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Home International Economic Law Bilateral Investment Treaties Duration of ISDS Proceedings
Duration of ISDS Proceedings
Published on April 3, 2019 Author: Holger Hestermeyer and Anna De Luca
Editors’ Note: We continue the series of posts (see this morning’s introduction here, and first post on costs here), contributed by individual members of the Academic Forum of the UNCITRAL Working Group III (UNCITRAL WG III) on Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform, which provide summaries of individual concept papers prepared by various Academic Forum working groups jointly authored by members therein. These posts will run simultaneously with the ongoing UNCITRAL WG III sessions in New York this week. This post, authored by Holger Hestermeyer with Anna De Luca, summarizes the concept paper on duration of ISDS proceedings, which was jointly authored by the members of Academic Forum Working Group II (Holger Hestermeyer as chair, Jose Manuel Alvarez Zarate, Crina Baltag, Daniel Behn, Jonathan Bonnitcha, Malcolm Langford, Anna De Luca, Loukas Mistelis, and Gregory Shaffer.) Clara Lopez Rodriguez and Simon Weber provided assistance.
The length of proceedings, and the resulting impact on costs, has long been a topic of considerable importance for arbitration: a lack of speed is widely perceived by users as one of the downsides of international arbitration. In the current debate about ISDS reform, the length of ISDS proceedings, alongside their costs, has been raised as a concern at the thirty-fourth session of UNCITRAL Working Group III. In the following paragraphs we will try to answer the following questions: when are proceedings excessively long? How long are ISDS proceedings? What is the effect of the various reform proposals on the length of ISDS proceedings?
In carrying out this evaluation the authors faced a number of challenges. Firstly, none of the reform scenarios has been intended to specifically address the duration of ISDS proceedings except for some of the improvements suggested by the scenario “Investment Arbitration (IA) improved”. As a result, the impact on the duration of ISDS proceedings is more of a collateral damage or benefit of the reform proposals under discussion and is, accordingly, not always easy to ascertain. Secondly, the length of investment arbitration is so heavily fact-specific that it seems to defy all attempts at generalisation. Thirdly, short proceedings are not automatically better proceedings. Shortening proceedings can affect dispute resolution in complex ways and involves trade-offs. These have to be made clear.
When are proceedings excessively long?
The European Court of Human Rights, when analysing whether proceedings take place within a reasonable time under Art. 6 of the ECHR, has held that the reasonableness of the length of proceedings “must be assessed in the light of the circumstances of the case and with reference to the following criteria: the complexity of the case, the conduct of the applicant and of the relevant authorities and what was at stake for the applicant in the dispute” (Comingersoll S.A. v. Portugal [GC], no. 35382/97, § 19) and thus confirmed the fact-specific nature of the determination.
How long are ISDS proceedings?
We will present three datasets on the length of ISDS proceedings: ICSID undertook a review of case duration as part of its rule amendment project, for which it reviewed 63 cases which concluded with an award between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2017.The review’s result were presented in the following graph:
The second dataset, PluriCourt’s Investment Treaty Arbitration Database, contains 635 cases at the time of data extraction. It yields the following data:
Std. Dev. – Years
Average – All
Average: Decided
Non-Decided
Settled after jurisdiction
Discontinued after jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Loss
Merits Loss
Merits Win
As to annulment, the data set gives the following lengths:
Annulment Discontinued after Failure to Pay Fees
Annulment Discontinued
Annulment in Full
Annulment Partial
Annulment Rejected
Langford et al. come to the conclusion that procedural events are the most likely to prolong arbitration: bifurcation, arbitrator challenges and replacement as well as the existence of a dissenting opinion stand out when it comes to explaining longer duration (M. Langford et al., What do we Know?, ISDS Forum).
The third dataset, collected at King’s College London, contains 110 cases. According to it the constitution of an ISDS tribunal took on average of 181 days, 103 days for annulment committees. The written phase of ordinary proceedings without annulment took an average of 407 days. Bifurcated cases took an average of 224 days for the 1st, 379 days for the second and 403 days for the third stage.
What is the effect of the reform proposals on the length of ISDS proceedings?
We will now tackle, one by one, the various reform proposals to gage their possible effect on the length of proceedings.
The first possible reform consists in targeted changes to investment arbitration. Recent ICSID proposals for rule amendments give some guidance as to which changes could be made. Possible changes include speeding up the constitution of arbitral tribunals by triggeringthe default method of appointment automatically; an obligation of conducting proceedings in an expeditious manner; more flexible handling of hearings and witness examinations to avoid the risk of repeating evidentiary exercises in the case of bi- or trifurcation; speeding up the deliberation process and imposing a stricter time limit for delivery of the award; introducing expedited arbitration proceedings with the consent of the parties by a sole arbitrator as proposed for the ICSID Arbitration Rules; simplifying claims consolidation and, where not available, claims coordination; abolishing bifurcation. While these proposals can in some circumstances lead to shorter proceedings, not all of the proposed measures are likely to have a significant impact. Moreover, they involve trade-offs: Speeding up the composition of the tribunal and hearings can limit the right to select arbitrators, and impact the right to be heard, respectively, if the time limits become too strict; similarly strict and too short time limits on writing awards might undermine the quality of awards.
The second proposal is to introduce an appellate mechanism in investment arbitration. The proposal dates back at least to the 2004 proposal for the amendment of the ICSID Arbitration Rules. We do not take a view on the general merits and demerits of such a reform and will focus on its effects on duration. If constituted as the only available mechanism, excluding annulment under the ICSID Convention or the setting aside procedure for non-ICSID awards, an appellate mechanism could save much time. As such, the system could consider the challenge of an arbitral award based on the existence of a procedural irregularity, as set out in Article 52 of the ICSID Convention, as well as for well-defined errors of law and, possibly of fact (within a narrow definition, arguably). Time could also be saved if the appellate body is entrusted with the power to render a new arbitral award where it admits the appeal in part or in full. The resubmission of a case after the annulment proceedings has the potential to add between 5 and 10 years. However, if the proposed appellate mechanism is considered as an addition to the existing remedies against arbitral awards, i.e. setting aside proceedings in the courts at the place of arbitration and annulment under the ICSID Convention, etc., it will necessarily add significant delays in obtaining a final resolution of the dispute.
The third proposal is to establish a Multilateral Investment Court (MIC). It is difficult to predict the procedures of the MIC. In some respects, a MIC model could speed up the proceedings: the constitution of the tribunals would be more expeditious as adjudicators are pre-elected. There would likely be fewer grounds for time-consuming challenges of MIC adjudicators, as they are pre-approved members of a standing-judicial body. However, a MIC is also less flexible to adapt to an increasing caseload, the length of proceedings will depend on the quality of its administration, the appointment process of judges will likely be politicised.
Finally, ISDS could be abolished with interstate arbitration under investment treaties, investment contract-based arbitration and litigation against the host state in domestic courts serving as fallbacks. These options are not mutually exclusive. The analysis of the only three known interstate arbitrations under investment treaties (Chile vs. Peru, Ecuador vs. US, and Italy vs. Cuba), and the US-Canada Softwood Lumber dispute suggest that the resolution of investment disputes through interstate arbitration is roughly comparable in duration to the resolution of those disputes through investor-state arbitration. However, where domestic remedies have to be exhausted, namely where diplomatic protection is exercised, this adds significant delay to the process. Investors and host states can also consent to arbitration of disputes arising under an investment contract between them. Recent ICSID statistics show that 16% of ICSID arbitrations have been based on contractual consent to arbitration. An empirical analysis by Daniel Behn et al. (Why the Delay? Explaining the duration of proceedings in investor-state dispute settlement cases)shows that contract-based ISDS proceedings are slightly shorter in duration. Finally,a comparison of the duration of domestic court proceedings with ISDS raises considerable conceptual and empirical challenges. The duration of domestic court proceedings varies significantly depending on the state in question, the domestic court/tribunal involved, the cause of action and the complexity of the case. Data-sets collated by Bonnitcha, Poulsen and Waibel suggest that investor-state arbitration is, on average, significantly slower than domestic court proceedings in some countries (e.g. Switzerland or Japan), and quicker than domestic court proceedings in others (e.g. India).
Filed under: Bilateral Investment Treaties, International Economic Law, International Tribunals, Investor-State Arbitration Tribunals
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Holger Hestermeyer
Dr Holger Hestermeyer’s is the Shell Reader in International Dispute Resolution at King's College London and a Senior Research Fellow at the Transnational Law Institute. Holger is currently also the Co-Executive Vice President of the Society of International Economic Law. Read Full
Anna De Luca
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Currency notes in circulation rise 22% in May over pre-demonetisation levels; what Nirmala Sitharaman says
Published: June 25, 2019 7:33:47 PM
Currency notes in circulation stood at Rs 21.71 lakh crore at May-end 2019, showing an increase of more than 22 per cent over the pre-demonetisation level.
In a shock decision, the government had decided to demonetised old Rs 500/1,000 notes on November 8, 2016.
Currency notes in circulation stood at Rs 21.71 lakh crore at May-end 2019, showing an increase of more than 22 per cent over the pre-demonetisation level. As per a written reply given by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Rajya Sabha Tuesday, the notes in circulation as on November 4, 2016 were Rs 17,74,187 crore, which have now increased to Rs 21,71,385 crore as on May 31, 2019.
In a shock decision, the government had decided to demonetised old Rs 500/1,000 notes on November 8, 2016. Sitharaman said the notes in circulation had grown at an average growth rate of 14.51 per cent year on year wise since October 2014. “As actual notes in circulation on May 31, 2019 are only 21,713.85 billion, the demonetisation, followed by digitalisation and reduction of cash use in informal economy has succeeded in reducing the notes in circulation by as much as 3,408.68 billion rupees,” she said.
The demonetisation, the minister said, was done with a view to eliminate black money, curb fake currency and thereby to create deterrence to funding of terror and left-wing extremism, facilitate transition of India’s non-formal economy into the formal economy and to give a boost to digitalisation, among other objectives. Sitharaman further said that as reported by the RBI, 7,62,072 pieces of counterfeit bank notes were detected in the banking system during 2016-17, 5,22,783 pieces in 2017-18 and 3,17,389 in 2018-19.
Hence, demonetisation resulted in curbing of the counterfeit currency, she added. The minister further said a significant growth has been observed in digital transactions in the country post demonetisation. Growth of digital transactions in terms of value has increased to 188.07 lakh crore in September 2018 from 112.27 lakh crore in November 2016.
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Photo added by Nareen, et al
Dr Worthington Hooker
6 Nov 1867 (aged 61)
New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA
Grove Street Cemetery
11294383 · View Source
"Beloved Physician"
Worthington Hooker (Yale 1825), son of Judge John and Sarah (Dwight) Hooker, was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on March 3, 1806. He received the degree of M. D. from Harvard College in 1829. He practiced medicine in Norwich, Connecticut, until 1852, when he was chosen to the professorship of Theory and Practice of Medicine at Harvard. In addition to his professorship and his medical practice, he published a number of medical volumes, and also frequently contributed to periodical literature.
He married twice. First, in 1830, to Miss Mary Ingersoll of Springfield, Massachusetts. After her death he married Miss Henrietta Edwards, daughter of Gov. Henry W. Edwards. Dr. Hooker died in New Haven on November 6, 1867. Only one of his five children was then living.
Source: Obituary Record of Graduates of Yale College, Deceased During Academical Year Ending in July, 1868, pp. 275-276.
Worthington Hooker School is located in the East Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut. It is part of the New Haven public school system. The school is named after former Yale University professor and physician Dr. Worthington Hooker (1806–1867).
John Hooker
Sarah Dwight Hooker
Mary L Ingersoll Hooker
1808–1853 (m. 1830)
Henrietta Edwards Hooker
Sarah Hooker
Mary Hooker
Clarissa Hooker
Elizabeth M Hooker
Edward I Hooker
Beloved Physician
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Created by: Nareen, et al
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Find A Grave Memorial 11294383
Sponsored by Final Addresses
Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed ), memorial page for Dr Worthington Hooker (3 Mar 1806–6 Nov 1867), Find A Grave Memorial no. 11294383, citing Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut, USA ; Maintained by Nareen, et al (contributor 46613568) .
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Paul Levett joins Closed Loop Recycling
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Waste industry guru Paul Levett has joined Closed Loop Recycling as an advisor as the innovative recycler gears up for expansion. The company has also announced plans for Paul to join the board as a non-executive director later in the year to coincide with the construction of additional facilities adjacent to the existing plant at Dagenham.
Previously Paul was deputy chief executive at Veolia having moved across from waste management firm Cleanaway in 2006.
Closed Loop Recycling, in which Foresight Group is an investor, was the first facility in the world to recycle both PET and HDPE plastic bottles into food grade material for new food and drink packaging. The company recently announced extensive expansion plans which will double the current input capacity of its Dagenham plant to at least 60,000 tonnes, whilst accommodating a wider range of different polymers.
"Closed Loop Recycling has been an innovator and leader in the development of the UK plastic recycling industry, which barely existed five years ago.” comments Paul. "The company was the first to close the loop on plastic recycling and take bottles out of waste bins and turn them back into bottles on the shelf, showing consumers that recycling is worth the effort. In addition the company has demonstrated the environmental benefits of plastic bottle recycling for the whole supply chain, from local authorities, to brand owners and retailers. Waste recycling companies recognise the benefits of having a UK-based reprocessor which avoids the need for the administration burden involved in exporting their materials.
"I look forward to helping the company to develop its expansion plans and have agreed to join the board later in the year to coincide with the development of Dagenham two.”
Chris Dow, managing director of Closed Loop Recycling comments: "Paul’s appointment is a fantastic endorsement of the potential of the business and what our team and partners have already achieved. His unparalleled experience in the waste industry will help us to deliver on our expansion plans and to take advantage of the huge appetite the UK has for recycling.”
Andrew Page, partner, Foresight Group added: "I have known Paul for some years and am therefore delighted that he will be working in partnership with the Closed Loop team over the coming months and years. His appointment is great news not just for the company itself but it also sends out a strong message to the market about the future of the business and the plastic recycling industry as a whole.”
Closed Loop Recycling’s Dagenham plant has been operating since December 2008. Its current capacity allows the production of 35,000 tonnes of mixed plastic bottles, producing 11,000 tonnes of rPET and 6,000 tonnes of rHDPE per annum.
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UNH Roundup: Zarkoskie named to all-academic team
DURHAM — Chris Zarkoskie, a left guard and captain on the 10th-ranked University of New Hampshire football team, was named to the Capital One Academic NCAA Division I Football District 1 First Team on Thursday, as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
Zarkoskie, a senior with a 3.54 grade-point-average in psychology who also received this accolade in 2011, advances to the national ballot. The Academic All-America Team will be announced Dec. 6.
The three-year starter on the offensive line has been named to UNH’s Academic Honor Roll every semester, including Highest Honors twice and High Honors three times, and he was a 2012 Allstate American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team nominee.
Zarkoskie has started all 10 games in 2012 and, due to his blocking and leadership skills, the Wildcats’ offense is ranked No. 8 in total offense (483 yards per game) and No. 9 in scoring (36.7 points per game) – both of those numbers rank second in the Colonial Athletic Association conference – and UNH is 8-2 overall (6-1 CAA) with a six-game winning streak.
As a sophomore and junior, Zarkoskie received the CAA Commissioner’s Academic Award and was named to the Academic All-Conference Team; he was also a 2011 FCS Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team honoree.
Capital One has launched a website devoted to the Academic All-America� program and more information can be found at www.CapitalOneAcademicAllAmerica.com.
New Hampshire returns to action Nov. 17 (12 p.m.) at Cowell Stadium for its Senior Day regular-season finale against Towson University.
Volleyball falls to Albany
DURHAM — Junior Destiny Tolliver racked up 21 kills and three other Wildcats reached double-figures, but the UNH women’s volleyball team fell to Albany, 3-2, in the regular season finale Sunday afternoon at Lundholm Gymnasium.
New Hampshire wraps up the regular season at 15-13 overall and 7-5 in America East, while the Great Danes finished 13-14 on the season and 9-2 in conference play to secure the top seed as the tournament host. Set scores in the match were 24-26, 17-25, 25-18, 25-18 and 11-15.
UNH will face off in a rematch against reigning conference champion Albany in the semifinal round of the conference tournament on Friday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. No. 2 Binghamton and No. 3 UMBC will meet in the other semifinal match at 4 p.m. on the same day, while the championship match will take place on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.
Senior Jessie Schnepp posted 19 digs to break the program’s single-season dig record. Schnepp currently has 555 digs, surpassing Alyse Lahti’s mark of 540 set during the 2007 season.
Tolliver hit at a .362 clip and added six blocks, while junior Morgan Thatcher registered 14 kills. Freshmen Tori Forrest and Abby Brinkman totaled 12 kills apiece, while Forrest also added 11 digs for the double-double.
Sophomore Taylor Dunklau also registered a double-double with 53 assists and 20 digs. Sophomore Sam Henke and freshman Madison Lightfoot posted 27 and 14 digs, respectively.
Women’s hockey ties PC
PROVIDENCE — Junior forward Arielle O’Neill scored a shorthanded goal in the third period to help the UNH women’s hockey team notch a 2-2 tie at Providence Sunday afternoon.
The draw sets the Wildcats at 4-7-1 overall and 2-2-1 in conference play while the Friars are now 7-4-2 overall and 5-1-2 in Hockey East action.
Megan Armstrong also scored for UNH with Kristina Lavoie assisting.
Marie-Eve Jean finished with 25 saves.
New Hampshire will return to the ice when it travels to Maine for one game Saturday, Nov. 17. Puck drop is set for 12 p.m.
Community gymnastics returns
DURHAM — The UNH gymnastics program announced Tuesday that gymnastics classes for school-age community children are being offered Wednesday afternoons at the UNH Field House starting Jan. 16. Classes of all levels for boys and girls are taught in a safe, progressive manner.
The eight-week winter session runs from Jan. 16-March 6. There are two separate class times available: 4-5 p.m. and 5-6 p.m. Each session costs $90.00 plus a $20.00 registration fee if not already paid for the 2012-13 school year.
For more information, contact Melanie Brown at (603) 862-4148 or melanie.brown@unh.edu.
© Copyright 2006-2019 GateHouse Media, LLC. All rights reserved • GateHouse Gjsports 01
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Grenade attack at US Consulate in Mexico may have been cartel hit
By Hollie McKay | Fox News
Law enforcement authorities from both the United States and Mexico are investigating a grenade explosion targeting the U.S. Consulate in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Friday evening.
It is believed two grenades were thrown, with one exploding on consular grounds around 7.30 Friday evening.
In a statement released Saturday, consular officials said they “were aware of a security incident that took place at the U.S. Consulate General” on Friday evening.
“The consulate was closed at the time and there were no injuries,” the statement continued. “U.S. and Mexican authorities are investigating. We will provide further information (including about consular operations) as it becomes available.”
While the investigation continues and there have been no culprits yet identified, the attack comes just a week after several videos were posted online showcasing an interrogation of a cartel “sicario”-- otherwise known as a hitman -- allegedly working for the dominant cartel in the area, Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). He claimed he had orders to attack U.S. embassies or consulates from its leader, Rubén Oseguera González, also known as "El Mencho.”
Derek Maltz, former special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Special Operations Division, told Fox News that there was some “unconfirmed information” circulating last week that El Mencho or members of the CJNG had threatened to bomb the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Mexico.
According to one Mexico-based law enforcement source, municipal police claimed Friday that there was a “false alarm” the previous day, and they found firecrackers.
“Sounds like a test run,” added the source, who was not authorized to speak in the record.
Maltz cautioned that Friday’s attack may have been carried out by a rival cartel as a means of further defaming the CJNG.
Nonetheless, El Mencho, as the leader of an up-and-coming cartel, is among the most wanted men in Mexico.
“CJNG is responsible for sending numerous tons of cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl/heroin into the United States,” Maltz said. “Like the Sinaloa Cartel which was headed by Chapo Guzman, the CJNG operates around the world and has expanded operations beyond the U.S. to Europe, Australia and Asia.”
Mencho has been designated a kingpin under the U.S.Treasury Department designation and is a top fugitive. There is a $10 million dollar reward.
“The latest information is that the CJNG is extremely violent and also concerned they have lost money on the human smuggling business in Mexico recently due to the caravans,” Maltz added. “When the migrants are moving in larger caravans being protected by government officials the cartels are losing money, which is causing some anxiety over lost revenue.”
Hollie McKay has a been a Fox News Digital staff reporter since 2007. She has extensively reported from war zones including Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Burma, and Latin America investigates global conflicts, war crimes and terrorism around the world. Follow her on Twitter.
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Asian Football | September 8, 2015
Perrin: We have to get three points
China head coach Alain Perrin is eager for his side to get their World Cup qualification campaign back on track when they face Maldives on Tuesday.
China are currently in third place on the Group C standings after beating Bhutan 6-0 and drawing 0-0 with Hong Kong. However, following a rather lacklustre performance against Hong Kong last Thursday, Perrin is hoping that his side emerge victorious against Maldives.
The Frenchman believes that key to beat Maldives will be converting the scoring opportunities that present themselves, something they failed to do against Hong Kong.
"The most important thing is to get three points," Perrin told Xinhua. "We need more passion, more precise (shots) and efficiency in front of goal than last match.
"We need to stick to the same tactics against Hong Kong. In that match, we had 40 shots, including eight on target, and created many chances. We have to be more precise this time."
Even though Maldives have lost to Hong Kong and Qatar heading into their match against China, Perrin believes that it would be a grave mistake on his side's behalf to underestimate Maldives, especially considering that Qatar needed a goal late in injury time to secure their victory.
"However, it will be difficult to get the points," he said. "As we see, Qatar, the strong team of the group, still needed a 99th minute goal to seal the 1-0 victory against the Maldives. We need more patience to win."
Home Football Asian Football Perrin: We have to get three points
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Matthew Boyd solid again as Detroit Tigers beat Twins: Three takeaways
Detroit Tigers' pitcher Matthew Boyd was solid again as the Tigers beat the Twins, 4-2, on Sunday at Comerica Park.
Matthew Boyd solid again as Detroit Tigers beat Twins: Three takeaways Detroit Tigers' pitcher Matthew Boyd was solid again as the Tigers beat the Twins, 4-2, on Sunday at Comerica Park. Check out this story on Freep.com: https://on.freep.com/2Mjmz2U
Anthony Fenech, Detroit Free Press Published 4:16 p.m. ET Aug. 12, 2018 | Updated 6:03 p.m. ET Aug. 12, 2018
Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris' number retired
Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris speaks to fans during a ceremony in his honor before the start of the Tigers game against Minnesota on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris' number was retired during a ceremony before the start of the Tigers game against Minnesota on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris was given no. seat 47 from the old Tiger Stadium and a Waterford Crystal 47 by team owner Chris Illitch before the start of the Tigers game against Minnesota on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
A game ball shows a logo representing Detroit Tiger Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris sits in seat no. 47 from the old Tiger Stadium by team owner Chris Illitch before the start of the Tigers game against Minnesota on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris throws a ceremonial pitch to teammate Lance Parrish before the start of the Tigers game against Minnesota on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
A fan holds a sign for Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris before the start of the Tigers game against Minnesota on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris and manager Ron Gardenhire speak in the dugout before a ceremony in Morris' honor before the start of the Tigers game against Minnesota Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris walks on the field for a ceremony in his honor before the start of the Tigers game against Minnesota on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris had his number retired during a ceremony before the start of the Tigers game against Minnesota on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire, left, former shortstop Lou Whitaker and Tiger Ramone Santaigo talk before the start of the Tigers game against Minnesota on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris, right, and former catcher Lance Parrish chat before the start of the Tigers game against on Minnesota Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Tigers Hall of Famer Al Kaline stands on stage during a ceremony honoring Jack Morris before the start of the Tigers game against Minnesota on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Tigers Hall of Famer Willie Horton waves on stage during a ceremony honoring Jack Morris before the start of the Tigers game against Minnesota on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris is met by former teammates during a ceremony in his honor before the start of the Tigers game against Minnesota on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Tigers Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris reacts after tossing the first pitch to teammate Lance Parrish before the start of the Tiger game against Minnesota on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press
Detroit Tigers Matthew Boyd pitches against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, August 12, 2018, at Comerica Park in Detroit.(Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press)
Back in January, with traces of snow on the ground in downtown Detroit, Matthew Boyd had a conversation about pitching with Jack Morris.
The conversation, Boyd said, would help set his attack plan for the 2018 season.
On Sunday afternoon at Comerica Park, Boyd warmed up for his start against the Twins with Morris’ number retirement ceremony happening in front of his eyes. Then, he went and attacked the Twins like Morris would.
Boyd keyed the Tigers’ series win over the Twins, allowing one run on two hits over six innings. The Tigers won, 4-2.
A three-run fifth inning did the trick; Jeimer Candelario hit an RBI single, Niko Goodrum walked with the bases loaded to chase right-hander Kohl Stewart and Victor Martinez recorded a sacrifice fly as the game-winning run.
Stewart was making his Major League debut.
The Tigers’ bullpen posted three innings of one-run baseball and Shane Greene picked up his 25th save of the season as the Tigers improve to 49-69.
Here are three takeaways from Sunday afternoon’s win:
More: Detroit Tigers retire Jack Morris' No. 47: See Hall of Famer's speech
More: The time Jack Morris received a 'standing boo' at Tiger Stadium
Boyd was very good
Boyd allowed one run — Mitch Garver led off the second inning with a triple then scored on a Johnny Field sacrifice fly — but nothing more after that. He retired the next 13 batters, until a walk in the sixth inning. The sixth became hairy, with a passed ball and then a balk — Boyd did not release the pitch — moving Logan Forsythe to third base, but he induced a soft ground ball off the bat of Miguel Sano to end the inning. Boyd pitched the way he has since the All-Star break: Solid. He ended the day at six innings, two hits allowed, one walk and three strikeouts.
Detroit Tigers vs. Minnesota Twins series
Tigers right fielder Victor Reyes hits a single in the fifth inning on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Comerica Park. Rick Osentoski USA TODAY Sports
Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias (1) hits a single in the fifth inning on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Comerica Park. Rick Osentoski USA TODAY Sports
Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario scores from third on a sacrifice by designated hitter Victor Martinez during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Comerica Park. Carlos Osorio, AP
Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario scores on the sacrifice fly by Victor Martinez (not in photo) during the fifth inning of the game against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Comerica Park. Leon Halip, Getty Images
Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Jeimer Candelario (not in photo) during the fifth inning on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Comerica Park. Leon Halip, Getty Images
Former Tigers pitcher and member of the 2018 National Baseball Hall of Fame class Jack Morris is presented with Waterford Crystal 47 by Tigers owner Christopher Ilitch during pregame ceremony before the game against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Comerica Park. Rick Osentoski USA TODAY Sports
Tigers starting pitcher Matthew Boyd pitches in the first inning on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Comerica Park. Rick Osentoski USA TODAY Sports
Former Tigers pitcher and member of the 2018 National Baseball Hall of Fame class Jack Morris is presented with a No. 47 seat from Tigers Stadium by Tigers owner Christopher Ilitch during pregame ceremony before the game against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Comerica Park. Rick Osentoski USA TODAY Sports
Former Tigers pitcher Jack Morris throws out the first pitch prior to the start of the game against the Twins on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Comerica Park. Leon Halip, Getty Images
Tigers pitcher and member of the 2018 National Baseball Hall of Fame class Jack Morris throws out a ceremonial first pitch before the game against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Comerica Park. Rick Osentoski USA TODAY Sports
Former Tigers pitcher and Hall of Fame inductee Jack Morris hugs former teammate catcher Lance Parrish after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the start of the Tigers and the Minnesota Twins baseball game on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Comerica Park. Carlos Osorio, AP
Former Tigers pitcher and Hall of Fame inductee Jack Morris, left, is greeted by Alan Trammell before a ceremony where Morris' number was retired before the start of the Tigers and the Minnesota Twins game on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Comerica Park. Carlos Osorio, AP
Former Tigers pitcher and Hall of Fame inductee Jack Morris prepares to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the start of the Tigers and the Minnesota Twins baseball game on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Comerica Park. Carlos Osorio, AP
Former Tigers pitcher and Hall of Fame inductee Jack Morris, left, stands with Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, as his number 47 is retired and displayed on Comerica Park's left field wall during a ceremony before the start of the Tigers and the Minnesota Twins baseball game on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Comerica Park. Carlos Osorio, AP
Former Tigers pitcher and Hall of Fame inductee Jack Morris addresses the crowd before a ceremony where his number was retired before the start of the Tigers and the Minnesota Twins baseball game on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, at Comerica Park. Carlos Osorio, AP
Detroit Tigers pitching coach Rick Anderson (center) talks to shortstop Jose Iglesias (left to right) starting pitcher Francisco Liriano (38) shortstop Niko Goodrum (28) catcher James McCann (34) and first baseman Jim Adduci (37) during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on Aug. 11, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Twins' Eddie Rosario, front left, is caught in a rundown by Detroit Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario, right, during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, in Detroit. Carlos Osorio, AP
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Francisco Liriano (38) pitches in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on Aug. 11, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer (7) gets set to bat in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Aug. 11, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Twins right fielder Eddie Rosario (20) slides in safe at home ahead of the tag by Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Francisco Liriano (38) at Comerica Park on Aug. 11, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Tigers catcher James McCann (34) hits a single in the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on Aug. 11, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Aug 11, 2018; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Zach McAllister (29) pitches in the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports Rick Osentoski, Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Tigers left fielder Victor Reyes falls into the netting after chasing a foul ball hit by Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, in Detroit. Carlos Osorio, AP
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Kyle Gibson throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, in Detroit. Carlos Osorio, AP
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Francisco Liriano sits in the dugout during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, in Detroit. Carlos Osorio, AP
Detroit Tigers' Jose Iglesias spins to avoid a foul pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, in Detroit. Carlos Osorio, AP
Detroit Tigers' Nicholas Castellanos beats the throw to Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, in Detroit. Carlos Osorio, AP
Minnesota Twins designated hitter Tyler Austin, right, rounds the bases as Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Francisco Liriano stands behind the mound after giving up a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, in Detroit. Carlos Osorio, AP
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Francisco Liriano throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018, in Detroit. Carlos Osorio, AP
Minnesota Twins center fielder Johnny Field (51) tries to make a diving catch of a ball hit by Detroit Tigers second baseman Niko Goodrum (not pictured) at Comerica Park on Aug. 11, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Tigers first baseman Jim Adduci (37) receives congratulations from left fielder Victor Reyes (22) after scoring in the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on Aug. 11, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Tigers right fielder Nicholas Castellanos (9) hits a single in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on Aug. 11, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Tigers first baseman Jim Adduci (37) hits a single in the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on Aug. 11, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Tigers second baseman Niko Goodrum (28) is tagged out by Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano (22) in the fourth inning at Comerica Park on Aug. 11, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario throws to first but overthrows to allow Twins second baseman Logan Forsythe to advance to second during the sixth inning of the Tigers' 5-3 win on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, at Comerica Park. Carlos Osorio, AP
Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, left, leaves the game in the seventh inning of the Tigers' 5-3 win on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, at Comerica Park. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images
Tigers pitcher Joe Jimenez throws a pitch in the eighth inning of the Tigers' 5-3 win on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, at Comerica Park. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images
1014787442.jpg DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 10: Shane Greene #61 of the Detroit Tigers throws a ninth inning pitch while playing the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on August 10, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) Gregory Shamus, Getty Images
1014787566.jpg DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 10: Shane Greene #61 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates a 5-3 win over the Minnesota Twins with James McCann #34 at Comerica Park on August 10, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) Gregory Shamus, Getty Images
Tigers center fielder JaCoby Jones celebrates with third baseman Jeimer Candelario after the Tigers' 5-3 win on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, at Comerica Park. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images
Tigers second baseman Niko Goodrum and shortstop Jose Iglesias celebrate after the Tigers' 5-3 win on Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, at Comerica Park. Rick Osentoski USA TODAY Sports
Niko Goodrum #28 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates his two run home run in the fourth inning with Jeimer Candelario #46 in front of Mitch Garver #23 of the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on August 10, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. Gregory Shamus, Getty Images
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana stands on the mound after giving up a two-run home run to Detroit Tigers' Jose Iglesias during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in Detroit. Carlos Osorio, AP
Detroit Tigers second baseman Niko Goodrum (28) celebrates after he hits a two run home run in the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on August 10, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias (1) celebrates with left fielder Mike Gerber (13) after hitting a two run home run in the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on August 10, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias (1) hits a two run home run in the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on August 10, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Tigers second baseman Niko Goodrum (28) celebrates with third baseman Jeimer Candelario (46) after hitting a two run home run in the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on August 10, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Tigers third baseman Jeimer Candelario (46) tries to make a throw to first in the sixth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Candelario was charged with an error on the play on August 10, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Alex Wilson (30) pitches in the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on August 10, 2018. Rick Osentoski, Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in Detroit. Carlos Osorio, AP
Detroit Tigers' Jose Iglesias hits a single to left field during the first inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in Detroit. Carlos Osorio, AP
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, in Detroit. Carlos Osorio, AP
Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (27) sits in dugout during the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on Aug. 10, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Retired NFL offensive lineman and former Michigan Wolverine Jake Long gets set to throws out a ceremonial first pitch prior to the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on Aug. 10, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco (11) is congratulated by right fielder Max Kepler (26) after scoring in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Aug. 10, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Minnesota Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco (11) hits a double in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on Aug. 10, 2018. Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports
Small ball in a 'big' inning
For so long, the Tigers have been unable to put up crooked numbers on the scoreboard. They are devoid of power and have been lacking the big hit. But in the fifth, with Stewart wobbling, they scratched across three runs. Grayson Greiner and Victor Reyes set the table, singling to open the inning. Then, Candelario tied the game with an RBI single through the hole at second base. Goodrum walked with the bases loaded in a full count and Martinez hit a sacrifice fly to right field. Ronny Rodriguez added an all-important insurance run on an RBI double in the eighth.
More: Tigers' John Hicks getting his work in on PlayStation during DL stint
The bullpen held on
Alex Wilson relieved Boyd with a scoreless seventh inning, before handing the bullpen baton to Joe Jimenez. Jimenez allowed a solo home run to Max Kepler — his first home run allowed at Comerica Park this season — and then allowed a single, but stranded the runner on first base by striking out Jorge Polanco in a lengthy at-bat. For Polanco’s strikeout, Jimenez went to his bread-and-butter pitch: The fastball. In the ninth, Greene got the job done.
Contact Anthony Fenech: afenech@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @anthonyfenech.
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History Of The Crest
The first official Everton crest to feature on our kit dates back almost 100 years to 1920 - the era of Tom Fleetwood, Bobby Parker and Sam Chedgzoy.
In those days it comprised the white letters ‘EFC' entwined upon a blue shield.
It was a version that remained - with a one season absence - for a decade, before disappearing from our jerseys for 40 years.
But while there was no crest on the official shirts donned by the heroes of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, the Club did have a crest which represented the ethos of Everton Football Club, a crest which has provided the template for many of our previous designs.
It was in 1938 that a design was created which would lay the foundations for all future versions. Club Secretary, Theo Kelly, was asked to design a crest which would be used on official Club neck-ties.
"I was puzzling over it for four months," Kelly said. "Then I thought of a reproduction of the 'Beacon' which stands in the heart of Everton."
The 'Everton Tower' or 'Prince Rupert's Tower' - the ‘Beacon' to which he refers - has been inextricably linked with the Everton area since its construction in 1787. It still stands today on Everton Brow in Netherfield Road.
Accompanied by the Club motto, 'Nil Satis, Nisi Optimum' - 'Nothing but the best is good enough' - the ties were first worn by Kelly and Everton's chairman, Mr E. Green, on the first day of the 1938/39 season.
But the design didn't move from the boardroom to the dressing room. There was no crest of any type on the Everton jersey until 1972, when white ‘EFC' letters were simply embroidered onto the shirt. This lasted for four seasons before a simplified font was introduced instead.
Then, in 1978, came the return of the Tower. This was the first time Kelly's design had been used on the kit and it remained for four years. In 1982, a simplified, circular design was produced, with the shield and the Latin motto removed.
Twelve months later, the crest changed again and the motif, which marked Everton's most successful period, was born. It comprised the letters ‘EFC' above a slightly reshaped Tower and laurel wreathes.
Eight years on and in 1991 a version resembling the 1978 edition was introduced and was worn on the shirt when Everton lifted the FA Cup in 1995.
In 2000, this design was modified to add ‘1878', the year the Club was founded, and the word ‘Everton'. It is a design remained in place until 2013.
An updated version of the crest was used for 2013/14 but this proved unpopular with supporters so a wide-ranging consultation exercise was undertaken which resulted in the production of three new crests.
These were put to a fan vote and the current crest was the overwhelming winner. It was introduced formally in July 2014.
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42 Brash Facts About George Sand, The Romantic Rebel
If you were to name a famous French writer from the 19th century, most people would probably name Victor Hugo, or Honore de Balzac. However, during the 1830s and 1840s, the French writer whose fame eclipsed both these legends was George Sand.
Not only was Sand’s writing renowned, however; what also astounded French society was the fact that Sand was a woman writing under a male pen name. If you are curious to learn more about this groundbreaking French figure, continue scrolling down.
1. Which Name Card Would You Like?
While her literary fans know her as George Sand, her birth name was Amantine Lucile Dupin. Additionally, her family and friends often called her Aurore.
2. The Stephen King of Her Day
Sand was actually more successful than Victor Hugo. In fact, at the age of 27, she was already the most famous and in-demand author in all of Europe!
3. We’ll Vouch for Her!
In case you thought that she might have just been popular with the masses as a passing phase, get ready to be proven wrong. Sand wasn’t just deeply popular with the general reading population, her noted peers thought the world of her and her writing abilities. Fyodor Dostoevsky was a major fan of her work, reading anything by her that he could get his hands on in Russia.
Famed writer Marcel Proust also name-dropped George Sand’s work in his own seminal literature, and Victor Hugo referred to her as a “great woman.” French writer Honoré de Balzac famously declared that if anyone had a problem with Sand’s writing, it was their fault and they needed to fix their critical standards. Mic. Dropped.
4. What a Coincidence
Sand was born on July 1, 1804, in Paris. Sadly, people who celebrate her birthday are rather overshadowed ever since that day by millions of Canadians launching fireworks into the sky.
5. How it Began
The origins of Sand’s pen name lay with the collaboration that resulted in her debut into the literary world. Working together with established author Jules Sandeau, Sand co-wrote a number of stories. Rather than both authors getting a shared credit, they created the pen name “Jules Sand” and released the stories under that name.
When it came time for her first independent novel, the pen name turned into “George Sand,” and the rest became history.
6. First and Last Home
Most of Sand’s childhood was spent in the French province of Berry, specifically her grandmother’s estate in Nohant. Sand continued to live there during her adult life.
7. Descended From Kings
Sand’s family was connected to a number of high-ranking European aristocrats. Her paternal grandmother, Marie-Aurore de Saxe, was the illegitimate daughter of Count Maurice de Saxe, who himself was an illegitimate son of a King of Poland. This also made Sand distantly related to a line of French kings. Not too shabby.
8. I’m Still Jenny from the Block!
Before you assume too much about Sand’s privileged upbringing, it’s worth noting that despite any connection to royal families of Europe on her father’s side, Sand’s mother was described as “a commoner.” Sand was also a strong advocate for the working class in her writing.
9. You’ll Go Far
One of Sand’s first literary supporters and mentors was Henri de Latouche, who was himself an accomplished poet and novelist. Despite his own writing, however, Latouche has become memorable for his role in bringing the work of other famous writers to the public. Aside from encouraging Sand, de Latouche also published the work of renowned French poet André Chénier.
10. What a Sweet Grandchild!
Speaking of her paternal grandmother descended from royalty, Sand helped preserve Marie-Aurore de Saxe’s legacy and memory by writing about her during her career as an author. While writing her autobiography, Sand researched her grandmother’s life extensively so she could include her grandmother’s remarkable life into a novel meant to be about herself.
11. The People You Know
During the early part of her literary career, Sand’s novels showed the influence of several figures in her life, whether they were lovers, friends, or just people whom she admired.
12. Rustic Tales
As Sand developed into an established author, her voice emerged through her work. Among the main themes which she used and re-used in her works include the rustic setting of her home in Nohant, a sympathetic portrayal of the poor classes, and love conquering the forces of social status and conservative customs.
13. Sacré Bleu!
Sand was the subject of a 1974 mini-series, Notorious Woman, produced by the BBC. Containing seven episodes, English actress Rosemary Harris (whom some might know as Aunt May in the Tobey Maguire Spider-Man movies) starred as Sand herself. Despite the obvious stereotype of a British person portraying someone non-British, Harris won an Emmy for her performance as Sand.
14. From One Generation to Another
Sand was 16 years old when she returned to the family home in Nohant to care for her grandmother, Marie-Aurore de Saxe, following a stroke which left her paralyzed. In 1821, de Saxe passed away, leaving the house to Sand as her personal inheritance. It would remain in Sand’s family until the death of Sand’s granddaughter.
Flickr, Daniel Jolivet
15. Sand on Stage
Aside from the 58 novels that she wrote in her lifetime, Sand also wrote at least 13 different plays, including a French adaptation of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Another of her plays was co-written with the iconic French actress Sarah Bernhardt, who was called “the queen of the pose and the princess of the gesture.”
16. Green Thumbs Unite!
One of the signature traits of Sand’s family house is the garden which thrived during Sand’s own lifetime and continues to this day. The garden has since been listed as one of the “Notable Gardens of France” by the French Ministry of Culture.
17. Little Fadette
One of Sand’s best-known novels is La Petite Fadette. Published in 1840, Sand wrote it after she’d left the city of Paris to return to the countryside. The novel reflects this decision, as the story takes place in a rural French setting. In 2004, La Petite Fadette was adapted into a French television film by Michaela Watteaux.
18. Pushing for Women’s Rights
One of Sand’s most progressive works was her 1837 novel Mauprat. In the vein of Beauty and the Beast, the story is a romance where a woman teaches a man how to be social and civilized. In a departure from the typical tale, however, Mauprat doesn’t end with a happily-ever-after marriage, and in fact, challenges the assumption that a woman’s place in a marriage is domestic.
19. What’s “Leaves of Grass” in French?
Sand’s novel Consuelo was one of American literary giant Walt Whitman’s favorites. Literary historians have noted that Sand’s writing (particularly passages within her novel La Comtesse de Rudolstadt) were greatly inspiring to Whitman’s own writing.
20. Lisztomania
In 1960, Columbia Pictures released the romantic biopic Song Without End. The film detailed the life of Hungarian composer and organist Franz Liszt. Starring Dirk Bogarde as Liszt, the film’s cast also included Patricia Morison as Sand. While the film didn’t make a profit financially, it did win an Academy Award for its soundtrack.
Song Without End, Columbia Pictures
21. Get Me out of Here!
As a teenager, Sand was sent to live in a community for nuns in Paris. The experience was rife with contentions and defiance on Sand’s part. Her grandmother eventually recalled Sand to live with her in Nohant. It wasn’t because of her refusal to buckle to the convent’s rules, however. Her grandmother was concerned with the mysticism encouraged by the nuns.
22. Wait, I’m the Bad Guy?
Song Without End wasn’t the only film released by Columbia Pictures to feature Sand as a character. Sand is portrayed by Merle Oberon in the 1945 Oscar-nominated film A Song to Remember, about the life of Frederic Chopin. However, Sand is villainized in the film and portrayed as an obstacle standing in the way of Chopin’s noble cause.
A Song to Remember, Columbia Pictures
23. Nice to Know You’re a Dick
No matter how popular an author’s writing becomes, however, there is always someone who will find any stupid reason to dismiss them. In Sand’s case, French poet Charles Baudelaire soundly criticized her for what he perceived as her lack of morals. Not only did he insult Sand by calling her “stupid, heavy and garrulous,” but he also dismissed her as a “slut.”
Frankly, this kind of criticism says so much more about Baudelaire than Sand.
24. My Love!
In contrast to A Song to Remember vilifying the relationship between Sand and Frederic Chopin, the 1991 film Impromptu treated their relationship as a sweeping romance. Sand and Chopin are portrayed in the film by Judy Davis and Hugh Grant (because of course he was involved in a romance film from the 1990s!).
Impromptu (1991), Sovereign Pictures
25. Editing Is for Chumps!
Sand was very dedicated to her writing regimen. She wrote 20 pages every night from midnight until dawn. Reportedly, she never crossed a single line out of her work!
26. The Nation of Romance
The 1999 film Children of the Century was finally a story focused on Sand rather than the men in her life. As portrayed by Juliette Binoche, the focus is put on Sand’s tumultuous affair with Alfred de Musset.
The Children of the Century (1999), Canal+
27. Tidy Sum
Following her death, Sand’s children sold the rights to her literary estate for 125,000 francs. In 2019 US dollars, that translates to more than $1.4 million.
28. Writer-Turned-Stateswoman
During the late 1840s, French society became fraught with conflict and political division with the emergence of Charles-Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, the nephew of his famous namesake. Moreover, the French Revolution of 1848 threw further chaos into the mix. During this troubled time, a provisional government was set up in the wake of the revolution.
This government included Sand herself as a prominent member.
29. His Name was Bonaparte! How Did They Not Predict It?
Sand’s role in governing France did not last long, as the provisional government gave way to the Second Republic, with the aforementioned Charles-Louis Napoleon Bonaparte as its elected president. However, Bonaparte then led a military coup in 1851 and became the Emperor of France. During the transition of Bonaparte’s seizure of power, Sand used whatever influence that she could to ensure that several of her friends either received reduced sentences or pardons.
30. Beneath the Earth
Sand passed away on June 8, 1876, at the age of 71. At the time, she was in the rural commune at Nohant-Vic. She was buried near the commune in a simple ceremony attended by the locals. This was allegedly in keeping with her final wish: according to at least one historical source, her last words were “leave greenery.”
After her death, her son and daughter would join her in the cemetery, which also contained Sand’s father and granddaughter.
31. The Burial Debate
In 2003, plans were revealed to move Sand’s remains out of the cemetery at Nohant-Vic and re-inter her at the prestigious Panthéon in Paris. This decision was hotly opposed by the locals of the village where she lies. Hailed as a “chronicler of the peasantry,” it was argued that her simple rural resting place was what she would have preferred, while others argued that Sand’s reputation and legacy are so important that bringing her to the Panthéon was an honor due to her.
32. Junior
Following in his mother’s footsteps, Sand’s only son would not only become a novelist in his own right, but he would take the pen name “Maurice Sand,” the name by which he is best known today. To be fair, that name is far easier to remember than “Jean-François-Maurice-Arnauld Dudevant.” Sometimes a snappy name is a snappy name.
33. Stop by for a Visit
Despite the efforts to move Sand’s remains, she continues to rest with members of her family in the village of Nohant. Her former house still stands in the village as well and is currently a museum open to the public.
34. Long-Lasting Time Capsule
After Sand’s son and daughter were born, she planted two cedar trees in front of her family home to commemorate their births. In case you’re wondering, those two cedar trees planted by Sand in the name of her two children are still standing to this day.
35. Lighten up
One of Sand’s habits that caused monocles to pop was her habit of smoking tobacco. It was unthinkable at the time that women would ever do something as unladylike as smoking, let alone in public as Sand did. Even her lover, Frederic Chopin, was initially put off by Sand when he first met her due to her smoking habit.
36. I Prefer Trousers
One of the most controversial aspects of Sand’s life, however, was her choice to wear men’s clothing. During the 19th century, it was illegal for women in France to wear men’s clothing without an official permit. Sand didn’t bother to apply for such a permit, insisting that men’s clothing was more comfortable and durable than women’s clothing.
37. Tying the Knot
In 1822, at the age of 18, Sand was married to Casimir Dudevant. Just like her grandmother, Dudevant was the illegitimate child of a high-ranking military officer and his mistress. In Dudevant’s case, his father was Baron Jean-Francois Dudevant.
38. New Mother
In 1823, Sand gave birth to her first child, a son named Maurice. Her second child, a daughter named Solange, was born in 1828.
39. I’ve Had Enough
Though they had their birth ranks in common, Sand’s marriage to Casimir Dudevant was unhappy and short-lived. In 1831, Sand separated from her husband and embarked on a series of romantic affairs (more on these later). This period of “romantic rebellion,” as it was called, resulted in an official divorce for the tormented couple in 1835.
40. Seasons of Romance
One of Sand’s most famous relationships was with acclaimed French composer Frederic Chopin. They spent a winter in Majorca together, and Chopin even moved into Sand’s home in Nohant for a time.
41. Based on a True Story
Sand wrote about her romantic getaway with Chopin in her autobiographical novel A Winter in Majorca. It was published in 1841 or 1842.
42. Bitter Break-up
Sadly, for hopeless romantics everywhere, the affair between Sand and Frederic Chopin did not end well. For a variety of reasons, they ended their relationship around the year 1843, and things soured between them. For one thing, Sand based a character on Chopin in her novel Lucrezia Floriani, though she denied parodying him.
When Sand later became estranged from her daughter, Solange, Chopin maintained positive relationships with Solange. This infuriated Sand, while her son, Maurice, saw Chopin as a rival for his own ascendancy to becoming the man of the house. It was too much tension for the former lovers: When Chopin died, Sand refused to attend his funeral.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
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Kyle Climans
Kyle Climans has been a published writer since 2011. Additionally, he is an accomplished scriptwriter, having written the successful AA Meeting series for the stage and the award-winning film Depth of Pyaar.
What Is A Hernia?
42 Charming Facts About Fred Astaire, Hollywood's Fleet-Footed Star
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2013 Master Plan Review
Historical Master Plans
Below are summaries of past Master Plans as well as the complete documents.
The Town’s first Comprehensive Plan, or Master Plan was adopted in 1982 (November 22, 1982) and was titled “Master Plan for Flower Mound.” This plan began a tradition using Master Plans to guide growth and development of the Town related to land use, urban design, open space, parks and trails, public infrastructure and economic development. In its introduction, The Master Plan for Flower Mound was intended to be a “conceptual guide…and reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission annually and necessary changes recommended to the Council.”
On December 23, 1985, the Town Council approved ordinance 80-85 which adopted a “Master Land Use and Thoroughfare Plan” in response to substantial growth and development which resulted in the need to review and evaluate the Town’s master land use and thoroughfare plan. Again, the Town used the plan as a guideline for zoning decisions and planning issues.
On January 4, 1994, the 1994 Comprehensive Master Plan was approved. Again, the updated plan was in response to growth. As indicated in the plan, “Since 1985, the Town’s growth rate increased from approximately 250 new residential permits per year to approximately 1,000 such permits per year. The Town, therefore was facing increasing growth rates with a Master Land Use Plan that would be at least 8-or 9-years-old before it was updated or replaced.” The Comprehensive Master Plan summary articulates the plan’s purpose. “It seeks to preserve and enhance the quality of life that today’s residents enjoy. A master plan is flexible in order to positively react to conditions that are, today, unknown, and assure that they fit seamlessly into the Town.”
Five years later, the Town adopted a new Land Use Plan (Resolution 37-99) on September 27, 1999. On March 19, 2001, the Master Plan 2001 was adopted by ordinance 24-01. These updates were preceded by explosive growth that eventually led to a temporary moratorium on residential master plan amendments, residential zoning amendments, and residential development plans (January 11, 1999 – ordinance 02-99). The moratorium was lifted on February 17, 2000 (ordinance 16-00) when the Town adopted a SMARTGrowth Management Plan (SGMP) the same day. According to the January 11, 1999, TC Minutes, “if determined necessary, the [S]GMP would be effective upon adoption of the Comprehensive Master Plan [Master Plan 2001] and would remain in effect until completion of system capacity improvements or next update of the Comprehensive Master Plan (2004).” Although originally envisioned as temporary, today the SGMP is known as the SMARTGrowth Program.
The next holistic review of the Town’s Master Land Use Plan would begin five years later on December 19, 2005, when the Town Council approved Resolution No. 38-05 creating a Master Plan Steering Committee to solicit public input and provide a recommendation to the Town Council for the update to the Town’s current Master Plan. The Steering Committee would focus on Senior Housing, the Lakeside Business District, the Denton Creek District, and Infill development. Other areas of concern for citizens would be identified by the Steering Committee through public meetings. A variety of reasons prompted the review including a desire for alternative housing options for older residents, review of residential development options for the Lakeside Business District, future development of the Denton Creek District, and how best to plan for undeveloped (infill) properties. The Committee report can be viewed here. Individual sections of the report can viewed as follows:
Summary – Page 1
Senior and Cluster Housing – Pages 2-3
The Town chose no action for Senior Housing and Clustering.
Lakeside Business District – Pages 4-7
The Town created a Mixed-Use steering committee which ultimately resulted in the adoption of a Mixed-Use ordinance.
Denton Creek District – Pages 8-9
Infill development – Pages 10-13
No changes were implemented in regards to infill development.
Infill areas 1, 2, 4, 9, and 10 were ultimately developed or in the process of being developed.
Cross Timbers Conservation Development District – Pages 14-16
The Prairie Vista District was created to provide a buffer between the CTCDD and SPA 8.
The Town Council approved amendments to the floodplain standards designed to provide greater incentive for conservation developments.
The Town received TxDOT grants and Green Ribbon Funding to install irrigation and landscaping along roadways in Town.
On November 5, 2007, the Town Council approved an ordinance amending the Town of Flower Mound’s Master Plan Section 5.0, Parks and Trails Plan and replaced the Parks and Trails Map contained within the Town’s Master Plan with a new Parks and Trails Map. As recommended by the Master Planning Steering Committee, the approved trails map further connects parks, schools, neighborhoods, and businesses with future trails.
In November of 2007, Flower Mound voters approved a quarter-cent sales tax increase to fund additional parks and recreation improvements. This will provide a funding source for additional trails in addition to grants.
Right-of-Way Landscaping / Trails – Pages 17-18
The Town adopted a median and right-of-way landscape master plan.
Gateways – Page 19
Gateways were addressed with the adoption of the median and right-of-way landscape master plan.
Specific Plan Areas – Pages 20-21
SPA 11 was created
Architectural Standards (Urban Design Plan) – Pages 22-23
The Town's Urban Design Plan was updated in 2010.
