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__label__wiki	0.676163	0.676163	PAX 2013: Galak-Z Hands-On Preview Joshua Vanderwall \| 2 Sep 2013 19:50 Previews - RSS 2.0 As a child of the 80's, I grew up playing games like Asteroids and Space Invaders, so when I saw that Galak-Z was basically taking the best of both worlds, modernizing it, and offering it to the masses, I had to check it out. PAX has been a very indie experience for me this year, and full of retro goodness to boot. If you saw my Duck Tales: Remastered review, you probably know that I appreciate a modern take on the classics, so it's no wonder Galak-Z really spoke to me. Galak-Z puts you in the pilot's chair of a small fighter in space. You'll defend yourself with lasers and missiles, while trying to keep yourself oriented while drifting in zero-G. The controls are simple, but mastering them is a serious challenge, since you'll need to master drifting in between boosts, and navigating with your standard thrusters. You're not moving too fast unless you're using your special Boost ability, and collisions didn't seem to damage your ship unless you ran into hazards, so it is a very forgiving game in that regard. The enemies, however, can be absolutely devastating unless you use sound tactics for taking them on, but we'll get to that later. 17-Bit, the studio behind Skulls of the Shogun had their fill of the strategy genre, and wanted to move into something more action oriented. Alongside a profound love of 70's and 80's anime, Galak-Z was born. Tired of "fighting the camera" in 3D action games, the team decided instead to focus their efforts on a 2D title, where the camera doesn't come into play. While I didn't get to see it, there's apparently even an open world side of the game, in the vein of Red Dead Redemption, where you can simply explore the galaxy and find dynamic events to take part in. This isn't just an actiony space shooter, though. It's got a lengthy story to tell in a very anime style. The character portrait art reminded me a lot of Speed Racer or any number of older anime series. I didn't really get a sense of the story premise, but the characters introduced in the demo were likeable enough that I'm looking forward to seeing how they progress through the narrative. There are plans for multiplayer, but the 17-Bit crew was tight-lipped about that side of things, suggesting that, while they have big plans, nothing has been finalized as yet. It's possible that there will be cooperative multiplayer, as well as competitive, but until we get confirmation, I'll leave speculation alone. The enemies in Galak-Z ranged from small ships that served as basically target practice, to devastatingly powerful, sword-wielding robot mech-like creatures. You'll get a good sense of how to maneuver and fire from the basic enemies, and you'll test your more advanced tactics against the bigger ones. The demo's learning curve was incredibly sharp, but I'm told that it will be much more gentle in the final game. This game, like other retro-styled titles I've seen at PAX this year, won't necessarily be for everybody, but don't judge it by its cover. From the single player story mode to the multiplayer, it has a lot to offer the gaming space, especially for an indie title. Galak-Z is aiming for a Summer 2014 release on PS4 and PC via Steam. joshua vanderwallarcadegalak-zpcpreviewps4reviewspace shootervideo games Ghostbusters - Who You Gonna Call? Marter 7 Comments Record of Lodoss War - Dungeons and Dragons, The Anime Hayden_Russell 13 Comments High-Powered Hardware Isn't Enough to Make Project Scorpio Succeed ffronw 23 Comments Game Over Man! Complete Advance Warfare's Exo Zombies Easter Egg Kevin Thielenhaus 5 Comments The Media Failed in its Coverage of the PewDiePie Controversy Lizzy Finnegan 54 Comments Escapist Digest: Game of Thrones, Monument Valley, Life is Strange 2, and more The Escapist Staff 0 Comments Everything We Know About Mass Effect: Andromeda The Escapist Staff 5 Comments	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2822
__label__wiki	0.68485	0.68485	#539: The Origin of Evil – Contrasting Malice Aforethought (1931) by Francis Iles with The Colour of Murder (1957) by Julian Symons June 15, 2019 June 14, 2019 / JJ Genre is essentially the formalisation of deja vu. Those of us who return to — or avoid — particular genres do so because of the essential ingredients that recur there, whether through implicit rules or otherwise. It is, then, to be expected that a creeping sense of repetition inhabits the background of any such reading. There are only so many murderous house parties, or shocking last-minute developments in court cases, or faintly aloof gentlemen sleuths running rings around the Stolid Scotland Yard Man we can encounter before we start to think “Hmmm, this reminds me of…”. And that’s not inherently a bad thing, because it helps to secure the type of book we’re getting: whether you want to read another book that might mislead you as adroitly as Death of Jezebel (1948) by Christianna Brand or avoid anything that disappoints as staggeringly as The Dead Mountaineer’s Inn (1970) by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, the understanding that a story falls within a particular idiom — be it fair play detection, magic realism, political roman-à-clef — is arguably what led to the observation of genre in the first place. There will be, however, those times when the comparison is not an entirely positive one. A creeping sense of “I’ve seen this trick before in X…”, or “This reminds me of Y, but less good…”. Sometimes that’s deliberate — the author appears to be going down the same route as X only to pull the rug, flooring, and entire house out from beneath you on account of them knowing that you probably know what happens in X — but sometimes it is simply that someone wrote a less good version of a book that already exists, whether consciously or not. I had this creeping, sinking feeling of disconsolate deja vu when reading The Colour of Murder (1957) by Julian Symons recently. It reminded me of something from my dim and distant past which at first I was convinced was one of the Mickey Haller ‘Lincoln Lawyer’ novels by Michael Connelly — I’d unwittingly dragged a red herring across my own memory by rereading Connelly last month — before the gleaming spine of the 2018 Dover reissue of Malice Aforethought (1931) by Francis Iles winking expectantly up at me from my shelves suddenly brought realisation crashing in. Yes, there are key differences in the plots, but in my mind The Colour of Murder was simply Malice Aforethought with the guts torn out. At a surface level, both contain the same ingredients: a frustrated man in an unhappy marriage who, through an unexpected encounter with an uncommonly malapert young woman, finds himself drawn into thoughts of murder. The first half of each book is given over to a lengthy examination of the psychology of the would-be murderer, at the halfway stage a killing is carried out, and things draw to a close with a court case in which the man’s various failings and poor decision-making are examined in the light of day to illustrate the folly of such endeavours as a gateway to happiness. Both achieve this aim with an admirable lack of bombast or proselytising, and both are, in their own way, superbly written. The key difference, I would argue, is that Iles — Anthony Berkeley, as we all know, though I’ll call him Iles for the purposes of this post — really understands the seed of murder, where Symons does not. [I had originally intended to discuss only Malice Aforethought in the foregoing, but it’s ended up a bit of a mash of both books. Obviously you’ll get the most out of this if you’ve read them both, and anything explicitly too spoilery I’ve tried to flag up…but inevitably the broad hints at certain elements of each book may themselves be too much for the careful soul; the reader is warned…] Iles’ Dr. Edmund Bickleigh faces up to the concept of murder from the very first line: “It was not until several weeks until after he had decided to murder his wife that Dr, Bickleigh took any active steps in the matter. Murder is a serious business. The slightest slip may be disastrous. Dr. Bickleigh had no intention of risking disaster”. While John Wilkins from Symons’ book asserts in the opening paragraph that “[w]hatever a man does, he’s got to take responsibility for this own actions”, it’s Symons who seeks to avoid the actual unpleasantness of murder with convenient blackouts that occlude certain key moments in that later novel. Iles/Berkeley was not above resulting to similar tricks — I’ll always remember the staggering power of the line “After that, he preferred to remember nothing” from Trial and Error (1937) — but while Wilkins’ constant refrain of wanting to be jailed if it turns out he is guilty of that book’s midway murder appears to be the more responsible course, the simple fact of his, and our, uncertainty, of the shying away from any particulars, robs that philosophy of any power. Iles stares murder in the face, charting Bickleigh’s gradual descent into justification, denial, and normalisation of this act, whereas Wilkins is an unchanging record, spinning in the dark and waiting to be told what he is and what that means. I’d suggest that this can be best exemplified by the way in which both men express dissatisfaction with their wives by resorting to physical violence against them. From that point on, Bickleigh begins a steady awakening of the sort of justification of murderous urges that mark out the majority of the book: Any idea, however preposterous at first sight, if toyed with for long enough will begin to take on a practical aspect; any ugliness will be lifted by familiarity, if not into beauty, at any rate on to a plane where those relative terms have no meaning. … Murder ceases to be murder at all, and becomes a merciful release. Whether or not the unhappiness Bickleigh and Wilkins feel is directly the fault of their wives’ actions, in kicking against the accepted social trappings — of appearances, and tennis parties, and owning a car — they reject the ‘normal’ lives that their wives, and the society they seek, seem to represent. And in breaking the shackles of society, in breaking the shackles of their marriage through violence and pursuing affairs with other women, they should also break the shackles on the mindset that has held them thus to that point. But for Wilkins the action of hitting his wife, and later on smashing in a rage the ornament given to him as an anniversary present, is simply a futile act of a futile man. He goes on from there to fall into the same insecurities as before: showing himself up at his tennis club, awkwardly intruding on the patience of a woman we know — thanks to an early excerpt of a letter she writes — does not view him with much favour. When her rejection of him comes, it is simply another example of this futility. There is no cumulative result — the unhappy marriage, violence against his wife, dubious promotion at work, and rejection by the woman he has become obsessed with are simply events, never really seen in consort, that have little to no bearing on Wilkins once he finds himself accused of a crime he may not have committed. In all honesty, there’s no purpose to any of it. The eventual act of murder is robbed of any power by existing independent of all that precedes it: after all, Wilkins may not be guilty. And if he is, well, he’d never know it anyway. Bickleigh, however, begins to change as soon as the motivating event occurs, and it’s fascinating to watch. The one fault of Malice Aforethought is that the book suffers whenever Bickleigh is off the page, such as during those sequences in which the social mores of Wyvern’s Cross are investigated in forensic detail — like Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, he is a grotesque of quite compelling vintage — as he comes apart expertly under Iles’ hands. After he strikes Julia “his brain, incapable of thought was throbbing with mixed emotion: half of it was disgust, and half a queer, shouting exaltation”. We know he is afflicted by the insecurities that assail Wilkins because we’re told early on: Dr. Bickleigh continued to feel uncouth in the presence of women, insignificant in the presence of men, and inferior in every way to each fresh stranger he met. And yet Iles also has the sense to then sow this vital seed: Only when alone could he realise that he was quite as good as anyone else in this world, and possibly a little better. Bickleigh, you feel early on, is going to change. Wilkins seems not too concerned about such matters: aside from failing to attach the importance to social standing that his wife does, there’s really nothing in the time we spend with him that suggests any desire to break out of what he has, any lingering dissatisfaction that may imbue his actions with a purpose. There doesn’t even really seem to be a sexual motive to his actions, given how laissez faire he seems after unsuccessfully trying to kiss Sheila after taking her to the theatre…apart from her smiling at him a few times, Wilkins’ pursuit of Sheila is without any defining purpose or intent. He simply…pursues her. Sex almost seems an afterthought with Wilkins, given that he’s more than happy to ‘make love’ to his wife May while she “lay there like a marble block, quite still” and, later on, simply carries here to bed against her protestations and has sex with her while she lays unresisting and sobbing through the whole ordeal. And, again, there’s never any sense that this contributes to an overall arc for anyone: May still endures Wilkins’ presence, still goes to Brighton on the doomed ‘second honeymoon’…it’s like each scene is forgotten after it occurs. In its own way, sex is a motivating factor for Bickleigh, but (ASSUME SPOILERS) not on account of dissatisfaction per se, since we know that he has already had sexual encounters with almost every woman of appropriate age in Wyvern’s Cross. Madeleine Cranmere at least represents for Bickleigh something new in that she doesn’t initially strike him as a sexual being…indeed, it’s through a shared interest in art that she first captures his attention, giving the obsession that results some basis in reason at least (END SPOILERS). With Madeleine he “somehow manage[s] to become seventeen again” and goes quite consciously from “a star of scandal [to] a complete constellation” while entirely unmindful of the tut-tutting and alacrity that he provokes: indeed, it’s only when Madeleine expresses horror at the idea of marrying a divorced man — of showing the fixation with social mores that Bickleigh is kicking so hard against — that the cracks being to appear in the version of his life that he is trying to create with her. The question of divorce raises its head in both books, and (ASSUME SPOILERS) not nearly enough credit is given to Julia Bickleigh for the progressive attitude she adopts — surprising not just for the time in which such open-mindedness would have been thoroughly unexpected, but also for the fact that Anthony Berkeley faced many an accusation of misogyny in his time and here makes perhaps the most intelligent person in the whole book the Shrewish Wife archetype who turns out to be far richer than initial appearances would suggest. Arguably, Julia dies through no fault of her own at all, since it’s not Julia who poses the obstacle that motivates that murder ruminated upon from the opening line. Had she taken the far harder line of May Wilkins — “I should never give you up… No matter what happened, I should never give you up” — it would perhaps be anticipated that Julia would not be long for this world, and Iles does brilliantly in charting the changing face of our killer by removing what seems to be the chief motive for the murder (END SPOILERS). When the motive comes for Bickleigh, it is the result of sheer, wild desperation. Here again, Symons fails to understand motivation and cumulation of purpose: while Wilkins “couldn’t be certain whether she was referring to me or to the furnishings” when May tells him “I love you”, the actions performed within that marriage — her displeasure with his family, the previously-mentioned abuse — should surely give rise to a feeling of suffocated frustration on Wilkins’ part that, no matter what he does, he shall never be free of his wife. It should be here that a creeping sense of hopelessness begins to invade, but instead Wilkins drops the subject, almost gratefully, and goes ahead planning a second honeymoon which — we’re told — wasn’t even really motivated by the desire to see Sheila, at least not on a conscious level…so, does he in fact legitimately want to rescue his marriage? No, not a bit of it. Is this followed up in any way? Well, he poses a sort of intellectual puzzle to Uncle Dan about murdering someone and getting away with it, and then that gets dropped as well. This matters in the context of the novel because if it turns out that Wilkins is a murderer, the foregoing provides no window on why that’s the case. There’s no indication of what may have prompted the murder, no sense of how the experience of murdering someone would have changed him. And, sure, we’re inured to the principle of fictional murder through, appositely, toying with it for long enough, but the act of murder is surely an awful, hideous thing that runs contrary to all fundamental human instincts. And Symons shies away from the act, the result, the evidence, the fallout, the damage done…at no point does he really have the courage to look at what he’s creating. As Bickleigh becomes ever more bent out of shape from the timid, put upon doormat he starts the book as, and “having cast off door-mattery” ends up wanting “a door mat of his own”, we get to see the ravages that murder has wrought upon his mind — the casual dismissal, choosing to disregard murder as murder at all when it’s essentially a benevolent act of reducing the suffering of someone whose life is being ruined, and of then (ASSUME SPOILERS) turning vengeful when Madeleine turns out not to be the person he suspected, becoming “a small, grim figure, meting out life or death” in judgement and finally, fatally, psychotically askew with the power he wields. Because the fact that Madeleine does not really care for Bickleigh is the bitterest irony of it all. Becoming obsessed with her after the flightiness of the previous ‘other women’ in his life — witness his aghast disgust as “hear[ing] Madeleine’s name put on a par with Irene’s, Ivy’s, Mabel’s…” — only for Madeleine, having inspired such darker purpose within him, to turn out to be perhaps even more vapidly equivocal in her feelings. Where Ivy, whom Bickleigh rejects time and again, appears to only grow in her ardour for our homicidal doctor, Madeleine doesn’t even have the courage to face him when she knows he will react badly to new of her engagement. She has this non-committal uncertainty in common with Sheila Morton, as Bill Lonegran explains to Wilkins at the end of the first half of that novel: “You say to her come out to the river, Sheila, she won’t like to say no if she doesn’t want to. She’ll say I can’t come this week-end, I’ve got to look after father. All right, you say, what about next weekend? That’s no good, I’ve got a date to play tennis. The weekend after that, then? And she smiles and says that would be lovely. You think that means she really wants to go on the river, you’d be wrong. She just hates to say no, disappoint people.” The difference for the purposes of this, er, lecture is the effect on the men in question: Wilkins is at first knocked for six when he learns of Sheila’s engagement to Leslie Jackson, and a little bemused to learn of her indifference towards him during the trial, but that’s about it. Edmund Bickleigh is by the point of his discovery emboldened at having committed one ‘perfect’ murder and swollen with righteous anger at the rejection of the woman he has idolised for so long. From that point on, Julia’s murder seems, we know, a virtual guarantee, whereas Wilkins’ own response to this news is so unfathomable that Symons is able to start the trial without naming the victim for the first 20 or so pages (END SPOILERS). In the final analysis, I suppose none of this really matters — man, I’m glad I spent all these hours thinking about and writing the above, then — since the argument could be made that Symons never intended his novel to be realistic or to show the descent of a man into murder (possibly…) in the same way. But Symons is on the vanguard of that supposedly more ‘realistic’ tranche of crime fiction that ousted the puzzle novel and would, you’d imagine, therefore have placed great emphasis on the psychology of the act of murder. I won’t be the first to suggest this, but it seems clear from the foregoing that the typical novel of detection from the Golden Age didn’t deal in psychology as such not because it couldn’t but because it wasn’t trying to. Berkeley and others would show the possibilities within GAD through accurate, devastating sallies into the minds of killers, and the change in focus of the 1950s to a more realism-based examination of policing and psychology was in fact simply the popularisation of something that had been done before to an expert level. Which is not to say none of this post-detection work was good, I haven’t read anything like enough to comment, but let’s also not pretend that Symons and his peers were doing anything new, or were necessarily improving on what had come before. Good heavens, that took a long time to write. If you’d like to read something by people who set out to write about Malice Aforethought and managed not to get distracted in the process, I recommend the following: Aidan @ Mysteries Ahoy!: Many of the other women in Bickleigh’s life are similarly hard to pin down. Madeleine, the young woman who has just moved to the Hall at the start of the novel, is also hard to get a definitive read on. Often her actions seem to contradict themselves, sometimes seeming to encourage Bickleigh’s interest while at others pushing him away. And then there’s Ivy… It strikes me that while Bickleigh may be an interesting protagonist, it is the women he is drawn to and their responses to him that I find to be one of the most interesting aspects of the novel. Tracy @ Bitter Tea and Mystery: Unfortunately the book just did not work for me. There were very few things I liked about it. But I am in the minority. The book had a great beginning and I liked the ending, but there was not enough to keep me interested in between. I don’t have to like the characters, but I do need to be interested in them, and I was not. Teddy’s wife was an overbearing, snobby woman and I could almost understand him wanting to get rid of her. But his behavior is just as bad and I could not build up any sympathy for anyone. Blog fun, Reviews Anthony Berkeley, Francis Iles, Inverted Mystery, Julian Symons, Spoilers! ← #538: The Cask (1920) by Freeman Wills Crofts #540: Adventures in Self-Publishing – The Boy Who Played Rama [ss] (2017) by Sharath Komarraju → 6 thoughts on “#539: The Origin of Evil – Contrasting Malice Aforethought (1931) by Francis Iles with The Colour of Murder (1957) by Julian Symons” jamesscottbyrnside The whydunnit presentation/howgonnagetcaught conclusion of the inverted mystery usually isn’t as interesting to me as the whounnit/howdunnit problems of the traditional mystery. I haven’t read The Colour of Murder, but it seems like it’s trying to create a have-it’s-cake-and-eat-it-too scenario. Is that the case? Does the amnesia allow Symons to do all four? It’s distinctly possible that Symons is trying to blur the boundaries between the various pigeonholed “types” of mystery, yes. Perhaps for him the mystery plot was too staid in its clean presentation of lines of sight — guilt was too easy a mantle to assign, detectives could be too certain, murderers could be too devilishly ingenious — and so he was seeking with The Colour of Murder to blur all those elements and try to give the “crime novel” some realism or at least some more of life’s blurred edges and equivocation. And some people might want to read that, but it’s not a success in terms of nailing down why anyone should read that book or what they’d get out of it. The situation might be blurrier, but it’s also infuriatingly simplistic: no-one ever really knows anything, which might reek of verisimilitude but is very much not what the Golden Age novel was set up to achieve. The psychology, as discussed above, is poor; the who/why/how/what quadrangle you mention does seem to be what he’s trying to get out of this, but he doesn’t even really do that. It can be done, I’d argue — see Family Matters (1933) by Anthony Rolls, also recently reprinted by the BL — but Symons does not succeed in that here. If The Colour of Murder is trying to eat its cake and have it too, Symons shouldn’t have dropped the cake when getting it out of the oven in the first place… Ron Smyth I have not read much Symons but there are very few writers who have the ability to illuminate the essential nature of a character with a simple turn of phrase or small revealing act as well as Berkely (Iles). While your review does not convince me that what Symons wrote was simply Malice Aforethought with the guts torn out I have no difficulty believing that Iles was a superior writer. Much like you, Ron, I’ve also not read much Symons, and given Berkeley/Iles’ erratic output I can’t necessarily say he was the better of the two…but I’ll not deny the huge influence he had, and the work that Symons tried to do in unpicking Berkeley’s model of the mystery story was never going to be as successful as the work Berkeley did laying the foundations in the first place. The vision of falibility and misplaced arrogance that Berkeley played with via Poisoned Chocolates, Malice Afore, Wychford, etc is far more compelling that Symons’ take on the same principles in TCoM. But more reading will reveal whether this is simply one book giving a poor impression of an author who wrote one helluva lot in the genre. My first Berkeley was Not to Be Taken, after all, and goddamn I hated that book..! One of the things I value is originality which can come in many forms. Berkeley never seemed to write the same book twice and apparently neither did Symons. Both attempted to advance the Detective novel to something more than a mere puzzle. Not all results of such efforts are equally felicitous and no doubt each author had his failures. I disliked both The Silk Stocking Murders and Death In The House but I enjoy the quality of the prose in Berkeley even when I am not particularly impressed with the overall book. I do not have that reaction to Symons even in books of his that I enjoy. Interesting. Symons’ sentence-by-sentence writing in The Colour of Murder impressed me, as I’m pretty sure I said in my review. He struck me as more of a self-conscious stylist than Berkeley, mainly because I always imagined Berkeley looking at the bigger picture of how he could innovate and so the details sometimes got lost (The Second Shot, for instance, which hides something in the most egregiously unfair way); maybe I’m scrutinising Berkeley too much for the new stuff he’s doing — the winks he throws, the conventions he up-ends — and should just take a step back to admire his sentences. I’ll make a deliberate effort to do this with the next Berkeley I read. Expect a report back whenever that book comes around!	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2825
__label__wiki	0.746682	0.746682	Tag Archives: racial Louise Reay’s Chinese language comedy and a man bangs a nail into his penis The Thoughts of Louise Reay – 喜剧演员和电视制片人 I missed a preview of Louise Reay’s show It’s Only Words a few weeks ago. Not that I would have understood it. Her show is billed as “the first ever stand-up show where the audience will literally have no idea what the person on stage is talking about.” This is because her show is performed totally in Chinese for audiences who speak no Chinese. “So,” I told her when we met, “you studied Chinese at university. That was very sensible of you, given they’re the rising world power.” “It may sound sensible now,” she told me, “but it wasn’t at the time. I did it on a whim. My parents are hippyish and we were like a host family for foreign students. When I was like 16, a lot of my siblings had moved out so there were spare bedrooms and we filled them with foreign students.” “How many siblings have you?” I asked. “I’m one of four, but I have three step-siblings, so my parents have seven between them and, when each one left, we put like two foreign students in their bedroom until there was just me and my little brother left of the original siblings. We would have these big dinners with like 2 Chinese, 1 Swiss and 3 Mexicans. At one point, we had 4 Brazilians living with us who we couldn’t get rid of. They just kept inviting more people to live with them. “It sounds terrible to say it today but, at that time, it always felt like the Chinese ones were the most alien. I was like 16 and going clubbing all the time and we had one Chinese girl who came to stay with us and she just read the Bible all the time. It felt weird. “So I chose to study Chinese on a whim. I thought: Chinese people seem the weirdest to me. That will be the most fun. I can go to university in Beijing. It was as simple as that. It sounds so bad now, but I was only 17. About a year later, the Chinese economy took off and everyone said to me: What a wise decision you made. It was a complete whim. Louise always tries to fit in with Chinese culture “I was at university in Beijing for a year and later I went back to work there for another year. in business. All my colleagues were Chinese women and all my clients were middle-aged Chinese men and that’s why I came home. It was like just really weird?” “When did you come back?” I asked. “Quite a long time ago – like 2010 or 2011.” “The first three times I went to Beijing,” I told her, “were 1984, 1985 and 1986.” “Oh!” said Louise. “You’re so lucky! Deng Xiaoping! Cool! I went to Beijing again last December. There’s a cool TV series coming out on BBC this summer – The School That Turned Chinese – about a school in Surrey which gets Chinese teachers for a month and I was out there getting the Chinese teachers.” “Your day job in TV is what?” I asked. “Assistant producer. Freelance. I just fell into it about five years ago because I speak Chinese. I do all kinds of projects. I did a big economics series for BBC2 that came out in December. I do really random stuff. I’m an assistant producer, so I just run round after the middle-aged man. I came home from Beijing to avoid hanging out with middle-aged Chinese men and all I do now is run around after middle-aged British men. Apparently that’s my destiny. My first ever job in TV was in Zambia filming a documentary about middle-aged Chinese men who were entrepreneurs in the Copper Belt.” Louise could not escape China in London’s Soho last week “So,” I said, “you do live stand-up comedy AND these serious BBC2/BBC4 documentaries…” “Yes,” said Louise. “I first did stand-up when I was 16. I stopped at 18 after a weird gig in Eastbourne. They had a racist joke competition led by the compere. Then a man in the audience said: If I hammer a nail into my penis, can I get free entry to this club night for the rest of the year? And they said: Yeah! Sure! and they ran around and got a stool and a hammer and a nail and he hammered it in.” “We are talking here about hammering it into skin,” I checked, “not into the more solid bits?” “I didn’t look,” said Louise. “But, an hour later, he stood up and said: If I hammer a second nail into my penis, can I get free drinks for the rest of the year? and the audience went Yeeaaaaahhhh!!!! and basically, like, at the end of the night, he was doing a wee into a basin and I went to wash my hands next to him and he turned to me and said: Oh, I really like your set. And wee was coming out of the different holes in his dick. So I thought: I can never do comedy again and I didn’t do stand-up for about six years after that.” “I have to say,” I told Louise, “I would book him as an act… What have you just been working on recently?” “Dude, we WILL be able to understand what you want…“ “It’s really random. There’s like a Harvard professor and he has a TV company in the UK so we were doing like a history of capitalism thing?” “Why,” I asked, “are you doing this Brighton Fringe and Edinburgh Fringe show It’s Only Words in Chinese?” “I’ve always been interested in communication. I made a documentary about a Chinese woman called Apple who lived in Croydon. She could not speak any English and she did not go outside except for once a week to go to the Chinese supermarket. She was so isolated because she didn’t speak the language. And I thought: Dude, if you go to an English language shop and try to buy something, we WILL be able to understand what you want. “People have a real mental barrier about languages and the way we communicate. But just one look can mean so much. We communicate all the time. Look at my hands. I can’t stop them moving. There’s so much more than language going on. That’s what my show’s all about.” “So,” I asked, “people sitting in the audience will able to understand what’s going on?” “Yes. That’s the thing. It will prove that you can. There was a very spurious 1960s experiment which proved that only 7% of communication was verbal. So my whole show is an experiment in the 93%. If I did it in French, it wouldn’t work, because most people maybe understand enough. “A really weird thing is that, depending on where you live, your face ages differently, because you use different muscles in your face depending on what language you’re speaking. Louise Reay, a woman with experience, cleans a great wall “I know a Western man who has lived in China for the past 40 years and he looks like a Chinese person now, because the muscles that he’s used from speaking Chinese every day… Like Chinese is very much in the front of your face, whereas European languages are much more throaty? The whole face changes, because you have some muscles that are not used and other muscles that are used a lot more. It’s like really nuts that you can age your face differently depending on what language you’re speaking each day. It’s mental.” Filed under China, Comedy Tagged as Beijing, China, comedy, ethnic, Louise Reay, racial Mar 25, 2013 · 2:31 pm Comedian Sameena Zehra, a homicidal pacifist, insists she really is quite mad (A version of this piece was published on the Indian news site WSN) Sameena with husband in Edinburgh last year “When I’m stressed,” Sameena Zehra told me in London’s Covent Garden last week, “I make architectural floor plans to calm myself. I put in where the electric points go. If I ever have a plot of land and money to build, I will have hundreds of floor plans to choose from. But I really shouldn’t tell people about liking architectural plans.” “Why?” I asked. “Because it’s part of my general madness… homicide and everything else. When I have an argument with my husband, I plan the arrangements for his funeral in detail. I’ve planned my own as well. I’m going to have a Viking funeral.” “I like the idea of people standing by a beach and sending me off on a raft and then firing burning arrows at it.” “But before that, on the 4th of April,” I said, “you’re starting a new monthly comedy club in West Ham called WHAT?”” “It’s called the Cult of Comedy,” said Sameena, “mainly because I’ve always wanted to start a cult because I want loads of people who will do my bidding.” “If I were doing cheap psychology…” I ventured. “Liking architectural plans, wanting a Viking funeral and starting a cult makes it seem like you want to control things which, I suppose, comedians want to do because they want to control and affect the audience.” “I have no desire to control the audience,” Sameena replied. “But, in my own life, I have had a thing about wanting to control the things that happen in order for me to then go crazy – because you need the boundaries. I would never go up on stage with a half-finished piece of work.” “Ideally,” I suggested, “you should go on stage with a script fully worked-out in extreme detail and throw parts of it away to fit into what happens on the night. Then you always have a strong skeleton to fall back on.” Sameena with cuddly friend but without any sharp machete “But you have to have courage to do that,” said Sameena.”And ability. I’ve been doing comedy for two and a half years and I’m not good enough to just ‘let go’. I’m still learning. I was an actor for fifteen years: I really enjoyed doing original writing, new plays. Sometimes I worked on plays that were still being written, which was fascinating. “One of the reasons I moved from acting to comedy was I wanted creative control of my work. Really, as an actor, if I’d had one more offer or audition as an Asian shopkeeper or a terrorist’s wife, sister or daughter, I would have killed someone. I loved being an actor but I wanted to leave while I still loved it. “Comedy’s amazing, because you write something and you take it out and do it. You don’t have to wait for a producer or a director or anybody. You just write it and do it and then you stand or fall on the quality of your work. I’ve given myself five years to get to a point where I have some sort of audience that likes my work.” “You know my theory,” I said, “that you have to play the Edinburgh Fringe three years in a row. The first year, they don’t know you’re there. The second year, you get some attention. The third year, they see you as an established performer.” “I may not be able to do Edinburgh this year,” Sameena told me. “I don’t know if I can afford it. But, if I don’t do a full show, I am going to go up for a week and do open spots and see other shows.” “The danger if you leave a year gap between shows,” I said, “is you have to start from scratch again because not only do audiences change but reviewers change. So where is this place you want to be after five years from starting comedy?” Sameena’s 2012 Edinburgh Fringe show: Tea With Terrorists “I want to be touring my show and to have found my voice and be more courageous and have written a really good piece. I think my show at the Fringe last year – Tea With Terrorists – was a good show. The new one I’m writing – Homicidal Pacifist – I don’t know what that’s going to be like. After five years in comedy, I would like to have honed my craft and to have had fun doing it and I would like to have done it with integrity.” “And,” I asked, “if you don’t reach that point after five years?” “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it,” said Sameena. “I’ll keep doing comedy, I’ll just have to change my strategy.” “So why are you now a Homicidal Pacifist?” I asked. “Because,” explained Sameena, “I am a pacifist in my heart: I believe in non-violent civil disobedience. I believe that, when we use violence, it demeans and diminishes us as human beings… On the other hand, I occasionally have the urge to get a machete and run around an Asda supermarket with it. “Here’s the thing. I love humanity, the adjective. But I do not like Humanity, the noun. Sameena’s new 2013 comedy show, previewing in Brighton “The premise of my new show is that I’m working on a plan to cull the human race. It’s going to be thought-out and logical. There’s going to be a questionnaire. If you fail it, you get three years to fix yourself. If, after three years, you haven’t fixed yourself, you’re going to be culled. “There’s going to be a culling aisle in the supermarket. Every supermarket will have one and there will be an announcement that goes: Attention! Customer announcement! Culling will begin in Aisle 3 in fifteen minutes. “There are certain groups that will have a preponderance, like merchant bankers. It doesn’t mean all of them will be culled – because I’m unwilling to dismiss a whole group of people just because of the worst characteristics of 90% of them. “That’s where I am. I’m very angry about things and I can imagine being in a news story that ends with the words: She then turned the gun on herself. But I hope I won’t. So I need to get it out of my system. “I love crime fiction. It must be the homicidal inside me. I love Elmore Leonard and Steven Saylor, who sets all his crime novels in the Roman Empire. You get a whole milieu; you learn about the social history of Rome. Same with Dorothy L.Sayers: 1920s Britain. Same with C.J.Sansom who writes novels set during Henry VIII’s reign. I think I like the puzzles as well. I’m a great fan of puzzles.” “And architectural floor plans,” I said. “I’m writing a crime novel myself,” Sameena told me. “Based where?” I asked, surprised. “In modern-day London. I’ve always wanted to write a crime novel. It’s about a woman in her thirties who used to be part of a three-person team that did extractions in South American and African countries where people get kidnapped.” “Extractions for companies?” I asked. “Yes. And now she runs a private detective agency with a friend of hers.” I asked: “Can I say that in my blog or will someone nick the idea?” Sameena – a fan of detectives & kick-ass Moghuls “Who cares if they nick the idea?” replied Sameena. “The one I want to write – the one I need to write before I die – is a detective novel set during the Moghul Empire in India. There was a Moghul King called Akbar The Great and the years of his reign are pretty concurrent with Elizabeth I in England. It was a Moslem dynasty and he was an amazing guy. It was one of his descendants who built the Taj Mahal. “I’ve got a female detective in mind who is part midwife, part travelling mendicant. You need a character who can pass between royalty and the common people. She goes around solving mysteries and I would like to have the absolutely amazing tapestry of the Moghul Empire behind these everyday stories. Nowadays, because we’re all becoming Islamophobic, we’re forgetting that Islam was a real force for spreading knowledge. And women were educated. They had options. They even went into war. There are lots of famous Indian women warriors. They kicked ass.” “You strike me as being very organised,” I said. “Isn’t being disorganised, doolally and mad almost a pre-requisite for being a comic?” “A lot of people have said to me that comedians are mad,” said Sameena, “and stupid and bitchy. But I haven’t had that experience. By-and-large, the people that I’ve met have been generous and encouraging and lovely to meet. I’ve met the occasional arsehole, but I’ve just gone I’m not having anything to do with you, thankyou very much.” “I like comedians,” I said. “But they do tend to be doolally in one way or another. That’s what makes them interesting.” “Well, I’m quite mad,” said Sameena. “I’m quite aware of this.” “No, no,” I said. “You come across as being a director or producer. Someone who’s creative but not mad.” “I am quite mad,” insisted Sameena. “I hide it very well.” Filed under Comedy, India, UK Tagged as Brighton, comedy, crime, edinburgh, Fringe, homicidal pacifist, Moghul, novel, racial, Sameena Zehra, stereotype, terrorists Nov 5, 2011 · 9:41 am Racial and racist jokes + what comic Bernard Manning told Lewis Schaffer (A version of this blog was also published on the Chortle comedy website) Whenever I mention the late comedian Bernard Manning in a blog, the number of hits goes up because some people get offended by the mere mention of him. It is like rattling the cage of a PC parakeet. Live on stage, Bernard Manning was one of the best technical comedians I have ever seen . In yesterday’s blog – in passing – I mentioned both Bernard Manning and American comedian Lewis Schaffer. I normally try not to quote from people’s stage acts but, occasionally, Lewis mentions on stage that an Edinburgh Fringe reviewer once called him “mildly racist”. He says that is the worst of both worlds. If you are not racist, you do not want to go see a comedian who is mildly racist. Equally, if you are a racist, you do not want to go see someone who is only mildly racist. The only solution, Lewis reasons on stage, is that his act should become more racist. In fact, I do not think Lewis is remotely racist on or off stage. He can be xenophobic on stage, but that is perhaps a sign that he has ‘gone native’ after too many years living in Britain. On stage, like Jerry Sadowitz, he hates everyone and everything equally. Misanthropy is his schtick. I vaguely know another ‘white’ comedian who often plays ‘black’ clubs. I will not name the comedian because of what follows in this blog, but the comedian has talked to me of how he/she can tell jokes about black culture to highly appreciative black audiences. But he/she cannot tell the same jokes to white audiences because the jokes would be seen as appallingly racist. To black audiences, they are not racist; they are just very funny observational racial jokes. Interestingly, about ten years ago, Lewis Schaffer had a conversation with Bernard Manning, though they never met. “It was around 2002,” Lewis tells me. “I’d been in the country for such a short time, it was all a blur to me. I was at the ITN building on Gray’s Inn Road in London and Bernard Manning was in Manchester and they were asking us about offensiveness in comedy. “I said what I always say, which is that I personally think you should only tell a joke about any ethnic group if you can tell it to their face and they will laugh AND you can tell it when they’re not around and people who are not of that group will not find it offensive. “Bad comedians are the ones who can tell a joke only when the people they’re making fun of are not in the room – Welsh people are not here. Let’s insult them. “That’s bad comedy. Well, not bad. But not the best. “Good comics can insult you to your face.” I certainly agree with that. I saw a show at Bernard Manning’s Embassy Club in Manchester in the early 1980s when there was a black couple near the front of the audience. Manning, of course, zeroed in on them as the butt of his jokes and they genuinely loved it. At the end of the show, they were beaming with happiness and excitement; he had made their night. Another time, there was a honeymoon couple in the audience who foolishly admitted to Manning that they were a honeymoon couple. What they were thinking about, I cannot begin to imagine. He, of course, did every honeymoon and sex gag he could think of throughout the show. Again, they loved it, loved being the centre of attention, loved him (as it were) giving them a hard time. So I agree with Lewis Schaffer that a good comic can tell racial jokes to people’s faces. A bad comic can only tell those jokes when the relevant people are out of the room. “But,” says Lewis, “there is another step. A good comic can tell a racial joke to people of that racial group and make them laugh AND he can tell the same joke to people who are not of that ethnic group and make them laugh. If you can’t tell the joke and get laughs when there are no people of that racial group there, then you shouldn’t tell the joke. You should not tell the joke because it will make the audience feel uncomfortable.” I am not sure I go along with Lewis on this. If you can tell a black racial joke to black people and they do not find it offensive – if they find it funny – then the joke is not racist, it is racial. If white people find the joke racist, then I think the problem lies in the people not in the joke. Lewis tells me: “Just because black people are laughing, doesn’t mean you’re allowed to make the racial joke. It doesn’t mean you can tell that joke to an audience of white people. It doesn’t mean you’re going to get a laugh from it. It doesn’t mean they’re not going to hate you. “If Bernard Manning could tell his jokes to black people who laughed at them, then the jokes were not racist. But that doesn’t mean he could tell them to white people and not be perceived as being racist. So maybe that’s the problem Bernard Manning had and has: that he was and is perceived as being racist. I’m just saying that. I don’t know. “I said that on the radio and Bernard Manning – I don’t know how he knew this, but he – brilliantly – said, You are going to die skint. “It was the first time I had ever heard the word ‘skint’ and what he said is totally true. “Bernard Manning knew he offended people, but he didn’t care, because that’s where the money was in his world. “With me, I actually care about people’s feelings and that’s not good for business.” Filed under Comedy, Racism Tagged as Bernard Manning, black, club, comedy, edinburgh fringe, gags, humor, humour, Jerry Sadowitz, jokes, lewis schaffer, misanthropy, PC, political correctness, politically correct, racial, racism, racist, review, schtick, xenophobia Aug 7, 2011 · 8:47 am The Edinburgh Fringe debate about sexist and racial – maybe racist – jokes I admired the late Bernard Manning as a comedian. And, unlike many who criticised him, I saw him perform live. I blogged about this in January and got a lot of negative feedback. But I think many anti-Bernard Manning sentiments are knee-jerk reactions. People dislike him because they know they are supposed to dislike him. The comedian, musician and writer John Dowie contributed a very interesting short story to the Sit-Down Comedy anthology which the late Malcolm Hardee and I commissioned and edited for Random House in 2003. His Help Me Make It Through the Night is basically a fictional story about a right-on early Ben Elton type alternative comedian and an old school Bernard Manning style comedian… written sympathetically from the point of view of the Bernard Manning character. The story was written for the book by John Dowie after he and I had a discussion about Bernard Manning and surprisingly found a lot of common ground. Indeed, I think we agreed that we both admired him as a technically brilliant comedian; and it helped that we had both lived through the period when Manning was having his greatest success. John Dowie is (in my opinion) a notable left-wing thinker; we are not talking a Daily Mail reader here. I mentioned in yesterday’s blog that I am chairing a couple of debates in Malcolm Hardee Week (the last week of the current Edinburgh Fringe). On Tuesday 23rd August, the proposition is: RACIST OR SEXIST JOKES? IT DOESN’T MATTER IF THEY’RE FUNNY! It is perhaps not the most original of ideas for a debate, but it is never not irrelevant and I felt it still has a lot of proverbial mileage left in it. The phrasing and punctuation of the debate’s title can be taken to represent either viewpoint: I did invite Jim Davidson to take part in this debate (through his agent) without payment. He is taking part in the Guardian-sponsored Edinburgh International Television Festival at the end of the week reflecting, according to the programme, “on the industry that loved him, supported him but ultimately rejected him, as he discusses the changing nature of acceptability in comedy and television as a whole”. His agent said Jim was unable to be in Edinburgh on Tuesday 23rd for the Malcolm Hardee Debate because he is on tour – playing Great Yarmouth on the Monday night and Weymouth on the Wednesday night. I have no idea if it is just impractical (it sure ain’t easy) or because there was no money in it or because he just did not fancy doing it. All are perfectly reasonable. It is a pity – but much in life is, like the fact choc ices are fattening. I have never met Jim Davidson and have never seen his live act (television, in this case, does not count). I have asked people who have worked with him what he is like and opinion is varied. I have no personal opinion on him. Prejudice is not something I admire and, by that, I mean judging people without really genuinely knowing what you are talking about. It is a comic irony that people who say you should never believe what you read in newspapers and magazines nor on the internet – and you should never believe edited video clips out of context – often do. So I am prepared to believe Jim Davidson is a shit; but I am also prepared to believe he is misunderstood and misrepresented. Jimmy Carr, a brilliant comic whom I have seen and whom I do admire, has also been accused of telling racist jokes. To which I say Bollocks. Admittedly, even if I did think Jim Davidson were a shit, I would put him on to get bums on seats and to let him defend himself (equal factors in my mind). I think the line-up on 23rd August without him is still very good: Simon Donald, co-founder of Viz magazine, who has now re-invented himself as a stand-up comedian. Hardeep Singh Kohli, sometime presenter on BBC1’s The One Show and columnist for Scotland on Sunday newspaper. Ian Pattison, creator and writer of the culturally phenomenal BBC TV series Rab C.Nesbitt. And Maureen Younger, the astonishingly well-travelled London-Scottish comedian who hosts all-female Laughing Cows comedy gigs in London, Birmingham, Berlin etc. If you are in Edinburgh on Tuesday 23rd August… at The Hive, 6.15-7.00pm. It is part of the Free Festival – so it is free unless you want to throw appreciative money in a bucket at the end, in which case it is for charity; 100% goes to the Mama Biashara charity. Don’t pre-judge it. Filed under Comedy, Racism, Sex Tagged as award, Ben Elton, Bernard Manning, comedy, Daily Mail, edinburgh, Fringe, funny, Guardian, Hardeep Singh Kohli, Ian Pattison, Jim Davidson, Jimmy Carr, John Dowie, jokes, Laughing Cows, Malcolm hardee, Maureen Younger, One Show, prejudice, Rab C Nesbitt, racial, racist, sexist, Simon Donald, Sit-Down Comedy, Television Festival, Viz, week Mar 4, 2011 · 3:47 pm Oy! Oy! – Anti-Semitism, a murderous Israeli cross-border raid and a Jewish joke from the Prime Minister This week, I was talking to Israeli-born, London-based freelance journalist Daphna Baram, who wrote a fascinating book Disenchantment: The Guardian and Israel about that British newspaper’s relations with and perception of Israel. (The 2004 hardback is currently on sale at amazon.co.uk for an eye-popping £94.98p) The only prejudice I know I have is that I am unthinkingly pro-Jewish, largely because I went to a grammar school with a very high percentage of Jewish pupils. That prejudice in favour of Jews used to transfer equally to Israel. Hey! – remember why Israel occupies the West Bank, the Golan Heights etc – it’s because, in 1967, the countries surrounding it were foolish enough to threaten to attack Israel (not for the first time) in an attempt to wipe it off the face of the map… They lost their gamble… and, in six days – spookily the same amount of time in which the Jewish God allegedly created the Universe – Israel created more defensible borders. Like him, they rested on the seventh day. Egypt, Jordan and Syria miscalculated so badly that Israel’s defensive attack originally pushed the Egyptian Army back to the Suez Canal and threatened Cairo, while Jordan’s West Bank territories were over-run and Syria lost the Golan Heights. But, when I hear the words “Golan Heights”, I don’t think “wantonly occupied by Israel”, my memory is of the Syrian Army pouring heavy artillery shells down onto the farmland of northern Israel from the heights before the Six Day War started. My automatic pro-Israeli thinking, of course, has lessened. Bulldozing the houses of terrorists’ families and taking ten eyes for an eye if you are attacked smacks of the Nazis in their occupied territories in the 1940s and makes me think Have the Israeli government never read their own history books? It was counter-productive for the Germans. It is counterproductive for the Israelis. When they bulldoze a house, does the name Lidice never spring into their minds? They only have to look at a map. The town of Lidice is still there on modern day maps. I am always a simplistic thinker. If you constantly fire rockets into Israel, then Israel is going to react, possibly – and not unreasonably – by sending troops into the country from which it is being attacked. If the IRA had been repeatedly/constantly shelling Liverpool from positions just outside Dublin, the British government would have done more than send a few SAS men into the Republic of Ireland to assassinate people (as they did without the provocation of suffering rocket-attacks from foreign soil). But I mentioned to Daphna Baram that I thought Israel’s image in the UK had mainly gone downhill since my erstwhile youth largely because of accents. When I was a kid, the Israelis were automatically the good guys because they sounded like us and wore Western clothes, whereas the Palestinians/Arabs sounded like foreigners and wore costumes straight out of Lawrence of Arabia. In my erstwhile youth, Prime Minister Golda Meir had an American accent and looked like a grandmother from Baltimore. Israel’s long-time Foreign Minister Abba Eban spoke like he had been educated at a rather stuffy English public school and dressed like the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Yasser Arafat, on the other hand, looked and sounded like a rather dodgy bloke up an alleyway in Casablanca or some similar black & white movie, selling dirty postcards to tourists. I mean… Golda Meir – she was a Jew, the Israeli Prime Minister – and she titled her autobiography My Life… you have to admire her for having a sense of humour. Yasser Arafat did not look like he sat at home and watched Monty Python’s Flying Circus on TV. Golda Meir might have watched The Benny Hill Show. It was around the time of Prime Minister Menachem Begin and his successor Yitzhak Shamir that things started to go downhill for Israel in PR terms. This was, I think, mainly because Begin and Shamir both had a guttural accent when speaking English though – yes, OK – there was also the minor matter of them both being former anti-British terrorists. Begin had been leader of Irgun and Shamir was a former member of both Irgun and The Stern Gang. But that has never been an insurmountable problem for the British – from Jomo Kenyatta in Kenya to Michael Collins, Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness in Ireland, we have always accepted terrorists as the political leaders of ‘our’ former countries. The trouble with Menahem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir was that they sounded as foreign and alien as their Palestinian rivals – and their suits were not as smart as Abba Eban’s had been. Daphna did not really agree with me about accents changing Britain’s attitude to Israel, but she did tell me a story about Abba Eban. In the late 1950s, when Abba Eban was Israel’s representative at the United Nations, Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion ordered an especially murderous raid across the border. Abba Eban stood up at the UN General Assembly and made a particularly brilliant speech defending the raid. He than phoned David Ben-Gurion to express his utter outrage at what he considered had been an appalling and reprehensible attack. Ben-Gurion listened to Abba Eban, then said: “Well, I was having second thoughts about the raid myself but, after I heard your outstanding speech, I was convinced that I did the right thing”. A story more Oy! Oy! than Oy Vey! perhaps. Filed under History, Politics, PR, Racism, Religion Tagged as 1967, Abba Eban, amazon, anti-British, anti-semitism, Arab, assassinate, Ben-Gurion, Benny Hill, Bible, bulldoze, Cairo, Casablanca, creation, Daphna Baram, David, Disenchantment The Guardian and Israel, Dublin, Egypt, ethnic, Gaurdian, General Assembly, Gerry Adams, God, Golan Heights, Golda Meir, homes, IRA, Ireland, Irgun, Israel, Israeli, Jew, Jewish, Jewish joke, Jomo Kenyatta, Jordan, Kenya, Lawrence of Arabia, Lidice, Liverpool, Martin McGuinness, Menachem Begin, Michael Collins, Monty Python’s Flying Circus, My Life, nazi, newspaper, occupied territories, oy oy, oy vey, Palestine, Palestinian, PR, prejudice, Prime Minister, public perception, public relations, racial, republic, rockets, SAS, shell, Six Day War, Stern Gang, Suez Canal, Syria, terrorist group, terrorists, UN, United Nations, West Bank, Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Shamir Jan 31, 2011 · 11:48 am In defence of racial jokes, Bernard Manning and Jimmy Carr but not this British Asian bloke I saw (This blog later appeared on Chortle, the UK comedy industry website) I once put on a show at the Hackney Empire theatre in London where a top-name comic refused to introduce or be on stage with comedian Jimmy Carr because, in the preceding week, Jimmy had been much criticised in the press for jokes about gypsies. Especially one gag: “The male gypsy moth can smell the female gypsy moth up to seven miles away – and that fact also works if you remove the word ‘moth’.” I had no problem with Jimmy Carr nor with the joke. Told in his particular dead-pan persona, it is a beautifully-crafted joke. From some other comic, it could have been very ethnically offensive. From the Jimmy Carr on-stage character, it did not seem to me to be offensive. It is/was a joke. In a Guardian interview in 2006, Jimmy said, “If you’re doing wordplay, there is no real place to take offence. It’s like taking offence at a crossword puzzle… People don’t come and see my show and go, ‘That’s what he thinks’.” I think if the late Bernard Manning’s live act – much attacked by knee-jerk PC supporters who never saw it – were performed today, word-for-word, by Jimmy Carr or Jerry Sadowitz, then trendy journalists would give it a four or five star review. Because they don’t believe (despite the gypsy jokes) that Jimmy Carr or Jerry Sadowitz are actually themselves bigoted. But people do believe in retrospect and without having seen and heard him deliver jokes live on stage, that Bernard Manning’s live act was racist. Because they’ve read or heard other people say it’s a fact. I did see Bernard Manning perform live three times. He was very funny. I also once had lunch with him. It seemed to me he had a bit of a superiority complex – he thought he was a bit better than the other Northern Comics of the time – but then he probably was. And he was very funny in a hard-edged, cynical way not un-reminiscent of the current Jimmy Carr on-stage persona. The first time I saw Bernard perform live, at his own Embassy Club in Manchester, was probably in the early 1980s. It was one of the slickest professional shows I have ever seen in my life, performed in tacky, glittery decor like a cheap Hong Kong Christmas party that Butlins had staged for holiday campers in the mid 1950s. The room was filled with ordinary down-market punters who clearly seldom went out and were be-suited and dolled-up for their Big Night Out. The only comparable thing I’ve seen was a Sunday night show at a Masonic hall in Easterhouse, Glasgow, which felt like it was set in South Vietnam circa 1968. The exterior (the walls were topped with barbed wire & broken glass) and location of the venue (a lone building in the middle of what felt like and very possibly was a free-fire zone) looked like something out of Escape From New York and the punters were middle-aged blue-rinsed women in over-tight sparkly dresses and dark-suited men looking uncomfortable wearing tightly-collared shirts and seldom-used ties. What struck me about Bernard Manning’s act at the Embassy Club in Manchester for his very mainstream, very middle-of-the-road, probably Labour-voting but very conservative early-1980s audience was that, for the first third of the act, he used the word “cunt” very liberally. It was all over the place. This was at a time when the word was unacceptable in alternative comedy shows (which were only barely starting) and never heard on feature films, let alone in straight middle-of-the-road live punter shows. The use of the word “cunt” tailed-off after the first third of the act and had disappeared entirely by the final third. It only struck me the next day that this was part of Bernard’s professionalism. The show had been due to start at 8.00pm. At 30 seconds before 8.00pm, Bernard appeared on stage and briefly introduced the first act. There then followed competent singers, competent comics. Nothing hyper-special. But satisfying. There were two breaks. In one, there was a charity raffle. In the other, chicken-in-a-basket. Throughout the show (as was the way with Northern clubs) you could order drinks at your table and there was a constant flow of staff bringing drinks from the bar to tables. It was a visible money-making machine and the paying punters got value -for-money. They got what they paid for. At the climax of the show, they got Bernard Manning doing his stand-up act – he was the one they had come to see – and they expected his act to be rude and shocking. That was why they had come. He delivered. It was cunt-this and cunt-that and cunt-the-other at the start. After he had established the act was rude and shocking, he just got on with good, solid gags and had no need to say “cunt”. He had delivered what they expected and, next day, those punters would be able to tell their friends and workmates: “Ooh, our Bernard, he were so rude. It were proper dirty.” Even there, I am perpetuating a stereotype. The second time I saw Bernard perform live, there was a young honeymoon couple in the very front row who foolishly admitted the fact to him. He, of course, went for sexual jokes throughout. They loved it. At the same show, there was a black couple in the audience. He went for them as well. They loved it. Afterwards, they were laughing and joking with him. I also saw him make anti-Semitic jokes. He was part-Jewish. I have seen the brilliant Jerry Sadowitz make what most people would consider anti-Semitic jokes. He is Jewish. The London-based New York comic Lewis Schaffer tells the best Holocaust joke I have ever heard. Recently, I saw a new-ish comic, a British Asian, make an anti-Indian joke. It should have felt OK – like a Jew telling a Jewish joke against Jews – but, to me, it felt racist. It is relevant that he is a new-ish comic. It’s the way they tell ’em. A joke is a joke is a joke. It’s the way it’s told that makes it funny. Or racist. There is a difference between racial and racist jokes. The sign of a non-racist society is that anyone can be the butt of a good joke. Filed under Comedy, Racism, Theatre Tagged as 4-letter words, alternative, American, anti-Semitic, bad language, Bernard Manning, bigot, Britain, British Asian, Butlins, chicken in a basket, comedy, cunt, Easterhouse, Embassy Club, England, English, Escape From New York, ethnic, gags, Glasgow, Guardian, gypsies, gypsy moth, Hackney Empire, holiday camp, Holocaust, humor, humour, Jerry Sadowitz, Jew, Jewish, Jimmy Carr, jokes, lewis schaffer, london, mainstream, Manchester, Masonic hall, middle of the road, new york, Northern, offensive, PC, political correctness, politically correct, punter, racial, racism, racist jokes, Romany, Scotland, sexism, sexist, South Vietnam, stereotype, swearing, uk, wordplay The funniest British TV sitcoms are actually tragedies and the latest one is neither British nor a sitcom Last night, I caught bits-and-pieces of a documentary on the making of the classic and still funny BBC TV series ‘Allo ‘Allo – one of the wonderful ensemble sitcoms produced by David Croft – Are You Being Served?, Dad’s Army, Hi-de-Hi!, It Ain’t Half Hot Mum et al. One night last year, I sat through an entire evening of BBC3 comedy – four programmes – without a single smile. I think the main problem – especially with sitcoms – is that the writers think the object is to write funny lines for funny characters in inherently comic situations. But, with the exception of David Croft’s various series, I think the classic British sitcoms are almost all, at heart, tragedies. They are centred on unfunny characters in tragic situations. From Hancock’s Half Hour through to One Foot in the Grave, the central sitcom characters are not funny people. And the situations are not funny. The Tony Hancock character is a pompous, insecure, humourless and self-obsessed prat – you wouldn’t want to be stuck in a lift with him. But the series are very funny. The situation in Steptoe and Son is that both flawed characters are trapped by their suffocating relationship. The (again slightly pompous) son wants to escape to a wider, more exciting world but is trapped by a sad old father terrified of losing his son and being alone. Till Death Us Do Part featured another suffocating relationship where a racial bigot, bitter at life in a modern world he hates and his long-suffering wife are trapped by poverty with their daughter and loud-mouthed, know-it-all son-in-law in a claustrophobic circle of constant arguments and ego-battles. It’s a near definitive situation of personal hell. In One Foot in the Grave, a bitter, grumpy old man and his wife are trapped in a childless and almost entirely loveless relationship but have been together so long they have no alternatives left. In one masterful episode, they are in bed in the dark throughout; the camera never leaves the room; it transpires at the end that they once had a child who died – hardly the stuff of cliché, knockabout comedy. Only Fools and Horses is slightly funnier in its situation and in the way it plays, but still features a rather sad and insecure loser at its heart in what, in reality, would be an unfunny situation. Even The Office (much over-rated) has an unsympathetic and again very insecure central character you would hate to work for or with. The American, partly Jewish vaudeville-based tradition of TV sitcoms is to have a high laugh-per-speech count written by large teams of gag writers. The classic British sitcoms which have lasted the test of time are written by single writers or a pair of writers and, ignoring David Croft’s shows (almost a genre in their own right), they tend to have what would in reality be unsympathetic central characters in tragic situations. Ironically, the most consistently funny situation comedy currently screening on British television is neither a sitcom nor British. At the time of writing, episodes from three different series of the American show are being screened on three different British channels every week – by ITV1 before lunchtime on Saturdays, by ITV3 on Thursday evenings and it is stripped at breakfast time on Quest. Monk is, in theory, a US detective/police procedural series about a sad and lonely former detective with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, without friends, unable to function in the everyday world and unable to get over the murder of his wife several years ago. Almost every episode has tear-jerking pathos and almost every episode is more genuinely funny than any number of current British sitcoms where the writers are wrongly attempting to put funny lines in the mouths of inherently funny characters dropped into funny situations. Although it is clearly NOT a comedy series – it is clearly a detective/mystery/police procedural series – over the years it ran (2002-2009) it won three Emmys and had thirteen other nominations in the Comedy Series category. If you want to know how to write a sitcom, watch Monk. Filed under Comedy, Television Tagged as Allo Allo, American, Are You Being Served, award, bbc, BBC3, bigot, british, Carl Reiner, classic, cop, Dad's Army, David Brent, David Croft, detective, Emmy, gag writer, genre, Hancock's Half Hour, Hi-de-Hi, humor, humour, It Ain't Half Hot Mum, ITV1, ITV3, Jewish, Larry Gelbart, Mel Brooks, Monk, Neil Simon., Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, One Foot in the Grave, Only Fools and Horses, police procedural, Quest, racial, series, show, Sid Caesar, sitcom, situation comedy, Steptoe and Son, television, The Office, Till Death Us Do Part, Tony Hancock, tragedies, tragedy, tragi-comedy, TV, uk, US, vaudeville, woody allen, writing teams	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2826
__label__wiki	0.724814	0.724814	0567 \| Safety Last! If I was to say ‘Harold Lloyd’ to you I expect the first thing that would pop into your head would be an image of the actor holding the minute hand of a clock face as he clings on for dear life, high above the ground. Much like King Kong at the top of the Empire State Building – another great feat of skyscraper climbing – it quickly became one of the iconic images of early cinema, and has remained so for close to a hundred years, which is quite an amazing thing to consider. (And, while you’re there, consider the number of action films you’ve seen that have followed the template here, in which the plot builds to a jaw-dropping set piece at the end.) Although there’s plenty of information readily available that explains how Lloyd really performed the complex, meticulously-planned stunt – false building facades, safety mattresses, trick camerawork – he still popped one of his arms out of its socket while filming it, and it’s worth mentioning the fact that he did most of the climbing after losing a finger and a thumb in a bizarre accident a few years earlier, when he mistook a fake bomb for a real one. The skyscraper scene arrives at the end of Safety Last!, a fine silent comedy where the first hour is somewhat overshadowed by the final fifteen minutes. Lloyd stars as a young man who travels to Los Angeles to find gainful employment, keen to become a success in the eyes of his girlfriend, played by Mildred Davis. He gets a job at the fictional DeVore department store, whereupon he discovers he could pocket a hefty sum if he can draw a big crowd to the shop; this he does by advertising his skyscraper-climbing roommate as an attraction. So, at the end, it’s supposed to be Lloyd’s pal (Bill Strother) doing the climbing, but an interfering policeman puts paid to that, ensuring the bespectacled, be-hatted hero is the man tasked with shimmying his way from floor to floor (the irony being Strother, a steeplejack/human fly in real life, was the inspiration for the film and did actually stand in for Lloyd in some of the long shots). The film is funny and inventive: the first five minutes in particular are very strong and delight in wrong-footing the audience, while there are plenty of laughs based around Lloyd’s working days in the store, but I suppose it’s hard to argue against that spectacular finale being the clear highlight of the movie. It’s a brilliant, creative piece of filmmaking as well as being a real knee-knocker, you’re rooting for the charismatic, likeable Lloyd all the way, and it’s something that I never, ever tire of watching. Directed by: Fred C. Newmeyer, Sam Taylor. Written by: H.M. Walker, Jean Havez, Harold Lloyd, Hal Roach, Sam Taylor. Starring: Harold Lloyd, Bill Strother, Mildred Davis. Cinematography: Walter Lundin. Editing: T.J. Crizer. Certificate: U. Running Time: 73 minutes. Year: 1923. 8 Responses to “0567 \| Safety Last!” Cindy Bruchman June 13, 2016 This is a classic! I love this film. The stunts they did–Lloyd, Keaton, Chaplin. Stu June 14, 2016 I used to love this kind of thing as a kid and I’m only just going back to it now after so many years. Lloyd has always been one of my favourites from this era – such a likeable actor – and I suppose this is the pinnacle of his career. I am watching Blancanieves, the 2012 Spanish silent film based on Snow White. How cool a silent film made today! The cinematography is fantastic. Did you like it as much as me? The actresses were gorgeous. I’ve never seen that one – worth a watch I take it? It’s on Netflix. Oh my! You will love it. It’s so well made, I was surprised how engaging it was. Jordan Dodd June 14, 2016 Great post mate. I really need to see some films from this era, but don’t really know where to start. I’ll use this as my starting point I think 😀 Cheers Jordan! I can’t think of many better places to begin than with this one. I haven’t seen all that much myself (Lloyd made a lot of films!) but he’s normally pretty good. To be honest I’ve never regretted watching anything with Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton in it either! Oh…and this one’s on YouTube too.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2827
__label__cc	0.707453	0.292547	These are the things you need to think about. All Rights Aren’t Created Equal by Stephen https://thinkaboutitblogdotorg.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/all-rights-arent-created-equal.mp3 The nomination of a Justice to the United States Supreme Court should always give us cause to re-examine the role of the Court in our Constitutional Republic. A case can be made that of the three branches of Government, the Judiciary is the most independent and powerful. Think about it. The Supreme Court gets to pick and choose the cases it hears; Justices aren’t elected; they’re appointed; they serve for life, and can only be removed by impeachment, retirement, or death. And in the history of the court, only one Justice has ever been impeached. In 1804, Samuel Chase of Maryland, one of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence was impeached by the House of Representatives. Supporters of President Jefferson claimed that his politics biased his decisions and attempted to remove him from office. They failed; Chase was acquitted by the Senate and remained on the bench until his death in 1811. Instead of weakening the power of the Court as Jefferson hoped, the impeachment actually strengthened it by establishing the precedent of Judicial Review that affirms the Court’s power to void legislation it deems unconstitutional. The Supreme Court is the ultimate authority on the rights, liberties and freedoms of the American people. Its rulings set the precedent for all other courts to follow. Each Justice must balance the hierarchy of human and civil rights and strive to render a decision that is just, fair, and true. It’s an awesome responsibility, and a difficult and demanding task because not all rights are created equal. The rights and freedoms that we enjoy as Americans are either expressed or implied. The rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are our most fundamental rights and are expressed in the Declaration of Independence. Just as the freedoms of speech and the press are expressed in the Bill of Rights. The freedom of choice, however, is not an expressed right because it doesn’t appear in either document. It is an implied right because it must exist and is necessary if one is to exercise their right of liberty in the pursuit of happiness. Rights are also either conditional or absolute. Most rights are conditional. That is, we are free to exercise them on the condition that it does not infringe upon the rights of another. Subsequently, conditional rights can be restricted or temporarily denied. The freedoms of speech and press are protected by the 1st Amendment, but a judge can issue a gag order restricting them to protect an individual’s right to due process. However, the gag order must eventually be lifted, and the 1st Amendment Rights restored. Absolute rights cannot be restricted because once they are denied, they cannot be restored. The right to life is an absolute right. The Supreme Court may be the final authority on our rights and freedoms, but it is not infallible. Over the years, it has chosen political expedience over truth, and rendered some extremely flawed and terrible decisions. The Dred Scott decision of 1857, which ruled that African Americans, whether free or slave could not be US Citizens, is generally considered its worst. That was nullified by the passage of the 14th Amendment. Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, upheld legal segregation, but was overturned by Brown v. the Board of Education in 1954. Buck v. Bell in 1927, upheld the sterilization of people with intellectual disabilities, and Korematsu v. United States in 1944, upheld the internment of Japanese-American citizens during World War II. Interestingly, neither of these decisions has been overturned. Another extremely flawed decision that will have difficulty being upheld is Roe v. Wade. Roe v. Wade is the 1973 ruling that upholds a woman’s right to have an abortion. It’s flawed not because it upholds a woman’s right to choose, it’s flawed because how it defines a human being. Roe v. Wade pits a woman’s conditional right to choose against an unborn child’s absolute right to life. A conditional right cannot infringe upon an absolute right. A woman has the right to choose an abortion only up until the point in time when the fetus becomes a person and inherits its absolute right to life. The ruling defines this as viability; the point in time when the fetus is “potentially able to live outside the mother’s womb, albeit with artificial aid.” The problem with this definition is that it is uncertain and ambiguous. The definition that determines what is and is not a human being, and when the conditional right to choose can supersede the absolute right to life, cannot be uncertain and ambiguous. It must be certain, universal, and verifiable. Viability is none of these. In 1973, viability was generally considered to be around the 28th week of pregnancy. Today however, because of advancements in medical technology, viability occurs between the 23rd and 24th weeks. So, viability is dependent upon ever evolving and changing technology? How can technology, or worse, an individual’s access to technology, be a determinate factor in what constitutes a human life? It can’t, it’s too uncertain. In low-income countries, the survival rate or viability of preterm babies less than 28 weeks in gestation is below ten-percent, in higher-income nations it exceeds ninety-percent. Does a person’s country of origin, ethnicity, or socio-economic condition determine whether or not they’re a human being? Of course not, because that’s not universal. And how do we know the precise moment when a person becomes a person? If we’re going to allow the conditional right of choice to infringe upon the absolute right of life, don’t we need to verify that the life in question is indeed not a viable person? How do we do that? We can’t, viability is neither certain, universal nor verifiable, and it is not an acceptable standard for determining what constitutes a human life. If the Supreme Court agrees to hear a challenge to Roe v. Wade the viability criteria will almost certainly be discarded. The Court will then have to decide upon a new definition for human life. Both sides will make their case for what they believe constitutes a human life. The pro-life side will argue that life and personhood begin at conception. That a fertilize egg is a single-cell organism that contains human DNA, and therefor, a human life with the absolute right to life that the Court is obligated to protect. Abortion-rights advocates will argue that a fetus isn’t a person and doesn’t inherit its absolute right to life until it exists outside the womb independent from the mother at birth. However, given the hierarchy of rights, the burden of proof will fall upon those advocating for the conditional right to choose over the absolute right to life. It will be a very difficult case to make and is why the left vehemently opposes any challenge to Roe v. Wade. No one knows with absolute certainty when human life begins. There are opinions, but as of yet, there is no certain, universal, and verifiable standard. However, considering what’s at stake, aren’t we obligated to at least try to discern the truth? Let each side present its case. Let’s hear from the expert witnesses; the scientists, philosophers and theologians, and let’s arrive at a decision that is just, fair and true. Now, if one side continually insists upon opposing anyone or anything that requires it to argue its case and defend its position, doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know? Think about it. The Debate Vlad’s Pals From Many One A Simple Theology The Freedom of Speech Jane Roe “I can’t watch any more of this.”	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2830
__label__wiki	0.601901	0.601901	Fake News in Former Yugoslavia March 11, 2017 March 10, 2017 Daniel 20 Comments My traveling partner Ollie and I arrived in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on a bus from Sarajevo, where we’d spent a few days learning the history of the Siege of Sarajevo—the longest city siege in the history of modern warfare. Our friends in Sarajevo told us NATO forces broke the Serbian siege, saved the city, and the lives of every Bosnian living there. Before that, we’d been in Belgrade, Serbia, where a huge banner flying in front of parliament memorialized fallen Serbian soldiers as “Victims of NATO Aggression.” Same story, two sides. This is what you will find anywhere in this region of the world, a geographic region in southeastern Europe, collectively known as “The Balkan Countries.” I encourage anyone who believes in the concept of absolute, empirical truth to spend some time in the Balkans. That’s because in the six (or seven) nations that now occupy the space on the map that was former Yugoslavia, there is no one truth. There’s not even agreement on the number of independent countries in the region: Kosovo may or may not be included on maps of the region, depending on who made them. With this context in mind, it’s not surprising that the biggest proprietors of “fake news” during the U.S. election were—you guessed it—based out of the Balkans. A group of teenagers in Macedonia (FYROM) gained international notoriety when Buzzfeed News wrote a long expose about how they were getting rich peddling ‘alternative facts’ online. While the media in the U.S. scoffs at this phrase (Alternative facts), I doubt they’d think twice about the idea in the Balkans. The Serbs and the Bozniaks will tell you two very different stories about the same war. The Croats, a third faction in the conflict, will have their own version. All the groups will insist their version of the truth is the only acceptable one. And that’s far from the only such dichotomy in the area. I’m guessing this says “Smoking Kills” Cigarettes here are required to carry their health warnings in three languages: Serbian, Croatian, and Bosnian. It’s two identical lines, and a third line which uses the same words, but written in Russian instead of Latin characters. “It’s all the same fucking language,” a local friend in Sarajevo told us. “Remember, this all used to be the same country. We were all Yugoslavia.” It’s a muddy, confusing area for foreigners to try and navigate. The people are welcoming to tourists, but the history and delicate social constructs are almost impossible for visitors to read. Our friend continued: “You can’t understand our war if you’re not from here. Don’t even try.” The scars of war are visible all across Bosnia and Herzegovina. The country was the site of a bloody civil war in the ‘90s, a brutal ethnic and sectarian conflict which rivals the current carnage in Syria. In Sarajevo, the scars left by mortar shells have been filled with red resin, creating what are called “Sarajevo Roses” all across the city. You can barely take a step without being reminded of a time when it was regular for death to rain down from above. The countryside is still scattered with landmines, which regularly explode, indiscriminately injuring farmers, shepherds, and tourists alike. And in Mostar, the tallest building in the city remains windowless; pockmarked with high-caliber bullet holes. It stands empty and abandoned. It was used as a sniper’s nest during the war. Now, it’s where junkies go to get high. The carnage that swept across the region when the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia collapsed cannot be overstated. One needs to see these places, talk with the people, to truly understand the scope of the destruction. But in former Yugoslavia, the story you get depends on the people you talk to. Sniper’s nest in Mostar If you aren’t immediately familiar with the term “Yugoslavia,” that’s understandable. We aren’t taught much about Yugoslavia in the West—maybe because it’s a very complex story, and maybe because — at least according to people who lived through it — Yugoslavia was one of the most successful Communist states in history. Doesn’t align so well with the traditional capitalist narrative. These days, the territory once occupied by the large and influential Yugoslav Republic has been carved up into seven separate states: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and the disputed Kosovo. The majority of these countries are wracked with crippling unemployment and widespread poverty. Lots of people will tell you life was better under Communism. Is it any surprise we don’t hear that narrative in American schools? Map of the modern Balkans. You’ll notice it omits Kosovo. But, back to Mostar, where my British friend and I have just arrived. Mostar is famous for the “Stari Most,” a.k.a. the “Old Bridge” in the center of town. The bridge in its current form isn’t exactly old, since the original, 15th-century bridge was destroyed by the Croatian army during heavy fighting in 1993. But thanks to a lot of international money, the bridge has been rebuilt according to its original specifications, and is now a protected UNESCO World Heritage site. It looks old, in the Instagram photos and on the tourism brochures. Fifty meters from this shiny tourist attraction, countless buildings still lie in ruins—too dangerous to live in, and too expensive to rebuild. Bullet holes and graffiti cover the city — there are many, many reminders scrawled in red paint: “Don’t Forget.” Tired from a day of travel, my friend and I find a hostel. We have no reservation, and no idea what to expect. We have been recommended the “Hostel Nina” from a fellow traveler. We ring the bell. The owner greets us with what we have come to understand is typical Bosnian hospitality. He lives upstairs, he says, so if we need anything, don’t hesitate to shout. “I also own a bar,” he says. “Best view of the old bridge in town. Since you are guests at my hostel, your first drink is free! It is a Sunday night, and you are out-of-season, so I don’t expect there will be many guests,” he says apologetically. “Maybe a few locals.” In the hostel, Ollie and I met Sam, a Canadian solo female traveler. We strike up a conversation and cajole her into joining us for a free drink at the bar. When the three of us finally locate the bar, as predicted, it’s totally empty. The owner is sitting all by himself, watching a talking head on TV. He looks pleased to see us, and offers us all shots of rakija, a popular homebrewed liquor. The stuff is absurdly strong, and ubiquitous in the Balkans. “I have been waiting on this documentary for a long time,” our host says, pointing to the TV. “HBO. About the Yugoslavia space program,” he says. “Many people think this is why Yugoslavia collapsed,” he says with a conspiratorial nod. “Watch!” He turns up the volume, and the four of us settle in. Though we missed the beginning, the documentary is clearly well-made, with high production values and a host of recognizable characters, including an appearance by Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek. It’s mostly in English, but occasionally there are five to fifteen minute stretches where the language switches to Croatian (or Slovenian, or whatever). These sections have no subtitles. Our host offers a general translation of these parts for us—when he remembers. The doc tells a fairly fantastical space-race story, about the time Yugoslavia’s leader, Tito, sold phony rocket technology to the U.S. government. The sale of said technology, for $3 billion (about $20 billion today, adjusting for inflation), financed major improvements to the Yugoslav army and social services, drastically raising the standard of life in Yugoslavia, putting the country on par with the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. By the time the Americans realized the technology was worthless, the money had been spent. Tito could not repay the debt. Tito tries several different tacks to satisfy the understandably ticked-off U.S. government (including, the doc alleges, designing the notorious Yugo car for the U.S. market), but in the end, the Americans get to the moon on their own—with no help whatsoever from the expensive Yugoslav technology. The U.S. government turns that $3 billion into a loan, and demands collection. This puts a huge financial strain on Yugoslavia, which begins suffering under efforts to repay the money. Tito dies, nationalism begins to rise within the seven separate Yugoslav republics, and the film ends with the dark suggestion that the CIA encouraged these forces in order to destroy the Yugoslav state, because it would be easier to negotiate repayment with individual nations instead of one powerful republic. By the time the doc ended, we were fairly drunk, had spent far more money than we intended to, and our minds were blown. “You’d never hear that story in the U.S.!” I said to Ollie, walking home. “I’ve never even heard of that, have you?” The other two shook their heads. “Not at all. That’s wild. I had no idea Yugoslavia was so influential.” For the next two months, I tell anyone who will listen about this story, as an example of the way our worldview is skewed by our media. Only when I decide to do some digging, and see if I can find the film on the Internet, do I discover something shocking: it wasn’t a documentary. The film, which is titled “Houston, We Have a Problem,” is described alternatively as a ”docu-fiction” or a “docudrama.” The main character in the film—supposedly a retired Yugoslavian space engineer—was played by a well-known actor. You wouldn’t know this from looking at the film’s IMDB page though, which lists Slavoj Zizek as the only actor. And you certainly wouldn’t know it from talking to the man in the bar in Mostar—he may not have known himself. The film’s director, Ziga Verc, told Tribeca that his intention with the film was “to take a critical stance on the perception of reality in the media.” It’s been four months since that bar in Mostar, and I’m still questioning what’s real. I’d say he did a good job. Mosque in the Bosnian countryside Here in America, things are certainly different. Our new president is viciously attacking the media, the media is viciously attacking the president, and I’m becoming increasingly aware that more of the Internet than we would like to admit is fake, or astroturfed. Both sides are claiming that political opponents are “paid protestors,” and people are claiming that even well-produced, credible-seeming outlets are “fake news.” It’s increasingly seeming like we are living in two Americas: Middle America and Liberal America. Each side refuses to reach across the aisle and acknowledge the other. It’s beginning to seem a little like Bosnia, where you need to pay attention to what flags people are flying to understand where you are. Yugoslavia was torn apart by deep ethnic divisions; although the borders have been redrawn, those divisions still remain. For the locals, they track ethnicity by asking your name. Does it sound Serbian? Croatian? Or Muslim? “No matter what I do, who I become here,” our Sarajevan friend told us, “I cannot escape my name.” For visitors to former Yugoslavia, without the cultural context, you need to watch the flags. The official flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina is blue and yellow, with a triangle and stars. But throughout the country, you’ll find red, white, and blue Serb flags and Croat flags flying, almost as often as you’ll see the nation’s official colors. In Mostar, the city is mainly run by Bosniak Muslims. But if you go 400 meters from the river, our barman tells us, that’s Serb country. There, quite literally, they fly a different flag. No matter what your passport or your mobile phone says, that’s not Bosnia. That’s Republika Srpska. Anyone who tells you different is spewing “alternative facts.” At this critical time in our nation’s history, Americans would do well to look to Yugoslavia. We might see more of ourselves there than we would like. Thanks for reading. If you liked this piece, I’d love it if you share it with your friends, on social media or in real life! Or just leave a comment below, I’d love to hear from you! And to lighten things up a little here at the end, I strongly encourage you to watch this commercial for the Yugo car (it features the slogan ‘buy more freedom for less money’), and this ’80s tourism video for Yugoslavia (because the area really is beautiful, and has so much more to offer than war). Travel, Travel Storiesbosnia, Documentaries, donald trump, fake news, Houston, Serbia, Travel, We Have a Problem, Yugoslavia ← Nepal 73: My Travel Crush Nepal Photos: Poon Hill → 20 thoughts on “Fake News in Former Yugoslavia” Joona says: Do you have any tips for Bosnia and Herzegovina despite Mostar and Sarajevo? florenceandtheai says: I came to thank you for the like. This caught my eye. Apologies if this gets long. I grew up in a city that was a refugee resettlement hub. There were more people from Burma/Myanmar than any other place, but some former Yugoslavians were settled there as well. I swam in high school with a Bosnian brother and sister (they were not Bosniak, if I’m remembering the fine points). She mentioned during practice day that they’d had no water for 2 years. She said it so offhandedly that I didn’t realize what she’d actually said at first. When it finally dawned I was absolutely stunned. She didn’t have any visible rancor. She mostly seemed glad that life had finally just gotten on. There was a guy from Split at university with me. He kept saying what a nice place it was. I’m old enough to remember the end of the Bosnian war. I was in high school when Kosovo was bombed and it was all we saw on television. Contrasting those images with his stories of Split, which is basically a stone’s thrown from Italy and a Mediterranean resort in its own right, was sobering. I have my own issues with the Serbs, largely because of Srebenica. I wasn’t aware of the Yugoslavian space program, but I do know that Albania’s bunker construction ended up being very expensive. Cheers. dishwaterblog says: Good post. Seems the Wizard’s curtain has been pulled back…again. Those who’ve seen the classic Wizard Of Oz will understand. Thank you for stopping in to read my posting. Jersema says: I didn’t know that someone gets paid when I open or share an article on Facebook. Very enlightening. xmodgames says: An outstanding share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a coworker who was conducting a little homework on this. And he in fact bought me lunch because I stumbled upon it for him… lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending time to talk about this! Maureen's Suitcase says: Good post. We did learn quite a lot about Yugoslavia and the subsequent war in US schools, including colleges and universities, in the 1980s and 1990s. The war was taking place when I was in college in Boston, and it was in the news constantly. I suppose it makes sense that it is not addressed comprehensively anymore, as other stories have taken center stage, but it also makes me a bit sad. As you noted, this region has many lessons to teach. CattleCapers says: I visited Croatia and Slovenia not many years ago and they were very hopeful about their future. But they may be the more successful of the other countries since the breakup. Apparently some older persons grumble as they don’t get the freebies anymore is all I heard. Most of the complaining I heard was that the EU taxes were too high, damaging commerce and making it difficult to afford to have more than one child. Daniel Kay says: Croatia and Slovenia are definitely the most successful of the former Yugoslav republics. Slovenia seceded from the republic first and avoided most of the fighting. Croatia has been able to carve out a good tourist industry from that beautiful Adriatic coast. Such a wonderful country. I wish I could afford to return for an extended stay. kutukamus says: This is Zizek from ‘ The Pervert’s Guide to Cinema”, right? Never heard about that docudrama (sounds interesting. though) 🙂 A good read, nevertheless. Thanks for the link 🍸 boxerjeep says: I clearly remember communism and the former Soviet Union. I remember the Berlin Wall coming down and the feelings of unknown within so many in our society. I clearly remember a West and East Germany, the former Yugoslavia. I clearly remember CNN broad casting about the “conflict” in Kosovo in 1999; less than a year later I would be replacing a sister company deployed to Kosovo. Conflict my arse, it was a full on war. Something a lot of Americans have no idea about. The things I learned about what our new media showed, didn’t show and what was twisted was a very eye-opening experience for me. But it was a good lesson to learn at 20-21 years of age. Since then, I have not even believed half of what the news media broadcasts. History will always be a matter of view point… and let face it, our history books are written by 1. the one with the most money and/or 2. who won the “conflict.” wingandprayer says: This article is very interesting. Always there is more than one side to the news. It all depends on who you talk to. Thanks for sharing this information, and giving us a glimpse into a country we hear so little about. danyadarling says: Al great points. And such interesting information. It’s like something g out of a movie. That’s such a nice thing to say 🙂 thank you! Dr B says: Thank you, a long post but excellently written and very informative. It must have taken you ages but you address an important point centrally …. fake news. It’s global with many countries polarised and certainly here in the UK it’s the BBC who have lost all sense of balance and care not about factual vs opinion reporting. Jeanne says: My husband’s family (paternal grandparents) are from Yugoslavia, one Croation and the other Serbian. They fled during the war to come to America. There is a community of Yugoslavians here in Indianapolis that run a social hall and I will share with them and get insight from what they remember. Thanks for writing the article. I’m sure you’ll hear some interesting things! Share em here if you remember 🙂 Leave a Reply to Maureen's Suitcase Cancel reply	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2831
__label__wiki	0.565197	0.565197	Posted on January 8, 2018 by The Girl Who Knew Too Much ‘Finishing School’: A Female Narrative in 1934 Whenever I talk about classic movies, I tend to hear from women that they’re not interested because there are no female-told, female-driven stories. And it’s true, that after sound came in, women were no longer prominent behind the camera. Female writers and directors were scarce. Only a small handful were really successful and even then, many of them were remain uncredited on films they wrote or directed. Finishing School, made in 1934, is astoundingly a female-driven, female-written, and female co-directed studio film. There are only two prominent male parts and they’re supporting roles! The pre-code film follows Virginia (Frances Dee), a teenager untainted by all the bad things teenagers get involved with, starts at a finishing school for girls called Crocket Hall. There, she meets Pony (Ginger Rogers) and quickly begins to do all the bad-girl things, drinking, smoking, lying, and gasp having premarital sex. On a girl’s outing to New York city, Virginia meets Mac (Bruce Cabot), a hospital intern who moonlights at a hotel to make ends meet. But, of course, her wealthy parents couldn’t possibly approve and the school, which pretends to be helping young women is more like a prison, keeping the girls they deem insubordinate hostage. Here are just a few reasons why you need to add Finishing School to your watchlist! I love the lettering – I know that’s beside the point You get to see an early, pre-partnership with Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers Ginger was just 23 in Finishing School and hadn’t quite perfected what would become her signature schtick. But the sass we all love and expect from Ginger was there and it’s fascinating to see her when she was that young and green. Her pal! Can you believe Ginger wasn’t the star?? Frances Dee Shines as Virginia! Frances Dee may not be a familiar name to you. It certainly wasn’t to me before this film. She was extremely popular during the early 1930’s, but now she’s best known for having been Joel McCrea’s wife. She was also 23 at the time she made this and is very appealing. It’s fun to watch her journey from sweet and sheltered to tough and assertive. I love that she’s called “the girl.” LOL. Billie Burke and John Halliday are cliche, but hilarious as Virginia’s uber wealthy parents. Finishing School’s tropes are by no means new and many modern moviegoers will watch this film and recognize the cliches, especially when it comes to Bille Burke and John Halliday. Burke played the absentee rich mother who disapproves in Virginia’s choice of beau – he’s just a lowly waiter/doctor-in-training. Meanwhile, Halliday plays the sympathetic father who actually listens to his daughter and maybe thinks his wife is crazy and kind of annoying. SNOBBISH, BUT STYLISH LOOK AT THOSE SYMPATHETIC FATHER EYES. AND THE MUSTACHE, OF COURSE And, of course, Virginia’s confident beau, Mac, played by Bruce Cabot. Best known for his role in the original King Kong, Cabot is all but forgotten at this point. He has great charisma in this film and it makes you wonder why he didn’t became a popular romantic lead. Love the bow tie. Why his hair is slicked back though eludes me. Finishing School was condemned by the Catholic Legion of Decency The fact that this film was set for release in May 1934 is important as the code was not actually enforced until June 1934. Thus, this film with its condemnation of the rich, its depiction of drinking and smoking (aka un-ladylike behavior), and it’s thinly veiled almost abortion would not have passed the censors if it had been released one month later. The pre-code films are always interesting for this reason. They got away with a lot more and it’s sort of seemed like a tiny form of rebellion. Film was still (and still is) a young medium and the rules were still being written. It’s kind of comforting to know that these issues that still plague our society today, people cared about then. It’s just that after June 1934, they were no longer allowed to make a film about it. Pony telling Virginia how to deal with boys. It’s a female-driven, female-written and female-directed miracle Okay, perhaps I’m being bombastic but I think, that in 1934 it’s pretty incredible that a woman wrote and directed a film ABOUT WOMEN. What a concept. The sadness is this is Wanda Tuchock’s only directing credit apart from a TV credit in the 50s. She contributed to many films over the years including Little Women, Frances Marion’s The Champ, and Little Orphan Annie. Although Tuchock continued to write after the pre-code era, it’s clear that her opportunities diminished after that as they did for many women behind the camera. Finishing School is by no means a perfect film, but in an industry currently going through a feminist revolution, it’s important to remember the all-but-forgotten women who paved the way. Wanda Tuchock, Circa 1930s The wit! The film is available through the WB archive collection. Gifs and photos property of Warner Bros. Posted on February 14, 2017 February 14, 2017 by The Girl Who Knew Too Much · 1 Comment ‘Say Anything’ will make you smile no matter what your relationship status Okay, so Valentine’s Day is upon us and even though I’m a happily single gal, I’ll take any excuse to talk about my favorite romances. And Say Anything is one of my all-time favorites! I love showing this film to anyone who hasn’t seen it, because, spoiler alert, it’s impossible not to love. SETTING UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS SINCE 1989 If you’re unfamiliar, Say Anything, written and directed by Cameron Crowe, follows Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack), a high school graduate atypically comfortable with the uncertainty of his own future. He doesn’t know what he wants to be necessarily and he’s okay with that. On the other hand, valedictorian Diane Court (Ione Skye) thinks she knows exactly what she wants. Everyone tells Lloyd that he could never make it with Diane, but he believes. He asks her out and they fall deeply for each other. Opposites really do attract. But, as with all teen romances, there are complications. DRAAAAMA ENSUES. Here are a few reasons why you’ll fall deeply in love with Say Anything: I know I always say this, but the cast in this film is incredible. John Cusack had spent the 80’s playing teenagers, so it’s no surprise that by the time this film came along, Cusack wasn’t exactly ecstatic. However, once he read Crowe’s script, he was in…and what a difference his presence makes. He IS Lloyd Dobler. His charm carries the film. “He [Lloyd Dobler] isn’t a tunnel-versioned urban teen preoccupied with sex, school, and his job. I realized I would never be 20 again so I might as well cap off that phase of my career on a positive note. I’m glad I took the part.” – John Cusack And he can sort of play the guitar…<3 Ione Skye is equally important, but unlike Cusack, she was fairly new to acting at the time. This may be a weird thing to point out, but I appreciated that Skye was not perfect. She was obviously gorgeous, but she had a kind of lisp and I don’t know, she just seemed like a real person. She was genuine and natural and you could understand why Lloyd liked her. Girl, I FEEL YOU. Lili Taylor is also fantastic as Lloyd’s friend, Corey. You might know her from Six Feet Under or American Crime or something else entirely. She’s a big character actress. But, to me, she will always be this character. Her saga with Joe is relatable AF. YAS QUEEN. Paul Mahoney cannot be undervalued either. Another great character actor, his portrayal of James Court, Diane’s father, is layered. In a lot of ways, he’s a bad guy. But, you can’t quite hate him. He loves Diane and in his mind, all the immoral things he’s done, have been for her. Just trying to be a good dad… Bonus: Joan Cusack is wonderful AS ALWAYS. She plays the sister to Lloyd, quite a stretch for her. Ha. Her hair is so 80’s. Cameron Crowe had written the script for another teen movie eight years earlier: Fast Times at Ridgemont High which Clueless‘ Amy Heckerling directed. Though both scripts are well written, tonally they are very different. Strangely, I feel sort of disconnected from that film. I didn’t see myself in it. Say Anything felt more true to my high school experiences. The characters weren’t stereotypes. They were people. Diane is ambitious and kind. She thinks the world of her father and ultimately, finds that he doesn’t live up to that. We all get to that point, some earlier than others, where we’re forced to see our parents as people. Her father is far from perfect, but he does love her and that’s worth something. Lloyd is happy within himself. Once he falls in love with Diane, he finds his post-high school purpose. As a society, we tend to judge people who get into serious relationships too early. We say, they’re too young to know what they really want. And perhaps that’s true. Maybe Diane and Lloyd’s love affair doesn’t last, but this is a movie and I want a happy ending, damnit! Crowe based the film on his own heartbreak and it shows. The romance as well as its complications feels genuine. Diane and Lloyd fall hard for one another and it’s sweet and awkward and heartbreaking. Also, the pen thing. Epic.”I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen.” I mean, EPIC, amiright? The Direction Believe it or not, Lawrence Kasdan was originally going to direct the film. Prolific producer James L. Brooks had met Crowe when he was researching Broadcast News and hired him to write a script about a girl who finds out her father is a criminal. Once the script was complete, Kasdan told Crowe, “You are that main character. You should direct it” (Interview, Cameron Crowe). This relationship always makes me smile. This was Crowe’s directorial debut and he’s been very candid about the fact that he was learning on the job. I think the first film a director makes is always fascinating because it’s the most pure. They’re really trying, they’re excited. They don’t know what the “right” way to do something is. This was certainly true with Reality Bites and Ben Stiller as well as with Time after Time and Nicholas Meyer. Crowe started as music reporter for Rolling Stone, so I think it’s safe to say, the music he chose was important. Beyond the seminal boom box scene which blasted Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes”, the soundtrack for the film also had hits by Depeche Mode, Cheap Trick and Nancy Wilson. The 80’s, man. You’ve gotta love it. Honestly, aren’t we all? The Romance Again, just, YES. The romance is everything. I have a running joke. I’ve never been on a plane and I keep telling my friends, I’m just waiting for my Lloyd Dobler. When they actually understand the reference (which happens maybe 50 percent of the time), I make them laugh. But, back to the romance. Just look at these gifs and feel ALL THE FEELS. The first time you talk to your crush…the awkwardness! PICTURE FUCKING PERFECTION. This is her “I’m so messed up” look I always watched this scene and was like, “Maybe he should shower first.” Just a thought! You just described every great success story. ❤ ❤ ❤ It’s a seminal, heartfelt, old-school, yet modern romance! Seminal is the key word. If you haven’t seen it, you need to ASAP. Your life will just be better for it. Plus, if you’re single on Valentine’s Day, IMHO, this is a good way to spend your time because it gives us all hope that there is a Lloyd Dobler out there for each and every one of us, or a Diane Court! Plus, the Peter Gabriel song is just really good. Photos and Gifs property of 20th Century Fox Films. Posted on February 7, 2017 by The Girl Who Knew Too Much · 3 Comments You should watch ‘Harold and Maude’: an unconventional romance Every time I try to explain the concept of Harold and Maude to people, I’m met with skepticism and sometimes, a bit of revulsion. To be fair, it’s not a film which sounds like it should work. When it was originally released in the 70’s, Variety said of the film, “[it] has all the fun and gaiety of a burning orphanage.” I know, with Valentine’s Day and all that this month, people will be turning to romance. Well, couples will be turning to romance. Single people will be eating a family-size pack of Doritos and wondering where it all went wrong, which is why I think, no matter what your relationship status, Harold and Maude will lift your spirits. She kinda looks like little red riding hood. If you’re unfamiliar, Harold and Maude, made in 1971, follows a young rich teenage boy, Harold (Bud Cort). Though he’s wealthy, he has nothing in common with the Gossip Girl crowd. He’s obsessed with death and has great fun creating upsetting suicide scenes for his mother (Vivian Pickles) to find, though she is unimpressed most of the time. Harold also has another pastime: attending funerals. There, he meets Maude, (Ruth Gordon), a kooky, young at heart seventy-nine year old. Harold is set up on a series of dates by his mother, but he’s disinterested in all of them. Harold’s friendship with Maude grows into love, much to the dismay of literally everyone around them. Drama/BIG LAUGHS ensue obvi… Here are just a few reasons Harold and Maude should be required viewing this Valentine’s Day: This movie is almost half about the casting. If it had the wrong people in it, the film just wouldn’t work. The part of Harold was written for another young actor/musician, John Rubinstein, a character actor who still guests on shows like Grey’s Anatomy and This is Us. However, Hal Ashby, the film’s director liked Bud Cort, who had recently had a bit part in Robert Altman’s war comedy, MASH. He was 23 at the time he made Harold and Maude and was already a fantastic actor. His facial expressions ARE EVERYTHING. Subtle. Also, am I the only one who thinks he is WAY TOO PALE? Ruth Gordon was a bit younger than her character was supposed to be, in her mid-60’s during the shoot. She had, just a few years earlier, won an Academy Award for her role in Roman Polanski’s Rosemary’s Baby. She gives life to Maude and makes you understand why Harold is charmed by her. Gordon was a writer early in her career. She actually co-wrote one of Judy Holliday‘s comedies: The Marrying Kind. Her performance as Maude is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking. Maude created #YOLO Vivien Pickles is also fantastic as Harold’s mother. To me, her shining scene is when she’s filling out Harold’s dating profile. Good parenting. Charles Tyner also has a good turn as Harold’s army uncle, who’s missing an arm. You might recognize Tyner from Cool Hand Luke where he played the sadistic prison guard. LOL the Nixon photo… Colin Higgins had originally developed the project for his UCLA thesis film. However, after showing the script to his landlady, Mildred Lewis, who was the wife of a Hollywood producer, they formed a production company and began to shop it around to different studios. The script is obviously most often categorized as a dark comedy, which, of course, it is. But, it’s also a drama and a romance and it’s surprising how effective the dramatic moments end up being. For the time, the way this story is told was so completely original. Since then, I feel like other writers have tried to replicate Higgins style and wit to the point where a current filmgoer might see the film and call it cliched. Higgins was first. The ending will break your heart and uplift you simultaneously. Higgins went on to direct 9 to 5 and Foul Play and unfortunately died of AIDS in 1988. #RealTalk Paramount exec Peter Bart had faith in the story and in Colin, although he didn’t believe Higgins was ready to direct. Bart had seen The Landlord and appreciated the way its director had made the sensitive material funny with satire. Thus, Hal Ashby was brought on to direct Harold and Maude with Higgins blessing. It’s difficult to separate how much was Ashby and how much was Higgins. However, Ashby brought a distinct style to the film. He went on to direct Shampoo, The Last Detail, and Being There. “In shooting Harold and Maude, Ruth Gordon recalled in her autobiography, Ashby ‘followed the Gertrude Stein theory: chronology has nothing to do with anything. We shot where and when and what Hal said to. Hal is his own man. Do you care about sequence? Not me. We don’t think in sequence, we rarely talk in sequence, we don’t rehearse a play in sequence, so why shoot a script that way?'” – Ruth Gordon, (TCM Article). Elton John was originally supposed to provide a score for the film. However, after dropping out, he suggested Cat Stevens. Cat Stevens’ music provides an atmosphere and a perspective from which to see the story from. Give a listen: Harold’s Deaths Basically, they’re hilarious and horrible and these gifs say it all: SO MUCH BLOOD. Quite normal…or at least, Harold’s mother thinks it is. This is when Harold’s mother is filling out his dating profile. Dating can be dangerous…lol Some people can’t watch this film without being grossed out. The idea of a teenage boy and an elderly woman falling in love is societally inappropriate. What I think is most fascinating is that their love affair, although consummated offscreen, is more an emotional love affair than a sexual one. Similarly to my favorite film, Brief Encounter, the romance in Harold and Maude is about their souls, about a connection that is more than just sexual attraction. Harold doesn’t connect with any girls his age. He finds something in Maude; she understands him and she pushes him to live his life. There’s something truly beautiful about that. To those who are still grossed out, well, all I can say, is, at least the film challenged you, made you look at life from a different point of view. I say love is love. Also, there are plenty of May-December romances with an older man and a younger woman and it seems to be more accepted. It’s an existential, hilarious, completely unconventional rom-com. After the film was panned and subsequently, flopped, something amazing happened. College students fell in love with the film. Colin Higgins had a theory on why they related to it when the older generation did not: “We’re all Harold, and we all want to be Maude. We’re all repressed and trying to be free, to be ourselves, to be vitally interested in living, to be everything we want” (Higgins, TCM Article). This SONG and MOMENT are EVERYTHING. Vintage trailer is below: Gifs and photos property of Paramount Pictures. Posted on January 31, 2017 January 31, 2017 by The Girl Who Knew Too Much · 2 Comments Why ‘Somewhere in Time’ is a severely underrated period romance It’s difficult for me to remember exactly when I first saw Somewhere in Time. Funnily enough, it was made the year after another time travel favorite of mine, Nicholas Meyer’s Time After Time. However, this one is very different. It’s an old school romance with an intriguing premise that you can’t help but get swept up in (or, at least, I can’t!). If you’re unfamiliar, Somewhere in Time follows Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve), a playwright suffering from writer’s block. He decides to get out of town for a bit, visiting his old college town and staying at a historic hotel. He sees a photo of an actress, Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour) in the hotel’s hall of history and falls in love with the girl. Only one problem: she’s dead. His obsession turns dramatic. He talks to an old professor, asking if it’s possible to travel through time. He essentially tricks his mind into believing he is back in 1912 (Don’t think too hard about the time travel logistics. It makes no sense obvi). Once back in time, he begins his steamy affair with Elise, much to the dismay of her manager, William Fawcett Robinson (Christopher Plummer). Will it be Robinson who tears them apart or time?? You have to watch the movie to find out! I’m OBSESSED with the early 20th century fashion. I WANT A FAN! Here are just a few reasons Somewhere in Time is SEVERELY underrated: Christopher Reeve was HOT (both physically and in the industry), having already starred in his most popular role of Superman! He turned down several movies around this time, looking for something specific. There’s something about his sincerity that makes this character and this film work. Is it the plot convoluted and nuts? Um, yes. But, for some reason, you look into Mr. Reeve’s eyes and you’re like, Okay, sure. He’s sweet and romantic and very swoon worthy! He’s a bit self-assured. I think the message is, time traveling gives you confidence… Jane Seymour was in her late twenties at the time she made this and was (and still is) absolutely drop dead gorgeous! Seriously, though, she belongs on the cover of romance novels which is probably one reason why she got the part. Additionally, she has the acting chops to back it up – she is tough, but also naive and vulnerable and you fall in love with her (just as Richard does) instantly! In the early 20th century, taking your down = SEDUCTION. Christopher Plummer is also wonderful as Elise’s manager. He was, of course, known at the time for his role as Baron von Trapp in The Sound of Music. He’s deliciously wicked as the Mr. Robinson, but you sense that there’s more to him than that, a compliment to his nuanced performance! What is he really thinking? The Score, the score, the SCOREEE! I’m sorry, did I say the score one too many times? Well, if you had heard even one minute of John Barry’s score, I think you’d probably be screaming too. It’s difficult for me to parcel out how much of my love for this film is related to the score. I believe it elevates every aspect of the film. Apparently, or at least according to the TCM article, Jane Seymour was the one responsible for getting John Barry on board. I can’t imagine this film without this music. They belong to one another. Seriously, just give it a listen: The Story/Script Alright, so I know it’s far fetched. And yes, I know it’s cheesy, but for some reason, it really does work. Trust me. Writer Richard Matheson, who wrote both the novel and the screenplay got the idea when he came across photos of a young actress from the early 20th century, Maude Adams. Her biggest claim to fame: she was the first actress to play Peter Pan. Quite beautiful, no? What I love about Matheson’s time travel concept is that it’s all about the mind. It’s a form of hypnosis, not a machine. As a kid, I remember REALLY buying into it. I was like, Sure, you can time travel just by shoving everything modern into a closet and dressing in old timey clothes! As a child, this scene both scared me to death and intrigued me beyond belief. The romance is that Romeo and Juliet, love-at-first-sight type of deal. But, again, somehow, through the performances, you buy it and you root for them! A BIT dramatic…but I LOVE IT! ❤ ❤ ❤ The Gorgeous Early 20th Century Costumes For real, I think I am one of those girls seduced by costume dramas and the thing is, the costumes in this are so pretty, you can’t NOT be obsessed with them! So refined and gorgeous. THAT HAT THOUGH! The beautiful cinematography! There are many ways to illustrate that the time period has changed. What cinematographer Isidore Mankovsky did was use a sepia-toned filter for all the the 1912 scenes. Mind you, modern audiences apparently didn’t take too well to that. But, I think it was a wonderful choice, almost like being in a picture, in a dream! The Major Flaw: THE WATCH Alright, so full disclosure, this film does have one major flaw. In the beginning of the film, Christopher Reeve is given a watch by old Elise in the 1970’s. He takes it with him back in time, and (spoiler alert!) leaves it there with Elise. So, the big question is, where does the watch start? Like, seriously, where the fuck did this pocketwatch come from? That seems to be one thing we’ll never know! This watch is magical I guess? It’s a sweeping, underrated, moody period romance! Despite its convoluted premise, Somewhere in Time is a severely underrated gem. It was actually a flop when it was originally released and then found its cult audience through repeated cable viewings. Now, there’s actually an annual event at the Grand Hotel honoring the film and you can bet that’s on my list of things to do (once I become a millionaire of course! LOL). Is it utterly ludicrous? Yes. But, I think that’s where its magic comes from. It epitomizes what I believe all storytelling should set out to do: capture the imagination. LOL this scene. Photos and gifs property of Universal Pictures. The Relevance of Judy Holliday and ‘It Should Happen to You’ It’s fortuitous that just last week I was introduced to this 1954 film. Many people turned to A Face in the Crowd, the 1957 drama starring Andy Griffith in the face of Trump’s inauguration. The film I want to discuss today was made a few years earlier and is considerably less dark, but deals with similar subject matter. It questions what fame is and why society values it, all while Judy Holliday cracks us up. It Should Happen to You follows Gladys Glover (Judy Holliday), a young woman who’s close to broke and living in the big apple. On a walk, she meets a young photographer, Pete Sheppard (Jack Lemmon) and they start a’courtin’. Later, on her walk, she notices an empty billboard and decides to take what little funds she has to rent it. What, you may ask, does she advertise? Herself, of course! Enter a mega advertising firm and Evan Adams III (Peter Lawford), who will do anything to get the billboard away from her, including leasing several other billboards to Gladys. Pretty soon, Gladys’s name is everywhere and people think, Well, she must be someone if she has her name on a billboard. Her fame soon rises and she secures endorsements…all while Pete just wants to marry her. But, of course, Gladys is oblivious. Obvi, drama ensues because OF COURSE IT DOES. THAT LAWFORD THO. Here are just a few reasons why It Should Happen to You is still relevant: IMHO, the Casting! For real, guys. Casting counts for so much, but especially in this film. I’d seen a few of Judy Holliday’s other films, like Born Yesterday and Bells are Ringing!, but I don’t think I really appreciated her until I saw her in this. While she can easily be discounted as a ditzy blonde in the vain of Marilyn Monroe, Holliday was really special. For one, she looked like a real person, which especially in this day and age, I appreciate. Our present movie stars all look like models and as such, there’s sometimes a difficulty in really relating to them. She had real talent too, in singing and dancing. She was, after all, a broadway star. In this film though, I felt like she really had a chance to shine as an actress. The film is first and foremost a comedy, but she switches from comedy to drama easily, and makes the heavier moments lighter with her ditzy, hilarious charm. I wish people still wore hats. I think I have FOMO about the 50’s… Jack Lemmon was just 29 in this film and it marked his film debut. And let me just say, he was dreamy even then…maybe I should say, especially then! His Lemmon schtick wasn’t completely set in stone yet. You can tell he’s still figuring it out…but he is so appealing, so effortlessly funny, you can’t but fall in love with him. It would be six years till he starred in one of my favorite films of all time, The Apartment. I love that eyebrow lift! ❤ ❤ ❤ Although Holliday had just given birth to her son a few months before shooting the film, it’s well known that she and Peter Lawford had an affair on the film. Their love scenes certainly do have a certain chemistry, but I have to say, I’ll aways be team Lemmon! Easy on the eyes though, no? The Script Tho… Garson Kanin penned the script and looking at his filmography, it almost looks like he was Miss Holliday’s personal screenwriter. He also wrote the screenplay for The Marrying Kind and Born Yesterday. He was also big in the Tracy-Hepburn films. Suffice it to say, he knew how to write a great screwball comedy. The subject matter for this story wasn’t based on anything or anyone specific, but focuses on something even more relevant today than it was then: celebrity. We all grow up, putting people who are in the public eye on a pedestal. They’re famous, so they must be special, right? That’s what Gladys thinks too. Her yearning for fame has less to do with what fame actually is and more with a longing to be special, to belong. She learns in her journey that fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. In the TCM article for the film, Jeff Stafford, quotes the director of this film, George Cukor as saying: “The idea of becoming a great celebrity without being able to do anything is a very important notion,” Cukor stated in an interview with author Gavin Lambert. “Publicity can really do it, too. Today it makes Presidents. It’s really the name of the game.” It’s difficult to read that statement and realize that that has never been more true. Jack Lemmon’s character routinely tells Gladys that fame is nothing if the real person behind it stands for nothing. I’ll just let that sit with you for a moment. Cough* Trump Cough We’ve all had that dream…though hopefully we’ve grown out of it. I mean, George Cukor is just a legend. He directed too many classics to name, but my favorites are My Fair Lady, Gone with the Wind (where he was one of many directors) and The Philadelphia Story. He knew a thing or two about romance and comedy… Case in point: THIS SCENE. The gowns ❤ ❤ ❤ Jean Louis was a PROLIFIC costume designer and his gowns in this film are the epitome of 1950’s style! Incidentally, costume design was the only category the film received an Oscar nomination for. I NEED this outfit. The SNAP of the Dialogue As a writer, I obvi appreciate wit and this one delivers the wit tenfold. Judy Holliday delivers them zingers well! It’s hilarious, romantic, and most importantly, thought provoking! Celebrity is a huge currency in our society, especially now that the internet has given rise to social media influencers. Last week, the U.S. inaugurated a president who’s famous because of his money. He hasn’t done anything worthy of our recognition. He’s rude and uncouth. His qualifications to be president are zilch. In a way, we as a society, gave ourselves Trump because we view celebrities as special and worthy of our attention. We give celebrity status to people who shouldn’t have it. This film may not be profound, but it’s a nice reminder that fame for the sake of fame, to quote Jack Lemmon’s character, Pete, means nothing. Gifs and photos property of Columbia Pictures/Sony. Posted on January 5, 2017 by The Girl Who Knew Too Much · 2 Comments Why I Now Appreciate ‘When Harry Met Sally’ When people start to rattle off the great romantic comedies, When Harry Met Sally tends to be mentioned a little too often. Even the title feels overexposed. I remember seeing it as a young teenager, but at the time, it didn’t make much of an impression. I’m sad that it took Carrie Fisher’s untimely death for me to re-examine this film, but I am glad I watched it again. If you have been living under a rock and have never seen When Harry Met Sally, the film follows Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan), two college graduates who road trip to New York to begin their post-collegiate lives. During the ride, they bond and bicker and ultimately leave each other behind. However, their story isn’t over. They keep randomly running into one another at different stages of their lives. Does this mean their destined to be together? I mean it’s a romantic comedy…so what do you think? I agree. Sheldon’s not a very sexy name. Here are just a few reasons I now appreciate When Harry Met Sally: Hello, the Cast! Billy Crystal is not your standard leading man, at least not by today’s standards. However, fitting with my blog, he does fit the mold of a William Powell or a Humphrey Bogart. He’s not a model. He’s a real person. And he’s HILARIOUS. Seriously, he knocks all the one liners out of the park! Is he believable as a 20 year-old college student at the beginning? Of course not, but who cares about that? One of the most AWKWARD gifs you will ever see Meg Ryan was just twenty-eight when she made this film and although she had made films before this and starred in the long-running soap As the World Turns, the role of Sally Albright was very much her breakout performance, the film that made her into the A-list actress she became. She shines brightly – she’s cute, she’s funny, she’s relatable (except for the fact that she’s drop dead gorgeous)! She doesn’t look that sorry…just saying! And then, of course, there is Carrie Fisher, aka Goddess Divine. Although she only has a supporting role in this film, she leaves an indelible mark. In her early thirties at the time, Fisher’s snappy retorts and natural comic timing are a snapshot of her enormous talent! The Ridiculously Witty, Touching, HILARIOUS Script This is what I was most surprised with during my re-watch. The film was written by the great, late Nora Ephron. Though the film’s concept was conceived by director Rob Reiner, Ephron’s personality was all over the script. It was composed of Reiner’s relationship history and Ephron’s and actually has a Before Sunrise-type vibe. It’s all talking, or as my mother would say, “talky, talky, shit, shit, shit.” The film tries to answer the question: Can men and women be friends without sex becoming a factor? I’ve had several conversations with various people on the subject. Younger people, my peers, tend to say that men and women can absolutely be friends while older people have told me the opposite. Is it age? Experience? That, I cannot say. But, the film does a good job of showing the complexity in maintaining a non-romantic relationship with someone you’re attracted to. I want to slip this one into normal convos. The film is also about how opposites attract. I think the conversation is especially relevant in the age of dating apps and the like. We all swipe through with a list of things we want for our potential partner: non smoker, nerdy, not a douchebag, perhaps a certain height or attractiveness level, where they went to school, what their job is…the list goes on. But, in actuality, in getting to know a person, you’re never going to find someone who fits that list one-hundred percent. Sally is type-A, Harry is go with the flow. Harry is a pessimist, Sally is an optimist. It seems that their attraction is built from their ability to argue with each other in a healthy way. I love that when these characters do eventually see that they should be together, you understand why. My biggest pet peeve in romantic comedies is when the characters are given no reason to like each other beyond, “We’re both extremely attractive people. We should get together!” A wig makes you look twenty years younger. It’s been medically proven. The prolific Rob Reiner directed this romantic gem. If you’re unfamiliar, he’s also behind such classics as Stand By Me, This Is Spinal Tap, and The Princess Bride. Again, the list GOES ON. The idea for this film came from Reiner’s own life. He had just gotten divorced and was trying to jump back into the dating world. Once he met with Ephron, they came up with the “he said, she said” dynamic and the script was born. First and foremost, When Harry Met Sally is a funny movie. You can’t watch it and not crack up. However, its brilliance comes in the more serious moments where Reiner and Ephron tapped into something real and genuine. #HAIRGOALS, amiright? The Big-O Scene If you know close to nothing about this film, chances are this is the one thing you’ve heard about. Meg Ryan faking an orgasm in Katz’s deli is hands down the most famous scene in the film. The scene was a true collaboration with Meg suggesting she actually fake it as opposed to just talk about it and with Billy suggesting a customer say directly after, “I’ll have what she’s having.” Both worked and Reiner gave the line to his mother, Estelle Reiner, who was visiting set that day. In a real restaurant, wouldn’t she be thrown out? The most over-quoted line in film history The Old-School Soundtrack Reiner wanted a classic soundtrack, kinda Frank Sinatra standards-type stuff. Harry Connick Jr. was in his early twenties. Somehow Reiner heard him and hired him to re-vamp some old school standards. In that way, it was a bridge between the past and the modern. While I still love Frank Sinatra and Fred Astaire’s renditions more, I enjoy the music, especially Harry’s rendition of the Gershwin classic that Astaire and Rogers popularized, “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off.” It’s witty, relevant and truly touching! I’ll be honest. I watched this on NYE, partially to honor Carrie Fisher, partially because the film ends on New Years Eve. I realized this film is more than its hyped up reputation. There’s a reason it’s revered – it’s because it’s great! Even though its last scene is a bit cheesy, you can’t help but eat it up. #NEWYEARSGOALS In regards to Carrie Fisher, I was deeply saddened by her untimely death. Although this film is but a blip in her career, a sheer sliver of her full talent, it makes me happy to know she lives on through this film and others that she either acted in or wrote. RIP Carrie Fisher. When Harry Met Sally Gifs property of Columbia Pictures. Star Wars gif property of Disney. Posted on November 11, 2016 November 11, 2016 by The Girl Who Knew Too Much Before Robby Benson was the Beast, he was a nerdy Jewish boy in “Jeremy” Okay, show of hands – who knows who Robby Benson is? Though his name is far from being outrageously famous, I’m sure some cinephiles automatically go, “Oh, yeah. Wasn’t he the voice of the Beast?” And, yes, he was…but he also had a career long before that. ICYMI…that’s Robby Benson. At the start of his career, he was actually most known for playing the romantic lead in Ice Castles, a cliched but fun love story with figure skating. And it had that overplayed, but still great Melissa Manchester song. If you’re not familiar (which is most likely), Jeremy, made in 1973, follows Jeremy Jones (Robby Benson), a teenage Cellist with a crush on the new girl, Susan Rollins (Glynnis O’Connor). They have an awkward and sweet chemistry and fall quickly for each other only to have the fates intervene and tear them apart. BEST MOMENT EVER. Here are just a few reasons you should watch Jeremy: For me, the cast is the major reason to watch this film. Every other element wouldn’t work without Robby Benson and Glynnis O’Connor. At the time, they were just fifteen years old, creating controversy over a very tasteful love scene. His voice breaks at the end of the sentence. No, he doesn’t understand, Glynnis! Both were fairly new to the business – this was Glynnis’s debut – and that showed in the best way possible. They weren’t trying to act. They were natural. They were believable. Their on-screen chemistry sparked an off-screen romance that lasted a couple of years. They even made another romantic drama together, Ode to Billy Joe. So quiet and sweet. The Direction/Writing Writer/director Arthur Barron was a screenwriting professor at the time. He adapted his friend, John Minahan’s novel and got Elliot Kastner (who produced The Long Goodbye) and George Pappas on board as producers. These coming of age romance films have become a dime, a dozen. I, of course, am still watching them, but most are cliched and tired, having covered the same ground a million times over. This film came a few years after the success of Love Story. But while that film went glossy, Jeremy felt real. There’s real awkwardness in the way these teenagers talk to each other and they don’t sound like adults (Hello Dawson’s Creek!). This scene always gets me. It’s so honest. Beyond the style, I loved the ending. I don’t want to give too much away but I will say it doesn’t end happily. I think I have a tendency to love impossible love stories (see: Brief Encounter). His surprise is great… This was a major element of the film which I made fun of as a kid. “The Blue Balloon Song” which is sung by Robby Benson, is very seventies (my dad rolls his eyes). But, it’s sweet and awkward just like the film’s couple. It’s fun to listen to next to Robby singing as the beast and be like, “Wow, that’s the same guy.” It’s genuine, unpolished, and awkward. Jeremy is far from being a perfect film. As a young person, my brothers and I used to make fun of it and my dad’s affection for it. But, looking at it as an older person, it has something that too many films lack today: sincerity. Oh, the awkwardness… I know it meant a lot to my dad. He was a nerdy Jewish teenager at the time this came out. In lieu of the trailer, here’s the whole film: Beauty and the Beast Gif property of Disney. Jeremy photos and gifs property of United Artists. Posted on October 6, 2016 October 7, 2016 by The Girl Who Knew Too Much · 5 Comments Veronica Lake is my #WCW in ‘I Married A Witch’ Well, October is here and you all know what that means? Yes, that’s right. Halloween! I’ve never been super into the whole dressing up thing. I was Hermione up until 7th grade and then I just stopped. My parents didn’t want to buy me a new costume. So, I got very into Halloween movies. I should be clear; I’m not a huge horror movie fan. But, I love the fun Halloween classics – BeetleJuice, Halloweentown, Hocus Pocus, Poltergeist…that kind of stuff. Debbie Reynolds taught me: WITCHES ARE COOL. If you’ve been following my movie musings, then you know that I’m also a huge screwball comedy fan. So, to kick off October, I thought I’d discuss one of my recent discoveries: Rene Clair’s I Married A Witch. I found it a few months ago when I raided my dad’s DVD collection and found a Criterion copy of the film. The cover intrigued me so I gave it a shot and let me tell you, it is a TREAT! Beautiful Artwork, AMIRIGHT? Here’s a quick synopsis: I Married A Witch, made in 1942, follows Jennifer (Veronica Lake), a witch and her father Daniel (Cecil Kellaway), burned at the stake in the 1600’s and buried underneath a tree. Jennifer places a curse on the man who turned them in: all the generations to follow shall have unhappy marriages. Jennifer and Daniel are revived in the early 1940’s, just wisps of smoke before they find bodies to hop into. They decide to wreak more havoc by torturing Wallace Wooley (Fredric March) and making him fall in love with Jennifer. As always drama and LOTS OF COMEDY ensues! Here are just a few reasons you should add I Married A Witch to your Halloween movie-binge! After I finished watching the movie, I called my dad and told him how much I loved the chemistry between March and Lake. My dad laughed, telling me, “Yeah, too bad they hated each other.” And indeed, they did hate each other…a LOT. According to Jeff Stafford of TCM, “…prior to meeting his co-star, Fredric March had reportedly said Lake was ‘a brainless little blonde sexpot, void of any acting ability,’ a comment that made its way back to her. In retaliation, Lake called March a ‘pompous poseur’ and their adversarial working relationship proceeded from there (Stafford, TCM Article).”The shoot was apparently very contentious and included Lake regularly pranking March and some very nasty shouting matches. In LOVE? Lake was just coming off of her starring role in Sullivan’s Travels, another great screwball comedy. She has the very famous peek-a-boo haircut in this film and is charming beyond belief. Fredric March was a few years away from his most famous role in The Best Years of Our Lives. His befuddlement in this film is pure joy. He doesn’t know what’s going on half the time. Whatever their drama was IRL, it didn’t hurt the film. Their chemistry is palpable and IMHO, is what makes the film work. In addition to its fabulous leads, the film also boasted great character actors such as Cecil Kellaway and Robert Benchley. Many of the supporting characters are Preston Sturges regulars and they add fun and whimsy to the film. Jennifer’s dad is seriously CRAY. #RealTalk Unofficially, Preston Sturges agreed to produce this film with Clair and you can definitely tell he had a hand in it. Like his greatest films, I Married A Witch is funny, farcical, and romantic. If you like this film, you should binge all the Sturges films – Christmas In July, The Lady Eve, The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek, Sullivan’s Travels…the list goes on. He’s wonderful. Shown: Screenwriter and director Preston Sturges, circa 1947 French director Rene Clair had only just made his first American film, The Flame of New Orleans, and it apparently hadn’t gone very well box-office wise. His agent sent a copy of a book called The Passionate Witch by Norman Matson and Thorne Smith. It was really because of Veronica Lake’s involvement that the film actually got made. Clair’s name isn’t one that is remembered often enough. He was one of France’s first great comedy directors and his cache really became films that somehow mixed fantasy elements with humor and romance. AKA everything I LOVE. Some of his other great films to check out: Beauties of the Night, A Nous a Liberte and The Grand Maneuver. Rene in the 1920’s…NEED THAT CAMERA This is my favorite era precisely because screwball comedies were in vogue. Though I know no one talks that fast IRL, I don’t care! It’s fun, witty, and FAST FAST FAST. Funnily though, this film had many cooks (writers) in the mix. Five writers are credited on IMDB for having some hand in the script. Rene Clair and Andre Rigaud apparently just helped in punching up the dialogue, which is ON POINT. Even with all the cooks, the film turned out to be HILARIOUS. Some of my favorite lines in this film: “Ever hear of the decline and fall of the Roman Empire? That was our crowd.” “Pistol, pistol, let there be/Murder in the first degree.” Wallace Wooley: “I’m afraid you’ve got a hangover.” Daniel: “Don’t tell me what I’ve got! I invented the hangover. It was in 1892… B.C.” She looks sincerely in love, right?? #GoodActing The Incredible Effects One of my major problems with film today is that they over-indulge in special effects. I have no issue with trying to make a film’s fantastical elements come to life. But, many times, today, things look so perfect they actually look less real. While some might say these 1940’s effects are a bit hokey, I can’t help but be wowed by them. Just some wisps of smoke taking a broom ride… The Cinematography Going along with the effects is the beautiful black and white cinematography! Ted Tetzlaff was the cinematographer and with films like Notorious, My Man Godfrey and The Talk of The Town on his resume, I can’t say I’m surprised at the atmosphere and beauty. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on The Talk of The Town. Romance + Black and White = PERFECTION Veronica Lake’s Dresses Famous costume designer Edith Head was behind Lake’s gorgeous ensembles in this film and I want them ALL…👗 That 40’s Style! It’s a whimsical, charming, fun, fantastical comedy delight. This movie is everything you want it to be. It’s funny, romantic, and beautiful. But most importantly, it’s FUN. At just 77 mins long, I Married A Witch takes you on a fast, crazy, ridiculous ride and lets you enjoy its fantastical premise. Veronica Lake didn’t have a great reputation in Hollywood, but as an actress, her appeal cannot be denied! And of course, the film inspired the very popular 60’s sitcom, Bewitched. Drinking game idea: Drink every time Jennifer pouts. You’ll end up drinking A LOT. I wanna be a witch too! Trailer below. And if you have Hulu, you can watch the full film RIGHT NOW. And if that’s the case, seriously, what are you waiting for? An engraved invitation? Go watch it NOW. Halloweentown Gif is property of Disney. I Married A Witch Gifs Property of Paramount Pictures. Posted on September 25, 2016 by The Girl Who Knew Too Much · 1 Comment The Film that won Olivia De Havilland her first Academy Award A few weeks back, I saw a new film in theaters which is surprising considering this has been such a bad year for movies. That film was called A Light Between Oceans. The film was not bad nor was it very good. But, it did make me think about a movie I saw a while back called To Each His Own, mostly because the plot was, like, ninety percent the same. I’ve spoken about Olivia De Havilland twice before on this blog when I wrote about Gone With the Wind and The Heiress, which makes me laugh because I’ve only recently started watching the bulk of her films. I came across To Each His Own when TCM was honoring De Havilland for her 100th birthday. It’s not remembered as a standout classic film, but more just remembered as the film which won Olivia her first Oscar. Wasn’t she gorgeous? #FASHIONGOALS // Courtesy of Culturalist.com I, however, really enjoyed it. If you’re not familiar, To Each His Own is a small character drama about a middle-aged woman named Jody Norris (De Havilland), who’s looking back on her youth when she lived in a small town and had a baby out of wedlock. Because the town is so small, she concocts a plan to keep the baby without anyone knowing it’s hers. The foolproof plan…#UMMM However, the plan goes awry. The baby is adopted by a friend of hers (whose own baby just died). Jody plans to tell them everything and take her baby back, but her father stops her, telling her she’d ruin her baby’s life (really meaning his reputation). Later, after her father passes, she tries to get her baby back and does but the child doesn’t want her. He wants his “real parents.” Dejected, she sends the child back to live with the adoptive parents. DRAMMMMMMA. Some baby MAMA drama. #ImSoFunny Here are just a few reasons you should check out To Each His Own: Obviously, this was the role than won Olivia De Havilland her first Oscar and her performance is certainly worthy. Not only does she convincingly play her character as a middle-aged woman and a young ingenue, but she also gives us the big emotional moments in a quiet, understated, authentic way. Director Mitchell Leisen was so convinced De Havilland would win an Oscar for her performance that at the end of shooting, he gave her a charm bracelet with a mini Oscar on it. If Oscars could be won for BEST HAIR… Broadway actor John Lund had his theatrical debut with this film. He played Captain Bart Cosgrove, Olivia’s love interest, and also played their son whom she meets in her middle age. He’s quite remarkable because even though you can tell it’s the same actor playing both roles, his mannerisms are completely different. He’s singing to her here by the way… The script was by Olivia’s own admission, a “conventional soap opera (TCM Article).” She believed the only person who could make it more than that would be Director Mitchell Leisen, whom she had been directed by in the film which won her her first Oscar nom, Hold Back the Dawn. He was unenthusiastic about directing this particular film, but Olivia insisted and so, he worked to improve the script as much as possible and went all in. As production went on, he apparently did become more enthusiastic and Olivia credits Leisen’s direction with her Oscar win. In reading about the film, what stands out about his direction is how detail-oriented he was. Whether it was about something out of place for the time period or a slight tweak to Olivia’s performance, he was a perfectionist. He didn’t want to be a hired hand; he was more than that. An example of the small moments Leisen captured… This is really what it’s all about. Now, it’s true that this story has some soap-operatic elements. However, what I love is that the film is rich in character development and emotional moments. It’s not an original story – there are several variations on this concept including two of my favorite films, The Torch Singer and Bachelor Mother. Much of this film surrounds the drama between Jody and the family that is raising her child. It’s a contentious situation. The other family is not willing to give him up and Jody eventually blackmails them into getting him back only to come to the realization that her son doesn’t want to be with her. Her eyes are crazy THOUGH…#Amiright? This is a theme which is shown again in the film I mentioned at the beginning of this article, The Light Between Oceans. That film is dramatically much darker, but it does also cover the heartbreak that occurs when the parent is reunited with their child, only to be ultimately rejected. Having to watch your child grow up without you… To me, this story is really pondering the question, “What makes someone a parent?” Is it simply the biological component or is it being there for the child, as a parent would be? Obviously, in ideal situations it’s both. But, many aren’t that lucky. As a child, having a present adult in your life who loves you and cares about your well-being means more than what it biologically means to be a parent. HEART BREAKING… That’s really what makes the tale so heartbreaking. In both films, it’s not the biological parent’s fault that their child grew up with another family. But, that doesn’t change the reality that the child doesn’t see their biological parent as their “real” one. It’s a sincere and moving melodrama In the hands of less talented people, this film could have been a sappy, annoying soap opera. But because of Leisen and De Havilland’s brilliant performance, the material is lifted into being a emotional and earnest story about the love between a mother and her child. I don’t want to ruin the film’s ending, but I will say it’s a beautiful one. Any mothers out there will probably tear up. Who am I kidding? I’m not a mother and I teared up. All of you will be tearing up…or maybe I’ll say, you should be. Olivia De Havilland is EVERYTHING. Below is a link to the full movie, on Youtube. Enjoy the feels. 