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David Weekley Homes Ranked No. 36 on FORTUNE "100 Best Companies to Work For®" List
Home Builder Recognized for 12th Time
Houston, TX (February 15, 2018): FORTUNE magazine, one of the nations’ foremost business publications, has one again recognized David Weekley Homes as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For®" in its annual rankings of employee culture and success.
“We are honored to once again earn this recognition from FORTUNE magazine and ‘100 Best Companies to Work For®’ for the 12th time in our company’s history,” said David Weekley, chairman of David Weekley Homes. “Our award-winning culture is committed to bringing families together and connecting with our Customers in an emotional, authentic and relevant way – it’s what makes this recognition possible.”
David Weekley Homes ranked 36 on FORTUNE’s list, which was based on their evaluation of Weekley’s policies and culture, in addition to the opinions of the company’s employees. David Weekley Homes employs more than 1,600 team members nationwide.
“We strive to create a challenging and fulfilling work environment for our team members throughout the company,” Weekley said. “We work hard to enhance lives beyond the walls of the workplace through our outreach efforts, generous 401(k) match and profit sharing, training opportunities and our Weekley Wellness program in each of our 22 divisions.”
CARE, David Weekley’s outreach program, is active in all 22 markets and is dedicated to donating time and money to a broad range of local nonprofit organizations to serve the needs of people in their surrounding communities to fulfill the company’s purpose of Building Dreams, Enhancing Lives.
Outreach endeavors include Habitat for Humanity, Boy Scouts of America, National MS Society, YoungLife, Ronald McDonald House and Salvation Army, and many more. “We are fortunate that we are able to provide unique opportunities to make a positive impact in the lives of everyone we touch and in all the communities we build,” Weekley said.
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Reviews » Blu-ray Reviews » Ponyo (Blu-ray)
Ponyo (Blu-ray)
GKIDS Films // G // October 17, 2017 // Region A
Review by Olie Coen | posted October 10, 2017 | E-mail the Author
Starring: Frankie Jonas, Noah Lindsey Cyrus
My first experience with Studio Ghibli was watching Princess Mononoke. I had never seen Japanese animation before and was unprepared for the style, the action, and the dubbing. It was an art form that I wouldn't appreciate until years later, even though the studio was becoming famous worldwide. Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Ponyo, Arrietty, The Wind Rises, When Marnie Was There; these are some of the most widely-known and successful animated movies of all-time, though Americans continue to prefer Disney, Pixar, and other local animation studies. But the power of Ghibli can't be denied, as their films are an artistic medium all on their own and continue to amaze us with wonderful stories brought to life with dazzling talent.
Loosely based on The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen, Ponyo is a tale of love breaking all boundaries. Sosuke is a young boy who lives near the sea with his mother & father. His mother works at a nearby retirement home, his father is a sailor. Sosuke happily relies upon his own independence and imagination, but when he happens to find a goldfish along the shoreline, he's overjoyed to finally have a companion. The trouble is, the fish he names Ponyo isn't a fish at all, but the daughter of a powerful sorcerer and the Sea herself. They need her to return to the ocean, to keep the balance between life on land and life under the sea, but Ponyo's love for Sosuke is too powerful a thing to be set aside for the survival of the world as we know it.
Ponyo's magic delights her new friend, but it also releases the forces of nature in ways that she cannot control. Ponyo's transformation into a human girl throws off the balance of the Earth, and causes the Moon's misalignment, resulting in a storm the likes of which Sosuke's tiny shipping village has never seen before. Her mother and father are desperate to take her back to her home before total destruction ensues, but they also know that they cannot rip apart her love for this special little boy, or for a human world that is so full of delights. Ponyo and Sosuke will have to work together to prove that their love for each other is stronger than the gravity that wishes to pull them apart, and that they are willing to fight for what they know feels right.
Studio Ghibli makes another masterpiece; what else is new. Ponyo is just another beautiful depiction of a classic tale, a reimagining of a story we thought we knew so well. It's very, very different from Disney's Little Mermaid, holding tight to the original content in some ways, and creating something completely new in others. It's as if that tale happened in modern Japan with children as the protagonists, the result becoming something better than you might predict. The color, the brilliant artwork, the stunning visuals; breathtaking all. And the cast was pretty impressive, apart from the two youngsters, who we'll root for to make names of themselves as well. Tina Fey, Liam Neeson, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Cloris Leachman, Betty White, Lily Tomlin; top that if you can.
I might have liked Arrietty just a touch more than Ponyo, appreciating its slow pace, deep moments, and phenomenal music. But Ponyo held its own, will delight children, and impressed me as a singularly unique film in a world of recycled time-wasters. It's very different from Ghibli's more mystical features, like Mononoke or Spirited Away, and always feels directed at children, with their interests at heart. But I don't see that as a bad thing; an animation studio, no matter how deep and adult their themes, should always remember the passion with which children appreciate animation, which is perhaps why adults can continue to love it no matter how old they get. This is a powerful art form, Ghibli wielding its tools with fine and magical precision.
The Blu-ray
Video: With an aspect ratio of 1.85:1 (1080p HD Widescreen), the video quality of this Blu-ray version of Ponyo is among the best you will ever watch. Animated or not, this film is a spectacle to see, a marvel to sit down in front of. The color, the imagination, the backdrops, the characters; it's perfection all-around. One of the most beautifully draw features you will ever see, Ponyo's visuals will blow you away.
Audio: The Blu-ray was done in English 5.1 DTS HD, with an option of Japanese 5.1 DTS HD or French 5.1 Dolby Digital. Subtitles are available in English SDH, English, or French. The film is dubbed from its original Japanese, but it loses nothing in translation. The dialogue is simple but clever, the voice-overs work in every way, the stars that got on board should be commended, and the music will delight you for years to come.
Extras: The special features on this disc are among the most numerous I have ever come across. There are so very many, but thankfully they are also self-explanatory. Feature-Length Storyboards, The Five Geniuses Who Created Ponyo, The Locations of Ponyo, Press Conference: Theme Song Announcement, Theme Song Music Video, Interview with Hayao Miyazaki, Interview with Toshio Suzuki, Opening Event at Hibiya Scala-Za Theater, Hayao Miyazaki Press Conference at the Foreign Correspondent's Club of Japan, Behind the Microphone, Creating Ponyo, Ponyo & Fujimoto, The Nursery, Producer's Perspective: Telling the Story, Scoring Miyazaki, Original Theatrical Trailer, and TV Spots.
Highly Recommended. If there's a more delightful modern animated flick out there, I'd like to see it, because Ponyo is currently the claimant to the crown. It's so magically delicious, and it broadcasts that joy to audiences of all ages. It's not the animation that Americans are most used to, but that doesn't mean we can't be open-minded, and that doesn't mean that some other form can't be just as great as what comes out of the studios that we're used to. The music is something that stands out as well, a common theme woven through a soundtrack that will live in your brain for days, but you won't want it to leave. The video is amazing, the audio spectacular, and the extras more than numerous, so the technical aspects live up to the content. For my money, this is one of Ghibli's best, something for every age group, and a film that will simply brighten your day.
Olie Coen
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Reviews » DVD Video Reviews » Bye Bye Germany
Film Movement // Unrated // August 7, 2018
Review by Neil Lumbard | posted August 31, 2018 | E-mail the Author
Bye Bye Germany DVD Review
Bye Bye Germany takes place post-war and focuses on the lives of several Holocaust survivors who are trying to raise money to leave behind Germany and enter the United States. It's actually a comedy-drama exploring the characters turning point to try and live a better life again. The film is from director Sam Garbarski (Vijay and I).
David Bermann (Moritz Bleitbreu) leads the way for the group attempting to leave Germany. He has several ideas for how to raise the money to say goodbye to Germany for good. Each individual ends up selling overpriced linen. They essentially becomes "salespeople" and they work to raise funds little by little.
Bermann also encounters an American special agent named Sara Simon (Antje Traue). She begins to ask a number of questions about him. They begin having conversations with one another while she works to unravel his past. Will Bermann and his friends be able to move past tragedy to arrive in America? Can they raise enough funds by selling linens?
The film is primarily comedic in tone and attempts to be a uplifting comedy-drama about survivors of the holocaust. This sets it apart from most films about this period. It goes without saying that there are few films that are comedies about holocaust survivors so this certainly makes this film's approach unique.
It does feel a bit odd to have a film centered around Jewish holocaust survivors which has a comedic sensibility. However, the filmmaker's ideology is clearly represented: comedy is the best medicine. Yet the serious events of the Holocaust are not the focus here. It's a story about these characters, brimming with life, as they try to continue to live to the fullest.
The music by Renaud Garcia-Fons (Sperling) is light and whimsical. The score is complimentary to the narrative drive. The cinematography by Virginie Saint-Martin (Thomas in Love) gives the film a surprisingly colorful look (whereas most postwar movies related to the Holocaust have more muted colors). The costume design by Nathalie Leborgne (Mr. Nobody, The Treatment) feel fitting for the characters and time-frame.
The screenplay was written by Michael Bergmann (Otto: Der Katastrofenfilm) and Sam Garbarski. Garbarski also directed. The story is one that takes an unusual approach to a difficult time.
This is a well-meaning film that aims to emphasis hope in dark times. The filmmakers goal was clearly to put some humanity and hope into a postwar period. The approach doesn't fully work but the goal of the director is genuine. The film's focus upon the characters is something that makes the film more rewarding in small ways. Bye Bye Germany doesn't entirely work as a comedy but the film has enough whimsy to see once.
The DVD:
Bye Bye Germany is presented in the original 1.85:1 widescreen theatrical aspect ratio. That's the best thing about this film's presentation. It's a poor encode with rather aggravating macroblocking and compression woes. There are many scenes with poor compression artifacts that it really detracted from the viewing experience significantly. Colors are often garbled looking. The whole presentation looks messy and uneven. While the poor quality encoding mainly affects background imagery, it's still a detriment to the overall presentation.
The audio is presented in stereo 2.0 Dolby Digital or 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. Either one of these sound mixes should suffice given the source material. It's a somewhat flat and uninvolving sound mix even with the surround sound presentation. There is little activity in the surrounds and only some minor expansion of the score and the occasional sound effect.
Optional English Subtitles are included.
Strings (3 min.) is a short animated film which was inspired by the work of Israeli violin maker Amnon, who worked tirelessly to restore violins from during the Holocaust so that they could be played again to bring hope to the Jewish community.
Bye Bye Germany Trailer
Trailers for other Film Movement releases.
Bye Bye Germany is a comedy-drama about holocaust survivors. Yes, that is really how the genre would be classified. No, that is not an error in the description. Unfortunately, the film doesn't fully work but it's still a worthwhile effort by director Garbarski. The story has a charming cast of unique characters to make it worth checking out once.
Rent It.
Neil Lumbard is a lifelong fan of cinema. He aspires to make movies and has written two screenplays on spec. He loves writing, and currently does in Texas.
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Archives by date > 2018 > October > 2nd
Silent Archer – Aiming High | Pentagon places biggest F-35 order to date | When will France restart its PA2/CVF project?
Oct 02, 2018 05:00 UTC
The US Army is contracting Syracuse Research Corp to keep the Silent Archer System operational. The awarded contract modification is priced at $25.7 million and provides for logistics and engineering support services of the Counter-UAV systems in US Army areas of operation, as well as for continued development, production, integration, delivery and deployment. Silent Archer is a lightweight system designed to hunt down and neutralize enemy unmanned aerial systems of any size, it can be modified to fit on a tactical vehicle or even a commercial-model pickup truck. The system consists of an air surveillance radar system, an electronic warfare (EW) suite, a direction-finding unit and an electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) camera that helps to positively identify drone threats. Work will be performed at SRC’s factory in North Syracuse, New York, and is scheduled for completion by January 31st, 2019.
Raytheon’s SM-6 naval defense missile enters full rate production. The US Navy is awarding the company with a $395.6 million contract modification that provides for the missile’s procurement in FY17 and FY18. The SM-6 ERAM is a next-generation air defense missile, which will eventually supplement SM-2 missiles in the air/surface defense role against cruise missiles and aircraft. The SM-6 comes with an “over-the-horizon” targeting mode, where it’s cued by other ships or even aircraft, then uses its own seeker for the final approach. The missile incorporates technology from existing technologies such as the the airframe of the SM-2 Block IV, and advanced seeker technology derived from the AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). Work will be performed at multiple locations, including – but not limited to – Tucson, Arizona; Wolverhampton, United Kingdom and Anaheim, California. Initial production for this order is expected to be completed by September 2022.
Lockheed Martin announces a significant price drop of the F-35 JSF. The company recently received an $11.5 billion order for 141 F-35s from the Pentagon. This is the biggest batch ordered yet, and includes the purchase of 91 aircraft for US services, 28 for international development partners and 22 for FMS customers. The F-35A version sees a drop of 5.4%, now costing $89.2 million per unit. The F-35B, which is considered to be the most expensive variant of the JSF drops by 5.7% to a price of $115.5 million and the F-35C, designed for carrier operations, drops 11.1% to 107.7 million. The F-35 JSF fighter program is considered to be the most expensive procurement program in history and is expected to cost $1.5 trillion over its projected 55-year lifetime. Production of the aircraft started this year and deliveries will begin in 2019.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will receive continued support for the radars used to control its THAAD systems. Raytheon will provide the country with radar sustainment and technical support services as part of this $59.1 million contract modification. This modification brings the total value of the FMS contract to $800 million. THAAD is controlled by Raytheon’s AN/TPY-2 X-Band, phased array, solid-state, long-range air defense radar. For THAAD, targeting information from the TPY-2 is uploaded to the missile immediately before launch, and continuously updated in flight via datalinks. The TPY-2 is always deployed with THAAD, but it can also be used independently as part of any ABM (anti ballistic missile) infrastructure. The UAE acquired THAAD in 2011 and uses it alongside the Patriot PAC-3 as a lower-tier ABM-capable complement. Work will be performed in United Arab Emirates and will run from now until September 2020.
The Jordanian armed forces will receive a repaired Integrated Fire Control System (IFCS) from Raytheon. The cost-plus-fixed-fee Foreign Military Sales contract is valued at $8.9 million and is expected to be completed by September 2021. The IFCS upgrade kits will be fitted onto Jordan’s fleet of M60 MBTs. The IFCS is a full director fire control and stabilized synchronized cannon sighting system, which features an advanced forward-looking infrared thermal sight, an eye-safe laser rangefinder, a digital ballistic computer and an improved turret stabilization system. Raytheon already upgraded 180 M60A3 tanks of the armed services of Jordan with the (IFCS), which took the tank to Phoenix level 1 standard. Work will be performed at Raytheon’s facility in Indianapolis.
The French procurement office and the Navy are currently in the process of building a basic frame of reference for France’s future aircraft carrier. Defense News reports that the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) and the Navy have been working on a “reflection for definition studies,” with those studies required to launch the carrier project. The studies will outline the future carrier’s must have capabilities including the embarkment of Rafale fighter jets, its successors and UAVs. A first study was launched on August, examining lessons learned on aircraft carriers in operation and the second study will focus on technology and overall architecture. The overall dossier comprising the two studies is expected to be completed at the end of 2019 or early 2020, and will allow the authorities to decide the capabilities of the ship. Fance has been interested in building another aircraft carrier for many years, however it cancelled its promising PA2/CVF carrier project due to financial constraints back in 2013.
A China Central Television (CCTV) report suggests that China’s newly developed KLJ-7A radar is now fully operational. Developed by the No.14 Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation, the light active phased array radar will be used to enhance the combat capacity of the FC-1 Xiaolong fighter jet. The KLJ-7A can detect and track multiple targets at ranges in excess of 170km. The report further claims that the radar has a similar performance to the radar used on US-made F-35s. It further states, that the upgraded FC-1 may now have an advantage over the F-16 C/Ds in mid-range aerial confrontations.
As Boeing wins the US T-X competition, Korea Aerospace Industries shares plunge. KAI had partnered with Lockheed Martin to offer the T-50A for the competition set to replace the nearly six-decades-old T-38 Talons. After having lost the bid to Boeing, KAI share plunged by 29.8% to $32. A KAI spokesman told Korea Times that “Boeing’s bidding price was unbeatably low,” but the company will strengthen its presence in overseas plane markets by pitching its multipurpose T-50 to countries in Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa.
Today’s Video
Watch: HMS Queen Elizabeth first deck landings | Royal Navy
France’s PA2/CVF Carrier Project: What will it be?
Latest updates[?]: The French procurement office and the Navy are currently in the process of building a basic frame of reference for France's future aircraft carrier. Defense News reports that the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA) and the Navy have been working on a “reflection for definition studies,” with those studies required to launch the carrier project. The studies will outline the future carrier's must have capabilities including the embarkment of Rafale fighter jets, its successors and UAVs. A first study was launched on August, examining lessons learned on aircraft carriers in operation and the second study will focus on technology and overall architecture. The overall dossier comprising the two studies is expected to be completed at the end of 2019 or early 2020, and will allow the authorities to decide the capabilities of the ship. Fance has been interested in building another aircraft carrier for many years, however it cancelled its promising PA2/CVF carrier project due to financial constraints back in 2013.
PA2 Concept, June 2006
Throughout most of the Cold War period, France maintained two aircraft carriers. That changed when the FNS Foch, the last Clemenceau Class carrier, was retired in November 2000 (it now serves the Brazilian Navy as the Sao Paolo). As Strategis notes, France has lacked the capacity to ensure long-distance air coverage during the FNS Charles de Gaulle’s maintenance cycles or during other periods when the carrier is not available for active duty (approximately 35% of the time). In 2015, the ship will be taken out of service for an extensive maintenance overhaul. Despite a slippage in initial construction dates from 2005 to 2007-2008, the French still hope to take delivery by 2014 so the new ship can be operational by the time their sole operational aircraft carrier goes off line for repairs.
That was the original idea, anyway. Recent developments once again cast doubt on the PA2’s future. The time for a decision was postponed to 2011, but in 2013, DCNS was still waiting, and became increasingly clear France couldn’t afford a second carrier. In fact, the firm is taking its case to the export market. Who might be interested within the next decade is unclear.
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Naomi Klein: Reject Keystone XL Pipeline, We Need Radical Change to Prevent Catastrophic Warming
StoryNovember 17, 2014
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journalist and best-selling author. Her latest book is This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate. Her previous books are No Logo and The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism.
"This Changes Everything"
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Learn more about the Keystone XL by watching our past coverage
House lawmakers passed legislation Friday to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline to bring carbon-intensive tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada, to the Texas Gulf Coast. The Senate is expected to vote this week on a similar pro-Keystone bill backed by Louisiana Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu. Landrieu is facing a tough battle to keep her seat in a runoff next month against Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy, who also happens to be the sponsor of the pro-Keystone bill in the House. Landrieu spoke last week about her support for Keystone. We speak to Naomi Klein, author of “This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate.”
StoryNov 25, 2011Occupy Everywhere: Michael Moore, Naomi Klein on Next Steps for the Movement Against Corporate Power
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: House lawmakers passed legislation Friday to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline would bring carbon-intensive tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada, to the Texas Gulf Coast. It has been in the works for more than six years amidst mass protests over its potential to accelerate climate change. The Senate is expected to vote this week on a similar pro-Keystone bill backed by Louisiana Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu. Landrieu is facing a tough battle to keep her seat in a runoff next month against Republican Congressman Bill Cassidy, who also happens to be the sponsor of the pro-Keystone bill in the House. Landrieu spoke last week about her support for Keystone. This is a part of what she said.
SEN. MARY LANDRIEU: It needs to get done on its own, because it’s standing alone—it will go to the president’s desk stand-alone—and that I believe that the president will have to make an important decision. I’m hoping that he will sign it. But if he doesn’t, that’s the process. I hope that he will, and I will be urging him to do so, because his administration, his State Department, his EPA and his Transportation Department has urged him to support this piece of legislation for the strength of our economy, a signal to our allies, to strengthen America here and abroad.
AMY GOODMAN: Louisiana Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu speaking last week. Meanwhile, during a visit to Burma, President Obama was asked about the Keystone XL. He refuted claims it would create jobs or reduce the price of gas in the U.S.
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: My government believes that we should judge this pipeline based on whether or not it accelerates climate change or whether it helps the American people with their energy costs and their gas prices. And I have to constantly push back against this idea that somehow the Keystone pipeline is either this massive jobs bill for the United States or is somehow lowering gas prices. Understand what this project is: It is providing the ability of Canada to pump their oil, send it through our land down to the Gulf, where it will be sold everywhere else. And it doesn’t have an impact on U.S. gas prices.
AMY GOODMAN: That’s President Obama. He’s speaking to reporters last week in Burma, standing next to the Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.
To find out more about the Keystone XL, we are joined by Democracy Now! video stream by Naomi Klein, journalist, best-selling author—her latest book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate; her previous books, No Logo and The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. She’s speaking to us from her home in Toronto.
Welcome back to Democracy Now!, Naomi. Can you respond to what President Obama just said?
NAOMI KLEIN: You know, well, I think he said some important things. The idea that it’s still up for some kind of debate whether or not building Keystone XL has a climate impact is—you know, it’s absurd. Keystone is a pipeline that is intimately linked to plans by the oil and gas industry to dramatically expand production in the Alberta tar sands. They have pipeline capacity, more or less, to get the oil out that they’re producing right now, but they have active plans to double and triple production in the Alberta tar sands, digging up one of the highest carbon fuels on the planet, with tremendous local impacts to—health impacts to First Nations people, to indigenous people living in that region, violating their treaty rights. And, of course, when that oil is burned, it has tremendous climate impacts. It also has climate impacts in the fact that it’s really, really difficult to get that tarry oil into a product that can be burned, because it isn’t liquid, because it is semi-solid. So, it takes a huge amount of energy. This is why it is so carbon-intensive to extract it and to refine. It also takes huge amount of water. So, it obviously has a climate impact, because it is linked to the expansion of the tar sands.
Now, when this debate really started heating up three years ago, the tar sands were booming, and the message was—and when we first saw the first environmental assessments out of the State Department, basically, what they were saying is Keystone doesn’t matter to climate because they’ll be able to get that expanded oil production, they’ll be able to get it out another way, whether through trains, whether through other pipelines built through British Columbia, for instance, or built eastward through eastern Canada. And what’s really shifted in three years is that that claim cannot be made now, because the tar sands are really surrounded by opposition. Everywhere they try to build a new pipeline or expand an existing pipeline, they’re facing fierce direct action as well as legal challenges by indigenous people and by other interests. So, the idea that if you don’t build Keystone, they’ll get it out anyway, is absurd. Keystone is—it’s not a drop in the bucket when it comes to tar sands. If Obama said no to Keystone now, it could really be the nail in the coffin for an industry that is in crisis on multiple fronts, because they have this huge problem of having a landlocked pool of carbon and no viable way to get that oil to the sea if they increase production at the levels they’d like to.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Naomi, correct me if I’m wrong, but this statement by President Obama seemed to be the most clear statement on his part that he wasn’t buying the general line that Republican Party and that the energy industry has been putting out about Keystone for quite a while.
NAOMI KLEIN: Look, it’s an encouraging line in that he’s challenging the claim that this is a big job creator. It’s an encouraging line in that he’s clearly stating that this is about exports, it’s not about supplying oil to the U.S. domestic market, because, of course, that pipeline is being built to export terminals. And there’s, frankly, a glut of oil in the U.S. since—because of Bakken oil, because of shale oil. And this is also something that has shifted since this debate really, you know, kicked off more than three years ago. At that time, it was sort of pre-domestic oil boom in the U.S., so the idea that that oil was needed, that argument could be made more credibly, much more credibly than it can today, because there’s actually an oversupply. You know, so he’s saying some important things.
My worry is that he’s still—it’s still a technicality. He’s waiting for yet another environmental assessment. And based on the environmental assessments we’ve seen so far, you know, I’m not holding my breath for an environmental assessment that is genuinely science-based, that takes into account all of these other challenges faced by the tar sands because of all of the resistance to the other pipelines, because of the fact that communities don’t want more oil trains coming through their towns and facing potential disasters like the one in Lac-Mégantic, Quebec, or even the fact that the price of oil is now much lower. And eventually, that’s going have a real impact on the Alberta tar sands, because this is—in addition to being an extremely high-carbon extractive process, it’s an extraordinarily high-cost extractive project, that really only became viable on a mass scale when oil hit $100 a barrel. It costs so much to get it out, that the price of oil has to stay high in order for investors to keep putting money into expanding their mines and so on.
And another point that is important to mention is that investors are already getting cold feet. There are three major tar sands expansion projects. These are mines that were supposed to be built to dig up that tarry bitumen. And three of these big projects have already been canceled in the past year: Shell canceled a project; Total, the French oil company, canceled a project; and most recently, Statoil, the Norwegian oil company, canceled a massive expansion project worth more than a billion dollars. And when they made that decision to cancel, one of the reasons they cited was limited pipeline capacity. In other words, they’re afraid that if they dig up that tar sands oil, they won’t be able to get it out.
So, this is why I’m saying that if Obama said no to Keystone, it would have tremendous impacts in terms of sending a message to the market that this whole idea of digging up bitumen, digging up this pool of carbon, that didn’t used to be counted—you know, a little bit more than a decade ago, all of this oil in the tar sands wasn’t even counted as part of the world’s global carbon reserves, because the global oil industry did not believe they could get it out. And now we’re starting to get a few messages that investors are starting to reassess the viability of digging up this carbon. And that’s really important because the whole idea, from a climate perspective, of drawing the line and saying, “No more tar sands pipelines,” is about saying, “Look, we can’t—you know, when you’re in a hole, you can’t keep digging.” We need to move away from extreme energy. We need to—we can’t keep doing the very thing that is at the heart of this crisis. We need to move towards renewable energy, yes, but we also simultaneously need to stop digging up high-carbon reserves of, you know, high-carbon sources.
AMY GOODMAN: Naomi, I want to get your response to comments made by TransCanada CEO Russ Girling over the weekend, speaking on ABC News to Martha Raddatz Sunday.
RUSS GIRLING: I think there’s a very high probability this pipeline gets built. You know, since we started the project, you know, the demand for it has just continued to increase. Production in the U.S. is up by about two million barrels a day, and in Canada it’s up by about a million barrels a day. The need for transportation continues to grow, and the place where these producers want to put those barrels is into the Gulf Coast of the United States. So, our shippers have not wavered one bit over the last six years. They still want this to happen. And as long as they’re there, we’re going to continue to push to make it happen.
AMY GOODMAN: So, that is TransCanada CEO Russ Girling. Also, as we speak, Naomi, protesters, including members of the Cowboy Indian Alliance, are gathering outside the home of Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu in Washington, D.C. One sign reads, “Sen. Landrieu: if you’re not a climate denier, don’t vote like one.” Can you talk about both Girling and the fact that it’s the Democrats now that are supporting the Keystone XL?
NAOMI KLEIN: Yeah, well, first of all, I think what we’re hearing from Girling is spin. I mean, he’s panicked. This is a company that has several pipeline projects that are being blocked. They’ve already invested significantly. And don’t forget that TransCanada was so sure it was just going to get an easy thumbs-up, that it went ahead and bought the pipe for the Keystone XL pipeline and has been having to pay for storage. You know, so when he says he’s sure it’s going to be approved, he’s talking directly to his backers to say, “Don’t worry, don’t panic, don’t abandon TransCanada.”
Just today, a court injunction is going to be enforced in Burnaby, British Columbia, which is just outside Vancouver, because there are protesters there opposing an expansion of another TransCanada pipeline carrying tar sands oil that would go through that—that would be carrying the bitumen west to try to get onto tankers there. [Correction: After our interview, Naomi Klein contacted us with a clarification. The Burnaby pipeline that just got an injunction is owned by Kinder Morgan, not TransCanada. TransCanada is pushing a different Canadian pipeline, Energy East, that is also facing opposition.] And it’s facing fierce opposition from local people and, most importantly, from First Nations people, from indigenous people, whose rights have been affirmed by Canada’s Supreme Court again and again and again, saying that you cannot have these massive infrastructure projects without the consent of First Nations people. So, he’s panicked, not just because of Keystone, but because several big TransCanada infrastructure projects are being legally challenged. And so, he has to send that sort of message to his backers.
In terms of the protests that are happening against Mary Landrieu, I mean, I think it’s fantastic. I think the world is watching in horror as the climate becomes this prop in this Vaudevillian piece of political theater trying to save Landrieu’s rapidly tanking political career by pushing this vote forward through the Senate—I believe it will be tomorrow—so that she looks more pro-oil. And it’s just extraordinary, and it’s really an expression of the capture of American politicians by the oil industry. She’s speaking to her backers. She’s setting herself up not just potentially to win that election, which looks very unlikely, but maybe for what she’ll do when she loses that election, which is, you know, very likely getting a job as an oil and gas lobbyist. So she wants to be able to say she pushed as hard as possible to get Keystone passed, because the refineries on the Gulf Coast want to process that dirty oil.
JUAN GONZÁLEZ: And, Naomi, I’d like to ask you about the upcoming vote in the context of the recent announcement of a deal between China and the Obama administration over carbon emissions and reduction of carbon emissions over the next few decades. Could you talk about the significance of that deal and to what degree President Obama has any ability to impact such a long-term commitment?
NAOMI KLEIN: Well, I think the point—the point is that Obama does have the ability to impact the commitment he made in China, which there are things that—you know, it is important to say that this deal matters, in the context, the political context, of the United States post-midterm elections, where, you know, I think there’s a tremendous amount of hopelessness in climate circles about how the Republican control of Congress is going to translate into climate negotiations. And there’s a very important climate negotiation round coming up in Paris in 2015. So, that deal was important in sort of signaling, “OK, don’t count the U.S. out. Don’t count China out, as well.” And anybody who’s covered climate negotiations, as you have at Democracy Now!, knows that these summits almost invariably descend into finger pointing between the U.S. and China as they accuse one another of being the reason why no progress is possible. So, to begin the next round with U.S. and China vaguely on the same page, you know, is moderately good news.
But if we look at it from a scientific perspective, the commitments being made both by China and the U.S. are nowhere near the level of emission reductions necessary to avoid temperature increases beyond what these governments have themselves agreed to. You know, in Copenhagen, China and the U.S. agreed to keep temperatures below two degrees—a warming below two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, but the emission reduction target they both agreed to will send temperatures much higher than that. So, we have this gap, really, between political realities and physical realities. What is politically possible in the context of the United States clashes directly with what our planet, what it needs to avoid destabilizing climate change.
AMY GOODMAN: Where do you—
NAOMI KLEIN: And that’s why—
AMY GOODMAN: Go ahead.
NAOMI KLEIN: Yeah, sorry.
AMY GOODMAN: Go ahead, Naomi.
NAOMI KLEIN: Well, I was just going to say that that’s why I make the argument, you know, in my book that we will not do what we need to do to prevent catastrophic warming, unless we radically change what is politically possible. That’s why this is not just about one vote in Congress or one deal that is made between China and the U.S. It is about radically shifting the pole, the political pole, away from this extreme right-wing market fundamentalism, that dominates both political parties, and creating a sense of real political possibility. This is really a political project. It’s not some sort of technocratic challenge.
AMY GOODMAN: Finally, Naomi, you were arrested—
NAOMI KLEIN: If I could just add—sorry, if I could just add one more thing. I think one thing that’s important to stress is that the commitments that Obama has made are mostly commitments that his successor is going to have to deliver on. You know, even though the emission reduction targets are insufficient, the hardest ones kick in well after he’s in office. So, one thing he can do right now is not make the job of his successor harder by locking in infrastructure projects, like the Keystone XL pipeline, that will increase emissions. So, one thing he can do right now is say no to Keystone XL, to prove that he isn’t just kicking the can down the road.
AMY GOODMAN: Politics are being determined in the U.S. and Canada around oil politics. You have Gregor Robertson who was re-elected as Vancouver mayor. How significant is this? And finally, you were arrested in front of the White House, along with 1,200 other people, like Bill McKibben and others, protesting the Keystone XL, what, three years ago. Do you think progress has been made?
NAOMI KLEIN: Well, you know, as I’ve been saying, that landscape has shifted dramatically in those three years. And I think it has shifted, you know, when I think about what we were doing three years ago outside the White House. And the counter-arguments at the time were, “Well, it doesn’t really matter,” as I just said, “We’ll get the oil out some other way.” And now, you know, all of the arteries that would carry that bitumen out of Alberta are facing challenges.
And yeah, the re-election of Gregor Robertson, and the fact that Vancouver stood up to a huge amount of funding that was coming from the oil industry to try to beat Gregor Robertson and also other candidates from other parties that were also opposing Vancouver being more of an oil export terminal than it already is, is an indication of the huge amount of popular opposition to all of these projects. By one poll, 80 percent of people in British Columbia oppose increased oil traffic on their coast. So, you know, despite all of the money that was spent by the oil industry to try to get their candidate in elected mayor of Vancouver, they were defeated.
AMY GOODMAN: Naomi Klein, we want to thank you very much for being with us. Naomi Klein, of course, is the journalist and best-selling author—her new book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate. When we come back, Meldown: Terror at the Top of the World. Stay with us.
Next story from this daily show
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Nuggets’ six-game winning snapped as Denver…
Nuggets’ six-game winning snapped as Denver gets blown out on the road by Pacers
Michelle Pemberton, The Indianapolis Star via AP
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) drives past Denver Nuggets forward Paul Millsap during an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Indianapolis.
Indiana Pacers forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) argues a call during the team's NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Indianapolis.
Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) dunks against the Denver Nuggets during an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Indianapolis.
Indiana Pacers forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) dunks against the Denver Nuggets during an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Indianapolis.
Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis (11) passes the ball during the team's NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Indianapolis.
Indiana Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis (11) dunks against the Denver Nuggets during an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Indianapolis.
Indiana Pacers center Kyle O'Quinn (10) dunks against Denver Nuggets forward Trey Lyles (7) and forward Torrey Craig (3) during an NBA basketball game Sunday, March 24, 2019, in Indianapolis.
By Jim Johnson | The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS — Bojan Bogdanovic got the hard work out of the way early and watched the fourth quarter from the bench.
Bogdanovic scored 26 of his 35 points in the first half, and the Indiana Pacers blew out the Denver Nuggets 124-88 on Sunday.
“I was playing bad the last couple of games so I was extra aggressive today,” Bogdanovic said. “I was trying to do something extra for my team and, thanks to all my teammates, we won this game.”
The Pacers needed it, too. Indiana (45-29) returned home after dropping four in a row during a West Coast swing.
Myles Turner had 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Domantas Sabonis added 15 points and 13 rebounds. Indiana’s focus is on gaining homecourt advantage when the playoffs begin next month.
“Basically, we’re still in a race,” Pacers coach Nate McMillan said. “We made the playoffs, but we still have an opportunity for homecourt advantage.”
Nikola Jokic had 19 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, Will Barton had 15 points and reserve Monte Morris scored 12 points for the Nuggets (49-23), who lost for the first time after winning six straight.
Denver is in a race of its own. The Nuggets are battling Golden State for the best record in the West to secure the top seed for the playoffs.
“I got the sense that we felt that we won six games in a row, 3-0 on this road trip, and that we could just show up and play and be OK,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “It was an embarrassing effort by all of us. We’ve been winning games, playing well in stretches. And tonight was just inconsistent basketball.”
Bogdanovic scored every point during a 12-2 run late in the second quarter. He made a 3-pointer with 2:53 remaining in the first half to put the Pacers ahead 52-35.
Bogdanovic set a career high for points in a half, and that was enough to put the game away before the break. He was 10 of 11 from the field in the first half and didn’t miss a shot until Jokic blocked a 3-point attempt with 3 seconds left.
The Pacers led 62-46 at halftime, and the Nuggets never got closer than 11 points in the second half.
Kyle O’Quinn’s dunk made it 121-80 with 1:30 left to play.
Nuggets: Denver was just 2 of 10 from 3-point range in the first half and 7 of 29 for the game. … The Nuggets finished 15 of 16 from the free-throw line. … Jokic also had four blocked shots.
Pacers: Indiana is 20-1 this season when holding teams to 97 or fewer points. … Bogdanovic also had six rebounds. … G Darren Collison was out for a third straight game with a right quad contusion.
The Pacers scored a season-high 29 fast-break points and had 25 points off 17 turnovers. Indiana also finished with a 72-42 advantage in points in the paint.
Three Indiana natives on the Nuggets roster were greeted with a sign outside the visitor’s locker room that read “Welcome home” across the top and with pictures of Gary Harris, Trey Lyles and Mason Plumlee from their younger years. Plumlee was born two hours northeast of Indianapolis in Fort Wayne. Harris attended high school in nearby Fishers. And Lyles went to Arsenal Tech High School in Indianapolis where he won a Class 4A boys basketball state title in 2014.
Nuggets: Host Detroit on Tuesday.
Pacers: At Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
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"America is the land of opportunity, but only if you take advantage of it," Leonardo instructed. "If you don't make the most of this, what was our purpose in coming here? Why did we leave home? You are the example for your brothers. This opportunity is too critical for you not to execute."
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The Wicked Witch flies back into the Playhouse
Helen Woolf as Glinda
WICKED returns to The Playhouse next week having proved one of the most popular productions to tour to the Greenside Place venue in recent years.
The musical, based on the acclaimed, best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire that ingeniously re-imagines the stories and characters created by L Frank Baum in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Wicked tells the untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two sorcery students, Elphaba and Glinda.
Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
WICKED IN NUMBERS
The last time it was here in 2014/5, Wicked was seen by more than 175,000 people, the equivalent of one in three of the local population.
Once again, The Playhouse will be the only Scottish date on the musical’s current UK & Ireland Tour.
Thirteen articulated lorries will make the 300-mile journey from Birmingham to Edinburgh , transporting the show’s sets, props and costumes.
When they arrive later this week, a backstage team of 60 will work for 3 days to build the production and prepare the theatre for the first performance on Tuesday 8 May.
This includes creating an area behind the stage known as the Wardrobe Village, which will house the show’s 350 costumes, 140 wigs, 244 pairs of shoes, 110 hats, 125 pairs of gloves and 30 prosthetic masks.
On stage, one of the first things audiences will see as they enter the auditorium is a giant mechanical dragon, which will hang 7.5 metres above the stage with a wingspan of 11 metres.
It takes 100 people, on stage and behind the scenes, to deliver each and every performance of this spectacular production.
Elphaba’s Wicked Witch dress uses 40 yards of fabric and the skirt alone takes three weeks to construct.
There are nearly 50 layers of gathered ruffles in the skirt, which is made from 45 different fabrics.
10 exciting things to do in Edinburgh this weekend
Glinda’s Bubble Dress is made up of 45 petals, each of which takes three days to bead, and a day and a half to hand sequin.
There are 20 types of sequins and almost 100,000 sequins used in this one costume.
Some 2000 metres of ribbon are used in the Emerald City costumes.
Wicked, Playhouse, Greenside Place, Tuesday 8 May-Saturday 9 June, 7.30pm (matinee 2.30pm), £20.50-£92.50, 0844-871 3014
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EESC mission statement
Committed to European integration, the EESC contributes to strengthening the democratic legitimacy and effectiveness of the European Union by enabling civil society organisations from the Member States to express their views at European level.
This Committee fulfils three key missions:
helping to ensure that European policies and legislation tie in better with economic, social and civic circumstances on the ground, by assisting the European Parliament, Council and European Commission, making use of EESC members' experience and representativeness, dialogue and efforts to secure consensus serving the general interest;
promoting the development of a more participatory European Union, which is more in touch with popular opinion, by acting as an institutional forum representing, informing, expressing the views of and securing dialogue with organised civil society;
promoting the values on which European integration is founded and advancing, in Europe and across the world, the cause of democracy and participatory democracy, as well as the role of civil society organisations.
Workings of the EESC
The EESC is a consultative body that gives representatives of Europe's socio-occupational interest groups and others a formal platform to express their points of view on EU issues. Its opinions are addressed to the Council, the European Commission and the European Parliament. It thus has a key role to play in the Union's decision-making process.
Vice-President - Communication
Vice-President - Budget
The ESC was set up by the 1957 Rome Treaties to involve economic and social interest groups in the establishment of the common market and to provide an institutional structure for briefing the European Commission and the Council of Ministers on European Community issues.
The Single European Act (1986), the Maastricht Treaty (1992), the Amsterdam Treaty (1997) and the Treaty of Nice (2000) have reinforced the EESC's role.
The EESC has 350 members, who are drawn from economic and social interest groups in Europe.
Members are nominated by national governments and appointed by the Council of the European Union for a renewable 5-year term of office. The latest renewal was in October 2015, for the 2015-2020 term of office.
They belong to one of three groups:
Employers (Group I)
Workers (Group II)
Diversity Europe (Group III)
The number of members per Member State is as follows:
France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom have 24 members each
Poland and Spain have 21
Romania has 15
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden have 12
Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania and Slovakia have 9
Latvia and Slovenia have 7
Estonia has 6
Cyprus, Luxembourg and Malta have 5
The members' mandate
The members' task is to issue opinions on matters of European interest to the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament.
Video on the life cycle of an opinion.
Advisory role
Consultation of the EESC by the Commission or the Council is mandatory in certain cases; in others it is optional. The EESC may, however, also adopt opinions on its own initiative. The Single European Act (17.2.1986) and the Maastricht Treaty (7.2.1992) extended the range of issues which must be referred to the Committee. The Amsterdam Treaty further broadened the areas for referral to the Committee, and allowed it to be consulted by the European Parliament. On average, the EESC delivers 170 advisory documents and opinions a year (of which about 15% are issued on its own initiative). All opinions are forwarded to the EU's decision-making bodies and then published in the EU's Official Journal.
Information and integration role
Over the last few years the EESC has stepped up its role in the European Union and has transcended the basic role assigned to it in the Treaties. It acts as a forum for the single market and, with the support of other EU bodies, has hosted a series of events aimed at bringing the EU closer to the people.
1. Presidency and bureau
Every two and a half years the EESC elects a bureau with a president and two vice-presidents chosen from each of the three groups in rotation.
The president is responsible for the orderly conduct of the Committee's business. He is assisted by the vice-presidents, one of whom is responsible for communication and one for the budget.
The president represents the EESC in relations with outside bodies.
Joint briefs (relations with EFTA, CEECs, the AMU, ACP countries, Latin America and other third countries, and Citizens' Europe) fall within the remit of the EESC bureau and the president.
The bureau's main task is to organise and coordinate the work of the EESC's bodies and to lay down policy guidelines for this work.
2. Sections
The Committee has six sections:
Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment (NAT)
Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion (ECO)
Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC)
External Relations (REX)
The Single Market, Production and Consumption (INT)
Transport, Energy, Infrastructure and the Information Society (TEN)
The Consultative Committee on Industrial Change (CCMI) was incorporated into the EESC structure following the expiry of the ECSC Treaty in July 2002.
3. Study groups
Section opinions are drafted by study groups. These usually have 12 members, including a rapporteur. Study group members may be assisted by experts.
4. Sub-committees
The EESC has the right to set up temporary sub-committees for specific issues. These sub-committees operate on the same lines as the sections.
5. Plenary session
As a rule, the full Committee meets in plenary nine times a year. At the plenary sessions, opinions are adopted by simple majority, on the basis of section opinions. They are forwarded to the institutions and published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
6. Secretariat-General
The Committee is supported by a secretariat-general, headed by a secretary-general who reports to the president representing the bureau.
Some 700 staff members work at the EESC. Since 1 January 1995, the EESC and the Committee of the Regions have shared some services, such as logistics, IT and translation.
Discover what the EESC can do for you. 2018 Edition
enfrdeesitnlbgcsfihuplroskdaelethrltlvmtptslsv
The PowerPoint presentation of the Committee 2019
enbgcsdadeelesetfifrhrhuitltlvmtnlplptroskslsv
EESC meetings calendar - 2019 - calendrier des réunions du CESE
The EESC from the inside out – Annual Activity Report 2017
enfrdeesitpl
Annual Activity Report 2018
The European Economic and Social Committee's contribution to the Commission's 2018 work programme
endeetfr
Prioridades políticas do CESE para 2018
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DOTS Technology Could Solve Hollywood Archiving Challenges
By Chris Castaneda
Digital Optical Tape System (DOTS) could be the answer to the film industry’s digital archiving problem. Group 47, a startup of several Hollywood technology veterans, is getting ready to build an engineering model, and hopes to have the technology available in the next 18 months. The company proposes DOTS as a robust, secure, inexpensive digital archiving format that could last more than 100 years. The plan is to further develop the technology and license it to manufacturers.
“Archiving in the digital age is considered a dilemma that might result in the loss of some of Hollywood’s movie history,” writes Carolyn Giardina for The Hollywood Reporter. “For this reason, studios continue to save their movies on film because it is the only proven archival technology that can last at least a century, according to research conducted by AMPAS’ Science and Technology Council.”
Typically, studios also save movies on digital LTO (Linear Tape-Open) tape for long-term storage. However, the LTO process requires occasional transfer of the materials to new tapes. While LTO tapes are expected to last several decades, some have identified data loss that has occurred in less than five years.
“Concern is largely centered on digitally-shot independent titles, or elements of movies, that rely solely on digital media for long-term storage,” reports Giardina. “Group 47 is proposing its DOTS technology as a digital archival format that it claims is secure, inexpensive — and could last 100-plus years.”
DOTS was originally developed by Eastman Kodak in the 1990s at a cost of more than $80 million, but was eventually abandoned in 2002, according to Rob Hummel, the CEO of Group 47. In 2010, Group 47 was founded and acquired the technology, including patents and related intellectual property.
The technology has been tested and is durable. It can withstand extreme temperatures and exposure to electrical or magnetic fields, and Group 47 claims that film recorded to DOTS can be stored at room temperature.
The archiving of film and historical material is a global issue that goes beyond the entertainment industry. “Group 47 is also working with some government agencies who are very supportive [of DOTS],” notes Hummel.
Group 47 has applied for nine patents related to DOTS. “There are two places where we greatly improved on Kodak’s design,” explains Dan Rosen, the company’s CTO. “We developed a completely new way to represent the data and write it onto the tape, and since we switched from a frequency modulation representation for the data to a visual binary representation, that gives us the option to story imagery in a file format-agnostic, visual way.”
The company’s plan is to license the DOTS technology to manufacturers, who would develop and sell it as a non-proprietary system.
Topics: AMPAS, Archival, Archive, Digital Optical Tape System, DOTS, Eastman, Exposure, Film, Group 47, Hummel, Intellectual Property, IP, Kodak, License, Linear Tape-Open, LTO, Magnetic, Optical, Patent, Rosen, Storage, Tape, Technology
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Bristol Palin on Her Failed Safe Sex Practices with Levi Johnston
Bristol Palin sat down with Dr. Drew Pinsky during a special on HLN Thursday, dishing on the intimate details of her highly publicized relationship with the father of her child Levi Johnston.
In her new book Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far, Bristol explains how she became pregnant in spite of claims that she and Levi practiced safe sex and she shared the revelation with Dr. Drew, saying, "I was on birth control when I got pregnant and I had stopped taking it for, like, three or four days ... It wasn't used effectively."
Bristol described her experience with teen pregnancy as "the hardest thing that I have ever had to go through," which is why she wants to educate teen girls on the proper ways to practice safe sex.
"I'm not out there saying 'Don't have sex,'" said Bristol, explaining that she does not advocate abstinence for teens. "I'm just saying that birth control needs to be used effectively each and every single time."
Bristol did admit that she wishes that she had waited to have sex until marriage, saying that losing her virginity to Levi was a violation of her moral code.
As far as Levi's relationship with his son Tripp, Bristol says that he's not involved in the infant's life and that she no longer wants to build a family with her former fiance.
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Disney Research technique captures unique eye traits to produce more realistic faces
Generic eye geometries fail to account for marked variation between individuals
Disney Research
The eyes are arguably the most important features of an individual's face, if not a window to the soul, so the use of generic eye models when creating digital faces can have disappointing results. Scientists at Disney Research Zurich, noting the significant variation in eyes between individuals, have devised methods for faithfully capturing those features.
The researchers developed a technique, using multiple cameras and varied lighting, to capture the shape and texture of the white sclera, the shape and refraction of the transparent cornea and the shape and coloring of the iris, including how it deforms as the pupil narrows and widens.
This unprecedented level of detail enables the creation of an eye model that both captures the look of the person's eye and can duplicate how it responds to changes in lighting.
"Creating a photo-realistic digital human is one of the grand challenges of computer graphics, but despite intense research on capturing actors' faces, especially for reconstruction of the skin surface and features such as hair, little attention to date has been given to the eye, particularly its shape," said Pascal Bérard, a Ph.D. student in computer graphics at Disney Research Zurich and ETH Zurich.
"Generically modeled eyes may be sufficient for background characters, but it now takes significant effort to manually create realistic eyes for heroes and other leading characters," he said. "Our reconstruction technique can greatly reduce the time spent and help increase the realism of the eye."
Bérard and his colleagues will present their findings at SIGGRAPH Asia 2014, the ACM SIGGRAPH Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques, Dec. 3-6 in Shenzhen, China.
Though the eye is generally perceived - and modeled generically - as spherical and uniform, the eyeball actually exhibits strong asymmetry and includes microscopic surface details and imperfections, the researchers noted. The microgeometry of the iris, far from a simple planar or cone-shaped feature, is as unique to every person as a fingerprint.
Capturing the details of the eye is difficult; the eyes are small, much of the eye is occluded by its small opening in the face and the sclera, cornea and iris each have different visual properties that require different capture techniques. The set-up, data acquisition and calibration required for the capture technique takes about 20 minutes; to keep the person still, the subject lies on the floor with head in a headrest.
In addition to capturing the geometric and appearance variations between individuals, the methods developed by the Disney Research team also enable data-driven animations of the iris, replicating how the muscle deforms in each individual as the pupil widens or narrows in response to light. Other eye motions have not yet been replicated by the team.
The Disney Research team, which includes Derek Bradley, Maurizio Nitti, Thabo Beeler and Markus Gross, demonstrated their techniques by reconstructing nine different eyes from six different actors, highlighting the marked differences in shape, coloring and iris deformation between them. They also combined both of the captured eyes of one actor with a face scan to show how their method could be used to create artistic digital doubles.
"Such a result would traditionally take significant artistic skill and man-hours to generate, in particular if it was meant to closely resemble a real actor," Bérard said. "Our result was created with very little effort."
More information, including an explanatory video, is available on the project website http://www.disneyresearch.com/publication/high-quality-capture-of-eyes/.
About Disney Research
Disney Research is a network of research laboratories supporting The Walt Disney Company. Its purpose is to pursue scientific and technological innovation to advance the company's broad media and entertainment efforts. Vice Presidents Jessica Hodgins and Markus Gross manage Disney Research facilities in Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Zürich, and Boston and work closely with the Pixar and ILM research groups in the San Francisco Bay Area. Research topics include computer graphics, animation, video processing, computer vision, robotics, wireless & mobile computing, human-computer interaction, displays, behavioral economics, and machine learning.
Jennifer Liu
jennifer.c.liu@disney.com
http://www.disneyresearch.com
SIGGRAPH Asia 2014
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Greg Barns
With respect to Armistead Maupin’s Tales of the City, my three tales of 21st-century Toronto demonstrate how distant Canada and Australia have recently grown from one another.
June 2003—on a warm early summer’s day, sitting in a taxi in Toronto, I strike up a conversation with a Somalian taxi-driver. He’s a refugee and he’s fascinated by global politics. We discuss Australia and Canada and the conversation turns to political parties. I make the point that John Howard is the leader of the Liberal Party in Australia. He turns his head sharply and snaps, ‘John Howard’s no liberal. Now Jean Chrétien [the Canadian PM], he’s a liberal.’
September 2, 2002—at the 175-year-old University of Toronto. One of the contending heirs to the Canadian prime ministerial mantle (soon to be vacated by Chrétien), former Finance Minister Paul Martin, stands before an audience telling them that Canada is poised to become the world’s first ‘postmodern nation’.
What he meant was that as a diverse, independent and enriched nation, Canada understands the need to govern ourselves on this planet as ‘one humanity’. That globalisation means that we have to ‘come together to try to figure out how in fact in an age of migration of peoples, the migration of disease, the migration of environmental problems, we as a world begin to govern ourselves.’ (The Globe and Mail, 3 September 2002) June 11, 2003—splashed across the front page of Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe and Mail, is a gay couple kissing in the first official gay marriage ceremony in North America. That day the Ontario Court of Appeal had ruled that gay marriages are legal. Only a week later Canada’s Attorney-General, Maurice Cauchon, says he’s proud to be a Canadian as the Canadian federal government decides that it will not appeal the Ontario decision.
Just as Maupin’s Tales encapsulated the essence of San Francisco as the most progressive and liberal culture in the US from the late 1960s onwards, so do these three vignettes capture the spirit that is modern Canada.
And they drive home another point. If Canada and Australia were once frequently compared—because of the political and social heritage and diversity they shared—these days, most of the once positive
comparisons have ended. Canada is indeed becoming the world’s first ‘postmodern’ nation as Paul Martin said it would, and in doing so makes Australia look a fawningly colonial, closed-minded and embittered country that resents being geographically situated in Asia.
The similarities between Australia and Canada have become less visible, in part because neither country’s media reports much on the other. But both countries are federations built on the Westminster tradition with the British common law legal systems. There are many opportunities to reflect on the way Canada and Australia respond to societal and cultural trends. Both our nations have had to deal with the consequences of massive postwar migration. For example, Toronto and Sydney are today in the top five
cities in the world in terms of the range of languages spoken by their residents.
And both nations are dealing with the legacy of the appalling treatment given to the original owners of the land—particularly through the growth of native title law and government policy to deal with the fact that in both Canada and Australia, the health and education standards of indigenous peoples are well below that of the white population.
Canada’s and Australia’s foreign policy constructs have, at least up until the election of the Howard government in Australia, contained a dual commitment to support multilateral processes of decision-making and global security.
Australia originally based its universal health care system on the Canadian model and both societies have now claimed it as a core social principle. Human rights jurisprudence and legislation grew at the same time in both countries, empowered by progressive modernising political leaders such as Pierre Trudeau and Gough Whitlam.
The public sponsorship of Canada’s contemporary creative arts has propelled them into the international market place. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and the government’s art-buying agency, were models that the Whitlam and Fraser governments drew on to enhance the nascent creative talent in Australia that was waiting for a wider audience.
Indeed, when the Howard government came to office in 1996 Canada and Australia had similar policy outlooks on a number of issues. However, in the intervening seven years, the two countries have diverged in extraordinarily unexpected ways. An image that springs to mind is of the progress of two teenagers who have left home. Canada and Australia walked out the door of the conservative, Anglo/American political and historical ‘house’. Australia left home in 1972 under Gough Whitlam. And its journey into the uncharted waters of international adulthood gave it a sense of independence and self-confidence and compassion that had been unthinkable when it was at ‘home’.
Australia recognised the importance of integrating with Asia. It finally said ‘no’ to the US Vietnam folly and helped to build the Asia Pacific Economic Community (APEC) trade and diplomatic grouping. It began to remove the vestiges of the colonial past by abolishing appeals to the Privy Council and beginning a debate on a republic. It led the international condemnation of apartheid in South Africa, hammered out a deal that saw independence for Zimbabwe and began to support the micro-states of the Pacific by standing up to French nuclear testing.
And while all this was happening offshore, Australians also decided that human rights needed protection. Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser ensured that we signed up to the UN agenda and implemented our own human rights regime. Whitlam, Fraser and Paul Keating pursued the cause of Indigenous land justice through Land Rights legislation and then through the implementation of the High Court’s 1992 Mabo decision.
Suddenly, Australian creative arts were becoming visible in Paris, London and New York. From John Gorton’s establishing the Australian Film Commission to Paul Keating’s gargantuan ‘Creative Nation’ funding, the political process understood how crucial it was to Australia’s identity to be read, heard and viewed by the world.
