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USA Area Codes
Updated: June 27th 2019
Area code 228 serves the Gulf Coast of Mississippi and is Mississippi’s second area code. The original area code 601 used to cover the entire state of Mississippi until September 15, 1997, when area code 601 was split to form area code 228. The three counties in area code 228 are Hancock County, Harrison County, and Jackson County.
Gulfport is the county seat of Harrison County and is the second largest city in Mississippi. Gulfport has a humid subtropical climate, meaning long, hot summers and short, mild winters. Unfortunately Gulfport was hit by two major hurricanes, Hurricane Camille in 1969 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. While Hurricane Katrina caused a lot of damage and flooding, nothing can compare to Hurricane Camille, the second strongest U.S. hurricane in recorded history. Gulfport has a population of 67,793 and the racial makeup of the city is 56.86% White, 36.07% African American, 5.19% Hispanic, and 1.69% Asian (2010 Census). When it comes to crime, the overall crime rate is much higher than the national average. Even though Gulfport is not among the most dangerous cities in Mississippi, it is still not a safe city to be in. The city is home to the Naval Construction Battalion Center, which is the top employer in the city. Tourism plays a major role in Gulfport’s economy. The city is home to 7 miles of white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico and to numerous casinos along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Numerous hotels and motels are scattered throughout the city and along the coast to accommodate all the tourists. Points of interest in Gulfport include the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, the Island View Casino, the Gulfport Premium Outlets, and the Busted Wrench Garage Museum.
Biloxi is the county seat of Harrison County and is the fifth largest city in Mississippi. The beachfront of Biloxi is situated directly on the Mississippi Sound. Biloxi has a humid subtropical climate, meaning hot, humid summers and mild winters. Like Gulfport, Biloxi suffered severe damages and a number of causalities from both Hurricane Camille and Hurricane Katrina. During Hurricane Katrina, over 90% of buildings along the coast were destroyed. The crew from the reality television series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition built a memorial to the Hurricane Katrina victims.
Biloxi has a population of 44,054 and the racial makeup of the city is 65.67% White, 21.57% African American, 7.3% Hispanic, and 4.67% Asian (2010 Census). When it comes to crime, Biloxi has an overall crime rate that is much higher than the national average.
Tourism, seafood, and gaming play a major role in Biloxi’s economy. The city is home to numerous casino resorts that offer 24 hour gambling, live entertainment, and various restaurants. Points of interest in Biloxi include Biloxi Beach, the Beau Rivage Casino, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Biloxi, the Biloxi Lighthouse, the Boomtown Casino Biloxi, and the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum. Anglers love Biloxi because it offers some of the best sports fishing along the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The city is also home to the Keesler Air Force Base.
Major Cities In Area Code 228
Ocean Springs is located in Jackson County in Mississippi. The city is approximately 2 miles east of Biloxi and west of Gautier. Ocean Springs has a humid subtropical climate, meaning hot, humid summers and mild winters. When Hurricane Katrina hit on August 29, 2005, the city sustained significant damage. The majority of buildings along the shoreline were destroyed along with the Biloxi Bay Bridge, which connected Biloxi to Ocean Springs. The Biloxi Bridge was eventually rebuilt to withstand hurricane-force winds and waves. Ocean Springs has a population of 17,442 and the racial makeup of the city is 85.13% White, 10.67% African American, 5.9% Hispanic, and 1.24% Asian (2010 Census). With an overall average crime rate, Ocean Springs is a fairly safe city. Known as an arts community, Ocean Springs is home to the largest arts festival in Mississippi and the Gulf Coast, the Peter Anderson Festival. The downtown area is home to several art galleries and shops and to a number of ethnic restaurants. Points of interest in Ocean Springs include Front Beach, the Walter Anderson Museum of Art, the Mississippi Vietnam Veteran Memorial, and the Ocean Springs Museum of History.
All Mississippi Area Codes By Number
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Benedict XVI Angelus 2010
[ DE - EN - ES - FR - HR - IT - PT ]
Courtyard of the Papal Residence, Castel Gandolfo
In today's Gospel chapter 15 of St Luke Jesus recounts the three "parables of mercy". When he speaks of "the shepherd who goes after the lost sheep, of the woman who looks for the lost coin, of the father who goes to meet and embrace his prodigal son, these are no mere words: they constitute an explanation of his very being and activity" (Encyclical Deus Caritas Est, n. 12). In fact, the shepherd who finds the stray sheep is the Lord himself who lays upon his shoulders, with the Cross, sinful humanity, in order to redeem it. The prodigal son, then, in the third parable, is a young man who having obtained his inheritance from his father "took his journey into a far country, and there, he squandered his property in loose living" (Lk 15: 13). Reduced to a penniless state he was obliged to work as a servant, even accepting to satisfy his hunger with food intended for animals. Then, the Gospel says, "He came to himself" (Lk 15: 17). "The speech he prepares for his homecoming reveals to us the full extent of the inner pilgrimage he is now making... leading "home'... to himself and to the father". (Benedict XVI Jesus of Nazareth, Doubleday, 2007, Chapter 7, p. 205). "I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants'" (Lk 15: 18-19). St Augustine wrote: "The Word himself calls you to return, and with him is a place of unperturbed rest, where love is not forsaken unless it first forsakes. "While he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him" (Lk 15: 20) and, full of joy, had a feast prepared.
Dear Friends, how is it possible not to open our hearts to the certainty that in spite of being sinners we are loved by God? He never tires of coming to meet us, he is always the first to set out on the path that separates us from him. The Book of Exodus shows us how Moses, with confident and daring pleas, succeeded, so to speak, in moving God from the throne of judgement to the throne of mercy (cf. 32: 7-11). Penitence is the measure of faith and through it one returns to the Truth. The Apostle Paul writes: "I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief" (1 Tm 1: 13). Returning to the parable of the son who goes "home", we note that when the elder brother appears, indignant at the festive welcome given to his brother, it is again the father who reaches out to him and begs him: "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours" (Lk 15: 31). Only the faith can transform selfishness into joy and renew true relationships with our neighbour and with God. "It was fitting to make merry and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found" (Lk 15: 32).
Dear Brothers and Sisters, next Thursday I shall be going to the United Kingdom where I will beatify Cardinal John Henry Newman. I ask all to accompany me with prayers on this Apostolic Journey. Let us entrust to the Virgin Mary, whose Most Holy Name is celebrated in the Church today, our journey of conversion to God.
After the Angelus:
Today in Granada, Spain the Capuchin Friar Leopoldo de Alpandeire, in the world Francisco Sánchez Márquez, is being beatified. I rejoice with the Franciscan Family that is seeing their brother join the numerous ranks of its Saints and Blesseds.
I welcome the English-speaking pilgrims, especially the Bishops taking part in the ecumenical meeting sponsored by the Focolare Movement. I also greet the young people of the Don Bosco Oratory from Victoria, Gozo, Malta, and the Friends of the John Paul II Foundation from Saudi Arabia. I thank the members of the parish choir from Slovenia for their praise of God in song. In today's Gospel Jesus speaks of the rejoicing in Heaven which accompanies the return of sinners to the house of the Father. May his words encourage us to trust always in God's merciful love and forgiveness. Upon all of you I invoke the Lord's abundant Blessings!
I wish you all a good Sunday and a good week; thank you for your presence, have a good Sunday!
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Search for Book or Author
AIA Publishing
Escarpment Publishing
Out of Latvia: The story of Peter Jirgens, written by David Kerr
A story of two men, a generation apart, one growing up in the shadow of the other.
Peter Jirgens tells the story of his youth as the son of Arnold Jirgens, a Latvian immigrant, who struggled against discrimination to establish his family in Nowra, Australia. He shares the stories his father told him of the hardship of life under Soviet rule, his escape from Europe after World War II and the early days of his new life as an immigrant in a land far from home.
Fiercely Latvian, Arnold Jirgens longs to see his homeland once more and find out if his remaining family has survived, but as a Latvian citizen he, and any son of his, could be drafted into the Soviet army or sent to Siberia.
Over the years, Arnold’s longing becomes Peter’s dream. Though his father is prepared to wait until the Soviets no longer control his country, Peter is not.
In 1980, against the wishes of his parents and the advice of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, twenty-seven-year-old Peter enters Soviet communist-controlled territory.
His thirst for adventure almost costs him his life.
Paperback: Amazon Book Depository
Ebook: Kindle Smashwords Barnes & Noble
Buy on Kindle
Categories: Memoir, Non-fiction Tag: Australia
”David Kerr has unearthed an important story that is much bigger than one man’s life and has as much relevance today as it ever did. It is the story of the heart-ache of a refugee and post-war migrant, and of a son’s journeys to gain the love of his father, and how he wrestles with belonging to two places—the land of his birth, and the land of his ancestors.” William Verity. Finalist: Walkley Freelance Journalist of the Year 2015
About the Author David Kerr
David Kerr is a relationship therapist, educator, radio broadcaster, pastor, traveller and artist. He has an M.A. (Theol) Sydney College of Divinity, majoring in Counselling and Christian Education, and other tertiary qualifications in Counselling, Religious Education, Divinity and Therapy.
David’s journey has been shaped by issues of social justice, the impact of client’s experiences and the stories of fellow travellers, which feed his passion for writing. He is ready to leave this planet when he believes he can no longer make a difference.
This is his first book, and he enjoyed writing it so much that he is already working on his next one.
Click here to visit David’s Website
David is on the left of the photo of the two men. Peter Jirgens is on the right.
The other extra image here is a hand drawing done by Arnold Jirgen during his journey from Europe to Australia after WWII. The book includes other of Arnold’s drawings and others can be seen on the cover.
The Locksmith’s Secret: Tahlia Newland
$2.99 Buy on Kindle
Worlds Within Worlds: Tahlia Newland
The Ratcatchers Grandson: Barry White
Fallout: Recovering from Abuse in Tibetan Buddhism: Tahlia Newland
$9.99 $6.99 Buy on Kindle
The Men and the Medium: Lyn Behan
The Elements of Active Prose: Writing Tips to Make Your Prose Shine: Tahlia Newland
Metaphysical & Visionary Fiction
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American Cooking Revolution
Better Living Through Natural Foods
Books Recipes Blog Bio
WELCOME TO THE American Cooking Revolution
America: the world's bounty
LATIN AMERICAN Culture & Cuisine
The Latin American kitchen is as diverse as the people who inhabit the 20 Latin American countries. It is a magnificent blend of most of the cuisines of the world with the foods and the traditions of America's indigenous peoples, which I have condensed in my books.
Latin America is a region of great cultural diversity. While people from around the world have settled in the region, most traditions are anchored in the cultures and histories of three races: Indian (early inhabitants of the Americas), Hispanic (settlers from both Spain and Portugal), and African (most of whom arrived as slaves brought by the Portuguese).
Our history begins with the landing of Christopher Columbus on the island of Hispaniola in 1492. He came looking for spices but he found instead a stunning variety of new foods. The Spaniards, on their return trips to Europe, took with them corn (maize), potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, avocadoes, squash, sweet potatoes, peanuts, beans, cassava, chocolate, pineapples, papayas, vanilla, and turkey.
When Columbus returned to the New World on his second trip, he brought back vegetable seeds, wheat, chickpeas, sugar cane, onions, garlic, pigs, cattle, and rice, all of which were to become vitally important foods of the Americas. The mixing of these cultures occurred because the Spanish, for most of the region, and Portuguese, in Brazil, came without their women and were not adept at kitchen activities. As a result, they had to depend on the Indian women to prepare their food and to bear their children.
I am a child of that cultural blending. As I explained in my book, The South American Table, my heritage is Indian and Spanish, though my father says there is some Portuguese, as well. It is my love of this remarkable cuisine and the culture that created it that has motivated the creation of all my books, including the highly acclaimed, award-winning The South American Table.
This website gives me an additional way to share the culture and cuisine of Latin America. The links above will take you to recipes from various countries, as well as to blog posts, which will explain traditions and celebrate holidays--and share more recipes, for things that are suited to those traditions and holidays.
I also hope you'll click on the "Books" link and learn more about my bigger works, including The South American Table, named Best Latino Cookbook in the world at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, and which Publishers Weekly has said should be on the shelf of every serious cook, Gourmet Magazine declared it to be "absolutely indispensable" and Cooking Light Magazine recognized it in their highly acclaimed “Top 100 Cookbooks of the Last 25 Years.”
If you have any questions or concerns please contact me at mkijac@yahoo.com
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Home » Towns » New South Wales » Central Western Slopes » Peak Hill, NSW
Peak Hill, NSW
Small historic gold mining town in NSW Central West.
Often Peak Hill, because it is the second largest town in the Parkes Shire and because it is only 49 km north of the larger centre, is grouped in as an activity to be undertaken by people visiting Parkes. This is unfair. It deserves to stand as a worthwhile place to visit in its own right. It is a small town created as a result of a very substantial discovery of gold. It is a rarity: a gold mining town which has endured rather than boomed and busted.
Peak Hill is located 406 km west of Sydney via the Great Western Highway to Parkes and then north for 49 km on the Newell Highway. It is 70 km south-west of Dubbo and 267 m above sea-level.
Peak Hill almost certainly got its name, or shares its name, with the Peak Hill mining company which, in turn, took its purely descriptive name from the shape of the 90 metre high hill containing large masses of iron, ferruginous quartz and quartzite which formed the basis of the town's gold mine.
Peak Hill Open Cut Experience
Turn east off the Newell Highway into Mingelo Street in the centre of town. After 400 metres you will reach the Track Head Car Park which is the start of the Peak Hill Open Cut Experience. As the Parkes Shire Council website explains: "This is a walking experience which requires a low to moderate level of fitness to complete most of the trails but, for less active visitors, there is 'easy access' to the main viewing platform and a pleasant, flat return walk along the 'low wall' of the main open cut with spectacular views across to the 'high wall'." In total the Open Cut Experience involves five open cut mines, five self-guided walking trails and some historic mine workings. The area has been established on the site of the two original mine shafts which were hand-excavated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries - one to a depth of 100 m and a length of 200 m. There are a number of artefacts - old boilers, old houses, old pieces of machinery - and the walks are all clearly signposted with detailed boards explaining the history and origins of the mines and artefacts. Group tours of the mine are offered all year round by appointment, tel: (02) 6862 6000. Check out http://www.parkes.nsw.gov.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=496158&Itemid=3020 for more details. It is also possible to go gold panning with tours starting at the Kiosk at the Track Head Car Park. The site is open from 9.00am - 4.00 pm daily.
The Big Fish Fossil Hut
Located at the Peak Hill Caravan Park, 2 Ween Street (turn west off the Newell Highway) the Big Fish Fossil Hut was opened in 2009. It is the brainchild of Michael Durrant who has been establishing 'World of Fossil' museums around Australia. The Peak Hill displays include "ancient wildlife groups that have lived across Eastern Australia over the past 700 million years ... including trilobites, ammonites, seastars and arinoids through to fish, amphibians and dinosaurs. One dinosaur case features a giant rib of a sauropod dinosaur, similar to those recently discovered in Queensland … the gigantic 'star' of this collection is the largest fossil fish on display anywhere in Australia. It is called Xiphactinus, and lived during the time of the dinosaurs. 'The Big Fish Fossil Hut' specimen is about 4.5 metres long." Entry is free if you are staying at the Caravan Park. Others pay a small entrance fee. It is open from 8.00 am - 9.00 pm daily, tel: (02) 6869 1422.
Peak Hill Flora and Fauna Nature Walk
This is a pleasant 1.4 km walk through a 9 ha Flora and Fauna Reserve with the possibility of seeing kangaroos and rock wallabies, hearing a range of native birds and, particularly in spring and summer, experiencing the beauty of the Australian bush in full bloom. The Nature Reserve is located at the edge of town, off Golf Club Road. There is a turnstile gate. Check out http://www.peakhill.nsw.au/index.php/see-do/flora-and-fauna-reserve.
St James' Catholic Church
St James' Catholic Church in Caswell Street was built in 1935 and is a prominent feature on the Newell Highway. It is distinguished by impressive twin spires.
Bogan Weir
Bogan Weir is located 7 km from Peak Hill and offers a pleasant rural environment where the visitor can have a picnic, do some bird watching, canoeing and fishing. Head north out of Peak Hill and turn left onto Tullamore Road.
Goobang National Park
Goobang National Park is a long, narrow, 42,600 ha reserve (at one point it is only 200 m wide and yet it is 55 km long) which lies about 30 km north east of Parkes. It is important because it contains "the largest area of remnant vegetation in the Central West of New South Wales".
Goobang includes the Hervey, Curumbenya and Bumberry mountain ranges and valleys. The park is home to over 300 plant species including 40 orchid species and it is also home to thirteen rare and endangered animals including the koala, squirrel glider, brush-tailed rock wallaby, regent honeyeater, glossy black cockatoo and superb parrot. It is an ideal park for bushwalking, picnicking, camping, photography and nature studies. The park brochure can be downloaded at http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/~/media/visitor/files/PDF/Brochures/goobang-pdf.aspx. It provides a good map and descriptions of two walking tracks in the park. The 1 km Caloma Trig Walking Track (easy, thirty minutes each way) and the Burrabadine Peak Walking Track (4 km, 2 hours).
* Prior to European settlement the Wiradjuri Aboriginal people had lived in the area for thousands of years.
* In 1817 a party led by John Oxley became the first Europeans to pass through the district. They passed only a few kilometres from the present townsite.
* In 1835 Major Thomas Mitchell led an expedition through the area, explored the Bogan River, and wrote that the local Wiradjuri were intelligent, resourceful, sincere and possessed of an unaffected nature. At the time he estimated there were around 1,000 Aborigines living along the Bogong River.
* Shortly after Mitchell passed through two Europeans (one was William Lee) established a grazing property a few kilometres north-west of today's Peak Hill town site.
* By the early 1840s Lee and some of the other squatters were known to have committed atrocities against the local Wiradjuri. William Lee actually had his squatting license revoked after a massacre of Aborigines along the Bogan River.
* Most of these massacres went unreported. When Major Mitchell came through the area in 1845 he noted the complete absence of Aborigines. He also noted that most of the land adjacent the Bogan had been occupied by that time.
* Peak Hill became a town in 1889 when gold was discovered and two open-cut mines were established.
* The Peak Hill mine operated from 1893 to 1917 and produced 1,872 kg of gold from 500,000 tonnes crushed and processed.
* Peak Hill was incorporated as a municipality in 1894.
* The railway line was officially opened in 1914.
* Major mining operations at the Peak Hill mine ceased in 1917.
* On 14 August, 1918 Peak Hill became the site of the first bulk wheat silo (with a capacity of 50,000 bushels) constructed in New South Wales. The crops in the following years were poor and the silo was not filled until 1920.
* The price of gold justified the reopening of the mine and this occurred in 1996. Between 1996 and 2002 Alkane Resources Ltd extracted 4,524 kg of gold from 4.9 million tonnes of crushed rock.
* In 2002 Peak Hill Open Cut mine was re-developed as a tourist mine. The Peak Hill Open Cut Experience is the town's main tourist attraction.
The town's volunteer Visitor Information Centre is located at 62 Caswell St (the Newell Highway) tel: (02) 6891 1981 and, if you are visiting via Parkes, check out the Parkes Visitor Information Centre at the Henry Parkes Centre, Newell Highway, Parkes, tel: (02) 6862 6000. It is open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm on weekdays and from 10.00 am. to 4.00 pm on weekends.
The Parkes brochure - downloadable at http://www.parkes.nsw.gov.au/images/documents/parkes/Tourism/park%20guide%202012.pdf - has a very detailed and useful section on Peak Hill. The town has its own excellent website - check out http://www.peakhill.nsw.au/
Where can I find sone more historical photos of the Peak Hill main street?
Is there a sawmill nearby?
jack harris
Hi Jack, I would start at the Parkes & District Historical Society, 70 Peak Hill Road 2870 Parkes, tel: (02) 6862 2815 and if you don’t have any success there I would ask at both the State Library and the National Library. My experience is that they have excellent photographic collections. Here is a typical page from the State Library – http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemdetailpaged.aspx?itemid=152119
Bruce Elder
What is known about the Peak Hill Gift, a footrace similar to Stawell Gift?
Hi Peggy – I don’t know a lot. It used to be run in the 1940s and was a popular event along with the Bendigo Gift and the Stawell Gift. In 1947 the prize money was £750 which was a huge amount for the time. There is no mention of it now. I guess, like so many local things, it died when the enthusiasts got to old or retired. That’s all I can tell you.
on February 9, 2015 at 8:54 pm
Thanks Bruce, my interest was peeked by a recent photo in the Sunday Telegraph and I had never heard anyone talk of it!
on March 24, 2015 at 5:05 am
Regarding the Peak Hill Gift: my grandfather started it and my father was the secretary of the organising committee. It was run in 1947 and in 1948 in April. I have a file with newspaper cuttings from the time. There was a concert, a dance and a shooting competition also held at the same time.
Andra Jackson
on March 3, 2017 at 3:30 am
What is the old hospital used for these days?
mary lees
It is still running as a hospital.
The old Heritage listed hospital was replaced by a beautiful Peak Hill MPS Centre also containing high care beds. It is behind the old Hospital building.
The new MPS is a very modern and strategically built building with lovely rural views from hospital rooms to the Hervey Ranges at the back.
A committee was recently formed to begin the process of restoring and finding a use for the old Hospital.
A bit of Trivia: The old hospital was famous for the Lady in the Iron lung. She made medical history when she gave birth to a healthy girl.
HI , I am doing my family tree and have come across Hugo DeLacy who stood for council in Peak Hill 1892. He was not elected but was subsequently elected to council in 1900. He and his wife (my side of the family) owned a shop in town and did shows for people. I hope I have the right place. Got this information from the Peak Hill Express on Trove. Love to here about those days. Thank you for reading this, Gail.
Gail Reardon
Looking for information on John Edward Morgan
Believe he is of aboriginal decent had a property in Peak Hill NSW
Diane Maureen Walton
Peak Hill visitor centre is open 7 days 9.30am to 4.30pm.
Closed Christmas day. Open every other public holiday 10.00am to 4.30pm
Why not call in and take your photo with the Big Tyre. A huge tyre off one of the Peak Hill Gold mining trucks.
Peak Hill will celebrate the Centenary of the Peak Hill Silo in August 2018.
The first upright silo to built in Australia.
The opening of the Silo was recorded in The Sydney Mail on 14th August 1918
St James' Catholic Church (1935) with its twin spires.
The rusted remains of a Lancashire boiler at the Peak Hill goldmine (photo 1990)
Peak Hill Mine in 2013 (photo Steve Walsh)
The rusted remains of camshaft for a five stamp battery at the Peak Hill goldmine (photo 1990)
Peak Hill was still being mined when I first visited it in 1990.
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Tag: wartime
Herman Wouk (1915 – 2019)
Sailor and Fiddler: Reflections of a 100-Year-old Author, by Herman Wouk (Simon & Schuster) ◊ Note: This review of Herman Wouk’s memoir was first published in 2016. Herman Wouk died on May 17, 2018, age 103. This slim volume, which the author describes as a “non-autobiography,” will be of special interest to people interested in…
My return to Konin (Poland)
August 2018 The moment I stepped out of the car, I realized that this was the first time a member of my family had been back in our ancestral town in more than 130 years. I was in Konin, in the Lodz district of Poland, the town where my paternal ancestors had lived for generations…
Mary Berg and the Warsaw Ghetto
Four years ago, a Pennsylvanian antiques collector purchased a trove of old scrapbooks and photo albums at an estate sale in the town of Red Lion, Pa. The cache, which included hundreds of photographs including some taken in the Warsaw Ghetto between 1940 and 1943, cost only $10. Discovering that the material was related to…
Jewish Soldiers of World War One
The number of Jews who fought in the First World War has always been difficult to tally because Jews fought on both sides and in multiple armies involved in the conflict. On the Allied side, at least 500,000 Jews served in the Russian Army, about 250,000 served in the United States Army, roughly 50,000 in…
Obit: Simcha Simchovitch, eminent Yiddish writer (2017)
From Canadian Jewish News, July 2017 Simcha Simchovitch, a Polish-born Holocaust survivor and prominent poet and writer in both Yiddish and English, died in Toronto on July 12, 2017 at the age of 97. The winner of various literary prizes including several Canadian Jewish Book Awards and two I.J. Segal awards for Yiddish Literature, Simchovitch…
Nate Leipciger’s ‘The Weight of Freedom’
From the Canadian Jewish News, February 2016 The powerful Holocaust movie Son of Saul, which is up for the “best foreign film” prize at the Academy Awards on February 28, presents a gut-wrenching view of Auschwitz-Birkenau from the point of view of a sondercommando: part of a group that herds prisoners into the gas chamber, processes…
Jews loyal to British throne, says Scheuer (1914)
Jews Responded Splendidly to England’s Cause Sons of Israel in Great Britain Gave Themselves and Their Fortunes to the Cause EDMUND SCHEUER RETURNS TO TORONTO From the Toronto World, August 31, 1914 Mr. Edmund Scheuer, the well known Yonge street merchant, has returned to Toronto after spending some time on the continent. Mr. Scheuer was…
From the DP Camps to Canada via the Tailor Project
From the Canadian Jewish News, February 2015 In late 1947 and early 1948, representatives of the Canadian garment industry organized what became known as the Tailor Project, a plan to select more than 2,200 skilled tailors from the Displaced Person camps of Europe and give them jobs and housing in Canada. The Tailor Project had…
Obit: William Tutte, mathematician and codebreaker (1917-2002)
William Tutte, the mathematician who deciphered the complex codes by which the Nazi high command encrypted their military communications during World War II, has died in Waterloo, Ontario at the age of 84. Although the accomplishment has been called “the greatest intellectual feat of the war,” and was described as such on the citation for…
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Lab Activities
Research Journal
Bird Conservation Research, Inc. was founded in 1999 as a publicly supported, 501 c3 non-profit foundation that provides original scientific data for driving conservation action. It also develops high-level educational resources for the science teaching community. The foundation’s focus is on the most diverse wildlife group, the birds, and on the habitats that support them.
We are also a partner of Arts and Academic Publishing, which produces educational products including videos and scholarly publications.
We principally serve the educational and conservation communities of southern New England although, based on our web statistics, many of our products are used throughout the world. Clients include land trusts, town Conservation/wetland/planning and zoning commissions, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Connecticut Cooperative Extension System, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor, Thames Valley Watershed Council, Rhode Island Audubon Society, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Connecticut Association of Biology Teachers, Connecticut Department of Education, Massachusetts Math and Science Initiative, Massachusetts Department of Education and National Park Service.
BCR has received numerous grants to conduct research. This research has produced a variety of publications, including four books. The first book, Forest Birds of the Last Green Valley, is a natural resource atlas for conservation planners. It was distributed to all town conservation commissions in the study area (eastern Connecticut) at no charge. The second book, Discover the Critical Habitats of Connecticut, explores natural history and conservation issues for a target audience of families, upper level high school students and community college students. The third book, Forest Birds of Connecticut and Rhode Island, reports on eight years of study into the population densities and habitat use of the forest birds of this region. The fourth book supplies the distributional maps that correspond to the text of the third book. We also have developed a series of PowerPoint presentations and lab activities for Environmental Science students. Most of our products are freely available via our web site.
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Dark Humor Highlight >
On the 28th of May 2015 the world held its breath with anticipation as an independent filmmaker teamed up with an 80s icon and scores of fans to turn back the clock and bring back the glory of the 1980s. The result? A 30 minute epic short film called Kung Fury. It's exactly as awesome as the title suggests.
Kung Fury tells the story of a war between kung fu master police officer Kung Fury and his nemesis, Adolf Hitler, whom the hero simply calls the worst criminal of all time, while Hitler, a kung fu master himself, prefers to be called Kung Fuhrer. And that's really all you need to know about the film, because if you don't like this premise, you're clearly not the target audience for Kung Fury. But, if like us, you think the above premise sounds like the greatest thing ever, you're in for a treat because this short film is an absolute blast, its only failing being that it's too short. It's full of crazy action, one liners, time travel, brutal comedic violence, giant phones, a kung fu master fighting Nazis in a 2D side-scrolling environment, and countless other 80s homages. The wet dream of any 80s fanatic.
Kung Fury was filmed mostly in front of a green screen and predictably relies on homemade CGI to render the Nazi army, the carnage, and the dinosaurs. Most of the effect work is trivial to tell from the real elements on the screen, and if the movie took itself seriously that would break immersion real fast, but with the over-the-top story and characters the world almost feels real even with the poor-looking effects (unless you're a film snob, that is). Considering that the mastermind behind Kung Fury, David Sandberg, filmed this work of art using crowd sourced funding (via Kickstarter) and this is pretty much his first substantial production, Kung Fury is in fact pretty damn impressive.
Special bonus for all 80s fans is the participation of 80s icon David Hasselhoff, who debuted his 80s-style song True Survivor with a music video based on Kung Fury barely a month before the film's release. The song and the video are both quite good and are an excellent way to get hyped up for the movie.
In the month passed since Kung Fury's release the video has received over 17 million views on youtube and won over much of the internet community. Certainly it has its critics who hate it with a passion, but its target audience (including us) loves it, which is what matters. We hope that David Sandberg will manage to secure funding to make a feature length sequel, because if the ending is any indication, we can expect even more insanity in a potential Kung Fury 2: Wrath of Kung Fury (or some other cheesy subtitle). Until then, watch Kung Fury and enjoy!
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Leverage U
Meet Julie Christiansen
Radical, positive, lasting change in ACTION
Home / Uncategorized / Radical, positive, lasting change in ACTION
Is radical, positive, lasting change even possible?
When you think about the fact that the typical time for a youth at risk between the ages of 16 and 24 to remain in a job is less than 90 days, 2 years is a long time. When you consider that young offenders have a recidivism rate of approximately 43% and usually wind up back in the system within 3 years, 2 years is a long time. This is Jeff’s story.
At the time that we began coaching (January 2004), He was in his early 20s, recently married with a young child under 2 years old. When he came to me for help, he had just come out of detox, was separated from his wife because of domestic disputes, restricted from seeing his child, unemployed and couch surfing.
We began immediately with the Anger Solutions(TM) Coaching program and he committed to be honest and to follow through on his assignments. I have to mention his commitment, because without it, he would not have experienced such drastic change.
Within the first month this young man secured employment. It wasn’t easy for him because he was still learning to control his tendency toward aggression, but he worked through his frustrations and stuck with it. After demonstrating his commitment (there’s that word again) to changing his behaviour, his wife gradually began to invite him back into her life and to grant him more access to their child. By the time we completed coaching, he was gainfully employed and had already received a raise, and was working through reconciling with his wife.
There are so many neat things about our follow up that I could share, but it would eat up all the space in this newsletter. So here are the key points that he shared with me at his TWO year follow-up:
He hasn’t gotten drunk in 2 years – in fact, he can count on one hand how many beers he’s had in 2 years
He and his wife are fully reconciled and now have two children
He has been employed steadily with the SAME employer for 2 years
He has not had any negative contact with the law for 2 years
The coolest thing of all is that since the age of 12, my client has been in trouble with the law and struggled with addictions. Since completing the Anger Solutions Program, he says this is the first time in his life that he has not been in jail, on bail, or on probation! Amazing!
Let me tell you something, when a client comes back after 2 years with a report like that, it gives me goose bumps. In each case that I have worked with, I have been truly amazed and awed at the program results. The key to the program’s success is twofold: the client must be fully committed to doing the work involved and the coach/counsellor must be open and flexible in order to facilitate the process of change. I believe that when these two factors are present, it is impossible for change not to occur! (This original case report was completed in February of 2007 – what follows is an update on this case).
One of the most amazing things for me about Jeff is that over the years, he has continued to struggle with his addiction, but has had long bouts of sobriety in-between each topple off the wagon. Jeff reached out to me on my birthday last year to let me know that he was in an addictions rehab program and was committed to working through his many challenges where addiction was concerned. Jeff has continued to use the tools he learned in Anger Solutions to challenge his personal beliefs, to re-direct himself from continuing in poor decision-making, and he continues to strive to be better than he was! That’s change in action! ~ Julie Christiansen, July 2019.
PrevIntroducing It is Well – A Study of Motherhood in Times of Crisis
Introducing It is Well – A Study of Motherhood in Times of Crisis
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Goodbye Fear: The Breakup Song
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News: Understanding War Trauma: A Six Part Webinar Series
Submitted by wtene@apsa.org on Mon, 10/17/2016 - 10:22
Understanding War Trauma:
A Six-Part Webinar Series from the American Psychoanalytic Association
New York, NY – October 17, 2016 – The Service Members and Veterans Initiative of the American Psychoanalytic Association (APsaA) is offering a six-part webinar series aimed at introducing healthcare professionals to psychoanalytic understanding and treatment of war trauma. This free program is especially relevant to clinicians working with veterans and service-members but is open to anyone interested in this important issue, including veterans and their families.
“Today most in the mental health field, as well as the general public, have an understanding of PTSD. Portrayals of PTSD are featured in movies, television shows, documentaries and discussed in the news with varying levels of expertise and knowledge,” said Dennis Shelby, Ph.D. member of the Service Members and Veterans Initiative and director of this webinar series. “These webinars are not designed to add further contributions to the list of symptoms of PTSD, but rather offer valuable insight into the impact war has on the human mind and perspectives in psychoanalytically informed treatment.”
The first three webinars have been scheduled:
Session 1 – Afterwar: Healing the Moral Wounds of our Soldiers. Nancy Sherman, Ph.D Distinguished University Professor and Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University, author of Afterwar, The Untold War and Stoic Warriors
Date: October 25th, 7:30pm (CT)
Watch here.
Session 2 – A Veterans Day Presentation
Part 1: Pathodynamics of psychological disability among soldiers serving in Vietnam: How deployment stress reactions dramatically eclipsed combat stress reactions. Norman M. Camp, MD, FACPsa, Colonel, Medical Corps, US Army (Ret)
Part 2: The Interpersonal Approach to Working with Veterans with PTSD. Andrew S. Berry, Ph.D., Psy.D., ABPP with special discussant, Nate Emery, MS, Captain, US Marines (Ret).
Date: November 11, 7:30pm (CT)
Session 3 – Part 1: Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders. Robert Ursano, MD., Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at the Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, Maryland.
Part 2: The Intimacy of Trauma: Reintegrating Returning Warriors and the Subtleties of Subthreshold Posttraumatic Stress. COL Jeffrey S. Yarvis, PhD, MSW, M.Ed., adjunct faculty for University of Southern California military social work program.
Date: December 6, 7:30pm (CT)
The next three sessions will be announced soon.
For further information visit www.apsa.org/war-trauma-series.
The American Psychoanalytic Association is a professional organization of psychoanalysts with approximately 3,300 members. The Association is comprised of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, educators, researchers and students who have an interest in psychoanalysis and psychoanalytic therapy. Visit www.apsa.org for more information.
Wylie Tene
Director of Public Affairs
wtene@apsa.org
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Home / Products / The Manufacture of Locomotives and Other Munitions of War, 1914-1919 – The North British Locomotive Co. Ltd., n.d. but ca. 1920. [ebook]
The Manufacture of Locomotives and Other Munitions of War, 1914-1919 – The North British Locomotive Co. Ltd., n.d. but ca. 1920. [ebook]
Hard back book, brown cloth binding with embossed gilt title and coloured vignettes of a locomotive and a tank. 12”x 14” pp.23, scores of B&W photogravure illustrations of locomotives tanks , aeroplanes, mines, torpedo tubes, gun mountings and other munitions.
The Manufacture of Locomotives and Other Munitions of War, 1914-1919 - The North British Locomotive Co. Ltd., n.d. but ca. 1920. [ebook] quantity
Categories: NEW THIS WEEK AND RECENT, The Great war Centenary, TRANSPORT IN WARTIME
Expensively produced by Tillotsons, specialist art printers, the purpose of this work was twofold. First to celebrate the achievements of the company during the Great War and secondly as part of a drive to attract new customers during the brief commercial boom following the Armistice.
North British Loco. was a comparatively new entity, having been formed by the amalgamation in 1903, of three old established loco building firms, the eldest having been established at Manchester in 1833, the most recent founded in 1864 at Glasgow. The company operated three large ranges of workshops (plans of each in the book) “Hyde Park” and “Atlas” in the Springburn area of the city, and “Queen’s Park” south of the Clyde. Each was under its own day-to-day management under the overall control of a centralised administration building located adjacent to the Hyde Park Works. The accommodation here was on such a lavish scale that it was not really required under wartime conditions and the company made it available to the Red Cross for the duration who converted it and ran it as “Springburn Hospital”. With such facilities at ts disposal NB could with some jutification claim to be “The Largest Locomotive Engineering Works in Europe” (even if it was spread across three campuses!
At the outbreak of hostilities the company had laid down the foundations for two new workshops at Springburn and it was quickly decided to complete these specifically for the manufacture of munitions. Designated the “Mons” factory and the “Marne” factory. Nearly 900, 000 shells of 8” size downwards were produced, as well as 6,000 sea mines, with welded cases for the Northern Barrage.
Having filled the railway companies’ own works with orders for war material, a very serious shortage of locomotives arose due to arrears of maintenance and restrictions on new building, the Ministry of Munitions belatedly realised that in this conflict railway engines were as much a munition of war as a field gun or a tank and backpedaled. To minimise disruption, the Minister of Munitions Dr. Addison, left the contracts with the railway companies own works largely undisturbed, but rescheduled work let out to the loco building firms like North British so some urgent railway work could be undertaken. Amongst the larger contracts carried out were “Great Central” designed 2-8-0s produced for the Railway Operating Dept., “Prince of Wales” 4-6-0s for the LNWR 34 0-6-0S for the North British, 20 2-6-0s and 15 2-8-0s for the Great Northern, and engines for all the other Scottish railways. None of this seems to have impinged on the productio of tanks, aeroplanes, etc., and orders were even fulfilled for some overseas railways, some of which were delayed pre-war orders
. For an insight into the disarray that some government departments found themselves in during the Great War, see:-
http://www.britishtransporttreasures.com/product/the-war-office-at-war-by-sir-sam-fay-2nd-edition-1.-937-hutchinson-ebook/
For the activities of a major railway locomotive works during the Great War see:-
http://www.britishtransporttreasures.com/product/deeds-of-a-great-railway-by-g-s-darroch-john-murray-1920-ebook/
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TAPS professor takes final bow after 28 years
Students laud Lowry Marshall’s mentorship, performance insights and commitment to U. theater
By Camilla Brandfield-Harvey
Tom Sullivan / Herald
Retiring Theater and Performing Arts Professor Lowry Marshall has taught Pulitzer Prize winners and Tony-nominated actors.
Lowry Marshall moved about her cluttered office, highlighting the several photographs and promotional posters that adorn it. “You know who that is,” she said, as she passed by a photograph of her and Morgan Freeman. A photo of Marshall and Paul Sills, a founder of the Second City in Chicago, leans against books on her shelf, next to a magazine cutout of John Krasinski ’01 resting on a large frame.
“John’s first role at Brown was in drag in my production of Tennesse Williams’ ‘Camino Real,’” she said.
Marshall, professor of theater arts and performance studies, marvels at many posters of past shows and photos of former students, who are now Pulitzer Prize winners, Tony-nominated actors and graduates of the world’s most prestigious MFA programs. Through various Theater and Performing Arts classes and the summer theater program she established, Marshall helped to nurture each of their voices.
After 28 years of teaching and directing at the University, Marshall has recently announced her retirement.
Though Marshall tends to shine a spotlight on her students and their remarkable evolutions as actors and writers, not dwell on herself, many students said Marshall has been integral to their development and to the advancement of Brown’s theater program.
“If you’re interested in doing theater, you come to Brown knowing who Lowry is,” said Skylar Fox ’15. Fox performed in Marshall’s productions of “Lady Windermere’s Fan” in the fall of 2011 and in “A Streetcar Named Desire” last semester. He has also taken her TAPS 0230: “Acting” and TAPS 1160: “Style and Performance” courses.
“Before I met Lowry, she was this character that I had heard about,” said Josh Linden ’14, who has taken “Acting” and TAPS 1210: “Solo Performance” with Marshall. “There’s a Lowry vernacular that gets passed around the community.”
Marshall has become so famous within the theater community that her students have recorded “Lowry-isms” and developed impersonations that don’t always resemble the real figure.
“You can’t talk about Lowry without a southern accent,” said Alex Lee ’14, a Brown/RISD dual degree student. “There’s a Lowry impression, but Lowry doesn’t sound like it,” added Alejandra Flavia ’14. Flavia and Lee have taken Marshall’s beginner and advanced classes, participated in her summer theater program and worked closely with her on the Sock and Buskin board.
Before arriving at Brown in 1986, Marshall attended the University of South Carolina. She worked as an actor in New York before she returned to school to earn her MFA from Florida State University/Asolo Conservatory. She also taught at Kalamazoo College in Michigan and coordinated the MFA program at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro.
Marshall did all this while raising twin toddlers, Logan Marshall-Green — who is now known for his performances on “The O.C.” and in the film “Prometheus” — and Taylor Marshall-Green — a reality television producer who currently produces the show “My Cat from Hell” on Animal Planet.
Reflecting on simultaneously studying for her MFA and raising her sons, Marshall said, “I depended on the kindness of strangers, as Blanche DuBois would say, and I got a lot of good strangers who helped me out.”
When Marshall earned a teaching position at the University in 1986, she moved with her young twins to Cranston. Once at Brown, Marshall founded the annual Alumni Cabaret, which brings together past and present performers for commencement, and started the Brown/Trinity Playwrights Repertory Theatre in 2005. She also established “Solo Performance,” a class that culminates in a festival of solo shows.
Lee said “Solo” is the best class she has taken at Brown. “It’s a different beast,” she said. “You come into class every day, you cut your heart out, and you put it on the table, and everybody has to touch your heart.”
In the class, students work with Marshall over the course of the semester to write and produce a 50-55 minute solo show. Though students write one-character shows, they work collaboratively. “Solo but not alone” is the class’s motto, which is also emblazoned on all of the shows’ promotional posters.
Additionally, with Marshall’s guidance and superior perception, the course becomes “half acting class, half psychoanalysis,” Linden said.
Marshall’s students said she has an astonishing intuition and knows exactly what actors or scenes require. “She’s a very practical, intelligent thinker about how things function on stage, how people function on stage,” Fox said, adding that Marshall provides “a map for how to work as an actor and director.”
Marshall also employs this instinct in her productions. She pays close attention to every detail on a stage, said Anna Reed ’15, who has taken “Acting,” performed in “Lady Windermere’s Fan” and starred as Blanche DuBois in “Streetcar.”
To prepare for “Streetcar,” Marshall traveled to New Orleans the summer before rehearsals began. She wanted to understand the city that playwright Tennessee Williams conceptualized.
“There’s not a lot of truth in the way Williams deals with the geography in New Orleans. He moves things around,” Marshall said. So she returned to the city to follow his footsteps.
“I felt like I was on his tail the whole time. I was chasing behind him, going to places where he had written the play itself, seeing the restaurants and eating in the restaurants, one where he had been a waiter,” she said. “I felt him come to life in New Orleans.”
In addition to understanding the intention of the author and the demands of the text, Marshall has the capacity to recognize the needs of her students and to mentor accordingly. When Marshall noticed Reed’s rigid physicality as Blanche — what she called “Velcro arms’’ — Marshall encouraged Reed to wear gloves, Reed said. Reed then wore large, red gloves for the latter half of the rehearsal process and soon realized what she did with her hands during each delivery.
Many of Marshall’s students had these revelatory experiences. Flavia said, “It was with Lowry that I discovered what kind of actor I was.”
For Reed, Marshall’s acting class “taught me what it took to be an actor. Prior to all of that, acting was very much putting on a mask and working outer to inner.”
Students said working with Marshall pushed them to find their dramatic voices for writing or to develop deeper identities for acting. And Marshall believes Brown students in particular have a special intellectual capacity to do so.
“Brown is the best place in the country to teach acting,” Marshall said. “The people who come here to do theater come because they want the intellectual stimulation of a place like Brown.”
Unlike in other bachelors of fine arts programs, “We teach our students what to say,” she added. “They have something to say rather than know how to say something.”
The success of the students’ performances and solo productions are due in part to student talent, but Marshall is always at the core. “You couldn’t write Brown’s history of acting without Lowry being one of its protagonists,” Reed said.
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28 Weeks Later (2007)
What LAND OF THE DEAD was to NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, 28 WEEKS LATER is to the first movie, which is both good and bad.
It's 28 Weeks after the outbreak of the "Rage" virus and it's believed it has died off with all the infected. American troops occupy the country and begin to repopulate London with the survivors, who have since been in quarantine. Everyone is assigned to live in a certain section, which is highly guarded by the military.
At the start of the movie we see a husband and wife (Robert Carlysle and Catherine McCormack) who try to fend off an attack from the initial outbreak - and he flees and leaves her behind to her fate. Months later, when he is re-united with his son and daughter in the repopulated center he lies and tells them that he saw their mother killed. This story doesn't go over so well when she's found to be alive. In fact, she was indeed bitten by the "zombies" but never became one. Instead, she becomes a carrier...
Least to say, there's another outbreak and the two children have to survive, as they may hold the key to a cure for the disease.
The scope of 28 WEEKS LATER is much bigger than the first movie, and there are far more special effects, such as when a helicopter slices a whole crowd of the infected into hamburger or when sections of London are air-bombed. But after a while I found I was getting bored of all the running around and wanted to see something different that I haven't seen in a "zombie movie" before. No such luck. It also ended in the predictable manner and I'm sure there will be a "28 MONTHS LATER" in which the entire world is infected...
» Search Database for 28 Weeks Later (2007)
Rating: 8.1 out of 10.0 - 22 votes cast total
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Marc Gomez was arrested for assaulting an elderly woman on a NYC subway.
Elderly Woman Beaten On NYC Subway
Sharon Stice
UNITED STATES—Authorities arrested Marc Gomez, 36, for attacking an elderly woman on a New York City subway on March 10. Officials from the New York Police Department had been searching for the suspect for over two weeks, after video footage of the incident was captured on a cell phone.
Shocking footage shows the moment man brutally kicks and punches defenseless woman, 78, in the face and head on #NYC subway.—————-Police are looking for a man who repeatedly punched and kicked an elderly woman in the face and body in an unprovoked attack on a #Bronx subway line in #NewYork —————-Horrific footage of the incident shows the man assaulting the 78-year-old victim as she is sitting on a northbound No.2 train at around 3 am on March 10. —————-The woman, who was alone, tries to defend herself as he continues to attack her while other passengers record the incident and do nothing to help?—————–@video2fone#video2fone
Posted by Video2fone on Saturday, March 23, 2019
The assault occurred at 3:10 a.m inside the 238th St/Nereid Ave subway station in the Bronx. The video which was broadcasted on social media shows Gomez repeatedly kicking the 78-year-old female passenger in the head and face as she was seated. The victim attempted to ward off the blows by her attacker. Other riders can be seen in the background, but did not attempt to help the victim.
Gomez got off the train at 238th Street and fled on foot, as the victim tended to injuries she sustained. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority(MTA) released a statement on condemning the attack which read: “This is an extremely disturbing video. Nothing is more important than the safety and security of our customers, and we strongly condemn this despicable attack.”
NYPD Police Chief Dermot F. Shea sent out a Crimestoppers alert that helped police in locating the suspect.
Marc Gomez Charged For Assault On Elderly Subway Passenger
Gomez was charged for harassment and assault. The victim sustained swelling and bleeding to her face. She was taken to a local hospital where she was treated.
subway attack
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New types of high-speed trains on debut in China
0 Comment(s) Print E-mail Xinhua, November 19, 2018
China's train maker CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co. Ltd. debuted two types of train at an international rail transit expo closed in central China's Hunan Province on Saturday.
One of the two train models, shown at the Rail+Metro China 2018, is a double decker with eight compartments, developed to meet demand for large passenger numbers for inter-city railways, the company said.
The train with 820 seats has a maximum capacity of 1,708 passengers, which is 40 percent more than the capacity of existing trains. The train units are equipped with advanced audio-visual entertainment facilities. With comfortable interior space, the train has independent toilets for disabled persons.
Yang Ying, deputy chief engineer with the company, said that the double-decker can run at a speed of 160 km/h, which can be made faster through system upgrading.
The other model has a permanent magnet synchronous motor, the first time for China-developed high-speed trains to use such technology. The electric motor is lighter and more power-efficient than existing ones.
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You are here: Home > Sports > Track&Field
Pistorius jailed for 6 years for murder of girlfriend
0 Comment(s) Print E-mail Xinhua, July 6, 2016
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Oscar Pistorius [File photo]
The High Court in Pretoria on Wednesday handed down a six-year sentence to Paralympian Oscar Pistorius for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Reading out the judgment, Judge Thokozile Masipa said the trial of murder-convicted Pistorius had many mitigating factors.
"In the result, the sentence I impose on the accused in terms of murder dolus eventualis, is six years imprisonment," Masipa said.
She said a long term of imprisonment will not serve justice in this matter.
The accused has already served 12 months, he is a first offender and he is not likely to reoffend, according to Masipa.
"Punishment is not what you choose to do. It is something that is imposed on you. By it's nature it is unpleasant, uncomfortable and painful," said the judge.
"Recovery is possible. It will depend mostly on the accused's attitude of the punishment imposed on him."
The life of the deceased will never be brought back, the judge said, adding that the facts considered are the gravity of the offence, the interests of society, and the rights of the deceased and the accused.
"The life of the accused also has changed forever," she said.
Masipa said she has considered all the evidence, submissions and case law.
Last month, Pistorius's legal team argued for a non-custodial sentence citing his physical and emotional vulnerability as mitigating factors.
But the state was seeking the minimum sentence of 15 years to be imposed, arguing that Pistorius failed to show remorse for his actions.
The Paralympic sprinter was convicted of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at his home on Feb. 14, 2013. Pistorius insisted in trial that he mistook her as an intruder and his life was in danger when he fired at the door of the bathroom.
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Blog Tour & Giveaway | The Journey to a New Life by Lisa Bilbrey
Travis McCoy’s journey has led him down a road of changes where he found the love of his life and their child. Travis, Penelope, and Max have struggled during their time apart, found their way back home, and finally tied their lives together as a family.
Now, Penelope and Travis find themselves on a new journey, one that leads them to the greatest journey of all.
At the brink of dusk, Travis held his arm out to Nadine. She smiled and slid her fingers around his bicep, clutching onto him. They were standing at one end of a covered bridge in Brandenburg Park, at the base of the Red River Ski Area, while Russ, Max, and Penelope stood at the other end. They had placed lanterns and candles along the way to offer a soft, sensual ambiance. “Are you ready, Nadine?” Travis asked, looking down at the woman who had captured his father’s heart. “More than ever.” She smiled. The two of them started across the bridge at a slow pace. In two years, so much of Travis’s life had changed. After an injury ended his professional football career, he had come home to face his past. At the time, Travis had been prepared to fight with his father about the choices he’d made, yet somehow they had been able to rip off the bandages and expose their wounded souls to one another. With everything out in the open, Travis and Russ had begun to mend their tattered relationship and were now closer than they had ever been. Travis shifted his attention to Max. He had been the person who brought them all together. Max had come barreling into Travis’s life with a bounce in his step and a positive outlook on life that most ten year olds didn’t have. The moment Travis looked from the boy to Penelope, he’d known Max was his son. At first, he had been angry that he’d missed out the chance to be a father to Max, but when Penelope explained why she hid his son from him, he understood. Travis had been so wrapped up in achieving his dream of becoming a star football player that Penelope had been afraid of telling him she was pregnant for fear of him resenting her for taking away his dream. As much as he had wanted to deny her claims, Travis couldn't. He wouldn't have abandoned her or their child, but he could admit that a part of him would have grown to resent her for trapping him in a life that he had never wanted — or that he hadn't thought he wanted. At eighteen, he was too dumb to know that he could have had everything. None of that mattered now, though. Travis had allowed himself to love Penelope again, to be the man she’d always known he was meant to become. He became Max’s father, someone for him to admire and strive to emulate. Travis’s life had endured a couple of bumps in the road, but in the long run, he was right where he was supposed to be: on a covered bridge, walking his soon-to-be step-mother down the aisle so she could marry his father. “Wow, honey, you look amazing,” Russ said as Travis and Nadine stopped in front of him. Travis took Nadine’s hand and placed it in his father’s. Shifting his eyes up to Russ’s, Travis told him, “Just love her.” “I do, boy, I do,” Russ replied.