2009 Transportation Plan Update
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Home » Mondelez International sees momentum continuing
Mondelez International sees momentum continuing
Photo: Mondelez International, Inc.
By Keith Nunes
DEERFIELD, ILL. – Currency market fluctuations and commodity hedging activities pushed Mondelez International, Inc.’s top line and bottom line down during the first quarter of fiscal 2019, ended March 31. The snack maker also continued to struggle to gain traction in developed markets but saw growth in emerging markets around the world.
Net income for the quarter ended March 31 fell to $914 million, equal to 63c per share on the common stock, from $1,046 million, or 70c per share, during the same period of the previous year.
Sales for the quarter fell to $6,538 million from $6,765 million the year prior.
During a conference call with financial analysts on April 30, management said on a constant currency basis that Mondelez International experienced a positive first quarter.
“It was a strong first quarter and start to the year as we built on the progress we saw on the later part of 2018,” said Luca Zaramella, executive vice-president and chief financial officer. “In quarter 1, we delivered strong organic net revenue growth, a solid increase in gross profit dollars, double-digit earnings increase and positive free cash flow.”
Organic net revenues rose 3.7% due to balanced volume/mix and pricing, according to the company and on a constant currency basis, adjusted operating income rose by $48 million. Mondelez’s margin during the quarter was flat.
“Our first quarter results demonstrate that we've got momentum as we head into this year of investment,” said Dirk Van de Put, chairman and chief executive officer. “Our categories are performing generally well. And our brands, both local and global, are benefiting from increased investment in advertising, creative and innovation.”
Emerging markets experienced 8.4% growth for Mondelez International while developed markets were flat at 0.8%.
Mr. Zaramella attributed the company’s organic revenue growth to “solid execution” in emerging markets.
“We delivered strong results across the board in India, China, Southeast Asia, Russia, Mexico and Africa,” he said. “In addition, Brazil returned to growth this past quarter.”
In developed markets, Europe delivered revenue growth of 2.7%
“This growth was volume driven and broad-based, with solid increases across chocolate, biscuits and candy,” Mr. Zaramella said.
North America grew 0.5% during the quarter. Mondelez’s U.S. biscuit business saw share gains in nearly all channels, according to the company, but the gains were offset by weakness in gum and the company’s Halls brand.
“We made improvements in service levels in the quarter,” Mr. Zaramella said. “That said, there is still work to be done to drive better consistency. We continue to expect progress in 2019, albeit not linear with overall modest growth for the year.”
The quarterly results prompted management to reaffirm its outlook for the rest of the fiscal year.
“We are maintaining our organic net revenue growth target of 2% to 3%,” Mr. Zaramella said. “We feel good about the quality of the top line results for Q1 and the growth across all the regions. Yet while we are encouraged by the strong results, it is still early in the year. We are also maintaining our view of adjusted earnings per share growth of 3% to 5%.
“Although we delivered double-digit growth in the first quarter, we did get some benefit from a few items that were below the operating line, including tax and interest that are not expected to contribute in the same way in subsequent quarters. We have also been clear that this is an important year of investments for brands, sales and innovation to drive more sustainable top line growth over the long term.”
During the call, Mr. Van de Put addressed rumors about Mondelez International acquiring the Campbell Soup Co.’s Arnott’s business.
“In the case of Arnott's, it's Australia, it's biscuit, it's quite a sizable business, it fits in that white space thinking,” he said. “It's obviously a process that's still ongoing. It's probably a little bit higher than what we originally thought when we thought about acquisitions. But at the same time, we have very clear expectations in terms of returns and in terms of leverage and we want to stay a very disciplined buyer. So, as long as it fits into the same framework that we set into our strategic plan, we will do so. But if it falls out of that, we will not make a deal.”
Business Financial Performance Mondelez International
Mondelez maintaining momentum in legacy brands
Mondelez gaining momentum
Moskow sees potential for change at Mondelez
Mondelez sees opportunity in ‘power brands,’ e-commerce
Mondelez sees new initiatives driving growth
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Phone: 727-894-2907 Email:
Harvey A. Ford
Andrew F. Ford
Home › In the News
» In the News
Client Sells Internationally Flagged Hotel in Fort Myers, Florida
Ford & Ford completes the closing of the sale of an 85-room, internationally flagged going-concern hotel in Fort Myers, Florida. The Seattle office of Winston & Cashatt represented the buyer. Ford & Ford represented the seller and acted a… Read More
Categories: In the News
Lease Negotiation Enables Expansion of Premier Restaurant in Downtown St. Petersburg, Florida
Ford & Ford completes commercial lease negotiation enabling closely held restaurant business to expand operations in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. Read the CL Tampa Bay article, “Moving On Up: Red Mesa Converting Old Push Nightclub Loca… Read More
Client Acquires Internationally Flagged Hotel in Columbus, Ohio
Ford & Ford completes the closing of the acquisition of a 191,000 square-foot, 300-room, internationally flagged going-concern hotel in Columbus, Ohio. The Dallas office of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP represented the seller. Ford &… Read More
Client Acquires Internationally Flagged Hotel in Syracuse, New York
Ford & Ford completes the closing of the acquisition of a 276-room, internationally flagged going-concern hotel in Syracuse, New York. The New York office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP represented the seller. Ford & Ford represented the purchas… Read More
Client Acquires Hotel, Gaming, Golf and Hunting Complex in Mississippi
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Client Acquires Internationally Flagged Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Client Acquires 800-Room Hotel Property in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Ford & Ford completes the closing of the acquisition of a 1,500,000 square-foot, 800-room hotel property on the coast of New Jersey. The Costa Mesa, CA office of Latham & Watkins LLP represented the seller. Ford & Ford represented the pur… Read More
Client Acquires 500-Room Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Ford & Ford completes the closing of the acquisition of a 500-room going-concern hotel on the coast of New Jersey. The Denver office of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schrek represented the seller. Ford & Ford represented the purchaser. Read the art… Read More
Client Sells Multistate Portfolio of Assisted-Living Facilities
Ford & Ford completes the closing of a nine-figure sale of a multistate portfolio of assisted-living facilities comprising 2,500 units to a leading national private equity firm. Ford & Ford represented the seller. The Chicago office of Skadde… Read More
Ford & Ford completes the closing of the sale of an 85-room, internationally flagged going-concern hotel in Fort Myers, Florida. The Seattle office of Winston & Cashatt represented the buyer. Ford & Ford represented the seller and acted a… Read More
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Ford & Ford, P.A.
100 Second Avenue South, Suite 900
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
© 2019 Ford & Ford, P.A.
Copyright © 2019 Ford & Ford, P.A.
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Updated on : 13 June 2018, 11:46 AM IST
Spain sacked coach Julen Lopetegui on the eve of 2018 FIFA World Cup
In this file photo taken of the Spanish football team Julen Lopetegui poses at Spain's Sport City in Las Rozas near Madrid. / AFP PHOTO / Javier SORIANO
Krasnodar (Russia): Spain dramatically sacked coach Julen Lopetegui on Wednesday — just two days before the team’s opening game against Portugal at the World Cup.
In a surprise announcement on Tuesday, Real Madrid named Lopetegui as their next manager to start work after the tournament in Russia, sparking outrage among the federation and Spanish fans at the timing of the announcement.
At a severely delayed press conference at Spain’s World Cup base in Krasnodar, Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales said he felt Lopetegui’s decision to join Madrid so close to the start of the tournament “obliged” him to take drastic action.
“I am here to say that we feel obliged to sack the national team manager,” said Rubiales.
Lopetegui had signed a contract extension until 2020 just last month and Rubiales is reportedly angry at only being informed of his decision to join Real minutes before the European champions made the announcement public.
“I have spoken with the players and I can guarantee that the new technical team will do everything they can. We are left in a very difficult situation,” he said.
No decision has yet been made over who will take charge, with Spain due to face European champions Portugal in Sochi on Friday.
Former Real Madrid captain Fernando Hierro, who is currently Spain’s sporting director, and Spain under-21 coach Albert Celades have emerged as the principal candidates. Lopetegui was appointed Spain coach in July 2016 and never tasted defeat in the job, leading the team through 20 unbeaten games ahead of the World Cup.
La Roja were among the favourites to lift the trophy this summer but the astonishing developments of the past two days could have a devastating affect on their chances. There were fears his appointment could open up old divisions between the Real Madrid and Barcelona factions in the Spain squad.
For the first time since 2006, there are more players from Madrid in a Spanish squad for a major tournament, with a six-strong Real contingent and just Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets from Barca. However, according to reports in the Spanish media, the players tried to intervene at the last minute to prevent Rubiales sacking Lopetegui.
Lopetegui had a short playing career at both Madrid and Barcelona as a reserve goalkeeper. However, his coaching career had been far from distinguished before being handed the role as Spain coach after a last-16 exit at Euro 2016 brought Vicente del Bosque’s eight-year reign to an end.
After short spells at Rayo Vallecano and with Madrid’s youth team Real Madrid Castilla, Lopetegui enjoyed a successful time with Spain’s under-19s and under-21s. He then spent 18 months in charge of Porto but was sacked after exiting the Champions League at the group stage in his second season.
Julen Lopetegui
Spain Football team
Portual vs Spain FIFA World Cup 2018
Spain Football coach
Spain vs Portugal FIFA 2018 World Cup
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Press releases >
Fujitsu’s Novel AI Deep Learning Technology Sheds New Light on Real-World Problems
Fujitsu EMEIA
News facts:
Fujitsu Laboratories of Europe has developed a cost-effective, memory efficient, and scalable deep learning technology for AI applications, overcoming the current GPU memory restrictions
Part of Fujitsu’s human-centric Artificial Intelligence (AI) Zinrai technology initiative, the solution enables existing computing infrastructures to address largescale AI challenges, without the need for additional major investment in infrastructure
It deploys a novel model parallelism mechanism to improve and automate Deep Neural Network memory distribution, achieving 90 percent efficiency in initial trials
It enables the use of higher resolution images to recognize tiny elements, improving classification into finer categories, and enabling advances that impact our daily lives
The technology will be demonstrated for the first time at the 2017 Fujitsu Innovation Gathering, taking place during the German stop of the Fujitsu World Tour 2017 on May 23 in Berlin, Germany
Berlin, May 23, 2017 – Fujitsu today announces an important deep learning technology breakthrough, developing a novel and highly efficient memory distribution mechanism for Deep Neural Networks (DNNs). Used extensively for many AI applications involving speech and object recognition and classification, the use of advanced DNNs requires massive computational resources, imposing severe demands on existing computing infrastructures. With Fujitsu Laboratories of Europe’s new deep learning solution, model-parallelism is used to distribute the DNN memory requirements in an automated, transparent and easily managed way. As a result, the capacity of existing infrastructures to address large-scale AI applications is considerably enhanced without the need for further investment.
Dr Tsuneo Nakata, CEO at Fujitsu Laboratories of Europe, explains the benefits of this new deep learning technology:
“In recent years, we have seen a massive surge in technological advancements that use hardware accelerators to support the enormous scale of computations required to build Deep Neural Networks (DNN) for AI applications. The continuous increase in the computational costs of DNNs is a major challenge, particularly when the model size of DNNs increases to the point that it cannot fit into the memory of a single accelerator. Wider and deeper Neural Networks are needed, together with finer classification of categories, to address emerging AI challenges. Our solution addresses this directly, distributing DNN memory requirements onto multiple machines. With our technology, it is possible to expand the size of neural networks that can be learned on multiple machines, enabling the development of more accurate and large-scale DNN models.“
The new solution achieves this new memory distribution process by transforming the layers of arbitrarily designed neural networks into equivalent networks in which some, or all, of its layers are replaced by a number of smaller sub-layer parts. These sub-layer parts are designed to be functionally equivalent to the original layers, but are computationally much more efficient to execute. Importantly, since the original and new layers stem from the same profile, the training process of the now transformed and distributed DNN converges to that of the original DNN at no added cost.
Fujitsu Laboratories of Europe evaluated the new technology extensively, including applying the new mechanism to Caffe, an open source deep learning framework widely used by R&D communities around the world. The solution achieved more than 90 percent efficiencies in memory distribution when transforming the fully connected layers of AlexNet onto several NVIDIA GPUs. As a hardware independent technology, it has the capabillity of exploiting the computational power of both conventional processing units as well as current and emerging hardware accelerators including, for example, NVIDIA GPUs, Intel Xeon Phi, FPGAs, ASICs etc. or any other alternative hardware chips specifically tailored for increasing the computational efficiencies in Deep Learning.
Figure : Using model-parallelism the DNN memory relink added tquirements are reduced and distributed in an automated, transparent and easily managed approach.
Example applications for the new solution include healthcare analysis (e.g. diabetic retinopathy detection); satellite image classification and analysis; natural language processing, where largescale deep learning models are required to model and learn the full complexity of the human language; largescale graph-based data involving IoT devices, financial transactions, social network services etc.
Fujitsu Laboratories of Europe is a centre of excellence for Fujitsu’s advanced research into machine learning and deep learning, as part of the digital solutions and services being developed under Fujitsu's human-centric AI initiative called Zinrai. Its activities include extensive collaboration and co-creation with Fujitsu customers and research organisations across EMEIA, including San Carlos Clinical Hospital in Madrid (with the HIKARI AI healthcare solution), the University of Seville (data analytics for tourism applications), and the 5G Innovation Centre in the UK.
Read the Fujitsu blog: http://blog.ts.fujitsu.com
Follow Fujitsu on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Fujitsu_Global
Follow us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/fujitsu
Find Fujitsu on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FujitsuICT
Fujitsu pictures and media server: http://mediaportal.ts.fujitsu.com/pages/portal.php
For regular news updates, bookmark the Fujitsu newsroom: http://ts.fujitsu.com/ps2/nr/index.aspx
Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company, offering a full range of technology products, solutions, and services. Approximately 140,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE: 6702) reported consolidated revenues of 4.1 trillion yen (US $39 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com.
About Fujitsu Laboratories of Europe
Established in 2001 and with an active presence in Europe since 1990, Fujitsu Laboratories of Europe Limited represents Fujitsu Laboratories across EMEIA, focusing on regional initiatives that reflect the diverse mix of countries and ideologies. Fujitsu Laboratories of Europe is focused on the creation of cutting-edge solutions that benefit society, adopting a co-creation strategy and working with customers, collaboration partners and society as a whole to pioneer a new generation of user-centric applications and services underpinned by creative information analytics. It works on the principle of open innovation, with particular emphasis on Future Networking & Wireless Standards, Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Data Analytics and Deep Learning, Social Innovations and Supercomputer Applications. This also involves adopting a co-creation strategy, working together to pioneer a new generation of user-centric applications and services underpinned by creative information analytics. For more information, please see http://www.fujitsu.com/uk/fle/.
Georgina Garrett
Garrett Axford Ltd (on behalf of Fujitsu Laboratories of Europe Ltd)
E-mail: mail@garrett-axford.co.uk
All other company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.
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Industry mourns Peter Rocke’s passing
Transport veteran chaired ATA and Rocke Brothers
Peter Rocke
Peter Rocke, the inaugural chair of the Australian Trucking Association (ATA), has died.
The industry veteran was also former president of the Australian Road Transport Federation and chair of the Road Transport Industry Forum from 1989 to 1991, which was then renamed as the Australian Trucking Association.
Rocke was awarded the National Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Australian Trucking Industry in 1994, and the Don Watson Memorial Award for conspicuous service to the industry in 2008.
In 2011, the ATA released Putting Safety First, which tells the story of the creation of the ATA. The book was developed by a historical committee led by Rocke.
"The ATA and the industry are saddened by the loss of Peter Rocke, who was a tireless advocate for the industry," current ATA chair Geoff Crouch says.
"Peter was one of the central drivers for the creation of a national voice for Australia’s trucking industry, which resulted in the creation of the ATA.
"He recognised the need for a united and national voice for the industry to provide a genuine commitment to improving road safety.
"Without the contribution that Peter made the ATA would not be the voice it is today for the safety, professionalism and viability of Australia’s trucking industry."
Watch our 2014 feature video on Rocke Brothers, here
The Victorian Transport Association (VTA), of which Rocke was president in 1987, then known as the Victorian Road Transport Association, extended its sympathies to the family and friends of Rocke.
The VTA notes Rocke spent much of his working life advocating for better conditions for freight operators through his involvement with the various associations.
VTA CEO Peter Anderson says road freight operators owed a debt of gratitude to Rocke for his lifelong service to the transport industry.
"Along with his highly visible roles advocating for the industry through the VTA, ATA and other associations, Peter mentored many people in the transport industry and did a lot of work to raise the working and safety standards for sub-contractors and owner-drivers," Anderson says.
"As chairman of the Port of Melbourne for several years, Peter was heavily involved in reform at the waterfront in the 1990s, and as a skilled industrial relations specialist he was always available to offer advice and support.
"We offer our deepest condolences to Peter’s wife Ann and their children and extended family on the loss of one of our industry’s finest servants."
You can also follow our updates by joining our LinkedIn group or liking us on Facebook.
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Refuge System - Planning
Mountain-Prairie Region
External Affairs
Visit A Refuge
Fire Management
HAPET
Biological Resources
Welcome to Region 6
The Mountain-Prairie Region consists of 8 states in the heart of the American west including Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
Regional Leadership
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Abandoned Beposo tollbooth project poses risk to residents, motorists
Date: Apr 16 , 2018 , 12:04
BY: Dotsey Koblah Aklorbortu
Category: General News
This abandoned steel structure wobbles during storms
Some motorists and inhabitants near the tollbooth at Beposo Nkran in the Shama District in the Western Region are threatening to block the highway, an international road if nothing is done about the abandoned tollbooth project.
The project, which was awarded almost a decade ago, is yet to be completed as the contractor has deserted the site, leaving the scrapped surface at that portion of the road in a very bad shape.
The overhead roofing of the uncompleted tollbooth has become a threat to road users, as the metal structure holding the roof wobbles during heavy storms and can collapse anytime soon.
The construction of a new tollgate became necessary after three persons, including a toll attendant, died on the spot in 2010 when an articulated truck ran into the old tollbooth, situated immediately after the Beposo Bridge.
The contractor, who was said to have been awarded the contract before the incident, was asked to move to the site but is yet to complete the project to ensure the safety of road users, since the tollbooth is too close to the bridge.
The road on which the new toll booth is located on the main Accra, Cape-Coast/Sekondi-Takoradi highway, was tarred with asphalt but it was scrapped by the contractor during construction works.
Almost 10 years after the contractor bruised that portion of the road, it is yet to be fixed, a situation motorists say has resulted in several road traffic fatalities, claiming lives and property.
Currently, that portion of the road has deteriorated and slows the movement of vehicular traffic unduly owing to the gaping holes created on the about 600-metre stretch the contractor cleared.
When the Daily Graphic visited the facility, the contractor had finished the construction of some of the cages for toll collection and were partly roofed. It also has office spaces.
Due to poor illumination at night, first-time users of the road run into some of the structures, resulting in the collapse of some of the booths, with some of the steel rods in the concrete structure exposed to the natural weather.
At the time of the visit, a section of the overhead roofing had been destroyed by wind and the main office structure constructed for the police and workers had been taken over by weeds and reptiles.
Members of the community said, the movement of vehicles in the afternoon often sent clouds of dust into the community and nearby farms, disturbing workers.
Highways and assembly
When contacted, officials of the Ghana Highways Authority confirmed the fears expressed by the road users as well as the plight of the residents, saying the contract had been terminated.
They will, however, not tell when the project would restart but indicated that they were shopping for a new contractor.
The District Chief Executive for the Shama, Mr J. Amoah, told the Daily Graphic, that he received complaints from residents and motorists daily.
“I went to the highways office in Takoradi to discuss the issues and the possible resumption of work and they assured me work will resume but still nothing has been done. I went back only to be told that the former director is on retirement,” he said.
Mr Amoah said that portion of the road posed problem sand that but for the police the place would be a serious flashpoint for armed robbery.
“This is because every vehicle slows down and had the police not been around vehicles would have been attacked there at night by robbers,” Mr Amoah stated.
He, however, gave an assurance that the assembly would not stop pursuing it until the contractor returned to site or a new contractor was engaged.
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Are Flying Robots the Next Smart Grid Technology Ready to Take Off?
First U.S. utility gets FAA approval to test drones as power line inspection, fire fighting tools
Jeff St. John July 23, 2014
Jeff St. John
Reporter covering the green technology space, with a particular focus on smart grid, demand response, energy storage, renewable energy and technology to integrate distributed, intermittent green energy into the grid.
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) come in all shapes and sizes -- and they’re not all like the missile-equipped drone aircraft in use by the U.S. military. A new breed of tiny, battery-powered flying robots are performing all kinds of non-lethal tasks, from trade show package delivery demos for Amazon, to flying over solar farms to look for maintenance problems.
Utilities are another natural fit for UAVs. They have thousands of miles of transmission lines to inspect every year, many of them stretching over untracked mountain and desert terrain that require expensive helicopter flights or time-consuming ground crew hiking expeditions. A fleet of flying robots could cover the same territory at a fraction of the cost.
UAVs also have a fraction of the risk for certain utility tasks -- say, climbing a transmission tower to inspect high-voltage electrical equipment, or checking a power line that’s being threatened by fire. While they can’t actually fix things themselves, UAVs could be very valuable eyes and ears for utilities across a range of use cases.
So why haven’t utilities started using drones yet? The main roadblock to date has been the Federal Aviation Administration. While private property owners can fly tiny robots at close to ground level without FAA clearance, utility infrastructure is out there in the public airspace. Flying anything in that airspace comes with an exhaustive list of FAA requirements.
Earlier this month, San Diego Gas & Electric quietly became the first utility in the country to take on this challenge, launching a pilot program under an FAA “special airworthiness certificate.” Over the coming months, SDG&E will be flying a pair of UAVs along a half-mile-wide, 2.5-mile-long stretch of transmission line right-of-way in remote eastern San Diego County, in hopes of proving that flying robots are safe and effective tools that could eventually be put to use across its territory.
SDG&E has already started test-flying its two UAVs, which weigh less than a pound and are built by Massachusetts-based contract R&D firm Physical Sciences Inc., utility spokesperson Hanan Eisenman said in a Friday interview.
“The purpose is to promote safety and reliability,” said Eisenman. “This device can inspect power lines, help identify power outages more quickly, and improve situational awareness in fires. It can also inspect gas lines," which is something of interest to Sempra Energy, parent company of both SDG&E and Southern California Gas.
Cost reduction is another huge benefit. SDG&E’s entire UAV system, including two “quadcopters” and a control panel, cost about $6,000, he said. Compare that to the costs of helicopter flyovers for tasks like tracking vegetation growth along transmission lines, which can add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars per mile.
Of course, SDG&E’s current tests include costs beyond the price of the UAVs. Right now, SDG&E has hired licensed pilots to operate the UAVs in flight, as well as a “registered pilot observer” to monitor each outing, he said. That’s part of the FAA agreement to build a record of evidence of how well the UAVs handle in their set of tasks.
For instance, SDG&E would like to see if the quadcopters can fly in wind conditions that would ground helicopters, such as during California’s seasonal Santa Ana winds, he said. It would also like to put them to use for firefighting tasks, to augment its existing weather forecasting and firefighting information coordination system, said Eisenman.
There’s a catch here, however. Right now, SDG&E is only operating its UAVs in line-of-sight mode, with each vehicle always in sight of the pilot flying it, Eisenman said. That’s also part of the FAA agreement, and SDG&E isn’t yet talking about how it might start testing the UAVs in situations where the operator can’t actually see it.
“These things do have a camera on them, that sends a live feed to the control panel, so the operator can send them up, and get close to those transmission towers and inspect them in real time,” he said. This, of course, is sure to raise privacy concerns. Eisenman noted that the current test site has no homes or businesses, and that SDG&E has no intention of using UAVs in populated areas.
The electric utility industry has been testing robots for transmission line inspection for some time now, but they’ve mainly been crawler-type devices that ride on the power line itself. Flying robots are far more flexible, and startups like SkyCatch are designing platforms that make deploying them quite simple. Perhaps the smart grid will be airborne sooner than we think.
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Hurricane Irma spurs sharp questions at DDSN commission meeting
Board questions lack of generators, shelves policy proposal to require executive director to be present in a disaster
Hurricane Irma spurs sharp questions at DDSN commission meeting Board questions lack of generators, shelves policy proposal to require executive director to be present in a disaster Check out this story on greenvilleonline.com: https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2017/09/21/hurricane-irma-spurs-sharp-questions-ddsn-commission-meeting/688132001/
Tim Smith, tcsmith@greenvillenews.com Published 5:00 p.m. ET Sept. 21, 2017
The state Department of Disabilities and Special Needs Commission in session on July 20, 2017(Photo: Tim Smith)
COLUMBIA — The board of the state's disabilities agency on Thursday shelved a proposal to require the executive director to be present in the event of a disaster, a week after the official returned from a cruise during Hurricane Irma.
But board members had plenty of questions for staff about the lack of generators for facilities in the state Department of Disabilities and Special Needs system. Last week, Irma caused power outages at various local facilities in the system, including eight in Oconee County, though $700,000 had been previously approved in various capital improvement accounts to buy emergency generators.
DDSN Executive Director Beverly Buscemi sailed on a Caribbean cruise a week before Irma struck the Southeast, delaying her return to the state and limiting her communications.
DDSN Chairwoman Eva Ravenel said at the time she was "not happy" with Buscemi being gone during the storm, though Buscemi had told her about it months before and reminded her of it before she left. Ravenel said she held her tongue and did not tell her not to go on the trip. Buscemi left the state on a cruise last year in October, a couple days after Hurricane Matthew hit the state, commissioners said.
Earlier in the day, the board's policy committee had recommended a new policy requiring the executive director in the event of a disaster to "remain or return to the command area with non-limited communication other than communication lost by reason of the disaster."
Though Commissioners Vicki Thompson of Seneca, Catherine "Katie" Fayssoux of Greenville and Dr. Sam Broughton of Florence all approved the new policy in committee, Fayssoux and Broughton abstained from the vote during Thursday's commission meeting.
Thompson last week described Buscemi's timing for the cruise as "outrageous." Buscemi had left Associate State Director Tom Waring in charge in her absence and he said then that the agency was monitoring the storm and had prepared for it, and that Buscemi had been in touch.
She did not comment on her cruise during Thursday's commission meeting.
Vice Chairman Gary Lemel of Fort Mill and commissioner and former Chairman Bill Danielson of Irmo voted against the proposal.
When Lemel asked why the board should pass a policy on the issue instead of relying on personnel guidelines, Thompson responded that "this has been a problem the past two years."
Danielson also said he did not understand the reason for adopting such a policy.
"I want the record to reflect we shouldn't be having this conversation," he said.
However, the board did want to discuss the impact of the storm on residential facilities in the system and the lack of generators.
Thompson told the board that at one time eight group homes with the Oconee County Disabilities and Special Needs Board were without power from the storm, which raked the Upstate with high winds and rain after Irma's track shifted west. She said some of the homes were without power for three days.
Both she and Ravenel were critical of the agency after staff had assured them this summer the agency had addressed its generator issue. Ravenel learned after the storm that the Colleton County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs had a concrete slab but no generator and suffered a power loss during the storm.
Former Chairman Bill Danielson said he was concerned the same sort of tragedy that struck a Florida nursing home, where eight residents died in the wake of the storm because of a lack of power, could befall one of the system's providers.
"We dodged a major bullet," he said. "When are we going to be sure that our consumers all will have generators? How long will it take for our consumers to be covered so we don't have eight people die of no air conditioning? Do we have that plan in place?"
Waring said the agency is "working on it."
He said the agency is using federal emergency grants to get generators for local day program buildings, which are large enough that group home residents can be taken there in the event of a disaster.
"It's going to take a lot more money to do that than we have set aside," he said. He said 14 generators are in the works and the agency needs money for another nine that were part of the initial group. Even more money is needed if the board wants to cover every area of the state.
He said only about half of the providers in the system, which include county disabilities agencies and private organizations, wanted to participate with the original emergency grant application in 2014-15.
"That comment just stuns me," Danielson said. "Who would not want a generator? Should that not be a requirement?"
The board also adopted several new policies, requiring contracts whose full value exceeds $200,000 to come before the commission, excluding any residential provider contract adjustments if the adjustments are due to filling vacancies due to client choice. Any service providers wishing to expand capacity that exceeds $200,000 would have to be approved by the board.
The Legislative Audit Council recommended years ago that any contract with a value of more than $100,000 come before the commission. The commission increased the threshold over the years to $250,000, then lowered it to $200,000 but based that amount on the amount spent in a year, not the contract's full value as the LAC recommended.
Buscemi cautioned board members that they might be headed down a "slippery legal slope" if the agency faces a situation where it approves some providers' expansions but not others.
The board also approved a policy requiring the agency to give a report if building and maintenance project funds are not spent the year after the project's approval, and a ban on transferring funds more than 10 percent of the project amount between projects.
Also approved was a policy requiring staff to present to the board any directives "that cause significant changes to the service delivery system, or increase restrictions in reporting abuse, neglect, exploitation, critical incidents or sexual assault, prior to implementation."
Legislative proposals also will now need to go before the commission, the result of an extended debate over a bill introduced earlier this year that would have given the agency priority over families in making medical decisions involving a resident not able to consent.
The commission approved a recommendation to lawmakers Thursday that the bill give the agency last priority in such situations.
The changes came as several providers told the commission they feel overwhelmed with the number of changes the agency is sending their way and they need more time to prepare, train and plan before they are implemented.
Mary Poole, executive director of the York County Disabilities and Special Needs Board, pointed to a new intake process that she said is not efficient nor family-friendly, saying it makes her fear other system changes coming down the road.
"DDSN has the authority to slow down this train of constant change," she said.
Lemel agreed, holdling up a two-page flow chart of the process.
"This is too much," he said.
Read or Share this story: https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2017/09/21/hurricane-irma-spurs-sharp-questions-ddsn-commission-meeting/688132001/
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Supreme Court allows states to collect sales taxes on more online transactions
The Supreme Court upended the nation's Internet marketplace, ruling that many online retailers must collect and remit state sales taxes. The decision, which overturns an earlier Supreme Court precedent, will boost state revenues at the expense of consumers and sellers who have avoided sales taxes.
Supreme Court allows states to collect sales taxes on more online transactions The Supreme Court upended the nation's Internet marketplace, ruling that many online retailers must collect and remit state sales taxes. The decision, which overturns an earlier Supreme Court precedent, will boost state revenues at the expense of consumers and sellers who have avoided sales taxes. Check out this story on greenvilleonline.com: https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2018/06/21/supreme-court-allows-sales-taxes-online-purchases/721256002/
Richard Wolf, Greenville News Published 10:49 a.m. ET June 21, 2018
The Supreme Court ruled in a case brought by states seeking to collect online sales taxes.(Photo: SASCHA STEINBACH, EPA-EFE)
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court upended the nation's Internet marketplace Thursday, ruling that states can collect sales taxes from most online retailers.
The decision, which overturns an earlier Supreme Court precedent, will boost state revenues at the expense of consumers and sellers who have avoided sales taxes in the past.
Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the 5-4 decision, joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch. Chief Justice John Roberts dissented, saying the decision should be left to Congress, and was joined by Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
Faced with a South Dakota law that exempted online retailers with less than $100,000 in annual sales or 200 annual transactions in the state, the justices nevertheless opened the door to states that may want to collect sales taxes from smaller sellers. If that becomes a burden on small online businesses, the court said, "Congress may legislate to address these problems if it deems it necessary and fit to do so."
The potential for problems associated with small sellers, Kennedy said, "cannot justify retaining this artificial, anachronistic rule that deprives states of vast revenues from major businesses."
The high court ruled in 1967 and again in 1992 that companies without a physical presence in a state did not have to collect sales taxes. But those rulings applied mostly to mail-order catalog companies. In 1992, Amazon had not yet begun selling books out of Jeff Bezos' garage.
In its challenge, South Dakota noted that "times have changed," with online sales growing at four times the rate of total retail sales. As a result, state and local governments in 45 states lose billions of dollars annually in taxes. (Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon do not have sales taxes.)
In response, online sellers Wayfair, Overstock.com and Newegg, said online retailers could face some 12,000 local tax jurisdictions if the Supreme Court sided with the states. They warned of economic chaos -- at least until Congress steps in.
In his dissent, Roberts warned that the decision could detract from E-commerce's "significant and vibrant part of our national economy."
"This court should not act on this important question of current economic policy, solely to expiate a mistake it made over 50 years ago," Roberts said.
When the court ruled in 1967 and 1992 that Illinois and North Dakota could not squeeze sales taxes from sellers with no presence in those states, there wasn't nearly as much at stake. Now consumers do nearly 10% of their shopping online, a share that will grow exponentially in the future.
Congress protected those Internet sellers in 1998 legislation that has since been made permanent. Then in 2000, a national commission urged states to simplify their tax systems as a precursor to taxing remote sellers. Twenty-four states eventually did so, but the nation's largest states, with 70% of the U.S. population, did not.
Stymied by the Supreme Court rulings and the Internet Tax Freedom Act, states have done their best to collect taxes on residents' out-of-state purchases. That has created a patchwork of laws. More than 20 states define a seller's physical presence as including any affiliated website. Ten states require out-of-state sellers to notify buyers and inform states of the unpaid sales taxes.
The Supreme Court in 2015 unanimously upheld Colorado's law requiring those notices and reports.
Most of the top 20 online sellers already collect taxes in nearly all states, either because they have added local showrooms or warehouses, or because of state laws. The top 100 retail sellers remit about 90% of the taxes owed.
But many smaller online retailers are women, minorities, veterans and people with disabilities who have taken advantage of the protections granted by the Supreme Court and Congress over the years.
The typical retailer on eBay sells between $10,000 and $500,000 annually, with customers in more than 300 tax jurisdictions. Etsy's sellers are even smaller: Nearly eight in 10 are sole proprietors, nearly nine in 10 are women, and nearly all are based in homes. Average annual sales: $1,710.
Read or Share this story: https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2018/06/21/supreme-court-allows-sales-taxes-online-purchases/721256002/
Easley man charged with murder in fatal shooting of Greenville woman
SC Mental Health patient suffocated by hospital staffers who failed to follow training
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Homepage > Catalog > Business economics > Business Ethics, Corporate Ethics
Anti-Corruption Initiatives for South Korean Water Management
The Perspective of Economic Ethics
Diploma Thesis, 2010
61 Pages, Grade: 1,3
A N Annette Nölle (Author)
eBook for only US$ 17.99
Download immediately. Incl. VAT
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Book for only US$ 29.90
Index of Tables
2. An Analysis of Corruption from the Perspective of Economic Ethics
2.1 Burdening Corruption vs. Unburdening Corruption
2.2 An Analysis of Corruption from the Perspective of Economic Ethics
2.2.1 Principal-Agent Theory
2.2.2 A Game Theoretic Analysis of Corruption
2.3 Corruption in Infrastructure Projects
2.4 Integrity Pacts
3. Case Study Republic of Korea
3.1 Country Profile South Korea
3.2 Corruption in Korea and Anti-Corruption Measures in the Public Sector
3.3 K-PACT
3.3.1 History, Development and Organization of the K-PACT
3.3.2 Achievements and Limitations
3.4. Integrity Pact for Water Resource Management
3.4.1 Water Resources in Korea
3.4.2 Establishment of an Integrity Pact
4. Evaluation and Recommendations
4.1 An Evaluation of the Progress made by Korean Society
4.2 Additional Measures and Recommendations
Appendix A: The K-PACT Foundation Document
Appendix B: Interview with Geo-Sung Kim (Transparency International)
Figure 1: Corruption in case of the state being the supplier of goods
Figure 2: Corruption in case of the state being the demander of goods
Figure 3: Collusion between the agent and the client
Figure 4: Extended Principal-Agent Model
Figure 5: The social dilemma underlying unburdening corruption
Figure 6: Locked-in effect resulting from undifferentiated penalties
Figure 7: Alteration of the game due to different penalties
Figure 8: Development of the CPI in Korea since 1995
Table 1: A framework of corruption in different sub-sectors of the water sector
Table 2: Anti-corruption measures taken by the Korean government
Corruption, defined as the “abuse of entrusted power for private gain,”[1] has been a recurrent theme throughout South Korean (hereinafter referred to as Korean) history. Since Korea joined the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 1996, it has continuously been ranked among the lowest 20th percentile in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) barometer.[2] The term of corruption primarily refers to the public sector. Therefore, Shleifer and Vishny offer a more narrow definition of corruption as being “the sale by government officials of government property for personal gain.”[3] Corruption occurs at the interface between the public sector and the private one, whenever a public official is endowed with the discretionary power over the distribution of goods and services.[4] The consequences of corruption are multifarious, including the lowering of investment and economic growth, a loss of tax revenue, when corruption appears in form of tax evasion, adverse budgetary consequences, for instance by reducing the level of tax collection, and a reduction of the effectiveness of aid flows in developing countries and distortion of the composition of government expenditures.[5]
One sector that is known to be very susceptible to corruption is the construction sector, covering major public investment projects. The execution of these projects is usually contracted out by the government. Rent-seeking is among the key components of any corrupt act and large infrastructure projects are characterized by huge size and high capital intensity, making corruption in this sector more profitable than in any other sectors.[6] In the following paper, the problem of corruption in major infrastructure projects will be analyzed with a special focus on the water sector. Chapter two offers an analysis of the problem of corruption using two economic approaches, the principal agent theory and a game theoretical analysis of the problem and its solutions. Special focus will be led onto the problem of corruption in major infrastructure projects, as well as the introduction of the integrity pact as a device to combat corruption in this sector.
Chapter three presents to a case study of the Korean water resource management sector and its efforts to combat and prevent corruption. As mentioned above, Korea is a country marked by high levels of corruption on the one hand, yet, it is also characterized by huge efforts to fight corruption on the other hand. Having given a short introduction into the history and current state of corruption in Korea, the institutional efforts being made as to combat corruption since the 1990s are being discussed. As a complementary means to these institutional reforms, an integrity pact, the Korean Pact on Anti-Corruption and Transparency was inaugurated in 2005. This integrity pact serves as a model for the establishment of an integrity pact in the water sector and, therefore, will be analyzed with regard to its achievements and limitations, before the last part of chapter two focuses on the Korean water management sector and the suggestion of an integrity pact as an anti-corruption initiative.
The last chapter evaluates the initiatives taken by Korean society to combat and prevent corruption in the water management sector. It draws conclusions from the perspective of economic ethics and, upon this evaluation, recommendation are being made.
2. An Analysis of Corruptionfrom the Perspective of Economic Ethics
Different types of corruption exist in the public sector, which Shleifer/Vishny and Pies characterize as corruption with theft and without theft (Shleifer and Vishny[7] ) or burdening corruption and unburdening corruption according to Pies.[8] In the model by Shleifer and Vishny corruption is examined with the state being only the supplier of goods, while Pies furthermore includes the case of the state demanding goods. Both models will be explained in the following paragraphs.
Shleifer and Vishny assume a homogenous good supplied by the state, which is demanded by private agents. A government official is endowed with the power of either approving or denying the provision of this good. Furthermore, the government official encounters no risk of detection or punishment by his superiors when restricting supply, thereby characterizing the government official as a monopolist seeking to maximize his own utility by maximizing the bribes collected by selling government provided goods.[9]
Next, Shleifer and Vishny set the price of the good being sold as p and examine the marginal costs of the government officer for the provision of the good. Underlying this assumption, Shleifer and Vishny distinguish two cases of corruption, the provision of a government good without theft and the provision of a government good with theft. In the first case, the government official may charge a price higher than the official price p of the good. However, he turns the official price of the good over to the government. The marginal costs of the officer, therefore, in this case are p. In the second case, the provision with theft, the official keeps the received money for himself, not handing it over to the government. The peculiarity of this type of corruption is, that the price of the bribe charged may be lower than the actual costs of the service initially charged by the government. This type of corruption, for instance, is a common phenomenon among custom officials, when letting goods through the border for a bribe less than the official price without handing any money to the government. The marginal costs of the corrupt official, therefore, amount to zero.[10]
Extending the model by Shleifer and Vishny further, Pies refers to these two phenomena of corruption as burdening (corruption with theft) and unburdening (corruption without theft) corruption in the case of the state being the supplier of goods.[11] Examining the phenomenon of burdening corruption with the state being the supplier of goods, analogue to corruption without theft, corruption leads to an increase in the official price: p+y with y representing the monetary value added by the corrupt official. In case of unburdening corruption, again analogue to Shleifer and Vishny, the price of the good provided by government will be lower than the actual price, p-x, since the government official has the ability to hide the service provided from the government, therefore only charging a price below the official price as to maximize his own utility.
illustration not visible in this excerpt
Figure 1: Corruption in case of the state being the supplier ofgoods
Source: Pies (2008b; p. 120)
The reverse effect occurs in the case of the public official acting on behalf of the state as a demander of goods. If a public official is able to negotiate an unofficial price reduction, which he will not report to the government, but rather directly transfers to his own bank account, one can speak about the phenomenon ofburdening corruption. In contrast, unburdening corruption occurs, when the public official and the supplier negotiate an increase in the price at the expense of the state, which they will then share among themselves.[12]
Analyzing the incentives underlying the main actors’ willingness to engage in corruption reveals a major difference between burdening and unburdening types of corruption. While the phenomenon of burdening corruption is characterized by a conflict of interests, unburdening corruption depicts a harmony of interests. Participating in burdening corruption, the victim is the person bribing the official. Thus, both of them have diverging interests in whether or not to participate in corruption, since the official gains while the briber looses in this deal. With regard to unburdening corruption the main victim is the state, meaning that both parties, the briber and the official benefit from participating in a corrupt act. Thus they show a harmony of interests.[13]
Another distinction between burdening and unburdening corruption becomes obvious when characterizing both with regard to the state’s role in supporting the corrupt system. Burdening corruption becomes a top-down societal phenomenon. If, despite the bribers incentive not to engage in corruption, corruption in the public sector keeps persisting, and major parts of the government body must be supporting the corrupt system and an official, who engages in corruption while shielded by his colleagues and superiors. The power of the state is misused for the exploitation of its citizens, for personal enrichment by the government body, a type of corruption usually appearing in developing countries.[14]
Unburdening corruption is a bottom-up phenomenon, that, in contrast to the systemic problem of burdening corruption, appears decentralized or locally. The most important prerequisite of unburdening corruption is absolute secrecy, since it only works if the rest of the government body lacks information about the existence of corruption. Unburdening corruption harms the government, meaning that the government has a very strong incentive to fight this type of corruption. Yet it is able to exist, if performed by single government officers in secrecy, making it a local and decentralized bottom-up phenomenon.[15]
Having distinguished between these two types of corruption, in the following paper, the term of corruption refers to the phenomenon of unburdening corruption.
2.2 An Analysis of Corruptionfrom the Perspective ofEconomic Ethics 2.2.1 Principal-Agent Theory
Analyzing the determinants of corruption, economic analysis draws upon the principal-agent- theory, one approach to tackle the problem of corruption. This theory defines three actors, a principal, an agent and a client. The principal represents a high ranking government official who is assumed to be benevolent and embodies the public interest, while the agent, a lower ranking public official, interacts on behalf of the principal with the client.[16] The agent is endowed with discretion in his job, which he could misuse for his personal benefit by betraying the principal’s interests for his own.[17] Uncertainty and moral hazard, therefore, characterize the relationship between the principal and the agent, since the principal lacks the necessary information to be able to judge if the agent does everything necessary to fulfill the principal’s aims. In economic terms, corruption signifies a contract between the agent and the client that transgresses the principal’s interest.[18] Assuming a low risk of detection and rational behavior, the agent will choose to engage in corruption, if his net benefit resulting from the act of corruption outweighs his net costs. Likewise, the client will participate in an act of corruption, ifhis expected net benefit also outweighs his net costs.[19]
Colluding at the expense of the principal, the agent and the client share an interest in keeping their cooperation secretly. Thus, they purposefully erect a barrier to the access of information, by, for instance, manipulating tendering procedures, a conspirative exchange of information or inconspicuously transferring illegal payments.[20] The relationship among the three parties is depicted in the following illustration:
Source: Pies (2008; p. 142)
One solution, often referred to in the context of corruption, is the law, which aims at safeguarding the integrity of the bond of trust between the principal and the agent.[21] Corruption becomes a crime that is punished with the full vigor of the law. Yet, it faces limitations with regard to its impact in the prevention of corruption, which is mainly due to the fact that penalties according to the law can only become effective, once the act of corruption has been revealed. However, the law does not prove to be an effective means in breaking the barrier to the access of information the agent and the client erect, as to hide their collusion at the expense of the principal.[22] Unlike other crimes, corruption lacks the ability of having the victim cooperate with law enforcement agencies, since in case of successful cooperation between the agent and the client, the victim, the principal, does not know about the crime itself. Another problem about the effectiveness of the law in the prevention of corruption is the fact, that the agent and the client only face a relatively low risk of detection which decreases even further through successful cooperation between both.[23]
A solution on how to solve this problem of corruption becomes more apparent, when the legal owner, upon whose behalf the client acts, is integrated into the model, as shown in figure 4.
In this model two barriers to the access of information exist abreast. The corrupt agent takes the bribe without reporting any government services, thereby making it almost impossible for the principal to break through the barrier of access of information between him and his agent. The client, in contrast, uses company money for bribing the agent as to gain a competitive advantage over other companies. This reveals the asymmetry in the level of access of information between the principle and the legal owner of the bribing company. The owner knows about the bribe being paid and, hence, is able to make an active decision over whether to engage in corruption or not, while the principal passively has to trust in the integrity of his agent.[24]
Summarizing this, since the principal is the one being hurt by the collusion between the agent and the client, he has a strong incentive in the prevention of corruption. Yet, at the same time, due to the existence of the barrier to the access of information, his abilities to prevent corruption are very limited. The legal owner, in contrast, when already being engaged in acts of corruption, has a very low incentive to withdraw from this behavior yet he could prevent corruption relatively easy.[25] For that reason, means to prevent corruption should be addressed directly to companies, rather than targeting at the principal.
The underlying presumption of companies having an interest in the prevention of corruption will be deducted in the next chapter.
Similar to other situations, where individually rational behavior leads to an undesired outcome for the collective, the problem underlying corruption is a social dilemma. Social dilemmas are situations in which individual rationality leads to collective irrationality. Even though there is no ambiguity on the actions of a single individual, when trying to maximize the own pay-off, the collective is hurt by the outcome.[26] The best known version of such a dilemma is the “tragedy of the commons” as introduced by Hardin. Here, a common grazing area is used freely by the dairy farmers of the town. It is obvious, that every farmer, trying to maximize his own outcome, has an incentive as to increase the number of cattle he grazes in this area. Yet, if all farmers keep increasing their number of cattle, they will eventually overgraze the commons, thereby diminishing the collective interest.[27]
Situations characterized as a social dilemma share one distinct feature: a deficient equilibrium.[28] This equilibrium is deficient due to the existence of at least one other outcome, in which every player is better off. However, it represents an equilibrium since no player has an incentive to change his behavior. A group of players facing a social dilemma might be able to understand each other’s decision and realize the dilemma itself, yet may not be able to change their behavior as to escape the dilemma.[29] The following model shows the social dilemma underlying the phenomenon of unburdening corruption and deduces strategies on how to solve the dilemma situation and move to an efficient equilibrium.
Underlying the model is the assumption of an agent acting upon behalf of a principle and two competing companies representing potential clients. Each of these companies is interested in gaining a competitive advantage over the other party.[30] Facing a corrupt public official, both companies have to consider whether or not to engage in an act of corruption. The arising problem is that companies merely have a realistic choice, but to engage in corruption, since withdrawing from it will inevitably lead to a competitive disadvantage over the other company. As a direct consequence, unburdening corruption will inevitably lead to competition of corruption amongst potential clients, thereby characterizing the phenomenon of unburdening corruption as being epidemic.[31]
Given two companies the social dilemma can be illustrated as follows:
Question: Engage in unburdening corruption?
This dilemma represents a typical prisoner’s dilemma in game theory. Both companies have to decide about their engagement in corruption. Analyzing and comparing the potential payoffs for each company reveals their dominating strategies. A dominating strategy is a strategy that leads to the best outcome for one individual regardless of the actions of the other participants.[32] Lacking the information about company B’ behavior, company A has to decide whether or not to engage in corruption. The decision is based upon a comparison of all potential pay-offs for A. Assuming that company В decides to engage in corruption, the potential pay-off company A could realize would be in case of non engagement in corruption the worst outcome (w) in quadrant IV and in case of engagement the third best outcome (t) in quadrant III, which is better than (w), therefore implying that it will be best for company A to engage in corruption if company В decided to engage as well. In case that company В decided not to engage in corruption and company A also decides not to do so, A could realize its second best (s) outcome in quadrant I. However, it could still improve its outcome in this case, by choosing to engage in corruption, meaning that company A would be able to realize its best outcome (b) with the highest pay-off in quadrant II. This analysis shows, that, independent from the actions taken by company В, company A is always able to realize a higher pay-off, if it chooses the strategy to engage in corruption. The same applies to company В when deciding whether to engage in unburdening corruption or not.
Given these dominant strategies, both companies realize the equilibrium in quadrant III. As stated earlier, social dilemmas are characterized by a deficient equilibrium. In this case it is obvious, that both companies could realize the better outcome in quadrant I. Moreover, they do not only loose the desired competitive advantage, but also succumb to the risk of detection and punishment. Here, individually rational behavior has led to an outcome that is unfavorable for the collective. Since both companies could have realized a mutual better outcome, they show an interest in an alteration of the incentive structure underlying their actions, as to realize the outcome in quadrant I. Thus, to solve this social dilemma the incentive structure for the individual strategies of both participants has to be altered.[33]
One solution that appears to be reasonable at a first glance is to impose punishment upon engagement in corruption. Yet, there has to be a distinction between ex ante penalties and ex post penalties. The former one can serve as a device in preventing actors from their engagement in unburdening corruption. However, if this phenomenon is already established, undifferentiated penalties will rather corroborate this social dilemma situation, than supporting to overcome it, as shown below.[34]
Question: Reveal participation in unburdening corruption?
Figure 6: Locked-in effect resultingfrom undifferentiated penalties
Again analyzing the pay-off structure of both players shows that in the case of undifferentiated penalties, no player will have an incentive in revealing his participation in corruption. Independent from the action of the other player, each participant realizes his best outcome, when hiding his participation, because revealing it will not only result in a loose of the competitive advantage against the other player, but also in prosecution and monetary penalties.[35]
Introducing differentiated penalties proves to be a more effective means for altering the incentive structure of the various players and, therefore, eventually their behavior:
[1] Eigen (2003; p. 13).
[2] Cf. Dalton (2005; p. 237).
[3] Cf. Shleifer and Vishny (1993; p. 559).
[4] Cf. Rose-Ackerman (ND;p. 31).
[5] Cf. Mauro (1997; p. 6 f.).
[6] Cf. Tanzi and Davoodi (1998; p. 3 f.).
[7] Cf. Shleifer and Vishny (1993; p. 601-604).
[8] Cf. Pies (2008b; p. 86-93).
[10] Cf. Shleifer and Vishny (1993; p. 601 f.).
[11] Cf. Pies (2003; p. 4).
[13] Cf. Pies (2008b; p. 89).
[14] Cf. Pies (2003; p. 5 f.).
[16] Cf. Klitgaard (1991; p. 22).
[17] Cf. Bac (1996; p. 280).
[18] Cf. Gilardi and Braun (2002; p. 147).
[19] Cf. Klitgaard (1991; p. 22-24).
[21] Cf. Pies (2008b; p. 145).
[23] Cf. Pies (2008b; p. 145 f.).
[26] Cf. Kollock (1998; p. 183-185).
[27] Cf. Marwell and Ames (1979; p. 1335 f.).
[28] Cf. Kollock (1998; p. 184).
[29] Cf. Kollock (1998; p. 184f.).
[30] Cf. Dabla-Norris (2002; p. 113).
[32] Cf. Kollock (1998; p. 185.).
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Martin Luther University
Annette Nölle (Author)
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anti-corruption, initiatives, south, korean, water, management, perspective, economic, ethics
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Annette Nölle (Author), 2010, Anti-Corruption Initiatives for South Korean Water Management, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/179632
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Cineplex Announces Normal Course Issuer Bid
August 17, 2011 11:45 ET | Source: Cineplex Inc.
TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Aug. 17, 2011) - Cineplex Inc. (TSX:CGX) ("Cineplex"), Canada's largest and most successful motion picture theatre exhibition company, today announced that it has received regulatory approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange ("TSX") to carry out a normal course issuer bid. Cineplex has been authorized to purchase up to 5,600,000 of its common shares, or approximately 9.7% of its public float of 57,852,617 as at August 15, 2011, in the twelve-month period following the bid's effective date. The average daily trading volume for the six month period preceding August 1, 2011 is 110,677 common shares. In accordance with TSX rules, a maximum daily repurchase of 25% of this average may be made, representing 27,669 common shares.
As at August 15, 2011, Cineplex had 58,372,737 common shares issued and outstanding. During the past 12 months, no common shares were purchased by the Corporation.
Purchases under the bid, to be made through the facilities of the TSX only in accordance with the TSX's requirements, may commence on August 19, 2011 and will terminate on August 18, 2012, or on such earlier date as Cineplex may complete its purchase pursuant to the notice of intention to make a normal course issuer bid filed with the TSX. For any particular trade, the Corporation will not purchase common shares at a price higher than the price of the immediately preceding trade on the open market by independent parties. The common shares that the Corporation intends to acquire pursuant to the bid will be cancelled.
The Board of Directors of Cineplex has concluded that the market price of Cineplex's common shares, from time to time, may not reflect the inherent value of the Corporation and purchases of common shares pursuant to the bid may represent an appropriate and desirable use of funds.
About Cineplex Inc.