Meanwhile the Canadians—who’d ‘left home’ in the early 1960s when Prime Minister Lester Pearson, a decent and progressive internationalist liberal, warned Lyndon Johnson that Vietnam was unsustainable morally and politically—were emerging from their own Anglo and conservative Catholic French stupor. Pierre Trudeau championed the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that has given Canada pride of place in international human rights circles. Canadian foreign policy was driven by the principle that its role was to act as mediator and peacekeeper and to ameliorate the excesses of its southern neighbour, the US.
Somehow it was assumed that having left home, Australia and Canada would develop in the same direction. But Australia has regressed considerably. In a realignment of foreign policy Australia has lined up with the US on a controversial war in Iraq, supported the US’s military court for prisoners held on suspicion of being terrorists, and abandoned its leadership role in APEC. This Australia has snubbed its nose at the United Nations’ role in world security and as a human rights watchdog.
On the domestic front, the Australian federal government has begun dismantling the authority of the Human Rights Commission with a vengeance—by forcing it to gain the government’s permission if it wants to intervene in legal cases. Australia also presides over the developed world’s only mandatory detention of —refugees policy. Cultural institutions like the ABC have been shamelessly stacked with hidebound conservatives like writer Christopher Pearson, former Liberal Party officials Tony Staley and Michael Kroger, and even a critic of Indigenous policies, Ron Brunton. In the area of welfare the primary driver is to ‘shame’ the recipients of welfare through a policy of ‘mutual obligation’. Harsh penalties have been introduced for minor breaches like —missing an appointment with —Centrelink, and the ‘Work for the Dole’ project is simply a public works scheme that does nothing for participants preparing for a sophisticated technologically driven world. Mr Howard has not acknowledged the spiritual and emotional suffering of Indigenous Australians by formally apologising to them. The issue of the ‘Stolen Generation’ was also dealt with insensitively when its findings were challenged in the courts.
By contrast, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien tells the world media that he doesn’t need to attend a Texan barbecue to assert Canada’s robust relationship with the US. Canada refused to join the Bush Administration’s ‘coalition of the willing’ in Iraq, preferring to send troops to Afghanistan to help rebuild that shattered country, when the rest of the world seems to be neglecting it.
Last year, Chrétien announced his intention to quit politics in February 2004. He was determined to implement his own ‘legacy agenda’, which includes:
• A new plan and funding to reform the country’s health care system.
• A new ten-year investment in cities and transportation infrastructure.
• A long-term investment plan to help poor families escape welfare, including new money for early childhood programs.
• Protecting the environment, including ratifying the Kyoto protocol and creating ten new national parks and five new marine conservation areas.
• Improving the lives of aboriginals, including help for kids and combating alcoholism.
• Doubling foreign aid by the year 2010, with half of that going to Africa. (Nahlah Ayed, ‘Grits lay out lofty social agenda’, CNEWS, 30 September 2002)
Canada is no longer a teenager, it’s an adult, and it has no intention of ‘going home’. It wants the rest of the world to see it as a leader in improving the lot of its people. Canada’s actions on the domestic and international fronts are consistent with those objectives.
If one is inclined to the view that the differences between two post-colonial nations of similar size and heritage are exaggerated and can be explained by the political leadership each has had in the last ten years, then think again. Post-John Howard Australia is faced with leadership by Peter Costello, Tony Abbott or even Brendan Nelson. Labor presents Simon Crean, Kevin Rudd or Mark Latham. None of these individuals seems remotely interested in radically repositioning Australia. Their political road maps are stamped with the word ‘caution’. There’s no Australian ‘Paul Martin’ arguing the case for ‘postmodern’ leadership and no excitement at the possibility of setting off on new innovative social adventures domestically and internationally. There’s no interest in pursuing a Bill of Rights for Australia, and little interest in the issue of an Australian republic. Whereas Canada’s prime ministerial rivals Martin and Manley promise to do so.
And does it matter that the two nations have diverged so markedly? The Somalian taxi-driver thinks it does: ‘Australia used to be a paradise, but now I think Canada is. It has welcomed me and my family but Australia seems so hostile.’
Greg Barns is a Hobart-based writer and lawyer. He is a former senior adviser to the Howard government and now a member of the Australian Democrats. Greg’s book What’s wrong with the Liberal Party? will be published by Cambridge University Press in October.
Recent articles by Greg Barns.
Remembering Herbert
Righting wrongs
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Inside “The Hunger Games” Social Media Machine
Danielle DePalma, the social media strategist behind The Hunger Games’ elaborately planned campaign explains how Lionsgate turned an online fanbase into box office success.
By Ari Karpel long Read
The success of The Hunger Games wasn’t exactly a long shot. But then, it wasn’t a foregone conclusion either (see: the performance of best seller-turned-box-office-disappointment The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo). An elaborate and ongoing social media campaign, orchestrated by Lionsgate and agency Ignition, helped turn a strong bet into a blockbuster–the film has earned more than $450 million at the box office worldwide so far.
Lionsgate’s senior vice president for digital marketing Danielle DePalma saw early on how social media could be the backbone of Hunger Games marketing and would be the best route to engaging fans in a meaningful and cost-effective way. One key: assigning a separate hashtag to each campaign event. “Those really helped us trend because each one of those milestones had its own identity and helped it to spread so easily,” says DePalma, who, at 29, has overseen innovative web campaigns for such films as Saw, Kick-Ass, and The Expendables.
The social media campaign could not have succeeded without solid creative or a masterful overall campaign, helmed by Lionsgate’s chief marketing officer Tim Palen, which included an offline strategy overseen by senior vice president of media and research Erika Schimik.
Here, DePalma takes us through the strategy and execution of the social media campaign, which rolled out in sync with creative, PR, and traditional promotions and kicked off with the release of the first image of the Mockingjay, the pin on fire (See campaign elements and images in the slide show above).
1. PLAY TO YOUR BASE: FANS COME FIRST. AND SECOND. AND THIRD.
The Hunger Games marketing team learned early on that an engaged fan base was already eager for any word of the coming screen adaptation of their favorite book. Tapping into that base was task one. “Our first mission was to start connecting with the fans of the book by utilizing Facebook and Twitter,” says DePalma, who began that process more than a year ago.
They decided that the first big reveal of the campaign–the cast of the film–would happen online. And since Facebook was already a hub of fan discussion, that was the natural place to do it. Their next step was to invite die-hard fans for exclusive visits to the set of the movie, also via Facebook, thereby establishing early on that the site was an essential gathering place for fans and the place where they could gain information, access, and community. “It was really all our way of developing that direct connection and that direct dialogue with them,” she says.
At the same time, the team at Lionsgate was coming to understand the breadth of Hunger Games content that fans were creating online. Those materials gave the studio a window into what fans were most interested in. “One of the things we did around that was to start Fan Fridays on Facebook, as a way to highlight all the great works they were doing,” says DePalma, who also used a Hunger Games channel on YouTube as a showcase hub. “That allowed us to really start forming an emotional connection with fans, and it got them following us and then spreading the word for us. It was exciting because we knew that we could work with them and get them onboard to really help push the campaign.”
Lionsgate’s entire campaign was built on this fan-based communication. DePalma jokingly refers to Jessica Frank, Lionsgate’s social manager, as their “fan whisperer.” “She had a personal relationship with all of these fan sites. From the beginning, she was the one communicating with them [and] working on all the social, posting on Twitter and on Facebook. She was really dedicated to that on a daily basis.”
2. BE A SOCIAL BUTTERFLY: EXPLOIT EACH SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM FOR ITS UNIQUE QUALITIES
“We decided from the beginning that we wanted to tap into all the large social platforms, but in different ways, because each platform is unique,” explains DePalma, who began with a viral campaign targeting fans of the book, on Facebook and Twitter. She and her team then launched a site called TheCapitol.pn that allowed fans to register for a district–a key component of the campaign. “That gave them an identity for this Hunger Games community, and it gave them an active role.” Fans could create their own district badges on Facebook, where they would connect to their district communities and be active participants.
“Within Twitter what we did was expand on that. We started assigning fans different roles within this virtual world. We have district mayors and district recruiters, which really got them active and sharing over Facebook and Twitter. I mean, that’s what Facebook and Twitter are–it’s like your way of identifying who you are and sharing that with your friends. So, by giving them an occupation within their district, we gave them an identity.” And it made the fans into invested participants in the campaign.
Once that was established, DePalma moved on to Tumblr and YouTube. “Tumblr is such a visual site and really has a footprint in fashion as it is, so we thought it was the perfect place to launch our Capitol Couture blog”–showcasing the movie’s outlandish costumes and makeup, and grabbing fans who were interested in that aspect.
3. THE SOURCE — IN THIS CASE, SUZANNE COLLINS’ BOOK — IS YOUR BIBLE
The elaborate world created by Suzanne Collins helped the movie’s marketing team imagine the many ways they could bring it to life for fans, such as letting them choose district identities. “We felt that this was something that we would start with the core fans and then we could see how much we could broaden it out from there,” says DePalma. “People started consuming it and sharing it and it really took on a life of its own. That inspired us to push it even further.”
4. CAST A WIDE NET: EVERYONE IS ON TEAM “HUNGER GAMES”
Lionsgate could have easily taken a cue from Twilight and separated the community of fans into Team Peeta and Team Gale, playing up the love triangle of the story in the same way Twilight’s marketing had stoked fans’ allegiances to Team Edward or Team Jacob. But they resisted. “We never went to the love triangle place,” says DePalma. “We knew from fan feedback early on that we wanted to avoid that. We could have done a lot with that online, but I think that’s definitely much more teen- and young-girl focused,” she assesses. “And I think that this film really appeals to all four quads.” (Men under 25; men over 25; women under 25; and women over 25.) They were careful not to confine their fans to one box.
“We established early on that the fans really became this self-policing ecosystem. Within the comments they would say, ‘Don’t do that, this film is so much more.’ So, we learned from them the do’s and don’ts, and we learned early on that they didn’t want us to go there.”
That allowed them to tap into male fans. The videogame-oriented site IGN focused on such things as how to train for the games, which seems to have drawn in men who weren’t otherwise interested in the movie. “We wanted to make sure that the way that we put it out there had a broad appeal.”
5. TEASE JUDICIOUSLY
As Tim Palen told The New York Times, “We made a rule that we would never say, ’23 kids get killed.’ We say, ‘only one wins.’” The choice to never show a bit of the actual games helped to frame the entire campaign. And it left everything else up for grabs. “We were able to dive into the world of the Capitol,” says DePalma. “It allowed us to focus on the stunning visuals of the Capitol and the adult cast of the film [Woody Harrelson, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks], who were much more known, rather than selling the games.”
Early on they teased images of the faces of the Capitol, which was done as part of a cobranded campaign with China Glaze, the nail lacquer. “When we released the ad that we did with Effie Trinket [Banks] online, especially within the Tumblr community, the fans went crazy. I think at that point we knew this was something our fans really wanted to see more of.”
It was all a tease of the colorful Capitol, which readers had only been able to imagine until then. “It was really about teasing because there was a lot obviously that we didn’t give away and people never saw until they got to the film.”
6. TURN TRADITIONAL ADVERTISING INTO A SERIES OF SOCIAL MEDIA EVENTS
Clearly, social media was a tremendous factor in driving the success of The Hunger Games, but no one is under the impression that traditional media–print ads, TV commercials, outdoor–are no longer essential. In fact, by turning the release of those traditional campaigns into online events, Lionsgate was able to turn advertising and public relations into the cornerstone of its social campaign.
The release of each character’s poster and each trailer became huge moments for them online, in part by driving people to Twitter from the posters. “They created a ton of social buzz and got everyone really excited,” says DePalma. “And within the first 24 hours of the release of the trailer, it had 8 million views. “I think Tim Palen described it best,” says DePalma of her boss. “He said it was just the perfect storm where everything just aligned and really kind of had to feed off each other. So, I really don’t think one over the other is more important. I really do think that they had to complement each other.”
The campaign was designed to have traditional media work in tandem with online. “I think those creative materials are brilliant but on top of that each one of the trailers that we released or the TV spot that we released would have a specific hashtag on it that would launch a different part of the campaign.” Among them: #HungerGames100 marked 100 days until the movie’s release; #HungerGames74, 74 days out (that number was chosen because the story is set against the 74th annual Hunger Games); #WhatsMyDistrict launched the viral campaign for fans to ally themselves with a chosen district team in connection with an MTV sneak peek; and #HeadtotheSquare launched the Facebook tab where fans could run for mayor of a district.
What would have been standard offline PR moves–spearheaded by Lionsgate’s executive vice president of publicity Julie Fontaine–became integrated into the traditional ad and online campaigns. For instance, Josh Hutcherson appeared on Good Morning America to introduce the first trailer. To have that clip online and to see him with fans to go along with the trailer [which was also available online] was fantastic. “Along with all these, all the good TV outlets covered the release of all of the pictures along the way. So, everything that was done traditionally we were able to amplify online.” Similarly, when Entertainment Weekly put out covers revealing how Peeta and Gale looked in character, they became larger events for Lionsgate. “It was being able to use those traditional off-line elements online and that’s really how it all worked in tandem.”
7. CROSS-POLLINATE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
For the launch of the poster 100 days out from the movie’s release (“#HungerGames100”), Lionsgate created a puzzle, allowing fans to gather pieces from many different places online in order to assemble the poster themselves, thereby leading fans organically from one social media site to another. One hundred partner sites hid their puzzle pieces on their Facebook page. “Then they tweeted about it and sent their Twitter followers to their Facebook page,” says DePalma, who reveled in getting blogs, Facebook, and Twitter to work together. “We were pleasantly surprised throughout the entire process.”
Another big event was “Hunger Games 24,” for which fans tweeted in favor of their city to be one of 24 locations of an early screening of the film. “In less than a week, we basically saw 100,000 tweets,” says DePalma. “It was amazing to see the results of something with no media support behind it. It was something that was simply the fans expressing their excitement to see this film. It gave them the opportunity to get involved just by tweeting.” They also played off elements of the film by partnering with 12 different websites as “district sponsors.” Explains DePalma: “Those 12 sponsors brought those opportunities to their fans, so they promoted it to their fans via Facebook and Twitter as well. It was Yahoo, Fandango, IGN, Machinima–everything from portals to teen-focused sites to more male websites. We were able to see clear results right away from each one of those campaigns.”
8. TWEAK (AND TWEET) CONSTANTLY
Though the plan for the campaign was comprehensive from the beginning it allowed for changes along the way to optimize according to the reaction of fans. “On Facebook it was all about the time of day we were posting and what we were posting,” says DePalma, who was able to see immediate results, like as many as 100,000 likes on a single Facebook post.
“What seemed to work the best, too, was fan-created content. I mean, the Peeta memes were always the top performers. That’s how we were really learning about what our audience liked most, through those Facebook results.” Similarly, while tweeting throughout each day, they could gauge engagement. “Whether it was people retweeting or responding to us,” says DePalma, “we were able to steer the conversation.”
9. EMPLOY APPS AND GAMES TO SUSTAIN POST-RELEASE MOMENTUM
Lionsgate released The Hunger Games: Girl on Fire app for iPhone iOS the day before the movie’s release. “The iPhone game is a pick up and play, simple sticky game because it has two levels,” DePalma explains. Whereas the Facebook game is much more expansive, creating the world of Panem online, and it was released in beta for fans only first. “We’ve slowly been allowing the fans in first and over the last week or so we opened it up to the public. From there we’ll continue to release different districts for the game”–which will be a slow rollout leading up to the next theatrical release.
10. PLAY THE LONG GAME: THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING
With the film still playing strong at the box office and two more movies to come (the second one is slated for November 2013)–not to mention the first film’s DVD release on a still-unannounced date (no doubt that announcement will occasion a big event online)–DePalma declares, “We’ve got a long road ahead!”
So the campaign continues. “Everybody [in the core fanbase] has seen the film now. Fans want to be able to continue to share with friends their excitement for the film. [The ongoing campaign] gives them something tangible to continue to spread the word online and to share with friends that maybe haven’t seen the film yet or haven’t read the books.” To that end, she orchestrated the exclusive release of a new clip from the film just the other day, in the Facebook game.
According to DePalma, between Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Tumbler, The Hunger Games has more than 6-and-a-half-million followers. “We have to continue to communicate with these fans and to keep them engaged. I’m sure as we move into production of the next film, it’ll be starting all over again.”
Ari Karpel is a frequent contributor to Fast Company and Co.Create and an instructor at UCLA Extension. His writing about culture, creativity and celebrity has also appeared in The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Men's Health, The Advocate and Tablet.
Entertainment Newsletter
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Neil Gross is a senior capital markets policy consultant. Through his firm Component Strategies, Neil provides guidance on investor protection, financial industry professionalism, client complaint resolution and organizational governance issues.
Neil currently serves as Chair of the Ontario Securities Commission’s Investor Advisory Panel. He’s also a director of portfolio management firm R. N. Croft Financial Group Inc. and a member of the independent review committee for Alignvest Capital Management Inc.
Previously, Neil enjoyed a 30-year career as a lawyer litigating investor loss claims and regulatory enforcement cases. He then served as executive director of the Canadian Foundation for Advancement of Investor Rights (FAIR Canada) while concurrently appointed to the OSC’s Exempt Market Advisory Committee and Seniors Expert Advisory Committee.
In the volunteer sector, Neil is a director of Family Councils Ontario – a public charity dedicated to supporting family advocacy for residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the province. He also sits on the Vulnerable Investor Task Force convened by the Investment Funds Institute of Canada, and the selection panel for the Portfolio Management Association of Canada annual award of excellence in investment journalism.
David Harvey has worked in the fields of service to the aged and people with disabilities for many years, in government and with the Alzheimer Society of Ontario. He has worked to create opportunities for people to influence how services are delivered and also to help providers learn how to provide quality, person-centred care. Today, David is a free-lance podcaster with a program, Dementia Dialogue that captures the voice of people living with dementia.
Raza M. Mirza, PhD, recently completed a two-year post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Toronto's Institute for Life Course & Aging and is currently the Network Manager for the National Initiative for the Care of the Elderly (NICE; www.nicenet.ca), a knowledge transfer network in the field of aging.
Dr. Mirza received his MSc and PhD degrees from the Graduate department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Toronto's Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. His areas of research and teaching interest include the socio-behavioral determinants of health in persons aging with a chronic illness, and factors influencing late-life social, mental and physical well-being.
Sarah Pettersen is a MEd candidate at the University of Toronto with a Collaborative Specialization in Aging, Palliative and Supportive Care across the Life Course. She has served on two Family Councils in Toronto and considers the active engagement and advocacy of family members, friends and caregivers to play an important role in ensuring a positive long term care experience. Sarah’s professional career in the non-profit sector has centred on strategic initiatives and communications.
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Family Councils of Ontario is a registered charity. Registration number 828934190 RR0001
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Preparing for Worship - March 31, 2019
Join us this Sunday as we transition from our series in Matthew to our upcoming Easter series - “Good News”. Here are the songs that we’ll sing together:
1. Rejoice (Come and Stand Before Your Maker)
Style: This is a contemporary, up-tempo song that is perfect for a call to worship.
Song Info: This song was written as a collaborative effort between two of my favorite worship artists: Stuart Townend and Dustin Kensrue. It first appeared on Kensrue's 2013 album The Water and the Blood - in my opinion one of the greatest modern worship albums released in a long time. This song calls us to rejoice in the Lord, our maker. It leads us to sing and meditate on God's infinite perfections. It's appropriate here because we should come to God first with praise and adoration. Before we confess our sin, before we acknowledge our needs, before we make any requests we ought to first praise God and adore him for who he is.
Sheet Music, Audio
2. I Believe in God the Father
Style: This hymn has been around in various forms for a long time. The tune itself is a popular Sacred Harp tune from 1844 - Beech Spring. It has a Celtic or Appalachian sound and is mellow and prayerful.
Song Info: This particular arrangement was produced recently by Daniel Justice Snoke and released on a Cardiphonia compilation. The lyrics are a stylized version of the Apostles' Creed. From early times the church has considered the Apostles' Creed to be a full yet succinct definition of the gospel. We don't normally think of it as a proclamation of the gospel because it contains much more than just the cross and resurrection.
But in the Heidelberg Catechism, a revered reformation document, Question 22 asks: "What then must a Christian believe?" Answer: "Everything God promises us in the gospel. That gospel is summarized for us in the articles of our Christian faith -- a creed beyond doubt, and confessed throughout the world." The Catechism goes on to cite and unpack the entirety of the Apostles' Creed.
3. Only Your Blood is Enough
Style: This is a contemporary and mid-tempo song. It has an indie-rock feel.
Song Info: This song was produced as part of a collection that Sojourn Church produced of re-tooled Isaac Watts hymns. Though this song is unique enough to be considered original, it is adapted from Isaac Watt's Psalm 51 Part 2. The lyrics and music were written by Neil Robins and it was released on Over the Grave in 2009. This song is appropriate at this point in the service because it recognizes the need for a savior. We have sung about God's goodness, our sin, and now we will sing about our need for a savior. As the song says: "No bleeding bird, no bleeding beast, no hyssop branch, no priest, no running brook, no flood, no sea can wash away this stain from me. Only your blood is enough to cover my sin." Here, with an eye on our sin, we ought to prepare our hearts to hear the sermon and to hear about the hope we have in the gospel of Christ.
Chords & Lyrics, Audio
4. Love Lifted Me
Style: We play a contemporary version of this hymn which is upbeat with a motown feel.
Song Info: Love Lifted Me is a classic, American hymn which has been covered and repurposed by artists such as Alan Jackson and Kenny Rogers. It was originally written by James Rowe in the early 20th century. The song very much captures the spirit of early 20th century American, protestant religion, emphasizing a personal encounter with the savior and exhorting all to “be saved today!” The version we play was rearranged by the Sing Team on their 2017 release Sing On.
5. For the Cause
Style: This is a contemporary hymn with an upbeat tempo.
Song Info: This song has recently appeared on Stuart Townend’s 2018 release Courage. This song focuses on the mission of the Son of God and how he continues to carry out his mission through his disciples on earth.
WorshipBilly Otten March 26, 2019 preparing for worship
Preparing for Worship - April 14, 2019
WorshipBilly Otten April 9, 2019 preparing for worship
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The Story of the Thrifty Woman Who Amassed Millions Is Also Kind of Discouraging
You can mimic her hard work and frugality but good luck finding a guaranteed cheap apartment
By Peter Page | May 15, 2018
Henry Street Settlement
The transition from wage slave to millionaire is pondered by many but successfully made by very few. One who accomplished it is the late Sylvia Bloom. Shortly before her death in 2016 at age 96 she surprised everyone who knew her by revealing a net worth of roughly $9 million, which she left mostly to scholarship funds.
Bloom, the subject of a beautiful New York Times profile prompted by revelation of her $6.24 million bequest to the Henry Street Settlement, amassed her fortune through a combination of hard work, thrift and sensible investing that serves as an example for everyone struggling today for financial security. A little reading between the lines, however, reveals she got some important help along the way which once was available widely but now is not so much.
Bloom was born to immigrant parents in Brooklyn generations before it was cool. She grew up during the Great Depression, so everyone traumatized by the Great Recession can appreciate she had a rough start in life. She attended New York City’s public schools, eventually earning her bachelor degree attending New York’s public Hunter College at night while eking out a living working days (Bloom bequeathed $1 million for scholarships to Hunter College). In 1947, Bloom was one of the first support staff hired at the newly-founded Wall Street law firm of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, where she worked for 67 years as it grew to an international firm of 1,200 lawyers. Its “our practice” page lists 64 categories beginning with "Africa" and concluding with "white-collar defense and investigations."
Bloom’s niece, Jane Lockshin, told The New York Times her aunt paid attention to the stocks the Wall Street attorneys she worked for bought. When they bought, she bought (and presumably sold when they sold).
Indisputably, she was thrifty. It seems no one ever saw her take a cab of any sort -- yellow, Uber or Lyft. The day of the 9/11 attacks she was at work until she evacuated on foot (the Twin Towers were located near the offices of Cleary Gottlieb). She walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and took a bus home to the rent-stabilized apartment she shared for decades with her husband, a firefighter who became a public school teacher and part-time pharmacist in retirement. They had no children.
This part of Bloom’s life story fits the uplifting narrative of self-determination: work hard, skimp, save, invest. Those are choices everyone can make for themselves. But many of the wise choices she made are more problematic today. A college degree is still a major asset in the job market worth working hard for, as Bloom did, but she probably graduated owing little or nothing. Today, 44.2 million Americans carry an average student loan burden of $37,000. The average monthly student loan payment for borrowers aged 20 to 30 years is $351.
The rent-stabilized apartment in Brooklyn certainly had to have made it easier for Bloom to find money to invest. The median asking rent in New York City is around $2800 per month now. Like lots of young people today, Bloom went to work for a startup. Unlike lots of young people hustling in the gig economy today, she took a full-time job with an employer who provided benefits and a solid employment guarantee. Her husband was assured a pension when he retired from FDNY, unlike people today struggling to fund their own retirements.
“She was a child of the Depression and she knew what it was like not to have money,” her niece said. “She had great empathy for other people who were needy and wanted everybody to have a fair shake.”
Sylvia Bloom achieved something remarkable and rare, but you get the sense reading her story that she wasn’t smug about it. You get the feeling she would emphasize with the many thrifty people who, instead of slowly building wealthy, are hustling just to stay afloat. Maybe they can put a couple of bucks away for better times, but rent and loan payments come first.
savings entrepus frugality Sylvia Bloom Trep Life
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Do What Uber Did. Empower Users and Other Stakeholders.
Image credit: Lyft
Logan Green (co-founder and CEO, Lyft), Dan Amman (President, General Motors), and John Zimmer (co-founder and President, Lyft).
Jeff Booth
Co-founder and CEO of BuildDirect
February 2, 2016 6 min read
If we needed another example of how the old business paradigms are failing, Walmart delivered this month. They’ve announced the closing of hundreds of stores globally, leaving empty big-box buildings and broken communities in their wake.
Meanwhile, Uber, a vanguard of the new sharing economy, just announced that they’re making it easier for third-party developers to build apps for their fast-growing car-calling service. It’s a path to success that the tech giants like Apple and Google hacked out years ago -- and some of the best companies today are following. They’re using data to restore power and choice to their stakeholders, in the process turning customers into marketers and suppliers into vital yet virtual cogs in their platform.
Related: Use Your Customer Support Staff to Improve Every Aspect of Your Business
Here’s how today’s companies are using data to get smarter, cut out the middle man and empower their stakeholders -- all while earning unicorn-size valuations:
1. Put the wisdom of the crowd to work.
Real-time landing page click data, peer reviews, product ratings and other metrics are helping companies at large become better decision-makers than any individual CEO could ever be.
Perhaps the classic and best-known example of companies putting data to work is Apple’s iTunes platform. It doesn’t just show you products in the same category as others you’ve bought but offers intelligent suggestions for all kinds of content -- music, movies and more -- based on users who fit your profile.
Closer to home, my company has incorporated the same technologies and applied them to much bigger and bulkier stuff: home improvement supplies. By tracking what people are clicking and what they’re putting in their cart -- or pulling out before buying) -- we can offer more intelligent buying advice, which beats customers having to chase around a sales guy in an orange apron.
Customers aren’t just telling you their preferences over ever-more sophisticated online platforms, they’re telling you what metrics are important to them. Listen to what the data is telling you and make the big plays -- without taking a big risk -- to make a big profit.
2. Get the most out of your customers by taking out the middleman.
Create a platform where you can take out the middleman. That’s exactly what Uber has done. Without owning a single taxi, they’ve become the world’s biggest cab company. The middleman, in this instance, were the medallion taxi companies that had put a stranglehold on supply and de-incentivized customer service.
Uber restored power and choice to the consumer. Armed with new technology and better access to data, we can now hail rides directly from drivers, without having to be routed through the pinch point of traditional cab companies. In contrast to old-school business models, Uber didn’t monopolize power as much as share it -- minimizing irs own role and relying on scale, rather than scarcity, to profit. It’s worked. They are now said to be valued at $68 billion -- more than General Motors.
With this customer-centric model, companies are able to offer better pricing, convenience and selection than anyone else, without even dealing with physical inventory. When the customers win, you win.
Related: How HR Data Can Help Growing Startups Make Better Decisions
3. Get your suppliers into the game.
The unsung heroes in the business world are always the suppliers -- the manufacturers and service providers who labor behind-the-scenes to actually make and deliver what consumers use. From time immemorial, they’ve been squeezed by vendors and middlemen who dictate terms from on high and leave them scrambling to get by on razor-thin margins.
Sharing data with suppliers provides a better alternative. In Airbnb’s case, for instance, all hosts get access to a dashboard full of detailed information on how often their property is being clicked on and what prices are likely to yield the most bookings at specific times of year. And as a nod to the success of this model, even the traditional hotel suppliers of accommodation who are being disrupted are now latching on to Airbnb as a reliable source of new bookings.
Suppliers are happier, and so is Airbnb which has grown by a factor of 353 over the past five years and is now one of the world’s largest accommodation sites -- valued at more than $25 billion and still growing fast.
In the past, we had put in orders with suppliers based on what we thought we’d need in our warehouses -- how many pallets of flooring, landscape pavers, etc. Not only was this labor-intensive, it was also an inexact science. So we decided to get out of the way. The result? Everyone benefitted.
4. Don’t turn your platform against those who helped build it.
Once you’re dominating the market with your online platform, it can be tempting to put the squeeze on customers and suppliers. But recent examples show just how that strategy can be counter-productive.
Even the biggest heroes of the sharing economy can give in to this urge. For all its merits, Uber, for example, is taking progressively higher cuts from its drivers -- 20 percent bumped up to 30 percent in a tiered plan -- “because we can,” according to their CFO, and the grumbling has already started. A new consortium of competitors, including Lyft and Asian ride-hailing players, are already swooping in to lure away frustrated drivers.
Ultimately, getting the marketplace on board with your team’s game plan means having the right corporate culture in place and taking the long view. Every company wants to maximize profit, but the most promising startups aren’t only about that. I’ve learned that long-term success depends on using your data to empower users, suppliers and other stakeholders. The firms that do that will own the future.
Jason's expertise and experience can help you with storytelling, motivation, and pitching your business to media.
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Empire Builder Extraordinaire: Growth Lessons From Brett Latimer
Entrepreneur Profiles
Growth lessons from the man who turned R17 000 into R500 million, wasn’t ready to retire, and is now doing it all over again.
Monique Verduyn
He’s already proven his entrepreneurial chops, but Durban-based Brett Latimer is at it again. By turning customers into fans, he’s shaken up the food business in South Africa’s most laidback city, taking his store’s turnover from R4 million to R34 million – in its first month.
Three steps to high-impact growth
Latimer cares for his employees as if they were family. He greets them every day, provides training and incentives to do well and, most importantly, he pays them well.
2. Customers
Latimer did his homework before opening the store, identifying that there was a gap in the LSM 5 to 10 market for a one-stop food shop that was a cut above the rest when it comes to variety, quality and customer service.
By going direct to farmers and suppliers, Latimer has stripped out unnecessary layers from his business model, making it possible to pass the resulting cost-savings on to his customers.
From modest beginnings
Small taxi-rank butchery or high-quality foodmarket, Brett Latimer’s understanding of trends has fuelled growth.
Charismatic and super-energetic, Brett Latimer exudes the magnetism of a celebrity. Not quite what you would expect from your grocer. But that’s probably why he’s been so ridiculously successful.
Latimer’s father, a boxer, died when he was 11, but he taught him a very important lesson: When you get knocked down, get up again immediately. It’s a mantra that he’s lived by all his life. He struggled at school, and was no academic achiever.
After failing a couple of times, his mother sent him to Damelin, where he did commerce and typing. He had planned to study law at university, but he soon realised that tertiary education was not for him. Luckily, when he turned 18, he received an inheritance of R17 000. Both his father and grandfather had been butchers, so it was natural for him to follow suit, especially because he idolised both of them. But first he needed to learn the trade.
He joined the Avonmore Spar in Durban as a trainee manager. There he learnt all about how to buy meat, debone and cut it. He also got to work with staff at all levels, and gained experience in dealing with people from all walks of life, which taught him the value of being friendly and polite to everyone.
By age 22 he had invested his inheritance in a small butcher shop in Overport. Thanks to the position of the butchery close to the taxi rank, he sold a lot of pre-packed meat for busy consumers. Two years later, he sold the store for 100% profit.
Next, in the early 80s, he bought a rundown store in Isipingo, again catering for taxi commuters and blue collar workers. He set up braais outside the shop to attract shift workers with the aroma of meat on the fire, recognising a gap in the market that would develop into today’s highly popular shisa nyama fast-food craze.
Latimer stayed in the meat business for many years, at one point owning 17 butcheries including seven located inside Boxer Cash and Carry Stores, all of which catered to the working class. Over the years he consolidated these down to six Cambridge Food stores, which he sold for more than R500 million to JSE-listed Massmart between 2008 and 2010.
By that time, he says, he felt like he’d been driving the same car for years and it was time to trade it in for a new ride. After a short sabbatical, he got together with his business partner Paul Beltramo, and invested R75 million in a new store in Tara Road on The Bluff, one of the most densely traded streets in the area, and called it Oxford Freshmarket.
He made the move, he says, because he believes the future lies in high-quality food. Given the shift in the role that food plays in our lives and in our culture, he’s definitely on the right track. Food has become more than one of life’s great pleasures.
Think Masterchef. It’s a signifier of style, too. The notion that ‘you are what you eat’ extends beyond the virtues of a nutritious, well-balanced diet. Beyond the overwhelming popularity of reality TV cooking shows, food and cooking websites are attracting 70 million visitors each month.
These days, it often seems that you are what you buy in the supermarket, or at the organic farmer’s market. The grocery list has become a reflection of people’s values and identity. Food is the new fashion, and Latimer is cashing in on the trend.
Employees who shine
Latimer has tons of praise for his staff who, he says, make all the difference when it comes to customer service. We asked him what makes them so nice. “We pay people well. The entry level salary is R3 000 a month. We have employees who started on that and are now earning R8 000. Also, our staff are full-time and not on contract. We’ve created a family of around 350 people who are all 100% invested in the business.”
But how does he get that right?
“I engage with the staff every day. I greet all of them. We hug, we squeeze. I promise you that one thing I have learnt over time is that every single human being longs for some form of recognition. They want you to ask them how they are and to listen to the answer. That’s why we also employ for attitude, not excellence; we want friendly people who are looking for an opportunity and want to be part of our movie. We want people who are committed to improving themselves. They know that we are there for them. This is their Oxford university of life.”
What training do you provide?
The training is done by me and my partner Paul. It’s all based on hands-on experience that we have gained over many years in the business. We specifically avoided hiring an HR manager until now because we wanted to establish our own principles and values first and then have that person take those forward. The point is that we want our employees to be followers — we don’t want to beat people to get them to work.
The lesson: A strong growth strategy requires a focus on staff. Latimer has always encouraged his staff to feel like the business is a part of them. He cares about them, and they care about the business as a result.
Keeping Customers
The customer experience difference
There are several upmarket food retailers in the country. What’s different about Oxford Freshmarket compared to other food stores?
“Our customers love us. It’s what we call a destination store. It’s in a convenient location which makes it easy for people to drive right up to the shop and park outside. You walk into a store with a dramatic open plan flow, which has a fairly industrial feel with beautiful finishes, like a cross between a Woolworths and a Makro. It’s segmented into areas for fresh produce, a butchery, a bakery and a grocery section. Each area is staffed by people who have expertise in what they are selling. They are invested in what they do and behave as if it’s their own business.
Yeah, yeah… What else?
The store opens at 6.00am and it closes at 9.00pm. We’re all about convenience. Like our signage says, ‘We’ve done our homework with you in mind.’
When customers come to the store, they can see the staff working in the butchery section and they can watch the bakers making bread. At other stores, you don’t see that. Everything is pre-packaged and the process of buying is completely impersonal.
Here, we treat customers like we want to be treated. We greet our customers. We thank them for coming to shop at Oxford Freshmarket. We help them put their purchases in their car and we wave them goodbye.
What’s with the mic and the PA system?
I love what I do. I’m over the top. I get on the mic and tell customers about our specials. When we’re busy and we have no time to meet, I give the staff updates on what they need to know.
We have nothing to hide from our customers. They’re part of the family. It’s all about talking to people all the time. A few weeks ago I went to a restaurant for dinner.
The owner walked past our table several times and did not greet us once. That’s terrible service and I won’t be going back. At Oxford Freshmarket, the customer experiences the exact opposite.
The lesson: When you devise a business model, think about the customer first. What do they really need? If you can answer this question and build something that really suits them, whether it’s a product, store or service, you will always have customers.
Pricing difference
Great prices without quality sacrifices
Latimer was forward-thinking enough when he sold Cambridge Foods to Massmart to ensure that he concluded a preferential procurement deal with them. It’s one of the factors that made it possible for Oxford Freshmarket to cater for the masses of customers who lined up outside the store in its first month.
What he’s also done is cut unnecessary layers out of the business and focused on connecting directly with suppliers and farmers as much as possible. This allows him to cut out extremely expensive financial and retail middlemen.
“It means we can sell a fillet for R109, compared to other retailers where customers pay R200 for the same cut. We go direct where possible, which enables us to cut out a lot of unnecessary expenditure. It requires you to work longer hours because you are driving to farms and markets, but it does mean you can pass the savings on to your customers. I’m a great admirer of Raymond Ackerman and he once said to me, “Remember that rich people like low prices and poor people need them.”
Latimer insists that Oxford Freshmarket is the only food retailer that sells everything under one roof, which also helps to ensure that savings are passed on to customers. “We do the shopping for the consumer so that they don’t have to go from store to store to get the freshest and best quality food items.”
The lesson: Finding the right price is all about understanding your customers and aligning their expectations with your prices. The next step is reviewing your business model carefully and seeing where you can curb unnecessary expenditure.
Super start-up opportunity
We asked Brett Latimer what he would do today if he was a young entrepreneur having to bootstrap himself to success.
“If I wanted to go into business as a young person today, the first thing I would suggest is make sure that every time you go into something, have an exit strategy, or what I call a back door.”
Why? Because you need to know whether you are trying to establish a lifestyle business that generates income without plans to sell it in the future, or you are building equity in a business that you may want to transform into cash.
Depending on your goals, the type of business you choose and the way you grow it should be aligned with your objectives. If, one day, you plan to exit your business and transform your equity into cash through a sale, you need to prepare for that every step of the way. You’ll need to build value and equity in your company by selling great products, backed by unique services and relationships.
The container concept
There are great opportunities for young entrepreneurs that Latimer wants to offer under the Oxford Freshmarket banner.
“In Durban there is a wonderful coffee shop called Freedom Café, which is housed in a converted red shipping container with a glass extension. It’s attractive and filled with quirky details like dachshund salt and pepper holders.
“I’d like to see young people who want to get into retail buying containers like this one and turning them into retail outlets equipped with a refrigerator. I’ve even registered a name for these stores — Hit ‘n Run — because they’ll cater for people who need to stop in quickly on the way home to buy meat, vegetables, bread and groceries.”
Latimer says he is a great believer in entrepreneurship and wants to encourage interested people to take the opportunity to go into supermarket retail. In line with the model he envisages, the container-based stores would be franchises of Oxford Freshmarket and operate under its banner. However, he says, he would not charge a franchise fee.
“Under our brand we would set rules about minimum hygiene standards and create a list of products to be sold. I would advise entrepreneurs who are keen on the concept to set aside R100 000 for stock. We would provide them with model stock and advise them what the top sellers are in the market they are trading into, and enable them to come to Oxford Freshmarket to buy their stock at wholesale prices from us. We’d act as a cash-and-carry for them, but strip out all the additional costs, which would make them more competitive than other retailers in the space.”
Latimer says he sees enormous potential for this type of business model in the KwaZulu Natal hinterland. “Business owners could position themselves at taxi drop-off points, set up an instant shop with instant signage, and get all the mentoring and support they need in merchandising from us. They would even have the opportunity to buy the rights for a particular area and grow the number of stores they have.”
It’s a subject he feels strongly about because, he says, it’s black economic enrichment that is being promoted by government, but not actual empowerment. “We want to help and encourage all people who are keen to get into the supermarket retail trade so that they can truly change their lives.”
For more information on this exciting new concept, contact Oxford Freshmarket at info@oxfordfreshmarket.co.za
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Monique Verduyn is a freelance writer. She has more than 12 years’ experience in writing for the corporate, SME, IT and entertainment sectors, and has interviewed many of South Africa’s most prominent business leaders and thinkers. Find her on Google+.
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Aug 31, 2013 at 19:06
Great article, Brett story is very inspiring and he seems like a very pleasant person.
Mbuyisa
Jan 9, 2014 at 10:06
Very inspiring article just like his iterview on CNBC.I would definately like to meet and learn from him.
Expert Advice From Property Point On Taking Your Start-Up To The Next Level
Through Property Point, Shawn Theunissen and Desigan Chetty have worked with more than 170 businesses to help them scale. Here’s what your start-up should be focusing on, based on what they’ve learnt.
Nadine Todd
Players: Shawn Theunissen and Desigan Chetty
Company: Property Point
What they do: Property Point is an enterprise development initiative created by Growthpoint Properties, and is dedicated to unlocking opportunities for SMEs operating in South Africa’s property sector.
Launched: 2008
Visit: propertypoint.org.za
Through Property Point, Shawn Theunissen and his team have spent ten years learning what makes entrepreneurs tick and what small business owners need to implement to become medium and large business owners. In that time, over 170 businesses have moved through the programme.
While Property Point is an enterprise development (ED) initiative, the lessons are universal. If you want to take your start-up to the next level, this is a good place to start.
Risk, reputation and relationships
“We believe that everything in business comes down to the 3Rs: Risk, Reputation and Relationships. If you understand these three factors and how they influence your business and its growth, your chances of success will increase exponentially,” says Shawn Theunissen, Executive Corporate Social Responsibility at Growthpoint Properties and founder of Property Point.
So, how do the 3Rs work, and what should business owners be doing based on them?
Risk: We can all agree that there will always be risks in business. It’s how you approach and mitigate those risks that counts, which means you first need to recognise and accept them.
“We always straddle the line between hardcore business fundamentals and the relational elements and people components of doing business,” says Shawn. “For example, one of the risks that everyone faces in South Africa is that we all make decisions based on unconscious biases. As a business owner, we need to recognise how this affects potential customers, employees, stakeholders and even ourselves as entrepreneurs.”
Reputation: Because Property Point is an ED initiative, its 170 alumni are black business owners, and so this is an area of bias that they focus on, but the rule holds true for all biases. “In the context of South Africa, small black businesses are seen as higher risk. To overcome this, black-owned businesses should focus on the reputational component of their companies. What’s the track record of the business?”
A business owner who approaches deals in this way can focus on building the value proposition of the business, outlining the capacity and capabilities of the business and its core team to deliver how the business is run, and specific service offerings.
“From a business development perspective, if you can provide a good track record, it diminishes the customer’s unconscious bias,” says Shawn. “Now the entrepreneur isn’t just being judged through one lens, but rather based on what they have done and delivered.”
Related: Property Point Creates R1bn In Procurement Opportunities For Small Businesses
Relationship: “We believe that fundamentally people do business with people,” says Shawn. “There needs to be culture match and fluency in terms of relations to make the job easier. As a general rule, the ease of doing business increases if there is a culture match.”
This relates to understanding what your client needs, how they want to do business, their user experience and customer experience. “We like to call it sharpening the pencil,” says Desigan Chetty, Property Point’s Head of Operations.
“In terms of value proposition, does your service offering focus on solving the client’s needs? Is there a culture match between you and your client? And if you realise there isn’t, can you walk away, or do you continue to focus time and energy on the wrong type of service offering to the wrong client? This isn’t learnt over- night. It takes time and small but constant adjustments to the direction you’re taking.”
In fact, Desigan advises walking away from the wrong business so that you can focus on your core competencies. “If you reach a space where you work well with a client and you’ve stuck to your core competencies, business is just going to be easier. It becomes easier for you to deliver. Sometimes entrepreneurs stretch themselves to try to provide a service to a client that’s not serving either of their needs. This strategy will never lead to growth — at least not sustainable growth.”
Instead, Desigan recommends choosing an entry point through a specific offering based on an explicit need. “Too often we see entrepreneurs whose offerings are so broad that they don’t focus,” he says. “Instead, understand what your client’s need is and address that need, even if it means that it’s only one out of your five offerings. Your likelihood of success if you go where the need is, is much higher.
“Once you get in, prove yourself through service delivery. It’s a lot easier to on-sell and cross sell once you have a foot in the door. You’re now building a relationship, learning the internal culture, how things work, what processes are followed and so on — the client’s landscape is easier to navigate. The challenge is to get in. Once you’re in, you can entrench yourself.”
Desigan and Shawn agree that this is one of the reasons why suppliers to large corporates become so entrenched. “Once you’re in, you can capitalise from other needs that may have emanated from your entry point and unlock opportunities,” says Shawn.
Building a sustainable start-up
While all start-ups are different, there are challenges most entrepreneurs share and key areas they should focus on.
Shawn and Desigan share the top five areas you should focus on.
1. Align and partner with the right people
This includes your staff, stakeholders, partners, suppliers and clients. Partnerships are the best thing to take you forward. The key is to collaborate and partner with the right people based on an alignment of objectives and culture. It’s when you don’t tick all the boxes that things don’t work out.
2. Make sure you get the basics right
Never neglect business fundamentals. Do you have the processes and systems in place to scale the business?
3. Understand your value proposition
Are you on a journey with your clients? Is your value proposition aligned to the need you’re trying to solve for your clients? Are you looking ahead of the curve — what’s the problem, what are your clients saying and are you being proactive in leveraging that relationship?
Related: Want To Start A Property Business That Buys Property And Rents It Out?
4. Unpack your value chain
If you want to diversify, understand your value chain. What is it, where are the opportunities both horizontally and vertically within your client base, and what other solutions can you offer based on your areas of expertise?
8. Don’t ignore technology
Be aware of what’s happening in the tech space and where you can use it to enable your business. Tech impacts everything, even more traditional industries. Businesses that embrace technology work smarter, faster and often at a lower cost base.
Ultimately, Desigan and Shawn believe that success often just comes down to attitude. “We have one entrepreneur in our programme who applied twice,” says Shawn. “When he was rejected, he listened to the feedback we gave him and instead of thinking we were wrong, went away, made changes and came back. He was willing to learn and open himself up to different ways of approaching things. That business has grown from R300 000 per annum to R20 million since joining us.
“Too many business owners aren’t willing to evaluate and adjust how they do things. It’s those who want to learn and embrace change and growth that excel.”
Networking, collaborating and mentoring
Property Point holds regular networking sessions called Entrepreneurship To The Point. They are open to the public and have two core aims. First, to provide entrepreneurs access to top speakers and entrepreneurs, and second, to give like-minded business owners an opportunity to network and possibly even collaborate.
“We believe in the power of collaboration and networking,” says Desigan.
“Most of our alumni become mentors themselves to new entrants to the programme. They want to share what they have learnt with other entrepreneurs, but they also know that they can learn from newer and younger entrepreneurs. The business landscape is always changing. Insights can come from anywhere and everywhere.”
The To The Point sessions are designed to help business owners widen their network, whether they are Property Point entrepreneurs or not.
To find out more, visit www.ettp.co.za
Bain & Company Give You The Data On How To Become 40% More Productive
Top performing organisations get more done by 10am on a Thursday than most companies achieve in a full week. They don’t have more talented employees than everyone else though — they’re working with the same people and tools as you. Michael Mankins unpacks what separates these businesses from everyone else, and how you can learn to be more like them.
Player: Michael Mankins
Company: Bain & Company
Visit: www.bain.com/offices/johannesburg/
“Engaged employees are 45% more productive than satisfied employees. An inspired employee is 55% more productive than an engaged employee and 125% more productive than a satisfied employee.”
When Bain & Company partner, Michael Mankins evaluates businesses, he clearly distinguishes between efficiency and productivity. Efficiency is producing the same amount with less — in other words, finding and eliminating wastages. Productivity, on the other hand, is producing more with the same, which requires an increased output per unit of input and removing obstacles to productivity.
Interestingly, when businesses face challenges or tough operating conditions, the first response is always to become more efficient, instead of more productive. Restructuring and ‘rightsizing’ are the result. The problem, says Michael, is that when companies take people out, they don’t take the work out, and so the people end up coming back, along with the costs.
A better response, he says, is to identify the work that could be removed to free up time, which could then be invested in producing higher levels of output.
While businesses have become very good at tracking the productivity levels of blue-collar and manufacturing workers, tracking the productivity of knowledge workers is entirely different.
“There’s no data around white-collar productivity,” says Michael. “The problem is that the world is shifting towards knowledge work, and so, if we can’t measure productivity, output and obstacles in that space, businesses will never get the great levels of performance they’re looking for.”
Because of a complete lack of statistics in this area, when Michael and his colleague, Eric Garton, were approached by Harvard Business Review Press to write a book dealing with this issue, they had to devise a way of looking at the relative productivity of organisations comprised of white-collar workers.
The results were unexpected. “We were asked to research the difference between top performing organisations (the top quartile) compared to average organisations. I honestly thought the answers would be obvious, even if we didn’t yet have the tools to track them. I thought the best companies would have the best people. That’s 90% of the answer. Simple as that.”
As it turned out, it wasn’t that simple at all. Of the 308 organisations in the study, drawn from a global pool, the average star performer or A-player was one in seven employees. This statistic held true whether the company was in the top 25% of performers or an average performer. The difference was that the top performing businesses were 40% more productive than their counterparts — and yet their mix of talent, on average, was the same.
“There were some exceptions, but on the whole, the best in our research accomplishes as much by 10am on a Thursday as the rest do the whole week. And they continue to innovate, serve customers and execute on great ideas — all with the same percentage of A-players as other, more mediocre businesses.”
Related: (Slideshow) Top Advice From Local Entrepreneurs That Will Change Your Business In 2019
So, what were the differentiating factors?
What’s dragging your organisation down?
First, we need to understand how Michael and Eric approached their research before we can understand — and implement — their conclusions.
“We began with the notion that every company starts with the ability to produce 100 if they have a workforce that’s comprised of average talent, that’s reasonably satisfied with their job and can dedicate 100% of their time to productivity — bearing in mind that no-one can dedicate 100% of their time to productive tasks.
“The question we were focusing on was around bureaucratic procedures, complex processes and anything else that wastes time and gets in the way of people getting things done, but doesn’t lead to higher quality output or better service to customers. That’s what we call organisational drag. You start at 100 and then the organisation drags you down. The good news is that you can make up for organisational drag in three ways: First, you can make better use of everyone’s time. Second, you can manage your talent better by deploying it in smarter ways, which includes placing it in the right roles, teaming it more effectively and leading it more effectively. Third, you can unleash the discretionary energy of your workforce by engaging them more effectively.”
This trifecta — time, talent and energy — became the basis for Michael and Eric’s book, Time, Talent, Energy: Overcome Organizational Drag & Unleash Your Team’s Productive Power. “The way you manage the scarce resource of talent can make up for some, potentially even all, of what you lose to organisational drag,” says Michael.
What the research revealed: Time
“Wasted time is not an individual problem,” says Michael. “It’s an organisational problem. The symptoms include excess emails and meetings and far more reports being generated than the business needs to operate.”
These are all manifestations of an underlying pathology of organisational complexity, which is managed by senior leadership. “The best companies lose about 13% of their productive activity to organisational drag. The rest lose 25%. The most important thing is to reduce the number of unnecessary interactions that workers are having. That means meetings and ecommunications need to be relooked.”
The easiest manifestation for Michael and Eric to observe were hours committed to meetings and how much time workers spend dealing with ecommunications. What’s left-over is the time people can actually get some work done.
What they found is that the average mid-level manager works 46 hours a week. 23 hours are dedicated to meetings and another ten hours to ecommunication. That leaves 13 hours to get some work done — except that it doesn’t.
“It’s difficult to do deep work in periods of time less than 20 minutes. When we subtracted all the other distractions that happen daily, we were left with just six and a half hours each week to do work.” What’s even scarier about this statistic is the fact that meeting work and ecommunication time is increasing by 7% to 8% each year and doubles every nine years. If left unchecked, no-one will have the time to get any work done. “This is why everyone plays catch-up after hours and on weekends,” says Michael.
“One of my clients told me that his most productive meeting is at 6.30am on a Saturday, because it doesn’t involve one minute that isn’t required or one individual that doesn’t absolutely need to be there. If the same meeting was held at 2pm on a Tuesday, there’d be twice as many people, it would be twice as long and there’d probably be biscuits.”
The point is clear: We don’t treat time as the precious resource that it is, and if we did, we would radically shift our behaviour.
Start by asking what work needs to be done and then figure out the best structure to do that work. “Don’t confuse having a lean structure that does the wrong work with being effective,” says Michael. “One of the biggest problems we see is that companies are not particularly good at stopping things. Things get added incrementally, but nothing ever gets taken away. For example, we found that 62% of the reports generated by one of our clients had a producer — but no consumer. Time, attention and energy was invested in reports that no one needed and no one read.
“Ask yourself: How many initiatives have you shut down? If you made the decision that you could only do ten initiatives effectively, and each time you added an initiative, one had to be eliminated, what would your organisation look like?
“Unless you routinely clean your house, it gets cluttered. The same is true of companies. Initiatives spawn meetings, ecommunications and reports, which all lead to organisational drag.”
What the research revealed: Talent
According to Michael, the biggest element in their research that explained the 40% differential in productivity is the way that top performing organisations manage talent.
“We conducted research in 2017 that revealed the productivity difference between the best workers and average employees. Everyone knows that A-level talent can make a big difference to an organisation’s performance, but not everyone knows just how big that difference is.”
To put it in context, the top developer at Apple writes nine times more usable code than the average software developer in Silicon Valley. The best blackjack dealer at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas keeps his table playing at least five times as long as the average dealer on the Strip. The best sales associate at Nordstrom sells at least eight times as much as the average sales associate walking the floor at other department stores. The best transplant surgeon at Cleveland Clinic has a patient survival rate at least six times longer than that of the average transplant surgeon. And the best fish butcher at Le Bernadin restaurant in New York can portion as much fish in an hour as the average prep cook can manage in three hours.
It doesn’t matter what industry you investigate, A-level talent is exponentially more productive than everyone else.
This is why Michael thought that the obvious answer to why some organisations perform better than others is the mix of talented employees they’ve attracted.
“When we asked senior leaders to estimate the percentage of their workforce that they would classify as top performers or A-level talent, the average response was slightly less than 15%. And that’s despite the fact that most companies have spent vast sums of money in the so-called war for talent.”
The big difference, as Michael and Eric discovered, is how that talent is deployed. “It’s what they do with that one in seven employees that makes the biggest difference,” says Michael. “Most companies use a model called unintentional egalitarianism, which basically means that they spread star talent across all roles. The best on the other hand, are more likely to deploy intentional non-egalitarianism. They ensure that business-critical roles are held by A-level talent.”
The challenge is that approximately 5% of the roles in most companies explain 95% of a company’s ability to execute its strategy, and very few organisations articulate which roles those are — but the ones that do tend to be top performers.
“There’s an excellent historical example of this at work,” says Michael. “Between 1988 and 1994, Gap was a high-flyer in the retail sector. They performed globally on all levels — they grew faster than anyone else, were more profitable, had higher shareholder returns, and were the most admired company.
“During that time period, the organisation was led by Mickey Drexler, and his strategy was to focus on what he believed was Gap’s critical role, which was merchandising. He wanted every merchandiser to be a star. ‘No one will tell us what the colour is this year — we’re going to tell the world. We’re going to determine which styles are in and what everyone will be wearing.’