Lisa Bilbrey is a mom of three and has been married to her high school sweetheart since 1996.
Finding a love in the written word, she started writing as a way to express herself. From the first word she wrote, she'd found her heart and soul. Always willing to learn, she's spends much of her time trying to improve as a storyteller.
In late 2011, Lisa opened Renaissance Romance Publishing with Michele Richard and Laura Braley.
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Lisa Bilbrey September 10, 2013 at 3:55 PM
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University of the Incarnate Word is located in San Antonio, Texas and is a private college. University of the Incarnate Word is a four year college and offers Associate's Degrees, Bachelor's Degrees, Master's Degrees, Doctoral Degrees, and a number of different programs and courses.
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San Antonio, Texas 78209-6397
Web Site: http://www.uiw.edu
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Tag Archives: air pollution
China tackles air pollution
Smog is seen over the city during haze weather in Tianjin, China, January 3, 2017. Picture taken January 3, 2017. REUTERS/Stringer
People wearing masks dance at a square among heavy smog during a polluted day in Fuyang, Anhui province, China, January 3, 2017. China Daily/via REUTERS
SHANGHAI (Reuters) – China plans cuts in major sources of air pollution including sulphur dioxide and will promote more public transport in large cities, the government said, as the country’s north grapples with a lingering smog crisis.
The world’s second-largest economy will cut sulphur dioxide, a key contributor to air pollution produced by power plants and industry, by 15 percent by 2020, China’s State Council, the country’s cabinet, said in a five-year plan paper on January 5.
As well as capping industrial emissions, China would raise the share of public transport to 30 percent of total traffic in major cities by 2020 and promote cleaner, more efficient fuels, the new plan said.
China is in the third year of a “war on pollution” to tackle the legacy of more than three decades of untrammeled economic growth, but it has struggled to meet air quality standards or to prevent occurrences of the hazardous smog like the current episode.
An environment ministry spokesman said on Thursday that excessive resource use was “a bottleneck holding back China’s economic and social development”, and the situation remained grave.
Related: Human Rights: There’s an App for that, by Jonathan Manthorpe Column
An air quality monitor atop the United States Embassy in China confirmed for the Chinese people what they instinctively knew: their government lies to them. It has instigated a middle class protest that has the ruling Communist Party scurrying to respond on air pollution.
Smog has lingered over large parts of northern China for most of the last two weeks, caused by increased coal use for winter heating as well as “unfavorable weather conditions,” even though overall concentrations of small, unhealthy airborne particles known as PM2.5 fell 6 percent during 2016, according to environment ministry data.
The paper says emissions will be controlled through stricter emissions caps on large industries, adjusting China’s industrial structure and widening the range of companies required to curb pollution. Vehicle emissions will also be curtailed through tighter fuel standards.
The new 2016-2020 “energy saving and emissions cutting” plan also made commitments to boost recycling and shut energy-guzzling firms that fail to meet efficiency standards. It also vowed to use “market mechanisms” to fight waste and pollution.
In a separate announcement on Friday, the ministry said power generators and paper mills in Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin would be part of a pilot “emissions permit” scheme to be set up in the region later this year.
The government said last November that the country would create a nationwide emissions permit system covering all major industrial sectors by 2020.
Eventually companies will have to buy permits to cover their excess emissions. China wants highly polluting sectors like thermal power and papermaking, as well as sectors suffering from overcapacity, to be covered by the end of 2017.
Copyright Reuters 2017
(Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)
Facts and Opinions is a boutique journal of reporting and analysis in words and images, without borders. Independent, non-partisan and employee-owned, F&O is funded by our readers. It is ad-free and spam-free, and does not solicit donations from partisan organizations. To continue we require a minimum payment of .27 for one story, or a sustaining donation. Details here; donate below. Thanks for your interest and support.
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Posted in Also tagged carbon, China, climate change, environment |
Human Rights: There’s an App for that
A chimney of a power plant is pictured among smog as a red alert for air pollution is issued in Beijing. REUTERS/Stringer
At the heart of one of the most effective and simple human rights campaigns of recent years is a box on a roof in Beijing.
In its quiet way, that box has confirmed for the Chinese people what they instinctively knew; that their government lies to them consistently about the state of the country.
It has also been an instigator of a middle class protest movement that has sent the ruling Communist Party scurrying to respond.
Indeed, it is easy to imagine scenarios in which that unassuming rooftop box trips a chain of falling dominoes that drives the Communist Party from power.
The box is an air quality monitor and it was installed in 2008 atop the United States Embassy in the diplomatic Chaoyang district of Beijing, a couple of kilometres from Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. The original idea behind setting up the monitor was to provide information to embassy staff and other Americans about Beijing’s notorious air polluting smogs. The monitor was set to Tweet out air quality readings every hour, and thus give recipients some opportunity to protect themselves against the worst pollution.
According to a Peking University study, close to 3,000 people die prematurely each year in Beijing because of air pollution, which regularly hits more than ten times the level the World Health Organization considers safe. Nationwide in China, smog kills nearly two million people, mostly as result of burning coal to fuel China’s power grid and the archaic industries behind its economic revolution of the last 30 years.
Related story: China tackles air pollution, by Reuters
This week in Beijing and the surrounding province was typical. In much of northern China on Monday the pollution level hit 400 micrograms per cubic meter of air. The WHO identifies the tiny particles known as PM 2.5 as the most dangerous because they can cause lung disease and even enter the blood stream. The organization says 25 PM 2.5 micrograms per cubic meter of air is the safe level.
On Wednesday the Beijing authorities issued a “red alert,” saying air pollution was at the highest level and hazardous to health. Smog brought down visibility to less than 50 meters, and many flights had to be cancelled. At Tianjin, the port city 100 kilometres from Beijing, 2,000 people were stranded on a cruise ship for two days because the smog was too thick for the vessel to be able to dock safely. Indeed, on Tuesday the maritime safety authorities stopped harbour traffic in all three of China’s main northern ports because of smog.
For years, the Chinese authorities have conducted an Orwellian campaign of disinformation aimed at convincing people not to believe the evidence of their eyes and wheezing lungs. Then, along came the monitor on the roof of the U.S. embassy, whose hourly Tweets were quickly picked up and rebroadcast by local groups, such as Air Quality in China (aqicn.org) on their own sites. Beijing residents quickly decided that the readings from the U.S. embassy roof were a good deal more reliable and accurate than the fanciful figures put out by Chinese authorities. For example, a comparison of the readings from the U.S. embassy monitor and those taken by local authorities at the nearby Chaoyang Agricultural Exhibition Centre show that the readings from the embassy roof are regularly 50 per cent higher, and often much more.
The popularity of the U.S. embassy readings and the implicit criticism from Beijing residents that they didn’t believe a word the Chinese authorities were telling them bit deep.
As is often the case with the Chinese Communist Party, its first instinct when challenged by its citizens or anyone else is to strike out. The authorities ordered the embassy to stop releasing the air monitor data, saying “such readings were illegal.” When that didn’t work and the embassy stuck to its guns, Chinese state-controlled media mounted a massive campaign of propaganda articles explaining in copious detail why the U.S. embassy readings were so much higher than those from the local authorities’ monitors.
In November, 2014, as Beijing was about to host the summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum, the authorities leaned on the people running the Air Quality in China web site and forced them to stop running the readings from the U.S. embassy monitor. Over three years later, that ban is still in force, though the aqicn.com site still has the readings from the nearby Chaoyang Agricultural Exhibition Centre monitor.
But even as the Communist Party was trying to gallop over public criticism of both air quality and the party’s dishonesty about the situation, it was beginning to take the matter seriously. China’s air quality and other pollution issues were at the core of a distinct shift in social awareness around 2013.
For years China has experienced extraordinary levels of social unrest that go largely unseen and unrecorded in the West. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), the main think tank gathering information and offering advice to China’s government, collects information on riots and another incidents of communal unrest. It pays particular attention to what are called “mass incidents,” which are defined as riots involving more than 1,000 people and which require riot squads or other violent police action to restore order.
The CASS used to publish each year the number of such incidents, but gave up doing so around 2011, after the number had stuck for several years at around 180,000 incidents over a 12 month period. That’s close to 500 riots a day on average, and even though CASS no longer publishes the figures, people in the know say the annual numbers have not changed much in the last five years.
What has changed, though, is the reasons for this tide of riots. Until about 2013 the vast majority were spurred by popular unhappiness at some piece of corruption or other venal act by local party officials, or their relatives or cronies. But about four years ago that changed and the main cause of riots became public outrage at China’s deadly reality of air, water and soil pollution. It is not only China’s air that is deadly. Most food and water are contaminated by toxic heavy metals. Chinese who can afford it spend large amounts of money buying imported food and bottled water from countries with strong food safety regulations.
In an essay late in 2013, David Roberts, the former Regional Strategic Advisor for USAID-Asia, noted that earlier that year the Chinese authorities had set up sensitive air quality monitors capable of reading pollution levels about 500 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic meter in over 70 cities around China. At the same time, Beijing announced plans to spend billions of dollars on pollution reduction and announced ambitious targets to clean up the air in China’s major cities.
(The Americans have kept pace and installed roof-top monitors in all their consulates across China.)
Improvements cannot come fast enough for Chinese city dwellers. A major question for the authorities is how patient the citizenry will be. The evidence from this week is that citizens in Beijing in particular are at the end of their tether.
Although the air pollution levels in Beijing were especially bad this week, the capital has been under a pall of smog for close to a month. It is so bad that many children have fallen sick, and are coughing and wheezing. Early in the week people began sharing their experiences and outrages on a social network site called WeChat. On Wednesday, an online petition was set up demanding that the authorities install air filtration systems in the capital’s schools. Within 24 hours the site had attracted an audience of about 500,000 and nearly 3,000 peopler had made comments.
The capital city government reacted swiftly to this growing public movement and has now promised to equip Beijing’s schools with air filtration systems. It is an abrupt about face from just over a year ago when the city authorities said such systems could not be installed because of inadequate electricity supplies in most schools. And, anyway, with children barging in and out of school doorways all day long such a system would be ineffectual anyway.
It remains to be seen, of course, whether the Beijing authorities or the administrations in other Chinese cities follow through on the promise. And the greater problem of China’s toxic industries and power plants remains. But for one of the first times in modern history, the Chinese regime has had to listen and respond to citizens’ concerns. That’s a step forward from which it will be hard for the Communist Party to retreat. And a significant role in that achievement was played not by loud banging on about human rights from outside China, but by a box on a roof.
Copyright Jonathan Manthorpe 2016
Contact, including queries about syndication/republishing: jonathan.manthorpe@gmail.com
Jonathan Manthorpe is a founding columnist with Facts and Opinions and is the author of the journal’s International Affairs column. He is the author of “Forbidden Nation: A History of Taiwan,” and has been a foreign correspondent and international affairs columnist for nearly 40 years. Manthorpe’s nomadic career began in the late 1970s as European Bureau Chief for The Toronto Star, the job that took Ernest Hemingway to Europe in the 1920s. In the mid-1980s Manthorpe became European Correspondent for Southam News. In the following years Manthorpe was sent by Southam News, the internal news agency for Canada’s largest group of metropolitan daily newspapers, to be the correspondent in Africa and then Asia. Between postings Manthorpe spent a few years based in Ottawa focusing on intelligence and military affairs, and the United Nations. Since 1998 Manthorpe has been based in Vancouver, but has travelled frequently on assignment to Asia, Europe and Latin America.
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Posted in Also tagged China |
Dirty air kills twice as many as previously thought: WHO
Air pollution is now the world’s largest single environmental health risk, prematurely killing some seven million people in 2012 alone, said the World Health Organization.
People die prematurely of pollution-linked strokes, ischaemic heart disease, cancer, respiratory infections and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), said WHO in estimates released in Geneva on March 25.
A woman cooks over an open fire in her kitchen in India. Smoke from such fires causes millions of deaths annually, said the World Health Organization. © WHO/TDR /Andy Crump 2001
The organization’s new estimates are double the numbers of people previously suspected killed by dirty air, both indoor and outdoor, and WHO announced a program to better track information and advise and inform countries of health gains from reducing pollution.
The problem is global. In France this month an environmental agency, Ecologie Sans Frontiere, filed a criminal complaint of “endangering others” over the recent extreme smog in Paris. On Monday the European Union’s environmental agency announced that 11 EU countries exceed pollution limits. China, especially affected by thick smog, has begun using drones to inspect polluting factories, said the state-run news outlet China Daily.
WHO said the countries most affected by air pollution are in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific Regions where, said WHO’s Dr. Flavia Bustreo in a statement, “Poor women and children pay a heavy price from indoor air pollution since they spend more time at home breathing in smoke and soot from leaky coal and wood cook stoves.”
The causes of indoor pollution are mostly cooking over coal, wood and biomass (dung) stoves — and they especially affect women and children, said WHO. In a WHO feature accompanying the report it quoted Dr Kirk Smith of the University of California at Berkeley, an expert in pollution from biomass stoves: “Having an open fire in your kitchen is like burning 400 cigarettes an hour.”
Outdoors, WHO laid the blame for pollution on transport, energy, waste management and industry.
“The risks from air pollution are now far greater than previously thought or understood, particularly for heart disease and strokes,” said Dr Maria Neira, Director of WHO’s Department for Public Health, Environmental and Social Determinants of Health, in the WHO statement. “Few risks have a greater impact on global health today than air pollution; the evidence signals the need for concerted action to clean up the air we all breathe.”
The WHO report said ischaemic heart disease and stroke kill the greatest numbers of people, with COPD a close third.
Copyright Deborah Jones 2014
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Posted in Current Affairs, Gyroscope Also tagged smog, World Health Organization |
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Tag Archives: National Security Agency
New Snowden Documents Reveal Secret Memos Expanding Spying
by Deborah Jones | 0 Comments
by Julia Angwin & Jeff Larson, ProPublica, Charlie Savage, the New York Times, and Henrik Moltke, special to ProPublica
Without public notice or debate, the Obama administration expanded the National Security Agency’s warrantless surveillance of Americans’ international Internet traffic to search for evidence of malicious computer hacking, according to classified NSA documents.
In mid-2012, Justice Department lawyers wrote two secret memos permitting the spy agency to begin hunting on Internet cables, without a warrant and on American soil, for data linked to computer intrusions originating abroad — including traffic that flows to suspicious Internet addresses or contains malware, the documents show.
The Justice Department allowed the agency to monitor only addresses and “cybersignatures” — patterns associated with computer intrusions — that it could tie to foreign governments. But the documents also note that the NSA sought permission to target hackers even when it could not establish any links to foreign powers.
The disclosures, based on documents provided by Edward J. Snowden, the former NSA contractor, and shared with the New York Times and ProPublica, come at a time of unprecedented cyberattacks on American financial institutions, businesses and government agencies, but also of greater scrutiny of secret legal justifications for broader government surveillance.
While the Senate passed legislation this week limiting some of the NSA’s authority, it involved provisions in the U.S.A. Patriot Act and did not apply to the warrantless wiretapping program.
Government officials defended the NSA’s monitoring of suspected hackers as necessary to shield Americans from the increasingly aggressive activities of foreign governments. But critics say it raises difficult trade-offs that should be subject to public debate.
The NSA’s activities run “smack into law enforcement land,” said Jonathan Mayer, a cybersecurity scholar at Stanford Law School who has researched privacy issues and who reviewed several of the documents. “That’s a major policy decision about how to structure cybersecurity in the U.S. and not a conversation that has been had in public.”
It is not clear what standards the agency is using to select targets. It can be hard to know for sure who is behind a particular intrusion — a foreign government or a criminal gang — and the NSA is supposed to focus on foreign intelligence, not law enforcement.
The government can also gather significant volumes of Americans’ information — anything from private emails to trade secrets and business dealings — through Internet surveillance because monitoring the data flowing to a hacker involves copying that information as the hacker steals it.
One internal NSA document notes that agency surveillance activities through “hacker signatures pull in a lot.” Brian Hale, the spokesman for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, said, “It should come as no surprise that the U.S. government gathers intelligence on foreign powers that attempt to penetrate U.S. networks and steal the private information of U.S. citizens and companies.” He added that “targeting overseas individuals engaging in hostile cyberactivities on behalf of a foreign power is a lawful foreign intelligence purpose.”
The effort is the latest known expansion of the NSA’s warrantless surveillance program, which allows the government to intercept Americans’ cross-border communications if the target is a foreigner abroad. While the NSA has long searched for specific email addresses and phone numbers of foreign intelligence targets, the Obama administration three years ago started allowing the agency to search its communications streams for less-identifying Internet protocol addresses or strings of harmful computer code.
The surveillance activity traces to changes that began after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The government tore down a so-called wall that prevented intelligence and criminal investigators from sharing information about suspected spies and terrorists. The barrier had been erected to protect Americans’ rights because intelligence investigations use lower legal standards than criminal inquiries, but policy makers decided it was too much of an obstacle to terrorism investigations.
The NSA also started the warrantless wiretapping program, which caused an outcry when it was disclosed in 2005. In 2008, under the FISA Amendments Act, Congress legalized the surveillance program so long as the agency targeted only noncitizens abroad. A year later, the new Obama administration began crafting a new cybersecurity policy — including weighing whether the Internet had made the distinction between a spy and a criminal obsolete.
“Reliance on legal authorities that make theoretical distinctions between armed attacks, terrorism and criminal activity may prove impractical,” the White House National Security Council wrote in a classified annex to a policy report in May 2009, which was included in the NSA’s internal files.
About that time, the documents show, the NSA — whose mission includes protecting military and intelligence networks against intruders — proposed using the warrantless surveillance program for cybersecurity purposes. The agency received “guidance on targeting using the signatures” from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, according to an internal newsletter.
In May and July 2012, according to an internal timeline, the Justice Department granted its secret approval for the searches of cybersignatures and Internet addresses. The Justice Department tied that authority to a pre-existing approval by the secret surveillance court permitting the government to use the program to monitor foreign governments.
That limit meant the NSA had to have some evidence for believing that the hackers were working for a specific foreign power. That rule, the NSA soon complained, left a “huge collection gap against cyberthreats to the nation” because it is often hard to know exactly who is behind an intrusion, according to an agency newsletter. Different computer intruders can use the same piece of malware, take steps to hide their location or pretend to be someone else.
So the NSA, in 2012, began pressing to go back to the surveillance court and seek permission to use the program explicitly for cybersecurity purposes. That way, it could monitor international communications for any “malicious cyberactivity,” even if it did not yet know who was behind the attack.
The newsletter described the further expansion as one of “highest priorities” of the NSA director, Gen. Keith B. Alexander. However, a former senior intelligence official said that the government never asked the court to grant that authority.
Meanwhile, the FBI in 2011 had obtained a new kind of wiretap order from the secret surveillance court for cybersecurity investigations, permitting it to target Internet data flowing to or from specific Internet addresses linked to certain governments.
To carry out the orders, the FBI negotiated in 2012 to use the NSA’s system for monitoring Internet traffic crossing “chokepoints operated by U.S. providers through which international communications enter and leave the United States,” according to a 2012 NSA document. The NSA would send the intercepted traffic to the bureau’s “cyberdata repository” in Quantico, Virginia.
The disclosure that the NSA and the FBI have expanded their cybersurveillance adds a dimension to a recurring debate over the post-Sept. 11 expansion of government spying powers: Information about Americans sometimes gets swept up incidentally when foreigners are targeted, and prosecutors can use that information in criminal cases.
Citing the potential for a copy of data “exfiltrated” by a hacker to contain “so much” information about Americans, one NSA lawyer suggested keeping the stolen data out of the agency’s regular repository for information collected by surveillance so that analysts working on unrelated issues could not query it, a 2010 training document showed. But it is not clear whether the agency or the FBI has imposed any additional limits on the data of hacking victims.
In a response to questions for this article, the FBI pointed to its existing procedures for protecting victims’ data acquired during investigations, but also said it continually reviewed its policies “to adapt to these changing threats while protecting civil liberties and the interests of victims of cybercrimes.”
None of these actions or proposals had been disclosed to the public. As recently as February, when President Obama spoke about cybersecurity at an event at Stanford University, he lauded the importance of transparency but did not mention this change.
“The technology so often outstrips whatever rules and structures and standards have been put in place, which means that government has to be constantly self-critical and we have to be able to have an open debate about it,” Obama said.
Laura Poitras contributed reporting. This story was co-published with the New York Times. For more coverage, read ProPublica’s previous reporting on the NSA’s efforts to break encryption, our NSA Programs Chart and the agency’s spying operations on cell phone apps.ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for their newsletter.
Related reading on F&O:
Digital Domesday: surveillance and serfdom, by Graham Murdock
45 years later, Ottawa fumbles national security, by Jonathan Manthorpe (paywall)
Supporting BDS not “anti-Semitic”, by Tom Regan
Freedom of the press ain’t so free anymore, by Tom Regan
Suit by Wikimedia and partners targets American mass surveillance, by Deborah Jones
Mumbai Attacks: Piles of Spy Data, a Puzzle Unsolved, by Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, and James Glanz and David E. Sanger, New York Times
How to Stop Being Tracked Online, by Hanging Chen, ProPublica
Privacy Tools: Encrypt What You Can, by Julia Angwin, ProPublica
Facts and Opinions is an online journal of select and first-rate reporting and analysis, in words and images: a boutique for slow journalism, without borders. Independent, non-partisan and employee-owned, F&O performs journalism for citizens, funded entirely by readers. We do not carry advertising or solicit donations from foundations or causes. Subscribe by email to our free FRONTLINES, a blog announcing new works, and the odd small tale. Look for evidence-based reporting in Reports; commentary, analysis and creative non-fiction in OPINION-FEATURES; and image galleries in PHOTO-ESSAYS. Some of our original works are behind a paywall, available with a $1 site day pass, or with a subscription from $2.95/month – $19.95/year. If you value journalism, please help sustain us.
Posted in Also tagged Edward Snowden, surveillance, terrorism |
Suit by Wikimedia and partners targets American mass surveillance
National Security Agency headquarters, Fort Meade, Maryland. U.S. government photo, public domain
A law suit aimed at mass surveillance was filed Tuesday against America’s National Security Agency and Department of Justice, by the Wikimedia Foundation and eight other complainants.
“The surveillance exceeds the scope of the authority that Congress provided in the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (“FAA”) and violates the First and Fourth Amendments,” stated the suit, filed in Maryland. “Because it is predicated on programmatic surveillance orders issued by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (“FISC”) in the absence of any case or controversy, the surveillance also violates Article III of the Constitution.”
A statement from Wikimedia said the suit challenges the NSA’s large-scale search and seizure of internet communications, and aims “to end this mass surveillance program in order to protect the rights of our users around the world.”
“Surveillance erodes the original promise of the internet: an open space for collaboration and experimentation, and a place free from fear,” said Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales in the statement.
“Wikipedia is founded on the freedoms of expression, inquiry, and information,” said foundation executive director Lila Tretikov. “By violating our users’ privacy, the NSA is threatening the intellectual freedom that is central to people’s ability to create and understand knowledge.”
The joint suit was filed by the Wikimedia Foundation; the U.S. National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; Human Rights Watch; Amnesty International; PEN American Centre; the Global Fund for Women; the Nation Magazine; the Rutherford Institute; and the Washington Office on Latin America.
The defendants are the U.S. National Security Agency; NSA director Adm. Michael S. Rogers; the office of the Director of National Intelligence and its director James R. Clapper; U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder.
Excerpt of the statement:
Privacy is the bedrock of individual freedom. It is a universal right that sustains the freedoms of expression and association. These principles enable inquiry, dialogue, and creation and are central to Wikimedia’s vision of empowering everyone to share in the sum of all human knowledge. When they are endangered, our mission is threatened. If people look over their shoulders before searching, pause before contributing to controversial articles, or refrain from sharing verifiable but unpopular information, Wikimedia and the world are poorer for it. …
Our case today challenges the NSA’s use of upstream surveillance conducted under the authority of the 2008 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Act (FAA). Upstream surveillance taps the internet’s “backbone” to capture communications with “non-U.S. persons.” The FAA authorizes the collection of these communications if they fall into the broad category of “foreign intelligence information” that includes nearly any information that could be construed as relating to national security or foreign affairs. The program casts a vast net, and as a result, captures communications that are not connected to any “target,” or may be entirely domestic. This includes communications by our users and staff.
Read the full Wikimedia Foundation statement here: http://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Press_releases/Wikimedia_v._NSA:_Wikimedia_Foundation_files_suit_against_NSA_to_challenge_upstream_mass_surveillance
Read the legal suit, Case 1:15-cv-00662-RDB Document 1 filed in U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, here: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/foundation/4/44/Wikimedia_v._NSA_Complaint.pdf
Q&A: Why is the Wikimedia Foundation suing the NSA? ACLU blog post: https://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/qa-why-wikimedia-foundation-suing-nsa
Reports elsewhere, by Reuters; Politico; Guardian; PC Magazine; Time Magazine.
Related stories on F&O:
Spy scandal confirms Germans’ growing mistrust of Washington, July, 2014, Jonathan Manthorpe column (paywall)
Privacy Tools: Encrypt What You Can, May 2014
What Edward Snowden said to European Parliamentarians, March 2014
Privacy Tools: How to Safely Browse the Web, January, 2014
Evidence lacking in U.S. claim that NSA thwarted attacks, October, 2013
Facts and Opinions is an online journal of select and first-rate reporting and analysis, in words and images: a boutique for select journalism, without borders. Independent, non-partisan and employee-owned, F&O performs journalism for citizens, funded entirely by readers. We do not carry advertising or solicit donations from foundations or causes. Help sustain us by telling others about us, and purchasing a $1 day pass or subscription, from $2.95/month to $19.95/year. To receive F&O’s free blog emails fill in the form on the FRONTLINES page.
Posted in Current Affairs Also tagged freedom of expression, Wikimedia |
Privacy Tools: Encrypt What You Can
In the course of writing her book, Dragnet Nation, Julia Angwin tried various strategies to protect her privacy. In this series of book excerpts and adaptations, she distills the lessons from her privacy experiments into tips for readers.
by Julia Angwin, ProPublica
Ever since Edward Snowden revealed the inner secrets of the NSA, he has been urging Americans to use encryption to protect themselves from rampant spying.
Photo credit: NotFromUtrecht, GNU Free Documentation License
“Encryption does work,” Snowden said, via a remote connection at the SXSW tech conference. “It is a defense against the dark arts for the digital realm.”
ProPublica has written about the NSA’s attempts to break encryption, but we don’t know for sure how successful the spy agency has been, and security experts still recommend using these techniques.
And besides, who doesn’t want to defend against the dark arts? But getting started with encryption can be daunting. Here are a few techniques that most people can use.
Encrypt the data you store. This protects your data from being read by people with access to your computer.
Encrypt your hard drive so that if you lose your computer or you get hacked, your information will be safe. Most recent Apple Macintosh computers contain a built-in encryption system called FileVault that is simple to use. Some versions of Microsoft’s Windows 7 also contain a built-in encryption system called BitLocker. Another popular solution is the free, open-source program TrueCrypt, which can either encrypt individual files or entire partitions of your computer or an external hard drive.
Encrypt your smartphone’s hard drive. Yes 2014 your smartphone has a hard drive much like your computer has. In fact, your phone probably contains as much 2014 or more 2014 sensitive information about you as your computer does. Apple doesn’t let you encrypt your smart phone’s hard drive or the files on it, though it allows encryption of your phone’s backup files on iTunes or iCloud. You can also use Find my iPhone to remotely “wipe,” or delete the data on your iPhone or iPad if it is lost or stolen. Google’s Android operating system lets you encrypt your phone hard drive.
Encrypt the data you store in the cloud. I use the SpiderOak encrypted cloud service. If an encrypted cloud service were somehow forced to hand over their servers, your data would still be safe, because it’s encrypted using a key stored only on your computer. However, this also means that if you lose your password, they can’t help you. The encrypted data would be unrecoverable.
Encrypt the data you transmit. The Snowden revelations have revealed that U.S. and British spy agencies are grabbing as much unencrypted data as they can find as it passes over the Internet. Encrypting your data in transit can protect it against spy agencies, as well as commercial data gatherers.
Install HTTPS Everywhere on your Web browser. This encrypts your Web browsing sessions, protecting you from hackers and spy agencies that scoop up unencrypted traffic across the Internet. Not every site works properly with HTTPS Everywhere, though an increasing number do.
Use encrypted texting apps with friends who install the same apps on their phones. On the iPhone, Silent Circle and Wickr offer apps for encrypted texting. On Android, the TextSecure app encrypts texts in transit and when they are stored on your device.
Use the Off-the-Record Messaging protocol to encrypt your instant messaging conversations. You can still use your favorite instant-messaging service, such as Gchat or AIM, though you’ll need to use a software client that supports the Off-the-Record protocol. On Macs, free software called Adium can enable OTR chats, and on Windows, you can use Pidgin. Once you’ve set up OTR and gone through a simple verification step, you can IM as you usually do. Both parties have to use OTR for the encryption to work.
Use Gnu Privacy Guard to encrypt your email conversations. Like OTR, if you’re using GPG you’ll need the people you email with to use it as well in order to encrypt your conversations. I use free software called GPG Tools with Enigmail and Postbox. GPG Tools also works directly with Apple’s built-in Mail program.
GPG has some shortcomings 2014 it’s difficult-to-impossible to use it with the mail program built into most smartphones, and you can’t use it easily with webmail like Gmail. (Although there are some new web-based mail programs that use GPG called Mailvelope and StartMail that I haven’t had a chance to try yet.)
The most difficult part of GPG is that, unlike the encrypted texting and instant messaging programs, you have to generate a secret key and keep it somewhere secure (usually on your computer or on a USB stick). This often means you can only send GPG mail when you have your key with you. Even so, it is incredibly satisfying once you send your first message and watch it transform into a block of numbers and letters when you click “encrypt.”
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Posted in Current Affairs Also tagged digital surveillance, Edward Snowden, Encryption, SXSW |
Edward Snowden writes to Europe
Europe has released American whistle-blower Edward Snowden’s written responses to questions by members of the European Parliament. Europe is expected to decide soon on a controversial “Safe Harbour” data transmission and privacy agreement with the United States, considered essential for American technology companies like Google to operate in Europe.
F&O reports in Dispatches, Publica, here. (Public access)
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Posted in All, Current Affairs Also tagged Edward Snowden, European Parliament, Safe Harbour agreement |
What Edward Snowden said to European Parliamentarians
By Deborah Jones
Europe on Friday released American whistle-blower Edward Snowden’s written responses to questions by members of the European Parliament. The 12-page document, in English as a pdf, is here.
Snowden, a former contractor to the United States National Security Agency (NSA), limited his testimony to information he already released to journalists, which is already in the public domain (see Glen Greenwald’s work at The Guardian, and the New York Times topic page). He repeated his offer “to provide testimony to the United States Congress, should they decide to consider the issue of unconstitutional mass surveillance.”
And in response to questions that could be interpreted as critical, he said before that becoming a whistle-blower and fleeing the U.S. — he currently lives in Russia — he exhausted official American channels by reporting his concerns “to more than ten distinct officials, none of whom took any action to address them.”
Snowden was asked why, as he calls for intelligence agency accountability, “do you feel this accountability does not apply to you? Do you therefore plan to return to the United States or Europe to face criminal charges and answer questions in an official capacity, and pursue the route as an official whistle blower?” He answered, “accountability cannot exist without the due process of law.”
Snowden told European politicians he would accept asylum in a European state — but claimed no state would be “allowed” by the Untied States to take him.
The transcript was released as Europe is deciding on possible changes to a “Safe Harbour” agreement on privacy and data transmission with the United States, considered essential for American technology companies like Google to operate in Europe.
Meanwhile a major American music and media gathering, best known for launch announcements of new technologies, is focused this year partly on surveillance. The South by Southwest conference (SXSW) underway this weekend in Austin, Texas, features video appearances by Snowden, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange and journalist Greenwald.
Snowden prefaced his written answers to questions by European parliamentarians with a statement that suspicionless surveillance programs endanger the basic rights that are “the foundation of liberal societies,” and said “despite extraordinary political pressure to do so, no western government has been able to present evidence showing that such programs are necessary.”
“I believe that suspicionless surveillance not only fails to make us safe, but it actually makes us less safe. By squandering precious, limited resources on ‘collecting it all,’ we end up with more analysts trying to make sense of harmless political dissent and fewer investigators running down real leads … (and) cost lives, and history has shown my concerns are justified.”
“I could have read the private communications of any member of this committee, as well as any ordinary citizen. I swear under penalty of perjury that this is true. These are not the capabilities in which free societies invest. Mass surveillance violates our rights, risks our safety, and threatens our way of life. “
“… if even the US is willing to knowingly violate the rights of billions of innocents — and I say billions without exaggeration — for nothing more substantial than a “potential” intelligence advantage that has never materialized, what are other governments going to do? Whether we like it or not, the international norms of tomorrow are being constructed today, right now, by the work of bodies like this committee. If liberal states decide that the convenience of spies is more valuable than the rights of their citizens, the inevitable result will be states that are both less liberal and less safe.”
Questioned on the extent of cooperation, over collection of bulk citizen data, between America’s National NSA and EU Member States:
“The result (of cooperation with the NSA by individual Europen states ) is a European bazaar, where an EU member state like Denmark may give the NSA access to a tapping center on the (unenforceable) condition that NSA doesn’t search it for Danes, and Germany may give the NSA access to another on the condition that it doesn’t search for Germans. Yet the two tapping sites may be two points on the same cable, so the NSA simply captures the communications of the German citizens as they transit Denmark, and the Danish citizens as they transit Germany, all the while considering it entirely in accordance with their agreements. Ultimately, each EU national government’s spy services are independently hawking domestic accesses to the NSA, GCHQ, FRA, and the like without having any awareness of how their individual contribution is enabling the greater patchwork of mass surveillance against ordinary citizens as a whole.”
“The surest way for any nation to become subject to unnecessary surveillance is to allow its spies to dictate its policy. The right to be free unwarranted intrusion into our private effects — our lives and possessions, our thoughts and communications – – is a human right. It is not granted by national governments and it cannot be revoked by them out of convenience. Just as we do not allow police officers to enter every home to fish around for evidence of undiscovered crimes, we must not allow spies to rummage through our every communication for indications of disfavored activities.”
“Technology is agnostic of nationality, and the flag on the pole outside of the building makes systems of mass surveillance no more or less effective.”
Questioned on whether the NSA has adequate procedures for staff to signal wrongdoing:
“The culture within the US Intelligence Community is such that reporting serious concerns about the legality or propriety of programs is much more likely to result in your being flagged as a troublemaker than to result in substantive reform.”
“In my personal experience, repeatedly raising concerns about legal and policy matters with my co-workers and superiors resulted in two kinds of responses. The first were well-meaning but hushed warnings not to “rock the boat,” for fear of the sort of retaliation that befell former NSA whistleblowers like Wiebe, Binney, and Drake. All three men reported their concerns through the official, approved process, and all three men were subject to armed raids by the FBI and threats of criminal sanction. Everyone in the Intelligence Community is aware of what happens to people who report concerns about unlawful but authorized operations. The second were similarly well-meaning but more pointed suggestions, typically from senior officials, that we should let the issue be someone else’s problem.”
“Do you feel you had exhausted all avenues before taking the decision to go public?”
“Yes. I had reported these clearly problematic programs to more than ten distinct officials, none of whom took any action to address them. As an employee of a private company rather than a direct employee of the U.S. government, I was not protected by U.S. whistleblower laws, and I would not have been protected from retaliation and legal sanction for revealing classified information about lawbreaking in accordance with the recommended process.”
On whether procedures for whistleblowing have been improved:
“There has not yet been any substantive whistleblower reform in the US, and unfortunately my government has taken a number of disproportionate and persecutory actions against me. US government officials have declared me guilty of crimes in advance of any trial, they’ve called for me to be executed or assassinated in private and openly in the press, they revoked my passport and left me stranded in a foreign transit zone for six weeks, and even used NATO to ground the presidential plane of Evo Morales – the leader of Bolivia – on hearing that I might attempt to seek and enjoy asylum in Latin America”
How can Europe “help you in any way, and do you seek asylum in the EU?”
“If you want to help me, help me by helping everyone: declare that the indiscriminate, bulk collection of private data by governments is a violation of our rights and must end. What happens to me as a person is less important than what happens to our common rights. As for asylum, I do seek EU asylum, but I have yet to receive a positive response to the requests I sent to various EU member states. Parliamentarians in the national governments have told me that the US, and I quote, “will not allow” EU partners to offer political asylum to me …”
Questioned over justification for surveillance and whether current surveillance is used for economic espionage:
“Surveillance against specific targets, for unquestionable reasons of national security while respecting human rights , is above reproach. Unfortunately, we’ve seen a growth in untargeted, extremely questionable surveillance for reasons entirely unrelated to national security. Most recently, the Prime Minister of Australia, caught red-handed engaging in the most blatant kind of economic espionage, sought to argue that the price of Indonesian shrimp and clove cigarettes was a “security matter.” These are indications of a growing disinterest among governments for ensuring intelligence activities are justified, proportionate, and above all accountable.”
” In the United States, we use a secret, rubber-stamp Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that only hears arguments from the government. Out of approximately 34,000 government requests over 33 years, the secret court rejected only 11.”
“… global surveillance capabilities are being used on a daily basis for the purpose of economic espionage …Mass surveillance capabilities have even been used against a climate change summit. Recently, governments have shifted their talking points from claiming they only use mass surveillance for “national security” purposes to the more nebulous “valid foreign intelligence purposes.”
“If we are prepared to condemn the economic spying of our competitors, we must be prepared to do the same of our allies. Lasting peace is founded upon fundamental fairness. The international community must agree to common standards of behavior, and jointly invest in the development of new technical standards to defend against mass surveillance. We rely on common systems, and the French will not be safe from mass surveillance until Americans, Argentines, and Chinese are as well.”
Could mass suspicionless surveillance have been prevented with better independent and public oversight over the intelligence agencies? What conditions would need to be fulfilled, both nationally and internationally?
“Yes, better oversight could have prevented the mistakes that brought us to this point … The oversight of intelligence agencies should always be performed by opposition parties, as under the democratic model, they always have the most to lose under a surveillance state. Additionally, we need better whistleblower protections, and a new commitment to the importance of international asylum.”
Why did you choose to go public with your information?
“Secret laws and secret courts cannot authorize unconstitutional activities by fiat, nor can classification be used to shield an unjustified and embarrassing violation of human rights from democratic accountability. If the mass surveillance of an innocent public is to occur, it should be authorized as the result of an informed debate with the consent of the public, under a framework of laws that the government invites civil society to challenge in open courts. That our governments are even today unwilling to allow independent review of the secret policies enabling mass surveillance of innocents underlines governments’ lack of faith that these programs are lawful, and this provides stronger testimony in favor of the rightfulness of my actions than any words I might write.”
Are you aware that your revelations have the potential to put at risk lives of innocents and hamper efforts in the global fight against terrorism?
“Actually, no specific evidence has ever been offered, by any government, that even a single life has been put at risk by the award-winning journalism this question attempts to implicat. … if you can show one of the governments consulted on these stories chose not to impede demonstrably fatal information from being published, I invite you to do so. The front page of every newspaper in the world stands open to you.”
Copyright © 2014 Deborah Jones
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References and further reading:
Full text of Edward Snowden’s statement to European parliamentarians (pdf)
US Presidential Panel Tells-NSA to stop Undermining Encryption, on F&O, by ProPublica
Evidence lacking in U.S. claim that NSA thwarted attacks, on F&O, by ProPublica
Wikipedia page for Edward Snowden
United States National Security Agency site
Guardian newspaper page for Glen Greenwald
New York Times newspaper topic page on surveillance
EU to review Safe Harbour data privacy rule for US companies: Financial Times
South by Southwest conference site
Posted in Also tagged Edward Snowden, European Parliament, Safe Harbour agreement |
Privacy Tools: How to Safely Browse the Web
In the course of writing her book, Dragnet Nation, ProPublica reporter Julia Angwin tried various strategies to protect her privacy. In this blog post, she distills the lessons from her privacy experiments into useful tips for readers.
One of the easiest and simplest things you can do to protect your privacy is to be a smarter Web browser.
This is surprisingly difficult because most popular Web browsing software is set up to allow users to be tracked by default. The reason is simple economics — you don’t pay for Web browsing software, so the companies that make it have to find other ways to make money.
The most egregious example of this conflict came in 2008 when Microsoft’s advertising executives helped quash a plan by the engineers to build better privacy protections into the Internet Explorer 8 Web browser. Microsoft has since added additional protections — but they are not turned on by default. The situation is no better at Google, whose Chrome Web browser has “buried and discouraged” the “Do Not Track” button, and is pioneering the use of new tracking technology that cannot be blocked. And it’s worth noting that the other big Web browser maker, Mozilla Corp., receives 85 percent of its revenues (PDF) from its agreement to make Google the default search engine on Firefox.
Even worse, many of the tools that Web browsers offer to protect privacy are not effective. Tracking companies have refused to honor the “Do Not Track” button. And Google Chrome’s “Incognito” mode and Internet Explorer’s “InPrivate Browsing” mode won’t protect you from being tracked. Those settings simply prevent other people who use your Web browser after you to see where you’ve been online.
And so, in order to prevent the most common types of tracking, I ended up loading up my Web browser — Mozilla’s Firefox — with a bunch of extra software. It sounds like a lot of work, but most of this software can be installed in a few minutes. Here’s what I used:
I installed “HTTPS Everywhere,” created by the Electronic Frontier Foundation and the Tor Project. This tool forces your Web browser to use encrypted Internet connections to any website that will allow it. This prevents hackers — and the United States National Security Agency — from eavesdropping on your Internet connections.
I also installed Disconnect, a program created by former Google engineer Brian Kennish, which blocks advertisers and social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter, from tracking which websites you visit.
And finally I set my default search engine to be DuckDuckGo, a search engine that doesn’t store any of the information that is automatically transmitted by your computer — the IP address and other digital footprints — so DuckDuckGo has no way to link your search queries to you. That means DuckDuckGo won’t auto-complete your search queries based on your previous searches or based on your physical location, as Google does. So you’ll have to be a little smarter about your searches, and remember to bookmark the pages that you visit often, to save time.
After browsing with my ungainly setup for nearly a year, I found a Web browser that had all the features I wanted built in — called WhiteHat Aviator. It has built-in HTTPS Everywhere, it doesn’t retain or sell your online activity, and it uses Disconnect to block trackers from advertisers and social media companies. Its default search engine is DuckDuckGo.
It’s built by a computer security firm called WhiteHat Security, but it hasn’t been audited by any computer security experts yet, as far as I can tell. So use it at your own risk (and currently you can only use it on the Mac OSX operating system). But I’ve been using it for a few months, and after some bugginess in the beginning, I’ve started to enjoy the unusual feeling of having privacy as a default setting.
Re-published by F&O under Creative Commons licence
Posted in All, Current Affairs Also tagged DuckDuckGo, Firefox, Google, Microsoft, Mozilla, WhiteHat Aviator, Whitehat Security |
Evidence lacking in U.S. claim that NSA thwarted attacks
by Justin Elliott and Theodoric Meyer
Two weeks after Edward Snowden’s first revelations about sweeping government surveillance, United States President Obama shot back. “We know of at least 50 threats that have been averted because of this information not just in the United States, but, in some cases, threats here in Germany,” Obama said during a visit to Berlin in June. “So lives have been saved.”
In the months since, intelligence officials, media outlets, and members of Congress from both parties all repeated versions of the claim that U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) surveillance has stopped more than 50 terrorist attacks. The figure has become a key talking point in the debate around the spying programs.
“Fifty-four times this and the other program stopped and thwarted terrorist attacks both here and in Europe — saving real lives,” Rep. Mike Rogers, a Michigan Republican who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, said on the House floor in July, referring to programs authorized by a pair of post-9/11 laws. “This isn’t a game. This is real.”
But there’s no evidence that the oft-cited figure is accurate.
The NSA itself has been inconsistent on how many plots it has helped prevent and what role the surveillance programs played. The agency has often made hedged statements that avoid any sweeping assertions about attacks thwarted.
A chart declassified by the agency in July, for example, says that intelligence from the programs on 54 occasions “has contributed to the [U.S. government’s] understanding of terrorism activities and, in many cases, has enabled the disruption of potential terrorist events at home and abroad” — a much different claim than asserting that the programs have been responsible for thwarting 54 attacks.
NSA officials have mostly repeated versions of this wording.
When NSA chief Gen. Keith Alexander spoke at a Las Vegas security conference in July, for instance, he referred to “54 different terrorist-related activities,” 42 of which were plots and 12 of which were cases in which individuals provided “material support” to terrorism.
But the NSA has not always been so careful.
During Alexander’s speech in Las Vegas, a slide in an accompanying slideshow read simply “54 ATTACKS THWARTED.”
And in a recent letter to NSA employees, Alexander and John Inglis, the NSA’s deputy director, wrote that the agency has “contributed to keeping the U.S. and its allies safe from 54 terrorist plots.” (The letter was obtained by reporter Kevin Gosztola from a source with ties to the intelligence community. The NSA did not respond when asked to authenticate it.)
Asked for clarification of the surveillance programs’ record, the NSA declined to comment.
Earlier this month, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., pressed Alexander on the issue at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
“Would you agree that the 54 cases that keep getting cited by the administration were not all plots, and of the 54, only 13 had some nexus to the U.S.?” Leahy said at the hearing. “Would you agree with that, yes or no?”
“Yes,” Alexander replied, without elaborating.
It’s impossible to assess the role NSA surveillance played in the 54 cases because, while the agency has provided a full list to Congress, it remains classified.
Officials have openly discussed only a few of the cases (see below), and the agency has identified only one — involving a San Diego man convicted of sending $8,500 to Somalia to support the militant group Al Shabab — in which NSA surveillance played a dominant role.
The surveillance programs at issue fall into two categories: The collection of metadata on all American phone calls under the Patriot Act, and the snooping of electronic communications targeted at foreigners under a 2007 surveillance law. Alexander has said that surveillance authorized by the latter law provided “the initial tip” in roughly half of the 54 cases. The NSA has not released examples of such cases.
After reading the full classified list, Leahy concluded the NSA’s surveillance has some value but still questioned the agency’s figures.
“The American people are getting left with the inaccurate impression of the effectiveness of NSA programs.”
“We’ve heard over and over again the assertion that 54 terrorist plots were thwarted” by the two programs, Leahy told Alexander at the Judiciary Committee hearing this month. “That’s plainly wrong, but we still get it in letters to members of Congress, we get it in statements. These weren’t all plots and they weren’t all thwarted. The American people are getting left with the inaccurate impression of the effectiveness of NSA programs.”
The origins of the “54” figure go back to a House Intelligence Committee hearing on June 18, less than two weeks after the Guardian’s publication of the first story based on documents leaked by Snowden.
At that hearing, Alexander said, “The information gathered from these programs provided the U.S. government with critical leads to help prevent over 50 potential terrorist events in more than 20 countries around the world.” He didn’t specify what “events” meant. Pressed by Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., Alexander said the NSA would send a more detailed breakdown to the committee.
Speaking in Baltimore the next week, Alexander gave an exact figure: 54 cases “in which these programs contributed to our understanding, and in many cases, helped enable the disruption of terrorist plots in the U.S. and in over 20 countries throughout the world.”
But members of Congress have repeatedly ignored the distinctions and hedges.
The websites of the Republicans and Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee include pages titled, “54 Attacks in 20 Countries Thwarted By NSA Collection.”
And individual congressmen have frequently cited the figure in debates around NSA surveillance.
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., who is also on the House Intelligence Committee, released a statement in July referring to “54 terrorist plots that have been foiled by the NSA programs.” Asked about the figure, Westmoreland spokeswoman Leslie Shedd told ProPublica that “he was citing declassified information directly from the National Security Agency.”
Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio, issued a statement in July saying “the programs in question have thwarted 54 specific plots, many targeting Americans on American soil.”
Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., issued his own statement the next day: “The Amash amendment would have eliminated Section 215 of the Patriot Act which we know has thwarted 54 terrorist plots against the US (and counting).” (The amendment, which aimed to bar collection of Americans’ phone records, was narrowly defeated in the House.)
Mike Rogers, the Intelligence Committee chairman who credited the surveillance programs with thwarting 54 attacks on the House floor, repeated the claim to Bob Schieffer on CBS’ “Face the Nation” in July.”You just heard what he said, senator,” Schieffer said, turning to Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., an NSA critic. “Fifty-six terror plots here and abroad have been thwarted by the NSA program. So what’s wrong with it, then, if it’s managed to stop 56 terrorist attacks? That sounds like a pretty good record.” Asked about Rogers’ remarks, House Intelligence Committee spokeswoman Susan Phalen said in a statement: “In 54 specific cases provided by the NSA, the programs stopped actual plots or put terrorists in jail before they could effectuate further terrorist plotting. These programs save lives by disrupting attacks. Sometimes the information is found early in the planning, and sometimes very late in the planning. But in all those cases these people intended to kill innocent men and women through the use of terror.”
Rep. James Lankford, R-Okla., went even further in a town hall meeting in August. Responding to a question about the NSA vacuuming up Americans’ phone records, he said the program had “been used 54 times to be able to interrupt 54 different terrorist plots here in the United States that had originated from overseas in the past eight years. That’s documented.”
The same day, Rep. Jim Langevin, D-R.I., who sits on the Intelligence Committee, defended the NSA at a town hall meeting with constituents in Cranston, R.I. “I know that these programs have been directly effective in thwarting and derailing 54 terrorist attacks,” he said. Asked about Langevin’s comments, spokeswoman Meg Fraser said in an email, “The committee was given information from NSA on August 1 that clearly indicated they considered the programs in question to have been used to help disrupt 54 terrorist events. That is the information the Congressman relied on when characterizing the programs at his town hall.”
Wenstrup, Heck and Lankford did not respond to requests for comment.
The claims have also appeared in the media. ABC News, CNN and the New York Times have all repeated versions of the claim that more than 50 plots have been thwarted by the programs.
The NSA has publicly identified four of the 54 cases. They are:
The case of Basaaly Moalin, the San Diego man convicted of sending $8,500 to Somalia to support Al Shabab, the terrorist group that has taken responsibility for the attack on a Kenyan mall last month. The NSA has said its collection of American phone records allowed it to determine that a U.S. phone was in contact with a Shabab figure, which in turn led them to Moalin. NSA critic Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has argued that the NSA could have gotten a court order to get the phone records in question and that the case does not justify the bulk collection of Americans’ phone records.
The case of Najibullah Zazi, who in 2009 plotted to bomb the New York subway system. The NSA has said that an email it intercepted to an account of a known Al Qaeda figure in Pakistan allowed authorities to identify and ultimately capture Zazi. But an Associated Press examination of the case concluded that, again, the NSA’s account of the case did not show the need for the new warrantless powers at issue in the current debate. “Even before the surveillance laws of 2007 and 2008, the FBI had the authority to — and did, regularly — monitor email accounts linked to terrorists,” the AP reported.
A case involving David Coleman Headley, the Chicago man who helped plan the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack. Intelligence officials have said that NSA surveillance helped thwart a subsequent plot involving Headley to attack a Danish newspaper. A ProPublica examination of that episode concluded that it was a tip from British intelligence, rather than NSA surveillance, that led authorities to Headley.