Cineplex Inc. ("Cineplex") is the largest motion picture exhibitor in Canada and owns leases or has a joint-venture interest in 130 theatres with 1,351 screens serving approximately 70 million guests annually. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Cineplex operates theatres from British Columbia to Quebec and is the exclusive provider of UltraAVX™ and the largest exhibitor of digital 3D and IMAX projection technologies in the country. Proudly Canadian and with a workforce of approximately 10,000 employees, the company operates the following top tier brands: Cineplex Odeon, Galaxy, Famous Players, Colossus, Coliseum, SilverCity, Cinema City and Scotiabank Theatres. Cineplex shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) under the symbol "CGX". For more information, visit www.cineplex.com.
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The bloody rise of Augustus
Adrian Goldsworthy, author of a biography of Augustus, reveals how Julius Caesar's teenage heir slaughtered his way to power
Before his death 2,000 years ago in August AD 14, the ageing Roman emperor Augustus composed a political statement that recorded his unprecedented bid for power, half a century earlier. “At the age of 19 on my own responsibility and at my own expense I raised an army, with which I successfully championed the liberty of the republic when it was oppressed by the tyranny of a faction.”
The events to which he was referring began on the Ides of March 44 BC when Roman dictator Julius Caesar was murdered by the self-proclaimed ‘liberators’. It was only at Caesar’s funeral that it was discovered that his great-nephew Augustus – then called Caius Octavius and from an obscure family – had been named as the murdered ruler’s principal heir.
The teenager chose to interpret this legacy as full adoption, and announced that he intended to succeed not simply to Caesar’s wealth and name, but also to his high office. That was not the way politics normally worked in Rome, but these were disturbed times, with the old Republican system of elected magistrates crumbling after decades of violent competition and spells of civil war.
The young Augustus used Caesar’s money and name to start raising an army from serving or former soldiers of his charismatic ‘father’. Mark Antony (one of Caesar’s leading subordinates) was already trying to rally the same people to him and did not take his young rival seriously, dubbing him “a boy who owes everything to a name”.
A Senate urged on by the famous orator Cicero saw Antony as the big threat and feared that he was aiming to seize supreme power by force. In a political system where a man had to be in his forties before he could seek the highest offices of the state, a 19-year-old with no political record seemed to present little danger. Cicero saw a teenager at the head of legions of veteran soldiers and decided that he could be useful. They should “praise the young man, reward him, and discard him”.
At first it went well, and Augustus’s veterans played the key role in defeating Antony and driving his army across the Alps. Discarding the young Augustus, however, proved difficult, for his soldiers served him and not the Senate. In the meantime Antony allied with another of Caesar’s old supporters, Lepidus, and so became stronger than ever. Augustus now decided to join them, so that all of the murdered dictator’s supporters and soldiers were on the same side – at least for the moment. They declared a triumvirate – a board of three supreme magistrates to restore the state, and effectively a joint dictatorship.
Life of the week: Romulus Augustus
The 8 bloodiest Roman emperors in history
7 facts about Roman women
The first thing the triumvirs did was to order the murder of prominent opponents including Cicero. Marching unopposed into Rome, they posted up proscription lists with names of men who were set outside the protection of law. Anyone could kill a proscribed man, and if they brought his severed head to the authorities they would be rewarded with a share of the victim’s property, the rest going to the triumvirs to pay their army. Antony, Augustus and Lepidus traded names in a scene brought chillingly to life by Shakespeare: “These many, then, shall die, their names are pricked.”
Quite a few of the proscribed managed to escape abroad, but hundreds died. In later years there was a whole genre of stories of dramatic escapes and grim deaths, of rescue and betrayal. The senator Velleius Paterculus concluded that “…one thing, however, demands comment, that toward the proscribed their wives showed greatest loyalty, their freedmen not a little, their slaves some, their sons none”.
Opinion was less certain about which of the triumvirs was most brutal in their pursuit of the proscribed, as after the event each tried to shift the blame to his allies. Yet many were shocked that the young Augustus should have had so many enemies he wanted to kill. In the years that followed, a reputation for excessive cruelty clung to him, helped by the frequency with which impassioned pleas for mercy were met with a simple: “You must die.”
Antony and Augustus took an army to Greece and defeated two of Caesar’s murderers, Brutus and Cassius, at the battle of Philippi in 42 BC. Antony got most of the credit, both for winning the war and treating captured aristocrats and the remains of the dead with fitting respect.
The alliance between the three triumvirs was always based on self interest and came under increasing pressure in the years that followed. It narrowly survived a rebellion led by Antony’s brother Lucius against Augustus, and, after a long struggle, defeated Sextus Pompeius, the son of Julius Caesar’s former ally, son-in-law, and finally enemy, Pompey the Great. By 36 BC the triumvirate became an alliance between two when Lepidus was marginalised. Augustus kept him in comfortable captivity for the rest of his life, a gesture that mixed mercy with cruelty as it prolonged the humiliation of an ambitious man.
The dispossessed
Mark Antony was placed in charge of Rome’s provinces and allies in the eastern Mediterranean after the clash at Philippi. Augustus remained in Italy, where he carried out the task of providing the farms promised as rewards to the triumvirs’ loyal soldiers.
The estates of the proscribed were insufficient, and so more and more confiscations were arbitrarily imposed on the towns of Italy. The local gentry suffered the most, leading the poet Virgil to write of the plight of the dispossessed: “Ah, shall I ever, long years hence, look again on my country’s bounds, on my humble cottage with its turf-clad roof?… Is an impious soldier to hold these well-tilled fallows?… See where strife has brought our unhappy citizens!”
Augustus got most of the blame for the confiscations in an Italy exhausted by civil war and desperate for stability. As relations with Antony broke down, it was better to wage war against a foreign threat, and so Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, was demonised as a sinister eastern temptress who had corrupted a noble Roman, and turned him against his own people. (In 41 BC, Antony had taken the queen as a lover, renewing the affair three years later). Privately few were fooled, but publicly the ‘whole of Italy’ took an oath to follow Augustus and save Rome from this ‘threat’.
Relations between the remaining triumvirs deteriorated until, in 31 BC, the two clashed in battle at Actium in Greece. Antony was defeated and took his own life the next year.
With Antony dead, the 33-year-old Augustus faced no serious rivals and, since he took care to monopolise military force, there was no real danger of new challengers appearing. However, that did not mean that the man who had slaughtered his way to power was safe from assassins’ knives, or that it would be easy to create a stable regime.
There was little affection for Augustus, but Romans of all classes were desperate for peace, and hoped simply to be able to live without fear of proscription lists and confiscations. This security is what he gave them. His control was veiled, expressed in a way that appeared constitutional, even though the veil was thin since no one could take his powers from him or break his hold over the loyalty of the legions. What mattered was that years and then decades passed, and stability and the rule of law persisted as it had not done in living memory.
Peace and the simple virtues of an idealised and now restored past dominate the art and literature of these years. It is also no coincidence that one of the most striking monuments of the Augustan age is the Ara Pacis – the altar of peace (shown below).
The peace that Italy enjoyed (after generations of civil strife) did not mean Rome was no longer at war. For at the same time, Augustus boasted of victory after victory won over foreign rulers and peoples, often adding new territory to the empire.
Augustus presented himself as the greatest servant of the state, and defeating external enemies was a glorious means of service. He also laboured untiringly and publicly to restore good government throughout the empire, spending his days receiving petitions and resolving the problems long neglected by the inertia of the Senate under the Republic.
Rome itself – and, to a degree, communities across Italy and the provinces – was physically renewed, so that Augustus could boast that he had found the city “brick and left it marble”. There were monuments to his glory, but many of them were also practical amenities for the wider good, such as aqueducts, fountains and sewers, bath-houses for comfort, temples to restore a proper relationship with the gods who protected the Roman people, and theatres and circuses for entertainment.
Life was more stable under Augustus, and for most people it was also more comfortable. No one was left in any doubt that this happy condition relied upon his continued activity, for Augustus’s name and image was everywhere. Relief at the end of civil war slowly became more or less grudging gratitude and eventually turned into genuine affection.
Time played an important part. Augustus ruled for 40 years after the death of Antony, and everyone became used to his leadership and the system he had created, while the memories of his bloody rise to power gradually faded. There was no enthusiasm to swap the present peace and prosperity for a return to the violently unpredictable decades preceding it. Honour after honour was voted to him by the Senate and people, including the title of Father of his Country.
Thanks to this reincarnation as a man of peace, Augustus – the first emperor of Rome – would for centuries also be remembered as one of the best.
Dr Adrian Goldsworthy’s book, Augustus: From Revolutionary to Emperor, is published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson (2014).
Augustus’s life and times
23 September 63 BC Augustus is born with the name Caius Octavius. His father is a member of the country gentry and the first in the family to enter the Senate at Rome. His mother is Julius Caesar’s niece. Despite this, there is no reason to expect him to have an exceptional career.
15 March 44 BC On the day Julius Caesar is murdered, Augustus is in Greece, receiving military training ahead of the dictator’s planned invasion of Parthia. A few days later, it emerges that Caesar has nominated Augustus as his principal heir.
43 BC Having raised a private army and helped the Senate defeat his great rival Antony, Augustus leads his army back to Rome and demands to be elected consul. Soon afterwards, he joins Antony and Lepidus in the triumvirate.
36 BC Relying heavily on the skill of his friend Agrippa, Augustus defeats the fleet of Sextus Pompey. The war has pushed Augustus to breaking point . After one defeat, he was cast ashore with a few attendants and considered suicide.
2 September 31 BC Augustus, once again relying on Agrippa to command his forces, defeats Antony at the battle of Actium fought off the coast of Greece. Antony flees, with no hope of recovering from this disaster. Within a year, he and Cleopatra will kill themselves
16 January 27 BC Caesar’s heir is given the name Augustus to honour him for his service to the state. He is now Imperator (or ‘generalissimo’) Caesar Augustus, a personal name without any precedent.
23 BC Augustus falls seriously ill and is not expected to survive. He publicly hands his signet ring to Agrippa, but doesn’t name a successor to his position. He eventually recovers.
2 BC Augustus is named Father of his Country by the Senate. Later in the year scandal rocks his family when he exiles Julia (above), his only child, for serial adultery. Augustus has already adopted her two older sons with Agrippa, but both will die young, leaving Tiberius to succeed.
AD 9 Three Roman legions led by Varus are wiped out by allies turned enemies among the Germanic tribes at Teutoburg Forest. It is the most serious defeat of Augustus’s career. For days he roams the palace calling out: “Quinctilius Varus, return my legions!”
19 August AD 14 Augustus dies in a family villa at Nola. It’s later rumoured that he was poisoned by his wife, Livia (below), who feared that he planned to change the succession. Augustus’s body is carried in state to Rome, and after a public funeral he is declared a god.
Seven other great rulers of Rome
The first dictator: Lucius Cornelius Sulla (c138–79 BC)
In 88 BC Sulla was the first Roman commander to turn his legions against the city of Rome and seize power by force. After fighting a war in the east, he returned in 83 BC and stormed the city a second time. He made himself dictator – turning a temporary emergency measure into the basis for long-term power – and created the first proscriptions, posting up death lists in the Forum, that named hundreds of his opponents.
The iconic general: Julius Caesar (100–44 BC)
Caesar was Augustus’s great-uncle and joined in an informal alliance with Pompey and Crassus, the two most important men in the state. In 49 BC Pompey and Caesar became rivals when the latter crossed the Rubicon and began a new civil war. Caesar won, and copied Sulla by using the dictatorship as the basis of his power. When this was made permanent, he was murdered by conspirators including Brutus and Cassius.
The unpopular heir: Tiberius (42 BC–AD 37, emperor from AD 14)
Augustus’s stepson Tiberius was not first choice as successor, but was adopted in AD 4 after the deaths of Augustus’s grandsons. By the time of Tiberius’s succession, few people were able to imagine a world without an emperor. Tiberius was unpopular and far less active than Augustus. Yet the imperial system became even more firmly established during his rule.
The bon vivant: Nero (AD 37–68, emperor from 54)
Nero was the last of the four members of Augustus’s extended family to rule. A teenager when he came to power, he was fonder of luxury and performance than government. Yet his ability to remain in power for 14 years testified to the affection for Augustus’s family and the acceptance of imperial rule as natural. In the end he lost the support of the army, followed by the Senate, and took his own life.
The outsider: Vespasian (AD 9–79, emperor from 69)
Vespasian was the fourth man to win power in a civil war that raged for over a year after Nero’s death. Neither related to Augustus nor from the old Roman aristocracy, he came from the local gentry of Italy. All of the powers accumulated by Augustus were awarded to Vespasian, and he was followed as emperor by his two sons in turn, giving the empire three decades of stability. He wasn’t loved, but he was widely respected.
The last conqueror: Trajan (AD 53–117, emperor from 98)
Trajan’s family were Roman citizens from Spain, making him the first non-Italian emperor. He was the last of the great conquerors, adding Dacia – modern-day Romania – to the empire in campaigns celebrated on Trajan’s Column still visible in Rome. In the last years of his life he invaded Parthia but most of his conquests there were abandoned by his successor, Emperor Hadrian.
The philosopher: Marcus Aurelius (AD 121–180, emperor from 161)
The last of Edward Gibbon’s ‘five good emperors’, Marcus Aurelius was an earnest man, who wrote a philosophical work, The Meditations, and tried to rule virtuously and in the style set by Augustus. His reign was beset by a series of catastrophes, with warfare and plague ravaging the empire. After Aurelius’s reign, civil war would bedevil the empire for over a century.
This article was first published in the August 2014 issue of BBC History Magazine
Roman rulers
Ancient Rome Week
Romans Week
Royals Week
The death of Caesar: do we know the whole story?
The glorious Caesars
Roman emperors and women through the ages
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People to People Student Ambassadors
By Gail Small
How you can travel to foreign lands, meet important people and everyday folks aronund the world, and get a fabulous item for your transcript.
"One," "two," "three," "four," "five," rang out the sound of voices raised in pride and excitement. Each number was counted off by one of the 43 student ambassadors gathered for a roll call at Los Angeles International Airport, with passports in hand, wearing shirts labeled with the word "Ambassador." It was a thrill to watch their faces when our flight to Paris was called. Strangers and airport security personnel stopped to look. Tears flowed as parents watched their students begin their dream adventure. Students' tears flowed too with appreciation for the opportunity and the realization that their ambassadorships were suddenly becoming reality.
Surprisingly, these students didn't even know each other nine months ago. But they all had one thing in common. Each was nominated by a teacher, coach, community leader, or another significant adult who acknowledged him or her for academic standing, social skills, awareness, and openness to travel as an American ambassador and to meet people from all walks of life. Nominators recognize students in grades 5-12.
Of my 43 student ambassadors, none were homeschoolers.
Each year I wonder why the amazing homeschoolers I have met have not surfaced in my groups. I know some homeschoolers elsewhere in the country are student ambassadors, yet why not more? I have met and respect so many young, high-caliber homeschoolers who would reap benefits from such an experience. I would like to encourage many more homeschoolers to take advantage of this enriching educational experience. I would also like their parents, teachers, and advisors to be aware of People to People.
What is People to People?
Mt. Vesuvius is grey and rocky, at least on this spot! Other parts are quite green.
The People to People Student Ambassadors Program (P2P) provides unique learning opportunities that fit beautifully into homeschooling. Participants gain non-stop real-world learning. Family ties are enriched as well: participating students pre-study before the trip and follow up afterwards with further learning. The education is innovative and the materials, which cover every subject, go far beyond any book, movie, Internet course, or class the student may have taken.
Participating students also have the opportunity to receive high school and college credit towards their social science and civics requirements. Those applying for university receive letters of recommendation from People to People stating they have been a People to People Ambassador. Some have told me that they know this has made the difference! (A People to People letter of recommendation has nine United States of America presidents on the letterhead, testifying to the advantages and prominence of being a student ambassador.)
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, America's 34th president and the founder of People to People, stated, "I have long believed, as have many before me, that peaceful relations between nations require mutual respect between individuals." He believed that if "ordinary" people of different parts of the world could communicate with each other, we could solve some of the world differences and find the path to begin to live in peace. Thus, while governments struggle towards achieving world peace, people reaching people could make a difference.
Author Gail Small with student ambassadors, ready to leave LAX
People to People Ambassador Programs began in 1956 when President Eisenhower called a special White House conference of American leaders. Together, they created the People to People initiative. The vision of People to People has involved firsthand experiences with other cultures and has taken thousands of young Americans across international borders.
Mary Jean Eisenhower, granddaughter of President Eisenhower, now is the President and CEO of P2P International. I have traveled personally with her and observed her first hand dedication to the world and peace. She is a "first lady" with genuine dedication to education and leaders of the future.
In the summer of 2006, for the first time ever, the prestigious Cavaliere per las Pace (Knight of Peace) award was presented to an organization rather than an individual. Mary Jean Eisenhower accepted the esteemed award this summer in Assisi, Italy. Mother Teresa, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Pope John Paul II are previous recipients of the Knight of Peace award, considered one of the most important titles for the curriculum vitae of the Nobel Prize.
I hear that for Mary to sit in the chair where Mother Teresa sat was a tearful and cherished experience. I will be in Assisi with student ambassadors next summer and feel the pride of President Eisenhower's vision of world citizenship in this, the 50th anniversary year of People to People.
Because my last name is Small, as a young child I thought the Small World attraction at Disneyland was mine. In later years I have discovered that Walt Disney created "It's a Small World" because he participated in the People to People International White House conference. Over 250 million people have discovered the Small World attraction and People to People continues the goal of understanding how all people are alike and different, and that we all share so very much.
After being nominated and interviewed, I had the privilege of becoming an ambassador and a leader for People to People. In this capacity, I have crossed many borders and boundaries with student leaders who understand, appreciate, and see more than a usual "tour." While like other tour participants they bring home everlasting memories, they also leave a taste of friendship the world over.
Nominated students first attend an information meeting. They hear from People to People staff about the educational opportunity. They learn that it's an honor to be nominated. Former students come on stage to tell about how People to People was their most valuable learning experience. It's far more than "hands on" because it is real-world learning!
At the completion of every information meeting, the parents are the ones who want to go the most. You hear them saying, "I never got to do anything like this. Even in college, world affairs never came alive. My child has been nominated for a chance of a lifetime."
Once students complete the application and obtain three reference letters, they are interviewed by People to People leaders. Being nominated is in itself an honor and accomplishment. The interview is usually to find if students are truly able to leave home to visit a foreign land and mature enough to reap the benefits of "people to people" interaction.
After the interview, students are assigned to a local delegation. This group meets with carefully selected leaders six times prior to travel so that students are informed, comfortable and learning about worldly things.
Just prior to travel, a Bon Voyage party is held for the delegation of approximately forty students, their families and leaders, always with a ratio of 1 to 10 adults to students. My group, which was traveling to the Mediterranean, had a sweet treat at their party. Each cake was decorated with a flag and scenery of a country on the itinerary: France, Italy, and Malta. At the party, parents have the honor of pinning their child with the official People to People pin, signifying ambassadorship. It's a great photo opportunity! The smiles of all in attendance indicate great pride in the success and accomplishments of these young students.
Paying for the Trip
People to People encourages fund-raising efforts, and what a great feeling this is once accomplished!
The cost of the trip is usually earned by the student. Some speak at Rotary clubs and others read stories for day care or make craft projects for holiday sales. One student might be busy already curb painting and another might be washing dogs in the neighborhood.
People to People provides an entire booklet for student ambassadors entitled "Funding Your Journey: The Keys to Successful Fundraising." It provides students with a clear, step by step process as well as ideas and fundraising suggestions.
Gail Small with Student Ambassador David Coons
The booklet's recipe for successful fundraising spells out goals and the long range picture. Suggestions are included for obtaining sponsors and worksheets/flyers are included as well. You can find many additional fundraising resources on the fundingyoureducation.org site, along with sample letters which are ideal for creating sponsorships.
Meeting people is one thing; community service is another. While traveling each year, a special day or two of the journey is set aside for this.
One of my favorite memories is when we went to the market in New Zealand and divided the students into four teams. They were each given the same amount of US dollars. They had to change it into the correct currency and mathematically figure out how to fill their shopping cart with the most items to take to the needy. You could almost see the wheels turning as students figured the exchange rate and how to get the most for the dollar.
This was a true hands-on learning adventure, especially when we tallied the number of items to see who had purchased the most to take to the designated location.
The students' reward was seeing the faces and hearing the words of the people on the stairs sincerely thanking them for their donation and for caring. This is especially meaningful, since many in foreign countries tell us they hear so many bad things in the news about American children and teens.
Meeting Others
Maybe it is the sound of laughter that best defines what People to People is really about.
Splashing flour here there and everywhere with Irish students, we had a cooking lesson to master the art of Irish soda bread. We watched the bread rise and the element of human interaction and understanding rise along with it. Though it rained (stormed) that very day, it became all part of the adventure and the warm delicacy was appreciated even more.
With students in the Australian Outback, we have watched masterful dogs herd the sheep. At one ranch two dogs were in charge. One went over the fence with zest as he ran to circle in the hundreds of sheep. The other, who was handicapped, had to crawl under the fence before he could do his job. Together, they shared their positive and negative strengths while the sheep all came together. A barn dance that evening included Australian students who joined us from many surrounding areas who shared their music, games and dances with us.
Each restaurant and hotel throughout our travels in Australia had a special dinner for Ambassadors. As usual, a banner waved proudly to welcome us upon our arrival. It was another night of hot fudge ice cream sundaes in our honor. (The students knew not to tell anyone that the same honor had been bestowed upon us for a dozen nights prior...)
A student ambassador enjoying the architecture in Italy
One particular hotel had a small stage with a microphone for local talent that performed there over the weekend. The hotel staff announced over the sound system that they felt honored to have student ambassadors and wished us well and world peace for all. To my shocked surprise, one of the students in our delegation ran up to the stage and turned on that microphone. (Please note that he was the shyest one when I interviewed the students for my delegation.) The next thing I knew this student was loudly, clearly, and eloquently singing our national anthem to the entire dining room and hotel. People from the lobby peeked in, people on the stairs came down, and people in the room were speechless. (Especially me!) The commotion and dialogue that followed were another example of what People to People is all about. I later learned that this boy had sung at Dodger Stadium and similar places. We all learned how students overcome shyness (especially among peers) and how this can bring out their very best. He sparked a hotel/restaurant sing-a-long with the visitors and guests from here, there and everywhere joining in.
Once we toured a museum in small groups with English speaking docents. That was all informative and interesting, yet the visit to the museum cafeteria proved the most educational part of the trip. As my delegation entered with their food vouchers in hand to buy any kind of food they craved, they encountered students from a local high school. All were fascinated with each other! With my permission and that of the local teachers and headmaster, the students gathered together in the patio. The adults sat on the top tier of an amphitheatre-type seating, chatting, watching, and enjoying. It was international relations right before our eyes. We relaxed our schedules as it was too good to be true. Two cultures became one and no one wanted to end the meeting. Students exchanged address and years later some still are pen pals who share their thoughts across international borders.
Even when international languages vary from country to country throughout a People to People journey, communicating with those we meet on the way provides more learning than can be found in any textbook. Looking up words and phrases in dictionaries, reading "sign language" and road signs, figuring kilometers, calculating money exchanges, and deciding what time it is at home, are all part of it. Dressing up in our "dress clothes" and finding that others are joining us in kilts is also an eye-opening experience. Student ambassadors find that though we are worlds apart, we are so much the same too.
Now with the age of computers and the Internet, student ambassadors easily become acquainted with fellow nominees from all over the United States. After traveling, communication is kept open with new friends from encounters all over the globe.
Just for Ambassadors
I have guided students to Parliament. New Zealand not only welcomed us, we were escorted into the private chambers and sat at the table of Parliament. How many American students ever get to do this? We were treated as kings and queens. We met Parliament members and history came alive. Because many of the students researched our destinations prior to travel, their text books and schoolwork took on a new reality.
On another trip the year following, in Parliament in England, we met Sir Andrew who explained government and the laws and ways of England. Students listened, shook hands, and journaled so they could write a presentation for school or to bring out one day to share with their own children.
In Tangalooma, by Moreton Island National Park, naturalists came to the island so students could receive one-of-a-kind science studies. For three days we were in natural bush land amid incredible landscaped gardens. We got to actually interact with native wild life. We rinsed our hands so there was no infection and walked deep into the waters. Dolphins stopped by for a snack. Dolphins took fresh fish right out of my hands - not calm, trained dolphins, but two in the wild! I will never forget that moment nor the naturalists' information about nature, the sea, and ecological balance. The next day students saw movies and heard a lecture on pelicans. The next thing we knew we were hand feeding them a few buckets of fish. And if that wasn't enough, after our group discussions and after question and answers geared to young scientists, we went on a boat to be part of the whale migration. Right in front of us, we had a close look at majestic mammals of the sea!
Staying at a castle in the hills of Scotland with I don't know how many rooms (we lost count), one could almost visualize the days of past. A historical lecture enlivened our thoughts, understanding, and imagination. Shepherds' pie and interesting food were tastes to try from books we had read.
I have led students to meet Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster. Sadly, she was not there to personally meet us that day. However, we went on the search boat where we received instruction on how to use the GPS devices and heard the stories and traditions of that part of the land. One boy in our delegation has the name of Urquart and you can imagine his thrill of viewing the Urquart Castle first hand.
This summer Italy was one of the destinations where my delegation traveled. With expression and sincere passion, a guide told us about Pisa... and then we were standing right there.
Walking through the Accademia Gallery, which houses Michelangelo's colossal statute, David, gave us a true glimpse of colorful history. We were told about the 50,000 spectators who once were entertained in Rome, while actually exploring the Forum, Piazza Venezia, and the Colosseum.
Visiting the ancient city of Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, gave us the feeling of stepping back in history.
Just as we also traveled through France and looked at treasures inside Musee du Louvre, we also spent time in Malta in educational meetings. We also took part in a service project.
Malta is a tiny island nation that has been conquered and inhabited by many different cultures. Balconied buildings were before us, as were narrow streets unfit for traffic. First-hand description by informed educators and locals taught us about stepping back in time.
Each student stood in an example of a walled city which is still inhabited today. They also participated in a treasure hunt which tested their understanding and comprehension.
The Trip Ends
The American flag hanging high in immigration told my students they were home in the U.S.A. With tears of sadness, knowing the experience was about to end, and leaving new friends they have traveled the world with, each student ambassador had his or her outer passport stamped and walked towards the welcoming screams of delight in a crowded airport.
The ambassadors pose with a chaperone while enjoying the sights
As the People to People student ambassadors emerged from customs, they appeared much different than at the beginning of their journey. As we counted off, "One... two... three... four... five," passers-by now saw a unified group of 43 student ambassadors, wearing their "Ambassador" shirts and with passports in hand, pulling worn luggage that looked like it could tell a story all itself. The vision was exhilarating.
Back in the USA, "Welcome Home" banners, smiles, tears, and emotion prevailed. It wasn't an end, though... it was the beginning of more steps toward each student's tomorrows and the world's future.
I wouldn't miss this for the world!
What Makes P2P Unique?
P2P differs from other student opportunities because students are representing their country as ambassadors and encountering "people to people" experiences every day while on their journey. There is a feeling of community and each encounter has been planned down to the smallest detail for a treasured learning experience. Walking into Parliament, meeting and speaking to a Town Council, speaking, singing, and sharing with international leaders is something that stays with you the rest of your life. Leadership develops as student ambassadors share rolls, tea, or escargot with locals and discuss likes and differences throughout the world.
Students are led by educators who have been nominated for their dedication to learning and to embracing new experiences.
Student ambassadors become more aware of the world around us while proudly representing the United States of America. They become "citizens of the world."
As a teacher for 35 years, I have seen the many phases of learning and instruction. I have watched the era of "lesson plans" evolve into newer modes of parent participation and hands-on learning. But nothing I have encountered even begins to compare to the challenges and learning that People to People dedicates themselves to for young student ambassadors.
If American public school students can participate and become intellectually enriched, then more homeschoolers should, too.
You can go to peopletopeople.com for a peek at the vast opportunities. It's easy to learn how to nominate your student. You can use my contact information (GailSmall.com) to connect with me to ask questions and to find out more.
A quote from President John F. Kennedy says what I truly feel: "The nature of People to People activities is as varied as the individuals involved. The housewife whose recipe contains the yeast of kindness, the soldier whose arms embrace homeless waifs, the doctor who heals with humility, all assert a single theme - the power of people, acting as individuals, to respond imaginatively to the world's need for peace."
I hope that more homeschoolers will now take advantage of the opportunity to travel the globe with People to People Student Ambassadors and enjoy this vast variety of educational and cultural experiences.
Articles by Gail Small
To Bee Your Very Best
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The Cosby Trial: What You Need To Know
Bill Cosby heads to trial again on sexual assault charges arising from a 2004 encounter in his home. Last year, a jury couldn’t decide on a verdict, so the judge declared a mistrial.
TANYA BALLARD BROWN, NPR / Laura Benshoff, NPR
| Posted on April 3, 2018, 2:34 PM
Bill Cosby leaves a pretrial hearing in a sexual assault case at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa., on Aug. 22.
Next week, Bill Cosby goes to court again to face three counts of aggravated indecent assault for allegedly drugging and molesting Andrea Constand more than a decade ago.
Last June, a jury couldn’t decide whether to convict or acquit the 80-year-old celebrity on these allegations, resulting in a mistrial.
Now, there’s a new jury, new defense attorneys and, with the #metoo movement, a new era of accountability for sexual assault. If found guilty, Cosby faces up to 10 years behind bars for each count.
Here’s what you need to know about the case and the people involved.
The accuser: Andrea Constand is a former Temple University employee. Cosby and Constand met more than a decade ago while she was working for the university’s women’s basketball team. She said they became friends and he invited her to dinners at his home and offered her career advice. She is now a massage therapist who lives in Ontario, Canada.
Andrea Constand leaves the courtroom after closing arguments on June 12, 2017. The judge declared a mistrial when the jury couldn’t reach a verdict after more than 50 hours of deliberation.
The allegations: On Jan. 4, 2004, Cosby invited Constand to his home near Philadelphia. In the 2017 trial, Constand testified that Cosby gave her three pills that he indicated were “herbal” — but were something else.
She said during trial that those pills made her feel “frozen” and pass out. That’s when, she says, Cosby assaulted her.
Constand reported the assault to the police in 2005 and filed a civil suit against Cosby when prosecutors initially declined to press charges. Ten years later, a judge unsealed deposition testimony Cosby gave during that civil suit, in which he said he did give Constand pills and there was sexual contact the night of the alleged assault. In light of this new information, prosecutors looked at Constand’s case again and decided to file criminal charges in 2015.
What happened in the first trial: Constand testified. Cosby did not. Jurors also heard testimony from Constand’s mother, Gianna Constand, and recorded phone conversations between Gianna and Cosby where Cosby offered to pay for Andrea to go back to school.
Prosecutors also called Kelly Johnson, another woman who claims Cosby drugged and assaulted her, to the stand, to try to show Cosby had a criminal pattern of behavior. Juror Bobby Dugan said he wanted to convict Cosby on two of the three counts he faces, based on Cosby’s own past statements, not because of the testimony of either woman.
“In my opinion, consent is a verbal agreement. If there is no verbal agreement there is no consent,” he said.
Jurors could not reach a unanimous decision after 52 hours of deliberation. The judge declared it a mistrial.
What’s different in this trial: This jury will hear new witnesses. More than 50 women have accused Cosby of assaulting them, dating back to the 1960s. A judge recently ruled to allow testimony from up to five women, in addition to Constand, who say Cosby also drugged and sexually assaulted them.
Cosby’s not on trial for these other women’s accusations. But they’re allowed to testify in this case to help a jury decide whether Cosby knew what he was doing.
And then, there’s the explosion of allegations of sexual harassment and assault against high profile men, known as the #metoo movement, that kicked off a few months after the mistrial.
Cosby’s lawyers asked the court to ban T-shirts, flowers, buttons and any other paraphernalia that could be used to make a statement about the movement during the trial, to try to keep public opinion from biasing the jury. Judge Steven O’Neill granted that request, banning any items that could make a statement for or against either side in the case.
The defense: Cosby testified in a 2005 civil deposition that he did give Constand pills and there was sexual contact.
Last year, Cosby’s then-attorney, Angela Agrusa, argued that the contact was consensual and romantic. Cosby’s defense team also questioned Constand’s credibility, pointing to inconsistencies in her accounts to the police.
For this trial, there’s a new lead defense attorney, Tom Mesereau, who previously defended Michael Jackson against child molestation charges.
Court documents indicate the defense has asked to call a witness who they say shows Constand planned to fabricate a claim of sexual assault in order to get a big payout. Lawyers may also be able to discuss the money Constand received from settling the civil lawsuit against Cosby in 2006.
Copyright 2018 WHYY. To see more, visit WHYY.
David Maialetti/AP
Matt Rourke/AP
Tags Bill Cosby court rape sexual assault sexual misconduct trial
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Full Show: Lesser Election Races to Watch, and a Victim’s Definition of Justice (Oct. 9, 2018)
Larry Nassar, Ex-Trainer Charged With Sexual Assault In Karolyi Ranch Investigation
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Victoria Housing Authority fires executive director
Source: Victoria Advocate
Source: Source: Victoria Advocate)
March 7, 2017 at 10:36 p.m.
The Victoria Housing Authority is in the midst of its fourth management shake- up in about two years.
Its board of directors fired Louis Boldt during a Feb. 28 meeting.
Boldt replaced longtime executive director Debbie Gillespie, who resigned in October 2015 after the Office of Inspector General found the housing authority had mismanaged more than $780,000 from Jan. 1, 2013, to March 31, 2014.
Boldt, who previously served as director of the Section 8 housing program, started serving as the executive director of the housing authority in November 2015 and was given the position in December 2015.
That came after Joy Alane Bankston, then deputy executive director, was offered the executive director position, declined it and resigned.
Gillespie and Bankston both now face criminal charges in connection with their roles at the housing authority, as do Dolores Garza, the former chief financial officer, and a handful of other employees. Their cases are pending.
Boldt could not be reached for comment Tuesday, and Jeff Cano, chairman of the board, and the housing authority's attorneys, Chris Janak and Bernard Klimist, are remaining silent about why he was fired.
They say they can't explain Boldt's firing because the matter was discussed in closed session Feb. 28 and doing so would be illegal.
"The board was not satisfied. What more can I tell you without getting into a closed session?" Cano said.
"It's a personnel matter that we can't comment on at this time until it develops further," Klimist said, adding that Boldt could appeal his termination. "I'm not trying to be evasive."
But Joe Larsen, a Houston-based attorney who serves on the Board of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, suspected they are trying to be evasive.
Larsen said the board is free to discuss this personnel matter even if it was discussed in a closed session at the Feb. 28 meeting.
That's because Boldt had the option to request the matter be discussed in open session. And even if he didn't use that option, board members still have a constitutional right to free speech, Larsen said.
"The only thing they can't talk about (that happens) in closed session is if they get advice from their attorney and that's because no one board member has the power to waive the attorney client privilege on behalf of the entire board," he said.
Later, Larsen added, "In any circumstance, the people deserve to know why this person was fired from this public position, a high profile public position in which there is a legitimate public interest. In an institution with a documented history of corruption, it's all the more important this information come out."
Mayor Paul Polasek, who appoints members to the board, said, "I know there were some incapability with his management style and the board, but beyond that, I don't have a lot of other details."
When asked whether Boldt would be criminally investigated as his predecessors were, Cano said, "I don't anticipate that, but I don't know whether there will be further investigations."
District Attorney Stephen Tyler could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
The deputy executive director, Brandy Hilbrich, is running the day to day operations of the housing authority for now.
Janak thought Hilbrich had been working for the housing authority for about six months. Both he and Cano were traveling and couldn't immediately recall Hilbrich's past experience, and she didn't return calls for comment Tuesday.
"She's a very competent lady. She will likely have the opportunity to apply for the position, but we're going through the standard procurement procedure for a new director," Cano said.
They say things at the housing authority are on the up and up.
"We're getting our housing renovated somewhat and getting people moved in so in that respect, it's improving," Cano said.
In 2015, the housing authority collected almost $1.8 million in rent for the properties it owns and 339 families received housing choice vouchers.
Its board meets every third Monday of the month. On Feb. 28, they met at the Sendera. They post their agendas at the housing authority's office, 4001 Halsey St., and at city hall, 501 W. Juan Linn St.
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Silicon Valley at the Intersection of Facebook and the iPhone
Irwin M. Stelzer
“Forgive me Lord, for I knew not what I was doing.”
No, not Victor Frankenstein after creating his monster. Instead, Tony Fadell, co-creator of the iPhone; and Chamath Palihapitiya and Roger McNamee, a former Facebook executive and investor, respectively. Even Mark Zuckerberg confesses concern with his creation, although in a roundabout way: “Facebook has a lot of work to do”, . . . and his “personal challenge for 2018 is to focus on fixing these important issues.”
We have here a test of whether corporate capitalism is capable of self-reform, or whether politicians around the world will seize this opportunity to expand the regulatory state, here and abroad. So far, self-correction, driven by the profit motive, seems to be the answer to a set of problems that threaten to convert a host of proudly self-styled “disrupters” from heroes to zeroes.
Eleven years ago, almost to the day, Apple ended decades in which we were tethered to the wires of telephone company monopolies; Facebook has provided 2 billion people with a news source and a platform on which to display pictures of their cats—and for Vladimir Putin to interfere in nations’ elections. Such radical change inevitably creates problems, just as, for example, Detroit’s creation, the mass-produced automobile, brought enormous benefits, but also created environmental problems. The car created a demand for regulations galore, from seat belts to standards on the content and use of gasoline. Now it’s the turn of the creations of Silicon Valley, which might have spawned social problems only now being understood.
Start with Apple, which has already bruised its reputation in some circles by refusing to help the FBI unlock a terrorist’s iPhone, bowing to Chinese censorship in order to retain access to its market, and turning tax avoidance into a (perfectly legal) fine art, becoming the corporate equivalent of David Goodhart’s rootless man from “anywhere,” described in his much-read The Road to Somewhere.
Apple is now charged with harming children and producing an iGen (born in 1995 or later) that is “on the brink of the worst mental-health crisis in decades” according to Jean Twenge of San Diego State University. Studies purport to show that opioids are not the only addictive substances available to teens. They also suffer from cell phone addiction that produces “depressive symptoms” (University of Basel), increased risk of suicide (San Diego State), and poor scholastic performance after sleep-deprived nights on their cell phones.
Then there is Facebook. Sean Parker, the first president of the social media firm says it was designed to “exploit . . . a vulnerability in human psychology [and] consume as much of your time and conscious attention as possible” by giving you “a little dopamine hit every once in a while, because someone liked . . . a photo or post.”
All of this angst has produced a reaction until now foreign to Silicon Valley: Major investors, driven by a desire for sustainable profits, are calling for reforms.
Investment managers Jana Partners and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System hold $2 billion of Apple stock—admittedly a drop in an almost $1 trillion bucket. But they’re still worthy of management attention: They believe that Jonathan Haskel and Stan Westlake (Capitalism Without Capital) are right that the value of these companies’ shares is based on the value of their intangible assets—their reputations and brands rather than their bricks and mortar. They want the company to advise its customers on how to control and, when they choose to do so, how to curtail use of their product. Not only to do good, but to do well by avoiding seeing itself converted from a Wall Street darling into a financial pariah.
Apple’s response—that it already has parental controls built into its iPhones—has been deemed inadequate. Its critics, who admire the company for such policies as refusing to allow pornography into its iTunes store, want the company to add more parental controls, make them easier to use, and provide data on that use, just as it does with your health metrics. With a day-in-the-life of a digital user before them, parents can make more informed decisions about use of iPhones and other devices. “That’s really easy to do,” says Fadell, who along with other critics awaits Apple’s more considered response, due in a few months.
It seems beyond dispute that kids are spending lots of time on smartphones and on social media. It seems, too, that youngsters can be said to be “addicted,” if by that we mean becoming enslaved to a practice to such an extent that cessation causes trauma. There is evidence from interviews that children feel “naked,” “abandoned,” “anxious,” perhaps “suicidal” if deprived of their phones. But here we must be careful: studies showing a correlation between depression and heavy use of cell phones might mean that use of these devices causes depression—or equally that depression causes people to become heavy users of these devices in a frantic attempt to “connect” with others.
The problem with social media is even more complicated. Libertarians would argue that if people choose to spend hours a day “friending” and “unfriending” others, “It ain’t nobody’s business but my own,” to quote the late, great Ella Fitzgerald. And there is the added problem of demands that Facebook control the content that it allows on its platform—an issue that has politicians in Germany demanding serious self-regulation and ours threatening to make the social media as responsible for what they “publish” as are newspapers.
So, as Lenin once asked in a different context, “What is to be done?”
No one can reasonably object to pressure on Apple management from owners of the company to increase the range and ease of use of various controls on their children’s use of these devices.
Or Zuckerberg’s effort to move from being a mere provider of a platform to a person responsible for how it is used. And his willingness to have his stock take a hit, as it did Friday, by changing Facebook’s News Feed in a way that might mean users spend less time on his social network.
But in the end there is little substitute for parental courage in the face of insistence on unlimited use. My firm’s technical advisor, Jeff Raben, tells me parents should start with the proposition that they, not their kids, own the smartphones and have every right to control their use. Dual wi-fi networks, one for kids that is turned off after 8:00 p.m. might be useful. (Although a work-around such a restriction is not difficult for tech-savvy kids unconcerned that it raises the monthly bill.) So would having cell phones charging at night, unavailable in a room far from the children’s bedrooms.
In the end, however, this father of about-to-be teenage twins says that the children will have more ways around parental restrictions than the less tech-savvy adults can imagine. So we are back to reliance on the disrupters to provide a bit of help to parents, lest the politicians decide that this is a job for them.
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Canada's Defence Diplomacy Hurt By Tight Budget, Report Says
Overstretched staff and drastic cuts to travel and hospitality are compromising Canada’s defence diplomacy program, considered a crucial tool for advancing military and trade interests at a time of complex global insecurity, according to a new internal evaluation.
The report, completed more than six months ago but only recently released on the National Defence website, also warns of a lack of direction, co-ordination and resources required to meet objectives of the government’s global engagement strategy.
Program costs averaged a relatively flat $96.7 million a year between 2008-09 and 2011-12. But a budget squeeze has arisen because of rising costs for salaries and other areas such as translation, which skyrocketed by 64 per cent in just three years.
Demands are increasing, more complex
Social media and increasingly complex security issues are adding to the workload and costs, along with a deluge of requests from government, opposition parties and parliamentary committees.
That means the volume of work and scope of responsibilities have ballooned with no extra staff to execute the work, according to the report.
Walter Dorn, a professor at the Royal Military College of Canada, said shortchanging diplomacy is detrimental to Canada’s contributions to the world and our reputation on the world stage.
“The military co-operation program does essential work in training and educating officers from abroad, particularly in peace operations,” he told CBC News. “Canada is no longer the prolific peacekeeper it once was. For the cost of one fighter jet, Canada can run its defence diplomacy program for years. The government is showing short-term thinking to the detriment of the country’s long-term contributions and reputation.”
Defence attaché workload doubled
During the last decade, each Canadian defence attaché who was formerly responsible for an average of two countries is now responsible for an average of four.
Defence diplomacy aims to advance Canada’s wider foreign and security agenda by partnering with foreign militaries on operational needs and key decisions. It’s considered valuable for gaining a deeper understanding of other countries’ perspectives and defence organizations and engaging in informal dialogue on what can develop into important formal agreements.
The evaluation notes that the program has filled “critical roles” for the federal government and military with analytical insight, advice and building international partnerships, but says cuts are putting that in jeopardy.
“Going forward, there is some concern that recent budget reductions may impact the ability of some of its components to continue to deliver their current high level of performance,” the report says.
Hospitality cut 'dramatically'
Hospitality expenditures have been slashed by about 60 per cent over two years, from $428,570 to $178,269. Major offices in Washington and London have had “dramatic” cuts.
“There are concerns ... that the reductions in travel and hospitality are beginning to impact the ability of the program to operate effectively,” the evaluation warns.
The protocol for hospitality is “very time consuming and difficult to manage,” requiring each attaché to make a request at least 10 weeks in advance for any hospitality expense that needs approval from the minister of defence.
Red tape for bureaucrats
For example, ministerial approval is required to pick up the tab for dinner at a restaurant where alcohol is served or if a spouse is attending.
“Sometimes, they have to cancel a military diplomatic event because they didn’t receive the approval in time,” the report reads. “The hospitality restrictions were seen to have negative effect on networking activities, especially when liaison officers from other countries are not subject to the same funding restrictions.”
On top of the financial and workload challenges, there is now much confusion over the focus and priorities for the program — whether it should be on military co-operation, promoting Canadian industries or providing perspective on civil, political and military climates around the world.
However, the Department of National Defence says the program continues to meet of all its objectives despite the budget constraints.
"DND takes its role as a strong steward of taxpayers' dollars very seriously and makes every effort to ensure sound financial management of taxpayer dollars," the department said in an email response to questions from CBC News.
"Reducing hospitality spending is a prudent alternative that helps protect core capabilities," it added.
In 1994, there were 28 Canadian defence attaché offices covering 55 countries. By 2013, there were 30 of the offices covering 138 countries.
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MORE: defence Defence Budget defence budget cuts defence cuts defence diplomacy defence diplomacy program defence report defence tight budget national defence Politics
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Ruth Richardson, Contributor
Historian, Author
Sherlock Holmes: A Science Based Detective
01/25/2013 08:45 am ET Updated Mar 27, 2013
Jean-Francois Daraud of France, dressed as Sherlock Holmes, poses in front of the podium of the 19th stage of the the Tour de France cycling race, an individual time trial over 53.5 kilometers (33.2 miles) with start in Bonneval and finish in Chartres, France, Saturday July 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle decided to try his hand at writing detective stories, he was determined that chance would play little or no role in the solution of the crime. Sherlock Holmes would reason his way to the answer using both old and new forensic methods. In this way Holmes and Watson are presented as men of science. Even their conversation is on a lofty scientific level. When reading Sherlock Holmes, be prepared to hear about conic sections and surds and the 5th proposition of Euclid. Fear not however, much of the science is used just to set the mood of the story. But Holmes does solve a number of his cases using scientifically based forensic methods. He truly is the first scientific detective in fiction.
My new book, The Scientific Sherlock Holmes (Oxford University Press), examines the science and forensics that Holmes employed and even makes the case that it is the science that has made the Holmesian Canon so enduring. Here we'll examine his use of three techniques that were well established at the start of his career: footprints, decryption of ciphers, and handwriting analysis. Then we'll see how Holmes was at the forefront of innovation in solving crimes using fingerprints, dogs, and the idiosyncrasies of typewriters.
Holmes used footprints in the very first of the 60 stories, A Study in Scarlet, published in 1887. He was still using them in The Lion's Mane, which came out in 1926 as the 57th story in the series. In fact, there is footprint evidence in about half of the tales. Holmes's best use of footprints occurs in The Boscombe Valley Mystery, the sixth story, which he solved almost entirely on footprint evidence. After examining the ground around the site of the murder, Holmes tells Inspector Lestrade, "The murderer is a tall man, left-handed, limps with the right leg, wears thick soled shooting boots, and a gray cloak, smokes Indian cigars, uses a cigar holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his pocket." Despite Holmes's clue, Lestrade fails to apprehend Mr. Turner. Readers, however, are not surprised by the amount of detail in Holmes's description of the culprit. We have known since the second story, The Sign of the Four, that Holmes is an expert in footprints. There we learned that he had already penned a monograph entitled, "The Tracing of Footsteps with Some Remarks on the Uses of Plaster of Paris as a Preserver of Impresses". Indeed, throughout the Holmesian Canon our hero must deal with footprints on a wide variety of surfaces: clay soil, mud, snow, carpet, ashes, and blood.
Holmes wrote another monograph in which he analyzed 160 separate ciphers. Borrowing from Poe's The Gold Bug, Conan Doyle has Holmes use frequency analysis to solve the cryptic messages in The Dancing Men. Waiting until he has sufficient data, Holmes uses the fact that "e" is the most commonly used letter in English, and proceeds from there to the answer. In The Gloria Scott Case the cipher Holmes must solve is one that uses only every third word in the message. This same technique was used by union spies during the Civil War. Young followers of the 1940's radio show "Captain Midnight" were told to do the same thing with their decoder rings. In The Valley of Fear Holmes realizes that the cipher, just like one used by Benedict Arnold in the Revolutionary War and Abner Doubleday in the U.S. Civil War, employs a book. The message contains page and word numbers.
In Conan Doyle's time handwriting analysis was more trusted than it is today. Holmes was up to date and used handwriting to make some amazing deductions. Not only could he tell gender, but he was also able to make deductions about the writer's character. In The Reigate Squires he correctly proclaims that two writers are related. A clever deduction at the start of The Norwood Builder enables him to immediately discern the culprit. Holmes realizes that the shaky handwriting in Jonas Oldacre's will was due to its being written on a train. Knowing that no one would write such an important document in such a fashion, Holmes knows Oldacre is his man.
When we look at Holmes as a scientific innovator we find that he used some methods before actual law enforcement agencies did. For example, the use of fingerprints for identification was adopted by Scotland Yard in 1901. The first Holmes case to involve fingerprints was The Sign of the Four, published in 1890. We still read about fingerprints in The Three Gables (1926), though only in The Norwood Builder do fingerprints play a significant role. Still, Conan Doyle chose to have Holmes use fingerprints and not the rival technique of Bertillonage or anthropometry. Holmes the forensic scientist must have recognized the superiority of fingerprinting.
Holmes has also written a monograph on the use of dogs in detective work. Indeed, dogs play a significant role in several stories. Twice Holmes employs dogs to follow the movements of people. In The Sign of the Four, Toby fails to properly follow the odor of creosote to locate Tonga, the pygmy from the Andaman Islands. Instead Toby takes Holmes and Watson to a creosote factory. But in The Missing Three Quarter Pompey successfully follows the smell of aniseed and locates Godfrey Staunton. Holmes has another dog success in the 60th story, Shoscombe Old Place. Suspecting that Lady Beatrice Falder is missing Holmes uses her dog to demonstrate that her carriage is occupied by another woman. Early usage of dogs shows Holmes again at the forefront of detection.
There is one Holmes story, A Case of Identity (1891), in which the idiosyncrasies of a typewriter provide the evidence that leads to the solution. Holmes realizes that the key to the mystery is that Mary Sutherland's suitor only communicates by typewritten letters. Even his name is typed, there is no signature. Holmes manages to get a typed note from his suspect. The exact match of typed idiosyncrasies closes the case. In the United States the FBI did not start its document analysis section until over 40 years later, in 1933. We're told that the prolific Holmes is the author of a monograph entitled "The Typewriter and its Relation to Crime".
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a voracious reader. As a result he was well informed on a great many topics. His ability to weave a mixture of old and new crime detection techniques into the Sherlock Holmes stories is a big factor in their continuing appeal. The Scientific Sherlock Holmes demonstrates that science plays a big role in the continuing popularity of the greatest detective in fiction.
Books Sherlock Holmes
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Australia & Polynesia/
1855 Colton Map of Australia
Australia-colton-1855
Rare first edition of Colton's important Australia series.
1855 (dated) 13.5 x 16 in (34.29 x 40.64 cm)
A beautiful 1855 first edition example of Colton's map of Australia. Covers the entire continent including Tasmania or Van Diemen's Land. Colton's mappings of Australia, updated annually through the 1860s, offer a comprehensive overview of the mapping and exploration of the continent's interior. This map notes Stuart's Farthest Point, a few rivers, and little else in the vast and desolate continental interior. Where known, Colton identifies various cities, towns, forts, rivers, desert oases, and an assortment of additional topographical details. Surrounded by Colton's typical spiral motif border. Dated and copyrighted to J. H. Colton, 1855. Published from Colton's 172 William Street Office in New York City. Issued as page no. 32 in volume 2 of the first edition of George Washington Colton's 1855 Atlas of the World.
Joseph Hutchins Colton (July 5, 1800 - July 29, 1893), often publishing as J. H. Colton, was an important American map and atlas publisher active from 1833 to 1897. Colton's firm arose from humble beginnings when he moved to New York in 1831 and befriended the established engraver Samuel Stiles. He worked under Stiles as the 'Co.' in Stiles and Co. from 1833 to 1836. Colton quickly recognized an emerging market in railroad maps and immigrant guides. Not a cartographer or engraver himself, Colton's initial business practice mostly involved purchasing the copyrights of other cartographers, most notably David H. Burr, and reissuing them with updated engraving and border work. His first maps, produced in 1833, were based on earlier Burr maps and depicted New York State and New York City. Between 1833 and 1855 Colton would proceed to publish a large corpus of guidebooks and railroad maps which proved popular. In the early 1850s Colton brought his two sons, George Woolworth Colton (1827 - 1901) and Charles B. Colton (1832 - 1916), into the map business. G. W. Colton, trained as a cartographer and engraver, was particularly inspired by the idea of creating a large and detailed world atlas to compete established European firms for the U.S. market. In 1855, G.W. Colton issued volume one the impressive two volume Colton's Atlas of the World. Volume two followed a year later. Possibly because of the expense of purchasing a two-volume atlas set, the sales of the Atlas of the World did not meet Colton's expectations and so, in 1856, the firm also issued the atlas as a single volume. The maps contained in this superb work were all original engravings and most bear an 1855 copyright. All of the maps were surrounded by an attractive spiral motif border that would become a hallmark of Colton's atlas maps well into the 1880s. In 1857, the slightly smaller Colton's General Atlas replaced the Atlas of the World. Most early editions of the General Atlas published from 1857 to 1859 do not have the trademark Colton spiral border, which was removed to allow the maps to fit into a smaller format volume. Their customers must have missed the border because it was reinstated in 1860 and remained in all subsequent publications of the atlas. There were also darker times ahead, in 1858 Colton was commissioned at sum of 25,000 USD by the government of Bolivia to produce and deliver 10,000 copies a large format map of that country. Although Colton completed the contract in good faith, delivering the maps at his own expense, he was never paid by Bolivia, which was at the time in the midst of a series national revolutions. Colton would spend the remainder of his days fighting with the Bolivian and Peruvian governments over this payment and in the end, after a congressional intervention, received as much as 100,000 USD in compensation. Nonetheless, at the time it must have been a disastrous blow. J. H. Colton and Company is listed as one of New York's failed companies in the postal record of 1859. It must have been this that led Colton into the arms of Alvin Jewett Johnson and Ross C. Browning. The 1859 edition of Colton's General Atlas lists Johnson and Browning as the 'Successor's to J. H. Colton' suggesting an outright buyout, but given that both companies continued to publish separately, the reality is likely more complex. Whatever the case may have been, this arrangement gave Johnson and Browning access to many of Colton's map plates and gave birth to Johnson's New Illustrated (Steel Plate) Family Atlas. The Johnson's Atlas was published parallel to Colton's atlas well in to the 1880s. The Colton firm itself subsequently published several other atlases including an Atlas of America, the Illustrated Cabinet Atlas, the Octavo Atlas of the Union, and Colton's Quarto Atlas of the World. They also published a large corpus of wall maps, pocket maps, and guides. The last known publications of the Colton firm date to 1897 and include a map and a view, both issued in association with the Merchant's Association of New York. In 1898, the Colton firm merged with the Ohman Firm and continued to publish as Colton, Ohman & Co. until 1901.
