pred_label
stringclasses 2
values | pred_label_prob
float64 0.5
1
| wiki_prob
float64 0.25
1
| text
stringlengths 44
986k
| source
stringlengths 37
43
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
__label__wiki
| 0.562595
| 0.562595
|
Professors of Life Science and Technology
Published 5 February 2018 (527 days ago)
ShanghaiTech University Shanghai (China) Show on map
Faculty Positions in School of Life Science and Technology (SLST), ShanghaiTech University
Location: Shanghai, CHINA
Area: Life Sciences
Officially established on September 30th 2013 by China‘s Ministry of Education, ShanghaiTech University is a small-scale research university of academic excellence jointly established by Shanghai Municipal Government and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). ShanghaiTech focuses on science and engineering. The university consists of four schools and two research institutes: School of Physical Science and Technology (SPST), School of Information Science and Technology (SIST), School of Life Science and Technology (SLST), School of Entrepreneurship and Management (SEM), Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies (SIAIS) and iHuman Institute.
ShanghaiTech is committed to serving the national development strategy. ShanghaiTech seeks innovative solutions to address the challenges that China is facing in the field of energy, material, environment, human health, thus to improve productivity driven by innovation, and contribute to the restructuring and development of China. At the end of 2015, the governing body of Zhangjiang Comprehensive National Science Center has been located in ShanghaiTech and among the first four large-scale scientific facilities initiated by the Center, ShanghaiTech is involved in the construction of Live Cell Imagining Facility, Ultra-Intense and Ultrashort Pulse Laser Facility and Free Electron Laser Facility.
SLST seeks scientific breakthroughs in major fields of life science and technology. SLST enjoys extensive collaborations with life science research institutes at CAS and with R&D centers of leading pharmaceutical companies in Shanghai. Its education programs and research projects are designed to address fundamantal questions at the cutting-edge of life science and technology. The School advocates an interdisciplinary approach and emphasizes the integration of basic and applied research. SLST is seeking applications focused on, but not limited to, genomics and proteomics, epigenetics, RNA biology, systems and computational biology, stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, super-resolution microscopy, chemical biology and drug discovery, and translational medicine.
Initial Research Support Package: ShanghaiTech will provide internationally competitive start-up funds, including support for Research Associates and Post-Doctoral fellows. Laboratory space will be provided to match research needs.
Compensation and Benefits: Salary is highly competitive and commensurate with experience and academic accomplishments. ShanghaiTech also offers a comprehensive benefit package.
Qualifications: Successful applicants should have an exceptional track record of research in life science or technology in the last five years. The recruited faculty members are expected to develop a first-rate research program and contribute to the educational missions of SLST‘s undergraduate and graduate programs.
Application Procedure: Submit a cover letter (Firstname_Lastname_Cover_Letter.pdf), a 2-page research plan (Firstname_Lastname_Research_Plan.pdf), a CV (Firstname_Lastname_CV.pdf), up to 3 copies of most significant publications (Firstname_Lastname_Paper1-3.pdf), and the names of three references to SLST@shanghaitech.edu.cn and copy it to zeit@shanghaitech.edu.cn
Review of applications will start immediately and will continue until positions are filled.
For more information, please visit: www.shanghaitech.edu.cn.
For other openings, please visit: jobs.shanghaitech.edu.cn.
Published on academics on 5 February 2018
Current search terms: Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biomedicine, Electrical Engineering, Electronics, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Postdoc, Research Fellow, Research Assistant, Research Associate, Science, Research and Higher Education, Other Countries, University, Full Time
PIER Helmholtz Graduate School (PHGS)
The PHGS ensures that doctoral candidates receive an internationally recognized and optimally supervised education in their respective fields.
Postdoctoral vacancy (f/m/d) on design of 3D printed medical devices
Zwijnaarde, Gent (Belgien)
Foreign Academic Staff (f/m/d)
Transport and Telecommunication Institute (TTI)
Riga (Lettland)
Researcher Positions for Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse
Balance of the Microverse
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13706
|
__label__wiki
| 0.731845
| 0.731845
|
Tenure-Track Professor (f/m) in Artificial Intelligence
Published 22 December 2017 (572 days ago)
Aalto University Helsinki (Finnland) Show on map
Tenure-Track Professor in Artificial Intelligence at Aalto University (Helsinki, Finland)
The Department of Computer Science (CS) at Aalto University (Helsinki, Finland) invites applications for a tenure-track or tenured professor in Artificial Intelligence. As Aalto is presently investing strongly in fundamental AI research and the Finnish state is undertaking large applied AI initiatives, the Aalto Department of Computer Science is the right place to pursue the next generation of AI. We aspire to recruit a future leader in the area, with an inspiring vision for the next decades.
The Department of Computer Science is among Europe’s top-20 CS departments, and is particularly strong in areas represented in the present call. The department hosts a national Centre of Excellence on Computational Inference Research (http://research.cs.aalto.fi/coin/), and the current faculty’s strength is apparent in e.g. the high volume of extremely competitive funding from the Academy of Finland (equivalent to National Science Foundation) and the European Research Council (ERC). The department attracts significant numbers of high-achieving international students into its MSc and PhD programmes, and as the foremost CS educator in Finland, it is home to the majority of the best Finnish CS students. In total, the department employs 44 professors with diverse interests, forming a fertile environment for cross-disciplinary collaborations. On a larger scale, as a technology-friendly, yet small country, Finland offers ample opportunities for low-overhead collaboration with industrial and government partners as well. A joint appointment at the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT (http://hiit.fi/), a joint research centre with the University of Helsinki, can be negotiated.
The review of the new position will begin on Jan 25, 2018 and the position will remain open until filled.
For further information, please visit http://www.aalto.fi/en/about/careers/jobs/view/1576/
Published on academics on 22 December 2017
Current search terms: Computer Sciences, Professor, Science, Research and Higher Education, IT, Telecommunication, Other Countries, University, Full Time
Roche is a global pioneer in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics focused on advancing science to improve people's lives. Discover Roche as an employer.
Assistant Professor (f/m/d) in Computer Science
Aarhus (Dänemark)
Associate Professor (f/m/d) in Finance and Technology
Freie Universität Bozen - Free University of Bozen-Bolzano
Bozen (Italien)
Professorship (W3) in the field of Digital and Autonomous Construction
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13707
|
__label__wiki
| 0.526235
| 0.526235
|
'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' World Premiere - Picture 18
- Movie
- Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
- Premiere Pictures
'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' World Premiere
, Teri Hatcher
Blake Lewis in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' World Premiere
Eva Longoria in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' World Premiere
Martin Short in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' World Premiere
Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' World Premiere
Hidetoshi Nakata in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' World Premiere
Chelsie Hightower in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' World Premiere
Kirstie Alley in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' World Premiere
Natalie Maines in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides' World Premiere
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13708
|
__label__wiki
| 0.940665
| 0.940665
|
Singer, Songwriter and Humanitarian
Listen to this achiever on What It Takes
What It Takes is an audio podcast produced by the American Academy of Achievement featuring intimate, revealing conversations with influential leaders in the diverse fields of endeavor: public service, science and exploration, sports, technology, business, arts and humanities, and justice.
It was a life-changing experience...we hadn’t met many people that had been tortured or lost loved ones. And suddenly, there they were, talking to us. It’s very hard then to walk away. I was shocked people could go through some of the experiences and have their horrors denied, buried, and forgotten.
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Peter Gabriel was born in Woking, Surrey, and raised on his family’s 150-acre dairy farm. His father, Ralph Gabriel, was an electrical engineer and inventor who commuted to London while employees tended the farm. Peter’s mother, Irene, played the piano and came from a highly musical family. Peter was given piano lessons at an early age, but by age nine, he had rebelled against formal musical training. He rediscovered music as a boy of 11 when he became fascinated by the drummer in a small combo playing at a resort in Spain where the family had gone on holiday. He began writing songs and finding his own path in music, teaching himself drums, piano, and the flute.
1972: The progressive rock group Genesis: (left to right) Drummer Phil Collins, bassist Mike Rutherford, keyboard player Tony Banks, lead singer Peter Gabriel, and guitarist Steve Hackett. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
At age 13, he was sent to Charterhouse, one of England’s historic private boarding schools. Although shy, he sought out friends to play music with, and after drumming for a few bands in school, he moved from behind the drums to the front of the stage as the singer. Gabriel and his friends were inspired by American soul music, and he fondly remembers going to see the soul singer Otis Redding at a club in London. In his last year at Charterhouse, Gabriel formed a relatively stable group with schoolmates Tony Banks, Anthony Phillips, and Mike Rutherford, and they began writing original songs together. Gabriel’s band, called Garden Wall, played school dances and private parties in the neighborhood. At one school dance, Gabriel met Jill Moore, a student at a local girls’ school and the daughter of Lord Moore of Wolvercote. They began dating, although Gabriel’s focus on music now dominated his life.
1974: Genesis lead singer Peter Gabriel and guitarist Steve Hackett performing at Colston Hall. (Fin Costello/Getty)
A Charterhouse graduate named Jonathan King had scored a hit single with “Everyone’s Gone to the Moon” in 1965. When King returned to the school for a visit, Gabriel’s friends gave him a tape the boys had made over their vacation. King was impressed with the songs, and the singer, and secured them a one-year contract with Decca Records. He also selected the group’s new name, Genesis. He produced their first single, “Silent Sun,” released in February 1968, but the record made little impact at the time. Later that year, King produced their first album, From Genesis to Revelation. The band’s music had evolved away from the soul-inspired numbers they had originally played to more elaborate and ambitious compositions, reflecting Gabriel’s interest in folklore and mythology. A pastoral fantasy scored with acoustic 12-string guitars, vocal harmonies, and a string section, their first album failed to make an impression on the rock-buying public. Jonathan King lost interest in the group and Decca did not renew their contract.
March 1977: Peter Gabriel performing in New York, a year after leaving Genesis. “Solsbury Hill,” his debut single as a solo artist, was an instant hit, reaching the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart. (Photo by Michael Putland and Getty)
After graduating from Charterhouse, Gabriel and his mates began looking for a new record label and new management. With contributions from their families, they acquired professional equipment and began playing bars and youth clubs up and down England. Most audiences failed to respond to the dreamy acoustic music of their first record, and they began to develop a more aggressive, rock-oriented sound. Music business entrepreneur Tony Stratton-Smith signed the group to his new label, Charisma Records, for the lordly sum of £15 a week. In 1970, Genesis recorded Trespass, their first album for Charisma, featuring a mixture of acoustic and electric material. Not long after recording the album, original guitarist Anthony Phillips left the band. Guitarist Steve Hackett joined the group, and the group’s drummer was replaced by 19-year-old Phil Collins.
1982: Peter Gabriel wearing monkey make-up for the song “Shock the Monkey,” in Rome, Italy. (Luciano Viti/Getty)
In 1971, Peter Gabriel and Jill Moore married, with the blessings of their families. Although the sales of Genesis records were disappointing, the group’s live performances attracted better reviews, and they prepared to record a third album, Nursery Cryme. Although this album, too, did not sell well in Britain, it was a surprise hit in continental Europe. As the front man, Gabriel took the responsibility of entertaining the audience with improvised stories and tall tales during the band’s frequent tuning breaks and equipment failures. He later augmented these tales by appearing in a series of fanciful costumes, and the audience for the band’s live shows attracted increased attention from the music press.
On May 19, 1986, Gabriel released his fifth studio album, So. So was a watershed release in his career. Its marriage of the artistic and the commercial made for an indisputable success, with the album quickly sitting atop the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic. Aside from some intriguing collaborations – with Laurie Anderson on “This Is The Picture,” Kate Bush on “Don’t Give Up” and Youssou N’Dour on “In Your Eyes” – it was the unity of singer, band and producer that made So such a crucial record in the Gabriel canon. (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns and Getty)
The next Genesis record, Foxtrot, added a supernatural element to the group’s fairy-tale themes. It was the group’s first album to sell well in Britain, and the band booked their first American shows, including a well-received performance at New York’s Avery Fisher Hall. Besides his singing and storytelling, Gabriel made other contributions to the band’s sound, playing flute solos, shaking the tambourine, and kicking a bass drum alongside his microphone. Gabriel’s costumes became more extravagant, with face paint, masks, capes, elaborate headgear, and glittering jumpsuits. Genesis had now become one of the most popular live attractions in Britain.
June 15, 1986: (from left to right) Bono, Sting, Bryan Adams, Peter Gabriel in a press conference at Giants Stadium for the ”Conspiracy of Hope” tour benefiting Amnesty International. (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns and Getty)
In 1973, Genesis recorded their most successful album to date, Selling England by the Pound, which included their first hit single, “I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe).” Gabriel’s leadership of Genesis peaked with the creation of an ambitious concept album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, in 1974. The record was released with a booklet containing an original story by Gabriel, which provided a dreamlike narrative informing the songs. To support the album, the group undertook a highly profitable North American tour, which featured one of Gabriel’s most outrageous costumes to date, the notorious Slipperman outfit.
1987: Peter Gabriel in his recording studio in Ashcombe House at Swainswick in Somerset, England. Gabriel converted the house’s barn into his home studio and recorded three of his albums: Peter Gabriel/Security (1982), the soundtrack to Birdy (1985), and So (1986). (Photo by Peter Jordan/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)
Gabriel’s wife, Jill, had a difficult first pregnancy, and their newborn daughter, Anna, required intensive medical care. In these circumstances, Gabriel was unwilling to leave his family’s side for rehearsals and recording sessions, exacerbating the existing friction between him and the other band members. In 1975, with the band enjoying its greatest success to date, Gabriel left Genesis.
1993: Peter Gabriel holding his Grammy Award for “Best Short Form Music Video” for the second single “Steam” from his album Us at the 36th annual Grammy Awards. (Time Life Pictures/DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty)
At age 25, he faced the prospect of carrying on his career without the only collaborators he had ever known. He spent some months in relative seclusion with his wife and child at their home in Bath. After a year of preparation — and the birth of his second daughter, Melanie — he was ready to return to the music scene as a solo artist. His first solo album, titled simply Peter Gabriel, appeared in 1977. It featured a lush instrumental sound and produced the hit single Solsbury Hill.
September 3, 1993: Peter Gabriel and Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor perform together onstage at Marcus Amphitheater in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the U.S. tour of the WOMAD arts festival. (Paul Natkin/Getty Images)
Gabriel declined to provide titles for his first four solo albums, which are generally referred to as Peter Gabriel I, II, III, and IV, or by nicknames derived from their cover graphics — Car, Scratch, Melt, and Security. Gabriel toured extensively in the United States and Europe to support these albums. Shorn of the long locks he had worn in the early ‘70s, he adopted a more austere look, and by and large eschewed the flamboyant theatricality of his performances with Genesis.
November 17, 2006: British musician and human rights activist Peter Gabriel receives the statuette Dafne of Peace as he is awarded the 2006 Man of Peace Prize from two Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Northern Ireland civil rights activist Mairead Corrigan Maguire and Poland’s former President and Solidarity union leader Lech Walesa, during the opening ceremony of the 7th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Rome. (PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty)
His second album was produced by King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp, whom Gabriel had long admired, and featured a darker, leaner sound but produced no hits. His third solo album, which featured Genesis drummer Phil Collins and an innovative “gated drum” sound, produced the hits “Games Without Frontiers” and “Biko.” The album, released in 1980, was a much-admired artistic and commercial success, selling half a million copies in both the United States and in Britain, where it reached number one on the album charts.
The song “Biko,” a tribute to the murdered South African human rights activist Stephen Biko, marked a turning point in Gabriel’s career. For the first time, he directly addressed political and social issues — in this instance, the struggle against the apartheid system of racial segregation in South Africa. Gabriel had long admired the work of African and Middle Eastern musicians, and his own music increasingly reflected their influence. In 1980, he founded the WOMAD (World of Music, Arts, and Dance) festival to foster appreciation of the world’s diverse musical cultures.
July 18, 2007: Peter Gabriel greets former South African President Nelson Mandela, in the company of Mandela’s wife Graca Machel, billionaire Richard Branson, and former U.S. President Jimmy Carter in Johannesburg, South Africa. On his 89th birthday, Nelson Mandela announced the formation of The Elders: a small dedicated group of leaders who will work objectively, free from vested personal interest, to help address global challenges. (© Getty)
Peter Gabriel’s fourth solo album, his first for Geffen Records, was titled Security for its U.S. release in 1982. Like its predecessor, it sold more than half a million copies in both Britain and the U.S. It featured the hits “I Have the Touch” and “Shock the Monkey,” and was notable for its creative use of digitally sampled sounds, reproduced with the Fairlight CMI sampling computer. The technique had previously been the province of experimental musicians, but Gabriel’s use was the first to reach a mass audience. Digital sampling has played a prominent role in popular recorded music ever since. The singer’s theatrical flair was once again on display in the video for “Shock the Monkey.” It became a favorite on the music video channel MTV, and the song became Gabriel’s first Top 40 hit in the U.S.
July 13, 2008: Actress Sigourney Weaver and Peter Gabriel attend the UK Premiere of the Pixar film WALL-E at the Empire Leicester Square in London. “Down to Earth,” co-written and performed by Peter Gabriel for the film, won the Grammy Award for “Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media.” (© Jon Furniss)
Four years elapsed between the success of Security and Peter Gabriel’s next solo album, but when it came, it would be the greatest success of his career. His 1986 album So featured the songs “Sledgehammer,” “In Your Eyes,” “Big Time,” and “Don’t Give Up the Fight,” a duet with singer Kate Bush. The album reached number one on the UK album chart, while the song “Sledgehammer” was the top-selling single in the United States. Gabriel received four Grammy nominations for his work on the record, which sold more than eight million copies worldwide, including two million in the UK and five million in the U.S. It has been estimated that the video of the album’s single, “Sledgehammer,” is the most played selection in the history of MTV.
April 10, 2014: Peter Gabriel speaks onstage at the 29th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in New York City. The Hall of Fame Class of 2014 included Nirvana, Brian Epstein and Andrew Loog Oldham, Linda Ronstadt, Cat Stevens, Hall and Oates, KISS and the E Street Band. (© Larry Busacca)
Over the years, Peter Gabriel’s song “Biko” had spread around the world and become an informal anthem for human rights activists. Gabriel was invited to perform in the “Conspiracy of Hope” tour, a series of benefit concerts for the international rights organization Amnesty International. He would play an even larger role in organizing subsequent concert tours to benefit Amnesty. A year of commercial success and escalating humanitarian commitments, 1986 also saw the end of Gabriel’s marriage to Jill Moore.
Fulfilling a longtime interest in cinema, Peter Gabriel began composing film scores in the 1980s, starting with the film Birdy in 1985. His score for Martin Scorsese’s 1988 film The Last Temptation of Christ was released as the album Passion, which brought Gabriel a Grammy Award, his first, for Best New Age Performance.
Two members of the Academy Class of 2017: Award-winning English singer-songwriters Peter Gabriel and Sting at the reception at Claridge’s Hotel in London, England, during the 52nd annual International Achievement Summit.
Two years after his first Amnesty concerts, Gabriel led the 20-concert “Human Rights Now!” world tour. In 1990, he traveled to Chile for the “Embrace of Hope” tour, celebrating the country’s emergence from years of military dictatorship. Gabriel’s touring and activism had largely kept him out of the studio until 1992, when he released the album Us, in which he reflected on the failure of his marriage and his strained relationship with his children. Gabriel undertook a world tour to support the Us album and shot a series of innovative videos, winning Grammy Awards for the videos of “Digging in the Dirt” and “Steam” and for his concert film Secret World Live. The same year, he founded the nonprofit organization Witness, which equips activists with film and video technology to document human rights abuses. Like his inventor father, Peter Gabriel has a longstanding interest in new technology. In 1999, he co-founded OD2, one of the first online services for downloading music.
Academy Awards Council member and the violin virtuoso Joshua Bell presenting the Academy of Achievement’s Golden Plate Award to Peter Gabriel during the 2017 International Achievement Summit at Claridge’s in London.
Ten years elapsed between Gabriel’s fifth and sixth studio albums. He returned to the studio in 2002 to complete Up, a self-produced collection of longer songs. The album produced no hit singles but sold well worldwide, due to Gabriel’s international popularity, bolstered by years of touring. That year, Gabriel married Irish costume designer Meabh Flynn; they now have two sons, Isaac Ralph and Luc. His daughters by his previous marriage, Anne-Marie and Melanie, have worked with him often over the years, Anne-Marie as a filmmaker documenting his performances, Melanie as a vocalist in his live shows.
November 13, 2017: Peter Gabriel with his wife Meabh Flynn at the unveiling of the multimedia exhibition “The Adoration Trilogy: Searching for Apollo” by Alistair Morrison and hosted by Roger Daltrey. (David M. Benett/Getty)
In 2006, Peter Gabriel sang John Lennon’s “Imagine” for the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. Also that year, the World Summit of Nobel Laureates selected Gabriel for its Man of Peace Award, presented by Mikhail Gorbachev and the Mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni. The following year, Gabriel and his friend, Virgin Records founder Richard Branson, recruited distinguished international statesmen, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, former Irish President Mary Robinson, and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, along with Archbishop Desmond Tutu and South African President Nelson Mandela, to form an organization they called The Elders, leveraging the moral authority of their long experience to resolve civil and international conflicts.
Rated PG, released April 13, 2019, is a collection of Peter Gabriel songs from the movies. Having always loved the combination of film and music (aged 17 he gave up a place at film school to pursue a career in music), Gabriel’s first opportunity to really marry these twin interests came when he was asked to create the music for Birdy in 1985.
Gabriel received another Grammy for the song “Down to Earth,” from the 2008 animated film WALL-E. Genesis was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. The same year, Gabriel released Scratch My Back, an album of songs by other writers. The following year, he produced New Blood, a collection of his old songs performed with full orchestra. Peter Gabriel was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 2014. Today, he makes his home in Wiltshire, England, where he maintains a commercial recording studio and a record label, Real World Records. In April 2019, Real World Records released Rated PG, a compilation of songs Gabriel has composed or sung for motion picture soundtracks.
Peter Gabriel first rose to fame as the flamboyantly costumed lead singer of the innovative progressive rock band Genesis. After leaving Genesis in 1975, Gabriel launched a successful solo career with the hit single “Solsbury Hill.” His 1986 album, So, sold over 6.8 million copies worldwide. His video “Sledgehammer” remains the most played music video in the history of MTV.
Since 1980, when he released the anti-apartheid single “Biko,” Gabriel has championed a series of humanitarian projects. He has participated in numerous benefit concerts for different causes, including Amnesty International’s “Human Rights Now!” tour, which traveled the world in 1988.
In 1980 he founded WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance — to present the world to the world ) which has organized 170 festivals in over 30 countries. He conceived of the human rights organization Witness.org in 1992 to introduce citizen video and technology into human rights campaigning. He also founded The Elders.org with Nelson Mandela and Richard Branson in 2001 to bring together a respected group of world leaders, whose influence could stem not from political, economic or military power, but from experience, integrity and wisdom. His other work interests have been in innovative technology, especially in digital media, audio, music, visual language and more recently health care.
To date, Gabriel has won six Grammy Awards and 13 MTV Video Music Awards. He has been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice, once as a member of Genesis, and again as a solo artist. In recognition of his many years of human rights activism, he received the Man of Peace award from the Nobel Peace Prize laureates, and TIME magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world.
London. England
How did your parents feel about your starting Genesis when you were still in school?
Peter Gabriel: There was a lot of discussion about whether we should continue with music. At that time, you know — the school now would be very proud of Genesis and our history — they weren’t really supportive. They sort of tolerated a rock group. I remember, Mike Rutherford was told not to carry on playing and mixing with disreputable types. So this was something that for us was really important because it was not quite Tom Browne’s School Days, but it was a formal English public school with discipline, not a lot of compassion. And you felt — there was a film Lindsay Anderson did called If, which sort of captured, I think, the emotion of the experience.
But the tighter the discipline, the more human nature wants to rebel against it. So music was our way, and we would go down — there was a room where you could play billiards downstairs, but it was a small Dansette record player. And so the very few visits we were allowed to make to the town, I would go down to Godalming and buy Otis Redding or Nina Simone or whatever it was that was firing me up and turn it up full volume in this little room. And then we’d go upstairs to the dining room where the only piano was. And there’d be a big competition. Sometimes you’d have to run into the kitchen and climb through the hatch in order to sit down because it was first-come, first-served at the piano after the lessons finished. So there was a lot of competition.
But both Tony Banks and I were part of that sort of songwriting team. And then we had an invitation to join a couple of others in the school to make demos that were sent to various places, including to Jonathan King, who gave us our first recording contract and got us into a studio.
Did you see yourself as a songwriter or a singer in those days?
Peter Gabriel: I saw myself as a drummer first and songwriter. Yeah, we were planning to be songwriters. We didn’t really want to be a group. The harsh reality of dreams of writing hits is that no one is interested in recording them. So we had to start playing them ourselves. And then that evolved and we wanted to explore different types of music. It was the beginning of the ‘60s and merging different styles seemed to us to be exciting and revolutionary. So that’s what we were trying to do.
1973: Peter Gabriel of Genesis wearing his “Magog” costume with a geometrical headdress on stage. (Getty Images)
In your days with Genesis, you were pretty well known for your spectacular costumes. What was the idea behind that?
Peter Gabriel: The idea was to get rich and famous. We were in a group that was sort of disappearing into the oblivion. I mean that was one side of it. But there was another side, which was an evolution, but we loved the sound of 12-string guitars. This was old days, so it meant there weren’t electronic tuners. Three guys with 36 strings at their command would sit there twiddling knobs until they got their guitars in tune. So there were long pauses between each song. And if you’re in a small club and there’s an audience and a bunch of musicians, you just got something going, and then they’re sitting there and all the energy is being dissipated. They look to the mug behind the microphone to do something. So I started telling stories.
So partly, there were characters coming out in these stories and emerging. We had on one album a character which Paul Whitehead had created with a fox head and a red dress. And I sat around with Paul Conroy, who was working at our record company at the time. And he was saying, “Well, why don’t we get someone to walk around the gig in a fox head and a red dress?” And I thought, “Oh, I might as well give that a go.” So I went into my wife’s wardrobe and pulled out a red dress, which was, in fact, an Ossie Clark dress. But at that point, I was thin enough to get into it. And we got this fox head made up.
I remember the first gig I wore it was in this former bullring in Dublin, which was not exactly the most enlightened, transgender environment. And there was a shock. Literally, you could hear a pin drop when I walked out in this costume. And I thought, “Oh, that’s interesting.” And the band, of course, didn’t really know that I was going to do this. I had mentioned something with the fox head, but I didn’t discuss it because I knew there would not be a majority vote going my way. And the same when I came up with a whole lot more costumes of the rainbow.
And the following day, we got on the front page of Melody Maker, and suddenly, from £50 a week per head, we were on 150. Life was looking up. So there were practical advantages to the costumes. But it was actually a lot of fun, and sometimes, when you’d come out — and this weird keyboard sound, and this dry ice, and I’m wearing this sort of UV make-up and bat wings — it was like a sci-fi moment, and you took people to some other place. So we divided a lot of people. We weren’t popular in this country. But we did well in other countries, and we started building a reputation for the band. So I think the musicians in the band were both appalled and delighted.
What’s it like to be a rock star? You look out and there are thousands of people, and they know every lyric, and they’re moving to your music. What does that feel like?
Peter Gabriel: Well, it’s a bit like the seven-year-old jumping on the table in the family get-together and showing off, but it’s on a bigger scale. But actually, when you feel the emotion of — because I’m a real mixture between this sort of show-off extrovert and a very shy person. But when you feel the engagement and you feel the warmth of the people, it’s like nothing else. So it’s a wonderful feeling. And particularly, it’s the interaction with other musicians because it’s a free-flowing emotional language. I mean some nights it feels like you’re just doing the same thing and you’re thinking about did you get your socks in the laundry. But other times, you’re very present. And it’s an amazing experience, a great privilege.
Peter Gabriel performing on stage during his 1986-87 So Tour. (Photo by LGI Stock/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)
Listening to what motivated you as a young man, it doesn’t seem like fame was really your motivation, but you certainly had your share. What are the ups and downs of that?
Keys to success — Integrity
Peter Gabriel: Well, I think, in truth, we’re a mixture of our higher and lower natures. So there’s definitely part of me that wanted attention and girls, and the other part of me just loved music and wanted to follow my heart. I think the truth is always somewhere in-between, is composite. I always thought of myself as a weekend rock star. You know, it was a fun place to get your ego stroked but toxic if it’s your permanent abode.
Genesis was successful when you were all so young, and you were only 25 when you walked away. Why did you do it? Why start over again on your own?
Peter Gabriel: There were a number of things. I think things — you know, I’m quite fond of them all to this day. But you know, band politics is just classic. So it got to the point where to get something done, you’d have to persuade — Tony Banks and I, we were often best friends/worst enemies. I would sometimes try to persuade him that what I wanted was his idea. And he was always very protective of the keyboard. He didn’t want anyone else getting near his keyboard, whereas I wanted to express myself and play with that.
But then I think it was a decisive thing when my first daughter, Anna, was born and they didn’t think she would survive. There was a whole number of things. My wife, Jill, wasn’t allowed to see her then, and she was in an incubator. It was the most traumatic experience of my life at that point. And the band were very unappreciative. Phil had a child then, but on the whole, we were trying to get The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway recorded at that time, and that was in far West Wales, and the drive was pretty hellish, getting there and back. There was no question in my mind that family comes first. So I think things got soured at that point.
And then I had an invitation from William Friedkin, who had just done The Exorcist and The French Connection at the time. I had considered a place in film school. I always loved film. He was trying to get a sort of new team of young people to come and do something different in Hollywood. He didn’t want me for the music. He wanted me for ideas.
There are so many strange images in your songs and stories. Did these come to you without drugs?
Except for the odd puff — and I did inhale — I’m a pretty drug-free environment, unlike most of my musical compatriots. I think the only one I was interested in was acid, and that was because it could take you somewhere else, and I was a bit scared of losing control. I’ve actually got some friends my age who’ve just taken acid for the first time. Very smart. So it’s still something that I think maybe one day. But I also saw a lot of destruction around the drugs.
You did some pretty creative filmmaking with your music videos — “Sledgehammer,” for instance. There’s a lot of crazy stuff in there. Did you have any idea how popular that would be?
Peter Gabriel: We knew we were doing something different. I mean I had this very gifted director, Stephen Johnson, and he brought in the Brothers Quay, and I brought in Aardman Animation. And it was for about a month — two weeks of really focused creative work. It was just this extraordinary maelstrom of ideas and people trying stuff. We did it down in Bristol. It was slow and painful, from my point of view, but we had the sense that we were doing something different, and it was a lot of fun. We’re just putting something together now which retells the story of it with Aardman. So that — I just saw it the other day, with interviews from people that I haven’t seen since that session. So that was interesting.
How long did it take to make the “Sledgehammer” video, from beginning to end?
It was, I think, probably a month from when it was first discussed, but the focused part was about two weeks. Stephen and I were generating some ideas, and then the Quay Brothers and Aardman also brought in a lot of — so it was about a week of actual filming on these little stages with different sets for the different parts of the video.
November 29, 2003: Peter Gabriel sings a tribute to anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko at the “46664” Concert at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa. Former South African President Mandela conceived the “46664” Concert, named after Mandela’s prison number, as part of his world advocacy for action against AIDS. (© Getty)
How did you come to write the song “In Your Eyes”? It’s such a different kind of love song.
Peter Gabriel: I was in love with a lot of African music around that time, and bits of it were written in Senegal. But one of the ideas that interested me in African music is that there was a capacity to sing a love song that could be a love for a woman or a love of God. And the two could be confused with no problem — that they could be about love. Whereas, in our society, spiritual was one side, sexual and romantic was another. So that fusion was what I was trying to explore lyrically and in the music. There was definitely some African influence. So it has a life to it that flows effortlessly. And then I was working with Youssou N’Dour, who does this amazing singing. There’s this sort of angelic voice at the end. So I think a combination of those things helped it to work.
What did you think when you saw John Cusack playing your song on a boombox in that movie Say Anything?
Peter Gabriel: We got asked by Cameron Crowe, and he’d done a couple of films that I enjoyed a lot. So I was very happy about it. I think Cusack is a great actor. I had no idea it was going to become this sort of iconic thing, but I’m very grateful that it was chosen, because it’s one of the most parroted scenes in Hollywood.
You’ve done so much work for human rights around the world, especially Amnesty International. The “Human Rights Now!” tour with Springsteen, Sting, Tracy Chapman. What were you trying to accomplish there?
Peter Gabriel: Well, I sort of fell into human rights, really. You know, I came from a comfortable background. And then, when I put my calling card in, I think, was when I wrote the song “Biko.” I’ve been interested in what goes on in the world. When Steve Biko was arrested, a lot of people thought that the publicity surrounding his arrest would be enough to protect him. So there was a real sense of shock when we heard that he’d died or been murdered.
I was questioning, at the time, whether this was something that I could do. You know, there was a lot of flack in this country if you come from a middle-class background or a comfortable background. It’s often from middle-class journalists who want working-class heroes. But in the backwater that is Britain, we get very hung up on all this sort of stuff. But it made me question whether I could write an overtly political song and be taken seriously. I was friendly with Tom Robinson, who had been a sort of outwardly very vocal gay activist. He had a song, “Sing If You’re Glad to Be Gay.” And I remember Tom saying to me, “Actually, if you get attention and money going in the right direction, who gives a —” you know? “Let’s just get on with it.” And that was good advice.
But as soon as that song was out, I was asked to do Amnesty things. And U2 were doing a “Conspiracy of Hope” tour in ’86 in America. So Bono wanted me to get out there. And I took over his role in ’88, trying to hustle musicians into doing this “Human Rights Now!” tour with Jackie Lee. And it was a sort of life-changing experience for many of us because, you know, human rights means something you read about, see in the Guardian newspaper. But we hadn’t really met many people around the world that had been tortured or lost loved ones. And suddenly, there they were, and they were talking to us. It’s very hard then, at that point, to walk away. I found it very compelling, and I was also shocked that people could go through some of these experiences and then have their horrors totally denied, buried, and forgotten.
2017: Peter Gabriel, English singer-songwriter and humanitarian, addresses Academy of Achievement delegates and members at Claridge’s Hotel in London, England, during the 52nd annual International Achievement Summit.
It became one of the most powerful anti-apartheid, human-rights songs ever recorded. And what does that feel like, that this song became part of a movement and actually had a pretty big political impact?
Peter Gabriel: Well, I heard people would sing it in South Africa, and it was used in rallies, and so on, and in stadiums. So that was great to hear.
When we did the “Human Rights Now!” tour, in fact, it was towards the end of the apartheid government, and there were interesting discussions — whether we should go to South Africa or not — because we’d been asked by the anti-apartheid movement not to go. There was a cultural boycott. Yet Youssou N’Dour and Tracy Chapman, the black artists who were with us, they thought, “Actually, no, this is part of a process that sort of opens things up and liberalizes.” So we had those discussions, and we ended up — Bill Graham was there, and he used to have these two planes: one full of gear and the other full of musicians and crew. And occasionally, when gigs were canceled or people got scared of us, we’d be there with a map of the world. Where can we land our planes? It was quite unlike any other tour. So we went to Harare instead, where — at that time, Mugabe was a hero, and it was sort of a country full of hope, after they kicked out its colonial past, and seemed to be open and moving forward in a very positive way.
We’ve seen the video of you singing “Biko” in other countries — Argentina, Chile. It seems like the whole crowd — thousands of people — are listening to your every breath. What does that feel like?
Peter Gabriel: Well, I think, in Argentina and Chile, where people have been thrown out of airplanes that have protested — horrible, horrible things had happened — to have this big juggernaut of a tour roll into town, into the stadium, it was like a big thing for them. They party like a liberation party. So it meant a lot to the people there, and it was fantastic for us to be up on the stage and feel their celebration and their determination. In Chile, we’d been in this stadium where a lot of people had been murdered. So it was sort of — they were conducting their exorcism, and we were the catalyst.
What did the “Human Rights Now!” Tour accomplish?
Peter Gabriel: Well, I know Jack Healey and Mary Daly, who we worked with as… part of Amnesty had been to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which all these countries around the world had signed and very few put into practice. Because it covers many areas, including health, employment, housing. It’s not just what people normally think of under the human rights banner of sort of freedom of expression and the right to protest peacefully, et cetera. But I think the membership of Amnesty was doubled around the world as a result of that tour. I think it was important. And for all of us, as musicians, I think it changed the way we saw our role.
Let’s go back to how it all began. We understand your mother was a musician and you studied piano. Is that how you got started in music?
Peter Gabriel: Well, my mother didn’t teach me. I think I was probably a difficult sort to teach. But she organized some piano lessons, and her family were all very musical. And although my dad wasn’t musical, his sister sang opera. But every Christmas, you’d have all the family gathering and singing songs around the piano and performing different things. So that was how I grew up, and she used to run the local music club, which she did into her nineties. And they’d get young classical musicians to come and do their rehearsal concerts in her living room.
How old were you when you thought, “I want to make a living as a musician”?
Peter Gabriel: Well, I had a little rebellion, I think, when I was about nine years old. I was getting all sorts of lessons, and she was also — my mom — obsessed with horses, as was my sister. So we were given riding lessons, dancing, anything that might turn this wild creature into an English gentleman. I thought I was doing far too many lessons, and I had to go and clear the stables and all that stuff. And I just had a little rebellion because I wouldn’t do it. What was important to me was watching television. I abandoned my piano lessons. And they said to me, at the time, “You probably won’t regret giving up these other lessons, but you’ll miss your piano lessons.” They were right, but I did it anyway.
So when did you start spending more time with music?
Peter Gabriel: I think, about 11, probably something like that, we went to holiday in Spain, and there was a pretty daft band playing in the hotel. But there was a drum kit. It was sparkling and loud. And I sat behind it, sort of mesmerized, thinking, “This is what I want to do.” So drums was really the way in for me. And then I started getting back into songs and started trying to write things and explore the piano. So I had pretty much to teach myself a second time on how to play. I’d never got very far the first time around, and I’m still not a good player, technically. But I can do enough for what I need.
Did anyone in particular influence you in songwriting or music?
Peter Gabriel: I think so many people. I think you instinctively absorb from whatever you’re hearing, which is why — my ten-year-old is a DJ on the latest school circuit — so if my next record sounds like Justin Bieber, you’ll know why.
Do you like Bieber?
Peter Gabriel: Actually, I’ve got to admire the musicality of it and some of the production. But you know, he’s now into rap, so it’s a different sort of evolution. But I love — it was R&B, blues, soul, and the beat boom. You know, the Beatles were — I was 13, in 1963, when I heard “Love Me Do” on the radio in the back of my parents’ car. And people don’t think of the Beatles as sort of rough and revolutionary. But at that time, it was all sort of Shirley Bassey and sweet-sounding songs. And this rough, tough band sound in “Love Me Do” was very, very different.
But I think, you know, from singing — although I don’t sing anything like it — but Otis Redding was the king for me. I was lucky enough, at 17, to go down to the Ram Jam Club in Brixton here, and there were maybe three white faces there. It was the best gig of my life, still to this day.
Peter Gabriel: It was like the sun coming out. There was just this warmth and then this amazing voice, band, generosity. Springsteen gives a ton when he performs, but Otis pips him, in my opinion. So it was just something else. I mean I guess I was ripe. I mean what hits us hard when we’re 17 stays with us for life. And that was it for me.
Do you remember the first time you wrote a song and thought it was really good?
Peter Gabriel: What felt good was sort of melody, harmony, and rhythm. And the lyrics, sometimes that worked, and you felt you’d nailed something. Having owned a studio now and watched many bands come in, you’re often seeing a group of players sitting around what I would consider the poor, unfortunate vocalist who is struggling to squeeze a few words out. And sometimes, the words will come easily, but for me, that’s slower — more difficult to get past the censor, my internal censor.
So your internal censor, what does it want from you?
Peter Gabriel: I think it just wants to get to a certain quality level. And musically, I find it pretty easy to get to something that I feel is working musically, to get to something that I think is working lyrically. And there are — if you look at Leonard Cohen or Bob Dylan or someone of this sort, the bar is pretty high. So trying to get something that you feel means something to you or means something to other people is work. You know, I think talent is hugely overrated. I think most of it’s hard work.
So on the success equation, what percent is hard work and what percent is talent?
Peter Gabriel: The way I look at talent in any of the arts is that they’re just languages. In other words, if I was dropped in any country in the world and, in order to survive, had to learn some of the language, I would find a way to do it. Some people would be quicker and better and more adept than others, but everyone could do it. And I feel the same with writing music, with painting, or whatever creative form it is. If you really believed that you’d swallowed a pill that would destroy you in 12 months’ time if you hadn’t proved talent in a certain area, you would be amazed at how much you could do and how good you could be.
I think people, we’re creatures, naturally — most of us — full of self-doubt. And you need to have that conviction that there’s something worthwhile that you can do. A lot of people I know who end up doing creative stuff are either — they think they’re a piece of shit or they think they’re the best thing in the world, and possibly both at the same time. So it’s to manage that sort of pathway so that you can actually keep on working hard, is what you need to learn. But what I try to say to any young people now is, “Don’t exclude yourself from anything.”
This Achievement — at one of the dinners, I sat next to Sir John Gurdon. He told me when he was in school, all the students in the school — of which there were 250 — he was number 250 in science. And you know he’s now got a Nobel Prize. And he found a teacher afterwards who inspired him and allowed him to think, “Actually, I can do this. I’ve got something — you know, clearly something that I can follow and do well.” So that’s what I say to young people now, is that: “Don’t let any obstacle or people discourage you from what you’re passionate about.” I think it should be like dogs going in the park. You know, you go in there with your tail wagging, you sniff anything interesting, and you jump on it.
So your message is that everyone has got talent and it’s kind of managing the path to let it blossom.
Peter Gabriel: Yeah, some people are going to get there faster, find it easier, and be more eloquent with it. But it should exclude no one. And everyone has their own voice and the possibility of doing some — let enthusiasm be your compass because you’ll end up enjoying what you do, even if you’re not making a lot of money from it, whereas, if you go where you’re not enthusiastic, you’ll end up miserable.
You’ve done so many different kinds of things, from human rights to working with technology to — of course — songwriting and singing. What do you think is the core of your talent?
Peter Gabriel: I think I’m a hustler. I’m trying to get things to happen slowly and I work hard. So I think probably it’s that I have managed to fool myself into believing things are possible, and then they become more possible. So when I’ve had impossible dreams — I mean The Elders would be one, and we’re talking with Richard, and it just seems highly improbable that you could make something like that materialize. And we knew we had to get Mandela on board. Otherwise, that wouldn’t have happened. But that, to me, is something, which, in my early days, I wouldn’t have thought, “Well, that’s ridiculous to think we could make something like this happen. So why even start?”
What did you learn about getting over the hurdles to make something happen?
Peter Gabriel: It’s that you need to put yourself in the right place. My wife recently has come out of cancer, so I’ve spent a little time thinking about how people function and what makes them feel good and keeps their health, and so on. One of the people that I was talking to about this said, in the Kabbalah, there’s some saying that if you get very sick, you change your name and change your address. And actually, that’s quite smart because you’re putting your mental framework in a different environment. I think, to get something done, allow yourself to be this other thing. But the baggage, and what they call the Imposter Syndrome — “I’m not going to be able to do this” or “All these people are saying this stuff about me, and maybe they’re right” — that allows you to shut that out and say, “Okay, it doesn’t matter, actually. Let’s just give it a go and go for it.” And that’s really, I think, the main thing for young people — is, there’s going to be plenty of doubt and naysayers. Trust. I have what I call my little voice, and it sometimes says things to me that are non-rational. And I try, whenever I can, to follow it.
One of the recommendations for people is to think of everyone you know. Who makes you feel good and bigger? Who makes you feel bad and smaller? You know where to go, and you know who to exclude. That helps. It seems silly. But the same with, I think, a lot of our activities in life. We need just to analyze, “What’s working for us? Where are we instinctively at ease, feeling we’re going with the flow, and where are we feeling the opposite?” And you just do more of the right stuff.
After you created these spectacular costumes and personae onstage, do you feel that other people started copying you? Because quite a lot of people in rock and roll started doing things with make-up and costumes.
Peter Gabriel: Well, I know Neil Bogart said, “You persuaded this group called KISS to start wearing stuff.” But their story is very different from that. So I don’t know. But there were — [David] Bowie was always in weird dress, so he was there ahead of us. We did one concert with him in the Roundhouse here, and it was with the Living Theatre, and it was one of these hippie festival things. There were probably 40 people on stage, probably 22 in the audience. It was a miserable event, but it was interesting, and that was my first encounter with Bowie, who both Tony Banks and I have been fans of from early stuff, like “I Can’t Help Thinking About Me” — before his big success. But he was always a good songwriter.
You mentioned hearing the Beatles’ “Love Me Do” when you were a kid. Did you have any dealings with Paul McCartney?
Peter Gabriel: Yeah, well, I’ve done a couple of things with Paul — a couple of which, he called up the other day and wanted to check it. So we’d started a couple of things, and then I think I got busy. We never got to finish it. And I don’t know — he’s been going off and doing his Egypt thing. But there were a couple of ideas which we were playing with. So yeah, to be going down to his studio and looking at the Beatle bass and hearing some of the Beatle stories, that was a thrill.
You’ve said, “Music is a universal language. It draws people together and proves as well as anything the stupidity of racism.”
Peter Gabriel: We put together this festival, which is still going now. It was in 1980, we started work on it, and ’82 was our first event. It’s called WOMAD: World of Music, Arts and Dance. A bunch of us had really started hearing what we thought were incredible artists from other countries around the world that were never going to get on our radio at that time. And we just thought — there was maybe a couple of record stores where you could find their music in London — so we thought, “Let’s get an event together and bring a lot of people from around the world.”
But I think it was — you know, I really worry right now that we’ve got this whole tide moving of politicians in many countries that are becoming elected, trading on fear and hate and division, and racism is underlying that — and the immigrant as the enemy. Whereas, it was a very few countries that weren’t built out of and by immigrants. Our history is always moving and flowing.
The tech world — the social media that I believed would be this great liberating, connecting force — are being more effectively manipulated to divide people and feed extremism. I was at a thing the other night, and this guy mentioned the old journalist maxim, “If it bleeds, it leads” — for prominence of story, what gets on the front page — and I feel that’s where we’re going. Because if you put a good newspaper and a bad newspaper, which is the one people will read? Will they stop at “Someone has a picnic,” or will they stop at a car crash? Human nature, we’re drawn to the drama and the disaster and — I think — any situation where we’ve survived and someone else hasn’t. So you have to work with who we are. But at the same time, it’s amplified. So it’s all this extremist, hate-filled, “anti-them” stuff is silencing our better nature, which I’m still convinced is there.
Do we need a new world tour to talk about this?
Peter Gabriel: I’m trying to write about it now. I would like to see young people, many of whom are still idealistic, as they always are, create some sort of movement. You know, the hippie movement was what happened when I was a kid. I think we need young people to generate some sort of kickback to this extremist, populist monopoly of the media. I can travel around now, whereas, like the American point of view used to be seen in CNN, now it’s Fox News, which is, in my opinion, a much greater source of fake news than any other.
You used to be so positive about the power of technology. A mobile phone in the hands of a poor person could give him limitless knowledge. Are you as optimistic about the power of technology now?
Peter Gabriel: One hundred percent. I mean I’m not saying that it isn’t used, but the potential of technology — I was at this XPRIZE dinner the other night, and they have projects now to use technology to feed a billion people, to get kids that can’t read or write, reading and writing in any language within 18 months. We have a project we’re trying to kick-start about streaming medical treatment. Because when the digital revolution hits medicine, not just in diagnostics but in treatment, it’s going to get access to people around the world in the same way that the phone gave people access to communication, to Wikipedia, to Google. You know, it’s very powerful. But I think the people who I believe are working for themselves are using media much more effectively than people who are working for mankind.
You co-founded the organization Witness, using the power of video to expose human rights abuses. How did that come about?
Peter Gabriel: As a result of this Amnesty “Human Rights Now!” tour, what was very clear is whenever someone had suffered a human rights abuse and they managed to get it on video — or they got their experience, and they were telling their story on video — it was much tougher for those in power to bury that story. People would respond emotionally to the video content. So Reebok Human Rights Foundation, who had funded the Amnesty tour, had this — I made a proposal there to try and bring in an entity, either within their foundation or separate, that would use video and technology and try and arm activists and people who found themselves in a human rights struggle, with video. And eventually — it took a while — that was adopted. And now, I think we have the same opportunity with data. There’s an amazing group called Forensic Architecture, who actually are nominated for the Turner Prize, which is the contemporary art prize over here. They have an amazingly detailed approach to data.
We are moving to the age when video can be faked much better. So they would look at — for instance, they’ve got some work on bombs in Syria. They’ve taken photos from everyone’s camera around town, where the bomb was dropped, and recreated a three-dimensional format of the cloud created by the bomb. They’ve also been able to identify the bomb and the manufacturer. So it’s like forensic evidence in supreme detail. And they create a timeline. So it’s basically like creating a three-dimensional version of a bad event, so they can absolutely argue — I mean they don’t get involved in the argument. They just present the evidence and the evidence speaks for itself.
They, I think, have taken some of the — Israel-Palestine; they’ve taken a terrorist bomb in Germany. It was actually Brian Eno that introduced me to their work, but I was blown away and thought — I’ve since gone back to Witness, saying, “You know, I think this is the next generation of human rights campaigning.” Rather than have better pictures than the other side, get pictures, but get really good data.
Why do you spend time on this? You could be sitting at a beautiful piano in your beautiful studio.
Peter Gabriel: Well, I think it’s exciting, and my dad was an electrical engineer-inventor, and he came up with some — with an Italian thing called Dial-a-Programme, which was entertainment on demand — so electronic democracy, home shopping, education on demand. But this was 1971 and access through the rotary dial of a telephone. So he was a little ahead of his time, but his mission was sort of empowering technology. So that is part of what presses my buttons, is when you see people that can use technology to great advantage. So I’m interested in being useful to the world as a whole but also entrepreneurial instincts — I want to get involved with cool stuff in different areas. I have friends at MIT. I’m an adviser at the Media Lab there. I love that sort of thing, and then all this sort of techie stuff.
So I think the tech world still has a lot to learn. Also, this dinner was — she’s now a baroness, but Joanna Shields. She worked at Google, and then ran Facebook over here, and then ran the Cyber Security Ministry, or whatever it was, in the UK. They had a program that could identify from voice whether people were going to — voice characteristics — commit acts of terrorism. There were certain patterns they started recognizing just in the voice recordings.
She then went with this technology that they developed to the main Facebook and Twitter. Neither of them wanted to take it on. And I asked her why not. She said, “Well, maybe if they knowingly have this stuff, then they are accepting responsibility for content, and they’ve always been trying to say, ‘We’re just the publisher.’”
Isn’t it the role of the government to take that on?
Peter Gabriel: These organizations are now, I think, a lot bigger than governments. I think national governments have become less and less important. I hope, in some ways, too, because I would like to see global and local power, and less national power because I think nationalism is dangerous.
You mentioned Nelson Mandela, whom you met through The Elders. How did that come about?
Peter Gabriel: Well, there were some conversations with some friends about whether you could get wisdom in world affairs a little higher up the agenda. And it seemed that there were individuals around the world that people respected, at the same time as they’re losing trust in governments, institutions, and politicians — and that, if there was a way that one could get some sort of grouping together, that might be something that could have some influence and impact. Richard [Branson], he was excited. We were exploring ideas, and we both concluded that Mandela had more of this sort of moral currency, having come out of 27 years of jail, trusted his enemy to build the future with him, after they’d killed and tortured many of his friends. That’s a pretty big leap that most leaders are not capable of.
But we started seriously around 2001 when he had Mandela to lunch. Mandela was then president of South Africa, and he [Branson] was getting his airline going and wanted to fly to Jo’burg, and so on, and knew Mandela. So he brought me along to that lunch and we did our pitch. Mandela was really not very impressed at the beginning. He said, “I’m sure people in power don’t want a bunch of old-timers interfering.” But by the end of the meal, he said, “There was this time when they asked me to intervene with Hutus and Tutsis, who’d been slaughtering each other in Rwanda.” And the young generals on both sides said, “Actually, we’re only going to negotiate with you. Everyone else here has got an agenda. But with you, it’s like talking to our dad, and we trust you, that you have no interest other than a good outcome for everyone.” So that was the sort of currency that persuaded him to take it on and that convinced him that there was something to explore. So he then, with Graça Machel, put out the invites, and it took a while.
Did that lunch with Mandela happen in South Africa?
Peter Gabriel: No. That was in London, in Holland Park.
When you pitched your idea to Nelson Mandela, and he said, “Well, there was that time when I was asked to stop the slaughter,” what were you thinking?
Peter Gabriel: That there was a chance. But it still took another few years to get it because he was being hustled by every well-meaning person in the world who knew that the Mandela magic would sprinkle some fairy dust on whatever it was they were trying to do.
But he’d never met a hustler named Peter Gabriel.
Peter Gabriel: No, and Richard’s not a bad hustler, either! I’ll tell you, eventually he came around and we had this launch in 2007 in Jo’burg in this former court building where a lot of his black colleagues had been sent to jail and so on. It was an amazing moment.
You’re only 68 years old as we sit here in this London hotel room. You still have lots more to do, but when you look back, is there anything you would have done differently?
Peter Gabriel: When you get reflective, I always think of my deathbed. I’m not really going to care about anything to do with work. It’s the people you love and treating them right. I think I could have done some things better there. But I’ve had a really interesting life, and I push myself to do things that go where I was afraid and what I was uncomfortable in. And I’ve always got a lot back from it. So I feel very grateful and very lucky in lots of ways.
Thank you, Mr. Gabriel. That was fascinating.
Peter Gabriel Gallery
This page last revised on June 13, 2019
39th President of the United States
The Queen of Soul
Pulitzer Prize for Music
Guitarist and Founder of Led Zeppelin
Nobel Prize for Peace
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13710
|
__label__wiki
| 0.897489
| 0.897489
|
You're using an old version of Internet Explorer. Please upgrade to IE 11 or above; or try using a different browser
Individuals & Families Business & Enterprise
Naohiro Mouri
Executive Vice President and Chief Auditor
Naohiro Mouri is Executive Vice President and Chief Auditor of AIG. He previously served as Senior Managing Director of Asia Pacific Internal Audit at AIG.
Prior to joining AIG in 2015, Mr. Mouri was Statutory Executive Officer, Senior Vice President and Chief Auditor for MetLife Japan. He has also held number of chief auditor positions at JP Morgan for Asia Pacific, Shinsei Bank, Morgan Stanley Japan, and Deutche Bank Japan. He started his 24-year auditing career at Arthur Andersen in Atlanta and Tokyo.
Long an advocate for internal audit professionals, Mr. Mouri also serves as Senior Vice Chairman of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Global Board of Directors and has been an active member of the organization since 1995.
In addition, he has been director for the IIA Japan since 2003. His previous senior positions at the IIA include Board member representing Japan, International Secretary, and Vice Chairman - Professional Services. Mr. Mouri was the first President of the Asian Confederation of Institutes of Internal Auditors from 2001 to 2006.
Mr. Mouri has co-authored a book on internal auditing for financial institutions in Japanese and Mandarin and lectured at a number of industry and academic forums, including at Meiji University Graduate program for professional accountancy and Senshu University. He is a Certified Public Accountant (U.S.) and a Certified Internal Auditor and holds a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Georgia State University.
About AIG
Button used to open List items below
Producer Notifications
United States | Worldwide >
Copyright © 2019 American International Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13714
|
__label__cc
| 0.676071
| 0.323929
|
As the first day of summer approaches, we’ve already had some major thunderstorms. Experts at the University of Nebraska Medical Center recently shared some information to protect older adults and people of every age from being injured by the beautiful but deadly feature of these storms: lightning.
“An underrated killer, hotter than the surface of the sun.” That’s how the National Weather Service (NWS) describes lightning, which over the past 30 years has been responsible for an average of 47 deaths per year in the U.S. Nearly anything can be struck by lightning, including human beings. An average bolt of lightning, striking from cloud to ground, contains enough power to light a 60-watt lightbulb for six months and cool a refrigerator with an open door for 24 hours!
The National Weather Service mantra, says NWS lightning safety specialist John Jensenius, is “When thunder roars, go indoors!” The science of lightning is—well, complicated, he says. But, the safety aspect of lightning isn’t complicated: Just get inside a building or vehicle once thunder occurs or lightning strikes appear.
Check the forecast
The first step in lightning safety is staying aware of weather forecasts for your area. When thunderstorms are forecast, it’s recommended that people curtail outdoor activities. At the very least, make sure you have access to a sturdy, fully enclosed shelter, such as a home or business.
“Keep in mind that if you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck by lightning,” Jensenius says. And during the storm, don’t wait to hear thunder before taking shelter. Lightning can strike 10 miles or more in the area surrounding a thunderstorm. “Seek shelter immediately. If a sturdy building isn’t available, a hard-topped vehicle will provide protection. Make sure all the vehicle windows are rolled up.”
Myths and facts about lightning
Certain metals conduct electricity. However, says Jensenius, “One of the most common misperceptions about lightning is that metal attracts a strike. That isn’t true. As the lightning approaches the ground from a storm cloud, it’s seeking a connection. Typically, that connection is the tallest object in the immediate area. It could be a tree, a fence, or the ground.”
Jensenius adds, “Another misconception about lightning is the idea that rubber protects you from a lightning strike. Rubber doesn’t have that much insulating power. You often hear of people being protected from lightning when it strikes a vehicle. That’s due to the metal shell of the vehicle. The lightning will follow the metal shell, going around a person and through or over tires.”
Other lightning safety tips
Water will conduct electricity, which is why Jensenius advises staying out of the shower and bathroom in general during a lightning storm. “Don’t shower, wash dishes or use an electronic device during a thunderstorm,” Jensenius said. “Washing machines are especially dangerous because they involve both electricity and plumbing. Land line telephones are also hazardous, but cell phones and wireless phones are safe.”
Direct contact with the ground should also be avoided since lightning current can move through soil and across wet/damp concrete. In a basement, garage or patio, wearing shoes is advised. It’s also safest to stay off the porch when you hear thunder and lightning. “And stay away from windows and doors during the storm,” Jensenius said.
Lightning fires
In addition to causing bodily injury, lightning strikes can start a fire. Wood and other flammable materials can easily ignite due to a lightning strike. House roofs and attics are the most common sites of lightning induced fires. When lightning travels through electrical wires, it burns them up, posing the risk of fire anywhere along the electrical system. If a building is struck by lightning, call the fire department. Fire may not be immediately visible, but could be smoldering somewhere in the structure. Watch for falling debris resulting from damaged shingles, chimneys, or walls.
If someone is struck
In the event that a person is struck by lightning, immediately call 911. Lightning victims don’t carry any electrical charge, so it’s safe to immediately tend to them. Cardiac arrest and irregularities, burns and nerve damage are all common when people are struck by lightning. CPR may be necessary, but most people do survive lightning strikes, even though they may always experience the effects of the strike.
It’s tempting to go outside and watch a storm, but Jensenius warns us not to. “Listen to your local forecast and always plan ahead so there’s a safe place to go in the event of a storm. And stay inside for 30 minutes after you hear the last thunder. That allows the storm to move on, and you won’t have to worry about lightning.”
Source: University of Nebraska Medical Center, adapted by IlluminAge
If you have more questions about lightning safety, or want to learn more about keeping yourself and your property safe, visit the website of the National Weather Service.
Read More About… Alden Leader Community News
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13717
|
__label__wiki
| 0.763093
| 0.763093
|
Turkey coup attempt: What happened that night?
This coup attempt was defeated by the citizens of Turkey, regardless of their political affiliation.
by Kani Torun
People occupy a tank in Istanbul on the night of the coup attempt in Turkey [EPA]
We are witnessing extraordinary events in Turkey. Including this latest one, there have been five military coups in the past 60 years. However, this one was different.
Previously, coups were carried out by Kemalist officers in the military circles, but this time it was said to be Gulenist officers, followers of the self-exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen.
Who are these people? What is their aim? Gulen was a cleric for a long time in Turkey. He was following Said Nursi's teachings but later became a cult figure for his followers who believe he is the Mahdi.
