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__label__cc	0.648117	0.351883	Steve Tong, on behalf of the ACR, had the chance to interview Os Guinness during his recent visit to Sydney. Here, Os shares about the need to connect evangelism and apologetics, and the responsibility of Christians to engage with our world by holding out the light of the gospel. Os also encourages lay people to work alongside their clergy in the task of defending the gospel and winning people for Christ. ST: Thank you for time today. It’s a real privilege for the Australian Church Record that you have agreed to talk with us. Let me begin by asking about some of your research interests. Many of your talks and books take as a general theme the intersection between religion, politics, and religious freedom in public square discourse. These stimulate a lot of questions for lots of people. My question is, how optimistic or confident are you about the ability of modern, Western Christians to engage with the communities and societies that we find ourselves in now? OG: A general feature of the Church in the modern world is that the Church is exploding in the Global South, and not really doing very well anywhere in the West. The generalisations are rather gloomy, although there are magnificent exceptions. So I’ve always been concerned, and this is the reason I went into Sociology, to first understand what the impact of the modern world was on faith, not so much on religion, but on faith—our faith, the Christian faith. And then secondly, to try and address the issues that raises, because we have to recover integrity and effectiveness so that we can be salty and light bearing, as our Lord called us to be. So I’ve got many books, dealing with either the impact of modernity on faith or issues that that raises for the Church in recovering its integrity, such as religious freedom. ST: In your studies, what have you observed as some of the mistakes that Christians have made, or continue to make, in our attempt to uphold biblical truth in the public square. Are there ways of getting around those mistakes? OG: Again, this is a broad generalisation. But you can see that broadly, Christians who care about the modern world face up to the danger of ideas: secularism, relativism, postmodernism, and things like that—those are all ideas. I often tease Americans that they can smell a relativist at 100 yards. But the real damage has not been done by ideas alone; it’s been done by some of the features of modernity. And the Church at large has still not really taken on board the challenge of modernity. Until we do, we will continue to be shaped more by the modern world than by the gospel. ST: Do you think that’s because there is a nervousness about engaging at a certain intellectual level? For instance, some might say there is a tendency to shoehorn people into theological study with the idea that they will become a parish minister or a missionary, rather than encouraging people to go into academia in the secular institutions to bear witness in those contexts. Do you feel that’s a trend? OG: Well there is nothing wrong with going into the ministry. I mean, I am not a scholar in the university, but I am trying to understand it. So if you train people just to go into the ministry, without an understanding of the world in which the people in their congregation are living, much of their preaching will be irrelevant. For example, many of our best colleges and seminaries have a high view of biblical authority. But a high view of authority without realising how modernity undermines authority will get you nowhere. Because the problem with modernity is choice, change, consumerism, and we shifted, without realising it, from authority to preference. Everything is a matter of choice. And so you can have the most fiery preaching in the world with the highest view of authority, but the congregation essentially cherry picks. And that’s where you get the idea that everyone loves Jesus, but Paul? Or the New Testament, of course, but Leviticus? I don’t know about Australia but in America I see young evangelicals just cherry picking. They don’t realise they’ve lost any view of authority and have been shaped by modernity—in this case, by consumerist preference. ST: In the Smith Lecture you delivered while you were in Sydney, you mentioned the two ways that the sexual revolution has been stopped in the past. You spoke about Lenin, but you also spoke about the 18th century revival in England in particular. Coming back to what you were saying about the engagement between a high view of biblical authority and understanding the world, is that what you see historically—if you looked back at people like Wesley and Whitfield? Is that what they did? OG: Well no, they had the power of the gospel. And in the first awakening, the power of the Holy Spirit’s anointing of their preaching of the word was incredible. You think of Whitfield’s preaching and the tears trickling down the miners’ faces, forming rivulets in their soot-lined faces. That’s the real thing. We need revival of that sort today. Many of our tools for growing churches are really forms of the world’s way of doing things. And we’re not drawing them by the word and by the Spirit. ST: In your book Fool’s Talk, you wrote, “There is an urgent need to reunite evangelism and apologetics”. Do you mind unpacking that for us? How did those two streams of Christian thought diverge? OG: Well you can see that in much of the Church, evangelism and apologetics have gone in two different directions—evangelism being simple and straight forward, and apologetics often being highly intellectual, and shaped by philosophical arguments of our day, or by medieval arguments like the theistic proofs and so on. Yet biblically, the two are one. In other words, put very simply, evangelism is the sharing of the good news simply and straightforwardly. But as soon as you meet someone with sufficient disbelief or disobedience to the gospel, there needs to be what you Australians call ‘bush clearing’—and that’s apologetics. It is clearing away all the obstructions that are stopping people seeing the good news as good news. It’s not good news to them; it’s old hat or completely wrong or whatever, and so apologetics and evangelism should serve each other. Now I believe passionately that our apologetics should be shaped by a biblical understanding of communication, and not by ancient rhetoric or philosophical arguments alone. My book attempted to take apologetics back to its biblical roots. ST: Is this job of apologetics partly the clergy’s responsibility, in terms of how and what they teach lay people on a Sunday? OG: Well I wouldn’t put too much weight on the poor clergy. The poor clergyman today has a shrinking social status and is not as admired or prestigious as before. And they are now expected to be the ultimate great preacher, a super councillor, a church administrator, and who knows how many other things. In other words, a ‘jack of all trades’. It’s quite impossible, and then to keep up with things. I remember meeting the pastor of a mega church, who looked on the verge of a breakdown, and he said to me “I’m haunted by the thought by people as always only two weeks away from leaving me for a better church”. It was simply dreadful—the poor man. There is too much weight on the pastors. Pastors need to know what they are called to do. Are they called to be good preachers? Or are they called to be teachers? What is it they know they are good at? Hopefully they can have small teams around them, so if the pastor is a tremendous preacher but not an administrator (or the reverse), he will have others who can help him out. ST: This makes me think about the Reformation idea of ‘the priesthood of all believers’. Do the lay folk need to take more responsibility in terms of reading apologetics so that they can also communicate there? Would you agree that lay people should be in full time ministry in that sense of it? How would that take shape? OG: Of course! But the point is not the priesthood of all believers—that’s our standing before the Lord. It’s the calling of all believers. It was the Catholic distortion of calling that made it something for the monks, nuns and priests. And even then, in the average Catholic dictionary today, what is vocation? It’s a call to be a priest, and the Reformation shattered that. Martin Luther’s On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church addresses the farmer in the fields, and the farmer’s wife in the kitchen, and recognises that if they are doing what they are doing by faith as a calling, it’s just as high and holy as the preacher in the pulpit. That’s terrific! So the lawyer, the teacher, the computer scientist, the general, the mother as home maker… they are all following their calling. It’s the challenge of the pastor to equip them and empower them. ST: That comes back to what you were saying in your Smith about ‘the Magna Carta of Creation’, and seeing each individual as made in the image of God and therefore having inherit worth. And so it doesn’t matter if you are the high nobility, or the lowly slave, or a servant. OG: It’s very easy to think of an individual in terms of the high. The challenge is to think of the low—the homeless man, the poor person, the desperately sick person. Do we treat each of them with the individual preciousness and dignity that you would accord nationally to the billionaire, or whoever it is? ST: To change tack slightly: Would you encourage Christians to engage in the current political dialogue, given that it is increasingly hostile to an overtly Christian voice? OG: Well a lot of people would say ‘no’. And they would look at the New Testament. But I would say that the Christians in the New Testament were under the Empire. They had absolutely no voice and no freedom to participate in the running of things. Many of them were slaves. But here we are in free open societies that came to be democracy. In other words, the government is us. And shame on us if we don’t get into it. Now the fact is, in many of our western societies there has been a Christian consensus and Christians have relied on that to carry them forward, so they think that all is well in the wider society and that they don’t need to be involved. But today, that Christian consensus has gone and many of the elites coming in from the other side are very profoundly anti-Christian (and anti a whole lots of things). But we need to be citizens who understand that it’s our responsibility to really get involved and make a difference. The scandal of the American Church is that they’re a huge majority (at least 70 per cent of the population are Christians) and yet there are tiny good groups like, let’s say Jews (who are only about 2 per cent of the population), who punch well above their weight in academia, entertainment and journalism because they are brilliant. They get involved. Or take a group with whom we have a lot of differences like the LGBT community. They also represent only about 2 per cent of the American population, but their influence is extraordinary. Shame on us, that we haven’t been salty and light bearing and made a difference. ST: In light of that, what encouragement would you give to Australian Christians, and more generally Christians in the West? How might a Christian engage with the secular world that we find ourselves in? OG: We must begin by thinking through where we are living out faithfully the way Christ called his followers to live. But then secondly, we must look at our Western world: what are the things that are distinctively gifts of the Bible or the gospel in particular? Human dignity, the whole notion of history, freedom, a particular view of justice, the transmission of the faith, responsibility. There are a whole number of things that are either uniquely or very strongly the gifts of the gospel, and they will go. So we’ve got to defend those, first by understanding them, and then by living them, and then articulate their importance for a free society, a democracy. If we don’t defend them, they will go. In other words, today the foundations are being ripped up, and we are guardians of some of these things because they create a more human, free, just society. And it’s important we stand for them. ST: You also mentioned in your Smith Lecture that a lot of the current ideological and intellectual movements actually have their root in the French Revolution—a time when a complete overhaul of the political, religious, social and cultural status quo took place. The monarchy was overthrown, and the Roman Catholic Church was practically rejected from all facets of life in France at the time. Are we seeing a second French Revolution, so to speak now? OG: Well it’s not a revolution in the streets, but it’s the ideas. But remember what bred it? A huge part of European secularity that is now spreading to the world is a revulsion against corrupt, oppressive state churches. Diderot, the French encyclopaedist, had a cry which was picked up by the Jacobin in the Revolution: “We will never be free until we strangle the last king with the guts of the last priest”. In other words, church and state, throne and altar, were in collusion—they were both corrupt, both oppressive, so the revolution threw off both. And you have strict separation, what the French call ‘laïcité’, and that idea flows down today on the left: remove all religion from public life and so on. But that is not at all what gives you a strong freedom. Well, it didn’t in France, and it won’t if the ideas of Nietzsche, Gramsci, Foucault, Marx, and people like that predominate. These are the ideas shaping the left. And we should be wary of them. Or look at the sexual revolution, which goes back to the Marquis de Sade, and people like Wilhelm Reich. They are quite clear that you have to overcome the obstacle of the Church (number one), and parents (number two). Well both of those are disasters, certainly for Christians, but also for society—the role of parents is fundamental and yet they are being ruled out today. Sex education, and removal of parental influence at the age of three. Even rewriting birth certificates. ST: Let me finish with one final question. You are obviously a man in the world, but not ‘of the world’. What is one last piece of advice that you could give that might help equip us to protect our Christian integrity and identity within the secular context of our modern Western society? OG: Well I love the fact that Christian thinkers understand that the outcome of these questions will be decisive for the human future. In other words, questions are being raised that only the gospel and the Scriptures have answers to. So it’s not that we are on the back foot. Too many Christians are on the back foot—defensive; reactionary; it’s all over but we will fight and so on. No no! We are guardians of profound and important human truths, and the outcome of the future depends on our going forward. What’s the most common global emotion? Fear. Whereas what’s the most common biblical refrain? “Have no fear.” So with a trust in the Lord, and a confidence in the gospel, this is a time for Christians to be moving out and making a difference. ST: Thank you so much for your time, Os. Written by Os Guinness Great-great-great grandson of Arthur Guinness, the Dublin brewer, Os was born in China in World War Two before his family returned to England in 1951, where Os completed a D.Phil in the social sciences at Oriel College, Oxford. He moved to the USA in 1984, and since then has been a Guest Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies, a Guest Scholar and Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum and the EastWest Institute in New York. Os has published widely on the social, cultural, political, and intellectual movements of the modern Western world, and distils his analysis through a biblically defined Christian worldview. 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__label__wiki	0.838138	0.838138	All men who are by nature free and agreeable to the command of our Lord and Savior Christ believe it is our duty to do unto all men as we would have them do unto us. — Col. Charles Lynch How did the son of an indentured servant develop empathy for enslaved people? It's a long story - but a fascinating one. Colonel Charles Lynch was an American Patriot who left behind an enduring legacy on his community and his nation. However, as is the case with many famous Americans, there are several misconceptions about Colonel Charles Lynch. Many accounts depict him as a larger than life, and most notably a brutish, figure but these descriptions may be viewed as far too simplistic. Lynch was a principled man, and he lived his life in pursuit of bettering his community and country. Biographer Gordon Godfrey Fain once explained that, “some aspects of Lynch’s character seemed fairly obvious if the known facts are supplemented with a little speculation” and that observation certainly seems to be true in Lynch’s case. His distinguishing characteristic of patriotism was, in his eyes, the greatest contribution to the world that he could have offered. In establishing his mark on the Revolutionary War, he also created a legacy that will always be debated. To understand the legacy of Lynch, it is necessary to understand the legacy of his father and namesake. Avoca and Col. Lynch both trace their origins to an Irish immigrant named Charles Lynch the Elder. According to family tradition, Charles Lynch the Elder was a sixteen year-old young man who bristled against a harsh schoolmaster (other accounts state that he had differences with a stern grandmother). The legend states that he ran away from his home in the western port city of Galway, located on the western coast of Ireland. Once he made it to the docks, he surreptitiously stowed away aboard a ship that he thought was bound for a European destination. However, during the journey he overheard sailors discussing their destination as Virginia and it was then that young Lynch knew he had made a grave miscalculation. He was able to gain an audience with the ship’s captain, but his pleas to be returned to Ireland were ignored. Realizing that his fate was sealed as long as he stayed aboard the ship, Lynch attempted to jump ship and swim his way back to Ireland. The ship’s crew broke with maritime tradition that something – or someone – claimed by the ocean should be left to the ocean, Lynch was plucked from the water. The young runaway was placed in chains and spent the remainder of the journey in the ship’s hold. Upon arriving in Virginia, he entered into an indentured servitude contract with a successful Quaker named Christopher Clark. In the eighteenth century British-controlled American colonies, indentured servitude was an arrangement in which a person unable to pay for his passage across the Atlantic would agree to work a period of time – usually five to seven years – in consideration of the person who paid the cost. Lynch would look back on his indenture to Clark and call it “a second birth” in the sense that he was treated very well by his new master. Clark treated Lynch as a son and provided for an apprenticeship to Clark’s biological son, a lawyer, and even released Lynch from his indenture early. He departed his former master’s farm with livestock, equipment, conveyances, and even his master’s fifteen year old daughter. From that point, Lynch and a tribe of Quaker brethren migrated from one locality in Virginia to another, establishing and developing business interests in each place. He prospered and gained significant tracts of land in the counties of Caroline, Goochland, Louisa, Orange, Albemarle and Bedford by merit of land grants made by George I and George II. After a decade and half living in this manner Lynch, his wife Sarah, and their six children finally settled on high ground overlooking a bend in the James River which is present-day downtown Lynchburg. The former Galwegian dubbed this new acquisition “Chestnut Hill” and began the process of making it a profitable settlement like the others. Unfortunately, Lynch’s sudden and untimely death led to an arrangement in which the land was divided by his four sons – Edward, John, Charles (Jr.), and Christopher. While the other sons obtained land closer to the James River, Charles Jr. inherited excellent farmland to the south along the banks of the Staunton. Included in this acquisition was at least 6,353 acres and numerous head of livestock. Charles Lynch, Jr. was an active participant in local and colonial politics once his father’s estate was settled. As a prominent local figure and planter, he made a significant impact on local politics while loathing the eastern Virginia dominance of the colony’s legislative bodies. His policies have resounding effects throughout the colonies although Lynch seemed more interested in local politics. Young Mr. Lynch initially would not have enjoyed the prestige necessary to be elected to representative office until he consolidated his land holdings and organized his plantation. In 1769, he and John Talbot were elected as representatives from Bedford County to the House of Burgesses. Lynch served on the Trade Committee, placing him in an influential role for instituting boycotts on British. Colonel Lynch would later use this position to his advantage to preserve the Patriot cause. He along with Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington formed an “Association” to prohibit the exchange or sale of tea, glass, and paper products until the British tax on those items were removed. That November, Lynch began to exhibit an affinity for involving himself in politics beyond his locality. His election would mark the beginning of an enduring position in the Virginia political realm. Although his attendance at the House of Burgesses sessions was intermittent at best, researchers today do know that he attended some of the proceedings as he purchased a slave in Williamsburg that winter. The following year, 1770, he was absent for almost the entire session. In November of that year, he received his first in a series of appointments as a justice of the peace for Bedford County. Although he may have loathed the Quaker tendency to make inquiries into other people’s business, those tendencies served him well as he investigated alleged violations of the colonial boycott that year. While Lynch was quite involved in his community, personal business kept him from attending House meetings for the next two years. Lynch did not take on a more active role in colonial matters until the tensions between England and her colonies began to build. He served on the Committee of Public Claims as the Empire and her American colonies began to experience the first bouts of agitation. This assembly would later be dissolved by Lord Dunmore, the last colonial governor of Virginia, on May 26th, 1774. Lynch made known his displeasure with this and Parliament’s closing of the Port of Boston as reprisal for the Boston Tea Party. He and several other colonial leaders met and signed a protest at the Raleigh Tavern in Williamsburg in response to that measure. The upstart statesman also attended a meeting at which, he was tasked with electing representatives from Virginia to the First Continental Congress, a body purposed with discussing the future of the colonies. Their main concern was dealing with how the colonies would respond to actions the British had taken against them. Lynch and Talbot represented Bedford County at the Virginia Convention in March of 1775. The venue for the proceedings was chosen to be Richmond’s St. John’s Church. It was at this meeting that Patrick Henry gave his famous “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” speech and Lynch voted to support Henry’s proposal that the militia be readied for war. Virginia formed its second so-called “Committee of Safety” that very spring. Lynch once again joined with Talbot in joining this body that was tasked with enforcing colonial boycotts on British goods while rooting out any supposed sympathy for British rule. While collaborating with this assemblage, Charles Lynch urged setting a fixed price for sulfur and saltpeter - two components are critical in the creation of gunpowder. Conveniently, Lynch also assisted in arranging operations to mine those ingredients. That meant that he set the prices for goods that he would later sell to the Continental state governments, especially those in Virginia. As a member of the Committee of Safety, he was responsible for rooting out any loyalist rabble-rousing. An incident of this ilk occurred between Lynch and one John Hook where allegedly made comments in opposition to the Patriot cause, and in doing so found himself on the wrong end of Lynch’s wrath. It was suspected at the time that Hook made the comments in order to create divisions within the Bedford County community. Lynch reported Hook for the comments that he made against the Patriot cause. Hook later backed off from these statements and Lynch’s role as a guardian of local Patriot sentiment was established. On the legislative front, Lynch had already established himself as significant lawmaker and community leader. However, his role as a judge- he was a local magistrate- carried through the war and well beyond it. Charles Lynch proved himself to be a man with whom one should not trifle. Legend states on one occasion during his tenure as a frontier Justice of the Peace, he was called upon to referee a disagreement over a contest in which two men had forced captive black bears to fight one another. There is no record of verdict, however; Charles Lynch’s decision proved to be mutually dissatisfactory to the men, and both turned their anger on the Judge. Lynch therefore unleashed his indignation on the men and he held their faces into the soil until they accepted his decision. While Lynch was not greatly concerned with Virginia affairs before the winds of war began to blow, he was always an active participant in local matters. He was twice appointed as a Justice of the Peace and sat many times as a court magistrate. On February 28, 1778, Lynch was recommended by Governor Patrick Henry as a proper man to hold the rank of Colonel of the Militia and as Sheriff of Bedford County. He, therefore, served his final year on the House of Burgesses in 1777. The Judge and Superintendent The reality of Lynch’s involvement in conflict was just as his epitaph claims, he was an “active and zealous Patriot of the Revolution”. Lynch was involved in many fronts of the war. Colonel Lynch’s involvement during the war was not limited to strictly a legislative or judicial character. He also performed service in a logistical capacity. As mentioned before, Lynch sold his mined saltpeter to the Continental and state governments, a fact that surely added to his motivation to snuff out Loyalist plots to capture saltpeter, lead, and sulfur mines. Aside from devising new and inventive ways of manufacturing gunpowder and musket balls, Lynch also helped Virginia officials obtain supplies for the army and pay on expense. Virginians had depended on Great Britain almost totally for manufactured goods but when the war ended importation there was an urgent need to find substitutes for British supplies, particularly gunpowder. Previously reliant on imports of gun powder from the West Indies and Europe, colonists had to find other means to produce this vital commodity. Men began experimenting with homemade recipes on their farms. Together with Benjamin Clement, a neighbor who lived at Clement Hill on the south side of the Staunton River, Charles Lynch perfected a way of making gunpowder utilizing the saltpeter he had discovered in the caves of Montgomery County. Thomas Jefferson reported on this fact in his Notes on the State of Virginia. An issue of the Virginia Gazette, published in Williamsburg June 16, 1775, carried Colonel Lynch’s statement, “I wish for no more credit than I deserve… Mr. Benjamin Clement (Capt. Clement of Pittsylvania County) is a partner with me and the first who attempted to make it… . Since our partnership, we have brought it to such perfection with saltpeter of our own making, that the riflemen approve of it and with the mill we now have, we can make 50 lb. Weight in a day.” In the November 20, 1775 issue of the Virginia Gazette, Lynch wrote that some people were using the sweepings of smokehouses to obtain saltpeter to be used in making gunpowder, but that he himself had found a small deposit of the same on the west side of Reedy River Island. Virginia had been successful in the production of lead and at the beginning of the war took possession of the Montgomery County lead mines (near present day Austinville in Wythe County) on the New River. Charles Lynch was laced in charge of the mines (1777-1787) and the distribution of its products which were an important source for the manufacture of ammunition. The lead was mined by slaves and guarded by the militia because this resource was an attractive target to the British. As a martial commander, Lynch’s combat record was not what one would characterize as long and distinguished insofar as field grade officers were concerned. Surviving pension records indicate that Lynch activated the militia from Bedford County and marched its members to present day Concord and Montgomery County, Virginia. Concord was the site of Lynch’s own lead manufactory operation. There were reports that British sympathizers, known as Loyalists or “Tories”, were planning to capture his gunpowder and lead works. Colonel Lynch mobilized the militia to respond to the threat of the Loyalist uprising or any attempt overthrow the Patriot government in Virginia. A Loyalist seizure of the lead and gunpowder could have spelled disaster for Virginia Patriots. As Lynch and the militia marched to Concord, Cornwallis was concurrently pushing his British Army up through the Carolinas. The imminent threat of a British invasion, was a genuine fear for many Virginians. Fortunately, Lynch was successful in preventing the attack, and the militia captured at least seventy-five prisoners. An account written in 1787 by a Bedford County jailer claimed that Colonel Lynch’s deposit overcrowded his gaol and forced him into the hardship that comes with providing food and care for such a large group of prisoners. In a letter written to Lynch from Governor Thomas Jefferson in August of 1780, it was recommended that Lynch seize anyone upon whom probable guilt rested. Lynch was to then try the accused, and if Lynch judged the accused to be guilty, that person was sent to Richmond for further trial. However, Lynch had little inclination to allow trial to extend beyond the confines of this land known as Green Level. Lynch felt that it would be best to defy the Governors directive for four reasons. Firstly, the distance from Green Level to Richmond was two-hundred miles. This was quite a long and time consuming trek. Not only would the journey be a tedious one, but it would also incur a significant expense, both in terms of finances and time. Additionally, the travelers could encounter many dangers. For instance, it was regarded to be a well-known fact that Tories often waited along the roads in marauding bands, ready to spring upon and overwhelm the Judge’s escort. Finally, such an arrangement would give Tories ample opportunity to procure “false witnesses” these men who Patriots charged would give testimonies laden with deceit. Thus, instead of holding trials in two venues, Lynch tried the accused at Green Level. Lynch acquitted some of the accused, and issued prison sentences ranging from one to five years. Still others were subjected to the most well-known and dreaded aspect of what came to be known as “Lynch’s Law”. What is the origin of the term "lynching"? There is an ongoing debate centering around the etymology of the term “Lynch’s Law” and its abbreviated form, “lynching”. The Patriot judge coined the term “Lynch’s Law” at Green Level, which is the present site of Avoca Museum. He used the term to describe the trials and punishment that occurred as a result of those trials. However, historians debate the origin of the word “lynching”. There are three major camps pertaining to the origin of the word. One camp has it that the term was instituted through the legend of Charles Lynch’s ancestor, FitzStephen Lynch in 1493. The following account was provided by Library Ireland and is attributed to the Dublin Penny Journal (1833): “ A few years before the battle of Knocktuadh, an extraordinary instance of civic justice occurred in this town, which in the eyes of its citizens elevated their chief magistrate to a rank with the inflexible Roman. James Lynch Fitz-Stephen, an opulent merchant, was mayor of Galway in 1493. He had made several voyages to Spain, as a considerable intercourse was then kept up between that country and the western coast of Ireland. When returning from his last visit he brought with him the son of a respectable merchant named Gomez, whose hospitality he had largely experienced, and who was now received by his family with all that warmth of affection which from the earliest period has characterised the natives of Ireland. Young Gomez soon became the intimate associate of Walter Lynch, the only son of the mayor, a youth in his twenty-first year, and who possessed qualities of mind and body which rendered him an object of general admiration; but in these was unhappily united a disposition to libertinism, which was a source of the greatest affliction to his father. The worthy magistrate, however, was now led to entertain hopes of a favourable change in his son's character, as he was engaged in paying honourable addresses to a beautiful young lady of good family and fortune. Preparatory to the nuptials, the mayor gave a splendid entertainment, at which young Lynch fancied his intended bride viewed his Spanish friend with too much regard. The fire of jealousy was instantly lighted up in his distempered brain, and at their next interview he accused his beloved Agnes of unfaithfulness to him. Irritated at its injustice, the offended fair one disdained to deny the charge, and the lovers parted in anger. On the following night, while Walter Lynch slowly passed the residence of his Agnes, he observed young Gomez to leave the house, as he had been invited by her father to spend that evening with him. All his suspicions now received the most dreadful confirmation, and in maddened fury he rushed on his unsuspecting friend, w ho, alarmed by a voice which the frantic rage of his pursuer prevented him from recognising, fled towards a solitary quarter of the town near the shore. Lynch maintained the fell pursuit till his victim had nearly reached the water's edge, when he overtook him, darted a poniard into his heart, and plunged his body, bleeding, into the sea, which, during the night, threw it back again upon the shore, where it was found and recognised on the following morning. The wretched murderer, after contemplating for a moment the deed of horror which he had perpetrated, sought to hide himself in the recesses of an adjoining wood, where he passed the night a prey to all those conflicting feelings which the loss of that happiness he had so ardently expected, and a sense of guilt of the deepest dye, could inflict. He at length found some degree of consolation in the firm resolution of surrendering himself to the law, as the only means now left to him of expiating the dreadful crime which he had committed against society. With this determination he bent his steps towards the town at the eailiest dawn of the following morning; but he had scarcely reached its precincts, when he met a crowd approaching, amongst whom, with shame and terror, he observed his father on horseback, attended by several officers of justice. At present, the venerable magistrate had no suspicion that his only son was the assassin of his friend and guest; but when young Lynch proclaimed himself the murderer, a conflict of feeling seized the wretched father beyond the power of language to describe. To him, as chief magistrate of the town, was entrusted the power of life and death. For a moment the strong affection of a parent pleaded in his breast in behalf of his wretched son: but this quickly gave place to a sense of duty in his magisterial capacity as an impartial dispenser of the laws. The latter feeling at length predominated, and though he now perceived that the cup of earthly bliss was about to be for ever dashed from his lips, he resolved to sacrifice all personal considerations to his love of justice, and ordered the guard to secure their prisoner. The sad procession moved slowly towards the prison amidst a concourse of spectators, some of whom expressed the strongest admiration at the upright conduct of the magistrate, while others were equally loud in their lamentations for the unhappy fate of a highly accomplished youth who had long been a universal favourite. But the firmness of the mayor had to withstand a still greater shock when the mother, sisters, and intended bride of the wretched Walter beheld him who had been their hope and pride, approach pale, bound, and surrounded with spears. Their frantic outcries affected every heart except that of the inflexible magistrate, who had now resolved to sacrifice life with all that makes life valuable rather than swerve from the path of duty. In a few days the trial of Walter Lynch took place, and in a provincial town of Ireland, containing at that period not more than three thousand inhabitants, a father was beheld sitting in judgment, like another Brutus, on his only son; and, like him, too, condemning that son to die, as a sacrifice to public justice. Yet the trial of the firmness of the upright and inflexible magistrate did not end here. His was a virtue too refined for vulgar minds: the populace loudly demanded the prisoner's release, and were only prevented by the guards from demolishing the prison, and the mayor's house, which adjoined it; and their fury was increased on learning that the unhappy prisoner had now become anxious for life. To these ebullitions of popular rage were added the intercessions of persons of the first rank and influence in Galway, and the entreaties of his dearest relatives and friends; but while Lynch evinced all the feeling of a father and a man placed in his singularly distressing circumstances, he undauntedly declared that the law should take its course. On the night preceding the fatal day appointed for the execution of Walter Lynch, this extraordinary man entered the dungeon of his son, holding in his hand a lamp, and accompanied by a priest. He locked the grate after him, kept the keys fast in his hand, and then seated himself in a recess of the wall. The wretched culprit drew near, and, with a faltering tongue, asked if he had any thing to hope? The mayor answered, "No, my son--your life is forfeited to the laws, and at sun-rise you must die! I have prayed for your prosperity: but that is at an end--with this world you have done for ever--were any other but your wretched father your judge, I might have dropped a tear over my child's misfortune, and solicited for his life, even though stained with murder; but you must die: these are the last drops which shall quench the sparks of nature; and, if you dare hope, implore that heaven may not shut the gates of mercy on the destroyer of his fellow-creature. I am now come to join with this good man in petitioning God to give you such composure as will enable you to meet your punishment with becoming resignation." After this affecting address, he called on the clergyman to offer up their united prayers for God's Forgiveness to his unhappy son, and that he might be fully fortified to meet the approaching catastrophe. In the ensuing supplications at a throne of mercy, the youthful culprit joined with fervor, and spoke of life and its concerns no more. Day had scarcely broken when the signal of preparation was heard among the guards without. The father rose, and assisted the executioner to remove the fetters which bound his unfortunate son. Then unlocking the door, he placed him between the priest and himself, leaning upon an arm of each. In this manner they ascended a flight of steps lined with soldiers, and were passing on to gain the street, when a new trial assailed the magistrate, for which he appears not to have been unprepared. His wretched wife, whose name was Blake, failing in her personal exertions to save the life of her son, had gone in distraction to the heads of her own family, and prevailed on them, for the honour of their house, to rescue him from ignominy. They flew to arms, and a prodigious concourse soon assembled to support them, whose outcries for mercy to the culprit would have shaken any nerves less firm than those of the mayor of Galway. He exhorted them to yield submission to the laws of their country; but finding all his efforts fruitless to accomplish the ends of justice at the accustomed place and by the usual hands, he, by a desperate victory over parental feeling, resolved himself to perform the sacrifice which he had vowed to pay on its altar. Still retaining a hold of his unfortunate son, he mounted with him by a winding stair within the building, that led to an arched window overlooking the street, which he saw filled with the populace. Here he secured the end of the rope which had been previously fixed round the neck of his son, to an iron staple, which projected from the wall, and, after taking from him a last embrace, he launched him into eternity. The intrepid magistrate expected instant death from the fury of the populace; but the people seemed so much overawed or confounded by the magnanimous act, that they retired slowly and peaceably to their several dwellings. The innocent cause of this sad tragedy is said to have died soon after of grief, and the unhappy father of Walter Lynch to have secluded himself during the remainder of his life from all society, except that of his mourning family. His house still exists in Lombard-street, Galway, which is yet known by the name of "Dead Man's Lane," and over the front doorway are to be seen a skull and cross bones executed in black marble, with the motto, "Remember Deathe, vaniti of vaniti, and all is but vaniti." There are many reasons why this account is most likely not the origin of the word “lynching”. Firstly, both the Oxford and Collins dictionaries of the 19th century state that the term originated from a Virginia farmer named Lynch. Additionally, if the term does derive from fifteenth century Ireland, it would seem strange that the term does not reappear in the English lexicon until the 1800s. The proximity of the events of 1780 and the popular usage of the term favors a nineteenth century American origin. A second camp claims that a relative of Colonel Charles Lynch, William Lynch, is the source of the term. According to his own account, he led vigilant justice forays against his neighbors in the years following the Revolution. However, there are some reasons to question the validity of this theory. For instance, one of the strongest proponents of this account was none other than Edgar Allen Poe, who was notorious for his literary hoaxes. Additionally, the only account of William Lynch’s activities show up in an unpublished article written by diarist Andrew Ellicott. Ellicott apparently found William Lynch’s testimony to sound rather outlandish and it is probably for this reason that he chose not to publish the story. The obscurity of William Lynch’s actions, coupled with the fame of Colonel Lynch legend, casts doubt upon these claims. The Colonel Lynch narrative gives modern readers a third account that is likely because it possesses greatest amount of supporting evidence. This story begins in August of 1780 when a Patriot spy infiltrated a group of British Loyalists called “Tories” in southwestern Virginia. The spy learned of a Tory plot to sabotage Virginia’s lead and saltpeter mines, which were then under the superintendence of Lynch. The plot further contained the design to march on Charlottesville, free British prisoners-of-war, and overthrow the Virginia state government. When Governor Thomas Jefferson learned of this plot, he immediately ordered Lynch to find the ringleaders of the plot, arrange preliminary trials, and send those who appeared to possess the greatest amount of guilt to Richmond for further trial. Lynch quickly gathered about 75 prisoners and brought them to his plantation, Green Level (site of present-day Avoca Museum). With Judge Lynch presiding, some of the accused were acquitted for lack of evidence and others were imprisoned for terms ranging one to five years. Lynch chose to disregard Governor Jefferson’s directive to send the worst offenders to Richmond because of the time and cost of transporting his prisoners the considerable distance to Richmond. Beside these concerns, Lynch reasoned that Tories might arrange an ambush and spring upon the prisoner escort or furnish false witnesses that might serve to have guilty men acquitted. Hence, Judge Lynch would mete out his own version of frontier justice. Legend states that the worst offenders were tied by their thumbs to branches of a black walnut tree and given thirty-nine lashes with a whip known as the cat o’nine tails. If the convicted individual indicated a desire for mercy with the cry “Liberty forever!”, he would be spared the remaining lashes and would be entered into American military service for a period of one year. While Jefferson was displeased with Lynch’s disobedience, he admitted that Lynch’s “activity” deserved commendation. In 1782, the General Assembly passed an act indemnifying Lynch and his cohorts from legal action that might stem from this practice. The act asserted that the measures taken by the Judge against “evil disposed persons” were warranted given the emergency nature of the situation. This conclusion was reached despite the fact that those measures were “not strictly warranted by law”. Although the definitive source of the word is unknown, some aspects of its origin are certain. Foremost, the term “lynching” is associated with the Lynch family. Charles Lynch was related to William Lynch and both counted FitzStephen Lynch as a forebear. Another surety is that the term did not originally pertain to racial violence. There is no evidence that violence was perpetuated against African-Americans for racist motivations on the land now occupied by Avoca Museum. In fact, there is no evidence that anyone met their demise due to an execution sentence from Judge Lynch. In 1780, Bedford County was a hotbed of Tory activity and sentiment. Prison rolls from that year reveal the names of Tory offenders that are recognizable to current community members. The names Hurt, English, Rust, and Huddleston all appeared on the rolls of suspected Tories. To execute one of these citizens was to invite no trifling amount of civil unrest. It would also have dramatically overstepped Governor Jefferson’s directive to merely try offenders on a preliminary basis and send the worst offenders to Richmond for further trial. All this is not to say, however, that African-Americans were not subjected to what modern observers might characterize the cruel and unusual punishment that Lynch’s Law has become synonymous. Several individuals whom Lynch identified as Negro laborers in his employ at the lead mines were subjected to Lynch’s Law for conspiring with Tories. They were subjected to such punishments at Oxford Furnace, on the grounds that, according to Lynch, they were engaged in activity deemed harmful to the Patriot cause. It should be noted, however, that the same fate was reserved for whites who were shown to be likewise employed. Indeed, the only time during the war that Lynch was accused of demonstrating a racial or ethnic prejudice was in his dealings with Welsh, not black workers. One possibility is that the Lynch’s Law story passed down to Charles, as he used the term to describe his enforcement of Patriot justice. Perhaps Col. Lynch heard his father spin yarns about his family history and the infamous event in which his ancestors had played a crucial role. The Patriot judge also served Virginia in a military capacity. In March of 1781, he led Bedford County militia into North Carolina to join forces with Gen. Nathaniel Greene’s army that was gathering in the vicinity of Guilford Court House. The battle that resulted in this confrontation saw Lynch’s militiamen assume a key position on the right flank of the first American line of battle. In this engagement, Lynch commanded riflemen armed with the famous Pennsylvania Rifle. According to an account of these men who were accustomed to hunting and outdoor life, the Virginia riflemen of the backcountry were a sight to see: “The men generally wore hunting shirts of heavy tow linen; died brown with bark; they were open in front and made to extend down near to the knee and belted round the waist with dressed skin or woven girths. The sleeves were large, with a wrist band round the wrist and fringed over the upper part of the hand as far as the knuckles. Under the hunting shirt was a jacket made of some finer materials, and breeches of dressed buck or deer skin to just below the knees, with long stockings and moccasins of deer leather, and underneath the jacket or vest was also their linen which was made of the finer kinds of flax cloth. The hats were imported from England, Ireland or Scotland or as they said then “from home”—the crown was low round and fitted the head, with a broad a tree cornered or cock’d hat…profane language was very little used and continued to be so until the return however it became very prevalent and I believe was much used for many years afterward.” The speaker provides a very telling statement concerning the tree cover along the second line as well as how the Virginia militia south of the road fought. He stated, “When we marched near the ground we charged our guns. Presently our brigade major came ordering us to take trees as we pleased. The men run to choose their trees, but with difficulty, many crowding to one, and some far behind others. Presently the Augusta men, and some of Col. Campbell’s men fell in at right angles to us” Houston’s version suggest that the tree cover south of the roadmay have been less thick were the speaker was stationed and also indicates that the Virginia militia fought not in a linear formation but as skirmishers. Due to their proficiency with their rifled muskets, Lynch’s men were placed on the right flank and instructed to give the British two good shots before turning and fleeing from the enemy. The militia-surprisingly-fought well against their professional British counterparts in this battle. They inflicted high casualties, and fell back in an orderly fashion only to unleash additional volleys on the British as the King’s Army continued to advance. The battle was ultimately a victory for the British as they successfully chased the Americans from the field. However, this victory proved to be a pyrrhic one. One British Member of Parliament, George Fox, famously quipped that “Another such victory for our Army would ruin it!” The battle resulted in Lord Cornwallis’ loss of twenty-five percent of the army, leading him to eventually seek evacuation by the British Navy. He would by-and-by flee to the sleepy little fishing village of Yorktown, but his salvation would never arrive. The resulting siege would feature the last major battle of the Revolution. Colonel Charles Lynch was on the rolls as a field grade officer and present with his command at Yorktown. He was no doubt ecstatic to be there and participate in this last effort. It would not have been lost on him the significance of the situation, and the abiding effort of the tens of thousands of Americans like himself that helped bring about the result. Role of Quakerism Once the war was over, Lynch turned his attention back to his religion. Charles Lynch was raised in the Quaker faith, but he consistently exercised the teachings of his faith only in the early and later stages of his life. Charles Lynch, the immigrant, was not disposed to the active exercise of Quaker Christianity but his wife insisted that their children be raised in the faith. Charles Lynch Jr. was, therefore, strongly influenced by his devout mother as she was an elder in the South River Fellowship. Perhaps the roots of Charles Jr’s participation in the Patriot cause was due to the Quaker ideal that no man is superior to another. We should keep in mind, however, that Quakers did not generally advocate rebellion against authority. Lynch’s name frequently appears in records throughout 1758 and by 1763, he was a pillar of the church community. He once served as historian of church records. However, by late 1764, Lynch seemed to have lost interest in church activities. He refused to return meeting records in 1765. This decision more than likely was a reaction to a judgement made against his brother for “being in practices contrary to the principles of truth…” In July of 1764, Christopher Lynch was subsequently expelled from the Quaker Fellowship. October of 1766 brought about Charles Lynch’s own expulsion from the Quaker Fellowship. A delegation accused Lynch of “taking solemn oaths”. Quakers took Jesus Christ’s command to “let your yea be yea and your nay be nay” quite seriously. They believed that it was a violation of God’s Law to swear by anything. The fact that Charles Lynch did this as a witness to neighbor’s wills, legal proceedings, and his pledge to uphold his commission as a militia officer was regarded as inexcusable by church elders. Lynch was most certainly taking such oaths, his future judgeship, and command of the militia would affirm this fact. On this occasion though, the oath in question involved settling a neighbor’s estate by serving as an executor. In December of that year, the House of Burgesses ordered “Captain Lynch” to paid for services. If Lynch had not been expelled for taking oaths, he certainly would have been for accepting an officer’s commission. The Quakers were pacifists and to be involved with a military body would stand in anathema to their teachings. The intervening years between 1766 and 1792 Lynch demonstrated little behavior of which Quakers would approve. This occurred despite the fact that many of his family members- most notably his brother, John, and wife, Anne Terrell, were devout and practicing members of the Quaker faith. We can be certain that Lynch’s drifting caused some degree of friction in his family. Although some records suggest that Charles Lynch’s separation from Quakerism was firm and final upon his expulsion, this does not seem to be the case when other documents are examined. There is some evidence that Colonel Lynch tried to get back into the good graces of the Quakers and even made reconciled with his brother John over their differences stemming from opposing allegiances during the Revolution. In 1786, he assisted John in laying out the lots that would eventually become the City of Lynchburg. Three years after the ratification of the Treaty of Paris and the official end of the American Revolution, the younger Charles Lynch (or Col. Charles Lynch, as he is popularly known) is recorded as owning 24 slaves. In 1796, he had 13 and was possibly contracting labor out from slaves on neighboring plantations. Part of the reason for the diminished slave population is explained by a 1792 deed record made in Campbell County when Col. Lynch freed a dozen slaves: Even though he was at one point expelled from Quaker fellowship, Lynch came from a family with deep ties to the Quaker church. Quakers generally disapproved of the practice of slavery, and the Quakers' teachings on this subject no doubt had influence on Col. Lynch. Furthermore, the American Revolution's liberating spirit must have prompted Lynch to question the hypocrisy of a nation that advocated that "all men are created equal", but did not extend that regard to African-Americans. Judge Lynch furthermore must have remembered that his father was shown a great deal of kindness by the man to whom he was formerly an indentured servant. Bearing all of this in mind, Col. Lynch freed all but two of his remaining slaves in his will. The two in question were an elderly couple that he referred to as “Old Ned and his wife”, leading some historians to assume that Lynch felt that it would be cruel to turn these two senior people out into the world without the ability to work. Death of Judge Lynch Despite his reconciliation with his family and faith, the judge still managed to find himself involved in the occasional tense situation. An example of this occurred in 1789 when one William Henderson recommended himself for Sheriff. Lynch had held the position at one time and was said to be jealous of it. During the election season, a letter came across the desk of Virginia Governor Beverley Randolph that accused Henderson of being a drunkard and wholly unfit for the office of Sheriff. The letter was signed by John Ward, a neighbor of Lynch and tobacco merchant who had married Lynch’s widowed mother. When the governor replied to Ward asking for elaboration, Ward’s reply came that he did not write the letter and insinuated that his name had been forged by his son-in-law. Charles Lynch made profits from the sale of dark leaf tobacco, but did not derive a great deal of income from land speculations. By the end of his life, his landholding exceeded 10,000 acres. However, while he was land-rich, he did not possess much in the way of material wealth at the time of his death. An inventory of his estate reveals items such as "... five old axes, old broken furniture, etc." with an aggregate value of about £ 171. If he had any other worldly possessions in old age, there must have been a spectacular giveaway prior to his demise. No copy of his last will and testament survives, but it is known that his children divided his land shortly after he died. Charles Lynch was laid to rest in the family cemetery on the grounds of Avoca. His epitaph succinctly states that he was "an active and zealous Patriot of the Revolution".	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line299
__label__cc	0.709246	0.290754	Mindful Play, Joyful Life How teachers nurture themselves is how they can nurture their students. Research suggests that a teacher’s stress level is affecting students’ physiological stress regulation.(1) In order to be at our top game for each youth, let’s be mindful of how our well-being is affecting our student’s stress levels. In some ways, our passion for music is their passion for music, our joy during a lesson is their joy, and so our stress level can affect their stress level as well. There are only twenty-four hours in a day. Six to eight hours of that time should be spent in sleep. The brain and its creative juice depend on the type of sleep that we get.(2) Research also suggests that “Aha” moments are more likely to appear during rest periods.(3) So, for a teacher to be creative, sensitive and responsive to the immediate needs of a student, a teacher needs intentional breaks in order to bring “play” back into playing an instrument. The power of “play” in developmental psychology is a well-researched area in early childhood education,(4) but perhaps “play” can also be part of adults’ wellness programs. How can adults re-learn how to “play”? Through Mindful Play. Mindfulness is to pay attention to the present moment without judgment. Easier said than done. Not only is Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) now an internationally-known evidence-based method, covered under certain healthcare plans, there is research suggesting that mindfulness meditation can lead to activation of specific brain regions associated with regulatory systems such as attention and emotions.(5) How can we see Mindful Play in action? Observe children. When I teach four and five year olds, I am in awe of their fearlessness, their spontaneity, and their joyful curiosity. Anything and everything could become a game, a toy, or an object of interest. In other words, they really know how to play. Once, I used a hand puppet to talk to a four years old student. As soon as the puppet came out, the child exclaimed: “I can see your hand in there!” But then when the cute puppet clapped, cheered and begged to hear the song “three more times, one for each ear!”, the child played along, and in this role playing, the twinkle in his eyes says it all. In that particular moment in time, he believed it was real, he was totally focused, and he conversed back, responding that we only have two ears. He would not do repeats for me, but he would do them for that puppet! My student was navigating uncertainty with confidence, trust and joy. He knew the puppet was not real, he knew he was being manipulated to do more repeats, but the connection to that puppet was so real that he allowed himself to joyfully believe in it. Adults could practice this, bringing “play” back into our lives, intentionally reconnecting ourselves to simple things that bring us joy, and allowing the child that is in all of us to come out. To be mindful is to connect to what is “real.” This very minute is the moment that is most “real.” Let’s experiment. Look somewhere else than these lines while sitting in a comfortable upright posture, and take a few breaths. Did you notice whether the left nostril was inhaling more than the right one? If not, try breathing again! Did you notice whether the weight distribution between your left and right butt cheeks were equal? Or did you hear a sound you did not hear before? There are many things we do not notice during a day, and the simple act of focusing on a few breaths can bring a lot of joyful little breaks into our day. Having a chance to just be. A side effect of a few breaths is that most people feel grateful for the things they took for granted: the fact that there is no toothache that day, the realization that the ears can hear sounds and the eyes, see colors, the miracle of a heart still beating. For most of us, after a few breaths, thoughts will start to wander, into the past, or the future, planning, reviewing, analyzing... When that happens and we notice it, just gently bring the attention back to the next breath, without self-criticism. Mindful breathing is not about a perfect way to breath, it is about how we relate to the experience of breathing, the instinctive reaction we have to our wandering mind. For novice at meditation, thinking may happen a dozen times in a five-minute breathing session, and that is perfectly normal. Bringing awareness back to the breath again and again, without judgment, is part of the practice. Many teachers don’t have time to do half an hour of meditation daily, but a few breaths here and there can still be nurturing. A mother with young children has told me that before she gets out of her car to go inside her home after work, she sits there quietly for a few minutes, enjoying the peaceful cocoon of the car. She takes a few deep breaths, bringing attention to her body sensations, taking inventory of thoughts and emotions that had come and gone that day, and only then she steps out of her car, feeling refreshed. To supplement the longer but rare periods of meditation, I try to find spurts of time to regain energy while doing mundane tasks: waiting in line, driving, cooking, eating, or washing dishes. The quality of attention one can bring to fully live the present moment while doing boring but necessary tasks can transform these tasks into spurts of joy and appreciation that can lower stress level and give perspective to a chaotic life. Washing dishes at the meditation retreat center was pure unadulterated joy. Having nowhere to go, nothing really important to do, no other dishes to wash but my own, and washing with a totally focused mind on the task at hand, was surprisingly pleasurable! Standing there in the warm sunlight, hearing birds and the rustling of the leaves, feeling the fresh water caressing my hands, giggling at the sight of bubbles popping on the surface of the soapy water, feeling the urge of playing with the water like a toddler in a bathtub… Somehow, washing dishes was a heaven on earth! Once experienced, never forgotten. Students should be told that the first note produced on an instrument on any given day is a miracle, and that they should feel as if from deafness they can hear for the first time, then that first note will be produced with care. If they had practiced feeling little miracles in ordinary tasks, such as taking care of a single step (mindful walking), being aware whenever and wherever they sit (mindful sitting), or taking time to chew a single bite (mindful eating), it would be easier to treat that first note as a miracle To reignite the spark of a beginner in daily life (Mindfulness) is to remind ourselves to rediscover sound and to rediscover joy as if we were four years old, once again. Life is filled with uncertainties, except for death, and so if we re-learn how to trust, to re-frame the bumps we meet on the road, small little miracles will reveal themselves to us, and life will be a little more joyful. Oberle E., Schonert Reichl KA, Stress Contagion in the Classroom? The link between classroom teacher burnout and morning cortisone in elementary school children. Social Science Medicine, 2016 June; 159:30-7, Elsevier Ltd copyright. Ed Young, A New Theory Linking Sleep and Creativity, The Atlantic, May 2018. Ullrich Wagner et al., Jan 22, 2004, Sleep Inspires Insight, Nature International Journal of Science, 427, pp. 352-355 (2004). Rachel E. White, The Power of Play, A Research Summary on Play and Learning, Minnesota Children’s Museum, Fall 2012. Yi-Yuan Tang, Leslie D. Leve, A Translational Neuroscience Perspective on Mindfulness Meditation as a Prevention Strategy, Translational Behavioral Medicine, March 2016. DEEP PRACTICE and GROWTH MINDSET Read these two columns milk/juice br_ad / b_tt_r chair/table sh_e / so_k ocean/whale r_v_r / f_sh Now without looking, try to remember as many pairs of words as you can. From which column did you recall more words? Did you have more difficulty reading column B? If you are like most people, you will remember more from column B. Studies show you’ll remember three times as many. “Deep Practice” is a term Daniel Coyle used in his book, The Talent Code. “Deep Practice is built on a paradox: struggling in certain targeted ways - operating at the edge of your ability where you make mistakes- makes you more efficient.” 1 In the previous example, the mere fact of making an effort to read is enough to mark a larger imprint on our memory. “We think of effortless performance as desirable, but it’s really a terrible way to learn, said Robert Bjork,” 2 the chair of the psychology department at U.C.L.A. Students will learn best when they are forced to make an effort, when they allow themselves to make mistakes. This attitude is crucial for a learner‘s resilience. Learners’ tendencies to persist in the face of difficulty are strongly affected by whether they are “performance oriented” (fixed mindset) or “learning oriented” (growth mindset).3 When a mistake becomes an opportunity for learning and problem solving, students will strive to do better every time because they believe their learning capability can grow. Hence, how many retakes of an exam should a teacher give? Or after a teacher asks a question, how many seconds should he or she wait before giving out the answer? Cognitive science research seems to indicate that giving students the chance to make a mistake in a low stake situation is a more effective way to help them learn. They will remember much more as well as gain problem solving skills. They will also learn to overcome mistakes, learn about the way their memory works, and develop a growth mindset. Most music teachers would agree that after a certain minimum level of required practice, it is not the amount of time one spends in music practice that matters, it is the way one practices. Yet there is a limit for how much “deep practice” human beings can do in a day. Ericsson’s research shows that “most world-class experts-including pianists, chess players, novelists, and athletes- practice between three and five hours a day, no matter what skill they pursue.”4 This is probably because “deep practice” would have drained our brain power, and we would not be able to concentrate after three hours. If we were truly in “deep practice” we should also have the impression of continuing to rehearse the material we just learned while we rest. Students have told me that they dream about their music pieces after intense rehearsal sessions. Research suggests that when rehearsals are spaced out, the brain uses that rest period to consolidate that new information or skill and transfer it into long term memory.5 When studying alone, it is hard to push oneself out of our comfort zone to get into this “deep practice” zone. When we repeat or re-read without a clear goal, we tend to zone out and let automaticity take over. This happens to some of us when we drive and take a wrong turn because that is a turn we often took. Sometimes it takes an outside source, a teacher, a peer, or even an object, such as a random alarm, to help us realize that we were zoning out. David Kahneman, in his book, Thinking, Fast and Slow, cited an experiment which proved that the initial “effort” we make, even unconsciously, can make our mind jump to a higher level of engagement of the brain. In one experiment, the same test questions were either badly printed or well printed.6 This simple visual difference resulted in a wide variance in students’ scores. Students faced with the badly printed questions were better at answering tricky questions than the ones who had an easier time deciphering the exact same questions! Why? The initial effort made to read the badly printed words engaged their brains, and prepared them to think harder. Experiments in skill development find that humans tend to plateau after a certain point. One example of this is in speed typing. In the 1960s, psychologists Paul Fitts and Michael Posner described three stages anyone goes through in acquiring a new skill. The first stage called the “cognitive stage” is when one intellectualizes the task and finds strategies to accomplish things more efficiently. 7 The second stage, the “associative stage,” is when one is comfortable enough and spends much less energy concentrating and making fewer major errors. The third stage, called the “autonomous stage,” is when one plateaus and most skills learned are now running on automatic pilot. In fact, the latest research on neuron myelin building suggests that we are built to automatize skills as soon as we can. “The more we develop a skill circuit [in our neurons], the less we’re aware that we’re using it.”8 As soon as a particular skill is getting easier, another part of the brain, the cerebellum, is taking over this more or less automatized task, and we have more brain power to devote to other tasks. In fact, the latest research on neuron myelin building suggests that we humans are built to automatize skills as soon as we can. “The more we develop a skill circuit [in our neurons], the less we’re aware that we’re using it.”8 When one can be on automatic pilot Csikszentmihalyi calls it the feeling of effortlessness, flow, or “in the zone”. Flow theory is now a common word in positive psychology. But Deep Practice is to prevent us from getting to that automatic stage. It is more like a laser-sharp pointed mind, like sitting on the edge of a fence, where balance is crucial. In order to prevent this automaticity and remain in the “deep practice” zone, teachers will have to come up with many ways to engage their students at the right level, scaffolding on what they already know. Since Deep Practice is a way to develop more efficient learning, and it can be practiced, it follows that continuous Deep Practice will build a growth mindset. Students with fixed mindset will tend to take feedback very personally, they avoid failures and challenges because they want to perform well, so they stick to what they know. Students with a growth mindset will “go out on a limb because that’s where the fruit is”, 9 they embrace challenges, they are not afraid to make a mistake because they know these are opportunities to learn; they take constructive feedback as an assessment of their current state, and they believe they can learn to do better. In order to build self-efficacy and life long learners, teachers should encourage growth mindsets and give students opportunities to reflect on how they learn, to understand how mistakes occur, and guide them to find solutions. Coyle, Daniel, The Talent Code- Greatness Isn’t Born, It’s Grown, Here’s How, Bantam Dell-Random House, N.Y., 2009 (pp. 16). Ibid,(pp. 18). Dweck Carol S. (1989) Motivation. In A. Glesgold and R. Glaser (Eds), Foundations for a Psychology of Education 1989 (pp. 105-107). Ericsson, K. A. (2009). Discovering deliberate practice activities that overcome plateaus and limits on improvement of performance. In A. Willamon, S. Pretty, and R. Buck (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Symposium on Performance Science 2009 (pp. 11-21). Bjork, R. A., & Bjork, E. L. (2006). Optimizing treatment and instruction: Implications of a new theory of disuse. In L-G. Nilsson and N. Ohta (Eds.), Memory and society: Psychological perspectives (pp. 109-133). Psychology Press: Hove and New York. Kahneman, Daniel, Thinking, Fast and Slow, Farrar, Strauss & Giroux, N.Y., 2011 (pp. 46) Coyle, Daniel, The Talent Code- Greatness Isn’t Born, It’s Grown, Here’s How, Bantam Dell-Random House, N.Y., 2009 (pp. 169). It's all in the IDEA It’s all in the idea: Student self-perception and musical success In 1997, a group of children (seven or eight years old) was studied from the time they choose their instrument to their graduation in high school. The researcher wanted to know what factors predicted their musical success or failure. Was it a sense of rhythm? More aural sensitivity or motor control? Their family’s income level? or their IQ? None of these factors were predicting the musical skill level of a student. Instead, it was their answer to a question that was asked before they had even started their first lesson: “How long do you think you’ll play your new instrument?” Those who answered longer periods were labelled “long-term commitment” in the top graph.1 When predicting musical performance level, the children’s initial commitment and their self-perceptions seem to matter more than their amount of weekly practice. This fact can be seen in the study’s graph at the top. For students who practice a lot, those without much commitment or self-perception as a musician will ultimately end up with a lower level than those who committed from the beginning and could envisioned himself or herself as a potential musician.2 Perhaps a teacher needs to nurture this vision of an ideal future musician as much as teaching motor skills, aural skills and intellectual skills. How does a teacher nurture the visions or self-perceptions of these potential musicians? One way to ignite that fire within is to expose them to a role model. In the field of sports, films and business, the media exposes all of us to role models to inspire us to reach for the stars. Unfortunately in the musical field, those role models are not as readily available. Whenever possible, be a role model, play for your student. Encourage them to go to live concerts, master classes, or to listen to more advanced students. Another way to nurture the vision of a future musician is to teach them with love. In the 1980s Dr. Benjamin Bloom surveyed one hundred and twenty world class pianists, swimmers, mathematicians, neurologists, sculptors and tennis champions. The majority of these experts rated their first teachers as “average.” These virtuoso pianists stayed with their first teacher for five or six years. The majority of the descriptions they gave for their first piano teachers were about how kind, nice, likable and patient their first teachers were. “The effect of this first phase of learning seemed to be to get the learner involved, captivated, hooked, and to get the learner to need and want more information and expertise.”3 Another facet of this nurturing process involves guiding students positively through unsuccessful attempts. “Great teachers see and recognize the inarticulate stumbling, fumbling effort of the student who’s reaching toward mastery, and then connect them with a targeted message.”4 A fear of failure can make students avoid experimentation and risk taking. Yet failure is at the core of the scientific method: without failed experiments one can’t eliminate hypothesis in the search for truth. Likewise, in music, mistakes are necessary for self-discovery, skill mastery, and good performance under pressure. Some teachers never force a timid student to play in front of others. Yet all failures can be turned into opportunities for learning. If a student believes that errors are just part of the learning process, he or she will recover from a performance with mistakes. Some teachers believe that they should write out all fingering for students. These teachers may believe that if learners make errors, the errors will be reinforced. In music learning this is especially true because “muscle memory” makes changing fingering hard once fingering is learned. In order to avoid “wrong” muscle memory when tackling a technically more challenging piece, teachers should spend time letting students choose fingering and then immediately give feedback. For intermediate students, a teacher can explain the phrases requiring lifts, range of keys within a phrase, black keys versus white ones, or structure of hand and fingers. For more advanced students, a teacher can explain why certain fingering works best for their particular physical attribute and what works best for that particular piece. Other topics related to fingering choices include what sound quality one aims for, which tempo, dynamic or articulation one wants, whether the reflexes or weight of our wrist, forearm or whole arm should be considered, or whether the previous and following beats or measures should be considered. I had the grace to have met a teacher who exclaimed, every time I made an unexpected mistake: “Wonderful! You’ve just stumbled where you normally do not. Let’s figure out what happened so you will secure it for future performances. Now where was it exactly?” Finding the location was a puzzle to be solved, after which we figured out “together” what was in the previous beat or motion, and what type of sound I should aim for. I was lucky enough to be taught by a teacher who believed that everyone can learn music, and who let me stumble, even in public. I learned how to pick up the pieces and continue, during a performance as well as after one. When making a mistake becomes an opportunity for learning, a student will tend to persist.5 Research suggests that kids who are praised for their efforts will more likely take on more challenges than those who are praised for their innate talent, or their successful results. It is all in the idea of learning: an error is not a measure of ability, effort changes the brain,6 and anyone can become a musician. A child has the opportunity to believe that he or she can be a musician. Our job as teachers is to nurture that vision by providing a positive nurturing environment. 1. “Commitment and Practice: Key Ingredients for Achievement During the Early Stages of Learning a Musical Instrument,” Council for Research in Music Education 147 (2001), 122-27 2. “The Talent Code-Greatness Isn’t Born. It’s grown. Here’s How” Daniel Coyle, (New York: Bantam Dell, 2009), 104-105 3. “Developing Talent in Young People,” Benjamin Bloom, (New York: Ballantine, 1985) 173-76 4. “Rousing Minds to Life: Teaching, Learning, and Schooling in a Social Context,” Ron Gallimore, (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1988) 5. “Make It Stick- The Science of Successful Learning,” P. Brown, H.L. Roediger III, M. A. McDaniel, (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2014), 90-91 6. Ibid, 92 In the beginning was the word... “In the Beginning was the Word, and the word was what made the difference between form and formlessness” (Ali Smith) Once a word is spoken, its power is out of our hands. Once an idea is defined by a word, it is humanized, limited, as we are. Take the word God. Many centuries ago, one could not name or casually write Yod Hei Vav Hei (YHVH). Why name something that is beyond all names with one single word? How can one word represent all that humans can barely grasp? Sonata and Symphony are musical forms that restrained creativity. During two centuries they were extended and transformed by great composers who developed musical language, pushing boundaries. Nowadays those words are insufficient; composers invent their own forms to express ideas. Some still pay tribute to tradition, but outside of their social context, those words, Sonata and Symphony, have exhausted their potential meanings. Sometimes words seem to point to the same idea, but on a closer look, they imply more than their definitions in a dictionary. Take another common word, “happy.” In the current English speaking world, partly thanks to Bob Marley and Pharrell Williams, the word “happy” has come to exude more of its exciting aura, as in “being joyful, delighted or blissful” than reflecting its more subdued connotations, as in “being pleased, satisfied, or glad.” For the French, the word “heureux” has retained its contemplative flavor, more often associated with Content (contented), Bonheur (happiness), or Comblé (Filled). In Vietnamese, the word “Hạnh Phúc” consists of two words, both of Chinese origin. Hạnh means “beloved, lucky, or blessed.” It connotes something precious one receives from outside as in befalling luck. Phúc is a word that can be understood only through the beliefs and customs regarding karma and veneration of ancestors, both well established in Vietnamese and Chinese cultures. Phúc is the immaterial goodness one leaves behind for future generations. By extension, it is our ancestors’ heritage. “Hạnh Phúc” suggests a communal society for whom ancestry is valued. It is Confucius’ legacy. Perhaps the extroverted “happy” insinuates the value of an extrovert American society where assertiveness and self-confidence are valued over other virtues. Thus in learning a new language, a new word, one also learns its construct, its implication, and the culture it represents. What about learning the musical language? When teaching a beginner, should one limit the definition of “p” as “soft” and “f” as “loud”?, or “p” as “as loud as the lullaby a mother sings,” or “the natural sound from the weight of one’s bow or arm,” and “f” as “the amplified sound one projects when talking in a Roman amphitheater,” or “when our whole body participates,” or “when a warm breath is blowing evenly as the wind blows through a leafless tree?” As “p” is now used in books estranged from its original context of the Renaissance where dynamic markings were inconsistent, why should we assume that one definition is enough to communicate articulation, mood, sound texture, temperature, attack or decay? Moreover, many musicians have their own “p” sound for particular stylistic period and adapt this “p” not only to the composer, the particular work, but as well, to the acoustics of the performance space and the audience. In separating a sound into its components, as most introductory method books do, one loses qualities not so valued by a specialized society: imprecision, ambiguity, adaptability, hence, creativity. Dynamic, tempo, or pacing signs are elements that make music, and they are interrelated. It may be useful to break them down into components, but dangerous to teach each element as separate entity from all that makes music, for music is a much larger encompassing word. It is bigger than the sum of its parts. When learning a new song, should a beginner learn only the pitches first and then the rhythm? How often should a student repeat the whole song with focus on getting only the pitches correctly? Would it be better to incorporate rhythm and pitches, but only play one short phrase at a time? For the more advanced players who can read both rhythm and pitches, should correct fingering and technique to express the articulation or dynamic be the simultaneous goals of one short phrase, or should one just play through the page to get a sense of how it goes, and add dynamic and articulation later when the page is in tempo? When these words, tempo, articulation, dynamic, were invented, they were signs for a whole meaningful experience with sound. “In the Beginning was the word,” and the word became sound. That is how we should be initiated to music. Like a baby recognizing a mother’s voice after being introduced to air, so shall we be recognizing sound before seeing its representation, or hearing its definition. Transmission, oral and aural, written and hidden I have encountered beginner adults who have not learned how to read notes. Many learned through youtubes, websites, and some have only taken a one credit class in music theory, from the very basic staff to the major scale. Many have great ears. One of my students picked up "Girl with the flaxen hair" Debussy prelude by ear. When oral tradition was replaced by written ones, from orators to scribe, the written words themselves (in Greek) had no space. Written texts were used to remind ourselves what we already know. Learners already heard the speech many times and the written words were just a little help along the main thread, the core idea. Music notation started in the same way, from imprecise neumes to overly prescribed articulation, dynamic and pacing symbols. As men controlled more and more of his/her environment, the world specialized in all field, including music. Interpreters were separated from composers. We began to rely on our sight before hearing the sound. Charles Hicks in the 1980s published in the Music Educator's Journal "Sound before Sight, strategies for teaching music reading." The advice is logical, with emphasis on continuity, repetition, repeated patterns, narrow range, same key signature, generally a constructivist approach (always add one new element with something familiar). his recommendation was that the PRINCIPLES of notation rather than the SYSTEM of notation should be explored. In what ways can this translate into a lesson plan? Hidden in the writing of symbols are organized SOUND. If one can help a student first notice how sound perception can be organized and classified: in time (double the speed?), in pitch (higher or much higher?), in volume, in attack (choppy or smooth?) or lines (where are the sentences?) before one introduces them to the written notation, it would help contextualize the purpose of learning these new symbols. When we learned to speak we learned by imitation. Why should one learn written music before one learns what a regular beat is, and what one can do with that duration in time? With very young children I have many rhythm games, or solfege games, based on what I learned at Suzuki camps, or with pedagogue such as Michiko. For pitch changes, aside games that required physical big motion such as walking on a staff, or arm motions for steps or skips, I also devised a mnemonic system of drawings. I doodle these images on a blank page without staff. After a while it is a matter of drawing a symbol of the animal in question to the notes on the staff, and gradually erase those drawings after explanation of the motions on the staff. Chords were color coded, tense chords were red or orange (dominant or sub-dominant) and the "home" chord was green (tonic). Children can learn the broad brushstroke before the exact note, or even their names. About 16 years ago I met an adult at a community college who was a wonderful intermediate pianist in a chamber ensemble. She could not name any single note. She could not find the third beat of measure 33. She could, on the other hand, start anywhere if I point to the exact spot on the page. I thus learned not to give out anymore written games of naming notes without sound or keys to press. My very first questions to adult beginners are usually about their goals in taking piano lessons. Some would like to reproduce songs or pieces, some like to create, some, to accompany themselves singing, others say they have the treble clef down but would like to learn the bass clef, some "doodle" on the keys. My second question is usually about what kind of songs or pieces they listen to, in order to know what to use to motivate them, or ask them to show me what they "doodle". The third step is trying out how fast they can learn by imitation, and gage how much exercise to give for coordination and small motor control in warm ups. Adults can handle reading notes from the very first lesson, but many are stuck with the trees (naming of each note) and have difficulty seeing the forest (motion of notes or shapes of chords). Our music education system puts a lot of weight on the Oral, less on the Aural tradition; it is leaned toward the visual rather than the audio part of learning music. Folk or Art music around the world are, for the most part, still transmitted by oral tradition. Even when written down, they require close encounter with an instructor, because learning is through exposure, enculturation and imitation. In India, a novice just listens for a year before attempting to improvise lightly a scale (raga). Years can pass before he or she is allowed to imitate licks of the teacher. Here in the U.S., there are students technically proficient who barely go to one concert a year. With certain other instrument, such as trumpet, hearing the sound is extremely important as the same buttons may be pressed, but the way one blows determines the pitch. In order to know whether or not one has blown the right pitch, one has to hear it first. Why don't we learn piano the same way? Less like a typewriter, more like a musical instrument. How many of us teachers have encountered a student that played Ode to Joy with the dotted quarter note - eighth note instead of the written quarter notes? They are guided by what they hear on the inside. Most beginner piano books start with what they consider standard repertoire that everyone should know, such as Mary had a little lamb, Jingle bell and so forth. Please don't change the rhythm! This repertoire is also not updated nor culturally relevant. The Mexican Hat is not what Mexican Americans listened to, and most of us know "Oh When the Saints" (except new immigrants which I have taught) but some of us also know Amazing Grace, or the latest Lady Gaga, Birdy or Pentatonix. If the point is to teach something familiar, then we need an online continuously updated book for the younger generation. One where they can go in and choose songs they know, arranged for different levels, and print out song by song as they progress and taste changes. As for the different types of arrangements one can do for each song with a chord chart, this can be learned in workshops, webinars, or conferences. I hope more publishers will go back to our tradition of putting Sound before Sight. Interactive ear training videos The Iowa Music Teacher Association (imta) under the umbrella organization "Music Teacher National Association" (MTNA) hold auditions each year for pre-college students. As chair of the Theory committee I have made a dozen interactive videos (according to the guidelines of the state) as free supplementary materials for local teachers and their students. Under the videos tab you can find samples of those videos. Never too late to learn It is never too late to learn. Brain cells may die, but new pathways can always form. As our mind compartmentalize in order to make sense of the world, the brain is still the most flexible organ a human possess. Called Plasticity, it should give musicians and want-to-be musicians hope to be renewed. Dr. Charles Limb pictured above (Limb, 2008), of the JHU Medical School, has spent more than ten years studying the brain activity of musicians as they improvise. Using MRI machines, he has found that the region of the brain associated with decision-making and self-censoring (the prefrontal cortex) is slowed down when one improvises. Hence, when one improvises, inhibitions are lowered and cognitive blocks are reduced. As a classical musician, have you had thoughts during performance, hindering your full potential? What do you think, how do you feel, and what do you do when you make a “mistake” during a performance? How aware are you of your balance between “control” and “letting go” during a performance? When one improvises, there can be no mistake, just choices and consequences. Even in Classical music, there may be numerous options to shape one particular phrase, so options of sounds, articulation, pacing and so forth will be depending on the first few notes. To embrace a mistake is a difficult attitude for musicians to adopt, as the digital age convinced the world that there is such a thing as a perfect performance. The model of competitions where one sensitivity is pitched against another for judging, is the wrong model to produce true musicians who enjoy playing music without self-criticism turned on permanently. Perhaps improvising is one way to regain our freedom. The freedom to be expressive, the freedom to make "mistakes" and still make music. Try it if you haven't. Deep Practice I have had mixed feelings when I hear a student say "My brain is hurting" or "I am sweating, this is a real workout" after a half hour lesson. Educators know "Learning" is optimized when students are at the correct level of challenge, when the task they are asked to do is not too easy nor too hard. It is a fine line to walk for teachers. as we "chunk" steps, we may give tasks that may seem boring or steps that would need further "break down." On one hand I am glad to hear that my student was totally engaged and challenged, on the other hand, I have to gauge whether it was too much, predict whether they will feel overwhelmed or excited, and learn how this challenge may affect intrinsic reward and motivation. Here's an example of a challenge: sometimes, for a new piece, after helping a student hum it by playing along for him or her, help him or her decipher sequences, cadences, general structure and technically difficult bars, I ask the student to play slowly through a section (its length would depend on their level of sight-reading.) After a few repeats, I put a sticky note blocking out the view of a bar or two, then I ask them to play again. Most new students would react with a "What?! you're kidding me!!!" look. I then reassure them that this is just a game and that if they can't remember anything and don't want to play, I would take the sticky notes off. I explain that the game is for us to learn more about how their brain works, whether their brains are stronger in visual, audio or kinesthetic memory. Most students end up being pleasantly surprised at how much they remember. "I never knew I could memorize so fast" or "let's put more sticky notes on!" are some of the comments I receive after this game. If students stumble, I give them a cue, humming the top line, or delivering structural cues. When they actually find the next notes after the cues, they will most likely remember those ones forever. Those notes found after moments of frustrations will be retained in their long-term memory pathways, because the mind is peculiar, memory works best with emotions. Deep Practice is a way of practice, just as Zen is a way of life. One can apply it in many ways. Memory is just one aspect of Deep Practice. If you don't challenge yourself how would you know how much you know? If you don't practice with "all you've got" how would you know if the finger won't slip when you put all emotions in while on stage? Other aspects of Deep Practice will be discussed in my future blogs, they include "posture and body awareness," "emotional engagement," "spontaneity and creativity," and "self-monitoring." When one is so totally absorbed into what one is doing that the physical world around us disappears, that is a sign of Deep Practice. In a sense, it is similar to what Csikszentmihalyi calls "Flow." I always found it serendipitous that his name has the word "zen" in it. He defines it as having the characteristics of "effortlessness," whereas I define Deep Practice as a fully engaged brain, one that is so engrossed with the beauty of it all, that surroundings fade into the background. The state of Deep Practice, if cultivated, is the state of BEING FULLY IN THE PRESENT MOMENT, and that is the best state for performers, because without the past or the future, one can't help but to fall in love with the beauty of the sound one is creating. A teacher is always a learner. In some culture, there is no such word as "Music," for in that culture, music is always associated with a verb, a ritual or a bigger concept that is so intimately related to Music, it can't be separated from it. I think the word "Teaching" should be that way, with the word "Learning", for one cannot exist without the other. article_thinking_fast_and_slow.pdf	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line301
__label__wiki	0.556186	0.556186	Bradley Beats Marquez With Perfect Fight Pla Obama Urges More Workplace Flexibility: Paid Rough Ride: Baltimore Burning NFL's Perfect Storm USHER: One-On-One adminNovember 24,2005 They're not heavily anticipating a new album. However, it would be good in the marketplace to have an album. But to promote, to factor in the time it's going to take to introduce it, promote it, market it, actually find the records and work with the producers. It doesn't happen overnight. One, I have to live a little bit more. Let me come up with a few more songs and have a few more issues. This next album, I don't think it's going to be geared towards the same things you heard from Confessions, however, you will be able to find a good time. I plan on going on somewhat of a world tour. Not to perform, but just to kind of live a little and get out and have a little â€“ I went all around the world with this album, but I didn't really get a chance to live in it BSN: Why did you pick this film [In The Mix] to do? USHER: I wanted to be associated with something successful. First and foremost, I wanted to broaden my horizons as an entertainer, as an actor. As you've seen, I've done other acting roles, but this would be the first one where I took on a lead. I was excited about it, and when I heard Chazz [Palminteri] was associated with it, I was like, Wow! It's really coming together beautifully. And after meeting Emmanuelle and seeing the chemistry that we had, I knew that we would create a great relationship on camera. Y'know, this is the type of role â€“ I think more roles like this in Hollywood will give way for films like this. People kind of follow the trends. Unless you have one or more roles in that direction â€“ BSN: You mean, this will lead to more interracial romance films? USHER: Not specifically the interracial portion of it, but just the character. The character Darrell Williams and just not going after the stereotypical shoot 'em up bang bang â€“ that's the one thing that's going to sell for a Black actor or a Black actress. [I wanted] to go in a different direction. Something that's a little more positive. BSN: Can you explain how you became a household word? USHER: Because my mother thought I would be. [laughs] She believed it more than anybody else and has always continued to fight harder than I would imagine I would fight myself. I remember having conversations with her when she'd say, I want you to be a household name. She's after me all the time, you shouldn't do that. You shouldn't say this. You shouldn't look like that. I'm like, Okay, well, it's my personal preference. [She'd say] You don't do that if you want to be a household name. You go ahead and [sounds like] I'll turn back. Of course, there's God's grace in everything, but I say the one thing that was the key component in everything was the fact that she said it first. She started that. BSN: What was your favorite subject in school? USHER: My favorite subject was P.E. [Laughs] I was obviously very physical, y'know. To be honest with you, it was either P.E. or science â€“ physical science. It was still physical, though. BSN: How many cast and crew members daughters or sisters were you introduced to during the shooting of the movie? USHER: From the beginning to the end! I was constantly meeting and shaking hands and hugging and taking pictures and kissing babies and everything. That's what comes with it. It was a great cast, though. A great cast of individuals. The cast and grew were very courteous. They worked very, very hard. There was no ego involved on the set. I'll be honest with you. BSN: Did you ad lib that part where you tell Dolly you can't dance? USHER: I can't remember if we ad libbed that scene or not. I think it was â€“ anyway, I hope it was an ad lib. But no. I made a conscious effort to not dance in this film, because I didn't want you to notice me for what I do. I wanted it to be totally geared towards Usher â€“ I wanted Darrell Williams to be not Usher the artist. Usher the artist and Darrell Williams, they do have similarities. To have a character like this â€“ I think there should be more characters like this in Hollywood. Not specifically speaking the fact that it has a biracial undertone, but just more positive black roles. BSN: So will you be taking the foot off the music pedal for a while? The label has to be calling asking for Confessions II. USHER: Yeah. They're not heavily anticipating a new album. However, it would be good in the marketplace to have an album. But to promote, to factor in the time it's going to take to introduce it, promote it, market it, actually find the records and work with the producers. It doesn't happen overnight. One, I have to live a little bit more. Let me come up with a few more songs and have a few more issues. This next album, I don't think it's going to be geared towards the same things you heard from Confessions, however, you will be able to find a good time. I plan on going on somewhat of a world tour. Not to perform, but just to kind of live a little and get out and have a little â€“ I went all around the world with this album, but I didn't really get a chance to live in it. Sometimes when you're working you get engulfed, and you don't get a chance to enjoy all the beautiful things you can go [see]. BSN: Where do you want to go? USHER: The East side. I'd like to go to South America. I'd like to go back to Africa. I'd like to go to Japan, Korea. Kind of see what people are listening to, where they are with their music, study new dance, study new developments and introduce something new. Come back with something new â€“ not just reproduce the same thing you've seen. Every time I've gone away, I've always come back and reintroduce myself. BSN: What was the easiest or the most difficult part of bringing this character to life? USHER: Usher has so similarities with Darrel Williams. Just one, being a fly guy with all the ladies. It was pretty much a breeze. Once you see it on paper â€“ I mean, I could relate to what they were talking about, although I have no ties to an Italian-American family whatsoever, as an African-American, I do understand how you can make a family of your own. I've done that with your closest friends and people who are not even related to you, they ended up being like brothers. Have you've ever had like a friend where you're like, Oh, she's my sister. She's not really your blood sister, but sometimes a best friend is â€“ sometimes better than your real family. But in those areas we were similar. But I had definitely look into myself. Because this character lost his father and mother, and that has a lot of reason to do with why he dealt with doing things the way he did. He could have very much lashed out at anyone who came at him, especially with racial issues. But it was obviously something he had already dealt with in his past, because there was a connection between the Pacelli family and my family. So for me to lash out at Jackie's character, it wouldn't have been a trait of Darrell William's character. But he had abs, and I have abs. He likes music, I like music. But I can dance, he can't. BSN: So there wasn't much need to do the whole Raging Bull thing. USHER: Not quite Raging Bull. I mean, it made it very easy. Cameras can really, really do you justice. I would never ever try and go and rock a party as a DJ. Or as an MC and a DJ. But I'd love to do roles like that in the future, man, where I'm able to step far, far out of my character. However, I was very mindful of the demographic of people and fans that I have, of all race, colors and creeds. There's so much to consider. I wanted to do a role that I felt like kids as far as the age of six year old, all the way up to kids of 70 years old. Yeah, there are 70 year old kids! All of them will be able to enjoy something like this. BSN: When was the last time you used your charm to get something you wanted? USHER: Right now! [Laughs] Aw, man. That's all too familiar to me. I'm always in a situation where you have to adjust to the circumstance. It was really cool â€“ the real funny thing about that [luncheon] scene is that some women want to know, Well, why do guys go to strip clubs? Because that was a ladies issue in the movie, especially with Busta who every waking moment, he went to the strip club for him. But I think women wanted to know. I think they're intrigued by, Why do guys go to strip clubs? What's it all about? You get that. [sounds like:] And why do women buy so much? For guys, you understand that. BSN: Give us a confession. What was one of your most embarrassing moments? USHER: Whoa. No comment! One of my most embarrassing moments onstage? I fell â€“ in front of 25,000 people. In Philly. BSN: What did you do? USHER: Got up and kept going. I laughed it off, and they laughed with me. It actually made the show better. It actually loosened everyone up. After that happened, it was like, c'mon, I'm not perfect. I fall like everybody else. But come on, let's keep it going. But I bust my behind onstage! But I don't know â€“ something about me? If you consider hitting somebody upside the head with ten cakes. I mean, it's like a tradition that we do every birthday. We take like 50 cakes and cake that person. BSN: When was the last time that you did that? USHER: The last caking was my brother's birthday. He's 21 now. BSN: You hit him with 21 cakes? USHER: No, we hit him with 50 cakes. They got me good. They got me here at Madison Square Garden, and I was on tour. So that means we just have extra people who just want to chime in and get you. But we totally destroyed Madison Square Garden. There was cake all over the hallways. It was crazy. BSN: Are you from Atlanta? USHER: Well, my mother and brother now live in Atlanta, Georgia. The rest of my family live in Chattanooga, Tennessee. BSN: What's your mother's biggest asset as a manager? USHER: Well, my mother's been put to the test a million and one times â€“ outside of being my mother, because some parents really don't have their children's best interests. But I feel like my mother does, and above all, she's not going to compromise is or what her ultimate vision is and her ultimate vision is for Usher to be a household name. So I think that's one of the greatest assets to have. It even helps us â€¦ in that sometimes I can be a little ridiculous. BSN: Having so much fun, do you ever see a day when you'll settle down and have kids? USHER: Well, right now, I'm preparing for the next 30 years. Once I â€¦ bail out of business, I'd like to have kids. I'm not going to wait another 20 years to have kids. I'm not in a rush right now. I'm 27 years old, y'know? BSN: Who are your favorite role models? USHER: In business, I look up to people like Magic Johnson and people like Michael Jordan. Role models like Danny Glover, Bill Cosby, as a young kid, just watching all these characters and knowing how they gave so much back. They kind of took me in that direction. As an entertainer, I would pay attention to artists like Michael Jackson, artists like Prince, who's very creative but still has an integrity for what he believes in as an entertainer. But those are the big ones, yeah. BSN: This has been a year without any music from you. What's been the favorite album or song of this year? USHER: I'm a classic artist, so I'm a classic listener. I love to listen to old school albums. No matter how many albums come out, I always make my way back to What's Going On by Marvin Gaye. Although I listen to new up and coming records. Like believe it or not, I think Young Jeezy has a hot album. Let me see, there's this guy Robin Thicke with an album that hasn't been released yet, but I think he's a great attribute to entertainment and music. Just to name two. But I always take it back to the classics. Even in helping my artists in moving forward. You've got to listen to where music came from in order to get it back on track and where it's headed. BSN: What about a favorite movie? USHER: Favorite I've seen this year is The Wedding Crashers. Believe it or not, The Notebook. BSN: Can you put some kind of cap on the rumors about Usher and the ladies? Is that true? USHER: Yeah! [laughs] Well, wouldn't you be at 27-years old. BSN: What's on your wish list? It seems like you have about everything. USHER: Mm-hmm. There's no much more. There are so many other things that I've never done that I'd like to do. I wish to some day to play in a stadium full of people who know all the words to my songs. I hope to some day â€“ one of the main ones would be, as an actor, to someday win an Oscar. BSN: Did you go to the prom? USHER: Yes, I did. BSN: What did you wear? USHER: I wore all white. The funny thing about it is â€“ everybody's got a funny prom experience or story. So I put my entire outfit together at the last minute, we had shipping problems to get it to me. It wasn't my prom. It was actually my girlfriend's senior prom at the time. But I had my suit and everything. I got my shoes. I got the limo. So we're in the hotel, I got the [inaudible]. The suit was all set out. I got the shirt, my tie, my hat and my cane. I got it going on! I didn't have any socks! [laughs] So I went to the prom barefoot! Barefoot! And I remember running around the entire day trying to find white shoes, because you can't wear black shoes with the entire white outfit. So I found these expensive â€“ it wasn't alligator, but like a lizard shoes. They looked nice, though. They looked cheeky. But I didn't get any socks. So all night I'm scared to sit down, because I don't want to show that I don't have any socks. BSN: What was the first movie that you saw that made a big impression on you? USHER: My grandmother used to make me watch horror films. She was a horror film buff. We would sit up for hours at night on the weekend and look at horror films. Horror film after horror film after horror film. We're talking The Omen, we're talking about The Exorcist. The Exorcist was the one that changed my view. She let us watch it, yeah. Did it scare the hell out of me? Yes, it did. And Carrie â€“ we watched Carrie. As a kid, I loved it! I still love horror films. They just don't make them scary enough these days. To subscribe to or advertise in The Black Star News, the worldâ€™s favorite Pan-African news weekly, please call (212) 481-7745. Contact us via comments@blackstarnews.com if you have any questions or news tips. White Cops, Black Victims Nonprofit mission creep: good or bad? Africa Celebrates Marley Michael Jackson Gave $300 Million To Charities Profile: Fox 5's Mike Woods Black America's Gay Problem Chavez And Republicans: The Mother Of All Hypocrites NATO's Attack On Libya Is an Attack On Africa Fear And Retribution: Palinâ€™s Pattern Of Governance Interview: Arundhati Roy Black Men Aren't the White	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line302
__label__wiki	0.632325	0.632325	H. C. Teitler, The Last Pagan Emperor: Julian the Apostate and the War against Christianity. New York: Oxford University Press, 2017. Pp. xxxiii, 271. ISBN 9780190626501. $29.95. Reviewed by Marco Alviz Fernández, UNED, Madrid (malviz@bec.uned.es) As the author clearly claims in the Preface, this book does not aim at being a biography of Julian the Apostate. And he warns, "there are several important aspects of Julian's rule that I shall either not address at all or touch only in passing" (x). It focuses instead on the relationship of the emperor with the Christians; that is to say, Teitler challenges long-held assumptions and opts for a thematic treatment of the matter. He looks into the reliability of the Christian authors who claimed that there was a bloody persecution under his rule. More poetically, he tries to measure the accuracy of the assertion of Bishop Athanasius of Alexandria that Julian was a "small cloud that would soon pass over" (4). The study, the result of decades of research in the field of Late Antique Literature and History, is structured in eighteen short but captivating chapters and provides in each an insight into the development of this indelible historical figure. The book is written in an easy-to-read prose that will please students and scholars alike, whether familiar or not with the characters and texts treated. Almost fifty pages of notes, sixty-six of bibliography, and a useful index close the book. Chapters 1 to 4 approach the context of Julian's apostasy, which was the unexpected turning point of his religious thought. In spite of the ambivalence of Constantine the Great, Christianity had finally reached the imperial court; however, Julian gave up Christianity secretly as soon as 351, but he did not make public his paganism until the death of his kinsman and rival Constantius II in November of 361. And yet, as Teitler states, especially striking is the fact that once Julian became sole emperor he tried to found a pagan church with special concern for the sick and the poor. Nevertheless, the author argues, it seems that it was his permissive attitude against pagan violence that brought about more negative reactions from Christians. It is exceedingly remarkable how Julian already realized that "it was through poor relief and charity that the 'Galilaeans' had won many adherents" (29), precisely a theme to which Peter Brown has dedicated a recent trilogy. 