A case involving a purported plot to attack the New York Stock Exchange. This convoluted episode involves three Americans, including Khalid Ouazzani of Kansas City, Mo., who pleaded guilty in 2010 to bank fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy to provide material support to Al Qaeda. An FBI official said in June that NSA surveillance helped in the case “to detect a nascent plotting to bomb the New York Stock Exchange.” But no one has been charged with crimes related to that or any other planned attack. (Ouazzani was sentenced to 14 years last month.) The Kansas City Star reported that one of the men in the case had “pulled together a short report with the kind of public information easily available from Google Earth, tourist maps and brochures” and that his contact in Yemen “tore up the report, ‘threw it in the street’ and never showed it to anyone.” Court records also suggest that the men in Yemen that Ouazzani sent over $20,000 to may have been scamming him and spent some of the money on personal expenses.
Published under Creative Commons licence
ProPublica series on surveillance
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Faith and Fear in Flushing made its debut on Feb. 16, 2005, the brainchild of two longtime friends and lifelong Met fans.
Greg Prince discovered the Mets when he was 6, during the magical summer of 1969. He is a Long Island-based writer, editor and communications consultant. Contact him here.
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Clarity »
« As in '69 and '86, We Have a Winner
by Greg Prince on 29 September 2006 9:10 am
Welcome to Flashback Friday, a weekly feature devoted to the 20th anniversary of the 1986 World Champion New York Mets.
Twenty years. Forty-three Fridays. This is one of them.
The regular season ended as it began, with the Mets conquering the Pirates. From Lenny Dykstra drawing a walk off Rick Reuschel on April 8 in Pittsburgh to Sid Fernandez striking out Bobby Bonilla on October 5 at Shea, it was everything Mr. Johnson in the dugout promised. It was dominance.
It was as close to perfect as one could hope to get. 162-0 being out of the question, 108-54 sounded just right. Two wins for every loss, over and over and over and over again.
There was an 18-1 stretch. And a 22-7. And a 14-4. And a 14-3. And, to finish things off, another 14-4.
The Mets led the National League in batting average, slugging average, walks, runs batted in and at-bats. That last one seems pretty remarkable considering how many bases on balls they received and how often they were able to skip the bottom of the ninth.
No N.L. pitching staff registered a lower ERA or walked fewer batters intentionally. Intuitive reasoning says our pitchers weren’t afraid of any hitters.
The phrase “career year” was in vogue in the mid-’80s. The Mets lost to the Cubs in ’84 because Ryne Sandberg enjoyed a career year. The Mets lost to the Cards in ’85 because Tommy Herr put up a career year. In ’86, no single Met could claim a career year on the level those theretofore middling infielders achieved, but none had to. As a franchise, the 1986 Mets had a career year.
So it was a very definitive moment when El Sid retired Bobby Bo to seal the 108th win. Even the final score was absolutely apropos: 9-0. That’s the score they assign forfeits, and as good as the Mets were 20 years ago, it felt like the National League flat out surrendered to their majesty. Laid down their bats, their gloves, their will to compete.
108-54 was something to behold on October 5. And you know what it meant on October 8, the night the Mets faced the Western Division champion Astros in the first game of the 1986 National League Championship Series?
Not a damn thing.
For as much as we were sure it was our year, Astros fans were certain of the same thing. In Boston, Red Sox fans had that same feeling. In Anaheim and environs, Angel acolytes would have said, no, we’re the ones.
Only one of us four could be right. If it wasn’t us, what would those 108 wins mean? What if we didn’t win the World Series? Geez, what if we didn’t get past those nasty Astro pitchers? How would we remember 1986? Would Mookie Wilson conjure vague images of a speedy fellow who didn’t get on base enough to merit batting leadoff? Would Jesse Orosco be recalled as a reliever whose last solid season was 1984? Ray Knight had a good April, didn’t he? And who was that runt who played in the outfield sometimes…Benny, Kenny, Lenny…?
Yeah, it was a spectacular season. But its coda — the postseason — would determine its meaning. On October 5, 1986, we could be happy. But we couldn’t be satisfied. You don’t wait all your life for a season like that to end it with a division title. In 1986, the Mets had to…had to win the World Series, just like in 1969.
And you know what? So do you.
You have to win the 1986 World Series. And the 1969 World Series. Right now.
What the hell am I talking about? I’m talking about a chance for you to set an example for your 2006 New York Mets. I’m talking about an opportunity to be victorious in the name of Mookie and Jesse and Sugar Ray and Lenny as well as Tommie and Cleon and Kooz and Little Al Weis.
With an assist from A&E Home Video, we have a copy of The New York Mets Vintage World Series Films DVD. It is a restored, digital rendering of the official MLB 1969 and 1986 Fall Classic retrospectives. These are the flicks that used to fill the rain delays on Channel 9 and SportsChannel. You’ve seen them. You’re dying to see them again.
I’ve just seen them again. They’re gorgeous in every sense of the word. Vin Scully narrates ’86, Curt Gowdy ’69. The ’86er, to tell you the truth, is a bit cheesy with the oversized graphics and the synth score (if you’re a fan of the UK version of The Office, it will remind you of the “Training” episode), but why quibble? It’s the 1986 World Series. And the ’69er is a remarkable curio of that strange space in time that the 1969 Mets occupy, that moment when the past was inevitably meeting the present (watch for tons of product placement; it’s adorable).
You’ll want this disc in your baseball library. And I want you to have it. You may have seen other blogs give this or other A&E releases away. They all have their own rules, some easier than others. I want you to have this so bad, I’m going to make it very simple.
I’m going to administer an open-blog quiz. It will be a breeze for you, the faithful Flashback Friday reader. Every answer is sitting ripe for the plucking in a Flashback Friday entry from this year. All you have to do to find them — if you haven’t committed them to memory — is look them up. And all you have to do to find previous Flashbacks is go to the first paragraph of each post and click.
What’s that? That sounds like hard work? Dude, we’re talking about 1969 and 1986! The least you can do for your two championships to date is a little clicking and scrolling and maybe some rereading. But if you are feeling put out, let me sweeten the pot. I will include, at my own personal expense, a copy of the current smash CD, Eye to the Telescope by British singing sensation KT Tunstall. It features her catchy hit single “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree”. Its connection to 1986? While the Mets vamped on 1986 reunion night, killing time between the ceremonies and the game, they played the video for this song on DiamondVision.
Also, Stephanie and I each recently bought the CD on the very same day and she opened hers first and I’m too lazy to return mine. Hence, you’re the beneficiary of our miscommunication and my sloth.
The rules: Twenty years, twenty questions. First to e-mail me (faithandfear@gmail.com) twenty correct answers wins. Should nobody come through with a 1969 regular season win total score of 100 by 11:59 PM, Thursday October 5, the first entry containing the most correct answers of all received will be declared the winner. All judges’ decisions are final. (I don’t know what that last part means, I just wanted to make it sound official.)
Enough talk. Win the World Series.
1. What did my mother refer to Danny Heep as?
2. Where did Joel and I go for lunch when Opening Day II was rained out?
3. What did Mr. Jarvis at the hobby shop trade Geoff Hayton for a ball autographed by the ’86 Mets?
4. Who didn’t expect her husband to take his shoes off after a game?
5. What was the theme of the 1986 Old Timers Day?
6. When the ticker-tape parade crowd began booing Mayor Koch, who did he start to introduce?
7. What distracted Larry Russo from witnessing Ray Knight’s walkoff hit off of Tim Burke?
8. Who referred to Keith Hernandez as “dark, reflective, analytical, urban”?
9. What movie did Fred and I want to see instead of Stand By Me?
10. To what tune did I compose my own idiotic Super Bowl XXI song parody, “Giant Steps to Pasadena”?
11. What pitcher’s name did I invoke to shut up Danny the Yankee fan in Tampa?
12. Who spiked Jason’s foot in St. Petersburg?
13. What was Dwight Gooden’s ERA in the 50 starts that preceded his first loss of 1986?
14. In what 2006 film does the main character declare, “I hate the Mets”?
15. By what nickname did I refer to Rick Aguilera in my journal entry of July 23, 1986?
16. What brand of gasoline did Gary Carter endorse?
17. Why did my friend Chuck tell me he rooted for the Mets?
18. What was the Newsday back page headline that captured the essence of the age in June of ’86?
19. What was the front page headline of El Diario on September 18, 1986?
20. Which six seasons attempted to haunt me on one particular Friday?
EDITOR’S NOTE: The contest ended early Friday afternoon, 9/29, when we received the winning entry. The idenity of the winner and the answers are here. Please do not send in your answers, but feel free to play along at home for fun.
Incidentally, all contestants and non-contestants remain eligible to buy a shirt.
4 comments - (Comments closed) | | Print This Post | 1986 Mets, Flashback Friday
4 comments to Take My Breath Away
You need to close an italic in that last link.
Picky McPickyson
I can testify that, whatever the merits of the rest of the album, that one song is excellent.
Regarding Rick Aguilera, I think it's worth noting that the former Met righty and the slithering singing sensation who shares the same last name have never be seen together. Not once. Think about that.
While we're at it, we haven't seen you, Mike Fitzgerald and Kaz Matsui take too many meals together, Mr. First At-Bat In The Big Leagues Home Run.
FROM OUR BASEBALL LIBRARY
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Volume I of The Happiest Recap: 50+ Years of the New York Mets As Told in 500+ Amazin' Wins by Greg Prince is available in print and for Kindle on Amazon.
Faith and Fear in Flushing: An Intense Personal History by Greg Prince (foreword by Jason Fry), is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other online booksellers.
Land of 10,000 Runs
The Mets That Didn’t Bark
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"My Writing Process" Blog Hop
I was tagged for this post by writer pal Joe Iriarte. Joe's writing has appeared in Strange Horizons and Stupefying Stories, and he is currently working on a magical realism YA novel. Check out his blog, and his stories! Now, my answers:
1) What are you working on?
Any time prior to the past couple months, my answer would have been "short stories, always, forever." But after I moved to Portland, I got an intense itch (I should probably see a doctor about this) to polish up my novel, which right now is called Entity, but I'm totally changing it because that title sucks. It's an SF novel set in the present day about a schizophrenic stock girl at a Walmart analogue in southwestern Pennsylvania who fights in a proxy war between two alien forces... or does she? It's weird, but also rather familiar, since it's anchored in the real world. Some of it is very familiar to me! (Well, the Walmart part, and the southwestern PA part. Everything else is fiction. Or is it???)
I first wrote Entity in 2006-07 in an avalanche of productivity. I wrote it in something like two months, and didn't really edit it afterwards, because I hate editing. No seriously, I hate editing. It's why I'm such a slow writer, I like to get things right the first time. But that wasn't going to happen with this novel (I don't think it can happen with any novel), and because I believe in the story so much, I'm making the sacrifice of spending a few months editing so it can truly shine. At least I know that if it fails to get published this time around, it's not because of weak writing.
2) How does your work differ from others of its genre?
As far as Entity goes, I'm not sure what genre it fits neatly into, and I'm not exactly stoked about that. Is it YA (or dare I say "New Adult") lit with a side of science fiction? Soft SF? I don't know, guys, I just wrote the thing, figuring out the genre is for publishers. I will say that there aren't many books quite like it, though Daryl Gregory has mined some similar ground recently. I also take pride in having written a novel about a mentally ill working-class Appalachian heroine. Not enough of those in the world.
Short story-wise, my stuff tends to be more generally of the standard SF type, although I still do write quite a few short stories essentially based in reality. Reality with a twist. Hey, maybe that's my genre!
3) Why do you write what you do?
Kicks, man, kicks! No but seriously, I write the books/stories that I want to read, which tend to be stories about people similar to people I know, dealing with circumstances that real people never would. I really enjoy blending speculative fiction and the present-day world. The idea of strange forces lurking right under the surface of reality is very appealing to me. Even for all his faults, Philip K. Dick is still my favorite writer, and I think that's because even though his novels were set in "the future," they were really about ordinary people dealing with extraordinary circumstances. There were no chosen ones, just workaday schlubs trying to get by who get caught up in crazy stories involving telepathic slime molds or whatnot. I don't think there are enough truly ordinary protagonists in speculative fiction. Bring on the mundanes!
Also, while I don't think my writing is explicitly political, I'm basically a giant lefty and I have to think that comes out somewhere. Not in every story, but in enough of them. A lot of my stories involve working-class protagonists, and resistance is an ongoing theme, whether resistance to mega-corporations or invading alien forces or even just resistance to being stuck in a small town with no clear way out.
4) How does your writing process work?
For short stories: I get an idea. I turn that idea around slowly, step by step, inch by inch. Go on a lot of long walks or bike rides. Then write the whole thing basically in one sitting after mind-plotting it out to almost the very letter. I don't outline on paper. Ever. I also can't start a story without a perfect first line. I get most of those in the shower. Don't ask me why.
For novels: Well, I only have the one so it's hard to tell what my "novel writing process" is. I will say that Em's character and the idea for an alien proxy war fought at a big-box store came to me totally separate. (The second part arrived, naturally enough, when I was working at Walmart after college.) I think at one point I believed the concept could have fit into the short form but after I made the choice to hitch the story to a complex character, that was all over. The process of turning over the story multiple times still held, I just mind-plotted it in chunks instead of as a solid unit. Virtually all of it was written between the hours of ten p.m. and one a.m., as this time of day is my creative apex. After I finished I sent it to a few agents but didn't edit it, and finally it went into a trunk for like five years (during most of which I wasn't writing at all) until I became re-obsessed with the story and dusted off the mothballs. And here we are.
I'm turning over the idea for my next novel and unfortunately it looks like it will be a multi-POV affair so I may have to do something that scares the hell out of me. I may have to outline.
M. Darusha Wehm is a three-time Parsec Award finalist and author of the SF novels Beautiful Red, Self Made, Act of Will and The Beauty of Our Weapons. She is also the founder and editor of Plan B Magazine which focusses on short mystery and crime fiction.
Her short fiction has appeared in many venues, including Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine, Toasted Cake and Escape Pod. Her novelette Fire. Escape. was shortlisted for a 2012 Sir Julius Vogel Award.
Born and raised in Canada, she currently lives in Wellington, New Zealand after sailing down the west coast of the Americas and across the Pacific Ocean with her partner, Steven, on their sailboat, Scream.
Read her blog here!
Posted by Erica L. Satifka at 12:32 AM 4 comments: Links to this post
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An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical
10th September 2018 to 15th September 2018
Location: Kings Theatre
Tickets: £16.00 to £54.50 Get Tickets
The brand new musical based on the 1982 hit film will be debuting at Glasgow’s Kings Theatre in September 2018.
This new musical will simply sweep you off your feet! See at the Kings Theatre Glasgow from the 10th to 15th September 2018. Let Love Lift You Up where you belong!
Based on true events, An Officer and a Gentleman The Musical follows the Oscar-winning film starring Richard Gere. Its feel-good soundtrack includes the hit song from the movie Up Where We Belong along with many 80s classic anthems including Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Livin’ On A Prayer, Heart of Glass, Material Girl, Don’t Cry Out Loud, I Was Made for Lovin’ You, and The Final Countdown.
Zack Mayo is in training to become a US Navy Pilot. When he rolls into boot camp with a bit too much of a swagger, drill Sergeant Foley doesn’t make life easy for him. When he falls for local girl Paula Pokrifki and tragedy befalls his friend and fellow candidate, Zack realises the importance of love and friendship and finds the courage to be himself and win the heart of the woman he loves. It’s only then he can truly become an Officer and a Gentleman.
With direction by Nikolai Foster, choreography by Kate Prince and musical supervision by Tony Award-winning Sarah Travis.
This inspiring, breathtakingly romantic musical celebrates triumph over adversity and features one of the most iconic romantic scenes ever portrayed on screen.
Cast includes West End favourites Jonny Fines (Annie), Ray Shell (Starlight Express), and Olivier Award nominee Emma Williams (Half A Sixpence).
Please be advised An Officer and a Gentleman contains themes of an adult nature and strong language.
Don’t miss your chance to see it in Glasgow.
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Since 2010, Go Brazil has specialised in importing and distributing wines of Brazilian origin and now, in our ninth year of trading, we continue to be the only UK company to do so. Our portfolio showcases the best of modern Brazilian wine-making, with a wide range of wine styles, producers and regions represented. We are an independent company and, importantly, do not seek to intervene in or influence the type of wines made by our suppliers.
Based in Ipswich, Suffolk, our wines and spirits from Brazil are held at a bonded warehouse close to London, from where we deliver to customers in the South East, East Anglia and the rest of the UK. For trade enquiries, please email: info@gobrazilwines.com . If you are a private customer wishing to purchase, please click here.
Why Brazil?
Well, first up, we love the country and above all, the warmth and enthusiasm of its people. Second, we have a passion for wine and want to bring the best Brazilian wine to UK shores. And thirdly, we think it is good to focus on just one specific country.
Our Brazilian wine-related services include:
– Hosting wine tastings for clubs, societies, companies, private parties and other groups
– Supply weddings, corporate events and themed parties
– Supply the UK and European wine trade
– Supply direct to UK consumers >Shop here
– Tours of the key Brazilian wineries and wine-producing regions
We also work in a non-wine related area:
– Providing sales, marketing and consultancy services to UK and European companies who wish to do business in Brazil and vice-versa
So does Brazil really produce wine ?
The answer to the question we are most often asked is, simply, yes. Brazil’s commercial wine-making heritage can be traced back nearly 150 years, to when the first of many Italian emigrants arrived in the south of the country and started putting their existing wine-making skills to good use.
The modern Brazilian wine industry still retains an Italian feel, not least because many of the descendants of those original settlers are involved in wine-making, and sometimes within wineries which still bear their family name.
Now, as we approach 2020, Brazil is enjoying a growing reputation for fine wines, many of which have won international awards. The 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Games in Rio gave the category a welcome boost, with the result that several UK supermarkets and a host of independent merchants started to stock Brazilian wines.
Go Brazil has certainly seen an increase in consumers’ awareness and acceptance of Brazilian wine and we anticipate this will grow further.
Brazil’s a tropical country – surely it isn’t possible to grow grapes there?
Actually, yes it is! Around 90% of Brazil’s vineyards are situated in the far south of the country. The region, which borders both Argentina and Uruguay, comprises the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. Although technically sub-tropical, it is relatively cool compared with the rest of the country, with fog, frosts and rain all commonplace. Indeed, snow is a regular visitor to the uplands of Santa Catarina, the coldest state, where the highest peak reaches 1827m (>6000’)!
These temperate conditions favour the production of sparkling wine – for which Brazil has a growing reputation – but both red and white grapes intended for the production of still wines benefit from a long growing season and generally hot summers.
One oddity is the vineyards of northeast Brazil, situated alongside the banks of the River São Francisco on the border of the states of Pernambuco and Bahia: here, due to the latitude below the Equator being just 8-9°, there are no seasons and thanks to constant irrigation the vines produce at least two harvests per year! Read more here.
Go Brazil Wines and Spirits – View our current range of wines from Brazil here.
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Dr. Bob Beck and U.S Patent 5,188,738
Posted on Saturday, 14 September 2013 by Cuzy in Health, Views: 6.4K
Blood PurifierA gentleman by the name of Dr. Bob Beck has built a device based on the patents to perform as follows: The Dr. Bob Beck designed blood electrifier is a relatively simple mutivibrator circuit that produces an AC (alternating current) square wave output at 3.92 Hz (which is 1/2 of the Shumann frequency of 7.8 Hz, but Beck said that any frequency between 0.67 - 4 Hz will work). The variable amplitude of the voltage applied and the choice of electrode materials allow for a small current in the 50-100 microampere range to flow in both the Ulnar and Radial arteries located on underside of the wrists. Mr. Beck promoted and stood behind SOTA instruments.(1) A health breakthrough. The U.S Patent(2) filed on February 25, 1993 reads as follows:
"A new alternating current process and system for treatment of blood and/or other body fluids and/or synthetic fluids from a donor to a recipient or storage receptacle or in a recycling system using novel electrically conductive treatment vessels for treating blood and/or other body fluids and/or synthetic fluids with electric field forces of appropriate electric field strength to provide electric current flow through the blood or other body fluids at a magnitude that is biologically compatible but is sufficient to render the bacteria, virus, parasites and/or fungus ineffective to infect or affect normally healthy cells while maintaining the biological usefulness of the blood or other fluids. For this purpose low voltage alternating current electric potentials are applied to the treatment vessel which are of the order of from about 0.2 to 12 volts and produce current flow densities in the blood or other fluids of from one microampere per square millimeter of electrode area exposed to the fluid being treated to about two milliamperes per square millimeter."
Dr. Bob Beck Dr. Robert C. Beck, was a physicist, holding a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Southern California who at age 77, died at 11:40 PM, June 23 2002 as a result of a fall that resulted in a head injury, later resulting in cardiac arrest. He also was previously a Professor at the University of California. He began his professional life as a photo-journalist and owned a photography studio in Hollywood. He was a researcher and inventor who liked to improve upon other people's inventions. His version of the Brain Tuner has been used successfully to alleviate insomnia, depression, anxiety and addictions. He is also the inventor of the strobe flash light. He has been nominated by a Mexican hospital for the Nobel Prize for his research in developing an Aids cure. He believed that he would not receive the prize, which he did not, because he was not a "team player" in the organized health field.
Leading Edge Newspaper publishers Kenneth and Dee Burke interviewed Bob Beck at the Global Sciences Congress in Denver, Colorado, where cutting-edge, innovative information continues to be presented year after year.(3)
Tools For Healing toolsforhealing.com
United States Patent Office Website. uspto.gov
The bob beck interview health-science-spirit.com
5 Amazing Facts About Food
Better Understanding Beta-Glucan
Health Risks of GMOs
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You are here: Home Africa Uganda
The Republic of Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. The UK placed the territory under a charter of the Imperial British East Africa Company in 1888, and much of�it become a British protectorate in 1894. Several�adjoining areas were subsequently added, the country�reaching its current extent in 1914 when it became the Protectorate of Uganda. Independence was granted in 1962. In 1963, the country adopted a constitution similar to that of an elected monarchy. However, in 1967 it adopted a republican constitution�and became�the Republic of Uganda.
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
There is a very stable community of about 500 Abayudaya Jews in Uganda, the legacy of a local king who about 100 years ago decided to embrace Judaism instead of Christianity during the British colonialization efforts. Something to look into, these folks are more "forgotten" than the Jews of Ethiopia (though they really aren't as persecuted). Source: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , London, UK This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it [February 2004]
Abayudaya
Tufts Journal: Abayudaya
History of a Jewish settlement in Uganda around 1900 . [February 2007]
1 Kakungulu Hill.
2 KOYA
3 MBALE:
4 Namanyonyi Village
5 Nangolo Village
6 NYABYEYA: formerly Masindi
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EFP and Sydney Film Festival Name Sinéad O'Shea in Top Ten European Women Filmmakers to Watch 2018
Irish director Sinéad O’Shea has been included as one of ten outstanding European women filmmakers for the third edition of Europe! Voices of Women in Film.
A partnership between European Film Promotion (EFP) and the Sydney Film Festival, the initiative presents an exciting range of works from ten emerging female directors to watch.
O’Shea was selected for her IFTA nominated documentary - ‘A Mother Brings Her Son To Be Shot.’
Europe! Voices of Women in Film will be presented in conjunction with Screen International and EFP from 6th – 17th June, where O’Shea’s documentary will be screened alongside titles from nine other filmmakers from around the world. The programme will also discuss the challenges facing women in the film industry, the journey towards inclusivity and parity, and the current state of gender diversity.
Speaking about the importance of the programme, Screen International Film Critic, Sarah Ward said:
“Still, just 11% of the year’s 250 top-grossing movies were helmed by female directors. That’s an increase from 7% in 2016- and includes one of 2017’s 10 biggest box office earners, Patty Jenkin’s Wonder Woman – but it’s only the beginning of the journey towards inclusivity and parity.”
Filmed over the course of five years, ‘A Mother Brings Her Son To Be Shot’ tells the story of a mother and her two sons facing adversity in post-conflict society in Northern Ireland.
One night Majella O'Donnell took her teenage son Philly to be shot in both legs. Majella, Philly and his shooters all live within an extraordinary community in Derry, Northern Ireland. The "Troubles" officially ended in 1998 but this community is still at war. They do not accept the government or police. All this happens within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. How do you bring your son to be shot? What happens afterwards? How does family life continue? How does a community respond? When do wars really end?
‘A Mother Brings Her Son to Be Shot’ is produced by Ailish Bracken and Sinead O’Shea for Blinder Films, with co-producer Figs Jackman for Spring Films. Joshua Oppenheimer, André Singer, and Katie Holly served as executive producers and the film was financed by the Irish Film Board. The feature was filmed over the course of five years by Richard Kendrick, Ross McDonnell, Enda O’Dowd, Paddy Stevenson, and Sinéad O’Shea.
Sinéad O’Shea is a filmmaker and journalist. She has made films and reports for the BBC, Al Jazeera English, The Guardian, RTE and The Irish Times.
Click here for more information about Europe! Voices of Women in Film
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Catholics and the Military in the Age of Catholic Kingdoms (500 - 700 A.D.)
The Wars of Catholic Spain
---Battles against the Kings of France
---Battles against the Byzantine Empire
---The Civil Wars of Catholic Spain
The Wars of Catholic England
---Against Britons
---Against Barbarians
---Against the Mercians
---Battle between Egfrid and the Mercians
The Wars of Catholic France
---Clovis I against the Arian Kings of France
---Clovis' Sons against the Arian Kings of France and Spain
---Clothar's Wicked Army against the Saxons
---The Civil War between Clothar and his son
---Against the Huns
---Against the Lombards
---Against the Saxons
---The Civil War between Chilperic and his brother
The Wars of Catholic Italy
---The Italian Byzantines against the Pagan Lombards
---The Catholic Lombards against the Italian Byzantines
---The Civil War between Perctarit and his Brother
---The Rebellion of the Duke of Trent
The Wars of the Byzantine Empire
---Against the Vandals
---Against the Ostrogoths
---Battles against the Spanish Kings
---Against the Persians
---Against the Muslims (Loss of Jerusalem)
---Against the Muslims (Loss of Alexandria)
---Against the Muslims (Loss of Libya, Carthage, and Morocco)
The Late Fathers on Just War
---Ferrandus the Deacon's Seven Rules for a Commander of Soldiers
---St. Gregory of Tours on Civil Wars
---Pope St. Gregory the Great on Just War
---St. Isidore of Seville on Just War
---The Sixth Ecumenical Council on War
Battles against the Kings of France
“[King Recarred] also waged war gloriously against hostile peoples with the aid of the faith which he had accepted. As the Franks were overrunning Gaul with about sixty thousand soldiers, he sent his general Claudius against them and triumphed with a glorious success. No greater or similar victory of the Goths in war ever took place in Spain. For many thousands of the enemy were killed and captured, and the remaining part of the army was put to flight contrary to its expectations and, with the Goths following closely behind, it was cut down up to the boundaries of its kingdom. He also frequently sent forces in opposition to the arrogant deeds of the Romans and the incursions of the Vascones, in such a way that he seems not so much to have waged wars as rather to have trained his people, as it were, in the sport of wrestling for the sake of utility.” (St. Isidore's History of the Goths Paragraph 54)
Battles against the Byzantine Empire
“In the [year 621 A.D.], the tenth year of Heraclius' rule, the most glorious Suinthila by divine favor took up the scepters of royal power. Under King Sisebut he had obtained the post of general, conquered some Roman forts, and defeated the Ruccones. But after he had ascended to the summit of royal dignity, he joined battle and took the remaining cities which Roman troops held in Spain, and with wondrous good fortune won increased glory for his triumph in comparison with the other kings. He [was the] first [to] acquire...absolute rule over the whole of Spain...a thing accomplished by none of the previous rulers.” (St. Isidore's History of the Goths Paragraph 62. See also paragraphs 54, 59 and 61.)
The Civil Wars of Catholic Spain
“[King Suinthila] also led an expedition aimed against the raids of the Vascones who were attacking the province of Tarraco; these mountain-roaming peoples were so struck by dread at his coming that, as if recognizing the rights due to him, they quickly gave up their weapons, stretched out their hands in entreaty, and as suppliants bent their necks before him; they then gave hostages and founded the city of Olite with income from the Goths and their own toil, promising to obey his rule and authority and to perform whatever would be commanded them.” (St. Isidore's History of the Goths Paragraph 63. See also Paragraphs 54, 59, 61, 62, and 91.)
Against the Britons
“Caedwalla, king of the Britons, rebelled against [King Edwin], being supported by the vigorous Penda, of the royal race of the Mercians, who from that time governed that nation for twenty-two years with varying success. A great battle being fought in the plain that is called Haethfelth, Edwin was killed on the 12th of October, in the year of our Lord 633, being then forty-eight years of age, and all his army was either slain or dispersed.” (St. Bede's Church History Book 2 Chapter 20)
Against Barbarians
“Oswald, being about to engage in this battle, erected the symbol of the Holy Cross, and knelt down and prayed to God that he would send help from Heaven to his worshippers in their sore need. Then, we are told, that the cross being made in haste, and the hole dug in which it was to be set up, the king himself, in the ardour of his faith, laid hold of it and held it upright with both his hands, till the earth was heaped up by the soldiers and it was fixed. Thereupon, uplifting his voice, he cried to his whole army, 'Let us all kneel, and together beseech the true and living God Almighty in His mercy to defend us from the proud and cruel enemy; for He knows that we have undertaken a just war for the safety of our nation.' All did as he had commanded, and accordingly advancing towards the enemy with the first dawn of day, they obtained the victory, as their faith deserved.” (St. Bede's Church History Book 3 Chapter 2)
Against the Mercians
“[One day] it happened that the nation of the Mercians, under King Penda, made war on the East Angles; who finding themselves no match for their enemy, entreated [the monk] Sigbert to go with them to battle, to encourage the soldiers. He was unwilling and refused, upon which they drew him against his will out of the monastery, and carried him to the army, hoping that the soldiers would be less afraid and less disposed to flee in the presence of one who had formerly been an active and distinguished commander. But he, still mindful of his profession, surrounded, as he was, by a royal army, would carry nothing in his hand but a wand, and was killed with King Ecgric; and the pagans pressing on, all their army was either slaughtered or dispersed.” (St. Bede's Church History Book 3 Chapters 18, 24)
Battle between Egfrid and the Mercians
“In the ninth year of the reign of King Egfrid, a great battle was fought between him and Ethelred, king of the Mercians...and Aelfwine, brother to King Egfrid, was slain... There was now reason to expect a more bloody war, and more lasting enmity between those kings and their fierce nations; but Theodore, the bishop, beloved of God, relying on the Divine aid, by his wholesome admonitions wholly extinguished the dangerous fire that was breaking out; so that the kings and their people on both sides were appeased, and no man was put to death, but only the due mulct paid to the king who was the avenger for the death of his brother; and this peace continued long after between those kings and between their kingdoms.” (St. Bede's Church History Book 4 Chapters 21-22)
Clovis I against the Arian Kings of France
“The king himself sent envoys to the blessed church...[and] said: 'If thou, O Lord, art my helper, and hast determined to surrender this unbelieving nation, always striving against thee, into my hands, consent to reveal it propitiously at the entrance to the church of St. Martin, so that I may know that thou wilt deign to be favorable to thy servant.' Clovis' servants went on their way...and when they were about to enter the holy church, the first singer, without any pre-arrangement, sang this response: 'Thou hast girded me, O Lord, with strength unto the battle; thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me...' On hearing this singing they thanked the Lord, and paying their vow to the blessed confessor they joyfully made their report to the king. ... And when the Goths had fled as was their custom, king Clovis won the victory by God's aid.” (St. Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks Book 2 Chapters 32-38)
Clovis' Sons against the Arian Kings of France and Spain
“[T]he blessed abbot Avitus, a great priest of that time, said to [King Chlodomer]: 'If,' said he, 'you would look to God and amend your counsel so as not to allow [your prisoners] to be killed, God will be with you and you shall go and win the victory; but if you kill them you shall be surrendered yourself into the hands of your enemies and shall perish in the same way... But [King Chlodemer] despised listening to this counsel... and [when he] fell in the midst of his enemies [they cut] off his head and [set] it on a pike [and] raised it aloft. The Franks saw this and perceived that [their king] was dead, and rallying, they put [the enemy] to flight and crushed the Burgundians and reduced their country to subjection, and [Chlodomer's brother] immediately married [Chlodomer's] wife.” (St. Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks Book 3 Chapter 6-7, 10)
“[T]he Thuringi prepared stratagems against the coming of the Franks. For they dug pits in the plain where the fight was to take place, and covering the openings with thick turf they made it seem a level plain. So when they began to fight, many of the Frankish horsemen fell into these pits and it was a great obstacle to them, but when this stratagem was perceived they began to be on their guard. When finally the Thuringi saw that they were being fiercely cut to pieces and when their king Hermenfred had taken to flight, they turned their backs and came to the stream Unstrut. And there such a slaughter of the Thuringi took place that the bed of the stream was filled with heaps of corpses, and the Franks crossed upon them as if on a bridge to the further shore. The victory being won they took possession of that country and brought it under their control.” (ibid.)
“[King Childebert] set off for Spain, for the sake of his sister Clotild. She was being very badly treated by her husband Amalaric on account of her Catholic faith. Several times when she was on her way to church he had dung and other filth thrown over her. Finally he struck her with such violence that she sent to her brother a towel stained with her own blood. He was greatly moved and set off immediately for Spain. When Amalaric heard of this he had boat launched and made ready his escape. Just as Childebert was arriving, Amalaric...rushed back into the city to collect [some of his money]...[but] a soldier threw a javelin at him and wounded him mortally. He fell to the ground and died on the spot.” (ibid. As translated by Colchester, U.K.: Penguin Books, 1974.)
Clothar's Wicked Army against the Saxons
“[W]hen Clothar after Theodovald's death had received the kingdom of Francia...he heard from his people that the Saxons...were rebelling against him... Aroused by the reports he hastened toward their country, and when he was near their boundary the Saxons sent legates to him saying: 'We are not treating you contemptuously, and we do not refuse to pay what we have usually paid to your brothers and nephews, and we will grant even more if you ask for it. We ask for only one thing, that there be peace so that your army and our people shall not come into conflict.' King Clothar heard this and [agreed]. ... Then [his men] were enraged at king Clothar and rushed upon him and tore his tent in pieces and overwhelmed him with abuse and dragged him about violently and wished to kill him if he would not go [to war] with them. Upon this Clothar went with them though unwillingly. And they began the battle and were slaughtered in great numbers by their adversaries and so great a multitude from both armies perished that it was impossible to estimate or count them. Then Clothar in great confusion asked for peace, saying that it was not of his own will that he had come against them. And having obtained peace he returned home.” (St. Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks Book 4 Chapter 14)
The Civil War between Clothar and his son
“Chramnus presented himself before his father, but later he proved disloyal. And when he saw he could not escape punishment he fled to Brittany... Now king Clothar was raging against Chramnus and marched with army into Brittany against him. Nor was Chramnus afraid to come out against his father. ... When morning came they set their armies in motion and hastened to the conflict. And king Clothar was marching like a new David to fight against Absalom his son crying aloud and saying: 'Look down Lord, from heaven and judge my cause since I suffer wicked outrage from my son; look down, Lord, and judge justly, and give that judgment that thou once gavest between Absalom and his father.' ... [And Chramnus] was overwhelmed by his father's soldiers and was captured and bound fast. This news was taken to king Clothar and he gave orders to burn Chramnus with fire together with his wife and daughters.” (St. Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks Book 4 Chapter 20)
Against the Huns
“The Huns were again endeavoring to make an entrance into the Gauls. Sigibert marched against them with his army, leading a great number of brave men. And when they were about to fight, the Huns, who were versed in magic arts, caused false appearances of various sorts to come before them and defeated them decisively. Sigibert's army fled, but he himself was taken by the Huns and would have remained a prisoner if he had not overcome by his skill in making presents the men whom he could not conquer in battle. He was a man of fine appearance and good address He gave gifts and entered into an agreement with their king that all the days of their lives they should fight no battles with one another. And this incident is rightly believed to be more to his credit than otherwise. The king of the Huns also gave many gifts to king Sigibert.” (St. Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks Book 4 Chapter 29)
Against the Lombards
“Albin, king of the Lombards, who had married Chlotsinda, daughter of king Clothar, abandoned his country and set out for Italy with all the Lombard people. ... They entered the country and spent seven years chiefly in wandering through it, despoiling the churches, killing the bishops, and bringing the land under their control. ... When the Lombards made a second inroad into [France]...[the general] Mummulus set his army in motion...surrounded the Lombards with his army...and attacked them in pathless woods, and killing many took a number of captives whom he sent to the king.” (St. Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks Book 4 Chapters 41-44. See also Paul the Deacon's History of the Lombards Book 3 Chapter 1-4, 8)
Against the Saxons
“Then the Saxons, who had entered Italy with the Lombards, made a second expedition into the Gauls... [But] Mummolus met them and said: 'You shall not cross this torrent. Behold, you have devastated the land of my lord the king, you have gathered the crops, plundered the herds, burned the houses, cut down the olive groves and vineyards. You shall not go up unless you first satisfy those whom you have left in want; otherwise you shall not escape my hands, but I shall draw my sword against you and your wives and little ones and avenge the wrong done to my lord king Gunthram.' Then they were very much afraid and gave many thousand pieces of coined gold as a ransom, and were allowed to cross, and thus they came to Clermont.” (St. Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks Book 4 Chapter 42. See also Paul the Deacon's History of the Lombards Book 3 Chapter 5-7)
The Civil War between Chilperic and his brother
“[King Chilperic said:] 'My brother [King Guntram] has proven guilty in many particulars. For if my son Childebert would seek the path of reason, he would know at once that it was by my brother's connivance that his father was killed.' ... [Soon] Chilperic set the army of his kingdom in motion...burning and wasting all. ... And such marauding was done there as was never heard of in old times, so that no house nor vineyard nor tree was left, but they cut, burned, and subdued all. Moreover they carried the sacred utensils from the churches and burned the churches with fire. But king Guntram went with an army against his brother, placing all his hope in the judgment of God. And one evening he sent his army and destroyed a great part of his brother's army. In the morning legates went to and fro and they made peace, promising one another that each would pay for what he had done beyond the limit of the law whatever the bishops and leaders of the people should decide. And so they parted peaceably.” (St. Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks Book 6 Chapter 31)
“[B]ehold here are the comrades of my journey who were sent to the emperor lying slain by the sword. God will avenge our wrong and will atone for their death by your destruction, since you butcher us in this way when we do not harm you but come in peace. There shall not be peace any longer between our kings and your emperor. It was for peace we came and to bring aid to your state. Today I call God to witness that it is your crime that has caused the promised peace to be kept no longer between the princes.” (St. Gregory of Tours, History of the Franks Book 10 Chapters 2-5)
The Italian Byzantines Against the Pagan and Arian Lombards
“Then the [Lombards], having left Pannonia, hastened to take possession of Italy with their wives and children and all their goods. ... The city of [Pavia] at this time held out bravely, withstanding a siege more than three years, while the army of the [Lombards] remained close at hand on the western side. Meanwhile [the Lombard King] Alboin, after driving out the soldiers, took possession of everything as far as Tuscany except Rome and Ravenna and some other fortified places which were situated on the shore of the sea. The Romans had then no courage to resist...” (Paul the Deacon's History of the Lombards Book 2 Chapters 6-26)
“Up to [~602 A.D.] the city of [Padua] had rebelled against the [Lombards], the soldiers resisting very bravely. But at last when fire was thrown into it, it was all consumed by the devouring flames and was razed to the ground by command of king Agilulf. The soldiers, however, who were in it were allowed to return to Ravenna.” (Paul the Deacon's History of the Lombards Book 4 Chapter 23)
The Catholic Lombards Against the Italian Byzantines
“In these days the [Lombards] still had a quarrel with the [Byzantines] on account of the captivity of the king's daughter. For this reason king Agilulf departed from [Milan] in the month of July, besieged the city of Cremona...and razed it to the ground. In like manner he also assaulted Mantua, and having broken through its walls with battering-rams he entered it on the ides [13th] of September, and granted the soldiers who were in it the privilege of returning to Ravenna. Then also the fortress which is called [Valdoria] surrendered to the [Lombards]; the soldiers indeed fled, setting fire to the town of [Bresccillo]. When these things were accomplished, the daughter of the king was restored by Smaragdus the patrician with her husband and children and all her property. In the ninth month peace was made...” (Paul the Deacon's History of the Lombards Book 4 Chapter 28)
The Civil War between Perctarit and his Brother
“[King] Aripert then, after he had ruled at Ticinum for nine years, died, [and left] the kingdom to be governed by his two sons, Perctarit and Godepert who were still of youthful age. And Godepert, indeed, had the seat of his kingdom at Ticinum, but Perctarit, at the city of [Milan]. Between these brothers, at the instigation of evil men, quarrels and the kindling of hatreds arose to such a degree that each attempted to usurp the royal power of the other. ... [And] Grimuald, who was then the enterprising leader of the people of Beneventum...unsheathed his sword and deprived [Godepert] of life, and usurping his kingdom and all his power, he subjugated it to his dominion. ... When Perctarit, who was ruling at [Milan], heard that his brother was killed, he took flight...” (Paul the Deacon's History of the Lombards Book 4 Chapter 51)
The Rebellion of the Duke of Trent
“[W]hile they were living in great peace and had tranquility around them on every side, there arose against them a son of iniquity, Alahis by name, by whom the peace was disturbed in the kingdom of the [Lombards], and a great slaughter was made of the people. This man, when he was duke of the city of [Trent], fought with the count of the Bavarians that they call 'gravio' who governed [Botzen] and other strongholds, and defeated him in an astonishing manner. Elated from this cause, he also lifted his hand against Perctarit his king, and rebelling, fortified himself within the stronghold of Tridentum. King Perctarit advanced against him and while he besieged him from the outside, suddenly Alahis rushed unexpectedly out of the city with his followers, overthrew the king's camp and compelled the king himself to seek flight. ... But not very long did [Alahis] keep the sovereignty [he] had usurped.” (Paul the Deacon's History of the Lombards Book 5 Chapter 36-38)
“Cunincpert [the son of King Perctarit] collected an army against [Alahis]... [And] Alahis said: 'I cannot [fight Cunincpert] because among his spears I see the image of the holy archangel Michael by whom I swore allegiance to him.' Then one of them said: 'From fear you see what is not, and anyhow, it is now late for you to think of these things.' Then when the trumpets sounded, the lines of battle joined, and as neither side gave way, a very great slaughter was made of the people. At length the cruel tyrant Alahis perished, and Cunincpert with the help of the Lord obtained the victory.” (Paul the Deacon's History of the Lombards Book 5 Chapters 39-41)
Against the Vandals
“In the [year 522 A.D.], Gilimer [of Africa] took up kingship with despotic power; he cruelly destroyed many of the nobles of the province of Africa and took away the property of many people. Against him the Emperor Justinian sent an army because of the vision of the bishop Laetus who had been made a martyr by Huneric, king of he Vandals; the force was led by Belisarius, the commander-in-chief of the army; after joining battle Belisarius killed Guntemir and Gebamund, the king's brothers, who had been defeated in the first encounter; then, after putting Gilimer himself to flight, he took Africa in the ninety-seventh year after the entry of the Vandals. ... Thus the kingdom of the Vandals together with its people and its race was destroyed in the [year 525 A.D.]; it lasted 113 years from King Gunderic up to the death of Gilimer.” (St. Isidore's History of the Goths Paragraph 83-84)
Against the Ostrogoths
“Now at that time [Emperor Justinian] had won a triumph over the Vandals in Africa, through his most faithful Patrician Belisarius. Without delay he sent his army under this leader against the [Italians] at the very time when his arms were yet dripping with the blood of the Vandals. ... [Soon] the Roman army [entered Italy] and marched toward Campania. They took Naples and pressed on to Rome. ... While [King Vitiges of Italy] was celebrating his new marriage and holding court at Ravenna, the imperial army advanced from Rome and attacked the strongholds in both parts of Tuscany. ... When besieged [in Ravenna], he quickly and willingly surrendered himself to [General Belisarius]... And thus a famous kingdom and most valiant race, which had long held sway, was at last overcome...by that conquerer of many nations, the Emperor Justinian, through his most faithful consul Belisarius.” (Jordanes' History of the Goths Chapter 60)
Against the Spanish Kings
“[A]fter seizing despotic power, [Athanagild of Spain] had long tried to deprive [King] Agila [of Spain] of his kingship... [He] had asked the Emperor Justinian to help him with soldiers, whom he later was unable to remove from the territory of the kingdom despite his efforts. Fighting against them took place up to this time. Previously [Athanagild's armies] had been killed in frequent battles, but now they were crushed and annihilated by many misfortunes.” (St. Isidore's History of the Goths Paragraph 47. See also Paragraphs 54, 59, 61, and 62.)
The Italian Byzantines Against the Lombards
“Then the [Lombards], having left Pannonia, hastened to take possession of Italy with their wives and children and all their goods. ... The city of [Pavia] at this time held out bravely, withstanding a siege more than three years, while the army of the [Lombards] remained close at hand on the western side. Meanwhile [the Lombard King] Alboin, after driving out the soldiers, took possession of everything as far as Tuscany except Rome and Ravenna and some other fortified places which were situated on the shore of the sea. The [Byzantines] had then no courage to resist...” (Paul the Deacon's History of the Lombards Book 2 Chapters 6-26)
“[At] this time, Romanus, the patrician and exarch of Ravenna...re-occupied [some] cities that were held by the [Lombards]... When this fact was announced to king Agilulf, he straightway marched out of Ticinum with a strong army and attacked the city of Perusia, and there for some days he besieged Maurisio, the duke of the [Lombards], who had gone over to the side of the [Byzantines], and without delay took him and deprived him of life. The blessed Pope Gregory was so much alarmed at the approach of this king that...[he] admonished [Agilulf's Catholic queen] in his letters...[until King Agilulf] concluded a firm peace with the same most holy man Pope Gregory and with the Romans...” (Paul the Deacon's History of the Lombards Book 4 Chapter 8)
“Up to this time the city of [Padua] had rebelled against the [Lombards], the soldiers resisting very bravely. But at last when fire was thrown into it, it was all consumed by the devouring flames and was razed to the ground by command of king Agilulf. The soldiers, however, who were in it were allowed to return to Ravenna.” (Paul the Deacon's History of the Lombards Book 4 Chapter 23)
Against the Persians
“The Persians also waged a very severe war against the empire, took away many provinces of the Romans, including Jerusalem itself, and destroying churches and profaning holy things they carried off among the ornaments of places sacred and secular, even the banner of the cross of Christ.” (Paul the Deacon's History of the Lombards Book 4 Chapter 36)
Against the Muslims (Loss of Jerusalem)
“Why do barbarian raids abound? Why are the troops of the Saracens attacking us? Why has there been so much destruction and plunder? Why are there incessant outpourings of human blood? Why have churches been pulled down? Why is the cross mocked? Why is Christ, who is joyousness of ours, blasphemed by pagan mouths so that he justly cries out to us: 'Because of you my name is blasphemed among the pagans,' and this is the worst of all the terrible things that are happening to us. That is why the vengeful and God-hating Saracens, the abomination of desolation clearly foretold to us by the prophets, overrun the places which are not allowed to them, plunder cities, devastate fields, burn down villages, set on fire the holy churches, overturn sacred monasteries, oppose the Byzantine armies arrayed against them, and in fighting raise up...trophies and add victory to victory.” (St. Sophronius, Epiphany Homily. In Hoyland, Robert G. Seeing Islam as Others Saw It: A Survey and Evaluation of Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian Writings on Early Islam. Princeton, New Jersey: Darwin Press, 1997. p. 72-73.)
Against the Muslims (Loss of Egypt)
“Theodore and his troops who were in that locality fled and withdrew into Alexandria. And the Moslem[s] began to attack them but were not able to approach the walls of the city; for stones were hurled against them from the top of the walls, and they were driven far from the city. ... And subsequently the patriarch Cyrus...went to Babylon...seeking...to procure peace from them... And they fixed the amount of tribute to be paid... [T]he [Byzantines] were to cease warring against the Moslem[s], and the Moslem[s] were to desist from seizing Christian Churches... And the Jews were to be permitted to remain in the city of Alexandria. ... And the Moslem[s] took possession of all the land of Egypt, southern and northern, and trebled their taxes. ... [And the Muslim leader] had no mercy on the Egyptians, and did not observe the covenant they had made with him, for he was of a barbaric race.” (John of Nikiu's Chronicle Chapters 119-120)
Against the Muslims (Loss of Libya, Carthage, and Morocco)
“Then the race of Saracens, unbelieving and hateful to God, proceeded from Egypt into Africa with a great multitude, took Carthage by siege and when it was taken, cruelly laid it waste and leveled it to the ground. ... Justinian [II] assumed the sovereignty of the [Byzantines] and held the control of it for ten years. He took Africa away from the Saracens and made peace with them on sea and land.” (Paul the Deacon's History of the Lombards Book 6 Chapters 10-11. See also this.)