Over the years, this cult infiltrated government institutions, in particular the education ministry, security services and judiciary.
Gulenists disguised themselves in a discreet manner, making them almost impossible to be identified.
Erdogan: Turkish democracy is not under threat
Although Gulen has been using religious rhetoric to exert his influence and collecting money through this influence, his cult members presented themselves as non-religious in their workplaces.
They lived "parallel lives". In the army and judiciary, they consumed alcohol, didn't fast during Ramadans or adhere to other Islamic principles outwardly.
At home they followed their cult orders. They set up a parallel hierarchy in government institutions, and followed its orders for a long time. Their main aim was to take over the government when the time has come.
How did the Gulenists infiltrate?
One of the main differences between this group and the mainstream Islamist movement is that Gulenists have been very pro-United States and pro-Israel.
Gulen presented himself as a symbol of moderate Islam and got a very warm welcome from the West. He chartered schools in 140 countries and used these schools as his recruitment ground.
The turning point was Erdogan's television appearance ... He said the military's activity was an illegal action against the democratically elected government and urged people to take to the streets and protest against the coup attempt.
After the election of the Justice and Development Party (AK party) in 2002, Gulenists had developed a special relationship with the government and used this link to strengthen their influence in the government institutions.
They were instrumental in orchestrating the campaign against some army officers between 2007 and 2013 - namely Ergenekon, Balyoz and the Izmir military espionage cases.
It was through these cases that they strengthened their hold on the army and promoted their officers above others.
After 2011, the self-confidence of the movement grew with a belief that they could take over the state.
They attempted to instigate a "civilian coup" on December 17 and 25, 2013, during the so-called corruption probe, but they failed.
After this attempt, the government, and particularly the prime minister of the day, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, initiated legal actions against this group.
READ MORE: Turkey: Plotters 'acted early' in fear of arrests
In the past four elections in the aftermath of the December 2013 investigation, Gulenists supported opposition parties against the AK party.
They used their propaganda machine against Erdogan and the AK party but they failed again with the ruling party, receiving 49.5 percent of the votes and the majority seats in the last elections.
Through their links in the West, the Gulen movement has conducted a very aggressive PR campaign against the AK party government.
Anti-coup demonstrators celebrate their victory at Istanbul's Taksim Square [Reuters]
They portrayed the Turkish government as autocratic and President Erdogan as a dictator. This propaganda was particularly very effective in the West, and has been consumed by Western media in the past three years.
While they have carried out their campaign, the government has tried to remove the group members from government institutions.
This was not an easy task as it is nearly impossible to find concrete evidence owing to the secretive manner in which they operate.
The government transferred some members in attempts to pacify them, but this was not sufficient to thwart their efforts to undermine the government.
In the meantime, the aforementioned cases were overturned by the Supreme Court when the conspiracy was revealed.
OPINION: People defeated the coup in Turkey
Then the courts began to open cases against this group. Recently some of the Gulenists were arrested in relation to these cases.
In particular, the court dealing with the Izmir military espionage case had begun the process of sending arrest warrants for some high-ranking officers just before the coup attempt.
Another development was due to take place during the Supreme Military Council (YAS) annual meeting in August.
Many newspapers revealed that during this meeting the majority of officers belonging to this group were to be sacked.
On the night of the coup attempt
These last two developments made the Gulenists act early - and rather prematurely.
They had planned to launch the coup on Saturday, July 16, at 04.00 local time, but as of July 15, at 16.00, the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) acquired credible intel about the coup.
They informed the Turkish Armed Forces chief of staff. Both chiefs met to stop the coup and prepared an action plan involving sending military units to halt the attempt.
However, the Gulenist clique within the military was so well organised that even the private secretary of the chief of staff was one of them.
OPINION: The lessons to be learned from Turkey's failed coup
That action plan never reached the units. Instead the Gulenists found out that the government was aware of their plans and so they started the coup early.
They tried to eliminate the MIT, Police Special Operations Department and some other strategic units. In the meantime, they sent a team to eliminate the president in his holiday resort.
These actions failed, but the Gulenists managed to kidnap the army leadership and gain control of some areas.
The turning point was Erdogan's television appearance. He was on CNN Turk through Facetime and he sent his message.
He said the military's activity was an illegal action against the democratically elected government and urged people to take to the streets and protest against the coup attempt.
After that call, millions of people were on the streets and even though they were under fire, they did not turn back and kept resisting. The opposition party leaders joined the condemnation of the coup.
This coup attempt was defeated by the citizens of Turkey, regardless of their political affiliation. It was a victory for Turkish democracy.
Kani Torun is a Justice and Development Party member of the parliament and Deputy Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the Turkish parliament.
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera's editorial policy.
Kani Torun
Kani Torun is an AK party member of the parliament and Deputy Chair of Foreign Affairs Committee.
Turkey attempted coup
Ghana gas station blasts kill at least seven
Trump on North Korea: 'Only one thing will work'
Qatar condemns deadly attack on Saudi palace in Jeddah
Gunman killed after attack near Saudi palace in Jeddah
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13718
|
__label__cc
| 0.605104
| 0.394896
|
Alpha-Stim® is an Integral Part of the Healing Program for Invisible Wounds of War
In 2010, the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund undertook the initiative to build multiple facilities at which military personnel can heal from the traumas of combat. Called Intrepid Spirit Centers, these satellite locations of the National Intrepid Center of Excellence employ a multidisciplinary approach to care, which, according to the Fund, “has enabled more than 90% of patients to continue on Active Duty with many of their symptoms reduced or controlled.”
The Intrepid Spirit Center in Fort Belvoir, VA, opened on September 11, 2013.
Alpha-Stim® is one of the most critically important components of treatment at the Intrepid Spirit Centers. Many Service Members who are treated at the Centers suffer from anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Alpha-Stim is therefore a vital part of the treatment program, bringing significant and proven relief to men and women in uniform across the country for those very conditions.
Alpha-Stim uses Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES), delivered through two Earclip Electrodes, to restore balance to brainwaves. As the Fallen Heroes Fund explains on their website:
That’s the purpose of Alpha-Stim therapy: to return the mind to a state of normalcy and calm. In eliciting these positive feelings, stress and agitation decrease, moods stabilize, and certain types of pain may even decrease. Common symptoms of both TBIs and PTS may include anxiety, memory loss, sleeplessness or insomnia, and depression. TBIs can also cause increased agitation and memory issues. Alpha-Stim therapy can help reduce and even sometimes eliminate these effects.
Service Members have reported excellent success with Alpha-Stim. Learn more here!
Since Alpha-Stim is not a drug, there is no risk of addiction or lasting side effects; there is also no risk of impairment, so Service Members do not need to worry about interference with their ability to perform their duties. Relief is long lasting and often immediate. Additionally, results are cumulative – Alpha-Stim becomes more and more effective over time, so treatments are needed less frequently. This is in stark contrast to many medications, which not only bear scary side effects and a risk of addiction, but also often require dosage increases to maintain their efficacy.
Alpha-Stim has long been trusted by the U.S. Military, and is honored each time they are able to bring relief to a Service Member or Veteran. The mission of the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is an honorable one; one that drastically improves the lives of people who are willing to sacrifice for their country. Seven Intrepid Spirit Centers have been opened so far from coast to coast, with three more sites planned. Learn more about the Fallen Heroes Fund here.
Veterans and current Service Members who are interested in getting an Alpha-Stim of their own can call 1-800-FOR-PAIN and ask to speak to Government Services or visit alpha-stim.com/military. Alpha-Stim is currently available at more than half of the nation’s VAs. Get started today!
About Alpha-Stim
Alpha-Stim uses cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) delivered through a patented waveform via two earclip electrodes to treat anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Microcurrent electrical therapy (MET) delivers pain relief directly to the source of discomfort via two handheld Smart Probes.
The safety and effectiveness of Alpha-Stim is backed by over 100 independent clinical research studies.
Alpha-Stim is available by prescription in the United States and over-the-counter in other countries. Get started today!
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13720
|
__label__wiki
| 0.654636
| 0.654636
|
Dame Barbara Windsor and husband Scott join Dementia Revolution for the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon
Dame Barbara Windsor and her husband Scott Mitchell announced their support for Dementia Revolution, created by Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK as Charity of the Year for the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon.
Scott, who earlier this year revealed Barbara had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014, will be running the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon for Barbara and the millions of people across the world affected by the condition, helping to raise awareness and fund groundbreaking research.
For the first time since her diagnosis, Barbara is speaking out to show her support in a personal video message for the campaign calling on people to run the Virgin Money London Marathon next year for the Dementia Revolution. The call comes as ballot places for the Virgin Money London Marathon are announced and the world record number of 410,000+ applicants find out whether they’ve secured a place in the 2019 event.
The Dementia Revolution sees leading dementia charities Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK join forces in a year-long campaign as the Charity of the Year for the marathon in 2019.
Together they aim to overthrow old attitudes to dementia and raise millions of pounds for the most ambitious dementia research initiative the UK has ever seen, working to find better treatments and a cure - the UK Dementia Research Institute (UK DRI).
Dementia is the biggest health threat facing society with almost a million people living with the condition in the UK - it is now the country’s leading cause of death, ahead of heart disease. There are currently no effective treatments to slow, prevent or cure the diseases that cause dementia but scientists are working tirelessly to beat the condition.
Speaking about his experiences and decision to run the marathon, Scott said:
'I’m really nervous but also excited to be running the Virgin Money London Marathon for the Dementia Revolution next year – when I found out it was on 28th April, it seemed like fate as it will actually be my 56th birthday so I took that as a sign that I had to go for it. I don’t know how fast I will run it, but for me it is more about completing the marathon, no matter what the time, to show my support for Barbara and all the other people living with dementia across the country.
'Since Barbara’s diagnosis, I’ve learnt so much more about dementia which is why it’s so important we get as many people together as possible to run as part of the Dementia Revolution to raise awareness and vital money for dementia research at the UK Dementia Research Institute.'
'The last few years have been really hard for both Barbara and me as we got used to the profound effect dementia has had on our lives. I have seen many changes in Barbara since her diagnosis and at times its effects can be stronger than others. We kept her diagnosis quiet for so long and we were really nervous about going public with the news but when we did, there was such an incredible reaction of love and support.
'Sometimes Barbara still thinks no one knows about her condition and makes a big thing of keeping it a secret when we see people we know or meet people out and about. I have had many conversations with her in recent months, with a copy of the newspaper interview in my hand, to explain that it is no longer a secret and that people know she has dementia, which is obviously a really difficult moment for us both.
'Despite all the changes in Barbara, there is still so much of her there. Her humour, wit and care for others for example. It is her humour I love the most - we have always laughed a lot.'
'To anyone who has got a place in in the Virgin Money London Marathon ballot and still isn’t sure who to run for, please do join the Dementia Revolution team with me to show all our loved ones with dementia, like Barbara, that they are not alone and we stand with them. We need to act now - dementia is affecting so many people.'
Joining Scott to run for the Dementia Revolution are a team of Revolutionaries, each bringing different experiences of dementia. These include entrepreneur and 2014 Apprentice Winner Mark Wright, whose grandfather has dementia, Dr Amanda Heslegrave, a dementia researcher at the UK DRI, and Carli Pirie, and her cousins Jack and Tom Bradshaw, whose family carries an inherited gene for Alzheimer’s disease meaning they each carry a 50% chance of developing the disease in their 50s.
Jeremy Hughes, CEO of Alzheimer’s Society, said:
'It is wonderful to have Dame Barbara Windsor, her husband Scott, and others affected by dementia joining the Dementia Revolution. As they know first-hand, dementia challenges everyday living for people with dementia and their carers. There are currently no effective treatments to slow, prevent or cure dementia but scientists are working tirelessly to beat it.
'By joining the Dementia Revolution, we can and will end dementia with research.'
'Until that day, we must continue to bring dementia out of the shadows, so that we can improve care for people living with this terrible illness so that they can lead more fulfilling lives.'
Hilary Evans, Chief Executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK said:
'We praise Scott and Barbara not only for speaking out about their own experiences of dementia but for urging others to support pioneering efforts in research to tackle the condition. The Dementia Revolution is a unique opportunity to show the world the impact of dementia and raise millions of pounds for groundbreaking research. We’re urgently calling on people who have secured a place in the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon to stand with us, join the Dementia Revolution and help change the lives of people with dementia.'
Join the Dementia Revolution
We’re calling on people who have secured their place in the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon to take a stand with us and run for the Dementia Revolution
Fundraising, Dementia Research Institute
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13723
|
__label__wiki
| 0.764241
| 0.764241
|
Kim Ki-duk has one of the most interesting and distinctive voices in Korean cinema, though his work seems to be better received in the west. I've found him an intriguing filmmaker, even though it's pretty obvious to me that I'm not catching all the nuance and symbolism that he throws into his stories. That does't stop me coming back for more though. This one has to do with perception and identity and follows a young lady called Seh-hee, who given the circumstances of the film is played by two different actresses.
Initially she's played by Park Ji-yeon and she's the jealous girlfriend of Ji-woo. She's crazy about him (that word is used more than once) and is highly jealous of any attention other women may throw his way. There seems to be quite a lot of this because he obviously has charisma to spare, but whether this goes beyond basic chemistry is a question that isn't answerered. My impression is that Ji-woo isn't cheating with anyone at all but is happy to look at these lovely young ladies to appreciate the scenery, as after all he's a photographer by vocation who must look at the world with a photographer's eye.
However Seh-hee wants to do something about it. This sort of thing drives her nuts because she's seriously in love with him and wants him all to herself. So she gets abusive to women who look at him or talk to him and even persuades him to pretend that she's someone else in bed, anything so that he doesn't have to concentrate on what she calls her 'same boring face'. Of course her face isn't boring at all and it's pretty apparent that it's not him she's worried about but her own lack of self esteem making her think that he'll leave her for someone else.
So Seh-hee thinks back to an incident at the very beginning of the film, when she bumps into a lady leaving an 'aesthetic clinic' that carries a sign reading 'Do you want a new life?' She moves out of her apartment without providing a forwarding address, discontinues her phone service and becomes completely unfindable to Ji-woo. To all intents and purposes she's dropped off the face of the plant. Really she goes back to the clinic to get plastic surgery to become a new woman, then 'meets' and pursues Ji-woo from her new job as a waitress at the Room & Rumour cafe he frequents.
Quite what she wants to accomplish is a good question, because the chaotic emotional situations she finds herself in are hardly surprising. Does she really want Ji-woo to wait six months for her to come back from her self-imposed exile, but then fall in love with her all over again with her new face? How could she think anything with such mutually exclusive goals could all end up happily? Of course while most of the film isn't surprising in the slightest, Kim Ki-duk has more to say than just the obvious. There's a pretty vicious change of direction that is as surprising as it's completely appropriate, and once we get to that point we can't help but ask ourselves what he's leaving for the end: is this going to be a happy story or something disastrous?
The story is tight, the direction good and the cinematography excellent. Kim Ki-duk has a photographer's eye himself and his films are never free of some wonderful imagery. It's the acting that really carries this one though, because the two leads are both amazing. Ji-woo is played by Ha Jung-woo, who carries every aspect of a pretty deep role superbly. While Park Ji-Yeon is decent as the former Seh-heh, Seong Hyeon-a is even better as the new Seh-heh, or See-hee as she calls herself. I haven't seen Ha before but Seong is the young lady who impressed me hugely in a Korean horror film called Cello. This is my first chance to see her act in something else and she's even better here than there and more desirable to boot. Unfortunately if IMDb can be believed (and it can't always when it comes to foreign films) this seems to be her last film appearance to date. At least there are seven previous roles for me to track down though.
And as for all that obscure symbolism that Kim Ki-duk is renowned for, it's far less obscure here. Unlike something like The Bow, which is a cinematic painting that invites us to work out what it all means, or even Samaritan Girl which got pretty cryptic on occasion, this one's pretty straight forward. He even drops major hints about the theme, in dialogue or in the choice of karaoke song that Ji-woo selects at a party, a month after she's left: 'If time never stops running, can I forget you like a dream?' This isn't a forgettable movie; it's powerful and effective. It may even be my favourite Kim Ki-duk out of the four I've seen thus far, but somehow I'm still seeing The Bow in my mind's eye. That film is deeply resonant, and I doubt this one will resonate anywhere near as much, Seong Hyeon-a or not.
Posted by Hal C. F. Astell at 9:59 am
Subject Two (2006)
No Such Thing (2001)
Goth Cruise (2008)
Cherry 2000 (1987)
Pocketful of Miracles (1961)
You, John Jones! (1943)
The Dark Past (1948)
Mister Roberts (1955)
Blind Alley (1939)
Seven Days to Noon (1950)
The Crowd (1928)
Battle Circus (1953)
Swing Your Lady (1938)
The Blot (1921)
Sonny Boy (1989)
Dead and Deader (2006)
Sanshiro Sugata II (1945)
Them! (1954)
Sanshiro Sugata (1943)
The Return of a Man Called Horse (1976)
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13725
|
__label__wiki
| 0.744595
| 0.744595
|
Home > Articles > Opinion > Excavating the CA Archive: prehistoric archaeology
Excavating the CA Archive: prehistoric archaeology
Articles, Opinion
Joe Flatman
archive, Durrington Walls, Geoff Wainwright, Gough's Cave, Happisburgh, Joe Flatman, Marden Henge, Prehistory
Joe Flatman explores half a century of reports from the past.
A selection of articles mentioned by Joe Flatman in this month’s column below can be accessed for free for one month via Exact Editions, starting 6 July. Use the links within the text to jump to the individual articles, or click on the covers below. Print subscribers can add digital access to their account for just £12 a year – this includes everything from the last 50 years, right back to Issue 1! Call our dedicated subscriptions team on 020 8819 5580, quoting DIGI329, to add digital access to your account, or click here for more information.
Joe Flatman is Head of Listing Programmes at Historic England and the former County Archaeologist of Surrey. You can follow him on Twitter @joeflatman
This column is the first in a series that will explore how the magazine reported on different historical eras: first prehistoric, then Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Viking, Medieval, Early Modern, and Modern. Given his longstanding commitment to prehistory, this first column is dedicated to the memory of Geoffrey Wainwright, whose death in April 2017 was widely reported.
In a career spanning more than 50 years, Geoff was a well-known and highly respected individual- as well as at times highly feared. He was instrumental in making the discipline what it is today in terms of practical approaches, philosophical perspectives, and political structures alike; all those involved in archaeology today have been impacted by his forceful character, even if unknowingly so. For those of you wishing to know more about his career, the recent obituaries in the broadsheets will give you a flavour, but for Wainwright in his own voice, go instead to CA 100 (June 1986) and CA 200 (November 2005): in each case, he was one of the personalities interviewed in celebration of those magazine milestones.
Geoff Wainwright and his influential work in prehistory featured in CA many times over the years. He is pictured here on site at Walesland Rath in CA 2 – his first appearance in the magazine.
Geoff was an early and regular contributor to the magazine. He first appeared in CA 2 (May 1967), excavating in his beloved birthplace of Pembrokeshire in south-west Wales. There, he led the rescue excavation of Walesland Rath, an Iron Age enclosure. By then he was already working for the Ministry of Works. (This organisation eventually morphed into the national heritage agencies presently known as Historic England, Cadw, and Historic Environment Scotland, and with whom Wainwright spent the bulk of his career.) He reappeared just three issues later, in CA 5 (November 1967), with the cover dedicated to his excavations at Durrington Walls henge in Wiltshire (just a couple of miles north of Stonehenge). This was a site that Wainwright returned to repeatedly over his life as part of his exploration of the prehistory of the Stonehenge region.
CA 17 explored Geoff Wainwright’s work at Marden Henge. The cover shows what was at the time the revolutionary use of a JCB to strip away topsoil.
Wainwright was back on the cover of CA 17 in November 1969, this time at Marden Henge, also in Wiltshire. The cover shows the then-revolutionary approach of using a JCB to strip away topsoil in preparation for the excavation, which was focused on the north-eastern entrance to the henge. This is now standard practice on many excavations, both ‘rescue’ and ‘research’, but in 1969 it certainly caused a stir: Wainwright was criticised for his alleged carelessness in machining out potential evidence to get down to the crucial prehistoric levels.
Extending prehistory
Of course, plenty of other prehistorians feature in the earlier years of CA. A fine example of a lesser-known site and excavators appeared in CA 47 (November 1974), showing work under way at Roxton in Bedfordshire, right on the banks of the River Ouse. A Bronze Age ring-ditch was being excavated by Alison Taylor and Peter Woodward during 1972-1974. In words that will sound familiar to many present-day archaeologists, CA reported that ‘aerial photographs had shown five ring-ditches and other features within a permitted gravel-extraction area. All five were mostly or totally excavated’; one of these ring-ditches is shown to stunning effect on the cover of CA 47.
The wetlands special issue: CA 172 focused on prehistoric wetland sites, with a cover depicting the arduous work of diggers lying face down on damp planks.
The 1990s and 2000s saw a series of internationally significant prehistoric sites feature in the pages of the magazine. CA 133 (March/April 1993) covered the discovery and excavation of the Bronze Age Dover Boat, which was followed up in CA 287 (February 2014) and again in CA 295 (October 2014). Located deep down inside a coffer dam, this was one of the most -extraordinary prehistoric discoveries of recent times in Britain, transforming our understanding of both prehistoric maritime technology and Continental connectivity. In advance of road developments in central Dover, the dig was also a triumph of ‘rescue’ archaeology. In a different but similarly ‘damp’ vein, CA 172 (February 2001) remains one of my favourite CA covers. This ‘wetlands special’ shows the arduous work of excavating sites on the Somerset Levels, with diggers lying face down on damp planks. (Try lying like this for a prolonged length of time, if you have not experienced it: it is exhausting.) CA 172 saw Geoff Wainwright back in action, interviewed alongside the dynamic partnership – both professional and personal – of Bryony and John Coles, before exploring a superb array of prehistoric wetland sites.
CA 160 (November 1998) provided an update from a location that is every bit as challenging as the Somerset Levels: the Upper Palaeolithic deposits at Gough’s Cave, Cheddar. As the report noted, ‘major new dating programmes, often using material from 19th-century excavations, have now provided a new framework for the late glacial period’. An even more crucial Palaeolithic discovery came from Boxgrove, Sussex, thanks to the chance identification of human remains by archaeologist Mark Roberts; CA 153 (July 1997) reported on the excavations undertaken there, and there was a follow-up in CA 288 (March 2014). Meanwhile, CA 167 (March 2000) reported on yet another challenging environment, this time involving challenging politics too: many readers will doubtless remember the furore surrounding the excavation of the Bronze Age timber circle eroding out of the peat beds of a North Norfolk beach that became popularly known in the media as ‘seahenge’.
Discoveries at Happisburgh (CA 288) extended the known span of human activity in Britain to almost one million years.
Six years later, in the spring of 2006, CA returned to the Norfolk coast and to a much-earlier site with a name that resonates to this day for rather happier reasons: Happisburgh. CA 201 (January/February 2006) reported on this newly discovered site, and it is worth quoting the then-editor Neil Faulkner’s comments in full, for they make clear its extraordinary significance: ‘Barely ten years ago, experts still believed hominids arrived in Northern Europe only after the Great Anglian Glaciation of c.450,000 BC. Then came Boxgrove, the site of a grassy plain buried by glacial debris on what is now the South Coast, where hominids had hunted and butchered large mammals half a million years ago. But now there is Happisburgh and Pakefield. Here, too, are handaxes and butchered bone. They are being eroded onto the Norfolk beaches from the “Cromer Forest Beds”. Yet this level is dated two Ice Ages earlier than Boxgrove – making the hominids a staggering 700,000 years old … the discovery of the earliest hominids in Northern Europe’. A return to Happisburgh in CA 288 (March 2014) extended the span of human activity in Britain to almost one million years. Such an impressive increase in the length of human prehistory seems like an excellent place to end this all-too-brief review of CA’s coverage of the subject. Thankfully, people like Geoff Wainwright were around to lead, interpret, and encourage in this extraordinary period of discovery that has transformed our understanding of the deep past of the British Isles. More recently, Geoff also got to see the amazing work under way at Must Farm, the headline prehistoric site of the 2010s – see CA 263 (February 2012), CA 312 (March 2016) and CA 319 (September 2016). More sites must surely follow, and what tales they will tell!
Discover old issues
Read articles discussed by Joe for free online via Exact Editions – you can find the links to the individual articles in the text above, or click here to see all issues of Current Archaeology. A selection of articles mentioned in this column will be available for one month, from 6 July. Print subscribers can add digital access to the entire back catalogue of CA for just £12 a year – simply call us on 020 8819 5580 and quote ‘DIGI329’.
Previous Current Archaeology 329 Next Discoveries from the deep: sailing aboard the Swan in the 17th century
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13726
|
__label__wiki
| 0.951123
| 0.951123
|
Edelman survey find workers trust their employer over other institutions
Updated Jan 21, 2019 — 3.50pm, first published at 1.58pm
Davos, Switzerland | People around the world place much more trust in their companies than their political leaders, according to a major survey that suggests a mood of uncertainty and pessimism on the eve of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The annual Edelman Trust Barometer shows only one in five people believe the economic, political and social system is working for them, while nearly 60 per cent think trade conflicts are hurting their companies and putting their jobs at risk.
People around the world view their employer as the most trusted institution in their lives, according to a new survey. Fairfax Media
The sense of gloom is strongest in developed markets led by Japan, where 84 per cent of the general public - excluding the "informed public" who are college-educated, earn above-average incomes and consume news regularly - do not believe they will be better off in five years' time, followed by France at 79 per cent, Germany at 74 per cent and Britain at 72 per cent. That is far above the average 49 per cent of the 27 countries examined in the research.
Amid low confidence that politicians will fix the problems, these people are turning to companies, with 75 per cent saying they trust "my employer", compared to 48 per cent for government and 47 per cent for the media.
"CEOs now have to be visible, show personal commitment, absolutely step into the void, because we've got a leadership void in the world," Richard Edelman, head of the communications marketing firm that commissioned the research, told Reuters.
Optimism was higher in the United States, where nearly half of the general public believed they would be better off in the next five years. The corresponding figure there was 62 per cent for the better-educated, higher-earning "informed public".
"The stock market was very good, the deregulation and lower taxes for the wealthy - it's pretty good if you are an elite," Edelman said of the US findings.
The survey, based on the opinions of over 33,000 people and conducted between October 19 and November 16, is published on the eve of the Davos gathering in the Swiss Alps, which this year brings together some 3,000 business and world leaders amid anxiety over the US-China trade war, Brexit and a slowdown in global growth.
Violation of trust
The pessimism in Japan, France, Germany and Britain reflects a variety of factors.
"I think Japan's never really recovered from Fukushima, there was such a violation of trust when that happened," said Edelman, referring to the authorities' botched response to a massive nuclear accident in 2011.
Signs of slowing global demand and a sharp rise in the yen have clouded the outlook for Japan's export-reliant economy, and the government plans tax hikes to pay for ballooning healthcare costs for its rapidly ageing population.
"The problem for the three [European] countries.... is that given the reality of the potentially diminished economic future, there is deep anger in advance," Edelman said.
In France, what started as a grassroots rebellion by low-paid workers to protest taxes on diesel fuel and a squeeze on household incomes has morphed into an assault on President Emmanuel Macron and his reforms, seen by the protesters as favouring the wealthy.
And in Britain, the Brexit crisis intensified last week after Prime Minister Theresa May's two-year attempt to forge an amicable divorce from the European Union was crushed by parliament in the biggest defeat for a British leader in modern history.
The survey found that while only 49 per cent of the wider population trusted institutions such as governments, this figure rose to 65 per cent among high-income, college-educated and well-informed people - the biggest gap since the research began 19 years ago.
Despite widespread distrust of the media, uncertainty about the future has led to a sharp jump in people's consumption and sharing of news and information, up 22 per centage points in a year to 72 per cent.
But more than 70 per cent said they worry about false information or fake news being used as a weapon.
In the United States, where President Donald Trump has repeatedly denounced the media as purveyors of "fake news", trust in media varied widely depending on political affiliations.
Those who identified themselves as Republican voters showed only 33 per cent trust in media, while 69 per cent of Democrats did so.
Most Viewed In Leadership
CEO taken to court for paying nanny $2 an hour
Allianz to pay $1.4m over ex-army boss' workplace bullying
Uber drivers are not like casual employees
Australia now has world's highest minimum wage
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13730
|
__label__cc
| 0.665345
| 0.334655
|
Last Chance !!
Just a reminder that there's ONLY THREE DAYS LEFT to join my competition and win a pair of great quality headphones. IT'S SO EASY: Just go on Facebook and LIKE and SHARE the original post at https://www.facebook.com/audioflyteamuk
In the Dangerzone
What a year ! -I got my band started up, played a bunch of gigs, released an EP and a Single which received really good airplay, shot three music videos, bought a flat, toured in India with Dub Pistols (amazing experience...I grew up there), did up the flat (still in progress....), won a BMA Award (as part of Dub Pistols), did a lot of gigs with Dub Pistols + other bands, recorded with Gabriel Kane And The Ables (...mixing this week...)....and now it's already Christmas...
I've been wanting to release this video for ages but was hoping to finish another one first. I have realised that you can't plan everything....especially not if you're busy, so here it comes. Enjoy!
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13735
|
__label__wiki
| 0.66303
| 0.66303
|
Back to The destination highlights in Vietnam
The destination highlights in Vietnam
Nha Trang is very popular among Vietnamese tourists. Nha Trang Bay is widely considered amongst the world’s most beautiful bays. Tourists are welcome to participate in the Sea Festival in June, held biannually, celebrating the beauty of Nha Trang. Nha Trang was the site of the Miss Universe Pageant in 2008 and Miss Earth in 2010. Nha Trang was also approved to host 2016 Asian Beach Games. Historically, the city was known as, Kauthara under the Champa. Nha Trang is still home to the famous Po Nagar Tower built by the Champa.
Being a coastal city, Nha Trang is a center for marine science-based at the Nha Trang Oceanography Institute. The Hon Mun marine protected area is one of the four first marine protected areas in the world, admitted by the IUCN.
Commercial flights to Nha Trang no longer use the city’s municipal airport, but instead fly to the larger Cam Ranh International Airport, a former U.S. Air Force Base (built during the Vietnam War) located approximately 35 km south of Nha Trang. The French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin (who discovered the Yersinia pestis bacterium) identified himself with Nha Trang’s life for 50 years (affectionately known as Ông Năm). He established the Indochina Pasteur Institute (now known as the Nha Trang Pasteur Institute) devoted to research on the bubonic plague. Yersin died in Nha Trang on March 1, 1943. A street in the city is named after him, there is a shrine located next to his tomb, and his house has been converted into the Yersin Museum.
Weather Summary
Nha Trang has a tropical climate, there is much less rainfall in the winter months than in the summer. June is the hottest month of the year with average temperatures of 28.8°C (83.8°F) and the lowest temperatures of the year, averaging 24.3°C (75.7°F), are in January. The average annual temperature is 26.9°C (80.4°F). The rainy season, with risk of typhoons is from October until January with an average precipitation fall of 1177 mm. February sees the least amount of rainfall, averaging 15 mm and October sees the most precipitation, averaging 291 mm.
Climate chart in Nha Trang
Average daily maximum temperature in
125°50°
Temperature (°F)(°C)
Ansova’s recommended tours to Vietnam
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13736
|
__label__wiki
| 0.570156
| 0.570156
|
Laura and John Arnold Foundation Releases Pension Litigation Summary
Illinois workers join state AFL-CIO members to protest the state's pension situation during a rally in October 2011 at the State Capitol in Springfield. (Seth Perlman/The Associated Press)
Houston — The Laura and John Arnold Foundation (LJAF) today released the “Public Sector Pension Reform Litigation Summary” (PLS), a centralized overview of recent pension reform litigation across the country. The summary will be updated quarterly to provide the public with a transparent, timely, and useful review of pension litigation.
“Until now, there was not a truly comprehensive overview of all pension reform litigation in the country,” said Dr. Stuart Buck, LJAF’s Strategic Litigation Counsel and Director of Research. “LJAF’s new publication fills that gap by listing all current pension reform litigation and making hard-to-find documents available in one place for the first time. Anyone who is interested in pension reform will now have an accessible and user-friendly resource that collects as much information as possible.”
In light of looming deficits, states and municipalities across the country are taking steps to reform their pension systems. Enacted reforms generally have addressed cost-of-living adjustments, increases in retirement age and contribution rates, and establishment of defined contribution, cash balance and hybrid plans. Once reforms occur, however, they are often challenged in the courts. The most significant legal claim raised against pension reform legislation is that it violates the Contracts Clause of the U.S. Constitution or a state’s constitutional parallel. In both the U.S. and state constitutions, such a clause provides that the government may not pass laws that abrogate contractual responsibilities. These lawsuits pose an obstacle for state policymakers who face increasing budgetary pressure such that funding pension systems at current or projected levels would result in cuts to many other government services, such as schools, roads, or libraries.
Within the past three years, at least 24 jurisdictions have faced lawsuits over pension changes. Due to the quantity of jurisdictions currently in litigation, the PLS will be a useful tracking tool for those looking to stay abreast of court proceedings and final decisions.
The PLS is a part of LJAF’s broader Public Accountability efforts to promote transparency and improve the efficiency and efficacy of the public sector.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13737
|
__label__cc
| 0.511902
| 0.488098
|
Home > News & Events > Industry & Advocacy News > Guild and Other Groups Ask Government to Preserve Net Neutrality
Guild and Other Groups Ask Government to Preserve Net Neutrality
Today, the Authors Guild joined 170 other organizations in a letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune, and Ranking Member Bill Nelson, urging the government to continue enforcing strong rules protecting net neutrality, the principle that all traffic on the Internet should be treated equally.
This letter was sent in advance of a Senate FCC Oversight Hearing that may decide the future of the open Internet, to take place this Wednesday, March 8, 2017. The letter asks these leaders to support and continue to enforce the FCC’s 2015 Open Internet Order, which reclassified broadband Internet as a public utility--as opposed to an information service--codified the principles of net neutrality, and gave the FCC the ability to enforce it.
“Protecting net neutrality is crucial to ensuring that the Internet remains a central driver of economic growth and opportunity, job creation, education, free expression, and civic organizing for everyone,” the letter asserts.
The Authors Guild has long supported the principle of net neutrality as a bulwark against the Internet becoming a pay-to-play hierarchy, one in which ISPs could establish high-bandwidth “fast lanes” for the largest bidders, block access to users’ access to content, and slow down connections to Internet services. As the Guild has previously noted, “authors have a greater stake than ever in ensuring an online environment that doesn’t favor the delivery of certain works at the expense of others . . . So we continue to advocate for an ecosystem in which author websites, blogs, independent publishers, and startups yet to be imagined will be able to operate without the risk of being stalled, sidelined, or crowded out by companies with deeper pockets.”
Read the full letter below.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13740
|
__label__wiki
| 0.967331
| 0.967331
|
Maryland Howard County
Hundreds turn out for Howard County park grand opening
Yvonne Wenger, The Baltimore Sun
Most of the boys and girls scattered across the turf Saturday for the grand opening of Blandair Park weren't born at its inception.
The children, with their lacrosse sticks and football helmets, waited to try out the fields and playground as the politicians congratulated one another on the completion of the first phase of the 300-acre park that has been 14 years in the making.
The playground, 278-space parking lot and three multi-use turf fields, which can be used for soccer, lacrosse or football, are the highlights of the latest evolution of the land that was once a Colonial-era farm.
"Enjoy this — this is yours," state Sen. James Robey, a Howard County Democrat, said to the hundreds of children, parents and community members gathered for the ceremony at the park at 5750 Oakland Mills Road in Columbia.
Recreation-league lacrosse players Tori Caporaletti, Caitlyn Oates, Paige Reese and Bobbie Haney, all age 12, waited on the sidelines in their yellow-and-gold uniforms for their chance to play on one of the new fields. The grand opening ceremony was followed by the kickoff of the Gary J. Arthur Memorial Lacrosse Tournament.
"It's going to be a lot of fun today," said Paige, the goalie.
"And you're going to stop every single ball," Tori said, before the girls bounded over to a sidewalk where they sprayed Caitlyn's long blond braid green in honor of St. Patrick's Day.
Team mom Debbie O'Byrne of Woodbine said the park was breathtaking.
"It's a great investment in our children," she said.
Howard County Executive Ken Ulman said he wants to set aside $4.8 million in the upcoming budget for the second of seven park development phases. The first 24-acre phase, which started in December 2010, cost $6.71 million.
Plans include children's gardens near the property's historic manor house, open meadows, pathways, an indoor facility with courts and a jogging track, a skate park, restrooms, gazebos and softball fields. Ulman said the county's plan is to finish one phase each year.
A restroom and a picnic shelter that can seat 100 people are planned for completion by the end of the year.
"This is a statement about quality of life," Ulman said. "The playground and gazebos are community gathering points where we hope people will meet their neighbors. It's just another piece of why Howard County is a great place to live."
Ulman said the park plans took so long to come to fruition because of previous recreational commitments and a legal battle among the county, state and previous property heirs.
The land was named Blandair by Theodoric Bland, who bought the property in 1845. He served under several governors as the state's chancellor.
The Howard County Terps football players, cheerleaders and coaches said they were thrilled to have a place closer to home to play.
"It's awesome," said Shameka Lucas, a head coach for the Terps cheerleaders. "We are truly, truly blessed to have this."
ywenger@baltsun.com
twitter.com/yvonnewenger
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13744
|
__label__cc
| 0.596005
| 0.403995
|
Cultural Perspectives On Sex And Relationships Essay
1576 WordsNov 2, 20167 Pages
Cultural Perspectives Love, sex and relationships. These three aspects of life are in every culture. Although they are present in every culture, the characteristics of these three are portrayed differently between each and every society. Various cultures are influenced by the media, social norms, and traditions. The media portrays sex as if everyone is “doing it” all the time. This not only includes people who are married, but single people as well. Social norms, however, seem to look down upon people constantly having sex. Having sex constantly with many partners is not respected or accepted. And in tradition, it depends greatly from culture to culture. For the Muslim culture, wives are treated like property, where in America, marriage is the equal joining of two partners. To examine the differences between each culture/country in the world, we must dive into each culture’s beliefs and values amongst sexuality, relationships, marriage and love. The cultures focused on in this paper are Asian, European and American cultures. Firstly, is the Asian culture. In their culture’s belief about sexuality, relationships, marriage and love, the collectivist ideal is used. A collectivist ideal is described as having priority of the society or a group over individual welfare. This means Asians believe in groups’ ideals over individuals’ ideals. This collectivist ideal states that marriage isn’t only the unity of two individuals, but two families. Since this is the unity
Cross Cultural Perspectives
Cross Cultural Perspectives Cross Cultural Perspectives Wal-Mart is one of the largest corporations and private employers in the United States, and one of the most admired companies in America as reported by Fortune Magazine (“Fortune 500”, 2012). Netting billions of dollars in profits each year, there are not many other retailers who can compete with them. They give millions back in donations to non-profit companies around the country each year, yet put mom-and-pop establishments out of
Cultural Perspectives On Cultural Diversity
Cultural Vantage Point Cultural diversity has become a strength within the many communities the results of decades of fighting for equality for all Americans. However, over the last decade there has been a dramatic rise in conservative, religious, family values groups, that have become no better than the school yard bully we all avoided as children. Psychological theory of essentialism, play a major role in the psychological makeup of these conservative groups, shunning anything or anyone
Sex and Gender, a Sociological Perspective
of all I am going to begin with defining sex and gender. Sex in a sociological perspective is defined as the biological and physiological differences between men and women which are contrasted in terms of reproductive function(Abercrombie et al 2000 :313). On the other hand gender is sociologically conceived as the social roles allocated to men and women in society that is to say gender is learned not innate. However previously it was believed that sex determined gender thus the differences between
Sex Culture And Cultural Identity Essay
Sex culture in Japan Sex culture in modern day Japan has demonstrated to be an integral part of their cultural identity and is more progressive than any other countries. Japan’s sex culture has surpassed boundaries that are standardized in other countries. The West sees the Japanese as emotionless, controlled and even sexless. Publicly they are shy, reserved and terribly proper, however Japan is an extreme contradiction. If we examine the surface of their culture, the private life of these Japanese
Sex and Relationships Essay
New World and 1984 incorporate the themes of sex and relationships. However, the way they are perceived in both novels is quite different. The main dichotomies occur in the function of sex for reproduction, in relationships, and in the concept of a family. However, what is surprising that although the two books can be considered diametrically opposite to each other, they seem to agree on the aversion to the human emotions that develop in a relationship and those that develop from sexual intercourse
Cross-Cultural Perspectives ETH 316 BP is a global organization that has a multinational presence in the world. A cultural issue that can impact this organization outside of the United States is gender. In the United States and several other countries that BP works in, gender is not an issue as culturally it is acceptable for men and women to be in business together, but in some countries, especially in the Middle East this is tricky cultural difficulty. This can be a serious issue because
Sex Is A Happier Relationship
Cosmopolitan has recently published an article titled “Science Has Figured Out Exactly How Much You Should Be Having Sex.” This brief article goes on to talk about recent research that seems to prove less sex leads to a happier relationship. This contradicts the common belief that happier couples tend to have sex more frequently than those in unhappy relationships. The research that led to this conclusion was found by researchers at the University of Toronto by collecting data from surveys of 30
Cultural Perspectives on Vaccination
disorders like autism15, 16. The chances of complications from diseases are much higher than the chances of complications from vaccines. Thimerosal, a preservative used in vaccines, and the MMR vaccine cause autism. Research shows no cause-and-effect relationship between autism and thimerosal17, or autism and the usage of MMR vaccine15, 16. The usage of thimerosal has only minor side-effects, like swelling near the injection site18, and the most common side effect due to the administration of the MMR vaccine
Feminist Perspectives on Sex and Gender
media and culture more generally propose and perpetuate traditional gender identities, roles, and stereotypes, as well as the exaggerated sense of gender difference that these rely on, it will become clear that the cultural difference in terms of gender norms is indicative of a cultural origin for the notion of gender as such, above and beyond any biological, sexual factors. The notion that masculine and feminine have different meanings and associated behaviors in different cultures is obvious to
Culture : A Cultural Perspective Essay
socialization.” From a more sociological perspective, culture is a way in which people come together in order to fulfill their needs. These shared patterns and ideas identify the members of a culture group while also distinguishing those of another group.” Culture is one of the things that sets the United States apart from the rest of the world. Not that the rest of the world is not cultural, but the circumstance here is different. Many people of different cultural backroads come to this country in search
More about Cultural Perspectives On Sex And Relationships Essay
The Choice Of Food By A Consumer Is Predominantly Affected By Convenience Essay
The Art Of Human Caring Essay
Analysis Of David Bentley Hart 's ' Christ 's Rabble And The First Christians Were Not Like Us `` Essay
The Gospel Message, And God 's Revelation Through The Message Essay
Purchasing Cycle Is The Measure Of Time Between Buys Essay
Vaccinations Should Be Mandatory Vaccinations Essay
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13748
|
__label__cc
| 0.572092
| 0.427908
|
Trifles: Woman and Mr. Peters
1480 WordsOct 24, 20086 Pages
Since the 1900’s, women have struggled with gender roles in society that leaned more in favor of men. Susan Glaspell’s play, Trifles, reflects on this struggle by blatantly separating the ideas, opinions and actions of the men and women in the play. As the title Trifles suggests, the men in the play view the two women’s concerns as unimportant and frivolous in comparison to the “real” work the men have to do. Glaspell’s characterization of the sheriff, Henry Peters, the attorney, George Henderson, and the neighboring farmer, Mr. Hale, portrays them as typical men of the time who decide to take charge because, as men, that is their duty and only they know what can be done and how to go about discovering the truth. They only take along Mrs.…show more content…
Hale into his account of the story and tries to keep the two men on task and focusing on the objective. Mr. Henderson even talks roughly to the sheriff, “Somebody should have been left here yesterday” (1369), showing not only his effort to control the situation, but that because he is younger and more educated, he believes himself to know more. Glaspell is exhibiting Mr. Henderson’s arrogance and self-assurance as a way to make him seem like a young man with that invincible hero-complex. This is seen again after Mr. Peters teases the women for worrying about the reserves and Mr. Henderson declares, “(with the gallantry of a young politician): and yet, for all their worries, what would we do without the ladies?” (1371) Although this particular line makes it seem as if he appreciates the women more then the other two men do, this is only Mr. Henderson trying to impress the women and show off. For the rest of the play, he mostly ignores their presence, marking the two women as insignificant. At one point, he says to them, “Well, ladies, have you decided whether she was going to quilt it or knot it?....Well, that’s interesting, I’m sure” (1375), not even giving the women’s response half a thought when, ironically, the subject of his question was very noteworthy evidence. Glaspell is characterizing Mr. Henderson as cocky, yet ignorant to prove the women’s legitimacy. Unlike Mr. Henderson and Mr. Peters, Mr. Hale is only a neighboring farmer; therefore
Trifles Essay
Little Trifles Add Up to a Big Case Detectives are always looking for little pieces of evidence when investigating a crime. After all, it is this evidence that can turn a trial around, whether be it for the good or bad. This is especially the case in Susan Glaspell's Trifles. When Mrs. Hale comes across little pieces of evidence, she passes them off as being "trifles", hiding them from the detective. She is the sole reason that very little evidence is collected
Review of “Trifles” Susan Glaspell play, “Trifles”, revolves around Mrs. Wright, a woman who seeks revenge on her husband for oppressing her through their years of marriage. During the time of Glaspell’s play, early 1900’s, men are the dominant figures in society and women are expected to cook, clean, raise children and care for their husbands. Glaspell’s play, “Trifles”, main goal is portraying a theme of women being oppressed through marriage by the use of symbolism through a canary and a bird
The Importance of Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters in Susan Glaspell's Trifles
presents the audience with numerous cliches: a stormy night, a shadowy figure, a sinister butler, and a mysterious phone call. Susan Glaspell's Trifles does not fit this mold. Glaspell's mysterious inquiry into the murder of John Wright presents the reader with only one suspect, Mrs. Wright. Even though the court examiner and sheriff cannot find evidence against Mrs. Wright, the reader can plausibly argue the case against the neglected wife. Glaspell's use of descriptive language and subtle hints established
Analysis Of Peter Walsh's Mrs. Dalloway
Peter Walsh is a temporarily homeless character inhabiting the pages of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway. Away from his adopted home of India, he finds lodgment in memories of the past (his own and other’s), Clarissa Dalloway’s party and living room, Regents Park, a hotel room and a restaurant – along with the streets he traverses. While the Dalloways and the Smiths arrive at home, Walsh is in a state of motion or potential motion throughout the text. After he arrives at the decision to attend Clarissa’s
A Comparison of Mrs. Hale and Mr. Wright in Trifles, by Susan Glaspell
In the play Trifles, written by Susan Glaspell, a small number of people are at the Wright house trying to figure out why and how Mr. Wright was murdered. Mrs. Wright is already the suspect, and all that is needed for the case is evidence for a motive. The jury needs something to show anger or sudden feeling so that they can convict her for murder. The men, Mr. Henderson, Mr. Peters, and Mr. Hale are there to find the evidence. The women, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale, are there to pick up a select few
Trifles: Woman and Mrs. Wright Essay
Question 3, (p. 1135): What are the “trifles” that the men ignore and the two women notice? Why do the men dismiss them, and why do the women see these things as significant clues? What is the thematic importance of these “trifles”? The narrator sets the scene; the cold kitchen of the farmhouse the day after John Wright was found murdered in his own bed with a rope around his neck. Nothing has been touched except a fire has been started on the stove to warm the place a bit for when the sheriff
The Case Of Mr. Sam Superstar And Dr. Peters
I reviewed the case of Mr. Sam Superstar and Dr. Peters, in regards to possible proceedings and to which party would be at fault. I have found that in this case both parties could be found at fault in many different violations, both civil and criminal. Therefore there could be possible proceedings brought against both parties. It shows many aspects, of many, violations of laws. These violations range from simple breach of contract to theft of property. We will need to look into the violations
Trifles : Susan Glaspell 's Trifles
What is a trifle? A trifle is something that has little to no importance (dictionary.com). For instance, the color of your nails would be considered a trifle. In Trifles by Susan Glaspell, women are criticized and made fun of by men because of the little things they worry about, such as the color of their nails or their hair. This exhibits the gender role difference portrayed during the play’s time period. The central conflict is what the plot is centered around. In Trifles, the central conflict
Essay on Trifles
Trifles Trifles, written in the early 1900’s by Susan Glaspell, is a one-act play illustrating how women can overreact to their own emotions, allowing these emotions to cloud their judgment. This is shown by describing the feelings of two women who are willing to defend a suspect, blame the victim, and go so far as to hide evidence, to protect another woman from being charged with murdering her husband. Mrs. Wright is the suspect in the murder of her husband, who was strangled in his
Examination of Mrs Wright in Trifles by Susan Glaspell Essay
Examination of Mrs Wright in Trifles by Susan Glaspell The play ?Trifles?, by Susan Glaspell , is an examination of the different levels of early 1900?s mid-western farming society?s attitudes towards women and equality. The obvious theme in this story is men discounting women?s intelligence and their ability to play a man?s role, as detectives, in the story. A less apparent theme is the empathy the women in the plot find for each other. Looking at the play from this perspective we see
More about Trifles: Woman and Mr. Peters
Federalist Challenges in the 1790's
Cabo San Viejo - Possible Solution
Plato's Allegory of the Cave
Why the Suv Is Bad
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13749
|
__label__cc
| 0.661038
| 0.338962
|
Family Law and Estate Planning in Santa Barbara County
FREE CASE EVALUATION: ☎ (805) 965-0085
Family Law: Divorce and Spousal Support
Effective, Efficient, and Personal
We understand that divorce and other family law issues are highly emotional and stressful. At the Law Offices of Stephen E. Penner, our legal team is hard-working and result-oriented. We do what it takes to get desirable results. We understand that litigation and trial can be stressful and costly, so we approach each case in the direction of negotiation, mediation, and arbitration to help you achieve your goals while maintaining a level of control over the outcome of your case. We are dedicated to effectively and efficiently concluding your case to enable you to get on with your life.
Our extensive representation includes situations involving:
Transmutations
401(k)s
Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs)
Property Division is one of the most complex processes when going through a divorce. In California, your property is classified as either community (assets and debts acquired during the marriage) or separate (assets or debts brought into the marriage, or acquired by inheritance or gift). Honest disclosure of assets by both parties helps to prevent a costly discovery process. Our offices provide expert evaluation of assets and debts and can assist in identifying and evaluating property for the division of community assets.
MARITAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
A marital settlement agreement, also known as a property settlement agreement, is a written contract dividing your property, spelling out your rights, and settling problems such as alimony and custody. A marital settlement agreement is necessary after you have filed for divorce, even if you and your spouse are still living together.
When you initially execute a marital settlement agreement, you do not have to file the separation agreement with the court to be effective. When and if you begin the divorce proceedings, you should attach the marital settlement agreement to your divorce papers and ask the court to incorporate the agreement into the final judicial decree. If the marital separation agreement is incorporated into the decree, it becomes a court order and is enforceable by the court. If you don't incorporate the settlement agreement into your decree, it simply becomes a contract or agreement between you and your spouse.
Under California family code, two issues arise with regard to spousal support: the amount of spousal support and the duration of spousal support. The duration of spousal support is closely linked to the length of the marriage. Frequently, practitioners speak of the "rule of thumb" that spousal support will last for one-half the length of the marriage. The duration of spousal support is left to the sound discretion of the court within certain general equitable principles and guidelines most often set forth in the common law case histories. However, in marriages of less than ten years, the statute provides a presumption that support should be granted for half the length of the marriage.
The California legislature has enacted a statute, which indicates that when permanent support is established at the time of trial, it is an abuse of discretion for the court to set a future termination date if the marriage is of lengthy duration. The statute goes on to indicate that any marriage of ten years in duration is considered a lengthy marriage.
As a practical matter, in the late 1990s spousal support duration became linked to a transition period from married life to single life. The circumstances vary from person-to-person, but the courts tend to disfavor "lifetime support."
The court has broad discretion in ascertaining the amount of spousal support as well as its duration. Some California counties have adopted a guideline which suggests the appropriate range of spousal support on a temporary basis. Many counties do not allow the guideline to be the sole indicator of the amount of permanent spousal support. California State Law provides that spousal support is determined by a careful review of a number of factors. The controlling statute states as follows:
In ordering spousal support, the court shall consider all of the following circumstances:
The extent to which the earning capacity of each party is sufficient to maintain the standard of living established during the marriage, taking into account all of the following:
The marketable skills of the supported party; the job market for those skills; the time and expenses required for the supported party to acquire the appropriate education or training to develop those skills; and the possible need for retraining or education to acquire other, more marketable skills or employment.
The extent to which the supported party's present or future earning capacity is impaired by periods of unemployment that were incurred during the marriage to permit the supported party to devote time to domestic duties.
The extent to which the supported party contributed to the attainment of an education, training, a career position, or a license by the supporting party.
The ability of the supporting party to pay spousal support, taking into account the supporting party's earning capacity, earned and unearned income, assets, and standard of living.
The needs of each party based on the standard of living established during the marriage.
The obligations and assets, including the separate property, of each party.
The duration of the marriage.
The ability of the supported party to engage in gainful employment without unduly interfering with the interests of dependent children in the custody of the party.
The age and health of the parties.
Documented evidence of any history of domestic violence between the parties, including, but not limited to, consideration of emotional distress resulting from domestic violence perpetrated against the supported party by the supporting party, and consideration of any history of violence against the supporting party by the supported party.
The immediate and specific tax consequences to each party.
The balance of the hardships to each party.
The goal that the supported party shall be self-supporting within a reasonable period of time. Except in the case of a marriage of long duration as described in Section 4336, a "reasonable period of time" for purposes of this section generally shall be one-half the length of the marriage. However, nothing in this section is intended to limit the court's discretion to order support for a greater or lesser length of time based on any of the other factors listed in this section, Section 4336, and the circumstances of the parties.
The criminal conviction of an abusive spouse shall be considered in making a reduction or elimination of a spousal support award in accordance with Section 4325.
Any other factors the court determines are just and equitable.
Marital Agreements
Not only for first time marriages but also for successive marriages, couples should give some consideration to what the institution of marriage bestows on each of them as spouses.
Most people have no doubt heard of premarital or "pre-nuptial" agreements; however, there are other agreements married couples can make during the marriage as well as when divorcing. Agreements between married couples in California are permitted subject to various laws. Generally speaking, couples can freely make agreements dealing with property, but they cannot make agreements altering their legal relations (Family Code §1620). Below are the two types of agreements that can be made both before and during the marriage.
Prenuptial Agreements: If you or your spouse has property going into a marriage, (there are plenty of couples entering marriages with property and children from a prior marriage), you may want to consider a prenuptial agreement in order to preserve pre-existing property rights and/or interests for your children and other legal heirs. Examples of permitted subjects are property rights and rights incident to property (such as rents and appreciation), earnings during the marriage, and other assets including business ownership. One subject that is not allowed in the agreement is the right of a child to child support (you may not waive the payment of any future child support should the marriage end). However, as long as certain conditions are met, the subject of spousal support and maintenance can be included in the agreement.
Marital Agreements: Once you are married, you and your spouse may enter into a marital agreement ("postnuptial agreement"). Couples can agree to affect their marital rights incident to their marriage, both during their lifetime and even after their death. The big difference between prenuptial agreements and marital agreements concerns the fiduciary or confidential relationship the spouses have to one another, created by the marriage (Family Code §§ 721(b), 1100(c)). Once married, both spouses become a fiduciary to the other. As such, imposed on each spouse is the duty of highest good faith and fair dealing with the other spouse, and neither spouse can take any unfair advantage of the other. Included in this fiduciary relationship is the requirement that both spouses provide the other with full disclosure of any and all information pertaining to issues contained in the agreement.
home | about | services | contact | disclaimers
(805) 965-0085 | sep@attypenner.com
1215 De La Vina Street, Suite K, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
The Law Offices of Stephen E. Penner is a family-owned law firm dedicated to protecting your rights. Specializing in Family Law and Estate Planning in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura Counties.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13750
|
__label__wiki
| 0.795715
| 0.795715
|
Wal-Mart Pulls Plug on Movies via the Web
MATT RICHTEL and BRAD STONE
Wal-Mart said it had ended the business because Hewlett-Packard, a chief technology partner, had decided to discontinue essential infrastructure for the service.
SAN FRANCISCO — Nearly a year ago, Wal-Mart Stores grandly announced plans to enter the movie download business. It has exited with much less fanfare.
Wal-Mart posted a short message on the Web site of its movie download service saying that operation had closed as of Dec. 21. The move went largely unnoticed for a week, an unmistakable sign that the service had not caught on with consumers. Gizmodo.com, an equipment review site, was one of the first to point it out Thursday with a headline: Wal-Mart Kills Video Download Store Before Christmas, No One Notices.
In a statement provided Friday, Wal-Mart said it had ended the business because Hewlett-Packard, a chief technology partner, had decided to discontinue essential infrastructure for the service.
Hewlett-Packard confirmed it indeed has scrapped the project. “The market for paid video downloads has not performed as expected, and the broader Internet video space continues to remain highly dynamic and uncertain,” the company said. H.P. said it has decided to redirect its research and development dollars into higher-growth areas.
Wal-Mart is the nation’s largest seller of DVDs. Its quiet abdication of digital downloads at the height of the holiday shopping season, while a stark contrast to the ballyhooed announcement of the service, was consistent with the ho-hum reaction by many consumers to the downloadable movie concept.
The technology can require relatively fast broadband speeds to download movies to a computer, and then quite a bit of technical knowledge on the part of the consumer to transfer the movie to a television for viewing on a larger screen.
Only Apple, which has sold more than three billion songs through its iTunes online store, seems to have had any success in selling movies. The company is expected soon to add digital movie rentals from 20th Century Fox to iTunes. It already lets users purchase films from Disney and MGM, and the company is reportedly talking with other movie studios to add their libraries to Apple’s online store.
Josh Bernoff, a technology industry analyst with Forrester Research, said that consumers were not nearly as enamored of movie downloads as they were of music downloads. With music, he said, consumers can download a song and listen to it many times in the convenient format of a portable digital player.
With movies, he said, “the experience of watching on an iPod or a computer is significantly inferior to what you get from a normal DVD.”
The problems are surmountable, but not soon, he said. “All these things can potentially get resolved, but we’re a long ways away from the simplicity and convenience that made iTunes such a success with music.”
Wal-Mart.com’s offering may have been further hindered by its digital rights management software, known as D.R.M., meant to protect the movie from being copied. It prevented downloaded movies from being watched on more than one computer or on popular mobile devices like the iPod. Wal-Mart.com’s digital movies were protected by Microsoft’s anticopying software and could be played only using Microsoft’s Windows Media Player program.
In a research note published Friday, Rich Greenfield, an analyst with Pali Capital, said the D.R.M. might have doomed Wal-Mart’s movie service. “We suspect a key reason behind Wal-Mart’s decision to exit the digital video download business was the need for D.R.M., which prevented the content from working with iPods,” he wrote. “Anywhere you look, Apple’s devices are winning, forcing content holders’ hands.”
High prices also hampered the service. Prices to buy a movie, a copy of which resides on the hard drive of the buyer’s computer, ranged from $12.88 to $19.88 on the day of the release; older movies cost $7.50. But it costs just a few dollars to rent a DVD or watch a movie through a cable system’s on-demand services.
Another challenge for the likes of Wal-Mart is that large, general-merchandise retailers seem to struggle to compete against entertainment-focused companies on the Web, according to Henry Blodget, an Internet industry analyst, in a blog post on Silicon Alley Insider about Wal-Mart’s decision to abandon the download service.
“One e-commerce refrain we’ve heard since 1995 is that once the established real-world brand get their act together, the online pure-plays will be toast,” he wrote. “We’re still waiting.”
There continue to be a number of companies offering movies for download. Apart from Apple’s iTunes, Amazon’s digital movie store, Amazon Unbox, allows customers to download movies to their computers or to transfer them to their TiVo set-top boxes. The Web start-up BitTorrent, which is more closely associated with the free software commonly used to make illegal copies of movies around the world, also has a legal digital movie store.
