia law alone should repulse the entire civilized world. In January a 14-year-old girl named Hena was raped by a 40-year-old man outside her home in Bangladesh. Consistent with Sharia law, the local mosque in her village issued a fatwa ordering that Hena, though a rape victim, be given 100 lashes for “sexual immorality.” The girl collapsed after 60 lashes and died six days later.
Living in an At-Risk World
We’ve said it many times, but it is a message that doesn’t seem to resonate well in a culture eager to turn away from any unpleasantness that threatens to invade its space. Indeed, one of the foremost reasons chaos has descended on such large sections of the world is the well-founded perception that the West, led by America, has gone soft. And our enemies do not hesitate to say so.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s supreme guide, Muhammad Badi, has said the U.S. is on the threshold of collapse due to its immorality. He said the United States “is now experiencing the beginning of its end, and is heading towards its demise” and that jihad will bring Americans and Zionists to their knees.4 Not too long ago there was a no-tolerance stance against terror. No negotiations with terrorist groups or nations giving them aid and comfort. Those attacking innocent civilians were given no quarter.
A sterling example of this position was Israel’s daring rescue of 103 hostages from the Entebbe airport in Uganda on July 4, 1976. Palestinian terrorists hijacked an Air France plane carrying 248 passengers and held them for a week. The Israel Defense Forces struck the facility, released the hostages, and dealt with the terrorists. The raid sent a clear message: Terror not tolerated; try it, and you lose. The principle is universal. Survival is based on strength and the capacity and will to employ it when necessary.
Our enemies have thrown down the gauntlet. Implausibly, while they daily announce their intentions to take us out, many of our leaders insist on protesting that the Muslims don’t really mean what they are saying. Western politicians seem to believe back-slapping diplomacy and a few more perks can tame the savage beast. This is not only nonsense, but it imperils the lives of the citizens whom these leaders have pledged to protect.
Obviously, Israel is in the epicenter of the coming storm. Inexplicably, many of those who should be first in line to stand with our one true friend in the Middle East, and perhaps the world for that matter, side with her enemies.
Also imperiled and living with a growing sense of uncertainty and fear are the Christians of the region. A hint of what may lie ahead surfaced before a crowd of 250,000 at Tahrir Square in Cairo in February. Muslim Brotherhood cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi “asked Christians to bow in Muslim prayer in an act of submission to Allah,” wrote WorldNetDaily reporter Aaron Klein.5 The request could mean only one thing: The Brotherhood wants Christians to submit to Allah and eventually to the dreaded Sharia law. And should Sharia and Islamist domination become their order of life, how much aid and comfort can they expect from the “free world”?
I was asked by a pastor friend recently if I thought we were seeing the beginning of the last battle, meaning Armageddon. My answer was no. But, I added, we are certainly seeing the warm-up stage. And while the world stands in confusion and uncertainty, staring at the ashes of societal demolition and waiting to see what will arise from them, we believers have a sure hope. We don’t look down but up—expecting the fulfillment of His promise and our blessed hope that one day soon He will call us home.
A hymn by the late Pastor Cleavant Derricks says it well: “We’ll soon be done with troubles and trials. Yes, in that home on the other side…gonna sit down and rest a little while.” I’ll subscribe to that!
“144 Hours in August 1965,” Government Documents Department and Doheny Electronic Resources Center, University of Southern California <usc.edu/libraries/archives/cityinstress/mccone/part4.html>.
Joe R. Hicks, “We only burned ourselves, baby,” Los Angeles Times, August 7, 2005 <articles.latimes.com/ 2005/aug/07/opinion/op-hicks7>.
Jonathan Karl, “Director of National Intelligence James Clapper: Muslim Brotherhood ‘Largely Secular,’” ABC News, February 10, 2011 <tinyurl.com/4oqmd9m>.
“An Overview of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s Stance on U.S. and Jihad; Translation of Its Draft Political Platform,” The Middle East Media Research Institute, dispatch no. 3556, February 3, 2011 <memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/4970.htm>.
Aaron Klein, “Christians asked to bow in submission to Allah,” WorldNetDaily, February 21, 2011 <wnd.com/?pageId=266385>.
Elwood McQuaid is the former Executive Director of The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry and former editor-in-chief of Israel My Glory magazine. He is an author of multiple books focusing on Israel, prophecy, and Biblical teaching.
The Holy Spirit: A Believer’s Best Friend
The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
A Look at the Gifts
From Bill Sutter’s Desk May/Jun 2011
Eye on the Middle East May/Jun 2011
Beware the New Barbarians
They Cry in Silence May/Jun 2011
By Grace Through Faith Alone
Our God Who Helps
Blessings of the New Covenant
Baptism and Indwelling
The Great Enabler
A Phenomenal Shavuot
The Filling of the Spirit
Faith Before the Flood Hebrews 11:4–7
The Love of God Part Four
Israel in the News May/Jun 2011
Zvi May/Jun 2011
Almost 50 years ago in America, the cry “Burn, baby, burn!” swept across Los Angeles, California, as riots that began in the Watts neighborhood raged out of control. They would be...
Believers today must walk in the Spirit. It is the essence of the stewardship of our dispensation and the criteria by which God will evaluate us. No one in the Old Testament...
And I will pray the Father; and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him...
Adrian Rogers
Jewish people react to the topic of the Holy Spirit much like Gentiles react to gefilte fish—with a rolling of the eyes and contortion of the face. Gentiles react that way...
Ships and boats have always intrigued me. Row boats, motor boats, fishing trawlers, riverboats, houseboats, battleships, and ocean liners—they all capture my imagination. As a child I knew the names of many famous...
Charles McCracken
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July/August 2014 Lorna Simcox
The Thought Machine: It May Soon Be Reading Your Mind
Anyone who likes science fiction movies probably remembers Marty McFly’s attempts to get “back to the future.” Marty ends up in a time machine built from a DeLorean automobile and accidentally lands in 1955.
When he finally tracks down a younger version of his scientist friend, Dr. Emmett Brown, who built the machine in the future, he finds Brown wearing a huge, weird-looking helmet that’s hooked up to a contraption Brown hopes will read minds.
Brown slaps a plunger on young Marty’s forehead and has at it. “You want me to buy a subscription to the Saturday Evening Post!” he declares.
After a few more of Brown’s enthusiastic but incorrect stabs at what Marty is thinking, the angst-ridden teenager yanks the plunger from his face and blurts out, “Doc! I’m from the future. I came here in a time machine you invented. And I need your help to get back to the year 1985.”
A lot has happened since Steven Spielberg made the film Back to the Future in 1985. And though the world may not have a time machine, it is rapidly developing a mind-reading device that would make Emmett Brown proud.
It’s called the fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging). The type of neuroscientific data it collects has already been admitted as evidence in more than 100 criminal trials and cited in at least one U.S. Supreme Court decision.1
The legal profession claims there is great benefit in using the fMRI. According to an article in the Texas Bar Journal, it could potentially screen out biased jurors and provide “objective proof to replace otherwise subjective data and self-reporting.”2 In other words, what the data claims you are thinking would count for more than your actual words.
It isn’t difficult to carry this scenario a step further: In the hands of a corrupt government, such as that of the future Antichrist, neuro-scientific data could become a weapon to ferret out people who are disloyal to the regime and loyal to God.
The fMRI measures blood flow in the brain. A clear benefit of the technology is that it can detect abnormalities and help diagnose disease. But there are other ways to use it. One writer said, “It might also enable doctors to get inside our mental processes to determine what we’re thinking and feeling. fMRI might even be able to detect whether we’re telling the truth.”3
In March, Fox News ran an article titled “We know what you’re thinking: Scientists find a way to read minds.”4 It explains how these brain scanners enable scientists to “reconstruct the faces that people are thinking of.”5
“It is mind reading,” said Alan S. Cowan, a graduate student at the University of California Berkeley who speculated that in 10 to 20 years, “a witness to a crime might want to come in and reconstruct a suspect’s face.”6
Fox reported that the brain readings “got the skin color right,…and 24 out of 30 reconstructions correctly detected the presence or absence of a smile” but “were worse at determining gender and hair color.”7
The fMRI also identifies emotions based on brain activity. Carnegie Mellon University research explains, “Until now, research on emotions has been long stymied by the lack of reliable methods to evaluate them, mostly because people are often reluctant to honestly report their feelings.”8
“This research introduces a new method with potential to identify emotions without relying on people’s ability to self-report,” said Karim Kassam, assistant professor of social and decision sciences. . . . “It could be used to assess an individual’s emotional response to almost any kind of stimulus, for example, a flag, a brand name or a political candidate.”9
So in the future, if you don’t like your government leaders or their flag, a brain scan might betray you.
So far, to have an fMRI, you must lie flat, face side up, and be wheeled into the MRI device that those who suffer with back problems know so well. It is a big, stationary, expensive piece of equipment—nothing at all like the contraption Dr. Brown uses on Marty McFly.
But time changes things. Technology moves on. In the 1930s through 1950s, many polio sufferers were wheeled into big iron lungs that made it possible for them to breathe. Only their heads lay outside the devices. Iron lungs lined hospital wards like matchsticks in boxes.
Today they have virtually disappeared, giving way to more convenient ventilators and the procedures of tracheal intubation and tracheotomy.
Perhaps in the future, the fMRI will be no more inconvenient than Emmett Brown’s plunger and weird-looking hat, turning science fiction into science fact and making it even easier for wicked men to co-opt good technology for their wicked purposes.
At the moment, you can take comfort in the fact that your thoughts still belong to you alone. However, no one knows for how long. It probably comes as no surprise to students of Bible prophecy that something designed to benefit humanity could one day, like so many other things, become a tool of evil in the hands of the wrong people.
Alison K. Bennett and Jason Bloom, “Neurolaw: Brain Waves in the Courtroom,” Texas Bar Journal 75, no. 4 (April 2012), 281 <tinyurl.com/texasrr>.
Ibid., 281.
Stephanie Watson, “How fMRI Works,” How Stuff Works <tinyurl.com/hstwfmri>.
Maxim Lott, “We know what you’re thinking: Scientists find a way to read minds,” Fox News, March 28, 2014 <tinyurl.com/optt386>.
Carnegie Mellon University, “Scientists identify emotions based on brain activity,” ScienceDaily.com, June 19, 2013 <tinyurl.com/CMfff>.
Lorna Simcox is the editor-in-chief of Israel My Glory magazine. She is a Jewish believer who came to know the Lord after spending many years in secular journalism. A graduate of the University of Vermont and Word of Life Bible Institute in Schroon Lake, New York, Lorna is also the author of The Friends of Israel’s popular book The Search, a heartwarming account of how God showed her the truth about Jesus and drew her to Himself.
From the Editor Jul/Aug 2014
High-Tech Religion or the Real Thing?
The Rapture: Who Is Left Behind?
Dark Innovation: The Role of Technology in Revelation 13
Privacy in a Facebook World
Is One-World Currency Only a Click Away?
Inside View Jul/Aug 2014
Eye on the Middle East Jul/Aug 2014
Warning Bells
They Cry in Silence Jul/Aug 2014
A Few Things Out There
Free Speech and the Well-Traveled Road
New Survey Shows Extent of Worldwide Anti-Semitism
Worshiping the Techno Gods
The Wisdom of God Part Two
Israel in the News Jul/Aug 2014
Apples of Gold Jul/Aug 2014
I am not a Facebook fan. One of my daughters has tried to get me on it, luring me with pictures of my grandchildren. And in a moment of weakness several years ago, I allowed...
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Watching the student riot “celebration” following the University of Connecticut NCAA basketball championship win in April was disturbing, to say the least. Seeing students...
A completely different world is coming—one that, for a time, will not contain a single, genuine, Bible-believing Christian. The event that removes them is called the Rapture...
Tom Simcox
Imagine a world of the future. It is a desperate world where human beings are controlled by a single, tyrannical power. If we look behind the curtain to see what energizes...
Stories involving expanding government surveillance, increased law enforcement powers, and the bugging and tracking of American citizens have started appearing regularly...
Dan Pearson
For many people today, online shopping is the way to go. You don’t have to fight traffic on the roads or wait in long lines. There are no crowded aisles, and the store never...
Chris Katulka
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Tree of Life: with Spiritual Poetry
Tree of Life is a journey through many true life stories interwoven into the make-up of our souls’ journey within the planet Earth. Starting with Maya of Power, and a visit to the Field of Dreams, discovery of the Alchemy of Soul, deeper understanding of “Ubuntu” that: a person is only a person through their relationship to others, ascending and descending the magic Spiral to enter Wu Wei, the action with no action, the Path of Divine Intentions.
The Tree of Life is a true story of a person following an inner voice discovering the true goals, and entering the path of parenting, adopting kids from Ethiopia.
Tree of Life in various interpretations, within myths, and as a mystical concept represents the interconnection of all life on our beautiful planet.
Explore the true story, the most amazing spiritual and life journey into the Field of Dreams, an adoption journey of a single mum with her spiritual poetry of four elements, four directions, four stages of Life. In an interview Nuit says: “My soul is the one of a nomad and I learn tremendously every time when in a different country. Travelling through Christian, Buddhist, Muslim or Hindu countries often as a single woman or without a lot of money helped me see that we are all One in our search for God, Oneness, Inspiration, Beauty.” Within her novel Tree of Life she says: “It is not what we as souls do in life right at this particular moment of time materialized within this particular space, but what would we have done if God has given us a completely different set of circumstances. What is our soul’s yearning, and do we live it authentically living our Highest Potential as a Human Being? If we were born as Raskolnikov living within the story of Crime and Punishment, would we kill that Dostoyevsky’s grand-mum, you must have heard of his internal dialogue?” This is Nuit’s second novel. The first one is A-Ma a historical spiritual fiction book set in the 17th century China exploring Western and Eastern Philosophy with the subject of alchemy of soul: “Within A-Ma we follow insights and subtle energy battles within lives of a group of enlightened souls who understood the prime importance for West and East wisdom sharing.” Within the Tree of Life our journey takes us in to Scotland, Findhorn, a spiritual group that during the last 40 years experimented with more enlightened community living. It is an eco-village that is one of the largest intentional communities in Britain. It is 50 years since three friends moved to a caravan in Moray, after listening to their “inner voices”. The Tree of Life is a true story of a person following an inner voice discovering the true goals, and entering the path of parenting, as a single mum adopting two kids from Ethiopia. The story starts with words: “Power corrupts. Ultimate power corrupts ultimately. Guerrilla leaders and spiritual gurus share the golden medal of this mad, curious, ever-changing, opportune race for love, respect, and supremacy. Written within our codes as a malfunctioning DNA we learn to compete from very early on. Competing to be the best in football, better than our siblings, to show the neighborhood that we are worth IT, whatever this IT could possibly be. Within a struggle for more power, more belongings, a bigger house, more love, a more beautiful wife, we find an endless circle difficult to break out.” Read this journey from Serbia to Cambridge to Maltese temples, from Nairobi to Addis Abeba in Ethiopia. Visit Lamu in Kenya full of rich drug addicts, find out why Nuit chose to define the humanity’s strongest limiting belief as: “We need suffering to grow” while she was in a high executive business workshop. Find out what happens when your country collapses, when you stay without your soul-mate and when your soul’s quest is against your life path! How to listen to inner messages that at times feel completely irrational? This book is a journey that starts as an invitation to a Tantric Ball within the Field of Dreams.
Tags: spirituality
Share Filed in: Kindle Books, Literature & Fiction
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Assessing the scientific results of California’s 2004 stem cell research initiative
by Ryan Jaroncyk in Other Jun 17, 2010
local food movement
In 2004, California voters approved $3 billion of new funding for stem cell research, especially targeted at the controversial embryonic stem cells. Proponents predicted the game-changing scientific research would develop effective treatments and potential cures for patients suffering from the likes of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer, heart disease, and dozens of other severe ailments.