😭 Main Photo and Gifs – Copyright of Paramount Pictures Posted on September 14, 2016 by The Girl Who Knew Too Much · 2 Comments Why I now appreciate John Badham’s WarGames I remember being terrified the first time I saw WarGames. Mind you, I’m pretty sure I was under the age of ten, but still, this light thriller gave me nightmares. Once I got a little older, I saw the film again and began to see it in a different light. I could finally appreciate the film, although I will say parts of it still make me feel uneasy. Recently, I watched a special feature about the making of the film which turned everything I thought I knew on its head. I love hearing behind-the-scenes stories which make you feel awe that the film got finished, was successful, and was actually a good movie. WarGames is one such case of this. But before we get to all that, here’s a little synopsis for those of you who are WarGames virgins. Made in 1983, the film follows David (Matthew Broderick), a teenager too smart for his own good. Obsessed with computers (which now look positively ANCIENT), he accidentally hacks into the military’s central computer and realizes the computer cannot tell the difference between game-playing and reality. There is, of course, a girl played by a young Ally Sheedy who goes on the roller coaster journey with David while also falling in love with him. Let’s just say…DRAMA ENSUES. The computers seriously look ANCIENT. #DidIMentionImAMillennial? Here are just a few reasons you should check out WarGames: This is the type of film that relies heavily upon the charm of its actors. If its leads were boring and/or annoying, I think we would have more trouble buying into its fantastical story. Matthew Broderick had only done one film before this, a Neil Simon comedy, Max Dugan Returns. Unable to come in for a callback for WarGames, he suggested that then-director, Martin Brest, watch his dailies from the film. At only twenty years old, he had a charisma that was undeniable. He was likable and effortlessly funny. He carried the film with his convincing technological know-how and charm. Look how young! #ALittleFerrisBuellerNo? Ally Sheedy was about the same age as Matthew and was completely green, having only been in one film before WarGames. She was playing the “girl next door.” I’m sure her natural and appealing performance in this played a part in getting her the The Breakfast Club a few years later. SASS #ThatEyeRoll John Wood is also wonderful as Professor Falken. Apparently, the character was originally based on scientist Stephen Hawking. Barry Corbin and Dabney Coleman also have standout roles as McKittrick and General Berringer, respectively. Aw, John Wood…#WordsToLiveBy This is really one of the most interesting pieces. The story was conceived and written by Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes. They were very involved in early development and did a lot of research. This script was their baby. When Martin Brest came on to direct, he decided to tonally go in a different direction and the writing team was essentially fired from the film. A little while later, Martin Brest was fired from the film and John Badham was brought on to direct. The writers were then hired back and became apart of the process again. Their script, in addition to being fun and super entertaining, posed questions that were ahead of their time. Computers were not in wide use when the film was released and so, the idea of hacking, wasn’t as widespread and commonplace as it is today. When they were shopping the script around, apparently studio execs were confused by it. The thing Lasker and Parkes understood so well was that the characters come first. So, even though there were these underlying science fiction themes and big questions that were being posed, the film was also accessible on a pure entertainment level. Great concept. #TheKidsAreAlwaysSmarter I was surprised to learn that the film originally was going to be directed by Martin Brest. Brest, in his own right, made some great films including The Scent of a Woman and Meet Joe Black. The studio, however, felt that the film Brest was making was not the film they wanted. They sought out someone new to direct even though they were a few weeks already into filming. They decided to approach John Badham (brother to Mary Badham, aka Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird) who had already directed Saturday Night Fever and Dracula. He brought out the lighter side of the script, helping to develop the chemistry between Ally Sheedy and Matthew Broderick. According to Sheedy, she thinks the film Brest was trying to make had validity as well, but that it wasn’t going to be a popcorn flick the same way it turned out to be in Badham’s hands. The movie was really a crowd pleaser and that’s because Badham knew the film needed balance. It had adventure, romance, and fun. He even had a writer come in to add a scene between David and Jennifer and I daresay, it’s one of the best scenes in the film. Music, for me, is a key reason to like any movie. WarGames is very much of the time period containing a lot of synthesizer and “techy” sounds. But, there’s one piece of music that this film is famous for. Arthur Rubinstein composed it and it’s called “Edge of the World.” Rubinstein, in the special feature included with the Blu-Ray, said that whenever he tells people he composed the film, they always bring up the harmonica. Although he gets kind of annoyed with it since he composed several other pieces of music for the film, this is what stuck and it’s for good reason. It is brilliant and gives you all the #feels. The film cannot be categorized as a romance as really it only has a few scenes that are really about that. However, I remember totally having a crush on Matthew Broderick after this film. He was adorkable long before Zooey Deschanel made that a thing. There is something about Jennifer and David’s relationship that just seems so sincere. Possibly because they were both so green, they seemed to have a natural and easy chemistry. Changing a girl’s grade is the secret way to her heart. #OBVI Almost seems like too personal a moment to watch…or is that just me? #BUELLER? Because it’s smart, thought-provoking, and SO MUCH FUN. Hitchcock always said the audience comes first. Films should be life with all the boring parts cut out. This film was way ahead of its time. Technology was not a way of life the way it is now. The film actually inspired real changes in the world beyond my dad telling me he bought a computer because of it. As I’ve mentioned many times before, I love films that make you think and I believe it is possible to produce a film that is both entertaining and about something. The film has a message that is important and still relevant today. Badham summed it up quite nicely, saying, “…The more powerful and the more authority we delegate to computers, the more things we are abdicating. And that’s where it gets to be dangerous. Suddenly the roles are reversed and then, in a true Harold Pinter situation, we don’t know who’s the servant and who’s the master”(Badham, TCM Article). More than anything, I came out of watching the film’s special feature admiring both the writers of this film and the film’s producer, Leonard Goldberg. It was through his bits that I understood that the real job of a producer is to have enough passion for a project to handle all the bumps that come with getting it made and this film had its bumps for sure. All in all, it’s a very entertaining film that makes you laugh, cry, and cheer. And really, what else can you ask for? For the record, this is where you’re CHEERING…	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2834
__label__cc	0.716603	0.283397	What Are Auditions Really Like? By Lola Jamin ’20 The audition process can feel slightly intimidating, especially if it’s your first time. Surrounded by so many talented individuals, it is quite easy to feel overwhelmed and rather insignificant compared to the experienced upperclassmen. At least that’s how I felt the first time I auditioned for The Addams Family musical during my freshman year. I was completely overwhelmed and insecure, and I expected to walk into a competitive environment where it would be hard to make friends. My preconceived notions quickly faded away as I was met with such support all throughout the audition process, and I was kindly welcomed into a safe and caring environment. I was left astounded by the amount of support my peers gave me, and I felt so grateful for the warm welcome the Genesians had given me. Now, having been in three shows so far, I appreciate and enjoy the audition process more each time! Auditions for the Spring musical Sister Act recently ended. Because Sister Act is a musical, the audition process is slightly more extensive than the audition process for the Fall play. On the first day of auditions, auditionees were required to learn and perform 16 bars of a song from the musical, a dance sequence. This process is broken down and everyone is given time to practice and ask for help if needed. Stephen Van Dorn, our music director, assisted students in running their song with musical accompaniment before performing it in front of drama instructor Heather Chesley and stage manager Maia Tivony ’18. Dancing auditions proceeded, and groups of 10-15 people were taken to learn a short dance, practice, and then, again, perform. After the song and dance, auditionees were released for the day. It was as easy as that! Shortly after auditions, Ms.Chesley will send out an email for call-backs. It is easy to think of call-backs as an “all or nothing” moment, but really it is just the directors gathering more information. Whoever does get called back is paired with a partner, assigned a character, and asked to practice a scene (or multiple) before performing. Grace Egbe, a junior who has participated in every production so far, says that auditioning is “very fun and I enjoy meeting new people. It’s a great way to build confidence.” It’s also an opportunity to “go out of your comfort zone” adds Canela Roey, a sophomore trying out for her third production. For Khafira Freeman, a sophomore attending her first call-back audition, “auditions are always fun and it’s great to see how [Ms. Chesley] puts you in different characters to see how fluid you are and can be. It’s also interesting seeing how people interpret things differently; two people could get the same lines in the same scene but choose to say it completely differently!” Sister Act will be Taleen Angoorly’s last production; as a senior, she has plenty of experience and valuable insight on the audition process. “It’s so interesting when you get a character and just click with that character,” she explains. “You could read for two or three characters before you get one that’s a perfect fit. That’s what I like about auditioning– seeing things come together.” Angoorly also urges students to come and see Sister Act! After all, it is her last show! I strongly encourage anyone to try out for the Genesians’ productions if you have just the slightest interest in it; the productions are a great way to not only boost your involvement in Immaculate Heart’s student life, but to make friends with people in different grades that you would not normally interact with! 0 comments on “What Are Auditions Really Like?”	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2837
__label__wiki	0.98859	0.98859	Harvard Business prof calls on US unions to be more hands-on role with workers Harvard Business School professor Rebecca Henderson called on U.S. unions to play a more hands-on role in managing workers in an interview that aired Tuesday on Hill.TV's "Rising." "I think one of the ways in which some of the American unions got off the rails is they thought of themselves as 'sit back.' You know, 'I'm going to take my cut, but management runs the firm,'" Henderson told host Krystal Ball. "I think it's fairly clear that going forward we need to move to a place where unions, or some kind of labor representation, jumps right in, feels themselves very much a part of what's going on, takes full responsibility, and works together with management to build the kind of progress and growth that we need," she continued. Henderson teaches a course at Harvard called "Reimagining Capitalism," where she and students discuss the way it can be improved as an economic system, particularly in the U.S. "I talk particularly about alternative forms of worker representation," she said. "I talk about workers' councils, the kind of systems that they have in Denmark or Germany, where unions very much see themselves as a partner in building a healthy economy."	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2841
__label__wiki	0.860274	0.860274	John Kerry: some things never change Jay Tea January 28, 2007 Asshats 29 Comments One of John Kerry’s more notable characteristics is his tendency to “flip-flop,” to change his position on an issue when it becomes convenient. It’s also rather remarkable how he can rationalize it as not contradictory, but entirely consistent and logical and correct. But in many other ways, Kerry is remarkably unchanging. In those ways, his fundamental character just shines through. My superb colleague Kim yesterday talked about WHAT John Kerry did in Davos. As the site’s resident New Englander, who’s lived in the state next door to Kerry’s home of record all my life, I thought I would give it some context and show that his actions are entirely typical for him — and why he (as always) doesn’t see why anyone would be upset with him. As almost everything in his life does, it all goes back to Viet Nam. More specifically, to the 3 months John Kerry spent there, because nearly everything he’s done since has been built on those three months. After Kerry returned from Viet Nam, he threw himself into the anti-war movement. And, I think, he’s always trying to relive those heady days, to recapture the time when he was the toast of the town. There’s an old tradition that’s dying out here in America — that politics ends at the water’s edge. We fight and squabble and bicker among ourselves, but we keep the arguments “at home” — we don’t duke it out in public, out on the world stage. We keep our disagreements within our borders, and don’t take it to other countries. It’s a good tradition, and I think we’re poorer for it. In 1970, John Kerry was discharged from active duty in the United States Navy and entered the Naval Reserve. Later that year, he travelled to Paris and met with the leadership of the Viet Cong’s political wing (there for official negotiations with the United States). Those contacts helped him win a role in crafting “The People’s Peace Treaty,” a pie-in-the-sky fantasy Kerry and others “negotiated” with the Viet Cong and then tried to push on the United States government. This was not only a violation of the Logan Act, which forbids private citizens from intervening in foreign policy by negotiating with foreign governments, but a serious violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which Kerry (as a Naval Reserve officer) was bound by. Now, in 2007, Kerry (currently a United States Senator) has attended a world economic summit in Switzerland and denounced the actions of the United States. In 1971, Lt. John F. Kerry (USNR) testified before Congress about the Viet Nam war. He said that American troops. Quoting other soldiers, Kerry said that “(T)hey had personally raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan, shot cattle and dogs for fun, poisoned food stocks, and generally ravaged the countryside of South Vietnam in addition to the normal ravage of war.” Kerry also said he had committed war crimes, specifically participating in “free fire” zones. Many of those whom Kerry quoted were later exposed as liars and frauds. He, in effect, was using his standing and credibility to give credence to their frauds. In 2007, in Davos, Switzerland, Kerry denounced the Bush administration’s opposition to the Kyoto Accords on greenhouse gas emissions. Here, Kerry is using his “credibility” as a United States Senator and presidential nominee (who just barely lost in 2004) to give cover to those who choose to rewrite history. Yes, President Bush has opposed the Kyoto Accord. He did so when he was first running, and he hasn’t changed his position since. But what does that really mean? Not a hell of a lot. The Kyoto Accord first came up for approval in 1998. And as the United States Constitution requires of all treaties, it must be ratified by the United States Senate. At that time, President Clinton opposed it, citing that far too many developing countries were specifically excluded from its mandates. President Clinton directed Vice President Al Gore to sign it on behalf of the United States, but purely as a symbolic act — he did not want to commit the US to it until it covered all nations, developing as well as industrialized. At the same time, the Senate passed a measure (co-sponsored by Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) stating the Senate’s opposition to Kyoto as written. The measure was utterly meaningless, as President Clinton never submitted the treaty for formal approval, but it was a clear indicator that the Senate did NOT like it. The resolution passed with 95 votes in favor, five abstentions, and zero votes supporting the Kyoto Accord. Not even John Kerry’s. Finally, Kerry lambasted President Bush’s efforts to fight AIDS and other diseases in Africa. Apparently the good senator has not been informed that Bush has directed the spending of a great deal of money on just that problem — not only several times more than President Clinton did, not only far more than any other president, but quite possibly more than EVERY other president. What’s more, it’s not just “throwing money at the problem” — it’s getting results. A while ago, I wrote a piece wondering why the hell the United States should do anything — anything at all — for Africa, and came up with a sound reason, one firmly rooted in enlightened self-interest. It’s comforting to see that the Bush administration agrees with me. If I had the time and resources to investigate it, I would like to see just how that funding got through Congress — and how Senator Kerry voted on the measure. The cynic in me wonders he didn’t remember it because the bill came up while he was running for president, and missing over 80% of Senate roll-call votes. Glenn Reynolds, He Who Needs No Linkage, opined: “Like Jimmy Carter, he’ll never forgive America for rejecting him, and he’ll console himself with the approval of America’s enemies.” It’s a great observation, and I think it applies quite nicely to Carter. But I don’t think it’s what’s behind Kerry — or, at least, to a great extent. Kerry’s behavior is entirely consistent with his actions dating back over 35 years. Eco-Idiots Jimmy Carter: Meta-Liar Bus Bomb A Bust More proof that liberals hate LOVE the troops Thieving Scum Jay Tea	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2846
__label__wiki	0.953304	0.953304	Brian May, Roger Taylor, Taylor Hawkins Team Up On Lost Dennis Wilson Track HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24: Brian May of Queen performs onstage during the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images); INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 16: Taylor Hawkins performs at I Am The Highway: A Tribute to Chris Cornell at the Forum on January 16, 2019 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter April 12th The big Record Store Day 2019 list has been out since late February, but one title that has flown under the radar a bit is the 7″ single of “Holy Man,” a lost recording from The Beach Boys’ Dennis Wilson that was finished by Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor and Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins. The history of the track was detailed on Queen’s official website and says that “Holy Man” was written and recorded by Wilson in 1977 during the recording sessions for his solo album Pacific Ocean Blue. Decades later in 2009, Hawkins would add vocals to the track, and then ten years later, May and Taylor would add some additional backing instrumentals. “Holy Man” is one of four Queen/Queen-related titles coming out tomorrow on Record Store Day. Other titles include a special picture disc of the Bohemian Rhapsody soundtrack, a 7″ single of “Bohemian Rhapsody”/”I’m In Love With My Car” and May’s latest solo single “New Horizons.” Brian May,Foo Fighters,Queen,Record Store Day,Roger Taylor,Taylor Hawkins,The Beach Boys	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2847
__label__wiki	0.982226	0.982226	Newport Gulls Newport (Shropshire) (UK Parliament constituency) Newport (PATH station) Newport, Pennsylvania The Newport Gulls are a wooden-bat, summer collegiate baseball team based in Newport, Rhode Island. The Newport Gulls Baseball Club is a member of both the New England Collegiate Baseball League and the NECBL's East Division. From 2001 to the present, the Gulls have played at Cardines Field. An NECBL expansion team, the club was founded in Cranston in 1998. The Gulls have been one of the NECBL's most successful teams since their inception, winning 6 Fay Vincent, Sr. Cups as champions of the NECBL, and eleven Division Titles. While most teams playing at Cardines average attendance in the dozens or, at most, a few hundred per game, the Newport Gulls, since moving to Newport in 2001, have helped to bring the field back to its former glory days of the mid-twentieth century, usually attracting over two thousand fans for a home game. During the 2004 season alone, the Gulls attracted over 50,000 fans through just 26 home games, with sellout crowds in excess of 3,000 people. Following the 2006 season, the Gulls set a team and league record (since surpassed) for regular season home attendance, totaling 42,424 fans after 21 games. This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Newport_Gulls Newport (Shropshire) is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency for the town of Newport, Shropshire. It was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1918. It elected one Member of Parliament. Elections in the 1880s Parliamentary constituencies in Shropshire#Historical constituencies List of former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies Unreformed House of Commons This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Newport_(Shropshire)_(UK_Parliament_constituency) Newport (formerly known as Pavonia – Newport, Pavonia, or Erie) is a PATH station located on Town Square Place (formerly Pavonia Avenue) at the corner of Washington Boulevard in Newport, Jersey City, New Jersey. The station was opened on August 2, 1909 as part of the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (H&M), originally constructed to connect to the Erie Railroad's Pavonia Terminal. The capitals of the station's columns are adorned with the "E", and recall its original name, Erie. After the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey 1960s takeover of the system, the station was renamed Pavonia, or Pavonia Avenue, itself named for the 17th New Netherland settlement of Pavonia. In 1988, the station became known as Pavonia/Newport to reflect the re-development of the former railyards along the banks of the Hudson River to residential, retail, and recreational uses as Newport. In 2010, the name became Newport. This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Newport_(PATH_station) Newport is a borough in Perry County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 25,896 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Bridge in Newport Borough and Newport Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Newport is located at 40°28′42″N 77°8′2″W / 40.47833°N 77.13389°W / 40.47833; -77.13389 (40.478260, -77.133997). According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2), all land. As of the census of 2000, there were 1,506 people, 666 households, and 402 families residing in the borough. The population density was 4,604.8 people per square mile (1,762.0/km²). There were 743 housing units at an average density of 2,271.8 per square mile (869.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.54% White, 0.13% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.66% of the population. This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Newport,_Pennsylvania Radio Stations - City of Newport gallery18.net canal18.net cloud18.org doctor18.com gamesquarter.com chatroom18.com evilcorpgaming.com chinachat18.com television18.com september18.net conference18.com vanity18.com episode18.com district18.net 18hotfm.com radio18.org gamefranchise.org santabarbaragames.com halifaxgaming.com beijinggames2008guide.com	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2848
__label__wiki	0.774024	0.774024	Prime (liturgy) Subprime lending 2012–13 Pro12 Split-8 Grand (surname) A prime number (or a prime) is a natural number greater than 1 that has no positive divisors other than 1 and itself. A natural number greater than 1 that is not a prime number is called a composite number. For example, 5 is prime because 1 and 5 are its only positive integer factors, whereas 6 is composite because it has the divisors 2 and 3 in addition to 1 and 6. The fundamental theorem of arithmetic establishes the central role of primes in number theory: any integer greater than 1 can be expressed as a product of primes that is unique up to ordering. The uniqueness in this theorem requires excluding 1 as a prime because one can include arbitrarily many instances of 1 in any factorization, e.g., 3, 1 · 3, 1 · 1 · 3, etc. are all valid factorizations of 3. The property of being prime (or not) is called primality. A simple but slow method of verifying the primality of a given number n is known as trial division. It consists of testing whether n is a multiple of any integer between 2 and . Algorithms much more efficient than trial division have been devised to test the primality of large numbers. These include the Miller–Rabin primality test, which is fast but has a small probability of error, and the AKS primality test, which always produces the correct answer in polynomial time but is too slow to be practical. Particularly fast methods are available for numbers of special forms, such as Mersenne numbers. As of January 2016, the largest known prime number has 22,338,618 decimal digits. This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Prime_number Prime, or the First Hour, is a fixed time of prayer of the traditional Divine Office (Canonical Hours), said at the first hour of daylight (approximately 7:00 a.m.), between the morning Hour of Lauds and the 9 a.m. Hour of Terce. It is part of the Christian liturgies of Eastern Christianity, but in the Latin Rite it was suppressed by the liturgical reforms following the Second Vatican Council. However, clergy who have an obligation to celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours may still fulfil their obligation by using the Roman Breviary promulgated by Pope John XXIII in 1962, which contains the Hour of Prime. Like all the liturgical hours, except the Office of Readings, it consists primarily of Psalms. It is one of the Little Hours. The word "Prime" comes from Latin and refers to the first hour of daylight (i.e., dawn). Originally, in the West, Prime was called matitutina (hora), "morning hour". Later, in order to distinguish it from the nocturnal offices of Matins and Lauds, and to include it among hours of the day, it was called prima. The name is first met with in the Rule of St. Benedict. In the Antiphonary of Bangor it is called secunda. This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Prime_(liturgy) In finance, subprime lending (also referred to as near-prime, non-prime, and second-chance lending) means making loans to people who may have difficulty maintaining the repayment schedule, sometimes reflecting setbacks, such as unemployment, divorce, medical emergencies, etc. Historically, subprime borrowers were defined as having FICO scores below 640, although "this has varied over time and circumstances." These loans are characterized by higher interest rates, poor quality collateral, and less favorable terms in order to compensate for higher credit risk. Many subprime loans were packaged into mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and ultimately defaulted, contributing to the financial crisis of 2007–2008. Proponents of subprime lending maintain that the practice extends credit to people who would otherwise not have access to the credit market. Professor Harvey S. Rosen of Princeton University explained, "The main thing that innovations in the mortgage market have done over the past 30 years is to let in the excluded: the young, the discriminated-against, the people without a lot of money in the bank to use for a down payment." This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Subprime_lending PRO or Pro may refer to: Professional, abbreviation e.g. many products are marketed described as Pro (or Professional), implying superiority PRO (linguistics) ("big PRO"), an empty category occupying the subject position in non-finite clauses pro (linguistics) ("little pro"), an empty category taking the place of a subject pronoun in pro-drop languages Science & Computer Proline, an amino acid Pressure-retarded osmosis, separation of a solvent from a pressurised and concentrated solution PRO (category theory), a construction in mathematics Patient-reported outcome, in clinical trials .pro, a generic top-level Internet DNS domain Pro theme, a visual style designed for professional-grade software for Mac OS X Public relations officer, corporate communications officer Pro Hart (1928–2006), Australian painter nicknamed "Pro" for "professor" Derek Minor, a hip-hop artist formerly known as PRo This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/PRO The 2012–13 Pro12 League (also known as the RaboDirect Pro12 for sponsorship reasons) was the 12th season of the rugby union competition originally known as the Celtic League, the third with its current 12-team format, and the second with RaboDirect as title sponsor. Ospreys were the defending champions, but they failed to qualify for the end-of-season playoffs. The twelve teams that competed were the four Irish teams, Munster, Leinster, Connacht and Ulster; two Scottish teams, Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors; four Welsh teams, Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets; and two Italian teams, Benetton Treviso and newly created Zebre. The title was won by Leinster, defeating Ulster 24-18 in the final. Changes for the season Zebre replaced Aironi Rugby after they had their license revoked by the Italian Rugby Federation for financial reasons. Roberto Manghi will become their Head coach for their début season. Big changes for Glasgow Warriors over the off season. A move to Scotstoun from their home of previous seasons, Firhill and head coach Sean Lineen making way for the former Scotland stand-off Gregor Townsend. This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/2012–13_Pro12 The Split-8 is a polyphonic analogue keyboard synthesizer manufactured by Sequential Circuits. Built in Japan and going by the alternative name "Pro-8" in some markets, this was one of the last synthesizers produced by the company and was assigned model number 608. It was released in 1985 at a list price of $1,199 (or $1,195; this number varied between advertisements). This and some other Sequential Circuits synthesizers (the Six-Trak, Multi-Trak and MAX) were built around the Curtis Electronics CEM 3394 "synth-on-a-chip" integrated circuit, and used a Z80 as their central microprocessor. Features and Cabinet Brief Summary of Features This electronic keyboard is an 8-voice polyphonic, bi-timbral analogue synthesizer with the ability to split or layer two sounds ("double" mode). It has 64 memory locations for sounds ("patches"). Patches may be "linked" in memory so that calling up one automatically calls up the second for a split or layer. A monophonic mode, with all eight oscillators producing the same sound at once, is also possible. Polyphonic portamento is also available. The instrument features MIDI, including the capability to save and restore patches with system-exclusive data (see MIDI for more detail about this process). This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Split-8 Cedric Grand (born 1976), Swiss bobsledder Gil Grand (born 1968), Canadian country music singer Jean-Pierre Grand (born 1950), French politician Pascale Grand (born 1967), Canadian racewalker Sarah Grand (1854-1943), British feminist writer Simon Grand (born 1984), English footballer Steve Grand (roboticist) (born 1958), English computer scientist Steve Grand (born 1990), American singer-songwriter Le Grand (disambiguation) Grand (disambiguation) This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Grand_(surname) grandrapidsglobe.com australiagrand.com hotelbookfreesms.com qatargrand.com grand-dictionary.com dusseldorfgrand.com znzmarketingpro.com prolearn.com grandharbouryachts.com bostongrand.com raleighgrand.com propertygrand.com smstravelbookings.net smstravelbooking.net smscelebrity.com helsinkigrand.com wnsms.net manhattangrand.com smstravelbookings.org bahamagrandbank.net	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2849
__label__wiki	0.99077	0.99077	Stay Hungry (album) Stay Hungry (disambiguation) Stay Hungry is the third album by American heavy metal band Twisted Sister. Released on May 10, 1984, the album features the band's two biggest hits, "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I Wanna Rock". It also features the power ballad "The Price". According to RIAA certification, Stay Hungry gained multi-platinum status with U.S. sales of more than 3,000,000 copies. Twisted Sister performed the song "Burn in Hell" during a cameo appearance in the 1985 film Pee-wee's Big Adventure. The song "Burn in Hell" was covered by black metal band Dimmu Borgir on Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia. "We're Not Gonna Take It" was also covered by Bif Naked on the Ready to Rumble soundtrack. The two songs that comprise the Horror-Teria segment became the basis of Twisted Sister lead singer Dee Snider's 1998 film Strangeland, in which Captain Howdy was played by Snider himself. The "Captain Howdy" segment of the "Horror-Teria" suite would later be covered by the death metal group Broken Hope on their album Repulsive Conception and in 1999 by the Swedish heavy metal band Morgana Lefay on their Symphony of the Damned, Re-symphonised album. This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Stay_Hungry_(album) Stay Hungry is a 1976 dramatic comedy film by director Bob Rafelson from a screenplay by Charles Gaines (adapted from his 1972 novel of the same name). The story centers on a young Birmingham, Alabama, scion, played by Jeff Bridges, who gets involved in a shady real-estate deal. In order to close the deal, he needs to buy a gym building to complete a multi-parcel lot. When he visits the gym, however, he finds himself romantically interested in the receptionist (Sally Field) and drawn to the carefree lifestyle of the Austrian body builder "Joe Santo" (Arnold Schwarzenegger) who is training there for the Mr. Universe competition. Roger Callard, one of the top bodybuilders of that era, was quoted in a 1983 bodybuilding magazine regarding an event he experienced during the making of the film. “The director was screaming over his megaphone, ‘Please do not touch the bodybuilders!’ People were rushing us, even scratching us!” Schwarzenegger won a Golden Globe for "Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture" for his portrayal of Joe Santo in Stay Hungry. Technically, it was not his debut role, since he had played Hercules (as "Arnold Strong") in the 1969 film Hercules in New York and a hitman in Robert Altman's 1973 film The Long Goodbye. It was, however, the first time his voice had been heard on film as Hercules was dubbed and the hitman character was deaf and mute. This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Stay_Hungry Stay Hungry is a film directed by Bob Rafelson, adapted from a novel of the same title by Charles Gaines. Stay Hungry may also refer to: Stay Hungry (album), an album by Twisted Sister "Stay Hungry", a song from the aforementioned album by Twisted Sister and later covered by Fozzy "Stay Hungry", a song by Talking Heads from More Songs About Buildings and Food Still Hungry (disambiguation) This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Stay_Hungry_(disambiguation) 3dphotoalbums.com musicpopalbum.net stayoutofprison.org albumpromotion.com albumgenerale.com stayjay.net operadivaalbum.com moviealbums.com gangstaalbum.com familyalbumvr.com musicpopalbum.com operaalbums.org operaalbum.com operaticalbum.com operaalbums.com albumsongs.net albumsoul.com aidhungrypeople.com doomsdayalbum.com wnalbum.com Latest News for: stay hungry (album) “Unloveable, Unfuckable, Unlistenable”: Sleater-Kinney appear to tease new music NME 28 May 2019 Are the punk icons about to release their long-awaited new album?(L-R) Janet Weiss, Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney ... On Reuniting, Empowerment and Staying Hungry. In January, it was revealed that Sleater-Kinney were working on a new album with St ... Vincent’s latest album, ‘MASSEDUCTION‘.... Flashback: Luke Perry Went to Zombie High in a Banned Twisted Sister Video, Pre-‘90210’ (Watch) Yahoo Daily News 05 Mar 2019 he was a jean-jacket clad, MTV-shirt wearing extra in the video for Twisted Sister’s ...... Long Island Music Hall of Fame: Notable inductees Newsday 26 Sep 2018 Their platinum-selling album Escape with tracks "Fine Minutes of Funk" and "The Freaks Come Out at Night" ... Flavor Flav's controversial raps on debut album "Yo! Bum Rush the Show" ... Dee Snider's Alice Cooper influence and 1984 album "Stay Hungry" with hits "I Wanna Rock" and "We're Not Gonna Take It".... Eating good Oklahoma Gazette 06 Jun 2018 Like the name suggests, WoRm stays hungry. But with each release in his Chicken N Waffles album series, the Oklahoma City rapper-producer is inching his way up the local hip-hop food chain ... When did work begin on To Go Plate? What was the earliest concept you had going into this album? ... This album has a lot of outstanding collaborations.... ‘We’re not gonna take it’: Teacher protests revive Twisted Sister classic as anthem The Washington Post 03 Apr 2018 The Twisted Sister hit was from the New Jersey band’s third album, “Stay Hungry.” Penned by Twisted Sister’s frontman (and son of an art teacher, the New York Times reported in 2004) Dee Snider, the song was the band’s only Top 40 hit, peaking at 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.... Dee Snider on PMRC Hearing: 'I Was a Public Enemy' Rollingstone 17 Mar 2018 The previous year, the mascara'd headbangers had put out Stay Hungry, an album that had quickly gone double-platinum on the strength of anthems like "I Wanna Rock" and "We're Not Gonna Take It." But nevertheless, the PMRC – a committee ......	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2850
__label__wiki	0.589136	0.589136	(China) Factors affecting the property in 2018* Deliberate destruction of heritage Factors* affecting the property identified in previous reports Housing (Redevelopment of traditional housing) Management systems/management plan (issue resolved) International Assistance: requests for the property until 2018 Requests approved: 0 Total amount approved : 0 USD Missions to the property until 2018** December 2014: ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission 2014 Report on the ICOMOS Reactive Monitoring mission to the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family ... Conservation issues presented to the World Heritage Committee in 2018 On 1 December 2017, the State Party submitted a state of conservation report. An executive summary of this report is available at http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/704/documents/. The report outlines progress with a number of conservation issues addressed by the Committee at its previous sessions, as follows: The Panchi Pond project in the buffer zone has been suspended by the Qufu government to permit further modifications; Recent projects have been limited to restorations (Dacheng Gate, East and West wing rooms of the Temple of Confucius, Pavilion of Thirteen Steles) and small-scale improvements to infrastructure. There have been no new large-scale construction projects within the property or its Buffer Zone. The large Confucius Museum, which is expected to open in 2018, is located 5 km away from the property; A stricter project approval process has been demanded of local authorities by the State Party, including Heritage Impact Assessments; An improved monitoring system will be implemented in three years to provide more timely and scientific information about the property and its Buffer Zone; The Management Plan of Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu was completed in 2016. It includes a specific chapter on the protection standards and requirements for the property and its Buffer Zone; Various plans and technical guidelines for city development, community involvement and urban construction have been developed to encourage the sustainable development of the property. Analysis and Conclusion by World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies in 2018 The State Party has outlined a number of positive accomplishments made since 2015 to improve the state of conservation and management of the property. Achievements include suspending the Panchi Pond project to allow further reconsideration; encouraging a more rigorous approval process; completing the Management Plan as well as undertaking a series of plans and guidelines aimed at encouraging sustainable development. The development of an improved monitoring system is likewise commendable, but it is recommended that the Committee request the State Party to examine whether it may be possible to reduce the three-year implementation timeframe. No new project documentation has been received since the last Committee decision; the planning document and the Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) mentioned in the current report are evidently the ones received as Annex I and Annex II of the state of conservation report submitted by the State Party in November 2015. It is recommended that the Committee encourage the State Party to work towards a final resolution of the Panchi Pond project, in accordance with decisions made about the Detailed Planning and Building Scheme for the Construction Project in the Area of the Ancient Panchi Pond in the Buffer Zone of the World Heritage Site in Qufu and the accompanying HIA, which were submitted to China’s State Administration of Cultural Heritage and to the World Heritage Centre in 2015 and were commented on by the Committee at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016). It is further recommended that the Committee request the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies, the 2016 Management Plan of Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu. Decisions adopted by the Committee in 2018 Draft Decision 42 COM 7B.3 Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu (China) (C 704) Having examined Document WHC/18/42.COM/7B, Recalling Decision 40 COM 7B.32 adopted at its 40th session (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016), Takes note of the positive steps taken by the State Party to improve the state of conservation and management of the property and its Buffer Zone; Encourages the State Party to work towards a final resolution of the Panchi Pond project in the Buffer Zone of the property, taking into account the comments made by the Committee in the Decision recalled above; Requests the State Party to review its proposed improved monitoring system with a view to determining whether it may be possible to reduce the three-year implementation timeframe; Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, for review by the Advisory Bodies, the 2016 Management Plan of Temple and Cemetery of Confucius and the Kong Family Mansion in Qufu; Further requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2019, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for review by the Advisory Bodies. Draft Decision: 42 COM 7B.3 Previous 2016 Date of Inscription: 1994 Nomination records (Year): 1993 Category: Cultural Criteria: (i)(iv)(vi) Other information on site Read the SOUV Documents examined by the Committee in 2018 WHC/18/42.COM/7B SOC Report by the State Party	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2854
__label__cc	0.726564	0.273436	The Wild Hunt (https://wildhunt.org/tag/los-angeles-pagan-pride-day) Los Angeles Pagan Pride Day In Search Of Pagan Pride By Terence P Ward \| September 10, 2015 UNITED STATES –To acknowledge the many Pagan Pride Day events that take place at this time of the year, The Wild Hunt endeavored to learn more about the staying power of this movement by answering the question: what’s the longest-running pride event out there, and to what can it owe its success? The answer is somewhat obscured by the autonomy which touches every corner of Pagandom; even though there is a Pagan Pride Project (PPP) dedicated to supporting these events, it is by no means the official arbiter and archivist of all things prideful. Indeed, the term is not copyrighted out of a sense that no one owns it. However, because of the support structure it provides, PPP has a decent institutional memory. We tapped into that memory through National President Brian Ewing, who has been promoting pride since before the turn of the century. Growth in Pagan Pride Movement Causes Struggle With Outreach [Terence P Ward is one of our talented weekly staff writers. He brings you the news and issues that most affect the Pagan and Heathen worlds. If you like his work and that of our other weekly reporters, help us by donating to our fall fund drive. Bringing you news and stories is what we love to do. Your continued support makes it possible for us to continue.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2857
__label__wiki	0.9421	0.9421	Woody Marshall/The Telegraph Ocilla, Georgia, 02/23/2017: Irwin County Deputies take Ryan Alexander Duke into the courthouse. Authorities charged Duke with murder in the puzzling disappearance of Tara Grinstead, a high school history teacher and former beauty queen who went missing nearly 12 years ago. Photo: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Suspect in Tara Grinstead’s killing hires Cobb County attorneys Alexis Stevens, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution The man accused of killing a South Georgia teacher nearly 13 years ago has hired two Cobb County attorneys to represent him. Ashleigh Merchant, who practices in Marietta, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Friday she and her husband, John Merchant, will represent Ryan Alexander Duke. Duke has been charged with murder in the 2005 death of Tara Grinstead, an Irwin County High School teacher and former beauty queen. Duke, one of Grinstead’s former students, was arrested in February 2017. He remains in jail and has been represented by public defenders. This 2005 photo released by www.findtara.com, shows Tara Grinstead who disappeared from her Ocilla, Ga., home on Oct. 22, 2005. Photo: WSBTV.com / www.findtara.com "We decided to take the case because we believe in his innocence,” Merchant said in text message. “We know Ryan wants his story told and we want to help him tell it. He has been demonized and we want to help the truth come out." Merchant has served as a legal commentator on the AJC’s “Breakdown” podcast series. Grinstead, 30, was last seen on Oct. 22, 2005, when she left a cookout and said she was going straight home. Two days later, she was reported missing when she didn’t show up to teach history. The search for Grinstead made national headlines, but the case went cold for many years until the GBI announced Duke’s arrest. Days later, a second suspect, Bo Dukes, was also arrested. He’s accused of helping conceal Grinstead’s death. According to court documents filed last week in Irwin County Superior Court, both Duke and Dukes confessed to the crimes within weeks of Grinstead’s disappearance. In a motion filed in court, Duke’s attorneys claimed investigators dropped the ball on the case. And because it took so long to arrest the suspects, most of the charges should be dropped due to the statute of limitations, the motion states. A motions hearing is scheduled for Sept. 20 in Ocilla. - Staff writer Bill Rankin contributed to this report. Dr. Oz takes a look back and the case and talks with the creator of a podcast that helped bring the case back into the spotlight, Tuesday at 3 p.m. on Channel 2.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2860
__label__cc	0.520755	0.479245	Home \| What we do \| Tourism Promotion The Pamirs Eco-Cultural Tourism Association (PECTA) office in Khorog, Tajik... More Tourism Promotion Services (TPS) Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Tanzania. More Travel "Oscars" for Serena hotels in Africa Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, which won the 2013 "Leading Eco Hotel of the... More AKF Tourism Promotion in Wakhan Afghan Pamir. More Mountain Guide course in Barpanja, Afghanistan. More AKDN AND The Network seeks to promote tourism in areas where natural beauty is one of the few assets at the disposal of a community. It seeks to develop these activities in culturally and environmentally sensitive ways that improve the quality of life for people in the vicinity of these projects, whether in Afghanistan’s Wakhan Valley or Tanzania’s natural reserves. In most cases, these projects are conceived as engines of development, whether it is a small guesthouse in Tajikistan, a tourist itinerary in Cairo, or the reconstruction of a hotel in Kabul. The projects are meant to promote entrepreneurial spirit, draw investment into an area, or provide the amenities required by international investors. Each project is a node for development, either directly or indirectly. Tourist promotion efforts have included the restoration of numerous forts, mosques and homes in remote parts of Pakistan. They include the creation of parks and gardens in Cairo and Zanzibar. They also include a ski competition in Bamyan, Afghanistan, which drew a number of domestic and international competitors, and guesthouses in the transitioning economies of Central Asia. In all AKDN projects, emphasis is placed on the active engagement and input of the local community. Serena Hotels, which is part of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, builds hotels in underserved areas, such as the Kabul Serena, often at the request of central governments. But because of the AKDN ethos that underpins the activities of the hotels, they not only work to provide an economic stimulus in the normal course of business operation – through employment, training and local sourcing, for example – but they also support measures that improve the quality of life in neighbouring areas. These measures include water and sanitation programmes, health initiatives, school renovation projects, tree-planting programmes, indigenous plant re-stocking projects, butterfly breeding and turtle-protection projects. Each Serena property is designed to celebrate and reflect its area’s artistic idioms and cultural expressions. Environmental sensitivity and sustainability are hallmarks of the hotels, which have won a number of environmental awards. Serena operates 35 hotels, resorts, safari lodges and camps, palaces and forts located in East Africa, Mozambique and Southern Asia. More Tourism Promotion Spotlights Serena Hotels Governor of Punjab rewards Essa Khan of the Gilgit Serena Hotel for returning US$ 50,000 to a guest. More In the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, stands Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, one of AKDN’s hotels in Kenya. Lion, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, baboon, gazelle and wildebeest roam around the lodge, drawing tourists from around the world. Like other Serena hotels, the Lodge... More In remote mountain districts, one of the only assets at the disposal of poor communities is the natural beauty of their surroundings. In Afghanistan’s Wakhan District, AKDN has worked to leverage interest in visiting this narrow valley in Afghanistan that lies at elevations higher than 2000 metres... More	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2861
__label__cc	0.640505	0.359495	Modern psychiatry is in a state of crisis. 450 million people around the globe are affected by mental illness (1 in 10 adults). Looking at Europe and the U.S, over 40% of the total burden of disability is related to mental illness, and over 10 million Prozac prescriptions were issued in the first 5 years after its introduction into the pharmaceutical market (Powell, 2007). In 2013 and in England alone, over 53 million prescriptions were issued for antidepressants, a 6% increase on the previous year and a 92% increase since 2003 (Rose, 2016). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that each year approximately 800,000 people commit suicide, which represents a global mortality rate of one death every 40 seconds, and it is predicted that by 2020 the rate of death will increase to one every 20 seconds (WHO, 2014). In order to respond to the growing collective distress, psychiatry will have to go through a global paradigm shift, where issues like meaning, faith, belief in GOD and altered states of consciousness, as well as advanced psycho-social models for crisis intervention will have to be common psychiatric knowledge. The following pages will begin with a short review of the origins of psychiatry and psychopathology and continue with a discussion on the role that transpersonal theory and practice can play in the transformation of the current paradigm in psychiatry. The first hospitals for curing mental illness were established in India during the 3rd century BCE (Koenig, 2009), where the earliest known texts on mental disorders, the Charaka Samhita, were compiled between the 1st century BCE and the 2nd century CE (Scull, 2013). Already in the 4th century BCE, Hippocrates saw physiological abnormalities as a possible root of mental disorders (Elkes & Thorpe, 1967) and thus can be seen as the father of biological psychiatry. Today, although we know that neurobiological factors are playing a key role in modulating mood and behavior, we can also see that a psychopharmacological, electroconvulsive, or any other physical intervention are far from being enough to support a person who is going through a mental crisis. The term “psychiatry” literally means the “medical treatment of the soul” (from ancient Greek psykhē “soul”; -iatry “medical treatment”) and it seems that many of the conflicts that arise these days in psychiatric practice can be traced back to the very notion that the soul could be medically treated. Nikolas Rose (2016), a professor of sociology in King’s College London, explains that the extent of diagnosable ‘brain disorders’ (between 25% and 33%), the view of the brain as the ultimate locus for explanations of mental disorders and the use of psychiatric drugs as the primary mode of intervention, all contribute to the current crisis in psychiatry (Rose, 2016). Rose also emphasizes that when the American Psychiatric Association (2013) published the 5th Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, there was not a single clinically validated biomarker for any psychiatric disorder, and that the genome wide association studies (GWAS) methodology have failed to provide any major insight into the genomic bases of psychiatric disorders (Rose, 2016). Some of Rose’s (2016) conclusions are that we should go back to view mental disorders as a “disorder of a whole person” (p. 97) (and not just the brain), while taking notice of the patient’s social and environmental setting; that we should remember that the patient is not “merely a sum of parts that can be isolated and experimented on in the purified space of the laboratory” and then extrapolated to the whole; that there is a clear correlation between diagnoses of mental disorder and “a whole range of undesirable social conditions” (p. 98); and that maybe the most revolutionary development will come from “the recognition that the voices of those who are the subjects of psychiatry must have a crucial role in shaping the ways in which their ailments are understood and treated” (p. 99). While psychotherapeutic and social interventions can provide a great deal of support for psychiatric patients (whether if with or without medication), an issue that was not mentioned in Rose’s provocative editorial is that the majority of psychiatric patients do not have someone to process the spiritual nature of their experience with. In a survey of 52 psychiatric inpatients in Minnesota, 95% of the patients declared a strong belief in God (Kroll & Sheehan, 1989). In another study, over 80% felt that their spiritual beliefs had a positive impact on their illness, yet over a third of them did not feel that they were able to discuss spiritual matters with their psychiatrists (Lindgren & Coursey, 1995). A study conducted by Bergin & Jensen (1990) showed that while in general population over 80% have a belief in God or a higher power, around only a third of psychiatrists and psychologists hold such beliefs. Thus, it is important to remember that when it comes to spiritual beliefs, it is not the psychiatrists that represent the norm (Powell, 2002). One reason for that gap might be the lack of spiritual knowledge and practice in current training programs for health professionals and the over-emphasis on the medical model. The following excerpt from a report of the WHO (World Health Organization) is emphasizing this point (WHO, 1998): The health professions have largely followed a medical model, which seeks to treat patients by focusing on medicines and surgery, and gives less importance to beliefs and to faith – in healing, in the physician and in the doctor-patient relationship. This reductionism or mechanistic view of patients as being only a material body is no longer satisfactory. Patients and physicians have begun to realise the value of elements such as faith, hope and compassion in the healing process (p. 7). According to David Nichols, Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology in Purdue University and the founding president of the Heffter Research Institute, the current neurobiological paradigm in psychiatry emerged in 1954, when the discovery of the structural relationship between LSD and serotonin, lead to the realization that LSD’s mental effects are caused by its interaction with the serotonergic system. This was the first formal recognition that perhaps brain chemistry had something to do with behavior, and particularly with mental illness (Nichols, 2013). In the words of Nichols: “To put things in context, up until that time, mainstream psychiatry had no idea that behavior might arise from neurochemical events in the brain” (2013, p. 22). Between the 1950s and mid-1960s, LSD-assisted psychotherapy was an active research field, with more than 40,000 patients who contributed to the publication of 1,000 clinical papers on the subject (Grinspoon & Bakalar, 1979). Research with this novel molecule came to an almost complete stop after it was declared as a Schedule I drug in the United States during the mid-1960s. Luckily, the rigorous psychedelic research that took place until that time was enough to draw the attention of many respected psychologists and psychiatrists to the importance of transcendent states and spiritual experiences for the psychotherapeutic process. One of these respected researchers was Stanislav Grof. After having himself a powerful transformative experience (Sala, 2008) using LSD as a research participant during his medical training, Grof decided to dedicate his life to the study of non-ordinary states of consciousness (NOSC). During the very same years that psychedelic drugs were made illegal in the United States, a group of researchers that included Abraham Maslow, Anthony Sutich, Miles Vich, Sonya Margulies and Stanislav Grof (Grof, 2008) were meeting with the intention to propel a new “force” in psychology. The result of these meetings was the establishment of transpersonal psychology, which was called by Maslow “the fourth force”. During the last 50 years, transpersonal researchers have been exploring and analyzing the relationship between body, mind, spirit and cosmos, whether through the creation of astonishing cartographies of the psyche, through rigorous empirical research, through psychotherapeutic practice or through their own spiritual experiences. Unfortunately, very little of the profound insights that were gained during the last 50 years of research managed to create an impact on mainstream psychiatry. In The Textboox of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology, Scotton, Chinen & Battista (1996) have brought together scholarly works which deal with the practical, theoretical and ethical implications of transpersonal research and therapy and provide an outline of a wide spectrum of multi-cultural perspectives on mental health. It seems that while there are a few studies about the intersection between psychiatry and spirituality, the term Transpersonal Psychiatry has barely been used outside the work of Scotton, Chinnen and Battista. Transpersonal psychiatry does not promote any particular belief system, but rather acknowledges that spiritual experiences and transcendent states are universal human experiences, and therefore worthy of rigorous, scientific study (Kasprow & Scotton, 1999). Kasprow and Scotton also write that “Inattention to these experiences and the roles they play in both psychopathology and healing constitutes a common limitation in conventional psychotherapeutic practice and research” (1999, p. 13). Interestingly, after catapulting the current neurobiological paradigm, thanks to the return of psychedelic drugs to the spotlights of academic research and therapy, we are standing on the verge of yet another paradigm shift in psychiatry. The astonishing advancements that humanity has made during the last 50 years with regard to brain imaging, psychotherapeutic techniques and transpersonal research, has prepared the ground for the upcoming paradigm where psychedelics will take a central part in the treatment of a wide range of “disorders” like PTSD, depression, substance dependency, anxiety related to terminal illness and many more (Schenberg, 2018). While modern psychology has been studying the therapeutic effect of altered states of consciousness since the days of William James in the beginning of the last century (Ryan, 2008), tribal cultures have been using psychedelic plants as sacramental tools for thousands of years. These plants have shaped the course of many established religions and are still used throughout the world today as part of religious ceremonies for many cultures (Schultes & Hofmann, 1979). In order for the emerging paradigm to bring the required transformation for the modern mental health system, we should take into account the lessons that were learned in the past with regard to therapeutic work with psychedelics. Bravo and Grob (1989) concluded their article “Shamans, Sacraments, and Psychiatrists” with the following lines (p. 127): “If American psychiatry is to embark on a renewed investigation of the potential therapeutic role of psychedelics, lessons of the traditional shamanic healers must be incorporated as an integral component of such future clinical research”. During the early 1960s it became apparent that the quality and clinical effectiveness of psychedelic therapy were extremely dependent upon the patient’s constitutional (‘set’) and environmental factors (‘setting’). These factors, also termed extrapharmacological factors, vary considerably between different cultures, and especially between indigenous cultures and modern clinical research. For shamans, spirituality and healing are integrated parts of the same activity and “rituals are used to facilitate and structure the experience so that a focus of concentration allows the mind to enter more deeply into the implicit meaning” (Bravo & Grob, 1989, p. 126). The skills to be learned in the training of a shaman vary from one society to another, but usually include diagnosis and treatment of illness, supervising rituals, contacting spirits, interpreting dreams and gathering herbs. Since shamanism is based on values of compassion and service, ethical training is a key element in a shaman’s education (Krippner, 2007). Contemporary therapies like behavior therapy, hypnotherapy, drug therapy, psychodrama and dream interpretation share many of the qualities of ancient and modern shamanic methods and practices (Krippner, 2007). “In regard to healing practices,” writes Krippner, “shamans and psychological and psychiatric therapists demonstrate more similarities than differences” (2007, p. 19). These similarities, and of course the differences between the shamanic and psychological/psychiatric practices are emphasizing the important contribution the psychological study of shamanism (which is an important aspect of transpersonal psychology) has to offer to mental health professionals. One of the main aspects that distinguish the transpersonal psychiatrist from the transpersonal psychologist is the application of psychopharmacological intervention. While at times medications can impede the patient in processing and integrating his experience (Scotton, Chinen & Battista, 1996), at other instances, psychopharmacological intervention may be necessary in order to prevent any harm from the patient and/or his surroundings and in order to ground the patient so he or she can begin with a psychotherapeutic process (Scotton, Chinen & Battista, 1996). In general, pharmacological intervention should be focused on balancing the level of symptoms, whether they be pain, depression, anxiety, or psychotic states, so that they can be integrated by the person in the service of growth (Scotton, Chinen & Battista, 1996). Every psychopharmacological intervention has side-effects to it, and therefore it is important that these will be minimized at all cost to provide the patient with “the appropriate combination of mental stability and agility” (Scotton, Chinen & Battista, 1996, p. 333). The transpersonal psychopharmacologist must be able to integrate spiritual knowledge and practice with meaningful psychopharmacological intervention, a task that clearly requires the knowledge of when each would be helpful. Actively manic patients (and their surroundings) for example, could be in a great risk without aggressive pharmacotherapy; however, the transpersonal psychiatrist could also introduce them to a specific spiritual practice and discuss the spiritual aspect of their crisis once they have become sufficiently clinically grounded (Scotton, Chinen & Battista, 1996). Another aspect of psychiatric practice that is distinguished from psychological practice is the heavy responsibility that lies on the psychiatrist’s shoulders, since in the case of a critical incident (a patient hurting himself or someone else for example) “the judgment of society comes down on them like a ton of bricks” (Powell, 2002, p. 7). Dr. Andrew Powell, a psychiatrist, psychotherapist and the founding chair of the Spirituality and Psychiatry Special Interest Group (SPSIG) of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK, has been actively promoting an open spiritual dialogue, practice and training in the psychiatric community for the last 20 years (Cook, Powell & Sims, 2009). In his article Mental Health and Spirituality Powell is suggesting to get spirituality on the agenda for psychiatrists in training in the UK and to make spiritual enquiry as relevant as taking a family or social history (Powell, 2002). The SPSIG has suggested a revision of the curriculum for the MRCPsych examination to the Royal College of Psychiatrists (Powell, 2002), where they detail the knowledge and skills that are required for the integration of spirituality into psychiatric practice. Following are some of the major aspects that should be demonstrated by the psychiatrist according to the revised curriculum: Awareness of, and sensitivity to, the spiritual/religious historical development of the patient. Awareness of the patient’s need to find a sense of meaning and purpose in life, his/her personal search for answers to deeper questions concerning birth, life and death and awareness of the difference between spirituality and religion as well as their inter-relatedness. Knowledge of spiritual crises, meditation, prayer and altered states of consciousness, including Near Death Experiences (NDEs). Knowledge of the spiritual significance of anxiety, doubt, guilt and shame as well as of the spiritual importance of love, altruism and forgiveness, and their relation to mental health. Familiarity with issues related to research, for example: the application of quantitative and qualitative research to the field of spirituality and psychiatric practice as well as the contribution of research to understanding the neuro-physiology and efficacy of prayer, meditation, forgiveness and love. Competence in the recognition of his/her own counter-transference responses to spiritual disclosures (Powell, 2002, pp. 10-12) Another important emphasis Powell (2002, p. 11) makes is that: Healing begins with the offering of love, a word that doesn’t figure nearly enough in the lexicon of psychiatry. Compassionate love – spirituality in action – can only do good and mixes well with all other treatments that may be required. Integrating such aspects into modern psychiatric practice are becoming more relevant than ever when taking into account the unique characteristics of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy which is taking a major part in the current paradigm shift in psychiatry (Schenberg, 2018). One of the most intriguing aspects of psychedelic drugs is their ability to enhance meaning (Hartogsohn, 2018). Between two thirds to 86% of those who go through a psychedelic experience in a therapeutic setting consider them to be either one of the five most meaningful and spiritually significant experiences of their lives, or the single most meaningful experience (Hartogsohn, 2018). The ‘Set’ (psychological context) and ‘Setting’ (sociocultural context) of the experience are thus of crucial importance as their impact on the patient’s experience is significantly multiplied by the effects of the drugs (Hartogsohn, 2018). In conclusion, the current biological paradigm in psychiatry is failing to ease the suffering of hundreds of millions of people. By merging modern psychiatry with transpersonal psychology and ancient as well as modern spiritual practices, we can help create a safe and supportive environment for psychiatric patients and thus greatly contribute to the wellbeing of both patients and psychiatrists in the emerging paradigm. In order to face the challenges of the modern mental health system, we might consider taking an example from tribal cultures where there are several “types” of shamans, and thus pave the way towards the professional establishment of sub-specialties in psychiatry, where transpersonal psychiatrists will work together with the patient towards healing and growth with humbleness, love and compassion. Nir Tadmor MSc in Consciousness, Spirituality and Transpersonal Psychology Our online distance-learning MSc in ‘Consciousness, Spirituality & Transpersonal Psychology’ provides an intellectually-stimulating programme of study which focuses on diverse topics around the nature of consciousness, the dynamics between psyche and soma, the psychology of self and higher states of being, and the psychological basis of spiritual and mystical practices. Our MSc programme is distinctive in valuing experiential approaches to learning and in encouraging students to incorporate insights from the programme into their own life journeys. In addition to a rigorous academic curriculum, modules exploring integral life practice, transpersonal approaches to research, and a research dissertation focus on the practical application of learning. The MSc programme consists of 180 course credits and most students complete the programme over 3 years, studying part-time. The programme is run entirely online, and it is validated by Liverpool John Moores University in the UK. American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Edition) Dsm-5. American Psychiatric Association: Arlington, VA. Bergin, A. E., & Jensen, J. P. (1990). Religiosity of psychotherapists: A national survey. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 27(1), 3. Bravo, G., & Grob, C. (1989). Shamans, sacraments, and psychiatrists. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 21(1), 123-128. Cook, C. C., Powell, A., & Sims, A. (Eds.). (2009). Spirituality and psychiatry. RCPsych Publications. Elkes, A., & Thorpe, J. G. (1967). A Summary of Psychiatry: By Alexander Elkes and JG Thorpe. Faber & Faber. Grinspoon, L., & Bakalar, J. B. (1979). Psychedelic drugs reconsidered (pp. 221-223). New York: Basic Books. Grof, S. (2008). Brief history of transpersonal psychology. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 27(1), 6. Hartogsohn I (2018) The Meaning-Enhancing Properties of Psychedelics and Their Mediator Role in Psychedelic Therapy, Spirituality, and Creativity. Front. Neurosci. 12:129. Koenig, H. G. (2009). Faith and mental health: Religious resources for healing. Templeton Foundation Press. Krippner, S. (2007). Humanity s first healers: psychological and psychiatric stances on shamans and shamanism. Archives of Clinical Psychiatry (São Paulo), 34, 17-24. Kroll, J., & Sheehan, W. (1989). Religious beliefs and practices among 52 psychiatric inpatients in Minnesota. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 146(1), 67-72. Lindgren, K. N., & Coursey, R. D. (1995). Spirituality and serious mental illness: A two-part study. Psychosocial Rehabilitation Journal, 18(3), 93. Nichols, D. E. (2013). Serotonin, and the past and future of LSD. MAPS Bulletin, 23(1), 20-23. Powell, A. (2002). Mental health and spirituality. Revision of paper given to the College of Psychic Studies. Powell, A. (2007). Furthering the spiritual dimension of psychiatry in the United Kingdom. Associação Médico-Espírita do Brasil. Rose, N. (2016). Neuroscience and the future for mental health?. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 25(2), 95-100. Ryan, M. B. (2008). The Transpersonal William James. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 40(1). Sala, L. [Luc Sala]. (2008, March 29th). Stan Grof about his LSD experience [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ig3eU_oDS0 Schenberg, E. E. S. (2018). Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: a paradigm shift in psychiatric research and development. Frontiers in pharmacology, 9, 733. Schultes, R. E., & Hofmann, A. (1979). Plants of the gods: origins of hallucinogenic use (p. 149). New York: McGraw-Hill. Scull, A. (Ed.). (2013). Cultural sociology of mental illness: An A-to-Z Guide. Sage Publications. Stafford-Clark, D., & Smith, A. C. (1978). Psychiatry for students. G. Allen & Unwin. World Health Organization. (1998). WHOQOL and spirituality, religiousness and personal beliefs (SRPB). World Health Organization. (2014). Preventing suicide: a global imperative. World Health Organization. Nir is a psychotherapist in private practice and the co-founder of a psychedelic harm reduction project in Israel called Safe Shore. Since Safe Shore was founded 5 years ago, Nir supported and supervised hundreds of cases of psychedelic crises both in musical events and in private practice. During the last year, Nir co-facilitated 9 weekend workshops on supporting extreme states, where he had the privilege to share the knowledge he has gained in the field with more than 200 people who were interested in acquiring basic psychedelic crisis intervention skills and a deeper understanding of the relationship between mental health and psychedelics. Nir is also an MSc. student in the Consciousness, Spirituality and Transpersonal Psychology programme with Alef Trust where his thesis focuses on psycho-spiritual crises induced by the use of psychedelics. Nir is also trained in a mindfulness based psychotherapy called Hakomi and for the last three years has been working as a mental health professional in a center that offers an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization. Posted in: Alumni Series, News, Transpersonal Psychology Tagged: consciousness, transpersonal psychology Author: Nir Tadmor	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2863
__label__cc	0.648845	0.351155	ALSC Response to Horn Book July/August 2014 Issue Editorial #alaac14 June 27, 2014 June 27, 2014 \| Guest Contributor As many of us begin to gather in Las Vegas for this year’s ALA Annual Conference, the excitement is building for the big event on Sunday evening, the Newbery-Caldecott Banquet, when we’ll celebrate the medal- and honor-winning book creators of two of the most prestigious awards in the world. This year there is a bit more buzz than usual as folks read and respond to this week’s editorial in Horn Book which expresses some concerns about a months-old revision to ALSC’s “Policy for Service on Award Committees”. As a member of the ALSC Board of Directors and chair of the Task Force that developed the recommendations that were subsequently adopted unanimously by the entire Board last January, I’m happy to provide some background about the updates. This Policy, which applies to those ALSC members serving on the selection committees of the book and media awards administered solely by ALSC (including the Caldecott, Geisel, Newbery, and Sibert, among others), has existed for a long time with the purpose of supporting members in fulfilling the responsibilities that come with the honor of accepting the opportunity to volunteer on one of these committees. These include guidelines on issues ranging from the importance of attending the committee meetings to the fact that it wouldn’t be fair for an author or a publisher of an eligible book (or their close family members) to serve on a committee that could possibly consider their own book for a medal. They also include guidelines regarding the confidentiality of the award process. This is an area in which the ALSC leadership and staff receive many, many questions every year from committee members who are anxious to respect the privacy of fellow committee members and creators of eligible titles. Those aspects of the guidelines, as they stood through last year, were causing more confusion than clarity, in large part because they were written before the full advent of social media and therefore couldn’t entirely take into account the increased number of forums which exist today where books and media are publicly and electronically discussed. To address that, last year the ALSC Board appointed a Task Force which I chaired and which included members with backgrounds in blogging, reviewing, marketing for a major publisher, serving on many different award committees, chairing the Newbery committee, and consulting for chairs of award selection committees. Our objective was “To review and update the ALSC Policy for Service on Award Committees document with further clarification in regard to the confidentiality and conflict of interest guidelines as they pertain to bloggers and others engaged in social media activities while serving on an ALSC Award Committee” and to provide those recommendations to the ALSC Board for their action on them. Task #1 was to determine if maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of the awards and the award process, as mentioned above, even still mattered in this day and age. After all, some media awards encourage open, public discussion (such as ALSC’s Notable Lists) and some present short lists of nominees (like the Academy Awards). Following conscientious discussion, consideration, and consultation with many stakeholders over many months, it became clear that confidentiality remains key to the success of these particular awards which are so important to ALSC members, the publishing industry, and kids around the world. In today’s electronic environment, any recorded comments can quickly and uncontrollably go viral, and the Horn Book editorial is a perfect example of how words (like the revised ALSC guidelines), written with the best of intentions, can be taken out of context, misconstrued, and distributed within seconds. In short, when they’re no longer confidential the writer has no control over how they’re used. Another change over time is that book reviews and their journals are moving further and faster away from being individual print copies in a pile on a desk seen only by collection development librarians and are very much part of the e-environment, quickly turning into database articles, tweets, posts, and marketing material for online shopping. When reviews (which by definition tell the writer’s opinion of the quality of the material–how “distinguished” it is, to use a word appearing in many an ALSC award criteria) go public in these and other ways, and the name on them is that of a committee member, it can be (and has been) easily interpreted as showing the hand of the committee. It also can be (and has been) very possible for committee members to hold off on tweeting, Facebooking, and posting about titles which are eligible for their specific award (and only their specific award) for the short time of their service. An additional product of the Task Force was an expansion of the FAQs, which all award committee members receive, which offer guidance and support for how to talk about and promote books during award committee service, because it is extremely important, as the FAQs say, to “obtain a variety of critical opinions about books under consideration throughout the year,” and that can most definitely be done “without violating confidentiality guidelines.” Please feel free to take a look at our Task Force’s documents, which are available on ALA Connect with no log-in necessary: The Final Report of the Task Force to the ALSC Board of Directors The proposed revised policy itself The proposed revised FAQs to explain the guidelines, provide concrete examples, and support book discussion and conversation These are simply taking the guidelines which have been in place for many, many years, applying them to today’s digital reality, and clarifying the gray areas so that committee members may perform and enjoy both their committee work and their other professional responsibilities, which may or may not include publishing signed reviews, while respecting the integrity and excitement of the most important awards for children’s books and media. Our guest blogger today is Andrew Medlar. Andrew is the Division Councilor for ALSC, serving on the Executive Committee and Board of Directors, and chaired the ALSC Award Service and Social Media Review Task Force in 2013. If you’d like to write a guest post for the ALSC Blog, please contact Mary Voors, ALSC Blog manager, at alscblog@gmail.com. ALSC Board, award service, caldecott award, newbery award Teens, Technology, and Literacy Author Panel #alaac14 In Response to the Award Committee Conversation #alaac14 Sharon McQueen Thanks very much for this blog post, Andrew, and for the links to the Task Force’s documents. Given the following from the proposed revised policy document “Members should not engage in any print or electronic communication outside of the committee regarding eligible titles during their term of service, although they may verbally express their personal opinions regarding eligible titles at any time.” as well as the following from the proposed revised FAQs “…committee members should not use social media or electronic forms of communication in relation to eligible titles during their term of service.” it would seem that youth services/materials professors and adjuncts who teach online courses for ALA accredited programs, would be prohibited from covering some current materials in their courses. Would this be the case?	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2870
__label__cc	0.602452	0.397548	WOMEN: GENDER DIVERSITY AND EQUALITY How I left my military career to go corporate By Melanie Golladay, Manager, Accenture Operations, Tampa I’d like to share my personal story with you in the hopes that it will inspire and help you on your journey. After graduating from Auburn University on a full scholarship, I was commissioned as an Officer in the US Air Force, where I served time on active duty. I was shipped off to San Antonio and spent nearly five years in financial management before deciding to leave. Some might think leaving the military would be an easy choice, but I was faced with constant adversity, negativity and doubt. Around every corner someone was telling me I was either “throwing away a great career,” that “I would never find a job in this economy,” or that I was “quitting,” even after I had faithfully served more than my required time. I decided to make the change because I wanted a new challenge, and while I loved aspects of the military, which is why I am still serving in the Reserves today, I really wanted a little more control to define my career and make my own career choices. There are good reasons for it, but the military, at times, can be narrow with your career options. Needless to say, it was a very difficult last year as Captain Golladay. In the end it wasn’t an easy decision and it certainly wasn’t comfortable, but I did it. I found a great job immediately after leaving the military but soon realized that it was not where I saw myself learning and growing long term. So, again, I started to look. I made a connection on LinkedIn with Chris Green at Accenture, a global professional services company, to inquire about military hiring programs. We kept in touch for several months before something that was right for me came up. I went through the recruitment process and, in April 2014, was offered a solution architect role. They recognized my unique background and the potential it could bring to my role. The demanding military culture had also prepared me well for performing in Accenture’s culture of excellence. The company is supportive of Reservists, and the people I meet at Accenture think it is very cool that I do the Reserves as well. In my first role, I got an amazing opportunity to work on a proposed plan for a very large deal. It forced me to learn and grow and push my limits. Most importantly, I was empowered to do something really important, while being supported 110 percent along the way by my career counselor and teammates. It was such a great introduction to the organization’s culture, and I really cannot wait to see what else is in store! DOWNLOAD VIDEO TRANSCRIPT (PDF) Topics highlighted Careers at Accenture Progressive Workplace Empowering innovation in Dublin's silicon docks Julie Spillane, managing director, helps future generations—and adults—use technology for creative growth and solutions. The secrets of sports that you can apply to your career The parallels between a professional workplace and a competitive athletic world are uncanny, says Pamela Evans, senior analyst. Contact Us Find a Location	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2874
__label__wiki	0.938088	0.938088	The Art Newspaper When the Stars Align: Miró and Calder to shine in joint New York shows Joan Miró, L’oiseau-migrateur (The Migratory Bird) (1941), from a private collection, and Alexander Calder, Constellation Mobile (1943), wood, wire, string, and paint (Images: © 2016 Successió Miró and © 2016 Calder Foundation, New York / Artists Rights Society, (ARS), New York) Acquavella and Pace are joining forces to present a thematic, two-gallery show of “constellation” works by Joan Miró and Alexander Calder next April, the first time that these roughly contemporaneous bodies of work will be brought together. The pairing springs from the abiding friendship between the two artists and the remarkably reciprocal works they produced on their respective continents—Europe and the US—in the late years of the Second World War. Dubbed “constellations” by the exhibiting galleries, both groups—wooden sculptures and mobiles by Calder, most made by 1943, and the small gouaches on paper by Miró, from 1940-41—demonstrate the two artists simultaneously exploring notions of interconnectedness in their unique formal languages and materials. “This is what Einstein referred to as ‘spooky action at a distance’”, says Pace president Marc Glimcher. “These bodies of work are networked. Somehow both of them felt like that [historical] moment called for making it discrete.” The two artists met in Paris in 1928 when Calder, 30, visited Miró, 35, in his Montmartre studio. Although the artists’ basic affinities in colour and biomorphism are obvious, the two rarely, if ever, discussed art, preferring more bacchanalian pursuits like drinking. Miró, who had learned how to box from Ernest Hemingway, in turn taught Calder; Calder taught Miró how to dance. One of Calder’s first wire portraits was of the Catalonian artist. The two maintained ties despite the American artist’s return to the US in 1938, and Calder was instrumental in bringing Miró and his family to New York after the war. However, according to Eleanor Acquavella, “they couldn’t really communicate during that time, which ironically is when these works were done”. Of Miró’s 23 constellations, at least 20 will be shown at Acquavella, which has secured loans from private collectors as well as major institutions. The last time they were exhibited as a group was at the Museum of Modern Art in 1994. Pace, for its part, has so far sourced around 40 of the 60-odd works by Calder to display at its 57th Street location, most of which are held in museum collections due to their extreme fragility. “The list of museums who are committed to this show is extraordinary,” says Nick Acquavella. “That’s probably more a testament to the generation before us, but we certainly plan on keeping that strong working relationship”. Formally, both bodies of work were determined by the war. After aluminium was rationed for military purposes, Calder turned to wood, resulting in this rare series of freestanding kinetic sculptures and mobiles. Miró’s pieces measure just 18 by 15 inches because, “knowing that he might have to be on the move at any moment, they had to be portable”, says Eleanor. “And yet they are lyrical, happy, optimistic works.” The two dynastic galleries are the latest blue-chip players to leverage their connections for a focused—and non-selling—show of Modern masters. Why? In part, because they can; also, others do not. The relatively small scale of the show, coupled with daunting shipping and insurance requirements, make it an unattractive proposition for museums, Glimcher says. Despite the often cutthroat nature of the business, he adds, cooperation between dealers is and has always been necessary to move rare objects from one place to another. “You can compete with someone, but you can also work with them”, adds Nick. The bottom line, in Glimcher’s mind? “It is the greatest pleasure to be able to do these kind of shows”, he says. “Nothing looks better together than a Miró and a Calder”. View all Exhibitions Artists In collaboration with the Pace Gallery April 20 – May 26, 2017	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2876
__label__cc	0.571373	0.428627	TOPICS:Child AbuseCorruptionJeffrey EpsteinMichael Snyder It won’t just be Jeffrey Epstein that will be on trial in the months ahead. As this scandal unfolds, the entire U.S. legal system will be on trial, and if justice does not prevail many Americans will lose faith in the system for good. And of course the rest of the world will be watching, too, and so what are they supposed to think about us if we are not able to put Epstein and all of his dirty friends in prison? As I detailed in part three of this series, the evidence against Jeffrey Epstein and his partners in crime is mounting. If Jeffrey Epstein is put behind bars that will be a step in the right direction, but it will not nearly be enough. At this point it is exceedingly clear to everyone in America that many of Epstein’s famous friends also regularly had sex with underage girls, and they must be held accountable. In my most recent book I talked about how fundamentally broken our current legal system is, but if federal prosecutors are able to nail Epstein and all of his elite friends that were involved in these sex crimes, I might have to reconsider my position. However, at this point I am not holding my breath. Let me try to explain why. As I have already discussed in this series, one of Epstein’s closest friends during the heyday of “the Lolita Express” was Bill Clinton. And it turns out that the federal judge that will be presiding over Epstein’s case was appointed to his position by Clinton in 1998… Richard Berman was appointed by Bill Clinton in 1998. He presided over Dinesh D’Souza’s case where D’Souza was convicted of re-imbursing friends to evade campaign contribution limits in a New York election. Meanwhile, disgraced former FBI director James Comey’s daughter Maurene is one of the prosecutors in the case. So will Berman recuse himself? He should, but I doubt that it will actually happen. Also, the fact that James Comey’s daughter is one of the prosecutors is a major red flag. I have a gnawing suspicion that something is up, and hopefully I am wrong. But on a positive note, it was encouraging to see prosecutors call for anyone that has “information about Epstein’s conduct to come forward”… U.S. prosecutors on Monday encouraged anyone with information about Epstein’s conduct to come forward, not just potential victims. To the socialites, celebrities and politicians who attended lavish parties at Epstein’s homes in Manhattan or Palm Beach in the early 2000s or hitched rides on his private jet nicknamed the “Lolita Express” by the tabloids the request carried a clear message: Come talk to us before we seek you out. And I was also greatly encouraged by the fact that the feds have already announced that more of Epstein’s accusers have already come forward since his arrest… In the hours since Mr. Epstein’s arrest, prosecutors said, several other women contacted them with complaints about Mr. Epstein. Some of those accusers had never previously spoken to the government, prosecutors said. Several of Mr. Epstein’s accusers said they were relieved that authorities seemed to be taking their complaints seriously after many years. Nailing Epstein should be pretty easy, and things got even easier for prosecutors after a “treasure trove” of photographic evidence was found during a raid on Epstein’s New York home. The tricky part will be nailing Epstein’s famous friends. In the old days he regularly partied with some of the biggest names in America, and going after them will not be easy. But it must be done, because the reputation of our entire nation is at stake. If the rich and famous can sexually abuse underage girls for years and get away with it, how are any of us supposed to have faith in the system? Declare Your Independence! Profit outside the rigged system! Protect yourself from tyranny and economic collapse. Learn to live free and spread peace! Counter Markets Newsletter - Trends & Strategies for Maximum Freedom Claim Your FREE Issue Today! According to Miami Herald reporter Julie Brown, Epstein and his dirty friends liked to prey on young girls who were as vulnerable as possible… In a November investigation led by Miami Herald reporter Julie Brown, about 80 victims were identified as having been abused by Epstein from 2001 to 2006. The Herald spoke with eight of the accusers. It found: Most of the girls came from disadvantaged families, single-parent homes or foster care. Some had experienced troubles that belied their ages: They had parents and friends who committed suicide; mothers abused by husbands and boyfriends; fathers who molested and beat them. One girl had watched her stepfather strangle her 8-year-old stepbrother, according to court records obtained by the Herald. Many of the girls were one step away from homelessness. Whoever was involved in sexually abusing these vulnerable young girls needs to go to prison. And if it was up to me, their punishment would be a lot worse than that. Many people out there seem to be convinced that there is no way that these sexual predators will get away this time. Personally, I am not so sure. They have the money to hire the best lawyers in the entire country, and we can already see evidence that an effort is being made to protect certain individuals. For example, a Wikipedia entry for Jeffrey Epstein was suspiciously altered on Sunday… The sentence, “Epstein flew Bill Clinton, Kevin Spacey, and Chris Tucker to Africa in his private jet. Flight records show Bill Clinton flew on Epstein’s plane 26 times,” was removed Sunday. The edit was made one day before Bill Clinton denied flying on the jet so often, and instead, said he only flew on it four times. Meanwhile, a sentence mentioning the fact Epstein “attended parties” with Donald Trump was left unaltered. We shall see how this drama plays out in the months ahead, but anything short of putting all these perverts in prison is going to be a defeat. The sick and evil behavior of the elite is finally being revealed for all the world to see, and the things that we will learn as more evidence comes out will likely shock all of us. As Michelle Goldberg has aptly noted, we are about to discover “how rotten our rulers really are”… In a detention memo submitted on Monday, federal prosecutors outlined some of the evidence seized from a search of Epstein’s house on Saturday night. It included hundreds — possibly thousands — of sexually suggestive photographs of girls who appear underage, as well as hand-labeled compact discs with titles like “Girl pics nude,” and, with the names redacted, “Young [Name] + [Name].” It seems, at first, astonishingly reckless for Epstein not just to allegedly keep such material, but to keep it in Manhattan, instead of, say, on his private Caribbean island. Maybe, however, it’s simply a sign of how protected he felt. “In my mind there has always been this huge question mark: What is Jeffrey Epstein’s leverage?” Ward said. If we find out, we’ll know just how rotten our rulers really are. I would really like to believe that all of the bad guys are going to go to prison, but I have seen our legal system fail so many times before. Perhaps that is the case that will finally turn things around. Perhaps we will finally see some of the biggest names in America brought to justice. The whole world is watching, and we cannot afford to get this one wrong. Be the first to comment on "Major Red Flags Are Causing Many To Doubt Whether Justice Will Be Done In The Jeffrey Epstein Sex Scandal"	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2877
__label__cc	0.662082	0.337918	New Storage Facility Opens In Kabul Airport 5% Of Government Contracts Allocated For Afghan Women First Ever Solar Power Plant Inaugurated in Energy-Starved Kandahar Province Kabul’s German-supported schools start a new admission process 01 Feb, 2017 by Wadsam German-supported schools in Kabul: the Amani boys’ school, the Lycée Jamhuriat and the Aishe-e Durani girls’ school, started their admission process for future students. During the upcoming eight days 190 fourth grade applicants will be assessed through a computer-based test. The new system, developed with the support of the Afghan-German Cooperation, uses objective criteria based on international standards. The new admission process aims at finding the most promising and talented children from the entire country. It tests the children’s intelligence, working memory and problem-solving skills without requiring prior reading or writing skills. The purpose of this is to give all students the same chances, independent of their former education. “I appreciate the test as it helps to find the most talented children who will get a chance to receive education from a very good school. This transparent approach motivates the children to focus on their studies and perform well,” said Ghulam Dastagir, the father of one of the applicants. Paul Glause, the head of the program supporting these schools, said: “Education paves the way for a better future. We are very happy that this newly developed admission system, objective criteria will decide on the children’s admission to these high-quality schools. Every child now has a fair chance to be admitted – no matter the social or educational background.” The children who pass the test will receive high quality education in one of the three German-supported schools in Kabul. The Lycée Jamhuriat as well as the Aishe-e Durani and Amani school are currently implementing reforms in order to further improve teaching quality. Teachers and support staff have received special training, including courses on various teaching methods for various subjects such as mathematics, informatics, English and German. Well-equipped laboratories and gyms are now available in all three schools. Further improvements, such as all-day schooling, the extension of teaching weeks from 26 to 38 hours a week and a heating system that will allow students to attend school throughout the entire year, are planned to be implemented this year. All restructuring efforts comply with the Afghan Ministry of Education’s National Education Strategic Plan III. To plan and implement the necessary changes, the German programme for strengthening the aforementioned schools has provided technical and financial support. The Afghan-German Cooperation’s project Strengthening of German-supported Schools in Kabul (SGS) aims at improving the overall quality of education. For this purpose, three secondary schools in Kabul are undergoing reforms to become model schools: the Amani boys’ school, the Lycée Jamhuriat and the Aishe-e Durani girls’ school. They receive support in improving their facilities and curricula as well as in enhancing teachers’ skills. In the future, a newly established organisation, the Afghan Education for Excellence Organization (AEFEO), will assume this responsibility. Wadsam More articles by Wadsam Afghan schoolsAFghanistan educationGerman supported schools in KabulKabul schools Why poor quality materials are not prevented from entering Afghanistan? Afghanistan National Standardization Authority (ANSA) said that most of consumer products entering Afghanistan are non-standard. The officials link the health Etisalat Granted Afghanistan's First 3G Licence Private telecom company Etisalat Afghanistan will launch Afghanistan’s first 3G network after signing an agreement with the Afghan government on India exempts Afghanistan’s fruits exports from customs duty The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI) announced on Wednesday that the Indian government has pledged to exempt Afghanistan Time limit is exhausted. Please reload the CAPTCHA. × one = one	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2879
__label__wiki	0.521615	0.521615	Home Venezuela Won the First Round Venezuela Won the First Round Venezuela Won the First Round Against the Empire http://manuelyepe.wordpress.com/ Translated and edited by Walter Lippmann. The clash between Venezuela and the Empire last weekend ended with a humiliating defeat for Elliott Abrams, the alleged designer of the operation. What the neocons initially planned may never be known, but what is known is that they could not culminate in an invasion or another false flag operation. The most notable facet of the confrontation, according to the most objective international experts and observers, has been the scant effect that Anglo-Zionist propaganda had inside Venezuela. Although certainly a few senior officers and Venezuelan soldiers betrayed their country by uniting with the enemy, the overwhelming majority of the Venezuelan military remained faithful to the Constitution and their homeland. President Maduro and his government successfully carried out a strategy that combined roadblocks, a musical concert on the Venezuelan side, and the minimal – but effective – use of riot police to keep the border closed and order throughout the homeland. Most notably, the “unidentified snipers” did not seem to shoot on both sides (the Empire’s favorite tactic to justify its interventions). Outside Venezuelan national territory, this first confrontation was also a defeat for the Empire. Not only because most countries in the world refused to recognize Washington’s puppet, but because the level of rejection of a possible invasion proved remarkably intense, and the Internet and the blogosphere overwhelmingly opposed U.S. intervention. This situation created many internal political tensions in several Latin American countries whose public opinion is firmly opposed to any form of U.S. interference in Latin America, even if not with the historic oligarchy. The leaders of the Empire and their puppets do not hide the fact that their goal is to overthrow the constitutional government and to replace it with the kind of regime that Washington seems to have been able to impose on Colombia. Pompeo, Abrams, Pence, Elliot Abrams and Marco Rubio were particularly hysterical in their threats, although the oligarchies (not so the peoples) of the “Lima Group” countries submissively abided by them. Certain American politicians resorted to their usual childish language for threats in situations of gravity as an obvious show of contempt for their own population. For those bewildered because adult politicians used the language. No one should be surprised when they claim that Maduro is a “new Hitler” who commits a “genocide” against his own people. Or that he is accused of using “chemical weapons”. Last weekend’s military defeat of Venezuela’s self-appointed interim president, Juan Guaidó, has been publicly reproached by U.S. Vice President Mike Pence. The White House has attempted to evade responsibility for what its espionage and subversion agencies have been unable to achieve. They’d saught the adherence of an emblematic number of traitors from the Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) to the action of the alleged coup plotters, and failed to get it. Pence reproached the supposed interim president of Venezuela for the failures suffered after his recognition last January 23, actions called to justify the military intervention designed by Washington. Their main demand was against the support of the FANB for the legitimate president, Nicolás Maduro. Guaidó had promised the U.S. government that if the majority of world leaders recognized him as president of Venezuela, at least half of the FANB officers would defect, which did not even remotely happen. The U.S. official also questioned the uncommitted attitude of Venezuelan millionaires abroad who “were expected a more determined contribution of money to finance the bribery of police, military and politicians and their adherence to the Guaidó sphere, which did not happen either. Important international decision-making centers allied to the Trump regime have warned that the Venezuelan opposition “could lose the momentum” that the U.S. supposedly provided with the sudden appearance of the puppet Guaidó. He certainly has not yet found territory to govern and perhaps would have to do so from Colombia or another nation whose government is not ashamed to cede a piece of its sovereignty to the United States. March 4, 2019. This article may be reproduced by citing the newspaper POR ESTO as the source. Mar 7, 2019 Walter Lippmann Venezuela ganó el primer round al imperio 4 months ago Manuel E. YepeVenezuela0 Cuba Debuts "Gay-Friendly" ConstitutionWalter Lippmann at Home Venezuela Has Been Strengthened A FORECAST OF DONALD TRUMP’S FIASCO IN VENEZUELA	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2881
__label__cc	0.719222	0.280778	Georgia Father Drowns While Saving Eight-Year-Old Daughter From Rip Current A Georgia father drowned off the coast of Florida while he attempted to rescue his eight-year-old daughter who got trapped in a strong rip current. Thomas Zakrewski was with his wife and daughter on Upper Captiva Island, which sits off the coast near Fort Meyers, when the young girl got pulled into the Gulf of Mexico by the rip current. Zakrewski jumped into the water to try to pull the girl back to the shore. When Zakrewski's wife, who had walked ahead of her husband and daughter, realized what happened, she jumped into the water as well. Zakrewski was able to get his daughter to her mother and both mother and daughter two swam safely back to the shore. Zakrewski was unable to battle the strong current and got pulled underneath the water. "Immediately, the mother jumped into the water, and the father managed to pass the child to her," the Lee County Sheriff's Department said in a statement. "Unfortunately, the father continued to struggle and disappeared into the water." Rescue teams from the U.S. Coast Guard, the Lee County Sheriff's Department, and the Upper Captiva Island Fire Department searched the water desperately trying to locate the 46-year-old. They had to deal with rough water and high winds and spent nearly five hours combing the shore for any sign of Zakrewski. Rescuers found his body about a half-mile from where he disappeared. Officials say there was a rip current warning in the area at the time due to a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico. The depression has since strengthened into a tropical storm. Forecasters are predicting it will become a hurricane before making landfall on the coast of Louisiana this weekend.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2883
__label__wiki	0.986696	0.986696	WisinDaddy YankeeEnrique IglesiasJennifer LopezPitbullPrince RoyceJesse & JoyRomeo SantosJ BalvinYandelSean PaulMarc AnthonyJoey MontanaDon OmarNicky JamFarrukoFanny LuChino & NachoZion & LennoxDescemer BuenoLeslie GraceTito El BambinoLaura PausiniAlexis & FidoOsmani GarcíaAnahíDash Radio's Best of 2016Billboard Latin Music Awards 2015Billboard Latin Music Awards 2016Latin Grammy Awards 2016Best of Latin Music 2016Billboard Latin Music Awards 2017New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2017One Voice: Somos Live! A Concert For Disaster ReliefLatin American Music Awards 2017Best of Latin Music 2017Best New Music People's Choice Awards 2017 The 43rd People's Choice Awards, honoring the best in popular culture for 2016, were held on January 18, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, and were broadcast live on CBS. The ceremony was hosted by Joel McHale. On November 15, 2016, the nominees were announced. The movie Captain America: Civil War received the most nominations of the year with seven. The TV series Grey’s Anatomy and actor Kevin Hart each received five nominations and singer, Britney Spears and Zootopia received four nominations. The biggest winner of the evening was Spears, who won a total of four awards, and Ellen DeGeneres, who won three and became the most awarded person in the show's history. Bad Moms is a 2016 American comedy film directed and written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. Deadpool is a 2016 American superhero comedy film directed by Tim Miller and written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. Actor, producer, professional wrestler bornMay 2, 1972 Hayward, California, U.S. Jamshedpur, Bihar, India Photos - Arrivals (1)122 Arrivals (1) Roaming Show (1) Press Room (1) Joel Edward McHale (born November 20, 1971)[2] is an American comedian, actor, writer, television producer, and television host. He is known for hosting The Soup and portraying Jeff Winger on the NBC/Yahoo! sitcom Community. He has appeared in such films as Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (2011) and Ted (2012). He currently stars in the CBS sitcom The Great Indoors. Most Nominations Kevin Darnell Hart[1] (born July 6, 1979)[2] is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Hart began his career by winning several amateur comedy competitions at clubs throughout New England, culminating in his first real break in 2000 when he was cast by Judd Apatow for a recurring role on the TV series Undeclared. The series lasted only one season, but he soon landed other roles in movies like Paper Soldiers (2002), Scary Movie 3 (2003), Soul Plane (2004), In the Mix (2005) and Little Fockers (2010). Hart's comedic reputation continued to grow with the release of his first stand-up album I'm a Grown Little Man (2008), and performances in the films Think Like a Man (2012), Grudge Match (2013), Ride Along (2014), About Last Night (2014) and Get Hard (2015). He also released four more comedy albums, Seriously Funny in 2010, Laugh at My Pain in 2011, Let Me Explain in 2013, and What Now? in 2016. In 2015, Time Magazine named Hart one of the 100 most influential people in the world on the annual Time 100 list.[3] He currently stars as himself in the lead role of Real Husbands of Hollywood.[4] Performers2 Favorite Movie Nominees5 Favorite Action Movie Nominees5 Favorite Comedic Movie Nominees5 Favorite Dramatic Movie Nominees5 Favorite Movie Actress Nominees5 Favorite Movie Actor Nominees5 Favorite Action Movie Actress Nominees5 Favorite Action Movie Actor Nominees4 Favorite Comedic Movie Actress Nominees5 Favorite Comedic Movie Actor Nominees5 Favorite Dramatic Movie Actress Nominees5 Favorite Dramatic Movie Actor Nominees5 Favorite Animated Movie Voice Nominees5 Favorite Family Movie Nominees5 Favorite Thriller Movie Nominees4 Favorite Movie Icon Nominees5 Favorite TV Show Nominees5 Favorite Network TV Comedy Nominees5 Favorite Network TV Drama Nominees5 Favorite Network TV Sci-Fi/Fantasy Nominees5 Favorite Cable TV Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show Nominees5 Favorite TV Crime Drama Nominees5 Favorite Comedic TV Actress Nominees5 Favorite Comedic TV Actor Nominees5 Favorite Dramatic TV Actress Nominees5 Favorite Dramatic TV Actor Nominees4 Favorite TV Crime Drama Actress Nominees5 Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor Nominees5 Favorite Cable TV Drama Nominees5 Favorite Cable TV Comedy Nominees4 Favorite Cable TV Actress Nominees5 Favorite Cable TV Actor Nominees5 Favorite Premium Drama Series Nominees5 Favorite Premium Comedy Series Nominees5 Favorite Premium Sci-Fi/Fantasy Series Nominees5 Favorite Premium Series Actress Nominees5 Favorite Premium Series Actor Nominees5 Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress Nominees5 Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actor Nominees5 Favorite Competition TV Show Nominees5 Favorite Daytime TV Host Nominees5 Favorite Daytime Talk Show Hosting Team Nominees5 Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host Nominees5 Favorite Actress In A New TV Series Nominees5 Favorite Actor In A New TV Series Nominees5 Favorite Animated TV Show Nominees5 Favorite New TV Comedy Nominees4 Favorite New TV Drama Nominees2 Favorite Female Singer Nominees5 Favorite Male Singer Nominees4 Favorite Group Nominees5 Favorite Breakout Artist Nominees5 Favorite Female Country Artist Nominees5 Favorite Male Country Artist Nominees5 Favorite Country Group Nominees5 Favorite Pop Artist Nominees5 Favorite Hip-Hop Artist Nominees5 Favorite R&B Artist Nominees5 Favorite Song Nominees5 Favorite Album Nominees4 Favorite Social Media Celebrity Nominees5 Favorite Social Media Star Nominees2 Favorite YouTube Star Nominees5 CBS.com's Favorite Digital Obsession Nominees4 Microsoft Theater The Microsoft Theater (formerly Nokia Theatre L.A. Live) is a music and theatre venue in downtown Los Angeles, California at L.A. Live. The theatre auditorium seats 7,100 and holds one of the largest indoor stages in the United States. Spotify - Featured Albums7 Spotify - Featured Tracks5 Jimmy Fallon Is ‘Honored’ After Winning Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host At People’s Choice Awards 2017 “Thanks so much to @peopleschoice and everyone who voted!” tweeted Fallon. “Honored to be named your Favorite Late Night Host!” Fallon’s win marks his fifth nomination and fourth win in as choice Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host, with his ... Peoples’ Choice Awards 2017 Red Carpet Rundown Alright darlings, let’s put these poor celebrities to bed. They’ve been waiting DAYS for our loving but harsh judgment. Let’s give it to them, kittens. Let’s give it them all. We automatically want to say “Yuck,” but this is actually fairly ... State Fair launches people’s choice award for new food The Florida State Fair begins its third annual People’s Choice Fare Favorite Awards on Monday. Expanding beyond the burger creations from the first two competitions, this year’s contest will involve a variety of new and unusual fair concoctions ... JLo, Tom Hanks walk People's Choice red carpet Jennifer Lopez and Tom Hanks were among the Hollywood stars on the red carpet at the People's Choice Awards 2017. Rough cut (no reporter narration). Outlander beats Game of Thrones at the People’s Choice Awards The odd thing here is that the categories for these awards are really specific, which actually boils down the competition three to four times as much, and yet Game of Thrones somehow lost. The show somehow didn’t make it to the Favorite TV Show category ... Must Have Fashion Moments: People’s Choice Awards 2017 All events have their standouts when it comes to fashion the People’s Choice Awards 2017 was no exception. Here are our top 5 picks for “Must Have It Moments”. (01/18/2017 – People’s Choice Awards 2017 – Arrivals – Microsoft Theater ... People's Choice Awards Host Likens Captain America: Civil War To Presidential Election It only took a mere moment or two before actor Joel McHale got political in his opening monologue while hosting this year’s People’s Choice Awards. As he began his monologue, McHale not only seemingly got jabs in at both of the candidates in this year ... Why Ellen DeGeneres' People's Choice Awards Are so Important Last night during the People's Choice Awards, history was made. And no, we don't mean Fifth Harmony walking the red carpet without their fifth member or Deadpool and Captain America: Civil War going head-to-head in the Favorite Movie category. But in the ... What Johnny Depp's Win At The People's Choice Award Means It's back to business as usual for Johnny Depp. In his line of work, that means charming Hollywood, collecting awards, and winning the love of fans. The actor accomplished all three when he picked up his 14th People's Choice Award in Los Angeles on ... People's Choice Awards: Priyanka thanks Quantico's cast and crew Priyanka Chopra, who recently won the favourite actress trophy in a drama series for "Quantico" at the Peoples Choice Awards, thanked the "incredible" cast and crew of the show in a special Instagram post. This was Priyanka's second People's Choice Award ... Johnny Depp Thanks Fans During 2017 People’s Choice Awards Speech - Us Weekly “I came here for one reason tonight and one reason only — I love you too, kid, thanks. I came here for you, the people who through whatever good times or bad, you know, have stood by me, trusted me. Thank you,” a somewhat solemn Depp told the crowd ... Ellen Breaks People’s Choice Awards Record With Most Wins Ellen Degeneres won three People’s Choice Awards bringing her lifetime total to 20 — a People’s Choice Awards record. See her speech above. “This is amazing,” said DeGeneres in her acceptance speech. “Seventeen, I get it. Eighteen, sure. People's Choice Awards 2017: What you missed The beloved celeb was up for three awards -- favorite talk-show host, favorite animated voice for "Finding Dory" and favorite comedic collaboration with Britney Spears for their "Mall Mischief" segment -- and won all three. DeGeneres has racked up a career ... The People's Choice Awards Red Carpet Packed Enough Style For the Whole Week The only thing that got us through this past hump day? The dresses and jumpsuits that strolled down the red carpet at the People's Choice Awards. It's been quite a stylish season full of ceremonies so far, what with the glamour at the Golden Globes and the ... Priyanka thanks 'Quantico' crew for People's Choice Award Internationally acclaimed Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, who won the Favourite Dramatic TV Actress award at the People's Choice Awards 2017, has dedicated the honour to the cast and crew of her "Quantico" popular drama thriller TV series. "This award ... Inside the People's Choice Awards 2017 She took home the People's Choice Award for Favourite Dramatic Movie Actress for her role in The Shallows. Comedian and 17-time PCA victor Ellen DeGeneres has the potential to make history tonight should she take out the top spot in any of the three ... People’s Choice Award winner Priyanka Chopra has a message for Quantico family Internationally acclaimed Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra, who won the Favourite Dramatic TV Actress award at the People’s Choice Awards 2017, has dedicated the honour to the cast and crew of Quantico. “This award would not be possible without this ... Ellen DeGeneres popularity demonstrated with a record number of People's Choice Awards January 19, 2017 —With another three awards in 2017, actor Ellen DeGeneres set a new record for total People’s Choice Awards, showing her continued popularity with the public after contributing to a shift in acceptance of LGBT issues. This year, Ms ... Photos: The good, the bad, and the ugly of People’s Choice Awards 2017 Ellen DeGeneres is officially the peopliest person, the “awardiest awardee,” in People’s Choice Awards history, after the daytime host swept the three awards she was nominated for at the 2017 edition, taking her tally to a staggering 20 wins. Priyanka dedicates People's Choice Award to Quantico crew Los Angeles: Internationally acclaimed Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra, who won the Favourite Dramatic TV Actress award at the People's Choice Awards 2017, has dedicated the honour to the cast and crew of her "Quantico" popular drama thriller TV series. Highlights from the People’s Choice Awards See the red-carpet looks and top performers at the 2017 ceremony at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Jan. 18, 2017 Jennifer Lopez arrives for the awards show at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Nina Prommer/European Pressphoto Agency ICYMI: Here’s the 2017 People’s Choice Award Winners Hosted by Joel McHale at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, the 43rd Annual People’s Choice Awards turned out to be an epic night of sorts for some of Hollywood’s biggest and brightest stars. Ellen Degeneres made history Wednesday night when she was ... People’s Choice Awards 2017: Winners List With the official curtain drop at the award declaration for the 43rd People's Choice Awards 2017, it's time to take a look at the winners. Ellen DeGeneres created history at the mega event having won the highest number of People's Choice Awards ever. The Best (and Worst) Beauty Looks at the 2017 People's Choice Awards Bold brows, smoky shadow and textured hair. We only just finished oohing and ahhing at all the beauty looks from the Golden Globes, and now there's another red carpet event for our perusal: this week's People's Choice Awards. As a whole, I didn't feel the ... Blake Shelton was another double victor, making history as the first country act ever to win a People's Choice favourite album award and landing the favourite male country artist prize. Although there's plenty of awards shows to watch, the People's Choice ... People's Choice Awards: Blake Shelton unveils next single in show rehearsal People's Choice Awards: Blake Shelton unveils next single in show rehearsal Blake Shelton is nominated for three trophies at the People's Choice Awards, which airs 8 p.m. Wednesday on CBS. Check out this story on Tennessean.com: http://tnne.ws/2k1j3Ze PHOTOS: Fashion at the People's Choice Awards The people have spoken: The People's Choice Awards took place Wednesday in Los Angeles, honoring audiences' favorites in music, movies and television. The favorite movie of the year was Finding Dory starring Ellen DeGeneres. DeGeneres had a big night ... Tyler Perry Accepts The Award For Favorite Humanitarian At The 2017 People's Choice Awards! See His Moving Speech HERE! Tyler Perry makes so many movies we don't know how he finds time to squeeze in so much charity!! But the actor/director/producer has always found a way to give to those in need, and on Wednesday night the People's Choice Awards gave back to him by honoring ... People's Choice Awards 2017: The Complete Winners List The 43rd People's Choice Awards kicked off Wednesday at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, honoring the year's best in pop culture. Hosted by Joel McHale, the awards show brought out Hollywood's brightest stars -- from Tom Hanks to Kristen Bell and Dax ... People's Choice Awards: Fan Favorites in Movies, Music & TV - PeoplesChoice.com http://www.peopleschoice.com/ People's Choice (@peopleschoice) \| Twitter https://twitter.com/peopleschoice/ People's Choice Awards (@peopleschoice) • Instagram photos and videos https://www.instagram.com/peopleschoice/ People's Choice Awards \| Facebook https://www.facebook.com/peopleschoice/ "People's Choice Awards Nominees 2017 — Full List" 2016 Peoples Choice Awards	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2884
__label__wiki	0.58082	0.58082	You are here: SAU Home / News / Academics / College of Liberal & Performing Arts / Cashae Louden accepted to Pratt Institute Cashae Louden accepted to Pratt Institute By Su-Ann Tan Southern Arkansas University senior Cashae Louden’s dream of continuing her education has become a reality with an acceptance and scholarship to the acclaimed Pratt Institute of Brooklyn, New York. As a future student of the large liberal performing arts university, Louden will be awarded a $6,000 semi-renewable scholarship. At Pratt she will undergo a vigorous three-semester graduate Media Studies program with a special interest in the Global Media interactive selection. “I’m incredibly excited!” Louden said in anticipation for the move to New York. “This is going to change my life. Its made my dream real, and even though I’ll be completely out of my element and further away from my family, I’m looking forward to investing into this part of my life.” In building her educational foundation, Louden credits her SAU Mass Media professor and the social network she has developed here at SAU. “The people I’ve met at SAU have prepped me for this transition,” Louden said. “Mr. (James) Reppert has taught me how to be steadfast in my opinions and beliefs, while the friends I have made have done nothing but support and encourage me throughout the process.” For her post-graduation plans, the Little Rock, Arkansas, native wants to use her degree from SAU and experience at the Pratt Institute to expand her personal understanding of diversity. “I want to know things outside of the American viewpoint and standard. I want to be able to understand different races, religion, and opinions. I want to cross into international markets and experience what its like. That would be very rewarding and motivational.” About Pratt Institute: With a 25-acre campus in Brooklyn, a creative hub in the midst of a renaissance, Pratt is a living lab of craft and culture. Pratt’s programs are consistently ranked among the best in the country, and its faculty and alumni include the most renowned artists, designers, and scholars in their fields. Its interdisciplinary curriculum promotes collaborative and creative strategies for design thinking and provides students with unparalleled training facilities.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2886
__label__cc	0.528582	0.471418	Provided by: S.Borisov/Shutterstock.com Europe Germany Cologne Do & See (13) Cafes (11) It is said that natives of Cologne who are living elsewhere always feel homesick, and visitors to this beautiful city will soon understand why. Germany’s oldest metropolis, which, of course, gave its name to the Eau de Cologne, offers a mix of magnificent and romantic churches, cutting-edge modern architecture, busy shopping streets and world-famous museums. There is much to do and see in Cologne, and with all the frequent flights and transportation options, getting here has never been easier. Population: 1,061 (2016) Currency: 1 Euro = 100 cents Emergency numbers: 110 Police 112 Fire brigade 112 Ambulance Newspapers: Express Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger Opening hours: Department stores and large shops open from around 10.00 to 20.00 from Monday to Friday and on Saturdays from 10.00 to 18.00 (larger shops until 20.00). Supermarkets and food shops often open at 08.00. Most of the shops are closed on Sundays. Tourist information: KölnTourismus GmbH Address: Kardinal-Höffner-Platz 1 Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9.00 - 20.00, Sun and Public Holidays 10.00 - 17.00 Section in Cologne Cologne's Old Town is the historical centre of the city. Highlights of this area include the Cathedral, the Roman Praetorium, the twelve Romanesque churches of Cologne and the City Hall, which is the oldest building of this kind in all Germany. Sightseeing can be even more exciting if you go on a boat tour, a cable car or a building with a panoramic view of the city. Nature lovers can find refuge in one of the city's parks, at the Botanical Garden or at the zoo. Cologne Zoo Cologne Zoo houses more than 750 different species from all over the world, making it a popular excursion destination for families and animal lovers. Some of the animals you can see here are hippos, elephants, penguins, flamingos, baboons and sea lions. If you arrive at the right time, you can also watch the animals being fed. Work on the Cologne Cathedral began in 1248 and it was the largest building project undertaken in the Middle Ages. A large, spacious church was needed to accommodate the influx of pilgrims who came to visit one of the most important shrines in the Catholic Church holding the relics of the three Wise Men. The bones are kept in a casket that is the most precious treasure in the cathedral and a masterpiece of medieval goldsmith’s art. Flora and Botanical Garden This botanical garden housing about 10,000 types of plants dates back to the 19th century and is beautifully located along the Rhine River. The main greenhouse alone, with its great assortment of plants, is worth a visit. It'll feel like you're in South America's rain forest surrounded by its exotic vegetation. Roman Praetorium The Praetorium was once the seat of the Imperial Governor of Cologne. Now this is an underground archaeological area where you can walk around and through tunnels with Roman ruins and learn more about the city's history. It is partly located under the current City Hall. Cologne Opera The Germans have always been big music lovers, and Cologne is no exception. Cologne Opera is the main opera house in the city, featuring modern architecture, a resident opera company and a rich cultural program. It can accommodate up to 1,300 spectators and 100 orchestra musicians. Lanxess Arena is one of Europe's biggest entertainment venues and can accomodate up to 20,000 people. All sorts of events take place here, from concerts to ice-hockey games and big shows. Just check the program on their website to discover what's going on while you're in Cologne. Volksgarten The Volksgarten is popular among visitors and locals alike. This public park is located by a beautiful lake and is a nice place for a peaceful stroll. There are also a playground for children and a beer garden for adults. Hohenzollern Bridge A walk over Hohenzollern Bridge, one of the most famous sights of Cologne, is simply a must-do. This railway and pedestrian bridge was originally built between 1907 and 1911, but had to be reconstructed after a bombing occurred in 1945. From 2008 onward, couples from all over the world have being adorning it with colourful padlocks symbolising their love. Historic Town Hall In Cologne you can visit the oldest town hall of all Germany, with parts of it dating back to the 11th century. It features various architectural styles and sculptures from different periods adorn the surrounding area. The Hansasaal, named after the Hanseatic League, is at the heart of it. Other highlights include the beautiful Renessaince loggia and the Gothic tower, 61 metres high and with bells that toll four times a day. Twelve Romanesque churches The Old Town of Cologne encompasses twelve Romanesque churches that constitute one of the cultural highlights of the city. All of them where originally built in the 12th and 13th century and feature beautiful medieval architecture and art, but each one has different characteristics. Some of the most famous ones are St. Maria im Kapitol, Great St. Martin and St. Gereon. Köln Triangle Panorama One of the most beautiful, picture-postcard views of Cologne Cathedral can be enjoyed from Köln Triangle. The visitor’s platform on the rooftop of this building is at a height of more than 100 meters, providing a breathtaking 360 degrees view of the city. By using the express elevator, you can glide to the top at four meters per second. Boat tours on the Rhine A boat tour on the Rhine is one of the most exciting ways to visit the city. One of the companies that offer this kind of experience is KD, with up to 6 tours a day departing a few steps away from the Cologne Cathedral and the Hohenzollern Bridge. Cologne cable cars Take a cable car over the Rhein and experience Cologne from above. Rides start from Cologne Zoo or from the Rhein Park, so you can visit both in one afternoon.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2889
__label__wiki	0.525256	0.525256	News Bringing Canaletto's Venice to life Bringing Canaletto's Venice to life We delve into the sights of 18th-century Venice through the paintings of Canaletto, and find out how the Wallace Collection are planning to bring them even more vividly to life. During the 17th and 18th centuries, a ‘grand tour’ of the cultural hotspots of western Europe became an essential part of any young aristocrat’s education. Souvenirs were as popular then as they are now – and if money and time are no object, why not bring home scenes from your travels painted by a true master? Venice born and bred, Giovanni Antonio Canal (1697-1798) – better known as Canaletto – first learned his craft under his father, a theatrical scene-painter. His reputation quickly grew, and he was admired by both tourists and fellow artists for his technical skill. A master at capturing the life and colour of the vibrant metropolitan city, from regattas on the Grand Canal to the splendour of St Mark's Square, Canaletto was also adept at cheating scenes to appeal to souvenir-hunters. He often included more tourist attractions than was strictly possible from one viewpoint, while maintaining the impression of topographical accuracy so valued by his customers. By the mid-1730s his paintings were being made into prints, raising his profile even further, and he became the most renowned view-painter, etcher and draughtsman of the 18th century. Canaletto, Venice: the Riva degli Schiavoni, c1740-1745 © The Wallace Collection Canaletto at the Wallace Collection London's Wallace Collection holds a number of stunning views by Canaletto himself and several more from his studio, which possibly comprised only his nephew and father – but the varnish on some of the paintings has now yellowed, dulling their impact, and their frames are in need of conservation. Working in partnership with the Hamilton Kerr Institute at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, the Wallace Collection are hoping to restore each picture to its original splendour. As part of this project, they're currently crowdfunding to be able to clean and conduct research into two of Canaletto’s much-loved 'pendants' (paintings conceived as a pair): Venice: Molo with Santa Maria della Salute and Venice: the Riva degli Schiavoni. Canaletto, Venice: the Molo with Santa Maria della Salute, c1740-1745 Two special paintings Exquisite works of art in their own right, these paintings are also a window onto 18th-century Venice. Canaletto used a traditional Venetian ground of warm red to prepare his canvases which made the colours more vibrant – the paintings are supposed to jump out at viewers in colour and detail. We also know that Canaletto made incisions in wet paint to reinforce architectural structures. Studying these and other artistic techniques using x-rays and infrared reflectography at the Hamilton Kerr Institute will offer unprecedented insight into Canaletto’s practice. To help the Wallace Collection conserve these two works by Canaletto and enable the most up-to-date technical and scholarly research into their composition, you can donate to the project through Art Happens, our crowdfunding platform which gives museums and audiences the opportunity to bring creative projects to life, together. Every contribution makes a significant impact in helping the museum reach their £17,500 target – and you can choose from a range of rewards including specially designed tote bags, prints and silk scarves inspired by Canaletto’s paintings, as well as unique access to the museum with behind-the-scenes experiences. Find out more about the project – and help make art happen. #conservecanaletto Tags: Art Happens Museum Makers: Museum of the Year shortlist	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2890
__label__wiki	0.961014	0.961014	Aspen Valley Hospital’s next project priced at $48.8 million News \| April 6, 2015 Rick Carroll rcarroll@aspentimes.com The east entrance of Aspen Valley Hospital was part of an earlier expansion and remodeling project at the medical facility. The third phase of construction is set to begin April 20. Jeremy Wallace / The Aspen Times \| The next phase of development for Aspen Valley Hospital has a price tag of $48.8 million, with construction on approximately 62,000 square feet of new space set to begin April 20, according to the facility’s chief financial officer. The hospital has secured building permits for the third phase of construction, which will include roughly 33,000 square feet for such medical services as a new emergency department, a surgery suite and diagnostic imaging; 10,000 square feet for medical office space and 19,000 square feet in basement space for storage and mechanical purposes. Now, it’s the responsibility of the hospital’s fundraising arm to attract the cash to see the project through to completion. As it stands, the hospital has about $21 million in donations earmarked for the project. Chief Financial Officer Terry Collins said if not another cent were raised, the hospital would dip into its own coffers, but he’s not anticipating that. The Aspen Valley Hospital Foundation is on an aggressive fundraising mission to bring in $60 million by the end of 2016 for the facility’s expansion. That campaign began in 2013. “If you take in the $21 million (in donations), that leaves $39 million over the next few years,” Collins said. “Realistically, we think that money will come in over the next few years.” Like any construction project, the hospital could see cost overruns. An extreme example is occurring on the Front Range, where the construction cost of a new Veterans Affairs hospital in Aurora shot from $328 million to $1.73 billion, Denver media outlets reported last month. Collins said the third phase of construction, set for the southwest corner of the hospital building, will meet cost projections. “We’re not going to have budget overages,” he said. “I’m not going to let that happen.” Collins said unexpected costs arise when infrastructure work takes place. But the second phase saw most of the deep digging, while the upcoming construction won’t entail that. “Phase III is much less risky because we did all of the infrastructure, all of the deep digging on Phase II,” he said. “The risk now of finding some big surprises in Phase III is minimal.” Once again, the hospital has hired Centennial-based Haselden Construction as the general contractor. Haselden completed work on earlier hospital-expansion projects that included the Aspen Birth Center, the Evelyn H. Lauder Patient Care Pavilion and other improvements. Collins said he expects the deal to be formalized in the coming days. “They did all of Phase II, and frankly, their job performance has been outstanding,” Collins said. Atlanta-headquartered Heery International is the architectural firm handling the third phase, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2017. “There will be evidence of construction, obviously,” Collins said. “But there won’t be any disruptions of the services.” Collins said the preliminary start date for Phase IV, the final phase of the expansion, is mid-2017. The hospital will hold a town hall-style meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Limelight Hotel, where board members and hospital and foundation executives will update the public on the facility’s expansion.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2894
__label__wiki	0.519692	0.519692	LeBron James’ Net Worth and Stephen Curry’s Net Worth: The Real Deal on 2015 NBA Player Salaries When LeBron James and company take to the court against the Golden State Warriors and high-flying “Splash Brothers” in Game 1 (Thursday, June 4 at 9 p.m. EST), it will be his fifth consecutive appearance in the NBA Finals, a feat not accomplished in the league since the 1960s. He has been crowned champion in two of his previous four finals appearances, all with Miami. It is no surprise then that James is currently the highest-valued player on and off the court. Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors Players’ Salaries Athletes, in general, are some of the most highly compensated professionals in the United States. Among the highest-earning players on the Warriors and Cavaliers are James (CLE), Kevin Love (CLE), David Lee (GS) and Stephen Curry (GS). And while rising stars like Klay Thompson (GS) and Kyrie Irving (CLE) don’t bring in yearly salaries even close to the likes of James’, both are guaranteed more than $70 million throughout the remainder of their respective contracts — that’s more than twice the dollar amount of any other guarantee on either team. 2014-2015 NBA Finals Players’ Salaries The total amount of yearly salaries in this year’s NBA Finals totals to a hefty sum of $154,453,182, and James’ $20,644,400 paycheck makes up around 13 percent of all salaries in the finals. Love comes in a not-so-close second with his $15,719,062 salary for the 2014-2015 season, an amount high enough to account for about 10 percent of all salaries in the finals. Pair James and Love with high-earning, Golden State power forward Lee, and you’ll notice that just three players of the 30 rostered make up for more than one-third of all salaries in the finals. Considering the caliber of the 30 players listed on the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors rosters for this season, that is quite the feat and a testament to their values on the court. Net Worths of LeBron James, Stephen Curry and More But value off the court is the reason why James’ current net worth is a staggering $270 million, according to CelebrityNetWorth. His endorsement salary for this season totals $44 million, reports Forbes, and accounts for just under 70 percent of his overall yearly earnings ($64.6 million). If James felt so inclined, he could cover about 72 percent of his teammates’ salaries or about 61 percent of all the Golden State players’ salaries with his endorsement earnings from the current season. CelebrityNetWorth reports that Love’s net worth is $44 million, and Lee is worth $22 million. Curry, a Golden State top scorer, is believed to have a net worth of $8 million, showing just how much a difference off-court business can have on an athlete’s wealth. “What I do on the floor shows my value,” said James in a 2013 interview. “At the end of the day, I don’t think my value on the floor can really be compensated for…” Still, there is no denying he is just as much — if not more — of a force to be reckoned with off the court as he is on the court. James’ image and endorsements alone could possibly rake in hundreds of millions in sales for corporations like Nike and Coke, both of which are without a doubt looking forward to the additional media attention the basketball player will draw next Thursday during the NBA Finals. 2015 NBA Finals Schedule Game 1: Thu., June 4, Cleveland at Golden State, 9 p.m. EST, ABC Game 2: Sun., June 7, Cleveland at Golden State, 8 p.m. EST, ABC Game 3: Tue. June 9, Golden State at Cleveland, 9 p.m. EST, ABC Game 4: Thu. June 11, Golden State at Cleveland, 9 p.m. EST, ABC Game 5 : Sun., June 14, Cleveland at Golden State, 8 p.m. EST, ABC Game 6 : Tue., June 16, Golden State at Cleveland, 9 p.m. EST, ABC Game 7 : Fri., June 19, Cleveland at Golden State, 9 p.m. EST, ABC = if necessary Photo credit: Keith Allison \| Keith Allison This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: NBA Finals 2015: LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Other Pay-Day Powerhouses. This article by Edward Stepanyants first apappeared on GoBankingRates.com and was distributed by the Personal Finance Syndication Network. Life, News, PERSONAL FINANCE	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2895
__label__wiki	0.576928	0.576928	Impact Factors: 0.35 (ISI - Thomson Reuters) • 0.23 (SCImago) • ISSN 1806-938X (online version) « Go back to issue 45(6) summary A call to action for publishing study designs and preliminary results in the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry Andre R. Brunoni1 1 Service of Interdisciplinary Neuromodulation, Department and Institute of Psychiatry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Received: 10/10/2018 – Accepted: 10/10/2018 DOI: 10.1590/0101-60830000000175 Address for correspondence: Andre R. Brunoni. University of São Paulo, Institute of Psychiatry. Av. Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, 2º andar, Ala Sul – 05403-903 – São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Brunoni AR / Arch Clin Psychiatry. 2018;45(6):137-8 “There is more than one way to skin a cat”, an old proverb says. Scientists know this well (metaphorically speaking, of course), as they often face complex challenges that require creative, out-of-the-box thinking, and are usually praised for their problem-solving skills. The issue, however, is when these creative minds are faced with non-significant findings of their meticulously performed research; and, then, after ingenuity and art, obtain positive findings: in some cases, outliers are “rightfully” excluded and replaced by new data; in others, dozens of tests are run until, “out of serendipity”, that association (never thought before) suddenly fits with the mainstream theory. Some data just needed to be handled more carefully, treated more softly, discussed more thoughtfully, to stand a chance in this wild world of peer reviewing and publishing. In fact, although “God loves the [p=]0.06 as much as the 0.05”1, editors, reviewers and grant committees still love the latter much, much more2. The result of this mixed bag of controversial approaches to the data, driven by academic pressures and collectively described as “p-hacking”2, has been detrimental to both basic and applied science, as it leads to an overinflation of false-positive – and, hence, non-replicable – findings. In psychology, a consortium of several research groups recently aimed to replicate 100 highly representative studies published in leading journals. The authors found that only one third of the replication studies had significant findings (vs. 97% of original studies) and the mean effect size of the replication studies was half the magnitude of the original studies3. Research that uses statistical methods to detect excess significance is also revealing. In a systematic review of meta-analyses investigating brain volume abnormalities, the mean effect size of each meta-analysis was employed to estimate the power to detect an alpha at 0.05 and then to estimate the number of expected positive datasets. The author found that there were too many studies with statistically significant results in the literature on brain volume abnormalities4, which strongly suggests publication bias and/or p-hacking. A similar approach was used in psychotherapy studies, showing that the effect sizes of the psychotherapy interventions were overestimated, and that the literature had an unexpected high number (excessive) of positive findings according to the obtained evidence5. In another approach, Head et al.2 used the p-curve to assess the reliability of published research. When the true effect of an investigated phenomenon is zero (true negative), each p value has an equal probability to occur (i.e., p = 0.04 is as likely as p = 0.03), whereas in true positive findings the p-curve right skews (i.e., has more smaller values) as the effect increases. In both cases, the p-curve shape will be changed if there is evidence of p-hacking. The typical pattern is an increased frequency of p-values just below 0.05, when researchers stop their efforts to obtain significant findings. The authors used text-mining techniques to extract p values from all open access papers available in PubMed, finding strong evidence for p-hacking across all disciplines. For instance, approximately 50% and 60% of studies in the medical and psychological sciences, respectively, had p-values between 0.045 and 0.05, “just in the limit” of significance. They concluded that p-hacking is widespread in scientific literature2. What can scientists do, therefore, to mitigate the p-hacking plague from our fields? Unfortunately, there is no single solution for this complex problem. There is still too much emphasis in the p-value, whereas more informative statistics, such as the effect size and its surrounding confidence interval, are usually neglected. In fact, the p-value only informs the probability of obtaining an equal or more extreme effect, given the null hypothesis is true. In fact, the pre-test probability (i.e., prior likelihood of the phenomenon) is the main determinant for rejecting a false negative finding6. Nonetheless, and in spite of having or not theoretical knowledge, editors, authors and policy-makers often simplify the p-value as being the probability of a true effect (i.e., of neglecting the null hypothesis). On the other hand, p-values > 0.05 are also informative in studies that were well-designed, powered, and robust to biases regarding sample selection, masking, performance and attrition7. Therefore, results should be contextually interpreted and, hence, a detailed description of the study design is crucial to critically assess its methodology. Interestingly, although the CONSORT statement emphasizes this need8, studies are still insufficiently described in most fields9; possibly due to editorial restrictions regarding article size. Thus, publications of only study protocol and design are useful, which also allow assessment of study methodology separately and independently of the obtained results. Most importantly, though, is the a priori statement of the main research question, the primary and secondary hypotheses, and the planned statistical analyses. Authors are naturally not impeded to perform post hoc analyses, which also have its exploratory and hypothesis-generating value. In addition, new and important research questions might arise during an ongoing study that were not initially planned – for instance, a new neuroimaging analysis method that was not at first available or simply did not exist at study start. Researchers should and must explore novel research tracks – and also be transparent regarding a priori and post hoc hypotheses, a goal that study design publication can help to accomplish. Considering these challenges, the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry issues a call to action for authors to publish the design, protocol and preliminary findings of their studies in the journal. We believe that this is one of the necessary steps to increase transparency, decrease p-hacking and tackle the reproducibility issues that ravage clinical neuroscience and psychiatry. The Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, an open access, peer review journal, welcomes authors to share their study protocols and methodology. Therefore, dear author, please let us know, in excruciating details, how you plan to skin your next cat. The author is recipient of a Capes/Humboldt fellow for experienced researchers. 1. Rosnow RL, Rosenthal R. Statistical procedures and the justification of knowledge in psychological science. Am Psychol. 1989;44(10):1276-84. 2. Head ML, Holman L, Lanfear R, Kahn AT, Jennions MD. The extent and consequences of p-hacking in science. PLoS Biol. 2015;13(3):e1002106. 3. Open Science Collaboration. Estimating the reproducibility of psychological science. Science. 2015;349(6251):aac4716. 4. Ioannidis JP. Excess significance bias in the literature on brain volume abnormalities. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011;68(8):773-80. 5. Flint J, Cuijpers P, Horder J, Koole SL, Munafò MR. Is there an excess of significant findings in published studies of psychotherapy for depression? Psychol Med. 2015;45(2):439-46. 6. Ioannidis J. Why most published research findings are false. PLos Med. 2005;2(8):e124. 7. Pocock S, Stone G. The primary outcome fails – what next? N Engl J Med. 2016;375(9):861-70. 8. Schulz KF, Altman DG, Moher D; CONSORT Group. CONSORT 2010 statement: updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials. BMJ. 2010;340:c332. 9. Aparício LVM, Guarienti F, Razza LB, Carvalho AF, Fregni F, Brunoni AR. A systematic review on the acceptability and tolerability of transcranial direct current stimulation treatment in neuropsychiatry trials. Brain Stimul. 