“And they did. If you want proof that Gap’s merchandisers were in fact stars during that period, you can look at today’s CEOs and COOs of the world’s largest retailers. Most of them were merchandisers at Gap during those years.”
The challenge of course is that everyone is always trying to hire stars, and yet only 15% of employees can be described as A-level talent. What can organisations do to utilise their stars wisely?
“First, move a star into a different position if they’re not in a business-critical role. To achieve this, how you define a star might have to change. Some companies hire for positions, and others hire for skills across positions. Stars, in my view, are more the latter. They can learn different skills and fill different roles.
“Second, start defining your business-critical roles. If you ask executives what percentage of their roles are business critical, most say 54%. They’re not discerning. It’s unintentional, because they don’t want to signal to their workers who aren’t in a business-critical role that they’re not as valuable to the organisation, but the reality is that people figure it out anyway, and you just end up with business-critical roles that aren’t filled by the right people, and stars in positions that anyone else could fill.”
Related: Entrepreneur Erik Kruger On The Importance Of Clarity And Embracing Failure
Teams perform better than individuals
To understand how important teams are when deploying talent, Michael uses an example from the world of racing — Nascar in the US to be precise.
“Between 2008 and 2011, there was one pit crew that outperformed everyone else on the track,” he says. “A standard pit stop is 77 manoeuvres, and this crew could complete them in 12,12 seconds, which was faster than any other team. However, if you took one team member out and substituted them with an average team member, that time jumped to 23 seconds. Substitute a second team member, and it was now 45 seconds. The lesson is simple: As the percentage of star players on a team goes up, the productivity of that team goes up — and it’s not linear.”
Michael and Eric also discovered that the role leadership plays on team productivity is both measurable and exponential.
“In 2011, the National Bureau of Economic Research wanted to quantify the impact of a great boss on team productivity. They found that a great boss can increase the productivity of an average team by 11%, which is the same as adding another member to a nine-member team.
“If you take that same boss and put them in charge of an all-star team, productivity is increased by 18%, and this is with a team whose productivity was exponentially higher to begin with. Great bosses act as a force multiplier on the force multiplier of all-star teams.”
According to Michael and Eric’s research however, what most organisations tend to do is place a great boss with an under-performing team in the hopes of improving them, when what they should be doing is pairing great bosses with great teams.
“We did a survey that asked a simple question: When your company has a mission-critical initiative, how do you assemble the team? A: Based on whomever is available. B: Based on perceived subject matter expertise. C: We attempt to create balanced teams of A, B and C players to foster the development of the team. D: We create all-star teams and we put our best leaders in charge of them.
“We thought everyone would answer D. We were wrong. 30% of our bottom three quartiles answered B, closely followed by C, and then A. Only 8% of them answered D.
“The results were very different in our top-performing quartile though. There, 81% of respondents answered D. In other words, the 25% most productive companies in our study set were ten times more likely to assemble all-star teams with their best players than the remaining 75% of the organisations in our research.”
How talent is deployed makes a difference. “I recently had this highlighted for me through another sporting analogy. The world record for the 400-metre relay is faster than the 100-metre dash multiplied four times. How is that possible? When your role is clear and your position is clear, the handoff is seamless. Under these conditions, the best teams outperform a collection of the best individuals.” Michael does offer a word of advice though.
“Don’t fall into the trap of believing that if you do have the best talent, you don’t need to worry about anything else. I don’t believe that’s true. There are always higher levels of performance that can be achieved because there are always areas you can improve on.”
What the research reveals: Energy
According to Michael, employee engagement and inspiration is a hierarchy. “There are a set of qualifiers that have to be met just to feel satisfied in your job: You need to feel safe, have the resources you need, feel that you’re relatively unencumbered in getting your job done every day and that you’re rewarded fairly.
“To be engaged, these all need to meet, and more. Now you also need to feel part of a team, that you’re learning on the job, that you’re having an impact and that you have a level of autonomy.”
Inspiration takes this a step further. “Inspired employees either have a personal mission that is so aligned with the company’s mission that they’re inspired to come to work every day, or the leadership of their immediate supervisors is incredibly inspiring, or both.”
Why does this matter? Because how satisfied, engaged or inspired your employees are has a real, tangible impact on productivity. “Engaged employees are 45% more productive than satisfied employees. An inspired employee is 55% more productive than an engaged employee and 125% more productive than a satisfied employee.”
The really scary statistic is that 66% of all employees are only satisfied or even dissatisfied with their jobs, 21% are engaged, and only 13% are inspired. “These statistics are pretty constant, although top organisations can improve their engaged and inspired ratios,” says Michael. “What we found amongst those companies that did have more engaged and inspired workers was that they all tended to believe that inspiration can be taught. It’s not innate. You can become an inspirational leader with the right attitude and training.
“For example, one organisation surveys its employees every six months and specifically asks workers to rate how inspirational their leaders are. If you’re rated uninspiring by your team for the first time, you’re given training. If, six months later, you’re still rated uninspiring, you’re given access to a coach to evaluate why the tools aren’t working for you.
“By the third, two questions are asked: Should you be a leader, and should you be at the company? Many productive employees can be effective individual contributors but aren’t necessarily leaders, or aren’t happy as leaders, and would best serve the organisation in a different role. The second question is tougher, but even more important. If an inspired employee is 55% more productive than an engaged employee and 125% more than a satisfied employee, an uninspiring leader is a tax on the performance of the company, and there has to be a consequence to that. We have to constantly enrich our workforce and leaders need to be included in that.”
The problem is that very few organisations are asking how inspiring their leaders are. “If you don’t know if your employees are engaged or if your leadership is inspiring, you can’t address it,” he says. “You can take a satisfied employee and make them engaged, but you can’t inspire someone if they aren’t first engaged — that’s the hierarchy. Employee engagement is largely achieved through the way you manage teams. You have to give people the sense that they are having an impact, working within a team and learning. Get that right, and you’ll unlock a powerful level of discretionary energy that will drive productivity in your organisation.”
Related: How Yoco Successfully Secured Capital And The Importance Of A Pitch
Time, Talent, Energy: Overcome Organizational Drag and Unleash Your Team’s Productive Power, by Michael Mankins and Eric Garton, focuses on the scarcest resource companies possess — talent — and how it can be utilised to drive productivity.
Visit www.timetalentenergy.com to find out more.
7 Foundational Values Of Brand Cartel And How They Grew an Iconic Business From The Ground Up
Marco Ferreira, Renate Albrecht and Dillon Warren built Brand Cartel, a through-the-line agency, that delivers exactly what they wanted — and has grown exponentially as a result.
Players: Marco Ferreira, Renate Albrecht and Dillon Warren
Company: Brand Cartel
Visit: brandcartel.co.za
“We’d never worked at agencies, which meant we had no idea how much you need to run an agency. We grew into it. It’s made us really good at what we do.”
When Dillon Warren, Renate Albrecht and Marco Ferreira launched Brand Cartel in 2013 they were in their early 20s with zero agency experience between them. The idea had started when Marco recognised that social media was taking off, but no agencies were playing in that space yet. It was a clear opportunity.
Printing flyers that said ‘Your social media is so last season’, Marco and Renate went from store to store in Sandton City, pitching their services. When Dillon joined them a few months later because they needed someone to handle the company’s finances, they had two laptops between them, R6 000, which Dillon had earned from a Ricoffy advert, and sheer will and tenacity.
“We shared a house to save on rent and split everything three ways,” says Renate. “At one point we hadn’t eaten in two days. My mom lent me R500 so I could buy Futurelife and a bag of apples for the three of us.”
The trio hired their first employee soon after launching Brand Cartel, and after prioritising salaries and bills, there wasn’t much leftover. “Dillon actually paid us R67 each one month,” laughs Marco. “That’s what was left — although I still can’t believe he actually sent it to us.” It was at this point that the young business owners realised they needed credit cards if they were going to make it through their start-up phase — not an easy feat when your bank balance is under R100.
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“Looking back, those days really taught us the value of money,” says Dillon
“We spent a lot of time with very little, and we’re still careful with money today.” Through it all though, the partners kept their focus on building their business. “It almost didn’t work for a long time. We were young and naïve, but in a way, that was our strength. We didn’t have any responsibilities, and we’d never worked at agencies, which meant we had no idea how much you need to run an agency. We grew into it. It’s made us really good at what we do. All of our business has been referral business. It takes time, but we focused on being the best we could be and giving everything we had to our clients. Our differentiator was that we really cared, and were willing to offer any solutions as long as they aligned with our values.”
This is how Brand Cartel has grown from a social media agency into PR and Media Buying, SEO and PPC Strategy, Digital and Print Design, Web Development, Campaign Strategy and now an Influencer division. “It’s an incredibly competitive space with low barriers to entry, which meant it was easy to launch, but tougher to build a client base,” says Renate. “I’d sometimes cry in my car between sales pitches, and then walk in smiling. We had no idea if we’d make it.”
The perseverance has paid off though. Strong foundations have laid the groundwork for exponential growth over the past year, with turnover growing almost ten-fold in 2017 thanks to relationship-building, strong referrals and fostering an internal culture and set of values that has driven the business to new heights as a team.
Like many start-ups, Renate, Dillon and Marco have made their fair share of hiring mistakes, but as the business grew and matured, the young entrepreneurs began to realise that the success of their business lay in the quality of their team and the values they stood for.
This meant two things: Those values needed to be formalised so that they could permeate everything Brand Cartel does, and they needed a team that lived, breathed and believed in them.
“We’ve had some nasty experiences,” admits Dillon. “You should always hire slowly and fire fast, and for five years we did the opposite. We’ve hired incredible people, but we’ve also ended up with individuals who didn’t align with our values at all, and that can destroy your culture.
Dillon, Marco and Renate realised they needed to put their values on paper. “We did an exercise and actually plotted people based on a score grading them against our values, so we knew where our issues were. We knew what we wanted to stand for, and who was aligned with those values. We were right; within a few weeks resignations came in and we mutually parted ways.”
The team that stayed was different. They embraced Brand Cartel’s values, and more importantly, it gave the partners a hiring blueprint going forward.
“Values are intangibles that you somehow need to make real, so it’s important to think about the language you use, and how they can be used in a real-world work context,” says Marco.
The team has done this in a number of ways. First, they chose ‘value phrases’ that can be used in conversation, for example, ‘check it, don’t wreck it’, and ‘are you wagging your tail?’ Team members can gently remind each other of the value system and focus everyone on a task at hand simply by referring to the company’s values. “In addition, when someone is not behaving according to those values, you can call them out on the value, which is an external thing, rather than calling them out personally,” explains Dillon.
Related: How Matthew Piper And Karidas Tshintsholo Launched Their First Business From Their UCT Dorm Rooms
Second, all performance reviews are based on the values first. This means everyone in the organisation begins any interaction from a place of trust, knowing they are operating according to the same value system.
“When you’re in a production environment with jobs moving through a pipeline, there can be problems and delays,” explains Marco. “Instead of pointing fingers when something is over deadline or a mistake is made, our team can give each other the benefit of the doubt and work together. They trust each other, which creates cohesion. We all work as a team, which impacts the quality of our work and the service we offer our clients.”
The system is simple. Coaches will step in first if there is an issue before it escalates to the Head of Team Experience, Nicole Lambrou. If Nicole is called in, she will address the problem head on. “Inevitably it’s something fixable,” says Marco. “By addressing it immediately and in the context of our values it can be sorted out quickly. Ultimately, the overall quality of our team improves, and we are a more cohesive unit.”
The founders have seen this in action. “I recently arrived at a client event and three different people came up to me and complimented my team on the same things — all of which aligned with our values. Everyone at Brand Cartel lives them, internally and externally,” says Renate.
The value system has also shaped how the team hires new employees. “We used to meet people and hire for the position if they could do the job,” says Renate. “But then we started realising that anyone can hold up for an hour or two in an interview. You only learn who they really are three months and one day later.
“We need people who walk the talk, and we really only had a proper measurement of that once we articulated our values. Our interview style has changed, but so has what we look for.”
Here are the seven values that Dillon, Marco and Renate developed based on what they want their business to look like, how they want it to operate, and what they want to achieve, both internally, and in the market place.
1. Play with your work
Our goal is for everyone on our team to become so good at what they do that it’s no longer work. Once that happens you love your job because you’re killing it. It’s why sportsmen are called players, not workers, and it starts with the right mindset.
2. Wag your tail
The idea behind this value stems from Dale Carnegie, who said ‘have you ever met a Labrador you don’t like?’ In other words, we all respond well to people who are friendly. It needs to be genuine though, so again, it’s a mindset that you need to embrace.
We live these values whether we’re at the office or meeting clients. If you go into each and every situation with joy and excitement, from meeting someone new to a new brief coming in, you’ll be motivated and excited — and so will everyone around you.
3. Check it, don’t wreck it
The little things can make big differences. Previously it was too easy to pass the buck, which meant mistakes could — and did — happen. Once you instil a sense of ownership and create a space where people are comfortable admitting to a mistake however, two things happen. First, things get checked and caught before there’s a problem. Second, people will own up if something goes wrong. This can help avoid disasters, but it also leads to learnings, and the same thing not happening again.
4. What’s Plan B (aka make it happen)
We don’t want to hear about the problem; come to us with solutions, or better yet, already have solved the problem and made it happen. We reached a point where we had too many people coming to us with every small problem they encountered, or telling us that something wasn’t working so they just didn’t do it.
That wasn’t the way we operated, and it definitely wasn’t the way we wanted our company to operate. We also didn’t want to be spoon feeding our team. It’s normal for things to go wrong and problems to creep in — success lies in how those problems are handled.
Ignoring problems doesn’t make them go away, so we embrace them instead, encouraging everyone on our team to continuously look for solutions. For example, the PR department holds a ‘keep the paw-paw at Fruit & Veg City’ meeting every morning, where we deliberately look for where problems might arise so that we can handle them before they do. We start with what’s going wrong and then move to what’s going right. You need to give your team a safe and transparent space to air problems though. We don’t escalate. We need to know issues so that we can collectively fix them, not to find fault.
Related: The 5-Hour Rule Used By Bill Gates, Jack Ma And Elon Musk
5. Put your name to it
It’s about pride in work and making it your own. When someone has pride in what they’re doing, they’ll not only put in extra time and effort, but they’ll pull out all the stops to make their creative pop, or go the extra mile for a client.
We need to find the balance between great quality work and fast output though. One way we’ve achieved this is by everyone reviewing the client brief and then committing to how long their portion will take.
When someone gives an upfront commitment, they immediately take ownership of the job. It took time for us to find our groove with this, but today we can really see the difference. Our creative coaches also keep a close eye on time sheets and where everyone is in relation to the job as a whole to keep the entire brief on track. If someone is heading towards overtime we can immediately ask if something is wrong and if they need assistance.
We also celebrate everything that leaves our studio. Every morning we have a mandatory 15-minute catch up session where we check in on four core things: How am I feeling (which allows us to pick up on the mood in the room and the pressure levels of our teams); What’s the most important thing I did yesterday; What’s the most important thing I’m going to do today (both of which give intention and accountability); and ‘stucks’, issues that team members need help with. We then end off with our achievements so that we can celebrate them together.
6. Keep it real (aka check your ego at the door)
We believe in transparency. At the end of the day we’re all people trying to achieve the same thing, but it’s easy for ego to creep in — especially when things go wrong. You can’t be ego-driven and solutions-orientated. If clients or team members are having a bad day, you need to be able to focus on the solution. Take ego away and you can do just that. It’s how we deal with stucks as well. We can call each other out and say, ‘I’m waiting for you and can’t do my job until I receive what you owe me,’ and instead of getting a negative, ego-driven reaction, a colleague will say, ‘sorry, I’m on it.’
7. Walk the talk
For us, ‘walk the talk’ really pulls all our other values together. It’s about being realistic and communicating with each other. If you’ve made a mistake or run into a problem, tell your client. Don’t go silent while you try and fix it. Let them know what’s happening and fill them in on your plan of action.
Walk the talk also deals with the industry you’re in. For example, if you’re a publicist, you need to dress like a publicist, talk like a publicist, and live your craft. In everything we do, we keep this top of mind.
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Hello, I found this information for you: "Empire Builder Extraordinaire: Growth Lessons From Brett Latimer". Here is the website link: https://www.entrepreneurmag.co.za/advice/success-stories/entrepreneur-profiles/empire-builder-extraordinaire-growth-lessons-from-brett-latimer/. Thank you.
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Parmalat Posts Net Profit Growth In H1, Despite Revenue Declines
Published on Aug 2 2018 12:59 PM in A-Brands tagged: Trending Posts / Dairy / Italy / Venezuela / Sales / Parmalat
Dairy giant Parmalat has closed the first half of 2018 with a net profit of €39.9 million, up 30.4% compared to a year ago.
Net revenue, however, fell by 7.3% to €3.03 billion, with the company's gross operating margin down 20.8% to €146.6 million.
The company said that a lower negative contribution from its Venezuela business and a reduction of income tax expense in Italy helped boost net profit, 'offsetting the effect of a deterioration in operating activities'.
European Performance
In terms of geographic presence, net revenue in Europe amounted to €570.1 million and EBITDA amounted to €55.8 million. Italy, the main market in which Parmalat operates, showed a negative trend in consumption.
In North America, net revenues amounted to €1.12 billion and EBITDA was €86 million. The weakening of the US and Canadian dollar negatively impacted net sales and operating margin, equal to about €97.5 million and about €8.1 million, respectively.
In Latin America, excluding the hyperinflation of Venezuela, net turnover amounted to €578.4 million and gross operating margin stood at €14.9 million.
On a LFL basis, and with the exception of Chile and Venezuela's contribution, net sales in Latin America fell by 8.5% and EBITDA down by 7.4%, mainly due to the deterioration of the sales mix of products.
In Africa, net revenues amounted to €215.2 million and gross operating margin amounted to €9.5 million. Net sales in Oceania reached €502.6 million, and EBITDA amounted to €0.3 million.
Revised Guidance
Parmalat said that it was revising its full year guidance for 2018.
Due to increases in the cost of raw materials and 'the strong commercial tensions linked to the necessary adjustments of sale prices', it is forecasting a decline of -1% in net turnover and between -3% and 0% in terms of EBITDA.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
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Binoptics Corporation
Essay by 24 • September 17, 2010 • 909 Words (4 Pages) • 1,345 Views
Essay Preview: Binoptics Corporation
BinOptics Corporation is a privately held high tech start up company located in Cornell's Business and Technology Park in Ithaca, NY. BinOptics, the company, was based on key technological inventions made at Cornell University. CEO and co-founder, Alex Behfar, worked on the proprietary technology under Professor Valentine during his student tenure at Cornell, while earning his PhD in Electrical Engineering. In November 2000 CEO, Alex Behfar and President, Darius Forghani founded BinOptics. BinOptics received its first round of venture capital funding in January 2001 for an undisclosed amount. Currently, BinOptics houses over twenty employees and they hope to grow to forty by the end of the fiscal year. BinOptics is now in its fourth year of operation and will amassed $2 million in annual revenue. So what does BinOptics produce?
BinOptics designs, develops, and manufactures monolithically integrated optoelectronic components based on the proprietary technology developed at Cornell University. It also produces integrated photonic components, which include its lasers. These components can be integrated into indium phosphide and other semiconductor materials, which give BinOptics a competitive advantage. This unique platform allows the company to meet commercial requirements with higher reproducibility, more elasticity for product innovation, considerably lower costs, and higher performance than alternative processes. BinOptics' products address high growth datacom applications, parallel optical interconnects, PON and CWDM (Coarse Wave Division Multiplexing), as well as advanced non-telecom applications. Its products are sold to technology companies in the tele-communications and data-communications industry. BinOptics does not disclose its customer list but two of its customers are Agilent Technologies and Cisco Systems.
What does this mean? In the simplest way, BinOptics produces lasers. These tiny lasers, some the size of a grain of salt, transfer enormous amounts of information to another source immediately. The integrated laser chips are the key part of optical transceivers and transponders. BinOptics' edge-emitting laser consists of a two-inch wafer that has 20,000 lasers on it.
Strategic Investors
BinOptics success can be measured by the strength of its strategic investors. These investors facilitate BinOptics path to success and its ability to raise equity. After receiving its initial first round of funding in January 2001 BinOptics was able to receive additional venture capital funding in May 2002, March 2003, and February 2005. The strategic investors include: Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Cayuga Venture Fund II, FA Technology Ventures, and ArrowPath Venture Capital and Stanford University. Draper Fisher Jurvetson is a leading venture capital firm out of Silicon Valley, CA. It has a global network of affiliated funds with $3 billion in capital commitments. Cayuga Venture Fund (CVF) II is located in Ithaca, NY. CVF has many connections with Cornell University and prides itself on its management team. FA Technology Ventures is a venture capital firm located in Albany, NY and Boston, MA. ArrowPath Venture Capital is a venture capital firm located in Redwood Shores, CA. All four of these investors participated in BinOptics most recent round of funding. This $10 million Series B round of financing took place in February 2005.
Alan Morrow
Our group had the pleasure of speaking with Alan Morrow from BinOptics. Alan joined BinOptics in early 2003 and is the Vice President of Technology Development. He was very helpful in informing us about BinOptics and explaining
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Social Dance Classes
Medal Classes
Group Performance Classes
Freestyle Group Class
SHOWSTOPPERS!
The Dances
Careers in dance
Newsletter & Articles
Elizabeth began dancing when she was five years old, first learning Jazz, Ballroom and Latin, then onto Contemporary and Ballet dance. She also has experience in Street, Funk, Tap, Musical Theatre, Rock and Roll, Afro - Caribbean, Flamenco and Classical Indian Dance. This extensive experience across the genres allows space for creativity and interpretation; Liz is a firm believer that you have to make the dances your own.
Throughout her career she has been a performer, competitor, choreographer and teacher of dance. Commencing teacher training with Peggy Spencer MBE. She attended the B.R.I.T. School, partaking in dance and theatre programs and later the Laban Centre to study contemporary dance and choreography. During this time she taught at studios across London. Spending nine years in the U.S.A. with Fred Astaire Dance Studios, owning and directing her own studio from 2003 – 2008, moving on to become a consultant in teaching methodology throughout the New England Region.
Since returning to London, Liz has taught at dance studios throughout the city.
Elizabeth has over 18 years of teaching experience, and is certified in International Style through the I.S.T.D and American Style with the Fred Astaire Studios. She graduated from a BA Degree program at S.O.A.S in Social Anthropology, combining her passion for the expressive arts and cultural engagement.
Edward started dancing at the age of 7, and was brought up through the ISTD medallist system at Peggy Spencer's Dance School. He competed in open competitions, both in the UK and abroad - in countries including Holland, Italy and Germany for seven years. He then moved into 5 years of professional Ballet training at Rambert School, London Studio Centre, and Central School of Ballet - from which he gained a BA Honours Degree in Professional Dance Performance.
Following his training, Edward worked for four years in the UK, the USA and Portugal, before moving into full time actor training, recently completing a post graduate in Acting at Drama Studio London.
He now works freelance as both an actor and a dance teacher and coach - using his experience to work in a holistic way, emphasizing the benefits of relaxation to access the best of what each individual person has to offer.
Melodie is an experienced Dance Teacher, Performer and Choreographer, with expertise in a wide range of styles including Ballroom and Latin (International and American Style), Ballet, Contemporary, Modern, Jazz and Tap. Melodie began dancing from an early age, training in RAD Ballet and ISTD Modern and tap Dance. As a child, she performed in the prestigious BBC’s Childrens Royal variety performance and several West End productions in London whilst training at Babette Langford’s - Young Set. As a teenager continued her vocational training at the BRIT school after which she received a scholarship to further her dance education in BA Dance at the Laban Centre London.
During this time she began teaching children at a local dance academy preparing children for their dance exams and performances in annual productions. She also began teaching at a Ballroom and Latin Club Stardance in London. Melodie was offered a position at Fred Astaire Dance Studios in the US where she worked for 10 years gaining experience in teaching, performing and studio management.
Melodie moved back to the UK in 2012 and taught and managed at a studio in Norwich, Norfolk where she helped train young dancers for their finals in Blackpool and local competitions until 2014 when she decided to move back to her hometown London, a dance hub with a lot of exciting and interesting opportunities. She recently founded Daisy Roots a Dance Performance Collective incorporating Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop and Dancehall choreography.
We are members of the IMPERIAL SOCIETY OF TEACHERS OF DANCE
We are listed on:
DANCE SCHOOLS UK
Dancesport.uk.com
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March 2012 Archives
Turner v. Kansas City Southern Ry. Co., No. 09-30558 (5th Cir. Mar. 23, 2012)
By Paul Mollica of Outten & Golden LLP posted in Daily Developments in EEO Law on Sunday, March 25, 2012.
A reminder from the Fifth Circuit that, as long as we have McDonnell Douglas and Burdine, the employer in a disparate treatment race discrimination case must - in response to employee's presentation of a prima facie case - produce admissible evidence of a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for taking an adverse action (firing, demotion, etc.). An employer that defaults on this burden of production buys itself a trial, as the defendant discovers here (in an action brought by the employees, and EEOC as intervenor). Judge Owen dissents.
Continue reading Turner v. Kansas City Southern Ry. Co., No. 09-30558 (5th Cir. Mar. 23, 2012)...
Tags: 5th Circuit, McDonnell Douglas Prima Facie Case, Section 1981, Summary Judgment, Title VII
Savani v. Washington Safety Mgt. Solutions, No. 11-1206 (4th Cir. Mar. 20, 2012)
By Paul Mollica of Outten & Golden LLP posted in Compensation, Benefits, & Bonuses on Tuesday, March 20, 2012.
ERISA cases often turn on whether a plan administrator's interpretation of ambiguous plan language is reasonable (i.e., not an "abuse of discretion"). But in this non-precedential decision, a Fourth Circuit panel (2-1) tosses out a judgment in favor of the plan in the anti-cutback case - on the ground that only one interpretation of the plan is reasonable and favors the participants. It all started when the plan administrator demanded repayment of nearly 18 months' worth of benefits by a participant who (supposedly) was not eligible.
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Tags: ERISA
King v. Acosta Sales and Marketing, Inc., No. 11-3617 (7th Cir. Mar. 13, 2012)
By Paul Mollica of Outten & Golden LLP posted in Daily Developments in EEO Law on Thursday, March 15, 2012.
Plaintiffs lately seem to be on a tear in the Seventh Circuit. Here's another reversal of summary judgment where the district court judge misapplied the McDonnell Douglas test to an Equal Pay Act case, earning the storied burden-shifting method of proof yet another swift kick by a Seventh Circuit panel.
Continue reading King v. Acosta Sales and Marketing, Inc., No. 11-3617 (7th Cir. Mar. 13, 2012)...
Tags: 7th Circuit, Equal Pay Act, Gender Discrimination, Title VII
Dulaney v. Packaging Corp. of America, No. 10-2316 (4th Cir. Mar. 12, 2012)
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The employer's affirmative defense to sexual harassment claims - recognized by the Supreme Court in Faragher v. Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775 (1998), and Burlington Indus. v. Ellerth, 524 U.S. 742 (1998) - does not apply if a supervisor's harassment culminates in a "tangible employment action," defined as a significant adverse change in employment status. In a rare court of appeals opinion presenting this issue, the Fourth Circuit reverses summary judgment and holds that to compel an employee either to sign a severance agreement or be fired may constitute such a tangible employment action.
Continue reading Dulaney v. Packaging Corp. of America, No. 10-2316 (4th Cir. Mar. 12, 2012)...
Tags: 4th Circuit, Sexual Harassment
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Two appeals reviewing jury trials in Title VII cases came down today. In the first, the plaintiff - a physician - wins two claims at trial (retaliation and constructive discharge, centered on claims of racial discrimination), but loses the latter claim on appeal, necessitating a remand for recalculation of damages. In the second, the plaintiff lost her sex discrimination and retaliation trial, but the Seventh Circuit vacates and remands, criticizing the unnecessarily complicated and inaccurate jury verdict and instruction forms.
Continue reading Nassar v. Univ. of Texas Southwestern Med. Ctr., No. 11-10338 (5th Cir. Mar 8, 2012); Cook v. IPC Int'l Corp., No. 11-2502 (7th Cir. Mar. 8, 2012)...
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Jeffrey M. Jones
Majority in U.S. Do Not Have a Will
The FINANCIAL -- Forty-four percent of Americans say they have a will that describes how they would like their money and estate handled after their death. That is lower than in two prior Gallup polls: 51% in 2005 and 48% in 1990.
The issue of wills has been a topic in the news after the untimely death of the musician Prince. His sister filed court papers asserting he did not have a will, and so far, nobody has produced one. While most Americans are not as wealthy as Prince, his not having a will appears to be common in the U.S.
Lawyers and financial advisors recommend people write wills to ensure their wishes for transferring their property and assets are followed and to avoid protracted legal proceedings over the distribution of those assets.
The results are based on a May 4-8 Gallup poll, conducted two weeks after Prince's death. While it is unknown whether major news events that touch on the wishes of the dead or dying can influence Americans' self-reports of having a will, the higher 2005 estimate came in a poll conducted shortly after the Terri Schiavo saga.
Americans' likelihood of having a will depends largely on their age and socioeconomic status. Sixty-eight percent of those aged 65 and older have a will, compared with just 14% of those younger than age 30. Of Americans whose annual household income is $75,000 or greater, 55% have a will, compared with 31% of those with incomes of less than $30,000. And while 61% of those with a postgraduate education have a will, only 32% with a high school education or less do.
Likely reflecting those age and socioeconomic differences, nonwhite adults (28%) are about half as likely as white adults (51%) to have a will.
Given the relationships between age and income and having a will, the percentage who say they have a will rises to 75% among upper-income Americans aged 55 and older.
Since 2005, the percentage of those in most key subgroups who have a will has declined. The major exception is among those with a postgraduate education, for which there has been essentially no change. Declines have been above-average since 2005 in the subgroups that are least likely to have a will -- younger, lower-income, less-educated and nonwhite Americans.
Prince's main legacy will undoubtedly be his music, but his unexpected death might leave him with another: an example of what can happen when someone dies without a will. Prince was certainly not alone in not writing a will, as the majority of Americans report they do not have one. Even a substantial minority of older and upper-income Americans -- roughly three in 10 of those aged 65 years and older, and nearly four in 10 of those with household incomes of $100,000 or more -- say they do not have a will.
The legal battles over the distribution of Prince's estate are just beginning, but as those play out in the coming months, it might persuade more Americans to formally and legally spell out their wishes for how to handle their estates after their death.
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BOOM! Studios & Hasbro Announce MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #40 Variant Cover at SDCC To Benefit Make-A-Wish
by First Comics News on July 8, 2019 BOOM! Studios & Hasbro Announce MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #40 Variant Cover at SDCC To Benefit Make-A-Wish2019-07-08T13:36:54-07:00 - News
Special Edition Beast Morphers Orange Ranger Variant Cover to Support Charity
LOS ANGELES, CA (July 8, 2019) – BOOM! Studios and Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) today announced a special edition variant cover to MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #40 in collaboration with Make-A-Wish®, to be available exclusively at 2019 San Diego Comic-Con®, from July 17-21 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA. This special edition cover, from superstar artist Goñi Montes, features the Beast Morphers Orange Ranger, a new character created by Hasbro for a Make-A-Wish kid.
The Beast Morphers Orange Ranger is inspired by Tyler, an 8-year old boy from New Jersey, whose greatest wish is to be an Orange Power Ranger so he can make the world a safer place for everyone. This special edition cover celebrates Tyler’s wish that came true at the Annual Make-A-Wish New Jersey Gala on June 13.
Twenty percent of the sale price from every copy of this MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #40 special edition variant cover will go directly to Make-A-Wish to grant more life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. The special edition will be exclusively available for sale at Comic-Con at the BOOM! Studios booth (#2229).
The Power Rangers franchise is one of the longest running kids’ live-action series in television history, airing in 150 markets around the world and translated into numerous languages. Power Rangers Beast Morphers currently airs on Nickelodeon in the U.S.
https://www.firstcomicsnews.com/boom-studios-hasbro-announce-mighty-morphin-power-rangers-40-variant-cover-at-sdcc-to-benefit-make-a-wish/https://www.firstcomicsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Power-Rangers-logo-600x257.pnghttps://www.firstcomicsnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Power-Rangers-logo-150x64.png 2019-07-08T13:36:54-07:00 First Comics NewsNewsannounce,hasbro,mighty,morphin,power,rangers,studios
Special Edition Beast Morphers Orange Ranger Variant Cover to Support Charity LOS ANGELES, CA (July 8, 2019) – BOOM! Studios and Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) today announced a special edition variant cover to MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #40 in collaboration with Make-A-Wish®, to be available exclusively at 2019 San Diego Comic-Con®,...
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How To Follow Up After A Job Interview
Susan Adams Forbes Staff
I’m a senior editor in charge of Forbes’ education coverage.
Sarah Stamboulie, a New York career consultant, had a young Japanese client whose work visa was due to expire in just six weeks. The man was determined to find work at a hedge fund that would allow him to stay in the U.S., but he spoke with a strong accent, his written English was poor, and he had made a weak impression at job interviews. Stamboulie, who has worked in human resources departments for both corporations and nonprofits, encouraged him to follow up with an interviewer at a Japan-based fund who had already turned him down. Impressed by the young man's persistence, the hiring manager recommended him to another Japanese fund that had an opening. Stamboulie's client got the job. "It was like a semi-hostile referral, but it worked," she recalls.
In Pictures: How To Follow Up After a Job Interview
Lesson learned: Following up on a job interview is crucial. Even if you blow the interview, it pays to get in touch after the fact.
Ideally your interviews always go smoothly, and after each one you craft an effective note thanking the interviewer for the time, expressing enthusiasm and making it clear you listened closely to the hirer's requirements. "The follow-up letter is almost like a proposal letter," Stamboulie says. You should tailor it to the company and suggest specific ways you can address the needs you discussed when you met.
Roy Cohen, author of The Wall Street Professional's Survival Guide: Success Secrets of a Career Coach, agrees that a follow-up note should always focus on what the hiring manager's looking for. "You should say, 'I listened, I understand your needs and your challenges, and here's how I can help you address those,'" he says. Concisely remind the interviewer of what you've accomplished in the past, and make a couple of concrete suggestions for how you can help the company.
Do send the follow-up note as soon as possible. "If you don't, someone else may send a message more quickly," Cohen advises. If you don't have time to craft a longer note, consider sending a short thank-you immediately, mentioning that you want to give further thought to the challenges you discussed and promising to send a more in-depth message soon.
Do send e-mails rather than handwritten notes, Stamboulie and Cohen agree. "People say that snail mail stands out, but it stands out for the wrong reason," Cohen says. "It will make you look like a dinosaur."
If you've met with more than one person in the interview process, think about what will make for an appropriate note to each, Cohen advises. For instance, if you interviewed with someone who would be reporting to you if you get the job, you can say something like, "It sounds like you're working on some interesting projects. It would be great to have you as a colleague."
David Couper, a career coach in Los Angeles and author of Outsiders on the Inside: How to Create a Winning Career Even When You Don't Fit In, recommends a different tack if you're following up on a meeting with human resources staff, as opposed to a hiring manager. HR professionals tend to struggle with overloaded calendars. He says it's always a good idea to send a follow-up e-mail, but if the interview was at a large company, "don't be surprised if you don't hear back." He recommends asking the HR person during the interview how he or she would like you to stay in touch.
Couper also suggests leapfrogging over HR if you get no response to your follow-up note. A client of Couper's who was interviewing for a vice president-level job at an entertainment company did just that recently. It took several phone calls, but he eventually got the hiring manager to put pressure on the overworked HR team to hire him. He got the job.
Last but not least, see also my recent column "When They Don't Call To Offer You The Job."
Susan Adams
In February 2018, I took on a new job managing and writing Forbes' education coverage. I'd spent the previous two years on the Entrepreneurs team, following six years
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Department of Physics & Engineering - About Our Faculty & Staff
You are here: About Our Faculty & Staff
The faculty of the department of Physics and Engineering span an impressive range of disciplines and interests from civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering to optics, astrophysics and cosmology, from atmospheric physics and hydrology to alternative energy and sustainable engineering technologies.
Dr. Christie Chatterley
Assistant Professor of Engineering
Water Quality Analysis and Treatment
On-Site Water and Sanitation for Low-Income Country Applications
Contextual Factor Influence on Technology Uptake
Monitoring and Evaluation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Interventions
Ph.D., Civil/Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, 2013
M.S., Civil/Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado - Boulder, 2009
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Idaho State University, 2003
Dr. Christie Chatterley is available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, contact Public Affairs at 970-247-6073 or by email.
Dr. Jerry Crawford
Professor of Physics
Ph.D., Physics, University of Oregon, 1983
M.A., Physics, University of Oregon, 1980
B.A., Physics, Gustavus Adolphus College, 1979
Dr. Jerry Crawford is available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, contact Public Affairs at 970-247-6073 or by email.
Dr. Charlie Hakes
Senior Lecturer of Physics & Engineering
Ph.D., Physics, Rice University, 1990
M.A., Physics, Rice University, 1987
M.E.E., Electrical Engineering, Rice University, 1983
B.A., Physics, Rice University, 1981
Dr. Charlie Hakes is available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, contact Public Affairs at 970-247-6073 or by email.
Dr. Jeff Jessing
Assistant Professor of Physics & Engineering
Solid state physics and electronics
Device physics
Nanosytems and microfabrication
Microsensors and actuators
B.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1992
M.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1994
Ph.D., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Texas A&M University, 1998
Dr. Jeff Jessing is available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, contact Public Affairs at 970-247-6073 or by email.
Dr. Devin Leahy
Associate Professor of Engineering
Joint biomechanics and implant design
Helmet testing
Car, motorcycle, and airplane design
Lightweight structure optimization
Advanced composite material development
CNC prototyping
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 2012
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, The Ohio State University, 2004
Dr. Devin Leahy is available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, contact Public Affairs at 970-247-6073 or by email.
Dr. Yiyan Li
Integrated Circuit Design
Embedded Systems/FPGAs
Microfluidics/Digital Microfluidics
Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 2016
M.S., Biomedical Engineering, Chongqing University, 2012
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, 2009
Dr. Yiyan Li is available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, contact Public Affairs at 970-247-6073 or by email.
Dr. Don May
Professor of Engineering
International development – water and sanitation
Water supply systems in the developing world
Open channel flow
Surface water hydrology
Water supply adequacy
Ph.D., Civil Engineering, Colorado State University, 1993
M.S., Civil Engineering, Colorado State University, 1982
B.S., Civil Engineering, Colorado State University, 1978
Dr. Don May is available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, contact Public Affairs at 970-247-6073 or by email.
Dr. William Nollet
Associate Professor of Physics & Engineering
Chemical & Exotic Rocket Propulsion
Space Physics
Ph.D., Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2013
M.S., Nuclear Engineering and Engineering Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2011
B.S., Space Physics, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 2009
Dr. William Nollet is available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, contact Public Affairs at 970-247-6073 or by email.
Dr. Megan Paciaroni
Combustion research
Laser diagnostics
Ph.D., Engineering Systems, Colorado School of Mines, 2004
M.S., Electrical Engineering, State University of New York at Binghamton, 1997
B.S., Electro-Optics, University of Houston-Clear Lake, 1987
Dr. Megan Paciaroni is available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, contact Public Affairs at 970-247-6073 or by email.
Dr. Randy Palmer
Lecturer of Physics and Engineering
Ph.D., Geophysics, University of Oregon, 1997
M.S., Physics, University of Oregon, 1989
B.S., Physics, Fort Lewis College, 1987
Dr. Randy Palmer is available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, contact Public Affairs at 970-247-6073 or by email.
Dr. Ryan Smith
Autonomous underwater vehicles
Control and planning
Aquatic ecosystems
Nonlinear dynamics
Single and multi-robot systems
Geometric control theory
Ocean modeling
Ph.D., Ocean and Resources Engineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2008
M.A., Mathematics, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2002
B.S., Mathematics and Engineering Physics, Miami University, 1998
Dr. Ryan Smith is available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, contact Public Affairs at 970-247-6073 or by email.
Dr. Laurie Williams
Chair and Professor of Physics & Engineering
Energy applications, including alternative energy systems
Village Aid Project – meeting basic needs in the developing world
Technologies for the developing world
M.S., Environmental Policy and Management, University of Denver, 1997
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, 1983
Dr. Laurie Williams is available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, contact Public Affairs at 970-247-6073 or by email.
Dr. Andrew Young
Inflatable structures
Numerical methods in engineering
Performance of composite materials
Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maine, 2017
M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maine, 2013
B.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maine, 2011
Dr. Andrew Young is available to comment on topics related to areas of interest or expertise. If you need further assistance, contact Public Affairs at 970-247-6073 or by email.
Chuck Carson
Adjunct Instructor of Engineering
William Atkins
Visiting Instructor of Engineering
Jaimee McCullough
PREM Grant Coordinator
Sitter Family Hall, RM 2755A
Barbara Rosten
Gabriel Sylvester
Laboratory Coordinator
Berndt Hall, RM 671
Machine Shop Coordinator
RYAN HAALAND, Emeritus
Professor of Physics and Engineering (2006 - 2019)
B.A., Physics and Math, Concordia College, 1985
M.S. Space Physics, University of California Los Angeles, 1990
Ph.D., Physics, University of Oxford, 1999
MARTHA IVERSON, Emeritus
B.S., Physics, University of Colorado, 1971
Ph.D. Physics, University of Colorado, 1976
TOM D. NORTON, Emeritus
Professor of Physics and Engineering (1973-2003)
M.S., Physics, University of Oklahoma, 1967
Ph.D., Physics, University of Oklahoma, 1972
CARLA WILLIAMS, Emeritus
Professor of Engineering (1984-2002)
B.S.S.E., John Brown University, 1969
M.A., University of New Mexico, 1973
Ph.D., Computer Engineering., University of New Mexico, 1991
JAMES M. COSTELLO, Emeritus
Professor of Physics (1985-2000)
B.A., Doane College, 1959
M.S., University of Nebraska, 1963
Ph.D., Physics, University of Nebraska, 1967
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Annual Awards >> Back <<
Terry Douglas Award of Excellence
2013 - Howard Johnson
2008 - Ed Sperling
2006 - Ino Mussio & Cindie Hughes
This award was created in 2006 and named after Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Past President Terry Douglas. This prestigious award is given to an exemplary individual who has made significant contributions to Fort Saskatchewan as a whole.
Terry came to Fort Saskatchewan in 1987 and took over the Canadian Tire Store. He immediately doubled the size of the store and added 10,000 new items to the shelves. Being a person who gets involved in his community, Terry joined the Chamber and soon was elected to the Board of Directors. He moved up to President of the organization in 1992. During his presidency he was instrumental in The Chamber securing a long term lease with the City of Fort Saskatchewan to move our office to the CN Station. A location that we are happy to say is still our home.
Terry owned a business that relied heavily on the youth population of Fort Saskatchewan to run his business. He also understood the importance of education and therefore developed the criteria for Chamber’s first Scholarship Award, a program that ran successfully for a number of years. Terry’s business success was recognized by the Chamber in 1992 when he received the Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year Award.
Outside of his business and Chamber responsibilities, Terry was involved in such organizations as the Kinsmen Club, Crimestoppers and Ducks Unlimited. Terry was always available for sponsorships and donations where and when needed. For instance, Canadian Tire generously donated all of the paint products for the restoration of the CN Station.
The Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize Terry Douglas’s outstanding interest in and contribution to the life of our community. As such, the award which recognizes exceptional achievement above and beyond the economic contributions made by the successful operations of a business, it is not necessarily given out each year.
This award is selected by the Chamber’s Board of Directors.
Owner and /or operator of a Fort Saskatchewan business
A current Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce Member
Winners must meet the following criteria for this award:
Contribution of Business Achievement by –
a positive and influential impact on business development
displaying an above standard level of service and demonstrates business success and achievement
best reflecting the outstanding spirit and success of the business community
demonstrating outstanding leadership and innovation
As well as contribution to the community as demonstrated by –
showing an admirable record of community volunteerism/sponsorship/generosity
making an important contribution to the quality of lives in Fort Saskatchewan
providing a positive impact on community development
exhibiting a passion and dedication through active participation in the community
Ken Hodgins Meritorious Service Award
2013 - Walter Buck (posthumous)
2012 - Roland Gamache
2011 - Neville Parry (posthumous)
2009 - Ken Hodgins
This award was created in 2010 and named after Fort Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce past Executive Director Ken Hodgins.
Ken Hodgins started Colonial Mens Wear in 1969. In 1980, he moved to the Fort Saskatchewan Mall and re-named it Hodgins Menswear. Five years later, Hodgins built the Kendra Building on 99th Avenue and moved his business in. He operated the business with his wife until 1996.
While he owned the menswear store, he also volunteered on many committees in the community. He started and coached the first T-ball league.
He served as President of the Chamber of Commerce in 1977-78 and started many projects within the Chamber. He volunteered on the Farmers' Market Committee and Chamber of Commerce Directory. He was also the first Executive Director of the Chamber.
He was a city alderman (later re-named councillor) from 1986-1995 as well as Mayor from 1995-2004. He served on city boards and committees, including initiating the local recycling program and chairing the fundraising committee for the Dow Centennial Centre that successfuly raised over $7 million. He initiated and co-chaired City Entrance Signs as well as Canada Volunteer, Hire-a-Student and Shop the Fort committees.
He has been a Kinsmen member since 1969, in which he has been involved with many committees and helped build the Kinsmen Park. He was instrumental in securing the CN Station historic restoration.
He has been an active member at St. George's Anglican Church. As well, he has served on the Fort Saskatchewan Commnunity Hospital Board.
These are just a few of his many achievements in his storied professional career.
Ken never did just his job. He spent 40 years involved in this community. He put himself wholeheartedly into everything he did; often at the expense of his family life.
The Chamber is very proud to recognize Ken Hodgins' outstanding involvement in the Chamber as well as in the community. This award, which speaks of the achievement of an individual, may be given out once a year at the discretion of the President and the Board of Directors in conjunctions with the Business Awards Gala Committee.
65 years old +
Retired or semi-retired
Must have been either a member or employed by a member in good standing
Currently involved or has been involved with civic, provincial or federal initiative
Is currently, or has owned/operated, or holds or has held a valid commercial business license in the Fort Saskatchewan area.
Box 3072, Fort Saskatchewan , AB T8L 2T1
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Movie Review: Bohemian Rhapsody
By eelyajekiM | @ | Tuesday, October 30th, 2018 at 7:30 pm
Director: Bryan Singer
Writers: Anthony McCarten
Cast: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Tom Hollander, Allen Leech, Mike Myers
Rated PG-13 | 134 Minutes
Bohemian Rhapsody buzzes with electricity from the moment Freddie Mercury and the rest of Queen step foot on stage. Watching these musical sequences is like witnessing a legendary act that deserves to be seen live. And although the film did have its production problems, it holds together well thanks to Rami Malek’s performance as the iconic Freddie Mercury.
Still, no film is without its faults. While the supporting cast is great as they are doing the best with what they are given, the minor issues are not nearly enough to overshadow Malek, who is the beating heart of this film, and the musical performances that will surely have you stomp your foot and clap repeatedly. Check out my review of Bohemian Rhapsody below.
The film centers on Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek), a young musician at heart working at Heathrow Airport. Often at odds with his father, Freddie dreams of something more than handling luggage. One night he crosses paths with his future bandmates, guitarist Brian May (Gwilym Lee), drummer Roger Taylor (Ben Hardy), and bassist John Deacon (Joseph Mazzello), and the love of his life Mary Austin (Lucy Boynton). From there, Queen goes from a pub band into something bold and daring.
But as fortune favors the bold, Freddie becomes consumed by fame and fortune. Often times losing sight of what got them to where they are in the first place thanks to corporate interference and those within his inner circle who want nothing to do with him but ride on his famous coattails. As the feuds become more heated, we see Freddie’s toxic behavior grow out of control, to a point where he’s ostracized himself. And when he is at his lowest and learns that he’s contracted the HIV virus, he is content to make amends and live out the last days of his life rocking out.
Biopics can be a tricky thing. While some biopics focus on certain events or an all-around encompassing life story, Bohemian Rhapsody takes a pretty by the numbers approach and goes for the band’s life with a heavy focus on their frontman. But that isn’t so bad considering that Malek makes for a very compelling Mercury. Though the supporting players had a huge influence on his life, they do the best with the minimal material they are given. But that’s only because this is Mercury’s story. So we get to see him as a person go from a nobody to a legendary rock star. Along the way, we witness a tortured soul being corrupt by corporate interference, bad influences, and ego. And that’s just him.
The film also covers the destruction of the band. Although, infighting does tend to come with the territory with any band’s fast rise, it also serves as the driving force for Mercury’s story. And yet, it all feels like clockwork. Bits and pieces of the story fall right on cue. Watching him get into these feuds as he becomes blinded by fame and lost in its allure is a cautionary tale for anyone. And it does reach a point where there are a few eye-roll moments. Even the use of “Under Pressure” at Mercury’s critical and personal juncture is a bit on the cheesy side. Partial lyrics from “Bohemian Rhapsody” seem to hint at Mercury’s internal struggles. These song cues are just a sign of lazy writing.
It’s not that Bohemian Rhapsody should twist the facts. But maybe, take things at a different angle and present us a story that doesn’t feel like something we could read off a Wikipedia page.
The trouble with these biopics that it is bound to miss some of the critical touchstones of the band or merely skim the surface without bothering to dig any deeper. The film never really bothers to address Mercury’s troubled relationship with his parents. It only gives us these on-cue scenes before moving on to something else.
But, there is an upside to all of this. The musical sequences are nothing short of brilliant. In it, Malek becomes Mercury. So much so it is difficult to tell the two apart from each other. And you’re likely to get lost in the music with every performance in the film. The historic Live Aid finale is worth the price of admission alone. While Mercury’s transformation into his rock star persona is stunning, all the in-between material only adds heft to his performance: his succumbing to drug use and inability to mature; his struggles with his sexuality; the realization that he has hit a low point in his life as he learns he contracted HIV. These are the moments that make Malek shine.
And watching the montage of the band coming together to create “Bohemian Rhapsody” was a thing of beauty. It shows just how experimental the band was and how far they were willing to go to create the next best thing. Of course, the very odd song did not sit well with some music execs. Here we get to see Mike Myers turn in a very hilarious performance as EMI executive Ray Foster. Only thing is, you may not notice he was in the movie to begin with without the on-screen credit he gets at the beginning of the film. The lighting, hiding behind a wisp of cigarette smoke, and performance alone makes it hard to believe that is Myers. Unfortunately, he only plays a small part in Queen’s rise to glory. That being said, it’s hard not to enjoy those juicy parts.
Bohemian Rhapsody, for all its flaws, does a grand job of celebrating the music of Queen. Some of the music has become synonymous with sports. Other times they have been used to set the tone for other films. But just as legendary as their music continues to be, Mercury’s story leaves an everlasting impact. Malek’s performance is not only solid, it’s damn near perfect. So perfect that he quite literally becomes Freddie Mercury. Adding the wonderful energized musical sequences, and it is just enough to overlook some of the film’s tonal issues and predictability.
Tags: 20th Century Fox, Aidan Gillen, Allen Leech, Ben Hardy, Bohemian Rhapsody, Bryan Singer, Dexter Fletcher, Fox, Freddie Mercury, Gwilym Lee, Joseph Mazzello, Lucy Boynton, Mike Myers, Queen, Rami Malek, Tom Hollander, Twentieth Century Fox
Book Review: Die Hard: The Ultimate Visual History
Leaving Netflix Streaming November 2018
Related Articles on Geeks of Doom
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• ‘Bond 25’ Rumors Suggest ‘Captain Marvel’s Lashana Lynch Could Take Over 007 Codename
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• ‘Dark Phoenix’ Was Designed To Be “Anti-Apocalypse” and Considered “Too Small For Summer”
• ‘Bond 25’ Set To Start Principal Photography; Plot Details and Filming Locations Revealed
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geopunk.co.uk
Postcode Areas
Council Areas
STD Dialling Codes
OS Grid Ref Tool
The 01355 Area Code ( Dialling Code)
The 01355 area code is a 4 digit geographical dialling code (excluding the zero) used in telecommunications for the area.
The local telephone numbers within the 01355 are 6 digits long.
The correct format in which to write a telephone number from the area code is (01355) [x][x][x][x][x][x].
Where is the 01355 Area Code?
The 01355 dialling code is situated in the county of Renfrewshire in the Scotland Region of the UK.
When do I need to use the 01355 dialling code?
You will need to use a dialling code if you are calling from a mobile phone or a landline outside of the 01355 dialling code area. If you are calling a local number within the same area code with a landline telephone you do not need to use the 01355 dialling code.
Phoning the 01355 Dialling Code from Outside of the UK
If you are calling from outside of the UK. You will need to add the code for dialling internationally. This varies country to country, followed by the UK country code (44) followed by the area code without the initial zero (1355).
International Prefix
United States and Canada 011 44 1355
Europe 00 44 1355
Australia 0011 44 1355
Origins of the 01355 Area Code
Before the 16th April 1995 known as PhONEday which changed telephone area codes by inserting a 1 at the beginning. The area code was .
the historic mnemonic code for the 01355 area was EK5. The first two characters are taken from the letters E and K in East Kilbride. On an old rotary dial telephone this was entered by dialling the numbers 3, 5 and 5.
An old rotary dial for the East Kilbride area code.
Map of the 01355 dialling Code Area
The shaded area on the map represent the estimated extent of the 01355 phone area code.
The blue icons on the map represent the locations of telephone exchanges serving the 01355 area. Click on an icon for more details
Map of the East Kilbride area code and surrounding areas
Towns and Villages within the 01355 dialling Code
Known Telephone Exchanges within the 01355 dialling Code
LOGANSWELL UAX (WSLOG)
© geopunk 2019
© Crown copyright and database rights 2015 © Hawlfraint y Goron a hawliau cronfa ddata 2015
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Tanker project at Pease needs qualified contractors
CONCORD — With the selection of the Pease Air National Guard Base in Newington as the home of the new KC-46A air refueling tanker earlier this month, the anticipated redevelopment of the base will provide opportunities for the region's contractors and suppliers.
The base will receive up to 12 new aircraft by 2018 and, says David Pease, program manager for the New Hampshire Procurement Technical Assistance Program, “now is the time to start planning for the project.”
Participants will also learn about other upcoming opportunities and how NH-PTAP can help companies with the government contracting process.
Highly qualified construction trade contractors and suppliers are invited to a half-day seminar, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, Aug. 20, at Manchester Community College, 1066 Front St., Manchester. Four panelists will outline their upcoming plans and needs according to a press release for the N.H. Department of Economic Development.
The panel includes: Jackie Johnston, PWD ME acquisition branch head and Navy small business advocate of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command Public Works Department at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard; Scott Ballweg, chief of contracting, USFPO New Hampshire National Guard Joint Contracting Office; Dan Proulx, president, Monument Construction, Nashua, and Guy Sylvester, CEO, Absolute Resource Associates, Portsmouth.
“For example, PWD Maine has a wide array of project under way and planned throughout the region,” Pease said. “In 2013, it had over $117 million in projects, of which about $93 million went to small businesses.”
Monument Construction, a service-disabled veteran-owned company based in Nashua, has completed dozens of projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs and other federal agencies. Absolute Resource Associates, a woman-owned 8(a) company located in Portsmouth, recently won a substantial contract with PWD Maine, according to Pease.
Following the discussion, there will be time for one-on-one meetings with the panelists. Seating limited; those interested in attending can register at http://nhptap.ecenterdirect.com.