However, nearly six years later, “there have been no cures, no therapies, and little progress” according to Investor’s Business Daily. Since Prop 71 passed in 2004, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine has doled out over $1 billion in research funding, but according to Sally Lehrman at the Los Angeles Times:
“..there have been no “miracles” – no paralyzed people abandoning their wheelchairs or diabetics throwing away their needles. There hasn’t even been a human trial of embryonic stem cells…”
As a result, the Investor’s Business Daily wrote, “So supporters are embracing research they once opposed.” Last October, the Institute distributed $230 million in fresh funding to 14 different research teams. Only 4, or 29%, are working with embryonic stem cells, while the other 71% are focused on various forms of adult stem cell research. Adult stem cell research “..not only has treated people with real results; it also does not come with the moral baggage ESCR does.”
Some staunch proponents of embryonic stem cell research have felt discouraged by the lack of tangible results. But, Sally Lehrman proposes that an overzealous media artificially elevated expectations for a scientific process that is likely to require many more years of vigorous research and testing. She writes:
“But the truth is that science is a long and arduous process, and “breakthroughs” rest on a foundation of basic science. Most of the money spent so far has gone into new labs, training, tools and technologies and basic research, building blocks that are necessary precursors to discovery.”
“One day, treatments based on embryonic stem cells may be able to correct any number of life-threatening and disabling conditions. But this prospect is not a tidy matter of changing a few switches in cells and then popping them back into a malfunctioning part.”
“It’s no surprise that the initiative’s proponents made big promises: They had something to sell. But instant miracles are uncommon in science, and journalists should do a better job making that clear. We need to highlight the uncertainties in science and, in medical quests such as stem cell therapies, emphasize the baby steps involved that in fact are big leaps…”
While supporters may continue to advocate the vast potential of future embryonic stem cell research, current trends appear to largely falsify the predictions made by this model in 2004. Instead, adult stem cell research has proven a far more cost-effective and efficacious scientific enterprise.
If science is supposed to be an objective, testable, and results-oriented endeavor, then at this time, non-embryonic stem cell research retains the clear advantage nearly six years into the project.
Ryan Jaroncyk
Ryan Jaroncyk is an editor and contributing author for IVN. Ryan was born and raised in San Diego, and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Government from Claremont McKenna College. He is a registered Independent who leans libertarian on most issues.
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Independent Voter Project challenges the party establishments on early endorsements
by Independent Voter Project in Electoral Reform Feb 8, 2012
Independent Voter Project
Steve Peace
The Independent Voter Project is making a difference in opening up the electoral process to independents. IVP co-chair and former state senator Steve Peace was recently interviewed by Brandi Powell, reporting for NBC San Diego, because of his admonition to the two parties to stop endorsing candidates so early in the primary process.
Brandi leads into the segment by saying:
“Former state senator, Steve Peace says when political parties endorse candidates before all hats are in the ring, it forces potential candidates out of the race.”
But it’s not even about making endorsements “before all hats are in the ring,” which would mean the end of the filing process for primary candidates. The problem is far worse than that. It’s about making endorsements before anyone even has a chance to throw their hats in the ring. It’s about making endorsements before the filing period for primary candidates even begins. As Peace correctly argues in the interview:
“To make the endorsements before the filing period even opens, let alone is closed, is a little squirrelly… at a minimum, those endorsements should include a disclaimer in which the public is informed that the endorsement is made before the period of time in which all the candidates were known.”
At a minimum, the parties should refrain from making such unreasonably early endorsements. Party chairs will argue that early endorsements are okay, but they do a lot of harm to the electoral process. Early endorsements are impractical because the party doesn’t even know what all of its choices are, so how can it make an educated endorsement? They help the party to select establishment favorites before the primary has even begun, pushing out other potential candidates and actively discouraging them from getting into the race. Parties do this to save money for the general runoff election in November, but the result is a less dynamic process that produces doctrinaire partisans, not engaged citizens interested in solving problems.
The Independent Voter Project is committed to getting everyday Americans involved in politics, engaged in the electoral process, and willing to run for public office to solve problems with a fresh, post-partisan perspective. It believes a dynamic, competitive primary process where all voices are heard and all citizens– including independents– have equal access and a fair shot at winning will help us put the partisanship of the past behind us and allow voters to focus on individual people, their principles, and their proposed policy solutions. But the behavior of both party establishments seems to run contrary to this goal. They seem more interested in rigging the election before it even starts than hearing out all the candidates and giving them each a fair chance to appeal to voters.
It shouldn’t be up to a few people in partisan hierarchies to decide which candidates win primaries or get to participate in them without being shut out before they even begin. That’s not what real democracy looks like. It should be up to voters to decide which candidates win primaries. Personally speaking, I predict that continued attempts by party establishments to control the outcome of primaries from beginning to end will backfire due to the rapidly growing anti-establishment sentiment across the political spectrum.
Voters will see these “pre-endorsements” for what they are and resent the party hierarchy’s attempt to dictate results to them. Instead of helping the candidates that they endorse so early on, the parties will only hurt their chances. Pre-endorsements will become a liability to establishment picks and be used against them by their grassroots opponents. It isn’t about left vs. right anymore. It’s about the establishment vs. you, and more and more voters are starting to really believe that.
IVP was founded in 2006 to provide voters with accurate and reliable information about important public policy issues and to encourage non-partisan voters to vote and to participate in the democratic process.
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Holiday Break: The Best of College Football This Week
by George Mitrovich in Opinion Dec 4, 2017
THE GAME OF THE DAY SATURDAY WAS OHIO STATE/WISCONSIN, and the Badgers losing, 27-21, seems fitting, since it adds to the already chaotic state of a chaotic season.
Who’s in?
Who out?
Who’s up?
Who’s down?
Can we do this dance all-around?
What is almost certain, Clemson will be ranked number one in the polls by the AP and coaches, and in the one that matters most — College Football Poll.
THAT WILL HAPPEN BECAUSE WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER “DABO” SWINNEY’S TIGERS BEAT THE HURRICANES OF MIAMI, 38-3, as Kelly Bryant, the Clemson QB, hit on 23 of the 39 passes he threw, good for 252-yards and one TD.
This was important because no Tiger running back ran for more than 25-yards, as Clemson’s total was a mere, 104.
Too bad the ACC’s championship game was so one-sided and — B-O-R-I-N-G.
It doth appear, doth it not? that for the third year in a row, we will see “Dabo’s” boys in the NCAA title game.
And, maybe, Nick Saban’s Bama boys, too.
Will I watch if that happens?
Because the last two title games ended, 45-40 Alabama, and 35-31 Clemson. You can’t ask for anything more in a title game. Amazing.
BUT WHILE OHIO STATE/WISCONSIN WAS THE GAME OF THE DAY BECAUSE OF THE HEADLINERS PLAYING, the greatest game Saturday was Memphis and the University of Central Florida, with the Knights winning in two OTs, 62-55.
Oh, my!
McKenzie Milton, the kid with the Walker Percy name, threw 40 passes, completed 28, for, get this, 499-yards and five TDs, and three interceptions.
The QB opposite, Memphis’ Riley Ferguson, threw 42 passes, completed 30 for 471-yards and four TDs, with only one interception.
The Knights and Tigers totaled 1,479-yards. They combined for 64 first downs. And, yes, there was the slight problem of 195-yards in penalties.
With the victory, UCF is now 12-0 — the only undefeated team in the FBS.
This is a team that scored 593 points in its 12 games, averaging 49 a game. They should be one of the four teams to play for the national championship, but strength of schedule will likely do them in, as their only significant out of conference win was over Maryland of the Big Ten, who they soundly defeated, 38-10.
But, I believe they have the talent to beat anyone. They just won’t get the chance.
IN THREE OF THE OTHERS GAMES PLAYED SATURDAY, Georgia avenged its loss to Auburn, by winning the SEC championship, 28-7. Oklahoma won the first-ever Big 12 conference playoff championship over TCU, 41-17, and Boise State beat Fresno State on that terrible blue carpet for the Mountain West championship in the Idaho capital, 17-14.
FRIDAY NIGHT AT LEVI’S STADIUM IN SANTA CLARA, CA, the PAC-12 championship game between USC and Stanford took place before 16,969 empty seats.
Which raises a question:
Why does the PAC-12 continue to play its signature game in a stadium that has never come close to selling out?
SC/Stanford at LA’s Memorial Coliseum Friday night would have seen 30,000-40,000 more fans in the stands — guaranteed.
NOW, TO THE GAME:
It was a terrific game with the Trojans winning 31-28; winning because Stanford’s coach, David Shaw, on a fourth and one at SC’s goal line, with the score 24-21 SC, decided to go for it, and it didn’t happen, as the Cardinal were stopped.
Stopped because of one of the greatest defensive plays I’ve ever seen.
The play called for the Stanford back, Scarlett Cameron, to run to his left, which he did.
However, the Trojans’ outside linebacker, Uchenna Nwosu, came across the Stanford line untouched to the right, racing to his right behind the Stanford line and tackling Cameron by his ankles for the loss, with the ball going over to SC — and that one defensive play was a game changer.
It occurs to me, in all the College Football Notes I’ve written over the years, I do not recall having written before about a linebacker.
But here he is — Uchenna Nwosu (seen in the photo below).
Where does SC go from here? In the chaotic world of this season’s NCAA, who knows?
George Mitrovich
George Mitrovich is president of two leading American public forums, The City Club of San Diego and The Denver Forum. In addition, he chairs for the Boston Red Sox The Great Fenway Park Writers Series, as well as chairing the team's annual birthday tribute to Jackie Robinson. A writer and contributor to leading North American newspapers, he is also a public speaker of note, with four speeches published in Vital Speeches of the Day -- a distinction held by few Americans. Long active in San Diego civic affairs as well as the faith community, he served as president of the San Diego County Ecumenical Council, an organization of 125 Christian churches. Mr. Mitrovich was a press aide to Senator Robert F. Kennedy in the presidential campaign of 1968. He has an extensive history in local, state and national politics.
Read more by George Mitrovich
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Home > Vol 6, No 4 (2019) > Bakshi
A study regarding availability and utilization of services of the government health facility in village Nagkalan, district Amritsar, Punjab
Ritika Bakshi, Tejbir Singh, Sanjeev Mahajan, Jasleen Kaur, Mohan Lal, Shyam Sunder Deepti
Background: Health care expenses induced impoverishment in the poverty stricken strata of rural India is a major issue. The government of India has come up with various services in public health facilities, but there are various factors which curtail the utilization of available services and people have to visit some private health facility. The present study deals with the extent of utilization of services of government health facility and the factors impeding the utilization.
Methods: The present cross sectional study was conducted in village Nagkalan, district Amritsar, where the eldest adult members present in the house at the time of the visit, and are interviewed using a semi-structured and predesigned questionnaire. A total of 1123 families were included in the final analysis. Data was compiled, analysed and valid conclusions drawn.
Results: Almost all the respondents were aware about the existence of subsidiary health centre in the village. However, out of those who were aware, 40.8% never visited the centre. Utilization was more in the lower socio economic status. Immunization services followed by treatment for common ailments constituted the top two reasons for visiting the centre. Out of those visiting the centre, 80.7% were not satisfied with the current timings of the centre; only 20.2% were attended by the doctor and 33.3% reported that the prescribed medicines were never available at the centre.
Conclusions: Regular supply of prescribed medicines, availability of the doctor and appropriate timings are critical for utilization of health care services at the government health facility.
Availability, Utilization, Government health facility, Rural India
WHO. Health and development. Available at: http://www. who.int/hdp/en/. Accessed on 1 January 2019.
Five-Year Plans of India, 2018. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Five-Year_Plans_of_India &oldid=853359716. Accessed on 27 December 2018.
WHO. Constitution of WHO: principles. Available at: http://www. who.int/about/mission/en/. Accessed on 27 December 2018.
Duggal, Ravi. Evolution of Health Policy in India, 2006. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/ publication/265190427_Evolution_of_Health_Policy_in_India. Accessed on 1 January 2019.
National Health Mission - Government of India. Available at: http:// nhm.gov.in/. Accessed on 5 January 2019.
Health in India, 2018. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php? title= Health_ in_India&oldid=851327698. Accessed on 27 December 2018.
Situation analysis- Backdrop to the National Health Policy. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, 2017. Available at: https://mohfw.gov.in/documents/policy. Accessed on 27 December 2018.
Prasad KN, Ingalgeri BM, Poovitha R, Suchi V, Vaishnavi V, Vidya G, et al. Utilization of health facilities at primary health centre by rural community of Pondicherry. Int Archives Integrated Med. 2015;2(2):71-6.
Logaraj M, Ramraj B, Rushender R. A study on effective utilization of health care services provided by primary health centre and sub-centres in rural Tamilnadu, India. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2016;1054–60.
Rajpurohit AC, Srivastava AK, Srivastava VK. Utilization of primary health centre services amongst rural population of northern India-some socio-demographic correlates. Indian J Community Health. 2013;25(4):445-50.
Chauhan RC, Kandan M, Purty AJ, Samuel A, Singh Z. Determinants of health care seeking behavior among rural population of a coastal area in South India. Int J Sci Reports. 2015;1(2):118-22.
Khan ME, Prasad CV. Utilisation of Health and Family Planning Services in Bihar. Gujarat and Kerala, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, 1988.
National Family health survey 2015-16, Punjab. Available at: http://rchiips.org/NFHS/ NFHS-4 Reports/Punjab.pdf. Accessed on 27 December 2018.
Ray SK. Awareness and utilization of national rural health mission services among people of selected rural areas in the state of Maharashtra. Natl J Community Med. 2014;5(4):387-91.
Kumar R, Tripathy JP, Singh N, Kaur M, Prinja S, Lakshmi P, et al. Rapid Assessment of Health Services in Punjab using a Mixed Method Approach. Int J Community Health. 2015;27(02):7.
Arya SB, Patel V. Comparative study of Public and Private Health Services in Mumbai Region availability and utilization pattern. SNDT Women University; 2012. Available at: http://hdl.handle.net /10603/ 7213. Accessed on 27 December 2018.
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Activision Blizzard Reports December Quarter and Calendar Year 2010 Financial Results
Activision Blizzard Reports December Quarter and Calendar Year 2010 Financial Results 127.1 KB
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced financial results for the calendar year and quarter ending December 31, 2010. Activision Blizzard reports results on both a GAAP and a non-GAAP basis. A reconciliation of the company's GAAP and non-GAAP results can be found in the attached tables.
For calendar year 2010, Activision Blizzard's GAAP net revenues increased to $4.45 billion, as compared with $4.28 billion for 2009. On a non-GAAP basis, the company's net revenues were $4.80 billion, as compared with $4.78 billion for 2009. Revenues from digital channels for the calendar year were more than $1.5 billion, an increase of more than 20% year over year.
For calendar year 2010, Activision Blizzard's GAAP earnings per diluted share increased to $0.33, as compared with $0.09 per diluted share for 2009. The 2010 results include a $0.16 per share non-cash reduction in the valuation of intangible assets reflecting weaker retail sales in the casual and music genres, while the 2009 results included a similar non-cash charge of $0.19 per share. On a non-GAAP basis, the company's earnings per diluted share grew 14.5% to $0.79, as compared with $0.69 per diluted share for 2009.
For the quarter ended December 31, 2010, Activision Blizzard's GAAP net revenues were $1.43 billion as compared with fourth-quarter 2009 net revenues of $1.56 billion. On a non-GAAP basis, the company's net revenues for the quarter were $2.55 billion, as compared with fourth-quarter 2009 non-GAAP net revenues of $2.50 billion. Revenues from digital channels for the quarter were more than $470 million, an increase of 40% year over year.
For the quarter ended December 31, 2010, Activision Blizzard had a GAAP loss per share of $0.20, inclusive of the $0.16 per share non-cash charge mentioned above. On a non-GAAP basis, the company's earnings per diluted share grew to $0.53. For the comparable quarter in 2009, the company had a GAAP loss per share of $0.23, inclusive of the $0.19 per share non-cash charge mentioned above, and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.49.