1 And, as Julian would be aware of, it was a bishop's task to express concern about charitable works as, in Rapp's words, "a patron of the poor and needy," a philanthropy that was also assumed by him. 2 Teitler devotes several chapters to the most significant topics of his religious policy, i.e., the reopening and restoring of the pagan temples (ch.6), the relegalization of the sacrifices (ch.7), the School Edict (ch.8), or the alleged iconoclasm of Julian (ch.10). As concerns pagan temples, inscriptions are the main source for revealing Julian as templorum restaurator or restitutor sacrorum. In Chapter 7, Teitler proves that Julian did not impose sacrifices by force, although it is also true, he adds, that the law issued by Constantius II in 356 that established capital punishment to those who sacrifice or worship images was only a deterrent. Regarding the question of the labella and the compulsory sacrifices imposed by Decius, Teitler firmly stresses that "anyone who refused was killed" (56). Surprisingly, the author follows the Christian tradition. However, according to the latest studies, death penalties were "relatively rare," so it can be assessed that "the persecution of Decius (…) was less lurid than many modern accounts (and later Acta) might lead us to believe."3 Thirdly, a Christian misinterpretation by which the School Edict of Julian was understood as a form of persecution is highlighted here by the author; it was only, he maintains, a prohibition for Christian teachers in the field of classics. In the remaining chapters Teitler deals with an issue that undoubtedly shapes his book. He revives two concepts originally coined by two French scholars of the beginnings of the 20th century that go hand in hand: "passions épiques" and "Julianisation." The first was defined by the Bolandist Hippolyte Delehaye (1859-1941) and is exemplified in the book by more than a dozen case studies, they are basically "tales of suffering that are largely fictitious" (42); the second, by the historian of religions Albert Dufourcq (1872-1952), is, in Teitler's words, "the tendency [of Christians authors] to ascribe to Julian all sorts of crimes and to describe him as a harsh and cruel persecutor of the Christians" (138). Chapter 5 handles the curious story of Artemius, an Arian dux Aegypti who paradoxically became an orthodox martyr. Another "witness" was the priest Basil of Ancyra, whose passio was, as Teitler makes clear, rather fictitious (ch.9). Some Christian authors tell how the comes Orientis Julianus —Julian's uncle— was punished by God for urinating against the main altar of the Great Church of Antioch (ch.11). Chapter 12 deals with the indifference of pagans from Caesarea towards the advance of Christianity within the city and the resilience of those from Gaza. Concerning the unpleasant stay of Julian in Antioch, despite his bad experience there he did not seem to have ordered the execution of the priests Eugenius and Macarius (ch.13). As Chapter 14 states, it is also of dubious historicity the martyrdom of two standard-bearers who allegedly refused to remove the sign of Christ from their labarum. A sharp example of the use of sermons as a weapon against the pagan emperor is that of John Chrysostom, as Teitler conclusively demonstrates in chapter 15. The last instance of "passion épique" is that devoted to Elophius in chapter 17, a story of a cephalophorus martyr from as late as eleventh century. As the book unambiguously expounds, not only are these martyrologies of uncertain historicity or have numerous chronological irregularities, but also they are manipulated and exaggerated to the point that they even locate the emperor executing people in places where he never set foot, for instance Rome (ch.16). Thus, it could be inferred that these "'many thousands of Christians' [who] lost their lives as a result of Julian's persecutions" (130) were only a natural way of blackening his reputation by means of unfounded accusations, neither of which, as Teitler attests, can be charged to the pagan emperor due to insufficient evidence. For a better understanding of the image of Julian the Apostate, as the book concludes with a chapter entitled "Praise and Blame" (ch.18), the historian must take into serious account the utter lack of rigor of the Christian "passions épiques." For even though there were riots in some cities between pagans and Christians, no evidence can be found for persecution. As Teitler lastly asserts, "the emperor strictly rejected violence" (141), he was definitely closer to tolerance rather than to fanaticism, and that is the reason why "not a single person was executed because of his faith by Julian himself" (121-2). In summary, the book is a major contribution to the late antique debate of the conflict between paganism and Christianity as it engages in topics which until not so long ago were nearly undeniable. 1. Poverty and Leadership in the Later Roman Empire, (University Press of New England, Hanover, 2002); Through the Eye of a Needle: Wealth, the Fall of Rome, and the Making of Christianity in the West, 350-550 AD, (Princeton University Press, Princeton, 2012), reviewed at BMCR 2013.02.35; Treasure in Heaven. The Holy Poor in Early Christianity, (University of Virginia Press, Charlottesville; London, 2016). 2. Rapp, C.: Holy Bishops in Late Antiquity. The Nature of Christian Leadership in an Age of Transition, (Berkeley; Los Angeles; London: University of California Press, 2005): 223, 226, reviewed at BMCR 2006.01.38). 3. Graeme, C.: «Christianity in the First Three Centuries. Third-century Christianity», in A. K. Bowman; P. Garnsey and A. Cameron (eds.): The Cambridge Ancient History, Vol. 12, The Crisis of an Empire, A.D. 193 – 337, (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2005): 625-6.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line305
__label__cc	0.5565	0.4435	Book Review: The Blasphemer The Blasphemer: A Novel by Nigel Farndale (New York: Crown Publishers, 2010. 384 pp) Best known for his interviews in the Sunday Telegraph, Nigel Farndale is a British author and journalist. Farndale went to Barnard Castle School before receiving a master’s degree in philosophy from Durham University. On top of his work for the Sunday Telegraph, Farndale contributes articles to theSunday Times, Country Life, and Spectator. Of his five published books, Haw-Haw: The Tragedy of William and Margaret Joyce was shortlisted for both the 2005 Whitbread Prize and James Tait Black Memorial Prize. Additionally, The Blasphemer was shortlisted for the 2010 Costa Novel Award. Farndale lives between Hampshire and Sussex with his wife and three sons. The Lifeboat The lifeboat example, a classical Philosophy 101 illustration, depicts a scenario in which you reside safely in a lifeboat surrounded by a sea of drowning passengers. While the hope of you – the lone lifeboat resident – is to save as many as possible, only one more person can safely board. Amongst the drowning treads your spouse, a brilliant physicist, and a poor child. Who should you save? Daniel Kennedy – a zoologist, Dawkinsian atheist, and protagonist of The Blasphemer – would first choose to save himself. As a downed seaplane off the Galapagos Islands fills with water, he swims past his struggling, common-law wife, Nancy, in order to reach the surface. Although Daniel fills his lungs with air in order to swim back down to the sinking wreckage in order to save Nancy, the psychological damage is done. Later, while Daniel attempts to swim approximately 14 miles to the Galapagos Islands hoping to find help for his fellow survivors, he is compelled forward by a vision of a man, an apparition, or more logically a hallucination. Fight, Flight, and Faith Farndale’s book discusses weighty subjects. Following Daniel’s great-grandfather, Andrew Kennedy, through the First Great War and detailing Daniel’s detective-natured father, Philip, the Blasphemer narrates three familial generations through war, terrorism, and foundational belief. In between the tensions of modern science and ancient religious tradition, Farndale crafts his characters: “Perhaps you are right. Perhaps that is why God makes angels, immaterial beings whose identity resides in the world of thought. The unseen world. The abstract world. They are creatures that can’t be explained away by scientists.” “Thought you sad men make angels.” “No. I said that Darwin said that men make angels.” “So you do believe in them?” “They have been described as the most beautiful conceit in mortal wit, and I would go along with that” (177). Although the tome begins slowly, the story compellingly unfolds into a page turner. Farndale’s characters provide depth in the storyline and the motifs from each era unite nicely. Foundational Faith Ultimately, the Blasphemer is a cinematic story surrounding belief. While some create a dichotomy between faith and reason, Farndale suggests that faith is a necessary aspect of reason. When placed in stressful and life-threatening situations, humans react in different ways. Some safe themselves, some save the most talented, and other are self-sacrificial. In all of these instances, actions exist on a foundation of faith. As one of the better books read last year, I recommend this book. 03 January 2011 / by lemurfarmer in Book Review, Donovan Richards, Faith, Historical Fiction, Nigel Farndale, The Blasphemer, World War I Book Review: Easter Island Book Review: Room	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line309
__label__wiki	0.66729	0.66729	Book Review: The Quiet American The Quiet American by Graham Greene (New York: The Penguin Group, 2012. 208pp) Graham Greene (1904–1991) worked as a journalist and critic, and was later employed by the foreign office. His many books include The Third Man, The Comedians and Travels with My Aunt . He is the subject of an acclaimed three-volume biography by Norman Sherry. Graham Greene’s The Quiet American was originally published in 1956, and was twice adapted into a film (one which starred Sir Michael Cain, the one I love). In a moment of confession, I read the book in college, quickly became bored with it, and then watched the film instead in order to get some assignments finished. But a few weeks back, I ran into an old student of mine who was reading the book for college, and decided to give the novel another chance. I’m certainly glad I did. The Third Force The “quiet American” of note is named Pyle, who goes to Saigon in the early fifties (when the book was originally written) as part of a medical assistance program. The reader, however, begins to notice that Pyle is actually an operative covertly arming a Vietnamese group in order to steer the war in favor of American interests. Pyle is a believer in the theories of York Harding, a foreign policy theorist who believes that the problems in Indochina can be solved by a “third force”. This third force is America. The narrator, Fowler (the french pronounce it fowl-air) is a cynical British correspondent, who thinks of Pyle highly: an honest, sincere man, who believes in the righteousness of his cause thoroughly. To a fault. “I never knew a man who had better motives for all the trouble he caused” (22). Morality or Innocence Pyle, however, falls in love with Phoung, the mistress of none other than the narrator, Fowler. He promises her a world of consistency and marriage, and despite that fact, Fowler and Pyle remain close friends. Their friendship is strained, to be certain, but not by their desire for the same woman. Their friendship has trouble because of Pyle’s surreptitious activities. A bomb in downtown Saigon kills several people, and Fowler traces the bomb back to none other than Pyle. Oddly, Fowler never questions Pyle’s intentions behind the bomb, but begins to worry about his friend. Pyle is somehow unable to admit consequences. He retains integrity, but somehow loses his morality. Pyle is an innocent man, but only because he is the quintessential naïve American. “I stopped our trishaw outside the Chalet and said to Phuong, ‘Go in and find a table. I had better look after Pyle.’ That was my first instinct—to protect him. It never occurred to me that there was greater need to protect myself. Innocence always calls mutely for protection when we would be so much wiser to guard ourselves against it: innocence is like a dumb leper who has lost its bell, wandering the world, meaning no harm” (29). A Representation For Graham Greene, I think that Pyle isn’t just a quiet American, but a representation of America itself. Juxtaposed against Fowler, this fact can be quickly seen. Fowler is an older, cynical man; his country has had its colonial period, and already got its fingers in other people’s business. Pyle is new to the game; his country is new and needs to figure things out for itself. His country, in Greene’s worldview, is the brash young man who is determined that he’s always right and going to save the world. Greene’s assessment of the American character in The Quiet American is accurate for the time, to be certain. America has been, and sometimes continues to be, the most well-intentioned country out there. However, Greene, in his distaste for America, makes the reader wonder whether the American character of Pyle is limited to a specific time in place. Given America’s current posturing on the world stage, it makes me wonder how far America has come. Is America still the young, innocent, well-intentioned twenty-something person? Is America now embittered and cynical like Fowler? Or, is America somewhere in between? Only time will tell. In the meantime, I sincerely recommend you try The Quiet American for the first time, or revisit it like I decided to do. Affiliate Links: Amazon.com Shop Indie Bookstores Powell’s Books 15 December 2012 / by Andrew Jacobson in Andrew Jacobson, Book Review, Uncategorized Tags: Andrew Jacobson, Foreign Policy, Graham Greene, Innocence, Morality, The Quiet American Film Review: Lincoln Television Show Review: Homeland: Season 1	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line310
__label__cc	0.520268	0.479732	Task Force Thunder, Afghan Air Force partner to train crew chiefs Written by Spc. Jennifer Andersson 159th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan – Soldiers with Task Force Thunder, (159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division), offered the first of a series of classes to train the Kandahar Air Wing of the Afghan Air Force here May 9th as part of the ongoing partnership between the two. The Aircrew Coordination Training-Enhanced initial qualifications were designed to increase the effectiveness of the aircrews and facilitate better crew coordination. “The goal is to train up the Afghan Air Wing to be non-rated crew members … to the effect they’ll be able to crew the aircraft and perform all crew coordination actions along with their pilots the way we do with ours,” said Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Bruce of Norco, CA, the enlisted standardization instructor for TF Thunder. «Read the rest of this article» PBS’s 2011 National Memorial Day Concert: Featuring a Special Commemoration of 9/11 Live From the U.S. Capitol Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna Co-Host A Night of Remembrance with General Colin Powell, Pia Toscano, Forest Whitaker, Kris Allen, Dianne Wiest, B.B. King, Jason Ritter, A.J. Cook, Hayley Westenra, Daniel Rodriguez, Yolanda Adams and the National Symphony Orchestra Washington, D.C. – Nearly 10 years after the events of 9/11 and the terrorist attacks orchestrated by Osama bin Laden, our nation is experiencing a renewed sense of national unity. The 2011 National Memorial Day Concert will open with a special segment remembering those who lost their lives that day, and their loved ones, and commemorating the heroism of the firefighters and police officers who first responded. CPSC Warns Memorial Day Weekend Among the Deadliest Holidays for ATV Riders Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns all-terrain vehicle (ATV) riders to take steps to stay safe this holiday weekend. CPSC staff is aware of 28 fatalities that occurred during the four-day Memorial Day holiday weekend in 2010. That is an average of seven deaths a day. Five victims were under the age of 16. History has shown that as temperatures go up, and spring turns to summer, the reported number of ATV-related incidents and deaths also increases. ATVs are not toys! They are powerful and potentially dangerous vehicles. Before you hit the trails, know your ATV, take a hands on safety training course and follow the guidelines from the Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association. Liberty Park Boat Ramps Open to the Public Clarksville, TN – The Clarksville Parks & Recreation Department opened a portion of Liberty just in time for the Memorial Day Weekend. The brand new, four-lane boat ramp and two boat docks is open through Monday, May 30th, from 7:00am to 8:00pm, as well on Saturday’s and Sunday’s going forward. There are approximately 40 parking spots will be available for vehicles and boat trailers. Patrons will not be allowed to park on the surrounding grass areas. Clarksville Police officers will be on site to assist with traffic control, parking and boating safety. Brian Nelson was the first person to use the Liberty Park Boat Ramps after it opened to the public on Saturday Sections: Arts and Leisure \| 0 comments The other half of the picture Written by Sgt. 1st Class Pete Mayes 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan – Staff Sgt. Blake Adams and Sgt. Dennis Stanley’s background in law enforcement is proving vital to their mission to help combat corruption here in Afghanistan’s trucking industry. The two are members of the 101st Sustainment Brigade’s Anti-Corruption interview teams which are working with the various Host Nation truckers to learn about the potential hazards they face on the roads in and around Regional Command’s East, North and Capitol. Sgt. Dennis Stanley and Staff Sgt. Blake Adams, both of the 101st Sustainment Brigade anti-corruption interview team, talks with a local trucker about the conditions on the road. The team was created to focus on corruption issues host nation truckers face on the road. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Peter Mayes) Six 101st Airborne Division Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan EDITORS NOTE: This Tragic Event occurred in 2011 and IS NOT a Current Event. (Runkle, Mills, Osman, Ramosvelazquez, Bohall, Patton) Fort Campbell, KY – The Department of Defense announced today the death of six Soldiers who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. They died May 26th, 2011 of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked their unit with an improvised explosive device in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. They were assigned to Fox Company, (Pathfinder), 4th Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY. (Left to Right) John Runkle, Jr., Edward Mills, Ergin Osman, Louis Ramosvelazquez, Thomas Bohall, and Adam Patton. All with the 159th Combat Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY. Gamel Homers Twice, Sounds Down ‘Hawks 8-3 Nashville, TN – First baseman Mat Gamel belted a pair of home runs to power the Nashville Sounds to an 8-3 victory over the Oklahoma City RedHawks in front of 8,411 fans on Saturday evening at Greer Stadium. Nashville (20-28) recorded its third win in a row overall and its seventh victory in the club’s last nine home contests. Gamel posted the Sounds’ fourth two-homer effort of the year and drove in four runs on the night to continue his recent hot hitting. The infielder has hit safely in 15 of his last 22 games at a .378 clip (31-for-82). Nashville Sounds wore special pink-colored jerseys in support of breast cancer awareness. Sections: Sports \| 0 comments Govs win 2011 OVC Baseball Championship APSU Men’s Baseball Jackson, TN – Austin Peay’s baseball team claimed the 2011 OVC Baseball Championship with a 7-3 victory against Jacksonville State, Saturday afternoon, at Pringles Park. Man Charged with Leaving the Scene in Conjunction with the Death Investigation Clarksville, TN – As a result of assistance from the media, Stewart County Sheriffs Office, and U.S Forestry Service, a man has been charged with Leaving The Scene in conjunction with the death investigation. On May 28th, around 2:30am, Michael Lee Bell entered the Stewart County Sheriffs Office and indicated that he may have been involved in the hit and run with the female on Dover Road. Sections: News \| 1 Comment » Tennesseans join Millions Worldwide in Celebrating World No Tobacco Day Contact the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine for Free Assistance to Stop Tobacco Use Nashville, TN – The Tennessee Department of Health encourages Tennesseans who use tobacco to take part in World No Tobacco Day, May 31st, by contacting the QuitLine to start their journey to a tobacco-free life. The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine, 1-800-QUIT-NOW, provides free personalized, confidential counseling to help each caller set a plan for quitting use of cigarettes or other tobacco products. The same help to stop tobacco use is also now available to state residents online at www.tnquitline.com. «Read the rest of this article» Page 5 of 51«« Previous...34567...Next »»	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line314
__label__wiki	0.895065	0.895065	ALP urges Fair Work Commission to give “substantial” minimum wage increase Thursday, 14 March 2019 19:03 Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Press Releases - The Conversation The Labor opposition has called for a “substantial” increase in the minimum wage, in a submission lodged with the Fair Work Commission’s annual wage review. But the ALP has not put a figure on the amount it believes would be appropriate. With Bill Shorten making wages one of the centrepieces of his election pitch, the submission flags that an ALP government would rewrite the guidelines used by the commission in its wage setting. “The Opposition accepts that the panel is constrained by the current legislative provisions, but no longer has confidence that these provisions have the capacity to deliver the wages growth that the lowest paid workers, and our economy, require,” the submission says. The national minimum wage at present is $18.93 an hour, which is $719.20 for a 38-hour working week. The ACTU wants rises brought in over two years amounting to an increase of 11.5%, that would take the minimum wage to nearly $42,000 a year. It proposes a “living wage” of 60% of the median wage. Under its proposal to the commission the minimum hourly rate would rise this year to $20.07, with the subsequent increase taking it to $21.17. Labor has not yet released its full wages policy but while Shorten has spoken of a living wage, the opposition is not embracing the ACTU position, preferring to leave the onus on the FWC, under changed guidelines that would see the minimum wage boosted. Read more: Explainer: what exactly is a living wage? In its submission, the opposition says too many people are not getting a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. It points to years of wage stagnation, the collapse of bargaining, insecure work and exploitation, and a minimum wage that traps people in poverty. “A fair wage system is fundamental to a stronger economy too,” the submission says. “Because the incomes of working people are what drives confidence, demand and growth. "The people most affected by this tribunal’s decision spend every single dollar they earn. It’s their wages and their purchasing power that helps keep small businesses afloat”. Labor says the FWC should recognise in its decision a number of factors, including that “everything is going up except for wages”. It points out that “since 2013 productivity has grown four times faster than wages” and “since 2016 company profits have grown five times faster than wages”. The opposition argues that experience overseas shows significant increases in the minimum wage can be made without costing jobs, and says persistent low wages growth is a “threat to consumer demand and the broader economy”. The submission says that in the last five years the minimum wage averaged 54.3% of median wages. Shorten on Thursday said that apart from having a higher minimum wage, other initiative by a Labor government to improve wages would include restoring penalty rates, pressing for pay equity in feminised industries, and protecting labour hire workers and sub-contractors. Scott Morrison said Shorten was either lying to people in saying he could do something about their wages - because he hadn’t explained how - or “if he’s telling the truth, then he is putting an enormous cost on small and family businesses that will force them to lay off staff. That is not good for the Australian economy.” Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Authors: Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Read more http://theconversation.com/alp-urges-fair-work-commission-to-give-substantial-minimum-wage-increase-113595	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line318
__label__wiki	0.930209	0.930209	LEIGH BRACKETT:: John Wayne Meets "The Queen of Space Opera" LEIGH BRACKETT may not be a recognizable name to most of my readers, but if you're into Howard Hawks, John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart or George Lucas. You probably have seen some of her screenplays. If you're into Science Fiction stories and haven't read any of hers. Then you are missing Classic Science Fiction. To be honest I first discovered Leigh Brackett while researching Howard Hawks and the movie "Rio Bravo". Although there is minimal biographical information on her in my article. This article tells her whole story. You can read about Hawks, "Rio Bravo" and its two sequels at: http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/10/howard-hawks-rio-bravo-remade-as-el.html Her full name was Leigh Douglas Brackett. It was that male sounding name that caused Howard Hawks to tell his secretary to call: That Guy Brackett While looking for a third screenwriter on a Raymond Chandler story he was planning to film. Leigh Brackett was born on December 7, 1915 in Los Angeles, but after the influenza epidemic of 1918 in which her father died. She was raised, by the Pacific Ocean, in Santa Monica at her mother's father's home. At that time Santa Monica was a very small beach community. The above Santa Monica Street went to the ocean when Leigh was growing up. For those of my reader familiar with the city today. Nevada Avenue became Wilshire Boulevard. By the time "Tomboy" Leigh Brackett was 9 years old. The previously fire burned "Lick Pier" had reopened with its game stalls, the Diving Bell which took passengers down to see fish. It was actually an aquarium, but most of all there was the Largest Wooden Roller Coaster on the Pacific Coast When I was a little younger than Leigh. I also started playing at Lick Pier in what was now called Ocean Park. I can imagine how she felt riding that coaster with one side having a straight drop to the Pacific Ocean. As a young girl she was constantly having disagreements with her mother and a maiden aunt that lived at the house. It was her grandfather that encouraged her dreams. Leigh's mother never understood her daughter and in an attempt to control the teenager. Sent her to an all girl's high school to learn conformity. The young women was a dreamer and she imagined what life might be on other worlds, or in far off lands. With her grandfather's help and his encouragement. Leigh Douglas Brackett wrote a short story entitled "Martian Quest". At the time she was taking a course from Science Fiction and Fantasy writer Lawrence R. D'Orsay. He liked what he saw and without Leigh's knowledge showed it to his own "reader", Henry Kuttner, another writer of Science Fiction. Kuttner critiqued "Martian Quest" and suggested some rewrites. Then he went a step further and got Leigh Brackett an agent, his own. He was Julius Schwartz a comic book editor, besides being an agent for Science Fiction and Comic Book writers. Schwartz placed the story with "Astounding Science Fiction" and Leigh Brackett's career started professionally, at the age of 24,.with the February 1940 issue. Leigh became a member of a group of West Coast Science Fiction and Fantasy writers. Robert Heinlein was another and for one young writer she became his mentor. That young writer was named Ray Bradbury. "Martian Quest" would be followed in April by "The Treasure of Ptakuth". Besides her childhood love for both Edgar Rice Burroughs' "Tarzan of the Apes" and his "Barsoom Series". Which was better known by its lead character "John Carter of Mars". Leigh Brackett was into detective fiction and especially the work of both Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler. In fact some of her stories would blend the two genres together. Her first piece of Detective Fiction "The Death Dealer: aka: "The Misfortune Teller" appeared in the March 1943 issue of "Flynn's Detective Fiction". While the "Citadel of Lost Ships" appeared the same month in the Science Fiction Magazine "Planet Stories". "The Death Dealer" was the first of four consecutive Detective short stories by Btackett through July 1944. The year her first novel "No Good from a Corpse" featuring Detective "Ed Clive" was released. "Clive" becomes involved in a dead women's murder, the corpse of the title, and all her boyfriends as suspects. In the style of Raymond Chandler is a long detailed and exciting chase sequence down Los Angeles' Sunset Strip. Her dialogue was very hard hitting and unlike other writers her female characters were too. An example of Leigh's prose from "No Good from a Corpse": The blonde’s fist caught him on the side of the head. Clive turned over three times and hit a table, causing a crash and an explosion of splinters . . . "Ed Clive" would return in several stories of various lengths over the years. On May 27, 1945 Republic Pictures released "The Vampire's Ghost". Although John K. Butler has the main screenplay writing credit. It is acknowledged this was really Leigh Brackett's first screenplay and Butler only reviewed her writing. This original vampire tale was all Brackett and she does get that additional on screen credit. The best way, in my opinion, to describe "The Vampire's Ghost" is "Dracula Meets Casablanca"/ Although "Webb Fallon" is in no way like Bram Stoker's famous vampire. Describing how she was offered this writing job. Scott Myers on November 25, 2015 in his "How to Write a Script" series quoted Leigh Brackett on Republic: they were doing this horror film. They decided to cash in on the Universal monster school, and I had been doing science fiction, and to them it all looked the same — “bug-eyed monsters.It made no difference. Another interview from 1975 first published in 1976 can be found on the website "Tangent" In it. Leigh described the shooting schedule on her first motion picture: They shot the film in ten days and that was two days over schedule (laughing). They fired the cameraman after the second day because he was taking too much time. But uh, it was not the greatest film ever made. https://www.tangentonline.com/interviews-columnsmenu-166/1270-classic-leigh-brackett-a-edmond-hamilton-interview The story is set in the African town of Bakunda and revolves around a local bar and nightclub owned by "Webb Fallon" portrayed by John Abbott. Abbott's performance, like many of his others, is very low keyed. His vampire is never over the top as Bela Lugosi was in 1931's "Dracula", 1935's "Mark of the Vampire" and 1944's "Return of the Vampire", or even how John Carradine's performance was in 1944's "House of Frankenstein". Leigh Brackett's "Fallon" is a very likable person and he can walk around in direct sunlight. The only notable difference, from other white residents of the town, is he wears very dark sun glasses. British actor Abbott had been in motion picture starting in the U.K. before World War 2. Some of his appearances included portraying "Prospero" in 1939, This was in a two part version for British television of William Shakespeare's "The Tempest" and yes there was television in 1939. That same year he appeared in "The Saint in London" starring George Sanders. In 1942 Abbott appeared in the American made "Mrs. Miniver" starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon set in England. Over his 164 roles John Abbott's films had a wide range. They included 1943's propaganda war movie "The Cross of Lorraine" starring Gene Kelly, 1944's "Cry of the Werewolf", 1946's "The Bandit of Sherwood Forest" playing "Will Scarlet" and the 1958 musical "Gigi" staring Leslie Caron and Louis Jourdon. Above seen with Abbott are Peggy Stewart in the role of "Julie Vance" and Charles Gordon in the role of "Roy Henrick", Peggy Stewart started her career at Paramount Pictures in 1937's "Wells Fargo" playing Joel McCrea's teenage daughter. She moved to Republic and starting in 1944 portrayed the role of the "Girl in Distress" in many of "B" Westens featuring Allan Lane, "Sunset" Carson and "Wild Bill" Elliot. This film was a break for her. While Charles Gordon has a total of nine acting credits to his name and this was number four. "Roy Henrick" returns home to the town of Bakunda to discover the small community is frightened, because of a series of murders. Each victim has been drained of blood and there are two tiny puncture marks on their necks.The natives claim it is a vampire. Sounds liked a typical vampire movie, but the audience is dealing with Leigh Douglas Brackett. The local nightclub is run by newcomer "Webb Fallon" For the small community on the Ivory Coast this is the place to gather and enjoy entertainment. Think of it as "Rick's Place Meets Tarzan". As seen above Abbott's vampire smokes, he also drinks liquor and eats food. To all appearances he is just as normal as anyone else in Bakunda. "Fallon" is a congenial host, but like Bogie's "Rick Blaine". You don't want to mess with him. In one case a troublesome Sea Captain "Jim Barrett", Roy Bancroft, finds out twice. First by being thrown out of the nightclub by an extremely strong "Fallon" and second by becoming a victim of the vampire. Then it's "Webb Fallon's" dancer "Lisa", Adele Mara, who makes a mistake and is killed by the vampire. "Roy", his girl friend "Julie", and her father "Thomas Vance", Emmett Vogan, the owner of a large plantation, decide to speak to "Webb". Apparently he is an expert on the occult and voodoo. He should be as he's been around for 400 years. Another twist on Stoker and other vampire story writers is that in a box presented to him by "Queen Elizabeth the First". "Fallon" keeps some of his original burial soil. At night he sleeps not in a coffin, but a normal bed. The box is kept under the pillow where his head rests. Webb Fallon" was actually one of the Sea Captain's of Elizabeth's fleet that fought the Spanish Armada in 1588. A native discovers the truth about "Webb" as they are talking. This happens when he notices that "Fallon" is not casting a reflection in a mirror. An attempt to kill him with a silver tip spear fails initially. "Roy" has also become suspicious of "Fallon". He finds the vampire with the spear head in him and "Webb" convinces "Roy" to remove it. Bad move on "Henrick's" part. The vampire reveals his whole history to "Roy", but then puts him under a curse. Turning "Roy" into part Zombie and his slave. When "Roy" goes back to "Julie" and her father. He appears normal, but also feverish. After realizing that everyone knows the truth. "Fallon" places "Julie" under a voodoo spell and has her come to him. Leigh Brackett is deftly mixing African Voodoo with European Vampire Legends. Below it is up to "Father Gilchrist", Grant Withers, to break the hold "Webb Fallon" has on "Roy Henrick's". Then they go after the vampire as the local natives already are doing. Wither's name may bot be familiar to my reader, but he appeared as "Police Captain William 'Bill' Street" in five of the "Mr. Wong Detective" films starring Boris Karloff,. He was "Ike Clanton" in John Ford's 1946 "Mr. Darling Clementine", the villain "Silas Meacham" in Ford's 1948 "Fort Apache" and the Deputy Marshall in Ford's 1950's "Rio Grande". That film's climax comes at the ruins of an old Temple deep within the African Jungle. It is here that "Fallon's" actual coffin is hidden. The movie is now available on Blu-ray and is worth a look. This feature is part of five forgotten little thriller gems from the 1940's I wrote about at: http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2016/11/the-undying-monster-seventh-victim.html There were two interesting men in Leigh Douglas Brackett's life in 1946. One was a Science Fiction and Fantasy writer and the other a Hollywood Director. His name was Edmond Moore Hamilton and one of the West Coast Science Fiction writers. He would create a popular series in 1940 following the space adventures of "Captain Future". There would be 14 tales in all.. Another series by Hamilton was first created in 1928 about the "Sun People". The Japanese company Toei adopted "Captain Future" into an animated series. Three of another of Hamilton's series about the "Star Wolf" were adopted into a Japanese live action television series "宇宙の勇者スターウルフ Uchû no Yûsha Sutâurufu)" by Eiji Tsuburaya's production company. Special Effects creator Tsuburaya brought, among others, "Gojira (Godzilla)", "Mosura (Mothra", "Radon (Rodan)" and "Kingu Gidora (King Ghidorah") to life. On December 31, 1946 Edmond Hamilton married Leigh Douglas Brackett. Although the two authors worked side by side. There is only one work they co-authored "Stark and the Star Kings" and it wasn't release until after both had passed away in 2005. Then there was that second man in 1946 director Howard Hawks. Hawks liked my dialogue and called my agent. He was somewhat shaken when he discovered that it was Miss and not Mister Brackett, but he rallied bravely and signed me on anyway... The above quote is from the website "Authors and Creators": http://www.thrillingdetective.com/trivia/brackett.html As for Hawks' first impression of the Detective Fiction writer. He had read "No Good from a Corpse" and other stories by Leigh: In walked a rather attractive girl who looked like she had just come in from a tennis match. She looked as if she wrote poetry. But she wrote like a man. Howard Hawks had two other writers on his project. The making of the first motion picture based upon Raymond Chandler's classic "The Big Sleep". Jules Furthman had been writing screenplays since 1915. He had been one of three writers nominated for an Oscar for 1935's "Mutiny on the Bounty". Furthman was the only writer on Howard Hughes controversial Western about Billy the Kid "The Outlaw" in 1943. He had previously worked on Hawks' "To Have and Have Not" loosely based upon an Ernest Hemingway short story. The second writer had been uncredited for his contributions to the screen play of "To Have and Have Not". In fact before this motion picture the writer had 14 uncredited screenplays to his name. That name was William Faulkner. To those two writers Howard Hawks added Leigh Bracket. The main reason for adding her were descriptions of "hard women". Leigh was to concentrate on the scenes between husband and wife Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, but win the opening screen credits role. Leigh had second billing as a screenplay writer. Additionally she had made an impression on Hawks that would eventually explain my blog article's title. There were two views by the movie critics on the screenplay. New York Times critic Bosley Crowther had one view: The Big Sleep is one of those pictures in which so many cryptic things occur amid so much involved and devious plotting that the mind becomes utterly confused. And, to make it more aggravating, the brilliant detective in the case is continuously making shrewd deductions which he stubbornly keeps to himself. What with two interlocking mysteries and a great many characters involved, the complex of blackmail and murder soon becomes a web of utter bafflement. Unfortunately, the cunning script-writers have done little to clear it at the end. While Time Magazine critic James Agee wrote: wakeful fare for folks who don't care what is going on, or why, so long as the talk is hard and the action harder But adding: the plot's crazily mystifying, nightmare blur is an asset, and only one of many There was a second screenplay co-written by Leigh Brackett in 1946. Which was the exact opposite of the major production for Howard Hawks she had worked upon. The film was also a mystery, but part of a typical low budget series turned out in six or less days for Columbia Pictures. The title was "Crime Doctor's Manhunt" and was the seventh in what would be ten features based upon the radio character. The other two writers on this 61 minute feature were Max Marcin and Eric Taylor, Marcin would write the screenplays for all ten "Crime Doctor" features. While Taylor has co-written Universal Studio's 1941's "The Black Cat", 1942's "The Ghost of Frankenstein" and in 1943 both "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Son of Dracula". Of additional interest in this formula feature was the director. By this time the contract director had 14 films assigned to him by Columbia Pictures. He would move into Columbia "B" Westerns in the early 1950's, but in 1958 he directed and produced a feature that would start to make his name known World wide. The film was "Macabre" and his name was William Castle. My article on the "Gimmick King" can be read at: http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/10/a-tale-of-william-castle-motion-picture.html Leigh wouldn't write another screenplay until 1959 and that would once again be for Howard Hawks. Brackett's second novel was a 1946 murder mystery entitled "Stranger at Home". However, originally she received no credit, because Leigh was the "Ghost writer" for actor George Sanders. Sanders was obtaining a literary name for himself, but not actually writing the works. In this case he always claimed having no idea who Leigh Douglas Brackett was and that he wrote the novel. Below is the original paperback cover of the novel. Here's a current cover for the novel giving Leigh full credit. The plot is very simple. "Mike Vickers" returns home after being presumed dead for four years. Beginning with his wife he attempts to find out who in his family wanted him out of the way in the first place. In 1954 Hammer Films turned the novel into a feature starring Paulette Goddard and William Sylvester directed by Terence Fisher. It was released in the United States as "The Unholy Four". The website "Rotten Tomatoes" describes the picture: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_unholy_four/ Four friends go on a friendly fishing trip but only three return. This suspenseful drama chronicles the fate of the fourth who returns home an amnesiac after a three year absence to get revenge upon the "buddy" who knocked him out and left him to die. Any one of the remaining three could be a suspect as all of them are interested in pursuing his lovely widow. Unfortunately, the man's return coincides with a murder and he ends up blamed. Fortunately, his wife helps him solve the mystery and clear his name. The British title was A Stranger Came Home. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi In 1956 Leigh Douglas Brackett, now known as THE QUEEN OF SPACE OPERA, became the first women Science Fiction writer to be on the short list for the prestigious HUGO AWARD. That list reads: Double Star by Robert A. Heinlein [Astounding Feb,Mar,Apr 1956] Call Him Dead, by Eric Frank Russell The End of Eternity, by Isaac Asimov Not this August, by Cyril Kornbluth The Long Tomorrow, by Leigh Brackett The winner was Robert A. Heinlein. For those of my readers unfamiliar with the term "SPACE OPERA". It was created in 1941 by Science Fiction writer Wilson Tucker and is defined as emphasizing space warfare, melodramatic adventure, interplanetary battles, chivalric romance and risk taking. The above photograph of Leigh Brackett was taken in 1956 with author Robert Bloch. Should his name be unfamiliar to my reader? Perhaps his works such as "Psycho", both the novel and screenplays, and two of his screenplays for William Castle "Straight Jacket" and "The Night Walker" might be. By 1958 Leigh had penned four Detective and five Science Fiction novels. Along with eighteen short Science Fiction stories and eight Detective short stories. A complete list of her work is at the end of this article. Her 1957 novel "An Eye for an Eye" became a teleplay by Jameson Brewer and John Kneubuhi for "Suspicion". The show starred Ray Milland as "Roy Markham", MacDonald Carey as "Ben Forbee", Kathryn Crowley as "Lurene Guthrie" and Andrew Duggan as "Al Guthrie".The plot is typical Brackett about a wife running away from vicious husband. The husband kidnaps a young girl off the street. Then hires a detective to find his wife and bring her back. Otherwise he kills the girl. Re-enter Howard Hawks and Leigh's return to screenplay writing. Unlike my Howard Hawks article about this picture I mentioned above. I will be going deeper into the reason's behind this specific screenplay rather than the story line. Hawks had originally contracted with Jules Furthman to write "Rio Bravo". Furthman, who wrote many a "B" Western, was doing the same thing. In actuality the 71 year old Jules Furthman's last screenplay, prior to this picture, had been John Wayne's "Jet Pilot" co-starring Janet Leigh and released September 25, 1957. The problem though was that the Howard Hughes produced Cold War drama had actually begun filming in 1949 and then was shelved by Hughes. So Furthman hadn't actually worked in ten years, but would still get first screenplay writer position when this feature was released on March 16, 1959. Howard Hawks needed help and he phoned Leigh Brackett to come in and work on the screenplay. Not only was this to be a character driven Western, but there was a subliminal message for the audience that both Hawks and star John Wayne wanted. Although when released and especially today most viewers had no idea was in the film. Brackett and Furthman were told that the screenplay was to reflect both Hawks' and Wayne's pro "Hollywood Black Listing" position. The Communist Black Listing's by the Major Hollywood Studios had started in 1947 and would seem to have come to an end while this picture was in production, but that didn't matter. The two writers were to make their screenplay for "Rio Bravo" an anti "High Noon". That 1952 Western had starred Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly, but was considered by many. As a subliminal attack on Senator Joseph McCarthy and the Hollywood Black Listing of actors, directors, producers and writers by both the major studio's and the House Committee of UnAmerican Activities. Message aside "High Noon" had been nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four including Best Actor. Even though, and this railed Hawks and Wayne further, screenplay writer Carl Foreman, himself "Black Listed". Hawks was on record about his views of "High Noon". In a Turner Classic Movies review of "Rio Bravo". You will find this quote by the director: I didn't think a good sheriff was going to go running around town like a chicken with his head cut off asking for help, and finally his Quaker wife had to save him. http://www.tcm.com/this-month/article/1069%7C0/Rio-Bravo.html As to what John Wayne thought of "High Noon". I will let film critic Roger Ebert recollect. "The Duke: told him: What a piece of you-know-what that was," he told me. "I think it was popular because of the music. Think about it this way. Here’s a town full of people who have ridden in covered wagons all the way across the plains, fightin’ off Indians and drought and wild animals in order to settle down and make themselves a homestead. And then when three no-good bad guys walk into town and the marshal asks for a little help, everybody in town gets shy. If I’d been the marshal, I would have been so goddamned disgusted with those chicken-livered yellow sons of bitches that I would have just taken my wife and saddled up and rode out of there. https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/rio-bravo-1959 The set up for "Rio Bravo" is an extended silent opening scene. In which "Joe Burdette", early work by character actor Claude Akins, is drinking in a bar. When the drunken Deputy Sheriff "Dude", played by Dean Martin in his first of many Westerns, enters and stares at the drink in "Joe's" hand. "Joe Burnette" tosses a a dollar into a spittoon. "Dude" starts to reach for it, but "Sheriff John T. Chance", John Wayne, makes his entrance by kicking the spittoon over. "Dude" in anger attacks his friend "John T." with an ax handle and knocks the Sheriff out. Then in turn "Joe Burdette" starts to beat up "Dude", an unarmed cowboy attempts to stop "Joe", but instead is shot and killed. "Joe Burnette" leaves that saloon and heads for his brother "Nathan's". "Joe" is standing at the bar as the Sheriff, with blood on his face, enters and we finally hear dialogue. As "Chance" starts to arrest "Joe Burnette", but another of "Nathan's" cowboy's draws his gun on the Sheriff. However, the gun is shot out of his hand by "Dude". Who has entered unnoticed. This entire opening has the hallmark of Leigh Brackett upon it and with the arrest of "Joe" sets up the entire anti-"High Noon" plot. Above "John T.", as the character of "Feather's" will call "Sheriff Chance", goes for "Joe Burnette". John Wayne's "John T. Chance" in comparison to Gary Cooper's "Marshall Will Kane" is the ultimate Wayne image. No attack on Cooper's Oscar winning performance intended. In the Jules Furthman and Leigh Brackett screenplay. "Chance" is best described as a hero with doesn't show fear and has a strong inner courage and commitment to public duty, even at the very low pay for a Town Sheriff, and never wavers from them. He is up against "Nathan Burnette" portrayed by John Russell. As an aside: Russell was an interesting casting choice because of one motion picture, 1955's "The Last Command", from Republic Pictures. John Wayne had finally left that studio over his battle with owner Herbert J. Yates about making a film about the Alamo. Yates kept teasing Wayne with the possibility of making such a picture as a means of keeping him at his studio, but finally the actor left. Russell portrayed "Captain Dickinson" in the story of the Alamo that Yates finally green lighted. While John Wayne would finally make his own version of the story, "The Alamo", in 1960. My article on John Wayne and the making of "The Alamo" may be read at: http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2016/12/john-waynes-alamo-fan-reflects-on.html John Russell had already started appearing as low keyed "Marshal Dan Troop" on television's "Lawman". While "Rio Bravo" was in post production and would stay as "Dan Troop" for 156 episodes. In 1985 he portrayed what could be described as the evil incarnation of "Dan Troop" as "Marshall Stockburn" in Clint Eastwood's "Pale Rider". However, in "Rio Bravo", Russell's Rancher "Nathan Burnette" owns most of the land around the town, a saloon in it and a warehouse just outside of the city limits. For "Nathan" cutting off the Sheriff from being able to take his brother out of town to the territorial Marshall, or having help enter is extremely easy. He has the manpower at his disposal, but also the patience and understanding to wait "Chance" out. While looking for the right opportunity to rescue his brother. As written in this screenplay. "Nathan Burnett" is a much more powerful figure than "Frank Miller" and the three cold blooded killers, "Ben Miller", "Jack Colby" and "Jack Pierce", awaiting his arrival together. In "High Noon" the viewer sees the people of the Western town of "Hadleyville" attending "Marshall Will Kane's" wedding. They joyfully watch him and his bride of a few minutes get into a buggy to leave town. "Kane" has put up his guns and badge, to honor his Quaker Wife, and starts to leave. When the telegraph operator from the train station runs up to the group to say that "Frank Miller" was let out of prison and is on his way there. Also "Miller's" brother "Ben" and the other two members of his gang await his arrival at the stroke of noon. Immediately the town's people start thinking with "Kane" gone. Perhaps "Miller" will leave without trouble and now they turn inwards. They want him out, before "Miller" arrives. "Kane" picks up his badge to face the man he sent to prison and one by one his "Friends and Neighbors" turn against him. They think only of themselves and the possible destruction of their town. In Wayne and Hawks view they are cowards! The people of "Hadleyville" will not stick up for "Kane" and what is right. An allegorical reflection, some will say, of those in the motion picture industry turning against friends. That now find themselves accused of being a Communist and refusing to name names for the House Committee on UnAmerican Activities. It should be noted that director Fred Zinnemann always stated "High Noon" was just a Western and not an allegory of what was happening in Hollywood and Washington, D.C. at the time. The opposite is seen in the Leigh Brackett and Jules Furthman screenplay. The viewer see's different people of the town of "Rio Bravo" offering assistance to "Sheriff John T. Chance". We have already seen "Chance's" ex-Deputy Sheriff known either as"Dude", or "Borrachon (Big Drunk)", Over the course of the movie "Dude", portrayed by Dean Martin, finds his courage and becomes sober. While standing up to "Nathan Burnette's" men and at one point "Nathan" himself, The previous year Dean Martin finally broke the impression that he was only a crooner, or straight man for Jerry Lewis. The break came from director Edward Dmytryk. Dmytryk cast Martin as one of the leads in the World War 2 film "The Young Lions" co-starring Marlon Brando and Montgomery Cliff. That film was based upon a best selling Irwin Shaw novel. As the opening credits role the audience watches a group of supply wagon's heading for town. The owner and leader is "Pat Wheeler" portrayed by Ward Bond. "Wheeler" will be murdered, shot in the back, by one of "Nathan's" men. The reason for his murder was simply that he offered to help "Chance"."Wheeler's" death in this screenplay makes the point about the difference between the townspeople of "Hardleyville" and "Rio Bravo" for both Hawks and Wayne. The casting of Bond also helped with the message. As he was in his second season of television's popular "Wagon Train" as the honest "Major Seth Adams". Wanting revenge for the "Father Figure" of "Pat Wheeler" is a young guard and gun hand known either as "Colorado", or by his last name of "Ryan". "Ryan" is the son of a mutual friend of "Wheeler" and "Chance" from many years in their past. "Colorado" was portrayed by "Teen Idol" Ricky Nelson. America had watched him grow up on the television series "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriett" featuring the husband and wife team with their two sons David and Ricky. By 1959 Ricky had been on the airwaves for seven years and the show would last into 1966. This familiarity with Ricky Nelson was both a plus and curse up until his tragic death. He could never get rid of fans thinking of him as "Little Ricky Nelson" and his song "Garden Party" reflects this fact. Most Americans knew Walter Brennan as "Grandpa Amos McCoy" on the television series "The Real McCoys". When this film was released the series had been on air for two years. It would remain on television through 1963. Character actor Brennan had portrayed "Eddie" the friend of Humphrey Bogart in "To Have and Have Not", he was "Old Man Clanton" in John Ford's classic "My Darling Clementine" and "Nadine Groot" in Hawks' "Red River" with Wayne. Walter Brennan was "Chance's" second Deputy, "Stumpy". An old, slow, arthritic ex-gun fighter. At the time of this film the actor was 65 years old and looked a lot older. "Stumpy" is the butt of some friendly jokes and as written both "Nathan" and "Joe Burnette" look down on the "cripple". A big mistake as the screenplay shows he is smart, cunning and dedicated to his work and friendship with the Sheriff. Which as implied goes back decades. Then there was "Feathers" the young, widowed, gambler that "Chance" thinks at first is cheating and then, even after "Colorado" proves otherwise, still wants her out of town, because she's trouble. "Feather's" was portrayed by Angie Dickinson. Prior to this role Dickinson had appeared 54 different times on varied television programs. Most were Westerns and she was seen in eight low budget motion pictures. Six were also "B" Westerns that included one without on screen credit and in another with only her voice being heard. Two films would follow "Rio Bravo" in 1960. The first was "The Bramble Bush" based upon a popular torrid novel. Dickinson had fourth billing behind Richard Burton, Barbara Rush and Jack Carson. However it was her second 1960 feature that with her role in "Rio Bravo". Brought Angie Dickinson name recognition within Hollywood and with the viewing public.That second picture was the original "Ocean's 11" starring Frank Sinatra and his "Rat Pack". Which included Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr, Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop. Before that film concluded production Angie Dickinson became the "Rat Pack's" only female member. Jules Furthman had rewritten some dialogue, for "Rio Bravo", related to a first kiss he had used in "To Have and Have Not". It had been especially written for a scene between Bogart's "Harry 'Steve" Morgan" and, at the time his future wife, Lauren Bacall's "Marie 'Slim' Browning". In the 1944 film the line was: It's even better when you help In "Rio Bravo" the line between "Feathers" and "John T." is: It's better when two people do it Later in the budding romance between Dickinson and Wayne. Furthman had this change from the two pictures. I'm hard to get, Steve—all you have to do is ask me. Became: I'm hard to get—you're going to have to say you want me, Leigh Brackett further changed "Feathers" from a typical Western love interest into a strong women. We still have the comic Bogie/Bacall banter from Furthman, but when "Nathan" has the Sheriff bottled up. "Feathers" shows her worldly smarts and is there for the man she has fallen in love with. Howard Hawks had hired Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson for two critical roles. Both were singers and the wise Hawks had a couple of songs added to the screenplay for their fan base. Also a lure to get those bases into buying a ticket. Then there were the owner of the Hotel both "Chance" and "Feathers" stay at. His name was "Carlos Robante" portrayed by American character actor Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez. Who was known for his comic timing and somewhat stereo typed Mexican roles. However, in this picture behind the comic banter mainly with "Carlos'" wife. There is a shrewd business man and ally for the Sheriff. Facades sometimes fool and in the screenplay "Nathan" doesn't realize the toughness of the hotel owner. In short Furthman and Brackett played off that stereotyped Mexican by hiding a very intelligent man. This was way ahead of Hollywood's view to Latin actors. Pedro's first screen appearance was fifth billed in the 3-D motion picture "Wings of the Hawk" starring Van Heflin and Julie Adams. He followed that as a passenger in William Wellman's 1954 "High and the Mighty" starring Wayne. Prior to this picture he made many television appearances and in 1958 was seen in "The Sheepman" starring Glenn Ford, Shirley MacLaine and Leslie Nielsen. Playing "Carlos'" wife "Consuelo" was Estelita Rodriquez. The Cuban born Estelita had been seen in twenty-three motion pictures prior to this production. Most of her roles were in Republic Pictures Roy Rodgers films. As with "Carlos", "Consuelo". is not the typical stereo typed Mexican women. She is strong willed and actually smarter than her husband. Although for comic relief there were some, in Spanish, arguments between the two. \| The above seven people, as I mentioned, are all written as strong characters. They will stand up to "Nathan Burnette" and back up "Sheriff John T. Chance". In comparison to those friends of many years "Marshall Will Kane" thought he had in "High Noon". Which brings me to "John T" as "Feathers" keeps calling him. John Wayne, the year prior to this film, under the direction of John Huston, had attempted to break free, once more, from the image of a "Cowboy" he seemed stuck with. The title was "The Barbarian and the Geisha" and was the story of the First American Counsel General to Japan Townsend Harris. The movie, which I like, was a flop and that wasn't by the doing of either John Huston, or John Wayne. Should you be interested you can read about the four films Wayne used to try to prove he was a serious actor. You will find my article on my blog at: http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2015/04/john-wayne-four-gutsy-role-choices.html John Wayne would follow "Rio Bravo" with John Ford's "The Horse Soldiers" also a 1959 release. I have already mentioned some of "John T. Chance's" character traits at the start of this section of my article. They all relate to being one hell of a Sheriff and one hell of a typical John Wayne character. Perhaps a cross between "Captain Kirby York" and "Hondo Lane" with a little bit of "Tom Wilder" thrown in. The screenplay also humanizes "John T. Chance" as in the comic scene were "Carlos" is showing him the lingerie he purchased for his wife. "Carlos" is holding them up to "Chance" as "Feathers" walks in, or the closing sequence between Dickerson and Wayne with "Feathers" wearing a typical dance hall girl dance outfit and "John T." is visibly embarrassed, In "High Noon" you might call Gary Cooper's "Will Kane" stoic.As he goes about tracking down and killing "Frank Miller", "Ben Miller", "Jack Colby" and "Jack Pierce", but when it comes to his bride "Amie Fowler Kane", fifth billed Grace Kelly, he seems aloof to her and without real passion in most of their scenes. As I said the screenplay as viewed by many, even in 1959, and especially today. Seems like one great Western of the Rich and Powerful vs the Honest Law Man variety. Which we've seen countless times even in 1930's "B" pictures, but not done this way. Leigh Bracket and Howard Hawks would return to a non political Western screenplay for Rio Bravo" twice more. Although the film was based upon a book by B.H. McCampbell of the same title. During filming Leigh Bracekett wrote a novelization of the screenplay for a tie in. A practice during the 1950's by Hollywood. I found a copy of this mass marketed paperback that originally sold for 35 cents in 1959 on the Internet at $175.00 in very good condition. In 1960 Leigh Brackett wrote an episode for the television mystery series "Checkmate". The new show featured Anthony George, Doug McClure and Sebastian Cabot. "Face in the Window" premiered October 22nd and was the fifth program of the first season. The plot has a well respected Archaeologist, portrayed by Joseph Cotton, about to murder a man who was supposed to be dead for years and knows the truth about his success. The Archaeologist's fiancee, played by Julie Adams, hires the "Checkmate Team" to stop him. On February 18, 1961 a Western starring Clint Walker and Roger Moore "Gold of the Seven Saints" premiered. The screenplay was by Leigh Brackett from a 1957 novel "Desert Guns'" by Steve Frazer. The producer Leonard Freeman added his name to the screen writing credits. The story was about two Fur trappers accidentally finding a big gold strike and the outlaws and others that wanted their gold. In 1957 Leigh Brackett had written a detective thriller "The Tiger Among Us". On June 6, 1962 Columbia Pictures released "13 West Street" from a screenplay by Bernard C. Shoenfeld and Robert Presnell, Jr. based upon Brackett's novel. The picture starred Alan Ladd and Rod Steiger. First Brackett's title was changed from "The Tiger Among Us", because Columbia Studios thought the potential audience might think this was a Jungle picture. The title became "13 East Street", but for some reason star Alan Ladd wanted the title changed to "13 West Street". Leigh Brackett's story concerns a Teenage Gang from the East Side of Los Angeles, but Ladd took sway once more. He wanted the setting moved from East Los Angeles to the rich area of Bel Air just outside of Beverly Hills on Los Angeles' West Side. Alan Ladd in an interview, at the time. about the picture with Los Angeles Times reviewer John L. Scott said: The story concerns a teenage gang from Los Angeles east side but I suggested the locale be switched to the swank purlieu of Bel Air, I have nothing against Bel Air but I want to show that juvenile delinquency can breed in exclusive areas too. Leigh Brackett's comments on the film after viewing it were: very, very dull In 1960 Howard Hawks wanted to make a movie about the people who capture wild animals in Africa for Zoo's around the word. That was all he knew except for two things. One he was thinking about starring John Wayne and Clark Gable in the feature, but Gable's death on November 16, 1960 stopped that idea. The second was he wanted Leigh Brackett to write the screenplay. John Wayne remained in Howard Hawks' mind as the leader of the crew that captures the animals. Hawks sat down with Brackett to outline the basic story and decide on characters. Leigh needed to provide the director/producer with detailed outlines of each character. He would use that as a guide to cast each role. At this time she did not need to work on a screenplay. Next Howard Hawks cast those roles. Telling each actor that there would be no stunt men or women. Each would be expected to do their own stunts and it was possible they could be injured, or worse. At the same time he informed his actors that there was no actual screenplay and it would be worked on as the film was shot. Leigh Brackett accompanied the actors to Africa were they shot the catching scenes and returned to the United States. At which point she was working on a screenplay developing the characters over the story. The movie of course was "Hatari" released June 18, 1962. German actor Hardy Kruger, who portrayed "Kurt Muller", actually owned "Ngorongoro Farm" in then the country of Tanganyika Which was used as John Wayne's "Sean Mercer's" base of operations. So all the film crew had to basically do was set up the lighting for the camera's scenes shot there. Hardy Kruger was known to American audiences as the aircraft designer that turns out to be a model airplane designer in the original 1965 "The Flight of the Phoenix" starring James Stewart/ He was also "Major General Ludwig" in Richard Attenbourgh's 1977 production of writer Cornelius Ryan's "A Bridge Too Far". There were two female roles and Leigh made each a distinctive, but different strong woman. There was the Italian Photojournalist "Anna Maria D'Alessandro" nicknamed "Dallas". She was sent by the Basel Zoo to make a photographic journal of the capture of the animals being sent there. The character was played by Italian actress Elsa Martinelli. Martinelli had been acting since 1953 and her first American role was as a Native American girl that Kirk Douglas falls in love with in 1955's "The Indian Fighter". In 1960 she was in one of my favorite vampire stories from France "Blood and Roses" directed by Roger Vadim. The actress basically appeared in Italian and European feature films. She would follow this film with the comedy World War 2 film "The Pigeon That Took Rome" co-starring with Charlton Heston. In 1968 Elsa Martinelli would star in the only Spaghetti Western directed by a women, Lina Wertmuller. This was one of the very few such productions with a women in the lead role. The title was "Belle Star: My Body for Poker" and was inspired by the Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty movie "Bonnie and Clyde". By substituting "Belle Star" and her husband for the two American gangsters. "Dallas" becomes the love interest for "Sean". As he finds her in his bed asleep and doesn't know who she is. Leigh Brackett once again gives John Wayne some comedy scenes to play and humanizes his tough guy image. While "Dallas" can hold her own with "Sean" and also gets a famous comic musical sequence with a Baby Elephant. That became a major hit for Henry Mancini. The other woman in the picture is the actual owner of the company. Her name is "Brandy de la Court" and was portrayed by French actress Michele Girardon. The actress posed a problem for Brackett as she did not know English and would learn the language while "Hatari" was being filmed. Her lines had to convey the plot, but also be easy, without seeming childish to English speaking viewers. Prior to this film Girardon had appeared in ten French language features.After this picture Michele Girardon returned to French films. It was with her character that Leigh Brackett apparently had some fun with the actors. He screenplay had Hardy Kruger's "Kurt Muller" and French actor Gerard Blain's "Charles 'Chips" Maurey" flirting throughout the film with "Brandy" and in private a friendly war as to which one she would marry. What Leigh did to all the actors and director Hawks was not to tell who gets Michele Girardon's "Brandy" at the end. Gerard Blain also appeared mostly in French films and directed nine motion pictures. The somewhat comic character of "Pockets" was portrayed by Best Supporting Oscar Winner Red Button. He won that Oscar as one of the tragic lovers in 1957's "Sayonara" based upon James Michener's novel set in Japan during the Korean War. Button's would also be seen in 1962 as a soldier in Daryl F, Zanuck's "The Longest Day", 1969's excellent but depressing "They Shoot Horses Don't They" and Irwin Allen's disaster epic "The Poseidon Adventure" in 1972, One of the things confronting Leigh Bracket was creating before and after dialogue, to fit what was already filmed, when Howard Hawks shot footage of the capture of animals. In one case a rocket was used to send a net over a tree to confine a large group of monkeys. Leigh turned this into a crazy idea "Pockets" was trying to sell to "Sean" and "Kurt" in the above scene. She had him researching rockets as part of the set up. Oh, and who gets "Brandy" in the end? Why "Pockets" of course. In 1963 Leigh Douglas Bracket wrote two screenplays for the television series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents". "Death of a Cop" was shown on May 24th and starred Victor Jory and Peter Brown. A police officer vows to find the man, also a cop, who killed his son and take revenge. The second episode was "Terror at Northfield" on October 11th starring Dick York. A small town is rocked by a series of murders beginning with a farmer's son. Leigh Bracket had continued writing Science Fiction and Detective fiction, but from September 4th through 7th in 1964. Leigh and her husband Edmond Hamilton were the "Guest Hosts" of the 22nd World Science Fiction Convention aka: Pacificon II. It was held in Oakland, California In their October 1964 issue "The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction" published Leigh Brackett's short story "Purple Princess of the Mad Moon". She also published two novels set on Mars with her protagonist is gun runner "Erik John Stark". The titles were "The Secret of Sinharat" and "People of the Talisman". Howard Hawks approached Leigh Brackett in mid-1965 to create a screenplay for a Western with John Wayne. She wasn't told "El Dorado" was supposed to be a remake of "Rio Bravo". In all honestly I don't think either Hawks or Wayne, at the time, were thinking that way and she worked hard on an original screenplay with an interesting ending. In the "Tagent" interview I mentioned above. Leigh Brackett talks about her original screenplay presented to Howard Hawks and her disappointment over what started to happen. El Dorado was a direct rewrite of Rio Bravo. This is a long sad story. I wrote, what was to my way of thinking, the best script I had ever done in my life. It wasn't tragic, but it was one of those things where Wayne died at the end. I sent it out to Howard and he said he loved it, it was great, and the studio loves it, Duke loves it, it's great. Fine. So I'm feeling all warm and happy and I go out to do the final polish on it and it turns out we're not going to do it at all, really. And the more we got into doing Rio Bravo over again the sicker I got, because I hate doing things over again. And I kept saying to Howard I did that, and he'd say it was okay, we could do it over again. On one scene I said, “You did that scene. I'm not going to write those lines again.” It's where the girl comes into town, she gets off the stage, and blah blah blah. And I said to him, “I'm not going to do it again.” And he said, “Why not? It was good once, it'll be just as good again.” And Duke looked down at me from about eight feet high and said, “That's right. If it was good once...it'll be just as good again.” (Laughing) I knew I was licked right there, so all I could do was try to do it again. But, you know, the guy that signs the final check has the final say. Of course that scene of the girl getting off the stage isn't in the final motion picture. However, the result is a different set of characters, but basically 1959's "Rio Bravo". So obvious to fans of the first motion picture. Howard Hawks just told Leigh Brackett to make this and that change. So there really was no set screenplay for the actors to follow day to day. As Robert Mitchum said in a 1968 interview edited by Frank Broughton for the work "Time Out Interviews 1968-1998": When Howard called me, I said, 'What's the story?' and he said, 'No story, just characters' and that's the way it was. Did one scene, put it away, did another, put it away. Leigh Douglas Brackett just gripped her teeth and made the changes Hawks requested. Who the characters where, or for that matter their names in Leigh Brackett's original screenplay we apparently do not know for sure. The following looks at the characters found in the first film and remade for the new Hawks production. "Sheriff John T. Chance" is changed into "Sheriff J.P. Harrah". "Harrah" is an ex-gun for hire, as many town lawmen where and a friend, possibly at one time a competitor of "Cole Thorton". When the audience first sees "Sheriff J.P. Harrah". He is pretty much a copy of "John T. Chance" from "Rio Bravo". When the audience next sees "Harrah" he has become "Dude" from the previous film. After this picture Mitchum would be in several Westerns including 1968's "Villa Rides" from a screenplay co-written by Sam Peckinpah and the same years "Five Card Stud" with Dean Martin. He appeared in three films, I truly enjoy, and recommend. The first was his own production from 1958's "Thunder Road" with Gene Barry as a Revenue Agent after moonshine runner Mitchum. Then there were 1955's "Night of the Hunter" and 1959's overlooked "The Wonderful Country". "Colorado Ryan" was a young gun fighter and guard in the 1959 feature. He's loyal to a fault to his employer "Pat Wheeler" and when "Pat" is shot down by "Nathan Burnette's" men. "Colorado" first wants revenge, but as the story progresses. He changes his mind and joins "Chance" to stop "Burnette". In the new film he has become "Alan Bourdillion Traherne" with a nickname of "Mississippi". "Mississippi" has no idea how to shoot a gun and uses a knife instead. Like "Colorado" he is out for revenge. A group of men killed the old Mississippi gambler "Johnny Diamond" that raised him. The young man has killed, with his knife, all but one man when he enters the story. "Mississippi" will join "Cole Thornton" to aide "Sheriff Harrah" in the town of "El Dorardo". On the way there he will get a sawed off shot gun to use instead of his knife. James Caan had been kicking around on television shows since 1961. In 1964 he played the leader of a group of 'hoodlums" that terrorize Olivia de Haviland as a women trapped in a home elevator. The year before being cast as "Mississippi". Caan had the lead role in Howard Hawks' movie about racing "Red Line 7000" The character of "Stumpy" became "Bull Harris". Where "Stumpy" was written for and around Walter Brennan. "Bull Harris" was written for character actor Arthur Hunnicutt. Unlike Brennan, Hunnicutt was associated with a mountain man/frontiersman image. He had appeared in 1952's The Big Sky" starring Kirk Douglas, based upon the A.B. Guthrie novel .and directed by Howard Hawks. In 1955 Hunnicutt had the role John Wayne wanted as "Davy Crockett" in Republic's "The Last Command". "Bull" is a nickname from the Battle of Bull Run where he was a bugler. Which side is not mentioned, but with Hunnicutt's Arkansas accent. I think it's easy to guess. "Nathan Burnett" becomes rancher and saloon owner "Bart Jason". Basically there are similarities between the two characters. Although one dissimilarity is in the brain department. "Burnette" is, as I've had sad, a cool, calculating man. While "Jason" is a land grabber, believes money buys anything and anyone, if not. He just takes what he wants and sees if somebody objects. As played by Ed Asner "Bart Jason's" posture tells the audience everything about him they need to know. When he made this movie Asner was four years away from a seven year run on television's "The Mary Tyler Moore Show". Basically his career was in television since 1957. During the time leading up to "El Dorado". The actor was only in five movies, but made sixty-eight television appearances. The major role of "Feathers" in "Rio Bravo", became an afterthought in "El Dorado". The ex-gambling lady. Who is "WOMEN ENOUGH FOR BOTH YOU!" As she tells John Wayne and Robert Mitchum upon making her entrance was named "Maudie'" That entrance is a quick comic scene when she walks in on "Cole Thornton" and "Harrah". She appears when "Thornton" is shot, when he needs information upon jis return ti town, in another comic scene about soap, and at the film's climax. There are one or two other scenes, but there is no development of the character in the screenplay and it appeared Howard Hawks just told Leigh Brackett he wanted another "Feathers". So Leigh made him happy by inserting a few scenes. "Maudie: was portrayed by Charlene Holt. The previous year the actress had also been in Hawks' "Red Line 7000". Her short movie and television career started in 1962 and ended before this picture was released. After Holt married a millionaire Los Angeles builder. There were three characters not associated with "Rio Bravo" that were in "El Dorado". The first was John Wayne's "Cole Thornton"."Cole" like "Harrah" was an old gun for hire with a code. The difference was "Thornton" hadn't settled down and turned "Sheriff". He was still selling his gun. but to help people not just kill people. Michele Carey portrayed "Josephine 'Joey" McDonald" the daughter of a rancher holding out against "Bart Jason". She will also become the love interest for "Mississippi". Careey had been doing television roles since 1964 and most of her acting appearances would be in that medium. As far as non made for television movies go. Michele Carey also appeared in 1968's "The Sweet Ride" and Frank Sinatra's 1970 "Dirty Dingus Magee". The third new character was very interesting and that was partly to the way actor Christopher George portrayed gun for hire "Nelse McLeod" and not that very good make-up. He is one of a few fast guns left and "Thornton" and "Harrah" are the others. This is supposition on my part, but I believe you can see a lot of what Leigh Brackett's original screenplay was like and the direction she was going to take prior to Hawks and Wayne making their "Suggestions"! Try to remove from your mind the scene where "Cole Thornton" first meets "Sheriff J.P Harrah" with "Maudie" as seen in "El Dorado". Looking at the first third of the screenplay. Leigh Brackett has an aging gun fighter, "Thornton (?), ride into a small town and meet a friend from the past. The friend is now the Sheriff. "Harrah"(?). and the two remember the times they had riding together. In the course of the conversation the Sheriff finds out why his old friend is in his town and sets the other straight. "Thornton" now leaves and goes to the man who has hired him and explains that he will not go up against his old friend. We have something of Sam Peckinpah's 1962's "Ride the High Country" in Brackett's two old gun fighters. While riding away from the man who hired him's property. "Thornton" unknowingly crosses the land of the man whose ranch the other wanted and was willing to kill the entire family to obtain. Suddenly a shot rings out and "Thornton" reacts shooting his unknown attacker. Which turns out to be the youngest son of the rancher he was supposed to go after. The boy is gut shot and kills himself. The gunfighter's code of honor comes into play and he takes the boy's body to the rancher and his family. We next have a similar scene as "Thornton" is riding away and is shot in the back. He discovers this was by another of the rancher's children. It is also possible we have the character of "Joey". Who seems not complete, as if something was possibly taken away by Hawks, in the screenplay for "El Dorado". "Thornton" makes it back to town and is told, by the local doctor, that the bullet couldn't be removed and is resting on a nerve close to his spine. It could kill him, if its not removed. However, this doctor is not skilled enough. Cut to "Thornton" several months later entering another town and going into a saloon that serves food. He is eating when a group of obvious guns for hire enters and goes to a table. He watches as a young man, "Mississippi" (?), enters and confronts one of the gunmen at the table. What follows is the same series of events as seen in "El Dorado". Brackett's original screenplay probably had the knife versus pistol scene in it. As I believe that whole sequence was original dialogue and plot points. The one major point that is established is the mutual respect of the leader of the hired guns, "Nelse McLeod" (?), for the older man. Again the gun fighter's code. This, in my opinion, was the actual set up for part of the conclusion of Leigh Brackett's original screenplay and when John Wayne dies. Up until "Cole Thornton" and "Mississippi" ride to help "J.P. Harrah". I believe we have basically seen what was the original screenplay with a few modifications made by Hawks. Such as the adding of "Maudie". It is when the two men arrive in the town. That "El Dorado" becomes a remake of "Rio Bravo" and the tone and direction of Leigh Brackett's original screenplay changes completely. Everything Leigh wrote from this point forward, becomes a remix of Howard Hawks' 1959 motion picture. It is obvious that something happened to "Harrah" that "Nelse McLeod" mentioned, but it certainly wasn't turning the Sheriff into comic relief until he becomes sober again. The women coming to town on the stage and "Harrah" falling for her. Then she gets tired of him and leaves resulting in his drinking could make sense though, but handled in a more serious tone by Bracket. What the actual events in Leigh Brackett's original screenplay. From the point "Thornton" and possibly "Mississippi" enter the town are I don't know, but again I can speculate on part of the actual ending. Even in the screenplay actually used for "El Dorado". The character of "Nelse McLeod" is very strong. When "Thornton" and "McLeod" again meet. That same tension between them, as earlier at the saloon, and the need for a show down between the two men is felt, but then you have Howard Hawks wanting to remake "Rio Bravo". The audience doesn't get the "Show Down" to find out which one is faster between the two gunfighters, but instead a cop out. "Thornton" is in front of "Bart Jason's" saloon sitting in a wagon, because his hand is paralyzed from the bullet in his back. Out comes "Nelse McLeod" and as "Thornton" sees the other man go for his pistol. He fires a shot gun at point blank range. No matter how fast "McLeod" was on the draw. There is no way he beats a shot gun. Ask the Cowboys that died in the "Gunfight at the OK Corral"? They were at the same distance as "McLeod" was to "Thornton" and all died in 30 seconds. I believe based upon the dialogue and interactions between "Cole Thornton" and "Nelse McLeod" that remained from Leigh Btackett's original screenplay.. That there was to have been a gunfight between the two men over the speed of their draws to settle that issue. The result, speculation again, was "McLeod" is beaten. but "Thornton" dies possibly from that bullet on his spine moving during his own draw. A hero's death saving the rancher and his family, the Sheriff and the town. As I said I am speculating on all of this, but based upon the above quote from Leigh Brackett. There had to be, in my mind, a gun fight between the two men in her original screenplay and not the un-John Wayne dirty trick played on Christopher George. .In 1969 another crime novel came out entitled "Silent Partner". On December 17, 1970 what is considered the second remake of 1959's "Rio Bravo" hit the motion picture screens. It was based upon a story by Burton Wohl. Between 1961 and 1970 Wohl would have a total of five film credits starting with co-writing the screenplay for his novel "A Cold Wind in August" and ending by co-writing this screenplay. Howard Hawks called in Leigh Brackett to bail out the screenplay, but miracle worker she was not as "Variety" on December 31, 1969 wrote: Rio Lobo is the sort of western that John Wayne and producer-director Howard Hawks do in their sleep. But by no stretch of nostalgia does it match such previous Wayne-Hawks epics as Red River or Rio Bravo. Leigh Brackett and Burton Wohl’s script, based on Wohl’s story, is by the numbers. In the Civil War, Wayne is a Union colonel – an ex-Texas Ranger, of course – who keeps losing army gold shipments to Confederate guerrillas led by Jorge Rivero and Chris Mitchum. He captures them, but they won’t tell him who the traitors are who have been tipping them off about the gold. From than on it is the same plot that has been worked over since the silent days of Bronco Billy with no new surprises. Hawks’ direction is as listless as the plot. https://variety.com/1969/film/reviews/rio-lobo-1200422156/ What is of interest here is that the review was dated one year prior to the film's release. Was it sitting on the shelf? So where does "Rio Bravo" come in? After the overly long Civil War segment has ended. Which was designed just to set up that one of Wayne's "Colonel Cord McNalley's" own soldier's is behind stealing the Union Payrolls. Then have Wayne make friends, after the war has ended, with the Confederate Officer, Jorge Rivero, and his Sergeant, Christopher Mitchum, Robert's second son, who were robbing the Union Gold Shipments. Later John Wayne is contacted by a Sheriff friend that the two Confederate soldiers he befriended need him. He arrives to find "Pierre Cordonna" aka: "Frenchy", Rivero, waiting for him with news that "Tuscarora Phillips", Mitchum, has been jailed as a means to acquire his father's land. Mitchum was set up by crooked "Sheriff Blue Tom Henricks", of the town of "Rio Lobo". "Henricks" is portrayed by ex-football player and 1960's "Tarzan" Mike Henry. I guess Burton Wohl thought he would twist the idea from the two previous pictures. That the Sheriff is the good guy and the one he's keeping in jail the bad guy. As we finally arrive at something that is similar to "Rio Bravo". "Henricks" and his Deputies work for a rich land owner named "Ketchum", He will turn out to be the soldier Wayne was looking for, "Ike Gorman", portrayed by Victor French. Above Henry and below French. The "Stumpy/Bull" character is "Tuscarora's" father. He has no fancy nicknames and is just referred to by his last name of "Phillips" and portrayed by Accountant turned Character actor Jack Elam. There is no "Feather's", or "Maudie", but three main female characters. One is "Shasta Delaney" portrayed by Jennifer O'Neill. "Shasta" is Wohl's version of either "Colorado", or "Mississippi". As she wants to report the murder of her Medicine Show employer by "Blue Tom's" Deputies. Which is how Wayne gets involved with her and she accompanies him to "Rio Lobo". The murder is the only tie in to the 1959 original. She also really isn't a strong character and that may owe more to O'\|Neill's acting, or lack of it. Than to Leigh Brackett's screenplay. The second female character is "Tuscarora's" girlfriend "Maria Carmen" portrayed by "Susana Dosamantes. There is no direct character tie in for her to the previous two pictures, but unlike "Shasta". She is one tough women. The third women is "Maria Carmen's" best friend "Amelita" played by Sherry Lansing and the strongest female character of the three. Because she and 'Maria Carmen" help "Tuscarora". "Blue Tom" cuts her face and in the end it is "Amelita" that kills the Sheriff. After capturing "Ketchum" at his own guarded ranch and forcing him to sign back all the deeds for the land he took. "McNally", "Phillips" and "Frenchy" take him back to town in what is a variation of the wagon sequence of "El Dorado". They rescue "Tuscarora" and takes over the jail putting "Ketchum" in a cell, another variation on the second film, and the fight with "Blue Tom" and his Deputies starts. As my reader can tell. Wohl's story and the screenplay with Brackett seem to have a piece here and a piiece there of "Rio Bravo", but more "El Dorado". While the cast is OK. The story is just too long, or seems that way, but those pieces make Howard Hawks' final motion picture a remake of the 1959 original. Perhaps it was sitting on that shelf and finally, like "Jet Pilot" was released. I could find no comment about what Leigh Brackett thought of the screenplay. In 1973 Leigh returned to Raymond Chandler for the screenplay to "The Long Goodbye" starring Elliott Gould as "Philip Msrlowe" and directed by Robert Altman. According to "Backstory 2: Interviews with Screenwriters of the 1940'sand 1950's" by Patrick McGillian. Leigh Brackett is quoted as saying about this film: ...set the deal with United Artists, and they had a commitment for a film with Elliott Gould, so either you take Elliott Gould or you don't make the film. Elliott Gould was not exactly my idea of Philip Marlowe, but anyway there we were. Also, as far as the story was concerned, time had gone by—it was twenty-odd years since the novel was written, and the private eye had become a cliché. It had become funny. You had to watch out what you were doing. If you had Humphrey Bogart at the same age that he was when he did The Big Sleep, he wouldn't do it the same way. Also, we were faced with a technical problem of this enormous book, which was the longest one Chandler ever wrote. It's tremendously involuted and convoluted. If you did it the way he wrote it, you would have a five-hour film. As for working with Robert Altman in the same interview Leigh stated: We conferred about ten o'clock in the morning and yakked all day, and I went back to the hotel and typed all the notes and went back the next day. In a week we had it all worked out. He was a joy to work with. He had a very keen story mind. In 1969 Elliott Gould was in the popular "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" and the following year was the original "Trapper John McIntyre" in Robert Altman's "MASH". Then there was 1977. It started with the death on February 1st of Leigh's husband Edmond Hamilton. Then in November she was approached by producer/director/writer George Lucas to work with him on the screenplay for "Star Wars II". What is fact is Leigh Douglas Brackett delivered the original screenplay for what became "The Empire Strikes Back" to George Lucas in either late February, or during the first week of March 1978. Before she could be involved in any rewrites on March 18, 1978 she passed away from cancer. According to George Lucas he disliked completely what Brackett had written for him. Then we get into two different narratives. One says Lucas turned over the screenplay to one writer to work on. Rejected that writers screenplay and tried another. Finally giving it to Lawrence Kasdan. The second version has Lucas just turned Leigh's screenplay directly to Kasdan. According to both Lucas and Kasdan it was during the rewrite process that the idea of "Darth Vader" becoming "Luke Skywalker's" father came up. According to George Lucas there is nothing left in the final screenplay of Leigh Brackett's work. This is debated by fans of the author and the debate continues. For one Lucas not only left her name as screenwriter, but she proceeds Kasdan. Thereby. giving her major credit for what we see on the screen. John Saavedra of the website for "Dennis Publishing" writes: Most importantly, you see that Brackett's draft, while definitely in need of a rewrite and several tweaks, holds all of the big moments we'd eventually see on screen. We still get a version of the Battle of Hoth (a much more ridiculous one), the wise words of an old Jedi Master, the excitement of zooming through a deadly asteroid field, a love triangle (a MUCH more overt one), a majestic city in the clouds, unexpected betrayals, and the climactic duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader that we would reenact on playgrounds for years to come https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Publishing#Publications Should my reader be interested in reading that original first draft screenplay. There are only two known copies. One is with the archives of "Lucasfilm", but with the sale to the Disney Company. May now be located somewhere else. The other is at "The Jack Williamson Special Collections Library" at "Eastern New Mexico University". You may read it in a special room, but you can not make notes or copy it. (All crime fiction, unless otherwise denoted) No Good From a Corpse (1944; Edmond Clive) Buy this book .. Kindle it!.. Read an excerpt Stranger at Home (1946; ghost-written for actor George Sanders)...Buy this book..Kindle it! Shadow over Mars (1951; aka "The Nemesis from Terra"; science fiction) The Starmen (1952; aka "The Galactic Breed" [abridged]; The Starmen of Llyrdis; science fiction) The Sword of Rhiannon (1953; science fiction) The Big Jump (1955; science fiction) The Long Tomorrow (1955; science fiction) The Tiger Among Us (1957; aka "13 West Street") .. Buy this book Rio Bravo (1959; western, novelisation of film) Alpha Centauri or Die! (1963; science fiction) Follow the Free Wind (1963; western) The Secret of Sinharat (1964; expanded by Edmond Hamilton, from a short story; science fiction) People of the Talisman (1964; expanded by Edmond Hamilton from a short story; science fiction) The Secret of Sinharat and People of the Talisman were published together as an Ace Double Novel, and later reprinted together as Eric John Stark: Outlaw of Mars (1982) Silent Partner (1969)* The Ginger Star: Reintroducing Eric John Stark,1 (1974; science fiction) The Hounds of Skaith: Further Adventures of Eric John Stark,2 (1974; science fiction) The Reavers of Skaith: Further Adventures of Eric John Stark,3 (1976; science fiction) The Ark of Mars (n.d.; science fiction) The Jewel of Bas (1990; novella, science fiction) "Martian Quest" (February 1940, Astounding; science fiction) "The Treasure of Ptakuth" (April 1940, Astounding; science fiction) "Child of the Green Light" (February 1942, Super Science Stories; science fiction) "The Sorcerer of Rhiannon" (February 1942, Astounding; science fiction) "Citadel of Lost Ships" (March 1943, Planet Stories; science fiction) "The Death Dealer" (March 1943, Flynn's Detective Fiction; aka "The Misfortune Teller") "Murder in the Family" (March 1943, Mammoth Detective) "The Case of the Wandering Red Head" (April 1943, Flynn's Detective Fiction; aka "Red-Headed Poison") "Design for Dying" (June 1944, Flynn's Detective Fiction) "No Star Is Lost" (July 1944, Thrilling Detective) "Shadow Over Mars" (Fall 1944, Startling Stories; science fiction) "I Feel Bad Killing You" (November 1944, New Detective) "Murder Is Bigamy" (July 1945, Thrilling Detective) "Lorelei of the Red Mist" (Summer 1946, Planet Stories; with Ray Bradbury; science fiction) "The Moon That Vanished" (October 1948, Thrilling Wonder Stories; science fiction) "Queen of the Martian Catacombs" (Summer 1949, Planet Stories; Eric John Stark; science fiction) Later expanded by Edmond Hamilton to form the 1964 novel The Secret of Sinharat. "Enchantress of Venus" (Fall 1949, Planet Stories; Eric John Stark; science fiction) "The Lake of the Gone Forever" (October 1949, Thrilling Wonder Stories; science fiction) "The Dancing Girl of Ganymede" (February 1950, Thrilling Wonder Stories; science fiction) "Black Amazon of Mars" (March 1951, Planet Stories; science fiction) Later expanded by Edmond Hamilton to form the 1964 novel People of the Talisman. "The Woman from Altair" (July 1951, Startling Stories; science fiction) "The Last Days of Shandakor" (April 1952, Startling Stories; science fiction) "Shannach--the Last" (November 1952, Planet Stories; science fiction) "The Queer Ones" (March 1957, Venture; aka "The Strange Ones"; science fiction) "So Pale, So Cold, So Fair" (July 1957, Argosy) "The True Death of Juanito Rodriguez" (February 1965, Cosmopolitan) "Toutes les couleurs de líarc-en-ciel" (1968, Fiction [France]; tr. by Bruno Martin) NON-FICTION ARTICLES & ESSAYS "The Science-Fiction Field" (July 1944, Writer's Digest) "And As to the Admixture of Cultures on Imaginary Worlds..." (1965, Amrav2 #33) "Barsoom and Myself" (1966, ERBania#19) The Coming of the Terrans (1967; 5 novelettes, science fiction) The Halfling and Other Stories (1973; science fiction) The Book of Skaith (1976; omnibus collection of the three Skaith novels; science fiction) The Best of Leigh Brackett (1977; edited by Edmond Hamilton; science fiction) No Good from a Corpse (1999) .. Buy this book Collects the novel and all her short scrime fiction, as well as an introduc tion by Ray Bradbury. LEIGH BRACKETT:: John Wayne Meets "The Queen of Sp... Quoth "The Raven": ROGER CORMAN	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line320
__label__wiki	0.772899	0.772899	BODY COUNT To Perform During GRAMMY AWARDS Pre-Telecast Ceremony BODY COUNT, the metal band fronted by hip-hop legend, actor and director Ice-T, will perform during the pre-telecast ceremony at the 60th annual Grammy Awards, which will be held on Sunday, January 28, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. BODY COUNT's song "Black Hoodie" was nominated in the "Best Metal Performance" category at this year's event, which will be broadcast on CBS at 7:30 p.m. ET. Also nominated in the same category were MASTODON, MESHUGGAH, AUGUST BURNS RED and CODE ORANGE. Most of the categories are awarded in a pre-telecast ceremony the same day as the live broadcast on CBS. The pre-telecast ceremony will be available to stream online via Grammy.com. "Black Hoodie" is taken from BODY COUNT's latest album, "Bloodlust", which was released on March 31 via Century Media Records. "Bloodlust" was recorded with producer Will Putney (MISS MAY I, UPON A BURNING BODY), who also helmed 2014's "Manslaughter". The CD features guest appearances by Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, SEPULTURA), MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine and LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe. The effort also contains BODY COUNT's medley of the SLAYER songs "Postmortem" and "Raining Blood". Ok……. They just asked us if BodyCount would PERFORM at the Grammy’s….! WTF is going on???? pic.twitter.com/f6SPeAeKVL — ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) December 6, 2017 It’s the Pre Show.. When they give out the Metal and other awards… But still….. I’m blown away. Yes we are... https://t.co/eC2p0XqzXY Tags: body count MAYNARD JAMES KEENAN Weighs In On JUSTIN BIEBER's TOOL Fandom: 'Bummer' SEVENDUST To Record New Album In October DISTURBED's DAVID DRAIMAN Says ROGER WATERS Is 'Full Of S**t': 'He's Rewriting His Own History' PUDDLE OF MUDD To Release 'Welcome To Galvania' Album In September; 'Uh Oh' Single Available LORDI: 'Devil Is A Loser' Performance Clip From 'Recordead Live - Sextourcism In Z7' DVD	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line321
__label__cc	0.63321	0.36679	In recent years, space food has been used by various nations engaging on space programs as a way to share and show off their cultural identity and facilitate intercultural communication. Although astronauts consume a wide variety of foods and beverages in space, the initial idea from The Man in Space Committee of the Space Science Board in 1963 was to supply astronauts with a formula diet that would supply all the needed vitamins and nutrients.