There continues to be many alternatives for movie renters and buyers, including expanding mail-order services like Netflix and Blockbuster, and expanding pay-per-view menus from cable and satellite providers. This fall, Silicon Valley start-up Vudu began selling a set-top box that lets users download movies from all the major studios and watch them on their television sets.
What set the Wal-Mart effort apart was its own brand name, its strength in the traditional DVD business and a Web site that had nearly 800 million visits this year.
Several studio executives contacted about Wal-Mart’s decision said that the discontinuation would have little impact on studio profits, given the paltry size of the download market. One executive said Wal-Mart’s initiative had been experimental at best. The executives declined to be identified for fear of upsetting Wal-Mart.
This year, retailers and studios alike feared that online piracy, which has undermined the music industry, would devastate the television and movie businesses, too. As such, both groups sought to come up quickly with digital strategies that would make it easier for consumers to buy movies and television shows online. The television industry was quick to act, and now many of the networks, including ABC, NBC and CBS, offer various shows online as well as on DVD.
Movie studios, though, have been more cautious in their approach, particularly when dealing with Steven P. Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, who has been a leader in the move to offer entertainment online. The fear was that Mr. Jobs would undermine studio’s traditional DVD business in a bid to sell more iPods. With the exception of Walt Disney, where Mr. Jobs is the largest shareholder, the studios have been holding out for better financial terms.
In announcing the service last February, Wal-Mart said it had the participation of all six major Hollywood studios — Walt Disney, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Sony, 20th Century Fox, and Universal. The deal made Wal-Mart the first traditional retailer to sell downloadable movies.
Its failure in video downloads is not Wal-Mart’s first misstep in its effort to extend its profitable in-store movie business. In 2003, the company introduced a rival to Netflix’s mail-in rental service. Two years later, the company gave up the effort and said it would direct its customers to Netflix’s service.
In an interview last month, Raul Vazquez, chief executive of Wal-Mart.com, emphasized that the movie download service was still experimental: “This has been in beta. We want to understand what the customers want. And I think what we learned is that the initial experience of buying and downloading content needs to be better. We thought it was going to be easier for the customer to understand.”
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13753
|
__label__cc
| 0.612608
| 0.387392
|
Free shipping for all order above € 299
Welcome to our website www.bikkembergs.com (the Site).
Please read our Privacy Policy which is applicable when your browse the Site, regardless of whether you decide to use the services and/or purchase any products. We also recommend you read the Site's General User Conditions as they provide information on Privacy and the security systems adopted by the Site.
The processing of Personal Data of website users will be performed in Italy and conducted in accordance with applicable European legislation and the Personal Data Protection Code (Legislative Decree 30 June 2003, No. 196), which governs the processing of personal data by anyone who resides or has a registered office in Italy. Triboo Digitale S.r.l., with registered office in Milan (Italy), viale Sarca 336, edificio 16, Post Code 20126, tax code, VAT number and Milan Business Register number 02912880966 ("Triboo Digitale"), provides e-commerce services and the sale of products via the Site.
All Data subjects are entitled to the protection of their Personal Data. Triboo Digitale respects the rights of its users to be informed on the collection and subsequent processing operations concerning their Personal Data. We always try to respect a strictly necessary principle when processing data that can identify you, even indirectly. For this reason, we have configured the Site so that the use of personal data is kept to the minimum necessary and exclude the processing of personal data when the purpose of the specific activity can be achieved using anonymous data or other means, identifying the person only when needed or at the request of the authorities and police forces. This Privacy Policy will provide all useful information to understand how we collect and use the information that identifies users on the Site . For further information on our Privacy Policy please send an e-mail to www.garanteprivacy.it or to Triboo Digitale at the addresses shown above.
Triboo Digitale and Levitas S.p.a. are the Data Controller of the Personal Data of Bikkembergs users, with the purpose of managing, finalising and implementing sales transactions concerning the purchase of products via the same Site ("Purpose"), Triboo Digitale decides the purposes and methods used to process such data and the instruments to be used, including all security related aspects. For purely organisational and functional requirements, we have appointed some Chief Processors to manage user Personal Data, for purposes strictly linked and related to the provision of services on the Site, including the sale of products. Such Chief Data Processors have been selected on account of their experience, capabilities and reliability, thorough compliance with the provisions in force applying to processing as also related to security matters. Chief Processors process the Personal Data of Site users following the instructions provided by Triboo Digitale.
Please contact the Customer Care service for a complete list of the Chief Processors assigned to processing your Personal Data, or send an e-mail to: privacy@triboo.it.
In particular, to achieve our Purposes, and as part of the process when purchasing products on the Site,we collect Personal Data (e.g. name and surname, e-mail address, mailing address, credit card and bank details, telephone number) via the product order form available on the Site.
Personal Data shall be retained in the form that allows you to be identified for the time strictly necessary for the purpose for which the data were collected and subsequently processed and, in any case within the limits foreseen by the laws in force. To ensure that Personal Data is always accurate and updated, pertinent and complete, you are asked to kindly notify us of any changes to the same sending us an e-mail to: privacy@triboo.it.
Further to what already provided for above, Personal data shall not be disclosed to third parties for purposes not permitted by law or without your express consent.
Personal data is made available to third parties, for ancillary purposes related to the provision of services required by the user (for example, for purchase related transactions). For further details on this aspect, please consult paragraph 4 (Whom we disclose Personal Data to). You can at any time obtain an updated list of Chief Data Processors by sending a request to the following e-mail address: privacy@triboo.it.
Your personal data can be disclosed to Police forces or Judicial authorities, for instance pursuant to Site anti-fraud services, in accordance with the laws in force and whenever requested. Your Personal Data will also be accessible to Chief Data Processors as indicated in paragraph 2 and for the specific purposes listed therein. Personal data will not be transferred abroad to Countries other than those belonging to the European Union, which do not guarantee a sufficient level of privacy protection. If the above should be necessary to achieve our Purposes, we will ensure that the transfer of Personal Data to Countries which do not belong to the European Union and do not guarantee adequate levels of protection, will only be implemented after such parties and Triboo Digitale have all signed specific contracts containing clauses for the protection of Personal Data, in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
The purposes for which your Personal Data are processed shall be specifically disclosed each time in the Information Note text provided on the page where the same are requested to confer their Personal Data.
In such cases, you are required to be sure to obtain the consent of the person in question before conferring their data to Triboo Digitale, and to inform about this Privacy Policy because you will, in fact, be the only person responsible for the conferral of third party information and data without specific request or consent of the same, further to any misuse or illegal use of the same. In any case, Triboo Digitale, to the extent required by law, shall fulfil its disclosure obligations to the indicated user and, where necessary, request relative consent, upon registration of the relevant data in its Personal Data archives.
Conferment of personal data to Joint Data Controllers and in particular name, email address, mailing address, credit/debit card and bank details and telephone number is required to attain the aforementioned scopes.
4. TO WHOM WE DISCLOSE YOUR PERSONAL DATA
Personal Data may be disclosed and made available to third party companies that provide specific services to Triboo Digitale, as Chief Data Processors or disclosed to other recipients of the data collected by Triboo Digitale, who process data independently for the sole purpose of executing the purchase contract for products on the Site (such as, for instance, Global Collect, for the execution of remote electronic payment services, via credit card/debit card) and only when such a purpose is not inconsistent with the purposes for which your Personal Data was collected and subsequently processed and, in any case, in full compliance with the laws in force.
5. HOW WE COLLECT YOUR ON THE SITE
We have taken all suitable security measures to minimise the risk of destruction or loss, even accidental, of such Data, further to unauthorised access or processing that is not authorised or does not comply with the scope and purpose of collection indicated in our Privacy Policy.
However, as it is impossible to guarantee that such measures for the security of the Site and the transmission of data and information on the same Site limit or exclude any risk of unauthorised access or dissemination of data, we recommend you check that you have an updated antivirus protection system installed on your computer, which protect incoming and outgoing data, and that your Internet provider uses firewalls and anti-spamming filters where suitable for the security of data transmission on the web.
You are always entitled to receive confirmation as to whether or not Personal Data concerning you exists, regardless of their being already recorded, and communication of such data in an intelligible form.
You are also entitled to receive information concerning the origin of the Personal Data; the purpose and processing methods; the logic used in the case where the data is processed using electronic equipment; the personal data of the Data Controllers, information on the subjects or categories of subjects to whom the personal data may be disclosed or who may become aware of such data in their capacity, for instance, as Chief Processors or Designated Officers. Part of this information is contained in our Privacy Policy; if you wish to receive further details, please send an e-mail to privacy@triboo.it.
You are always entitled to obtain from Triboo Digitale:
- updating, rectification or, where interested therein, integration of the data;
You are also entitled to oppose, totally or partially:
- for legitimate reasons, the processing of your personal data, despite them being relevant to the purpose of the collection;
- to the processing of Personal Data concerning you, where it is carried out for the purpose of sending advertising materials or direct selling or else for the performance of market or commercial communication surveys.
- You are entitled to exercise your rights at any moment in time, within the terms and conditions of the law, sending such requests by e-mail to Triboo Digitale at privacy@triboo.it.; we will respond to your mail as soon as possible.
Triboo Digitale does not control or monitor the operations of such websites or their content. Triboo Digitale shall not be held liable for the web content of such sites or the rules adopted by the same regarding your privacy and the processing of your Personal Data whilst browsing their website. Please therefore pay attention when you access these websites via the links on our website and remember to read their terms and conditions of use and privacy policy carefully. The Privacy Policy adopted by Site does not apply to third party websites and Triboo Digitale is under no circumstances liable for the privacy policy applied by those websites.
If you wish to receive further information on how Triboo Digitale processes Personal Data, please send an e-mail to the following email address: privacy@triboo.it. To receive further information and be updated on the rights and the regulations concerning the protection of persons in relation to the processing of Personal Data, please visit the website of the Authority for the Protection of Personal Data at www.garanteprivacy.it
This Privacy Policy is governed by Italian law and in particular by the Data Protection Code (Legislative Decree No. 196 of June 30, 2003) which governs the processing of personal data – including those retained overseas - carried out by anyone who is resident or located in Italy or using instruments located in Italy.
Triboo Digitale may amend or simply update all or part of the Site Privacy Policy also when amendments are made to laws or regulations that govern protection of personal data and your rights. Changes and updates to the Site Privacy Policy will be notified to users on the Homepage of the Site as soon as the same are adopted and shall be binding once posted on the website in this section. We therefore recommend you access this section regularly in order to check the most recent and updated version of the Site Privacy Policy.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13756
|
__label__cc
| 0.69675
| 0.30325
|
John Healy
Home / John Healy
Vice President & Managing Director, Allstate Northern Ireland
John has 25 years’ experience in technology, predominantly in the financial services domain. He has extensive experience at leading global teams, developing strategy and delivering solutions to address business and technology issues.
Prior to joining Allstate, John led Citi’s delivery center in Belfast, providing IT, Operations, HR, Legal, Finance and Risk Services to the broader Citi group as one of 27 global delivery centers in its global network. Before serving in this position, John held senior management roles as head of technology and as a business unit manager for Citi, as well as senior roles at Grafton Recruitment, Liberty IT, J P Morgan Chase, St George Bank Treasury and Merrill Lynch.
At Allstate, John is the managing director of Allstate NI, leading the team of 2,200.
John earned his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Engineering and Computer Science from Queen’s University Belfast.
John is married to Krystine and has three daughters, Niamh, Hannah and Claire and one son Thomas. John enjoys cooking in his spare time and is a keen follower of rugby union.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13760
|
__label__wiki
| 0.70231
| 0.70231
|
BC seafood festival highlights ‘new era of cooperation’
Liza Mayer – Aquaculture North America
‘Farmed versus wild’ is often heard in the seafood industry, but for 10 days in British Columbia’s Comox Valley the farmed and wild seafood sectors came together under one banner to promote BC seafood.
Roughly 50 seafood exhibitors participated in the two-day BC Seafood Expo, the trade show and conference program within the 10-day BC Seafood Festival that celebrated the province’s seafood bounty from June 7-16.
The event welcomed a record 5,000 local and international attendees that included around 80 buyers representing major seafood suppliers from Europe and Asia, according to the event organizer, the Comox Valley Economic Development Society.
“All of our free and ticketed events such as plant tours, wharf tours, and incredible range of educational interactive programs for the trade and consumers – we saw through the entire festival close to 5,000 individuals taking part in something,” John Watson, executive director of the non-profit society, told Aquaculture North America (ANA).
“The record attendance tells me that people are starting to realize that it’s important for British Columbia’s seafood industry to come together once a year as a group and support the entire BC seafood industry,” he added.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture Wes Shoemaker said the event was “our chance to really shine on the global stage because of the quality premium products that we offer in British Columbia.”
“What we’re seeing here are a lot of our producers and harvesters. They have a personal story to tell and they care about the way the product is harvested sustainably and care about the reputation of British Columbia as a producer of quality product,” Shoemaker added.
The trade show and conference program presented seafood suppliers and buyers platform to conduct business on site and the opportunity for face-to-face interactions. Around 500 individual meetings occurred between different buyers and suppliers during the event, thanks to a streamlined matchmaking system that the organizer launched more than a month prior to the event.
“We wanted to ensure that when people come for the first time to Canada, they have access to a direct supplier of the product that they’re looking for. We can make those connections online, so those resulted in hundreds of meetings that have now been scheduled over the course of their time here,” Watson said.
First-time attendee Chris Hanselman of Hong Kong-based Pacific Rich Resources said the trade show was much smaller than he expected. “But not at a derogatory sense. The trade fairs that we go to in Asia are massive but that’s not necessarily good. Here it’s much more intimate, everyone’s made such an effort to make us feel at home. I came here expecting to find a really good supplier, but actually I also learned a lot about the industry, the problems that people are facing, which is very important for me to know, as a seller,” said Hanselman, whose clientele includes airline catering companies.
Representatives of the seafood industry, academia, governments and environmental groups had the opportunity to discuss those pressing issues. Topping the agenda was the industry’s sustainability. “Not one industry should shoulder all the blame” in the marine pollution crisis, acknowledged Josh Temple, co-founder of the Coastal Restoration Society. He called on everyone to pitch in to the efforts to clean up the coasts. “It’s important to recognize that we’ve kind of entered a new era in terms of cooperation. This is a very real crisis that’s going to affect us for many, many generations to come and it’s only getting worse every year,” he said.
A session on innovations in farmed, harvest and wild fisheries offered insights into recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). There’s been a lot of buzz on the promise of RAS but the consensus among the panellists is that the proof would be in the pudding. “But we won’t know if these are truly successful businesses until they’ve done three or four cycles through and they got a stable base of production,” said Jeremy Dunn, Mowi’s director of community relations and public affairs. Fellow panellists Sean Wilton, Agrimarine Holdings CEO, and Steve Atkinson, president of Taste of BC Aquafarms echoed Dunn’s sentiment.
Watson believes the event has shown BC’s seafood industry is capable of producing far more products. “Canada can be a big player in driving increased production in seafood both wild and farmed in a world that needs protein,” he said.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13761
|
__label__wiki
| 0.827659
| 0.827659
|
Congestion Pricing, Removing Parking Spaces, and more: what's the future of cities and traffic?
April 6 at 12:53 AM
Replying to gorudy
~~Well, when it comes to honking, New York is making a U-turn. City officials are removing hundreds of don't honk signs from the streets. They say there is no evidence the signs are working. But as NPR's Joel Rose reports, others say New York is admitting defeat in the war on noise.
LOL! ^^^^^
New York City Ends 30 Year Experiment With 'Don't Honk' SignsBy the end of the year, New York City will remove all of the "Don't Honk" signs from city streets. Transportation officials say the signs are contributing to visual clutter. But critics say the city is tacitly admitting defeat in the war on noise.www.npr.org
lula2488
Replying to Victoria
London is up-ing its congestion zone with its introduction of the ultra-low emissions zone, imposing a £12.50-a-day charge to drive into central London in all but the cleanest cars and vans.
It will apply to drivers of diesel cars and vans whose engines are not certified to the latest Euro 6 standard, mandated from 2015, as well as most petrol cars more than 14 years old. Non-compliant buses, coaches and lorries will have to pay £100.
London prepares for launch of ultra-low emissions zoneLondon is preparing to enforce "world-leading" vehicle pollution restrictions from Monday as the capital attempts to clean up the toxic air blamed for thousands of premature deaths. The ultra-low emission zone, or Ulez, will launch at one minute past midnight on April 8, imposing a £12.50-a-day charge to drive into central London in all but the cleanest cars and vans.amp.theguardian.com
April 6 at 4:38 PM
This probably sounds silly but I wonder how much quieter the city might feel w/o the honking noise pollution.
I experienced 8 days of no honking in New York. I was staying in a hotel in Times Square on 9/11. We were unable to leave the city for 8 days and for those 8 glorious days there was almost no honking. Even taxis slowed down for pedestrians and waved us through.
After those 8 days, we took a train to Philadelphia and the traffic was hustling there as if nothing had happened in New York. It was amazing what culture shock we experienced. It took us 3 days to re-adjust to the hustle we had always known.
anjocerdena
April 9 at 12:16 PM
Replying to apm
Unfortunately I don't have data to share about the impact of Number Coding in Manila traffic. Until recently, the implementation was on a per-city basis (Metro Manila has 16 cities) and it's hard for a non-driver like myself to be aware of when/where it's in effect. I believe the Metro Manila Development Authority is also conducting tests of various schemes these past months, and I haven't been keeping track. Sorry @apm.
April 10 at 9:59 AM
Replying to anjocerdena
I appreciate your taking the time to respond to my question @anjocerdena even if you don’t have all the answers. I know that Manila is the most densely populated city in the world. So it’s extremely relevant to the rest of the world how the Metro Manila Development Authority’s experiments in congestion management turn out.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13764
|
__label__wiki
| 0.679071
| 0.679071
|
Magnaforce™ Electric Motor Generators
Vericycle™ Power Electronics
Powerflux™ Active Magnetic Bearings
Calnetix Announces the Acquisition of Elliott Energy Systems
California, USA – November 2, 2007 – Calnetix Inc., a global leader in high efficiency electric motors and generators, today announced the acquisition of Elliott Energy Systems, Inc.(EESI), a microturbine manufacturer, which is located in Stuart, Florida.
Calnetix has significant background and experience in the microturbine business including the manufacture and supply of products to the industry for many years. EESI is best known for its microturbine products used in distributed power generation, combined heat and power (CHP) and offshore power generation applications globally. Last month, Governor Charlie Crist of the State of Florida officially recognized EESI with a distinguished award of excellence for their work as an export manufacturer.
This acquisition brings EESI and the microturbine business under the umbrella of the Calnetix Group of companies which include, Vycon, which specializes in energy storage flywheels; Direct Drive Systems, which specializes in large motors & generators over two megawatt; TurboGenix, which specializes in waste heat recovery to electricity systems and Calnetix, which specializes in high efficiency motors & generator systems.
Brad Garner Chief Operating Officer of Calnetix said: “We are pleased to have the people and products of EESI join the Calnetix Group. We believe the global market for new and efficient power and heat generation technologies is poised for rapid growth. The addition of this microturbine capability to our group is a strategic move that will enable us to provide a more complete, value added power system solution for our global customers.”
The EESI plant in Florida will remain focused on the global microturbine market and continue to be supported by the many people and suppliers that have been instrumental in positioning EESI among the best microturbine manufacturers in the world.
Dave Dewis who has been the President of EESI in Florida will transition to a senior management role in the Calnetix Group with specific focus on new product and business development initiatives. Brad Garner will assume the role as President of EESI while retaining his current position within the Calnetix Group.
About Calnetix
Calnetix, a privately held high tech company based in Cerritos California is an industry leader in energy efficient, high performance motors, generators, magnetic bearings, and integrated drive systems. The company’s products are utilized in distributed power generation, power conditioning, gas processing, semiconductor manufacturing, medical equipment and other industries worldwide.
About Elliott Energy Systems, Inc.
Founded in 1996, Elliott Energy Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary company of Ebara Corporation of Tokyo, Japan, is a premier manufacturer of microturbines for use in distributed generation, combined heat and power (CHP), and offshore applications. A UL recognized ISO 9001:2000 company. High availability and low maintenance costs make microturbines the right choice for medium to high capacity projects. More information about EESI can be found on their website at www.elliottmicroturbines.com.
Calnetix Technologies 16323 Shoemaker Ave. Cerritos, CA 90703
© 2019 Calnetix Technologies, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Policy
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13766
|
__label__wiki
| 0.808057
| 0.808057
|
Home : Cathedral
St Patrick’s Cathedral is the mother church of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne. The Centenary of its official opening and Consecration was marked in 1997; however, the first Mass was celebrated on the site in February 1858 in a former partially completed church, some of which was incorporated into the south aisle of the present building. By 1868, the completed nave of the Cathedral first served the needs of the community for regular worship and prayer.
Designed by William Wardell, St Patrick’s is regarded internationally as the finest ecclesiastical building in Australia and a pre-eminent example of the Gothic Revival style. The austere facade gives little hint of the glorious interior with its ethereal golden light of mesmerising beauty.
The Cathedral’s highly regarded organ and exceptional acoustics ensure its popularity with leading musicians and choral groups, as a favoured setting for concerts of sacred music. The splendid ambulatory and chapels, which partially encircle the sanctuary, provide space for occasional exhibitions.
Nevertheless, it is the spiritual fire of prayer and daily worship which gives the building its heart, ensuring that it is more than just an architectural monument. The Cathedral is a place of beauty and peace. During the course of a year, the Cathedral is the environment for the major liturgies of the Catholic community as well as the venue for significant civic celebrations embracing the wider community. The staff are also responsible for the daily pastoral care in all of the nearby hospitals; many people from the wider community seek solace and help within its walls.
Through prayer, praise and creative liturgical celebrations, the elements of stone and glass, artistry, craftsmanship, colour and sound, coalesce to filter the divine presence of our Creator God.
Message from Emeritus Archbishop Hart
Message of welcome.
1 Cathedral Place, East Melbourne VIC 3002. PO Box 146, East Melbourne 8002.
Ph: 03 9662 2233, Email: cathedral@cam.org.au - Recorded Information 03 9662 2332
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13768
|
__label__cc
| 0.733392
| 0.266608
|
HONORARY FELLOWS LECTURE - Professor David Baulcombe FRS- title to be confirmed
Lecture Overview
Professor Sir David Baulcombe, Department of Plant Sciences
Abstract not available
Bristol-Myers Squibb Lecture Theatre, Department of Chemistry
The Lecture Theatre is accessed from Lensfield Road, via a shared entrance road with the Scott Polar Research Institute (located on the left of the access way). The entrance to the Lecture Theatre is on right hand side towards the end of the shared entrance road. There is no direct access to the Lecture Theatre from the Department of Chemistry main entrance.
Please use the Queen Anne Car Park or the Grand Arcade Car Park. There is also on street parking (pay and display)
Bristol-Myers Squibb Lecture Theatre, Department of Chemistry, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13769
|
__label__wiki
| 0.764281
| 0.764281
|
Lifestyle | Insiders
An insider’s guide to Rome
Hidden finds
Denise Kok
Maria Sole Torlonia, co-founder of fashion label Blazé, shares her favourite haunts in the Eternal City of Rome
If friends ask me where they should stay, I'd recommend a fantastic place called La Posta Vecchia that's located around 20 minutes away from Rome. It's owned by Marie Louise Sciò and her family, and perched above the sea amidst parkland. It also has a restaurant that is beyond stellar. La Posta Vecchia was built around 1640 by the Orsini family to provide accommodation for their friends and travellers. It was sold to Livio Odescalchi in 1693 and retained its hospitality function till 1918, when a fire led to its gradual deterioration and dereliction. In 1960, it was bought by Jean Paul Getty, who restored it to its former splendour and fitted it out, with help from art historian Federico Zeri, with XV and XVII century furniture, valuable art works and other items from princely palaces and churches all over the world.
D.O.M Hotel Roma
Another hotel I'd recommend checking into is D.O.M. Even if you don't stay the night, you can enjoy dinner or a drink on their terrace which has quite a view. You get there by walking along via Giulia, which is one of Rome's most interesting streets, especially at night. The hotel is housed in a seventeenth-century building with the atmosphere of a noble town house: there are inscriptions in Renaissance marble but also designer items, contemporary art and photographs.
Villa Doria Pamphilj
As for leisure activities, a marvelous place, close to my heart, is Villa Doria Pamphilj, which is an enormous park — nearly 200 hectares — that also has a rather wild part, which I adore. Given my passion for horse riding, my dream would be to organise a horse race there one day — and I can't think of a better location for one. In the meantime, I content myself with going there to run. Designed at the beginning of the XVII century, it's one of the city's best preserved villas. In 1960 the park was cut in two by the via Olimpica, built to coincide with the opening of the 22nd Olympic Games in Rome. Villa Pamphilj currently has three areas: the villa and gardens, the pine wood and a farm.
Teatro Quirino
Built entirely out of wood, Teatro Quirino is one of the oldest theatres here in Rome. When I was a kid, I was taken there by my aunt, whose mother was a stage actress. Back in the day, the theatre was used mainly for puppet shows and operettas. Its name, Quirino, comes from the hill (the Quirinale) and the god Quirinus. It was built in 1871 for Prince Maffeo Sciarra within the confines of the family's palace, close to the Trevi fountain. The theatre is now called Teatro Quirino-Vittorio Gassman in honour of one of the most highly acclaimed Italian actors of the 20th century.
MAXXI
The National Museum of XXI century Art, the MAXXI, is in the Flaminio neighbourhood of Rome. It was built on the site of the Montello barracks, next to the Basilica di Santa Croce on via Flaminia. The gallery, built entirely out of concrete, was designed by Zaha Hadid. The complex arrangement of different shapes, the variation and overlapping of different levels, give rise to a very complex network of spaces. Its collection includes works by Alighiero Boetti, William Kentridge, and Ed Ruscha. It also has an auditorium, a library, a café and a bar cum restaurant. They organise lots of festivals and other events here, so it's worth keeping an eye on the programme.
To view more insider guides to Italy, visit Tod's Italian Notes, an electronic travel guide that showcases some of the most stylish hangouts in eight cities across Italy.
To view Buro's insider guides to other cities, click here.
Buro Insider Guide
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13776
|
__label__wiki
| 0.669642
| 0.669642
|
Students face £100 a week in rent as costs for accommodation rises
Students could pay in excess of £100 a week in rent this autumn, as the cost of accommodation continues to rise, research suggests.
The average weekly student rent now stands at £67.11, up 3% on last year, according to a study by accommodationforstudents.com.
Those hoping to keep housing costs down should head north to Middlesbrough, where weekly rent will set them back £43.68.
But students heading to London will be hit the hardest, as the average weekly rent in the capital for this year is £108.03.
The next most expensive is Exeter, where the average weekly rent is £94.61.
The study is based on the rents of almost 86,000 properties in 78 UK cities and towns.
Some cities have seen massive increases in the cost of renting - Leamington Spa, close for Warwick University, has seen a 16% rise to £70.47 from £60.24 last year.
And Newcastle-under-Lyme, which is near to Keele University, and Sunderland have both seen 13% rises to £64.65 and £61.05 respectively.
Others have seen an increase in weekly rent at double the national average of 3%.
These include Edinburgh, where it has risen 8% to £78.64 per week and Coventry, Bournemouth and Bolton which have all seen a 7% increase to £58.50, £75.75 and £55.08 respectively.
Cardiff (£61.07), York (£66.96), Reading (£73.33), Crewe (£49.18) and Stafford (£65.28) have all seen a 6% rise in weekly rents.
Simon Thompson, co-founder and director of accommodationforstudents.com, said: “The rent increases for some cities reflect two key factors. One is the changing nature of accommodation coming on the market.
"The trend is for high-spec, better quality student accommodation, and some locations are leading the way in this area.
“The other key factor is the popularity/desirability of attending some universities that puts pressure on the accommodation available and hence, the charging of higher rents.
“Universities like Exeter, Warwick (Leamington Spa), Edinburgh and, more recently, Manchester, would come into this category, as have in the past, Newcastle, Bristol and Durham.”
North WestLuxor Group swoops for iconic Grade II-listed Beechams Clock Tower in St HelensThe group has not yet revealed exactly what it wants to do with the building
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13777
|
__label__wiki
| 0.868773
| 0.868773
|
A German grocery chain that crippled its rivals in the UK is about to invade the US
Hayley Peterson
A new wave of European grocery stores is about to invade the US.
The German supermarket chain Lidl is gearing up to open stores in dozens of cities along the East Coast, spanning from New Jersey to Georgia, the company told Business Insider.
Lidl wouldn't reveal how many stores it's planning to open, but sources told the commercial real-estate firm CoStar that the company will open as many as 150 US stores by 2018. The company currently has 10,000 stores in 26 European countries.
Lidl has already snatched up leases in dozens of US cities, according to local-news reports, and it's seeking store managers in areas including Burlington County, New Jersey; Richmond, Virginia; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; Greenville, South Carolina; and Augusta, Georgia.
The chain's US headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia, and it's building warehouses in Cecil County, Maryland; Mebane, North Carolina; and Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Lidl and fellow German supermarket chain Aldi — which has 1,300 stores in the US — are best known for their rock-bottom prices.
Both chains rapidly expanded in the UK over the last several years and completely upended the country's grocery market, sending its largest supermarket chains into a crippling price war.
In the most recent quarter, both Lidl's and Aldi's sales skyrocketed, increasing by 13.8% and 11.5%, respectively, according to data from Kantar Worldpanel.
Meanwhile, sales declined at the UK's four biggest supermarket chains. Sales dropped 1.3% at Tesco, 2.4% at Morrisons, 1.4% at Sainsbury's, and 5.9% at at Asda.
This has been an ongoing trend for the last several years, with Lidl and Aldi growing their market share at the expense of the so-called "big four" supermarkets in the UK.
The biggest reason for Lidl's success is its cheap prices. Lidl is the cheapest supermarket in Britain, according to the Daily Star.
Lidl's US stores are expected to be between 30,000 and 36,000 square feet, which is about twice the size of an Aldi store, but still much smaller than a traditional supermarket like Kroger, which averages about 165,000 square feet.
Like rival Aldi, Lidl keeps prices low by limiting inventory to a lean selection of private-label items, versus traditional supermarkets that tend to carry several different brands of a single product.
Lidl also invests far less in customer service and merchandising than traditional grocers.
Most of the stores' products are displayed in their shipping cartons to make restocking quick and easy. That means fewer workers are needed on the sales floor.
Lidl additionally saves money by requiring customers to bring their own shopping bags and bag their own groceries.
The chain offers a wider array of merchandise than Aldi.
In addition to groceries, Lidl sells appliances and furniture, and it debuted a women's collection in August 2014 that sold out within the first three days. The collection included a faux leather jacket costing 14.99 euros and chiffon blouses.
Since then, the retailer has launched a men's collection, a line of handbags, and a fitness brand.
But Lidl will have a lot of work to do to catch up to Aldi in the US, which now has more than 1,300 stores in the country, with plans to open another 600 within the next couple years.
SEE ALSO: 'It was a ghost town': Shoppers reveal why they abandoned Sears and Kmart
NOW WATCH: What those 'sell-by' dates on your groceries really mean
More: Retail Grocery Grocery Stores Shopping
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13778
|
__label__wiki
| 0.973218
| 0.973218
|
Finite reinsurance being replaced by structured reinsurance following scandals
Michael Bradford
Finite reinsurance deals, tarred by scandal and regulatory suspicion, have been replaced by “structured” transactions that put to rest any doubt whether there is a genuine transfer of risk while providing a multiyear alternative to traditional reinsurance.
While finite reinsurance managed loss volatility after it took off in the late 1980s, concerns grew that it was more of a loan, with critics alleging it was being used to hide the true condition of insurers.
A Financial Accounting Standards Board ruling in 1993 that there must be a reasonable chance of a significant loss for a transaction to be accounted for as insurance led the market to develop the “10/10” rule, whereby a transaction was considered insurance if there was at least a 10% chance of a 10% loss.
The image of finite reinsurance was stained in 2008 when investigations by then-New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer and others into finite deals led to the convictions of several former executives at Stamford, Conn.-based General Reinsurance Corp. and New York-based American International Group Inc.
“Finite came under a lot of pressure in the Spitzer years,” said Mike Schnur, Chicago-based partner with TigerRisk Partners L.L.C.
Last month, however, a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York overturned their convictions in the 2008 case and ordered a new trial, ruling in part that the jury was instructed improperly.
Even if the defendants' names are cleared eventually, the damage to the reputation of finite reinsurance is done, with various forms of structured reinsurance now taking its place.
Even so, there is no firm definition as to what constitutes a structured reinsurance transaction, sources noted.
“My definition is: products where there is a degree of risk-sharing between the parties,” said Ed Hochberg, Philadelphia-based executive vp and global product leader of risk transfer products and analytics at Towers Watson & Co. “That is a good way of looking at it, but there are many variations on the theme from there.”
“What is meant by structured is structured over time,” said Donald A. Paterson, CEO of Paterson2, a Westlake Village, Calif., firm that develops alternative risk transfer programs. The transactions typically are for longer than a year and involve some sharing of risk among the parties, he said.
Depending on loss activity, return premiums may be paid by reinsurers to insurers under structured reinsurance deals or, if losses are heavy, the insurer could be forced to make additional payments to the reinsurer, Mr. Paterson said.
“I would call it alternative reinsurance,” he said of the deals being put together today. “It's reinsurance that's not traditional.”
Whatever the name, the rationale for today's deals—and the clear disclosure of risk transfer—differs from that used in developing finite reinsurance products, Mr. Hochberg said.
“What we used to see 10 or 15 years ago,” he said, were deals “with an awfully significant element of discounting loss reserves. A lot of that has gone away. That element of the deal is much less significant than it was.” The aim of some finite transactions was to “achieve an accounting result, whether it was the movement of a result from one year to another, or whatever the objective was.”
Today's deals by comparison are more “capital-oriented,” Mr. Hochberg said. “They are designed to truly transfer risk in a way that is comfortable for all parties...When we do a structured deal these days, there's not a question of, "Where's the risk transfer?' The risk transfer is very obvious.”
Finite reinsurance truly began to vanish when a soft insurance market began hardening in 2001, said Dan Malloy, executive managing director at Aon Corp.'s Aon Benfield reinsurance intermediary unit in New York.
“People were underreserved” after the soft market years, Mr. Malloy said, “and deals were done to create better results. People opted to buy less expensive finite deals, and some of those ended up going very badly for reinsurers. As the market hardened in 2002 and 2003, buying shifted to deals with more risk transfer with higher margins because the market could support it.”
Structured reinsurance arrangements are useful for workers compensation, property/casualty and some property catastrophe exposures “where you aren't transferring the 100-year risk,” Mr. Malloy said. “It might be at the bottom of your property catastrophe program.”
“Typically, you want good actuarial or modeled data” on risks that have a fairly comfortable range of potential outcomes, he said.
“The motivation of the client is typically something other than the transfer of risk for a price” in a structured reinsurance arrangement, said Mr. Malloy. “They want to retain the economics of the business in some fashion” and the risk- and reward-sharing features allow them to do that, he said.
The multiyear aspect of structured reinsurance products also can make them useful for risks that are not as easily modeled, Mr. Paterson said.
The Y2K risk that computers might crash at the turn of the century is an example of an exposure with consequences that could develop over time that would be suitable for a multiyear risk-sharing arrangement in a structured reinsurance program, Mr. Paterson said.
Sources said structured reinsurance is well-suited as an aggregate stop-loss product. “You take all the risk of a company and put it in one basket,” Mr. Paterson said.
Not all markets will write such whole-account coverage, though, because it tends to cannibalize their traditional business, Mr. Paterson said. “There are not many markets doing that.”
Because opinions vary on what constitutes a structured reinsurance deal, experts say it is hard to know how much of the coverage is written.
“One man's structured reinsurance deal might be another man's traditional deal with some bells and whistles,” said Mr. Malloy.
Before it fell out of favor, finite reinsurance was around 5% to 6% of the reinsurance market, experts said. Structured reinsurance is “certainly no more than that,” said Mr. Schnur, and likely far less, other sources said.
Former AIG chief Greenberg set to appeal Gen Re, Capco rulings
NEW YORK—Maurice R. Greenberg, former chairman and CEO of AIG, is scheduled on May 19 to appeal decisions that a judge made on allegations involving the New York-based insurer’s accounting, a court clerk said Friday.
Read the latest Gen Re finite fraud ruling
Finite convictions overturned
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13779
|
__label__wiki
| 0.973213
| 0.973213
|
What Does ‘Cult’ Mean For ‘American Horror Story’ Season 7? Ryan Murphy Is Re-Defining The Much-Debated Term
By Jack O'Keeffe
The term "cult" conjures some very specific images, though what those images entail depend on who's considering the word. Perhaps your mind goes to the Heaven's Gate group or other masses awaiting the end of the world. Perhaps you think of the Manson family or other groups of outcasts living outside the law. But in AHS: Cult, premiering Sept. 5, Ryan Murphy is making a connection between cults and the 2016 presidential election. Why? Well, to determine why American Horror Story Season 7 is called Cult, you have to understand that Murphy isn't just thinking of this phenomenon in the traditional sense.
As recounted in The Hollywood Reporter, Ryan Murphy stated at a press event that "[AHS Season 7] is really about the rise of a cult of personality." Murphy seems to be taking a look at the people who invested themselves in the personalities of Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump, and exploring how people reacted in the wake of Trump's win. "What did Trump tap into?" Murphy asked. "We're interested in his rise and how that happened."
To explore what's underneath the cult of personality, Murphy will also be exploring real groups that have been defined as "cults" this season. In addition to his main character Kai, Entertainment Weekly reports that Evan Peters will be playing historical leaders of groups such as The Manson Family, The Peoples Temple, and Branch Davidians, drawing comparisons between these charismatic masters and showing how the controversial term is applied to groups with varied ideologies and missions.
The "cult of personality" that Murphy has spoken about seems to center around Kai Anderson, Peters' most prominent character. In the trailer for the show, Kai, seen literally humping a television after Trump's win, uses familiar language to talk about bringing about some kind of revolution.
But in the showrunner's view, both extreme sides of the American political spectrum seem to resemble cults, or at least are susceptible to the kind of thinking that breeds strong identification and limited thinking. The same THR piece quotes Murphy saying:
"There is no real discussion. Everybody's still at each other's throats [after the election], you're either on one side or you're on the other. The season really is not about Trump, it's not about Clinton. It's about somebody who has the wherewithal to put their finger up in the wind and see that that's what's happening and is using that to rise up and form power, and using people's vulnerabilities about how they're afraid and don't know where to turn, and they feel like the world is on fire."
Murphy's definition of "cult" even extends to the animal kingdom. In the aforementioned Entertainment Weekly interview, Murphy said "bees are the original cult," and hinted that these insects seem to play a major role in AHS. So his definition seems to include any group of people (or bees) who amass behind a leader and are willing to do their bidding. Whether the figurehead of that movement is a presidential candidate, Charles Manson, an internet troll, or a Queen Bee, Ryan Murphy seems to believe that each of these groups is cult-like in a different way. It's a compelling idea that ought to have AHS fans picking apart every episode.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13780
|
__label__cc
| 0.587158
| 0.412842
|
No Min $50K $100K $125K $150K $175K $200K $225K $250K $275K $300K $325K $350K $375K $400K $425K $450K $475K $500K $550K $600K $650K $700K $750K $800K $850K $900K $950K $1M $1.25M $1.50M $1.75M $2M $2.25M $2.50M $2.75M $3M $3.25M $3.50M $3.75M $4M $4.25M $4.50M $4.75M $5M $6M $7M $8M $9M $10M
No Max $50K $100K $125K $150K $175K $200K $225K $250K $275K $300K $325K $350K $375K $400K $425K $450K $475K $500K $550K $600K $650K $700K $750K $800K $850K $900K $950K $1M $1.25M $1.50M $1.75M $2M $2.25M $2.50M $2.75M $3M $3.25M $3.50M $3.75M $4M $4.25M $4.50M $4.75M $5M $6M $7M $8M $9M $10M
Min +0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5
Homes Condos Townhouse Multi-Family Mobile Villa Apartment Land Other
Most Recent Price (Lowest First) Price (Highest First) Date (Newest First) Date (Oldest First)
Paradise Valley Townhomes For Sale By Owner (0 Homes)
We do not have any active properties in Paradise Valley. See recent sold properties below.
0 Search Result(s)
Paradise Valley - Statistics and Home Trends
Actives Activity Chart
Homes For Sale By Owner in Paradise Valley 287
1 Bed Homes For Sale in Paradise Valley (1) $ 3,500,000
3 Bed Homes For Sale in Paradise Valley (39) $ 1,906,209
5+ Bed Homes For Sale in Paradise Valley (153) $ 10,045,589
NEW LISTINGS THIS WEEK
PRICE PER SQUARE FOOT
Condos For Sale By Owner in Paradise Valley 21
1 Bed Condos For Sale in Paradise Valley (2) $ 479,500
2 Bed Condos For Sale in Paradise Valley (11) $ 990,982
3 Bed Condos For Sale in Paradise Valley (7) $ 2,138,491
Townhomes For Sale By Owner in Paradise Valley 10
2 Bed Townhomes For Sale in Paradise Valley (4) $ 424,700
Land For Sale By Owner in Paradise Valley 66
Land in Paradise Valley (66) $ 2,029,302
$ N/A
Paradise Valley Townhomes For Sale By Owner
Homes For Sale 287
Condos For Sale 21
TownHomes For Sale 10
Land For Sale 66
Vacation Rental Homes242
Sold Homes 3464
Under Contract Homes 50
Waterfront Homes 95
Golf Course Homes 28
Nearby Subdivisions
Clearwater Hills Prvt Roads & Tr A 11
Clearwater Hills 8
Camelback Lands 7
Paradise Hills 6
Artesia Condominiums 6
The Village At Paradise Reserve 6
Clearwater Hills 2 Private Roads 6
Casa Blanca Estates Lot 20 37 & Tr A 6
Paradise Canyon Foothills 5
Mummy Mt Park Lots 32 40, 74 91 & Tr A 5
La Place Du Sommet 5
Metes & Bounds 5
Tatum Canyon 5
Solcito 4
Finisterre Lot 1 93 4
Palo Verde Foothills 4
Mockingbird Lane Estates 4
Enclave At Borgata Condominium 4
The Village At Mountain Shadows 4
Mountain Shadows Resort Hotel Condominium 4
Scottsdale3043
Mesa1350
Peoria832
Gilbert794
Chandler735
Glendale727
Fountain Hills453
Tempe374
Guadalupe3
FSBO & MLS
MLS Only 384
Paradise Valley Flat Fee MLS
Learn More About Paradise Valley, Arizona
Currently there are 287 homes for sale, 21 condos and apartments for sale, 66 vacant land for sale and 10 townhomes for sale in Paradise Valley
Background, General Information and Weather in Paradise Valley, Arizona –
Paradise Valley is a very small town found in Maricopa County, Arizona. This town is often confused with Paradise Valley Village with is in Northeast Phoenix. This portion of Arizona is known for its golf courses and sprawling restaurant and shopping scene. It is also very well known for its gorgeous real estate. One of the most interesting facts about Paradise Valley is that it is the wealthiest municipality in all of Arizona. Even though Paradise Valley is rather small in size and population there are eight full service resorts here. These resorts help make Paradise Valley one of the most premier tourist destinations in all of Arizona. According to the 2010 census, the population here at that time was 12,820. Fast forward to 2016 when a non-census related poll was taken that showed that the population here had grown slightly to 14,355 residents. According to the United States Census Bureau, Paradise Valley is a total of 15.5 square miles in size with all that being land and virtually no surrounding bodies of water. When it comes to the climate here in Paradise Valley it falls under what is known as “Mid-Latitude Steppe and Desert Climate.” This means that the summer months are going to be very hot and dry whereas the winters months will be cool and comfortable. It is also mostly clear year-round but the temperatures here can vary greatly. There have been times during the winter months when the temperature has fallen to 37 degrees. The summer months can sometimes see temperatures soar to more than 110 due to the heat index. The hot season here lasts for a little less than four months. From the very end of May until almost the end of September the daily average high is a staggering 97 degrees. The low for this time comes in around 82 degrees. Even though the temperatures can skyrocket to close to 100 degrees the air will feel very dry with virtually no humidity which often makes it feel significantly hotter. The hottest time here is in mid-July. The cool season on the other hand lasts for a little more than three months. From the end of November until the end of February the daily average high is a very comfortable 73 degrees. The low for this time comes in around 44 degrees. The coolest time here is during the month of December. Paradise Valley only receives 10 inches of rain per year or less. This is since Paradise Valley is located in a desert climate. You won’t see any snow here at all even though temperatures can sometimes dip down into the low 30’s.
Education in Paradise Valley –
Residents who live here in Paradise Valley will send their children to the Scottsdale Unified School District. This school district serves most of Scottsdale as well as most of Paradise Valley and portions of Phoenix and Tempe. The district has a range of more than 112 square miles making it one of the largest school districts in Arizona. There are more than 27,000 students and close to 3,000 employees. There are sixteen elementary schools, four kindergarten through eighth grade schools, five middle schools, five high schools and one alternative school.
Major Employers in the area –
Paradise Valley is relatively small in size, so the economy relies heavily on the large number of resorts here. According to a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report from 2014 the largest employers here in Paradise Valley are as follows. Camelback Inn is the largest employer with a little more than 600 employees. Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Montelucia comes in second with roughly 360 employees. The Scottsdale Plaza Resort comes in third with 330 employees. The Sanctuary on Camelback comes in fourth with a little more than 300 employees. The DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Paradise Valley, Phoenix Country Day School, Paradise Valley Country Club and Hermosa all have less than 200 employees each. Finally, the Town of Paradise Valley has just about 80 employees.
Scottsdale Marketplace –
Looking for a fun place to shop here in Paradise Valley? Look no further than the Scottsdale Marketplace. This marketplace is home to various antiques, home décor and so much more. This multi-vendor shop has close to 40 individual shop owners. They are divided up by showrooms. In each showroom you will find different collections by various artists. This is the go-to place if you are looking for some antiquing on a Saturday afternoon. If you are thinking of making the move to Arizona, make sure you check out Paradise Valley. You will not be disappointed!
ByOwner.com offers For Sale By Owner listing services throughout the country. By posting home with ByOwner your property will get the same exposure you’d receive from a traditional real estate company. Our Paradise Valley, Arizona Flat Fee MLS listing Service saves you from paying the traditional 6% commission charged by most real estate offices, but gives you the same worldwide exposure.
Your home will be found on the local MLS, plus all the major search engines and popular real estate portal sites, including: Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com, MSN, AOL, Bing, Yahoo, and of course Google. Additionally when your home gets added to the MLS, your FSBO listing will listed alongside of the homes listed by ReMax, C-21, Coldwell Banker, ERA, Redfin, Movoto, Keller Williams and all the other nationwide brokerage sites. These sites often display “all” of the MLS postings, not just their own, which means your home will be on these sites also.
The average seller who uses our Flat Rate MLS Listing, will save over $15,000. We give you the tools and exposure you need as a ForSaleByOwner to compete with every other listing in the MLS. But you are in control of the savings and the fees you pay.
Currently Paradise Valley has 384 properties on the market for sale. The inventory was last updated 07/17/2019. Of these properties, 287 single family homes are for sale by their owners in Paradise Valley, and 21 condos are for sale by their owners in Paradise Valley. The average price of the single family homes for sale in Paradise Valley, is $3,936,018, the average condo price in Paradise Valley, is $2,911,133. The average price per square foot of the active inventory is $343. This is based the living area square footage.
Over the last year, there have been 3,464 of properties sold in Paradise Valley. Of these properties, 2,654 single family homes have sold by their owners in Paradise Valley, and 328 condos have sold by their owners in Paradise Valley. The average sales price of the single family homes sold in Paradise Valley, is $2,085,840. Single family homes have been selling for 377 per square foot of living area. The average sales price of the condos for sale in Paradise Valley, is $1,750,617. Condos have been selling for 339 per square foot of living area.
The most active subdivisions with listings for sale in Paradise Valley, are: Clearwater Hills Prvt Roads & Tr A (11 For Sale), Clearwater Hills (8 For Sale), Camelback Lands (7 For Sale), Paradise Hills (6 For Sale), Artesia Condominiums (6 For Sale), The Village At Paradise Reserve (6 For Sale), Clearwater Hills 2 Private Roads (6 For Sale), Casa Blanca Estates Lot 20 37 & Tr A (6 For Sale), Paradise Canyon Foothills (5 For Sale), La Place Du Sommet (5 For Sale)
If you are thinking of selling your Paradise Valley home, try our flat fee listing service, Our list fees start at $449, and may save you $15,000 in real estate commissions. Click here to start saving.
Disclaimer: Listing broker has attempted to offer accurate data, but buyers/lessees are advised to confirm all information IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use that it may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing, and that data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS. The MLS may, at its discretion, require use of other disclaimers as necessary to protect Participants and/or the MLS from liability.
This data up-to-date as of 07/17/2019
For Sale By Owner Michigan
Homes For Sale Byowner in Detroit (2212)
Homes For Sale Byowner in Lansing (455)
Homes For Sale Byowner in West Bloomfield (408)
Homes For Sale Byowner in Grand Blanc (363)
Homes For Sale Byowner in Ann Arbor (354)
Homes For Sale Byowner in SHELBY TWP (351)
For Sale By Owner Florida
Homes For Sale Byowner in Miami (10824)
Homes For Sale Byowner in CAPE CORAL (7493)
Homes For Sale Byowner in NAPLES (5901)
Homes For Sale Byowner in PORT CHARLOTTE (4172)
Homes For Sale Byowner in Orlando (3547)
Homes For Sale Byowner in MIAMI BEACH (3528)
For Sale By Owner Illinois
Homes For Sale Byowner in CHICAGO (11360)
Homes For Sale Byowner in NAPERVILLE (1026)
Homes For Sale Byowner in Saint Charles (536)
Homes For Sale Byowner in Palatine (529)
Homes For Sale Byowner in AURORA (514)
Homes For Sale Byowner in Bloomington (511)
Get Instant Notifications
Be notified of new Homes and Price Changes
By Joining you agree to Byowner's
Properties Features:
Min 1+ 1.5+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+ 6+
Min 500 750 1,000 1,250 1,500 1,750 2,000 2,250 2,500 2,750 3,000 3,500 4,000 5,000 7,500
Max 500 750 1,000 1,250 1,500 1,750 2,000 2,250 2,500 2,750 3,000 3,500 4,000 5,000 7,500
Min 2,000 sq ft 4,500 sq ft 6,500 sq ft 8,000 sq ft 10,890 sq ft / .25 acres 21,780 sq ft / .5 acres 1 acre 2 acres 3 acres 4 acres 5 acres 10 acres 40 acres 100 acres
Max 2,000 sq ft 4,500 sq ft 6,500 sq ft 8,000 sq ft 10,890 sq ft / .25 acres 21,780 sq ft / .5 acres 1 acre 2 acres 3 acres 4 acres 5 acres 10 acres 40 acres 100 acres
Min 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 5+
Min 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 1900 1899 1898 1897 1896 1895 1894 1893 1892 1891 1890 1889 1888 1887 1886 1885 1884 1883 1882 1881 1880 1879 1878 1877 1876 1875 1874 1873 1872 1871 1870 1869 1868 1867 1866 1865 1864 1863 1862 1861 1860 1859 1858 1857 1856 1855 1854 1853 1852 1851 1850
Max 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 1900 1899 1898 1897 1896 1895 1894 1893 1892 1891 1890 1889 1888 1887 1886 1885 1884 1883 1882 1881 1880 1879 1878 1877 1876 1875 1874 1873 1872 1871 1870 1869 1868 1867 1866 1865 1864 1863 1862 1861 1860 1859 1858 1857 1856 1855 1854 1853 1852 1851 1850
Day on Market
Min New listings (since yesterday) Less than 3 days Less than 7 days Less than 14 days Less than 30 days Less than 45 days Less than 60 days Less than 90 days Less than 180 days
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13782
|
__label__wiki
| 0.830545
| 0.830545
|
H. M. Hyndman
H. M. Hyndman books and biography
Henry Hyndman
Henry Mayers Hyndman (March 7, 1842 - November 20, 1921) was an English writer and politician, and the founder of the Social Democratic Federation and the National Socialist Party.
The son of a wealthy businessman, Hyndman was born in London. After being educated at home, he entered Trinity College, Cambridge. After achieving his degree in 1861 he studied law for two years before deciding to become a journalist.
In 1866 Hyndman reported on the Italian war with Austria for the Pall Mall Gazette. Hyndman was horrified by the reality of war and became violently ill after visiting the front line. Hyndman met the leaders of the Italian nationalist movement and was generally sympathetic to their cause.
In 1869 Hyndman toured the world, visiting the United States, Australia and several European countries. He continued to write for the Pall Mall Gazette, where he praised the merits of British imperialism and criticised those advocating Home Rule for Ireland. Hyndman was also very hostile to the experiments in democracy that were taking place in the United States.
Hyndman decided on a career in politics but, unable to find a party that he could fully support, decided to stand as an Independent for the constituency of St Marylebone in the 1880 General Election. Denounced as a Tory by William Gladstone, Hyndman got very little support from the electorate and, facing certain defeat, withdrew from the contest.
Soon after the election Hyndman read a novel based on the life of Ferdinand Lassalle. He became fascinated with Lassalle and decided to research this romantic hero who had been killed in a duel in 1864. Discovering that Lassalle had been a socialist, sometimes a friend and sometimes an adversary of Karl Marx, Hyndman read The Communist Manifesto and, although he had doubts about some of Marx's ideas, was greatly impressed by his analysis of capitalism.
Hyndman then decided to form Britain's first socialist political party. The Social Democratic Federation (SDF) had its first meeting on June 7, 1881. Many socialists were concerned that in the past Hyndman had been opposed to socialist ideas, but Hyndman persuaded many that he had genuinely changed his views, and those who eventually joined the SDF included William Morris, George Lansbury and Karl Marx's daughter, Eleanor Marx. However, Friedrich Engels, Marx's long-term collaborator, refused to support Hyndman's venture.
To publicize the SDF, Hyndman wrote England for All (1881), an attempt to explain Marx's ideas. This was followed in 1883 by Socialism Made Plain, which expounded the policies of the SDF. These included a demand for universal suffrage and the nationalisation of the means of production and distribution. The SDF also published Justice, edited by the talented journalist Henry Hyde Champion.
Although Hyndman was a talented writer and public speaker, many members of the SDF questioned his leadership qualities. He was extremely authoritarian and tried to restrict internal debate about party policy. At a SDF meeting on December 27, 1884, the executive voted by a majority of two (10-8), that it had no confidence in Hyndman. When he refused to resign, some members, including William Morris and Eleanor Marx, left the party.
In the 1885 General Election, Hyndman and Henry Hyde Champion, without consulting their colleagues, accepted £340 from the Tories to run parliamentary candidates in Hampstead and Kensington, the objective being to split the Liberal vote and therefore enabling the Conservative candidate to win. This ploy failed, and the two SDF's candidates only won 59 votes between them. The story leaked out, and the political reputation of both men suffered from the idea that they were willing to accept "Tory Gold".
Hyndman continued to lead the SDF and took part in negotiations to establish the Labour Representation Committee in 1900. However the SDF left the LRC when it became clear that it was deviating from the objectives he had set out, and in 1911 he set up the British Socialist Party (BSP) when the SDF fused with a number of branches of the Independent Labour Party.
Hyndman upset members of the BSP by supporting the United Kingdom's involvement in World War I. The party split in two with Hyndman forming a new National Socialist Party
Clemenceau The Man And His Time
By H. M. Hyndman
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13784
|
__label__wiki
| 0.630967
| 0.630967
|
Court Of Federal Claims
United states court
-chief judge loren
Government. 85.2 headquarters
Rubs eyes* blockchain engineers?!? brave
Hears monetary claims
1-29-2019: Office of Special Masters‘ General Order regarding lapse in Department of Justice’s (DOJ) appropriations. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program ("Vaccine Program") comprises Part 2 of the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986 ("Vaccine Act").
About The Federal Court. The Court decides disputes according to law – promptly, courteously and effectively contributing to the economic and social wellbeing of all Australians.
Since April 2018 when the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its Oil States decision, patent owners have made various arguments addressing issues that were not resolved in that case. One such example is …
On behalf of myself and my colleagues, welcome to the website of the united states court of Federal Claims. I am grateful to the President for appointing me to serve as the chief judge of the court, an institution that has been at the center of my legal career––as a law clerk to then-chief judge loren A. Smith, litigator, special master, and judge––for over 30 years.
Immigration And Naturalization Service Related Records: Record copies of publications of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and its predecessors in RG 287, Publications of the U.S. government. 85.2 headquarters records of INS and its Predecessors 1882-1957 Apply For Food Stamps A woman at the homeless shelter where she was staying asked why Paul was not receiving food stamps. Paul,
rubs eyes* blockchain engineers?!? brave claims its mobe browser batt use bests whatever you’re using. Why? Hint: It begins with A then D then V… Oracle is pushing America’s Court of Federal Claims …
After losing out in a Government Accountability Office bid protest, Oracle is taking its case against the Pentagon’s proposed $10 billion, 10-year cloud infrastructure deal to federal court. Oracle is …
The United States Court of Federal Claims (in case citations, Fed. Cl. or C.F.C.) is a United States federal court that hears monetary claims against the U.S. government.It is the direct successor to the United States Court of Claims, which was founded in 1855, and is therefore a revised version of one of the oldest federal courts in the country.. The courthouse of the Court of Federal Claims …
United States Treasury Department 100 rows · The Secretary of the Treasury is the head of the United States Department of the … Steven Terner Mnuchin was sworn in as the 77th Secretary of the Treasury on February 13, 2017. As Secretary, Mr. Mnuchin is responsible for the U.S. Treasury, whose mission is to maintain a strong economy, foster economic
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13787
|
__label__wiki
| 0.76162
| 0.76162
|
Maltese EU Commissioner nominee grilled over birds “massacre”
Karmenu Vella, the candidate to be the EU’s next environment commissioner, was faced with tough questions from MEPs over what he will do to address the “massacre” of wild birds in Malta. At the same parliamentary hearing, Chris Packham, the well known UK TV presenter and environmental campaigner, said EU rules on the protection of birds must be “defended at all costs.”
Mr Vella has been tasked by Commission President elect Jean-Claude Juncker with “re-evaluating” the EU’s Birds Directive, a law that his home country of Malta has been found to be breaking by European courts.
The European Parliament Environment Committee and Fisheries Committee held a hearing with Karmenu Vella on Tuesday.
MEPs from both committees will now give their opinion as to whether the European Parliament should accept his candidacy, taking into account his performance at the hearing.
In the nomination hearing, UK Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder challenged Vella on what he will do to stop the illegal killing of migratory birds in Malta.
Mr Vella commented that he condemns illegal hunting in Malta, adding “I expect member states to implement all EU directives” and that “abuses shall not be tolerated.”
Following the hearing, Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder commented: “People want to see EU rules on protecting our wildlife properly enforced, not watered down.
“I will now be holding Mr Vella’s feet to the fire and ensuring he lives up to his word – including on action to stop illegal bird-hunting in Malta.
“Any attempts to water down legislation that preserves Europe’s biodiversity will be met by fierce opposition by me and other like-minded MEPs.”
Further comment came from the BBC´s Packham, who said, “Given his pro-hunting Maltese credentials, a lot of people are astonished Mr Vella was offered this post and are concerned about the implications this has for protecting and improving EU environmental law.
“The EU Birds Directive is a vital and hard-won framework for the protection of birds in Europe. It must be defended at all costs, without it Europe would be a far worse place. The last thing we want is any attempts to weaken or water it down.
“Myself and other conservationists are immensely grateful for Catherine Bearder and her colleagues’ support. To see this issue recognised by MEPs is extremely heartening and shows the importance of using the democratic process to meet our collective aims.”
In his mission letter outlining priorities for the next 5 years, Juncker asked Vella to evaluate the Birds and Habitats and Directives and “assess the potential for merging them into a more modern piece of legislation.”
A vote on whether to approve the 28 new European Commissioners is due to take place at the European Parliament’s next plenary session in Strasbourg, which will take place from the 20th to 23rd October.