Ferrandus the Deacon's Seven Rules for a Commander of Soldiers
~533 A.D. - “(1.) Be convinced that in every action the help of divine grace is necessary for you, and say with the apostle, 'By the grace of God I am what I am.' ... (2.) Let your life be a mirror in which your soldiers may see what they have to do. ... (3.) Aim not to rule, but to be useful. ... (4.) Love your native country as yourself. ... (5.) Let what relates to God be of more value to you than anything human. ... (6.) Be not too rigid in administering justice. ... (7.) Bear in mind that you are a Christian.” (Excerpted from Ad Reginum)
~533 A.D. - “We ask Him, who orders the world, that he deign to promote those of his soldiers hidden under the uniform of the secular military, guiding them from within, and sending to others the wisdom to rule... [Y]ou will be seen to be useful in two ways; if you do not harm anyone, and if, insofar as you can -- which is to say insofar as Christ has given you power -- you prohibit those who have the tendency to harm, or wish to, from doing so.” (Ad Reginum Sections 2, 7. Excerpted and translated in Kate Cooper, The Fall of the Roman Household. 2007. Cambridge University Press, p. 33-37. https://books.google.com/books?id=gHH27WF4B_wC&pg=PA33#v=onepage&q&f=false)
St. Gregory of Tours on Civil Wars
~575 A.D. - "I am weary of relating the details of the civil wars that mightily plague the nation and kingdom of the Franks... Would that [you], O kings, were engaged in battles like those in which your fathers struggled, that the heathen terrified by your union might be crushed by your strength! Remember how Clovis won your great victories, how he slew opposing kings, crushed wicked peoples and subdued their lands, and left to you complete and unchallenged dominion over them! And when he did this he had neither silver nor gold such as you now have in your treasuries. ... One thing you lack: without peace you have not the grace of God. ... Examine carefully the books of the ancients and you will see what civil wars beget. Read what Orosius writes of the Carthaginians, who says that after seven hundred years their city and country were ruined and adds: 'What preserved this city so long? Union. What destroyed it after such a period? Disunion.' Beware of disunion, beware of civil wars which destroy you and your people. What else is to be expected but that your army will fall and that you will be left without strength and be crushed and ruined by hostile peoples. And, king, if civil war gives you pleasure, govern that impulse which the apostle says is urgent within man, let the spirit struggle against the flesh and the vices fall before the virtues; and be free and serve your chief who is Christ, you who were once a fettered slave of the root of evil." (History of the Franks Book 5 Chapter 1)
Pope St. Gregory the Great on Just War
~594 A.D. - “[T]he captivity of my land [is] increasing day by day... Italy is daily led captive under the yoke of the Lombards. ... [T]he strength of the enemy is increasing hugely. This however I suggest to my most pious lord, that he would...[consider] the advantage of the republic and the cause of the rescue of Italy.” (Letters Book 5 Letter 40)
~592 A.D. - “For to restrain violent laymen is not to act against the laws, but to support law.” (Letters Book 3 Letter 5)
~591 A.D. - "[The] great success of the military exploits of your Excellency [have] arisen from the merit of your faith and from the grace of the Christian religion... [It] is not from a desire of shedding blood that you constantly court these wars, but for the sake of extending the republic in which we see that God is worshipped, to the end that the name of Christ may be spread abroad through subject nations by preaching of the faith. ... [We] beseech our God and Saviour mercifully to protect your Eminence for the consolation of the holy republic, and to fortify you with the strength of His arm for spreading His name more and more through the neighbouring nations." (Letters Book 1 Letter 75)
~591 A.D. - "As the Lord has made your Excellency to shine with the light of victories in the military wars of this life, so ought you to [oppose] the enemies of the Church with all activity of mind and body, to the end that from both kinds of triumph your reputation may shine forth more and more, when in forensic wars, too, you firmly resist the adversaries of the Catholic Church in behalf of the Christian people, and bravely fight ecclesiastical battles as warriors of the Lord. ... [We] beseech the Lord to make your arm strong for subduing your enemies, and to sharpen your soul with zeal for the faith like the edge of a quivering sword." (Letters Book 1 Letter 74)
St. Isidore of Seville on Just War
636 A.D. - “A just war is that which is waged in accordance with a formal declaration and is waged for the sake of recovering property seized or of driving off the enemy. An unjust war is one that is begun out of rage, and not for a lawful reason. Cicero speaks of this in the Republic (3.35): 'Those wars are unjust that are taken up without due cause, for except for the cause of avenging or of driving off the enemy no just war can be waged.' ... And he adds this a little further on: 'No war is considered just unless it is officially announced or declared, and unless it is fought to recover property seized.' ” (Etymologies Book 18 Chapter 1 Paragraph 2)
The Sixth Ecumenical Council on War
~680 A.D. - "[The] living tradition of the Apostles of Christ...gives far-reaching victories to your most pious Fortitude from the Lord of heaven, [and] accompanies you in battle, and defeats your foes; [it] protects on every side as an impregnable wall your God-sprung empire, [and] throws terror into opposing nations, and smites them with the divine wrath, [and] also in wars celestially gives triumphal palms over the downfall and subjection of the enemy, and ever guards your most faithful sovereignty secure and joyful in peace." (Session 4)
Labels: age, armed, Belisarius, Catholic, Church History, defense, doctrine, Early Church, Fathers, history, Just War, Just Warfare, Kingdoms, Military, Mummulus, soldier, soldiers, wars
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Ecumenical Outreach Before Vatican 2
This page is meant to collect examples of ecumenism and friendly attitudes toward non-Catholics from before the Second Vatican Council. I made this page because I have often heard suspicions from some Catholics that ecumenical outreach was discouraged before Vatican 2, and I think that’s not true. Indifferentism has been discouraged, but not the ecumenical movement on the whole.
BTW I think the substantial parts of Catholic ecumenism are: (a) encouraging Catholics and non-Catholics to pray for union, (b) positive remarks from Catholics about things they hold in common with non-Catholic groups, (c) a friendly spirit toward non-Catholics that tries to assume they have good intentions, or gives them the benefit of the doubt that they are not necessarily evil people.
~255 A.D.
Pope St. Stephen writes that (most) heretical groups have valid baptism and are therefore brothers in faith, though he implies that they are brothers in an incomplete way.
According to St. Cyprian (Letter 73), “[Pope Stephen said] that although the second birth is spiritual, by which we are born in Christ through the layer of regeneration, one may be born spiritually among the heretics.” source
From this, it follows that the Catholic Church recognized that (most) heretics were brothers, because both Catholics and (most) heretics are all sons of God through baptism. But he did note that their brotherhood was incomplete: “[He] hesitates...to be a partaker with [the heretics] in other matters [than baptism], [for example,] to meet together with them, and equally with them to mingle their prayers, and appoint a common altar and sacrifice.” source
385 A.D.
St. Optatus writes about the impaired but real brotherhood of Catholics and Donatists, and about their impaired but common prayer for one another.
According to Cardinal Wiseman, "[The Church Fathers] generally treat with the Donatists as with schismatics, and not heretics. ... [St. Augustine] acquits them of any error respecting the Trinity... St. Optatus clearly acquits them of errors in faith... Hence, this saint always calls Parmenianus [a Donatist leader] by the title of brother; and when this was indignantly rejected, vindicates it at length in the opening of his fourth book." source
Actually, if you look up the source from which Cardinal Wiseman was quoting, there is some interesting ecumenical language:
"I would beg of you to recognise that, however distasteful the word brother may be to you, still it has of necessity to be employed by us." (St. Optatus, Against the Donatists Book 4 Chapter 2)
And: "[Both] you and we have been made sons of God in the same manner, as it has been written in the Gospel: 'The Son of God has come. As many as received Him, to them has He given the power to become sons of God, to those who believe in His Name.' " (ibid.)
And: "[Y]ou cannot escape being our brothers----you whom together with us one Mother Church has borne from the same bowels of her Mysteries." (ibid.)
And: "Christ, foreseeing this time----how it would come to pass that you should to-day be at variance with us, gave such commands with regard to prayer, that, at least in prayer, unity might remain, and that supplications might join those who should be torn asunder by faction. We pray for you, for we wish to do so, and you pray for us, even though you do not wish it." (ibid.)
St. John Damascene discussed Islam and Christianity in his book "The Fount of Knowledge." The book is notable for five points: it discusses the history of Islam, it builds on things Muslims and Christians hold in common, it uses philosophy to defend Christian ideas, it defends Scripture, and it cites problems with the Quran.
As an example of building on things Muslims and Christians hold in common, St. John writes about Mohammed: "He says that there is one God, creator of all things... He says that the Christ is the Word of God...and that He was begotten, without seed, of Mary..." (The Fount of Knowledge, On Heresies, Paragraph 101)
1076 A.D.
Pope St. Gregory VII - “We and you must show in a special way to the other nations an example of this charity, for we believe and confess one God, although in different ways, and praise and worship Him daily as the creator of all ages and the ruler of this world.” (Letter to Anzir [Nacir], King of Mauretania)
~1120 A.D.
“William of Malmesbury observed that Islam was not idolatrous and pagan but monotheistic, and also that Muhammad was regarded not as God in Islam but as the prophet of God.” (A History of Christian-Muslim Relations by Hugh Goddard, Chapter 5 Page 93)
“[T]he chronicler Otto of Freising observed that the Muslims worship one God, and that they respect Christ and his apostles, and that they are therefore wrong in only one thing, namely in their denial that Jesus Christ is God or the Son of God and in their veneration of Muhammad as the prophet of the supreme God.” (A History of Christian-Muslim Relations by Hugh Goddard, Chapter 5 Page 93)
Before 1156 A.D.
Peter the Venerable - “I do not attack you, as some of us often do, by arms, but by words, not by force, but by reason; not in hatred, but in love.” “[We should debate] with peace...not with fury; with reason, not with madness; with tranquillity, not with iniquity.” “Loving, I write to you; writing, I invite you to salvation.” “Hear, therefore, for the time is nigh, to what you have consecrated your souls, your bodies, and your death. Hear whether you have placed your hope in a safe place, whether you have believed in a salutary doctrine, [and] in a true prophet and messenger of God.” (The Refutation of the Sect or Heresy of the Saracens)
“[Roger Bacon composed a treatise] for Pope Clement IV [and] argued that in recent history Christendom had been misguided in its aims, which were more concerned with domination than with conversion, and had relied on inadequate methods; preaching, he suggested, was the only way to realise the expansion of Christendom in the future, and to that end languages had to be learnt, other beliefs had to be studied, and arguments had to be formulated in order to refute them.” (A History of Christian-Muslim Relations by Hugh Goddard, Chapter 5 Pages 95-96)
St. Thomas Aquinas writes that Mohammed taught some truths, even though he mingled them with errors. (Summa Contra Gentiles Book 1 Chapter 6 Paragraph 4)
Don Juan Manuel - “[T]here is [a just] war between Christians and Moors [to recover] the lands which the Moors have occupied; [but] neither on account of their faith nor on account of their deviant religion is there any reason why there should be war between [us]. Christ never ordered that anyone should be killed or put under pressure in order to convert, for He does not wish for any obligatory service, only for that which is given voluntarily and with a good heart.” (Libro de los Estados Book 1 Chapter 30)
1450-1460 A.D.
“[This] decade...[may have] witnessed a flowering of optimism concerning the possibility of some kind of positive interaction with Islam, as seen especially in the writings of John of Segovia and Nicholas of Cusa who sought some kind of conference with Islam in order to address the outstanding issues between Christians and Muslims.” (A History of Christian-Muslim Relations by Hugh Goddard, Chapter 5 Page 96)
Pope Pius II - “We do not seek you out in hatred nor do we threaten your person... We are hostile to your actions, not to you. As God commands, we love our enemies and pray for our persecutors." (Epistle Ad Mohomatem II)
St. Peter Faber - “[It] is essential that whoever desires to be useful to heretics in our day should both nourish in himself a great affection for them and show it in action, removing from his own mind those unfavourable imaginations which make us think less well of them.” (Instructions How to Deal with Heretics, as it appears in The Life of Blessed Peter Favre by Giuseppe Boero, Chapter 13)
“The next thing is, to win their goodwill and inclinations to such an extent that they may reciprocate our kind feelings and think well of us. This may easily be done by speaking to them affectionately, and dwelling in familiar conversations on those points only on which they agree with us, avoiding everything like a dispute, in which one side always assumes an air of superiority, and shows contempt of the other. Those subjects should be first chosen in which there is a sympathy and union of wills, rather than those which tend to disunite them by opposition of opinion.” (ibid.)
The Council of Trent called Protestant groups "the faithful of Christ...by whatsoever name designated" (Session 15 and Session 18) and noted that "[we] all acknowledge the same God and Redeemer." (Session 13)
It gave Protestants who attended the Council the right "to confer in charity...with those who have been selected by the Council" (Session 15 and Session 18) and promised "to receive them kindly, and to listen to them favourably." (Session 15)
It called for "all opprobrious, railing, and contumelious language [to be] utterly discarded" on the part of Protestants (Session 15 and Session 18) and said the Protestant delegates could dispute "without any abuse or contumely" with the Catholics. (Session 13)
It further declared "that they shall not be punished under pretence of religion" (Session 15 and Session 18) and called them "sons of [the Church's] womb," "our common mother." (Session 18)
Furthermore, it made this solemn invitation: "[The Synod] invites and exhorts, by the bowels of the mercy of our same God and Lord, all who hold not communion with us, unto concord and reconciliation, and to come unto this holy Synod; to embrace charity, which is the bond of perfection, and to show forth the peace of Christ rejoicing in their hearts, whereunto they are called, in one body." (Session 18)
Dr. Benjamin Carier converted to Catholicism in this year. He had been an Anglican preacher personally selected for the service of King James I. After he became a Catholic, he wrote a letter to the king which included friendly remarks about how close Anglicanism is to Catholicism compared to other Protestant groups: “[T]he Church of England…[and] the Church of Rome…[have been] set back to back, [so that some people] think they are as far asunder, as the horizons that they look upon. But…[if they would] look both one way...they should, presently, see themselves to be a great deal more near together, in matters of doctrine, than the puritanical preachers, on both sides, do make [some of their members] believe they are.” (Letter to King James as it appears in The Life of Archbishop Laud by Charles Webb, Chapter 9, Footnote 1, Page 373)
Ven. Ignatius Spencer went to Oxford in this year to urge Anglicans and Catholics to pray for union. His biographer remarks that he referred to Protestants as "our separated brethren," which was apparently unusual at that time. (Life of Father Ignatius Chapter 6)
Previously known as Rev. George Spencer, Ven. Ignatius Spencer converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism in 1830 and wrote a book of apologetics answering Anglican arguments. He changed his name to Ignatius after he joined the Passionist order. Bl. John Henry Newman praised his ecumenical efforts: “that zealous and most charitable man, Mr. Spencer...came to Oxford in January, 1840, to get Anglicans to set about praying for Unity. I myself, at that time, or soon after, drew up such prayers; their desirableness was one of [my] first thoughts...but I was very rude to him...because I considered him [an apostate] from the Anglican Church, and I hereby beg his pardon for it.” (Apologia Pro Vita Sua Part 5, aka. Chapter 3)
Fr. Spencer’s cause for canonization is open. He is praised by Pope Leo 13 in Amantissima Voluntatis. There is a biography about him by Fr. Pius a Spirito Sancto. It is called: Life of Father Ignatius of St. Paul, Passionist (The Hon. and Rev. George Spencer) : compiled chiefly from his autobiography, journal, & letters. Its composition date was 1866.
Bl. John Henry Newman refers to Anglicans as "my brethren" and "my dear brethren" throughout his book, "Difficulties of Anglicans."
Blessed Pope Pius IX - “[Before now] the Armenian Catholics were given a certain freedom in religious matters through the clemency of the Turkish emperor… [And We sent] Our extraordinary representative to the supreme ruler of the Turks to express Our friendship and Our respects to that ruler.” “We have hardly forgotten to repeatedly commend to that powerful Ottoman emperor the Armenians and the other eastern Catholic nations living under his authority.” (Neminem Vestrum 2)
In this year Pope Leo 13 published Amantissima Voluntatis, a letter to the English people. He wrote, “[We wish] to assist and further the great work of obtaining the reunion of Christendom. … We have with full consideration determined to invite all Englishmen who glory in the Christian name to this same work.” “With loving heart, then, We turn to you all in England, to whatever community or institution you may belong, desiring to recall you to this holy unity. We beseech you, as you value your eternal salvation, to offer up humble and continuous prayer to God, our Heavenly Father, the giver of all light, who with gentle power impels us to the good and the right; and without ceasing to implore light to know the truth in all its fullness, and to embrace the designs of His mercy with single and entire faithfulness.” (Amantissima Voluntatis)
And: “We, indeed, long before being raised to the Supreme Pontificate, were deeply sensible also of the importance of holy prayer offered for this cause, and heartily approved of it. For, as We gladly recall, at the time when We were Nuncio in Belgium, becoming acquainted with an Englishman, Ignatius Spencer, himself a devout son of the same St. Paul of the Cross, he laid before Us the project he had already initiated for extending a society of pious people, to pray for the return of the English nation to the Church.” (ibid.)
Labels: Catholic, Church, Church Fathers, churches, Early, Ecumenical, ecumenism, Fathers, friendly, movement, non-Catholic, Vatican
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MEN’S BASKETBALL SIGNS CASA ROBLE HIGH SCHOOL PRODUCT ERIC STUTEVILLE
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Sacramento State men's basketball program announced its first signee of the 2013-14 recruiting class with inking of 6-foot-10, 220-pound prep center Eric Stuteville, it was announced today by fifth-year head coach Brian Katz.
Stuteville, who is entering his fourth season at Casa Roble High School in Orangevale, will enroll as a freshman at Sacramento State next fall.
The Orangevale, Calif., native began playing organized basketball as a freshman at Casa Roble, and has improved his skill set each year. He became the varsity team's starting center last season as a junior where he averaged 17.0 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.5 blocked shots per game. He helped lead the Rams to a 14-13 overall record, a 6-4 mark in the Capital Valley Conference and an appearance in the Sac-Joaquin Div. III section playoffs.
Stuteville, who won't turn 18 until February, began his sophomore year with the junior varsity squad before being promoted to the varsity team during the season.
"Eric is a legitimate big man with unlimited potential," Katz said. "He plays hard, has a good shooting touch and is just now coming into his own on the basketball floor. With his work ethic and character, we feel like there is no limit to how good he could become as a player."
Stuteville played this past summer for the NorCal Pharaohs, an AAU squad coached by Matt Fahey and based out of Sacramento. He was the team's starting center, and finished the season with averages of 15.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game.
Stuteville has basketball in his bloodlines as his father, Shannon, played hoops at Langston University in Oklahoma and his mother, Kristine, played at Cal. In addition, Stuteville's brother, Mason, will be a junior this year for the basketball team at Casa Roble HS.
Stuteville (pronounced STU-dih-ville) will share the same high school alma mater as Katz, who graduated from Casa Roble in 1975.
Sacramento State won its season opener last Friday, and returns to action tonight when the team hosts CSU Bakersfield at 7:05 p.m. Tonight begins a stretch that will see the Hornets play three times over a seven-day span, including a game at Utah on Friday before hosting rival UC Davis next Tuesday.
Sacramento State's Signees
Name Pos.
Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown/Current School
Eric Stuteville C 6-10 220 Fr. Orangevale, Calif./Casa Roble HS
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Sentimental Agent, The
Blackgloves
Carlos Thompson
"The Sentimental Agent" was a short-lived black & white 35 mm film series, produced by ATV at Shepperton Studios, and distributed by ITC in 1963. Created as a spin-off from a single episode of the series "Man Of The World" and based around the exploits of a main support character who appeared in it, played by Carlos Thompson, the show was similar to many of the ITC shows that came before and afterwards, in that its premise seemed built to allow for an entertaining and frothy blend of action, intrique and light comedy that takes place in a number of glamourous and exotic locations around the world. In this case, the leading man is a sort of jet setting cross between Alan Sugar and Cary Grant, called Carlos Varella -- a smooth, confident and impecabley charming latinate import-export agent based in London, with a roving business head and a taste for adventure; his wide-ranging business connections take him all around the world in search of the perfect deal, but also result in him habitually getting involved in all sorts of local plots and intrigues, invariably with a pretty (and sometimes dangerous) female guest star by his side. Produced by Harry Fine and with script supervision by Ian Stuart Black, the series was given a prime time Saturday evening slot in the ITV regions during September 1963 and was expected to do well. The fact that you've almost certainly never heard of it before probably fills you in on how that expectation was rewarded in actuality.
Thompson was an actor of mixed European parentage who moved from a series of successful stage and screen roles in his native Argentina to a short career in Hollywood during the mid- to late-fifties, where he often played the kind of suave, womanising characters of a type very similar to Varela in tone. The title sequence of "The Sentimental Agent" introduces a breezy, white-suited businessman with an eye for a pretty lady, a panama hat and a cigarillo clamped nonchalantly between his teeth. Accompanied by the irritatingly jaunty theme tune of Ivor Stanley's, Varela is shown entering the warehouse headquarters of his agency, Mercury International, which is based in a rather insalubrious area of the London docklands, where he is abetted by an efficient and pretty Miss Moneypenny-like secretary and aid called Suzy Carter (Clemence Brittany), and a wily Chinese valet called Chin (the then ubiquitous to ITC productions of the day, Burt Kwouk).
With writers of the caliber of Julian Bond ("Tales of the Unexpected"), Tudor Gates (the Karnstein trilogy of Hammer vampire films), Brian Clemens ("Thriller", "The Avengers") and Ian Stuart Black ("Danger Man"); alongside the reliable directorial talents of Charles Frend ("The Cruel Sea") and John Paddy Carstairs; and with the glossy and filmic stylishness that helped make so many other ITC productions of the period so enduring, one would have indeed expected the series to have taken off: it's replete with all the guest stars you expect to see in '60s TV. Warren Mitchell, Patrick Troughton, Patrick Allen, Peter Arne, Patrick Magee are just a few names who regularly cropped up all over the ITC output and get to make some nice little appearances here. The list of female guest stars is even more impressive, with Varela often teaming-up with or pursuing such up-and-coming British starlets as the lovely Doctor Who assistant Anneke Wilis, appearing in an episode called "All That Jazz" where she plays a bubbly young beatnik jazz musician who becomes inadvertently involved in the activities of a group of spies who use her musical scores to pass on secret messages in code; or the gorgeous Suzanna Leigh who plays the daughter of an elderly couple who are fleeced by some card sharks operating onboard one of Varela's cruise ships. Meanwhile, Sue Lloyd is striking as the model-cum-business woman who teams up with Varela's second-in-command Bill Randell in the quirky episode "The Height of Fashion", in order to help him convert a rejected order of 30,000 horse blankets for a foreign Government into a luxury fashion range; while Diana Rigg sparkles in her very first TV role in the episode, "A Very Desirable Plot", as a woman who wrongly suspect Valera of malpractice when a landowner with whom he has arranged a contract to build some luxury homes, turns out to have sold his unsuspecting clients swamp-land on which it is impossible to build anything. Other notable female guest stars include Carol Cleveland and tragic British horror starlet Imogen Hassall.
So why is it that "The Sentimental Agent" never quite seems to grab the viewer in the way other series of the time such as "Danger Man" still do? My guess is that while the business-centred plots which dominate the series provide ample excuse for a wide variety of exotic locations, from the Bahamas to Greece or the Arabian desert to Ireland (mostly realised with stock footage), the writers always seem to struggle to produce interesting plots on the basis of such a limited premise. The episodes appear to have been arranged in production order across this four-disc box set from Network Releasing and the series actually starts off well, and is at its strongest when it more or less avoids too much emphasis on Mercury International's wheeling and dealing and proceeds more along traditional espionage lines, with Carlos Thompson essaying a likable Cary Grant style of nonchalance in episodes that play like mini-Hitchcock spy thrillers. A particular highlight for me is the episode "Express Delivery", an escape thriller that plays out a "Torn Curtain" scenario in which Valera agrees to help smuggle a young girl out of an Eastern bloc country. "The Beneficiary" is another strong episode in which spying and espionage play a strong roll; here an old war time friend of Valera's is murdered just after he delivers a pre-arranged distress signal to Mercury International's offices.
As the series goes on though, someone must have thought that the import-export business of the main protagonist ought to have more of a role in generating the plots. Thus, many episodes see Valera dealing with foreign corruption, usually after unaccountably losing 'a sure-thing' business opportunity leads him to investigate: episodes like the Tudor Gates scripted "A Little Sweetness and Light" in which Patrick Allen is a shady business rival on a small Greek island who uses threats and violence to get his way; or "A Box of Tricks" in which Valera's partner Bill Randall is dispatched to the Italian village of Palabria to investigate why the authorities there will not accept a charity gift of £11 million; and "Not Quite Fully Covered" where, once again, Bill Randall, is the victim of a dodgy insurance scam when importing some antique French Furniture from Beirut.
These later episodes struggle to make the series' business-orientated shenanigans compelling viewing, the scripts being wordy and often grounded in complicated issues of law which don't sit particularly well with the show's light action and comedy centred style of adventure. Varela's partners, Miss Carter and Chin, get very little to do in most of the episodes, the chemistry between the three of them never quite comes to life: Clemence Bettany is an appealing presence, but in many of the episodes she only appears as a bookend to the adventure in hand, manning the telephones in the Mercury International office while Valera gets involved in all the action in various exotic locations. The same goes for Burt Kwouk -- stuck with a typical and stereotypical 'inscrutable' Chinese man-servant role, as was invariably the case during this period of his career, he spends most of his time top-and-tailing the episodes with a quirky Chinese proverb or two, although he does eventually get to play more of a role in the stories as the series goes on, especially if they involve gambling (Chin is always offering Valera winning betting tips) or conjuring tricks, at which he is is a past master.
Another odd thing about the show is that lead Carlos Thompson either only makes a small contribution to, or else doesn't appear at all in, about a third of the thirteen episodes that were shot for the series. British actor John Taylor crops up to take over, first of all in the fun Hitchcockian episode "Meet My Son, Harry" in which some stolen top secret British aerospace plans are hidden in an obscure book of algebra by some crooks, which is then bought by the precocious son of one of Valera's millionaire friends, thus embroiling Miss Carter and Bill Randall in a dangerous situation when they accompany the boy home. It's interesting that as soon as Thompson begins to play less of a role in the episodes, they become more of a team effort with Bettany and Kwouk getting to share much more screentime with John Taylor's slightly more fallible character, Bill Randall. Nevertheless though, I much prefered Carlos Thompson's episodes, and it is difficult to see why he was increasingly sidelined as the series progressed, despite being the main character.
All the thirteen episodes are included on this box set and most of them look pretty good, although a few do seem slightly blurry, and I'm guessing that these probably come from 16 mm copies of the original 35 mm negs. Each disc features a photo gallery of episode stills, while the third disc also features a fifteen minute featurette in which Burt Kwouk is interviewed about his ITC career. Kwouk talks about all his major appearances in episodes of "The Saint", "The Champions" and "Jason King" among others. He describes "The Sentimental Agent" as quote: 'a very strange series'. And this seems as good a summery as any. It's not the pinnacle of the ITC era of tele-film series, but fans of this period of British TV production will find much to appreciate in its eccentricities, nonetheless.
The four-disc box set is available as a Network exclusive from www.networkdvd.co.uk
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FHQ Developments has become a major player in Saskatchewan's economic development
It wasn’t that long ago that First Nations owned businesses were considered major players in the world of big business. Fast forward to 2017 and Saskatchewan based File Hills Qu’Appelle Developments Inc. (FHQ Dev) is a multi-million dollar operation.
FHQ Dev is the business entity of the File Hills Qu’appelle Tribal Council (FHQTC), which governs 11 First Nations in and around the Fort Qu’appelle region. In September 2016, FHQ Dev decided to appoint a young and business savvy CEO and president, Thomas Benjoe, from the Muscowpetung First Nation to take the helm.
“We are focused on major growth,” said Benjoe. “We’re trying to foster as much growth as possible in our communities,” he said.
Unlike FHQTC and First Nation reserves, whose operating dollars are earmarked for social development, health and education, FHQ Dev is driven by building profits and is funded by its business endeavors.
“When it comes to profit distribution…we utilize some of that capital from our companies (to) reinvest into more companies so we can further expand our business,” said Benjoe.
Formed in 2010, FHQ Dev has already had success and and turned profits in a number of different industries, including construction, oil and gas, renewable energy and the hospitality industry.
It’s Benjoe’s vision to continue with that strategy.
“We don’t want to remain only in one industry, we need to diversify our portfolio of companies,” he said.
“If there is a dip in the economy, such as oil and gas, it creates a risk (for) deficit…so we’re taking a lot of those profits and investing in new companies,” said Benjoe.
Tom Benjoe, speaking to a crowd in Fort Qu'Appelle, Sask., at the grand opening of Little Black Bear First Nation's Tim Horton's and Petro-Canada Gas Station. June 22, 2015. Photo by Brad Bellegarde.
Benjoe is no stranger to multi-million dollar deals. Prior to taking this new position, he was a commercial banker for one of Canada’s biggest financial institutions, where he helped many First Nation reserves acquire finances for new business throughout the province.
A key player in Saskatchewan’s economic growth, K+S Potash, recognized the opportunities FHQ Dev presented and jumped at the opportunity to establish a working relationship.
K+S Potash Canada’s lead advisor of Indigenous initiatives, Terry Bird, said organizations such as FHQ Dev are important to the province.
“It’s always been a key role to make sure that industry people understand First Nation and Metis peoples history as well as their interests with regards to industry,” said Bird, who is a member of the George Gordon First Nation.
According to Bird, the K+S Potash Corporation’s Legacy project in Bethune, Sask., hired FHQ Developments as one of their contractors in 2013, which led to hundreds of First Nations people gaining employment on the project.
Some of the areas of employment included general labour, general electrical, pumping and maintenance of the site and camp.
“(In) mid 2016, we had an account of 344 Indigenous people working for us through our contractors,” said Bird.
“It’s also important to make sure that they’re finding solutions that work in a way that provides a win/win situation for both First Nations and Metis people as well as industry,” he said.
It’s endeavors like this the one with K+S that Benjoe wants to continue forging in 2017.
With 15,000 citizens represented by FHQTC, Benjoe wants to ensure FHQ Dev continues to create labour opportunities for First Nations peoples and to continue creating wealth.
“We are going to focus on business development,” says Benjoe. “(The) labour force will follow suit as well as supporting some of our own entrepreneurs…in our communities.”
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Seeing the light and all its power
Dismiss talk of global warming and environmentalism if you must. But times are changing fast and, along with them, the very way we heat and cool our homes and businesses.
The Texas Senate signaled as much this week, approving a bill encouraging development of solar energy plants to generate electricity, much as the state has done in making wind an energy player in Texas and beyond.
Now it’s up to the House and Gov. Rick Perry to show similar vision for Texas.
We hope it isn’t much of a stretch. Sunshine is something we have plenty of in Texas — and we’re unlikely to run out of it anytime soon.
Passage of state Sen. Kirk Watson’s legislation, with help from Sen. Kip Averitt, R-Waco, is remarkable for a couple of reasons. For one thing, the Senate is dominated by Republicans. Watson is a Democrat.
Yet many lawmakers on both sides want to encourage the solar, geothermal and biomass energy aims in this bill. Some see the writing on the wall.
A Texas Public Utility Commission report issued Tuesday concludes that electricity prices could jump as much as $10 billion a year — $27 a month in the average electric bill — if Texans don’t anticipate looming federal greenhouse regulations aimed at cutting carbon-based fuels like natural gas and coal.
Environmentalists and lawmakers see Watson’s bill as neatly bolstering our state’s energy arsenal, especially as Texas continues to grow. Solar could help ensure energy offerings at peak times of the day, while wind will prove of greatest impact during the night hours.
Plus, the PUC study says, displacing expensive natural gas with renewable energy could reduce overall energy costs, especially as technologies become more competitive. It can also help deter reliance on coal-fired power plants.
Beyond all this, the bill provides incentives when renewable energy is created by technology crafted or devised here in Texas.
The bill is quite timely: Congressional leaders in Washington, D.C., want to require that 15 percent of all electricity generated nationwide comes from sources such as solar, wind, geothermal and biomass by 2020, with another 5 percent coming through energy efficiency.
Strangely, state Sen. Troy Fraser led a handful of Republicans in voting against Watson’s bill — strange, we say, because a good bill by Fraser allows homeowners and businesses to qualify for rebates helping defray the cost of solar panels.
We find Fraser’s suggestion that Watson’s bill be shelved because there’s no need for it yet absurd, especially given Fraser’s hard push for a voter ID bill despite the dearth of evidence of in-person voting fraud anywhere in Texas.
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Behind the Scenes at Kombucha Town
Kombucha Town launched in Bellingham just a few years ago with a product so delicious and popular, the company has already expanded several times. Kombucha Town brews Kombucha (not a big stretch there), a fermented tea that’s full of body-loving goodness like amino acids, antioxidants and natural bacteria that aid digestion. Kombucha has a slightly sweet, slightly tangy taste that goes down easy and gives you little energy lift—without a major caffeine rush. Good for you and good tasting? No wonder Kombucha Town is growing like crazy!
I was recently treated to a behind-the-scenes look into how Kombucha Town products are made, and to hear how owner Chris McCoy and his crew are keeping busy brewing, canning and distributing their yummy beverages, as well as serving healthy food and drinks at the new Culture Café. Both businesses are located in the Bellingham Herald building, and after the expansions, are now using about 5,000 square feet of space.
Chris learned how to brew kombucha from a roommate way back in 2007. Realizing how great it made him feel, and how much better his was than the brews commercially available, he decided to make the leap into entrepreneurship. As an economics and environmental studies grad, he wanted a business with growth potential and minimal impact from its production process that was also good for people. Kombucha fit his requirements and in January 2013, he started commercial production. His first product was an alcoholic (about 1.5%) version, sold in reusable bottles.
Kombucha Town brewers typically come from the culinary world, and many got their start at local breweries—which makes total sense, given the overlap between brewing beer and kombucha.
The two alcoholic offerings are now Signature, made with black tea, and Gold, brewed with black tea and blended with house-brewed ginger ale. Most of their production is non-alcoholic and sold in cans. Current capacity is about 2,000 12-pack cases per month, but by the end of the year, that will increase to between 5,000 and 10,000 cases. Flavors include Gold Light, Blueberry White, Guayusa Mint, Lavender and Green Jasmine. A hopped kombucha is next on the list, and I can’t wait to try it.
Deciding that a food venue was the best way to sell the company’s products, Chris opened the Culture Cafe, a full bar and restaurant with a 100-person capacity. “It’s a great way for the community to get together, plus we’re doing private events, live music, karaoke and game nights, too,” said Chris.
In the bar, the specialty cocktails include The Herald, the Cucumber Refresher, the Kentucky Mule, The Morning After and The Workhorse. Most include a variety of kombucha, and all are made with Washington-made spirits. On tap, you’ll always find seven or eight kombuchas, as well as several craft beers and ciders. They also serve a house-made ginger beer. Weekly events include game night on Wednesdays and karaoke on Thursdays. An outdoor patio will soon be open, expanding seating capacity by about 20.
Chris’s lofty future plans include a second, larger brewery in San Diego. Why SD? Because California consumes two-thirds of the kombucha produced and sold in North America. Also in the works: a documentary that will tell the story of how Kombucha originated in Mongolia around 2,000 BC, and other interesting tidbits, such as how it contributed to Russian soldiers’ vitality during World War II.
The Culture Café features beautiful salads, soups, crostini, tacos, ceviche, pickled veggies and paninis. No red meat is served, and vegan and gluten-free options are available.
For now, Kombucha Town cans are sold in restaurants, retailers, grocery stores and coffee shops throughout the region–but it’s possible that the born-in-Bellingham brand could soon take over the world!
About the Author: Teresa Schmidt
Teresa Schmidt, a copywriter who owns and operates Sprout Creative, comes from a long line of brewers, bootleggers and saloonkeepers. She moved to Bellingham 13 years ago to write, hike, ski and paddle—but it was the beer that really sold her. She also loves wine. And cocktails. And good food. To work it all off, she runs around in the woods at every opportunity.
In Bellingham, Kombucha Tags Bellingham, Kombucha, Town, Washington, Healthy, Happy, PNW
← Support Your Local Craft With Kombucha Town and Aslan Brewing Co.Culture Café at Kombucha Town opening soon in downtown Bellingham →
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Star World Championship in Rio will have world class training opportunity Rio de Janeiro
The 81 teams entered in the Star World Championship Race will have a first class training opportunity this Friday. The teams will compete in the 66th Darke de Mattos Regatta, the oldest Star sailing race of the country.
This special promotional course will start in front of the Yacht Club of Rio de Janeiro and takes the boats out to Copacabana beach and back to the club in Urca, covering a distance of 11 nautical miles (approx. 19.3 km).
Of the 65 Darke de Mattos Regattas held so far, no fewer than 11 have been won by helmsman John King, one of the most experienced Star sailors in Brazil. Entered in this World Championship with crew member Norman MacPherson, he will be going for his 12th win. Torben Grael, owner of five Olympic medals and eight Star World Championship podium finishes, is a four-time winner of the most traditional Rio de Janeiro regatta. The winner conquers the Darke de Mattos Cup. Mattos wasn’t a sailor, but an aviator. He died near one of the ICRJ ramps in a water plane crash. Commodore Jorge de Mattos named the regatta after his brother, in honor of his memory.
The first official race of the Star World Championship will take place this Saturday at 1 p.m., in Guanabara Bay, the same location as where the last race of the world championship will take place on January 22. The race is approximately 8.5 to 10 miles in length (15.7-18.5 km) and takes approximately 2,5 hours. The other four regattas will be sailed outside the bay, in open sea, close to Rasa Island, across from Copacabana beach.
Measuring of the boats and athlete registration started this Tuesday morning at the Yacht Club of Rio de Janeiro, kicking off the competition’s calendar of events. The first Star World Championship took place in 1923 in the United States Since then, there has only been one year, in 1968, when the competition didn’t take place.
The first boat to be measured was that of Lars Grael and Ronald Seifert, serving as the model for all other measurers, who accompanied the work led by Brazilian Gunther Muller.
The Star World Championship 2010 is sponsoring by Banco do Brasil, Transpetro, Governo Federal, Gol Linhas Aéreas, Santa Constanza, Wollner and Secretaria Estadual de Turismo, Esporte e Lazer do Rio de Janeiro. The event is organized by Iate Clube do Rio de Janeiro, International Star Class Yacht Racing Association (ISCYRA), Confederação Brasileira de Vela e Motor (CBVM) and Federação de Vela do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FEVERJ).
Other informations on the oficial website: www.starworlds2010.com
Labels: Star, World Championship
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On Second Thought for Jan. 4, 2016
Welcome to 2016, where the air is murky and the going slippery — sort of like the race for president.
2016 will be kind of like 2015, except that the scary reality show we’ve all been watching ends with someone getting to run the free world.
The old year ended with the Clintons attacking Donald Trump on women’s issues and Trump firing back by reminding everyone of Bill Clinton’s messy extramarital adventures. But don’t despair. I hear Canada is a lovely place to live and fairly welcoming to immigrants from the south.
Thanks to Utah lawmakers, the tax on gasoline went up nearly 5 cents a gallon on Friday. Anxious motorists were relieved, however, to learn that Big Gulps remain at the same price per gallon.
People are making a big deal about how President Obama used the NSA to spy on members of Congress. But to be fair, Congress has a lower approval rating than many of the nation’s enemies.
The president thought he was on solid ground. After all, who could take any allegations of gathering “intelligence” from Congress seriously?
Actually, the president was spying directly on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and members of Congress just happened to be in front of the prime minister while he was talking. But hey, the intelligence community has a hard time infiltrating our enemies. Why not practice on our friends?
A century ago, the American president had a policy described as, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Today’s president has a policy described as, “Speak up, and talk directly into that lampshade.”
Somewhere, Richard Nixon is smiling and Hillary Clinton is wondering if she could one day use the NSA to keep track of Bill.
This White House spying scandal truly is outrageous. It seems the only place on earth where you can go to keep secrets any more is a Utah Republican caucus meeting at the state Legislature.
And so, we go boldly into 2016, still remembering those days long ago when a “smart watch” was something that looked good with your leisure suit, “virtual reality” was a sure bet, like the notion that disco would never go out of style, and a driverless car meant Uncle Ed forgot to set the parking brake again.
New England Quarterback Tom Brady cut a press conference short last week after reporters asked him about his relationship with Donald Trump. “I don’t even know what the issues are,” Brady has said, explaining that he doesn’t follow politics. But that’s hardly relevant, considering the same could be said of Trump.
Russian President Vladimir Putin last week praised Donald Trump as an “absolute leader.” He also called him "an outstanding and talented personality." It seems everyone is angling to be Trump’s running mate.
Apparently, Putin was just reacting to Trump’s promise to comp him some drinks next time he’s at Trump Towers in Las Vegas.
Actually, being endorsed by the leader of Russia can be embarrassing, even if he could help you ban Muslims and kill the families of terrorists.
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, meanwhile, apparently has been using his personal email account for official government business. First Hillary Clinton, and now Ashton Carter. Maybe someone should check to see whether the government’s IT guy is a surly computer geek everyone just wants to avoid.
In Carter’s defense, the last place the nation’s enemies would think to look for state secrets is Hotmail.
Carter was using his personal email account even after news broke about Hillary Clinton’s use of personal emails as secretary of state. This is what happens when people stop reading newspapers and watching newscasts. Hillary’s problems apparently never showed up on Carter’s Facebook feed.
In that sense, Carter was following the lead of the millennial generation, which seems clueless of current events. In fact, the Federal Reserve decided last week to raise interest rates for the first time in nine years, but millennials still had no interest.
The government’s North American Aerospace Defense Command is getting set to track Santa’s journey from the North Pole this week. Getting an exact location will be a little harder this year now that the NSA no longer can tap the big guy’s cell phone.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un now claims he has a hydrogen bomb. World leaders expressed concern. If someone like Kim can get such a bomb, what’s to stop someone like Donald Trump from getting one, too?
Senior U.S. defense officials were skeptical about North Korea’s claims, noting that filling a balloon with water does not technically constitute a hydrogen bomb.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump announced last week that he is postponing a trip to Israel until he can lob some insults at other targets to divert attention from his insults against Muslims.
Trump would bar Muslims from this country by instructing immigration officials to ask people if they are Muslim. He also would end crime by having police set up checkpoints to ask people if they are honest.
Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, Bernie Sanders is trying to regain some traction for his campaign by promising to crack down on the fossil fuel industry. It’s a little transparent when really old guys come out in defense of fossils, isn’t it?
Sanders would ban energy extraction on federal lands, ban hydraulic fracking for gas and oil and create clean energy jobs through a massive federal program. In other words, he would help Americans learn how to shelter in place.
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced last week that women now are eligible to fill every military combat role. That’s fine, but Americans really want to know whether a female protagonist will finally get to carry a light saber in a Star Wars movie.
Republican candidate Ben Carson, meanwhile, has gotten caught up in his own version of a pyramid scheme. Carson claims Joseph of the Old Testament built the Egyptian pyramids to store grain. Experts say they were built as burial tombs. Finally, an issue of substance for American voters to consider.
Thanks to Gov. Gary Herbert, Rutherford B. Hayes’s political career in Utah is now washed up.
Hayes, as the governor noted, once asked foreign nations to stop allowing Mormons to emigrate to Utah. Hayes once was a member of the Whig Party. Come to think of it, that might be a name to consider if Trump decides to form his own third party.
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Arts, Books, Entertainment, Film, Music Cobell Lawsuit & Settlement Education in Indian Country Federal Recognition Database Health, Indian Health Service Indian Law, Tribal Law Politics and Policy Ho-Chunk Inc.
Charles Trimble: Indian youth share an important lesson with us
charles trimble
rosebud sioux
Posted: Monday, January 2, 2012
Through Lakota Country Times, indianz.com, Facebook and You Tube, the story went out to many thousands of people about Lakota students at Todd County High School on the Rosebud Reservation and their response to ABC’s Dianne Sawyer’s program “Hidden American; The Children of the Plains,” which many Native people considered a negative depiction of life on the reservations in South Dakota.
“We’re more than that,” was the theme of the short video presentation, and it featured students with words written on their arms, face and feet, words expressing determination, hope, family, love, tradition. But most of all, there were nothing but smiling faces. Utilizing available technology on the campus, the students put together a creative package that no public relations firm could have done.
I saw the video presentation and was impressed and pleased by the message they sent. It was a positive message that told the world that there is much to be proud of out here on the Reservations, and the youth are the essence of that pride. It was uplifting, and classy.
It was not an in-your-face message. But neither was it a denial that drugs and gangs are a major problem on the reservations, and youth suicides are at an alarming rate. However, the students reaffirmed the determination to do something about it, and provided proof in the students themselves that things are working.
The youth on the reservations give us hope, even despite the prevalence of drugs and gangs and suicides. For example, a December 22, 2011, article from the American Indian Graduate Center heralded the following amazing fact:
“In the minds of many Americans, the Pine Ridge Reservation of the Oglala Sioux Tribe embodies all the problems of American Indians and Alaska Natives. Yet on this, one of the nation’s largest Native American Reservations, four American Indian scholars have set a standard virtually any town or city in the United States will find it very difficult to match. In 2011, four scholars who were raised in the historic village of Oglala, pop. 1290 (2010 Census), were honored for their work at the graduate level, one of whom is pursuing a Ph.D. degree and three having received Ph.D. degrees during the year. Some experts have speculated that, at least this year, it may be the highest per capita number of Ph.D.s of any municipality in the nation.”
These are the facts that need to be heralded throughout Indian Country and in the general public, for they help dispel the impression that our tribal youth wander the reservation countryside, hollow-eyed and disparaged, haunted by ghosts of our tragic history. It is often said that our youth have no Indian role models, yet those role models are everywhere, but need to be pointed out.
There are Native Americans in the White House and on Capitol Hill in Washington, in state offices, and many are unheralded in jobs of great responsibility in offices and factories across the country. And indeed there are many role models on the reservations – special people who stayed home precisely to develop the homelands and provide education and opportunity to future generations of our tribes.
The recent brouhaha caused by Dianne Sawyer’s ABC program “Hidden American; The Children of the Plains,” brought forth an interesting societal inner conflict in Indian Country, especially in the Northern Plains. On the one hand, we come close to seeming to boast about the extent of our poverty and social pathology: highest infant mortality; lowest life expectancy; highest unemployment; staggering rate of alcoholism and domestic violence in the poorest counties in the nation. On the other hand, we resent it when someone else points out those same statistics.
Diane Sawyer told no lies, nor did she exaggerate any facts or figures. She did point out at least one bright spot – Red Cloud Indian School, but unfortunately she gave the impression that it was an elite academy of sorts, and did not point out that it operates on a much smaller budget than any school of comparable size on the reservation, and drains little of the funds from the federal budgets appropriated for the reservations.
And she did give the opportunity for Indian children to express their own dreams for their future. I don’t know what the answers would be if I were to ask any of those children featured in the ABC show, or their parents or relatives, what they thought of the show. But I’m sure there would be positive responses, and some positive outcomes in terms of benefits.
Nevertheless, the Todd County High School students did a commendable job, as did their teachers. One important lesson that came out of all this was that positive action can be taken when we might feel offended or misrepresented. What the students did was far better and more effective than grumbling and stewing in self-pity and resentment. They and their teachers are to be commended.
As one You Tube viewer put it, “Go Falcons.” Charles "Chuck" Trimble, was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and is a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation. He was principal founder of the American Indian Press Association in 1970, and served as Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians from 1972-1978. He is retired and lives in Omaha, NE. He can be contacted at cchuktrim@aol.com and his website is www.iktomisweb.com.
Charles Trimble: Gyasi Ross is a great new writer among us (12/12)
Charles Trimble: Stop treating Indian students like the victims (11/29)
Charles Trimble: Thanksgiving out among the colonized people (11/23)
Charles Trimble: Doing right for the 'Children of the Plains' (10/24)
Charles Trimble: Two Oglala Sioux men earn places in history (10/10)
Charles Trimble: Injustice in removal of Cherokee Freedmen (9/12)
Charles Trimble: Don't mess with this 84-year-old Dakota lady (9/6)
Charles Trimble: US manipulation of tribes goes back centuries (9/2)
ads@blueearthmarketing.com 712.224.5420
Mark Trahant: Turning out the vote in Indian Country in 2012
Turtle Talk: Top 10 most popular Indian law stories from 2011
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Equality feminism is a subset of the overall feminism movement that focuses on the basic similarities between men and women, and whose ultimate goal is the equality of the sexes in all domains. This includes economic and political equality, equal access within the workplace, freedom from oppressive gender stereotyping, and an androgynous worldview.[1]
Feminist theory seeks to promote the legal status of women as equal and undifferentiated from that of men. While equality feminists largely agree that men and women have basic biological differences in anatomy and frame, they argue that on a psychological level, the use of ration or reason is androgynous. For equality feminists, men and women are equal in terms of their ability to reason, achieve goals, and prosper in both the work and home front.
Equality feminism was the dominant version of feminism following Mary Wollstonecraft’s “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” (1792). Wollstonecraft made the case that women’s equality to men manifests itself in education, worker's rights, and further produced a proverbial roadmap in order for future women to follow in terms of activism and feminist theorizing.[2] Since then, active equality feminist include Simone de Beauvoir, the Seneca Falls Convention Leaders, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Coffin Mott, Susan B. Anthony, Betty Friedan, and Gloria Steinem.
While equality feminism was the dominant perspective of feminism during the 19th and 20th century, the 1980s and 1990s brought about a new focus in popular feminism on difference feminism, or the essential differences between men and women.[3] In opposition to equality feminism, this view advocates for the celebration of the “feminine” by focusing on traditionally viewed female traits, such as empathy, nurturing, and care. While equality feminists view human nature as essentially androgynous, difference feminists claim that this viewpoint aligns the “good” with male-dominated stereotypes, thus sticking within the patriarchic framework of society.[4]
2 Equality Feminist Theory
3 Important Figures
3.1 Mary Wollstonecraft
3.2 John Stuart Mill
3.3 Simone de Beauvoir
3.4 Eva Vermeulen
3.5 Betty Friedan
In both law and in theology women were portrayed as both physically and intellectually inferior. One of the first feminist documents that set the stage for feministic movements occurred when Mary Wollstonecraft wrote "Vindication of the Rights of Woman" in 1792. While this literature was seen as rebellious at the time it echoed the feelings of women throughout France as women’s republican clubs demanded that liberty, equality and fraternity should be applied to both men and women. While this movement gained notoriety it was eventually extinguished by Napoleon Bonaparte’s Code Napoleon that established that the husband had complete control over the family and regressed equality feminism.[5]
While much of the equality feminism movements that occurred in France weren’t successful they influenced much of the movements that occurred in North America in the 1800s. Both Abigail Adams and Mercy Otis Warren fought for woman’s emancipation to be included in the constitution of 1776 to no avail. However, Elizabeth Cade Stanton, Lucretia Coffin Mott, along with thousands of other women changed the dynamics of equality feminism forever with the women’s convention at Seneca Falls N.Y. in 1848. Here along with independence they demanded full legal equality in all aspects of life (education, commercial opportunities, compensation, voting rights, etc.). With the influence of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan Brownell Anthony, this movement evolved into Europe. In 1869 John Stuart Mill published The Subjection of Women in which he argued that equality between the sexes would translate to more moral and intellectual advancement which in turn would result in more human happiness to everyone.[6]
After the expansion into Europe, the movement stifled its growth until 1920 where the woman suffrage movement occurred, as many women were divided when determining whether or not women were on equal standing with men. This continued until the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women was established in 1946 to secure equal political, economic and educational opportunities for women throughout the world. In 1949, a French Existentialist Simone de Beauvoir published the work The Second Sex, in which she debunks many of the claims made towards women and fights for gender equality. In 1963 another literature pertaining to equality feminism arose, with Betty Friedman’s The Feminine Mystique in which she discussed “the problem that has no name”, being the widespread unhappiness of women in the 1950s.[7] She uses this information to describe many of the gender inequalities that society has created that has resulted in this unhappiness, such as giving up her psychology career to tend to her children. Using these literatures as a guide feminism once again arose in the United States with the development of the National Organization for Women (NOW) formed in 1966. This organization fought for the removal of all legal and social barriers placed upon women to once again influence true equality between men and women. In 1972 women leaders such as Bella Abzug, Betty Friedan, and Gloria Steinem pushed the Equal Rights Amendment through Congress however it fell short of ratification by 1982.[8]
Equality Feminist Theory
Equality feminist theory is the extension of the equality of the male and female into theoretical and philosophical fields of thought. At its core, equality feminist theory advocates for the equal standing of both men and women in terms of desires, wants, goals, and achievement. Thus, from this viewpoint, the basis of human nature outside of culture is androgynous, neutral, and equal.[9]
Much of equality feminism focuses on the relation of reason as the central tenet of both men and women equally. Mary Wollstonecraft in "A Vindication on the Rights of Women" (1792) claimed that women should enjoy the same legal and political rights as men on the grounds that they are human beings. Specifically, Wollstonecraft argues for "[a]sserting the rights which women in common with men ought to contend for".[10] In this way, both men and women should have equal access to rights because they have an equal access to the capacity to reason. Similarly, The Subjection of Women (1869), John Stuart Mills advocated that society ought to be arranged according to reason and that ‘accidents of birth’ is irrelevant. Thus, because both men and women are governed by principles of reason, then the biological elements such as sex, gender, and race aren’t contributing factors to the essence of the individual. Mill notes that within a patriarchic society, “Men hold women in subjection by representing to them meekness, submissiveness resignation of all individual will into the hands of a man as an essential part of sexual attractiveness”.[11] In this way, to say that women have essential characteristics of submission by nature of their sex is an oppressive measure that contradicts the basic principle of reason that governs all human nature.