[58] During aeration, a younger wine's exposure to air often "relaxes" the drink, making it smoother and better integrated in aroma, texture, and flavor. Older wines generally fade (lose their character and flavor intensity) with extended aeration.[90] Despite these general rules, breathing does not necessarily benefit all wines. Wine may be tasted as soon as the bottle is opened to determine how long it should be aerated, if at all.[91][better source needed] When tasting wine, individual flavors may also be detected, due to the complex mix of organic molecules (e.g. esters and terpenes) that grape juice and wine can contain. Experienced tasters can distinguish between flavors characteristic of a specific grape and flavors that result from other factors in wine-making. Typical intentional flavor elements in wine—chocolate, vanilla, or coffee—are those imparted by aging in oak casks rather than the grape itself.[92] Health food is food marketed to provide human health effects beyond a normal healthy diet required for human nutrition. Foods marketed as health foods may be part of one or more categories, such as natural foods, organic foods, whole foods, vegetarian foods or dietary supplements. These products may be sold in health food stores or in the health food or organic sections of grocery stores. ^ Fraga, Helder; Malheiro, Aureliano C.; Moutinho-Pereira, José; Cardoso, Rita M.; Soares, Pedro M. M.; Cancela, Javier J.; Pinto, Joaquim G.; Santos, João A.; et al. (24 September 2014). "Integrated Analysis of Climate, Soil, Topography and Vegetative Growth in Iberian Viticultural Regions". PLoS ONE. 9 (9): e108078. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0108078. PMC 4176712. PMID 25251495. The Mayo Clinic Diet is the official diet developed by Mayo Clinic, based on research and clinical experience. It focuses on eating healthy foods that taste great and increasing physical activity. It emphasizes that the best way to keep weight off for good is to change your lifestyle and adopt new health habits. This diet can be tailored to your own individual needs and health history — it isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. Some blended wine names are marketing terms whose use is governed by trademark law rather than by specific wine laws. For example, Meritage (sounds like "heritage") is generally a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, but may also include Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Commercial use of the term Meritage is allowed only via licensing agreements with the Meritage Association. Every diet begins with watching what you eat. Counting calories is key whether you're maintaining a healthy weight or working to shed a few pounds. Fortunately, there's an easier way to go about the math than tracking down nutritional info and logging every bite: build a strong portfolio of delicious low-calorie meals and let it do the work for you. We'll get you started with this collection of 400-calorie dinner recipes that are short on calories but big on flavor. The only arithmetic you'll be responsible for is subtracting pounds. Home cooking has traditionally been a process carried out informally in a home or around a communal fire, and can be enjoyed by all members of the family, although in many cultures women bear primary responsibility.[46] Cooking is also often carried out outside of personal quarters, for example at restaurants, or schools. Bakeries were one of the earliest forms of cooking outside the home, and bakeries in the past often offered the cooking of pots of food provided by their customers as an additional service. In the present day, factory food preparation has become common, with many "ready-to-eat" foods being prepared and cooked in factories and home cooks using a mixture of scratch made, and factory made foods together to make a meal. The nutritional value of including more commercially prepared foods has been found to be inferior to home-made foods.[47] Home-cooked meals tend to be healthier with fewer calories, and less saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium on a per calorie basis while providing more fiber, calcium, and iron.[48] The ingredients are also directly sourced, so there is control over authenticity, taste, and nutritional value. The superior nutritional quality of home-cooking could therefore play a role in preventing chronic disease.[49] Cohort studies following the elderly over 10 years show that adults who cook their own meals have significantly lower mortality, even when controlling for confounding variables.[50] Proponents of raw foodism argue that cooking food increases the risk of some of the detrimental effects on food or health. They point out that during cooking of vegetables and fruit containing vitamin C, the vitamin elutes into the cooking water and becomes degraded through oxidation. Peeling vegetables can also substantially reduce the vitamin C content, especially in the case of potatoes where most vitamin C is in the skin.[26] However, research has shown that in the specific case of carotenoids a greater proportion is absorbed from cooked vegetables than from raw vegetables.[17] For some foods alternative ingredients can be used. Common oils and fats become rancid relatively quickly if not refrigerated; replacing them with hydrogenated oils delays the onset of rancidity, increasing shelf life. This is a common approach in industrial food production, but recent concerns about health hazards associated with trans fats have led to their strict control in several jurisdictions.[57] Even where trans fats are not prohibited, in many places there are new labeling laws (or rules), which require information to be printed on packages, or to be published elsewhere, about the amount of trans fat contained in certain products. Vitamins and minerals are required for normal metabolism but which the body cannot manufacture itself and which must therefore come from external sources. Vitamins come from several sources including fresh fruit and vegetables (Vitamin C), carrots, liver (Vitamin A), cereal bran, bread, liver (B vitamins), fish liver oil (Vitamin D) and fresh green vegetables (Vitamin K). Many minerals are also essential in small quantities including iron, calcium, magnesium, sodium chloride and sulfur; and in very small quantities copper, zinc and selenium. The micronutrients, minerals, and vitamins[16] in fruit and vegetables may be destroyed or eluted by cooking. Vitamin C is especially prone to oxidation during cooking and may be completely destroyed by protracted cooking.[17][not in citation given] The bioavailability of some vitamins such as thiamin, vitamin B6, niacin, folate, and carotenoids are increased with cooking by being freed from the food microstructure.[18] Blanching or steaming vegetables is a way of minimizing vitamin and mineral loss in cooking. Human diet was estimated to cause perhaps around 35% of cancers in a human epidemiological analysis by Richard Doll and Richard Peto in 1981.[143] These cancer may be caused by carcinogens that are present in food naturally or as contaminants. Food contaminated with fungal growth may contain mycotoxins such as aflatoxins which may be found in contaminated corn and peanuts. Other carcinogens identified in food include heterocyclic amines generated in meat when cooked at high temperature, polyaromatic hydrocarbons in charred meat and smoked fish, and nitrosamines generated from nitrites used as food preservatives in cured meat such as bacon.[144] Alcoholic drinks, including wine, are forbidden under most interpretations of Islamic law.[113] In many Muslim countries, possession or consumption of alcoholic drinks carry legal penalties. Iran had previously had a thriving wine industry that disappeared after the Islamic Revolution in 1979.[114] In Greater Persia, mey (Persian wine) was a central theme of poetry for more than a thousand years, long before the advent of Islam. Some Alevi sects–one of the two main branches of Islam in Turkey (the other being Sunni Islam)–use wine in their religious services.[citation needed] A particular diet may be chosen to seek weight loss or weight gain. Changing a subject's dietary intake, or "going on a diet", can change the energy balance and increase or decrease the amount of fat stored by the body. Some foods are specifically recommended, or even altered, for conformity to the requirements of a particular diet. These diets are often recommended in conjunction with exercise. Specific weight loss programs can be harmful to health, while others may be beneficial and can thus be coined as healthy diets. The terms "healthy diet" and "diet for weight management" are often related, as the two promote healthy weight management. Having a healthy diet is a way to prevent health problems, and will provide the body with the right balance of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.[4] Population studies exhibit a J-curve correlation between wine consumption and rates of heart disease: heavy drinkers have an elevated rate, while people who drink small amount (up to 20 g of alcohol per day, approximately 200 ml (7 imp fl oz; 7 US fl oz) of 12.7% ABV wine) have a lower rate than non-drinkers. Studies have also found that moderate consumption of other alcoholic drinks is correlated with decreased mortality from cardiovascular causes,[129] although the association is stronger for wine. Additionally, some studies have found a greater correlation of health benefits with red than white wine, though other studies have found no difference. Red wine contains more polyphenols than white wine, and these could be protective against cardiovascular disease.[130] Preserving food in domestic kitchens during modern times is achieved using household freezers. Accepted advice to householders was to freeze food on the day of purchase. An initiative by a supermarket group in 2012 (backed by the UK's Waste & Resources Action Programme) promotes the freezing of food "as soon as possible up to the product's 'use by' date". The Food Standards Agency was reported as supporting the change, providing the food had been stored correctly up to that time.[22] Live food is commonly used as feed for a variety of species of exotic pets and zoo animals, ranging from alligators to various snakes, frogs and lizards, but also including other, non-reptile, non-amphibian carnivores and omnivores (for instance, skunks, which are omnivorous mammals, can be technically be fed a limited amount of live food, though this is not known to be a common practice). Common live food ranges from crickets (used as an inexpensive form of feed for carnivorous and omnivorous reptiles such as bearded dragons and commonly available in pet stores for this reason), waxworms, mealworms and to a lesser extent cockroaches and locusts, to small birds and mammals such as mice or chickens. The World Bank reported that the European Union was the top food importer in 2005, followed at a distance by the US and Japan. Britain's need for food was especially well illustrated in World War II. Despite the implementation of food rationing, Britain remained dependent on food imports and the result was a long term engagement in the Battle of the Atlantic. Seeds of plants are a good source of food for animals, including humans, because they contain the nutrients necessary for the plant's initial growth, including many healthful fats, such as omega fats. In fact, the majority of food consumed by human beings are seed-based foods. Edible seeds include cereals (corn, wheat, rice, et cetera), legumes (beans, peas, lentils, et cetera), and nuts. Oilseeds are often pressed to produce rich oils - sunflower, flaxseed, rapeseed (including canola oil), sesame, et cetera.[8] Contact us at webmaster@www.christycooks.com \| Sitemap xml \| Sitemap txt \| Sitemap	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line327
__label__cc	0.721243	0.278757	Celebrating More than 50 Years of Denver Development Expertise Shea Properties Colorado is a diversified real estate company with over 50 years of experience in the Denver market. We are Denver’s largest vertical real estate developer. We buy, sell, develop, manage and maintain land and buildings. Today, we are a $2.5 Billion full-service real estate firm responsible for land acquisition, development, construction and management of office, industrial, retail, apartment and mixed-use environments. We have developed over 5 million square feet of office space in metro Denver. Our signature property, the Denver Technological Center was established in 1962. Founded with only 40 acres, the DTC has matured into a 909 acre, campus-like environment that has become a Denver landmark. The DTC is now home to more than 1,000 companies and employs a workforce of some 35,000 Denver residents. Another key location for Shea Properties’ long track record of success in Colorado is Meridian International Business Center. Meridian is a complete 1,630 acre mixed-use park designed to include visibility and accessibility in a campus atmosphere. Meridian provides unrivaled access to travel, communications and housing for its diverse workforce. Bounded by two major highways, Meridian is home to 4 of 5 Colorado’s largest companies. Shea Properties owns and operates nearly 600,000 SF of retail and 350,000 SF of office space in Highlands Ranch Town Center. Located in the heart of Douglas County, Highlands Ranch is a 22,000-acre master-planned community founded in 1981. The community has a population of nearly 100,000 people. Highlands Ranch is located 12 miles south of Denver and offers a wonderful quality of life and opportunities for an active lifestyle. We also have many other projects — past, present and future — throughout the metro Denver area. Shea Properties creates spaces where people work and live. We maintain an environment that contributes to the attractiveness and livability of a great city. And, we manage the day-to-day property concerns of several of Denver’s largest and most prestigious companies. “We chose the DTC in 1973, and we’ve been here ever since. Did it work? 90,000 global sales associates call the DTC home. And Shea Properties was the natural choice to build our new world headquaters.” Dave Liniger Co-founder and Chairman RE/MAX International, Inc. “Meridian provides an ideal location for employees, and strategically locates us close to the airport. Moreover, Meridian offers an identity that complements our ideals and philosophy.” John Malone Liberty Media Corporation Shea Corporate Privacy & License	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line328
__label__cc	0.749361	0.250639	Division 22 was established in 1956 as an organization of psychologists concerned with the psychological and social consequences of disability and ways to prevent and ameliorate associated problems. At that time, most rehabilitation psychologists worked in universities or institutions treating people with disabilities. In recent years, however, the work settings, clientele, and functions of rehabilitation psychologists have expanded dramatically. Rehabilitation psychologists work with people with diverse disabilities and chronic medical conditions across the life span. They are found in acute hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics, academic institutions, legislative offices, day treatment programs, independent practice, and industry. The practice of Rehabilitation Psychology encompasses both “hands on” and indirect activities including clinical services to individuals with disabilities (acute or chronic) and their families, consultation to members of the treatment team, advocacy, research, shaping public policy, disability determination, education, and training. Rehabilitation psychologists are involved in patient care, conduct neuropsychological assessments, offer counseling (individual, family, and group), design and implement cognitive retraining procedures, teach stress and pain management techniques, conduct biofeedback, and develop behavior management protocols, as well as provide education to help prevent and manage chronic illness and disability. Others are engaged in research, creating new technologies, teaching in universities, and advising businesses and educational institutions about accommodation of people with disabilities. In all of these activities, members work toward achievement of a fundamental goal of the Division — to minimize barriers to full participation in society by persons with disabilities. Division 22 embraces members with a great diversity of interests. We welcome professionals from other psychological specialties and fields associated with rehabilitation, as well as interested students. More about Rehabilitation Psychology Electronic access to Rehabilitation Psychology the official journal of Division 22, published quarterly. An optional print version of the journal is available at a special members-only rate of $9.50 per year (the standard individual non-member subscription rate is $164.00 annually). Eligibility for participation in the Division 22 email list. The opportunity to become an active member, serve on any of our committees, or become involved in the Sections on Pediatric Rehabilitation Psychology, Women's Issues in Rehabilitation Psychology, or one of the Special Interest Groups. Chair: Sara E. Heinz, PsyD, ABPP Louis Stokes VA Medical Center Incoming Chair/Co-Chair: Jerrold Yeo, PsyD Neurorehabilitation Psychology Postdoctoral Fellow Past Chair: Efrat Eichenbaum, PhD Pain Psychologist United Pain Center	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line332
__label__cc	0.580081	0.419919	For DJs What Are The Kids Listening To These Days - 80s Music Edition A common practice for consumer brand marketers it to put test subjects into a room and have them experience products. This gives those brands great insight into a consumer's behavior towards their product; their likes and dislikes. As DJs music is one of the products we offer. While music charts, radio airplay and general conversations with people may yield some indication on what is popular, there’s nothing like a good old product test. REACT is a channel on YouTube that shows videos to specific audiences while filming their reaction. There are elders reacting to modern slang, parents reacting to current music and kids reacting to 80s movies. But the series of videos that attracted me were the ones centered around music. Specifically several videos of college and teenage kids reacting music from the 80s, 90s and 2000s. To say I was surprised to most of the reactions is an understatement. There were songs I assumed they would enjoy and they had no clue on. And of course there were other tracks that were very recognizable that I rarely play at my gigs and that I would seriously consider playing now Feel free to check out these super insightful videos. But if you want the “Cliff’s Notes,” I spent time watching them all, and here’s what I found. College Kids 80s - Part 1 At the time of the posting, I estimated that these participants, college kids and the teens, were born between 1995-1998 and 2000-2003 respectively. I believe people really start to engage with popular music by age 10, so that means most of these songs were at least 20 years old by the time they may have heard them. And 30 years old at the time they were watching the videos! The college kids were definitely influenced by pop culture and memes. Songs that appeared in movies such as “Time After Time” (Napoleon Dynamite) and “Don’t You Forget About Me” (The Breakfast Club) were instantly recognizable. And of course all knew “Never Gonna Give You Up”, of RickRolling meme fame. Not surprisingly Michael Jackson was familiar, but surprisingly - and sadly - few knew “When Doves Cry”. There was also confusion with artists and bands, some thinking Motley Crue was Scorpion or Alice Cooper; or Berlin being Cyndi Lauper. Here are some other stats, which tracks how many knew the song and/or artist: Billie Jean, Michael Jackson Song 10/10, Artist 10/10 Don’t You Forget About Me, Simple Minds Song 10/10, Artist 0/10 Time after Time, Cyndi Lauper Song 10/10 , Artist 2/10 Girls, Girls, Girls, Motley Crue Song 8/10, Artist 0/10 Tainted Love, Soft Cell When Doves Cry, Prince Never Gonna Give You Up, Rick Astley We’re Not Gonna Take It, Twisted Sister Take My Breath Away, Berlin Hungry Like the Wolf, Duran Duran Super Freak,Rick James I Love Rock ‘N Roll, Joan Jett Song 10/10, 3/10 Artist Uptown Girl, Billy Joel Fight For Your Right, Beastie Boys Justin Kanoya is a DJ based in San Diego, California. Follow him on Instagram, join his Facebook group, Business Coaching for DJs and subscribe to his YouTube Channel. Tagged: react, youtube, 80s music	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line333
__label__cc	0.650444	0.349556	Stockholm City Tour + The City Hall Our combined guided car or bus sightseeing tour is specially designed for those who would like to get most of Stockholm in a short period of time. Discover the renowned Royal Palace, gothic churches of Old City (Gamla Stan), Swedish design-ware shops and excellent cafés and restaurants. We will stop at carefully chosen spots including the Vasa museum and Skansen. Stockholm City Hall, with its spire featuring the golden Three Crowns, is one of the most famous silhouettes in Stockholm. It is one of the country’s leading examples of national romanticism in architecture. Sweden’s capital city spreads out over 14 islands in Lake Malaren and looks out proudly to the Baltic Sea to the east. Her grand public buildings, palaces, rich cultural history and museums tell her 700 year old history beautifully. Nowhere is this better illustrated than in the Old Town (Gamla Stan); expect and get cobblestone streets, crooked but beautifully preserved buildings, the Royal Palace, gothic churches and excellent cafes, bars, restaurants and Swedish design-ware shops. Stockholm City Hall, with its spire featuring the golden Three Crowns, is one of the most famous silhouettes in Stockholm. It is one of the country’s leading examples of national romanticism in architecture. The City Hall was designed by the architect Ragnar Östberg and it’s built from eight million bricks. The 106 meter tall tower has the three crowns, which is the Swedish national coat of arms, at its apex. Behind the magnificent façades are offices and session halls for politicians and officials, as well as splendid assembly rooms and unique works of art. Stockholm’s municipal council meets in Rådssalen, the Council Chamber. The great Nobel banquet is also held in City Hall. After dinner in Blå hallen, the Blue Hall, Nobel Prize laureates, royalty and guests dance in Gyllene salen, the Golden Hall, with its 18 million gold mosaic tiles. The City Hall shop features specially designed souvenirs and presents that commemorate City Hall and Stockholm. The City Hall is open to the public through guided tours only. Guided tours are held daily in Swedish and English at certain hours. During summer months the tours are available in several other languages. During the same period you can also climb up inside the tower and enjoy a fantastic view over the city. Tours can be canceled with short notice due to events. Entrance tickets: adults – 18 euro, children – 12	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line335
__label__cc	0.724521	0.275479	DDTC Club Rules Rule : 1 \| 2 \| 3 \| 4 \| 5 \| 6 \| 7 \| 8 \| 9 \| 10 \| 11 \| 12 \| 13 \| 14 \| 15 \| 16 \| 17 \| 18 \| 19 \| 20 \| 21 1) The Club shall be called The Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club 2) The objects of the Club shall be to promote and encourage the breeding of the correct type of PEPPER and MUSTARD or DANDIE DINMONT TERRIER and for that purpose (a) To ascertain as far as practicable the origin of the breed possessed by the late James Davidson, Farmer at Hindlee, and the various characteristics thereof and of the purely bred descendants therefrom. (b) To define precisely the various points and characteristics of a pure and perfect Dandie Dinmont Terrier; to adopt the same as the only recognised standard of excellence; and by all practical means procure the adoption thereof as the beau ideal to be aimed at by breeders of Dandie Dinmont Terriers and as the standard by which the breed is to be judged and the prizes awarded. (c) The object of the Club is for the benefit of all its members and it will not be classed as a trading business so that all profits from any source functions and/or activities of the Club, shall be maintained for the benefit of and the further education of its members, in the management, training, showing, breeding and every aspect pertaining to canines. 3) (a) MEMBERSHIP The club shall consist of an unlimited number of members, a register of whose names and addresses shall be kept by the Secretary. Candidates for admission shall be proposed by one member and seconded by another, and shall undertake, if elected by committee to conform to the rules of the Club. JUNIOR MEMBERSHIP This will be open to young people upto the age of sixteen years. The subscription will be £2.50 a year (from January 1st 1990) Junior members will receive Club literature, but will not entitled to vote in Club elections. Junior member's optional subscription from 0-16 years Junior members may pay a subscription of £1.00 and receive no Club literature. (b) OFFICE BEARERS These shall comprise a President, a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer. No two Club Officers may be from the same household nor may people from the same household sign cheques. Club Office Bearers and members of the Committee are not permitted to serve as Officers or Committee in another Breed Club in this breed. Officers Bearers of the Club shall have been members for at least 3 calendar years. (c) COMMITTEE The Committee shall consist of up to a maximum of 9 members, who have been members for at least 1 calendar year. This number shall include the Vice Chairman who will be elected annually by the Committee. The Committee may also appoint an Assistant Secretary annually, who may or may not be a member of the Committee: If the Assistant Secretary is not a Committee Member he/she shall not have voting rights at any committee meetings attended on behalf of the Secretary. Any Committee Member missing three consecutive meetings without good cause, will automatically cease to be a member of the Committee. (d) AUDITOR An Auditor, not a member of the Committee, shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting. 4) Procedure for election of Office Bearers and Committee. (a) The Officers of the Club i.e. the President, Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer will be elected for a period of three years. They may stand for re-election at end of their term of office without re-nomination (b) The Committee of The Club will consist of 9 members, in addition to elected Officers, three of whom will be elected each year to serve for a period of three years. Committee members may stand for re-election at the end of their term of office without re-nomination. (c) The election to be by postal ballot, ballot papers to be returned to an independent scrutineer appointed by the Committee. (d) The ballot papers to give names of proposers and seconders of candidates for election, with new candidates shown separately from candidates for re-election. The number of committee meetings attended to be shown for candidates for re-election. The ballot papers will be numbered and the scrutineer will be provided by the Secretary with a list of fully paid up members entitled to vote and a check list of ballot papers issued. Where a duplicate is required to be issued (for example in case of non-delivery) the duplicate paper will bear the same number as the original. The scrutineer will check and count the votes cast, sending a copy of the results of the ballot to the Chairman of the Club. Ballot papers will be retained for one year by the scrutineer. The result of the ballot to be declared at the Annual General Meeting. The number of votes cast for each candidate will be publicly disclosed. (e) Members entitled to vote are those who are fully paid up members for the previous year and who have paid their subscriptions by 1st March. 5) The Club year shall commence on 1st January and terminate on 31st December. This will be the financial year. The annual subscription for each member shall be £8 or £11 for joint membership, payable on election and thereafter on 1st January each year. This subscription should be reviewed annually at the Annual General Meeting, and members notified of any change. A banking account shall be opened in the name of the Club into which all revenue of the Club shall be paid and from which all withdrawals shall only be made on the signature of two of the following: The Treasurer, the Secretary, the Chairman and the President. No elected candidate shall be considered a member or entitled to the privileges of membership until his first subscription has been paid. Any member failing to pay his subscription is overdue, and must be paid by March 1st Thereafter he will cease to enjoy the privileges of membership, but may, with the consent of the Committee, be re-instated upon payment of the current subscription plus rejoining fee. Honorary Life Membership may be conferred by the Club for long or outstanding service to the breed. This will be recommended by the Committee and ratified by the Annual General Meeting. The Club will make a list of members and their addresses available for inspection if so requested by members of the Club or by the Kennel Club ANNUAL RETURNS TO THE KENNEL CLUB The Officers acknowledge that during the month of January each year Maintenance of Title fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Secretary for the continuance of registration and that by 31st July each year, other returns, as stipulated in Kennel Club regulations for the Registration and Maintenance of Title of Societies and Breed Councils and the Affiliation of Agricultural Societies and Municipal Authorities, will be forwarded to the Kennel Club. The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any change of Secretary of the Society which may occur during the year. 6) It shall be competent for any member to resign his or her membership of the Club. The name of the member shall be removed from the Club Register and his membership shall thereupon terminate. A member so resigning shall not be entitled to receive back any money he may have paid to the Club during his membership, nor shall he have any claim against the Club. A member on resignation must return all monies or property belonging to the Club. 7) (a) The management of the Club shall be in the hands of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and Committee (b) Six shall form a quorum of the Committee for the transaction of business (c) One of the six must be an office bearer. The President may attend any Committee meetings and have the right to vote. (d) The Chair shall be occupied by the Chairman and in his or her absence by the Vice-chairman (e) In the event of both being absent, the members shall elect a Chairman for the meeting (f) In the event of any vacancy arising in the Offices or Committee by death, resignation, or otherwise, the Committee may fill the same by co-option to the next in line following a contested election. If there was no contested election, the Committee have the right to co-opt. The co-opted member must be Proposed, Seconded and accepted by the majority of the Committee and must stand for re-election at the next ballot. A co-opted member must have been a fully paid up member of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club for a period of not less than three years, but need not necessarily have stood for election. In either event, any such co-opted member must be re-elected by ballot at the next Annual General Meeting (g) In the event of any change in the Officers of the Club, the Membership shall be notified in writing Where possible 14 day's notice should be given to Committee Members of Committee Meetings. 8) (a) There shall be one General Meeting of the Club each year to be called the Annual General Meeting of the Club for the purpose inter alia of receiving the balance sheet of the Club, made up to 31st December, preceding such a meeting to confirm Office Bearers and Committee for the ensuing year, to confirm the election of new members previously approved by the Committee, to discuss any applications not so approved, and to elect the Auditor. No business shall be transacted at an Annual General Meeting unless notice thereof appears on the agenda, with the exception of routine matters, or those which, in the opinion of the Chairman of the meeting are urgent. Other meetings of the members may be convened by the Committee at and time and be called Ordinary General Meetings. All General Meetings shall be held at such time and place as the Committee may determine and at all such meetings the President or Chairman shall be entitled to take the Chair. At least fourteen days prior to the holding of any General Meeting a notice convening the same shall be sent to all members stating the date, time and place of the meeting and the nature of the business to be transacted. Agenda items to be included in Any Other Business must be sent in writing to the Secretary at least seven days prior to the Annual General Meeting. No business other than the adjournment of the meeting shall be done at a General Meeting unless ten members are present in person. Proposers and seconders of agenda items for the Club Annual General Meeting, must both be present in person or the items(s) will not be discussed (b) All members should receive a committee report giving a precis of decisions made (c) A General Meeting to be called a Special General Meeting shall be specially convened by the Committee within one calendar month upon a written requisition lodged with the Secretary, and signed by at least ten members whose subscriptions are not in arrears. Such requisitions shall not state the objects for which the meeting is required and the general nature of the resolution intended to be proposed. 9) At Committee and General Meetings where there is a difference of opinion, all questions shall be decided by vote, and in case of equality the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote. At all meetings of the Club the minutes of the previous meeting shall be read and confirmed after amendment, if necessary. No new rule, or alteration of existing rules shall be made unless adopted by vote at a duly convened General Meeting held in accordance with these rules. The rules of the Club may not be altered except at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting and such alterations shall not be brought into force until the Kennel Club has been advised and given its approval to the alterations. All other questions coming before a General Meeting of the Club shall be decided by a majority vote of the members present and voting. This is to be by secret ballot if the matter involves members present. A resolution of the Committee taken in writing and signed by the President or the Chairman and by not less than 7 other members of the Committee shall have equal force, and for all purposes be as binding as a resolution taken by vote at a meeting of the Committee duly convened and constituted. 10) Every member shall strive to promote honourable dealings in all matters affecting the interests or well being of the Club, and shall bring to the notice of the Committee any apparent irregularities or dishonest or dishonourable practices within his knowledge in connection with canine matters in regard to which action might be taken with a view to prevention or remedy. He shall also communicate any information he may possess likely to prove useful to Dandie Dinmont Terrier owners, breeders and judges, with a view to furthering the objects for which the Club exists. 11) Any member who shall be suspended under Kennel Club Rule A42j (4) and/or any member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Rule A42j (8) shall ipso facto cease to be a Member of the Society for the duration of the suspension and/or disqualification. If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of the Society be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Society, the Committee of the Society may, at a meeting the notice convening which includes as an object the consideration of the conduct of the Member, determine that a Special General Meeting of the Society shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him/her. Notice of the Special General Meeting shall be sent to the accused Member giving particulars of the complaint and advising the place, date and hour of the Meeting that he/she may attend and offer explanation. If at the Meeting, a resolution to expel is passed by a two-thirds majority of the Members present and voting, he/she shall thereupon cease for all purposes to be a Member of the Society except that he/she may within two calendar months from the date of such Meeting, appeal to the Kennel Club upon the subject to such condition as the Kennel Club may impose. 12) Prizes may be offered by the Club for competition in the Dandie Dinmont Terrier classes at any show providing approved classifications for the breed at which the judge is approved by the Committee and is on the DDTC judges list. Prizes given by the Club shall be open to all exhibitors except such as the Committee may decide to confine to Members of the Club. No exhibit of a member whose subscription is in arrears shall be eligible to compete for any prize confined to the Members of the Club. 13) JUDGES LIST The Club will have Judges Lists drawn up by the Committee in accordance with the requirements laid out in the Club's Policy & Procedure Document for compiling Judging Lists and these will be reviewed annually. 14) Club notices to Members shall be sent to them at their registered addresses through the post pre-paid, addressed to the Secretary. Letters may also be given to or handed out by the Secretary. Persons attending a Club Special General Meeting must be a fully paid up members for that year. 15) Any expenses incurred on behalf of the Club by authority of the Committee shall be defrayed out of the funds of the Club. A list of Office Bearers, Committee and names and addresses of Members shall be recorded within the Annual Magazine. If required any Member may request a list from the Secretary. New members will be sent a full list on joining the Club. 16) (a) The property of the Club shall be vested in the Committee, and if the Club ceases to exist the assets of the Club shall be disposed of as Members decide at a specially convened Special General Meeting (The Secretary should obtain from the donors of Challenge Cups and Trophies an acknowledgement that the gift is made outright to the Club) (b) Any property of value to the DDTC or items of Dandie interest left or donated to the Dandie Archives shall not be sold or otherwise disposed of, unless the Club ceases to exist. When a Special General Meeting of the Club may then decide how to dispose of Club assets, as in rule 16(a) (c) TROPHIES & CUPS Members not Trophies & Cups on time (without adequate reason e.g. Illness) will forfeit the right to hold any Club trophy or cup on the next occasion where any one or more are won by that member. Further any damage (including transit damage) to be paid for by the the holder of any trophy or cup. Cups being returned by a third party. The third party should sign a note accepting responsibility of the safe return of the cup. (A form to this effect to be given out with cups). Members failing to return cups and trophies to the Club after 2 months of the show date will receive a permanent ban from holding cups or trophies from the Club in the future. NOTE A Committee Member to be with the Cup Steward to inspect cups on their return to the Show. REPAIRS TO BE EXECUTED BY THE CLUB 17) The Club shall not join any Federation of Societies or Clubs. 18) The Kennel Club is the final authority for interpreting the rules and regulations of the Club and in all cases relating to Canine and Club Matters. 19) The Club Code of Conduct is Rule 19 of the Club. Please see Code for full information. 20) (a) The selection of Judges for all Club Shows will made by the Committee (b) Elected Officers of the Club will not Judge or Steward at Club shows whilst in office save in exceptional circumstances 21) No person whilst an undischarged Bankrupt may serve on the Committee or hold any other office or appointments within Kennel Club Registered Societies.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line341
__label__wiki	0.972111	0.972111	Douglas Emmett Tenants Qatar and the Al Thani Royal Family Posted: July 24th, 2017 Qatar is a sovereign country occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeastern coast of the larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its territory surrounded by the Arabian Gulf. A strait in the Arabian Gulf separates Qatar from the nearby island country of Bahrain, as well as sharing maritime borders with the United Arab Emirates and Iran. Following Ottoman rule, Qatar became a British colonial protectorate in the early 20th century until gaining independence in 1971. Today Qatar is the world’s largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, and hydrocarbons account for half of Qatar’s GDP. Its wealth of fossil fuels has made Qatar the world’s richest county per capita. Qatar follows the conservative Wahhabi Islam of neighboring Saudi Arabia. Political Life in Qatar Qatar is a hereditary monarchy and has been ruled by the royal family of Al Thani since the early 19th century. The ruling monarch is called the Emir. The CIA World Factbook classifies Qatar as an “absolute monarchy” although The State Department has called it a “constitutional monarchy”. Nevertheless, there are no elections for national leadership, and Qatari law forbids political parties. Citizens lack the right to change the leadership of their government peacefully through elections. A human rights report from the State Department has noted that the government places restrictions on civil liberties, including freedoms of speech, press (including the Internet), assembly, association, and religion. The constitution provides for freedom of speech and of the press, but the government limits these rights in practice. Journalists and publishers self-censor due to political and economic pressures when reporting on government policies or the ruling family. Per a U.S. government document: “Newspapers in Qatar […] never criticize the ruling Al Thani family or foreign policy.” The Al Thani Royal Family The Al Thani family have controlled Qatar for approximately 140 years, maintaining a “tight grip on power” during British colonial rule and after independence. The Qatari constitution enshrines hereditary rule by the Emir’s branch of the Al Thani family. Accordingly, the Al Thani name can be “a ticket to opportunity,” as local and foreign businesses prefer working with a royal. The Al Thani royal family occupy the highest levels of government. At least nine of Qatar’s twenty-four leading government positions, including the Emir and his cabinet, belong to members of the Al Thani family. The United States government, in a diplomatic communication dated 2008 and publicly divulged by WikiLeaks, writes: “the distinction between the State and the Al Thanis is thin, varying, and uncertain.” Per the same communication: “On the domestic front, the [Emir] and a small circle of family members [make] all the major decisions in the country”. Regarding foreign policy, “the foreign policy of Qatar can be considered little more than Al Thani family policy, determined by a few Al Thanis at the very top&rdqup; (SOURCE). The U.S. government maintains that a primary objective of Qatari foreign policy is “to mitigate the strategic risk to the Al Thani family and its control of the state and its hydrocarbon resources.” The document continues, “The strategic risks to Qatar are as much to the ruling Al Thani family as they are to the State of Qatar.” Perhaps most concisely, the U.S. government declares “the foreign policy of this micro-state is both personality-driven and the product of an unceasing evaluation by the Al Thanis of the domestic and international risks to their family’s 140-year grip on power.” Elsewhere, the U.S. Government has characterized the nation’s sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), along similar lines, writing that some of QIA’s investments appear to be based as much on the “personal predilections” of the Emir and his family as on any economic logic. Al Thani Family Members In light of the U.S. government assessment that “the distinction between the State and the Al Thanis is thin”; because the U.S. government has raised questions about QIA’s links to the royal family; and due to a report that QIA is the least transparent and least likely sovereign wealth fund to “comply with corporate governance norms”—DE-Tenants.org has begun scrutinizing the QIA’s activities and the activities of the Al Thani family. In order to conduct this research, DE-Tenants.org had to compile a list of key family members. A selection of Al Thani family are outlined below. Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Thani Former ruling Emir of Qatar (1995 to 2013) Born in 1952, Hamad bin Khalifa is a member of the ruling Al Thani royal family. He was the seventh Emir of Qatar from 1995 to 2013. Hamad seized power in a bloodless palace coup d’état in 1995. (Legend has it that, having secured support from other factions of the Al Thani family, Hamad bin Khalifa called his father at a Zurich hotel to inform him. The Emir hung up.) Subsequently he ruled over the country with an effective co-equal, his cousin Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani (often called “HBJ”) who served as Foreign Minister and Prime minister. The Emir summed up HBJ’s power with a quip: “I may run this country, but he owns it.” In June 2013, Hamad bin Khalifa abdicated the throne in a politically orchestrated détente whereby his cousin HBJ also resigned from office. Subsequently Hamad bin Khalifa’s son, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, ascended to the throne. Despite stepping down from his positions in government in 2013, Hamad bin Khalifa remains a diplomat representing the Qatari nation. He appears on the UK’s May 2017 Foreign and Commonwealth Office diplomatic list as a “minister-counsellor” serving in the London embassy. During his 18 years in power, Hamad bin Khalifa was widely credited with increasing Qatar’s political clout and expanding its economy. The Qatari government now refers to Hamad bin Khalifa as His Highness the Father Emir. He has had three wives, including Sheikha Mariam bint Muhammad Al-Thani, Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser al Missned, and Noura bint Khalid Al-Thani. He is believed to have 24 children: eleven sons and thirteen daughters. It was under Hamad bin Khalifa that Qatar embarked on a massive expansion in its international role. He founded Al Jazeera, the influential Middle East news outlet, and began to reposition Qatar as a key regional player and, through its US$335 billion sovereign wealth fund the QIA, a massive global investor. Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani (called “HBJ”) Former Prime Minister (2007 to 2013) and Foreign Minister of Qatar (1992 to 2013) Former CEO of Qatar Investment Authority (2005 to 2013) Born in 1959, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim—commonly known by his initials “HBJ”—is a leading member of the royal family. He served as Foreign Minister from 1992 to 2013, and Prime Minister from 2007 to 2013. He also presided over the Qatar Investment Authority sovereign wealth fund as its CEO from 2005 to 2013. HBJ ruled over Qatar as an effective co-equal to his cousin, the former Emir Hamad bin Khalifa Bin Hamad Al Thani, until June 2013, when both men resigned in a politically orchestrated détente. Subsequently Hamad bin Khalifa’s son, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, ascended to the throne as the eighth Emir. The Emir Hamad bin Khalifa summed up HBJ’s power with a quip: “I may run this country, but he owns it.” Despite stepping down from his positions in government in 2013, HBJ remains a diplomat representing the Qatari nation. He appears on the UK’s May 2017 Foreign and Commonwealth Office diplomatic list as a “minister-counsellor” serving in the London embassy. HBJ is the fifth son of Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani. HBJ was married to Jawaher Al Thani from 1973 to 2005. HBJ married his current wife, Aljohara bint Fahad, in 2008. He has 15 children. (SOURCE) Another source alleges a third wife named Nur bint ‘Abdu’l Aziz al-Subaie, also known as Noor Abdulaziz Abdulla T. Al Subaie. Sheikh Hamad has an estimated personal net worth of over £7.8 billion ($12 billion). Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned (also spelled Muza Bint Nasir Al-Misnad) Second wife to Hamad bin Khalifa Sheikha Mozah was born in 1959, the daughter of a prominent Qatari named Nasser bin Abdullah al-Missned. Married in 1977, she is the second of Hamad bin Khalifa’s three wives. Sheikha Mozah is the public-facing wife who made appearances with Hamad bin Khalifa in his role as Qatar’s head of state. Sheikha Mozah is the mother of the current Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Khalifa United States government documents from WikiLeaks indicate a rivalry between Sheikha Mozah and the former Prime Minister/Foreign Minister HBJ. Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Ruling Emir of Qatar (2013 to Present), Minister of Defense (2013 to Present) The eighth and current Emir of Qatar, born in 1980. He is the fourth son of the previous Emir, Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. He became Emir of Qatar in June 2013 after his father’s abdication. At 36-years-old, he is one of the world’s youngest reigning monarchs. British-educated Emir Tamim has previously served in a number of government positions including as Vice President of the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment. He also served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Investment Authority. Emir Tamim is believed to have five sons and four daughters. His wives have included Sheikha Jawahar bint Hamad Al Thani, Sheikha Al-Anoud bint Mana Al-Hajri, and Noora bint Hathal Al-Dosari. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani Governor of Qatar Central Bank (c. 2007 to Present), CEO of Qatar Investment Authority (2014 to Present) Abdullah bin Saud was chief of the Qatari Royal Court (called the Emiri Diwan) from 2000 to 2005 and he also serves as Governor of Qatar’s central bank since at least 2007. Since December 2014, Abdullah bin Saud has served as the CEO of the Qatar Investment Authority, controlling the sovereign wealth fund’s US$335 billion in assets under management. He is also a member of the Supreme Council for Economic Affairs and Investment. Additionally, he is Chairman of the Board of Directors of one of QIA’s leading domestic investments, a telecom firm called Ooredoo Group. His background and education are in the military and aviation. In 1993, Abdullah bin Saud completed his graduate studies at the Staff and Command College in Egypt before attending the United States Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1998. Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani Prime Minister of Qatar (2013 to Present), Minister of Interior (2013 to Present) Born 1959 and a member of the ruling family, Abdullah bin Nasser has a state security background—serving in the state police and the Special Security Force. Subsequently he became Minister of State for Internal Affairs from 2005 to 2013. Subsequently in June 2013, he became the incumbent Prime Minister, replacing the outgoing HBJ. Simultaneously in 2013, he was also appointed Minister of Interior. Abdullah bin Nasser is the son of Sheikh Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. He is married and he has six children. His official biography is HERE. Abdullah bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Deputy Emir of Qatar (2014 to Present) Born February 1988, he is the Deputy Emir of Qatar and the designated successor to Emir of Qatar. He is the son of the seventh and former Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, and a younger half-brother of the eighth and current Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad. His mother is Sheikha Noora bint Khalid Al Thani. In November 2014, the current Emir Tamim appointed Abdullah to the post of Deputy Emir. Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani Minister of Economy and Trade (2013 to Present) With an education in petroleum engineering, Ahmed bin Jassim served as a board member of the state-owned liquefied natural gas company Qatargas. Ahmed bin Jassim became the director general of the Al Jazeera new channel in September 2011. He left the channel in June 2013 when he was appointed Minister of Economy and Trade. He was recently made a member of the administrative council of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA). Mohammed bin Abd al-Rahman bin Jassim Al Thani (also spelled Abdulrahman) Minister of Foreign Affairs (2016 to Present) Born in 1980, he has a background in in economics and business administration. From 2005 until 2009, he served as Director of Economic Affairs in the Supreme Council for Family Affairs. In 2010, he was appointed Secretary of the Personal Representative of the Emir at the Emiri Diwan. In 2014, he was appointed Assistant Foreign Minister for International Cooperation Affairs. And finally in January 2016, he rose to Minister of Foreign Affairs. (SOURCE) Tagged: More on Qatar - Al Thani Family	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line342
__label__cc	0.548218	0.451782	DAHLIA AL-HABIELI Dahlia Al-Habieli is an award-winning designer, visual artist and educator currently teaching at Wake Forest University's Department of Theatre and Dance in Winston-Salem, NC. Dahlia was born and raised in Abu Dhabi- a diverse, multicultural city that fostered her love for rich and varied traditions of storytelling. As an artist and collaborator, Dahlia is interested in exploring unlikely connections and using her work to build cultural bridges. She most recently designed the regional premiere of GLORIA by Branden Jacob-Jenkins at the Dallas Theater Center, and COLLIDESCOPE 3.0 with Ping Chong and Co. Upcoming projects include NATIVE GARDENS at Trinity Rep, and installation design for CONSENSES at MASS MOCA. Dahlia has worked extensively in New England since graduating from Wellesley College in 2007, and received her MFA from the Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama in 2016. She was the resident scenic designer for Publick Theatre Boston and the Watertown Children's Theatre from 2008-2010. Her work includes designs for the Lyric Stage Company of Boston, New Repertory Theater, Company One, Central Square Theater, and Wellesley Repertory (formerly Wellesley Summer Theater) among others. Dahlia is also a graduate of the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT. She returns to the O'Neill each year as the Young Playwright's Conference Dream Designer, mentoring middle and high school playwrights in collaboration with professional actors and directors. Contact Dahlia	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line347
__label__wiki	0.852994	0.852994	ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH Saint Mary's Church ST. MARY'S CATHOLIC CHURCH. In 1849 crowded conditions at St. Raphael's Church and the inability to adequately minister to the needs of German-speaking families in Dubuque led Bishop Mathias LORAS to grant permission for forty German families to form a new congregation. The parish was first called Holy Trinity. The site for the new church at the northeast corner of 8th and White STREETS was donated by Gerhard Hueckels. Stone for the church came from home quarries. It was the first German Catholic Church to be built in Dubuque and the second Catholic church. Due to a shortage of priests, the church had no resident pastor but was attended by Father Gerhard H. Plathe, a missionary. The first permanent pastor, Father William Edmonds, took office on New Year's Eve 1852. Beginning in 1863, with the leadership of Father George Fendrick, members of the church organized the GERMAN ROMAN CATHOLIC BUILDING ASSOCIATION OF DUBUQUE whose goal was to construct another church to help serve a parish that contained nearly three hundred families. In 1864 the Association attempted to purchase the Presbyterian Seminary for fifteen thousand dollars. Meeting opposition from the city's Protestants, the group bought an orchard that was part of the Langworthy estate. This land, purchased for three thousand dollars, became the site of St. Mary's. The construction of the present church was directed by Father Aloysius Meis. John MULLANY, the architect of ST. RAPHAEL'S CATHEDRAL, was chosen to draw the plans. The 252-foot tower, the highest in Dubuque, was even then considered one of the finest to be found in the Mississippi Valley. Excavation and construction work on the church found boys and men of the parish doing much of the labor. When the foundation of the church was finished on September 5, 1864, only $3.03 was left in the treasury. Additional donations and fund-raising brought in the remaining $80,000 needed to construct the church. E. Brielmaier, an architect, sculptor, and builder, was responsible for much of the interior work of the church. A native of Germany, he came to the United States with his parents in 1850 and settled in Ohio. Brielmaier learned his trade in Cincinnati and then moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1873 where he operated his business from 192 to 200 Sherman Street. He first worked with one assistant. As his business gradually increased, he employed from thirteen to fifteen men. In July 1866 a group from the building committee began a city-wide solicitation for funds to complete the spires. (1) The effort was successful and a meeting was held at the A. HEEB BREWING COMPANY to open bids for the contract to build the spire. Three bids were received with the lowest price, $4,750, going to John Mullany. (2) The dedication of the GOTHIC REVIVAL ARCHITECTURE church was delivered by Reverend John HENNESSY on February 10, 1867. In the early 1870s, Hook and Hastings Company of Boston, an important 19th century organ builder, installed a three manual tracker-action organ in the choir loft. In 1965 the organ was rebuilt, and the action was changed to electric. Pew rental was a familiar form of raising money in churches. In January, 1873 the semi-annual receipts from this source totaled $2,213.00. (3) From 1876 to 1883, three bells were installed in the bell tower. These were dedicated to St. John, the Apostle, the Blessed Virgin, and the Crucifixion. The largest bell weighs 5,000 pounds. In 1946 parishioner William H. KLAUER donated automatic bell-ringing equipment. Beginning in 1900, ST. MARY'S CASINO at 16th and White STREETS became the center of parish social life. St. Mary's was the only parish in Dubuque at that time to offer both a basketball and football team. In 1959 the building became the new SAINT MARY'S SCHOOL. In 2001 the building was remodeled to house an early childhood center. Photo courtesy: Theresa Crabill In 1912 several improvements were made to the interior of the church. The sanctuary was enlarged, two chapels were built in the rear of the church, four side entrances were built and the interior was greatly enhanced when artistic "way of the cross" paintings, stained glass windows and statuary, all from Munich, Germany, were installed. The windows were purchased from the Zetteler Company. F.X. Zetteler, the designer of the windows, was recognized as a master artist. These twelve windows depicted the life of the Blessed Virgin from her presentation in the temple to the scene of her death. The windows were rushed out of Germany prior to the start of WORLD WAR I. A letter in the files of the parish from the glass studios expressed their apprehension that war might overtake them before the completed windows could be sent to the United States. An elaborate and artistic fresco plan was also inaugurated at this time. The Brielmaiers drew the plans in detail. When the elder Brielmaier died, the work was sublet to the Joseph Walter Company, church decorators of Dubuque. The large mural of the Assumption was painted by Clotlida Brielmaier. A rose window behind the main altar was covered and Clotilda painted a large mural of the Assumption to occupy the space. She felt that since the church was under the patronage of the Assumption of Mary this should be the theme of the mural and that it should be large enough that eyes are drawn to it as one enters the church. The mural, 35 feet high, was begun on canvas in three sections in Miss Brielmaier's studio. After it was mounted in the church behind the main altar, she finished the work there. In 1943 the mural started fading and curling. Carl Stringham, a church artist from St. Louis, was able to restore it. In 1928 the "Altar of St. Mary" was placed in the church. Made of Italian Carrara marble, the altar contained relics of St. Anthony, St. Francis, St. Peter Canisius, and St. Clement Hofbauer. Above the altar was the mosaic picture of "Mary of the Angels" which was imported from Munich. St. Mary's parish was asked to contribute 9 percent or $315,000 toward the building program of WAHLERT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL. Between the spring and September of 1965, nearly half of the $93,000 pledge for the Dubuque Franciscan Sister's Development Campaign, recognizing eighty-six years of teaching at St. Mary's, had been received in cash. On January 9, 1976, near disaster struck St. Mary Church when a fire started in the next to the Nativity scene in front of the St. Joseph altar. Smoke escaped above the pipes of the organ in the choir loft and out the steeple, alerting people of the danger. The fire was so hot that it melted light fixtures. The FIRE DEPARTMENT responded promptly, and the church was miraculously saved. In 1999 St. Mary Parish clustered with its neighboring parish, St. Patrick. Both parishes retained their individual identifies, but shared a pastoral administrator and priests. In the 1990s, St. Mary's built a new handicapped entrance located at the northeast corner of the church. In 2009 the former sisters' convent located on Jackson Street housed MARIA HOUSE. The school building located at the corner of 15th and Jackson housed LANTERN CENTER. Also located in the building was the Immigration Office for the ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBUQUE. St. Mary's Church, located at 1584 White, was the start of four parishes in Dubuque. Sacred Heart was established in 1879. Holy Ghost was developed in 1896, followed by Holy Trinity in 1910, and Nativity in 1922. On July 15, 2009, officials with St. Mary's announced their recommendation to close the church that had served the community for 142 years. Reasons cited included declining church membership and increasing debt. On May 25, 2010 the final Mass was led in the church by Archbishop Jerome G. HANUS. In September, 2010 Dubuque archdiocese officials considered several options while still maintaining the goal of selling the church and its adjacent rectory to pay off the debt of St. Mary's parish. On September 8, 2010 representatives from the ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBUQUE and other dioceses in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin were invited to tour the church and choose statues, chalices, banners, crucifixes and other items that could be used in their own churches. (4) In 2014 business and community leaders formed a group called The Friends of St. Mary's made plans for an area to be known as the St. Mary Church Campus. (5) Bordered by White, Jackson, 15th and 16th, the plans involved three of the campus buildings in a project called Steeple Square. (6) The original St. Mary School would be renovated into apartments and communal space. The church rectory would be redesigned into office space. The church basement would house multipurpose space. The main floor of the church would house customized areas for individual tenants and larger public sites for performing arts and a coffee shop/cafe. In early July 2015, the Dubuque Zoning Advisory Commission unanimously approved a request to rezone the St. Mary's Church campus from residential to office commercial. (7) Title to the property to transferred to Friends of St. Mary's, a coalition of business and community leaders. (8) On March 10, 2016 organizers of the Steeple Square renovation project announced plans for the former church property. Jack McCullough, president of the non-profit group, said the Steeple Square would become a centerpiece of the neighborhood. The former school would become twelve apartments for clients graduated from the transitional housing program of OPENING DOORS. The former rectory would eventually house offices for nonprofit organizations while the main church floor and sanctuary would be transformed to an event and community center. Restoration of the church basement would begin in the spring of 2017. (9) One of the first tenants of the complex was Northeast Iowa Community College which in March 2016 had just begun a restoration academy offering certification in construction with an emphasis on historic renovation. A culinary arts certification program was planned using the kitchen in the former church. (10) In early June, 2016 the Jeffris Family Foundation awarded the Steeple Square project $600,000, with a catch. To receive the money, the project leaders had to raise double that amount on their own. Tom Jeffris, president of the foundation, said the church's restoration was one of the best he had seen. The grant would be used specifically for the steeple which would be completely rebuilt. It was estimated that approximately $15 million would be needed for the complete restoration for the church which was placed on the NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES in 2015. (11) In 2017 Steeple Square was the recipient of the 2017 "Community Vision" 365INK Impact Award. The former church was in the process of a capital campaign to achieve its renovation as a unique event center with the ground floor utilized for outreach and educational programs. The school was in the process of being remodeled into permanent supportive an market-rate housing. The remaining campus was to house non-profit organizations and community gathering space. (12) Stained glass windows placed in the church in 1916 as part of the renovation begun in 1912 were the subject of painstaking revitalization in 2017. Work on cleaning and restoring the windows was a $200,000 project led by Heritage Works of Dubuque. Each window was removed from its frame, soaked, cleaned, repaired and polished. The original frames were scheduled for repainting although their condition was very good. (13) Officials of Heritage Works, which had responsibility for aiding restoration efforts, announced in May, 2018 that the bells of the former church might soon be held again. The bells were in good condition, however the clock and the old bell system along with installing new ladder system had to be replaced. In addition, the steeple roof had to be replaced. Once the bells and clock were restored, the bells would be programmed to periodically ring throughout the day. (14) In August, 2018 the Steeple Square project achieved an important milestone. Two years after receiving a capital campaign grant of $600,000 from the Jeffris Family Foundation, the project had raised the two-for-one match requirement of $1.2 million for the project. (15) The announcement was made in April, 2019 that the Maria Theisen Childcare Center would open August 26th in the former St. Mary's rectory and serve as many as seventy-two children. An estimated 15-17 full- and part-time staff members would be hired. The center would include a gross motor skills/indoor playground for infants and toddlers and a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) room for 4-year olds. (16) In May, 2019 the upper level of the former church was named Honkamp Hall in memory of Arnold N. HONKAMP who had been instrumental in establishing the vision for the renovation. (17) The 1987 Dubuque City Directory listed 1584 White. 1. "Spire Collection," Dubuque Herald, July 29, 1866, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18660729&printsec=frontpage&hl=en 2. "Let Out the Contract," Dubuque Herald, August 12, 1866, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18660812&printsec=frontpage&hl=en 3. "Renting of Pews," Dubuque Herald, January 6, 1873, p. 4. Online: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=uh8FjILnQOkC&dat=18730107&printsec=frontpage&hl=en 4. "January," Chronology 2014, Telegraph Herald, January 1, 2015, p. 4 5. Frenzel, Anthony. "Inspired by St. Mary's," Telegraph Herald, May 11, 2015, p. 1C 6. Ibid., p. 4C 7. "Rezoning Request for St. Mary's Church Campus Approved," Telegraph Herald, July 2, 2015, p. 3A 8. Hogstrom, Erik. "Steeple Square Renovations Set to Take Root," Telegraph Herald, March 10, 2016, p. 1 9. Ibid., p. 2A 11. Gehling, Maddie. "Steeple Square Project Receives $600,000 Grant," Telegraph Herald, June 11, 2016, p. 3A 12. "Steeple Square," 365ink Magazine, February 23-March 8, 2017 Issue #285, p. 17 13. Kruse, John. "Restoring the Glory of the Glass," Telegraph Herald, November 25, 2017, p. 1A 14. Kruse, John. "Bingggg! Bells of St. Mary Could Soon Ring Again," Telegraph Herald, May 14, 2018, p. 1A 15. "Steeple Square Restoration Project Hits Another Milestone," Telegraph Herald, August 3, 2018, p. 5A 16. Jacobson, Ben, "Child Care Center to Open in Steeple Square," Telegraph Herald, April 17, 2019, p. 1 17. "Steeple Square Names Hall After Founding Board Member, 'Visionary'" Telegraph Herald, May 23, 2019, p. 3A Retrieved from "http://www.encyclopediadubuque.org/index.php?title=ST._MARY%27S_CATHOLIC_CHURCH&oldid=155359" This page last modified 16 June 2019.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line348
__label__cc	0.725526	0.274474	Saturday, February 20, 2016 7:08 am, Posted by eyeadmin 0 \| News Tamil areas are pockets of poverty Regions with the highest rate of poverty in Sri Lanka are areas inhabited by Tamils, according to a study of the World Bank. The regions come under the districts of Mannar, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi in the Northern Province; Batticaloa in the East and plantations in Badulla district (Uva Province) and Nuwara Eliya (Central Province). One Sinhala-dominated region the study has identified as having a high rate of poverty is the Monaragala district. Mullaitivu, the poorest Going by Sri Lanka’s national poverty line of about $1.50 per day (Purchasing Power Parity in 2005), the poverty headcount rates of Mullaitivu, Mannar and Kilinochchi are 28.8 per cent, 20.1 per cent and 12.7 per cent respectively. If one were to apply the international poverty line of $2.5 per day, the figures in these three districts are 74.4 per cent, 60.9 per cent and 57.2 per cent respectively. With respect to the estates, the poverty headcount rate is 10.9 per cent, as per the Sri Lanka’s national poverty line and this goes up to 50.6 per cent under the international poverty line. Though the World Bank has not specifically given the figure of Batticaloa, a 2014 publication of the Department of Census and Statistics of the Sri Lankan government mentioned that the figure (as in 2012-2013) was 19.4 per cent. As for the age profile of the poor in the North and East, the study points out that about 47 per cent of people living in poverty come under the group of below 25 years, compared to 40 per cent in other Provinces. Lack of access to the labour market and high unemployment rates, particularly among the youth and among educated women, are the factors that have contributed to the prevalence of such high rates of poverty. On the people in the estate sector, the World Bank’s report has said a large share of the population is “vulnerable to adverse shocks”. Describing as worrisome the non-monetary indicators of health and nutrition in the estates, the document has pointed out that the estates have the highest maternal mortality rates in the country. “About 30 percent of children below 5 are underweight, nearly one in three babies born have low birth weight, and one-third of women of reproductive age are malnourished.” The World Bank has called for the implementation of programmes aimed at improving market accessibility, incentives to promote entrepreneurship among educated youth and schemes to help ex-combatants and women-headed households. As for the estates, multi-sector interventions should be undertaken to improve nutrition outcomes, enhance job opportunities for the youth and prepare for a growing number of ageing estate workers, the report has added. (The Hindu) World Bank warns Sri Lanka faces persistent povert... Sri Lanka’s “chronic” revenue shortfalls must be addressed and its economy must become more competit... Non-Tamil minorities Playing Crucial Role in Reviv... While the Tamil Diaspora and indigenous Sri Lankan entrepreneurs appear to be indifferent to the dir... Central Bank Places Cap on Penal Interest Rates ch... The Central Bank today announced that a cap will be placed on penal interest rates charged by ... Hartal In Tamil areas demanding release of LTTE su... Tamil majority areas in the Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka observed a complete hartal o... ← Sri Lanka After the Tigers Opponents of India trade deal ‘traitors’: PM →	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line349
__label__wiki	0.776824	0.776824	Inicio > Asociaciones > Cooperativas y Organizaciones de Productores > Noticias > news article Cooperativas y Organizaciones de Productores Sweden’s We Effect and FAO to support small-scale forest and farm producers Joint effort to strengthen national policies and capacity building in eight countries – Director-General meets Swedish partners 31 August 2015, Stockholm/Rome – FAO and the Swedish-based development cooperation organization We Effect have agreed to work together to strengthen small-scale forest and farm producers’ organizations in developing countries so they can access land and markets and improve the livelihoods of their members. A partnership agreement signed today will initially involve eight countries: Bolivia, Guatemala, Kenya, Malawi, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Vietnam and Zambia for a period of three years. The forestry sector provides employment to over 50 million people, many of them banded together in community groups or producer organizations. However, they along with many other small-holder family farmers in different sectors face a number of hurdles, including weak tenure rights to land and forests, and often lack key skills that would help them make the most of their activities. Addressing such challenges will be at the heart of the new partnership announced today. "Cooperatives and producer organizations are leading the way to a world free from hunger. They facilitate rural people’s access to markets and services, to resources, information and communication; they provide decent jobs and inclusive solutions to social and gender inequalities, in agriculture and forestry," said FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva. "Family farmers and their producer organizations have a central role to play in investing and revitalising rural economies. When well-organized, they can make themselves heard and contribute directly to the policy debate and to decision-making," he added. "As the majority of the poor live in rural areas and are dependent on agriculture and nearly 800 million people go to bed hungry every day, it's crucial to improve the conditions of farmer families in poor countries to fight poverty and hunger. The agreement with FAO is a step along the way, hundreds of thousands of farmers will be able to increase their income, have better contacts with decision makers and greater possibilities to influence their lives," said Anneli Rogeman, CEO for We Effect. FAO and We Effect will collaborate to strengthen rural organizations and institutions and facilitate the empowerment of the rural poor -- especially women -- by supporting public institutions in the targeted countries formulate and implement adequate policies. Two key aims are to help producer organizations strengthen their internal governance structures and building their capacity to be activists at the grassroots level and in policy debates. The effort will also look to build members' business and entrepreneurial skills as well as facilitate their access to financial services. A shared vision Today’s agreement builds on an existing collaboration which has seen the FAO-hosted Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) andCoOPequity programmes working with We Effect to strengthen the capacities of member-based producer organizations such as the Forestry Smallholder Producers Association of Kenya. Established in 1958, We Effect (formerly known as Swedish Cooperative Centre) works with a long-term approach to development by enabling poor people in Africa, Asia and Latin America improve their living conditions, defend their rights and contribute to a just society. The FFF is a donor platform which funds partnership agreements and small grants with smallholder, women, community and indigenous peoples’ producer organizations and governments at local, national, regional and international levels. Funded by the European Union, FAO’s CoOPequity programme supports the implementation of policies and measures supporting organizations representing small-holder producers Strategy discussions with other Swedish partners While in Sweden Graziano da Silva also held a series of strategy discussion with key partners. These included talks earlier today with Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Director General of Sweden's International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Sven-Eric Buch, Minister for Rural Affairs, Isabella Lövin, Minister for International Development Cooperation, Elisabeth Backteman, State Secretary of Rural Affairs, and Annika Söder, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs. The FAO Director-General also met with representatives from the private sector and civil society organizations, and visited the Swedish University of Agricultural Science and the Swedish Livestock Research Centre. Legal and Ethics Office FAO Departments and Offices Agriculture and Consumer Protection Climate, Biodiversity, Land and Water Department Regional Office for Africa Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line350
__label__wiki	0.85118	0.85118	Smoke from massive warehouse fire in Buffalo, New York USA can be seen 40 miles away August 13, 2018 · Uncategorized Buffalo, New York —A massive warehouse complex of at least 5 buildings caught on fire in Buffalo, New York on 111 Tonawanda Street, sending a plume of thick, jet black colored smoke into the air that could be seen as far away as 40 miles. As of 6:40 a.m., the fire was under control, and firefighters were attempting to stop it from spreading, but could not get to the center of the fire because of severe amounts of debris. Later in the morning, the fire was extinguished. “The fire is mostly under debris at this point. It’s under control, but it’s under some debris. We really can’t get to it. We’re just going to have to keep on pouring water on it so it doesn’t spread,” said Thomas Ashe, the fire chief for the North Buffalo based fire division who also added that at one point, at least 125 firefighters were on the scene battling the blaze. One suffered minor injures and was able to take himself to the hospital to seek medical attention. Shortly after 8:00 p.m. as many as 3 explosions rocked the warehouse sending large mushroom clouds of thick black smoke into the air. After the third explosion, heat could be felt more than 100 feet away. The fire started in the front, one story building then quickly spread to three others, but fire fighters managed to stop the flames from spreading onto the 3 story building all the way at the back. According to a Buffalo Police officer, who wished not to be named, the fire began at about 7:00 p.m. [Eastern time], starting as a one alarm fire. By 8:00 p.m., three fire companies were on the scene battling the blaze. Police also say that a smaller fire was reported in the same building on Saturday night, which caused little damage. At the start of the fire, traffic was backed up nearly 4 miles on the 198 expressway going west toward the 190 Interstate and police had to shut down the Tonawanda street exit because the road is too close to the fire. At one point, traffic on the 198 was moving so slow, at least a dozen people were seen getting out of their cars and walking down the expressway to watch the fire. That prompted as many as 10 police cars to be dispatched to the scene to force individuals back into their cars and close off one of the 2 lanes on the westbound side. One woman, who wished not to be named as she is close to the owner of the warehouse, said the building is filled with “classic cars, forklifts, and money” and that owner “does not have insurance” coverage on the property. The building is not considered abandoned, but firefighters said that it is vacant. Officials in Fort Erie, Ontario were also swamped with calls to fire departments when the wind blew the smoke over the Niagra River and into Canada. It is not known what caused the fire, but a car is suspected to have caught on fire and there are reports from police and hazmat crews, that there were also large barrels of diesel fuel being stored in one building. Firefighters say the cause of the blaze is being treated as “suspicious.” The ATF is investigating the fire and will bring dogs in to search the debris. Crusaders win Super 14 final in eerie mist Principal, teacher arrested for allegedly whipping two students late for school in Ayetoro, Nigeria	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line353
__label__wiki	0.904083	0.904083	About FAU Osher Lifelong Learning Provost Search Global Students Explore FAU FAU Merchandise Arts & Cultural Events Handshake Career Network It’s Safer to be a Cop in the U.S. Today than 50 Years Ago The study represents one of the most comprehensive assessments of the “dangerousness” of policing to date, and also shows a statistically significant decline in felonious killings of police following the Ferguson effect and Michael Brown’s death in 2014, which directly contradicts the war on cops’ theory. By gisele galoustian \| 4/10/2019 There is no doubt that policing is a dangerous profession. But is it safer to be a cop today than it was 50 years ago? Yes, according to a study that analyzed police officer deaths (felonious and non-felonious) in the United States from 1970 to 2016. The study represents one of the most comprehensive assessments of the “dangerousness” of policing to date and provides an important historical context on the ongoing dialogue over a perceived “war on cops” in recent years. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University, Arizona State University, and the University of Texas at El Paso, found that despite increases in violent crimes, the hazards of policing has dramatically declined since 1970 with a 75 percent drop in police officer line-of-duty deaths. The study also refutes the theory of “war on cops,” following the Ferguson effect and Michael Brown’s death in August 2014, and finds no evidence to support those claims. “On average, there were slightly more than 1.6 fewer felonious police officer deaths per month after Michael Brown’s death in August 2014 when compared with pre-August 2014,” said Lisa Dario, Ph.D., co-author and an assistant professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice in FAU’s College for Design and Social Inquiry. “This result directly contradicts the hypothesized war on cops, in which an increase in felonious killings after August 2014 is predicted. Our results show the opposite. In the context of nearly 50-year monthly trends, our results show a statistically significant decline in felonious killings of police after Michael Brown’s death.” Results of the study, published in the Journal of Criminology & Public Policy , show that felonious deaths dropped by more than 80 percent. The only anomaly is 2001 when more than 70 officers were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attack. The rate of non-felonious deaths also declined by 69 percent. Furthermore, the gap between felonious and non-felonious deaths closed over time. Officer deaths peaked in 1974 at 272; in 2016 there were 134 deaths. One factor that did not play a clear role is violent crime at the national level, which increased steadily and significantly from 1970 through the mid-1990s. At the same time, however, the number of officer deaths declined significantly. “To put this in simple terms, if violent crime is a proxy measure of the dangerousness of the environment in which police work, it does not seem to correlate well with actual dangerousness of the profession measured as officer deaths at the national level,” said Dario. The researchers attribute the declines in officer deaths, at least in part, by the increased use of body armor and advances in trauma care that also have undoubtedly saved officers’ lives. Moreover, enhanced training, better policy, better supervision, and technological advances have likely played a role in the declines described in this study. For nearly 50 years, deaths varied little in terms of geography (state), time (month), and for the most part, cause of death. Most officer characteristics also remained consistent, such as sex, rank, marital and family status, duty status, and type of agency. The researchers also found notable changes in cause of death. For felonious deaths, gunfire was the most common cause (about three quarters overall), but deaths resulting from gunfire declined over time. This is explained in part by the 9/11 terrorist attacks — both deaths occurring that day as well as those occurring later as a result of 9/11-related illness. Deaths resulting from vehicular assaults such as officers being struck by drunk drivers also doubled during the study period. Interestingly, deaths occurring during automobile pursuits remained stable over time (5 to 6 percent) despite policy changes adopted by departments to restrict and control pursuits. For the study, the researchers used data from the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP), which captures all officer line-of-duty deaths, except for suicides, which was not part of this study. Cause of death was felonious attacks, accidents, and other non-felonious circumstances resulting from the nature of the job like a heart attack or work-related illness. Although 2017 deaths were not included in this study, ODMP has reported that line-of-duty deaths in 2017 were at the lowest level since 1958, which directly contradicts the war on cops’ theory. “In every given year, about 10 percent of police officers are assaulted. Regardless of how the death occurs, the consequences of officer line-of-duty deaths are tragic and multi-faceted, affecting officers’ families, coworkers, the agency, the community and the entire profession,” said Dario. “Through our study findings, we can paint a clear picture of the declines in dangerousness over time, as well as the extraordinary stability in key features of officer line-of-duty deaths during the last 50 years or so.” Officer deaths overall were most common in California (8 to 11 percent), Texas (8 to 11 percent), Florida (4 to 7 percent), and New York (4 to 15 percent), which is proportionate to the number of officers employed in those states. Co-authors of the study are Michael D. White, Ph.D., senior author and a professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Arizona State University; and John A. Shjarback, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Texas at El Paso. -FAU- Tags: faculty and staff \| cdsi \| research Academic / Campus Life University Initiatives	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line356
__label__cc	0.653567	0.346433	RICHARD LESTER – CELLO Leading chamber-musician, solo-cellist, orchestral principal and renowned teacher, Richard Lester was a member of the award-winning Florestan Trio, a founder-member of the ensemble Domus and has been a member of Hausmusik and the London Haydn Quartet. Equally at home on both period instruments and ‘modern’, he was for many years principal with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He has been principal cello with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe since 1989. He has performed concertos under conductors such as Sandor Vegh, Claudio Abbado, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Paavo Berglund, Myung Whun Chung and Sir Roger Norrington and has also appeared as director and soloist with COE, OAE, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Aurora Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, and Les Violons du Roy. Together with violinist Anthony Marwood, Richard Lester is co-director of the highly successful annual Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival in East Sussex. He has made over forty discs of chamber music, winning a host of accolades. His recordings of the complete works of Mendelssohn for cello and piano, and a disc of Boccherini sonatas on period instruments, are both available on Hyperion. Richard Lester teaches at the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School in London.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line359
__label__cc	0.601507	0.398493	Great Works of Western Art The Paintings The Years The Museums Text by Geoffrey Smith Visit my site specialising in Neo-Impressionism Share this painting: Support the: Enlarge Wikipedia Jan (and Hubert) van Eyck: The Ghent Altarpiece – 1432 Church of St Bavo, Ghent The Ghent Altarpiece is one of the greatest achievements in the history of European art. The jewel-like clarity of the polyptych is never compromised by its enormous scale – each one of the 100 figures are represented as believable three dimensional portraits; gems, pearls, luxurious damasks and all manner of vegetation, carpentry, sculpture and metalwork are depicted in intricate detail. Who produced this ground-breaking masterpiece? The authorship of the altarpiece has been the subject of considerable, and at times tedious, debate among scholars. Suffice it to say that an inscription, discovered during cleaning in 1823, states that both Jan and Hubert van Eyck painted this huge altarpiece and that Hubert, of whom very little is known (unlike Jan who is well documented) was the ’the first in art’. Some scholars had doubted the existence of Hubert but recent restoration confirms that the inscription is part of the original frame. It now seems that Hubert was involved at the inception of the project but that he died soon afterwards and that the work is mainly by Jan, with help from his workshop. When closed, twelve panels in three registers are visible. This is how it would have been seen for most of the year. In the centre of the lower register John the Baptist and and John the Evangelist are depicted as stone statues within sculptural niches - originally the church within which the polyptych can still be seen was dedicated to St Jan (St John the Evangelist). Flanking them, kneeling within similar niches, we see portraits of Jodocus Vijd who commissioned the work and his wife Isabella Borluut. The two saints and the donors are all lit from the right, matching the lighting of the chapel within which the altarpiece was housed and giving a sense of unity to the four figures as well as enhancing the illusion of solidity and space. Above, in the middle register, spread across four panels, the Annunciation takes place within a spacious chamber. The Angel Gabriel and the Virgin are clothed in monochrome robes which complement the statues beneath. Here, the wooden frames cast shadows which fall on the floor of the room, further accentuating the illusionistic space. Windows in the rear wall reveal a townscape bathed in the light of a cloudless sky. The fateful words of Gabriel and Mary extend from their heads and are written upside down in gold lettering. Ave gratia plena, Dominus tecum – Hail thou who art full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Mary replies Ecce Ancilla Domini – behold the Handmaid of the Lord. The prophets Zechariah and Micah reside in the two smaller panels of the top register while the ancient prophetesses, the Cumaean and Erythraean sibyls take up the larger, central panels. They remind the viewer (Zechariah points to the relevant passage in his book) that the birth of Christ had been predicted in both the Old Testament and in antiquity. When opened (originally only during feast days) a vision of the heavenly realm is revealed. The exception to the heavenly theme appear at the extreme left and right of the top register. Closely confined within narrow niches, stand the life-sized Adam and Eve, the first nude depictions of the human form in northern renaissance art, and they are portrayed with forensic accuracy. To the left stands a heavily bearded Adam – so life-like that he seems to be a portrait of an individual – his right leg thrust so far forward that his toes appear to escape from the the picture plane and the panel’s edge in a tour de force of Trompe-l’œil artifice. To the right Eve holds the forbidden fruit - the supposed method of entry into the world for the knowledge of good and evil. Eve’s pear-shaped body is partly due to the fashion of the day but also emphasises her potential fertility. Above their heads we see their sons, Cain and Abel, again depicted as though sculptural tableaux. To the right of Adam an angelic choir, adorned in rich brocaded chasubles and bejewelled circlets, sing the mass. The base of their elaborately carved lectern has a niche within which St Michael is shown as he vanquishes the seven-headed dragon of the Apocalypse. In the opposing panel to the left of Eve more angels accompany the choir with a variety of instruments including an organ, harp and a viol. In the centre we are confronted by the Deësis – Christ (or perhaps God – there is much scholarly debate) enthroned, flanked by the Virgin to his right and the Baptist to his left. The central figure of Christ/God blesses the viewer and indeed all humanity. He is arrayed in red robes edged with precious gems and pearls, some of which are used to spell out in Greek a quote from Revelation – ‘King of Kings, and Lord of Lords’. More text appears on the shallow step upon which the throne is situated, either side of a splendid golden crown encrusted with more pearls and gems. The Virgin is shown in her role as the Queen of Heaven clothed in sumptuous ultramarine blue. To the right of the central figure we see John the Baptist, clothed in green and brown with an open book on his lap. The surrounding inscription hails him as ‘the lamp of the world, the witness of the Lord’. The lower register of the interior represents the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb – symbolising Christ. It should be noted that the central figure of the Deësis in the upper register is placed directly above the Sacrificial Lamb in the central panel of the lower level. The lamb stands on an altar placed within a verdant meadow - one might call it an amphitheatre. Blood flows from the chest of the lamb into the Eucharistic Chalice. The instruments of Christ’s passion are displayed on either side of the altar. The latin inscription on the antependium covering the altar states ‘Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world’. In front of the altar the waters of the fountain of life flow towards the expected location of the real chalice on the church altar. The adoration is set in a paradise – van Eyck has included many different species of plant, botanically correct but all flowering together in permanent early summer. In the distance the City of God can be seen – the heavenly Jerusalem. Van Eyck would certainly have received advice from a theologian when planning the programme of iconography. The principal sources would have been the book of Revelations and the Sermon on the Mount. To the right of the fountain of life the twelve apostles, all in plain grey robes kneel in front of a group of male saints dressed in red. At the front of this group stand two popes and one antipope, adorned with their papal tiaras, who have been identified as among those involved in the Western Schism. This is an interesting inclusion. One scholar has suggested that these individuals may symbolise a process of reconciliation. In the middle distance a group of female saints and martyrs stand, some holding palm fronds. Some can be identified by their attribute (symbol) – St Agnes holds her lamb and St Barbara her tower. Nearby, white lilies bloom, symbolising their collective virginity. To the left of the fountain of life Old Testament prophets kneel, reading from their bibles. Standing behind them are the patriarchs, ancient philosophers and writers. The figure in the foreground in blue holding a twig may represent Isaiah. In the middle distance, balancing the female saints and and martyrs stand confessors, abbots and bishops, mostly dressed in blue. Four panels flank the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb. The Just Judges and Knights of Christ line up to the left of the central panel and the Hermits and Pilgrims on the right. The Just Judges and the Christian Knights were stolen in 1934 – the Christian Knights was recovered but the former was never found – a replica is in place. The shear scale of the altarpiece is is a source of wonder and for it to be painted in such minute clarity is nothing short of stunning. Its fame has resulted in many great artists making the pilgrimage to see it including Dürer in 1521. The altarpiece has been broken up on several occasions but its importance has ensured that it was always reinstated. At this stage in the development of western painting one has to conclude that van Eyck was far ahead of contemporary Italian artists in portraying how things really look. This can in part be explained by the possibilities opened up by the use of oil paint but the genius of Jan van Eyck is the major factor. Contemporary Works 1425–30 Robert Campin, Merode Altarpiece, New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Cloisters c1433 Pisanello, The Emperor Sigismund, Vienna, Kunsthistorisches Museum 1434 Fra Angelico, Coronation of the Virgin, Paris, Musée du Louvre Early Netherlandish Painting Northern Renaissance Further Paintings of Interest This image is not currently available to view directly on this site. Landscape with the Flight into Egypt Pieter Bruegel the Elder Virgin and Child with Saints and Donor The Arnolfini Portrait © Great Works of Western Art 2019	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line360
__label__wiki	0.850247	0.850247	Top 5 Games of 2012 Videogames > Guides > Top 5 Games of 2012 By Gamesweasel on December 5, 2011 Here are my top 5 games coming up in 2012: At number five it’s BioShock Infinite. This time the action’s not sent in the underwater world of Rapture but instead on a giant city in the air called Columbia in 1912. You play as a guy called Booker DeWitt who’s not a French comedian but in fact a disgraced former agent acting as a lone wolf. The gameplay is the familiar mix of first-person shooting and role playing you’ve come to expect with the BioShock games and of course you’ll get some cool abilities to raise the stakes alongside the usual array of weaponry that fires bullets. This Bioshock game has been in development for over two and a half years now so hopefully this one will be the best of the lot. Preorder: Buy BioShock Infinite from Amazon.com At number four it’s Hitman: Absolution. We haven’t seen Agent 47 in a game for a long time now, the last time was in that movie which it’s best we all forget about. This is the first time you’ll be able to dress up and kill people on HD consoles and although not much has been given away in terms of plot, this gameplay trailer doing the rounds online shows off just how gorgeous it looks and that you can do familiar things such as garrotte people from behind, disguise yourself as policemen and the like in order to find your target or remain anonymous and a new ability where Agent 47 can see through walls. We may have seen some of these gameplay mechanics since the last Hitman game in games such as Batman and Assassin’s Creed but combined with the cold killing mentality of this slaphead assassin we could have a very special formula. Preorder: Buy Hitman: Absolution from Amazon.com Metal Gear Solid: Rising At three it’s Metal Gear Solid: Rising. I have a love/hate relationship with the Metal Gear games because despite the wonky control method and massively over-indulgent cut scenes I do find them rather enjoyable. None of us really liked playing as Raiden in MGS2 but Metal Gear Solid 4 showed us that somehow he’d become a cyborg ninja badass! Quite how that happened to him we don’t know but in this game we’ll get to find out because it follows the events before he pops up in MGS 4, slices everyone up and then promptly appears to die in front of you. The game also apparently features sophisticated swordplay and for the first time Metal Gear Solid hits the Xbox 360 as well as Sony’s machine. Take that Link! Preorder: Buy Metal Gear Solid: Rising from Amazon.com At number two it’s The Last Guardian. Having just played through the HD re-masters of Ico and Shadow of the Colossus I’m just aching for more Team Ico action which is bound to be engaging, beautiful and emotional all at the same time. Once again it seems the action follows a young boy who’s trying to escape from the boundaries of a large castle but this time he has the help of a large eagle-type-dog creature called Trico. It won’t be easy though as Trico has his own animal instincts and it’s up to you to appeal those instincts in order to progress. The game was supposed to come out in 2011 but hopefully it will eventually hit the stores at the beginning of next year. Preorder: Buy The Last Guardian from Amazon.com And at number one it’s Mass Effect 3. Electronic Arts are keen to point out that anyone can jump in and play this third game in the outstanding sci-fi RPG series and understand what’s going on. The game will be more action focussed this time around as The Reapers launch a full scale attack on planet Earth and Commander Shepard and his crew from the Normandy fight back with the result being a lot of fancy explosions! This time around there’s also a multiplayer mode called Galaxy at War where you can go on co-op missions to help the cause. The Mass Effect universe is as rich as any other popular sci-fi offering and I for one can’t wait to dive right back into it for the Mass Effect 3 release date of March 2012. Preorder: Buy Mass Effect 3 from Amazon.com Best 5 games of 2011	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line362
__label__wiki	0.701183	0.701183	The Most Dangerous Team in the AFC? If you ask the average NFL fan who the best team is in the AFC there is not much debate. Senior Ryan Davis said, “ It’s the Patriots or Steelers, no doubt.”The Patriots are the model of consistency for the NFL; they have won their division thirteen out of the last fiveteen seasons. They have also won two out of the last three Super Bowls, and the last three matchups with the Steelers. The Steelers have the most explosive offense in the league with the top running back Le'veon Bell and top receiver Antonio Brown. Senior Garrett Mills agreed with Davis, “Anyone can beat anyone, but I’d say the Steelers or Patriots have the best shot of winning it all”. However, neither team has been dominant with the Steelers barely squeaking by the lowly Indianapolis Colts and the Patriots losing to the Miami Dolphins. This opens the door for a surprise team to win the AFC. While the two favorites are established, there is much debate over who the most dangerous team is. The hottest team in the league is the L.A Chargers, who have won four straight games. They have an elite quarterback in Phillip Rivers and a strong defense headlined by pass rusher Melvin Ingram and cornerback Casey Hayward. The Chargers look like they will win the AFC West and no team will want to face them in the playoffs. The Jacksonville Jaguars have the best secondary in the league, led by brash cornerback Jalen Ramsey who is rated the number two corner in the league by Pro Football Focus. While many insiders around the league continue to doubt them, they continue to defeat elite competition such as the Steelers and Seahawks. The Baltimore Ravens have one of the elite defenses in the league, they have shutout their opponents three different times this year. Only four other teams in NFL history have accomplished this feat, and three of them have won the Superbowl. They also have inconsistent quarterback Joe Flacco, who when playing well, can lead his team to a championship like he did in 2012. The NFL playoffs are extremely unpredictable and the whole country will be on edge as they watch who will come out champion.