Robert Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, stated, "Because of focus and disciplined execution, 2010 was another extraordinary year for Activision Blizzard. We made some of the best games we have ever made in over 30 years of being in the interactive entertainment business. We benefited from new content releases for two of the world's most successful online entertainment franchises: Activision Publishing's Call of Duty®: Black Ops and Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft®: Cataclysm™, a new installment in the world's largest subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game. During the year, we grew our net revenues, delivered record earnings, achieved record GAAP and non-GAAP operating margins of 11% and 29%, respectively, and generated $1.4 billion in operating cash flow."
Kotick added, "Activision Blizzard's key franchises have larger audience bases than ever before and we continue to see significantly enhanced user activity and engagement for our expanding online communities. Our revenues from digital channels, which now account for over 30% of our overall revenues, were driven by increased sales of Activision Publishing's Call of Duty map packs and value-added services for Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft. Blizzard significantly evolved its direct digital distribution capabilities with the launch of its new Battle.net® service and saw players embrace its service offerings in record numbers. Notably, since Call of Duty: Black Ops was launched in November players have spent an average of 52 minutes per day playing online, roughly equivalent to the 55 minutes that the average user spends each day on Facebook.(1) As of February 2, 2011, more than 27 million gamers have played Call of Duty games online, logging more than 2 billion hours, or the equivalent of more than 229,000 years of gameplay.(2)"
Kotick concluded, "Online gaming continues to broaden its appeal. Our shareholders continue to be well positioned to benefit from these trends and the focus of our incredibly talented employees around the world continues to allow us to lead our industry. We expect to continue to drive long-term growth, increase our return on invested capital and generate strong cash flow as we have over the last few years. Our strong balance sheet affords us the financial flexibility to invest in games that few companies have the ability to create and allows us to provide our shareholders with value through dividends and share repurchases."
Activision Blizzard was the #1 publisher overall in North America and Europe for the calendar year.(3)
Activision Blizzard was the #1 publisher in North America on the Xbox® 360, PlayStation® 3 and PC collectively for the calendar year.(4)
Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, which was launched on December 7, 2010, sold through more than 3.3 million copies worldwide during its first 24 hours of release, making it the fastest-selling PC game of all time. It continued to sell through more than 4.7 million copies in its first month.(5)
As of December 31, 2010, more than 12 million gamers worldwide are subscribed to play Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft.(6)
For the December quarter, in North America and Europe, Call of Duty: Black Ops was the #1 best-selling console title in dollars ever during a single quarter and the Call of Duty franchise was the #1 franchise overall.(3)
In November 2010, Call of Duty: Black Ops became the first video game ever to surpass $650 million in retail sales in its first five days of release.(2) To date, the game has achieved more than $1 billion in retail sales worldwide.(3)
As of January 31, 2011, total unique gamers playing Activision Publishing's Call of Duty: Black Ops increased by more than 49% over the number of total unique gamers that played Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® for the first three months after each game's release.(7)
On February 1, 2011, Activision Publishing released Call of Duty: Black Ops First Strike, the first add-on pack for Call of Duty: Black Ops, on Xbox LIVE®. The map pack set new Xbox LIVE records with more than 1.4 million downloads in the first 24 hours, an increase of more than 25% over last year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package.(7) The map pack also will be available on the PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system on March 3, 2011 and on the PC later in the quarter.
Activision Blizzard will continue to invest its capital and resources in the significant opportunities afforded by online gaming worldwide and will reduce its exposure to low-margin and low-potential businesses. In 2011, the company will allocate the majority of its resources and focus toward opportunities which we expect will afford us the greatest competitive advantages and the greatest potential for best-in-class quality, high-margin digital growth, and long-term success. These opportunities include Blizzard Entertainment's games currently in development, robust investment in forthcoming Call of Duty titles, the development of a best-in-class digital community surrounding the Call of Duty franchise, a new property from Bungie and an innovative new universe with broad appeal that will be revealed at Toy Fair later this week and will bring the world of toys, video games and the Internet together in an unprecedented way. These investments should better position Activision Blizzard for long-term growth and enable it to continue expanding its position as the largest digital publisher.
At the same time, due to continued declines in the music genre, the company will disband Activision Publishing's Guitar Hero business unit and discontinue development on its Guitar Hero game for 2011. The company also will stop development on True Crime: Hong Kong™. These decisions are based on the desire to focus on the greatest opportunities that the company currently has to create the world's best interactive entertainment experiences.
For calendar year 2011, Activision Blizzard expects GAAP net revenues to be $3.95 billion and GAAP earnings per diluted share to be $0.56. On a non-GAAP basis, the company expects net revenues of $3.9 billion and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share to be $0.70 for the calendar year. Since Blizzard Entertainment has not confirmed a launch date for its next global release, the company's calendar year outlook at this time does not yet include a new game from Blizzard in 2011.
For the first quarter of 2011, Activision Blizzard expects GAAP net revenues of $1.28 billion, and GAAP earnings per diluted share of $0.28. The company's first quarter GAAP earnings per diluted share outlook includes the impact of between $0.02 - $0.03 of expenses related to the restructuring. On a non-GAAP basis, the company expects net revenues of $640 million and $0.07 earnings per diluted share for the first quarter.
Activision Blizzard's financial outlook is subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including declines in demand for its products, competition, the effectiveness of the company's restructuring efforts, fluctuations in foreign exchange and tax rates, and counterparty risks relating to customers, licensees, licensors and manufacturers.
The company's outlook is also based on assumptions about sell-through rates for its products, and the launch timing, success and pricing of its new slate of products. Current macroeconomic conditions increase those risks and uncertainties. As a result of these and other factors, actual results may deviate materially from the outlook presented above.
Board Authorizes Stock Repurchase Program and Declares Cash Dividend
Activision Blizzard today announced that its Board of Directors has authorized a new stock repurchase program under which the company can repurchase up to $1.5 billion of the company's outstanding common stock. This program replaces the company's $1 billion stock repurchase plan program authorized in February 2010, which expired on December 31, 2010. As of December 31, 2010, Activision Blizzard had purchased an aggregate of 86 million shares of its common stock for approximately $966 million under the 2010 program.
The Board of Directors also declared a cash dividend of $0.165 per common share payable on May 11, 2011 to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 16, 2011. This is the company's second-ever cash dividend and it represents a 10% increase over its first-ever dividend that was issued in 2010.
Today at 4:30 p.m. EST, Activision Blizzard's management will host a conference call and Webcast to discuss the company's results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2010 and management's outlook for 2011. The company welcomes all members of the financial and media communities and other interested parties to visit the "Investor Relations" area of www.activisionblizzard.com to listen to the conference call and view a brief supporting slide presentation via live Webcast or to listen to the call live by dialing into 877-397-0292 in the U.S. with passcode 8890647.
Activision Blizzard provides net revenues, net income (loss), earnings (loss) per share and operating margin data and guidance both including (in accordance with GAAP) and excluding (non-GAAP) the following items: the impact of the change in deferred net revenues and related cost of sales with respect to certain of the company's online-enabled games; expenses related to share-based payments; Activision Blizzard's non-core exit operations (which are the operating results of products and operations of the historical Vivendi Games, Inc. businesses that the company has exited or substantially wound down); costs related to the business combination between Activision, Inc. and Vivendi Games, Inc. (including transaction costs, integration costs, and restructuring activities); expenses related to the restructuring of our Activision Publishing operations; the amortization of intangibles and impairment of intangible assets; and the associated tax benefits.
Management believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with additional useful information to measure Activision Blizzard's financial and operating performance because they facilitate comparison of operating performance between periods and help investors to better understand the operating results of Activision Blizzard.
Internally, management uses these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the company's operating results, as well as in planning and forecasting.
Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. Activision Blizzard recognizes that there are limitations associated with the use of these non-GAAP financial measures.
Activision Blizzard's non-GAAP financial measures are not based on a comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, and the terms non-GAAP net revenues, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP earnings per share, and non-GAAP operating margin do not have a standardized meaning. Therefore, other companies may use the same or similarly named measures, but exclude different items, which may not provide investors a comparable view of Activision Blizzard's performance in relation to other companies.
Management compensates for the limitations resulting from the exclusion of these items by considering the impact of the items separately and by considering Activision Blizzard's GAAP, as well as non-GAAP results and outlook and, in this release, by presenting the most comparable GAAP measures directly ahead of non-GAAP measures, and by providing a reconciliation that indicates and describes the adjustments made.
About Activision Blizzard
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Blizzard, Inc. is a worldwide online, PC, console, handheld and mobile game publisher with leading positions across the major categories of the rapidly growing interactive entertainment software industry.
Activision Blizzard maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea and China. More information about Activision Blizzard and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activisionblizzard.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Blizzard's expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements under the heading "Company Outlook," are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Activision Blizzard generally uses words such as "outlook," "will," "could," "should," "would," "might," "to be," "plans," "believes," "may," "expects," "intends," "anticipates," "estimate," "future," "plan," "positioned," "potential," "project," "remain," "scheduled," "set to," "subject to," "upcoming" and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause Activision Blizzard's actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include, but are not limited to, sales levels of Activision Blizzard's titles, increasing concentration of titles, shifts in consumer spending trends, the impact of the current macroeconomic environment and market conditions within the video game industry, Activision Blizzard's ability to predict consumer preferences, including interest in specific genres such as first-person action and massively multiplayer online games and preferences among competing hardware platforms, the seasonal and cyclical nature of the interactive game market, changing business models including digital and used games, competition including from used games and other forms of entertainment, possible declines in software pricing, product returns and price protection, product delays, adoption rate and availability of new hardware (including peripherals) and related software, rapid changes in technology and industry standards, litigation risks and associated costs, the effectiveness of Activision Blizzard's restructuring efforts, protection of proprietary rights, maintenance of relationships with key personnel, customers, licensees, licensors, vendors, and third-party developers, including the ability to attract, retain and develop key personnel and developers that can create high quality "hit" titles, counterparty risks relating to customers, licensees, licensors and manufacturers, domestic and international economic, financial and political conditions and policies, foreign exchange rates and tax rates, and the identification of suitable future acquisition opportunities and potential challenges associated with geographic expansion, and the other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard's most recent annual report on Form 10-K. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and Activision Blizzard assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Although these forward-looking statements are believed to be true when made, they may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
(1) According to Microsoft, Sony, Activision Blizzard internal estimates and digitalbuzzblog.com.
(2) According to Activision Blizzard internal estimates
(3) According to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk
(4) According to The NPD Group
(5) According to internal company records from Blizzard Entertainment and reports from key distribution partners
(6) According to Blizzard Entertainment internal data
(7) According to Microsoft, Sony and Activision Blizzard internal estimates
ACTIVISION BLIZZARD, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
(Amounts in millions, except per share data)
Year Ended December 31,
Net revenues:
Subscription, licensing and other revenues
Total net revenues
Costs and expenses:
Cost of sales - product costs
Cost of sales - massively multi-player online role playing game ("MMORPG")
Cost of sales - software royalties and amortization
Cost of sales - intellectual property licenses
Impairment of intangible assets
Total costs and expenses
Operating income (loss)
Investment and other income, net
Income (loss) before income tax expense
Income tax (benefit) expense
Basic earnings (loss) per common share
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share
Weighted average common shares outstanding assuming dilution
(Amounts in millions)
Intellectual property licenses
Deferred income taxes, net
Long-term investments
Intangible assets, net
Trademark and trade names
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Deferred revenues
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
Other liabilities
Shareholders' equity:
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net
cash provided by operating activities:
Loss on disposal of property and equipment
Amortization and write-off of capitalized
software development costs and intellectual
property licenses (1)
Stock-based compensation expense (2)
Excess tax benefits from stock options exercises
Software development and intellectual property
Net cash provided by operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities:
Proceeds from maturities of investments
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investments
Payment of contingent consideration
Purchases of available-for-sale investments
Capital expenditures
Decrease in restricted cash
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
Proceeds from issuance of common stock to
Repurchase of common stock
Dividends paid
Excess tax benefits from stock option exercises
Net cash used in financing activities
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash
and cash equivalents
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
(1) Excludes deferral and amortization of stock-based compensation expense.
(2) Includes the net effects of capitalization, deferral, and amortization of stock-based compensation expense.
June 30,
Year over Year
% Increase
(Decrease)
Cash Flow Data
Operating Cash Flow - TTM
Capital Expenditures - TTM
Non-GAAP Free Cash Flow
Non-GAAP Free Cash Flow-TTM
TTM represents trailing twelve months.
Non-GAAP free cash flow represents operating cash flow minus capital expenditures.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
(Amounts in millions, except earnings per share data)
Cost of Sales - MMORPG
GAAP Measurement
Less: Net effect from deferral in net revenues and related cost of sales
Less: Stock-based compensation
Less: Restructuring (included in general and administrative)
Less: Amortization of intangible assets and purchase price accounting related adjustments
Less: Impairment of intangible assets
Non-GAAP Measurement
Basic Earnings (Loss) per Share
Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Share
Year Ended December 31, 2010
Basic Earnings per Share
Diluted Earnings per Share
(a) Reflects the net change in deferred net revenues and related cost of sales.
(b) Includes expense related to stock-based compensation.
(c) Reflects restructuring related to the Business Combination with Vivendi Games. Restructuring activities includes severance costs, facility exit costs and balance sheet write down and exit costs from the cancellation of projects.
(d) Reflects amortization of intangible assets, and the change in the fair value of assets and liabilities from purchase price accounting related adjustments.
(e) Reflects impairment of intangible assets acquired as a result of purchase price accounting.
The per share adjustments are presented as calculated, and the GAAP and non-GAAP earnings per share information is also presented as calculated. The sum of these measures, as presented, may differ due to the impact of rounding.
Less: Costs related to the Business Combination, integration and restructuring
Less: Results of Activision Blizzard's non-core exit operations
(c) Reflects costs related to the Business Combination with Vivendi Games (including transaction costs, integration costs and restructuring activities). Restructuring activities includes severance
costs, facility exit costs and balance sheet write down and exit costs from the cancellation of projects.
(e) Reflects impairment of intangible assets acquired as a result of purchase accounting.
(f) Reflects the results of products and operations from the historical Vivendi Games businesses that the company has exited, divested or wound down.
For the Three Months and Year Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
$ Increase
GAAP Net Revenues by Distribution Channel
Retail channel
Digital online channel*
Total Activision and Blizzard
Total consolidated GAAP net revenues
Change in Deferred Net Revenues(1)
Total changes in deferred net revenues
Non-GAAP Net Revenues by Distribution Channel
Total non-GAAP net revenues (2)
(1) We provide net revenues including (in accordance with GAAP) and excluding (non-GAAP) the impact of changes in deferred net revenues.
(2) Total non-GAAP net revenues presented also represents our total operating segment net revenues.
* Represents revenues from subscriptions and licensing royalties, value added services, downloadable contents, digitally distributed products, and wireless devices.
For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
GAAP Net Revenues by Segment/Platform Mix
Activision and Blizzard:
PC and other
Total console
Nintendo Dual Screen
Total handheld
Non-GAAP Net Revenues by Segment/Platform Mix
Total non-GAAP net revenues(2)
For the Year Ended December 31, 2010 and 2009
Total platform mix net revenues
Change in Deferred Net Revenues (1)
(1) We provide net revenues including (in accordance with GAAP) and excluding (non-GAAP) the impact of changes in deferred net revenues and other.
GAAP Net Revenues by Geographic Region
Total changes in net revenues
Non-GAAP Net Revenues by Geographic Region
Total geographic region net revenues
Segment net revenues:
Activision(i)
Blizzard(ii)
Distribution(iii)
Operating segment total
Reconciliation to consolidated net revenues:
Net effect from deferral of net revenues
Consolidated net revenues
Segment income from operations:
Reconciliation to consolidated operating income (loss):
Net effect from deferral of net revenues and related cost of sales
Stock-based compensation expense
Amortization of intangible assets and purchase price accounting
related adjustments
Consolidated operating (loss)
Operating margin from total operating segments
Other(iv)
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The First of GM’s All-New Pickups Posts a 20 Percent Q1 Gain
Industry retail sales, consumer sentiment rebounding
GM average transaction prices set new first-quarter company record
Chevrolet Trax, Equinox and Colorado set first-quarter company sales records
DETROIT — General Motors (NYSE: GM) announced today that it delivered 665,840 vehicles in the first quarter of 2019, with a selling mix of trucks, SUVs and crossovers above 80 percent. GM’s focus on these vibrant segments helped it earn the highest average transaction prices for any first quarter in the company’s history.