By Martin Banks
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13791
|
__label__cc
| 0.666479
| 0.333521
|
Brussels at heart of fight against Ebola epidemic
Institute of Natural Sciences’ museum received almost 330,000...
Institute of Natural Sciences’ museum received almost 330,000 visits in 2018
Brussels is the strategic centre of MSF’s fight against Ebola, said Brice de la Vingne, Director of Operations for MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières – ‘Doctors Without Borders’) on Monday during the launch of a fund-raising campaign for the NGO. Indeed it is from Brussels that the intervention in West Africa is being coordinated, and where the first, and until recently the only, training centre for the treatment of Ebola can also be found in the Belgian capital. “The international response is slow to materialise”, regrets de la Vingne. This is why, since August, MSF Belgium has been organizing Ebola training courses at its Bruno Corbe Centre near Tour & Taxis in Brussels. “Training is at the root of our work and our aim is to share our knowledge in this field as quickly as possible”, explains the Director of Operations.
Around 282 people have taken part in the training courses since they started up. “Most of them are MSF collaborators about to travel into the field, but we also welcome workers from around 20 other organisations such as Save The Children, CDC, IMC, and civil servants from the Health Departments of affected countries”, adds de la Vingne.
The Brussels-based centre has long been the only centre in the world to be working in this field, but thanks to the NGO other such schemes have been or are being set up in Atlanta, Geneva, Amsterdam and Berlin.
The fact that the main supply centre for MSF is based in Belgium places Brussels even more at the heart of the fight against Ebola. It is essential that flights towards affected countries from Brussels Airport are maintained, stresses Meinie Nicolai, President of MSF Belgium. “Of course we understand that personnel at the airport may have concerns, and we are happy with the new measures in place to reassure them”, she adds, insisting on the importance of Friday’s nomination of Dr Erika Vlieghe as National Ebola Coordinator.
MSF has been active in West Africa for 7 months now and launched a fund-raising campaign on Monday, asking for financial but also moral support for their teams in the field. You can find all the necessary information at www.msf.be.
Christopher Vincent (Source: Belga)
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13792
|
__label__cc
| 0.64871
| 0.35129
|
Birthright (בּכוֹרָה, bekorah'; Sept. and N.T. τὰ πρωτοτόκια) denotes the special privileges and advantages belonging to the first-born (q.v.) among the I Hebrews. These were not definitely settled in the patriarchal times, but gradually became defined to include the following peculiar rights:
1. The functions of priesthood in the family. The eldest son naturally became the priest in virtue of his priority of descent, provided no blemish or defect attached to him. The theory that he was the priest of the family rests on no scriptural statement, and the rabbins appear divided on the question (see Hottinger's Note on Goodwin's Moses and Aaron, i, 1; Ugolini, 3:53). Great respect was paid to him in the household, and, as the family widened into a tribe, this grew into a sustained authority, undefined save by custom, in all matters of common interest. Thus the "princes" of the congregation had probably rights of primogeniture (Nu 7:2; Nu 21:18; Nu 25:14). Reuben was the first-born of the twelve patriarchs, and therefore the honor of the priesthood belonged to his tribe. God, however, transferred it from the tribe of Reuben to that of Levi (Nu 3:12-13; Nu 8:18). Hence the firstborn of the other tribes were redeemed from serving God as priests by a sum not exceeding five shekels. Being presented before the Lord in the temple, they were redeemed immediately after the thirtieth day from their birth (Nu 18:15-16; Lu 2:22). It is to be observed that only the first-born who were fit for the priesthood (i.e. such as had no defect, spot, or Llemish) were thus presented to the priest.
2. A " double portion" of the paternal property was allotted by the Mosaic law (De 21:15-17), nor could the caprice of the father deprive him of it. There is some difficulty in determining precisely what is meant by a double portion. Some suppose that half the inheritance was received by the elder brother, and that the other half was equally divided among the remaining brethren. This is not probable. The rabbins believe that the elder brother received twice as much as any of the rest, and there is no reason to doubt the correctness of this opinion. When the first-born died before his father's property was divided, and left children, the right of the father descended to the children, and not to the brother next of age. Such was the inheritance of Joseph, his sons reckoning with his brethren, and becoming heads of tribes. This seems to explain the request of Elisha for a " double portion" of Elijah's spirit (2Ki 2:9). Reuben, through his unfilial conduct, was deprived of the birthright (Ge 49:4; 1Ch 5:1). It is likely that some remembrance of this lost pre- eminence stirred the Reubenite leaders of Korah's rebellion (Nu 16:1-2; Nu 26:59). Esau's act, transferring his right to Jacob, was allowed valid (Ge 25:33).
⇒Bible concordance for BIRTHRIGHT.
3. The first-born son succeeded to the official authority possessed by his father. If the latter was a king, the former was regarded as his legitimate successor, unless some unusual event or arrangement interfered (2Ch 21:3). After the law was given through Moses, the right of primogeniture could not be transferred from the first-born to a younger child at the father's option. In the patriarchal age, however, it was in the power of the parent thus to convey it from the eldest to another child (De 21:15-17; Ge 25:31-32). David, nevertheless, by divine appointment, excluded Adonijah in favor of Solomon, which deviation from rule was indicated by the anointing (Goodwin, 1. c. 4, with Hottinger's notes). The first-born of a line is often noted in the early scriptural genealogies, e.g. Ge 22:21; Ge 25:13; Nu 26:5, etc.
4. The Jews attached a sacred import to the title of primogeniture (see Schottgen, Hor. Hebr. i, 922), and this explains the peculiar significance of the terms "first-born" and "first-begotten" as applied to the Messiah. Thus in Ro 8:29, it is written concerning the Son, " That he might be the first-born among many brethren;" and in Col 1:18, "Who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence" (see also Heb 1:4-6). As the first-born had a double portion, so the Lord Jesus, as Mediator, has an inheritance superior to his brethren; he is exalted to the right hand of the Majesty on high, where he reigns until all his enemies shall be subdued. The universe is his rightful dominion in his mediatorial character. Again, he alone is a true priest; he fulfilled all the functions of the sacerdotal office; and the Levites, to whom, under the law, the priesthood was transferred from all the firstborn of Israel, derived the efficacy of their ministrations from their connection with the great high-priest (Jahn's Biblical Archeology, § 165). SEE PRIMOGENITURE.
⇒Definition of birthright
← Birthday
Birthwald →
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13801
|
__label__wiki
| 0.70567
| 0.70567
|
U.S. Sees Huge Growth in Homeschooling
kathryn hickok May 29, 2015 0
What does it mean for parents and kids today?
The Center for Education Reform reports that since 2003, the number of homeschooled kids in the U.S. “has jumped nearly 62 percent with 1,773,000 students being educated in the comfort and flexibility of their own homes.” Cascade’s publications director Kathryn Hickok discussed this trend on KUIK’s The Jayne Carroll Show on May 27. Listen to Jayne and Kathryn talk about the increasing popularity of homeschooling and what resources are available to parents today!
Is It Possible to Power an Export Facility Entirely by Renewable Energy?
john a. charles jr. May 27, 2015 0
The Portland Sustainability Commission recently recommended that the City Council approve a $500 million propane export facility proposed by Pembina Pipeline Corporation. However, as part of its approval, the Commission is requiring that 100% of the electricity used at the export facility be generated by Oregon renewable energy sources.
This is an impossible standard to meet. We know it’s impossible because Portland has already tried it. In 2001, the City Council publicly committed that by 2010 all electricity consumed by city bureaus would come from renewable energy sources. Yet, despite great efforts, Portland never came close to meeting the goal by 2010.
Notwithstanding this failure, in 2009 the City pledged to meet the 100% goal by 2012, with a new aspiration of supplying 15% of the total electricity load from self-generated green power. By the end of 2012, the City had only reached 9% self-generation, and total green power reached just 14% of all consumption.
If Portland has consistently failed to meet the 100% goal over a 14-year period, it should not impose the same requirement on a private facility.
Tennessee Special Needs Kids Get Choices in Education
Tennessee just became the 28th state to enact a private school choice program, giving parents more options for their children’s education. Governor Bill Haslam signed the nation’s fourth Education Savings Account law on Monday.
Arizona, Florida, and Mississippi already allowed parents to have some control over the funding allocated for their kids’ education through Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). ESAs are a flexible way for parents to manage some of the money that otherwise would be used for their kids’ education in their zoned public school. ESAs allow parents to pay for different kinds of educational services that may be the best fit for their children, including tuition, online courses, tutoring, therapy, or other categories of expenses defined by law.
Now, Tennessee children with an Individualized Education Plan will be able to use state and local funds, plus special education funds to which they would be entitled, for the schools and services their parents judge will best meet their individual needs. This law empowers parents of children with autism and many other special needs to get the help they need to succeed in school.
Parents of children with special needs want less red tape and more options. ESAs empower families to find and pay for those options, providing winning solutions for children. Oregon children should be given this opportunity, too.
June 1st Public Debate: Do Citizens in a Free Society Have a Right to Privacy in Charitable Giving?
steve buckstein May 12, 2015 0
Do you donate to any nonprofit organizations such as charities, churches, or think tanks? Would you rather not be subject to possible retribution for supporting what others might think are the “wrong ideas”? Then you won’t want to miss a free public debate on donor privacy the evening of Monday, June 1 in Portland.
As debates on controversial topics such as global warming and gay marriage heat up, there are calls to make organizations espousing views on such issues reveal not only the names of their donors, but their addresses, occupations, and employers, just like political candidate committees must do.
Such disclosures could deter some people from donating at all, thus stifling the free exchange of ideas that helps make our society strong.
Arguing in favor of donor privacy will be James Huffman, Dean Emeritus of Lewis & Clark Law School. Jim was the 2010 Oregon Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate.
Arguing for donor disclosure will be Dan Meek, a public interest attorney in Portland. Dan is Co-chair of the Independent Party of Oregon.
The debate will be moderated by Willamette Week’s Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist Nigel Jaquiss.
Join us the evening of June 1 in Portland for this public debate asking whether citizens in a free society have a right to privacy in charitable giving.
Full details and free tickets are available at CascadePolicy.org.
Event Video – Aging Roads? New Ideas!
Cascade Policy Institute May 8, 2015 0
Cascade welcomed transportation expert Adrian Moore, Ph.D., Vice President of Policy for Reason Foundation, at a special event at Multnomah Athletic Club on April 29, 2015. Adrian gave a lively, informative, and interactive presentation on a variety of transportation innovations and road financing options. The discussion ranged from topics such as driverless cars to wireless transponders. If you missed the event, you can watch it here. We hope to see you at Cascade’s next event!
Do citizens in a free society have a right to privacy in charitable giving?
brian campbell May 8, 2015 0
A Debate on Privacy in Charitable Giving
James Huffman, J.D.
Dan Meek, J.D.
“Do citizens in a free society have a right to privacy
with respect to their charitable giving?”
Is there a compelling public interest in knowing the sources of funding to nonprofit charitable institutions?
Should all such organizations be forced to reveal the names, address, and employers of their donors,
as is now required for most political giving?
Arguing in favor of donor privacy will be James Huffman, Dean Emeritus of Lewis & Clark Law School. Arguing for public disclosure will be Dan Meek, a public interest attorney and Co-chair of the Independent Party of Oregon. Moderating will be Nigel Jaquiss, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist with Willamette Week. This debate is sponsored by the Arthur N. Rupe Foundation.
Background: Contributions to candidates running for elective office must be disclosed to the public. The donor must reveal his or her name, address, occupation, and employer. These “donor transparency” requirements may deter some individuals from making political contributions if they anticipate the likelihood of retribution for backing the “wrong” candidate.
Contributions to nonprofit charitable organizations do not carry the same requirements. However, in recent years, pressure has been growing to require charitable organizations to reveal more information about their donors. For example, during February 2015, U.S. Representative Raul M. Grijalva, a Democrat from Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District who is the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, sent letters to the heads of seven universities requesting donor information related to professors at those institutions who had previously testified before Congress regarding global warming and related topics.
The universities, including MIT, Georgia Institute of Technology, and University of Alabama-Huntsville, were asked to turn over to Congress such information as the source of funding, amount of funding, and the reason for receiving the funding related to the named professors.
About James Huffman:
Jim Huffman is Dean Emeritus of Lewis & Clark Law School and a Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He is a graduate of Montana State University, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and the University of Chicago Law School. Over a forty-year career at Lewis & Clark, he taught many courses, including constitutional law and constitutional history. As the 2010 Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Oregon, Jim learned much about the legal and practical implications of campaign finance regulation.
About Dan Meek:
Dan Meek is a public interest attorney in Portland, Oregon. He is a graduate of Stanford law school and has served as counsel at the California Energy Commission and as staff director of two Congressional subcommittees. He has practiced law in Portland since 1987, representing electricity ratepayers, political parties, candidates, and nonprofit organizations. He is Co-chair of the Independent Party of Oregon, representing more than 5% of Oregon registered voters.
About Nigel Jaquiss:
Nigel Jaquiss has been a journalist with Willamette Week since 1997. He is a graduate of Dartmouth College and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. He won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting for his 2004 story exposing former Governor Neil Goldschmidt’s sexual abuse of a 14-year-old girl while serving as Portland Mayor.
Complimentary coffee, tea, iced tea
No-host bar (cash only)
This event is free. RSVP by May 29.
Cascade Policy Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donations are tax deductible and accepted with gratitude.
Cosponsors:
The Federalist Society Portland Lawyers’ Chapter
Roggendorf Law LLC
Policy Picnic – May 20, 2015
Please join us for our monthly Policy Picnic led by Cascade board chair and economist Dr. Bill Conerly
Topic: Economic Inequality: Causes, Consequences, and Policy Implications
Description: Economic inequality has been the hottest topic in public policy in 2015. Please join us as Cascade board chair Dr. Bill Conerly discusses reasons for changes in inequality and possible policy responses to this controversial issue.
Although Dr. Conerly is best known for his work applying economics to business challenges, he studied income distribution under the top professor in the field (Martin Bronfenbrenner of Duke University) and has written on inequality for Forbes.com.
This free, informal event promises to be a lively, interactive discussion about one of the most debated topics in policy–and politics–today. RSVP soon, as space is limited.
Admission is free. Please feel free to bring your own lunch.
Coffee and cookies will be served.
A Generational Mistake
steve buckstein May 6, 2015 0
The Oregon Supreme Court last week struck down key 2013 legislative reforms to the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System (PERS) that would have saved taxpayers billions of dollars.
The Court in effect added some $5 billion back to the unfunded liability of the PERS system, which will now stand at over $14 billion. If not offset by new taxes or spending reductions elsewhere, public bodies such as school districts and state agencies will have to allocate even more of their budgets to pay for worker retirement benefits.
Before most Oregonians understood that the state retirement system was headed for trouble, Cascade Policy Institute published a 2001 report which concluded that “PERS is almost guaranteed to fall into steep unfunded liabilities over and over again because of its design.”
This conclusion was seconded last week when EcoNorthwest economist John Tapogna noted that “Oregon made a generational mistake in public policy, and the Supreme Court has essentially ruled that we have to live with it.” He noted, “That puts Oregon in a challenging economic position for the next couple of decades.”
The best way to keep such generational mistakes from happening again is to limit the size and scope of government so that future politicians have less control over our lives. Let’s make the $14 billion PERS generational mistake our last.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13802
|
__label__wiki
| 0.874468
| 0.874468
|
Zalmay Khalilzad Will Try to Pave Way for Taliban Talks with Afghanistan
By Sahar Khan
This article appeared in the Axios on September 28, 2018.
On September 5, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed that Zalmay Khalilzad will join the State Department as President Trump’s special adviser on Afghanistan. His main mission will be to facilitate talks between the Afghan government and Taliban.
There’s no way to know whether Khalizad will be successful, but it’s safe to say that the Afghan peace process just got trickier.
The big picture: Appointing Khalilzad as a special advisor indicates that the Trump administration is serious about an Afghan-led peace process, and about maintaining its hardline approach toward Pakistan. But what remains unclear is how the Pakistani government, now led by first-time prime minister Imran Khan, will work with Khalilzad.
Khalilzad is a known neoconservative figure in the U.S. war in Afghanistan, which has entered its eighteenth year. He previously served as the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan and Iraq and later as the UN ambassador during the George W. Bush administration. As an Afghan-American, Khalilzad has a unique understanding of Afghanistan that President Bush tried to capitalize on when Hamid Karzai was sworn in as Afghanistan’s president in 2004.
Yes, but: His strong connection with Karzai and the visibility of his extended family’s involvement in the Afghan government, which included seeking contracts, raised some concerns within American diplomatic circles about his conflicting interests. In 2008, there was a rumor that Khalilzad might even run as a presidential candidate in Afghanistan’s elections.
The central question is, what happens if Khalilzad is unable to deliver? He has often advocated for creating avenues of mutual understanding between the Afghan government and the Taliban. But he has also been very critical of Pakistan’s sponsorship of the group, even as the Trump administration has asked Pakistan to facilitate talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
The bottom line: There’s no way to know whether Khalizad will be successful, but it’s safe to say that the Afghan peace process just got trickier.
Sahar Khan is a visiting research fellow in the Cato Institute’s Defense and Foreign Policy Department.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13803
|
__label__wiki
| 0.991876
| 0.991876
|
Sports-no-CBCCBC-Sports
Ian Bridge named women's U-20 head coach
The Canadian Soccer Association announced Thursday the appointment of Ian Bridge as the new head coach of Canada's under-20 women's team.
CBC Sports · Posted: Oct 09, 2008 3:39 PM ET | Last Updated: October 9, 2008
Birdge takes over from Bob Birarda, who has parted ways with the CSA. In a release, the CSA said the departure was a mutual decision that both sides agreed was in the best interest of both parties.
Bridge, 49, played 34 times for the national men's team from 1981-91, including three games at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, the only time that Canada has ever qualified for the competition.
Bridge was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2003.
Since retiring as a player, the former defender and Victoria native has served as an assistant coach on both the women's national and under-20 teams. He was the head coach of the under-20 team that won a silver medal at the 2002 FIFA U-20 World Cup staged in Canada.
Bridge takes over the team as it prepares to play in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Chile 2008 from Nov. 19 to Dec. 7.
Canada will play Japan (Nov. 20), Congo (Nov. 23) and Germany (Nov. 27) in its round-robin matches.
The top two teams in each of the first-round groups advance to the quarter-finals.
Canada enters the tournament with a great deal of confidence, having won the CONCACAF women's U-20 championship in June and the Four Nations tournament in Chile last month.
CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC Sports
Canadian coach Mitchell won't reach out to Brennan
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13804
|
__label__cc
| 0.554995
| 0.445005
|
Global Real Estate Investors Plan to Increase Purchases in 2018, CBRE Survey Finds
CBRE Leads Global Commercial Property Investment Sales Activity for Seventh Consecutive Year
2018 Womens Networking Forum BuildDay
CBRE and Rebuilding Together Work to Renovate Ada S. McKinley Program in Chicago, IL
Los Angeles | March 12, 2018
Hundreds of Volunteers Repair Center Serving People with Disabilities
CBRE, through its corporate philanthropy program, CBRE Cares, will partner with national community revitalization nonprofit organization Rebuilding Together to renovate one of Ada S. McKinley’s program locations in Chicago, Illinois, during its CBRE Women’s Networking Forum.
On Wednesday, March 14, 2018, more than 200 CBRE Women’s Network members and Chicago-area CBRE employees will work alongside the local Rebuilding Together affiliate, Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago, to provide important upgrades to Ada S. McKinley’s South Side location at 1112 E. 87th Street where people with developmental and intellectual disabilities are provided with job readiness and community day services.
The volunteer projects at the facility will include patching and painting walls, replacing windows, cleaning and organizing a storage area, replacing office furniture, providing carpentry and plumbing repairs, and painting two murals.
"This is one of our largest Shelter Program projects, said Kathleen Thompson, Director of the CBRE Foundation. "The project involves hundreds of members of the CBRE Women's Network, who are here attending their conference in Chicago, and many of our local employees. They are eager to work with Rebuilding Together in making improvements to Ada S. McKinley, and to demonstrate CBRE’s commitment to volunteerism and community service."
"Since 2010, CBRE employees have given back to thousands of their neighbors through Rebuilding Together," said Caroline Blakely, President and CEO of Rebuilding Together. "We look forward to once again partnering with CBRE to create an inviting space for Ada S. McKinley and the people they serve."
CBRE, through its Shelter Program and partnership with Rebuilding Together, improves neighborhoods and housing for individuals in need. The CBRE Shelter Program is a cornerstone of CBRE Cares, which is the company’s philanthropy program.
About Rebuilding Together
Rebuilding Together is a leading national nonprofit organization with a mission to repair the homes of people in need and revitalize our communities. Each year, Rebuilding Together affiliates and nearly 100,000 volunteers complete about 10,000 rebuild projects. Learn more and get involved at rebuildingtogether.org.
About Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc.
Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc. is driven by its mission to empower, educate, and employ people to change lives and strengthen communities. Now approaching its 100th anniversary, Ada S. McKinley is one of the largest human services organizations in the country, serving more than 6,000 people annually at over 75 locations. Services are provided 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, primarily in Illinois/Chicago with additional sites in Indiana and Wisconsin. The agency has three primary areas of service: Child Development & Youth; Employment and Community Support; and Behavioral Health & Clinical. Services rendered daily include: tutoring, mentoring and college placement, foster care, residential, youth and family counseling, employment training and placement, and head start programs. Learn more at www.adasmckinleyorg.
About CBRE Group, Inc.
CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2018 revenue). The company has more than 90,000 employees (excluding affiliates), and serves real estate investors and occupiers through approximately 480 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide. CBRE offers a broad range of integrated services, including facilities, transaction and project management; property management; investment management; appraisal and valuation; property leasing; strategic consulting; property sales; mortgage services and development services. Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.
Robert McGrath
Corporate Communications, Global
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13805
|
__label__cc
| 0.545073
| 0.454927
|
Column: Meet new faces at Sharonville Branch Library
New staff members bring variety of skills
Column: Meet new faces at Sharonville Branch Library New staff members bring variety of skills Check out this story on cincinnati.com: http://cin.ci/1SYcHZl
Published 12:24 p.m. ET Feb. 3, 2016
JoJo WinkleCommunity Press guest columnist(Photo: Picasa)
The Sharonville Branch Library has had several new additions to its staff. Lauren, Jocelyn, Javert, Victoria, Christine, Katie and Anna are Sharonville’s new library services assistants. Each of them contributes to a diverse team filled with charisma.
Lauren is a library services assistant whose background is in consumer affairs and advertising law. She has always appreciated libraries and enjoys the atmosphere surrounding the plethora of books and information. She said, “Libraries are awesome – they offer free books, movies, music, computers, information, etc. to all. That’s pretty awesome!”
Jocelyn has returned to the Sharonville Library for a fourth year after traveling overseas to teach English in Burundi, Africa. She is working on becoming a certified doula and plans to attend a midwife school in Australia in 2017. In the meantime, she finds her work as a library services assistant very fulfilling. She enjoys customer service with a community focus and feels privileged to be able to “connect people with the world of information and ideas.”
Javert is a sophomore electronic media major at the University of Cincinnati with an interest in visual effects compositing. He decided to join the Library after volunteering for service hours and said he really likes the atmosphere and the employees. Javert is now a library services assistant at the Sharonville Branch while he attends school.
Victoria said she has a lifelong love of the Library and books. She lived across the street from the Library and her mom took her there all the time. She thought she would be a good candidate to work as a library services assistant because of her love of books and helping people learn. She has a husband, a 16-year-old son, a Chiweenie, a chihuahua and a 12-year-old goldfish named Merlin.
Christine has always been an avid reader but particularly loves children’s books. When she was a Montessori teacher, she enjoyed spending time at the Library finding wonderful (and free) materials for her classroom. Originally from Dayton, Christine moved back to Ohio about a year ago after living in North Carolina for four years. Working as a library services assistant, she is amazed at the resources available at the Library and is proud to help them provide for the community.
Katie shares that she comes from a family of bookworms and that she and her sisters would try to finish the Library’s Summer Reading Program within the first week it started, so becoming a library services assistant was a dream-come-true. In her spare time Katie loves to craft and play the violin. Her favorite book is “Love Among the Walnuts” by Jean Ferris.
Anna has a history degree and studied ancient Greek and Latin. She loves animals, ice hockey, and Russian literature. Before becoming a library services assistant, Anna worked at the classics library at the University of Cincinnati. She loves being surrounded by books and helping people find information.
Stop by today to meet any one of the new Library staff.
JoJo Winkle is the senior library services assistant at the Sharonville Branch Library, 10980 Thornview Drive.
Read or Share this story: http://cin.ci/1SYcHZl
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13806
|
__label__wiki
| 0.858347
| 0.858347
|
Alli Haapasalo
Alli Haapasalo is a New York based director and writer from Finland. She has written and directed acclaimed narrative and documentary films, which have been awarded at international film festivals both in the United States and in Europe.
Haapasalo holds a Master of Fine Arts (2009) from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, and a Bachelor of Arts (2003) from the School of Motion Picture, TV and Production Design at University of Art and Design in Helsinki, Finland. Selected filmography includes Ilona - The Girl Who Had No Problems, The Appointment, Dear Mom, Love James and most recently Kukkulan Kuningas – On Thin Ice (nominated for Prix Europa 2012, winner of Best Screenplay at Brooklyn FF, Best Foreign Film at Manhattan FF, Best Actor at Sechsüchte FF and Main Prize at Nordic Glory FF). Working on both sides of the Atlantic, she brings together American and European storytelling in her films.
www.allihaapasalo.com
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13808
|
__label__wiki
| 0.821878
| 0.821878
|
Asia-Pacific News
China's Xi says hopes for fair Australia investment policy
Published Sun, Sep 4 2016 10:25 PM EDT
Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the G-20 Summit in Hangzhou.
Lintao Zhang | Getty Images
China hopes Australia can provide a fair and transparent environment for foreign investors, President Xi Jinping said on Sunday, as he met Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for the first time since Canberra blocked a major deal.
Australia angered China last month after Turnbull's government stopped the A$10 billion ($7.57 billion) sale of the country's biggest energy grid to Chinese bidders after they failed to overcome security concerns.
After a meeting on the sidelines of a G20 summit in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, Xi said China "hopes the Australian side continues to dedicate itself to providing foreign investors a fair, transparent and predictable policy environment".
"This also accords with Australia's own interests," China's Foreign Ministry quoted Xi as telling Turnbull.
The decision has caused a rift between Australia and its biggest trading partner. China has accused Australia of bowing to protectionist sentiment in blocking the bid for Ausgrid, as well as an earlier one by a China-led consortium to buy cattle company Kidman & Co.
Speaking to reporters later, Turnbull said China understood as well if not better than anyone else that it was Australia's sovereign right to determine who invests there and the terms in which they invest.
What is the impact of Ausgrid's blocked sale?
"China has more freedom to invest in Australia, indeed all foreigners have more freedom to invest in Australia, than in almost any other country. We have a very open foreign investment policy," Turnbull said.
"So we mostly say yes, we almost invariably say yes, but from time to time we say no and we make no bones about that and China respects that."
He added that the Ausgrid case was not specifically mentioned in the meeting.
Australia, a staunch U.S. ally, has also drawn criticism from China for running surveillance flights over disputed islands in the South China Sea, and supporting U.S. freedom of navigation exercises there.
Xi said China and Australia should respect each other's "choices in their development paths and each other's core interests and major interests", the foreign ministry added.
Turnbull said he discussed the South China Sea with Xi, and the importance of complying with international law.
"We're a good friend of China and good friends are very honest with each other," he added.
"We are consistent and our position is very clear that we expect and encourage all parties to comply with the rule of law, to show restraint and not act in a way that would exacerbate or create tensions."
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13812
|
__label__wiki
| 0.964322
| 0.964322
|
Iran's grand strategy is to become a regional powerhouse
By Michael Morell
April 4, 2015 / 9:30 AM / CBS News
This article originally appeared in the Washington Post.
One of the interesting aspects of international affairs is that states and nonstate actors will occasionally say publicly exactly what they are thinking, doing and planning to do. No need for spies, no need for diplomats -- just a need to listen.
In the mid-1990s, Osama bin Laden said repeatedly that he saw the United States as his most important enemy and therefore as his key target. Bin Laden delivered on these warnings in August 1998 in East Africa, in October 2000 in Yemen and in September 2001 in New York and Washington.
Intense reactions to the Iran nuclear deal
In a hotly contested election campaign in early 1998, India's Bharatiya Janata Party told voters in its platform that, if elected, it would openly deploy nuclear weapons. Once the BJP was in office, analysts played down the nuclear plank as campaign rhetoric. They were proved wrong in May 1998 when India conducted multiple underground nuclear tests, becoming a declared nuclear weapons state.
The world recently witnessed another moment of such candor -- and it came just weeks before Iran and world powers agreed to a framework for how to handle Iran's nuclear program over the next 10 to 15 years. Last month, a senior adviser to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke at a conference in Tehran on "Iran, Nationalism, History, and Culture." The adviser made clear that Iran's ambition is to become a regional hegemon -- in short, to reestablish the Persian empire.
The adviser, Ali Younesi -- who was head of intelligence for former president Mohammad Khatami -- told conference attendees, "Since its inception, Iran has [always] had a global [dimension]. It was born an empire. Iran's leaders, officials and administrators have always thought in the global" dimension.
Flash Points: What's in the tentative nuclear deal with Iran?
Younesi defined the territory of the Iranian empire, which he called "Greater Iran," as reaching from the borders of China and including the Indian subcontinent, the north and south Caucasus and the Persian Gulf. He said Iraq is the capital of the Iranian Empire -- a reference to the ancient city of Babylon, in present-day Iraq, which was the center of Persian life for centuries.
"We are protecting the interests of [all] the people in the region -- because they are all Iran's people," he said. "We must try to once again spread the banner of Islamic-Iranian unity and peace in the region. Iran must bear this responsibility, as it did in the past."
Younesi said that the aim of Iranian actions in "Greater Iran" was to ensure the security of the people there, adding that Saudi Arabia has nothing to fear from Iran's actions because the Saudis are incapable of defending the people of the region. He also said that anything that enters Iran is improved by becoming Iranian, particularly Islam itself, adding that Islam in its Iranian-Shiite form is the pure Islam, since it has shed all traces of Arabism.
These are not the views of a single individual. They are shared widely among Iranian elites. They are also not new. They stretch back decades and are deeply rooted in Iranian society and Persian culture.
Younesi's speech was an outline of Iran's grand strategy. And, most important, it puts into context Iran's behavior in the region -- largely covert operations to undermine its Arab neighbors, Israel and the United States, the countries that stand in the way of its pursuit of hegemony.
Iran conducts terrorism as a tool of statecraft -- it is one of the only countries in the world to do so -- largely against its neighbors. An Iranian plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the United States in a Georgetown restaurant was foiled in 2011. Iran supports international terrorist groups, including Hezbollah, which was behind the 1983 attacks on the U.S. Embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut that killed 258 Americans. These attacks are seen as the beginning of Islamic jihad against the United States as well as the start of the use of suicide car and truck bombs.
Congress seeks review of Iran nuclear agreement
Hezbollah's stated reason for its existence is to destroy Israel. This is also Iranian state policy. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the most powerful person in the country, said in a speech in Tehran in late 2013, "Zionist officials cannot be called humans; they are like animals, some of them. The Israeli regime is doomed to failure and annihilation."
Iran also provides support to Shiite groups in the region with the intent of reinforcing Shiite-led governments or overthrowing Sunni Arab regimes. Tehran's extensive support has assisted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's killing of more than 100,000 of his own citizens. Iran's support to Shiite militia groups during the Iraq war resulted in the deaths of hundreds of U.S. servicemen there. One of Iran's proxies, the Houthis, recently overthrew the popularly elected government in Yemen.
This grand strategy, of course, is inconsistent with U.S. interests, and Iran knows that. At the conference, Younesi said that Iran was operating in Greater Iran against Sunni Islamic extremism, as well as against the Saudi Wahhabis, Turkey, secularists, Western rule and Zionism.
The nuclear framework agreement announced Thursday is a good deal for the United States. If fully implemented by Iran, it will push Iran's breakout time to produce a weapon from just a few months to beyond a year, while making it difficult for Iran to cheat. But it will also, once sanctions are lifted, give Iran more resources to pursue its grand strategy, as outlined so clearly by Younesi. It has always been important that the United States and our allies have a policy to counter this strategy and contain Iran -- and now it is even more important that we do so.
Michael Morell is a CBS News senior security contributor.
First published on April 4, 2015 / 9:30 AM
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13813
|
__label__wiki
| 0.713908
| 0.713908
|
Pope preaches to faithful in Latin America
Pope Francis traveled to Latin America on a three nation tour, bringing him to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay. This is the second trip since his election for the Argentine born Pope; he journeyed to Brazil in 2013, soon after being elected to lead the Catholic Church.
In this photo, Francis is framed by a feather headdress worn by one of the indigenous people and children in traditional costumes greeting him upon his arrival at the El Alto airport in Bolivia on July 8, 2015.
During the welcome ceremony at the airport, Pope Francis appeared robust, delivering an energetic speech urging Bolivians, who are the poorest South Americans, to continue to build an inclusive society that does not leave out the poor and disadvantaged.
Credit: Gregorio Borgia/AP
Pope Francis is cheered by supporters in Santa Cruz on his way to a holy mass in the square of Christ the Redeemer in Santa Cruz, Bolivia on July 9, 2015.
According to a flight attendant who served Pope Francis on his flight Wednesday between Quito, Ecuador, and La Paz, Bolivia, the Pope drank a tea made of a combination of coca leaves, chamomile and anise.
Credit: Cris Bouroncle/AFP/Getty Images
Bolivians attend mass celebrated by Pope Francis in the square of Christ the Redeemer in Santa Cruz, Bolivia on July 9, 2015.
Credit: Anna Matranga/CBS
Pope Francis arrives in a popemobile to celebrate Mass in the square of Christ the Redeemer in Santa Cruz, Bolivia on July 9, 2015.
Credit: Mariana Bazo/Reuters
Billboards with pictures of Pope Francis are seen as Francis leads a large open-air mass at the square of Christ the Redeemer in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, July 9, 2015.
Credit: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters
A boy holds a poster of Pope Francis during mass in the square of Christ the Redeemer in Santa Cruz, Bolivia on July 9, 2015.
Pope Francis officiates a holy mass at the square of Christ the Redeemer in Santa Cruz, Bolivia on July 9, 2015.
Credit: Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images
Pope Francis waves to the crowd lining the road to La Paz, as he rides aboard a popemobile from El Alto, Bolivia, on July 8, 2015.
Credit: Rodrigo Abd/AP
Pope Francis addresses the crowd as the mountain Illimani is seen in the distance in El Alto, Bolivia on July 8, 2015.
Credit: Daniel Rodrigo/Reuters
Pope Francis waves from a popemobile as he rides from El Alto to La Paz, Bolivia on July 8, 2015.
Credit: Eduardo Verdugo/AP
Bolivian President Evo Morales (center), flanked by Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera (left), gestures as he speaks to Pope Francis at the international airport in La Paz, Bolivia on July 8, 2015.
Pope Francis leaves El Alto International airport aboard a popemobile in El Alto, Bolivia on July 8, 2015.
Credit: Juan Karita/AP
Pope Francis is greeted by a girl at the airport in Quito, Ecuador before his departure for Bolivia on July 8, 2015.
Credit: Martin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images
Pope Francis arrives to celebrate mass at the Bicentenario Park in Quito, Ecuador, July 7, 2015.
Speaking to students and educators at a Catholic University in Ecuador's capital on July 7, 2015, Pope Francis delivered a strong speech in defense of the environment, warning that caring for the Earth is now no longer a recommendation, but an urgent requirement.
Pope Francis arrives at the El Quinche Santuary near Quito, Ecuador, July 8, 2015.
Credit: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters, REUTERS
The Faithful attend a mass celebrated by Pope Francis at the Bicentenario Park in Quito, Ecuador, July 7, 2015.
Ecuadorians enthusiastically welcomed Pope Francis as large crowds lined the streets to see him in the Popemobile or outside venues. On July 6, 2015 an estimated 800,000 braved intense heat and humidity to attend the papal mass in the coastal city of Guayaquil.
Credit: Gary Granja/Reuters
Pope Francis arrives to celebrate mass at the Bicentenario Park in Quito, Ecuador, July 7, 2015. Francis, 78, said humans had damaged the planet by "our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed it. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder it at will."
A young boy ponders a wooden cross before an open-air mass officiated by Pope Francis at the Bicentennial Park in Quito, Ecuador, on July 7, 2015.
Credit: Rodrigo Buendia/AFP/Getty Images
Pope Francis (center) prays during a mass at the Bicentenario Park in Quito, Ecuador, July 7, 2015.
Credit: Jose Miguel Gomez/Reuters
Priests take photographs as Pope Francis arrives to celebrate mass at the Bicentenario Park in Quito, Ecuador, July 7, 2015.
Credit: Gary Granja.Reuters
Pope Francis (center) celebrates an open-air mass at the Bicentennial Park in Quito, Ecuador, on July 7, 2015.
Faithful gather for an open-air mass officiated by Pope Francis at the Bicentennial Park in Quito, Ecuador, on July 7, 2015.
A member of the chorus takes a picture as Pope Francis celebrates a mass at the Bicentenario Park in Quito, Ecuador, July 7, 2015.
Holding an image of the Pope, an Ecuadoran awaits the arrival of Pope Francis at San Francisco Church for a meeting with political, economic and civic leaders in Quito, Ecuador on July 7, 2015.
Credit: Luis Robayo/AFP/Getty Images
Pope Francis hugs a young girl at the San Francisco Church in Quito, Ecuador, July 7, 2015.
Pope Francis arrives at the San Francisco Church in Quito, Ecuador on July 7, 2015.
Pope Francis speaks at the San Francisco Church in Quito, Ecuador on July 7, 2015.
Credit: Guillermo Granja/Reuters
Pope Francis (center) enters San Francisco Church in Quito, on July 7, 2015 for a meeting with political, economic and civil leaders.
Pope Francis (left) and Ecuador's President Rafael Correa acknowledge the crowd gathered below, from the government palace balcony in Quito, Ecuador on July 6, 2015.
Credit: L'Osservatore Romano/Pool via AP
Nuns arrive at Independence square to attend the meeting of Pope Francis and Ecuador's President Rafael Correa in Quito, Ecuador on July 6, 2015.
Credit: Ana Buitron/AP
Pope Francis (left) holds his pastoral staff as he celebrates a Mass at the Samanes park in Guayaquil, Ecuador on July 6, 2015.
Pope Francis leads a mass at the Los Samanes park in Guayaquil, Ecuador on July 6, 2015.
Pope Francis (right) arrives to lead a mass at the Los Samanes park in Guayaquil, Ecuador on July 6, 2015.
Pope Francis (center) walks, holding a bouquet of flowers, inside the Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito in Ecuador on July 6, 2015.
Catholic faithful take pictures and record Pope Francis with their mobile phones during his visit to the Metropolitan Cathedral of Quito in Ecuador on July 6, 2015.
A woman sells images and figures of Pope Francis in Quito, Ecuador on July 6, 2015.
Faithfuls hold a banner that reads "Welcome Pope Francis" as Pope Francis arrives to lead a mass at the Los Samanes park in Guayaquil, Ecuador on July 6, 2015.
Pope Francis waves to faithful from a popemobile while driving through Guayaquil, Ecuador on July 6, 2015.
Credit: John Guaman/Reuters
Residents wait on the street for Pope Francis to arrive at the Los Samanes park in Guayaquil, Ecuador on July 6, 2015.
Pope Francis waves to a crowd of supporters upon his arrival at Parque Samanes, where he will celebrate mass in Guayaquil, Ecuador on July 6, 2015.
Pope Francis waves to the faithful while riding on the popemobile in El Quinche, Ecuador, July 8, 2015.
A woman holds a poster with a photo of Pope Francis and Our Lady of Quinche while waiting with other faithfuls for the pope's arrival outside the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Presentation of El Quinche in El Quinche, Ecuador, July 8, 2015.
Pope Francis greets a crowd of supporters from a Popemobile in Quito, Ecuador, July 5, 2015.
Credit: Kevin Granja/Reuters
Supporters call out as Pope Francis drives past in a popemobile in Quito, Ecuador, July 5, 2015.
Pope Francis, wearing a neck sash in Ecuador's national colors, waves after he landed in Quito, Ecuador on July 5, 2015.
Catholic faithful wait for Pope Francis to drive past in Quito, Ecuador on July 5, 2015.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13814
|
__label__wiki
| 0.883674
| 0.883674
|
Weekly dengue cases in Singapore spike to highest in more than 3 years
There were a total of 468 reported dengue cases in the week ending Jun 15, the highest since March 2016, according to data by the National Environment Agency (NEA). Daphne Ang with more.
18 Jun 2019 11:47PM (Updated: 11 Jul 2019 03:59PM )
SINGAPORE: There were a total of 468 reported dengue cases in the week ending Jun 15, the highest since March 2016, according to data by the National Environment Agency (NEA).
"The number of weekly reported dengue cases have more than quadrupled in the past three months," the agency said on its website.
As of 3pm on Monday (Jun 17), there were 5,261 reported cases, more than the 3,285 cases reported in the whole of 2018 and 2,772 cases in all of 2017.
The number of active dengue clusters has also more than doubled in the past month to 112, as of Monday.
There are 31 high-risk areas with 10 or more cases, including areas in Woodlands, Chai Chee and Geylang.
Parts of Bedok, Jurong East and Hougang are also among the high-risk areas. You can find the full list, including the streets and blocks, on NEA's website.
Number of dengue cases per e-week. (Graph: NEA)
Four people have died from dengue this year amid the spike in the number of cases. In May, a 63-year-old man became the fourth person to die from dengue in 2019.
In March, a 71-year-old woman who lived in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4 also died from dengue.
A 74-year-old man, who stayed in Bedok Reservoir Road, died on Feb 3, while a 77-year-old man, who stayed at Hougang Avenue 3, died on Feb 7.
TRADITIONAL DENGUE PEAK SEASON
The gravitrap surveillance system deployed by NEA showed a 25 per cent increase in the Aedes mosquito population in April 2019, compared to the month before, NEA said.
"We are in the traditional dengue peak season and a collective national effort is critical to keep the dengue situation under control," the agency said. It previously noted the warmer months of June to October would see a higher transmission of dengue.
"Every individual, whether living in a cluster or not, needs to take action to prevent more people from being infected with the dengue virus," the agency added.
It is urging members of the public to take "immediate action" to eradicate potential mosquito breeding habitats and to step up housekeeping measures.
People can help stem dengue transmission by removing stagnant water through ways like tipping vases and loosening hardened soil.
Using Wolbachia technology, NEA aims to reduce the Aedes mosquito population and fight dengue, and the project was expanded this year to include areas like Nee Soon and Tampines.
Under the project, male Wolbachia-Aedes mosquitoes, which have been infected with the Wolbachia bacterium will be released into the test sites. When they mate with female Aedes mosquitoes, the eggs the females lay will not hatch, said NEA.
Source: CNA/aa(mi)
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13818
|
__label__wiki
| 0.692921
| 0.692921
|
You are here: Home>History>Campden Customs
Campden Customs
Like most towns and villages, Chipping Campden has a number of customs, events and activities which are unique. Other towns may have similar events, but each is unique in its relationship to the location where it takes place.
To learn more about Campden Customs, buy our leaflet. Text by Tess Taylor and Diana Cooper Smith
The Mummers
The Mumming Play is an ancient form of folk entertainment, evolved over the centuries from its roots in pagan fertility ritual. The play is performed at Christmas in pubs and private houses, remuneration received in cash and refreshments – liquid or otherwise!
The choice of characters varies from troupe to troupe but there is always a hero and a villain and, crucially, the Doctor, who can bring the dead back to life, symbolising re-birth.
Mummers are sometimes referred to as “Guisers”. To be in disguise was important to create an air of mystery and to free the actor of any inhibitions while performing in front of his friends and neighbours. Mumming was an all-male preserve, female roles played by men - even more reason for a convincing disguise.
Mummers handed down their lines by word of mouth, often through generations of the same family. Tom Benfield re-established a Mumming troupe in Campden after the First World War; the tradition upheld for decades by members of the Buckland family, descendants of Tom Benfield. Before each performance the Mummers would ask the question of each other – was it to be a ‘long job’ or a ‘short’un?’ The latter being the play followed by a quick exit, while the ‘long job’ entailed individuals performing their party pieces – songs or ‘country’ poems.
Changes in lifestyle has resulted in fewer villages with Mumming troupes. Campden has been no exception and for a number of years has been without its old time enchantment. However, in 2010 Bill Buckland, who had performed with the Mummers as a youngster, re-formed the troupe.
Let us hope that our Campden Mummers inspire future generations to take part in this ancient folk tradition – enabling us on Christmas Eve to open our doors to the age old command : -
“Please to let the Mummers in.”
The Morris Men
The origins of Morris are obscure, and although at one time it was thought that there might be an association with fertility rites, it is more likely they derived from the courtly dances of medieval Europe. Each village had its own side and style of dancing, which was passed down from father to son. Mrs. Hathaway, sister-in-law of Fiddler William Hathaway of Lower Swell, recalled that a Cotswold side comprised six men plus a fool carrying a pig's bladder, music and a man with a 'box' (concertina or accordion). The men are commonly dressed in white, their shirts decorated with rosettes or 'baldricks' (coloured cross bands) and bells tied round their lower legs. Some sides wear hats but the Campden style is rosettes and no hats, and they dance with sticks and handkerchiefs.
Morris dancing could have been performed at Dover's Games from their commencement in the early seventeenth century. In 1722 a Campden man, on his way home after teaching a Morris side at the Fish Inn on Broadway Hill, spotted a man he'd seen in the inn with a large sum of money. He attacked and killed the man, was arrested, tried and hanged for murder, being described in newspaper accounts as a 'famous Morris dancer.'
Morris dancing apparently disappeared from Chipping Campden after the closure of the Dover's Games, but in 1895 Denis Hathaway revived and created an entirely new dance form. In 1910 Denis was known to have told Cecil Sharp that the Campden dances proper had been discontinued fifty years previously. The outbreak of World War I brought an end to regular performances, but in 1919 a 'Jazz Band' was formed to raise money for the war memorial and morris dances were performed by members as part of the entertainment. The band disbanded in 1921 but morris dancing gained strength. Denis died in 1926, but brother, Fred and son Bert continued in his wake and there were Hathaway musicians and dancers until the death of Alf Hathaway in 2007.
During World War II, with the men away, the tradition was maintained by girls. The side continues to dance through the summer season with a special role at Scuttlebrook Wake.
Visit the Campden Morris Men website
Whit Week Festivities, Floral Parades and Club Days
Robert Dover's "Olympick Games"
Dover's Games are held on Friday after Spring Bank Holiday on Dover’s Hill, a natural amphitheatre above Chipping Campden.
Robert Dover was a lawyer who, in 1612, transformed a small local gathering into the Cotswold ‘Olympicks’, a popular and fashionable event, celebrated in verse by contemporary poets, including Ben Jonson and Thomas Heywood, in Annalia Dubrensia, published in 1636.
The sports comprised horse racing, hare coursing, wrestling, shin-kicking, tossing the hammer, fencing with cudgels, all interspersed with dancing, feasting and bouts of drinking! The Games’ fortunes varied over the years, a casualty of war or local objections. The Games were discontinued in 1852 because of the drunk and disorderly behaviour of the huge crowds it attracted. In 1966 Dover’s Games were revived and continue to the present day.
Independent Order of Oddfellows and Britannia Benefit Society
The Independent Order of Oddfellows and the Britannia Benefit Society were established in Campden in the mid-nineteenth century. Britannia's Club Day was held on the Thursday of Whit Week. Oddfellows celebrations followed on the Friday and Scuttlebrook Wake on the Saturday - three consecutive days of fun and festivities. Houses and pubs were decorated with boughs of oak, flags and bunting. Eventually, these club day events merged into the Scuttlebrook Wake celebrations. Whit Monday Fetes continued to the present day, organised by St. Catharine's Church.
Jubilee Floral Parade and the 'Living Whist'
In 1887, the year of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, the Evesham Journal wrote that for a third year in succession a grand floral parade was held in Campden on Whit Monday and 'this time the little town fairly eclipsed its previous efforts.' The great feature of the afternoon was a 'Living Whist' pageant which began with a procession of the fifty two cards in the pack, walking in numerical sequence, followed by the court cards. The court cards performed some dances and then four gentlemen sat at a table and played a game, which the card performers acted, as each card was shuffled, cut, dealt or played.
In 2012 CCHS members re-created The Living Whist for Scuttlebrook Fancy Dress Parade.
Scuttlebrook Wake
An annual fair (wake) has been held on the day following the Dover's Games for at least two centuries. It seems highly likely that there was some kind of fair in earlier times. Hiring Fairs often included a variety of entertainments.
There was a revival of the Wake in 1886 after a hiatus of around seventeen years. At the same time three showmen asked if they could bring fairground rides and amusements to the Wake. It is thought that the showmen suggested calling it after the stream that ran through Leasebourne, the Cattlebrook or Scuttlebrook. With the opening of the recreation ground in 1928, the Wake was under threat but Leasebourne was the popular choice and the showpeople continued to come. In 1940 the showman George Hatwell claimed the continuance of the fair under ancient rights, gaining the gratitude of the Wake's supporters, and as sole attendants George and his family kept Scuttlebrook alive through the war years.
In 1938, the modern format was created, including the crowning of the Scuttlebrook Queen, a fancy dress parade, Morris, maypole & country dancing. Only the fair & children's races were held during WW2 but in 1948 it was re-established & continues in much the same form to the present day.
Dover's Hill and the 'Olympick' Games
Dover's Hill, a grassy escarpment above Chipping Campden, is a natural amphitheatre with wonderful views over the Vale of Evesham with the Malvern Hills, Bredon Hill and Welsh Mountains in the distance.
Maypole Dancing
One of the traditions of Scuttlebrook Wake
Whit Week Fetes & Floral Parades
Photographs from the archives
Encouraging young interest in Campden
KS2 Learning Resources on 17C Campden
Annals of Campden
Buildings and other landmarks
Campden - an Introduction
Campden at Work
Campden House
Campden in Wartime
Campden Shops and Businesses
Campden Then and Now
Campden's Landscape
Ebrington
Jill's Jottings
Religious life in Campden & District
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13819
|
__label__wiki
| 0.974314
| 0.974314
|
Political Conservative News
Watch: Harrowing Video Shows Massive Indonesian Tsunami Wiping Out Concert Venue
By Support, December 23, 2018 in Political Conservative News
By Chris White -
A video circulating the internet appears to show a massive tsunami in Indonesia crashing through the walls of a concert venue, prompting band members and the audience to scurry for their lives.
The tsunami plowed through hundreds of people who were at an event on Tanjung Lesung beach in Pandeglang, an Indonesian province. Indonesian pop band Seventeen was performing when the wave crushed a wall and pushed the stage into the audience.
NEW: Video shows a tsunami crashing into a venue in Indonesia where the band Seventeen was performing https://t.co/4P9zDCRkKC pic.twitter.com/q9RYOaPTt8
— BNO News (@BNONews) December 23, 2018
Public utility company PLN told reporters that at least 14 people were killed at Tanjung Lesung, but 89 others are still unaccounted. It happened Saturday night after a volcano erupted on Mount Anak Krakatau, which is located in an area between Java and Sumatra. Officials believe the eruption caused an underwater landslide, which triggered the tsunami.
“The tsunami was not triggered by an earthquake,” Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told reporters. “It’s possible that it was triggered by an underwater landslide due to the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau. At the same time there was high tide because of the full moon.”
There was little time for people to react, officials say. “There was no tsunami warning,” Rahmat Triyono, earthquake and tsunami chief at Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, told reporters. “There was no earthquake.”
The death toll from the tsunami stands at nearly 222, with another 800 people suffering multiple injuries. It was the second tsunami in Indonesiathis year, capping what will be a devastating year for the Asian country, with earthquakes, floods, fires and an airline crash combining to kill more than 4,500 people.
Indonesia is a vast archipelago that lies at the margins of the Pacific Ocean where an intersection of large layers of the Earth’s crust causes frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The eastern part of the archipelago sits atop numerous smaller blocks called microplates.
Nearly 400 people were killed after an earthquake caused a tsunami on the island in September. That was a month after at least 91 people died from a magnitude 7.0 earthquake that hit the Indonesian island of Lombok in August, Indonesian officials said at the time. U.S. Geological Services estimated that the earthquake occurred about 6.5 miles inland.
Watch: Harrowing Video Shows Massive Indonesian Tsunami Wiping Out Concert Venue is original content from Conservative Daily News - Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust - Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13820
|
__label__wiki
| 0.7052
| 0.7052
|
Post War and Contemporary Art Evening Auction
Gerhard Richter (b. 1932)
Abstraktes Bild
signed, numbered and dated ‘Richter 1992 776-2’ (on the reverse)
36¼ x 32 3/8in. (92 x 82cm.)
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner in 1993.
Tessa Lord
tlord@christies.com
Katharine Arnold
karnold@christies.com
Kunst-und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (ed.), Gerhard Richter, Werkübersicht/Catalogue Raisonné: 1962-1993, vol. III, Ostfildern-Ruit 1993, p. 195, no. 776-2 (illustrated in colour, p. 141).
D. Elger, Gerhard Richter Catalogue Raisonné 1988-1994, vol. 4 (nos. 652-1 – 805-6), Ostfildern 2015, p. 490, no. 776-2 (illustrated in colour, p. 490).
‘Richter has taken to flaying the painted skin of his canvases with a spatula in broad strokes or long, wavering stripes leaving behind abraded, shimmering surfaces that at their sheerest and most luminous look like the Aurora Borealis suspended above various red, orange, yellow, green, blue or violet planets’
(R. Storr, Gerhard Richter: Forty Years of Painting, exh. cat., Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2002, p. 81).
‘For about a year now, I have been unable to do anything in my painting but scrape off, pile on and then remove again ... It would be something of a symbolic trick: bringing to light the lost, buried pictures, or something to that effect’
(G. Richter, ‘Notes 1992’ in H.-U. Obrist (ed.), Gerhard Richter: The Daily Practice of Painting, London 1995, p. 245).
Glistening ribbons of colour cascade down the length of the picture plane in Gerhard Richter’s Abstraktes Bild, forming a hypnotic translucent gateway to a world beyond the veil. Intense strata of bejewelled pigment hover like static distortions before our eyes, hinting at some intangible reality concealed behind their diaphanous membranes. As if lit from behind, the work glows with a radiant sheen, its marine blue palette evoking the shimmering depths of some unchartered underwater kingdom. Painted in 1992, the same year the artist first exhibited his large-scale abstracts to international acclaim at Documenta IX, and held in the same private collection since it was acquired directly from the artist in 1993, the work is a beautiful demonstration of the singular technique that consumed Richter’s practice during this period. Into the horizontal sweep of the squeegee, Richter cuts vertical striations using the hard edge of a palette knife. Rills of paint run up like tides alongside each band of blue, interspersed by broad apertures revealing earlier paint surfaces. Skeins of burnished red and saffron yellow rise up from beneath like cross-sections through a fossil. As Robert Storr has observed of these works, ‘Richter has taken to flaying the painted skin of his canvases with a spatula in broad strokes or long, wavering stripes leaving behind abraded, shimmering surfaces that at their sheerest and most luminous look like the Aurora Borealis suspended above various red, orange, yellow, green, blue or violet planets’ (R. Storr, Gerhard Richter: Forty Years of Painting, exh. cat., Museum of Modern Art, New York, 2002, p. 81). Abstrakes Bild takes its place alongside magnificent examples of this technique now housed in major international collections, including Abstraktes Bild 768-1 (Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden), Abstrkates Bild 771 (Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg) and Abstraktes Bild 780-1 (National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.).
By 1992, Richter was on the brink of unprecedented global triumph. His breakthrough retrospective was held at the Tate Gallery, London, in 1991, while Documenta IX the following year constituted the first major presentation of his work in Germany since the showing of 18 October 1977 in Krefeld in 1989. In 1993 he received a major touring retrospective, Gerhard Richter: Malerei 1962-1993, curated by Kasper König accompanied by a three volume catalogue raisonné edited by Benjamin Buchloch. This exhibition, containing 130 works carried out over the course of thirty years, was tocompletely transform Richter’s career. The paintings created during the early 1990s are widely considered to represent the purest articulation of Richter’s abstract technique: the culmination of a rigorous, five-decade-long investigation into the possibilities of painting. Like the Bach suite, created during the same year and now held in the Moderna Museet, Stockholm, the present work harnesses the sublime coincidence of wet-on-wet paint to exquisite effect, creating a fluid horizontal underlay. However, there is a sense in which the present work inverses the structure of the Bach paintings. In the latter, the horizontal motion of the squeegee appears to efface an implied barrage of vertical striations beneath. Here, however, the broad incision of the palette knife cuts through the left-to-right sweep of the squeegee, bringing the vertical dimension directly to the fore. The process is not one of addition, but, rather, of subtraction: as the palette knife travels from top to bottom in parallel planes, it destroys and reveals in equal measure. It does not obscure the layers below, but rather excavates the complex build-up of pigment that lurks within the depths of the painting.
During the early 1990s, this near-archaeological approach to the canvas became something of an obsession for Richter. In 1992, in a a statement that speaks directly to the present work, the artist explains how, ‘For about a year now, I have been unable to do anything in my painting but scrape off, pile on and then remove again. In this process, I don’t actually reveal what was beneath. If I wanted to do that, I would have to think what to reveal (figurative pictures or signs or patterns); that is, pictures that might as well be produced direct. It would be something of a symbolic trick: bringing to light the lost, buried pictures, or something to that effect. The process of applying, destroying and layering serves only to achieve a more varied technical repertoire in picture-making’ (G. Richter, ‘Notes 1992’ in H-U. Obrist (ed.), Gerhard Richter: The Daily Practice of Painting, London 1995, p. 245). This dynamic – the promise of reality and its continual deflection – had always been at the heart of Richter’s practice: from his earliest photorealist paintings, whose immaculate painted artifice sought to undermine the authority ascribed to photography, to his embrace of the squeegee, whose ruptures and apertures induced the sense of a long-lost figurative reality hovering beyond the work’s abstract surface. In works such as the present, however, this process is brought to something of an apotheosis. As paint is removed from the surface, the work’s deliquescence multiplies; as layers are erased and cut away, its visual complexity is magnified. As we dig deeper, we are increasingly drawn into the unknown. ‘With abstract painting we create a better means of approaching what can be neither seen nor understood’, Richter once claimed (G. Richter quoted in R. Nasgaard, ‘Gerhard Richter’, Gerhard Richter: Paintings, exh. cat., Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago 1988, p. 107). Abstrakes Bild is an exquisite demonstration of this maxim.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13821
|
__label__wiki
| 0.884512
| 0.884512
|
Parliament ponders co-education
By Brian Reyes Share
In a parliamentary debate on whether Gibraltar should switch from same-sex secondary schools to a co-education model, two key points emerged: MPs were undecided as to whether it was a good idea, and cautious about tinkering with the existing set-up.
During a lengthy and wide-ranging discussion, MPs agreed that there was no clear body of academic evidence to show that one model offered a better education than the other. Studies conducted around the world were inconclusive, Parliament heard.
Likewise MPs were agreed that this was a matter on which professionals should take the lead and on which there should be wide consultation with other stakeholders, not least parents and students.
The Gibraltar Government revealed it had set up a working group to explore this issue and analyse the pros and cons by March 2017 ahead of a wider consultation process.
But while there was broad agreement on the core underlying points, the debate proved feisty at times as the government and the Opposition clashed on questions of procedure and past performance.
FULL STORY IN OUR PRINT AND E-EDITIONS
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13822
|
__label__cc
| 0.536465
| 0.463535
|
Swiss cash Wish for Walkergate gymnasts
YOUNGSTERS from a gymnastics display team are set to show off their talents in Switzerland.
Katie Davies
00:00, 21 DEC 2010
The City of Newcastle Gymnastics Academy, (CNGA) based in Walkergate, is gearing up for Gymnaestrada – an international festival which takes place every four years.
The competition will begin in July next year and will attract more than 20,000 participants.