For more information, contact Pease at 271-7581 or visit www.nheconomy.com/sell-to-the-government.
© Copyright 2006-2019 GateHouse Media, LLC. All rights reserved • GateHouse Gjnews 01
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Music Friday: Swedish Pop Group Ace of Base Will Turn Your Tears Into Pearls
Welcome to Music Friday when we bring you popular tunes with jewelry, gemstones or precious metals in the title or lyrics. Today, Swedish pop group Ace of Base sings about turning tears into pearls in the 1995 love song, “Experience Pearls.”
In this song about mending a broken heart, vocalists Linn and Jenny Berggren sing about a woman who is willing to do anything in her power to eliminate her lover’s pain.
They sing, “Give me all your tears / Let me turn them into pearls / Let me turn all the tears / That you’ve cried into pearls / Hand them to me, I’m gonna keep / Keep them for you / I want to hold you / I want to kiss you / I want to mend what is broken.”
Later in the song, songwriter Jenny Berggren uses the term “experience pearls” to describe the transference of pain from him to her. She vows to wear his tears — in the form of pearls — close to her skin.
The last verse goes like this… “I’ll wear your pearls more precious than silver / I’ll wear your pearls so close to my skin / I’d tear myself apart just to get you / And so I’ve made up my mind / And so I’ve made up my mind.”
“Experience Pearls” appeared as the 16th track of Ace of Base’s wildly successful second album, The Bridge, which charted in 19 countries. More than eight million copies of the album were sold worldwide.
According to the band’s official site, the Ace of Base story started in the early 1990s when the three Berggren siblings (Jonas, Malin and Jenny) formed the techno band Tech Noir. Next to their rehearsal room, Ulf Ekberg played in another band. Soon, Jonas and Ulf hit it off, started to write and produce together, and Ace of Base was formed.
After recording a demo tape of original songs, including the future blockbuster hit ”All That She Wants,” the band went to Stockholm where the members pitched all the major record companies. None showed any interest. The common critique was that their songs were “too obvious” and “too simple.”
Undaunted, the band’s next stop was Copenhagen, where executives at Mega Records immediately saw the band’s potential and loved their positive, uncomplicated and slightly reggae-tinged pop music.
Ace of Base’s very first single was ”Wheel Of Fortune,” followed by the major worldwide hits ”All That She Wants,” ”The Sign” and ”Don’t Turn Around.”
Trivia: The group’s debut album, Happy Nation (released as The Sign in the U.S.), sold 25 million copies and remains in the Guinness record book as the best-selling debut album ever.
Please check out the audio track of “Experience Pearls.” The lyrics are below if you’d like to sing along…
“Experience Pearls”
Written by Jenny Berggren. Performed by Ace of Base.
Give me all your tears
Let me turn them into pearls
Let me turn all the tears
That you’ve cried into pearls
Hand them to me, I’m gonna keep
Keep them for you
I want to hold you,
I want to kiss you
I want to mend what is broken.
Love me the way that you loved her, please
Cause now I’m giving it all,
And so I’ve made up my mind, I’m gonna be
Yours this time, I’m gonna give what I’ve got,
And get your love in return.
Yours this time, I’m gonna teach you to trust
And learn how to burn,
Pearls of experience
When sand strikes up in your eyes
I will cover your face.
I’ll plant your desert with roses,
And I’m gonna keep, keep them for you.
And so I’ve made up my mind
I’ll wear your pearls more precious than silver
I’ll wear your pearls so close to my skin.
I’d tear myself apart just to get you,
Credit: Screen capture via YouTube.com.
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Venture Capital in the Pacific Northwest
Law Offices of K&L Gates
925 4th Ave #2900
Thursday, July 11, 2019, 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM PDT
Category: Panel Discussion
We have seen tremendous growth in our region over the last decade. Although the Pacific Northwest boasts a strong history of diverse industry, much of this growth is driven by innovation in the tech sector. While Silicon Valley still sits in the epicenter of venture capital investing, the Northwest offers a less-hyped opportunity to benefit from the surge of tech talent that’s flocked to the region. SAIA will bring to the stage a number of experienced investors representing venture capital firms or business accelerators who focus on NW companies. Our goal is to learn more about these funds, the early stage investing landscape, and what makes the PNW a unique opportunity for this stage of investing. We hope you’ll join us for an intimate look into this elusive market!
Sajan Thomas
Founder - Thomas Capital Group
Sajan founded TCG in 1997. He leads the firm’s fund placement business, including new business development, sales, and strategic initiatives, and is responsible for overall firm management. Before forming TCG, Sajan was a Managing Director at Frank Russell Capital (now Russell Investment Group). Prior to Russell, Sajan spent seven years at The Prudential, where he had investment, portfolio, and strategic responsibilities at various merchant banking and investment units. A Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst, Sajan earned an M.B.A. in Finance from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a B.B.A. magna cum laude from James Madison University. He holds series 7, 63, 79, and 24 registrations.
Aviel Ginzburg
General Partner - Founders' Co-op
Managing Director - Alexa Accelerator
Aviel Ginzburg is a General Partner at Founders' Co-op and Managing Director of the Alexa Accelerator, powered by Techstars, which is backed by Amazon's Alexa Fund. In 2010 Aviel co-founded Simply Measured, one of Founders' Co-op's first investments and was later backed by Bessemer Venture Partners, Trinity Ventures, and MHS capital. When Simply Measured sold to Sprout Social at the end of 2017, Aviel transitioned from his role as Venture Partner into a full time General Partner. Aviel got his start as one of the first software engineers at Appature (acquired by IMS Health), which was also backed by Founders' Co-op in 2009. Though a new addition to the partnership, Aviel knows the Founders' Co-op ecosystem well, and has played every role from portfolio founder, to company employee, to partner over a 10 year period. Aviel holds a BS from Vanderbilt University.
Martina Welkhoff
Founding Partner - WXR Fund
Martina Welkhoff is a Founding Partner at the WXR Fund, a venture fund focused on women-led spatial computing companies. Prior to starting WXR, Martina founded Zealyst, a corporate gaming platform whose customers included Amazon, eBay, P&G, and Expedia. After exiting Zealyst, Martina founded ConveneVR, a social VR production company. She is on the advisory board of the Center for Leadership and Strategic Thinking at the University of Washington and serves on the Washington Technology Industry Association XR Innovation Council. Previously, Martina was the President of Seattle Women in Tech, served on the board of Seattle Angel, and was a World Economic Forum Global Shaper.
Jim Huston
Founder and Managing Director - Portland Seed Fund
Jim Huston is a Founder and Managing Director of Portland Seed Fund. PSF is an early stage venture firm focused on diverse and impact-oriented seed stage investments across the greater Northwest region. Jim has led or co-led investments in more than 95 companies for Portland Seed Fund. Jim brings more than 25 years of technology industry experience, having worked with and invested in early stage technology companies throughout the world. Previously Jim was a Managing Director with Blueprint Ventures, a Bay Area technology growth capital firm. Prior to Blueprint, Jim served in numerous positions within Intel Capital from 1995-2004, the world’s largest corporate venture organization. Jim has an MBA from Kellogg, Northwestern University, and an chemical engineering from Rose Hulman. Jim is an Oregon Venture Fund investor member and past chairperson of Angel Oregon. Since 2012 he has taught a popular MBA “Venture Finance” class at Portland State University. He is the past Chairman of the Board of Oregon Public Broadcasting and served on the OPB Board from 2007 - 2018. He is currently on the boards of Onboard Dynamics, and has been on more than a dozen corporate boards over his career.
Michael Self
General Partner - StagedotO
Michael Self, is the General Partner of StagedotO, founded in 2016, an early stage venture fund providing expertise, capital, and services to entrepreneurs. SDO focuses on assisting entrepreneurs from ideation/MVP/commercialization to Series A financings. Michael previously founded Lake Union Capital Management, a long short small cap hedge fund achieving top quartile returns for 12 years. Prior, he was a Managing Director of trading and risk for JPMorgan (previously Hambrecht and Quist) bringing IPO’s including Amazon, F5 Networks, Wynn Resorts, and Siebel Systems public. Michael was appointed to the Global Technology Committee for JPMorgan. Mr. Self received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington in 1992 and is registered investment advisor (RIA)
REGISTRATION AND NETWORKING
INCLUDING OPEN BEER AND WINE BAR AND HORS-D OEUVRES
PANEL DISCUSSION AND Q & A
FREE TO SAIA MEMBERS
$75 FOR NON-MEMBERS
Platinum Partner:
Silver Partners:
Subscriber Sign Up
© Copyright 2018 SAIA. All rights reserved.
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Broadband investment
Twenty-seven cities in running for ultrafast broadband cash
Jeremy Hunt announces eligibility criteria for second round of funding.
The 27 cities are able to bid for a share of a £50 million pot to help them roll out ultrafast broadband, driving growth and attracting new investment.
In the Budget, the Chancellor George Osborne announced the new fund, which will help create around 10 super-connected cities with 80-100Mbps broadband access. This is the second round of funding for ultrafast broadband, with 10 of our largest cities already working on detailed plans to upgrade their networks.
“These ultrafast speeds will allow more cities in the UK to compete with the fastest in the world, bringing new opportunities for growth, the development of high tech industries and the transformation of public services,” said Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
The eligibility criteria states that to be able to bid for the fund cities must have a Royal Charter and more than 45,000 homes and businesses, or more than 35,000 homes and businesses in Northern Ireland.
The eligible cities are: Aberdeen, Brighton & Hove, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Coventry, Derby, Dundee, Exeter, Gloucester, Kingston upon Hull, Leicester, Londonderry / Derry, Newport, Norwich, Oxford, Perth, Peterborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston, Salford, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland, Swansea, Wolverhampton and York.
Bidding cities will need to produce plans for how they will use their share of the £50 million and detailed bidding guidance will be published by 18 May. The winning cities will be announced in the Autumn Statement later this year.
Details on the eligibility criteria
Ten Super-Connected Cities announced (21 March 2012)
Broadband - what we do
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Helsinki Airport Guide to Helsinki Airport (HEL)
Flights ∨ +
Terminals ∨ +
Transport ∨ +
Other Info ∨ +
Helsinki Airport (HEL)
Helsinki Airport (IATA: HEL, ICAO: EFHK), also known as Helsinki - Vantaa Airport, is located in the city of Vantaa, 17 km north of Helsinki. Is the main airport of Finland that serves Helsinki metropolitan region.
It is also a popular transfer point between Asia and Europe, due it’s geographical location and fast and easy transfers.
Helsinki Airport serves as a hub for Finnair, the national flag carrier.
In 2017, Helsinki Airport served 18 million passengers, being the fourth busiest airport in the Nordic countries.
Helsinki is the capital and largest city of Finland.
Helsinki Airport consists of two modern passenger terminals.
It serves as a hub for Finnair, its subsidiary Nordic Regional Airlines, CityJet, Jet Time, TUIfly Nordic and operatic base for Norwegian Air Shuttle. The airport is a focus city for Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia.
In 2017, the airport served over 18 Million passengers, being the fourth busiest airport in the Nordic countries and the 29th busiest airport in Europe.
Awards: In March 2018, Skytrax World Airport Ranking awarded Helsinki Airport as the best airport in Northern Europe.
History: Helsinki Airport was originally built for the 1952 Summer Olympic Games
Terminals + info
Helsinki Airport is divided in two terminals that are only separated by a 250 metres pedestrian corridor. HEL Airport can handle 17 million passengers annually approximately.
- Terminal 1: It is called the Domestic Terminal and was the first one opened in the airport. Boarding gates 11 - 15 are located in this terminal (in the nearly future also gates 1-15) and is used by member airlines of Star Alliance. Currently airlines don’t operate long haul flights from Terminal 1.
- Terminal 2: It is the International Terminal, opened in 1969. It has gates 32-38 and 16-60, and although is known as the international terminal, it also serves some domestic flights. It is used by member airlines of Skyteam and Oneworld airline alliances and, in addition, Turkish Airlines uses T2 too as an exception. Charter flights are handled at Terminal 2 and almost 30 airlines are using T2. It has a new shopping area, restaurants, bars, etc.
Helsinki Airport in Numbers
- Is the main international airport of the Helsinki metropolitan area.
- Is about 17 km far away from Helsinki city center.
- HEL airport is the biggest airport in Finland.
- Is 29th largest airport in Europe in terms of passengers numbers and the fourth one in the Nordic countries.
- The airport handles around 350 departures daily.
- In 2017 the airport handled 18.8 million passengers, this figure is the own record for Helsinki airport.
- 81% of the total number of passengers in the 21 airports in Finland
- It has 2 Terminals: T1 and T2 and a total of 3 runways.
- In the airport operate more than 50 airlines
- Stockholm, London and Copenhagen are the busiest international routes.
- Over 130 direct destinations in 45 countries around worldwide.
- Nearby the airport there are several hotels.
- A third terminal is planned to be built in the future.
- Helsinki airport serves as a hub for CityJet, Finnair, Jet Time, Norwegian Air Shuttle and TUIfly Nordic.
Transport + info
There are different methods of transportation to and from Helsinki Airport: Bus, train, taxi or car. See the information below:
- Bus: There are daytime and nighttime buses. Daytime: Line 617. Line 615 & Finnair bus: both run go to Helsinki Railway Station. More Info
- Night buses: Bus 615, Bus 415N and Bus 562N. Shuttle buses also operates for free from the airport. More info
- Train: In HEL Airport, the train station is located on the arrivals floor, between terminals 1 and 2. Travel time from HEL airport to Helsinki Central Station is about 30 minutes. More info.
- Taxi: Travel time to Helsinki city center is about 30 minutes and it costs 50 euros approx. There is the option to share taxicabs, three operators offer the service. More info
Address: Helsinki Airport, Lentäjäntie 3, 01530 Vantaa, FINLAND
GPS Location: 60°18’52.43" N / 24°58’13.21" E
Postal address: P.O. Box 50, 01531 Vantaa, FINLAND
Phone number: +358 20 708 000, from 8h to 16h (paycall)
Phone Information desk (24h):+358 200 14636 (paycall)
Lost & Found: +358 600 41006 (24/7, paycall)
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Forest Sciences
Forest bioeconomy business and policy
Forest ecology and management
Goal of the programme
Study tracks and degree structure
The next application period for the Master's Programme in Forest Sciences at the University of Helsinki is on 3 Dec 2019 – 10 Jan 2020.
How can forests help us fight climate change?
Do you want to affect the future of forests, a key natural resource and wellspring of biodiversity? Have you ever wondered why forests are called the lungs of the Earth and how climate change relates to forests? Or how trees are grown and processed into products in a sustainable and efficient manner? And how are the economy and forests interrelated? You can find answers to these questions when you study forest sciences. You will come to view forests not only as a setting for jogging trails or as a source of wood, but rather as a source of versatile renewable resources and as complex ecological systems that are closely connected to their environment. The relationship between humans and nature and between society and natural resources is a strong feature of these studies. The Master's Programme in Forest Sciences at the University of Helsinki is based on the research at the Department of Forest Sciences which has been ranked 4th in the world, placing the department as one of the best in the world.
A multidisciplinary master's degree programme
The Master’s Programme in Forest Sciences offers a broad and versatile perspective on forests and their use. The studies focus on and apply knowledge in biology, biogeochemistry, business economics, environmental sciences, logistics, geoinformatics and information technology. As a graduate in forest sciences you will be a professional in forest ecology, the management and use of forest resources, forest bioeconomy business and policy, with ample career opportunities in Finland and abroad. Come and study forest sciences at the University of Helsinki, in one of the world’s foremost degree programmes in the field. You can study and complete your master's degree either in English, Swedish or Finnish.
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Master's programme in Forest sciences
Natural surroundings and tools for solving global issues
Mohammad Imangholiloo came to the University of Helsinki to develop his skills in Forest Sciences. Three years later he works as a research...
Department of Forest Sciences | University of Helsinki
Looking for the bigger picture of forestry
Breck Miller has been studying tropical forest ecology and management in the Master's programme. He has appreciated its flexibility, which...
Studying & study tracks
Find out more about studying in the Master's Programme in Forest Sciences through the following links.
More about studying
The Forest Ecology and Management study track of the Master's Programme in Forest Sciences offers a very versatile array of different...
Learn to work with people, businesses and societies managing renewable resources, with a broad understanding of sustainability and...
Teaching & studying at the University
Forest sciences at the University of Helsinki is ranked the 4th in the world
By the Center for World University Rankings
Teaching in the Master's Programme in Forest Sciences at the University of Helsinki is based on top level research. The goal of our...
University-level teaching is based on the latest research results. The teaching and research topics in the Master's Programme in Forest...
The professors and teachers of the Master's Programme in Forest Sciences come with various disciplinary backgrounds. The disciplines...
Learn what kind of research the studies are based on.
Read more about research
You can apply to the International Master's Programmes at the University of Helsinki from Dec 3, 2019, to Jan 10, 2020 (studies starting in autumn 2020). To keep updated about the application process, sign up for our Admissions Newsletter.
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How to Apply - Master’s Programmes at the University of Helsinki
How to apply to the Master's Programme in Forest Sciences English language requirements Scholarship programme Tuition Fees Find your programme in the Degree Finder Contact the Admission Services
Study in Helsinki
University of Helsinki is the largest university in Finland, and one of the leading multidisciplinary universities in the world. Helsinki has also a reputation for being a vibrant city for students.
Discover life as a student at the University of Helsinki.
10 reasons to choose University of Helsinki
At the University of Helsinki, one of the world's leading multidisciplinary research universities, our goal is to give you more than an...
Studying in Finland
Thinking about studying in Finland? Nearly 90% of the international students at the University of Helsinki recommend their studies in...
What makes Helsinki such a great city to live and study in?
Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is a compact and safe city where cool urban culture, beautiful islands and green parks are all within...
Seven reasons to study in Viikki
Discover seven good reasons to study on the Viikki campus, one of the four campuses of the University of Helsinki. 1. International and...
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Power From Seawater: First Prototype Out, More to Come
Fresh water rushes toward salt water. Pressure builds. Power is produced. Norway’s first plant opens but others are looking at it as well.
Michael Kanellos November 24, 2009
Statkraft, a state-owned power plant in Norway, has opened up a prototype power plant that produces power from seawater, but more are likely on the way.
The power plant – which relies on a concept called osmotic pressure gradients – will produce 2 to 4 kilowatts and cost about $8 million. Commercial versions that can produce megawatts might come on line in 2015.
Although the concept strikes many as wacky, it is gaining traction among researchers and desalination companies because generating power from osmotic pressure gradients is really an extension of reverse osmosis desalination. Energy Recovery, the Oakland, California-based desalination expert, in fact, provided equipment to Statkraft and said that these trials would begin later this year.
As reported here first, Researchers at IBM's Almaden Labs, for instance, are putting together an internal proposal to see if Big Blue's desalination membrane technology could be used for osmotic pressure gradients. Danish startup Aquaporin meanwhile is examining how it can deploy an artificial protein it has created for desalination for energy harvesting. Aquaporin works with French water giant Veolia on desalination research.
"You have the potential of approximately 2,000 terawatt hours a year globally. Any place you have a stream going into the sea you have potential energy," Peter Holme Jensen, a microbiologist turned CEO of Aquaporin told us last year. Statkraft puts the figure at 1,600 terawatt hours. That's about half of the power consumed in Europe a year, but that 1,600 to 2,000 terawatt hour potential is worldwide, not located just in Europe.
Osmotic pressure gradients effectively generate water pressure without raging currents. They work like this. Fresh water from streams and rivers tumbles toward a tank of sea water. Between the fresh water and the sea sits a membrane. The differences in salt concentration draw the fresh water through the membrane. The membrane can also eliminate additional impurities.
As more fresh water enters the tank, the salt concentration decreases but the growing volume of water increases the water pressure in the tank. The pressure can then be harvested to turn a turbine. In effect, it is hydroelectric power without a Niagara. Norway's fjords make it prime osmosis country.
One of the potential selling points is that the production of power is somewhat predictable, or at least more predictable than wind and solar. Osmotic pressure gradient power plants would also not have to face some of the same harsh conditions that tidal power turbines will.
Nonetheless, it is still high concept and few can predict accurately whether it will be cost effective or environmentally friendly. Statkraft has been talking about it for years. Here is a PowerPoint from 2004.
Photo of Statkraft's osmotic power prototype via the company.
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The Tech Industry Comes Out Strongly Against Trump’s Travel Ban. What About Cleantech?
Reactions are more muted than in other sectors.
Katie Fehrenbacher February 03, 2017
Photo Credit: Christine Ruddy
That collective uproar you’ve heard in recent days -- perhaps at an airport near you -- is the sound of many of the world’s biggest tech companies opposing the immigration travel ban that President Donald Trump issued last Friday.
Companies like Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Uber are working on a letter opposing the order. Uber CEO Travis Kalanick is resigning from the President’s Business Council. Google’s Sergey Brin -- the son of refugees from Russia -- has spoken at travel ban protest rallies and the search engine giant has given $4 million to four organizations to help fight the order.
So what about the clean energy industry, cleantech companies or energy research groups that are looking to use the brightest minds to build future technologies that will wean the world off fossil fuels and fight climate change? Well, not so much.
There’s been a decided lack of strong public opposition to the travel ban from the clean energy sector and from many energy tech firms.
While a few organizations have taken some mild and some aggressive anti-travel ban stances, many groups say privately they haven’t been directly affected by the order. Others appear to want to pick their battles, given concerns over how the new administration could view clean energy policies. In other words, in an uncertain political environment, there may be more pressing battles to fight.
One of the reasons it might not be a particularly dire issue for the clean energy industry is that it’s not necessarily a jobs issue. The U.S. solar and wind industries are booming, employing hundreds of thousands of workers. While data is hard to find on how many of those employees are American citizens, the majority of these jobs, like solar installers and wind technicians, are filled by Americans.
In contrast, the tech industry is by far the biggest beneficiary of the H-1B Visa program, and thus it is more concerned about talent and jobs.
The Solar Energy Industries Association and the American Wind Energy Association both declined to comment.
The groups that could be most affected by the travel ban are highly skilled engineers and developers that are looking to work at new and young startups. But the cleantech sector doesn’t have that many high-profile startups out there with outspoken influential leaders.
The biggest name in cleantech -- Tesla CEO and SolarCity Chairman Elon Musk -- actually did come out, albeit somewhat tepidly, against Trump’s travel ban on his Twitter feed.
The South African-born entrepreneur wrote: “The blanket entry ban on citizens from certain primarily Muslim countries is not the best way to address the country’s challenges. [...] Many people negatively affected by this policy are strong supporters of the U.S. They’ve done right, not wrong & don’t deserve to be rejected.” Musk then asked for suggestions from his Twitter followers about how to make the order better and said he’d present them to the President.
It’s a pragmatic approach, though not exactly fighting words. Musk, who’s on two of the president’s advisory boards, is walking a thin line between working with the Trump administration and opposing the administration’s policies. Aligning himself with the president has given Tesla a stock boost, and could help in other ways, but could also come back to haunt him, given that many of Tesla's customers might oppose some of Trump’s positions.
Indeed, the loudest tech and business voices opposing Trump’s travel ban have strong consumer brands, like Facebook, Apple and Google, which don’t want to be associated with anti-immigration and anti-Muslim stances. Uber’s CEO stepped down from Trump’s advisory board, likely because the company was starting to see a growing backlash stemming from its perceived alignment with Trump.
The cleantech sector doesn’t have that many of these types of big consumer brands. One of the bigger ones, smart thermostat maker Nest, participated in rallies of support for those affected by the ban this week, according to Nest co-founder Matt Rogers' Twitter feed. But Nest is also part of Alphabet (Google), which has already come out aggressively against the order.
Another big name in energy has also come out (again somewhat tepidly) against the ban. That would be GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt. GE, of course, employs hundreds of thousands of workers around the world and sells energy equipment like wind turbines and gas turbines.
Immelt sent an internal memo to its employees two days after the order was issued and wrote: “I understand many of you are very concerned about the potential impacts of this order and I share your concern.” Immelt went on to write that GE has many employees from the named countries, and that GE will “stand with them and will work with the U.S. Administration to strive to find the balance between the need for security and the movement of law abiding people.”
Again, it’s a reasonable position, but not fighting words from Immelt, who’s also on Trump’s advisory board.
In a column this week, New York Times' Thomas Friedman pleads with America’s business leaders to stand against misdirected Trump policies because business leaders are some of the only people that might have some leverage with the administration. He writes: “Your businesses will thrive only if America is the country that prepares itself and its workers to live in a world without walls, not one that goes around erecting them.”
The strongest stances from the cleantech sector, not surprisingly, have come from entrepreneurs and investors who need access to the best entrepreneurs to succeed. The so-called innovation pipeline, bringing the brightest minds from around the world to Silicon Valley, needs access to all of the minds.
Foundation Capital, which has invested in energy tech startups like Silver Spring Networks and Sunrun, replaced its website's home page with a strongly worded letter against the immigration ban. The letter calls the order “odious,” “ill-considered,” senselessly cruel,” “unjustified,” “fool-hardy” “immoral,” and “acts against our prosperity.” Now that’s a statement.
Another strong statement came from Bright Power's CEO, Jeffrey Perlman, who wrote a blog post calling the order “ugly isolationism and xenophobia,” and inviting his peers to “stand with him,” against the ban. Bright Power, a 12-year-old company based in New York, has about 100 employees and provides energy efficiency and water efficiency services to major apartment buildings around New York.
In a phone call with Perlman, I asked him why he felt compelled to make a statement when not many in the energy sector have. In his view, it was simple: “This is wrong.”
Is your company or startup impacted by the travel ban? Contact us and share your story.
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17-year-old Greenville County student charged with bringing loaded gun to school
A 17-year-old girl is charged with bringing a gun onto a school property in Greenville County.
17-year-old Greenville County student charged with bringing loaded gun to school A 17-year-old girl is charged with bringing a gun onto a school property in Greenville County. Check out this story on greenvilleonline.com: https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/south-carolina/2019/05/10/17-year-old-greenville-county-sc-student-charged-bringing-loaded-gun-school/1162821001/
Daniel J. Gross, The Greenville News Published 10:12 a.m. ET May 10, 2019 | Updated 12:59 p.m. ET May 10, 2019
The student, Savanah Isabella Reece, of Greenville, was charged with carrying a firearm on school property Friday morning and booked into the Greenville County Detention Center.
Reece had a loaded firearm inside a locked compartment in her vehicle at the Enoree Career Center at 108 Scalybark Road Thursday morning, said Lt. Ryan Flood, a spokesman for the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.
Staff at the school learned that Reece had the firearm and conducted a search of her vehicle to find the gun, Flood said.
Savanah Reece (Photo: Provided/Greenville County Detention Center)
There was no evidence that showed Reece had any intent to use the firearm at the school, though "probable cause was substantiated indicating her knowledge of the firearm being in the vehicle," Flood said in a statement.
Her mugshot was not immediately available Friday.
Reece has been suspended from school and recommended for expulsion, said Beth Brotherton, a spokeswoman for Greenville County Schools.
"Greenville County Schools do not allow weapons anywhere on school property," Brotherton said in an email. "We are grateful to the people who came forward to report their suspicions and allowed us to take quick action."
Read or Share this story: https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/local/south-carolina/2019/05/10/17-year-old-greenville-county-sc-student-charged-bringing-loaded-gun-school/1162821001/
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Aerial bombing
At what point during the Second World War did large-scale German bombing raids (excluding V1 and V2 rocket attacks) on Britain cease?
Large-scale aerial bombing of the UK is generally considered to have ended more or less with the conclusion of the Blitz in the early summer of 1941. Thereafter, as most of Hitler’s offensive strength moved east to face the Soviets, aerial attacks on Britain began to dwindle and the intensity seen in 1940–41 was rarely repeated. This is demonstrated by the fact that nearly three-quarters of the British civilian death toll was incurred in that early period.
Luftwaffe attacks did not cease entirely, however. The infamous Baedeker raids of 1942, for instance, hit Exeter, York, Canterbury, Norwich and Bath, while other cities – such as Cardiff, Plymouth and Bristol – saw isolated and increasingly infrequent raids into 1944. However after the D-Day landings in June 1944, Luftwaffe operations over Britain diminished swiftly as the urgent demands of defending the Reich took precedence. The last raid on the UK targeted Hull in mid-March 1945.
This scaling back of operations over Britain was partly due to the Luftwaffe’s lack of offensive capacity, which faced three disadvantages. Firstly, unlike the RAF, which had the Avro Lancaster entering service from 1942, the Luftwaffe never developed a purpose-built heavy bombing aircraft and made do with twin-engine, ground-support aircraft that were ill-suited to extensive heavy bombing operations. Secondly, when the military theatres on the ground shifted away from the British coast from 1941, most of the bombing squadrons shifted with them. Lastly, in the three years that followed, the offensive capacity
of those units were systematically downgraded by their enemies’ growing superiority.
By 1944, the Luftwaffe was directing its efforts primarily at defensive operations on the home front and ground-support for the Wehrmacht. As an offensive force, it was already effectively spent.
Answered by: Roger Moorhouse, author of Berlin at War (Bodley Head, 2010)
Q&A: Did Japan ever sign the Geneva Convention after the Second World War?
Q&A: Which of Bletchley Park’s decodings was most significant?
Q&A: Why was Josef Jakobs the only WW2 spy to be shot rather than hanged?
Q&A: What was written on Neville Chamberlain’s piece of paper?
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Home Research > Members > 1715-1754 > PASKE, Thomas (c.1675-1720)
PASKE, Thomas (c.1675-1720), of Much Hadham, Herts.
Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1715-1754, ed. R. Sedgwick, 1970
1710 - 18 Sept. 1720
b. c.1675, 3rd s. of Thomas Paske of Much Hadham, fellow of Clare, Camb. educ. Clare, Camb. 1692, fellow 1698, LL.D. 1707. unm.
Advocate of court of arches, chancellor of the diocese of Exeter, and official of the archdeaconry of Lincoln.
Paske, an ecclesiastical lawyer, is described as ‘the favourite of the church party, by his great acquaintance as agent to Mr. Annesley and Mr. Windsor*’1, who jointly represented Cambridge University 1705-10. Succeeding Annesley as a moderate Tory, under George I he voted against the Government. He died 18 Sept. 1720, having been for some time in declining health.
Author: Romney R. Sedgwick
1. HMC Portland, iv. 605; v. 94.
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HMdb.org THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE “Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Home My Markers Add A Marker Marker Series Forum About Us ★
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Near Alexandria in DeKalb County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Morgan's Ohio Raid
By Tom Bosse, June 4, 2017
1. Morgan's Ohio Raid Marker
Inscription.
Morgan's Ohio Raid. June 11, 1863The raid by Brig. Gen John H. Morgan's Cavalry Division into Indiana and Ohio began here. Units were the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th Kentucky Cavalry, and the 9th Tennessee Calvary, with attached artillery. Brig. Gen. Basil Duke and Col. Adam Johnson commanded brigades. The raid ended in capture of the bulk of the 2640-man force at Buffington, O. A small portion escaped to Virginia. . This historical marker was erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. It is Near Alexandria in DeKalb County Tennessee
The raid by Brig. Gen John H. Morgan's Cavalry Division into Indiana and Ohio began here. Units were the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th Kentucky Cavalry, and the 9th Tennessee Calvary, with attached artillery. Brig. Gen. Basil Duke and Col. Adam Johnson commanded brigades. The raid ended in capture of the bulk of the 2640-man force at Buffington, O. A small portion escaped to Virginia.
Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2D 18.)
Marker series. This marker is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission marker series.
Location. 36° 3.846′ N, 86° 1.655′ W. Marker is near Alexandria, Tennessee, in DeKalb County. Marker is at the intersection of Nashville Highway (U.S. 70) and Foutch Road, on the right when traveling north on Nashville Highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Alexandria TN 37012, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Gen. John H. Morgan CSA (approx. one mile away); Morgan in Alexandria (approx. one mile away);
Adam Dale (was approx. 5.1 miles away but has been reported missing. ); Battle of Snow Hill (approx. 6.9 miles away); Beckwith Inn (approx. 11.3 miles away); Battle of Milton (approx. 12½ miles away); Upper Ferry (approx. 13.4 miles away); Bragg Invades Kentucky (approx. 13.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Alexandria.
Categories. • War, US Civil •
By Tom Bosse
3. Brig. Gen. John Hunt Morgan, C.S.A.
4. Col. Adam Johnson, C.S.A.
5. Brig. Gen. Basil Duke, C.S.A.
More. Search the internet for Morgan's Ohio Raid.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2017. This page originally submitted on November 24, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 103 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 24, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
Copyright © 2006–2019, Some rights reserved. — RSS Feed — Privacy Policy — Terms of Use — About Us — Contact Us
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The Future of Homeschooling
By Dr. Arthur Robinson
The demise of government schools and how that affects homeschooling.
Homeschooling has always been a part of the great American experiment with human freedom. Early Americans learned primarily within their homes or in very small schools formed by neighboring families. Due to the rigors of life in that era, parents had little time apart from work, so pre-university education was often largely self-taught. Most students who continued their educations attended universities which were entirely funded by voluntary private means, usually as Christian institutions. These generations of Americans built all of the underlying institutions of freedom of the United States and most of its scientific and technological base.
A Taxing Problem
The rise of socialism and the concomitant reduction of freedom in America during the past century, however, has brought with it the phenomenon of large government schools that are financed by forced taxation. Huge sums of money (now about $5,375 per student per year) are seized from American citizens by force or threat of force (usually the threat of confiscation of homes and other property) in order to finance these schools and the literal army of more than two million bureaucrats and teachers who inhabit them.
The current cost of homeschooling now averages $546 per student per year - about one-tenth the cost of government schooling. Yet even this cost is difficult for many overtaxed American families. With taxes and regulations consuming over half of the earnings of the average family, both parents are often required to work for wages, leaving the family without a homemaker who can serve as teacher to the homeschool.
The Decline of American Education
During their initial decades (without considering their entirely wrongful dependence upon outright theft of private property), government schools were moderately effective. The momentum generated by quality private education within a nation of people with Christian moral principles carried forward into the government schools. As is usually the case when a socialist government takes over a private enterprise, the enterprise continued successfully for a while until the government ruined it.
The demise of government schools in the United States is nearly complete. These schools are now moral sewers that actively oppose most Christian principles. Academically they have sunk to remarkably low levels. These socialist institutions have even invented a whole class of new (nonexistent) learning "diseases." More than five million uncooperative students have been "diagnosed" with these diseases and are then given mind-altering drugs. These schools cannot be saved. The only sensible question is how much longer these institutions of nationalized child-abuse will be allowed to continue operating. Most children who manage to rise above their peers in government or private schools do so by self-learning. They create intellectual islands within themselves, and mentally isolate themselves from the chaos around them.
As parents have become aware of these terrible conditions, they are turning to homeschooling in record numbers. Homeschooling strengthens the family by keeping it together throughout each day, permits the teaching of decent and correct moral and religious principles, and provides an opportunity for academic progress consistent with each individual child's perseverance and ability.
The New Revolution
Fortunately, the revolution in computer costs is occurring simultaneously with the new rise of homeschooling. Researchers have used computers since the 1960s, but computer capabilities that formerly cost millions of dollars now cost only about one thousand dollars. Consequently, 34 percent of American families and over 85 percent of homeschool families now have home computers.
Since these machines permit information transfer at a very low cost, especially by CD-ROM, the price of homeschooling is presently dropping to as little as $100 per student per year (aside from the initial purchase of a single computer available to each family). I expect that, within ten years, the price of computerized teaching materials for homeschooling could drop to as little as $10 per student per year up to age 18, and that homeschooled, fully-accredited university educations will become available at a cost of about $500 per student per year, or about $2,000 for a four-year bachelors degree.
As tax-financed education dies, private schools and homeschools are taking its place. American families, and therefore America itself, will greatly benefit if homeschools eventually dominate over private schools. The technology to facilitate this is here, but there are two additional factors that, in my opinion, will decide this issue.
First, will the homeschool movement succeed in growing away from the mediocre academic standards that have been set by government schools? There is a widespread demand for curricula that are "easy and fun." Government schools have met this demand by lowering academic standards. Sadly, many homeschool curricula are still keyed to the "grade" levels of government schools - for the same reason. Easy and fun curricula sell too well to parents and children who have become intellectually lazy. This academic link between the faded standards of government and the academic standards that American children need to excel in the modern world must be broken. If it is not, elite private schools and the high costs associated with them will prevail.
Second, will the homeschool movement realize that learning is an individual activity that, at least until the age of 18, requires very little intervention? The academic growth of a student is not a toy for parental self-satisfaction. It is a completely personal activity that takes place between the student and the books. Parents need only to provide their children with high-quality educational materials, a good study environment, and excellent study habits. Anything or anyone who gets between the student and the books diminishes this activity.
Children learn their faith, morals, ethics, behavior, work habits, and most other important things by example. The examples homeschooled children follow can be closely controlled by their parents. (This is one major disadvantage of even private schools. The examples there are primarily from an undisciplined mob of other immature children.) Children learn academic subjects, however, by self-study.
The keys to expanding homeschooling to include most American children (rather than a fortunate few) are self-learning with non-teacher-based curricula, high academic standards, and an understanding of the importance of disciplined study habits and a good study environment. These keys can unlock wonderful lives for hundreds of millions of American children and can assure a great future for our country. We must provide these keys.
Articles by Dr. Arthur Robinson
"My Children Teach Themselves"
Build Confidence Through Independent Learning
Learning to Think Scientifically
College Preparation in the Homeschool
Science Taken Seriously
Must Differences Be Compulsory?
Government As It Ought To Be Taught
Setting an Example
21st Century Kids Need Real Skills
How to Raise a Thinker
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Russia's President Vladimir Putin speaks during an awarding ceremony in the Kremlin in Moscow, on July 31, 2014. (MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/AFP/Getty Images)
Putin’s Propaganda Highlights Need for Public Diplomacy
Martha Bayles
OVER THE last six months, the Russian propaganda machine has pursued a two-pronged strategy toward its domestic audience. The first prong, used to justify Russia’s takeover of Crimea, is a replay of what Hitler called the “Big Lie” — a false historical narrative in which the pro-democracy forces in Ukraine are portrayed as US-backed fascists out to commit genocide against ethnic Russians. Repeat a story often enough, the idea goes, and a majority of the population will come to accept it.
The second prong, adopted after the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, might be called the Big Confusion. Faced with an event that threatens your Big Lie, start a disinformation campaign. Fill the domestic airwaves with so many bizarre rumors, conspiracy theories, and paranoid fantasies that a cynical public stops caring what really happened.
Russia’s propaganda effort also has a global dimension. In the last few years, the Kremlin has launched a slick, fast-paced satellite TV channel, Russia Today (RT), which pays top salaries to British and American broadcast journalists willing to repeat the same messages in English. A surprising number of viewers are tuning in.
How should the US government respond? Should it fight fire with fire, bombarding Russia and Ukraine with counter-propaganda? Or should it do what comes naturally to a democratic society with freedom of speech and the press — gather the facts, articulate the values at stake, and disseminate both as forcefully as possible, even if some aspects of the story do not reflect well on the United States.
This second option has a name: public diplomacy. The term was coined in 1965 as a meaningful alternative to propaganda, which acquired a bad odor as early as World War I, when the British and American governments fabricated reports of atrocities committed by the “evil Hun.” By the 1930s, both governments realized how much damage their hate propaganda had done. Not only did it inspire Hitler (as did Soviet propaganda), but it also fostered incredulity toward early reports of Nazi atrocities, based on the assumption that those reports, too, were fabricated.
So during World War II and the Cold War, both Britain and America took the relative high road, when communicating with foreign populations, of refusing to spread blatant lies and disinformation. Compared with the aggressive propaganda of the Third Reich and the Soviet Communist Party, this approach was decidedly asymmetrical. But it worked.
Public diplomacy, sadly, was an early casualty of the post–Cold War era. In the early 1990s, America’s mood was “triumphalist” — meaning not “triumphant” but something more like “full of it.” Not only did Americans declare ourselves the indispensable nation, but we also stopped practicing public diplomacy. Congress slashed funding by one-third. In 1999 the US Information Agency, which had coordinated public diplomacy since 1953, was dismantled.
There are still great public diplomats out there. For example, during the US occupation of Iraq, when American troops faced a fierce insurgency, a foreign-service officer named Alberto Fernandez stepped into the communications vacuum. A fluent Arabic speaker, Fernandez made over 500 appearances on Al-Jazeera, Al-Arabiya, and other Arab TV channels, allowing himself to be grilled by celebrity hosts and enraged callers alike. In the opinion of Arab media expert Marc Lynch, this “one-man show” was effective because, instead of a “grim diplomat reading from a script,” it consisted of a flesh-and-blood individual “willing to argue, to get angry, to make jokes — in short, to offer a real human face.”
In 2006, the domestic US media erupted over a comment that Fernandez made on Al-Jazeera: “We tried to do our best, but I think there is much room for criticism because, undoubtedly, there was arrogance and there was stupidity from the United States in Iraq.” Red-state pundits pounced on the comment, which Fernandez quickly retracted. But it was part of a longer statement intended to reach out to Sunni insurgents opposed to Al Qaeda, a strategy that eventually led to the cessation of violence known as the Sunni Awakening. Clearly, public diplomacy performed at this level is a high-wire act, fraught with risk not only from enemies overseas but also from attention-seeking politicos at home. But sometimes a high wire is the only possible path across an abyss of distrust.
Truth-telling is not an easy principle for any government to follow, but not every government lies to the same extent. If this were true, then Americans and Europeans would not be outraged over the alleged removal of evidence from the Flight 17 crash scene in eastern Ukraine. Free societies accept that there is such a thing as objective truth — and that the facts speak for themselves. But facts cannot speak, only people can. Russian President Vladimir Putin has crushed the development of institutions that respect the difference between fact and fiction. And after a century of intelligence-insulting propaganda, the Russian people have been conditioned to roll their eyes at claims of objectivity.
Americans are more trusting. But lately, some — particularly on the left — have become disillusioned enough to think that America’s way of communicating with the world is no different from Moscow’s. On the right there is more support for America’s claims to the truth, but that may not translate into support for a more robust public diplomacy. Many libertarians do not consider it the government’s responsibility to communicate US interests, intentions, and ideals to a turbulent and skeptical world. Instead, they assume that the job is best left to the private sector, including commercial news, Hollywood, and Internet companies.
Indeed, Americans across the political spectrum remain sufficiently enamored of Facebook, Twitter, and other social media to believe that the best response to authoritarian propaganda is to help the whole world gain access to the Internet. Unfortunately, authoritarian regimes, notably China’s, show growing expertise at using the same technology to censor free speech and glut online forums with propaganda camouflaged as private opinion.
No effort to deal with these challenges can succeed without a new cohort of public diplomats able to communicate with foreign publics in their own languages, as well as field the inevitable questions and take the inevitable flak with humanity, humor, and grace. This is best done in a live setting, but to reach large populations it is necessary to use whatever media platforms are prevalent in a given region. This is what VOA and other government-sponsored broadcasters do well. Just to cite one example, the most popular international radio channel in Cambodia, the Khmer-language service of Radio Free Asia, uses Internet and FM in Phnom Penh but shortwave in the countryside.
As for Russia and Ukraine, both are still in the orbit of Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty (RFE-RL), the Cold War channels that relocated to Prague in 1995 and now communicate in 28 languages with 21 countries, including all the Central Asian republics, Iran, Afghanistan, and Iraq. These channels are needed because — unlike the Arab media, which are relatively free because they are owned by competing governments and serve a 24-nation market — most of the world’s media are becoming more censored, not less.
Unfortunately, international broadcasting has suffered the same neglect as public diplomacy more generally. Poorly governed and chronically underfunded, RFE-RL has struggled to penetrate the vast Russian market. The same poor governance is also responsible for the dearth of US communication with Russian speakers in adjacent countries, notably Ukraine. There is now a rush to fill this vacuum, but without the long-term trust built up by a steady, reliable presence, any new effort is bound to be dismissed as — you guessed it — propaganda.
To turn this situation around, Americans need to do two things. First, we need to find some common ground when communicating with the other 95 percent of humanity. This can’t wait until we resolve our cultural and political differences, because those differences will never be resolved. But this is precisely the point. America’s most important message is that it is possible to build institutions that, by recognizing the inevitability of disagreements, make it possible for people to live together in spite of them.
Second, Americans must reckon honestly with public diplomacy’s essential function, which is to further the nation’s agenda as forcefully as possible without engaging in propaganda. This is nothing to apologize for. Public diplomacy emerges from a unique tradition of truth-based persuasion, rooted in constitutionally protected freedoms of speech, press, and debate. When this tradition is upheld, it highlights the difference between democratic and authoritarian regimes. When it is neglected, the difference becomes blurred. And that is a very great danger.
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17/02/2016 8:21 AM IST | Updated 15/07/2016 8:26 AM IST
JNU Row: Why The Govt Was Absolutely Right To Press Sedition Charges
I have studied at institutions like St Stephen's and Cornell University and I am a strong votary of free speech and voices of dissent. But in the case of the JNU students glorifying terrorists like Afzal Guru, Maqbool Butt and Yakub Memon, I think that the State action has been just, proportionate and balanced. Here's why.
Abhinav Pandya Graduate in Public Policy from Cornell University
Hindustan Times via Getty Images
NEW DELHI, INDIA - SEPTEMBER 13: (L-R) AISA`s candidates Shehla Rashid Shora, Vice President, Rama Naga, General Secretary and AISFs Kanhaiya Kumar elected as President, pose during a photo call, at Jawaharlal Nehru University, on September 13, 2015 in New Delhi, India. RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) won a seat in Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) polls after 14 years. ABVP outshone its opponents by huge margins and swept the Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) elections this year despite predictions of a tough four-corner fight. (Photo by Sanjeev Verma/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)
Large sections of the nation are boiling with rage over the shameless glorification of terrorists like Afzal Guru, Maqbool Butt and Yakub Memon by JNU students. This anger might be termed as yet another example of "intolerance" emanating from the perceived supernatural powers of Modi.
However, let me say outright that I, and many others in India, will always be "intolerant" of people who are against the sovereignty of our nation and who are out to destroy the idea of India. I have studied at institutions like St Stephen's and Cornell University and I am a strong votary of free speech and voices of dissent. But in this case, I think that the State's action of pressing sedition charges has been just, proportionate and balanced.
The protests were seditious
Firstly, this act fulfils all the criteria of sedition laid down in Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code. When you say "Bharat ki barbadi" or "India, go back", it certainly means territorial disintegration of India and this is how the common people of India will perceive it no matter how much one tries to defend it in the name of free speech.
JNU students and the assortment of left wingers in India call their PM a mass murderer, while killers like Afzal Guru are hailed as martyrs...
Slogans espousing the dreams and aspirations of terrorists like Maqbool Butt, Afzal Guru and Yakub Memon can hardly be seen as an expression of revolutionary Marxist ideals. This is like supporting people who morally, intellectually and logistically and ideologically supported the carnage of 26/11 in Mumbai, the hijack of IC-814, the Pathankot attacks and a series of bomb blasts that have occurred across the country killing thousands of innocent people. JNU students and the assortment of left wingers in India call their PM a mass murderer in the blink of an eye, an allegation which has not held in the highest courts of India, while killers like Yakub Memon, Maqbool Butt and Afzal Guru who were found guilty of acts of terrorism after fair and honest judicial trials are still hailed as martyrs, killed in the most ruthless manner by India. What is this if not an insult to our armed forces and the real martyrs who lay down their lives for the country?
Secondly, the slogans were provocative and a blatant incitement to violence. One cannot expect the citizens of India to sit silent over slogans which openly invoked support for the destruction of their nation. By any standards, this event, the sloganeering and the causes espoused are highly inflammatory. They are as provocative as the communal speeches of Praveen Togadia and the Owaisi brothers. When Kamlesh Tiwari could be booked under NSA for his distasteful remarks against the Prophet Mohammed, then why is it so unthinkable to arrest Kanhaiya Kumar, who led the JNU protest? I think it is a fair legal action. Just because one comes from JNU, on does not deserve any special treatment.
Abusing the right to free speech
Freedom of expression is not an absolute right. Under Article 19 (2), it is subject to reasonable restrictions in the interest of public order and sovereignty and integrity of India. Secondly, there is a difference between the use and the abuseof the right to free speech. When you express support for terrorists who attacked India's sovereignty, and when such an expression deeply wounds the sentiments, beliefs and feelings of the majority of India's then, yes, I think it constitutes the abuse of the right to free speech.
One cannot expect the citizens of India to sit silent over slogans which openly invoked support for the destruction of their nation.
Defending the indefensible
Those defending the outrage perpetrated at JNU summon the names of Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh as justification. That is absurd and little more than a display of low intellectual acumen and poor moral fibre, but still I will try to clear their doubts. First of all, when you want "Bharat ki barbadi" you basically want the destruction of secular, liberal and democratic India, and by doing this, you are inflicting the most outrageous insult to Mahatma Gandhi and Bhagat Singh who sacrificed their lives to establish said secular and democratic India. Further, they were fighting against a colonial power which had curbed all kinds of freedom and illegally occupied India against all principles of justice. It is not the case anymore. If one has objections with the nature of the judicial trial of Maqbool Butt, Yakub Memon and Afzal Guru, then they can be raised in a parliamentary manner. There is no need to bay for India's destruction to register your protest.
Another disheartening development is the support to the protestors provided by certain politicians - this is an example of political chicanery and spin-doctoring at their best. But this is not an occasion to spew your hatred for Hindutva and Modi. There are certain things which brook no compromise and the sovereignty of India is one such thing. These politicians are starting a very dangerous trend by crossing the "Rubicon lines". There are a plethora of divisive forces already existing in India and several religious and ethnic groups have their own share of grievances against the state. If every grievance becomes an occasion for separatist sloganeering then the very idea of India and its sovereignty are under threat.
Such actions on the part of the left is the perfect fuel for those promoting xenophobia.
A history of hypocrisy
Often, I have found the "intellectual giants" of JNU to be awfully averse to logic, wisdom, conscience and common sense. The woes of the Baluch people and Kashmiri Pandits have never appealed to the bleeding heart liberals of JNU. When Baba Ramdev was brutally beaten along with his peaceful anti-corruption protestors there was no one from JNU to protest. Students of the hallowed institution celebrated the death of 76 CRPF men in Dantewada, but somehow the Islamic extremism in Malda and Purnea didn't bother them in the slightest. I fail to understand the reason for this selective outrage. What is it that drives them to support jihadi terrorists?
A favour to Hindutva extremists
Whatever the reason for such hatred and insanity, it is clear that they are feeding right into the designs of Hindutva extremists. Such actions on the part of the left are the perfect fuel for those promoting xenophobia. In this age of social media, such gimmicks spread very fast and the ripple-effects can be humongous. It does not bode well for the future of India. It is high time that universities like JNU which provide a major supply of civil servants and academicians to India are prevented from becoming the centres of anti-nationalism. The elements that masquerade as ideological stalwarts behind the shield of politically correct causes, and may well be actually working for vested interests, must be checked through recourse to intellectual and legal means.
Contact HuffPost India
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By Mark Baker
The economy is heading for the rocks, big time. After 1 October 2015, a sovereign debt crisis will occur, heralding a period of global upheaval to rival the era of the French Revolution. According, that is, to financial forecaster Martin Armstrong. Should we take this prediction seriously? Well, so far Armstrong's predictions have been startlingly accurate.
He predicted both the stock market crash of '87 and the record recovery of '89, for example – pretty much to the day. Then, in 1999, the FBI raided his offices, he was arrested on charges of running a Ponzi scheme and jailed for 7 years without trial. "I was making three films about the financial crisis back then", director Marcus Vetter (pictured on the right) says of the genesis of The Forecaster, his portrayal of Armstrong that world premieres in IDFA's feature-length competition.
"I wanted to interview Martin Armstrong for one of these in 2000. But then he was imprisoned. Some years later, I began to read his blogs. I tried to interview him in prison in 2008, but I couldn't get access. When he came out, I went to attend a seminar he was holding, saw all these people attending from all over the world and thought, this is a subject for a film in itself."
The Forecaster is much more than a portrait of Armstrong, however. "Basically, the film is about the debt," Vetter says. "Nobody understands this – how can it be that normal people can't continue in debt but governments can? Martin Armstrong had the answer. Governments just don't care. With the film, I want to provoke a discussion about this – how governments are just indebting themselves and passing it all on to the next generations."
So how reliable are Armstrong's predictions – for example about the impending crash in 2015? "The fact that he was in prison means everyone has some doubts about him," the director says. "He was a billionaire and the government accused him of running a Ponzi scheme. People think he must have done something wrong. But I actually read 2,000 pages of court transcripts – everything – and I saw what happened. It's very clear that he was a victim and not a perpetrator. The government basically accused him of what they are doing."
Photo: Felix Kalkman
Marcus Vetter
Marcus Vetter on The Forecaster
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Netanyahu: If support for Israel among Democrats decreases, it concerns us
The Prime Minister also stressed that Israel should be in charge of security in the West Bank in any future agreement with the Palestinians.
By OMRI NAHMIAS
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the Knesset ahead of the vote on whether it will disperse, May 29. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
WASHINGTON - Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said there is no significant gap in partisan support for Israel.
In a conversation with American Jewish Committee CEO David Harris that took place May 10 and was aired during the AJC Global Forum, the organization’s annual policy and advocacy conference in Washington, Netanyahu said: “I don’t think there’s a big difference between the Democratic Party and the Republican Party as I have known it over the years on these issues.”
Speaking of the Democratic Party specifically, he said: “The people that I know there are staunch supporters of Israel, and I hope it will remain the same. If it changes that obviously will concern us. I think it should concern everyone.”
The prime minister stressed that Israel should be in charge of security in the West Bank in any future agreement with the Palestinians. “It’s about 40 miles at its widest point, about the size of the Beltway of Washington, DC,” he said.
Israeli Ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, also addressed the wide gap between Republicans and Democrats in support of Israel. “There is a 40-year gap of support between Republicans and Democrats on Israel,” he said during a conversation on stage with Harris.
“The gap has grown from about 20% to 30% in the first two decades to about 45% today. Right now, the gap is not at an all-time high. The all-time high happened in 1991 during the first Gulf War. Most of the increase in the gap is not coming from a decline in support among Democrats. It’s coming from an atmospheric rise in support among Republicans for Israel,” he said.
Speaking about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Dermer criticized the way the media covers Israel, specifically The New York Times. “I think the Times has done a good job in demonizing Israel week after week after week after. I think it’s a serious problem. When that cartoon was published about a month ago, and The New York Times wrote, ‘Hey, only one person saw it. And so it slipped through the cracks.’
And then there was an editorial the next day that was the best editorial probably written in The New York Times for 20 years, which is another very low bar. They said the Times has always been a stalwart supporter of Israel. Really? Really?
“When you demonize Israel, when you take all of these marginal phenomena in our society, and you put them on the front page, it starts affecting people’s view,” Dermer continued. “And that’s a decision of editors. Some editors there decided during the [Iran] nuclear deal debate to highlight in yellow the Jewish members of Congress who had decided to oppose the nuclear deal with Iran. How many editors saw that? Was that one person who was on the night desk? There is an attempt and a consistent effort to demonize the Jewish state.
And what disturbs me, and this is important for how it affects the broader American society, people who demonize the Jewish state – to believe that that’s not going to lead also to the spread of antisemitism. They’re kidding themselves.”
Dermer added: “That’s a paper that editorializes and calls on political leaders to be careful with their rhetoric because even if not directly, you’re contributing to a climate where bad things can happen. Well, they should look in the mirror. That New York Times editorial board should look in the mirror and say, have you contributed to a climate that is demonizing the Jewish state and thereby the Jewish people?”