Colton, G. W., Colton's Atlas of the World Illustrating Physical and Political Geography, Vol 2, New York, 1855 (First Edition).
Very good condition. Blank on verso.
Rumsey 0149.099 (1856 edition). Phillips (Atlases) 816.
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NYC Mayor Honors ADA with Pride Month
To mark the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has declared July “Disability Pride Month”. U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, author of the ADA, will be grand marshal at this year’s parade on July 12. Other activities for the month include the City University of New York (CUNY) hosting an educational lecture series and the Brooklyn Historical Society will have an exhibit on the disability rights movement. The monthlong tribute will happen annually on New York’s calendar.
“I am grateful to Mayor de Blasio for making New Yorkers with disabilities a priority, and taking unprecedented strides toward supporting and celebrating the community,” said Victor Calise, commissioner of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities.
Victor Calise (right, pictured with former Mayor Michael Bloomberg), commissioner of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. Photo credit: Spencer T. Tucker via NYC Mayor Office Flickr
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The Year of the Beasts (Hardcover)
By Cecil Castellucci, Nate Powell (Illustrator)
Roaring Brook Press, 9781596436862, 192pp.
Every summer the trucks roll in, bringing the carnival and its infinite possibilities to town. This year Tessa and her younger sister Lulu are un-chaperoned and want to be first in line to experience the rides, the food . . . and the boys. Except this summer, jealousy will invade their relationship for the first time, setting in motion a course of events that can only end in tragedy, putting everyone's love and friendship to the test.
Alternating chapters of prose and comics are interwoven in this extraordinary novel that will break your heart and crack it wide open at the same time.
Cecil Castellucci's books include Boy Proof (Candlewick, 2005), The Plain Janes (Minx/DC Comics, 2007), The Year of the Beasts (Roaring Brook, 2012), and Tin Star (a 2015 Sunburst Award Winner). She collaborated with artist Sara Varon on Odd Duck, a graphic novel for young readers. She is the YA editor of the Los Angeles Review of Books and a two-time Macdowell Fellow. She lives in Los Angeles.
Nate Powell is the author and illustrator of the graphic novel Swallow Me Whole (an LA Times Book Prize finalist, the 2009 Eisner Award winner for Best Graphic Novel, and an Ignatz Award winner). He is currently working on an illustrated novel for Roaring Brook Press, with author Cecil Castellucci. Nate lives in Bloomington, Indiana, with his wife.
Praise For The Year of the Beasts…
“…a poignant and entertaining mixture of storytelling and nightmare.” —VOYA
“…sophisticated readers will eat this….right up.” —Kirkus
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Souvenaid: Nutrient Drink May Help Ward Off Alzheimer’s
By: Nidhi Goyal | November 10th, 2017
Image by EmpoweRN on Youtube
The number of people living with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is rising fast. Currently, more than 5.5 million people are affected by this form of dementia in the United States alone.
There is currently no cure for Alzheimer’s, but lifestyle interventions such as exercise and a healthy diet may temporarily improve symptoms.
Souvenaid may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease
Experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created a nutrient drink that may help slow down the progression of AD and even prevent it from turning into a full-blown disease.
The nutrient cocktail known as Souvenaid is a mixture of three naturally occurring dietary compounds: choline, uridine, and the omega-3 fatty acid DHA. The clinical trials of Souvenaid found that those who consumed the drink showed about 45 percent less cognitive decline than people who were given a placebo.
The drink is aimed at treating the root cause of Alzheimer’s: the loss of brain synapses. The nutrient cocktail increases the production of new synapses and restores connectivity between brain regions, improving memory and other cognitive functions.
Souvenaid is not currently available in the U.S., but it is being sold as a “medical food” in a number of countries worldwide.
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Migrants taken back to bombed Tajoura detention center in Libya
A controversial migrant detention center in Libya has reopened two weeks after an airstrike killed more than 50 people there. The United Nations had called for the compound located close to the front-lines of the country's civil war to be emptied.
German FM Maas calls for EU migrant redistribution 'coalition'
Germany's foreign minister says willing EU countries should redistribute migrants saved in the Mediterranean Sea. Some EU countries have vehemently opposed any form of redistribution in recent years.
EU should charter migrant flights, says Italian FM
Italy's foreign minister has called for recent problems posed by mass migration to be solved within a European framework. Italy has borne the brunt of a huge influx of migrants to Europe that erupted in 2015.
Restart Mediterranean migrant rescue missions, UN bodies tell Europe
UN agencies have appealed to European countries to restart government rescue operations for migrants in the Mediterranean Sea. More needs to be done to improve inhumane conditions for displaced people in Libya as well.
Turkey stops nearly 800 migrants from crossing EU border
According to Turkish news agency Anadolu, Turkish security forces have stopped close to 800 migrants near the border with Greece and Bulgaria from crossing into the European Union. Under the EU-Turkey deal from 2016, Turkey agreed to prevent migrants passing through its territory to Europe in exchange for financial aid for refugees in Turkey.
EU Commissioner proposes new system for migrant arrivals
Calls for a political solution to sharing out the migrants arriving from the Mediterranean have been coming from almost all sides of the debate for some time. Now the EU Commissioner responsible for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, has proposed a new solution.
Sea-Eye migrants allowed to disembark in Malta
The 65 migrants on board German-flagged rescue ship Alan Kurdi have been taken ashore to Malta, the Maltese government has said. They will be relocated to other EU countries. The ship is operated by the Sea-Eye charity.
UN Special Envoy on Migration accuses EU of ‘blindness’
Vincent Cochetel, the UN Special Envoy on Migration accused the EU of “blindness” when it comes to the plight of refugees and migrants in Libya. Following Tuesday’s airstrike which hit a migrant detention center in Libya, he once again asked the international community to rethink its policy of returning migrants rescued at sea to Libya.
Migration on the rise across world, new study says
Millions more people will move across the globe in the coming decades, as economic inequality and the effects of the climate crisis take their toll. That's the conclusion of a new German study.
Refugees stuck in Bosnian quagmire
Refugees and migrants attempting to make it to the European Union via Bosnia have been stuck in a bottleneck. The country's economy is weak, unemployment high, and the government is struggling to address the alleged pushbacks by Croatian police. Amidst simmering tensions, authorities ordered the establishment of a new refugee center in Vucjak.
Human rights chief 'seriously worried' about closed-ports policy
The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatovic, says she is worried about the Italian government's attitude towards NGOs that rescue migrants in the Mediterranean. The commissioner also said EU states should 'suspend all collaboration' with Libya.
Germany: Refugee numbers in context
Germany has one of the highest numbers of refugees of any country worldwide, according to the UNHCR. But relative to the size of its population and economy, the figures for Germany tell a somewhat different story.
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Scientists who studied the diets of more than 447,000 people around the world are zeroing in on the ideal dose of carbs for a long life
Aug. 17, 2018, 9:20 AM
New evidence from a long-term study suggests that neither high-carb nor low-carb diets are necessarily great for your health.
Scientists studied more than 15,000 people in the US and another 432,000-plus around the world, and found that getting about 50-55% of a day's energy from carbohydrates might be ideal.
People who ate significantly more or less carbs than that were more likely to die, according to the study.
For years, dieters have had to deal with a lot of conflicting advice on how to eat.
First, fat was the bad guy. Then it was considered ideal to avoid sugar and go low-carb.
Lately, dieters trying the trendy ketogenic diet have discovered that if they replace carbs with fat, they can trick their bodies into a natural starvation mode and lose weight, while still enjoying bacon and slurping heavy cream.
But a new, long-term study published Thursday in The Lancet suggests there may be a winning formula for the amount of carbohydrates to eat every day. It relies on some very unsexy, old advice: everything in moderation.
Lead researcher Sara Seidelmann, a cardiologist and nutrition researcher at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, told Business Insider that her results suggested a diet "rich in plant based whole foods such as vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts is associated with healthy aging."
That usually means about half of the calories you eat in a day should come from carbohydrates.
A Goldilocks rule for carbs
For the study, Seidelmann looked at the diets of more than 15,400 adults in the US and another 432,000 people in more than 20 countries around the world. She and her team of researchers analyzed that information in relation to how long the study participants lived.
They found that people who ate a moderate amount of carbohydrates — around half of their daily calories — tended to live the longest.
Conversely, people who derived more than 70% of their energy from carbs or got less than 40% of their daily calories from carbohydrates were more likely to die than people who ate something in between.
It's a kind of Goldilocks finding: we should eat not too many carbs, not too few, but just the right amount.
On one end of the spectrum are people who suffer health consequences from eating too many carbs, like in some lower-income countries where people tend to rely on white rice for sustenance without much else on their plate.
On the other end are people who consume to few carbs. Surprisingly, the group at highest risk of death in the US study were those who didn't eat carbs, since those people tended to replace carb-heavy foods with animal fats and proteins: "beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and cheese," as Seidelmann put it.
"Clearly, filling your plate with those things increased mortality," she said.
In fact, the researchers concluded that a 50-year-old who eats within the 50-55% carbs margin could expect to live for another 33.1 years, while someone the same age who gets just 30% of their calories from carbs would be expected to live roughly 29.1 more years.
The important part is getting as many whole, healthful foods onto your plate as possible
There is a way to do a low-carb diet and age well: people who ate small amounts of carbohydrates but more plant-based proteins like veggies, seeds, and nuts were found to be less likely to die and tended to live to a ripe old age.
This might be because eating large amounts of animal fat and protein but few fresh plant-based foods can increase inflammation in the body.
"Try to make choices that fill your plate with plants," Seidelmann said.
She agrees there's a short-term link between low-carb diets and weight loss, but cautions that diets like keto and Atkins might not be great long-term strategies.
"There's absolutely nothing more important for our health than what we eat each and every day," she said. "I really would like individuals to realize the power that they have over their own health," she said.
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More: Carbohydrates Diet Healthy Eating Keto Diet
Tennis legend Stan Smith gave Kate Middleton a tiny pair of his sneakers for Prince Louis at Wimbledon
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Ebola Emergency Shadowed By Cross-Border Risks, Funding Gaps & Vaccine Challenges
Against the background of increased cross-border infection risks, the World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the Ebola virus outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) – a decision that may help increase aid flows to the disease epicentre but also threaten free-wheeling patterns of […] Continue reading ->
WHO & UN Emergencies Leadership Call For Major Funding Infusion To End Ebola Outbreak
In the wake of a new Ebola case in the border city of Goma, WHO and its UN partners are calling on donors to make major new funding commitments to halt the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – while WHO will reconvene an expert Emergency Committee to consider if the outbreak should […] Continue reading ->
Community & Health Sector Cooperation Contains Ebola Threat In Uganda; Epidemic Simmers On In DRC
08/07/2019 by Maina Waruru
Nairobi, Kenya – The World Health Organization has commended efforts by the government of Uganda for keeping the deadly Ebola virus from spreading eastwards into the country from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where a prolonged outbreak has claimed approximately 1,600 lives since last August. The East African country has recorded only three […] Continue reading ->
Confirmation of case of ebola virus disease in Uganda
[WHO News Release] Kampala, 11 June 2019 – The Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) have confirmed a case of Ebola Virus Disease in Uganda. Although there have been numerous previous alerts, this is the first confirmed case in Uganda during the Ebola outbreak on-going in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo. Image Credits: […] Continue reading ->
WHA Strengthens Benefit Sharing System For Pandemic Flu Vaccine Development
03/06/2019 by Catherine Saez
In a little-publicised move, the WHA last week agreed to close a critical loophole in the WHO Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework that could have allowed commercial vaccine manufacturers to indirectly make use of biological information about flu strains from another country – without providing that country with any benefits from the vaccines or antivirals […] Continue reading ->
New Plan For Ebola Outbreak Response To Ensure Safety Of Respondents
There has been a dramatic increase in security incidents around the epicentre of the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), but a sharp decrease in hospital transmissions, increased vaccinations, and new measures to safeguard response teams, are positive signs, WHO officials told reporters today in a briefing. Image Credits: WHO/L.Mackenzie, Catherine […] Continue reading ->
Major cholera vaccination campaign begins in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
[Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Press Release] Agencies warn of unprecedented situation in the DRC as cholera and measles epidemics compound Ebola challenges Geneva / Goma 27 May 2019 – More than 800,000 people will be immunised against cholera in North Kivu in the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following the launch […] Continue reading ->
Ebola Epidemic Enduring, Conflict Zones Complicate Response, Need Of Breaking Silos Between Actors
The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is not related to the lack of means or experience to fight the epidemic, but the difficulty to reach communities, the World Health Organization Director-General told the World Health Assembly today. The DRC Minister of Health illustrated the complexity of the response, linked […] Continue reading ->
Collaboration & Science To Fight Epidemics, A Long Road Still Ahead – Speakers Say On the Margins Of WHA
The Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is enduring despite efforts deployed and progress achieved, mainly because of the difficulty to reach communities. The complexity of the response to this epidemic prompts actors to rethink their strategy, as explained by the head of Wellcome Trust yesterday on the side of the World […] Continue reading ->
WHO Adapts Ebola Vaccination Strategy in the DRC to Account for Insecurity and Community Feedback
[WHO News Release] WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) today issued new recommendations to address vaccination challenges in the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Image Credits: WHO/J. D. Kannah. Continue reading ->
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Which African states slammed Burundi, South Africa and Gambia's withdrawal from ICC?
Burundi, South Africa and Gambia's decision to leave the ICC generated widespread support for the ICC.
By Elsa Buchanan
Updated November 4, 2016 10:59 GMT
People carrying their national flags commemorate Africa Day, the annual commemoration on 25 May of the 1963 founding of the Organisation of African Unity, the current African Union RAJESH JANTILAL/AFP/Getty Images
The International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor has had a difficult few weeks. Having faced the withdrawal of three African states – Burundi, South Africa and Gambia – Fatou Bensouda has to persuade other African presidents that the world court is not persecuting and humiliating Africans, effectively countering a a mass exodus from the court.
While the exit club's decision to leave the ICC generated widespread speculation about who may be next to follow suit, a growing number of African states have come out in defence of the court, which investigates and prosecutes cases of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Burundi's withdrawal from ICC is 'a major loss for the victims of the gravest crimes' claims HRW
Ugandan President Museveni praises African nations for withdrawing from 'useless' ICC
After Burundi, South Africa and Gambia, who will be next to withdraw from the ICC?
IBTimes UK looks at who said what, and where.
Ivory Coast's president, Alassane Ouattara, who was elected in 2015, confirmed his country has no intention of leaving the ICC. Describing the trio's exit from the court as "sovereign decisions", he told Réveil FM: "Ivory Coast is not considering it".
The nation's former President Laurent Gbagbo is standing trial at the ICC for war crimes linked to the civil unrest. He is accused of having started a campaign of rape, intimidation and violence against opposition supporters.
Nigerian envoy Tiwatope Adeleye Elias-Fatile on 31 October told United Nations General Assembly he acknowledged the ICC's "increasing acknowledgement of its relevance as an apt instrument to fight impunity". The Nigerian said his country remains a committed member of the ICC and reiterates its "support and cooperation with the court".
A pupil waves the Nigerian national flag PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images
During the same meeting, Senegal's representative emphasised that strengthening the relationship between Africa and the ICC should be of the highest priority, given the trio's recent decisions to withdraw from the court. "Senegal still hopes that a dynamic consensus could be found so that Africa could play a major role against impunity," Fode Seck said, highlighting that the needs of victims could not be disregarded in the "era of accountability".
Earlier last month, Sierra Leone government spokesman Ajibu Tejan Jalloh affirmed that the country will not quit the ICC and that Sierra Leone is "committed to peace and justice in our country. We are respectful to international treaties and the ICC is good to stay on," the spokesman said, insisting on his country's commitment to fighting impunity for the most heinous crimes committed around the world.
Members of the African Union in February backed a Kenyan proposal to push for withdrawal from the ICC, and Kenya said it was monitoring African withdrawals "with very keen interest".
While Kenya and Uganda have been vocal critics of the court, bordering Malawi's Foreign Minister Francis Kasaila said on October 28 that, "Malawi will not be pressured to leave the ICC by its neighbours."
Tanzania's representative Tuvako Nathaniel Manongi echoed this, when he told the UN General Assembly on October 31 that the establishment of the ICC "became an inspiration against impunity and injustice. The promise and hope is still relevant today, if not more urgent."
South African Justice Minister Michael Masutha GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images
With South Africa becoming the second African country to announce its decision to pull out of the ICC, diplomatic rows have been brewing in the region.
Following Pretoria's announcement, the government of Botswana said it regretted its neighbour's decision and the countries have been at loggerheads over the issue. Foreign Minister Pelomoni Venson-Moitoi on October 26 added: "Pulling out [of the ICC] is not the solution. We should be working towards fixing" the court.
"Botswana is convinced that as the only permanent international criminal tribunal, the ICC is an important unique institution in the international criminal justice system. Botswana, therefore, wishes to reaffirm its membership of the Rome statute and reiterate its support for a strong international criminal justice system through the ICC," the country's representatives said in a statement to the UN.
Facing its own troubles following a disputed election and the controversial arrest of opposition leaders, Zambia joined its neighbour in supporting the ICC. Its vice president, Inonge Wina, told Zambia's parliament on October 28 that "the status of Zambia's membership" in the ICC has not changed.
High-level African personalities and activists
A number of African personalities and activists have also expressed their regrets towards the trio's decision, and called for countries that are looking to leave to reconsider pulling out.
A coalition of 24 African and international organisations – including Human Rights Watch (HRW), the International Commission of Jurists and the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative – called South Africa's withdrawal "a slap in the face for victims". In a statement on 22 October, the group urged African countries "to affirm their commitment to the ICC".
The African Group for Justice and Accountability (AGJA) – which includes former Central African Republic President Catherine Samba-Panza, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, and former South African Constitutional Court Justice Richard Goldstone – said it was "deeply concerned" about the ICC withdrawals.
Kofi Annan, former UN secretary-general, has strongly defended the International Criminal Court, REUTERS/Wa Lone
"While the AGJA respects the sovereign rights of states to join and withdraw from the ICC, it urges all states to work within the Rome Statute system and continue their support for the court," the group said in a statement on 26 October.
Finally, the Elders, a group of independent leaders founded by the late President Nelson Mandela and which today includes former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu and international women's and children's rights advocate Graça Machel.
Finally, the Elders – which includes former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town and Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu, and international women's and children's rights advocate Graça Machel, shared the same message.
"The ICC should be a source of hope to those victims of serious abuses whose domestic judicial systems have let them down," Annan said in a statement on 26 October.
"The ICC is not perfect and its reach needs to be expanded. But the ICC remains a crucial global court of last resort," HRW added on 3 November.
This article was first published on November 3, 2016
Related topics : Kenya Uganda
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You are here: Posts > Newsletters > General Insurance Newsletter Monday 13th May 2019
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General Insurance Newsletter Monday 13th May 2019
International General Insurance Holdings (IGI) is set to expand into Intellectual Property with a new product. The policy will provide wide protection for patents, trademarks, copyright, design rights and contractual liabilities involving Intellectual Property and cover legal costs and damages for Intellectual Property infringement and enforcement actions. The firm detailed that the new product will be introduced to work alongside its existing Legal Expenses offering that covers both before-the-event (BTE) and after-the-event (ATE) Legal Expenses insurance. It will be launched on 15 May at the Biba conference in Manchester.
Aston Lark Group Chief Executive Officer Peter Blanc has confirmed that the business is close to agreeing a deal with a new private equity backer. Insurance Insider reported that the bidders are Abry, Centerbridge and Goldman Sachs. Blanc stated in January this year that Aston Lark was looking for a change in private equity owners and a week later he confirmed that the Broker had employed Macquarie and Livingstone to help generate more investment.
The Association of Consumer Support Organisations (ACSO) has urged MPs on the House of Commons Justice Select Committee to lobby the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to give more details about the development of the small claims portal. The trade body, which was formed in March this year with the aim to “de-toxify the compensation culture”, explained that the portal is due to be launched in April 2020. The small claims portal is being funded by Insurers and overseen by the MoJ, with ministers believing it will bring down costs and make it easier for people with minor injuries to make a claim without needing legal help.
AXA is becoming Liverpool Football Club’s (LFC) official training kit partner for season 2019-2020. This partnership is cemented in AXA’s new brand promise: Know You Can. Thomas Buberl CEO of AXA commented: “We’re excited by this new important step in our partnership with Liverpool that started in 2018. To have the AXA logo feature on the Liverpool training kit is a great symbol of our strong ambition to strengthen the AXA brand awareness globally. By building on our similar values and vision with Liverpool, we will also be able to better spread our new promise to our customers on self-belief with the tagline: Know You Can.”
A woman has been sentenced after she lied about her personal car being stolen to make a fraudulent insurance claim. She was a serving Metropolitan police officer at the time of her offence. On Friday 26th April 2019, Maisie Edmonds, 25, of Staines-Upon-Thames, Surrey, pleaded guilty at Hendon Magistrates Court. She was sentenced to a 10 week curfew from 9pm-6am and ordered to pay a £400 fine, as well as £80 in court costs. The City of London Police’s Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department (IFED), which led on the investigation, established that Edmonds reported her BMW as stolen to the Met’s Ealing Broadway police station in May 2017. She claimed it had been stolen while she was on duty. A day later, she contacted her Insurer and stated that when the car was stolen, she was in possession of the two key fobs which belonged to the car.
In 2018, Aviva added their core personal lines products on to their award-winning digital trading platform, Fast Trade. The move was part of their continued commitment to support independent and regional Brokers by providing a simple, convenient, straightforward and alternative way to trade personal lines with Aviva. Since launch, over 1,300 brokers have accessed the platform to provide personal lines cover to more than 2,000 customers. Brokers benefit from accessing Aviva’s best possible prices on Fast Trade thanks to savings made in transaction fees and print costs being passed back on to the customer. They can also access Aviva’s expert Underwriters through Live Chat and instantly download or share documents across Aviva’s commercial and personal lines digital offering, all in one place.
In further news.... Aviva has pledged to donate to SocialBox.Biz’s “Laptops for the Homeless” initiative to help disadvantaged people gain access to digital services. A community interest venture in London, SocialBox.Biz provides old computers to those in accommodation services, young people in the care system, as well as the likes of refugees. It works with accommodation and charitable organisations to ensure that laptop handovers occur within facilities that have suitable services like an internet connection. “Digital access is such an integral part of modern society,” noted SocialBox.Biz founder Peter Paduh. “It’s almost impossible to apply for a job or connect with a loved one without technology today, so SocialBox. Biz is working to do something about it."
Conceptual artist Kevin Abosch created a digital work, Forever Rose, which he sold to a collective of ten investors for cryptocurrency valued at $1 million. Every buyer received one tenth of the virtual rose as a token on a blockchain. The token is theirs to keep, sell, or give as a gift. Kevin Abosch is one of a number of conceptual artists who are exploring the potential of blockchain in the art world. He previously created a physical and virtual work, IAMA Coin, which involved him having some of his blood imprinted as a blockchain address, effectively turning his blood into a crypto-currency. For buyers and sellers of art, a secure blockchain registry can give greater transparency and an immutable record of the provenance and ownership history of a work of art. However, the blockchain is only as robust as the data that is entered into it. This means that for blockchain to truly gain traction in the art world, the records need to be expanded and for more dealers, auction houses and art data providers to become involved. The potential for an immutable trail of a work’s provenance provides a massive opportunity to get greater clarity during the claims process if a work is stolen or damaged.
It is with great sadness the Directors of H.W.Wood Ltd advise that Hugh W. Wood, Chairman and Founder of HW International, passed away peacefully on April 26th, 2019. Hugh Wood founded the HW International Group and grew the insurance brokerage business to having offices in 10 countries. He was also an accomplished and world-renowned Philatelist. The business and stamps were his passion. Those who worked or interacted with him will know what a brilliant mind and strong character he was.
The parties in the ongoing legal dispute between Gallagher and Ardonagh returned to the Royal Courts of Justice yesterday, as the court heard closing statements from two of the defendants. The hearing revolves around an alleged conspiracy to poach employees from Gallagher-owned Alesco carried out by Bishopsgate, which is part of the Ardonagh group. The case centres around four employees who left Alesco in 2017, namely Nawaf Hasan, Peter Burton, Gerard Maginn and James Brewins. Hasan and Burton are named individually as defendants in the case.
Bristol-based Hayes Parsons Insurance Brokers has teamed up with Genasys Technologies on a digital transformation programme. South African software house Genasys launched in the UK in March last year and Hayes Parsons stated that it will now migrate its schemes products onto the firm’s Ski platform.
RSA UK has developed its Global Risk Solutions division to focus on five key areas. The provider said it would highlight Rail, Chemical, Food and Beverage, Real Estate and Renewables – cover areas where RSA already has strong expertise and a broad risk appetite. The practice’s leads will be responsible for proposition development and marketing, managing key customer and associated Broker relationships and for overall profitability and growth of the practice.
In other news.... The first quarter results continues with the trading update from RSA Insurance Group Plc. With Solvency II coverage ratio of 164% on March 31, the group reported tangible shareholders’ equity and tangible net asset value per share of £2.9 billion and 279 pence, respectively. In terms of profitability, RSA cited higher operating profit at constant currency without revealing the actual figure for the first three months of the year. As for underwriting profit, it stated: “Group weather costs were 3.2% of net earned premiums. This was 1.9 points lower than Q1 2018 and in line with the five-year average. Weather costs were significantly higher than prior year in Canada but lower in the UK & International (UK&I) division.” RSA added that, thanks to better results in the UK, its large loss ratio improved to 8.5% from 9.7% in the first quarter of 2018. Attritional loss ratio, meanwhile, was only slightly better compared to that of the previous year.
Insurance comparison technology specialist i-Wonder has launched two products for Gap and Warranty insurance. The provider detailed that the websites will allow customers to compare quotes and buy insurance online. It also stated that i-Wonder has obtained the backing of one of the UK’s top four insurance comparison websites for launch and is working with a number of leading providers of Gap and Warranty insurance.
According to a recent AON Political Risk and Terrorism report, 80% of all terrorism incidents in 2017 targeted businesses. That’s a worrying statistic for both business owners and governments, but one that Geoff Stilwell, CEO and Managing Director of Beech Underwriting, believes isn’t as relevant in the United Kingdom. Stilwell says this because of a simple differentiator that the UK has that many European countries do not: surveillance culture. On average, we are caught on camera around 70 times per day; by one of the 1.85 million CCTV cameras around the UK, 500,000 which are in London alone, and which the government spends approximately £2.2 billion on each year.
Global reinsurance giant Munich Re has taken a near 25% hit to its net profit in the first quarter (Q1) of 2019, bringing in €633 million (about £545 million), down from €827 million (about £712 million) in the same period last year. The firm has attributed the drop to “higher basic losses and greater expenditure for claims from previous years,” battering its bottom line. It had to pay out €267 million for losses from Typhoon Jebi, which struck Japan in September last year, causing 11 deaths. This was the largest expenditure for major losses in the quarter, which amounted to €479 million, up from €62 million the year prior.
Smaller Central and Eastern European insurance companies that are facing difficulties are possible acquisition targets for Italian giant Generali. As outlined in the multinational Insurer’s previously announced growth acceleration plan, one key focus is Europe where Generali is the third largest among its peers. Now group Chief Executive Philippe Donnet has pointed to small- and medium-sized firms contending with regulatory woes and business diversification challenges as potential prospects in Generali’s bid to reinforce its regional presence.
It’s now officially a done deal between DARAG Group Limited and DONAU Versicherung AG, whose Italian non-life portfolio has been transferred to the legacy acquirer. The transfer was completed after being given the consent of the Italian insurance regulator, Istituto per la Vigilanza sulle Assicurazioni, following the green light for the acquisition from the Austrian financial authority, Finanzmarktaufsicht. As part of the swoop, DONAU’s Italian employees and intermediaries have now come onboard DARAG Group’s Italian entity DARAG Italia S.p.A. In addition, the transaction is treated as a going concern transfer from DONAU into DARAG Italia.
The Bermuda-headquartered specialist Insurer Hiscox Ltd said its gross written premium (GWP) reached US$1.2 billion in the three months ended March 31. In nominal terms, the figure represents a 0.6% increase; at constant currency, 3.3%. Broken down into units, both Hiscox Retail and Hiscox London Market registered higher GWP figures – at US$593.3 million and US$228.6 million, respectively – for the period. Hiscox Re & ILS, on the other hand, posted a 5.6% nominal decline to US$342.8 million. Under the retail operations, the biggest growth in GWP came from Hiscox Asia, which saw a 37.8% jump to US$8.8 million.
American International Group (AIG) has released its financial results for the first quarter of 2019 and it looks like the global Insurer’s major turnaround in general insurance was not enough to sustain the same level of overall net income from last year. For the three months ended March 31, the group reported a lower net income of US$654 million compared to the US$938 million enjoyed by AIG in the same period in 2018. This was despite the massive result from the general insurance operations, which posted an underwriting income of US$179 million in 2019 after suffering last year’s US$251 million underwriting loss.
Deepfakes are fake videos or audio recordings that are made to look and sound authentic with the aid of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Deepfake technology is readily available and is rapidly improving. Pretty much anyone can create a deepfake to promote their chosen agenda, making it a dangerous tool if used maliciously. To this point, deepfakes have been most prevalent in the realm of amateur hobbyists. Deepfake technology can be used to misinform the public about an event or manipulate shareholders in a corporate context. If a cyber criminal used deepfake technology to manipulate a corporate earnings video, which was posted publicly on YouTube, and that spoof video then led to a stock crash for the company – how would the Cyber insurance market respond? John Farley, Managing Director, Cyber Practice Group Leader at Gallagher commented “A situation like that might not be covered because many Cyber insurance policies require certain triggers before coverage kicks in... A policy might require a network penetration or a cyberattack before it provides coverage, but in this case, all that’s happened is a manipulation of an existing video that’s already out in the public. It’s not like the client was attacked, so the Cyber insurance policy might not cover that harm or that damage.” When it comes to deepfake videos, it’s almost impossible to take complete preventative action. What companies can do is learn about the risk and try to mitigate any damage as quickly as possible. Farley explained: “When it does happen, people need to recognise it immediately and take that video offline as quickly as possible. I’m looking at ways to get ready for this threat and I’ve been building relationships with vendors who focus on that mitigation space. As this threat evolves, it’s crucial for all good Cyber insurance Brokers to think about new ways clients can be covered for the risk.”
Market Movers and Shakers
Brightside Group has confirmed that Mark Cliff has left his Non-Executive Director role at the Broker. He was Chief Executive Officer of Brightside until he stepped down in July 2018 and in August the CEO role was taken over by former Axa boss Brendan McCafferty. Cliff had been with Brightside since May 2015, originally as Executive Chairman before moving to become CEO in September of that year.
Well-known insurance figure Lloyd Hanks has re-joined the board of Apricot Insurance Services as Non-Executive Director. Commenting on the move, Hanks said: “It’s great to be working with the team again in Belfast. Whilst day to day business is taken care of by Stephen McCann, Operations Manager and his team, I will be working with the Insurer panel on relationships and strategic opportunities, building sustainable profitable business.”
Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM), part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, has appointed Gavin Coley to the role of Claims Manager - Energy, Property and Construction (EPC). Based in the business’s London office, Gavin takes up his role with immediate effect. He is responsible for managing the Energy, Property and Construction claims team, reporting to James Side, LSM Head of Specialty Claims. Mike Gillett, Liberty Specialty Markets, Chief Claims Officer, said: “I am delighted that Gavin has joined the LSM claims team to manage our Energy, Property and Construction portfolio. I believe that Gavin’s experience and capability, aligned to the outstanding team he inherits, will continue to develop our EPC claims proposition in a manner that fully supports our ambition in that area.”
CLS Risk Solutions, a leading MGA for Legal Indemnity and Transactional Property Risk Solutions, has announced the appointments of a new Business Development Director and Business Development Manager. Amanda Armitage has been appointed Business Development Director. She joins from the Broker Light & Legal Indemnity Solutions, where she was an Associate Director and before that, she was a Business Development Manager for the UK and Europe at Stewart Title. She has 17 years of sales and Business Development experience, specialising in the complex Legal Indemnities market for the past 10 years. Michael Grimwood, Cert CII, has been appointed Business Development Manager. He joins from Zurich where he had various roles across business development and underwriting.
There’s a new man at the helm at Hannover Re. Ulrich Wallin stepped down as Chief Executive of the major reinsurer at the end of this week's annual general meeting (8th May). This saw Swiss Re alumnus Jean-Jacques Henchoz assume the CEO post. Meanwhile a new supervisory board chairman, Torsten Leue, has been elected, replacing Herbert Haas who will continue to serve as a supervisory board member along with the existing line-up and new member Michael Ollmann. The latter succeeds Immo Querner who has left the supervisory board.
Talbot Group has recruited former Marsh Vice Chairman David Batchelor to serve as Non-Executive Chair. The Lloyd’s of London insurance and reinsurance specialist, which last year became part of American International Group (AIG) through the purchase of Validus Holdings, is saying goodbye to Founder and Chairman Rupert Atkin who is stepping down after 28 years at Talbot. Meanwhile Batchelor, who also served as President of Marsh’s international division, spent 17 years at the Broking heavyweight before retiring earlier this year. His appointment at the AIG subsidiary is effective following regulatory and Lloyd’s approval.
Commercial Property insurance expert Richard Montminy, whose experience spans over three decades and both underwriting and broking, is joining specialist insurer Beazley. Effective May 20, Montminy will come onboard the company’s executive committee in his capacity as Global Head of the Property division. Reporting to Chief Underwriting Officer Adrian Cox, he will be in charge of developing Beazley’s global Property strategy and will lead Property teams based across the US, the UK including at Lloyd’s of London and Singapore. Montminy, who previously spent 17 years at Marsh USA, is making the switch from Zurich North America where he was Head of Property for US Commercial Insurance.
EC3 Brokers has snapped up James Murphy from Integro to serve in a newly created role. Appointed as the first-ever Head of Broking at the commercial lines Lloyd’s broker, Murphy will be in charge of expanding marketing activities and developing new partnerships. He came onboard on May 01. The new broking head brings nearly three decades of London market experience, which began at Nelson Hurst & Marsh in 1990. His expertise includes servicing wholesale broker portfolios and placing business for UK and international clients.
Legal & General has announced that Darren Prior has been promoted to Head of Broker in its General Insurance (GI) division. In his new role Prior will be responsible for setting distribution strategies, developing and delivering new product offerings while managing sales teams and accounts across multiple sectors: Broker, Corporate, Affinity and Bank and Building Society. Prior joined L&G in 2016 when he became an Insurance Account Manager and oversaw important Broker/partner relationships involved in the Broker channel.
“Set for demerger” is how Prudential Plc describes the board composition of its UK and European savings and investments business M&GPrudential, which has appointed an additional Non-Executive Director (NED) tasked with chairing the audit committee. With the arrival of PricewaterhouseCoopers veteran Clare Thompson, M&GPrudential’s roster of board members is now finalised in time for the firm’s imminent split with its parent company. In March three NEDs joined the line-up.
All information provided in this Market Digest has been gathered from multiple General Insurance Media sources and individual company press releases.
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Famous Authors with Absolutely Shocking Beliefs
These writers were either exactly like their reputation, or exactly the opposite.
By Ryan Britt
Filed Under History, Politics & Robots
When we fall in love with a novel, we sometimes believe we come to know its author just by reading the book. From reading the Harry Potter novels one can easily conclude that its author — J.K. Rowling — is intolerant of oppression, politically progressive, a strong believer in diversity, and most certainly, British. All of these things about Rowling are overwhelmingly true, though if we found out she hated children, we’d probably be totally scandalized. (She doesn’t, thankfully).
Similarly, if you read Robert A. Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land you might erroneously assume the author was a free-love hippie, when in fact, Heinlein’s libertarian and conservative views couldn’t be further from the tone of that particular novel. With Robert Heinlein and Stranger in a Strange Land, it’s almost as if the novel’s free-love protagonist offers a mirror image to the novelist — it’s Dr. Jekyll to a Mr. Hyde, say — something that is true of other writers on this list. Here are six super-famous writers with beliefs that are either inversions of their literary reputations, or just straight-up fascinating.
Philip K. Dick Thought He Was a Robot and, Also, the Spirit of Elijah
Okay, so this one isn’t too shocking. In addition to believing he was contacted by intelligences from beyond, the prolific and visionary sci-fi writer Philip K. Dick also toyed with the idea that he may, in fact, have been a robot. While the events of many of his novels (notably Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?) certainly check with this passing fancy of Dick’s, he also flirted with the idea that he was possessed by the spirit of the biblical prophet Elijah. So, next time you’re at a Seder, ask if you can leave something out for Philip K. Dick and see if anyone gets it.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Believed in Fairies
In Conan Doyle’s short story “The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire” the protagonist — the great Sherlock Holmes — says, “This Agency stands flat-footed upon the ground and there it must remain. The world is big enough for us. No ghost need apply.” Throughout the 56 short stories and four novels chronicling the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, never once does the stoic detective flirt with a belief in the supernatural or paranormal. And yet, late in his life, the creator of the uber-rational Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself, asserted frequently that he had seen fairies and other supernatural creatures. Perhaps when Conan Doyle attempted to kill off Sherlock Holmes, he was attempting to destroy his rational side to have more fun with fairy thoughts. Either that, or fairies are totally real.
Anne Rice Found God
The author of Interview With the Vampire briefly became extremely pious, and even authored Christian texts (including her novel Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt). While the steamy and grotesque nature of her vampire books seems to be in stark opposition to traditional Christianity, as of 2010, Anne Rice maintains that she is still “committed to Christ.” But to be clear, Rice did officially leave the Catholic Church because she felt that being a “Christian,” was “quarrelsome” and “hostile.” It’s unclear if there are any parallels between her feelings about quarrelsome religious folks and the frequently quarrelsome vampire, Lestat.
James Joyce Thought Radio Controlled the Weather
In Sylvia Beach’s excellent memoir, Shakespeare and Company, the publisher and proprietor of the famous Parisian bookstore recounts her fascinating dealings with the late author of Ulysses, James Joyce. One interesting tidbit was Joyce’s growing impatience with the rise of radios in culture. Specifically, Joyce thought there was obviously some kind of correlation between the surge of radios use and rainstorms in France. Climate change deniers, take that! Or actually, don’t. Let James Joyce have it.
INVERSE LOOT DEALS
This is the pillow you'll thank god you have this summer.
Hemingway Wanted to Work for the KGB
While this one is disputed, there is some indication that Ernest Hemingway was recruited by the KGB in 1941 and that he was a secret agent named “Argo.” The only problem is that apparently Hemingway was really bad at being a double agent — assuming he really wanted to be one — as he never really supplied the KGB with any good intelligence. While we tend to think of Hemingway as an American man of his time (as he’s portrayed in Midnight in Paris), his real-life political leanings were certainly all over the place. While it might be surprising that Hemingway had communist beliefs in the ‘40s, it’s not totally implausible.
Stephen King Hates Adverbs
Stephen King may be the undisputed master of horror, but there’s only one thing truly fears: adverbs. King maintains that adverbs were created with “the timid writer in mind.” He may be an extremely creative guy, but I don’t want to even think about how many grotesque and sickening adverbs I’ve overzealously employed to get my points across throughout the years.
Media via Baker Street Journal, NPR, New York Public Library, Wikipedia, American Library Association
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Piper betle
Common name: Betel pepper
Other common names: Betel, Betel vine
Names in non-English languages: Philippines Ikmo × India Pan, Paan × Thailand Phluu, Phulu × German Betelpfeffer × China Ju jiang, Tu bi ba, Tu wei teng, Wei zi, Wei ye, Da feng teng ×
Pan, Paan × Phluu, Phulu × Betelpfeffer × Ju jiang, Tu bi ba, Tu wei teng, Wei zi, Wei ye, Da feng teng ×
Betel Pepper is a perennial vine related to Black Pepper (Piper Nigrum) and originates in India and Southeast Asia, where it is cultivated for its leaves, these being used to wrap various ingredients into parcels for chewing.
It is a shade-loving vine, preferring filtered sunlight and when young is made up of fleshy, herbaceous stems with aerial roots that arise at nodes along the length, enabling it to climb vertical structures such as tree trunks. Over time, the stem becomes woody, with herbaceous growth being then limited to new growth branching off the main vine, which under ideal conditions can attain a length of up to 15 m (45 ft).
Leaves heart-shaped, 10 to 18 cm (4 to 7 in) long, on top dark glossy green and prominently ribbed, underneath pale green. They are alternately arranged along the stems.
Flowers small and insignificant, white and either female or male on separate plants, held on cylindrical spikes arising at the leaf base. They bloom on and off throughout the year, followed by small, fleshy, green fruit, the fruiting spike somewhat resembling a mulberry.
Betel Pepper leaves are widely used as a wrapping for chewable parcels in India, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The ingredients wrapped in the leaves varies by region but mostly include thin slivers of Betel Nut (Areca catechu) together with spices. These parcels are then chewed as a stimulant and appetite suppressant.
In India, the leaves are also commonly used for wrapping chewable parcels without Betel Nut, known as 'Sweet Paan', containing ingredients such as Coconut (Cocos nucifera), Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), Clove (Syzygium aromaticum), raisins, glazed cherries and gulkand, a sweet Indian preserve of rose petals. Sweet Paan is consumed as an after-meal digestive and is common street vendor fare in India.
Betel Pepper leaves yield on steam distillation about 1% of a bright yellow to brown essential oil traded as 'Paan oil' or 'Betel leaf oil'. It has a warm, bitter, biting and unpleasantly sharp taste and due to a high phenol content, of up to 75%, has a sickeningly sweet and tarry aroma. It use is mostly limited to medicines, breath fresheners and oral hygiene products such as mouth-washes. It is also reputedly used as a flavouring in Paan liqueur, a traditional Indian liqueur distilled using betel leaf, nuts, dried fruits and spices.
Betel leaf oil oxidises on contact with iron, becoming discoloured, and must be stored and transported in either glass or stainless steel containers.
Grows naturally in humid subtropical and tropical climates, generally areas with annual lows of 19 to 25 °C, annual highs of 27 to 35 °C, annual rainfall of 1300 to 5000 mm and a dry season of 4 months or less.
Betel Pepper is also cultivated with irrigation and shade in dry areas, such as in Thanjavur, in Tamil Nadu, India which receives only 940 mm annual rainfall and has a dry season lasting up to 7 months.
Only male plants are cultivated, as female plants lack vigour and are susceptible to disease. Fertile seed are therefore not readily available and new plants are usually started from cuttings of six to eight nodes taken from two-year-old plants.
Performs best on free-draining clay-loam, loam and sandy-loam soils enriched with well-rotted manure and adjusted to a moderately acid to neutral pH, generally in the 5.5 to 7.5 range. Planting sites need light shading and staking or trellising is essential for good vine growth and leaf production. Betel Pepper vines have poor tolerance slow-draining, waterlogged and saline-alkaline soils.
Problem features
Betel Pepper is recorded as a weed in at least one reference publication but not as a serious weed or invasive species. It is only likely to become a serious weed if male and female plants are grown together.
Where it will grow
With irrigation or groundwater
Adams, C. D. 1972, Flowering plants of Jamaica, University of the West Indies, Mona, Greater Kingston
Arctander, S. 1960, Perfume and flavor materials of natural origin, Elizabeth, New Jersey
Chevallier, A. 2000, Encyclopedia of herbal medicine, 2nd American ed., Dorling Kindersley, New York
Griffiths, M. & Burras, J. K. 1994, Manual of climbers and wall plants, Royal Horticultural Society (Great Britain), Timber Press, Portland, Oregon
Jacquat, C. & Bertossa, G. 1990, Plants from the markets of Thailand : descriptions and uses of 241 wild and cultivated plants, with 341 colour photographs, Editions Duang Kamol, Bangkok
Macmillan, H. F. 1943, Tropical planting and gardening : with special reference to Ceylon, 5th ed, Macmillan Publishing, London
Murty, A.J.S., Samba, S. & Subrahmanyam, N.S. 1989, A Textbook of Economic Botany, Wiley Eastern Limited, New Delhi
Oyen, L. P. A. & Nguyen X. D. 1999, Plant Resources of South-East Asia (PROSEA) 19 : Essential-oil plants, Backhuys Publishers, Leiden
Randall, R. P. 2002, A global compendium of weeds, R.G. and F.J. Richardson Press, Melbourne
Stewart, A. 2013, The drunken botanist : the plants that create the world's great drinks, 1st ed., Algonquin Books, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Weiss, E. A 2002, Spice crops, CABI Publishing, Wallingford, United Kingdom
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Investors (En)
Opportunities at Ipsos
Ipsos MRBI/JNLR 2019/01 Summary Results
The latest JNLR/Ipsos MRBI report into radio listening is published today (2nd May 2018). It covers the 12-month period from April 2018 to March 2019
The latest JNLR/Ipsos MRBI report into radio listening is published today (2nd May 2018). It covers the 12-month period from April 2018 to March 2019.
The latest results show more than 3.16 million listeners (15+) tune into radio every weekday – that is daily radio listening at 82% of all adults.
A total of c16,900 people were interviewed during the survey period by Ipsos MRBI, on behalf of JNLR - Joint National Listenership Research - that is commissioned by all national, regional and local stations, BAI, AAI, and IAPI.
The following tables show the key, top-line results from the ‘week-day’ report for the main radio stations at National level, within Dublin and Cork counties, and the South East, South West, North West, North East/Midlands, Multi-city and Dublin Commuter regions. (See p.11).
While Tables 1-4 show the proportion of adults tuning into the stations at some time during the day, the depth of listening or loyalty to various stations is best reflected in the share of listening achieved by each station, as shown in Tables 5-8, whilst Table 9 provides information on the Local Stations in each licensed franchise area.
A large majority of Irish adults - 82% (-1) - listen to the radio on an average day. More than half, 57% (=) tune into their local or regional station and 44% (=) listen to a national station. Among the younger, 15 to 34-year market, 76% (-1) listen daily.
Irish radio audiences continue to listen to a significant amount of radio everyday
– tuning in, on average, for almost 4 hours per day during the prime 7am to 7pm time (Irish Adults listening Mon-Fri). In terms of share of all minutes listened in the country, National Radio currently has 45.2% share (=) of all minutes while Local/Regional Radio holds the majority share position with 54.8% (=) in this reporting period.
Across the various regional areas throughout the country, National Radio holds the majority share position in Dublin (52.7%) and the greater Dublin Commuter belt (53.3%) while Local/regional radio is in the majority in the other regions throughout the country, in particular, achieving its highest share position in Cork (64.7%) and in the North West (61.2%) Regions. (See T5).
Among the younger, 15-34, audience in the country Local/regional Radio is in the majority share position achieving a combined share of minutes of 64.8% (+0.2%) versus 35.2% (-0.2%) for National Radio. In particular, the local/regional group holds its strongest share position among this age cohort in Dublin (72.2%), in the Dublin Commuter region (70.2%) and in Cork (70.6%).
Among the older 35+ age segment, Local/Regional radio is slightly ahead in terms of share of all minutes listened, 52.0% (=) compared to National radio. However, in regional markets among this age group, National Radio holds the majority share in Dublin (60.1%), the Dublin Commuter region (60.3%), the Multi-city area (51.4%) and the North East & Midlands area (52.1%). (See T8).
Local radio continues to perform strongly in the local radio markets across the country – in many areas reaching more than 40% of the local adult population daily. In particular, on the criterion of share of minutes listened during prime 7am to 7pm, Highland Radio and MWR hold the majority share position (50%+) in their respective franchise areas. (T9).
The population estimates in this report are based on Labour Force Survey estimates
2018 provided by the CSO.
(See pg 12 for definition of radio broadcast regions).
More insights about Media & Entertainment
Ipsos MRBI/JNLR 2018/4 Summary Results
The latest JNLR/Ipsos MRBI report into radio listening is published today (7th February 2018). It covers the 12-month period from January to December 2018.
Social Messaging Tracker - June 2018
Social Networking Tracker - June 2018
[EVENT] Europe launch of Global Business Influencers 2018
September 25 - Global Business Influencers make business decisions worth trillions of dollars and wield significant power when it comes to deciding how to manage and spend their personal wealth, representing the key to profitability for many industries, including B2B, finance, luxury, travel and others.
JNLR
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Donnacha Dennehy (Photo: Britt Olsen-Ecker)
‘It has been this burst of energy’: An Interview with Donnacha Dennehy
Next week at the Cork Midsummer Festival, Sō Percussion will give the European premiere of Donnacha Dennehy’s ‘Broken Unison’, a co-commission between Carnegie Hall and Cork Opera House. The Journal of Music spoke to the Irish composer, who now lives in the States, about his music, his life in America and what drives his work.
In 2014, Donnacha Dennehy left Ireland to become Associate Professor of Music at Princeton University in New Jersey. He had been a guest lecturer and scholar in Princeton in 2012, and then returned to Ireland, but a position opened up after the departure of composer Paul Lansky, and Dennehy went for the job. He was, up to that point, a lecturer in music in Trinity College Dublin, and headed up the new MPhil in Music and Media Technology. He had also recently ended his tenure as Artistic Director of the pioneering new music group Crash Ensemble.
In the years he was in Ireland, Dennehy’s impact on the music scene was far-reaching. For 15 years he was at the heart of Crash, bringing a new style to the performance and promotion of contemporary music, organising festivals, premiering international work, commissioning and encouraging new composers, and, in tandem, he wrote his own ground-breaking works such as Junk Box Fraud, Glamour Sleeper, Grá agus Bás and Bulb. Since 2014, he has been just as productive, premiering two operas, The Last Hotel and The Second Violinist, which will be followed this autumn with his latest dramatic work The Hunger at the Abbey. Next week, his new percussion work Broken Unison will be given its European premiere in Cork.
When the Journal of Music spoke to Dennehy, he had just attended the premiere of one of his works at the LA Philharmonic’s Noon to Midnight Festival on 1 June. Overcasting, commissioned by the orchestra and played by seventeen of its musicians, was conducted by renowned composer John Adams.
‘That day was extraordinary,’ Dennehy says. ‘It was non-stop new music, mainly from all over America. … At times, there were three concerts at the same time; it was just packed with these extraordinary ensembles, and young composers… it’s such an energetic ecosystem here.’
Living in the US, not far from New York, has been particularly inspiring for the composer, for a range of reasons:
It has been this burst of energy. I have been incredibly productive in the time that I’ve been here. That might be practical as much as anything. The way the educational system is here, they allow professors more time for their work. … And I’m not involved anymore in the day to day running of Crash Ensemble – which was a great thing, I used to love it – but of course, that consumes time.
Impatient to get things done
When Dennehy started Crash in 1997 in Dublin, with conductor Andrew Synott and clarinettist Michael Seaver, he was ‘pretty ambitious for it’ and even ‘stupidly idealistic’, but that idealism was essential: ‘I wanted to open up a whole new way of presenting music in Ireland and a whole new kind of repertoire.’
Since his teenage years, Dennehy had had a romantic idea of new music groups in New York and Amsterdam, and wanted to create something similar in Ireland. Following studies in the States and the Netherlands, he came back to Dublin, began teaching in Trinity, and founded the ensemble.
I was impatient to get things done. I also wanted an outlet for my own work. I always had a strange relationship to the traditional institutions. I wasn’t so sure I was ready to depend on them, or wanted to.
We also had this great opportunity. There were so many people in those early days who gave so much to the group as well…. It was exciting. I can’t lie. I feel happy that we did that and I feel really happy that it is still firing on all cylinders.
Crash concerts were different from the start and attracted a diverse audience to contemporary music. ‘At the early concerts,’ according to a review by Barra Ó Séaghdha in the Journal of Music in 2004, ‘there were striking numbers of young people whose CD collections would certainly range well outside the classical sphere. With the blacking out of the theatre between pieces and the musicians’ informal dress-style, the atmosphere was more gig than concert.’
Early festivals organised by Crash included Up North!, a focus on Nordic countries that included the premiere of Glamour Sleeper, and an event featuring musicians from Bang on a Can. Crash also launched the annual concert ‘Free State’ which premiered new work by young composers (including Andrew Hamilton’s Music for People Who Like Art). In 2006, Dennehy was Artistic Director of the RTÉ Living Music Festival, which invited Steve Reich for the weekend and this became a significant milestone for the burgeoning scene. In Crash’s first decade, it performed almost 80 concerts. Discussing their achievements in the Journal of Music in 2007, the composer John McLachlan wrote that Crash ‘have pushed the contemporary music culture in Ireland in a direction that it simply wasn’t going heretofore…’.
Through the night
Most recently, Crash, of which Dennehy is still an Artistic Partner, have released a recording of his opera The Last Hotel, presented a successful concert of music related to skateboarding, and, for their twentieth year, they performed twenty new commissions.
By 2012, however, Dennehy felt it was time to do something different.
I felt that it was time to give it to somebody else. And I’m thrilled with what Kate [cellist Kate Ellis, the Artistic Director since 2012] is doing with Crash. The level of what they do now is just phenomenal, how active they are. And also the breadth of things that they’re involved in. She’s opened up Crash’s aesthetic to things from the indie scene which I really don’t know about.