The group were selected to compete after they beat off thousands of other gymnastic groups from across the country.
But despite the heavy schedule that awaits them, they are eagerly collecting tokens for the Chronicle’s Wish Campaign to fund their £39,000 trip.
In this year’s competition there is a share of £50,000 up for grabs.
The cash will be divided among community groups, which signed up to the campaign and are now collecting tokens printed in the paper.
Parent Kelly-Anne Givens is hoping that readers will get behind the girls in their fundraising and collect tokens on their behalf.
She said: “This is a great opportunity for the girls but some of them don’t come from affluent backgrounds and it is difficult for their parents to pay for the full cost of the trip.
“The girls and their families have been working hard to try to raise the cash for the trip.
“We have held a number of raffles and organised bag packs to help with the fundraising.
“The cash from the Wish campaign will hopefully help us to reach our total and we would appreciate any tokens we received from readers.”
In total 29 girls, aged from eight to 18, from CNGA, will travel to the event and compete against 52 groups worldwide for gold.
The group are one of three groups in the UK that has been selected and it is thought that this is the first time a group from the North East has been given the opportunity.
Kelly-Anne added: “It would mean everything to the girls for them to able to go and represent their team and country abroad.
“For some of the older girls it might be the only chance they get to compete in something like this.
“Many of them can’t believe the team has been selected and they are really looking forward to meeting gymnasts from different nationalities and they are also keen to pick up a British Gymnastics tracksuit.”
The trip will cost each gymnast more than £1,500 for the seven-day trip.
Registered groups in this year’s competition range from sports clubs to schools, older folks’ organisations, charities and community groups.
The one common factor between them is they are all enhancing the quality of life for others.
If you wish to support CNGA, you can post your tokens to 3 Chase Mews, Low Simonside, South Tyneside, NE32 3UF.
Walkergate
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13823
|
__label__wiki
| 0.884165
| 0.884165
|
News . Feature Stories . Cleveland's hot art scene
Cleveland's hot art scene
It’s Friday night, and there’s so much art on the menu. See a group show at BAYarts, do some wine-and-cheesing at 78th Street Studios, and pop in at Praxis Fiber Workshop in Collinwood.
Photo by Robert Muller/CIA
Cleveland has always embraced great culture, and CIA is tightly woven into that story. But these days the city seems ever more vibrant. Are we getting more art savvy? When students graduate from CIA, can they stay here to enjoy the famously low cost of living and still launch rewarding careers?
Is the Cleveland art scene just plain hot?
Keen cultural observers say yes, with a caveat or two. And it’s likely to feel warmer still in the coming months. This year, Greater Cleveland will be home to FRONT INTERNATIONAL: Cleveland
Triennial for Contemporary Art. Founded by collector and curator Fred Bidwell, FRONT and its partners—including the Cleveland Institute of Art—will host a roster of national and international artists for exhibitions, performances, residencies and discussions from July 14 through September 30. (Click to learn more about The Great Lakes Research exhibition at CIA.)
Tourists, curators, critics and gallerists are expected to come to see what it means when forward-looking artists engage with a so-called rust belt city like ours.
And while they discover Cleveland’s nationally acclaimed restaurant scene and maybe learn how we earned the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, they’ll have a chance to see what home-grown artists here do, too. Running in parallel with FRONT July 7–29 will be the CAN Triennial, an exhibition and art fair highlighting Northeast Ohio artists.
CAN Triennial will take place at 78th Street Studios, onetime American Greetings creative headquarters now filled with galleries and studios in Cleveland’s Gordon Square neighborhood. It is organized by the Collective Arts Network, a visual-arts member organization (CIA joined at the start).
That’s a lot of activity for the 2 million residents of the Cleveland metro area, but a bustling art scene is becoming common. Experts point to the city’s spirit of collaboration as one of the reasons why.
“Lots of similar cities have inexpensive space and a low cost of living, but in Cleveland we have groups of galleries acting together to organize art walks, and community development corporations taking supporting roles,” says Michael Gill, executive director of CAN and the editor and publisher of the quarterly arts magazine, CAN Journal.
CAN started in 2011 with 28 member organizations. “In our first year, it grew to 40,” Gill says. “Currently, there are about 95 organizations.”
Longtime curator William Busta says Cleveland “has a very vital and very successful visual art scene… It feels like an art town to me.”
Over three iterations beginning in 1989, the William Busta Gallery was a mainstay of the scene. Busta was known for a discerning eye; it was a point of pride for an artist to show work at his gallery.
Before that, Busta was director of the New Organization for the Visual Arts, a non-profit that presented exhibitions, festivals and workshops for artists. “There was a huge number of arts organizations that were started in the 1970s,” he says. Some have disappeared, but “some of them, like SPACES and MOCA, continue to this day and have grown and have become more substantial.”
In the 20th century, the big drivers of arts and culture here were funding organizations such as the Ohio Arts Council, the George Gund Foundation and the Cleveland Foundation, Busta says. When Interstate 271 opened in 1964, it connected Kent State University to Cleveland.
“Suddenly, almost overnight, Kent became part of Cleveland’s art scene,” Busta says.
Cleveland, of course, has long had its world-famous art museum, and a legacy art and design college in CIA. Artists such as Viktor Schreckengost, Julian Stanczak and Ed Mieczkowski all enjoyed well-earned national recognition for their own work even as they trained new generations of artists and designers.
In the 21st century, the influence of establishment institutions are bolstered by new developments. Among them: The start of a cigarette excise tax for the arts in 2006, which has funneled money to large and small organizations as well as individual artists.
Thomas Schorgl retired recently after 20 years as head of the Community Partnership for Arts and Culture, a non-profit focused on the economic impact of the arts. He was a leader in the cigarette tax initiative.
“Cleveland, over 20 years, has become more and more what I would call a very artist-friendly community,” Schorgl says.
Here, artists can find public-private partnerships that support their endeavors. Schorgl and Gill both cite Gordon Square Arts District, Northeast Shores in Collinwood, and Slavic Village Development as community development corporations that know the economic upside of supporting the arts. They have provided incentives for artists’ projects and watched while their neighborhoods blossomed in response.
Even though the 2008 financial crisis hit Cleveland hard, opportunities for artists have been steadily blooming. In 2006, the then-10-year-old Zygote Press moved into a new location on East 30th Street and became an anchor institution in Asia Town. Zygote works as a shared shop, conducts workshops, and has provided instant community for like-minded artists.
In 2015, CIA ceramicist Valerie Grossman ’12 started BRICK Ceramics and Design in Collinwood. And fiber artist Jessica Pinsky opened Praxis Fiber Workshop as a place for fiber artists to work and use weaving and dyeing equipment from CIA after the College merged its fiber program.
“I moved back to Cleveland after 10 years of living in New York and Boston, and I know for certain that Praxis would not be possible in this way, in another city,” Pinsky says.
So what’s the caveat?
Arlene Watson is director of public programs and engagement for FRONT, and was previously director of development at MOCA Cleveland.
“We’re really set on that entry-level, accessible art for all,” Watson says. “Now we need to step into the segment that is art for the professional buyer, the gallerists and dealers, and the companies that buy art.”
She imagines that Cleveland can bring Midwestern charm to the experience of high-level contemporary art. “We have resources that others don’t, space being the number one thing. So we need to leverage all of those things and cultivate that next level of art and art-buying and esteem.”
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13824
|
__label__wiki
| 0.958184
| 0.958184
|
EXCLUSIVE: 800 Ashland job cuts to come from U.S.
The chemical company and maker of Valvoline reported a loss of $44 million for the second-quarter, down from a profit of $53 million.
EXCLUSIVE: 800 Ashland job cuts to come from U.S. The chemical company and maker of Valvoline reported a loss of $44 million for the second-quarter, down from a profit of $53 million. Check out this story on cincinnati.com: http://cin.ci/1jjmvdF
llambert@enquirer.com Published 7:11 p.m. ET April 30, 2014 | Updated 1:28 p.m. ET May 1, 2014
Ashland employee. (Photo: Provided )
The 800 jobs that Covington-based Ashland Inc. will shed this year will come from the chemical company's U.S. workforce, Ashland told The Enquirer on Thursday.
Only a "handful" of jobs will be cut at the company's global headquarters in Covington, which currently employs 75, Ashland spokesman Gary Rhodes said.
The chemical company and maker of Valvoline currently employs 9,000 U.S. workers including 700 in Lexington and 500 in Dublin, Ohio. The cuts will eliminate 9 percent of the U.S. workforce.
Worldwide, the company employs 15,000, including workers at 90 manufacturing facilities in 20 countries.
The jobs eliminations will come through a voluntary severance program or layoffs, and should be completed by year's end. The reductions already have started, Rhodes said.
He said the company also will relocate 800 to 1,000 workers to "low-cost regional centers," some likely outside the U.S.
The job cuts are apart of a $200 million cost savings plan announced in January.
The company reported a loss of $44 million for the second quarter, down from a profit of $53 million in the same quarter a year ago.
Sales dropped 0.3 percent to $1.55 billion for the quarter that ended March 31.
Wednesday, CEO James J. O'Brien had said in a prepared statement: "I am pleased with the progress we are making in our global restructuring, particularly as we have identified cost savings opportunities at the top end of our targeted range of $150 million to $200 million. When complete, this restructuring should fundamentally improve Ashland's underlying cost structure, enhance our competitiveness and better position Ashland to achieve EBITDA margins consistent with the top quartile of our specialty chemicals peer group."
O'Brien announced in April that he will retire as chairman and CEO by the end of the year. The Fortune 500 company is in the process of conducting a search to choose O'Brien's successor.
Recently the company has sold off some of its units.
In February Ashland agreed to sell its Ashland Water Technologies unit to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice for $1.8 billion. The sale is expected to close by Sept. 30.
In April the company sold a joint venture German chemical business to Rhone Capital for $350 million.
Read or Share this story: http://cin.ci/1jjmvdF
'Things are happening fast.' Work starting on Newport concert venue
Everything But The House had a plan to grow. And it did. Then things got kind of crazy.
3 Cincinnati area Charming Charlie stores to close
Hotel planned for Corryville Kroger site
Simply Money: Can you get Social Security benefits retiring abroad?
Hillenbrand to take over Milacron in $2B deal
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13825
|
__label__wiki
| 0.762768
| 0.762768
|
U.S. banks play cat-and-mouse game with Fed on capital returns
Published Fri, Jun 28 2019 2:23 PM EDT
Matt Scuffham and Pete Schroeder
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON, June 28 (Reuters) - An annual stress test of banks introduced by U.S. regulators after the 2007-09 financial crisis to prevent taxpayer bailouts has become a fight over how quickly lenders can return capital to shareholders.
Helped by a buoyant U.S. economy, tax cuts and record profits, the country's biggest banks are ramping up payouts to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks. But their plans to return capital are pushing the boundaries of what regulators will tolerate, analysts and regulatory sources say.
The Federal Reserve on Thursday approved the capital plans of 18 banks in this year's test, although it placed conditions on the U.S. operations of Credit Suisse Group AG after identifying weaknesses in its capital planning.
JPMorgan Chase & Co, one of the best capitalized U.S. banks, had to resubmit its proposal after the Fed assessed its initial plan would result in it falling below the minimum capital it is required to hold to cope with a downturn.
The bank eventually won the regulator's approval for a capital plan that will increase its quarterly dividend to 90 cents per share from 80 cents, starting in the third quarter, and buy back up to $29.4 billion of shares over the next year.
The Fed began publishing the results of the capital planning check in 2012. It is the second part of the Fed's annual test of banks, assessing what level of cash banks can return to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has emphasized that banks are in a much stronger position now than they were before the crisis and has said he believes the amount of capital reserves in the banking system is appropriate.
With the Fed no longer pushing lenders to increase capital reserves each year, and banks growing comfortable with the stress testing process, they may be getting more aggressive with their capital plans, a senior Fed official said Thursday.
As they push to maximize shareholder payouts, banks run a greater risk of seeing their capital levels dip below regulatory minimums when run through a hypothetical economic downturn. That's what happened to JPMorgan this time. After the bank resubmitted its plan with a lower payout rate, it was approved.
The Fed permits banks to adjust their capital plans once after submitting them to stress testing, but only if their initial plans prove to be too aggressive, giving the firms some incentive to push the limit.
"It really allows banks to push to the boundaries," said Adam Gilbert, global leader of PwC's financial services advisory practice. "It enables them to be strategically aggressive."
There is little doubt that banks are becoming more headstrong. Fitch analyst Bain Rumohr said that, for this year, U.S. banks' payout ratios - the percentage of earnings they payout as dividends and share buy backs - have risen to over 100% of earnings, compared with 80% to 90% last year.
In essence, some banks are planning to pay out more in share buybacks and dividends than they will earn in the current year.
JPMorgan has repurchased more than $80 billion worth of stock since July 2016 and has been upping its rate of buy backs each year. Fitch estimates its projected payout ratio to be 110% if it fully executes its share buy-back plan this year.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Morgan Stanley received conditional passes in the test last year, meaning they could not increase their capital distributions to shareholders.
Rumohr said he anticipates more banks could be asked to resubmit plans going forward if current market trends continue.
"We wouldn't be surprised to see one to two banks have to resubmit during each year's process," he said.
(Reporting by Matt Scuffham and Pete Schroeder Additional reporting by Liz Dilts; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13826
|
__label__wiki
| 0.871626
| 0.871626
|
Fayette man arrested for assault, kidnapping
By Erik Cliburn GateHouse Missouri
MOBERLY — A Fayette man has been charged with kidnapping and domestic assault after allegedly locking a Moberly woman in her apartment, beating her and chasing her in a car.
Clifford Helmka, 31, was charged with first-degree domestic assault, second-degree assault and second-degree kidnapping after an alleged incident early Sunday morning at an apartment complex on McCormick Drive in Moberly.
Police responded to a domestic assault call at approximately 6 a.m. Sunday. A woman told police Helmka had locked her apartment so she could not escape him, then hit her in the face, according to court documents. During the altercation, the woman reportedly scratched Helmka’s face in an effort to escape.
She told police Helmka knocked her to the floor, choked her until nearly unconscious and held a butcher’s knife to her throat, according to court documents.
The woman told police the incident happened over nearly an hour. Helmka calmed down and let her get up before allegedly asking her to kill him with the knife. She told police she threw the knife behind her dryer and ran out of the apartment, according to court documents.
The woman got in her vehicle and attempted to drive to another address, but Helmka chased her, according to court documents. She reportedly yelled out of her window for someone nearby to call 911. The woman told police Helmka had been drinking all night.
Police reported that the woman’s forehead and left eye was swollen, and there was a laceration on the inside of her lower lip. A small portion of her hair was missing from the side of her head, according to court documents. Police also reportedly found the knife behind her dryer.
Helmka eluded arrest until that night, according to court documents. Helmka reportedly told police he had been involved in the altercation, but the woman had attacked him and scratched his face, according to court documents.
He reportedly said he grabbed the woman to prevent her from hurting him and they tripped and fell onto the kitchen floor. The incident ended once they fell and he denied any further physical altercation, according to court documents.
Helmka was placed on a 24-hour hold in the Randolph County Jail on a domestic assault charge, which expired Monday evening. He posted a $10,000 cash bond and was released.
Helmka pleaded guilty in 2007 to first-degree involuntary manslaughter, endangering the welfare of a child and abuse of child after shaking a six-month-old baby to death in Howard County. Helmka also pleaded guilty in 2016 to second-degree assault in Audrain County.
ecliburn@moberlymonitor.com
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13829
|
__label__cc
| 0.589872
| 0.410128
|
B.P.R.D. Tome 3: Plague of Frogs
After holding it a secret for ten years, Hellboy creator Mike Mignola finally reveals Abe Sapien's bizarre history. Introduced in the first Hellboy book and featured prominently in the film, Abe Sapien has remained one of the most intriguing mysteries of Mignola's celebrated work. The Hellboy film steered clear of any origin story for Abe so that the tale could be told in Plague of Frogs. The story of Abe's origins unfolds as the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense try to stop the monstrous frog men from the first Hellboy graphic novel, Seed of Destruction. The plague begins its spread across America, lending an apocalyptic new direction to Mignola's stories. • Collects the five-issue miniseries. With art by Guy Davis and a behind-the-scenes look at his sketchbook, this third volume of B.P.R.D. sees Mignola taking over writing chores for the first time and reveals secrets he's kept under wraps since the beginning of the Hellboy saga, and changes that world completely.
Action/Aventure Horreur Surnaturel/Occulte
B.P.R.D.: Hell On Earth
Abe Sapien
Sledgehammer 44
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13830
|
__label__cc
| 0.739451
| 0.260549
|
WITsend
Stop being snobby about so called "non-technical" women
ComputerWeekly Staff
A place for women in IT - opinion and debate on how to bring more women into the technology sector.
Setting out the target for diversity
Meet the women on the Software Powerlist
Do women in technology need to just get on with it? – ComputerWeekly.com
Why the Telegraph is wrong on women in IT – ComputerWeekly.com
Learning not to play down your own abilities: My ... – ComputerWeekly.com
Fintech makes the world go around
Cliff Saran's Enterprise blog
When IT Meets Politics
Write side up - by Freeform Dynamics
Inspect-a-Gadget
CW Developer Network
Computer Weekly Editors Blog
StorageBuzz
Open Source Insider
Taking stock of retail tech
Eyes on APAC
ITWorks
The Full Spectrum
Networks Generation
Ahead in the Clouds
Data Matters
Quocirca Insights
Public Sector IT
Computer Weekly Data Bank
Identity, Privacy and Trust
David Laceys IT Security Blog
Investigating Outsourcing
Management Matters
The SocialITe
The Social Enterprise
Small Matters
+ View All Blogs
As mentioned in my last post, a complaint I hear fairly regularly about female technology entrepreneurs is that they’re not really “techies”, but that they’re writers or marketing experts or consultants, and they can’t be included in lists of women succeeding in IT. Despite the fact they make a living from technology, and their businesses are based on and rely on technology, they are not real techies.
I don’t agree with this, and think it’s symptomatic of the insular, vaguely snobby attitude (that can be associated with technology “geeks”) which can put girls and women off the industry in the first place. Irrespective of whether they climbed the ranks of developer or programmer jobs, the fact is these women work in technology. They have brought their skills, experience and ability to the technology industry. They should be applauded, not sneered at.
I do agree that more female technologists are needed, but I don’t like the fact that sometimes women are brushed aside because they’re on the “lighter” side of tech and they don’t know how to write code. If someone runs a successful website and uses the internet to market and advertise her business, to me she works in technology. As technology continues to creep into more aspects of people’s lives, the technology industry expands with it, and so too does the definition of someone who works in tech. Trying to deny that makes you sound like a luddite – you’re the same as the old-school newspaper hacks who can’t cope with the internet and so spend their time bitching about Twitter and feeling superior. New media and internet businesses are springing up and making money fast, and to do well in this sphere you need more than just technology skills.
If more girls are going to join the technology industry we need role models, and these so called “non-technical” women can provide that just as well as female CTOs. It seems a little self-defeating to write off large swathes of the female technology industry because they don’t necessarily fit a preconceived idea of what it is to work in IT. The sector needs a change of image, and clinging on to old ideas is not going to achieve that.
aoeui - 18 Jan 2010 10:01 AM
I heartily disagree with the assumptions that "women are [only] on the lighter side of IT," or that those persons who are on the "lighter" side of IT are discounted based on gender. Granted, chauvinism is very real, even today. But don't ignore the fact that many male entrepreneurs aren't considered "techies," either, "Despite the fact they make a living from technology, and their businesses are based on and rely on technology, they are not real techies."
I think that part of the perceived bias against women that one may encounter in this regard is due to the ballooning nature of the IT industry. For example, one might assume that an IT professional has specialized knowledge about computers or computing; however, that line between common knowledge and IT-specific knowledge has blurred at an incredible rate.
The definition of IT that I gather from this article is sharply distinct from my own, yet no less vaguely defined; IT is such an overused word that it loses its meaning. However, let me attempt to define it:
Being an IT professional is having skills and knowledge about computers, computer systems, or computer networks, that is not widely-known; after all, no one gets hired for common knowledge.
Having a website is no longer IT. It has hit mainstream. Using IT for your business no longer means your business is IT. Every business uses IT, and if yours does not, it is out of business. Qualifying for an entry level IT position becomes harder every year, as more of the field disseminates into the surrounding culture and becomes commonplace.
I do not think that writers, marketing experts, or consultants, for example, should be considered IT professionals because they use IT products or services; who doesn't use these? However, I also do not think that any hype surrounding the IT industry in particular should be allowed to diminish the importance of other fields, or disqualify women in those fields from being considered successful or inspiring, even as those fields come to rely on IT--after all, IT companies need marketers, writers, and consultants as much as any other company needs IT.
Let writers inspire budding writers--perhaps even by their extensive use of technology, and let web designers inspire the next breed of their kind--perhaps with their eloquent Cascading Style-Sheets.
Alex - 18 Jan 2010 10:51 AM
"Having a website is no longer IT"
On the surface of it, that sounds right, but if, as suggested in the post, you run a successful website and successfully market and develop it online, then you are a digital marketer and digital entrepreneur. You can't do it without having a proper grasp of the technologies involved.
If it's entirely taking place in the digital sphere, is it really not IT? I appreciate the boundaries break down as you look at individual jobs - is a copywriter who specialises in online writing an IT professional? Probably not. But where do those women who do use and understand technology across several disciplines to run a business online fit in if they're not just one of those things (not just a copywriter, not just a marketer, not just a consultant etc) and not allowed into the general IT club?
Is 'digital' or 'online' its own not-exactly-IT world?
It's an interesting question.
Susan Payton - 18 Jan 2010 12:35 PM
As one of those marketing consultants who uses technology daily, let me throw in my 2 cents. I recently rankled up at a conference when we were all thrown in the "technology" pot.
Today, everyone should be a "technology expert," inasmuch as they can use Twitter, Facebook, blogs and websites easily. And if everyone is an expert and "in technology," what differentiates us from one another?
My husband worked in IT for 10 years. He understands C++ and Java, which are another language to me. That I consider technology, not marketing.
Rebecca Thomson - 19 Jan 2010 10:44 AM
I don't mean any marketing professional who uses websites or social media *must* be classified as working in tech. I just think that the definition of a "technology professional" should be a little more fluid, to reflect the fact that the technology world itself is changing. Within reason, it's up to the individual to classify themselves.
I don't make the assumption that women are only on the lighter side of technology. I was talking about women who are specifically affected by this snobbery - that doesn't mean to say they all are.
And none of what I wrote discounts the possibility that this could happen to men too. I focused on women because we are trying to boost the number of women in tech, and yet at the same time ignoring some of them who are already there because they aren't pure technologists.
The IT profession isn't really old enough to have specific definitions of what an IT professional is, even if you discounted the debate around the internet. I wouldn't be qualified to attempt such a definition, but I do think that the type of people I'm talking about contribute to and operate in the technology industry, and they should be recognised as a result.
Suw Charman-Anderson - 20 Jan 2010 5:26 AM
Rebecca, you have hit the nail on the head. This snobbery is something I've felt at times, and I think I'm probably a good example of the kind of person you're talking about when you're talking about non-coding IT professionals.
I'm a social media consultant and journalist. I don't code. But I understand social media better than most. I've spent eight years learning how it works and I've bothered to go beyond the obvious and delve into the psychology as well as observing behaviours. I would wager that I know more about how social media can be used in business than most CIOs and CTOs, and I could tell most social start-ups a thing or two about how to plan their social functionality.
Does this mean I'm not an IT professional? My entire career is based on a deep understanding of a particular type of technology, not from the coding perspective but from the user/behaviour perspective. Am I less of a technologist because my Ruby and my Python are non-existent?
And by the way, aoeui, a lot of people do not use IT, do not know how to create a website, do not want or need to have the IT skills you take for granted. And believe it or not, some businesses actually can thrive without a website. Strange, but true. You should be wary of extending your own experience and assumptions to the rest of the world.
Zoe Rose - 20 Jan 2010 6:02 AM
I'm a (female) user experience designer. I can't code to save my life. But my programming colleagues can't draw a wireframe to save theirs.
Designing a great service and building a great service are not the same thing. They're interdependent, but not the same.
I've worked on permissions systems, wireframing, metadata, search... That stuff is technical, but it *isn't* code.
There's more to technology than coding - I wish I had more colleagues, of both genders, who knew that.
Hannah Dee - 20 Jan 2010 7:02 AM
I'm not sure it's helpful to say that anyone can call themselves a "techie" or an "IT professional". There's a lot of work going on to try and professionalise the IT field right now, with things like CITP and university degree accreditation, and an explicit move away from the situation where anyone can call themselves an expert.
I'd say that "Techies" build, design and analyse software and systems (so user interface design is absolutely techy; project management is techy; human computer interaction research is techy; as well as all that hardcore coding stuff). To wheel out a tired analogy - the people in the car factories are techies - designing, constructing, painting... The mechanics are techies. But the expert rally drivers and the skilled salespeople aren't. They understand the technology, but they're not building or maintaining it.
So in my view a lot of what counts as social media consultancy isn't technical, it's social. Digital marketing is marketing done in a digital sphere, and the technology in both of these cases is simply being used as a tool. Don't get me wrong - a deep understanding of the psychology and perception of social media is very hard to get, and is a worthwhile thing - but it's not technical.
RDT - 20 Jan 2010 7:06 AM
No, I'm sorry, if you're a marketing person, you work in Marketing, not Technology, regardless of the industry you work in. That's not snobbery, that's a fact. I'm a female coder in the publishing industry. If I succeed, it won't be because I know anything about "Publishing", it's because I'm good at "Technology".
Saying you have to include non-technologist women as technologists because women need role models implies that there aren't any women setting technologist role models, and I find that downright offensive.
Women in technology do need role models, and those role models should be in technology, not in some-field-related-to-technology-because-we-could-not-be-arsed-to-find-women-technologists.
Not all technologists are coders, obviously, and some marketing people are very good at technology, but I'm completely fed up of events for "Women in Technology" being all about pink laptops and internet entrepreneurship. It's completely reinforces the stereotype that women are uninterested in how any of the stuff works.
It's deeply discouraging to women like me who actually code, which I believe is the opposite to what people are trying to achieve.
Rebecca Thomson - 20 Jan 2010 7:25 AM
What about the user-experience people, or people like Suw who know more about a particular technology than a programmer would? It's easy to pick out someone who works in marketing, and I'm not arguing that a marketeer who's good at social media should immediately be labeled as a "woman in technology". But there are plenty of people who don't fit neatly into these boxes and who do want to be included in the technology field.
Incidentally, there *are* some purely technical female role models - I didn't argue there are none. Sue Black is one and Sarah Blow is another just off the top of my head. My point is there aren't enough, and while we're trying to encourage girls into technology it helps to show the range of technology-related careers potentially available to them. It also helps to utilise the experience and knowledge of people who do know about careers in tech, whether or not they code or have a computer science degree. These people should not be written off, and using them as role models also does not mean we-could-not-be-arsed-to-find-women-technologists. I'm talking about highlighting and appreciating both types of people, not replacing one with the other.
Eileen Brown - 20 Jan 2010 12:13 PM
Rebecca, thanks for blogging this. There are some very interesting perspectives here. I'm an IT professional: Technical (Microsoft Exchange messaging, Infrastrucutre Architecture etc. etc.) who doesn't code (I'm an IT Pro, not a developer) but who knows system components right down to the registry. So now that I've "crossed over" and deliver social media consultancy projects, I've experienced this snobbery first hand from people who don't expect me to know anything about 'proper' technology.
As Hannah says, Social Media is all about the social side of software - something that females instinctively identify with, connecting, communicating and reaching out beyond their immediate network. It's a skill - just like Infrastructure technology, UI development, C++ coding or systems troubleshooting is a skill. It can be learned just like other skills and should not be denigrated by people who think it's somehow less important than more hardcore tech skills.
This snobbery, like all stereotypes - is there to be broken - and I look forward to altering perception much more often :-)
twitter.com/eileenb
Stephanie - 20 Jan 2010 3:06 PM
I'm a female IT Project Manager. I deal with software, website and infrastructure implementations and can dive down into the lowest level of detail at any point. Although I can't code particularly well, I can read and understand code and know my way about a command line interface. However, I'm constantly asked by my clients to 'bring someone technical' along with me to meetings. These audiences tend to be entirely male dominated and although it's never said out loud, I know that they believe I can't hold my own in technical discussions because I have lady-parts.
It drives me nuts, especially when I have a better grasp of their requirements that the developer does!
Thanks for writing about this - I'd also like to see more women accepted as "technical", regardless of their breasts, heels or skirts.
Gordon Rae - 20 Jan 2010 4:36 PM
I started working in IT in the eighties, and the prejudice that you see in the Dilbert cartoons was very visible: the people who write software, the ones who tell the computers what to do, think they are the most important people. The reality, then as now, is quite different. Commercial IT, in big organisations, public sector or private, is not about technical or scientific innovation. It's about using IT to improve communications, information handling, and to support business processes.
I go drinking with a guy who ran a skunkworks for DEC in the seventies. He has bragging rghts, cos he did things like build a colour monitor - when there were no colour monitors. But I also remember a woman programmer called Pam in the eighties, saying "most business programming is 'multiply quantity by price and add VAT'"
Another woman, Joan, used to taunt the sexist men, saying "this is women's work, it's typing - if you want to do man's job, go down a coalmine".
IT in business is mostly about information, communication, analysis, understanding, logic, specification of requirements, design, testing, training, and negotiation. Somewhere in the middle of it, there's geeks doing heavy duty geek stuff, but they are only a part of the team.
Simone Brummelhuis - 21 Jan 2010 5:17 AM
I am confronted with this snobbery once in a while, because trained as a lawyer, I have set up an internet company in 2001 and went through the whole building websites, developing software, building databases, being the first with user generated content etc. but never became a coder... It would be great if more women would work as coder/technology developer/scientist etc. because it will influence the type of products/companies etc that are made. But it takes time. In the meantime: how will women be able to influence the technological developments?
In the building industry, there were also not a lot of women, but the builders knew they needed these women for advice on how to build the best and most useful house. So there they asked the association of stay at home women to advice them. It worked very well.
In technology I think we should also start an association of women advisers on tech, who can be consulted upon by coders, scientists etc. in order to have a balanced gender influence on technology developments.
It's quite simple: if the person were a man, would you still count the role as "technical"? Obviously there a plenty of boy geeks who don't code, and women in similar roles obviously count.
However, including people who aren't interested in the actual tech JUST because they are women, on the assumption that women need role models, however poor those role models are, is patronising to the extreme.
Fiona Bianchi - 21 Jan 2010 10:24 AM
Being a "techie" has, as many other commentators said, nothing to do with your gender it is simply a label based on the type of job you do and the fact that you possess certain qualities and abilities, i.e. you're a geek, coder, developer of some kind who not only uses the technology but understands it's workings to a large degree.
That is all the label is for. The majority of "techies" are men. You can argue that this is not balanced or it's "wrong" in some way, and you can even try and launch into a huge debate about whether women can do the same jobs (they can) but that doesn't change the numbers.
Again, as others have already pointed out, trying to apply a label to a group of women for whom it doesn't apply, just shows how little supporters of this move understand what it means to be a "techie". It just comes across as a rather pathetic attempt to gain some kudos without having the skills.
All of this seems particularly odd when being a successful business woman (or man) should, in itself, carry a high degree of respect. Being an entrepreneur is something that requires skill, ability, and drive and anyone that can make a success of a business should be applauded.
What is a bad thing is trying to claim a title for yourself that you don't deserve nor have earned, it's a sure fire way to annoy those that have it already ... the sort of people who have access to all your IT systems and your website and whose fingers might just slip next time they are doing something particularly complex ... you have been warned ;-)
I'm not trying to say whether a role is technical or non-technical - I'm saying the ones that are considered "non-technical" need to be considered as part of the wider tech industry, and appreciated just as much as the coders are. They play an important role in the tech industry just the same as CIOs, programmers, coders, engineers etc do.
And calling someone a "poor role model" just because they're not technical is far more patronising than anything I've argued. I think you may have missed my point
Thanks a lot for all comments, it's very interesting to hear arguments on both sides....just to clarify, i'm not trying to say what jobs should be labeled technical, and which shouldn't, or claim a techie title for anyone who wants to be called a techie. Being a coder obviously requires more technical knowledge than some internet entrepreneurs have, and no matter how many women join the ranks of social media or entrepreneurial-ism the technical roles (plus project managers, CIOs etc) will always be a crucial and separate part of the industry. My point was really to try and show why the 'less-technical' jobs are important too, why they should be considered as part of the wider technology industry, and why they should be counted as "women in technology" as a result. I agree completely with Gordon Rae's point that describes the IT industry as a team, with the technical roles being part of that. I don't mean to try and reduce the importance of technical women, but to boost the importance of the other roles mentioned. I think the latter can be done without it being at the expense of the former. I also think that some of the newer skills don't really get the respect they deserve, as Eileen says, and that they really should be better recognised.
I may have missed your point. I guess the big question I have is, if your point is about widening the definition of what consitutes the tech industry, why are you making this a "Women in Technology" argument at all? If the flaw is in how we define "tech", then what does it specifically have to do with women?
you are right that it probably affects both men and women, my reason for focusing on women is because "women in technology" is what i write about. Also, for me the argument is more important in relation to women because there are very few of them in tech. So to me, it makes sense to highlight and celebrate all women who work in the industry, not just those who are deeply technical. I've sometimes been told "so-and-so isn't a woman in tech because she isn't a techie" and to me this seems counter-productive. We want to highlight all women who are succeeding in tech, because that's what will encourage more girls to choose to study it and eventually help to address the lack of gender balance. My point was that, actually, the women who set up web-based businesses or who know loads about how to use social networks to increase profits are just as able to encourage girls into technology as those who run IT departments or build databases. The snobbishness no doubt extends to men too, but the above is my reason for focusing on women.
Katy Bairstow - 24 Mar 2010 11:08 AM
In my recent experience, there is often some confusion caused by the term "tech" or "techie" being used to refer to:
People who work within the technology industry (a very broad field encompassing lots of different roles)
Technologists (those who have deep technical knowledge, whether it be systems architects, network designer, sysadmins, devs, hardware peeps etc)
I *think* Rebecca is using the first definition for this article and the people who are in strong disagreement are using the second.
Allyson25Morrison - 4 Aug 2011 12:44 PM
Make your own life time easier take the mortgage loans and everything you require.
FRAZIERMarquita - 16 Dec 2011 12:57 AM
The companies are glad to supply students custom essay writing or supreme material close to to this good topic or you still can have data about contact us like a bonus.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13831
|
__label__wiki
| 0.648129
| 0.648129
|
Connecticut Unemployment Falls To 7%, Lowest Since 2009
Connecticut's unemployment rate dropped from 7.2 percent to 7 percent in February, the lowest level since January 2009.
Even with the improvement, only five states have unemployment rates that are measurably higher than Connecticut's: Rhode Island, Nevada, Illinois, California and Michigan. Their unemployment rates range from 7.7 percent to 9 percent.
The U.S. unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in February. The apparent difference between the state and national rates may not be real, however, because of the margin of error in the state survey, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The new numbers were released Thursday.
Employers added an estimated 800 jobs in February, after cutting 10,900 jobs in January. Both numbers were influenced by the harsh winter, which has depressed shopping and other economic activity.
"We're making headway. The needle is pointing in the positive direction," economist Don Klepper-Smith said. He said the job numbers will bounce back when the weather improves.
But he noted that at the pace of job growth in the past four years, the state won't return to pre-recession job levels until 2017.
The number of jobs in Connecticut is up 10,300 compared with February 2013, a growth rate 21/2 times slower than the nation's. The United States has recovered 94 percent of the jobs lost to the recession, and Connecticut has recovered not quite half.
That has more consequences than just the immediate problems of underemployment, unemployment and wage stagnation because of slack in the labor market. When jobs aren't growing, a region doesn't retain or attract as many working-age residents, and that can have long-term consequences.
The U.S. Census Bureau released population estimates Thursday, tracking the growth since the last Census in 2010 through 2013. Hartford County was flat, growing less than a half a percent, as the number of people who moved to other places in Connecticut or the country was roughly equal to the number of immigrants arriving.
Alan Clayton-Matthews, an economist from Northeastern University in Boston, said the main factor that changes population growth is migration.
"Birth rates and death rates are fairly stable over time, they will change slowly over time due to demographics," he said. "The net migration to other states is affected largely by differential job prospects."
So, poor job prospects, poor growth in the labor force. Overheated labor markets, such as in the oil fields of North Dakota, equal sizable population growth. In two counties in North Dakota, the population grew more than 30 percent in three years.
The jobs report for February also detailed which sectors are growing fastest, and which are shrinking. Durable goods manufacturing, the great majority of the state's manufacturing sector and the source of nearly all its high-paying jobs, had the most job erosion, with 4,000 fewer jobs than a year ago.
"This is really a crucial part of the economy," Klepper-Smith said, even though all manufacturing is just 10 percent of the state's jobs.
He said the job losses can be seen as a sort of good news for manufacturers. As the Federal Reserve has kept interest rates very low, and the federal government sweetened tax treatment for major equipment purchases, factory owners have found it is cheaper to increase production by more automation rather than by hiring. So that can lead to more profits.
But Klepper-Smith said that from a labor market perspective, the 3 percent decline in manufacturing jobs over the past 12 months "is a red flag we have to pay attention to."
The fastest growing sector is construction, which added 3,800 jobs in the past 12 months, a 7 percent growth rate.
Next for growth were restaurants and hotels, which employed about 236,900 people in February, up about 3,700, or about 5 percent.
These 17 Fortune 500 Companies Are Headquartered In Connecticut
17 billionaires call Connecticut home, according to Forbes. Here’s a look at who they are.
Job Reports and Statistics
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13832
|
__label__wiki
| 0.853444
| 0.853444
|
Well traveled: Gloria Fuller shares a piece of her past
At the tender age of 20 way back in December 1952, Gloria Fuller did what a lot of Australians did � she left the country.
It was not from a sense of disappointment in her native land.
�Traveling abroad was just something we were encouraged to do,� she says.
Today, she lives in Randleman with family. Her life has been an interesting one, filled with global travel. Recently, Fuller decided to write her memories for grandchildren and future generations who might like to know �who was the old girl,� as she quaintly puts it. As she reexamined old photos and memorabilia, she came across a manuscript she wrote as a young Aussie in the motherland of England during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, a story she shares with Thrive readers in this issue.
As she writes in one of the chapters of the book of her life she is developing, leaving home �was very much a rite of passage by young Australians at that time �going home to the old country� to get a sense of where they had come from, work, backpack through Europe, learn from the culture, view the scenery and get a hands-on education of a totally different way of life and hopefully stay out of trouble. Some did and some didn�t � stay out of trouble, that is.�
Wanderlust was not Fuller�s only motivation. She knew about the upcoming coronation of then Princess Elizabeth on June 2, 1953. Perhaps there was a chance, just a chance, that if she got to London, she might get to see the procession that would occur, she recalls thinking.
Today, Fuller marvels at her temerity, especially in light of world conditions in the modern era. She struck out on a trip from home � granted, in the company of a handful of old and new friends �- a single female in what was then a man�s world, that would take her through some of the less-developed countries on the globe over a six-week period.
Her ship, the Maloja, was a 30-year-old vessel that, in its heyday, was a luxury liner until it was requisitioned for the war effort in 1939. It came back into service in 1945 as a one-class vessel shuttling from London to Sydney, Fuller remembers.
She boarded in Sydney. After brief stops in Melbourne and Adelaide, the ship set course for the Indian Ocean. Her ports of call were deliciously exotic. Fuller had layovers in Colombo in what is now Sri Lanka; Bombay, India, now called Mumbai; Aden in Yemen; the Suez Canal and Port Said in Egypt.
The stop-over in Port Said was at night, but Fuller and a companion took advantage of the brief stay and left the ship to walk around the city.
�When I rethink that day the vision of a 20-year-old, in the company of other 20-year-olds, roaming around Port Said, Egypt, in the dead of night, it gives me pause to wonder whose brains we were using,� she says.
From there, the ship sailed through the Mediterranean Sea to Marseille, around the Rock of Gibraltar and the Bay of Biscay and, finally, docking at Tilbury on the mouth of the Thames River.
�The magic of the voyage was over, Tilbury was dreary, London had dirty fog and we noticed none of it,� she writes in her memoirs.
London was only seven years out of World War II. Rationing was still going on. Debris and destruction were still evident from the relentless bombing the city endured. Still, Fuller says she saw the city in the light of her youth and the thrill of a different culture.
�I almost fainted as we rounded Piccadilly Circus in a London black taxi and saw the statue of Eros and everything having the look of a good 1940s British film. I expected to see Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh on every corner.�
As fortune would have it, Fuller eventually found a job in London in what was called the Australian House, the equivalent of an embassy in modern times. Processing immigration papers for people headed to her home country also gave her the opportunity to take advantage of one of the few available tickets that would allow her to witness history.
And, that�s where her story begins, in a stadium seat she paid 4 pounds for � �in Green Park, Piccadilly as the announcer from the BBC is saying �Good morning everybody, the time is now 6 a.m.� �
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13833
|
__label__wiki
| 0.516256
| 0.516256
|
James Pawelski, Ph.D.
Director of Education and Senior Scholar
https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/people/james-pawelski
Dr. Pawelski is the founding director of Penn’s Master of Applied Positive Psychology (MAPP) program and an adjunct associate professor of religious studies in the School of Arts and Sciences. He teaches courses on positive interventions and the humanities and human flourishing and is the author of The Dynamic Individualism of William James and articles on the history of philosophy and its application to human development. Dr. Pawelski holds a grant from the Templeton Religion Trust to further his studies into “The Humanities and the Science of Well-Being: Toward a Strategic Collaboration for Understanding, Measuring, and Cultivating Human Flourishing.” He has served as editor of the philosophy section of the Oxford Handbook of Happiness, co-editor of The Eudaimonic Turn: Well-Being in Literary Studies, and co-editor of On Human Flourishing: An Anthology of Poems. An international keynote speaker who regularly makes presentations in Spanish as well as English, he has given talks in more than 20 countries on six continents. He holds a number of key leadership positions, including founding Executive Director of the International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA), President of the William James Society, and Member of the Steering Committee of the International Positive Education Network (IPEN). Dr. Pawelski is the recipient of a Practice Excellence Award from the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, as well as the Humanitarian Innovation Award for the Humanities, Arts, and Culture from the Humanities Innovation Forum at the United Nations. He has been featured in major U.S. and international media, including the New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Chronicle of Higher Education, El Norte (Mexico), and Perfil (Argentina), and he has appeared on various television networks such as NBC (The Today Show), Globo, Univisión, and Toronto Public Television. https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/people/james-pawelski
Positive Psychology: Applications and Interventions
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13834
|
__label__wiki
| 0.963824
| 0.963824
|
FCA to let Detroiters apply for new assembly plant jobs first
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles committing nearly $14 million toward community benefits agreement
Automaker to fund job-training, automotive career programs in Detroit
Duggan's office faces Saturday deadline to secure land deals for new Mack Avenue assembly plant
Larry Peplin for Crain's Detroit Business
The city of Detroit has committed to spending $7 million to build a 15-foot wall in place of the St. Jean Street berm, which was recently torn out for Fiat Chrylser Automobiles' conversion of its Mack Avenue engines plants into an assembly plant for Jeep SUVs. FCA has committed to funding grants for residents on Beniteau Street to make sound-deadening improvements to minimize noise from the Mack Avenue and Jefferson North plants.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has pledged to hire Detroiters and invest $13.8 million in community improvements, education and workforce training as part of a planned $2.5 billion investment in its Jefferson North and Mack Avenue assembly plants.
A citizens advisory council on Wednesday approved a community benefits agreement with FCA that commits more than $35 million in investments to the neighborhoods surrounding the two FCA plants, with the city of Detroit contributing $17.4 million and $4 million coming from federal and state sources.
The largest chunk of FCA's pledge is $5.8 million toward workforce development and a commitment to give Detroiters priority for the 4,950 jobs that would be created through converting the two Mack Avenue engine plants into a Jeep assembly plant and modernizing the Jefferson North Assembly Plant.
Detroiters will be allowed to apply for jobs at the two plants "in advance of the general public," according to a document presented at Wednesday's advisory council meeting.
"These commitments that make jobs available first to Detroiters and (gives them) access to the workforce programs so they can take those jobs is probably one of the more important parts of this unprecedented package of benefits," said Arthur Jemison, chief of services and infrastructure for Mayor Mike Duggan.
FCA has committed $5 million toward education programs aimed at developing its future workforce, including $1 million to start a manufacturing career academy at Southeastern High School, a block from the Jefferson North complex.
The Auburn Hills-based automaker also will donate $500,000 to the Detroit Promise scholarship program and establish a partnership with Wayne County Community College District to create an automotive manufacturing co-op program where students will go to school three days a week and work in one of the FCA plants two days a week, Jemison said.
"This is probably one of the more important partnerships in this program," Jemison told Crain's.
FCA will donate another $500,000 to the Grow Detroit's Young Talent program, which funds summer jobs for thousands of Detroit teenagers.
Jemison said the hiring priority commitment by FCA and programs to develop a pipeline of workers for the two assembly plants is "game changer" for the nearby east-side neighborhoods that suffered from years of blight and abandonment.
"What's great about this investment and this (agreement), these are the kinds of jobs that many Detroiters will be able to access immediately with just a little bit of training," Jemison said.
Chad Livengood/Crain's Detroit Business
The berm on St. Jean Street has been bulldozed and the street will be closed and turned over to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles as part of the automaker's conversion of its Mack Avenue engine plants into an assembly plant for Jeep SUVs.
Detroit's $17.4 million commitment to the community benefits agreement includes:
$4 million for Detroit at Work recruitment, screening and job training for city residents who get hired by FCA.
$5.9 million for 300 priority demolitions of abandoned and blighted houses in the neighborhoods adjacent to the Jefferson North and Mack plants.
$7 million for construction of a 15-foot wall along the back of properties on Beniteau Street after the St. Jean Street berm was bulldozed. Construction costs also include a stormwater retention pond and other street and infrastructure improvements.
The community benefits agreement calls for FCA to donate $1.8 million toward a grant program for homeowners on Beniteau Street to apply for grants to pay for sound-deadening insulation, siding and windows to minimize their exposure to noise from the Mack Avenue plant.
"The biggest piece that the (advisory council) wanted to ensure is that those residents abutting the plant on Beniteau ... can insulate those homes from the noise, the traffic that they're going to face," said Henry Williams, a member of the neighborhood advisory council who lives in the nearby Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood. "That was very important for us to do."
At the request of residents, the wall will have ivy growing on it — "to have some greenery to suck some of that pollution out" — all the way to Southeastern High School, where there will be space for murals to be painted, Williams said.
"It's better than a plain wall," said Williams, 48, a Southeastern High graduate and deputy director of the Michigan Gaming Control Board.
FCA's plans to open the first new assembly plant in Detroit in a generation hinges on the Duggan administration securing 200 acres of land surrounding the sprawling auto assembly complex on the city's far east side.
In late February, Duggan agreed to a deal with FCA to assemble the land within 60 days. The city is acquiring the land through property swaps and taxpayer funding.
After the city reached land deals with Hantz Farms, DTE Energy Co. and the Great Lakes Water Authority, an 80-acre parcel owned by the Moroun family's Crown Enterprises has remained the last remaining parcel to purchase.
Duggan said Thursday he was working to meet Saturday's deadline as he cut out early at an event on the city's northwest side.
"I've got a little Chrysler deal to get done," Duggan said.
The community benefits agreement has to get approval from City Council to go into effect.
FCA is hoping to get City Council approval for the deal on May 7.
"We look forward to working with the community to realize the full potential of this proposal, which will provide $35.2 million in support for neighborhood improvements, housing, workforce development, education and training programs, and environmental initiatives," FCA said Thursday in a statement. "This investment is above and beyond the $2.5 billion the company plans to invest in its manufacturing facilities and the creation of 4,950 new jobs in Detroit."
The Michigan Strategic Fund's board has not yet scheduled a meeting to vote on a still-undisclosed tax incentive package from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. for FCA's planned $4.5 billion investment across five plants in Southeast Michigan.
"We continue to work with both the city and the company in relationship to trying to get that project across the finish line," MEDC CEO Jeff Mason said last week in an interview with Crain's.
Crain's Staff Reporter Kurt Nagl contributed to this report.
Want to get something off your chest? Send us an email or hit us up on Facebook or Twitter.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13835
|
__label__wiki
| 0.946973
| 0.946973
|
Sussex batsman extends contract
Mark Dunford
Stiaan van Zyl has extended his contract with Sussex Cricket.
The news tops off an excellent few days for the left-handed batsman, whose 101 not out steered Sussex’s successful run chase against Durham in the Specsavers County Championship last week.
Stiaan van Zyl - Picture by John Mallett
Reacting to his extended deal, the 31-year-old said: “I am extremely grateful to sign an extension with Sussex.
“Since starting in 2017, I’ve enjoyed every second at the club and with my teammates. I’m looking forward to many more games with this wonderful club.
Head coach, Jason Gillespie said: “We’re delighted that Stiaan has agreed to continue his career at the club. He’s a senior batsman of international quality who contributes significantly with his performances and he’s a great lad on top of that.
“We like to make sure our players are learning from each other and Stiaan sets a great example in terms of his approach to his preparation as well as how he goes about things out in the middle.”
Van Zyl joined Sussex ahead of the 2017 season and has since scored over 1,500 first-class runs for the club at an average of over 44, despite missing much of the 2018 season through injury.
He has also scored 400 runs in 17 one-day and T20 appearances for Sussex Sharks as well as taking 14 wickets for the club across all formats with his right-arm medium pace.
In total, van Zyl has over 10,000 first-class runs, over 3,000 List A runs and almost 1,500 T20 runs in his career. He also played 12 Test matches for South Africa between 2014 and 2016.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13836
|
__label__cc
| 0.613829
| 0.386171
|
Home Auxiliary & Business Services
ABS Resources
Board of Directors.pdf
Articles of Incorporation.pdf
Bylaws.pdf
Statement of Information.pdf
2019 BOD Meeting Schedule.pdf
IRS Confirm Letter to ABS:
1995 IRS Confirm Letter.pdf
ABS Budget 2018-2019.pdf
Annual Report 2017-2018.pdf
Tax Reports:
2017 Form 990.pdf
2014 Form RRF-1.pdf
California State University, Stanislaus Auxiliary & Business Services (ABS) is a legal entity; a 501 (c)3 California non-profit public benefit corporation. It is a California State University (CSU) auxiliary organization as defined by CSU Board of Trustees Policy for the California State University Auxiliary Organizations (Executive Order No. 682). This executive order clarifies the definition of an auxiliary organization contained in Title 5, California Code of Regulations, Section 42400.
Definition of Auxiliary Organization:
An auxiliary organization is any non-profit entity which (1) has agreed to comply with the applicable requirements of the Board of Trustees and campus; (2) is included in the list of officially recognized auxiliary organizations in good standing maintained by the Chancellor, and (3) maintains the status of an auxiliary organization in good standing. ABS is a Campus Support Service Organization.
Auxiliary and Business Services (ABS) enhances the mission of the University by actively managing and developing commercial enterprises that benefit the campus community and by prudently managing and investing auxiliary assets. The ABS Board of Directors, in addition to acting as directors of the activities and affairs of the corporation, serve as advocates for the University.
Employee Textbook Scholarships
Barnes & Noble College Booksellers and California State University Stanislaus Auxiliary & Business Services provide an annual donation for Employee Textbook Scholarships.
Benefits-eligible employees, who are enrolled at Stanislaus State (including University Extended Education academic courses), with a minimum under-graduate grade point average of 2.5, or a minimum 3.0 grade point average for graduate-level studies, are eligible to apply for the scholarships.
The employee definition excludes students who are employed through work study or the student assistant program. Consideration will be given on the basis of academic scholarship, a career development plan, financial aid, and job-related objectives.
The Employee Textbook Scholarship, an award of up to $200, may only be applied to textbook purchases at the Barnes & Noble University Bookstore.
To apply, complete the application form (pdf)
For Fall 2019, completed applications are to be submitted to the office of Wendy Olmstead in CY800H, or via email at wolmstead@csustan.edu, no later than 4:00 p.m. on July 26, 2019. Scholarship awards will be announced by August 2, 2019.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13838
|
__label__wiki
| 0.763773
| 0.763773
|
Arch Madness: Blues win 1st Stanley Cup,…
Arch Madness: Blues win 1st Stanley Cup, beating Bruins in Game 7
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 12: The St. Louis Blues celebrate after defeating the Boston Bruins in Game Seven to win the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Final at TD Garden on June 12, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
By Jimmy Golen | The Associated Press
PUBLISHED: June 12, 2019 at 10:42 pm | UPDATED: June 12, 2019 at 10:46 pm
BOSTON — Ryan O’Reilly scored for the fourth straight game and rookie Jordan Binnington stopped 32 shots in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday night to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 4-1 victory over the Boston Bruins and their first NHL championship.
Alex Pietrangelo added a goal and an assist and Brayden Schenn and Zach Sanford also scored for St. Louis. The Blues woke up on New Year’s morning with the worst record in the league but won 30 of their final 49 regular-season games and soared through the playoffs to reach the final for the first time since 1970.
Coach Craig Berube, who took over when Mike Yeo was fired in November, is the fourth coach in the past 11 years hired in midseason to lead his team to the NHL title.
Matt Grzelcyk scored the Bruins’ only goal, and Tuukka Rask stopped 16 shots for Boston.
Boston outshot St. Louis 33-20, but the Blues went ahead at the end of the first period on goals from Reilly and Pietrangelo about three minutes apart. The second period was scoreless, then Schenn put it out of reach with 8:35 to play and Sanford made it 4-0 before the Bruins spoiled Binnington’s bid for a shutout.
St. Louis can stop singing the blues.
It’s time to play Gloria.
Returning to the site of their last appearance in the final, which ended when Bobby Orr sailed through the air after scoring the Cup winner, the Blues won for the third time in Boston this series and an NHL record-tying 10th time in the postseason.
O’Reilly won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the postseason. He is the first player since Wayne Gretzky to score in four consecutive Stanley Cup Final games.
Not so surprising with Gretzky, who is the NHL’s leading regular-season and playoff scorer, but O’Reilly had just three goals in his first 22 postseason games.
Boston will have to console itself with the two major sports championships it has already won in the past year, or the dozen trophies that have been chauffeured through Boston in a parade of the city’s iconic, amphibious Duck Boats. Three of them have come at St. Louis’ expense.
The Bruins tried to harness all the local karma they could.
Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman and Julian Edelman waved a banner before the game while wearing David Ortiz jerseys; the Red Sox slugger is recuperating just a mile or so away from an assassination attempt in his native Dominican Republic.
Retired Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling also was in the crowd, wearing his World Series ring and a Bruins jersey. Portable party Rob Gronkowski also made an appearance on the video board.
And the Bruins responded, dominating for long stretches of time except in the way that mattered most.
The Blues had just one shot on goal heading into the final minutes of the first period, but they scored first when O’Reilly deflected a shot from Jay Bouwmeester into the net. Then with just 8 seconds left in the period and Bruins forward Brad Marchand tentative on a line change, Pietrangelo beat Rask to make it 2-0.
Bouwmeester played in 1,184 regular-season games — the third most among active players who had not gotten their names etched on the Stanley Cup.
Jimmy Golen
Giants negate Rockies’ ninth-inning rally to beat Colorado in extras, take series
With eyes on Week 1, Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders wants to “gradually progress” early in training camp
Tony Wolters announced as Rockies’ recipient of 2019 Heart and Hustle Award
Giants sweep: Pitching fails Rockies in Game 1, bats go cold in Game 2
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13840
|
__label__wiki
| 0.79103
| 0.79103
|
EU Increasingly Abandons Obama On Ukraine
By Eric Zuesse
As reported on Saturday March 7th by both German Economic News, and Spiegel magazine, the ongoing lies and arrogance from U.S. President Barack Obama's Administration regarding Ukraine and Russia have finally raised to the surface a long-mounting anger of Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Government.
This is especially the case with Germany's Foreign Minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who comes from Germany's Social Democratic Party, which is far less conservative (and far less anti-Russian) than the Christian Democratic Union Party, Chancellor Merkel's party. The CDU has traditionally been hostile toward Russia, but the SDP has instead favored an unprejudiced policy regarding Russia, after the breakup of the Soviet Union and the end of communism there.
Steinmeier has always been skeptical of Obama's intentions regarding Ukraine and Russia, but now it appears that even Merkel is veering away from the United States on these policies.
“Resistance to the US strategy toward Russia is growing in the EU,” reports GDN, which names especially U.S. General Philip Breedlove, NATO's Supreme Commander, as the major source of this turn-about, because Breedlove has "exaggerated the military role of Russia in Ukraine.”
Spiegel provides the details on Breedlove, but especially blames Victoria Nuland, the Obama official who actually ran the February 2014 coup in Ukraine and who selected the person who would steer the new, post-coup, Ukrainian Government in the ways that President Obama wants.
Spiegel's headline is “Breedlove's Bellicosity: Berlin Alarmed by Aggressive NATO Stance on Ukraine." GDN's is (as auto-translated by Google's Chrome browser) "Ukraine Policy: First open conflict between Germany and NATO.”
Spiegel notes that, after the second — which was the Merkel-Hollande — Ukrainian ceasefire was reached at Minsk in late February, Breedlove announced that "well over a thousand combat vehicles, Russian combat forces, some of their most sophisticated air defense, battalions of artillery” had just been sent to the conflict-region, Donbass, from Russia. "What is clear," Breedlove said, "is that right now, it is not getting better. It is getting worse every day.” All of that was fictitious.
Spiegel continues: "German leaders in Berlin were stunned. They didn't understand what Breedlove was talking about. And it wasn't the first time. Once again, the German government, supported by intelligence gathered by the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), Germany's foreign intelligence agency,” heard Breedlove lie and were shocked by it.
But Spiegel then goes on to subhead “The 'Super Hawk',” when describing Victoria Nuland's role. Spiegel says there:
"She and others would like to see Washington deliver arms to Ukraine and are supported by Congressional Republicans as well as many powerful Democrats. Indeed, US President Barack Obama seems almost isolated. He has thrown his support behind Merkel's diplomatic efforts for the time being, but he has also done little to quiet those who would seek to increase tensions with Russia and deliver weapons to Ukraine.”
Spiegel has always tried to portray U.S. President Obama as being trapped by conservatives, such as Breedlove and Nuland, who somehow became parts of his Administration and who are, supposedly, independent actors in the roles that they perform — as if they weren't instead his employees. For Spiegel, Nuland's (and they spell it out there, so I will here) "Fuck the EU” statement, was only speaking for herself, as if she weren't Obama's hire, though Spiegel does note there that, "Her husband, the neo-conservative Robert Kagan, is, after all, the originator of the idea that Americans are from Mars and Europeans, unwilling as they are to realize that true security depends on military power, are from Venus.” Precisely why Mr. Obama selected Dick Cheney's former chief foreign-policy advisor, Nuland, to become the person who would carry out his Administration's polices regarding Ukraine and Russia, the ever-‘tactful' Spiegel ignores. Instead, Spiegel goes on to say, "When it comes to the goal of delivering weapons to Ukraine, Nuland and Breedlove work hand-in-hand.”
Throughout, Spiegel ignores that Obama has been driving his entire Administration to marginalize, weaken, and crush Russia, and that this overriding goal of his foreign policies does not originate with his hires but with himself: he chooses these “Super Hawks” regarding Russia, because this is who he secretly is. When he plays the good cop in the good-cop bad-cop routine on Russia, it's an act, which is designed to fool the public. Obama bombed Libya because Muammar Gaddafi was friendly to Russia; he bombs Syria because Bashar al-Assad is friendly to Russia; he overthrew Ukraine's Government because Viktor Yanukovych was friendly to Russia; and he has been and is squeezing Iran because Iran is friendly to Russia. Israel is no different than the U.S.: it's rabidly anti-Russian (and most of the large political donations to there come from American billioinaires; Israel is America's 51st state, which has lots more than one-fifty-first of the power over the American Government — it's the most powerful of the 51 actual states, even though it has no fealty to the U.S. Constitution and no constitution of its own); and both the U.S. and Israel are allied with Saudi and other Arab royals because they're all anti-Russian. America's ally is Saudi Wahhabist jihadist Islam, not the EU. America created Al Qaeda, and ISIS. Everything else than the obsession to isolate and destroy Russia is just an act, for the American aristocracy (including the ones who own Israel) — and especially for all Republican politicians and for the top Democratic ones.