The Chevrolet Trax, Equinox and Colorado all set GM first-quarter sales records and the GMC Acadia posted its best quarter ever. The all-new Cadillac XT4 was the best-selling vehicle in its segment and the Buick Enclave was up 28 percent versus a year ago.
The all-new full-size pickups from Chevrolet and GMC are also off to a very strong start.
“Our production launch was very smooth and crew cab sales are brisk, especially those with premium trims,” said Kurt McNeil, U.S. vice president, Sales Operations. “We look forward to improving availability of our wide-range of cabs, trim series and powertrains.”
First-quarter 2019 average transaction prices for GM's all-new, light-duty pickups were $8,040 higher compared to their outgoing models in the first quarter of 2018, with the GMC Sierra leading the segment, according to J.D. Power PIN estimates.
Combined sales of the 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 crew cabs — the first of the company’s all-new full-size pickups to launch — were up 20 percent year over year.
Crew-cab production mix is currently running above 70 percent to meet strong customer demand, up 10 percentage points on average from the previous-generation trucks.
More than 95 percent of the all-new GMC Sierra 1500 crew cab sales are high-end trims including SLT, AT4 and Denali.
Availability of all-new regular-cab and double-cab pickups was very limited during the quarter due to launch timing, but full production of all cab styles started in March and they currently are arriving in dealer showrooms.
GM will begin the next phase of its full-size pickup truck launch in the second half of the year with the all-new 2020 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD.
“We are bullish on pickups and expect to gain sales momentum throughout the year,” said McNeil. “We are installing capacity in Flint to build more HD pickups in total, more crew cab models, more dualies and diesel models, too, all in response to dealer and customer demand.”
Other new models launching this year include the XT6, Cadillac’s first three-row crossover, and the CT5, Cadillac’s new luxury-sport sedan. The all-new Chevrolet Blazer is also gaining momentum, and the brand will begin national advertising for the vehicle during the second quarter as production ramps up.
Solid U.S. Economy, Strong GM Operating Discipline
GM sales in the first quarter of 2019 were down 7 percent year over year compared to a very strong first quarter of 2018.
“After a slow start to the year, the retail SAAR has risen each month since January,” said Elaine Buckberg, GM chief economist. “Consumer sentiment continued to recover in March and the other key drivers of auto sales like employment, wage growth and household balance sheets are healthy. The Fed paused in raising interest rates, which eases a headwind facing auto sales. Overall, the U.S. economy is in solid shape, which bodes well for the industry outlook.”
GM’s Commercial deliveries, which are another barometer of economic strength, grew at an average annual rate of more than 7 percent from 2012 to 2017 and were up 11 percent year over year in 2018. Commercial deliveries were close to flat to a very strong first quarter a year ago, even with limited availability of regular light- and heavy-duty pickups, and heavy-duty crew-cab pickups.
GM has demonstrated continued strong operating discipline and is very well positioned heading into the second quarter:
The company’s incentive spending as a percentage of average transaction price was 13 percent, down close to a full percentage point year over year, according to J.D Power PIN.
GM’s per-unit incentive spending was down $175 year over year, as domestic competitors increased their spending in the quarter, according to J.D. Power PIN.
Average transaction prices rose $938 to a first-quarter record of $35,881, according to J.D. Power PIN.
Inventory is a healthy 818,967 units heading into the second quarter, which tends to be a strong quarter for industry sales.
General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) is a global company committed to delivering safer, better and more sustainable ways for people to get around. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Holden, Baojun, Wuling and Jiefang brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, and Maven, its personal mobility brand, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
GM Communications
james.cain@chevrolet.com
Tom Henderson
tom.e.henderson@gm.com
This press release and related comments by management may include forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations about possible future events and thus are inherently uncertain. Our actual results may differ materially from forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including: (1) our ability to deliver new products, services and customer experiences in response to increased competition in the automotive industry; (2) our ability to timely fund and introduce new and improved vehicle models that are able to attract a sufficient number of consumers; (3) the success of our crossovers, SUVs and full-size pick-up trucks; (4) our ability to successfully and cost-effectively restructure our operations in the U.S. and various other countries and initiate additional cost reduction actions with minimal disruption; (5) our ability to reduce the costs associated with the manufacture and sale of electric vehicles and drive increased consumer adoption; (6) unique technological, operational and regulatory risks related to our autonomous vehicle regulations; (7) global automobile market sales volume, which can be volatile; (8) our significant business in China which is subject to unique operational, competitive and regulatory risks as well as economic conditions in China; (9) our joint ventures, which we cannot operate solely for our benefit and over which we may have limited control; (10) the international scale and footprint of our operations which exposes us to a variety of political, economic and regulatory risks, including the risk of changes in government leadership and laws (including labor, tax and other laws), political instability and economic tensions between governments and changes in international trade policies, new barriers to entry and changes to or withdrawals from free trade agreements, changes in foreign exchange rates and interest rates, economic downturns in foreign countries, differing local product preferences and product requirements, compliance with U.S. and foreign countries' export controls and economic sanctions, differing labor regulations, requirements and union relationships, differing dealer and franchise regulations and relationships, and difficulties in obtaining financing in foreign countries; (11) any significant disruption at one of our manufacturing facilities could disrupt our production schedule; (12) the ability of our suppliers to deliver parts, systems and components without disruption and at such times to allow us to meet production schedules; (13) prices of raw materials used by us and our suppliers; (14) our highly competitive industry, which is characterized by excess manufacturing capacity and the use of incentives and the introduction of new and improved vehicle models by our competitors; (15) the possibility that competitors may independently develop products and services similar to ours or that our intellectual property rights are not sufficient to prevent competitors from developing or selling those products or services; (16) our ability to manage risks related to security breaches and other disruptions to our vehicles, information technology networks and systems; (17) our ability to comply with increasingly complex, restrictive, and punitive regulations relating to our enterprise data practices, including the collection, use, sharing, and security of the Personal Identifiable Information of our customers, employees, or suppliers; (18) our ability to comply with extensive laws and regulations applicable to our industry, including those regarding fuel economy and emissions and autonomous vehicles; (19) costs and risks associated with litigation and government investigations; (20) the cost and effect on our reputation of product safety recalls and alleged defects in products and services; (21) any additional tax expense or exposure; (22) our continued ability to develop captive financing capability through GM Financial; and (23) significant increases in our pension expense or projected pension contributions resulting from changes in the value of plan assets or the discount rate applied to value the pension liabilities or mortality or other assumption changes.. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, and our subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. GM cautions readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. GM undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements.
Press Release 210.2 KB
Deliveries 158.6 KB
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Home Investor Relations Board of Directors
Governance menu
Peter Leys
Executive Chairman of the Board
Peter Leys has been the Executive Chairman of Materialise since 2013. Previously, from 1990 to 2013, Mr. Leys was Corporate Finance Partner at the Brussels office of Baker & McKenzie CVBA, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets. Mr. Leys lectures a mergers and acquisitio....More >>
Wilfried Vancraen
Wilfried Vancraen has served as one of our directors and as our Chief Executive Officer since founding Materialise in July 1990. Mr. Vancraen previously worked as a research engineer and consultant at the Research Institute of the Belgian Metalworking Industry, where he was introduced to 3D Printing. ....More >>
A Tre C CVOA represented by Johan De Lille
Johan De Lille has represented A Tre C CVOA as one of our directors since July 2006, and A Tre C CVOA has been an independent director of Materialise since 2006. Mr. De Lille started his professional career as an auditor at Arthur Andersen LLP in 1988. In 1994, he became Vice President and Group Contr....More >>
Ailanthus NV represented by Hilde Ingelaere
Hilde Ingelaere co-founded Materialise in 1990, together with the company’s CEO, Wilfried Vancraen. In her early years at Materialise, Ms. Ingelaere managed several staff departments including human resources, finance and legal. She has served on the board since 1997. Today as executive vice president....More >>
Pol Ingelaere
Pol Ingelaere has served as one of our directors since 2011. Mr. Ingelaere has been involved for many years in education and the sciences, teaching physics, chemistry and biology to final grade college students in Belgium. In 1981 Mr. Ingelaere was appointed as an inspector for all science teachers in....More >>
Jürgen Ingels
Jürgen Ingels has served as one of our independent directors since November 2013. Mr. Ingels is the Founder and Managing Partner of SmartFin Capital, a growth stage private equity fund that was set up in December 2014. In October 2014, Mr. Ingels sold Clear2Pay NV/S.A., a global innovative payments so....More >>
Jozef Van der Sloten
Jozef Vander Sloten has served as one of our directors since January 2007. Mr. Vander Sloten is a tenured professor at the Faculty of Engineering Science, KU Leuven and has chaired the Division of Biomechanics for two terms from 2006 to 2014. He chaired the Leuven Medical Technology Centre (L-MTC), wh....More >>
Lieve Verplancke
Lieve Verplancke has served as one of our independent directors since June 2015. Ms. Verplancke began her career in 1984 with The Beecham Group (now part of GlaxoSmithKline), and has since held key management positions with Merck & Co., as well as Bristol-Myers Squibb, where she served as Managing....More >>
Bart Luyten
Bart Luyten has served as one of our independent directors since 2017 and also served as a director between 2012 and 2015. Mr. Luyten is the Founder and Managing Partner of SmartFin Capital, a private equity fund investing in growth stage technology companies. Previously Mr. Luyten was the Founder and....More >>
Volker Hannes
Mr. Hammes, 55, has served as a Managing Director of BASF New Business GmbH (“BASF New Business”), a subsidiary of BASF SE, the German chemical conglomerate (FWB: BAS) ("BASF"), since January 2016 and a Managing Director of BASF 3D Printing Solutions GmbH, another subsidiary of BASF, since August 2017....More >>
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Why the Port of Long Beach is Investing in Rail to Handle Bigger Ships
May 8, 2017 August 15, 2017 By Nate Kaplan
Long Beach, Calif. — This spring, ports around the U.S. will start welcoming new and larger vessel services, and the Port of Long Beach will be handling the biggest ships to call North America.
Behind the shift is a recent set of mergers between ocean carriers – and the consequent consolidation of shipping alliances between these carriers. It not only means bigger ships, but also major downstream consequences for ports, railroads and other parts of the logistics network.
We spoke with Dr. Noel Hacegaba, chief commercial and operations officer at the Port of Long Beach (POLB), about the shift in alliances, and what it will mean for the port and its rail connections.
Question: How are changing shipping alliances affecting POLB?
Dr. Hacegaba: We have spent the past six months closely monitoring the formation of the new alliances, all in an effort to understand the potential impacts to terminal utilization and operations. As soon as we received the new service schedule that revealed where these alliances would be sending their services, it put us in a position to be able to work with our industry partners to make sure that everyone was talking to one another and sharing the information necessary to make real-time, reliable decisions – and mitigate any disruptions to service. We have spent the last several months assessing readiness and connecting the different supply chain partners to ensure a seamless transition to the new alliance structure.
Question: Why do bigger ships mean consolidation of shipping alliances?
Dr. Hacegaba: Vessel sharing agreements have been around for decades and what they do is allow the shipping lines to optimize their respective vessels – no different than the airlines, which have Oneworld alliance and Star Alliance, for example. It’s all in an effort to optimize capacity and maximize economies of scale. Vessel sharing agreements attempt to do the same, especially now that vessels have nearly tripled in size in the past decade. The difference between the alliances of years past and the today’s ocean carrier alliances is in the sheer scale and capacity. Three new shipping alliances will handle 94 percent of the trans-Pacific market.
As a result of the massive realignment in the shipping industry over the past 30 months, the global roster of shipping lines has dwindled from 20 to 13 and the largest ocean carriers have concentrated into three major alliances, and much of this was triggered by the rapid increase in vessel capacity. So, just to give you an idea, in a period of 10 years, the largest size vessel to regularly call San Pedro Bay has grown from 4,000 TEU [twenty-foot equivalent unit, a measurement for shipping containers] to 14,000 TEU. And, last year, we welcomed the first 18,000 TEU vessel to the Port of Long Beach. All that additional capacity, by virtue of the upsizing of ships, has resulted in the formation of larger alliances, so that the shipping lines could optimize slots aboard their vessels and maximize economies of scale.
Question: How much does POLB currently use rail?
Dr. Hacegaba: Today, about two-thirds of all cargo that crosses our gateway eventually makes its way into the interior of the United States via rail. Some of the cargo that arrives to our port goes on rail immediately, that’s what we call on-dock rail, and other cargo leaves the port on a truck, but it ends up in a nearby rail yard and then it makes its way to the interior of the U.S. via rail. So, when you add up all that cargo, we’re talking about two-thirds of our total cargo. That is why the Southern California gateway is known as an intermodal gateway, and it’s an important part of our value proposition because it offers superior transit times to our customers.
“Rail is key to our success because it is vital to keeping the Southern California gateway competitive.”
Question: In terms of rail, what is POLB doing to prepare for the new ocean alliances?
Dr. Hacegaba: Right now, our focus is on expanding our on-dock rail capabilities. We believe that on-dock rail is both more efficient and more sustainable. Today, approximately 28 percent of all of our cargo is on-dock, which means that it leaves the terminal on rail. We have plans to aggressively grow the percentage of on-dock rail. Over time, we would like to see more than half of all of our cargo leave our port on rail.
To offer some context, the latest long-term cargo forecast for San Pedro Bay puts us at 40 million container units by 2040. Last year, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach combined handled 15.5 million TEU. So, we expect to see our annual through-put more than double within the next 24 years, which is why shifting more of our container movements to rail makes a lot of sense.
We’re in close communication with the railroads – the two Class I’s, Union Pacific and BNSF – to make sure they are receiving the information they need to plan their equipment accordingly. We understand that when it comes to rail, preparation is key, and balance is also important. So, we’re working closely with the railroads and the shipping lines to make sure that they’re communicating and the railroads have the information necessary to plan and optimize their operations here in our complex.
An aerial view of the Port of Long Beach.
Question: The rail industry recently released a report on the relationship between international trade and rail. For example, 42% of rail carloads and intermodal units are directly associated with international trade. Could you talk about trade’s relationship with POLB?
Dr. Hacegaba: The southern California gateway is heavily reliant on trans-Pacific trade – China being our largest partner, followed by South Korea and Japan. Well over 80 percent of our cargo comes from Asia, so Asia is a very important partner. The trade activity at the Port of Long Beach generates one out of eight jobs for the city, 300,000 jobs in southern California, and more than 1.5 million jobs across the country. In fact, the cargo that crosses our gateway reaches every single U.S. congressional district.
Trade has a very positive and significant effect on the U.S. economy. Cargo is the U.S. economy in motion. That is why the Port of Long Beach is aggressively investing in infrastructure. We’re investing $4 billion to modernize our facilities and upgrade our infrastructure, and also strengthen our rail system and increase our rail capacity. That’s $4 billion we’re investing in our future. And that’s all in an effort to build on our value proposition. Again, we are an intermodal gateway. Rail is key to our success because it is vital to keeping the Southern California gateway competitive.
“Trade has a very positive and significant effect on the U.S. economy. Cargo is the U.S. economy in motion.”
By Nate Kaplan
State Director
Nate Kaplan has been an active player on the political scene from coast to coast, with a background in local, state and federal elections.
Get to know Nate
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Miss “That Catholic Show”? You’ll Love This.
July 1, 2014 Greg Willits Productions
Our entire family recently took part in a new video for the Archdiocese of Denver. Check it out here:
The video was released in conjunction with a new pastoral letter from Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila entitled, “Family: Become What You Are.”