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line364
__label__cc	0.606323	0.393677	Jeanne Ambrose and Lindsey Ambrose are a mother-daughter seasoned food-writing team. Jeanne is a writer and editor specializing in food/nutrition/health. She’s the editor of Taste of Home magazine. And also editor of Country Woman magazine. And Simple & Delicious magazine. Whew! She’s also edited a zillion publications and books. And she is a former editor and recipe developer for Better Homes and Gardens magazine. Lindsey has been a foodie since she was old enough to grasp a wooden spoon and start licking off the batter. She has cooked for Food Not Bombs in San Francisco and waitressed her way through college, pilfering ideas for inspiration. Lindsey’s travels also have inspired many meals—from Hawaii with its melting-pot cuisine (where she was born), to Mexico, and Italy.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line368
__label__cc	0.665871	0.334129	Privacy Policy for Hen Bisnis TOP ™ ♔ ❤ ♕ Info Berita If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at http://www.henbisnis.top/p/contact-me.html. At http://www.henbisnis.top/ we consider the privacy of our visitors to be extremely important. This privacy policy document describes in detail the types of personal information is collected and recorded by http://www.henbisnis.top/ and how we use it. Like many other Web sites, http://www.henbisnis.top/ makes use of log files. These files merely logs visitors to the site - usually a standard procedure for hosting companies and a part of hosting services's analytics. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), date/time stamp, referring/exit pages, and possibly the number of clicks. This information is used to analyze trends, administer the site, track user's movement around the site, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable. http://www.henbisnis.top/ uses cookies to store information about visitors' preferences, to record user-specific information on which pages the site visitor accesses or visits, and to personalize or customize our web page content based upon visitors' browser type or other information that the visitor sends via their browser. → Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on http://www.henbisnis.top/. → Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to our site's visitors based upon their visit to http://www.henbisnis.top/ and other sites on the Internet. → Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy at the following URL - http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html Some of our advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons on our site. Our advertising partners include ....... While each of these advertising partners has their own Privacy Policy for their site, an updated and hyperlinked resource is maintained here: Privacy Policies. You may consult this listing to find the privacy policy for each of the advertising partners of http://www.henbisnis.top/. These third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology in their respective advertisements and links that appear on http://www.henbisnis.top/ and which are sent directly to your browser. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies (such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons) may also be used by our site's third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns and/or to personalize the advertising content that you see on the site. http://www.henbisnis.top/ has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers. You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. http://www.henbisnis.top/'s privacy policy does not apply to, and we cannot control the activities of, such other advertisers or web sites. You may find a comprehensive listing of these privacy policies and their links here: Privacy Policy Links. If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser options. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers' respective websites. What Are Cookies? We believe it is important to provide added protection for children online. We encourage parents and guardians to spend time online with their children to observe, participate in and/or monitor and guide their online activity. http://www.henbisnis.top/ does not knowingly collect any personally identifiable information from children under the age of 13. If a parent or guardian believes that http://www.henbisnis.top/ has in its database the personally-identifiable information of a child under the age of 13, please contact us immediately (using the contact in the first paragraph) and we will use our best efforts to promptly remove such information from our records. This privacy policy applies only to our online activities and is valid for visitors to our website and regarding information shared and/or collected there. This policy does not apply to any information collected offline or via channels other than this website. By using our website, you hereby consent to our privacy policy and agree to its terms. This Privacy Policy was last updated on: Thursday, January 12th, 2017. Should we update, amend or make any changes to our privacy policy, those changes will be posted here.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line369
__label__wiki	0.872865	0.872865	April 10, 2012 By: Laura Latka Source Tags: poster, historical The Hoehl Family Foundation J. Howard Miller's "We Can Do It!" poster from 1942 In 1942, Pittsburgh artist J. Howard Miller was hired by the Westinghouse Company's War Production Coordinating Committee to create a series of posters for the war effort. One of these posters became the famous "We Can Do It!" image—an image that in later years would also be called "Rosie the Riveter", though it was never given this title during the war. Miller based his "We Can Do It!" poster on a United Press International wire service photograph taken of Ann Arbor, Michigan, factory worker Geraldine Hoff (later Doyle), who was 17 and briefly working as a metal-stamping machine operator. The intent of the poster was to keep production up by boosting morale, not to recruit more women workers. It was shown only to Westinghouse employees in the Midwest during a two-week period in February 1943, then it disappeared for nearly four decades. During the war, the name "Rosie" was not associated with the image, and it was not about women's empowerment. It was only later, in the early 1980s, that the Miller poster was rediscovered and became famous, associated with feminism, and often mistakenly called "Rosie The Riveter".	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line372
__label__cc	0.69523	0.30477	Platform: PSP Tags: Racing Developer: Virtuos Games More PSP Games to Consider... System: PSP; Reviews: 3 Burnout Legends Release Date: September 13, 2005 (North America) Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition Release Date: July 26, 2005 (North America) At HonestGamers, we love reader reviews. If you're a great writer, we'd love to host your Asphalt 2 review on this page. Thanks for your support, and we hope you'll let your friends know about us! None of the material contained within this site may be reproduced in any conceivable fashion without permission from the author(s) of said material. This site is not sponsored or endorsed by Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Microsoft, or any other such party. Asphalt 2 is a registered trademark of its copyright holder. This site makes no claim to Asphalt 2, its characters, screenshots, artwork, music, or any intellectual property contained within. Opinions expressed on this site do not necessarily represent the opinion of site staff or sponsors. Staff and freelance reviews are typically written based on time spent with a retail review copy or review key for the game that is provided by its publisher.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line373
__label__cc	0.725743	0.274257	World Championship Soccer Tags: Sports, Soccer Developer: SEGA AKA: World Cup Italia '90 (EU), World Cup Soccer (JP) ??/??/1990 More Genesis Games to Consider... Pro Moves Soccer System: Genesis; Reviews: 0 Release Date: 1993 (North America) Champions World Class Soccer FIFA International Soccer At HonestGamers, we love reader reviews. If you're a great writer, we'd love to host your World Championship Soccer review on this page. Thanks for your support, and we hope you'll let your friends know about us! None of the material contained within this site may be reproduced in any conceivable fashion without permission from the author(s) of said material. This site is not sponsored or endorsed by Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Microsoft, or any other such party. World Championship Soccer is a registered trademark of its copyright holder. This site makes no claim to World Championship Soccer, its characters, screenshots, artwork, music, or any intellectual property contained within. Opinions expressed on this site do not necessarily represent the opinion of site staff or sponsors. Staff and freelance reviews are typically written based on time spent with a retail review copy or review key for the game that is provided by its publisher.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line375
__label__wiki	0.928826	0.928826	Karma Songs watford uk info@karmasongs.co.uk Karma Songs is the publishing division of The Karma Artists Music Group 19 year old singer/songwriter Kate Miller started songwriting at the age of 9, drawing inspiration from the likes of the Buena Vista Social Club and Paco Pena. Always searching for inspiration, Kate has an ever -growing list of contemporary female singer songwriters she admires - KT Tunstall, Lissie and Lianne La Havas to name but a few. Ever the perfectionist, she began performing at Open Mic evenings near her home in North London in order to 'fine tune' her songs. It was at one of these events she was spotted by renowned songwriter and producer Barry Blue who was immediately attracted to her stunning voice, intricately woven lyrical style, and haunting melodies. Kate is rapidly gaining fans far and wide and she is now receiving critical acclaim from all areas of the music business including many plays for her demos on BBC Radio 1's 'Introducing' series. Kate is signed to Karma Artists Management and is collaborating with an array of brilliant songwriters including Jon Green (Ed Sheeran, Lewis Watson), Jonny Lattimer (Ellie Goulding), Nick Atkinson (Gabrielle Aplin), Jesse Quinn (Keane), Jim Irvin & Julian Emery (Lissie, Lana Del Rey, Chloe Howl) and Ed Harcourt (Frank Turner, Jamie N Commons, Paloma Faith). 2014 promises to be a really exciting year for Kate as she has plans to release her debut EP and to continue her live performances - where no doubt she will be expanding her fan base at every gig. Interesting Fact - Kate first appearance in the media spotlight was in the Primrose Bakery Cookbook dressed as a Mexican serving burritos !	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line384
__label__wiki	0.882956	0.882956	A new gathering place Wed Nov 6th, 2013 12:31am April and Clyde Duke on the stage at Random Howse on North Beach Road in Eastsound. With its vast, shiny wood floors, cozy fireplace and intimate stage setting, Random Howse is primed to be an entertainment hot spot. “Our vision is that it will be a gathering place to enjoy the talent of those around us,” said April Duke, who purchased the building with her husband Clyde. The space, which was built in 2004, has traditionally been used for restaurants – most recently it was home to Agave. Now it is renamed and underwent a major cleaning and received new paint and a brick wall behind the stage. “My first attraction to this was that the building is under-utilized,” Clyde said. Random Howse will be a place for private occasions like baby showers and weddings and public happenings like live music, dancing and fundraisers. A full bar and snacks will be provided during events. “With all the bars and restaurants around, we want to offer something unique – and not compete with them,” April said. Their first function was a night of tango this summer. April says it was “wholesome fun” with people ranging in age from 12 to 70. Starting Nov. 19, Kevin Gregus and his wife Jowl will be making Thai food on Tuesdays from 5 to 9 p.m. Diners can sit down or order take-away. “There will be traditional items like Pad Thai, curries, and veggie and meat stir fries – it’s going to be simple,” said Gregus, who is also the breakfast chef at New Leaf Cafe. “I want to see if the community gets excited about eating Thai food.” The Dukes are hoping to book a calendar of events for the entire year. “The challenge for us is that it’s a work in progress,” Clyde said. He runs a roofing business and April works in the banquet department of Rosario and Outlook Inn. They are also renovating the athletics building in Eastsound. So finding time to pull off their new venture has been daunting. “I am a little scared,” April said. “But sometimes the things that frighten you can bring you the most joy and success. We’ve made a commitment to the community and everyone has high hopes.”	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line386
__label__wiki	0.515248	0.515248	Forex: J$137.03 to one US dollar 4:27 pm Bureau of Standards lauded for 50 years of service 4:30 pm US manufacturing sinks into recession amid trade wars 4:21 pm UPDATE: Bermuda man sentenced to 35 years for killing J'can 3:29 pm Manchester police investigating stabbing death of woman 3:51 pm PM bats for ENVIRONMENT BY KIMONE THOMPSON Associate editor — features thompsonk@jamaicaobserver.com SHE hasn't had a history of addressing environmental matters at home, but Prime Minister of Jamaica Portia Simpson Miller waxed eloquent on the subject at yesterday's special session to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the International Seabed Authority (ISA). Addressing the Authority at the Jamaica Conference Centre, Simpson Miller urged stronger protection of the world's oceans and seas, particularly for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), such as Jamaica, where tourism and fishing are major industries. "A healthy seabed is necessary and especially important for island states such as ours in the Caribbean which depend on the quality of the natural environment and derive much of their economic growth from the use of natural resources. "In this the International Year of Small Island Developing States, and in anticipation of the Third International Conference to be held in Samoa in September, it is critical that the governance of the oceans and environmental protection be strengthened," Simpson Miller said. She also commended the Authority for what she described as "its strong focus on environmental protection and conservation of the living non-renewable resources in its area of jurisdiction" and for its recognition of the entire seabed being a "complex living breathing ecosystem that supports life". "From aqua to deep azure, the ocean's blues hold secrets and rich resources fathoms deep. It has fallen to mankind to protect, preserve and regulate this sacred resource. This is a phenomenal responsibility -- one we in Jamaica take seriously," Simpson Miller said. Her comments come at a time when Jamaica is contending with a number of environmental issues regarding marine resources, including overfishing, coral reef disintegration, and pollution. Chief among them, however, is her Government's plan to enter an environmentally protected area to build a transshipment port, which will be powered by a coal-fired plant. The controversial project is to be located on Goat Islands in the Portland Bight Protected Area, well within Jamaica's territorial waters and not on the high seas where the ISA has jurisdiction. Local and international scientists and environmental lobby groups have, however, warned of some potentially negative effects of the project -- decimation of marine resources such as fish stock, coral reefs, and sea grass beds, and dislocation or extinction of endemic and other land-based species. It has split the nation down the middle, creating a virtual war of 'development versus environment' but neither Simpson Miller nor her minister of environment and climate change has made any comments. Environmental preservation is increasingly topical at the ISA, particularly as the Authority moves closer towards commercial mining of deep sea minerals such as polymetallic nodules, polymetallic sulphides and cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts. The organisation is currently conducting a baseline study in respect of the flora and fauna of the deep seabed with a view to ensuring their protection once mining begins, which could be as early as 2016. "Over the past few years, as word has got around that the ISA has been working on a mining code, the international community has been concerned about the impact of mining on the environment," Secretary General Nii Odunton told yesterday's session, adding that the study will determine what exactly exists and where they are located. "The component of the environment that would be most affected would be fauna. If we do not begin to ensure that we know where these fauna are to be found and standardise the codes, we will have problems in the future when mining begins," Odunton warned. To date, the ISA has issued 26 exploration contracts, each of which are valid for a period of 15 years. The earliest ones will expire in 2016, at which point states are expected to apply for exploitation or mining licences. Lack of concentration led to Girls' downfall, says Molly Rhone Sunshine Girls face Scotland for consolation place NY blackout: lots of questions, noanswers and a mayor under fire Pat Kelly hailed as great talent	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line390
__label__wiki	0.810543	0.810543	Hall v. Scougal [1840] NSWSupC 62 squatting run, trespass on, Namoi River, jury, special Willis J., 16 October 1840 Source: Sydney Herald, 19 October 1840 Before Mr. Justice Willis and a special Jury. HALL v. SCOUGAL. - The plaintiff in this case was Mr. George Hall, a settler near Pitt water, and the defendant was Mr. Richard Scougal, a flock holder; the action was brought to recover compensation for a trespass alleged to have been committed beyond the boundaries. The declaration contained three counts; viz., 1st, for having in the year 1836 broken into the plaintiff's close on the Upper Namoi River known as the Curenda Station; 2d, for having about the same time broken into another station about the same period; and 3rd, for having rushed and driven off the plaintiff's cattle by which the plaintiff alleged he had been damaged to the extent of two thousand pounds. In reply to these counts the defendant pleaded the general issue - also that the plaintiff was not possessed at the time of the alleged trespass. The plaintiff's son, Mr. Thomas Hall, proved that in January 1834, he was sent up by his father to form the station, which he did by placing nine hundred head of cattle on the run, which extended from three to ten miles in length, and was about eight miles in breadth; that when he went to form the station there was no person in possession of the run, nor did the defendant come there until about two years after, when he brought several flocks of sheep, which began to overrun the plaintiff's station, and subsequently eat the cattle out, and when remonstrated with about his encroachment, he refused all redress, but on the contrary occupied the station. At the time when the defendant began to trespass there were about fifteen hundred head of cattle, which he estimated had been depreciated about £1 per head, and also it was the witness's opinion that the station would have been worth £500 had the cattle not been driven from it by the defendant's sheep. After the plaintiff had finished his case, the Court adjourned till the following day, when Mr. A'Beckett addressed the jury for the defence, and called witnesses to prove that the plaintiff had only been partially in possession, and that he had received no damage. In putting the case to the jury his Honor laid down the law of the case, and stated that the case was extremely like that of Scott and Dight, which had been tried in March, 1839, and in which the jury had returned a merely nominal verdict. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, damages Forty Shillings. The plaintiff's counsel applied to the Judge to certify for a special jury, when his Honor stated he would certify in the present case, but now that the law respecting squatting cases was so well known, he thought that in future they could as well be tried by common as by special juries, and therefore he would not certify in future. Counsel for the plaintiff Messrs. Foster and Darvall, Attorney Mr. Norton; Counsel for the defendant Messrs. A'Beckett and Broadhurst, Attorney Mr. Minithorpe.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line395
__label__wiki	0.506318	0.506318	BEST OF THE WEB: After Syria & Venezuela, Russian military prepares for Hybrid war April 24th, 2019 Jesus Christ ✝ The Russian military’s main job has always been to defeat a large land invasion of the Russian heartland, such as those of Hitler, Napoleon, and Charles XII. But after the experience of Syria and Ukraine, Russian generals are adjusting their military doctrine to defeat a wider array of possible attacks, which, although less dangerous than all-out invasion, are more likely to occur. This move is a response to US behavior. Over the past few decades, the US has involved itself in countless, never-ending, low-risk conflicts. Americans seem to have forgotten Clausewitzian purpose of war: to destroy your enemy in a decisive engagement in order to achieve your political ends. Instead, they have allowed their foreign policy to be shaped by the careerist ambitions of military officers, private contractors, and Beltway pseudo-intellectuals, whose resumes depend on a steady supply of easy-to-win, fake wars. For them, war has become an end in itself. Russia no longer needs to face down a lion, but only stave off the jackals. From South Front Transcript: Written and produced by SF Team: J.Hawk, Daniel Deiss, Edwin Watson The term “Gerasimov Doctrine”, apparently wholly made up Mark Galeotti who, to his credit, owned up to his mistake, has been used by the Western media to the point of obscuring the real work on developing national security doctrines for Russia’s 21st century needs. In this work, General Valeriy Gerasimov, Chief of General Staff of the Russian Federation Armed Forces, has played a major role. During a recent conference at the Academy of Military Sciences, where Gerasimov delivered the keynote speech, he outlined the national security priorities facing the Russian Federation. This included areas where further theoretical research is necessary to inform the future dimensions of armed forces development. While Gerasimov’s address dedicated considerable attention to the problem of nuclear deterrence, it also made clear that, in terms of meeting challenges posed by the threat of rapid evolution and expansion of the United States’ strategic nuclear potential, Russia’s symmetrical and asymmetrical responses will ensure the viability of its nuclear deterrent for the foreseeable future. The emphasis appears to be on diversification, and not only of launch platforms but also of delivery vehicles. The problem with the existing force of ICBMs, SLBMs, and bomber-launched ALCMs is that they represent a relatively well-known potential to counter. This means that should the US decide to invest heavily in anti-missile and anti-air defenses, it could defeat Russia’s nuclear deterrent in an all-out war. Moreover, the existence of widespread anti-air and anti-missile networks means that limited escalation using small numbers of offensive weapons might be stopped, forcing Russia to make an “all or nothing” choice-either no escalation at all, or an all-out nuclear strike. Gerasimov’s discussion of a genuinely strategic system such as the Avangard hypersonic glider, Burevestnik global-range cruise missile, and Poseidon underwater unmanned vehicle together with operational-level systems such as the Zircon hypersonic cruise missile and Kinzhal aeroballistic missile, indicates the desire to constitute Russia’s nuclear deterrent on the basis of an array of mutually complementary systems carried by an expanded range of carrier vehicles, including fighter aircraft such as the MiG-31 and attack submarines. Russia’s leadership would thus be able to hold at risk a wide range of leadership and value targets using both conventional and nuclear systems against which it would be extremely difficult to construct a defensive barrier that would be viable in the minds of US decision makers. Remarkably, the traditional strong suit of the Russian military, namely large-scale land warfare, received relatively little attention in Gerasimov’s speech. Regarding that, he only touched upon the existing reorganization of army-brigade structure into army-division-regiments which are better suited for high-intensity operations. He also discussed the continued equipment modernization and expansion of the volunteer components of the armed forces. There were no indications that the mission of the Land Forces was about to shift from the emphasis on fighting a limited land battle on one of Russia’s many frontiers against a conventional incursion launched with little warning. However, Gerasimov’s concept of defensive action also includes the “strategy of limited actions” in order to safeguard not only Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity but also its interests abroad, including in far-flung theaters of operations such as Syria and possibly even Venezuela. Here, depending on the situation, the strategy calls for the establishment of a forces group led by one of the main branches of forces such as the Land Forces, Aerospace Forces, Airborne Assault Forces, or the Navy, in order to deploy to a remote destination and conduct operations in support of a regional ally. The unveiling of the concept of “strategy of limited actions” indicates that the Syria operation was to a large extent an improvisation, a test-bed for not only weapons but also, and perhaps especially, operational concepts including inter-service cooperation. While a successful improvisation, the Syria campaign did reveal a number of gaps in Russia’s military capabilities, including the use of unmanned platforms where it clearly lags behind the United States, and also the ability to assess and strike emerging targets in near-real time. The repeated drone swarm attacks on the Hmeimim airbase are a case where Russian forces, while able to defeat the swarms themselves, did not appear able to quickly locate and destroy the source of these swarms. Gerasimov’s address recognized the need for theoretical and practical solutions to these problems, as well as the importance of political and humanitarian factors in the ultimate settlement of the conflict which definitely proved to be the case in Syria, where the adroitness of Russia’s diplomacy and Moscow’s ability to use political and economic levers of influence considerably changed the political landscape of not only Syria, but of the entire Middle East. The final aspect of Gerasimov’s address that is worthy of attention is the recognition that Russia has less to fear from NATO’s conventional or even nuclear warfare than from unconventional “hybrid” attacks, including information and cyber-warfare, and even direct subversion using a domestic “fifth column”. It is here that Gerasimov made the most extensive request for theoretical research, acknowledging that dealing with such a threat would require close coordination of military, paramilitary, and purely civilian government agencies. What Gerasimov described is essentially the Venezuela scenario. The dispatch of a delegation of some 100 Russian military personnel appears to be intended to provide both a show of support and tangible assistance in the form of advice to the beleaguered Venezuelan government. However, in view of Gerasimov’s emphasis on theoretical research into dealing with unconventional threats, Venezuela also offers an opportunity to study US methods being used in this undeclared “hybrid” war. There the United States is, in effect, conducting an experiment in “non-kinetic” warfare using chiefly economic pressure, information operations, and cyberwarfare, in conjunction with what appears to be a rather weak “fifth column”. The apparent lack of use of even proxy armed forces may yet change should the current US strategy fail. All in all, even though the Russian Federation was able to successfully weather the military and political challenges of the past several years, including the undoubted success in Syria that has considerably enhanced Russia’s prestige not only in the Middle East but all over the world, there was no evidence of complacency in Gerasimov’s address. Instead there was a sense of awareness that this is a crisis which will not be quickly resolved and which will require the ability to rapidly develop and deploy counters to whatever new methods of confrontation Western powers will adopt. Source Article from https://www.sott.net/article/411652-After-Syria-Venezuela-Russian-military-prepares-for-Hybrid-war Venezuela’s opposition leader Guaido losing popular support Jesus Silva Press TV, Caracas The popularity of Venezuelan opposition figure, Juan Guaido, appears Liberals Use ‘Human Rights’ to Push Coup in Venezuela The modern way to overthrow a government the capitalist world doesn’t like is by claiming The Glaring Holes in Michelle Bachelet’s Venezuela Human Rights Report UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Michelle Bachelet’s report on Venezuela echoes the US government’s talking Venezuela is a commie hell hole Late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez (R) shakes hands with then Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin Statement On Human Rights In Venezuela Statement On Human Rights In Venezuela Above Photo: Comisión Interamericana/Flickr UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Posted in World News Tags: after, hybrid, military, prepares, russian, Syria, Venezuela « Brendon O’Connell- Iran-Israel Conflict is a Charade 2020 Democratic hopefuls want congress to ‘take steps’ toward impeaching Trump »	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line397
__label__wiki	0.52194	0.52194	Two Teams, Two Championships The winningest sports team at John Jay College, hands-down, is the coed rifle team, which in March brought home its 12th and 13th Mid Atlantic Conference (MAC) championships in air rifle and small-... President Travis Receives Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Award New York, New York, April 25, 2017 – President Jeremy Travis has been recognized as thought-leader at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival’s Eighth Annual Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Awards (TDIA). He... The Evidence Will Show. . . Forensic Scientist Thomas Kubic, 2017 Distinguished Faculty Honoree It is often said that one thing that sets John Jay apart from other colleges is a faculty that seamlessly integrates academic theory with real-world experience. Few faculty members embody that idea... Alumni Reunion Celebrates the Then and Now Hundreds of John Jay College alumni returned to their alma mater on April 21 and 22 for the annual Alumni Reunion Weekend, which included a special Founding Generation symposium to celebrate the 13-... Research team tracks complex web of criminal-justice monetary sanctions in 9 states New York, NY, April 21th, 2017 – The phrase “criminal justice system” may conjure images of courtrooms, juries and prison. But, increasingly, people’s wallets are the target of punishment, according... John Jay’s Model United Nations Team Reaps Top Awards at 2017 National Model U.N. Conference. For the 13th consecutive year, John Jay ranked among the top 5 percent of colleges and universities from over 30 countries that participated in the annual National Model United Nations (NMUN)... Anne Milgram Joins John Jay College Foundation Board of Trustees Former New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram, now a professor and scholar-in-residence at New York University School of Law, is the newest member of the John Jay College Foundation Board of... Anna Deavere Smith, The Petrie Foundation And President Jeremy Travis To Be Honored At John Jay College Educating For Justice Gala With a special recognition for the Founding Supporters of John Jay-Vera Fellows Program New York, NY, April 19, 2017 – John Jay College of Criminal Justice will honor Anna Deavere Smith, acclaimed... Student Travel Abroad Scholarship Honors President Travis In honor of President Jeremy Travis, who will step down on August 1, 2017, John Jay College has launched the Jeremy Travis Scholarship for Study Abroad to increase opportunities for student study... Statement from President Jeremy Travis on the New York State Budget April 10, 2017 Dear Colleagues, With the final enactment of the budget for the State of New York last night, we should take a moment to celebrate the budget’s good news for our College, the City... CLOSING RIKERS: STATEMENT BY PRESIDENT TRAVIS On April 2, an impressive group of elected officials, criminal justice leaders and community activists convened in the Moot Court Room at John Jay College to mark the release of a landmark report... Hitting His Stride on the John Jay Stage Nicholas Smith, a sophomore Law and Society major, has only been in the United States for about eight months, yet this week he’ll take to the stage in a lead role in a new theatrical production at... Misdemeanor Justice Project Report Examines Pretrial Detention in New York City April 5, 2017, New York, NY – As counties and cities around the country look for ways to reduce the levels of pretrial detention, a new report from the Misdemeanor Justice Project (MJP) at John Jay...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line398
__label__wiki	0.767815	0.767815	Bloomingdale, DC Real Estate Bloomingdale is in Northwest DC, just north of the Capitol, alongside Ledroit Park. The Bloomingdale area was not part of Pierre L’Enfant’s original city plan and was a rural area of large estates and orchards until the late 19th century. A flour mill was built at the corner of 3rd and Florida Avenue in the 1890s and train yards were soon to follow. Development continued with new transportation routes and paved roads at the turn of the century, making way for new urban residences. Bloomingdale continues to thrive as a small residential community. Like Ledroit Park, community has a wonderful selection of historic and well-appointed row houses. The neighborhood is quiet, accessible and close to many of DC’s monuments and universities, as well as commercial services, restaurants and grocery stores. Rhode Island Avenue and Florida Avenue cut across the Bloomingdale community. 2nd Street and North Capitol Street mark the west and east boundaries respectively. Like those in Ledroit Park, Bloomingdale residents are a short walk to either the New York Avenue Metro or Shaw Metro stations, as well as other Metro services. Ronald Reagan National Airport < 10 miles Washington Dulles International Airport < 30 miles Baltimore Washington International Airport < 35 miles View all Bloomingdale Listings SEARCH FOR LISTINGS IN BLOOMINGDALE 74 S STREET NW 44 BRYANT STREET NW 10 GIRARD STREET NE 26 RANDOLPH PLACE NW 313 ELM STREET NW 22 BRYANT STREET NW #2	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line402
__label__wiki	0.578452	0.578452	Home\| Founding Declaration\| About\| Supporters\| Contact EDITORIAL: PULWAMA POSTURINGS Vinod Mubayi In a time of hyper-nationalism, reason and rational thinking go out the window to be replaced by chest thumping, calls for surgical strikes and revenge. The Pulwama episode reveals these features in gory detail. Indian TV anchors screaming like demented hyenas smelling blood if a guest dares to offer the mildest critique of the Government’s policies in Kashmir. Lynch mobs roaming the streets in many states outside Kashmir threatening and intimidating students of Kashmiri origin and forcing them out of their schools, colleges and hostels. At the outset, the attack on the soldiers of the Central Reserve Police Force claimed to have been planned and perpetrated by the Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist group based in Pakistan needs to be condemned unreservedly. We mourn the deaths of the CRPF personnel, victims of the suicide bombing. They came from all over India to serve in what is unfortunately regarded by most of the population of the Kashmir Valley as an occupation army. There is little point in hiding this basic fact. In an area where an occupation army simply does not have support among the majority of the population it is difficult to prevent such attacks as has been the experience of different armies in various countries over the last 50-60 years. Charges have been made that there was advance intelligence about an attack that was not heeded or the authorities failed to implement measures that would have prevented the car of the suicide bomber from traveling on the road at the same time as the military transport vehicles. Such charges can and should be investigated but they cannot elide the fact that Kashmiri Muslims who constitute over 90% of the Valley’s population regard the Indian Army and paramilitaries as alien and celebrate those who attack it as heroes. The 19-year old boy Adil Ahmed Dar who perished in the suicide attack may have been instigated and trained by Pakistani handlers but he was himself a local Indian Kashmiri lad. His willingness to sacrifice his life and the fact that there are many others likely to imitate him testify to the depth of alienation among Kashmiri youth and the difficulty of preventing such attacks by military force alone. However, it is more the behavior and response of the Indian political class, especially the BJP rulers and their trolls led by the 56-inch chest thumper Modi, which needs to be scrutinized. Lynch mobs target Kashmiri students and traders living in different states and the Prime Minister is silent or evasive. Are these attacks condoled by the highest echelons of the BJP leadership intended to win the “hearts and minds” of the Kashmiri youth? Education Minister Javadekar denies any harassment of Kashmiri students while a headline in the next column of the newspaper contradicts him directly. Kashmir is often referred to by the same leaders as the “atoot ang” (unbreakable part) of India. But the Kashmiri people it seems are not included; they are regarded merely as terrorists and saboteurs. The hypocrisy practiced at this level has persisted for many decades, with thousands of deaths and disappearances of protestors, the maiming and blinding by pellet guns of children who come out on the streets in protest, and other atrocities by India’s military and paramilitary forces. The last five years of the Modi regime have been the most horrific. Saner elements in the Indian polity, including recently retired Army Generals have admitted that dialogue among the three stakeholders, India, Pakistan, and the people of Kashmir is the only path forward that has a chance of addressing this issue. But the current BJP leadership seems to be least interested in dialogue that it interprets as weakness. The hesitant forward steps to dialogue initiated by Vajpayee and later by Manmohan Singh are history now. Instead the talk is of surgical and not-so-surgical strikes and war with Pakistan that carries with it the danger of a nuclear holocaust among neighbors armed with nuclear weapons. Admiral Ramdas, former head of the Indian Navy and Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, has warned in a letter to the President of India that “it is imperative that the situation should not be allowed to escalate into greater hostilities which it might not always be possible to contain.” But is Modi and the BJP/RSS leadership with elections only a couple of months away listening? Top - Home Year: Select Year 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 Month: Select Month January February March April May June July August September October November December Alternatives International website by CHRISTIAN DOMPIERRE & KEN BERNATCHEZ \| design adapted by PINKGORILLADSGN \| Log in	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line403
__label__wiki	0.855237	0.855237	Illustrations of the Literature and Religion of the Buddhists - Brian Houghton Hodgson 1841 - Self-published – Bound at the Baptist Mission Press, Serampore - First Edition in Book Form Hodgson’s rare and important work – the first collected edition of papers on the literature and religion of Buddhism – fifteen in total, originally published in Transactions and Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and London, and which for the first time revealed to the West the Sanskrit literature of northern, or Mahayana, Buddhism, which had been preserved in Nepal. For the collection Hodgson adds a preface and many footnotes. Features two folding lithographed alphabet tables. Interestingly, Hodgson published this book in Serampore, at the time a Danish colony, it would have been printed at the former Serampore Mission Press, set up by the Baptist missionary William Carey, which closed in 1837 merging with the Baptist Mission Press, where this copy was also bound (see small bookplate to front pastedown). Hodgson later reprinted 12 of the 15 papers as part one of Essays on the Languages, Literature and Religion of Nepal and Tibet (1874), the second part being on the tribes and geography of Nepal and Tibet, and in 1880 he published Miscellaneous Essays Relating to Indian Subjects (2 volumes, 1880), containing his papers on Indian languages and ethnology. The Indian Alps and How We Crossed Them - Nina Elizabeth Mazuchelli 1876 - Longmans, London - First Edition A handsome volume of this enduring work on mountaineering, the enthusiastic and irrepressible narrative of Nina Elizabeth Mazuchelli who, together with her Army chaplain husband, Francis, and their friend ‘C’ (the District Officer) traversed the Nepal-Sikkim frontier along the Singalila Ridge – they almost reached the Tibetan border before a blizzard forced them to turn back. Despite their retreat, Mrs Mazuchelli was the first English woman to travel so far into the eastern Himalayas. Profusely illustrated with 10 full page chromolithographic plates and numerous in-text drawings and sketches by the author, together with a folding map of Sikkim, the travelling party’s route marked in colour. Moved On! From Kashgar to Kashmir - P. S. Nazaroff, Malcolm Burr (translator), 1935 - George Allen & Unwin Ltd, London - First Edition A fine copy, of this fabulous work by the man who continued the post war Great Game, a book described by Peter Hopkirk as ‘a brilliant mixture of adventure and observation’. From the library of James Hurley, member of the first team to attempt K12 in the Karkoram, after training with Eric Shipton. In the scarce dust jacket, and illustrated with 33 black and white photographs, mostly by his friend Clarmont Skrine, the British consul-general in Kashgar, and a folding route map. Paul (Pavel) Stepanovich Nazaroff (1890-1942), a Russian geologist and writer, was caught up in the Russian Revolution, and became the leader of a plot to overthrow Bolshevik rule in Central Asia. The first half of this book describe’s Nazaroff’s four years in Kashgar amongst the Sarts and Chinese and the second part is the story of his harrowing escapes and journey through the Karakorams. Western Tibet and the British Borderland - Charles A. Sherring, T.G. Longstaff 1906 - Edward Arnold, London - First Edition A handsome first edition of this important work on Western Tibet, Sherring’s account of his exploration through the region during the summer of 1905, profusely illustrated with numerous photographic illustrations, together with two folding maps and a chapter by T.G. Longstaff, of the Alpine Club, describing an attempt to climb the 25,350 foot summit of Gurla Mandhata. Sherring’s journey took him through Mount Kailas, the sacred lake of Mansarowar, Kangra, Garhwal, Almora, the Kedarnath, Badrinath and adjoining territories. His narrative describes legends and myths of the holy lands, the religions and customs of the Tibetans, Hindus and Bhotias, agriculture, government, and trade routes. Views In India, Chiefly Among The Himalaya Mountains - Lieut. George Francis White, Emma Roberts (editor) 1838 - Fisher, London & Paris - Second Edition A superior copy of the first printing of the second edition, title page dated 1838, and the complete set of India related Illustrations with 29 full page engraved plates, and extra illustrated engraved title page, from water-colours by various artists including Turner after sketches by White, Grindlay, and others. Fisher’s later printings added a separate section on Java with eight plates from Indonesian sketches. The work was originally published in 1836, but without the valuable input and editing of Emma Roberts (1794-1840) who worked as an editor and writer in India whilst staying with her sister, and later under commission form the Asiatic Journal. Lieutenant White (1808-98) was stationed in India with the 31st Regiment of Foot from 1825 to 1846, and saw action at Moodkee and Ferozeshah in the First Anglo-Sikh War, retiring as lieutenant-colonel on half-pay in 1854. Between 1829 and 1832 he travelled ‘in that portion of the Himalayan regions lying between the rivers Sutlej and Kelee’ making sketches of sites along the Ganges and Jumna, at Sutlej, the Keeree pass, Hardwar, Mussoorie, Jamnotri, Gangotri, Simla, Nahaun, including an account of the ascent of Choor, there are also views in Rajputana, Bombay, the Deccan and Kathiawar.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line409
__label__wiki	0.973193	0.973193	Genre: Singer Songwriter Official: www.benharper.net With the March 20th release of his seventh studio album, the double-disc Both Sides of the Gun, Ben Harper offers his signature mix of rock, soul, and folk music, while also venturing into new territory. "I was hoping I could come back to the root of my earlier records, the sparseness and intimacy," he says, "and also branch out further in a produced sound than ever before." From the blazing Curtis Mayfield/Stevie Wonder-style funk of "Black Rain" to the gentle sway of "Morning Yearning" to the full-on power ballad "Waiting for You," the eighteen songs on Both Sides reveal a master stylist at the peak of his game. Harper says that what was most exciting about the sessions for this album was a newfound sense of "absolute fearlessness - just diving into a song and ripping it wide open, with a lot of one-take vocals and guitar solos that are nasty, loose, raw, immediate." The raging "Please Don?t Talk About Murder While I?m Eating" went from dinner conversation to finished track in one night; the vocal for the delicate "Picture in a Frame" was done in just one shot, straight through. For the first time, the singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist decided that the strongest way to present his new material was on two discs. "I?ve always found some way to blend the different ways that music plays down - hard songs, fast songs, soul songs, folk, rock, reggae, ballads," he says. "But this time I couldn?t find it. When I?d come out of a ballad into something hard, it was too much like getting hit in the face with a cold bucket of water." And so despite his initial hesitations ("double records come with such baggage about being overindulgent and unfocused"), he looked up one day and realized that he had chosen nine harder songs and nine ballad-based songs for this album, and that, conveniently, one of them had the title "Both Sides of the Gun" - and the structure of the album became clear. "I hate to call it the hard disc and the soft disc," he says, "because sometimes the soft stuff hits you harder than anything else." With each disc clocking in at just over 30 minutes, Harper compares the experience to listening to old-school vinyl; "It?s like flipping a record, turning it over to the next side." Since debuting in 1994 with Welcome to the Cruel World, Ben Harper has established himself as one of the world?s most versatile and hard-working musicians - and one of its top concert draws. Even by his standards, though, the years since releasing his last album, 2003?s world-music-inflected Diamonds on the Inside, have been hectic. After completing his usual extensive tour, Harper had started writing and was preparing to make his next album when he got a call from the legendary gospel dynasty the Blind Boys of Alabama. "They asked me to produce a couple of songs," he says, "and that quickly turned into its own world." The "world" it became was the critically acclaimed, 2X Grammy-winning 2004 collaboration There Will Be a Light, which was in turn followed by the riveting Live at the Apollo DVD. Harper says that working with these legends, on stage and in the studio, quite simply altered his entire approach to making music. "Before the Blind Boys, I used to sing," he says. "With and after the Blind Boys, I may have become a singer." All the while, he kept writing new songs. "I?ve been so hungry to make this album, we?re lucky it?s not a triple record!," he says. "I?m glad I waited, though, because if I had gone in right away, it would have sounded too much like Diamonds. The Blind Boys thing came along like a bolt of lightning and gave me a much clearer vision of how I wanted to make my next record." Beyond a newfound confidence, he claims that working with the Blind Boys - and a subsequent session with the incomparable Funk Brothers for the Standing in the Shadows of Motown film - gave him the sense of immediacy and urgency that underscores Both Sides of the Gun. That attitude is perhaps best exemplified by "Black Rain," a song written as a direct response to the days following Hurricane Katrina. "I had to make the picture as clear as the event," says Harper of the string-powered slice of soul. "Because if that can happen here - that disregard for human life - and we allow that to happen to the citizens of this country, then all bets are off. And if there?s no justice in day-to-day living, there?s for damn sure gonna be some justice in my music." Throughout his career, Harper has bounced between recording on his own, with other musicians, and with his long-time partners, the Innocent Criminals; on Both Sides he utilized all three configurations. "The songs themselves lead the charge," he says, "but there were some songs I didn?t want to check in with anybody on, because I could hear them so clearly." As always, though, he?s excited to take the new songs out and road test them with the band. "The amazing thing about the Innocent Criminals," he says, "is that everything always gets ramped up by about the second or third month we?ve been hitting it. It takes on new life." The album marks the third time that Harper has taken sole production credit for a full project. This time, he felt the responsibility had to be his own. "How do I motivate myself, push myself?," he asks, and then answers himself. "I?m driven - pure and simple. There has to come a point in your creative world where you?re the only one that can raise the bar." With Both Sides of the Gun, Ben Harper has raised that bar to new heights. For him, though, it?s just one more step in a career that?s still building. "I?ve never made a record that didn?t feel like it was my first," he says, "with the same excitement, the same enthusiasm and intensity." Of course, in the dozen years since that first record, he?s built a loyal fan base around the globe, but he sees the expectations of his audience as a challenge, not a limitation. "Expectations are there for a reason," Harper says. "To be surpassed." By My Side (Retrospective) (Virgin Records America-2012) iTunes Originals (00 Virgin Records America-1999) The Will To Live: Live EP Alone (Live) - EP Rolling Stone Original (Live) - EP Rock 'N' Roll Is Free - Single Give Till It's Gone Remember - Single (3 Virgin Records America-2009) If I Could Hear My Mother Pray - Single In the Colors - Single Live At Lollapalooza 2007: Ben Harper - Single Fight Outta You - Single Better Way - Single Both Sides of the Gun iTunes Originals: Ben Harper Diamonds On the Inside Fight for Your Mind Welcome to the Cruel World Frances Mai-Ling, Dylan Gardner, Ian Siegal, Willy Porter, Sara Groves, Seth Glier, Daniel Powter, Jules Shear, Goot, Janet Martin, Jon Abel, Cris Cab, Melissa Gibson, Annie Dressner, , Tom Wehrle, Christina Lux, Coury Palermo, Jackson Browne, Jen Gloeckner, Ingrid Olava, Scott Howard, Kimmie Rhodes, Tim Brantley, Koji 2012-09-27 - Ben Harper: Retrospective "By My Side", Solo Tou... 2007-05-05 - Ben Harper Sends Out "Lifeline" In August 2006-03-10 - Double Album Out In March With Ben Harper + Vide...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line411
__label__wiki	0.682772	0.682772	CATASTROIKA Privatization goes public (Documentary) The creators of Debtocracy, a documentary with two million views broadcasted from Japan to Latin America, analyze the shifting of state assets to private hands. They travel round the world gathering data on privatization in developed countries and search for clues on the day after Greece's massive privatization program. The documentary uncovers the forthcoming results of the current sell-off of the Greek public assets, demanded in order to face the country’s enormous sovereign debt. Turning to the examples of London, Paris, Berlin, Moscow and Rome, CATASTROIKA predicts what will happen, if the model imposed in these areas is imported in a country under international financial tutelage. Slavoj Zizek, Naomi Klein, Luis Sepulveda, Ken Loach and Greg Palast talk about the austerity measures, the Greek government as well as the attack against Democracy on Europe, after the general spreading of the financial crisis. Academics and specialists like Dani Rodrik, Alex Callinicos, Ben Fine, Costas Douzinas, Dean Baker and Aditya Chakrabortty present unknown aspects of the privatization programs in Greece and abroad. Just like Debtocracy, CATASTROIKA is co-produced by the public, which contributed both financially and with ideas to its creation. The documentary will be available free of charge, under creative commons license. High-resolution files will be available for TV and cinema broadcasts in various languages. The journalists Aris Chatzistefanou and Katerina Kitidi are responsible for writing and directing the documentary, while Leonidas Vatikiotis undertook its scientific editing. Active Member and Ermis Georgiadis created the soundtrack of CATASTROIKA, while the editing was made by Aris Triantafyllou. Infowar Productions and Thanos Tsantas are responsible for producing the film. For more information, please visit www.catastroika.com. What's wrong with the Greeks and the Greek Economic Crisis? The man who changed Iceland - The message for Greece Apologies Of An Economic Hitman (Documentary) Anonymous - Operation Greece (#OpGreece) Press Release Remember Remember The 6th Of December - R.I.P. Alex THINK while it's still legal! I'm trying to free your mind. But I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it... “FREETHINKERS are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own customs, privileges, or beliefs. This state of mind is not common, but it is essential for right thinking.” ―Leo Tolstoy “I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables—slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war . . . our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires and movie gods and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off.” —Tyler Durden, FIGHT CLUB, 1999 THINK for yourself. Question Everything! What Does School Really Teach Children? The Corporation (2003) Award-winning Documentary The Money Masters (Documentary): How Banks Create the World's Money Owned & Operated - A film about Humanity and the World we've built for Ourselves The Intelligent Heart - Institute of HeartMath WAKE UP! We are all ONE - Change YOURSELF to change the World Gregg Braden - The Divine Matrix: Bridging Time, Space, Miracles & Belief Gregg Braden discusses the Holographic Nature of the Universe and how everything we do affects the collective consciousness of us all. “If you wish to understand the Universe, think of energy, frequency and vibration.” -Nikola Tesla Recent discoveries show dramatic evidence that The Divine Matrix is the missing link in our understanding. In order to tap from the force of this matrix, we must first understand how it works and speak the language that it recognizes. Gregg Braden reveals how to explore and discover the miracles of the Quantum world. It is in this place of pure energy — a 'Quantum Field' — where everything begins, from the birth of stars and the DNA of life, to our deepest relationships and healing. New discoveries suggest that our world is a reflection of our beliefs. Everything is now believed to be overturned. The power to create joy, to heal our woes and find peace in our nation is inside The miracles we see in the Quantum world, show us the scientific limitations or the great potential we have? Could the spontaneous cure of diseases, instantly with everyone and everything, even time travel be our true purpose in the universe? A series of subversive experiments between 1993 and 2000, revealed a network of energy that connects everything in our lives and our world. It is called Divine Matrix or Quantum Hologram or The "Field" or Nature's Mind or Stephen Hawking's talking as the Mind of God,Max Planck's talking as The Matrix (The name of the movie comes from). Miraculous removal of an inoperable malignant tumour in the patient's bladder using the power of belief. From the healing of our body to the success at work and our relationships and peace, new evidence shows that all of us can talk directly to the power that connects the entire universe. Let's follow Gregg Braden in this wonderful journey that combines science, spirituality and miracles through the language of the Divine Matrix. “My brain is only a receiver, in the Universe there is a core from which we obtain knowledge, strength, inspiration. I have not penetrated into the secrets of this core, but I know it exists.” -Nikola Tesla The Science of Healing (You can Heal any Disease) Dr. Bruce Lipton: The Biology of Belief - Where Mind and Matter Meet Dr. Amit Goswami - Quantum Physics & Consciousness Nassim Haramein - Sacred Geometry and Unified Fields What the Bleep Do We Know (Documentary) Into the Universe with Stephen Hawking: The Story of Everything, Time Travel, Aliens. The Science of Energy and Thought. Subconscious Mind Power The Collective Evolution 2: The Human Experience (Documentary) Anonymous targets CISPA Supporters: Facebook, Microsoft, Intel, IBM, U.S. Telecom, TechAmerica Anonymous is currently conducting a two-stage attack on businesses and advocacy groups supporting the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA). Two technology trade associations said they were targeted by the hacker-activist group Anonymous as it singled out supporters of proposed legislation to improve U.S. cyber-security. The hacker group Anonymous claimed responsibility for taking down the websites of USTelecom and Tech America, which both back the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act of 2011. Both sites remained unreachable as of Monday afternoon. The attacks began yesterday when users were unable to log onto the sites. USTelecom represents telecom companies, including AT&T, Verizon, and CenturyLink; and TechAmerica's members include tech companies such as IBM, Microsoft, and Apple. A Twitter account called @Anon_Central yesterday called the Rogers bill “draconian” and posted a link to groups and companies supporting the legislation. Anonymous posted a YouTube video showing US Telecom's site down Sunday, and the site was down for about 24 hours, according to a USTelecom spokesman. Anonymous on Friday released a YouTube video threatening supporters of the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, a bill focused on encouraging U.S. government agencies and private businesses to trade information about cyber-attacks. The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act of 2011 (CISPA), sponsored by Reps. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) and Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.), has recently caught the attention of online activists, who are comparing it to the now-shelved Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Lawmakers say the goal of CISPA is to help companies beef up their defenses against hackers who steal business secrets, rob customer financial information and wreak havoc on computer systems. The bill would tear down legal barriers that discourage companies from sharing information about cyberattacks. But privacy advocates warn the legislation could lead companies to share private user information with federal spy agencies. The House is expected to vote on the cybersecurity measure on the week of April 23. Hacker group Anonymous also claimed to have taken down the CIA website for the second time in two months following a new DDoS attack on the U.S. secret service which lasted 45 minutes. Anonymous is reportedly on a DDoS rampage today, downing the CIA, Department of Justice, and two MI6 websites. Members of the group claimed responsibility throughout Facebook and Twitter. Brazilian hacktivist Havittaja reportedly launched the initial offensive on the DoJ and CIA for “lulz” while other members jumped on board a short time later. The technique also known as a DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attack, is a concentrated effort by multiple individuals to make a network busy to its intended users. The end result is server overload. Anonymous makes a freeware tool available to its members to carry out these attacks, which it calls the Low Orbit Ion Cannon. The collective targeted the department of justice in January as part of Operation Megaupload, in a retaliatory attack against the US government's decision to close the popular file-sharing site. As the campaign against the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) heats up, it's important for the opposition movement to understand just how many companies directly or indirectly support the legislation (i.e. through a trade group). Starting on Monday, a variety of organizations, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Democracy and Technology, The Constitution Project, Demand Progress, Engine Advocacy, Fight for the Future, Free Press, Reporters Without Borders, Techdirt, and TechFreedom plan to launch a “week of action” campaign against CISPA, a bill they believe remains dangerously broad in its language, which could result in abuse by the government, and damages to our civil liberties. While many are comparing CISPA to the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), the two bills are entirely different for a number of reasons. First, CISPA is a cybersecurity bill that pertains to the sharing of information between the government and private companies. SOPA was an anti-piracy bill that sought to block access to “foreign rogue” websites that illegally distributed copyrighted material. Second, SOPA was opposed by many of the technology and Internet industry’s biggest players. CISPA, on the other hand, effectively has the support of hundreds of technology and Internet companies — a key difference that could drastically affect whether the anti-CISPA crowd can successfully block passage of the bill. To give you a full picture of just how much political firepower the CISPA has in Congress, we’ve listed most, if not all, of the companies and organizations that have voiced either direct support for CISPA (by writing a letter, or otherwise expressing support for this specific bill), or indirect support through the direct support of a trade group. The organizations or companies listed in bold have voiced direct support. Those companies not in bold have not necessarily given direct support (though quite a few have), but have supported the bill through the trade group, which is listed in bold. The links go to the .pdf files of the letters the company sent to the House Intelligence Committee to express their support of CISPA. As you can see, the list of CISPA supporters is massive, and should give anyone who thinks this will be an easy political fight a dose of reality. Not that CISPA can’t be stopped but, well, scroll down and you’ll see what we mean. Business Roundtable COMPTEL CTIA – The Wireless Association Cyber, Space & Intelligence Association – Ed. Note: There is no information about this organization, what it is, what it does, or who its members are. We are looking into the matter further. Edison Electric The Financial Services Roundtable Independent Telephone & Telecommunications Alliance Information Technology Industry Council National Cable & Telecommunications Association NDIA TechAmerica: Full list not readily available US Chamber of Commerce: Includes more than 3 million businesses US Telecom – The Broadband Association: Full list not available Google, Anonymous and European MPs join forces for a Free and Open Internet — UN's upcomming Conference to change the Internet as we know it Mozilla joins Anonymous against Congress & CISPA US government using copyright infringement to take over the Internet? CISPA Explained by Anonymous. Sign the Petition to STOP CISPA! EU suspends ACTA! - European Court of Justice to decide Anonymous warns the EU - ANTI-ACTA protests accross Europe! INTERNET FREEDOM: The Past, Present and Future of Internet Censorship ACTA Explained by Anonymous \| Sign the Petition to STOP ACTA! 7000 Websites to Strike January 18th against SOPA bill in Congress Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protect Act already gained over 100 sponsors and is perhaps the worst of them all. It would allow companies to collect and monitor private communications and share them with the government and anyone else. Groups of hacktivist like Anonymous are the actual news of the global technology landscape. As repeatedly stressed I consider the moment of confrontation with the group a moment of growth for the IT professional in many ways, on all: Having to deal with the cyber threat that requires us much thought in terms of technology with respect to the real security of the systems that surround us and exploitable vulnerabilities to offend. Attention often pose on delicate events suffocated by the interests of greedy governments and multinational. Obviously we are talking about a group of hackers defined by some recent reports as the most dangerous phenomena cyber-criminals in recent years, underestimate it or being overcome by emotional and ideological transport is extremely dangerous. The group follows a strategy, a trend that I consider interesting to analyze without ideological preconceptions, provided a cue of interest in the current IT scenario. How many people know the common censorship project of Chinese Government? How many of us knew of the attempt of many Western governments as the UK to implement a monitoring and control on computer to prevent cyber terrorism? The exploits of the team have a devastating media coverage, they are able to involve critical masses and to win the sympathies of many professionals for their ability to deal with issues otherwise intentionally concealed. Exceptionally interesting is the theme discussed by the group in recent weeks, in fact, the hackers have conducted a series of attacks and have promised new states against those governments guilty of extremely stringent political control and censorship. Anonymous - CISPA Worse than SOPA Learn more about: The Creator of CISPA, Michael Rodgers - CISPA Bill - CISPA Supporters Sign to STOP CISPA! Anonymous - Operation Defense (CISPA) If you download and distribute copyrighted material on the Internet, or share any information that governments or corporations find inconvenient, you could soon be labeled a threat to national security in the United States. That’s the aim of a bill in Congress called the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA). The good news is that SOPA and PIPA haven’t come to pass, but the bad news is that they could be followed by a bill that is even more invasive and could violate even more of your civil liberties. According to a press release issued last week, the bill already has over a 100 congressional co-sponsors. Yet the bill is only now beginning to appear on the public radar. CISPA would let companies spy on users and share private information with the federal government and other companies with near-total immunity from civil and criminal liability. It effectively creates a ‘cybersecurity’ exemption to all existing laws. CISPA, however, is nothing like SOPA, despite its recent association in the media. While SOPA included provisions that would have essentially broken the Internet by allowing the U.S. to delete domains from a central registry system, CISPA does nothing of the sort, and aims more at “cyber threat intelligence” gathering than censorship and piracy prevention. The bill presents itself as a simple enhancement of America’s cyber-security that would amend the National Security Act to include “cyber threat intelligence” gathering. To those ends, it would tear down the firewall between private corporate networks and the National Security Agency , enabling corporations to share data with the world’s most sophisticated spy apparatus. While the bill is openly supported by companies like AT&T, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Facebook, Boeing and Intel, ACLU legislative counsel Michelle Richardson cautioned last month that it is not something to be taken up lightly. CISPA: Major Threat To The Internet Anonymous Attacks China and United Kingdom (UK) - Operations Against Censorship The message to Chinese Government All these years, the Chinese Communist government has subjected its People to unfair laws and unhealthy processes. Dear Chinese government, you are not infallible, today websites are hacked, tomorrow it will be your vile regime that will fall. So expect us because we do not forgive, never. What you are doing today to your Great People, tomorrow will be inflicted to you. With no mercy. Nothing will stop us, nor your anger nor your weapons. You do not scare us, because you cannot afraid an idea. Message to Chinese People Each of you suffers from the tyranny of that regime which knows nothing about you. We are with you. With you here and now. But also tomorrow and the coming days so promising for your freedom. We will never give up. Don’t loose hope, the revolution begins in the heart. The silence of all other countries highlights the lack of democracy and justice in China. It’s unbearable. We must all fight for your freedom. Anonymous vs. Britain's Home Office - Operation Trial At Home As announced during last days Anonymous has launched a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) against several UK government websites. A massive recruiting campaign is started on social media, a call to arm to protest the extradition of U.K. citizens to the United States. The Operation named “Operation Trial At Home,” fight the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) that could lead to the extradition of three accused criminals by the U.K.’s Home Office, the government department responsible for domestic security. Anonymous has provided Home Office’s IP address in its announcement to the supporters, Scheduling for April 7 the a DDoS ( with denial-of-service) attacks against the Home Office’s website. During the week I wrote and article on the intent of the famous group of hacktivist and on the possible reasons of the action. The attacks have mainly two motives: 1) To protest against the extradition of Gary McKinnon, Christopher Harold Tappin and Richard O’Dwyer. McKinnon, a Scottish systems administrator, was arrested in 2002 for allegedly hacking into U.S. military and NASA computers in 2001 and 2002 and deleting files and copying data. Tappin, a retired British businessman, is accused by the U.S. government of exporting materials to Iran that can be used to build surface-to-air missiles. The owner of TVShack.net, O’Dwyer has been charged with hosting copyrighted materials on his site; the U.S. Justice Department has been seeking his extradition since last May. 2) Second motive, the most accredited one, is to protest regarding the UK government that and an it controversial legislation that could allow the UK’s electronics intelligence agency GCHQ access in real-time data of , emails, social networks, and Web traffic and phone calls by all UK citizens. Anonymous has decided to attacks the country that is considered the most supervised in the world. The law is directly linked to the U.S.’ Patriot Act and both have the intent to ensure national security against cyber threats and cyber terrorist acts. Anonymous has always declared to fight against any form of monitoring and control, that is way it is also attacking China and is Golden Shield Project also known as the Great Firewall. Anonymous has attacked to protest against a “draconian surveillance proposals” bringing down the following UK websites: homeoffice.gov.uk (Home Office), number10.gov.uk (10 Downing Street - British Prime Minister’s Office), and justice.gov.uk (Ministry of Justice). The website became inaccessible around 21:00 on Saturday, and was up again from 05:00 on Sunday. The technique is always the same, the target server were flooded by an huge quantity of request interrupting the service. According an article published on ZD net Anonymous ", as we saw with the DDoS attacks against the Vatican, the group is perfectly capable of putting in a backdoor to make life easier when it wants to take the site down a second time. NOT Seen on TV! “The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses.” -Malcolm X The short video above attempts to answer the following: -How dangerous white phosphorus & Depleted Uranium dropped on Iraq is. -The link between BAE systems, Lockhead Martin and Rolls Royce. -The CIA's involvement on the killing of at least 3 presidents who weren't US allies: Mossadegh, Allende and Lumumba. -Who opposes the US apart from the Muslims. -Who is Jeremiah Wright and Ali Abunimah. -Who really owns Obama and what is AIPAC. Facts about the War Industry -Barclays the largest investor in Global arms has £7.3 billion in shares and is amonsgst the top 10 largest investor in US arms companies. -HSBC holds shares worth £450 million and has loaned £27 Billion to the industry. -Lloyds holds shares worth £717 Million and serves as principle banker to BAE Systems. -Aviva, AXA, Standard life and many other well known companies invest in the arms trade. -Rolls Royce is also the 17th Largest Arms Manufacturer in the world Rolls Royce is the 2nd Largest Manufacturer of Aerospace Engines powering approximately 25% of the world's military aircraft and has its equipment installed on over 2,200 warships including all of the UK's nuclear submarines. Brought to you by the Ink of scholars channel. Clip of the NATO Game Over campaign 2012 “When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw.” -Nelson Mandela A History of False Flag Attacks Mainstream Media Corruption EXPOSED! The Illusion of Choice New World Order Exposed by John F. Kennedy - April 27, 1961 Secret Societies the String Pullers (Documentary) CATASTROIKA Privatization goes public (Documentary... Gregg Braden - The Divine Matrix: Bridging Time, S... Anonymous targets CISPA Supporters: Facebook, Micr... CISPA Explained by Anonymous. Sign the Petition to...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line413
__label__wiki	0.981866	0.981866	Home Uncategorized The Blue Whale May Be L.A.’s Smoothest Jazz Joint The Blue Whale May Be L.A.’s Smoothest Jazz Joint And it was founded by an architecture school dropout with no formal musical training who moved across the country to become a jazz singer Theis Duelund “I was young and stupid,” says Joon Lee about his decision to drop out of architecture school and pursue a career as a jazz singer, before adding, “And brave.” Lee is the owner and manager of Blue Whale, a jazz club in Little Tokyo’s Weller Court mall. About fifteen years ago, Lee decided to quit architecture in favor of his passion for jazz. He moved to L.A., found a voice teacher, and started working on his music. Since opening the Blue Whale in 2009, Lee, 40, has seen it grow into a cultural hub. The bar, which features live music Tuesday through Sunday nights (and occasionally on Mondays), has hosted established artists like Carmen Lundy and Ben Wendel as well as rising local stars like Kamasi Washington and the late Austin Peralta. “People didn’t used to think L.A. when you said jazz,” says Lee. With Blue Whale, Lee aims to put L.A. on the map alongside more familiar jazz capitals like New York, New Orleans, and Kansas City. “The unique thing about Blue Whale is that it’s a music venue in the truest sense of the word. We kick people out if they’re too loud during performances.” Before you catch a set at the club, check out these five facts about Blue Whale and its owner. ❶ Born and raised in South Korea, Joon Lee moved to New York to study architecture at the Pratt Institute. “I used to work at a restaurant on Bleecker Street [in NYC’s Greenwich Village] and that’s where I first got into jazz,” he says. ❷ At the time, Lee was 24 years old and had no formal training as a singer, but he moved to L.A. and began practicing his craft. “I discovered my passion for singing pretty late in life compared. It was an easy choice then, but I probably wouldn’t do it now,” he says. Lee went on to record and release his debut album, Now, in 2012. ❸ After acquiring Blue Whale in 2008 (the space had previously been a karaoke bar), Lee set about realizing his vision for the place. One thing that sets Blue Whale apart from other venues is its lack of a designated stage area. Bands and solo artists perform at the back end of the room across from the bar. ❹ “For me the great thing about music and going to a concert is feeling the energy coming off of the musicians,” Lee says. You can’t really do that with a stage. It’s important to me that people can get really close to the musicians performing and not just hear the music but feel it, too. You wouldn’t believe it, but we once had a 22-piece orchestra perform here.” ❺ At first the club’s unstructured atmosphere took some getting used to for patrons. “Even the musicians were skeptical,” Lee says. It didn’t take long to break down the barriers between performer and spectator, though. “We do have a green room but most of the time the musicians are out in the bar. It’s just a cool hang and I think that’s the crucial thing about it.” L.A. Culture Previous articleCrime Scene: The LAPD’s Photo Archives Are a Hit at Paris Photo Next articleA Walker in L.A.: Heels on Wheels What Defines a Successful Immigrant? The Undocumented Immigrants Who Are Redefining ‘American’ I Am Undocumented.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line416
__label__wiki	0.754711	0.754711	Home > About Massey > News > Promiscuous proteins key to antibiotic resistance Dr Wayne Patrick with Paulina Hanson-Manful and Valerie Soo. Promiscuous proteins key to antibiotic resistance Research focusing on the so-called "promiscuity" of proteins has implications for improving the development of new antibiotics in the age of superbugs. The research, by molecular biologist Dr Wayne Patrick and two doctoral students, focuses on the role protein promiscuity plays in the adaptation of species to new environments – the crux of all life, as Darwin discovered more than 200 years ago. Until a few years ago, the notion that proteins are promiscuous – or able to do jobs in addition to the ones they evolved to carry out – was controversial. "The text book view of proteins is that they are extremely specific, and not promiscuous at all," Dr Patrick says. The new findings address a significant gap in the Darwinian model by showing that it is surprisingly easy for organisms to evolve novel functions. Dr Patrick, from the Institute of Natural Sciences, and PhD students Valerie Soo and Paulina Hanson-Manful, set out to gauge the extent to which a simple adaptive response – increased expression of a pre-existing gene – could impart new phenotypes [characteristics} on the laboratory bacterium, E. coli. "We amplified and sped up the process of microbial evolution to find that promiscuity in proteins - when triggered by certain conditions - can result in increased resistance to a much wider range of antibiotics and toxins than previously thought," says Dr Patrick. The researchers exposed E. coli cells to 237 toxin-containing environments. They discovered 115 genes coding for promiscuous proteins that, when over-expressed, promote growth in 86 of these deadly environments. In the process they uncovered a range of proteins that have previously not been associated with drug or toxin resistance. “Our experiments were by far the most comprehensive search for new routes to antibiotic resistance. While we focused on a non-pathogenic bacterium, we expect our high-throughput approach will prove useful for drug companies in the development of new antibiotics," Dr Patrick says. "By following our method, they will be able to predict whether promiscuous proteins will give rise to resistance – and therefore, whether their new antibiotic will be effective in the clinic for short or – hopefully – long periods." The research findings have been published in the prestigious American science journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences): http://www.pnas.org/content/108/4/1484.abstract Dr Patrick was last year named New Zealand’s Young Biotechnologist of the Year and was a finalist in the Science and Health category of the Bayer Innovators awards. Last year he signed a licensing agreement with a United States-based life sciences company, Enzymatics Inc, to commercialise a novel technology he created for a new form of enzyme critical for next generation DNA sequencing. The technology can be used to develop personalised medicines, as well as to improve diagnostics and to accelerate basic research. Prestigious fellowship for Massey biochemist Massey scientist in Nature Enzyme technology goes to market Massey scientist named Biotechnologist of the Year	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line419
__label__wiki	0.763297	0.763297	WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 16: U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry speaks at the Energy Policy Summit at the National Press Club, October 16, 2017 in... Drew Angerer Why Rick Perry’s latest failure on energy policy matters 01/09/18 08:40 AM Updated 01/09/18 04:08 PM At first blush, Rick Perry’s failure yesterday is the result of an obscure policy fight, but the closer one looks at what happened, the more interesting it becomes. The Washington Post reported on the outcome: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Monday unanimously rejected a proposal by Energy Secretary Rick Perry that would have propped up nuclear and coal power plants struggling in competitive electricity markets. The independent five-member commission includes four people appointed by President Trump, three of them Republicans. Its decision is binding. To appreciate why the end of the dispute matters, it’s worth understanding how we reached this point. The coal and nuclear industries have more than a few old power plants, which are struggling badly in the energy marketplace, and which are widely seen as obsolete. Trump administration officials, eager to help their political allies, worked with the industry and its lobbyists on a plan to prop up those plants in ways the market has not. Indeed, the president had run on a platform of rescuing some of these coal plants, and so Trump World had to think of something in order to deliver on the promise. The result was, well, a little bizarre. As Vox explained a few months ago, Rick Perry unveiled a proposed solution in which utility companies would pay coal and nuclear power plants “for all their costs and all the power they produce, whether those plants are needed or not.” No, seriously, that was the plan. Consumers – which is to say, us – would effectively bail out obsolete plants, creating unnatural profits for their owners, even if utility companies had more affordable alternatives, and even if the plants themselves are not economically viable, because the Trump administration would mandate it. Asked a congressional hearing in October whether he considered the costs to the public, Perry replied, “I think you take costs into account, but what’s the cost of freedom?” With that in mind, Trump’s Energy secretary also said the country has no choice but to prop up obsolete plants – because there’s an energy grid crisis that requires those plants to remain strong. This argument also soon crumbled under scrutiny. But Perry nevertheless plowed forward, asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve his plan. Yesterday, the commission, led by a Republican majority, rejected Perry’s proposal, killing the ridiculous plan. Even Trump-appointed members of the FERC simply couldn’t go along with this one. That’s a sensible outcome, but I’d love to see a broader conversation about why Trump’s Department of Energy thought this was an idea worth pursuing in the first place. The MaddowBlog, Coal, Economy, Energy, Energy Policy, Nuclear and Rick Perry Trump takes the wrong message to... Trump World's amazing new euphemism:... Coal, Energy, Energy Policy, Nuclear and Rick Perry Why Rick Perry's latest failure on energy policy matters	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line424
__label__wiki	0.909403	0.909403	A Free Evening of Jazz Music and History in Mendota on Aug. 14 Megan Lawson • Marketing and Communications • 651-259-3141 • megan.lawson@mnhs.org Tom Pfannenstiel • Sibley House Historic Site • 612-725-2430 • Event: Jazz in June Date: Wednesday, Aug. 14 (rescheduled from its June date due to weather) Time: 7 to 8:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) Place: Mendota VFW, down the road from the Sibley House Historic Site Address: 1323 Sibley Memorial Hwy, Mendota, MN 55150 Email: sibleyhouse@mnhs.org Website: http://www.mnhs.org/sibleyhouse Visit Mendota for a free evening of live jazz on Wednesday, Aug. 14 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Originally planned as an outdoor concert in June, "Jazz in June" was cancelled due to weather, and is now being offered for free at the Mendota VFW on Highway 13. Jazz legend Butch Thompson will serve as bandleader and guest speaker, telling stories of Mendota's rich jazz history. Thompson will play piano and clarinet and will be joined by Charlie DeVore on trumpet and vocalist Lee Engele. Mendota was well-known in the 1940s and '50s as the place to go to hear the best local, national and international jazz musicians. Mitch's Roadhouse, a popular club, hosted big names in Dixieland and Ragtime jazz. In the mid-1960s the Emporium of Jazz opened and became the home of the Hall Brothers New Orleans Jazz Band, featuring performances by Butch Thompson and Charlie DeVore. The Emporium closed in 1991. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Capacity is limited. About the Sibley House Historic Site The Minnesota Historical Society site is in Mendota at 1357 Sibley Memorial Hwy. (Hwy. 13). It features four original limestone buildings from the era when the American Fur Company operated a regional trade with the Dakota, between 1825 and 1853. The home of Henry Hastings Sibley is on the site, as is his office as first state governor. Call 651-452-1596 for more information. This summer explore more than 500 museums statewide with the free Minnesota Museums app, brought to you by the Minnesota Association of Museums and the Minnesota Historical Society. Browse Minnesota museums by name, category or location; create an itinerary, check off museums you've visited and upload favorite museum photos; plus the app will also suggest museums based on geographic location. The Minnesota Museums app is made possible by the Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund through the vote of Minnesotans on Nov. 4, 2008. The Society’s calendar of events is posted online at www.mnhs.org/calendar. The website also has information about all of the Society’s programs, museums and historic sites. The Minnesota Historical Society is a non-profit educational and cultural institution established in 1849. The Society collects, preserves and tells the story of Minnesota’s past through museum exhibits, libraries and collections, historic sites, educational programs and book publishing. Using the power of history to transform lives, the Society preserves our past, shares our state’s stories and connects people with history. The Minnesota Historical Society is supported in part by its Premier Partners: Xcel Energy and Explore Minnesota Tourism.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line428
__label__cc	0.628308	0.371692	E-book: My Black Man-My Weakness Posted by admin on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 · Leave a Comment Writer Fokumlah Nchungong The first in a trilogy of e-books, entitled Not Always the Best of Both Worlds, that discusses the issue of bi-racial relationships in Sweden has been published by Fokumlah Nchungong, a Cameroonian-born writer residing in Sweden. The book can be bought online. Below is the first chapter of the first book in the trilogy: Chapter 1 My Black Man – My Weakness (Astrid E. 41 years old. Stockholm-Skarpnäck) I will never know the reasons why my mother had to get married to my stepfather. I never knew my biological father, and my mother never ever wanted to talk about him. But my stepfather I knew all too well. He was the meanest person I’d ever met, and the mistreatment that he subjected me to since I was only five years old, inflicted wounds that still pain me severely even today. My hatred for him was so acute that at night I often dreamt of killing him. Even though both my stepfather and mother are dead now, I still feel hurt and feel hatred curdling inside of me when I think of that cruel man. While I was growing up in Dalarna, I was never a very sociable person due to the constant anger that welled up inside of me as a result of my stepfather’s abuse. Above all, it was difficult for me to look at my peers, other girls in their beautiful dresses and flattering make-up always. They looked so gorgeous, while I always looked so pitiful: forever self-conscious about the bruises and swollen lips I could not hide from the beatings I had to endure at home. It was difficult to have girlfriends because I always felt like the ugliest amongst them, and whenever they said anything about my appearance, I would often react violently. It was not long before I was confined to a juvenile rehabilitation center, which is where I ended up spending most of my teenage years. I was never interested in smoking cigarettes or drinking as most of the teenagers at the juvenile centers seemed to be. All I wanted was to have a boyfriend, but whenever I was approached by anyone who wanted to date me, I panicked at the point at which they sought to touch or kiss me. Why did I react like this? Because most of them were white boys and their appearance – too similar to that of my stepfather – unnerved me, and brought back dreadful memories if they tried to touch me. I only first experienced true freedom when I turned eighteen and left Dalarna to live with my aunt in Stockholm. She had an apartment in Rinkeby and was the most carefree person I had ever come across. She was very opened minded. I was allowed to do anything I pleased provided I told her, and it was during this time that I experienced my first proper relationship. There was a bridge that led to the train station and most of the time, male teenagers of various ethnicities would hang out there, and whisper comments on the looks and clothing of female passersby. They would sometimes get quite excited when I passed by, mostly on account of my long flowing blond hair that was highly attractive and “different” to these testosterone-charged youths. I never received this kind of gratifying attention in Dalarna. In time, I began to respond to them cheerfully whenever I passed by that bridge, and indeed I soon became preoccupied with attracting even more attention. It was very obvious to me who I was making the greatest impression on, because he used to start clapping whenever he saw me. But, strangely enough, he seemed to shrink away from me if he saw me when his pals where not around. I bumped into him alone by chance in a supermarket, and there was no way we could avoid each other at that point. His name was Daoda and he was adopted from Senegal, West Africa. He told me he was twenty-three but I later learned that he was actually twenty-seven. I believed everything he told me back then. He was tall and attractive with a killer smile. His friends dubbed him “Chocolate” because he had the most beautiful dark skin, which sometimes seemed as if he was using black shoe polish on his skin as a cosmetic product. He introduced me to his friends later that evening and I swiftly became comfortable with all of them and happy in their company. I didn’t even want to go back home at first, and felt the urge to be with them all the time. He lived with his adoptive mother who was also Swedish but had lived in Senegal for almost twenty years. She was very friendly to everyone and spoke several African languages. I was fascinated by her interior decoration in their apartment. It looked like a safari shrine. His mother strongly influenced me in several positive ways, and even though it’s almost nineteen years now since we first met, I still consider her to be one of the best of role models I ever had. Her son was a “chick magnet”, as evidenced by the fact that most of the other girls we hung out with were drawn to him – you could see it in their adoring eyes. I was constantly jealous because, although he always told them I was his girlfriend, he never kissed me or held my hand in public. On the other hand, he would never hesitate to give the other girls hugs when they approached him affectionately. As my feelings for him grew, I could not concentrate at school. Daoda played football in a third-division team, and he didn’t like going to school. So, most of the time, he hung around aimlessly in the neighborhood or trained at the local football field. I feared that he’d be with another girl if I wasn’t with him, and that’s why I started skipping school by claiming I was sick, just so I could be with him all day. We had been together for two months without him ever trying or wanting to kiss me. So, I decided to take a proactive approach and create the right conditions. The venue was at his mother’s apartment. She had travelled to Uppsala and was to be away the whole weekend. I didn’t go to school that day pretending I was having a fever, which clearly was not the case. I asked him if I could go and sleep in his room and rest for a while. He had no objection to that. He started playing with his PlayStation. That was his favorite distraction. I was pretending to sleep, but after a while, I begged him to come and sleep close to me with the pretext that I was feeling sad and lonely. He came over, and then asked me directly if I wanted to have sex. I was embarrassed and felt caught off guard because I never knew sexual language could be so direct. I had until then never experienced any sexual encounters with anyone apart from masturbation. I told him I really didn’t know what to say, but to my surprise he just started taking off his shirt and trousers and stood right in front of me with his fully erect penis looking like an ebony sculpture to some African God of Lust. I had never seen a penis in real life right in front of me, and my heartbeat suddenly quickened and blood raced around my veins in anticipation. I wanted to grab his manhood and really take a closer look, but was unsure, inexperienced as I was, of the correct sexual etiquette. He pulled away the bed sheets that were over me, held my arms, asked me to stand up, and as I did, he gradually unbuttoned my shirt and let it fall on the floor. Then he turned me around and deftly removed my bra, before doing the same to my skirt and panties. Before I knew it, I found myself in a dreamlike state, standing naked in front of Daoda with this giant penis throbbing against my pubic hair. He caressed me and started kissing me before pushing me tenderly onto the bed, and before I could even say a word about any concern for gentleness, I had my legs wrapped round his back. What followed was an exquisite mix of pain and pleasure. Our lovemaking lasted for about two minutes, and after he climaxed he got off me and went to the bathroom without saying a word. Unsurprisingly, I was confused about what to say or how to react. I tried to believe that he was truly my boyfriend after that semblance of sex. Unfortunately, it was the first and last time we ever had sex. I found out three weeks later that I was pregnant. Woefully, he had told me four days prior to me realizing the pregnancy that he didn’t love me. As if that wasn’t hurtful enough to hear, he wanted to spend more time with another girl, Fatouma, who was from his native land of Senegal. Quite devastated, it was unmanageable telling him or anyone else about my pregnancy until my aunt confronted me three months later, and I told her about my muddles. She advised me to let Daoda know about it, and so I plucked up just enough courage and went to the apartment where he was staying. At that time, he had moved out from his mother’s place and was sharing an apartment with Fatouma. He opened the door when I rang the bell. Fortunately, Fatouma wasn’t around. I told him in a quite calm and tranquil manner about the pregnancy. Even my carefully chosen words sent him into an unpredicted rage. He told me to leave immediately and never come back and to never ever try to contact him again. His reasoning was that, he was certain I was plotting to destroy his life because he didn’t want to be with me. Moreover, he claimed that he had never ejaculated inside me, and also asserted that, there were wide spread rumors of me sleeping around with other guys. An allegation I knew was simply untrue. The reasons why I decided there and then to continue with the pregnancy was simple: the manner in which he spoke to me. He made me feel like a complete idiot. I swore to myself never to meet him again but was determined to have his baby. Moreover, the newborn would give me access to social welfare and the probabilities of state financial support and an apartment of my own. I will be able to sit home and not obligated to go to school. So I thought. I was approximately four months pregnant when I was sitting in a bus from the hospital after doing an ultra sound. A daughter was in the making. I found myself sitting next to a curiously cute-looking guy sporting a massive afro above his handsome face. He offered me some peanuts he was chewing from a paper bag. He must have read my mind because at that point in time, my cravings for nuts insatiable. Duly, we started talking. I learned that Ismael was from Somalia. We swiftly became good friends. Inevitably, and after some time had passed, he became aware that I was pregnant, but to my surprise he asked me if I wanted to be his girlfriend. I agreed without hesitation. He turned out to be such a lovable character that I scarcely could believe that anyone could be so kind and nice in this cruel world of ours. Later he introduced me to his family and they all accepted the fact that I was already pregnant. His mother told me she’d been in the same situation when she had first met my new boyfriend’s father. After all my ordeals, it was now blissfully comforting to find myself in the midst of all this love in abundance. After I moved into his apartment at Tensta which is quite close to Rinkeby, he bought new furniture’s and repainted the house pink, saying it was for our daughter. He usually accompanied me to my prenatal consultations at the hospital. He also did most of the cooking and cleaning, and even gave me bedtime back massages every night. He was just those kind of guys who seemed to have fallen directly from heaven into my life. Josephine was born on a Sunday morning and Ismael was at the hospital throughout the entire process. He was so supportive that the nurses jested he could be a candidate for their `Father of the Year` award, but when he told the nurses that he was the adoptive father rather than the biological one, one of the nurses got a little moist-eyed. The sight of that made me almost cry with joy. Shortly afterwards, Ismael’s family came to the hospital to see us and it was only when the nurses came to inform us that visitation time was already over that they left. Back home, we received constant support from well-wishers, and lots of presents. Our apartment began to resemble a restaurant as a result of receiving so many visitors, and so much activity in the kitchen. I felt happy and certainly had everything that I needed, but nevertheless I did feel somewhat confused deep inside. Josephine was growing at an alarming rate. At 8 months old, she was looking as if was 2 years old compared to other kids. Ismael was always working and ultimately was exhausted during the weekend. We never went out to have some fun. He preferred to be at home with Josephine, but told me he had no objections for me going out to have some fun with my friends when I wanted. A genuine gentleman. I started going out to nightclubs with friends and expanding my horizons in my own modest way. Then one night I found myself being invited to an after-party by a guy I was dancing with. He told me he lived at Rissne, which was just one metro-stop from where I lived. I accepted the invitation thinking I would just be there for an hour or so before returning to my boyfriend and daughter. When we arrived at the apartment, which he evidently was sharing with several other people, we continued drinking. Later he handed me a smoldering joint of marijuana. I hesitated at first but ended up smoking it with him and his friends. I didn’t just realize what was happening but I recall later that we had a lot of sex, and I think it was like the best sexual experience I’d ever had in my life. I woke up around 9 am. I was naked on the sofa while he was sleeping on the floor. Dazed and confused, I dressed up hurriedly and left the apartment silently without saying goodbye. When I arrived home, Ismael was already up and playing with Josephine in the living room. Wracked by guilt and embarrassment, I told him I drank a little too much and so had ended up sleeping at a girlfriend’s house. He calmly told me to call or text him the next time that happens so he would not have to worry about me or where I was. That was in some way the best and worst thing he said to me because I now had the free will to do as I wished without getting into any arguments or arousing the suspicions of my partner. That’s how I continued to see Ousmane who was from Gambia. I kind of knew he was bad for me because I strongly suspected he was a drug dealer. He certainly sold a lot of marijuana; but he always gave me money, bought me new dresses, shoes, jewelry, and was excellent at satisfying my sexual desires. My sexual drive with Ismael was rapidly dwindling, as he usually complained about tiredness. Even when we got intimate in bed, it was just not as wild and passionate as with Ousmane. Two and a half years later after the birth of Josephine, I was pregnant again and when I estimated the approximate time of conception, and factored in my sexual habits, it was just evident that Ousmane was the person who had impregnated me. Strangely, I didn’t feel any guilt or sense of betrayal towards Ismael. I did however feel a growing sense of shame and anxiety over how his family and friends would react in due course. On the other hand, in a strange way, I longed for an escape from all the familial “goodness” that I felt I underserved. Nonetheless, I felt adventurous with Ousmane and enjoyed the constant adrenalin rush of being with him because he was unpredictable and dangerous. He could be so kind and then snap moments later or explode with rage over the most inconsequential issue. Another annoyingly captivating thing about Ousmane was that, he was disarmingly direct: when I was well groomed and had taken care over my appearance, he will always compliment me with beautiful words. However, it was easy for him to tell me that I was the ugliest thing he’d ever seen when I wasn’t in a good mood. Sometimes he’d give me small amounts of weed for my own use, and on other occasions he would send me off to collect money from individuals who had bought his “merchandise”. Actually, I had never handled so much money in my life. I remember collecting seventy-five thousand kronor in cash from a man at Stockholm’s Central Station. It was so thrilling and “badass” when I brought back a load of money. He’d casually pull out a bundle of cash and hand it straight to me without even looking or counting the amount. Much of the rest of the time, we would simply smoke a lot of weed and indulge in all kinds of sexual fantasies and adventures that we’d viewed on pornographic videos. When I told him I was pregnant, he said he didn’t care, so long as I would continue running his errands. He even promised to get me another apartment if I felt like moving away from Ismael, an offer which I willingly and swiftly accepted without hesitation. It was a nerve bending moment when I told Ismael about my pregnancy and my plans to move out to a place of my own. It was a really tough thing to do because I knew fully well that karma will not be favorable to me. He was devastated and begged me to stay; arguing that the situation was still manageable and that he would be able to handle it. He told me I was so confused and damned my actions on him for not being there constantly for me. He even proposed that I can leave Josephine with him and come to visit any time I wanted until I got the apartment but I rejected the offer. I left on a conclusion that, I’ll be coming back soon to pick up my things to move to another apartment when it was ready. I however left Ismael and Josephine that evening and went back to meet Ousmane and didn’t even go back visiting Josephine for almost two weeks. It was not easy to stop smoking marijuana because it was everywhere in his apartment. People were constantly moving in and out of the apartment, sleeping over, drinking, house parties and lots of sex noises at night from different