He feels that if he had continued directing Crash there would be a danger of him repeating himself. ‘It was time for others. For me, there was a choice there. I think also, for my music, I just needed more time to do it. I really did.’
Up until then, Dennehy had been balancing his own work with lecturing and being in charge of the ensemble. ‘I wrote almost through the night,’ he remembers. ‘I worked at a ferocious pace. After a while you need some sleep.’
There’s nowhere else
Dennehy keeps an eye on the Irish scene, as much as he can, and finds the amount of music activity extraordinary given the country’s small size and the levels of public funding available to music.
In Ireland, it’s still a shame that there isn’t the proper European level of funding for the arts and music in particular. … What Ireland is great at is making our own ensembles and collectives, and there’s a great energy that comes out of that – I really believe in that, that’s what I was doing. But then there’s nowhere else. If you want to do really big works, that’s much harder. And that’s a shame, I think.
But what would a better resourced Irish music scene look like?
There’s no way that [Ireland] can pretend it is going to have the American system looking for private donors, because that’s all deeply connected with their tax code, and what they can write off…. I would never compare to the UK because I think it’s an outlier in the European sense…. I would look at other European countries like Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands.
The trick, says the composer, is to get the right balance between the old and the new.
The downside of infrastructure is that you can have all this money going into just preserving old art. You don’t want that, and that can be a problem in many of the larger European countries. But if you can avoid that trap, and have these bigger institutions also feeling passionate about new work… then that would be a great thing.
Knife-edge climaxes
Along with The Hunger (which Dennehy calls a ‘docu-cantata’ – it features, among many components, a video interview with Noam Chomsky about the Irish famine) and Broken Unison, other recent work by him includes The Weather of it (2016) for string quartet, a co-commission for Wigmore Hall and Carnegie Hall; Tessellatum (2015) for violist Nadia Sirota and viola da gamba player Liam Byrne; and Strange Folk (2018), commissioned by Princeton.
Dennehy’s work is often characterised by knife-edge climaxes at the end of his pieces which sustain, often employing microtones and creating this incredible tension. Broken Unison has elements of this, but is he quite conscious of this element of his work?
I think it’s in me. There’s only so much you can be aware of, but I’m even struck myself when I listen to my pieces – that locking in, right on the cliff edge. I have a feeling for the long trajectory … [P]art of that long trajectory is that things build to this point, and then as you go towards the end you feel them accumulating.
Broken Unison is a virtuosic piece. It’s ‘super joyful’ from the start, says Dennehy, and in seven sections. ‘There’s a lot of canons in it and I consider them “broken unisons”.’ There’s optimism, too, but then as the players became unified towards the end it ‘darkens’. These dark endings, he says, may be intrinsic to his work.
I’m a very optimistic person, but the awful tragedy of life is that it is headed in one destination… I often think of time on two levels: I think of it as circular and rejuvenating, like the beauty of waking up on a lovely day… but there’s another rhythm that is destructive, and it’s the rhythm that affects all of us, which is towards death. I find it terrifying. I sometimes think of my writing music as a way of trying to deal with that.
Donnacha Dennehy’s Broken Unison will be performed by Sō Percussion at Cork Opera House on Tuesday 18 June as part of Cork Midsummer Festival. The programme also includes works by Vijay Iver, Suzanne Farrin, Caroline Shaw, Steve Reich, Jason Treuting and Dan Trueman. For tickets, visit www.corkoperahouse.ie.
David Keenan, Quatuor Mosaïques, Quiet Music Ensemble, Martin Hayes and Alexander Gavrylyuk for Kilkenny Arts Festival
Patrick Rafter and Michael McHale, Crash Ensemble, Mark and Marichka Marczyk, Michelle and Louise Mulcahy, and Irish Chamber Orchestra also performing this August.
Skating Around New Audiences
Crash Ensemble continue to reach out to new listeners, most recently in a concert dedicated to music related to skateboarding. Adrian Smith reviews the film and music event which featured new work by Sam Perkin and Jennifer Walshe.
Over 13 New Irish Works to be Premiered at New Music Dublin 2019
Kaija Saariaho and Louis Andriessen will be featured composers.
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Income Inequality and Erectile Dysfunction
You are here: Home / News / Sex Health Headlines / Income Inequality and Erectile Dysfunction
Men who earn less than their wives are about 10% more likely to take medication for erectile dysfunction (ED) than male breadwinners in the same age group, according to a study published last month in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
This finding held even after accounting for health factors, the researchers reported.
The researchers used two data sets from 1997 to 2006 to gather information on over 200,000 married couples in Denmark between the ages of 25 and 49. The first, the Integrated Database for Labor Market Research, provided annual demographic information. The second, the Danish Register of Medicinal Product Statistics, gave information on medical prescriptions.
It seems that a shift in income during the marriage played a key role in the results. “Men appear to suffer increased ED at precisely the point where wives start outearning them,” the authors wrote. In the study, the increase in ED medication prescriptions occurred even if the earnings difference was small. The increase grew as the income gap widened.
Men who married higher-earning women – and who were aware of the woman’s income going into the marriage – were not affected. Unmarried men who lived with breadwinning partners were also unaffected.
In addition, women with higher incomes than their husbands were more likely to take insomnia and anxiety medications. Husbands who earned less than their wives tended to take these medications more often than breadwinning men.
While the data suggest a link between marital income inequality and ED, it does not prove cause and effect.
In the United States, the percentage of women who outearn their husbands has risen from 4% to 22% over the past two decades. The situation is similar in other countries, the researchers say.
The authors expected the issue of ED and income inequality to be more prominent “in countries with stronger patriarchal norms.” Denmark is considered a progressive country in terms of women’s issues. “We can only imagine how much more severe these problems may be in countries where social norms of male breadwinners are uniform and primary to the family social construct,” they wrote.
The authors explained that they did not consider female breadwinners as “socially harmful.” They also noted that not all husbands will have the same response if their wives outearn them.
The researchers acknowledged that sexual problems could have many causes and that their “findings do not discount the importance of any of them.”
HealthDay via Everyday Health
Doheny, Kathleen
“If Wife Earns More, Husband's Sexual Performance May Suffer”
http://www.everydayhealth.com/erectile-dysfunction/if-wife-earns-more-husbands-sexual-performance-may-suffer.aspx
Pacific Standard
Jacobs, Tom
“The Physical Cost of Earning Less than Your Wife”
http://www.psmag.com/blogs/news-blog/viagra-erectile-dysfunction-ed-men-health-52386/
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Pierce, Lamar, et al.
“In Sickness and in Wealth – Psychological and Sexual Costs of Income Comparison in Marriage”
(Full-text. Published online before print: February 3, 2013)
http://psp.sagepub.com/content/39/3/359
(News release. February 8, 2013)
http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/24938.aspx
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You are at:Home»News»Construction»Caterpillar chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman retires
Caterpillar chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman retires
By Tom Stone on 28th October 2016 Construction, Personnel
After more than 41 years with Caterpillar Inc., chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman has elected to retire, effective March 31, 2017.
During his time as chairman and CEO, Oberhelman (left) has reinvigorated the company’s focus on serving customers while also driving a culture of quality and safety. Oberhelman led the company to its highest sales and revenue peak in its 91-year history in 2012, and, since that time, has successfully led the company through the unprecedented downturn affecting its key industries.
“Our people have heard me say many times that my greatest responsibility as chairman and CEO is to manage Caterpillar for today and position the company and its future leaders for long-term success,” Oberhelman said. “It has been an honor and a privilege to lead this company, and I am confident in the choice of my successor, Jim Umpleby.”
“During the last four years, Caterpillar has faced unprecedented global economic conditions that have significantly impacted the industries served by our customers, as those industries and economic growth in many regions around the world have slowed or severely contracted. Faced with these challenges, our employees have responded like champions.
“We have improved our market position and grown our field population. Our product quality is at historically high levels, and I believe we are leading the industry in digital capabilities. I am confident that Caterpillar is stronger than ever, with product quality, power, technology and innovation that is the envy of our competitors. Add to that lean and agile manufacturing capabilities and an unrivaled global distribution channel. The future is bright,” Oberhelman added.
The company’s board of directors elected Jim Umpleby (right), currently a Caterpillar Group President with responsibility for energy and transportation, to succeed Oberhelman as CEO. Umpleby, a 35-year veteran of the company, will join the Caterpillar board of directors and become CEO effective January 1, 2017.
“For more than 91 years, Caterpillar equipment has been renowned for its quality, durability, innovation and value,” Umpleby said. “I have been privileged to work with Caterpillar employees and dealers in supporting our customers as they develop the world’s infrastructure and improve standards of living and quality of life. I look forward to leading our dedicated team as we build upon the accomplishments of those that have come before us.”
Upon Oberhelman’s retirement, Dave Calhoun (left), a current member of the Caterpillar board, will assume the role of non-executive chairman of the board. Calhoun is senior managing director and head of private equity portfolio operations of The Blackstone Group L.P.
Ed Rust, former chairman and chief executive officer of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, and currently presiding director of the Caterpillar board, will remain on the board, but will no longer hold the title of presiding director once Calhoun assumes the role of non-executive chairman.
“The board has a robust, best-in-class succession planning process for the critical roles of chairman of the board and chief executive officer, as well as other top executive positions. One of our top priorities as a board is developing a strong pipeline of senior leaders. Discussions are held throughout each year, and today’s announcement is the result of these ongoing and deliberate board discussions,” Rust said.
“I am certain Jim will continue the superb leadership that is the hallmark of Caterpillar in the years to come. I especially want to thank Doug for his strong and outstanding leadership of the company throughout his tenure, particularly in the last four years, when the global economic environment has created unprecedented challenges for Caterpillar. We wish Doug all of the best for a successful retirement following a distinguished and successful 41-year career.”
Case machines help get Goodwood Festival of Speed ready
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THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, JULY-NOVEMBER 1917
<a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205213225" target="_blank"> <img src="https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/56/189/mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=Photographs" alt="THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, JULY-NOVEMBER 1917"> </a> <span> THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, JULY-NOVEMBER 1917 <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright">© IWM (Q 5732)</a> </span>
[url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205213225][img]https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/56/189/mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=Photographs[/img][/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205213225]THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, JULY-NOVEMBER 1917. © IWM (Q 5732)[/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright]IWM Non Commercial License[/url]
<a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205213225" target="_blank"> <img src="https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/559/9/mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=Photographs" alt="THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, JULY-NOVEMBER 1917"> </a> <span> THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, JULY-NOVEMBER 1917 <a href="https://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright">© IWM (Q 5732)</a> </span>
[url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205213225][img]https://media.iwm.org.uk/ciim5/559/9/mid_000000.jpg?action=e&cat=Photographs[/img][/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205213225]THE BATTLE OF PASSCHENDAELE, JULY-NOVEMBER 1917. © IWM (Q 5732)[/url] [url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/corporate/privacy-copyright]IWM Non Commercial License[/url]
A doctor dresses the wounds of Lieutenant Guy Vaughan Morgan of the 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards at a RAMC aid post during the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, 31 July 1917. Lieutenant Morgan is one of several men on stretchers.
British Army, Irish Guards
British Army, Irish Guards, 2nd Battalion
British Army, Royal Army Medical Corps
Battle of Pilckem 1917, Battles of Ypres 1917, Western Front, First World War
Pilkem, West Flanders, Belgium
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Jax Daily Record Monday, Apr. 3, 201712:00 PM EST
50 years ago: Comedian returns home to find safe cracked, $2,000 stolen
by: Daily Record Staff
Have you ever wondered what life was like in Jacksonville half a century ago? It was a different era of history, culture and politics but there are often parallels between the kind of stories that made headlines then and today. As interesting as the differences may be, so are the similarities. These are some of the top stories from this week in 1967. The items were compiled from the Jacksonville Public Library’s periodical archives by Staff Writer Max Marbut.
Vaudeville comedian Jimmie Edmondson, nationally known as “Professor Backwards,” reported that his Southside home at 3825 Harbor Drive was broken into and more than $2,000 was taken from a safe.
He said the money, including a coin collection he said was worth about $300 and what he called “business papers,” were missing from the safe in his bedroom closet.
Edmondson was at his summer home near Palatka during the burglary and said the theft was his second bit of bad luck in a week.
He had been scheduled to receive a $5,000 fee for his 25th appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, but his trip to New York City was canceled by a television production strike.
Edmondson’s act was writing upside down and backward and pronouncing words backward. In addition to Sullivan’s show, he was a regular on “The Tonight Show,” “The Merv Griffin Show,” “The Dean Martin Show” and “The Mike Douglas Show.”
Playgrounds get a boost; rhinos on way to zoo
Playgrounds, a pension fund, white rhinos and grazing cattle were on the City Commission’s agenda this week in 1967.
The commission voted to release $90,000 from the utilities tax for capital improvements at six playgrounds, with more money for other sites to come later.
The playgrounds were Lackawanna, Murray Hill, Boone Park, St. Nicholas, Ortega and Westside.
The advisory committee for the 1937 Employees’ Pension Fund told the commission an outside audit of the fund would be completed in about two weeks.
The fund’s net increase in 1966 over 1965 was $1.3 million and the balance at the end of 1966 was 4.48 times the amount of benefits paid during the year.
Commissioner George Carrison said two white rhinoceroses purchased for the Jacksonville Zoo would arrive in Mobile, Ala., within the week and would be ready for transport to Jacksonville.
He obtained approval for zoo consultant Raymond Gray to go to Mobile to “see if they are in good voice and so forth” and for other zoo employees to bring the animals to their new home in a city truck.
Cattle from the city’s agricultural farm would be permitted to graze on some of the property at the new Jacksonville International Airport, but they would have to be moved by the time the airport was scheduled to open in 1968 and the price would be higher than first thought.
A committee that discussed the idea with the Federal Aviation Agency said a $100 a year grazing fee was too small and recommended $4 an acre for the 150 acres, $600 a year.
The commission agreed to the fee and directed that the cattle be off the land before airplanes began arriving to prevent stray cattle on the runways.
More happenings
• Carrison also made news when he told the Meninak Club of Jacksonville the $11,500 annual salary paid to elected department heads in city government was too low to attract and retain effective leaders.
“The framers of the city’s charter thought it should be a part-time job for the official. Instead, it is a full-time job and it should pay three or four times what it does in order to interest the right individual. To get the people you want, you have to be willing to pay more,” he said.
• Federal quarantine officials said they averted a possible invasion by Khapra beetles, an insect that could severely damage the nation’s grain production.
Two holds of the motor vessel Audacity, which arrived in Jacksonville from Panama, were fumigated after its cargo was held up by quarantine law.
Charles Hall, inspector in charge of the Plant Quarantine Division of the U.S. Agriculture Department, said the insects were found during a routine inspection.
Vacation rental battle: Home rule should prevail
Nonprofit News: Comcast offers career advice to AmeriCorps
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HIE Leader Sizes Up Federal Guidance
Privacy, Security Recommendations Offer a Framework Jeffrey Roman (gen_sec) • June 13, 2012
New privacy and security guidance for federally funded health information exchanges provides a good framework, but the recommendations will need to be phased in over time, says Andrew VanZee, director of a statewide HIE initiative in Indiana.
"As long as you're continually working toward improving your infrastructure and general operations and policies, that goes a long way in trying to achieve what the intent of the guidance was," VanZee, statewide health IT director, says in an interview with Information Security Media Group's Howard Anderson (transcript below).
With five regional health information organizations already running HIEs, Indiana is one of the most advanced states when it comes to exchanging patient information among various organizations. VanZee heads efforts to link the five HIEs to pave the way for sharing data statewide.
The Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT recently issued privacy and security guidance to federally funded HIEs, including the statewide effort in Indiana. The guidance points out actions HIEs should be taking, such as using encryption and authentication, obtaining patient consent for data exchange and providing patients with access to their complete records (see HIEs Get Privacy, Security Guidance).
ONC provided the guidance to federally funded HIEs while it continues a long-term project effort to prepare a Nationwide Health Information Network Governance Rule. That rule, as proposed, would establish voluntary standards, including privacy and security guidelines, for HIEs and others (See: Voluntary HIE Rules: Early Reaction). ONC is accepting comments on the NwHIN Governance Rule concept through June 29.
Guidance that ONC provided to federally funded HIEs could eventually wind up in the NwHIN Governance Rule as well.
VanZee calls the ONC guidance for federally funded HIEs a "vision statement." He notes that Indiana's exchanges already have many privacy procedures in place, but they must "start to harmonize some of the policies and approaches so we have a more consistent approach across the state."
In an interview, VanZee also:
Describes pilot projects that are testing, for example, how to offer patients the ability to consent to the exchange of only specific portions of their records;
Notes that the Indiana exchanges now use the "opt out" model of consent, automatically exchanging all of a patient's records unless the patient chooses to opt out; and
Stresses that "privacy is probably one of the most difficult topics that HIEs have to deal with," highlighting the need to educate patients about what HIEs are doing to protect their records.
VanZee is statewide health IT director for the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. He is responsible for managing the allocation of the $10.3 million in federal HIE funding the state received in March 2010. VanZee oversees Indiana's state designated entity, Indiana Health Information Technology Inc., which coordinates the statewide HIE initiative. He previously worked at hospitals, most recently serving as vice president of provider networks and operations at Logansport Memorial Hospital.
Indiana's HIE Initiative
HOWARD ANDERSON: For starters, please describe your role in helping the state's five health information exchanges link together to form what amounts to a statewide exchange.
ANDREW VANZEE: The state of Indiana took the approach of setting up a not-for-profit, Indiana Health Information Technology Inc., or IHIT, to oversee the development of the state HIE infrastructure. We're fortunate here in Indiana to have five health information organizations that have been in operation over the past 10-15 years. And because of that robust infrastructure, we really are working at collaborating and working with those organizations to build capacity, drive interoperability and link additional data sources up to the current, already established private-sector infrastructure.
ANDERSON: How many of the five HIEs are able to exchange information now and when will all five be linked? And what are the main types of information that will be exchanged?
VANZEE: The five sub-state health information organizations already, at least within their own network, do exchange information with hospitals, providers and other entity types such as nursing homes and hospice, long-term care-type facilities. There are a few of them that have been exchanging information with each other. Most of that information that's being exchanged from one HIO to another is around the areas of lab results and diagnostic-type results. It's mainly push-type technology between the HIO nodes.
Now, [we're] looking more toward the ability to query the data repositories of these existing HIOs and exchanging information in that query format, as far as an HIO having the ability to query the other four HIOs in the state to then do patient discovery, find out if any information exists, to then request a document of all information that is readily available on that patient.
Privacy, Security Guidance
ANDERSON: The HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT recently issued a long list of privacy and security guidelines for federally funded HIEs, including your statewide effort. In general, what do you think of the privacy and security guidance provided by ONC recently and will it prove practical to carry out?
VANZEE: It lays out a good roadmap or framework for what the future state of health information exchange could look like. If you read into the standards, most of them say "should," vs. "shall." It's kind of inspirational. It's almost like a vision statement of an organization to say these are the items that we're working toward in the future. And so I think it does lay out the direction that healthcare and the health information exchange is moving toward, but it doesn't necessarily represent what the current state environment is. What we're doing here is taking a look at the current environment and where we're at today and comparing them to the standards and domains that are laid out in the privacy and security framework and what items we need to work toward in the future.
Granular Consent
ANDERSON: The guidelines call for HIEs to develop policies and technical approaches that offer individuals more granular consent for information exchange than just having all or none of their information exchanged. Thus, for example, a patient could grant consent for exchanging a portion of their information. I believe you've got a pilot project in this arena. Can you explain that effort and update us on the status?
VANZEE: We were fortunate to receive actually two of the state HIE program challenge grants, and one of those challenge grants is focused on advanced patient query. That's actually broken into two portions, the first being data segmentation as far as looking at how do you take data in a repository and meta tag it and break it up into its different components so that you can move toward a more granular consent or ability to segment data in particular manners. We're working with two very large organizations that are helping and really working and driving this project, the first being the Regenstrief Institute, which is a world-renowned research informatics organization located here in Indianapolis, and we're also working with Indiana University on these projects.
The portion that Indiana University is working on is specific to the consumer consent and the more granular control piece. And with that, we're performing patient interviews to try to determine from the patients' perspective what are their thoughts on health information exchange, what are the items that they feel they should have more granular consent or should have more control over being able to determine who has access to that information.
The other interesting piece that we're trying to balance, as far as giving patients complete control, is we do have a bioethics group through Indiana University that's also looking at what the patients' desires are vs. what's the ethically defensible [approach] from the healthcare side of things, as far as how much granular control a patient should have. We're finding out some interesting things from both the patient side as well as the bioethics side, and our plan is to build some prototype screens and build that within this data segmentation of the repositories to start testing out, from the patient's perspective as well as from the provider and physician perspective, how granular consent could work in a very large repository-type format.
ANDERSON: In the meantime, how are the exchanges in Indiana handling patient consent now?
VANZEE: Like many exchanges, the consent is handled at the local physician level and so because most exchanges do not have direct interaction with patients, it's very difficult to handle that consent at that HIE level. Now, there are some states around the country that do allow patients to sign their consent at the HIE-type level. But at least here in Indiana, it's at the physician or at the entity that the patient has a face-to-face interaction with as far as determining that consent. Typically [that information is kept within] in the consent for treatments of those organizations that an individual signs.
ANDERSON: Just to clarify, is that a patient opt-in or a patient opt-out approach?
VANZEE: We're an opt-out state. Each of those consents is basically a declaration that the person's information is being used for health information exchange as covered under the HIPAA standards. Basically, the patient is giving consent that their information is being used for those purposes. They have the option to opt out, and that information can be shared at the HIE level. But once you opt out, basically all of your records are being removed from the repositories for the ability to share that information with others. I can tell you that's been rarely used here. It's only been used a handful of times where someone has actually opted out of having their information shared.
Addressing the Gaps
ANDERSON: The federal guidance points out that HIEs that are not taking the recommended privacy and security steps outlined in the guidance must develop a strategy, timeline and action plan for addressing these gaps. In general, what do you think are the main areas the HIEs in Indiana will need to work on to address gaps as they continue to link all those HIEs so they can share information?
VANZEE: The pieces that are specific to the patient, as far as the granular consent and the individual access and correction, because, at least right now in Indiana, there's not an actual connection with or interaction between the sub-state HIOs and the individual consumers. Those will be the most difficult ones that we will have to face or develop a roadmap. Most of the other items are internal policy pieces that are already being addressed in some format by the local sub-state HIOs. Our hopes are that we will look across the five here in the state and start to harmonize maybe some of the policies and approaches they take so that we have a more consistent approach across the state. But the other ones are the areas that I feel that we have the greatest gap.
Now, as I mentioned with the advanced patient query challenge grant, we also have another challenge grant where we're doing personal health record pilots - 12 pilot sites - across the state where we're working on patient identification and authentication, as well as data liquidity and providing HIE data down to a personal health record of a patient's choice. And if you look at some of those first few domains that talk about patient control and patient access, we're at least taking some of the initial steps here in laying out the kind of foundation for where I think things will head in the future.
ANDERSON: Over the long haul, how difficult do you think it will be to implement all the steps outlined in the guidance?
VANZEE: I think it will be very difficult, at least initially. We're somewhat fortunate here to be a little bit further along than many other HIEs and HIOs, and so it gives us an opportunity to start working on some of these higher functioning-type items. Many states are just now starting up, and when you look from a financial sustainability piece, many of these items that are called out are not necessarily items that are usually first on your technology roadmap or sustainability roadmap for an HIE. And so I think it will be a challenge for organizations to necessarily meet all of these items. But I think it still goes back to remembering what the intent is of this framework, and it's meant to be a guidance document toward what the future state would be. And so as long as you're continually working toward and improving your infrastructure and general operations and policies, I think that goes a long way in trying to achieve what the intent of the document was.
Privacy, Security Lessons Learned
ANDERSON: When it comes to health information exchange rollouts, Indiana is one of the most advanced states. You've been at this for over a decade. What lessons have you learned so far about how to tackle privacy and security issues and how to educate the public about protection of their information?
VANZEE: It's probably one of the most difficult topics that health information exchanges have to deal with. And surprisingly, healthcare is one of those industries that seems to be lagging behind many other industries when it comes to privacy and security-type issues, as well as there's a higher importance sometimes that's placed privacy and security in healthcare than many other sectors.
And a good example of that would be we're constantly, as a consumer, getting [notices] from our financial institutions that our records have been potentially breached. We just take that as that's something that happens. In healthcare, that happens and that makes national news. It has huge penalties attached to it. And so I think some of it is a stigma issue that we have to educate the populations as far as what does it mean for health information exchange, to be transparent on what we're doing to protect information and to involve them as far as being stewards of their health data.
Healthcare Information Exchange (HIE)
The Evolution of Fraud
HIPAA, HITECH Updates Inch Closer
Jeffrey Roman
News Writer, ISMG
Roman is the former News Writer for Information Security Media Group. Having worked for multiple publications at The College of New Jersey, including the College's newspaper "The Signal" and alumni magazine, Roman has experience in journalism, copy editing and communications.
Executive Roundtable Recap: Confessions of a Healthcare CISO
Executive Roundtable Recap: "Confessions of a Healthcare CISO"
Sizing Up Revised Model for National Health Data Exchange
GAO: HHS Has Not Implemented Critical Cyber Recommendations
Post-Breach HIPAA Enforcement: A Call for 'Safe Harbors'
Embracing Digital Risk Protection: Take Your Threat Intelligence to the Next Level
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9 Common Security & Compliance Risks and What You Can Do to Overcome Them
https://www.healthcareinfosecurity.com/hie-leader-sizes-up-federal-guidance-a-4857
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News / World
'I cried for a year': Families split by the Korean War get rare chance to reunite
By Paula Hancocks, Yoonjung Seo and James Griffiths, CNN | Posted - Aug 19th, 2018 @ 11:58am
YouTube: S. Korean families gather in Sokcho on Sunday to prepare for family reunions
Arirang News
SOKCHO, South Korea (CNN) — Lee Keum-seom hasn't held her son in 68 years.
The last time she saw him, Sang Chol was four years old, and together with her husband and their daughter, they were headed south, fleeing the fighting during the early days of the Korean War.
In the mass of hundreds of thousands of others trying to escape, Lee and her daughter lost sight of her husband and Sang Chol.
They continued south, becoming part of the flood of refugees who crossed what became the Demilitarized Zone. Only later did she discover that her husband and son remained on the other side of the divide, in North Korea.
They are among the tens of thousands of Koreans whose families were separated by the war.
Lee is now one of a small number of people fortunate enough to be chosen for government-run family reunions.
On Monday, the first reunion in three years will take place, at North Korea's Mount Kumgang. The reunion is included in the historic accord that was signed by the leaders of the two Koreas in April. Around 57,000 people were eligible to take part. Of those, 0.16%, just 89 people, will make the journey.
Those left out face the agonizing prospect of never seeing their family members again. More than 75,000 people have already died without ever reuniting with their loved ones.
"When I came to the South, I realized that I won't see them again alive," Lee, now 92, said of her husband and son. "I thought to myself that the war needs to be over for us to meet. I gave up seeing them again."
Lee grew up in South Hamgyong province in what is now North Korea, where she got married and had two sons. The first died in infancy, but the second survived and she and her husband named him Sang Chol.
Lee was staying at her in-laws' home in Kapsan county when the war broke out on June 25, 1950, after months of rising tensions between the US-occupied South and Soviet-backed North Korea.
Their house was in remote countryside and little news ever reached their doors, but refugees running away from the fighting told Lee and her in-laws what had happened. "They were coming from deep in the mountains," she said. "They told us as they left that they were fleeing and that we should as well."
The family packed food and supplies onto an ox cart and headed south.
"We didn't get to go back to our house. We fled with just the clothes we wore for the trip. We kept walking and walking," she said. "Then we walked again. I needed to breastfeed my baby. But there were so many people on the road and in the houses by the road so there was no place to do it."
Seeking privacy, Lee crossed a small stream with her infant daughter, leaving her husband to look after the then four-year-old Sang Chol.
When she returned, the two had disappeared. Lee walked all day but couldn't find them, becoming more and more distressed but determined to keep searching.
"I continued on. I thought he must have gone all the way," she said. "I didn't stop to sleep or eat and kept going."
Eventually she came upon her brother-in-law, who told her they had been searching for her as well. Lee's husband had gone back to try and find her, but they had missed each other on the road in the crush of refugees.
She never saw her husband or son again.
Fleeing war
As Lee and her husband's family continued south, she clung onto hope that he and Sang Chol would catch up with them.
The fighting did instead. One night, as they were sheltering in an abandoned house, she was awoken by the sound of bullets.
"We were in a bad spot," she said. "We all lay down and stayed there."
Unable to sleep, she lay in the dark and listened to the battle, her eyes tightly shut. Eventually an announcement came that the fighting had stopped and civilians could board a train headed south.
The train was packed with refugees. Lee and her relatives threw their luggage onto the snow-topped roofs of the carriages and climbed on board themselves. They rode the train overnight to a port, where they were told to get on a ferry headed for Geoje Island.
In the chaos, Lee was separated from her in-laws again, and arrived in Geoje alone.
"I carried my baby," she said. "I found a wall and slept at the bottom of it hugging my baby."
A week passed before they reunited with some of her husband's family, who had also made it onto the ferry.
As new arrivals to Geoje, they were given a small amount of supplies as part of a South Korean government program to resettle refugees on the island, but were largely dependent on the limited generosity of the locals.
Lee spent many days longing for her husband and son, wondering what became of them and imagining the worst.
"After I woke up I would take my daughter out to the field and sit on a rock. That was my spot. And I would cry," Lee said. "I cried for a year."
As time wore on, Lee gave up on seeing her husband and son again. She remarried, to a man who had become separated from his wife and fled south with his daughters, who Lee raised as her own. Over time, she found she could remember little about Sang Chol, only that he was a good boy, who didn't complain.
Long wait
Sang Chol is now 72. After his father realized that they'd lost his mother on the chaotic road south, he took the boy back to their home village to find them. Few details are known about how Sang Chol's life unfolded in the reclusive country.
After 68 years, his mother Lee is about to find out.
Lee said she felt numb when she learned she had been selected to take part in Monday's family reunion.
"I couldn't process that at first. I couldn't believe that I was going to see my son," Lee said. "Will it be okay to hug my son who's over 70 years old?"
For most of the families split by the Korean War, their relatives are little more than vague memories to which they are connected by history and blood. Nevertheless, the loss and pain of the separation persists, as does the desire for reunion.
Hahm Seong-chan will be among the 93 people who meet their relatives on Monday.
His brother was around six years old when they last saw each other. They grew up in vastly different countries, with Hahm even working in South Korea for the US military,which remains widely loathed in North Korea for the brutal bombing campaign carried out during the war.
"I often thought it would be so nice if I could see my brothers just once before I die," he said. "When I got a phone call from the Red Cross that I made it to the first group of 500 out of over 50,000 applicants, I didn't think I would make it to the final list."
The 86-year-old told CNN he doesn't expect to recognize his younger sibling, who he can remember little about beyond that he was quiet and nice, unlike another brother who always used to get into fights.
"Maybe we'll be able to recognize each other because we share the same blood," he added. "Even if he doesn't remember me he must remember my name, 'Hahm Seong-chan.' I get so nervous thinking about that moment."
Ongoing trauma
For many other separated families, the phone call confirming a reunion is yet to come.
Jung Kea-hyun, now 85, has applied 21 times for a reunion with his brothers, whom he became separated from in the war.
"I'm pining to see them again. People see their family again and cry their eyes out," he told CNN. "I cried a lot too."
While reports on reunions inevitably focus on the lucky few selected, Jung's situation is the reality for the vast majority of those who have applied.
"You need to experience it to know it. You can speak to me and hear the story, but have you ever been separated from your family? Imagine not seeing them for 65, 70 years," Jung said.
He struggled even to explain the hurt to his own wife, a native of Seoul who didn't experience the war in the same way: "If she was from the North too, I could talk to her about it. But it was pointless because she wouldn't know. She wouldn't know how I feel."
Every year, Koreans visit their hometowns to feast with relatives and pay respect to their ancestors as part of the Chuseok harvest festival. For Jung and many others, this happy occasion is an added heartbreak — he can't visit the town of his birth, and his relatives on the other side of the DMZ may as well be a world away.
This year, as he has done for decades, Jung will get as close as he can, traveling to a shrine in Panmunjom, near the DMZ, where he will perform the traditional rituals.
"Being separated from your family is something unimaginable," he said. "What I want is not a one-off meeting. I want to know who is still surviving. Just to know if they are still alive. Or even just for the letters to travel back and forth."
For many families on both sides of the border, time is running out.
More than 75,000 applicants have died since the Korean Red Cross and state broadcaster KBS first began working to reunite families in the 1980s.
A flurry of reunions took place in the 2000s, amid improved relations between Seoul and Pyongyang, but then a lull followed as tensions rose again.
The last round of family reunions was in 2015. Now old and frail, many families fear they'll never be included on the list to meet their relatives, and even if they are they'll be too weak to make the journey north.
"The numbers selected will be very small," said Park Kyung-seo, president of the South Korean Red Cross, which organizes the reunions.
"I share fully with the disappointment of those who are not selected so I am trying with the North Korean partners to try and find other solutions, huge numbers are waiting."
"Imagine 73 years without knowing whether their family members are still alive or passed away — no news at all," Park said. "The agony and anger, that's an unthinkable human tragedy."
This is the reality of the ongoing division of the peninsula, a division that for all the political bluster and fear of North Korean missiles heading to the US, affects ordinary Koreans more than anyone else.
"Even after the war, division caused the horror of war to take root in our everyday lives," South Korean President Moon Jae-in said last week as the country marked the 73rd anniversary of the end of Japanese colonialism.
"It took away the lives of countless young people, incurring enormous economic costs and loss of capabilities."
In September, Moon will travel to Pyongyang, where he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have pledged to continue to work "toward the declaration of an end to the Korean War and the signing of a peace treaty."
The families separated by that war, on both sides of the border, will be watching closely.
© 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
Paula Hancocks
Yoonjung Seo
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UNOHCHR: Need for transparency, investigations, in light of “alarming” reports of major violations in south-east Turkey – Zeid
Published by OHCHR 10 May 2016
GENEVA (10 May 2016) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said Tuesday that he had received a succession of alarming reports about violations allegedly committed by Turkish military and security forces in south-east Turkey over the past few months, and urged the Turkish authorities to give independent investigators, including UN staff, unimpeded access to the area to verify the veracity of such reports.
“More and more information has been emerging from a variety of credible sources about the actions of security forces in the town of Cizre during the extended curfew there from mid-December until early March,” Zeid said. “And the picture that is emerging, although still sketchy, is extremely alarming.”
“I strongly condemn violence and other unlawful acts committed by the youth groups and other non-state agents, allegedly affiliated with the PKK , in Cizre and other areas, and I regret any loss of life as a result of terrorist acts wherever they have occurred,” Zeid said. “However, while Turkey has a duty to protect its population from acts of violence, it is essential that the authorities respect human rights at all times while undertaking security or counter-terrorism operations – and international law prohibiting torture, extrajudicial killings, disproportionate use of lethal force and arbitrary detention must be observed.”
The High Commissioner said he had received reports of unarmed civilians – including women and children – being deliberately shot by snipers, or by gunfire from tanks and other military vehicles.
“There also appears to have been massive, and seemingly highly disproportionate, destruction of property and key communal infrastructure – including buildings hit by mortar or shellfire, and damage inflicted on the contents of individual apartments and houses taken over by security forces,” he said. “There are also allegations of arbitrary arrests, and of torture and other forms of ill-treatment, as well as reports that in some situations ambulances and medical staff were prevented from reaching the wounded. On top of all this, there has been huge displacement triggered by the curfews and by subsequent fighting, shelling, killings and arrests in many places in the south-east.”
“Most disturbing of all,” the High Commissioner said, “are the reports quoting witnesses and relatives in Cizre which suggest that more than 100 people were burned to death as they sheltered in three different basements that had been surrounded by security forces.”
“All these allegations, including those levelled at the groups fighting against the security forces, are extremely serious and should be thoroughly investigated, but do not appear to have been so far,” Zeid said. “The Turkish Government has not responded positively to requests by my Office and other parts of the United Nations to visit the region to collect information first-hand.”
The UN Human Rights Chief noted that more information has emerged from Cizre compared to other districts, towns and villages in the south-east – including Silopi, Nusaybin and the Sur district of Diyarbakýr, the main city in the region – which were sealed off for weeks on end, and are still next to impossible to access, because of the heavy security presence.
“In 2016, to have such a lack of information about what is happening in such a large and geographically accessible area is both extraordinary and deeply worrying,” Zeid said. “This black-out simply fuels suspicions about what has been going on. I therefore renew my call for access for UN staff and other impartial observers and investigators, including civil society organizations and journalists.”
Noting alarm bells rung by other international human rights entities in recent weeks,* Zeid called for a prompt investigation and prosecution of all those suspected of being involved in violations of the right to life, including extrajudicial killings and disproportional use of lethal force, and stressed that the judiciary should act independently from all other branches of the State, including the military and the Executive. He also called on the Turkish authorities to allow the return of all those who have been forcibly displaced, and urged them to ensure that, in future, curfews are limited to the minimum duration necessary and with due concern for human rights obligations and humanitarian considerations.
The High Commissioner noted Turkey’s continued engagement with UN human rights bodies, including the recent visit of UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances; the recent review of the country’s record by the UN Committee on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families; and the ongoing review by the UN Committee against Torture which will issue its concluding observations on Friday 13 May.**
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Birth mother shares open adoption story: ‘God had bigger plans’
By Nancy Flanders | May 4, 2019 , 08:15am
The Talk About Adoption Facebook page recently shared the beautiful story of a mom named Paige who fought against her fears and chose life for her twins. She was initially terrified, but by stepping out in faith, she overcame the negativity flooding her mind, gave birth to her babies, and then lovingly gave them to their “amazing, loving” adoptive forever family.
“I unexpectedly got pregnant with twins in February of 2018,” she said. “The birth father was not a part of my life anymore at the time. I was also shocked to find out that I was carrying not one baby, but two! Talk about having a bomb dropped on you! I immediately went into fear mode.”
Paige says her fear led her to negative thinking, much like many women and girls facing unplanned pregnancies. Too often, those fear wins and abortion begins to feel like the only choice – which means it isn’t a choice at all.
READ: The beauty of open adoption: Birth mother wipes tears of son’s adoptive mother
“Some of my initial thoughts were, ‘I can’t go through with this,’ ‘I’m not ready to be a mother yet,’ and ‘I cannot have these babies’ […] I sat with those thoughts longer than I would like to admit,” she said.
But then there was another voice – the voice that reminded her of what matters most. The voice that asked her, “What if that was me and my brother? or What if our birth mother’s did not give us a chance?” It turns out she and her brother are adopted. Their mothers, by choosing life for them, chose life for these precious babies as well.
“God had started to soften my heart and I was letting Him back into my life at this point, so His voice was the clearest of all,” Paige said. “He assured me it would all be okay and for me to have faith. I, then, knew what I had to do.”
She met her twins’ adoptive parents through an adoption agency called Children at Heart. She calls them “a sign from God” who had been waiting to adopt for a long time. The set up an open adoption and she gets to see the twins and stays updated on how they are doing.
“God knew what He was doing the whole time, I just had to believe and trust in Him,” Paige explained. “Even though my plans didn’t go accordingly, God had other plans that were bigger and better than I could have ever imagined.”
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Saffron: Is This Spice the Secret to Better Vision?
Having sharp and reliable eyesight is a precious gift, but as we age our risk for eye complications and vision loss generally increases. And while a wide variety of lifestyle factors certainly play a role in mitigating this risk, our diets are an important piece of the puzzle. And now, new research into this field is suggesting something very interesting—saffron supplementation may be an effective, natural solution in treating age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and vision loss.
THE #1 SUPERFOOD you should be consuming is one you may have never even heard of…
What if there was a nutrient-dense “superfood” that was so incredibly rich in vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other micronutrients, that it could nourish your body back to optimal health?
Guess what? There is such a superfood out there!
New Research on Saffron and AMD
With a history of use going back at least 3,000 years, saffron has long been recognized as an important spice with significant health benefits. First and foremost, its anti-inflammatory properties make it an option to consider as treatment against a number of conditions, including boosting mental health and immune system function, and even curbing certain neurological disorders.
So researchers out of Australia sought to investigate another potential health benefit of saffron: its capabilities as treatment for AMD.
In a randomized, controlled study design, the researchers recruited 100 older adults who had detectable AMD and compared the effects of daily oral saffron supplementation against a placebo, giving half the participants three months of one treatment and then swapping roles. Measuring the participants’ ability to identify letters using the Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) test and utilizing multifocal electroretinography (mfERG) to examine retina damage, they found encouraging results. Namely, on average the participants improved the number of letters they were able to correctly identify, while also scoring better as measured by the mfERG test.
In conclusion, the researchers were able to determine that saffron supplementation provided a modest improvement of visual function in the AMD patients. Moreover, they went on to suggest that long-term supplementation might produce better results; a clear indication that more research is needed.
Age-related macular degeneration is a serious – and fairly common – eye condition, and it’s one of the leading causes of vision loss for people age 50 and over. AMD involves three stages: early AMD in which people typically experience no symptoms, intermediate AMD which may result in some vision loss but is generally only detectable via exam, and two types of late-stage AMD (also known as dry AMD and wet AMD), in which swelling and damage occur, normally leading to some degree of vision loss. AMD does not always progress through all three stages, but when it does, treatment is traditionally complicated and invasive, with injections and laser treatment being common methods. Ouch.
As AMD progresses over time—moving through its three defined stages—people generally do not notice its presence until it reaches a serious level. Therefore, regular eye exams are important for detecting the disease in its earlier stages, giving people the best chance to prevent its development to advanced stages. In addition, as alluded to in the opening, lifestyle choices have the potential to reduce your risk of developing AMD or at least slow its progression. Essentially, all of the general recommendations you are probably familiar with come into play here—exercise regularly, consume a healthy diet that includes a focus on green, leafy vegetables and fish, maintain optimal levels of cholesterol and blood pressure, and avoid tobacco use. Wearing the proper protective eyewear in bright sunlight is another simple action to take.
Beyond these protective lifestyle approaches, people with AMD – or a general desire to protect their vision – should consider saffron supplementation as another method that could be effective in warding off eye-related complications later in life. Much more research is needed to better understand the role that saffron plays in this regard, and it would be foolhardy to claim that there is indisputable evidence of benefits for people with AMD. Even so, given that saffron has a number of other known or probable health benefits, there’s absolutely no reason not to use it to fight disease, quite possibly including AMD.
Derek Noland, MPH Contributing Writer
Derek is a researcher, trainer, and community liaison at the Behavioral Health & Wellness Program at the University of Colorado, specializing in promoting health systems change and combating health disparities. Including his background as a technical writer and editor, he has over 15 years of experience working in the health care field. His past experience includes serving as a contributing author on several textbooks in the medical field, running a nuclear cardiology licensing course, and writing a variety of didactic pieces ranging from online training courses to medical software manuals. Personally, Derek pursues his passion for health and wellness by playing multiple sports, hiking, and running marathons, and through extensive travel, having visited or lived in over 60 countries.
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Brighton students walk out in support of school shooting victims
At Scranton Middle School, 200 students gathered on football field in protest of school shootings
Brighton students walk out in support of school shooting victims At Scranton Middle School, 200 students gathered on football field in protest of school shootings Check out this story on livingstondaily.com: http://ldpaa.com/2GvmQJB
Susan Bromley, Livingston Daily Published 5:37 p.m. ET Feb. 21, 2018 | Updated 7:06 a.m. ET Feb. 22, 2018
The Robert Scranton Middle School on Maltby Road in Green Oak Township photographed Tuesday, May 13, 2014, is part of the Brighton Area School district.(Photo: File)
About 200 students walked out of Scranton Middle School in Brighton Wednesday and gathered on the football field in reaction to school shootings, most recently the one in Parkland, Fla. last week.
Superintendent Greg Gray confirmed that at about 10 a.m., teachers and other administrators “heard rumblings” of the proposed walkout.
Brighton Schools officials, he said, had already heard about similar protests that are planned for mid-March and April and were making preparations, which the district put into place.
He spoke with Scranton Principal Mark Wilson and they chose to put the students in a "safe environment," which in this case was the football field.
"Some kids sat in groups, some held hands, some bowed their heads, and administrators and teachers moved around making sure we supported our kids," said Gray. "They finished up and walked back in the building."
About 900 students attend Scranton and all were offered the opportunity to go outside if they wanted, he added.
The district plans to address the issue similarly next month and in April if students want to participate in planned walkouts regarding school shootings. He said there will be designated safe and secure areas on those dates and faculty available to talk to kids about what they are feeling.
"According to the principal, there was some silence, some group discussion, everyone was very appropriate and they handled the situation well," said Gray, who was at a county meeting during the walkout. "I think this was done in support of lives lost and how to move forward. I think we will continue to work together as a community to make sure our schools are safe."
More: Hartland Howell schools investigate threats after Florida school shooting
More: Fowlerville cop leads efforts to make schools safer
Laura Richardson, mother of Travis, a seventh grader at Scranton, said she was thankful to be in a district that not only teaches children, but more importantly listens to them.
Although her son did not choose to participate in the walkout, and she isn’t sure if she agrees “with the thought process of a walkout for middle school students,” she still believes her son and all Scranton students learned a valuable lesson today—that his, and every other Scranton students’ voice matters. She also commended administration for allowing them to do so in a safe environment.
“I don’t think it will have any effect on whether or not a shooting could happen in our area,” said Richardson, a Brighton resident. “But I do think that if any of the students at Scranton hear any kind of threat, they will in fact feel a little more comfortable reporting the issue to the authorities.”
She and other Scranton Middle School parents were emailed the following letter on Wednesday:
"Dear Parents,
"One week ago today was the tragic school shooting in Florida. Since that day, young people across the country have been looking for ways to become activists and fight against school violence.
"Today, in many schools across America, students made the choice to do a 17-minute school walk-out in support of changing laws and in the hopes of getting lawmakers to pay attention to youth, crying out, for support of laws to protect them in schools. Today, at Scranton, about 200 students made the choice to join this movement and conduct a walk-out at noon.
"Administration was made aware that some students were choosing to participate in this event at approximately 10:00am. At that time, it was decided that we wanted to support them in the desire to advocate for their personal safety. While we value educational minutes, we also know that student advocacy and students taking responsibility for their safety in schools is equally important. Therefore, we began planning a way to safely support students and allow them to assemble peacefully and show respect for the 17 lives tragically lost in Florida last week.
"When teachers or other adults were asked about the walk-out, they shared with students that we were not preventing anyone from participating. We shared that we supported their advocacy efforts and believed, that with proper planning, a future event could be planned that could potentially be more impactful. We shared that we would support them in preparing for future events to allow the best chance for their advocacy to impact rules, laws and policies that protect their personal safety. We also shared that, if they felt they needed to participate today, that we needed them to report to the football field so that we could adequately supervise and support the student population. About 200 students arrived at the football field at noon.
"As students entered the football stadium, Mr. Wilson pulled aside small groups and explained that we were attending in support of the friends and families of the 17 lives, needlessly lost, in Florida last week. That as an expectation, students were to spend the time together being respectful of these lives and figuring out a way to make a difference. It was shared with the students that if that was not the reason they were there, that they should respectfully return to the building. Almost all stayed.
"For the next 17 minutes, groups of children (some large, some small) sat in circles together. Some holding hands, others with bowed heads, all respectful and all engaging with one another in an attempt to make our world a better … a safer … place. At most times, you could hear a pin drop.
"17 minutes later, we all reentered the building and went to class.
"Moments like these are hard for schools. It is always a gamble. Do you let the kids go outside in peaceful protest? What if they misbehave? What if they don’t take it seriously? Are the kids just trying to get out of class? But as a school, sometimes you just need to trust the “goodness” that is your kids. Sometimes, you need to believe that if you believe and trust in them, they will do the right thing. Today we took a chance and it was the right decision. Our kids took the first step in advocating for political change…what a great civics lesson.
"Whether your child stayed in the building today or came outside as part of the walk-out, I would encourage you to talk to your child about this. Through talking with kids about their role in keeping the world around them a safe place, we all win."
Contact Susan Bromley at sbromley@livingstondaily.com Follow on Twitter @SusanBromley10
Read or Share this story: http://ldpaa.com/2GvmQJB
Huge crowds get 'A Taste' of Brighton's food, businesses at festival
Man pleads guilty to possession of child porn
Community celebrates Putnam Township fire chief retirement
Coney Joe's memorabilia up for auction
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125 firefighters tackle fire in Romford car lot
Last updated: 05/11/2018, 9:53 AM
120 firefighters tackle car dealership fire in Chadwell Heath
https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/incidents/2018/november/125-firefighters-tackle-fire-in-romford-car-lot/
Firefighters tackled a large fire at a car dealership on the High Road in Chadwell Heath, Romford on Saturday night and into Sunday morning.
At the height of the fire, 125 firefighters were in attendance and some parked cars, a large pile of car tyres and an adjacent warehouse were alight. There were no reports of any injuries.
The Brigade's Control Officers took 39 calls from people alerting the Brigade to the fire which was very visible and local road closures were in place. A number of nearby residents were also evacuated as a precaution.
Assistant Commissioner Graham Ellis, who was at the scene, said: "In the early stages of this fire, quick thinking firefighters were able to make the area safe enough for around 40 cars at the dealership to be driven out of harms way. This stopped them being an explosion risk but it also saved many thousands pounds worth of vehicle damage. They also removed a number of cylinders which can explode when exposed to heat.
“The fire spread to a pile of tyres which created a lot of thick black smoke and we advised local residents to avoid the area and keep windows and doors shut.
“The combination of cars, cylinders, petrol, tyres and a lot of thick smoke made this a very difficult fire to tackle. Crews did a good job from preventing the fire from spreading beyond the car dealership.”
Seven vehicles, the car show room and warehouse were completely damaged by the fire.
The Brigade was called as 2210 on Saturday evening and the fire was under control at 0720 on Sunday.
Firefighters are still damping down hotspots and expect to be at the scene throughout Sunday morning. The area is still quite smoky and so residents should still keep windows and doors shut.
The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Brigade and the Metropolitan Police Service.
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Linden Homes Management Trainee Programme
The delivery of our business strategy is dependent on our ability to attract, develop and retain highly skilled, experienced and talented people. We are therefore committed to regularly employing trainees to help shape our business as well as your future career.
Our tailored Management Trainee Programme gives you the opportunity to specialise, train and qualify in a specific area of the business whilst working towards a professional qualification. You can expect to gain valuable skills that will help you to develop a successful career in this fast paced industry. The qualifications you work towards will be funded by Linden Homes and undertaken on a part time basis, usually one day per week.
A career in Housebuilding
A career in housebuilding is challenging and rewarding and gives you the opportunity to shape the future and leave a legacy to be proud of for generations to come. We offer specifically tailored development programmes to gain experience, qualifications combined with hands-on experience across a wide range of innovative projects enabling you to enjoy a full and rewarding career with us.
There are various entry routes into the scheme, as a minimum we require you to have 5 GCSE'S at A-C grade, including Maths and English. BTEC, A Levels and equivalent vocational qualifications are also welcome.
You can apply via the Taleo recruitment page. To find out if there are any current vacancies click here. If you are successful you will be asked to attend an assessment centre and interview with the central HR team, followed by an interview with the relevant regional business unit.
What does the programme entail?
If you are successful in your application, our tailored management trainee programme will see you spend the majority of your time in your chosen department, whilst working towards your appropriate qualification.
During the programme you will:
Complete departmental rotations to gain insight into how the business works as a whole
Gain professional qualifications
Undertake optional rotations
Develop your personal skill set
Have access to a mentor
Attend training courses and team building events
Between one and three years
You will be able to study to obtain a variety of qualifications, dependent on your current status of education. Each programme is tailored to you, so this will be looked at on an individual basis but typically, trainees can work towards an HND or HNC. Foundation degrees and accreditations with industry bodies such as RICS, CIOB and RTPI are also available. In most cases the company will support your studies with day release and with payment of your tuition fees.
Which role is right for you?
Find out more about what each department is responsible for below
The Land and Planning team acquire new land on which developments come to life. Based across all our regional business units, the teams use their local knowledge and expertise to ensure we’re buying new land at a competitive price.
Some of the land acquired will require our planning team to apply for planning permission which, once approved, enables us to build the most desirable homes for the area. Our reputation for building quality homes and communities in the best locations should enable you to build strong relationships with landowners and agents.
It’s a dynamic area of the business that will see you playing a pivotal role in our growth. Collaborating regularly with sales, production and technical teams is key to the department and allows for a varied role within the company.
The Technical department is involved in all stages of the house building process, from working with Land on feasibility studies to advising the sales on final layouts.
The architectural designs and internal layouts are the responsibility of the technical team and they work with the production team to provide them with working drawings. The precision and accuracy of these drawings is crucial to a successful build.
Roles within the technical department are hugely varied and their remit will span all other departments too as well as the whole lifecycle of a development. If you’re after a fast pace and varied career technical may be for you.
Building new homes costs money, and working out how to how to deliver the best home possible at the best cost is the commercial team’s responsibility.
At initial stages they will estimate how much a complete project will cost and then go on work out costs of materials and labour, through our subcontractors. During the build process they also monitor all costs and ensure the development is being built to budget.
There are different roles within the department, including estimators, buyers and quantity surveyors and they all work together to get the best result.
Project management and teamwork is key for the production department. They oversee the build of all of our homes and with the amount of different tradespeople involved it’s no mean feat. Ensuring the best quality build for our customers is paramount, as is delivering on time and championing best practice in health and safety and environmental standards.
It’s a challenging environment but a rewarding one, where you’ll see a new community built.
Buying a home, whether it’s your first or 50th is always a significant life event. Our dedicated sales people aren’t just transactional, they’re there to understand our customers’ needs and guide them through the whole process, making it as simple as possible. The customer journey is key to a successful sale and all our sales staff work hard to achieve this for our customers.
Jemima Marsh, Trainee Quantity Surveyor
"The combination of on the job training whilst studying for a qualification really appealed to me. I can see a clear career path and with the support of my mentor and the wider company I’m confident in my future at Linden Homes."