Elan Carr, special envoy for monitoring and combating antisemitism, said during the morning plenary session that one of the biggest challenges in fighting antisemitism is school textbooks. “If there’s an organized institutional indoctrination of antisemitic hatred in kids that is something that we have to combat and end immediately. Because once you do that, it becomes almost impossible to undo the damage.
“This is something we see a great deal in the Middle East, and I’m not talking about Iran. I’m talking about even our allies that are indoctrinating kids in an antisemitic way,” he added.
When asked which countries are educating their children in an antisemitic way, he said: “I don’t want to start naming countries. But there are textbooks in countries, including our allies, that are appalling. And that is something that’s got to stop because it’s very important to remember what happens in the Middle East doesn’t stay in the Middle East. What happens in the Middle East directly affects the European street and the American college campus. And so, textbooks are a key issue.”
Carr also said that there is strong cooperation between the Trump administration and European countries in fighting antisemitism. Speaking about his last visit in three European countries, Carr said: “One country complied with a specific request I made. They dropped a piece of legislation. It wasn’t a small [thing to ask]. It was a piece of legislation that was about to be introduced. The country dropped that piece of legislation. That was one of the things I requested. We’re getting work done. We have a lot to do, but I’m actually optimistic.”
ron dermer
By NERIA BARR
By JOSHUA HALICKMAN
Grapevine: Uncertain election
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1718 East 7th Ave # 201
Free ConsultationNursing Home, Criminal, DUI and Personal Injury
Vincent R. Pawlowski is an exceptional client advocate with more than 20 years experience in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death litigation, automobile accidents and injuries, workers compensation, criminal defense, DUI/DWI, drug crimes, sex crimes, professional sports law, sports agency and sports contracts. A native of Morris, Minnesota, he is a graduate of the University of Dallas (B.A., 1985) and the University of Mississippi (J.D., 1987). He is admitted to practice in all Florida State courts, the U.S. District Courts for the Middle and Southern Districts of Florida and in Texas. Mr. Pawlowski is President of...
Amir Ghaeenzadeh
Tampa, FL Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer with 5 years experience
(813) 482-1239 100 S Ashley Drive
Nursing Home, Business, Elder and Personal Injury
Sumeet Kaul
(813) 223-5505 201 N. Franklin Street 7th Floor
Nursing Home and Personal Injury
Richard Rocha
(813) 871-6611 2708 W Kennedy Blvd
Kimberley Michele Kohn
Kim started off her career as an Assistant Public Defender in Tampa. Since 1999 Kim has been focused on bringing justice to those harmed by others. She represents clients victimized by other individuals, unscrupulous insurance companies, institutions, and Nursing Homes.
Kim litigates cases involving:
Assisted Living abuse/neglect
Kim is Licensed to Practice in:
U.S. District Court, Middle District-Florida
U.S. District Court, Northern District-Florida
U.S. District Court, Southern District-Florida
Manuel Vincent Fajardo Jr
(813) 259-9902 610 W Azeele St
Nursing Home, Criminal, Divorce and Family
Mercer Univ-W.George L.S
Damian Mallard
Sarasota, FL Nursing Home Abuse Attorney with 28 years experience
(888) 409-3805 889 N. Washington Blvd
With over 20 years of experience, Sarasota injury lawyer Damian Mallard has won several million dollar and multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for his clients and is Board Certified in civil trial law, an accomplishment achieved by less than 2% of attorneys in Florida. Along with his wife, Sara Mallard, and Michael Murphy, the team of personal injury attorneys at the Mallard Law Firm serves as advocates for injury victims throughout Florida and offers free case evaluations.
James Keim
Sarasota, FL Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer with 22 years experience
(844) 485-7600 6151 Lake Osprey Drive
Free ConsultationNursing Home
Sarasota, Venice, Bradenton Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer James E. Keim: Over 20 years of experience holding nursing home and assisted living corporations accountable for neglecting and abusing the elderly in Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and Lee Counties. Call Toll Free: (844) 485-7600
Home, hospital, nursing home, assisted living facility and office consultations available by appointment. Serving Sarasota, Venice, Bradenton, Englewood, North Port, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and surrounding communities.
Call (844) 485-7600 or (941) 485-7600 for a free, confidential consultation. All cases are handled on a contingency fee and cost basis: This means there are no fees or...
Matthew Erjavec
Bradenton, FL Nursing Home Abuse Attorney with 12 years experience
(941) 907-1133 4501 Manatee Avenue West
Free ConsultationNursing Home, Insurance Claims, Personal Injury and Products Liability
Matthew Erjavec is an experienced Florida personal injury lawyer dedicated to helping those who have been inured as a result of a car accident, motorcycle accident, trucking accident, slip and fall, medical device, or defective product. A native of Clearwater, Florida, Matt attended Clearwater High School before completing his undergraduate studies at Florida State University. Matt attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law where he earned his Juris Doctorate. During law school, Matt gained valuable experience while working at the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General as well as the Office of the State Attorney for...
Christopher C Lancaster
Chris Lancaster graduated the Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan, concentrating in Litigation. At the end of his educational career he completed a 14-week externship at the Clearwater Public Defender's office. He then began his legal career in Clearwater, Florida at Public Defender's Office for the 6th Judicial Circuit as an Assistant Public Defender, and in 2010 had the most first-chair jury trials in his office. Since then he has had experience as a defense attorney specializing in litigation of nursing home actions, professional liability and general liability cases.
Steven George Lavely
Bradenton, FL Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer with 34 years experience
(941) 747-7994 527 Manatee Ave. East
Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer. Considered an expert or Specialist in Civil Trial Law. Less than 2% can claim this distinction. I am honored to be one of the less that 5% of Florida Lawyers named a Florida Super Lawyer. I am rated the highest possible rating on AVVO; a ten out of ten. I am also a proud member of the top 100 trial lawyers in America. I am very proud of these honors as they're either achieved from advanced testing by independent agencies or peer...
Johnnie Byrd
Plant City, FL Nursing Home Abuse Lawyer with 43 years experience
(813) 759-1224 206 N Collins St
Free ConsultationNursing Home, Criminal, Divorce and Personal Injury
University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa
I have been helping clients receive compensation for personal injuries and representing clients in family law matters for over thirty years.
Marc A. Falco
Free ConsultationNursing Home, Animal, Personal Injury and Products Liability
Marc Falco has 27 years of experience practicing personal injury trial law on the west coast of Florida. He practices in all State Courts, Middle District of Florida Federal Court and the State Supreme Court. He has collected multiple million dollar awards for his clients. He is also a motorcycle enthusiast who is regarded as one of the premier motorcycle accident lawyers on the west coast of Florida.
Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Nearby Cities
Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers in Nearby Counties
Use Justia to research and compare Pinellas Park attorneys so that you can make an informed decision when you hire your counsel.
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Adjustments to 2014 Farm Bill Act
Adjustments to 2014 Farm Bill…
CannabisRegulation
Hemp Proliferation! Adjustments to 2014 Farm Bill Act
The federal act that initially spun up the movement within the hemp agricultural world was the Farm Bill Act of 2014. This year, on the 21st of June, certain adjustments were made to the Farm Bill Act. The modifications affect several different agricultural sectors such as cotton, wool, grain, sugar, and dairy. So of course, among those, the new adjustments affect hemp agriculture as well.
Sec. 7125 Supplemental and Alternative Crops; Hemp
“Reauthorizes a research project for supplemental and alternative crops including canola and hemp.”
This is merely the authorization to continue growing hemp specifically for research projects. This was authorized originally in the Farm Bill Act of 2014.
Sec. 7401 Critical Agricultural Materials Act
“Reauthorizes the Critical Agricultural Materials Act, and includes hemp as an eligible product.”
This amendment authorizes hemp as a critical agricultural material (CAM). The purpose of this act is as follows: “The authority for this program is under Section 5(d) of the Critical Agricultural Materials Act (7 U.S.C. 178), as amended (Pub. L. 95-592) to develop and demonstrate industrial polymers that are manufactured from domestically produced agricultural materials and are of strategic and industrial importance to benefit the economy, defense and general well-being of the Nation. Many such products replace petrochemical-based products, and offer opportunities to create new businesses and new markets for agricultural materials.”
Sec. 7415 Legitimacy of Industrial Hemp Research
“Requires the Secretary to conduct a study and report on the economic viability of the domestic production and sale of industrial hemp.”
Section 7415 essentially defines what a pilot program is and how it applies to hemp agriculture, what industrial hemp is, and what the term “state department of agriculture” means. The addition to this section requires the Secretary to conduct a study independent of the research from universities and farmers to prove the legitimacy of hemp cultivation and hemp commerce.
Sec. 10111 Hemp Production
“Amends the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to allow states to regulate hemp growth and production, based on a state or tribal plan that includes information on locations of hemp production, testing for THC concentration, disposal of plants that are out of compliance, and negligence or other violations of the state or tribal plan. Requires states and tribes without USDA approved plans to follow federal laws and regulations promulgated by USDA on hemp production.”
The Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 made it “the policy of Congress” to find scientific methods of streamlining commerce and trade of agriculture. The amendment as mentioned earlier allows for this process to be handled by state government specifically with regards to hemp. The stipulation is that if the state doesn’t get USDA approval, then the hemp program(s) in the said state will still have congressional oversight.
Sec. 10112 Rule of Construction
“Clarifies that nothing in this title authorizes interference with the interstate commerce of hemp.”
This portion is pretty straightforward. It is simply iterating that there was and is nothing in the original Farm Bill Act that allows for the interference of state to state transportation of hemp for commerce means. This means that neither state nor the federal government can halt legal transit of hemp between states.
Sec. 11101 Definitions
“Defines cover crop termination and defines hemp as used in section 297A of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946.”
The definition of hemp was implemented into the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. It is defined as follows: “The term ‘hemp’ means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.”
Sec. 11106 Insurance period
“Amends section 508(a)(2) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act by adding hemp.”
This section of the Federal Crop Insurance Act states, “Except in the cases of tobacco, potatoes, and sweet potatoes [and hemp], insurance shall not extend beyond the period during which the insured commodity is in the field.” This is important because it means that insurers backing hemp will continue to ensure even after the product has been harvested.
Sec. 11112 Submission of policies and materials to the board.
“Amends section 508(h) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act to allow the Corporation to waive the viability and marketability requirement in the case of a policy or pilot program relating to the production of hemp.”
The section referenced here states this: “A complete 508(h) submission must be a viable and marketable insurance product that protects the interests of producers, is actuarially appropriate, and ensures program integrity.”
This essentially means that those stipulations which require an insurance product to have a certain level of viability and marketability are not applied to the production of hemp when said hemp is derived from either a policy or pilot program.
Sec. 11120 Agricultural commodity
“Amends section 518 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act by adding hemp.”
There is a term used called “agricultural commodity” to describe specific products that are achieved via agricultural processes. Hemp was added to this list.
Sec. 11121 Reimbursement of research, development, and maintenance costs
“Amends section 522(b) of the Federal Crop Insurance Act to allow the Board and Corporation to waive the viability and marketability requirements in the case of research and development relating to a policy to ensure the production of hemp.”
This amendment ties directly into the amendment above which references section 508(b). An eligible applicant of 508(b) has the ability to be reimbursed by the entity which governs this sector (named the “Corporation”) for research and development relating to a hemp insurance policy.
Work Cited
“7 U.S. Code § 1522 – Research and Development.” LII / Legal Information Institute, 2008,
www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/7/1522.
“7 U.S. Code § 1518 – ‘Agricultural Commodity’ Defined.” LII / Legal Information Institute, 2008,
“7 CFR 400.705 – Contents for New and Changed 508(h) Submissions, Concept Proposals, and
Index-Based Weather Plans of Insurance.” LII / Legal Information Institute, 2018, www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/7/400.705.
“7 U.S. Code § 1508 – Crop Insurance.” LII / Legal Information Institute, 18 June 2008,
“To Amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to Provide for State and Tribal Regulation of Hemp
Production, and for Other Purposes.” Hempsupporter.com, 10 Apr. 2018, hempsupporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/COMER_011_xml.pdf.
“Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946.” Ams.usda.gov, 14 Aug. 1946,
www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/Agricultural_Marketing_Act_Of_1946%5B1%5D.pdf.
“7 U.S. Code § 5940 – Legitimacy of Industrial Hemp Research.” LII / Legal Information Institute, 2014,
“Critical Agricultural Materials.” Nifa.usda.gov, US Department of Agriculture, 2014,
nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/rfa/14_CAM.pdf.
“Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018: Section by Section.” Agriculture.senate.gov,
www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Section-by-sections%20(Committee
%20Print).pdf.
Category: Cannabis, Regulation July 5, 2018 1 Comment
Author: elijah
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Cannabis and the Endocannabinoid System
prom-electric.ru says:
CBD Inhalers
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Las Vegas personal injury lawyer arrested on at least 39 theft counts, $1.8 million taken
Police looking for more potential victims
By: Katherine Jarvis, Mahsa Saeidi
<p>Matthew Dunkley is a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who was arrested in December 2018 for allegedly stealing from his clients.</p>
A Las Vegas personal injury lawyer has been arrested in a theft case stretching back years.
Beginning in March, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department detectives began to receive reports from multiple victims regarding a local personal injury lawyer. Victims that have to this date filed police reports, all allege that their personal injury attorney, later identified as 53-year-old Matthew Dunkley, misappropriated financial settlements the victims were to receive as a result of their cases in which Dunkley represented them.
The reports indicated that Dunkley, in addition to misappropriating the settlements to the victims, also took money from the insurance companies that were intended to cover the victims’ medical bills. The victims never received their settlements and are now being held personally responsible for the unpaid medical bills.
On Monday, Dunkley was located by detectives with the LVMPD Major Violators Section Repeat Offender Program and taken into custody. He was transported to the Clark County Detention Center where he faces at least 39 counts of theft.
As of his arrest, detectives believe approximately $1.8 million was taken from victims.
Detectives are asking any additional clients of Dunkley Law who may be awaiting settlements and were victimized by this scheme, to contact the LVMPD Theft Crimes Bureau at 702-828-3483.
Clear Counsel Law Group has assumed some of the cases, but these clients may still have been victimized by Dunkley.
In 2017, the Nevada bar asked Clear Counsel to assist Mr. Dunkley's former clients with open legal matters. Clear Counsel Law Group has no other relationship with Mr. Dunkley.
Many of these cases were from personal injury cases that had occurred as far back as 2012, and one of the incidents involved a 5-year-old child who had been the victim of a dog attack. These victims also filed complaints with the State Bar of Nevada.
According to the website of the State Bar of Nevada, Dunkley was suspended from practicing law in October of 2017.
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Dracula: Now a Major Movie (Paperback)
By Bram Stoker
Email or call for price.
When Count Dracula departs Transylvania on a Russian ship, crew members begin to mysteriously disappear. After the ship docks, and more people are attacked, rumours of a monster quickly spread. When Abraham Van Helsing is asked to intervene, Dracula meets his match. On his quest to find Dracula, Van Helsing is forced to hunt newly made vampires, using a cross, garlic, and a wooden steak as weapons. But tracking down Dracula will prove to be harder, and more dangerous that Van Helsing could have ever imagined. Bram Stoker named Count Dracula after the 15th century Romanian king, Vlad III. His father, Vlad II was given the surname Dracul in 1431 after being inducted into the Order of the Dragon. Dracula literally means 'Son of Dracul'. Vlad III was also know as Vlad the Impaler for killing nearly 100,000 people with wooden stakes. In the novel, Stoker twice alludes to Count Dracula being the very same Vlad III of Romania.
Publisher: Engage Books
Horror - General
Fantasy - Dark Fantasy
Paperback (September 17th, 2015): $11.49
Paperback (December 2nd, 2014): $11.79
Paperback (December 3rd, 2014): $12.64
Paperback (June 13th, 2013): $20.64
Paperback (August 9th, 2010): $41.94
Paperback (April 7th, 2015): $20.70
Paperback (Spanish) (October 29th, 2011): $19.49
Paperback (October 19th, 2015): $20.18
Paperback (Spanish) (June 13th, 2013): $25.30
Paperback (April 28th, 2015): $8.61
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Harley-Davidson's electric Hog: 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds
Harley-Davidson is releasing details about the electric motorcycle it's rolling out this year that it hopes will capture the imagination of a new generation of riders and put a charge into its diminishing sales.
The LiveWire, which will soon be available in a limited number of dealerships, will cost nearly $30,000 and can go zero to 60 mph in three seconds. There is no clutch and no shifting.
The company said Thursday that buyers will have access to free charging at participating LiveWire dealers for the first two years.
The Milwaukee motorcycle company has struggled with declining sales and an aging client base in the U.S. and abroad.
Its U.S. motorcycle sales declined 4.2% and international sales fell 3.3% in the first quarter of this year.
Harley's traditional, non-electric motorcycles range from about $6,900 for a compact, urban model to nearly $44,000 for a fully-loaded touring bike.
Additional free charging will be provided by Electrify America, a Volkswagen subsidiary created to build charging sites after Volkswagen settled charges that it cheated on diesel emissions.
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Written World
Wordslinger Podcast
Words Linger Blog
See what I did there?
This blog is crammed full of Wordslinger musings. Some of this connects with my fiction, some of it connects with my podcasts, and some of it just connects with life as I know it. So I hope you enjoy what you read, I hope you get something out of it, and I hope you carry a piece of it with you as you go out in the world. If you like it, let me know about it. And thanks for reading.
How to Have (and resolve) an Existential Crisis in One Weekend
I attended the 2015 Sterling & Stone Colony Summit this weekend and came away with more than I had expected. I rediscovered my true passion, and I know exactly how to pursue without leaving anyone behind.
Like what you're reading? Consider tipping the author!
Tip in any amount you like, safely and securely via PayPal (no PayPal account requred). And thank you in advance for your generosity!
Kevin Tumlinson is the author of numerous novels, novellas, and non-fiction books, and the host of the Wordslinger Podcast. Try three of his best books for free when you download his starter library at kevintumlinson.com/starterlibrary.
BECOME A SLINGER
Get updates on new books, new posts, and new podcasts, plus be the first to hear about special offers and giveways. And pants jokes. Lots and lots of pants jokes.
Name (First & Last)
Philadelphia, Shadow Strait, and Lucid
Updates galore!
[SNEAK PEEK] "Sawyer Jackson and the Shadow Strait" — "Two Wolves at War"
The second Sawyer Jackson book is done and in edit! I'm looking at a mid- to late-October release. Ideally, I'd love to release it on my birthday, October 12. So I'm diligently working on the edit now, and "Sawyer Jackson and the Shadow Strait" will soon be ready for your perusal and review.
In the meantime, I thought you might appreciate a quick sneak peek. The following scene happens early in the book, and becomes pivotal to the development of Sawyer as a character. It's one of my favorite scenes, and I think you'll love it. No serious spoilers here, but if you're squeamish about that sort of thing this is your chance to ditch out!
For the rest of you, I give you "Two Wolves at War."
[AUTHOR INTERVIEW] Stacy Claflin on YA Paranormal Romance
This week, I had the privilege of swapping interviews with one of my fellow Unboxers, author Stacy Claflin (you can read my interview here). Stacy discusses her work in YA paranormal romance (aren't all YA romances paranormal?), and talks about some of her upcoming projects including her Gone series.
Who says print is dead?
Definitely not me! Usually.
This Friday, August 22nd, you can pick up a copy of Sawyer Jackson and the Long Land in print, for the first time ever!
Guess what's coming soon?
Ready for another tangle?
I hope so, because it won't be long before Sawyer Jackson and the Shadow Strait hits shelves. And I want one of those shelves to be yours!
[NEW BOOK!} Sawyer Jackson & the Long Land - Available 7/1
I am stupid excited to announce that Sawyer Jackson & the Long Land will be available as an ebook on July 1, 2014!
4 Must-read, must-have books for indie authors
I promised my friend and fellow, Tammy McDonald, that I would create a reading list of books I thought every indie author should read. This isn't that list, but it's a fair start.
Steven Gould, SFWA - books for charity
Steven Gould (author of Jumper and current President of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America) just posted a link to handful of great science fiction that you can purchase to support a couple of worthy charities.
New ebook — Teresa's Monster
Today, I'm thrilled to announce a new Happy Pants Books "Short Pants" (synonyms such as Kindle Single and Novella may apply) has hit digital bookshelves. Teresa's Monster is packaged and ready for you to download and enjoy!
Fill in the blank — Best non-SF authors and books?
I'm am omnivorous reader, but I'll admit I've slanted my reading toward science fiction for most of my life. When I've branched out, I've discovered amazing works by incredible authors, and I want to keep finding 'em! Since I'm not as tuned in to non-scifi, I was hoping I could ping you folks for some suggestions.
Citadel update - Outline progress!
If you heard that in the voice of Dr. Farnsworth, then you're my kind of people.
But seriously ... good news! I've officially outlined the first three chapters and most of the fourth chapter of "Children of Light." Not as exciting as saying "I've officially WRITTEN the first three chapters," but we take what victories we can. And that's one.
Robbie and I had talked about "the shop" for years. Everyone did. It had stood there, empty, since before I was born. At least, I think it had. Robbie thinks it might have closed down just a few years ago, when we were still in grade school. And he says that he might have seen the inside once when it was still open. He remembers there being lots of people wearing hard hats and goggles, moving big pieces of metal around, sparks flying from welding rigs, and a lot of cursing and music. He remembers seeing a picture of a naked woman tacked to the peg board on someone's workbench, and his dad pulling him away before he could get a really good look.
Today's flash fiction is dedicated to my lovely and supportive wife, Kara. For eight years now she's managed to tolerate me, and hasn't stabbed me once. All my love, Kara. All my days.
"Three," she said.
I couldn't believe it. "Three? Just three?"
"That's the total."
"And you're sure. Out of all of them?"
"Two hundred queries sent, three returned. Look," she said, showing me her tablet so I could see the figures.
Time was when I could send two hundred, or two thousand queries, I'd get the same number of responses back. Time was when I could ask them to do whatever I wanted, and they'd do it. Time was when they'd all listen.
"OK, three. Let's get them engaged."
She nodded and walked out of my office, which was now just a bedroom in the back corner of my apartment, stuffed with a desk and a large table where I did the work. Bits and pieces were strewn all over the table. The printer sat silent, ready for a feed of materials so it could churn out a model. It hadn't done that in so long. And now, just as I'm ready for another one, just as I finally have an idea again, I only get three notes of interest.
I fired up the printer, I pushed the design, I waited. In moments the first of the models was ready. Moments later, all three models were ready to go.
I looked at them, examined them, studied them. They were perfect. They were exactly as I had envisioned them, exactly as I had designed them. Just the right balance of sophistication and style. There was a sort of cuteness to them, a human-ish quality that I liked to build into my work. That's what separates what I do from the thousands of clones out there. I put that human touch into them, that bit of relatability. To everyone else, it's just about getting the thing built and in production as quickly as possible. For me, it's about crafting the experience.
A flaw. Number three has a flaw. It's tiny, a small blemish that no one but me would notice. But that's the point, isn't it? I would know it was there. I would see it, every time I closed my eyes, every time I thought back on it. I moved it to the printer, where it would be dismantled, atom by atom, recycling the materials so we can try again.
The printer was old, that was all. The newer models didn't have transcription errors or inadvertent blemishes. They were perfect. I would have had one, in the old days. Someone would have just handed it to me, begging me to ply my craft, to give them the honor of using their equipment to create.
Again the printer hummed and the recycled materials were rearranged and redistributed, and a new model emerged. I looked it over, studying it. It was perfect. Not a blemish. Perfect.
She came back to the door, knocking gently, even though it stood half open. Bless her. She'd stuck with me, even as I had to sell off the company, the resources, the facility. She'd come with me here, to this apartment, where I lived in one bedroom and worked in another. She made the kitchen her office, where she answered messages and marketed the work. I don't know what I would have done without her. If she had ever married, I'm sure I would have lost her. That's a shame, really, that she never married, never found anyone. Neither had I, for that matter. That's the way life goes.
"Contracts are signed. Money has been transferred," she said. "Are they ready?"
I nodded. "They're ready. They're perfect."
She stepped into the room, looking at the three models, pristine and new and perfect in every way. "They're beautiful," she said. "They are always so beautiful. Something always seems to be missing from the commercially produced models. Like there's no ..." she stopped, reaching, trying to find a word that described what she was thinking.
But I knew. Oh, I knew. "Soul," I said.
"Yes! Soul. It's like yours have one, and the others don't. I can't understand why anyone would want one of the mass produced models when they could have one of yours."
"The others are less expensive," I waved, annoyed. "And new models come out constantly. One breaks down, you just get a new one. There's no room for soul anymore."
She shook her head. "I don't know about that. I think these are just amazing. So perfect. They'll love them."
I nodded, and she left the room.
Maybe they'd love them. I certainly loved them. But there was no market for them anymore. No one, outside of this apartment, really cared that they were beautiful, that they had soul.
And maybe that was OK. My work had made its mark, after all. The mass produced models were all essentially copies of what I created. They were an homage, of sorts, to the work I had done. My mark on the world. My legacy.
Maybe that's all one can hope for, in the end — that the work lives on, even if it doesn't live up.
Or maybe, I thought, as I looked at these perfect models, filled with soul, filled with thought and relevance and relatability, maybe what matters most is that I love what I've created.
If no one else cared, if I never sold another, if no one ever once raved about what I was doing, then maybe the work itself would be enough. Just knowing that I was doing the best I could possibly do, the work I was born to do, could be my reward.
It felt hollow, at first. It felt like I was just talking myself into believing it. But soon, very soon, it didn't feel artificial at all. It felt real. Because as I thought about it, as I took another look at what I had created, as I thought about the three, the people who wanted them, the humans who felt the pull, the need to have these in their lives, I felt the soul of it. The work really was enough, if three people appreciated it. It was enough if only one person appreciated it.
She came back to the room, tablet in hand, with a blank line on a page that required my signature. She was my friend. My best friend. She was the closest thing to a wife I'd ever had. She had stayed with me through all of it, the downsizing and the reinventing and the rethinking. Bless her soul.
A Second Skin (new flash fiction)
Another smudge of flash fiction to keep you warm on a very chilly day. Temperatures are in the 20s and 30s here in Houston this morning, and to keep my fingers from freezing to the keyboard I'm moving them as fast as possible. Hope you enjoy the result!
I haven't written in a long while, I know. It's been, what, three years? Maybe more? Last time, it was to tell you that I was fine, and that I was enjoying living here. That was a long time ago.
I was wondering about how you were doing. I was thinking about you, and I hope that means something. Three years is a lot of missed time, and a lot to make up for in one letter. I'll do my best.
You already know about the fires. When we were first hit, I was sort of annoyed about it all more than anything. It wasn't like I didn't realize how serious it all was, I just wasn't all that worried at the time. What, in my entire life up to then, had ever really been a serious problem? Was there ever anything that was so bad it wouldn't go away after a few nights of TV and video games? Or books. I remember reading all of the Harry Potter books that were out, after 9/11. I was, what, seven years old then? Seems like forever.
But you can see why I haven't written. It's been busy. Crazy, really. So much happening.
During that first strike, I was with a group of people who took shelter in an old cathedral in Strasbourg. It was cold there, for a while, until the fires were everywhere. Then it was so hot I thought I'd melt to the floor.
We were lucky, though. One of the first rescue teams came through in that area, for some reason. They came to the cathedral and gave all of us a suit. The skins. It fit kind of snug, I thought, and was uncomfortable. But it kept the heat and the cold away, and it let me breath. That's something. That's everything. And eventually, I hardly noticed it. Day and night, it's just there, part of me now. A second skin.
We left the cathedral, and with the skins we did OK. Food and water were a problem. We went without for really long time, scraping by on whatever we could find that wasn't burnt to a crisp or contaminated. The skins will filter out a lot of toxins and radiation and bacteria, but they aren't perfect. People still got sick. A lot of the older people died pretty quick. Kids ...
I don't like to think about the kids.
We followed the rescue team for weeks. They tried to talk to us, but none of us could ever make much sense of the language. We got by with hand gestures and signs. They had just as tough of a time understanding us, really, and in the end I think we developed a nice sort of "third language" that had nothing to do with words.
They're a good bunch, the rescuers. Good people. The other survivors and I have talked about where they may have come from, and we all have theories. They look like us, so wherever they're from it must be very similar to here. They live in the skins, just like us. They need food and water and air, just like us. But they're different. You could tell right away. It's in the way they interact with each other, with us, with the world itself. They know what they're doing, like they've done it a hundred times before. And I think they have. I don't think we're the first world to be hit by the fires.
But that's all history. The reason I'm writing now is that I think I'm about to step into the future. The rescuers have become very excited lately. They're gesturing a lot, making sure we know that something is happening. They're trying to tell us that we're moving on, but no one has been able to work out where we're going. I think it's to the next world. They keep drawing something in the dirt and ash that looks like a portal. I think we're about to become rescuers ourselves.
It's been three years, dad. I've missed you. I think you're gone. I'm pretty sure of it. But maybe you're alive, somewhere in America, with your own group of rescuers. Maybe you're wearing a skin. Maybe you're getting by. Maybe I'll see you in the next world. I hope so.
Parker Sixteen (new flash fiction)
Today's bit of flash fiction has a steampunk flavor! Enjoy.
Parker Sixteen
It was looking at me.
It was standing in the center of a ring of junk, no face that I could see, and I couldn't see any eyes at all. But I could feel it looking at me.
Grandpa's shed has always been my favorite place. Whenever I stayed with him, this was where I'd end up, connecting bits of pipe and wire and old electronics into ... something. I was never sure what I was building. I didn't have a plan. I was just tinkering.
Until the day it worked.
I had the last bit, a piece of an old radio, pulled free of its casing. It was a small circuit board with a bunch of stuff on it. I used a screwdriver to turn a few things that had slots. I pried a couple of things off of the board. I wrapped wire through holes and around metal legs that were soldered to the board. I had nothing in mind. No idea what I was building.
And then it worked.
There was a flash, blue and bright, and then the hum of something from under the pile. The air smelled weird, a sort of burnt smell, and I felt like a million ants had just walked over my whole body. I was tingling.
The pile moved, and stuff started shifting and falling away. I jumped back to avoid getting hit, and looked as the pile opened up, some of it sinking downward.
And then it stood up. Or walked out. Or something. I wasn't exactly sure. It was just sort of there.
It looked kind of like a man wearing a suit, like those old-timey clothes you see on TV and in the movies. He had on a suit, and under the coat was a vest and a tie that bulged from the top. But his head wasn't human. It looked more like an upside down bowl, with a bunch of slits cut in it. The bowl rotated all the way around until it was back to where it started, and light started coming from the slits.
I didn't know what to do. I stood there.
"Hello," it said.
"Hi," I said, still not sure if I should run and hide.
It looked around the scrap heap, and put a finger on the gadget I'd built. It sort of ran its finger along one of the pipes, then stuck it up in front of the upside down bowl, in front of one of the slits, as if it was looking at it closer. "Well that's impressive," it said. "An accidental one. You made an accidental portam."
"Uh ... I did?"
"You did. And that shows promise. Mister ...?"
"I'm Parker," I said.
"Mister Parker."
"No, I'm not a mister. I'm just sixteen."
The man stood still for a moment, and I got the impression that it was smiling. "Parker Sixteen. Well, Parker, that's quite a feat. And one to be proud of. How'd you do it? Just cobbled stuff together?"
"I ... yes, I think so."
"Remarkable. Well then, I'll have to keep an eye on you." He reached into a pocket and took something out, then walked up to me, reaching out his hand.
I reached back, not even sure why. Like shaking hands. Automatic.
He gripped my hand, and then let go. He turned and walked back to the circle of junk, and touched his wrist, where he was wearing something I couldn't see. As he turned to face me, the blue light and the burning smell came back. "Parker Sixteen, it has been a pleasure. You will do some amazing things. I'm happy to have been the first to meet you! Keep cobbling. We will meet again!"
And then he was gone. The light dropped away, the smell drifted, and I was alone in Grandpa's shed, with the junk and my gadget.
I looked at my hand and saw that I was holding small, round gear with a pin soldered to its back. It was about the size of a quarter, and it had a flat metal band across its middle with a small hole in the center. On that cross-piece was the word "Factorem." I had no idea what it meant, but it felt important. It felt big. It felt like seeing the future.
I pinned it to my shirt, and then pulled the door shut on Grandpa's shed before running inside. I could already smell supper. The day was ending, and a new one would start in the morning. I couldn't wait to see it.
Xander Travel and the Floating Button
Today's flash fiction features a character I've developed over the past few years. This marks his official public debut, and I'm curious to see how people will react. Feel free to comment here (or Facebook or Twitter or aloud to an audience hanging on your every word) and let me know what you think! And have fun.
It was like it was just stuck, in mid air. When Kendal found it, at first he thought it might be hanging from a piece of fishing line. But it didn't sway, even in the breeze. As the leaves rustled and moved all around him, here in the clearing in the woods behind his parents' house, he was pretty sure it should move. Was it tied top and bottom? Was it on a a rigid wire? A sheet of glass?
But it was just a button.
It was small and brown, with a sort of marbling through it, a darker brown or light black. Possibly from a shirt or a coat. Four holes where thread would be sewn through it, to hold it to fabric. But there was no fabric. There was no shirt or coat, and no fishing line or wire or glass. Just a button. In mid-air.
Kendal had found it while out for a hike, back to the clearing where he'd spent a lot of years playing and pretending and being whoever and whatever he'd wanted to be. In his clearing, near his house, he'd been Indiana Jones and Luke Skywalker and Spider-man. He'd been a cowboy and a superhero and a pirate. He'd been a lot of things here, and thought up all kinds of stories that kept him busy and entertained, all by himself. His closest friends lived miles away, too far for a bike. And his little brother ... well, he had his own thing. He had friends who lived close. He had their parents. Kendal liked being alone anyway.
He'd only come out here to relive some of that childhood. Finals were last week, and they were brutal. College hadn't been as much fun as movies and TV had led him to believe. It was hard work, especially when Kendall had to hold down two jobs on top of his class schedule. College and work and life were all much harder than Kendall had expected, and all he really wanted was to come back to this clearing, where he was anything he wanted to be, and he never had to worry about whether he was getting everything right.
He reached out to touch the button.
"I wouldn't touch that," a voice came from behind.
Kendall turned and saw the man. Or the boy. Wait, was he young or old? When Kendall looked at him, he saw someone who might be his age, but who felt older. The man was dressed pretty much like Kendall was dressed, in jeans and a button-up shirt, untucked, and a brown leather jacket that looked vintage.
"Timmy!" the stranger said, flinging his arms out wide like he was hugging Kendall from across the clearing.
Kendall shook his head, confused. "No, I'm Kendall."
"Oh! Kendall!" and the man repeated the gesture.
"Wait, who are you?"
"I'm Xander," the man said, striding across the clearing and sticking out a hand for a shake. "Xander Travel. Nice to meet you, Kendall!"
Kendall took the hand on instinct and shook, and looked confused. "But you acted like you knew me?"
"Oh, that? Pff. I do that. If I'd asked 'what's your name' you would have asked 'who's asking?' or similar, and then we'd be going back and forth about it, with you being all paranoid about stranger danger, etcetera. But if I get your name wrong right off, you just correct me and we move on. Isn't that nice? Now we know each other, and we can talk like old pals. So, what do we have here, a button?" He leaned in close to inspect it.
Kendall blinked, but nodded, and then turned and looked at the button floating in mid-air, with Xander Travel standing beside him, and more than a few questions tickling the inside of his skull.
But best of all, the feeling.
He felt it, somehow in the center of his chest and in his stomach and in that space behind his eyes. It felt like coming home, just like he'd hoped he'd feel when he'd walked out into the clearing in the woods behind his house, early in the morning. He felt like himself again, all of a sudden.
"Yep, that's a button alright," Xander said.
"How is it floating like that? There's no string or anything."
"It's done up," Xander said.
Kendall looked at him. "Huh?"
Xander made a motion with his hands, like buttoning a shirt or a coat. "Done up. It's buttoned, holding a flap closed."
"But ..."
Xander waved. "You'll get it, don't worry. Smart kid like you. Just give it time, the story practically tells itself."
"Wait, but ..."
"Smart? Because here you are, standing in a clearing in the woods, looking at a button floating in mid-air, and you've already figured out all thing things it isn't. Plus, just being here in the first place, in first light. The 'magic hour.' That takes some thought. You had to have thought about this place. There aren't any trails. You've been here before, probably when you were young, and you knew the way. And you're up early. Really early, for a college kid. Especially a male. Shouldn't you be sleeping 'til noon and eating everything your parents have in the house? No, you have other things on your mind, I can see that"
"That was a lot."
"I talk a lot when I'm thinking. Now, button. All done up. Connecting the two worlds. That's always a good find."
"Two worlds?"
"This world, Earth Prime we'll say. And another world, the Long Land. That's a nice spot. I'm not technically allowed there anymore, but I go all the time. You should come with me."
Kendall wasn't sure what to say, or what to think. He just felt something inside of himself let go. Like feeling a tense and cramped muscle finally release. Like feeling blood rush back into a sleeping foot or hand. He felt fresh. He felt ready to go.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"Done that. Past that. Now we're talking about this button. And ..." he dug in one of the pockets of his coat and pulled out a spool of thread. "There we go. OK, you hold this," he said, handing Kendall the spool while taking hold of the thread. "Spool that out for me as I go, OK?"
Xander pulled the thread as he walked up to and around the button, eyeing it. Then he stuck the end of the thread in his mouth, wet it, and held it up, pinched between his forefinger and thumb, holding it in front of the button as he squinted one eye. Then, in a quick jab, his hand darted forward. When he pulled it away, the thread dangled from one of the button holes.
Xander quickly reached out and tied the loose and dangling end to the strand stretching from the button to the spool in Kendall's hand. He tugged on it, cinched it, and then stood back to admire his work.
Kendall stood there with the spool in his hand, not sure what to do next.
"Done," Xander said.
He turned and looked at Kendall, and laughed a little. "It's just a spool of thread, Kendall. It won't bite."
"OK," Kendall said, relaxing a big. "So ... I have no idea what's happening right now."
Xander smiled. "But you like it."
It was a heartbeat. A bare moment in time. Just a pulse, like the click of a dial or the first beat of a song. The moment ... the moment ... before it all starts. "Yeah," Kendall said next.
"Then let's see what we can unbutton today," Xander said, and then wrapped his hand with the thread and gave it a yank.
The button popped out of the space where it had hung and fell to the ground. Xander quickly reeled it in and then reached back to grab the spool from Kendall's hand. He wound the thread around the spool quickly, faster than Kendall could follow, and dropped spool and thread and button into his pocket. All this, while a small gap formed in the air in front of them.
It was like a curtain open and fall away. The air split into shimmering waves on either side of a scene, like seeing something through a part in a waterfall. And the scene beyond was amazing.
Kendall could see a valley that stretched on forever. It was a strip of land, filled with trees and rivers and lakes, mountains in the distance, birds in the air. It was lush and green and untouched. And on either side of it was an ocean. It was like looking at a perfect ribbon of a continent, separating two oceans from each other. It had to be miles and miles across, and stretching on to infinity, but Kendall could see it as if from a high vantage point.
"The Long Land," Xander said quietly from beside him. "Home of the Exemplars. Source of all good stories and myths. Destination for anyone who has the right button." He smiled at this last bit. "Or some other funny object. It's amazing the items that can get you there these days."
As Kendall stared at the scene, a little dazed, a lot confused, Xander turned to him and smiled. "So, Kendall ... what do you think? You want to tag along? I can't stay there for too long. They start to notice. But it'd be a chance to visit for a while, maybe chat with some old friends. Then we can pop right back here and I'll be on to the next thing. The fun never stops. Hasn't for almost four thousand years, so why start now?"
"But ... I don't even know you. And ..." he looked at the scene, the Long Land. "What is that place?"
"The beginning," Xander said, and for once he had a bit of awe and quiet in his voice. "That's where it starts."
Kendall looked at it, and looked Xander Travel, and then looked within himself.
He felt it. That buzz and tingle. That giddy excitement, that the world had more to offer than he could imagine. He'd felt it as a kid, here in his clearing, but hadn't felt it for a very, very long time since. And now, here it was. Old friend.
"Let's go," Kendall said.
Xander smiled. "Button up," he told him, and then the two of them stepped through to the Long Land.
A Burst of Birds
A bit of flash fiction to start your day! Somber. Sorry. I didn't know where this character was going when I started tagging along. But enjoy, and let me know what you think.
It was a burst of birds. A swarm of them, exploding upward, circling, diving, rising, all in unison. I had never seen anything like it. Not really. The odd cluster of birds fluttering up into the sky in a Walmart parking lot didn't really compare.
This was in an open field, on a road leading away from home. It was like seeing a dirt devil or a twister, but it was alive. And it was loud. And it was perfect.
The road was perfect, too. Long and quiet and lined by trees and fields and small homes with beat up pickup trucks and disused tractors sitting out front. It was my third day on this road. My feet hurt. My legs were stiff. My back was sore. I felt oily and dirty and grungy. I hadn't showered in three days.
First gas station, that was my promise to myself. The first gas station I see, I'm going in. I'm monkey-bathing it. I'm getting myself as clean as you can get in a gas station bathroom.
And maybe some food. I still had a back of Ritz crackers and about a third of a jar of peanut butter. They were at the top of the pack, where I figured they had the least chance of getting crushed but were also the first thing I saw when I unzipped the top of the backpack. Which meant they were tempting. Which meant they were eaten.
I've never been all that good at self control. Which was one of the reasons I was here, watching a perfect storm of birds burst into the air and circle around in a huge arc, and land back in the field again as if nothing had happened. No self control. No filter. I say too much.
She didn't deserve it. My mom. She didn't deserve that. And then she was gone.
I was just tired. Not like now, with my sore feet and aching back. I didn't know what tired was, three days ago. A few nights without sleep? A couple of mornings of panic, making calls, waiting for ambulances?
It was the vomit that did me in. She'd thrown up again, into the small waste basket by her bed. And I had to clean it out, again. I took it outside, turned on the hose, squeezed the handle on the nozzle, and a jet of water took the vomit away. But some of it bounced, and sprayed upward, and some of the vomit hit me in the face, near my mouth. And suddenly I was hosing off my own face, and cursing, and mad and sick to my stomach, and so mad.
I used one of the dish towels in the kitchen to dry my face, and I threw it in the sink, which had soapy water in it, and that made me mad too. Why was I the only one doing anything around here? Why was I the one doing dishes with no dishwasher, and cleaning up vomit, and taking care of her? Where was dad? Where was my sister? Where was everybody?
And then I went to mom, and I told her she had to get better or just give up already. Just like that. "Get better or give up already!" I said it under my breath. I whispered it as I put the waste basket down beside the bed. It was never meant to be heard.
"I'm sorry," she said.
She was looking at me.
"I'm sorry," and it was quiet.
And she was gone.
And so was I.
Three days. A burst of birds. A tornado of birds. And the first gas station I find, I'm going to get cleaned up. Somewhere along this road there's a place. I don't know where it is, exactly, but it's where I'll stop. Somewhere else, where I'm not the me who says too much.
The Three Reasons to Avoid Being Punched in the Face - Part 2
Read the second installment of "The Three Reasons to Avoid Being Punched in the Face."
Elle had a thing for red.
“It’s bold,” she said. She’d said this more than once, as we perused the wares of the little clothing shop just a block from the record/comic/hot chocolate shop/post office, where I’d decided it would be a good idea to buy a new wardrobe for a near stranger. She had described nearly every item of clothing she’d picked up as some variation of ‘bold.’ The skirt was “pronounced.” The pants were “adventurous.” The gloves were “distinct.”
I recently decided I would start serializing some of my in-print work on the blog. So I'm planning to select a work and start posting a chapter a week, from some of my novellas and Kindle Singles and also my long-format books. I want you to get the most out this, so I'm going to start with the novellas and singles.
Any and all works I post here are Copyright J. Kevin Tumlinson. I'm more than happy for you to repost or link to or quote from this work, and all I ask is that you credit me and link back to my site at www.kevintumlinson.com. Cool?
Also, if you're the impatient sort and you'd like to read the complete work all at once, I'll make sure to include a link so you can buy it on Amazon.com, in either print or Kindle format (most of my novellas and singles are available only in ebook format). If you have a Nook or some other device, and you'd like to read this or any other work by me, you can purchase my books on Smashwords.
Enough already! Let's get to the fun part.
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"The Three Reasons to Avoid Being Punched in the Face" is my newest novella. Here's the Amazon.com description:
A new novella from the author of "Getting Gone."
Sometimes you find yourself in the strangest places. No one knows that better than Charlie Dustin. He's been avoiding his life for three years in every dusty church and old building in Europe. Until the day Elle finds him in a French cafe, bringing along three really good reasons for staying out of trouble.
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1 | Reason #3
There are three reasons (more or less) why you might want to avoid being punched in the face.
Yes, there is the usual discomfort. Bruising around the ocular socket. Swelling, and possible splitting of the flesh. That quick, stomach-clenching whiplash snap of the head that turns your neck into so much strained and sore spaghetti, which makes you feel like your brain just ricocheted off of at least two sides of your skull. We’ll lump these under “Reason #1.”
The second reason has to do with pride. Humility, actually. Do you take the punch, shrug it off like you might have deserved it? Maybe. That’s a cool way to handle being punched in the face, no doubt. Or do you become outraged in a classic ‘50s “How DARE you!?!” mode—face red (and bruising), fists clenched, shaking all over with righteous rage? This is a tricky decision. It will influence everything that happens after. It should be carefully weighed. It is “Reason #2.”
But the third reason is maybe the one that matters most. It’s a simple fact. It’s all about causes. At the root of this punch, at its origin, at the Big Bang preceding this big bang, there is a series of events that brought you to this point in time—that connects you to this connection. At its heart, it’s the core question of existence. The “What brought us here?” question.
It boils down to this: “Reason #3” means you’re in trouble.
I would very much have liked paying heed to Reason #3 before this all began. The punch to the face I could handle. Hurt? Yes. Pride bruised? Sure. I hadn’t quite decided yet whether I was going to shrug it off or shake with rage, but either way I felt like a heel. Trouble? I was in it. Loads of it. Loads and loads.
It started three days ago.
“Charlie? Charlie Dustin?”
I hadn’t made up my mind yet whether that was really my name I’d just heard or whether it might be a coincidence. I’d been traveling, see. It felt like centuries. But really, I’d been out and about, away from home and country, for about three years now. I was here now, in Strasbourg, France, in the middle of a freak storm that had brought the first snow in maybe 15 years. And it was a good one. Crisp and wet. Solid. I could feel it in my boxer shorts. I’d only brought a couple of sweaters and a coat on this impromptu jaunt near the French-German border, and it never occurred to me that I might need thermal underwear. I really did.
“Is that really you?” the girl asked, leaning in a little closer.
“Umm … Michelle?” It was the name that came to mind. And now we wait. Will I be right? Have I offended her? I’ve always been bad with names, ‘So sorry about that! Really, I do remember you now … honest! I just …’
“Yeah! Well, Elle. I go by Elle these days.”
“L?”
“E-L-L-E. As in Michelle. I know, kind of dumb. It’s something my friends started calling me in college. There was another Michelle. She won the name.”
Elle was smiling, which is the universal sign for being OK with things. I smiled too. “Elle,” I said. Smiling. “Hi. I think we haven’t seen each other since … high school, right?”
“Right! That’s been, what, six years?”
Six years, five months, eighteen days, thirty-seven minutes …
No, not really. I couldn’t possibly have kept track of the exact last time I saw someone, down to the minute. I’m just kidding.
“Something like that, I think.” Smiling. “What are you doing in Strasbourg?”
She beamed then. “Isn’t it beautiful here? I’m on vacation. My folks paid for the trip. Sort of a graduation present. I just left grad school.”
“Grad school! Nice. Medicine?”
She shook her head, sipping from a paper cup of coffee I had only just noticed she was carrying. Starbucks. The world was infested with them. The good kind of infestation. Is that possible? I feel like there should be a good kind of infestation.
“Chemical Engineering. A little boring, I know.”
“No!” I said. And I meant it. I was interested in chemistry. At least in that nerdy, geeky, “I love science” kind of way. In a “I read books about chemistry for fun” kind of way. In a “I’m that guy” kind of way. “LNG?”
“How’d you guess?”
“Houston,” I said, pointing at her UH sweatshirt. The Cougar was growling, fierce and ready to attack. Charlie beware.
She looked down, then smiled. “Yeah. Undergrad at UH, then grad school at the Colorado School of Mines.”
“That’s quite a commute,” I said.
She laughed. “Yeah. It’s where my dad went. I felt obligated. Plus, it’s a great school.” This last she said with an “I dare you to disagree” tone, and a little sideways look that I found intriguing.
“Of course,” I smiled. “One of the best.”
“Me? Oh, I didn’t go to college.” This was usually a showstopper.
“No? Invented something that made you rich, I take it?”
I blinked. “Uh, something like that. How did you …”
“Pretty expensive coat. And you’re sitting in a café in Strasbourg in the middle of a workday, alone. Plus, you don’t have that weary look of a tourist. No sweatshirt.” She said this as she gestured at the Cougar on her chest with her coffee cup.
I finally realized she’d been standing this whole time. “Sit down! Sorry. I forget that other people are people,” I said, smiling, covering, hoping I hadn’t just made an ass-hat of myself.
“Thanks!” she said, and plopped down. “I hung up my coat nearby, just in case I’d be able to convince you to let me have a seat.”
“So this was all part of a nefarious plot to find a chair in a crowded café?”
She rubbed her hands together. “Mwa-ha-ha.”
I smiled and lifted my cup of espresso. “Very good, Ms. Elle. You have bested me despite my immense training.”
“Which is in what, exactly?” Elle said.
The waiter, who must have been hovering nearby waiting for just this circumstance to occur, interrupted to take Elle’s order. She asked for soup. And water.
“Please add her to my tab, and could you bring some Carpaccio?”
The waiter nodded and moved away.
“Carpaccio … isn’t that raw beef?”
“Er … yeah. Sorry. I figured …”
“I ordered soup and water, so I must be broke? And your idea was to order me a plate of raw beef?”
“It’s kind of a delicacy,” I said, sheepishly.
She gave me a stern look for a second, then smiled so wide it nearly made the wool cap fall off of her head. It was a strangely familiar-looking cap, actually. “So I’ve heard,” she said. “Can’t wait to try it. So … what’s a small town boy like you doing in a foreign country like this?”
Hours. Maybe four. Maybe just a couple. Honestly, I lost track. But it was good. Elle moved seamlessly from soup to Carpaccio (in small samples) to a more-her-speed sandwich to a real espresso served in a proper mug, allowing the waiter to carry away the paper Starbucks cup, holding it like it was a stool sample. I had a bit of Carpaccio myself, and another espresso. We got the customary disapproving look from our French waiter, reserved for Americans who order Italian coffees in the middle of the day. I get it a lot.
“So you still haven’t told me.”
“I know,” I said.
“I’ve asked like five subtle times.”
“And it’s porn, isn’t it?”
I laughed—loud and sharp—earning us a few looks from around the café, which had gone strangely quiet at just the right moment. As cafés do. “Not quite. I mean no, not at all. I mean, yes, I suppose it could have something to do with porn.”
She arched an eyebrow.
“I created a piece of software. It’s for backing up servers. I sold it, and kept a percentage of ownership, and the company that bought it went public. So now I get a royalty. It’s pretty expensive software, with the contracts and service agreements and such.”
“And porn?”
I shrugged. “They own more servers than anyone. They have more data to back up.”
She laughed at this, and I smiled, feeling strangely relieved.
“Well, that answer took long enough. Why?”
I shrugged again. “It’s boring. I don’t like boring.”
“Says the man sitting in a café, by himself, in a foreign city a thousand miles from home.”
“Nothing boring about that. If you’re me.”
“You do something, though,” she said. It was a statement. Fact. She knew.
Or sort of knew. “Yes. I do something. Everybody has to have something to keep them busy.”
“And what’s your something?”
I hesitated, and she noticed. “Come on! It can’t be worse than porn!”
I laughed. “OK. Yeah, OK. I … well, I have a little pet project. It’s kind of geeky.”
“Annnnnd ….”
I looked around, as if someone might pop up to rescue me. Then I gave up. Because how often do you run into a cute girl you went to high school with and sit with for four hours-ish drinking espressos in a café in Strasbourg, France? Once. If you’re me.
“Churches.”
Elle leaned back. “Wait, what now?”
“Well, not just churches. Old buildings. With really interesting features. It just happens that churches tend to be among the oldest and most interesting.”
“So … what do you actually do in the churches? You just tour them?”
“To start. But I also take pictures of them.”
“So you’re a photographer?”
“Amateur only. I just use a little point-and-shoot. Nothing fancy.”
She blinked, sort of half-smiling.
“And I collect pamphlets, if they have them.”
“Pamphlets?”
I took one out of my pocket. It was for the Cathedral de Notre-Dame. A big attraction in Strasbourg.
She took the pamphlet and looked through it. “I saw this yesterday,” she said. “It’s beautiful. But …”
“But boring,” I said.
She laughed. “OK. Yeah, if all you’re doing to pass your time is looking at old buildings and collecting pamphlets, that’s kind of boring Charlie.”
I smiled. “Yeah, I guess it is. I just …” And there it was. I’d managed to kind of forget it. Or ignore it. But it was there. Right there. A punch in the face. The metaphorical kind, not the real kind. Just a moment, an instant, and I was right back … there.
“What? What is it?” Elle asked.
I waved to the waiter, who had apparently been eager to close us out and rush us out the door because he was on us before I’d even managed to get my wallet out of my coat pocket. I paid him in cash, about twice what the meal cost. “Hey, I’m glad we ran into each other,” I said. I stood.
She stood.
“Charlie, what’s up? What happened?”
I took my coat from where it was hanging, a hook on a pole next to our table. It felt heavy. It always felt heavy.
“Places to see,” I said. Smiling. No, not really. Yes, it was technically a smile. Probably looked pretty bad.
“Charlie …”
“Have a great vacation!”
And then I was out in the street, in the snow, in the cold.
Damn, why hadn’t I brought long underwear?
Two blocks.
That’s how far I made it before she caught up with me. She was bundled up in a red wool coat, and a striped scarf was tied around her neck. Her wool cap was pulled a little lower. None of it matched.
She was pissed.
“What the hell, Charlie?”
“Elle, look, I just have somewhere to be.”
“Right. So do I.”
“Charlie.”
Stalemate.
“You can’t go where I’m going.”
“Because I don’t know where I’m going.”
Now I was starting to get a little mad myself. Which is always a bad sign. Because anger is the mind killer. I know, it’s supposed to be fear, and maybe that’s the mind killer, too. But when I get mad I get stupid. It’s just a fact of Charlie Dustin. So I’ve learned to take a breath and CALM THE HELL DOWN before I speak. It’s a survival tactic.
“Something bad happened to you,” Elle said. “I get that. And you know, it’s none of my business. I get that, too. But … well … I lied.”
So now I stopped. Flakes of snow were drifting down on us, clinging to the fibers of our clothes. I had a hat, didn’t I? Used to. Must have left it somewhere. I do that. I own a lot of hats. They’re decorating various churches and old buildings and cafés all over the world.
Must remember long underwear.
“What did you lie about?”
“I didn’t finish grad school,” she said.
I blinked. “OK. And …”
“I mean, I wasn’t totally lying. I said I left grad school, and I was going to let you just believe I’d graduated. And my parents didn’t really send me here. I sort of … cashed their tuition check and bought a ticket. I flew here on my own. I’m staying in the cheapest hotel I can find. Was. Was staying in the cheapest hotel I could find. Right now I’m actually sort of … between hotels.”
“You’re homeless?”