rooms in the apartment. It was just insanely beautiful. I was now almost leaving with him in the crowded apartment and I finally brought in Josephine to be there with us. I thought it was fun until when I was on the seventh month of my pregnancy. I confronted him again about the supposed apartment he had to get for us, he punched me in the face saying I was so ungrateful and wanted to live like a princess when I was looking like a sea cow at that moment. I was so scared of him that I never brought up the apartment topic again. The three of us had to share the tiny room. He kept on acting as if Josephine never existed and did whatever he wanted to do with me anytime he pleased even if Josephine was awake. Weird enough, I enjoyed the pain. We never got a new apartment. Josephine was crying all the time. I gave birth to Philip from a caesarian operation at the hospital in Huddinge. I was there alone. Ousmane came visiting the third day and brought me some flowers and a new pair of shoes. He stayed there for a couple of hours and told me he will be right back but I only saw him two weeks after when I came back to the apartment with the new born baby. Most of the assistance I had was from the other tenants in the apartment because Ousmane was never around. He didn’t sleep with us anymore. Philip was just two months old when Ousmane came back home with a tiny looking teenage girl who was probably like fourteen years old and told me that she was homeless and he just wanted to help her. He said she will be sleeping on the sofa until she finds a home for herself and that she might also be helping to take care of Philip. Her name was Kristina. I had no choice but to accept. The whole situation was just chaotic and I was just too numb to think for myself. My aunt was really furious at me because everyone in the neighborhood knew who Ousmane was and the kind of trouble he was capable of putting me into. The late night parties continued even though with a lower volume from the music they played in the living room. The smell of marijuana was just pungent when you walked into the apartment. I don’t even remember if Ousmane ever helped in even changing the diapers of Philip or took him out for a walk. He was always asleep during the day and will go away in the evening just to show up late at night or early morning. Kristina used to assist a little taking care of Philip but it was clear that she was addicted to different kinds of drugs and was not quite mentally stable. My breaking point came when I woke up one early morning around two o’clock to go to the toilet. As I opened the toilet door, I saw Kristina sitting on Ousmane. They were both naked on the toilet sit having sex with marijuana smoke everywhere. I wanted to scream but had no inner voice. I just went limp. I closed the door, went back in my room, brought down my big box and started parking my dresses inside. I just took a couple of baby clothes, placed Josephine in the baby carriage and had Philip in my arms and just left the apartment and headed directly to the train station. The trains were not yet on traffic but fortunately I met some night guards there and I briefly told them my ordeal without giving precise details. They decided to call the police. The police car arrived about twenty minutes later and I was taken to a hotel which was some sort of a refuge for abused women in Stockholm. It was a big room. Well equipped with furniture and a long balcony on the tenth floor of the building. It had beautiful view to the city. It was so comfortable that I had a very good sleep. It felt like I had been having decades of sleepless nights. My kids were still sleeping when I woke up in the afternoon from the sound of the door bell ringing. It was a visitation from a social worker and we had a lengthy discussion and I was very relieved to tell her my entire story. I stayed there with the kids for a month and was provided with all the necessary assistance that I requested. I had a weekly session with a psychotherapist who greatly helped me to come in terms with my present situation and the modalities to move on with my life and create a better future for my children and me. It was a unanimous and encouraging decision for me to change my location of habitation in order to avoid any contacts with anyone I knew who was not involved in my life in a positive manner. I decided to move back to Dalarna so as to be close to my mother. I was accorded an apartment and it was financially supported for, by the social services there. My life in Darlana was just evolved around my kids. I had Philip with me all the time and Josephine was placed in a day care but she immediately started having problems connecting with the other kids. I bonded back with my mother and we often met or spoke for hours on the telephone. She would often come and visit us and as well will sometimes help me babysit Philip. I decided to study to be a Chef. I enjoyed studying cuisine and cooking seemed natural for me. I later had a trainee offer at a local hotel and it was great fun working there. I had stopped smoking and drinking which was good for me but unfortunately made me gained a lot of weight. My appearance wasn’t pleasing and my insecurities escalated. More to that, my mother was diagnosed with a terminal lung cancer and she became really sick after two failed chemotherapies. I now had to take care of both her and my kids while working at the same time. Going to her house was irksome because of what that had happened to me there when I was a child. Anger and frustration soon became my normal reactions and I started having difficulties at work with my colleagues. My boss was always complaining of my late comings to work and my cooking skills became questionable due to several rejected plates by clients from my orders. I hated the fact of my mother being sick. It was exhausting for me to handle, coupled with the fact that nobody ever even seemed to notice my presence, talk more of giving me any physical compliments. I had no boyfriend and I missed having sex. My mother died smiling while I was trying to tell her a joke. I didn’t even realize it until the nurses came rushing in the room due to the beeping sound from the machines that helped her breath. She had been under palliative care for two months. The nurse whom I was already accustomed to due to several visitations gave me a hug, told me she was very sorry and asked if I wanted to give my mother a kiss and say my goodbyes. I hesitated but just held her hand before kissing her forehead. I just didn’t know how to feel. After her funeral, I couldn’t carry on living in Dalarna any longer and decided to move back to Stockholm. I was hurting inside so badly, my life had little or no meaning, I was already on the ground, I was just not afraid of hurting anymore. I even felt good sometimes just feeling sad and angry. When I moved back to Stockholm, I rented a second hand apartment in Skärholmen. It was a two bed room with enough space and my children had their own room. I don’t think I was a good mother to them even though I tried my best to keep them happy and provided for their individual needs. I was not a very good role model to them and my disciplinary tactics to them never worked well. They had a lot of quarrels and physical fights and I couldn’t restrain them accordingly. My daughter was almost physically stronger than me. She was just a photocopy of my mannerisms when I was young. She had been through a lot too. It had been easier for her when she was attending the pre-school in Stockholm. There were several biracial children around and the prejudices she felt was minimal compared to what she experienced in her pre-school in Dalarna. She only liked Dalarna because we had a stable home but she frequently got into fights in school because of her appearance. She was unique from the other children. With a huge afro hair style, she was always a target of mockery and verbal insults which she retaliated with physical fights. She looked naturally bigger than her age and hardly smiled. She even attacked and brutalized other little boys who dared to say something stupid to Philip. She was quite protective of him but at the same time they never seemed to agree on anything when together. I was helpless. I didn’t know how to be a father and a mother at the same time. I got a job at a Greek restaurant in Skärholmen. I was happy working there. I was made the chief cook. I made friends with one of my co-workers. Her name was Agnes. She was very jovial and happy all the time. She had a very free spirited attitude and she will constantly tell me of her interesting adventures. She travelled like twice every year to Jamaica because she had a Jamaican boyfriend. She had married him in Jamaica before he moved to Sweden and they were living together in Alby. She sang all day long at work and loved dancing to reggaeton and dancehall music. She was really fun to hang out with and I absolutely loved her. We started interacting a lot after work and she visited me often, took my kids to her dancing lessons and I sometimes followed. It was there that she introduced me to her husband who was the dance instructor. He was a very funny man. He was always smiling and will laugh at any silly joke. They were really happy together and I was quite jealous of that. It was not surprising when she invited me one evening to her house for dinner and introduced me to a man. I thought at first that he was Jamaican too but his accent was not just like that of the Agnes`s husband. He was from Gambia but acted or tried to speak like a Jamaican. She told me that they had been friends for a long time and that he was a very nice man and since I was single he could be a perfect match for me. I couldn’t back out of the offer even though I just had a bad feeling dating or wanting to be with another man from Gambia due to my nightmarish experiences I’d had before. The following day, thirty minute before we closed, Lamin came to the restaurant where we worked. He was not very talkative but he always tried to speak in a philosophical manner and at some point I started liking him due to his calmness. We went out on a date. I mostly initiated the conversations but was happy doing so because I felt as if someone was really listening to me. He was very gentle and liked hugging a lot which I felt was quite comforting. I even invited him to my apartment after we had dinner but he said it was too early for that. I was quite flattered and I remember dreaming of him that night. I must have been missing the last long hug he gave to me on the train station before he left. We saw each other every day after that but he never came to my apartment or even told me precisely where he lived. Two weeks after our first date, he told me that there was some reconstruction work going on where he was living and asked if he could stay at my place until the work was finished at the apartment where he lived. I was just overwhelmed and told him that he could live with me for as long as he wanted to. I later picked him up at the train station that same evening. He just had one travelling box. I didn’t worry about it. I was just happy to have a male companion and I really trusted him because of the encouragements from Agnes. He made me understand he was a practicing Moslem and will not force me to adhere to his religious ideologies if I didn’t want to, which I thought was very compromising. I respected him more for his brilliance because I’m not a very religious person even though I do pray to God from time to time but on the Jesus’ level. He told me he was working with a friend and they were trying to open up a cleaning company. He talked like an entrepreneur. Philip liked him and they played often but Josephine just didn’t want to interact with him on any level. After a month of living together, it became apparent that he wanted everything done in his own way. He became quite controlling and will tell me how to dress, what kind of food was good for me, the time to go to sleep, and he sometimes woke me up so early in the morning with Arabic incantations of Koranic verses. He never assisted financially in any way but was always requesting me to lend him money to send to his mother in Gambia. I really never got to know him so well but five months after we were living together, I was pregnant again. He told me it was impossible for him to introduce me to his family while I was pregnant; `according to their religion’ if I was not married to him. I talked to Agnes about it and she said it was true and that it will be much more appropriate if we got married. She said that it will give me some kind of security and he will be more comfortable to be with me. I agreed but it was just a little strange when he told me that we had to travel immediately to Gambia and do the traditional wedding there. He said it will be respectful for his family members to see me and accept me like his wife because he was facing a lot of pressure from his relatives back home as they were already preparing to consolidate an arranged marriage for him with someone he doesn’t know. I felt sympathetic about his situation and agreed to travel with him to Gambia. Agnes agreed to take care of Josephine and Philip for the two weeks we were to be in Gambia. I was so excited and curious because it was the very first time in my life travelling out of Sweden. Honestly, it had always been my dream to go to Africa. I really can’t explain why but I was just too attracted to African men and going there was just like a dream come true and it absolutely was. I hugged and kissed Philip and Josephine at the airport in Arlanda. While sitting in the plane, I was overwhelmed with joy and confusion. Lamin had paid for everything and he assured me it was the best thing for us to do so that we can really be happy together forever. I couldn’t stop kissing him in the plane even though he was a shy person who never wanted to express his emotions out of our bed. We arrived at the Banjul international airport and it was just an amazing site of brown faces and constant smiles. We were welcomed at the arrival entrance by over twenty of his relatives and friends and I was just their center of attraction. Everyone wanted to shake my hand and give me a hug. I’d never felt like a royalty figure before but that was just simply exonerating. I just knew this is the life of concern and comfort I’d ever wanted. We drove in a convoy to their family house in Banjul. More people were wailing and welcoming us. It seemed as if I was a movie star acting a real life role. I had never met so much happiness in humanity as I experienced in Banjul. I had to pinch myself several times to be sure I wasn’t dreaming. I was only aware of my consciousness when I called on my phone back to Sweden and spoke to Agnes and my children. It was only after the phone call that I could affirm that, everything happening was real. Apparently, the wedding plans were already arranged. Lamin just informed me that we will be going to the municipal court in two days to sign the marriage certificates, but the big traditional wedding was to take place in his father’s village which was like a hundred kilometers from Banjul. I had my hair breaded in rows which I thought was quite exotic. I was constantly accompanied by his female cousins whom he had earlier introduced me to. The court session and signing of the marriage certificate was very quick. I was amazed by the rapidity of the entire process. Strange enough on that same day, I saw three other white ladies who were much older than I, also doing the same marriage proceedings. I think they were from Denmark but we never interacted even though I wanted to greet them. I was so busy with my new found family. It was just a festive atmosphere and I was the center of attention. Lamin had hired a professional photographer and the entire event was recorded on video and still pictures. For the four days we spent in Banjul, the party never seemed to end. I don’t think I even slept. I was unbelievably happy. We travelled in a rented bus for about two hours on our way to his father’s village and I could not stop looking at the beautiful scenery and admiring the simplicity of nature. We had four guys with drums in the bus playing rhythms that was just mesmerizing to listen to. The commotion was amplified when we arrived at the village. I never knew my life was so valuable. Upon arrival, one of Lamin’s aunt opted to carry me on her back like a baby to the ceremonial compound which was like a two hundred meters walk from where we parked the bus. They are Moslems and the entire process was a shock for me to experience. The women were almost segregated from the men and I didn’t even have time or spaces to talk or even ask Lamin on how to act or react. I went through several rituals which I thought was funny because of the applauses and cheers. I didn’t really know what I was doing that triggered them to laugh and clap, but it was just entertaining to them. I felt like a queen and for two days, my excitement was intense. We travelled back to Banjul on the fourth day with loads of presents, food items and I was given a new name Aisha! When we came back to Banjul, I was completely exhausted. Lamin had arranged for us to go to a hotel resort that was close to the beaches. It was very relaxing there and I also met some white folks including some from Sweden because I could hear them speaking in Swedish. We just had three days left in Gambia. I was resting in the hotel room when Lamin came late in the evening and told me that he was to take part in some sort of a traditional rite in his father’s village before travelling back to Stockholm. Promptly, I will have to be travelling home alone. I thought it was weird because he never told me about it. On the other hand, he was my husband and I was his “Aisha”, and we were expecting a baby together. I just had to trust him. I was quite happy when I arrived back to Sweden. Agnes, Josephine, and Philip were waiting for me at the reception hall of the airport at Arlanda. They didn’t even recognize me on sight due to my braided hair. The sun exposure had tanned the color of my skin and I was dressed in traditional Gambian attire. I had bought lots of presents and there was a scramble over the presents because everyone wanted to have everything. I resumed my services at the restaurant and everything looked normal. I talked every evening on the phone with Lamin for a week before he told me that I had to send in an application to the Swedish immigration bureau, so that he can come back to Sweden as my husband. According to him, it will facilitate to establish his company since as he has a Swedish wife. I talked to Agnes about it and she told me it was the right thing to do. I did and after a lot of bureaucratic tussles, he was back with me in Stockholm after three months. I had already requested for all the documents and formalities on how he could open his cleaning company but when he came back, he wasn’t interested about it. He instead started travelling to France, Denmark, Germany, and Holland every week. He said he was helping his brother in Germany to buy used cars and mechanical spare parts which they shipped in containers to Gambia. He said it was a profitable business. He never spoke so much, I just believed him. His interaction with Josephine was just not good. When he was home, he liked playing with Philip even though it wasn’t consistent. Philip was often disappointed because he could not trust him to be around even when they had planned to do something together. I was already accustomed to our lifestyle with him not being around. Months when by, and as I remember ; It was on a Friday evening that I started having a lot of cramps and out of experience, I realized it was about time for a new baby. Lamin was not home so I had to call Agnes to help me take care of Philip and Josephine. Lamin later met me at the hospital in Skärholmen. It was quite a relief to have him around and he seemed so happy when John was born. Everything went on smoothly at the hospital and we were discharged on the third day. Some of Lamin’s friends came visiting the new born. We were all happy even though Josephine didn’t want to carry John or be around him. It was a sad feeling and the hatred between Lamin and Josephine intensified. He continued with his business trips as usual and I was home full-time with the kids. It was during these periods that I realized clearly that Josephine was completely uncontrollable. I had no strength to discipline her and I had numerous reports about her fights in school, at play parks, and also bullying of the neighbor’s kids. Parents in our neighborhood really hated her and it was very easy to notice due to the way they looked at me sometimes. I presumed that they thought I was just a bad mother. It was saddening when people became silent when I was passing by or most often, tried to avoid eye contacts with me. The neighbors absolutely hated Josephine because she was very aggressive. Not a surprise to me when the social services just came without notification to my apartment one afternoon. Since as I had already been registered at the social services in Stockholm, it was easy for them to understand my situation and a discussion about Josephine to be given to some foster parents was under proposal. Three months after a lot of deliberations, it was quite clear that she would be given to a family for foster care. After a series of meetings with the social workers and multiple therapeutic sessions with a child psychologist, Josephine was visibly happy that she will not be staying with me anymore. It broke my heart to understand that she seemed not to like me that much, but on the other hand, it was a wave of fresh air to know that she might be happy somewhere else and will probably have a better life structure than what I could offer to her. I met her new parents and they were really classy and lovely people. They were both medical doctors and also had one adopted daughter from Peru. They were leaving in a beautiful small community out of Stockholm. It was compromising because I had the possibility to talk or meet Josephine when I could. I had a bitter-sweet feeling when she was picked up by her new parents. I remember crying so much but had such a peaceful sleep later that night. Lamin was home four days after Josephine had left. He never asked about her. He didn’t even notice her absence. When I explained to him about the recent developments, he didn’t say a word. Life was quite normal and everything seems to be in place. Lamin helped out by paying for the house rents which I really appreciated. Time seemed to go so fast and it was quite a surprise that he booked for a cruise trip for us to celebrate our three years of being together as a couple. We went to Riga in a cruise ship and stayed in the hotel which was quite luxurious. Visited some parks, museums and attended a circus performance. We stayed there for 3 days and on the evening of our departure back to Stockholm; he came to the hotel with a man whom he said was also from Gambia. He said he had to introduce him to me because “Kevin” as he called him would be coming to Stockholm the following week and will stay with us for two days. We just had to help him take along two boxes of dresses that belonged to him. It was all fine with me until when we arrived at the custom control at the harbor. That was when I realized that Lamin’s second name should have been “TROUBLE”!!! He admitted to the custom officers that the boxes belonged to him and that I had nothing to do with them. He was detained there by the police while we had to be escorted back home in a police patrol vehicle. Upon arrival at my apartment, two other police cars were in front of the building. They proceeded in conducting a search of the house. With the help of their sniffing dog, they found a stash of money, a plastic bag full of white powder and pills which were evidently narcotics under his dresses in one of his boxes. I almost fainted. I sat down. I was trembling but had to talk with one female officer who asked me series of questions about my relationship with Lamin and the drugs. I have never been so scared in my entire life. Three months later, I could not stand the sight of him in court. I continuously felt like vomiting out of anger. The social worker who had helped me years earlier to move from Stockholm to Dalarna was by my side, assisting me as a witness to my testimonials. As if the drug trafficking case was not enough, Agnes had separated from her Jamaican husband whom I met by coincidence in a shopping mall four days prior to the court trial of Lamin. He told me that Agnes was offered 80,000 kronor by Lamin, so that she could find him a woman to get married to. The deal was to help him acquire a permanent residency in Sweden. I had actually been traded by someone I considered a sister, who knew everything about my trials and tribulations in life. What a manipulative bitch! Everything about Lamin was a lie and all his gestures and actions towards me was just pure theatrical. I was just his ‘get-through tool’. He was sentenced to five years imprisonment and programmed for deportation back to Gambia upon completion of his prison sentence. I never ever recovered from that incident until this day. I never ever spoke to Agnes again. I had to change work and relocated to another apartment because I was so scared and started to develop social phobic tendencies. I was home on sick leave for almost two years after being diagnosed of PTSD. My best comfort during those periods was that, Josephine had become a very humble girl and we started having a good relationship. We communicated and interacted periodically even though it was much more like sisters hanging out together. She didn’t call me ‘Mamma’ anymore but I was just glad she was happy. Proverbial phrases explains that ‘time heals all wounds’, Not for me. My agonies stayed constant. It’s just like having an open scar on your chest. I tried several times during the years to get in contact with Josephine’s father, but never succeeded in convincing him to accept Josephine as her true biological daughter. Josephine was already in high school when she met Daoda for the first time. Even though they had a shocking resemblance, Josephine didn’t have any kind of emotional attachment to him and he seemed so uninterested in creating a bond between them. He was married with four children and clearly told me that he was already ‘hands-tight’ with so many responsibilities and clearly didn’t want any more complications in his life. Josephine too was quite indifferent about him. I personally was living in a trance. I had no regular feelings for any man anymore. I was basically numb because an extensive anger within me. I never had any intensive relationship again. I was just pleasuring myself with guys I met in clubs or sometimes dating sites. I just wanted sex and fortunately enough, it’s quite easy to get any guy you want to sleep with when you go to reggae clubs in Stockholm. It’s always so predictable how these black guys usually line up in the clubs. Most often in those unregulated African clubs. Attendances might just offer ten white girls with a multitude of over forty black guys looking desperately for a hook-up. It is quite easy to make a pick of your choice. I really can’t understand if I’m cursed or if it is just a weird coincidence: I usually pick a guy just to realize after that he is from Gambia. I have gotten so accustomed to them that I even understand Mandingo and Wolof. I got so used to it that, at some point I thought it was just normal. They habitually had marijuana. I enjoyed smoking sometimes. Philip´s father was a career criminal. Constantly going in and out of jail and as I later heard from one of my boyfriends, he became psychotic and was in a psychiatric institution due to drug abuse. He could not be rehabilitated anymore and was tricked by some of his family relatives to go back to Gambia. I have never heard anything about him since then. Philip never knew him, which to me is inconsequential. For some strange reasons, Lamin is the only father of my child that I still talk to. He was deported back to Gambia after serving his prison sentence. He opened a small restaurant and bar and seems to be doing fine. He usually sends presents to John whenever he meets someone in Gambia who is travelling to Stockholm. It’s just unfortunate, that he can’t talk with John because he can’t speak Swedish and John doesn’t know what to say or how they can communicate when I give him the phone to talk to Lamin. Anyway, he is always happy receiving presents from the father. I think I got pregnant again twice from two different Gambian guys, but I did an abortion on both situations without even letting them know I was pregnant. I don’t think I’II ever live together with a man. Filed under Art and Culture · Tagged with	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line431
__label__wiki	0.843614	0.843614	Previous (Honeybee) Next (Hong Xiuquan) 中華人民共和國香港特別行政區 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China Anthem: March of the Volunteers 《義勇軍進行曲》 View at night from Victoria Peak Chinese, English[1][2] Cantonese, English Hong Konger Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China - Chief Executive Donald Tsang - Chief Executive-elect CY Leung - Chief Justice Geoffrey Ma - President of the Legislative Council Jasper Tsang - Treaty of Nanking 29 August 1842 - Japanese occupation 25 December 1941 – - Conveyance from British sovereignty to Chinese sovereignty 1 July 1997 - Total 1,104 km² (179th) - Water (%) 4.58 (50 km²; 19 mi²)[3][4] - 2010 census 7,061,200[5] - Density 6,480[6]/km² (4th) - Total $351.119 billion[7] - Per capita $49,137[7] HKT (UTC+8) .hk and .香港 [[++852]] The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (香港特別行政區, 香港特别行政区, commonly known as Hong Kong[9] (Chinese: 香港), is one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China, along with Macau. Comprising more than 260 islands, the territory is located on the eastern side of the Pearl River Delta, bordering Guangdong province in the north and facing the South China Sea in the east, west and south. 3 Climate 5 Legal System and Judiciary 6 Administrative districts 13 Transport 14 Military 15 International rankings Hong Kong was a crown colony of the United Kingdom from 1842 until the transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China in 1997. Hong Kong was declared a free port to serve as an entrepôt of the British Empire, and grew rapidly into a center for international trade. Between December 25, 1941, and the end of World War II, Hong Kong was under Japanese control. Rapid industrialization between 1960s and 1990s made Hong Kong one of the four Asian Tigers of economic growth. Driven by exports, the economy grew at an average annual rate of 8.9 percent in the 1970s. Many of the manufacturing operations moved to mainland China during the 1980s and Hong Kong became a global financial center, with industry now constituting just 9 percent of the economy. Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated countries/dependencies in the world, with an overall density of more than 6,200 people per km². The Sino-British Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of Hong Kong stipulate that Hong Kong operate with a high degree of autonomy until at least 2047. The People’s Republic of China is responsible for the territory's defense and foreign affairs, while Hong Kong maintains its own legal system, police force, monetary system, customs policy, immigration policy, and delegates to international organizations and events. Human settlement in the location now known as Hong Kong dates back to the Paleolithic era. The region was first incorporated into Imperial China during the Qin Dynasty, and served as a trading post and naval base during the Tang Dynasty and the Song Dynasty. The area's earliest recorded European visitor was Jorge Álvares, a Portuguese mariner who arrived in 1513.[10][11] Contact with the United Kingdom was established after the British East India Company founded a trading post in the nearby city of Canton. In 1839, the refusal by Qing Dynasty authorities to import opium resulted in the First Opium War between China and Britain.[12] Hong Kong Island was first occupied by British forces in 1841, and then formally ceded from China under the Treaty of Nanking at the end of the war. The British established a Crown Colony with the founding of Victoria City the following year. In 1860, after China's defeat in the Second Opium War, the Kowloon Peninsula south of Boundary Street and Stonecutter's Island were ceded to Britain in perpetuity under the Convention of Peking. In 1898, Britain obtained a 99-year lease of the adjacent northern lands and Lantau Island, which became known as the New Territories. Hong Kong in the late nineteenth century was a major trading post of the British Empire. Japanese troops march along Queen's Road following the British surrender in 1941. Hong Kong was declared a free port to serve as an entrepôt of the British Empire. The Kowloon-Canton Railway opened in 1910 with a southern terminus in Tsim Sha Tsui. An education system based on the British model was introduced. The local Chinese population had little contact with the European community of wealthy tai-pans settled near Victoria Peak.[12] As part of its military campaign in World War II, the Empire of Japan invaded Hong Kong on December 8, 1941. The Battle of Hong Kong ended with British and Canadian forces surrendering control of the colony to Japan on December 25, 1941. During the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, civilians suffered from widespread food shortages caused by the imposition of rations, and hyper-inflation due to forced exchange of currency for military notes. Hong Kong's population declined from 1.6 million before the invasion to about 600,000 in 1945,[13] when the United Kingdom resumed control of the colony following Japan's defeat in the war. Hong Kong's population recovered quickly after the war, as a wave of mainland migrants arrived as refugees from the ongoing Chinese Civil War. With the proclamation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, more migrants fled to Hong Kong for fear of persecution by the Communist Party of China.[12] Many corporations in Shanghai and Guangzhou also shifted their operations to Hong Kong.[12] The colony became the sole point of contact between mainland China and the Western world, as the communist government increasingly isolated the China from outside influence. Trade with the mainland was interrupted during the Korean War, when the United Nations ordered a trade embargo against the communist government.[14] Colonial flag of Hong Kong, based on the British Blue Ensign View of Victoria Harbour, circa 1960 The low cost and easy availability of labor contributed to the growth of the textile and manufacturing industries. As Hong Kong rapidly industrialized, its economy became driven by exports to international markets. Living standards rose steadily along with industrial growth. The construction of Shek Kip Mei Estate in 1953 marked the beginning of a public housing program. Hong Kong was disrupted by chaos during the riots of 1967,[12] when pro-communist leftists, inspired by the Cultural Revolution on the mainland, turned a labor dispute into a violent uprising against the colonial government which lasted until the end of the year. Established in 1974, the Independent Commission Against Corruption dramatically reduced corruption in the government. When the People's Republic of China initiated a set of economic reforms in 1978, Hong Kong became the main source of foreign investment for the mainland. A Special Economic Zone was established the following year in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, located immediately north of the mainland's border with Hong Kong. Services gradually replaced textiles and manufacturing in the economy of Hong Kong, as the financial and banking sectors became increasingly dominant. After the Vietnam War ended in 1975, the Hong Kong government became involved in the processing of refugees from Viet Nam. In the 1980s, with the lease of the New Territories due to expire within two decades, the governments of the United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China discussed the issue of Hong Kong's sovereignty, and in 1984, the two countries signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration, agreeing to transfer the sovereignty of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China in 1997.[12] The declaration stipulated that Hong Kong would be governed as a special administrative region, retaining its laws and a high degree of autonomy for at least 50 years after the transfer. Lacking confidence in this arrangement, some residents chose to emigrate from Hong Kong, particularly after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. The Basic Law of Hong Kong, which would serve as the constitutional document after the transfer, was ratified in 1990. Over strong objections from Beijing, Governor Chris Patten introduced democratic reforms to the election process for the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. The transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong occurred at midnight on the night of June 30, 1997, marked by a handover ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.[12] Tung Chee Hwa assumed office as the first Chief Executive of Hong Kong. The Asian financial crisis of 1997 that hit many East Asian markets affected Hong Kong's economy. The H5N1 avian influenza also surfaced in Hong Kong that year. Implementation of the Airport Core Programme led to the opening of the new Hong Kong International Airport in 1998, after six years of construction. The project was part of the ambitious Port and Airport Development Strategy that was drafted in the early 1980s. The outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome took hold of Hong Kong in the first half of 2003.[15] That year, half a million people participated in a march to voice disapproval of the Tung administration and a proposal to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law, which had raised concerns over infringements on rights and freedoms. The proposal was later abandoned by the administration. In 2005, Tung submitted his resignation as chief executive. Donald Tsang, the Chief Secretary for Administration, was selected as chief executive to complete the term. Areas of urban development and vegetation are visible in this false-color satellite image. Hong Kong from Victoria Peak Hong Kong consists primarily of Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island, Kowloon Peninsula and the New Territories as well as some 260 other islands in the South China Sea. The Kowloon Peninsula is attached to the New Territories to the north, and the New Territories spans northwards, eventually connecting with mainland China across the Sham Chun River (Shenzhen River). Lantau is the largest island. Hong Kong Island is the second largest island and the most populated. Ap Lei Chau is the most densely populated island in the world. The name "Hong Kong," which literally translates to "fragrant harbor," is derived from the area around present-day Aberdeen on Hong Kong Island, where fragrant wood products and fragrant incense were once traded.[16] The narrow body of water which separates Hong Kong Island from the Kowloon Peninsula is known as Victoria Harbor and is one of the deepest natural maritime ports in the world. Despite Hong Kong's reputation of being intensely urbanized, the territory has made much effort to promote a green environment.[17] Much of the territory remains undeveloped because the terrain is mostly hilly to mountainous with steep slopes. Of the territory's 1,104 square kilometres (426 square miles),[18] less than 25 percent is developed. The remaining land is remarkably green with about 40 percent of the landmass reserved as country parks and nature reserves.[19] Most of the territory's urban development exists on the Kowloon peninsula, along the northern shores of Hong Kong Island and in scattered settlements throughout the New Territories. Hong Kong's long, irregular and curvaceous coastline provides many bays, rivers and beaches. Despite the territory's extensive wooded and ocean setting, Hong Kong's air ranks as among the most polluted, and environmental awareness is growing. Approximately 80 percent of the city's smog originates from other parts of the Pearl River Delta.[20] Hong Kong is 60 kilometres (37 miles) east of Macau on the opposite side of the Pearl River Delta. It borders the city of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province to the north. The highest elevation in the territory is at Tai Mo Shan, at a height of 958 metres (3,142 ft) above sea level. Lowlands exist in the northwestern part of the New Territories. The Hong Kong Observatory is the government department responsible for providing meteorological forecasts, weather-related hazard warnings and geophysical surveys for the territory.]]Hong Kong's climate is subtropical and prone to monsoons. It is cooler and dry in the wintertime which lasts from around December to early March, and is hot, humid and rainy from spring through summer. It is warm, sunny, and dry in autumn. Hong Kong occasionally has tropical cyclones in the summer and early autumn. The ecology of Hong Kong is mostly affected by the results of climatic changes. Hong Kong's climate is seasonal due to the alternating wind directions between winter and summer. Hong Kong has been geologically stable for millions of years, though landslides are common especially after heavy rainstorms. Flora and fauna in Hong Kong are affected by climatic change, sea level alternation and human impact. The highest recorded temperature[21] in Hong Kong is 38°C (100.0°F) while the lowest recorded temperature is -4°C (25.0°F). Meanwhile, the highest and lowest temperatures ever recorded by the Observatory are respectively 36.1°C (97.0°F) on August 19, 1900 and August 18, 1990, and 0.0°C (32.0°F) on January 18, 1893. The average temperature[22] in the coldest month, January, is 16.1°C (61.0°F) while the average temperature in the hottest month, July, is 28.7°C (83.7°F). The territory is situated south of the Tropic of Cancer which is approximate to Hawaii in latitude. In winter, strong and cold winds generated from the north cool the city; in the summer, the wind's prevailing direction changes and brings the warm and humid air in from the southwest. This climate can support a tropical rainforest. Weather averages for Hong Kong Avg high °C Avg low °C Avg high °F Avg low °F Precipitation (mm) 24.9 52.3 71.4 188.5 329.5 388.1 374.4 444.6 287.5 151.9 35.4 34.5 2382.70 Precipitation (in) 0.98 2.06 2.81 7.42 12.97 15.28 14.74 17.50 11.32 5.98 1.39 1.36 93.81 Source: HKO[22] Jan 20, 2006 Pursuant to the Hong Kong Basic Law, Hong Kong's constitutional document, the local Hong Kong government retains sovereignty over the territory except in areas of national defense and foreign relations. Only the Chief Executive, the head of territory and head of government, is selected by the Chief Executive Election Committee composed of 800 members. All other functionaries of the government, including members the executive and legislative branch, are either appointed by the Chief Executive (directly or by proxy) or elected by voters. In theory, this arrangement guarantees that Hong Kong is governed almost independently of the PRC and can retain its unique cultural, legal and economic infrastructure. In practice, however, some have accused Beijing of excess intrusion into Hong Kong domestic affairs beyond levels permitted under Basic Law. The Legislative Council of Hong Kong The Government House in Central where the Chief Executive resides. Laws in Hong Kong are enacted only by approval of the Chief Executive and majority consent from the 60 seat Legislative Council of Hong Kong, or LegCo. Although the nature of Hong Kong's government is often said to be undemocratic, half of LegCo's seats are elected under universal suffrage, with the other half selected by functional constituencies consisting of trade unions and special interests. Basic Law guarantees that all seats will eventually be elected under universal suffrage. Donald Tsang has held the office of the Chief Executive since his election on June 16, 2005 by an electoral committee appointed by Beijing.[23] He was re-elected as [[Hong Kong Chief Executive election, 2007 \| Chief Executive on March 25, 2007 for another five year term, which began on July 1, 2007. The Peoples Republic of China set up a Provisional Legislative Council (PLC) in 1996 just before the handover, which moved to Hong Kong to have its meetings after the handover. It repealed some laws passed by the colonial Legislative Council, and passed some new laws, such as the Public Order Ordinance,[24] which requires permission from police to hold a demonstration if the number of participants exceeds thirty. Legislative Council elections were held in May, 1998, September]] 2000 and again in September of 2004, with the next election scheduled for 2008. According to the Hong Kong Basic Law, the present third term of the Legislative Council has 25 seats directly elected from geographical constituencies and 30 seats elected from functional constituencies. The 1998, 2000 and 2004 Legislative Council elections were seen as free, open, and widely contested, despite the protests of 'pro-democratic' politicians who contended that the electoral basis for these seats is too narrow. On September 24, 2005, 25 Hong Kong pro-democracy LegCo members, some of whom had been previously labeled as traitors by Beijing after the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown and barred from entering the mainland, crossed the border into the southern province of Guangdong, following an unprecedented invitation by the Peoples Republic of China which was seen as a gesture of goodwill.[25] The Central Government Offices on Government Hill Political activities in Central. The civil service of Hong Kong maintains its quality and neutrality following its tradition in the colonial times, operating without discernible direction from Beijing. Many government and administrative operations are located in Central on Hong Kong Island near the historical location of Victoria City, the site of the original British settlements. While Hong Kong is not an independent country, it retains its own delegation in international organizations such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the Olympic Games, although it changed its official name in these functions from "Hong Kong" to "Hong Kong, China" after 1997. Hong Kong also participates in international events by including a delegate with the PRC's representative group. Legal System and Judiciary The Court of Final Appeal in Central An assembly of Hong Kong judges In contrast to mainland China's civil law system, Hong Kong continues to follow the common law tradition established by British colonial rule. Article 84 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong allows Hong Kong's courts to refer to decisions (precedents) rendered by courts of other common law jurisdictions. Articles 82 and 92 allow judges from other common law jurisdictions to participate in proceedings of Hong Kong's Court of Final Appeal and sit as Hong Kong judges. Structurally, Hong Kong's court system consists of the Court of Final Appeal which replaced the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the High Court, which is made up of the Court of Appeal and the Court of First Instance, and the District Court, which includes the Family Court. Other adjudicative bodies include the Lands Tribunal, the Magistrates' Courts, the Juvenile Court, the Coroner's Court, the Labour Tribunal, the Small Claims Tribunal, and the Obscene Articles Tribunal, which is responsible for classifying non-video pornography to be circulated in Hong Kong. Justices of the Court of Final Appeal are appointed by Hong Kong's Chief Executive. The Basic Law of Hong Kong is subject to interpretation by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC:SC) and this power has been invoked three times: the right of abode issue, an interpretation regarding post-2008 election procedures, and an interpretation regarding the length of the term of the Chief Executive. As in England, lawyers in Hong Kong can choose to practice as either barristers or solicitors. The vast majority of lawyers are solicitors, who are licensed and regulated by the Law Society of Hong Kong. Barristers, on the other hand, are licensed and regulated by the Hong Kong Bar Association. Only barristers are allowed to appear in the Court of Final Appeal and the High Court. Just as the common law system is maintained, so are British courtroom customs such as the wearing of robes and wigs by both judges and lawyers. According to the Article 63 of the Basic Law of Hong Kong, the Department of Justice controls criminal prosecutions, free from any interference. It is the largest legal institution in Hong Kong, and its responsibilities involve legislation, judicial administration, prosecution, civil representation, legal and policy drafting and reform, and the legal profession. Aside from prosecuting criminal cases in Hong Kong, officials of the Department of Justice also appear in court on behalf of the government in all civil and administrative lawsuits against the government. As the protector of public interests, it may apply for judicial reviews and assign legal representation on behalf of public interest to take part in the trial of cases that involve material public interests.[26] Administrative districts Districts of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: 1. Islands; 2. Kwai Tsing; 3. North; 4. Sai Kung; 5. Sha Tin; 6. Tai Po; 7. Tsuen Wan; 8. Tuen Mun; 9. Yuen Long; 10. Kowloon City; 11. Kwun Tong; 12. Sham Shui Po; 13. Wong Tai Sin; 14. Yau Tsim Mong; 15. Central and Western; 16. Eastern; 17. Southern; 18. Wan Chai Hong Kong is subdivided into 18 geographic districts for administrative purposes: Each district is represented by a District Council that advises the Government of Hong Kong on local matters such as public facilities, community programmes, cultural activities and environmental improvements. The Home Affairs Department is the governmental body responsible for coordinating services and communicating government policies and plans to the public. It interacts with the public at the local level through corresponding district offices. There are no formal definitions for cities and towns in Hong Kong. The historic boundaries of Victoria City, Kowloon and New Kowloon are stated in law, but these entities no longer possess any legal or administrative status. 2 International Finance Centre, the tallest building in Hong Kong Hong Kong maintains a capitalistic economy built on a policy of free market, low taxation and government non-intervention. It is an important centre for international finance and trade, with the greatest concentration of corporate headquarters in the Asia-Pacific region. In terms of gross domestic product per capita and gross metropolitan product, Hong Kong is the wealthiest urban centre in the People's Republic of China. The GDP per capita (PPP) of Hong Kong even exceeded the four big economies in Western Europe (UK, France, Germany, Italy) and Japan in Asia. Continuing the practice established under the British administration, the Government of Hong Kong generally leaves the direction of the economy to market forces and the private sector. Since 1980, the government has usually played a passive role under the official policy of positive non-interventionism. Hong Kong has often been cited as a prime example of laissez-faire capitalism in practice, most notably by economist Milton Friedman. It has ranked as the world's freest economy in the Index of Economic Freedom for thirteen consecutive years, since the inception of the index in 1995.[27][28] It also places first in the Economic Freedom of the World Report.[29] Hong Kong has little arable land and few natural resources within its borders, and must therefore import most of its food and raw materials. Hong Kong is the world's eleventh largest trading entity,[30] with the total value of imports and exports exceeding its gross domestic product. As of 2006, there are 114 countries that maintain consulates in Hong Kong, more than any other city in the world. A large portion of Hong Kong's exports are re-exports, which are products made outside of the territory, especially in mainland China, and distributed through Hong Kong. Even before the transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China, Hong Kong had established extensive trade and investment ties with mainland China. The territory's autonomous status enables it to serve as a point of entry for investments and resources flowing into the mainland. It is also a connecting point for flights from the Republic of China on Taiwan destined for the mainland. Various Hong Kong banknotes Various Hong Kong coins The currency used in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong dollar. Since 1983, it has been pegged at a fixed exchange rate to the United States dollar. The currency is allowed to trade within a range between 7.75 and 7.85 Hong Kong dollars to one United States dollar. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is the seventh largest in the world, with a market capitalization of about US$1.69 trillion as of February 2007. In 2006, the total value of initial public offerings conducted in Hong Kong was second highest in the world after London.[31] The City of London Corporation's Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI) 2007, which evaluates the competitiveness of 46 financial centers worldwide, ranks Hong Kong as the third-best financial centre globally and the strongest centre in Asia.[32] Hong Kong's economy is dominated by services, which account for over 90 percent of its gross domestic product. In the past, manufacturing had been the most important sector of the economy, as Hong Kong industrialized following the Second World War. Driven by exports, the economy grew at an average annual rate of 8.9 percent in the 1970s. Hong Kong underwent a rapid transition to a service-based economy in the 1980s, when growth averaged 7.2 percent annually. Many of the manufacturing operations moved to mainland China during this period, and industry now constitutes just 9 percent of the economy. As Hong Kong matured to become a financial center, growth slowed to an average of 2.7 percent annually in the 1990s. Together with Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan, Hong Kong is known as one of the Four Asian Tigers for its high growth rates and rapid industrialization between the 1960s and the 1990s.[33] The economy suffered a 5.3 percent decline during 1998, in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis. A period of recovery followed, with the growth rate reaching 10 percent in 2000, although deflation persisted. In 2003, the economy was greatly affected by the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which reduced economic growth to 2.3 percent that year. A revival of external and domestic demand led to a strong recovery the following year, as cost declines strengthened Hong Kong export competitiveness. The 68-month-long deflationary period ended in mid-2004, with consumer price inflation hovering at near zero levels.[34] Beginning in 2003, the Individual Visit Scheme has allowed travelers from some cities in mainland China to visit Hong Kong without an accompanying tour group. As a result, the tourism industry of Hong Kong has benefited from an increase in mainland visitors, further aided by the opening of Hong Kong Disneyland Resort in 2005. The economy continues to grow strongly with the return of consumer confidence and rising trade. Hong Kong has set low rates in both personal and corporate taxation. In 2006, Hong Kong's per-capita GDP ranked as the 6th highest in the world at US$38,127, ahead of countries such as Switzerland, Denmark, and Japan.[35] Its GDP ranked as the 40th highest at US$253.1 billion. Sai Yeung Choi Street South, the most crowded street in Mong Kok Hong Kong's population increased sharply throughout the 1990s, reaching 6.99 million in 2006.[36] About 95 percent of Hong Kong's population is of Chinese descent, the majority being Cantonese or from ethnic groups such as Hakka and Teochew. Cantonese, a Chinese language commonly spoken in southern China, is Hong Kong's official dialect. English is also an official language widely spoken by more than 38 percent of the population. According to statistics, some 3.1% regard English as their "usual" language with 34.9 percent speaking it as "another" language.[37] Signs displaying both Chinese and English are extremely common throughout the territory. Since the 1997 handover, new groups of mainland China immigrants have arrived, and the usage of Mandarin, the official dialect of mainland China, has increased as the integration with mainland economy led to a demand in Mandarin speakers. The remaining 5 percent of the population is composed of non-ethnic Chinese forming a highly visible group despite their smaller numbers. There is a South Asian population comprised of Indians, Pakistanis and Nepalese. Vietnamese refugees have become permanent residents. Approximately 140,000 Filipinos work in Hong Kong as foreign domestic helpers. An increasing number of domestic workers also originate from Indonesia. There are also a number of Europeans, Americans, Australians, Canadians, Japanese, and Koreans working in Hong Kong's commercial and financial sector. Considered as a dependency, Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated countries /dependencies in the world, with an overall density of more than 6,200 people per km². Hong Kong has a fertility rate of 0.95 children per woman,[38] one of the lowest in the world and far below the 2.1 children per woman required to sustain the current population. However, population in Hong Kong continues to grow due to the influx of immigrants from mainland China, approximating 45,000 per year. Life expectancy in Hong Kong is 81.6 years as of 2006, fifth highest in the world. Hong Kong's population has an extremely dense urban core, consisting of Kowloon and the north of Hong Kong Island. The rest is relatively sparsely populated, with millions of residents scattered irregularly throughout the New Territories, south Hong Kong island and Lantau Island. An increasing number of citizens are living in Shenzhen, and commuting from mainland China. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Hong Kong Polytechnic University Since Hong Kong is a former British Crown colony, its education system has roughly followed the British system of education. At the higher education levels, both British and American systems exist. The University of Hong Kong (HKU), the oldest institution of tertiary education in the territory, has traditionally been based on the British model but has incorporated some elements of the American model in recent years. Second to HKU historically, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) follows the American model with a characteristically British college system. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) was established on the American model of higher education. There are nine public universities in Hong Kong, and a number of private institutions of higher education, such as Lingnan University in Tuen Mun, the only university in Hong Kong that provides a liberal arts education. Hong Kong's public schools are operated by the Education and Manpower Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.[39] The system features a non-compulsory three-year kindergarten, followed by a compulsory six-year primary education and three-year junior secondary education; a non-compulsory two-year senior secondary education leading to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examinations and a two-year matriculation course leading to the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examinations. A new “3+3+4”curriculum, consisting of a three-year junior secondary, three-year senior secondary and four-year undergraduate academic system, will be implemented from 2009 (for senior secondary) and 2012 (for tertiary) onwards. There are also tertiary institutions offering various Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees, other higher diplomas, and associate degree courses. Most comprehensive schools in Hong Kong fall under three categories: public schools, subsidized schools and private schools. Public schools are rare, and subsidized schools are the most common, run by charitable organizations, often with religious affiliations, and partially financed by government aid and grants. The majority of such religious affiliations are Christian and Catholic, but there are also Buddhist, Daoist, Islamic and Confucian schools. Private schools, often run by Christian organizations, base their admissions based on academic merit rather than on financial resources. Outside this system are the schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) and private international schools. A statue on the Avenue of Stars, a tribute to H.K cinema. Statue of the movie star Bruce Lee on the Avenue of Stars of Hong Kong Hong Kong is frequently described as a place where East meets West, a meeting reflected in its economic infrastructure, architecture, education, and street culture. On one street corner, there may be traditional Chinese shops selling Chinese herbal medicine, Buddhist paraphernalia or bowls of synthetic shark fin soup. But around the next, one may find theaters showing the latest Hollywood blockbusters, an English-style pub, a Catholic Church or Ronald McDonald inviting passers-by to a Big Mac. The territory's official languages are Chinese and English; signs in both languages are omnipresent throughout Hong Kong. The government, police and most workplaces and stores conduct business bilingually. British rule may have ended a decade ago, but Western culture is deeply ingrained in Hong Kong and coexists seamlessly with traditional philosophy and practices of the Orient. Hong Kong has an active nightlife in major entertainment districts such as Lan Kwai Fong, Tsim Sha Tsui, Wan Chai. These areas are frequented by visitors, expatriates and locals alike. On a clear day, Victoria Peak offers a spectacular view of the city. There is also a promenade along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, which is popular among young Chinese couples. Shopping is often done at night, as evidenced by the Temple Street Night Market, where one can also catch free performances of Beijing opera (Peking opera). The city's cosmopolitan flavor can also be seen in the wide variety of cuisines available. While different varieties of Chinese selections, especially seafood, are most popular, there are also many European, American, Japanese, Korean, and other restaurants. Ethnic dishes served in cha chaan teng (Chinese tea restaurants) and dai pai dong (open air stalls) are also popular. The people of Hong Kong take their food seriously and many top chefs make their way to the city to show off their talents to these discerning diners. While Hong Kong is a global centre of trade, perhaps the city's most famous export is its entertainment industry, particularly in the martial arts genre. Several Hollywood performers originate from Hong Kong cinema—Bruce Lee, Chow Yun-Fat, Jackie Chan, Michelle Yeoh, and Jet Li, to name a few. Behind the camera, Hong Kong filmmakers have also found recognition in Hollywood, such as John Woo, Wong Kar-wai, Tsui Hark and martial arts choreographers who have designed fight scenes in the Matrix trilogy, Kill Bill and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Back in Hong Kong, several homegrown films have also gained international recognition, such as Chungking Express, Infernal Affairs, Shaolin Soccer, Rumble in the Bronx and In the Mood for Love. Acclaimed filmmaker Quentin Tarantino has commented he was strongly influenced by Hong Kong action cinema. Hong Kong is also the world's main hub for Cantopop music.[40] Karaoke culture is also part of Hong Kong's nightlife. The Hong Kong government also supports cultural institutions such as the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Art, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Furthermore, the government's Leisure and Cultural Services Department also subsidizes and sponsors the visits of international performers to Hong Kong. The Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau, Hong Kong, the tallest outdoor buddha statue in the world. Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of religious freedom, a right enshrined and protected in its constitutional document, the Basic Law. The majority of Hong Kong's population, as in Mainland China, practice a folk version of Buddhism. This majority includes approximately six million people, close to 90 percent of a total population of less than seven million. A sizable Christian community of around 500,000 exists, forming about 7 percent of the total population; it is roughly equally divided between Catholics and Protestants. There are also around 200,000 followers each of authentic Buddhism and Taoism. Apart from the major religions, there are also a significant number of followers of other religions, including an estimated 23,000 Mormons, 3000 Jews and a number of Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Bahá'ís. Apart from offering religious instructions, many major religious bodies operate schools and provide social welfare facilities. Hong Kong's religious beliefs are tied to the region's early role as a fishing community. The goddess Tin Hau, the protector of seafarers, has been honored with several temples throughout Hong Kong for at least 300 years. Hung Shing, another protector of seafarers, has also been honored for centuries. Hong Kong residents, especially the elder generations, visit Daoist or Buddhist temples to appease the deities and, usually, to request compassion, good health or good fortune. Gifts of food, and in particular fruit, are presented, and incense and paper offerings are burnt in respect. With the transfer of Hong Kong to the Peoples Republic of China, there were significant concerns that restrictions would be placed on religious freedom in Hong Kong. So far, this has proved mostly unfounded. Despite the banning of the Falun Gong movement by Beijing in 1999, adherents are still free to practice in Hong Kong. Similarly, the Catholic Church freely appoints its own bishops in Hong Kong, unlike in mainland China where the only approved 'Catholic' institution is the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association with bishops and priests appointed by Beijing (though an unofficial and illegal Catholic church maintains contact with the Vatican). A significant issue in the normalization of ties between the PRC and the Vatican is Beijing's insistence that the Vatican drops its diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Hong Kong is the only place in China where missionaries from the Mormon Church can serve. The Bank of China Tower at dusk. Due to the creative destruction endemic to Hong Kong over the past 50 years, few historical buildings remain in Hong Kong. Instead the city has become a center for modern architecture, especially in and around the Central and Western District (Central). Dense commercial skyscrapers lining the coast of Victoria Harbour between Central and Causeway Bay form one of Hong Kong's most famous tourist attractions, which is ranked as the best skyline in the world. Four of the 15 tallest skyscrapers in the world are in Hong Kong. In Kowloon, which once included the anarchistic settlement called the Kowloon Walled City, strict height restrictions on structures were in force until 1998 when the nearby Kai Tak Airport was closed. With restrictions lifted, several new skyscrapers are under construction in Kowloon, including International Commerce Centre which, when completed in 2010, will become the world's fourth tallest. One of the notable buildings in Hong Kong is I. M. Pei's Bank of China Tower, completed in 1990 and now Hong Kong's third tallest skyscraper. The building attracted heated controversy, as its sharp angles were said to cast negative feng shui energy into the heart of Hong Kong. Predating the Bank of China Tower, another well-known structure is the HSBC Headquarters Building, finished in 1985. It was built on the site of Hong Kong's first skyscraper, which was finished in 1935 and was the subject of a bitter heritage conservation struggle in the late 1970s. Both banks' buildings are featured on many of Hong Kong's banknotes. The tallest building in Hong Kong is the International Finance Centre 2. One of the largest construction projects in Hong Kong was the new Hong Kong International Airport on Chek Lap Kok near Lantau, a huge land reclamation project linked to the center of Hong Kong by the Lantau Link, which features three new major bridges: Tsing Ma, the world's sixth largest suspension bridge; Kap Shui Mun, the world's longest cable-stayed bridge carrying both road and railway traffic; and Ting Kau, the world's first major four-span cable-stayed bridge. Particularly noticeable in Hong Kong's skyline and streetscapes is the omnipresence of public housing estates, which began as a squatter resettlement program in the 1950s, and now house close to 50 percent of the population. These estates have evolved from seven-story walk-up apartments with public toilets and minimal amenities, allocated on a basis of 24 square feet per adult, half of that for a child; to high-quality high-rises. The public rental program has been supplemented with a government-subsidized Home Ownership Scheme. A panoramic view of northern Hong Kong Island between North Point in the east and Kennedy Town in the west. Double-decker bus Busy streetscene of Causeway Bay, Hong Kong Island The iconic Star Ferry on one of its nine-minute voyages across the harbor. Hong Kong has a highly developed and sophisticated transport network, encompassing both public and private transport. The Octopus card stored value smart card payment system can be used to pay for fares on almost all railways, buses and ferries in Hong Kong. The Octopus card uses RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) to allow users to scan their card without taking it out of their wallet or bag. All parking meters in Hong Kong accept payment by Octopus card only, and Octopus card payment can be made at various car parks. Hong Kong is dominated by steep, hilly terrain, and some unusual methods of transport have been devised to ease movement up and down the slopes. For example, the Peak Tram has provided vertical rail transport between Central and Victoria Peak since 1888 by steeply ascending the side of a mountain. In Central and Western district there is an extensive system of escalators and moving sidewalks, including the longest outdoor covered escalator system in the world, the Mid-levels Escalator. Hong Kong has several different modes of public rail transport. The two metro systems for the city are the MTR (Mass Transit Railway) and KCR which acts as a link between Hong Kong and mainland China (KCR also operates a light rail system in northwest New Territories). These are operated by the MTR Corporation Limited and the Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation respectively. The tramway system covers the northern parts of Hong Kong Island and is the only tram system in the world run exclusively with double deckers. Five separate companies (KMB, Citybus, NWFB, Long Win & NLB) operate franchised public bus services in Hong Kong. Double-decker buses were introduced to Hong Kong in 1949 and are now used almost exclusively, as in Singapore, Dublin and the United Kingdom. However, single-decker buses remain in use for routes with lower demand or roads with lower carrying capacity. Such single-decker buses are mainly used on Lantau Island and for overnight services. Most normal franchised bus routes in Hong Kong operate until 1 A.M.. Public light buses run the length and breadth of Hong Kong, through areas where standard bus lines cannot reach or do not reach as frequently, quickly, or directly. Taxis are also widely used throughout Hong Kong, with 99 percent of them run on liquefied petroleum gas; the rest are still diesel operated. Most ferry services are provided by licensed ferry operators serving outlying islands, new towns, across Victoria Harbour, Macau and cities in mainland China. The oldest service, the legendary Star Ferry, operates four lines between Kowloon and Hong Kong Island and has provided cost-effective transport for over a century. It is popular with tourists desiring a panoramic view of Hong Kong's skyline and harbor, and many residents consider the Star Ferry as one of the city's most treasured cultural icons. Additionally, 78 "kai-to" ferries are licensed to serve remote coastal settlements. Hong Kong has one active international airport, known as Hong Kong International Airport located at Chek Lap Kok. When it opened in 1998, this replaced the former Hong Kong International Airport, Kai Tak Airport located at Kowloon City, which was simultaneously closed. After highly-publicized delays in the cargo systems during the first few months, the airport now serves as a transport hub for Southeast Asia, and as the hub for Cathay Pacific Airways, Dragonair, Air Hong Kong, Oasis Hong Kong Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines and Hong Kong Express. Both Hong Kong International Airport and Cathay Pacific Airways have been voted best in the world, in the airport and airline criteria respectively, by Skytrax from 2001 to 2005. Hong Kong International Airport served more than 36 million passengers in the year 2004, and increased to over 40 million passengers in 2005. Access to the airport includes 'Airport Express', 'CityFlyers' and 'Airbuses'. These services connect the airport to the rest of Hong Kong. The Airport Express zooms passengers to Central on Hong Kong Island in just 23 minutes. The recent opening of Sunny Bay Station of the MTR allows easy access to the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. While the traffic in mainland China drives on the right, Hong Kong maintains its own road rules, with traffic continuing to drive on the left. The Hong Kong highway code uses the same road sign system as Great Britain, whereas the Chinese system is different. There are about 517,000 registered vehicles in Hong Kong, 64 percent of which are privately owned passenger cars. As a metropolis for luxury in Asia, Hong Kong is world famous for having the most Rolls-Royce cars per capita in the world.[41] The headquarters of the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison (former Prince of Wales Building) Because it has never been a sovereign state, Hong Kong has never had its own military forces except for voluntary auxiliary forces like The Royal Hong Kong Regiment (The Volunteers). All defense matters have been dependent on the state which controls Hong Kong. Before the British handover to PRC sovereignty, defense was provided by the British military, who stationed soldiers in barracks throughout Hong Kong, including the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong. These forces were supported financially by the Hong Kong Government. The People's Republic of China Central People's Government (CPG) assumed sovereignty over Hong Kong on July 1, 1997, and stationed a garrison of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) there to manage its defense affairs. Although the garrison has little practical military value, the stationing of the PLA troops in Hong Kong is a significant symbol of the PRC government's assumption of sovereignty over Hong Kong. According to Hong Kong's Basic Law, military forces stationed in Hong Kong shall not interfere with local civil affairs; the Hong Kong Government shall remain responsible for the maintenance of public order. The Hong Kong Garrison, composed of ground, naval, and air forces, is under the command of the Chinese Central Military Commission. The garrison subsequently opened its barracks on Stonecutters Island and Stanley to the public to promote understanding and trust between the troops and residents. Under British rule, Chinese Hong Kong residents (and other Hong Kong residents) were able to join the British Forces Overseas Hong Kong. World's Best Airports Skytrax 1/155 countries Ranking of Container Ports of the World AAPA World Port Rankings 2/50 ports by container traffic 7/50 ports by cargo volume Networked Readiness Index (NRI) World Economic Forum 11/115 countries Worldwide quality-of-life index The Economist 18/111 countries 6th Annual Global e-Government Study (Brown University) Global e-Government 20/198 countries Annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2006 Reporters Without Borders 59/168 countries Corruption Perceptions Index Transparency International 15/163 countries World Competitiveness Yearbook 2006 IMD International 2/61 economies Economies include those of countries and regions World City's Skyline/Skyscrapers Emporis Data Committee (EDC) 1/100 major cities Cities ranked by the visual impact of their skylines Global Competitiveness Report - Growth Competitiveness Index Ranking World Economic Forum 11/125 countries Business Competitiveness Index - BCI World Economic Forum 10/121 countries Human Development Index - HDI United Nations 22/177 countries Access Index (p.19) FedEx: The Power of Access - 2006 Access Index 1/75 countries Potential Competitiveness Japan Center for Economic Research (JCER) 1/50 countries Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index World Economic Forum 6/124 countries Index of Economic Freedom Heritage Foundation/The Wall Street Journal: 2006 1/157 countries Ranked 1st for 13 years in a row World's most expensive city for rental accommodation ECA International 1/92 countries Leading Centers of Commerce MasterCard study 5/63 countries rated 63 cities according to their legal and political framework, economic stability, ease of doing business, financial flow, business center status, and knowledge creation and information flow World's most expensive cost-of-living Mercer Human Resource Consulting 5/143 cities ↑ The Basic Law of Hong Kong states that the official languages are "Chinese and English." It does not explicitly specify the standard for "Chinese." While Mandarin written in Simplified Chinese characters are the standards in mainland China, Cantonese and Traditional Chinese characters are the de facto standards in Hong Kong. ↑ Official Languages. Hong Kong Government (2006). Retrieved April 23, 2012. ↑ Hong Kong. The World Factbook. CIA (23 August 2010). Retrieved April 23, 2012. ↑ Geography and Climate, Hong Kong. Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong Government. Retrieved April 23, 2012. ↑ Population and Vital Events. Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong Government (2010). Retrieved April 23, 2012. ↑ Population Density by Area. Census and Statistics Department, Hong Kong Government (2009). Retrieved April 23, 2012. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Hong Kong. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved April 23, 2012. ↑ Human Development Report 2009 – Gini Index. United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved April 23, 2012. ↑ The name is often written as Hongkong in older English texts. The Hong Kong Government officially adopted the current form on September 3, 1926 (Hongkong Government Gazette, Notification 479, September 3, 1926). While the names of most cities in the People's Republic of China are romanised into English using pinyin, the official English name is Hong Kong rather than Xiānggǎng (See Pronunciation of Hong Kong). ↑ Jonathan Porter. (1996). Macau, the Imaginary City: Culture and Society, 1557 to the Present. (Westview Press. ISBN 0813337496) ↑ Richard Louis Edmonds. China and Europe Since 1978: A European Perspective. (Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN 0521524032) ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 Trea Wiltshire. (1987) Old Hong Kong Central. (Hong Kong: Text Form Asia books Ltd., 2003. ISBN 9627283614, 12 ↑ The New York Times. "NY Times." Thousands March in Anti-Japan Protest in Hong Kong by Keith Bradsher. Retrieved on 2006-04-11. ↑ Yong-hua Wang, On Embargo of Hong Kong in 1950-1954, Journal of Yanan University Social Science Edition, 2006. ↑ People's Daily. "People's Daily." Links between SARS human genes. Retrieved on 2007-03-06. ↑ Visit Hong Kong Volume 1 (Spring, 2004):14, University of Hong Kong English Centre. Retrieved on 2007-02-24 ↑ "Chief Executive pledges a clean, green, world-class city," Hong Kong Trader, November 2001. Retrieved on 2006-05-27. ↑ Geography and Climate, Hong Kong. accessdate 2007-01-10 Census and Statistics Department, The Government of Hong Kong SAR ↑ "Hong Kong Hiking Tours," The Hong Kong Tourism Board. Retrieved on 2006-06-18. ↑ Keith Bradsher, March 22, 2007, NYtimes Dirty Air Becomes Divisive Issue in Hong Kong Vote. New York Times. Retrieved on 2006-11-05. ↑ Extreme Values and Dates of Occurrence of Extremes of Meteorological Elements between 1884–1939 and 1947–2006 for Hong Kong, Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved on 2006-02-02. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Monthly Meteorological Normals for Hong Kong, Hong Kong Observatory. Retrieved on 2006-02-02. ↑ Donald Tsang set to be HK leader, BBC News, 2005-06-15. Retrieved 2006-05-14. ↑ Hong Kong Public Order Ordinance, World Corporal Punishment Research, February 2000. Retrieved 14 May 2006. ↑ Hong Kong democrats visit China, ABC News (Australia), September 25, 2005. Retrieved May 27, 2006. ↑ Department of Justice. Department of Justice of HKSAR accessdate 2007-03-17 ↑ 2007 Index of Economic Freedom. Heritage Foundation ↑ Summary Economic Freedom Rating 2004 (Economic Freedom of the World - Annual report 2006 on page 13 or 9 of 23). accessdate 2007-01-08 The Fraser Institute, Canada. (in English) ↑ Economic Freedom of the World: 2006 Annual Report. The Fraser Institute 2006. accessdate 2007-06-06 ↑ About Hong Kong. Hong Kong SAR Government Information Centre April 2006, accessdate 2007-04-12 ↑ Hong Kong surpasses New York in IPOs. International Herald Tribune, 2006-12-25. accessdate 2007-04-12 ↑ The Global Financial Centres Index 1 Executive Summary. City of London March 2007. accessdate 2007-04-12 ↑ Peter Wallace. (2002). Contemporary China: The Dynamics of Change at the Start of the New Millennium. (Routledge. ISBN 0700716378) ↑ 2005–06 Budget Speech by the Financial Secretary of Hong Kong, 2005-03-16. ↑ "List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita", Wikipedia. Retrieved on 2007-05-02. ↑ Hong Kong Statistics - Population and Vital Events, Census and Statistics Department. Retrieved 2007-02-02 ↑ UCL.AC.UK. "UCL.AC." ICE Hong Kong. Retrieved on 2007-06-05. ↑ Hong Kong Total fertility rate, Index Mundi. Retrieved 2006-05-27 ↑ Education for Non-Chinese Speaking Children, Education and Manpower Bureau, Government of HKSAR. ↑ China Briefing Media. [2004] (2004) Business Guide to the Greater Pearl River Delta. China Briefing Media Ltd. ISBN 9889867311 ↑ World-famous producer of luxury cars launches first Hong Kong showroom, InvestHK, 2003-7-30. Retrieved 2007-1-20. This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters. Edmonds, Richard Louis. China and Europe Since 1978: A European Perspective. Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN 0521524032. Fu, Poshek. and David Deser. The Cinema of Hong Kong: History, Arts, Identity. Cambridge University Press. 2002. ISBN 0521776023. Hong Kong History Society. Forts and Pirates - A History of Hong Kong. Hyperion Books. 1990. ISBN 9627489018. Lam, Derek. Mathematical Modelling of Hong Kong Political and Economical Development. Guangzhou Academic Press. 1986. Ngo, Tak-Wing. Hong Kong's History: State and Society Under Colonial Rule. (Asia's Transformations) Routledge. 1999. ISBN 0415208688. Porter, Jonathan. Macau, the Imaginary City: Culture and Society, 1557 to the Present. Westview Press. 1996. ISBN 0813337496. Shuyong, Liu. An Outline History of Hong Kong. ISBN 7119019465. Tsang, Steve. A Modern History of Hong Kong. London: I.B. Tauris. 2004. ISBN 1860641849. Wallace, Peter. Contemporary China: The Dynamics of Change at the Start of the New Millennium. Routledge, 2002. ISBN 0700716378. Welsh, Frank. A History of Hong Kong, Third Ed. HarperCollins. 1998. ISBN 1568360029. Wiltshire, Trea. (1987) Old Hong Kong Central. Hong Kong: Text Form Asia books Ltd., 2003. ISBN 9627283614. All links retrieved January 13, 2018. List of Declared Monuments in Hong Kong - 3 March 2006 from the Antiquities and Monuments Office. GovHK - one-stop portal of the Hong Kong SAR Government. Hong Kong Tourism Board CIA - The World Factbook — Hong Kong. Census and Statistics Department in Hong Kong. Countries and territories of East Asia People's Republic of China Republic of China (Taiwan)1 North Korea South Korea SARs Hong Kong Sometimes included: Singapore · Vietnam · Russian Far East 1 Otherwise known as "Taiwan"; see Political status of Taiwan. Hong Kong history History of "Hong Kong" Retrieved from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Hong_Kong&oldid=1008760	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line434
__label__cc	0.591109	0.408891	A Message From Dave Vanian http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png 0 0 phil http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png phil2019-03-25 14:44:532019-03-25 14:44:53A Message From Dave Vanian David Bianco We were so sad to hear the news that David Bianco has passed, our thoughts go out to his family. Fond memories of working with him on the album Grave Disorder. A wonderful Producer. http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png 0 0 phil http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png phil2018-06-21 18:23:222018-06-21 18:23:22David Bianco Evil Spirits ride out once more! http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/the-damned-1200x1200.jpg 1200 1200 Jamal Chalabi http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png Jamal Chalabi2018-04-27 10:15:042018-04-27 11:51:28Evil Spirits ride out once more! The Damned “Evil Spirits” Out today! http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png 0 0 Jamal Chalabi http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png Jamal Chalabi2018-04-13 08:22:462018-04-13 08:22:46The Damned "Evil Spirits" Out today! Dave Guests On BBC Radio 2 With Jools Holland http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/p01lcf19.jpg 288 512 phil http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png phil2018-04-10 12:52:142018-04-10 12:52:14Dave Guests On BBC Radio 2 With Jools Holland The Damned At the Vive le Rock Awards 2018 The Damned celebrated a fantastic evening at the very first Annual Vive Le Rock Awards at the London 02 Islington Academy last night, where they were presented with a well deserved Band Of The Year trophy and closed the night with a spectacular four-song set. Monty, Captain and Dave were joined onstage by legendary Ruts DC drummer Dave Ruffy and long-term friend and colleague Jon Priestley, who will also be undertaking bass duties on the forthcoming European tour, continuing what looks to be one of the band’s best years yet. Vive Le Damned! http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/VLR-Awards.jpg 732 1100 Jamal Chalabi http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png Jamal Chalabi2018-03-29 13:36:252018-03-29 13:37:00The Damned At the Vive le Rock Awards 2018 Bexhill, De La Warr Pavillion Show Thanks to The Rock Doc’ Mr Vanian has returned from the brink & Bexhill, De La Warr Pavillion Show tonight is on! http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png 0 0 Jamal Chalabi http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png Jamal Chalabi2018-02-14 11:32:222018-02-14 11:32:22Bexhill, De La Warr Pavillion Show The Damned Royal Albert Hall, 40th Anniversary Set – Now on Deezer! https://Deezer.lnk.to/TheDamnedEssential http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png 0 0 Jamal Chalabi http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png Jamal Chalabi2018-02-14 08:38:572018-02-14 08:38:57The Damned Royal Albert Hall, 40th Anniversary Set - Now on Deezer! The Damned postpone tonight’s show at Southampton Guildhall It is with great regret that, due to illness and doctor’s orders, the Damned must postpone tonight’s show at Southampton Guildhall. The rescheduled date is 22nd August. Refunds will be available from point of purchase, but we hope you retain your tickets for the new date. Sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may cause. http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png 0 0 Jamal Chalabi http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png Jamal Chalabi2018-02-13 15:32:532018-02-13 15:32:53The Damned postpone tonight’s show at Southampton Guildhall Standing On The Edge Of Tomorrow – Official Video http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/maxresdefault.jpg 720 1280 phil http://www.officialdamned.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/site-logo-test.png phil2018-01-25 13:10:182018-01-25 13:10:18Standing On The Edge Of Tomorrow - Official Video Like The Damned Facebook Page Follow The Damned Spotify Latest Damned News A Message From Dave VanianMarch 25, 2019 - 2:44 pm David BiancoJune 21, 2018 - 6:23 pm Evil Spirits ride out once more!April 27, 2018 - 10:15 am The Damned “Evil Spirits” Out today!April 13, 2018 - 8:22 am © Copyright - Official Damned	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line439
__label__wiki	0.94035	0.94035	The Old Hollywood Times Review: Michael Powell’s “49th Parallel,” Starring Leslie Howard and Laurence Olivier Wesley Emblidge Leslie Howard and Eric Portman in "49th Parallel" When pitching his new film to the British Ministry of Information, director Michael Powell was very direct: “I want to make a film in Canada to scare the pants off the Americans, and bring them into the war sooner.”1 After a research trip to Canada with writer—and later directing partner—Emeric Pressburger, they crafted 49th Parallel (known in the U.S. as The Invaders), a suspenseful and effective piece of propaganda. Six German sailors depart their U-boat into Canada to bring back supplies, only to watch a team of Canadian bombers destroy their ship moments later. Stranded in enemy territory, the invaders have to fight their way across the country and find a way back home—perhaps by escaping to the United States, neutral territory. Along the way they encounter a wide variety of enemies played by top-billed stars. There’s a French-Canadian trapper (Laurence Olivier), a Hutterite community leader (Anton Walbrook), a camping British writer (Leslie Howard), and a Canadian soldier (Raymond Massey), all of whom welcome the men not knowing their identities, and find themselves betrayed. The Nazis are picked off one-by-one until a final showdown at the Canadian-American border. Pressburger’s script is often bogged down in propagandistic speechifying, but there are enough thrilling set pieces and tense confrontations throughout to balance the film out. Laurence Olivier and Eric Portman in “49th Parallel” Powell spent months shooting on location in Canada with the actors playing the Nazis, and then returned to England to shoot most of the sequences with the big stars at Alexander Korda’s Denham Film Studios. To join him on the earlier North American expedition, Powell recruited cinematographer Freddie Young, who previously shot Contraband for him. “I wanted the compositions to look accidental and sometimes almost as if they had been grabbed by a hand camera in the middle of the action,” Powell wrote.2 Young does a good job executing that concept without letting the location footage look too unalike the studio scenes. Powell also enlisted the help of David Lean, who spent a decade working as an editor before his days directing epics like Lawrence of Arabia. “He was the best editor I ever worked with,” Powell wrote.3 Powell explained that Lean, unconventionally, would cut films using a silent editing machine, because “he cut what he wanted to see on the screen, and to hell with the sound. The visual was the essential. David constructs purely in terms of images, using the material the way a composer might use a theme.”4 The performances of the big stars were varied in quality—Olivier’s French-Canadian accent is a bit much, while Howard gives his character a quiet indignation that is quite powerful—but the real standouts in the cast are the actors playing two of the Nazis. Eric Portman is most heavily featured as Lieutenant Ernst Hirth, and has one powerhouse moment where he addresses a crowd with a speech about the greatness of the Nazi cause. Powell recalled filming that scene: “I yelled ‘Cut!’ and started clapping, and everyone on the set and around it joined in a roar of applause. After that, the film’s reputation was made.”5 More touching is Niall MacGinnis’ performance as Vogel, whose humanity sets him apart from his German brothers as he begins to doubt their intentions. Unfortunately, 49th Parallel was never able to achieve Powell’s desired propagandistic effect—though it was released in England in November 1941, it didn’t reach U.S. screens until March 1942, well after the country had joined up. It was still a large success, and Powell later wrote, “the fact that Emeric got the Oscars [sic] that year for best original story was good enough for us.”6 Powell and Pressburger went straight to a reversal of the same plot for their next film: One of Our Aircraft is Missing. Stream it on FilmStruck Buy it on DVD (Criterion) Rent it on iTunes / Amazon 1. ^ Michael Powell, A Life in Movies (New York: Knopf, 1986), 347 2. ^ Powell 1986, 357 4. ^ Jack Cocks, “Adventures in the Dream Department” in David Lean: Interviews, ed. Steven Organ (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2009), 62 Anton Walbrook Emeric Pressburger Eric Portman Freddie Young General Film Distributors Niall MacGinnis Ortus Films Raymond Massey Previous articleReview: Joseph H. Lewis’ “The Mad Doctor of Market Street,” Starring Lionel Atwill Next articleReview: Ernst Lubitsch’s “To Be or Not to Be,” Starring Carole Lombard and Jack Benny Wesley Emblidge launched The Old Hollywood Times in 2017, after spending almost a year researching and developing the project. He works out of Boston overseeing all aspects of the site, from content to web design, while writing regularly. He also hosts the official podcast for the site, and edits the video essays. He’ll watch Cary Grant in just about anything, and avoids Charles Boyer films like the plague. Review: Noël Coward and David Lean’s “In Which We Serve,” Starring Noël Coward Review: William A. Seiter’s “You Were Never Lovelier,” Starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth Review: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger’s “One of Our Aircraft is Missing,” Starring Hugh Burden The Top Ten Films of 1942 Wesley Emblidge - December 31, 1942 Review: George Marshall’s “Star Spangled Rhythm,” Starring Eddie Bracken and Victor Moore Review: John Rawlins’ “Arabian Nights,” Starring Sabu	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line440
__label__cc	0.556924	0.443076	June 16, 2011 --- Vol. 17, No. 53 June 2011 Interior to hold NPR-A lease sale this year Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said today that Interior will accelerate a lease sale in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, holding it before the end of this year; sales will then be held annually. “As part of President Obama’s comprehensive energy strategy, Interior is moving ahead with these concrete steps to continue to expand responsible and safe domestic oil production,” Salazar said in a statement. “In Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve, where there are estimates of great reserves of undiscovered oil and gas, we will hold a lease sale this year and work to hold future lease sales on an annual basis.” Interior said the Bureau of Land Management will publish a notice in the Federal Register “in the near future” announcing a 30-day period for interested parties to nominate or comment on available tracts in NPR-A. BLM has conducted six lease sales in NPR-A, offering tracts in the Northeast Planning Area in 1999, 2002 and 2010, and in the Northwest Planning Area in 2004 and 2006. Tracts were offered in both planning areas in 2008. BLM currently administers some 191 oil and gas leases in NPR-A. See story in June 19 issue, available online at 11 a.m., Friday, June 17 at www.PetroleumNews.com	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line442
__label__wiki	0.625634	0.625634	Russia Starts Major Combat Readiness Check The inspection will allow to assess how three military districts would react to crises in the Russian southwest. Snap combat readiness checks will take place on August 25-31 in Russia's Southern, Western and Central military districts, as well as the Northern Fleet, Aerospace Forces and Airborne Troops, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday. "Today, another unannounced inspection begun in accordance with a decision by the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Forces of the Southern military district, as well as parts of the forces of the Western and Central military districts, the Northern Fleet, the High Command of the Aerospace Forces, the command of the Airborne Troops are set on full combat readiness starting 7:00 Moscow time 4:00 GMT," Shoigu said at a meeting with military leadership. According to the minister, the inspection will allow to assess how the three military would react to crises in the country's southwest. "During regrouping, the Southern Military District's readiness to promptly deploy self-sufficient forces to localize crises will be assessed. The capabilities of the Western and Central military districts to increase efforts in the southwestern strategic direction will be checked," he stated. "I instruct Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov to inform foreign military attaches about the unannounced comprehensive combat readiness inspection that is being carried out," Shoigu added. Tags: armed Army check drills forces readiness Russia Shoigu Other Related News The pole of attraction Norway and Finland are trying to promote a new round of confrontation in the Arctic… US plans to send warships to the Arctic	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line445
__label__wiki	0.501715	0.501715	Anote Tong Environmental justice - from Kendal to Kiribati The justice thread continues. We were invited to think about environmental justice. Is environmental concern the privilege of those who don’t have to worry about oppression, poverty and the daily grind? Or are environmental problems yet another way in which the privileged dump on the poor? And who gets to ask and answer these questions? The questions drew me back to connections between justice and climate change, and my own role as a facilitator of public and stakeholder engagement. Climate change is having a disproportionate effect on the poorest people in the poorest countries A few years ago I was lucky enough to be invited to facilitate a two-day workshop for human rights lawyers and climate activists. I’ve blogged about a process aspect of that event here. I met Maria Tiimon there. She’s from Kiribati - one of those stunningly beautiful Pacific nations that cartoons of desert islands are based on. All coconut trees, blue skies and silver sand. Pic by Nick Hobgood on flikr, creative commons. But it won’t be for long. Here’s Anote Tong, President of the Republic of Kiribati, addressing the 106th session of the Council of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Why the IOM? Because it seems likely that migration is the future for Kiribati. President Tong said in 2013 "For our people to survive, then they will have to migrate. Either we can wait for the time when we have to move people en masse or we can prepare them—beginning from now ..." Andrew Teem is the senior policy advisor on climate change to the Kiribati government. See him interviewed here. When people talk about climate justice, it’s forced migration and the creation of refugees due to extreme weather and chronic climatic changes that they have in mind. It’s not just small island states. Another country where people are suffering now is Bangladesh. The Environmental Justice Foundation has gathered witness testimony and data showing how flooding is displacing farmers. EJF talks about “significant damage to vital infrastructure, widespread devastation to housing, reduced access to fresh water for drinking, sanitation and irrigation, and rising poverty and hunger caused by increasingly extreme weather events and the gradual but sustained deterioration in environmental security”. Establishing that the impacts of climate change have a human rights dimension was very important to this group of lawyers, and the idea is gaining traction. Poorer people are hit harder Closer to home, the UK has been inundated by flooding, likely to be caused by extreme weather exacerbated by climate change. Over the last five years, much of my stakeholder engagement work has been on UK flooding and the best ways to reduce the risks to people from flood events. There are a couple of distinct “justice” issues here, which come up in workshops and public meetings, and add to the emotional heat. One is that people who are already disadvantaged (poorer, disabled or caring for small children) tend to suffer most when there is a flood and find it harder to get back on their feet. It could be as simple as not having insurance like some people in Kendal, or a car to transport you to a safe place, or savings to tide you over so you don’t have to get a loan at sky-high interest. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) has done a lot of work on this. They say that people's vulnerability to the impacts of climate change is mode worse by “income inequalities, social networks and social characteristics of neighbourhoods." In the case of heatwaves, social factors include: social isolation; loss of public spaces; fear of crime, which leaves people unwilling to leave their homes or open their windows; and inflexible institutional regimes and the lack of personal independence in nursing homes. A variety of social factors affect the capacity of households to prepare for, respond to and recover from flooding. Low-income households are less able to make their property resilient, and to respond to and recover from the impacts of floods. The ability to relocate is affected by wealth; so also is the ability to take out insurance against flood damage. Social networks affect the ability of residents to respond to flooding – for example, through providing social supports.” Elsewhere, JRF says: “A mix of socioeconomic and geographical factors also create spatial distributions of vulnerability: lower-income groups living in poorer-quality housing in coastal locations are disproportionately affected by coastal flooding, while disadvantaged groups living in urban areas with the least green space are more vulnerable to pluvial flooding (flooding caused by rainfall) and heatwaves. Tenants are more vulnerable than owner occupiers because they cannot modify their homes, so are less able to prepare for and recover from climate events.” The second kind of justice is the “just deserts” aspect. “The wealthiest 10 per cent of households are responsible for 16 per cent of UK household and personal transport emissions, while the poorest 10 per cent are responsible for just 5 per cent.” Also according to the JRF. It’s not just ironic, it’s unjust. Like the people of Kiribati and Bangladesh, in the UK it’s the historically low-emitters of greenhouse gases who are getting the harshest impacts of climate change. Who goes to public meetings? Another aspect of (environmental) justice which people in my field can’t ignore - although the solutions are hard to find - is the unequal access to decision-making or decision-influencing processes like consultations or public meetings about environmental questions like transport strategies, pollution, waste, development, flood defences, emergency planning for extreme events, protection of wildlife and wild places. I’d like to find out more about this (your comments with links to demographic studies are welcome). What are the demographic patterns and what are the effective ways of engaging people who are typically less likely to be engaged? In my partial and anecdotal experience, public meetings or community workshops during the working day are most likely to be attended by retired people, ex-professionals with a high level of confidence in and familiarity with formal decision-making processes. Whatever time of day the meeting, people with caring responsibilities (who are more likely to be women) are less able to come along. People working three part-time jobs to get by? I’d be surprised. As public bodies embrace social media and the “digital first” approach, a new set of people may be engaged (at a guess, younger, busier) but another set (older, poorer, with less access to e-communications) are systematically excluded. It’s the responsibility of those who are convening the engagement, to notice these patterns and make efforts to hear the perspectives and preferences of those who seem to have been unwittingly excluded. To do otherwise would be unjust. Tagged: Kendal, Kiribati, Maria Tiimon, flood, flodding, fcrm, justice, Anote Tong, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Environmental Justice Foundation, environmental justice, climate change, demographics, digital, public engagement, public participation, consultation, Andrew Teem	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line446
__label__cc	0.718937	0.281063	12 Bar Blues Form The 12 bar blues form is a simple harmonic progression that is played across 12 measures (or bars) of music. This harmonic progression consists mainly of the I, IV and V chords. The chords can exist as either simple triads or seventh chords, but the seventh chord version does not follow the normal structure of diatonic seventh chords. In a normal diatonic chord progression there is only one dominant seventh chord (the V7 chord). However, blues music lends itself to dominant seventh harmony. Therefore, all three chords (I, IV and V) can be played as dominant seventh chords even though this introduces pitches that are chromatic to the key. In addition to this chromaticism, blues music also is known for having loose boundaries between major and the parallel minor. Chords are often played with a minor third that slides or bends into a major third. This technique adds to the blues flavor of the sonic texture. The 12 bar blues form is used primarily in the blues style of music, but is also found in many pop, rock and gospel songs. These styles can tend to be heavily influenced by the blues style. The form is popular among musicians, because the simple repeating harmonic pattern causes it to be easy to memorize. Musicians can play most 12 bar blues songs without a lead sheet. All they need to know is the key of the song. The basic pattern for the 12 bar blues can be broken into three groups of 4 measures each. The first four measures consist of the I chord. Then there are two measures of IV and two measures of I. Finally there are two measures of V and two measures of I. There are many variations on the basic 12 bar blues pattern. The most common variation is the “Quick to IV.” The basic blues is known for the fact that each chord lasts for at least two measures. In this variation, a IV chord is substituted into the 2nd and 10th measures. This causes two instances where the IV chord is played for only one measure. In addition, the V chord (in the 9th measure) only lasts for one measure. In any version of the 12 bar blues (basic or variation) a V chord can be substituted for the final I chord. This substitution is used to lead back to the top when repeating the form. When ending the form, the musicians play a I chord for the final measure. Another variation is the minor 12 bar blues. In this variation every I and IV chord become a minor i and iv chord. In addition, the last group of four measures consists of a bVI for one measure, a V7 for one measure and then a i for two measures. There are many other variations on the 12 bar blues (Jazz Blues, Bebop Blues, etc.). I don’t have the time to list and discuss them all in this lesson. However, all of these variations are derived from the same basic 12 bar blues structure. They just add various transitional chords to different parts of the structure. This Learning Music With Ray video discusses the 12 bar blues form. In it, I discuss the structure and musical elements typical of this form. I then play through the basic 12 bar blues (and some basic variations) with simple block chords in the key of C major. Finally, I demonstrate several piano playing techniques that help to enhance your performance of a 12 bar blues beyond basic block chords.