Ollie Myrants-Wilson, Land Manager
"I joined the company in 2008. Part of the scheme meant spending time in each department, allowing me to gain a solid understanding of how all elements of the business work together.
"Since then I’ve progressed through the land department to Land Manager and I’m now able to support new trainees through the scheme."
Roberto Picone, Trainee Buyer
"Going straight into the work place was something I was keen to do but the extra benefit of working towards a relevant qualification also appealed.
"The extra courses, team building exercises and mentor support is invaluable."
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February 15, 2017 February 17, 2017 Ohoty Ohotytoo 667 Views 0 Comments fighting the propaganda of the animal rights brigade, Ron Thomson, TGA - become a member, wildlife management programmes
Why should anyone become a member of the TGA?
The TGA was established, primarily, to counteract the negative influence on important best practice wildlife management (a.k.a.conservation) programmes in Africa, resultant from animal rights propaganda. The influence of this propaganda has been and remains all-invasive. There is, today, hardly a single essential wildlife management practice that is not being challenged by the animal rightists; and, in many cases, vital wildlife management programmes have been successfully stopped by them as a result of the influence that emotional animal rights propaganda has had on society’s psyche.
The TGA will be working tenaciously to reverse this state of affairs.
It is the TGA’s intention to create a general public that is properly informed about the principles and practices of science-based wildlife management – all carefully explained in layman’s language – so that every man-in-the-street will come to understand why the animal rights philosophy is wrong; and why what the TGA advocates is right.
Have a good look at the TGA’s position statement on our website – entitled “the animal rights doctrine” -and make up your own mind on the question: which one of us is right and which one is wrong?
Essentially, the TGA belongs not to the TGA’s Board or Directors but to YOU – the people of Africa (and the world) – on whose behalf the TGA is beginning to fight this good and worthy war. It is YOUR wildlife – YOUR natural heritage – YOUR wild places – that the TGA is trying to protect from the iniquities of the animal rights brigade.
So WHO should become a member of the TGA?
EVERYBODY who has the slightest interest in preserving and/or sustainably utilising our wildlife into posterity should become a member. We will then ALL be helping our wildlife, our country, our world, and our people – together – as a team – to ensure that the wildlife and the wild places that you and I cherish today, will still be available for the enjoyment of our grandchildren’s grandchildren tomorrow, and as an endowment for all the generations of mankind to come. The TGA cannot succeed in its endeavours UNLESS the people of Africa (and the world) understand and support this fundamental ideal. What you get out of being a member of the TGA will be a measure of what you put into it. Just becoming a member, however, will be a very good start; and it will enrol you on the TGA’s newsletter database.
The TGA is a registered non-profit organisation – soon to become a public benefit organisation, too – and we will be raising funds to pay for the execution of the multifarious tasks that we will be fulfilling in the months and years ahead. How we will spend this money will be open to public scrutiny!Enjoy the journey. The road ahead is very new. And it is going to be an exciting ride.
Just to explain three of our objectives, however, will be enough to tell you why we cannot operate without money. We intend to make documentary films that will be shown on local and international television. We intend to organise informal meetings with intimate groups of people from the media, when journalists will be entertained on a game ranch for several days. During this time the principles and practices of wildlife management will be explained to them over a campfire in the evening; at the breakfast table in the morning; or whilst undertaking a game drive in the afternoon. We will also make ourselves available to discuss with the journalists, honestly and openly, whatever the current wildlife controversy might be. The intention of these junkets will be to create a media that is properly informed about the principles and practices of wildlife management; and, thereby, to persuade them towards the TGA’s way of thinking.
We also intend to educate our youth with innovative natural history learning programmes. And all the while we will be fighting the propaganda of the animal rights brigade.
The TGA is, truly, a worthy cause!
CEO.TRUE GREEN ALLIANCE
Go to our membership page to contact us in this regard.
← Herrie oor renosterhorings – HIER IS DIE FEITE
IUCN – Informing Decisions on Trophy Hunting →
One of the Realities Why Elephant Numbers Must be Maintained
Trump Administration can Help Lift Rhino Horn & Ivory Trade Bans
AFRICA’S WILDLIFE ARMAGEDDON (5)
March 6, 2018 Ron Thomson No Comments
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Garrett Cooper, the Marlins’ Opening Day right fielder, went on the Injured List three games into the season after suffering a left calf strain. He hasn’t played with the Marlins since, and a revolving door at the corner outfield spot began.
Peter O’Brien spent nine games there before being optioned back down to Triple A New Orleans. Austin Dean played four of his six games there before struggles both offensively and defensively forced him to be optioned, too.
Utility player Rosell Herrera had four starts in right, and roaming fourth outfielder Isaac Galloway had one, too.
With so much instability in right field — and the offensive improvement of corner infielders Martin Prado and Neil Walker — Marlins manager Don Mattingly made the move to send Brian Anderson back to the outfield at least temporarily.
“Right field turned into kind of a mess,” Mattingly said. “Andy kind of solidified that.”
And, at least for the time being, that might be for the better.
In addition to providing steadier defense in the outfield, having Anderson in right field enables the Marlins to add an extra weapon offensively to their lineup on a daily basis. Heading into Saturday, the team’s top six hitters this season among regular starters are catcher Jorge Alfaro (.290), Prado (.288), shortstop Miguel Rojas (.270), second baseman Starlin Castro (.257), Walker (.250) and Anderson (.232). If Anderson were to continue to start regularly at third base, one of Walker or Prado would likely be coming off the bench in any given game, depending on matchups.
Anderson has seen an uptick in production at the plate since receiving an off day on April 10 in the middle of the Marlins’ road series at the Cincinnati Reds. He is hitting .302 with three doubles, two home runs and four runs scored since that day and had reached base in 13 consecutive games before going 0 for 4 on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
“It definitely helped,” Anderson said. “I don’t know if that’s something that is normal or something that just happened, but ever since then, I’ve been seeing the ball better. I’ve been staying with my approach. ... Just trying to keep it going.”
It’s also not like Anderson is a stranger to right field. He played 91 games there last year and committed just one error in 137 chances.
“It’s just whatever I can do to help,” Anderson said. “It’s been good so far. I haven’t been tested yet, so we’re just waiting for that first real fly ball.”
Mattingly added: “For now, Andy is either way. We talked about him being our Kris Bryant. We feel like he can play right or third, so whichever way the lineup plays that day, that’s where he’ll be. So I don’t want to say Andy’s [only] in the outfield, but as long as things are going the way they’re going right now, you’ll probably see him out there more.”
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Jordan McPherson
Jordan McPherson covers the Miami Marlins and high school sports for the Miami Herald. He attended the University of Florida and covered the Gators athletic program for five years before joining the Herald staff in December 2017.
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2011 Senate Bill 855: Give particular firm $50 million state electric car subsidy
Public Act 292 of 2011
Introduced by Sen. Mike Kowall (R) on November 29, 2011
To authorize giving a $50 million state subsidy to a firm called “Townsend Ventures,” which says it wants to use the former Ford Motors Wixom plant to make systems related to electric car batteries. If enacted, this would be the second time the legislature has authorized a large cash subsidy for an outfit wanting to use this closed plant; the first deal fell through (see 2009 Senate Bill 777). Official Text and Analysis.
Referred to the Senate Economic Development Committee on November 29, 2011
Reported in the Senate on December 1, 2011
With the recommendation that the bill pass.
Amendment offered in the Senate on December 7, 2011
To eliminate a requirement that this former Wixom Ford plant be declared a tax-free "renaissance zone" by the local government for this subsidy to be approved.
The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on December 7, 2011
Passed 30 to 5 in the Senate on December 8, 2011.
See Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No". To authorize giving a $50 million state subsidy to a firm called “Townsend Ventures,” which says it wants to use the former Ford Motors Wixom plant to make systems related to electric car batteries. If enacted, this would be the second time the legislature has authorized a large cash subsidy for an outfit wanting to use this closed plant; the first deal fell through (see 2009 Senate Bill 777).
Received in the House on December 8, 2011
Referred to the House Tax Policy Committee on December 8, 2011
Reported in the House on December 13, 2011
With the recommendation that the substitute (H-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
Substitute offered in the House on December 15, 2011
To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance as previously described.
The substitute passed by voice vote in the House on December 15, 2011
Amendment offered by Rep. Tom McMillin (R) on December 15, 2011
To tie-bar the bill to House Bill 4815, meaning this bill cannot become law unless that one does also. HB 4815 would establish that incandescent light bulbs of any wattage may be sold in Michigan if they are completely made in Michigan, notwithstanding a federal law phasing-in a ban on bulbs 40 watts and above starting in 2012.
The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on December 15, 2011
Amendment offered by Rep. Wayne Schmidt (R) on December 15, 2011
To establish as the "intent of the legislature" that money not paid in past subsidy deals that never came off (or are later reduced) be used to reduce the amount of property tax imposed on business tools and equipment ("personal property tax"). Note: These "savings" are purely notional, because no money is set aside in a "lockbox" for these subsidy deals; corporate subsidy payments come from the state's regular cash flow, under "pay as you go" accounting.
The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on December 15, 2011
To revise details of the tax filing status of business subsidy recipients.
Amendment offered by Rep. Mike Shirkey (R) on December 15, 2011
To require additional reporting to the legislature on the number of future jobs created and tax revenue generated by this proposed subsidy deal.
Passed 82 to 24 in the House on December 15, 2011.
See Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No". To authorize giving a $50 million state subsidy to a firm called “Townsend Ventures,” which says it wants to use the former Ford Motors Wixom plant to make systems related to electric car batteries. If enacted, this would be the second time the legislature has authorized a large cash subsidy for an outfit wanting to use this closed plant; the first deal fell through (see 2009 Senate Bill 777). The bill would also reduce by $25 million a similar subsidy for a Johnson Controls Corporation battery plant (which is also the beneficiary of almost $300 million in federal subsidies, and potentially up to $48.5 million in other Michigan subsidy/tax breaks).
Received in the Senate on December 15, 2011
To concur with the House-passed version of the bill, which also revises the terms of another battery car corporate subsidy.
Passed 35 to 3 in the Senate on December 15, 2011.
Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder on December 21, 2011
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What is the secret briefcase that Morsi talked about right before his death?
June 19, 2019 at 12:03 am | Published in: Africa, Egypt, News
Egypt's first democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi [File photo]
Moments before his death, deposed Egyptian President, Mohamed Morsi, revealed the existence of a secret briefcase containing evidence of his innocence and stipulated that he would only talk about this briefcase in a confidential session in the presence of the man who led the coup against him, current president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
According to relatives of detainees who attended Morsi’s trial, his last words before his death in the cage on Monday evening were about a briefcase containing evidence that repudiates accusation of treason against him and shows the Egyptian people who betrayed them and who defended their rights.
According to human rights sources who participated in the previous sessions of Morsi’s trial, he had previously demanded to hold a secret meeting in the presence of Al-Sisi, former Defence Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, and former Chief of the General Staff Sami Anan, to talk about serious information that threatens the Egyptian national security. However, the court bodies that were investigating these cases rejected the request of the late president for several times.
Leaders from the Muslim Brotherhood and others from the Freedom and Justice Party, who were close to President Morsi during his rule, revealed to Arabi21 that part of the information that the briefcase contains is related to Al-Sisi’s involvement in the killings of demonstrators during the revolution of 25 January 2011. Moreover, this information was as previously revealed by the report of the Commission on the Investigation of the events of the revolution that Morsi formed during his rule.
The leaders, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that this Commission handed over a single copy of a report to Morsi, who in turn handed it over to the Revolutionary Prosecution, a unit he had formed to re-investigate cases related to the killing of demonstrators after the former President Hosni Mubarak was sentenced to hard labour in his trial.
READ: Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s first, democratic president
The same sources added that the report prepared by the adviser Omar Marwan, the head of the Commission at the time, and the Minister of Parliamentary Councils in the government of Sherif Ismail during the rule of Al-Sisi, had disappeared. However, they knew that the reports proved that Al-Sisi was responsible for killing demonstrators by using sniper teams on the roofs of buildings close to Tahrir Square, and the roof of the Ramses Hilton Hotel overlooking the Abdel Moneim Riad Square, adjacent to Tahrir Square.
The sources pointed out that during the last days of President Morsi’s rule, there has been a clash between him and Defence Minister Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. This occurred after Morsi hinted at Al-Sisi’s failure to release seven recruits who had been kidnapped in the city of Rafah in Sinai, and the security services identified Al-Sisi’s refusal to order the army to support police forces in attacking that as the kidnappers’ hiding place.
According to the information obtained by Arabi21, Al-Sisi had refused to provide support to the police forces in breaking into Mount Helal.
The sources confirm that when Al-Sisi failed to avoid Morsi’s request, he argued that there is a peace treaty with Israel that does not allow Egyptian troops or military aircraft to enter the places where the kidnappers are hiding. After Morsi insisted that Al-Sisi implement his orders, the latter asked Morsi to issue an official speech and prepare a war plan and a military operations map to carry out the mission.
The sources explained that Al-Sisi had demanded that because he thought Morsi would not agree. Surprisingly and contrarily to Al-Sisi’s expectations, Morsi demanded that the order of war and the maps of operations be signed immediately. This had indeed happened, but the surprise was that the hostages were released several hours later without the arrest of the kidnappers.
The same sources added that this incident raised Morsi’s suspicions about Al-Sisi’s involvement in the killing of 16 Egyptian troops at the checkpoint on the Egyptian borders with occupied Palestine before the fast-breaking in Ramadan, on 5 August 2012. This incident led to the ousting of the Director of the Egyptian Intelligence Murad Muwafi, Defence Minister Tantawi, Chief of General Staff Anan, and several senior defence ministry officials, including the military police chief, as well as the security directors of northern and southern Sinai.
Former Egypt President Morsi dies in court – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]
AfricaEgyptNews
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https://www.middletownpress.com/business/article/Report-Electrical-vehicle-use-growing-but-not-11786873.php
Report: Electrical vehicle use growing, but not fast enough
Published 10:30 pm EDT, Thursday, October 29, 2015
A report released this week by three environmental groups says usage of electric vehicles is growing, but not at a fast enough pace to meet goals set forth in a 2013 memorandum of understanding signed by officials in eight states, including Connecticut.
“Charging Up,” the report by the Conservation Law Foundation, the Sierra Club and Acadia Center, offers recommendations for increasing the number of electric vehicles on the road. Among the nine recommendations made in the report are:
• Boosting auto dealership and consumer incentive programs to promote increased sales of electric vehicles.
• Increasing the number and the availability of consumer-friendly charging stations for the cars.
• Increased use of electric vehicles in municipal and statewide fleets.
Jenny Rushlow, a staff attorney for the Boston-based Conservation Law Foundation, said making electric vehicles more accessible and affordable has multiple benefits.
“It helps combat climate change by lowering our carbon footprint,” Rushlow said in a statement. “It protects communities from the harmful health impacts of increasing air pollution. And it boosts our economy by promoting energy independence and alternatives to costly gasoline and oil.”
There were 2,957 electric vehicles registered in Connecticut at mid-year. The goal is to have 155,105 electric vehicles operating in Connecticut by 2025.
In order to reach that goal, according the report, another 6,656 electric vehicles would have to be in use in Connecticut by the end of 2017. And there would have to be 41,835 electric vehicles operating in the state by 2020.
“Connecticut has made tremendous strides over a short period of time and we remain committed to developing the ‘triple win’ that comes along with increasing our energy independence by reducing fossil fuel consumption, creating new opportunities for growing our green economy and improving public health,” said Dennis Schain, a spokesman for the Connecticut Department of Transportation. “Connecticut’s focus to date has been on creating a sense of ‘range confidence’ among electric vehicle (EV) owners by building out a charging station infrastructure and encouraging the sale of EVs through a rebate program that puts money back in the pockets of customers and makes the price of these cars more appealing.”
There are 419 publicly available charging outlets for electric vehicles in Connecticut, Schain said. And in May, state officials announced the launch of a pilot incentive program to increase electric vehicle sales.
The Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile Rebate Program offers cash rebates of up to $3,000 to state residents, businesses and municipalities to purchase or lease up to two electric vehicles. A total of $800,000 was budgeted for the program and Schain said that as of Oct. 20, the state had issued 230 rebates for electric vehicles such as the Nissan Leaf and 146 for hybrids such as the Chevrolet Volt.
“There is about $270,000 left in the rebate pool and at the current rate, the available funds will last into Janaury,” he said. “We’re working on securing additional funding to continue the rebate program.”
Bill Dornbos, director of Acadia Center’s Connecticut Office and a senior attorney for the organization, said finding a permanent funding source for the rebate program is critical. Federal tax credits are available for the purchase of electric vehicles, but Dornbos said “point of sale” incentives are especially effective in promoting interest in electric vehicles.
“That way, they (electric vehicle purchasers) see the benefit right away,” he said.
The combination of federal and state incentives can bring the purchase price of a battery-powered electric vehicle into close proximity to that of a gasoline-powered vehicle, Dornbos said.
The 2016 Ford Focus Electric has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $29,170, he said. But with Connecticut’s $3,000 rebate and a federal tax credit of $7,500, the car has an adjusted price of $18,670, Dornbos said.
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the 2016 model for the gasoline-powered Ford Focus is $17,225, he said.
Call Luther Turmelle at 203-680-9388.
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Home / Artists / News / Niall Horan to Undergo Surgery in His Right Knee
Niall Horan to Undergo Surgery in His Right Knee
Waqar Hassan 5:36 AM Artists, News
Three years after undergoing an operation on his left knee, it turns out that Niall Horan has to have surgery on his right knee as well. The One Direction star had a long standing problem in his left knee and in early 2014, he underwent a major operation in the United States for correcting it. However, as the problem had been old, he had overcompensated for his left leg with his right one and this has created problems in it. Therefore, it also requires surgery now.
Referring to the problem as nasty, the star revealed that there is a joint issue in his family because of which the bones don’t sit properly in their sockets. He said that this is applicable not just to his legs, but also his shoulders and ankles. He said that the entire process was very excruciating as he cannot even do pushups without experiencing pain. The 24-year old said that he was lucky he had gone for rehab when he did.
Currently, the star is busy in the promotions for his debut solo album called Flickr that was released on 20th October, Friday. In addition, he is also going to embark on a world tour next year in March. Due to his busy schedule, it is uncertain as to when the Irish star will be able to have the operation. During an interview, the singer also revealed that most of the songs that are included in his album are about one person; someone he had had a secret relationship with recently.
He explained that it was his aim to live his life out of the public eye as much as possible because he doesn’t want people asking him loads of questions as this just makes him uncomfortable. He asserted that he wasn’t very good at talking about his emotions, but he found it easier to write things down on paper and putting them in a song. Niall is currently ‘extremely single’ and is no longer with the unnamed person and he also insisted that the rumors about his romance with Olympia Valance, the Neighbours Actress, weren’t true.
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Milwaukee Rampage Sporting Chance Non Profit
HOMEABOUT USSporting DirectorYouth F.C.History of the Professional TeamThe 1994 SeasonThe 1995 SeasonThe 1996 SeasonThe 1997 SeasonThe 1998 SeasonThe 1999 SeasonThe 2000 SeasonThe 2001 SeasonThe 2002 SeasonSporting BoardCommunity Involvement BoardFundraising BoardEVENTSFundraising EventsSoccer CampsProgrammingMEDIAWorld Cup PodcastsDONATE
The 2000 Season
Coach Boro Sucevic
42 Points 16 Goals 10 Assists
Leading Scorer - Digital Takawira
Most Goals - Digital Takawira
Most Assists - Steve Bernal
17-8-1 1.60 GAA
Top Goalkeeper - Dan Popik
The Milwaukee Rampage completed its eighth season in 2000, and once again thrilled soccer fans from all over Wisconsin by advancing all the way to the A-League's "Final Four" for the second time in club history. After failing to reach the playoffs for the first time in 1999, A-League "Coach of the Year" candidate Boro Sucevic guided the Rampage to another scintillating run to the league semi-finals. Led on the field by the reigning A-League MVP Digital Takawira, the explosive Rampage qualified for the playoffs and knocked off the Nashville Metros and the top-seeded Richmond Kickers en route to its third "Final Four" appearance. Rampage head coach Boro Sucevic guided the Rampage to a complete turnaround in 2000, as the team finished the regular season with a regular season franchise-record 18 wins. After a disappointing 13-15 season last year, the Rampage won more home games than any other team in the league that year (14), including a team-record 13 straight victories at Uihlein Soccer Park. Forwards Digital Takawira (16 goals) and Brian Loftin (10 goals) helped lead the team's highly explosive offense to 69 goals, second only to the Minnesota Thunder (74). Milwaukee's 69 goals were the most since the 1994 inaugural season, when the Rampage tallied an unbelievable 81 goals. Forward Digital Takawira ended the season tied for the A-League scoring title, as he accumulated 42 points on 16 goals and 10 assists. It marked the first time ever that a Rampage player won the scoring title. The two-time Major League Soccer All-Star amassed his 42 points in just 21 games, while Charleston Battery forward Paul Conway needed 26 games to score his 42 points...The Rampage set several franchise records in 2000, including most wins in a season (18), most home wins (14), longest home winning streak (13) and highest average attendance (3,654). The Rampage also led the A-League by scoring three or more goals in 16 of its 28 regular season games, and a league-record 13 players scored at least two goals this year...Rookie goalkeeper Dan Popik picked up his franchise-record 17th win of the season against Tennessee, and finished the season with a 17-8-1 record and a 1.60 goals-against average. The former U.S. Under-20 National Team 'keeper finished the year tied for second among A-League goalkeepers with his 17 wins. The 21-year old native of Long Island, New York, is the youngest goalkeeper ever to play for the Rampage...Defender Chris Jahr missed only two games during the season, after being invited to play with the Chicago Fire of the MLS. Despite missing the two road games, Jahr logged more minutes than any other field player in 2000, with 2,188 (Bernal was just three minutes behind at 2,185, and midfielder Nate Houser was third at 2,104). Popik led the team by playing in 2,306 out of a possible 2,540 minutes...Midfielder Jason Willan finished third in team scoring with 19 points (6 goals, 7 assists). The veteran from Menomonee Falls became the team's all-time leader in games played with 136...Forward Todd Dusosky continued his impressive play and notched a goal and an assist in the first half of the game against Indiana...Defenders Alen Soso, David Marshall and Josh Provan logged every minute of every game during a weekend series. Provan was one of just six players to appear in a team-leading 26 games in 2000.
Follow us on social media for all out latest news, updates and event information
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Dietary experiments in mice point the way to early detection of cancer development in humans
Published Monday 23 May 2016 Published Mon 23 May 2016
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the Western world, mainly because it is usually diagnosed too late. Finding ways to identify those people who are at increased risk of developing colon cancer is therefore crucial, a researcher will tell the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics.
Marjaana Pussila, a PhD student in the 'DNA mismatch repair and cancer' group at the University of Helsinki, Finland, will explain how her team's work in genetically-engineered mice has helped to reveal the role played by a Western-style diet, rich in fat and low in fibre, vitamin D and folate, in the development of colorectal cancer. Interactions between genetic and environmental factors, including diet, are thought to play a crucial role in its development, but the earliest changes in normal colonic mucosa that could lead to early detection and prevention of cancer development remain to be elucidated.
Using a mouse model of Lynch syndrome, the most common form of inherited colon cancer, the researchers carried out a long-term diet experiment. The Lynch syndrome mouse carries a mutation in MIh1, a mismatch repair gene, which is one of the main susceptibility genes in the disease. Each time cells divide, DNA has to replicate itself. It is during this process that mistakes can be made, leading to genomic instability and potentially to cancer. Lynch syndrome carriers have inherited one healthy and one mutated mismatch repair gene, and about an 80% risk of developing cancer.
"We wanted to be able to spot cancer-predicting events in the colon mucosa before tumours developed," Ms Pussila explains. "For this reason, we decided to use a mouse model which was already known to have a susceptibility to colon cancer. We reasoned that in mutation carriers requiring just a second hit of the inherited susceptibility gene for malignant transformation, it might be possible to detect the earliest changes, perhaps even preceding the second hit, and distinguish these from alterations occurring later in cancer development.
"Interestingly, our results showed that the gene expression profiles of normal mucosa in those mice that developed colon cancer were very different from those of the mice that did not. This seems to indicate that there is a colon-wide effect of events that predispose to cancer. And the Western-style diet seemed to be a severe risk factor, since 80% of cancers were detected in WD fed mice," says Ms Pussila.
Surprisingly, no typical Lynch syndrome tumour characteristics, such as lack of MIh1 protein or microsatellite instability - a kind of genetic hyper-mutability - were detected, although MIh1 gene expression was already severely decreased in the mucosa. This suggests that a decrease in MIh1 gene expression may be sufficient to induce the development of tumours, even where the DNA mismatch repair mechanism that recognises and corrects mistakes in DNA replication is still operating well enough to avoid microsatellite instability.
"It has been generally assumed that the development of cancer in Lynch syndrome carriers needs an inactivation of both the mismatch repair gene alleles, or pairs, involved, thus causing microsatellite instability. However, our studies have shown that this is not necessarily the case, since a severely decreased amount of MIh1 without loss of the second allele and without microsatellite instability appears to be enough to provoke the development of tumours," says Ms Pussila.
"Now, by studying the gene expression profiles of Mlh1 low mucosa we hope to be able to further identify cancer predisposing changes which may help in the early detection of tumours," Ms Pussila will conclude.
Beating addiction: Why our brains may struggle to ignore alcohol, food cues A first-of-its-kind experiment shows that ignoring addiction-related cues is something that we can control by exercising executive brain functions. Read now
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Genes vs. lifestyle: Study 'undermines fatalistic view of dementia' New research suggests that making healthful lifestyle choices can offset the genetic risk of developing Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. Read now
Cancer / Oncology Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Source: European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG)
Visit our Colorectal Cancer category page for the latest news on this subject, or sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest updates on Colorectal Cancer.
European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG. "Dietary experiments in mice point the way to early detection of cancer development in humans." Medical News Today. MediLexicon, Intl., 23 May. 2016. Web.
European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG. (2016, May 23). "Dietary experiments in mice point the way to early detection of cancer development in humans." Medical News Today. Retrieved from
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Harold Frederick Derks
Harold F. Derks was born 91 years ago in Grand Rapids, and he died on February 9, 2019. Harold spent most of his life in West Michigan. He graduated from Central High School and served in the Army as an MP in New Mexico at Los Alamos. After his stint in the service, he went to GRJC and Michigan State College on the GI bill, becoming a civil engineer. Later, he attended Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and became an ordained Methodist minister. The Derks family moved to Holland, MI, in 1963 where Harold took a position as the Associate Minister at First Methodist Church. He returned to engineering after a couple of years in the ministry, becoming Holland’s City Engineer for several years, then working for the State of Michigan Department of Transportation as the Contracts Administrator, building roads and bridges. He stayed active at his new church home, Fountain Street Church, participating in GAS (Gentlemen Around Sixty, well past their sixties!), and serving on committees. He was also an active member of Golden K Kiwanis for a number of years.
Harold was passionate about: swimming (he took many prizes in Masters competitions), MSU sports, making pottery, and his family. He was preceded in death by his parents (Helen and James Derks), two brothers (Robert and Dean Derks) and two sisters (Laura Swartz and Dorothy Huizinga). He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carol Sennema Derks; three children: Margi Derks Peterson, Jim (Carol), and Bill (Colleen) Derks; and seven grandchildren: Alice Peterson (David Server), Halcyon Derks (Jeff Martin), Daedalian (Karla) Canela-Derks, Torri Derks, Abby (Adam) Troyer, Keaton and Cooper Derks; his sister Shirley (Schuitema) Tindall, sister-in-laws Mary (Sennema) Scovel and Louise (Raum) Derks, brother-in-law David Sennema; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends.
Harold was “the hugging grandpa”, as described by one of his grandchildren, and his genial and generous spirit uplifted many lives. He will be missed. A memorial service will be held in the sanctuary at Fountain Street Church, 24 Fountain St, NE, Grand Rapids, MI, at 2:00 p.m. on February 26. All are invited to a reception in the social hall following the service to greet the family and share stories. Contributions may be made to Fountain Street Church or to Hospice of Michigan in lieu of flowers.
Donations may be made to:
Fountain Street Church
24 Fountain St NE, Grand Rapids MI 49503
Web: https://www.fountainstreet.org/
Hospice of Michigan
989 Spaulding SE, Ada MI 49301
Web: https://www.hom.org/
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The Best Foods to Fuel Your Body
We know that a healthy diet is important for our wellbeing. But what, exactly, is a healthy diet? Everyone seems to have a different answer: One friend eats like a caveman. Another pal is strictly protein. A third has sworn…
We know that a healthy diet is important for our wellbeing. But what, exactly, is a healthy diet? Everyone seems to have a different answer: One friend eats like a caveman. Another pal is strictly protein. A third has sworn off of gluten for good. In a world full of countless trendy diets, conflicting advice, and widespread misinformation, it can be difficult to separate food fad from fact. So, for this Cup of Calm, we went straight to the source and asked the experts to answer five common questions about nutrition. Here’s what they had to say:
Is gluten really all that bad?
Answer: No.
Despite the popularity of gluten-free diets, gluten—a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye—is only a problem if you’re part of the 6 percent of the population that has celiac disease, a wheat allergy, or gluten intolerance. In fact, a study published in the medical journal Digestion found that 86 percent of people with self-diagnosed gluten sensitivity can actually tolerate it without any side effects. So, why does this myth persist? Linda Antinoro, a Registered Dietician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, says that could be because when most people cut gluten, they’re actually cleaning up their diet. “A diet with a lot of refined carbs like cookies, cakes, and white breads—which contain gluten—is not healthy for you.” However, gluten-free products tend to have fewer nutrients and more saturated fat, sugar, and salt than regular food items. You’re better off focusing on adding more vegetables, fruit, and nonprocessed food to your diet, rather than subtracting gluten.
How important is protein, really?
Answer: Very important!
Protein provides energy and helps us feel full. It’s especially impactful at breakfast: A protein-packed breakfast can help you manage your weight, stabilize your blood sugar, and feel focused throughout the day. While protein is vital, don’t go overboard with it. “This is not an open invitation to eat fatty cuts of meat,” says Antinoro. She recommends fish, lean poultry, beans, nut butters, and other low-fat protein sources. Other healthy protein-rich foods include Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, and eggs.
Are five servings of fruits and vegetables a day enough?
Answer: Not quite.
While federal guidelines used to push “Five a Day,” recent research from Imperial College London suggests that ten or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day is optimum to prevent cancer, heart disease, stroke, and even premature death. So, the more servings the better! (Here’s a guide to serving sizes from the American Heart Association.) “I just keep pushing [fruits and vegetables] as much as I can,” says Antinoro. If you’re trying to lose weight, choose more vegetables than fruit and skip the fruit juice, which won’t fill you up and can cause your blood sugar levels to spike.
Are juice fasts good for you?
Answer: It depends.
Nutritionists generally don’t approve of juice fasts because they lack fiber and protein and are not a long-term solution. That said, if it’s a short-lived, temporary practice that you use to jump-start a healthy lifestyle, “it’s probably fine,” says Antinoro. Dr. Adam Perlman, meQuilibrium’s Chief Medical Officer and Co-founder, agrees, but emphasizes the need for a whole foods diet post-fast. “If you do a fast and then go back to the unhealthy, processed food and a sedentary lifestyle, then I don’t think you’re doing much for yourself,” he says. Put another way: “Even if a juice fast gets you rolling, you still have to adopt healthy eating habits,” Antinoro adds.
Should I be eating Paleo?
Answer: Maybe.
The meat-heavy Paleo diet attempts to revive the diet of our ancient, Paleolithic ancestors. Also known as the “Caveman Diet,” it’s been popular for the past decade or so. But is a Paleo diet actually good for you? “I certainly agree that taking sugar out of your diet, by and large, is great,” says Perlman. However, some Paleo guidelines are more controversial—for example, most dietitians are not down with skipping legumes (like peanuts, chickpeas, and soybeans), which are a good source of protein and essential amino acids. At the end of the day, though, both Antinoro and Perlman agree that Paleo is one of the healthier diets of recent years. “Anything that has people doing more fruits, vegetables, and seafood and less processed foods is fine,” says Antinoro. There’s research that supports this, with randomized controlled trials showing that people on the Paleo diet have better glucose control and more weight loss than those on other diets.
Ultimately, the healthiest “diet” will only work if it’s sustainable. Instead of plunging into a restrictive diet, think more broadly about making consistent nutritious choices like avoiding soda and fried foods, swapping salt for spices, and packing each meal with colorful fruits and veggies. The key is to focus on healthy choices that work for you.
Hannah Wallace is a Portland-based journalist and editor who writes about integrative medicine, sustainable agriculture, and wine for Food & Wine, Vogue, Fast Company, and other publications. You can follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @Hannahmw23.
Posted by Hannah Wallace on September 11, 2018 in: Cup of Calm
American Heart Association, amino acids, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Caveman Diet, celiac disease, Dr. Adam Perlman, Five a Day, fruit, glucose control, Gluten, gluten free, gluten intolerance, guide to serving sizes, Healthy Diet, Juice Fasts, legumes, Linda Antinoro, medical journal Digestion, non-processed food, Paleo, Protein, salt, saturated fat, sugar, vegetables, wheat allergy, whole foods diet post-fast
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Off topic-Let's talk Aaron Hernandez
Click HERE (not the image) to watch Liz on FOX CT
AH's High School Pic
We interupt this Manson Family blog to discuss another interesting case going on. If you did't already know, Eviliz lives in a tiny sleepy community in Bristol, Connecticut. No you can't come and visit.
Ex-New England Patroits player Aron Hernandez is from Bristol CT and he is in one heap of trouble.
Hernandez's crime partners are also from Bristol. After being accessories in the shooting of Lloyd in MA, the two crime partners hurried back to Bristol . The newest twist in the case is - apparently the two crime partners dumped the gun into beautiful Pine Lake.
All week we in Bristol have had the CT State Police Divers and Massachusetts State Police Divers searching the lake. I and Eviliz Jr. kept vigil like the girl on the corner for the entire week of searching. We hung out with all the press and made several friends. Bristol was besieged by every news outlet you can name. Since the Evilizes are beautiful and personable, while at the lake we made several media friends (shout out to my favorite reporter Tony Terzi from Fox CT News). We were lucky enough to blend right in with the press and listen to Sergeant Master Chris McCarthy give the last interview of the day. McCarthy told us the search for the day was over and no gun was located. What happens next is riding on CT and MA state police's decision.
It's a tangled web Hernandez wove and things are constantly changing, but here is a snapshot of all the current and past investigations into Hernandez's alleged criminal behavior.
#1.) New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, whose Massachusetts home has been visited twice by police this week after a man’s body was found in an industrial park about a mile away, allegedly shot a friend in the face in February, according to a new lawsuit.
According to the suit, Hernandez was driving from Tootsie’s strip club in Miami to Palm Beach on Feb. 13 with a group of people when an argument ensued between Alexander Bradley, the suit’s plaintiff, and the football player. gun that Hernandez “was not legally licensed to have” discharged, the suit stated. The bullet hit Bradley, 30, causing him to lose his right eye, and resulting in numerous surgeries, difficulty eating and other damages that are “permanent in nature,” according to the suit.
A gun that Hernandez “was not legally licensed to have” discharged, the suit stated. The bullet hit Bradley, 30, causing him to lose his right eye, and resulting in numerous surgeries, difficulty eating and other damages that are “permanent in nature,” according to the suit.
#2.) When executing a search warrant at Hernandez's uncle's house in Bristol CT, investigators found an SUV in the garage that they say is linked to an unsolved July 2012 double homicide in Boston that took place outside a nightclub. The two victims were shot in a drive-by shooting. The vehicle was impounded. Hernandez has not been charged with anything in that case, but a law enforcement source told CNN that Boston police are "very active" -- and making progress -- in trying to connect the dots that could link him to the shooting.
#3.) Hernandez was allegedly involved in a bar fight in Gainesville, Florida, in 2007 over an unpaid bill. At the time of the bar fight, Hernandez was 17 and was not charged with a crime. A bouncer claimed that Hernandez struck him in the side of the head, injuring his eardrum.
Aaron Hernandez is in a world of trouble, it appears, and things seem to get worse for the former NFL star almost every day.
Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure:
Aaron Hernandez went in as a tight end and will come out a wide reciever.
Posted by eviliz at 4:25:00 PM 19 comments
Labels: Aaron Hernandez
Spahn census story
http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jul/30/magazine/tm-61410
POPULATION: 1 Old Rancher and The Manson Family
VERY FIRST PERSON
Thirty Years Ago, a Census Taker Had a Brush With Weirdness on the Spahn Ranch
July 30, 2000 |VIRGINIA LEAPER | Virginia Leaper is a freelance writer, columnist and radio commentator
Before mail-in census forms, there were census takers who went door to door, asking questions about marriage, family, children and ethnicity. Thirty years ago, I was one of them. Just before the end of my final training period, in 1970, our instructor gave out assignments.
We were to cover territories nearest our homes, and I drew the Twin Lakes section of Chatsworth. In those days, it was a place of Indian trails, boulders, rotten roads and individuals whose names in the register bore annotations such as "he carries a gun," "don't approach suddenly" and "very fierce dog."
Almost as an afterthought, our instructor told me, "By the way, you also have to cover the Spahn Ranch."
People gasped. The 1969 murders of actress Sharon Tate and six others by Charles Manson and his devotees were still fresh in our minds. The plot had been hatched at the Spahn Movie Ranch, where the near-blind 81-year-old owner, George Spahn, had been conned into allowing "the Family" to live.
Manson and five others were in custody, awaiting trial, but many of his followers were still living at the ranch. I had seen them in town on their "garbage runs"; disheveled and glowering, they would collect discarded fruits and vegetables from behind markets. Although their guru was detained, they believed it was only a matter of time before he would be back with them.
"Of course," the census instructor continued, "you don't have to get the names of all those hippies up there. Just the permanent ones. And you can take a policeman along."
"Fat chance!" I said to myself. As a writer, here was my opportunity to venture into the Manson stronghold and maybe dredge up an angle that hadn't been covered by the hordes of journalists. I had no intention of taking the fuzz along.
In addition, George Spahn was a neighbor of sorts. The now- rundown ranch, where cowboys and Indians had once galloped in B-grade movies, was just a few rock-strewn, chaparral-covered hills behind our place, across the Southern Pacific railroad tracks. Before the Manson people arrived, in the late '60s, we'd seen the old man riding around town in his old truck with "Spahn's Movie Ranch" on the side, driven by his ranch manager and sidekick, Ruby Pearl.
But after the Manson Family moved in, we didn't see much of Spahn. According to rumor, the young women kept him occupied with food and sex to the point that he neither knew nor cared what was going on in his home. Ruby Pearl was still on the scene, but her responsibilities as manager ended at dusk, when she went home. The only other member of the Spahn household was the ranch hand, Donald "Shorty" Shea, but he had disappeared soon after the murders. It was thought that the part-time movie cowboy had gone after an acting job, as he had done in the past.
I had spoken to Spahn only once during the decade since we moved to Chatsworth. Our young sons and their pals loved to roam the hills, where deer, foxes, bobcats and the occasional mountain lion lived. We were glad the boys were enjoying nature, and tried not to worry too much about rattlesnakes and the like. But one thing out there really worried me--the kids had discovered an uncovered well--or was it a mine shaft? They reported that anyone could have stumbled and fallen in. It was so deep, they said, that when they dropped rocks into it, they never heard them hit bottom. From their description, it seemed the shaft was located on the Spahn Ranch, and I called Spahn to complain. He promised to take care of it, but as long as we lived there, I don't believe he did.
It was a hot day in April when I turned off the old Santa Susana Pass Road and drove the couple of miles to the Spahn property. There, under the broiling sun, a sagging "Movie Ranch" sign led into a dusty yard and a cluster of ancient buildings still sporting names such as Longhorn Saloon and Rock City Cafe. Two filthy horse wranglers eyed me as I stepped out briskly, juggling a 3-pound census satchel, my handbag, and a clipboard and pen.
"Where can I find Mr. Spahn?" I asked.
One of them pointed toward a building. I knocked on the door, and after a considerable delay, it was opened by a rather scruffy woman in a ragged skirt and man's shirt. I introduced myself and asked to see Mr. Spahn. She eyed me coldly for a moment and then stepped back, leaving the door ajar. I walked in.
The room was so dark that I couldn't see a thing at first. My other senses more than made up for the deficiency, however. There were smells--indescribable cooking smells, animal smells, dust. And there was a loud buzzing; flies were everywhere.
I eventually made out a round table in one corner that held the remains of a meal; amid the mess, two large cats sat scrounging tidbits. Along one wall was an old sofa on which a large saddle rested. And at the far end of the room, I could detect a stove and sink, both black with age and grime.
As my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw two young women, who appeared to be cooking and eyeing me suspiciously. I could now distinguish the seated figure of George Spahn, sporting his cowboy hat and dark glasses, talking on the phone. The octogenarian, I noted, was still quite a handsome man.
The woman who had answered the door approached me, hands on hips. She was small, skinny and freckled, with red hair. She looked vaguely familiar. Had I seen her in town? (I later realized that this was probably Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, who had been assigned by Manson to take care of Spahn, to be his eyes, his assistant, his bedfellow, and to report on all his conversations and ensure that no one got close enough to spoil the Family's setup at the ranch.)
The woman stared at me. "Whaddya want?" she asked.
I stated my business and she laughed derisively. The two girls who were cooking joined in. "You want my name?" the redhead said. "I'm Greta Garbo. And that's Marilyn Monroe," she said, pointing.
The door opened, and the two surly cowboys came in. "She's from the census," the skinny woman told them, and then said to me: "This here's Humphrey Bogart."
I was happy to remember my instructions: "You don't have to get the names of all those hippies up there. Just the permanent ones."
By now, Spahn had hung up the phone and I approached him.
"Mr. Spahn," I said, "I'm here to help you fill out your census form. I'll try to make it as brief as possible."
Spahn smiled and nodded, and I proceeded to ask him all the questions about himself and his living quarters. He answered willingly enough. The red-haired woman moved closer to him, fixing me with a cold stare.
While this was going on, more women and men entered the house. It was getting a bit crowded, not to mention fetid. I finished the questions about Spahn and his house and, having decided to narrow the other "permanent residents" down to one, I asked about the ranch hand.
Spahn didn't answer right away. The room was suddenly very still, except for the buzzing flies. I thought maybe he hadn't heard me.
"You have a ranch hand who lives here, don't you, Mr. Spahn? Is his name Shea?"
Something caused me to look up. The eyes of perhaps 10 people were all focused on me.
I had a sudden flash of what I represented to these people. Not the war-protesting, civil-rights-advocating liberal I believed myself to be, but a personification of the Enemy. I was someone of the generation from which they had cut all ties, a member of the Establishment and a person conducting a government survey who might just be a police spy. I thought of the Manson Family's epithet, PIG, written in blood at one of the murder sites, and I regretted my decision not to take a police escort.
After what seemed like a very long pause, Spahn answered, simply, that Shea wasn't there anymore. I hastily got Spahn's signature and, with trembling hands, put my materials in my satchel and turned to go.
Posted by eviliz at 12:48:00 AM 5 comments
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Greens: ‘Boris either misled Londoners or didn’t understand his Barclays deal’
December 11, 2013 - Martin Hoscik@martinhoscik
City Hall’s Greens say the Mayor either “misled” Londoners or didn’t understand the Barclays deal. Photo: MayorWatch
Mayor Boris Johnson has been accused of either “misleading” Londoners or failing to understand his bike hire sponsorship contract after it was announced Barclays is walking away from the deal three years earlier than expected.
On Tuesday it emerged that the bank’s association with the Mayor’s flagship cycle hire scheme would end in 2015.
Transport for London has denied the bank is quitting early and claims “the current sponsorship deal with Barclays ends in two years time”.
The original £25m contract, signed in 2010, was to end in 2015, however in 2011 both City Hall and TfL announced the deal had been extended until 2018 with the bank committing a further £25m.
A joint press release issued in July 2011 stated: “Barclays have agreed to invest a further £25m to extend its sponsorship to 2018, including the Phase 3 western expansion from 2013.”
The Mayor has since confirmed both the revised end date and total contract value of £50m on a number of occasions.
In February 2013 he told London Assembly Member Darren Johnson: “TfL will receive £50 million over eight years, and will continue to operate the contract as agreed” and also that month described the deal as being “worth £50 million over eight years.”
Assembly Member Johnson said the discrepancy between the Mayor’s answers and TfL’s latest statement “means that he either he was misleading us or he simply didn’t know.”
Mr Johnson said the loss of sponsorship money risked the Mayor having to divert “a lot of the funding needed to create safer junctions and quality cycle routes” to increase public subsidy of the hire scheme.
The Mayor’s office have been asked to comment.
Tagged With: Cycle Hire
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Mystery Of 5,200-Year-Old Scottish Carved Stone Balls
Carved stone balls from Scotland are an enigmatic class of objects and they have been the subject of much speculation by scientists over the years.
Mysterious artefacts seem to date mainly to the Late Neolithic period (c. 3000 – 2500 BC), and are made of various stones ranging from sandstone to granite. They are all of a relative similar size and are decorated with carved evenly-spaced patterns of circular bosses or knobs around the surface of the sphere. The designs vary with the majority being based around a series of six bosses, but the number of bosses varies from 3-160. Some carved balls are more skilfully manufactured than others, and a rare few have additional decoration. All show an appreciation for symmetry in the design.
Three Scottish examples, in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow
Over 400 of these unique objects have been found, nearly all of them in the Scotland, with the majority found in Aberdeenshire, however, some samples were also discovered in Britain and Ireland.
Carved stone balls, classed as Neolithic
Various theories have been put forward to explain their use or significance.
They are presumed to have been non-utilitarian objects with a symbolic or social significance to communities, and are most frequently interpreted as being indicators of power or prestige. In 2013 a carved stone ball with six bosses was found under a buttress of a Late Neolithic structure during excavations at the Ness of Brodgar, Orkney. The find location suggesting to the excavators that it might have been a special deposit perhaps associated with the construction of the building.
Left: Example found in Glasgow/Right:The exceptionally elaborately decorated ball from Towie in Aberdeenshire, dated from 3200–2500 BC
Many researchers suggest that the balls were actually used as weapons, and others think that they were used as weights for fishing nets; some suggested that the objects had a ceremonial role in various rituals.
Many of the balls have not had their discovery site recorded and most are found as a result of agricultural activity.
However, none of these theories gained wide acceptance, and the function of these special, carved stone objects from the Late-Neolithic-Scotland era remains unknown to this day.
ancient artefacts
carved stone balls
Neolithic era
Scotland.
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New Innovation challenges and pilots for safetytech startups
The Lloyd's Register Safety Accelerator has opened a call to find innovative solutions to improve how complex safety risks are detected and managed in challenging industrial environments. This latest round of innovation challenges from the Safety Accelerator is designed to improve safety of life and assets in heavy industries.
Marine, offshore and energy jobs are some of the most dangerous in the world, where the consequences of errors are high, potentially deadly. Developments in technologies such as computer vision, artificial intelligence, and wearables are opening up the opportunity to radically improve how safety risks are identified and managed, from human factors to operational issues.
Up to four startup winners will receive trial funding for their solution as well as the opportunity to collaborate with commercial partners to accelerate the development of their technologies. Partners for this challenge round include: Scorpio, Pacific International Lines, Infratek and Odfjell Drilling.
The winning entrepreneurs will retain 100 percent of their IP, as well as receive access to domain expertise and entrepreneurial support to help bring their solution to market though support from Lloyd's Register and Plug and Play respectively.
The four challenge areas and partners are:
Marine Incident Insights with Scorpio, a leading global shipping company. This challenge seeks to help ship operators gather and analyse data about crew behaviour and the onboard work environment, whilst safeguarding user privacy, to develop a deeper understanding of why wrong decisions happen and ultimately to improve processes, training and staffing to reduce risk of human error incidents.
Determining Master's and Crew's Psychological and Emotional Health with Pacific International Lines (PIL), the 9th largest containership operator in the world. This challenge seeks innovative methods to assess the psychological and emotional wellbeing of individual crew members in real-time whilst they are onboard and before they are about to go on duty, whilst protecting user privacy, to ensure the safety and health of the concerned seafarer as well as the safety of others onboard, the vessels and the marine environment.
AI-Driven Real-Time Error Detection with Infratek, a leading total supplier in the Nordic region in the fields of electrical grids, lighting and railway systems. This challenge seeks innovative proposals for solutions to offer real-time feedback to infrastructure workers to ensure a job is done completely and correctly before leaving a site, to improve safety for the worker and third parties.
Video Detection of Physical Asset Changes to Prevent Falling Objects with Odfjell Drilling, an international drilling, well service and engineering company. This challenge seeks to enable oil and gas drilling operators to use drilling sites' existing closed-circuit camera network to detect significant changes to a rig's infrastructure that could result in falling objects injuring workers and damaging the asset.
Richard Clegg, Chief Executive, Lloyd's Register Foundation, said:
"We are delighted to launch the Innovation in Detecting Safety Risks in Critical Infrastructure Industries' Challenge Round which is focussed on harnessing new and emerging technologies to identify safety risks, from human factors such as mental health which could affect a seafarers' ability to perform their job safely, to operational factors, such as the potential for falling objects from assets.
We are excited to support startups developing solutions to these challenges, which could not only solve these use cases, but also have potential to significantly improve safety across a wide range of commercial industries.”
Maurizio Pilu, Vice President of Digital Innovation, Lloyd's Register, said:
”Digital technology is transforming the world in which we and our industry partners operate, providing the opportunity for develop radical, life-saving tools and approaches. The Safety Accelerator brings together startups and the industry to work together to explore these opportunities and test innovative digital solutions to some of the toughest safety and risk challenges, and accelerate the adoption of cutting edge safetytech to create safer working environments, and a safer world.”
The deadline for applications is 19 October, 2018. Shortlisted entries will be invited to a live pitch and Q&A with a panel of judges taking place in London on 28 November 2018. The launch of trials for successful applicants is scheduled to take place in February 2019.
The Safety Accelerator is a joint initiative between Lloyd's Register, one of the world's leading providers of professional services for engineering and technology and Lloyd's Register Foundation, a charitable foundation helping to protect life and property by supporting engineering-related education, public engagement and the application of research, which is funding the programme.
The Safety Accelerator is run in partnership with Plug and Play, the largest global innovation platform and most active venture capital fund in Silicon Valley.
For more information about the Lloyd's Register Safety Accelerator, including how to become an industry challenge partner, or applying to solve a challenge, please visit: https://www.lr.org/en/safety-accelerator/
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TUCS /
January 2015 /
Monica Warhol is Redefining Southwestern Art
by Suzie Agrillo
Monica Warhol
Professional artist Monica Warhol is fiercely loyal, agreeably stimulating and attractive. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Warhol moved to Tucson 13 years ago. Her sprawling ranch-style house on the northeast side doubles as a studio where she paints. It boasts a trampoline, an herb garden and a gallery of her original art. Although she is distantly related to the famous artist Andy Warhol, (his father and her grandfather were brothers), she downplays that connection, preferring to become successful on her own merit. She emphasizes, “It’s not about my name; it’s about a lot more than that.”
According to Warhol, she did not choose art; art chose her. “I was born an artist,” she says. The first award she ever won was in kindergarten for drawing a clown. She confides that at age 15, “I used to cut high school to go to the Art Institute, in Pittsburgh.” Warhol finished high school and trained professionally in fine art at Point Park University. There, she learned the basics, to which she adds her self-taught creative adaptations. “My art is completely organic; it comes out of my soul,” Warhol says. She adds, “I like flowers—I don’t like bugs at all. I’m a city girl. I’m a policeman’s daughter.”
Warhol is mother to six children, ranging from 21 months to 22 years old. She had her first child at age 17. “That’s how I could get the love I wanted,” she says. “If it wasn’t going to be from one end, you have to get it from the other end.” Raised in a middle-class family, her work ethic is derived from her father, who often worked two or three jobs. “I was raised to work. I know I’m a mom, obviously, but I don’t really identify myself as a mom,” she notes. “I’m an artist who has little people. It’s not my job to tell them who to be. It’s my job to be their training wheels and to catch them when they fall. It’s my job to lead by example.”
In spite of the effort she puts into her work, the rebellious Warhol doesn’t care if people like her art. She dismisses any criticism with a “let it go” philosophy, saying, “Do not care what people say about you. That’s really hard to do sometimes, because I live it. Do your best. Who cares? Who are they? What have they done?”
While bringing her visions to fruition independent of public acclaim is her goal, Warhol has garnered a strong following, including jet-set celebrity musician Lenny Kravitz. Her present runaway success has been a hard-fought battle. With humility and candor, she reveals, “I’ve lost my home, my vehicles and had nasty relationships.” Now she enjoys basking in the glow of her success, but she is not star struck, sharing, “It’s not about fame and it’s not about the money.”
Beyond her preoccupation with art, Warhol is focused on the premise that we are all in dire need of an updated sense of morality. She opines that a lot of young people exhibit a sense of entitlement, a trait she considers unattractive. Appreciating people that are honest and kind, she has an active social conscience. “I’m a giver,” she proclaims, and donates art to many local charities.
To stay fit, Warhol runs races, dances, jumps on the trampoline and doesn’t eat carbs. “I just busted out a half marathon. I’m such a loyal friend, and my girlfriend didn’t want to run the race alone. I wasn’t well trained to whip out 13.1, and I wasn’t expecting to finish it, but I sure did, and with a good time, two hours and 15 minutes.” Another hobby is dance. “I love to dance, I’m really good at it. I just got tap shoes on eBay and am excited about brushing up on my moves,” she says. One of Warhol’s favorite restaurants is Sushi on Oracle. “I love sushi. That’s how I like to celebrate when my painting’s done. I like to look at my art and feel pride. It took me 30-some years to say, ‘I’m proud of myself.’”
Warhol’s sense of pride is also reflected in her appearance. While she was overweight and teased as a child, now she is fit, but still doesn’t like to wear short dresses. “If I wear a dress, I prefer it to be a long dress, nothing above the knee, or it makes me nervous. It’s not that I look bad or anything, it just makes me feel exposed. I feel naked, and I don’t like that.” She does enjoy wearing really high heels. Her motto when it comes to shoes is, “If the shoe fits and looks good, you wear it. Then you just sit a lot.”