“And a little chilly. Can we go into another café, maybe? Or anywhere?”
We were standing in front of a music store that seemed to double as a comic book store, and possibly a post office as well. I couldn’t really tell from the signs. I never learned French. I was stuck on English. Kind of a shame, I know, but I’m lazy sometimes. Also, I’m American. We have a thing.
“Here,” I said, opening the door to the shop and letting her go in front of me.
Inside we warmed up quick. Too quick. It was a furnace in there, and all I wanted was to go back out into the snow. Instead, I bought a hat and a couple of hot chocolates. The cool kind, where they give you steamed milk and you swish around a stick covered in chocolate until it melts into deliciousness. Apparently this place also doubled as a hot chocolate shop.
“What happened to you, Charlie? What was so bad that you started running from it?”
“Don’t you think we should talk about you being a thousand miles from home with no place to sleep?”
She half smiled. “I’m a cute American girl. I won’t have trouble finding a place to sleep.”
“Er ….”
“Kidding. Kidding, Charlie. To be honest, I thought the money would hold out longer. And I thought my credit card limit was higher. So, yeah, I’m a little worried about that.”
“I’ll pay for a room for you,” I said.
She smiled. “I kind of hoped you would,” she said.
“You knew I would.” And surprisingly, I wasn’t bitter about it. I kind of thought I might be bitter about someone taking advantage of me.
“No, I didn’t actually. I kind of thought you might get pissed and leave me sitting in a café to fend for myself.”
“I did,” I said.
“You left because you remembered something you’ve been trying to forget. And I followed you because I want to know what it is, and see if I can help.”
“And you needed a place to sleep.”
“And that,” she agreed.
I looked at her. Cougar’s sweatshirt. Wool cap that looked a little too worn in. Coat that looked …
“You stole that coat,” I said.
She arched an eyebrow. “I … may have borrowed this coat.”
“From someone at the café?”
“It’s possible.”
I thought about this for a while. I looked around the record/comic book/hot chocolate shop/post office. “Well then,” I said. “Let’s get out of here. You’re going to need some clothes, and I think X-men T-shirts may not be your style.”
All content on this domain is © Kevin Tumlinson.
Please ask permission to reuse content from this site. (you'll probably get it)
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Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden
Lush 8.5 acre garden featuring many species of local plants, flowers, flora, and fauna.
Key West Travel Guide » Points of Interest » Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden
African Cemetery at Higgs Beach
End of US1 – Mile Marker 0
CLOSED: Casa Antigua
Key West Cemetery
Mallory Square
Pan Am Headquarters
Turtle Kraals Museum
Wyland’s Whaling Wall
Visitors observing a Great Egret at the freshwater pond.
Just a few miles from Old Town Key West is a treasure of nature known as the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden.
Started in the 1930s, this 8.5 acre lush garden serves as an educational and interpretive center for native plants and wildlife of the Florida Keys and Caribbean.
Here you can take a self-guided tour and explore a diverse, natural Florida Keys environment filled with plants and trees native to this tropical habitat, including palms, orchids, and numerous flowering plants. The rich diversity of the region’s plants is emphasized and much of the flora and fauna are protected, endangered, or threatened species.
The Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden also features a fresh water lake, one of only two in the Florida Keys. This is a popular place for local and migratory birds. Often herons, egrets, and many other water birds will be seen here. Fresh-water turtles are also abundant here.
Two gardens are home to many species of flittering, colorful butterflies – a delight to be among.
The Garden is publicly owned and operated as a passive, natural resource-based public outdoor recreational site.
5210 College Road (Stock Island)
Open every day, 10am – 4pm (Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and 4th of July)
Adults – $7
Seniors – $5
Children 12 & under with adult – FREE
Tours with docent – 1.5 hour tours are available upon request and cost $15 per person or $25 per couple. To reserve a docent tour, call 305-296-1504
For more information, visit their website at www.kwbgs.org.
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What is a Farm Mom?
"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'" --Erma Bombeck
I received a great honor this year on Mother's Day. My son graduated from high school and when he climbed up the bleachers in the gymnasium at graduation to deliver a rose and a hug to his mom, I nearly soared through the roof! I was on such a high cloud that day! My kids are very special to me and I would do anything for them. I think they know it, too. Because the second most exciting thing that happened on Mother's Day this year was I won the America's Farmers Farm Mom of the Year for 2012. And my kids nominated me for this award!
First of all, how crazy is that!?! I have no idea how, out of the thousands of amazing farm moms who work every day to raise their families, care for livestock and the land and keep up with the housework, they chose me to be the national Farm Mom. I guess it was the awesome essays that my kids and my aunt wrote to nominate me for that honor. I am truly humbled to be spotlighted out of the crowds of hardworking women. But it got me thinking...what makes a "Farm Mom."
A farm mom can get teenagers out of bed at 5:00 am to round up cattle on vaccination day, but also let her kids sleep in from time to time after they've worked hard on the ranch. Whether or not she works off the farm or ranch is irrelevant, as anyone who lives on a farm is definitely involved in farm work. She has a garden to weed, tomatoes to can, brownies to bake for 4-H tonight, and a conference call at noon. Her chores include laundry and cooking for her family, as well as hosting a late night movie party for the teens, while staying up to check heifers in labor every 3 hours during the night.
When the family puts a day on the calendar to work cattle, a farm mom is in charge of ordering the vaccine and making sure the equipment is in working order, organizing the list of cows and their calves to match up, and scheduling the date with the veterinarian. She gets up early on the day to start a hearty lunch in the crockpot, put the vaccine & equipment in the coolers, load the drinks for the workers and get dressed to work. The kids usually need pulled out of bed, and hauled to the truck, where they awaken on the way to the pasture to put in a full day of physical work--right alongside the Farm Mom and Farm Dad. At lunchtime, a farm mom puts the finishing touches on the meal, cleans up the dishes and heads back outside with the family to finish work all afternoon.
Madonna of the Trail statue in Council Grove, KS. Women have been involved in agriculture since the beginning of ag!
Often a farm mom's days are not over until the sun sets--nearly 9:30 pm in the summertime. But then the laundry needs folded and a grocery list made for the next time she heads to town. Also, she is the short order baker who provides brownies, cookies and cakes for bake sales and church meals, as well as 4-H meetings. She oversees the kids feeding their livestock, and has her own chores to do. She keeps the family calendar and often is the only one who ever checks it! She helps her kids with homework, speeches for 4-H meetings, livestock for the county fair and coordinate a tow truck when they have a breakdown with their car at college (because Dad might pop a cork if he hears that his daughter's car is in the shop AGAIN!).
A farm mom is one of the hardest working people I've ever met. Her job is a true 24/7/365 job! She is always "on the clock"--even on vacation! But it is the best job I've ever had in my entire life!
Please do not think I'm trying to make myself look better--or harder working--or more selfless than any other mother or woman in agriculture. But this is what we all do...we do whatever it takes to keep our family together. A farm mom, a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, a grandmother, a woman in agriculture...we are all very similar. We have things that we all do, and responsibilities that we all fulfill. There are more things that make us alike, than ways that we are different. I am just a mom...who runs a ranch...and who is raising five kids (and a husband).
I'm proud to be the Farm Mom of the Year, but I'm prouder to be just a Farm Mom. Thank you, Monsanto, for shining the light on Farm Moms in America. I'd like you to read the essays for the other four regional winners! They are amazing women! They can be found at: AmericasFarmers.com We're a tough breed, and proud to do what we do. We don't ask for recognition, but when it comes our way, it is gratifying.
My favorite author is Erma Bombeck.She wrote a beautiful, funny story about God creating Mothers.
When God Created Mothers, by Erma Bombeck
"When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into his sixth day of “overtime” when an angel appeared and said, “You’re doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.”
And the Lord said, “Have you read the specs on this order?
She has to be completely washable, but not plastic;
Have 180 movable parts... all replaceable;
Run on black coffee and leftovers;
Have a lap that disappears when she stands up;
A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair;
And six pairs of hands.”
The angel shook her head slowly and said, “Six pairs of hands... no way.” “It’s not the hands that are causing me problems,” said the Lord. “It’s the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have.”
“That’s on the standard model?” asked the angel.
The Lord nodded. “One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, ’What are you kids doing in there?’ when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn’t but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say, ’I understand and I love you’ without so much as uttering a word.”
“Lord,” said the angel, touching His sleeve gently, “Go to bed. Tomorrow...”
“I can’t,” said the Lord, “I’m so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick... can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger... and can get a nine-year-old to stand under a shower.”
The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. “It’s too soft,” she sighed.
“But she’s tough!” said the Lord excitedly. “You cannot imagine what this mother can do or endure.”
“Can it think?”
“Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise,” said the Creator.
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. “There’s a leak,” she pronounced. “I told You You were trying to push too much into this model.”
“It’s not a leak,” said the Lord. “It’s a tear.”
“What’s it for?”
“It’s for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride.”
“You are a genius,” said the angel.
The Lord looked somber. “I didn’t put it there,” He said.
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Well done! You will be an awesome representative for this award.
Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids May 23, 2012 at 9:22 PM
Congratulations and great description of a Farm Mom! Enjoy the next year with the other America's Farmers Farm Moms!
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Wembley girl, 17, in bid to be crowned Miss Teen Africa UK
Ms Narh will represent Ghana at the Miss Teen Africa UK finals in November
A model and community campaigner from Wembley took part in her very first catwalk at the start of her preparations for this year's Miss Teen Africa beauty pageant.
Monique Narh, 17, strutted her stuff for crowds at the West Ham’s Kenya in the Park festival last week alongside fellow hopefuls in this year’s nationwide search for Miss Teen Africa UK.
Ms Narh, who hopes to take the crown for her mother’s native Ghana, said: “ I was kind of nervous before the show as I had to make a two-minute speech as well as model the clothes but so many people I wasn’t expecting to turn up came to support me.”
The beauty pageant hopeful, who is studying for A-Levels at Christ’s College in Finchley, beat off competition from hundreds of young women of African descent to become a contender in this year’s final, which will be held at Stratford Town Hall on November 14.
Following her catwalk debut, Ms Narh will embark on a ‘bootcamp’ to prepare her for the final showdown, in which she will not only compete on catwalk skills but also display her singing talent and make a short speech about her ambitions to set up a charity to support young British Africans.
The model, who is excited and feeling positive about her chances in the competition, said:“I really love spending time with the Miss Teen Africa girls- we are all interested in setting up charities and helping young people.
“I love young people who are passionate.”
If she is crowned Miss Teen Africa, Ms Narh will take up a role as an ambassador for young African people across the UK and will also receive bursaries and funding to support her studies and charitable endeavours.
For more information on Ms Narh’s journey to Miss Teen Africa and to vote for her visit her facebook page Monique4MissTeenAfricaUK.
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Adam H. Charnes
2001 Ross Avenue Suite 4400, Dallas, TX USA 75201
1001 West Fourth Street, Winston-Salem, NC USA 27101
acharnes@kilpatricktownsend.com
Appellate Litigation
Complex Commercial Litigation
Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods
Food, Restaurant & Beverage
Adam Charnes focuses his practice on appellate, constitutional, and complex commercial litigation. Mr. Charnes has extensive experience in cases pending in federal and state courts of appeals across the nation, including the United States Supreme Court. He also has been responsible for a broad range of business litigation matters, including contract, business torts, environmental, copyright, ERISA, and other commercial litigation. He regularly represents clients in constitutional litigation. Mr. Charnes is a fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Appellate Lawyers.
Following law school, Mr. Charnes served as a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy and to Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Prior to joining the firm, he was an associate at a Washington, D.C. law firm and then was an executive-level in-house litigator for a Fortune 500 company. From 2002 to 2003, Mr. Charnes served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy at the United States Department of Justice. At the Office of Legal Policy, he was responsible for various legal policy matters, including counter-terrorism policy and civil justice reform, and for assisting with the selection and confirmation of federal judges.
Mr. Charnes was awarded the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award in July 2003. While at Harvard Law School, he was the recipient of the Sears Prize, awarded to the three students with the top academic performance during their first year of law school. Mr. Charnes was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, and First Amendment Litigation in 2019 and the 11 years immediately preceding. He was also named a "Winston-Salem/Greensboro Lawyer of the Year" in 2019 in the area of Appellate Practice by The Best Lawyers in America®. Mr. Charnes has been listed in the 2016 and the nine immediately preceding editions of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business in the area of General Commercial Litigation. He has been named a North Carolina "Super Lawyer" in 2019 and the seven years immediately preceding for Appellate Law, and one of the top 100 lawyers in North Carolina, by Super Lawyers magazine. Mr. Charnes was named a "Litigation Star" among North Carolina attorneys and a “Fourth Circuit Litigation Star” in the 2013 edition of Benchmark Litigation. He was also named a "Litigation Star" for North Carolina in 2014, 2015, and 2016 by Benchmark Litigation. Mr. Charnes is AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell.*
*CV, BV, and AV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedure's standards and policies.
Currently representing parties in several appeals from decisions by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in inter partes reviews, including Softview LLC v. Kyocera Corp., 592 Fed. Appx. 947, 592 Fed. Appx. 949 (Fed. Cir. 2015), Tandus Flooring, Inc. v. Interface, Inc. (Fed. Cir., pending), and Prolitec, Inc. v. ScentAir Techs. Inc., 607 F. App’x 992 (Fed. Cir. 2015).
Briefed and argued on behalf of DuPont in Big Vision Private Ltd. v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Co., 601 F. App’x 69 (2d Cir. 2015). The case involved claims of unfair competition arising joint laboratory trials.
Represented Ford Motor Co. in Ford Motor Co. v. Johnson, ___ S.W.3d ___, 2015 WL 5093275 (Tex. Ct. App.—Dallas 2015), involving whether venue was proper in this product liability case.
Represented the taxpayer in Kearney Partners Fund, LLC v. United States, ___ F.3d ___, 2015 WL 5944308 (11th Cir. 2015). The case involved the application of the “economic substance” rule to certain foreign currency transactions.
Represented NCR in Astornet Technologies Inc. v. BAE Systems, Inc., 802 F.3d 1271 (Fed. Cir. 2015). The case involved whether the exclusive remedy for patent infringement by federal contractors was a suit against the United States in the Court of Federal Claims.
Briefed and argued on behalf of the defendants in Alabama v. PCI Gaming Auth., 801 F.3d 1278 (11th Cir. 2015). The case involved whether Alabama has a state or federal cause of action to challenge the legality of gaming on certain parcels of tribal lands.
Briefed and argued on behalf of R.J. Reynolds in Tatum v. RJR Pension Inv. Comm., 761 F.3d 346 (4th Cir. 2014). The case involved a class action plaintiff’s appeal of a defense verdict after a bench trial in an ERISA breach-of-fiduciary duty class action.
Briefed and argued on behalf of DuPont defending a $919 million trade secrets verdict in DuPont v. Kolon Industries, Inc., 564 Fed. Appx. 710 (4th Cir. 2014). DuPont alleged, and the jury found, that Kolon stole the trade secrets for DuPont’s Kevlar® product.
Briefed and argued on behalf of Ford Motor Co. in Conley v. Ford Motor Co., 757 S.E.2d 20 (Ga. 2014). Ford appealed a new trial order in a case where Ford prevailed at trial; the order was based on Ford’s alleged failure to disclose its insurers during discovery and voir dire.
Briefed and agued on behalf of a class of state employees in Sanders v. State Personnel Commission, 762 S.E.2d 850 (N.C. 2014). The case involved whether the North Carolina state government violated personnel regulations in the hiring of “temporary” employees for a period of more than one year.
Briefed and argued on behalf of the plaintiffs in IMT, Inc. v. City of Lumberton, 738 S.E.2d 156 (N.C. 2013). Successfully obtained a Supreme Court ruling invalidating a city’s privilege license fees under the North Carolina Constitution’s Just and Equitable Tax Clause.
Briefed and argued on behalf of Nestlé Waters North America in Eureka Water Co. v. Nestlé Waters North America, 690 F.3d 1139 (10th Cir. 2012). Successfully overturned an adverse $14 million jury verdict involving claims of breach of contract and tortious interference with contract.
Briefed and argued on behalf of a class of 500,000 individual Native Americans in Cobell v. Salazar, 679 F.3d 909 (D.C. Cir. 2012). The class action alleged that the United States breached its fiduciary duties to beneficiaries of the Individual Indian Money trust. Successfully defended a landmark $3.4 billion class settlement with the United States government in an appeal in the D.C. Circuit brought by class objectors.
Briefed and argued on behalf of Ford Motor Co. in Stark v. Ford Motor Co., 723 S.E.2d 753 (N.C. 2012). Represented Ford Motor Company in a petition for discretionary review and merits briefing in the North Carolina Supreme Court in an appeal from an adverse products liability ruling in the Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court reversed the lower court ruling against Ford in an opinion establishing favorable products liability law for manufacturers.
Briefed and argued on behalf of plaintiffs in Hest Technologies, Inc. v. State ex rel. Perdue, 725 S.E.2d 10 (N.C. App. 2012), rev’d, 2012 WL 6218202 (N.C. 2012). The case involved a First Amendment challenge to a state law banning electronic sweepstakes.
Successfully represents Reynolds American Inc. in a bench trial of an ERISA class action alleging breach of fiduciary duty. The case arose from the 1999 spin-off of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. from R.J.R. Nabisco. The claims stem from the liquidation of frozen non-employer stock funds and the subsequent appreciation of those securities.
Represents Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp. in a complex breach of contract and tortious interference with contact case arising out of the award of company franchises in the Philippines.
Briefed and argued on behalf of AT&T in Duval Wiedmann, L.L.C. v. Inforocket.com, Inc., 620 F.3d 496 (5th Cir. 2010). The case involves questions of New York contract law and federal patent law.
Briefed on behalf of one of the defendants in Nisqually Indian Tribe v. Gregoire, 623 F.3d 923 (9th Cir. 2010). The case involved questions of federal Indian law.
Co-counsel for the Tohono O’odhom Nation in United States v. Tohono O’odhom Nation, 131 S. Ct. 1723 (2011). The case involved the scope of the Court of Federal Claims’ jurisdiction.
Briefed and argued on behalf of the defendant in Olin Corp. v. P.H. Glatfelter Co., 369 Fed. App’x 430 (4th Cir. 2010). The case involved an alleged breach of an indemnification contract.
Briefed and argued on behalf of South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford in Edwards v. South Carolina, 383 S.C. 82, 678 S.E.2d 412 (2009), and Sanford v. McMaster, No. 3:09-cv-01322-JFA (D.S.C.). The cases involved the constitutionality of a South Carolina statute directing the Governor to accept, over his objection, certain federal stimulus funds.
Briefed on behalf of Zino Davidoff in Zino Davidoff SA v. CVS Corp., 571 F.3d 238 (2d Cir. 2009). The case involved whether the sale of products from which production codes were removed constituted trademark infringement.
Briefed and argued on behalf of Wake Forest University’s North Carolina Baptist Hospital in North Carolina Baptist Hosp. v. Novant Health, Inc., 195 N.C. App. 721, 673 S.E.2d 794 (2009). The case involved an appeal of a preliminary injunction prohibiting a competitor from opposing a certificate of need application.
Co-counsel for DuPont in Kennedy v. Plan Administrator for DuPont Savings & Investment Plan, 129 S. Ct. 865 (2009). The case involved the impact of a divorce decree that did not qualify as a “QDRO” under ERISA.
Represented the City of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, N.C., in Blinson v. State of North Carolina, 651 S.E.2d 268 (N.C. App. 2007), appeal dismissed & petition for discr. review denied, 362 N.C. 355, 661 S.E.2d 240 (2008). The plaintiffs asserted constitutional and statutory challenges to economic development incentives given to Dell, Inc.
Argued on behalf of BellSouth in Bryan v. BellSouth Communications, Inc., 492 F.3d 231 (4th Cir. 2007). The appeal involved the propriety of a district court injunction against further litigation of a class action in state court.
Briefed and argued on behalf of Nestlé in Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation v. Nestlé Waters North America, Inc., 479 Mich. 280, 737 N.W.2d 447 (2007), and Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation v. Nestlé Waters North America, Inc., 269 Mich. App. 25, 709 N.W.2d 174 (2005). The case involved a challenge under Michigan’s common law of groundwater, state environmental law, and the public trust doctrine to groundwater pumping by Nestlé Waters.
Briefed and argued on behalf of the Animal Legal Defense Fund in Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Woodley, 181 N.C. App. 594, 640 S.E.2d 777 (2007), appeal dismissed & petition for discr. review denied, 361 N.C. 690, 652 S.E.2d 254 (2007). The case involved the constitutionality of a statute granting broad standing to “any person” to sue for the removal of mistreated animals.
Briefed and argued on behalf of Nestlé Waters in Nestlé Waters North America, Inc. v. Bollman, 505 F.3d 498 (6th Cir. 2007). The case involved the arbitrability of a contractual dispute.
Argued on behalf of the defendants in Shepard v. Ocwen Federal Bank, 361 N.C. 137, 638 S.E.2d. 197 (2006). The case involved the statute of limitations for usury.
Briefed and argued on behalf of Lowe’s in General Elec. Co. v. Lowe’s Home Centers, Inc., 279 Ga. 77, 608 S.E.2d 636 (2005). The case involved the application of the economic loss rule under Georgia tort law.
Briefed and argued on behalf of WorldCom in Guglielmo v. WorldCom, Inc., 148 N.H. 309, 808 A.2d 65 (2002). The case involved unfair trade practices claims.
Represented former police officer Bruce Abramski in a successful cert petition and in merits briefing before the U.S. Supreme Court. The case concerned the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to restrict when lawful gun owners can purchase firearms for other lawful gun owners. Abramski was the most prominent gun case of the October 2013 term and drew significant media attention.
Treaty Fishing Rights and Sovereign Immunity at the Supreme Court
4th Circuit Civil Appeals Practice Notes
Kilpatrick Townsend Attorneys Named 2019 North Carolina Super Lawyers
Jury Is Out on Kavanaugh Impact on SCOTUS
Motion for Stay Granted in High-Profile Indian Child Welfare Act Case
Official Statement: Indian Child Welfare Case Brackeen v. Zinke Ruling
Harvard Law School, J.D. (1991) magna cum laude
Princeton University, A.B. (1988) summa cum laude
North Carolina (2003)
District of Columbia (1994)
Pennsylvania (inactive) (1993)
Court Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court (1997)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (1998)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (2007)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (2011)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (1994)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (2009)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit (2000)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (2011)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2007)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit (2010)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (1999)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (1993)
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (2009)
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (1994)
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan (1998)
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina (2004)
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina (2005)
U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (2005)
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (2015)
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas (2015)
U.S. Supreme Court - Anthony M. Kennedy
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit - J. Harvie Wilkinson, III
Judicial Conference of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, Permanent Member
Fellow, American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
Master, William “Mac” Taylor, Jr., American Inn of Court
Federal Bar Association, Middle District of North Carolina Chapter, Past President
North Carolina Bar Association, Appellate Practice Section, Member
Texas State Bar, Appellate Section, Member
Dallas Bar Association, Appellate Law Section, Member
Harvard Law Review, Past Executive Editor
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Photography competition success for Jenny
Stonehaven photographer Jenny Anderson.
Published: 15:17 Tuesday 20 September 2016
North East Scotland College photography graduate Jenny Anderson from Stonehaven has been named runner up in a national photography competition.
Jenny completed her HND in photography at the College’s Aberdeen City Campus in the summer and entered the competition on a whim, thinking she stood no chance of winning.
She said, “Getting the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) College Award 2016 runner up certificate in the post was such an exciting moment – for the first time ever I felt really proud of myself. The standard of work in the competition was so high I was surprised to have been recognised let alone being named runner-up!”
Jenny has been interested in photography since she was quite young. She said, “I received my first SLR camera when I was around the age of 12. Prior to this I had a small point and shoot camera which I hardly ever put down.” Jenny was then fortunate to find some local professional photographers who were willing to mentor her over a number of years. She said, “Louise Kerr and Kyle Hamilton from Hamilton Kerr Studios in Kirriemuir taught me everything from the basics of photography to some of the more complex details.”
After her fourth year at Mackie Academy, Jenny decided to leave school and enrolled in an NC Level 6 photography class at NESCol. She said, “My parents have always been very supportive and encouraged me to follow my passion which helped give me the confidence to leave school. It meant I was able to concentrate on my photography skills full-time which wouldn’t have been possible at school. It was the best decision for me and I’ve never looked back.”
Jenny excelled at college and progressed to HND Photography on completing the NC course. Once again, Jenny’s lecturers were impressed with her skills and she received ‘A’ grades for both graded units. At the end of the course, Jenny and her classmates were given the opportunity to display their work at the College’s End of Year Creative Industries Show. Jenny’s work was highly praised by judges and she was awarded Best Work on the Wall for the photography section.
Now that her time at NESCol is complete, Jenny has decided to take some time out. She said, “In October, I’m going on a gap year of travel and work with my boyfriend to Thailand and then Australia. Having spent so much time in education I want to give myself time to relax, breathe and see different cultures. Of course, this will also help me build a portfolio for when I return. I’m hoping that my time away will help me decide what path to take next. I have a few options and ideas lined up, but right now I want to take my time and explore - after all I’m still young! The photographic opportunities in both countries will be vast, and I’m excited to capture my adventures to share with my friends and family. Saying all this, my love for fine-art photography is strong. I would love to go to Glasgow School of Art to study and practise this field further, but for now my travel plans are coming first.”
NESCol photography lecturer and ambassador for BIPP Karen Catto said, “I’m delighted that Jenny has won runner up in the BIPP College Awards. Jenny has worked very hard over the last three years and it’s been a pleasure to teach her and see her work evolve. The BIPP College Award is a high profile, national award and it allows us to showcase the high standard of work being produced at NESCol generally and by Jenny in particular.”
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Home > Find > Government Information > Resources by Subject
Climate at a Glance
Temperature, precipitation, and other time series data can be selected by state or region and graphed.
Climate Change Atlas
Distribution maps and tables for climate change by state and county.
Climatological Data Publications by State
Includes publications for New England and other states.
Global Change Master Directory
Descriptions and access to Earth science data sets including climate data.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Comprehensive reports on global warming and climate change.
National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
Maintains the world's largest climate data archive and provides climatological services and data. Some data is free to all users; some data must be accessed at UNH. Formerly the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).
National Hazard Statistics
Statistics from National Weather Service on fatalities, injuries, and damages caused by floods, storms, lightning and other weather events.
National Water & Climate Center
Links to climate, snow, and soils data.
NH State Climate Office
New Hampshire climatological data.
Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC)
Established in 1983, the NRCC is located at Cornell University and serves the 12-state region that includes: Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia.
Physical Sciences Division
Conducts weather and climate research to observe and understand Earth's physical environment, and to improve weather and climate predictions on global-to-local scales. Part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Earth System Research Laboratory.
UNH Weather Station
UNH weather station on top of Morse Hall.
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Subchapter U. AIR POLLUTION CONTROLS
Part 1027. FEES FOR ENGINE, VEHICLE, AND EQUIPMENT COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS
Section 1027.150. What definitions apply to this part?
40 CFR § 1027.150 - What definitions apply to this part?
§ 1027.150 What definitions apply to this part?
The definitions in this section apply to this part. As used in this part, all undefined terms have the meaning the Act or the standard-setting part gives to them. The definitions follow:
Application for Certification means a manufacturer's submission of an application for certification.
California-only certificate is a certificate of conformity issued by EPA showing compliance with emission standards established by California.
Federal certificate is a certificate of conformity issued by EPA showing compliance with EPA emission standards specified in one of the standard-setting parts specified in § 1027.101(a).
Light-duty means relating to light-duty vehicles and light-duty trucks.
Manufacturer has the meaning given in section 216(1) of the Act. In general, this term includes any person who manufactures an engine, vehicle, vessel, or piece of equipment for sale in the United States or otherwise introduces a new engine, vehicle, vessel, or piece of equipment into commerce in the United States. This includes importers who import such products for resale, but not dealers.
Total number of certificates issued means the number of certificates for which fees have been paid. This term is not intended to represent multiple certificates that are issued within a single family or test group.
Void has the meaning given in 40 CFR 1068.30.
We (us, our) means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and any authorized representatives.
[73 FR 59184, Oct. 8, 2008, as amended at 75 FR 22982, Apr. 30, 2010]
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Title 48. Federal Acquisition Regulations System
Chapter 1. FEDERAL ACQUISITION REGULATION
Subchapter H. CLAUSES AND FORMS
Part 52. SOLICITATION PROVISIONS AND CONTRACT CLAUSES
Subpart 52.2. Text of Provisions and Clauses
Section 52.212-5. Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items.
48 CFR § 52.212-5 - Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items.
52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items.
As prescribed in 12.301(b)(4), insert the following clause:
Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items (MAY 2019)
(a) The Contractor shall comply with the following Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) clauses, which are incorporated in this contract by reference, to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items:
(1)52.203-19, Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements (JAN 2017) (section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) and its successor provisions in subsequent appropriations acts (and as extended in continuing resolutions)).
__ (2) 52.204-23, Prohibition on Contracting for Hardware, Software, and Services Developed or Provided by Kaspersky Lab and Other Covered Entities (JUL 2018) (Section 1634 of Pub. L. 115-91).
(3)52.209-10, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (NOV 2015).
(4)52.233-3, Protest After Award (AUG 1996) (31 U.S.C. 3553).
(5)52.233-4, Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim (OCT 2004) (Public Laws 108-77 and 108-78 (19 U.S.C. 3805 note)).
(b) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (b) that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: [Contracting Officer check as appropriate.]
__ (1) 52.203-6, Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (SEP 2006), with Alternate I (OCT 1995) (41 U.S.C. 4704 and 10 U.S.C. 2402).
__ (2) 52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (OCT 2015) (41 U.S.C. 3509).
__ (3) 52.203-15, Whistleblower Protections under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (JUN 2010) (Section 1553 of Pub. L. 111-5). (Applies to contracts funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.)
__ (4) 52.204-10, Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (OCT 2018) (Pub. L. 109-282) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).
__ (5) [Reserved]
__ (6) 52.204-14, Service Contract Reporting Requirements (OCT 2016) (Pub. L. 111-117, section 743 of Div. C).
__ (7) 52.204-15, Service Contract Reporting Requirements for Indefinite-Delivery Contracts (OCT 2016) (Pub. L. 111-117, section 743 of Div. C).
__ (8) 52.209-6, Protecting the Government's Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment. (Oct 2015) (31 U.S.C. 6101 note).
__ (9) 52.209-9, Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (OCT 2018) (41 U.S.C. 2313).
__ (10) [Reserved]
__ (11)(i) 52.219-3, Notice of HUBZone Set-Aside or Sole-Source Award (NOV 2011) (15 U.S.C. 657a).
__ (ii) Alternate I (NOV 2011) of 52.219-3.
__ (12)(i) 52.219-4, Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (OCT 2014) (if the offeror elects to waive the preference, it shall so indicate in its offer) (15 U.S.C. 657a).
__ (ii) Alternate I (JAN 2011) of 52.219-4.
__ (14)(i) 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (NOV 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644).
__ (ii) Alternate I (NOV 2011).
__ (iii) Alternate II (NOV 2011).
__ (15)(i) 52.219-7, Notice of Partial Small Business Set-Aside (JUN 2003) (15 U.S.C. 644).
__ (ii) Alternate I (OCT 1995) of 52.219-7.
__ (iii) Alternate II (MAR 2004) of 52.219-7.
__ (16) 52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (OCT 2018) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)).
__ (17)(i) 52.219-9, Small Business Subcontracting Plan (AUG 2018) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(4)).
__ (iii) Alternate II (NOV 2016) of 52.219-9.
__ (iv) Alternate III (NOV 2016) of 52.219-9.
__ (v) Alternate IV (AUG 2018) of 52.219-9.
__ (18) 52.219-13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders (NOV 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644(r)).
__ (19) 52.219-14, Limitations on Subcontracting (JAN 2017) (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(14)).
__ (20) 52.219-16, Liquidated Damages - Subcontracting Plan (JAN 1999) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(4)(F)(i)).
__ (21) 52.219-27, Notice of Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Set-Aside (NOV 2011) (15 U.S.C. 657f).
__ (22) 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Rerepresentation (JUL 2013) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)).
__ (23) 52.219-29, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business Concerns (Dec 2015) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).
__ (24) 52.219-30, Notice of Set-Aside for, or Sole Source Award to, Women-Owned Small Business Concerns Eligible Under the Women-Owned Small Business Program (Dec 2015) (15 U.S.C. 637(m)).
__ (25) 52.222-3, Convict Labor (JUN 2003) (E.O. 11755).
__ (26) 52.222-19, Child Labor - Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (JAN 2018) (E.O. 13126).
__ (27) 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (APR 2015).
__ (28)(i) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (SEPT 2016) (E.O. 11246).
__ (ii) Alternate I (Feb 1999) of 52.222-26.
__ (29)(i) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (OCT 2015)(38 U.S.C. 4212).
__ (ii) Alternate I (July 2014) of 52.222-35.
__ (30)(i) 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (JUL 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793).
__ (31) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (FEB 2016) (38 U.S.C. 4212).
__ (32) 52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (DEC 2010) (E.O. 13496).
__ (33)(i) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (JAN 2019) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).
__ (ii) Alternate I (Mar 2015) of 52.222-50 (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).
__ (34) 52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (Oct 2015). (E. O. 12989). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items or certain other types of commercial items as prescribed in 22.1803.)
__ (35)(i) 52.223-9, Estimate of Percentage of Recovered Material Content for EPA-Designated Items (MAY 2008) (42 U.S.C. 6962(c)(3)(A)(ii)). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items.)
__ (ii) Alternate I (MAY 2008) of 52.223-9 (42 U.S.C. 6962(i)(2)(C)). (Not applicable to the acquisition of commercially available off-the-shelf items.)
__ (36) 52.223-11, Ozone-Depleting Substances and High Global Warming Potential Hydrofluorocarbons (JUN 2016) (E.O. 13693).
__ (37) 52.223-12, Maintenance, Service, Repair, or Disposal of Refrigeration Equipment and Air Conditioners (JUN 2016) (E.O. 13693).
__ (38)(i) 52.223-13, Acquisition of EPEAT®-Registered Imaging Equipment (JUN 2014) (E.O.s 13423 and 13514).
__ (ii) Alternate I (OCT 2015) of 52.223-13.
__ (39)(i) 52.223-14, Acquisition of EPEAT®-Registered Televisions (Jun 2014) (E.O.s 13423 and 13514).
(ii)Alternate I (Jun 2014) of 52.223-14.
__ (40) 52.223-15, Energy Efficiency in Energy-Consuming Products (DEC 2007) (42 U.S.C. 8259b).
__ (41)(i) 52.223-16, Acquisition of EPEAT®-Registered Personal Computer Products (OCT 2015) (E.O.s 13423 and 13514).
__ (ii) Alternate I (Jun 2014) of 52.223-16.
__ (42) 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (AUG 2011)
__ (43) 52.223-20, Aerosols (JUN 2016) (E.O. 13693).
__ (44) 52.223-21, Foams (JUN 2016) (E.O. 13693).
__ (45)(i) 52.224-3, Privacy Training (JAN 2017) (5 U.S.C. 552a).
__ (46) 52.225-1, Buy American - Supplies (
) (41 U.S.C. chapter 83).
__ (47)(i) 52.225-3, Buy American - Free Trade Agreements - Israeli Trade Act (
) (41 U.S.C. chapter 83, 19 U.S.C. 3301 note, 19 U.S.C. 2112 note, 19 U.S.C. 3805 note, 19 U.S.C. 4001 note, Pub. L. 103-182, 108-77, 108-78, 108-286, 108-302, 109-53, 109-169, 109-283, 110-138, 112-41, 112-42, and 112-43.
__ (ii) Alternate I (
) of 52.225-3.
__ (iii) Alternate II (
__ (iv) Alternate III (
__ (48) 52.225-5, Trade Agreements (AUG 2018) 19 U.S.C. 2501, et seq.,19 U.S.C. 3301 note).
__ (49) 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (JUNE 2008) (E.O.'s, proclamations, and statutes administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury).
__ (50) 52.225-26, Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Outside the United States (OCT 2016) (Section 862, as amended, of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008; 10 U.S.C. 2302 Note).
__ (51) 52.226-4, Notice of Disaster or Emergency Area Set-Aside (NOV 2007) (42 U.S.C. 5150).
__ (52) 52.226-5, Restrictions on Subcontracting Outside Disaster or Emergency Area (NOV 2007) (42 U.S.C. 5150).
__ (53) 52.232-29, Terms for Financing of Purchases of Commercial Items (FEB 2002) (41 U.S.C.4505, 10 U.S.C. 2307(f)).
__ (54) 52.232-30, Installment Payments for Commercial Items (JAN 2017) (41 U.S.C. 4505, 10 U.S.C. 2307(f)).
__ (55) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer - System for Award Management (OCT 2018) (31 U.S.C. 3332).
__ (56) 52.232-34, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer - Other than System for Award Management (JUL 2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332).
__ (57) 52.232-36, Payment by Third Party (MAY 2014) (31 U.S.C. 3332).
__ (58) 52.239-1, Privacy or Security Safeguards (AUG 1996) (5 U.S.C. 552a).
__ (59) 52.242-5, Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (JAN 2017)(15 U.S.C. 637(d)(13)).
__ (60)(i) 52.247-64, Preference for Privately Owned U.S.-Flag Commercial Vessels (Feb 2006) (46 U.S.C. Appx. 1241(b) and 10 U.S.C. 2631).
__ (ii) Alternate I (Apr 2003) of 52.247-64.
__ (iii) Alternate II (Feb 2006) of 52.247-64.
(c) The Contractor shall comply with the FAR clauses in this paragraph (c), applicable to commercial services, that the Contracting Officer has indicated as being incorporated in this contract by reference to implement provisions of law or Executive orders applicable to acquisitions of commercial items: [Contracting Officer check as appropriate.]
__ (1) 52.222-17, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers (May 2014) (E.O. 13495).
__ (2) 52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (AUG 2018) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).
__ (3) 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires (MAY 2014) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67).
__ (4) 52.222-43, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards-Price Adjustment (Multiple Year and Option Contracts) (AUG 2018) (29 U.S.C. 206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67).
__ (5) 52.222-44, Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards - Price Adjustment (MAY 2014) (29 U.S.C 206 and 41 U.S.C. chapter 67).
__ (6) 52.222-51, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment - Requirements (MAY 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).
__ (7) 52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain Services - Requirements (MAY 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).
__ (8) 52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (DEC 2015).
__ (9) 52.222-62, Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (JAN 2017) (E.O. 13706).
__ (10) 52.226-6, Promoting Excess Food Donation to Nonprofit Organizations (MAY 2014) (42 U.S.C. 1792).
(d)Comptroller General Examination of Record. The Contractor shall comply with the provisions of this paragraph (d) if this contract was awarded using other than sealed bid, is in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold, and does not contain the clause at 52.215-2, Audit and Records - Negotiation.
(1) The Comptroller General of the United States, or an authorized representative of the Comptroller General, shall have access to and right to examine any of the Contractor's directly pertinent records involving transactions related to this contract.
(2) The Contractor shall make available at its offices at all reasonable times the records, materials, and other evidence for examination, audit, or reproduction, until 3 years after final payment under this contract or for any shorter period specified in FAR Subpart 4.7, Contractor Records Retention, of the other clauses of this contract. If this contract is completely or partially terminated, the records relating to the work terminated shall be made available for 3 years after any resulting final termination settlement. Records relating to appeals under the disputes clause or to litigation or the settlement of claims arising under or relating to this contract shall be made available until such appeals, litigation, or claims are finally resolved.
(3) As used in this clause, records include books, documents, accounting procedures and practices, and other data, regardless of type and regardless of form. This does not require the Contractor to create or maintain any record that the Contractor does not maintain in the ordinary course of business or pursuant to a provision of law.
(1) Notwithstanding the requirements of the clauses in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this clause, the Contractor is not required to flow down any FAR clause, other than those in this paragraph (e)(1) of this paragraph in a subcontract for commercial items. Unless otherwise indicated below, the extent of the flow down shall be as required by the clause -
(i)52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (Oct 2015) (41 U.S.C. 3509).
(ii)52.203-19, Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements (JAN 2017) (section 743 of Division E, Title VII, of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (Pub. L. 113-235) and its successor provisions in subsequent appropriations acts (and as extended in continuing resolutions)).
(iii)52.204-23, Prohibition on Contracting for Hardware, Software, and Services Developed or Provided by Kaspersky Lab and Other Covered Entities (JUL 2018) (Section 1634 of Pub. L. 115-91).
(iv)52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (OCT 2018) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)), in all subcontracts that offer further subcontracting opportunities. If the subcontract (except subcontracts to small business concerns) exceeds $700,000 ($1.5 million for construction of any public facility), the subcontractor must include 52.219-8 in lower tier subcontracts that offer subcontracting opportunities.
(v)52.222-17, Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers (MAY 2014) (E.O. 13495). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (l) of FAR clause 52.222-17.
(vi)52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (APR 2015).
(vii)52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (SEP 2016) (E.O. 11246).
(viii)52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Oct 2015) (38 U.S.C. 4212).
(ix)52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (July 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793).
(x)52.222-37, Employment Reports on Veterans (FEB 2016) (38 U.S.C. 4212).
(xi)52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (DEC 2010) (E.O. 13496). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (f) of FAR clause 52.222-40.
(xii)52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (AUG 2018)(41 U.S.C. chapter 67).
(xiii) __ (A) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (JAN 2019) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).
__ (B) Alternate I (Mar 2015) of 52.222-50 (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).
(xiv)52.222-51, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment - Requirements (MAY 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).
(xv)52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain Services - Requirements (MAY 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).
(xvi)52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (Oct 2015) (E. O. 12989).
(xvii)52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (DEC 2015).
(xviii)52.222-62 Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (JAN 2017) (E.O. 13706).
(xix)
(A)52.224-3, Privacy Training (JAN 2017) (5 U.S.C. 552a).
(B)Alternate I (JAN 2017) of 52.224-3.
(xx)52.225-26, Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Outside the United States (OCT 2016) (Section 862, as amended, of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008; 10 U.S.C. 2302 Note).
(xxi)52.226-6, Promoting Excess Food Donation to Nonprofit Organizations (MAY 2014) (42 U.S.C. 1792). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (e) of FAR clause 52.226-6.
(xxii)52.247-64, Preference for Privately Owned U.S.-Flag Commercial Vessels (FEB 2006) (46 U.S.C. Appx. 1241(b) and 10 U.S.C. 2631). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (d) of FAR clause 52.247-64.
(2) While not required, the Contractor May include in its subcontracts for commercial items a minimal number of additional clauses necessary to satisfy its contractual obligations.
(End of clause)
Alternate I (JULY 2014). As prescribed in 12.301(b)(4)(i), delete paragraph (d) from the basic clause, redesignate paragraph (e) as paragraph (d), and revise the reference to “paragraphs (a), (b), (c), or (d) of this clause” in the redesignated paragraph (d) to read “paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this clause”.
Alternate II (JAN 2019). As prescribed in 12.301(b)(4)(ii), substitute the following paragraphs (d)(1) and (e)(1) for paragraphs (d)(1) and (e)(1) of the basic clause as follows:
(1) The Comptroller General of the United States, an appropriate Inspector General appointed under section 3 or 8G of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.), or an authorized representative of either of the foregoing officials shall have access to and right to -
(i) Examine any of the Contractor's or any subcontractors' records that pertain to, and involve transactions relating to, this contract; and
(ii) Interview any officer or employee regarding such transactions.
(1) Notwithstanding the requirements of the clauses in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), of this clause, the Contractor is not required to flow down any FAR clause in a subcontract for commercial items, other than -
(i)Paragraph (d) of this clause. This paragraph flows down to all subcontracts, except the authority of the Inspector General under paragraph (d)(1)(ii) does not flow down; and
(ii)Those clauses listed in this paragraph (e)(1). Unless otherwise indicated below, the extent of the flow down shall be as required by the clause -
(A)52.203-13, Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct (Oct 2015) (41 U.S.C. 3509).
(B)52.203 - 15, Whistleblower Protections Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (JUN 2010) (Section 1553 of Pub. L. 111-5).
(C)52.204-23, Prohibition on Contracting for Hardware, Software, and Services Developed or Provided by Kaspersky Lab and Other Covered Entities (JUL 2018) (Section 1634 of Pub. L. 115-91).
(D)52.219-8, Utilization of Small Business Concerns (OCT 2018) (15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)), in all subcontracts that offer further subcontracting opportunities. If the subcontract (except subcontracts to small business concerns) exceeds $700,000 ($1.5 million for construction of any public facility), the subcontractor must include 52.219-8 in lower tier subcontracts that offer subcontracting opportunities.
(E)52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (APR 2015).
(F)52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (SEP 2016) (E.O. 11246).
(G)52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Veterans (Oct 2015) (38 U.S.C. 4212).
(H)52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (July 2014) (29 U.S.C. 793).
(I)52.222-40, Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (DEC 2010) (E.O. 13496). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (f) of FAR clause 52.222-40.
(J)52.222-41, Service Contract Labor Standards (AUG 2018)(41 U.S.C. chapter 67).
(K) __ (1) 52.222-50, Combating Trafficking in Persons (JAN 2019) (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).
__ (2) Alternate I (Mar 2015) of 52.222-50 (22 U.S.C. chapter 78 and E.O. 13627).
(L)52.222-51, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment - Requirements (MAY 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).
(M)52.222-53, Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Certain Services - Requirements (MAY 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 67).
(N)52.222-54, Employment Eligibility Verification (Oct 2015) (Executive Order 12989).
(O)52.222-55, Minimum Wages Under Executive Order 13658 (DEC 2015).
(P)52.222-62, Paid Sick Leave Under Executive Order 13706 (JAN 2017)(E.O. 13706).
(Q)(1) 52.224-3, Privacy Training (JAN 2017) (5 U.S.C. 552a).
(2)Alternate I (JAN 2017) of 52.224-3.
(R)52.225-26, Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Outside the United States (OCT 2016) (Section 862, as amended, of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008; 10 U.S.C. 2302 Note).
(S)52.226-6, Promoting Excess Food Donation to Nonprofit Organizations. (MAY 2014) (42 U.S.C. 1792). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (e) of FAR clause 52.226-6.
(T)52.247-64, Preference for Privately Owned U.S.-Flag Commercial Vessels (FEB 2006) (46 U.S.C. Appx. 1241(b) and 10 U.S.C. 2631). Flow down required in accordance with paragraph (d) of FAR clause 52.247-64.
[60 FR 48255, Sept. 18, 1995]
Editorial Note:
For Federal Register citations affecting section 52.212-5, see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov.
National Labor Relations Act
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Inspector General Act of 1978
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UNITED STATES v. JACKSON.
302 U.S. 628 (58 S.Ct. 390, 82 L.Ed. 488)
Argued: Jan. 5, 6, 1938.
Decided: Jan. 17, 1938.
opinion, BLACK [HTML]
Messrs. Homer S. Cummings, Atty. Gen., and Fendall Marbury, of Washington, D.C., for the United States.
Messrs. R. K. Wise, of Columbia, S.C., and Warren E. Miller, of Washington, D.C., for respondent.
The question is whether the Economy Act 1 repealed section 401 of the War Risk Insurance Act 2 and thereby deprived veterans and their beneficiaries of 'automatic insurance.' In this suit, brought by the son of a soldier who died in service, both the District Court 3 and the Circuit Court of Appeals 4 were of the opinion that the Economy Act did not terminate the rights of a beneficiary of automatic insurance. We granted certiorari limiting consideration to the question of the repeal of the law providing automatic insurance. 5
During the World War, it was the policy of the government to allow soldiers one hundred and twenty days after enlistment or drafting within which to apply for and purchase insurance. For this period, it was intended that they be protected as though they had bought government insurance. In furtherance of this policy, Congress provided that all veterans, who died or became totally and permanently disabled within one hundred and twenty days after their entrance into active service, should be automatically 'deemed to have applied for and to have been granted insurance.'
It is here contended that the words of the Economy Act repealing 'other allowances' and 'laws * * * pertaining to yearly renewable term insurance' are broad enough to include a repeal of automatic insurance. With this contention we cannot agree.
Repeals by implication are not favored. A law is not to be construed as impliedly repealing a prior law unless no other reasonable construction can be applied. 6
While the Economy Act explicitly repealed all laws which granted 'medical or hospital treatment, domiciliary care, compensation and other allowances, pension, disability allowance, * * * retirement pay * * * and all laws granting or pertaining to yearly renewable term insurance,' Congress did not include 'automatic insurance' in this detailed list of benefits repealed.
The words 'other allowances' have a well settled meaning. 'Allowances,' in veterans' legislation, in the Veterans' Bureau, and in Army terminology, 7 has never been considered synonymous with, or inclusive of, automatic insurance; this word ordinarily refers to extra and special items (in addition to regular compensation) such as nurse hire, training pay, and 'travel pay and allowances.' 8
The words 'all laws granting or pertaining to yearly renewable term insurance' refer only to laws which are enactments upon the subject of yearly renewable term insurance. Section 401 did not grant yearly renewable term insurance, nor is it an enactment upon that subject. It provided for those soldiers who died in service before they had an opportunity to purchase yearly renewable term insurance or any other type of insurance. This law, therefore, did not pertain to yearly renewable term insurance but to protection for soldiers who never had and never could obtain yearly renewable term insurance.
It is to be remembered that automatic insurance applied to that particular group of American soldiers who either were killed, died, or became wholly or permanently incapacitated before they had a reasonable opportunity to obtain insurance of any kind. It may be that Congress did not believe it proper to economize at the expense of those veterans who came out of the army with health completely destroyed or to the detriment of the beneficiaries of soldiers who lost their lives in service without a reasonable opportunity to apply for insurance.
Certainly the reason which prompted the passage of the express provisions of section 401 is such that, in the absence of subsequent legislation equally express, they are not overthrown by mere inference or implication. 9 Only clear and unequivocal language would justify a conclusion that benefits, provided by a grateful government because of death and permanent incapacity of its soldiers, are to be wholly withdrawn for reasons of economy. Special provisions benefiting either soldiers who became incurably helpless in the army or the dependents of soldiers who died or were killed in the service of their country cannot justifiably be repealed by implication. 10 There is no irreconcilable conflict between section 401 and the Economy Act and effect can reasonably be given to both. 11
The judgment of the Circuit Court of Appeals is therefore affirmed.
Mr. Justice CARDOZO took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.
CC∅ | Transformed by Public.Resource.Org
Section 17, Act of March 20, 1933, c. 3, 48 Stat. 11, 38 U.S.C.A. § 717: 'All public laws granting medical or hospital treatment, domiciliary care, compensation and other allowances, pension, disability allowance, or retirement pay to veterans and the dependents of veterans of * * * the World War, * * * are hereby repealed, and all laws granting or pertaining to yearly renewable term insurance are hereby repealed, but payments in accordance with such laws shall continue to (June 30, 1933) the lst day of the third calendar month following the month during which this Act is enacted.'
Section 401 of the War Risk Insurance Act, as amended Dec. 24, 1919, c. 16, § 12, 41 Stat. 371, 375: 'Any person in the active service on or after the 6th day of April, 1917, and before the 11th day of November, 1918, who, while in such service, and before the expiration of one hundred and twenty days after October 15, 1917, or one hundred and twenty days after entrance into or employment in the active service, becomes or has become totally and permanently disabled, or dies or has died, without having applied for insurance, shall be deemed to have applied for and to have been granted insurance, payable to such person during his life in monthly installments of $25 each. * * * If he shall die either before he shall have received any of such monthly installments or before he shall have received two hundred and forty of such monthly installments, then $25 per month shall be paid to * * * his child: * * * Provided, however, That no more than two hundred and forty of such monthly installments * * * shall be so paid.'
14 F.Supp. 132.
4 Cir., 89 F.2d 572.
302 U.S. 673, 58 S.Ct. 28, 82 L.Ed. -.
United States v. Yuginovich, 256 U.S. 450, 41 S.Ct. 551, 65 L.Ed. 1043; United States v. Noce, 268 U.S. 613, 45 S.Ct. 610, 69 L.Ed. 1116; see Cope v. Cope, 137 U.S. 682, 11 S.Ct. 222; 31 L.Ed. 832.
See, as to meaning of 'allowances,' Jones v. United States, 60 Ct.Cl. 552, 567; United States v. Landers, 92 U.S. 77, 23 L.Ed. 603.
An illustration of the meaning of 'allowances' appears in that section 17 of the Economy Act, 38 U.S.C.A. § 717, which is relied upon as the repeal, to wit: 'That, subject to such regulations as the President may prescribe, allowances may be granted for burial and funeral expenses and transportation of the bodies (including preparation of the bodies) of deceased veterans of any war to the places of burial thereof in a sum not to exceed $107 in any one case.'
Rosencrans v. United States, 165 U.S. 257, 17 S.Ct. 302, 41 L.Ed. 708.
Cf. United States v. Greathouse, 166 U.S. 601, 17 S.Ct. 701, 41 L.Ed. 1130.
Cf. Washington v. Miller, 235 U.S. 422, 428, 35 S.Ct. 119, 59 L.Ed. 295; see, also, Posadas v. National City Bank, 296 U.S. 497, 503 et seq., 56 S.Ct. 349, 352, 80 L.Ed. 351.
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540-pound alligator hit by car, caught in Texas neighborhood
By Megan Menchaca mmenchaca@statesman.com
For most people, the daily morning commute probably doesn’t involve a a 540-pound alligator. But that’s exactly what some residents of one Texas neighborhood saw on Wednesday.
According to TV station KTRK, the Houston Police Department responded to a 9-foot alligator on a street in Clear Lake at around 5:30 a.m. The gator moved from a local bayou to dry land after heavy rain Tuesday evening, according to the station.
″(Alligators) get out of the water when it is lightning,” gator wrangler Timothy Deramus told KTRK. “They come up out of the water to get away from being electrocuted.”
However, according to the TV station, the gator became lost and ended up in the middle of Garden Creek Way. Deramus said the gator was hit by a car Wednesday morning and suffered injuries that were not life threatening.
According to the station, the gator’s injuries will be treated in the city of Anahuac, which was designated as the “Alligator Capital of Texas” by the Texas Legislature in 1989. The rest of the alligator’s life will be spent in the city on a gator farm.
Texas Parks & Wildlife said people should leave wild gators alone and report any nuisance alligators to the authorities.
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Environment Agency gives its verdict
By Lauren MacGillivray2008-06-16T12:07:00+01:00
Agency issues report on flooding.
The Environment Agency has echoed the insurance industry’s calls for the government and key utility providers to provide better flood protection of critical infrastructure.
In its flood anniversary report, titled One year on – what have we done?, the government agency said that the summer 2007 floods showed how communities in England and Wales are susceptible to flooding.
Its report provided an update on its own achievements, including its completion of 34 new flood defences, which increased protection to more than 30,000 homes.
It has also signed up 73,000 more people to its flood warning system, and has been working with emergency responders to provide them with earlier flood warnings.
Also in its report, the agency said it had monitored and warned the public about possible flooding during tidal surges in November and March, and high river levels during January. It inspected 8,500 kilometres of flood defences along 23,500km of rivers and 2,000km of coast, and spent £5m on repairing those that were damaged, including those in Upton, Sedgeberrow and Grimsby.
Finally, it said it had been working with the Met Office to develop an extreme rainfall alert service
It has begun an initiative to show which areas are naturally vulnerable to surface water flooding, and intends to share the data with local authorities and utility companies. It has also been talking with the water industry about producing a national protocol for data-sharing.
In an earlier review published in December, the Environment Agency said: “We believe that our overall performance was satisfactory. However, we have identified lessons from the floods and made recommendations for those things we need to improve.”