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line453
__label__wiki	0.679977	0.679977	Malaysian Muslims welcome Papal Nuncio According to Catholic World News, Muslim activists have petitioned the Malaysian government to expel Archbishop Joseph Marino, the recently arrived and first ever resident Vatican diplomat (Papal Nuncio) the Asian nation has ever had. His crime? Publicly affirming the right of Christians to use the word "Allah" in reference to God. I must admit, upon hearing about the controversy, I initially thought that this was going to be another story about interreligious dialogue gone wild, but it's really not. The Arabic word "Allah" predates Islam by many centuries and is legitimately used in the liturgies of certain Catholic rites. In other words, this ancient name employed by Muhammad is in no way the intellectual property of the Muslims. The activists, however, are approaching this matter on purely theological grounds, insisting that the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims is blasphemous. Even in their error, these Muslims seem to be thinking much more clearly than most Catholics do on at least one point; namely, as it relates to the simple fact that the "Allah" of Islam is not to be confused with the one true God worshipped by Catholics; i.e., they most certainly are not one and the same. In any event, that's not to say that the new Papal Nuncio to Malaysia isn't intent on writing his own chapter in the post-conciliar diary of interreligious madness. In a recent article in the Malaysian Insider, Archbishop Marino made clear his role in what he perceives to be the mission of the Church as it relates to non-Catholics, beginning with the idea that conversions are a "great mystery" since the attraction differs from person to person. "If we are going to respect human dignity, we have to respect the conscience of the person in seeking God, it is a basic fundamental human right that needs to be respected and society needs to give space to all human beings in a pluralistic society," he said. According to the Insider, Archbishop Marino said that he will draw on his experience as Apostolic Nuncio in Bangladesh wherein "the first thing he learnt there was the beauty of Islam." "It is indeed a religion of peace and harmony and its spiritual components of seeking God is profound. That was the joy that I had in my deep contact with Islam in a country that is predominantly Muslim. They also have great respect for Christians and other religions, and there is a real desire to have this true sense of conviviality," he said. So, just how peaceful and harmonious is the practice of Islam in Bangladesh? According to a special report, Christian Persecution Increases amid Protests in Bangladesh, issued by the International Christian Concern on July 2, 2013: On June 5, Muslim extremists entered the Tumilia mission, a Catholic compound, and physically attacked a priest, Father Abel, as he came out of his room. International Christian Concern (ICC) sources confirmed that it was targeted persecution on the Christians by a group of Islamists. On June 6, the same group of Islamists attacked an entire village in Dinajpur, in northern Bangladesh. As Christians fled and sought shelter in a Catholic Church's mission compound, a mob of more than 100 Muslims, armed with local weapons, stormed in and beat up the priest and seminary students. "They broke the main gate, destroyed the barb wire fence and entered the compound. They beat up Father Uzzal, seminarians and destroyed some parts of the building...vandalized and looted everything," according to an ICC source, who also said, "The Muslims wait for any excuse to attack the religious minorities." The ICC report goes on to say that the situation in Bangladesh is nothing new, adding, "The majority of discrimination against Bangladeshi Christians comes from sections of Muslims who beat them, extort money from them, deny them access to public water wells..." So much for peace and harmony. What does Archbishop Marino consider necessary in order to ensure that Catholics in Malaysia fare better than they did at his previous post? According to the Malaysian Insider, "The diplomat said the only way to stop deterioration in race relations in Malaysia is through dialogue, saying it would work out if people sat down and talked." "And inter-religious dialogue [has] nothing to do with conversion," the Nuncio stressed. "We are not there to covert one another, we are children of God coming together to speak about our different experiences with God." With this being the prelate's position, every well-formed Catholic now knows exactly how this chapter will ultimately be written since true peace is attainable, not by chit-chatting over Arabian coffee with those who consider beating and killing Christians an authentic "experience with God;" but rather – if you'll pardon such an old fashioned idea as this – in calling them to conversion to the only Church established by the Prince of Peace and King of kings, Jesus Christ. Let it be said, in fairness, that Archbishop Marino isn't exactly swimming against the post-conciliar tide here; rather, he is simply following the inherently flawed "can't-we-all-just-get-along" blueprint that emerged from Vatican Council II. Consider, for instance, that Unitatis Redintegratio, the Decree on Ecumenism, and Nostra Aetate, the Decree on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, together call for "dialogue" no less than fourteen times, while mentioning "conversion," the actual mission of the Church, a combined total of precisely zero times. And that, my friends, is how we end up with shepherds who can manage no more than to tiptoe through the Islamic tulips, spinning tales about make-believe interreligious peace and harmony, while never daring to even suggest the need for conversion. Welcome to Malaysia, Your Excellency, and welcome to the New Springtime, you Catholic faithful.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line455
__label__cc	0.557142	0.442858	If the pope were a liberal Jew If the pope were a liberal Jew, what would his pontificate look like? I'm being facetious, of course, as everyone knows that the pope, by definition, is Catholic. That said, humor me, if you will, and consider the sorts of things that might come from the pontificate of a man who, practically speaking, thinks and feels and acts with the mind of a liberal Jew. Before we begin this exercise, we need to know a little bit about what constitutes liberal Judaism, the two main branches of which identify as "Reform" and "Conservative," despite the absence of a formal creed to which their members must accede. To that end, for the sake of expedience, I'll focus on sources that describe the characteristics of Reform Judaism, with the understanding being that, broadly speaking, Conservative Judaism differs rather little from Reform Judaism in its core convictions, notwithstanding its more "traditional" window dressing. In order to get our hands around the tenets of Reform Judaism, such as they are, it is useful to consider, first and foremost, the myriad of traditional Jewish beliefs that the movement rejects. Writing in the magazine Reform Judaism, Rabbi Elliot Stevens referred to several such beliefs, saying: ...the famous Pittsburgh Platform of 1885 that defined Classical Reform Judaism for several generations ... rejected such traditional Jewish notions as peoplehood, chosenness, the personal Messiah, resurrection, and a return to the Land of Israel ... as well as any references to the priesthood and the sacrificial cult. Commenting upon the history of the Reform movement, Rabbi Elaine Rose Glickman explained: Reform Jews prized an intellectual outlook on Judaism and valued religious tenets that could be upheld even in a rational, secular milieu. They did not, therefore, embrace traditional messianism – rooted in complicated Scriptural allusions and folklore, filled with images of apocalyptic battles, a superhuman deliverer, and even a physical resurrection of the dead. Perhaps the most powerful reason to jettison traditional messianic belief, the Reformers argued, was that it was simply not needed anymore. Human beings – guided not by a Messiah but by their own intellect – had already begun the work of redemption ... Reform Judaism abolished the concept of a divinely-sent Messiah and promised instead that humanity would accomplish its own redemption. With so much focus on man as his own redeemer, it may come as little surprise that reformjudaism.org contends: Social justice and advocacy are among the central tenets of Reform Judaism. Among the causes that fall into this category (as addressed on the same site) are those concerning economic justice for the poor, gun control, and liberal immigration reform. None, arguably, has taken on quasi-religious status among Reform Jews to an extent equal to that of radical environmentalism – a movement-within-the-movement that twists the Psalmists words, addressed to God, "Thou shalt send forth thy spirit, and they shall be created: and thou shalt renew the face of the earth," into a manifesto for purely human endeavors that tend toward earth worship. With regard to its aversion to the traditional understanding of peoplehood, and its unwillingness to embrace a doctrine that would dare to single out Judaism as the uniquely exalted religion of the one true God who revealed Himself to His chosen people, it only makes sense that Reform Judaism also holds: In our diverse and multicultural society, effective interreligious relationships are vital so that diverse faith groups may live together in harmony and work cooperatively. Reform Judaism, just as predictably, also rejects traditional belief in the divine origins of the Hebrew Scriptures. Rabbi Amy Scheinerman articulates the consequences of this rejection thus: For Orthodox Jews, the Hebrew Scriptures is a divinely-authored text and therefore every commandment contained therein must be obeyed ... Reform Jews, however, understand the texts to have been written by human beings – our ancestors. The absence of belief in divinely instituted, obligatory precepts naturally leads to a situation wherein personal choice in matters of belief and behavior is allowed to reign supreme. For liberal Jews, the reality is that Jewish law (including the observance of Shabbat), is not necessarily seen as binding authority. Instead, the tradition is evaluated from the standpoint of whether and how it benefits them personally. – Roberta Rosenthal Kwall, Author of The Myth of the Cultural Jew: Culture and Law in Jewish Tradition In short, according to reformjudaism.org: The great contribution of Reform Judaism is that it has enabled the Jewish people to introduce innovation while preserving tradition, to embrace diversity while asserting commonality, to affirm beliefs without rejecting those who doubt, and to bring faith to sacred texts without sacrificing critical scholarship. At this, let's recap some of what we've discovered of liberal (specifically Reform) Judaism, while considering how its tenets might shape the pontificate of a man who, practically speaking, thinks and feels and acts accordingly: - A rejection of peoplehood and chosenness, as well as a rejection of a singularly exalted view of their own religion. The pope that shares such a mindset would likely be quick to condemn Triumphalism and those "traditional" Catholics who still behave as if the Holy Roman Catholic Church is the one true faith established by God and endowed with the right to pass judgment on the personal and social obligations of men. He might even go so far as to say that it is not necessary to convince those in error, more specifically religious error, to accept the Catholic faith ("no, no, no"), but merely to accompany them in their current condition, whatever it may be. - A rejection of the bodily resurrection, along with a denial of God's promise of a personal Messiah as "simply not needed," in favor of the view that man, of his own volition, begins the work of redemption in the here-and-now via acts of social justice, thus ushering in a "messianic age" of peace. A pontificate cut from such cloth would likely engage in a largely earthbound mission; necessarily focusing on those needs that arise from man's material poverty, even to the near exclusion of those that concern his spiritual poverty. He may even speak of a desire for a "poor Church for the poor," as if such superficial solidarity with the materially impoverished could somehow enrich the world. This pope would also likely downplay both the Divinity and the Kingship of Christ, suggesting that the traditional understanding of the Lord's resurrection somehow lacks in majesty. He may even suggest that Our Blessed Lord "stripped Himself of His divine glory" in order to serve humankind, thus providing the secular do-gooders' best example of what it means to give of oneself to others. In other words, this Roman Pontiff would likely give every appearance of sharing the liberal Jewish view of Jesus of Nazareth – namely, that of a noteworthy agent for social change who wasn't afraid to "make a mess" as He went about challenging the powers-that-be with His universal message of brotherly love. Having thus effectively demoted the Lord of all creation to the status of "all-around-good-guy-worthy-of-emulation," this pope might even go so far as to say that man himself is "King of the Universe," declaring that it is he who should be the "center of society and the focus of reflection." - The anthropocentric reading of the Psalmist's prayer "thou shalt renew the face of the earth" that makes of environmentalism a religion all its own; leading to the near deification of the planet. A pope that is infected with such a mindset as this would most certainly be susceptible to the ploys of those who promote agenda-driven pseudoscience (e.g., as it concerns climate change, biodiversity and ecological sustainability). He may even contribute to the deification of the planet by suggesting that ecologically irresponsible men are guilty of committing "sins against creation," further corrupting the Psalmist's cry directed to God, "Against you alone have I sinned." To the sheer horror of the faithful and embarrassment of the Church, he might even do so in the context of a papal encyclical! - Abandonment of the traditional understanding of the unique role of the priesthood and the importance of the sacrificial cult. A pope who dared to tread on this unholy ground might downplay the singular dignity of those in Holy Orders, suggesting that the ministerial priesthood is but "one means employed by Jesus for the service of his people," as if all of the baptized, heretics included, are of equal dignity – all of which would effectively relegate the Holy Sacrifice of the altar to a mere supporting role in a drama presumably written, directed and carried out by man for his own sake. - A belief in the necessity of effective interreligious relationships, the goal of which is to embrace diversity while stressing commonality; encouraging people of all faiths to simply live harmoniously and to work cooperatively in service to a manifestly temporal view of the common good. The pope that embraces such a notion would necessarily reject the Divine commission to convert the nations to Christ; perhaps to the point where he might even condemn the work of laboring for converts – the stock and trade of missionaries, martyrs and Saints – as "solemn nonsense." This pope would most certainly be heavily invested in ecumenism, and would openly preach the necessity of dwelling on those things that Catholics, Jews, heathens and heretics hold in common (as if boldly thumbing one's nose at Christ the King and His Most Blessed Mother is but a trifle) as we go about, arm in arm, serving our fellow men, again, in their temporal need. Along the way, he may even coin meaningless phrases like "unity in diversity," daring to give attribution to the Holy Ghost. - A rejection of the Scriptures as a source for divinely-given commandments that must be obeyed. A pontificate infected with such faithlessness would likely tend to promote false dichotomies between doctrine and pastoral practice. This pope might even one day boldly declare that "the disjointed transmission of a multitude of doctrines to be insistently imposed" is the enemy of "pastoral ministry in a missionary style." - A steadfast belief that it is possible to introduce innovations in practice and discipline while simultaneously preserving the integrity of tradition, even in matters that are absolutely central to the traditional understanding of the faith. The Roman Pontiff that holds such a contradictory position, God forbid, would likely pay little more than lip service to traditional doctrines while undermining the same in both word and deed. In time, a pontificate so infested with modernism might even go so far as to invite the bishops of the world to join him in debating ways to update the Church's treatment of matters that are truly non-negotiable; such as those practices that reflect upon the immutable truth concerning sexual morality, marriage and family as addressed by our Blessed Lord in Sacred Scripture. So... does this hypothetical pontificate sound vaguely familiar? Of course it does; it describes to a tee the mindset and the pontificate of Pope Francis – a man who has demonstrated time and again that he most certainly does not sentire cum ecclesia, but rather thinks and feels and acts with the mind of a liberal Jew – which is presumably why the Jewish Daily Forward named him among the "Fifty Most Influential Jews" less than a year into his papacy. With all of this in mind, does it not make perfect sense that one of his very closest of friends (Rabbi Abraham Skorka) is a leading figure in the so-called "Conservative" branch of liberal Judaism? Indeed, these men, and their movements, have much in common, not the least of which is the unshakable conviction that religion must adapt to the exigencies of the times; with the Lord who is ever the same yesterday, today and tomorrow summarily recast as the "God of Surprises" who magically endorses the validity of their every last whim. You see, along with all liberal Jews, be they Reform or Conservative, Jorge Bergoglio's words and deeds have long been informed by a worldview that revolves squarely around man – not the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, much less Jesus Christ, but man – his autonomy, his temporal condition, his conscience and his choices. It is a stunning reality to look squarely in the face, to be sure, but acknowledge it we must. That said, let us not zero-in on the Argentine Jesuit so intently as to ignore the role of that which not only produced him, but also gave rise to a church wherein such a man might one day enjoy singular prominence; namely, the Second Vatican Council. The influence of liberal Jewish thought permeates the conciliar decrees, evident not only in the disastrous declaration, Nostra Aetate, but also in Unitatis Redintegratio, Dignitatis Humanae, and everywhere else the text celebrates the glories of human dignity in such way as to suggest that the Catholic Church, "no more than any other, has the cult of man" (cf Pope Paul VI – Closing Address to the Second Vatican Council, 7 Dec. 1965). The humanist coup d'etat that is Vatican II has produced clearly discernible parallels between the crisis-ridden Church of today and the plight of its so-called "elder brothers in faith," as John Paul the Great Ecumenist delighted in calling them. Indeed, history repeats itself: For just as the Jews – the once Chosen People – rejected their Anointed One, only to one day find the preponderance of their progeny so far removed from tradition as to worship mankind as his own redeemer, so too has the Church in our day, thanks to Vatican II, with its practical denial of the Sovereignty of Christ, drifted so far afield that her children, the New People of God, now boast of a pope who plainly declares that man is "King of the Universe." No, Jorge Bergoglio is not the architect of the anthropocentric takeover of the Holy Catholic Church; he is simply the most faithful of its sons to date to have darkened the Petrine Office. With every passing day, Pope Francis, who I pegged nearly two years ago as "the long awaited generalissimo of the humanist revolution that was unleashed in earnest in 1958" (upon the death of Pius XII and the elevation of John XXIII), is revealing himself all the more clearly to be exactly that, and his pontificate as precisely what one might expect should a man with the mind of a liberal Jew somehow ascended to the Chair of St. Peter. Oy gevalt!	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line456
__label__cc	0.655324	0.344676	Tag Archive for: Future of Humanity Institute You are here: Home / Blog / Future of Humanity Institute Nick Bostrom: Why Focus on Existential Risk related to Machine Intelligence? June 14, 2016 /0 Comments/in Interview, Media, News /by Adam Ford One can think of Existential Risk as a subcategory of a Global Catastrophic Risk – while GCR’s are really bad, civilization has the potential to recover from such a global catastrophic disaster. An existential Risk is one in which there is no chance of recoverability. An example of the sort of disaster that fits the category of existential risk is human extinction which reduces the probability of [human] lives worth living – theories of value that imply even relatively small reductions in net existential risk have enormous expected value mostly fall under population ethics that consider an average or total utilitarian view of the well-being of the future of life in the universe. Since we haven’t seen any convincing evidence of life outside earth’s gravity well, it may be that there is no advanced technologically capable life elsewhere in the observable universe. If we value lives worth living, and lots of lives worth living, we might also value filling the uninhabited parts of the universe with lives worth living – and arguably we need an advanced technologically able civilization to achieve this. Hence, if humans become extinct it may be that evolution will never again produce a life form capable of escaping the gravity well and colonizing the universe with valuable life. Here we focus on the reasons to focus on Existential Risk related to machine intelligence. Say machine intelligence is created with a theory of value outside of, contradictory to, or simply different enough to one in which valued human existence, or the existence of valuable life in the universe. Also imagine that this machine intelligence could enact on it’s values in an exacting manner – it may cause humanity to become extinct on purpose, or as a side effect of implementing it’s values. The paper ‘Existential Risk Prevention as Global Priority‘ by Nick Bostrom clarifies the concept of existential risk further: Existential risks are those that threaten the entire future of humanity. Many theories of value imply that even relatively small reductions in net existential risk have enormous expected value. Despite their importance, issues surrounding human-extinction risks and related hazards remain poorly understood. In this paper, I clarify the concept of existential risk and develop an improved classification scheme. I discuss the relation between existential risks and basic issues in axiology, and show how existential risk reduction (via the maxipok rule) can serve as a strongly action-guiding principle for utilitarian concerns. I also show how the notion of existential risk suggests a new way of thinking about the ideal of sustainability. http://www.existential-risk.org Interview with Nick Bostrom on Machine Intelligence and XRisk I had the pleasure of doing an interview with Oxford philosopher Nick Bostrom on XRisk: Transcription of interview: In recent couple of years we’ve been focusing quite heavily on machine intelligence partly because it seems to raise some significant existentialist down the road part also because relatively little attention has been given to this risk. So when we are prioritizing what we want to spend our time researching then one variable that we take into account is how important is this topic that we could research? But another is how many other people are there who are already studying it? Because the more people who already studying it – the smaller the difference that having a few extra minds focusing on that topic. So, say the topic of peace and war and how you can try to avoid international conflict is a very important topic – and many existential risks will be reduced if there is more global corporation. However it is also hard to see how a very small group of people could make a substantial difference to today’s risk of arms races and wars. There is a big interest involved in this and so many people already working either on disarmament and peace and/or military strength that it’s an area where it would be great to make a change – but it’s hard to make a change if there are a smaller number people by contrast with something like the risk from machine intelligence and the risk of Super-Intelligence. Only been a relatively small number of people have been thinking about this and there might be some low-hanging fruit there – some insights that might make a big difference. So that’s one of the criteria. Now we are also looking at other existential risks and we are also looking at things other than existential risk like – with try to get a better understanding of what humanity’s situation is in the world and so we have been thinking some about the Fermi Paradox for example, some methodological tools that you need like observation selection theory how you can reason about these things. And to some extent also more near term impacts of technology and of course the opportunities involved in all of this – is that always worth to remind oneself that although enormous technological powers will pose great new dangers including existential risks they also of course make it possible to achieve enormous amount of good. So one should bear in mind this ..the opportunities as well that are unleashed with technological advance. About Professor Nick Bostrom Director & James Martin Research Fellow Nick Bostrom is Professor in the Faculty of Philosophy at Oxford University and founding Director of the Future of Humanity Institute and of the Programme on the Impacts of Future Technology within the Oxford Martin School. He is the author of some 200 publications, including Anthropic Bias (Routledge, 2002), Global Catastrophic Risks (ed., OUP, 2008), and Human Enhancement (ed., OUP, 2009), and a forthcoming book on Superintelligence. He previously taught at Yale, and he was a Postdoctoral Fellow of the British Academy. Bostrom has a background in physics, computational neuroscience, and mathematical logic as well as philosophy. He is best known for his work in five areas: (i) the concept of existential risk; (ii) the simulation argument; (iii) anthropics (developing the first mathematically explicit theory of observation selection effects); (iv) transhumanism, including related issues in bioethics and on consequences of future technologies; and (v) foundations and practical implications of consequentialism. He is currently working on a book on the possibility of an intelligence explosion and on the existential risks and strategic issues related to the prospect of machine superintelligence. In 2009, he was awarded the Eugene R. Gannon Award (one person selected annually worldwide from the fields of philosophy, mathematics, the arts and other humanities, and the natural sciences). He has been listed in the FP 100 Global Thinkers list, the Foreign Policy Magazine’s list of the world’s top 100 minds. His writings have been translated into more than 21 languages, and there have been some 80 translations or reprints of his works. He has done more than 500 interviews for TV, film, radio, and print media, and he has addressed academic and popular audiences around the world. CV: http://www.nickbostrom.com/cv.pdf Personal Web: http://www.nickbostrom.com FHI Bio: https://www.fhi.ox.ac.uk/about/the-team/ Also consider joining the Facebook Group on Existential Risk: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ExistentialRisk	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line459
__label__cc	0.654424	0.345576	HOME » NEWS » ARTICLES » What is Self-Injury? What is Self-Injury? Janis Whitlock April 2, 2013 — 1,502 views Self-injury typically refers to a variety of behaviors in which an individual intentionally inflicts harm to his or her body for purposes not socially recognized or sanctioned and without suicidal intent (ISSS, 2007). Self-injury can include a variety of behaviors but is most commonly associated with: • intentional cutting, carving, or puncturing of the skin • scratching • burning • ripping or pulling skin or hair • self-bruising (through punching objects with the intention of hurting oneself or punching oneself directly) Tattoos and body piercings are not usually considered self-injurious unless done with the intention to harm the body. Although cutting is one of the most common and well-documented behaviors, self-injury can take many forms. Over 16 other self-injurious behaviors have been documented in a college population and several studies have shown that individuals who self-injure often use multiple methods. Self-injury can be and is performed on any part of the body but most often occurs on the hands, wrists, stomach and thighs. The severity of the act can range from superficial wounds to lasting disfigurement. Who self-injures? Gender: It is often assumed that females self-injure more than males, but it is unclear whether or not this is true. Some studies show that females are more likely to self-injure. Others show that males are just as likely to self-injure as females. There is evidence, however, that males and females differ in their reasons for self-injuring and methods used to self-injure. For example, some research suggests that more males may use self-injurious behaviors that lead to self-bruising. They may punch objects or other people with the intention of hurting themselves or use self-battery. In contrast, females are more likely to use better recognized forms of self-injury, such as cutting or scratching. Race/ethnicity: Research on self-injury and race/ethnicity is also uncertain. Some studies suggest that it may be more common among Caucasians. Other studies show similarly high rates in minority samples. Some even show regional variation in the relationship between self-injury and race/ethnicity. Sexual orientation: Although little is known about the relationship between self-injury and sexual orientation, research suggests that being a member of a sexual minority group is a risk factor for self-injury. At least two studies have shown that reporting oneself as bisexual is a particularly strong risk factor for self-injury – especially among females. Socio-Economic Status: Although parallels between self-injury and eating disorders have led some to speculate that self-injury is most likely to be prevalent among middle and upper income individuals, no existing research supports this assumption. Indeed, the link between self-injury and trauma suggests that self-injury might be prevalent among lower-income populations. When does self-injury start and how long does it last? Self-injury can start early in life. Research suggests that for those with early onset, self-injury may start around the age of 7, although it can begin earlier. Most often, however, self-injury begins in middle adolescence, between the ages of 12 and 15. It can last for weeks, months, or years. For many, self-injury is cyclical rather than linear – meaning that it is used for periods of time, stopped, and then resumed. It would be wrong, however, to assume that self-injury is a fleeting adolescent problem. Data from some studies suggest that well over a quarter of those with self-injury experience report initiating it at 17 years old of age or older – the years many of them are in college or starting into the workforce. Although the majority of college students surveyed report having stopped within five years of starting, it is also clear that for some the behavior can last well into adulthood. It is not yet clear whether or not there are particular self-injury trajectories that vary based on age and context of onset. Why do people self-injure? Reasons given for self-injuring are diverse. Many individuals who self-injure report that feeling overwhelming negative emotion or emotional pressure are the most common triggers. Emotional numbness and sadness are also commonly cited. They report that self-injury provides a way to manage intolerable feelings or a way to experience some sense of feeling. Self-injury is also used as a means of coping with anxiety or other negative feelings and to relieve stress or pressure. Self-injury is also used to: • feel in control over one’s body and mind • express feelings • distract oneself from other problems • communicate needs • create visible and noticeable wounds • purify oneself • reenact a trauma in an attempt to resolve it • protect others from one’s emotional pain Some report doing it simply because it feels good or provides an energy rush (although few report doing so only for these reasons). Regardless of the specific reason provided, self-injury may best be understood as a maladaptive coping mechanism, but one that works – at least for a while. Is self-injury a suicidal act? There are important distinctions between those who cut or injure themselves in order to attempt suicide and those who engage in self-injury in order to cope with overwhelming negative feelings. Most studies find that self-injury is often used as a means of avoiding suicide. Perhaps one of the most paradoxical features of self-injury is that most of those who self-injure report doing so as a means of relieving emotional pain or to feel something in the presence of nothing. Nevertheless, the relationship between self-injury without suicidal intent and self-injury with suicidal intent is unclear; those who report self-injuring without suicidal intent are also more likely than others to report having considered or attempted suicide. Nevertheless, since the majority of individuals (approximately 60%) with self-injury history report never considering suicide, non-suicidal self-injury may be best understood as a symptom of distress that, if unsuccessfully resolved, may lead to suicidal behavior. What factors contribute to self-injury? In clinical populations, self-injury is linked to • Childhood abuse or trauma, especially childhood sexual abuse • Eating disorders • Substance abuse • Post-traumatic stress disorder • Anxiety disorders The lack of empirical research in non-clinical populations reinforces the assumption that most or all of self-injury is a product of pre-existing disorders, although more recent research in general populations of adolescent and young adults challenges this assumption. Is self-injury addictive? Whether or not self-injury qualifies as a true addiction is unclear but most self-injury researchers agree that self-injury shows some addictive qualities and may serve as a form of self-medication for some individuals. Recognition of the addictive properties of self-injury for some individuals is the basis for the "addiction hypothesis." This theory suggests that self-injury may engage the endogenous opioid system (EOS). The EOS regulates both pain perception and levels of endogenous endorphins. The activation of this system can lead to an increased sense of comfort or integration – at least for a short period of time. Repeated activation of the EOS can cause a tolerance effect: over time, those who self-injure may feel less pain while injuring. The theory also suggests that overstimulation of the EOS can then lead to withdrawal symptoms that spur the desire to self-injure even when there is no obvious trigger. Is self-injury contagious? The seemingly rapid spread of self-injury among community populations of youth suggests that there may be a social contagion factor at work. Indeed, self-injury has been shown repeatedly to follow epidemic-like patterns in institutional settings such as hospitals and detention facilities. For many, self-injury is a very private, hidden act. However, anecdotal reports from adults working with youth in school settings report a fad quality to the behavior similar to that which occurs with eating disorders. A recent study of secondary school nurses, counselors and social workers suggests that there may be multiple forms of self-injury in middle and high school settings – some of which include groups of youth injuring as part of a group membership. Causes for the spread of the behavior in non-clinical populations have left many wondering what larger contextual factors might be at work. Some research suggests that the Internet and the increasing prevalence of self-injury in popular media, such as movies, books, and news reports, may play a role in the spread of self-injury. What are the dangers of self-injury? About a quarter of all adolescents and young adults with a history of self-injury report practicing self-injury only once in their lives. Many of these only flirt with the behavior and do not show heightened distress in other ways. However, at least one study has shown that for some youth, even a single episode of self-injury can correlate with a history of abuse and conditions such as suicidality and psychiatric distress. This suggests that there may be a group of adolescents in which a single incident of self-injury is an indicator for other risky behaviors and even a single self-injurious act should be given attention. Studies also show that relatively few individuals who self-injure seek medical assistance when they severely injure themselves. Because of the potential link between self-injury and suicide (see “Is self-injury a suicidal act?” above), self-injury should always be taken seriously – particularly when practiced regularly and using methods that can cause a lot of damage to the body (like cutting). How does one detect self-injury? Although relatively common among adolescents, self-injury is often undetected. Arms, fists, and forearms opposite the dominant hand are common areas for injury and often bear the tell-tale signs of self-injury. However, evidence of self-injurious acts can and do appear anywhere on the body. Other signs include: • Inappropriate dress for season (consistently wearing long sleeves or pants in summer) • Constant use of wrist bands/coverings • Unwillingness to participate in events or activities which require less body coverage (such as swimming or gym class) • Frequent bandages, odd or unexplainable paraphernalia (e.g., razor blades or other implements which could be used to cut or pound) • Heightened signs of depression or anxiety It is important that questions about the marks be nonthreatening and emotionally neutral. Treatment veteran Barent Walsh indicates that he has the most success making patients comfortable and gleaning clinically useful information by demonstrating “respectful curiosity” toward individuals with a history self-injury (for examples of “respectfully curious” questions see our factsheet for parents: http://www.crpsib.com/userfiles/File/Parent%20REV.pdf) Non-suicidal self-injury is an increasingly recognized behavior among adolescents and young adults. Knowing what it is, what it is not, how it may be spreading, and how to detect and respectfully intervene is important for parents, educators, medical providers, and youth service providers working with contemporary young people.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line463
__label__wiki	0.633925	0.633925	10/9/2018 Senate Democratic Policy Caucus to Develop Legislation Protecting Rhode Islanders from Conservative Supreme Court STATE HOUSE, Providence – The Senate Democratic Policy Caucus is working in partnership with all Democratic members of the Senate to develop and introduce legislation that will secure into state law protections that many observers view as threatened under a conservative Supreme Court. “Since the 2016 election, Rhode Islanders have been concerned that issues of great importance could be endangered by a conservative Supreme Court,” said Senator Joshua Miller, chairman of the Policy Caucus. “Senators have responded by introducing legislation that would secure into state law many of the protections of the Affordable Care Act and the principles of Roe v. Wade, would safeguard against offshore drilling, and would assure current rights for immigrants, religious groups and our LGBTQ community.” Senator Miller continued, “With the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh this weekend, there is an urgent and increased interest in securing the rights of Rhode Islanders into state law.” The Senate Democratic Policy Caucus is working together with Senate leadership and committee chairpersons to identify areas of concern and reintroduce legislation or develop new legislation addressing those concerns. The Caucus will work to strengthen Rhode Island’s position regarding: Placing the protections of the Affordable Care Act into state law, such as: prohibiting exclusion of coverage based on pre-existing conditions; guaranteeing dependents up to age 26 can stay on their parents’ plans; ensuring issue and renewal so no one can be denied a policy, even if sick; and prohibiting annual limits and lifetime dollar caps on coverage for essential benefits; Codifying into law the principles of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision; Providing wage protections and protecting worker rights, including ensuring equal pay for comparable work regardless of gender; Ensuring net neutrality, so that internet service providers cannot interfere with a consumer’s ability to access content on the internet; Providing important environmental protections, including protections against offshore drilling off of Rhode Island’s coast; Guaranteeing civil rights, particularly for the LGBTQ community; Providing consumer protections in areas such as credit card rates, predatory mortgage lending, and student loans; Preserving and strengthening Rhode Island's efforts to slow down the effects of climate change, by encouraging more renewable energy efforts, by maintaining specific greenhouse gas reduction targets, and by seeking to ensure that all state agencies consider the impacts of climate change; and Continuing adequate funding for education. Policy Caucus member Gayle L. Goldin said, “Rhode Islanders, particularly women, immigrants, and the LGBTQ community, are rightfully alarmed about potential threats to their liberties and dignity under this reshaped Supreme Court. In our state, women should have the right to control our own bodies and to receive a comparable paycheck to our male counterparts. Health care is a human right, and everyone should be able to get the care they need. I look forward to working on these issues to ensure that these protections exist for all Rhode Islanders.” The Caucus has reached out to all Democratic members of the Senate, and they are working collaboratively to develop legislation for introduction in the 2019 legislative session. The members of the Democratic Policy Caucus are Senators Joshua Miller, Cynthia A. Coyne, Louis P. DiPalma, and Gayle L. Goldin. Media members, please be advised that individual members of the Policy Caucus and the Senate have worked on many of these issues in the past, or are developing legislation to propose in 2019. Questions on a certain topic area may be best directed to the individual senators directly. Greg Paré (401-276-5558) can assist in directing you to the appropriate senator on each subject matter. Greg Pare, Press Secretary for the Senate State House Room 314	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line468
__label__wiki	0.748133	0.748133	Cambodian lawmaker calls for ASEAN website to be blocked over missing land Thirty-five square kilometers, or 13.5135755 square miles, or 3,500 hectares or 8,648.68835 acres. However you figure it, it’s a sizeable chunk of land. And it’s missing from Cambodia on the website for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, a 10-member regional body of which Cambodia is a member. The apparent rounding down of Cambodia’s territory, 181,035 square kilometers, on the ASEAN website, has some Cambodian lawmakers up in arms. Parliamentarian Keo Remy, a member of the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, is calling for the ASEAN website to be blocked by Cambodia’s Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications if the number is not corrected. “We know that Cambodia has border disputes with its neighbors, and Khmer citizens are paying attention on these issues. We cannot accept such incorrect points. The most important thing is that the government should close this web site,” Keo was quoted as saying by the Khmer-language daily newspaper Kampuchea Thmey. Though Keo acknowledged the error could be an honest, if careless, mistake, he said it could mean something more sinister – that ASEAN is trying to undermine Cambodia’s sovereignty, and that perhaps ASEAN is working for neighboring nations. It could even be treasonous, he said. “If it was intentional and perpetrated by a Cambodian, this is treason. It is like not knowing your own parents,” Keo was quoted as saying by Deutsche Presse-Agentur. Other lawmakers also called on the Cambodian government to take action. “The royal government must react urgently, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation,” Monh Saphan, a Funcinpec parliamentarian was quoted as saying by Kampuchea Thmey. “The website [must] be corrected, because it affects the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Cambodia.” And non-governmental organization leaders weighed in. “The state’s figure is more important and appropriate than figures of other organizations. Therefore, we should urge the government to check this issue,” Seng Theary, executive director of the Center for Social Development, told Kampucha Thmey. “We also wonder where ASEAN got this figure.” Kek Galabru, president of the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights, said that incorrect figure is most likely a mistake, but said the government should investigate it. “Otherwise a small problem might turn into a bigger issue,” she said. Government spokesman and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith said he would investigate, and called for cooler heads in the meantime. Border disputes are a hot-button political issue in Cambodia, which has some long-standing unresolved boundary conflicts with neighbors Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodia joined ASEAN in 1999, the last country to gain admittance to the regional geo-political and economic body for Southeast Asia. It was founded in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Other members are Brunei, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line470
__label__cc	0.689432	0.310568	U.S. Political News Ross Perot dead at 89 years old Thread: Ross Perot dead at 89 years old Matt Collins If only he had won the Presidency our world would be in a much better place. If I had been old enough at the time I would have voted for him. https://www.dallasnews.com/business/business/2019/07/09/ross-perot-self-made-billionaire-patriot-philanthropist-dies-89 "A politician will do almost anything to keep their job, even become a patriot" - Hearst Suzanimal I loved his voodoo stick. Originally Posted by Ron Paul The intellectual battle for liberty can appear to be a lonely one at times. However, the numbers are not as important as the principles that we hold. Leonard Read always taught that "it's not a numbers game, but an ideological game." That's why it's important to continue to provide a principled philosophy as to what the role of government ought to be, despite the numbers that stare us in the face. Originally Posted by Origanalist This intellectually stimulating conversation is the reason I keep coming here. RIP my former boss, I will remember all of the good times down in Plano :-) “The right to life is the source of all rights—and the right to property is their only implementation. Without property rights, no other rights are possible. Since man has to sustain his life by his own effort, the man who has no right to the product of his effort has no means to sustain his life. The man who produces while others dispose of his product, is a slave.” I was a dumb young man when he first ran and was not a fan. Looking back with wiser eyes, he might not have been perfect and would have been probably run over by the deep state, but I believe he would have changed a great many things for the better if he would have won Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect - Mark Twain Ross Perot, billionaire former presidential candidate, has died at age 89 Perot died in Texas, the state where he was born, surrounded by family. "Mr. Perot was a true patriot and a dedicated humanitarian. He will be missed greatly," Ross Mulford of Petrus Asset Management Company said in a statement. In 1992, Perot made a name for himself when he became the most successful non-major party presidential candidate in 80 years, amassing 19 percent of the popular vote, running against President George H.W. Bush and Arkansas Gov. Bill Clinton. As a boy in Texarkana, Texas, Perot delivered newspapers from the back of a pony. He earned his billions in a more modern way, however — by building Electronic Data Systems Corp., which helped other companies manage their computer networks. Yet the most famous event in his career didn't involve sales and earnings; he financed a private commando raid in 1979 to free two EDS employees who were being held in a prison in Iran. The tale was turned into a book and a movie. Perot first became known to Americans outside of business circles by claiming that the U.S. government left behind hundreds of American soldiers who were missing or imprisoned at the end of the Vietnam War. Perot fanned the issue at home and discussed it privately with Vietnamese officials in the 1980s, angering the Reagan administration, which was formally negotiating with Vietnam's government. Perot's wealth, fame and confident prescription for the nation's economic ills propelled his 1992 campaign against President George H.W. Bush and Democratic challenger Bill Clinton. Some Republicans blamed him for Bush's lost to Clinton as Perot garnered the largest percentage of votes for a third-party candidate since former President Theodore Roosevelt's 1912 bid. During the campaign, Perot spent $63.5 million of his own money and bought up 30-minute television spots. He used charts and graphs to make his points, summarizing them with a line that became a national catchphrase: "It's just that simple." Former President George W. Bush called Perot a patriot. "Texas and America have lost a strong patriot," Bush said in a statement. "Ross Perot epitomized the entrepreneurial spirit and the American creed. He gave selflessly of his time and resources to help others in our community, across our country, and around the world. He loved the U.S. military and supported our service members and veterans. Most importantly, he loved his dear wife, children, and grandchildren. Laura and I send our heartfelt condolences to the entire Perot family as they celebrate a full life." ...Perot's ideas on trade and deficit reduction remained part of the political landscape. He blamed both major parties for running up a huge federal budget deficit and letting American jobs to be sent to other countries. The movement of U.S. jobs to Mexico, he said, created a "giant sucking sound." Perot continued to speak out about federal spending for many years. In 2008, he launched a website to highlight the nation's debt with a ticker that tracked the rising total, a blog and a chart presentation. More: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ross-pe...ed-2019-07-09/ RIP he was the Best Candidate in 92! RIP. Has Ron ever talked about Ross Perot? Step into the time machine and see the first debate... Originally Posted by Matt Collins I agree and voted for him. RIP. Stratovarious Thanks for the trip down memory lane... truly worth the watch. One thing then that stands true now - most people look to government to solve their problems, because they more than usually ask themselves the wrong the questions. Much like the Indians in another thread, you sell your soul (or your property) and believe that there is no accountability. Now that government has grown so exponentially large, there is little ability by the people to hold it back. PursuePeace I was just a youngin' back then and not involved in politics at all, but I loved this guy. He definitely captured my attention. Something no other politician ever did when I was at that age. RIP Ross Perot There is only one kind of freedom and that's individual liberty. Our lives come from our creator and our liberty comes from our creator. It has nothing to do with government granting it. -Ron Paul RAND 20/20 Perot could have won if he had run in the GOP primary. Perot's second campaign four years later was far less successful. He was shut out of presidential debates when organizers said he lacked sufficient support. He got just 8% of the vote, and the Reform Party that he founded and hoped to build into a national political force began to fall apart. He would have been steamrolled like Ron Paul. Along the way, and down in Tampa. Party politics is not the answer; changing the hearts and minds of the American people is. Last edited by PAF; 07-09-2019 at 10:16 AM. UWDude I thought he was crazy. (was not old enough to vote), because that's what my tv said, and that's what all the kids in school said. A real missed chance for America. Even so, him talking about America needing to make tangible items always stuck with me. Trumps first 100 day action survey: Let trump know what is important to you Perot’s VP pick (Stockdale) had a hard time with debating and public speaking. It was not his profession. Here’s a fair discussion featuring Doug Wead: Originally Posted by PAF That quote is about his second run. He had no chance the second time. Some of the media (Larry King) liked and covered Perot. He could have won the Primary the first time he ran. Bush was not popular. Ron ran in the GOP primary. He would have had zero coverage without that. Trump also learned that lesson from the Perot run. Last edited by Brian4Liberty; 07-09-2019 at 10:23 AM. Perot was ahead in the polls and sabotaged himself by dropping out in July, only to return in October. If he had not done that I think he would have won. People felt his excuse that the Bush's were trying to sabotage his daughters wedding was not good enough. The Bush's probably were but you stay in and fight them. How the media covered it below. Perot Charges Plot Forced Him Out; 'Loony,' GOP Says : Campaign: He accuses Bush camp of plan to smear daughter and disrupt her wedding, and says he quit race to protect her. Texan offers no proof for allegations. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-...761-story.html Independent presidential candidate Ross Perot accused President Bush's campaign Sunday of plotting to fake a photograph to smear his youngest daughter, of conspiring to disrupt her wedding and of hiring an ex-CIA employee to wiretap his computerized stock trading program and ruin him. Perot said the plotting was the real reason he dropped out of the campaign for 11 weeks. He said he wanted to spare his daughter, Caroline, the pain that such dirty tricks could cause. After her wedding in August, Perot said, he told her what he had done. He said she replied: "Get back into the race." He did, on Oct. 1. Last edited by kahless; 07-09-2019 at 12:11 PM. The duopoly would not have permitted that. Which is why Ross ran third party. Unfortunately, so did the "2-party" system. Thus trump. Uh no..... the "educating everyone" route is a guaranteed way to fail. One doesn't have to be involved in party politics in order to win, but trying to educate others on the issues is a losing strategy. Zippyjuan Perot on the issues (according to the Heritage Foundation): https://www.heritage.org/budget-and-...economic-plans Among the central features of the Perot plan: Spending Cuts. Perot claims that over five years he will cut at least $352 billion, including $141 billion through Medicare and Medicaid reform, $108 billion in wasteful spending and programs, $50 billion in farm and other subsidies, and $40 billion in defense. Tax Hikes. Perot over five years would raise $408 billion in new revenue, including $158 billion with a 50 cent per gallon increase in the gasoline tax, $72.9 billion by limiting mortgage interest deductions, $66 billion through higher taxes on Medicare and higher premium payments, $33 billion through a hike in the top individual tax rate from 31 percent to 33 percent, and $30 billion by increasing from 50 percent to 85 percent the share of Social Security benefits for better off recipients subject to taxes. Tax Cuts for Businesses. Perot would reduce the capital gains tax for long-term investments and eliminate it on small business, and change the tax code to stimulate investment. He also favors investment tax credits and the research and development tax credit. Anti-Trust Reform. Perot calls for amendments to the 1890 Sherman Anti-Trust Act, which restricts cooperation between American enterprises facing foreign competition. This is an especially welcome proposal -- one not found among the proposals of the other candidates. Environmental Regulation. While denouncing "overregulation" of the economy by the government, Perot surprisingly advocates a massive increase in federal government control of the economy in the name of ill-defined environmental concerns. The quality seems to have dropped significantly since I came here, I guess you get what you pay for. "There is always a tweet. That has become accepted fact in the Trump presidency: For every pronouncement the President makes, there is at least one tweet from his past that directly contradicts his current view." -CNN I am Zippy and I approve of this post. But you don't have to. Originally Posted by kahless Perot was a head in the polls and sabotaged himself by dropping out in July, only to return in October. If he had not done that I think he would have won. You are correct that pretty much did him in. Even if he hadn't done that though, I don't know that an independent run would overcome the advantage of the two party system. Perot led only one month's polls. He was declining when he withdrew. Some blamed Perot for Clinton getting elected. Others blame Bush's "Read my lips- No New Taxes" pledge failure. Or the 1991 recession- unemployment peaked at 7.7% in June of 1992. http://www.city-data.com/forum/elect...t-did-not.html Last edited by Zippyjuan; 07-09-2019 at 12:43 PM. We can always depend on Zippy to give us the establishment perspective. It was as predictable as the sun rising that you would come here to s*** in this thread. Originally Posted by Zippyjuan Perot led only one month's polls. He was declining when he withdrew. The Gallop poll shows he was one point behind Bush and ahead of Clinton. The two other June polls he was ahead of both of them. That is pretty good for a 3rd party candidate. The Pew Research poll that month had Perot ahead in ages 25-49 and 65+. He tied Bush with ages 50-65 and was behind Bush by 2 points for 18-24. Remove Blacks from 18-24 and he was ahead. If you remove blacks completely from the poll Perot was way ahead of Bush and Clinton when he dropped out. https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-conte...f/19920708.pdf I am guessing the news media hyping the "you people" comment early that month hurt him with blacks in the June polls. buck000 My dad worked on his campaign in Delray Beach FL, was totally into him. He and I both voted for Perot. RIP. Krugminator2 Glad you pointed that out. Perot is like Tucker Carlson, a social democrat. Right man won in hindsight. Bill froze the regulatory state. Cut the capital gains rate. Passed welfare reform. Expanded trade. And spending didn't grow very much. Not perfect but better than Bush Sr and Perot. Is he wrong though. Perot was a big government guy. Sure he was anti-establishment but he wasn't a friend of liberty. Originally Posted by Krugminator2 He was also a proponent of the "War on Drugs", among other things. Ross Perot By Johnny Appleseed in forum Open Discussion Ron Paul and Ross Perot By jillian in forum Rally for the Republic Opinion of Ross Perot By Michael Ingram in forum U.S. Political News Where is Ross Perot? By CareerTech1 in forum Grassroots Central	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line471
__label__wiki	0.789713	0.789713	The Estelle and its voyage to Gaza By Ana Thorne - October 13, 2012 Section: [Main News] [Videos] Tags: [Estelle] [Freedom Flotilla] [Gaza] The blockade needs to be ended, not eased – this is the slogan of the Freedom Flotilla Movement. A number of pro-Palestinian solidarity groups and organizations have coordinated various flotillas to Gaza or “fly-ins” to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport the past few years. The Estelle is the third attempt from the Freedom Flotilla Movement to challenge Israel’s naval blockade on Gaza. The Estelle, a ship originally from Finland, began its journey in Sweden in Umeå where it was renovated before setting off to sail along Europe’s coastline, including Finland, France and Spain. Last week it arrived in the Mediterranean Gulf after having recently rounded the Italian “boot” island of Sardinia. The ship set off in June, and on board there are 17 activists from various countries including Norway, Canada, United States, Israel and Sweden. According to AFP, the ship will reach the water territories of Gaza within two weeks. In an interview made by the documentarian Laura Arau, Dror Feiler, the spokesperson and activist on board said, “It is a beautiful ship, and it looks like the ships from the ’30s. Since April 2012 we have worked on the ship in order to make it better and stronger.” He explained that the plan is to use the voyage as part of the mission and to put focus on the besieged people from Gaza and in general on the Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. The travel to Gaza is in itself one of the aims to raise awareness. “The ship will be on its way for almost three months and we will need the European citizens to take a statement and act when we enter the various ports along the route to Gaza,” Feiler stated. “During the voyage there are several events including Children Theater, seminars, debates, documentary watching, concerts and every day when the ship is in harbor, it is open for the public to come at visit and get a guided tour.” The ship will be on its way for almost three months and we will need the European citizens to take a statement and act when we enter the various ports along the route to Gaza Attempts to break the Gaza naval blockade Despite international condemnation from around the world, Gaza has been suffering from the blockade for five years now. After Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections in 2006 and took over the Gaza Strip in June the following year after civil infighting with their Fateh counterparts, Egypt and Israel have sealed their borders to Gaza. The Israeli argument claims that this was a necessary measure in order to protect its citizens from the Palestinian rocket attacks fired from Gaza and to prevent weapons from getting smuggled into the coastal strip. Human rights organizations on the other hand view this as a form of collective punishment on the coastal strip’s 1.7 million population, over half of who are under the age of 18. Since August 2008, the umbrella organization Free Gaza Movement has coordinated several sailings to Gaza and brought international witnesses, who have seen with own eyes the catastrophic effects of the Israeli blockade. The Freedom Flotilla Movement is within this coordination, and it is also known as the organization Ship to Gaza. Its website states that it is unaffiliated with political and religious organizations, and is a non-profit association which wishes to promote increased respect for human rights and international law. In 2010 the first Freedom Flotilla set off to Gaza from the coast of Cyprus, and over 600 activists were on board the largest ship, Mavi Marmara. The other five ships were loaded with 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid, with an estimated value of $20 million. On May 31st Israeli marine soldiers commandeered the ships and fired at close range at the activists, resulting in the murder of nine Turkish activists and dozens more wounded. After facing pressure from the international society and in the response to the Gaza flotilla raid in 2010, Egypt and Israel eased the restrictions on the blockade in June 2010 for non-military goods. Israel declared that all strictly civilian goods (what they had previously classified as “luxury goods”) are allowed while weapons and items that are defined as “dual-use” items are banned from entering into Gaza. [Click here for more information on which goods are allowed in to Gaza.] The problem is that there is still a huge shortage of medicine, medical supplies and building materials. Different organizations have pointed to the fact that the blockade is furthering an emergency situation in Gaza, and UNOCHA has announced in a 2011 report that the lessening of the blockade does not have a significant improvement for the people’s livelihood in Gaza. Flotilla II was a partnership of twenty-two NGOs which gathered ten ships and 1,000 activists to challenge the blockade. Among the activists were the US author Alice Walker, Hedy Epstein, an 87-year old Holocaust survivor, Adam Shapiro the co-founder of International Solidarity Movement and Trevor Hogan, former Irish international rugby player. It planned to sail to Gaza on July 5th 2011 but when the ships docked in Greece for preparation, the Greek government, under heavy Israeli pressure, prevented the flotilla from leaving to Gaza and the mission was therefore aborted. “As long as the siege exists we will come again until it is removed” “We have to win the hearts and the minds of the ordinary people because they are the ones that really can push the politicians,” Feiler underlines. Until now the ship has been welcomed by European cities on its way towards Gaza, and people have shown great interest in the events and information sharing in favor of a better situation in Gaza and in Palestine in general. The steadfastness is clear from both the supporters and the activists and as Feiler explains, “As long as the siege exists we will come again and again until it is removed.” Israel National News has announced that the Foreign Ministry has not changed Israel’s policy on the blockade, and the ship will not be allowed to approach Gaza. This brings up the question of whether the crew have prepared themselves for the Israeli threats and hindrances that are likely to become a reality the closer they get to Gaza. Mikael Löfgren, the media coordinator for the Ship to Gaza has affirmed that the passengers have received the appropriate training. “The crew has done non violence exercises, instructed by experienced trainers,” Lofgren said. “We have practiced maximum transparency and openness during the travel, in order to let everyone – the public, the authorities, the media, and the Israeli government – with their own eyes see that we are only bringing humanitarian goods.” Dror Feiler anticipates that when the Estelle comes close to Gaza’s waters, Israel will most likely confront the ship and arrest the passengers. However, Feiler is determined to pass on the message they have to the people of Gaza. “You are not alone, and we have a humanitarian cargo for you. Our methods are solidarity and non-violence and we hope that the Israelis will respect this – if not, we hope that the European countries will stand together, and make Israel understand our mission.” For more information on the Estelle’s journey to Gaza click here.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line474
__label__wiki	0.882737	0.882737	The "Macedonia" Name Issue When this tiny, landlocked mass declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it declared itself to be "Macedonia," laying claim to thousands of years of Hellenic culture and sparking a naming dispute that remains volatile to this day. In 1991, the “Socialist Republic of Macedonia” — created by Marshal Tito in 1944 – became a sovereign state and declaring itself to be the “Republic of Macedonia.” The move sparked a bilateral “naming dispute” with Greece that persists to today. Greece rejects use of the name “Republic of Macedonia” because of the fact that “Macedonia” is the name of a region in northern Greece, and because the use of that name fails to distinguish that state from the parts of geographic Macedonia from the Greek (the largest part of geographic Macedonia) and Bulgarian parts. Some 2.5 million Greeks live in the Greek region of Macedonia. Under an interim accord signed on September 13, 1995, the two states agreed to the use of the reference “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” (FYROM) until the naming dispute is resolved. Greece has taken a significant step towards solving the dispute, offering the major compromise of a compound name with a geographic qualifier that would distinguish FYROM from the Greek region of Macedonia. MORE THAN A SQUABBLE OVER A NAME: A FIGHT FOR CULTURAL IDENTITY AND TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY FYROM’s long-standing demand to lay claim to the Macedonian name threatens not only to Greece’s cultural history but its territorial limits as well. Millions of ethnic Greeks living in the north of their country consider themselves “Macedonian” and they see the appropriation of that term by the former Yugoslav state as being an attempt to undermine their culture identity. Moreover, tensions over the name dispute have been fueled by the fact that FYROM embarked on a campaign to lay claim to other elements of Hellenic culture and identity as well. Specifically, the nationalist VMRO-DMPNE party came into power in 2006 and brought with it a renewed vigor to manufacture a connection between the former Yugoslav state and ancient Hellenism. The country’s main airport in Skopje was renamed to “Alexander the Great Airport” and has launched a “Skopje 2014″ project, spending millions erecting monuments of Hellenic heroes throughout the country and fabricating a connection between FYROM and Hellenic culture. On top of the attempts to expropriate Hellenic history to FYROM, there exists a movement within FYROM to pursue a “United Macedonia” that would envelope northern Greece and areas in Bulgaria, Albania and Serbia. Although FYROM abandoned any territorial claims in the Interim Accord, “United Macedonia,” maps depicting FYROM’s territory extending into northern Greece have been published. It is against this backdrop that Greece has requested that FYROM use a compound name with a geographic qualifier for general use on the international stage, with some type of qualifier in its name — “New”, “Upper” or “Northern” — so as to ensure that no future claim against Greece’s territory is made. Little progress has been made on the naming dispute over the last decade, but fresh negotiations are being undertaken between Athens and Skopje under the auspices of the Secretary-General to try to reach an agreement.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line475
__label__cc	0.720516	0.279484	Religion versus vaccines--sound familiar? New Topic Topic Locked Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 of 10 Original_Intent And not to muddy the waters... but who says the damn thing is safe? Our government? Originally posted by Original_Intent The same people that say aspirin is safe. Actually, the CDC and FDA have both approved and recommended its use. Also, there is no thimerosal or mercury in the vaccine and it is made from the protein coats, so it is non-infectious. I would say it is safer than the Influenza vaccine. Waters un-muddied. Originally posted by Ricky I don't believe this has been discussed, and I hope the reason behind this is not because everyone agrees. I think it's a horrible, sad, and possibly stupid situation when a parent chooses not to vaccinate their child and the child suffers because of it. But as long as that parent is attempting to act in the best interest of their child, that is, there is no malicious intent, how can you say that the government should be able to go against the parents wishes? Because per the Constitution, we - collectively - grant the government certain powers that only we - collectively - can take away, not individuals who happen to disagree. And because purposefully unvaccinated people can and do infect both the not-yet-vaccinated and the few people for whom vaccination didn't "take," it's a public health issue, not a personal health issue. Even more so with the current insurance situation, wherein almost every case of cervical cancer makes my insurance rates and/or taxes rise just a little bit. Multiply over all preventable diseases for which parents studiously withhold the vaccine from their kids, and it's not just disease spread but lots of money one needs to consider. In our society we praise individualism, but if a parent decides that what's in the "best interest" of their child is to increase the risk for all the other kids and adults in the community with preventable diseases and preventable expenses (respectively), then I'd have to consider that parent a danger to society. Unfortunately, all we've come up with so far as punishment of such sociopathic behaviour is to prevent the kids from partaking in this wonderful ( ) public-school system we've got. But oddly enough, I have a feeling that there's a strong correlation between withholding vaccines and home schooling. 'Cause if you (the general 'you', not you in particular, Ricky) don't trust the government to properly safeguard your kid's life, it's unlikely that you trust the goverment to educate your kid to your standards. We need a law with more teeth. Don't want to vaccinate your kids? Fine, then you don't get the child tax credit, either. Uncle Sam needs the extra $1,000 bucks a year just to deal with the long-term and wide-spread consequences of your shortsighted actions, and those of the others like you. Originally posted by Dave W. Withholding certain privaledges is not the same as forcing. I agree with your post Dave, but what about forcing, meaning punishment for non-compliance, like what happens when children recieve no schooling home or public. With the feelings of entitlement that many people have today, Neurosis, the withholding of privileges is exactly the same thing as punishment. Yea, but I think that is melodramatic and stupid. Entitlement is the best advertising strategy, "you deserve a new car with all the features", but I think it is basically lying by most definitions of deserve, especially the one we use in a capitalist society. Well, no, I'm saying that if most people are being given some privilege, then the few who don't get the same privilege - because they're not meeting the requirements - will feel as though they're being punished, even if the law is written so that actually they're just not being rewarded. Reward and punishment are relative to the societal norms, after all. Up to this point, I thought you were disagreeing with me. I was talking about the government forcing children to get vaccinated, not encouraging through the withholding of privileges such as tax cuts. I'm all for such encouragement, but I am against forced vaccinations as HalfMooner had stated. Chlamydia Vaccine A Step Closer To Reality Oh, those evil scientists! Originally posted by Dr. Mabuse Ok, that was below the belt. But understand, Robb, that there are lots of uneducated Bible litteralists who actually believe that BS. As a Christian yourself, I think it is your duty to your fellow brothers and sisters in faith to educate them in matters like this. It's not like they are interested to listen to reason, when reason comes from evil Atheists with a Commie agenda. Maybe, But the kind of people you are talking about will just call me an atheist commie anyway. Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. - George Washington Originally posted by Neurosis Uh... ok. That has nothing to do with my post. The position of a person against the vaccine is that it will incourage sexual activity by removing one more threat that sex may have before an early sexually active age like 13-18 (vaccine given at 9-12 years). The argument is that protecting the potentially sexually active will encourage them to have sex. I did not say it was a good argument and I did not say that teenagers think about the consequences. Actually, I have the opposite view. Teenagers don't use protection and don't think about the consequences, thus I am a fan of sex education which includes contraception and a fan of the vaccine. I too am a fan of sex education which includes contarception. I am not a fan of our schools teaching this. It is my job as the parent. Not to nit-pick, but what will you teach them it says? Girls (women) are property in the Old Testament, the maid servents take the place of barren wives (that would be a fun birds and bees), there are clothing restrictions and lust issues with cleavage (can't buy them those American Eagle tight jeans or low cut tops when they get to be teenagers), probably need to keep the biblical "A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing, for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this"" which puts them in dresses (which is good because the teenage boys lust after the tight jeans anyway, in fact the dresses should be long, the longer the better), you can't forget to tell them that their menstrual cycle makes them unclean, Heres a good night time story: Numbers 31:1-54 Under God's direction, Moses' army defeats the Midianites. They kill all the adult males, but take the women and children captive. When Moses learns that they left some live, he angrily says: "Have you saved all the women alive? Kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. But all the women children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves." So they went back and did as Moses (and presumably God) instructed, killing everyone except for the virgins. In this way they got 32,000 virgins. Wonder what their gonna do with them? In the NT good old paul explains that women are good for sex Romans 1:27, Jesus explains that if something makes you sin (lust and fornication?) cut it off, here he gives guys the go ahead, Matthew 18:12, but what about the girls, no balls to cut off off... wait, clitorectomy. That is probably best anyway since Paul suggests everyone be abstanent, 1 Cor 7:5. That procedure certainly would be advantages to keep this advice and it isn't dangerous with modern technology (doubt you'll convince the good doc though). I would guess you really are just gonna tell them what your pastor says about sex and not the bible. I get your point. This is a discussion for another thread. But in the end it is a matter for my wife and I to decide on. Then what would you consider "forcing?" Encouragement through the withholding of the privilege of freedom? I'm talking about finding a punishement severe enough that all kids get vaccinated. If the tax burden isn't enough - and you seem to indicate that it won't be - then we need something more severe. We can do a "reverse boy-in-the-bubble," and have the government put a tax lein on the parents for the equipment, so that if they fail to pay it, they'll go to jail. Or how about "Quarantine Schools?" We'd only need a few, they can be made cheaply from decommissioned oil tankers and be run like Federal prisons, except any time a kid gets fully vaccinated, they can leave. What's going to be the solution to the problem that keeps all of our kids and our kids' kids (and so on) safe from the sociopaths and paying less for health-care? If a thousand bucks a year per unvaccinated kid isn't going to do it, what will? The FDA and the CDC... Our government..... When it comes to the government, I am skeptical. Hey Dave, while I agree with part of what you are saying, I do not look at HPV the same as Hep B, measels, mumps, HIV, etc. There is no public risk from HPV other then the choices one makes. However there is a huge risk from TB and we still let these folks walk around. Ditto for Hep A, B, C. Sure, we give them drugs, but we don't force them to take them. We also do not ENFORCE infection control within healthcare settings. If this was enfored, then VRE would never have become endemic, and could have been stopped, or at least considerably slowed. Look at the freakin' chicken pox vaccine. I am now forced to get the vaccine before sending my child to school. WHat happens when my child is 30 years old and maybe the anti-bodies are decreased enough so she gets chicken pox. Little chance of any problems at 4, serious long-term to permanent health implications at 34. Chicken pox kills less people then dunkin drivers. TO force that vaccine for public health and not permanently incarcerate these menaces to society is pretty lame. In the case of HPV vaccine, it should be the choice of the parent on whether to get it or not. Me, I am lucky, I don't have to worry about it for a bit. When my child is old enough, we will discuss it. We will have a better idea of all the implications, and she will choose whether to get it or not. As far as the medical costs associated with it, I say we counter it by refusing medical aid to to impaired drivers and ridding ourselves of frivilous lawsuits. Where does one draw the line? Smokers with COPD or cancer? Obese people with heart disease? People with Diabetes who refuse to take care of themselves and end up with kidney failure? People who injure or make themselves ill participating in at-risk behavior? How about we put a $10 a bottle of beer, $20 bottle of liquer/wine, $10 pack/smokes, required $2,000,000 policy to participate in hang-gliding, parachuting, permanent incarceration for menaces to society (drunk/impaired drivers). etc.etc.etc Just a couple points of clarification here. OI, any increase or decrease in the infectious disease burden affects everyone, regardless of one's moral filter you choose to view infections through. The idea any of these infections only matter to the individual neglects to consider those 6 degrees of separation (to use the concept) between us. And just an FYI for folks, state vaccine laws vary considerably. Some states don't allow for any exemptions except medical including not allowing religious exemptions while other state laws allow parents to opt out of giving kids vaccinations without an explanation. Kids would be sent home during outbreaks if unvaccinated. For states with liberal opt out policies, the point in making the vaccines required can sometimes just be a way of saying parents need to opt out rather than opt in. For states with only medical exemptions, people object to vaccine requirements regardless of their moral filters. But the laws remain in place and I am unaware if they have withstood court challenges. I've argued with my religious brother about these laws which intervene in parental control. You can't beat your kids or neglect their medical care. Withholding vaccines can result in the death of the child. What affects one's choice of where the line gets drawn between neglecting care for a sick child or neglecting a life saving vaccine? People have all sorts of reasons this is OK, that isn't. There are moral grounds, there are parental control issues, public health issues, public expense issues, and bad medicine beliefs about the vaccines themselves. It's worse when the vaccine is new on the market since it hasn't been as thoroughly tested as a vaccine that has been given to millions. And it's always a concern that a new vaccine will be required indeed because the company that stands to profit lobbied the government for the law. My personal bias is to require the vaccines as long as the science supports their use. The kids shouldn't have to suffer because the parents make a particular bad choice to withhold a vaccine, and, society has a right to require its citizens to participate in decreasing the infectious disease burden. If you wait until these kids are adults making their own decisions, the evidence is very clear you will have missed a lot of opportunity to prevent disease. Kids have sex, it's a fact that hasn't changed despite the Evangelical movement and the abstinence only sex education programs. Again, that's what the science shows. If you don't agree, do/find more research. Bad choice based on the science, not just my opinion it's a bad choice.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line477
__label__wiki	0.952611	0.952611	Strawberry cultivations successful in the Welimada area. Protesters return to streets despite the suspension of Hong Kong extradition bill The government says the cabinet meeting will be convened today under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena Bangladesh beat west indies in ICC world cup match through a record chase The production of essential foods stuff locally with focus is now underway The Pakistan Cricket Board states, international cricket will return to Pakistan later this year, when the country hosts matches of the Asian Test Championship The US Military states, unexploded device spotted on tanker Seven Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna members including former Chairman of North Central Province are remanded Public Private Partnership model proposed for the Hotel Trade India will meet New Zealand at Nottingham. The match will start at 3.15PM Sri Lankan time Published on Tuesday, 18 June 2019 12:45 Written by slbc news Bangladesh beat West Indies by seven wickets in an ICC world cup match played at Taunton yesterday. Many teams struggled a lot to chase more than 300 runs in the recent matches. However Bangladesh overcame this challenge through a record chase. Shakib Al Hasan produced one of the great World Cup performances, stringing a domineering 124 not out to his two-wicket haul as he anchored Bangladesh's highest chase in an ODI. In the process, he reached 6000 ODI runs, became Bangladesh's highest run-scorer at a World Cup, the second after Mahmudullah to make two centuries for Bangladesh in the tournament, and added his name to yet another one of the six Bangladesh century stands in World Cups. Scores: West Indies batted first and made 321 for 8 in 50 overs. In reply Bangladesh reached the victory target losing only 3 wickets and 51 balls to spare. Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board: Ehsan Mani says, international cricket will return to Pakistan later this year, when the country will be hosting matches for the Asian Test Championship, against Sri Lanka in September, and against Bangladesh in January or February next year. Speaking to the media at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, Mani said, the ICC Test Championship is spanned over two years and will end in 2021. He revealed, the Sri Lankan team will play a bilateral series in Pakistan in December this year, which will feature three One Day Internationals and a similar number of T20 matches. Published on Thursday, 13 June 2019 07:58 Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs in another ICC world cup match played at Taunton, yesterday. Batting first Australia were bowled out for 307 in 49 overs. In Reply Pakistan managed to score only 266. Few more Sri Lankan cricketers will fly to South Africa to join the team today to participate in forthcoming test cricket matches Few more Sri Lankan cricketers will fly to South Africa to join the team today to participate in forthcoming test cricket matches. Milinda Siriwardena, Kaushal Silva, Mohommed Shiraz and Oshadha Fernando are included in the squad. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Cricket said Angelo Perera and Lasith Embuldeniya will also join the team within the next few days. Sri Lanka struggles at his favourite ground against gentle pace bowling of England. Sri Lanka is striving to salvage to save the test. Published on Thursday, 08 November 2018 15:32 Sri Lanka once again showed its batting weakness in front its own crowd at galle.Galle cricket stadium is considered as one of the favourite ground which has brought many victories for Sri Lanka. England have never won a Test in Galle - they haven't won a Test away from home anywhere for two years - but, two days into this game, they have an excellent opportunity to put both those issues right. It would be simplistic to suggest that Ben Foakes has earned them their dominant position over Sri Lanka. Simplistic but not untrue. For at the heart of almost everything good about this England performance to date has been the 25-year-old debutant who has taken to Test cricket as smoothly as he has taken every ball into his gloves. SCORES : England batted first and made 342 in their first innings. In Reply Sri Lanka were bowled out for a mere 203. England were 38 without loss in their second innings , at the end of the second day's play. The only T20 International of England tour of Sri Lanka will be played in Colombo today Published on Saturday, 27 October 2018 16:32 The only T20 International of England tour of Sri Lanka will be played at Colombo R. Premadasa grounds today. Sri Lanka will be led by Thisara Perera in this format, while Lasith Malinga could win his first T20I cap in over a year following a successful return in the ODIs. Sri Lanka wins the Asian Netball Championship Published on Thursday, 13 September 2018 10:45 Sri Lanka won the 11th Asian Netball Championship by beating hosts Singapore 69 to 50 in the final today. Led by Chathuranganee Jayasuriya, the Sri Lankans remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. Sri Lanka has won this Championship after a lapse of nine years and this is their 5th title. With this win, they qualify for the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool, England. Sri Lanka wins by three wickets in tight chase Sri Lanka won the T-20 encounter against South Africa's tour of Sri Lanka played at the R. Premadasa Stadium by 3 wickets. South Africa won the toss and elected to bat. South Africa all out for 98 runs in 16.4 overs. Quinton de Kock is the highest scorer of 20 runs for Proteas. Lakshan Sandakan took 3 wickets. Dhananjaya de Silva and Akila Dhananjaya took 2 wickets each. In reply Sri Lanka were able to hit the target score in 16 overs. Dinesh Chandimal scored the highest runs of 36 for Sri Lanka. Dhananjaya de Silva 31. The 2nd ODI between Sri Lanka and South Africa will be played in Dambulla today The 2nd ODI between Sri Lanka and South Africa will be played in Dambulla today. This will be played as a Day and Night encounter. The government says the cabinet meeting will be convened today under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena. The government has written to the President citing clauses 42 and 43 of the consti... The cultivation of strawberries is being reported successful in the Welimada area. Harvesting is taking place these days. Strawberries are mostly grown in the Idalgashinna, Ohiya, Ragan Gala, Bora...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line478
__label__wiki	0.849748	0.849748	Royal College pioneers in cadetting By Rajitha Jagoda Arachchi In the history of Lankan Cadets, the Reid Avenue School holds the legacy undoubtedly, as it was Royal College's Principal, John B. Cull in 1881, who initiated Cadetting in the country. Captain V.S.S. Gunawardana, Cadet Officer of Royal had much to share about the history of cadetting. “In fact, Sri Lanka was the fourth country in the world to start cadetting. Before us, it was only Russia, the United Kingdom and Canada who had cadet platoons. Therefore, Royal College holds the record of being a pioneer force not only in the country but in the entire world in cadetting. Literally, Sri Lanka is the first country and Royal College the first school to start cadetting in entire Asia,” said Captain Gunawardana. “Some say that cadetting was started in order to maintain the discipline of the students of Royal College which is not true. We never had issues with the disciplining of our boys,” he said. Royal College is a school which has been nourished by a range of traditions; This is so in the present and surely will be in the future. The Head of State gracing the annual prize giving has been one of the earliest traditions at Royal College. Cadetting has some special connection with this tradition. During British rule, the Head of State was the King of England and in his absence the Governor who was the representative of the Crown, attended the annual prize giving of the College. Principal John B. Cull wanted to welcome the Governor with a Guard of Honour, like in England. “He thought of starting cadet training in the College with the support of the Ceylon Light Infantry. That is how and why cadetting started,” said Captain Gunawardana. In 1979, the Senior Cadet Band Platoon was established and in 2007 Royal College was one of first schools to establish Air Force Cadet platoons in the country. The College currently claims seven platoons - Army, Airforce, Navy, Police, Western Band, Junior Airforce, and Junior Western Band with 175 students, perhaps the largest cadet force of the country in one school. Nonetheless, in a college where there are more than 8,000 students, being selected to one of its cadet platoons as well as remaining in it, is quite a challenge to a student. “I don’t take in students who score less than 60 marks in all subjects. I check their term test results regularly. If a student has more than 60 marks in all other subjects, with 55 in one subject, I avoid taking him for cadet training. We don’t terminate his cadetship, instead we give him another term to get back to the academic path. This is because we want to see a balanced individual passing out from the College,” the Captain said. He said, “Today, there is big competition for the Herman Loos trophy. We have won the trophy seven times so far. But rather than the competition, we focus on the individual development of our students. For instance we produce a person who is not racist, not selfish and who will not discriminate against anybody. That is the uniqueness of Royal cadets, I would say.” Kindness pays Be More Kind - the concert of St Thomas’ Preparatory School directed by Sanchitha Wickramasooriya and co directed by Lihan... It’s Neon Dystopia iClown’s fourth EP(extended play record) titled Neon Dystopia will be released via High Chai Recordings on July 16. This is... Sustainable initiatives at Mount Lavinia Hotel Cascading waterfalls, enchanting forests, mesmerising oceans and breathtaking mountains, this is our beautiful planet. Yet... Cleaning up the beach Two years ago a group of likeminded friends formed a travell club, Busy Travellers under the leadership of Pathum Sampath.... Soothing music for distressed gentle giants They worked hard amidst neglect and abuse to earn for their masters. They suffered eye injuries and even went blind when... Soldiers rebuild Zion Church, Batticaloa Children are always a source of joy, with their innocent smiles. Unfortunately, during the terror unleashed on Black Sunday... 'නාද ගම': A Night to remember… The fourth edition of Naada Gama Live in Concert, a melodious musical evening will come alive on Sunday July 21, 5pm at the... Another tragic American author Mark Twain Along with O Henry, (the American short story writer whose work we looked at in these pages last week), Mark Twain is... Cameron Boyce dies at 20 Actor Cameron Boyce, who starred in the Disney Channel’s television shows and series, has died at age 20.A spokesperson for... The Summoning to be screened at San Diego Comic-Con The Summoning, a production by High School Junkies directed by Akash Sk, has been selected for screening at the San Diego... Archie’s christening Royal fans have finally got a proper look of Britain’s newest royal, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.The baby son of the... World Skills at UN “A ccording to the recent research published by the Institute of Professional Studies, over a quarter of the population... ‘HEIRS’ Romeo and Juliet re-devised Imagine you walk into a party. You meet someone, have an instant connection, and your world goes up in smoke. One moment you... The film On Chesil Beach is based on Ian McEwan’s Booker nominated, best-selling novella of the same name. It stars Saoirse... A long term commitment Having a pet means the life and well-being of another living creature is in your hands. The biggest responsibility is love....	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line479
__label__wiki	0.988363	0.988363	Ex-Browns LB Kendricks pleads guilty to insider trading September 6, 2018 — 4:50pm PHILADELPHIA — Former Cleveland Browns linebacker Mychal Kendricks pleaded guilty to insider trading charges on Thursday, and faces up to 25 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter asked Kendricks why he was pleading guilty. "I'm making the decision because it's the right thing to do," he said, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. "I know that I made the decision to accept information, secret information, and it wasn't the right thing to do." Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 18. Kendricks, who signed a one-year contract with the Browns in June after winning a Super Bowl title last season with the Eagles, used tips from an acquaintance to make about $1.2 million in illegal profits on four major trading deals, federal prosecutors said. The Browns released him from the team on Aug. 29, after the charges were filed. Prosecutors allege that his co-defendant, Damilare Sonoiki, was paid $10,000 in kickbacks in the scheme from 2014-2015, as well as received perks like tickets to Eagles games and the chance to tag along to a music video shoot or nightclub appearances. Sonoiki had been working as a junior analyst at Goldman Sachs but left the financial field and has most recently been writing for TV shows. Sonoiki's lawyer told the Inquirer in an email that his client also would plead guilty, but no date has been set. North Metro Supporters push to jump-start $1.5B Bottineau light-rail project	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line483
__label__cc	0.607288	0.392712	Stephanie Joyce Cole Compass North Homer, Ak Book Groups and Book Clubs Visit Stephanie Joyce Cole on facebook Moving Back into the World: The COMPASS NORTH re-release I’m going to sidestep from my blog series about my experiences of widowhood to announce the re-release of COMPASS NORTH this week. It’s now available in the Kindle version on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017QUWBZ8) and will be available in paperback very soon. I hope you like the new cover. It’s been a long road. The story of Meredith’s escape into a new life in a small town in Alaska had been rattling around in my brain for several years before I attempted to write it. When Mark and I relocated to Seattle, I finally had the time to put pen to paper (well, fingers to keyboard) to see if I really had it in me to write Meredith’s story. Writing a novel is a mammoth undertaking. I’d always considered myself a writer. I earned my MFA in Creative Writing-Fiction at the University of Alaska, Anchorage as the culmination of several years of night classes. I’d published a couple of short stories, but nothing prepared me for the ultra-marathon of novel-writing. Producing the first draft was excruciating. I found that I preferred to work in chaos, writing scenes as they appeared in my head, not following an outline or in any logical order. As a result, my early work was a whirlwind mess of characters, scenes and situations. After the first draft was at last sorted out (whew), a new kind of work began. I’d revise and revise and revise. Soon, I was sick of my story. I’d spent too much time with it. After putting it aside for a while, I revised it some more, and went in search of a publisher. A small publisher offered me a contract, and COMPASS NORTH was first released in December 2013. COMPASS NORTH remained with that publisher until August 2014, when a peculiar set of circumstances resulted in an opportunity to recover my rights, which I elected to do. My plans going forward were a bit squishy but I was optimistic. There were changes I wanted to make to the book, including a new cover design. I was considering whether I should finish the sequel, A LATE HARD FROST, before doing anything further with the first book. Then, on October 31 (yes, Halloween) of 2014, Mark was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He struggled valiantly for seven months, and died in June of this year. After Mark’s diagnosis and until very recently, I found it impossible to move forward with much of anything. I continued to write my blog, first about our experiences as Mark traveled through treatment, and then later as I entered the foreign world of widowhood. Working on A LATE HARD FROST or planning a route to republication for COMPASS NORTH wasn’t in the realm of possibility. But sometimes help (or a prodding forward from a sharp stick) comes when you least expect it. Recently a fellow author, Ceci Giltenan, offered to help me with the republishing process. I first encountered Ceci after the initial publication of COMPASS NORTH, when I was struggling to understand the world of book promotion. As a first time published author, I had an enormous amount to learn. Publishing a novel is only the first step on a strange and confusing road, and I was clueless. I had to learn about social media, and blog tours, and virtual launch parties. I had to learn about catchy tag lines, and positioning, and what it takes to get a novel into bookstores. I went to writing conferences, where the advice given in publishing workshops was sometimes contradictory, and often not helpful. Along the way, I’d noticed that Ceci (then also with the same publishing house) was having enormous success with her first novel, HIGHLAND SOLUTION, the first of an ongoing series of Scottish Highland romances. Although my book didn’t fall in that category, I emailed Ceci and asked her for advice. She most generously shared her thoughts and experiences. With Ceci’s help, I participated in some on-line launch parties and she featured some of my work on her website. Although we’d never met in person, Ceci went out of her way to help me. Not too long ago, Ceci contacted me and asked if I had a short story to include in an anthology she was compiling, TANTALIZING TIDBITS. I sent her a story and she placed it in the collection. Ceci recently emailed me and offered her help in sending COMPASS NORTH back out into the world. Without her encouragement, generosity and assistance, the re-release wouldn’t have happened, at least not now. So I’m moving forward. I’m dusting off the partial draft of A LATE HARD FROST. I’m still struggling with the aftermath of losing Mark, and I imagine I will for some time. But I can see that there will be a way out of the fog. And, Ceci Giltenan, all I can say is…thank you.