Maybe the EU will finally decide that they've had enough of it, and invite Russia to join with them, and will tell Ukraine that they're a bit too American for European tastes, after all: Europe has had enough experience with fascism and nazism, so that they don't want to invite it back in again.
But will Germany actually do this? Will France actually do this? Have they had enough of Sunni jihad, and of Christian nazism (both just aristocratic ploys), to decide that they want no part of either one? Maybe goodbye, U.S.; hello, Russia? What type of Europe would that be? Might it out-compete the U.S.? Would it be the best thing for Europeans?
That's the big strategic question in our time. And it's not America's to answer. Either Europe will go with democracy and peace and abandon NATO (i.e., abandon the U.S. military), or else it will go with nazism and war and abandon democracy (like the U.S. itself has done, especially in Ukraine).
Which will it be? Europe will need to choose between Russia and the United States. If it goes with the U.S., Europeans will become servants to America's aristocracy — to the people who are now actually running Ukraine. If it goes with Russia, then perhaps a United States of Europe will become possible so that no nation's aristocracy will have either the inclination or the ability to dictate to the governments of Europe.
Stay tuned. These are exciting times: the stakes for future history have never been higher.
It's not really Obama who is on the fence. It is Europe. And the decision will be for Europe's leaders — not for America's, nor for Russia's — to make.
They are in the driver's seat, for Europe's future — and for the entire world's.
Investigative historian Eric Zuesse is the author, most recently, of They're Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010, and of CHRIST'S VENTRILOQUISTS: The Event that Created Christianity.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13847
|
__label__wiki
| 0.962288
| 0.962288
|
Death of North East MSP Alex Johnstone
Scottish Conservative Alex Johnstone MSP
Alex Johnstone, the Scottish Conservative MSP for the North East of Scotland, has died at the age of 55.
Mr Johnstone – who represented the North East in an unbroken record of service going back to the formation of the Parliament in 1999 – passed away after a short illness.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson today (Wednesday) led tributes to Mr Johnstone, saying he “embodied politics at its best”.
Born in Kincardineshire in 1961 and educated at Mackie Academy in Stonehaven, Mr Johnstone spent his entire life in the north east of Scotland, where he built a successful career as a self-employed dairy and arable farmer.
Elected at the age of 38, he immediately brought his considerable experience in Scotland’s rural economy to the parliament, initially as its first ever convener of the rural development committee.
In 2001, he was appointed as the Scottish Conservatives’ chief whip and business manager, serving on the Parliament’s business bureau.
In the last parliament, he served on the Parliament’s welfare reform committee. He was also appointed the party’s spokesman for infrastructure, housing and transport, a role he continued after May’s election. He also contributed regularly as a columnist to the Mearns Leader and Kincardineshire Observer.
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said: “Alex’s passing is an enormous loss for the Scottish Conservative party, for the Scottish Parliament, and for Scottish public life generally.
“He was a big man with a big heart. He embodied politics at its best: trenchant in his views, always up for a political fight, but respected and admired by all sides of the political divide for his decency and generosity.
“The north east of Scotland could not have had a greater friend over the 17 years he served as their MSP. He was utterly devoted to championing the area.
“All our thoughts and prayers are now with Linda and their family.
“During his short illness, Alex was greatly touched by the many messages of goodwill he received from across the parliament.
“On behalf of the party, may I thank everybody who got in touch with Alex to pass on their thoughts. It meant a great deal to him.”
In addition to his formal roles, Mr Johnstone was a champion for numerous other causes.
He promoted the relationship between Scotland and Japan – receiving the Consul General of Japan’s Certificate of Commendation, and founding the Parliament’s cross party group on Japan.
He was a tireless campaigner on knife crime, seeking to boost education on the dangers of carrying a blade.
His political activity also included a campaign for greater recognition for King Macbeth, while he also campaigned to ensure UNESCO recognition for Arbroath Abbey.
Outside of politics, Mr Johnstone was a devoted husband to his wife of 35 years, Linda. The couple had two children and six grandchildren. He remained an active member of the local Church of Scotland throughout his life.
Friend and former Scottish Conservative MSP Mary Scanlon said: “Alex was respected across the chamber and during his short illness he received letters and good wishes from all sides of the Parliament. He was very touched by that.
“He was a man who never abandoned his principles, nor his Doric accent. Political opponents admired him because you always knew where you stood with him.
“He was a great parliamentary performer. Alex never read out a speech. He would research it thoroughly and then stand up and give a speech, taking interventions, answering points, with just three of four points written on a scrap of paper.
“He was very touched to receive visits from friends and colleagues and to say his goodbyes in recent weeks.”
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13850
|
__label__wiki
| 0.930151
| 0.930151
|
Fall 2010 ›
David's Devotees: Remembrances from Alumni of Wolper U.
By Tom White
David Wolper, whose Wolper Organization was a pioneering force in documentary production during the first three decades of American television, passed away August 10 at his home in Beverly Hills.
With almost all of the news and documentary work being produced in New York in the 1950s, Wolper set up shop in Los Angeles and lured filmmakers like Mel Stuart and Jack Haley Jr. to work with him. Over the next decades, the Wolper team produced such works as The Race for Space, D-Day, The Making of the President series, the Jacques Cousteau television specials and hundreds more. He and his team would go on to earn nine Academy Award nominations and one Oscar (for The Hellstrom Chronicle), two Peabodys and 100 other awards.
Wolper was a true pioneer in helping to define the television documentary, beginning in the late 1950s, when TV was still a toddler, and everything was wide open for test-driving new ideas. While news and documentaries really started on the East Coast with Fred Friendly, Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite, Wolper helped define the West Coast school, and was able to get docs on every network. In its heyday, The Wolper Organizaiton/Wolper Productions produced about 500 documentaries for TV between 1958 and 1977. And they were seen by millions of people.
Wolper also gave back, having nurtured the careers of hundreds of filmmakers, and, closer to home, was one of the founding members and early supporters of IDA.
What follows are thoughts and reflections from some of the many filmmakers whose lives and careers Wolper touched and impacted.
Looking back on David Wolper's documentary career, I think his two major achievements were that he helped popularized the documentary for the television audience and brought the documentary to Hollywood, opening opportunities for a host of filmmakers. As to how he enabled this to happen, allow me to relate a moment in my own career.
Fifty years ago, I was an independent film researcher, working out of a tiny office in New York, when David appeared one afternoon. He was looking for footage for a documentary he was making called The Race for Space. I signed up for the job, and after it was finished I received an offer to come to California with my family to work for The Wolper Organization at the princely sum of $200 a week. I accepted and worked as film researcher on another documentary he had sold called Hollywood: The Golden Years.
When that was completed, I wondered what was going to happen next. Then Dave told me that he had sold an idea to Schlitz Beer for a documentary about Willie Davis of the Los Angeles Dodgers called Biography of a Rookie. He asked me who should direct it. I said, "I will." Then he asked me who should produce it, and I replied, "I will." He agreed to the idea, but told me that since I had never directed or produced a film, we needed a cameraman that would put Schlitz at ease. We came up with James Wong Howe, a major cinematographer who had earned Academy Awards for his work on The Rose Tattoo and Hud. Somehow, David found Howe's phone number, and this is how the conversation went:
"Hello, Mr. Howe, this is David Wolper."
"Wolper...Wolper...I don't know any Wolper."
"Mr. Howe, I'm a producer of documentaries."
"Documentaries! Documentaries are shit. I do features, features for major studios. I get top salary."
"How much do you make, Mr. Howe?"
"I make $2,000 a week."
(Pause) "I'll pay you $3,000."
(Pause) "I'll do the documentary."
So my career as a director began with the leading Hollywood cinematographer as my cameraman. How David came up with the idea of the documentary, how he thought of pitching it to Schlitz, how he made the deal, and why he trusted me to direct it is all part of his legend.
There were three reasons for the success of The Wolper Organization. In the early 1960s, there was no major programming venue for documentaries except for the three predominant networks. This was before cable, PBS, videocassettes, DVDs and the Internet. As a general rule, independent documentary producers could not concern themselves with "news" issues. This was the province of the network news departments and commentators like Ed Murrow and David Brinkley. However, David realized that if you presented the networks with historical subject matter, biographies of famous people, nature specials or retrospectives on Hollywood and the movies, there was a fair chance you could find a time slot--if you could pick up a sponsor. In addition, if the networks would not pick up a program, Dave would create a network himself out of a group of independent stations across the nation. In a sense, The Wolper Organization was the Discovery and History Channels of the '60s and early '70s.
Secondly, Dave strove to create programming of the highest quality and, as a consequence, the highest sales potential. He realized, for instance, that it is one thing to try and sell a program about the US Presidential campaign of 1960, but it's much easier to find a sponsor for one based on The Making of the President by Theodore White. This mindset followed in other directions. One could present the networks with a nature series, but Dave realized it would be far easier to walk in with National Geographic. The world beneath the sea is an interesting place to visit, but it's easier to sell with Jacques Cousteau. Dave also understood that a series concept could find a home either on the networks or in syndication. Thus, the original Biography and Hollywood and the Stars series were created.
Third, Dave understood that if he created a unit of dedicated and imaginative documentary filmmakers and gave them the freedom to work in an unfettered environment, he could achieve a high standard of programming. Wolper Productions (a division of The Wolper Organization) became a mecca for an extremely talented group of directors, writers, producers and editors who preferred working in this unstructured environment. There was no sense of rivalry or one-upsmanship, since everyone had his own program to produce while Dave ran interference with the networks and sponsors--and he had a special talent for allaying their concerns.
In a sense, Dave was a music-maker, a dreamer of dreams. In the process, he helped create a body of work that is an essential part of the chronicles of our time.
--Mel Stuart
David Wolper always had the most amazing ability to recognize a good idea. Proof of that talent abounds, namely in his ability to convince networks to air his impressive list of pioneering series, including the National Geographic series and The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau.
So it wasn't surprising to me that when I called the first meeting of IDA in February 1982 by putting a small ad in the trades announcing the formation of a new group to represent documentary filmmakers, David showed up, along with 75 others. Many people had told me that IDA wouldn't work because getting notoriously independent documentarians together would be an impossibility. But David always thrived on making improbable things happen, and he could always recognize an idea--even a seemingly improbable one--whose time had come.
--Linda Buzzell
Founder, IDA; Director of Research, Wolper Productions
I've never worked for a better boss than David. Actually, "boss" was what he wasn't. Rather, he worked hard to generate and sell innovative and exciting projects--and then gave us, his people, a remarkably free hand to be creative, to do our best.
I remember David returning from New York and calling a meeting. "Animals," he said. "I sold a show on dogs. Then we could do cats. And if those work, there's, well, monkeys and maybe sharks. Sharks are scary; sharks would be good." Reaction was muted. At the time, we were making historical documentaries--the Biography series--and experimenting with everyday life--The Story of... series. In any case, animals were next on the docket, and so began television's long-running fascination with the natural world.
David was forever breaking new ground, and challenging-inspiring--his people to follow through. Time magazine called him "Mr. Documentary," and that he was. And to think, that was just part of what he accomplished in his long and colorful career.
--Nick Clapp
I first met David Wolper in 1968 when Philippe [Cousteau, son of Jacques] and I first went to Los Angeles to prepare our Baja expedition to film the gray whales. My first impression of David was of a man who possessed an absolute clarity of how to produce the very best documentary series. I would sit in on some of the meetings between David, Jacques, Philippe and Bud Rifkin, and their ideas for this series were so unique, so exciting, so revolutionary that we couldn't wait to get started.
I was very grateful to David for a totally personal reason: His assistant, Julian Ludwig, during the negotiations between Wolper, Cousteau and various television networks, had introduced me to Philippe, and we were married less than a year later. I became a part of Philippe's team and accompanied him on 22 expeditions during the next 12 years until his death in 1979.
The Cousteau legacy continues on--a legacy that was created 45 years ago by two men who believed in an idea and in each other, and created a series that has never been duplicated or forgotten in the minds of those who lived, through television, the adventures of Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau and the men of Calypso. It was David Wolper who put him there.
--Jan Cousteau
The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau
In the early days of IDA, the Board was constantly looking for new ways to promote our new organization, giving documentary films and filmmakers greater visibility and trying to make a difference on a very meager and often non-existent budget. Our first IDA Awards, in 1985, were a resounding success. As an adjunct professor teaching documentary film at USC and Art Center College of Design, I thought it would be great if we could present a special award to honor student-made documentaries--but it would have meant more money. Mel Stuart and I took this idea to David Wolper, who, after listening to us, immediately wrote a check for $1,000, and the IDA/David L. Wolper Student Documentary Achievement Awards were born. In the 23 years since then, entries have come in from around the world, and David often came to the IDA Awards to present the student award himself. His generosity and interest in future generations of documentary makers live on in the IDA/David L. Wolper Student Documentary Achievement Awards.
--Gabor Kalman
Working at Wolper Productions was like getting paid to go to film school, except David never paid very much. Nevertheless, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
At the University of Wolper, you learned very fast that a good idea could make a good show--but it had to be an idea that David could sell. Fortunately he was a salesman as well as a leader, but then you had to take that idea and make the show as good as his sales pitch.
I don't think I've ever learned so much, been influenced by so many talented people, or had so much fun as the btime I spent with David Wolper. Under him, people like Walon Green, Mel Stuart, Jack Haley Jr., David Seltzer and Nick Noxon reshaped the art of nonfiction storytelling. You understood how to make documentaries that won a mass audience because they were entertaining as well as informative.
Several years after David sold his company to Warner Bros., my former partner Andrew Solt and I went to see our ex-boss with one of those ideas that can change your life. David liked the idea--which became the feature documentary This Is Elvis.
What I learned from David Wolper enabled me to start my own company and make my own shows. Nothing survives like ideas.
--Malcolm Leo
It was always "Wolper." Not "Mr. Wolper." Not "David."
As I advanced from assistant/researcher to producer/writer at Wolper Productions, I tried to refer to him as "David," but it just didn't seem right. He was unique. He was Wolper.
Wolper had style. Wolper had class. He knew how to sell, and he knew how to get big budgets for documentaries that also had style and class--and were commercially successful.
It may be apocryphal, but this is the story I heard about his pitch to Quaker Oats for a CBS documentary on endangered species: "You are looking at the last baby panda, whooping crane chick, red wolf pup in existence. And someone smashes his fist down on it."
The budget he got for Say Goodbye would be the envy of many filmmakers today.
I was the associate producer of that documentary. Producer/writer David Vowell was the brilliant filmmaker, but I saw how Wolper insured that the final product would be as dramatic as his first sales pitch. You couldn't watch two baby polar bears alone on the ice and not have a tear in your eye. Sure, Say Goodbye was controversial, but it helped promote legislation in Alaska to help threatened wildlife...and it was nominated for an Academy Award.
Working at Wolper Productions during the late '60s and early '70s meant being a part of a special group, a select fraternity. It was better than any film school.
Because you worked for Wolper.
--Joan Meyerson
Writer/Producer
In the early '60s, I produced and directed five films for David Wolper and was always impressed with him as a man of few, but very effective, words.
When we were falling behind schedule on the weekly series Story of..., and struggling to find ways to catch up, David called everyone into his office and explained how to do it: "The way to catch up," he told us, "is to catch up." There was no further discussion--problem solved.
David later offered me the episode on Westerns in Hollywood and the Stars. He gave me just two notes: the show had to be titled "They Went That-a-way," and it had to "end with the cavalry coming to the rescue." They were terrific notes and right on the money. They Went That-a-way went on to win the 1963 Western Heritage Award for Best Nonfiction Television Special.
One of the high points, and most hilarious, of my time at Wolper came while I was making The Legend of Marilyn Monroe. Toward the end of the editing process, as often seemed to happen at Wolper Productions, a creative dilemma arose. We had a seemingly insolvable script problem--a real crisis. Mel Stuart, Jack Haley Jr. and I sat quietly in David's office with furrowed brows, straining to come up with an answer. Finally, David's face lit up. "I have it," he said. "Why not tell the truth?"
--Terry Sanders
My relationship with David Wolper began when I was a teenager driving down the Sunset Strip around 1965. I remember an eye-catching sign with a W logo and a swirl: Wolper Productions.
I realized that was where they made those documentary specials I loved so much--Biography, National Geographic, The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau and many more.
After I graduated from UCLA's journalism school, I really wanted to work at Wolper. That was my dream, and fortunately it came true.
I attended what we liked to call Wolper U; I was a member of the class of the '70s. What an exciting place it was! David was the Hollywood mogul in the corner office who made the magic. He was brilliant, tenacious and very hard-working. He was also a lot of fun to be with--a man who passionately loved life. I learned much from David; he taught me what it was to be a producer, and he influenced my career and my life.
It is remarkable that one human being could achieve so much--and produce such an incredible body of work--in a lifetime. In so doing, David rubbed elbows with the most important figures of the 20th century--presidents, poets, authors and athletes-and he especially loved that.
But what David treasured most was his family: his beloved wife, Gloria; his three wonderful children, Mark, Michael and Leslie; and his ten grandchildren. They were his greatest joy.
We have lost a giant, a good friend and an amazing man who brought light into our lives and made us better for knowing him.
--Andrew Solt
I remember David Wolper as someone who gave me a chance to shoot films that were significant and of high quality at a time when this meant a great deal to me.
In the late'50s, I was a refugee from communist Hungary. I'd found my way to Los Angeles seeking a job in the movie industry. Though I had a degree from the Budapest film school, the only work I could find without connections or local experience was working in a photo lab and doing freelance baby photography. I also did some work on graduate films for UCLA students, and one of them hired me to shoot a film for Wolper Productions titled Larry, about the life of a blind student. I got paid $2.50 an hour (to compensate for my lost wages at the photo lab).
Larry became a segment of the television series The Story of....Each segment examined an individual's life--his work, family, etc.--and everything was shot on black-and-white 16mm film.
After seeing Larry, Wolper hired me as an assistant to Wilis Lapenieks, an immigrant cinematographer from Latvia. I also worked on second or third camera for The Story of a Basketball Coach.
This was a lucky start for me. I was thrilled to finally work on interesting and creative projects, even if it was for television. I will always remember David Wolper as an innovator who wasn't afraid to try new ideas and include new talent.
Wolper's documentaries advanced the quality of television in the '60s. He was a pioneer and he helped advance the careers of an entire generation of documentary photographers in Hollywood.
-Vilmos Zsigmund
TV Docs
After Travelling the World, 'Daughter from Danang' Arrives at PBS
Putting the 'Wild' Back in the Wildlife Programming
The Real CSI: Are Crime Victims Being Re-Victimized by Filmmakers?
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13852
|
__label__cc
| 0.505565
| 0.494435
|
CHIPS Articles: 10-1-10 — The Evolution Begins
10-1-10 — The Evolution Begins
A new era in command and control expeditionary networking
By Capt. Timothy Holland - January-March 2009
If you work in or with the Department of the Navy (DON), two years or so from now, you will be using a new intranet to conduct business. The current Navy Marine Corps Intranet contract ends Sept. 30, 2010. On Oct. 1, 2010, the DON will be transitioning to the Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN).
Currently, every NMCI user is provided a complete suite of applications and services at each "seat" — consisting of connectivity to local area networks, wide area networks, guaranteed network performance, security, network support, all help desk support, training, cryptographic logon, identity management and attribute-based access. The combination of this set of services has tremendous value.
The current design provides secure, universal access to integrated voice, video and data communications, and a common computing environment across the DON, which has played a critical role in dramatically improving security across the enterprise while greatly improving business efficiency and the exchange of information.
Innovation, Security and Global Connectivity
With NGEN, the DON's vision is to transition to a network that will have a secure, reliable capability that capitalizes on its significant investment and improves focus on the warfighter. This will be accomplished by first enabling command and control (C2) of naval network resources, and second, by improving Navy enterprise business and administrative functions.
NGEN, over time, will provide a state-of-the-art, global networking environment that is responsive to the operational commander, that unleashes the collaborative nature of the Millennium Generation and empowers our future warriors. It will build on the lessons learned in developing the world's largest intranet, the NMCI, and allow visibility into the network's control and cost to help the DON migrate from costly, vulnerable legacy networks.
NGEN represents the evolution of naval IT networks. It is a central pillar in the DON's goal of a single-enterprise network within the overall Naval Networking Environment. The NNE 2016 is the DON's vision for a highly secure and reliable enterprise providing ubiquitous access to data, services and applications from anywhere across all program and operational boundaries. The NNE is an iterative set of integrated, phased programs that will guide the DON toward a future net-centric enterprise environment.
The NNE will be bound by an enterprise architecture, common standards and a common governance and operational construct that is consistent with the joint goals for Defense Department-wide access to information technology services around the world.
It will allow U.S. Naval forces to partner, communicate and share information with a diverse array of multinational, federal, state, local and private sector organizations given a particular operational requirement tailored to a specific mission.
Over the next two years, and at the initial delivery of NGEN, you won't notice much change. There will not be a flip of a switch Sept. 30, 2010, when the NMCI contract ends. Users will still have access to current systems and tools, but NGEN will be well on the way to realizing needed improvements.
Since 9/11, the requirements of the commands currently supported by NMCI have changed as the department engaged in the global war on terror. Shore-based and forward operational commanders in the fleet view all of the DON's enterprise networks as extensions of their ability to wage war and have stated that coalition and multinational command, control, communications and computers (C4) interoperability remains the top fleet priority.
There are compelling reasons to move to NGEN, NNE 2016 —and beyond — as outlined below.
To make DON networks better
Today, DON networks are no longer just a business support system. They must be built in ways that allow them to be in¬teroperable across commands. Continuous improvement means constant evaluation of process and progress and making neces¬sary changes to succeed. In other words, NGEN is part of the NNE strategy that will bring about the integration of multiple simul¬taneously moving pieces across the Navy and Marine Corps.
The keys to the success of NNE 2016 are:
• A common enterprise architecture;
• Adoption of and adherence to enterprise standards, including the use of enterprise purchase agreements for our most common hardware and software components used across the department;
• A common governance structure and operational construct;
• Access for Sailors, Marines and civilians who should not be administratively bound to any one computer seat. With their Common Access Card and proper authorizations, they should be able to sit down at any personal computer or computing device and log in to receive “their” information with access to their data;
• Shared services; and
• Common IT service delivery across the operational spectrum.
To support the warfighter
The job of naval networks is to deliver mission-critical information to DON personnel when and where they need it. Warfighters will have the ability within the NGEN footprint to execute assigned missions and exercise command and control. At the same time, NGEN will defend the cyber domain by defeating ever increasing cyber threats with a military capability designed to fight, win and prevent cyber-attacks.
NGEN will provide service for a number of warfighting and Navy corporate activities. It must support an embarkable category of users, such as Sailors and Marines, whose in garrison command location is ashore.
Embarkable users need to be able to transition seamlessly to Navy’s afloat IT environment without loss of identity or functionality. Marine Corps expeditionary users similarly need to transition seamlessly from garrison to the fight forward within a consistent IT environment.
The DON has expeditionary NGEN users who need to be supported over low-bandwidth connections, and the DON has numerous users with challenging mobile requirements. Think of Navy recruiters who travel hundreds of miles to high schools and storefront locations, they need their information to be available and accessible while traveling.
While not in the first increment, the DON will want NGEN to help achieve a better balance between security and the need for a few Navy users to have broader Internet access to take full advantage of emerging technologies, in addition to social and business Web technologies. A layered defensive strategy will be an important characteristic of NGEN service.
Our service men and women need to know that the DON supports them and that its Naval Networking Environment allows them to do their job effectively without interruption.
To ensure optimum security
Modern day conflicts are increasingly moving from the traditional battlefield to cyberspace. Due to ever-increasing cyber threats and the military’s increasing dependency on IT infrastructure, continuous security improvements are required to protect against this insidious threat. A security failure could result in a loss of credibility, capital — or worse — lives.
Security refers to assured information sharing; network defense; confidentiality; a high rate of available enterprise access; assured mission management; integrity; and non-repudiation of data and users. The DON is dedicated to protecting, defending and safeguarding information and information systems (including networks and applications) by ensuring their availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality and access control through technical, managerial and operational means.
Governance to operate and adaptability
To meet the command and control needs of DON personnel, the department must have operational and design control over naval networks. Governance refers to the assignment of decision rights and accountability framework (standards, policies and enforcement mechanisms) to encourage desirable behavior in the use of IT. Adaptability refers to the ability of our network to field new, modified or additional services in a timely manner at an agreed service level.
Department of the Navy IT contingencies must allow unprecedented agility and flexibility. NGEN governance is focused on creating a process for decision making in which all stakeholders, including leadership, internal customers and related areas, such as acquisition, have appropriate channels to provide necessary input. This mitigates problems and improves system performance, adaptability and cost effectiveness for the DON.
NGEN will use an IT Service Management (ITSM) framework based on industry best practices. Use of the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) version 3 will allow the DON to apply an open standard that is consistent across the entire operational spectrum. It will allow the department to bring maximum competition to bear on specific functional segments of NGEN without detracting from end-to-end interoperability.
ITIL’s systematic approach will bring a tested, rigorous, efficient service delivery model to DON network operations that is consistent with recognized international standards. It is a model that many of the DON’s industry partners use.
ITSM is a discipline for managing IT systems centered on meeting an organization’s requirements on the part of internal or external customers. The output is a strategy for the design, implementation, maintenance and continual improvement of the service as an organizational capability and a strategic asset.
ITIL is a set of concepts and techniques for managing IT infrastructure, development and operations. Processes are designed to be compatible with the requirements for performing IT service strategy, design, transition and operations functions that will result in the optimum service management infrastructure.
Since there is no existing DON standard for ITSM implementation, NGEN is leading the effort in implementing ITSM partnering with the Naval NETWAR FORCEnet Enterprise (NNFE) to develop and maintain an enterprise IT maturity model.
Embracing ITSM from the start of NGEN development will better position the Navy to manage life-cycle processes. We expect to have a consistent organization that captures requirements, delivers, monitors, optimizes and enhances IT service with a mature, coherent and transparent process.
To ensure the utmost reliability
Department networks are mission critical. Preventing and rapidly responding to failures or breaches and building redundancies are essential. Reliability means that protected data is consistently available when needed. Reliability refers to the ability of the network to maintain operations at agreed service levels during normal operations, peak demands and disaster situations.
Out of the box, NGEN must be at least as good as NMCI and must be capable of growing to meet warfighter needs. It must be capable of providing assured information exchange for Navy’s critical command and control nodes and key supporting command operations centers.
What is the risk of not moving to NGEN or NNE?
As the NGEN program manager, I must stress that NGEN signifies much more than how we buy information transport services; it is really about how the DON executes network operations across Navy and Marine Corps operational and business core mission areas.
As we move further into the millennium, network users will become more dependent on access to information. To ensure the DON stays ahead and prevents information dependence from becoming a liability, the department must practice continual service improvement.
NGEN is the first milestone in the evolution of Naval IT networks; it promises to deliver operational command and control, robust security and exciting technology innovations.
Capt. Timothy Holland is a 1982 graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree in engineering and a master’s of science degree from the Naval Postgraduate School. He reported to the Program Executive Office for Enterprise Information Systems as the NGEN program manager in June 2007.
TAGS: Cybersecurity, EA, ELA, Enterprise Services, ESI, Governance, Infrastructure, NEN, NGEN, NMCI, NNE, RM, Spectrum, Telecommunications, Wireless, Workforce
Capt. Timothy Holland, NGEN Program Manager
Cpl. Michael K. Kono is on his second deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. A computer network administrator, Kono is in charge of constantly updating the security of the networks and making sure the base’s air boss is always able to contact other bases to coordinate 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing’s mission throughout Iraq. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Juan Vara, 2nd MAW July 2005.
NIST’s Quantum Logic Clock Returns to Top Performance
DON IT Conference Small Business Networking
Response to Request for a DON Waiver from Requirements of the DoD 8570.01-M, Information Assurance Workforce Improvement Program, dated November 1, 2017
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13853
|
__label__cc
| 0.50948
| 0.49052
|
The Obsoletes: A Novel
By Simeon Mills
Read by Ramón de Ocampo
Simeon Mills Simon & Schuster Audio 9781501198335
The Obsoletes is a thought-provoking coming-of-age novel about two human-like teen robots navigating high school, basketball, and potentially life-threatening consequences if their true origins are discovered by the inhabitants of their intolerant 1980s Michigan hometown. Fraternal twin brothers Darryl and Kanga are just like any other teenagers trying to make it through high school. They have to deal with peer pressure, awkwardness, and family drama. But there’s one closely guarded secret that sets them apart: they are robots. So long as they keep their heads down, their robophobic neighbors won’t discover the truth about them and they just might make it through to graduation. But when Kanga becomes the star of the basketball team, there’s more at stake than typical sibling rivalry. Darryl—the worrywart of the pair—now has to work a million times harder to keep them both out of the spotlight. Though they look, sound, and act perfectly human, if anyone in their small, depressed Michigan town were to find out what they truly are, they’d likely be disassembled by an angry mob in the middle of their school gym. Heartwarming and thrilling, Simeon Mills’s charming debut novel is a funny, poignant look at brotherhood, xenophobia, and the limits of one’s programming.
The Obsoletes is a thought-provoking coming-of-age novel about two human-like teen robots navigating high school, basketball, and potentially life-threatening consequences if their true origins are discovered by the inhabitants of their intolerant 1980s Michigan hometown.
Fraternal twin brothers Darryl and Kanga are just like any other teenagers trying to make it through high school. They have to deal with peer pressure, awkwardness, and family drama. But there’s one closely guarded secret that sets them apart: they are robots. So long as they keep their heads down, their robophobic neighbors won’t discover the truth about them and they just might make it through to graduation.
But when Kanga becomes the star of the basketball team, there’s more at stake than typical sibling rivalry. Darryl—the worrywart of the pair—now has to work a million times harder to keep them both out of the spotlight. Though they look, sound, and act perfectly human, if anyone in their small, depressed Michigan town were to find out what they truly are, they’d likely be disassembled by an angry mob in the middle of their school gym.
Heartwarming and thrilling, Simeon Mills’s charming debut novel is a funny, poignant look at brotherhood, xenophobia, and the limits of one’s programming.
“Antic comedy, freak-out horror, and existential angst…Makes the joys and terrors of adolescence seem fresh and new.” —J. Robert Lennon, author of Broken River
Author Bio: Simeon Mills
Simeon Mills is a graphic artist, writer, and teacher. He majored in architecture at Columbia University and received his MFA in fiction from the University of Montana. Simeon now teaches middle school English in Spokane, Washington, where he lives with his wife and two children. Visit SimeonMills.com.
Format: Digital Download Format: CD
Available Formats : Digital Download, CD
Category: Fiction/Science Fiction
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
CDs: 9
ISBN: 9781508293095 ISBN: 9781508293118
Audience: Adult
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13854
|
__label__wiki
| 0.955142
| 0.955142
|
Soldier Missing From Korean War Accounted For (Groves)
Release No: 14-020 Aug. 6, 2014
Cpl. Alva C. Groves
The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of a U.S. serviceman, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Cpl. Alva C. Groves, 18, of Four States, W.Va., will be buried Aug. 7, in Prunytown, W. Va. In November 1950, Groves was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment (IR), 2nd Infantry Division (ID), when his unit was attacked by a vast number of Chinese forces while occupying a defensive position northeast of the village of Kujang, North Korea. On Nov. 25, 1950, Groves’ unit consolidated its defensive lines and continued its withdrawal east. Groves was reported missing in action on Nov. 28, 1950.
On Aug. 8, 1953, Chinese forces reported that Groves was captured during the battle and died on April 14, 1951, from tubercular peritonitis in a prisoner of war camp in Pyokdong, North Korea.
Between 1991 and 1994, North Korea turned over to the U.S. 208 boxes of human remains believed to contain 350 - 400 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean documents, turned over with some of the boxes, indicated that some of the remains were recovered from a North Korean prisoner of war camp in Pyokdong, where Groves was believed to have died.
To identify Groves’ remains, scientists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence and forensic identification tools, including mitochondrial DNA.
Today, 7,882 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously turned over by North Korean officials or recovered from North Korea by American teams.
For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans, who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPMO web site at www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call (703) 699-1169.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13855
|
__label__wiki
| 0.920069
| 0.920069
|
Soldier Missing From Korean War Accounted For (Ewing)
Release No: 15-064 Oct. 9, 2015
The Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that the remains of a U.S. soldier, missing from the Korean War, have been identified and will be returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
Army Cpl. Grant H. Ewing, 28, of Fort Lupton, Colo., will be buried Oct. 19, in his hometown. In late November 1950, Ewing was assigned to Battery C, 38th Field Artillery Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division (ID), which was deployed north and east of the town of Kunu-ri, North Korea. On Nov. 25, 1950, 2nd ID was attacked by Chinese forces, which forced the unit to withdraw south to a more defensible position. Before they could disengage, the 2nd ID was forced to fight through a series of Chinese roadblocks, commonly known as “the Gauntlet”. Ewing was reported missing in action during this battle.
In 1953, as part of a prisoner of war exchange known as Operation Big Switch, returning American soldiers who had been held as prisoners of war reported that Ewing was among the many men captured by Chinese forces and died in February 1951, in prisoner of war Camp 5, in Pyoktong, North Korea. His remains were not among those returned by communist forces during Operation Glory in 1954.
Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea turned over to the U.S. 208 boxes of human remains now believed to contain more than 600 U.S. servicemen who fought during the war. North Korean documents turned over with some of the boxes indicated that some of the remains were recovered from the vicinity where Ewing was believed to have died.
To identify Ewing’s remains, scientists from the DPAA and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) used circumstantial evidence, dental comparison, and two forms of DNA analysis including; mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosome Short Tandem Repeat DNA (Y-STR) analysis, which matched his brother.
Today, more than 7,800 Americans remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. Using modern technology, identifications continue to be made from remains that were previously turned over by North Korean officials or recovered by American recovery teams.
For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil or call (703) 699-1420.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13856
|
__label__wiki
| 0.631069
| 0.631069
|
Post subject: Big Hero 6
Honor Hunter wrote:
Sometime around this point in the schedule, Don Hall's super secret project may have been greenlit and far enough down the line to be penciled in for a 2015/2016 release. That project, once announced will generate a lot of buzz in certain geek communities, as it's going to surprise a lot of people for what it is and what it's not. But it's in the very early embryonic stage and it depends on how well the project is received upon the presentation that is being prepared for John and Ed.
Floyd Norman wrote:
I spent an hour at Disney talking story with Don Hall a few weeks ago. He's quite a remarkable guy and good things are on the way.
What those things are...you'll have to wait and see.
Don Hall has a super secret project? Emphasis on words there?
Source: http://blueskydisney.blogspot.com/2011/ ... -road.html
Last edited by Sotiris on Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:05 pm, edited 6 times in total.
I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I wonder if they could be the first stop-motion animated feature in the canon. That's certainly something that would generate plenty of discussion.
RyGuy
If they made a stop-motion animated feature part of the canon, it would beg the question why James and the Giant Peach was not part of the canon.
And, it's not like they could go back and sneak it in like they did with Dinosaur, now that they've completely branded Tangled as the 50th animated feature.
RyGuy wrote:
James and the Giant Peach (I almost typed People instead of Peach )
had live action characters in it...the aunts...the arrival at new york....so if there would be a stop motion film that would fit in the cannon under that I would think it should be The Nightmare Before Christmas in my opinion
There are two movies that I could see in the Cannon if they pulled some sort Dinosaur trick would be Jim Carrey in A Christmas Carol...it's based on a classic book and it's more truthful to the book than a lot of the films have done a hundred times over....The Other one would be Gnomeo and Juliet to the ....
But if they Put Mars Needs Moms in the canon....I think i'll just drop something like Nostalgia Critic does when there's a stupid scene in a movie he's reviewing....
.For everyone's sanity reasoning I won't post a Nostalgia Critic Clip
I think Disney overdid it with the 50th branding of Tangled, preventing any future retconning of films into the canon.
I mean, sure - earlier films had the numbers listed on the VHS/DVD cases, but this time they threw it into the trailer, even!
Visit Animation Activist to discover excellent foreign, older, cult, underrated, and obscure animated films you may never have heard of before! There is life beyond Disney!
Wonderlicious
James and the Giant Peach and The Nightmare Before Christmas weren't produced in-house by the feature animation department. Some of the feature animation executives and personel did give some input, but they were primarily produced by Skellington Productions (a company created especially to make those films). Counting it as part of the canon would almost be like including Toy Story when it was produced by Pixar.
Blog | Deviantart
Wonderlicious wrote:
Yeah, I was just going to say, to be part of the WDAS canon, the film would have to have been created in-house by WDAS! It's not just a compilation list of a bunch of noteworthy films or something...
disneyboy20022 wrote:
Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 both had live-action elements, and they are in the canon.
Back to the subject at hand; I think it would be cool to have a stop-motion film created by WDAS. After all, animation comes in many forms, and I say the more the merrier. WDAS could easily join the ranks of Rankin-Bass and Aardman in terms of their well-known applications of stop-motion animation.
Also, I know a lot of people dislike the fact that Dinosaur was "shoe-horned" into the list, but the fact of the matter is that it was produced by WDAS, so it belongs on the list. Now that there are a few more CGI films included in the canon, at least it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb like it may once have.
Poody
He has his very own panel at Comic-Con this year. Perhaps he'll mention something about it.
Wondy, thanks for the info about Skellington Productions. I never knew that (though I didn't pay that close of attention).
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 10:00 am
Anonymous #1 wrote:
I'm intrigued about the Don Hall project. There's no chance in it being hand-drawn, right?
No, it's CG.
Source: http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/ ... t-diz.html
Last edited by Sotiris on Sun Apr 08, 2012 10:23 am, edited 2 times in total.
What's that project that Don Hall is working on? I'm hearing some interesting rumors.
Trust me, they aren't going to reveal projects like the one Don Hall is working on at the D23 Expo. It's too early in development, but it is far different from what Disney Animation has done in the past. Very promising for the future of the Hat Building.
Source: http://animationguildblog.blogspot.com/ ... lding.html
DisneyJedi
Is this REALLY gonna be CG?! T_T
milojthatch
Neal wrote:
The branded the film itself as the 50th in the cannon. THAT, I have never seen before.
All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.
-Walt Disney
Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2012 12:08 pm
But the most interesting ones are yet to come from the trailers of what Dean Wellins and Don Hall have planned. By this time WDAS will have likely rebuilt a reputation that war torn down over the late 90's/early 2000's.
Source: http://www.blueskydisney.com/2011/08/wo ... films.html
The projects competing for 2014/2015 are the uber-secret film from Don Hall, which will be a marvelously unexpected project if it ever gets the green light, and Nathan Greno and Byron Howard's films which are deep in development.
"a marvelously unexpected project"
Nice metaphor, Honor. I think I know what you're hinting at.
Honor, you are spot on with your teasing of Don's project. I just hope people realize that it is "in development" which means they are trying to make the story work. It's not yet been animated. But if John likes the take on it, then it could see the light of day.
And for those that keep harping on this? Disney bought 5000+ characters, why do you think it's one of the top 20 or 30?
Hmmmm?
Source: http://blueskydisney.blogspot.com/2012/ ... ngdom.html
blackcauldron85
So a CG-animated Marvel film...
MutantEnemy
Oh God... This may give Disney Duster a stroke!
If that really is being developed, the only way I could see that working would be if they were working with marvel artists to create a brand new superhero that would be under both the Marvel and Disney labels. This way Disney is creating new characters that could fit in the family model that is expected, leaving Disney fans happy, and established Matvel characters aren't being forced into the Disney mold, leaving Marvel fans happy. Everybody benefits.
Another thought that occurred... The Avengers starring Mickey and the Gang? I highly highly doubt it, but it's a thought.
DisneyAnimation88
Maybe this is just wishful thinking on my part but I'll believe it when I see it. Marvel are in the process of adapting all of their major comics to films; Spiderman and X-Men have already been rebooted and there'll be more films in those series to come not to mention another Wolverine film, The Avengers is being released soon, there are already sequels imminent for Iron Man, Captain America and Thor, films based on Black Widow and Hawkeye are in the works, Joe Wright is working on a script for Ant-Man...I'm not a comic book expert but how many other major Marvel comics are there to be adapted into an animated film? I know Iger has his heart set on bringing Marvel to the theme parks but personally I wouldn't like a Marvel film released under the WDAS banner and I hope it doesn't happen. That being said, after the Avatar deal I suppose anything is possible at Disney these days.
We're not going to Guam, are we?
singerguy04
Location: The Land of Lincoln
I just don't believe that this would be a marvel super-hero animated feature. First of all, making any of the characters animated would kind of block the marvel studios from using them in their live-action films. I also think that public interest more so lies in live-action super hero films than they do animated. Secondly, all of the most popular characters are spoken for in recent live-action films.
I mean, is there anything else that could have been referenced?
Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 12:09 pm
Q: You guys are partnering now with Disney/Pixar. Is there a desire on your end to work with Pixar to make, you know, a movie together?
Kevin Feige: Well, I think the notion of an animated movie based off of a Marvel property is a no-brainer and it’s something that we’ve been talking about. You know, Lasseter is now both Pixar and Walt Disney animation. So, you know, I don’t where, whatever project would fall where necessarily. And frankly, Pixar is all about original properties and original ideas, but an animated version of one of our characters, one of our 8,000-plus characters would seem to be something that could happen at some point.
Source: http://www.slashfilm.com/film-set-inter ... vin-feige/
Last edited by Sotiris on Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13859
|
__label__wiki
| 0.760324
| 0.760324
|
Reviews » DVD Video Reviews » Vendetta for the Saint
Vendetta for the Saint
MPI Home Video // Unrated // August 31, 2004
Review by Ian Jane | posted September 8, 2004 | E-mail the Author
Compiled from two episodes of the British television series The Saint which aired in January of 1969, Vendetta For The Saint finds Simon Templar (Roger Moore of James Bond fame) in Naples, Italy. When he heads out to a swanky bar for a nightcap, he is the unfortunate witness in a kafuffle between two of the bar's patrons. He leaves that evening, not thinking much of it, and is surprised the next morning when he wakes up to read in the local newspaper that one of the patrons, who happened to be a former bank employee, has been murdered in cold blood.
When Templar takes the case on as one of his saintly crusades and starts poking around Naples for clues, he soon unravels a connection to the Sicilian mob. He also finds that not too many of the locals are really keen on the idea of helping him sort this all out, as many of them live in fear of the gangsters he's trying to bring to justice. He does find out that the other man who was responsible for the bar fight is named Alessandro Destamio (Ian Hendry) and that he is supposedly of rich blood – and sadly he also finds out that if he befriends Destamio's pretty girlfriend, Lily (Aimee MacDonald) he'll wind up in the local jail for a crime he didn't commit. Soon enough the Saint teams up with the local authorities to prove Destamio's true identity and motives, but in order to make that happen he's going to have to take on the mafia and that's never an easy thing to do, especially when it becomes obvious that Destamio has some pretty dangerous connections.
Directed by Jim O'Connolly (who also helmed The Valley Of Gwangi and Circus Of Blood), this movie is a blast. It moves along at a nice fast pace and injects the mysterious wealthy avenger theme with some much-needed doses of humor and wit. Roger Moore is perfectly cast as Templar, the wealthy playboy who wants to do right and is never afraid to play things a little less straight when the movie calls for it – he almost seems to be winking at the camera a few times, knowing that he's the slickest, coyest man on the planet, or at least in this movie's fictional world.
Aside from Moore, Vendetta For The Saint benefits from a great supporting cast including a young Ian Hendry of Captain Kronos – Vampire Hunter and Theater Of Blood, who does a great job as the dastardly protagonist of the film. His girlfriend (soon to be Templar's, if you catch my drift) is played perfectly by the gorgeous Aimee MacDonald, who had a very brief part in Clive Donner's Vampira and did some British TV work in the seventies, only to disappear from the public eye in the later part of the decade until 1988 when she was back on TV again.
Fans of sixties pop culture should find much to love about the visuals in the film. While much of it may seem cliché thanks to films like Austin Powers, the movie really does look like a living breathing piece of pop art from Templar's slick roadster to the city settings in which he drives it. The eye pleasing cinematography by Brendan Stafford (who worked on similar English shows like The Prisoner and Secret Agent ensures that it all looks great and the movie looks very fluid and is much more interesting on a visual level than many other television shows from that period.
The DVD
Seeing as this 'movie' was culled from two episodes of the television series, it makes sense that MPI's DVD is shown fullscreen (though it did play theatrically and may have been shown in a different aspect ratio, 1.33.1 looks correct on this presentation). The image is crisp and clean and free of any major defects with only some mild print damage in the form of an occasional dust speck creeping into the frame. Colors are nice and bright (which is important in retaining the 'pop' look and feel of the movie) and flesh tones look life like and natural. Black levels are stable throughout and aside from a few moments where there is some obvious edge enhancement and a few seconds of the dreaded shimmer action this transfer looks very, very nice.
The disc comes with a basic but effective Dolby Digital Mono soundtrack in English, as it should be. There are no subtitles available, nor is there is a closed captioning option. Dialogue and background music are mixed in nicely with the sound effects and everything is well balanced and clear. There were no problems understanding speech and aside from the odd moment where a tiny bit of hiss works its way into the audible portion of the presentation, there are no problems with this mix.
Roger Moore lends his charismatic voice to a full length commentary track, where he's joined by producer Robert Baker. Moore, always charming and fun, has quite a bit to say about this made for TV movie and how it fits in with the rest of his work on the series. He seems to be having some fun with the track, and seems to remember his work quite fondly. It's a fun commentary track that fans of the series should find fun and enjoyable – it's also the only extra feature on the DVD (unless you count chapter selection).
Saint fans rejoice, Vendetta For The Saint arrives on DVD in style and sports a fun commentary track from Moore and company. It looks good, it sounds good, and it holds up very well providing plenty of slick sleuthy action, laughs, and fun. Recommended.
Ian lives in NYC with his wife where he writes for DVD Talk, runs Rock! Shock! Pop!. He likes NYC a lot, even if it is expensive and loud.
3. The Brady-est Brady Bunch TV & Movie Collection
10. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (1995)
Copyright 2019 DVDTalk.com All Rights Reserved. Legal Info, Privacy Policy, Terms of Use
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13860
|
__label__wiki
| 0.832675
| 0.832675
|
Science, Health & Technology
Science, Health and Technology updates
National Dolphin Research Centre Coming Up in Patna
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi announced that the first dolphin research centre in India and in Asia will be set up on the banks of river Ganga in the campus of Patna University in Bihar. The announcement was made on 'Dolphin Day' observed by Bihar on October 5, 2018.
USFDA Approval for Breast Cancer Drug
Drug company Zydus Cadila announced the US Food and Drug Administration's final approval to market drug for breast cancer treatment on October 5, 2018. The drug, Exemestane tablet will be made in the strength of 25 mg at the company's formulations manufacturing facility in SEZ, Ahmedabad.
Solar Power Plant Launched in Chernobyl
Ukraine launched its first solar power plant at the abandoned nuclear station in Chernobyl on October 5, 2018. It is a joint German-Ukraine venture which cost USD 1.2 million only. The plant has a capacity of 1 megawatt.
Bellandur Lake Bacteria Resistant to Drugs
This came across in a study in the masters' thesis of Mahesha J. at the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE), and researcher Priyanka Jamwal of Centre for Environment and Development at ATREE. The heavily polluted Bengaluru lake, Bellandar, had 14 cases of increased bacteria drug resistance in comparison to the cleaner Jakkur lake.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13862
|
__label__wiki
| 0.665034
| 0.665034
|
NSA Spying
NSA Primary Sources
State Secrets Privilege
NSA Timeline 1791–2015
Government officials have made many statements about the warrantless surveillance since it became public in 2005. They’ve done so in court, in Congress, and in the media. Unfortunately, their words have too often served to evade or obscure, rather than clarify, their actions.
A close reading of the government’s statements, along with other publicly available materials, sheds some light on at least some of their word games. Here are some words or phrases to watch closely:
Terrorist Surveillance Program or TSP
Collection or Collect
Conversations and Communications
This list likely isn’t complete, but with the specific definitional games in mind, the government’s public statements about the warrantless surveillance become both much less clear and much more troubling. Here’s a detailed look:
“Terrorist Surveillance Program”
Government officials have generally cabined their discussions of the warrantless surveillance program to one aspect of the Program: the “Terrorist Surveillance Program” (TSP). Yet they have now admitted, and the Inspector General has confirmed, that the so-called TSP is not everything that they are doing.
As President Bush’s then-Press Secretary Tony Snow explained when warrantless wiretapping was first revealed, TSP was simply a marketing term, “a label attached after the original stories appeared about the program.” More critically, the phrase “Terrorist Surveillance Program” does not describe the entire warrantless wiretapping program or even an independent program, but, as the former Director of National of Intelligence Mike McConnell put it, “one particular aspect of these activities” that President Bush publicly disclosed in 2005—it references, by definition, only intercepts where one end of the communication was affiliated with al Qaeda.
The Inspectors General Report, brings some needed clarity, acknowledging that “several different intelligences activities were authorized,” and adopting the broader term “President’s Surveillance Program.”
Officials nevertheless persist in using the TSP phrase in an effort to assert that the broader program is limited, justified, or is no longer in operation—which is not the case. For example, in the Jewel v. NSA case, the government wrote:
Plaintiffs’ allegation that the NSA has indiscriminately collected the content of millions of communications sent or received by people inside the United States after 9/11 under the TSP is false.
A first glance, this seems like a rather strong denial of warrantless spying.
But the statement only refers to activities “under the TSP,” meaning that it is only a denial of the aspect of intelligence activities labeled the Terrorist Surveillance Program. So if the collections occurred under another aspect of the government spying, the denial would not apply.
Moreover, the statement also uses “collected” and “content” in ways you might not expect. As described further below, under the government’s definition, “collected” means “reviewed by a live person” and “content” excludes metadata like phone numbers and email addresses.
Thus, under the government’s misleading use of terms, the statement above would still be true if the NSA obtained copies of millions of communications, placed them all in a massive database, searched through their metadata using algorithms, and had agents review the communications found to be suspicious.
In public discussions of the Program, the government appears to exclude from the term “surveillance” instances where communications are acquired but subsequently “minimized,” despite the broader legal definition of “electronic surveillance” under applicable law. For example, a statement by then White House press secretary Tony Snow displays this irregular usage:
MR. SNOW:...the target in these conversations: a foreign individual not on US soil. If that person is talking to a US citizen, it does not mean that you’re sitting around doing surveillance on the US citizen. Furthermore, if it is a—
Q: But if you’re surveilling a phone call, you’re not just listening to the foreigner’s side of the call, right?
MR. SNOW: Well, yes, but on the other hand, if—you probably understand that if somebody is just calling in and asking how his socks are at the dry cleaners, all of that personal information is combed out and, in fact, the US citizen basically—you’re not conducting surveillance.
The government defends its online surveillance programs under Section 702 of FISA as “targeted” and not mass surveillance, but don’t be fooled. Programs like Upstream—which taps directly into U.S. fiber-optic Internet backbone cables and then copied and retains hundreds of millions of communications—are far from targeted.
Under Upstream and PRISM—which involves the government working with companies like Google, Facebook, or Yahoo to get users’ communications—the so-called “targeted” surveillance sweeps so broadly that communications of innocent third parties are inevitably and intentionally vacuumed up.
According to The Washington Post’s analysis of documents obtained by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, nine out of 10 account holders whose communications were collected by the NSA “were not the intended surveillance targets but were caught in a net the agency had case for someone else.” The Post estimated that the government would collect communications from more than 900,000 user accounts annually under its “targeted” 702 programs.
“Targeted” fails to describe how wide a net the NSA casts both when it comes to whose communications they look at and what they look for. Through Upstream, the NSA retains communications that are “about” – rather than to or from – a surveillance target. To collect those communications, the NSA conducts a content search of all, or substantially all, international Internet communications travelling through U.S. Internet cables.
"Collection" or “Collect”
Normally, one would think that a communication that has been intercepted and stored in a government database as “collected.” But the government’s definition of what it means to “collect” intelligence information is quite different from its plain meaning.
Under Department of Defense regulations, information is considered to be “collected” only after it has been “received for use by an employee of a DoD intelligence component,” and “data acquired by electronic means is ‘collected’ only when it has been processed into intelligible form.”
In other words, the NSA can intercept and store communications in its data base and have an algorithm search them for key words and analyze the meta data without ever considering the communications “collected.”
For purposes of national security surveillance at issue in Jewel v. NSA, under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the term “content” is defined very broadly, “any information concerning the identity of the parties to such communication or the existence, substance, purport, or meaning of that communication.”
This is in contrast to the federal Wiretap Act, where “content” is defined as the “substance, meaning or purport of a communication.”
But despite the broad, applicable definition of “content” used in FISA, the government often excludes all communications records (or “metadata”) from its definition of the term in discussing the NSA’s warrantless surveillance, as demonstrated by this statement from then Director of National Intelligence J. Michael McConnell:
Mr. HOLT. Do you need to be able to conduct bulk collection of call detail records, metadata for domestic-to-domestic phone calls by Americans?
Director MCCONNELL. Metadata, we think of it as not content but a process for how you would find something you might be looking for. Think of it as a roadmap.
Even in the Wiretap Act, as in FISA, “content” includes email subject lines and URLs. The government has admitted as much in its own internal manuals. But, when describing the Program, the government appears to exclude both subject lines and URLs from its definition of “content.”
For example, Gen. Hayden, former Director of the NSA, testified that “we do not use the content of communications to decide which communications we want to study the content of.” However, in the next sentence, Hayden shows he was using a crabbed definition of “content” that excludes the subject lines of email and the URLs of web links: “in other words, when we look at the content of the communications, everything between ‘hello’ and ‘good bye’....”
The government has also used the terms “conversations” and “communications” in ways that obscure the Program’s scope. For example, in a January 2006 speech at the National Press Club, Gen. Hayden, as the former Director of the NSA, attempted to downplay fears after the Program’s initial disclosure by the New York Times. Hayden said:
Let me talk for a few minutes also about what this program is not. It is not a driftnet over Dearborn or Lackawanna or Freemont grabbing conversations that we then sort out by these alleged keyword searches or data-mining tools or other devices that so-called experts keep talking about.
Later, however, after the May 11, 2006 USA Today story brought the government’s creation of a vast database of domestic calls to the attention of the American public, Hayden’s story became hard to believe. Called to account for this before Congress, Hayden testified:
[A]t key points, key points in my remarks, I pointedly and consciously downshifted the language I was using. When I was talking about a drift net over Lackawanna or Freemont or other cities, I switched from the word “communications” to the much more specific and unarguably accurate conversation.
So as you can see, officials regularly “downshift” their language when talking about the NSA warrantless surveillance program, or in other words, “purposefully obscure the truth.”
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13863
|
__label__wiki
| 0.942103
| 0.942103
|
Barry Ferguson sees signs of improvement for Blackpool
Interim boss Barry Ferguson is hoping Blackpool can go from strength to strength after securing a 1-1 draw against in-form Nottingham Forest.
Debutant Andy Keogh rescued the under-fire Tangerines as he scored a last-gasp leveller after Jamaal Lascelles had scored minutes before the break for the visitors.
The Seasiders' season is in tatters following a run of 13 matches without a win in all competitions but Ferguson was delighted with the response of his team as they dug deep and the former Rangers midfielder has challenged them to build on Saturday's result.
"I've never doubted their attitude and obviously I'm proud of what they have done but what pleased me more than anything is they proved what they've got today against a very good Nottingham Forest," he said.
"I've got to be positive from the sidelines. We just needed that break but the goal was a really good goal. Great cross in and Andy Keogh was in the right place with the header.
"I wouldn't be sat here if I didn't believe a win was coming. I believe with the group of players now that the chairman has let me bring in that it's not far away.
"I've had a full week with a full squad and it's given me time to put into practice what style and what formation I want to play.
"They've taken everything on board this week. The training is fantastic, the attitude is great and all they need to do now is bring it here on a Saturday at 3 o'clock and they've done that.
"My main concern is just start winning games. I said to them after the game that's the performance I'm expecting now.
"I know you can do it. There's no hiding place now. I've never doubted their attitude and commitment. It was just their quality and their confidence and that came out in the second half which really pleased me."
Forest took the lead on the stroke of half-time as an Andy Reid free-kick from the left was met by Lascelles who poked low to the right of Matt Gilks.
But the home side saw their pressure tell on 85 minutes as Jack Robinson broke down the left and crossed to the far post where Keogh nodded back across goal into the net.
Forest boss Billy Davies said: "It's a fair result probably. We had the first half, they had the second half.
"Conditions played a huge part on the way the game was played. Very windy, very wet, the pitch was bobbly and soggy.
"I think it was very much a case of long ball rather than football. I've come to this club with very strong teams and picked up nothing.
"I think they're in the wrong position with the teamsheets that they can put out and the players they've got I think they're in the wrong position. This we can look back on and realise that this is a very valuable point.
"I can organise a team. I can change the tactics and I can change the structure but the one thing we've got to do is recognise what is required going into the minutes of late games.
"I think the wind made us go too deep. You've got to give Blackpool credit for the second half.
"All in all, it was a fair result. It was a very good away point. Fifteen games undefeated. And we now look forward to the next match."
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13864
|
__label__wiki
| 0.970533
| 0.970533
|
Tranmere Rovers home start important - Rob Edwards
Rookie manager Rob Edwards is excited that the first game of his managerial career will come at home when Tranmere Rovers host York City.
Rovers discovered on Wednesday morning that they would begin their Sky Bet League 2 campaign against the Minstermen, who reached the Play-Offs last season, on 9th August.
Edwards is pleased that Tranmere's first game is at Prenton Park, and he told the club's official website: "I'm usually on holiday when the fixtures are out and see them in the paper so to be at the club today was different.
"There's some tough games in there but a home game to start with and obviously a good draw with [Nottingham] Forest in the Capital One Cup so there's plenty of exciting games to look forward to.
"The most important thing is the first home game of the season. We've got some good pre-season games to look forward to and here against York is a game we'll all look forward to and hopefully we'll have plenty of people at the Park to enjoy the game."
The 41-year-old left Exeter, where he was assistant manager, to take up the post at Tranmere, and revealed the fixtures against his former club - the first at Prenton Park on September 20 before the return game on January 31 - had caught his eye.
"I've got some good friends there, a lot of the players I've worked with for a long time," he added.
"But I suppose it makes it even sweeter if you beat your old team. You only get three points but that will be one game I'll be very happy if we can win."
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13865
|
__label__wiki
| 0.686382
| 0.686382
|
[Saudi Arabia] Prominent writer and editor arrested, fears for their safety
11 January 2013 11 January 2013 - by Cat Lucas - 1 Comment
English PEN is seriously concerned for the safety of writer Turki Al-Hamad and editor Raef Badawi. Al-Hamad was arrested on 24 December 2012 after a series of controversial tweets and is at risk of being charged with apostasy, which carries the death penalty in Saudi Arabia. Raef Badawi, who was arrested on 17 June 2012, has also been charged with apostasy for his online writings. PEN demands their immediate and unconditional release, in accordance with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and calls upon the Saudi authorities to ensure that they are treated humanely whilst in detention. For more information on their cases, please see the PEN International website.
We also remain deeply concerned for the well-being of writer Hamza Kashgari who was extradited on 9 February 2012 from Malaysia to Saudi Arabia and remains detained. He is facing charges of blasphemy stemming from a series of tweets addressed to the Prophet Mohammed on the anniversary of the Prophet’s birth on 4 February 2012.
Please send appeals:
Expressing grave concern for the safety of writer Turki Al-Hamad, editor Raef Badawi and writer Hamza Kashgari who are currently detained in violation of their right to freedom of expression;
Urging that they are immediately and unconditionally released, in accordance with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
Calling on the Saudi authorities to ensure that they are not subject to torture and ill-treatment whilst in detention;
Urging the Saudi authorities to stop using charges of apostasy to stifle freedom of expression.