In 1792 Wollstonecraft wrote one of the earliest works in feminist philosophy and though she doesn’t explicitly state that men and women are equal she does call for equality in various realms of life which set the stage for future equality feminist works. In her piece A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: with Strictures on Political and Moral Subjects, Wollstonecraft argues that women should have an education comparable to their position in society. She articulates her argument by claiming that since women were the primary care givers they could be able to better educate their own children and be seen as “companions" to the husband rather than wives if they were given this opportunity. Instead of being considered “property” that were exchanged through marriage, Wollstonecraft maintains that women are human being and therefore deserve equal fundamental rights as men.[12]
John Stuart Mill
In 1869, John Stuart Mill with the help of his wife Harriet Taylor Mill published The Subjection of Women, in it he argued for equality between the sexes. John Stuart Mill was able to draw off of some of the arguments his wife made in her essay The Enfranchisement of Women, in which she opened the door of favoring equality for both men and women. Mill believe that the moral and intellectual advancement from giving women the opportunity to be considered equal would translate to greater happiness for everyone involved. He believed that all humans had the capability of being educated and civilized, with which he argued women should be given the right to vote. Throughout the book Mill continues to argue that both men and women should be able to vote to defend their rights and be able to have the opportunity to stand on their own two feet morally and intellectually, and constantly used his position in Parliament to advocate for Women’s suffrage.[13]
Mill attacks many of the arguments that women are inferior at certain activities and therefore be forbidden from doing them by saying that women aren’t given the opportunities and therefore we don’t know what women are capable of. He claims that males are making an authoritative statement without evidence, an argument solely based on speculation. Mill claims that by giving women this opportunity to figure out exactly what they were capable of would double the mass of mental faculties to serve humanity, and could produce a great impact on human development.[14]
Simone de Beauvoir played a large role in equality feminism with the publishing of her book The Second Sex that’s broken into 3 parts. In the first part “Destiny” de Beauvoir discusses the relationship of male to female in a variety of creatures before comparing human beings. This physiological data along with psychoanalytical data help her come to the conclusion that there wasn’t a historical defeat of the female sex. Part two “History” outlines the two factors in the evolution of women’s condition: participation in production and freedom from reproductive slavery. In these chapters, de Beauvoir compares being a women to being like an animal, similar to the way male animals dominated a female. Finally in part three “Myths”, de Beauvoir discusses the perceived “everlasting disappointment” of women from a male heterosexual point of view. She then comes back and discusses full reality of the situation to show the discrepancies between perception and reality.[15] Throughout her literary career, de Beauvoir helped unravel some of the “myths” associated with perceptions in gender and set forth a strong message that men and women should be treated equal with equal rights.
Eva Vermeulen
Eva Vermeulen played a large role in equality feminism by arguing with other Society Commissioners. Became one of the most recognized equality feminists of society 'De Kroeg'.
Betty Friedan became one of the most recognized equality feminists after writing the book The Feminine Mystique, in which she discusses “the problem that has no name”, female unhappiness in the 1950s and 1960s. It was through this book that Friedman was able to address many of the problems and the widespread recognition allowed her to later become president of the National Organization for Women(NOW).
Throughout the piece Friedan addressed the problem that women had “wanting more than a husband, children, and a home”. Friedan discusses the societal expectations of raising children and how this caused many women to not be able to do what they wanted. Many decisions that were made for women were made by men and this had worn out many women. She discusses the problem of education and that many families solely focused on education for the male children and women were instead “assigned to be married to fulfill child-bearing expectations”.[16] It was through the impact of this piece of literature that women were finally given a voice to say it was okay to not want to conform to societal expectations and fight for equality of opportunities, choices, marriage, education, and voting.
The main objection raised to equality feminism comes in the form of difference feminism, the belief that emphasizes the differences between men and women. This viewpoint, as championed by such feminists such as Carol Gilligan, Joan Tronto, Eva Feder Kittay, Genevieve Lloyd, Alison Jaggar, and Ynestra King, developed out of the rejection of the androgynous view of human nature as emphasized in equality feminism. Begun largely in the 1980s, this viewpoint makes the case that equality feminism fails to account for the uniquely female experience, and thus creates the male perspective as the dominant aspiration.[17]
↑ [Stanford University. Gendered Innovations. http://genderedinnovations.stanford.edu/terms/feminism.html Accessed 3 October 2014]
↑ [Wollstonecraft,Mary. A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext02/vorow10.txt, Accessed 4 October 2014]
↑ [The University of Alabama. Kinds of Feminism http://www.uah.edu/woolf/feminism_kinds.htm, Accessed 3 October 2014]
↑ [Ethics of Care (International Encyclopedia of Philosophy). http://www.iep.utm.edu/care-eth/. Accessed 2 October 2014]
↑ [Landes, Joan B. Women and the Public Sphere in the Age of the French Revolution. Ithaca: Cornell UP, 1988. Print.Accessed 1 October 2014]
↑ [Mills,John Stuart and Susan Moller Okin. The Subjection of Women. Hacking Publishing, 1998. (pg 87-89). http://books.google.com/books/about/The_subjection_of_women.html?id=PK_BGGCU_dsC. Accessed 1 October 2014]
↑ [Friedan, Betty. "The Feminine Mystique." The Essential Feminist Reader. Ed. Estelle B. Freedman. New York: Random House Group, 2007. N. pag. Print. Accessed 2 October 2014]
↑ [Castro, Ginette. American Feminism: A Contemporary History. Trans. Elizabeth Loverde-Bagwell. New York: New York UP, 1990. Print. Accessed 1 October 2014]
↑ [Wollstonecraft, Mary. A Vindication of the Rights of Women, pg 8. https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext02/vorow10.txt, Accessed 4 October 2014]
↑ [Mills, John Stuart and Susan Moller Okin. The Subjection of Women. Hacking Publishing, 1998. (pg 1-127). http://books.google.com/books/about/The_subjection_of_women.html?id=PK_BGGCU_dsC. Accessed 4 October 2014]
↑ [Wollstonecraft, Mary. A Vindication of the Rights of Women, (pg 74-88). https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext02/vorow10.txt, Accessed 4 October 2014]
↑ [John Stuart Mills (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)". plato.stanford.edu. Retrieved 30 September 2014]
↑ [Mills, John Stuart and Susan Moller Okin. The Subjection of Women. Hacking Publishing, 1998. (pg 56-79). http://books.google.com/books/about/The_subjection_of_women.html?id=PK_BGGCU_dsC. Accessed 4 October 2014]
↑ [Beauvoir, Simone De. The Second Sex. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1949. Print.]
↑ [Bromley,Victoria L. . (2012). Feminisms Matter: Debates. Theories. Activism. Toronto, Ontario: University of Toronto Press Inc. ISBN 978-1-4426-0500-8]
Liberal feminism
Individualist feminism
Equity feminism
First wave feminism
Second wave feminism
Retrieved from "https://infogalactic.com/w/index.php?title=Equality_feminism&oldid=646072"
Feminism and history
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So, whats funny? And whats infuriating?
Arts and Entertainment Editor Bob Sokolsky says it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell. At one time, he says, many comics attracted critical anger with their use of certain words. Now, however, it is not so much those words as the way they are used.
Sokolsky points to Tracy Morgan as a latest example. Appearing at a standup club in Nashville, he launched into a comic monologue many considered explosively anti-gay.
Morgan has apologized for his remarks, but the criticism of his act has not disappeared.
Sokolsky sees a lesson for all entertainers in the situation, noting that times and attitudes are ever changing and that current technology can make any performance available to a world-wide audience on an instant basis. In other words, he advises, know your audience. And thinking before opening ones mouth might also be a good idea.
Episode Date: June 17, 2011
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Lynne Lawner
Sabrina Raffaghello Arte Contempora
Lynne Lawner was born in Ohio. A graduate of Wellesley College with a PhD from Columbia University, Lawner has been a Henry Fellow at Cambridge University, three times a Fulbright Research Scholar in Italy, a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, an American Association of University Women Fellow, a Fellow of the Harvard Center for Italian Renaissance Studies (Villa “I Tatti”), a Radcliffe Institute Fellow, a Gladys Delmas Fellow in Venice, and a Fellow of the Center for Advanced Studies in the Visual Arts at the National Gallery of Art. She has been a Visiting Professor at UCLA and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She has lectured at Yale, Harvard, Columbia, Vassar, Connecticut College for Women, Indiana University, and many museums and institutions including Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, the Bard Center for the Decorative Arts, the Chicago Art Institute, the Dayton Art Institute, the Italian Cultural Institutes in New York, Chicago, and Washington, the New York Harvard Club, Yale Drama School, and the National Arts Club. A few years ago, for the Smithsonian Associates, she devised a seminar based on her own photographs, entitled “From Sans Souci to Schoenbrunn: Great Castles, Palaces, and Gardens of Central Europe”.
Lawner’s fine art photography, a relatively recent development and passion in her life, has grown out of the same humus as her poetry. Her visual work is now in distinguished collections such as those of Gioconda Leykauf and Fabio Castelli. After showing her work at the inaugural edition of the MIA-Fair, Superstudio...
Sometimes I see myself as a huntress in a woods or at the edge of a lake, waiting in ambush to seize her prey. Perhaps this metaphor derives form my studies of mythology.
My eye has been refined through many year of looking at artworks. The contemplation and study of paintings and other kinds of visual art have taught my eyes to recognize, select, and classify formal elements. Form and rhythm have been equally involved in my long-term dedication to music and poetry.
In the end it is nature that plays the essential role in my life. I cannot stay away from it for long without suffering spiritually and physically.
Well along in my career, and to my own surprise, photography has become the chosen way in which I respond to the innumerable signals nature sends out, indeed the pathway by means of which I enter into the dialogue between natural and artistic forms that has existed for centuries. In nature I rediscover the roots of art, letting them flourish in ever new elaborations. This privileged relationship, fascinating and inexhaustible, moves from knowledge to recognition and beyond.
Many persons ask me what techniques I use. My photographic skill consists mainly of patient observation. The camera allows me to capture and to share with others the consonant harmonies that are veiled when I go deep into natural environments, armed with a concentrated vigilance of senses and will. Is there such a thing as dissonance in nature? Nature knows where it’s going, that’s clear, but as it proceeds it manifests itself in a series of...
www.sabrinaraffaghello.com
Via Gorani 7
info@sabrinaraffaghello.com
Exhibited artists
Visit the Virtual Fair:
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LED FAQ » What is an LED Watch
What is an LED Watch
Find the answer to the frequently asked LED Lights related question: What is an LED Watch?
While you might not know the difference between an LED and LCD television, there's one LED electronic device that you're doubtless quite familiar with: the LED watch. It's also one of the few LED devices that almost everyone has owned at one time or another. The LED watch has proven itself a classic ever since its introduction 40 years ago.
Definition of an LED Watch
The LED watch is one of the styles that we normally call a "digital" watch. Rather than using hands and painted-on numbers to tell the time, the LED watch uses tiny light nodes ("light emitting diodes," or "LEDs") to generate light. Whatever the time is, the diodes light up to present that time. For instance, if it's 5:01, then the diodes for the 5, 0 and 1 will light up, telling the time. Even though the LED watch has been around since 1970, it still has the look and feel of something more cutting-edge than the old fashioned rotating-hands watch.
Hamilton Watch Company developed the first LED watch in 1970. This first digital watch had a red light display and was priced at $2,100 (partly because of its 18 carat gold band and partly because all high-tech devices start off priced high, until demand allows costs to be cut). Since then, watch companies have managed to hold onto the LED watch's reputation for being cutting-edge, by introducing innovative features such as calculators, stopwatches, language translators, even tiny TV sets.
Advantages of the LED Watch
There are plenty of advantages that continue to make the LED watch popular. First, it's undeniable that it's easier to tell the time when it's spelled out for you in digits. Beyond that, though, LED watches are more environmentally friendly and they tend to have a longer life span than other watch display modes. Because it has no moving parts, it's actually easier to maintain the LED watch. On top of all of that, as ironic as it might seem, LED watches are now some of the most affordable ones available.
One other consideration: Many people have historically felt that the watch with hands and gears are more fashionable. While it's true that the practical, utilitarian watches now mostly come as digital watches, it's also true that there are scores of very classy, very fashionable LED watches. Of course, much of the watch's "fashionability" will come from the band that's on it. However, even the faces of some LED watches help make a striking fashion statement, thanks to the new funky colors and layouts that you can buy.
The Verdict on LED Watches
It's hard to argue against the LED watch. It's the most convenient way available to tell the time quickly. Beyond that, LED watches always look very cutting edge and "with the times." They can either be extremely affordable or extremely fashionable--and in some cases, both. For that reason, everyone should buy at least one or even several LED watches for their wardrobe.
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New cultural icon for Istanbul
Designed by Tabanlioglu Architects, the venue will built using locally sourced natural materials. It will mainly serve as an opera house and will feature a 2,500 seat opera hall with natural acoustics. In addition it will offer smaller concert halls, theatre halls, cinemas, libraries, design shops as well as cafes and restaurants.
The facade will be reconstructed to be more transparent than the former venue giving views to the red outer shell of the opera hall inside the building. A huge outdoor screen will allow stage performances to be broadcast simultaneously for the public
“It is very gratifying to have taken over such a heritage, beyond that, of course, we see this building to be a permanent cultural symbol for Turkey and the world,” says Murat Tabanlıoğlu, founder of Tabanlioglu Architects.
The centre, which is due to complete in 2019, is expected to be a major attraction for the city’s residents as well as international tourists.
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Mapanare.us Constantly.Consuming.Culture.
Live & Photos
Travel & Photos
Sara Rahbar Creates Mesmerizing, Thought Provoking Work Out Of The Detritus Of War-- Appearing At NADA Miami 2018
by Patrick Ogle
Sara Rahbar makes art out of the detritus of war. She is a mixed media artist whose sculpture and installation pieces take broken, implements of war, pieces of uniform and gear and recreates them into art. Her work is both personal and broad in its scope. Pieces reflect her experiences but they also embody the broader, shared, human experience.
Rahbar, an American artist born in Iran, lives and works in New York City. Her work will be show at NADA Miami 2018 (December 6 to 9) by Carbon.12 Gallery (Dubai). Her work with cast off martial items began early for her.
“From the very beginning I’ve always been attracted to these kinds of objects. I’m sure it has something to do with my past but I never overthink it. For me working is very instinctual, very raw and natural,” she says. “I began with the American flag and remnants from different wars. Now it’s cast bronze body parts, tools and collected objects but in the end they all touch on the same subjects: love, violence, control, the human condition. The objects and mediums may change but these subjects have always played a very significant role in my work. The foundation of it all are my emotions & memories; that is where everything begins.”
Knowing she was born, and left, Iran during a tumultuous period tends to lend credence to the notion that this is the root of her art but it isn’t necessarily that, or at least that alone.
“I don’t remember much and in general I don’t like to linger in the past. I let it all go a long time ago. But you know how it is we accumulate so much from living, from being out there in the world,emotions, memories and they always pop up in the work somehow. Sometimes I am aware of it and sometimes I’m not,” she says. “The work is a reflection of me of my life -of all the things that I’ve seen, recorded, felt & held onto all these years. And just like I have an accumulation of memories and emotions- my work is an accumulation of used and lived objects, neatly placed and attached together in a way that makes sense to me.”
Find out more at sararahbar.com
A sideways comparison to Louise Nevelson is justifiably brushed aside by Rahbar who explains the differences succinctly.
“She is a wonderful artist and I love her work -but my pieces are very different from hers. I use very specific objects--weapons and body parts. Also there’s a lot of metal in these pieces and Nevelson’s pieces were primarily wood.” says Rahbar. “These days I primarily work with wood and metal they are strong materials-and I like that I don’t like weak things. I don’t like things that break.”
Rahbar says she talks about workers, soldiers and the people just trying to survive. Geography, interactions and what remains after trauma are all part of her art.
“There are a lot of ideas that run through my mind when I collect these objects, but in the end when they’re in my studio they very organically come together and wind up becoming these historical totem poles or wall pieces,” she says. “I feel like I’m recording a history with these pieces; some of these objects are from World War I and II some of them are tools are from the 18th and 19th century. I feel such a relatedness to these objects and subjects. It all stems from somewhere deep down inside of me. It’s very hard to put into words.”
Like most art, the reaction of viewers comes from the viewer as much as it does from the art. Looking at Rahbar’s art is likely to inspire thought and a response. Different people will have different feelings about the work. This is, however, not the artist’s concern.
“I have received all different kinds of reactions to the work. But I don’t really focus on that too much. Once I make the piece I let it go.” says Rahbar. “I don’t focus on what it means and what people think of it. I’m focused on the bodies of work--the bigger picture and mainly the next piece. It’s always about the next piece.”
As Rahbar noted, she doesn’t work in “found items” alone. She also uses cast Bronze.
“I work with this amazing foundry in New York--Modern Art Foundry in Astoria, Queens. They have been around forever and I love working with them,” she says. “I cast my own body parts and use them in my various bodies of work. Sometimes they are attached to various collected objects and sometimes they are just on their own.”
She used to use prosthetics in her work but decided she needed skin, fingertips and veins.
“I needed curled feet and hands frozen in stressful positions--more human and authentic looking arms and legs,” she says. “That’s when I decide to just cast my own. I love working with bronze.“
There is something painful, something traumatic, in Rahbar’s art, in addition to the beauty. Yet she never recalls any temptation to create art of a more mundane sort.
“I’ll never forget this documentary that I watched years ago on Francis Bacon and they asked him the same kind of thing and he said something along the lines of 'flowers are also very tragic and sad because eventually they slowly wither away and die right before our eyes'.” she says. “I’ve had my share of trauma--the work is my catharsis, it heals me. It’s helped me to work through it and I’m at peace now.”
She is vegan and meditates after battling years of pain from addiction and depression.
“I’m in a better place now-and I have found that in facing the pain rather than running away from it or numbing myself to it. I’ve been able to create this body of work and heal myself in the process,” she says. “The work has been the only thing that has saved me from myself--that and my mother & brother. They have always been my rocks. I would not have made it this far without them.”
Rahbar, as noted above, will be showing her work at NADA Miami via Carbon 12 (Dubai). She will also be showing work at The Sordoni Art Gallery at Wilkes University from October 23 to December 16, 2018 as part of Loud Silence--Activism Through Art.
This section is interviews with artists, musicians, writers and anyone else we think is interesting.
Art Basel 2012 Previews
Art Week Miami 2013
Art Week Miami 2014 Previews
Miami Art Week 2017
PFAF 2019
Superfine!
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Broadway @ Concert Series
Well-Strung
Nancy and Beth
Varla Jean Merman
Seth Rudetsky
with ALEX RYBECK at the piano
Broadway @ The Art House
Aug 25 & 26
Mark Cortale and BROADWAY @ THE ART HOUSE are proud to present Tony Award Winner Faith Prince for two shows with Alex Rybeck as pianist.
Faith Prince has been dazzling Broadway audiences since winning the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance as Ms. Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. As one of Broadways best-loved leading ladies, Faith most recently starred on Broadway in Disaster! the musical for which she received rave reviews. In a role she was born to play, she also starred as the scheming, irascible Miss Hannigan in the Broadway revival of Annie. In 2008, she was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for A Catered Affair. Other Broadway credits include The Little Mermaid, Bells Are Ringing (Tony, DD, OCC noms), Nick & Nora (OCC Award), Jerome Robbins Broadway (Tony, DD noms), Little Me, The Dead, and Noises Off. She also starred in the world premiere of Terrence McNally’s Unusual Acts of Devotion and in the national tour of the Broadway hit Billy Elliott. Chicago audiences had the opportunity to see Faith on stage in the iconic role of Brenda in the new musical version of the hit movie First Wives Club.
Faith currently recurs on the ABC hit series Modern Family. She also recurred as Joey Lawrence’s mother on ABC Family’s long-running series Melissa & Joey and wrapped her 5-season run as Brooke Elliott’s mother on Lifetime’s popular series Drop Dead Diva. She was a series regular on Showtime’s Huff starring as Kelly Knippers,” the love interest of Oliver Platt, and recurred for five seasons on Spin City. Other television credits include Scream Queens, Chicago Justice, Galavant, Angel from Hell, A Gifted Man, Happy Endings, Ugly Betty, Greys Anatomy, CSI, Faith, House, Medium, Sweet Potato Queens, Monk, Now and Again, Welcome To New York and Law and Order. Film credits include Our Very Own, Picture Perfect, Dave, and My Father the Hero.
Faith recently traveled to Australia for a concert tour with her Annie co-star Anthony Warlow, which included performances at the Sydney Opera House and the Adelaide Music Festival. She works often with the Boston Pops, Utah Symphony, Cincinnati Pops, and Philly Pops, and starred in the Orlando Philharmonics concert version of Sweeney Todd. Faith toured her original show Moving On in Australia to rave reviews, and also toured in Over the Rainbow, a concert celebrating the centennial of Harold Arlen. Faiths new album, Total Faith, was recorded at the Royal Room in the Colony Hotel in Palm Beach and was recently released by Broadway Records. Her award-winning album, A Leap of Faith, was recorded at Joe’s Pub.
1210 Royal St.
Mark Cortale Productions
2014 MCP - All rights reserved.
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Pakistan,Turkey : PAKISTAN: KSEW launched a 17,000-tonne heavy Warship fleet tanker with STM, TURKEY
Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works (KSEW) of Pakistan on Friday has accomplished the rolling out of a new heavy Warship fleet tanker of 17,000-tonne at its facility in the countrys port city of Karachi in the presence of the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The newly launched vessel is being built by the company in partnership with Savunma Teknologiler Muhendisilik (STM) of Turkey.
The fleet tanker, with overall length and width of respectively 158.4 m and 22 m, has a scantling displacement of more than 17,000 tonnes.
The platform receives energy from a pair of diesel engines that forces two changeable pitch propellers, with capability of attaining a maximum speed of 20 kt.
KSEW has refrained from divulging any details on the cargo facility of the vessel, but the companys website has a picture that displays two replenishment-at-sea (RAS) masts, one on the port and another on starboard sides. The Navy Warship fleet tanker has a helicopter deck as well to facilitate refill operations vertically.
KSEW has revealed that the steel for the vessel was cut for the first time on November 27, 2013, while its keel was placed on March 7, 2014.
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The Burden of Multiple Myeloma in New Zealand
On 26 June, Dr Liz Craig, List Member of Parliament for the Labour Party and Member of the Health Select Committee, launched a new landmark study on multiple myeloma in New Zealand.
The purpose of this report is to raise awareness and understanding of multiple myeloma and its treatments and outcomes among policy-makers, clinicians, patients and the general public, and to report on the human, psycho-social and economic costs of this disease in New Zealand. The economic perspective of the study is societal, in that it attempts to assess as many as possible of the costs relevant to myeloma.
The Burden of Multiple Myeloma report was led by Associate Professor Richard Milne, who says improving the management of myeloma in New Zealand will reduce the current economic burden on the healthcare system.
Below you will find three reports including the Burden of Multiple Myeloma report, a summary of the report and its recommendations, and the results of a recent study of patients and carers of multiple myeloma.
The Burden of Multiple Myeloma: A study of the human and economic costs of myeloma in New Zealand
The purpose of this report is to raise awareness and understanding of multiple myeloma and its treatments and outcomes among policy makers, clinicians, patients and the general public, and to report on the human, psycho-social and economic costs of this disease in New Zealand. The economic perspective of the study is societal, in that it attempts to assess as many as possible of the costs relevant to myeloma.
A summary of the Burden of Multiple Myeloma
Because of the sheer volume of material in The Burden of Multiple Myeloma, we decided to summarise it as a separate publication, with a focus on the findings of the report that can help us chart the way forward in the treatment of myeloma.
As the report demonstrates, there have been great advances in the treatment of this complex disease in recent years, seen in particular in significant increases in survival. We are committed to working constructively with the Government to find workable, affordable ways to make more of these treatments available to New Zealanders.
Patients’ Perspectives
The patient survey carried out in conjunction with the report provides valuable, real-life insights into what it is like to live with myeloma, and lessons on what can be done to improve support and quality of life for our patients and their families. We are grateful to the patients and caregivers who completed the survey and provided their stories.
Copyright 2018 Myeloma New Zealand, All Right Reserved
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Homepage Home > Lowestoft community centre makeover helps young people develop skills and confidence
Lowestoft community centre makeover helps young people develop skills and confidence
Young people in Yarmouth and Waveney are working with mental health therapists to develop new skills and confidence through the refurbishment of a Lowestoft community centre.
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust's coastal Youth Mental health team is working with young people and charities. The project was developed by occupational therapists Catherine Kilbey and Claire Moran.
Catherine said: "We were looking for a way of bringing together a group of young people, to help promote teamwork, boost confidence and social skills. I've worked in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney Youth Team as an Occupational Therapist for nearly eight months now. When I first started the job, I was pretty excited to learn about an opportunity that would really make a difference to young people in the area.
The project is Boston Lodge - a large community centre in Lowestoft managed by the charity, Ormiston Families. The centre is used by a wide range of groups and members of the public, as well as being a valuable meeting point for organisations such as Mind and the NHS. However, Boston Lodge is quite dated in places and was in need of a revamp.
Catherine added: "It was instantly clear to us that we could use this as a positive opportunity - and so began the Boston Lodge 'make-over' project. The aim of the Boston Lodge project is to be a therapeutic intervention, to increase confidence, social skills, routine and structure, time keeping and team work. Each young person sets goals for what they would like to gain from the project and these are reviewed regularly. The make-over of the building is just a product and means of trying to achieve these goals.
"We hope this will bring young people together who may be isolated or struggling with their mental health. The young people in this project will benefit from being part of a team, as well as getting to work independently.
"Teamwork is a fundamental skill and it can really help a person grow in confidence. This will then encourage independence in decision-making, a great skill in life to have – in school, college or work (paid and voluntary).
"By being involved in the Boston Lodge project, we hope that many of the young people involved will gain skills in confidence, socialising, planning, budgeting, working as a team and making decisions together as well as the practical aspects of the project – painting, DIY, making mosaics and much more."
The project involves people aged 14-25 years and involved with the NHS Youth team, Early Intervention Team or the charities Young People in Mind or Ormiston Families.
The Boston Lodge project last year won a Suffolk County Council Joint Working Award, an awards programme promoting closer working between voluntary sector organisations and with public and private sector organisations.
Award winners had to demonstrate achieving outstanding outcomes, which were better than would have been achieved had the organisation not worked with others.
Sharon Tejada-Jimenez Service Manager at Boston Lodge for Ormiston Families said: "The young people and staff who have worked on this project have worked tremendously hard and have worked extremely well as a team."
"It's been great to see the progress each young person has through learning new skills and growing in self-confidence."
"By deciding to create a mural of Lowestoft's coastline they have managed to capture our vision for Boston Lodge as an accessible community asset for the town. "
"We've had a very positive reaction from everyone who uses Boston lodge when they see what the young people involved in the project have achieved. The project has also benefited from the support of local businesses who have generously supplied the equipment for the project."
"I am very excited to see what finished article will look like and listening to any other ideas they might have."
Catherine and some of the team are also blogging about developments in the project. By sharing progress they hope to give some of the young volunteers 'a voice' and hopefully it will inspire or provide a support network for these young people.
You can read the blog about Boston Lodge at:
www.whatsthedealwith.co.uk/blog/boston-lodge-blank-canvas
Picture caption: Left to right: Gary Pitcher (Community Support Worker, Youth Service, NSFT), Jane Harding (Young People in Mind), Kurt (Service User), Catherine Kilbey (Occupational Therapist, Youth Service, NSFT), Karah (Service User) and Claire Moran (Occupational Therapist, Youth Service, NSFT).
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Memoirs by Nancy
Born into a multi-faceted, well-educated, intellectually curious family, Sherry Downes knew from a young age that life would hold both mystery and adventure. Finding early but abiding love when still a teenager, she married after college, and the couple joyfully welcomed three sons in the years that followed. When tragedy struck, Sherry faced it squarely and carried on, finding a new life for herself and her children. Opportunities for work, travel, friendship and new love unfolded as time went by, bringing moves across the country, a burgeoning passion for politics, and a host of happy times. Even as the decades brought sorrows and joys of every kind, Sherry remained steadfastedly an adventurer with a resolute spirit, determined to maintain her prevailing faith, her love of family and her sense of humor throughout her journey. Purchase here.
The adored daughter of a Polynesian maiden and an American writer destined for fame, Nancy Ella Hall Rutgers grew up amidst the idyllic landscapes of Tahiti. As a teenager, she met the love of her life, and their seventy years together were a montage of glamorous parties, seaside fun and domestic happiness in Tahiti, Hawaii and Colorado. Mutiny on the Bounty put her father on the map as a novelist, but it was through his poems that he celebrated the wonders of raising a daughter, and Nancy’s memoir is a loving tribute to three generations, celebrating her parents, her husband, and the four children she and Nick raised together. Purchase here.
An eager adventurer from a very young age, Art ("Nod") Milliken played in the woods as a young boy, traveled out west to ride horses as a teenager, raced sailboats and motorcycled across Europe while in college, and served as a naval officer during the Korean War. An intrepid curiosity about construction technology led to a long career in homebuilding while Art and his beloved wife Lee raised a family, but he never lost his passion for outdoor adventure – hiking, rafting, bicycling and motorcycling throughout the decades, and taking up paragliding as he turned eighty! Purchase here.
An idyllic childhood in the south of France came to an end with World War II, and wartime presented new challenges to a teenage Sonia Gibbons as she moved to Paris and London, where she and her sister helped smuggle refugees to safety. A fortuitous employment opportunity with the British Council brought Sonia and her future husband together and paved the way to a happy adulthood in her adopted homeland, marked by travel, community life, teaching, adventure and the joy of watching their three children grow up. Purchase here.
Raised in the West Texas Panhandle by dirt-poor but hard-working sharecroppers, Joe Wiginton left home at the age of sixteen, first for a stint in the Army and then for a low-rung job in the fire sprinkler safety industry. Within the next two decades, he would learn to excel at the business and develop enough acumen to start his own company, which thrived amidst the rapidly expanding metropolis of Orlando, Florida. But Joe’s ultimate triumph wasn’t in his meteoric business success but rather in the range of friends, family members, colleagues and employees who admired and loved him throughout the years. His example served as an inspiration to everyone who met him, and his uniquely large and exuberant personality continues to bring joy to his wide circle of acquaintances, his children, grandchildren, and his beloved wife Judy. Purchase here.
Born in New York City in 1933, Patricia Scullion has lived a life of privilege and challenge, but most of all it has been a life of exuberance, characterized by unflagging love for her children, her spouses, her friends, her grandchildren, and the many people fortunate enough to have crossed paths with her over the past nine decades. Purchase here.
In the early days of the 20th century, Frank Paul LaMonaca’s grandparents left Tropea, Italy, for America – not for the typical pursuit of prosperity but because their grown children wanted to emigrate, and the parents wished to keep the family close. That fundamental belief in maintaining solid and loving family ties has endured throughout the generations that followed. Raised amidst aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins and siblings, Frank grew up to be a hair stylist, business owner, enthusiastic golfer, avid reader, and professional musician – but most of all, he was a family man, forever devoted to his beloved wife Toni, the three children they raised, and now his grandchildren and great-grandchild. The story of Frank’s life is a testament to family bonds. Purchase here.
In 1919, a daughter named Phyllis Clark was born in Gary, Indiana, to two well-educated parents raised on farms in western Illinois near the Mississippi River. Though the years that followed her birth brought hard times to her family, the love of her parents and brothers surrounded and protected her -- even as the Depression drove the family into numerous challenging life and work circumstances. The first week of college, she met a young man named Harvey Dearstyne who would pursue her for the next six years, until finally they married and began their life together, first with a military stint as World War II wound down, then more years of education, and finally a chance for Phyllis to have what she'd always dreamed of: children of her own, whom she and Harvey raised with devotion and joy. Hers was a lifelong journey, with much uncertainty and occasional tragedy, but more than anything else marked by love. Purchase here.
"For Love of God and Family": Memoir of Bertha (Olivier) Santos, a woman born in Acushnet, Massachusetts, in 1923, who lived 91 years and filled the decades with tending to her family and expressing her devotion to her God.
"Memories from an Ordinary Girl's Life": Memoir of Lorraine Celi, starting with her grandparents' life and continuing through her Italian-American childhood in Massachusetts, meeting her husband and their college years together, and his time in the U.S. Marine Corps. Purchase here.
Born in 1930 in Hangzhou and raised alongside his three sisters, with World War II and his father's participation in the Air Force as a backdrop, SK Ho developed a fascination in his teenage years for electrical engineering.. Meanwhile, a girl born in 1931 named Kung Sui Lu (later called Cynthia) was following a parallel trajectory, with a childhood in Peking in a household full of siblings, parents whose presence in the household was affected by the war, and eventually nursing school in Taiwan. Both of them immigrated in their twenties to continue their education and career training in Philadelphia -- where they would soon meet, fall in love, and marry. This is the story of that decades-old partnership, the children and community it created, the successful careers they each pursued, and the life lessons passed along to future generations by SK and Cynthia Ho. Purchase here.
"Always Room for One More": Memoir of John and Dolores Lodico. In the 1940s, in the town of Nyack, New York, along the banks of the Hudson River north of New York City, two teenagers met and fell in love. They soon married and started a new family of their own, while also making a home and building their own careers. This is their story. But it is also the story of their parents and their children: those who preceded them and those who now follow in their footsteps. And it is the story of the countless people of all ages who crossed paths with them, worked with them, stayed in their home, confided in them, sought advice from them, learned from them, and loved them. It is the story of a couple who have made their motto into a guiding principle: 'Always room for one more. Purchase here.
"The Experience of Our Years: Residents at Carleton-Willard Village Remember the Moments and the Events That Made Them Who They Are Today," Edited by Nancy Shohet West. A collection of memories and experiences recollected by the residents of Carleton-Willard Village, a retirement community in Bedford, Massachusetts.
Purchase here.
"Peace, War, Love and Loss: The Lessons of Our Years: Residents of Atria Merrimack Place Remember the Moments and Events That Made Them Who They Are Today." Edited by Nancy Shohet West. A collection of memories and experiences recollected by the residents of Atria Merrimack Place, a senior community in Newburyport, Massachusetts. Purchase here.
"The Mother-Son Running Streak Club" by Nancy Shohet West: A memoir about one mother's experiment in strengthening her relationship with her son by challenging him to run a mile or more with her every day for one year.
Click here to see "Frequently Asked Questions" about Memoir Projects.
INDIVIDUAL MEMOIRS
Everyone has a story to tell – and everyone has someone who wants to hear that story. This is the simple premise behind Nancy’s approach to memoir writing. Working one-on-one with clients through a series of informal interviews and discussions, Nancy has written and published memoirs for grandparents, philanthropists, professional athletes, entrepreneurs, and community activists. With Nancy’s intuitive listening skills and professional editorial expertise, you will create a lasting legacy – a keepsake through which your descendants, peers, friends, or disciples will learn about the profound influences that shaped your life and the driving passions that continue to move it forward.
COMMUNITY MEMOIRS
Senior residential communities, professional societies, intergenerational families, and special interest groups have their own story to tell. A community memoir is a collection of the stories of the individuals who make up a larger group or family. For community memoirs, each participant typically describes one formative event or circumstance that shaped his or her life, and each of these individual chapters is compiled into a work that encompasses the spirit and dynamic of the community as a whole.
Email Nancy to schedule a free consultation to discuss your memoir project.
"Yesterday i called my mom to say hello. It was quite apparent to me within the first few sentences that she sounded more vibrant and alive than I have heard her sound in a very long time. I asked what was she doing, and she told me about Nancy writing a memoir of her life. What a wonderful thing to do - she has had quite a life! But also, this appears to have brought new vitality to her. Such a gift."
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"Nancy Shohet West '84 Helps Turn Moments into Memories" - Concord Academy Magazine, May 3, 2016
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Home › › Articles from 2009 › Articles by Naomi Klein
Articles by Naomi Klein
For Obama, No Opportunity Too Big To Blow
By Naomi Klein - December 21st, 2009
Posted on EnviroNation
Contrary to countless reports, the debacle in Copenhagen was not everyone's fault. It did not happen because human beings are incapable of agreeing, or are inherently self-destructive. Nor was it all was China's fault, or the fault of the hapless UN.
There's plenty of blame to go around, but there was one country that possessed unique power to change the game. It didn't use it. If Barack Obama had come to Copenhagen with a transformative and inspiring commitment to getting the U.S. economy off fossil fuels, all the other major emitters would have stepped up. The EU, Japan, China and India had all indicated that they were willing to increase their levels of commitment, but only if the U.S. took the lead. Instead of leading, Obama arrived with embarrassingly low targets and the heavy emitters of the world took their cue from him.
Climate Structural Adjustment: We’ll Save Your Life On Our Terms
By Naomi Klein - December 17th, 2009
It's the second to last day of the climate conference and I have the worst case of laryngitis of my life. I open my mouth and nothing comes out.
It's frustrating because I was just at Hillary Clinton's press conference and desperately wanted to ask her a question – or six. She said that the U.S. would contribute its "share" to a $100-billion financing package for developing countries by 2020 – but only if all countries agreed to the terms of the climate deal that the U.S. has slammed on the table here, which include killing Kyoto, replacing legally binding measures with the fuzzy concept of "transparency," and nixing universal emissions targets in favor of vague "national plans" that are mashed together. Oh, and abandoning the whole concept (which the U.S. agreed to by singing the UN climate convention) that the rich countries that created the climate crisis have to take the lead in solving it.
The Courage to Say No
Published in The Nation
On the ninth day of the Copenhagen climate summit, Africa was sacrificed. The position of the G-77 negotiating bloc, including African states, had been clear: a 2 degree Celsius increase in average global temperatures translates into a 3-3.5 degree increase in Africa.
That means, according to the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, "an additional 55 million people could be at risk from hunger" and "water stress could affect between 350 and 600 million more people." Archbishop Desmond Tutu puts the stakes like this: "We are facing impending disaster on a monstrous scale.... A global goal of about 2 degrees C is to condemn Africa to incineration and no modern development."
Ambassador Lumumba, What Do You Really Think?
By Naomi Klein with The UpTake - December 16th, 2009
On Wednesday in Copenhagen, I interviewed Lumumba Stanislaus Di-Aping, the chief negotiator for the G77, the largest developing country bloc represented at the climate summit in Copenhagen. Over the course of the negotiations, Ambassador Lumumba has gained a reputation for candor, putting the stakes for Africa in stark, emotional terms.
Memo to Danes: Even You Cannot Control This Summit
On Saturday night, after a week of living off of conference center snack bars, a group of us were invited to a delicious home-cooked meal with a real live Danish family. After spending the evening gawking at their stylish furnishings, a few of us had a question: Why are Danes so good at design?
"We're control freaks," our hostess replied instantly. "It comes from being a small country with not much power. We have to control what we can."
When it comes to producing absurdly appealing light fixtures and shockingly comfortable desk chairs, that Danish form of displacement is clearly a very good thing. When it comes to hosting a world-changing summit, the Danish need for control is proving to be a serious problem.
The Danes have invested a huge amount of money co-branding their capitol city (now "Hopenhagen") with a summit that will supposedly save the world. That would be fine if this summit actually were on track to save the world. But since it isn't, the Danes are frantically trying to redesign us.
Fight Climate Change, Not Wars
In the U.S. plenty of bloggers have pointed to the irony of Barack Obama collecting the Peace Prize while he launches a major escalation of the war in Afghanistan.
Here in Copenhagen, the Nobel – which was awarded in part because of Obama’s reengagement with the climate change negotiations -- carries a special set of ironies.
The figure U.S. negotiators are floating for how much Washington will contribute to an international climate change fund is a paltry $1.4-billion.Meanwhile, the cost of the “surge” in Afghanistan is estimated at $30-40-billion. Yesterday I interviewed Kumi Naidoo, the new director of Greenpeace International, and he made this point forcefully:
Copenhagen: Where Africa Took On Obama
By Naomi Klein - December 8th, 2009
The highlight of my first day at COP15 was a conversation with the extraordinary Nigerian poet and activist Nnimmo Bassey, chair of Friends of the Earth International. We talked about the fact that some of the toughest activists here still pull their punches when it comes to Obama, even as his climate team works tirelessly to do away with the Kyoto Protocol, replacing it with much weaker piecemeal targets.
If George W. Bush had pulled some of the things Obama has done here, he would have been burned in effigy on the steps of the convention center. With Obama, however, even the most timid actions are greeted as historic breakthroughs, or at least a good start.
"Everyone says: 'give Obama time,'" Bassey told me. "But when it comes to climate change, there is no more time." The best analogy, he said, is a soccer game that has gone into overtime. "It's not even injury time, it's sudden death. It’s the nick of time, but there is no more extra time."
Revisiting No Logo, Ten Years Later
Posted on The Huffington Post
Almost ten years ago, on November 30, 1999, tens of thousands of protestors shut down a meeting of the World Trade Organization in Seattle. The activists were not against trade or globalization, despite the many misleading claims in the mainstream media. They were against a system of deregulated capitalism that was spreading around the world.
At the time of the Seattle protests, my first book, No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies, was at the printer. The book looked at the war being waged on public space by a new breed of corporate "superbrands," as well as the first signs of a fight back against corporate power. It was good timing for an author-activist: I had the rare privilege of watching my book become useful to a movement I believed could change the world.
Copenhagen: Seattle Grows Up
The other day I received a pre-publication copy of The Battle of the Story of the Battle of Seattle, by David Solnit and Rebecca Solnit. It’s set to come out ten years after a historic coalition of activists shut down the World Trade Organization summit in Seattle, the spark that ignited a global anticorporate movement.
The book is a fascinating account of what really happened in Seattle, but when I spoke to David Solnit, the direct-action guru who helped engineer the shutdown, I found him less interested in reminiscing about 1999 than in talking about the upcoming United Nations climate change summit in Copenhagen and the “climate justice” actions he is helping to organize across the United States on November 30. “This is definitely a Seattle-type moment,” Solnit told me. “People are ready to throw down.”
Climate Rage
Published in Rolling Stone
One last chance to save the world—for months, that's how the United Nations summit on climate change in Copenhagen, which starts in early December, was being hyped. Officials from 192 countries were finally going to make a deal to keep global temperatures below catastrophic levels. The summit called for "that old comic-book sensibility of uniting in the face of a common danger threatening the Earth," said Todd Stern, President Obama's chief envoy on climate issues. "It's not a meteor or a space invader, but the damage to our planet, to our community, to our children and their children will be just as great."
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NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams
Karr's confession dramatic, whether true or not
Karr's story, if false, wouldn't be the first among high-profile cases
Jump to text While John Mark Karr may be a disturbed, sex-obsessed 41-year-old man with an unn...
Video: True or not, Karr confession dramatic
By Mike Taibbi Correspondent
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Oklahoma Watershed Dams Historically Significant and Critical to the Future
Tue, 14 May 2019 21:52:17 CDT
There's a chance that almost 1,400 of Oklahoma's watershed dams will have beaten Larry Caldwell to retirement by next year.
Overall, the State has 2,107 such flood control dams protecting homes, businesses, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, as well as crops, farmland, and ranch land. The "however" to this is that by 2020, 1,380 dams will have passed their 50-year design life.
The reality is they can’t retire, they just need some remediation.
Fact is, some things and some people are too needed to let go of - the dams are an example of the former as is Caldwell, an Oklahoma Conservation Commission (OCC) Watershed Specialist, of the latter.
"Think about last week's intensive rains in Oklahoma, specifically in western areas of the state," OCC Executive Director Trey Lam said. "There were losses of property and damage to land and any such loss is a tremendous loss. However, that's exactly why the benefits of these dams are so important, and that's what these watershed projects do, they protect areas from flooding losses that used to occur frequently before the dams were built. In addition to protecting crops and farmland, some of the dams also protect lives. They also are designed to reduce damages to buildings, agricultural products, roads, bridges and so many other vital aspects of our daily lives. That's also why the work of those such as Larry Caldwell is so critically important."
Caldwell, an Oklahoma professional engineer, talked about the storms that covered a large area in Oklahoma and Kansas.
"A Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 'National Watershed Benefits' computer model estimates the daily monetary benefits resulting from watershed projects for a specific storm," Caldwell said. "These 'benefits' are essentially the damages that would have occurred from that storm had the dams not been built. The report detailed $11 million in monetary benefits resulting from the watershed projects in western Oklahoma and central Kansas during the 24-hour period from 7:00 a.m. May 7 to 7:00 a.m. on May 8. Watershed projects in Upper Elk, Sugar, Boggy, Timber, Cavalry, and Sandstone Creeks in Washita, Beckham, Custer, Caddo, and Roger Mills Counties received the most rainfall and benefits during that storm."
Recent storms
Monte Tucker ranches near Sweetwater in western Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Mesonet weather network station at Erick in Beckham County, about 15 miles south of Sweetwater, recorded 6.5 inches of rain in a short amount of time last week. Tucker was asked about the importance of flood control structures for weather events such as this.
“Being younger than a huge majority of the upstream flood control dams, all I can attest to on flooding is the stories from my 96-year-old grandmother that still lives and ranches on Buffalo Creek in southwest Roger Mills County” Tucker said. “She often tells of how a generation ago a heavy rain of 2-plus inches in a short time would cause major damage to roads, bridges, crops and pasture lands downstream.”
However, Tucker said today when they witness 4 to 6 inches in a few hours it just fills the flood control dams, in which his grandmother also comments, “They don’t hold near what they once did due to filling in with silt.”
“Then the designed structures do the job of slowly releasing the flood waters and this prevents catastrophic damage,” Tucker said. “The creek still rises, but it flows, usually within its banks for a longer period and the days of a ‘wall of water’ taking everything, including lives with it are in the past.”
Tucker added, “This past week in an epic rainfall event where we have aging upstream flood control dams, the damage was minimal, mostly water gaps in creeks and streams but south of Sayre where I’m not familiar with any dams, there was major damage to fences, crops, livestock, roads, bridges and structures.”
He said the investment needs to be made in maintaining and rehabbing these flood control dams.
“My grandpa would always tell people, ‘We get about 20 inches of rain a year here in far western Oklahoma, and ‘ya ought to be there on that day,’” Tucker said. “Thus, controlling flood waters is a must.”
Jimmy Smith, lives in Beckham County and is chairman of the North Fork of Red River Conservation District.
Smith said for the past six months they have been extremely wet and most watershed structures are at almost full capacity and are running down the drawdown.
“The large rain we had last week filled them even more, with some watersheds backing up over roads and bridges,” he said. “What most people do not realize is the fact that the structures do not hold as much water as they used to due to runoff sediment over the years. When these structures were built, all cultivated land was conventional tillage which had much more soil runoff. Today most of the cultivated land is minimum tillage or no-till which results in less soil runoff which helps but the structures still need rehab for safety conditions.”
Benefits of watershed projects
Watershed projects were based on the conservation principal of holding the raindrop high in the watershed as close to where it strikes the ground as possible. The watershed programs are one of the best examples of federal, state and local partnerships to address natural resources issues. Watershed projects are federal-assisted, not federally owned. NRCS provided funds to plan, design, and construct the dams. Project sponsors, typically local conservation districts, are responsible for operation and maintenance of the dams to assure they continue to function as there were designed.
Oklahoma has 129 watershed projects in 64 counties. These projects include 2,107 flood control dams and provide multiple benefits to citizens. Most of the 2,107 dams are located on private lands in rural areas and many people don't even know they exist, let alone how much they affect their daily lives. Most people don't know they were constructed for flood control. How does that benefit agriculture producers as well as non-producers. The average benefits provided by Oklahoma's Watershed Projects is over $96 million each year.
"Nine out of 10 Oklahomans are living within 20 miles of a flood control dam," Caldwell said. "Flood control dams are close to all Oklahomans. We live, work and play under their protection every day. Flood control makes modern Oklahoma life possible in many rural communities."
Oklahoma has been a national leader in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Watershed program since the 1940s when Soil Conservation Service (SCS) watershed authorizations were being deliberated. The first of the 12,000 watershed dams constructed in 47 states was built near Cordell, Oklahoma in 1948.
The number of dams built each year peaked in 1965 when 157 dams were built. During the decade of the 1960’s, an average of two watershed dams were constructed each week. Many of the watershed dams in Oklahoma are reaching the end of their 50-year designed lifespan. Since most of the dams were designed with a 50-year design life, during the decade of the 2010s, two dams came to the end of their evaluated life each week. So in addition to 1,380 watershed dams that have reached the end of their evaluated life this year, an additional 200 dams will reach that mark within the next five years.
"However, just because a dam exceeds its evaluated life, it does not mean that it won't safely function as designed for many years longer if properly maintained," Caldwell said. "However, funds are critically needed to maintain these dams so that they can function as designed and remain safe. Watershed dams are a part of an estimated $2 billion the public infrastructure that must be attended to. If funds are not provided for maintenance, not only will devastating flooding return in the areas prior to the projects being constructed, but lives will be at-risk.”
Rehabilitation of these aging dams is a priority in Oklahoma, so that they can continue to protect people's lives, property, and natural resources for the next 100 years. To date, 53 rehabilitation projects have been authorized to meet current safety standards; 38 of these have been completed. The remainder are in various stages of design or construction.
Caldwell continues to serve
In a way, dams and many of the engineers who design them never retire, they just keep providing benefits to people, to places, to production. Again, Caldwell is a great example.
Caldwell retired from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in 2009 after serving more than 41 years.
However, he immediately took on a new title - Watershed Specialist for the OCC. In this role he continues over a half-century of service in which he has assisted landowners and communities with planning, design, and construction of thousands of conservation practices involving erosion control, water management, wildlife development, waste management, and flood control. Caldwell is a nationally-recognized authority on dam safety and rehabilitation of aging dams. He currently provides leadership for a team assisting local conservation districts to evaluate aging flood control dams and to develop related emergency action plans and rehabilitation designs to meet current safety standards. He is also leading a national project to design and implement a web-based system to monitor flood control dams in Oklahoma and the nation.
“I was fortunate to have had the job that so many people talk about – I got paid to do what I loved to do,” he said. “I enjoyed the people I worked with and experienced that sense of satisfaction of seeing a project completed and providing the benefits intended.”
Throughout his career he has had the opportunity to have worked with some of the conservation and watershed pioneers in Oklahoma who worked during the peak of the dam building era.
“I heard many stories of the devastating floods that frequently ravaged many rural communities,” Caldwell said. “I gained a great respect for Oklahoma leaders in the watershed program whose work made a difference to not only Oklahoma, but the entire nation – Dick Longmire, L.L. “Red” Males, Nolan Fuqua, and Lloyd Church to name a few. The historic flooding of many places around Oklahoma are now just stories in history books.”
Caldwell said the watershed projects have not only reduced flooding, but have also provided critical water supplies for many communities as well as recreation for thousands of Oklahomans.
“The challenge we, as Oklahomans, have today is to assure that funds are provided to assure that the dams are maintained in safe condition so that they can continue to provide these benefits for generations to come,” he said.
Source: USDA: Natural Resources Conservation Services
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World Russia Society Opinion Science Sport Hotspots and Incidents Business
Source AP ©
Iraq a topic between Bush and the Pope during US leader's trip to Italy
U.S. President George W. Bush says he will "be in listening mode" when he meets Pope Benedict XVI for the first time on Saturday. That is a good thing, because the Pope has a lot to say.
Benedict will discuss the Iraq war and the plight of Christians in that unstable, violence-wracked country, as well as "the big ethical and social questions" of the day, said Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Vatican's No. 2. This includes praise for Bush's staunch opposition to abortion.
But there is concern about the war, vigorously opposed by the late Pope John Paul II and raised on occasion by Benedict. In his Easter message, Benedict said "nothing positive comes from Iraq, torn apart by continual slaughter as the civil population flees."
Putting on his listening ears does not mean Bush will be silent, however, during his third papal audience at the Vatican.
The president plans to tout U.S. aid for fighting AIDS and malaria in Africa and spreading democracy around the world.
"I think His Holy Father will be pleased to know that much of our foreign policy is based on the admonition to whom much is given, much is required," Bush said in a pre-trip interview.
He promised to "go in open-minded."
"Sometimes I'm not poetic enough to describe what it's like to be in the presence of the Holy Father. It is a moving experience," said Bush, a Methodist, of the Roman Catholic leader. "He's a good thinker and a smart man. I'll be in a listening mode."