Nonetheless, this art whiz does have time to take in the beauty of the desert. An avid fan of Tucson’s sunrises, sunsets, mountains and the “crazy wildlife,” Warhol reveals an audacious preview of what is on the horizon when she says, “I’m totally redesigning Southwest Art. It is happening, and I won’t stop until I carry out my mission.”
Warhol takes private commissions and will paint anything, any size, conservative or pop. Locals and tourists can see her work exhibited at the Simon Fine Art Gallery, in Tucson. She is planning an expansion in 2015 to the second floor of the gallery, where the furniture and chandelier will all be custom made by Warhol and other local artists.
A prolific writer, her website includes a blog and favorite quotes, such as “It’s all about the journey, because you can’t take the destination with you.” Warhol’s journey includes an exuberant sense of determination. She counsels her children, “If you want something, don’t take no for an answer. You make it happen. And if it doesn’t happen, it’s because you didn’t try hard enough.”
For private commissions, email Monica@MonicaWarhol.com. For more information, visit MonicaWarhol.com.
Suzie Agrillo is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings Tucson.
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Colorado Cub Scout Removed From Den After Grilling State Senator on Guns
Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts salute during a Memorial Day ceremony in Linden, Michigan on Oct. 11, 2017.Jake May / The Flint Journal - MLive.com via AP
Oct. 20, 2017, 5:56 PM UTC / Updated Oct. 20, 2017, 7:11 PM UTC
By Chelsea Bailey
A Colorado Cub Scout has been kicked out of his den after asking a state senator tough questions about the current political landscape in America.
Eleven-year-old Ames Mayfield said he was “heartbroken” after he was told he’d have to find a new den because he confronted state Sen. Vicki Marble over her stance on gun control.
“I’m really heartbroken that my den leader, which I felt I had a pretty good relationship with, decided to kick me out,” he told NBC Denver affiliate, 9 News. “I’m a big fan of Cub Scouts, and I think it’s one of my favorite things to do.”
Related: Boy Scouts Will Admit Girls, Allow Them to Earn Eagle Scout Rank
Lori Mayfield filmed a video of her son’s exchange with Marble, a Republican, at a Cub Scout event in Denver last week. In the video, the fifth grader confidently reads his typed questions while Marble listens.
“Why on earth would you want someone who beats their wife to have access to a gun?” he asks.
“Why on earth would you want someone who beats their wife to have access to a gun?”
Later he says, “There’s something wrong in our country where Republicans believe it’s a right to own a gun, but a privilege to have health care.”
Lori Mayfield told 9 News that she knows critics will assume she was using her son to try to score political points, but insisted that the research and questions all came from Ames.
“I don’t think any child should be banned from coming back for asking tough questions,” she said. “There were kids who asked about fracking, about the border wall, about fossil fuels — in the mix of that, it didn’t seem like gun control was that different.”
In an e-mail to The Denver Post, Marble said she didn't take issue with Mayfield's questions.
"I don't blame the boy for asking the questions, since I believe there was an element of manipulation involved, and it wasn't much different from the questions I normally field in other meetings," she said. "The invitation to meet with the scouts was never intended to cause friction and controversy."
Marble has not replied to NBC News' request for comment.
Related: Boy Scouts Chief Apologizes for Trump Political Comments
Mayfield said the Scout's pack leader told her that her son would not be welcomed back into the den days after the exchange with the senator. She said the Scouts have offered to place him in other dens, but they don’t work with the family’s schedule.
In a statement shared with NBC News, the Boy Scouts of America and the local Denver council said that they are committed to working with the Mayfields to find a den that “will allow him to continue his Scouting experience in a way that fits his and his family’s needs.”
After the incident became public, Ames has received support on social media, including a tweet from Gabrielle Giffords, the former Arizona congresswoman, who praised his courage.
“Ames, call me in 14 years. I’ll campaign for you,” she wrote.
This is exactly the kind of courage we need in Congress. Ames, call me in 14 years. I’ll campaign for you. https://t.co/fdE4DinnRk
— Gabrielle Giffords (@GabbyGiffords) October 19, 2017
For his part, Ames said he isn’t sure he’d be interested in returning to the den after the incident.
“I was a big fan of the den originally, but now since I know consequences and stuff and how they view things, I was concerned, so no," he said. "I don’t really want to get back in."
Chelsea Bailey
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The Register Cliff Rapist by Monte R. Anderson – Draft – 12th Chapter
If you haven't read the prelude or the previous chapters you might want to scroll down and read them. Please let me know what you think.
SYNOPSIS: Jason Franco is an aspiring novelist stuck in a dead end job working for a newspaper in a small town where nothing exciting happens until someone rapes and murders a young woman only eighteen years old. All evidence points to the woman's boyfriend who confesses to the crime. Jason is assigned to write a follow-up story for the paper and soon suspects that the local police are covering up for one of their own. Jason enlists the help from a high school classmate who works at the state crime and the two soon fall in love. Jason and his girlfriend, Tina, follow the leads, and Jason finds himself a target for the rapist turned murderer. An attempt on Jason's life puts him in the hospital as the alleged rapist commits suicide. An unexpected turn of events put Jason back in the cross hairs of a different killer.
Staff of the Torrington Star-Gazette
Early Monday morning, Tina dropped Jason off at the airport so he could catch the shuttle van back to Torrington. When he entered the newspaper office, Sean was standing in the doorway of his office. “So how did you make out with your informant from the crime lab?”
Jason froze. How did Sean find out.
Sean laughed. “Jeez, Jason. Do you play poker? You’re bright red. You're just supposed to interview her, not sleep with her.”
Mary and Zac started laughing. “Did you get some pussy?” asked Zac.
“Shut your mouth, Zac,” yelled Mary as she marched over and smacked him on the back of his head.
Jason didn’t answer but strode straight into Sean’s office, sat down and updated him. When he was done, he said, “Bottom line--we need to get those pubic hairs tested for DNA. I do believe it’ll clear Paulo.”
“You’re right. Good work.” Sean reached for his cell phone and dialed Chief Cruse’s number. “Hey, Jeri. We're just discussing the Littlefield case. You know that the pubic hairs found on Angelina Littlefield were never tested for DNA. We should get them tested. You know, to close any possible loop holes.”
Sean listened for a minute and then said, “Okay, thanks.”
“What’d say?” asked Jason.
“He said that it’s up to the defense lawyer. His hands are tied.”
“Do you believe him?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he’s right. Let’s talk to Paulo’s lawyer.”
“He said he didn’t want the hairs tested.”
Sean dialed up Paulo’s lawyer and after talking with him he hung up. “You were right. He says he doesn’t want to test the pubic hairs because if Paulo changes his plea and if the pubic hairs turn out to be his, he could end up on death row.”
“That’s crazy. It could clear Paulo.”
“I know. It just confirms what I thought about Paulo's lawyer – he's an idiot.”
Jason and Jason sat in silence for a few moments. Finally, Jason asked, “Now what?”
Sean sat up straight. “Zac, get in here. Mary, you too. Staff meeting. Now.”
Sean waited until everyone was in his office. “We need to talk strategy.” He turned to Jason. “We need a public outcry. I want you to write a story accusing the police of bungling the case. Zac, we’re going to accuse the police of injustice in the Paulo case. Can you use social media to create a stir that will embarrass the DA in Cheyenne?”
Zac smiled. “Can I? You bet. I’ll work with Jason and we’ll publish a story that will cause a public outcry like the Arab Spring.” Zac held up his hands and spread them as if reading a headline. “Torrington police inept. Innocent man jailed for murder.”
Sean pumped his fist. “Okay. Jason, write the story ASAP. Zac, show me what you’re going to send. I want everything to go public tomorrow morning.”
Jason stood up. “Wait. Wait. Are you serious? This is a big step. We need to discuss this further.”
Sean smiled and leaned back in his chair. “Okay, let’s discuss it.”
Jason sat back down. “We need to consider the ramifications of accusing the PD. If we’re wrong, we could be sued. We could also be charged with fraud or obstruction of justice.”
“What?” said Mary. “I’m not going to jail, not even for you.”
Sean smiled. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“What are we trying to accomplish?” asked Jason.
Sean leaned forward. “We want the PD to get those pubic hairs tested for DNA.”
“Then it may not be necessary to accuse the PD of anything,” said Jason. Maybe we can get a court order. Maybe we can talk to the Attorney General.”
Sean shook his head. “That’ll take too long. Meanwhile, an innocent man sits in prison. Besides, we already know the answer.”
Mary spoke up again. “Dad, you’ve always reported the news objectively without taking sides. This is different. It’s one thing to report the news, but it's entirely different to use the newspaper to incite the pubic to pressure a government agency to do something. It’s not right.”
Sean stood up. “Those are all good points. The TPD may be totally innocent at the very least or they may be abusing their power. On the other hand, there may be a cover up. We’ll put it to a vote. How many of you sincerely believe that Paulo is guilty as charged?”
No one raised their hand.
Sean clapped his hands once. “Okay then. In the name of justice, let’s do this. Jason, you write the story. Try to keep from directly accusing the PD of any crimes if you can. Zac, you work your magic on the internet and social media. Mary, you keep the coffee coming and man the phones.”
Zac was excited. “We need something like the ice bucket challenge. We need to grab people’s attention.”
“Like what?” asked Mary and Sean.
“How about we show someone in an electric chair with the caption, Save an innocent life,” answered Zac.
Sean frowned. “Paulo’s not on death row.”
“No one uses the electric chair anymore…I don’t think,” added Mary.
“Okay, okay,” said Zac. “Let me think of something. What do we want people to do?”
“What do you suggest?” asked Sean. “You’re the expert.”
Zac thought for a minute. “We need a call to action with a lot of action buttons. People should share with their network or re-tweet the message. We’ll have a petition to the AG for them to sign. I can set up an action button to send e-mails to whomever.”
“Start with the Attorney General,” said Sean. “If that doesn’t work, we’ll try the governor.
Jason came up with several ideas and ran them pass the group. They agreed to use a picture of Paulo and super impose handcuffs and leg chains on it. Zac wasn’t too happy about it but it was the best he could do on short notice. It didn’t take Jason long to write the story. Sean approved immediately. Jason worked with Zac to make various versions for different social media. They decided to post something on Twitter, Linked In, Instagram, Pinerest, Tumblr and Google+. Sean approved everything that Zac and Jason put together except for minor changes. He added the Star-Gazette logo to everything and a statement that the Star alone was responsible for their content.
While Sean was reviewing the posts, Jason printed the list of rapes. “Then there’s this.” Jason handed Sean the list. “Tina and I along with another CI did a some research and came up with a list of rapes with similar MOs. We should check them. It’s possible that there is a serial rapist.”
Sean read the list. “I remember a few of these cases. You said the names are on Register Cliff?”
“Yeah. Here's the odd part; once a yesr flowers show up at the base of the list. What type of sicko commenerates rapes?”
Sean thought for a moment. “He's not commenerating his rapes, he's commenerating the fact thast he hasn't been caught.” Sean sighed. “The TPD didn’t even consider a sewrisl rapist. More and more they seem like the Keystone Cops.”
“Who?” asked Zac.
“Never mind,” said Mary. “I’ll explain later.”
“Jason, you're not getting side tracked are you?” asked Sean. “We started trying to prove that Paulo is innocent. Now you're searching for a serial rapist.”
“I'm certain that a serial rapist killed Angie. If I can prove that then it proves that Paulo's innocent.”
“And what if you find this serial rapist and discover that he didn't rape and kill Angelina? What then?”
“Then at the very least we have exposed a serial rapist.”
“Okay,” said Sean. Sean looked over the list again. “What's with Molli R. and Cate S?
“We couldn't find a match. Tina thinks maybe they weren't reported.”
“Check them. See what you can find.”
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Deadpool Sequel Will Have “Small Budget” Say Writers
By: Dan Auty
The huge box office success of Deadpool is even more impressive when you consider the relatively modest $58 million budget that it was filmed on. The sequel is already greenlit, and it could be assumed that producers would seek a higher budget to make a more spectacular sequel. However, the film’s writers have revealed that this won’t be the case.
In an interview with Collider, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick spoke about seeking a smaller budget for their sequel. “We don’t want $150 million to go make the next movie, that’s not Deadpool,” Wernick said. “Deadpool doesn’t lift cities up into the air or battle aliens coming down to earth, that’s just not Deadpool. So we’re happy in that little small budget range that they have us in; we don’t wanna blow this next one out.”
The writers also hinted that the cyborg warrior Cable could play an important part in Deadpool 2. Cable has featured in a wide variety of X-Men related stories in Marvel’s comics over the years, and he was teased in a post-credit scene in the first movie.
“[Cable is] a very natural place to go,” said Reese. “[But] there’s a real conceptual difference between taking other characters and big things and bringing them into Deadpool’s reasonably small, gritty world and the opposite.
“I think if Cable and Deadpool team up, it will likely be in Deadpool’s world. That allows us to control that budgetary thing a little more; I don’t think we’re gonna see Deadpool and Cable on some far-flung planet 300 years from now because I just feel like that’s gonna be expensive.
“I think at this stage in the game it’s about taking other people and dropping them into this reasonably insular, gritty, urban, dark world of Deadpool.”
To date, Deadpool has made more than $325 million at the worldwide box office, after only a week of release. It is expected to top the US box office for a second weekend.
Dan Auty
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One of the coolest brands in history, Converse began way back in 1908. Stating that they ‘would be independent’ and ‘not to follow ever other company’ Converse went against the crowd and began making shoes for the fast growing sport of basketball. Some years later, basketball player Chuck Taylor became infamously involved with Converse, even going so far as to add his signature to the Converse All Star patch; this earned Converse their affectionate nickname ‘Chucks’- a nickname that’s still going strong today. It’s said that the soul of Chuck Taylor lives on in every Converse product. When the NBA was created; Converse sneakers became the basketball league’s official shoe and retained the title for many, many years. Firmly placing Converse as an icon in sporting history. Not just a star in the sports world, Converse sneakers have played a huge part in music history too.When rock n’ roll was born and teenagers all over the UK and US began adopting the fashions of this new craze, of which Converse shoes were an essential part of the uniform. Today Converse continues to be an original and innovative brand, one that is still very active and influential in the worlds of sport of music. Its history and links to rebellion still appeal today but its not just teenagers that are donning Converse shoes; artists, musicians, sports players, celebs and style icons alike are all seen wearing the brands sneakers. Replicas of Converse’s iconic sneakers are recreated every season and given trendy new updates, resulting in shoes that are appealing to both modern and retro tastes. One of the coolest brands in history, Converse began way back in 1908. Stating that they ‘would be independent’ and ‘not to follow ever other company’ Converse went against the crowd and began making shoes for the fast growing sport of basketball. Some years later, basketball player Chuck Taylor became infamously involved with Converse, even going so far as to add his signature to the Converse All Star patch; this earned Converse their affectionate nickname ‘Chucks’- a nickname that’s still going strong today. It’s said that the soul of Chuck Taylor lives on in every Converse product. When the NBA was created; Converse sneakers became the basketball league’s official shoe and retained the title for many, many years. Firmly placing Converse as an icon in sporting history. Not just a star in the sports world, Converse sneakers have played a huge part in music history too.When rock n’ roll was born and teenagers all over the UK and US began adopting the fashions of this new craze, of which Converse shoes were an essential part of the uniform. Today Converse continues to be an original and innovative brand, one that is still very active and influential in the worlds of sport of music. Its history and links to rebellion still appeal today but its not just teenagers that are donning Converse shoes; artists, musicians, sports players, celebs and style icons alike are all seen wearing the brands sneakers. Replicas of Converse’s iconic sneakers are recreated every season and given trendy new updates, resulting in shoes that are appealing to both modern and retro tastes.
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en-cn
Top trotters, farrier students and foals
The amazing career of Jörgen Nordqvist
Imagine you are 18 years old, you have some horses and time after time your farrier doesn’t show up. What would you do?
Jörgen Nordqvist grew up in the countryside in Sweden, next to a horse farm. At the age of 10-11, he was allowed to do everything with his neighbour’s horses. Together with his grandpa he owned a fjord horse and he remembers them joining the Saint Lucia procession (a Swedish tradition, the Christian festival of light) and driving Santa Claus around. And yes, at the age of 18, Jörgen did what not many people would dare to do, he started to shoe his horses by himself.
One thing led to another. After 10 years, a lot of clients and many horses later, Jörgen finally decided to make his profession official and went to the farrier school in Skara. At that time it was a 6 month course and being a farrier was a regulated profession.
After he finished school, Nordqvist developed into to being a real expert in trotting.
Let me show you first what I can do
On an evening, somewhere in the 90’s of the last century, Jörgen got a call from the famous trotting horse trainer Stig H. Johansson, asking him to shoe his horses. First he was speechless, then his answer was very down to earth: “Let me show you first what I can do, and then you can decide whether to continue or not." They made an appointment for the following Friday. Nordqvist shod two horses; the Monday after, they started to work together.
Try everything. If it doesn’t work, then at least you know
185 top quality trotting horses, minimal shod with an interval of 3 weeks! It was a beautiful, though demanding job in which Jörgen experienced every possible aspect of the world of trotting racing. “Working with a good trainer is inspiring and challenging, because they have great knowledge of both horses and shoeing”. And with Stig H. Johansson the motto was: “Try everything. If it doesn’t work, then at least you know and you can try something else”. One of these trials-by-error was the use of fullered shoes on the hind feet, instead of using plain stamped shoes. They were the first to do this with race horses, now it is common practice. He learned a lot from it. After 5 years of hard work he got an offer to start as a teacher at the state school of Skara. Nordqvist decided to change his career. He became a full-time teacher at his former school.
”I really like to prepare new farriers in their profession. The course now takes 3 years of full time education. The industry has become more demanding, therefore my pupils learn all aspects of their future job, much more than I did when I went to school.” Since 2015, farriery is no longer a regulated profession in Sweden. But for therapeutic treatment you have to be licensed Swedish Board of Agriculture.
I can’t stand to see horses with movement problems, knowing this could be prevented
Blood is thicker than water; Jörgen missed the practical work of being a farrier. After a few years he decided to limit the teaching to 3 days a week and started up his business again, doing as many disciplines as possible, so that his students can learn from his experiences.
In 1998 he was asked by the Dutch horse breeder John Bootsman to correct his foals. This became another shift in his work. Because he does this with great passion, since then and now he treats 300 to 400 foals per year.
“I’m quite obsessed about this important part of my work, because I can’t stand to see mature horses with movement problems, knowing that this shouldn’t have happened if they had been corrected as a foal”.
Nordqvist starts correcting the foals when they are just 10 to 12 days old. Because the hooves of foals grow fast, they are shod with flexible plastic shoes every 3 weeks. The shoes are removed after 10 to 12 days, the remaining week they walk barefoot.
Asking Jörgen for advice for farriers who want to start themselves with foal correction, he promptly says: “Don’t do it! Start to cooperate for some time with a farrier experienced in this discipline, to get the right insights”. This is because every mistake can have disastrous consequences for the future. An example is the difference between riding horses and trotting horses, in general riding horses have to be corrected inside-out and trotting horses outside-in.
Shoeing for trotting and riding become closer
Nordqvist also wants to share some of his insights on trotting.
There is a trend in trotting towards racing barefoot. Jörgen warns of the danger of it for non-professionals (Sweden has a lot of them). Horses are often not trimmed after a race when they are shod again although the hoof is worn unequally during the race. This brings a high risk of injuries.
“Shoeing for trotting and riding become closer”, Jörgen says. The shape, features, weight and quality of modern horseshoes allow a more general approach.
About hoof nails, Nordqvist is very straight forward: ”I’ve tried them all, but there is no better nail than a Mustad nail”. He has always been using the FJ-nail for shoeing trotting horses, but since a few months he has a new favourite: the TN (Trotting Nail) 3 nail. Jörgen is sceptic about the use of copper, because he doesn’t see the benefits of it. But he’s more willing to know about the Endura coating and its effect on the nail’s strength and easiness to drive.
Nordqvist has concerns about the Swedish trotting climate. All the attention and the money goes to the elite, while the smaller tracks should get more support. The elite earns their money anyway, so why shouldn’t there be an investment is the full width of the sport to attract a broader, younger public? Everyone would benefit.
His advices for farriers who start with shoeing for trotting are:
- be the extension of the trainer, he knows his horses through and through, especially their balance
- as with foal corrections: start with learning from an experienced colleague
With his 40 years of experience in the industry and the passion for his profession, Jörgen Nordqvist is a man with a lot of knowledge that he wants to share. With one goal above all: horses come first!
These products are used in this story
Mustad SM
Versatile, reliable riding shoe
Mustad FJ nail
Fluid junctions, perfect for race horses
Mustad Endura nails
Premium coating enhancing durability
Mustad Australia
2 Willowmavin Road
Kilmore, Victoria, 3764 - Australia
email: sales.australia@mustad.com.au
Selected country: en-cn
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Buy Batman comics below
Batman Comic Books 1940 series
Publisher DC • Super-hero Batman Ages_7-12 Ages_13-16
First Issue #1 - April 1940 Last #713 - October 2011
Continued in Batman (2011 series)
Batman comic books are one of DC's top super-hero titles of all-time. DC comics has continuously published Batman comic books since 1940.
Click to view # 110 111 117 119 123 125 127 128 130 132 134 138 161 165 167 174 175 184 188 191 194 195 213 216 217 220 224 226 229 231 249 255 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 268 269 270 271 272 274 275 279 281 284 285 293 300 301 303 304 308 309 310 311 313 314 315 317 319 320 322 325 326 327 328 331 333 334 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 354 355 356 360 361 364 365 369 370 372 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 395 396 397 398 399 401 402 403 405 406 409 410 412 413 414 415 418 419 420 421 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 452 453 454 455 456 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 487 488 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 526 527 530 531 532 533 534 535 537 542 547 552 556 557 558 562 563 564 565 567 568 569 570 572 573 574 578 593 599 601 603 604 614 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 630 631 632 633 634 645 646 652 653 659 660 661 664 668 669 672 676 677 680 681 682 683 687 692 698 699 703
Annuals Special 80-Page Giant 80-Page Giant 2010 Other issues
Batman #369
Versus Deadshot.
Good $ 18.00
click box below and Add to Cart 1 copy left Buy it now
Very Fine 19 weeks $ 6.00 1% $ 5.94
Batman comic books shown are in stock. Ordering Batman comic books is easy: Instructions
by buyers of Batman 1940 series
Batman: Shadow of the Bat
Batman comic books
Since 2000, Batman comics are one of our best selling comics. For readers who buy Batman comic books, we've got lots of old Batman comic books for sale. Although the original Batman series is the most popular, other old Batman comic books are for sale here. They range from 1 issue standalone stories (one-shots) to longer series, such as Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight. When you buy Batman comic books here, they come with a full 100% money-back guaranted. So, if to collect or buy Batman comic books, look no further.
Why You Should Collect and Buy
With the exception of Superman, Batman is the longest running title in comic book history. Issue #1 was published in 1940 and here we are over 75 years later and he's still going strong.
That's longer than any radio character or television character has been around. Just simply, an incredible run.
What makes the original Batman series so interesting is you can see its transformation through the years and choose which era is right for you.
The original stories in the 1940s featured a dark, brooding hero. By the 1950's, with the addition of Robin, many stories had a science fiction theme and focussed on the dynamic duo's exploits with extra-terrestial beings.
In June of 1964, once the famous TV show starring Adam West hit the screens, the series changed yet again, with Batman's "New Look" and it swung back to its original roots.
I've heard so many stories from so many people on how they collect the series. One fellow only collects issues from the year he was born, 1965 to the present. Another only collects from #1 to the year he was born. And yet another guy only collects issues with can be divided by the number 25. He goes after issue #25, #50, #75, #100, #125, #150, #20 etc. In that way, he can see the changes over the years and not break his bank.
One other guy only buys old Batman comic books with The Joker and the Riddler, while another only collects issues with Catwoman or Batwoman on the cover. Yet another customer told me he only collects issues where the word "death" or "dies" appears on the cover. I wonder if he's an undertaker?
But my favorite was the guy who said he was going to find every issue where Batman was tied up. (I didn't ask why).
In addition, collecting Batman can fit pretty much any budget. Of course the original Batman series is the most expensive to collect, but other Batman series, more recent in vintage, can be collected within most any budget. There are tons of good titles available, including
Batman Chronicles
Batman Family
Batman: Gotham Knights
You can find the complete list of titles at
All Batman comic books
Lots of customers ask what comics will go up in value. I can't answer that specifically because no one has a crystal ball. But, I have observed that prices of old comics are based in the continued interest in that character by today's audience.
So, if that's an indication of future value, Batman might be one of the safer bets. If he can survive and prosper for over 75 years, then I'd say there must be something in the character and story line that has appealed to three generations. It might be a good bet that the universal themes and story lines of Batman comics will be of continuing interest in the future.
To buy Batman comic books go to Batman comics for sale
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Soft robot with a mouth and gut can forage for its own food
Technology 27 October 2016
Finds its own fuel
Bristol robotics laboratory
By Timothy Revell
Lying in a bath in Bristol, UK, is a robotic scavenger, gorging itself on its surroundings. It’s able to get just enough energy to take in another stomach full of food, before ejecting its waste and repeating the process. This is no ordinary robot. It’s a self-sustaining soft robot with a mouth and gut.
Developed by a Bristol-based collaboration, this robot imitates the life of salps – squishy tube-shaped marine organisms. Salps have an opening at each end, one for food to enter and one for waste to leave. They digest any tasty treats that pass through their body, giving them just enough energy to wiggle about. The same is true for the Bristol bot.
By opening its “mouth”, made from a soft polymer membrane, the robot can suck in a belly full of water and biomatter. The artificial gut – a microbial fuel cell (MFC) – is filled with greedy microbes that break down the biomass and convert its chemical energy into electrical energy, which powers the robot. Digested waste matter is then expelled out the rear end, just as more water is sucked in the front for the next feed. With every mouthful, the robot’s reserves are replenished, so in theory it could roam indefinitely.
“Squeezing out enough energy to be self-sustainable is the real breakthrough,” says Fumiya Iida, a robotics researcher from the University of Cambridge.
The energy that an MFC can get from food like this is currently pretty low. But by using soft materials for the mouth and the gut, the team was able to reduce the robot’s energy consumption. They got more power by putting several MFCs in series, like a battery.
One advantage of a self-sustaining robot is that if you don’t have to charge it, change its batteries, or hook it up to a power source, it won’t need any human interference. This would make it ideal for use in inhospitable environments: leave the robot in a radioactive disaster zone or a lake filled with pollution, then let it to get to work.
At the moment, it is just a proof of concept. The surrounding water is idealised, meaning that the nutrients have been evenly spread and are in an easy-to-digest form, but other researchers have shown that MFCs can work in more testing conditions.
A self-sustaining robot could one day clean up “red tides” like this one in China, as well as collecting rubbish
Now that self-sustainability has been achieved, the team wants to get more power so that the robot can start performing useful tasks.
“In the future, robots like this could be released into the ocean to collect garbage,” says Hemma Philamore, one of the robot’s creators from the University of Bristol. Another application could see the robots feeding in agricultural irrigation systems while monitoring plants or applying chemicals to crops. “What we are developing is a robot that can act naturally, in a natural environment,” says Philamore.
Journal reference: Soft Robotics, DOI: 10.1089/soro.2016.0020
Magazine issue 3098 , published 5 November 2016
One Per Cent
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NewVoiceMedia named finalist in 2016 Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service
Tenth annual awards will be presented on March 4 in Las Vegas
NewVoiceMedia, a leading global provider of cloud technology which helps businesses sell more, serve better and grow faster, has been named a finalist in three categories of the tenth annual Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service, and will ultimately be a Gold, Silver or Bronze winner in the program.
The awards are presented by the Stevie Awards, which organizes several of the world’s leading business awards shows including the prestigious International Business Awards and American Business Awards. More than 2,100 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were evaluated in this year’s competition, an increase of 11 percent over 2015. Finalists were determined by the average scores of 115 professionals worldwide, acting as preliminary judges. NewVoiceMedia was shortlisted in the ‘Contact Center Solution – New’, ‘Sales or Customer Service Solutions Technology Partner of the Year’ and ‘Contact Center Solution – New Version’ categories.
The nomination closely follows several other victories for NewVoiceMedia including CUSTOMER Magazine’s Product of the Year Award and Tech City’s Future Fifty accolade, which, coupled with acknowledgement from the European Breakout List as “a top tech company to work,” further validate the company’s position as a leader in the cloud communications industry.
“We are joining some impressive names in the Stevie Awards’ finalist list,” said Jonathan Gale, NewVoiceMedia CEO. “It’s an honor to share the stage with so many ambitious companies dedicated to the advancement of business and technology and we look forward to hearing what the judges have to say in March.”
“The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service continues to be the fastest-growing of our international awards programs,” said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards. “The sheer number of nominations is matched by the increasing quality of those nominations. We congratulate all of this year’s finalists and wish them well in the next phase of judging.”
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Jury Member of SeaShorts Award
Read story behind this 3 jury at our blog!
Amir started making films in Malaysia back in year 2000. His curation of Malaysian Short Films (screened every 3 months during the period between 2000 - 2008) was an important platform for young independent filmmakers. He is a Malaysian writer, publisher and occasional movie-maker.
His films and documentaries have been shown in many international film festivals including Sundance and Berlin. Two of them, THE LAST COMMUNIST and VILLAGE PEOPLE RADIO SHOW, are banned in Malaysia. He set up Matahari Books in 2007 to publish non-fiction and film-related books on Malaysia, which has published over 100 novels in its first 4 years.
His current documentary ‘VOYAGE TO TERRENGGANU’ (Kisah Pelayaran ke Terengganu) has been screened at Freedom Film Festival 2016, Singapore International Film Festival 2016, Jogja Asian Film Festival, Rotterdam International Film Festival 2017, and Salaya Doc 2017.
Wahyuni A. Hadi
Yuni is a film producer and curator known for her promotion of Singapore cinema.
She specializes in the management of film & media projects, and oversees the Objectifs Films label. Her career began in the visual arts and she has since worked as Senior Programme Manager (Film) at The Substation and Commissioning Editor at Mediacorp TV12.
She also co-founded Fly By Night Video Challenge with filmmaker Tan Pin Pin in 2003. In 2008-2009, she headed the Singapore International Film Festival as festival director. Yuni was a Co-Producer of Anthony Chen’s Ilo Ilo (winner of the Camera d’Or at the 66th Cannes Film Festival and winner of four Golden Horse Awards including Best Feature Film). She rejoined the festival as Executive Director in 2014.
In 2010 she was recognized as one of the 50 Most Inspiring Women in Female Magazine and in 2014 as one of Singapore Women’s Weekly “Great Women of Our Time” in 2014.
Yuni was awarded the Eisenhower Fellowship 2016 and selected as the 2016 United Technologies Corporation Fellow. She holds an M.A in Arts Management from Lasalle College of the Arts.
Chalida Uabumrungjit
Chalida Uabumrungjit graduated in film from Thammasat University and film archiving from University of East Anglia,UK.She is one of the founding members of Thai Short Film and Video Festival which she served as Festival Director since 1997. She also programmes for Salaya Documentary Film Festival and Silent Film Festival in Thailand.
She coordinated programmes of Thai films for various international festivals and also involve in making a number of experimental films and documentaries. She is also one of the selection commitee of AND (Asian Network of Documentary) . She is one of the advocate for independent films and film preservation in Thailand. Currently she works as Deputy Director of the Film Archive, Thailand.
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Fukushima Water Release into Sea Faces Chorus of Opposition
Society Aug 31, 2018
Tokyo, Aug. 31 (Jiji Press)--Citizens expressed opposition Friday to the idea of releasing into the ocean water tainted with tritium, a radioactive substance, from Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s <9501> disaster-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan.
"Long-term storage (of the tritium-containing water) is possible from technical and economic standpoints," Komei Hosokawa, 63, an official of the Citizens' Commission on Nuclear Energy, said at a public hearing held in Tokyo by a subcommittee of the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy. "The radiation levels in the water will decrease during the long-term storage," he added.
Kanna Mitsuta, an official of FoE Japan, a nongovernmental organization working for environmental conservation, said that the hearing should be redone, noting that a different radioactive substance exceeding permissible levels has been found in the tritium-tainted water.
At a similar hearing held in Koriyama, Fukushima, the same day, Aki Hashimoto, a housewife from the city, said, "I never want to see further worsening of ocean pollution from radiation."
Opinions objecting to the release of the tritium-contaminated water into the ocean were also heard at a hearing held in the Fukushima town of Tomioka on Thursday.
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If you lived in Panama instead of Estonia, you would:
live 1.9 years longer
In Estonia, the average life expectancy is 77 years (72 years for men, 82 years for women). In Panama, that number is 79 years (76 years for men, 82 years for women).
Estonia has a GDP per capita of $31,800, while in Panama, the GDP per capita is $25,400.
spend 25.0% more on taxes
Estonia has a top tax rate of 20.0%. In Panama, the top tax rate is 25.0%.
In Estonia, there are approximately 10.1 babies per 1,000 people. In Panama, there are 17.9 babies per 1,000 people.
In Estonia, approximately 9.0 women per 1,000 births die during labor. In Panama, 94.0 women do.
In Estonia, approximately 3.8 children die before they reach the age of one. In Panama, on the other hand, 9.9 children do.
In Estonia, approximately 87.2% of the population has internet access. In Panama, about 54.0% do.
Estonia spends 5.5% of its total GDP on education. Panama spends 3.2% of total GDP on education.
spend 25.0% more on healthcare
Estonia spends 6.4% of its total GDP on healthcare. In Panama, that number is 8.0% of GDP.
see 34.4% less coastline
Estonia has a total of 3,794 km of coastline. In Panama, that number is 2,490 km.
Panama: At a glance
Panama is a sovereign country in Central America/Caribbean, with a total land area of approximately 74,340 sq km. Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan (estimated to cost $5.3 billion) to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2015.
How big is Panama compared to Estonia? See an in-depth size comparison.
Estonia vs. Iceland
Estonia vs. Philippines
Estonia vs. France
Estonia vs. New Zealand
Estonia vs. French Polynesia
Estonia vs. Cambodia
The statistics on this page were calculated using the following data sources: Estonian Tax and Customs Board, The World Factbook, General Directorate of Revenues, Panama.
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Panama. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.
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If you lived in Mauritania instead of Kazakhstan, you would:
be 39.5% less likely to be obese
In Kazakhstan, 21.0% of adults are obese. In Mauritania, that number is 12.7% of people.
live 7.7 years less
In Kazakhstan, the average life expectancy is 71 years (66 years for men, 76 years for women). In Mauritania, that number is 63 years (61 years for men, 66 years for women).
Kazakhstan has a GDP per capita of $26,300, while in Mauritania, the GDP per capita is $4,400.
be 2.3 times more likely to be unemployed
In Kazakhstan, 5.0% of adults are unemployed. In Mauritania, that number is 11.7%.
be 11.9 times more likely to live below the poverty line
In Kazakhstan, 2.6% live below the poverty line. In Mauritania, however, that number is 31.0%.
spend 4.0 times more on taxes
Kazakhstan has a top tax rate of 10.0%. In Mauritania, the top tax rate is 40.0%.
be 47.8% less likely to be literate
In Kazakhstan, the literacy rate is 99.8%. In Mauritania, it is 52.1%.
In Kazakhstan, there are approximately 18.1 babies per 1,000 people. In Mauritania, there are 30.4 babies per 1,000 people.
In Kazakhstan, approximately 12.0 women per 1,000 births die during labor. In Mauritania, 602.0 women do.
In Kazakhstan, approximately 19.6 children die before they reach the age of one. In Mauritania, on the other hand, 51.9 children do.
In Kazakhstan, 100% of the population has electricity access. In Mauritania, 28% of the population do.
In Kazakhstan, approximately 76.8% of the population has internet access. In Mauritania, about 18.0% do.
In Kazakhstan, approximately 93% of people have improved drinking water access (99% in urban areas, and 86% in rural areas). In Mauritania, that number is 58% of people on average (58% in urban areas, and 57% in rural areas).
Kazakhstan spends 3.0% of its total GDP on education. Mauritania spends 2.6% of total GDP on education.
Kazakhstan spends 4.4% of its total GDP on healthcare. In Mauritania, that number is 3.8% of GDP.
Mauritania: At a glance
Mauritania is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 1,030,700 sq km. Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976 but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA seized power in a coup in 1984 and ruled Mauritania with a heavy hand for more than two decades. A series of presidential elections that he held were widely seen as flawed. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council that oversaw a transition to democratic rule. Independent candidate Sidi Ould Cheikh ABDALLAHI was inaugurated in April 2007 as Mauritania's first freely and fairly elected president. His term ended prematurely in August 2008 when a military junta led by General Mohamed Ould Abdel AZIZ deposed him and installed a military council government. AZIZ was subsequently elected president in July 2009 and sworn in the following month. AZIZ sustained injuries from an accidental shooting by his own troops in October 2012 but has continued to maintain his authority. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population (Afro-Mauritanians) and white and black Moor (Arab-Berber) communities, and confronts a terrorism threat by al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
How big is Mauritania compared to Kazakhstan? See an in-depth size comparison.
Kazakhstan vs. Austria
Kazakhstan vs. Greece
Kazakhstan vs. France
Kazakhstan vs. French Polynesia
Kazakhstan vs. Philippines
Kazakhstan vs. Egypt
The statistics on this page were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook, Ministry of Finance, Tax Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Mauritania. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.
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Home » Blog » Observations of the 61st Annual NAGC Conference
Tracy L. Cross
Experiencing the 61st Annual NAGC Convention during my second year as NAGC President has allowed for some different kinds of observations to be made when compared to my first year in the role. My first year experience was very primal and personal. NAGC was held last year in Indianapolis, my stomping grounds for 16 years, where my children grew up, and where I have many friends and longstanding colleagues. I could not escape the immediacy of all the experiences. Because of these close connections, I felt considerable nostalgia and worry. The 2013 Convention was a great success and my concerns were unfounded.
A year later, the experience was overwhelmingly positive, but in a more objective way. In only a year’s time, I have learned a great deal. For example, I learned to have faith that all the planning and hard work by the NAGC staff would lead to a great Convention; to know that the wide diversity of viewpoints among the many planners will lead to great keynote speakers; and to have confidence that under the direction of George Betts (NAGC President Elect and Program Chair), Shelagh Gallagher (veteran Program Committee member), and Robin Feldman (NAGC’s Director of Professional Development and Meetings), a terrific set of sessions would be offered. Moreover, meeting and collaborating with the myriad leaders of NAGC’s Networks, Committees, and Board provided considerable evidence in the months before that the 61st NAGC Conference would be a great success.
This year I decided to reduce my role as academic presenter and expand my role as ambassador. This change enabled me to attend a wide range of sessions. This expanded experience provided insight not available during my first year. My characterization of the 61st NAGC Convention begins with the recognition that geography matters. By virtue of being in Baltimore, conference planners were able to benefit from this historic and vibrant city. Dr. Freeman Hrabowski, President of the University of Maryland Baltimore County, provided an incredible keynote speech that affected many of us, both intellectually and emotionally. Nancy Grasmick and Jean Paynter were presented the NAGC President’s Award for their longstanding commitment to the betterment of the education of gifted students. Later, we presented the David W. Belin Advocacy Award to the Senator Barbara Mikulski, who was able to gain support for the reinstatement of the Jacob Javits federal grant monies for gifted education (pictured at right, from l-r: Mikulski, Grasmick, Paynter). A more historical figure named Dr. Martin Jenkins, former President of Morgan State University located in Baltimore area, was a significant figure in the history of the field of gifted education, especially as it pertains to African American gifted students. These five professionals embodied the very significant role that Maryland plays in the education of gifted students both historically and now. Place matters. Now add the crab cakes, and you must agree that Maryland rocks.
Jack Andraka (another Marylander) reminded us why it is critical to research, serve, and advocate for gifted students. During his presentation, he was impressive, funny, thoughtful, and humbling. How many more gifted students like Jack are out there?
Another important aspect of this year’s Convention was the honoring of both the present and the past. There were myriad sessions on best practices, research and so forth guiding us into the future, and there were sessions that honored those who were trailblazers in the field. For example, this year the NAGC Legacy Series, coordinated by the Conceptual Foundations Network, honored Dr. Joyce VanTassel-Baska for her unparalleled career. Hundreds of people participated in this event. We also sponsored events honoring two critical pioneers in the field of gifted education who passed away in the last year. Dr. Abraham Tannenbaum and Dr. James Gallagher were celebrated by colleagues, friends, and family alike. The sessions were moving, while serving as a history lesson of their significant contributions to the field. Whether it was the profound theories of Dr. Tannenbaum, or significant books they both contributed that provided substance to gifted education, or the origination of the Individual Educational Plan credited to Dr. Gallagher, both earned the admiration and respect of colleagues in the field. Perhaps the most noteworthy lesson learned during the two separate events was the extent that the doctoral students who studied for years with these men grew to revere them. It was the caliber of the human being that led to their greatness in their professional lives. What a great lesson of which to be reminded.
In sum, the 61st NAGC Convention was quite a success. Great speakers, great sessions, great colleagues, great food – all in an historical city. In my journey as President of NAGC, I have become absolutely confident that my Board colleagues, and leaders throughout NAGC, will carry on this great tradition of creating a successful conference. In short order it will be incumbent upon me to step aside and let the next generation of leaders carry on. It is critical to our field that this transition occurs. Hooray to our field for having such impressive pioneers, such great current leaders, and such a great group to lead in the future. And, with apologies to Timbuk 3, as we prepare for Arizona next year, I can say that our future is so bright that we have to wear shades.
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North Collier to continue search for new fire chief
A meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday at North Collier Fire District headquarters to discuss finding a replacement for Chief James Cunningham, who is retiring.
North Collier to continue search for new fire chief A meeting will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday at North Collier Fire District headquarters to discuss finding a replacement for Chief James Cunningham, who is retiring. Check out this story on naplesnews.com: https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/2018/09/10/north-collier-fire-control-and-rescue-district-continue-search-new-chief/1223825002/
Jake Allen, Naples Daily News Published 3:33 p.m. ET Sept. 10, 2018 | Updated 5:47 p.m. ET Sept. 10, 2018
James M. Cunningham is fire chief of the North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District.(Photo: Provided)
North Collier Fire District commissioners will continue their search for a new chief at a meeting Wednesday, Sept. 12.
James Cunningham, who has led the fire district for three years, told the board he intends to retire at the end of 2019, which gives commissioners more than a year to find his replacement.
At a special board meeting Sept. 5 to begin searching for Cunningham’s replacement, commissioners discussed searching for a candidate from within the district's ranks or from outside the district or both.
Commissioners also discussed exploring the possibility of creating an interlocal agreement with another fire district to share a chief.
Brent Batten: North Collier will be looking for a new fire chief as Cunningham moves on
More: Response to defeat of referendum vote on fire fee in North Collier district
Chris Lombardo, chairman of the North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District board, said last week that commissioners would gather information on each option before the Wednesday, Sept. 12, meeting, then come up with a more solidified plan and timetable at the meeting.
"I see no reason to jump to a decision,” Lombardo said. “I've got a leader here who I have confidence in, and we can do the transition logically.”
Cunningham informed the board he was retiring in a letter Aug. 9. Voters in the Aug. 29 primary election overwhelmingly rejected the North Collier proposal to allow the district to charge a fire service fee to augment property taxes supporting the district.
Cunningham said the failure of the referendum had nothing to do with his decision.
The board’s discussion of a potential replacement for Cunningham is the last item listed on the Wednesday, Sept. 12, meeting agenda. The meeting is set to start at 9 a.m. at district headquarters at 1885 Veterans Park Drive in North Naples.
"We are not on fire,” Lombardo said. “Retirements are what happens in executive positions on a regular basis. We have the luxury here of taking our time and doing this correctly.”
North Collier Fire District meeting
When: 9 a.m. Wednesday
Where: District headquarters, 1885 Veterans Park Drive, North Naples
Read or Share this story: https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/local/2018/09/10/north-collier-fire-control-and-rescue-district-continue-search-new-chief/1223825002/
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Forte dos Reis Magos in Natal – Is It Worth a Visit?
The city of Natal is not only famous for its exotic beaches and majestic sand dunes. It also has a rich and colorful past which many of its great historical sites and landmarks will attest to. If you are going to visit Natal Brazil, stuff one such historical attraction you shouldn’t miss is Forte dos Reis Magos, advice the city’s most important monument.
The Fort lies in the northern end of Praia do Meio on the way to Genipabu Beach and provides a good view to the city. It was strategically constructed on one of the banks of the Potengi River to provide the Portuguese settlers a clear view of any attacks from the sea as well as the jungle.
Natal’s Oldest and Most Important Historical Landmark
Forte dos Reis Magos is the oldest historical structure in Natal but still retains its original 5 star point shape. It was constructed by the Portuguese in 1598 to deter marauding French pirates from entering the coast, and became one of Brazil’s best defensive barricades during the colonial period.
The fort actually stands on the water, and can be accessed through a pedestrian walkway from Praia do Forte. For about three centuries, it was used as an administration center, military barracks and jail. Control of the fort was taken over by the Dutch on December 12 1633. They were driven away in January 1654 when the fort was attacked and recovered by the Portuguese with the help of native Indians.
Forte dos Reis Magos, the Portuguese term for Fort of the Three Wise Men, is detached from the city by a sand bar that disappears underwater during high tides. Its construction commenced on January 6, 1598, the day of Epiphany of the Three Kings as celebrated in Portugal, hence the name. The name also refers to the three huge statues at the fort’s entrance.
Interesting Fort Construction Facts
As a way to show Portugal’s occupation of Brazil, the Portuguese colonial marker Marco de Touros was brought to a beach north of Natal in 1501. The marker was later moved to Forte dos Reis Magos in the 70’s. The place where it originally stood, on the boundary of São Miguel do Gostoso and Pedra Grande, is now named Marco Beach (Praia do Marco) with a replica of the marker.
The construction of Forte dos Reis Magos took about thirty years. It was erected right over the reefs to ensure a firm foundation. Work was done when the tide was out, which made construction time longer and more difficult. It was made from materials which were shipped from Portugal which include huge stone blocks, bronze, sand and whale oil. Gaspar de Samperes, the priest architect who overlooked the fort’s construction, implemented the conventional design of a five-cornered star for a maritime fort. After several centuries, the fort is still in its original form.
The construction of Forte dos Reis Magos in 1598 was followed by the establishment of Natal on December 25, 1599. Natal means “Christmas” in Portuguese.
Forte dos Reis Magos Tips for Tourist
Visitors to the fort can join a guided tour for R$3 for adults and R$1.50 for children below 12 years old. The tour guides generally speak in Portuguese while some speak in Spanish. Unfortunately, that’s it. English and other languages are not spoken. It will be to your advantage to learn a bit of the Portuguese language to have some basic idea of what’s being said.
If you prefer to go on a tour without a guide, just let them know that you just want to explore the place and take photos. You can go around the fort and enjoy the sights without being bothered by guides. To get the best view for your photos, go to the top of the fort and aim your camera towards the direction of Praia de Meio and Ponta Negra.
All vehicles need to be parked outside on the street. This means you have to walk 500 meters via the walkway all the way to Forte dos Reis Magos. Walking to the fort is advisable during the day only and not at night for reasons of tourist security. The fort has art and souvenir shops, cafeterias and toilets. Wear a hat and sunglasses to protect you from the heat.
You can also get many local handicrafts and souvenir items at a cheaper price in stalls near the public parking area outside the fort. You can get one large or three small conch shells below US$5. Be aware, however, that some of the shells being sold in these stalls may have the stench of dead fish, so be sure to check with your nose before buying.
You will also notice some teens at the parking lot. They will offer to watch your vehicle for R$1 while you tour Forte dos Reis Magos. While there is no danger of your car being stolen in broad daylight here, it is advised that you shell out the cash. If you don’t, some of these kids are known to break into visitors’ cars, so it’s best to be safe for less than a dollar.
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The National World War II Museum to…
The National World War II Museum to hold special screening of PBS documentary, ‘Inheritance,’ a unique examination of the Holocaust and the people it affected
Daughter and victim of father’s atrocities struggle with the past
NEW ORLEANS (November 14, 2008) – Where is the legacy of the Holocaust? To Monika Hertwig, whose father perpetrated it, the layers of emotion and years of misinformation are difficult to escape. To Helen Jonas, who survived it, the desire to bring peace exists uneasily with the need to defend the truth. On Monday, December 1, 2008, Helen and Monika will grapple with their connected history as part of a special screening of James Moll’s documentary film, Inheritance. The film, presented by The National World War II Museum, will be shown at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City at 7:00 pm. The National World War II Museum is proud to offer the thousands of members it has in New York area, as well as the general public, a preview of this important new film and the chance to meet the two women at the center of this powerful story. Connecting the public to the participants, and thereby creating a chance to experience history, fulfills the educational mission of The National WWII Museum. All of the Museum’s events and exhibits are centered around one fundamental truth: Learn something in the first person and you learn it for a life time.
Inheritance, which will be broadcast nationally on the PBS’s P.O.V. series on December 10, tells the story of Monika Hertwig, daughter of Amon Goeth, the sadistic Nazi commandant of Plaszow Concentration Camp. After seeing her father portrayed in Steven Spielberg’s 1993 movie, Schindler’s List, Monika reaches out to Helen Jonas, who Goeth had enslaved as his personal servant. Moll's cameras capture the women's brutally honest and gut-wrenching encounter in the ruins of Goeth’s villa overlooking the concentration camp. Following the screening Moll will moderate a live discussion between Helen and Monika on the questions the film raises and their own personal search for meaning.
“Inheritance examines the legacy of the Holocaust – not what happened, but what is happening today,” explains Hugh Ambrose, son of Stephen E. Ambrose, the award-winning historian and Museum founder. “Only three generations removed, it’s clear that we must protect the truth and extend its reach. The Holocaust defines the term ‘evil’ in modern world history. Its legacy has consequences for all human civilization.”
“An important part of The National World War II Museum’s mission is to conduct a national dialogue about these issues to raise awareness of the importance of World War II for future generations,” says Museum President and CEO Dr. Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller. “It’s vital to our freedom and liberties that we never forget how this war framed the ideals of our nation and our unwavering commitment to preserve the courage and sacrifice of the World War II generation.”
Sponsorship of the Inheritance screening is but the latest in a series of nationwide events the institution has underwritten that underscore the War’s continuing relevance to both the 21st-century and the Greatest Generation’s heirs – the sons and daughters of the men and women who fought in the conflict. The Museum also conducts an ongoing nationwide oral history program. To date, the collection contains over 3,000 of these priceless stories from all branches of service and races from the battlefront to the Home Front.
Academy and Emmy Award winning director James Moll’s credits include Price for Peace, a film that focuses on the Pacific theater of WWII, produced with Stephen Ambrose and Steven Spielberg in association with The National World War II Museum. Moll also produced Survivors of the Holocaust, a documentary nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards in 1997. He established and operated The Shoah Foundation with Steven Spielberg to preserve Holocaust survivor testimonies. Moll is currently preparing to direct his first narrative feature, Emmett Till, focusing on the historic Mississippi lynching that fortified the civil rights movement.
About The National World War II MuseumThe National World War II Museum tells the story of the American Experience in the war that changed the world – why it was fought, how it was won, and what it means today – so that all generations will understand the price of freedom and be inspired by what they learn. Dedicated in 2000 as The National D-Day Museum and now designated by Congress as the nation’s official World War II Museum, it celebrates the American Spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifice of the men and women who fought on the battlefront and the Home Front. For more information, call 504-527-6012 or visit www.nationalww2museum.org.
About The Museum of Jewish HeritageThe Museum’s three-floor Core Exhibition educates people of all ages and backgrounds about the rich tapestry of Jewish life over the past century—before, during, and after the Holocaust. Special exhibitions include Woman of Letters: Irène Némirovsky and Suite Française, on view through March 22 and The Shooting of Jews in Ukraine: Holocaust by Bullets, opening on November 24.The Museum offers visitors a vibrant public program schedule in its Edmond J. Safra Hall. It is also home to Andy Goldsworthy’s memorial Garden of Stones, as well as James Carpenter’s Reflection Passage, Gift of The Gruss Lipper Foundation. The Museum receives general operating support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and is a founding member of the Museums of Lower Manhattan.
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Canadian collections
Slavonic
This section gives some idea of the main areas of current purchasing, and a selective list of notable accessions is included. Contact Dora Petherbridge at d.petherbridge@nls.uk for further information.
Modern printed collections
Under the privilege of legal deposit the National Library of Scotland has a right to claim all materials published in Britain and Ireland, and a number of books from Canadian publishers distributed in Britain are also received. In addition, the Library maintains an active purchasing policy for Canadian material.
Publications relating to Scotland and the Scots are extensively acquired. Because of the intensity of Scottish emigration to Canada the Library acquires a substantial amount of material of historical and genealogical interest. Current material is also acquired in the humanities, especially literature (including contemporary writing) and history, especially where there is significant Scottish input, for example the fur trade, or Scottish resonance, for example the question of Quebec nationalism. Material is acquired more selectively in politics and the social sciences. Standard works of reference and bibliographies are given high priority. The Library has particular strengths in mountaineering and polar exploration. Canadian material is acquired in both English and French, and the Library also acquires as extensively as possible publications in and relating to the Scottish Gaelic of Nova Scotia.
Non-current material and special collections
There are no special collections with exclusively Canadian content and much of the earlier printed material is related to the numerous manuscript collections. There are however a number of older Canadian newspapers (see Holdings of US and Canadian Newspapers in Scottish Libraries) and individual items of interest relating in particular to travel, exploration, mountaineering and Scottish emigration to Canada. The Library has an active policy of purchasing photographic material; of particular interest in this context are works by the Scots-Canadian photographers William Notman and Alexander Henderson.
Non-print collections
There are some microform collections relating to Commonwealth history, for example the 'Missionary Society Archives'. One important collection for Canadian history is the 'Mackenzie King Diaries' on microfiche.