2016;9(5):671-81. Volume 45 • Issue 6 • 2018 © Archives of Clinical Psychiatry Trajettoria	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2900
__label__wiki	0.742413	0.742413	info@ardensolicitors.com +44 (208) 997 8885 Tier 1 Entrepreneur, Set-up Visa, and Innovators Visa Spouse, Civil or Unmarried partner Fiancé Visa Access to Children Children to join you Adult Dependant Relatives British Citizenship Asylum and Human Rights Fresh claim for asylum Application for Stateless Persons EEA Applications Divorce and Family Matters Divorce & Financial Remedy Children’s Law The international legal definition of a stateless person is “a person who is not considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law”. In simple terms, this means that a stateless person does not have a nationality of any country. Some people are born stateless, but others become stateless. The 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless People defines the term “stateless person” as meaning “a person who is not considered as a national by any State under the operation of its law”. This obviously covers a very broad range of circumstances, including for example (i) the absence of a legal entitlement to nationality of any State, and (ii) the refusal of a State to acknowledge an individual’s legal entitlement to nationality, whether for reasons such as the absence of evidence, or as a consequence of official or semi-official policy or practice of the authorities of a State. Statelessness can occur for several reasons, including discrimination against particular ethnic or religious groups, or on the basis of gender; the emergence of new States and transfers of territory between existing States; and gaps in nationality laws. Whatever the cause, statelessness has serious consequences for people in almost every country and in all regions of the world. Statelessness can also be caused by loss or deprivation of nationality. You can apply to stay in the UK as a stateless person. The requirement is that you are in the UK, and unable to return to another country as a result of being stateless. If you have been accepted as a stateless person, you will normally be granted a residence permit in the UK for 2 years and 6 months. You can apply for further leave when your leave expires. At Arden Solicitors Advocates we can advise on the application, and draft detailed representation to the Home Office. Arden Solicitors Advocates is registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority under SRA Registration No. 364282 E-mail: info@ardensolicitors.com Ealing House, 33 Hanger Lane, London W5 3H Copyright © 2018 Arden Solicitor Advocates. Designed by Arabized Technology.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2902
__label__wiki	0.952244	0.952244	Amgen Foundation Deepens Commitment To Aspiring Scientists Worldwide By Expanding Amgen Scholars Program Through a new $21 Million, Four-Year Investment, Amgen Scholars Program to Reach Additional 1,500 Undergraduates Nearly 4,000 Undergraduates From More Than 700 Colleges and Universities Have Participated to Date Alumni Pursuing Advanced Scientific Degrees and Careers Across the U.S. and Globe THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Amgen Foundation today announced the expansion of the Amgen Scholars Program, a hands-on research program that allows undergraduates to spend a summer at one of many of the world's premier research institutions. The new four-year, $21 million commitment brings the program to a total of 24 elite institutions across the U.S., Europe, Asia and, for the first time, Australia and Canada. Over the next four years an additional 1,500 undergraduates from hundreds of colleges and universities will have the chance to engage in research opportunities in biomedical and biotechnology fields. This brings the Amgen Foundation's total investment in the Amgen Scholars Program to $74 million over 16 years, reaching 5,400 undergraduates. Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8004558-amgen-foundation-scholars-program/ This signature initiative builds upon the Amgen Foundation's mission to advance excellence in science education and empower tomorrow's innovators, a goal to which the Foundation has contributed nearly $150 million globally to date. Eight new Amgen Scholars partners—Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, National University of Singapore, Tsinghua University, University of Melbourne, University of Toronto, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Yale University—will join the already distinguished group of host institutions, which includes Harvard University, National Institutes of Health, University of Cambridge and the University of Tokyo, among others. "As the pace of innovation increases, so too does the need to educate the scientists of tomorrow," said Robert A. Bradway, chairman and chief executive officer at Amgen. "We look forward to further expanding the reach of the Amgen Scholars Program, which has already provided research opportunities to thousands of talented undergraduates at premier institutions around the globe, and now has the potential to do much more." Since its inception in 2006, the Amgen Scholars Program has made research opportunities at premier institutions possible for more than 3,900 undergraduate students representing 700 colleges and universities. Of those alumni who have completed their undergraduate studies, nearly 900 are currently pursuing an advanced graduate degree in a scientific field, and another 280 have earned their Ph.D. or M.D.-Ph.D. More than 500 are employed in scientific fields across 33 countries, with 99 percent of surveyed alumni saying the program impacted their academic or professional direction. Alumni of the program are beginning to make a growing impact across academia, industry and government, garnering numerous awards and recognitions, such as the Rhodes Scholarship, NIH Director's New Innovator Award and selection to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Healthcare. "The Amgen Scholars Program solidified my passion for translational research and made me confident in a laboratory environment. In addition to gaining skills in several experimental techniques, I also learned how to think like a scientist," said Joy Wolfram, Ph.D., Amgen Scholar Program alum, and Mayo Clinic lead for the Nanomedicine and Extracellular Vesicles Lab. "After completing the program, I have been extensively involved in international research collaborations between the United States, China and Europe." Amgen Scholars aims to break down barriers for many students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to engage in science at the world's top educational and research institutions. Financial support for students is a critical component of the program, which seeks to ensure that eligible students, regardless of their financial status, can participate. The program provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in the process of discovery and build intellectual connections with some of the most accomplished scientists around the world. Undergraduate participants benefit from undertaking a research project with the mentorship of top faculty, being part of a cohort-based experience, participating in seminars and networking events and taking part in a symposium in their respective region where they meet their peers, learn about biotechnology and hear from leading scientists in both industry and academia. "The Amgen Scholars Program offers our students a unique opportunity to conduct groundbreaking research under the mentorship of world-renowned scientists," said Rakesh Khurana, Danoff Dean of Harvard College. "The academic and professional success of so many of the program's alumni over the past 12 years clearly demonstrates the value of the program, and why this expansion is so exciting." The host institutions are now accepting applications for the 2019 Amgen Scholars Program. For more information about the Amgen Scholars Program or to complete an application, visit www.AmgenScholars.com and follow us on Twitter at @AmgenFoundation. AMGEN SCHOLARS PROGRAM HOST INSTITUTIONS Indicates New Host Institution for 2019 California Institute of Technology, Columbia University, Duke University, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University,* National Institutes of Health, Stanford University, UC Berkeley, UC Los Angeles, UC San Francisco, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center,* Washington University in St. Louis, Yale University* ETH Zurich, Institut Pasteur, Karolinska Institute, LMU Munich, University of Cambridge Kyoto University, National University of Singapore,* Tsinghua University,* The University of Tokyo University of Melbourne* University of Toronto* The Amgen Foundation seeks to advance excellence in science education to inspire the next generation of innovators and to invest in strengthening communities where Amgen staff members live and work. To date, the Foundation has donated over $300 million to local, regional and international nonprofit organizations that impact society in inspiring and innovative ways. For more information, visit www.AmgenInspires.com and follow us on Twitter at @AmgenFoundation. CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks: Andrea Fassacesia, 805-905-2575 (media) Jennifer van der Borgt, 805-447-5597 (media) View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/amgen-foundation-deepens-commitment-to-aspiring-scientists-worldwide-by-expanding-amgen-scholars-program-300742115.html	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2906
__label__wiki	0.990672	0.990672	Amp film A film production company ERIK PAUSER Erik Pauser works as a director, producer and visual artist. His latest film as director and producer is the feature documentary ”The Borneo Case”. Before that he directed and produced ”Palmes Secret Agent”. He has directed a number of films among them ”The Machine” with Lars Tunbjörk as cinematographer and ”The Face of the Enemy” that premiered in competition at IDFA 2009. He has produced “Maneuvers in the Dark”, “Men Who Swim”, Lars Siltbergs “Holocene” with the Swedish Radio symphonic orchestra and Esa-Pekka Salonen in cooperation with writer Maj Gull Axelsson. ”Snow White and the Ambassador” was released in 2005. Together with Jan Röed he produced and directed the prizewinning feature Tong Tana – The Lost Paradise 2001. The film ”Lucky People Center International” a Memfis, Zentropa release that he directed and edited with Johan Söderberg was released in cinema and TV in a number of countries. He’s films have been shown on most major networks and won prizes at Nordic Panorama, San Francisco international film festival, FICA Brazil, AFI-Silverdocs, Washington. His installations have been shown in galleries and museums in a number of different countries. Also see www.erikpauser.com DYLAN WILLIAMS Dylan has wide experience of work as both producer and director on a series of national and international films. His credits include productions shown on the BBC, Channel 4, Discovery Channel, ZDF-Arte and The History Channel. Since Dylan moved to Sweden in 2002 and has since Directed a number of Documentaries to be shown throughout Scandinavia including the tragic comic Madame and Capt. Nilsson (2006), and Reserved for George (2007), the story of a man who ate lunch everyday in the same restaurant for 73 years without anyone knowing his name. Together with Erik Pauser Dylan formed Amp Film in 2008, and they have produced a series of international films together. Men Who Swim was one of his latest films as director. The Film has won a handful of awards, been shown in over 40 Film Festivals and received sales to over 20 countries. A sure fire way to cure Dylan of his mid-life crisis. All content on this site is copyrighted © Amp film. Powered by WordPress. Proudly crafted by Björn Granberg, refined by Femtrappor	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2907
__label__wiki	0.984694	0.984694	Amy Shark Cityside Stage · 6:10pm After playing her first People’s Choice BASSINTHEGRASS back in 2017, ARIA Award-winning singer-songwriter Amy Shark is set to appear again at this year’s festival with a whole bunch of new music from her debut album Love Monster. Released on 13 July last year, Love Monster debuted at number one on the Australian ARIA Chart and the Australian and New Zealand iTunes chart, as well as number nine on the United States iTunes chart. The indie-pop music artist’s lead single I Said Hi has been embraced by fans all over the world, hitting platinum sales (70,000+) within three months of its release. The well-known hit also hit number one on iTunes, Shazam Hot 100 & Future Hits and ARIA Australian Digital Track charts, and came in at number five in Triple J’s recent Hottest 100 countdown. 2016 single Adore was a big game changer for the Queensland-based musician after it was voted in at number two on the Triple J Hottest 100 as well. The Australian singer-songwriter continues to take the international music scene by storm, completing three Northern American tours and performing sell out shows in Los Angeles, New York, Portland and Seattle. Her debut London headline show in October 2017 also sold out three days after going on sale. This year looks to be another big one for Amy Shark, with her upcoming Love Monster Australian theater tour on track to be a complete sell out before touring North America in September/October and Europe in January next year. First Time Festival Goers! +61 8 8999 5256 major.events@nt.gov.au © 2019 Bassinthegrass. All Rights Reserved. 16 Bennett Street, Darwin, Northern Territory Australia People's Choice Credit Union NT Major Events Northern Territory Government Tourism NT Thrifty Truck and Car Rentals	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2911
__label__wiki	0.727719	0.727719	From University of Bath Researchers call for a price cap on cigarette profits An independent regulatory agency is needed to cap the excessive profits made by cigarette manufacturers, say researchers from the University of Bath. Published on Monday 4 October 2010 Last updated on Wednesday 2 January 2019 View more announcements in University of Bath Cigarette manufacturers currently make roughly double the profits of most other companies. The creation of an ‘Ofsmoke’ agency to regulate the industry would increase tax revenue and protect public health, according to the article published in the journal Tobacco Control. Professor Anna Gilmore, from the University’s Department for Health and the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies; Dr Robert Branston, from the School of Management; and Professor David Sweanor from the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law, say that capping the pre-tax cigarette manufacturers’ price would safeguard society from the market failure behind manufacturers’ pricing power and profits. Regulation would set a maximum price that cigarette companies could charge for their product, based on an assessment of genuine operational costs. Retail mark-up would not be affected, or the price that consumers pay, but the excess profit currently accrued by cigarette manufacturers would be transferred to the national treasury through increased tax. The system would be set up at no cost to the consumer or taxpayer, funded instead through a levy or licence fee paid by tobacco companies. Dr Robert Branston, Deputy Director of the University’s Centre for Governance & Regulation, said: “A handful of companies dominate the market and cream off massive profits. With such a deadly product, competition isn’t attractive, so we’ve identified regulation as an alternative that stands to benefit both government and public health. “The market has failed to curb cigarette manufacturers in terms of pricing power and profit, and tobacco control policies have unintentionally exacerbated the problem. “Clamping down on the extreme profitability of cigarettes would reduce the incentive for tobacco companies to fight public health measures and mean they have fewer funds at their disposal. “A move to regulation would enable tobacco control policies to be expanded as companies would be partially insulated against impact on revenue and less able to argue against them.” He went on to say that regulation would also be a way of preventing people from down-trading to cheaper products and restraining the behaviour of companies when it comes to cigarette smuggling and marketing to young people. “The tobacco industry is likely to argue that this type of direct economic regulation is an extreme reaction, but it’s hard to argue that nothing should be done given the extent of market power that these firms are enjoying and the number of deaths the sector causes,” said Dr Branston. The paper is based on the UK but researchers are confident that the system could be applied to most markets. They are planning further research to quantify the tax benefits of regulation and its affect on tobacco manufacturers. University Press Office press@bath.ac.uk +44 (0) 7966 341322 Find information for journalists, bloggers and online commentators Suggest an improvement to this page	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2912
__label__wiki	0.593145	0.593145	Borga / Build with Borga / Customer stories / Customer case Uddevalla Harbour “Our best storehouse” Every year, some 270 ships call in at the port of Uddevalla, which handles more than a million tonnes of cargo, the equivalent of over 25,000 long-distance lorries. The large port area was once the site of the extensive Uddevalla shipyard, and virtually any goods, apart from liquid bulk cargo, are handled here – including cars, timber, paper and, of course, containers. The port serves as a hub for transshipment between water, road and rail transport. A regular freight train service for containers and trailers runs between the port and the city of Gothenburg every day. TEXT: EVERT BLOMKVIST \| PHOTO: THOMAS HARRYSSON The latest addition to the 40,000 square metres of storage space available at the port is a hall supplied by Borga. This impressive building, which offers 6,000 square metres of completely free space, stands out with its attractive blue facade and fulfils its purpose excellently and in line with the customer’s requirements. “When we issued the call for bids, all I did was provide a basic description,” explains Johan Eriksson, Technical Manager for Uddevalla Hamnterminal AB, a municipally owned company. “We started out with the length, width, ceiling height, doors and so on. Then the project was developed in collaboration with the bidders. I had a huge Excel document in which I entered and compared various details of the designs and prices offered by the bidders. I did the same thing with different guarantees for details and other such elements. By the time we drew up the contract with Borga, we were very clear about how we wanted the hall to look.” Borga was able to meet all of the customer’s specific requirements thanks to the flexibility of its design process. The roof projections and snow protection systems, for example, were designed to provide protection against the weather during loading and ensure that pallets can be unloaded quickly under cover before going on to be sorted and transported into the premises. The customer was also insistent that the structure should be able to withstand extremely high loads of snow. “During the particularly snowy winters we had a few years ago, there were several instances where halls collapsed under the snow, both here at the port and in the surrounding areas. We kept shovelling the snow away to avoid any further incidents and it was really terrifying to send staff up onto the roof when it was already sagging under the strain.” It turned out that the cost of upgrading the roof was more or less the same as the cost of shovelling snow off it just once. “Now we don’t need to worry about the snow anymore,” says Johan, adding that the roof paint was scratched to shreds from shovelling off the snow that had frozen onto it. Another rather unusual feature for a Borga hall is the columns supporting the roof structure, which are perfectly straight and the same width from the floor to the roof trusses. “Borga normally uses posts which taper towards the bottom, so the hall leans inwards slightly on the inside.” The posts normally used create more floor space, but Johan wanted to minimise the risk of accidents happening when the truck drivers are stacking up pallets. “After all, the floor is the first place where truck drivers look to see where they are going,” he explains. Aside from price, the flexibility and adaptability of Borga’s design and planning work were decisive factors when it came to considering the bids. “I must say I’m certainly impressed by how well the whole building process has gone,” says Johan. “Right from our first contact with Borga through to the final inspection, everything went incredibly smoothly. Of course, Borga was only awarded the general contract for the construction work, while I outsourced the landscaping and electrical work to other providers. But the construction meetings went so well that, on the whole, I could just sit back and let the contractors take care of everything. All in all, I am really pleased with the quality of the finished building. It’s our best storehouse.” Facts about Uddevalla Hamnterminal AB Uddevalla Hamnterminal AB is a municipally owned port operator which handles a million tonnes of goods a year, the equivalent of over 25,000 long-distance lorries. Its 70 full-time employees organise the unloading, loading and transshipment of both general and bulk cargo. Around 270 ships call in at the port each year and a regular freight train service runs between the port of Uddevalla and Gothenburg every day. The company’s turnover is over SEK 80 million. Used products: Roof sheet Super 40 wall sheet BPD 18 frame type Uddevalla Customer storiesToggle submenu	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2919
__label__wiki	0.808635	0.808635	Published On: Mon, Jul 8th, 2019 Sports \| By Boston Journal Harvey Elliott: Liverpool set to sign Fulham teenager Harvey Elliott made his Fulham debut aged 15 years and 174 days in a Carabao Cup tie at Millwall in September 2018 Liverpool are poised to beat Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain to the signature of Fulham’s teenage midfielder Harvey Elliott. Elliott became the youngest player to feature in the Premier League when he came on as a substitute against Wolverhampton Wanderers in May, aged just 16 years and 30 days. He cannot turn professional until his 17th birthday next April, but it is understood he will reject a scholarship at Craven Cottage and move to the Champions League winners. If, as expected, Liverpool win the race to sign Elliott, they will have to negotiate a compensation package with Fulham as the England Under-17 international is regarded as a highly prized prospect. Elliott, who also attracted attention from Arsenal and Manchester City, will become the second emerging talent to join Liverpool this summer after 17-year-old Dutch defender Sepp van den Berg moved from PEC Zwolle. Liverpool paid an initial £1.3m for Van den Berg, which could rise to a maximum of £4.4m depending on add-ons. 2019 NBA Player Movement: Western Conference The Open 2019: Tiger Woods heads to Portrush after light schedule in bid to prolong career Report: Anthony Davis withdraws from USA Basketball training camp, FIBA World Cup	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2920
__label__wiki	0.661173	0.661173	Abbaye St. Benedictus de Achel The Monastery of Our Lady of San Benedetto is located in the Belgian Limburg, 20 km from Eindhoven, mail to just over the border between Belgium and the Netherlands. Situated close to the Belgian village of Hamont, the small village of Achel sees his monastery (AchelseKluis "the rest / shelter Achel") rise on the banks of the river Tongelreep. The monastery is "born" in 1854 officially, but there is information that already existed in 1656 in the area of Achel a place of prayer and meditation. The "hero" of birth (or rebirth) is the Abbey of Westmalle, who sends in the region some monks, the intent of creating a stable place of a Cistercian presence. Work began in 1846 and end, in fact, in 1854. The history of the monastery is not subject to shocks initially, and unfolded quietly until the early Twentieth century. It becomes, however, somewhat troubled Between the two world wars. In 1917, the fact monks are forced to leave the monastery and the brewery was dismantled by the Germans in 1943 the monks again suffer the same fate, as they have again leave their "home", to be able to return only after the war, in 1946. And 'the year of ultimately rebirth and reconstruction, with works that make the monastery of Our Lady of St Benedict of Achel, to date, one of the most solemn Benedictine architecture in Europe. The construction of the brewery started to Achel after the necessary state authorization, arrived by Royal Decree of 12 July 1850. The construction ends after two years with the creation of malting. The first work is the first mastrobirraio are lay people from outside the monastery, so as the raw materials: water for production, for example, was funneled to the monastery by a underground pipes, which withdrew from the nearby river Tongelreep. The production arrives without shock to the First World War and then in 1917 the German troops occupying dismantling the production facilities and copper kettles to convert raw materials to be used later to produce of war. Are still detectable in the archives of the monastic community documents that prove the requisition and dismantling of the plant by the total weight of 725 kilograms, which were then Vivegnis transported in the province of Liege. Only in the early '90s, the monastery decided to revive the domestic beer production: the "rebirth" is to the technical contributions of Father Thomas ed'esperienza first abbey of Westmalle and father Antoine de Rochefort, both valiant mastribirrai, which direct and stabilize production. After several experiments, currently in production at Achel there are a blonde and a brunette of 8 °, a brown extra 9.5 ° (only in bottles of 0.75), and the bar connected to the abbey a blonde and a brunette 5 ° drumming.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2921
__label__wiki	0.997221	0.997221	SportBasketball sport, basketball Opals forward Alanna Smith has become the fifth Australian to be selected inside the top-10 of the WNBA Draft. Smith was selected No.8 by the Phoenix Mercury, who are coached by Opals boss Sandy Brondello. The 22-year-old wasn't the only Opals ace selected in the first round of the draft with 19-year-old Ezi Magbegor taken at No.12 by Seattle Storm, the reigning champions. Smith and fellow 193cm-tall forward Magbegor both represented Australia and won a silver medal at last year's World Cup under Brondello. "(The World Cup) gave me a lot of confidence playing under Sandy and playing with the Australian team was helpful for me," Smith told ESPN after her selection. "I learned so much and it translated well into the college season for me and I think it's going to help me in the league as well." The Hobart native joins Lauren Jackson, Kelsey Griffin, Alison Lacey and Liz Cambage on the list of Australians picked within the top after an outstanding college campaign for Stanford. The first international recruit in Stanford's women's basketball history, Smith averaged a team-high 19.4 points per game, 8.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks to earn 2nd Team All-American honours. She will play with American superstars Diana Tarausi and Brittney Griner at the Mercury. A versatile player with an ability to shoot from range, Smith joined three WNBA MVP's as the only players to tally 1,600 points, 200 blocks and 150 threes in their Division 1 college careers - after Maya Moore, Elena Delle Donne and Breanna Stewart. Magbegor emerged as a star when named tournament MVP as Australia won the Under-17 World Championships in 2016. She was WNBL rookie of the year in 2017/18 playing for Canberra Capitals and increased her output for the Melbourne Boomers last season. Australian Associated Press https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/428b9cdf-4021-4b1b-b944-8c2ba4ed41d6.jpg/r0_74_800_526_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg Opals' Smith, Magbegor drafted into WNBA Australian basketballer Alanna Smith was the No.8 pick in the WNBA Draft. Opals forward Alanna Smith has become the fifth Australian to be selected inside the top-10 of the WNBA Draft. Smith was selected No.8 by the Phoenix Mercury, who are coached by Opals boss Sandy Brondello. The 22-year-old wasn't the only Opals ace selected in the first round of the draft with 19-year-old Ezi Magbegor taken at No.12 by Seattle Storm, the reigning champions. Smith and fellow 193cm-tall forward Magbegor both represented Australia and won a silver medal at last year's World Cup under Brondello. "(The World Cup) gave me a lot of confidence playing under Sandy and playing with the Australian team was helpful for me," Smith told ESPN after her selection. "I learned so much and it translated well into the college season for me and I think it's going to help me in the league as well." The Hobart native joins Lauren Jackson, Kelsey Griffin, Alison Lacey and Liz Cambage on the list of Australians picked within the top after an outstanding college campaign for Stanford. The first international recruit in Stanford's women's basketball history, Smith averaged a team-high 19.4 points per game, 8.6 rebounds and 2.2 blocks to earn 2nd Team All-American honours. She will play with American superstars Diana Tarausi and Brittney Griner at the Mercury. A versatile player with an ability to shoot from range, Smith joined three WNBA MVP's as the only players to tally 1,600 points, 200 blocks and 150 threes in their Division 1 college careers - after Maya Moore, Elena Delle Donne and Breanna Stewart. Magbegor emerged as a star when named tournament MVP as Australia won the Under-17 World Championships in 2016. She was WNBL rookie of the year in 2017/18 playing for Canberra Capitals and increased her output for the Melbourne Boomers last season.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2922
__label__wiki	0.637979	0.637979	As Iranian Minorities Join Protests, Should the US and Israel Arm Them? By JNS January 17, 2018 , 7:00 am “But they who trust in Hashem shall renew their strength As eagles grow new plumes: They shall run and not grow weary, They shall march and not grow faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (The Israel Bible™) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) and President Donald Trump (left) with Jared Kushner (center) at the start of a May 22 meeting in Jerusalem. (Kobi Gideon/GPO) As the anti-regime protests wind down in Iran, the White House said Jan. 10 that the U.S. is “deeply concerned” about reports that Iranian authorities have arrested thousands of citizens, with some purportedly being tortured or killed. Meanwhile, the head of the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency, Yossi Cohen, said Jan. 9 that Israel has “eyes and ears” inside Iran and would “be very happy to see a social revolution” in the Islamic Republic. But could the U.S. and Israel more aggressively promote regime change in Iran through supporting dissident minority groups, including by arming them? That was the recommendation put forth by Prof. Hillel Frisch, an expert on Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East, in a report published this week for Bar-Ilan University’s Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies. “In areas inhabited by minorities, such as the Kurds or the Arabs in the country’s southwest, efforts should be expended to conduct guerrilla operations,” wrote Frisch. “Heating up the country’s periphery, where these minorities live, will do much to reduce the heat on the urban fighters who will carry the brunt of the fighting in meeting the primary strategic goal of the armed conflict—taking over and maintaining their hold on Tehran.” He argued that the U.S. and Israel “must work around the clock to provide arms and the know-how to use them to the Iranian protesters,” adding that the arms aid “will have to be buttressed by much tougher sanctions to the point of a blockade on the country’s ports or flight zones.” In an interview with JNS, Frisch said that “preparing to motivate and realize such developments [towards regime change] must be made independent of how successful the present wave of protests are.” While the demonstrations have clearly abated “in the face of Iran’s costly imperialist commitments to allies which only drain its resources and come at the expense of the economic welfare of its citizens, one can expect further waves of protest,” he said. “Like a good surfer, the United States should make sure it does not miss the coming big wave,” Frisch added. Has nationalism played a role in the protests? Approximately 90-95 percent of Iranians are Shi’a Muslims, while the rest are Sunni Muslims or followers of other religions, including Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians, according to a 2011 estimate by the CIA World Factbook. Iran’s ethnic minorities are mainly Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Baluchis and Arabs. Meir Javedanfar, a lecturer on Iranian politics at Israel’s IDC Herzliya research college, told JNS that he does not see “evidence that any people were using the protests for minority interests.” Rather, he said the Iranian demonstrations have been “framed within the government’s failure to meet [the people’s] needs, not nationalism.” Asked if, in the event of regime change, there would be a chance for greater autonomy or even independence for parts of Iran with large numbers of minorities, Javedanfar said that “even if there was a different regime, the Iranians are quite nationalistic and would resist breaking apart the country.” Yet Arif Bawecani, the head of the Iranian Kurdistan Independent Party, said his movement’s “problem with Iranian occupation regime is not just the economy or changing the regime. We have nationality issues. We want the right to self-determination.” This issue of self-determination would be present even if the current government were overthrown, said Bawecani, an Iranian Kurd originating from what he considers Iranian-occupied territory. He currently resides outside of Iran, but stays in touch with those in the Islamic Republic’s Kurdish region. He noted that anti-government protests were taking place throughout the Kurdish areas of Iran. A continuation of Israel’s ‘periphery doctrine’ In the 1950s, David Ben-Gurion developed the “periphery doctrine”—a policy of recruiting non-Arab allies like Iran and Turkey in order to help Israel overcome the Arab world’s hostility towards the Jewish state. In that sense, supporting the U.S. in arming Iranian minorities such as the Kurds would not be an entirely new strategy for Israel. For instance, following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Israel reportedly used Iraqi Kurdistan as a base for the collection of intelligence against Iran. Israel has been linked with supporting Baluchi fighters in Iran. According to two U.S. intelligence officials quoted in a 2012 article in Foreign Policy, Israeli Mossad agents posed as American spies in order to recruit members of the Jundallah organization who were responsible for terrorist attacks against the Iranian regime. Further, media reports have raised the possibility that Israel could launch airstrikes against Iranian military sites from bases in Azerbaijan, which shares a border with Iran. There are an estimated 16-25 million Azerbaijani Shi’a Muslims living in Iran. JNS.org is an independent, non-profit, business resource and wire service covering Jewish news and Israel news for Jewish media throughout the English-speaking world. By JNS Report: Iran, Assad Plotting to Attack Israel Survey: 93 percent of tourists to Israel in 2018 had a ‘good to excellent’ time Congresswoman Who Gets ‘Calming Feeling’ from Holocaust Accuses Israel of ‘Racism’	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2925
__label__wiki	0.61429	0.61429	Donald Trump Walks Back Statement on ‘Punishment’ for Women Who Have Abortions Tom Lynn/Getty Hours after an interview with MSNBC’s Chris Matthews in which he said he thinks women who have abortions should be punished, GOP 2016 candidate Donald Trump has clarified his comments. As NBC reports, Matthews earlier pressed Trump, who stated he is “pro-life.” “If you say abortion is a crime or abortion is murder, you have to deal with it under the law,” Matthews said. Trump then turned to Matthews and asked, “Are you going to say, well wait, are you going to say put them in jail? Is that the punishment you’re talking about?” Matthews replied that that’s the question he was asking Trump. Ultimately, Trump responded that the “answer is that there has to be some form of punishment, yeah.” Later, however, the Trump campaign released the following statement: If Congress were to pass legislation making abortion illegal and the federal courts upheld this legislation, or any state were permitted to ban abortion under state and federal law, the doctor or any other person performing this illegal act upon a woman would be held legally responsible, not the woman. The woman is a victim in this case as is the life in her womb. My position has not changed — like Ronald Reagan, I am pro-life with exceptions. Prior to his statement walking back his comments, Trump was criticized by both pro-life and pro-abortion groups. “Comments made by presidential candidate Donald Trump today that if abortion were outlawed there would have “to be some form of punishment” for women seeking an abortion are troubling,” said Family Research Council Action President Tony Perkins. “Trump’s suggestion that he would support punishing women seeking abortions because there are ‘conservative Republicans’ advocating such a policy shows Mr. Trump is ill informed in this vital issue.” “While Trump has since ‘clarified’ his position on punishing women, his statements suggest he should spend more time with pro-life conservatives to gain a better appreciation of what their goals and objectives really are,” Perkins added. “The pro-life movement values both mother and child and seeks to uphold the dignity of both by seeking to protect both from the damage of abortion and the predatory abortion industry.” Though Planned Parenthood’s media supporters often paint the pro-life community as uncaring and unsympathetic toward women who find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy, pro-life activists say their goal is to save both the life of the unborn baby and the physical and psychological life of the mother. Rep. Diane Black – who is also a nurse – recently released a response to a column in Cosmopolitan magazine written by actress Amy Brenneman, who wrote that she has “never, not for one moment, regretted” her abortion. Black shared her own personal story in reply to Brenneman: Like you, I know what it is like to be single, pregnant, and uncertain of what the future holds. I was carrying my youngest child to term when my first husband left me amid the demons of alcoholism. Later, in my career as an emergency room nurse, I met other young women in this same precarious position. I believe that the pro-life community has a responsibility to those women. It is why I have long supported the work of my local crisis pregnancy center and other nonprofits that offer real, tangible help to women in this very situation – everything from diapers and formula to counseling and prayer. Black discussed with Breitbart News that abortion safety laws – such as the one passed by Texas that has been challenged by Planned Parenthood – are intended to save both babies and their mothers: We cast ourselves as advocates for women, as folks who want to be sure that women do have an ability to be able to function in society with women’s health, and so on. And that begins in the womb. The thought that you can just say you’re a women’s rights person, but you don’t have value for that little girl that may be in your womb – that’s where women’s rights begin, from the very beginning. Second, I think that too many times we pro-lifers speak in a way in which maybe we don’t connect with those who have had abortions – where they may think that we’re judging them – and that’s not at all of what I’m about, nor do I think most pro-life women are about that. It’s about getting the truth out so that women have the ability to make the best decision for them. And I think that’s something that’s so important that we do as pro-life women. Black reflected on a case of a botched abortion that she encountered while working as an emergency room nurse: We did have a botched abortion come into the ER and this young lady had an out-of-town abortion and they had given her a 1-800 number to call. But, by the time she reached the hospital she was in a situation where she had lost so much blood that we could not save her. And so, when I talk about the reasons why these have to be safe places and why these women have to be given the information and they should be regulated, I don’t believe that any woman should lose a life at the hands of an unregulated, unsafe abortion clinic or even a fly-by-night abortion doctor. I just think that is so important that we get that message out there they deserve every bit as much consideration where they have those procedures done as much as any other procedure. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List, said the first women’s rights advocates were pro-life women who recognized that abortion was wrong for both babies and their mothers. She said in a statement: Mattie Brinkerhoff, a leader of the women’s suffrage movement, said that when a woman undergoes an abortion it is evidence she has been “greatly wronged.” The Revolution, the newspaper owned and operated by Susan B. Anthony, published an op-ed asserting that, on abortion, “thrice guilty is he who, for selfish gratification, heedless of her prayers, indifferent to her fate, drove her to the desperation which impels her to the crime.” Alice Paul was known to have called abortion “the ultimate exploitation of women.” “We have never advocated, in any context, for the punishment of women who undergo abortion,” Dannenfelser said in response to Trump’s earlier remarks. “As a convert to the pro-life movement, Mr. Trump sees the reality of the horror of abortion – the destruction of an innocent human life – which is legal in our country up until the moment of birth,” she continued. “But let us be clear: punishment is solely for the abortionist who profits off of the destruction of one life and the grave wounding of another.” Listen to Dr. Susan Berry on Breitbart News Daily on SiriusXM: FaithPoliticsChris MatthewsDonald TrumpDonald Trump 2016MSNBCPlanned Parenthoodpro-life	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2926
__label__wiki	0.556965	0.556965	Current Affairs Today – 22 June, 2019 by sunnykapoor \| Jun 22, 2019 \| Uncategorized \| 0 comments Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 Topic : Social empowerment, communalism, regionalism & secularism. Why in the news? The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 was introduced in the Lok Sabha. It seeks to replace The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Second Ordinance, 2019 What does the ordinance say? The Ordinance makes all declaration of talaq, including in written or electronic form, to be void (i.e. not enforceable in law) and illegal. It defines talaq as talaq-e-biddat or any other similar form of talaq pronounced by a Muslim man resulting in instant and irrevocable divorce. Talaq-e-biddat refers to the practice under Muslim personal laws where pronouncement of the word ‘talaq’ thrice in one sitting by a Muslim man to his wife results in an instant and irrevocable divorce. Offence and penalty: The Ordinance makes declaration of talaq a cognizable offence, attracting up to three years imprisonment with a fine. (A cognizable offence is one for which a police officer may arrest an accused person without warrant.) The offence will be cognizable only if information relating to the offence is given by: (i) the married woman (against whom talaq has been declared), or (ii) any person related to her by blood or marriage. The Ordinance provides that the Magistrate may grant bail to the accused. The bail may be granted only after hearing the woman (against whom talaq has been pronounced), and if the Magistrate is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for granting bail. The offence may be compounded by the Magistrate upon the request of the woman (against whom talaq has been declared). Compounding refers to the procedure where the two sides agree to stop legal proceedings, and settle the dispute. The terms and conditions of the compounding of the offence will be determined by the Magistrate. Allowance: A Muslim woman against whom talaq has been declared, is entitled to seek subsistence allowance from her husband for herself and for her dependent children. The amount of the allowance will be determined by the Magistrate. Custody: A Muslim woman against whom such talaq has been declared, is entitled to seek custody of her minor children. The manner of custody will be determined by the Magistrate. What are the issues regarding the bill/ordinance? The bill/ordinance against triple talaq has been opposed as it is seen as a piece of class legislation i.e. a piece of legislation (law) that is directed against one section of society – muslims. The bill can also be seen to discriminate between various sections of society and is hence in violation of the Constitutional rights under Article 14 and 15 as it stipulates a three-year jail term for Muslim men whereas a similar offence by a non-Muslim man attracted only a year in jail. Earlier, a five-judge Supreme Court bench had concurred that triple talaq violated “constitutional morality”, and talents of holy book Quran and had declared it unconstitutional. The bill was being brought in to give effect to this judgement by providing a redressal mechanism with punishments and other provisions. Trafficking in Persons Report, 2019 Topic: Social empowerment The US State Department has released its 2019 trafficking in Persons report highlighting the need for action against domestic trafficking. The report categorises countries into three groups based on the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), US legislation enacted in 2000. India is placed in Tier 2 on the country trafficking scale which comprises governments which do not fully meet the TVPA’s minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards. Recommendations for India include amending definition of trafficking in Section 370 of the Indian Penal Code and to establish Anti-Human Trafficking Units in all districts with funding and clear mandate. Southwest Monsoon Topic: Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., The Southwest Monsoon has advanced into Odisha on Friday and is expected to cover the entire state within the next 48 hours. How does the Monsoon Progress? The normal date of arrival of the Monsoon on the southern tip of the Indian peninsula is June 1. After that it forms two branches – Arabian Sea branch and Bay of Bengal branch. The Arabian Sea Branch is divided into three distinct streams on arriving in mainland India – the first stream impinges on the western coast of India giving heavy rainfall in excess of 250cm, the second stream enters Narmada-Tapi troughs and reaches central India and the third stream moves in a north-easterly direction parallel to the Aravali Range to reach North West India. The Bay of Bengal branch is divided into two distinct streams – the first stream crosses the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta and reaches Meghalaya causing the heaviest rainfall and the second stream goes to the Himalayan foothills and after reaching there is deflected to the west by the size and orientation of the Himalayas. These branches converge over north-western region and provide rainfall to this region. Topic: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests EU leaders have warned that there will be no renegotiation on Brexit but discussions should now focus on future of UK-EU relations. What is Brexit? A portmanteau of the words “Britain” and “exit,” Brexit is shorthand for Britain’s split from the European Union, changing its relationship to the bloc on trade, security and migration. In 2013, Prime Minister David Cameron promised a national referendum on European Union membership with the idea of settling the question once and for all. The options it offered were broad and vague — Remain or Leave. Britons voted on June 23, 2016, as a refugee crisis made migration a subject of political rage across Europe and amid accusations that the Leave campaign had relied on lies and broken election laws. An ill-defined Brexit won 52 percent of the vote. Parliament of Britain gave formal notice in 2017 to quit, under Article 50 of the European Union’s Lisbon Treaty, a legal process setting it on a two-year path to departure. That set March 29, 2019, as the formal divorce date. However, since the kind of relations with the EU were not defined, the Brexit was pushed further and failure to get an agreement between the various parties to a Brexit deal led to the resignation of Theresa May as the Prime Minister of the UK. Two options were floated since the Brexit referendum result of 2016 is whether the UK should embark on a ‘hard Brexit’ or ‘soft Brexit’. The two different terms essentially refer to the kind of relationship and level of participation the country will have with the EU’s Single Market (the free movement of people, goods and services) and the Customs Union (the bloc’s trade and tax agreement.) Hard Brexit means taking UK completely out of the EU i.e. both the customs union and the single market. It will give the UK more control over its borders and immigration Soft Brexit would keep the UK closely aligned with the EU. The UK could gain special access to the single market but might have to, in return, compromise on immigration agreements. It aims to minimise the impact on trade and businesses by essentially staying in the customs union. The result would be that the UK would still be bound by some of the rules of the bloc, but it would have less of a say in how the rules are made. And it would be harder for the UK to sign its own new trade deals. What is the European Union? The European Union is a unified trade and monetary body of 28 member countries formed in 1993 under the Maastricht treaty. It eliminates all border controls between members. That allows the free flow of goods and people, except for random spot checks for crime and drugs. The EU transmits state-of-the-art technologies to its members. The areas that benefit are environmental protection, research and development, and energy. Public contracts are open to bidders from any member country. Any product manufactured in one country can be sold to any other member without tariffs or duties. Taxes are all standardized. Practitioners of most services, such as law, medicine, tourism, banking, and insurance, can operate in all member countries. The euro is the common currency for the EU area. It is the second most commonly held currency in the world, after the U.S. dollar. It replaced the Italian lira, the French franc, and the German deutschmark, among others. Three bodies run the EU. The EU Council represents national governments. The Parliament is elected by the people. The European Commission is the EU staff. They make sure all members act consistently in regional, agricultural, and social policies. Contributions of 120 billion euros a year from member states fund the EU. The EU’s 28 member countries are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The Eurozone consists of all countries that use the euro. All EU members pledge to convert to the euro, but only 19 have so far. They are Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain. The Eurozone was created in 2005. The Schengen Area guarantees free movement to those legally residing within its boundaries. Residents and visitors can cross borders without getting visas or showing their passports. In total, there are 26 members of the Schengen Area. They are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Two EU countries, Ireland and the United Kingdom, have declined the Schengen benefits. Four non-EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland have adopted the Schengen Agreement. H 1B visas The US State department has clarified that it is not considering capping the number of visas for countries that adopt laws that restrict data being taken out of their borders. What are H1B visas? The H1B visa is an employment-based, non-immigrant visa for temporary workers. For this visa, an employer must offer a job in the US and apply for the H1B visa petition with the US Immigration Department. This approved petition is a work permit which allows a person to obtain a visa stamp and work in the U.S. for that employer. There is a cap of 65,000 visas under the general category and 20,000 for advanced degree holders. There are no country-wise caps. Topic: money-laundering and its prevention Pakistan has been warned by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to finish its stipulated action plan on terrorist financing by October to stay off the FATF black list. Pakistan is currently placed on the FATF grey list. What is the Financial Action Task Force? The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an inter-governmental body established in 1989 by the Ministers of its Member jurisdictions by the G7 nations. The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to the integrity of the international financial system. The FATF is therefore a “policy-making body” which works to generate the necessary political will to bring about national legislative and regulatory reforms in these areas. The FATF monitors the progress of its members in implementing necessary measures, reviews money laundering and terrorist financing techniques and counter-measures, and promotes the adoption and implementation of appropriate measures globally. In collaboration with other international stakeholders, the FATF works to identify national-level vulnerabilities with the aim of protecting the international financial system from misuse. The FATF blacklist is the common shorthand description for the Financial Action Task Force list of “Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories” (NCCTs). The FATF blacklist or OECD blacklist has been issued by the Financial Action Task Force since 2000 and lists countries which it judges to be non-cooperative in the global fight against money laundering and terrorist financing, calling them “Non-Cooperative Countries or Territories” (NCCTs). For a country to stay off the blacklist, the support of at least three of the total of 36 members (excluding the two regional organization members) is required. 15 members need to support the removal of a country from the grey list. Prelims Specific Code name of air strike by the Indian Air Force on a terrorist training camp in Balakot, Pakistan was Operation Bandar. Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP), the world’s largest multi-stage and multi-purpose lift irrigation scheme was inaugurated in Telangana. It is meant to irrigate over 37 lakh acres of new and existing ayacuts and supply drinking water to Hyderabad and nearby villages.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2929
__label__wiki	0.54635	0.54635	by sunnykapoor \| Jun 4, 2019 \| Daily Question Answer, Uncategorized \| 0 comments Mandatory Hindi goes out of Draft Education Policy The clause recommending mandatory teaching of Hindi in all schools was dropped in a new draft National Education Policy released by the MHRD The policy retains the recommendation to introduce a three-language formula from class I The change was brought in due to the strong protests put in by the non-Hindi speaking states and their representatives. To read a detailed analysis of the Draft Education Policy , see current affairs of June 3 CAT can exercise same powers as a High Court in respect to contempt proceedings Delhi High Court held that the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) can exercise the same jurisdiction and powers as a high court in respect of its contempt proceedings. CAT has framed the Contempt of Courts Rules, 1992 which provide the procedure for initiation of criminal contempt and suo motu contempt proceedings. What is the Central Administrative Tribunal? Article 323-A of Indian constitution deals with Administrative Tribunals where Article 323-B deals with tribunals for other matters. Thus, the Central Administrative Tribunal has been established under Article 323 A. Article 323A: Provides for the establishment of Administrative Tribunals for adjudication or trial of disputes and complaints with respect to recruitment, conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and other allied matters. The CAT exercises original jurisdiction in relation to recruitment and all service matters of public servants covered by it. Its jurisdiction extends to the all-India services, the Central Civil services, civil posts under the Centre and civilian employees of defence services. However, the members of the defence forces, officers and servants of the Supreme Court and the secretarial staff of the Parliament are not covered by it. The CAT is a multi-member body consisting of a Chairman and members (Currently 65). They are drawn from both judicial and administrative streams and are appointed by the President for a term of five years or until the age of 65 (in the case of Chairman) and 62 (for members) whichever is earlier. It is not bound by the procedure laid down in the Civil Procedure Code of 1908 but is guided by the principles of natural justice. Appeals against the orders of the CAT shall lie before the division bench of the concerned high court. Ajit Doval reappointed as National Security Advisor (NSA) Paper : General Studies 2, General Studies 3 Ajit Doval was appointed as the National Security advisor and also accorded a Cabinet rank in the table of precedence. Who is the National Security Advisor? The National Security Advisor is a non-statutory position created to advise the Prime Minister of India on national and international security policy. The NSA serves at the discretion of the Prime Minister of India. The National Security Adviser (NSA) is tasked with regularly advising the Prime Minister of India on all matters relating to internal and external threats and opportunities to India, and oversees strategic and sensitive issues on behalf of the Prime Minister. The NSA of India also serves as the Prime Minister’s Special Interlocutor with China as well as the envoy to Pakistan and Israel on security affairs. He has the powers to receive intelligence reports from intelligence agencies such as R&AW and IB He is the chief executive of the National Security Council (NSC) and the head of the Strategic Policy Group (SPG) under the NSC framework UdChalo travel portal launched Paper : Prelims Specific The UdChalo travel portal was launched to cater to the personal travel of the military and paramilitary forces personnel by aggregating defence fares and getting exclusive discounts. The Paraplegic Rehabilitation Centre, Mohali has joined hands with UdChalo with an aim to empower the disabled military veterans. Anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protests June 4 marks the 30th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown in Beijing when Chinese troops fired on peaceful protesters drawing global condemnation. What were the Tiananmen Square protests? From April 1989 people from across China gathered in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square to mourn the death of the liberal Communist Party leader Hu Yaobang and share their frustrations about the slow pace of promised reform. The gathering turned into peaceful protests which spread across the provinces of China as demonstrators, mainly students, began to call for an end to official corruption and for political and economic reform. This week marks the 30th anniversary of the massacre of hundreds if not thousands of unarmed peaceful pro-democracy protesters in Beijing and the arrest of tens of thousands of demonstrators in cities across China. The protesters, based in Tiananmen Square in central Beijing, were peacefully calling for political and economic reform. In response, the Chinese authorities responded with overwhelming force to repress the demonstrations. Military units were brought in and unarmed protesters and onlookers were killed en masse. The Chinese government has never acknowledged the true events surrounding the Tiananmen massacre. It remains a contentious topic in China, with authorities banning all mention of the protest even today. RBI Committee on Digital Payments gives recommendations A committee headed by Nandan Nilekani, which was appointed by the RBI, had submitted its suggestions on promoting digital payments to Governor Shaktikanta Das last month. What are the recommendations? The panel has suggested that there should be no convenience fee on payments made to government agencies by customers and recommended that payment systems use machine-driven, online dispute resolution systems to handle complaints. The committee recommends that the RBI and the government put in place an appropriate mechanism to monitor the digital payment systems and make aggregated information based on blocks, and PIN code, available to all players on a monthly basis, so that they can make the necessary adjustments. It has also recommended elimination of charges, round-the-clock RTGS and NEFT facility, and duty-free import of point-of-sales machines. The committee had recommended that the Interchange on card payments be reduced by 15 basis points (0.15 per cent) as this will increase the incentive for acquirers to sign up merchants. It further said that keeping in mind that digital transactions result in larger balances with the bank, customers must be allowed to initiate and accept a reasonable number of digital payment transactions with no charges. Enhancing features of ATMs merely from cash dispenser to support the gamut of banking facilities including cash Deposit, bills payment, funds transfer, tax deposits, mobile recharge in addition to customer support and grievance reporting so as to act as a complete Digital facilitation point, is another key suggestion. It has also made a case for internationalisation plan for Indian payment systems such as RuPay and BHIM UPI to ease remittances into India, and to help Indian travellers make payments abroad. The panel has also suggested the government should continue the current scheme to refund the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for small value transactions (under Rs 2,000) beyond December 2019 for another two years. The Committee recommends large scale usage of common and interoperable mobility cards by public across different transit options.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2930
__label__cc	0.580926	0.419074	Airline On-Time Statistics 2016 Flight Cancellation, Mishandled Baggage, and Bumping Rates are Lowest in Decades DOT 20-17 WASHINGTON – In 2016, the reporting carriers canceled 1.17 percent of their scheduled domestic flights, an improvement over the 1.5 percent cancellation rate in 2015 and the lowest in the 22 years with comparable numbers, according to the Air Travel Consumer Report (ATCR) released today. The previous low was 1.24 percent in 2002. The reporting carriers canceled 1.6 percent of their scheduled domestic flights in December 2016, an improvement over the 1.7 percent cancellation rate posted in December 2015, but up from the 0.3 percent rate in November 2016. In 2016, the carriers posted a mishandled baggage rate of 2.70 per 1,000 passengers, down from 2015’s rate of 3.13 and the lowest annual rate since DOT started collecting mishandled baggage report data in September 1987. The previous low was 3.09 in 2012. The U.S. carriers reporting mishandled baggage data posted a mishandled baggage rate of 3.58 reports per 1,000 passengers in December, down from December 2015’s rate of 3.97, but up from November 2016’s rate of 2.02. The carriers posted a bumping rate of 0.62 per 10,000 passengers in 2016, an improvement over the 0.73 rate posted in 2015 and the lowest annual rate based on historical data dating back to 1995. The previous low was 0.72 in 2002. These carriers posted a bumping rate of 0.54 per 10,000 passengers for the quarter, down from the 0.69 rate for the fourth quarter of 2015. The consumer report also includes data on on-time performance, tarmac delays, chronically delayed flights, and the causes of flight delays filed with the Department’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) by the reporting carriers. In addition, the consumer report contains a tally of aviation service complaints filed with DOT’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division by consumers regarding a range of issues such as flight problems, baggage, reservation and ticketing, refunds, customer service, disability, and discrimination. The report also includes information about the total number of animals that died, were injured, or were lost during air transport in December 2016 and calendar year 2016, as filed by the air carriers with the Aviation Consumer Protection Division. In addition, the report introduces data about the total number of animals transported by airlines during the calendar year. For the full year 2016, the reporting carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 81.4 percent, up from 79.9 percent in 2015. The reporting carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 75.6 percent in December 2016, down from both the 77.8 percent on-time rate in December 2015 and the 86.5 percent mark in November 2016. Tarmac Delays In December, airlines reported 21 tarmac delays of more than three hours on domestic flights and three tarmac delays of more than four hours on international flights. Fourteen of the long domestic delays involved Frontier Airlines and took place in Denver during a snowstorm on December 16 and 17. In 2016, there were 84 domestic flights with tarmac delays longer than three hours and 36 international flights with tarmac delays longer than four hours at U.S. airports. All reported extended tarmac delays are being investigated by the Department. Chronically Delayed Flights At the end of December, there were no flights that were chronically delayed – more than 30 minutes late more than 50 percent of the time – for two consecutive months or more. A list of flights that were chronically delayed for a single month is available from BTS. Causes of Flight Delays In December, the carriers filing on-time performance data reported that 24.38 percent of their flights were delayed – 6.70 percent of their flights were delayed by aviation system delays, compared to 4.43 percent in November; 8.46 percent by late-arriving aircraft, compared to 4.51 percent in November; 6.59 percent by factors within the airline’s control, such as maintenance or crew problems, compared to 3.83 percent in November; 0.70 percent by extreme weather, compared to 0.26 percent in November; and 0.04 percent for security reasons, compared to 0.03 percent in November. In addition, 1.62 percent of flights were canceled and 0.27 percent were diverted. Weather is a factor in both the extreme-weather category and the aviation-system category. This includes delays due to the re-routing of flights by DOT’s Federal Aviation Administration in consultation with the carriers involved. Weather is also a factor in delays attributed to late-arriving aircraft, although airlines do not report specific causes in that category. BTS uses the data collected from airlines to determine the percentage of late flights delayed by weather, which includes those reported in the categories of extreme weather, late-arriving aircraft, and National Aviation System delays. In December, 28.36 percent of late flights were delayed by weather, down from 32.77 percent in December 2015 and from 29.36 percent in November 2016. Detailed information on flight delays and their causes is available from BTS. Incidents Involving Animals In December, carriers reported five incidents involving the death, injury, or loss of an animal while traveling by air, up from the four reports filed in both December 2015 and in November 2016. December’s incidents involved the deaths of three animals and injuries to two other animals. For all of last year, carriers reported 26 animal deaths, injuries to 22 other animals, and no lost animals, for a total of 48 incidents, down from the 63 total incident reports filed for calendar year 2015. The ATCR also introduces data about the total number of animals transported by airlines during the calendar year. In 2015, 534,537 animals were transported, for a rate of 1.18 incidents per 10,000 animals transported. In 2016, 523,743 animals were transported, for a rate of 0.92 incidents per 10,000 animals transported. Complaints About Airline Service For all of last year, the Department received 17,904 complaints, down 11.3 percent from the total of 20,175 received in 2015. In December, the U.S. Department of Transportation received 1,726 complaints about airline service from consumers, up 10.2 percent from the total of 1,566 filed in December 2015 and up 69.2 percent from the 1,020 received in November 2016. Complaints About Treatment of Disabled Passengers The report also contains a tabulation of complaints filed with DOT in December against airlines regarding the treatment of passengers with disabilities. The Department received a total of 58 disability-related complaints in December, down from both the 83 complaints received in December 2015 and the 73 complaints received in November 2016. For all of last year, the Department received 862 disability complaints, down 8.7 percent from the total of 944 received in 2015. All complaints alleging discrimination on the basis of disability are investigated. Complaints About Discrimination In December, the Department received five complaints alleging discrimination – four complaints regarding race and one complaint regarding religion. This is equal to the total of five recorded in December 2015, but down from the 14 recorded in November 2016. For all of last year, the Department received 94 discrimination complaints – 65 complaints regarding race, 12 complaints regarding national origin, two complaints regarding color, eight complaints regarding religion, and seven complaints regarding sex. This is an increase of 44.6 percent from the total of 65 filed in 2015. All complaints alleging discrimination are investigated to determine if there has been a violation(s) of the passenger’s civil rights. Consumers may file air travel consumer or civil rights complaints on the web at http://airconsumer.dot.gov/escomplaint/ConsumerForm.cfm or by voice mail at (202) 366-2220 or by TTY at (202) 366-0511. They may also mail a complaint to the Aviation Consumer Protection Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, C-75, W96-432, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590. Consumers who want on-time performance data for specific flights should call their airline’s reservation number or their travel agent. This information is available on the computerized reservation systems used by these agents. The information is also available on the appropriate carrier’s website. The Air Travel Consumer Report can be found on DOT’s website at http://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/air-travel-consumer-reports. AIR TRAVEL CONSUMER REPORT KEY DECEMBER 2016 ON-TIME PERFORMANCE AND FLIGHT CANCELLATION STATISTICS Based on Data Filed with the Bureau of Transportation Statistics by the 12 Reporting Carriers and Tarmac Data Filed by All Carriers 75.6 percent on-time arrivals Highest On-Time Arrival Rates Hawaiian Airlines – 85.1 percent Delta Air Lines – 81.4 percent American Airlines – 79.1 percent Lowest On-Time Arrival Rates Frontier Airlines – 62.4 percent Virgin America – 68.3 percent SkyWest Airlines – 69.8 percent Domestic Flights with Longest Tarmac Delays Exceeding Three Hours Frontier Airlines flight 418 from Denver to Atlanta, 12/17/16 – delayed 265 minutes on the tarmac in Denver Frontier Airlines flight 277 from Pittsburgh to Denver, 12/17/16 – delayed 250 minutes on the tarmac in Denver Frontier Airlines flight 423 from Atlanta to Denver, 12/17/16 – delayed 247 minutes on the tarmac in Denver Frontier Airlines flight 163 from Madison, Wis. to Denver, 12/16/16 – delayed 228 minutes on the tarmac in Denver Frontier Airlines flight 402 from Los Angeles to Denver, 12/17/16 – delayed 228 minutes on the tarmac in Denver International Flights with Longest Tarmac Delays Exceeding Four Hours All Nippon Airways flight 2 from Tokyo Narita to Washington Dulles, 12/17/16 – delayed 322 minutes on the tarmac at Baltimore/Washington after being diverted Avianca flight 0021 from New York JFK to Bogotá, Colombia, 12/17/16 – delayed 310 minutes on the tarmac at New York JFK Xtra Airways flight 412 from Caracas, Venezuela to New York JFK, 12/21/16 – delayed 245 minutes on the tarmac in Miami after being diverted Highest Rates of Canceled Flights Frontier Airlines – 6.4 percent SkyWest Airlines – 3.7 percent ExpressJet Airlines – 3.0 percent Lowest Rates of Canceled Flights Hawaiian Airlines – 0.1 percent Delta Air Lines – 0.2 percent American Airlines – 0.7 percent Updated: Monday, November 27, 2017 Caitlin Harvey 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE caitlin.harvey@dot.gov	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2932
__label__wiki	0.606121	0.606121	> Police powers to close licensed premises Police powers to close licensed premises Posted: Monday, 18 January 2010 @ 09:57 Over the past few years there have been a number of occasions when certain police forces have closed down licensed premises with immediate effect where they consider that they are operating in breach of the conditions on their Premises Licences. Just before Christmas there were 2 such cases in the north of the country where CCTV systems were not functioning. But do the Police have the power to close premises with immediate effect in such circumstances? The short answer is no. I am concerned that the Police are abusing their position if they suggest otherwise. But licensees may feel that they have no option to close in the face of such pressure by the Police. So what are the powers that the Police have over closure of licensed premises? We must first look at the Licensing Act 2003, the primary legislation dealing with licensed premises. The Police have the power to issue a closure order requiring the premises to close for up to 24 hours if there is or likely to be disorder and the closure of the premises is necessary in the interests of public safety. The order comes into effect when it is served, but the Police must apply to the Magistrates’ Court to consider the closure order, and the Licensing Authority must then carry out a Review of the Premises Licence. But note that these powers are only available where there is a disorder and public safety scenario. So the Police have looked to other legislation to justify their involvement where premises are operating under a Premises Licence but perhaps have not complied with all the conditions of that licence. The Police ploy has been to quote the Criminal Justice and Police Act of 2001. This allows the Police to serve a closure notice under that Act where premises are being used for the “unlicensed sale of intoxicating liquor for consumption on the..... premises....”. This procedure was intended to tackle a situation where no licence existed for the sale of alcohol, not where perhaps due to inadvertence or oversight a condition on the licence was not being met to the letter. However some creative policing has tried to use this in situations not intended by Parliament. But it is true to say that the use of premises for the sale of alcohol where conditions are not strictly complied with is an unlicensed sale of alcohol. So the Police win here, but what does that mean? The notice has to set out the grounds of the complaint and what steps have to be taken to remedy the situation. It does not, as the Police suggest, have the effect of closing the premises immediately. Only the magistrates have the power to close the premises, and the Police can only apply to the Magistrates not earlier than 7 days after service of the closure notice, and only then if the complaint has not been remedied. So in this situation a licensee has 7 days to get the situation sorted, and does not have to close immediately. But that is not the end of the story. The licensee could still face prosecution for breach of a licensing condition, and could find the Premises Licence challenged by a Review application by the Police. So the Police can bring great pressure to bear on a licensee who may well fear further action if they do not comply with a Police request to close immediately and stay closed until the Premises Licence condition has been complied with. If you are faced with this situation I strongly advise that you seek urgent legal advice. Nigel Musgrove Licensing Law Specialist “Cousins Business Law excels at demystifying potentially complex legal areas for small business owners” Simon Moore, MD Moore News Ltd	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2936
__label__wiki	0.929243	0.929243	These are the senators to watch in today's blockbuster hearing with Mark Zuckerberg Apr. 10, 2018, 8:55 AM Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg is set to testify at a joint hearing with the Senate's Judiciary and Commerce committees on Tuesday. There are several senators to keep an eye on, as their history with Facebook and tech giants could produce tense back-and-forths. WASHINGTON — All eyes will be on the Senate this Tuesday as Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifies at a rare joint hearing with the upper chamber's Judiciary and Commerce committees. The hearing, which will focus on privacy concerns, will allow senators to scrutinize the social-media mogul in ways he has never been publicly before. There are several key lawmakers to look for in the hearing. Sen. Kamala Harris of California: She's a Democrat who has typically been an ally to Silicon Valley, a major piece of her constituency. At the same time, Harris, also a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has been vocal in going after bad actors in the investigation into attempts by the Russian government to interfere in the 2016 elections. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota: As Business Insider previously reported, Klobuchar was one of the first members of the Judiciary Committee to demand Zuckerberg come to Capitol Hill. In addition, Klobuchar, who also sits on the Commerce Committee, is a sponsor of the Honest Ads Act, which would bring online political ads into the same regulated sphere as the rest of campaign activities. Zuckerberg may have publicly backed the legislation last week, but it can still be expected to come up in the hearing. Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts: He's long been a critic of large tech companies and Facebook in particular. Markey already sent a letter to Zuckerberg requesting information regarding the Cambridge Analytica scandal in advance of the hearing. Markey can be expected to take the gloves off when it is his turn to question Zuckerberg. The Republicans Among Republicans, there are several to watch closely for potential fireworks in the hearing. Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana: A member of the Judiciary Committee, Kennedy wanted to bring Zuckerberg in several weeks ago. Kennedy, know on Capitol Hill for his folksy barbs and quick wit, has thrown curveball questions in hearings before, including relentlessly grilling one Trump administration nominee last year. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas: Also a member of the Judiciary Committee, Cruz has been a vocal critic of tech companies over what many conservatives believe are attempts to "censor" users on the right. When Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube sent officials to Capitol Hill in January, Cruz questioned them over concerns among the far right that conservatives were treated unfairly through company policies and algorithms. Cruz went as far as to ask the company representatives whether they engaged in "shadow banning" conservative users, a theory that social-media platforms deliberately suppress content produced from right-leaning users. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina: For questions to be peppered at Zuckerberg from a national security angle on Tuesday, look no further than Graham, a member of the Judiciary Committee. Graham has previously gone after major tech companies. Graham questioned representatives from Facebook, Twitter, and Google in a hearing last October about foreign actors including Russia. Graham also suggested that legislative action may need to be taken to prevent abuses in the future. The hearing is expected to last a few hours, beginning at 2:15 ET on Tuesday. Zuckerberg's will be one of the most high-profile testimonies in months. He will be back on Capitol Hill early Wednesday morning to face the House Commerce Committee. SEE ALSO: Activists troll Scott Pruitt with posters across Washington amid brutal week of burgeoning scandals More: Facebook Mark Zuckerberg Kamala Harris Lindsey Graham	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2937
__label__wiki	0.896131	0.896131	SpaceX launched and landed two rockets this weekend — here are stunning photos of the doubleheader Kevin Loria SpaceX had a historic weekend with two successful launch and landings. SpaceX/Flickr Elon Musk's aerospace company SpaceX successfully launched two payloads into orbit over the weekend, and then landed the first-stage booster from each rocket onto one of the company's drone ships. On Friday, SpaceX launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the first telecommunications satellite for the country of Bulgaria from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The first stage booster for that rocket — which had already been launched, landed, and refurbished once before — was successfully maneuvered down for a safe landing on a barge called "Of Course I Still Love You". On Sunday, SpaceX launched another Falcon 9 carrying 10 satellites for Iridium Communications from Vandenberg Air Force Base, located northwest of Los Angeles. The first stage booster from that rocket was landed on the ship "Just Read the Instructions," which was floating in the Pacific. These events marked the fastest turnaround for SpaceX launches from two different sites, according to Spaceflight Now. SpaceX's continued success with landing and re-using boosters could save the company and its customers millions of dollars. Here's what the historic weekend launches looked like. The Falcon 9 carrying Bulgaria's satellite launched at 3:10 p.m. EDT on June 23. That launch was supposed to happen four days earlier, but a valve on the fairing (the part of the rocket protecting the payload) needed to be replaced. That delay set SpaceX up for the weekend doubleheader. This was the second time a used first stage booster was successfully launched and landed. The ability to re-use rocket parts could save SpaceX and its customers millions of dollars on each launch. Over time, the goal is to make spaceflight — and eventually space colonization — affordable. Sunday's Iridium satellite mission launched from the California Coast at 1:25 p.m. PDT. It was the first mission to use upgraded titanium fins to steer the first stage of the rocket back to Earth. The fins are designed to make it easier for boosters to land in windy weather. Smoke and fog slightly obscured the blastoff. After the second launch, Musk said in a tweet that SpaceX is getting closer to recovering the rocket fairings for further re-use as well. Source: Elon Musk, Twitter SEE ALSO: Elon Musk spent $1 billion developing SpaceX's reusable rockets — here's how fast he might make it all back More: Features SpaceX Falcon 9 Rockets Satellite Launch	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2938
__label__wiki	0.903109	0.903109	Business Observer Friday, Feb. 22, 2019 4 months ago Epoch developer says Sarasota condo tower will be epic project Seaward Development to begin work on 23-unit tower later this year Seaward Development Co. Principal Patrick DiPinto III lives and works a short distance away from the site of his planned $110 million, luxury condominium tower Epoch, which is slated to break ground in downtown Sarasota this winter. That both challenges and terrifies him. “I’m a little afraid of my buyers,” he says. “These are discerning, high-quality people. They own multiple houses, and they want the best. What if I run into them on the street and they’re not happy? So I keep that in the forefront of my mind. We want our customers to have a great experience with us.” The fear also challenges him to develop what he believes will be “the finest quality residential product that Sarasota has ever seen.” “This is going to be a legacy project for our company,” DiPinto, a former New England custom home builder, says of the 18-story tower. “It’s going to be both contemporary and timeless at the same time.” Delivery on the 23-unit tower, at 605 S. Gulfstream Ave., is anticipated in early 2021. To date, Seward — a partnership between DiPinto and financier David Hargreaves — has a dozen reservations, which are currently being converted to contracts following the state’s December acceptance of Epoch’s condo documents. Epoch units are being priced from $3.3 million to more than $6.5 million — among the most expensive new condo units on the market at present in Sarasota. But DiPinto says Epoch, which is being designed by Miami-based architect Nichols Brosch Wurst Wolfe — with a nod to the Sarasota School of Architecture’s abundant use of glass and light — will be worth the cost. Gilbane Building Co. will serve as the general contractor on the project. “Everything from the parking to sound attenuation to the thicker concrete slab we’re putting in, to the fact that we’re insulating every interior wall — will be first rate,” DiPinto says. “The architects think we’re crazy. “But we do it because what we’re really interested in doing is building relationships so we have repeat business, so our customers tell their friends,” DiPinto adds. “We hear of owners all the time who go to closings and have punch lists (of items that need repairs or changes) that are 28 pages long. Twenty eight pages! I want our owners to come to closing with no punch list. That’s why I personally inspect every unit. No one moves in until I’m ready for them to.” Enduring the recession DiPinto relocated to Sarasota from New England in late 2007 after visiting friends, just in time to see the Gulf Coast’s high-end residential market implode and fall into the longest and deepest economic morass in seven decades. When the region’s economy bounced back, he started building a few custom homes, and then moved on to develop the 18-unit Park Residences of Lido Key, near the Ritz-Carlton Beach Club. From there, he found a site in downtown Sarasota and built 7 One One Palm, a 16-unit condo project. The 23-unit Epoch will arise on the site of the former 14-unit Versailles apartments, which Seaward bought at a cost of about $10 million over the course of months. Following the assemblage, Seward brought in Habitat for Humanity, which stripped the units of countertops, washers and dryers and other appliances, doors and anything else that the homebuilding charity could resell in its stores. “We’re not interested in projects that have hundreds of units,” DiPinto says. “Because of the customization we provide, we simply can’t handle that many, and we’re fine with that. “Most developers, they say their products or finishes are within industry standards for upscale projects,” DiPinto says. “I would never say that to a customer. We don’t want to be standard, we want to do things right.” Although Epoch is competing directly for buyers with Kolter Group’s 73-unit Ritz-Carlton Residences at the Sarasota Quay site and Ascentia Development’s planned 56-unit Auteur project adjacent to the Hyatt Regency Hotel downtown — both 18 stories and at prices in the millions of dollars per unit — DiPinto believes his project will sell out faster and at a premium to the others. “We think it starts with the location,” DiPinto says. “Nothing against the Ritz-Carlton or Auteur, they will no doubt be great projects. But our owners are going to be more interested in spending significant time here, not just popping into town for a few weeks a year. They like the idea of the tree-lined street, the boutique feel we’ll have because we’ll have units. COURTESY RENDERING — The 18-story, 23-unit Epoch is expected to be delivered in early 2021 in downtown Sarasota. “And then you get into building details. Our view isn’t 180 degrees — it’s better than that. The Brise-Soleil architectural element will provide shading and light so that every unit will have a different experience,” DiPinto says. “And we’re going to have a 70-foot lap pool for residents. Seventy feet!” Even more granularly, DiPinto points out the German-made appliances by Gaggenau, the Caesarstone quartz countertops and the Dornbracht Tara faucets in Epoch’s kitchens as evidence that the project will exemplify opulence and quality. “The nice thing about Sarasota buyers is they get it,” DiPinto says. “They want quality, and they appreciate quality and they don’t mind paying for real quality. I don’t think we’re having to sell them so much as we’re providing them information regarding choices about the best building in town.” DiPinto is convinced Seaward overpaid for the land for Epoch and spent more than it had to in hiring Gilbane, which was also the general contractor on Park Residences at Lido. But both costs, he justifies, were ultimately necessary and a good investment. “We may have paid millions of dollars more than perhaps we had to, but the way I look at it, it’s an insurance policy for us,” he says. “Gilbane is a superior builder. And ultimately, what we’re after is providing our customers with the best experience possible so that we can move on to the next project, whatever that may be, and have those buyers follow us there or tell their friends to do so.” New York's Red Apple Group planning a "destination block" in St. Petersburg To Renovate or Sell?	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2939
__label__cc	0.699901	0.300099	Home» Motoring News » Speed Cameras – It’s the Same Old Song! But No Ones Listening Speed Cameras – It’s the Same Old Song! But No Ones Listening You couldn’t have missed this, but cuts in road safety budgets are prompting some council’s to change how they use speed cameras, or perhaps even do away with them totally. In response, nine UK based road safety groups have got together to effectively defend the speed camera as what they refer to as “an effective part of a much broader programme to save lives and reduce injuries on UK roads” The references to a “much broader programme” are however where this falls down, as many of these safety groups have primarily used speed cameras as the major tool in their armoury, rather than taking the time and spending the money to implement much broader improvements to make our roads safer, so I have to say it’s pretty much “the same old song” as for years now almost of the entire strategy towards road safety in the UK has been built around punishing drivers rather improving the environment that we all drive in. No one, none of us, want to see anyone injured or losing their life on our roads, but we have to accept the fact that with the number of us moving around, as pedestrians, cyclists and motorists, even if we are as careful as we can be, there are going to be accidents, lots of accidents and frankly, we can’t legislate those out of existence. For sure, speed cameras have their place and who could argue with one on the approach to a school for example; as they do slow drivers down, but fact is, drivers then speed up again once they’ve passed the camera location, although none of us would probably admit to being that driver. Simply looking at the number of people that are caught by speed cameras gives us a firm indication that “like it or not” as drivers, we don’t have much respect for the way our roads are managed and even less respect for the speed limits that are often unnecessarily imposed. So let’s look at what these nine road safety groups have said: – they want to raise public awareness, demonstrate unity and feed the wider debate with facts stated below. Speed cameras save lives – an “estimated” 100 lives a year in the UK. Lives are saved by reducing speeding as speeding significantly increases the risk of an accident happening and also increases the severity of the injuries Speed cameras should continue to be used where casualty statistics show they are needed Switching off cameras systematically would be close to creating a void in law enforcement on the road. Cameras account for 84% of fixed penalty notices for speeding. Cuts might also threaten many speed awareness courses that give motorists the opportunity to learn about the dangers of driving too fast While public spending needs to be cut, cuts must be justified by evidence. Cameras pay for themselves and currently make an important contribution to achieving compliance with the speed limit. I don’t know about you, but it’s “the same old song” and if that the best they can come up with, I am really disappointed. Nine different organisations, telling us what they refer to are the facts! Yet the very first item, which is the number of deaths speed cameras prevent, is referred by them as “estimated” and I don’t believe you will find the words ‘fact’ and ‘estimate’ meaning the same thing in the Oxford English Dictionary. We have heard what the pro speeding camera people say, so it’s only fair we look at some research that seems to tell us that these cameras can also cause accidents. New research has been carried out for motor insurance company LV and found that many drivers admitted to “behaving erratically in front of speed cameras, with thousands confessing to slamming on the brakes, or looking at the speedometer as soon as the camera came into view”. The research goes on to suggest that this behaviour could be responsible for up to 28,000 accidents since speed cameras were rolled out nationally in 2001. ICM research surveyed 1532 drivers and reported that in 1% of accidents, speed cameras were a contributory factor. So, it’s never black and white and whilst one side say that speed cameras save lives and prevent accidents, the other say they cause accidents. It’s for sure however people have little respect for what they were put there to do, otherwise, no one would ever be fined going past a camera over the limit. Lets face it, even if you are someone who regularly speeds, you’ve got to be pretty silly to get nicked on a camera that’s in your area as you know its there, so this leads you to think that its just “out of towners” that are the ones picking up the fines and the points. No one would deny, that speed can cause accidents, after all, if we all stood completely still, we wouldn’t hit anyone, but its speed in the wrong place, or wrong time, or wrong weather conditions that is dangerous, not speed per se and its time we stopped demonising anyone who breaks an arbitrary limit, simply because a group of people say it should be the limit. The whole concept of speed limits is flawed and that’s why very few drivers respect them as clearly, if it’s considered safe and legal for us to do 70mph on a motorway in the snow and ice, surely, it can’t be that awful to do 80mph on the same road on a glorious summer’s day? That’s the problem, as they seem to legislate starting from the worst case scenario, imposing fines when in all reality, the driver wasn’t doing anything dangerous at all, but simply wasn’t doing as he was told! The shame of this is that in the right place, speed cameras are a fantastic safety device to slow you down and I think everyone even persistent speeders would behave and obey the law if cameras were only in the right locations and for the right reasons. Now however, they have sprung up everywhere and it’s become a case of quantity not quality and drivers no longer think “oh, speed camera, there must be a real danger to driving too fast at this location and slow down” but instead, perceive as revenue raising cash cows, with no real purpose other than that. So my message is, don’t do away with speed cameras, but have less, in more significant and important locations, so that drivers realise the importance of the location they are approaching. Speed cameras should act as a warning that you are approaching a dangerous area where accidents are more likely, but the proliferation of speed cameras has meant that drivers have become complacent about them and their use has become devalued and they no longer alert drivers in the way they should and indeed, “could” and we should take a step back to when we first had cameras in the UK and site them in only the most sensitive locations. Have you heard the expression, “sometimes less is more” well it couldn’t suit a situation better than it does this one..	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2940
__label__cc	0.596975	0.403025	up:"Western States of USA" Research articles (11272) (approx.) Abstracts (10848) Search results: 11,655 results (approx.) Distributions of invasive arthropods across heterogeneous urban landscapes in southern California: aridity as a key component of ecological resistance. Staubus, W. J., Bird, S., Meadors, S., Meyer, W. M., (2019). Insects 10(1), 29. MDPI AG, Basel, Switzerland. English language In-situ evaluation of benthic suffocation methods for suppression of invasive Lake Trout embryos in Yellowstone Lake. Thomas, N. A., Guy, C. S., Koel, T. M., Zale, A. V., (2019). North American Journal of Fisheries Management 39(1), 104-111. Wiley, Hoboken, USA. English language Brown rice vinegar as an olfactory field attractant for Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) and Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in cherimoya in Maui, Hawaii, with implications for attractant specificity between species and estimation of relative abundance. Willbrand, B. N., Pfeiffer, D. G., (2019). Insects 10(3), 80. MDPI AG, Basel, Switzerland. English language Maternal nest-site choice does not affect egg hatching success in an invasive turtle population. Lloyd, R. B., Jr., Warner, D. A., (2019). Behaviour 156(3/4), 265-285. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands. English language Sarcocystis calchasi outbreak in feral rock pigeons (Columba livia) in California. Mete, A., Rogers, K. H., Wolking, R., Bradway, D. S., Kelly, T., Piazza, M., Crossley, B., (2019). Veterinary Pathology 56(2), 317-321. Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, USA. English language Phylogenetic analysis of exotic invasive species of the brine shrimp Artemia Leach, 1819 (Branchiopoda, Anostraca) in Al Wathba Wetland Reserve (U.A.E.; Abu Dhabi). Saji, A., Eimanifar, A., Soorae, P. S., Al-Dhaheri, S., Li WeiDong, Wang PeiZheng, Asem, A., (2019). Crustaceana 92(4), 495-503. Brill Academic Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands. English language Evidence for evolution of increased competitive ability for invasive Centaurea solstitialis, but not for naturalized C. calcitrapa. Montesinos, D., Graebner, R. C., Callaway, R. M., (2019). Biological Invasions 21(1), 99-110. Springer, Amsterdam, Netherlands. English language Biotic filtering of endophytic fungal communities in Bromus tectorum. Ricks, K. D., Koide, R. T., (2019). Oecologia 189(4), 993-1003. Springer Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany. English language Invasive range expansion of the small carpenter bee, Ceratina dentipes (Hymenoptera: Apidae) into Hawaii with implications for native endangered species displacement. Shell, W. A., Rehan, S. M., (2019). Biological Invasions 21(4), 1155-1166. Springer, Amsterdam, Netherlands. English language Home and away and home again: discovery of a native reproductive strategy of the globally invading sea anemone Diadumene lineata (Verrill, 1869) in a satellite population. Newcomer, K., Flenniken, M. M., Carlton, J. T., (2019). Biological Invasions 21(5), 1491-1497. Springer, Amsterdam, Netherlands. English language USA (11654) North America (1264) Nordic Countries (343) Alaska (342) Nevada (322) USSR (272) Puerto Rico (235) Mauritius (232) Fiji (225) Papua New Guinea (212) Korea Republic (211) Sao Paulo (205) Yugoslavia (203) Annual report section (13)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2942
__label__cc	0.621736	0.378264	It's almost impossible to imagine the practice of dentistry without x-ray technology. Radiographs (x-ray pictures) allow dentists to diagnose and treat problems not yet visible to the naked eye, including early tooth decay, gum disease, abscesses and abnormal growths. There is no question that since x-rays first became available a century ago, this diagnostic tool has prevented untold suffering and saved countless teeth. Now, state-of-the-art digital x-rays have made the technology even safer and more beneficial. Digital x-ray technology uses a small electronic sensor placed in the mouth to capture an image, which can be called up instantly on a computer screen. When digital x-rays first became available about 20 years ago, they immediately offered a host of advantages over traditional x-ray films, which require chemical processing. Most importantly, they cut the amount of radiation exposure to the dental patient by as much as 90%. While faster x-ray films have been developed over the years that require less exposure, making that difference less dramatic, a digital x-ray still offers the lowest radiation dose possible. Advantages of Digital X-Rays Besides minimizing radiation exposure, digital x-rays offer numerous advantages to dentists and patients alike. These include: No chemical processing & no waiting. Because there is no film to process with digital x-rays, there is no waiting for pictures to develop — and no toxic chemicals to dispose of. Your dentist can immediately show you the pictures on a computer screen for easy viewing. A clearer picture. It's possible to get more information from digital x-rays because they are sharper and can be enhanced in a number of ways. The contrast can be increased or decreased, and areas of concern can be magnified. It's even possible to compare them on-screen to your previous x-rays, making even the minutest changes to your tooth structure easier to detect. Easy sharing and storage. Digital x-rays provide a better visual aide for you, the patient, to understand your diagnosis and treatment options. They can be e-mailed to different locations; they are also far less likely to be misplaced. X-Rays and Your Safety While digital technology has minimized the health risks of x-rays, it has not entirely eliminated it. X-rays are a type of radiation used to penetrate the tissues of the body to create an image. In doing so, there is always a slight possibility of causing changes at the cellular level that might lead to future disease. Of course, there are sources of radiation present in the daily environment — the sun, for example — that can also cause disease. It's important to note that the chance of this happening is thought to be cumulative and not based on a single exposure. Still, x-rays are not considered risk-free regardless of how technology reduces your exposure. That's why dentists will only use them when the benefit of obtaining better diagnostic information outweighs the procedure's small risk. This is particularly true of computed tomography or CT scans, which can raise the level of exposure, yet yield a tremendous amount of information per scan. No matter which technology is being used, each case is considered individually, and your safety is always paramount. If you have questions about why an x-ray is being recommended for you, please feel free to ask. X-Ray Safety For Children Nearly every diagnostic testing procedure carries some risk, so it's always important for you and your healthcare provider to weigh the benefits against the risks. This is particularly true when it comes to children, who are more sensitive to x-rays than adults... Read Article Getting The Full Picture With Cone Beam Dental Scans Dental imaging took a major leap forward at the beginning of the new millennium with a three-dimensional technology known as cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The name comes from the cone-shaped beam of x-rays the CBCT machine projects as it rotates around a person's head, taking multiple images that are compiled into a 3-D picture by a computer. Find out what CBCT can reveal and how it helps a doctor to make a highly informed diagnosis and choice of treatment... Read Article	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2944
__label__wiki	0.514719	0.514719	The House Museum of Ghilarza preserves and exhibits Antonio Gramsci’s material legacy. There is a small corpus of everyday and work items, toys he built and gave to his wife and children, things from his prison life that his wife Julka (Giulia) Schucht and children Delio and Giuliano kept in Moscow, and things kept in Sardinia by his sister, Teresina Gramsci Paulesu. These are the only objects that still exist, aside from papers and books, that belonged to Antonio Gramsci. The House Museum consists of 6 rooms: 3 on the ground level, including a small garden with another little room, and 3 on the upper floor. Ground level – The Entrance Hall In the entrance hall on the left, a flight of stairs leads to the first floor, and on the wall to the right, which had an old chest against it for many years, there is a large photograph of the young Gramsci. Ground level – Room 1: The Guest Room To the right of the entrance hall, one enters what would have been called at one time the ‘good bedroom’. It was not a sitting room or a place to entertain, but rather a room for guests that in the past contained a bed, two chairs, a small table and a desk. Those coming in will find on the wall in front of them a large reproduction on plexiglass of the moving letter Gramsci wrote to his mother on 10 May 1928 from the San Vittore prison in Milan. In it, he recalls being detained for political reasons, finding himself serving a sentence for not wanting to change his opinions and not having anything to be ashamed of, but regretting having caused her so much grief. ‘…I would really like to hold you close so that you would feel how much I love you and how I would like to comfort you during this sorrow I have created for you: but I could not have done anything different. Life is like this, very hard, and at times sons must create great grief for their mothers if they want to preserve their honour and their dignity as men.’ On the wall to the right there is the portrait on a red background that artist George de Canino painted in 1996 as an homage to Gramsci. On a typical table (‘sa mesa’) from the Sardinian tradition there is a collection of the 1919-1920 and 1924-1925 issues of L’Ordine Nuovo, the newspaper Gramsci founded in 1919 with Palmiro Togliatti, Angelo Tasca and Umberto Terracini. In a corner of this room, a multimedia station offers visitors a place to hear the oral accounts of more than forty people who had known Gramsci when he was actively working, or in his political struggle and in his human relationships. These include Sandro Pertini, Umberto Terracini, Luigi Longo, Ignazio Silone and Lelio Basso. These statements were collected during the mid-nineteen-seventies by Gramsci’s niece, Mimma Paulesu Quercioli, as part of the preparations for the museum. Ground floor – Room 2: The Kitchen Past the entrance to the house is the kitchen with the cannitzada ceiling typical of old Sardinian houses, and a well; the room used to include some masonry stoves. Currently, the corner of this room holds a workstation for the museum’s staff. Ground floor – Room 3: The Dining Room To the right of the kitchen, there is what used to be the Gramsci family’s dining room, which in Gramsci’s day was furnished with a table in the centre, a sofa and a sideboard against the wall. Now the room acts as a library and displays paintings donated over the years by various artists. Also in this room is a station where where the digital versions of Gramsci’s writings can be consulted thanks to the Gramsci Foundation of Rome. Ground floor – 4 & 5: Courtyard and Sa omo ‘e su forru The kitchen leads to the courtyard and to another small building, which is called istaulu o sa omo ‘e su forru in Sardinian, a place where bread used to be baked. It now contains some art works, including a mixed media work by American Sarai Sherman that depicts Gramsci in prison in Turi. This work was donated to the House Museum in 1977. The surrounding garden is where, as a child, Antonio played with his brothers and the animals he brought from the countryside. During the summer of 1912, back home from Turin, feeling ill and unable to devote himself to writing, he built the flowerbed bordered by stones along the wall that still stands, where he planted roses and lemon verbena. On the upper floor of the house, which used to contain 3 bedrooms, there is an exhibit created by Elsa Fubini, who with Sergio Caprioglio edited the 1965 Einaudi edition of the Letters from Prison. A series of Gramsci’s belongings, consisting of documents, photographs and newspaper articles, offers a tour of the most important stages of his life. First floor – Room 6: Bedroom This room now holds 2 of the 9 show cases. In one, which brings the visitor back to the terrible speech by Public Prosecutor Michele Isgrò during the 1928 trial (We must stop his brain from functioning for twenty years), there are letters, books, toys and personal effects he used during his years in prison. The other show case it calls up memories and accounts from the people connected to Gramsci by affection, love and friendship. Close by you will see also a typical Sardinian cart that was used in many areas of Sardinia until the middle of the twentieth century, a faithful reproduction that Gramsci built in 1922 while staying in a nursing home in Serebryany Bor near Moscow and that was donated to the House Museum by his son Giuliano. It shows an aptitude for practical tasks referred to many times in his Letters from Prison, one that can also be seen in the two stone spheres that Antonio and his brothers polished, which, along with a wooden dumbbell, they used for exercise (exhibited on the first floor, Room 7, display 3). On the wall in front of the stairway, a large plexiglass panel shows a picture of the prison cell in Turi, near Bari, where Gramsci lived for more than five years. It also has a reproduction of an excerpt from the letter he wrote to his mother on February 29, 1932. Despite his suffering and his long imprisonment, Antonio kept up his sense of irony: Dear mother, … I should also say to Teresina that I thank her and her children for the thought they had of sending me the violets from Chenale and the bulbs of wild cyclamen, but I cannot accept their gifts; this would be against the rule that seeks to maintain the punishing character of a prison sentence. So I must suffer, and therefore no violets and cyclamen, no little devils from nature must tickle my nostrils with fragrance, nor my eyes with the colours of flowers… In the second bedroom, where the Gramsci children and their aunt Grazia used to sleep, there are now the other 7 show cases. These recreate through letters, documents and photographs the attention Gramsci paid to the Sardinian language and his native city, his university days in Turin, his work as a journalist, his political militancy until his arrest, his internment, prison and death. The last bedroom with the ceiling a cannitzada and a window facing the garden, was his parents’ room. It used to contain a bookshelf, and Antonio would read there for almost the entire day. Currently, this room holds some furniture from the Gramsci House that help to reconstruct young Gramsci’s bedroom: a chest of drawers, a bed (the one from the ‘good bedroom’ where Antonio slept as a boy) and a basin he used to wash up. The Gramsci House Museum of Ghilarza has received the attention of the Regional Commission for the cultural heritage of Sardinia as having cultural, historic and artistic interest with Decree no. 6 of January 26, 2016. Fifty years after its establishment in the Italian Parliament, Law no. 207 of November 3, 2016 declared it to be a National Monument.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2948
__label__wiki	0.94494	0.94494	Trinidad Government condemns remarks made by Opposition Leader The Trinidad and Tobago government has condemned the “despicable and nakedly racist” comments made by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar at a political meeting earlier this week when she referred to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley as an “Oreo”. “Whilst this government has been guiding and leading the country in a stable, inclusive and productive way, through a number of difficult and demanding situations…. Mrs Kamla Persad Bissessar and the United National Congress (UNC) have once again attempted to destabilize the country by consciously and intentionally utilizing race to divide and destroy Trinidad and Tobago,” according to a government statement issued here late on Tuesday night. Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar and Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley (File Photo) It said that on September 10, Persad Bissessar, addressing a UNC public meeting “attacked the Prime Minister Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley in a despicable and nakedly racist manner by calling him an “Oreo” adding “this continued naked racial and divisive behaviour by Mrs Persad Bissessar is hereby condemned in the strongest manner. Persad Bissessar told party supporters that the so called “one per cent” here, a reference to the white powerful and influential members of the society, had tried to own former prime minister Patrick Manning and herself and failed in that regard. “They have their Oreo now who is their guy who is Keith Christopher Rowley and that’s how their one per cent friends and family…control him,” she told supporters. In the statement, the government said that it “will not condone the use of race or class to attack any citizen of Trinidad and Tobago and we reject the continued disdainful and backward politics of the Opposition being led by Mrs Kamla Persad Bissessar and her attempts to stir up racial tension in the country. “May every creed and race continue to find an equal place in Trinidad and Tobago,” the statement said. Meanwhile, The Women’s League of the ruling People’s National Movement(PNM) said it “utterly condemns the clearly racist and offensive description” of the Opposition Leader adding “that nothing short of an unequivocal apology to the Prime Minister and Political Leader from her and her party will suffice. “The Urban Dictionary defines “oreo” as “an insulting term often used by blacks to derogate other blacks,” and therefore this represents a new low, even for a former Prime Minister. Such race-baiting has no place in the politics of Trinidad and Tobago and deserves to be condemned by all, including her own Hindu Women’s Group and all the other Women’s organizations who, without fail, call the PNM and its leader to account for every perceived infraction against women,” the League said in a statement. “Mrs. Persad-Bissessar’s racist description on Monday night therefore speaks clearly to something deeply ingrained in a woman who, unfortunately, still seeks to convince others of her suitability for the job of Prime Minister.,” it added.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2949
__label__wiki	0.845947	0.845947	Kingston fire forces seniors to hotels for Christmas Seniors driven out of their homes by last week’s Kingston apartment fire say they’re trying to make the best of their bad situation. Royal Canadian Legion Villa staff getting residents to churches for food, music CBC News · Posted: Dec 24, 2013 3:41 PM ET \| Last Updated: December 24, 2013 Staff are getting a look inside the long-term care home damaged last week (no audio). 1:08 Fifty-six people living at the Royal Canadian Legion Villa at 671 Princess Street were forced to evacuate on Dec. 17 when a massive fire tore through a building under construction at 663 Princess Street. Nearly 30 of them are now homeless and could be unable to return for months. Kingston crane dismantled 4 days after massive fire Kingston evacuees await dismantling of fire-damaged crane Crane worker saved from Kingston fire in 'extremely unusual rescue' Felix Patterson said he's staying at a Kingston, Ont. hotel for Christmas after the fire. (CBC) As staff members are finally allowed back in to survey the damage, residents said they’re pondering what to do without most or all of their possessions. “I’m disappointed,” said Patricia Baker, who was living at the Villa. “We walked out with what we had on our backs.” 'If we're all together, we're family' Many of the fire, smoke and water-damaged apartments at the Villa will have to be gutted, staff said. There’s also major damage to the building’s roof and basement from the nearby blaze, where temperatures reached 1,000 C. Patricia Baker was a resident at the Royal Canadian Legion Villa. (CBC) Felix Patterson said he has no family to stay with, so he’s joining many other residents in a hotel across the street. “I never expected this was going to be the type of Christmas we’d be getting,” he said. Area churches are opening their doors to many of the displaced residents for music and food during the Christmas season. “If we’re all together, we’re family,” Baker said. “We’re going to make the best of what we have. That's all we can do.”	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2950
__label__wiki	0.856567	0.856567	Study: Milwaukee Hosts Largest Racial Job Gap In Country October 22, 2008 / 7:23 AM / UWIRE.com This story was written by Jack Kelly, The Marquette Tribune More than half of working-age black males in Milwaukee do not have jobs, according to a study released by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The study also showed that the disparity in Milwaukee between white and black joblessness is the worst in American cities. In Milwaukee, 51.1 percent of black males were jobless in 2007, up from 46.8 percent a year prior. The rate for white males was 18.6 percent. In the study, "jobless" is defined as males, ages 16 to 64 who are not employed. The typically accepted measure, the unemployment rate, was not an accurate representation, according to study director Marc Levine, because it tends to understate the full scope of the problem. Levine, the director of the UW-Milwaukee Center for Economic Development, said one of the study's goals is to show that the efforts to address this issue are failing. "What we've been trying to do in this community to address this issue clearly isn't working," Levine said. "The numbers continue to get worse, not better. And given perilous economic conditions on the horizon, we have every reason to fear that conditions may get even worse." Levine pointed out that even though the number of black Milwaukeeans with high school and college diplomas continues to increase, black joblessness continues to be a problem. The percentage of black Milwaukeeans with a high school diploma rose from 34 percent to 76.1 percent between 1970 and 2007, according to the study. "These statistics suggest that the view of education as a panacea to the crisis of black male joblessness is, at a minimum, simplistic," Levine said. Ralph Hollmon, president and CEO of the Milwaukee Urban League, said one of the major problems is determining why Milwaukee's rate is so high. "One of the tough things to figure out is why Milwaukee is so much worse," Hollmon said. "None of us have the answer, and we've got to come together and figure that out." Milwaukee trails only Buffalo, N.Y., in black male joblessness out of 35 selected large metro areas, and is second to none in racial disparity. The gap between whites without a job and blacks without a job is 32.5 percent, according to the study, the largest in the country. Hollmon said he thinks fixing this disparity will ultimately have a positive effect on the public as a whole. "If we could mitigate it, I believe the quality of life for everybody in our city and region and state would be a whole lot better," Hollman said. Levine said the city of Milwaukee should provide programs, and investing in infrastructure has been proven to work. "The private sector labor market isn't flourishing," Levine said. "It's not generating enough jobs." One of the solutions discussed in the study is a light rail system that will aim to connect the unemployed with places where there are jobs. "We know less about economic development than we think we do, but one of the things we do know is infrastructure investments are absolutely essential," Levine said. Donald Sykes, director of Milwaukee's Office of Workforce Development, said residents need to be aware of how taxes can be beneficial in solving an issue like this. "(Citizens have) just this blind, hold-down-taxes approach," Sykes said. "And I think we need to look at certain examples of when we have taxes, what benefits do we get out of it?" Fifteenth District Alderman Willie Hines, Jr., president of the Common Council, said the key is diversity of programs in order to combat the issue of joblessness. "There must be both institutional and individual acountability," he said. "We have to entertain as many different possibilities to employ those who are unemployed and underemployed." First published on October 22, 2008 / 7:23 AM UWIRE.com	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2951
__label__wiki	0.712171	0.712171	Climate disasters cost the world $650 billion over 3 years — Americans are bearing the brunt: Morgan Stanley Published Thu, Feb 14 2019 6:27 AM EST Updated Thu, Feb 14 2019 8:30 AM EST Tom DiChristopher@tdichristopher North America absorbed two-thirds of the global cost of climate disasters over the last three years, Morgan Stanley says. At $415 billion, the price of the disasters is equal to 0.66 percent of North America's GDP. Morgan Stanley warns that near-term disruptions and long-term structural changes present risks to many sectors of the economy. A Cal Fire firefighter monitors a burning home as the Camp Fire moves through the area on November 9, 2018 in Magalia, California. Justin Sullivan \| Getty Images Climate-related disasters have cost the world $650 billion over the last three years, and North America is shouldering most of the burden, according to a new report from Morgan Stanley. While governments and corporations are taking steps to mitigate the impacts of climate change, Morgan Stanley says private enterprises need to strongly consider preparing for a world gripped by more frequent and intense weather events, rising sea levels, changes to agriculture and the spread of infectious disease. Those outcomes will have a lopsided effect across industries, raising risks for some and creating opportunities for others. "We expect the physical risks of climate change to become an increasingly important part of the investment debate for 2019," Morgan Stanley equity strategists Mark Savino, Jessica Alsford and Victoria Irving said in a research note Wednesday. At $650 billion, the three-year price of climate disasters totals just over a quarter of a percent of global gross domestic product, the analysts say. The investment bank warns that the situation may only get worse, noting that damages associated with global warming could total $54 trillion by 2040, according to a UN panel composed of the world's top climate scientists. Morningstar: Climate change poses challenge to investors Street Signs Europe The United States is bearing the brunt of climate change's toll on the economy. Morgan Stanley says climate-related disasters like hurricanes and wildfires have cost North America $415 billion, or two-thirds of the global total. That equals 0.66 percent of North American GDP. Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said 14 weather and climate disasters cost the nation $91 billion in 2018, Earth's fourth hottest year on record. The assessment lands at a time when the U.S. is at a crossroads over climate change. Liberals on Capitol Hill are pushing a Green New Deal to overhaul the U.S. economy in just 10 years, while a select committee led by establishment House Democrats is pursuing a more modest approach to tackling global warming. President Donald Trump continues to cast doubt on the consensus among climate scientists and U.S. government agencies that greenhouse gas emissions from human activity are warming the planet. His administration, backed by congressional Republicans, is seeking to boost fossil fuel production and push through a broad rollback of Obama-era policies aimed at lowering U.S. emissions. After the U.S., Asia is most exposed to the cost of climate disasters, absorbing $180 billion in economic damages, equal to 0.24 percent of regional GDP, Morgan Stanley says. Parts of the two regions — including the U.S. Gulf and East Coasts, China and the Philippines — are also at greatest risk of sea level rise and adverse weather events. Changes to agricultural conditions will also have big impact on parts of North America and Asia, in addition to Europe and Central America. The spread of infectious disease is of greatest concern to Africa, Latin America and other developing regions, the bank says. Rising Risks: Climate gentrification takes hold in Miami In the near term, Morgan Stanley sees climate change posing risk of negative disruptions to a dozen sectors, from agriculture to oil and gas production. Just four sectors — capital goods, home improvement retail, lodging and construction machinery — could reap benefits from those near-term disruptions. Over the longer term, structural changes are seen negatively impacting nine sectors, including many of the industries that also face near-term hurdles. Real estate, leisure and consumer retail are also on the list. Other sectors, like auto manufacturing, biotechnology, health care and pharmaceuticals, insurance, mining and utilities, could find opportunity in structural change. Drilling down, the four main vectors that Morgan Stanley identifies — sea-level rise, weather events, changes in agriculture and infectious disease — will impact sectors in different ways. For example, rising sea levels are expected to hurt property values for coastal real estate and disrupt apparel supply chains in Asia. However, it could also boost spending on machinery to rebuild seaside infrastructure and spark higher sales of capital goods like commercial pumps and other water management products.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2953
__label__wiki	0.881082	0.881082	George R.R. Martin: No more free Winds of Winter chapters Game of Thrones freeloaders have read enough of the long-awaited sixth book, thanks to reviewers being snooty about pre-released samples. Gael Fashingbauer Cooper May 1, 2018 12:38 PM PDT You're not getting any more sneak peeks at Winds of Winter, even if you're royalty. George R.R. Martin has been pretty generous with sample chapters from Winds of Winter, his long-awaited sixth book in the series that inspired HBO's Game of Thrones. No more. On Monday, Martin commented on his blog about the upcoming Targaryen history, Fire & Blood, which will be published in November. A fan had asked for more sample chapters from Winds of Winter, and Martin surprisingly responded. But not in the way the fan may have hoped. George R.R. Martin drops just one Winds of Winter plot hint Game of Thrones final season: Release date, cast and theories George R.R. Martin has news on two Game of Thrones books "I don't know," the author wrote. "I think I have probably released too many sample chapters already. Put them all together, and what, there are probably more than a hundred pages." Martin went on to say he's always enjoyed releasing sample chapters and reading them at conventions. But he says he's been dinged for this practice when reviews criticize his new books as containing "old, retread" materials because parts of them have been shared. "In the minds of some, what should have been a brand new reading experience became old and familiar," he wrote. "It's not worth it putting up sample chapters and giving readings if it means it will come back and bite me in the ass when the book is finally published." Fans then begged Martin to release the chapters he'd already delivered at cons, which include a chapter about fan favorite Tyrion Lannister, but the author said no. (Here's where you can read or listen to the released TWOW chapters.) And when another fan asked if Martin had thought of dividing The Winds of Winter into two books, as was done with 2005's A Feast for Crows and 2011's A Dance With Dragons, Martin said it was unlikely. "I am resisting that notion," he wrote, acknowledging that it's been suggested by his publisher. 20 things we're dying to see in the final season of 'Game of Thrones' TV and Movies Game of Thrones Discuss: George R.R. Martin: No more free Winds of Winter chapters	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2955
__label__wiki	0.826993	0.826993	Scholar Profiles Leila Janah, 2000 Relentlessly Striving to Give Everyone a Fair Chance In Sanskrit, the word, “sama,” means “equal” and it’s a fitting prefix for the three organizations Leila Janah has founded: Samasource, Samahope and SamaUSA. She even has “sama” tattooed on her wrist as a persistent reminder of what she feels she was put on the earth to do: create a more level playing field that gives everyone a chance. “Eighty percent of humanity does not have a fair shot,” she explains. “It’s our job as a human species to make the set of opportunities more equal.” Leila’s passion for social justice began at an early age. In high school at the California Academy of Math & Science, she started a local chapter of Amnesty International, organized the school’s first debate about international issues and worked with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to promote equity in educational funding. After graduating early at the age of 17, she used a scholarship to fund a trip to Ghana where she volunteered as an English teacher. Her six months in Ghana gave her deep exposure to some of the world’s most extreme poverty and solidified the focus that would fuel her life’s work from then on. “Globally, the problem of poverty is so enormous that it’s hard to wrap one’s head around it. Figuring out a long-term solution to the problem still drives me – it’s my life’s quest.” While in Ghana, she received her invitation to the Coca-Cola Scholarship finalists’ weekend in a way she will never forget. “My FedEx package arrived in the hands of a barefoot boy from one of the local villages,” she remembers. “How he got it, and knew it was for me, I’ll never know. The address had only my name, the name of the town and Ghana on it. Since I was the only foreigner for miles, I guess he figured it must be for me.” Leila used her Coca-Cola Scholarship to help fund her education at Harvard, where she worked three jobs to make ends meet. The strength, energy and determination she drew on to finance her education prepared her for what she would need to start a non-profit organization. The business model she created at Samasource connects women and youth living in poverty to dignified work via the Internet. Using proprietary technology, the digital work is broken down into small tasks, or microwork, that can be completed by those who have basic English skills and access to a computer along with a few weeks of training. “Millions of people live on less than $3 a day,” Leila points out. “When I was in Ghana, I found that people would rather work than receive traditional aid, but jobs are scarce and those that are available are terrible and don’t take advantage of their skills. Women and youth who are literate and live in an area where there’s electricity can connect to computers and accomplish tasks, such as transcribing, tagging and data-mining content, that will help lift them and their families out of poverty.” Watch Leila speak at TEDx Brussels: Launching Samasource in 2008, she faced formidable obstacles, including the stock market crash that September. Finding donations, even small ones, was difficult. She also faced skepticism about whether her model would work, since its emphasis was not on providing services, which was the traditional way to deal with poverty. And, she had the challenge of convincing the best people in the industry to quit lucrative jobs to move into a position with no equity and far less pay. “I had to take on outside jobs, like being an SAT tutor, and I gave up my apartment and slept on a friend’s couch,” she recalls. “It was incredibly hard to see my friends in Silicon Valley buying mansions. But, I pounded the pavement and over time, companies started to come around. The major development organizations also started to take our ideas seriously.” Her resolve paid off and in 2012 Samasource raised $7 million that allowed investments in growth. To date, Samasource has trained and paid 3,200 workers, enabling 15,000 people to permanently move out of poverty. Samasource has also brought in new clients, including Google, Microsoft and Getty Images. Accompanying this growth, Leila spun out Samahope, which is a separate initiative that provides funding for lifesaving surgeries for women and children who cannot afford them. These simple surgeries include cleft palette repair and burn injury treatment. She also piloted her latest program, SamaUSA, in 2012 and it is scheduled to launch in San Francisco in January 2013. “Most of the work we do is international, but here at home, we live in a scary time with the highest rate of income inequality since before the Great Depression,” she notes. “SamaUSA will try to level the playing field within our own borders and I’d love to have Coca-Cola Scholars involved.” Referring to her Scholar peers, she says, “It’s a powerful, connected community that will produce the next generation of leading CEOs, politicians, environmentalists and activists. I believe the people who will truly drive the change we need will come from this group.” Watch Leila speak at TEDx Silicon Valley and at the Clinton Global Initiative 2010 More about Leila can be found at her website. Photo above courtesy of Stephen Foskett via flickr Trash to Treasure How Samuel Alemayehu is Revolutionizing his Hometown with Africa’s First Waste-to-Energy Facility By: Lauren O'Brien When Empathy Goes Viral How Nathan Alexander is Creating Social Justice Through Mathematics Meet Joe: The Small Town Scholar Featured in Coke’s New ‘Dear Future’ Ad “Playing the role of myself, as a Coca-Cola Scholar, helped me reminisce about how special of an experience it was,” Joe said. By: Hannah Nemer	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2957
__label__wiki	0.951758	0.951758	Chester City FC: Looking back on a decade of highs and lows for the Blues with our panel of experts Chester City have packed more into the last 10 years than many clubs have managed in their entire history. Cheshire Live Two relegations, a promotion, administration and no fewer than 14 full-time managers... the list goes on. To mark the end of a turbulent decade for the Blues, we asked a panel of experts to pick out their best and worst moments from ‘The Noughties’. Here is what they told us. JONATHAN LEGARD (City supporter and BBC Formula One commentator) Best moment: Promotion from the Conference in 2004. Classic Chester – back in the big time, and then hours before our Football League return, manager Mark Wright is on his way out of the club, and the rest has been pretty much misery ever since. Worst moment: Relegation from the Football League in May 2000. I got ‘patched’ into Radio Merseyside from the BBC Radio F1 commentary box in Barcelona for the whole of that sorry afternoon, and felt like jumping out of it at the top of the grandstand after the final whistle. Favourite player: Split decision between Daryl Clare and Jonathan Walters – Clare because of his ability (unrivalled at Conference level) to find space and goals seemingly at will (reminiscent of Stuart Rimmer, dare I say it) and Walters for his endless running and never-say-die attitude Best match: April 15, 2000 – 2-1 at Leyton Orient. The loudest Chester away following I’ve ever been part of helped earn a morale-boosting away win under Ian Atkins. If only the remaining results of that season had finished as strongly... Favourite manager: Graham Barrow. Yet again, his expertise and bond with the club and its supporters were squandered by the owners, and the promise of an immediate return to the Football League was wasted, even though he masterminded our last cup triumph, the Nationwide Variety Club Trophy, at Kingstonian. Wish for 2010: Simple – the survival and revival of Chester City FC, after it was dragged into a black hole under the ownership of the Vaughan family. CHARLIE LAMBERT (Blues fan and broadcaster) Best moment: Seeing the team applauded onto the pitch at Edgar Street after we’d pipped Hereford to the Conference championship. After so many years of having very little to cheer it was a genuinely emotional moment. Worst moment: Summer 2009 when the penny dropped that we had emerged from administration with the regime that took us there in even firmer control. Favourite player: Kevin McIntyre. Outstanding left-back perfectly suited to our wing-back tactics of the time. Quick, determined, good at set-pieces, terrific attitude. Best match: Winning 3-0 at Halifax in the season we won the Conference. The football was excellent and we were always in control of the match.Favourite manager: Mark Wright. Keith Curle produced the most attractive football I’ve seen from Chester for a long time but Wright knew what it would take to get us back into the Football League and delivered the goods. Wish for 2010: That the Vaughan family transfer ownership to genuine investors with the good of the club at heart. Failing that, my wish is that City Fans United become key players in establishing a phoenix club that represents the city in a positive fashion, whatever league we may be in. NEIL TURNER (Chester City correspondent for BBC Radio Merseyside) Best moment: That would be in April 2004 when Chester beat Exeter City 3-2 in front of a crowd of 4,000. I know a lot of people would go for Scarborough a week after, but for me this was the result that virtually assured promotion. I just had a feeling in my bones. Worst moment: Without a doubt it was in 2000 and the home game against Peterborough United, which Chester lost to confirm their relegation to the Conference. I’ll always remember the day because I went out for a meal with my wife in the night and I never said a word. It was a horrible feeling. Favourite player: Paul Carden. Not the most gifted player ever to player for Chester, but his energy, enthusiasm and industry was outstanding. He was the captain of the Conference-winning side. He was a leader. Best match: I’d have to go back to that Exeter game in 2004, but two other matches stand out in that memorable season – namely the 6-2 win at Leigh RMI on New Year’s Day having beaten the same opponents 5-0 on Boxing Day.Favourite manager: The obvious choice would be Mark Wright after winning the Conference title, but Ian Atkins just edges it for me. I thought he did a tremendous job in trying to avoid relegation in 2000, which he so nearly achieved in dreadful circumstances. Wish for 2010: For new and positive ownership to come into the club and arrest the slide of the past two years, which will allow the club to move forward. Unfortunately, relegation is a certainty this season but the club has to regroup, hopefully at Blue Square North level. SHANE PINNINGTON (Dee 106.3’s Chester City correspondent) Best moment: Sealing promotion back to the League in 2004. Darryn Stamp’s winner at home to Scarborough will live long in the memory, as will Wayne Brown’s celebrations on the radio while he was summarising for us on the day. Worst moment: Last year’s relegation. I think we all knew how lucky we were to survive relegation the season before, but I think we all knew it wouldn’t be avoided this time round. It ended up being a slow, painful experience. Favourite player: Daryl Clare’s scoring record was immense, but my vote goes to Danny Collins. It was really nice to see a local lad do well for us, and the way in which he was made into a centre-back having been brought to the club as a striker was an amazing transformation.Best match: The match that sticks out in my recent memory was the 3-0 FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest at the Deva under Keith Curle. The football we played that day was great to watch. The fans went home and talked about that performance for days. Favourite manager: Mark Wright won us promotion back to the League so deserves a shout, as do both Keith Curle and Bobby Williamson. But my vote goes to current boss Jimmy Harvey. Hopefully the club can sort itself out off the pitch and keep hold of Jim because, given half a chance, he’s the man to change the club’s fortunes on the pitch. Wish for 2010: That the club survives, first and foremost. If City can sort out all the off-the-field issues and keep hold of the current manager, then hopefully we can enjoy watching our beloved Blues again. CHAS SUMNER (Chester City historian) Best moment: Without doubt securing promotion back to the Football League with a 1-0 win over Scarborough in April 2004. There was so much tension in that game and it proved to be a great climax to a thrilling season. Worst moment: Everything in 2009! It was soul-destroying to see the way that the old company went into administration and took a 10-point penalty, only to re-emerge with the same people in charge and a further points deduction. The whole restructure was badly misjudged and left a nasty taste in the mouth. To expect everything to carry on as normal after that was an insult to the supporters. Favourite player: Daryl Clare. I haven’t seen such a lethal scorer since the days of Stuart Rimmer. From the moment he scored two on his debut against Yeovil, his record was second to none. Best match: Besides that 1-0 win over Scarborough I would go for the 3-3 draw at Wycombe in 2005. That was a tremendously exciting, end to end game. Favourite manager: Although Mark Wright did a great job in his first spell with the club I also liked Keith Curle. Some of the football we played under him was very entertaining. I’m also a big fan of Jim Harvey’s. His behaviour has been exemplary under difficult circumstances. Wish for 2010: To get back to supporting an honest and professionally-run football club where the only concern is what happens on the pitch. As Chester stumble into their 125th year, I currently see no cause for optimism. BARRIE HIPKISS (supporters’ club stalwart) Best moment: Getting promoted back into the League in 2004. I didn’t think we’d do it after getting relegated, and certainly not as easily as we did. It was a great achievement by Mark Wright. Worst moment: What is happening now. The fans are in desperate need of some honesty. All we want is a stable club. Favourite player: There’s two. Danny Collins, for what he’s achieved since leaving Chester, and John Danby, for breaking the club record for the number of consecutive appearances last season. If had to choose one, I’d say John Danby, because he’s stayed loyal to the club through some tough times. Best match: A lot of people would say the Scarborough game, but I’d go for the FA Cup tie at home to Oxford United in 2000. They were a League team and we were non-league, but we came from 2-0 down to win 3-2. Favourite manager: Keith Curle did a lot for the club and came over very well to the fans, while Mark Wright did a fantastic job in getting us promoted, and also when he came for a third time. But I’ll go for Jim Harvey, for the way he has conducted himself in difficult circumstances, and the way he is bringing the younger players on.Wish for 2010: That the club resolves all of its problems. I also wish the new supporters group, City Fans United, the best of luck. (Blues fan and broadcaster) Wish for 2010: That the club resolves all of its problems. I also wish the new supporters group, City Fans United, the best of luck. John Danby Dee 106.3 Kevin McIntyre	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2958
__label__cc	0.545778	0.454222	Conservative Club Below is a copy of the Conservative Party Code of Conduct for the leadership and management of volunteers. What are the aims and objectives of this Code of Conduct? As one of the UK’s largest voluntary organisations, and one which plays a central and active role in the good governance of the nation, the Conservative Party prides itself on being an open and inclusive body in which anyone who works or volunteers for the Party can play a fulfilling and active role free of any unwanted and/or unwelcome behaviour towards them including, but not limited to, bullying, discrimination, harassment and/or victimisation of any sort. The Conservative Party makes every effort to ensure that its employees and its volunteers, are appropriately supported in their roles, for their own welfare and fulfilment and so that they can flourish along with the Party. Purpose of this Code of Conduct • To ensure that volunteering for the Party is an enjoyable and constructive experience. • To support equality of opportunity and diversity in all aspects of the Party’s activities. • To set out the behaviour expected from anyone representing the Party when leading, managing and working with volunteers. This Code of Conduct sets out the framework of behaviour expected of those Volunteer Leaders (listed at Who is the Code of Conduct for? below), who are required as a strict condition of their ongoing employment by, membership of, engagement with and/or (in the case of any organisation which is formally recognised by the Party) recognition by the Party, to adhere to this Code of Conduct in the leadership and management of Volunteers. Who is the code of conduct for?: This Code of Conduct is for anyone who formally represents the Party who is leading, managing and working with Party volunteers on any Party sponsored or recognised activity (Volunteer Leaders). Volunteer Leaders may include CCHQ staff, Conservative Association staff, staff of affiliated organisations and bodies formally recognised by the Conservative Party Board, as well as staff, officers and campaign leaders (regardless of membership status) of Conservative Associations and affiliated and recognised organisations. What standards are expected of Volunteer Leaders? All Volunteer Leaders must: • Act according (a) to the highest standards expected of any employee or Conservative Party officer, manager or leader (b) in accordance with public statements regarding the Party’s values in the respect of, and behaviour towards, others made by official Party representatives (c) to a standard that could reasonably be expected by such a person and/or role holder. • Provide a positive role model for the Party and for others; conducting themselves with, and fostering an environment of, tolerance, integrity, openness and honesty. • Respect the dignity of Party Volunteers, including any choice (a) not to volunteer (b) to cease volunteering and/or (c) to make a complaint against another Party Volunteer. • Ensure that, as far as possible, Party Volunteers have opportunities for giving satisfying and motivating voluntary support to the Party and its Associations and affiliates. This includes ensuring that Party Volunteers are able to make contributions to achieve success and are matched to voluntary work commensurate with their skills, experience and abilities. • Not exploit, or create any sense of inappropriate obligation between themselves and any Party Volunteer for personal benefit or personal gain. • Strive to uphold good practice in volunteer management as could reasonably be expected at all times; this includes (but is not limited to) ensuring the absence of any threats, intimidation, unwanted behaviour, bullying, discrimination, harassment and/or victimisation of any Party Volunteer by any Volunteer Leader. • Foster co-operation and mutual goodwill between Party Volunteers and Party employees. If employed by the Party, work with their employer (e.g. CCHQ, their Association, a recognised Party affiliate etc) to proactively support good practice in Volunteer leadership and management at all times. • Actively take steps to raise any issues, concerns and/or queries to an appropriate Party employee or officer at any time should they become aware of any standards, behaviour and/or issues which could reasonably be viewed as falling below the level expected. • Actively allow, and support the raising of concerns or issues arising from, but not limited to bullying, discrimination, harassment and/or victimisation by others. • Adhere to all applicable Party regulations relating to the leadership and/or management of Party Volunteers at all times. • Take necessary steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of own self as well as of Party Volunteers whilst undertaking their volunteering activities. • Celebrate successes and recognise and thank dedication, loyalty and hard work. • Be conscious of any potential conflict of interest or misunderstanding arising out of any engagement with the voluntary work etc. • Not knowingly or unreasonably act in a manner inconsistent with this Code, or knowingly or unreasonably cause or permit others to do so. • Ensure that Party Volunteers are made aware of this Code of Conduct and receive appropriate information regarding their areas of assistance, how these fit in to the Party’s overall mission and values - and how to raise issues of concern if any arise. What happens if there is a breach (perceived, suspected or otherwise) of this Code of Conduct? Any complaint or concern regarding a breach of this Code of Conduct (perceived, suspected or otherwise) may be made by any person witnessing inappropriate behaviour during Party activities. The complaint should be by phone to 020 7984 8320, by email to VolunteerCode@conservatives.com or in writing to Head of Voluntary Party, CCHQ, 4 Matthew Parker Street, London SW1H 9HQ and should be made as soon as possible after any such concerns arise. Complainants are able to nominate someone else to contact the Party via the above avenues on their behalf as necessary. Behaviour and/or incidents of concern will be duly and properly investigated by a person or body nominated by the Chairman or CEO of the Party, the Party’s Director of Organisation, Head of Voluntary Party or HR lead. The complainant will be updated as appropriate during and following any investigation. Action will be taken against persons or bodies found to have failed to act in line with this Code of Practice, or to have behaved unreasonably on the Party’s behalf. City of Chester Conservatives Promoted by Neil Sullivan on behalf of City of Chester Conservatives, both at Unionist Buildings, Nicholas Street, Chester CH1 2NX Copyright 2019 City of Chester Conservatives. All rights reserved.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2959
__label__wiki	0.955481	0.955481	Local GOP surprised, applauds Palin pick Peter Roper Reporter @RoperPeter In the chess game of presidential politics, area Republicans liked Sen. John McCain's surprise move Friday in picking Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his running mate. Dick Wadhams, state GOP chairman and campaign manager for Senate candidate Bob Schaffer, said Palin's entrance into the contest would "shake up the race" against Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and his running mate, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden. "It's a dramatic choice as well, putting Gov. Palin on the ballot," Wadhams said from the Republican National Convention site in Minneapolis. "Gov. Palin has a solid record trying to cut the cost of government and she was the one who stopped 'The Bridge to No- where.' " Wadhams was referring to a $225 million federal appropriation for a bridge in Alaska to connect Gravina Island (population 50) to the mainland. The bridge was spotlighted in 2005 by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., as an example of federal waste, and he branded it "the bridge to nowhere." Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. Don Young, both Alaska Republicans, defended the project as necessary for the island's economy but it became a notorious symbol of wasteful "earmarks" hidden in budget bills. Wadhams credited Palin with being an advocate for developing Alaskan oil reserves. "That's going to be a key issue in this election and in Colorado, developing our own energy," Wadhams said. "So I think she's an outstanding choice." But, she was not very well known Friday. Dave Dill, Pueblo County GOP chairman, said he knew of Palin as a possible running mate, but not much about her political career to date. "A lot of us are going to be doing what I'm doing today, going on the Internet to find out more about her," Dill said following the announcement Friday morning. "I'm surprised by the choice, but I like what I'm learning about her." Dill noted that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was the clear favorite among local Republicans when the state held precinct caucuses last February. Romney has been vocal in leading the GOP attack on the Obama campaign in the past week, a role often filled by a vice-presidential nominee. But, McCain did not select him. "I think there was an undercurrent there, where Sen. McCain just wasn't comfortable with Mitt Romney," Dill said. Even so, Palin might help the GOP attract Democratic women voters who are frustrated that New York Sen. Hillary Clinton did not receive the Democratic nomination, he added. "Now, the Republicans are the party that could elect a woman to the vice-presidency," he said. Debbie Rose, the Republican candidate for Pueblo County commissioner, said she thought Palin would "balance" the ticket. Like Rose, Palin's first civic involvement was as a member of her local parent-teacher organization. Rose went on to be elected to the District 70 Board of Education. "I like that, because Gov. Palin got her start in a PTO and that helped prepare her for becoming governor," Rose said. "I think John McCain picked her because of her values and what she can bring to the ticket. In this case, that person also happens to be a woman."	