Its recommendation for the government was to ensure there was a solid framework to manage flood risk. Recommendations for itself included improving its forecasting and warning service, and learning how to better communicate and use its results with its professional partners, businesses and the public.
The agency’s role is to warn people about the risk of flooding, and reduce the likelihood of flooding from rivers and the sea.
Norwich to map drainage risk
Government to provide flood defence data to NU
Links between climate change and flooding are wrong: report
University Hazard Institute says UK entering ‘flood-rich’ period.
Comments/Letters
Underwriting is key in these challenging times
Bernard Mageean says UK property insurers must remain focused on fundamentals of underwriting.
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Govt appoints new disinvestment secy
New Delhi: The government on Monday shunted out Aradhana Johri as disinvestment secretary following the department's dismal record at initiating sell-offs, including strategic sale, and replaced her with Neeraj Kumar Gupta, an IAS officer of the 1982 batch.
It also assigned industrial policy and promotion secretary Amitabh Kant with the additional charge of NITI Aayog, the Centre's think-tank and link with the states, as Sindhushree Khullar's extended term is due to end on Thursday. Kant is himself due to retire in two months.
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet headed by PM Narendra Modi also designated West Bengal cadre IAS officer Sanjay Mitra as the new road transport and highways secretary. Rashmi Verma, a Bihar cadre officer, has been appointed the new textiles secretary, while Johri will be the chairperson of the National Authority for Chemical Weapons Convention.
Sources said the government was especially worried about the poor disinvestment receipts and the over cautious approach adopted by the department, which is part of the finance ministry. Against the target of Rs 69,500 crore disinvestment, including through the revival of strategic sale, the government is staring at a massive shortfall, although it is confident that the fiscal deficit target would be met. Gupta has an uphill task during the remaining three months of the fiscal year.
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Nathan Cullen has announced his candidacy for the NDP leadership.
Cullen joins race for federal NDP leader
Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen has made official his candidacy to run for leader of the federal NDP.
Sep. 30, 2011 4:00 p.m.
Nathan Cullen will never get too big for the Northwest.
After making the announcement last Friday that he will be seeking the NDP leadership post, left vacant after the passing of Jack Layton, he told The Interior News that one of the draws of getting onto the federal stage was to bring Northwest issues to light nationally.
“I feel comfortable and very encouraged about promoting Skeena to a larger audience,” he said.
Cullen made his announcement from the Simon Fraser University campus in Vancouver.
He received many endorsements from provincial NDP members — he was introduced at his press conference by Stikine MLA Robin Austin — and said in the coming weeks there will be more people coming forward from the federal fold.
“It will be about a six month steady diet of hitting the road, talking to people of all shapes and going well beyond just the Democratic family but to progressive people in general,” he said about his upcoming tour of Canada.
The main message he’s seeking to communicate is that his will be a different style of politics than what people get from Stephen Harper’s Conservatives.
“The politics can be done differently and more effectively. We don’t have to believe that the Harper way of doing things is the only way.”
He’s hoping that with him people feel more welcome to participate in government issues.
Among the issues he plans to take with him nationally are good climate policy, sustainable economy and environmental protection, as well as First Nations rights and title.
“We’re going to roll policy out as we go. I think there’s going to be lots of time in the next six, seven months to talk about different things and I’m really encouraged by the debate,” he said.
Asked whether his messages would be well received in other, eastern parts of the country, he said they would and attitudes are changing.
“People are really evolving in this conversation. They don’t buy the old ‘choose your job or clean air but you can’t have both’. That has to be a dead way of doing things. We can do better and we have to do better,” he said. “I find there’s lots of encouragement from all sectors of the country for that kind of discussion.”
He admits that if he makes it to the leadership post it will somewhat change the dynamic of the work he does as an MP, namely a change in his current personal policy of trying to be back in the riding every weekend.
“It’s just the logistics of such a broad country,” he said.
That being the case, he said the Northwest is where he comes back to ground himself and so will always be making the effort to come home.
Cullen, 39, was elected for the fourth time this past spring, capturing 50 per cent of the vote.
He is, for the moment, the only candidate for the leadership from western Canada.
Cullen and other candidates will spend the next months lining up supporters leading to a convention in March.
Clark offers $30 million for rec facilities
MP Nathan Cullen enters NDP leadership race
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Populism is nothing new
Home Newspaper September 2018 Populism is nothing new
Political branding – as practised by Donald Trump, Viktor Orbán and Doug Ford – is harming democracy
August 24, 2018 July 12, 2019
mg7/123RF
Gord McIntosh
Shout it. Tweet it. Write it. Political branding is harming democracy and, ultimately, the economy – on both sides of the 49th parallel.
Before we blame populism for the Canada/U.S. trade war, the current nastiness of federal/provincial relations and rising tribalism among voters, let’s look at how we got into this current mess.
There’s nothing new, of course, about populism. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics defines populism’s origin in the U.S. of the 1870s as an expression of disillusionment and grievances of mostly western farmers who felt cheated by broken promises of cheap land and railway rates.
For most of the 20th century, populism has been equated with left-leaning or progressive politics, with some exceptions.
What’s new is how populism is being weaponized by the right in the 21st century to attract conservative voters who feel left behind.
We see examples of right-wing populism such as the Trump administration in the U.S. and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has been borrowing heavily from the Nazis. And we see less extreme examples, such as former prime minister Stephen Harper’s government and the new regime of Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
All have shown elements of a common playbook, such as designation and subsequent demonizing of a public threat or “enemy of the people” or “elites,” and tight message control. And, of course, facts don’t matter much.
As in all forms of political branding, maintenance of a support base among voters is essential. But with contemporary populism, maintaining the base is all the more difficult because supporters were angry and disillusioned in the first place.
This is why populists constantly throw red meat to the base with combative rhetoric and drama against designated foes, such as union bosses, welfare cheats, refugees or everybody’s favourite enemy, Bay Street.
An example would be the Ford government rushing to unilaterally cancel contracts for wind farms – lawsuits be damned.
Or chopping Toronto’s city council in half during a municipal election campaign, democracy be damned.
Or, in the case of the Trump administration, starting a global trade war to keep the base motivated enough to show up for this November’s midterm elections, common sense be damned.
Populism is all about keeping things moving, like the script of a reality-TV show, to keep the voter base interested in a sort of hybrid between governing and entertaining, just as the Romans relied on bread and circuses to keep people happy. Call it “governtainment.”
Of course, should facts not jibe with the message, no worry. The base won’t be bothered. Accepting a good story if it resonates with our own biases is human nature. This is known as “narrative fidelity” among social scientists.
A strong support base is a key part of what political strategists call “narrowcasting”: concentrating your messaging to a highly defined market segment that will be motivated enough to stay with you.
In all, governtainment is a reckless form of governing that puts political survival over outcomes. Abruptly cancelling a wind farm big enough to power 3,000 homes may appease the base. But it could very well cost $100 million and send a signal to the rest of the world that Ontario is actually closed to certain kinds of business.
In the U.S., protecting softwood lumber with tariffs may appease a lot of people. But it will also hurt the U.S. homebuilding industry.
The scramble to government for the few rather than for the many is probably why populism is continuing to morph into a retro version of mercantilism of the 18th century, in which government, not the private sector, was the driver of prosperity, and wealth was built at another country’s expense.
Like mercantilism, right-wing populism will be remembered as something that worked until it didn’t. At some point, the right-wing populists will run out of fresh meat to throw to their base, as happened with the Harper government in 2015.
Or, when voters’ view of the world shifts, populist “alternative facts” begin to look like BS.
But until that happens, risk assessment will be all the more important. And the global economic and geopolitical systems developed in the post-Second World War period are in for some extreme turbulence, regardless of whether Donald Trump avoids impeachment.
“Don’t forget the budget”
Why the change of heart?
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My Mortal Enemy by Willa Cather — Two Opposing Reviews
My Mortal Enemy by Willa Cather is a novella by this eminent American author, published in 1926. Cather sketches a character study of a woman and a life not particularly well-lived. In this slim work, the story of an ill-considered marriage unfolds. My Mortal Enemy is considered a minor work by Cather, and there has been debate as to whether it has stood the test of time.
Unlike the nearly universal praise for her major works —My Ántonia, Death Comes for the Archbishop , and O Pioneers! among others, My Mortal Enemy has been received with praise as well as met with disappointment.
In a later edition, this question was posed: “Has the author tried to undo A Lost Lady? There is a definite mark of similarity between the two books, but one feels that she has not come up to her earlier mark, though she has done so admirably.”
This being said, most anything by Willa Cather is worth reading. Even her lesser efforts are on a par with the finest of other authors (notably, male authors) who are still read and studied. It’s always fascinating to see how classic works were received when they were first came out. Following are two reviews from 1926, when the work was first published, stating opposing views.
You might also enjoy: A 1918 Review of My Antonia
This reviewer likes My Mortal Enemy’s brevity
From The Ithaca Journal, December 31, 1926: Anyone who overlooks Willa Cather’s My Mortal Enemy is cheating themselves. It is to be classed among the truly fine literature of this year. A small book it is, with not a word to spare, and consumes not more than two hours in the most thorough-going reading. Its space proportions are scarcely more than those of a magazine short story, but its literary proportions are greater than almost any novel of the year.
Willa Cather is a recognized artist. If she were not so recognized previously, this novelette would give her the stamp. Almost any hack writer can sit down and tap off a story of voluminous proportions, but it takes a Willa Cather to compress what most would make into a lengthy tome. Subtract or add a word and you would spoil the effect.
My Mortal Enemy is a poignant character study of an extraordinary woman she is the woman of commanding personality and unaccountable moods, of impulsive action and acquisitive intelligence. She lives and she dies, and Willa Cather knew her, in her imagination.
A cumulative series of incidents, on the surface seemingly trivial build up the powerful climax. Every one of them is essential to the portrait. My mortal enemy suggests the most desirable prospect for the novel of the future. Why must novels be often so inordinately longer than the material within them warrants, padded out with all manner of unnecessary incident and comment by the author?
See also: 7 Later Novels by Willa Cather
This reviewer finds the story fragmentary
From The Cincinnati Enquirer, November 6, 1926: When Willa Cather wrote My Antonia she put herself in the way of a challenge. Since the richness and glow of Antonia burst upon her public she probably has been one of the for most victims of self-comparison. Most of these — justly, all of them — have been unfavorable. Willa Cather has run a descending scale. Each succeeding book — A Lost Lady, One of Ours, The Professor’s House — has been more noticeably inferior. Inferior, that is, to the magnificent My Antonia.
My Mortal Enemy is the latest and the least of them all. In size it is nothing more than a fairly long short story; in effect, it is hardly more than a suggestion, without roundness and without body. It is scarcely even a skeleton. Selection and compression are great virtues in a literary artist, but like the virtue of renunciation, they can be carried too far.
Myra Driscoll, the subject of My Mortal Enemy, carried renunciation beyond the power of her temperament to survive the loss. She was reared in luxury, was denied nothing, and in colloquial expression, spoiled. After all, her wealthy uncle did deny her one thing — the love of Oswald Henshaw. The uncle told her that she could marry Henshaw or inherit her fortune, but not both.
She chose Henshaw and eloped with him; never thereafter did she forgive her husband for the loss he had caused her.
The story is told by one Nellie Birdseye, who is quite extraneous to the story and has no real business in it. The author employed the same method in My Antonia and A Lost Lady, but in those cases, the interpreters bore an actual relationship to the characters and their doings. Not so Nellie.
She tells us of two periods in the life the Henshaws. The first narrative, with a recapitulation of earlier affairs, comes when the pair have been married twenty years. They had been deeply in love, at Henshaw’s income could not keep Myra, who was used to luxury, at all content. Myra wanted to make a show; the thought another woman possessed advantages beyond her own aroused her violent nature.
She was also extremely generous, as a poseur is generous, for she was very vain. She would give away anything that she had — and then demand that her husband replace it. Therefore, they were always in straitened circumstances.
There’s a lapse of ten years and Nellie Birdseye again takes up the interpretation of the Henshaws. They are in the West; also, they are in poverty. Myra is broken in health and in spirit. She hates her husband and all the circumstances of her life. Except for her regrets and her husband she is alone. Yet before her death, she turns upon him and accuses him of having ruined her life.
“Why,” she asks him — and she is still the selfish poseur that she has been throughout her life — “must I die like this, alone with my mortal enemy?”
The question is not answered, and the book is put aside with the feeling that Myra is not at all realized. Her character, like her story, is fragmentary. She is presented without the significant incident that at times has made Willa Cather’s work so vital. Though the reader is told that Myra is generous and imaginative, she is made to do nothing to prove these qualities. One loses sympathy with her, and that is fatal.
My Mortal Enemy by Willa Cather on Amazon
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Willa Cather’s Review of The Awakening by Kate Chopin (1899)
Sapphira and the Slave Girl by Willa Cather (1940)
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather (1927) – a review
A Lost Lady by Willa Cather (1923)
The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (1915)
One of Ours by Willa Cather (1922) – two reviews
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Susan Glaspell (July 1, 1876 – July 28, 1948) was an American playwright and fiction writer. Glaspell and her husband George Cram Cook founded the Provincetown Players, considered the first modern American theater company.
Susan Glaspell grew up on a farm near Davenport, Iowa. Her father was a hay farmer, her mother was a schoolteacher, and she had two brothers. As a child she had a natural affinity for animals, often rescuing strays. Her grandmother regaled her with real-life pioneer adventure stories that sparked her imagination. Read More→
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Mary Hunter Austin (September 9, 1868 – August 13, 1934) was an American novelist and essayist who focused her writing on cultural and social problems within the Native American community. In addition to spending seventeen years making a special study of Indian life in the Mojave Desert, Austin was also an early feminist and defended the rights of Native Americans and Spanish Americans.
Austin was born in Carlinville, Illinois and was the fourth of six siblings whose parents were Savannah and George Hunter. In 1888, her family moved to Bakersfield, California, where they established a homestead in the San Joaquin Valley. That same year, Austin also graduated from Blackburn College.
Adrienne Rich (May 16, 1929 – March 27, 2012) was an American poet and essayist known for her radical feminism and activism. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, she was raised in a family that included a younger sister. Her father who worked as a pathologist at John Hopkins, and her mother was a classical concert pianist. It was her father who first encouraged her literary leanings.
After graduating from Roland Park Country School, Rich attended Radcliffe College (the former women’s college of Harvard University), from which she graduated in 1951. Right before she graduated, Rich received the Yale Series of Younger Poets award for her first collection of poetry, A Change of World. The esteemed poet W.H. Auden selected Rich for the prestigious prize. Read More→
Sara Teasdale (August 8, 1884 – January 29, 1933) was an American poet known for her deceptively simple lyric poetry that emphasized life’s beauty. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, she was the youngest of four children of wealthy parents. In delicate health throughout her childhood, she was tutored at home until the age of ten.
Despite her privileged background, and being spoiled and petted, Sara’s childhood was often lonely. She lived in a separate suite in her family’s grand homes, often left alone. The ill health of her childhood followed her throughout much of her adult life, and she often had to have a nurse-companion. Read More→
Emma Lazarus (July 22, 1849 – November 17, 1887), American poet, translator, and activist. She’s best known for the poem “The New Colossus” (1883), whose lines, “Give me your tired, your poor …” are inscribed at the base of the Statue of Liberty.
As touching and world-famous as this poem has remained, it’s but a tiny portion of her body of work. The life of Emma Lazarus, brief as it would be, was filled with accomplishment, not only as a writer, but as an advocate for Jewish immigrants and refugees. Read More→
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Westfield Half Year Result: WFD turns focus to flagship stores & technology to grow profits
Online Stockbroker
After spinning off its Australian and New Zealand management businesses into a separate organisation (Scentre Group), Westfield Corporation is now primarily focussed on operating and building shopping malls in the US and the UK. The group reported a net profit of US$588.9 million in the first half year, an increase of almost 20%. Revenue in the period rose 18.3% to US$987.6 million.
Property focused organisations tend to use funds from operations (FFO) to describe cash flow. To that end, WFD’s Funds from Operations (FFO) delivered US16.5 cents per security for the period. WFD confirmed its expectations that full year FFO will be in the range of US33.8 cents to US34 cents. WFD said it will pay an interim distribution of US12.75 cents per security for the period, an increase of 1.6% and reconfirmed guidance for a 2017 full-year dividend of US25.5 cents per security.
83% of WFD’s shopping centre portfolio is comprised of what the group refers to as ‘Flagship centres’ whose value is more than US$32 billion. These shopping centres cater to a more upmarket experience compared to the remaining regional centres. Specialty retail sales in the Flagship centres rose by a modest 3.3%, contributing to a total increase of only 2.2%. Total net operating income rose 3.5% and was driven by a 4.5% Flagship improvement compared to regional operation which saw net income rise by only 0.5%.
Breaking down the sales by their various segments in the Flagship centres, there was reasonable growth for Leisure and Food Retail which rose 5.7% and 4.5% respectively over the course of the last 6 months, although General Retail fell by almost 9% over the same period.
WFD’s current development pipeline totals US$3.8 billion and is made up of Century City in Los Angeles and UTC in San Diego which are both expected to be completed in 4Q17. The UK’s Westfield London will be finished in 1Q18. While Valley Fair in San Jose and Westfield World Trade Centre in New York will be opening in 2019. WFD is starting pre-development work on US$6.0 billion in future projects in Milan, Los Angeles & London.
For more Reporting Season coverage, please visit (VIEW LINK)
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Apple's 'Show time' event: 10 surprises we might see
Lights.. camera.. action!
By Michael Simon
Staff Writer, Macworld | PT
Premium channels may start at $10 a month
Kevin Durant and Chris Evans may be there
A gaming service may be coming
Apple’s shows probably won’t be free
The TV app might be expanding to Roku devices
Apple may host all the streams
iCloud storage may be included in bundles
Apple News could have lots of magazines
Apple News will likely have curated content
A credit card may bring everything together
With just hours to go before Apple’s Show Time event kicks off at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park, news reports are starting to answer lingering questions about what Apple will reveal—assuming the reports are true, of course. A flurry of leaks, rumors, and teases from Bloomberg, Recode, the Wall Street Journal and Apple itself have raised the stakes and piqued our curiosity about the event, which kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific. Here's what we know so far.
The Wall Street Journal had the most comprehensive report of the weekend, and noted that Apple has reportedly been working to secure the rights to sell Starz, Showtime, and HBO “for $9.99 a month each,” according to the story. It’s unclear whether that’s part of a bundle or packaged with other services, but even if it’s $10 per channel, it would still represent a decent savings over the current $35/month price for all three channels.
On Sunday, Apple launched its Show time event stream a little early, and it’s still up now. The streams shows a “live” video of the Steve Jobs Theater, with various app features appearing on the stage, including calls, Maps directions, and chat messages. Among the cryptic images was a text exchange between Tim Cook and Kevin Durant and a missed call from Captain America himself, Chris Evans.
[ Further reading: The best streaming TV services ]
Apple teased a missed call from Chris Evans ahead of its 'Show time' event.
We’ve heard previous rumblings that Apple may be working on a gaming service for the iPhone, but Bloomberg on Saturday offered the most concrete evidence so far. While the report was hardly definitive, the details of service seem to be established. Rather than hosting games (which is the approach used by Stadia and Steam), Apple’s gaming service will reportedly “focus on iPhones and iPads and bundle together paid games from different developers that consumers can access for a monthly fee.” Revenue would be divided up among game makers “based on how much time users spend playing their games.”
We’ve been hearing reports for months about how Apple’s original content could possibly be free for iPhone or Apple TV users, but the Wall Street Journal writes this won’t be the case. In its report, the Journal explicitly says, “Apple hasn’t said what it will charge for the programming. People working on the projects said the company plans to charge a fee, after previously saying it would be free to Apple device owners.”
Earlier this year, Apple surprised the world by announcing it would be bringing the iTunes app and AirPlay 2 to Samsung TVs and other smart devices in the fall. Now it seems that more partnerships are in the works. The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple “has been negotiating to bring its new TV app to multiple platforms, including Roku and smart TVs, according to people familiar with the talks.” That means you might not need an Apple device to take advantage of the new service, though we have to assume there will be special benefits for iPhone and Apple TV users.
Apple may be expanding its TV app to non-Apple devices.
This is the most interesting bit of information we learned over the weekend. According to a Recode report, Apple won’t just be selling other people’s content. No, it will also physically “host and serve the streams,” so you’ll be getting content straight from Apple’s servers, not HBO or Showtime. That means two things: Apple can charge whatever it wants and the experience will likely be a whole lot better. It’s not that the streams from third-party apps are bad, but with Apple in complete control, the interface, search, and quality could all get upgrades.
While we won’t know for sure what Apple’s bundles look like until the pricing slide appears on the screen, we pretty much know for sure that Apple will be offering bundles of its own services in addition to those from other companies. And iCloud storage may be part of it. The Wall Street Journal report specifically discusses Tim Cook’s focus on “apps that benefit and threaten Apple,” as well as “how many people were signing up for iCloud storage.” What better way to boost those numbers than by offering a free 200GB iCloud upgrade (which costs $3 a month on its own).
While the video portion of the event will get all of the attention today, Apple will also likely be unveiling a news service that will act like a premium tier of Apple’s existing free app. While details are light, based on the Wall Street Journal’s report, we know a couple things: It will function in a way similar to the Texture app that it bought last year, and it will likely cost $10 a month for unlimited reading of “more than 200 magazines—including Bon Appétit, People and Glamour,” according to the report. That's the same number of magazines that Texture offered, and retaining them is important, as the service will be missing some major news outlets, including The New York Times and the Washington Post.
We don’t know exactly what Apple’s news service will look like, but the Wall Street Journal offers some tidbits on how it will work. For one, it won’t be a blanket subscription to everything an outlet publishes. The Journal says that its deal with Apple focuses on “general news, politics and lifestyles news,” while its lauded business and finance news “won’t be displayed as prominently.” Additionally, there may be exclusive content offered as well. According to the Journal, its partnership with Apple News “will result in the Journal hiring more reporters focused on general news to help feed Apple’s product.”
Jared Newman / TechHive
We're not sure which channels will be included in the new TV service, but pricing will likely be very competitive.
Recode confirms an earlier report that Apple will be offering a new credit card in conjunction with Goldman Sachs that “will reportedly have special features when paired with iPhones.” That might not sound like a big deal, but because Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon will reportedly be on hand at the event, it might have greater implications that we think. Just one of the ways Apple could sweeten the pot is by offering discounted pricing on bundles when using the Apple card to subscribe.
Michael Simon covers all things mobile for PCWorld and Macworld. You can usually find him with his nose buried in a screen. The best way to yell at him is on Twitter.
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HOTEL’S COMFORT Crotone is an ancient city of Magna Grecia. It is a small jewel and a witness to a glorious past. Born as a Greek colony, it knew its maximum splendor especially in this period: in fact, it is one of the major centers of Magna Graecia and was second only to Taranto. The foundation of Crotone dates back to 718 BC and was founded by the Achaeans, among which we can remember the multi-Olympic champion Milone, more over, Crotone overcame every other Greek city in the number of winners in the Olympic Games. Crotone is the city of Pythagoras: the Greek philosopher, who escaped from Greece took refuge in ancient Kroton, in 530 BC. He founded the Pythagorean school. kroton was also famous for its doctors including Deomocede and Alcmeone, who introduced experimentation in medicine. City of pleasure, seaside town, city of history, Crotone offers its visitors a vast archaeological heritage that goes from Magna Graecia to the Middle Ages, with the presence also of numerous castles and noble houses. Enjoy Crotone!
CROTONE today
Precious marine areas, just a step away from the mountain and natural oases that seem like paradise: the province of Crotone, in Calabria, is all this. The colors of the sea fade from the blue sky to the emerald green, embellishing a coast rich in history and nature, so much to merit since 1991 the definition of marine protected area. The marine area of Capo Rizzuto is the largest in Italy, with an area of about 15 thousand hectares of sea. The Calabrian mountains thanks to the vast plateau in the center of the Region, with peaks reaching 2000 meters. The silane landscape is characterized by the presence of Pino Larice, a very tall tree that recalls alpine landscapes. Camigliatello Silano and Trepidò are among the main mountain towns, easily accessible and a destination for tourists. During the winter, ski enthusiasts go to these places to enjoy the scenery and only 50 km from the sea. The Fallistro forest is a natural monument. Here you can find about 50 species of larch trees and mountains of 40-meter-high maples, with a diameter of two meters and over 400 years. This forest is one of the last surviving examples of its kind and is also known as “The Giants of Sila”.
hospital address
Via G. da Fiore, 5 - 88900 Crotone (KR)
Mobile: (+39) 392 95 47 622
hospital mail
info@marrellihealth.it
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Primary Care > General Primary Care
HHS Official: We Were Never Asked About Immigrant Child Detentions
Physicians, experts urge Congress to block future separations
by Shannon Firth, Washington Correspondent, MedPage Today February 08, 2019
WASHINGTON -- Members of a House subcommittee pressed Health and Human Services officials and others regarding what the department knew about the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy on illegal immigration, and whether the department had tried to stop it.
On April 6, 2018, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced "an escalated effort to prosecute those who choose to illegally cross our border." The policy led to thousands of children being separated from adult family members at the U.S.-Mexico border, until President Trump signed an executive order reversing the decision in June 2018. Later that same month, a federal judge ordered the children be reunited with their families.
A January 2019 report from the HHS Office of the Inspector General suggested that thousands more children may have been separated at the border in 2017, before the official policy was announced.
Government officials along with physicians, psychologists, and other witnesses described the impact of such separations on parents and children, during a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Oversight and Investigations subcommittee on Thursday.
"There's no evidence that HHS leaders ever tried to stop this abhorrent policy. ... We need to know why," said subcommittee chair Diana DeGette (D-Colo.).
The committee is also still trying to learn how many children were separated from their parents, and what's being done to reunify them, she added.
HHS Role in Separation, Reunification
Cmdr. Jonathan White, a career Public Health Service officer who previously served as the Office of Refugee Resettlement's (ORR) deputy director, stressed that no one in the department was responsible for the actual separations. ORR manages the "temporary custody" of such children, typically unaccompanied children, referred there by the Department of Homeland Security.
Of the more than 2,500 children separated from their families -- the government has yet to issue a confirmed final figure, though estimates vary from about 2,600 to 2,800 -- only six have yet to be reunited, according to White.
When questioned by ranking member Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), White said he only became aware of the formal policy of family separations when the Attorney General announced it on television last April.
"Would you have advised the DOJ or DHS to implement the [family separation] policy ... if they had asked?" Guthrie asked.
"Neither I, nor the current personnel at ORR, would ever have supported such a policy," White said emphatically.
Regarding the scope and duration of the problem, White said that he had observed an increase in the number of children being brought into ORR's custody in 2017 and expressed concerns to leadership, including Scott Lloyd, ORR director. White said he was told that a "family separation [policy] wasn't going to happen."
White said he had no reason to doubt the statement.
He said Congress could limit the administration's authority to separate children from their families.
"There is no specification in law ... about the permissible grounds for separating a child from a parent," he said. "If you want to see that, that's on y'all."
Impacts of Separation
Also at the hearing, physicians and psychologists described the short and long-term impacts of separation and ways to prevent such issues in the future.
"Prolonged exposure to highly stressful situations, known as toxic stress, can disrupt a child's brain architecture and adversely impact short and long-term health," said Julie Linton, MD, who spoke on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics as co-chair of its Immigrant Health Special Interest Group.
A parent or primary caregiver serves as a "buffer" for such stress, and "separation robs children of that buffer."
The immediate response to such separations for children can include abdominal pain, headaches, changes in "eating, sleeping, and toileting," and behavioral problems including "anger, irritability, and aggression," as well as challenges with learning and memory, she said.
Separated children may also endure "feelings of mistrust ... guilt or shame," she said. They are also more susceptible to chronic conditions such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, diabetes, or heart disease, Linton added. She also noted that if a pregnant woman is separated from her children, there is risk of adverse outcomes for the unborn child due to the mother's stress.
Cristina Muñiz de la Peña, PhD, a clinical psychologist and co-founder of Terra Firma at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, testified on behalf of the American Psychological Association. She told a story of one immigrant mother separated from her young son for 2 months. The mother brought her then 3-year-old son to Muñiz de la Peña because of his extreme anxiety and hypervigilance.
"During the sessions, the boy clung to his mother [with] a fearful demeanor, and had great difficulty relaxing and letting go to initiate the normal exploring behavior of a child his age," Muñiz de la Peña said.
Research has shown that the longer a child is separated from a parent or caregiver the greater the symptoms of depression and anxiety, she noted. Sustained separations can also lead to difficulty trusting adults and institutions, and hinder "educational attainment," she added.
"In lay terms, attachment, love, and protection from a parent is to a child's mental health what water, oxygen, and food are for physical health."
Linton stressed the importance of distinguishing separations for cause from those ordered under the "no tolerance" policy.
"Government sanctioned systematic separation without any type of consideration of what's in the best interest of a child is never in the best interest of a child," she said. "No child should ever be separated from his or her parent without a very clear concern that the child's safety is at risk at the hand of a parent," and that decision should be made in a family court.
Jennifer Podkul, JD, senior director of policy and advocacy for Kids in Need of Defense, also underscored that child welfare specialists should be involved in any separation decisions.
Linton pressed committee members not to allow children to be placed in unlicensed facilities, either by the HHS or the Department of Homeland Security. The AAP has recommended "formal supervision" of all facilities where children are being cared for by child welfare professionals, such as independent pediatricians.
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Dx Shock: How Foot Pain Hid Something Much Worse
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Akerendam Shipwreck 2 Stuiver Earrings
Dutch 2 Stuivers
Dated: 1724, Grade: Very Fine
Obverse: Crowned Lion Coat of Arms
Mint: Holland, United Netherlands
Silver Coins in 14k Gold Earrings
The Akerendam, a newly built vessel, set sail from the island Texel in the Netherlands on January 19, 1725. She was a part of a Dutch merchant fleet in route for Batavia, Indonesia loaded with treasure, for the spice trade in the Far East. The Akerendam was soon caught in a violent storm in the North Sea and sank off the island of Runde, Norway with the entire crew of 200 lost at sea.
During the summer of 1725, four chests and other cargo were salvaged but then the divers gave up and the wreck was forgotten. The wreck was re-discovered in 1972 by Norwegian sport divers, who found the sand bottom littered with encrusted coins. Little remained of the ship, but the divers brought up almost 40,000 gold and silver coins, with another 16,000 or so found the next year. Ultimately the coins were split between the divers and the Norwegian and Dutch governments. These Dutch 2 stuiver coins recovered from the Akerendam were specifically minted for this voyage and were to be used as a trade coin in the East Indies. The obverse side features a crowned lion coat of arms and the reverse side shows the Hollandia mint and 1724 date.
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SUMMER SIGNING No.9: HARRY CORNICK IS A HATTER!
Town pay undisclosed fee to sign Bournemouth forward on two-year deal
Ahead of tonight’s Carabao Cup first round tie with Ipswich Town at Kenilworth Road, the Hatters are delighted to announce that AFC Bournemouth forward Harry Cornick has become Nathan Jones’ ninth signing of the summer transfer window.
The Town have agreed to pay an undisclosed fee to the Premier League outfit for the 22-year-old, who passed a medical at The Brache this morning and has put pen to paper on a two-year contract, with the potential for a further year.
Manager Jones was delighted to add another potent attacking threat to a forward line that has already been boosted by the acquisition of James Collins and Elliot Lee this summer, to go alongside last season’s top scorer Danny Hylton and Isaac Vassell.
After signing the player who has been on the club’s radar since his early days in Non-League football, and who has spent time on loan in League Two with Yeovil Town and Leyton Orient, Jones told lutontown.co.uk: “I’ve been an admirer of Harry’s for many years now. We tried to get him last year but it wasn’t possible, so when we knew he was available this time, we went straight into him.
“Fair play to the board, they’ve backed me once again on another signing which will provide extra competition in the attacking area.
“He’s different to what we’ve got. He can play wide, but we see him as a real quick front man who is a good age. He’s at that tip of being potential, but he’s not a young one.
“He’s brave, and he’s shown that with the loans he’s gone on. He is committed to playing football games. He’s not prepared just to stay in the comfort zone at Bournemouth.
“He had a number of offers, but chose to come here so we are delighted and are looking forward to working with him.”
Cornick signed for the Cherries from Non-League club Christchurch after impressing on trial in January 2013, but the then 17-year-old stayed with the Wessex League part-timers until the end of the 2012-13 season while completing A-levels in biology, psychology and PE.
He returned to Non-League to gain experience on loan at National League clubs Welling United and Aldershot in the 2013-14 campaign, before a spell in the National League South with Havant & Waterlooville shortly after making his professional debut for Bournemouth as a sub in an FA Cup tie against Rotherham in January 2015.
That remains his only first-team appearance for Eddie Howe’s side, although Cornick has gained valuable experience of the fourth tier and League One over the past two seasons, catching the gaffer’s eye especially when he scored eight times in 34 starts for Yeovil in 2015-16.
Last term he scored once in 11 starts and two sub appearances for Orient, before finishing the campaign on loan in the division above with Gillingham, where he played six times.
“He was on my list when I was at Brighton in terms of young players to watch and I watched him many times playing for Yeovil,” added Jones. “He scored on a number of occasions and he has attributes that we know we can use, but also he has enough in his armoury for us to improve him to a significant level.
“I wouldn’t quite say that they are bigger clubs than us, but he’s turned down higher league clubs than us to come here because he sees what we are trying to do.
“He believes in what we are trying to do here and he believes that he can improve significantly under us because we are not looking to make small strides, we are looking to make great ones. That’s his ambition as well.”
Harry will wear squad number 14 and will be eligible to make his Town debut at Barnet on Saturday - but not tonight against the Tractor Boys.
Welcome to the club, Harry!
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Free Alternatives for Microsoft Office.
Home » Free Alternatives for Microsoft Office.
While we wholly support Microsoft Office and the various programs in it like Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access it is no secret that this is a very expensive option. Microsoft is also pushing its subscription-based Office 365 instead of the onetime purchase of Office Suite, so that means a monthly subscription in US Dollars forever. A. Great system of income for Microsoft but is that good value for you?
So, if we cannot afford the premium product that Microsoft offers, are there any free alternatives that we can look at that will give us a good quality product with roughly the same functionality?
The short answer is yes, there are certainly some very good alternatives.
We will list the alternative in the order in which we prefer them, which may differ from your own experience. In fact, it is very difficult to separate the following three Office alternatives, as all three are great in their own way.
Our criteria are firstly, it must be free and secondly ease of use. Please note that most of these programs do not include an alternative for the email program, Outlook, and we will have to look external to the suites to find a suitable and comparable alternative. We will leave that for a later article.
First on our list is a suite that typifies everything that is good about free open-ware programs, designed for and by the computer community:
LibreOffice is a powerful and free office suite, used by millions of people around the world. It has a clean interface and feature-rich tools to help you unlock your creativity and improve your productivity.
LibreOffice includes numerous applications that make it one of the most useful Free and Open Source office suite available. The following are included: Writer (for word processing), Calc (full function spreadsheets), Impress (easy to create presentations), Draw (vector graphics and flowcharts), Base (create databases much like Microsoft Access ), and Math (formula editing).
It will deliver documents that will look professional and clean, regardless of their purpose: a letter, a master thesis, a brochure, financial reports, marketing presentations, technical drawings and diagrams. LibreOffice makes it easy to make your work look great while you can focus on the content.
LibreOffice use documents of all kinds
LibreOffice is compatible with a wide range of document formats such as Microsoft® Word (.doc, .docx), Excel (.xls, .xlsx), PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx) and Publisher. But LibreOffice goes much further with its native support for a modern and open standard, the Open Document Format (ODF). With LibreOffice, you have maximum control over your data and content – and you can export your work in many different formats including PDF.
You can get more features with extensions for LibreOffice
Beyond the many features shipped by default, LibreOffice is easily extensible through its powerful extensions mechanisms. Get even more features and document templates on our dedicated websites.
Second choice on our list is an Office suite that offers a very Microsoft Office like appearance and functionality.
Kingsoft’s offers the WPS Office 2016. It delivers the most Office-like experience of all the suites. WPS is constructed with its own varieties of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, WPS has outstanding compatibility with all the Microsoft Office formats and it has a customizable interface that can be personalized to your own preference for either the newer modern version of Office ribbon toolbar look or the older static menus of Office 2003. WPS also the only office suite in our list that includes a combined cloud storage facility for sharing and collaborating with your files. (Read PC formats’ s full review of the suite here.)
Third but at no means least is Google documents. Once again, it is very difficult to separate the three Office alternatives, as all three are great in their own way.
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Google Forms
Price: Free, recommended even for small business, (or $5-$25 per user per year as part of GSuite for businesses.)
Platform: Online
Once regarded as a lightweight web-based alternative to Microsoft Office, Google’s threesome of office apps has grown into a meaningful productivity suite. Though its capabilities still aren’t quite as great as most office suites, its tight ties to other Google products and extend-ability through Chrome extensions combine to make it a powerful, cost-effective option for students and employees.
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are free to use by anyone with a web browser, a Google account, and a reliable internet connection.
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides maintains a consistent look across its three constituent apps. Though simply deigned, the interface has clearly labeled menus with intuitive toolbar icons. All three apps also have a good set of hotkeys—accessible by typing Ctrl+/
Google Docs’ strong point is that its collaborative editing features are way above all other suites mentioned here, including Microsoft Office.
Any files that you work on in the Google Suite must be stored in Google Drive, the search giant’s easy to use and free cloud storage. All new Docs, Sheets, and Slides files are automatically created in your Drive account, and you can also upload your Microsoft Office files for editing in Google Docs, sheets and slides. Any changes are saved to Drive if you’re online; you can also install a Chrome browser extension to edit your files offline, but it will require some configuring and only works with native Docs, Sheets, and Slides files.
The corresponding apps do an admirable job of importing Word and PowerPoint files, though you will sometimes have to adjust elements in the PowerPoint files. Importing Excel files to Sheets is more of a mixed bag, with spreadsheets containing basic functions translating easier than larger, more complex ones which can get lost in translation.
The suite is still best as a collaborative tool for written documents, thanks to features like real-time commenting, revision tracking, and deep integration with Google Drive cloud storage. It’s also intimately connected to Google search, allowing you to search for information relative to what you’re working on from within the apps.
Road warriors, collaborative teams, and anyone else who needs the flexibility to work from many different locations will get the most out of Google’s office suite. If your needs are to create large, complicated documents; mail merges; or serious number crunching, you’ll likely find the suite’s abilities limited and should look at one of the other suites above.
Author: Marius Lubbe
Copyright Cyber-Minds (PTY) Ltd
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Related Bios Darrin McCalla Roy Ebersole
Todd Peretz
Email: peretz_t@mitchell.edu
Todd Peretz is entering his 20th season as head coach of the Mitchell College men’s basketball program in 2018-19.
In 2014 Peretz led the Mariners to 19-8 record and the program's first-ever New England Collegiate Conference title. Mitchell tied for first place in the NECC regular season standings with a 12-4 mark and defeated Elms College in the NECC Championship title game by a 72-71 final. The Mariners earned the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championship and made their postseason debut against national runner-up Williams College. For his efforts, Peretz was named NECC Coach of the Year.
Several players have enjoyed stellar careers under Peretz's tutelage. Last season Mitchell produced three all-conference selections, the most in the NECC. In 2016 the Mariners had two players earn all-conference recognition and another named the league's rookie of the year. It marked the fourth time in six seasons that the NECC Rookie of the Year had come from Mitchell, and during that same span the program twice produced the NECC Player of the Year (2013, 2014) as well.
Peretz enjoyed many successful campaigns while directing the men’s program through its transformation from a junior college to a NCAA Division III institution. In 2002 he led Mitchell to a New England Championship and national tournament appearance and was named Region and District Coach of the Year.
Peretz earned his bachelor’s degree from Eastern Connecticut State University in general studies with a concentration in physical education. He played collegiately at Rhode Island College after graduating from East Lyme High School.
In addition to coaching basketball, Peretz coaches men's golf at Mitchell and spent eight years at the helm of the men's and women's cross country programs. He also serves as assistant athletic director and an adjunt instructor at the college.
He currently resides in Waterford, CT with his wife, Denise, and son, Tyler.
Related Bios Todd Peretz Roy Ebersole
Darrin McCalla
Related Bios Todd Peretz Darrin McCalla
Roy Ebersole
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Corporate and
Directors and
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In conducting IR activities, Mitsui Fudosan promotes understanding among shareholders, investors, securities analysts and other market participants, aiming to acquire appropriate valuations through initiatives aimed at building long-term relationships of trust with market participants. To achieve these objectives, the Company appropriately discloses details regarding management strategy, financial conditions and other Company-related information. Regarding disclosure, information from Mitsui Fudosan divisions, departments and subsidiaries is collected by the General Administration Department under the management of the General Manager, General Administration Department, the person in charge of handling information. The General Administration Department and relevant departments conduct discussions on the necessity of timely disclosure based on the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and related laws and the Timely Disclosure Rules established by the Tokyo Stock Exchange, then make a decision with regard to disclosure. Furthermore, when disclosing information, the Company complies with the Fair Disclosure Rules set forth in the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and strives to realize the prompt and fair disclosure of information.
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We disclose information in a timely manner according to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and related regulations, as well as rules determined by the Tokyo Securities Exchange (TSE). Our policy is to disclose information swiftly, with an emphasis on four core areas: transparency, fairness, continuity, and timeliness. As far as possible, we also work actively to publish information not required by disclosure laws, to the extent that we deem such information would engender a better understanding of our operations.
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USA Today Sports Photos
Joshua Yaro leaning on Philadelphia Union after his mother's passing
September 15, 20169:49AM EDT
Dave ZeitlinContributor
Follow@ DaveZeitlin
CHESTER, Pa. – Joshua Yaro’s mother never really wanted him to play soccer.
A retired educator, she had dreams of her youngest of four becoming a doctor. And even after Yaro was drafted by the Philadelphia Union with the second pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, she couldn’t wait for him to get his college degree from Georgetown – which Yaro plans on doing as soon as possible despite having left school during his junior year to turn pro.
“That was her No. 1 priority – to see me graduate from college,” Yaro told MLSsoccer.com after the Union's training session on Wednesday. “She’d always say, ‘Don’t be the only person in my family not to graduate from college.’ I thought that was going to be an important moment for her to come see me graduate.”
The Union rookie center back paused, adding with a tear in his eye, “But unfortunately that’s not going to be able to happen.”
Yaro’s mother, Esther, passed away suddenly two months ago, back home in their native Ghana. She was 62.
“It’s tough for me,” Yaro said. “I don’t think I’ll ever be able to get over it because of the role she played in my life. All I can say is to thank her for everything she’s done for me and getting me as far as I have in life.”
Yaro first heard from his three siblings that their mother was in the hospital two days before the Union’s international friendly vs. Crystal Palace on July 13. But she quickly reassured him that she was fine and would be discharged the next day.
However when Yaro couldn’t get ahold of her, or any of his siblings, the next day, he had a horrible feeling something was wrong. And later that day, he got the tragic news from his brother-in-law that his mother had passed away. He still isn’t sure the exact cause of death.
He’s been trying to focus on the the good times he shared with her instead, all while leaning on his coaches and teammates for support during such a trying time.
“When it happened, I told the coaching staff and they were really supportive,” Yaro said. “What they said is family comes first and I should take the time I need. … But being here in practice and being with the guys and going about my daily routine helps me in a lot of ways.”
Yaro opted not to tell head coach Jim Curtin about his mother’s death until after he got the start in the Crystal Palace friendly because, he said, “it was important for me to stay strong because I have a job.” And it wasn’t until he missed Philadelphia's game vs. the Chicago Fire on Sept. 3, to return to his native Ghana for a memorial service, that the news was made public and he was flooded with condolences from Union fans.
Following the memorial, Yaro returned to the club last week, starting and playing the full 90 minutes in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw vs. the Montreal Impact. And he’ll do his best to focus on soccer over the final five games of the regular season as he looks to help the Union secure a playoff berth for the first time since 2011.
But not having his mother to talk to on the phone – as he did almost every day – is going to be really difficult for him.
“She was the one person I could talk to literally about anything. It’s not going to be easy,” Yaro said. “I’m close with my dad but not as close as I was with my mom. It’s a big loss for me. But then again, I look back to all the things she has done for us and people in our family. And although she is gone, her legacy will always remain with us.”
Although they kept in regular contact, Yaro didn’t see his mother as much as he would have liked over the past few years after coming to the United States to attend high school in Santa Barbara, California, and then college at Georgetown. But he usually returned to his childhood home in Kumasi, Ghana, at least once a year in what would always be joyous occasions.
Yaro never wanted this year’s trip back to his native country to be for his mother’s memorial, but he tried his best to think of it as just another celebration – this one of her life.
“No matter how much I cry, no matter how sad I am, she’s not going to come back,” Yaro said. “So the one thing I can do is just celebrate the goodness that she did for me and others and just know she’ll be a part of my life forever just because of the way she brought me up.
“I have to celebrate that rather than just be sad that she’s gone.”
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Your Daily Newt: A Bay of Pigs for Bosnia
Senior ReporterBio | Follow
This is a painting of Newt Gingrich.Robin Nelson/ZumaPress
As a service to our readers, every day we are delivering a classic moment from the political life of Newt Gingrich—until he either clinches the nomination or bows out.
Newt Gingrich put his foot squarely in his mouth last March when he condemned the enactment of a no-fly-zone in Libya just two weeks after calling for a no-fly-zone in Libya. It was an obvious reversal—but not without precedent.
In November 1994, Gingrich balked at a $5 billion aid package for Bosnia, calling the conflict in Yugoslavia “a European problem” that should be resolved by America’s European allies. Just one month later, though, he’d had a change of heart. That December, Gingrich called for the complete removal of European peacekeepers, to be followed by a stepped-up American air presence leading up to a Bay of Pigs-style exile invasion (again with American air support). The idea, as reported by the New York Times’ Elaine Sciolino, was as follows:
After the peacekeepers withdrew, “You would say to the Serbs, ‘We insist on a general cease-fire and we are telling you right now we reserve the right to hit every target in every part of the country simultaneously if you don’t stand down,'” he said. “We’re not going to play games. We’re going to take out your command and control. We’re going to take out all of your inventory. We’re going to take anything that moves on your roads. We’re going to take down every bridge in your part of the country. We’re going to break you, and we’re going to do it in three days.”
Meanwhile, the United States would mount a covert operation to airlift part of the Bosnian Government Army to a friendly country such as Egypt, Israel or Morocco for training and arming by the Americans.
And Mr. Gingrich would do that even though, as he told the town meeting, “I don’t think the Bosnians are any angels either.”
“If they were winning, they’d be about as brutal as the Serbs.”
Gingrich’s reasoning was simple. Although he now considers the UN to be a “corrupt, inept, bureaucratic machine” that infringes on American sovereignty, Gingrich felt that the Serbs had disrepected the international body and needed to be taught a lesson. It was a dramatic reversal—one that made the conservative foreign policy establishment more than a little uneasy.
But at least Gingrich had an exit strategy. As he told Sciolino, “If they can’t win, we should surrender.”
Your Daily Newt: Curling Into a Ball and Playing Dead
Your Daily Newt: The Case of the Missing Tweets
Your Daily Newt: Mighty Morphin’ Gingrich
Your Daily Newt: Boycotting Banks to Defend Nude Photos
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Australian Equipage Mandate Goes Into Effect
Australia’s ADS-B equipage requirement, now in effect, is the first among many countries that will follow with similar rules.
Crystal Maguire | Mar 03, 2017
Printed headline: ADS-B Down Under
The automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) equipment mandate took effect in Australia Feb 2. Under the new rule, all instrument-flight-rules aircraft operated in Australian airspace must now carry and use suitable ADS-B equipment.
Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority extended the deadline for privately owned aircraft ADS-B requirements late last year, giving owners an additional three years to get equipped. While the authority initially held fast to the original 2017 deadline for all, proponents praised the delay as giving a reprieve to aircraft owners and operators and better aligning the time line with other large markets (i.e., the U.S. and Europe).
ADS-B is the cornerstone of many air traffic modernization plans around the globe. Credit: Garmin
Australia precedes several other countries that will enforce equipage mandates by or before 2020, including the U.S., Europe, Mexico and Indonesia. Varying mandates are already in effect in Hong Kong, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Vietnam.
ADS-B equipment mandates have been progressively implemented in Australia since 2007. The country was the first in the world to commission a continent-wide ADS-B surveillance network in 2009.
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Comic Debra DiGiovanni is performing in the Snowed In Comedy Tour, which comes to the Port Theatre on Jan. 11. (Photo courtesy Kim Newmoney)
Snowed In Comedy Tour returning to Nanaimo’s Port Theatre
Participating comedienne Debra DiGiovanni said the tour feels like ‘comedy camp’
Josef Jacobson
Jan. 3, 2019 7:00 a.m.
Debra DiGiovanni says there are times in her act when she thinks she might be sharing just a little too much about herself.
“I do have moments when I’m like, ‘I shouldn’t be telling these people this, but it just kind of happens,” said the comedienne.
DiGiovanni, who spent most of her life in Toronto but for the last five year has been living in Los Angeles, said her material comes from a personal place, and “whatever’s happening in my life is going to be happening on stage.”
“I know that a lot of comics, they kind of keep it about their life, about their families and whatever and I do the same thing except I don’t have a family so it’s all really selfish, to be honest,” Giovanni said. “It’s all about me.”
She said her act draws on the feeling of being the odd one out, watching her contemporaries become domesticated while she’s “struggling along in a world where people are at this point mature and settled and I’m not.”
“At this age most of my friends are married with children and I still live a very kind of college lifestyle, if you will,” she said. “Like I never really know where I’m going to be and I work at night, so I’m just not on the same page.”
This winter, and again in the spring, DiGiovanni will be joining fellow Canadian comics Paul Myrehaug, Dan Quinn and Pete Zedlacher on their nationwide Snowed In Comedy Tour. The tour comes to Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Jan. 11. This is DiGiovanni’s second time on the tour, after being asked on short notice to fill in for a comedian who had to drop out last year.
“They called me on a Wednesday and I joined them on a Friday,” she said. “They were just like, ‘Can you drop everything and come do the tour for a month?’ So last year it was a fluke but then we had so much fun that they are kind enough to bring me back this year.”
She said the four of them fit together well. She said Quinn discusses life as a newlywed, Myrehaug talks about living as a Canadian ex-pat in Europe and storyteller Zedlacher closes the show.
“Sometimes comics are too different on the bill … Like the people are really dirty and then really deadpan or something,” DiGiovanni said. “There’s got to be a flow to the show. So we have good flow for sure.”
WHAT’S ON … Snowed In Comedy Tour comes to the Port Theatre on Jan. 11 at 8 p.m. General admission is $45, $35 for seniors, $25 for students, available at the box office.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
Hedley singer Jacob Hoggard marries on New Year’s Eve in Vancouver
Michael B. Jordan, Ben Stiller among Golden Globe presenters
Man involved in beating and tasering over a drug debt to be sentenced in Nanaimo
Colin Damen Gary Lamontagne pleaded guilty to charges, including aggravated assault
Nanaimo-Ladysmith MP to host series of community meetings
First meeting is scheduled for July 18 at the North Oyster Community Centre
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Exchange Foreign Currencies for Free with Revolut
There used to be this commonly thrown around “statistic” about how only 20% of Americans held a passport, of course implying that they’re just a bunch of ethnocentric tools, who only understand the world through a stars-and-stripes lens. Turns out that both statements have a bit of truth to them. As recently as 2003, just 20% of Americans held a passport, though the number has doubled since then according to the BBC:
As for American ethnocentrism, let’s just say all developed countries are a bit guilty when it comes to being obnoxious backpackers. But we’re not here to talk about which country’s citizens you’ll find being the loudest in hostels (we’re looking at you Israel), but rather to talk about the needs of international travelers and expats when it comes to exchanging foreign currencies for free.
Sure, everyone says they’ll offer you currency exchange services for free, but the reality is much different. Take for example companies like Travelex. Here you have a company that offers services to travelers like foreign currency exchange. You’ve probably seen their stalls in key airports where 40% of all travelers pass through, stalls like this one:
The group of confused Chinese people seen in this picture tells us something
Maybe you’ve been one of the 2,000 customers they service per hour at these locations, offering foreign exchange services “so you don’t get ripped off”. Turns out, they’re the ones who are ripping you off. The next time you’re in an airport, take five minutes out of your busy schedule and check out one of these currency exchange outlets. Notice how there is always a group of confused Chinese people milling about? That’s because they’re trying to figure out why the rates being offered are so far removed from the actual rates (also referred to as “spot rates”). Look at this rubbish:
Source: Travelex
That’s a rate we took right now on their website. Using xe.com, we can see that in fact the rate right now is .8243. They’re charging you $87.46 for their “free service” which involves sending you the cash prior to leaving on your trip. What’s the alternative here? Simple. When you get to your destination, use the fcuking ATM.
With a large known bank like Citibank, we’ve withdrawn money from countries as obscure as Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, and East Timor (look it up), including probably 100 different other countries around the globe. “But what about ATM fees?” you might ask. Turns out there’s an answer to that conundrum as well. Well, at least if you’re from the greatest country in the world – America (see what we did there?).
In good old ‘Murica, there’s a firm called Charles Schwab which will refund all your ATM fees if you’re a banking customer. As long as they don’t screw you over on the exchange rates too bad (they don’t but you should always check), you’re practically pulling out money for free. So, what about the other 194 countries out there that can’t become Charles Schwab clients? The solution may come in the form of a startup called Revolut that just became a unicorn.
Founded in 2015, London-based startup Revolut has taken in a whopping $336 million in funding so far, with the lion’s share of that coming in the form of a $250 million funding round that closed just yesterday. The first time Revolut came across our radar was back in October of last year when we wrote about 8 POS Payment Technology Startups to Check Out. One of these was Revolut, a startup that at the time was “developing an app-based platform that allows users to transfer, exchange, and spend money in 26 different currencies wherever Mastercard is accepted”. Fast forward to today and it looks a whole lot different.
Revolut describes themselves as “the only banking alternative designed for your global lifestyle”. Whenever people start presuming to know anything about our lifestyle, we usually tune out, but in this case, they may be on to something. Here’s the basics of their “freemium” offering which allows you to exchange foreign currencies for free:
Source: Revolut
The free offering gives you a free USD checking account, an international bank account number (IBAN) which stores euros, and free bank transfers for 25 different currencies using Interbank FX rates which are more or less “spot rates”. While this means that you can exchange foreign currencies for free, the catch is you only have about $275 in ATM withdrawals for free before they start charging you. That’s why you might upgrade to the “premium” tier which costs about $9.64 cents a month and gives you $550 in ATM withdrawals for free. Our American readers may be thinking, whoopee-doo, but this must be a service that people need because Revolut now has more than 1.5 million people using their platform.
If we assume that 30% of all their customers are paying, that translates into a run rate of $57.8 million a year. Of course, it’s not just premium accounts where Revolut makes money. They also charge fees on foreign exchange rates in order to help offset fluctuations. Fair enough, and that also helps add to their profits. Revolut has now processed more than $10 billion in transactions, while at the same time saving their customers $160 million in fees. Earlier this year, Tech Crunch wrote about how Revolut is adding customers at an astounding rate, between 6-8 thousand customers a day. Now, more than 350,000 people open the Revolut app every day, and they’re now looking to expand into the United States as they develop additional products.