I was given the task a couple weeks out from the release to develop some resources to accompany the letter. So instead of going to work one day, I sat in my truck in a park facing the front range of the Rocky Mountains and wrote 20 Family-Friendly Rosary Meditations, a Month of Dinnertime Conversation Questions, and the script for the video above.
My team at the Archdiocese then worked to film, edit, and revise all of these resources to coincide with the release of the pastoral letter and are now available, along with the pastoral letter, on the new Archdiocese of Denver website. I sincerely hope you enjoy these and will use them in your own homes.
Feel free to link to all of these from your own website, Twitter feed, or Facebook page!
Tagged: Catholic, Catholicism, Family Life, Family Rosary, Greg Willits, Jennifer Willits, Strong Family, That Catholic Show
How We Landed a Sponsor for Our Podcast
October 22, 2012 Greg Willits Productions
Since 2008 my wife, Jennifer, and I have hosted a 3-hour-a-day talk show on SiriusXM’s The Catholic Channel called The Catholics Next Door. Prior to that, for several years we hosted the award-winning Rosary Army Catholic Podcast, which was the first husband/wife Catholic podcast.
Both shows were a tremendous joy for us and I believe with every ounce of my being that I’m a better person today than before I started those endeavors.
But because of family obligations and her inability to continue hosting the show in the afternoon (right when the kids got home from school), last July Jennifer had to step down from the show to step back up to being a full-time mom, and for the past three months I hosted the show solo. We knew when we made that decision that there was a good chance that in the long run, our show would no longer air on SiriusXM, and understandably so. They have a channel to run, and though the show was still great (if I say so myself), it just wasn’t the same without Jennifer.
Last Friday (October 19, 2012), we hosted our last broadcast of The Catholics Next Door on The Catholic Channel, and it was obviously a bittersweet experience. But we knew that because so many people had benefitted from the ministry of The Catholics Next Door, that we needed to find a way to expand it new and exciting directions that weren’t always possible with radio. It had to continue.
We actually knew for almost an entire month that our show was going off the air, and in that time we did a lot of praying, crying, laughing, hoping, and discerning. Part of that discernment process lead to the decision to focus my creativity, passion, skills, and experience towards producing more great audio and video content, while also helping others to be more productive and effective in their organizations and endeavors, both in faith-based initiatives, as well as more business and IT related companies.
In the midst of that, I got a little bold. I told Jennifer that if we were going to relaunch The Catholics Next Door as a podcast, that we’d need to have a sponsor for the show from the very first episode. If I was going to try to support the family as a freelance contractor, I couldn’t give up a day each week to do a show that would make it impossible for me to do work to support the family.
In fact, I didn’t just tell Jennifer, I told God, “Lord, if you want us to do this, You’ve got to bring us a sponsor and You’ve got to do it right away!”
Then I threw in a few caveats, just for good measure.
I can’t lie. Just can’t do it. If we’re going to have a sponsor, it has to be one I believe in. It has to be one doing some level of good. And it has to be one who gets what my wife and I try to accomplish in all of our various media endeavors. What we do in video and audio is unique and different and we wanted a sponsor who “gets” that.
We knew our last radio broadcast was quickly approaching, and people would be asking us to start a podcast, or if we’d be moving the program to another network. We needed an answer before our final show.
I said a prayer, wrote down some details, sent off a couple emails, and within 24 hours, we had our first sponsor for the first 12 shows: eCatholic – Catholic Websites Made Easy.
Given the geeky nature of so much of what we do, combined with our love for new media and new evangelization, God brought us a perfect first sponsor.
And while that in itself is great, what’s even better is how excited our sponsor is to be a part of a brand new, relaunched The Catholics Next Door.
Even though the first new show doesn’t launch until October 29th, our sponsor has already created a fantastic deal for our audience and friends.
But it doesn’t end there. I just found out that not only are they sponsoring our new show (click here to subscribe for free via iTunes), but they’re running a contest this week for you to win a free copy of our book, The Catholics Next Door: Adventures in Imperfect Living!
Click here for more information on how you can win!
We’re so excited for the relaunch next week. Our plan is for the new show to be a combination of the best of our old podcast, with the best of our radio show, all mashed up into something unique and awesome.
Oh, and if your company or organization would like to be a sponsor, drop me a line. I’d be happy to discuss the possibility.
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← Writer’s Are Often At A Loss For Words
Knowledge and Emotion →
Shen Yun–Ancient Chinese Wisdom and Quantum Physics
“Quantum mechanics is the best theory we have for describing the world at the nuts-and-bolts level of atoms and subatomic particles. Perhaps the most renowned of its mysteries is the fact that the outcome of a quantum experiment can change depending on whether or not we choose to measure some property of the particles involved.”
When this “observer effect” was first noticed by the early pioneers of quantum theory, they were deeply troubled. It seemed to undermine the basic assumption behind all science: that there is an objective world out there, irrespective of us. If the way the world behaves depends on how – or if – we look at it, what can “reality” really mean?”
“The physicist Pascual Jordan, who worked with quantum guru Niels Bohr in Copenhagen in the 1920s, put it like this: “observations not only disturb what has to be measured, they produce it… We compel [a quantum particle] to assume a definite position.” In other words, Jordan said, “we ourselves produce the results of measurements.”
“To this day, physicists do not agree on the best way to interpret these quantum experiments, and to some extent what you make of them is (at the moment) up to you. But one way or another, it is hard to avoid the implication that consciousness and quantum mechanics are somehow linked.”
• –Excerpt from article by Philip Ball on BBC.com
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20170215-the-strange-link-between-the-human-mind-and-quantum-physics
Philip Ball is a freelance science writer. His writings on science for the popular press have covered topical issues ranging from cosmology to the future of molecular biology. He has written widely on the interactions between art and science, and continues to write regularly for Nature. He has a BA in Chemistry from the University of Oxford and a PhD in Physics from the University of Bristol.
The nature of reality is a key question in every philosophical tradition, and if we are curious enough as individuals existing within the temporal world, we may find ourselves compelled by our circumstances as human cognitive creatures to not only engage the reality we experience on a daily basis, but also to contemplate a variety of alternate realities, which exist only as potential variations of our current objective reality.
It is reasonable to conclude that in order to become aware of alternate realities, we must first allow ourselves to entertain the notion that it is possible to become aware of them, and then also to engage them through deliberate intention to expand our awareness. We have to be willing to explore beyond the limitations of our objective view of the world, and seek to open our hearts and minds to an expanded view of what an alternate reality might look like and how it would feel to be a part of it. Only when we place ourselves on the path of discovery, can we expect to encounter potential realities which might exist outside of our everyday view of our existence.
I know these ideas sound like they might be challenging to pursue, especially if you are unaccustomed to opening yourself to other possibilities, and if you are bogged down with ingrained habits from any number of limiting dogmatic institutions or strictly controlled belief systems like I was growing up, it can be very difficult to even suppose that anything else exists outside of our perceptual experiences as physical beings in a physical universe. The truth is that we often embrace the well-worn paths from our upbringing or limit ourselves to only those ideas which we can be demonstrated empirically to be true, without ever really questioning why or supposing that other ideas outside of those familiar to us could possibly have merit.
The way we begin to open ourselves to new ideas is to expand our awareness generally by letting go of our restrictive or limited views for a short time and to contemplate what the world might look like if we did not have these restrictions. We don’t have to abandon sobriety or toss out everything that we hold dear in one fell swoop, but rather, simply allow our hearts and minds to release us from the habitual embrace of what we currently know just for a brief period of time, and ask ourselves what other possible ideas might explain or account for our subjective experience of this moment.
It’s a small beginning that doesn’t require us to put forth that much effort, and with some regular attention to the practice, we may start to see how our willingness to simply THINK about other possibilities brings them slowly to the surface for us to examine. The key is to allow these thoughts to enter our minds briefly and to embrace the opportunity in our hearts just to see how they feel to us at that moment. With persistence, and an open approach to new ideas, we can begin to formulate a basis for further inquiry. Once we establish a routine of contemplation and openness to new ideas, we will naturally produce starting points for further investigation. Wherever our thoughts lead us, and in whatever direction our hearts point us, we can look and read about and pursue those beginnings and discover for ourselves what a variety of wonder and curiosity can produce for us to consider.
Whether or not this approach leads to genuine discovery or the opening to new ideas is entirely up to us to determine, and at the very least, it provides an opportunity to expand our inner resources, and enrich our experience of our existence in new ways.
After what has felt like almost a lifetime of contemplation and pursuing my curiosity in a whole variety of ways, every new experience now becomes an opening to a broader view of existence for me, and the persistent application of embracing each one with an open heart and mind has allowed me to expand my own ideas beyond anything I could have imagined before I began in earnest to contemplate the nature of my own reality on my own terms.
My most recent opening to new experience took the form of a public performance in Philadelphia at the Merriam Theater of an extraordinary production entitled, “Shen Yun.” Through a series of musical vignettes from a rich tradition of ancient dances and philosophical themes from over 5,000 years of Chinese civilization, a modern day interpretation created by “…an independent nonprofit organization based in New York City,” according to the program, brought together “leading Chinese artists from around the world,” in an effort to “revive authentic Chinese culture.”
You might think that a program which featured classical Chinese dance wouldn’t necessarily provide me with an opening to a broader view of my own personal reality, but quite the opposite turned out to be true. As an observer in the spectacle of “China’s rich cultural heritage,” it became quickly apparent to me that my participation in the event allowed me to enjoy “…one of humankind’s greatest treasures.” As the evening unfolded, I found myself profoundly engaged by the music, the movement, and the artistry of the performers.
Again, according to the program provided:
“The Shen Yun Orchestra delivered this musical experience by blending the singular beauty of Chinese melodies with the precision and power of the Western orchestra…Ancient instruments like the erhu and pipa lead the melody on top of a full Western orchestra—strings, woodwinds, and brass. It is the only orchestra in the world to combine these instruments as permanent members.”
By combining the artistry of modern day performance with the spirituality of an ancient Chinese culture, “…Shen Yun’s performers draw their spiritual inspiration from…a practice called Falun Dafa…also known as Falun Gong…rooted in China’s ancient spiritual traditions…(whose) practitioners strive to live by the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance.”
Every episode of the performance contained some jeweled offering to the audience, from the plentiful variety of spectacular costumes, to the exquisite beauty of the coordinated precision choreography, and unique special effects. A host of selections from thousands of years of Chinese mythology and history over several hours often solicited gasps of astonishment and delight from an international audience of enthusiastic theater goers. I found myself periodically overwhelmed by both the emotional and spiritual content of the stories, and at particular moments, on the verge of tears as I opened myself to the unfolding spectacle.
Of particular note were the episodes “Bestowing the Tao,” about the story of Lao-Tzu and the Tao Te Ching, another entitled, “The Dream,” which warned that our choice between good or evil would decide our fate, and the last two of the evening, “The Divine Path is Near,” which suggests that we are called to follow the divine path, and “Boundless Compassion,” which points out that we are “…following in the footsteps of the ancient spiritual traditions,” which presents our modern culture with great challenges, but promises that if we pursue these traditions with appropriate fervor,“…a new era of hope begins.”
This extraordinary evening of music, dance, and culture, when combined with a modern technological invention of an integrated digital background which “…allowed the performers to travel back and forth between the stage and the animated backdrop,” profoundly affected me in a number of ways. The ancient messages from the myths and stories came to life for me; the beauty of the dances enthralled me; the hypnotic effect of the animated background, and the mystical fog which appeared at the beginning of each half of the performance left me awestruck! The spiritual nature of our humanity was on such clear display, that I left the theater uplifted and moved beyond words.
With luck, and a continuing effort to remain open to new experiences and to gain additional insights from them as I progress in my efforts to more fully appreciate the human subjective experience of consciousness, I hope to provide a degree of inspiration to others who visit here in the days and weeks to come.
Warm regards….John H.
Filed under Ancient Culture, Consciousness, Personal, Philosophy, The Human Spirit Tagged with Chinese Culture, Chinese Dance, Quantum mechanics, Shen Yun, technology
About jjhiii24
Way back in 1973, as a young man embarking on the journey of a lifetime, I experienced what Carl Jung described as “the eruption of unconscious contents,” which compelled me to seek the path I continue to pursue to this day. The path of discovery has led me through an astonishingly diverse range of explorations in philosophy, science, and religion, as well as the many compelling ideas in the literature and scriptures of the cultures of the world. There is, in my view, a compelling thread made up of components of each, that runs through the fabric of life. The nature and study of human consciousness has been a compelling subject for me for more than twenty years. I have spent a great deal of my time and energies trying to come to terms with my own very particular “inner experience” of life, and to somehow understand how the events and flow of my temporal life have directly been influenced by the workings within. Sharing what I have come to understand about my own “Inner Evolution,” has tasked my intellect and communications skills in a big way. I am only just beginning to feel confident enough in the results of my study and contemplation to express the many various aspects of what I have uncovered within myself. I am hopeful that my own subjective and personal experience of my own “human spirit” will resonate with others, and encourage them to explore their own.
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history, Japan, patriotism, pearl harbor, terrorism, USAfreedom is not free, war, WWII
Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a Date that will live in Infamy
A question that has interested historians and researchers for decades is: why? Why did Japan launch an attack that, in hindsight at least, they clearly had no chance of winning? The obvious answer is that they thought they could, but military and naval strategists know the answer is not so simple.
Precisely because its resources were so depleted by the war with China, it is accepted wisdom that Japan was hoping to expand its territories in the Pacific. If these areas belonged to Japan, they would, almost by default, become customers for Japan’s industrial and resource sectors.
But the Japanese underestimated America’s resolve to defend itself, for however long, and by whatever means necessary. If Japan hoped that America might take a “c’est la vie” attitude to the prospect of losing a battle in the Philippines, it was sorely mistaken. Nor was America still weary from the First World War.
Japan also underestimated the extent of Americans’ outrage at the bombing in 1941. It fueled the nation’s desire to win at almost any cost. No democratic government on earth can move forward without the will of the people, and after Pearl Harbor, the American people’s will was ferocious.
Here is the text and a link to the speech that FDR made after the attack at Pearl Harbor.
I read the Biography of Admiral Yamamoto, the architect of the attack. He believed that the only way to defeat the United States of America was a surprise attack that would disable our military in the Pacific. He clearly stated that he feared that if the attack was not completely successful, it would awaken a sleeping giant that the Empire of Japan could not defeat in standard battle. It must haunt his legacy.
Tactically, the mistake was not destroying the aircraft carriers which were out at sea that day or his plan may have succeeded.
As it turned out, he was shot down only a few years later in a surprise attack by a squadron of P-38’s heading to an inspection in the Pacific.
Here is the Youtube speech by FDR
I find ironic the words of the second half of the speech, if applied to 9/11, would be appropriate. Also ironic is that Japan was extending its reach for economic resources.
The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time, the Japanese Government had deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you, very many American lives were lost. In addition, American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.
Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.
Last night Japanese forces attacked Wake Island.
This morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces-with the unbounded determination of our people-we will gain the inevitable triumph–so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, 7 December 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.
Here is the only color film of the event. Listen to how excited the Japanese are and their commitment to give everything, including lives to this war:
From → Freedom, government, history, Human Capabilities, Life, military, quotes, terrorism
Interesting to note, the reason U.S. aircraft were able to locate and shoot down Yamamoto’s plane was because early in the war our intelligence service had broken the Japanese code.
When a message came through indicating when and where Yamamoto would be traveling, it was a simple task to intercept him
That we had broken the code was a closely guarded secret, and U.S. forces actually considered not going after Yamamoto’s plane for fear that it would compromise the secret. If the Japanese had learned that the U.S. could read their coded messages, they would have immediately changed the code and we would have lost a very valuable source of intelligence on their plans.
So hats off to American ingenuity, which was a major weapon in defeating the Axis powers.