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line485
__label__cc	0.508181	0.491819	Stephen Boocks Tetris & Scores Early Dots No Objects 2012-2013 Objects 2011-2012 Bio/Statements Curates The Year in Music...So Far 2015 is shaping up to be a great year for new music. Here’s a quick round up of my favorites and a few near misses. Since we are so used to ratings, I tend to rate everything (I have to rate wine for my job). For music, I use a 10pt scale and I only consider a handful of albums to be perfect 10s. Courtney Barnett- Sometimes I Sit and Think, Sometimes I Just Sit (9.0)- This is a big leap forward from her, the songs are so well crafted and the band is awesome, which was the big surprise for me seeing her show at the Black Cat last year. Seems like everyone is jumping on her bandwagon and I expect to see this on most best of lists for the year. I’m looking forward to her show at 9:30 club in June. Waxahatchee – Ivy Tripp (9.0) – As a huge fan of her first two albums, I was unsure about this upon my first listen. The opener, Breathless, sounded so different from her previous work. The next couple of songs sounded more like her sister’s band Swearin’ then there is some piano- then about halfway, the song Air brought me back to more familiar territory albeit, more confident- more complex. It didn’t take too many more spins to fall in love with this album Mountain Goats- Beat the Champ (8.5) – I feel sorry for anyone who dismisses this because the songs are about small time pro wrestling. Darnielle and I are about the same age and I can generally relate. I used to have to fight for time to watch Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling as a kid because it conflicted with my dad’s favorite show, Hee Haw. As usual, Darnielle takes a subject and wrings so much out of it. What makes this album for me is the band. What a band, oh, and Darnielle actually singing. The Decemberists- What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World (8.5) – This is probably the big surprise for me this year. I like some of their stuff but generally find the concepts of their albums to be annoying. There is something about the “old fashioned” wording of the lyrics that is off putting to me. Then comes this- a pretty straightforward collection of really good songs. The Lake Song is my song of the year so far. Godspeed You! Black Emperor- Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress (8.0) – Nothing really new here, in fact it is a suite they have been playing live for more than a decade. It’s really good though and it does not include any “found” voice parts, which sometimes gets in the way for me. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie and Lowell (7.5) – I came pretty late to the Sufjan Stevens party so my introduction was the wonderfully bizarre, over the top electronics of Age of Adz. I later caught up on his more acoustic work. This is a really good album about his relationship with his mother but it hasn’t really grabbed me. In general, reviews are focusing in on how this will tear at your emotions. I haven’t felt that yet. I like it and I will keep listening. Modest Mouse – Strangers to Ourselves (7.0) Years in the making and somehow the song, Pistol (A. Cunanan, Miami, FL. 1996) made it to the final album. One reviewer said it was the single worst thing Brock has done and, well, its not great. But there is some really good, classic Modest Mouse kind of stuff that you’d expect and some really nice unexpected stuff like the lovely opener. It feels slick and shiny at places where a little dirt might have been better. Its still a pleasure to listen to in the studio. Death Cab for Cutie – Kitsugi (6.5)- Boy loses girl, the "New Girl" no less. Anyway, this is a pretty polished album and like the Modest Mouse, it suffers a bit. I’m a sucker for Ben Gibbard’s voice and phrasing so I’ll keep listening- maybe it will grow on me. I’ve listened mostly in the car which is not the best environment- needs some studio airtime. There’s plenty of new music I haven’t listened to yet. I’ve heard some of the Kendrick Lamar and find it pretty compelling. As far as anticipated releases, I can’t wait for the So Percussion recording of Bryce Dessner’s Music for Strings and Wood. I saw them perform this at Atlas a couple of weeks ago and it is awesome. Look for it in May. Enthusiasms Ramblings about art, music, literature, food, beverages and other interests that generally affect my work in some way	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line486
__label__cc	0.727536	0.272464	\| Rules \| Frequently Asked Questions \| About Us \| \| Glossary \| Your Account \| Contact Us \| IV. Glossary: Not sure about a term or concept? Just click on the first letter of the term you're looking for. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V Y 401(k)--A popular retirement plan adopted by many employers which allows either employer or employee--or both--to contribute. Money put into these accounts is tax-exempt until retirement. 403(b)--Similar to a 401(k) only used more in universities and non-profit institutions. AAA--Highest rating given by bond rating agencies--highly unlikely to default. ADR(American Depositary Receipt)--A way U.S. investors can invest in foreign companies without buying shares in overseas markets. Receipts for shares of foreign companies are in U.S. banks for U.S. shareholders and entitle the ADR purchaser to all dividends and capital gains. Agency Bonds--Bonds issued by U.S. government-related agencies, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These bonds are very safe and backed by assets, such as home mortgages. They pay slightly more interest than U.S. Treasury bonds. Annuity--An investment product offered by insurance companies, which usually guarantees a fixed or variable rate of interest for a period of time. These investments can be quite safe, depending on the insurance company's financial stability; however, they tend to provide low-yields investments. Assets--Cash, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate or anything else with value. Asset Allocation--The mix of assets in an investor's portfolio (e.g., cash equivalents, stocks & bonds). The proper balance of assets depends on the expected return and risk of each asset class as well as the investor's risk tolerance, age, and goals. Average Annual Return--On average, how much the investment gains in value each year. Make sure that the average annual return of the investments you are looking into include, gains from dividends, interest and distributions, not just gains in the price of the asset. Back-End Load--Some mutual funds charge investors a fee when they sell shares of the fund they are invested in. Bill--Bond maturing in less than one year (generally refers to the government's Treasury Bills) Bond--Long-term, interest-paying debt obligation issued by governments and corporations and government-related entities. Secured bonds are backed by collateral, such as real estate, machinery, etc. Debentures are unsecured bonds, backed solely by the integrity of the issuer. Capital Appreciation (or loss)--An increase (or decrease) in the price of securities you own. For example, you bought 5 shares of company Y for $5/ share, or $25. Now they are $15/share, or $75, so your capital appreciation is $50. Capital Gain (or loss)--The profit or loss you incur when you sell securities. $ Change to Date--How much your shares in the game are up or down in dollar terms since you bought them. % Change to Date--How much your shares in the game are up or down in percentage terms since you bought them. Compound Interest--Interest earned on the prinicipal plus interest that is reinvested. Commercial Paper--Short-term debt obligations maturing in 2 to 270 days, issued by banks and corporations. Combined Weighted Expected Return--The sum of the average annual return of each asset in the portfolio multiplied by its weighting in the portfolio. For example, an investor who had $2 invested in bonds yielding 7 percent, $3 invested in a growth fund which experienced a gain of 10 percent a year and $1 invested in a money market fund yielding 4 percent a year could expect a combined weighted expected return of 8 percent a year. Company Name--Public name for company. Convertible Bond--Under certain conditions, it may be exchanged for other securities of the issuing organization, usually stock. Corporate Bonds--Bonds issued by corporations as opposed to governments. Corporate bonds are generally traded on major exchanges, have a face/par value of $1,000, and mature in a set period of time. Interest earned is fully taxable. Current Price--Current price in the game reflects at least a 15 minute delay from real time quotes. Defined Benefit Plan (aka Pension)--Retirement plan which defines the specific benefit (pension) an employee receives at retirement, based on salary history and years of service. Debenture--a bond which is not backed or secured by collateral. Defined Contribution Plan--A plan that defines the contribution made each year (usually a percentage of pay) to an employee's retirement plan. Diversification--Spreading investment dollars among different kinds of securities, asset classes and time horizons to balance ones portfolio and reduce risk. Dividend--A distribution of the earnings of a corporation. Dividends are usually paid in cash or additional shares of stock. Dividend Reinvestment Plan--An investment plan allowing shareholders to automatically reinvest cash dividends and capital gain distributions into more shares of the security rather than receiving a check. Dollar Cost Averaging--A technique for reducing risk in an investment portfolio. The investor buys a fixed dollar amount of securities at regular time intervals so that she can buy more shares when the price is low and fewer shares when the price is high, resulting in an average cost between high and low. Dow Jones Industrial Average--An index of 30 large industrial stocks. Though often cited by analysts and the media, this index is far less representative of the market as a whole than the broader indices, such as the S&P 500 and the Wilshire 5000. Earnings--The profits a company makes after all expenses are paid. Earnings per share is the net income of a company divided by the number of outstanding shares of stock. Emerging Market Stocks--Stocks issued by companies in developing countries, such as Chile, Thailand and Mexico. Expense Ratio--A measure of a mutual fund's operating expenses including management fees, expressed as a percentage of average net assets. The higher the ratio, the higher the operating expenses and therefore, the lower the fund's return to the investor. Fannie Mae (FNMA)--Federal National Mortgage Association, a public company whose debt is implicitly backed by the U.S. government. Fannie Mae sells bonds which are secured by home mortgages. They are quite safe bonds. Fixed Income--Another term for "bonds," which generally pay a fixed amount of interest on the principal invested. Front-End Load--Some mutual fund companies charge a sales commission to buy shares. Ginnie Mae (GNMA)--A government agency which guarantees payment of mortgage-backed securities representing a pooling of residential mortgages. Guaranteed Income Contract--An insurance industry investment that pays a fixed rate of interest. GICs are generally considered low-risk investments but long-term bonds, stocks and other investments generally have a greater return. High Risk--Compared to other assets over a specific time frame, the risk of losing the money you invested is relatively high (but implicitly acceptable) given the return. House Call--The amount of money an investor needs to deposit to their brokerage account to meet the broker's minimum maintenance level in a margin account. Inflation--A rise in prices that results in decreased purchasing power. For example, $1.00 buys less today than it did a decade ago because of inflation. Inflation Rate--The rate at which prices are rising. The higher the rate, the faster the value of your money erodes. Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA)--An account that allows you to invest money tax deferred until retirement. Interest--Money a borrower pays to a lender. When you get interest on a bond, for example, you are lending money to a company at a fixed rate of interest. Intermediate-Term--Generally viewed as 2-5 years and refers to the length of time until maturity of an investment (e.g., bond). International Bonds--Bonds issued by foreign companies and governments. These investments are similiar to U.S. government bonds and corporate bonds except an additional risk factor is that fluctuations in foreign exchange rates can help or hurt your total return in dollars. Another difference is that accounting standards abroad are different and often less strict than in the U.S. International Stocks--Stocks issued by companies in foreign, usually industrialized, countries, such as France and Japan. Junk Bonds--Bonds issued by companies with poor credit histories or limited track records of sales and growth. These bonds are rated below investment grade by bond rating companies. Junk bonds are considered risky. Keogh Plans--A retirement (pension) plan for self-employed people that allows taxes to be defered. Large-Cap Stocks--Stock issued by large companies, such as those that make up the Standard & Poor's 500 Index of stocks. These companies usually have market capitalizations of $2 billion or more. Liabilities--Money you owe (usually due to an obligation that has already occurred). Liquidity--The ability to convert assets quickly into cash. Load--A sales charge when you buy or sell some load mutual funds. Long--Investing long means buying and owning a security. Long-term--5 years or more (Generally refers to the length of time until the maturity of an investment such as a bond). Low Risk--Compared to other assets over a specific time frame, the risk of losing the money you invested is relatively low but implicitly acceptable given the return. Margin--Using eligible securities to back a margin loan through a broker-dealer. Medium-Cap Stocks--Stock issued by medium-sized companies, such as those that comprise the Standard & Poor's Midcap Index of stock. Mid-cap companies generally have market capitalizations between $1-2 billion. Medium-Term--Generally viewed as 2-5 years and refers to the length of time until maturity of an investment (e.g., bond). Money Market Fund--A mutual fund that invests in short-term securities, such as CDs and commercial paper. Money market funds are generally considered lower risk, interest-earning investments. Some money market funds are FDIC insured. Municipal Bond--Debt issued by states and local governments; public purpose bonds are exempt from federal taxes. There are several kinds of bonds, such as General Obligation (repaid from the issuer's general revenue, and backed by the full faith and credit of issuer) and Revenue (repaid from and backed by the revenue from a specific project, such as sewer systems). Mutual Fund--An investment company pools small amounts of money from many people and invests it in bonds, stocks, and other assets. These funds are run by investment professionals who seek to research the best investments available and diversify the investor's assets across those investments. NAV (Net Asset Value)--Market value of a single mutual fund share. For a no-load fund, this is also the offering price. No-load Fund--A mutual fund that has no sales commission when buying or selling shares. Note--Intermediate-term debt obligations maturing in 1 to 10 years. Odd Lot--Less than the normal unit of trading, which generally means less than 100 shares of stock. Pending Orders--Orders that have not yet been executed in our stock market game, which include both buy and sell orders. Pension--A retirement plan which defines the specific benefit (pension) an employee receives at retirement, based on salary history and years of service. Penny Stocks--Stock typically selling for less than $1.00 per share. Portfolio--All securities, cash and real estate owned by a person. Preferred Stock--Preferred Stock has a fixed dividend, has preference over common stock when paying dividends and liquidating assets, and generally carries no voting rights. Principal Risk--The risk of losing the money you invested due to default, bankruptcy or some other calamity that the company or government experienced which prevents them from paying you back. Prospectus--Legal document describing the objective, terms, risks, and expenses of investing in a registered security. Mutual funds may be sold only by prospectus. Purchase Price--The price you bought the securities at in our stock market game. Quantity--The number of shares you purchased in our stock market game. Real Return--The return on your money after inflation is taken into account. Inflation normally lowers nominal, or unadjusted returns. Repurchase Agreement (Repo)--A contract in which the seller of securities agrees to buy them back at a specified time at a predetermined price. Repos may be contracted for as short a period as overnight. Return on Equity--How much investors make on a stock and a good yardstick to measure how profitable companies are. For example, if investors ponied up $100 for the initial public offering of a stock and the company earned $5 in net earnings and dividends in the first year, then investors enjoyed a 5 percent return on equity. Risk--There are many types of risks in investing. For example, principal risk is the risk you take that you might lose your initial investment. Investment risk, also known as volatility, is the price swings that your investments experience during the period when you own them. Market risk is the inherent risk of just putting money into the market and cannot be diversified away. Interest rate risk is the risk that your investment will change in value with the fluctuation of interest rates. Round Lot--Exactly 100 shares of stock. Ten round lots equal 1000 shares. Rule 12b-1 fee--One type of ongoing fee that is taken out of mutual fund assets has come to be known as the rule 12b-1 fee. It most often is used to pay commissions to brokers and other salespersons, and occasionally to pay for advertising and other costs of promoting the fund to investors. It usually is between 0.25% and 1.00% of assets annually. Share averaging--A risk reduction technique for investing in equities. Shares are accumulated over a period of time by buying a set number of shares at fixed intervals of time regardless of price. Shares--The legal ownership document of a company. People who own shares, own a share, or percentage, of a given company. Shares are the same thing as stock, or equity. Short Cover--Buying back stock originally borrowed from the broker in a short sell transaction, in order to return it to the broker. Short Position--A stock that has been borrowed from the broker. The value of short positions is simply the sum of each short position multiplied by the current price. Short Sell--Selling stock borrowed from a broker. Short-term--Six months to two years. Simplified Employee Pension (SEP)--A retirement plan for self-employed people or owners of small companies which allows them to defer taxes on investments intended for retirement. Small-cap stocks--Stocks of small companies and that have a market capitalization of $1 billion or less. S&P 500 Stocks--A stock market index comprised of the top 500 large-cap stocks. Stock--Equity or ownership in a publicly traded corporation. Common stocks are the voting shares of a corporation; dividend payments vary. Preferred stocks pay dividends at a specified rate, and take precedence over common stocks in dividend payments. Stock Split--An increase or decrease in the total number of a company's shares you own. For example, a two-for-one stock split will double the number of shares in your portfolio. Symbol--A one to five letter code for the name of a stock or mutual fund. MSFT, for example, is the symbol for Microsoft Corp. You need to know a company symbol in order to get its price and also to place an order. Taxable Equivalent Yield--The return a taxable investment must earn to provide the same after-tax return as a tax-free investment. Tax-Exempt--A category of investments that refers to tax-exempt securities, such as Federal, state and local bonds. The IRS and state taxing authorities usually don't tax interest earned on these investments. Ticker Symbol--A one to five letter code for the name of a stock or mutual fund. MSFT, for example, is the symbol for Microsoft Corp. You need to know a company symbol in order to get its price and also to place an order. Time Horizon--How long you wait until you sell or need to sell your investment(s). Total Return--The change in price of your investment plus any interest or dividends earned. Trade Date--The day on which you purchased shares in our stock market game. Turnover--Rate at which a portfolio (e.g., a mutual fund) trades its holdings. U.S. Agency--A government-related organization like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that issues securities such as bonds. U.S. Treasury Bills--Short-term debt issued by the U.S. Treasury. T-Bills are considered a very safe investment since they are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Value--The current worth of your securities. Volatility--How rapidly the price of a security rises or falls within a short period of time. A relative measure of an equity fund's volatility is called its beta coefficient: For example, if the S&P 500 Index of stocks is set at 1, a stock or mutual fund with a beta of 1.3 means that it is 30 percent more volatile than the S&P 500 Index. Yield--Income from interest or dividends received from a bond or stock. For instance, if a share's price is $1 and the company pays a dividend of $0.05 a year, its dividend yield is 5%.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line488
__label__cc	0.665949	0.334051	Cramer’s Favorite Tech Picks: Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO), Intel Corporation (INTC), Skyworks Solutions Inc (SWKS) Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO), Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), Skyworks Solutions Inc (NASDAQ:SWKS) are the top three technology stock picks of Jim Cramer. Cramer has discussed all three of these technology stocks at least twice in the past 30 days. Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the top tech stock choice of Cramer and he said, “Cisco (CSCO) just reported a widely panned quarter when it shouldn’t have been panned at all. The quarter was a testament to how well Cisco can do in a tough environment. Great gross margins. Terrific execution. Can you imagine what this horse can do when things get better? Cisco has vanquished the competition. It’s pretty much game over for everyone else. I like that.” He further added that Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is likely to be the surprise technology winner entering 2015 on positive notes. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) has made some key alliances in this fiscal year and it is among the favorite tech stocks of Jim Cramer. Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) was in Jim Cramer’s top stock picks and Cramer mentioned it as an excellent chip stock to bet on. While talking about cyclical stocks at Mad Money, he included Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) among tech stocks that are in “early stages of moving higher.” The shares of the chipmaker are trading at $37.67 with current P/E ratio of 17.98. Cramer was bullish on Skyworks Solutions Inc (NASDAQ:SWKS) and while talking about technology stocks with better yield, Cramer said, “I want to see you in Skyworks Solutions Inc (NASDAQ:SWKS)…” In addition to it, Cramer mentioned Skyworks Solutions among the technology stocks where current money managers should put money in. The shares of Skyworks Solutions Inc (NASDAQ:SWKS) are trading at $70.36 with year-to-date share price growth of 146%. It shares are trading with current P/E ratio of 29.60. Cramer’s Favorite Tech Picks: Facebook Inc (FB), Google Inc (GOOGL), Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO) The 8 Best Halloween Decorating Ideas to Spook Up Your House 10 Marvel Women that Should Get a Movie Right Now Tags Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO), Intel Corporation (INTC), Skyworks Solutions Inc (SWKS) Intel Corporation (INTC) Boosts ‘Internet of Things’ Business, Acquires Lantiq Cramer’s Favorite Tech Picks: Flextronics International Ltd. (FLEX), Intel Corporation (INTC), Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Intel Corporation (INTC) Shares Slide on Weak First Quarter Outlook	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line489
__label__cc	0.701777	0.298223	Study Online - Online Universities - Saint Leo University Online Saint Leo University Online City: Saint Leo Street: 33701 State Road 52 ZIP: 33574-6665 The MBA with a concentration in Marketing is designed to provide an understanding of business fundamentals as well as a complete set of marketing concepts and theories used in business. It combines a rich mix of traditional coursework with the most current information and best practices in marketing. The curriculum is designed to support students who are either working or would like to pursue careers in marketing-related fields such as sales, promotions, brand management, marketing research, and e-marketing. Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts Bachelor of Arts in Accounting Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management Graduate Certificate in Accounting Graduate Certificate in Health Care Management Graduate Certificate in Information Security Management Graduate Certificate in Marketing Master of Business Administration in Accounting Master of Business Administration in Health Care Management Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Master of Business Administration in Information Security Management Master of Business Administration in Sport Management Master of Science in Criminal Incident Management Master of Science in Criminal Justice Master of Science in Criminal Justice/Forensics Masters Degree in Social Work	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line491
__label__cc	0.538557	0.461443	Larry Hodges' Blog and Tip of the Week will go up on Mondays by noon USA Eastern time. Larry is a member of the U.S. Table Tennis Hall of Fame, a USATT Certified National Coach, a professional coach at the Maryland Table Tennis Center (USA), and author of eight books and over 1500 articles on table tennis. Here is his bio. (Larry was awarded the USATT Lifetime Achievement Award in July, 2018.) NOTE - Larry is on the USATT Board of Directors and chairs the USATT Coaching Committee, but the views he shares in his blog are his own, and do not necessarily represent the views of USA Table Tennis. Make sure to order your copy of Larry's best-selling book, Table Tennis Tactics for Thinkers! Finally, a tactics book on this most tactical of sports!!! Also out - Table Tennis Tips and More Table Tennis Tips, which cover, in logical progression, his Tips of the Week from 2011-2013 and 2014-2016, with 150 Tips in each! Or, for a combination of Tales of our sport and Technique articles, try Table Tennis Tales & Techniques. If you are in the mood for inspirational fiction, The Spirit of Pong is also out - a fantasy story about an American who goes to China to learn the secrets of table tennis, trains with the spirits of past champions, and faces betrayal and great peril as he battles for glory but faces utter defeat. Read the First Two Chapters for free! Wed, 03/30/2011 - 13:01 — Larry Hodges Seemiller vs. Malek 1979 Here's a Blast from the Past - the final of the 1979 USA Men's Singles Championships in Las Vegas, where Attila Malek upset Dan Seemiller. It's hard to believe it's been 32 years since this great match. The tape is 22:40 long. You can see how the game has changed, due to new techniques but even more so due to better technology. The sponge surfaces they use are far less bouncy than modern sponges; if a top player were given one of their rackets to hit with, they'd probably hit one ball and say, "What is this stuff?" The biggest difference in play back then is probably backhand play. Note that both play their backhands pretty much flat in rallies. (Seemiller, of course, uses the "Seemiller" grip that's named after him, and so mostly jab-blocks the backhand.) Malek had a backhand loop, but seems to use it mostly against backspin. Part of this is because of the sponge they are using, and part of it is because the backhand loop simply wasn't considered as big a weapon in those days, and players weren't trained to use it in rallies as often, though that was changing rapidly in Europe. They also have less power on forehand loops, though much of this is because of the slower sponges. Both loop from close to the table to make up for this, so opponents have little time to react. My favorite quote: "Dan Seemiller not only looks like Jimmy Connors, he sounds like him." Both players are in great shape - players in those days did just as much physical training as modern players, though modern players know how to train better for table tennis, especially with weight training. Dan mentions he trains twice a day for about two hours. Malek says he should practice eight hours a day, as he did in Hungary, but now "only" trains four hours a day. Seemiller, who would win five USA Men's Singles titles and be the longtime USA Men's Coach, is now a full-time coach at the South Bend Table Tennis Club in Indiana. Malek, now a member of the board of directors for USA Table Tennis, is a full-time coach at the Power Pong Table Tennis Club in Huntington Beach, CA. I recognize a few people in the often blurry background, such as Danny's brothers Ricky and Randy Seemiller (and I think father Ray Seemiller is sitting next to them), Perry Schwartzberg, D-J Lee, Eric Boggan and Brian Masters (both age 16), and that's Marty Reisman wearing the slanted hat and white (or is it pinkish?) shirt. The two Chinese ballgirls I believe are Diana and Lisa Gee, both about 9 years old and future USA Team members. Anyone recognize others, or know who the commentators are? NA Championships I'm off tomorrow to the North American Table Tennis Championships in Mississauga, Canada, near Toronto. Keith Evans is the USA Cadet Boys' Coach, but I'll be working with Tong Tong Gong, one of the members of the USA Cadet Boys' Team. Because I'm not the team coach, Keith will be coaching him and the other team members in the big team match against Canada (winner goes to the World Junior Championships) and in some singles matches, but at the least I'll be able to talk tactics with them between matches, and perhaps coach some of the singles matches. (Keith cannot coach against another USA player, so in singles I'll be coaching Tong Tong in those matches, unless he's playing another player from our club, MDTTC.) It is a protocol thing as I have to be clear that Keith IS the USA coach; I'm only helping out since I've worked with Tong Tong for quite some time. I know what it's like from the other perspective, to be the team coach and have other coaches come in wanting to coach specific players - I was the USA junior or cadet coach a number of times in the past, especially in the 1990s - so I have to be careful not to overstep my bounds. Words quoted incorrectly In a comment on my blog on Monday I wrote, "If you leave your long pips in the heat or play outdoors in the heat, and that changes it into frictionless long pips, then you have treated it with heat, thereby making it illegal." Note the three references to heat that I bolded, and where I specifically said it was the heat that was a treatment? Over in another forum, Olivier Mader wrote, "Sure, there are people like Larry Hodges who think that playing outdoors is treating but I believe that he would be in the minority with that view." Maybe I'm living in the clouds, but I just don't get people who will misquote someone like that. When you have to change someone's words to make a point, you've lost the argument while saying a lot about yourself. If I were to say, "It's dangerous to go outside in freezing cold unless adequately dressed," would it be honest for someone to claim I said, "Larry Hodges says it's dangerous to go outside"? Of course not. It's lying by omission. Another person wrote that I had said I was "skeptical of the pure long-pips blocking style." Actually, I wrote I was "somewhat skeptical of the long-pips blocking style." He took off the "somewhat" to (falsely) make a stronger point, and so instead of quoting me accurately, he only quoted me "somewhat" accurately. The fascinating thing is these people actually read my blog, and only saw the negative they wanted to see. When I invited them to make the case why I shouldn't be somewhat skeptical of that style, i.e. do something positive, where were they? (And watch how fast my words will now be misquoted or taken out of context! Some people simply cannot exist without enemies, real or imagined.) Send us your own coaching news! Larry Hodges's blog Tue, 03/29/2011 - 12:44 — Larry Hodges Breaking 2500 Revisited Sometimes when looking for historical records, such as the youngest players to break 2500, you look so hard to the past you forget about the present. And yesterday, while compiling this list, I left out an obvious one - Michael Landers. He was born in August, 1994, and broke 2523 in at the Nationals in December, 2009, at age 15 years 4 months. This makes him the third youngest to do so, after Lily Zhang's 14 years 9 months and Adam Hugh's 14 years 11 months, and just beating out Han Xiao's 15 years 5 months and Keith Alban's 15 years 7 months. An interesting question came up - who reached 2500 the fastest? That's tough to judge since we don't know when most of these top juniors started, only when they played their first tournament. But Landers might be in the running for fastest. Landers played his first tournament in December of 1994 (age 10), starting with a rating of 1056, and broke 2500 exactly five years later with a rating of 2523, undoubtedly one of the fastest to achieve this. I'm a little proud; Michael came to a number of the five-day camps I run at MDTTC with Cheng Yinghua and Jack Huang. I don't have complete records with me, but he came to our camps in July 2005 (age 10, rated 1256); August 2006 (11, 1777), and December 2006 (12, 2020). I believe he came to a couple of other camps, but I don't have a listing handy for all of them. (I may run over to the club later to look those ones up.) Of course, the main credit goes to Michael, his parents, and his coach, Ernest Ebuen, but can't we grab a scrap of the credit, maybe one big toe's worth? MDTTC was a bit more instrumental in the development of such local juniors on the "2500 club" as Han Xiao (15 years 5 months), Peter Li (16 years 11 months), Marcus Jackson (17 years 2 months), Sunny Li (17 years 4 months), Amaresh Sahu (17 years 6 months), and a whole new group of cadets currently in the 2250 range. U.S. Junior Champion and Men's Singles Finalist Peter Li might be of interest. He was born in January, 1993, and reached 2552 at the Nationals in December, 2009 (the same tournament Landers went over 2500) at age 16 years 11 months. Exactly one year later, at the 2010 Nationals, he broke 2600 with a rating of 2642 at age 17 years 11 months. (But there might have been a few others who broke 2600 at age 16 or 17; I'll let others work that out.) Yesterday I wrote that Mark Hazinski was the youngest to reach 2550, 2600, and 2650 at 15 years 10 months. But only one month behind was Adam Hugh, who reached 2611 at age 15 years 11 months. There was also a typo in the blog - it read, "Adam Hugh reached 2410 on Dec. 8, 2002. He was born on Jan. 5, 1988. So he was 14 years 11 months old when he broke 2500." The 2410 should have been 2510. My apologies to long pips blockers for this parody - but this video (48 sec) is hilarious! Yes, that's Professor Larry Bavly, mathematician, high-ranked table tennis player in the "heavy division," . . . and insurance agent? I'm wondering if a certain online community dedicated to the proposition that all racket surfaces are equal (but some are more equal than others?) will go bananas over this. I have no idea what to make of this video (3:46), but it's Brian Pace at his most hilarious. Here's Brian again, but this time more serious as he relates in this rather long video (13:36) the relationship between training and peak performance and improvement. Brian's got a lot of other great table tennis videos on his website, Dynamic Table Tennis. If you want to see high-level table tennis demonstrated, go have a look. (Some you have to pay for - table tennis players have to make a living - but much of it is free.) Mon, 03/28/2011 - 12:53 — Larry Hodges It's springtime, birds are singing, children are playing, the grass is growing . . . so why is it frickin' 27 degrees outside? Good thing table tennis is an indoor sport. Injury roll call After I won hardbat singles at the Cary Cup, I was hobbling about with various injuries in both knees, right leg, right shoulder, and upper back. Now, ten days later, four out of five of these problems have mostly gone away. The remaining nefarious injury that won't go away? My upper back is still a mess. I had to stop early on Friday at the club, where I was a practice partner for our elite junior program. On Saturday and Sunday, I coached and practiced with the juniors, but only with the beginning ones - I could barely move and so couldn't really play high level with the advanced ones. I'm off for a few days, then I coach Thur-Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon, so I better get better quick. Maybe I should lunch on Advil. Youngest players to break 2500 At the ICC California State Open on March 19-20, 14-year-old Lily Zhang became the youngest player in U.S. history to break 2500, with a new rating of 2523. When the new rating came out, most of us were pretty sure that she was the only 14-year-old ever to break 2500. Was she? Immediately my detective instincts went to work. One thing to take into consideration is that the ratings have inflated. For example, when Eric Boggan won the USA Nationals in 1978 at age 15, he came out with a rating of just 2448, which made him #2 in the U.S. after Dan Seemiller (2601), with Rick Seemiller (2447) the only other player over 2400. For perspective, in the current USATT Magazine, the #50 player in the Men's rankings is 2462. While techniques, training, and equipment have advanced, that's independent of actual ratings - if these were still at exactly the same level as in 1978, the ratings would still have inflated the same way. (Think of it this way: even if you have better techniques and equipment, so does your opponent.) So there would be very few players who might have broken 2500 at age 14 until recent years. This is a good thing since it's painstaking to look up old ratings in crumbling magazines from long ago - you have to look in all of them to find the highest ratings. But all the ratings are online since 1994, so it's a lot easier now. Who were the "obvious" candidates as possible 2500 players at age 14? Historically, the best juniors have matched their age, i.e. broke 2000 at age 10, 2100 at 11, 2200 at 12, 2300 at 13, and 2400 at 14, and 2500 at age 15. Han Xiao was the first to break 2400 at age 13. I checked on him and a few other obvious ones to see when they broke 2500. Players like Eric Boggan and Rutledge Barry were challenging and beating many of the best U.S. players by age 14 but neither came close to 2500, or even 2400 at 14. Sean O'Neill reached 2500 at age 15 in 1982 - he matched his age every year from age 11 to 15. From way back then, I don't think anyone else really came close to breaking 2500 at age 14. At first I didn't think since had broken 2500 as a 14-year-old other than Lily. And then I hit paydirt. Adam Hugh reached 2510 on Dec. 8, 2002. He was born on Jan. 5, 1988. So he was 14 years 11 months old when he broke 2500. So Lily is not alone. However, Lily was born in June, 1996, and so was 14 years 9 months old when she broke 2500. So I believe she is the youngest ever to break 2500. And it's also interesting that the youngest to break 2500 is a girl. Go girls' lib! Others who reached 2500 at a young age since 1994: Han Xiao was born on Dec. 19, 1986, and reached 2501 in May of 2002. So he was 15 years 5 months at the time. Keith Alban was born in Dec. 1983, and reached 2537 in July, 1999, at age 15 years 7 months. Mark Hazinski was born on April 20, 1985, and broke 2500 in February, 2001. (He actually went straight from 2412 to 2652.) So he was 15 years 10 months old at the time. He's the youngest to reach 2550, 2600, and 2650, so Lily now has another target! Justen Yao was born on Jan. 29, 1993, and reached 2536 in Nov. 2008. So he was 15 years 10 months when he reached 2500. Jeff Huang was born in Oct., 1991, and reached 2585 in April, 2008. So he was 16 years 6 months when he reached 2500. Sunny Li was born in July, 1982, and reached 2536 in Nov., 1999, at age 17 years 4 months Another interesting one - Judy Hugh, Adam's sister, reached 2418 at age 14. Did I miss anyone? I'm debating whether to go through old magazines to find the actual ages for those who reached 2500 at a young age, such as Eric Boggan, Sean O'Neill, Scott & Jim Butler, Dhiren Narotam, and Chi-Sun Chui. Fri, 03/25/2011 - 13:27 — Larry Hodges ITTF Seminar in Maryland We're up to ten confirmed participants (and a number of maybes) in the ITTF Coaching Seminar to be held at the Maryland Table Tennis Center, April 16-17 and 23-24, with a Paralympics session on April 30. (Schedule each day is 9AM-Noon, 1-4PM.) Here is the info flyer, and here is the USATT news item. If you are a player interested in becoming an ITTF coach, or learning how to coach, come join us! There's already a wide range of coaches, including several USATT Regional and State Coaches, and others who are not yet certified. I'm hoping to get 14-16 participants. If interested, please email me. Straighten the belt, and the rest falls into place. I bet you have no idea what this headline means or how it pertains to table tennis. Imagine when playing that your body is a belt. If your feet are in the wrong position, or if your grip is off, then it affects everything in between. If your foot positioning and grip are both correct, then like a belt that's been straightened, everything in between falls into place. Isn't that a great analogy? (Let me know if you have a better example than a belt.) As a coach, I've noticed that the majority of technique problems do come from improper foot positioning or grip problems, although players (and some coaches) often treat the symptoms instead of the root cause. When you fix the root cause - often the two ends, i.e. the foot position and grip - the rest often falls into place. Not always - longtime problems with foot positioning and grip can create bad habits, and they can be hard to break. But getting the two ends right is a great step in that direction, and one of the top priorities with new players so they develop good technique from the start. Long Pips and Color Rule Revisited It was interesting yesterday seeing some of the online comments in other forums about my blog on frictionless pips. There were quite a few that attacked me for stuff I didn't write, especially in one particular forum. I wrote a lot of words - 1270 of them - so you'd think people who disagree with what I wrote would argue against the words I wrote, but instead some changed them, and then attacked me for words I didn't write. It's not worth responding to their posts directly since if a person is going to attack me for things I didn't write, they'll attack any response I make in the same way, and it's all very time consuming and tends to get nasty. I'm going to go over a few of the postings, and then at the end I have a question for you. (See the bolded part at the end.) One wrote that because I was for the color rule back in 1983, I thought Dan Seemiller and Eric Boggan "sucked" - despite the fact that Seemiller was ranked in the top 50 in the world with the two-color rule and was U.S. Men's Champion the very first year they had the rule, and that Eric actually went up in the rankings to his highest world ranking ever (17th) after going to two colors. (His overall ranking went down some over the next few years, but he stayed in the top 40 or so.) It's easy to attack without getting the facts first. If they read the blog, then they could have simply posted the question, "Larry, if you were against the color rule, did you think Dan Seemiller and Eric Boggan sucked?" and I would have emphatically said no. They are arguably the two greatest U.S. players in the sponge era, i.e. the last 50-60 years. I was accused of thinking that Peter Chen "sucked" just because I'm "somewhat skeptical" of the long-pips blocking style. Players like Chen and Olivier Mader, who play with the long-pips blocking style but with little attack, are very good players - it takes practice and skill to reach their levels - just not athletic ones, as most would probably agree. But that distinction that I wrote about was lost on those who read the blog with an agenda. If someone disagrees with what I wrote about athleticism, fine, but not one person actually made an argument against it. "Somewhat skeptical" does not mean I think those with the long-pips blocking style "sucks." To paraphrase a famous movie quote, I don't think those words mean what they think they mean. (They actually imply that I'm not sure and am open to persuasion - see my question about this at the end.) Another wrote, "I guess he knows more than Waldner, who thinks FLPs is harmless and shouldn't be banned." And yet nowhere in the blog did I write that frictionless long pips (FLP's) should be banned, only that they were illegal, which is a fact. I really have no firm opinion on them other than that they shouldn't be used if they are illegal, and can only shake my head at someone claiming I wrote something that I absolutely did not write. Plus, of course, it's a silly bait and switch to say I think I know more than Waldner, and then bring up a value judgment that has little to do with actually knowing more than Waldner. (On a related note, does this mean that anyone who disagrees with Waldner on a table tennis subject thinks they know more than Waldner? Waldner also said that he was naturally talented from an early age. Does this mean that those who do not believe in talent are wrong because Waldner disagrees, and they should be refuted sarcastically by saying, "I guess he knows more than Waldner"?) It was posted that "S-Jan" (an infamous Internet table tennis troll from the past) was "right about me," but it never specified what he was right about. Considering "S-Jan" made zillions of made-up accusations against numerous people during his trolling years in the '90s, it's a rather vague accusation to make. Plus, as I said in the second sentence of the blog, my thinking on long pips has evolved over the years, and so what he wrote in the '90s is somewhat meaningless to the discussion. And just for the record, that wasn't me in the background in the video of Olivier Mader vs. John Wetzler saying something like, "Olivier's forehand is zero to negative rating and backhand of 1200 with double inverted rubbers." (According to Mader's posting, it was Cory Eider, though I don't really know - but it wasn't me. I was busy watching the player I was coaching, and barely noticed the other match or the discussion going on about Mader.) On the subject of long pips, one person write, "In order for you to know if a rubber performs completely different from new can only be made if you actually have a new sheet to compare it with." That's simply not true. If a sheet of long pips is frictionless, and you know that it was not frictionless when new due to ITTF regulations, then you know it performs differently than a new sheet. I could mention other postings, but it's not worth it. Not one person actually refuted the facts and rules I presented about frictionless long pips being a judgment call by the referee. Some really believe that an experienced referee, coach, or player can't tell whether it's frictionless, which of course they can - though, as I noted in my blog, you can only tell if it's not borderline. It's a judgment call, like many other calls a referee has to make. It's the price of public blogging; there will always be people with an agenda twisting your words. Now here's a serious question. Yesterday I wrote, "I'm somewhat skeptical of the pure long-pips blocking style, especially when a player basically covers the entire table by just reaching out and blocking everything back dead with long pips without sponge. In my opinion, it simply isn't very athletic, and table tennis is a sport." As I wrote, I'm somewhat skeptical about this style because of its lack of athleticism, and from the very strong returns that can be made by passive blocking. Keeping in mind that I also wrote, "But it's legal, and as players and coaches, it's our job to figure out how to play against any legal surface," make your (civil) case as to why I shouldn't be "somewhat skeptical." You have the soapbox, if you so choose. Thu, 03/24/2011 - 13:29 — Larry Hodges Frictionless Long pips As a coach, I've spent a lot of time over the years thinking about long pips, both how to play against and with them, and about whether they should be legal. My thinking on this has evolved over the years. I admit I'm somewhat skeptical of the pure long-pips blocking style, especially when a player basically covers the entire table by just reaching out and blocking everything back dead with long pips without sponge. In my opinion, it simply isn't very athletic, and table tennis is a sport. But it's legal, and as players and coaches, it's our job to figure out how to play against any legal surface. Besides, if you were to ban long pips, you'd essentially lose the chopping style, which is truly athletic and great for spectators. Plus not all long-pips blockers just stand there and block - some play an athletic forehand game, with the long pips often more a weakness than a strength. Recently there's been a lot of debate about frictionless long pips. The ITTF made a regulation a while back that they are illegal. (Technically, no surface is frictionless, but they are defining frictionless to be under a certain amount of friction.) Some have taken legal long pips and baked them in the sun or treated them in some other way to make them frictionless, and argue that that's okay. It's not. If a referee judges that the long pips are frictionless, then he knows that they have been treated in some way to make them frictionless. USATT rule 2.4.7 states, "The racket covering shall be used without any physical, chemical or other treatment." So when a player does something (such as letting them bake in the heat) to make his long pips (or antispin) frictionless, or does something similar to an inverted or any other covering, he is cheating. Some might argue that since others cheat, it's okay for them to cheat. Sorry, two wrongs do not make a right. Only a small percentage of players cheat, and those who choose to do so are cheaters - and most of the time they are cheating against an opponent who is playing by the rules, unlike the cheater. How can a cheater justify that? (A separate argument could be made for cheating in a match if the opponent cheats, such as using illegal serves if the opponent serves illegally and the umpire won't call it, but that's a separate discussion.) At the Cary Cup this past weekend, at least one high-rated player was using frictionless long pips. You could tell by the near complete spin continuation when he pushed against backspin, returning the spin nearly 100% as topspin, and the nearly 100% return of topspin as backspin when blocking. (Of course, there could be borderline rubbers where it's not clear, but it was pretty clear in this case.) A referee (or player or coach) experienced with frictionless long pips can rub a ball across the pips and tell if they are frictionless - it's a judgment call. And by definition, a referee can make this judgment call. Of course, not all referees will have enough experience with frictionless long pips to make the call. I don't know if the Cary referee could have - I wish I had asked him about it. The USATT Tournament Guide specifically states that the referee "Is the final authority on interpretation of the rules and regulations as they apply to the tournament." Note the reference to regulations, which would include the ITTF regulation on frictionless long pips. The Tournament Guide also says, "In making decisions that are not fully covered by the rules, the referee should consider in turn: ITTF and USATT rulings, precedent, and the rule's intent." And it's pretty clear that the intent of the frictionless long pips regulation was to ban frictionless long pips. However, as far as I know, nobody complained to the referee at the Cary Cup, and so no official judgment call was made. I considered complaining to the referee, but didn't want to disrupt the play of the top cadet player I was coaching. If it had been for a bigger match, say for a national title or a team match against another country, I might have reconsidered. Suffice to say I was confident the cadet could win the match, and he did so somewhat easily by playing very smart. One defense used by players with frictionless long pips is that they are innocent until proven guilty. Sorry, that's not true; this is not a court of law. If you are using frictionless pips, you are guilty, period. You just haven't been caught yet. Those of us who can recognize frictionless long pips know these players are cheating, just as some of us can normally tell when an inverted player uses illegal speed glue by the sound. (Many modern sponges have the speed glue effect built in, so speed gluing has little advantage now - but those who do so are cheating just as much as those who use chemicals to increase the surface friction of inverted, use frictionless long pips, or who knowingly serve illegally, etc. But that too is a subject for another discussion.) Now a little history - if that bores you, slowly back away from your computer screen. I'm sure there's a football game on TV. The color rule was passed in 1983, requiring different colors on the racket so players could see which side of the racket the ball was hit. I was one of the instigators for that - like most others, I thought it blatantly wrong that a player could use two very different surfaces that looked the same, but get two very different shots with the same stroke. For several years it led to very poor rallies as the game became a game of almost pure deception, with players making seemingly simple mistakes over and over, and twiddling the racket became the pre-eminent skill. It wasn't just choppers that caused anarchy with this; most attackers found that to survive in the suddenly ultra-deceptive table tennis universe, they had to use some a combination racket as well, and huge numbers went to long pips or anti on the backhand, which they used to set up their forehands. They could do any "spin" serve, and the opponent had to figure out whether it was spinny side (inverted) or dead side (long pips or anti). Similarly, they could flip the racket in rallies, and opponents would make error after error. I did a survey back then and found that over 70% of the players in the 100+ entry monthly tournaments I was running had gone to combination rackets, with over half using long pips or antispin. Think about that! Many of the other 30% were considering it, and nearly all were frustrated at what was happening to the sport - including most of the new combination racket users. Here's a poem I wrote that was published in USATT's magazine that year, before the color rule was passed: Little Jack Ding Dong, Was rotten at ping-pong, And he could not figure why; So he bought some weird rubber, And beat a top player, And said, "What a good player am I!" And then the color rule was passed, and life was good again. I vowed I would never complain about an opponent's legal racket surface again. I'm advanced enough that if I can't beat someone when I know what side they are hitting with, then it's my own fault. I've stuck to that, and expect my students to do so as well. Fifth-Ball Attack On the forum today, someone posted questions about the fifth-ball attack, and why players tend to miss the fifth ball when the third ball is against backspin. Specifically, he wrote, "I've noticed that the 5th ball is missed quite often when the 3rd ball attack is against under spin." Some quick definitions: Third-ball attack means the server serves, the opponent receives, and the server attacks. Fifth-ball attack means the server serves, the opponent receives, the server attacks with the intent of setting up a ball to put away, the receiver returns the attack, usually with a block, and the server attacks again, often trying to end the point. The most basic third-ball attack is when the server serves backspin (usually short, at least at the higher levels so opponent can't loop it), the opponent pushes it back long, and the server loops, often looking to end the point on that shot. The most basic fifth-ball attack is when the server serves backspin (again, mostly short), the opponent pushes it back long, the server loops, the opponent blocks, and the server either smashes or loop kills. The main difference between the third- and fifth-ball attack here is the back shoulder. (I wrote about proper use of the back shoulder in a previous article.) When looping the backspin, the back shoulder drops; when smashing or looping the fifth ball block, the shoulder stays up. (It may drop slightly if looping against a block, but the key phrase is slightly.) After lowering their back shoulder to lift the backspin, it's common for players to inadvertently lower their shoulder again for the next shot, leading to shots that go long. Plus the fifth ball (often a quick block) comes out faster than the third ball (usually a much slower push), and so the player is rushed, and a rushed shot against a quick incoming ball often goes long. (It rarely goes into the net since a player's first instinct is to hit over the net. When rushed, even dead blocks are often lifted too much and sent sailing off the end.) The poster also wrote, "One coach I read said that you never attack hard against the 5th ball under these conditions (3rd ball was against under spin), that you must hit a controlled offensive shot and that the 5th ball is all about placement." While I understand the thinking behind this - placement is a priority, and consistency is almost always more important than creaming the ball (with creaming the ball consistently being high in the list of things top players learn to do), I would argue that it is the third ball that should be the "controlled offensive shot" to set up the fifth ball. That's the whole purpose of the third-ball loop in a fifth-ball attack. While the server often does get weak pushes on the third ball that he can loop away for a winner, more often he should focus on placement, depth, and spin to set up a weak return that he can put away on the fifth ball. (But note that placement is key to put-away shots - many players can return power shots if they go right where they are ready, usually the middle forehand or backhand areas, or too-obvious crosscourt shots. Put-away shots should go to wide angles or to the opponent's elbow, and down-the-line put-aways are often nearly unreturnable.) This doesn't mean the server should always try to rip the ball on the fifth ball; only that the purpose of the third ball loop is to set up a shot that he can rip, and that if he does get a ball he can rip, he should (you guessed it) rip it, i.e. smash or loop kill. If he doesn't get a ball he can put away, then he should do another "controlled offensive shot" to set up the next ball, i.e. the seventh ball. Addendum, added later: As pointed out by Han Xiao on Facebook, if a player goes for a putaway on the third ball - as many do, especially Chinese-trained loopers - then, if it comes back, it comes back so quickly that you should take a step back and loop the next ball for control. It really all comes down to playing style and situation. Just for the record, none of the five Mega Millions lottery tickets I bought in Virginia on the way back from the Cary Cup on Sunday were winners. So the planned National Training Center, Nationwide Table Tennis League, and the hiring of the entire National Chinese Team as practice partners for the USA Junior & Cadet Teams are all cancelled due to this unexpected lack of funding. The sport of table tennis has suffered a great loss. Heavy Backspin Serves When I give serve lectures at our clinics, I often demonstrate heavy backspin by serving with an extremely open racket - so open that it actually is aiming backwards, and you contact bottom front of the ball - and serve so the ball jumps back into the net. (It's more easily done with a high toss.) Here's a pair of great videos at TableTennisMaster that demo this - first Chinese star Ma Lin (shirtless) demonstrating the serve (1:18), and then a more detailed demo that shows how it is done (2:10). They call them "ghost serves." If you can serve heavy backspin serves and keep them very low and short (i.e. so they'd bounce twice if given the chance), they are almost unattackable. (A key word here is low.) Almost everyone pushes them back. At the higher levels, many players will drop them short. To combat this, and to get some easy balls, learn to both serve heavy backspin and "heavy no-spin," i.e. use the same motion as if serving heavy backspin but contact the ball toward the handle (where it's not moving as fast as the tip, where you contact for heavy spin), and so you get a nearly no-spin ball. Watch your opponents pop them up! Peter Li Interview Here's a great interview with Peter Li (and a short one with Marcus Jackson) at the Cary Cup Open. Also shown: the ending of game five where Peter Li defeats Paulo Rocha in the quarterfinals. (6:14) Pictures from the Cary Cup Here's a nice photo album. Too bad the pictures aren't captioned. The little kid shown numerous times is Derek Nie, who is about 4' tall and is rated about 1900. (He's from my club, MDTTC.) Article & Photos of 1979 U.S. Men's Champion Attila Malek I remember when he first came to the U.S. and started beating nearly everyone, and then pulled off the upset over Dan Seemiller in the final of Men's Singles at the USA Nationals. He was one of the first players in the U.S. who could play a two-winged looping game. Here's a nice article on him from the Orange Country Register, and a series of 13 accompanying photos. 2011 Butterfly Cary Cup Part 1: Getting there - Thursday, March 17 Tim Boggan had been staying at my house for two weeks as I did the layouts and photo work on History of U.S. Table Tennis, Vol. 11, so we went down together on Thursday, March 17. He was doing the coverage while I was playing only in the hardbat event, coaching the rest of the way. The drive down was uneventful other than the usual extravagantly expensive Tim kept treating me to (as he had for two weeks). I could eat for a week on what he paid for one of our meals. I spent Thursday night in Tim's hotel room. Part 2: Hardbat - Friday, March 18 This was held on Friday, from 10AM to 4PM. I was the defending champion, so all the pressure was on me, right? Ah well, us champions have to get used to it. :) In my round robin, I had a tough match with Chris OBrian (no apostrophe in his name) and his big forehand smash, and he led much of each game, but I ran them both out near the end. (All hardbat matches were best of three to 21, using 38mm balls.) Jim McQueen was also a surprisingly tough match with his touch and backhand pick-hitting, but I adjusted and pulled away near the end of each game. In the final four-person RR, I had to play Chris again. Down 6-11 in the first, I jokingly (or was it?) complained about the five edge balls and one net dribbler he'd already scored with! I'm not making that up. At one point he won three straight points on edges. Most of them were because he was playing everything to the wide corners, trying to get away from my forehand, so he was also missing balls off the side. He ended up winning that game, but I won the next two. The only thing worse than an opponent getting nets & edges is an opponent getting nets & edges who is also playing well! Chris has a nice forehand, and his angled backhands were also effective, even when they weren't clipping the edge. The next match was Steve Hitchner. He attacked my serve and followed up his serve with aggressive backhands to wide angles, putting pressure on my forehand-oriented game. For 1.5 games, I still won somewhat easily. Then I just ran out of steam - he'd run me to death, a smart tactic. I had trouble running down his shots, and started chopping more, and next thing I know I'm practically dying. I led 20-18. He deuced it. I went up 21-20. Then he ran me around, I put a ball up - but he missed it, so I survived. Before the final against Chu Bin Hai, I took a 15-minute break. Chu is an elderly pips-out penholder rated 2243 from Florida. He'd forgotten to bring shorts, and so was playing in jeans. (He'd get shorts for the next day.) Since he's used to pips, and since he'd steamrolled everyone he'd played so far with ease, the feeling was he was a big favorite - especially after he won the first, I think 21-15. I was attacking every serve with my forehand, and following every serve with a forehand. I continued this, but started angling even wider into his backhand. He had a very efficient forehand and a steady backhand block, so I wanted to keep him blocking. I almost died running around hitting, and did throw in some chopping (usually ending the point by suddenly smashing one of his drives), and managed to win the match by scores of (I think) -15, 17, 15. Here are the extremely heavy trophies I won for winning Hardbat Singles at the 2010 and 2011 Cary Cup Opens. Plus $500!!! The Cary Cup's been good to me the last two years - two hardbat titles, two huge trophies, and $500, a nice supplement to my coaching work. The down side - I came out hobbling about on an aching right knee, right leg, upper back, and right shoulder. That night I moved in with Tong Tong, his dad Chaoying, and Greg Mascialino, another top junior from Maryland. Part 3: Tong Tong Gong - Saturday, March 19 My major task at the Cary Cup was to coach Tong Tong Gong, a player I've been working with for a year and a half or so. He's 13, rated 2256, and a member of the U.S. National Cadet team. Unfortunately, I can't really talk about the tactics - his opponents might be reading this! - but I can give the gist of it. I knew most of players, and was able to watch all of them play before Tong Tong faced them, so was able to come up with pretty good tactics. More importantly, Tong Tong knew how to follow the tactics, and was able to adjust as needed as the opponent adjusted. He beat a 2144 player 3-0 to get into the "A" Division, where he was put in a group of nine players, so eight matches. First, his losses: to Gao YanJun (2609), Zheng Jiaqi (2527), Paulo Rocha (2474), and Raghu Nadmichettu (2368). Gao was simply too strong. He almost got a game off Zheng, but challenged that surprisingly good backhand loop of hers too much and lost 3-0. He got a game off often-practice partner Raghu. The interesting loss was to Paulo. Tong Tong went up 2-1 in games, and made it to 9-all in the fourth, 8-9 in the fifth before losing 11-8 in the fifth. It was a disappointing loss as he thought he had the shots to win in the fourth game, but couldn't pull them off. There were some spectacular rallies, and Tong Tong pulled off some backhand kills that brought back memories of Jim Butler. What made this even more interesting is that in his next match, Paulo upset Gao, and he would later be up 2-0 on top-seeded Peter Li (2646) in the quarterfinals before losing a close five-gamer. Now to his wins. Tong Tong defeated Cory Eider (2341), John Wetzler (2299), Olivier Mader (2239), and Brenda Mun (2085, but after defeating Wetzler and Thor Truelson - rated 2274 - she'll probably be adjusted upwards. Tong Tong had upset Wetzler at the Teams in Baltimore, and showed that he still knows how to play him with his attacking forehand and long-pips backhand - though of course next time out Wetzler will be after him again. The two really interesting matches were against Mader and Eider. Mader is a pure long-pipped blocker with seemingly frictionless long pips. Normally he eats up junior players with their lack of experience, but Tong Tong is apparently wise beyond his years in the ways of long pips and won easily, I believe 7,4,7. Against Eider, he won the first, lost the next two badly, and was rather dispirited. I gave him a pep talk, got him to jump up and down a few times to get his feet going, and (helped by a few nets/edges in game four), won the next two games somewhat easily by the scores, though every point was a struggle. So Tong Tong finished 4-4, in fifth place. The top four advanced, and so he missed it by one spot. He spent the rest of the day lamenting that match with Paulo, and on the way home we made up humorous revenge stories for the next they faced each other. One of them ended with the zombie of Tong Tong defeating the ghost of Paulo where they used a flaming ping-pong ball. Don't ask. I wrote a paragraph here on what Tong Tong's improved on, but his rivals might be reading this. (Shhh!) Suffice to say he's returning serves better, his backhand is becoming lethal, and he has more power on the forehand. He still has trouble with [deleted] and [deleted], so any opponent that [deleted] will easily defeat him. :) Part 4: Car incident - Saturday afternoon, March 19 I had a bunch of heavy stuff in my playing bag, and couldn't find Tong Tong's dad. But when I went outside, I saw that the car window was partially down, and I could reach in and unlock the door to put the stuff inside so I didn't have to carry it around. Unfortunately, it set off the car alarm, which was VERY LOUD. As numerous people stared and complained, I raced about, trying to find Tong Tong's dad Chaoying, since he had the key. During my rushing about, I hurt my left knee, which gave me matching aching knees. Fortunately, Dick Evans (one of the umpires) came by, and somehow was able to turn it off with his key. I was ribbed for being a "car thief" by a number of players. My knee still hurts. Part 5: The Open - Sunday, March 20 I watched some of the matches, but didn't take notes. Lots of us Marylanders were at the tournament, including top-seeded Peter Li (2646), Champion Jeffrey Zeng Xu (2583), Han Xiao (2522), Marcus Jackson (2418), and about 25 others. Here are the basic results, from memory - let me know if I got any of it wrong. Final: Jeffrey Zeng Xun (2583) d. Gao YanJun (2609), 3-1. SF: Zeng d. Peter Li (2646), 3-1. SF: Gao d. Barney J. Reed (2574), deuce (or was it 11-9?) in the fifth. QF: Zeng d. Marcus Jackson (2408), 3-2. QF: Gao d. Michael Landers (2518), 3-0. QF: Li d. Paulo Rocha (2474), 3-2. QF: Reed d. Fernando Yamazato (2554), 3-0. Part 6: Returning home - Sunday afternoon, March 20 And then we played travel bingo and told Paulo revenge stories all the way home. (Actually, Paulo's a very nice guy and cool and reserved during matches, but Tong Tong REALLY wanted that match!) Tournament Morning This morning I'm playing in the Cary Cup. Though I'm "only" playing in hardbat (the rest of the way "just" coaching), I still have to prepare. What does that mean? Get up early. I don't want to feel rushed. Some easy jogging and stretching. I don't want to feel stiff. A good breakfast of waffles. Because I want waffles. Get to the playing site early. I don't want to feel rushed. Some more easy jogging and stretching. Yada yada yada on the stiffness thing. Check out draws. Duh. Find someone to warm up with. I usually arrange someone to meet with the day before, but didn't have anyone this time. Hopefully I'll find someone. For hardbat, I want to warm up the forehand, backhand, backhand chop, and serve. For sponge, the forehand, backhand, forehand loop, backhand loop against underspin, push, and serve. In both cases, play out points at the end. Stop warmup about ten minutes before match time so I can rest. Wait for match time, and then play. Maybe this is a good time to mention my pre-match ritual, done after the two-minute warmup with my opponent, and after hiding the ball (or flipping coin) to see who serves. Everyone should have one; here's mine. I take a few steps back from the table, toward the left so I can approach the table from the backhand side, i.e. in forehand position. I do a deep knee bend to loosen up the knees. (Careful, don't want to hurt the knees!) I stand up and do a quick foot shuffle to wake up the legs. I tell my opponent good luck. Since I always give away the serve at the start of the match (maybe I'll write about this next week), it's almost always my opponent's serve, so I hold up my left arm and approach the table, and go into my ready position. Then I lower my arm to signal that I'm ready, and we're off! (If it's my serve, it just means I don't have to hold up my left hand, and instead go to my serving ready stance.) Off to Cary, hardbat and coaching Tim Boggan and I are leaving for Cary, NC for the Butterfly Cary Cup Table Tennis Championships this morning. It's about six hours away. He's doing the coverage for USA Table Tennis Magazine, and then continuing on to South Carolina, where he'll meet his wife for a vacation through March 28. I'm playing the hardbat event on Friday (roughly 10AM-3PM - I'm the defending champion), and then I'm coaching the rest of the way. I'll mostly be coaching Tong Tong Gong, a member of the USA National Cadet Team and MDTTC, though I may coach some other Marylanders when I'm free. Though I'm normally a sponge player, I've been playing hardbat for many years. At the U.S. Open or Nationals, I've won Hardbat Singles twice, Hardbat Doubles ten times, and Over 40 Hardbat four times. (I'm the current champion from the Nationals in December in the last two.) I'm basically an all-out forehand hitter, with five types of forehands: smash, quick hit, counter-hit, roll, and off-table counter-hit. (I also have deceptive placement - basically, all my forehands look like I'm going to the left, so I mostly hit to the righty, i.e. a righty's backhand.) I'm weak on the backhand - that's no secret - but I cover that side by mostly chopping. I tend to attack most serves with my forehand, relying on deep, aggressive returns to keep my opponent from counter-hitting an aggressive, angled return, since at age 51 I don't have the mobility I used to have. While hitting is my strength, I'm more proud when I win points by chopping. (It's amazing how often players hit off when I give them a no-spin chop.) One of my favorite tactics is to chop until I get a weak topspin to my backhand or any type of attack to my forehand, and then I counter-attack with my forehand. On my serve, I use almost the same serves as with sponge - forehand pendulum serves, with a fast, varying contact, followed by forehand attack. European Stars Practicing Here's a nice video (7:12) of European stars practicing at the European Top Twelve. How many can you name? More important, are you doing the same type of drills they are? These drills got them to where they are, so why not follow in their footsteps?	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line492
__label__wiki	0.506554	0.506554	Posted on April 1, 2017 April 18, 2017 by Chelene Knight Q10: Businesses Building Community Picture this: soft blues on a low hum, floor-to-ceiling windows hugging a small stage filled with musicians, knee-tapping, and wide-mouthed smiles taking it all in. Local art graces every inch of available wall space. This feels like home. And that’s just night one. Come back the next night and savour the soft, rhythmic flow of imagistic poetry being shared in a cozy space in the back room where each artist revels in the fact that they have this place to be artists. And, if you still want to mix it up, come back again the next night and you’ll be taken on a rock ‘n’ roll journey where local bands own the stage doing what they do best. A place for music, theatre, art, and more. Finding a place is half the battle for most artists, and we’ve been holding our breath—until the Heritage Grill. Exhale. On May 28, 2005, a gem was born. Located at 447 Columbia Street in downtown New Westminster, the Heritage Grill opened its doors to an already thriving and close-knit community. From day one, the Heritage Grill catered to every type of artist conceivable. Finally. A spot that wasn’t only about food and quickly “turning” over tables, but a place built on the promise of being a second home for anyone who wants it. This is—in my opinion—a rarity in a city all about “making a quick dollar.” With a background in nightclubs and looking for a way out, Heritage Grill owner Paul Minhas— who grew up in Vernon and came to the lower mainland just after high school—arrived in New West with visions of jazz clubs, blues bands, and creating that “place to be.” When asked what he did in his spare time he replied, “what spare time?” “New West wasn’t ready for what I had in mind,” says Minhas. From live poetry, improv comedy, and blush shows to drag shows, the Heritage back lounge has given first starts to so many, including The Heritage Artist’s Society. Paul Minhas has been advocating for artists in every single intersection for twelve years. Candice James of Poetry New West, (a local reading series that takes place every Sunday afternoon in The Grill’s back lounge, former Poet Laureate for New Westminster, and newly-dubbed Poet Emerita of New Westminster), speaks highly of Paul and The Grill. “I consider Paul Minhas to be the foremost “Arts” corporate citizen in the city. He has been a solid supporter of all my literary and artistic endeavours by donating time, space, and funds to the events I have held at the Heritage Grill. Poetry would never be as highly-visible in the city as it is now without Paul Minhas’ generous spirit and support.” We are living in a time where diversity and the idea of inclusivity sits heavy on the tongues of leaders in the arts. Paul Minhas doesn’t blink an eye when reaching out to support local artists because it’s something he does naturally, a goal for many of us as leaders in our given fields. “I don’t want to be just another restaurant.The people that support us wholeheartedly support us. Statistically, if I was just another restaurant, I wouldn’t have made it,” says Minhas. “Times are changing, people are changing, demographics are changing.” The Heritage Grill is keeping up the pace without ever losing its original appeal. In addition to the Grill, Minhas also owns Judge Begbie’s, which is just down the street. While maintaining the sports theme, this pub is definitely a reflection of the Heritage Grill. Where else will you find a Celtic Acadian night where the crowd is encouraged to join in? One of the most intriguing nights, in my opinion, is Friday’s Memphis to Orleans. Although a different vibe and space, there’s no doubt in my mind that Judge Begbie’s will be a game-changer for new people moving to the city. With the pace at which neighbourhoods change, New Westminster is proud of the Heritage Grill, and for good reason. In thinking about the city as a whole, strolling past the heritage houses that line the blocks in Queens, I think about Paul’s words: “New West is a small city within a big city. We want to stand out. Kits is Kits, Commercial is Commercial.” It’s obvious to me that New West has a unique voice of its own and exudes this unexplainable energy that is in no way muted by the shouts and screams of its surrounding big sister cities. If you haven’t yet been inside the Heritage Grill, one of the most immediate things you will notice is the mirrors lining the entire right side. This is a very intimate thing: watching yourself come in, and watching yourself leave—changed. There’s something to be said about leaving with a sense of place and knowing that if you look back on your way out that it won’t be your last. There’s a trust there and, for the most part, it’s unspoken. I thought about the motivation behind lining the walls with mirrors, and wondered if it was an intentional thing. I almost stopped in my tracks to turn back around and ask, but I kept walking, hands deep in my pockets, thinking about the mirrors and how many people in this city stopped to enjoy the space, even if just for a moment, and how many have just stopped to reflect. Before I left, I asked Paul what he would do if he wasn’t running the Heritage Grill. His answer was perfect: “I would buy a one-way ticket somewhere, pick up my backpack, and never look back.” CategoriesBusiness, Issue 06 Previous PostPrevious On Being a Vegan Mom Next PostNext Remembering	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line494
__label__wiki	0.845552	0.845552	Plymouth State University Textbooks > Learning American Sign Language Learning American Sign Language 2th edition Authors:Tom L. Humphries, Tom Humphries, Carol A. Padden, Carol Padden, Rob Hills, Robert Hills, Peggy Lott, Daniel W. Renner Learning American Sign Language Description Learning American Sign Language 2 Edition American Sign Language is a rich and complex language. Recently declared as an official language and recognized by 48 states as a foreign language, more and more high school teachers across the country are teaching American Sign Language as an elective. Learning American Sign Language: Levels I & II – Beginning &Intermediate is designed to prepare teachers to successfullyinteract with American Sign Language (ASL) users. Lessons are structured around language needed for common-life situations, and examples are presented in the form of dialogues coupled with grammar and vocabulary instruction. Information is also included about the culture of deaf people in the United States. Learners will discover that the book: Contains lessons designed around the conversational language needed for common life situations. Illustrates hundreds of sentences and vocabulary with over 2,000 high quality colorized drawings that aid in study and memory. Contains over 100 grammar and cultural notes, 72 exercises, and charts of the American Manual Alphabet (Finger spelling) and ASL number system. Teaches the rules of ASL in a natural order that is predictable and compatible with everyday language of native users of American Sign Language. Incorporates information about the cultural lives of Deaf people in the United States. Is supported by a video demonstrating all the conversations and important structures in the text. Order the Video! Video to Accompany American Sign Language, 2/e Order No. 0-205-27554-0 American Sign Language students will find themselves captivated and entertained by this state-of-the-art Video that presents all 72 dialogues and each key structure from the text in a clear and natural way. Four internationally known Deaf actors animate the dialogues bringing life to the illustrations in the text allowing students to preview and review instructional materials at home to enhance their classroom learning. About the authors: Tom Humphries is Associate Director of the Teacher Education Program and also teaches in the Department of Communication at the University of California, San Diego. He is currently coordinating a program to train teachers of deaf children using a bilingual approach. Prior to this he taught at Gallaudet University in the Department of English for several years and later served as an Associate Dean for the San Diego Community College District where he coordinated the development of an ASL program and an interpreter-training program. He holds a Ph.D. in Cross Cultural Communication and Language Learning. Dr. Humphries is co-author with Carol Padden of Deaf in America: Voices from a Culture and several other books and articles related to ASL and the culture of Deaf people. Carol Padden is a Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of California, San Diego where she teachers courses on language, culture and media. She is a graduate of Georgetown University and received a Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of California, San Diego. Her recent research includes studies of reading development in young deaf children and she has written extensively about the cultural lives of Deaf people in the United States. She received a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, in addition to numerous other awards and grants for her work. In addition to the books she has co-authored with Tom Humphries, she has published several other books and articles on American Sign Language structure. Humphries & Padden (Learning American Sign Language, 2e).	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line499
__label__wiki	0.561328	0.561328	Krugman On America's Soul In case you haven't read it yet: Reclaiming America’s Soul By PAUL KRUGMAN “Nothing will be gained by spending our time and energy laying blame for the past.” So declared President Obama, after his commendable decision to release the legal memos that his predecessor used to justify torture. Some people in the political and media establishments have echoed his position. We need to look forward, not backward, they say. No prosecutions, please; no investigations; we’re just too busy. And there are indeed immense challenges out there: an economic crisis, a health care crisis, an environmental crisis. Isn’t revisiting the abuses of the last eight years, no matter how bad they were, a luxury we can’t afford? No, it isn’t, because America is more than a collection of policies. We are, or at least we used to be, a nation of moral ideals. In the past, our government has sometimes done an imperfect job of upholding those ideals. But never before have our leaders so utterly betrayed everything our nation stands for. “This government does not torture people,” declared former President Bush, but it did, and all the world knows it. And the only way we can regain our moral compass, not just for the sake of our position in the world, but for the sake of our own national conscience, is to investigate how that happened, and, if necessary, to prosecute those responsible. What about the argument that investigating the Bush administration’s abuses will impede efforts to deal with the crises of today? Even if that were true — even if truth and justice came at a high price — that would arguably be a price we must pay: laws aren’t supposed to be enforced only when convenient. But is there any real reason to believe that the nation would pay a high price for accountability? For example, would investigating the crimes of the Bush era really divert time and energy needed elsewhere? Let’s be concrete: whose time and energy are we talking about? Tim Geithner, the Treasury secretary, wouldn’t be called away from his efforts to rescue the economy. Peter Orszag, the budget director, wouldn’t be called away from his efforts to reform health care. Steven Chu, the energy secretary, wouldn’t be called away from his efforts to limit climate change. Even the president needn’t, and indeed shouldn’t, be involved. All he would have to do is let the Justice Department do its job — which he’s supposed to do in any case — and not get in the way of any Congressional investigations. I don’t know about you, but I think America is capable of uncovering the truth and enforcing the law even while it goes about its other business. Still, you might argue — and many do — that revisiting the abuses of the Bush years would undermine the political consensus the president needs to pursue his agenda. But the answer to that is, what political consensus? There are still, alas, a significant number of people in our political life who stand on the side of the torturers. But these are the same people who have been relentless in their efforts to block President Obama’s attempt to deal with our economic crisis and will be equally relentless in their opposition when he endeavors to deal with health care and climate change. The president cannot lose their good will, because they never offered any. That said, there are a lot of people in Washington who weren’t allied with the torturers but would nonetheless rather not revisit what happened in the Bush years. Some of them probably just don’t want an ugly scene; my guess is that the president, who clearly prefers visions of uplift to confrontation, is in that group. But the ugliness is already there, and pretending it isn’t won’t make it go away. Others, I suspect, would rather not revisit those years because they don’t want to be reminded of their own sins of omission. For the fact is that officials in the Bush administration instituted torture as a policy, misled the nation into a war they wanted to fight and, probably, tortured people in the attempt to extract “confessions” that would justify that war. And during the march to war, most of the political and media establishment looked the other way. It’s hard, then, not to be cynical when some of the people who should have spoken out against what was happening, but didn’t, now declare that we should forget the whole era — for the sake of the country, of course. Sorry, but what we really should do for the sake of the country is have investigations both of torture and of the march to war. These investigations should, where appropriate, be followed by prosecutions — not out of vindictiveness, but because this is a nation of laws. We need to do this for the sake of our future. For this isn’t about looking backward, it’s about looking forward — because it’s about reclaiming America’s soul. By Unknown at 4/24/2009 08:54:00 AM Labels: Bush Legacy, Krugman, Obama Administration, torture, warcrimes The Achievement Gap Has Been Narrowing For 35 Year... Friday Cartoon Fun: American Piracy Edition The Next Domino Wednesday Cartoon Fun: Happy Earth Day Edition Wednesday Cartoon Fun: Toture Edition Merit Pay: It Won't Work Monday Cartoon Fun: 2 Wrongs Don't.... Edition Sunday Cartoon Fun: That's What Hunger Will Make Y... Sunday Cartoon Fun: Lessons Not Learned Edition Impeach The Torturer Prosecute The War Crimes	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line501
__label__wiki	0.861923	0.861923	You are here: Home » news » Ribery hails French teenager Kingsley Coman as the heir to his Bayern Munich throne Ribery hails French teenager Kingsley Coman as the heir to his Bayern Munich throne By Sharan Suresh on April 2, 2016 6:00 pm \| Leave a Comment English Premier League Gameweek 22: Best bets for matches including Tottenham vs Manchester United and more Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has admitted that compatriot Kingsley Coman could develop into a better player than him, while also discussing his role in helping the younger players at the Allianz Arena. The 19-year-old attacker is enjoying a superb loan spell with Pep Guardiola’s team after joining the club on loan from Juventus in the summer of 2015. The teenager has also forced his way into the French national squad, and scored his first international goal in a recent friendly against Russia on Tuesday. The 32-year-old Ribery has publicly spoken of his young teammate’s desire to be “the next Ribery.” The recently capped french international has had a fine debut season on loan from the Italian champions, scoring 4 goals in the league, 2 in the Champions league and registering 10 assists in both competitions combined. Chances came few and far between at Juventus and PSG for the Parisian born Coman, but his patience seems to have paid off, and he’s made good use of his chances with the Bavarian giants when he’s been called upon. On this Ribery had to say “I hope he could be. I speak French with him a lot,” he told Goal, “Kingsley has not had an easy time until now. He didn’t play much in Paris or at Juventus. “When he came to Munich, he put a lot of effort in. He is free in his head and just plays football. He is doing a good job. “Nevertheless, he can become even better. At the age of 19 he needs time for his development and has to learn from the older ones in the squad.” On efforts to help the youth The legendary winger has also spoken on his efforts to help the likes of Coman and the other young players in the Bayern team, and maintains that they are at the right club for career development. He said “I want to help the talents, I want to help them improve and I’m working hard at it. Life is hard as well. I played at 17, 18 years old in the third division – that’s a completely different world. “Bayern offers the young guys a huge opportunity. I’m not a person who expects more respect from them. I hate that. In my long career I have experienced a lot, but never changed. “I appreciate every guy, whether he is a footballer or a cook. If one talent manages to get to the first team, I am his first friend. It was the same with Alaba and others, as it is now with Kingsley.” It may be this very friendship and opportunity that Bayern offer their youngsters that has led the 19-year-old Coman to say that he would not mind spending the entirety of his career with the Bavarian giants. As his performances show, his time spent under the tutelage of Guardiola has seen him grow as a player. Bayern have until the end of April 2017 to make his deal permanent according to Goal. One suspects however, after such a fine season with Bayern and his recent exploits for the French national team, that his parent club Juventus might reconsider bringing the Frenchman back to Turin sooner rather than later. Bayern Munchen Bayern Munich Bundesliga david alaba FC Bayern Munich France Franck Ribery Juventus Kingsley Coman PSG	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line504
__label__wiki	0.710273	0.710273	Thom Dyke - Barrister About About Thom News Testimonials Areas of Expertise Criminal Law Appeals Public Law Inquests Civil Law About Thom Areas of Expertise/ Direct Access/ Thom regularly writes articles for publication on various issues of legal interest. He has been published in The Times, The Guardian, New Statesman and Prospect, as well as in specialist law journals like Judicial Review, Public Law and the Solicitors Journal. Thom regularly writes articles for publication on various issues of legal interest. He has been published in The Times, The Guardian, Private Eye, New Statesman and Prospect, as well as in specialist law journals like Judicial Review, Public Law and the Solicitors Journal. These articles are provided free of charge for information purposes only; they do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such. No responsibility for the accuracy and/or correctness of the information and commentary set out in the articles, or for any consequences of relying on it, is assumed or accepted. Ripe for reform? A review of search warrants March 06, 2019 / Thom Dyke Between 2010 and 2018 there were over 50 judicial reviews brought in respect of search warrants. This has been attributed to the perception that applications for warrants are seen as “…in essence matters of routine, in effect requiring no more than a rubber stamp of approval from the courts”. The spate of cases shows no sign of abating. High-profile cases have captured the attention of the media. The 2014 search of Sir Cliff Richard’s house resulted in a very public admission of liability and payment of £400,000 in damages by South Yorkshire Police, in addition to subsequent litigation in which the BBC was found liable for breach of privacy. The first case considered by the UK Supreme Court in 2018 addressed the issue of what evidence in support of a search warrant may be relied upon by a court when it cannot be disclosed to the person on grounds of public interest immunity (“PII”). In June 2018 the Law Commission launched a public consultation into the need for a thorough overhaul of the law relating to search warrants.It remains to be seen whether a government pre-occupied by the process of Brexit will have sufficient energy and inclination to take steps to enact the recommendations of the Law Commission.In July 2018, the Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) used the opportunity, after imposing a £500,000 fine on Facebook in respect of data breaches arising from the Cambridge Analytica scandal, to call for sweeping new powers of entry, which were duly granted under Schedule 15 of the Data Protection Act 2018.It seems likely that issues relating to search warrants are likely to continue to vex the courts for the foreseeable future. This paper aims to provide some assistance to practitioners seeking to navigate these uncertain waters. [To read the rest of this paper, see the journal Judicial Review, 2018, 23(4), 279-292, or contact Thom] March 06, 2019 / Thom Dyke/ judicial review, Public Law, search warrants Thom Dyke Who Will Guard the Guardians? ... © Thom Dyke 2007-2019 / Privacy Notice	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line507
__label__cc	0.553305	0.446695	Private Company Audit Standards - Finally a Resolution? by Kevin McGarry 2. August 2012 11:30 There are many stakeholders in the decade-long debate over financial reporting standards for privately held companies, including lenders, assurers, venture capitalists and the companies themselves. Now, a recently enacted measure may be bringing the debate to conclusion. Currently, private companies follow U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) when issuing reports, which are viewed as the gold standard for financial reporting; however, private company managers view GAAP as unnecessarily complex and lacking relevance to external users. In 2009, a panel was formed as a joint effort between the Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF), the AICPA, and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) to determine the future of the standards-setting process for private companies. Just a few months ago, the FAF Trustee Working Group announced its final decision to create a Private Company Council (PCC) to improve the standards-setting process for private companies. Although all decisions of the PCC are subject to FASB approval, the differences include: The PCC is a nine to twelve-member committee, including a non-FASB chairperson. A FASB board member will be assigned as a liaison to the PCC. The PCC is encouraged to set its own agenda without FASB approval. The PCC and FASB are encouraged to mutually agree on a set of criteria to identify possible exceptions and modifications to existing Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for private companies. Any such exceptions and modifications raised by the PCC are subject to FASB endorsement and a public comment period; FASB makes the final endorsement decision based upon a majority vote (four of seven members). In the instance of non-endorsement, the FASB chairperson will present written documentation to the PCC chair, providing a reason for the non-endorsement and possible changes for the PCC to consider that could lead to FASB endorsement. The endorsement process must be completed within a specified time frame, and all endorsed decisions will be issued as Accounting Standards Updates to the Accounting Standards Codification. The PCC will provide reports to a newly established committee of the FAF Board of Trustees for the first three years, at which point the PCC will be re-assessed to determine whether further changes to the overall standards-setting process for private companies are necessary. With the creation of the PCC, the FAF trustees will try to avoid two sets of GAAP (one for private companies and one for public companies). The AICPA subsequently announced the development of a financial reporting framework to support self-contained, other comprehensive basis of accounting (OCBOA), intended for use by privately held small- to medium-sized entities preparing financial statements. To understand how and why the PCC committee was formed or additional information on the newly announced final decision, please see The Controversy over Private Company Reporting Standards in The CPA Journal. d20ef8d2-7a8f-4afb-8627-6ce9a6cb0870\|0\|.0 Tags: financial reporting, private company, GAAP, PCC Categories: Assurance Bonus Depreciation Introduced by House Democrats by Tom Guappone 26. June 2012 10:41 Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee introduced the Invest in America Now Bill of 2012 on June 20. The bill includes legislation that would extend 100% bonus depreciation through 2012. The House Democratic bill is targeting businesses that would immediately benefit from the accelerated depreciation on the investments for machinery & equipment, computer software and other property. Work on the bill is projected to begin the week of June 25. This should be the first of many bills that will be discussed to help the economy rebound through a comprehensive tax reform. For more information, please see the full article by the CCH News Staff. 8b3ee70b-551b-472e-9815-5a2636fd68c0\|0\|.0 Tags: accounting, depreciation, private company, public company, economy, tax The JOBS Act: Trading IPOs for Blind Spots by Hiller Hardie 26. April 2012 15:55 The Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act was passed into law on April 5, 2012. It encourages private companies to complete IPO’s by giving them reporting relief if they qualify as an emerging growth company (EGC). EGCs have less than $1 billion in revenue and $700 million in publicly traded stock. A previous blog warned about this legislation eliminating the Sarbanes Oxley requirement of an auditor’s report on a company’s internal control over financial reporting. However, the Act does require management to report on such internal control. Nevertheless, it is now more likely that EGCs will have errors or issues with their financial statements heading into a public offering. This was the case in 2011, when the SEC examined Groupon’s financial statements heading into its November IPO. Groupon had already revised its financials twice before that date because of the SEC’s scrutiny, and is revising them again due to inadequate reserves for customer refunds. This news prompted a sell off and drop in share price from $20 to $15.27. AuditAnalytics.com recently conducted a study of companies with SOX issues since 2004, when the SOX requirement for internal control took effect. They identified 104 companies with SOX issues who would have been exempt from auditor scrutiny if the JOBS Act had been in effect at that time. For more information on the JOBS Act see the April 2012 edition of BDO Knows: The Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act. a8deb2ac-a0a2-41cb-bc1c-90e17d7e364f\|0\|.0 Tags: JOBS Act, private company, IPO, emerging growth company, Sarbanes-Oxley, SOX, Groupon, financial	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line510
__label__wiki	0.993144	0.993144	Westrail Freight Sale Mixed Gallery 3 Perth Suburban Rail Map & Timetables Digital Video Clips A look at NA1874 Accident damaged P2005 A1514 - AWR Livery The W.A Railfan Bookshop Archived News (5) Q301 in AWR livery Junior Railfan (part 2) NR Derailment 21/05/01 Pemberton Tramway News W.A. Rail Network Map Hamersley Iron Graveyard South Spur Rail Services Rail Transport Museum Standard Gauge locos Narrow Gauge Locos S549 'Greenmount' S class(diesel) G233 'Lechenault Lady' Hotham Valley Diesel Locos Hotham Valley Steam Locos S.A. coaches at Midland Inside Midland Workshops Around Leighton Passenger Railcars National Rail Locos in Perth SCT Locos Australia Southern Railroad Freight Australia Narrow Gauge Wheat Trains Standard Gauge Wheat Trains Dec 2001 / Jan 2002 issue of Motive Power The Western Australian Railfan Site Transport Minister Murray Criddle announced today the sale of Westrail's freight business to the Australian Railroad Group Pty Ltd (ARG) for $585 million and a commitment to invest a further $400 million in the State's rail system over the next five years. Australian Railroad Group (ARG) is a consortium which includes Wesfarmers Limited and international rail operator Genesee & Wyoming Inc. Mr Criddle said the offer put forward by ARG was considered to best meet the objectives of the Coalition Government for a dynamic and sustainable rail system in Western Australia. "The plans ARG has put forward will result in significant regional development, employee opportunities and provide major benefits to the State," he said. Westrail's freight rolling stock, terminals and customer contracts to be sold; the track network itself remains an asset of the State and will be leased to ARG for 49 years; the urban passenger and country passenger operations continue under State Government ownership; and - all net sale proceeds will be used towards retiring Westrail debt. Mr Criddle said the Rail Freight Sale Task Force and its adviser, Deutsche Bank, recommended that the Government accept ARG's offer. The task force members are Kevin Swan (chairman), John Langoulant (Treasury), Tim Sharp (Crown Solicitor's office), Peter Conran (Department of Premier and Cabinet), Graeme Harman (Minister for Transport's office). Graham Baker is the project director for the sale. "In addition to the up-front payment of $585 million, there is also an undertaking to invest $400 million in the track and rolling stock over the next five years - with $280 million of that amount being spent within the first three years," the Minister said. "That is effectively a net benefit of $985 million to the State of Western Australia. "I'm confident that Wesfarmers' business knowledge and long association with the WA rural and industrial community, combined with Genesee & Wyoming's world-class rail operating expertise, will build on the experience and skills of Westrail's existing employees to result in improved operating efficiencies, more competitive freight rates, and significant growth in the business." ARG will be headquartered in Perth with operations in WA, South Australia and the Northern Territory. Genesee & Wyoming owns and operates the South Australian rail freight business and will operate the planned Alice Springs-to-Darwin railway. Mr Criddle said the business plan ARG had put forward was positive and innovative, and clearly met the criteria the Government had established at the outset of the sale. "We said from the start of this process that we were looking for a buyer who would introduce operating efficiencies, grow the business, and invest in the business to an extent not possible with the limited resources available to Government," he said. "The ARG offer meets all those criteria." Task Force Project Director Graham Baker said that more than 90 per cent of employees have accepted an offer to transfer to ARG, where there will be an increased emphasis on training and a profit sharing plan. Mr Criddle said the ARG offer recognised the importance of regional WA and particularly addressed the needs of the State's grain growers. ARG had committed to continue the current program to improve logistics and provide competitive freight rates. As part of the sale agreement, the grain line strengthening project, which was already begun, would be completed. "I congratulate the Australian Railroad Group on their successful bid and look forward to a strong and productive relationship that will deliver real benefits to the WA community," the Minister said. Four bidders have been shortlisted to proceed to the next stage of the sale of Westrail's freight business, Transport Minister Murray Criddle announced today. Mr Criddle said the Australian Railroad Group, Black Swan Rail Consortium, Freight WA and Western Freight would now enter a detailed due diligence process, culminating in final, binding, financially underwritten bids in October. "I hope that we will be in a position to announce the successful bidder before the end of the year," the Minister said. He said he was delighted with the calibre of the shortlisted parties which had been selected from a strong field of bidders. "All shortlisted bidders submitted a strong business plan with innovative ideas for improving service and growing the rail business," Mr Criddle said. "They have also stated their commitment to employee training and incentives. "I'm pleased that we have a good mix of Australian, European and American representation among the bidding parties." The partners in the Australian Railroad Group are Genesee and Wyoming Australia, and Wesfarmers. Genesee and Wyoming Australia is part of the Genesee and Wyoming group which includes more than 20 operations in Australia, the US, Canada and Mexico. It runs the South Australian freight railway and is part of the consortium chosen to build and operate the Alice Springs-to-Darwin rail link. Wesfarmers is one of Australia's major diversified industrial groups, and owns Wesfarmers Transport, a leading WA road transport operator. The Black Swan Rail Consortium is made up of Railroad Development Corporation, a US-based short line rail operator with operations in North and South America and in Africa, and Barclay Mowlem Ltd, an Australian subsidiary of a major international engineering group with substantial railway construction and maintenance experience. Barclay Mowlem is also an equity participant in the consortium which will build, own and operate the Alice Springs-to-Darwin railway. Freight WA is owned by Rail America, which is the largest short haul and regional rail operator in the world. Rail America was the successful bidder for the Victoria rail freight business V-Line Freight, which was privatised in 1999. The Western Freight Consortium consists of GB Rail and AMEC Engineering. GB Rail operates freight and passenger operations around the world and is the third largest rail freight operator in the United Kingdom. AMEC Engineering is a wholly owned subsidiary of AMEC plc, one of the world's leading infrastructure groups with substantial experience in developing and managing rail assets. "All the short listed consortia are led by highly respected, experienced and efficient rail operators and backed by quality institutional equity providers," Mr Criddle said. "I'm confident that from these four consortia we will be able to select the innovative and aggressive operator we are seeking to introduce operating efficiencies to Westrail Freight, to grow the business, and to invest in the business to an extent not possible with the limited resources available to Government."	