Bush arrived in Rome Friday night, after a stop in the Czech Republic, three days at a summit of industrialized democracies on Germany's northern coast, and a quick, three-hour visit to Poland. The president stays in Rome Saturday night, too, before going on to Albania and Bulgaria.
While in Rome, he will help back up his message to the Pope about his humanitarian record by visiting a lay Roman Catholic organization that does extensive work in the area.
The Sant'Egidio Community has a US$25 million (euro19 million) program to provide free antiretroviral drugs for HIV-positive people in 10 African countries, along with follow-up and home care.
Bush helped lead the Group of Eight summit this week to agree to a new program worth more than $60 billion (euro45 billion) to fight AIDS, malaria and other disease in Africa. The American president recently urged the U.S. Congress to double the current U.S. commitment for combatting AIDS in Africa to US$30 billion (euro22.5 billion) over the next five years.
To minimize the hassle, Bush is meeting with the group at the U.S. Embassy instead of its headquarters in Rome's picturesque Trastavere neighborhood. He's also canceled a planned tour of the nearby Basilica of Santa Maria.
The president has a short meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano at Quirinale Palace, his official residence, followed by longer talks and lunch with Premier Romano Prodi, also fresh from the G-8 meetings.
Italian-U.S. relations are busy right now - and a bit strained.
Just hours before Bush's arrival Friday, the first trial involving the CIA's extraordinary rendition program opened in a Milan courtroom. Along with the 26 Americans on trial for the abduction of an Egyptian cleric, a U.S. soldier is on trial in Rome for the March 2005 slaying of an Italian spy in Baghdad. In both cases, the U.S. citizens are being tried in absentia.
Meanwhile, a report out Friday from European investigator Dick Marty accused Italy and Germany of obstructing his probe into alleged secret prisons run by CIA in Europe. Marty said they were located in Poland and Romania from 2003 to 2005 to interrogate suspected terrorists.
Italy also has withdrawn troops from Iraq and is reluctant to send additional soldiers to Afghanistan.
Bush said he wants his visit with Prodi to "help boost his courage in doing the right thing in Afghanistan."
Washington is concerned that U.S. troops, along with those from Canada and Britain and elsewhere, are the only NATO countries sending forces to fight the Taliban in the most violent areas in the south. Other NATO-contributing countries, such as Germany, France and Italy, restrict the use of their forces to relatively peaceful areas of the north.
A series of small incidents involving the Italians and heavy fighting elsewhere in the country have heightened concerns in Italy over the mission and shaken Prodi's leadership.
Large protests against Bush are planned for Saturday. Prodi even asked Cabinet members to refrain from joining them.
Prodi ousted Silvio Berlusconi a year ago, replacing a like-minded conservative and staunch ally of Bush's with a center-left leader whose government has spared Washington no criticism.
Despite differences, Bush and Prodi have said they want good ties. Still, the U.S. leader is hedging his bets on Italian politics. He'll end his day with a private talk with his old friend Berlusconi.
Prodi's fragile, squabbling center-left coalition recently fended off a major challenge by Berlusconi in local elections. Berlusconi's camp appeared to have made some gains, but achieved no landslide.
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Implementing the diet can present difficulties for caregivers and the patient due to the time commitment involved in measuring and planning meals. Since any unplanned eating can potentially break the nutritional balance required, some people find the discipline needed to maintain the diet challenging and unpleasant. Some people terminate the diet or switch to a less demanding diet, like the modified Atkins diet or the low-glycaemic index treatment diet, because they find the difficulties too great.[42]
The ketogenic diet is not a benign, holistic, or natural treatment for epilepsy; as with any serious medical therapy, complications may result.[28] These are generally less severe and less frequent than with anticonvulsant medication or surgery.[28] Common but easily treatable short-term side effects include constipation, low-grade acidosis, and hypoglycaemia if an initial fast is undertaken. Raised levels of lipids in the blood affect up to 60% of children[38] and cholesterol levels may increase by around 30%.[28] This can be treated by changes to the fat content of the diet, such as from saturated fats towards polyunsaturated fats, and if persistent, by lowering the ketogenic ratio.[38] Supplements are necessary to counter the dietary deficiency of many micronutrients.[18]
It seems strange that a diet that calls for more fat can raise “good” cholesterol and lower “bad” cholesterol, but ketogenic diets are linked to just that. It may be because the lower levels of insulin that result from these diets can stop your body from making more cholesterol. That means you’re less likely to have high blood pressure, hardened arteries, heart failure, and other heart conditions. It's unclear, however; how long these effects last.
There are theoretically no restrictions on where the ketogenic diet might be used, and it can cost less than modern anticonvulsants. However, fasting and dietary changes are affected by religious and cultural issues. A culture where food is often prepared by grandparents or hired help means more people must be educated about the diet. When families dine together, sharing the same meal, it can be difficult to separate the child's meal. In many countries, food labelling is not mandatory so calculating the proportions of fat, protein and carbohydrate is difficult. In some countries, it may be hard to find sugar-free forms of medicines and supplements, to purchase an accurate electronic scale, or to afford MCT oils.[54]
A study with an intent-to-treat prospective design was published in 1998 by a team from the Johns Hopkins Hospital[20] and followed-up by a report published in 2001.[21] As with most studies of the ketogenic diet, no control group (patients who did not receive the treatment) was used. The study enrolled 150 children. After three months, 83% of them were still on the diet, 26% had experienced a good reduction in seizures, 31% had had an excellent reduction, and 3% were seizure-free.[Note 7] At 12 months, 55% were still on the diet, 23% had a good response, 20% had an excellent response, and 7% were seizure-free. Those who had discontinued the diet by this stage did so because it was ineffective, too restrictive, or due to illness, and most of those who remained were benefiting from it. The percentage of those still on the diet at two, three, and four years was 39%, 20%, and 12%, respectively. During this period, the most common reason for discontinuing the diet was because the children had become seizure-free or significantly better. At four years, 16% of the original 150 children had a good reduction in seizure frequency, 14% had an excellent reduction, and 13% were seizure-free, though these figures include many who were no longer on the diet. Those remaining on the diet after this duration were typically not seizure-free, but had had an excellent response.[21][22]
If you’re looking to get a jump start on your health and fitness goals this year, you may be thinking about trying the ketogenic diet. Maybe you’ve heard the phrase before — it’s a huge diet buzzword — but aren’t sure what it means. Here’s a primer: The ketogenic diet is an eating plan that drives your body into ketosis, a state where the body uses fat as a primary fuel source (instead of carbohydrates), says Stacey Mattinson, RDN, who is based in Austin, Texas.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Kossoff EH, Zupec-Kania BA, Amark PE, Ballaban-Gil KR, Bergqvist AG, Blackford R, et al. Optimal clinical management of children receiving the ketogenic diet: recommendations of the International Ketogenic Diet Study Group. Epilepsia. 2009 Feb;50(2):304–17. doi:10.1111/j.1528-1167.2008.01765.x. PMID 18823325
But beyond that, experts aren't convinced that the keto diet has any other scientifically-proven health benefits. In fact, it may have some distinct downsides. If you follow the keto diet incorrectly, for example (like by eating lots of saturated fats, versus healthy unsaturated fats), you're at risk of raising your cholesterol levels. “The best strategy to keep your heart healthy is to get as much fat as possible from unsaturated sources such as olive, avocado and canola oils, nuts, seeds, avocados, and olives," says Ansel.
The ketogenic diet has been studied in at least 14 rodent animal models of seizures. It is protective in many of these models and has a different protection profile than any known anticonvulsant. Conversely, fenofibrate, not used clinically as an antiepileptic, exhibits experimental anticonvulsant properties in adult rats comparable to the ketogenic diet.[58] This, together with studies showing its efficacy in patients who have failed to achieve seizure control on half a dozen drugs, suggests a unique mechanism of action.[56]
The Mayo Clinic Diet is generally safe for most adults. It does encourage unlimited amounts of vegetables and fruits. For most people, eating lots of fruits and vegetables is a good thing — these foods provide your body with important nutrients and fiber. However, if you aren't used to having fiber in your diet, you may experience minor, temporary changes in digestion, such as intestinal gas, as your body adjusts to this new way of eating.
In 1921, Rollin Turner Woodyatt reviewed the research on diet and diabetes. He reported that three water-soluble compounds, β-hydroxybutyrate, acetoacetate, and acetone (known collectively as ketone bodies), were produced by the liver in otherwise healthy people when they were starved or if they consumed a very low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet.[10] Dr. Russell Morse Wilder, at the Mayo Clinic, built on this research and coined the term "ketogenic diet" to describe a diet that produced a high level of ketone bodies in the blood (ketonemia) through an excess of fat and lack of carbohydrate. Wilder hoped to obtain the benefits of fasting in a dietary therapy that could be maintained indefinitely. His trial on a few epilepsy patients in 1921 was the first use of the ketogenic diet as a treatment for epilepsy.[10]
Around this time, Bernarr Macfadden, an American exponent of physical culture, popularised the use of fasting to restore health. His disciple, the osteopathic physician Dr. Hugh William Conklin of Battle Creek, Michigan, began to treat his epilepsy patients by recommending fasting. Conklin conjectured that epileptic seizures were caused when a toxin, secreted from the Peyer's patches in the intestines, was discharged into the bloodstream. He recommended a fast lasting 18 to 25 days to allow this toxin to dissipate. Conklin probably treated hundreds of epilepsy patients with his "water diet" and boasted of a 90% cure rate in children, falling to 50% in adults. Later analysis of Conklin's case records showed 20% of his patients achieved freedom from seizures and 50% had some improvement.[10]
The ketogenic diet achieved national media exposure in the US in October 1994, when NBC's Dateline television programme reported the case of Charlie Abrahams, son of Hollywood producer Jim Abrahams. The two-year-old suffered from epilepsy that had remained uncontrolled by mainstream and alternative therapies. Abrahams discovered a reference to the ketogenic diet in an epilepsy guide for parents and brought Charlie to John M. Freeman at Johns Hopkins Hospital, which had continued to offer the therapy. Under the diet, Charlie's epilepsy was rapidly controlled and his developmental progress resumed. This inspired Abrahams to create the Charlie Foundation to promote the diet and fund research.[10] A multicentre prospective study began in 1994, the results were presented to the American Epilepsy Society in 1996 and were published[17] in 1998. There followed an explosion of scientific interest in the diet. In 1997, Abrahams produced a TV movie, ...First Do No Harm, starring Meryl Streep, in which a young boy's intractable epilepsy is successfully treated by the ketogenic diet.[1]
In the 1960s, medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) were found to produce more ketone bodies per unit of energy than normal dietary fats (which are mostly long-chain triglycerides).[15] MCTs are more efficiently absorbed and are rapidly transported to the liver via the hepatic portal system rather than the lymphatic system.[16] The severe carbohydrate restrictions of the classic ketogenic diet made it difficult for parents to produce palatable meals that their children would tolerate. In 1971, Peter Huttenlocher devised a ketogenic diet where about 60% of the calories came from the MCT oil, and this allowed more protein and up to three times as much carbohydrate as the classic ketogenic diet. The oil was mixed with at least twice its volume of skimmed milk, chilled, and sipped during the meal or incorporated into food. He tested it on 12 children and adolescents with intractable seizures. Most children improved in both seizure control and alertness, results that were similar to the classic ketogenic diet. Gastrointestinal upset was a problem, which led one patient to abandon the diet, but meals were easier to prepare and better accepted by the children.[15] The MCT diet replaced the classic ketogenic diet in many hospitals, though some devised diets that were a combination of the two.[10]
It’s easy to get caught up on the “low-carb” part of the diet and not give enough attention to the “high-fat” part. Fat is what makes you full, gives you energy (when in ketosis), and makes food taste delicious. For most people this figure should be north of 70 percent of daily calories. Keep carbs under 20g, hit your protein goal, and eat fat until you’re full.
In many developing countries, the ketogenic diet is expensive because dairy fats and meat are more expensive than grain, fruit and vegetables. The modified Atkins diet has been proposed as a lower-cost alternative for those countries; the slightly more expensive food bill can be offset by a reduction in pharmaceutical costs if the diet is successful. The modified Atkins diet is less complex to explain and prepare and requires less support from a dietitian.[55]
When you’re eating the foods that get you there (more on that in a minute), your body can enter a state of ketosis in one to three days, she adds. During the diet, the majority of calories you consume come from fat, with a little protein and very little carbohydrates. Ketosis also happens if you eat a very low-calorie diet — think doctor-supervised, only when medically recommended diets of 600 to 800 total calories.
Before starting, ask yourself what is really realistic for you, Mattinson suggests. Then get your doctor’s okay. You may also work with a local registered dietitian nutritionist to limit potential nutrient deficiencies and talk about vitamin supplementation, as you won’t be eating whole grains, dairy, or fruit, and will eliminate many veggies. “A diet that eliminates entire food groups is a red flag to me. This isn’t something to take lightly or dive into headfirst with no medical supervision,” she says.
Because people with type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, there’s a specific concern that the saturated fat in the diet may drive up LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol levels, and further increase the odds of heart problems. If you have type 2 diabetes, talk to your doctor before attempting a ketogenic diet. They may recommend a different weight-loss diet for you, like a reduced-calorie diet, to manage diabetes. Those with epilepsy should also consult their doctor before using this as part of their treatment plan.
Net carbs are what we track when following a ketogenic diet. This calculation is pretty straightforward. Net Carbs = Total Carbs – Fiber. For example, one cup of broccoli has 6g of total carbs and 2.4g of fiber. That would mean one cup of broccoli has 3.6g of net carbs. We count Net Carbs because dietary fiber does not have a significant metabolic effect.
Note: Because you'll be excluding some major food groups on the keto diet (grains, many fruits) you should definitely think about taking a multivitamin—especially one that contains folic acid, which helps your body make new cells and is often found in enriched breads, cereals, and other grain products, says Julie Upton, R.D., cofounder of nutrition website Appetite for Health.
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Kalamata Airport Next in Line for Upgrade, Tender to be Announced
The airport of Kalamata in the Peloponnese, is next in line for upgrade works with the government set to issue a call for tenders in the immediate future, said Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Spirtzis during the 7th European Aviation Conference held in Athens, last week.
The makeover project is budgeted at 50 million euros and the Greek government is aiming to repeat the tender procedure applied for the Kasteli airport in 2014.
The Romanos, A Luxury Collection Resort at Costa Navarino
Tourism stakeholders and local professionals expect the Kalamata Airport to further boost incoming tourist flows to the Peloponnese, particularly attracted by the 5-star Costa Navarino Resort.
Indicatively, incoming traffic through Kalamata Airport increased in 2017 to 276,725 passengers against 227,980 in 2016, and 3,319 flights against 2,684.
Addressing the conference titled “Ownership and Privatization of Airports, Airlines and Air Traffic Control: Getting It Right”, Spirtzis said that the remaining 22 state-owned airports will be handled under a public-private partnership deal within a cluster.
“Greece will acquire one more international airport, in Kalamata, which will serve the Peloponnese,” the minister said, adding that Messinia was a strategic choice having a port and the suitable road infrastructure, but needing an airport to upgrade the destination in order to be able to handle both commercial and passenger traffic through combined transport means.
Spirtzis went on to note that the remaining state-owned airports would not be privatized but instead commercial use would be leased to private interests with airport infrastructure under Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority control.
The immediate goal, he said, was to incorporate the said airports into a cluster in order for these to gain added value. Topping the agenda of projects is the upgrade of five regional airports, including those of Paros, Syros, Naxos, Milos, Chios and Alexandroupolis.
Winning regional airports in terms of traffic and revenue, according to the government, are those on the islands of Paros, Chios, Naxos, Karpathos and Ikaria, and in Araxos.
From https://news.gtp.gr/2018/11/14/kalamata-airport-next-upgrade-tender-announced/
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Rome Airport Transfer offers a transfer service to and from the airports and the Port in Rome. The transfer service proposed by the company Rome Airport Transfer regards the Airports Fiumicino, Leonardo Da Vinci and Ciampino, as well as Civitavecchia Port. Rome Airport Transfer proposes its transfer services to both individuals and groups due to the fact that our fleet is composed of various types of automobiles, minivans and buses.
The main transfer services proposed by Rome Airport Transfer inherent to Fiumicino Airport regard the routes from Fiumicino Airport to Rome, Fiumicino Airport to Ciampino Airport, Fiumicino Airport to Civitavecchia Port.
The main transfer services proposed by Rome Airport Transfer inherent to Ciampino Airport regard the routes from Ciampino Airport to Rome, Ciampino Airport to Fiumicino Airport, Ciampino Airport to Civitavecchia Port.
The main transfer services proposed by Rome Airport Transfer inherent to Leonardo da Vinci Airport regard the routes from Leonardo da Vinci Airport to Rome, Leonardo da Vinci Airport to Ciampino Airport, Leonardo da Vinci Airport to Civitavecchia Port.
Rome Airport Transfer also offers a transfer service to and from the main Rome airports towards all the main Italian cities as well as the small bordering towns. All our drivers speak English and they distinguish themselves for their punctuality, good manners, discretion and professionalism.
Our company has a valid license issued by the City of Greccio to carry out the business of car rental with driver.
Leonardo da Vinci Airport to Civitavecchia Port
Rome Airport Transfer offers a transfer service for individuals from Leon
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Run Deer Run
Run Deer Run is the indie-pop duo of Laura Halvorsen & Adam Warner. Formed in early 2014 and releasing their debut album the following spring, 2016 marks their 3rd year as a band.
Rich with thoughtful texture and stirring rhythms, RDR’s music has always had duality at its core; blending the subtle and the complex, the calculated and the wild, the light and the dark. At times restrained, and at others emphatic, the rhythms and melodies weave together to form compelling songs featuring incredibly personal and honest lyrics. Their live performances are sincere, impassioned and captivating, and together the pair have an undeniable on-stage chemistry.
They are incredibly proud of their hometown, Calgary, and all it has to offer musically.
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Edwin Amenta
Professor of Sociology, University of California, Irvine
Jefferson Burrus-Bascom Professor of Law, University of Wisconsin
Noreen Goldman
Hughes-Rogers Professor of Demography and Public Affairs, Princeton University
Peter A. Hall
Krupp Foundation Professor of European Studies, Harvard University
Bradley L. Hardy
Associate Professor of Public Administration and Policy, American University
Jen Heerwig
Assistant Professor of Sociology, SUNY–Stony Brook University
Alexander Hertel-Fernandez
Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University
Arnold K. Ho
Assistant Professor of Psychology and of Organizational Studies, University of Michigan
Philip Oreopoulos
Professor of Economics, University of Toronto
Anne R. Pebley
Fred H. Bixby Professor of Population Studies, University of California, Los Angeles
Francesca Polletta
Carrie L. Shandra
Eric Verhoogen
Professor of International and Public Affairs and of Economics, Columbia University
Adam Waytz
Associate Professor of Management and Organizations, Northwestern University
Ariel White
Assistant Professor of Political Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Book Review: Foreign Relations: American Immigration in Global Perspective by Donna R Gabaccia
Histories investigating U.S. immigration have often portrayed America as a domestic melting pot, merging together those who arrive on its shores. Yet this is not a truly accurate depiction of the nation’s complex connections to immigration. Donna Gabaccia examines America’s relationship to immigration and its debates through the prism of the nation’s changing foreign policy over the past two centuries. Susan F. Martin finds Gabaccia’s book a welcome addition to the growing literature on the historical antecedents of the most pressing immigration issues of today.
Foreign Relations: American Immigration in Global Perspective. Donna R Gabaccia. Princeton University Press. March 2012.
Donna Gabbacia’s Foreign Relations: American Immigration in Global Perspective serves as an antidote to the tendency found in the study of American immigration to focus solely on domestic U.S. issues. The sweeping but succinct volume places the evolution of U.S. immigration squarely within the context of international relations. As such, it joins the literature on transnationalism that sees international migration as an essential element of globalisation.
Gabaccia’s basic argument can be summarised simply: bottom-up immigrant foreign relations—what are often referred to as immigrants’ transnational ties—and top-down foreign policies intersect in a globalised world. Understanding these linkages is important because they help explain the experiences of the immigrants themselves as well as the successes and (more frequently) the failures in immigration policy.
Gabaccia questions the exceptionalism of the U.S. experience, arguing that a global approach puts the study of American immigration into new perspective. The interconnections between immigration and foreign trade, the global economy, empire building, and geopolitical strategies take on new meaning in this context. Gabbacia further argues that American global leadership, rather than leading to expansive immigration policies, is as likely to draw on xenophobic tendencies about threats from outside that can lead to restrictions on immigration.
As befits an historian, Gabaccia presents her argument in chronological order. Her chapter on American immigration before 1850 covers the colonial period and early republic. Subsequent chapters focus on historical periods leading up to 1965 from the building of empire to the evolution of US immigration restrictions. The fourth and final chapter focuses on immigration and globalisation since 1965.
Some of the strongest analysis discusses the evolution of US immigration policies in relationship to trade patterns and concerns. The pattern is set in the context of trade between the colonies and Great Britain. Ships carrying American exports to Europe retrofit for a return trip with what is essentially a cargo of migrants. The slave trade is but the most extreme manifestation of this pattern. Gabaccia revisits these issues of trade and commercial diplomacy throughout the following chapters, presenting new perspectives on U.S. policies as well as the involvement of immigrants themselves in setting trade linkages with their home countries.
A further strength of the book is the discussion of the role of immigrants in challenging and, in some cases, shaping U.S. foreign policy as well as the policies of their countries of origin. Discussed are both dramatic and sometimes violent cases, such as the American Fenian raids in Canada in support of Irish independence, and more peaceful examples, such as the advocacy of a Pacific wide boycott of American goods to protest treatment of Chinese merchants in the United States. Gabaccia also provides historical perspective on the role of migrant remittances in their relationships not only with their own families but also with their home countries.
If anything is disappointing in the volume it is the brief concluding chapter. Having persuasively argued that American immigration should be seen in global perspective, Gabaccia focuses primarily on domestic US policies. She argues that xenophobic concerns today are as overblown as they have been in the past and makes the case for taking the responsibility for immigration reform away from Congress and placing it in a neutral Immigration Council. Detailed discussion of the strengths and weaknesses in current policies and administrative mechanisms is lacking, however, and makes it difficult to weigh either the desirability or the likelihood that such a recommendation would be adopted.
More problematic, Gabaccia does not engage in discussing a range of other issues that flow directly from her analysis: Should immigration agreements be negotiated as part of bilateral, regional and multilateral trade treaties? Should the United States encourage and participate in bilateral, regional and multilateral consultations on international migration? To what extent should US policies reflect the concerns of emigration countries about remittance flows, brain drain and other matters of deep concern to them? Gabaccia brings the reader to the brink in discussing such issues but never crosses the line into a full discussion of these issues that are already on the foreign policy agenda.
Nevertheless, the volume is a pleasure to read. Gabaccia interweaves stories about individual migrants into the chapters, bringing many of her points to life with real world experiences. She also provides interesting perspective on well-known policymakers and commentators on immigration. Her discussion of Hector St Jean de Crèvecœur provides new understanding of his famous reference to the American as a “new man,” “leaving behind him all his ancient prejudices and manners.” Similar treatment is given to other icons, such as Alfred Stieglitz’s 1907 photo, Steerage, which, in contrast to what is often assumed, captures immigrants returning to Europe rather than coming to America.
Foreign Relations provides a welcome addition to the growing literature on the historical antecedents of many of the most pressing immigration issues of today. Having read and appreciated this volume, I look forward to a second in the series.
Susan F. Martin holds the Donald G. Herzberg Chair in International Migration and serves as the Director of the Institute for the Study of International Migration in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Read more reviews by Susan.
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Home > Sports > Ontario’s own
Ontario’s own
Lexie Adzija is proving herself as a key contributor in her freshman year
By Peter Piekarski on October 23, 2018
Since the age of four, Lexie Adzija, has been battling away in the sport of hockey.
Now, she’s the ECAC Rookie of the Week for the first week of the season for the Quinnipiac Bobcats women’s ice hockey team.
Her beginnings in hockey were quite unique. Adzija, who grew up St. Thomas, Ontario, refused to move at all on the ice when her father tried teaching her how to skate. The only way he could get her to skate was by bribing her with the candy Smarties. Little did he know that this form of motivation were the first steps in creating a Division I college athlete.
“My older brother played [hockey], and I grew up the first few years of my life watching him in the rink all the time,” Adzija said. “I was in gymnastics and soccer first, but I was like, ‘No, I want to play hockey.’”
Megan Lowe | The Quinnipiac Chronicle
Adzija played Bantam hockey with the London Devilettes, playing in a total of 74 games. She racked up 44 goals and 36 assists for a total of 80 points with the Devilettes. She then switched to a private school and continued her high school career with the Oakville Hornets. In 52 games with Oakville, she filled the stat sheet with 20 goals and 23 assists, finishing with 43 points.
The competition level was not different as both teams played in the same league, but the talent on Oakville was significantly better. Adzija had to push herself in every practice and training session to be successful.
The Canadian women’s U-18 national team recognized Adzija’s talent and invited her to play in a tournament with them. In six games, she produced one goal and three assists, proving that she can be successful at every level she plays.
As a freshman in high school, she was already touring colleges in hopes of playing for a Division I team. Quinnipiac head coach Cassandra Turner was the first to reach out to Adzija in hopes of potentially recruiting her.
“Lex, since she was in ninth grade, has been big, strong and powerful,” Turner said. “My assistant coach [Amanda Mazzotta] actually coached [Adzija]. We were recruiting Adzija before [Mazzotta] even ended up here.”
Originally, Adzija was not too sure if Quinnipiac was the school for her. When she visited the campus, it was empty, which made her consider bigger schools. Fortunately, Turner convinced her to come back one more time, when students were on campus. On her second tour, she fell in love with the school and the atmosphere.
“I went back and forth on my decision, but I definitely think I made the right choice,” Adzija said.
Adzija had been looking at Ohio State, Clarkson and Minnesota, but found her way to Quinnipiac in the end. Her former teammate, Emma Maltais from Oakville, committed to Ohio State, whom Quinnipiac played in the home opener.
In Adzija’s first-ever collegiate game, she assisted on two goals, the only freshman in ECAC Hockey that weekend to have a multi-point game. She proved a lot to Turner and the rest of the staff that she was ready to play and proved it by earning ECAC Rookie of the Week.
“I actually didn’t know until I got to the rink, and my teammate came in and was like, ‘Oh Lex, congrats, you’re ECAC Rookie of the Week,’” Adzija said. “It was pretty exciting. There’s a lot of nerves when you start to play, and that kind of gave a bit of confidence.”
The following week came the two-game series against Maine, where Adzija would net her first goal as a Bobcat. In the second period, she deflected a pass over the shoulder of the goalie. At first, she was not sure if the puck went in or if it was her goal.
“I looked at Sarah [Coutu-Godbout] and I was like, ‘Was that me? Did I score?’ So again, really exciting,” Adzija said. “It was another memorable moment. Tough loss, if we won it would’ve been a little more exciting.”
Hockey has been a part of Adzija’s life since she can remember and balancing a hockey schedule, she needed to develop good time management and studying habits to stay on top of her homework. The coursework has gotten more demanding over the years for her, but she has maintained her schoolwork efficiently.
“I think the opportunities in everything, in school and in hockey. I think for me to grow as a person in every aspect, Quinnipiac was right for me.”
Adzija’s work ethic on and off the ice has earned Turner’s trust in all situations during the game. Turner loves her ability to get to the dirty areas and work for the puck. She enjoys watching Adzija fly into the offensive zone applying pressure, forcing turnovers and grinding it out with the defensemen.
The team chemistry has been a strength for the Bobcats so far this season. Adzija has gelled with her linemates, Taylor House and Sarah-Eve Coutu-Godbout, and her team very well, as they have produced the most points for the team so far this season. Their line has combined for four goals and ten assists so far.
“I’ve never been a part of a team where everyone cheers each other on. We’ve had great chemistry on and off the ice, especially in the weight room,” Adzija said. “I know we’ve had a little bit of a rough start, but no one is blaming each other, we’re all in this together.”
“With Logan [Angers], she was on hockey Canada with me, we had a handshake there so we kind of brought that here which is pretty cool that we get to do that for the next four years,” Adzija said.
Starting the season 0-4-2 is not what Turner and the team hoped for, but they have played well and been competitive each game. Adzija, as a freshman, has asserted herself as being a big, physical presence down low, in the corners and in front of the net.
“Lex has gotten better every single game and that’s amazing to see with her. She battles so hard around the puck and has a knack for the net,” Turner said. “Her battle and compete and her ability to score go hand in hand. Usually, when you see her score, it’s because she’s done something to win the puck back.”
Turner and the Bobcats have a stretch of important, competitive games coming against conference foes such as Brown, Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, Cornell and Colgate. The team has a clear intention of improving its record in the upcoming games. Turner knows that a big key to the team’s success will be if Adzija continues to battle and put pucks in the net.
“Lex is super confident on the ice, which is why we are comfortable putting her in all these situations,” Turner said. “We need her physical presence all over the ice, her ability to pressure the puck, win pucks back, get to the net and make goalies uncomfortable is going to be pivotal in our offense going forward.”
ECAC Rookie of the WeekLexie AdzijaLondon DevilettesQuinnipiac Bobcatscassandra turnerdontmisssarah-eve coutu-godbouttaylor housewomen's ice hockey
About Peter Piekarski
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October 07, 2014 / Tony Davies
We're already 2 months into our trip and this is the first blog entry from the Davies family - Tony, Nina, Rhys, Dylan and Anwen. It's going to be a brief summary of what we're up to, how and why we're doing what we're doing and some details on what we've seen and done so far.
My guess is that if you're reading this page, you're probably related to us, friends of ours or (just maybe) you've been given this URL by mutual friends. Whoever you are, we hope you enjoy the website, and would love to hear from you.
It's quite simple really - we've bought a Recreation Vehicle (RV) and we're travelling around the US for a year or so and homeschooling our children as we go. On the surface, it may appear a way to fulfill hedonistic tendencies. Or maybe Dad is having a mid-life crisis. Maybe, but right now we're focused on providing our children with an education and taking the opportunity to spend time with them.
Before we started on this journey, we were living in Roseville, near Sacramento, CA. We'd lived in the Sacramento area for about five and half years and, before that, in the Bay Area for eight years. I (Tony) finished work in April 2014 to prepare for the journey. Nina wrapped up her job in July. Rhys and I left Roseville on August 3rd and drove cross country to Des Moines, IA (where we had to pick up the RV we'd bought). Nina, Dylan and Anwen flew to Des Moines on August 12th to meet us.
We started our journey in the RV on August 14th and had decided to head back towards the West Coast. We still have some things in storage we need to pick up for our trip. Also, I liked the idea of heading west starting along the Lewis and Clark trail, just like explorers and pioneers. Right now, we're back in California, having left the Lewis and Clark trail and switched over to the California trail. Inclement weather and mechanical problems with the RV (i.e. the wipers didn't work) made us divert from our original planned route and stay further south than we had intended. That meant we had to miss out on Yellowstone NP, Glacier NP and the Columbia Gorge this time around. So far, though, we've travelled through Iowa, South Dakota, Wyoming, Utah and Nevada. We have seen some cool things and have some stories to share. For now, the best place to look to get a feel for the things we've been up to and the places we've visited is the Photos page. Over the next few weeks we'll be back in the Sacramento region and Bay Area and will take the opportunity to catch up with friends and family. After that, who knows? We have some ideas, but nothing is fixed yet.
October 07, 2014 / Tony Davies/ 1 Comment
Tony Davies
We’ve Reached the Pacific Ocean
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2020 School Tour
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Shakespeare Canada
Producer & Director Notes
Kids' Letters
Past Show Posters
Julius Caesar 2014 >
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Meet the Crew of The Comedy of Errors
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Meet the cast and crew of
Christopher Moore as Titus Andronicus
Christopher attended the John Abbott College Professional Theatre Program where he received The Pamela Montgomery Award upon graduation in 2005. Since then he has worked closely with Persephone Productions as Duff in Nick Whitbey's To the Green Fields Beyond (winner 2007 MECCA for Best Ensemble), Iago in Othello and Montjoy in HENRY V, which marked his first collaboration as a co-director with Artistic Director Gabrielle Soskin. The second being Far From The Madding Crowd coming this October. Other credits include Max in Martin Sherman's Bent (Altera Vitae), Benjamin in The Graduate (Hudson Village) and David Lewis in Haunted House (Tableau D'Hote). Titus Andronicus will be his first experience working with M.S.T.C. and thanks his lucky stars he has been given the privilege to portray and explore a character so far removed from himself.
Jessica B. Hill as Queen Tamora
Jessica is a graduate of McGill University and of Dawson College’s professional theatre program. Favorite theatre credits include Enemy of the People (Segal Centre), The Importance of Being Earnest (Village Scene Productions), Jehanne of the Witches (Tableau d’Hôte Theatre) and The Lady Smith (Black Theatre Workshop), for which she won the first Elsa Bolam award for “Outstanding Performance in an Emerging Artist”. You can catch her next in The Play’s the Thing at the Segal Centre this fall. Jessica is excited and grateful at the opportunity to portray the Queen of the Goths surrounded by such a wonderful and talented cast and crew.
David Sklar as Saturninus
David is an actor/playwright who currently resides in Montreal. He is a graduate of the Dawson College Professional Theatre Program and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in England. He is also set to finish off his B.F.A in theatre from Concordia University. Yes, you’re right, that is a lot of time spent in school. But while skipping class, he has toured with the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Hamlet. Last fall he was in Persephone Production’s of Henry V. Look for his upcoming show “Crazy Love” at the Montreal Fringe Festival this summer.
Ellie Moon as Lavinia
Ellie is delighted to be making her M.S.T.C. debut with this production. She moved to Montreal less then a year ago, from Ontario, where she worked and played for 10 years in theatre and film. Since living in Montreal, Ellie has appeared at the Rialto Theatre in "Equus". Ellie has absolutely no idea what is next for her, but, she looks forward to it. Thank you to the M.S.T.C. team, and please enjoy the show!
Jaa Smith-Johnson as Aaron
A graduate of the Dawson Professional Theatre Program (Dome 2009). Credits include: “Henry the V”(Persephone Productions), “Our Country’s Good”(Griffentown Productions) and “The Future of Comedy” (Shadowbox Productions). Aside from theatre he’s been in a couple of films like “The Will”(CMJ Productions), “Happy Slapping”(OneManBand films) and “The Point”(Seville Productions) just to name a few. With that said Jaa is more than thrilled to be apart of the M.S.T.C. production of “Titus Andronicus” where he’s had the opportunity to work with a cast of talented, dedicated and passionate actors, and has nothing but new found respect & admiration for them and the production team.
So get ready because this play is about to blow your mind. Enjoy!
Alex Goldrich as Lucius Andronicus
Alex Goldrich is thrilled to be working for the first time with the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company. Born in Ottawa, raised in New Brunswick, and a Montrealer since 2007, Alex has performed in such roles as Hotspur in Henry IV, pt 1 (Saint John Shakespeare Festival), Rev. Hale in The Crucible (Saint John Theatre Company), Malcolm in Macbeth (Saint John Shakespeare Festival), King Charles / Williams in Henry V (Persephone Productions), and most recently as Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Saint John Theatre Company). Thanks and love, as always, to Mom and Dad, and to Steph.
Patrick Rogers as Chiron
Patrick Rogers is a recent graduate of the Dawson College professional theatre program and a proud member of the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company's 2011 tour. He has played such roles as Leonard Ganz in Neil Simon's Rumors, John Proctor in Arthur Miller's The Crucible and Sir Toby Belch in M.S.T.C.'s production of Twelth Night. He has worked extensively with many of this year's new cast members and now has a whole new crew of fantastic actors to work with as he will be playing Chiron in this summer's production of Titus Andronicus. There could be no better way to end this first thrilling year as professional Actor.
Matt Lacas as Demetrius
Matt Lacas is a recent graduate of Dawson College's Professional Theatre Program. Since school, he has had the privilege of working at The Segal Center, Processed Theatre, and The M.S.T.C. Matt is looking forward to being part of such an amazing cast and show, and can't wait to show Montreal what The M.S.T.C have up their sleeves.
Jason McCullough as Marcus Andronicus
Jason is long time veteran of M.S.T.C. He's been with the "Shakespeare Made Easy" school tour for 9 years, and has been in many other M.S.T.C. and Purple 9 Productions. He's proud to be once again in front of the Montreal Community with a well crafted and mature piece of Shakespeare's works.
Chris Nachaj as Bassanius
Chris Nachaj has been performing in Montreal for the past 5 years. Past credits include: Quixote, Othello, Bestiary, The Importance of Being Earnest/L’Importance d’Etre Constant. This summer he is starring in Arthur C. Clarke’s How We Went To Mars at the Montreal Fringe Festival, and “Obsession: Tales from Edgar Allan Poe” for The Black Bird Productions. Chris is very excited to be working with the Montreal Shakespeare Company for the first time on Titus Andronicus.
Megan Bradley as Gaia the nurse
Actor, teacher, traveler, Megan is excited to be working with the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company again, having just finished their 2010-2011 School Tour - playing Sir Andrew Aguecheek in Twelfth Night. A gradute of the John Abbott College's Professional Theatre program, she has enjoyed playing other roles such as Audrey (As You Like It - Repercussion Theatre), Princess Jasmine (Aladdin - Left of Center Theatre), Lynne (Stepping Out - 3 BMP) and Bernice (Luanne - 3 BMP) and Alice (You Can't Take It With You - JAC Theatre). She teaches Drama at the Dollard Center for the Arts (ages 5 - 14) and has created a program to teach French to the children in English daycares around Montreal called Beyond the Basics. She hopes you will enjoy the show.
Stephanie Von Roretz as Young Lucius
Stephanie von Roretz is a graduate student of Dawson College's Professional Theatre program and has been acting since a very young age. She is also a talented singer and writer. She has performed in productions such as The Crucible by Arthur Miller and Escape from Happiness by Canadian playwright George F. Walker. She is proud and excited to be working once more with The Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company playing the part of Young Lucius in their production of Titus Andronicus.
J.S. Elie as Martius Andronicus
A Montreal native and recent Communications Graduate from Concordia University, J.S. has rekindled a long-time love for acting over the past few years, training at I.O. Acting with Adam Kelly and at ASM with Liz Valdez. After taking on the role in the Fall of 2010 of Marc Lepine in The Anorak, based on the Polytechnique shootings, he's performed for Brave New Production's Here’s To Love and Being Earnest in the Fringe Festival. He is extremely honored to be part of M.S.T.C.'s production of Titus Andronicus as Martius. It'll be a bloody good time!
Angelo Vernucci as Quintus Andronicus
New to the Montréal independent acting scene, Angelo has delved in theatre and film. Film and Web credits include Living the Dream (Kes Tagney Prod.), The Old Scratch (Michael Trader), Montreal Hearts (Gung Horse Prod.). Theatre credits include P4W (Zeitgeist Theatre), Stop Kiss (Chrysanthemum Prod.), Here’s To Love (Brave New Prod.) and Luann: The Musical. Many thanks to Aaron and Ace (M.S.T.C.) for the opportunity to be part of this exciting staging of Shakespeare’s deadliest, Titus Andronicus. Cheers and enjoy!
Aris Tyros as Mutius Andronicus
Aris has just finished his first of three years in Dawson's theatre program. You can catch him in a play (not sure which one yet) at Dawson this fall. Recent credits include: Aladdin (Left of Centre Theatre Company), Daisy and the Wonder Weeds (CETM), and Face Value, a short film made in 24 hours for the Montreal Film Race. Aris is extrememly excited to be working with this very talented cast in the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company's biggest production ever!
Zachary Amzallag as Alarabus
Zack's passion for acting began when at the tender age of 9, he was dragged to France to live with his family. It was the same year that his new bilingual school cast him as the lead in a musical production of "Jason And The Argonauts".
Zack has enrolled in NYC's Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre this fall, but is thrilled to be participating in this M.S.T.C. production of Titus before taking off, and hopes the cast is not expected to clean up blood.
He lives and works in Montreal and when he is not acting, auditioning or studying the Meisner technique with reknown coach Jacqueline McClintock -- he writes and produces web-video for creative shop onesum agency.
Liana Muhammad as Aemilius
Liana Muhammad is a recent graduate of the Dawson College Professional Theatre Program, class of 2010 where she was honoured with the Brian Cloutte Memorial Award for excellence in acting, and dedication to her profession. During her three years she has played a variety of supporting and leading roles in five productions. Not long after graduating, she has been fortunate enough to work with M.S.T.C on their school tour, where she played Desdemona in Othello. Working with M.S.T.C has been a wonderful experience. She is thrilled to get the opportunity to work with them again in Titus Andronicus.
Michelle Lewis as Publius
Michelle is a recent graduate of the John Abbott College Professional Theatre Program, where she was often asked by peers to *stop* talking about Shakespeare. Favourite roles include Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Cassie Cooper in Neil Simon's "Rumours", both with JAC Theatre. She is thrilled to be taking her first step into the real world with the M.S.T.C.
Julianna Kun as Caius
Julianna is a graduate of the John Abbott College Professional Theatre Program. Some of her favourite roles have been in Hair (JAC Theatre), You Can’t Take It With You (JAC Theatre), Elektra (JAC Theatre), Aladdin (Left of Centre Theatre Co.) and Henry V (Persephone Productions). She is thrilled to be embarking on a new creative journey with M.S.T.C.’s production of Titus Andronicus.
Sandra Foisy as Lucretia
Sandra grew up in the Laurentians, and moved to Montreal in 2005 to pursue her love of acting. She graduated from the Dawson College Professional Theatre Program in 2008. Some favorite performances include: Irma in The Madwoman of Chailliot, and Fanny Goodwill in Joseph Andrews. She has toured for two seasons with the M.S.T.C. in their adaptations of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Hamlet in 2010 and Othello and Twelfth Night in 2011. She is very excited to be a part of Titus Andronicus and would like to thank the M.S.T.C. for this amazing opportunity and wonderful experience.
Michaela Di Cesare as Saura
Michaela is currently completing her Master’s Degree from U of T’s Drama Centre. In Montreal she most recently appeared as Mariedl in Werner Schwab’s Holy Mothers at Theatre Ste-Catherine, the Young Woman in Mike Bartlett’s My Child at Mainline Theatre, and as Aimy Hart in the web series Miss Top 10 that she wrote and co-produced. At the DC she appeared in Ovid: Love Letters from the Empty Bed, Much Ado about Don Juan, and New Custom. Michaela wrote and performed 8 Ways my Mother was Conceived under the direction of Paula Sperdakos at U of T and is excited for its move to the 2011 St-Ambroise Montreal FRINGE Festival. This is her first time working with the M.S.T.C. and she is thrilled to have joined the wonderful Titus Andronicus team!
Tracy Allan as Aurelia
Tracy has been performing on stage since the age of six and has never looked back. She is a graduate of the Concordia Theatre Department and also trained at the Professional Theatre department of John Abbott College. Past credits include Slave of the Ring in Aladdin, Queen Penelope , Susan in Tom Jones, and Masha in The Seagull. She is extremely excited to be working with the M.S.T.C. would like to thank the entire cast and crew for this amazing opportunity.
Lia Grant as Verilia
Lia is a recent graduate of the John Abbott College Professional Theatre Program where she was awarded the Jason Panich Memorial Scholarship. Selected credits include Cookie in Rumors, The Beggar in Fiddler on the Roof, Petra in The Chrysalids, Marigold in Toad of Toad Hall and most recently, Starveling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Lia is very excited to be working with the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company on this summer’s production of Titus Andronicus.
Anne-Marie Saheb as Mira
Anne-Marie Saheb is a graduate of the Dawson College Professional Theatre Program
and has since worked in French, English and Spanish. Her most recent projects
include co-starring in the feature film Stations by Onur Karaman presented at
the Montreal World Film Festival in 2010 and playing the character of Elizabeth Morden
in Griffin Town Theatre's production of Our Country's Good. This will be her first experience with the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company and a most enriching one considering
their choice of Titus Andronicus and its exceptionally large and talented cast!
Judith Portelance as Domitia
Judith began stage-acting when she was eleven years old and it has since then been a life-long passion that she has followed with stubborn determination.
As of August 2011, Judith will be studying in Professional Theatre at Dawson College. She is very excited to be a part of the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company for the first time, a company she has had the delight to see perform in her high school days. Judith would like to thank her parents and loving boyfriend for their support over the past few years, as well as thank Ace Lopes and Aaron George for giving her this unique opportunity.
Patrick Beaulieu as Leesius
Patrick is extremely excited to be participating in such an amazing show as Titus Andronicus! Pat has been an ASM for the M.S.T.C. on its 2007 & 2008 school tours and cannot wait to be on stage with such a talented cast. He'd like to thank Ace Lopes and Aaron George for this opportunity and hopes you will enjoy the show!
Karine Kerr-Gillespie as Sentia
Karine has been studying acting since age 12. She learned the basic of stage performance at École de Théâtre du Vieux St-Eustache. She continued her training at Concordia University and I.O. Acting under Adam Kelly. She has worked both in front and behind the scenes; her credits include stage manager for A Midsummer Night’s Dream and production assistant for the short film Her Night. She is excited to be part of this production of Titus Andronicus by M.T.S.C. and is very thankful for this opportunity.
Jumaane Johnson as Pasaius
Jumaane Johnson is an avid movie and theatre fan. He joined the the M.T.S.C. by attending a Fundraiser back in March 2011 and won an auction for a non-spoken role in the production of Titus. Jumaane works full-time at UPS Lachine in Customer Service. He is a friend of fellow M.T.S.C. actress Megan Bradley. Jumaane also volunteers his time when needed at St Matthias Church whenever asked. He is very much looking forward to participating in this play.
Joseph Ste-Marie as Ludius
Joseph is excited to be working with the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company for the first time. He is a graduate of Vanier College’s Communications program in 2005, where he performed in two class productions (Jack And The Submission and Love None). In 2009, after a hiatus from performing, he began to attend improv classes and now performs frequently at Montreal Improv and at Theatre Ste. Catherine (Le Nouveau International). He recently wrote, produced and starred in his first production, Elevated: Pushing Buttons at this year’s St. Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival where he was the recipient of the 2011 Spirit of The Fringe award. Joseph would like to thank Ace and the entire cast & crew for giving him the opportunity to participate in this great production of Titus Andronicus.
Laura Vizbara as Satira
Laura works in film production by day, studies linguistics and Chinese at Concordia University by night, and moonlights as a performer and host at Montreal Improv Theater and Le Nouveau Theâtre International (formerly known as Theatre Ste-Catherine), where she's been studying the art of storytelling through Improv for the last two years. One of her favorite movies growing up was A Midsummer Night's Dream, starring James Cagney and Mickey Rooney. She is excited to channel her inner Bard and support the cast and crew that has warmly welcomed her aboard the production of Titus Andronicus. This is her first role in a Shakespearian play.
Harley Rose Wright as Serina
Harley is M.S.T.C.'s Executive Producer Ace Lopes's daughter and has been acting for a number of years already. Her previous credits include the Jungle Book, Twelfth Night, Alice in Wonderland and Sherlock Holmes. Harley is very excited to be working with her Dad on Titus Andronicus and can't wait for everyone to see the show.
Ace Lopes.....All Percussion / Producer
Ace co-founded the M.S.T.C. with his partner Aaron over 10 years ago and they've been like an old married couple ever since! Having come from a musical background where he performed over 700 live shows with various bands, Ace is proud to finally be able to perform with his theatre company on stage! "Can you believe that after producing and stage managing over 450 shows for the M.S.T.C. I finally get to perform on stage? Jeez what's it gonna take?!" Ace has been playing drums and percussion for over 35 years and has toured extensively.
He couldn't be prouder of the cast that he and Aaron have assembled for Titus Andronicus and if there was ever any doubt as to what the M.S.T.C. can do....just watch!!
Aaron George.....Director
Aaron has been the Artistic Director of the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company since 2001. During his tenure he’s had the privilege of directing productions of: King Lear, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, The Comedy of Errors, Hamlet, Twelfth Night, Taming of the Shrew, Julius Caesar, The Tempest, Merchant of Venice, The Two Gentlemen of Verona and most recently Othello. He is super excited to be tackling this brutal tale of human revenge. Aaron would like to thank Ace, Gillian, Jordana, Genia and the wonderful cast for all their dedication and hard work. As well as his family and loved ones for their constant support and encouragement. Aaron also has three cats, he loves them.
Amy Blackmore.....Choreographer
Amy Blackmore is currently the Director of the St-Ambroise Montreal FRINGE Festival, the Artistic Director of Bouge D'ici Dance Festival, the President of Le Regroupement des événements pluridisciplinaires indépendants de Montréal and the reigning Provincial Air Guitar Champion. Amy is an award-winning choreographer having produced, directed, choreographed, performed and assisted for the work of many companies, including, MainLine Theatre & the Montreal FRINGE Festival, Just For Laughs, The Montreal Highlights Festival, Crystal Pite's Kidd Pivot, Pop Montréal, OFF-TA, Fallen Angel Productions, Bis Films, the Canadian Dance Force and RubberBanDance. Amy is thrilled to be working with the M.S.T.C. on Titus Andronicus. www.amyblackmore.com
Gillian Richards.....Stage Manager
Gillian is pleased to be joining the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company for the first time for their production of Titus Andronicus. Gillian has previously had the chance to work with the Bard’s words at the Shakespeare By the Sea festival in St. John’s, Newfoundland where she stage managed the Tempest on a bluff with a permanent stage left exit. She also has multiple credits in Montreal’s independent theatre, including 3 years at the Montreal Fringe Festival and children’s theatre with Left of Center productions. She is thrilled to have been given the opportunity to do Shakespeare in Montreal and hopes to continue to be involved in local theatre where people get covered in blood.
Jordana Weiss.....Assistant Stage Manager
Jordana just graduated from McGill with a degree in English-Drama and Theatre. Past credits include various roles in Julius Caesar and Laura in The Glass Menagerie. She was the ASM for Measure for Measure, and the assistant production manager for The Alchemist. She was also the 2010-2011 Executive Director of Players’ Theatre. Jordana is thrilled to be working with the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company on Titus Andronicus, one of her favourite plays. Many thanks to her dance partner and family for the support.
Genia DeMarco.....Set & Costume Designer
Genia is a graduate of the professional theatre design program at John Abbott College. Since, she has designed for The New Wave Festival and the McGill Savoy Society. Her most recent designs include the set of Titus Andronicus with the Montreal Shakespeare Theatre Company and both set and costumes for Tin Can People with Janus Productions which will be brought to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this August.
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Exit Through the Gift Shop
Exit Through the Gift Shop...this is the type of rare documentary magic that makes you want to share this story with others. And it's not a story that's easy to sum up, without...well telling the story.
The most concise premise I think I could write would basically be that this film is about a documentary by a famous graffiti artist named Bansky who initially allows a crazy french shop owner video tape him doing his work, and instead of being the subject of a documentary ends up using the footage to make a documentary about the shop keeper instead.
That being said getting from point A to point B is documented and told in an intriguing way with an interesting cast of characters that includes people named Space Invader, Borf, Neck Face, and the less secretive Shepard Fairy.
There has been some speculation about this film being a complete hoax, but I found that hard to believe, and instead simply found the film fascinating on many levels, and could only imagine how different people might watch it with different interpretations of the people as either heroes, misfits, genius, or insane. And I suppose the lens also only fuels the opportunity for interesting conversations about this documentary.
Rhys Ifans does a great job narrating, the footage and story telling elements are fantastic, and the entire progress and reveal of the story is just plain entertainment.
It's my recommendation you get your hands on this documentary, and then we can discuss it some more. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments if you have seen it.