Most Americans can’t manage to save any money, and Revolut’s latest product may provide a solution to that problem. It’s called “Vaults”, and it’s all about setting up a plan to save money by doing clever things like rounding up dollar amounts and stashing the cents in a virtual piggy bank:
Think about how handy it might be to save up enough money for a vacation, then just exchange it for some currency to spend abroad. Or you might want to send your money back home to your family, in which case Revolut has you covered as well with their Money Transfers service which allows you to send money to bank accounts in more than 120 different countries, again at spot rates. Of course there’s plenty of competition in the “money transfer” space, as we highlighted in our article on 9 Money Transfer Alternatives to Western Union. Lastly, if you’re the type of irresponsible person who thinks cryptocurrencies make good investments, then they’ve got you covered with a service that lets you “hold and exchange Bitcoin, Ether and Litecoin at the best possible exchange rate”:
As veteran travelers, we don’t see a use case for Revolut in “our global lifestyle” since we just use Charles Schwab and Interactive Brokers to accomplish everything we need. With that said, there are plenty of people who can’t sign up to use these platforms and will find Revolut to be very useful for exchanging currencies for free.
There is one additional currency exchange use case we’d like to throw out for all you MBAs out there who are looking for an idea to run with. Many of us have stacks of notes from decades of traveling, and we’d like to send these somewhere and get some greenbacks in return. We don’t want to sit there and sort them out, or fill out lengthy forms, so just make it as hassle free as possible. Let us know when you get that sorted please.
For all you 129 million Americans with passports who want to exchange foreign currencies for free, just remember our earlier advice on having an ATM card from a major bank and looking for companies likes Charles Schwab that refund ATM fees. For use cases that involve intra-bank transfers, Interactive Brokers all the way. We love them.
Most people don't know that Interactive Brokers is the biggest online brokerage firm in the U.S. and the only firm we know of that allows you to buy stocks directly on 22 different foreign exchanges. We've used IB for many years as a cheap platform to exchange currency, for trading stocks on foreign exchanges, and for trading U.S. shares at just $1.00 per 100 shares. Click this link to get started.
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Manchester.+44 (0)161 833 1605
London.+44 (0)20 7831 4450
The Narrow Road Company
Fight Directors
Illusion Consultant
Musical Directors
Kenton Thomas - A Taste of Honey
KENTON THOMAS is currently playing Jimmy in Oldham Coliseum's production of A TASTE OF HONEY. The show runs until June 9th.
An Oldham Coliseum Theatre production
A Taste of Honey
Set in Salford and recognised as the pre-cursor to Coronation Street, A Taste of Honey was one of the most controversial plays of all time.
This is the tale of Jo, a teenager whose life is dominated by her alcoholic mother in a Salford bedsit. Abandoned by many, Jo falls pregnant to a sailor and befriends a gay art student, with whom she makes a temporary home. Bruised by rejection, the pair find comfort in each other.
Written when Delaney was only 18, this was one of the finest examples of the “kitchen sink drama” born in the 1950s. In the wake of the Second World War, a new breed of writers decided that enough was enough and it was time to give working class characters a heart and soul, instead of portraying them as the two dimensional comic characters beloved of so many British playwrights.
© 2019 The Narrow Road Company
a Feast site
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Poll: 50 Percent Say Mueller Investigation Is ‘Witch Hunt’
By Mairead McArdle
About Mairead McArdle
Follow Mairead McArdle on Twitter
Robert Mueller on Capitol Hill in 2011. (Jason Reed/Reuters)
50 percent of adults surveyed in an astonishing new USA Today/Suffolk University poll say that Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation is a “witch hunt” and believe that President Trump has been the target of more investigative scrutiny than other presidents because of his politics.
The poll shows that trust in the president has increased as well. A majority of 52 percent still say they have little or no trust in Trump’s insistence that his campaign did not collude with Russia during the 2016 campaign season, but that number is down from 59 percent in December.
Support for impeachment has faltered as well, with 62 percent saying the House should not impeach Trump compared to just 28 percent who want the lower chamber to seriously consider doing so. Democratic speaker Nancy Pelosi came out against the idea last week, telling the Washington Post, “Impeachment is so divisive to the country that unless there’s something so compelling and overwhelming and bipartisan, I don’t think we should go down that path, because it divides the country.”
Mueller’s investigation of the Trump campaign’s ties to Moscow is approaching the two-year mark, and recent reports have indicated that he is likely winding it down and preparing to submit a final report to Attorney General William Barr. His team has already indicted 34 individuals for a variety of crimes, including former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, who was sentenced to over seven years behind bars for bank and tax fraud and criminal conspiracy, and Trump’s longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who struck a plea deal with the special counsel and has been sentenced to three years in prison for financial crimes.
Mairead McArdle is a news writer for National Review Online and a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College. @johnsonhildy
The Rise of the Chinese-American Right
America’s New Crisis of Confidence
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Being a woman versus being womanly: the implications after heart attack
January 11, 2016 / Methods Man
For the video version of this post, click here. There are two elements you can expect to see in almost any study: the first is some effect size - a measure of association between an exposure and outcome. The second is a subgroup analysis - a report of how that effect size differs among different groups. Sex is an extremely common subgroup to analyze - lots of things differ between men and women. But a really unique study appearing in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that sex might not matter when it comes to coronary disease. What really matters is gender.
The study, with cumbersome acronym GENESIS-PRAXY, examined 273 women and 636 men of age less than 55 who were hospitalized with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). Sex was based on self-report, and was binary (man or woman). But gender isn’t sex. Gender is a social construct that represents self-identity, societal roles, expectations and personality traits, and can be a continuum - think masculine and feminine.
The authors created a questionnaire that attempted to assign a value to gender. Basically, questions like - “how much of the child-rearing do you perform” or “are you the primary breadwinner for your household” - in other words these are based on traditional gender norms - but that’s as good a place to start as any. A score of 100 on the gender scale was “all feminine”, and a score of 0 “all masculine”. Most of the males in the study clustered on the masculine end of the spectrum, while the females were more diverse across the gender continuum.
What was striking is that the primary outcome - recurrence of acute coronary syndrome within a year, was the same regardless of sex - 3% in men and women. But a greater degree of “femininity” was significantly associated with a higher recurrence rate. Feminine people (be they male or female) had around a 5% recurrence rate compared to 2% of masculine people. This was true even after adjustment for sex, so we’re not simply looking at sex in a different way - gender is its own beast.
What does it all mean? Well, it shows us that our binary classification of sex may be too limited in the biomedical field. Of course, there will always be hard and quantifiable physiologic differences between men and women. But what is so cool is that it’s the more difficult to quantify gender-related differences that may matter most when it comes to health and disease.
Of course, this conclusion is way too big to be supported by one small study with a 3% event rate. But given the surprising and really interesting nature of the results, I’m sure we’ll have many more studies of this sort following close behind.
January 11, 2016 / Methods Man/ Comment
cardiovascular disease, death, female, feminine, gender, heart attack, male, manly, masculine, mi, Observational Studies, recurrence, sex, womanly
Methods Man
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War On Men: The Economy is to Blame For the Male and Female Disconnect
By Shawna Gillen
Marriage has become a source of conflict for both male and females in the United States. According to the Pew Research Center, the number of newly-wed adults has steadily declined from 2008 to 2011. Fox News has interpreted this data as a result of women’s changing role in society in a piece titled “The War on Men”. However, the reality is much more complicated thanks to a significant shift in societal norms. Priorities have changed for both the American male and female. The changing environment has thus resulted in the failure of both sexes to meet on common ground regarding marriage.
According to other Pew Research data, 72% of American adults ages 18 and over were married in 1960. Today, only 51% of American adults are married. What has contributed to this trend? American society has certainly evolved over the past 40 years, changing the way in which men and women relate to one another.
An indicator in the decline of marriages in the U.S. may be that people want to get married out of economic necessity rather than for true love. The current economic crisis has led to a change in male unemployment. According to a 2011 U.S. Department of Labor report, women comprised 46.7% of the national workforce, an increase from the beginning of the recession in 2007. The report also indicated that 37.1% of employed women have bachelor’s degrees compared to men’s 34.9%. From this data, it is entirely plausible that the average American male may be intimidated by the fact that their female counterpart is more likely to be the breadwinner. The topic of jobs has become such an important priority among Americans, that many may be seeking a spouse solely for financial security.
However, other research suggests that employment for American men is looking up. Men saw a 2011 spike in manufacturing jobs, a sector that typically attracts male workers. Heather Boushey, a senior economist at the Center for American Progress, explains that both sexes are suffering regardless:
"People want to make this into a battle of the sexes in the labor market, but the situation is sad for everybody… it's great that we're seeing manufacturing coming back, but we're not creating jobs fast enough, and unless manufacturing picks up, and the recovery takes hold, we're not going to get families back to where they need to be.”
No matter which perspective you may identify with, it is clear that both males and females are being greatly affected by the economic crisis. As national happiness is at historic lows, marriage rates have consequently suffered.
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/ Israel detains 11 Palestinians in overnight raids
State TV: Former Egyptian president Morsi died from a heart attack
June 18, 2019 at 12:37 am | Published in: Africa, Egypt, HRW, International Organisations, News
A man holds a poster of the late former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi during a protest in New York, US on 2 March 2019 [Atılgan Özdil/Anadolu Agency]
Former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi died from a sudden heart attack during a court session, state television and Reuters reported early on Tuesday, citing a medical source.
The source said Morsi, who was suffering from a benign tumour, had continuous medical attention.
Morsi’s son, Abdullah Mohamed Morsi, told Reuters that the family had not been contacted about the details of the burial and were only communicating through their lawyers. Abdullah said earlier that authorities were refusing to allow Morsi to be laid to rest in the family burial grounds in his native Nile Delta province of Sharqiya.
“We know nothing about him and no one is in touch with us, and we don’t know if we are going to wash him or say a prayer to him or not,” he said.
READ: Former Egypt President Morsi dies in court
Amnesty International, an international pressure group that campaigns against the imprisonment of political prisoners, has called for an “impartial, thorough and transparent” investigation into Mursi’s death.
Egypt must carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into the death of former President Mohamed Morsi who collapsed in a courtroom today. He was held in solitary confinement for six years and was only allowed three family visits during that time. https://t.co/nadwJOIjxO
— Amnesty International (@amnesty) June 17, 2019
Human Rights Watch, released a video detailing the harsh conditions that face those who have been detained under similar conditions as Morsi:
Why do people – like former President #Morsy – die in Egypt's prisons?
Here’s a glimpse at the nightmare that is Scorpion Prison, where inmates are isolated, beaten, and denied food and medicine. https://t.co/vWntk4Evg7 #محمد_مرسي pic.twitter.com/c29lwkTGra
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) June 17, 2019
Security sources said the Interior Ministry had declared a state of alert on Monday, notably in Sharqiya.
AfricaEgyptHRWInternational OrganisationsNews
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Chad scalps Phelps
Lloyd Burnard and Norrie Williamson
IN what is already being called one of the greatest races in Olympic history, Westville Boys’ High School old boy Chad le Clos had South Africa in a state of euphoria as he bested Michael Phelps by five one- hundredths of a second to win gold in last night’s 200 metre butterfly at the London Olympics.
“I can tell you I’ve swum that last 50 a million times and I’ve watched all his [Phelps’s] races since the 2000 Olympics,” Le Clos said after winning South Africa’s second gold medal.
“I remember how he always finished strongly and I think I felt like him. I felt like I was Phelps — I remember looking at him — he said ‘congratulations’ and told me to live and enjoy the moment.
“That coming from such a legend makes it a great honour.”
With his parents and 14-year-old brother watching him from the stands at the Olympic Park Aquatics Centre, Le Clos was a picture of disbelief when he looked up at the electronic board to find that he had beaten the greatest ever Olympic swimmer.
“They have been my biggest fans since I first made a national team. I remember them crying when I won my first junior national medal. It wasn’t even a medal, it was a ribbon,” said Le Clos of his parents.
“I didn’t think it could actually happen — I’m so proud to be there and to live my dream.”
Le Clos wasn’t the only one overwhelmed by it all.
A teary Geraldine le Clos told The Witness moments after her son’s historic victory: “We can’t believe it. It is like we are in a movie and I have to keep pinching myself — this can’t be real.
“We knew he would win gold, but we didn’t know it would be at this Olympics and against the best in the world.”
Le Clos couldn’t contain his emotion, and the innocence of youth was clear for all to see as he cried and lip-quivered his way through Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika with the gold medal around his neck in a moment that was just too much for Geraldine to handle.
“I just sobbed and sobbed the whole way through. This has always been his ultimate dream,” she said.
With celebration plans very much on the cards for Geraldine and her husband Bert — and with Chad the centre of an international media frenzy — the pair were expecting to have about 15 minutes with their son last night.
“I’m just going to hold him close and not let him go for five minutes,” Geraldine added.
“Bert and I will be going to a pub to celebrate while he [Chad] has interviews and everything.”
Chad’s 14-year-old brother, Jordan, very nearly missed out on his brother’s moment of glory.
“We had a lot of difficulty getting him a ticket and he actually sat by himself on the opposite side of the pool, but he was surrounded by people congratulating him,” said hismother.
“He was Chad’s lucky charm.”
The support for Chad back home was just as overwhelming. Over 100 of his closest friends and family, including his older siblings, Bianca and Justin, gathered at Stella Sports Club in Glenwood to watch the race.
“I phoned my mom [Geraldine] after the race and we couldn’t even talk to each other because we couldn’t stop crying,” an elated Bianca told The Witness. “This has been his only dream since he was 12 — Phelps was his idol.”
Meanwhile, Bert has become a Twitter sensation following his animated interview with the BBC after witnessing his son’s race. “Unbelievable, he’s beautiful,” growled Bert in a voice that was clearly suffering the after-effects of intense cheering.
To watch the interview with Bert le Clos click here.
Paarden Eiland 08:52 AM
Road name: Marine Drive Southbound
Solar Installer/Electrician
Mass Staffing Projects
R200 000.00 - R300 000.00 Per Year
Nelspruit Jobs
Pietermaritzburg Jobs
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Pregnancy Can Still Mean Penalties at Work for Many New Yorkers
Women in the workforce who become pregnant have more legal protections today than at any point in U.S. history. Discrimination against an employee based on pregnancy is prohibited by city, state, and federal law in New York City. Despite all these gains in recent decades, however, pregnant workers still face various forms of discrimination and hardship, and the laws protecting them can be difficult to apply in particular circumstances.
A recent article in the New York Post profiled several women in New York City who dealt with difficulties maintaining their job duties during their pregnancies, and who ended up losing their positions due to loopholes in the various laws. Employers cannot fire or otherwise discriminate against an employee solely based on pregnancy, thanks to laws like Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New York State Human Rights Law, and the New York City Human Rights Law. Employers who violate any of these laws may be liable to an employee for lost wages, future earnings, and other damages. These laws leave other questions unsettled, such as maternity leave, accommodations in scheduling and job duties, and even the ability to return to one’s former position or claim unemployment benefits. As employment discrimination attorneys, we believe it is critical for workers to understand the laws that protect them, and to understand where vulnerabilities may exist.
The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) requires certain employers to hold certain employees’ jobs for them for at least twelve weeks after certain medical events, including childbirth. The law only applies to employers with fifty or more employees. It applies to workers who have been at a job for at least twelve months, and who have put in at least 1,250 hours during that time. While the law requires employers to hold an employee’s job open, it does not require them to pay an employee during that time.
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, and it prohibits employment discrimination based on disability. Pregnancy, however, is not considered a “disability” under the ADA, even though pregnant employees may require some modifications to the workspace or job duties. Although the Civil Rights Act and similar laws may prohibit an employer from cutting a worker’s hours or other job duties based solely on pregnancy, no law requires an employer to accommodate a pregnant employee in the same position as before the pregnancy.
These gaps in legal protection become especially problematic for employees not covered by the FMLA due to the size of the employer or length of employment. As the New York Post reports, some workers not covered by the FMLA take leave from work to give birth with the permission of an employer, only to find that their job is not available when they try to return. In some cases, a different job, often with substantially reduced hours or pay, is all that is available, forcing the employee to look elsewhere for work. In that situation, the now-former employee is ineligible for unemployment benefits because, from the standpoint of the former employer, she “quit” her job.
At Phillips & Associates, we fight to safeguard the rights of employees and job seekers in the New York City area who have experienced pregnancy discrimination and other forms of employment discrimination in violation of federal, state, and local laws. Contact us today online, or call (212) 248-7431 to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
EEOC Reviews Pregnancy Discrimination and Discrimination Against Caregiving Workers, New York Employment Attorney Blog, April 27, 2012
Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace Sometimes Falls into a Murky Legal Area, New York Employment Attorney Blog, January 26, 2012
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Nielsen and ALDI Sign Strategic Multi-Year Relationship to Integrate Shopper and Advertising Effectiveness Analytics
New York, NY — Aug. 2, 2017 — Today, Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN) and ALDI announced an expanded multi-year relationship for integrated analytics data around shopper panel, custom retail analytics and advertising effectiveness. Under this agreement, Nielsen will be ALDI’s preferred data and analytics provider, covering nearly 1,700 stores in 35 states across the U.S.
With this agreement, Nielsen will provide ALDI with a combination of industry leading analytics, including consumer-sourced panel data, custom retail analytics and advertising effectiveness. Nielsen’s combined consumer panel and advertising effectiveness analytics, the only integrated data set of this capacity available to the industry, brings forth a deeper view of shopper panel data and the role that advertising plays within it, a critical strategy in navigating today’s evolving grocery retail landscape.
“We are continually creating a better grocery store for our customers,” said Scott Patton, Vice President of Corporate Buying at ALDI. “We selected Nielsen for its differentiation of consumer and retail data in the marketplace, so we can continue to focus on doing what we do best – save people money on their grocery bills.”
“ALDI is one of the fastest growing retailers in the U.S and as such, needs access to increasing amounts of effective shopper and advertising data,” said Rob Hill, Executive Vice President, U.S. Retail Services at Nielsen. “We are humbled and proud that ALDI selected Nielsen as its strategic partner and look forward to supporting ALDI’s growth and expansion initiatives within the U.S. market.”
About ALDI
A leader in the grocery retailing industry, ALDI operates almost 1,700 U.S. stores in 35 states. More than 40 million customers each month save up to 50%* on their grocery bills, benefiting from the ALDI simple and streamlined approach to retailing. ALDI sells the most frequently purchased grocery and household items, primarily under its exclusive brands, which meet or exceed the national name brands on taste and quality. ALDI is so confident in the quality of its products, the company offers a Double Guarantee: If for any reason a customer is not 100 percent satisfied with any ALDI food product, ALDI will gladly replace the product and refund the purchase price. For the seventh year in a row, ALDI was recognized as a value leader among U.S. grocery stores by Market Force Information® survey of U.S. consumers. For more information about ALDI, visit aldi.us.
*Based on a price comparison of comparable products sold at leading national retail grocery.
Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE: NLSN) is a global performance management company that provides a comprehensive understanding of what consumers watch and buy. Nielsen’s Watch segment provides media and advertising clients with Total Audience measurement services for all devices on which content — video, audio and text — is consumed. The Buy segment offers consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers the industry’s only global view of retail performance measurement. By integrating information from its Watch and Buy segments and other data sources, Nielsen also provides its clients with analytics that help improve performance. Nielsen, an S&P 500 company, has operations in over 100 countries, covering more than 90% of the world’s population. For more information, visit www.nielsen.com.
Genevieve Aronson, [email protected], (646) 654-5742
Melisa Yunlu, [email protected], (312) 988-2427
https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/press-releases/2017/nielsen-and-aldi-sign-strategic-multi-year-relationship-to-integrate-shopper-ad-effectiveness-analytics/
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PHOENIX RISING… AND READING TOO
NME Mar 16, 1998 12:13 pm GMT
Shed Seven and Travis have been confirmed for T In The Park, as Super Furry Animals will appear at this year's Reading...
Shed Seven, Lo-Fidelity Allstars, Travis, Therapy?, Asian Dub Foundation, 60ft Dolls, 3 Colours Red and Earl Brutus are the latest bands to confirm for this year’s Phoenix Festival.
Other acts also added to the bill include Theaudience, Idlewild, Dawn Of The Replicants, Marion, Lionrock, Dodgy, The Supernaturals, Audioweb, Dust Junkys, Tortoise, Urusei Yatsura and Six By Seven. They join a line-up that already includes Ocean Colour Scene, New Order, Prodigy, Spiritualized, The Bluetones and Echo & The Bunnymen. The event takes place over four days at Long Marston, near Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire, on July 16-19.
Meanwhile, Super Furry Animals, who release their new ‘Ice Hockey Hair’ EP on May 25, are the latest band to be confirmed for this year’s Reading Festival, which takes place on August 28-30. The band join a line-up which already includes Kenickie, Ash, Garbage and the Beastie Boys. Tickets for both Phoenix and Reading are available from the NME 24-hour Ticketline on 0870 1212 500. All calls are charged at national standard rate.
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World Exclusive: Paul Weller's Track-By-Track Of Classic Songs
World Exclusive: Paul Weller’s Track-By-Track Of Classic Songs
nme May 23, 2014 11:45 am BST
Watch the first episode in a series in which Paul Weller tells the stories behind some of his most-loved songs from a new compilation album ‘More Modern Classics’, featuring tracks from the past 15 years of the singer’s solo career.
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Three boys facing murder charge after teen found dead in car in Ontario
Police say a 17-year-old whose body was found in a car in a wooded area in Hamilton
Police say three boys will be charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 17-year-old whose body was found in a car in a wooded area in Hamilton.
Investigators say they were called to the scene Monday evening on reports of a crash and found the vehicle, which appeared to have left the road.
They say officers found the teen inside and tried to revive him but he was declared dead.
Police say the injuries he had were inconsistent with a car crash.
They say witnesses reported seeing three youths fleeing the area, and boys matching those descriptions were arrested nearby.
Police say the three are expected in court today, where they will be charged with murder.
Investigators say they believe it was a targeted attack and there is no risk to the public, nor are they seeking any other suspects.
The cause of death has not yet been determined and an autopsy is scheduled today.
Neither the victim nor the suspects can be publicly named because they are underage.
Decision day in Alberta: Voters head to polls in provincial election
Spike in Afghanistan-related suicides may be receding: Military
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'The Jazz Ambassadors': Cold War Diplomacy And Civil Rights In Conflict A new PBS film documents the African-American musicians who spread good will for the U.S. overseas during the war, despite discrimination faced at home. Michel Martin talks to filmmaker Hugo Berkeley.
'The Jazz Ambassadors': Cold War Diplomacy And Civil Rights In Conflict
'The Jazz Ambassadors': Cold War Diplomacy And Civil Rights In Conflict 9:34
May 5, 20186:11 PM ET
A new PBS film documents the African-American musicians who spread good will for the U.S. overseas during the war, despite discrimination faced at home. Michel Martin talks to filmmaker Hugo Berkeley.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
Finally today, we revisit the Cold War. It wasn't just an arms race. It was also a battle about values and culture. And one of the U.S.'s weapons of choice...
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
DIZZY GILLESPIE: The weapon that we will use is the cool one. (Playing trumpet).
MARTIN: Those are the words of the great jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, who is just one of the world-class musicians the U.S. government deployed in the '50s and '60s to win hearts and minds around the globe. All this as the African-Americans among them were still fighting for human rights and dignity in the U.S. A new documentary, available on PBS, tells the story. It's called "The Jazz Ambassadors," and director Hugo Berkeley is with us now from our bureau in New York to tell us more about it. Hugo, thanks so much for joining us.
HUGO BERKELEY: Thank you very much for having me on.
MARTIN: Well, set the stage for us, if you would. When we hear Cold War, I think a lot of people think about the Cuban missile crisis. But this was also an era when the U.S. and Soviets were fighting a propaganda war. Could you talk a little bit about that?
BERKELEY: Absolutely. In the 1950s you have the Cold War that's happening, obviously. In the mid-1950s, you've really got the burgeoning of the civil rights movement in the United States. And you've also got this great process of decolonization that's happening around the world, where countries like India, African countries, Asian countries are having their own struggle to throw off their colonial oppressors and to embrace liberty. And that means that these countries then enter into a Cold War dynamic where they're being asked to choose either to side with the Americans or with the Soviets on the other side. And so there's this propaganda effort to try and reach out to these newly-independent countries - specifically, India is a huge one in the mid-1950s - to join their side. And that leads to this very interesting jazz ambassadors program.
MARTIN: One of the key drivers of this was Adam Clayton Powell Jr., a congressman - African-American congressman who represented Harlem. What was his role in this?
BERKELEY: So Adam Clayton Powell Jr. was a fascinating guy. He was also married to Hazel Scott, who was a jazz pianist. And I think in that couple, they really blend politics and show business. And Adam Clayton Powell is someone who sees the value of American jazz musicians, of America's indigenous art form in terms of communicating to developing countries, countries that were recently experiencing independence. And he tries to convince the State Department that this is a great cultural resource. As the State Department is sending some American cultural exports like the Boston Symphony, or acapella singers, or folk dancers around the world, he says, hold on, why don't we send jazz musicians? There, an art form that's native to the United States, that no one else can compete with.
MARTIN: Maybe this is a good place to mention a radio host named Willis Conover.
BERKELEY: Absolutely. Willis Conover is such a wonderful person and almost maybe a story that people who are into jazz know but who maybe could enjoy a little bit more time in the public limelight. He was a radio broadcaster on "Voice Of America" who launched a show in 1955 called "Music USA."
WILLIS CONOVER: Some music scholars have said that jazz, which was born here in the United States, is the one new art form in the world. Others say jazz is more than an art. It's a way of life. Jazz guarantees each musician absolute freedom within a framework of cooperation.
MARTIN: Why was he so important to this whole endeavor?
BERKELEY: Well, he's someone who sees jazz as somehow very symbolic of democracy in this - you know, everything's seen through a Cold War lens. And he's a huge figure around the world. His show is received ecstatically. The State Department in 1955 starts to receive all these letters saying how much they enjoy it. And I think people say, wow, this is so popular, maybe we could do something more with it. And he's a champion of jazz on the international stage then for the next 30 years or so in American broadcasting.
MARTIN: And also, importantly, he offered a platform to these musicians. I mean, he interviewed - what? - you know, a who's who of African-American and other jazz artists and gave them this - I mean, they were already known, I guess, by the time they got - they were starting to go overseas. People would have known who they were, right?
BERKELEY: Absolutely. There'd been a fairly well-trodden path outside of the United States in terms of touring artists in Europe and the edges of Europe, maybe a little bit in South America as well. But Willis Conover's broadcasts took the music of Dizzy Gillespie, or Louis Armstrong, or Dave Brubeck way beyond the reach that commercial tours could support at that time.
(SOUNDBITE OF DAVE BRUBECK'S "PENNIES FROM HEAVEN")
BERKELEY: And so when these artists showed up, I think they themselves were so amazed at the knowledge, the passion, the enthusiasm that, you know, audiences in Congo, or in Egypt, or in Poland had for their music. They had no idea, and that was really eye-opening for them.
MARTIN: But we also see moments in your film when a number of these artists were conflicted about being ambassadors for the U.S. at the time when they were still facing, you know, very obvious blatant discrimination and racism in the U.S. I mean, you know, you're thinking - you're watching this and you're thinking, you know, they would have been turned away from some hotels in the United States, you know, at that time. How did they deal with that dilemma?
BERKELEY: I think that's the real heart of the film, and what we've set out to answer is that question. You know, this was obviously a great opportunity for them to tour the world and to go to new places. But it was - there was a paradox at its heart, which is you're being asked to stump for a country that doesn't treat your own people as equal citizens. And that is the great dilemma of America's stance in the Cold War at that time. So my effort in making this film was really to understand how each individual artist responded to that question in their own words. And we really looked around the world for pieces of archive, interviews, memoir writings, whatever we could find where Louis Armstrong, or Duke Ellington, or Dizzy Gillespie could answer that for themselves.
And what's so great about these musicians, they insist on almost unanimously telling it like it is - not sugar coating anything, being honest. And that comes through both in what they say and in how they play. And that's what really was the most successful, and probably from a State Department point of view, the least expected outcome of this. But it's what really worked.
MARTIN: There's a very moving image in your film of Louis Armstrong performing this jazz standard, "Black and Blue," in Ghana. It's a wonderful song. I'm not sure everybody always listens really carefully to the lyrics, so I'm going to play a little bit of it. And then we can talk about what he's saying.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "BLACK AND BLUE")
LOUIS ARMSTRONG: (Singing) How would it end? Ain't got a friend. My only sin is in my skin. What did I do to be so black and blue?
BERKELEY: It's remarkable piece of footage to see Louis Armstrong singing that to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana in 1956 as that country's experiencing its own independence struggle. And Robin D.G. Kelley, who we interviewed in the film, speaks so eloquently about the universality of those lyrics about the desire to want to be other than you are. And Armstrong is really able to bridge this divide with that Ghanaian audience and specifically to such an important leader like Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, such an important liberating figure in African politics and say, we sympathize. This is a universal issue, and we're somehow connected.
MARTIN: In the end, what do you make of their journeys? Do you think these musicians were ambassadors for the U.S., or were they in some ways ambassadors for music or for jazz as a kind of a universal language?
BERKELEY: I think that all of those things, actually. They are certainly ambassadors for the United States. And maybe it's a bit more difficult to imagine it from today's point of view, but the world they were inhabiting was so conditioned by this binary Cold War opposition of Soviet Communism and an American democratic values. So I really did get the sense as I researched this film and got closer to the thoughts of these musicians that they were very patriotic and they did want to help the United States. And yet, as many people who were involved in the film and we were able to interview attest, there was - it was all about a kind of internationalism and a lack of a specific ideology and forming connections around the world. So
that really goes beyond the, you know, the United States and its particular grievance with the Soviet Union. So it's all of those things. And maybe that's what makes it both an interesting historical document but also a more universal one that I hope resonates today as well.
(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)
MARTIN: That was filmmaker Hugo Berkeley talking about his new film "The Jazz Ambassadors." He joined us from our studios in New York. And you can now stream "The Jazz Ambassadors" on pbs.org.
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Lassen Volcanic
National Park California
Lassen Peak Trail Rock Fall is Tragic for Local Family
Contact: Darlene M. Koontz, 530-595-4444 x5101
Yesterday afternoon, a Red Bluff family was hiking the Lassen Peak Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park. They were approximately one mile up the 2.5 mile ascent when a rock fall killed their nine year old son and seriously injured their 13 year old daughter. Their youngest daughter of ten escaped with minor scrapes. Nearby hikers and the National Park Service assisted the family to provide first aid and prepare for helicopter operations to air lift the brother and sister to nearby Mercy Medical Center in Redding. The parents and youngest daughter were able to hike down from the trail with rescue personnel. "This is a very sad day for the family and I would like to extend my condolences to their family and friends for their loss," stated Superintendent Darlene M. Koontz.
Several agency aircrafts participated in the rescue including Mercy Medical, Cal Fire, and the California Highway Patrol. "We appreciate their assistance and quick response," added Superintendent Koontz. The Lassen Peak Trail will be closed while an assessment is completed and it is determined safe to open to the public. A full investigation of this tragic accident is underway.
The Lassen Peak Trail is one of the most popular hiking trails in Lassen Volcanic National Park. The trail to the top of Lassen Peak begins at the peak parking area at an elevation of 8500 feet. Approximately 25,000 - 30,000 visitors hike to the top each season. There are many views of the park and surrounding areas from the trail and it has the notoriety of being one of the largest plug dome volcanoes in the world.
For more information about the park, please call (530) 595-4480 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or visit the park website at www.nps.gov/lavo.
Mineral, CA 96063
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Donald Trump Starts Re-Election Bid in a Predictable Way
By Alexandra DeSanctis
About Alexandra DeSanctis
Follow Alexandra DeSanctis on Twitter
President Trump addresses a re-election campaign rally in Montoursville, Pa. May 20, 2019. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)
Making the click-through worthwhile: President Trump kicked off his reelection campaign with a raucous rally last night in Florida, the Me Too movement hits Hollywood yet again, and a Medicare for All poll reminds us how unreliable public-opinion surveys often are.
Donald Trump Is Ready for a Fight in 2020
In Orlando yesterday evening, President Trump took the stage in front of a crowd of thousands, starting his reelection bid with a characteristically pugnacious rally performance that focused more on the foibles of his opponents than on the achievements of his administration.
From Politico’s reporting on last night’s event:
Trump’s eldest son, Don Jr., riled up the crowd with a series of attacks against Joe Biden, a telling sign that his father views the former vice president as his likeliest opponent. Vice President Mike Pence promised the crowd that four more years “means more jobs, more judges … and at least four more years to drain the swamp.”
Trump picked up where his vice president left off as he took the mic, ticking through the items he can accomplish if granted another term and highlighting what he’s done so far. He talked about passing a criminal justice bill and healthcare reforms for veterans, doubling the child tax credit for American families and confronting the opioid crisis . . .
But the president couldn’t help but focus on the trials of his first White House bid, too — time he might have otherwise spent targeting his current Democratic opponents . . .
Trump cited many of the same political enemies Tuesday night that he ran against last time, grumbling about “Washington insiders” and “career politicians.” But he identified new foils, as well: Democratic congressional investigators, special counsel Robert Mueller, and the “radical socialism” he claims his political opponents have enthusiastically embraced.
Trump’s choice to direct many of his comments at the rally against Hillary Clinton is a telling sign that he hopes the memory of his victory over the unpopular 2016 Democrat will be a large part of motivating his base again in 2020, even when a different Democratic politician stands at the top of the ticket.
According to New York Times reporting, Trump mentioned Clinton more than six times before he once mentioned this cycle’s two Democratic frontrunners — former vice president Joe Biden and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. Here’s more from the Times:
Mr. Trump has been telling aides he wants to run against Mr. Biden because it is a race he recognizes. He views Mr. Biden as a male version of Mrs. Clinton — a centrist candidate who will allow him to run again as an outsider. But if his opponent is Mr. Sanders or Senator Elizabeth Warren, the president’s aides expect the race to play out along ideological lines, with Mr. Trump railing against socialism.
But without a clear opponent, Mr. Trump seemed content on Tuesday to hold up the specter of Mrs. Clinton. He talked about her deleted emails from the private server she used while she was the secretary of state. He suggested he would have been sent to the “electric chair” had he done the same thing. And he recalled how she denigrated his supporters as “deplorables.”
Supporters of the president insist that the strong showing at his rally stands in sharp contrast to the turnout Biden has received thus far on the campaign trail. Interestingly, Biden was one of the only Democratic presidential hopefuls who declined to participate in a recent Times profile that posed 18 questions to each of the candidates.
The Me Too Movement Strikes Hollywood Once More
Eight women have accused filmmaker Max Landis — known primarily for his work as a screenwriter on Chronicle and Bright — of subjecting them to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse over the last ten years. It’s just the latest in a long string of sexual-abuse allegations against Hollywood producers and leading lights.
Landis was described by his accusers as “cruel,” an “abuser, body shamer, serial rapist, gaslighter and psychological abuser.” The report landed yesterday in the Daily Beast:
Back in 2017, a number of entertainment-industry insiders wrote about Landis on social media—the posts ranged from not-so-subtle subtweets to overt call-outs. In response to a Netflix tweet promoting Bright, an upcoming Landis project, the actress Anna Akana responded, “Written by a psychopath who sexually abused and assaults women, right? Cool.” (Max Landis did not respond to multiple requests for comment through his representative.)
“I can’t imagine who is more scared in a post-Weinstein world than a famous director’s son,” musician and writer Allie Goertz posted. Landis’ father, John Landis, is best known for directing films like National Lampoon’s Animal House, An American Werewolf in London, and Coming to America.
Akana, who has continued to speak out publicly about Landis, told The Daily Beast that she first started hearing “terrible things” about the screenwriter when they were still friends, years ago. “And then after I went public there were more people who came to me.” She estimated that she had heard “a little less than a dozen, maybe like 10 or so” firsthand allegations of sexual misconduct in total. As for secondhand allegations, there were too many to count. . . .
Many of the ex-friends, colleagues, and girlfriends that spoke to The Daily Beast for this piece stressed the role that Landis’ careful cultivation of acquaintances played in his alleged pattern of predation. Landis’ wealth and family connections were certainly tools in his arsenal, but so was the friend group he kept around him as both a lure and a shield.
The allegations become more lurid and disturbing as the article goes on. Since Ronan Farrow’s initial New Yorker exposé on producer and mogul Harvey Weinstein, published in the fall of 2017, stories like it having been pouring out of Hollywood. The rapid pace of revelations has slowed since then, but this new report suggests there’s still plenty more behind the scenes waiting to come out.
Americans Cheer Medicare for All . . . But Don’t Know What It Is
Two new polls of voters indicate that a majority of Americans like the sound of Medicare for All, even as they believe it would raise their taxes while still requiring them to pay their premiums, co-pays, and deductibles. New York magazine’s Eric Levitz has the details on this odd situation:
A pair of new surveys confirm that the single-payer movement’s signature rallying cry is both broadly popular and widely misunderstood. In polls conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Navigator Research, majorities of the public endorse the concept of “Medicare for All,” but evince ignorance about what such a policy would actually entail.
In Kaiser’s polling, most voters said that in a Medicare for All system, Americans would retain the option of keeping their current private insurance plans, and the obligation to pay premiums, co-pays, and deductibles . . .
In other words: When the median voter hears Medicare for All, she ostensibly pictures a health-care system similar to our current one, except that Americans of all ages would gain the opportunity to buy into a Medicare-like public health-insurance program (i.e., one that would require beneficiaries to make various cost-sharing payments, just as the already-existing Medicare does).
Interestingly, it appears from polling data that Republican respondents have a clearer conception of what Medicare for All would do than Democratic or Independent respondents indicated. This makes sense, since GOP politicians have been working hard to emphasize that the Democratic proposal isn’t simply a public option. And the distinction matters: The Navigator poll found that support for Medicare for All drops from 73 percent to 47 percent when respondents are told that it aims to eventually eliminate private health insurance rather than allow people to choose which they prefer.
Alexandra DeSanctis is a staff writer for National Review. @xan_desanctis
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Trump Fires Acting Attorney General, Saying She 'Betrayed' the DOJ
Yates directed Justice Department attorneys not to defend Trump's controversial immigration order
By Julie Pace and Eric Tucker
Published Jan 30, 2017 at 8:00 AM | Updated at 7:09 AM EST on Jan 31, 2017
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Trump's Travel Ban Sparks Chaos, Protests
//www.nbcconnecticut.com/multimedia/Trump-Travel-Ban-Sparks-Chaos-Protests-412196773.html
On Monday, President Donald Trump defended his immigration order that sparked protests at airports around the country, and White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer argued the 109 detentions over the weekend was a minor inconvenience to keep America safe. Meanwhile, two new federal lawsuits were filed in Washington state and Virginia, where a Muslim civil rights group argues it's not only unconstitutional, but puts American Muslims in danger. (Published Monday, Jan. 30, 2017)
Accusing her of betrayal and insubordination, President Donald Trump on Monday fired Sally Yates, the acting attorney general of the United States and a Democratic appointee, after she publicly questioned the constitutionality of his controversial refugee and immigration ban and refused to defend it in court.
The dramatic public clash between the new president and the nation's top law enforcement officer laid bare the growing discord and dissent surrounding Trump's executive order, which temporarily halted the entire U.S. refugee program and banned all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days.
The firing came hours after Yates directed Justice Department attorneys not to defend the executive order, saying she was not convinced it was lawful or consistent with the agency's obligation "to stand for what is right." Trump soon followed with a statement accusing Yates of having "betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States."
He immediately named longtime federal prosecutor Dana Boente, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, as Yates' replacement.
.@POTUS has named Dana Boente, US Attorney for the Eastern District of VA as Acting Attorney General. Sally Yates has been relieved.
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) January 31, 2017
Boente was sworn in privately late Monday, the White House said. He promptly order Justice Department lawyers to "do our sworn duty and to defend the lawful orders of our President."
Boente said Trump's executive order was "both lawful on its face and properly drafted."
Yates' refusal to defend the executive order was largely symbolic given that Sen. Jeff Sessions, Trump's pick for attorney general, will almost certainly defend the policy once he's sworn in. He's expected to be confirmed Tuesday by the Senate Judiciary Committee and could be approved within days by the full Senate.
The chain of events bore echoes of the Nixon-era "Saturday Night Massacre," when the attorney general and deputy attorney general resigned rather than follow an order to fire a special prosecutor investigating the Watergate scandal. The prosecutor, Archibald Cox, was fired by the solicitor general.
Yates's abrupt decision reflected the growing conflict over the executive order, with administration officials moving Monday to distance themselves from the policy. As protests erupted at airports over the weekend and confusion disrupted travel around the globe, even some of Trump's top advisers and fellow Republicans made clear they were not involved in crafting the policy or consulted on its implementation.
At least three top national security officials — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly and Rex Tillerson, who is awaiting confirmation to lead the State Department — have told associates they were not aware of details of the directive until around the time Trump signed it. Leading intelligence officials were also left largely in the dark, according to U.S. officials.
Protests Over Trump Immigration Orders Continue for 2nd Day
Anger over Trump's executive order on refugees and immigration sparked a second day of nationwide protests Sunday. Jennifer Johnson reports.
(Published Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017)
Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations committee, said that despite White House assurances that congressional leaders were consulted, he learned about the order in the media.
Trump's order pauses America's entire refugee program for four months, indefinitely bans all those from war-ravaged Syria and temporarily freezes immigration from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen. Federal judges in New York and several other states issued orders that temporarily block the government from deporting people with valid visas who arrived after Trump's travel ban took effect and found themselves in limbo.
Yates, who was appointed deputy attorney general in 2015 and was the No. 2 Justice Department official under Loretta Lynch, declared Monday she was instructing department lawyers not to defend the order in court.
"I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institution's solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right," Yates wrote in a letter announcing her position. "At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful."
Trump said the order had been "approved" by Justice Department lawyers. However, the department has said the Office of Legal Counsel review was limited to whether the order was properly drafted, but did not address broader policy questions.
Other parts of Trump's administration also voiced dissent Monday. A large group of American diplomats circulated a memo voicing their opposition to the order, which temporarily halted the entire U.S. refugee program and banned all entries from seven Muslim-majority nations for 90 days. White House spokesman Sean Spicer challenged those opposed to the measure to resign.
Sen. Charles Schumer Fires up Crowd at Battery Park Protest
Sen. Charles Schumer denounced President Donald Trump's executive orders, calling them "bad for national security" and decrying them as anti-American during an immigrant march at Battery Park Sunday.
"They should either get with the program or they can go," Spicer said.
The blowback underscored Trump's tenuous relationship with his own national security advisers, many of whom he met for the first time during the transition.
Mattis, who stood next to Trump during Friday's signing ceremony, is said to be particularly incensed. A senior U.S. official said Mattis, along with Joint Chiefs Chairman Joseph Dunford, was aware of the general concept of Trump's order but not the details. Tillerson has told the president's political advisers that he was baffled over not being consulted on the substance of the order.
U.S. officials and others with knowledge of the Cabinet's thinking insisted on anonymity in order to disclose the officials' private views.
Despite his public defense of the policy, the president has privately acknowledged flaws in the rollout, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking. But he's also blamed the media — his frequent target — for what he believes are reports exaggerating the dissent and the number of people actually affected.
After a chaotic weekend during which some U.S. legal permanent residents were detained at airports, some agencies were moving swiftly to try to clean up after the White House.
Trump Immigration Order Triggers Protests Across US
Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
Homeland Security, the agency tasked with implementing much of the refugee ban, clarified that customs and border agents should allow legal residents to enter the country. The Pentagon was trying to exempt Iraqis who worked alongside the U.S. and coalition forces from the 90-day ban on entry from the predominantly Muslim countries.
"There are a number of people in Iraq who have worked for us in a partnership role, whether fighting alongside us or working as translators, often doing so at great peril to themselves," said Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman.
On Capitol Hill, lawmakers in Trump's party sought to distance themselves from the wide-ranging order.
Drake, Kevin Hart Among Users of Viral Old Age FaceApp
While Spicer said "appropriate committees and leadership offices" on Capitol Hill were consulted, GOP lawmakers said their offices had no hand in drafting the order and no briefings from the White House on how it would work.
"I think they know that it could have been done in a better way," Corker said of the White House.
NBC Non-Profit News Partnership Reports
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Invite: Thur, July 18th - "Patriotism, Optimism"
Submitted by Chris Taylor on 5/28/19
Patriotism and Optimism
Over the past year or so Simon has been making a big argument about the past and future of the center-left in America. Called "Patriotism and Optimism," it makes the case that America is not in decline and is in fact doing as well as it has in any point in its history. It is meant to be an explicit rebuttal to the core argument Trump is making about America and its decline, an argument which is malevolently selling America and its people short every day.
This primary way this argument has made itself into the world is through a 45 minute long Powerpoint deck, which has been seen in dozens of showings over the web and live in person to policy makers here in Washington and around the country. Our next showing of the deck will be Thursday, July 18th from 12:00pm to 1:15pm at our new offices at 800 Maine Avenue SW, Washington, DC. Lunch will be served. You can RSVP for the event and learn more here. For background before the showing, feel free to check out some related readings below.
Key Background Readings On "Patriotism and Optimism"
The Case for Optimism: Rejecting Trump's Poisonous Pessimism, Simon Rosenberg, Medium, 6/2/17. In an essay that originally was published on Medium, Simon argues that the great rationale of Trump's Presidency – that America is in decline – simply isn't true, and must be challenged more forcefully. This is the piece that spurred the creation of the presentation.
Chin Up, Democrats, Simon Rosenberg, US News and World Report, 1/20/17. In his column Simon argues that Democrats should have pride in their historic accomplishments and optimism about the future of their politics. This one is very relevant to the presentation itself.
A Center-Left Agenda for the Trump Era - Simon Rosenberg, US News and World Report, 12/9/16. In the early days after Trump's election Simon layed out a possible agenda for the Democrats centering on prosperity, security, shoring up the American led liberal order and ambitiious efforts to reform our political system.
Some Thoughts On the Caravan - By Simon Rosenberg, Medium, 10/24/18. The Caravan, composed of 7,000 poor, unarmed, mostly Honduran Central Americans, poses no threat to the US, and illegal border crossings continue to be way down. Some thoughts on what Democrats should do to respond to Trump's farcical attacks and terrible policies.
Are We Better Off Under Trump? The Short Answer Is No - By Simon Rosenberg and Chris Taylor, NDN, 10/18/18. Most measures of the US economy are worse today than when Trump took office. Worse still, the President’s policies have made it very challenging to manage the next recession or global economic downturn.
Challenging Trump's Tariffs - An Ongoing Series - By Chris Taylor, 10/17/18. In a new series challenging Trump's tariffs, we argue that the President's trade policy is illegal, recklessly ignorant, damaging to the US economy, and historically unpopular. Congress must step up and rescind them in the coming months.
Trump's Immigration Strategy Is Failing - By Simon Rosenberg, NBC News, 8/6/18. Almost nothing the President has done on immigration and the border has worked; expect more extreme policies as the elections approach.
Congress Must Debate The Weakening of Global Order - By Simon Rosenberg, NBC News, 5/10/18. Few presidents have inherited a world or a nation in which more was going right. Trump seems determined to undo it all.
The Pernicious Politics of Oil - Simon Rosenberg, US News and World Report, 12/16/16. Petro-powers are challenging the global order, and the next president seems uninterested in stopping them.
An Enduring Legacy: The Democratic Party and Free and Open Trade - Simon Rosenberg, Huffington Post, 1/24/14. The global system created by Presidents FDR and Truman has done more to create opportunity, reduce poverty and advance democracy than perhaps any other policies in history.
Chris Taylor's blog
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Nicolas Cage vs Eva Mendes
Actor, Producer
T V & Movie Producers
Beverly Hills High School, Beverly Hills, CA
From 2011 to 2013 he starred in a number of films including, ‘Trespass’, ‘Seeking Justice’, the sequel, ‘Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance’ and the animated film, ‘The Croods’
The year 2010 was a ‘magical’ year for Cage as he starred in a historical film, ‘Season of Witch’ and also appeared as the sorcerer, ‘Balthazar’ in the box-office hit, ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’
He also starred in ‘The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call’, released in 2009
In 2008, he starred as a contract killer for the film, ‘Bangkok Dangerous’, followed by ‘Knowing’ the next year, which was panned by the critics
2007 proved to be an extremely fruitful year for the actor with a series of successful releases including, ‘Ghost Rider’, ‘The Dresden Files’ and the sequel, ‘National Treasure: Book of Secrets’
In 2006, he was seen in the horror film, ‘The Wicker Man’, which was a remake of the British classic of the same name
He starred in the hit American-adventure film by Walt Disney, ‘National Treasure’, which released in 2004
He made his directorial debut with the film ‘Sonny’ in 2002 and was also cast in ‘Adaptation’ and Ridley Scott’s drama, ‘Matchstick Men’, the latter released the following year
He married his first wife, Patricia Arquette on April 8, 1995 and divorced her in 2001
Through the 1990s, he appeared in a series of box-office hits including, ‘Honeymoon in Vegas’, ‘Guarding Tess’, ‘Kiss of Death’, ‘Leaving Las Vegas’, ‘The Rock, ‘Con Air’, ‘Face/Off’, ‘City of Angels’ and the paramedic production, ‘Bringing Out the Dead’
In 1989, he played the role of ‘Peter Leow’ in the movie, ‘Vampire’s Kiss’ for which he agreed to eat a live cockroach for his role
He dated Christina Fulton in 1988 with whom he had a child, Weston Coppola Cage
‘Moonstruck’ released in 1987, was one of his first commercial, hit films
In 1986, he starred in comedy-drama film opposite Kathleen Turner titled, ‘Peggy Sue Got Married’
He appeared in the 1984 film, ‘Birdy’, for which he reportedly extracted two teeth in order to do justice to his role
In 1983, he appeared in his uncle, Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Rumble Fish’
He made his debut in the big screen with the coming-of-age movie, ‘Fast Times at Ridgemont High’, in 1982
Nicolas Kim Coppola was born on January 7, 1964 to August Floyd Coppola, a literature professor and Joy Vogelsang, a dancer and choreographer, in Long Beach, California
In 2012, she played the role of ‘Kay M’ in the film ‘Holy Motors’, which was directed by Leos Carax
In the year 2011, she began to date Canadian actor Ryan Thomas Gosling
In 2010, she starred in the action comedy film, ‘The Other Guys’, which was directed by Adam McKay
In 2009, she was seen in the crime drama film, ‘The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans’, starring Nicolas Cage
This acclaimed American actress attended an addiction centre in 2008 but refused to disclose the reason, stating that it may hurt her mother
In 2007, she played the role of ‘Roxanne Simpson’ in the supernatural film, ‘Ghost Rider’, which was directed and written by Mark Steven Johnson
In 2005, she starred in the film, ‘Hitch’, which was an immense success at the box office, and earned a whopping $366
From 2002 to 2010, she was romantically involved with George Augusto
In 2001, she played the role of ‘Sara’ in the Academy Award winning crime drama film titled ‘Training day’, which was directed by Antoine Fuqua
In 2000, she acted in the film ‘Urban Legends: Final Cut’, in which she played the role of ‘Vanessa Valdeon’
In 1999, she played the role of ‘Matilda’ in the adventure film, ‘My Brother the Pig’, which was directed by Erik Fleming
In 1998, she made her debut with the film ‘Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror’, in which she played the role of ‘Kir’
However, she dropped out of University to pursue acting in 1997
In 1996, she appeared in a music video, ‘Se a vida � (That's the Way Life Is)’ for the electronic pop band, ‘Pet Shop Boys’
Directed by Werner Herzog, the film was premiered at the 66th Venice International Film Festival
35 million at the box office and became the 16th largest grossing film worldwide
nicolas cage and cher nicolas cage and meg ryan nicolas cage and son nicolas cage and john travolta nicolas cage and tim allen nicolas cage andy kaufman nicolas cage and eva mendes keanu reeves and nicolas cage elijah wood and nicolas cage john travolta vs nicolas cage gene wilder and nicolas cage kirk cameron vs nicolas cage michelle rodriguez and eva mendes eva mendes and ryan eva mendes vs jennifer lopez eva mendes and eva mendes and denzel eva mendes and ashley chad kroeger and nicolas cage taya valkyrie vs cage
wang jianlin net worth uday kotak net worth jim kennedy net worth serge dassault net worth jacqueline mars net worth jay y lee net worth german larrea mota velasco net worth xavier niel net worth robin li net worth tsai eng meng net worth patrick drahi net worth nusli wadia net worth thomas frist jr net worth ray dalio net worth s. robson walton net worth
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One Young World Announces 2019 Winners of Entrepreneur of the Year Award
One Young World is delighted to announce the winners of the inaugural One Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Created to identify and promote the world’s most revolutionary entrepreneurs, the Award honours five young leaders –aged 35 and under – who have been judged on the positive social impact of their business ventures and how they are transforming the way we work, learn, live and eat. These five young leaders were selected by a panel of respected international business figures from a shortlist of 20 young entrepreneurs from around the world.
Marisa Drew, Judge and CEO of the Impact Advisory and Finance (IAF) Department of Credit Suisse commenting on the Award, “It has been such an inspiration to witness the incredible creativity, entrepreneurial spirit and real impact that this group have demonstrated with the businesses that they have created. These entrepreneurs have found new, underserved or poorly-served markets and have come up with innovative ways to deploy their talents toward creating businesses with the ability to scale and become the disruptors in their field.”
The winners will be presented with the Award at the One Young World 2019 Summit taking place in London, 22 -25 October.
Severin Hacker, Switzerland
Severin is the Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Duolingo; a language learning platform on a mission to make language education free, fun and accessible for everyone in the world. Duolingo has 300 million users and offers 84 total language courses for more than 30 languages.
Catherine Mahugu, Kenya
Catherine is the Founder of two businesses. Chiswara is an agri-tech venture that partners with coffee farmers to sell Kenyan coffee to the international market. Soko is an ethical fashion brand that supports artisans in emerging economies.
Kathryn Minshew, USA
Kathryn is the CEO and Founder of The Muse, a career platform used by over 75 million people to research companies and careers. Organisations use The Muse to attract and hire talent by providing an authentic look at company culture, workplace, and values through the stories of their employees.
Srikanth Bolla, India
Srikanth is the Founder and CEO of Bollant Industries, a manufacturing company that produces eco-friendly disposable products and packaging solutions for manufacturers out of natural leaf and recycled paper. He created it with a vision to enhance employment opportunities for differently-abled people, mostly uneducated and unskilled.
Silas Adekunle, United Kingdom
Silas is known for creating the world's first augmented reality gaming robot. He is the CEO and Co-founder of Reach Robotics, a consumer robotics company that creates robots for gaming and STEM education.
Messages from Judging Panel
“We need the energy, pride and imagination of young entrepreneurs bringing novelty to society and driving economic development. The One Young World Entrepreneur of the Year Award is our ‘thank you’ to them.” - Professor Orietta Marsili, Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Director of Studies MSc in Entrepreneurship and Management at the University of Bath.
“Only creativity and innovation can drive real progress. The power of youth is to create in a pure form, with no biases nor prejudices. You are the entrepreneurs we’re proud to recognise with this OYW award!” - Elio Leoni Sceti, Co-founder and Chief Crafter of The Craftory.
"In the field of social impact, entrepreneurship is key because it provides innovative solutions to the same longstanding challenges that we have been tackling for years. This award recognises those who are solving the world’s major challenges with their entrepreneurial and revolutionary spirit." - Luis Javier Castro, Founding Partner at Mesoamerica Investments.
It's official: OYW-inspired book 'How to Make a Difference' available for pre-order
Weekly Roundup: Ambassadors will attend the World Economic Forum & much more
Top initiatives this month: protecting islands, building homes, driving social mobility & more
One Young World Politician of the Year 2019 - Winners Announced
Accessibility Advisory Group launched to make OYW more inclusive
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