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line517
__label__wiki	0.702124	0.702124	WOMEN IN HISTORY - MARY EDWARDS WALKER Prisoner of war during the Civil War, writer, doctor, fashion trend-setter and the only female to receive the Medal of Honor Mary was the youngest of five daughters, followed by one son, born to Alvah and Vesta Walker. Her father was a carpenter-farmer and abolitionist who believed in free thinking and many of the reform movements in the mid-1800s – including education and equality for his daughters, as well as dress reform (feeling their movements and abilities were impaired by the tight-fitting women’s clothing of the time). The girls provided farm labor, so their father did not expect them to wear restrictive corsets and such attire while working. He also intended all of his children to be educated and pursue professional careers. Alvah built the town of Oswego’s first schoolhouse on his land and all of his children were educated there. Mary and two of her older sisters graduated from Falley Seminary in Fulton, New York, and became teachers, with Mary teaching in Minetto, New York in 1852. But early on she had shown an interest in her father’s medical books, so was encouraged to pursue this career. While teaching she saved money and, in December 1853, enrolled in Syracuse Medical College (the first medical school in the U.S. and one that equally accepted men and women). After three 13-week semesters of medical training, in which she paid $55 each semester, Mary graduated in June 1855. At 21 years old, she was the only woman in her class, and the second female doctor in the nation. Mary led a life of controversy, most likely fostered by her father (also, the first Women’s Rights Convention was held in nearby Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848). She became an early supporter of women’s rights and passionately spoke about dress reform. When Amelia Bloom (in her Ladies’ Temperance Newspaper, the Lily) defended a colleague’s right to wear “Turkish pantaloons,” she unwittingly gave her name to them, as they came to be known as “bloomers.” Most early feminists stopped wearing them out of societal pressure and taunting (bloomers didn’t gain popular acceptance until the end of the century when women began bicycling), but not Mary. She heartily discarded restrictive attire, instead wearing pants, a high-collared undergarment and a dress coat that was gathered at the waist and ended just below the knees. In 1856, at her wedding to Albert Miller, another physician, Mary wore trousers and a man’s coat. Their wedding vows did not include anything about ‘obeying.’ And she kept her own last name. They began a joint medical practice in Rome, New York, but many people were not ready for a woman physician so the practice floundered. (Mary had originally begun her own medical practice in Columbus, Ohio, her aunt’s hometown, but people there were also reluctant to see a woman physician.) Albert apparently was unfaithful and so, four years later, they separated with Mary moving into smaller rooms for living and working. Apparently, she did enjoy some success in her medical practice. The Rome Sentinel said of one of her ads, “Those … who prefer the skill of a female physician … have now an excellent opportunity to make their choice.” In 1857, Mary began writing to Sybil, a publication of Dr. Lydia Sayer Hasbrouck. She wrote that women’s attire was a barrier to their good health and productive labor. She promoted her style of dress (much like that proposed by Amelia Bloomer), saying hoops under skirts and corsets restricted circulation in the legs, placed too much weight on the shoulders, and picked up dirt. And, she added, these styles made traveling cumbersome for women and annoying for men. Mary’s published opinions were printed in the program of the second Reform-Dress Association Convention in Syracuse and, that December, she lectured on it in Black River, New York. In 1860, she was one of nine vice presidents elected at the National Dress Reform Association Convention. That same summer, Mary stayed with a family friend in Delhi, Iowa, hoping to secure a divorce (Iowa having more lenient laws), but she returned to Rome without the divorce the next summer, most likely due to the outbreak of the Civil War. In July 1861, just after the Battle of Bull Run, Mary went to Washington, D.C., to join the Army as a medical officer. She was denied, so she volunteered – serving as acting assistant surgeon at the hospital set up in the U.S. Patent Office. Her superior, Dr. J.N. Green, recommended that she be commissioned, but she never was. Her authority during this time grew to be comparable to Green’s. With her volunteer status, Mary could move about freely; she accompanied a severely wounded soldier home to Rhode Island. She also helped organize the Women’s Relief Association for lodging for wives, mothers and children of soldiers in Washington. On occasion, she brought these women to her home. In 1862, Mary went to Forest Hall Prison in Georgetown, but felt her services were not especially needed so she returned to New York. She earned a second medical degree from Hygeia Therapeutic College and, by November, returned to Washington. After the Battle of Fredricksburg, Mary worked as a field surgeon near the Union front lines, treating soldiers in a tent hospital. She tried to increase positive outcomes by advising stretcher bearers to not carry wounded soldiers downhill with the head below the feet. Although she probably did not perform amputations, she felt many were unnecessary and encouraged several soldiers to refuse them. In September 1863, Mary was appointed assistant surgeon to the 52nd Ohio Infantry in the Cumberland, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and wore a slightly modified version of an officer’s uniform, carrying two pistols at all times. General George H. Thomas dispatched her, as the regiment’s previous doctor had died. The men were outraged; Dr. Perin, director of the medical staff, called it a “medical monstrosity” and requested a review by an Army medical board of Mary’s qualifications, doubting she knew much more than “most housewives.” Plus, many of the men believed, her many trips into Confederate territory to help civilians was a cover for spying. On April 10, 1864, wearing her uniform, she walked into a band of Confederate soldiers just south of the Georgia-Tennessee border and was taken hostage. For four months Mary was imprisoned at Castle Thunder, near Richmond, Virginia. She complained about the lack of grain and vegetables for prisoners and the Confederates added wheat bread and cabbage to the rations. On August 12, 1864, she was exchanged, along with 24 other Union doctors, for 17 Confederate doctors. She was proud that her exchange was for a Confederate surgeon of the rank of major. Mary returned to the Ohio 52nd as a contract surgeon (apparently the men had grown to respect her; she even visited the regiment after the war ended.) And she continued her appeal for a commission, which went all the way to President Lincoln, but was refused. In September she was granted $432.36 for her services from March 11, although she’d been imprisoned most of it. On October 5, 1864, Mary finally was commissioned, as acting assistant surgeon, with $100 monthly salary – becoming the first female surgeon commissioned in the Army. She served six months administering patients at the Louisville Women’s Prison Hospital and then finished out the war serving at an orphan asylum in Clarksville, Tennessee. She was discharged on June 15, 1865. For all her wartime service, Mary was paid $766.16, and later received a monthly pension of $8.50 (later raised to $20) – less than some widows’ pensions. She had sustained an eye injury that led to partial muscular atrophy, which earned her the $8.50 pension. Believing the problem to be temporary, Mary had refused an earlier offer of $25 a month. As the problem intensified and interfered with her medical practice, in 1872, she asked for $24 a month, or a $100,000 lump sum. Her petition was rejected (reportedly because of her unorthodox wardrobe). In 1890, she finally was granted the $20 a month pension. Upon recommendation of Major Generals William T. Sherman and George H. Thomas, on November 11, 1865, President Andrew Johnson signed a bill to present Dr. Mary Edwards Walker with the Congressional Medal of Honor for Meritorious Service. The citation recognized her: “valuable service to the Government,” devoting “herself with much patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded soldiers, both in the field and hospitals, to the detriment of her own health,” and enduring “hardships as a prisoner of war.” The citation also stated that “by reason of her not being a commissioned officer in the military service, a brevet or honorary rank cannot, under existing laws, be conferred upon her” so, therefore, “in the opinion of the President an honorable recognition of her services and sufferings should be made.” Mary Edwards Walker was – and remains – the only woman ever to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor – the highest military award of the U.S. at the time. In 1917, Congress revised the standards for the Medal of Honor to include only “actual combat with an enemy,” and took away the medals of 911 honorees, including Mary. But she refused to give it back, despite it becoming a crime to wear an ‘unearned’ medal. She had worn it, and continued to wear it, from the day she got it until she died. Mary’s great-grandniece Ann Walker fought for years to have the medal restored. Finally on June 11, 1977, President Carter reinstated Mary’s medal, citing her “distinguished gallantry, self-sacrifice, patriotism, dedication and unflinching loyalty to her country, despite the apparent discrimination because of her sex.” Today, it’s on display in the Pentagon’s women’s corridor. After the war ended, Mary worked to get relief bills for war nurses, but the Congressional bills died in committee. She also began writing and lecturing throughout the U.S. and abroad on women’s rights, dress reform, health and temperance issues. She argued that tobacco resulted in paralysis and insanity, and women’s clothing was immodest and inconvenient. From 1866-67, she toured Great Britain. In 1866, she was elected president of the National Dress Reform Association. She was proud that she was arrested several times for ‘impersonating a man’ – she had taken to fully wearing men’s clothing, from the top hat, wing collar and bow tie to the pants and shoes. In September 1866, she helped Susan B. Anthony and Lucy Stone organize the Women’s Suffrage Association for Ohio. She also coordinated activities for the Central Women’s Suffrage Bureau. In 1868, Mary and Belva Lockwood testified before the Judiciary Committee of the District of Columbia House of Delegates, on a bill to allow women in D.C. to vote. The bill failed. So she, Belva and five others filed petitions before the D.C. election board to be registered to vote. Mary argued, “You imprison women for crimes you have forbidden women to legislate upon.” The petition was denied. In 1872, she tried to vote in Oswego, while Susan B. Anthony was indicted and fined for illegally voting in Rochester. Most of the suffrage leadership decided to fight for a constitutional amendment, rather than continuing the multiple fights for suffrage in the states. Mary adamantly believed the Constitution, with “We the People” being non-gender-specific, meant an amendment was unnecessary. She felt the suffragists needed state acts making restrictions on women’s voting rights null and void. Then, she felt, women could be electors for the House of Representatives. Here, Mary and the mainstream suffrage movement parted ways. In 1869, Mary finally received her divorce from New York state. Two years later, she wrote her first book, “Hit,” which was a combination autobiography and commentary on divorce. She called for more equitable laws so wives and children could escape unhappy homes; this requiring women’s ability to vote. She wrote: “[U]ntil women have a voice in making [laws], they must of necessity be imperfect, as are all laws, where … woman has had no voice in their making.” She also believed marriage should be a “contract” between “equal” partners, writing: “No young lady, when she is being courted … for a moment supposes that her lover can … ever wish her to be his slave.” In 1878, Mary wrote her second book, “Unmasked, or The Science of Immortality,” about infidelity. (The Library of Congress catalogues this book under “sexual ethics” and “hygiene.” It has no record of “Hit.”) In 1880, Mary’s father passed away, leaving her the Bunker Hill Farm. She lived here until she passed away, traveling from Oswego to Washington when necessary. She planned to use the farm as a colony to teach young single women farming and domestic skills before marriage. In April 1917, while World War I raged on, she offered Kaiser Wilhelm II her land as a site for a German-American peace conference. In 1890, Mary declared herself a candidate for Congress in Oswego. The next year, she campaigned for a U.S. Senate seat and, the following year, paid her way to the Democratic National Convention. In 1917, while in Washington, Mary fell on the Capitol steps. She was 85 years old and never fully recovered. She died two years later, on February 21, 1919, while staying at a neighbor’s home in Oswego. Almost penniless, Mary was not so much remembered for her service to her country as she was for being “that shocking female surgeon in trousers!” She was buried in the Rural Cemetery. That same year, the 19th Amendment was ratified. In 1982, the U.S. Post Office issued a 20-cent stamp honoring Dr. Mary Walker as the first woman to have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor and as the second woman to graduate from a medical school in the U.S. In 2000, Mary Edwards Walker was inducted into the Women’s Hall of Fame at Seneca Falls, New York. Commire, Anne, editor. Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. Waterford, Conn: Yorkin Publications, 2000. Doherty, Kieran. Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients. Springfield, NJ: Enslow Publishers, 1998. Harness, Cheryl. Rabble Rousers: 20 Women Who Made a Difference. New York: Dutton Children's Books, 2003. Leonard, Elizabeth D. Yankee Women: Gender Battles in the Civil War. New York: W.W. Norton, 1994. Mikaelian, Allen. Medal of Honor: Profiles of America's Military Heroes from the Civil War to the Present. Hyperion Audiobooks, 2002. Roberts, Russell. American Women of Medicine. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow Publishers, 2002. United States Congress, Committee on the Judiciary. Woman Suffrage: Hearings before the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, Sixty-second Congress, Second Session. February 14 [March 13] 1912. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1912. [Available at Cleveland Public Library (main branch) on microfiche.] Civil War Congressional Medal of Honor - Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, The Only Woman Medal of Honor Recipient and Slightly Ahead of Her Time Mary Walker, Medal of Honor Awardee – North Georgia Notables website About Mary Edwards Walker – Women's History website Mary Edwards Walker, Civil War Doctor – Woman of Courage profile written and produced by the St. Lawrence County, NY Branch of the American Association of University Women " Let the generations know that women in uniform also guaranteed their freedom." ~ Dr. Mary Edwards Walker Women in History. Mary Edwards Walker biography. Last Updated: 2/27/2013. Women In History Ohio. <http://www.womeninhistoryohio.com/mary-edwards-walker.html>	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line518
__label__wiki	0.756438	0.756438	Banele Khoza (25) Home/Posts/2019/Arts & Entertainment/Banele Khoza (25) Artist / Curator and Director of BKhz Visual artist, curator and gallery director Banele Khoza remembers being always decisive and certain of his purpose. At the tender age of four, he embarked on his creative journey, recording what he saw and felt with pencil and paper. Writing and drawing gave him an immense joy and he has never stopped creating. The Swaziland-born, South Africa-based artist first enrolled into fashion school, before pursuing his passion in fine arts. Khoza works with digital mediums, as well as acrylics, gouache and space. Khoza’s debut solo exhibition Temporary Feelings was hosted by the Pretoria Art Museum three years ago, when he was just 22. It was very warmly received by critics and followed by several other solo shows, such as Lonely Nights at Lizamore Gallery, Rosebank, Johannesburg in 2017; and LOVE? at Cape Town’s Smith Studio; LGBTIQ+: Banele Khoza as part of the Curatorial Lab at Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town and To The Unknown at LKB/G in Germany, all of which were hosted in 2018. Khoza also dabbles in interior design. As part of a duo for the Win-A-Home competition in 2017 broadcasted on SABC 3, Khoza and his partner, Tshepo Sealetsa went head-to-head with two other teams to design a home. They won three challenges and were voted the viewer’s choice best team. In 2017, Khoza won the coveted Gerard Sekoto Award, which is a part of the Absa L’Atelier award. This is a prize that comes with a three-month residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. Later this year, thanks to the platform offered by the Gerard Sekoto award, Khoza’s body of work collectively entitled Seeking Love gets to travel nationally. Also in 2017, Khoza was also an overall winner for the SA Taxi Foundation Art Award. When he returned from Paris in 2018, Khoza opened a multipurpose open studio and gallery BKhz in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. BKhz does not just house Khoza’s and other artists’ work, it is a space where people can meet to talk about art and watch artists at work. With BKhz, Khoza realised his gift of hosting and housing people. He says: “There is nothing more fulfilling than touching and heightening the experience of an individual in all senses.” In 2018 he curated A Letter to my 22 Year Old Self: a group exhibition to launch his fundraising activities through BKhz Foundation, which aims to award grants to deserving art students dealing with economic hardship in South African universities. Khoza counts Oprah Winfrey as an inspiration. “She has raised millions and generations of people, emphasising the knowledge that we should embrace and be our authentic selves.” With energy and persistence, Khoza says the youth can follow his example. — Shaazia Ebrahim Instagram: @Banelekhoza and @BKhz	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line521
__label__wiki	0.675949	0.675949	Home / Movie / “American horror story: Cult” – first trailer “American horror story: Cult” – first trailer 23.08.2017 Movie 256 Views That abated the flow of bright posters and mind-blowing teasers of a new “American horror story”. This promotional campaign is the series finished? As it is not so! The other day we watched the opening credits of the”Cult”, and now the creators have shared the full trailer. The effect of season 7 begins in the night, when Donald trump became the 45th President of the United States. The main character will be Ellie Mayfair-Richards (Sarah Paulson), who along with his partner Ivy (Alison pill) raising a child and suffers from paranoia, and for good reason – after all, her family threatened by a group of unfriendly clowns. In addition, the series returns Get from “freak show”, however, only in the form of a symbol of evil (although the executor of his role, John Carroll Lynch, written in the caste). In addition to Paulson, the pill and Lynch in the cast observed Evan Peters, Cheyenne Jackson, Frances Conroy, the Mayor of Winningham and Emma Roberts. Premiere of “Cult” will be held on 5 September 2017. Copyright © 2009 – 2017 Horrorzone.ru Tags american first horror story" trailer The composer of “Astral” will release an album with tracks that are not included in the film Fresh photos from the completion of the filming of the remake of “pet Cemetery” In the new film, Tarantino appears Bruce Lee Music is like a puzzle in the movie “Sonata” (TRAILER) CTB film companyinvolved in production of the Franco-British mystical Thriller Sonata (The Sonata), introduced Russian …	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line523
__label__cc	0.74419	0.25581	Strait-Jacket 1964 Yesterday while walking along the streets of Palo Alto I actually uttered the words "Oh no a Nerd Herd." See, a group of 8 Nerds were headed up the sidewalk directly facing me. A Nerd Herd is no small inconvenience. Nerd Herds do not move out of your way. You have three options: be crushed against the wall, thrown into the street, or plow right through them. The third option is the worst because it involves some very awkward interactions including but not limited to: total Nerd paralysis, unnecessary coughing or choking, an unhealthy sense of entitlement (on the Nerds part), and the feeling that at least one of them got a boner (on your part). I chose to deal with this situation by diving into the bushes and waiting for them to pass. It was traumatic. I had to rush home and deal with it the only way I knew how: by watching a Joan Crawford movie. I can't believe I have never talked about this film before on my blog because it is one of my favorites! I saw it first when I was a kid, shortly after seeing and reading Mommie Dearest ( a book I would re-read about 50 times. It is one of my favorites). See, Strait-Jacket was the first Joan Crawford film I had ever seen, and it fit in perfectly with the narrative presented by Christina Crawford in Mommie Dearest. I mean, Crawford didn't kill anyone with an axe as far as I know, but she certainly screwed up her daughter just like she does in this film. Strait-Jacket is a "Psycho-biddy" or "Grande Dame Guignol" film, two terms I just learned. William Castle didn't invent this genre, but he made the best film in it (What Ever Happened to Baby Jane is too classy). Written by Robert Bloch (yes, that Robert Bloch), Strait-Jacket tells the story of Lucy Harbin, a wealthy woman who catches her much younger husband (played by Lee Majors!) in bed with another woman. She does what any woman who is Joan Crawford would do, and murders the shit out of both of them with an axe!! Her young daughter, Carol, witnessed the whole mess. Lucy is sent away to a psychiatric hospital for 20 years. Pretty light sentence if you ask me. Of course, it was just Lee Majors. When she is released she returns to her family farm to live with her Brother and his Wife. Carol, now a young woman, also lives there, and seems eager to accept her Mother back into her life. She encourages Lucy to get a make-over, so that she looks just as she did 20 years ago. These leads to some great stuff with a wig and Crawford looking like a "Real Housewife". Lucy tries to make a fresh start, but for some reason when she puts on the wig that Carol bought her she turns into a very sad, slutty, drunken fool. Just like a "Real Housewife." She even makes a pass at Carol's boyfriend, which has to rank as one of the top 10 most uncomfortable scenes I have ever seen in a film. Side note: see the product placement for Pepsi in the film still above? Early product placement! Crawford was on the Board of PepsiCo (watch the movie Mommie Dearest to see where they try to kick her off!) and she even hired the Vice-President of PepsiCo to act in the film! He plays Lucy's Doctor. He had a pretty big role and is terrible! Even worse than Lee Majors! By the way Carol is played by Diane Baker who had small role in Silence of the Lambs. I love this actress because she super WASP-y and she starred in late night commercials in the Bay Area for her Acting School. Lucy begins to think she is going crazy. She sees severed heads in her bed, hears children singing songs about her, and really thinks it is appropriate to hit on her Daughter's boyfriend. I am sure every single one of these things also happened to Joan Crawford. That is why her performance is so amazing! Spoiler Alert: Long story short this is a "Gaslight" type situation. People start being killed left and right, always with an axe. Is Lucy guilty? Of course not! Once you kill two people with an axe you really get that shit out of your system. But who is trying to set Lucy up? That I will let you find out!! (Its Carol.) Strait-Jacket is really an early proto-type of the slasher film. The elements are all there- stupid back story, gore, bad special effects, jump scares, wasps, Joan Crawford. It is also hysterical, which you would expect from a William Castle film. Take a look at the end credit above! I think I connected with this film as a child for many reasons. First, I love charm bracelets (see the film.) Second, I hope if I ever have to kill someone with an axe I hope I can do it in a totally blood free way like Crawford does (again, see the film.) Finally, I really connect with Lucy. I mean, not the killing part, despite the previous sentence, but with her total disdain for meeting new people and going to parties. Lucy is a complete introvert. I feel her pain when she is left to make "conversation" with Carol's boyfriend's parents. When I am made to make conversation with people I don't know is also usually ends with me breaking things and running down the highway and then returning to kill them with an axe. (Um, scratch that last part. That rarely happens.) Young and old Joan. Whenever I hang something on a wire hanger I always think of her. And when I have to clean my bathroom I always destroy a can of Clorox in her honor. I don't know if all that stuff Christina Crawford said in her book is true. Many say it is, many, including Joan's other children, say it is a lie. Only Joan and Christina know for sure. The fact is, Joan was an amazing actress, who never gave up, even when it was clear to all that her career was over. I am sure she didn't love being in camp like this, but it is because of these films that we love her. Thanks for embracing horror Joan. We are all the better for it. Labels: Joan Crawford, Nerd Herd, Strait-Jacket Horror Comics: Lio Pretty much how I feel right now. Goodbye ghosts, goblins, and ghouls. Till we meet again... Labels: horror comics, lio	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line524
__label__wiki	0.873369	0.873369	Amina Gautier Dr. Amina Gautier is the author of three [as of 2016] award-winning short story collections. At-Risk was awarded the Flannery O’Connor Award, The First Horizon Award, and the Eric Hoffer Legacy Fiction Award. Now We Will Be Happy was awarded the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction, the International Latino Book Award, the Florida Authors and Publishers Association President's Book Award, a USA Best Book Award, and a National Silver Medal IPPY Award and was named Finalist for the William Saroyan International Prize. The Loss of All Lost Things was awarded the Elixir Press Award in Fiction, three Florida Authors and Publishers Association President’s Book Awards (one silver, two gold) and the Chicago Public Library’s 21st Century Award. A graduate of Stanford University and the University of Pennsylvania, Gautier has taught creative writing and African American literature at Marquette University, Saint Joseph’s University and Washington University in St. Louis. A recent former professor at DePaul University, she currently teaches in the MFA program at the University of Miami and now divides her time between Miami and Chicago. Gautier is a writer, scholar, and professor. Her background as a scholar of 19th Century American literature and, more generally, African American literature combines with her training as a fiction writer such that she is both a critic and a creative writer, fully engaged in the analysis and creation of literature. Her critical work focuses on such nineteenth-century American authors as Charles W. Chesnutt, Elleanor Eldridge, Benjamin Franklin, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Walt Whitman. Gautier is a graduate of The Northfield Mount Hermon School (NMH), Stanford University, from which she earned both a bachelor and master's degree within four years, and the University of Pennsylvania where she received a master's degree and Ph.D. She has been a Mellon Minority Undergraduate Fellow (now Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow) at Stanford University, a Fontaine Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania, a Mitchem Dissertation Fellow at Marquette University, and a Postdoctoral Fellow at Washington University in St. Louis. Her academic memberships include AWP, MLA, and MELUS. She is currently Associate Professor of English at University of Miami. Gautier was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and is of African-American and Puerto Rican heritage. Her professional memberships include NAACP, National Association of University Women (NAUW), National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), and National Urban League. Gautier is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. Tell us how much you like Amina Gautier. 3 Books by Amina Gautier The Loss of All Lost Things Now We Will Be Happy At-Risk: Stories	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line525
__label__cc	0.685774	0.314226	AAPSO Constitution Statments Arabic (اللغة العربية) English (UK) Kathmandu Declaration 2015 International Conference Organized by AAPSO Nepal Vision of Bandung after 60 Years: Facing New Challenges The delegates and observers participating in the international conference organized by AAPSO, Nepal in Kathmandu on 18-19 April, 2015, to mark the 60th anniversary of Bandung conference with the theme "Vision of Bandung After 60 years: Facing New Challenges" pledge to carry forward the Bandung spirit against imperialism, colonialism, neocolonialism, racial discrimination, and economic expansionism to build the Afro-Asian region as a region of peace, stability, democracy, human rights, security, justice, equality, development and to get rid of war and military bases, occupation, terrorism, religious fundamentalism and weapons of mass destruction of all kinds. This international conference of Afro- Asian People's Solidarity Organization (AAPSO) draws urgent attention of people to: - Make 21st century as a century of Asia and Africa; bringing all Asian and African countries closer for the cause of peace, stability and development in the region and leading the world economy, reviving the silk route and the 21st century maritime silk route, developing Trans-Himalayan corridor to link the two largest markets of the world, China and India. - Raise voice against external interferences and internal conflict stirred by fundamentalist and extremist elements in West Asia, North Africa and South Asia. - Repatriation of all refugees and dismantling of refugee camps from Nepal and giving all options of repatriation and resettlements in third countries. - Establish that the best way to fight against terrorism is to promote democracy, rule of law, eliminate the poverty, foster the pace of development in the world and seek non-military solutions. - Strongly supports and respect the peaceful co-existence between the religions and faiths of the people; and if there are any problems to resolve them through dialogue, patience, tolerance and mutual respects. - Reaffirms the "Panchsheel" as the five principles of peaceful coexistence which reflects the vision of Bandung spirit, the foundation of AAPSO, NAM and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). - Address the contemporary issues like spreading diseases, water crises and food crises that threatening around the world. - Supports the Palestinian people in their just and legitimate struggle for an independent state and strongly support the Palestinian people struggle for obtaining their independence and establishing the Palestinian state on borders before 1967 and its capital East Jerusalem so that permanent peace, stability, socio-economic development and co-existence of the state can be achieved in the West Asia Region. - Greets the Egyptian people's revolutions in January 2011 and June 2013, that revolted against authoritarian and religious fundamentalism. - Welcomes the process for the normalization of the USA and Cuba relationship to promote peace and economic co-operation in the region. - Welcomes the meetings organized by different nations in different times are positive actions to settle the disputes and promote understanding and peace. - Emphasizes on the need to establish and implement policies for sustainable development in order to eradicate social and economic backwardness, preserve and protect the eco-system for the safe and more prosperous future through South-South and North-South co-operation. Supports the people's war against violence and terrorism and settlement of disputes in a peaceful way. - Supports the Bangladeshi people in their just struggle against religious fundamentalism. - Supports the peoples of Asia and Africa in their just struggle to maintain their independence and freedom and oppose any kind intervention. Global Warming is another burning issue. In order to stabilize the climate, there has to be an urgent reduction in the greenhouse gases and ozone depleting chemicals etc. The present conference realizes the need to address this concern because of the threat due to human induced climate change, pollution, bringing adverse effect on people, communities and ecosystems. For example, snow melting in the lofty mountains bring flood, erosion as natural hazards as well as disappearance of some island states in Afro-Asian region. Moreover, this international conference expresses concern to environmental degradation and draws serious attention to its adverse impact on the Himalayas. Likewise, the upward climbing of malaria from the plain to the hill areas too needs to be addressed with regional global assistance to mitigate these problems. This international conference expresses its concern to the growing military buildup in different continents. The expansion of NATO eastward is a cold war mindset, contrary to peace diplomacy. Also, the conference welcomes all the efforts being made in different parts of the world to settle disputers peacefully and calls upon all the people across the world, from the land of Buddha, to join forces for a new world based upon freedom, justice, compassion, equality and peace. Kathmandu declaration expresses its respect and appreciation to the Tunisia experience in its democratic transition that established a new democratic constitution, and organized fair elections, despite the threat of Terrorism. The conference expresses its concerns about the growing tensions that result in terrorism attacks in the African coast and Sahara. The conference extends greetings to reasonable and peaceful Morocco, initiative aiming at solving one of the regional conflicts, proposing self-governance to manage affairs of Moroccan SAHARA. Conference supports the launching of the very realistic programme on education to bring all the out of school children in formal education stream of these two regions. We support the education to be a fundamental right. Conference strongly supports the wishes of the people of Pakistan for continuation and consolidation of democratic governance and for the fight now being waged against religious terrorists who are responsible for the murder of over 60,000 innocent men, women and children. Conference expresses its sincere thanks to the AAPSO Nepal, Government of Nepal, the people of Nepal for holding the 60th Bandung conference successfully and taking excellent care of all the delegations. Bulletin of March 2018 Bulletin of February 2018 Bulletin of January 2018 Bulletin of November & December 2017 Bulletin of August, September & October 2017 ANNUAL REPORT OF 2018 Copyright © 2019. Afro Asian People's Solidarity Organization. Customized and Hosted by Integrated Technology Systems	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line526
__label__cc	0.637356	0.362644	A statistical portrait of AIIC: 2004 A look at the International Association of Conference Interpreters through statistics. Vincent BUCK , interpretation-markets , job-satisfaction , language-trends , statistics , Earlier this year the association undertook a survey [i] of members to collect the raw material needed to create a portrait of our profession. Using the expanding number of resources and tools available on the members-only section of this website, supplemented by a paper questionnaire where needed, information was collected on a variety of variables. The responses received were checked against the AIIC database of members, candidates and pre-candidates on the following factors: professional status, AIIC status, gender, A language(s) and regional membership. The 931 valid responses obtained out of a total of 2903 eligible interpreters (a 32% response rate) proved to be representative of the AIIC population as a whole, making the overall likeness certainly good if not hyper-realistic. Respondent profile The age of respondents varied between 24 and 90, with a mean of 49. One in two respondents was under 49, but very few were under 30. The age pyramid was similar for both men and women. For every man who submitted a questionnaire, 3 women did – a faithful reflection of the gender distribution in the association. Close to 90% of all those responding are active members. Freelancers outnumbered staff interpreters by nearly 9-to-1, also a ratio that reflects the overall distribution of members. Freelance interpreters were asked whether they belonged to a group of interpreters offering recruitment services (as opposed to offering availability management services only); over 25% did, although such affiliation shows great variation among regions. The largest number of staff interpreters participating in the survey was employed by the European Union, followed by the United Nations or other UN agencies. The average period between graduation and entry into the profession shows surprising inter-regional variation, going from about 5 months in Germany and the Nordic Countries up to about 3 in Portugal and 4 in the Netherlands. The number of people entering the profession has been rather stable over time, with peaks in the late 80s and in the early 90s. The largest number of respondents (32.72%) started working as an interpreter between 1981 and 1990. On average, respondents had 9.5 years of professional experience when joining AIIC. The gap is smaller (between 6 and 7 years) for France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland and UK & Ireland. It is greater (between 13 and 15 years) for Brazil, CECO, Mexico & Central America and South America. Newer AIIC members responded actively, with those joining since 2000 making up 28% of the total number of respondents. Over 60% of respondents joined AIIC in 1991 or later. How much did they work? About 34% of freelance respondents worked between 51 and 100 days, and 27% between 101 and 150 days. At the upper and lower extremes, 15% worked between 11 and 50 days, and 10% over 150 days. One out of 5 members also reported doing 1 or more days of volunteer work in 2004. Respondents were asked to compare their 2004 workload to the previous year. About 40% declared that it had remained stable, while 26% reported more work and 34% less work. The trend is negatively correlated with age: respondents over sixty were more likely to be affected by a decreasing workload whilst respondents under forty benefited proportionately more than other age groups from a higher workload. There is also a correlation between work volume and specific market sectors. Respondents with fewer than 100 days[ii] were more likely to report a downturn. In general, freelancers for whom work in the Agreement Sector represents a large proportion of total days also reported a decrease. Respondents working between 100 and 150 days mainly in the EU or UN sectors were more likely to report a decreasing workload. On the other hand, freelancers with a strong presence in the Private Market sector were more likely to report an increase in days worked. This was especially the case for respondents with clients of their own (as opposed to those who get most of their work through intermediaries). Modes of interpreting Simultaneous in the booth was assumed to be the main type of interpretation world-wide, but for comparison members were asked to indicate how many days were spent doing pure consecutive, bidule, chuchotage with or without some consecutive, and liason. Only information submitted by freelancers was taken into account. Nearly half of all freelancers (49%) had worked in consecutive at least once during the year, but the figure varies significantly across regions. Between 60 and 80% of respondents based in CECO, Brazil, Italy, Israel, France, Spain and Greece reported at least one day of consecutive. This contrasts with fewer than 30% in Switzerland, South America, Belgium and the UK & Ireland. Roughly 26% of freelancers used bidule at least once. Here again regional variations are significant (min 7% for Austria, max 54% for France, with Germany a close second at 53%). Some 41% of freelancers used chuchotage at least once, likewise with strong regional variations (16% of respondents in Luxembourg against 60% in Greece). About 29% of respondents performed liaison interpreting during the course of the year. Israel led all regions in this category with 55% of freelancers reporting at least one day in this mode. At the other end of the scale, the figure dipped to under 10% of freelancers based in Austria, Belgium, Switzerland and the UK/Ireland. Data collection on the AIIC Extranet made it possible to present potential respondents with a customised questionnaire for their specific language combination. Respondents’ AIIC A-B-C language combinations were automatically transcoded into passive-active language pairs. Under AIIC rules, an A-B-C combination can be transposed as: A>A, B>A, C>A, A>B, B>B and C>B. The average size of the language combination was 4.45 theoretical passive-to-active pairs. Africa is the only region where the average number of pairs is under 3. The top of the league is composed of Portugal and Spain with over 6 pairs and Brazil with over 5 nominal language pairs per respondent on average. However, major differences appeared between the respondents’ nominal language combination and how they used it in practise. About 35% used all their passive-active pairs, some 50% reported using over ¾ of their pairs, and 13% used fewer than half. 75% of respondents used less than 4 pairs frequently. The vast majority of respondents worked mainly with 2 or 3 language pairs, i.e. slightly over 66% of their nominal language combination. Little used pairs are usually those in which the active language is a B. For instance, only 10% of all C>B pairs were used at all, as compared to 72% for A>B pairs. In the survey the top language pairs (by number of days) were EN>FR and FR>EN. Both were equally in demand, with a slight advantage to the former. There was a 2:1 demand ratio between the top two and the third, EN>ES. This went to 3:1 for the following pairs in the ranking: EN>DE, ES>EN and DE>EN. Respondents were asked whether they were learning languages with a view to working from and/or into them at some point. They were free to choose any language, including those already present in their official language combination. 38% reported learning languages. There is a positive correlation between the utilisation rate of the existing AIIC language combination and learning languages: Interpreters with a good leverage of their current languages were more likely to learn new languages. About 41% of respondents learning other languages used 100% of their current passive-active language pairs. One of two interpreters with between 3 and 4 passive-active pairs in their combination reported learning at least one additional language. That nasty stress Members were asked whether they suffered from the following stress factors “a lot”, “regularly”, “infrequently” or “never”: Fast speeches, Unintelligible speakers, Obscure jargon, Highly technical matters, Difficult relationship with colleagues, Lack of space in booth, Lack of job security, Long working days, Low remuneration, Poor accommodation conditions, Poor air supply in booth, Poor sound, Poor travel conditions, Poor vision from booth. The most stressful factors were, in order: “Fast speeches”, “Unintelligible speakers”, “Highly technical matters”, “Poor air supply in booth”. On the other hand, “Poor accommodation conditions”, “Poor travel conditions” and “Low remuneration” had low scores. Over 96% of members participating in the survey considered “Relationships with colleagues” not to be a stress factor at all. A cluster of interpreters emerged with similarly high scores for the following stressors, thereby indicating that they could be related: “Fast speeches”, “Unintelligible speakers”, “Highly technical matters”, “Obscure jargon”. Satisfied? Overall job satisfaction was high in 2004. 81% of staff interpreters and 70% of freelancers declared themselves highly satisfied with their work. There was a positive correlation between the overall job satisfaction and the work trend and work volume. Satisfaction increased in step with workload, but the satisfaction threshold clearly depended on the respondents’ main market: 88% of interpreters reporting 100 days or more on the Private Market were very satisfied. And 84% of interpreters reporting 150 days or more on the Agreement Sector were very satisfied. Job satisfaction is paradoxically extremely high despite (or because of?) what everybody agrees is a difficult job and a stressful life-style. Low satisfaction is generally related to not having enough work. Respondents nearing the end of their professional career regret having to quit. Job satisfaction remains high even for respondents who are most affected by the job’s often unpredictable nature, such as interpreters with young children or dependents. When expressed, dissatisfaction is primarily related to pervasive changes in the working environment restricting the interpreters’ ability to do their job properly. The top dissatisfaction factors are the rise of Global English that leaves many interpreters frustrated – and/or bored, if they happen to work in the English booth - and the lack or tardiness of materials to prepare properly. The 2004 survey was the first time AIIC undertook an exercise of such magnitude and it proved to be a rich source of reliable data. A multi-variate analysis was conducted with a view to identifying potential success factors measured in terms of work days, remuneration and overall job satisfaction. No conclusive results were obtained, probably because positive outcomes are strongly influenced by micro-markets that escape statistical analysis. However there were indications that entrepreneurship (measured by the proportion of direct clients on the Private Market) was a success factor for freelance interpreters. A more focused analysis of the data is possible, provided that precise questions can be formulated ahead of time. AIIC Regions, sectors and committees are invited to think about how statistics could be of help in their work and report their conclusions. Many thanks are due to all AIIC members who took the time to participate in the 2004 survey and to all AIIC groups and individuals who contributed their ideas for the questionnaire. The full 49-page report can be consulted on the AIIC Extranet, which is accessible only to authorised AIIC users (active or associate members, candidates and pre-candidates) after successful identification (username, password). [i] The 2004 questionnaire was designed by Vincent Buck on behalf of the Standing Committee for the Private Market Sector. Feedback was received from the Research, Training and Staff Interpreters’ Committees and the German Region. The final version of the questionnaire was tested online by a dozen AIIC volunteers representing all sectors. The primary collection method was via an online questionnaire in a secured sub-set of the AIIC Extranet. Data was collected between January 19th through to March 15th, 2005 and analysed by a professional statistician at Ebullio sprl. [ii] Including travel, rest and other paid non-working days Vincent BUCK,Luigi LUCCARELLI. "A statistical portrait of AIIC: 2004". aiic.net August 23, 2005. Accessed July 17, 2019. <http://aiic.net/p/1906>. Vincent BUCK Vincent Buck is a Brussels-based freelance conference interpreter and IT systems analyst Ursula SCHNEIDER an excellent article, many thanks to the authors and to all those responsable for the study itself, not least Ruth Hall. Without her efforts over many years the response rate would not have been as high. Burckhard Doempke Excellent summary that makes me want to read the full article which I shall do as soon as my post holiday email backlog is cleared. Thanks Luigi, Vincent and all the others involved in compiling, analyzing and summarizing the results. Numériquement la profession est minuscule. L'AIIC compte moins de 2500 membres dans le monde entier. Le nombre total de personnes qui exercent la profession est certainement plus élevé, mais reste très modeste. Une école comme l'ESIT à Paris délivre chaque année une quinzaine de diplômes, toutes langues confondues. Christopher Thiery Ask it on ii - a community-driven Q&A dedicated to spoken language translation Just ask!	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line532
__label__cc	0.593224	0.406776	District Finalizes Design for Next School Year’s Block Schedule By Acalanes Blueprint on January 5, 2017 • ( Leave a comment ) By Lisi Burciaga, Staff Writer Come August 2017, students and staff of the Acalanes Union High School District (AUHSD) will find themselves navigating a new and potentially improved block schedule which will change the district’s current everyday routine. The AUHSD Governing Board finalized the newly-designed block schedule on November 2 and will be implementing the changes in all four of the district’s high schools come the start of the 2017-2018 school year. Once block is implemented, Monday, also to be known as an “anchor day,” will start at 8:35 A.M., 35 minutes later than the current start time. Shaving 35 minutes off of the day allows for seven 45-minute class periods, five minute passing periods, and a 35 minute lunch. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, class will begin at 8:00 A.M., just as it does currently, and students will attend first period, fifth period, and seventh period, each for an hour and a half. With a five-minute break after third period, and a 30-minute lunch, students will be allotted ten minutes per a passing period, double the current time. Wednesdays and Fridays will hold a major change for students. On both days, class will begin for students at 8:30 A.M., with an hour long staff collaboration session taking place prior to school. The current school day starts at 8:00 A.M. and seventh period ends at 3:05 P.M. The day consists of seven, 50 minute periods, and grants students five minute passing periods with a ten minute break after second period, and a 35 minute lunch period. AUHSD Superintendent John Nickerson claims that the order in which periods occur on certain days may differ from the design. However, he ensures that the general structure will not change. Creating longer passing periods is an alteration that has proved beneficial for other high schools, and the district hopes that it will positively impact the AUHSD in many ways as well. “If you’re going to be in a class for an hour to an hour and a half, more students are going to need a break, but probably the more important reason [for longer passing periods], is to eliminate some of the frantic racing from class to class, and give time for students to transition both mentally and physically,” Nickerson said. According to Nickerson, the new schedule may be tested before going into effect in the 2017-2018 school year, and could even be implemented as the final exams schedule for May of this school year. “It’s not firm yet, but we are looking at the week of February 8 or sometime around then [to test the new schedule], and it’s really just to kind of inform teachers on the needs and what works, what doesn’t work,” Nickerson said. “Then we’ll try to see if we can use the schedule during the Final Exams time in May.” The AUHSD plans to conduct a test run so as to ensure that the new schedule is compatible with both staff and students alike, and that the changes go smoothly. “We think it would be valuable for teachers to experience it a little bit, and as they’re spending all of this time developing new lessons and implementing new strategies, we think it would be good for them to experience the rhythm of a day, the rhythm of a class period, and how kids respond,” Nickerson said. Testing the new schedule will give the district much needed feedback, as after the Governing Board finalized their official plans for a new schedule, those aware of the changes to come began to form and express their opinions on the subject. Students’ lack of time to finish up work may be remedied by not only longer periods, but by a brand new addition to the Wednesday and Friday schedule as well. As Wednesday and Friday progress, students will then attend second period, which will be followed by the most foreign addition to the schedule for students, a period of class entitled “Tutorial,” or “Academy.” The district has chosen to grant students this class time as an opportunity to make up tests, seek extra help from teachers, and see to other school related issues. “It’s going to have a wide variety of uses ranging from targeted instruction for students who need extra support, to time for students to sit with classmates and collaborate on a project,” Nickerson said. “[It will be] a time for supported homework, a time for independent work, like a study hall, and a time to makeup tests that were missed, or to make up labs that were missed.” While the primary uses of the Academy period will revolve around classroom studies, the free class time also poses opportunities in the arts and physical education departments. “There will probably be opportunities for yoga, or other things in the physical education department and there will probably be opportunities for open studio time in the visual or performing arts departments,” Nickerson said. “So there will be a wide variety of things that students can do.” The Academy period will not only be an opportunity for students to seek out teachers, but also for teachers to seek out students who they feel need extra help. Nickerson explained the concept of “tagging,” which will occur between teachers and students who need extra guidance. “Some of the students will be ‘tagged,’ so to speak, where the teachers will say ‘you need to come see me’ so that we can get you up to speed on a particular idea or concept in the class,” Nickerson said. “Students who aren’t tagged will have a long menu of choices where they can decide where they want to go for extra support, or independent work, or collaborative work, or whatever they choose.” Those who have learned about the Academy/Tutorial period believe that it will be one of the most beneficial aspects of block schedule. “I think [the Academy period] is going to be really helpful because a lot of kids who have after school sports and stuff don’t get home until really late, if they have an away game or a practice that runs late,” Seiler said. “So it is probably going to help kids do their homework, who don’t have a lot of time after school. The free period will also give seniors time to deal with college applications and seek letters of recommendation. “The free period is so smart because kids need extra time and I just hope that teachers will always have their doors open on those days for students to come and ask questions,” Junior Cate Combi said. Now that details of the new schedule have been released, staff members and students of the Acalanes community can begin preparing in anticipation for the new changes to come, which will hopefully benefit the school’s environment in many ways. Members of the Acalanes community are slowly but surely becoming aware of the details involved in the impending changes on the horizon. Some students anticipate great benefits, while some predict a more complicated outcome, and others are somewhere in between. Many students who have seen the few schedule are excited for a new change, while others have their concerns. Some find their viewpoints to be somewhere in the middle. “I have mixed feelings about [block schedule],” Acalanes Junior David Varner said. “ But I am absolutely against the fact that we are going to have much longer classes, which is going to make tests even longer.” While the uncertainty that comes with trying out an entirely new schedule draws skeptics such as Varner, many students feel that block has the potential to benefit Acalanes, and are willing to give it a shot. “I think classes like math [will be benefited] because my teacher is always running out of time to teach her lesson, and still have time for us to do the classwork, so block will definitely benefit that,” Freshman Natalie Seiler said. Nickerson believes that the change will benefit students by reducing stress and increasing learning. “I think we’ll see better teaching, more engaging classrooms, deeper understanding, and higher levels of learning,” Nickerson said. “I think we’ll also see a de-escalation of our rising stress levels among students, and I think [block schedule] will bring a calm to the campuses.” Tagged as: block schedule, News Prom- Ball Combination Changes Long Standing Tradition Students and Teachers Stand Divided Over “Busywork”	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line534
__label__wiki	0.716789	0.716789	Home 2018 Five things you need to know about Jim Zeigler Five things you need to know about Jim Zeigler Incumbent State Auditor Jim Zeigler ran circles around his opponents in the June primary, taking home 55 percent of the vote. But now that the primaries are over, the real battle has begun. Zeigler one again faces Democratic nominee Miranda Joseph in the November 6 general election, creating a bit of a déjà vu for voters as the two ran against one another in 2014. With that in mind, here are the five things you need to know about Jim Zeigler: 1. He’s been Alabama’s state auditor since 2014, and has served in one other state office. Zeigler served on the Alabama Public Service commission in the 1970’s, and after running several unsuccessful campaigns for statewide offices in the early 2000’s, he was elected State Auditor in 2014. Since then he has been working hard: announcing a budget plan to save the state’s park system in 2015 and launching a volunteer-based program within his office to investigate claims of waste, fraud and abuse within Alabama state government, to his most recent quest to solve Alabama’s infrastructure problems; he’s become a public fixture nobody expected. 2. His background is in law and he practiced law for over 20 years. Originally from Sylacauga, Ala., Zeigler earned his JD from the Jones Law Institute at Faulkner University in Montgomery; obtaining his license in 1978. In 1993, he opened his own private practice, practicing as a mediator, arbitrator, and attorney until 2015, when he was elected State Auditor. Zeigler recently voluntarily relinquished his law license, after deciding not to run for Alabama Attorney General. 3. He’s fought hard against government waste while in office and continually seeks to keep Alabama lawmakers in check. The Alabama Department of Transportation’s (ALDOT) long contested “bridge to nowhere,” was a battle against wasteful spending Zeigler was willing to fight. Calling on ALDOT’s transportation director John Cooper to answer his questions about the need for an $87 million state-funded bridge project in Baldwin County — which would be a second bridge to Orange Beach, later saying the department needed to redirect funds from the bridge to the Mobile River Bridge and the I-10 Bayway Project. Zeigler has continued to “stir the pot” during his time in office, and seeks to continue what he sees as his job; keeping Alabama legislative officials in check. “I have a plan to turn the State Auditor’s office into a watchman against government mismanagement and waste,” Zeigler told Alabama Today. “It is starting to work.” 4. He was Student Government Association President at the University of Alabama. While in college, Zeigler served as President of the university’s Student Government Association (SGA) from 1970 to 1971. While there, he also served on the Athletic Committee with Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. Note: Several members of the Alabama legislature have begun their political careers in universities student government associations. Governor Kay Ivey was a member of the SGA at Auburn University and Secretary of State John Merrill served as President of the University of Alabama’s SGA from 1986 to 1987. 5. He was one of the first legislative officials to file a complaint with the Alabama Ethics Commission regarding former governor Robert Bentley In March of 2016, before former governor Robert Bentley‘s impeachment process began, Zeigler filed a report with the Alabama Ethics Commission requesting they investigate Bentley’s affair with senior advisor Rebekah Caldwell Mason. A frequent critic of Bentley’s Zeigler released a statement saying; “the governor continues to disgrace the state of Alabama, and in my official capacity as state auditor, I am required to report these suspected violations.” Bentley was later impeached for his inappropriate affair with Mason, resigning from office in April of 2017. Alabama Department of Transportation ALDOT bridge to nowhere Faulkner University Jim Zeigler John Merrill Miranda Joseph Rebekah Caldwell Mason Robert Bentley Previous articleWhy we shouldn’t accept the absurdity of dehumanizing people based on their politics or job Next articlePersonnel note: Kelly Ann Scott named Vice President of Content at Alabama Media Group Republicans likely looking at a run-off in Attorney General’s race Five things you need to know about Will Ainsworth	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line543
__label__wiki	0.947011	0.947011	A success story " Goat farming holds promise to former teacher" - Blogs Until 3 years ago, Lokendra Bayak, who lives in Turmakhad Rural Municipality of Achham district, Nepal, was known in the village as a teacher. But now he has earned a new moniker as a goat farmer. He no longer teaches at the school. Three years ago, Bayak quit his job as a teacher at Bishwa Secondary School and started to raise goats. As a teacher funded by locals, he drew a monthly salary of Rs. 7000. The 31-year-old now earns three times more from goat farming. He supports education of his three children. He also provides financial assistance to his fellow villagers. When he quit his job to start farming, people remarked that he had gone crazy. But now he’s an inspiration for the entire village. “I now feel attached to farming rather than teaching,” he said. Bayak is a member of Pragatishil Farmer’s Group, which counts 900-1300 goats belonging to 33 farmers. Since May last year, he has sold 20 goats from his farm. High Value Agriculture Project (HVAP) has provided key support in his business. The group has received Rs. 1.34 million from the HVAP for 33 pens for goats. “Earlier, we used to corral the goats to traditional sheds. They were narrow and unhealthy. Now, our goats are not infected with diseases,” he said. Bayak, who is also a junior technical assistant, said many households that raised goats to feast during the Dashain festival had shifted to commercial goat farming. “It has become commercially viable,” he said. The Dashain festival in September-October and Chaite Dashain in April are periods when demand for goats increases. Traders from Surkhet arrive at his farm and buy live goat for Rs. 350 per kilogram. These goats are destined for Kathmandu and Pokhara. He makes between Rs. 2 to 3 lakhs from the sales of his goats every year. He himself takes his herd of 35 goats to the nearby forest for grazing. But the forest is also home to leopard, which occasionally preys on the goats. Over the last 3 months, the farmers of the region lost 15 goats to the wild animals. Two of his goats were among the fatalities. But he and other farmers have insured their goats against the killings from the wild animals. Aside from wildlife attacks, goat farmers have to manage fodder for their stock. “We have to make sure that they are well fed. Otherwise they will become thinner,” Bayak said. The HVAP introduced farmers like Bayak to new tools such as insurance scheme and trained them on pests and commercial goat farming. “There’s risk in this business because goats can succumb to diseases. But this is far better than teaching,” he said. He also grows maize, rice and wheat, crops that sustains his family of five for six months. He has enrolled his eldest son, who is 13, at an English-medium school in Birendranagar, headquarters of Surkhet. “HVAP encouraged me to adopt commercial goat farming. Now on, I will dedicate my life in this business,” he said. 28874 Views, 1 Prakash Basnet Good, Great Information. Posted on 9/25/18 2:30 AM. Sign in to vote.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line545
__label__cc	0.669703	0.330297	Item 237 - Speech by President Nelson Mandela at the launch of the Kwazulu-Natal Land Reform Pilot Programme Speech by President Nelson Mandela at the launch of the Kwazulu-Natal Land Reform Pilot Programme ZA COM MR-S-237 ANC Website Launch of the Kwazulu-Natal Land Reform Pilor Programme Minister of Land Affairs; Premier of the KwaZulu-Natal Province; Ladies and Gentlemen. With freedom and democracy last year, came restoration of the right to land. And with it, the opportunity to address the effects of centuries of dispossession and denial. It is therefore a matter of great pride for me, to be here to launch this project. At last we can, as a people, look our ancestors in the face and say: Your sacrifices were not in vain. The time has come to correct the wrongs that colonial invasion brought on our communities. In addressing land hunger, the Government of National Unity is not engaged in a simplistic, punitive and unproductive exercise. We seek a solution that is generally acceptable to all, an approach that eliminates the suspicion, mistrust, and anger that have characterised land disputes over the years. Furthermore, our land redistribution policy insists on the effective and productive use of land as a resource in a sustainable way. Our Pilot Land Reform Programme is concrete first step in our land redistribution programme. This in turn is central to rural development, which will address the poverty, unemployment, malnutrition and economic depression that characterises so much of our rural areas. As such land reform is an integral part of the Reconstruction and Development Programme aimed at bringing a better life for all. So we are here in KwaNobamba today to launch the first pilot land reform project for this province. This project, together with the eight similar projects in the other provinces, is a test, its lessons will be applied to each district and locality across the country over time. It is because these projects open the way for systematic land reform and rural development, that they were made part of Presidential Projects announced at the start of our first democratically elected Parliament. This area, the Escourt-Weenen District was chosen for this test because here there are already land-related and planning initiatives under way. The people of this area have demonstrated that they are ready to shoulder responsibility for their own development and resolve their own problems. The way in which you handled a threatened land invasion last year, as well as the farmworkers and farm tenants strike early this year demonstrated the maturity of the people of this area. The planning, joint efforts and negotiations that have gone into the land acquisition process left government in no doubt that the people of this district can provide a model for others. We are confident that the 35 million rand that we shall be ploughing into this project over the next three years will be money well spent. Community involvement and mass participation in development efforts lie at the heart of the Reconstruction and Development Programme. There can be no development without community participation. You are reaping the fruits of your co-operation and creativity. We are today launching a project that will benefit your rural community of 45,000 people. It will help bring jobs and a better standard of living. In the successful implementation of such projects, local authorities have a crucial role to play. They will receive state grants on behalf of the community. They will determine who benefits and they will oversee the project. This is why you must ensure that you register for the November elections. You must put in place a democratic local authority that is responsive to your needs; an authority that will sustain what your community has done so far and improve on it. In this way, we shall all make the RDP work! EDITORIAL CHANGES Paragraph beginning: "ladies and Gentlemen." Changes made: "ladies" changed to "Ladies" Africa » South Africa » KwaZulu-Natal Acquisition method: From website ; Source: ANC Website. Accessioned on 15/11/06 by Helen Joannides	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line551
__label__cc	0.506249	0.493751	« Previous Post \| Next Post » Back to Blog Democrats Move To Protect The Arctic; Trump Wants To Drill It Written by Kristen Miller, April 28th, 2017 (Cover image: Steven Kazlowski, www.lefteyepro.com) Two things happened Friday. One positive…and one unprecedented. [UPDATED: May 3, 2017] Last Friday, Senate Democrats led by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced legislation to strengthen protections for the Arctic Ocean and show opposition to any future risky drilling in our oceans. Similar legislation was introduced by Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) in March on the House side. Ice covers the surface of the Arctic Ocean. (NASA) But on the very same day, President Donald Trump announced that his administration would work to roll back protections of Arctic and Atlantic Oceans put into place by President Barack Obama. No other president prior to that announcement has ever attempted to dismantle or challenge another president’s permanent action to protect our nation’s oceans. Trump’s action sets a dangerous precedent, which will only undermine the powers of the office of the president to protect our nation’s natural history. We have seen acts of bravado like this before related to the Arctic Ocean. Take Shell Oil Company’s failed attempts at drilling in the Arctic. In 2015, Shell Oil CEO Ben van Beurden said he was aware of the risks of drilling in a “fragile” environment, but claimed the reservoir Shell was exploring would be “relatively easy” from a technical perspective. Yet in 2013, Shell’s massive drilling rig, the Kulluk, broke free from its tugs and ran aground in Alaska, ended its drilling season high and dry and dismantled in Asia. Shell’s other ship, the Noble Discoverer, became stuck and unable to leave Alaska on its own power. Learning nothing from its past mistakes, Shell returned in 2015 only to abandon drilling for the “foreseeable future” when the oil giant failed to find enough oil to warrant continued exploration. Shell, ConocoPhillips and others ultimately relinquished $2.5 billion plus millions of acres in leases in the Arctic. Shell’s Kulluk drill rig runs aground in 2012. (U.S. Coast Guard) This is proof that no oil company should drill in the Arctic. Drilling in the Arctic is risky and reckless. As we have seen time and time again, it is not a question of whether we will spill, but when. The Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez environmental disasters proved that there is no such thing as effective clean up; once oil has been spilled, the battle has been lost. The government—by its own estimate—has said that there is up to a 75 percent risk of a major spill if drilling were to move forward in the Chukchi Sea in Alaska. Our Arctic champions in the House and Senate have chosen the right path to protect the Arctic and have introduced legislation that would prohibit oil and gas leasing in the Arctic Ocean Planning Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf. The Arctic Ocean is a vulnerable region, home to polar bears, walrus and bowhead whales, and it is facing the dual threats of climate change and development. This legislation would help solidify historic action by the Obama administration to protect our oceans. After listening to the call of Arctic communities, scientists, and the large majority of Americans who recognize that Arctic drilling is too risky and too dirty to allow, President Obama withdrew 125 million acres of the Arctic Ocean from future oil and gas leasing throughout the course of his administration. A polar bear patrols the shores of the Beaufort Sea. (Alex Berger) Saturday, April 29, marked the 100th day of the Trump administration, and millions of people across the planet joined forces at the People’s Climate March and its sister marches to show the world and its leaders our unity on the need to find solutions to the climate crisis. Climate change is real, and it is up to us to act before it is too late. One way we can do that is to oppose all efforts to initiate new drilling off of our Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and tell our elected officials across the country to do the same. Thank you to our Arctic champions who continue to work to protect the Arctic. President Obama’s decision to preserve and protect 98% of our publicly owned Arctic Ocean and key portions of the Atlantic from the hazards and harms of offshore oil drilling was a victory for our oceans, coastal residents, children’s health and climate. President Trump and his administration might want to undo these protections, but we will continue to work hard to make sure that Big Oil stays out of the Arctic – for the sake of Arctic communities, wildlife and for future generations. It only takes a quick look at the not-so-distant past to see that drilling in the Arctic is not the right answer. Shell Oil’s story tells us that taking these risks with our nation’s precious waters is irresponsible. Sign our petition to let your senators know you want them to protect our oceans from oil drilling! Tags: Advocate, Arctic Ocean, Climate Change, Drilling, League Post, Polar Bear, Shell, Whale Kristen Miller Kristen is the League's Interim Executive Director, and occasionally comes to work without dog or kid slobber on her clothes.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line553
__label__wiki	0.570177	0.570177	5 Ridiculous Fidel Castro Assassination Attempts By The U.S. By Richard Stockton From his love of cigars to his actual lover, no idea was a bad idea when it came to Fidel Castro assassination attempts. Library Of CongressOver the course of his life, there would be over 600 Fidel Castro assassination attempts and plans. Here is the rebel leader as he enters Havana with his bodyguards in January 1959. The peaceful death of Fidel Castro was the occasion of many respectful public statements from heads of state and major politicians all over the world. Public figures as prominent as Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Mikhail Gorbachev, Britain’s Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, Canada’s Justin Trudeau, and America’s President Obama and Hillary Clinton all called the departed “President” Castro “important,” “a major figure,” and – Jeremy Corbyn’s entry – a “champion of social justice.” It fell to then-President-Elect Donald Trump to strike the note he always strikes when somebody he doesn’t like dies. Trump, with his customary bluntness, called Castro: “[A] brutal dictator who oppressed his own people for nearly six decades.” He continued, as he is wont to do: “Fidel Castro’s legacy is one of firing squads, theft, unimaginable suffering, poverty and the denial of fundamental human rights.” Whatever you think of Trump’s diplomatic approach, his assessment of Castro hews close to how the U.S. government saw the man for the six decades he acted as a thorn in America’s side. In power for 58 years, and acting as an antagonist to eleven American presidents, Castro lived his life with a target on his back. According to one 2006 documentary for Britain’s Channel Four, the government of the United States hatched no fewer than 638 separate plots to kill “the Beard.” Of course, not all those plots got out of the planning stage, and it goes without saying that none of them succeeded (unless they finally got him at 90), but some of the ones that did get within striking distance were absolute clinics in how not to kill a communist strongman. Some of these plans failed because of bad luck or planning, some failed for unforeseeable reasons or sudden changes of circumstance, and some of them failed because they were just stupid. These are five of the most ridiculous. Fidel Castro Assassination Attempts: The Vegas Mafia Wikimedia CommonsSalvatore Giancana, Johnny Roselli, and Santo Trafficante. The bloodstains from Castro’s 1959 revolution had barely dried in the streets of Havana before elements of the U.S. government were plotting to take him out. Before Castro, Cuba had been the playground of a local strongman named Battista. Under his regime, Cuba was open for any kind of shady business a halfway-decently organized criminal could cook up, and America’s organized crime syndicates were an industry unto themselves there. A communist takeover of their casinos and cat houses was bad for business, and so members of the Las Vegas Syndicate (Bugsy Siegel’s old outfit) were receptive when the CIA sounded them out about assassinating Castro. There was no fixed plan for this. Instead, a man named Robert Maheu approached Las Vegas mobster Johnny Roselli, who introduced him to fellow gangsters Salvatore Giancana and Santo Trafficante to discuss their Cuba problem and set up a program. Maheu was a “former” counterintelligence officer who later testified to Congress that he was the CIA’s “cut-out” man; a private-sector link for operations the Agency couldn’t get too directly mixed up in. According to his own testimony before the Church Committee on Assassinations in 1975, he offered Roselli $150,000 to kill Castro in whatever way he thought best. Roselli refused the money and offered to do the job for free. It was apparently Giancana’s idea to poison Castro with pills snuck into his food or drink. Cyanide capsules were duly produced by the CIA’s Technical Services division and delivered to Giancana’s agent in Cuba, a man named Orta. He apparently failed to get close several times in 1960, and the job was handed over to a doctor named Anthony Verona. The CIA paid him at least $11,000 to get set up and do the job, but evidently, he quit after the Bay of Pigs invasion. Nothing more came of the Mafia’s attempt to kill Castro; it actually seems they knew when to cut their losses and give up, which they did in 1961. Richard Stockton is a freelance science and technology writer from Sacramento, California. The Infamous Story Of Patty Hearst And The Symbionese Liberation Army Passenger From Hell Caught Smoking On Plane Threatens To Kill Everyone [VIDEO]	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line554
__label__wiki	0.955127	0.955127	Click to copyhttps://apnews.com/fd3ac03307bb47c7bbfad281a38becbe Trump Investigations Search warrants tied to former Trump lawyer Cohen released By ERIC TUCKERMay 23, 2019 FILE - In this March 6, 2019 photo, Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer departs the Capitol in Washington. Prosecutors aren’t quite finished investigating campaign finance violations by Cohen. A federal judge in New York agreed Tuesday, May 21 to keep search warrant materials related to the investigation under seal until at least mid-July after prosecutors submitted a letter explaining that the probe is still ongoing. Cohen is serving a three-year prison sentence after admitting paying off two women who claimed they had affairs with Trump. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) WASHINGTON (AP) — It was Michael Cohen’s numerous contacts with a Russia-linked company and a sudden flow of foreign money into a bank account he controlled that led federal investigators to look into whether the money might be part of a plan to lift U.S. sanctions on Russia, according to court filings unsealed Wednesday. Five search warrant applications, from the early stages of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation in 2017, were made public in response to requests from The Associated Press and other media organizations. Cohen, once President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer and confidant, was not charged by Mueller or prosecutors in New York with anything related to Russian collusion or illegal influence peddling. But the documents shed further light on how Cohen capitalized financially on his closeness to Trump immediately after the 2016 election. Cohen quickly immersed himself in the Washington swamp his boss had pledged to drain. The lawyer cut deals to act as a highly paid consultant to several foreign and domestic companies with business interests linked to federal government decisions. Cohen is now serving a three-year prison sentence for tax evasion, lying to Congress about a Trump real estate project in Moscow, and campaign finance violations related to hush-money payments he orchestrated to two women who claimed to have had affairs with Trump, the porn actress Stormy Daniels and erotic model Karen McDougal. Trump has denied the allegations. Investigators said in the warrant applications that a corporate entity Cohen created, Essential Consultants LLC, received multiple deposits from foreign sources, including companies that investigators said had “significant ties to foreign governments or are entities controlled by foreign governments.” Essential Consultants received funds from U.S. and foreign corporations that appear to have approached Cohen “in connection with political objectives in the Trump administration,” investigators wrote. Among them were AT&T, which the documents show wanted Cohen’s help securing approval for its merger with Time Warner, and pharmaceutical giant Novartis, which wanted “access and advice” after Trump pledged to fight high drug prices. Investigators were especially curious about deposits of about $500,000 from an account linked to an investment management firm, Columbus Nova, LLC. The warrants tie that firm and the holding company that controls it to Viktor Vekselberg, a Russian oligarch with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In an application to search his Trump Organization email account, prosecutors said Cohen exchanged over 230 phone calls and 950 text messages with the CEO of Columbus Nova between Nov. 8, 2016, and July 14, 2017. There were no text messages or telephone calls before Election Day in 2016, prosecutors said. Investigators at the time were examining whether any of the fund transfers were connected to Cohen’s involvement in a plan, described months earlier in a New York Times story, to try to get the U.S. to lift sanctions on Russia. “The United States continues to investigate if any of the payments or financial relationships described above, or other relationships described further below, were connected to Cohen’s involvement in the distribution of a plan to lift Russian sanctions,” a special agent wrote in a search warrant application in July of 2017. A Columbus Nova spokesman wrote in an email to the AP that there was nothing nefarious about the frequent contacts between Cohen and company executives. “They were working together so of course texted and called each other,” the email said. “This was all known and investigated and wasn’t even deemed worthy of being included in the special counsel’s report.” Columbus Nova has described as false any allegation that Vekselberg used Columbus Nova as a conduit for payments to Cohen, saying it is solely owned and controlled by Americans. Both Cohen and some of his clients apparently tried to keep his work secret. An AT&T consultant emailed a senior vice president at the company, saying that Cohen had “made the point several times that he doesn’t list clients, doesn’t talk about clients and hopes we won’t be publicizing that he’s working w/us. I assured him. And I hope he means it.” Novartis also didn’t see the need to advertise that it was doing business with Cohen. In an April 2017 email exchange quoted in the search warrant documents, one executive wrote that they wanted to assess Cohen’s ability “to secure high-level government meetings” and that there was “no need to divulge our relationship” with him. Cohen has acknowledged offering his insights into Trump’s administration to multiple corporate clients, but said he broke no laws in doing so. Cohen’s attorney, Lanny Davis, said in a statement Wednesday night that “Cohen was not charged with anything to do with these allegations.” The newly unsealed material reveals nothing about Trump’s own role in the crimes that put Cohen behind bars. The warrant applications covered requests to search Cohen’s email accounts, including one associated with the Trump Organization, They were blacked out in certain sections to protect the secrecy of an ongoing federal investigation into Cohen’s campaign finance crimes. Cohen has said he arranged payments to McDougal and Daniels at Trump’s behest, which the president has denied along with the affairs. Associated Press writers Michael Balsamo and Chad Day in Washington and Michael R. Sisak and Jim Mustian in New York contributed to this report.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line559
__label__wiki	0.637399	0.637399	New Poll Still Shows Massive Support For Gun Control, But It’s Slipping Posted at 4:00 pm on April 4, 2018 by Tom Knighton The public still has a great deal of support for gun control following the Parkland massacre. That’s not surprising. The media has beamed in people like David Hogg, Emma Gonzalez, Cameron Kasky, and Delaney Tarr to people’s homes to tell them to support it. They’ve made the aftermath of Parkland play out for far longer than it should have. As a result, there’s a lot more support for gun control than there normally would be at this point. However, those numbers are starting to slip a bit. Support for stricter gun control laws remains high seven weeks after the mass shooting at a high school in South Florida, according to a new POLITICO/Morning Consult poll. The poll shows roughly two-thirds of voters, 66 percent, support stricter gun control laws in the U.S., while only 28 percent oppose strengthening the nation’s gun laws. The remaining 6 percent of voters have no opinion. Overall, support for stricter gun laws is greater than in 2016 and 2017 — including in the days immediately following the mass murder of 57 concertgoers in Las Vegas last October. But it is down slightly from a spike of 70 percent last month right after the shooting in Parkland, Florida. The latest POLITICO/Morning Consult survey was conducted March 29-April 1 — following the nationwide March for Our Lives rallies, but before the most recent shooting, on Tuesday at YouTube’s offices in San Bruno, California. First, let’s address the impact the YouTube shooting will have on the gun debate. Basically, it’ll have none. It’ll disappear off the news cycle in a day or two. Why? It didn’t fit any of the left’s narrative. The shooter was female, non-white, left-leaning based on her support of PETA and veganism. There was nothing to tie her to the NRA or their preferred narrative for this kind of shooting. As a result, she’ll soon be forgotten, and the YouTube shooting will amount to nothing. Now, why is there a drop in support for gun control despite the full-court press by the media? Well, for one thing, people are sick of it. David Hogg isn’t exactly the greatest spokesperson for much of anything. He’s young, yes, but he’s also arrogant, foul-mouthed, doesn’t understand the topic at hand, and is pretty damn unlikeable. People want to pay less and less attention to him and his compatriots. Further, fewer and fewer of the leftist media outlets are covering much in the way of guns these days. That drives it out of people’s limited attention spans. Additionally, at least some of it has to be the result of pro-Second Amendment advocates making valid points. While they may be feeling like they’re beating their heads against a wall, they’re not. They won’t convince the people they’re arguing with, but there are undecideds out there. Some people are kind of wishy-washy in their support for gun control. That is the audience, and we’re swaying them. Slowly, but it’s happening. As a result, we see a dip in those who support pointless laws, and that’s a good thing. So all of you out there, keep it up! Tags: gun control supportmedia attentionParklandpolling data Author's Bio: Tom Knighton Tom Knighton is a Navy veteran, a former newspaperman, a novelist, and a blogger and lifetime shooter. He lives with his family in Southwest Georgia. https://bearingarms.com/author/tomknighton/ GOA Claims Win In VA’s Anti-Gun Special Session Violent Assault Leads To A New Gun Owner In Virginia	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line561
__label__wiki	0.985718	0.985718	20 Years Ago: Rob Zombie Goes Solo with ‘Hellbilly Deluxe’ Jon Wiederhorn Not long after Rob Zombie broke up his freakshow band of 13 years, White Zombie, he launched his solo career and rose to even greater heights. His debut album, Hellbilly Deluxe: 13 Tales of Cadaverous Cavorting Inside the Spookshow International, came on Aug. 25, 1998, and anyone angry about the demise of White Zombie quickly forgot why they were mad at the imaginative frontman. Hellbilly Deluxe… wasn't a dramatic departure from the last two White Zombie albums. The music ramped up the electronic elements and the songs contained even more samples, but the spirit was similar. The album debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard album charts, selling more than 121,000. Less than three months later the album was certified Platinum. To date it has sold over three million copies in the U.S. The differences between White Zombie and Rob Zombie are most evident in the way the bands created their albums. According to the singer, White Zombie were rarely on the same page and seemed to like being miserable, while everyone in Rob Zombie's band enjoyed working together. Zombie wrote all of the songs for Hellbilly Deluxe… with producer Scott Humphrey, and worked with a core band of guitarist Riggs, bassist Blasko and drummer John Tempesta, the latter of whom was also in White Zombie. “I don't want to slag White Zombie,” Zombie told me in 1999. “I just think the new band plays better and sounds better. Their attitude and excitement are so cool. White Zombie always seemed like fragmented people all over the place. This really seems like a group of friends making music. It's a feeling I've never had before. I would see it with other bands but I never experienced it until I did [Hellbilly Deluxe]." When I talked to Riggs in 1999, he said he and Zombie were cousins who knew each other growing up. Zombie, however, said he didn't meet Riggs until ex-Nine Inch Nails guitarst Danny Lohner introduced the two in Arkansas. “Riggs and Danny knew each other for a long time -- I'm not exactly sure how,” Zombie recalled. “Danny was just like, 'I know the perfect guy.' He gave me Riggs' phone number and I called him out of nowhere. I trusted Danny, so that was it. Riggs came out and he was great. We didn't have a bass player yet. Riggs and I hung out and talked and I told him everything I wanted to do. He said, 'That sounds f---ing bad-ass.' That's all he kept saying. He went, 'This is exactly what I always wanted to do.' And eventually we played together.” Riggs, who left Zombie's band in 2003 to form Scum of the Earth, has an entirely different story, and insists Zombie's maniacal persona is more than mere theater. “Rob tries to play it off like he's a normal, well-adjusted guy but he's not. He's f---ing insane,” Riggs said. “He burned a f---ing 'X' in my forehead. I told my grandma, and she said, 'Yup, that's Rob.' You see him in a magazine wearing a giant robot suit with freaky eyes looking all crazy. And he's able to pull it off like, 'Oh, this is just an act. It's nothing.' But it's not nothing. He f---ing walks around like that at home in a big robot suit with giant claws. Then in a magazine he'll say, 'Oh, the robot, monster thing. It's no big deal.' But that's really how he lives. He's nuts.” Zombie and his backing band started recording Hellbilly Deluxe… with Humphrey in the early 1998 at the Chop Shop in Hollywood, California. Two Ex-Nine Inch Nails members, Lohner and keyboardist Charlie Clouser guested on the record, as did Tommy Lee. As the drummer told MTV News, he had just been released from jail after serving four months of a 180-day sentence for assaulting his ex-wife Pamela Anderson and was visiting Humphrey, who produced Mötley Crüe's Generation Swine, when Zombie invited him to sit in. “They asked me to play and I was like, 'I would love to play right now -- just kind of check out [and] really do some music,” said Lee, who played on the tracks “Meet the Creeper” and “The Ballad of Resurrection Joe and Rosa Whore.” “When we were done with the album I was real happy with it and I thought it came out good,” Zombie said. “But I had no idea how it would do. The climate for putting out a solo record was horrible because heavy music was at its most dead point. Other people like Jerry Cantrell and Scott Weiland put out solo records and people didn't really seem to care. If ever it looked like there was a classic bad move on my part, this was it. But it all worked out great.” One reason Hellbilly Deluxe… was so successful is that Zombie gave the people what they wanted. White Zombie fans were relieved he hadn't deviated too much from his former band, and since the guitar parts were heavy and crunchy and the computerized parts were more prominent, the album appealed both to metal and industrial fans. “My basic theory is that fans don't want you to change,” Zombie said. “That's why AC/DC and Slayer are always gonna draw a crowd -- because they never change. People want one constant in their life. I didn't want to Ramones to change. I wasn't bored with that yet. 22 years and 25 records of four guys in leather jackets going '1,2,3,4!' That was fine with me. I didn't want it to end.” At the same time as Zombie was trying to appeal to his fan base, he was also trying to make music that was more interesting to him than the stuff he had done in White Zombie. As it so happened, the sound Zombie was striving to include in his music gave his songs a dancey groove that appealed to the masses. “I think people could tell I was having a good time making this music and playing around a little with this different technology and these different sounds,” he said. “As long as I'm having fun with what I'm doing then it will probably come through in the music. Just to do guitar, bass and drums forever would get to be such a drag. And with White Zombie, bringing that [electronic] stuff into the band was not something everybody else wanted to do.” For the guitar tones, Riggs tuned down and boosted the midrange sounds, but held back on the distortion. “When we did the album, we didn't want it to sound like everything else - that same old heavy metal thrash guitar sound,” Riggs said. “So we'd try to get cleaner tones, but still heavy. We'd use drop 'B' tuning, so it wasn't exactly like the White Zombie tone. That was really distorted, super no-midrange metal gutiar. This one, we just put straight into an amp head and that was it. It was really rhythmic and it had a lot of kick.” Hellbilly Deluxe… included three singles that still feature prominently in Zombie's live set, “Dragula,” “Living Dead Girl” and “Superbeast.” In October, 2009 Rob Zombie released the remix album of Hellbilly Deluxe tracks, American Made Music To Strip By, which featured mixes by Rammstein, Clouser, DJ Lethal, God Lives Underwater and others. Then in November, 2005, Geffen Records released a deluxe edition of Hellbilly Deluxe…, which included a DVD with Zombie-directed music videos of all of the songs on the album. Loudwire contributor Jon Wiederhorn is the co-author of Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal, as well as the co-author of Scott Ian’s autobiography, I’m the Man: The Story of That Guy From Anthrax, Al Jourgensen’s autobiography, Ministry: The Lost Gospels According to Al Jourgensen and the Agnostic Front book My Riot! Grit, Guts and Glory. You Think You Know Rob Zombie? Rob Zombie & White Zombie Albums Ranked Source: 20 Years Ago: Rob Zombie Goes Solo with ‘Hellbilly Deluxe’	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line565
__label__wiki	0.822111	0.822111	Home » Products » Lassie and Timmy original production color concept art by John Alvin Lassie and Timmy original production color concept art by John Alvin JAOM-0069 Original Mixed Media Original Finish/Key Art Painting, Studio Art This Lassie and Timmy original production color concept art by John Alvin was the finished art created for a special officially licensed Lassie plate. "Creating the promise of a great experience" is how John Alvin described his role as the preeminent designer and illustrator of cinema art in the entertainment industry. In a business where you are only as good as your last job, Alvin was diverse enough in style and creative invention to be one of the ultimate go-to artist for movie posters in Hollywood for over two decades. He designed and illustrated some of the world's most widely recognizable movie art. From E.T. to Blade Runner, to Blazing Saddles and The Lion King, John Alvin is responsible for many of your favorite movie campaign images... Alvin's first official movie art campaign was the poster for Blazing Saddles, directed by Mel Brooks, in 1974. Alvin, who was working as an animator at an animation studio at the time, was invited to work on the Blazing Saddles poster by a friend. Alvin took an unusual path when designing the movie poster. He designed a serious movie poster, which incorporated unusual and quirky elements from the film. For example, in the poster, Alvin depicted Mel Brooks, who plays a Yiddish-speaking Native American chief in the film, wearing a headdress inscribed with the phrase, Kosher for Passover. The joke had been suggested by Alvin's wife, Andrea. Alvin's work on Blazing Saddles was liked by Mel Brooks, as well as by others in the industry. He went on to work on a number of Brooks' later films, including Young Frankenstein, which was also released in 1974. Another of Alvin's iconic posters was his work for Steven Spielberg's 1982 film, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. It showed E.T.'s finger touching the finger of his human friend, Elliott, finger tip to finger tip. The fingers create a glow where they touch. The idea for the poster was reportedly suggested by Spielberg, and was inspired by Michelangelo's painting, The Creation of Adam. Alvin used his daughter as the human hand model for the poster. Alvin created artwork for more than 135 film campaigns over the span of three decades. His work for such film studios as New Line Cinema, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Disney Studios and Lucasfilm Ltd., included Blade Runner, Cocoon, The Lost Boys, Predator, The Princess Bride, Gremlins, The Goonies, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Batman Returns, Batman Forever, and Jurassic Park. He also created the anniversary posters and other artwork for the 30th anniversary Star Wars Celebration. In later years he created posters for Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, the Harry Potter film series and Walt Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean films. According to John Sabel, an advertising executive at Walt Disney Pictures who often worked with Alvin, "There was a reason why The Lion King did the numbers that it did... There was a reason why 'Hunchback [of Notre Dame]' became a big success. It's because of the images that were produced, and a lot of those were John Alvin's paintings." Tags: film art, john alvin, Lassie Star Wars Giant Alien Fish Concept Art by John Alvin Hunchback in the Light Hunchback of Notre Dame original production color concept art by John Alvin	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line569
__label__wiki	0.546785	0.546785	Home About Artists Catalog - Feature Exhibition - alt_space exhibition - Painting - Mixed Media - Sculpture - Photography - Jewelry - Under $200 - New Arrivals Exhibitions News Opportunities Contact Sandra Ramos Your cart (0) Home > Sandra Ramos > Page 1 of 1 Sandra Ramos Dreaming Ithaca . . . Opening reception: Saturday, July 5, 4-7pm On exhibit: July 5- August 16, 2014 In the exhibition, Dreaming Ithaca . . . , interdisciplinary artist Sandra Ramos addresses the paradox and contradictions of utopian idealism through the use of myth, allusions, and semantic juxtaposition. "Through my work I explore the edges at which art intersects with social, political, and global issues in order to establish a critical statement about the future," explained Ramos. The exhibition is comprised of aquatint etchings and video installations that accentuate the artist's academic training and remarkable storytelling capabilities. "While engraving continues to be my favorite medium, I wanted to expand the expressive and communicative potential of my work through a new digital medium. Digital animation allows me to elevate my storytelling capabilities by creating a temporal continuity for my small vignettes," Ramos explained. Ramos replaces familiar mythic archetypes with an alter-ego, niña pionera, pioneer girl, to create semi-autobiographical visual narratives that touch upon themes of identity, loss, exile, survival, and the ever present yet unattainable utopian dream. Ramos draws attention to promise and peril of utopian idealism, revealing the ways in which it awakens desire and shapes experience. Sandra Ramos began her professional career during Cuba's "Special Period." During this period Cuba faced near economic collapse due to the dissolution of the USSR, the US imposed embargo, and severe domestic restrictions that reduced the quality of everyday life. By the late 90s, Cuba recognized the value of its artistic patrimony and eased political, economic, and cultural policies, allowing artists legal yet limited flexibility to participate in the global art market. In the midst of Cuba's transitional phase, Ramos emerged as a critical voice of a new generation of Cuban artists concerned with issues of globalization and the struggles of everyday life. She has exhibited extensively for over twenty years at venues such as, Museo Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba; Museo de Arte Moderno de Medellín, Colombia; Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary, Vienna, Austria; Sheldon Museum of Art, Nebraska; Lyman Allyn Art Museum, New London, CT; Ringling Museum, Tampa, FL; Miura Museum of Art, Matsuyama, Japan and Urasoe Museum, Okinawa, Japan. Her work is included in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, NY; The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; and Fuchu Art Museum, Tokyo, Japan, among many others worldwide. Ramos is teacher at The Higher Institute of Art in Havana, Cuba, and curator since 1996 of Cuban contemporary art exhibitions. She has presented at conferences and workshops in international institutions including: National Gallery of Art in Washington DC; The University of Havana; L' Ecole deux Beaux Arts, Paris; Barbican Center in London; The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Lowe Art Museum, Florida University, Miami and Fuchu Art Museum,Tokyo, Japan. For more information visit the artists website: sandraramosart.com	cc/2019-30/en_head_0014.json.gz/line570

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