It'll be interesting to see what happens with this film and the Academy Awards. Exit Through the Gift Shop is one of the 15 films that could be nominated, and it is generally assumed Exit Through the Gift Shop will be one of the films, and a contender for the prize. It may be a little early to make such predictions, but I will say, this is a rare documentary that is certainly different from all the other contenders, and if it wins I think there is definitely some curiosity at who would accept the award, especially under Bansky's mask of identity secrecy.
That alone might be worth some votes. But of what I've seen this year, this film would get my vote as well. Thank you Bansky for making this film and Mr. Brainwash (Thierry Guetta) for your obsessive video-taping (and for not forcing us to watch your own documentary Life Remote Control).
cathy b. said...
I give it five stars. I'll watch it again if it's still streaming on netflix. It was, as you say, entertainment. It was a hoot.
We just watched it on Netflix Wii. It was incredibly fascinating and creative. But I think it's a hoax. I can't explain why. Maybe it has something to do with not being able to trust a guy named Banksy who paints elephants. Still, true or not true, it was a great film that held my attention and will probably me on my mind in the days ahead.
umesh said...
Nice post and blog. It was incredibly fascinating and creative.Thanks for post.
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SubSonicHobby - RC Plane Drone UAV Car Boat
Anything relates to RC, technology and innovative hobbies.
Resource and Download
Tell Us Where You Fly RC Planes
First-person view (FPV), also known as remote-person view (RPV), or simply video piloting, is a method used to control a radio-controlled vehicle from the driver or pilot's view point. Most commonly it is used to pilot a radio-controlled aircraft or other type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The vehicle is either driven or piloted remotely from a first-person perspective via an onboard camera, fed wirelessly to video FPV goggles[1][2] or a video monitor. More sophisticated setups include a pan-and-tilt gimbaled camera controlled by a gyroscope sensor in the pilot's goggles and with dual onboard cameras, enabling a true stereoscopic view.
Micro FPV Transmitter Build
Radio Waves or Frequency Explained
Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum longer than infraredlight. Radio waves have frequencies as high as 300 GHz to as low as 3 kHz, though some definitions describe waves above 1 or 3 GHz as microwaves, or include waves of any lower frequency. At 300 GHz, the corresponding wavelength is 1 mm (0.039 in), and at 3 kHz is 100 km (62 mi). Like all other electromagnetic waves, they travel at the speed of light. Naturally occurring radio waves are generated by lightning, or by astronomical objects.
Cloverleaf Build
A cloverleaf antenna is a circularly polarized wire antenna, with a radiation pattern similar to adipole antenna.The Cloverleaf is a closed-loop antenna, meaning that the signal and ground wires are connected. Measuring between signal and ground with a multimeter would read a short circuit. However it works great as an antenna. The cloverleaf has 3 lobes at 120° apart from each other in the horizontal plane and angled 45° in the vertical plane. It may look funky, but it’s an excellent transmitter antenna. In fact its one of the best FPV video transmitter antennas out there at the moment.
Vee Antenna Build
An inverted vee antenna is a type of antenna similar to a horizontal dipole, but with the two sides bent down towards the ground, typically creating a 120 or 90 degree angle between the dipole legs. It is typically used in areas of limited space as it can significantly reduce the ground foot print of the antenna without significantly impacting performance. Viewed from the side, it looks like the English letter "V" turned upside down, hence the name. Inverted vee antennas are commonly used by amateur radio stations, and aboard sailing vessels requiring better HF performance than available with a short whip antenna. Inverted vee antennas are horizontal polarized and have a similar pattern compared to a traditional horizontal dipole.
What is a Helical Antenna?
A helical antenna is an antenna consisting of a conducting wire wound in the form of a helix. In most cases, helical antennas are mounted over a ground plane. The feed line is connected between the bottom of the helix and the ground plane. Helical antennas can operate in one of two principal modes — normal mode or axial mode.
In the normal mode or broadside helix, the dimensions of the helix (the diameter and the pitch) are small compared with the wavelength. The antenna acts similarly to an electrically short dipole or monopole, and the radiation pattern, similar to these antennas is omnidirectional, with maximum radiation at right angles to the helix axis. The radiation is linearly polarised parallel to the helix axis. These are used for compact antennas for portable and mobile two-way radios, and for UHF television broadcasting antennas.
In the axial mode or end-fire helix, the dimensions of the helix are comparable to a wavelength. The antenna functions as a directional antenna radiating a beam off the ends of the helix, along the antenna's axis. It radiates circularly polarised radio waves. These are used for satellite communication.
Turnigy 9XR or 9XR Pro
Flaps Setup
Flaps are a type of high-lift device used to increase the lift of an aircraft wing at a given airspeed. Flapsare usually mounted on the wing trailing edges of a fixed-wing aircraft. Flaps are used to lower the minimum speed at which the aircraft can be safely flown, and to increase the angle of descent for landing.
Flaps with switch and knob
Gimbal Tilt Control Setup
A gimbal is a pivoted support that allows the rotation of an object about a single axis.
Dual Rate and Expo Settings
Elevon Mix Setup
Elevon mixing is the mix between ailerons and elevator. Meaning, with only 2 servos, you are able to control the elevator and the aileron with only one surface (the elevons).
MultiWii
Multiwii is an open source project code which runs on Arduino bootloader based boards in order to fly a multirotor platform; was initially developed to support Nintendo Wii console gyroscopes and accelerometers.
MultiWii Navigation setup
MultiWii 2.0 Setup for Acro and Autolevel
PID Setting Explained
PID stands for Proportional, Integral, Derivative. Controllers are designed to eliminate the need for continuous operator attention. Cruise control in a car and a house thermostat are common examples of how controllers are used to automatically adjust some variable to hold the measurement (or process variable) at the set-point. The set-point is where you would like the measurement to be. Error is defined as the difference between set-point and measurement.
(error) = (set-point) - (measurement) The variable being adjusted is called the manipulated variable which usually is equal to the output of the controller. The output of PID controllers will change in response to a change in measurement or set-point. Manufacturers of PID controllers use different names to identify the three modes. These equations show the relationships:
P Proportional Band = 100/gain
I Integral = 1/reset (units of time)
D Derivative = rate = pre-act (units of time)
Depending on the manufacturer, integral or reset action is set in either time/repeat or repeat/time. One is just the reciprocal of the other. Note that manufacturers are not consistent and often use reset in units of time/repeat or integral in units of repeats/time. Derivative and rate are the same.
Choosing the proper values for P, I, and D is called "PID Tuning".
RC Jet Turbine
RC SR-71 Blackbird
RC F-16 Jet
RC Scratch Build Plane
Center of gravity (CG) limits are specified longitudinal (forward and aft) and/or lateral (left and right) limits within which the aircraft's center of gravity must be located during flight. The CG limits are indicated in the airplane flight manual. The area between the limits is called the CG range of the aircraft.
All about CG
Simple Scratch Build Plane
Micro Drone v3
CG Balance with Calculation
Foam Airfoil
An airfoil (in American English) or aerofoil (in British English) is the shape of a wing, blade (of a propeller, rotor, or turbine), or sail (as seen in cross-section). An airfoil-shaped body moved through a fluid produces an aerodynamic force.
Armin Airfoil Wing
中文 - español- ру́сский
3D Printing Arduino Boat Gadget and DIY Techniques MultiCopters RC Plane Reviews
RC Flying Fields
Scratch Built RC Plane -Subsonic Drone v2 Plane Design
Subsonic Drone build logs: Click here to see the Subsonic Drone v1 . Also see the Micro Drone V3 for all the overall dimensions. I desi...
FPV Drone Plane - Mini Talon X - UAV
The is the Mini Talon UAV build logs. I plan to use this plane for FPV and auto pilot flying purposes. I first 3D printed many parts fo...
MINI MWC Flight Control Board and DSM2 - Connecting to Computer
Some instructions for connecting Mini (MultiWii Control) MWC Flight Control Board to a computer. The device at the top of picture below is...
Auto Pilot RC Drone - ArduPilot APM 2.8
ArduPilot APM 2.8 setup: Download Mission Planner from here . Mission Planner documentation can be found here . Connect the ArduPilot...
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School-Scholarships.org
Educational Information To Help Get A Scholarship
Books For College
When Talent Pays Off
The Age of Technology
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Top Colleges In Colorado
Colorado State University is one of the top colleges in Colorado and top research universities for studies in infectious diseases, clean energy technologies, atmospheric science, and environmental science. The school was founded in 1870, providing its students with a rich history in fine education. Colorado State offers over 150 programs of study in eight colleges, and 30 percent of Colorado’s graduates in mathematics and science fields come from Colorado State. Colorado State also ranked in the top tier of US universities in US News and World Report. To learn more about the school or to schedule a visit to the Fort Collins campus, visit www.colostate.edu or call 970-491-6444.
The University of Colorado at Boulder is one of 34 public universities to belong to the Association of American Universities. It has four Nobel laureates on its alumni list and is a Tier 1 research university and among the top colleges in Colorado. Undergraduates have 85 majors to choose from, and the master’s program offers 70 degrees. Those pursuing a doctorate choose from 50 degree programs. Popular majors include psychology, integrative physiology, English, pre-journalism, and biological sciences. Call 303-492-1411 or visit www.colorado.edu to learn more about the University of Colorado at Boulder.
The Colorado School of Mines offers students the chance to learn in a public research university that works in the engineering and applied sciences fields. Its admissions standards are the highest of any public university in the state. Students learn from a curriculum that focuses on taking good care of the earth and its resources. Mines has undergraduate degree programs in Applied Science and Mathematics, Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Geoscience and Resource Engineering. The school also has a graduate program. To learn more visit www.mines.edu or call 303-273-3000.
The University of Denver is the oldest and largest university in the Colorado Rockies area. The school has degree programs in the arts, business, computer science, education, engineering, international studies, humanities, mathematics, music, natural sciences, social sciences and theatre, as well as dedicated courses of study in a separate Woman’s College and University College, the school’s adult education departments. Visit www.du.edu or call the University of Denver at 303-871-2000 to learn more about the school.
Colorado Technical University is a school designed for those seeking career training in skills used in today’s work environment. Degree programs focus on the fields of engineering and science and cover all degrees from associates to doctorates. The school has both campus based and online classes to provide convenient access to education. Most degree programs have resume-enhancing Academic Certificates that you can add to your professional resume after graduation. Learn more about Colorado Tech at www.coloradotech.edu or by calling 866-942-6555.
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LOPEZ JARA, Carlos Alberto e HOLGUIN LEW, Jorge Carlos. Autonomy, trust and medical ethics in Onora O'Neill's Work. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2013, vol.42, n.1, pp.120-135. ISSN 0034-7450.
Introduction: Autonomy has become a key concept in bioethics. Onora O'neill is perhaps the most representative author and researcher in the philosophical and bioethical felds regrding the concept of autonomy. Object: To review the concept of autonomy in Onora O'Neill's work so as to understand its relevance in current bioethics. Method: The concept of bioethics is reviewed in relation to three fundamental quesions: 1) Which are the main limitations of the individualistic conception of autonomy? 2) How to understand the relations between trust and autonomy together with their implications? and 3) Which are the implications of principled autonomy for aspects such as doctor-patient relationship and informed consent. The main works by O'Neill are reviewed, specifically regarding medical bioethics. Results: O'neill's approach is original and relates Kantian autonomy to her own conceptions about trust, and both the individual and social levels of bioethics. Conclusions: The author has developed a Kantian non indvidualistic view of autonomy. Her conceptulization of trust and the crises this concept is currently undergoing complement and strengthen the concept of principled autonomy. The implications of O'Neill's concepts go beyond theoretical discussions and in her work she uses examples and analyzes circumstances which demonstrate the applicability of her proposals. O'Neill's work contributes to dealing with the challenges posed by the socio-political context of cost-efficiency oriented health systems and of the so-called defensive medicine.
Palavras-chave : O'Neill; autonomy; Kantian ethics; individualism; trust; doctor-patient relationship; shared decision.
· resumo em Espanhol · texto em Espanhol · Espanhol ( pdf )
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The Soft Machine
Artist Combines Machines and Mankind
Skip Enge says he knew from an early age that art is what drives him. The Camas native unveiled his first show just three years after high school and calculates he has filled 40 one-man exhibits in the past 40 years. Make that 41. Enge will show watercolors with an industrial edge at Second Story Gallery in March. His show, "The Soft Machine," opens with a reception for the artist on First Friday March 3, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Gallery.
Keyboardist Brad Jensen will be providing music for the evening.
Enge explains "The Soft Machine" is another name for the human body and the main theme of a William Burroughs' book of the same title that concerns how control mechanisms invade the body. There is an appendix in the 1968 British edition that makes this connection, he says, and Enge's paintings have a mid-century feel as well. The subdued colors and industrial themes seem connected to a time when men and machines worked without electronic interface.
If Enge's new show looks like he just stepped out of a paper mill, the Camas mill is in fact a place where he found employment to save money for college. But he says his work varies in approach, technique and symbolism. "As a poet I see analogy in most things I think about and write about. My personal painting style changes all the time . . . sometimes literal and other times fanciful."
Recently returned to his hometown, Enge is collaborating with the art department at Washougal High School on lessons for the classroom. His commissioned pieces are in collections across the country and locally at the Oregon Historical Society and PeaceHealth Medical Center.
Enge says he has centered his life around creativity. He has worked as a museum exhibit designer, graphic designer, fabricator and "creator of solutions" for museums and collections, all while painting in his extra hours. He also writes poetry, often while he's painting, so a few poems will be exhibited alongside his watercolors to serve as his artist's statement.
First Friday Artist's Reception
March 3 5-8 pm
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Mizoram: Seismotectonic Study Of The Indo-Burmese Arc
Aizawl, Nov 12 : Scientists from different parts of the world delivered interesting lectures during a two-day tripartite meeting on the 'Tectonics of the Indo- Burmese Arc', organised by Mizoram University (MZU), in collaboration with Manipur University and NGRI (CSIR), Hyderabad, at MZU concluded today.
Besides scientists, research scholars and students from different parts of the world participated in the meeting. The main purpose of this meeting was to formulate and bring about collaborative ideas on questions concerning the structure of the Indo-Burmese Arc, India - Sunda plate motion, Earthquake occurrence potential, evolution of the Indo Burmese Arc, historical seismicity, paleoseismology, volcanic studies in Myanmar, earthquake precursors and others.
Discussions with regard to the future plan for research on the Indo-Burmese Arc, scientific issues, modalities of implementations, funding and timeframe for the research were discussed today.
Dr Leonardo Seeber, from Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia-University, Palisades, NY, in the inaugural function said that it was important to understand what the hazards were. The Indo-Burmese Arc has a lot of important elements that need to be studied and this cannot be done without the collaboration of scientist, researchers, institutions and others.
The vice chancellor of Assam University, Silchar, Prof Somnath Dasgupta also said collaborative venture will bring about important findings and that support from Assam University is guaranteed whenever necessary.
The vice chancellor Prof R Lalthantluanga in his speech, said "Even Mizoram University is trying to put up several projects for the state as we are in the seismic zone along with the rest of North east India and with oil explorations in the state, we have put up proposals to UGC in the 12th plan to provide us Centre's/departments on this regard, we were however unable to get a full-fledged centre from UGC but certain post were sanctioned to Mizoram University earlier this year, one for disaster management and another for oil petroleum exploration".
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<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000704051-18-000073
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Go to... Top Section 1: 11-K (WAM 11-K 12.31.2017) Section 2: EX-23 (EXHIBIT 23)
Section 1: 11-K (WAM 11-K 12.31.2017)
FORM 11-K
(Mark One):
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to .
Commission file number 1-8529
The Western Asset Management
385 East Colorado Blvd.
(Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below)
Legg Mason, Inc.
(Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office)
REQUIRED INFORMATION.
Plan Financial Statements and Schedules prepared in accordance with the financial reporting requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Together with Report of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
As of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and
For the Year Ended December 31, 2017
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
Supplemental Schedule*
Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
* The other supplemental schedules required by 29 CFR 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under ERISA have been omitted, as they are not applicable.
To the Plan Administrator and Plan Participants of
The Western Asset Management 401(k) Plan:
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of The Western Asset Management 401(k) Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and schedules (collectively referred to as the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of The Western Asset Management 401(k) Plan as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Plan’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Plan in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits, we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
The supplemental information contained in the schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2017 has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan's financial statements. The supplemental information is the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental information reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental information. In forming our opinion on the supplemental information, we evaluated whether the supplemental information, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor's
Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental information is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.
/s/ SC&H Attest Services, P.C.
We have served as the Plan’s auditor since 2011.
Sparks, MD
Investments, at fair value:
Participant-directed investments
Participant self-directed brokerage accounts
Total Investments, at fair value (Note 2)
Company contributions receivable
Notes receivable from participants
Participant contributions receivable
Net Assets Available for Benefits
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits Attributable to:
Total Contributions
Interest and dividend income
Net appreciation fair value of investments
Total Investment Income
Interest Income on Notes Receivable from Participants
Benefits Paid to Participants
(8,112,690
Administrative Expenses
(118,555
Net Increase in Net Assets Available for Benefits
Net Assets Available for Benefits:
Beginning of the Year
End of the Year
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this financial statement.
1. DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN
The following description of The Western Asset Management 401(k) Plan (the Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a complete description of the Plan’s provisions.
The Western Asset Management 401(k) Plan and Trust was established on January 1, 2011. Effective October 31, 2013, the Plan was amended to change the Plan name to The Western Asset Management 401(k) Plan. The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering substantially all U.S. employees of Western Asset Management Company (the Company) with the exception of leased and temporary employees. The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc. (Legg Mason). The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and was amended effective January 1, 2017 to increase auto-enrollment percentage, update distribution options, and change company stock issue (see Note 5). Also, the Plan was amended effective December 13, 2017 for purposes of making the HCE top-paid group election explicit, clarifying that the ACP safe harbor election has not been made, allowing rollover contributions by former Plan participants with remaining account balances, and allowing additional flexibility for distributions in the forms of installments or partial payments. An employee becomes eligible to participate in the Plan after completing 1 hour of service. A full time participant is eligible to share in discretionary Company contributions and forfeitures on January 1st or July 1st following their date of employment. A part time participant is eligible on January 1st to share in discretionary Company contributions and forfeitures by completing 1,000 hours of service, as defined by the Plan, in the preceding Plan year and being employed on the last day of the Plan year, or have retired, died, or become disabled during the Plan year.
Contributions by employees are voluntary and may be composed of all or any of the following:
A rollover of accumulated deductible employee contributions as contemplated by Section 408(d) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code (the Code).
A voluntary pre- and post-tax compensation deferral whereby the participant elects to defer amounts that then would be contributed by the Company to the Plan. This compensation deferral, if elected, cannot be less than 1% and not more than 100% of the compensation that would otherwise have been paid to the participant during the Plan year. Participant contributions may not exceed the maximum allowable contribution under the Code. The maximum allowable contribution totaled $18,000 for the year ended December 31, 2017. Participants who have attained age 50 before the end of the Plan year may make additional catch-up contributions, subject to limitations imposed by the Code.
Newly hired employees are automatically enrolled into the Plan with a 3% deferral rate that increases by 1% each year on their anniversary date and caps at 6%. Existing employees have the option to also elect the “automatic enrollment” feature. New hires that decide they do not want to automatically enroll have the option to change their deferral percentage or unwind their contributions within 90 days from their original eligibility date. Effective January 1, 2017, newly hired employees are automatically enrolled in the Plan with a 5% deferral rate that increases by 1% each year on their anniversary and caps at 8%.
Company Contributions
The Company, in accordance with the Plan document, has agreed to make a matching contribution of 100% of employee deferrals on the first 5% of employee qualified earnings. The Company match is primarily contributed to the Plan on a per payroll basis, however, the Plan also allows for a true-up provision at the end of the Plan year in accordance with Plan guidelines. Company matching contributions for the year ended December 31, 2017 totaled $8,591,727.
Additionally, the Company may make discretionary profit sharing contributions to the Plan. The Company did not make a discretionary profit sharing contribution for 2017.
Participant Accounts
Each participant’s account is participant and self-directed and credited with the participant’s contributions and an allocation of (a) the Company’s participant and self-contributions and (b) Plan earnings/losses, and charged with administrative expenses. Allocations are based on participant earnings or account balances, as defined in the Plan. The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the amount that has accumulated and vested in a participant’s account. The Plan allows an investment option of self-directed brokerage accounts.
Vesting
Participants are immediately vested in deferral contributions, rollover contributions, and income earned thereon. Vesting in Company matching contributions and discretionary profit sharing contributions is based on years of continuous service as presented in the following chart:
A participant’s account becomes 100% vested in discretionary profit sharing contributions and matching company contributions, regardless of years of service, at age 62 or in the event of permanent disability, death, or by reason of, and as part of, a Plan termination.
Terminating participants of the Plan are paid the current value of the vested balance in their Plan account upon request and as soon as administratively feasible. Unvested amounts are forfeited and are used to pay Plan expenses or are used to reduce future Company contributions. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, unallocated forfeitures totaled $107,087 and $44,118, respectively. During 2017, $27,000 in forfeitures were used to reduce Company contributions or pay Plan expenses.
Payment of Benefits
Benefit payments are available to participants upon termination of employment, retirement, death, attainment of age 59 ½ or disability. Participants are entitled to a benefit equal to the vested portion of their account which will be distributed in the form of a lump sum payment unless the participant elects another option, as provided by the Plan. Upon proof, to the satisfaction of the Plan administrator, of an immediate and heavy financial need, amounts contributed by the participant may be withdrawn for a hardship purpose. Distributions are subject to the applicable provisions of the Plan agreement. Certain income taxes and penalties may apply to withdrawals or distributions prior to age 59 ½. There were no net assets
of the Plan allocated to the accounts of participants who had elected to withdraw from the Plan that had not received such distributions as of December 31, 2017 and 2016.
Participants may borrow up to 50% of their vested account balance, in amounts of at least $1,000 but not more than $50,000 less the highest outstanding note balance during the preceding twelve months. Three notes may be outstanding at any given time. The notes are collateralized by the vested balance in the participant’s account. Notes for any purpose other than the purchase of a primary residence must be repaid within 5 years. Notes accrue interest at a rate commensurate with prevailing market rates at the time of loan issuance as determined by the Plan. The Company has the authority to deny participant notes to any director or executive officer to the extent necessary to conform to the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. The Company has the right to discontinue the policy of extending notes to participants; however, it may not affect the terms or provisions of any notes outstanding at that time.
Plan Expenses
Administrative and operational expenses of the Plan are to be paid by the Trustee with Plan assets, unless the Company elects to pay them. For the year ended December 31, 2017, the majority of expenses of the Plan were paid with Plan assets, of which $118,555 were paid by the funds’ revenue sharing arrangements with Merrill Lynch through an allocation of the Plan’s ERISA Account/Budget. ERISA accounts represent a compromise made by Plan sponsors that do not want to pay Plan expenses themselves, however, want to ensure the participant fees are reasonable. The accounts are used to re-distribute excess Plan paid expenses to pay other expenses of the Plan. Such expenses are often indirect compensation in nature and are captured as a component of net appreciation (depreciation) in the accompanying statement of changes in net assets available for benefits. Loan and distribution fees are paid by the Plan and its participants. Investment related expenses are included in net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments. Approximately $101,000 was reallocated to Plan participants from the ERISA account.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Accounting
The financial statements of the Plan are prepared on the accrual basis of accounting.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of additions to and deductions from Plan assets during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan provides for investments in financial instruments that are exposed to risks, such as interest rate, credit and overall market volatility. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities may occur in the near term and that such change could materially affect the amounts reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits.
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition
Investments are reported at fair value. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Net appreciation (depreciation) includes the Plan’s gains and losses on investments bought and sold as well as held during the year.
Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement, defines fair value and establishes a framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under ASC 820 are described below:
Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access.
Inputs to the valuation methodology include:
•Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
•Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;
•Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability;
Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
The asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value:
Interests in registered investment companies: Valued at the closing price reported in the active market in which the funds are traded.
Unitized fund: Invested in Legg Mason common stock which is unitized and valued at the closing price of shares held by the Plan at year-end. Legg Mason common shares within the accounts are traded on an active market.
Money market deposit: Valued at amortized cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value.
Interest in common/collective trust: Valued at the NAV of shares held by the Plan at year-end.
Participant self-directed brokerage: Invested in publicly traded common stock, corporate bonds, and registered investment companies valued at the closing price of shares held by the Plan at year-end. Individual securities within the accounts are traded on an active market.
The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date. There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2017 and 2016.
The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan’s investments at fair value as of December 31, 2017:
Interests in registered investment companies
Money market deposit
Participant self-directed brokerage
Total assets in the fair value hierarchy
Unitized Fund (a)
Interests in collective investment trusts (a)
Total investments, at fair value
In accordance with ASC 820-10, certain investments that were measured at net asset value per share as practical expedient (or its equivalent) have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the line items presented in the statements of net assets available for benefits.
The Plan adopted the updated GAAP valuation standard related to investments in certain entities that do not have a readily determined fair value. This guidance allows the fair value measurements for these funds’ investments to be based on reported net asset value (NAV) if certain criteria are met and establishes additional disclosures related to these investments. The Plan’s investments in the unitized fund and the common/collective trust are valued as a practical expedient based on the reported unit value as of year-end. Due to the nature of these investments, the redemption frequency is daily and there are no redemption notices or unfunded commitments. The practical expedient is used for valuation, unless it is probable that the Plan will sell a portion of the investment at an amount different from the net asset value.
Benefits are recorded when paid.
Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance plus any accrued but unpaid interest. There were no allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2017 or 2016, respectively. Delinquent notes are treated as distributions based on the terms of the Plan agreement.
Subsequent Events
The Plan evaluated for disclosure any subsequent events through the report issuance date and determined there were no material events that warrant disclosure.
3. INCOME TAX STATUS
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has determined and informed the Company by a determination letter, dated July 10, 2013, that the Plan and related trust are designed in accordance with applicable sections of the Code. Although the Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter, the Plan administrator believes that the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.
ASC 740, Income Taxes, prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return as well as guidance on de-recognition, classification, interest and penalties and financial statement reporting disclosures. For these benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. As the Plan is tax exempt and has no unrelated business income, these provisions of ASC 740 do not have an impact on the Plan’s financial statements. The Plan recognizes interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax exposures as a component of income tax expense. The Plan does not have any amounts accrued relating to interest and penalties as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
4. PLAN TERMINATION
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event of Plan termination, participants would become 100% vested in their accounts.
5. OTHER MATTERS
The Plan invests in shares of Legg Mason, Inc. common stock unitized fund, which qualifies as a party-in-interest transaction. The shares of common stock held by the unitized Legg Mason Common Stock Fund are held by Merrill Lynch.
Sales of 28,462 units with aggregate proceeds of $639,308, and purchases of 18,436 units with an aggregate purchase price of $422,415 of the Legg Mason Common Stock Fund were made during 2017. The market value of the Legg Mason Common Stock Fund at December 31, 2017 and 2016 was $2,192,925 (83,971 units) and $1,731,113 (93,997 units), respectively.
Legg Mason Investor Services serves as distributor for the Western Asset funds held by the Plan. Additionally, certain affiliated participating and non-participating companies act as manager or investment advisor for the Western Asset funds. The Western Asset funds in the Plan qualify as a party-in-interest transaction.
The Plan invests in shares of funds managed by Bank of America, N.A., the Custodian of the Plan. The Plan allows participants to take out loans against their vested account balances. The Company provides the Plan with certain accounting and administrative services for which no fees are charged. All such transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions, which are exempt from the prohibited transaction rules.
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE PROVIDED
PURSUANT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR’S
EIN#: 95-2705767
Plan #: 005
Schedule H, line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
(b) Identity of issue, borrower, lessor, or similar party
(c) Description of investment (including maturity date, rate of interest, collateral, par, or maturity value)
(d) Cost
(e) Current Value
American EuroPacific Growth Fund, R6
Interests in Registered Investment Company
American Growth Fund of America, R6
American Washington
ClearBridge Mid-Cap Core- I
ClearBridge Institutional Growth CL
Dodge and Cox Balanced Fund
Eaton Vance Income Fund of Boston, Institutional Class
Federated Total Return Bond Fund
Franklin Small-Mid Cap Growth R6
Miller Opportunity Trust CL I
QS International Equity FD Institutional Class
T Rowe Price Small Cap Stock Fund
Templeton Global Bond Fund, Advisor Class
Templeton World Fund Advantage
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 - Institutional
Vanguard Target Retirement Income - Institutional
Western Asset High Yield - Institutional
Western Asset Inflation Indexed IS
Western Asset Institutional Government Res Fund, Class A
Western Asset Total Return Unconstrained - Institutional
Western Asset Corporate Bond Fund - Institutional
William Blair Emerging Markets Growth - Institutional
Legg Mason Common Stock Fund
Unitized Fund
Wells Fargo Stable Return Fund
Interest in Common/Collective Trust
ClearBridge Value Equity CIF R LM
ClearBridge Aggressive Growth CIF R LM
ClearBridge Small Cap CIF R LM
SSGA S&P 500 Index Fund
Western Asset Core Bond CIF R LM
Retirement Bank Account
Self-Directed Brokerage
Participant Self-Directed
Interest rates range from 4.25% to 6.00%, maturing December 2022
* Denotes a party-in-interest, as defined by ERISA
** Participant directed investment, therefore, no cost basis
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the plan administrator, who administers the employee benefit plan, has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
/s/ Regina Johnson
Regina Johnson
Head of Human Resources, Western Asset Management Company
Exhibit No.
Consent of SC&H Attest Services, P.C.
Section 2: EX-23 (EXHIBIT 23)
Exhibit 23
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 333-182609 on Form S-8 of our report dated June 25, 2018, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 11-K of The Western Asset Management 401(k) Plan for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Sparks, Maryland
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Joseph Priestly Kennet & Avon
Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers and Canals and Railways of Great Britain - Joseph Priestly 1831
34 Geo III. C. 90: R. A. 17th Apr. 1794 - 36 Geo. III. C.36. R. A. 24th May 1796.
39 Geo. III C. 18, R. A. 7th May. 1799 -.41 Geo. III C. 73, R. A. 21st May, 1801.
43 Geo. III C. 20. R. A. 27th June 1805, - 49 Geo. III. C. 64, R. A. 3rd, June, 1809.
58 Geo. III. C. 119. R. A. 3rd June, 1813.
The truly useful and highly important work which we have now to describe, had its first commencement in an act which received the royal assent on the 17th April, 1794, and is entitled ' An Act for making a navigable Canal from the River Kennet, at or near the town of Newbury, in the county of Berkshire, to the River Avon, at or near the city of Bath; and also certain navigable Cuts therein described By this act the proprietors are incorporated under the title of " The Company of Proprietors of the Kennet and Avon Canal Navigation," and have the usual powers granted on such occasions. In consequence of an agreement with the proprietors of the Wilts and Berks Canal, conformably to a clause in this act, the line first laid down was proposed to be altered, and the sanction of parliament to this alteration was obtained in the year 1796, in an act under the title of 'An Act to vary and alter the Line of the Canal authorized to be made by an Act passed in the Thirty-fourth of his present Majesty, entitled, An Act for making a navigable Canal from the River Kennet, at or near the town of Newbury, in the county of Berkshire, to the River Avon, at or near the city of Bath, and also certain navigable Cuts therein described, and to amend the said Act, and also to make a certain navigable Cut therein described.
By the first act the company were authorised to raise £420,000 in three thousand five hundred shares of £120 each, part of which might be divided into half shares of £6O each, two of these to have one vote; and should the above sum prove insufficient, they were empowered to raise £150,000 in addition. By the second act no further sums of money were required to be raised. In the year 1798 the company found it necessary to make further alterations in the line of canal;. and they, in consequence, obtained the requisite authority by a third act, entitled, ' An Act to vary the Line of the Kennet and Avon Canal, authorized to be made by Two Acts passed in the Thirty-fourth and Thirty-sixth of his present Majesty, and also to extend the Powers of, and to amend the said Act.'
Various circumstances, which it is not necessary here to enumerate, having rendered an additional sum of money requisite for the completion of the work, by an act called ' An Act for enabling the Company of Proprietors of the Kennet and Avon Canal Navigation to complete the same ; and for amending the several Acts passed for making the said Canal,' the company were em-powered to raise £240,000 by creating new shares and half shares, making in the whole four thousand new shares; three thousand to be taken by the original subscribers or their friends, and the remaining thousand to be sold by auction; but no interest was to be paid on the new shares, the tolls being directed to be applied towards completing the canal.
In 1805, a further sum being still wanting to complete the works, an act was obtained for that purpose, under the title of ' An Act for enabling the Company of Proprietors of the Kennet and Avon Canal Navigation to complete the same, and for altering and enlarging the Powers of the several Acts passed for making the said Canal By this act £200,000 more was directed to be raised for completing the canal, and for paying off the debts already incurred. A deficiency, however, still existed; and application was again made to parliament; and by an act, entitled, ' An Act for enabling the Kennet and Avon Canal Company to raise a sufficient Sum of Money to complete the said Canal, and for amending the several Acts for making the same, an additional sum of £80,000 was directed to be raised, and to authorize the borrowing of £50,000 as granted by the act previously obtained in 1805. But, to render the undertaking complete, the various sums already recited did not prove adequate; the company, also determined that it would be advisable to purchase the River Kennet Navigation; they, therefore, again obtained the sanction of parliament to their proceedings in 1813, in an act entitled,. 'An Act for enabling the Kennet and Avon Canal Company to raise a further Sum of Money to purchase the Shares of the River Kennet Navigation, and to amend the several Acts passed for making the ' said Canal.' By this last enactment, £132,000 were to be raised by creating five thousand five hundred new shares of £24 each. Power was also given to create a sinking fund ; and those proprietors of shares, resident within the bills of mortality, were directed to be called " The Proprietors of the London District," and to elect from amongst themselves three members of the committee of management. The following are the
TONNAGE RATES.
For all Hay,Straw, Dung, Peat, and Peat-ashes, and all other Ashes used for Manure, Chalk, Marl, Clay, and Sand, and all other Articles used for Manure and forthe repair of Roads
1d per Ton, per Mile
For all Coals, Culm, Coke, Cinders, Charcoal, Iron-stone, Pig-iron, Iron-ore, Copper-ore, Lead-ore, Lime, (except used for Manure.) Lime-stone, and other Stone, Bricks .and Tiles
1d ditto, ditto.
For all Corn and other Grain, Flour, Malt, Meal, Timber, Bar-iron. and Lead. (except such Corn, and other Grain, Flour. Malt, and Meal, as shall be carried Westwards, on such part of the Canal as shall be situate betweenthe Town of Devizes and the City of Bath)
For all Corn, and other Grain. Flour, Malt, and Meal, which shall be carried from the Town of Devizes to the City of Bath
3s per Ton
For all Corn and other Grain, Flour, Malt, and Meal, Which shall be carried Westwards on any part of the said Canal between the Town of Devizes and the city of Bath,and shall not pass the whole way between Devizes and Bath
For all other Goods, Wares, Merchandize, and Commodities whatsoever in respect of which no Toll, Rate, or Duty is herein before made payable
2d ditto, ditto
And so on in Proportion for any Quantity greater or less than a Ton, and for any
Distance more or less than a Mile.
Having thus presented our readers with the leading features of the various acts, obtained for completing this stupendous work, it may be useful to add the following scale of particulars respecting the money subscribed, before we proceed to describe the work itself By the different acts obtained for this canal, the following sums have been raised, vis.
By 34 Geo. III. c. 90.
Shares designed to be in Number
Of this Number there were lost by Failures, &c.
And by Consolidation with other Classes, 32 half shares
Remaining Shares
These were first created at.. £120 0s 0d per Share
And subjected to a further 17 4s.7d
£137 4s 7d
£407,576 163
Call of
Carried over
£407,576 16 3
Shares created; intended to be
Lost of these
And by Consolidation with other Classes, 4 Half shares
£177,360 0 0
By 45 Geo. III. c. 70
Shares were created
at £20 per Share
And Optional Notes
at £33, 6s. 8d
£3300 0 0
£27,540 0 0
By 49 Geo. III. c. 138
gained by Consolidation from the Two first Acts. 36 Half Shares
The Kennet and Avon completes a circuit of navigable canals, which traversing the northern, midland, and south-western counties of England, connect together its four largest rivers, the Trent the Mersey, the Severn, and the Thames. Viewed in this light, it forms an important link in that great chain of inland navigation, which has been rapidly increasing in this kingdom for the last fifty years, and which seems to know no other boundary than ,what the rugged and mountainous parts of the country naturally present. This canal, by uniting the Rivers Kennet and Avon, the former of which runs into the River Thames at Reading, and the latter into the Severn a few miles below Bristol, becomes, in conjunction with the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the Thames, the central line of communication between the Irish Sea and German Ocean. The line of navigation, which thus joins these two seas, passes through a very fertile and populous district. Upon the banks of it lie not only the metropolis, but a great many large towns and cities, the ordinary intercourse between which must necessarily produce a very extensive traffic; and if we take into consideration the numerous collateral branches from this grand line, the whole together forms a comprehensive system of water communication, which pervades the southern division of England, and connects the remotest parts of South Wales and Cornwall, with the counties of Essex and Kent. Thus favourably circumstanced, the Kennet and Avon Canal is highly beneficial to the commerce, manufactures, and agriculture of the south-western counties of this kingdom; in the same manner as the Trent and Mersey and Grand Junction Canals have contributed to the improvement and prosperity of the northern and midland counties.
The Kennet and Avon Canal commences at the head of the Kennet Navigation, at Newbury in Berkshire, and passes up the vale of the River Kennet, by Hungerford and Great Bedwin, to Crofton. The distance between Newbury and Crofton is sixteen miles and a half; and the difference of level between these two places is 210 feet, which is effected by means of thirty-one locks. The summit level begins near Crofton, and extends for two miles and a half to the village of Brimslade, passing, in its way, through a tunnel five hundred and ten yards in length, which is cut through the highest part of the intervening hill.
From the western extremity of the summit level, the canal begins to descend to Wootten Rivers, a distance of only one mile, in which there is a fall of 33 feet, which is divided into four locks. From Wootten Rivers it is carried along the vale of Pewsey to Devizes, a distance of fifteen miles, upon one level. From Devizes to a place called Foxhanger, there is a fall of 239 feet, within the short distance of two miles and a half ; along this abrupt descent it is carried by a flight of locks, twenty-nine in number. From Foxhanger the canal proceeds to the village of Semington, where it is joined by the Wilts and Berks Canal; the distance is four miles and a half; the fall 56 feet, comprehended in seven locks. From Semington it runs along a rich vale for five miles, upon one level, to Bradford; and at the latter place it descends into the vale of Avon by a lock of 10 feet After this it proceeds upon one level for nine miles, along the vale, to Sidney Gardens, Bath. About a mile beyond these gardens, it descends into the Avon, near the Old Bridge, sustaining, in this short distance, a fall of 66.5 feet, by means of seven locks. From this point that river is navigable to Bristol, as already described under the River Avon. Its whole length is fifty-seven miles ; its total rise 210 feet, effected by thirty one locks; and its whole fall 404 feet, effected by forty-eight locks. Its breadth at bottom is 24 feet; at the surface, 44 feet; and the least depth of water is 5 feet, but through a considerable length, 6 feet. The locks are 80 feet long, and 14 feet wide; and the barges which navigate it carry from fifty to seventy tons.
Few canals afford more specimens of deep cutting, aqueduct and tunnel., than the Kennet and Avon and we shall proceed to enumerate them, according to the order in which they arise from Newbury to Bath. Much labour has been expended upon this part of the canal, to prevent its interference with the channels, which have been made for the purpose of conveying water to the meadows (usually called Water Meadows,) between Newbury and Hungerford ; and the River Kennet has within the same distance been three times crossed by means of weirs ; once to avoid Hampstead Park, and twice to prevent its passing through the village of Kentbury. At a little distance above Hungerford the level of the canal has acquired a sufficient elevation to be carried over the Kennet by means of an aqueduct, consisting of three arches. Ascending from this aqueduct to the eastern extremity of the summit Ievel, it is carried in its passage from thence to the western extremity through the hill at Burbage, by a great deal of deep cutting, and a tunnel of five hundred yards long and 164 feet wide. From the extremity of this tunnel to the town of Devizes, no work of consequence occurs. From Devizes to Bath the country assumes a more hilly and rugged character. At the former place there has been an extensive piece of deep cutting Between the locks near Foxhanger, it has been found necessary to make very large side ponds, in which the water is permitted to expand itself, after it is let out of the locks, and is thus prevented from running to waste. From Foxhanger, the line of the canal continued through the long vale of Somerham Brook, by an expensive embankment. On leaving this vale, it proceeds along the valley of the Semington River, and at Semington is conveyed across the river by a stone aqueduct, having an arch of 30 feet span, with a long embankment at each end of it. From hence there is a considerable piece of cutting, as for as the River Biss, below Trowbridge; it then crosses that river over an aqueduct of the same dimensions as that at Semingtan, with a large embankment, 30 feet high, on each side of it.
From the aqueduct over the River Biss, the canal passes by Bradford, through a tract of country abounding with hills and rocks to Sidney Gardens Bath: and in its course is twice conveyed across, the River Avon by handsome stone aqueducts, the centre arches of which are about 60 feet span each. It enters and departs from Sidney Gardens through tunnels, which pass under the houses and rides. The walks of the gardens are carried over it by two iron bridges. The seven locks upon the remainder of the canal, between these gardens and its entrance into the Avon, have been made at considerable expense; several of them being so near to each other, that large side ponds have been required.
This canal, at its highest elevation at the Crofton Tunnel, is 474 feet above the level of the sea. In its course it passes within a short distance of Hungerford House, Tottenham Park, Wilcot Park, East Stowel, Hewish, New Park, Mount Pleasant, and a number of other seats of the nobility and gentry. The direction it takes, from its junction with the River Kennet Navigation, is nearly west. It has communication with the Wilts and Berks Canal at Remington; with the Frome Canal at Widbrook ; and with the Somerset Coal Canal near Bradford, all upon its line. From these and many other advantages, the traffic on it in coal, corn, stone, copper and iron, is of very considerable extent, and, from the almost daily addition to its communication with different parts of the kingdom, by connecting canals and railroads, must continue to increase as long as Great Britain maintains its character as a commercial nation.
Mr. Rennie was engineer for the canal, by whose abilities the most formidable obstacles were overcome. The aqueduct over the River Avon, about a mile from Limpley Stoke, and six miles from Bath, is greatly admired for its architectural beauty; and, indeed, wherever there is an aqueduct or a bridge upon the line, they are invariably distinguished by the excellent workmanship employed in their construction. The execution of the locks and tunnels is deserving of similar commendation.
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Home Arts & Culture Jólabókaflóð: the curious case of Icelandic publishing
Jólabókaflóð: the curious case of Icelandic publishing
Credit: Caroline Kessler
At the time of writing, Scotland is blissfully warm; the few clouds in the sky are mere observers rather than active participants; the daffodils are merrily yellow along Lade Braes. It thus seems, counterintuitively, the perfect time to write about a phenomenon that exists several hundred miles away, on a cold, rocky island with a population of less than a third of a million people, and which is most obviously manifested at Christmas-time. The manifestation is the wonderfully-named Jólabókaflóð; the island, of course, is Iceland; and the phenomenon, often written about and well-known throughout the publishing world and beyond, is the curious endowment and expression of the Icelandic publishing industry.
In the UK, the average person reads two or three books in an entire year. The national library in Reykjavík, meanwhile, sees over a million books checked out annually (Reykjavík is a city of slightly over 100,000), contributing to Iceland’s position as the country that reads the most books per capita in the world.
Rekjavik. Credit: Caroline Kessler
In Iceland, more than one in ten people will publish a book in their lifetime. There is an Icelandic proverb: “ad ganga med bok I maganum” — “everybody gives birth to a book.” It is at Christmas that this passion for writing and for reading is most apparent.
Iceland has long been a country steeped in literature. CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien, for instance, both lauded the ancient Prose Edda as formative in their appreciation of books and writing. But the Icelandic passion for native-tongue books, rather than the works in translation for which most small countries opt, has persisted in part due to several mid-century years of burden and boredom. During the Second World War, tight restrictions were imposed on importation to Iceland, and the cost of foreign goods rose to unaffordable levels. Icelanders, lacking the necessary currency to buy luxury goods from other countries, gained some comfort from the fact that blank paper was unrestricted. Accordingly, the local book market boomed and Icelanders, always fond of books, began to read and write prodigiously, entertaining themselves in the traditional way but on a larger scale.
It was not until the past few years, however, that their publishing calendar began to resemble those of other countries. It is here that the Jólabókaflóð (the “Christmas Book Flood”) must be explained. Though Iceland is undeniably a nation of booklovers, such that it is not uncommon to find two or even three published authors in a family, it is also undeniably a small country; and as a small country and (still trickier) a small country with a language not spoken beyond its own sea-girt borders, economies of scale are far fewer than they are elsewhere. For all that it is often a labour of love, publishing is an industry, and it is accordingly at Christmas, when demand is high, that publishing houses open their gates and allow the Book Flood to pour out. The famous Bókatíðindi catalogue is produced – a book catalogue delivered to every house, detailing all the new titles available that year —and the enormous Reykjavík book fair opens.
Christmas in Iceland is characterised by reading. Talk around the water cooler is of books; radio shows and TV programmes are oriented around the latest works by well-regarded authors. The long, dark evenings (very long, and very dark; Iceland in the depths of winter can receive as few as four hours of sunlight a day) were traditionally filled by the tradition of kvöldvaka, in which a book or story was told in the communal living space in order to keep people spiritually alive while they did their “winter work” of knitting, spinning wool, and so on while the snow fell outside. In modern times, this tradition has become less central, replaced by individual reading. At Christmas, the typical present is a book; and these books, once given, will often be read that same evening— families en masse, and following established custom, retreating to their beds with their new gifts.
That last word, however, has caused a problem for the Icelandic publishers. The books published are intended to be gifts: they are luscious hardbacks, printed with the best available paper, and published only at Christmas, when it is certain that the demand will be there. The demand very evidently is there; the supply, however, has only increased over the past decades, with detrimental results. A few years ago the various publishers, noticing a developing trend towards cooking, collectively released over a hundred new cookery books. This was far more than could possibly be consumed, and is not a unique story. Every year, “puddles” of the Christmas Book Flood are left behind, books printed for that Christmas but unsold in Iceland’s (at a hundred and fifty, excessively competitive) bookshops. These books are bought back by the publishers, and are then sold at knockdown prices later in the year, or in some cases destroyed. In order to reduce the scale on which this happens, booksellers are beginning to create a more continuous market of paperbacks, selling books all year round instead of just at Christmas: a book Floe, rather than a yearly Flood.
Whatever happens, however, and for all the disadvantages brought by the Jólabókaflóð, it is certain that the Flood, writing, and reading will remain fundamental to Iceland. Like no other country in the world, books make up its cultural spine and its traditional spirit.
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Reading for Pleasure During Exam Season? Novellas for the Busy Student
Posthumous Publications of Private Works: Literary Gems or an Invasion of Privacy?
St Andrews literary merit: the value of attending author talks
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Shogun-ki
Welcome to the Shogun's mansion
The official blog of the Samurai Archives Japanese History Page
Murderous Samurai of the Bakumatsu Period
In the latter half of the 19th Century, Japan would see 250 years of relative peace devolve into a bloody landscape of violence, with disillusioned samurai banding together to attach and permanently silence those who they believed to be ruining the country. This was further exacerbated by historic rivalries between domains, by class differences between the lower and upper samurai, as well as by the intra-domain politics of the time. In the midst of this chaos, bands of samurai bonded together to uphold their ideals, cloaking their murders under the pretense of honorable justice.
With Samurai Assasins, available from McCarthy and available on Amazon.com, Romulus Hillsborough continues his examination of the Bakumatsu--the fall of the Tokugawa Bakufu--that eventually gave birth to the Meiji Government and modern Japan. Fans of his earlier work on the Shinsengumi will recognize his style, presenting the events of the time with an eye towards the dramatic and captivating stories of the myriad individuals involved in those bloody events. Whereas that previous work focused primarily on those pro-Bakufu forces, this book focuses more on the actions of the pro-Imperial factions. Together, these works complement each other and help further illuminate the complex violence of the period.
Hillsborough has really become one of the most recognized names in English literature on this period, presenting it in a way that is digestible even by those without previous depth in the period. He doesn't simplify the narrative, but neither is it beyond the reader to be able to comprehend. The present work may not be the go-to first volume for someone without any prior knowledge of Japanese history, but for those who have at least the broad brush strokes of the Bakamatsu period it may provide some insights easily overlooked when following some of the more popular threads in the intricate tapestry of events that unfolded in the latter half of the 19th century.
Samurai Assasins looks at three areas of the fall of the Tokugawa government and how assassinations, or "dark murder", played a role in how the events unfolded. He starts with the assassination of Ii Naosuke, whose strongman tactics and then death many claim as one of the primary catalysts behind the later violence. From there he looks at the numerous assassinations by men of the Tosa Loyalist Party, a pro-Imperial, anti-foreigner group of men that terrorized Kyoto in the 1860s. Finally, he takes a look at the death of Sakamoto Ryōma, whose proposals were part of the foundation for the later Meiji government. Through these events, he outlines some of the chaos and bloodshed that went on throughout this period.
With these stories, Hillsborough makes it clear that the political turmoil that brought down the Bakufu was extremely complex. While it may be tempting to simplify the story of the revolution--the Imperial Loyalists, led by the Satsuma-Chōshū alliance, against the Tokugawa Bakufu and their supporters--Hillsborough delves into some of the complex motivations that moved the situation forward. This can make the text dense at points; Hillsborough takes great lengths to provide the names of all of the actors, which may get confusing for readers not accustomed to Japanese names. He counters this with a narrative style that comfortably leads the reader through the twists and turns of this historical record.
The subject of the first part of this book, the assassination of Ii Naosuke, the Bakufu's strongman during the turbulent times of the mid-19th century, is often seen as a catalyst for much of the violence that would follow. Romulus Hillsborough takes a look at the causes and effects of the Ansei Purge, Ii Naosuke's iron fisted attempts to squash Bakufu resistance, in conjunction with the rise of the subversive Mitogaku school of political thought that drove the assassins. This assassination, known to history as the Sakuradamon Incident, is especially interesting in the light of the assassins' ties to the Bakufu--they were men of Mito, one of the three domains overseen by direct descendants of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa government. In fact, in the following decade one of the scions of the Mito house would actually come to power as shōgun Tokugawa Yoshinobu, who would then have the dubious distinction of being the last shōgun, overseeing the end of the Bakufu.
In examining the events, Hillsborough focuses less on the assassination itself, which has been fairly well documented in a variety of sources, and more on the causes and ramifications that followed. He provides the situation in Mito leading up to the decision, and one can clearly see the conflict in society. This was not a simple decision, nor was it inevitable, but myriad twists and turns pushed these men over the edge. Hillsborough looks at the conditions in Mito, both the political situation of the Mito house of Tokugawa and the reaction among the lower ranks of samurai since the arrival of foreigners and the Bakufu's own negotiations with them. From local remonstrations to the eventual assassination, Mito was clearly at odds with Bakufu policy, though they wouldn't go as far as the next domain.
The second topic in the book delves into the Tosa Loyalist Party, with particular attention paid to its leader, Takechi Hanpeita (aka Takechi Zuizan). Tosa is another example of the complexity of this period, as its daimyō were traditionally fiercely loyal to the Tokugawa family. However, the Tosa Loyalist Party took up the cause of Sonnō Jōi ("Revere the Emperor, Expel the Foreigners") even though their daimyō was a staunch supporter of the Bakufu. Hillsborough covers many assassinations, from that of Yoshida Tōyō to numerous examples of tenchū, or "Heavenly Punishment". Most of these appear to have been instigated and carried out under the orders and influence of Hanpeita. Detailing the bloody violence that these assassins brought to Kyoto--violence that eventually influenced the creation of the infamous Shinsengumi--Hillsborough describes the terror that they wrought. This provides a clear counterpoint to his work on the Shinsengumi, and goes to show that there is blood on the hands of both sides in the fall of the Bakufu.