Appeals to:
His Majesty King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
The Custodian of the two Holy Mosques
Office of His Majesty the King
Royal Court,
Fax: (via Ministry of the Interior) +966 1 403 3125
Salutation: Your Majesty
Crown Prince and Minister of the Interior
His Royal Highness Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
P.O.Box 2933, Airport Road,
Salutation: Your Majesty Crown Prince and Minister of the Interior
Please also send copies of your appeal letters to the diplomatic representative for Saudi Arabia in your country:
HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
W1J 5DZ
TaggedRaef BadawiSaudi ArabiaTurki Al-Hamad
Previous Article PEN Turkey under investigation for ‘insulting the state’
Next Article [Extraxt] The Dove Flyer by Eli Amir
About Cat Lucas
Cat Lucas is English PEN's Writers at Risk Programme Manager
View all posts by Cat Lucas →
One Comment on “[Saudi Arabia] Prominent writer and editor arrested, fears for their safety”
Lynn Flatley says:
“The Qur’an itself does not prescribe any earthly punishment for apostasy,” (wikipedia) so by what authority exactly do these religious fascists act upon? How awful must it be to live a life of such immaturity and hatefulness that you violently lash out against anyone who dares express an personal opinion that you do not share. How much worse, though, to live in the proximity of such mentally deficient and murderous bullies. Freedom of speech is every single human’s right, no-one on earth, individually or collectively, can legitimately claim otherwise.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13867
|
__label__wiki
| 0.592653
| 0.592653
|
Mass Atrocities and Western Imperialism: Evaluating “Responsibility to Protect”
Laura Ningelgen, Sep 6 2018, 1035 views
This content was written by a student and assessed as part of a university degree. E-IR publishes student essays & dissertations to allow our readers to broaden their understanding of what is possible when answering similar questions in their own studies.
Amidst unimaginable human rights violations in countries such as Syria, Yemen and Myanmar, the international community is faced with a moral predicament how to react. In 1999, Kofi Annan stressed the responsibility to protect citizens of states, meaning that even though states are sovereign, they do not have a free ride to endorse or accept the suffering or killing of civilians. The concept of the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P), authorised after the United Nations (UN) World Summit 2005 attempted to resolve the contradiction between individual human rights and sovereignty. It became legitimate for the international community to intervene if a country does not fulfil its main duty, the protection of its civilians (United Nations 2018). However, humanitarian interventions remain highly selective (Hehir 2013: 156). Hence, positive assumptions around R2P are problematic and this essay demonstrates why. To do so, it will critically evaluate the consequences of R2P under the consideration of its efficiency to stop human suffering. Since R2P gained major support of entities that came from the same liberal and democratic background, this essay will specifically focus on driving factors of Western[1] states and examine whether human rights violations are crucial for the West to intervene in other states (Pingeot and Obenland 2014: 26).
It begins with a brief overview of the historical background, key pillars, and proponents and opponents of the R2P-concept. Following arguments present an abstract of the dominant discourse on R2P. It is claimed that the uneven application of R2P can be explained best with the ‘humanitarian imperialism’. The main section of this essay critically compares the decisions of Western states regarding two examples where the world witnessed major human rights violations through the state. Cases examined will be the intervention in Libya 2011, and the non-intervention in Myanmar 2017. It is shown that the intervention in Libya was driven by neo-imperial and neo-liberal aims of the West, whilst the non-intervention of Myanmar can be explained through the satisfaction of Western states and China with the current Myanmar government. Consequently, the international community and particularly the West has only interests in intervening for the purpose of the protection of civilians if it corresponds to their foreign policy strategy. Lastly, this essay summarises the findings of the case studies and sets them in a broader context. It concludes that at best, the concept of R2P creates awareness for human suffering elsewhere but does not resolve the key issues. At worst, it works as a tool for the enforcement of neo-liberal and neo-imperial aims. Overall, R2P sheds a new light on interventions, but this does not contribute to an effective solution to end human suffering.
The Emergence of the Responsibility to Protect
Failed and troubled humanitarian interventions throughout the 1990s and the unauthorised[2] intervention in Kosovo showed the tensions between states sovereignty and individual human rights. Sovereignty no longer functioned as a shield from intervention. From this situation, a debate emerged as to whether human rights are placed above a state’s sovereignty (Annan 1999). The International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (ICISS) contributed to this debate and developed the concept of the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P) from 2000 onwards, aiming for a common ground on the issue of humanitarian interventions. The objective of R2P is to resolve the dilemmas between state sovereignty and human rights, while reducing the risk of humanitarian disasters. Crucial to the development of R2P was the question: ‘[W]hen, if ever, it is appropriate for states to take coercive – and in particular military – action, against another state for the purpose of protecting people at risk in that other state.’ (ICISS 2001: VII)
After publishing the ICISS report on R2P, the concept found consensus for action within the United Nations (UN). The closing document of the World Summit 2005 includes three paragraphs on R2P[3]. According to this, the concept of R2P contains three consecutive elements: Firstly, the primary responsibility of the individual state is to protect its people from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Secondly, the state is assisted by the international community, which uses peaceful instruments like expedient diplomacy or humanitarian means. Thirdly, if these instruments fail, the international community will ultimately be responsible for taking timely and determined action through the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on the basis of the UN Charter (United Nations 2018). Therefore, the aim of R2P was not to justify intervention, but instead the non-intervention, if large scale human rights violations were committed. Generally, R2P does encourage a moralisation and possesses a cosmopolitan approach. Nevertheless, what first seemed to be an innovative solution tackling human suffering turned out to be unoriginal. It is neither a binding law, nor changed the R2P-concept structures within the UN. The UNSC still has to agree as the highest instance to intervention and the UNSC has no obligation to justify inaction. The contents of the R2P-concept are already integral parts of international law[4] (Hehir 2012: 82). Therefore, the final document has more a symbolic value.
Broadly speaking, R2P was supported from entities that have a similar ideological, political and economic background. Governments like Canada, United Kingdom (UK), Germany, and France were supporters of the R2P. The United States (US) in particular had two important conditions before the authorisation; R2P shall not create a legal duty of the UNSC to intervene, and shall not preclude the possibility of action absent of an authorisation by the UNSC (Pingeot and Obenland 2014: 26). Moreover, international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) and US-based foundations played an important key role in the establishment of R2P[5] and many well-known American academics also supported the concept[6] (Pingeot and Obenland 2014: 27-29). Countries as China, Russia, Brazil and India have argued R2P is just another ‘form of [Western] imperialism cloaked in humanitarianism’ (Keeler: 2012). However, criticism of these countries is ‘painted as suspicious and linked to dark motives’, arguing that their aversion to R2P is reflexive since they are considered as more or less undemocratic states (Pingeot and Obenland 2014: 37; Serrano 2011). Summarising, supporters of R2P originate from the same, democratic and liberal background. The next section offers an overview of existing relevant literature that explain interventions and non-interventions.
Dominant Discourse on R2P
Hehir (2012: 119-144) points out, that the political will is central for an intervention. Wheeler and Morris (2007: 448) similarly argue: ‘[I]n no case have states intervened when there were no vital interests at stake’. Hence, the resulting questions are: What shapes interests and why are the international responses to human rights violations uneven? This part compares two prevailing approaches that explain the selectivity of the application of R2P and humanitarian interventions.
Advocates of constructivism contend that international norms and state identities are important factors when considering an intervention. A norm is ‘a given standard of appropriate behaviour for actors with a given identity’ (Finnemore and Sikkink 1998: 891), while the notion of state identity refers to ‘certain ideas about who one is in a given situation’ (Wendt 1990: 170). Interventions are more likely, if a norm – like R2P – exists and it helps to change or maintain the state’s identity. For instance, it is argued that Barack Obama legitimised the intervention in Libya to reshape the US identity, in the aftermath of the Bush administration and the ‘moral’ crisis of the US in the context of the War on Terror (Jarvis 2013: 212). However, constructivism has been critiqued for not explaining, how norms come into being and for representing a too linear and an unproven process (Gholiagha 2015).
Critical constructivism attempted to fill these gaps. Wiener and Puettner (2008: 4) state: ‘norms are what actors make of them; and […] they are as “good” as what actors make them out to be’, contending that ‘critical constructivism considers norms as constituted through practice’ (Wiener 2014: 21). As a proponent of the critical constructivism, Gholiagha (2015: 1086-1087) explains the application of R2P as a norm in Libya and the non-application of R2P in Syria, concluding, that ‘norms remain inherently contested, but this does not mean [R2P] is weak or still “emerging”. […] R2P should be seen as the beginning of a debate around preventing and stopping mass atrocities and not as a final result or solution’.
However, the former approaches do not take neo-liberal aims, global capitalist dynamics and neo-imperialists objectives of the West into account. This should be understood in the context of American exceptionalism. Scholars like Brzezinski (1997) state that the US has a primary role as a superpower within the international system (Huntington 1993: 83; Brzezinski 1997: 31). Consequently, the central role of the US lies in strengthening international stability, democracy and economic growth – without its leadership, the world would end in a ‘global chaos’ (Brzezinski 2016). Thus, the overall US-strategy is the establishment of global capitalism (Panitch and Gindin 2004). Hence, indigenous nationalism has always been the threat to Western interests (Chomsky 2008).
Critics describe these assumptions as a neo-liberal form of ‘free-trade imperialism’ that divides the world into dichotomies: ‘the cores and the peripheries of global capitalism’, because free trade imperialism hinders capitalist developments in poorer countries (Kiely 2010: 170). Since direct forms of colonial and imperial control cannot be justified in an anarchic system, states use indirect means to gain influence and power (Damboek 2012: 291). In this sense, a better way to understand the selectivity of interventions is the so-called ‘humanitarian imperialism’ because it considers neo-liberal economic dynamics (Bricmont 2006; Chomsky 2008; Kiely 2010). Humanitarian imperialism is defined as ‘the idea that our “universal values” give [the West] the right and even the duty to intervene elsewhere’ (Bricmont 2006: 10), whereas ‘military intervention should be regarded as the most extreme form of institutional shock therapy, and thus an intrinsic part of the process of neo-liberal structural adjustments’ (Kiely 2010: 219). Interventions are more likely to occur when combined with the spread of liberal values like democracy and free-trade (Kiely 2010: 194).
Subsequently, R2P becomes a useful tool to justify interventions, in order to widen political and economic access to development countries (Chomsky 2008). Formally, states stay independent after an intervention in the anarchic system, but ‘forms of coercion, such as economic, political or social instruments may in some cases be used to keep developing countries under Western dominance or at least under Western constraint’ (Damboeck 2012: 291). In academia, one can observe a general mistrust towards the motives of (US-led) interventions. The West is accused of becoming the ‘colonising enterprise of the modern world’ (Kaldor 2007 in Damboek 2012: 291). If states have an interest in supporting and maintaining their own power and welfare, why shall the they fight for human rights elsewhere just for the ‘noble purpose’ – war has economic costs and needs to be justified to its own citizens (Damboek 2012: 292). Finally, R2P is more likely to be applied if neo-liberal and neo-imperial aims can be achieved. Discussion will now focus on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)-led intervention in Libya, with an overview of events leading to the UNSC vote.
NATO Intervention in Libya
Libya claims to be the first country, where the R2P concept was applied (Bellamy & Williams 2011). It will be questioned if the intervention was mainly driven by humanitarian issues rather than other factors. The uprising in Libya needs to be understood in the context of the Arab Spring in early 2011. The official revolution start date was the 17th February 2011 after protests in Benghazi. Political conflict escalated quickly and the National Transitional Council (NTC)[7] gained control over large parts of eastern Libya. Five days after the start of the revolution, Mu’ammar al-Qaddafi used a violent rhetoric against the rebels (BBC News 2011). The United Nations High commissioner for Human Rights (ONHCR) quickly demanded action, stating that Libya’s government was committing crimes against humanity and states like the US, France and UK emphasised human suffering in Libya (Nebehay 2011; Mulholland 2011). The violent uprising in Libya and the large scale human right violations fulfilled every requirement for the application of R2P. On the 17th of March 2011, the UNSC adopted Resolution 1973 and authorised the Member States[8] ‘to take all necessary measures […] to protect the civilians and civilian population areas under threat of attack […] while excluding a foreign occupation force of any form on any part of the Libyan territory’ (Security Council 2011). The aim of the Resolution was, to establish a no-fly zone for civilian protection. Qaddafi was killed in Sirte by the rebels on the 20th October 2011.
Saving Human Lives?
Proponents of the R2P-concept welcomed the Resolution. Evans (2011: 40) stated that Libya is a perfect example ‘of the R2P norm working exactly as it was supposed to’. Others spoke of a ‘new era’ because we ‘move toward a more humane world’ (Axworthy 2011). Concurrently, Ban Ki-Moon (2011) argued: ‘By now it should be clear to all that the Responsibility to Protect has arrived.’
If one focusses on the NATO-actions, it remains questionable if the saving of lives was the central agenda. Barack Obama, Nicolas Sarkozy and David Cameron said in a joint statement in April 2011 (Stratton 2011) that the duty and the mandate ‘is to protect civilians, and we are doing that. It is not to remove Qaddafi by force. But it is impossible to imagine a future for Libya with Qaddafi in power.’ Dissenting voices accused the West that a regime change was the actual aim of this intervention (Black 2011). This concern was reinforced through the fact that NATO supported the rebels fighting the Qaddafi regime where it posed no threat to civilians. Sinclair (2016) summed up the happenings in Libya: NATO ‘took part in directly killing scores of civilians and provided air cover, military and diplomatic support for rebel forces as they committed war crimes against civilians.’ Reports showed that murder as well as torture were committed by both sides – Qaddafi regime and rebel forces (Smith 2011). Human rights organisations were seriously concerned about an ethnic cleansing of 30,000 inhabitants of Tawergha – a village in Libya, conducted by rebels with indirect support of NATO-forces (Tawergha Foundation 2018).
If the main aim of the intervention was to protect civilians, it remains doubtful why the NATO supported the rebels in committing crimes against humanity. Zenko (2016) argues: ‘In truth, the Libyan intervention was about a regime change from the very start. […] NATO [provided] direct close-air support for advancing rebel forces by attacking government troops that were actually in retreat and had abandoned their vehicles.’ Given the evidence of NATO supporting the killings of civilians leads to the question whether other interests were at stake explaining the intervention in Libya.
Even though energy reserves are not the only objective in the Middle East policy of Western countries, in an oil-rich state, ‘a reliable dictator is granted virtual free rein’ (Chomsky 2011). Chomsky (2011) suggests that large parts of the Libyan land are undiscovered, with the existence of major oil reserves. A more Western-inclined government, would make it easier to exploit resources. Contrasting with Chomsky (2011), some argue, that oil is not an important factor, considering that the European Union already had deals with Libya and access to oil (Hehir 2013: 139). However, this remains unconvincing by reading the leaked E-Mail of Sidney Blumenthal[9] to Hillary Clinton, former US Secretary of State (Blumenthal 2011). It poses a summary of France strategic interests in Libya. The main interests, according to Blumenthal were inter alia ‘a desire to gain a greater share of Libya’s oil production’, and an ‘[i]ncrease [of] French influence in North Africa’. Human rights were neglected. Considering the amount of oil Western powers had the opportunity to reshape the country in their interests, while ‘blocking the extension and radicalisation of the uprising’ and undermining the influence of Russia and China within the region (Pradella and Rad 2017: 2416).
However, the question remains why Qaddafi was not a ‘reliable dictator’. Another reason to explain NATOs agenda was the prevention of establishing an independent hard currency. Since 2009, Qaddafi was the elected chairman of the African Union and pushed the project of the ‘United States of Africa’ (Sarrar 2010). His aim was to harmonise the military of Africa, the establishment of free movement and a common currency to gain more independence from the US and Europe (Chothia 2011). The leaked email of Blumenthal (2011) to Clinton also refers to that: ‘This gold was accumulated prior to the current rebellion and was intended to be used to establish a pan-African currency based on the Libyan golden Dinar […]. [T]his was one of the factors that influenced President Nicolas Sarkozy’s decision to commit France to the attack on Libya.’
Before the intervention, Sarkozy called Libya ‘a threat to the financial security of mankind’ (Brown in Swanson 2011). Since the 1970s oil is traded in US-dollars. At a meeting of the African Union in Doha 2009, this new currency was even discussed as a substitute to the dollar for trade goods (Brown in Swanson 2011). This would shift of the economic balance of the world[10], where powerful elites dominate the world’s global institutions (Panitch and Gindin 2004). Besides the pan-African currency, African unity would generally lead to greater independence and Africa would become a stronger trading partner. However, the aim of an African unity ‘died’ with Qaddafi (Smith 2013). Therefore, the intervention in Libya dismantled the attempt of Qaddafi for shifting Africa away from the West. As Forte (in Glazebrook 2013) summarises it:
The goal of US military intervention was to disrupt an emerging pattern of independence and a network of collaboration within Africa that would facilitate increased African self-reliance. This is at odds with the geostrategic and political economic ambitions of extra-continental European powers, namely the US.
Roberts (2011) concludes that the decision-making processes are now only ostensibly independent. However, decisions about ‘everything that really counts (oil, gas, water, finance, trade, security, geopolitics) [is made] behind the scenes. Libya’s [new] government will be a junior partner of the new Libya’s Western sponsors.’
Given the evidence of what has been discussed above demonstrates the responsibility of the international community to protect civilians was not crucial for the intervention, while one can identify imperialistic, geostrategic and liberal aims of the US and its allies UK and France. Considering the relatively independent and the welfare-state characteristics Libya had before, a positive outcome of the intervention remains doubtful. Libya is divided into rival factions and the current civil war does not show signs of abating (Robert 2011: 3; Council on Foreign Relations 2018).
Non-Intervention in Myanmar
The next chapter examines the non-intervention of the West in Myanmar in the context of ethnic cleansing of Rohingya, assessing why R2P was not applied. The so-called cleansing operation in Myanmar against the Rohingya, a Muslim ethnic minority, began on the 25th August 2017, after the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) attacked 30 police stations and military bases. The catalyst was a report by the Advisory Commission on Rakhine State, led by UN General-Secretary Kofi Annan (Al Jazeera 2017). The report included recommendations for the prevention of violence, to preserve peace and to promote the reconciliation process between the state and the Rohingyas. Until now, an unknown number of civilians have been killed and 362 villages have been destroyed by the Myanmar military forces. Women and children were victims of torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence (Amnesty International 2018: 269-273). The OHCHR called the happenings a ‘textbook example’ for ethnic cleansing (Safi 2017). Since August, it is estimated that more than 693,000 Rohingya fled from state violence in Myanmar to Bangladesh (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 2018).
However, the violence against the Rohingya is not a new phenomenon. Events since August 2017 are rather the culmination of decades of structural discrimination, oppression and prosecution. In 1982, the Burma Citizenship Law failed to acknowledge the Rohingya as citizens, with freedom of movement restricted, and rights further limited through structural violence (Green and MacManus 2015). In 2010, the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GlobalR2P 2010) already demanded action. Likewise, in 2015 the International State Crime Initiative (Green and MacManus 2015) demonstrated: ‘The State’s persistent and intensified ‘othering’ of the Rohingya as outsiders, illegal Bengali immigrants and potential terrorists has given a green light to Rakhine nationalists and Islamophobic monks to orchestrate invidious campaigns of race and religious hatred reminiscent of those witnessed in Germany in the 1930s and Rwanda in the early 1990s.’
Additionally, state authorities tried to conceal mass atrocities, destroy evidence, hinder Fact-Finding Missions and restrict access to the state of Rakhine for aid-organisations (Amnesty International 2018: 269-273; GlobalR2P 2018).
Currently, the UNSC has not authorised a resolution or even debated about the application of R2P. The UNSC only reacted once since August 2017 and published a statement by the president of the UNSC, where he stated that the UNSC condemns the events, prompts for cooperation with aid agencies and reminds that Myanmar has ‘the primary responsibility […] to protect its population’ (Security Council 2017). The military forces of Myanmar still pose an existential threat to the Rohingya, while the events in Myanmar are a ‘textbook case of R2P’ (Hehir 2017). NGOs like Amnesty International (2018) and the GlobalR2P (2018) demand action from the international community. The next section aims to identify explanatory reasons for non-intervention.
Democratisation along with political and economic reforms of Myanmar since 2011 and the revocation of international trade embargos that isolated the country before, opened the doors for international investments. Myanmar is rich in natural resources. The liberalisation of markets enforced the investment of foreign countries to profit from land grabbing (Forino et al. 2017). In 2004, the gas field Shwe in Rakhine[11] was discovered and China secured its rights already in 2008. One year later, the construction of a gas pipeline from the state of Rakhine to China began, which has been operative since 2014. An additional oil pipeline was under construction since 2013, operating since April 2017. The oil pipeline is used to simplify the transport of oil from African and Middle Eastern countries to China (Hornby 2017). Webb (2017) argues, that both pipelines make China less vulnerable to a potential energy blockade of US and therefore provide crucial geopolitical importance. Economic interests of China in Myanmar can be seen in the broader context of China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’, where Myanmar represents a crucial partner for China. Myanmar offers direct access to the Indian Ocean (Harper 2018).
Given the cooperation between these countries and Chinas economic interests in Myanmar, China as a permanent UNSC-member acts as a protector of Myanmar. Thaung Tun (in Lone and Lewis 2017), Myanmar’s National Security Adviser, said in a press conference: ‘We are negotiating with some friendly countries not to take it to the Security Council. […] China is our friend […] so it will not be possible for that issue to go forward.’
Historically, the West was never really concerned about a veto in the UNSC council when crucial interests were at stake (Kiely 2010: 219). One could argue that the West is worried about the ethnic cleansing and would push for the application of R2P. However, the West does not even initiate a discussion on the possibility of intervention. The major objectives of the US in particular supported the process of democratisation in Myanmar (Haake 2012 in Kuok 2014: 3). In the context of the Rohingya the US does not want ‘to undermine the Asian country’s democratic leader’ (Pennington 2017), hence Aung San Suu Kyi’s election victory 2015 could be partly traced back to US funding. Since 2012, the US administration provided substantial financial assistance, in order to support its democratic and economic transition (The White House 2014)[12]. Consequently, since 2012 the US allowed investments in oil and gas (The Telegraph 2012). The United States Agency for International Development (USAID 2018) was the main donor during the elections, providing technical infrastructure for the election. After the elections in 2015, US investment in Myanmar further increased drastically (Webb 2017). The US State Department (2015) argued that Myanmar is crucial because of its ‘unique opportunities […] – including a rich natural resources base, a large market potential, a young labor force and a strategic location between India [and] China.’
At the moment, Myanmar appears to be in the middle of a power struggles between China and the US, both competing over influence and cooperation with the Myanmar government while promoting liberalisation of Myanmar’s market. It is difficult to not conclude, that a Muslim minority is too unimportant to confront the Myanmar government and to push for an intervention. Outcry in the western public is also absent (Feffer 2017). It could be explained through the concept of ‘Othering’. Muslims are depicted as ‘others’. The West creates an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ mentality (Said 1981). Myanmar is distant from Western countries; Europe does not fear a ‘refugee flow’, and Western societies do not identify themselves with a Muslim minority. Combined with the economic and geostrategic interests, China as the big protector and the US support of the current government explains the disinterest of the R2P application. On the contrary, it seems that the Great Powers have no strategic aims that could be achieved through an intervention.
The Implications of R2P
The two case-studies illustrated, how interventions are highly selective and can be explained through economic, neo-liberal and neo-imperial incentives. This section will now summarise and interpret the findings above in a broader context.
Human suffering seems to be only the pretext, instead of the crucial argument for the R2P-application. In Libya, the UNSC resolution only required a few weeks while Western interests were at stake that could only be achieved through a regime change. Compared to Myanmar, where the Rohingya are oppressed for centuries, the West did not even consider an intervention. The consequences of R2P[13] are not as positive as the concept’s supporters desire. In contrast, it rather works as an amplifier to promote the use of force and undermines peaceful solutions. With regard to Libya, Roberts (2011) states: ‘The claim that the ‘international community’ had no choice but to intervene militarily and that the alternative was to do nothing is false. A […] non-violent alternative was proposed, and deliberately rejected’ by the NTC and the NATO-partners. It therefore opens the door for interventions, driven by geostrategic and economic interests. The Libya intervention underlies a bellum iustum-understanding[14]. Yet, it remains doubtful whether the reasons of the use of force were just. Additionally, even though this essay does not support oppressive policies, it argues in line with Kiely (2010: 218):
[L]iberal imperialists are often […] naïve about the potential for […] intervention to not only limit the deaths of innocents, but also promote liberal democracy and free market solutions that supposedly lift such countries out of the ‘zone of conflict’. This ignores domestic [aspects] and the ways in which neo-liberal[ism] […] actually hinders capitalist developments in an uneven international order. It also ignores the historical realities of capitalist development, which has been conflict ridden and violent.
Therefore, it remains questionable whether interventions, when driven by neoliberal aims, even better the situation of a country in the long term.
The concept of R2P asks the wrong questions and sees only two possibilities: (military) interventions and inaction. Proponents of the concept always refer to cases where the international community looked away, like Rwanda and Srebrenica (Evans 2008). However, this writing of history is flawed and ignores cases where the international community actively supported human suffering like in Timor-Leste or Guatemala. In reality, Great Powers are involved in almost all intra-state conflicts[15] (Pingeot and Obenland 2014: 39). R2P also ignores that intervention happened without resolution if in line with the interests of great powers. Essential questions the international community should dedicate itself to are rather: How can we create an international system that reacts to mass atrocities appropriately even if the great powers have no interests in intervening? How can the international community prevent human rights violations more broadly and how shall the international community react if they occur? Instead of focussing on early warning mechanisms and push factors, the concept remains vague, is based on unrealistic assumptions and can only be applied if the P5 have an interest in its application. R2P is not only open for its abuse but rather supports it (Pingeot and Obenland 2014: 47). At best, the concept of R2P is a tool to gain attention for mass atrocities in the international community. At worst, it is abused for neo-liberal and neo-imperial aims.
This essay argued that the consequences of R2P are problematic and not as positive as supporters want them to be. It contributed to that debate around human suffering and R2P, while critically questioning assumptions around the concept and the international system more broadly. To do so, it gave an overview of the emergence of R2P and its foundations. The followed section introduced key literature that explains the selectivity of intervention. Two case studies were compared: Libya, where the West intervened with reference to human suffering and Myanmar, where Western governments choose not to pressure for the application of R2P. The comparison of these two cases showed that the application of R2P is connected to foreign policy interests of the Great Powers. Therefore, the humanitarian imperialism, it is argued, provides an alternative framework for understanding interventions of the West. Furthermore, it demonstrates that R2P is not as innovative as suggested and far from of providing a solution for human right violations. R2P has been misused for geostrategic and neo-liberal objectives of the US and its allies in UK and France. As demonstrated above, the R2P does not really help tackling violence against civilians. In Libya, R2P justified the use of force and enforced Western interests. Myanmar showed that the international community does not really care about the Rohingya, because the Great Powers seem to be content with the current government and the overall democratic development in recent years.
In general, this essay argues for measures that help tackling human rights abuses, because from a humanitarian perspective it is difficult to witness human suffering without trying to stop it. However, so far one cannot really see smart outcomes of the existing R2P concept. This leads to uncomfortable questions around the current world order, neoliberalism and the provision of human suffering. In turn, this guides one to the consideration of questions dealing with anti-imperialism and cosmopolitanism (Kiely 2010: 218). One can only hope, that in the future, we will start to ask the right questions that really lead to an improvement of the international system and a debate with human rights at its core.
Al Jazeera (2017). ‘Deadly clashes erupt in Myanmar’s restive Rakhine state’, Al Jazeera, 26 August, [online]. Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/08/deadly-clashes-erupt-myanmar-restive-rakhine-state-170825055848004.html (Accessed15.05.2018)
Amnesty International (2018). Amnesty International Report 2017/2018 – The state of the world’s Human Rights, London: Amnesty International Ltd, [online]. Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/POL1067002018ENGLISH.PDF (Accessed 24.05.2018)
Annan, K. (1999). ‘Two Concepts of Sovereignty’, The Economist, 16 September [online]. Available at: https://www.economist.com/node/324795 (Accessed: 18.05.2018)
Axworthy, L. (2011). ‘In Libya, we move towards a More Humane World’, The Globe and Mail, 23 August, [online]. Available at: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/in-libya-we-move-toward-a-more-humane-world/article626440/ (Accessed 24.05.2018)
Bass, G. J. (2008). Freedom’s battle: The origins of humanitarian intervention. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
BBC News (2011). ‘Libya protests: Defiant Gaddafi refuses to quit’, BBC News, 22 February, [online]. Available: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12544624 (Accessed 20.05.2018)
Bellamy, A. J. and Williams, P. D. (2011). ‘The new politics of protection? Cote d’Ivoire, Libya and the responsibility to protect’, International Affairs, 87(4), 825-850.
Black, I. (2011). ‘Libya regime change is west’s goal, but doubts remain over how to achieve it’, The Guardian, 15 April, [online]. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/15/libya-regime-change-analysis (Accessed 15.05.2018)
Blumenthal, S. (2011). Email to Hillary Clinton. Available at: https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/110402-France-client-gold-State-Dept.pdf (Accessed 24.05.2018)
Bricmont, J. (2006). Humanitarian Imperialism – Using Human Rights to Sell War. New York: Monthly Review Press.
Brzezinski, Z. (1997). The Grand Chessboard. New York: Basic Books.
Brzezinski, Z. (2016). ‘Toward a Global Realignment’, The American Interest, 17 April, [online]. Available at: https://www.the-american-interest.com/2016/04/17/toward-a-global- realignment/ (Accessed: 23.05.2018)
Chomsky, N. (2008). Humanitarian Imperialism: The New Doctrine of Imperial Right [online]. Available at: https://chomsky.info/200809__/ (Accessed: 18.05.2018)
Chomsky, N. (2010). ‘The high cost of neoliberalism’, New Statesman, 28 June, [online]. Available at: https://www.newstatesman.com/south-america/2010/06/chomsky-democracy-latin (Accessed: 27.05.2018)
Chomsky, N. (2011). On Libya and the Unfolding Crises – Noam Chomsky interviewed by Stephen Shalom and Michael Albert, [online]. Available at: https://chomsky.info/20110330/ (Accessed 24.05.2018)
Chothia, F. (2011). ‘What does Gaddafi’s death mean for Africa?’, BBC News, 21 October, [online]. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15392189 (Accessed 24.05.2018).
Council on Foreign Relations (2018). Global Conflict Tracker – Civil War in Libya, [online]. Available at: https://www.cfr.org/interactives/global-conflict-tracker#!/conflict/civil-war-in-libya (Accessed 24.05.2018)
Damboeck, J. (2012). ‘Humanitarian interventions: western imperialism or a responsibility to protect? An analysis of the humanitarian interventions in Darfur’, Multicultural Education & Technology Journal, 6 (4), 287-300.
Evans, G. (2008). ‘The Responsibility to Protect: An Idea Whose Time Has Come…and Gone?’, International Relations, 22 (3), 283-298.
Evans, G. (2011). ‘Interview: The RtoP Balance Sheet after Libya’, in Weiss T.G. et al. (eds.): The Responsibility to Protect: challenges & opportunities in light of the Libyan intervention, 34-42, [online]. Available at: https://www.e-ir.info/wp-content/uploads/R2P.pdf (Accessed 15.05.2018)
Feffer, J. (2017). ‘What are We Doing to Protect the Rohingya?’, Fair Observer, 21 September, [online]. Available at: https://www.fairobserver.com/region/asia_pacific/rohingya-refugees-mynamar-rakhine-r2p-latest-news-81721/ (Accessed 15.05.2018)
Finnemore, M. and Sikkink, K. (1998). ‚International Norm Dynamics and Political Change’, International Organization, 52 (4), 887-917.
Forino, G. et. al (2017). ‘Religion is not the only reason Rohingyas are being forced out of Myanmar’, The Conversation, 12 September, [online]. Available at: https://theconversation.com/religion-is-not-the-only-reason-rohingyas-are-being-forced-out-of-myanmar-83726 (Accessed: 24.05.2018).
Gholiagha, S. (2015) ‘To prevent future Kosovos and future Rwandas. A critical constructivist view of the Responsibility to Protect’, The International Journal of Human Rights, 19 (8), 1074-1097.
Glazebrook, D. (2013). ‘Slouching Towards Sirte in Ceasefire Magazine’, Bakara Books, [online]. Available at: http://www.barakabooks.com/slouching-towards-sirte-in-ceasefire-magazine/ (Accessed: 24.05.2018)
Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect (2010). Policy Brief – Applying the Responsibility to Protect to Burma/Myanmar, [online]. Available at: http://responsibilitytoprotect.org/Applying%20the%20Responsibility%20to%20Protec t%20to%20Burma%20Myanmar.pdf (Accessed: 24.05.2018)
Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect (2018). Populations at Risk – Current Crisis –Myanmar (Burma), [online]. Available at: http://www.globalr2p.org/regions/myanmar_burma (Accessed 25.05.2018)
Green, P. and MacManus, T. (2015). ‘Countdown to annihilation: Genocide in Myanmar’, International State Crime Initiative, [online]. Available at: http://statecrime.org/state-crime-research/isci-report-countdown-to-annihilation-genocide-in-myanmar/(Accessed 24.05.2018)
Harper, T. (2018). ‘Myanmar’s troubles persist – and China sees it all as part of a great game’, The Conversation, 10 January, [online]. Available at: https://theconversation.com/myanmars-troubles-persist-and-china-sees-it-all-as-part-of-a-great-game-83846 (Accessed 15.05.2018)
Hehir, A. (2012). The Responsibility to Protect – Rhetoric, Reality and the Future of Humanitarian Intervention. London: Palgrave MacMillan.
Hehir, A. (2013): ‘The Permanence of Inconsistency: Libya, the Security Council, and the Responsibility to Protect’, International Security, 38 (1), 137-159.
Hehir, A. (2017). ‚ Responsibility to Protect is Working Exactly As It Was Supposed To’, Duck of Minerva, 21 September, [online]. Available at: http://duckofminerva.com/2017/09/31229.html (Accessed 24.05.2018)
Hornby, L. (2017). ‘China and Myanmar open long-delayed oil’, Financial Times, 11 April, [online]. Available at: pipelinehttps://www.ft.com/content/21d5f650-1e6a-11e7-a454-ab04428977f9 (Accessed: 25.05.2018)
Huntington, S. P. (1993). Why International Primacy Matters, International Security, 17 (4), 68-83.
International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (2001). The Responsibility to Protect – Report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, [online]. Available at: http://responsibilitytoprotect.org/ICISS%20Report.pdf (Accessed 18.05.2018)
Independent International Commission on Kosovo (2000). The Kosovo Report: Conflict, International Response, Lessons Learned. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Jarvis, S. A. J. (2013). ‘Obama’s Adoption of the Responsibility to Protect: A Constructivist Analysis’, Journal of Politics & International Studies, 9, 212-249.
Keeler, C. (2011). ‘The End of the Responsibility to Protect?’, Foreign Policy Journal, 12 October, [online]. Available at: https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2011/10/12/the-end-of-the-responsibility-to-protect/ (Accessed 14.05.2018)
Kiely, R. (2010). Rethinking Imperialism. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Kuok, L. (2014). Promoting Peace in Myanmar – U.S. Interests and Role, [online]. Available at: https://csis-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/publication/140428_Kuok_PeaceMyanmar_Web.pdf (Accessed: 24.05.2018)
Lone, W. and Lewis, S. (2017). ‘Myanmar working with China, Russia, to avoid UN rebuke over persecution of Muslims’, Business Insider, 6 September, [online]. Available at: http://uk.businessinsider.com/myanmar-working-with-china-russia-to-avoid-un-rebuke-over-persecution-of-muslims-2017-9 (Accessed: 23.05.2018)
Moon, B. K. (2011). Secretary-General’s remarks at Breakfast Roundtable with Foreign Ministers on “The Responsibility to Protect: Responding to Imminent Threats of Mass Atrocities” [online]. Available at: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2011-09-23/secretary-generals-remarks-breakfast-roundtable-foreign-ministers (Accessed 24.05.2018)
Mulholland, H. (2011). ‘Libya: military action necessary, legal and right, says David Cameron’, The Guardian, 21 March, [online]. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/mar/21/libya-military-action-necessary- david-cameron (Accessed 15.05.2018)
Nebehay, S. (2011). Libya attacks may be crimes against humanity: U.N., Reuters, 22 February, [online]. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-libya-protests-rights/libya-attacks-may-be-crimes-against-humanity-u-n-idUSTRE71L4Z020110222 (Accessed 24.05.2018)
Panitch, L. and Gindin, S. (2004). ‘Global Capitalism and American Empire’, Socialist Register, 40, [online]. Available at: https://socialistregister.com/index.php/srv/article/viewFile/5809/2705 (Accessed: 15.05.2018)
Pennington, M. (2017). ‘As Myanmar Muslims flee crackdown, US is wary of involvement’, The Associated Press, 9 September, [online]. Available at: https://apnews.com/36f02c58f5bd44e0830ce2e74a3b7456 (Accessed: 24.05.2018)
Pingeot, L. and Obenland, W. (2014). In whose name? A critical view on the Responsibility to Protect, Bonn: Global Policy Forum.
Pradella L. & Rad S. T. (2017). Libya and Europe: imperialism, crisis and migration, Third World Quarterly, 38 (11), 2411-2427.
Robers, H. (2011). ‘Who said Gaddafi had to go?’, London Review of Books, 33 (22), [online]. Available at: https://www.lrb.co.uk/v33/n22/hugh-roberts/who-said-gaddafi-had-to-go (Accessed 24.05.2018).
Safi, M. (2017). ‘Myanmar treatment of Rohingya looks like ‘textbook ethnic cleansing’, says UN’, The Guardian, 11 September [online]. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/11/un-myanmars-treatment-of-rohingya-textbook-example-of- ethnic- cleansing (Accessed: 24.05.2018)
Said, E. (1981). Covering Islam. How the media and the experts determine how we see the rest of the world. New York: Pantheon Books.
Sarrar, S. (2010). ‘We can build United States of Africa, Gaddafi says’, Reuters, 28 July, [online]. Available at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-africa-summit-gaddafi/we-can-build-united-states-of-africa-gaddafi-says-idUSTRE66Q70620100727 (Accessed 24.05.2018)
Serrano, M. (2011): ‘The Responsibility to Protect – True consensus, false controversy’, Development Dialogue, 55, 101-111.
Sinclair, I. (2016). ‘No, the intervention in Libya wasn’t a success’, Open Democracy, 15 June, [online]. Available at: https://www.opendemocracy.net/uk/ian-sinclair/no-intervention-in-libya-wasnt-success (Accessed: 15.05.2018)
Smith, D. (2011). ‘Murder and torture ‘carried out by both sides’ of uprising against Libyan regime’, The Guardian, 12 September, [online]. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/sep/12/murder-torture-both-sides-libyan-regime (Accessed 24.05.2018)
Smith, D. (2013). ‘Mugabe revives Gaddafi’s United States of Africa dream’, The Guardian, 21 January, [online]. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/21/mugabe-gaddafi-united-states-africa (Accessed 13.05.2018)
Stratton, A. (2011). ‘Obama, Cameron and Sarkozy: no let-up in Libya until Gaddafi departs’, The Guardian, 15 April, [online]. Available at:https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/apr/15/obama-sarkozy-cameron-libya (Accessed 10.05.2018)
Swanson, D. (2011). ‘Libya: another neocon war’, The Guardian, 21 April, [online]. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/apr/21/libya-muammar-gaddafi (Accessed 24.05.2018)
Tawergha Foundation (2018). Crimes Against Humanity, [online]. Available at: https://www.tawergha.org/ (Accessed: 15.05.2018)
The Telegraph (2012). ‘US opens up investment in Burma’, The Telegraph, 12 July, [online]. Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/burmamyanmar/9394275/US-opens-up-investment-in-Burma.html (Accessed: 21.05.2018)
The White House (2014). FACT SHEET: U.S. Assistance to Burma, [online]. Available at: https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2014/11/13/fact-sheet-us-assistance-burma (Accessed: 24.05.2018)
United Nations (2018). Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect, [online]. Available at: http://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/about-responsibility-to-protect.html (Accessed: 24.05.2018).
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (2018). Refugee Response in Bangladesh, [online]. Available at: https://data2.unhcr.org/en/situations/myanmar_refugees (Accessed 24.05.2018)
United Nations Security Council (2011). S/RES/1973: Resolution 1973 – Adopted by the Security Council at its 6498th meeting, on 17 March 2011, [online]. Available at: http://www.un.org/ga/search/ view_doc.asp?symbol=S/RES/1973%20% 282011%29 (Accessed 24.05.2018).
United Nations Security Council (2017). S/PRST/2017/22: Statement by the President of the Security Council, [online]. Available at: http://www.securitycouncilreport.org /atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_prst_2017_22.pdf (Accessed: 24.05.2018)
United States Agency for International Development (2018). Burma, [online]. Available at: https://www.usaid.gov/Burma (Accessed: 24.05.2018)
US State Department (2015). Burma – Investment Climate Statement 2015, [online]. Available at: https://www.state.gov/documents/organization/241712.pdf (Accessed: 24.05.2018)
Webb, W. (2017). ‘Oil, Gas and Geopolitics: US Hand in Playing the Rohingya Crisis against China’, Global Research, 25 September, [online]. Available at: https://www.globalresearch.ca/oil-gas-and-geopolitics-us-hand-in-playing-the-rohingya-crisis- against-china/5610568 (Accessed: 23.05.2018)
Weiss, T. (2007). Humanitarian Intervention: Ideas in Action. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Wendt, A. (1999). Social Theory of International Politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Wheeler N. and Morris J. (2007). ‘Justifying the Iraq War as a Humanitarian Intervention: The Cure Is Worse Than the Disease’, in: Thakur R. and Sidhu W. P.S. (eds.) The Iraq Crisis and World Order: Structural, Institutional, and Normative Challenges. New York: United Nations University Press, 444-463.
Wiener, A. (2014). A Theory of Contestation. Heidelberg and New York: Springer.
Wiener, A. and Puetter, U. (2008). ‘The Quality of Norms is What Actors Make of it’, Journal of International Law and International Relations, 5 (1), 1-16.
Zenko, M. (2016). ‘The Big Lie About the Libyan War’, Foreign Policy, 22 March, [online]. Available at: http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/03/22/libya-and-the-myth-of-humanitarian-intervention/ (Accessed 24.05.2018)
[1] West in this context refers to liberal democracies but especially to the United States, United Kingdom and France as Permanent Members of the Security Council.
[2] The North Atlantic Treaty Organization-led intervention in Kosovo was not authorised through the Security Council. However, given the long oppression of the population of Kosovo led to the conclusion that it was ‘illegal but legitimate’ to intervene (Independent International Commission on Kosovo 2000: 4).
[3] It is to add here, that the original ICISS document changed heavily from the accepted parts of the UN. To see the exact differences, see Pingeot and Obenland (2014).
[4] For instance, the Geneva Convention or the Genocide Convention.
[5] For instance, many influential INGOs (including Oxfam, Human Rights Watch, Save the Children and Care) lobbied for the concept.
[6] including famous academics as Samantha Power, Thomas Weiss and Gareth Evans
[7] Rebels and NTC are used interchangeable.
[8] It is crucial to mention, that China and Russia abstained from voting. For instance, Bellamy and Williams (2011: 843) contend that the arguments for obtaining circle around the general opinion of the use of force of China and the consideration of the opinions of the African Union and the League of Arab States towards the intervention.
[9] Blumenthal was an advisor of Hillary Clinton.
[10] If the US imports goods and pays in their own currency, they are independent of any exchange rate and it also supports US balance of payments and the trading power more broadly.
[11] The ethnic cleansing happened in Rakhine, a state of Myanmar. It is argued, that religious and ethnic issues were not the only reasons for their displacement, because political and economic factors also shaped the displacement (Forino et al. 2017).
[12] To name numbers: Between 2012-2014 the US administration gave more than 375,000,000 US-dollars assistance (The White House 2014).
[13] This essay does not discuss the general dilemmas of humanitarian interventions. For an overview, see Weiss (2007) or Bass (2008).
[14] In the context of humanitarian interventions, bellum iustum, also called Just War-Theory, is understood that the international community might have a moral right to intervene in order to save lives.
[15] For example, through direct or indirect support like financial assistance or the exports of arms.
Written by: Laura Ningelgen
Written at: University of Sussex
Written for: Dr. Kamran Matin
Date written: May 2018
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13872
|
__label__wiki
| 0.93764
| 0.93764
|
Huddersfield Royal Infirmary
Cyclist seriously injured after colliding with cat in freak accident
A CYCLIST is fighting for his life in hospital after a freak accident.
Foxglove Road in Almondbury
The 60-year-old was flung off his bike in Almondbury – after hitting a cat in the road.
It is believed the rider was thrown over the handlebars.
The incident happened at around 9 o’clock yesterday morning in Somerset Road, close to the junction with Foxglove Road.
The road is on a hill and it is thought the cyclists was heading down Somerset Road towards Aspley.
Witnesses said they believed the man hit a cat and was thrown over the handle bars and sustained serious injuries.
Police and ambulance crews arrived at the scene within minutes and the casualty was taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary with severe head injuries, a broken pelvis and rib injuries.
It is not known if the cat was injured.
Police cordoned off the main road close to the children’s play area shortly after the incident and that caused major delays as traffic was diverted.
Diversions were brought in using Bank End Lane and roads through Longley.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “Police were called at around 9.09am after a male pedal cyclist aged 60 hit a cat. No vehicles were involved.
“The cyclist suffered serious head injuries and a broken pelvis and ribs.”
A Foxglove Road resident told the Examiner: “There were police and ambulances down there and they closed the road. I didn’t go out to find out what had happened.”
Window cleaner David Dewhurst, 28, who was working nearby heard about the incident.
He said: “We heard it was an older guy who came off his pedal cycle after hitting a cat, but that’s just what people have been saying.”
A Yorkshire Ambulance spokeswoman said: “We received a call to an incident in Somerset Road.
“We sent a rapid response car to the scene along with ambulance.
“The man was initially treated at the scene but then taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary with serious injuries.”
Police have appealed for witnesses.
Almondbury
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13875
|
__label__wiki
| 0.520536
| 0.520536
|
Celebrate ComiXology’s 10th Anniversary at WonderCon
by First Comics News on March 27, 2017 Celebrate ComiXology’s 10th Anniversary at WonderCon2017-03-27T17:28:33-07:00 - News
Open to fans and pros alike! Join us to celebrate 10 years of comiXology, Saturday, April 1st at the Hilton Anaheim Sunset Deck.
We’ll have free food and drinks, first-come-first-served along with exclusive giveaways!
ComiXology CEO & co-founder David Steinberger will be in attendance!
Who: Open to fans & pros alike!
Where: Hilton Anaheim, 777 Convention Way, Anaheim, CA 92802 – Sunset Deck
When: Saturday, April 1st, 2017 – 7:00 – 9:00PM
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1869804833233390/
First 100 attendees receive limited edition posters! Each poster limited to 100.
https://www.firstcomicsnews.com/celebrate-comixologys-10th-anniversary-at-wondercon/https://www.firstcomicsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Comixology-Logo-600x257.pnghttps://www.firstcomicsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Comixology-Logo-150x64.png 2017-03-27T17:28:33-07:00 First Comics NewsNews
Open to fans and pros alike! Join us to celebrate 10 years of comiXology, Saturday, April 1st at the Hilton Anaheim Sunset Deck. We'll have free food and drinks, first-come-first-served along with exclusive giveaways! ComiXology CEO & co-founder David Steinberger will be in attendance! Who: Open to fans & pros alike! Where:...
Red Sonja & Vampirella Meet Betty & Veronica Extended to 12-Issue Series!
Jen Bartel, Elsa Charretier, and More Cover the LIVEWIRE #9-12 Preorder Bundle
Harley Quinn, Black Canary, and Huntress Team Up Against ‘Las Esposas de la Muerte’ in DC’s New Birds of Prey Comic
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13878
|
__label__wiki
| 0.979515
| 0.979515
|
Cindric to compete in XFINITY series full time
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (February 8, 2018) - Coming off a third-place finish in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship standings last season, 19-year-old Austin Cindric will race for the NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) title in 2018, competing in all 33 series events this season with two different winning organizations.
Cindric will open the 2018 season racing the No. 60 PIRTEK Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing at Daytona International Speedway on February 17. As previously announced, Cindric will compete in a total of nine events for Roush Fenway, including four of the first five races on the NXS schedule.
In addition, Cindric will drive either the No. 12 or the No. 22 Ford Mustang for Team Penske in the remaining 24 races, including the four Dash for Cash events at Bristol, Richmond, Talladega and Dover.
"Just the experience of making the final four last season and getting to race for the Truck Series Championship at Homestead for BKR (Brad Keselowski Racing) was truly special for me, but has made me determined to find a way to try and get in that position again," said Cindric, who will work with three different crew chiefs over the course of this season. "Now to have the opportunity to run for a Driver's Championship this year in the XFINITY Series with both Team Penske and Roush Fenway Racing is a dream come true. I know there's a lot left for me to learn. That being said, it puts the ball in my court because I have such an incredible and unique opportunity in front of me to be surrounded by the experience of two very successful organizations and that is all a driver can ask for. Much like last season, I feel like it may take a little time to adjust, but I'm eager to get started on that journey. I just can't thank Roger Penske, Jack Roush and everyone with Ford Performance enough for this opportunity."
Cindric made his NXS debut last season, driving the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang at Road America. Cindric ran inside the top 10 for much of the race and was in line to compete for the win when his car suffered a cut a tire late in the race and had to make an unscheduled green-flag pit stop. He finished 16th. Cindric has had a busy preseason as he has already raced three different types of cars in three series including two Rallycross Ice races in Sweden and highlighted by a sixth-place overall finish in the Rolex 24 at Daytona driving for JDC-Miller Motorsports.
During the events that Cindric will race the No. 12 Ford Mustang for Team Penske - the first of which is scheduled to be on February 24 at Atlanta Motor Speedway - he will work with the team's new crew chief Matt Swiderski.
Swiderski joined Team Penske during the off-season following a successful run with Richard Childress Racing (RCR), where he worked as crew chief of the No. 3 NXS team with drivers Ty Dillon, Scott Lagasse and Brian Scott in 2017. Previously, Swiderski was the head of vehicle performance at RCR for three seasons after also serving as race engineer for RCR teams competing in both the XFINITY Series and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
"This is a great opportunity to become a part of the winning tradition at Team Penske," said Swiderski, who also worked for Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), a private aerospace manufacturer and space transport provider that operated some of the world's most advanced rockets and spacecrafts, in 2012. "I'm really excited to team up with Austin when he's behind the wheel of the No. 12 Ford while also working closely with (No. 22 crew chief) Brian Wilson. Our goal is to help the No. 22 team win another series Owners' Title while working with Austin as he chases the Driver's Championship."
The NASCAR XFINITY Series season gets underway with the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 17.
--- Team Penske ---
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13882
|
__label__wiki
| 0.961054
| 0.961054
|
Protecting the UK’s tech ‘cash cow’ from a hard Brexit
By Benjamin Fox | EURACTIV.com
Hallas: Ensuring free-flow of data between the UK and EU after Brexit is 'fundamental' [Benjamin Fox]
If the City of London’s financial district became famous for being the UK’s cash cow, the country’s tech sector has become similarly valuable. Digital and tech accounts for 14.5% of all UK service exports, some £30bn in 2016. It is also one of the most vulnerable to a ‘hard Brexit’.
“Brexit is the biggest priority over the coming year. It will understandably dominate all the conversations I have with the community, particularly on immigration, data and data flows, and the digital single market,” Dominic Hallas, executive director of the Coalition for a Digital Economy (Coadec), told EURACTIV.
Hallas, a former official in David Davis’s Exiting the EU department (DExEU), swapped the civil service for running the trade body for tech start-ups last month.
“I’m perhaps more bullish than some, partly because I spent the past year in DExEU. It’s in everyone’s interest that a deal is struck,” he said.
“No deal would be completely catastrophic for the sector.”
Eco-system
Hallas is anxious to dispel the idea that the UK tech sector is merely a London-centric industry.
“There are 800,000 programmers in the UK. Of those, about 300,000 are in London, half a million are outside of London and that’s a story that’s not often told, and is something that could be at risk in relation to Brexit.”
Access to capital is also at risk. Around 30-40% of the sector’s venture capital comes from the European Investment Fund (EIF), the EU agency based in Luxembourg which provides finance for small businesses across the EU.
“It’s a big issue,” said Hallas. “There is substantial uncertainty about the role of the European Investment Fund, and what the UK’s relationship will be with the EIF. We need clarity on that to be honest, as soon as we can.”
In search of adequacy
One question on the minds of tech businesses after the June 2016 referendum was whether the UK would ditch the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). That was answered last August when Digital and Culture Minister Matt Hancock presented a bill that transposes GDPR into UK law.
But that won’t be enough to guarantee data flow in cyberspace across the Channel.
One danger for the UK is being caught in a legal grey area. As a ‘third country’ outside the EU’s single market, the UK will need an adequacy decision by the European Commission, which determines that a country’s data protection regime is robust enough that European personal data can be processed there.
Without an adequacy decision before the UK exits the EU, companies would need to put complex legal clauses in their contracts or terms of service and may need to have these sanctioned by an EU Data Protection Authority.
“It’s essentially a political decision,” said Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, director of the European Centre for Political Economy, himself a former Swedish government diplomat on trade, pointing to the UK’s Investigatory Powers Act as the likely main stumbling block.
“Adequacy is absolutely fundamental to the continuation of a successful technology start-up sector in the UK,” said Hallas.
“€272 billion of economic output relies on data flows in Europe each year. The UK government’s position is adequacy +; adequacy plus the involvement of the UK’s ICO in broader data protection discussions.”
“This is a negotiation, but I would hope that on both sides there is a pragmatic approach. Regardless of the discussions around security, it is a huge economic priority for UK, French, German firms that data continues to flow freely across Europe.”
Premier location
London is unlikely to be deposed by a European rival, said Hallas, who warned that Europe’s tech community would suffer collectively from a chaotic Brexit negotiation.
“London is very important as a hub for the tech community in Europe but the whole point is that it is an eco-system and having the ability to continue to work together is really important.”
He pointed to King Gaming, the inventor of Candy Crush, which was founded in Sweden and is now headquartered in London, with an Italian CEO at the helm.
“There are a million and one such cases. London has consistently played the role of being a free-flowing hub of talented people.”
“There’s a lot of conversation, from President Macron in particular, talking about how France wants to be at the forefront of bringing in new start-ups and attracting talent across Europe, and that’s all well and good but a lot of the best talent from the UK in terms of AI and new innovative industries won’t necessarily go to Paris, they’ll go to Silicon Valley.
“What you see in the figures is that as well as being the biggest importer of talent from the EU, the UK is also the biggest exporter to outside the EU. There’s a real risk of losing more of that talent if we have a punitive deal,” Hallas said.
Brexit negotiations
cross-border data flows
Tweets by Borderlex
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13884
|
__label__cc
| 0.739351
| 0.260649
|
Kabul, Afghanistan.
The Politics Of Aid In Afghanistan – Analysis
July 3, 2019 July 3, 2019 Observer Research Foundation 0 Comments
By Observer Research Foundation
The Afghans need to pick up the spade and start doing their own digging — they must come out of the war economy mindset that facilitates aid money perpetually.
By Ejaz Ahmed*
Over the last 18 years since the ouster of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, billions of dollars in aid have been spent on rebuilding the devastated economy and yet the Afghan economy remains almost entirely dependent on aid. However, it would be a fallacy to claim that all the aid money has nothing to show for it. The capacity of state institutions has improved significantly since 2002. Tax revenue as a total share of GDP increased from 4% in 2004 to 10% in 2015. A lot has been achieved since 2001— establishing democratic institutions and ministries being one of them. Primary education has expanded, roads have been laid and transport infrastructure has drastically improved.
Aid has been pouring into Afghanistan not just from the US but from around the world over for the last decade or so, but what actually transpires on the ground is a different reality altogether. Since, aid makes up for most of the Afghan economy, how it is utilised has effects that percolate to the lowest levels of the population as well as the overall development of the country. Aid in Afghanistan flows in from mainly three sources— Directly to the government through the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund; Secondly, through those that are indirectly connected with the government such as local and international NGOs; and lastly through channels that function outside the governmental network such as the coalition forces and other international NGOs that bring in their own fund.
Anatomy of Aid
Aid comes in mainly two forms in Afghanistan, military and non-military aid. A bulk of the US aid in Afghanistan is military aid that is dedicated to the sustenance of the security apparatus set up post 2001 by NATO forces. The non-military aid is channelled to NGOs that use it for developmental works such as building infrastructure, education and youth empowerment. But, what happens to the aid that is disbursed for developmental works is the real question that nobody seems to ask. The developmental works are mostly given out to contractors of foreign origin, usually belonging to the donor country. 40% of the aid money is usurped by consultant salaries and corporate profits. The cost of employing an expatriate in Afghanistan amounts to roughly $250,000 per year which is about 200 times the average annual salary of an Afghan civil servant, who is paid $1000 per year.
The Government’s Accountability Office which reports on the contractor performance in Afghanistan, have cited major miscarriages; for instance, Afghan contractors built a bathroom without holes in the wall or floors for plumbing at a cost of $1,30,000. In addition, UNICEF Statistics say that 70% of Afghans have never even seen a toilet, how could they possibly know what’s involved in building a toilet. The picture is also not all that bright at the military aid side of the story. As per a Special Inspector General’s Office (SIGAR) report, the US gave $1.1 billion for fuel for the Afghan Military without determining the actual need. When SIGAR investigated the matter, it found that the Afghan Military was counting trailers and non-motorised conveyances in vehicles needing fuel. Furthermore, it had destroyed all records of fuel dispersals.
Torn realities
There are a number of donor conferences that are held round the year where-in countries come forward to pledge their support for development in Afghanistan. The Geneva Conference in Afghanistan is one of the largest & most prominent annual gatherings of international donors where billions of dollars are pledged to the National Unity Government of Afghanistan. However, on delving deeper into the crevices of aid promises, the data from the Ministry of Finance, Afghanistan paints a different picture than what is made apparent in the international discourse. In reality, less than 50% of the aid money pledged is disbursed to the Afghan government.
Table1: Proportion of Aid Pledged and Disbursed (2002-2011, $ Million)
Donors Total Aid Pledged(2002-11) Total Aid Disbursed(2002-08) Disbursed Percentage (%)
Saudi Arabia 220 76.9 34.95
World Bank 2627.2 852.72 32.46
Asian Development Bank 1740.58 547.8 31.47
China 145.5 41 28.18
Turkey 90 20.8 23.11
US/US-Aid 22,789 5022.9 22.04
India 942.03 204.26 21.68
Spain 253.29 25.6 10.11
Source: Ministry of Finance, Afghanistan
As is evident from the data, big amounts are promised and even bigger are the headlines that manufacture a certain image of the western ‘help’ but what transpires on the ground is a different reality. Although foreign aid has had an undeniable impact on Afghanistan’s development, the question is whether aid that poured in could have provided more value for the buck? Perhaps. A fundamental issue that persists with the aid economy in Afghanistan is that it is mostly supply driven. Local aspirations and needs are generally not taken into account and much of the so called ‘development’ is imposed in a top-down fashion. A classic mismatch in aid and need for aid in Afghanistan is the fact that despite 80% of the population being directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture, only about $400-500 million have been allocated for the purpose. This is a fraction of the tens of billions of dollars that pour into the aid economy in Afghanistan.
Also, there exists a fair amount of secrecy in the ‘how’ & ‘where’ of aid allocation, because the rationale behind each project is often decided behind closed doors. Most of the focus is on Kabul because that is where the international attention mostly is— 70% of the national operation and maintenance budget is diverted to Kabul itself. This leads to an ever increasing socio-economic gap in the social order. Furthermore, aid is making the economy and the people of Afghanistan both complacent & aid dependent. Aid has created an artificial economy that is nothing but a bulge on the actual economy of the country— it is a ventilator whose plugs could be pulled off anytime and death would be imminent.