Manuscript, maps and music collections
The manuscript collections are rich in Canadian material, again with the emphasis on Scottish-Canadian relations. Most relevant material will be found in the Murray, Ellice, Minto and Yester Papers, collections mainly of correspondence dealing with civil government, military affairs and commercial activity in Canada, and also with individual immigrant experience, an area supported by numerous other smaller collections.
The Library has depository status for the topographic maps published by the Surveys and Mapping Branch of the Canadian Department of Energy, Mines and resources and the Canadian Arctic is well covered as part of the Library's special interest in the area. There is a substantial range of atlases dealing with Canada, including thematic atlases. Bibliographies, directories of map libraries, catalogues of map collections and gazetteers are also purchased. Works on historical geography and land settlement are collected, particularly if there is Scottish interest.
The Library has a modest collection of Canadian music, including some scores (folk music collections, examples of concert music and sacred music) and a number of recordings of Cape Breton fiddle music.
Foreign Collections main page
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New Mexico sees record-setting year in oil production
Mar 13, 2018 2:03 PM
Ron Davis | Albuquerque Business First | March 13, 2018
For the second consecutive year, New Mexico oil and gas has set a new record for oil production.
A report from the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association said the state produced 172 million barrels of oil during 2017 to set a new high. The state capped off the year by tapping into 17.2 million barrels in December alone.
The NMOGA's report said the state sits third in the country's leading oil producers. Oil output in the Permian Basin in southeastern New Mexico is projected to double by 2023, according to the report.
“Growing New Mexico’s oil and natural gas industry means growth in jobs, the economy, and funding for our public schools and state budget,” said Ryan Flynn, executive director of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association said in a statement. “2017 was a record-breaking year because of the prolific growth and potential producers are seeing in the Permian Basin. Last year, oil and natural gas producers invested more than $13 billion in New Mexico, and these investments are clearly beginning to have an overwhelmingly positive impact. New Mexico is blessed with abundant natural resources, and safely and responsibly developing our oil and natural gas economy is key to New Mexico’s future.”
A big player that will be tapping into the oil-rich Permian will be Texas-headquartered ExxonMobil, which plans to invest $2 billion to triple daily production to over 600,000 barrels per day by 2025. Exxon recently announced it will be aiming to more than double its yearly earnings from $15 billion to $31 billion by 2025, according to previous Business First reporting.
A report from NMOGA in January found $934 million of the $1.743 billion in impact from the oil and gas impact goes to education — $711 million distributed among public and charter schools and $223 million for higher education institutions.
“Regardless of where New Mexicans live or make their home, our oil and gas industry is providing support for every public school and local community,” Flynn said. “This industry is the foundation of our state’s economy and is poised to grow jobs and revenue for our children, if New Mexico remains a favorable place for oil and gas producers to do business.”
Exxon was New Mexico's No. 9 top oil producer by producing over 7.2 million barrels in 2016, but had the greatest positive change in production from 2015 to 2016 than every other oil company on the list by expanding its New Mexico operations by 113.9 percent. Texas-based Concho Resources, at over 27 million barrels, was Business First's top producer.
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Norman Board of Education calls for school bond election
Monday, Dec. 3, 2018 - NORMAN - Safety and security for students is the cornerstone of a school bond proposal local voters will consider at the polls Feb. 12, 2019. The Norman Board of Education approved a resolution authorizing the school bond election at Monday’s board meeting.
The 2019 bond proposal calls for significant investments in the safety and security of students and staff. In fact, if approved by voters, the bond would ensure that every school in the district has a storm shelter. Additional security measures include interior and exterior door enhancements, protective window film, security camera and alarm system upgrades, perimeter security and health services equipment. Several schools would also receive multi-classroom additions, library renovations and parking improvements.
Fine Arts is also a key component of the proposal, as many schools would receive new or upgraded facilities for music, band and visual arts programs. Additionally, funding would be maximized by building the art facilities as school storm shelters.
Projects identified in the school bond proposal were identified as a result of demographic studies, facility assessments and input from parents, teachers, staff and community stakeholders.
The total bond proposal calls for an investment of $186 million over six years at a sinking fund millage rate of 30. The ballot will feature two separate propositions, as school transportation bond projects are required by law to be listed as a separate proposition on the ballot. Thus, the first proposition, which is for the bulk of the bond projects, is $182.5 million. The second proposition, which is specifically for school transportation items, is $3.5 million.
A school bond election is a bond issue used by a public school district to fund capital improvement projects, instructional materials and transportation needs. These measures are placed on the ballot by school boards to be considered by the voting public and require a supermajority of 60 percent of votes to pass. Historically, the Norman Public School District’s bond issues have served as steps in a long-term plan to maintain and enhance excellent educational opportunities. Norman voters have approved more than $432 million in school bond funds since 1972.
For more information, visit www.normanpublicschools.org/bond.
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David Gornoski on Anthropology and Liberty
By: David Gornoski, Jeff Deist
David Gornoski is a Christian libertarian writer, frequently featured at The American Conservative a
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Essential Physiology
Nancy Aguilar-Roca
Human Anatomy and Physiology is designed for the two-semester anatomy and physiology course taken by life science and allied health students. The textbook follows the scope and sequence of most […]
Electoral Politics in the Age of Reform
Historians have emphasised the unsavoury nature of electoral politics in the decades before 1832. Four charges were levelled at the electoral system by these critics * that very few voters were free to vote as they wished * the electorate was thoroughly venal and regarded the vote as a piece of personal property upon which they expected to make a profit every 7 years * elections were an exclusive proceeding concerning only political and social elites * political issues were unim
Full FlipCon14 Presentation: ±5 Ways To Make Engaging Flipping Videos
The basics, don’ts and do’s of making flipping videos your students will actually want to watch.
Content Times:
0:00 Introducing myself
4:20 Placing my Virtual Attendees on a Map
9:32 The Basics - Before you start filming
11:19 - Live Video or Picture-in-Picture
14:26 - Video Length
17:28 The Don’ts - Don’t use your built in microphone
19:04 - Don’t ignore audio levels
19:39 - Don’t be just a talking
This free course provided an introduction to studying Engineering. It took you through a series of exercises designed to develop your approach to study and learning at a distance, and helped to improve your confidence as an independent learner.
Seeking Approval - A Question of Power, Gender or Culture
Seeking Approval - A Question of Power, Gender or Culture Featuring Dr Elizabeth Gower, Dr Leslie Cannold, Sushi Das and Dr Meagan Tyler a public program event for the exhibition Elizabeth Gower - he loves me, he loves me not RMIT Gallery 11 March - 23 April 2016
Norse Mythology: The Creation of The World, Part 2 of 2
This episode discusses the conflicts the beings encountered with each other. Video is a series of pictures and illustrations with musical sound track, beautifully narrated by a male with an English accent. Part 2 of 2 (5:24)
Perlas clínicas: tratamiento del asma en urgencias
Presentación del Dr Daza, residente de medicina interna, acerca del tratamiento de la crisis asmática de acuerdo a la evidencia disponible. Estas y otras presentaciones en www.perlasclinicas.com
1.4 Obesity
At the time of writing (2004) 20% of the adult population of the UK is classified as obese. The number of obese children has doubled since 1982, 10% of six year olds and 17% of fifteen year olds are now classified as obese. As shown in Table 4, obesity is recognized when the BMI exceeds 30 and occurs quite simply when energ
Flanagan - Bronze Horse DP167114
Jesus College, Jesus Lane, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. <br> First Court, Bronze Horse, 1983, by Barry Flanagan. Photographed by James O. Davies, 2015.
© © Historic England
The passport example illustrates the tension between how I see myself and how I am seen by others, between the personal and the social.
Institutions such as the state play an important role in constructing identities.
Difference is very clearly marked in relation to national identity.
Such official categories contain omissions and cannot fully accommodate the personal investment we have in our identities, n
Politics in 60 seconds. History and the state
Dr Malika Rahal defines a polical concept in 60 seconds for those with a spare minute to learn something new. This videocast focuses on history and the state as a political concept. Warning: video does contain bloopers and out takes. May 2010 Suitable for Undergraduate study and Community education Dr Malika Rahal, School of Politics and International Relations Dr Malika Rahal is a lecturer specializing in Middle Eastern and North African History and Politics. Before joining the School of P
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Except for third party materials (materials owned by someone other than The University of Nottingham) and where otherwise indicated, the copyright in the content provided in this resource is owned by
Brazilian serialities: imagining persons (24 May 2013)
In this Anthropology Departmental Seminar, Professor Joao de Pina-Cabral (University of Kent) discusses the creative use of personal names in Brazil.
British Parliament - introduction to eighteenth century politics
3.15 Exploring anti-oppressive practice
Click to read: Anti-Oppressive Practice
Activity 12
0 hours 45
2 Dividing in your head
To divide one number into another without using a calculator you need to know basic multiplications up to 10. This means that you need to know, by heart, what result you get if you multiply (times) any number up to 10 by any other number up to 10. For example you have to remember that 9 multiplied by 6 is 54, or 4 multiplied by 5 is 20, and so on.
If you are confident that you know the basic multiplications up to 10, just carry on with the rest of this course. If you are unsure, or woul
{Suresh 914} Sentences
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UOToday #588 guest Gerri Ondrizek
Geraldine Ondrizek, professor of Art, Reed College, discusses her installation “Shades of White” in the Artist Project Space at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.
Author(s): wbiaggne
4 The leading figures of the Scottish Enlightenment
At this point, before we move on to look in greater detail at the work of a couple of characteristic and influential Scottish scientists, it will be useful to stand back and take a survey of the leading members of the scientific and medical community.
One of its most eminent members, Adam Smith, pioneered the discipline of economics, which is not customarily included within science today. But to exclude him from our survey would be to misrepresent the unfenced, boundary-free territory a
The week ahead: Beauty queen and the beast
US editor John Prideaux joins host Josie Delap to examine the fallout from the first Presidential debate and the brewing feud between the Republican nominee and former Miss Universe Alicia Machado. Also, a historic peace deal in Colombia and China's lost generation
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Expert Blog › Sheryl Carter
Energy Efficiency - Good for the Economy and the Environment - Gains Ground
January 12, 2016 Sheryl Carter
Energy efficiency gained ground in 2015, even in Washington's hyper-partisan environment --- demonstrating once again that there is strong support for smarter energy use that spurs innovation, creates jobs, lowers utility bills, and cuts pollution.
Bipartisan Energy Efficiency Improvement Act signed into law
President Obama signed into law the bipartisan Energy Efficiency Improvement Act. The measure includes a new Tenant Star voluntary labeling program designed to promote energy efficiency in leased commercial space during design and occupancy. The Tenant Star program has the potential to cut utility bills for landlords and tenants by an estimated 2 billion dollars by 2030 and reduce carbon emissions by nearly 12 million metric tons. The measure also makes it possible for large water heaters to be used for energy storage.
Big progress on efficiency standards
The president has set a goal of reducing carbon pollution by at least 3 billion metric tons by 2030 through efficiency rules for appliances and federal buildings. And in 2015, the Department of Energy (DOE) released efficiency standards for new rooftop air conditioners, heat pumps, and furnaces that heat and cool more than half of America's commercial floor space. Together, they represent the largest savings of any energy-saving rule issued by the agency since the standards program began in 1987, and will save about the same amount of energy as all the coal burned in the U.S. to generate electricity in a year.
An agreement was reached on energy conservation standards for large refrigerated coolers and freezers found in almost every restaurant, supermarket, and convenience store in the country.
DOE proposed the first efficiency performance standards for electric and gas ovens (estimated to save $4.7-$11 billion over 30 years). In the final week of 2015, the agency also issued final rules for ceiling fan light kits, boilers, beverage vending machines, pre-rinse spray valves, and commercial and industrial pumps.
Utilities continue to advance efficiency
America's utilities are now our nation's most important investors in smarter use of electricity and natural gas, helping all of us reduce both energy bills and pollution. According to the Institute for Electric Innovation, U.S. utility investment in efficiency programs, such as weatherization and rebates for highly efficient appliances, continues on an upward path and exceeded $7 billion in 2014 (the latest available figures). This is well over double the $2.7 billion total for 2007.
States and cities continue to promote energy efficiency
California, already a national leader in energy efficiency, set a goal to double energy savings in homes, businesses, and factories by 2030. The level of energy savings set by SB 350 will reduce the state's total statewide electricity needs by about 25 percent, and reduce its natural gas needs by about 10 percent below the demand projected in 2030.
New York pledged to cut energy consumption in buildings by 23 percent by 2030. The city and county of Denver announced the Energize Denver initiative, which aims to improve the energy efficiency of commercial and multi-family buildings by 10 percent by the end of 2020 and double that in the following decade. And Atlanta became the first city in the Southeast to pass a benchmarking and audit policy for large commercial buildings, potentially leading to a 20 percent reduction in commercial energy use by 2030, the creation of thousands of jobs, and a reduction in carbon emissions by 50 percent.
Despite gains, efficiency's supporters forced to play defense
The U.S. House passed an energy bill that, incredibly, included an efficiency title that could increase energy consumption and consumer costs. The bill has yet to come before the Senate, and the administration has issued a veto threat. Even more startling, some Republican members of Congress sought to repeal all state and federal efficiency standards for appliances and equipment, even though the legislation establishing the federal efficiency program was signed by President Reagan, a GOP icon, and the standards saved consumers $60 billion in 2014 alone, and kept 2.3 billion tons of carbon pollution out of the atmosphere. In the end, the proposal died on a procedural matter, but more threats loom.
Energy efficiency achieves greater international recognition
The G20 gave its official support for the G20 Energy Efficiency Action Plan at its November 2015 meeting, elevating the world's first fuel to a new level. This is particularly important since strong energy efficiency standards across the G20 could reduce climate pollution 6.9 gigatons per year by 2030. That's as much climate pollution as the United States currently emits each year and would lift world GDP $18 trillion by 2035.
2016 promises to continue these gains
Energy efficiency is a critical tool for meeting our energy needs cheaply and fighting climate change. It is good for the economy, good for the environment, and good for consumers' wallets. Efficiency is a key cost-effective solution for states as they work to cut carbon pollution from power plants, the single biggest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, under the federal Clean Power Plan finalized in 2015. It becomes even more indispensable as we look to meet the ambitious carbon reduction goals agreed to in Paris at the meeting of the United Nation's Conference on Climate Change (COP21).
A toast to an efficient 2016, as well!
[Bipartisan cartoon from Flikr by Akabics; household savings graphic and energy audit photo courtesy of DOE]
efficiencystandards
energyefficiency
Sheryl Carter
Director, Power Sector, Climate & Clean Energy Program
Want to join the fight? We're hiring.
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› Culture & Politics
Scott Pruitt, You’ve Been Warned
If Trump’s pick for EPA chief thinks that Americans are cool with a weak, polluter-friendly agency, he should Google the name “Anne Gorsuch Burford.”
Jeff Turrentine
Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Scott Pruitt, Donald Trump’s pick to be the next director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, must be feeling pretty psyched this week.
On Monday, federal ethics officials gave him the all clear, bringing him one step closer to Senate confirmation. That, however, doesn’t alter the fact that Pruitt would be coming to the job with some serious baggage. He’s disconcertingly chummy with the heads of many of the energy companies he’ll be expected to regulate, for one thing. And he has displayed contempt for the agency he’s now being asked to lead—going so far as to accuse it (on his own LinkedIn page!) of having “an activist agenda.”
Pruitt may have cleared the ethics bar, but he shouldn’t get too cocky. The last time a fervently anti-regulation, pro-industry ideologue took over the reins at the EPA, it ended very badly—for the EPA director, I mean.
In spring of 1981, President Ronald Reagan was still basking in the glow of his landslide victory over incumbent Jimmy Carter. Unlike today, there was no debating whether the new president had a mandate. Reagan had promised, if elected, to vastly reduce the size and scope of the federal government. When he won by more than eight million popular votes (and, humiliatingly, allowed Carter fewer than 50 votes in the Electoral College), no one could doubt that he had earned the right to claim that the majority of Americans endorsed his small-government agenda.
Such was the political context Anne Gorsuch stepped into upon her swearing-in as EPA chief on May 5 of that year. A newcomer to the national stage, Gorsuch (who later added the last name Burford) had cut her teeth in corporate law, the Denver district attorney’s office, and the Colorado House of Representatives. There, her membership in a subgroup known as the House Crazies—a cluster of “conservative lawmakers intent on permanently changing government,” according to one Washington Post writer—caught the attention of the national GOP.
Anne Gorsuch, 1982
“There is no riper pasture for regulatory reform than EPA,” said Gorsuch. Almost immediately after taking office, she began mowing down that pasture by dismantling the agency’s regulatory apparatus. Gorsuch slashed budgets for research and enforcement (the latter by 45 percent); cut the number of cases the EPA referred to the Department of Justice by three-quarters; and began replacing the legal enforcement of existing environmental laws with a system based on “voluntary compliance” by industry. Her staff members held closed-door meetings with polluters and were happy to cut them slack when it came to meeting toxic cleanup deadlines. For good measure, she even oversaw a new chemical approval process designed to increase the spraying of restricted-use pesticides.
Gorsuch’s dislike of the Clean Water Act bordered on the obsessive. She took great pride in her attempts to weaken the act, publicly bragging that the book of clean-water regulations, which had been six inches thick when she started, was going to be just half an inch thick when she got through with it. Eliminating pesky public-safety rules, she said, was simply part of her job description, which she saw as demolishing and rebuilding an agency beset by “excessive regulations, burdensome paperwork for industry and government, federal-state friction, and huge costs.”
But a funny thing happened on the way to the deregulatory revolution: Gorsuch went too far. In 1982, Congress began investigating her management of the $1.6 billion Superfund program, looking for documents that proved the agency had struck sweetheart cleanup deals with the polluting companies behind some of the nation’s most toxic sites. Gorsuch refused to cooperate with the investigation, claiming that the records being sought were protected under executive privilege. Less than two years after taking office under what had been such auspicious political circumstances, she found herself being cited for contempt by the House of Representatives and singled out by the editorial pages of major newspapers for “pollut[ing] the E.P.A.’s reputation for impartial administration of science and law.”
It all proved too much for the Reagan administration, which—to borrow a phrase from contemporary parlance—threw Gorsuch under the bus. As her management of the Superfund program began to take on the whiff of scandal, the Justice Department, which had been representing her in her battle with Congress, announced that it would no longer be able to defend her. In March of 1983, she tendered her resignation, which Ronald Reagan accepted immediately, albeit “with deep regret.”
By the time Gorsuch was forced out, there was already bipartisan support for her departure—in both the Republican-controlled White House and the Democrat-controlled Congress. Right now, Scott Pruitt should be asking himself why.
In November 2016, Americans didn’t vote for dirtier air, dirtier water, or more toxic chemicals in our environment. Americans of all political stripes believe that polluting industries should not be able to write their own rules regarding the messes they make or the health burdens they place on the public. Ensuring public safety and holding polluters accountable isn’t “big” government; it’s basic government. And if you don’t understand that, then you really have no business serving in government in the first place.
onEarth provides reporting and analysis about environmental science, policy, and culture. All opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or positions of NRDC. Learn more or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
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Archaeologists May have Discovered One Million-Year-Old Campfire
Archaeologists from Boston University have recently uncovered what they feel could be the oldest campfire ever. Located in Wonderwerk Cave, located in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, they found ash of grass, leaves and bone fragments at a depth of 30 meters - roughly one million years ago.
The excavated area is located far enough back in the cave to be out of reach of lightning strikes and has tested negative for bat guano (which can spontaneously combust in sufficient quantities), "This left us with the conclusion that the fire had to have been created by hominins," says Berna. "The fire was only confirmed when the sediment was analysed at the microscopic level. It is possible that the reason we have not yet seen more evidence of early fire use is because we have not been using the appropriate methods," he continued.
Derna's findings were published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and while many archaeologists agree that the evidence does suggest that hominins did use fire in the cave one million years ago, there is still debate on whether or not the early people mastered the flame sufficiently to cook regularly.
Via gizmodo.com and nature.com
Flickr Photo Credit: Doug Beckers
Published in: General News
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(Syrian) black skin, (Lebanese) white masks
Refugees in Lebanon face a violent troika: the state, the Lebanese bourgeoisie, and the weather.
Mahmoud Mroueh
Al-Marj refugee camp, Beqaa, Lebanon 9/1/2015. At least 3 refugees have been killed by the storm so far. Photo by Syrian Eyes.Life in Lebanon has become more grueling for Syrian refugees since I wrote on the proliferation of anti-Syrian sentiment amongst the Lebanese back in September.
Hostile attitudes towards our Syrian ‘guests’, while already prevalent, have steadily become more dominant and more pronounced. A particularly shameful article (Arabic) titled “Hamra [Street] is no longer Lebanese…Syrian expansion has altered its identity” caused an uproar when it was published in An-Nahar’s print and online editions on January 6, 2015. An-Nahar is Lebanon’s most widely-circulated newspaper and one of its oldest and most prestigious. The article deserves to be examined, not for its merit, but because it contains a damning caricature - that unintentionally borders on the satirical - of the specifically bourgeois variant of Lebanese anti-Syrian bigotry.
In addition to having to deal with a hostile population and vitriolic media, new entry policies put in place by the Lebanese government have severely restricted access into Lebanon for Syrian refugees fleeing the war back home. Finally, an exceptionally harsh winter spent in dismal, ill-equipped shelters (if any) coupled with the temporary suspension of the World Food Programme’s much-needed aid distribution programs have made life unbearable for many of Lebanon’s Syrian refugees.
The flow of refugees into Lebanon has, until recently, continued unabated. According to a recent UNHCR report, there are 257 Syrian refugees per 1,000 inhabitants inside Lebanon today, making Lebanon the country with the highest refugee density in the world. The Lebanese government took its first concrete step towards limiting the influx of Syrian refugees into the country in October of 2014, when entry procedures for Syrian nationals were tightened. Syrians classified as ‘displaced’, as opposed to visitors who would eventually return, could be refused entry on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of Lebanon’s General Security apparatus. These procedures were formalized and finally put into effect on January 5.
Syrian and Lebanese nationals have historically enjoyed the right to cross into either country without the need for a visa, ever since Syria and Lebanon came to exist as independent nation states following independence from French colonialism in the 1940s. But this has now changed. Syrian nationals who wish to cross into Lebanon must now apply for one of six visa types at the border and have their applications approved by General Security.
Category I visas include tourism visas, business visas, and visas for real estate owners. Tourism visas are granted for a period equal to the duration of the applicant’s hotel reservation, business visas are granted for a maximum of one month, and real estate owner visas are granted for a maximum of six months. Category II visas are student visas, and they are initially granted for a duration of one week and then extended when proof of enrollment in an educational institution is provided. Category III visas are transit visas, granted to those who wish to enter Lebanon in order to travel through one of the country’s seaports or airport. These visas are granted for a duration of 48 hours for air travelers and 24 hours for those who wish to travel by sea.
Medical visas are category IV visas, and they are granted for an initial duration of 72 hours and can later be renewed, only once, for another 72 hours. Category V visas are granted for a duration of 48 hours to Syrian nationals who wish to visit a foreign embassy on Lebanese soil. Finally, category VI visas are reserved for those Syrian nationals who do not fall under any of the above-mentioned categories. Syrian nationals who apply for this visa category must obtain an ‘oath of liability’ from a Lebanese citizen who is willing to vouch for them, and take full responsibility for their ‘stay and their actions’. This visa is granted for a duration of five days, and it can be renewed twice after this 5 day period for a maximum of 6 months.
It is worth noting that Lebanese citizens are still allowed to enter Syria without applying for a visa, and the Lebanese government’s decision prompted a strong response from the Syrian government, delivered by Syria’s ambassador to Lebanon, who went so far as to threaten closing the Syrian border to Lebanese exports. “Lebanon would be harmed more than Syria”, he said. It is immediately evident that the new visa system was designed to compartmentalise Syrian nationals based on class; if you have money and assets you are allowed to stay, and if you are poor you are unwelcome, which brings us back to Hussein Hazouri’s horrid piece in An-Nahar. It is immediately evident that the new visa system was designed to compartmentalise Syrian nationals based on class; if you have money and assets you are allowed to stay, and if you are poor you are unwelcome, which brings us back to Hussein Hazouri’s horrid piece in An-Nahar.
The Lebanese 'white mask'
Hazouri begins by stating that Beirut’s Hamra Street, a historically cultural and intellectual hub and one of Beirut’s busiest streets, has turned “black” – an allusion to the Syrian skin tone, which Hazouri believes is darker than that of the Lebanese. He later says, “[Hamra is full of] people who have that dark skin that the Lebanese very well know is Syrian”.
Not only is Hazouri making the claim that Syrians have darker skin than do the Lebanese, he also repeatedly insinuates that dark skin is somehow inferior to lighter skin. I personally cannot tell a Syrian apart from a Lebanese. The borders that divide the Levant today were imposed through colonialism and are less than a century old. At the risk of stating the obvious, almost no correlation exists between modern national identities - in the context of centuries of free movement and intermarriage (which back then was just marriage) in such a small region, in addition to other factors, too numerous to count, that are unique to the Levant - and physical attributes. So why does Hazouri believe Syrians have darker skin than the Lebanese? Lebanese anthropologist and social worker Lamia Moghnieh answered the question quite nicely in this excellent blog post:
“While Lebanese spend an incredible amount of time everyday trying to shape their bodies, skin, postures, accents and clothes to resemble and pass as the coveted European and American body, the Syrian body, a constant reminder of what they actually resemble, becomes so threatening to their modern and civilized aspirations that it needs to be recreated and reproduced as essentially different from the Lebanese body.”
The Lebanese fashion the Syrian body in such a way so that they may forge an identity from the imagined contradistinction that exists between how they perceive the Syrian body, and thus the Syrian, and how they perceive themselves. This dark skin that all Syrians are supposedly characterized with is perceived as being inferior to lighter skin, because it is associated with poverty and uncleanliness.
As I’ve argued before, the stereotype was partly inspired by the sunburned skin of Syrian migrant workers who comprise the largest part of the labor force in construction and agriculture, and who toil under the sun from dawn till dusk in every part of the country in return for meager wages. These are the Syrians who the Lebanese most often encountered. Economists disagree on the number of Syrian workers present in Lebanon before 2011, with numbers ranging from anywhere between 250,000 to 1,200,000 in the 1990s.The real figure hovered between 300,000 and 500,000 throughout the first decade of the 21st century.
Syrian workers comprised the bulk of Lebanon’s Syrian population, but they were also more visible than the rest of the (more affluent) Syrian population, who cannot be distinguished from wealthy Lebanese. It is important to mention that colonialism and imperialism are also responsible for the internalised racism and reverence for everything western and ‘white’ that dominates Lebanese society and other parts of the developing world. After the article was published, Syrians and Lebanese took to social media websites to mock the article with memes that satirically highlighted the supposed differences in skin tones that exist between the Lebanese and the Syrians as per Hazouri, and businesses in Hamra issued a joint-statement condemning the article as racist, and denying the claims made by Hazouri with regards to how Syrian refugees are ‘bad for business’.
Hazouri’s article is as abhorrently classist as it is racist, which is to be expected – it always boils down to class. What seems to bother Hazouri most is having to deal with the unwelcome intrusion of homeless Syrian refugees on his little bourgeois bubble of joie de vivre. Hazouri included a rather indicative quote in his article, from a 22 year old restaurant employee who works on Hamra. “The Syrians have occupied the country, which pushes many Lebanese to avoid the area because of all the beggars and the vulgar, low class scenes (of poor Syrian refugees) that dominate this area of Beirut.” This kind of rhetoric is regularly spewed by Lebanon’s upper classes, as was showcased by this brilliant satirical piece, which actually contains a terrifyingly accurate portrayal of reality. Lebanon’s wealthy very loudly and continuously voice their complaints about the Syrian refugee situation, when they are in fact the least-affected by it, if at all.
This is in no way unique to Lebanon’s elite of course, but to the wealthy everywhere, for “the philosophy of enjoyment was never anything but the clever language of certain social circles who had the privilege of enjoyment.” Some of Lebanon’s poorer agricultural regions are close to breaking point, this cannot be denied, and yet the residents of these areas - who have suffered the most as a result of this crisis - have consistently been the most compassionate towards Syrian refugees.
One Lebanese family I personally know of in the south is housing a Syrian family of 11 in its cramped and extremely modest house. Stories of solidarity like this one are all too common, and the sacrifices these people make are real, as opposed to the feel-good activism (what they call giving money that they do not need) of Lebanon’s upper classes. They whine when it is in fact the poor, both Syrian and Lebanese, who bear the brunt of this crisis.
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Through Syrian eyes
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Bunn Left Frustrated By Exeter Result
Manager Frankie Bunn was left disappointed with the defeat his Oldham Athletic side faced on Saturday against Exeter City.
Latics led twice through Sam Surridge and Callum Lang, but a Jayden Stockley hat-trick ended the squads six game unbeaten league run.
Bunn felt his side needed to defend their leads better after conceding some sloppy goals.
“It's a disappointing result, especially on the back of a terrific run, but when you score two goals you expect to keep a lead.” He said.
“We've lost the lead twice then conceded the third so disappointed with some of the defending albeit they've had three or four chances and taken them.
“An error picking up people on the corner and then we've worked on Stockley in the box and the positions he takes up and unfortunately, we weren't aware.”
Latics began the day two points behind their Devon opponents with a chance to potentially sneak into the playoff positions.
However, it turned out to be a missed opportunity for the side, but Bunn was quick to remind everyone about the progress the squad was making.
“We've done great to get into the position we've got into and the next step would have been a win today to cement where we have got to.” He commented.
“It was a chance to improve on that and make a statement, but it wasn't to be, so we'll have to bounce back like we've done on several occasions.”
Bunn and his players were also left frustrated with the officiating once again after Jordan Lyden was wiped out in the penalty area in the 90th minute.
“I don't even know anymore, I thought it was a penalty, but it's not been given so it is what it is.”
Next up for Latics is a trip to Carlisle United on Boxing Day who were 1-3 winners at Boundary Park earlier in the season.
The festive period provides a quick turnaround for teams and Bunn is confident his side can bounce back.
“The turnaround is quick, so we'll be on the front foot again and try to recover from this defeat.
“We're motivated every week, it doesn't matter where we go, we're always motivated to win games.
“It's two losses in ten games, including the cups so we'll pick ourselves up and go again.”
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91. THE CASE FOR SPACE: Interview with DR ROBERT ZUBRIN: How the Revolution in Spaceflight opens up a Future of Limitless Possibility
May 14, 2019 Chuck Astronomy & Space, Books, Podcasts, Science 0:17:54 0 Comments
https://youtu.be/Dz0I9PAmcVg
The Case for Space
by Dr Robert Zubrin
Dr. Robert Zubrin is president of Pioneer Astronautics and also president of The Mars Society. He’s also the author of many critically acclaimed books, including “Mars Direct”, “How to Live on Mars” and “Entering Space”. He has appeared on major media including CNN, BBC, the Discovery Channel, & NPR. In this interview Dr. Zubrin joins us to discuss his newly released book, “The Case for Space”, an insightful look at how the revolution in spaceflight opens up a future of limitless possibility.
90. Down to Earth SPACEMAN Mike Massimino shares his journey as a NASA astronaut
May 7, 2019 Chuck Astronomy & Space, Books, Podcasts, Science 0:16:39 0 Comments
https://youtu.be/sp6DeM4jdrc
Mike Massimino served as a NASA astronaut from 1996 to 2014 and is a veteran of two space flights to the Hubble Space Telescope. He became the first person to tweet from space and played himself in several episodes of the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. A graduate of Columbia University & MIT, Mike currently lives in New York City, where he is a professor at Columbia and an advisor at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.
For more information about Mike, visit https://www.mikemassimino.com/
88. DR THOMAS ZURBUCHEN: Associate Administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate
April 23, 2019 Chuck Astronomy & Space, Military, Podcasts, Science 0:22:58 0 Comments
https://youtu.be/rMv9C8zpWCQ
Portrait of Thomas Zurbuchen taken on Monday, October 17, 2016 at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Photo Credit: (NASA/Aubrey Gemignani)
In this interview we go onsite at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C. for an in-depth conversation with Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, the Associate Administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD). Thomas is an award-winning astrophysicist, with honors including receiving the National Science and Technology Council Presidential Early Career for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) Award in 2004 and three NASA Group Achievement awards.
Since day one at NASA’s Headquarters in Washington, DC, Zurbuchen has focused on inspiring learners of all ages and fostering an inclusive team of science leaders. Encouraging people to dive deeper and earn the future by striving for excellence today are key factors to the integrated approach he has adopted. Zurbuchen has created an environment where teams work together to achieve ambitious goals, excel well beyond the intended result and have the resources and support to achieve things they never thought were possible.
During his career, Zurbuchen has authored or coauthored more than 200 articles in refereed journals in solar and heliospheric phenomena. He has also been involved with several NASA science missions involving Mercury, the Sun and more. His experience here has driven his passion of cultivating leaders and highlighting talent throughout the agency. He has also been an advocate of sharing NASA’s messages on social media and can be found on Twitter at the handle @Dr_ThomasZ.
For more information, visit https://science.nasa.gov
87. SPACEX Falcon Heavy Arabsat-6A – Behind the Scenes
April 16, 2019 Chuck Astronomy & Space, Podcasts, Science 0:15:46 0 Comments
https://youtu.be/0gtOH04O8QA
Watch this engaging podcast on YouTube!
Photo by Chuck Fields
Go behind the scenes with us as we set up cameras at the launch pad, met some incredible people and witnessed the first commercial launch of SpaceX Falcon Heavy, complete with the incredible landing of the boosters at Cape Canaveral.
Featured in this episode are interviews with Everyday Astronaut Tim Dodd, rocket launch photographer Erik Kuna, and STEM/teacher Jamie Groh. We discuss what it's like photographing this historic launch; the first commercial flight of the new Block 5 Falcon Heavy, with more than 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff (10% more than last year’s version) and a 140,000+ pounds of LEO payload capacity—more than double of the space shuttle.
Tim Dodd, The Everyday Astronaut: everydayastronaut.com
Erik Kuna: erikkuna.com
Jamie Groh: AlteredTrajectory.com
SpaceX Falcon Heavy Arabsat 6A to launch Wednesday, April 10th
April 9, 2019 Chuck Astronomy & Space, Blog 0 Comments
SpaceX Falcon Heavy Boosters (from Feb 6, 2018)
SpaceX is gearing up for its 2nd Falcon Heavy launch, scheduled for 6:35 pm EDT Wednesday, April 10, 2019.
As you may remember the first Falcon Heavy was launched last year on February 6, 2018 with the infamous “Starman” and Elon Musk's own Tesla. Two of the Falcon Heavy's boosters landed nearly simultaneously at Cape Canaveral while the main booster landing at sea (on SpaceX's ship “Of Course I Still Love You”) was unsuccessful.
So what's different this time? This is the first commercial launch of Falcon Heavy and not a demonstration mission. Its payload is the Arabsat 6A communications satellite for Saudi Arabian company Arabsat. This new satellite will be launched into a geostationary orbit (meaning it will be above the same location on Earth during its orbit) and provide television, phone, internet and secure communications for the middle east, Africa and Europe.
While still the most powerful active rocket available, this version of the Falcon Heavy will be 10% more powerful than last year's. Its 27 Merlin engines and Block 5 configuration create more than 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff and are capable of lifting more than 140,000 pounds to low Earth orbit. Only the Saturn V moon rocket (last launched in 1973) could carry more payload to orbit.
As of right now (4/9/2019), weather conditions are 80% favorable for launch. You can watch the launch live on SpaceX's YouTube channel. We'll also be providing updates on our social media networks at FaceBook, Instagram and Twitter.
85. MOON to MARS – Behind the Scenes at NASA Glenn Research Center
April 2, 2019 Chuck Astronomy & Space, Podcasts, Science 0:17:27 0 Comments
https://youtu.be/z5I_p1ExphQ
MOON to Mars event at NASA Glenn Research Center
America is going back to the Moon! Go behind the scenes of the NASA Glenn Research Center as we go onsite to speak with the incredible team members and discover some of the cutting-edge technology that will help send American’s back to the Moon and then to Mars and beyond.
In this episode we recap our recent visit to the Moon To Mars event which was held in March by various NASA facilities throughout the U.S. For our trip to NASA Glenn in Cleveland, Ohio, we highlight some of the highly-skilled team members and discuss the incredible technologies that NASA is developing at this facility to get back to the Moon. Topics include GVIS (Graphics & Visualization Lab), ISRU (In-Situ Resource Utilization), advanced power systems and electric propulsion.
For more information on the Moon To Mars program, visit:
http://nasa.gov/moontomars
80. The New Vulcan Centaur Rocket – Mark Peller, ULA Program Manager for Major Development
February 26, 2019 Chuck Astronomy & Space, Podcasts, Science 0:16:49 0 Comments
https://youtu.be/CvnNhYzBw8U
Mark Peller
Mark Peller is the program manager for major development at United Launch Alliance (ULA), and in this position is responsible for development of Vulcan. Mark is with us today to discuss ULA’s future launch system, the Vulcan Centaur rocket.
Vulcan is ULA’s future launch system that builds upon ULA’s extensive Atlas and Delta heritage to provide a competitive product offering to serve a broad spectrum of markets. As the program manager, Peller has overall responsibility for developing the launch vehicle and the supporting capabilities required across the supply chain as well as ULA’s production and launch operations to meet the program’s objectives.
Peller began his career with Rockwell International in 1990 as a propulsion engineer supporting the Space Shuttle program. He joined The Boeing Company in 1996 when it acquired the aerospace and defense businesses of Rockwell. Peller moved to the Delta program in 1997 and held various technical and program management positions throughout the development and initial fielding of the Delta IV launch system.
Peller continued his work on the Delta program at ULA after the company was formed in 2006. In 2009, he was appointed the product line chief engineer for Delta, where he had overall technical responsibility for the Delta II and Delta IV launch systems. During this period he oversaw 24 successful Delta launches, including the first launch of the Delta IV Heavy configuration from the West Coast. In 2013 Peller transitioned into the role of the director of the ULA Hardware Value Stream where he was responsible for managing the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) contracts with the U.S. Air Force, and leading the product teams supporting launch vehicle development, procurement, and production.
Peller holds a Bachelor of Science degree in applied mechanics from the University of California, San Diego, a Master of Science degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Southern California and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of California, Irvine. He is a licensed mechanical engineer in the state of California.
For more information, visit https://www.ulalaunch.com/
77. ALAN PARSONS – Musician, Songwriter, Audio Engineer & Record Producer
February 5, 2019 Chuck Astronomy & Space, Music, Podcasts 0:16:43 0 Comments
https://youtu.be/mG9sd_3fcAs
Alan Parsons is an English audio engineer, songwriter, musician and record producer best known for his work on The Alan Parsons Project. He began his career at the age of 19, where he worked at Abbey Road, assisting in the production of the last two Beatles albums. In 1974 he received his first (of more than a dozen) Grammy nominations for his work on Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon. Through his work on The Alan Parsons Project, which was formed in 1975, Alan has had several top 40 hits including Eye in the Sky, Games People Play and Don’t Answer Me.
Alan joins us today to talk about his incredible career, including his recent Grammy nomination, his new album “The Secret” releasing April 26, 2019 (his first album in 15 years), as well as his upcoming tour. We also discuss his experience watching the Great American Total Solar Eclipse in 2017 and his upcoming free concert on July 13, 2019, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11.
For more information, visit alanparsons.com
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NUJ Active
Are you a visual artist and has your work been published in a book, magazine or on TV? If so, you are probably eligible for DACS payback royalties for secondary uses of your work, such as photocopying. Last year individual payments ranged from £25 to £4,215. The deadline for claims is Monday 1 May. You can contact DACS for more information and how to make a claim.
Insurance deal for journalists
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is holding a webinar on Tuesday 9 May at 11.30-13.00 to explain its insurance scheme for journalists. The speakers are Hugh Brumfitt, Insurance for Journalists, and Jeremy Dear, IFJ deputy general secretary. This will be of particular interest to freelances. You can sign up for the webinar on the IFJ website.
Women and the media
Get your tickets for the Stronger Voice for Women in the Media event on Wednesday 19 April, at University of Strathclyde, where the results of a survey about women journalists' experiences will be revealed. Speakers include Neil Mackay, Sunday Herald editor, who will talk about his support for equality in the media and Fiona McKay, journalist and researcher, on media coverage of women in politics.
The Write to End Violence Against Women Awards has called for entries. The awards, supported by NUJ Scotland, recognise high quality work which confronts violence and gender inequality. The deadline for entries is Saturday 30 September.
Local News Matters pledge
Sign and share the NUJ and TUC public pledge calling for investment in quality local journalism and the UK government to launch a public inquiry to examine the local media crisis.
Ian Bell young writers' award
The radical journalist and writer Ian Bell (1956-2015) was a member of the Edinburgh and District branch of the National Union of Journalists and a firm supporter of trade union rights. Inspired by an idea from his widow Mandy, the branch is setting up an award in Ian’s name. The competition will be open to writers under the age of 30 and will be for a piece of unpublished work in the critical spirit of Ian Bell. Please make a donation to the branch to help raise funds for the award by contacting Hilary Horrocks, NUJ Edinburgh branch vice-chair at hilaryhorrocks@btinternet.com
Tax advice for freelances: accountancy firm HW Fisher is running another of its successful seminars on tax for the self-employed on Monday 5 June. You can reserve your place on the NUJ website.
Conference on insecure work: 10 years on from the Commission on Vulnerable Employment, on Tuesday 23 May, the TUC is hosting a discussion on how unions and government can tackle insecure work and the gig economy. Speakers include Frances O’Grady, TUC general secretary, and Matthew Taylor, who is leading the government's Independent Review of Insecure Work. Reserve your free ticket on the Eventbrite website.
The fight against austerity and for workers' rights: this TUCG fringe meeting at the Scottish TUC annual congress will discuss the threats to workers' rights from the Trade Union Act and Brexit, 12.45-14.00, Monday 24 April at the Strathspey restaurant, Strathspey hotel, Macdonald Aviemore Resort. Full list of speakers on the NUJ website.
Union learning & free workshops
Unionlearn, the learning and skills organisation of the TUC, is asking union reps to complete a short survey to assess the latest information on the role of reps in supporting learning and skills in the workplace. Please complete the survey here. The deadline is Friday 28 April.
The new programme of TUC Union Professionals’ courses is now on the TUC education website. These courses are specifically for employees of trade unions and include two new courses: Managing Budgets and An Introduction to Trade Union History. For further information, contact TUC education officer Martin Hegarty at mhegarty@tuc.org.uk or telephone 0207 467 1219.
The new General Federation of Trade Unions' education programme is now available on the GFTU website.
The full range of NUJ's courses for reps and professional training can be found on the training page of the NUJ website.
Free workshops: sign on at FEU training and you will be able to take part in the upcoming courses: Improving your skills in handling a camera and creating video stories; Running a successful social media campaign; Negotiation skills for freelances; Finances for freelances; and an introduction to Instagram. Plus two workshops in May in Manchester to help improve your career prospects. More information on the FEU website.
Journalists’ Copyright Fund
Individuals and organisations are being invited to apply to the Journalists’ Copyright Fund (JCF) which provides grants for projects associated with copyright, via an application form available on the NUJ website with a deadline for applications of Friday 21 April. Details of the JCF’s criteria and guidelines for applying are also included.
Poetry for the workers
Bread and Roses Poetry Award: a new award, sponsored by Unite the Union, is now open to encourage poets to focus on themes meaningful to working-class people and communities and to encourage them to take an interest in poetry. There is a £500 cash prize for the winner, £250 second prize and £100 third prize. More details on the Culture Matters website. The deadline for entries is midnight Wednesday 31 May.
The Carnegie UK Trust is launching a pilot programme, Engaging Libraries, in partnership with the Wellcome Trust. It offers funding and support to public libraries across the UK and Ireland to explore health and wellbeing issues through creative and imaginative public engagement projects. More information about the programme and details and dates of workshops for applicants can be found on the trust's website.
The trust has also published Shining a Light report, which provides an insight into how people in England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales use public libraries.
Follow us on these sites:
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info@nuj.org.uk
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The Life of Death
Timothy Garton Ash
A film by Edgar Reitz
A film by Claude Lanzmann
Shoah: An Oral History of the Holocaust
the complete text of the film by Claude Lanzmann, preface by Simone de Beauvoir
Pantheon, 200 pp., $11.95
When Light Pierced the Darkness: Righteous Christians and the Polish Jews
by Nechama Tec
Oxford University Press, 262 pp., $19.95
Two enormous films about subjects central to the history of our time. Claude Lanzmann’s nine-and-a-half-hour-long film about the Holocaust has already opened in New York, after winning tremendous critical acclaim in France and stirring controversy in Poland. Edgar Reitz’s even longer rendering of the German experience of the twentieth century has been hailed in Europe as one of the most important films to come out of Germany since the war, but it has not yet found a distributor in the United States.
Heimat is a film about memory. Memory plays tricks. So does Heimat. One of its most persistent tricks is a seemingly arbitrary chopping and changing between black and white, full color, one-color filter, and sepia, a device sustained throughout the fifteen and a half hours of the film. In the first hour or two—covering the Weimar Republic—I found this device both a cliché (sepia photographs from an old family album—what could be more obvious?) and increasingly irritating. But when we reached 1945 I saw the point of it. For when you are shown the 1930s as a golden age of prosperity and excitement in the German countryside, when you are shown the Germans as victims of the war, then you inevitably find yourself asking: But what about the other side? What about Auschwitz? Where is the director’s moral judgment? To which the color filters insistently reply: “Remember, remember, this is a film about what Germans remember. Some things they remember in full color. Some in sepia. Others they prefer to forget. Memory is selective. Memory is partial. Memory is amoral.”
With this simple trick, Reitz manages to escape from the chains that have weighed down most German artistic treatments of twentieth-century German history. “We try to avoid making judgments,” he writes. Not for him the agonizing directorial evenhandedness, the earnest formulations of guilt, responsibility, or shame. Not for him the efforts to “come to terms with” or “overcome” the past. Not “Vergangenheitsbewältigung.” Not Bitburg. Just memory and forgetting.
This is the main key to Heimat’s artistic success. The other reasons are more obvious and more familiar. A small cast of well-defined characters enables the viewer to identify with their suffering where statistics and documentation would leave him cold. Reitz has said that he conceived Heimat partly in reaction against the American soap opera Holocaust, which had such a huge and cathartic impact in West Germany six years ago. Yet much of the success of Heimat as a West German television series (which is how the film was first shown in 1984) was owing to the very same soap-opera qualities that made for the success of Holocaust. This is, however, very superior soap opera.
It is beautifully acted. Marita Breuer brings off the extraordinary feat of portraying the central character, Maria, Reitz’s Mother Courage, from the age of nineteen (in 1919, when the film starts) to the age of eighty-two (in 1982, when the film ends with her death). In recreating the physical detail of prewar village…
—— December 19, 1985 ——
A Note on ‘Khovanshchina’
Brideshead Re-Revisited
David Cannadine
A Handle on Handel
Winton Dean
Pathos and Power
Thomas R. Edwards
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Fooled by Science
H. Allen Orr
The Social Animal: The Hidden Sources of Love, Character, and Achievement
Random House, 424 pp., $27.00
Science has a lot of uses. It can uncover laws of nature, cure disease, inspire awe, make bombs, and help bridges to stand up. Indeed science is so good at what it does that there’s a perpetual temptation to drag it into problems where it may add little or even distract from the real issues. David Brooks appears to be the latest in a long line of writers who, enamored of science, are bound and determined to import the stuff into their thinking.
David Brooks; drawing by Pancho
Brooks is, of course, familiar as a New York Times columnist and regular political commentator on the PBS NewsHour. His views are right of center but often moderate. He represents a gentle and somewhat eclectic brand of conservatism—he is, for example, pro-choice and fond of President Obama—and, not surprisingly, he is sometimes dismissed by mainstream Republicans. Though his newspaper and television duties have made him a household name, Brooks first gained fame as the author of Bobos in Paradise (2000), a best-selling and satirical look at “bourgeois bohemians,” those who grew up on rock and roll and liberalism but who subsequently made a killing as entrepreneurs or trend-spotting businessmen. Brooks followed this up with On Paradise Drive (2004), another sly look at the sociology of contemporary America, but one that didn’t fare as well as Bobos.1
In his latest book, Brooks shifts gears entirely. The Social Animal is more ambitious and, in some ways, more serious than his earlier books. Gone is the focus on what are likely passing fads in American culture and gone, at least largely, is the irreverent wit that characterized his previous efforts. Instead, The Social Animal is an attempt to write an accessible treatment of a set of weighty topics, many of which require Brooks to stretch in a distinctly scientific direction. The book, which was excerpted earlier this year in The New Yorker, focuses on big and somewhat diffuse questions: What has science revealed about human nature? What are the sources of character? And why are some people happy and successful while others aren’t?
To answer these questions, Brooks surveys a wide range of disciplines, including evolutionary psychology, neurobiology, cognitive science, behavioral economics, education theory, and even the findings of marriage experts.
Given all this, you might expect The Social Animal to be a dry recitation of facts. But Brooks has structured his book in an unorthodox, and perhaps unfortunate, way. Instead of a chapter on evolutionary psychology, followed by one on child development, and so on, he tells a story. Following Rousseau’s approach in Émile, Brooks makes his larger points within a fictional narrative. This literary conceit is presumably intended both to keep the reader’s attention and to provide a natural frame for all the research that Brooks reports. So as the characters in his narrative live through childhood, we hear about the science of child development, and as they begin to…
—— August 18, 2011 ——
How Google Dominates Us
James Gleick
Very Deep in America
Lorrie Moore
The Surprising Election of 2012
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July 3, 2003 • Volume 50, Number 11
A New Newton
Isaac Newton by James Gleick
Edward R.F. Sheehan
The Map and the Fence
Larry McMurtry
The Don of Dons
When Hollywood Had a King: The Reign of Lew Wasserman, Who Leveraged Talent into Power and Influence Connie Bruck
Secret Geometry
Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Man, the Image and the World with essays by Philippe Arbaïzar, Jean Clair, Claude Cookman, Robert Delpire, Peter Galassi, Jean-Noël Jeanneney, Jean Leymarie, and Serge Toubiana, and with translations from the French by Jane Brenton
Max Rodenbeck
Bohemia in Baghdad
Geoffrey O’Brien
You Can’t Go Home Again?
Which Way to Mecca? Part II
Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam by Gilles Kepel
Militant Islam Reaches America by Daniel Pipes
The Two Faces of Islam: The House of Sa’ud from Tradition to Terror by Stephen Schwartz
Terror and Liberalism by Paul Berman
The Future of Political Islam by Graham E. Fuller
After Jihad: America and the Struggle for Islamic Democracy by Noah Feldman
Faithlines: Muslim Conceptions of Islam and Society by Riaz Hassan
The Ulama in Contemporary Islam: Custodians of Change by Muhammad Qasim Zaman
James Fenton
The Cambodia Obsession
The Gate by François Bizot, translated from the French by Euan Cameron, with a foreword by John le Carré
Daniel Mendelsohn
Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
Darryl Pinckney
A Lost World
Forgotten Readers: Recovering the Lost History of African American Literary Societies by Elizabeth McHenry
Mysteries of Growth
Why Economies Grow: The Forces That Shape Prosperity and How We Can Get Them Working Again by Jeff Madrick
Adam Shatz
Algeria’s Failed Revolution
La Sale Guerre by Habib Souaïdia
The Battlefield: Algeria, 1988–2002, Studies in a Broken Polity by Hugh Roberts
Double Blanc by Yasmina Khadra
Time for Reckoning: Enforced Disappearances in Algeria by The Human Rights Watch
Joseph Lelyveld,
Sidney Blumenthal
‘The Clinton Wars’: An Exchange
John Banville’s latest novel is Mrs. Osmond. (March 2019)
Freeman Dyson is Professor of Physics Emeritus at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton.
James Fenton is a British poet and literary critic. From 1994 until 1999, he was Oxford Professor of Poetry; in 2015 he was awarded the PEN Pinter Prize. He is the author of School of Genius: A History of the Royal Academy of Arts and, most recently, Yellow Tulips: Poems, 1968–2011.
(May 2019)
Clifford Geertz (1926–2006) was an anthropologist. Widely recognized as the most influential American anthropologist of the twentieth century, Geertz championed the role of symbols in the creation and interpretation of social meaning. His many books include Peddlers and Princes: Social Development and Economic Change in Two Indonesian Towns and Available Light: Anthropological Reflections on Philosophical Topics.
Joseph Lelyveld’s most recent book is His Final Battle: The Last Months of Franklin Roosevelt. (November 2017)
Larry McMurtry lives in Archer City, Texas. His novels include The Last Picture Show, Terms of Endearment, Lonesome Dove (winner of the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction), Folly and Gloryand Rhino Ranch. His nonfiction works include a biography of Crazy Horse, Walter Benjamin at the Dairy Queen, Paradise, Sacagawea’s Nickname: Essays on the American West and, most recently, Custer.
Daniel Mendelsohn is Editor-at-Large at The New York Review and Professor of Humanities at Bard. His new collection of essays, Ecstasy and Terror: From the Greeks to Game of Thrones, will be published in October.
(April 2019)
Geoffrey O’Brien’s books include The Phantom Empire, Stolen Glimpses, Captive Shadows: Writing on Film, 2002–2012, and, most recently, the poetry collection The Blue Hill. (April 2019)
Darryl Pinckney’s most recent book is a novel, Black Deutschland. (November 2018)
Max Rodenbeck is the South Asia Bureau Chief for The Economist. (November 2018)
Adam Shatz is a Contributing Editor at the London Review of Books. (June 2019)
Edward R. F. Sheehan is a former US diplomat in the Middle East, a novelist (Cardinal Galsworthy), and the author of The Arabs, the Israelis, and Kissinger. He is a former Fellow of Harvard’s Weatherhead Center for International Affairs. (April 2004)
Robert M. Solow, Institute Professor Emeritus of Economics at MIT, won the 1987 Nobel Prize in economics. His most recent book is Work and Welfare. (May 2009)
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