Delusions of Adequacy » September 11, 2001, Good vs. Evil
2010 in review « Delusions of Adequacy
December 7th, 1941; Sex, Drugs and Incompetency In Washington | Delusions of Adequacy
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Man’s best friend now also Heart’s best friend »
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ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS (2016) review
tags: Alice Through the Looking Glass, Anne Hathaway, Barbara Windsor, David J. Fowlie, film, Helena Bonham Carter, James Bobin, Johnny Depp, Leo Bill, Matt Lucas, Mia Wasikowska, Michael Sheen, Paul Whitehouse, review, Rhys Ifans, Sacha Baron Cohen, Stephen Fry, Timothy Spall
written by: Linda Woolverton
produced by: Tim Burton, Joe Roth, Suzanne Todd, Jennifer Todd
directed by: James Bobin
rated: PG (for fantasy action/peril and some language)
U.S. release date: May 27, 2016
The best moments in Walt Disney Pictures “Alice Through the Looking Glass” can be counted on two fingers – one is the beautifully tailored costumes by Oscar-winner Colleen Atwood and the other can be found during the end credits, when a text appears on-screen dedicating the film to the late great Alan Rickman. That’s it though for this forgettable and needless sequel to Tim Burton’s annoying CGI leaden “Alice in Wonderland“, the 2010 surprise blockbuster hit (that raked in over a billion globally) that kicked off Disney’s live-action adaptation of their classic animated features craze.
A sequel to this may have been inevitable, but clearly that doesn’t mean it’ll work (or that anyone was clamoring for one). Burton takes on a producer role here, while “The Muppets” director James Bobin takes the wheel, which doesn’t mean the movie looks that much different since it was hard to tell if Burton left any identifiable mark on the look and feel of the first movie. Anyway, the director’s job on a movie like this is to imitate the previous director and deliver a product. That’s what big studios think viewers want. I always say, if you’re going to do a sequel, make it different or new; or at the very least, compelling in and of itself – none of that can be found in “Looking Glass”.
The movie has an indecipherable opening on the high seas, where we find Alice Kingsleigh (Mia Wasikowska) capably manning a ship called Wonder, just like her father once did. We try to watch as her resourcefulness outsmarts three pursuing ships sailing from China (it’s not clear why they’re pursuing except to show viewers an adventure), but the combination of a rainy night scene and good amount of CGI makes it difficult to follow. It sets the stage for the rest of the viewing experience.
When Alice returns to London after being absent for years, she and her mother (Lindsay Duncan) are told by Alice’s resentful ex-fiance, Hamish (Leo Bill), who has since taken over her father’s company, that she must sign over her ship in exchange for her mother keeping their home and take a clerk job. Frustrated, Alice steams off and winds up following a blue butterfly she recognizes as Absolem (Rickman) into a dining room, where the lepidoptera flitters through a large mirror. Worried that Hamish and his lawyers will find her, Alice’s curiouser and curiouser curiosity finds her following Absolem through the titular magic glass.
Alice finds she has returned to Underland, where she reunites with old friends such as Cheshire Cat (Stephen Fry), Thackery Earwicket the March Hare (Paul Whitehouse), Nivens McTwisp the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen), Mallymkun the Doormouse (Barbara Windsor), Bayard the Bloodhound (Timothy Spall) and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum (Matt Lucas) and, of course, the Mirana the White Queen (Anne Hathaway) – all of whom show great concern for the current state of their friend, the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), who has been in a near-death state of depression since recently learning his family is actually alive, not killed by the jabberwocky which he thought for so long.
The White Queen convinces Alice that the best way to help her friend is to give the half-mechanical manager of the time continuum, Time (Sacha Baron Cohen), a visit and request the use of his chronosphere, which can assist an individual in traveling through time. Using that device, Alice will be able to go back in time and prevent the Hatter’s family from dying. She unexpectedly learns of another scenario related to their death, involving Iracebeth the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter) and her long-standing resentment toward her sister, Mirana, which further complicates Alice’s quest to save Hatter.
Director James Bobin has proven his ability to deliver lighthearted, clever family entertainment with “The Muppets” and “Muppets Most Wanted“, so a trip through the looking glass seems like it would be a nice fit. But it’s hard to tell where his mark is in “Looking Glass” since he’s just picking up the aesthetic that came before it. In the previous film, I found myself utterly annoyed with the landscape of Underland. Sure, it has colorful geography and a color palette that looks like the designers through liquified Skittles at it, but there’s also a feeling of phoniness as well, due to its heavily reliance on CGI, which totally takes us out of the movie.
The big turnoff for me in Burton’s “Alice” though was Johnny Depp, I couldn’t stand his garish look – a cross between Carrot Top dressed like Boy George as a mime – nor could I handle his unfunny acting, which seemed to be a mash-up of Capt. Jack Sparrow and Willy Wonka. I couldn’t stand it then and I couldn’t stand it now. I also didn’t care for Bonham Carter’s Red Queen, but she’s a little easier to handle here since we learn more of her back story that indicates why she’s such a volatile unnerving character.
I considered all this going into “Looking Glass”, but I still had to see if it’d be just as wretched as the first one, primarily because I like Wasikowska quite a bit. Her role as Alice doesn’t give her a whole lot to do, but she commits to it, injecting just as much energy and talent as any other role she’s taken. When this movie is focused on Alice, especially during her story outside of Underland, it’s actually quite interesting, but seeing how most of the movie is expectedly placed in the fantasy world of tea parties and royalty outbursts, Wasikowska’s Alice gets lost in the mix, simply going from one location to the next. In fact, much of the action in “Looking Glass” reminded me of the worst parts of Peter Jacksons three “Hobbit” movies, which often finds the camera pulling back and watching our diminutive characters race from point A to point B, as if viewers were watching someone play a video game over and over again, with no real grasp of peril or connection to the drama of the situation. That’s what we have here and then some.
The new environment that Alice visits is Time’s castle, which feels like one gigantic steam punk amusement park ride, not a location that feels like an actual place, unfortunately. In it we find Time’s silent minions, called Seconds, who creatively splice together to form themselves into Minutes and eventually Hours. Unfortunately, those characters feel straight out of a video game as well, or more like a game you might find on your phone. It doesn’t help matters that the overrated Sacha Baron Cohen gives his character a Werner Herzog accent, but at least he fits in with all the other annoying characters that inhabit Underland. It’s frustrating because Underland should be populated with whimsical and loony characters, not ones that annoy or unnerve – or gasp, bore you. But, that’s what we had in Burton’s movie and that’s what we have here.
This time around, the CGI used for the characters feels even more noticeable and the locations feel either claustrophobic or too busy to comprehend. The busy visual effects overwhelm Linda Wolverton’s (a longtime Disney screenwriter) underwhelming story. Why exactly does Alice call Hatter her “very best friend”? She just spent three years at sea – when did she last speak with her very best friend? And what kind of friendship can she have with a guy who speaks in fortune cookie gibberish? If their friendship is supposed to be the at the heart of the main plot, the movie does a terrible job establishing it. The Mad Hatter is relinquished to yet another movie character with daddy issues (his father is played by an Rhys Ifans) and Alice is left to run from time to time (literally) in her stolen gyro contraption. Neither the visuals or the story offers anything for the viewer to connect with or to be entertained by – in fact, I dozed off a couple times.
I really hope this sensory overloaded movie crashes at the box office. It’s visually assaulting and painfully boring. Oh sure, Disney will continue to make live-action remakes of their classic animated features, but I hope their failure here will find them heeding a yellow light instead of speeding through one to get to the next sequel.
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WARCRAFT (2016) review | Keeping It Reel
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Hurricane Florence Makes Landfall As Category 1 Storm
Hurricane Florence lost much of its power and was downgraded to a Category 1 storm before it made landfall on Friday morning near the border between North and South Carolina. Despite weakening, Florence is still an extremely dangerous storm with sustained winds of around 90 miles per hour and torrential rain, which forecasters say is the biggest threat from the monster storm.
Over 500,000 people have lost power and the hurricane has stranded hundreds of people. Authorities said that 200 people had been rescued, and at least 150 more are waiting for first responders as flood waters continue to rise.
Forecasters explained that Florence is inching along at just six miles per hour and could spend days dumping water over the Carolinas as it moves up the East Coast toward New England. Some areas could see up to 20 inches of rain, and authorities warned residents who live away from the coast that they are at risk of flash floods as Florence slowly moves inland.
They compared Florence to Hurricane Harvey, which stalled and caused major flooding in and around Houston, Texas.
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Deut 32:28 "They are a nation without sense, there is no discernment in them."
God’s Plan of Salvation
Read before you post a comment, link or copy and paste.
What I Believe!
Tom Horn’s Apollyon Rising: 2012 – Critique by Dr. Cathy Burns
July 26, 2012 in apostasy, Gnosticism | Tags: Apollyon Rising: 2012., Dr. Cathy Burns, Nephilim, Serpent Seed Teachings, Tom Horn | 2 comments
Here are just SOME of the problems I found with Tom Horn’s Apollyon Rising: 2012.
P.41—He mentions that the descendants of the fallen angels went into hell “in full battle dress.” He used The Message version which states: “…the old-time giants who entered the grave in full battle dress….” Although we know this is a false version, Horn has manipulated the text by saying “hell” instead of the “grave.” (See Ezekiel 32, The Message.) Another problem with this is, we are told in the Book of Enoch that the Nephilim could not enter hell but were doomed to walk the earth as demons so even if Horn did not manipulate the text, this idea is contrary to the very book that teaches the Nephilim idea (which he endorses).
P.44—In reference to Iraq, Horn states: “the very land associated with future Armageddon (and against Saddam Hussein, no less…)….” Last time I checked Armageddon was in ISRAEL—not Iraq!
P. 62—On the copyright page Horn states: “All Scripture quotations from the King James Version.” This just isn’t true for the verse from Zecharaiah 14:3-4 is not KJV but the New International Version. (The verse on P. 41 wasn’t KJV either.) The timeline for Zech. 14 is not what Horn is claiming. He has these verses occurring so that the “tribulation temple” can be built on the site of the Dome of the Rock but if you look closely at the Scripture, the setting is AFTER the Tribulation and at the start of the Millennial reign of Christ (notice especially verse 9). Christ’s feet do not stand on the Mount of Olives at any time during the Tribulation—so Horn is wrong again!
P.67—At least four times, Horn mentions Gabriel as the angel that appeared to Daniel in chapter 10. We do not know for sure who this being is. Gabriel is mentioned in chapters 8 and 9 but this is a different vision—and may possibly be a different being. We can’t say for sure.
P.77—Horn states: “In Luke 3:23-38, there were seventy-seven generations from Adam to Jesus Christ. There were seventy-seven generations from Enoch to Christ, according to one account.” (He doesn’t mention WHICH account—so we can’t check it out.) Going to Luke 3 we find that there are 76 generations (counting Christ but not counting God since He didn’t beget Adam), but what do these generations have to do with Muhammad and faith having “seventy-seven branches”?
P.79—Horn states: “If the number seventy-seven on September 11, 2001, pointed to ‘revenge’ upon the United States by the royal bloodline descendents of Lamech, they were following the footsteps of Tubal-Cain indeed….” This statement cannot possibly be true because we see from Genesis 4:16-18 that Lamech is a descendent of Cain and ALL of Cain’s lineage perished in the flood—therefore there were no descendents of Lamech who could have attacked the U.S.
P.82—Horn refers to the “seed of the serpent” (which would be the serpent seed theory).
P.88—Horn says that the Antichrist “will champion worship of the ‘old gods’…” but Daniel 11:38-39: “But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory….” This isn’t the “worship of the ‘old gods’” but a strange god and one that his fathers did not know.
P.91—See document about “kosmos” and Horn’s definition.
P.131—Horn writes: “Incredibly, IF this supernatural leader were to be a magical REINCARNATION or resurrection of deity, the body or DNA of this SAVIOR may have been kept in or represented by a coffin….” (Emphasis added.) Horn often refers to REINCARNATION but since there is no such thing as reincarnation NO ONE (mythological or not) can be reincarnated. (See Hebrews 9:27.)
P.134—Once again reincarnation is mentioned. How could Osiris be reincarnated (or resurrected) if he never existed?! By the way, resurrection and reincarnation CAN NOT be equated or interchanged.
P.135 (with P.142)—Horn claims that Apollo, Nimrod, and Osiris are all the same “being.” We know from Scriptures that Nimrod was not a deity or part-god. He was FULLY human and he was the great grandson of the perfect Noah. Noah begat Ham; Ham begat Cush; and Cush begat Nimrod—all humans. (See Genesis 10:1, 6, 8.) We do know that Nimrod existed but Osiris and Apollo are mythological “gods” so these beings cannot be the same. Even if, as Horn is suggesting, they are the same, then Osiris and Apollo would have to be humans not some hybrid as Nimrod was a human.
P.139—Horn states: “Second Thessalonians 2:3 warns: ‘Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition [Apoleia; Apollyon, Apollo].’” Horn’s explanation seems to be highly exaggerated (like normal). The Greek word “perdition” is apoleia which means “damnable(-nation), destruction, die, perdition, X perish, pernicious ways, waste.” Do you see “Apollyon” or “Apollo” in the definition? I certainly don’t. (See the document showing all the verses where “apoleia” is used.)
P.142—Horn writes: “The fallen angel, Apollo, who unlocks the bottomless pit and unleashes the thunderous hoards of Great Tribulation locusts is therefore none other than the son of Satan and the spirit that will inhabit Antichrist.” (Emphasis added.) If (as Horn claims) Apollo is Nimrod, then he CANNOT be a fallen angel as I’ve already given the Scripture where Nimrod was fully human. Notice, too, that Horn says this being is the “son of Satan” but Nimrod was the son of Cush. Horn claims that Apollo unlocks the bottomless pit—but nothing of this sort is in the Bible. Notice Revelation 20:1: “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.” The one who has the key is an angel FROM HEAVEN—not Apollo or Satan. If Satan had the key to the bottomless pit, do you think he would allow himself to be bound there for 1000 years (see Revelation 20:1-3)? Horn then adds: “Not to put too fine a point on it, but if the reader doubts the authority of the Scriptures cited above concerning the coming of Apollo as Antichrist or the dedication of the occult hierarchy to bring the prophecy on the Great Seal about, the ‘illuminated ones’ have you right where they want you.” In other words, if we don’t believe Tom Horn, we’re playing into the Illuminati’s hand. I don’t think so!!!!
P.175—Horn gives a quote from Scripture and other artifacts: essays on the Bible and archaeology in honor of Philip J. King by Philip J. King, Michael David Coogan, J. Cheryl Exum, Lawrence E. Stager (see footnote reference on P.348 of Horn’s book). I decided to check this reference—and as in previous cases—I found that Horn manipulated the text and DID NOT quote it correctly. Here is the page he is SUPPOSED to be quoting. He leaves out words without indicating that he has done so and then he CHANGED the text as well as ADDING his own words. Compare his quote on P.175 to the EXACT quote below. Notice that he has added (although he did put it in brackets) “including those of great height; giants, offspring of the Watchers.” As you can see from the page the words “giant” and “Watcher” are NOT mentioned AT ALL in the ENTIRE book—so Horn is making these authors say something that THEY DID NOT SAY! Isn’t this lying?
P.176—Horn writes: “If Job 38:31 is therefore interpreted according to these ancient astrological and mythological renderings, it would have God asking Job if he could bind the magic bands (kesatot?) of Osiris-Dionysus or loose the bindings (mispabot?) of the mighty hunter, the giant Orion/Gilgamesh/Nimrod/Osiris/Apollo.” Do you really think that God would ask Job about a MYTHOLOICAL being? Do you think God would refer to astrology when He warned against it? I certainly don’t think so. Besides, as just pointed out, the text that Horn quoted was misrepresented and then he adds further misrepresentation and ends by having God ask Job something that Horn has created in his own imagination!!