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2961
__label__cc	0.684209	0.315791	If you were to learn that students at the Elementary Campus spend their school days learning about reading, writing, and arithmetic, you would probably not be surprised. But if someone were to tell you that these same students are learning about supply and demand, marketing, product development or sales strategies, you may very well be surprised. (2016 Cougar News Release) Since 1999, the students at CCS Elementary Campus have been doing just that! Through the Student Enterprise Program (StEP) at the University of Cincinnati Economics Center, “Tradetown,” a nontraditional educational tool, has grown from a small experiment to an enterprise that is the model example of a school-based market system. It teaches young people about the dynamics of capitalism and provides them with practical business skills. Among the 40 schools in Greater Cincinnati with which StEP works, Cincinnati Christian Schools was the first, and according to Val Krugh, Student Enterprise Program Director, “is the lighthouse, the model program for others to emulate.” It is because of the success that CCS has experienced that provided Val, a former Elementary Campus Principal, the opportunity to now direct this program across the Tri-State area. You may also be surprised to learn that all of this happened because God arranged quite an amazing connection. Mr. Ron Klink, who had just moved from Seattle, Washington, was new to UC, and looking for a school to launch a local pilot program. He just happened to be the next-door neighbor of a CCS student. Before long, Mr. Klink and Mrs. Val Krugh, then Elementary Campus Principal, worked together to develop a system where each grade creates a business to run: taking it from the beginning by selecting a product, to manufacturing the product, to creating an advertising strategy, then sending it to market. “Any student could tell you the products that each grade is selling,” Krugh says. Throughout the school year, each class will bring their product to the CCS “Cougar Mall,” a CCS marketplace where students buy and sell their goods. Students use “Cougar cash” as the official currency. They can earn this in a variety of ways, including inviting parents to shop at the “Cougar Mall” with them. (See more details about the CCS Cougar Mall.) In addition to the wonderful lessons students have learned about markets, several other significant traditions have grown from this process. A “Tradetown” government is created, where a Mayor, Vice Mayor, and other officers are elected. Also, service learning has been incorporated as things such as canned food drives have been developed as a way to students to supplement their “Cougar cash.” Furthermore, since all students from Kindergarten through the 6th grade participate, numerous mentoring opportunities present themselves annually. You can only imagine the creativity and excitement that is generated at all grade levels! Although the students do not earn a grade, per se, for this incredible experience, it is, without a doubt, priceless!	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2965
__label__wiki	0.973344	0.973344	Subscribe To David Gordon Green Plans Little House On The Prairie Movie Updates David Gordon Green Plans Little House On The Prairie Movie By Katey Rich David Gordon Green, who started off as the would-be successor to Terrence Malick and last made the flop comedy The Sitter, is anything but predictable, which is why we shouldn't be shocked by his latest weird choice. But, hell, I can't help it-- I totally, totally never expected Green to take on an adaptation of Little House on the Prairie. No, seriously-- I know it sounds like a MadLibs experiment gone wrong, but Green really is planning a Little House on the Prairie movie, with Deadline reporting that Sony Pictures is in negotiations to take on the project, and none other than heavyweight producer Scott Rudin ready to take it on. Little House is best known from the 1970s TV series as well as the original books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, chronicling her difficult but fascinating childhood growing up on homesteads in Kansas, Minnesota, and South Dakota. The stories are beloved by generations of mostly female fans, and it actually makes sense for there to be a new feature film version for fans not at all familiar with the TV series. But for David Gordon Green to be the one to take it on? It didn't seem at all like the direction he was headed, after comedies like The Sitter and Your Highness, and a chunk of time spent developing a remake of the horror film Suspiria, which was on track as recently as April of this year. And it was just last month that Nicolas Cage signed on to star in Green's Southern-tinged drama Joe. The Little House film still seems to be in the early stages of development, which gives Green plenty of time to finish Joe. If he can tap back in to the filmmaker he was for George Washington and All The Real Girls, he really has the potential to revive the classic Little House stories for modern audiences. But is he still that guy? Let us know in the comments if you think this oddball pairing of director and material can pan out. Big Brother Spoilers: Did Bella Just Get Exposed? Big Brother Spoilers: Nick And Bella Are In For A Glorious Blindside Rumor: Are Two New Halloween Sequels Coming? Halloween’s Danny McBride Was Scared John Carpenter Would Laugh In His Face When Pitching The Sequel Halloween Director David Gordon Green Waited A Decade To Film One Kill	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2966
__label__cc	0.656879	0.343121	LET YOUR LEARNING COUNT Recognition of Prior Learning Home How does Recognition of Prior Learning work? Attend a Workshop Valuing Learning Maria Murray BA Hons in Applied Arts – Stage 1 &ampamp;amp;nbsp Reginald James Higher Certificate in Information Tech Support, year 1 (FT) Barry Woods: Higher Cert in Computing (EVCOM) – Stage 1 "Certainly, there is a lot of work in getting all the relevant information together. But when I got into it and I knew what I was doing, I found it very beneficial and rewarding. My advice is to document everything, even if they don’t think its relevant, document it and make sure that it is presented neatly." Barry Gettings: MA in Media Design "I suppose the initial challenge was to get organised, get focused, that was the most important part for me. It was fine. The main thing was to get organised against the learning outcomes and to be prepared early on." Eoin Edwards: MA in Journalism with New Media Senior news and sports journalist, with many years subbing and reporting experience on national broadsheet and tabloids; sports and news supplement page designer/editor; former chief-sub and deputy production manager of a 25 strong department; member of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland, Masters in Journalism with New Media student 2011/12 at CIT, radio documentary maker. "I found the Recognition of Prior Learning option very useful. I have many years experience in the media but went down the path of further education, some years ago now, to do a two year PR diploma, then followed that attaining a Level 8 First Class Honours qualification from HETAC. This led to me doing the Masters in Journalism with New Media at CIT in 2011/2012, which I am thoroughly enjoying. As a very mature student it's nice to know the State acknowledges previous experience and learning and I received an exemption for part of the Masters course. Even though the work involved in the RPL process is challenging, Phil O'Leary and the Recognition of Prior Learning team at CIT were very helpful, always encouraging and I can recommend taking this course of action to anyone interested in refreshing, broadening their skills via the further education process." Barry Coughlan: MA in Journalism with New Media Professional journalist of almost 40 years standing, working with the Irish Examiner, but after a career that involved contributing on a daily basis for many years also to the Evening Echo. "My background is in generation of news through my involvement in general news, aviation matters and travel, although for the last 30 years or so my main job has been covering the increasingly popular sport of rugby. I have travelled the world through my involvement in tourism matters and also through rugby, to countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Japan, the USA, Canada, and most all of Europe, France and Romania included. This year, I decided to apply for a place in Masters in Journalism and New Media in CIT and I was fortunate enough to be selected on the basis of the Recognition of Prior Learning process. Without that, undoubtedly, it would not have been possible for me to pursue the course and I am delighted to have been able to avail of the programme. Clearly, there are thousands of people out there who are capable of bettering themselves through Third Level education but might not have had either the opportunity or desire to do so back in the days...... After one Semester in CIT, waiting impatiently on the outcome of exams/submissions, I can honestly say the decision to take on this challenge was one of the most inspirational decisions I have ever made." Kate Glavin: BSc Software Development (FT) – Year 1 "l was just writing about my own life so it wasn’t that taxing. It took a couple of hours. Once I knew what to do, it was fine, I flew through it." Michelle Murphy: BSc Software Development (FT) – Year 1 "I took on the software development course because I am a technical and logically minded person. I felt that it would suit me. Also the industry is booming at the moment so I reckoned it was a good choice overall. I found the process very interesting. Having to sit down and review all of the things that I did with my life, it gave me more of a will to achieve and a will to strive on and to keep with the course. I also found because we got a response so quickly that we had achieved the RPL, that it gave me confidence in the other modules within the semester. I was capable of being here and doing this course. My advice would be to go for the RPL early on in the semester. That’s the most important thing, and to put the time into it because you will get the result back versus the effort you put in. The most important thing I think is to take the time out and give it the priority that it needs for the week or two to get it out of the way." Noel Fealy: BA in Leadership Management & Naval Studies "I am Senior Petty Officer Noel Fealy of the Irish Naval Service and have been awarded a B.A. in Naval Service Leadership and Management Studies. I am 52 yrs old and a member of Logistics Branch. I have currently served 34 yrs. The fact that RPL was taken into consideration opened the door for me to advance to the B.A. I received great assistance from C.I.T. and the N.M.C.I. in compiling and structuring of my thesis. I would strongly recommend to anyone who has a chance to go for it." Jim Burns –Higher Diploma Sc. in Cloud Computing - CO.HDCLD 8 Y1 “ Coming from a Telecommunications/Networking background I sought an exemption in the Network Systems 1 module of the Programme, based on non-formal Cisco qualifications. How to go about receiving this exemption was outlined very clearly to me, in the RPL office, the forms I needed, the photocopies of certificates (with originals presented and returned) and most importantly – how to marry the learning outcomes of the module with the prior learning. It takes a little time to gather the necessary requirements but it is worth doing. I recommend this process because with the exemption approved I now have more time to focus on Object Oriented Programming which is very new to me. The assistance I received from, the ever professional and helpful, Phil O’Leary at the RPL office, was extremely beneficial and was instrumental in my success in achieving this exemption.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2967
__label__wiki	0.773782	0.773782	A sample of plastic particles measuring less than a millimeter found in the Rhine near Duisburg, Germany. Thomas Mani/University of Basel The Super Polluted Rhine Washes 191 Million Plastic Particles Out to Sea Every Day The river’s microplastics concentrations are “among the highest so far studied worldwide,” says a researcher. Is any ocean, river, lake, or even dang puddle safe from plastic pollution? Certainly not the Rhine, as it’s the latest body of water found to be choked with microplastics. Researchers at the University of Basel in Switzerland sampled 11 locations along roughly 500 miles of the river’s surface from Basel to Rotterdam. Everywhere they dipped they found plastic—beads, shards, and fibers, in concentrations as dense as 3.9 million pieces per square kilometer, they write in Scientific Reports. Some of the “opaque spherules” found lurking in the Rhine. (University of Basel) That extraordinary amount of non-biodegradable crud throws the Rhine into the pantheon of most plastic-polluted places on earth. The researchers say in a press release: “The Rhine’s microplastics concentrations are thus among the highest so far studied worldwide,” says biologist Professor Patricia Holm from the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Basel. For the most polluted Swiss lakes, Lake Geneva and Lake Maggiore, 220,000 particles per square kilometer were reported in other studies. As a further example, in Lake Erie in the U.S., only 105,503 items per square kilometer were found…. “Our results show that the Rhine is significantly polluted with microplastics,” says Holm. “If we assume an average microplastics concentration on the day we took the water sample in Rees, we can say that the Rhine contributes a daily load of more than 191 million plastic particles to the North Sea, and that only takes into account the surface. Even though, in terms of weight, this only corresponds to roughly 25 to 30 kilos a day, this adds up to 10 tons a year. Each one of these billions of plastic items can be ingested by organisms and have negative effects on their health.” The sources of the microplastics are unclear, but the usual suspects include wastewater-treatment facilities (which can’t filter them out), industrial plants, heavy rains washing debris into the river, and accidents. Once in the water they can float around for what seems like an eternity, getting sucked up by hungry zooplankton, fish, crabs, and even baleen whales, with unknown health consequences to the animals and the humans who eat them. Relative abundances and types of microplastics found in the surface of the Rhine. (University of Basel)	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2968
__label__wiki	0.994077	0.994077	Telegram & Gazette: Making A Name For Himself By Rick Eggleston, Telegram Correspondent Worcester, Mass. - Nicknames have always been part of sports. The Gipper. The Gooch. The Goose. The Chief. If it's something players are used to, it's that they are referred to by a name other than their first or last. For Clark University sophomore Brian Vayda, the connotation seemed automatic - Darth, as in Vader. Unfortunately for headline writers, nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to the Sturbridge native and former Tantasqua Regional basketball star. "We're a team of nicknames, and just about everyone has one, but he doesn't," Cougar coach Paul Phillips said. "Darth Vader did not work for him because he's such a nice kid." So when a reporter and photographer were scheduled to meet with Vayda at a recent practice, Phillips started calling his top recruit from last season "Cool." "With people coming to see him, we called him 'Cool Vayda,' " Phillips said. "I don't know if he even realizes it, but if there's a humble kid, it's him." There's little flashy about Vayda, who started every game for the Cougars as a freshman. Thanks to plenty of hard work and determination, the 6-foot-5 power forward earned NEWMAC Rookie of the Year honors. "I was surprised. I didn't think coming in I was going to have the impact that I did," said Vayda, whose 7.4 rebounds per game led the team. He was third in scoring averaging (12.4 ppg). "I thought I was going to be more of a role player who came in off the bench." Vayda didn't have to wait long to make his debut off the bench after a teammate was injured during the first preseason scrimmage. It turned out to be Vayda's final time on the pine. Six double-double performances and 17 double-digit scoring games were offensive highlights for Vayda, who was also named D3hoops.com Northeast Rookie of the Year. "He never was a freshman - he's one of those special players who doesn't come along often," Phillips said of Vayda, who led Tantasqua to a Division 2 state championship in 2007 and a state final appearance in '08. "He's a high-level Division 3 player who brings so many different things. You ask him to post up, he'll post up. You ask him to play the wing, he's on the wing. Drive to the basket, he'll drive to the basket. He's very versatile and tough to play against. He's just so smart. He learns what he needs to out there - he's a coach's dream." Vayda's court sense will undoubtedly be tested this season, as teams - particularly in the NEWMAC - now know what he's capable of. "He knows that he's not going to sneak up on anybody this year," Phillips said. "Everyone knows who he is, so he's got a giant target on his back. "Guys are going to hit him hard around the pick and are going to want to talk to him and grab his shirt. But when you wonder if he's ready for it, you know he is." Indeed, the business management major will be. "Last year, I kind of slid in there unnoticed, but this year most of the focus is going to be on me," Vayda said. "I guess that's kind of good because it will provide opportunities for other guys on the team." It's a team built to and bent on improving on last season's 10-16 record. Vayda leads an experienced corps of sophomores, while five seniors provide added talent, depth and leadership. "We have some very good sophomores who played a lot of minutes last year," Phillips said. "They were put right into the fire, and they've got a lot of experience." Aside from Vayda, three-time MVP senior forward Mark Alexander, sophomore forward Mitch Renshaw, who played at Wachusett, senior guard Chris LoPiano and senior Slader Lyell comprise the Cougars' starting five. "We have the talent and experience, but this year we definitely have that leadership," Vayda said. "This year we're focusing a lot on our technique and defense - our defense is something I like being a part of now. We're determined to get the program back on track and into the postseason."	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2969
__label__wiki	0.788968	0.788968	New Domain Name System Will Change The Landscape Of The Internet Cooley Alert The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("ICANN"), the organization responsible for overseeing the world's domain name system, approved new policies last week that will result in sweeping changes to the Internet landscape. Beginning in late 2012 and early 2013, potentially hundreds of new generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) will be made available for registration, resulting in a significant expansion of available Internet addresses and an increased risk of online trademark infringement. Currently, the most popular gTLDs are those with the extensions .com, .net, and .org, although there are also nineteen other generic extensions available for domain name registration, such as .info. In addition, hundreds of country-code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs), such as .cn (China), .ar (Argentina), and .tv (Tuvalu), are also available for registration. The new ICANN policy approved last week will allow anyone to apply to operate a new gTLD with an extension name of their choosing. The first application round, for up to 500 new gTLDs, will begin in January 2012 and run for three months. Additional application rounds are likely to follow. Once the applications are evaluated and approved, the operators will be able to register domains under their new gTLDs to third parties. The new gTLDs can take on any form, from generic terms to non-generic brand names. The successful applicants operating the new gTLDs will manage the gTLDs as domain name registrars, just as registries today manage the .com extension and other existing gTLDs. Thus, the operators will be able to specify the requirements for ownership of domain names within the gTLD and, for example, may make ownership of a domain available publicly or may restrict ownership to a company or members of an interest group. Current gTLDs under consideration include .sport for sports teams and organizations and .bank for financial institutions, among others. To date, no trademark owners have publicly stated their intention to apply for a gTLD consisting of their brand name. This new policy comes after years of debate between ICANN and representatives of the world's governments, business owners, and other interests. Those efforts and negotiations culminated in the development of an Applicant Guidebook outlining the application and operation procedures for a new gTLD, which can be found at: http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/comments-7-en.htm . As reflected in the Applicant Guidebook, the application process for a new gTLD is extensive and costly. The initial application fees are set at $185,000, and new gTLD operators must also pay annual fees currently set at $20,000. Anyone interested in applying for a new gTLD should begin work on the process immediately. The protection of trademark rights was a key issue raised in the discussions between ICANN and brand owners. As a result, multiple procedures and protections will be made available during the gTLD application process in an effort to minimize the infringement of trademarks. These include publication of the applied-for gTLDs and a procedure to challenge gTLDs that may infringe another's trademark rights. Applications will also be subject to rigorous examination. All of these procedures are still being refined by ICANN, and reports on further developments will be provided when that information becomes publicly available. Also under consideration are procedures to protect trademark rights as domain names become available for registration once the new gTLDs are operating. These include a streamlined, low-cost dispute resolution process for clear cases of cybersquatting, the development of a "Trademark Clearinghouse" to allow brand owners to establish their rights and block third parties from registering their marks under any new gTLD, and other mechanisms. Additional information about these procedures and their implementation is expected in the coming months. The new gTLD system has the potential to change how consumers use and find information on the Internet, and it is important for businesses and brand owners, especially in the online space, to consider whether they want to register a new gTLD. Companies should also closely follow developments in the gTLD rollout to determine whether any of the proposed gTLDs infringe their trademark rights. Finally, once the new gTLD registries are operating, they will offer brand owners new marketing opportunities and additional trademark policing challenges that will need to be scrutinized carefully. Cooley's Trademark, Copyright & Advertising group is available to answer questions about brand protection, domain registration, and other issues that may arise under the new gTLD system. We are also available to consult on the benefits and drawbacks associated with seeking registration of a new gTLD, and provide assistance in the application process. Additional Cooley Alerts will be issued in the coming months to report on further developments in the gTLD rollout. John Crittenden Senior Counsel, San Francisco Janet Cullum Senior Counsel, New York Anne Peck Partner, Palo Alto Trademark, Copyright & Advertising	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2971
__label__wiki	0.698794	0.698794	State Republicans Must Appeal To Unaffiliated Voters By By MARK D. BOUGHTON \| OP-ED More than 50 percent of voters in the Nov. 4 election supported the re-election of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, though his job approval rating has never exceeded 48 percent. Coming amid a national political climate that helped elect Republican governors in blue states including Illinois, Maryland, Maine and even Massachusetts, it is cause for alarm for Connecticut Republicans. As a former high school history teacher, I know the American system of government depends on a robust competition of ideas and balanced political power. One-party domination of politics isn't just bad for Connecticut's Republicans; it is bad for Connecticut's democracy, too. GOP victories across the country make it clear our party's challenges aren't in our values or policy ideas. The big lesson is that candidates matter. It's time for Connecticut Republicans to open their primary to unaffiliated voters and get the date of their primary moved to June. The principal task of political parties is to nominate candidates for office. Republicans have done the job well at the local level for years. Members of the GOP hold the top elected office in more than 100 municipalities as well 15 seats in the state Senate and 64 seats in the House of Representatives. But Connecticut Republicans have not won a federal or statewide race in eight years — one of the longest droughts in the nation. It is apparent the way Connecticut Republicans choose statewide and federal candidates is broken. Consider that the first Republican candidate for governor announced his bid in July 2013, a full 15 months before Election Day 2014. But the first 12 months of the campaign focused on earning the support of 1,200 delegates to the Republican convention in May or 79,000 voters in the August primary — less than 8 percent of the electorate — instead of the 1 million voters who participated on Election Day. A party that spends most of its time competing for a fraction of the electorate cannot possibly win a majority of voters. [Opinion] Gina Barreca: I need a digital mood ring » The process must be changed to produce better, more viable Republican candidates. The state party convention is an important opportunity for active party members to voice their opinions, but the process has produced only failure in recent years. Every candidate endorsed at the convention in 2010, 2012 and 2014 lost in November. The problem is that delegates are not representative of the electorate. For example, Ellington (population 12,921) sent seven delegates to the Republican convention while Hartford (population 125,017) was allotted only three. The state GOP must find ways to open the convention to more of its members. Latest Op-Eds Gina Barreca: I need a digital mood ring Chronic pain should be a qualifying condition for medical marijuana Ignore Trump’s racist tweets and stay where you are, congresswomen. You’re making America great. In a state with 400,000 registered Republicans and 800,000 Democrats, appealing to Connecticut's 900,000 unaffiliated voters is the key to victory. Yet unaffiliated voters cannot participate in Republican primary elections. No political party can win an election by only appealing to small slivers of the electorate. If Republicans want to appeal to unaffiliated voters in November, unaffiliated voters must help nominate GOP candidates in August. I have not always held this view, but after closely examining the data from the recent election, it is clear that the math simply does not work any other way. I am also convinced the primary election should be held in June instead of August. The current calendar squeezes the entire general election into barely 75 days — too little time to thoroughly evaluate candidates. A June primary election held before the end of the school year will allow ample opportunity for thoughtful consideration. Process reforms alone won't solve the Connecticut Republican Party's challenges. For example, late polling indicated that female voters favored the Democratic nominee by 15 percent, highlighting the party's need to better communicate our values to women. But the national victories make it clear the Republican Party's values and ideas are compelling when espoused by strong candidates. Changing the way Republicans choose candidates is an important step toward winning again. Mark D. Boughton is the mayor of Danbury and was a Republican candidate for governor in 2014. Mark D Boughton Most Read • Op-Eds Expensive SAT Prep Courses Give Wealthier Students An Edge	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2975
__label__cc	0.697666	0.302334	Here On The Flight Path BY NORM FOSTER Norm Foster, Writer of "Here on the Flight Path" Norm Foster has been the most produced playwright in Canada every year for the past twenty years. His plays receive an average of one hundred and fifty productions annually making him, by far, the most produced playwright in the history of his country. Norm Foster does not limit his efforts to writing though. He also appears on stage as an actor several times each year. "Acting is great fun, but writing is my first love. A lot of people out there like the 'idea' of being a writer. The romance of it. The notion that we all sit around in cafes and talk about our writing with other writers. Personally, I would rather do it than talk about it. The actual process of writing is what excites me. Creating a world from the ground up and populating it with characters I've pulled out of my head. "In 2017 Norm Foster received the Order of Canada. “It's pretty special to be recognized by my country in this way," said Foster. "I don't take this lightly, at all. This is the crowning achievement of my career. FUN FACT: Norm's Birthday falls on February 14 which also happens to be opening day or Cow Patti's performance of Here On The Flight Path.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2977
__label__wiki	0.624255	0.624255	Historic Overview Greg van Avermaet Overall Rank 57 Name Greg VAN AVERMAET Date of birth 17-May-1985 - Lokeren (Oost Vlaanderen) Greg Van Avermaet (born 17 May 1985) is a Belgian professional road bicycle racer, who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam CCC Team. Considered one of the most versatile riders of modern cycling, Van Avermaet is a specialist of the classic cycle races, but has also won stages and the general classification in stage races, particularly when run on a hilly terrain, such as the 2016 Tirreno–Adriatico, and the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire. His strong sprint finish enables him to win sprints of small lead groups, but he has also won races after solo breakaways. He won the men's individual road race event at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and has won other one-day races such as Paris–Roubaix, Gent–Wevelgem and E3 Harelbeke in 2017, the 2016 GP de Montréal and Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2016 and 2017. In the Grand Tours, Van Avermaet has taken two individual stage wins in the Tour de France, and worn the Yellow Jersey for eleven days during the 2016 and 2018 Tours and won the points classification in the Vuelta a España, with one stage win in the Vuelta a España. Van Avermaet was also the overall winner of the 2017 UCI World Tour. Paris - Roubaix 2017 Gent - Wevelgem 2017 G.P. E3 - Harelbeke 2017 Omloop Het Volk 2016, 2017 Tirreno - Adriatico 2016 GP de Montréal 2016 Olympic Games Road Race 2016 Tour de Luxembourg 2017 Tour de Belgique 2015 Tirreno - Adriatico - stages 2015 (1), 2016 (1) Tour de France - stages 2015 (1), 2016 (1) Eneco Tour - stages 2014 (1) Vuelta a España - stages 2008 (1) Vuelta a Valencia - stages 2019 (1) Tour of Oman - stages 2018 (1) Tour of Qatar - stages 2007 (1) Tour de Yorkshire - stages 2019 (1) Tour de Luxembourg - stages 2017 (2) Tour de Belgique - stages 2015 (1) Österreich-Rundfahrt - stages 2011 (1) Greg van Avermaet - Scores by Season Tweet 1. 2006 Bodysol - Win for Life - Jong Vlaanderen 22 991 26/03 Brabantse Pijl 46 09/09 Paris - Bruxelles 48 2. 2007 Predictor - Lotto 384 156 Tour of Qatar Volta ao Algarve Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen 21/03 Nokere Koerse 4 10/06 Grosser Preis des Kantons Aargau - Gippingen 5 19/08 Vattenfall Cyclassics Hamburg 8 3. 2008 Silence - Lotto 1052 39 Vuelta a Andalucia - Ruta del Sol 29/03 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen 3 06/04 Ronde van Vlaanderen 8 25/08 GP Ouest France - Plouay 7 4. 2009 Silence - Lotto 666 76 28/02 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 4 Driedaagse De Panne Eneco Tour of Benelux 5. 2010 Omega Pharma - Lotto 842 50 14/04 Brabantse Pijl 8 6. 2011 BMC Racing Team 1428 20 05/03 Montepaschi Strade Bianche 9 Tour of Belgium Österreich-Rundfahrt 30/07 Clasica Ciclista San Sebastian 3 03/03 Strade Bianche 5 07/09 GP de Québec 2 Tour of Oman 24/03 Gent - Wevelgem 3 15/09 GP de Montréal 4 28/03 E3 Prijs Vlaanderen 10 Baloise Belgium Tour 10. 2015 BMC Racing Team 2107 9 07/03 Strade Bianche - Eroica 2 23/08 Vattenfall Cyclassics 5 11/09 GP de Québec 10 06/08 Olympic Games Road Race 1 16/10 World Championships Road Race 10 26/02 Kuurne - Brussel - Kuurne 7 24/03 Record Bank E3 Harelbeke 1 Tour de Luxembourg 31/05 Prologue 2 27/08 Bretagne Classic - Ouest France 10 28/03 Dwars door Vlaanderen 8 14. 2019 CCC Team 1158 11 29/03 E3 BinckBank Classic 3 07/04 Ronde van Vlaanderen 10 Overall: 19635 57	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2978
__label__cc	0.689259	0.310741	DADSS VA Virginia: The First State Partnership On Monday, September 10, 2018, Governor Northam joined Driven to Protect to Announce a New Partnership with James River Transportation. Read the News Release here. You can also watch a summary video of the partnership launch here. Recognizing the potential of this technology to save lives by preventing drunk driving, Virginia became the first state to use NHTSA highway safety grant funds to partner with the DADSS Program through the Department of Motor Vehicles. The partnership – Driven to Protect – is another example of the technological innovation happening in Virginia and the ongoing leadership the state is showing in the fight against drunk driving. In 2018, Driven to Protect in Virginia took another leap forward by announcing the first state partnership with a private company to conduct in-vehicle, on-road test trials of the DADSS technology. James River Transportation, a transportation leader in the Richmond area for 90 years with an equally impressive history of using technology to advance safety, has agreed to support the Program. Technology integrators have installed prototypes of the breath-based sensors into four vehicles in the James River Transportation commercial fleet. The data and feedback collected from the prototype sensors, as well as from the drivers themselves, will be invaluable in finalizing the technology as it is prepared for widespread commercialization. Drunk driving remains a major threat to all Virginia families and road users. In 2018, Virginia reported 7,181 alcohol-related crashes, 278 alcohol-related fatalities, 4,475 alcohol-related injuries and 19,790 DUI convictions on its roadways. Through Driven to Protect, Virginia continues to put the health and safety of its residents first by educating the next generation about responsible driving behavior and by advancing technology that can prevent additional drunk driving crashes, injuries and deaths on its roads.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2979
__label__wiki	0.845733	0.845733	without photo Expat Corner Mid-East Daily Sabah > Trump confirms considering pardons for US soldiers convicted of war crimes FRENCH PRESS AGENCY - AFP Published 24.05.2019 21:25 As Turkuvaz, we are processing your personal data, and at the same time, using our best efforts to protect your data by taking the technical and administrative measures prescribed by laws. You may find the informative text in respect of your personal data processed, by visiting the data policy page. President Donald Trump confirmed Friday he is considering pardons for several military servicemen accused or convicted of war crimes, in what critics say would be an abuse of the powers afforded him under the U.S. Constitution. The New York Times reported this week, quoting administration officials, that Trump envisaged making the controversial pardons during the Memorial Day weekend in which Americans honor those who died while in the armed forces. Reportedly among those being considered is former Marine Edward Gallagher, who is due to stand trial starting next week accused of shooting unarmed civilians and stabbing a teenage captive to death. Trump is also said to be eyeing a pardon for Matt Golsteyn, an ex-member of the elite U.S. Army Green Berets, charged with premeditated murder in the shooting death of an alleged Taliban bomb-maker in 2010. Three Marines, arrested after video footage showed them urinating on the bodies of dead Taliban fighters in 2011, are also reportedly under consideration for a pardon, as well as a former Blackwater employee convicted of killing a teenaged Iraqi civilian. "We're looking at a lot of different pardons for a lot of different people," Trump told reporters on the White House lawn Friday, when asking why he was considering pardoning war criminals. "Some of these soldiers are people that have fought hard, long, you know. We teach them how to be great fighters and when they fight sometimes they get really treated very unfairly. So we're going to take a look at it," Trump added. Trump confirmed he was looking at two or three cases that were "a little bit controversial," adding that he may let trials of these people proceed and then decide afterward. "I haven't done anything yet. I haven't made any decisions," he said. Retired Navy admiral James Stavridis was among those who came out strongly against Trump's reported plans. "I commanded several of the servicemen Trump may pardon," the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander wrote Wednesday in Time magazine. "Letting them off will undermine the military." This type of pardon, he argued, "strengthens enemy propaganda, as they will correctly say that we do not hold ourselves accountable for our own standards" and "spurs our enemies on to even more barbaric behavior." Such pardons would be "disgusting," warned Democratic presidential hopeful and Navy veteran Pete Buttigieg. It would be "an affront to the idea of good order and discipline and to the idea of the rule of law, the very thing we believe we're putting our lives on the line to defend," said Buttigieg, who served as a naval intelligence officer in Afghanistan in 2014. A former member of the elite Navy SEALs, Gallagher, 39, is slated to face a military tribunal May 28 at the San Diego naval base. Gallagher is accused of having stabbed to death a wounded 15-year-old Iraqi prisoner in 2017, as well as the American doctor treating him. He is also accused of having shot a young girl and an old man with a sniper rifle in 2017 and 2018, and of firing a heavy machine gun into a residential area. Golsteyn is to tried at court martial but a date has not been set yet. According to court document excerpts, Golsteyn worried that the Taliban suspect, whom he was unable to detain for more than 24 hours, might make more bombs and kill an Afghan tribal leader who had identified him. Investigators have said Golsteyn and another soldier eventually took the suspect back to his house and killed him. They then burned the body. A third controversial case involves Nicholas Slatten, 35, who worked as a security guard for the U.S. private military contractor Blackwater and was convicted in December of killing a teenaged Iraqi civilian in 2007, 11 years after a massacre in Baghdad that sparked global outrage. "Bad message. Bad precedent. Abdication of moral responsibility. Risk to us," tweeted retired Army General Martin Dempsey. "The wholesale pardon of U.S. service members accused of war crimes signals our troops and allies that we don't take the law of armed conflict seriously." Trump has used his power of pardon before, and critics say he wields it for the benefit of people who back him or his ideas. Earlier this month he pardoned Conrad Black, a disgraced British media mogul who served more than three years in prison in the U.S. for fraud and obstruction of justice and is an outspoken fan of Trump. Last year Trump granted a full pardon to Dinesh D'Souza, a conservative author and firebrand. In 2017, Trump pardoned Joe Arpaio, a former sheriff convicted of violating a court order to halt traffic patrols that targeted suspected unauthorized immigrants. Previous in Americas The few women who are CEOs of the largest U.S. companies typically... Next in Americas At least 29 prisoners were killed and 19 police wounded in clashes... DAILY SABAH RECOMMENDS Call this a joke but 1.5 million have actually signed up to Facebook event to storm mysterious US base Area 51 İslamophobia	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2980
__label__cc	0.600425	0.399575	Adam Smith: An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Volume I: Edited by William Playfair William Rees-Mogg Reference - 1744 Pages First published in 1776, The Wealth of Nations is one of the great works of economic thought and a touchstone that has influenced generations of economists across the intervening centuries. The 1805 Playfair edition that is presented in this volume represents the first and most important early critical edition. Praised by Francis Ysidro Edgeworth for its 'acute criticism', the Playfair edition was the first to apply economic history to Smith's economic theory — raising issues which are still important in light of the 225 years of revolutions and inflations that have occurred since his death. The period between the original publication and 1805 saw an enormous development in Britain's wealth, the French Revolution, and rapid American and French inflation. William Playfair wrote insightful supplementary chapters and notes to discuss the aspects of these upheavals which he thought Smith would have wanted to address had he lived to see their effects. The edition reproduces the exact text from the corrected and expanded 1784 third edition, including the index, with Playfair's chapters and notes marked clearly as supplementary additions.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2984
__label__cc	0.519337	0.480663	Botany & Plant Science Reproductive Physiology in Plants Philip Stewart, Sabine Globig Series: Research Progress in Botany April 15, 2011 by Apple Academic Press This title includes a number of Open Access chapters. In horticulture, agriculture, and food science, plants’ reproductive physiology is an important topic relating to fruits and vegetables, the main consumable parts of plants. All aspects of plant physiology, including plants’ reproductive systems, are important to the production of food, fibers, medicine, cosmetics, and even fuels. This volume presents many new studies on plants’ reproductive systems, including new research on sperm cells in plant reproduction; the effect of herbivory on plant reproduction; disturbances to functional diversity; plant genes, hormones, DNA; and much more. A Plant Germline-Specific Integrator of Sperm Specification and Cell Cycle Progression Effects of Herbivory on the Reproductive Effort of 4 Prairie Perennials Identification of Flowering Genes in Strawberry, a Perennial SD Plant Changes in Tree Reproductive Traits Reduce Functional Diversity in a Fragmented Atlantic Forest Landscape Genetic Subtraction Profiling Identifies Genes Essential for Arabidopsis Reproduction and Reveals Interaction Between the Female Gametophyte and the Maternal Sporophyte Arabidopsis WRKY2 Transcription Factor Mediates Seed Germination and Postgermination Arrest of Development by Abscisic Acid DNA Methylation Causes Predominant Maternal Controls of Plant Embryo Growth Gibberellin Acts through Jasmonate to Control the Expression of MYB21, MYB24, and MYB57 to Promote Stamen Filament Growth in Arabidopsis Expressions of ECE-CYC2 Clade Genes Relating to Abortion of Both Dorsal and Ventral Stamens in Opithandra (Gesneriaceae) A Comparative Analysis of Pollinator Type and Pollen Ornamentation in the Araceae and the Arecaceae, Two Unrelated Families of the Monocots Life History Traits in Selfing Versus Outcrossing Annuals: Exploring the ‘Time-Limitation’ Hypothesis for the Fitness Benefit of Self-Pollination Functional Diversity of Plant–Pollinator Interaction Webs Enhances the Persistence of Plant Communities How to Be an Attractive Male: Floral Dimorphism and Attractiveness to Pollinators in a Dioecious Plant Pollen Development in Annona cherimola mill (Annonaceae) Implications for the Evolution of Aggregated Pollen Distinct Short-Range Ovule Signals Attract or Repel Arabidopsis Thaliana Pollen Tubes In Vitro Dr. Philip Stewart has a PhD in horticulture with a focus on the genetics of flowering in strawberries. He has worked in association with Cornell University’s Grapevine Breeding Program, the Department of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, and the Horticultural Sciences Program at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He has contributed to multiple publications, including the International Journal of Fruit Science, Horticultural Science, Plant Science, and BMC Plant Biology. He has served as a member on the U.S. Rosaceae Genetics and Breeding Executive Committee, the North American Strawberry Growers’ Association, and the Small Fruit Crop Germplasm Committee. Dr. Stewart is one of the inventors of the patented strawberry plant named DrisStrawSeven, and he currently works with the NCRA, State Agricultural Experiment Station Directors. Professor Sabine Globig received her BA in 1972 at the American University School of International Service and her MS in horticulture and plant physiology in 1988 at Rutgers University, the State University of New Jersey. Presently, she is Professor of Biology at Hazard Community & Technical College in the Appalachian Mountains of eastern Kentucky, where she specializes in human anatomy and physiology and plant sciences. She has also worked as an Adjunct Instructor of Biology at Union County College in New Jersey and at Rutgers University, as well as a certified high school biology teacher. While at Rutgers, she worked as a plant physiology researcher at their AgBiotech Center and held the same position for DNA Plant Technologies Corporation. She has given presentations at XXII International Conference on Horticultural Science, UC Davis, California, 1987; and 1997 International Society for Horticultural Science’s International Symposium on Artificial Lighting in Horticulture, Noordwijkerhout, Netherlands. She has also been included in several Who’s Who entries. "Reflects the most recent research progresses in plant reproductive physiology. It serves as a timely ‘must-have’ collection of papers for anyone interested in angiosperm reproductive biology." —Shucun Sun, Center for Ecological Studies, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academic of Sciences, Chengdu, China, in The Quarterly Review of Biology	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2985
__label__wiki	0.798178	0.798178	Library » A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire) A Dance with Dragons (A Song of Ice and Fire) by George R. R. Martin Publisher Bantam Release Date 2011-07-12 (added to CC 27 Jun 2011) In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance once again--beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has three times three thousand enemies, and many have set out to find her. Yet, as they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind. To the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone--a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, will face his greatest challenge yet. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice. And from all corners, bitter conflicts soon reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all. . . . Dubbed “the American Tolkien” by Time magazine, George R. R. Martin has earned international acclaim for his monumental cycle of epic fantasy. Now the #1 New York Times bestselling author delivers the fifth book in his spellbinding landmark series--as both familiar faces and surprising new forces vie for a foothold in a fragmented empire. (1 Aug 2018) (20 Apr 2016) It was very long winded but a must read for anyone interested in the series.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2988
__label__wiki	0.688606	0.688606	Financial Times Recognizes Crowell & Moring Among the Top Innovative Law Firms in North America in 2018 Firm is highly ranked in seven categories Washington – December 13, 2018: The Financial Times named Crowell & Moring as one of the “Top Ten Most Innovative Law Firms for Legal Expertise” and one of the “Most Innovative Law Firms for Business of Law” in its annual “FT Innovative Lawyers North America 2018” report. The firm’s additional honors include: In the “New Business & Service Delivery Models” category, Crowell & Moring was recognized as highly commended for its work with Cardinal Health on creating a custom-tiered pricing model to help manage complex litigation. It was commended in the “New Products and Service” category for its work in creating a digital transformation service. In the “Creating a New Standard” category, the FT ranked the firm as commended for its work advising AT&T on the development, and later defense, of a public safety broadband network conceived in response to the 9/11 tragedy. In the “Enabling Business Growth” category, the FT ranked the firm again as commended for advising HP Inc. on the scope and regulatory issues in the nascent 3D printing industry, enabling the technology giant to adjust its research and development efforts as new products are imagined. Finally, Crowell & Moring was commended in the “Managing Complexity and Scale” category for representing Chinese-owned U.S. airbag-maker Key Safety Systems on its $1.6 billion acquisition of Takata, the bankrupt airbag manufacturer, to form a newly created U.S. business, Joyson Safety Systems. In a feature article highlighting the firm’s ability to move the deal forward, Scott Winkelman, chair of the firm’s Mass Tort, Product, and Consumer Litigation Group, noted, “We aggressively approached the government and the DOJ’s appointed monitor to have a voice in the creation of a compliance program. We affirmatively approached congress and actively sought to apprise them of our assessment of the situation and how we could move ahead.” The Financial Times report provides insight into the transforming role of the legal professional in North America and highlights how legal teams have evolved from crisis managers to change agents. For this report, the Financial Times partnered with RSG Consulting to evaluate more than 500 submissions from 94 law firms and legal service providers, and for 105 in-house legal teams. RSG Consulting conducted interviews with more than 500 clients, lawyers, executives, and experts to assess each submission. Each submission was scored out of 10 points for originality, leadership, and impact for a maximum score of 30. The results were “benchmarked to arrive at the final rankings.” Read the full report here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Bars of, or any courts in, the states in which the lawyers are admitted to practice. About Crowell & Moring LLP Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with more than 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. The firm has offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, London, and Brussels. An Pham Manager, Media PR & Communications Email: apham@crowell.com Download Printable PDF	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2990
__label__cc	0.64456	0.35544	Christ the King Catholic High School celebrates its second production, The Sound of Music, showcasing the gifts of dozens of performers from both the high school and St. Mark Catholic Elementary School. Tickets for this final collaboration between Rodgers and Hammerstein can be found here. Come enjoy such memorable songs as "The Sound of Music," "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria," "16 Going on 17," "Edelweiss," and "Climb Every Mountain." Performances are on Friday, March 9th, 2018 at 7:30PM and Saturday, March 10th at 2:00PM and 7:30PM at the Charles Mack Theater in Mooresville, NC. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Purchase tickets at ctkmusicaltheater.simpletix.com Crusader Weekly - Feb 2, 2018	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2994
__label__wiki	0.664588	0.664588	You are here:> Home > Developing Practice > Animated magazine > Searchable archive > Autumn/Winter 2016/17 > Stellarium Animated Edition - Autumn/Winter 2016/17 Communicating contemporary astrophysics via contemporary dance? Deb Ashby, Director of Dance Manchester tells us how Associated Attachment(s): Deb Ashby.pdf Image: Dr Rowan Smith, Photo: Brian Slater There was a time when anatomy was a fascination for me. I devoured books on first aid, despite being somewhat squeamish about blood. The human biology department at the Natural History Museum absorbed me. Chemistry, too, lit a spark of interest but careers guidance recommended physics as a subject choice. Never was a burgeoning interest in the laws of the universe more deftly extinguished than in the calculations of energy, force and momentum. Dance development, could be viewed, as a form of evangelism for dance as an art form: trying to convince more people of its innate, life enhancing value. Dance is creative and flexible, not only in its use of the body to express ideas but in the way the dance sector has become expert in communicating its benefits to a range of other agendas. On our mission, we offer dance in many guises. We advocate dance as prevention for obesity, to help ease the impacts of dementia, as a natural antidepressant, as a diversion from anti-social behaviour. So why not as an alternative way to teach science? Manchester, as the European City of Science 2016, opened up an opportunity for Dance Manchester to work in partnership with the Science Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub (SEERIH) at the University of Manchester. The result: Stellarium – a youth dance performance with the purpose of communicating contemporary astrophysics through contemporary dance. To achieve this choreographer Bridget Fiske worked with astrophysicists, Dr Rowan Smith, Norman Lockyer Fellow at Jodrell Bank, University of Manchester and Dr Helen Mason of the University of Cambridge, with additional support from Philippa Browning, Professor of Astrophysics at Jodrell Bank, University of Manchester. With an all-female team leading the project, and dance as a typically popular choice with girls, dance as a kinaesthetic learning tool has the potential to contribute positively to attracting more women into science. A choreographic motif and dance tools were made to communicate the story of how stars are formed and ‘our star’, the Sun. The choreographer was guided by the expert knowledge of this team of astrophysicists, who ensured the science was conveyed accurately. Nuclear fusion was represented by asking participants to find different ways to move around each other, whilst staying connected and incorporating moments of pulse, expressing the release of energy. Angular Momentum is related to the rotational motion of a body and it’s mass. The speed and direction of the rotation will stay the same unless another force acts on the body. So for example an ice skater, with very little resistance from the ice, will keep spinning around at the same rate, however if the ice skater opens out his/her arms, the distribution of mass changes and he/she will slow up when opening out the arms, but speed up when pulling them in. To represent the ‘angular momentum’ of the protostars in Stellarium, a movement was created that was able to support a continual turning action by the dancers, maintaining speed and turning only in one direction. ‘I found dance to be a particularly interesting medium for communicating science. The physical process of the dancer inventing moves and a choreography to represent the scientific concepts forced us to really understand what was the most important part of the physics. In Stellarium this meant that we really broke down the process of forming a star, like our Sun, to communicate this in a unique and engaging way. It made me really think about my research, and it was a very emotional experience for me to see the resulting performance’ Dr Rowan J Smith, Norman Lockyer Fellow, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester Stellarium drew together participants from Derby High School, Bury; Falinge Park High School, Rochdale and Wright Robinson Sports College, East Manchester. The teachers from these schools, worked with their students to create sections in response to the dance motifs and tools provided, with the final performance work drawn together by choreographer Bridget Fiske. Stellarium was performed at the Great Primary Science Share at Manchester Town Hall to more than 200 primary school children, and at Great Science Share Takeover for Secondary school students at the Museum of Science and Industry. This was alongside performances at major outdoor community events, including Manchester Day organised by Walk the Plank, and as part of Signatures Youth Dance Trail, a partnership project by Dance Manchester and the Lowry, presented as part of UDance, the national youth dance festival. ‘The students benefited greatly from this activity, which brought to life some quite deep scientific concepts. They communicated these ideas and scientific concepts via the medium of dance to a wider audience of other students and the general public. It was exciting to participate in this ground breaking endeavour and to watch the performance, which the students clearly found exhilarating. Too often science is thought of as boring and ‘nerdy’. Through Stellarium science was shown to be exciting, even thrilling for everyone involved and everyone who watched it.’ Dr Helen Mason, University of Cambridge EBacc has prioritised ‘academic’ subjects and cultivated a rhetoric that portrays the arts as second class, segregating the arts and sciences. In this environment, facilitating academic learning through creative dance may be a key additional weapon in our fight to retain dance as part of the educational offer. Our Manchester – The Manchester Strategy, published in 2016, sets out a long term vision for Manchester’s future arising from an extensive consultation process and offers a framework for action to be delivered by partners across the city, it says: “Schools are the custodians of Manchester’s next generation of inventors, scientists, teachers, nurses and high tech engineers. We need to connect our economic growth sectors with the core-education curriculum taught in our schools…Excellence in these subjects is key to securing employment in the jobs of tomorrow, but we also recognise the value of combining this with arts and creativity.” It was reassuring to find that there were scientists and educators open to, and in some cases already embracing, the importance of the arts and the sciences as being not only equal but as subjects that complement each other. After all, would dance exist if it wasn’t for energy, force and momentum? ‘As a school which specialises in science and the arts, we relish the opportunity to engage in activities that merge artistic excellence and scientific discovery, and that is why we jumped at the chance to participate in Stellarium’ Lynn Provoost, Derby High School, Bury Dance Manchester is now piloting, Moving Space, a spin off from Stellarium providing other schools and colleges with the opportunity to supplement existing curriculum with this kinaesthetic approach. The Moving Space workshops have the added credibility of being underpinned with knowledge drawn from the expertise of university academics. Moving Space sessions to date, have been booked by Lostock College, Trafford; Walkden High School, Salford and Abraham Moss, Manchester. Engagement has not been only with dance students, but also with specific sessions for science students and in part resourced by science department budgets. It is early days but it suggests the potential for cross fertilisation between subjects. Fundamentally, creativity underpins successful and important work in both fields: ‘What we’ve realised through this experience is that scientists and artists work in very similar ways. We all experiment, we all play with ideas, we all push the boundaries a little bit and we all need to communicate.’ Dr Lynne Bianchi, Director of the Science Engineering Education Research and Innovation Hub at the University of Manchester As this participatory project now becomes the inspiration for a new professional performance work, choreographed by Bridget Fiske, it should remind us that although dance rightly contributes successfully to multiple societal agendas, it is the existence and value of the art form of dance itself that allows for this possibility. Moving Space workshops for primary, secondary schools and colleges, communicating contemporary astrophysics via contemporary dance, are available to book. admin@dancemanchester.org.uk www.dancemanchester.org.uk The content of this site is proprietary to the Foundation for Community Dance and any access to this site or the use of any content made by any person is expressly subject to these terms: Unauthorised copying of any material (including artwork) on this site and the reproduction, storage, transmission or the distribution of any content, either in whole or in part and in any medium or format, without the prior written consent of the Foundation for Community Dance and, where appropriate, the author or artist, is not permitted. Please read our website terms & conditions by clicking here Animated: Autumn/Winter 2016/17	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2995
__label__cc	0.690286	0.309714	You are here:> Home > 20 minutes to change our world Voice and Presence 20 minutes to change our world Date posted: 12 May 2017 Louise Katerega is producer of Voice and Presence, the first collaborative project as an Associate Artist of People Dancing. Voice and Presence sets out to acknowledge, amplify and celebrate the voice of women of colour in participatory dance... You know that moment when you have been writing ‘officially’ about a project for so long you almost forget how to talk about it like a human being? Now that Voice and Presence (V&P) has been made a reality thanks to Arts Council England funding and the support of five dance organisations, I’m looking forward to seeing the project once more through my own eyes as an artist. Since the views of artists will be central to V&P, that time is definitely now. If I could wipe my memory of the past year of deliberations and applications (wouldn’t we all like to do that sometimes?), what would artist-me want to know to get intrigued, on board and involved with V&P? You see, as well as producer - indeed driven by this fact - I also embody V&P’s target audience: a female dance leader from the African Diaspora with something to say about my community dance practice and what I want for its future. Beyond the obvious question of what exactly is V&P, I would add three more: How much of my time will be taken up by it? What will I get back for that time invested? And, most of all, can I trust it’s come from a place of genuine interest in my well-being - that it’s not just another ‘tick box’ exercise? Voice and Presence is centred on an online enquiry, a survey where female dance artists of the African Diaspora, including those, like me, of mixed heritage, are invited to describe their community dance practice and own development needs - whatever form that practice takes. The aim of V&P is to take a national snapshot of the sheer number and variety of women of colour in participatory dance and the range of styles and forms they use. In other words, it doesn’t matter what you do. It matters that it’s you who does it. Around the survey will be a year’s worth of writing and events that will further illuminate and celebrate excellence among our particular population – including blogs, magazine articles and more online content. A crowning dollop of inspiration at People Dancing’s International Conference in Glasgow, 3-5 October 2017 will feature a panel of female role-models of colour from around the globe speaking on dance, identity and community. Keep an eye on www.communitydance.org.uk/international for updates. It will only take about 20 minutes to complete the survey, or a bit more if you want to add further detail and opinion. So what do we get for those 20 minutes? At the very least our voices will help inform the future thinking of the V&P partners: People Dancing, State of Emergency, Serendipity, One Dance UK and ACE Dance and Music. With their reach, scope and knowledge they automatically bring our work national and international attention and, through their networks, news of us could reach potential employers inside and beyond the arts, academia, archives and at government level. This project is about effecting change. Once collated and assessed, a report will be posted online as a free download so any of us can share in or learn from it, find new connections and make our case to funders, backed by the hard data currently lacking in dance. For a taste of what’s to come, take a look at a similar research initiative from last year at http://www.communitydance.org.uk/developing-participation/dance-and-older-people Lastly, between us, the V&P partners and I have a decades-long collective track record of tenacity and commitment to increasing the diversity of who and what is seen and heard in dance and the world beyond. My relationship with all of them goes back far and deep. This is not a token exercise. Rather, it is the focus for a long conversation which began way before I put fingers to keyboard today and will continue long after. My voice and my presence has been established at People Dancing from boardroom to studio to office and so, through the survey, yours will be felt there too. In other words, the only box ticking going on will be done by you! The Voice and Presence Survey was launched in October 2017 and is available at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PD8KHRQ. If you’d like to know more you can email Louise at l.katerega@yahoo.com Voice and Presence is setting out over the next nine months to celebrate the achievements and investigate the needs of Black women working to any degree and in any form of community dance. It centres on a UK-wide, on-line survey, available here during June and July, inviting female dance artists of colour (including those of mixed heritage) to describe their participatory work and what would help them do it better. Voice and Presence was inspired by Urban Bush Women (UBW) in its contributions to 2016's Let's Dance International Frontiers, where Louise and People Dancing were compelled by the company's commitment and success at telling 'under-told stories', whilst delegates highlighted a profound sense of the invisibility of Black female dancers both past and present here in the UK. Voice and Presence is our response. Not so much a project as the current focus for a much longer, larger conversation about equality and diversity that Voice and Presence partners have long been engaged in and will engage with long into the future. We do hope you will join us. Louise successfully applied for a scholarship to UBW's Summer Leadership Institute in New York as part her own professional development on Voice and Presence, where she will learn more about their approach to equality and working with communities (see http://urbanbushwomen.org/bold/summer-leadership-institute/2017_sli ) Voice and Presence brings Louise into an exciting new partnership with ACE Dance & Music, One Dance UK, People Dancing, Serendipity UK and State of Emergency.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2996
__label__wiki	0.87898	0.87898	Donations sought to help towards the control of Dendroctonus micans (the Great Spruce Bark Beetle) Letter sent to all Confor members: As the Chairmen of Confor's England regions we are asking you to consider making a donation to support the breeding programme of Rhizophagus grandis which is used as a biological control for Dendroctonus micans, the Great Spruce Bark Beetle. Forestry Commission aerial surveillance flights have picked up worrying levels of D. micans infestation across the west coast of England and into Scotland. D. micans is fatal and the beetle attacks and breeds in all species of spruce grown in Britain. The Public Forest Estate and the private sector in England and Scotland are entirely reliant on Forest Research for the provision of the larvae of the predatory beetle R. grandis. However in 2014 there was a complete failure of the breeding programme of R. grandis at Alice Holt and in Belgium which hosts a significant breeding programme. Since the regulatory controls for D. micans were removed in 2005 the whole programme has been funded by Forest Enterprise England as part of its own investment in protection of the value of standing timber on the Public Forest Estate. Where Forest Research becomes aware of significant infestations elsewhere then, if excess R. grandis material is available, they will attempt to undertake releases in other woodlands. Forest Research has put forward a proposal for financial support from the private sector to widen the breeding programme and secure a more resilient operation. In addition to internal Forestry Commission funding to Forest Research through Service Level Agreements there is a shortfall of around £5,000 per year which, if covered by contributions from the private sector, would mean that the availability of sufficient quantities of R. grandis could be secured for the future. The future health of spruce in the UK is seriously impacted by this situation therefore we are asking you to consider making a donation to support an annual commitment for five-years, or contributions towards a £25,000 target. We need urgently to release R. grandis into the infected areas, so that they become self-sustaining and bring D. micans to manageable levels. On behalf of the Chairmen of Confor's England regional Committees	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line2998
__label__cc	0.742217	0.257783	Home » Does your Employee Handbook stand up to the Supreme Court’s latest decision about accommodations for pregnant workers? In Young v. United Parcel Service, the Court addressed whether UPS’s treatment of a pregnant employee constituted pregnancy discrimination. Its decision effectively broadens the range of accommodations employers must provide to a pregnant employee. Peggy Young was a UPS delivery driver. When Young became pregnant, her medical providers instructed her not to lift more than 20 pounds. As a result, Young was unable to fulfill UPS’s standard 70-pound lifting requirement. Young was not assigned to light duty or an alternate position, but was required to take a leave of absence while the lifting restriction remained in place. She was forced to take unpaid leave and lost her medical coverage during that time. Several laws may offer protection for pregnant employees In her lawsuit, Young claimed she had been the victim of gender- and disability-based discrimination under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA). Both laws require employers to provide accommodations to protected classes of employees – the ADA relates to persons with a qualifying or perceived disability, while the PDA relates to pregnant women. Young claimed that UPS was required under both laws to accommodate her pregnancy-related lifting restriction but failed to do so. UPS argued that it treated Young the same as any other similarly situated non-pregnant co-worker. UPS also argued that Young’s pregnancy did not constitute a disability because the ADA does not view a pregnancy without complications as a disability. While Young’s claims arose under these two laws, at least a dozen other states, including New Jersey, have enacted laws that similarly require reasonable accommodations. Negative impact on the employee may matter more than the employer’s intent So, did UPS do enough to accommodate Young? UPS allows employees with non-pregnancy related conditions, such as injuries, to perform temporary light duty or desk duty. This option was not given to Young. But, that was not enough for the Court to rule completely in Young’s favor. Rather than give a clear cut answer on exactly what UPS was required to do, the Court sent the case back to the lower court with a set of instructions for evaluating claims of gender- and pregnancy-based discrimination. A plaintiff must show that: She belongs to the protected class (i.e., is a pregnant woman); She sought an accommodation; The employer did not accommodate her; and, The employer accommodated non-pregnant employees with similar limitations at work. In theory, these factors, taken together, would show an employer’s intentional bias against the pregnant plaintiff. As a defense, the employer can offer up its legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for denying accommodations. The Court warned that cost or convenience to the employer are not good enough reasons. In the final step of the inquiry, the plaintiff must show that the employer’s actions resulted in a “significant burden” on the employee. Policies and practices that categorically provide accommodations to certain employees, but not to pregnant women, will likely be found to impose a significant burden on pregnant employees. Ultimately, the Court’s new framework probably means that the negative impact on the pregnant worker matters more than whether the bias was intentional. Thus, the Young decision makes it easier for a pregnant woman denied workplace accommodations to succeed in her legal claims. What employers need to know Even though the Court did not provide clear rules in its decision, it gave employers a number of prudent precautions to consider implementing: Establishing and applying procedures for determining what accommodations are necessary and appropriate; Training supervisors on how to recognize and respond to the accommodation needs of pregnant employees; Considering pregnant employees when discussing accommodation policies. In short, think back to Justice Breyer’s key question when creating or updating you accommodation, leave, scheduling, and attendance policies. The question should influence how your company thinks about this issue so that it does not have to answer it on the witness stand. Marc Furman is the Chair of the Labor & Employment Group at Cohen Seglias, as well as a Shareholder and a member of the Board of Directors. For more than 30 years, Marc has limited his practice to providing representation and counsel to both union and non-union employers throughout the United States in all aspects of labor and employment law. Catherine Nguyen is an Associate in the Construction and Labor & Employment Groups at Cohen Seglias. She represents a national client base of owners, developers, general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers. She has secured wins for clients throughout the country in state, federal and appellate courts. Tags: "Supreme Court", “workplace discrimination”, ADA, Construction, Employer, PDA Marc Furman is Chair of the Labor & Employment Group at Cohen Seglias, as well as a Shareholder and a member of the Board of Directors. For more than 35 years, Marc has limited his practice to representing only employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. He works closely with his clients, both union and non-union, to implement the strategies and policies necessary to achieve business goals and to create strong companies and workforces. His clients span a broad range of industries throughout the United States, including manufacturing, hotel and hospitality, automotive, telecommunications, healthcare, food processing and distribution, and financial services. Marc is particularly focused on representing construction companies in matters involving unions and union organizing, picketing, and prevailing wage situations. Read more about Marc Furman Marc's Linkedin Profile Catherine Nguyen is an Associate in Cohen Seglias’ Title IX Group. Catherine has an active internal investigations practice, conducting investigations on behalf of colleges and universities, professionals, and private corporations. She has a background in education law and is a member of the firm’s Title IX Group, conducting investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct, discrimination, and harassment at educational institutions. Catherine is also active in the firm’s Scientific Misconduct Group, representing scientists in research misconduct matters. Read more about Catherine Nguyen Catherine's Linkedin Profile New IRS Partnership Audit Rules Take Effect Jan 1: What You Need to Know Real Estate 101: Knowing Your Property Value and Challenging Your Tax Assessment U.S. Department of Labor Issues New Guidance on Misclassification of Employees as Independent Contractors Crisis Management: Are You Ready for the BIG Surprise?	