The future of Aid without America
For obvious reasons, the lion’s share of American aid goes into security related services. Without security, there could not be any possibility of meaningful development. More than half (57%) of the total US assistance has gone to the Afghan Security Forces Fund. The US military currently spends about $36 billion annually in Afghanistan which amounts to roughly $100 million a day. The sheer amount of aid from the US is mind-boggling. However, there are reports of Trump administration contemplating on complete withdrawal from Afghanistan.
There is a reason why donors across the spectrum pledge whatever amount they think fit to Afghanistan and that reason is US involvement on the ground. The absence of US troops in Afghanistan is going to create yet another vacuum which will have ramifications on all paradigms of domestic and international politics. The major question is who, if at all anybody, will pick up the responsibility of nurturing Afghanistan’s economy with fat paychecks every quarter.
Afghan have been conditioned to aid money for the last century or so— first the British paid off the Emirs to maintain good relations in the region to facilitate trade routes and to maintain a certain amount of hegemony. Then the Soviets barged in and fertilised the country with prolonged chaos and, of course, aid. Then the American invasion in 2001 followed and the rest, as they say, is history. Aid has however been a fundamental characteristic of the economy despite being artificial in nature.
To Aid or not to Aid
Without doubt, in the short term the absence of aid will hurt the Afghan economy where it hurts most— the lives of ordinary people. In the long term, it could have a positive effect of making the Afghan economy resilient and self-sustaining by pushing Afghans to plan their economic decisions better rather than making them complacent with the aid cushion. Aid has only driven corruption and further entrenched the problems it ought to solve in the first place. Although there is no historical precedent to back the idea of slowly tightening the noose on aid, pursuing the idea would be well worth a try to make Afghanistan self-sustainable.
The Afghans, on the other hand, can start by focusing where their strengths lie — agriculture caters to 80% of the population, however, not a substantial part of the budget is spent in that sector to develop it. Secondly, education should be developed taking into consideration needs of the Afghan people and not donor imposed needs which are not only western oriented but also outdated. Most importantly, the Afghans must eventually pick up the spade and start doing their own digging — they must come out of the war economy mindset that facilitates aid money perpetually. Afghanistan must find a way to resourcefully use the aid money to further achieve a society that is not only self-sustaining but also has an economy that is resilient.
The author is a Research intern at ORF, New Delhi.
← Pakistan’s 2020 Perspectives Dismally Suggest ‘Failed State’ Syndrome – OpEd
Iran’s Actions Test US Efforts To Avoid War, Maintain Economic Pressure – Analysis →
Observer Research Foundation
ORF was established on 5 September 1990 as a private, not for profit, ’think tank’ to influence public policy formulation. The Foundation brought together, for the first time, leading Indian economists and policymakers to present An Agenda for Economic Reforms in India. The idea was to help develop a consensus in favour of economic reforms.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13885
|
__label__wiki
| 0.83313
| 0.83313
|
A Suburbanite's Ingenious Alarm
A SUBURBANITE'S INGENIOUS ALARM's slapstick humor centers on a commuter's attempts to find a foolproof way to wake up in the morning. Once again, director Edwin S. Porter tells a simple story using a widely recognized situation. Overlapping time and action are employed as the...
Silent Comedy
J. Searle Dawley, Edwin S. Porter
A SUBURBANITE'S INGENIOUS ALARM's slapstick humor centers on a commuter's...
Cupid's Pranks
Planned (but not completed in time) for a Valentine's Day 1908 release, this film makes use of the charming iconography of Valentine cards. D.W. Griffith appears as an extra.
Silent Fantasy
Planned (but not completed in time) for a Valentine's Day 1908 release, this film makes use of the...
Fireside Reminiscences
Evoking the storyline of a well-known song of the era, "After the Ball" (in which a man explains why he is single and has no children), FIRESIDE REMINISCENCES details one night when a man and his sweetheart were at a ball and he found her in the arms of another man. He...
Silent Drama
Evoking the storyline of a well-known song of the era, "After the Ball" (in...
Rescued from an Eagle's Nest
RESCUED FROM AN EAGLE'S NEST features D. W. Griffith in his first major screen role, that of a father who battles an eagle while attempting to rescue his child from the bird's nest. The story for this family-centered drama was taken from a famous incident that had been...
A father battles an eagle while attempting to rescue his child from the bird's...
Tale the Autumn Leaves Told
This short fragment demonstrates the ways that Edwin S. Porter continued to seek visual novelties favoring a stylistically audacious image over straightforward storytelling. Here he uses different camera mattes (each in the shape of a leaf) for every scene. At a moment when...
This short fragment demonstrates the ways that Edwin S. Porter continued to...
A Little Girl Who Did Not Believe in Santa Claus
When a rich boy learns from a poor girl that she does not believe in Santa Claus because he has never visited her, the boy decides to get to the bottom of this travesty. You've never seen anything like what happens next. This 1907 Edison short directed by Edwin S. Porter...
A Little Girl Who Did Not Believe...
When a rich boy learns from a poor girl that she does not believe in Santa...
Cohen's Fire Sale
Based on a caricature of a Jewish businessman for whom fire was "our friend" and the fire company was "our enemy," a view rendered in iconographic form on a comic postcard of the period. The story itself is quite simple and clearly depicted but character motivation, narrative...
Wallace McCutcheon, Edwin S. Porter
Based on a caricature of a Jewish businessman for whom fire was "our friend"...
College Chums
Loosely based on Brandon Thomas' farce-comedy play CHARLEY'S AUNT, the last two-thirds of COLLEGE CHUMS may seem unique in that it shows one scene entirely in an establishing shot. In fact, the film was often screened with live actors behind the screen providing synchronous dialogue for the...
Loosely based on Brandon Thomas' farce-comedy play CHARLEY'S AUNT, the last two-thirds of COLLEGE CHUMS...
Laughing Gas
With African-American Bertha Regustus in the principle role, this comedy seems to depart from conventional black stereotypes. Indebted to other comedies of the period (Vitagraph made a film with an identical title less than a year earlier), LAUGHING GAS is based on the premise that laughter is...
Indebted to other comedies of the period, LAUGHING GAS is based on the premise that laughter is contagious.
The "Teddy" Bears
Starting out as an adaptation of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," the picture moves outside the confines of the studio, suddenly changing moods and referents. The bears chase Goldilocks across a snowy landscape until "Teddy" Roosevelt intervenes, kills the two full-grown...
Starting out as an adaptation of "Goldilocks and the Three Bears," the picture...
THE RIVALS was based on a comic strip by T.E. Powers that ran in the New York American. The strip (like the film) regularly showed two male rivals continually fighting for the attentions of a desirable woman. In one scene, Charlie escorts Tootsie only to have her stolen away by George. In the...
THE RIVALS was based on a comic strip by T.E. Powers that ran in the New York American. The strip (like...
The Trainer's Daughter
THE TRAINER'S DAUGHTER has a plot similar to Theodore Kremer's A RACE FOR A WIFE (hence the similarly-themed alternate title, A RACE FOR LOVE) in which the victor of a race between the hero and an unscrupulous villain wins the bride. Unless spectators were familiar with A RACE...
The victor of a race between the hero and an unscrupulous villain wins the bride.
A Winter Straw Ride
Two groups of young women get into a pair of horse-drawn carts and go off for a straw ride through the snowy streets. As they pass by a group of children, the children throw snowballs at the riders and they and other persons begin to join in the fun. Then one of the carts tips...
Two groups of young women get into a pair of horse-drawn carts and go off for a...
Getting Evidence
A jealous husband visits the Hawkshaw Detective Agency (a redundant naming device in its own right) and asks the detective to obtain evidence of his wife's supposed infidelities. Only a photograph is deemed acceptable evidence and the private eye's attempts to secure it...
A jealous husband visits the Hawkshaw Detective Agency and asks the detective...
How the Office Boy Saw the Ball Game
Only five minutes of this Edwin S. Porter film has survived but we see, in the remaining fragment, the extent to which an office boy will go to watch a baseball game. A dangerous situation? We'll never know.
Only five minutes of this Edwin S. Porter film has survived but we see, in this...
Kathleen Mavourneen
An adaptation of Dion Boucicault's popular stage play "Kathleen Mavourneen; or St. Patrick's Eve," though with significant modifications. Much of Porter and McCutcheon's Irish melodrama was shot as if the audience could understand the absent dialogue. Likewise the...
An adaptation of Dion Boucicault's popular stage play "Kathleen Mavourneen; or...
The Terrible Kids
Part of the popular bad boy genre that would soon come under heavy criticism for providing young viewers with undesirable role models. Porter's comedy shows two boys disrupting a neighborhood's routine with the help of their dog, played by Mannie. Every scene is a variation on...
Part of the popular bad boy genre that would soon come under heavy criticism...
Three American Beauties
Often hand-tinted, this short film was typically used by exhibitors to conclude their programs. It elaborated on a popular practice among exhibitors of the 1890s. They ended their programs with a film of the American flag waving in the breeze. The flag is the last of the...
Silent Documentary
Often hand-tinted, this short film was typically used by exhibitors to conclude...
Coney Island at Night
The camera caresses the lit-up amusement center with long sweeping movements, producing an eerie beauty. The smooth pans and tilts are a remarkable technical accomplishment, given the fact that night scenes required longer exposures.
The camera caresses the lit-up amusement center with long sweeping movements,...
Life of an American Policeman
Photographed with the cooperation of the New York City Police Department, this film was first shown at two vaudeville benefits for the Police Relief Fund in early December 1905. The opening scene, which presents an officer at home with his wife and child, identifies the police...
Silent Crime
The policeman's role in maintaining community values in the impersonal city is...
Police Chasing Scorching Auto
Because the incidents included in LIFE OF AN AMERICAN POLICEMAN filled a 1,000-foot reel, there was no room for this scene and so it was sold separately.
Because the incidents included in LIFE OF AN AMERICAN POLICEMAN filled a...
The Kleptomaniac
This condemnation of the class bias found in the American justice system works within a Progressive political framework. Porter juxtaposes the situations of two women. The impoverished woman is shown at home, in the context of her family. The barren room, the absence of a...
This condemnation of the class bias found in the American justice system works...
The Little Train Robbery
In this parody of THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY, Edwin S. Porter burlesqued his own landmark film by substituting children for adults and using a miniature railroad and playhouse as sets. The young robbers don't take money but candy and dolls. Perhaps unintentionally, this film...
In this parody of THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY, Edwin S. Porter burlesqued his own...
The Miller's Daughter
The sinful, decadent city is contrasted to the simple, honest countryside in this fascinating reworking of Steele MacKaye's ever-popular melodrama "Hazel Kirke" (1880). Events occurring off-stage are shown in the Porter film, including Hazel's suicidal jump and her rescue. And...
The sinful, decadent city is contrasted to the simple, honest countryside in...
The Night Before Christmas
"A Visit from St. Nicholas," the memorable holiday poem by Clement Clarke Moore, is adapted for the screen by longtime Edison Manufacturing Company director Edwin S. Porter. "'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a...
The memorable holiday poem by Clement Clarke Moore is adapted for the screen by...
The Seven Ages
Porter photographed a series of short vignettes reminiscent of kiss films such as THE JOHN C. RICE-MAY IRWIN KISS (1896), structuring them around a premise provided by Shakespeare's "seven ages of man," a theme often illustrated in nineteenth-century lantern shows. Beginning with toddlers and...
Here, Porter photographed a series of short vignettes reminiscent of kiss films such as THE JOHN C....
The White Caps
In 1905 White Cap vigilante groups were particularly active in rural areas of the Border States and the Midwest. Members, generally faced with declining income and political power, acted as agents of social control, punishing offenses that the state and local governments failed to address...
In 1905 White Cap vigilante groups were particularly active in rural areas of the Border States and the...
The Whole Dam Family and the Dam Dog
One of several Edison films from this period that used animated intertitles. It continued "a popular fad which has been widely advertised by lithographs and souvenir mailing cards." These postcards showed portraits of various members of the Dam family, with their names: I. B....
One of several Edison films from this period that used animated intertitles.
Train Wreckers
Porter's most violent expression of the conflict between constituted society and its outsiders. The outlaw band, with its apparently irrational desire to destroy all social order, is finally eliminated by a combined force of railroad personnel and select passengers. With order finally restored, a...
Porter's most violent expression of the conflict between constituted society and its outsiders.
European Rest Cure
This spoof on the popular travelogue genre follows an American tourist across Europe and the Middle East on a "rest cure," in which one physically or emotionally wrenching disaster follows another. Foreign locales were actually pasteboard sets of pyramids, Roman ruins and a...
This spoof on the popular travelogue genre follows an American tourist across...
How a French Nobleman Got a Wife Through the New York Herald Personal Columns
Edison's principle domestic rival in 1904 was once again the American Mutoscope & Biograph Company. Biograph was then producing a series of popular story films, which it used as exclusives for its exhibition circuits. Edison affiliated renters and exhibitors were deeply...
How a French Nobleman Got a Wife...
Taking advantage of this demand and eager to harm its competitor, the Edison...
Nervy Nat Kisses the Bride
Sold as "WEARY WILLIE" KISSES THE BRIDE, this three-shot comedy is built around the popular stereotype of the tramp, a character that exists outside of proper society and is comically under socialized. Here, he takes advantage of a spat between a bride and groom to sneak a...
Sold as "Weary Willie" Kisses the Bride, this three-shot comedy is built around...
Scarecrow Pump
A single-shot comedy staged against a painted backdrop, in which a boy plans to play a trick on a drunken rube, only to be outwitted by his intended victim.
A single-shot comedy staged against a painted backdrop, in which a boy plans to play a trick on a drunken...
The Ex-Convict
An uncredited but quite obvious adaptation of a well-known vaudeville piece, Number 973, by Robert Hilliard and Edwin Holland. Starting from the Hilliard-Holland one-act playlet, Porter visualized the storyline into a total of eight scenes. Unlike UNCLE TOM'S CABIN, THE EX-CONVICT was not filmed...
An uncredited but quite obvious adaptation of a well-known vaudeville piece, Number 973, by Robert...
The Strenuous Life
A lighthearted spoof of family life and fatherhood. President Roosevelt, who had just won reelection, believed Americans had to lead "the strenuous life" (it was the title of one of his books) if the United States was to retain its position of world leadership. He also...
A lighthearted spoof of family life and fatherhood.
Electrocuting an Elephant
Topsy, the original "Baby Elephant," had been a featured attraction across the United States for 28 years. She had killed three men in her time, the last one after he gave her a lit cigarette butt as a treat, and for this last death she had to pay the ultimate price. The event...
Edwin S. Porter, Jacob Blair Smith
Topsy, the original "Baby Elephant," had been a featured attraction across the...
Rector's to Claremont
This picture remains one of the mystery films in The Museum of Modern Art's collection of Edison negatives. Though often dated 1903, this film probably made in the summer of 1904 or even the summer of 1905. Never released commercially, it was almost certainly commissioned by a...
Never released commercially, it was almost certainly commissioned by a showman,...
The Gay Shoe Clerk
This film is often noted as an early example of the interpolated close-up. However, while the action moves smoothly across the shots, attentive viewers will notice a remarkable set of discontinuities. The woman's underskirts are white in the close up but dark in the long shot....
This film is often noted as an early example of the interpolated close-up....
More than a crucial historical artifact, THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY reveals the foundation from which the styles and stories of the contemporary cinema would later arise. Known for using such innovative filming techniques such as double exposure, cross-cutting and camera...
Silent Western
More than a crucial historical artifact, THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY reveals the...
The Life of an American Fireman
The fire rescue was a popular subject across many forms of popular culture (songs, painting, journalistic essays, photography), but particularly in the early cinema. As early as 1896, traveling showman Lyman H. Howe had assembled five short films to tell the story of a fire...
George Fleming, Edwin S. Porter +1 other
LIFE OF AN AMERICAN FIREMAN, Edwin S. Porter produced the most ambitious fire...
In May of 1903, Edison's chief American rival, Biograph, assembled a series of scenes featuring famed actor Joseph Jefferson as Rip Van Winkle that they had originally filmed and released in 1896, offering them for sale to exhibitors as a special release. The Edison Company...
Edwin S. Porter, James White
In May of 1903, Edison's chief American rival, Biograph, assembled a series of...
What Happened in the Tunnel
This one-shot film was designed to be inserted into a railway panorama (a long tracking shot taken from the front of a moving train) for comic relief. G. M. Anderson (later known as "Broncho Billy") plays the "masher" who attempts to kiss a well-to-do white woman when the...
G. M. Anderson (later known as "Broncho Billy") plays the "masher" who attempts...
Burlesque Suicide
Facial expression films continued to be popular in the early 1900s. In one, a man contemplates suicide but takes a drink instead. In a second version, presented here, BURLESQUE SUICIDE NO.2, the same man threatens suicide and then points his finger at the camera (and the...
George Fleming, Edwin S. Porter
A man contemplates suicide and then points his finger at the camera (and the...
Interrupted Bathers
This Thomas Edison production was probably pretty racy in 1902. Its protagonists are some women bathing in a lake. Though wearing the voluminous, ultra-modest swimsuits of the era, they're mortified when a couple disreputable-looking, possibly drunk men turn up to taunt them...
This Thomas Edison production was probably pretty racy in 1902. Its...
Fairy tales constituted one of the earliest and most successful forms of elaborate storytelling on film, notably Georges Méliès's CINDERELLA (1899) and BLUE BEARD (1902). Inspired by such European achievements, Porter made this ten-shot fiction film that told its story in a...
Inspired by such European achievements, Porter made this ten-shot fiction film...
The Burning of Durland's Riding Academy
Fires reported on the front page of New York newspapers routinely brought filmmakers to the scene. Such films were popular in vaudeville houses and fulfilled the cinema's mandate as a "visual newspaper." The fire at Durland's Riding Academy, on Manhattan's west side, between...
The Burning of Durland's Riding...
Edwin S. Porter, James Blair Smith
Fires reported on the front page of New York newspapers routinely brought...
Another Job for the Undertaker
This peculiar Thomas Edison short makes use of trick photography to show a man magically shorn of his belongings and clothes (as though the room in which he is sleeping is possessed). A warning about the gas lamps on the painted flat that comprises his room telegraphs the end...
This peculiar Thomas Edison short makes use of trick photography to show a man...
Old Maid Having Her Picture Taken
Gilbert Saroni was a well-known vaudeville performer and female impersonator who specialized in playing unattractive old maids in vaudeville sketches like "The Giddy Girl." The old maid's features are so horrific that when confronted with her visage, mirrors crack and cameras...
The old maid's features are so horrific that when confronted with her visage,...
Pan-American Exposition by Night
"This picture is pronounced by the photographic profession to be a marvel in photography, and by theatrical people to be the greatest winner in panoramic views ever placed before the public," declared the Edison catalog. The panorama as a genre pre-dated the cinema by more...
The film is remarkable, then, for combining the panorama with an early use of...
Photographing a Country Couple
A comic intersection of various early stock characters that frequently appear in popular American culture. The photographer is about to take a portrait of the country couple, when the rube wants to look through the camera. They switch places. The photographer demonstrates what...
A comic intersection of various early stock characters that frequently appear...
Trapeze Disrobing Act
The performer in this studio production was probably Charmion, whose "risque disrobing act on the flying trapeze" was popular at the turn of the century. Although her striptease was performed for the camera and cine-viewers, the two male spectators inside the mise-en-scène...
The performer in this studio production was probably Charmion, whose "risque...
What Happened on Twenty-Third Street, New York City
At first, this film appears to be an ordinary street scene, as a woman and her male companion casually approach the camera. Unexpectedly, her dress is blown up around her legs when she steps over a sidewalk grate (anticipating Marilyn Monroe by more than fifty years).
What Happened on Twenty-Third...
At first, this film appears to be an ordinary street scene, as a woman and her...
THE KISS revisits (and recreates) the kiss between actors John C. Rice and May Irwin from the play THE WIDOW JONES. However here it stars Fred Ott (arguably known best for his earlier sneeze) and an unknown woman. Romantic, in its way, but also coy. The film has been described elsewhere as an...
THE KISS revisits (and recreates) the kiss between actors John C. Rice and May Irwin from the play THE...
Action/Adventure / Disaster
Action/Adventure / Wilderness
Adaptation / Cinematic
Adaptation / Literary
Adaptation / Literary / Poetry
Adaptation / Literary / Prose
Adaptation / Subliterary / Comic Strip
Adaptation / Theatrical / Stage
Comedy / Farce
Comedy / Parody
Comedy / Romantic Comedy
Comedy / Screwball Comedy
Comedy / Slapstick
Crime / Crime-fighter
Crime / Crime-fighter / Detective
Crime / Crime-fighter / Police
Crime / Transgression / Caper/Heist
Crime / Transgression / Kidnapping
Documentary / Propaganda
Documentary / Travelogue
Drama / Dysfunctional Family
Drama / Melodrama
Drama / Realism / Social Realism
Drama / Romantic Drama
Fantasy / Allegory
Fantasy / Fairy Tale
Fantasy / Magic
International / Americas / North American / American
Short / Actuality
Short / Documentary
Short / Narrative
Short / Performance
Short / Trick
Silent / Silent Action/Adventure
Silent / Silent Comedy
Silent / Silent Crime
Silent / Silent Documentary
Silent / Silent Drama
Silent / Silent Fantasy
Silent / Silent Western
Sport / Baseball
Sport / Racing / Horse
Don A.
When you read that a movie was created by the Edison Manufacturing Company, you know that you are enjoying a portion of silent film history. It's a creative short, on...
countfink
1905. That's a lot of Christmases between then and now. While this film doesn't have the inventive charm of a film like Méliès' "Christmas Dream," it does fill you with...
There is something strangely eerie and haunting about these images from over a century ago, and no amount of cheery Christmas tunes can alter this mood. It's like looking at...
Gregory s. R.
Holy moley is this ever wild! I confess, I enjoyed it much more than many of the "classic" silents. The knocks and falls those folks were taking–lol, I'm going to...
Jeremy K.
just the right amount of ridiculous.
Subscribe today for award winning movies.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13887
|
__label__cc
| 0.520727
| 0.479273
|
Papa Murphy’s – Take and Bake Pizza at Its Finest
Posted on December 31, 2014 by Editorial Staff
Papa Murphy’s is one of those restaurant chains that change how you approach pizzerias. Most pizza restaurants ask their customers to order, sit, and wait; it’s the traditional route and there’s no real issue there. However, Papa Murphy’s is a take and bake pizzeria and that alone changes the game in so many ways.
Take and Bake is a relatively new idea for many. It’s a system where the pizza is prepared when ordered, thus guaranteeing fresh toppings and sauce, but the customer has to bake it at home. It’s like buying frozen pizza at the supermarket except this time the pizza is 100% fresh and made with no additives or preservatives.
As a matter of fact, Papa Murphy’s has changed the scene so much that it is now rated as the fifth leading pizzeria in the United States and has several branches outside the country as well. Barely any other pizzeria can compete with that level of excellence!
A Look at Papa Murphy’s History
Papa Murphy’s has a long and rich history. It originally began as two separate pizzerias.
The first was Papa Aldo’s Pizza and it opened its doors back in 1981. This is often recognized as the primary company between the two that merged. The second was Murphy’s Pizza and this opened a few years later, in 1984.
Papa Aldo’s Pizza originated in Hillsboro, Oregon while Murphy’s Pizza bloomed in Petaluma, California. For an entire decade the two chains continued to operate separately until Terry Collins acquired both in the year 1995. After the merge, the two became known as Papa Murphy’s International Inc., and it has been that way since.
Papa Murphy’s main characteristic was that it followed a take and bake system. You don’t order and eat at Papa Murphy’s – you order then take it and bake at home. Because of this Papa Murphy’s pizzas were sold at lower prices when compared to other pizzerias and this gave it a strong advantage in the market.
It also allowed Papa Murphy’s to offer their food to people with food stamps or EBT, a feature not many other restaurants in the country can boast of.
It wasn’t until 2010 that ownership again changed hands. The company was bought by Lee Equity Partners of New York. By 2011 the chains grossed a total of over $702 Million and it reached $800 Million the next year, all from over 1,300 outlets spread across the country.
In 2014, Papa Murphy’s went public is now available for public stock exchange under the NASDAQ tag of FRSH. When it when public in May, 2014 it was able to raise a total of $64.1 Million in public shares.
Papa Murphy’s Best Sellers
Being a pizzeria there are a lot of select choices from Papa Murphy’s. However, there are three that many customers tend to agree are the biggest catches in the chain. Here’s a quick dive at those three pizza choices and why they are so beloved by customers.
1. The Herb Chicken Mediterranean – this pizza is an exquisite delicacy made of olive oil and garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, feta, spinach, herb chicken and zesty herbs atop artisan thin crust. This is one of the most often requested pizzas because of its healthy but juicy toppings. The words “pizza”, “healthy”, and “tasty” rarely go together, especially in that order but in this case they surprisingly do.
2. Chicago Style Stuffed Pizza – Chicago has been a city of renowned Italian pizzerias, small and big alike, from the 1920s to the present, and Papa Murphy’s respects that lineage of pizzeria elegance by offering the Chicago Style Stuffed Pizza.
3. The Cowboy – it’s traditional pizza but then again it’s not. It has all the usual toppings like sausage, pepperoni, sliced mushrooms, and olives atop a layer of red tomato sauce but it also has Papa Murphy’s signature herb and cheese blend that no other pizzeria can rival. It’s more of the same, traditional pizza but blended in such a way that it feels so fresh and different.
Interesting Facts About Papa Murphy’s
Papa Murphy’s is one of the largest pizza chains in the country. With over 1,400 franchises in 38 states it is now the fifth largest in the United States. There is another fourteen up in Canada and three in Dubai.
Since the company was acquired by Lee Equity Partners it has begun growing its franchising opportunities. As a matter of fact, in 2011 it ranked #5 on the Forbes list of top franchises to purchase.
Another interesting little fact is that while Papa Murphy’s prioritizes take and bake orders, it does feature a call-in system where customers can call in their order and then pick them up through the drive-through. These are still unbaked pizzas but the service is much more convenient for people traveling.
It’s also important to note that Papa Murphy’s does sell more than pizza; the chain sells cheesy bread, different kinds of salads, chicken wings, and lasagna among others.
Fast Food History
Fast Food Info
Fast Food Tips
← Carvel – One of America’s Original Ice Cream Stores
Golden Chick – Always Intent on Satisfying Their Customers’ Palate →
Time limit is exhausted. Please reload CAPTCHA. 4 × = eight
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13889
|
__label__cc
| 0.605438
| 0.394562
|
Pricing Case studies
LOGISTICS SERVICES Global Delivery Centers India Philippines
BILL OF LADING GENERATION
FREIGHT PAYMENT PROCESSING
FREIGHT PAYMENT AND PRE-AUDIT
FREIGHT PAYMENT AND POST-AUDIT
NAFTA Renegotiation by Trump - How Will It Affect Small Businesses?
Trump Withdraws Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal - What does it signify?
Challenges and Trends in 3PL and Distribution
Importance of C-TPAT in Trouble Free Cross-border Logistics
6 Reasons to Opt for Full Truckload Shipping
Advances in RFID Technology
8 Reasons to Outsource Logistics Services
Trump Withdraws Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Deal
At the US Presidential Elections held on the November 8th, Donald Trump, a multi-billionaire with zero political pedigree took not only the country but the entire world by storm by convincingly winning the electoral vote. Trump's right-wing populism, combined with his attention-grabbing persona won the hearts of many republicans, while also swaying many democrats his way.
One of the tent poles of Donald Trump's campaign was to push for US withdrawal from TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership), and within one month of him holding office, he has come true on his election promise. During his inauguration address, the President stated that U.S. trade policies formulated over the years have "enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry," and vowed that he will ensure that the TPP deal is scrapped in order to help American workers.
What is TPP?
The Trans-Pacific partnership trade deal was an agreement between 12 countries bordering the Pacific Ocean, who together represent more than 40% of the world's total economic output. These countries include Canada, Japan, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Brunei, Mexico, Peru, and Chile. The TPP trade deal was considered important since it would allow these countries to control the Asian market while countering China's growing economic power.
This Trans-pacific partnership deal was formulated such that the economic ties between these nations could improve drastically while slashing trade tariffs and fostering closer economic ties between the 12 nations. Some of the more important points of the TPP trade deal include -
Extensive IP and copyright rules within the trading zone to foster creativity and less counterfeit products
Lesser tariffs on automobile imports
Extensive labor protection laws with stringent bans against forced and child labor
Raised environmental protection standards to fight illegal wildlife trafficking, logging, etc. and conservation of endangered animal species
Elimination of taxes on U.S. IT technology products
Free flow of data across borders
Trump Withdraws TPP Deal - The In's and Out's
Although the Trans-pacific partnership was initially discussed and negotiated under erstwhile president Barack Obama, it was never ratified by the U.S. congress. As a result, Trump's backing out from the TPP would not have any significant repercussions on the economy of the United States, but at the same time, has left this deal null and void for the other countries involved.
For the TPP to be a success, US participation was extremely important, and now, as things lie, the Trans-pacific partnership as we know it will not proceed ahead in its original avatar. Let us have a look at a few significant ways in which TPP withdrawal will affect global trade -
TPP Withdrawal Might Help China
According to the most pundits, withdrawal from the TPP trade deal will cause serious doubts regarding the credibility of the USA to hold its own against China, which is growing economically and strategically by forging new bilateral ties. It would also undercut the efforts of all U.S. allies in Asia, including Japan, Malaysia, etc. who would have benefited greatly from the reforms and the diversification that TPP would have offered.
China had always declined to join TPP since it felt that the TPP trade policy would only serve to isolate them both economically as well as politically. But now, with U.S. backing out of the agreement, China has a major opportunity to step and create new trade ties with spurned countries looking to set up a better economic outlook.
Mexico Will Get Better Trade Opportunities
The Trump administration already has a lot of issues with its neighboring country. One of Donald Trump's promises during his presidential campaign was to build a wall along the US and Mexico border. With immigration policies under great duress, many experts believe that the TPP withdrawal could give Mexico a free hand when trying to find trade partners along the Pacific Ocean, while relying less on the United States.
A Trade War is a Very Real Possibility
If in the future, the TPP withdrawal is paired with even more measures to secure U.S. economy, then both China and USA could find themselves in a trade war, where both sides will start boycotting each other's products. This in turn, would not only have a serious impact on both these countries, but residual effects would be felt in Europe, Asia, etc.
DRM Technology and US DMCA Rules Won't Become Prevalent
The TPP withdrawal does have a few silver linings, though. If ratified by all the countries, the TPP would have compelled all nations to adopt US laws banning the circumvention of DRM protected items or digital locks. According to many analysts, the US DMCA is archaic and does nothing to further the progress of technology, and most would-be TPP trade partners such as Australia and New Zealand already have better versions of the same implemented. DMCA is frequently used by business competitors in the US to try and block people to hacking into their own phones, refill printer cartridges manually, etc.
New Bilateral Trade Ties Could Be Forged
The Trump administration has continuously elaborated that although the TPP trade deal would not go ahead, they would be looking to initiate bilateral trade agreements with other countries. This includes new trade deals with Britain post-Brexit and even renewal of in-depth trade ties with Japan. At the same time, it is still unclear if the US will see trade ties being set up with smaller Asian countries separately, all of whom were a part of the initial TPP agreement.
American Workers Might Not Get Any Benefit
President Trump's election campaign ran on the fuel of creating more American jobs and cutting down on outsourcing. Most experts agree that the loss of American jobs due to TPP is not entirely convincing, and in fact believe that the Trans-pacific partnership agreement was America's best chance to become a part of a large multinational deal which could have only helped the economy.
A study conducted by the Petersen Institute suggests that withdrawal from the TPP would lead to an increase of a measly 0.1% in US labor.
Trump Might Devise an Alternate TPP Deal
In order to satisfy its allies, as well as to sell the "American Dream" to more American workers, Trump might devise a new TPP deal which would have more features benefiting the US as compared to the previous one. Even the most nationalistic Americans won't oppose this new deal if it is negotiated in broad daylight, and in full public view, as compared to the older TPP trade deal which was shrouded in secrecy.
Contact Flatworld Solutions for Hassle-Free Logistics Support
At Flatworld Solutions, we have worked with countless American clients over the past 15 years, providing them reliable and streamlined logistics assistance. We believe in not taking, but supplementing the work of our American counterparts to build a cohesive, interdependent work atmosphere, helping them concentrate on business-critical tasks and outsource the mundane. For all your queries regarding our outsourcing ethics pertaining to logistics services, please contact us right away.
Have specific requirements? Email us at: logistics.info@flatworldsolutions.com
Logistics for Trucking Companies
Atlanta 3PL Summit
Logistics Case Study
Transaction Process
Billing Process Case Study
Helped US Logistics company cut costs & achieve faster TAT by processing 10K transaction BOLs per day.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13893
|
__label__cc
| 0.684839
| 0.315161
|
YMM’s bold and iconic art program gives passengers a strong sense of place and connects them to the passion and energy of Fort McMurray.
Selected artists in Fort McMurray and Western Canada have been commissioned to create public art pieces to enrich and elevate the airport experience for passengers.
Water Ways, Sensing Connections
Liz Ingram, 2014
Photographic collage, printed on adhesive vinyl, applied to glass
Water has always been a central feature of life in Fort McMurray. The city was settled along rivers: the name of one of the city’s oldest established neighbourhoods, Waterways, bears witness to this history. Today, careful water use is essential for the technological development of local industries and for sustainable living in this growing northern city.
This photographic installation emphasizes the sensory experience of water. The piece focuses on the beauty of human hands touching and feeling water, of the riverbed, and of water in motion. The artist’s digital photographs were edited into a collage using Photoshop software. These photographs feature the two main rivers in Fort McMurray, the Athabasca and the Hangingstone. The piece also includes hands representing the diversity of the people of our northern community.
This piece was commissioned by the Fort McMurray Airport Authority.
Artwork Location
This piece is located at the north end of the post-security passenger lounge and is incorporated into the glass wall.
Daedalist
David Robinson, 2014
Sculpture composed of Sitka Spruce, Baltic Birch, resin composite, and bronze
The word “daedalist” is an archaic name for a pilot or aviator. The term comes from the Greek myth of Daedalus, a skilled artisan who constructed wings to allow himself to take flight.
Daedalist examines the theme of human aviation as a visionary undertaking of human ingenuity and purpose. The taut lines of this piloted craft are laid bare to the eye and to the imagination. In flight between the point of departure and the threshold of arrival, this work of art invites the traveller to marvel at all that is held aloft in our ancient dreams of flight.
Robinson’s sculptures undergo a multi-stage process. The figures and formed patterns are first sculpted out of clay and wax, from which rubber moulds are made. These moulds are then used to cast the final elements in composite-resin and bronze. The wood elements were formed using a combination of digital and traditional methods of joinery, from computer numerical control (CNC) cutting of the Baltic-Birch plywood, to the steam-bending of old-growth Sitka Spruce.
This piece is suspended above the first floor arrivals hall.
Sky Explorer
Lucas Seaward, 2014
Bitumen on canvas
Sky Explorer is a tribute to Fort McMurray’s aviation history. It depicts a float plane taking off from the Snye River, a base of float plane operations since the early 1920s. This painting pays homage to early aviation pioneers who plunged propeller-first into the wild, uncharted, and challenging terrain of Canada’s northern regions.
The swooshing strokes symbolize the meeting place of the curving Athasbasca and Clearwater rivers, which have played a vital role for local trading and growth since the area was settled. Subtly nestled within the piece are images which reflect aspects of northern life, including isolation, vast boreal forests, abundant wildlife, connection to nature, and human ingenuity.
Seaward’s artwork is painted using bitumen, the tar-like, viscous material that is extracted from oil sands and processed into petroleum products.
This piece is located in the Airport Authority's boardroom.
Amy Keller-Rempp, 2014
Airbrushed metal art
Sky Dance Series -Landing on the Snye
Sky Dance Series - Spirit of Wood Buffalo
Landing on the Snye
A float plane lands on the quiet waters of the Snye River at dusk. The eagle, one of the largest birds capable of taking flight, is shown as the ruler of the skies. When combined with the Northern Lights, this image represents a magical, spiritual, and timeless symbol of aviation. For many years, float planes landing on the Snye River provided the main access to Fort McMurray.
Spirit of Wood Buffalo
Two majestic wood buffalo stand within a northern boreal forest. An eagle soars overhead in front of a stylized depiction of the Fort McMurray International Airport logo merged within the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). The wood buffalo, namesake of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, symbolizes abundance, strength, and stability. This piece is intended to evoke a sense of freedom and prosperity.
These paintings were produced by combining metal grinding with automotive airbrushing on aluminum panels. The artist began by grinding the picture into the metal panel, then airbrushing, applying clear coating, sanding, and polishing the piece to transform the metal into a glass-like mural.
These pieces are located in the third floor observation area.
Utopia Series - Homeland Utopia
Jane Ash Poitras, 2015
Mixed media on canvas on cedar stretcher
Utopia Series - Northern Utopia
“A tribute to my Indigenous Peoples, especially my Mikisew Cree First Nation at Fort Chipewyan.”
These two works, entitled Homeland Utopia and Northern Utopia, belong to the artist’s Utopia series: a series of large paintings expressing the euphoria she experienced while awaiting the birth of her first child. The artist’s work combines an awareness of contemporary trends in Western art with insight into aboriginal history and culture. The rich colors of the landscapes revealed in the work also reflect the intensity of the artist’s dream-like expectations of her child’s birth.
These pieces were generously gifted by the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC).
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13895
|
__label__cc
| 0.680463
| 0.319537
|
Is Costco's Jim Sinegal A Hypocrite ?
Peter J Reilly Contributor
I focus on the tax issues of individuals, businesses & more
Although the Wall Street Journal did not, itself, use the "H" word, I think it is fair to say that their editorial attack on Jim Sinegal was charging him with hypocrisy. I'm not a regular WSJ reader, but I happened to pick up a copy Friday morning. I thought the whole thing was rather odd. Costco, it seems, is making a large dividend payment this December to help shareholders beat upcoming tax increases. I've been making a list and checking it twice of clients who should be considering a variety of maneuvers because of upcoming tax changes, both certain and uncertain. Accelerating dividends borders on a no brainer. As a matter of fact when I heard that some companies are not accelerating dividends, even ones that will be paid in January, so that they will have a better looking balance sheet on December 31, I thought it was outrageous. It seems darn near irresponsible. That type of behavior should rate a WSJ editorial condemning it. Maybe there was one. Like I said I am not a regular reader.
The problem of course is that Mr. Sinegal supported President Obama.
When President Obama needed a business executive to come to his campaign defense, Jim Sinegal was there. The CostcoCOST +2.00% co-founder, director and former CEO even made a prime-time speech at the Democratic Party convention in Charlotte. So what a surprise this week to see that Mr. Sinegal and the rest of the Costco board voted to give themselves a special dividend to avoid Mr. Obama's looming tax increase.
Here is Mr. Sinegal at the Democratic National Convention
There was some accounting commentary in the article that I did not quite get
More striking is that Costco also announced that it will borrow $3.5 billion to finance the special payout. Dividends are typically paid out of earnings, either current or accumulated. But so eager are the Costco executives to get out ahead of the tax man that they're taking on debt to do so.
Actually in order for someting to be a dividend for income tax purposes it has to come out of "earnings and profits", a not very well-defined term. Computing a corporations "earnings and profits" for tax purposes can be quite a project. Regardless of that, earnings, accumulated or otherwise, do not perfectly correlate with cash flow so it strikes me that the comment is mixing oranges and apple sauce.
Here is another observation which struck me as rather odd.
Costco's chief financial officer, Richard Galanti, confirms that every member of the board is also a shareholder.
In context, it almost sounds sinister. So the board sat around and came up with something they thought would be good for the shareholders. It would be so much better if it was a board that had hardly any shareholders so that when somebody suggested that they could save the shareholders some money by accelerating the dividend, they would have been more focused on important things like figuring how that would affect bonus computations.
The bottom line was this. By supporting President Obama, Mr. Sinegal was, in effect, supporting higher taxes and now he supported a tax planning maneuver to avoid some of the tax for himself and his fellow shareholders for the next year or two.
Here we have people at the very top of the top 1% who preach about tax fairness voting to write themselves a huge dividend check to avoid the Obama tax increase they claim it is a public service to impose on middle-class Americans who work for 30 years and finally make $250,000 for a brief window in time.
I have to say I appreciate the Wall Street Journal thinking about the little guys like me, the potential victims of this upcoming onerous tax. I hate to point out that I don't think it is really that big a deal to the low six figure plodders who get the brief time in the sunlit lands over a quarter million in AGI. You really have to have quite a bit in invest-able assets outside retirement accounts for the new tax on investment income to sting an awful lot. Regardless of that, I think the condemnation of Mr. Sinegal is ridiculous.
Are they really saying that only Republicans should be able to do tax planning ? American business culture (I'm sure it is broader than that, but I'll stick with what I know) has a tenet that overpaying taxes is irresponsible. That is independent of what you might think taxes should be. Learned Hand said it best:
Over and over again courts have said that there is nothing sinister in so arranging one's affairs as to keep taxes as low as possible. Everybody does so, rich or poor; and all do right, for nobody owes any public duty to pay more than the law demands: taxes are enforced exactions, not voluntary contributions. To demand more in the name of morals is mere cant.
You can follow me on twitter @peterreilycpa.
Peter J Reilly
I have been a CPA for over 30 years focusing on taxation. I have extensive experience with partnerships, real estate and high net worth individuals. My ideology ca...
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13898
|
__label__wiki
| 0.884754
| 0.884754
|
Cyber crime: states use hackers to do digital dirty work
Western defence officials warn of rise of online privateers
Sam Jones, Defence and Security Editor
A new breed of sophisticated hacker is emerging as one of the most worrisome digital adversaries for western intelligence chiefs: cyber privateers.
Just as England’s Queen Elizabeth I officially licensed pirates to plunder the treasure ships of her rival Philip II of Spain in the 16th century, nations such as Russia and Iran are increasingly arming and encouraging criminal and activist groups with the cyber weaponry necessary to harm their adversaries, while keeping themselves at arms length, say senior security and defence officials in the US and Europe.
“A lot of the techniques that were the preserve of state-sponsored attackers are starting to make their way into broader communities of criminals,” said Simon Goldsmith of the defence contractor BAE System’s cyber unit, Applied Intelligence. “It’s proliferating in a massive way and the object of attacks by these groups is moving from large financial theft to using the same techniques to commit sabotage and for intelligence-gathering.”
State use of proxy agents to carry out disguised attacks is not new. But a recent shift has been noted, with a significant increase in the sophistication and number of worrisome attacks from non-state groups, western security officials have told the Financial Times.
They point to a handful of serious attacks in which proxy organisations or criminal groups appear to have played a central role — with a nation state agency working in the background.
When Sony Pictures was hacked last year, the US government confidently attributed the attack to Pyongyang. However, several follow-up incidents may not have come from North Korea, even though they were disguised to appear as though they were state-sponsored. Officials say cyber privateers were probably responsible.
Francis Drake was appointed by Britain's Queen Elizabeth I to prey on Spanish ships. Today's privateers stay in the shadows
Likewise, when an attack was launched against JPMorgan and other large US banks last year, many in the US cyber and intelligence community believed that the Kremlin was responsible. But the US government refrained from publicly accusing Moscow because the origin of the attacks was so murky.
And, increasingly in Europe, campaigns against sensitive national infrastructure and intelligence targets appear to be linked to cyber groups whose previous interest was extortion and criminal enterprise.
Admiral Michael Rogers, US Cyber Command chief and director of the National Security Agency, has repeatedly highlighted the issue as one of the most significant trends to develop in the digital security environment this year, according to two military officials familiar with his thinking.
“[Something] I look for in the future [is] nation states using surrogates as a way to overcome our capabilities in attribution.” he said in a rare public speech in May.
Some criminal groups are now routinely using tools that could only have been developed by nation states.
“One of the reasons this business is getting more interesting is because the difference between government and non-government is becoming increasingly unclear,” said Ewan Lawson, a senior research fellow at the UK’s Royal United Services Institute and a former cyber warfare office at the UK’s Joint Forces Command.
“What is happening is that adversaries are turning to these peripheral groups and saying, ‘Here’s a list of areas we are happy for you to go into and here are some tools to do it.’ It’s a charter to hack.”
As online threats race up national security agendas, and governments look at ways of protecting their national infrastructures, a cyber arms race is causing concern to the developed world
One telltale sign comes from tracing the “DNA” of pieces of malware — the malicious software used in attacks. Disentangling the evolution of such cyber weapons is nevertheless tricky: while criminals could have been given them by government agencies, they could also have copied malware already in use.
One of the greatest concerns around the rise of cyber privateering is that once criminal groups have been equipped with the ability to penetrate well-defended organisations such as foreign government agencies or utilities, there may be little to stop them from turning their attention later to other, more lucrative targets.
Officials also worry about their propensity to slip up, or overstep the mark. “They are generally more dangerous because they don’t necessarily have the situational awareness to moderate their impact,” said one western security official.
While countries such as the US are growing more confident in attributing — and retaliating to — attacks, most expect their adversaries in cyber space to ramp up their use of privateer agents.
“The Russians, in particular, spend a lot of time thinking very carefully about how to avoid stepping over the evidentiary standards of what qualifies for an armed attack or the use of force, particularly in cyber space,” said Jim Lewis, director of the strategic technologies programme at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank.
“They don’t want that trail of breadcrumbs to lead right up to the Kremlin. We’re going to be more and more hamstrung by this.”
Get alerts on Cyber warfare when a new story is published
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13904
|
__label__cc
| 0.685356
| 0.314644
|
John McClellan
You can tell a lot about a stand up comic by the way they hold the microphone. John McClellan doesn’t hold the mic…he strangles it.
John is a unique and brutally funny voice in the world of comedy, carving out his turf as he headlines comedy clubs and rock music venues across America. He possesses a rare ability to bring laughs to situations with insight and energy using what the Long Island Entertainment News calls “A razor sharp sense of sarcasm coupled with a working stiff sensibility… John McClellan is what real stand up is all about.” A fearless yet engaging performer, he reminds you within minutes of taking the stage why Cincinnati CityBeat called him the “Super Villain Of Comedy” . This, ladies and gentlemen… is badass stand up comedy.
Delivering an original stable of material born from logic and ego fighting side by side. The John McClellan live show offers the stream-of-consciousness of a child on Santa Claus’ lap, the confidence of a prizefighter and the power of a punk band without ever leaving your seat.
A grand prizewinner of The Seattle International Comedy Competition, as well as a finalist in the San Francisco Comedy Competition, McClellan has opened in concert for acts such as David Lee Roth and Collective Soul as well as being a featured performer in some of the nation’s top comedy festivals. A regular guest on Sirius Satellite Radio, local morning radio and television shows across the nation, John may be most recognizable from his appearance in season 4 of Bravo TV’s “Millionaire Matchmaker” and his show stopping date to NYC’s Museum of Sex, that made that episode one of the most highly rated in the history of the program.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13905
|
__label__wiki
| 0.58794
| 0.58794
|
Third suspect in armed robbery gets 3-10 years in prison
By Mikaela K. Reynoldsmreynolds@fosters.com
DOVER — The third man charged in the armed robbery of a Farmington home last January was sentenced in Strafford County Superior Court on Friday to 3 to 10 years in state prison.
Joshua Dionne, 27, an inmate at the Strafford County jail, pleaded guilty to robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery charges on Friday. He received a 3- to 10-year sentence with 381 days of pretrial confinement credit for his role in the incident.
According to court documents Dionne drove accomplices Matthew T. Roaf, 21, and Stephen Roy, 25, to a home on Meetinghouse Road, where the pair entered with a machete, demanding drugs and money.
A resident was home at the time and shot Roaf in the torso and Roy in the head, wounding the two intruders.
Roaf was treated at Portsmouth Regional Hospital while Roy was taken to York Hospital in Maine. Roy checked himself out the same day but reportedly refused to cooperate with police. Roaf turned himself in. Dionne was arrested days later.
Roy also received a sentence of 3 to 10 years in state prison for charges of robbery and conspiracy.
Roaf received a sentence of 5 to 10 years, suspended for 10 years of good behavior, for the same charges.
County Attorney Tom Velardi said Roaf received the suspended sentence based on the fact that he had no criminal history, provided police with accurate information on the robbery, and was not believed to have committed any violence in the incident.
All three men are permitted no contact with the victim or his family.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13906
|
__label__wiki
| 0.707371
| 0.707371
|
Ice Hockey Injuries Peak During Adolescence
By | WebMD
More than 18,000 youth hockey players were treated in U.S. emergency rooms for ice hockey-related injuries in 2001-2002, according to a new study.
Researchers say the results show that the number of ice hockey injuries peaks during adolescence. Males account for more than 90 percent of the injuries reported.
Although the percentage of ice hockey players hospitalized after injury was very low, the study suggests that youth hockey players under 18 are twice as likely to be hospitalized after injury compared with those 18 and over.
Ice hockey is a popular sport in many regions of the U.S., and researchers say more than 530,000 players are registered with hockey leagues, including more than 370,000 youths. But they say that until now no study has evaluated ice hockey-related injuries using nationwide data.
The risk of injury in ice hockey is high due to the velocity of players, pucks, and sticks. Players move at speeds of up to 30 mph, and the speed of the pucks often exceeds 100 mph.
Hockey Injuries by the Numbers
In this study, researchers used information from a national database on injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms from 2001 to 2002.
The results show that an estimated 32,750 people with ice hockey-related injuries were treated over the two-year period, including more than 18,000 youth hockey players under 18.
The most common ice hockey-related injuries were strains, sprains, cuts, and bruises. Only a small percentage of those treated for ice hockey injuries were hospitalized, but more than twice as many youth hockey players were hospitalized as older players (1.25 vs. 0.5 percent).
Injuries to the upper extremities, such as the arms, hands, and wrists, accounted for the greatest number of injuries among youth hockey players (44 percent), and injuries to the face accounted for the least (10 percent).
Researchers credit the low percentage of facial injuries to the effects of helmet and full facial mask requirements in youth hockey leagues.
Other findings of the study include:
—Youth hockey players experienced fewer ice hockey-related cuts than other age groups.
—Males experienced 90 percent of all ice hockey-related injuries, but females represented a higher percentage of injuries among youths than among adults.
—The incidence of head injuries increased as age decreased, but this trend was not statistically significant.
—Youth ice hockey players had a higher percentage of arm, hand, and wrist injuries compared with all other age groups.
—The percentage of traumatic brain injuries reported decreased as the age of ice hockey players increased.
Researchers say the results show that youths and adults can reap the physical fitness and social benefits from ice hockey and avoid preventable injuries by following USA Hockey rules on fair play and using proper safety equipment.
By Jennifer Warner, reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD
SOURCE: Hostetler, S. Pediatrics, December 2004; vol 114: pp e661-e666.
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13907
|
__label__cc
| 0.504245
| 0.495755
|
Forget Tesla in the meantime and feast your senses on the new Polestar 2. This is an electric car that promises to deliver a different kind of driving experience replete with all the comforts of a modern luxury car. It boasts of a well-integrated communications system that can make for a more meaningful ride.
With two electric motors delivering 408 horses at 300 kW and 487 ft-lb of torque, the Polestar 2 is never a sissy on the road. Unfortunately, no one knows how fast this electric car can go or whether it can best the other e-cars on the road today. What’s known is that it can blitz from a dead stop to 60MPH in 4.7 seconds. To put this into perspective, that’s the same acceleration of a 2010 Aston Martin DB9. The Tesla Model 3 comes in only at 5.6 seconds. Not bad for an electric car.
The Polestar 2 also features a battery system that allows it to go as far as 275 miles on a single charge. By comparison, the Tesla 3 has a maximum effective range of 240 miles per charge. Polestar 2 bests the Tesla by 35 miles. Of course, it remains to be seen whether these specs on paper are translatable on the road.
This electric car comes in an all-wheel-drive configuration, complete with an all-electric drivetrain. It’s what provides the Polestar 2 superb efficiency and performance. There’s regenerative braking, too. This allows electric motors to recover energy and further prolong runtimes.
Techies will love the car-driver integration in the Polestar 2. There are intelligent seat sensors, phone-as-key, and a fully-embedded Google services framework. There are a voice command software and a revolutionary UI in a 12.3-inch digital driver display.
The Polestar 2 is an electric car that’s designed to excite all car lovers, that’s for sure.
CHECK PRICE ON POLESTAR.COM
BrandPolestar
10 Best Car Gadgets (Review) in 2019
11 Best Car Waxes (Review) in 2019
10 Best Dash Cams (Review) in 2019
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13909
|
__label__cc
| 0.731921
| 0.268079
|
Enthoffer, Joseph (1818 - April 6, 1909)
Joseph Enthoffer (1818 - April 6, 1909) was an Austrian-American copper-plate engraver. Enthoffer immigrated to the United States in 1857 to accept a position as an engraver for the United States Coast Survey and worked for the Survey until he retired in 1899. He married his wife Elizabeth in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1855 and they had three children.
1875 U.S. Coast Survey Map of Mount Desert Island, Maine
17.5 x 14.25 in
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13910
|
__label__wiki
| 0.821244
| 0.821244
|
Crime Rate Doubles After True Scale of Internet Offences is Revealed
England and Wales are officially twice as bad as they were last year, and it’s all thanks to the internet. Well, sort of. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has, for the first time, included online offences and fraud as part of its official statistics.
It says that there were 12.1 million crimes in England and Wales in the 12 months up to the end of March 2016. Last year’s official total was 6.3 million.
Two million incidents of cybercrime and 3.8 million of fraud were included as part of this year’s figure, with one in 10 people in England and Wales now counted as victims. The ONS had expected the newly added figures to be much lower, predicting a 3.8 million rise in crime numbers back in October last year.
“This is the first time we have published official estimates of fraud and computer misuse from our victimisation survey,” said the ONS’ John Flatley. “Together, these offences are similar in magnitude to the existing headline figures covering all other crime survey offences. However, it would be wrong to concluded that actual crime levels have doubled, since the survey previously did not cover these offences.”
However, the ONS has said that the fraud questions were added to the crime survey in October 2015, with the data collected over the following six months being ‘grossed up’ to provide an estimate for the whole 12 months. You can read the entire report here. It'll take the entirety of your lunch hour and make your eyes hurt. [BBC]
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13913
|
__label__wiki
| 0.826286
| 0.826286
|
Losing in Afghanistan
By Prof. Marjorie Cohn
Global Research, July 07, 2010
Region: Middle East & North Africa
Theme: US NATO War Agenda
In-depth Report: AFGHANISTAN
Last week, the House of Representatives voted 215-210 for $33 billion to fund Barack Obama’s troop increase in Afghanistan. But there was considerable opposition to giving the President a blank check. One hundred sixty-two House members supported an amendment that would have tied the funding to a withdrawal timetable. One hundred members voted for another amendment that would have rejected the $33 billion for the 30,000 new troops already on their way to Afghanistan; that amendment would have required that the money be spent to redeploy our troops out of Afghanistan. Democrats voting for the second amendment included House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and nine Republicans. Both amendments failed to pass.
The new appropriation is in addition to the $130 billion Congress has already approved for Iraq and Afghanistan this year. And the 2010 Pentagon budget is $693 billion, more than all other discretionary spending programs combined.
Our economic crisis is directly tied to the cost of the war. We are in desperate need of money for education and health care. The $1 million per year it costs to maintain a single soldier in Afghanistan could pay for 20 green jobs.
Not only is the war bankrupting us, it has come at a tragic cost in lives. June was the deadliest month for U.S. troops in Afghanistan. In addition to the 1,149 American soldiers killed in Afghanistan, untold numbers of Afghan civilians have died from the war – untold because the Defense Department refuses to maintain statistics of anyone except U.S. personnel. After all, Donald Rumsfeld quipped in 2005, “death has a tendency to encourage a depressing view of war.”
There are other “depressing” aspects of this war as well. As Gen. Stanley McChrystal reported just days before he got the axe, there is a “resilient and growing insurgency” with high levels of violence and corruption within the Karzai government. McChrystal’s remarks were considered “off message” by the White House, which was also irked by the general’s criticisms of Obama officials in a Rolling Stone article. McChrystal believes that you can’t kill your way out of Afghanistan. “The Russians killed 1 million Afghans and that didn’t work.”
He and his successor, Gen. David Petraeus, likely disagree on the need to prevent civilian casualties (known as “Civ Cas”). McChrystal instituted some of the most stringent rules of engagement the U.S. military has had in a war zone: “Patrol only in areas that you are reasonably certain that you will not have to defend yourselves with lethal force.” Commanders cannot fire on buildings or other places if they have reason to believe civilians might be present unless their own forces are in imminent danger of being overrun. And they must end engagements and withdraw rather than risk harming noncombatants. McChrystal knows that for every innocent person you kill, you create new enemies; he calls it “insurgent math.” According to the Los Angeles Times, McChrystal “was credited with bringing about a substantial drop in the proportion of civilian casualties suffered at the hands of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force and its Afghan allies.”
While testifying in Congress before he was confirmed to take McChrystal’s place, Petraeus told senators that some U.S. soldiers had complained about the former’s rules of engagement aimed at preventing civilian casualties.
According to the Rolling Stone article, Obama capitulated to McChrystal’s insistence that more troops were needed in Afghanistan. In his December 1 speech at West Point, the article says, “the president laid out all the reasons why fighting the war in Afghanistan is a bad idea: It’s expensive; we’re in an economic crisis; a decade-long commitment would sap American power; Al Qaeda has shifted its base of operations to Pakistan. Then,” the article continued, “without ever using the words ‘victory’ or ‘win,’ Obama announced that he would send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan, almost as many as McChrystal had requested.”
Both Obama and Petraeus no longer speak of “victory” over the Taliban; they both hold open the possibility of settlement with the Taliban. Indeed, Maj. Gen. Bill Mayville, chief of operations for McChrystal, told Rolling Stone, “It’s not going to look like a win, smell like a win or taste like a win.”
The majority of Americans now oppose the war in Afghanistan. Fareed Zakaria had some harsh words for the war on his CNN show, saying that “the whole enterprise in Afghanistan feels disproportionate, a very expensive solution to what is turning out to be a small but real problem.” Noting that CIA director Leon Panetta admitted that the number of Al Qaeda left in Afghanistan may be 50 to 100, Zakaria asked, “why are we fighting a major war” there? “Last month alone there were more than 100 NATO troops killed in Afghanistan,” he said. “That’s more than one allied death for each living Al Qaeda member in the country in just one month.” Citing estimates that the war will cost more than $100 billion in 2010 alone, Zakaria observed, “That’s a billion dollars for every member of Al Qaeda thought to be living in Afghanistan in one year.” He queried, “Why are we investing so much time, energy, and effort when Al Qaeda is so weak?” And Zakaria responded to the argument that we should continue fighting the Taliban because they are allied with Al Qaeda by saying, “this would be like fighting Italy in World War II after Hitler’s regime had collapsed and Berlin was in flames just because Italy had been allied with Germany.”
There is also division in the Republican ranks over the war. Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele made some gutsy comments about the war in Afghanistan, saying it is not winnable and calling it a “war of Obama’s choosing.” (Even though George W. Bush first invaded Afghanistan, Obama made the escalation of U.S. involvement a centerpiece of his campaign.) Steele said that if Obama is “such a student of history, has he not understood that, you know, that’s the one thing you don’t do, is engage in a land war in Afghanistan? Everyone who has tried, over 1,000 years of history, has failed.” Interestingly, Republicans Lindsey Graham and John McCain slammed Steele and jumped to Obama’s defense. Rep. Ron Paul, however, agreed with Steele, saying, “Michael Steele has it right, and Republicans should stick by him.”
Obama will likely persist with his failed war. He appears to be stumbling along the same path that Lyndon Johnson followed. Johnson lost his vision for a “Great Society” when he became convinced that his legacy depended on winning the Vietnam War. It appears that Obama has similarly lost his way.
Marjorie Cohn, a professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, is immediate past president of the National Lawyers Guild and deputy secretary general of the International Association of Democratic Lawyers. She is co-author (with Kathleen Gilberd) of Rules of Disengagement: The Politics and Honor of Military Dissent. See www.marjoriecohn.com.
The original source of this article is Global Research
Copyright © Prof. Marjorie Cohn, Global Research, 2010
Articles by: Prof. Marjorie Cohn
|
cc/2019-30/en_head_0013.json.gz/line13915
|
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.