P.177—Horn writes: “The Pleiades points to Apollo-Dionysus while the Orion system points to the soul of Osiris in heaven and, on earth, to his speculative tomb location in Giza.” (Emphasis added.) We need to remember that those who teach the Nephilim theory claim that these creatures are without souls…so how could Osiris have a soul?? On P.188 Horn writes: “…I eventually hypothesized that the Watchers had to blend species in the way they did in order to CREATE A SOULLESS or SPIRITLESS body into which to extend themselves.” (Caps and boldface added.)
P.179—On P.142 Horn says Apollo is a fallen angel and on P.179 he asks if Apollo-Osiris can rise from a hidden tomb at Giza. Since angels do not die, how could the fallen angel rise from a tomb?
P.182—Horn states: “…the giants of the Old Testament, such as Goliath, were the part-human, part-animal, part-angelic offspring of a supernatural interruption into the divine order and natural evolution of the species.” Where’s the Scriptural reference for such a fantastical claim? The Bible calls Goliath a “man” (Hebrew: iysh) in I Samuel 17:24, 25, and 33. “Iysh,” according to Strong’s Concordance, means “a man as an individual or a male person.” Noah, Abram, Jacob, Joseph, Adam, etc. were all called “iysh” in the Bible. Were any of these people part-beast and/or part-angel?
P.183—Horn quotes Genesis 6:2 where the daughters of men were fair and then he goes to the Interlinear Hebrew Bible for an interpretation that states that “the daughters of Adam…were fit extensions.” The word “fair,” however means: beautiful, good, cheerful, favour, fine, graciously, joyful, kindly, loving, precious, sweet, etc. There is no indication whatsoever that they were “fit extensions.”
P.184—Horn writes: “…Gilgamesh (the two-thirds god and one-third human child of Lugalbanda and Ninsun).” How can this be possible? A child is 1/2 of each parent, not 1/3 and 2/3. Furthermore, angels are not gods so even if Gilgamesh were an offspring from an angel, he still couldn’t be 2/3 god (or even 1/2 god). It’s impossible!
P.185-186—Horn says: “But of all the ancient records, the most telling extra-biblical script is from the book of Jasher….Jasher records the familiar story of the fall of the Watchers, then adds an exceptional detail that none of the other texts is as unequivocal about, something that can only be understood in modern language to mean advanced biotechnology, genetic engineering, or ‘transgenic modification’ of species. After the Watchers had instructed humans ‘in the secrets of heaven,’ note what Jasher says occurred:
“[Then] the sons of men [began teaching] the mixture of animals of one species with the other, in order therewith to provoke the Lord. (Jasher 4:18)”
Does the Book of Jasher actually say what Horn claims it does? Not exactly. Jasher 4:18 states: “And their judges and rulers went to the daughters of men and took their wives by force from their husbands according to their choice, and the sons of men in those days took from the cattle of the earth, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and taught the mixture of animals of one species with the other, in order therewith to provoke the Lord; and God saw the whole earth and it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted its ways upon earth, all men and all animals.”
First of all, there is NO mention in this entire chapter to fallen angels or Watchers (see enclosed copy of Chapter 4 of Jasher). There is frequent mention of “sons of men” but remember that “sons of men” refers to HUMANS–not gods, angels, or Nephilim. To claim that “sons of men” are angels is to manipulate the text. Besides, if the “daughters of MEN” (in Genesis 6) refer to humans, why wouldn’t “sons of MEN” also refer to humans?
Second, Horn then goes on to insinuate that the angels (who are definitely NOT mentioned in this chapter of Jasher) mixed animals with humans to produce chimera-like creatures. However, note that Jasher clearly states that the mixture of animals was with other animals and fowl. There is NO MENTION of mixing animals with humans.
Third, if this is the “most telling extra-biblical script” that Horn can find, then his entire theory has just been proven false because Jasher does NOT state what Horn says it does.
P.187—Horn writes that Noah was perfect. He adds: “The meaning was not that Noah was morally perfect, but that his physical makeup—his DNA—had not been contaminated with nephilim descent, as apparently the rest of the world had become. In order to preserve mankind as He had made them, God destroyed all but Noah’s family in the Flood.” This just isn’t true at all. The Bible tells us that Noah had brothers and sisters (Genesis 5:30): “And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters.” Noah’s brothers and sisters were just as perfect in their DNA as Noah was since they all had the same father—yet NONE of Noah’s brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, etc. were spared. Obviously, then, it wasn’t the “perfect” DNA that was the factor in Noah being spared. It was because Noah was upright and righteous before God. It was his spiritual standing in God’s sight, not his physical DNA. Notice what Genesis 6:9 says: “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” Genesis 7:1: “And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before Me in this generation.” That’s the secret to Noah finding grace in the eyes of the Lord.
P.190—Horn writes: “Former college professor and BBC correspondent, Dr. I. D. E. Thomas, in his highly recommended book, The Omega Conspiracy, chronicled the burgeoning of so-called ‘alien abduction’ activity and tied it to end-time prophecy concerning the return of the nephilim….and led Thomas to conclude that the identity of the Watchers and whoever the alien entities are were somehow connected.” Notice that the aliens (who are often described as about three-foot creatures) are somehow connected to the nephilim (who are supposedly extremely gigantic creatures). How do we go from such humongous creatures to tiny 3-4 foot creatures and claim they are connected? Also, where can you find “alien abductions” in Genesis 6?
P.191—Horn claims: “…the nephilim becomes important here, as the rephaim were associated by the ancients with the ‘shades of the dead,’ including nephilim in Sheol.” (Emphasis added.) Okay, we have another problem here. Let’s start with a definition for the “shades of the dead”: “Shades are SOULS that have been separated from their bodies, also called ‘disembodied spirits.’ They are thought to be able to be seen, but not touched.” (Emphasis added.) (http://www.ehow.com/facts_6734048_definition-shade-spirit.html) Notice that shades are SOULS and Horn claims that the shades include the Nephilim…but the Nephilim were supposedly SOUL-LESS beings. We can’t have it both ways! We are also told in the Book of Enoch that when the Nephilim died they were doomed to walk the earth as a demon because they couldn’t go to hell because they didn’t have a soul…yet Horn just said that the shades included the “nephilim in Sheol [Hebrew for hell].” Horn’s theory is so full of holes and discrepancies—yet people choose to believe him and ignore God’s Word. As II Thessalonians 2:10b-11 reads: “because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” When the truth is rejected, only the lie remains.
P.192-193—These pages mention “reincarnation” several times—again. One of these occurrences is: “These beings had the power to return from the dead through REINCARNATION into bodily form as nephilim.” (Emphasis added.) Horn then quotes from Mysterious World which mentions “the reincarnation of the demonic spirits of the Nephilim giants who had been destroyed in the Flood.” (Emphasis added.) Isn’t that a little strange? The soul-less Nephilim are “demonic SPIRITS”! Hmmmmm.
P.194—Horn claims that Nimrod changed into a Nephilim. (See separate paper on “Began to be.”) He also claims that “gibborim” is “one of the offspring of nephilim.” In another of Tom’s articles he calls the gibborim a “demon child.” This just isn’t true as the Bible tells us several times that God is “gibborim” and He certainly was not the offspring of a fallen angel or a “demon child”! (See separate paper on “Gibborim.”)
P.194—Horn favorably quotes from Annette Yoshiko Reed’s book where she states: “The Nephilim of [Genesis—Tom Horn] 6:4 are ALWAYS…grouped together with the gibborim as the progeny of the Watchers and human women.” (Emphasis added.) Obviously, this statement is not true but Horn uses it to try to “prove” his convoluted ideas.
P.194—Horn writes: “Therefore, in modern language, this text could accurately be translated to say:
“And Nimrod began to change genetically, becoming a gibborim, the offspring of watchers on earth.”
This is such a twisting of Scripture and II Peter 3:16 warns that we can twist (or wrest) the Scriptures to our own destruction. We are also warned about adding to God’s Word—yet this is what Tom Horn has done.
P.194-195—Horn writes about Nimrod where “he began to be” a Nephilim. If this would be true, then ANYONE can be turned into a Nephilim and no one is ever safe from this possibility. After all, Nimrod was the great-grandson of a perfect Noah and yet he supposedly was changed genetically to become the offspring of a demon. How much more quickly could anyone of us have this happen—especially since we are so far removed (possibly 100-150 generations) from Noah?
P.197—Horn writes about Genesis 11:4-6: “That this section of Scripture could be viewed as a secondary support for the concept of Nimrod having become ‘revived Watcher offspring’….” Nimrod WAS NOT the offspring of a fallen angel as the Scripture clearly shows us that Nimrod was Noah’s great-grandson. He then adds: “…if Nimrod was genetically modified according to the original Watcher formula, he would have inherited animal characteristics within his new material makeup….” Where is proof of this?
P.208—Horn seems to accept evolutionary teaching in this statement: “As an example of this possibility, in 2009, blood was extracted from the bone of a dinosaur that scientists insist is eighty million years old. Nephilim would have existed in relatively recent times comparably, making clonable material from dead biblical giants feasible.”
P.210—Once again we see Horn manipulates a text. He writes: “In my opinion, this is more than a possibility, and I remember with curiosity how in 1998, Zahi Hawass, the current secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, claimed to have found the burial tomb of the god Osiris (Apollo/Nimrod) at the Giza Plateau.” Really? Was the mythological god Osiris’ tomb found? Well…not really. The article by Hawass that Horn referred to states: “I have found a shaft, going twenty-nine meters vertically down into the ground….At the bottom, which was was filled with water, we have found a burial chamber with four pillars. In the middle is a large granite sarcophagus, WHICH I EXPECT TO BE THE GRAVE OF OSIRIS, the god….So several years will pass BEFORE WE HAVE FINISHED INVESTIGATING THE FIND.” (Emphasis added.) This quote simply states that Hawass was EXPECTING to find the grave but there is nothing conclusive yet Horn states that they “claimed to have found the burial tomb of the god Osiris” which just IS NOT TRUE!!
P.214—Horn writes: “…an incredible tenet emerges—that Satan has seed, and that it is at enmity with Christ.” Here we see the “serpent seed’ idea (as on P.82).
P.215—Horn writes: “Consequently, if the Antichrist is the REINCARNATION of the demon Apollo as prophesied by the apostle Paul, not only will he be the exact opposite of Jesus (Son of God), but the FORERUNNER of the return of the Nephilim.” (Emphasis added.) Let’s look at 3 items in this quote:
1. The idea of reincarnation is mentioned—again. By the way, how can a DEMON “reincarnate”?
2. WHERE is Scripture where the apostle Paul prophesied that Apollo would reincarnate?
3. The Antichrist is the FORERUNNER of the return of the Nephilim. The word “Forerunner” means “One that precedes, as in time; a predecessor” or “One that comes before and indicates the approach of another; a harbinger.” Now, if the Antichrist is the one who COMES BEFORE the Nephilim, then there can’t be ANY Nephilim here until AFTER he arrives—so there aren’t any Nephilim on earth at present yet we are told the Nephilim are here. We can’t have both ways. (Actually, neither view is correct but certainly both views cannot be held at the same time!)
P.215-216—Horn quotes from the Septuagint (Isaiah 13): “…open the gates, ye RULER.” (Emphasis added.) He insinuates that this ruler is the Antichrist, BUT if you go to the Septuagint you will not find the word RULER (as Horn claims) but rather RULERS. By using the plural word you cannot make this into a single Antichrist so Horn had to “manipulate” the text and change it into a singular word in order to continue to promote his false theory. Is this deception? (See enclosed copy of the Septuagint version of Isaiah 13.)
P.219—Horn writes: “According to Enoch, this unparalleled event is scheduled to occur after seventy generations have passed from the time of the Flood.
“This could be troubling.
“Although traditional scholarship places the time of the Great Flood between 2500 and 2300 BC, modern dating by some researchers has roughly estimated the Flood to have actually transpired between 2900 and 2800 BC….Because a prophetic generation is seventy years based on Psalm 90:10 (‘The days of our years are threescore years and ten’), Enoch’s seventy generations times seventy years equals exactly 4,900 years forward from the Flood. If the Flood took place between 2800 and 2900 BC, this brings the return of the nephilim to the immediate hour. In other words, if this 2800 to 2900 BC dating is correct, mankind is on the threshold of Watchers being raised from their underground prisons and thrown into an abyss of fire, while their giant offspring return to the surface of earth in violent fulfillment of multiple prophecies.
“We have no idea whether the modern time frame for the Great Flood is reasonable….”
Once again we find a number of problems with Horn’s comments.
1. There were 67 generations from the time of the flood until Christ (see Luke 3:23-36—starting with Noah and going to Christ) so the seventy generations were fulfilled by about 100 A.D.
2. The Bible does not say a prophetic generation is 70 years. The verse Horn used says nothing about a generation. Here the entire verse: “The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Furthermore, the Bible gives its own definition of a “generation” which can be found in Matthew 1:17: “So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.” Each “set” of 14 generations varies greatly in the amount of time. A generation, therefore, has no definite set time frame.
3. The Flood DID NOT occur between 2800 and 2900 BC BASED ON THE SCRIPTURES THEMSELVES.
FATHER AGE AT SON’S BIRTH SON’S NAME
Adam 130 Seth
Seth 105 Enos
Enos 90 Cainan
Cainan 70 Mahalaleel
Mahalaleel 65 Jared
Jared 162 Enoch
Enoch 65 Methuselah
Methuselah 187 Lamech
Lamech 182 Noah
By adding the years from Adam to Noah (130 + 105 + 90 + 70 + 65 + 162 + 65 + 187 + 182) we get the total of 1056 plus we add 600 years because the flood occurred in the 600th year of Noah’s life, we find that the flood occurred 1656 years after creation or 2344 B.C. Notice that Horn states: “We have no idea whether the modern time frame for the Great Flood is reasonable…” but we do know that the “modern” time frame is not correct because the Bible gives us the timing of the flood. The reason why Horn doesn’t want to accept the Biblical record is because the Biblical record shows that Horn’s theory is incorrect about the timing of the Book of Enoch “prophecy.” To make the Book of Enoch correct, we need to disregard the Bible. By changing the time of the flood, and claiming that a generation is 70 years, Horn can manipulate dates to fit his idea that the Nephilim are about to return around…2012!
P.229—Horn writes: “In describing the activity of the Antichrist demon Apollo, Revelation 9:1-11 says this ‘king’ of transgenic locusts opens the bottomless pit and releases synthesized insectoids to torment mankind.” Hmmmmm. For some reason I can’t find this in MY Bible. Can you? He then asks: “Are the locust hordes of Revelation chapter 9 created in human laboratories that employ the same Watchers technology we believe could give rise to Apollo’s return?” Now, how could these locusts be created in HUMAN laboratories and then get into the BOTTOMLESS PIT to be released during the Tribulation?
P.262—Horn writes: “As [Noah] Hutchings points out, the only kind of building in all the world that requires a head cornerstone is a pyramid. Because of this, Hutchings believes the ‘pillar’ that Isaiah (Isaiah 19:19-20) said would stand as a ‘sign and for a witness unto the Lord’ in the end times may be the Great Pyramid on the old border that separated lower and upper Egypt.
“Conversely, a few years ago, another friend of mine named Patrick (Paddy) Heron wrote a book entitled Pyramid of the Apocalypse, in which he postulated that the Great Pyramid at Giza had been built by the nephilim, the offspring of the Watchers. Besides associated legends, part of his reasoning had to do with the scale of the massive undertaking and the same biblical parallels—the one hundred forty-four thousand, the missing capstone, etc.,—which Heron viewed as the Watchers trying to copy, plagiarize, mimic, or borrow from the fame of something known only to the angels, namely, the design of the New Jerusalem in heaven, whose height and width are the same, as in a pyramidal structure (as opposed to those who believe the New Jerusalem will be cube-shaped).”
First of all, when would a pyramid supposedly built by the nephilim stand as a “sign and for a witness unto the Lord”? Second, the pyramid needs a CAPSTONE not a CORNERSTONE (see comment below about this). Third, the New Jerusalem is FOURSQUARE and a pyramid is not. Revelation 21:16 states: “And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.” In other references to “foursquare” in the Scriptures we see an altar and a breastplate (Exodus 27:1; 28:15-16; 39:8-9). Reading the descriptions of these items you will easily see that neither the altar nor the breastplate could have been a pyramidal shape. (See page on properties of a square.)