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3000
__label__wiki	0.54501	0.54501	And With the Shadow People Be Dan Newman From Dan Newman, the author of The Clearing and The Journalist, comes a novella that takes readers, shaking and terrified, back into the jungles of the Caribbean. Nate Mason sits in the office of a therapist, unable to move past the trauma he lived through on St. Lucia. Gently she wheedles another, similar story out of him, a story that serves as a screen for his own unspeakable memories. The tale of a girl named Jessie and her father, two ex-pats who had taken up residence on the isle. Their Jeep gets stuck in a rut, too late in the day and far from home, and both Jessie and her father must contend with the demons of the island, both real and imagined, over the course of one horrifying night. “The Clearing is a dark and atmospheric psychological thriller, full of intrigue, terror and superstition, which examines our deep fear of the unknown.” —Gumshoe Reviews Newman, Dan Dan Newman counts his having been raised "in-transit" around the globe as his most valuable education - despite a Masters degree in Journalism. The son of a globe-trotting international development worker, Dan grew up in...	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3004
__label__cc	0.556786	0.443214	People cope with the aftermath of severe weather in the Broadmoor neighborhood in New Orleans, Wednesday, July 10, 2019. Nick Reimann The Mississippi River is at 16 feet, which is just below flood stage, 17 feet, in New Orleans, Thursday, July 11, 2019 ahead of Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico. The river levees protect to about 20 feet, which the river may reach if predicted storm surge prevents the river from flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. Matthew Hinton Frank Conforto Jr. walks in the parking lot of the University Medical Center (UMC) with the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in the background on Glavez Street in New Orleans after flooding from a storm Wednesday, July 10, 2019. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in anticipation of tropical weather that could dump as much as 15 inches (38 centimeters) of rain in the state over the coming days. A truck passes by the University Medical Center (UMC) with the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in the background on Glavez Street in New Orleans after flooding from a storm Wednesday, July 10, 2019. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency in anticipation of tropical weather that could dump as much as 15 inches (38 centimeters) of rain in the state over the coming days. A storm swamped streets in New Orleans and prompted a tornado warning as concerns grew that even worse weather, including a possible hurricane, could strike Louisiana and other states along the Gulf of Mexico within days. Traffic backs up as rain come down at Airline Drive and S. Carrollton Ave. in New Orleans, as severe thunderstorms cause street flooding Wednesday, July 10, 2019. Max Becherer St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office inmate workers move free sandbags for residents in Chalmette, La., Thursday, July 11, 2019 ahead of ahead of Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico. Forecasters said the first hurricane of the Atlantic season could hit the state’s swampy southern tip on Friday, with the biggest danger posed not by the wind but by downpours that could go on for hours. St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office inmate workers move free sandbags for residents in Chalmette, La., Thursday, July 11, 2019. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is telling people in the southern part of the state to be prepared for heavy rain from Tropical Storm Barry as it pushes northward through the Gulf of Mexico. The Old Glory towing vessel appears taller than St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter as the Mississippi River is currently above 16 feet, which is just below flood stage at 17 feet, in New Orleans, Thursday, July 11, 2019 ahead of Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico. The river levees protect to about 20 feet, which the river may reach if predicted storm surge prevents the river from flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. David Fox makes a call from his business on Poydras Street in New Orleans after flooding in New Orleans Wednesday, July 10, 2019. A storm swamped New Orleans streets and paralyzed rush-hour traffic Wednesday as concerns grew that even worse weather was on the way. St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office inmate workers move free sandbags for residents in Chalmette, La., Thursday, July 11, 2019 ahead of ahead of Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico. The Louisiana National Guard reinforce a levee on the east Bank of the Mississippi River on the Chalmette Refinery property, Thursday, July 11, 2019. David Grunfeld Joe Miles, right, and Rey Varea, left, cut out drywall to prevent mold the day after severe weather flooded the home in the Broadmoor neighborhood in New Orleans, Thursday, July 11, 2019. Tallulah Campbell, 8, clears out driftwood and other debris in preparation of Tropical Storm Barry near New Orleans, La., Thursday, July 11, 2019. The area is normally a driveway at her family's home that is one of the few on land called batture on the outside of the Mississippi River levee at the border of Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. Delilah Campbell, 4, clears out driftwood and other debris in preparation of Tropical Storm Barry near New Orleans, La., Thursday, July 11, 2019. The area is normally a driveway at her family's home that is one of the few on land called batture on the outside of the Mississippi River levee at the border of Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. The family removes the debris to prevent hearing clanging against the foundation pilings of the raised home. Delilah Campbell, 4, left, and her sister, Tallulah Campbell, 8, clear out driftwood and other debris in preparation of Tropical Storm Barry near New Orleans, La., Thursday, July 11, 2019. The area is normally a driveway at her family's home that is one of the few on land called batture on the outside of the Mississippi River levee at the border of Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. Delilah Campbell, 4, right, and her sister, Tallulah Campbell, 8, clear driftwood and other debris in preparation of Tropical Storm Barry near New Orleans, La., Thursday, July 11, 2019. The area is normally a driveway at her family's home that is one of the few on land called batture on the outside of the Mississippi River levee at the border of Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. Jalana Furlough carries her son Drew Furlough as Terrian Jones carries Chance Furlough on Belfast Street near Eagle Street in New Orleans after flooding from a tropical wave system in the Gulf Mexico that dumped lots of rain in Wednesday, July 10, 2019. Flooding comes up the wheels of a parked car on Belfast Street near Eagle Street in New Orleans Wednesday, July 10, 2019 after flooding from a 100-year storm from a tropical wave system in the Gulf Mexico dumped lots of rain. The wave system may form into a hurricane called Barry later in the week. Terrian Jones reacts as she feels something moving in the water at her feet as she carries Drew and Chance Furlough to their mother on Belfast Street in New Orleans during flooding from a storm in the Gulf Mexico that dumped lots of rain Wednesday, July 10, 2019. A woman walks along S. Carrollton Ave. in New Orleans where cars are parked on the neutral ground to keep from flooding caused by severe thunderstorms, Wednesday, July 10, 2019.A storm swamped streets in New Orleans and prompted a tornado warning near the city Wednesday as concerns grew that even worse weather is on the way to Louisiana and other states along the Gulf of Mexico. Plaquemines Parish road crews add more dirt to the top of a levee near the Mississippi River levee, back, and the St. Bernard Parish line as they prepare for potential flooding from Tropical Storm Barry in Braithwaite, La., on Thursday, July 11, 2019. Chris Granger Eric Ehlenberger, a physician and neon artist, pauses as he goes through his damaged home in New Orleans on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, following a storm that swamped the city and paralyzed traffic. Ehlenberger said he and his wife Indra suffered a storm from a tropical wave system in the Gulf of Mexico passed through. He said his wife was also able to crawl out safely. Residents sit under a bus shelter along a flooded Broad Street as heavy rain falls, Wednesday, July 10, 2019, in New Orleans. A potential tropical storm brewing in the Gulf of Mexico presents twin troubles for southeast Louisiana - the possibility that a high Mississippi River will approach the tops of levees and a danger of flash floods. This photo shows the damaged home of Eric and Indra Ehlenberger in New Orleans on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, following a storm that went through the area. The storm swamped New Orleans streets and paralyzed traffic Wednesday as concerns grew that even worse weather was on the way: a possible hurricane that could strike the Gulf Coast and raise the Mississippi River to the brim of the city’s protective levees. Eric Ehlenberger, a physician and neon artist, goes through his damaged home in New Orleans on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, following a storm that swamped the city and paralyzed traffic. Ehlenberger said his wife was able to crawl out safely. Motorists react in New Orleans react as the intersection at Franklin Ave. and 610 floods after a severe thunderstorm Wednesday, July 10, 2019. A storm swamped streets in New Orleans and prompted a tornado warning near the city Wednesday as concerns grew that even worse weather is on the way to Louisiana and other states along the Gulf of Mexico. Terrian Jones reacts as she feels something moving in the water at her feet as she carries Drew and Chance Furlough to their mother on Belfast Street near Eagle Street in New Orleans after flooding from a storm dumped lots of rain on Wednesday, July 10, 2019. In this photo made available by Conway, a street in New Orleans is flooded by heavy rain, Wednesday, July 10, 2019. An NOPD cruiser blocks the underpass at S. Carrollton Ave. in New Orleans as severe thunderstorms caused street flooding, Wednesday, July 10, 2019. A man walks through standing water at the intersection at Franklin Ave. and 610 in New Orleans after a severe thunderstorm caused street flooding Wednesday, July 10, 2019. New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and public safety officials update media on rainfall, flooding and severe weather precautions at City Hall in New Orleans on Wednesday, July 10, 2019. Cantrell says the city’s Treme (truh-MAY) neighborhood got 8.4 inches (21.3 centimeters) of rain in three hours, and more nasty weather is on the way. She says she has declared an emergency. A Regional Transport Authority bus waits out the rain at the intersection of Franklin Ave. and 610 in New Orleans where streets were flooded after a severe thunderstorm, Wednesday, July 10, 2019. Jalana Furlough carries her son Drew Furlough as Terrian Jones carries Chance Furlough in New Orleans after flooding Wednesday, July 10, 2019. A towing vessel moves along the Mississippi River, top right, as Tallulah Campbell, 8, clears out driftwood and other debris in preparation of Tropical Storm Barry near New Orleans, La., Thursday, July 11, 2019. The area is normally a driveway at her family's home that is one of the few on land called batture on the outside of the Mississippi River levee at the border of Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. All boat traffic has been ordered to stop by Friday morning in preparation for the storm. By KEVIN McGILL and REBECCA SANTANA Associated Press Tropical Depressions Coastlines And Beaches Disaster Planning And Response Tropical Storm Barry Mississippi River 74° Cloudy Mixed clouds and sun with scattered thunderstorms. High 91F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. A few clouds from time to time. Low 74F. Winds light and variable. Jimbo's Aggies facing tough schedule Stuedeman out as MSU softball coach Back in the neighborhood, Manning recalls historic loss to Alabama SEC Notebook: Smart wants Georgia players to 'do more' CRIME REPORTS: Wednesday, July 17, 2019 This giant python could break a world record Judge dismisses DUI case against city attorney POLL: Will you wait until July 26-27 to buy schools supplies during the sales tax holiday? Thrive Online Marketing Services 1242 S Green St., Tupelo, MS 38804 Mark Nickels, DUI Lawyer Tupelo, MS 113 Robbins St., Tupelo, MS 38804 Sullivan Insurance 2531 President Ave., Tupelo, MS 38801 Tupelo Wrecker Service 1806 E Main St, Tupelo, MS 38804 Busylad Rent-All Adair Carpet 702 East President Street , Tupelo, MS 38801	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3006
__label__wiki	0.839967	0.839967	Group formed to protecampaign braceletsct endangered turtles Cityfolk Festival 2009: Dayton"s Best Music Festival It"s been an interesting year for punk rock music. Ann Arbor"s punk acolytes Iggy and the Stooges were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum last month, and punk rock impresario and Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren died on April 8, 2010, at age 64. But the headlines stretch further into the home of the aforementioned Rock Hall as well. District 9: Rated R for bloody violence and pervasive language. 111 mins. Refugee aliens, the last of their kind, landed on Earth 30 years ago. Contained in South Africa"s District 9, the world fought about what to do with them. They have been turned over to Multi-National United, a corporation seeking to profit from learning how the alien"s weaponry works without regard for their well-being. Tension mounts when an MNU employee develops a virus that mutates his DNA. Now the most hunted and valuable man on the planet as his molecular structure may hold the secret MNU seeks, he must hide in District 9. Along the same lines, try full-body work outs with "functional" exercises. This allows you to seriously shorten your work out time event wristbands while keeping things very interesting and highly effective. Tailgating is simply getting up plenty of brochures, samples and any products you may have on hand. Get together plenty of kits or mini kits and take them with you. Create signs that say "FREE AVON" one someone comes up and asks what you mean by free AVON tell them you have free brochures and samples. Finish it off by letting them know you are giving full size products for anyone who joins AVON today. Let them know it"s only $10 and there are no quotas. Even if they aren"t interested give them the opportunity to earn their products at a discount just buy opening an AVON account for themselves! Many will find this as a way to save money and then in return become a rep and most likely start selling to others! During Big Boi"s spring 2013 North American tour the rapper will perform 43 concerts over a two month time span. He will not only be performing headlining shows but will also make appearances at the Beale Street festival wristbands, Summer Camp festival wristbands, and at the NXNE Festival. Wolff calls Ubu blindingly original completely outside the mainstream and you could tell they sport wristbands were mad because a lot of their music was angry He shares similar kudos for The Dead Boys Pagans and Electric Eels which stand the test of time more than contemporaries like Styx REO Speedwagon or Kansas he laughs. Valleyheart comes as the follow up to the band"s successful self-titled debut, a subsequent follow up album This Is Forever, as well as two self-released EPs. The concept for the album does not end with just the songs, as Adam shot the photos of the Valley landmarks near to their hearts, and they are also each directing 10 short films and "webisodes," one for every song, to visually represent the stories contained with the album. And then there"s the Beachland"s annual "Old Home Night" concert at the end of every year that often features erstwhile Cleveland punk pioneers and indie rockers who were a part of the scene in those days. One of 37 sea turtles recently confiscated in Fujian, Guangdong and Hainan provinces and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is released in Sanya, Hainan, on Tuesday, the same day the China Sea Turtle Conservation Alliance was established. [Photo by SHA XIAOFENG/FOR CHINA DAILY] A new group dedicated to the protection of endangered sea turtles was formed in Sanya, Hainan province, on Wednesday, the 19th World Turtles Day. The group, calling itself the China Sea Turtle Conservation Alliance, released 37 confiscated turtles into the ocean in Sanya. "The establishment of the alliance will lift sea turtle conservation work to a new level," Li Yanliang, head of the National Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Association, said at the founding ceremony. The alliance comprises more than 90 members, including the fisheries administration of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; the National Aquatic Wildlife Conservation Association; fishery departments in Hainan, Guangdong, Fujian, Guangxi, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong and Liaoning; universities and colleges; social groups, NGOs and enterprises; and media organizations. Regarded as a "living-fossil" and a symbol of good luck and longevity in China, sea turtles have been living on Earth for more than 250 million years. But only seven species have survived - leatherbacks, greens, loggerheads, hawksbills, olive ridleys, kemp"s ridleys and flatbacks - as human activities such as the illegal trading of turtle meat, eggs and shells, habitat destruction, marine debris and global warming have threatened the turtles" survival. All species of sea turtles were listed as Class II protected species in China in 1988, and efforts have been made to stop the trafficking of sea turtles. A total of 28 turtles were rescued in a monthlong campaign launched by central government departments earlier this year, according to Zhang Xianliang, director of the agriculture and rural affairs ministry"s fishery administration. More than 2,000 sea turtle products were confiscated in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan last year. A total of 6,000 items of aquatic wildlife parts and products that were confiscated from those regions were destroyed in Sanya on Wednesday. The illegal products included red coral reef specimens, giant clams, green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles - about 40 metric tons in total, valued at more than 100 million yuan. "The event showed the Chinese government"s attitude and determination to crack down on crimes against wildlife," Zhang said. He noted that China has designated sea turtle conservation areas to protect spawning grounds, including the Huidong National Sea Turtle Nature Conservation Area in Guangdong province, the only one of its kind in the country. Sea turtle protection stations have also been established in Sansha, Hainan. "China has been conducting scientific research on sea turtles for years to better understand the creatures and figure out the right ways to protect them," Zhang said. He added that the country will carry out a series of measures in the future. An action plan for sea turtle conservation is likely to be implemented within the year, more nature reserves will be built and more science research and law enforcement efforts will be carried out, he said. Chinsolid color silicone wristbandsese scientists develop drug-free theranostic agent for cancer treatment Powered by campaign bracelets.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3009
__label__wiki	0.99317	0.99317	Nessel says justice demands review of LGBTQ opinion Attorney General Dana Nessel told the state Civil Rights Commission it's her duty to review an opinion that could expand the state’s civil rights law Nessel says justice demands review of LGBTQ opinion Attorney General Dana Nessel told the state Civil Rights Commission it's her duty to review an opinion that could expand the state’s civil rights law Check out this story on detroitnews.com: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/02/01/nessel-says-justice-demands-review-lgbtq-opinion/2735752002/ Jennifer Chambers, The Detroit News Published 4:08 p.m. ET Feb. 1, 2019 \| Updated 5:34 p.m. ET Feb. 1, 2019 Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel addresses Michigan Civil Rights commissioners Friday at Cadillac Place in Detroit. (Photo: Todd McInturf, The Detroit News) Detroit — With acts of discrimination occurring frequently against the LGBTQ in Michigan, Attorney General Dana Nessel told the state Civil Rights Commission on Friday it's her duty to review a legal opinion that could expand the state’s civil rights law to include protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. "I believe it is incumbent upon me examine this opinion," said Nessel, referring to a 2018 interpretation holding that discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is already illegal under state law prohibiting "sex" bias. "Justice demands no less." In a 6-0 vote on Friday, the commission approved a resolution directing the Michigan Department of Civil Rights to send a letter to Nessel asking her to reconsider a formal opinion by her predecessor. Commissioners Regina Gasco Bentley and Rasha Demashkeih were excused from the meeting. Nessel said after the meeting that she welcomes the opportunity. “There are probably going to be times when I just have a fundamental disagreement on the legal interpretation of a particular law, and I will tell you now, this is one of those times,” Nessel said. Nessel, a Democrat, told the commission that she will accept its request and review a prior interpretation by former Attorney General Bill Schuette, a Republican. "The ugly reality is that discrimination against the LGBTQ community does occur on a daily basis in this state," Nessel told the commission. "Isn't any discrimination too much discrimination?" The Civil Rights Commission in May issued an interpretive statement holding that current law offers some protections for gay and transgender residents. In July, Schuette said only lawmakers could make that call, but the commission ignored his opinion, and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights has continued to investigate complaints based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It's now investigating eight cases of alleged discrimination based on sexual orientation and five based on gender identity or expression. Dominic Burkhard, a pastor from Swartz Creek, spoke to the commission Friday after Nessel and said he agrees with Schuette that only state lawmakers can amend the law. “We do believe God set boundaries to society, and that as a society and as a nation, to defend what is past God’s boundaries, is making a mistake,” he said. The request for a new attorney general opinion was announced after Republican state House Speaker Lee Chatfield recently made clear he does not plan to hold a vote this term on any gay rights legislation. “I do not believe we can pass this law while still protecting religious freedom,” said Chatfield, R-Levering, last week during a taping of “Off The Record” on WKAR-TV. “You’ve seen these laws passed in other states where what happens, in my opinion, is a reverse discrimination against those who have religious beliefs.” Advocates had hoped to expand anti-discrimination laws under Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. But GOP Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey also has raised concerns, signaling a two-chamber roadblock that could limit advocates to legal or administrative changes. Chatfield, a former Christian school teacher and son of a Baptist pastor, has not been shy about his opposition to gay rights legislation. He won election to the state House in 2014 after knocking off an incumbent Republican he criticized for pushing to expand the state’s anti-discrimination law. On Friday, Nessel told the commission what she would tell Chatfield: "I believe you are a good man, a kind man and a well-intentioned man. But Mr. Speaker, what you don't know about discrimination against the LGBTQ community could fill not only the pages of a book but that of an entire library." A comment from Chatfield's office was not immediately available. Jay Kaplan, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan’s LGBT Project since 2001, called Chatfield's comments “silly.” The religious liberty argument is a “political tactic” and a “plot to try to deny LGBT people the same fair treatment and dignity as everyone else in Michigan,” he added. The Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1976 prohibits discrimination in employment, public housing and places of public accommodation based on factors such as religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight or marital status. Despite active investigations by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, advocates say broader protections are still needed and should be written into state law to ensure a lasting effect. “We have taken steps forward to provide some remedies for LGBT discrimination,” Kaplan said, “but we still have a long way to go.” Opposition by Chatfield and Shirkey, who sponsored a "religious freedom restoration" proposal in 2015 after Michigan’s same-sex marriage ban was ruled unconstitutional, would effectively maintain the status quo in Lansing. The GOP-led Legislature in recent years has sat on gay rights bills despite support from a business coalition and gentle encouragement by former Gov. Rick Snyder, a Republican. Shirkey recently told The Detroit News that Democratic efforts to expand the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to include new anti-discrimination protections for gay and transgender residents would likely be “heavily contested” in the GOP-led Legislature. jchambers@detroitnews.com Read or Share this story: https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2019/02/01/nessel-says-justice-demands-review-lgbtq-opinion/2735752002/ Detroit police commissioner removed from raucous meeting in handcuffs 'War of the lavenders': No flower power for these dueling Michigan festivals Feds: Alleged drug dealers didn't like cocaine quality, smuggled it anyway 6 Dems 'disappointed' with Nessel's Line 5 suit 3 charged in Warren after Lyft driver reports suspicious passengers Trump drops citizenship question from census	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3010
__label__wiki	0.982622	0.982622	First meeting in nearly 3 decades For the second time in the last three weeks, Cuero will welcome a team from District 13-4A Division I with the El Campo Ricebirds taking on the Gobblers Friday night. It will be the first meeting between the two schools since 1989, a 35-0 El Campo win in Cuero. El Campo has started the season with back-to-back wins over Texas City (28-21) and Rockport-Fulton (26-21). Seventeen starters from Wayne Condra’s 2017 area finalist team graduated, but 24 lettermen have returned, including three starters on offense and two on defense. The Ricebirds finished 8-3 last season. Defensive linemen Javien Williams leads a talented Ricebird defense. As a sophomore, Williams totaled 44 tackles and four sacks. Dave Campbell’s Texas Football picked Williams as the district’s preseason defensive MVP. On offense, quarterback Lynn Osina will be under center after accounting for 502 passing yards and seven touchdowns last season. JeVeon Cunningham rushed for over 300 yards in four games in 2017. Through two games, Cuero is averaging 338 yards per game, 169 yards rushing and passing. The Gobbler defense has allowed 294 yards per game (201 rushing and 93 passing). Chance Albrecht has 59 carries for 302 yards (5.1 per carry) and six touchdowns. Devin Whittington leads all Cuero receivers with six receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown. He’s followed by Trent Haynes (3-112-1) and Deandre Lang (10-94). Michael Barta has completed 20 of 31 passes for 304 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. El Campo is projected to finish second in their district behind Sealy and ahead of Bay City, Needville, Freeport Brazosport, West Columbia and Fulshear. The Ricebird were ranked 20th in Campbell’s 4A-DI preseason poll. “They are a very good football team, a very good program, a perennial 10-win team every year, well-coached,” Cuero coach Travis Reeve said of El Campo. “We have a lot of respect for them. It’s another big ball game. We just have to get better.”	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3011
__label__wiki	0.536402	0.536402	Day-by-day guide to the 2014 DCI World Championships The DCI World Championships will return to Indiana Aug. 4-9, 2014. The 2014 Drum Corps International World Championships, Aug. 4-9, will mark a week-long celebration of the world's most elite marching music ensembles. Featuring a high level of performance excellence coupled with an intense competitive spirit, more than 35 drum and bugle corps filled with dedicated young performers will take the field throughout the week, creating unparalleled excitement as they vie for the World Championship title. But the World Championships are more than competition and placements. Thousands of drum corps alums, family members and fans will travel thousands of miles to share in the excitement of this year's "Finals Week," before another summer season is written into the history books. The week kicks off in Michigan City, Indiana, with the Open Class Prelims and Finals Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 4 and 5. Events will then move to Indianapolis, beginning with the DCI Performers Showcase presented by System Blue and Kickoff Party and Hall of Fame Induction on Wednesday, Aug. 6, before the action moves into Lucas Oil Stadium Aug. 7-9, for three incredible days of competition. Bookmark this page, as we'll be updating this guide throughout the week of the Championships with additional events and new information that becomes available! New and notable for the 2014 World Championships: Open Class Excitement: Michigan City's Ames Field in Northwest Indiana will once again host the Open Class World Championship over two days of competition. New Name, Same Game: The DCI Performers Showcase presented by System Blue (formerly the Individual & Ensemble competition) will take place in a festival-like outdoor atmosphere on Georgia Street in downtown Indy. Battle On: Saturday morning and afternoon on the day of the World Championship Finals, downtown Indianapolis will be rockin' with SoundSport and DrumLine Battle performances, as these two exciting events find a new home on Pan Am Plaza along with food trucks, exhibitors and more! Marvelous Middle Schoolers: DCI will once again present the INpact Indiana's Future Band made up entirely on Indiana middle school musicians. Special guest performers will include drum corps' very own Al Chez and an all-star cast of alumni from the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band! Live Learning: DCI will host educational events for high school students and for future music educators on the day of the World Championship Finals. Pack Your Running Shoes: The Street Beat 5K comes to downtown Indy's beautiful Canal Walk the morning of Saturday, Aug. 9. Jump to day: Monday, Aug. 4 \| Tuesday Aug. 5 \| Wednesday, Aug. 6 \| Thursday, Aug. 7 \| Friday, Aug. 8 \| Saturday, Aug. 9 Eastern time zone unless otherwise noted. Ames Field will host both nights of the Open Class World Championship on Mon., Aug. 4 and Tue., Aug. 5. Open Class Prelims Where: Ames Field, 2501 Franklin St./State Route 421, Michigan City, Indiana When: Event starts at 4 p.m. CT Admission: $15 general admission About: In its seventh year in Michigan City, the Open Class Prelims will kick off all 2014 World Championship events. Taking place at Ames Field, an intimate stadium built with drum corps in mind, this event will feature all participating Open Class corps. Buy tickets to this event. The 2014 Open Class World Champion will be named Tuesday, Aug. 5 in Michigan City. Open Class Finals Where: Ames Field, 2501 Franklin St./State Route 421, Michigan City, Indiana When: Event starts at 6 p.m. (CT) Admission: $25 reserved, $15 general admission About: The DCI World Championships continue on Tuesday, Aug. 5 as the 12 top scoring Open Class corps from the Open Class Prelims compete for the title of World Champion. Buy tickets to this event. Individuals and ensembles will have their time in the spotlight during the DCI Performers Showcase on Wed., Aug. 6. DCI Performers Showcase presented by System Blue Where: Georgia Street, Downtown Indianapolis When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: Free and open to the public About: With a new name in 2014, the DCI Performers Showcase presented by System Blue (formerly the Individual & Ensemble Competition) will give members of World and Open Class drum corps, in addition to SoundSport and DrumLine Battle teams, the opportunity to show their individual and small group talents in an up-close setting. This year's event will once again be held outdoors in a vibrant, festival-like atmosphere on Georgia Street in downtown Indianapolis, with color guard performances inside at the Indianapolis ArtsGarden. Learn more about this event. Hall of Fame Kickoff Party Where: Historic Union Station, 39 Jackson Place, Downtown Indianapolis When: 9:30 p.m. Admission: Access to the ballroom is free and open to the public About: Kicking off World Championship celebrations in downtown Indianapolis, this annual party will include a special recognition of the newly inducted DCI Hall of Fame Class of 2014, live music, raffles, auctions and other entertainment to keep the festivities running late into the night. Proceeds will benefit various Hall of Fame projects, one of which is the Jim Jones Leadership Scholarship, an award administered by a committee of Hall of Fame members. Learn more about the 2014 Hall of Fame inductees. Competition gets underway at Lucas Oil Stadium the morning of Thurs., Aug. 7. DCI Headquarters Open House Where: 110 W. Washington St., Suite C (Northwest corner of Illinois and Washington Streets, below Panera and Weber Grill), Downtown Indianapolis When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: Free and open to the public About: Stop on by and have a chat with Drum Corps International employees while taking a tour through the DCI corporate headquarters in downtown Indianapolis. Be sure to make a stop at the Percussive Arts Society's Rhythm Discovery Center which is located right next door. Corps Warm-Up Zone Where: Military Park, 601 W. New York St., Downtown Indianapolis When: Early morning until last performing corps warms up Admission: Free and open to the public About: Come see your favorite corps warming up before their competitive Prelims performances at historic Military Park, a 14-acre green space bordering the campus of IUPUI. Military Park is a little less than a mile from Lucas Oil Stadium. Learn more about Military Park. The Festival Marketplace at Lucas Oil Stadium has the latest merchandise and souvenirs from DCI corps and more. DCI Festival Marketplace Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis Marketplace Hours: 9:30 a.m. until stadium clears at the end of the Prelims event Admission: Free with your ticket to the Prelims About: Grab some cool new gear from DCI, your favorite corps and DCI's corporate sponsors! Entertainment, souvenirs, information, and other items and activities will be awaiting. Immediately upon entering Lucas Oil Stadium's east-side entrance, fans will find themselves immersed in the Festival Marketplace with booths lining the concourse leading to the seating area. World Championship Prelims Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis When: Gates open at 9:30 a.m., first corps steps off at 10 a.m. Admission: Tickets start at $25 About: 2014 marks the sixth anniversary of World Championship events at Lucas Oil Stadium. In addition to the performances of all 22 World Class groups, Open Class corps will also be invited to compete at this all-day event, featuring more than 35 corps. Buy tickets to this event. Big, Loud & Live 11 Cinema Event Where: More than 600 movie theaters across the U.S. When: 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT, lasts approximately five hours Admission: $18, but may vary by theater location About: If you can't make it to Lucas Oil Stadium, you can still take part in the World Championships excitement. Celebrate the "best of the best" as Drum Corps International presents its 2014 World Championship Prelims on the big screen! Presented by DCI and Fathom Events, "Big, Loud & Live 11," will be broadcast from Indianapolis' Lucas Oil Stadium bringing you the complete live performances of the top 15 corps and highlights from throughout the day. Learn more and find a theater near you! Military Park is where fans can watch their favorite corps warm-up before competing at Lucas Oil Stadium. DCI Headquarters Open House Where: 110 W. Washington St., Suite C (Northwest corner of Illinois and Washington Streets, below Panera and Weber Grill), Downtown Indianapolis When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: Free and open to the public About: Stop on by and have a chat with Drum Corps International employees while taking a tour through the DCI corporate headquarters in downtown Indianapolis. Be sure to make a stop at the Percussive Arts Society's Rhythm Discovery Center which is located right next door. Corps Warm-Up Zone Where: Military Park, 601 W. New York St., Downtown Indianapolis When: Approx. noon until the last performing corps warms up Admission: Free and open to the public About: Watch your favorite corps warm up before they take the field for the Semifinals competition. Military Park is a little less than a mile from Lucas Oil Stadium. A shuttle bus to and from Lucas Oil Stadium and the Warm-Up Zone will run from approximately 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. DCI Festival Marketplace Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis Hours: 12:30 p.m. until stadium clears after the Semifinals event Admission: Free with your ticket to the Semifinals About: Purchase souvenirs and other merchandise from your favorite World and Open Class corps, Drum Corps International and more! The Festival Marketplace in 2014 is located throughout the main stadium concourse leading from the stadium's east entrance to the seating areas. 2014's graduating corps members will be recognized on the field following Friday night's Semifinals competition. World Championship Semifinals Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis When: Gates open to marketplace 12:30 p.m., First corps steps off 2 p.m. Admission: Tickets start at $25 About: The World Championship Semifinals features DCI's top 25 corps as determined by Thursday's Prelims event. These corps will duke it out for a spot in the coveted "Top 12," giving them one more chance to perform on Saturday. Buy tickets to this event. Age-Out Ceremony presented by the U.S. Army Music Program & Awards Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis When: Following Semifinals performances Admission: Included as part of admission to the Semifinals About: With the help of the U.S. Army Music Program, Drum Corps International honors the graduating class of 2014 – corps members who have dedicated their time, passion and hard work to the drum corps activity over many years in this special ceremony. Also recognized will be the Hall of Fame Class of 2014 and other corps member scholarship recipients. DCI World Championships After-Party Where: Omni Severin Hotel, 40 W. Jackson Place, Downtown Indianapolis When: 11 p.m., following the Semifinals event Admission: Free and open to the public. Food and drink available for purchase. About: The beautiful Omni Severin will be the site of the DCI World Championships After-Party following the Semifinals competition at Lucas Oil Stadium. Open to all fans, music and entertainment will be abound to make this a celebration you wont want to miss! The Street Beat 5K is a brand new event kicking off the final day of World Championships competition. Street Beat 5K Where: Canal Walk, Downtown Indianapolis When: 7:30 a.m. About: A brand new event to the DCI World Championships week of festivities, the Street Beat 5K will give runners and walkers the opportunity to start the morning of Finals Day bright and early to support their favorite corps. Participants will be able to choose which drum corps or local marching band they'd like to support when registering, with 50 percent of the proceeds from designated registrations going directly to their selected organization. Learn more about this event. 2014 Future Music Educators' Experience Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis When: 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. About: If you're a college student currently majoring in music education (undergraduate or graduate level), you can attend the 2014 DCI World Championship Finals for free! You'll experience the event inside and out, kicking off the day with motivational speaker Fran Kick, DCI Hall of Fame member Michael Cesario and a series of marching music education insiders. Learn more about this event. SoundSport Indianapolis Where: Pan Am Plaza, Downtown Indianapolis When: 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Admission: Free and open to the public. About: One of Drum Corps International's newest performance programs, SoundSport showcases ensembles of any age, size and instrumentation in an intimate performance atmosphere. Seven SoundSport teams are scheduled to compete in Indianapolis, with performances taking place on Pan Am Plaza, a wide-open area bordered by Union Station and steps from Georgia Street and Lucas Oil Stadium. Be on the lookout for a variety of Indianapolis' gourmet food trucks surrounding the arena, as the streets of downtown Indy turn into a festival of the performing arts. Learn more about SoundSport. DrumLine Battle returns to Georgia Street Sat., Aug. 9, for a high-octane in-your-face throw down of epic proportions. DrumLine Battle on Georgia Street Where: Georgia Street and Pan Am Plaza, Downtown Indianapolis When: 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Admission: Free and open to the public About: In the afternoon prior to the start of the World Championship Finals, downtown Indy will be slamming to the rhythm of a massive DrumLine Battle. DrumLine Battle is a live, high-energy, entertainment-focused competition for marching percussion ensembles. More than 20 lines will be on hand including those of DCI drum corps, local groups and international teams from Canada, Colombia, Thailand and more! Who'll throw down and become the next DrumLine Battle Champion? Be there to find out! Learn more about DrumLine Battle. Kick Start Leadership Workshop Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis When: 3 p.m. Admission: Free and open to students with a ticket to the Finals About: "Kick Start" your fall marching band season with DCI and motivational speaker Fran Kick! Kick's interactive and engaging leadership presentation will inspire students to reach new levels of responsibility, discipline and self awareness, all while nurturing the core values that will help them succeed in life. Corps Warm-Up Zone Where: Military Park, 601 W. New York St., Downtown Indianapolis When: Approx. 4 p.m. until last performing corps warms up Admission: Free and open to the public About: Watch your favorite corps warm up before they take the field for their final performances of the 2014 season. Military Park is a little less than a mile from Lucas Oil Stadium. A shuttle bus for fans will run between Lucas Oil Stadium and Military Park from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. DCI Festival Marketplace Hours: 3:30 p.m. until stadium clears after the Finals event Admission: Free with admission to the Finals About: Depending on how many Championship events you'll be attending this week, here's either your first or final opportunity to purchase souvenirs from Drum Corps International, the corps and DCI's corporate sponsors! The top 12 corps will perofrm one last time Saturday night for their chance to take home the Founders Trophy. Pre-Show Performances Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis When: Preceding the Finals competition Admission: Free with admission to the Finals About: After completing a whirlwind tour of Indianapolis for rehearsals and activities the day before, the INpact Indiana's Future Band, an ensemble made up entirely of Indiana middle school students will perform as part of the opening ceremonies of the World Championship Finals. The group will have the very special opportunity to perform with drum corps' very own Al Chez formerly of the Late Night Orchestra, and an alumni group from the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. World Championship Finals Where: Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave., Downtown Indianapolis When: Gates open to Festival Marketplace at 3:30 p.m., Awards Ceremony is at 10:30 p.m. Admission: Tickets start at $35 About: The top 12 drum corps will compete for the last time in 2014 for the chance to be named World Champion and affix their corps' name to the DCI Founders Trophy. Buy tickets to this event. View the lineup and performance times for this event.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3013
__label__cc	0.721672	0.278328	Technical University of Denmark News Nanotechnologies are best developed in collaboration Technical University of Denmark News Nanotechnologies are best developed... Nanotechnologies are best developed in collaboration Friday 24 May 19 by Tom Nervil Nordic Five Tech Nordic Five Tech is a strategic alliance between the five leading technical universities in the Nordic region; Chalmers in Gothenburg, KTH in Stockholm, NTNU in Trondheim, Aalto University in Helsinki and DTU. It is in the meeting between people that new realizations arise, new networks are established and failed projects can be avoided. Really that is the essence. Realizing that researchers, educators and technicians have much to learn from each other, five technical universities in the Nordic countries entered 13 years ago the collaboration called Nordic Five Tech. Based on this collaboration, 250 nanotechnologists and researchers have set each other up and exchanged their latest experiences and discoveries. Nordic Nanofabrication Network (NNN) deals with complex techniques that develop rapidly and require continuous learning to find solutions to the challenges of the future. And that is the whole essence of the collaboration. "It gives a great opportunity to understand the latest developments," says Jörg Hübner, director of DTU Nanolab, which hosts the 250 researchers and technicians. "It is a meeting between technical experts, where you look into the world and see potentials. It is a forum for networking and knowledge - and then it is also a unique opportunity to also exchange experience about what does not work. People are honest with each other here. There is a fantastic openness and people do not hide what they are struggling with. It is a complex world that is difficult to enter with the new technologies. Therefore, collaboration and exchange of experience is very valuable, so you can avoid making the same mistakes others have already done – and which can mean wasting many years of work and millions of dollars.” One step ahead of the researchers The network meeting at DTU is well visited. Professionally, according to the participants, there is much to come by within the various techniques. The presentations are thorough and you can learn a lot in an hour. The plenum lectures go into depth with the latest research results and bring the audience up to date. This applies in areas such as: Imaging with Transmission Electron Microscop (TEM), 3D scuplturing, Nanolithography and an insight into Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). "Researchers from universities and industry must be able to realize their theory and models in our laboratories," explains Jörg Hübner. We need to provide technology that scientists do not yet know they need. We must relate to the future, and therefore we have also invited Heike Riel from IBM in Zurich to hold a speach on "Nanoelectronic Devices for Future Computing", in order to get a qualified idea of where the technological demands are moving.” Nordic Nanofabrication Network User Meeting took place at DTU 7 - 8 May 2019 and is held every two years. The next time is in 2021, when it is held in Gothenburg. 11 April 2018 Doctoral defense: start legislating... 07 July 2017 Carbon atoms assemble themselves... 19 January 2017 Electrocatalysis can advance green... 02 December 2016 New atom building method 27 May 2015 Rechargeable zinc-air batteries... 23 March 2015 Nanocscale snitch 29 January 2015 Young researchers from DTU won... 13 October 2014 Watching live how fuel cells and... https://www.dtu.dk/english/news/Nyhed?id=%7B9FF1799A-7C84-4ABF-A39C-BADE9F582B7C%7D	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3018
__label__wiki	0.525355	0.525355	Where to Find Out More about International Investing Online How Dividends Work Online Investors’ Ten Most Common Questions Investing Online For Dummies Cheat Sheet Ten Ways to Protect Your Investments and Identity Online Investing Online For Dummies, 8th Edition By Matt Krantz But wait a second. Before you sign up for the international stock thing, you need to know the downside of being fully diversified. Just as foreign stocks can beat U.S. stocks, sometimes, the opposite also can happen. It’s not unusual for foreign stocks to fall behind or lag domestic stocks in some years. During times when foreign stocks are underperforming, they can drag down your overall portfolio. This is especially hard to take in years in which the major U.S. stock indexes like the S&P 500 are doing well. During those times, though, you’ll have to resist the temptation to dump your foreign stocks. That’s why it’s best to use online resources to fully understand international investing. The following websites provide helpful global business and investing insights: Yahoo! Finance: Yes, Yahoo! Finance has that international thing going, too. This part of the site lets you closely monitor daily movements of most international stock markets. You can check out daily closing values of major market indexes around the globe, including the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa/Middle East. Just click the region you’re interested in, using the tabs under the Major World Indices heading. In this area of Yahoo! Finance, you can see the name of different countries’ stock market indexes and find out how much they rose or fell that day. To track long-term performances of these indexes, it takes only a couple of clicks. Just click the index’s symbol in the list, such as ^MERV for the Buenos Aires’ MerVal index. Next, click the Historical Prices link on the left side of the page, under the Quotes heading. The index’s closing values going back for years pops up on your screen. Historicalstatistics.org: This site houses a massive directory of market and economic resources for international investors. Just click the name of the country you’re interested in on the left side of the page to call up a giant list of links to other websites with data and information about that country. Economist Intelligence Unit: A research firm affiliated with The Economist business magazine, the Economist Intelligence Unit provides data and information about the economies of more than 200 countries. You must pay for most of the content on the site, but you can get some free insights from articles featured on the first page of the site. You can see summaries of international business studies the Economist Intelligence Unit has done; click on some to read the findings. International Monetary Fund: The IMF offers detailed economic data about countries and provides comprehensive global data and statistics. The World Bank: The World Bank provides in-depth information not only about countries’ economies, but also their political and social environments. You also find important considerations for investors. Securities and Exchange Commission: The SEC provides a complete guide to international investing that outlines the risks and rewards. Global Financial Data: This is an invaluable source if you’re looking for very long-term historical data for investments in any country you can imagine, but you must pay for most of the data. Bloomberg: Bloomberg doesn’t skimp when it comes to covering economic developments around the world. You can find numerous stories explaining how global market events can affect stock markets around the world, and Bloomberg’s World Indexes section lists daily performances of the world’s major indexes. Reuters: The venerable news service has a section of its website dedicated to international news and provides international markets news. MSN Money: This corner of the MSN Money site shows you how major international stock markets and indexes are performing. Economagic: Economagic collects economic data on most major countries. Economagic is also a helpful site when you’re looking for information about the U.S. economy. If you’re relatively new to international markets, you might not be familiar with all the market indexes that track foreign markets. The following table gives you an idea of some of the more popular foreign markets as well as the name of the index used to track them. Guide to Some Foreign Stock Markets Foreign Market and/or Index Tracks Stocks In Bovespa Brazil CAC 40 France DAX Germany FTSE 100 United Kingdom Hang Seng Hong Kong MerVal Buenos Aires Madrid General Spain Nikkei 225 Japan Seoul Composite Korea Shanghai Composite China S&P/TSX Composite Canada	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3019
__label__cc	0.517527	0.482473	#Paroled Archive: P for Paoletti Official Photographer of the Factory and “ Photography Archivist" 17 April Apr 2019 1724 17 April 2019 Among the many photographers who worked for the Fabbrica del Duomo, Antonio Paoletti had a very important role. Paoletti was born in 1881 in Livorno. In 1908 he moved to Milan and opened a photography studio in via Pantano n.3. The photographer immediately established himself on the Milanese scene: as early as 1910, Luca Beltrami hired him to carry out a photographic campaign of the civic museum collections. During his career he collaborated with important companies, including Edison and AEM, and held positions at the Superintendence: for instance, he was responsiblefor the photographic documentation of the restoration of Santa Maria delle Grazie in 1937. By studying the records and payment orders kept in the Archives of the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo, we can accurately reconstruct the work carried out by Paoletti for the Fabbrica, where he was active from 1916 until his death in June 1943. During this period, Paoletti was the main photographer the Fabbrica relied on to document the ordinary and extraordinary work that was done on the Cathedral, including the construction of new pinnacles,the construction of the façade’s minor doors and the monumental restoration that affected the Cathedral from 1936 to 1939. He also played a fundamental role in the establishment of the Photo Library of the Duomo. In fact, from the 1920s onwards, he began to reprint the photographic negatives that were at the Fabbrica and had been purchased and commissioned from the second half of the nineteenth century. He then proceeded toorganize the prints into albums, as shown in the annotation by Fabbrica Architect Adolfo Zacchi: "Paoletti the photographer took the photographs [...] using negatives owned by the Fabbrica, concerning details and studies of the Duomo. The material obtained must be used for the creation of photo albums for the reorganization of the photographic archive" (Mandate n.175 of 1920). At the same time, Paoletti reorganised the collection of negatives, as stated in the expense item of the invoice from 31/08/1937: "for labour, subdivision, listing and negative numbering - complete reorganisation of the photographic archive" (Mandate n.328 of 1937). The story of Paoletti the photographer confirms once again the extraordinary value of the Archive of the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo: in it, thanks to the interweaving of the numerous documentary testimonies preserved, it is possible to reconstruct in a precise way each segment of the centuries-old history of the Duomo that echoes many other infinite stories. In the picture: Invoices by Antonio Paoletti dated 25/01/1916, 19/09/1938 and 09/06/1943.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3020
__label__wiki	0.880291	0.880291	Conservative & Unionist Association East Lothian MP 'foolhardy' to call for a General Election In a letter published in the East Lothian Courier, Association Chairman, Tim Jackson, highlights Labour languishing in the latest opinion polls whilst East Lothian MP Martin Whitfield calls for a General Election. "Sir, Martin Whitfield, MP has recently indicated, in regard to Brexit, what many of his Labour Party colleagues have been advocating, namely a General Election. "This is surprising when the latest Opinion Polls show his Party languishing behind the Conservatives, mainly due to Labour’s discredited Brexit policy, but also because of concerns about Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership and many of his Party’s left-wing, outdated, economic policies. Meanwhile, leaked figures have revealed that Labour Party membership has been declining across every area of Scotland. Indeed, Labour’s membership in East Lothian has fallen by over 4 % within the last year. "Mr Whitfield’s calls for a General Election are therefore perhaps foolhardy particularly when here in East Lothian membership of the Scottish Conservative Association has increased threefold since 2016. "Crucially, Mr Whitfield seems to have forgotten that, in the last four Elections held in Scotland since 2016, the Scottish Conservative share of the vote here in East Lothian increased significantly more than any other political party on each occasion. "Yours etc, Tim Jackson, "Chair East Lothian Conservative & Unionist Association" Tim Jackson OBE Chairman & member of the Association Executive Committee Association Chairman since October 2014, Tim is married and lives in Gullane. After serving in the Army in Germany, Northern Ireland and the Middle East, he joined United Biscuits followed by the Scotch Whisky Association where he was its' Director of International Affairs. Craig Hoy selected to contest East Lothian seat at Holyrood 2021 Craig Hoy, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Councillor for Haddington and the Lammermuirs, has been selected by East Lothian Conservatives to contest the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election. Holyrood News By joining the Conservative Party, you're doing your bit to help change Britain. Your support is vital to our campaign to build a better future. We need to build a strong voice for local Conservatives and we can only do that with your help. Any donation will make a difference. East Lothian Conservative & Unionist Association Promoted by Sarah Russell, on behalf of East Lothian Conservative & Unionist Association, both at 4 Church Street, Haddington, EH41 3EX Copyright 2019 East Lothian Conservative & Unionist Association. All rights reserved.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3021
__label__wiki	0.679875	0.679875	U.S.–Mexico Calmly, Mexico, U.S. discuss cross-border aquifers In the cross-border sister cities of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, debate over immigration, drugs and U.S. border-wall expansion have grabbed ever-larger headlines ...... More electric buses on the road in Santiago, Chile Dozens of new red and white buses parked abreast gleam under the sun in the Peñalolén section of Santiago. The site is a terminal of ...... Pushback in Panama against island oil terminal In a surprise move, Panamanian authorities have reversed the approval of a lease for a US$335 million oil terminal on Boná Island, a largely pristine, ...... Amazonia (Free Read) Drought alters forest composition, carbon capture The Amazon, the world’s biggest tropical rainforest, is also a crucial carbon sink, soaking up vast quantities of carbon dioxide that would otherwise accumulate in ...... Brazil’s new government takes aim at sea trash Since Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took office on Jan. 1, green advocates have looked on with dread as his right-wing administration has begun to act ...... Monitors report leatherback nesting numbers way down For as long as those who live near Nicaragua’s Playa Chacocente can remember, leatherback sea turtles have landed on the Pacific beach each year from ...... Wildlife loss on roads spurs safety efforts Think about threats to animal biodiversity, and problems such as poaching, land-use conversion and climate change come to mind. But Brazilian researcher Alex Bager has ...... Expert sizes up potential for electric-powered transport in region Gianni López of Chile has spent his entire career working at the intersection of transportation and the environment. In the 1990s, he served in a ...... Latin America’s first “ecoduct” crosses National Route 101 in the Argentine province of Misiones. (Photo by Iván Thibaud, @Limba.tv) Think about threats to animal biodiversity, and problems such as poaching, land-use conversion and climate change come to mind. But Brazilian researcher Alex Bager has focused on a less well-known but significant cause—vehicle traffic. In his most recent project, Bager has been crisscrossing Brazil since last October, analyzing road kill as part of a nine-month, 40,000-kilometer (25,000-mile) expedition called Vulture in the Road. The project reflects research occurring in several South American countries, part of an emerging discipline known as “road ecology.” Scientists involved in the work say that unless solutions are adopted urgently, the problem of animals being struck by vehicles will likely contribute significantly to the pace of species extinction in Latin America. “Every second, from 15 to 17 wild animals are run over in Brazil,” Bager says. “At the end of the day, this number adds up to more than one... [Log in to read more]	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3022
__label__wiki	0.754369	0.754369	Getty Images/Rich Fury Cardi B Supports Colin Kaepernick In An Important Way At The VMAs By Micia "Bodak Yellow" has soared to number one on the Billboard rap charts, and Cardi holds the same energy on and off stage. As she introduced Demi Lovato's VMA performance, Cardi B supported Colin Kaepernick by vocalizing that she stands with him as he continues his plight with the NFL. She took a moment out of the busy 2017 show to shine some light in Kaepernick's direction. Colin Kaepernick has allegedly been blackballed by the NFL as he led protests against police brutality in the 2016 season by kneeling during the National Anthem. On Wednesday, Aug. 23, his supporters along with the NAACP held a rally at the NFL headquarters protesting his unemployment in New York City. Hundreds of people gathered and amplified their voices to let the NFL know that they will boycott the sports association until Kaepernick finds employment. Although the NFL holds steady that they value patriotism, according to Roger Goodell, they haven't explicitly said that Kaepernick has been blacklisted from NFL hire. Cardi B said during her intro of Demi Lovato's performance, Colin Kaepernick, as long as you kneel with us, we're going to be standing for you, baby. That's right, I said it! Her shoutout to Colin Kaepernick echoed across the virtual world with many fans, celebrities and platforms cosigning her powerful and unapologetic message. This year's VMAs were filled with political shoutouts, including Paris Jackson denouncing "white supremacists" at the beginning of the show, Katy Perry calling out Hurricane Harvey and drawing attention toward donating to the Red Cross, Logic with his moving performance dedicated to suicide awareness, and more. This was Cardi B's first appearance at the VMAs, and she made it clear that she plans to use her microphone for causes she believes in. Cardi B's fame began on social media before her debut on VH1's Love and Hip Hop: New York City, and from there, she has managed to reach heights that many did not see coming. Cardi B's VMA debut does not include nominations, but along with her political statement, the rapper performed her chart topping single “Bodak Yellow” at the VMA pre-show. The "regular degular" girl took to the stage, and put on a show for the “Bardi Gang” as she affectionately calls her fans. As Cardi B continues to grow as an artist, it is sure that her voice will only get louder.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3026
__label__wiki	0.892483	0.892483	Ed Brydon It is said that a Welsh Prince, Madog, sailed to America in 1170, over three hundred years before Christopher Columbus. There is no evidence for this folklore tale, but in the Mohawk Valley of Central New York, there is a community of people descended from Welsh immigrants. They settled in Remsen, a small town in Oneida County, and the surrounding area from the early 1800s onwards, driven to leave North Wales due to poverty, lack of work–in spite of the booming industrial revolution–and suppression of the Welsh heritage and language. Ed Brydon. Image © Brian Carroll ‘The Singing Hills’ - a personal project by photographer Ed Brydon who was born in Chester and brought up in Menai Bridge on Anglesey - draws references from Welsh myths and legends, including the tale of Madog as well as The Mabinogion. It draws a visual line of connection between the people, land, and life of Remsen and North Wales, their similarities and differences and the relationship of these proud people of Welsh heritage to their home in America and the land of their ancestral home in North Wales. Ed continues photographing the people, land, and village life in Remsen and the surrounding area whilst doing the same in North Wales, and where possible photographing confirmed relatives of people he has photographed in Remsen. Ffoton grabbed a lunchtime opportunity to speak to Ed whilst he was back in Wales for the recent inaugural Northern Eye International Photography Festival in Colwyn Bay. A selection of Ed's ‘The Singing Hills’ images were shown as one of several exhibitions at the Festival. Ed currently lives in Bedford Hills, in Westchester County, New York, with his wife and two sons. When they moved from Brooklyn they chose Westchester in particular because of the similarity of the landscape to North Wales. It felt like home. You can view more of Ed's work on his website www.edbrydon.com Follow him on Twitter @edbrydon	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3028
__label__wiki	0.805634	0.805634	For the Last Two Years Ed Cherney has Used His ATC SCM25As to Mix Everything LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JULY 2014: Ed Cherney needs no padding on his resume. A veteran producer and engineer with 35 years logged in the control room, Cherney has worked with the top talent in the industry, including Iggy Pop, Bob Seger, Bette Midler, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, Jann Arden, Jackson Browne, Keb’ Mo, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones, to name just a few. His work has earned him six Grammy nominations and three wins, along with seven TEC nominations and five wins. He is a founding member of Producers and Engineers Wing of The Recording Academy and served as the Governor of the L.A. Chapter of The Recording Academy. Until last year, Cherney was also an avid, collector of studio reference monitors, learning to work around the faults of each model before relegating it to the closet when a newer model came through the door. That cycle ended with the arrival of a pair of ATC SCM25A 3-way nearfield monitors. Cherney now uses his ATC SCM25As for almost everything he does because they’re exciting to listen to and because the work he does on them translates flawlessly on any other pro or consumer system. Heather J. Davis “I am always looking for speakers because they’re my eyes in the studio, my window to the world,” said Cherney. “I get a lot of inquiries from younger engineers, asking me if I can recommend a good pair of monitors for five-hundred bucks. I can’t. And it’s crazy that they’ll spend thousands on microphones and outboard gear without first giving themselves the one tool they need to actually hear what they’re doing. It’s like an artist buying expensive paints and then turning out the lights. That said I’ve had a hard time finding the ideal speaker at any price. I guess I’m something of a collector now.” Cherney first heard a pair of ATC SCM25As at a studio in New York, and he liked what he heard. Shortly thereafter, he was working at a studio in his hometown of Chicago that had no good options for monitors. “I spoke to Brad [Lunde] at TransAudio Group [ATC’s U.S. distributor] and he sent out a pair of ATC SCM50ASLs for us to try. They were spectacular as well! We could turn them up loud, and the low end was defined, the midrange was smooth and silky, and the high end was sweet. The sound was thrilling; it could wash over me and punch me in the chest. These were the first mid-size speakers that could give me the experience of the soffit-mounted loudspeakers that the big studios have.” He continued, “I’ve been dissatisfied with 2-way speakers in the past. The challenge is always to get the right vocal tone and volume, and it often depends on which side of the crossover the vocal is sitting. Sometimes the same singer can be below the crossover in the verse and above it in the chorus. In the past, I always took my mixes around to different systems – different speakers, my house, my car – to make sure the vocals were sitting in the mix correctly. Now that I have the ATC SCM25As, I rarely have to do that anymore. The vocals sit nicely in the midrange driver, and I’m always within a half dB. Every song. For the first time, I really trust the quality of the mixes in the studio. I don’t have to take them out and check them. I nail it and they translate to the rest of the world. That’s a huge improvement.” Cherney has already used the ATC SCM25As on a number of projects. He produced, recorded, and mixed the main title for the Disney film Planes called “Nothing Can Stop Me Now,” as well as Robben Ford’s Bringing It Back Home and Eric Burdon’s Till Your River Runs Dry. He mixed Love for Levon on DVD, CD, and broadcast using the SCM25As, and he mixed Road to Forever by Don Felder of the Eagles. Currently, he’s working on a debut album from Athena Perez, a rising country artist from Chicago, and a new Bette Midler album. In addition to how well his mixes translate on the ATC SCM25As, Cherney is also inspired by their clean, fatigue-free volume. “If I’m recording drums, I like to turn it up!” he said. “If the band’s in the control room, I have to turn it up! When I’m doing the final balances, I may be down around 75dB, but getting there, I want to feel it pop, physically! I want to move air in the room! With the 25s, I can. And I can do it all day long and still be as clear-headed and energized at the end of the day as I was at the beginning. My ATC’s make recording and mixing music much more fun. ABOUT TRANSAUDIO GROUP TransAudio Group, founded by industry veteran Brad Lunde, has quickly become the premier U.S. importer/distributor and/or U.S. sales and marketing representative for high-end audio. Success hinges on TransAudio providing dealers and end users with a higher standard of product expertise and support far beyond the norm. www.transaudiogroup.com (Photo Credit: © 2014 Lynn Fuston) On Top of His Game By Maureen Droney Introducing the ATC SCM20ASL Pro MkII Fastidious Fidelity: Mr. Scruff Squeezes Every Last Band Out Of His Grooves By Richard Thomas Dime Store Dare James Pants Brazenly Uses a Boombox to Record His Sonic Fantasies By Simona Rabinovitch THE HIP, THE HOP, & EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN By Dan Daley TransAudio Introduces the ATC SCM20PSL MkII Location Is Everything By MIKE SOKOL	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3030
__label__cc	0.667605	0.332395	Home > What is a voice disorder? August 9, 2017 By Ashleigh Fattah What is a voice disorder? Voice disorders are conditions involving abnormal pitch, loudness or quality of the voice, thereby affecting speech production. A voice disorder describes differences in voice that are inappropriate for an individual’s age, gender, cultural background, or geographic location. A person has a voice disorder if they express concern about having an abnormal voice that does not meet their daily needs. Even in the case where others cannot perceive the difference. Voice disorders are classified in a number of ways. Most simply, voice disorders can be considered in three categories: Organic voice disorders are physiological in nature and occur when there is a change to respiratory, laryngeal, or vocal tract mechanisms within a person’s body. There are two types of organic voice disorders: Structural and Neurogenic. Structural voice disorders are caused by physical changes to the voice mechanism such as vocal nodules and oedema where the vocal fold tissue is altered by misuse or structural changes to the larynx that happen as a part of aging. Neurogenic voice disorders are caused by dysfunction of the central or peripheral nervous system innervating the larynx, which in turn affects functioning of the vocal mechanism. This includes voice changes such as tremors caused through Neurogenic diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, paralysis of one or both of the vocal folds or involuntary movements known as spasmodic dysphonia. A functional voice disorder is caused by the improper or inefficient use of the vocal mechanism. This is despite there being no abnormalities to the physical structures involves in voicing. Functional voice disorders can be caused by the presence of an organic disorder that leads to habitual, mal-adaptive vocal habits. Even after the organic change or long standing vocal habits have been treated. Some examples of functional voice disorders include vocal fatigue, muscle tension dysphonia, diplophonia and ventricular phonation. Psychogenic A psychogenic voice disorder occurs when there is no structural reason for the voice disorder. There may or may not be patterns of muscle tension (functional voice disorder) and the primary cause is psychological. While psychogenic components within voice disorder do occur, voice disorders caused by a psychological disorder are relatively rare. These individuals may benefit more from a referral to appropriate professionals other than speech pathologist such as psychologist or psychiatrist for treatment. Most voice disorders fall into the first two categories and overlap is very common. One of the most common cases is when an individual has a functional disorder. This is where they habitually misuse their voice, and this leads to a vocal trauma. Eventually this can lead to an organic disorder such as vocal nodules. It is important to determine the correct diagnosis and cause for voice disorders. Treatment will differ depending on the type and cause. Contact us for results focused speech therapy This article was written by our Speech Pathologist Ashleigh Fattah who is a Speech Pathology Australia member. If you have speech pathology related questions, make an appointment. We‘ll provide you with simple and effective therapy targeted to your concerns. Contact us today. Filed Under: Adult Speech Therapy Tagged With: Child Speech Therapist Sydney, Communication, Problems communicating, Speech Pathologist, Voice About Ashleigh Fattah Ashleigh Fattah is a Speech Pathologist who sees both children and adults. She has experience from a Master of Speech and Language Pathology degree and a spectrum of clinical environments including private practice, inpatient and outpatient hospitals school and community based practice. Ashleigh is committed to providing evidence-based interventions for children and adults alike, tailoring therapy to each client’s individual needs. Her clinical experience enables her to provide comprehensive one-on-one, group and school program interventions. Ashleigh is trained in providing an array of up-to-date therapy techniques to help both children and adults achieve their goals.	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3033
__label__wiki	0.606747	0.606747	HAIRBOTTLE, Richard - Extra Data (member of GRIFFITH's Party) National Archives, Kew WO97/1233/42 Richard HAIRBOTTLE Born in Frome, Somerset Enlisted at the age of 17 on 4 June 1804 into the 10th Battalion Royal Artillery as a Gunner. He served for 10 years and 150 days and was discharged on account of rheumatism on 31 October 1814, aged 27 years and 3 months. He was 5'2" tall, with fair hair, hazel eyes and a fair complexion. London Metropolitan Archives Richard HAIRBOTTLE married Jane LOID on 19 September 1809 in St.Nicholas, Plumstead Jane was illiterate and made her mark. The surname is almost certainly meant to be LLOYD. Two children of Richard and Jane were baptised in Forden, Montgomeryshire; Richard on 21 April 1811 and William on 30 June 1816. It is possible that Forden was the home parish of Jane LLOYD and that John LLOYD of Griffith's Party was her brother. GRIFFITH, Charles and Valentine - Extra Data GRIFFITH, Charles, 1820 Settler GRIFFITH's Party	cc/2019-30/en_head_0017.json.gz/line3035

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