P.263—Horn writes: “The Great Pyramid capstone is missing, representing temporary vacancy by Apollo according to the mottoes, whose coming will ‘cap’ the pyramid, and yet as we have seen Jesus is also called the head cornerstone….
“Is this what is meant in Psalms 118 and Acts chapter 4 where Jesus is the capstone the builders refused?”
Horn evidently doesn’t know the difference between a capstone and a cornerstone. Let’s look at a dictionary definition for these words: CAPSTONE: “The top stone of a structure or wall.” CORNERSTONE: “A stone at the corner of a building uniting two intersecting walls….” A capstone CANNOT be the same thing as a cornerstone—and Psalm 118:22 clearly tell us that Jesus is the cornerstone—not a capstone as Horn claims: “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.” Acts 4:11: “This is the stone which was set at nought of your builders, which is become the head of the corner.” Once again we can see that Horn is manipulating Scriptures to try to prove his false theory.
Here are more Scriptures showing Jesus is the CORNERSTONE (not a CAPSTONE):
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion [not Egypt!] for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Matthew 21:42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Mark 12:10 And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
Luke 20:17 And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
1 Peter 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.
Notice also the CORNERSTONE is laid as a foundation which means the “basis on which a thing stands, is founded, or is supported.” In no way, shape, or form can Christ be considered a capstone!
P.264-265—Horn writes: “This cipher also confirms the prophecies of Psalms 118 and Acts 4 concerning Jesus as the rejected capstone….
“To further verify this part of the cipher pointing to an ‘alternative capstone’ or second messiah….” Once again Horn is incorrectly referring to Jesus as a capstone.
P.270—Trying to bolster his theory for the Antichrist to appear in 2012, he appeals to an Islamic scholar and he quotes: “‘When Daniel specified the period between its distress and relief, between the era of anguish and the era of blessing, he put it at forty-five years! We have already seen that he specified the time of the establishment of the abomination of desolation as the year 1967, which is what in fact occurred. Therefore, the end—or the beginning of the end—will be 1967 + 45 = 2012.’” Once again we see that Horn’s research is faulty and in contradiction to God’s Word. If you turn to Daniel 12:11-12 you can see that there are 45 DAYS (1335 days – 1290 days = 45 days). Adding 45 DAYS to 1967 would still be 1967 or possibly early 1968 at the latest. This throws out Horn’s theory because he needs YEARS—not-days—to make his theory “fit.”
P.272-273—Horn writes: “John Kehne made an even more intriguing observation, directly coupling the Great Seal’s trestleboard date, 1776, and the Mayan ending date 2012:
“This Seal shows a thirteen-step pyramid with 1776 in Roman numerals.… [The year—T.H.] 1776 was not only the year that the Declaration of Independence was signed, but was also a special year in the Mayan calendar. Just as the last katun in the Great Cycle is “katun 2012,” the first katun in the cycle of thirteen was “katun 1776.” In fact, the katun ended thirty-three days before the signing. So 1776 is the bottom level of the pyramid, where the date is actually inscribed—the top of the pyramid is therefore 2012.
“As we shall show, early Freemasons were aware of the significance of these dates—1776, 2012, and 2016 respectively—and while the thirteen steps of the unfinished pyramid on the Great Seal account for the timeframe 1776–2012 using the slightly less than twenty-year periods (19.7) of the katun, the Gregorian twenty-year cycle produces 1776–2016, both of which fit perfectly within the trestleboard dating on the U.S. Great Seal cipher and the first Masonic tracing board, as we will reveal.”
There’s a problem here. On P. 266 Horn writes: “Yet if the year 1776 represents the starting date….” And on P.283: “This adds clarity to the reasons the designers of the Great Seal of the United States similarly incorporated the Mayan 13 katun system—which started in 1776 and ends in 2012—on the nation’s primary cipher.”
Horn also has a picture on P.273 of his book showing the “13 katuns” and the “13 cycles” on an unfinished pyramid. While he claims that the starting date is 1776, it is not true. Please look closely at the bottom of the numbers and you will find the starting date as 1756—not 1776 as he claims! This throws off his theory by 20 years—and negates his starting date of 1776 which is on the back of the dollar bill. So much for his secret code on the dollar bill!
P.288—Tom Horn quotes William Henry and Mark Gray as thus: “‘The designers of the city of Washington DC oriented it to the Sun – especially the rising Sun on June 21 and December 21 [the same day and month as the end of the Mayan calendar in 2012—T.H.]. The measurements for this orientation were made from the location of the center of the Dome of the U.S. Capitol, rendering it a ‘solar temple.’ Its alignment and encoded numerology point to the Sun as well as the stars. A golden circle on the Rotunda story and a white star in the Crypt marks this spot…It is clear that the builders viewed the Capitol as America’s sole temple: a solemn…Solar Temple to be exact.” (Emphasis added.)
While I do not have a copy of this particular book, I was able to find William Henry’s website and his comments on Washington, D.C. This is what he said on his site: “‘The designers of the city of Washington, D.C. oriented it to the Sun – especially the sunset on March 21 and September 21. The measurements for this orientation were made from the center of the dome of the U.S. Capitol, rendering it a ‘solar temple’. Author David Ovason imagines it as the center of a compass and as a point of stillness, where the arc of the sunset is ‘centered.’ This still point is the tip of an angel’s needle that weaves the abstract, event transcendent, concepts of Freedom and Liberty into the fabric of America.
“It is crystal clear from the statements set in the stone of the Capitol that the builders viewed it as America’s sole temple (a solemn, Solomon’s Solar Temple in Jerusalem to be exact).” (http://www.williamhenry.net/blog.html)
Did Horn change the dates (March 21 and September 21 to June 21 and December 21) and “sunset” to “rising”? Also, December 21st occurs EVERY YEAR—not just in 2012 but Horn has added this to try to prove his theory. This is VERY deceptive.
P.305-306—Horn states: “…an event that occurs only every thirteen thousand years. The precession of the equinoxes will conclude a twenty-six-thousand-year cycle, bringing the astrological Age of Pisces to an end and introducing the beginning of Aquarius, when the next cycle begins….” Horn doesn’t believe the Bible’s creation story if he accepts 26,000 year cycles, etc.
P.309—Referring to Terrance McKenna, Horn writes: “To his surprise, he discovered that the high and low parts of the graph corresponded with times in history when ‘novelty’ or major world events transpired, including a spike around the time of September 11, 2001, and a coming spike for October 2010. But one date was unparalleled elsewhere on the graph. This is when the line simply ends, abruptly plunging off the graph into infinity—December 21, 2012. This finding is all the more astonishing given that McKenna’s research was published in 1973 independent of any knowledge of the ending date in the Mayan calendar.”
Once again, let’s look at the illustration that Horn provided. If you look closely, the “coming spike for October 2010” is really in 2008. He also insists that the line abruptly plunges “off the graph into infinity—December 21, 2012” but that is not true, either. Notice that the graph ends in July 2012—not December 2012. The last number on the graph is “07” which is the 7th month (or July). Furthermore, there are no “days” listed in the graph—only “months” and “years” so there is NO POSSIBLE WAY for Horn to “know” the EXACT day for ANY of the months listed. (Please refer to the chart on the previous page.) How can a person who manipulates text after text and document after document be considered trustworthy?
P.313—See the document referring to “aion.”
P.317-318—Horn writes: “…sometime around the Pleistocene age (thirteen thousand years ago), fossilized human skulls were unearthed together with seashells and remnants of tropical plants. The skulls have nearly three times the cranial capacity of modern man….” This sounds like Horn believes in evolution.
P.318—In referring to an Incan myth, Horn writes: “He (Viracocha) created animals and a race of giants. These beings enraged the Lord, and he turned them into stone. Then he flooded the earth till all was under water, and all life extinguished. This flood was called uñu pachacuti, by the Inca which means ‘water that overturns the land.’ They say that it rained sixty days and nights, that it drowned all created things, and that there alone remained some vestiges of those who were turned into stones. Viracocha rose from the bosom of Lake Titicaca, and presided over the erection of those wondrous cities whose ruins still dot its islands and western shores, and whose history is totally lost in the night of time.
“Inca mythology involving giants, followed by world deluge, agree with similar legends from the Maya, Olmec, and Aztec cultures of Mexico. These stories are consistent with Sumerian and Hebrew accounts of the Flood and of the giant nephilim….” (Emphasis added.) How can such a story be CONSISTENT with the Bible (the Hebrew account of the flood) when it differs greatly from the Bible account?
P.319—He then quotes from a Greek legend to “prove” Giants built megalithic structures: “The Jinn were before Adam: They built huge cities whose ruins still stand in forgotten places.” The Bible clearly tells us that Adam was the first man. The first city recorded in the Bible was built by Cain (see Genesis 4:17).
P.322—Horn writes: “With this in mind, Flynn made the unprecedented disclosure that 33.33 degrees of the great circle of the earth represents 2012 nautical miles, the identical number at the end of the Mayan calendar that ‘measures the ending of the earth.’ Flynn further revealed that Mount Hermon in Phoenicia, the first location of the descent of the Watchers, lies precisely at 33.33 degrees north, 33.33 degrees east, 2,012 miles from the equator, and 2,012 miles from the prime meridian, a location of Mt. Hermon in longitude based on the Paris 0 meridian 2.20 degrees east of Greenwich.”
Mount Hermon is located at 33◦24’38” latitude and 35◦51’26” but Flynn is using the Paris meridian which is 2◦20’14” so the “corrected” location of Mount Hermon would be 33◦24’38” latitude and 33◦31’12” longitude. Neither coordinate is at 33.33—as Flynn and Horn claim. It may be a minor difference—but it dismantles their theory since they are relying on the precise location for their figures. Furthermore, you can do your own calculations at http://www.export911.com/convert/distaCaIc.htm but you aren’t going to come up with 2,012 miles from Mount Hermon to the equator or from Mount Hermon to the prime meridian.
THIS IS THE MAP that is printed on P.322 of Horn’s book. It may look convincing but it is not factual. Notice also that the point where the lines intersect IS NOT at Mt. Hermon but above and to the right of it!
THESE ARE THE ACTUAL COORDINATES which can be found at http://itouchmap.com/latlong.html (and many other sources).
These are just some of the problems in Horn’s book but I believe that any thinking person should be able to see that his book is riddled with errors, miscalculations, incorrect quotes, false Bible interpretations, etc., etc.
Cathy Burns
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« The Oslo Syndrome | Main | The $9 Billion Palestinian Peace Partner »
Reverberations of the Six Day War
Anne Lieberman’s article on the Six Day War -- “Six Days Remembered” -- has just been posted by The Jewish Press:
[Abba] Eban’s characterization of Israel s "Auschwitz borders" [in a November 5, 1969 interview] is now 36 years old, and relatively few people remember the Six Day War. Nowadays one is just as likely to hear it referred to as the "1967 Middle East War," apparently from politically-correct deference to Arab feelings, for after only six days of fighting, vastly out numbered Israeli forces were in position to march on Cairo, Damascus and Amman.
Before the war started, however, such a victory was anything but certain. Israel in 1967 was isolated, not even twenty years a state, and subject to dire provocation, threats and hostile actions by surrounding Arab countries. . . .
Even for those who lived through it, it is hard to recall the atmosphere that preceded the war, which Lieberman’s day-by-day recounting recaptures. Worth reading in its entirety.
Natan Sharansky, in the course of a brilliant essay in the current issue of Azure, recalls the impact of the Six Day War on the Jews of the Soviet Union:
We were born into a Jewish identity that the Soviet steamroller had almost completely crushed. We knew nothing of our roots, only that for some reason others considered us different and inferior. We knew all too well the anti-Semitic stereotypes about greed, parasitism, and cowardice -- but about what Judaism stood for, we knew nothing.
That was before 1967. In the months leading up to the war, animosity towards us reached a fever pitch. Then, in six dramatic days, everything changed for us. The call that went up from Jerusalem, “The Temple Mount is in our hands,” penetrated the Iron Curtain and forged an almost mystic link with our people.
And while we had no idea what the Temple Mount was, we did know that the fact that it was in our hands had won us respect. Like a cry from our distant past, it told us that we were no longer displaced and isolated. We belonged to something, even if we did not yet know what, or why.
Sharansky’s essay, an extended reflection on whether the vision of David Ben-Gurion or Theodor Herzl represents the greatest hope for Israel’s future, is also worth reading in its entirety.
Dan Diker, a senior policy analyst at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, recalls the proposal Israel made right after the Six Day War -- to return most of the West Bank for “secure and recognized” borders: The plan was based on the premise that:
[A]ny final-status agreements concerning the West Bank, Gaza, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights would necessarily have to involve the annexation of at least some territory as a correction to the extremely unstable 1949 armistice lines, whose very vulnerability had invited Arab aggression and led to the perpetuation of conflict.
Immediately after the Six Day War in 1967, [Yigal] Allon proposed a series of territorial adjustments that would incorporate into Israel key tracts of largely unpopulated land, especially in the Jordan Valley, while maintaining territorial contiguity between the Palestinian population centers and the Kingdom of Jordan . . . .
[W]hat became known as the Allon Plan was meant as the antidote to a 1949 armistice whose frontiers were so perilous for the Jewish state as to move Israel’s venerable dovish diplomat, Abba Eban, to dub them “Auschwitz borders.”
Diker’s article, on the reasons why “defensible borders” is returning as the central strategic concept in Israel, is important reading. It should be read in conjunction with the recent AEI Presentation defensible borders by Dore Gold, two Israeli and American generals, and Richard Perle. Perle's comments emphasized that defensible borders are a fundamental American, as well as Israeli, interest:
[I] believe that it is fundamentally in the interests of the United States that we not bear responsibility for the defense of Israel. And therefore, Israel has to be able to defend itself and that means borders that can be defended.
If you look at the size of the Israeli Army that would be required on those [1967] borders with no time to mobilize, it is an army of a size that Israel cannot sustain over the long term. It takes, as I think the report observes, 48 hours to mobilize the Army fully. Where do you find those 48 hours?
Geography is important, and the concept of defensible borders has been at the very heart of a potential solution between Israel and the Palestinians from the beginning, from the earliest U.N. resolutions. It's a shame that we lost sight of it for so long in a period in which the focus was shifted to other issues.
It is a useful reminder that U.N. Resolution 242, although colloquially referred to as "land for peace," is actually more accurately described as "land for secure and recognized boundaries" -- which will themselves produce the peace that a mere "agreement" cannot.
UPDATE: Martin Peretz is in Israel, where he found that, as the disengagement approaches, Palestinians “hurled in a day and a half more than a hundred rockets and mortar bombs across the 1949 lines into the Negev.” He uses the term “1949 lines” intentionally:
Forgive my insistence on truth in labeling. But the habit of naming these lines "1967 borders" is meant to deceive, as if it was Israel that broke the ceasefire and not Egypt, Syria, and Jordan, and as if all the troubles started with the occupation.
This little correction reminds that the Palestinians, even the more sober among them, had not and have not yet come to terms with the very existence of Israel. After all, the PLO was founded long before Israel held any part of the West Bank or Gaza and while Jerusalem was divided, with the Western Wall and other Jewish holy sites in Arab hands. . . .
It is actually quite frustrating to need to dwell on this elementary history. But it is also a necessity. Almost nobody knows it.
Which is why Anne Lieberman's recounting, Natan Sharansky's recollection, and Dan Diker's analysis are timely and important.
(Hat tip: Ed Lasky)
ISrael doesn't need to occupy these territories in order to protect itself. Demilitarising some parts of the occupied territories once they will be given back to the Palestinians and the Syrians is the only option. Had Israel accepted this principle in 1971, there would've been no yom kippur war.
Posted by: bbohbot | May 21, 2009 at 09:02 PM
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