The killings in Kyoto are told in detail, at least where we have them. Given that most of these killings were published by the assassins themselves, displayed on signs next to the heads or corpses of those they had killed, we have quite a bit of information, although the actual identities of most of the assassins remains a mystery. Of those we know, only a few of the murders can be attributed to them directly. Some of the more enlightening passages are the few contemporary accounts of the character and behavior of some of those involved in these dark deeds. Throughout it all, the
humanity of the situation comes through, with many of the murderers driven in at least part with what they considered honorable motives.
Covering the Tosa Loyalist Party, Hillsborough looks at the inequalities between the various levels within the samurai class itself, especially in the Tosa domain. This was exacerbated by the differing views of daimyō and his own retainers. Although the ties of vassalage in feudal Japan are often thought to be absolute, the intra-domain politics were quite fierce, and with various parties vying for control of the ruling house. Hillsborough describes the tension and conflict, following it through to the death of the Tosa Loyalist Party leader, Hanpeita. Even then, the tale of his imprisonment and eventual execution--illuminated by his own letters to his wife, as well as the official record--demonstrates conflict within the domain and the beliefs that were driving anti-Tokugawa sentiment.
Interestingly, Hillsborough makes a similar case about the drivers of the Tosa Loyalists--and, in fact, many of the assassins of this period--as he does about the Rōshigumi and the Shinsengumi. That is to say, these are samurai of the lower classes who likely saw an opportunity to showcase their skills and seek glory, hoping to increase their place in society through these acts. The system of stipends, along with restrictions on what jobs a samurai could actually take and a rising population, meant that a good many were under-employed and their stipends did not go as far as they used to. For them, a show of prowess may just earn them enough face and respect to land them a better position. On either side, the killings were justified under extreme interpretations of bushidō and Neo-Confucian concepts of loyalty to either the Emperor or the Bakufu. Few would have imagined that their acts would eventually lead to the destruction of the samurai class as a whole.
Hillsborough finishes off with the assassination of Sakamoto Ryōma. Unlike the previous assassinations, committed by enemies of the Bakufu, this assassination was committed by pro-Bakufu forces, though the exact details remain unclear. After a brief introduction to Sakamoto Ryōma, (more information on his life can be found in numerous English works, including Hillsborough's own Ryoma: Life of a Renaissance Samurai) Hillsborough takes the reader through the various reports of the incident. There is no clear narrative on the assassination. Many of the Bakufu reports are missing, and later "confessions" by people who claimed to be part of the attack don't fully match up with the official record, nor each other. Hillsborough merges these accounts, and provides his take on their veracity, providing at least a plausible account of what happened (spoiler: he puts the blame on the Mimawarigumi). He finishes off with a look at the repercussions and ramifications of the assassination, as well as a brief summary on the final fall of the Tokugawa Bakufu and the rise of the Meiji government.
Overall, the book reads well, and provides a look at these instances which many people outside of specialists are unlikely to be intimately familiar with. Despite a slightly idiosyncratic system of Romanization (in particular the use of é on all kanji-final "e", not simply word-final, providing things like Takéda Hanpeita), the text flows easily enough. It is accessible for even casual readers, covering subjects not typically found in most English histories of Japan. Perhaps most importantly is the way that he follows the various paths that wind and wend their way through the fabric of this era. It is easy to mistake this period as a straight up fight between supporters of the Bakufu and Imperial Loyalists. Instead, we see exposed the internal tensions of Tokugawa Japan, formed through the historic ties between the various domains. Although Satsuma and Chōshū are often spoken of in a single breath as the forces that finally brought down the government, it is easy to forget that before the political deal-making of Sakamoto Ryōma these two domains were fierce rivals. That the concept of "expel the foreigners" was not strictly an anti-Bakufu stance, while many Imperial Loyalists viewed opening ties with the West as crucial to build up Japan's strength. In all there was not one single factor that can be pointed to as the ultimate reason for the Bakufu's demise. Hillsborough does an excellent job of cutting through all of this without oversimplifying everything.
If you are interested in Samurai Assassins, or some of Hillsborough's earlier works, his Amazon page.
Posted by Tatsushu at 5:03 AM 0 comments
Labels: Bakumatsu, Choshu, Ii Naosuke, Romulus Hillsborough, Sakamoto Ryoma, Satsuma, Tosa
The Rambunctious Millet Grubbers and Dirt Farmers of the Edo Period
When one thinks about the common people of the Edo period, they probably think of a group of passive, law abiding, hard working farmers and textile producers. In fact, commoners of the Edo period were rowdier than you might imagine - there were literally THOUSANDS of peasant uprisings and disputes over the course of the Edo period. This often happened during times of famine, crop failure, or political turmoil, but wasn't limited to it. Pretty much anything that impinged on a peasant's daily life, livelihood, or long term survival might be enough to set them off. Peasants tended to live "paycheck to paycheck" - Tokugawa Ieyasu's philosophy of taxation was to "tax the peasants to the extent that they don't die, but can't live". It was control of the masses by enforced poverty. Not a strategy unknown in the modern world. Anytime this got out of balance and people were forced to worry about how to feed their families, trouble was surely soon to follow.
In reality, peasants in Edo period Japan probably had it better than peasants in other feudal cultures. During the Edo period, the Samurai lived in the cities separated from the common folk, and so the peasants really had no contact with their absentee overlords, and therefore didn't feel so much like oppressed subjects of the Tokugawa regime. Generally speaking, as long as they obeyed the rules and paid their taxes on time and in the amounts specified, they were left completely alone. Villages were self-run, with headmen appointed (or depending on the area, hereditary) and networked with surrounding villages; they were very well connected and organized at the local level. Local villages relied on each other for support during lean years, or as local markets for goods and services. This level of local organization actually lent itself quite well to mass protest. For villages that were tightly organized, a protest or petition was a simple thing to throw together.
Organized protests were "illegal", but there were prescribed measures for registering protest - the ability to petition one's lord. The Tokugawa government was generally fair, and subscribed to Confucian values, and so tended to treat the peasantry as their "children". And so the peasants, for their part, paid the taxes and obeyed the laws in return for the benevolence granted to them by the lord. Although petitioning was an acceptable form of protest, improperly worded petitions were illegal and grounds for execution. The required form of petition usually went along the lines of asking for assistance from the benevolent lord in order that the petitioner may "continue to live as a farmer". Demands and complaints were patently illegal.
The first line of petitions/protests fell on the local representative, who decided right then and there if the petition was valid and if it would be passed on to the local lord. If it didn't make the cut, peasants were for all intents and purposes SOL when it came to legal recourse. We'll get to the illegal kind in a second, but if the petition was accepted, it would be looked over by the lord, or more likely first line of bureaucrats, and granted or not. Often it involved pleas to lower taxes during times of famine or crop failure, or requests to not be liable for transporting taxes all the way to Edo, or requests to pay taxes "in kind", i.e. if you're a silk producer, being allowed to pay taxes in silk, rather than have to convert it to rice first. Things of that nature. For the most part it seems that requests for temporary reduction of taxes would be granted - because, if you tax your tax base to the extent that they can't feed their families, you were asking for trouble - at best they might flee your domain, leaving untended farm plots that couldn't be farmed, and therefore taxed. At worst you might find yourself with petitioners going over your head to the Bakufu (which reflected more poorly on the local lord than the peasants) or armed uprising.
On the one hand, going over the lord's head was a suicide mission, as the Japanese were sticklers for convention - and often the leaders were executed - but on the other hand, this was often effective in the long run. On more than one occasion, Samurai lords were dispossessed of their lands due to chronic maltreatment of their peasantry and replaced with more lenient benefactors. In fact, protests were surprisingly successful, as peasants rarely protested without good reason. If they were able to eat and able to support their families despite the taxes they were paying, things were good. They were essentially self-governed, and so unless things really became dire for them, there really was no impetus for mass protest.
When things really hit the fan, and things got so bad and peasants got so fed up, but domain leadership was being unresponsive, protests were inevitable. They were more often than not led by upper class respected commoners, and consisted of all the area villages. Village headsmen declined to participate at their own risk, as they themselves might find their own property and livelihood the target of peasant rage. Things rarely got violent, however there are many examples of peasants destroying the homes of merchants, moneylenders, and landlords in what in basic terms was a targeted redistribution of wealth. They were often engineered to take back lands taken by debt, or to return pawned goods to the rightful owners. Often these changes would stick. In most cases, when push came to shove, the local lords would side with the peasants for utilitarian reasons. Lords didn't necessarily get a cut of profit from money lenders or pawn brokers, and so had no financial incentive to side with them, but had all the reason to side with the people that paid them taxes.
When the local lords were the problem, things got more complicated.
Going over the heads of local domain leadership was forbidden, but sometimes the only option for peasants at the end of their collective ropes. And the leadership of the rebellion was also almost guaranteed to be executed. Despite this, peasants were willing to protest directly to the Bakufu, and did so when necessary. As mentioned before, the Bakufu nearly always sided with the peasants, although not before executing the leaders and pretending that the changes they enacted had nothing to do with the protest in the first place. Also as mentioned, often peasants protesting directly to the Bakufu could result in the lord of the local domain being given the boot - the Bakufu liked order, and liked receiving taxes, and felt that a lord who is such a poor administrator that his peasants are rebelling is obviously just plain bad at his job. So it was always in the best interest from both a Confucian, and utilitarian point of view to treat his subjects fairly. Despite the peril that a local lord might be put in with peasant rebellions, the immediate intent of these rebellions was almost never regime change, and was almost exclusively based on far more pragmatic needs, mainly the lowering of taxes so that the peasants don't starve or are forced to flee the region to find a better place to live.
Plenty of information about the rebelliousness of the Edo period can be found in Stephen Vlastos' book Peasant Protests and Uprisings in Tokugawa Japan as well as the discussion thread for this book on the Samurai Archives Japanese History Forum.
Posted by Kitsuno at 8:32 AM 3 comments
Labels: Edo period, peasants, rebellion, samurai
The 47 Rōnin: Re-opening the Fruit Cellar Door
"Ōishi Kuranosuke" leads the pack of Akō rōnin into Sengaku-ji.
I went to the 47 Rōnin Festival at Sengaku-ji temple on December 14, commemorating the 312th anniversary of the famous 'revenge' attack by a group of masterless samurai on the residence of Kira Yoshihisa (more commonly and erroneously known as Yoshinaka), the man they felt was responsible for their lord, Asano Naganori's death. After taking Kira's head, they brought it to Asano's grave, located in Sengaku-ji's cemetery. This created quite a controversy at the time, and while most of the population may have wanted the rōnin to be pardoned for their actions, the shogunate really had no choice but to order their deaths for their violent transgression of the law. But instead of being executed like common criminals, the rōnin were allowed to keep their honor by being granted the right to death by ritual seppuku suicide (or so we are lead to believe-- some historians have recently started to believe that this was a ruse concocted by the shogunate to appease public opinion and none of the rōnin were allowed the privilege to slit their bellies).
Anyway, people who know me and my views on this bump in the relative peaceful history of the mid-Edo Period, know that I am not a fan of the leader of this rōnin hit squad, Ōishi Kuranosuke, and I challenge the motives of what the group really wanted to accomplish through their 'feudal drive-by'. Popular myth, as first spread by bunraku puppet and kabuki plays, say the rōnin took their revenge out of a deep sense of 忠孝 (chūkō) or 忠義 (chūgi) to justify their actions. These are two words for 'loyalty' that are often associated with the loyal 47 rōnin story, and regardless of real history, the Japanese love the fictional account of the incident. But why?
There goes Kira's head
Is it just good drama and action? Japanese, who know almost nothing of their history , all know this tale. Why? Why is it this way? I have even seen a kabuki theater full of people start sniffling and crying when the Ōishi gives his emotional farewell speech to his men. I have heard the same sniffling in movie theaters, and even seen and heard it in my own household when any one of the seemingly endless supply of 47 rōnin movies or dramas airs on TV. Again, why?
It used to annoy me. It really did. I just didn't understand why people don't challenge the myth and take a look at the hard facts surrounding the incident. Was this just another, older example of Japanese white-washing their history to glorify something that really shouldn't be glorified? I really have wondered and struggled with this. But as I stood within the precincts of Sengaku-ji, a lone non-believer adrift in a sea of Kool-Aid drinkers and listening to the cacophony of 'rōnin-talk', I think I finally understand "why".
All they wanted were new jobs and stipends- probably not
undying popularity
As Japan stumbles through the second decade of the 21st century and ties to the past and traditional values weaken, 忠孝 (chūkō) and 忠義 (chūgi) are still to varying degrees, hardwired into the culture of Japan. This has allowed the 47 loyal rōnin story to imbed itself into the cultural DNA sequence over a 300 hundred year period, and this is why the myth and love of the 47 rōnin endures, regardless of what their true intentions were.
And, when the attack on Kira's mansion began, I can almost certainly guarantee that the rōnin were not counting on achieving immortality and becoming the embodiment of 忠孝 (chūkō) and 忠義 (chūgi) within Japanese culture, that's for sure.
Posted by Rekishi no Tabi at 3:58 PM 4 comments
Labels: 47 Ronin, 47 Ronin Festival, Ako Ronin, Asano Naganori, chūgi, chūkō, Oishi Kuranosuke, Tokyo
The Evil Book Redeemed: Alexander Bennett's Translation Of The Hagakure
For years, the Hagakure (along with its spiritual cousin, "Bushido: The Soul of Japan") has been the bane of the Samurai Archives. Often taken by neophytes to the study of Japanese history as the 'official training manual of samurai down through time', it has been the indirect cause of much buffoonery and has left a trail of misconceptions in its wake. Many 'modern sammyrai' claiming to follow its tenets turn out to have never read the book at all, instead quoting heavily from sensationalistic (and often out-of-context) passages reprinted ad nauseam by pop culture books-the most notorious being the mantra "The Way of the Samurai is Found in Death". Recently we were given the opportunity to look at Tuttle Publishing's new translation: "Hagakure, The Secret Wisdom of the Samurai" by Alexander Bennett, a Ph.D currently teaching Japanese history and society as an Associate Professor at Kansai University. Bennett is also a proficient martial artist (among other things, Vice President of the International Naginata Federation and Editor of "Kendo World" magazine). That's an interesting and rarely seen blend of scholarship and practical experience with traditional Japanese martial arts, with perhaps Karl Friday being the only other prominent example-and not coincidentally, Friday highly recommended the book. This recommendation, along with Bennett's background, was enough to convince us that it was finally time to face the Evil Book head-on and see if it deserved the reputation (either good or bad) that it has acquired over the years.
Before we examine Bennett's translation, it would be helpful to give some background on the authors of the original text. As Bennett explains, Yamamoto Tsunetomo was born in 1659 and was a retainer of the Saga domain in Kyushu ruled by the Nabeshima. While extremely feeble and sickly as a boy, through hard work and determination he managed to overcome his frail constitution. At the age of 14 he was made a page of the Lord at the time (Nabeshima Mitsushige) but was dismissed from service for being complicit in the Lord's son's fixation with poetry. Using this time to educate himself in matters of Buddhism and Confucianism, he was reemployed by the domain at age 24. His 'greatest exploit' came in 1700 when he managed to locate and procure an extremely rare text (the 'Kokin-denju', a commentary on a renowned book of poetry) after an extensive search and raced back to Saga just in time to deliver it to his Lord before his passing. When Mitsushige died, Tsunetomo wished to follow him in death (known as 'junshi') as was sometimes done in previous eras; however, both his domain and the Tokugawa government had passed laws forbidding this. Instead, he took up the tonsure, taking the Buddhist name Jocho and retired to Kurotsuchibaru. It was here that he was sought out by a younger Nabeshima clansman named Tashiro Tsuramoto. Tsuramoto had been relieved of duty in 1709 and in 1710 began to visit Jocho for counsel. In 1716, he compiled the conversations with Jocho into the first copy of the Hagakure. While there have been several different variants of the Hagakure published through the year, Bennett has chosen the Kohaku version as it is generally considered to be the one closest to the lost original. His translation covers the entirety of the the first two books (the first time this has been done in English), the ones that were filled exclusively with Jocho's material. A third chapter covers selections from books 3-11, which contained material Tsuramoto gathered from other sources as well as vignettes possibly from Jocho. Each chapter has extensive footnotes which provide a wealth of cultural and explanatory material.
By far, the most impressive part of the book for us was Bennett's introductory chapter-"Hagakure in Context". It puts the Hagakure into its proper historical and social setting as well as examining 'bushido' (interestingly, Bennett notes that the term 'bushido' first appeared in the 'Koyo Gunkan', a treatise on Takeda Shingen written by a former retainer) with a critical eye and a look at how Jocho's life experiences and psychology is reflected in the work-and does so elegantly and brilliantly. This translation is well worth picking up just on the strength of this chapter. From the somewhat vague symbolism of the title (is Hagakure-literally 'hidden by leaves'-a reference to a poem by Buddhist scholar Saigyo Hoshi? Perhaps just a simple reference to the hermitage where the meetings between Jocho and Tsuramoto took place? Or a reference to one of the book's recurring themes, serving from behind the scenes?) to the appropriation of the book for various agendas by both 20th century Japanese and Westerners, Bennett examines the book from a variety of angles. Bennett states that the book is vastly misunderstood both inside and outside Japan, and perhaps that is why Jocho encouraged Tsuramoto to burn it upon completion (to prevent it from being read by those who could never understand the spirit in which it was written).
Bennett shows how Jocho was bitter at the "disintegration of warrior norms over previous decades", "anti-Shogunate sentiment", had a nostalgic longing for the previous regimes and decried how young samurai "talk of money, about profit and loss, their household financial problems, taste in fashion, and idle chatter of sex". At one point in the book, Jocho flatly states that there are "no good men". However, Bennett also shows how Jocho realized that the nature of service had changed in the time of peace and a good retainer had to change as well. This passion for the older days mixed with Jocho's call for a new type of service based on loyalty and dedication to duty rather than martial valor resulted in many apparent contradictions within the book, including some of its most famous passages. Should a vassal rush headlong into danger, or should he seek a more peaceful alternative? Does one persistently correct the Lord and let him know when he is wrong, or does one carry out the letter of his commands unquestioningly? You should always follow out the Lord's commands, except when you don't. While mastering an art is detrimental to the way of the samurai, when can its study actually be beneficial? There are passages that seem to exhort the virtues of each. Bennett demonstrates how many of these can be explained away by Jocho's splitting one's service as a youth and as an adult-as well as how one's position inside the hierarchy of the samurai chain of command affected one's actions. Indeed, it shows how the Hagakure was an excellent microcosm of the identity crisis of Edo period samurai-how to keep the virtues of a warrior society alive in a time where they were no longer used? This is perhaps best shown in Jocho's criticism of the Ako Ronin, a group that itself exemplified how martial values no longer fit into Edo society.
As interesting as Hagakure's contemporary setting was, Bennett's examination of how it emerged into the world of the 20th century with its first out-of-domain printing in 1906 (contrary to popular belief, it was virtually unknown outside of a select few in Saga domain before then) is even more so. Does Hagakure represent a 'mystical beauty intrinsic to the Japanese aesthetic experience', or is it a 'text that epitomizes all that is abhorrent in terms of mindless sacrifice, as well as a loathsome depreciation of the value of life and blind obedience to authority'? Invented tradition? A window into the complex ethics of the Tokugawa world? Or simply the 'seditious ramblings of a disgruntled curmudgeon'?
A careful reading of Hagakure will reveal elements of all of these. But at its heart, Bennett believes it can be summed up by four simple oaths Jocho repeats throughout the text (none of which involve finding the way of the samurai in death):
-Never lag behind others in the Way of the Warrior
-Be ready to be useful to one's Lord
-Honor one's parents
And the final one-a point which is noticeably absent from oft-reprinted quotes of the Hagakure, but which fills the book with its spirit:
-Serve for the benefit of others with a heart of great compassion
All precepts whose underpinning philosophy is as applicable to today as it was in 1710.
What does Jocho see as the essence of being a samurai? According to Book 2/7, it to devotion in both body and soul to his Lord, along with the virtues of wisdom, benevolence, and courage. In other sections he outlines that devotion is the only way for a samurai of his times to be recognized since martial valor is no longer an option-an eminently practical attitude. Wisdom comes from listening to others. Benevolence is for the sake of others. And courage goes back to the 'found in death' idea (more on that later). Proper grooming, speech, and handwriting are also important. Again, all very practical concepts for finding success in the Edo period.
Reading Hagakure reinforces much of the recent scholarship being done on samurai of the Edo period. For example, Luke Roberts's concepts of 'omote' and 'uchi'-basically 'surface' and 'beneath the surface'-is a common theme in Hagakure. Jocho stresses often that it is better to forgive the failings of others, especially social inferiors, even making excuses for them rather than criticize them harshly. In essence, while their failures are recognized ('uchi'), they are politely papered over and ignored ('omote'). This allows that person to retain their pride, forestall resentment, and encourage them to become better for next time. Avoiding conflict is stressed to be every bit as important as ending it swiftly when it does happen.
That Jocho has a realistic view of the world is confirmed in Book 2/18: "Current trends cannot be stopped...any desire to return to the 'good old days' of a hundred years ago is futile. Accordingly, it is important to try and improve the ways of the present. It is for this reason that men who hold a nostalgic view of the past are misguided". He goes on to state that the customs and traditions of old should still be kept in mind in order to differentiate between core principles and minor details. While Jocho saw the value in remembering the past, he didn't seem to promote living there.
Even the oft-quoted 'The Way of the Samurai is found in death' takes on a new meaning when read in its proper context. Bolied down to its core, it says to simply do your best in everything and approach every situation fearlessly as if it is your last day on earth-to not hold back out of a fear of dying or failing. It's not necessarily about rushing head-on alone into a nest of bandits determined to die a glorious death-although it COULD be, and forms the basis for Jocho's criticism of the 47 Ronin (that their calculating manner showed too much concern for their own safety rather than performing the task at hand).
And aside from the cultural and historical aspects of Jocho's work (and the tales of others in books 3-11), the stories have a good deal of entertainment value-they're often charming and fun to read. You'll learn how a good samurai should always be able to perform at least one action after his head has been cut off-hey, wasn't Nitta Yoshisada able to bury his own body after being decapitated (more realistically, this is simply an exhortation to fight to one's dying breath)? Samurai grew mustaches to ensure a head taken was that of a man and not a woman-no slain samurai would want their head discarded, after all! 18 foot long giant snakes show up. Discussions of how to attack gaijin in Nagasaki harbor (in the wake of an unscheduled 1673 visit by English ships) are laid out in a detailed battle plan. Giving bodyguards progressively larger swords as a training tactic is examined. There's a tale of how a wily woman made herself sexually unattractive to even that horndog of note Toyotomi Hideyoshi. For more womanly hijinks, we read the saga of how a woman marched her man into battle after he had been beaten up by three farmers. Jocho even comments on his own situation, stating that everyone over 60 is senile (although he would have been around 50-55 at the time) and that applies to him. Drunken lords, seppuku, stupid samurai, liars, poseurs, harlots, and even Jocho's thoughts regarding Shudo (male homosexuality, usually between an older samurai and a younger charge-Jocho advocates "secret love", an internal burning love for another that is never revealed, thus allowing one to devote his energies to service) all make for good reading. They're also all short, usually just a paragraph or two, making this a good book to pick up and read passages at random or when you only have a few minutes. Again, the insights given by Jocho and others into what it was to be an Edo period samurai-along with a look at the culture and values of the day-are varied and extensive.
Also available from Tuttle are recently republished versions of two Thomas Cleary books that likewise examine the thoughts of influential Edo period intellectuals and swordsmen on the changing roles of samurai and the ethics of a time of peace. While Cleary's historical notes for the collections are not as strong as Bennett's (in some cringe-worthy examples, he states Oda Nobunaga converted to Christianity and forced all his vassals to do the same and that Takeda Shingen never lost a battle), the translations he does are excellent. "Soul of the Samurai: Modern Translation of Three Classic Works of Zen & Bushido" collects Monk Takuan's (who we covered in an earlier article on the Shogun-ki) "The Inscrutable Subtlety of Immovable Wisdom" and "Tai-A-Ki: Notes on the Peerless Sword" along with daimyo/swordmaster Yagyu Munenori's "Martial Arts: The Book of Family Traditions". "Samurai Wisdom: Lessons from Japan's Warrior Culture" goes a step further with no less than five translated texts: Confucian scholar Yamaga Soko's "The Way of the Knight (Samurai)", "The Education of Warriors", and the "Primer of Martial Education", his son Takatsune's "Essentials of Military Matters" and Tsugaru Kodo-shi's (a grandson of Soko's) "The Warrior's Rule". These books provide a fascinating glimpse into the psyche of Edo period samurai and their struggles to retain the skills of war while remaining relevant in a time of peace, and they're also easily affordable.
Now, as to using these books as a blueprint for one's own life in the modern world-while they do embody certain universal values and you can certainly learn from then, you'd be far better served (in our opinion) picking up a work that was written with modern values, culture, and mores than using something written for a centuries old culture. The samurai and monks who wrote these treatises certainly realized that living in the past was no solution and that they needed to adapt to the times-and perhaps that is the most valuable lesson to be learned from these works.
Until recently we never thought that anything positive could come out of a study of the Hagakure, but Alexander Bennett's translation and historical acumen have changed all that. Put in its proper context, the book is an excellent tool for a look into what being an Edo period retainer was all about-from the high to the low, from the old to the young, and the changing roles assumed as one went through life. And Yamamoto's stories and anecdotes make for delightful reading on their own. The legendary Evil Book has been redeemed, and can now be appreciated for the insight it brings to the world of the warrior during the Edo period.
The Hagakure is available through the SA Store via Amazon or directly through Tuttle Publishing.
Posted by Tatsunoshi at 1:16 AM 0 comments
Labels: 47 Ronin, Alexander Bennett, bushido, Hagakure, Jocho, Karl Friday, Kendo World, modern sammyrai, Samurai Wisdom, Soul Of The Samurai, Takeda Shingen, Tashiro Tsuramoto, Thomas Clearly, Tuttle, Yamamoto Tsunetomo
Katsu Kaishu, Navigator Of Chaos: An Interview With Romulus Hillsborough, Author Of “Samurai Revolution”, Pt. 2
We’re happy to present our readers with the conclusion of our two-part interview with Romulus Hillsborough, author of the recently published Samurai Revolution: The Dawn of Modern Japan Seen Through the Eyes of the Shogun's Last Samurai. You can read part one of the interview HERE. In the following interview, RH is author Romulus Hillsborough and SA is the Samurai Archives’ Randy Schadel.
SA: One of the more difficult concepts for newcomers to Bakumatsu studies to understand is why the new Imperial Government felt the need to use military force against the Tokugawa after Yoshinobu had resigned the office of Shogun and returned power to the Emperor in 1867. Satsuma and Choshu (in conjunction with some highly placed Court nobles) even went so far as to forge an Imperial edict to attack the Tokugawa and put together phony Imperial flags for the Satcho army. Was this simply a case of the Loyalists led by Satsuma and Choshu wanting to ensure that the Tokugawa would be eliminated from national politics beyond a shadow of a doubt? Or was there evidence that Yoshinobu still had plans to retain his primacy in the political arena?
RH: Regarding this complicated issue, I refer readers to Samurai Revolution since I wrote quite a bit about it there. Let me just say here that the Imperial Court refused Yoshinobu’s request to abdicate and restore Imperial rule in the Tenth Month of Keio 3 (1867) because it wasn’t yet ready to accept the burden of governing; then after the coup in Kyoto in the next month, by which the Bakufu was abolished, Yoshinobu was deposed and a new provisional government was established under the Emperor, Yoshinobu no longer intended to step aside peacefully-which was why he sent 15,000 troops from Osaka to crush 5,000 enemy troops, mostly of Choshu and Satsuma. They clashed at Toba-Fushimi on the way to Kyoto and, of course, the Bakufu side was defeated.
SA: Throughout Samurai Revolution you’re also quoting extensively from the accounts of foreign diplomats and officials, giving their contemporary viewpoint on the Bakumatsu. This gives a valuable outsider’s look at the proceedings and just what the ‘foreign devils’ responsible for much of the unrest thought of what was transpiring. Despite the fact that the English actively supported the Loyalists and the French the Shogunate (with the Dutch watching their own interests, the Russians chipping away at territories north of Japan, and the Americans largely staying out of things due to being involved in their own Civil War) when the actual fighting began in the Boshin War, the Western nations agreed to not become involved and remain neutral. What was it that kept the Western nations out of the conflict and perhaps spared Japan the fate that China suffered at the hands of the European and American powers?
RH: I will not state the reasons that the foreign governments agreed to stay out of the internal conflict in Japan. However, I will say a little about France and Great Britain. Napoleon III, it seems, lost his stomach for overseas adventure, which was why the Bakufu lost France’s support in the latter part of Keio 3 (1867). Great Britain, on the other hand, wanted to secure its lucrative Japan trade, which was predicated on political stability in Japan. This was part of the reason that Ernest Satow published his essays, “English Policy,” in the Japan Times in 1865-66, in which he argued that the best means of assuring political stability in Japan was through a council of powerful feudal lords, including the shogun and his senior councilors, under the authority of the Emperor. Of course this resembles Sakamoto Ryoma’s great plan for the shogun’s abdication and restoration of Imperial rule, which he wrote down aboard ship in the summer of Keio 3 (1867).
SA: The dramatic highlight of the book comes when your two central figures, Katsu Rintaro of the Shogunate and Saigo Takamori of the Imperialists, come together in early 1868 to save the city of Edo from destruction. While it is often assumed that Katsu was negotiating from a hopelessly weak position and threw the city’s fate on the mercy of the Imperial faction, it actually appears as if he had quite a bit to bargain with militarily-particularly the Tokugawa navy. There was also the fact that of all the Tokugawa vassals, he had the best relationship with the leaders of the Imperialists. Nonetheless, the negotiations were dicey with the behavior of extremists on both sides threatening to escalate the situation into all-out warfare. Through it all, Katsu continued to work towards ensuring Tokugawa Yoshinobu’s safety and the financial/political security of Tokugawa vassals. Had there not been such a strong preexisting bond between Katsu and Saigo (or had some other leaders headed up negotiations), was it likely that the city of Edo would have been destroyed-perhaps triggering an all-out civil war rather than the scattered fighting of the Boshin War?
RH: The short answer is yes, I think so. Katsu Kaishu himself stated as much in his narrative, Kainanroku, which he wrote in 1884. And later in the 1890’s in an interview he said that had the Imperial Army sent anyone other than Saigo to speak with him, that person would have laid the blame for the dangerous situation on the Tokugawa, or on Yoshinobu, or on the troops who had fled the city, or on Kaishu himself, and “the talks would have broken down immediately.” However, like so many other things in history, nothing (or I should say, very little) is black and white. Consider this: Saigo had been forewarned by Sir Harry Parkes, the British minister to Japan (Satow’s boss), not to punish Yoshinobu or attack Edo, since the former shogun had already given up. “Killing the former leader of the nation, Parkes asserted, would violate international law. In the eyes of the rest of the world, as long as the Tokugawa agreed to surrender the castle, the Imperial Army lacked a moral justification to attack. Furthermore, Parkes warned, to launch an attack without first officially notifying the foreign representatives in Yokohama and safeguarding the lives and property of the foreign community smacked of anarchy.” (Samurai Revolution)
SA: One of our favorite quotes from the book comes on page 522 courtesy of Saigo Takamori. In responding to a Satsuma man in the Meiji period who remarked that they would now be able to get rid of the foreigners, he states “Are you still talking about that? That was just an excuse to overthrow the Bakufu”. Among the higher-ups in actual positions of power among the various Loyalist han, do you believe that disenfranchising the Tokugawa was always the central goal and that Joi was only a means to garner support?
RH: Originally, no-but after the summer of 1863, yes. Remember what occurred in Satsuma and Choshu that summer. Both of those han, leaders in the “expel the barbarians” movement, were punished by foreign warships in their own backyards – Satsuma by the British, and Choshu by American and French forces. After that they realized that Joi was impossible without first modernizing their militaries, for which they needed to trade with foreign nations. For further details, I refer readers to Samurai Revolution.
SA: Saigo’s Rebellion (the Satsuma Rebellion/Seinan Sensou/Southwest Campaign of 1878) is usually seen as the last stand of the samurai, lashing out at the Meiji government for their loss in status and other assorted grievances. Saigo is often portrayed as aggressively spearheading the movement, most notably in works of pop culture like the film “The Last Samurai” (in the person of his cinematic ‘stand-in’, Katsumoto). But historically, it seems that Saigo ended up as the leader of the anti-Meiji forces almost by accident. Was he the reluctant leader he appears to have been, and if so, how did he end up in that position?
RH: I wouldn’t say it was by accident but rather by circumstance. Saigo, after all, was probably the single most powerful driving force behind the revolution. And, as you will recall, he was hailed as a hero and natural leader by disgruntled samurai not only in Satsuma but throughout Japan. And, as I have explained in the book, Saigo was an extremely complex and enigmatic personality. Analyzing him is extremely difficult and sometimes he is impossible to understand. But as I write, he had “a genuine and reciprocated affection” for the Emperor. I quote Donald Keene that “absolutely nothing suggests that Saigo . . . had hoped another form of government might replace the monarchy,” based on his Confucian ethic that (in my own words) “the Emperor must rule according to Heaven’s will.” But he hated the corruption in the Meiji government. His ultimate objective in the Satsuma Rebellion (even if he did not actually start it) was, according to Keene, “to rid the emperor of the corrupt officials surrounding him so that he might rule undisturbed by their evil influence.”
SA: The assassination of Sakamoto Ryoma in many ways is the Japanese version of the Kennedy assassination in America. While Shinsengumi chief Kondo Isami was unjustly executed for the crime and Imai Noburo of the Mimawarigumi later confessed to it, there are seemingly dozens of theories as to who the perpetrators were. A popular one is that it was agents of Satsuma or Choshu (Ryoma’s ostensible allies) who were concerned that Ryoma meant to work to include the Tokugawa in the new Imperial government or that Ryoma actually intended to maneuver himself into the government’s top spot (in effect, filling in the ‘three blank circles’ on one of his manifestos). What is your preferred theory?
RH: I don’t have a preferred theory.
SA: In your opinion, what impact might it have had on Japanese history if Tokugawa Yoshinobu been named Shogun instead of Tokugawa Iemochi in 1858?
RH: I think it is safe to say that had Yoshinobu become shogun at that time, Ii Naosuke would have been defanged, and therefore would not have been able to purge his enemies from the government or to conclude the trade treaties without Imperial sanction. Therefore, he would not have been assassinated. And since his assassination marked the beginning of the end of the Tokugawa Bakufu . . . well, I think you can see where I’m headed with this logic. However, I prefer not to elaborate further in this forum, because I will discuss this in detail in my next book.
SA: As well as providing an engaging narrative, we found Samurai Revolution to be an excellent reference work. It has extensive footnotes, a glossary of important terms, domains, and figures, a bibliography filled with excellent Japanese sources, and a sizable index. What were some of the issues you faced trying to balance the two-keeping the narrative interesting while making sure the book retained its usefulness as an historical text? In a related point, how did you handle the issue of bias among your sources-how to determine whether to take them at face value or read between the lines?
RH: Writing requires technique, which, for me, has developed over many years. In other words, it is a craft that needs to be learned. Maintaining historical accuracy is an academic task. Writing a narrative to hold readers’ interest, maintaining historical and cultural accuracy, and presenting the humanity of my characters have been my overriding objectives in all my books. As you know, my first book, Ryoma: Life of a Renaissance Samurai, is an historical novel. As such, I did not cite my sources in that book. And while most of the dialogue is my own creation, it is based on historical documents including Ryoma’s letters, and definitive biographies of Ryoma and other main characters in the book. I took as much care to maintain historical and cultural accuracy in that book as I have in all subsequent books, including the historical narrative (i.e., nonfiction) Samurai Revolution, which is my best book thus far.
Regarding your second question about taking my sources at face value or reading between the lines, I will limit my answer to a brief discussion of two compilations of interviews of Katsu Kaishu, from which I quote extensively in Samurai Revolution. As I explained in the Appendix, one of these, Hikawa Seiwa, is a compilation of interviews that originally appeared in newspapers and magazines. They were erroneously edited and partially rewritten by the editor of the original 1897 publication. Katsu Kaishu’s most authoritative biographer, Matsuura Rei, meticulously researched the original interviews to correct those errors. Matsuura’s annotated edition of Hikawa Seiwa, published by Kodansha in 1973, was my source. The other compilation of Kaishu interviews, Kaishu Goroku, was the work of one person, who conducted all of the interviews himself. As such, the original 1899 publication, which appeared shortly after Katsu Kaishu’s death, was a more reliable source than Hikawa Seiwa before the Kodansha edition. The Kaishu interviews are “oral histories,” recounted in the 1890s, decades after the fact. As such, they may be viewed with skepticism. But, as I write in my new book, their credibility “is reinforced by their agreement with Katsu Kaishu’s journals, written memoirs, and histories–as if he had drawn on them for the interviews–and by the fact that the contents in both volumes, though recorded, edited, and published separately, often replicate each other.”
SA: You were a long term resident of Japan and made it a point to visit many of the locales and historical sites where the events described in Samurai Revolution took place. What advantages did that give you in the writing process over someone who had only read about them in documents and books?
RH: I won’t speak for other writers, but I would not have been able to write any of my books in the style that I have chosen, had I not been able to visualize certain of the historical events and places depicted. Visiting and observing–and feeling–the actual sites, not only buildings and other man-made structures but also the natural surroundings and topography of the places, aided in the visualization process. It also helped me to better understand the men who lived and died in those places.
SA: Now that you’ve written a comprehensive examination of the Bakumatsu and books on several of its most well-known figures and organizations, what projects can we expect from you in the future?
RH: I am currently working on a new book of the same historical era. I hope to finish the manuscript this year.
SA: Thank you, Mr. Hillsborough, for your insights and thoughts on this pivotal period of Japanese history, and best of luck on all your future projects.
You can order Samurai Revolution on the SA’s Amazon store HERE or directly from Tuttle Publishing’s website HERE . Visit Romulus Hillsborough’s Samurai Revolution website for more about the book along with interesting essays and news items (such as documents recently discovered in Kochi sealed with Sakamoto Ryoma’s blood).
Labels: Bakamatsu, Bakufu, Choshu, Ii Naosuke, Katsu Kaishu, Kotetsu, Meiji, Romulus Hillsborough, Saigo Takamori, Sakamoto Ryoma, Samurai Revolution, Satsuma Rebellion, Shinsengumi, sonno joi, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, Tuttle
Rotating Volleys of Merchandise: The Battle of Nagashino as Pop Culture Phenom
A few years ago we ran an article about the ‘Selling of Sekigahara’-how battles from Japan’s past were a popular subject for merchandising and found their way into all sorts of pop culture venues. It’s not unusual to see them featured in tabletop board games, video games, models, figures, toys, dioramas, TV programs, movies, and even weapon reproductions. Recently the SA podcast ran a feature on a battlefield archeology conference where the Battle of Nagashino in 1575 was a subject of one of the presentations, so we thought it a good time to run a similar feature on the merchandising of that famous battle that we’ve had in waiting for several months. We’re sticking to Japanese-produced items here, so you’ll have to read about GMT’s interesting depiction of the battle in their tabletop wargame ‘Samurai’ elsewhere (as well as similar efforts in Brian Bradford’s ‘Killer Katanas’ and ‘Total War: Shogun 2’). Likewise, we’re not going to discuss much in the way of books on the battle as they fall a bit outside of pop culture merchandising (although many of them are indeed pop culture efforts). With that in mind, here are some of the products fired the way of shoppers by the soldiers of corporate Japan.
In passing, we’ll mention several sims/wargames dealing with the battle that have been released over the years. From the 1980’s is “Oda Teppotai (Oda Gun Corps)”, a hex-based rudimentary electronic game that’s beginner friendly, being on the difficulty level of early Avalon Hill games. A step up in complexity is “Nagashino: Shitaragahara Kassen (Nagashino: Battle of Shitaragahara)”, found in War Game in Japanese History #7. It’s a European-style game with area movement and card play that adds specific events and randomness to the proceedings. Finally, there’s Game Journal #23’s “Namida No Shitaragahara (Tears of Shitaragahara)” (one of two games found in this special Nobunaga Senki issue, the other being Anegawa). This hex based effort is the most detailed, accurate, and complex of the three listed here. Since we’ve covered all of these in varying degrees of detail on the Samurai Archives Forum, we’ll just refer you there for more details (particularly the Japanese history war game thread).
Next up is the recent 90 page mook “Nagashino no Tatakai (Battle of Nagashino)” from Gakken (publishers of the popular pop culture history series “Rekishi Gunzou”). While at first glance it appears to be a pretty standard examination of the battle, the volume’s gimmick appears just inside the back cover. There’s a 3D four-panel fold-out map of the battlefield with troop positions along with a set of 3D glasses for your viewing pleasure. The 3D is of the old-fashioned blue/red 1950’s comics variety and truth to tell, the effect isn’t very good. However, the rest of the book is. Like most Gakken books it’s loaded with maps, charts, biographies, photos, and artwork. Particularly nice are several double paged spreads that show three/quarter bird’s eye views of the area at different points before, during, and after the battle. There are maps for every level-strategic, operational, and tactical, along with more detailed topographical maps. In-depth breakdowns of the armies and the types of unit tactics, weaponry, and defenses employed are shown. The entire campaign is examined with the climactic battle earning expanded coverage. Biographies of most of the major commanders present are given along with their actions during the battle (as expected, Oda Nobunaga, Tokugawa Ieyasu, and Takeda Katsuyori get the lion’s share but even their less famous vassals such as Hara Masatane get mentions). As a bonus, there’s also some nice material on the earlier battle of Migatagahara. Modern day photos explore the battlefield as it appears today. The history is a bit outdated (for example, the barricades are shown as being placed along the entire length of the line as well as having advanced redoubts-see Thomas Conlan's "Weapons & Fighting Techniques of the Samurai Warrior" for why this probably wasn't the case, or check out the excellent video tour HERE), but overall it’s a solid effort. Other volumes in the series include other of the ‘big four’ battles of the Sengoku- Sekigahara and the Siege of Osaka.
Looking at a 3D battlefield is one thing, but building your own is much more fun. For those interested in giving that a try there’s “Nagashino no Tatakai (Battle of Nagashino)”, part of Facet’s “Sengoku Kassen (Warring States Battles)” papercraft line of products. This inexpensive and entertaining kit gives you everything you need to replicate and bring to life a famous painted screen of the battle. You get a base of the terrain and two sheets of various types of soldiers, sashimono, barricades, and castle sections. Punch them out and bring the battle to life! Enterprising miniature enthusiasts could even build a war game around it. Sure, it’s non-scale, but so much fun you won’t mind a bit.
More in scale and of interest to miniaturists is Aoshima’s “Nagashino no Tatakai” plastic model kit, part of its “Japanese History Sengoku Battle” series. Aoshima produced a popular series of 20 samurai kits, each themed to a specific type of soldier, an individual leader, a defensive/offensive work, or even a subset of five kits dealing with Chushingura. As the years passed they would produce themed packages encompassing several of these kits along with additional items to make a diorama. There were the battles of Kawanakajima, Sekigahara, Migatagahara, a couple for Osaka, Shimabara, Odawara, an ‘Edo Elegance’ effort, and several kits showcasing the Date, Sanada, and Takeda clans. There was also the one we’re looking at, Nagashino. It was comprised of kits 4 (spearmen), 5 (arquebusiers), and 10 (Oda Nobunaga). A plastic unpainted base was included along with ‘grass’ to sprinkle on it, dowel rods and twine to construct barricades, and paper curtains to construct Nobunaga’s headquarters along with several flags. Ahead of its time, the kit was careful to show a mix of spearmen with the gunners rather than the masses of firearm toting samurai as seen in Kurosawa’s “Kagemusha”. The kits, while issued years ago, are regularly reissued and can be found cheaply on auction sites.
But by far the best item featuring the battle to date is Videre/Oshiro Diorama Restoring Shops’s “Mikawa: Nagashino Castle”, the initial entry in their ‘Shirorama’ series of Japanese castle dioramas. This package has as its centerpiece a 1/1500 scale of the grounds and buildings of Nagashino Castle, the Tokugawa structure under siege by the Takeda whose relief precipitated the battle. Featuring an attractive 3D prepainted base, modelers can paint and add the included fences, walls, watchtowers, and buildings scattered about the several enclosures (‘maru’) of the castle. While most castle kits focus on the tower ('tenshu') of the castle (often the only part that has survived to the present day-or been reconstructed)-and for castles that never saw combat at that-this one is much more representative of the type of fortresses that were actually used in the Sengoku. Noted castle historian Fujii Hisao has overseen the development of the kit and the reconstruction is as accurate as possible. However, as well done as the diorama is, it’s only the tip of the iceberg of what’s included.
There’s also an excellent 66 page book that details the history of the castle along with the battle itself. It’s loaded with maps, photographs, charts, and period artwork. The history of the castle contains the most up-to-date information, including the results of several recent digs. The battlefield history also contains much of the most recent scholarship, although it too presupposes barricades all along the line. Detailed painting and assembly instructions are given for the diorama. And since my wife told the retailer she was buying it for an English speaker, they included an excellent 68 page English translation by Ninomiya Hiroshi. It reflects the better scholarship also and among its sources are several excavation reports conducted by the local education system. There are quite a few interesting secondary sources used as well. It’s probably the best published English language treatment of the battle to date, being much more reliable than Stephen Turnbull’s outdated Osprey effort.
Also included are two reproductions of antique maps of the castle, making for a nice wall poster-as well as being useful when putting the diorama together. There’s a great overhead shot of the castle and its environs that comes into play with a feature we’ll talk about in a bit. And-get this-there’s even a SOUNDTRACK CD. How cool is that? Yes, while building the diorama, you can chill out to several tunes specially written and performed for this set by Japanese guitarist Yamada Koji (best known for ‘Passport to Heaven’).
And the coolest feature isn’t included in the box, but is rather downloaded through Itunes. It’s the Shirorama Nagashino Castle App. If you don’t own the diorama set, then the app does absolutely nothing-you’ll just see whatever you point your device at. But point it at the well done box artwork, or the aerial photo we talked about in the last paragraph, then the Sengoku comes to life. An animated AR version of the castle is superimposed upon the art/photo, featuring soldiers, rivers with running water, and a 3D rendition that can be examined from any angle. The app even challenges you to find the castle’s commander, Okudaira Sadamasa, squirreled away somewhere in the maze of defenses. It took some time, but we managed to ferret him out. Mikawa: Nagashino castle is the complete package, blending together several disparate elements to create a whole that is interactive, entertaining, and educational-showing once again that pop culture is an excellent way to bring history to the public at large.
So that’s a good note to end on. There are other notable examples, such as the “Briefcase Diorama” of the battle that has over 50 miniature figures and opens up to a detailed prepainted layout of a section of the battlefield. There was a popular “Romance of History: Battle of Nagashino Bullet Revolution” series of plastic candy toys produced by Furuta that allowed buyers to build their own versions of Takeda Katsuyori’s army and their Tokugawa/Oda foes. And there’s the excellent full sized arquebus replica made out of wood and metal that was included with the premium edition of Koei’s “Nobungaga’s Ambition” 30th anniversary set. But this short sampling has given you a taste of the rotating volleys of merchandise that Japanese retailers have laid down on consumers looking for a taste of the battle of Nagashino-and the attraction that it continues to exert on the popular imagination over 400 years after it was decided.
Posted by Tatsunoshi at 2:09 PM 0 comments
Labels: Aoshima, Brian Bradford, Fujii Hisao, Kawanakajima, Migatagahara, Nagashino, Ninomiya Hiroshi, Nobunaga's Ambition, Osaka, Podcast, Sekigahara, Shirorama, Takeda Katsuyori, Yamada Koji
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US has Most of World’s Mass Shootings, But Overall Gun Deaths Dwarfed by Latin America
(CNN)The United States. Home to liberty, the pursuit of happiness and the most mass shootings in the world. Yet, overall it’s way behind Latin America’s and the Caribbean in shooting deaths per capita.
America’s unique relationship to gun ownership — enshrined as a right in its constitution — is also in the middle of an emotional and divisive debate about the meaning of the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.
Twenty-seven words that give its citizens the right to own guns and also, in the views of many critics, helped usher in a culture that sees more of its own people killed by fellow citizens armed with guns than in any other high-income nation in the world.
Gun-related deaths unfold in tragic circumstances across the country daily, with more than 1,800 people killed by guns this year alone, according to Gun Violence Archive, a not-for-profit group. But it is often mass shootings that reignite the debate over gun control in the US and that shine the spotlight on its position as a global outlier.
Here’s a look at how America’s gun culture compares to the rest of the world.
The number of firearms available to American civilians is estimated at around 310 million, according to a 2009 National Institute of Justice (NIJ) report.
India is home to the second-largest civilian firearm stockpile, estimated at 46 million.
The most updated estimates — now more than a decade old — place the worldwide civilian gun cache at around 650 million.
According to Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey, the number of civilian guns has most likely risen since 2007. Firearm production continues to proliferate worldwide, outweighing the effects that gun destruction might have.
According to the Small Arms Survey, the exact number of civilian-owned firearms is impossible to pinpoint because of a variety of factors including arms that go unregistered, the illegal trade and global conflict.
Americans own the most guns per person in the world, about four in 10 saying they either own a gun or live in a home with guns, according to a 2017 Pew Center study. Forty-eight percent of Americans said they grew up in a house with guns.
According to the survey, a majority (66%) of US gun owners own multiple firearms, with nearly three-quarters of gun owners saying they couldn’t imagine not owning one.
Yemen, home to the world’s second-largest gun-owning population per capita (and a country in the throes of a three-year-old civil conflict) trails significantly behind the US in terms of ownership.
When it comes to gun massacres, the US is an anomaly. There are more public mass shootings in America than in any other country in the world.
Nikolas Cruz, 19, arrived at the halls of his former school in Parkland, Florida. Armed with a rifle, he allegedly carried out a massacre that left 17 people dead.
In October 2017, 64-year-old gunman Stephen Paddock fired into crowds gathered at the Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas. Fifty-eight people were killed and more than 500 people were injured. It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.
In 2016, an attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando left 49 people dead. In 2012, Adam Lanza went on a shooting spree in Newtown, Connecticut, killing his mother before murdering 26 students and staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School; in 2007, 32 people were killed in the Virginia Tech massacre.
Such massacres have prompted debates about gun control, but they also increase demand for guns. And regulations covering the sale of firearms are looser now that they were a year ago.
In February 2017, US President Donald Trump signed a measure that scrapped an Obama-era regulation aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of some severely mentally ill people.
Globally, restrictive gun laws have proven to make a difference in curbing massacres.
In Australia, for example, four mass shootings occurred between 1987 and 1996. After those incidents, public opinion turned against gun ownership and Parliament passed stricter gun laws. Australia hasn’t had a mass shooting since.
The US has one of the highest rates of death by firearm in the developed world, according to World Health Organization data.
Our calculations based on OECD data from 2010 show that Americans are 51 times more likely to be killed by gunfire than people in the United Kingdom.
Most American gun owners (two-thirds) say a major reason they own a gun is for their personal protection, according to the Pew study. However, the majority of America’s firearm-related deaths are attributed to self-harm.
Gun-related suicides are eight times higher in the US than in other high-income nations.
Globally, the US sees fewer gun-related murders than many of its southern neighbors.
According to the Small Arms Survey, El Salvador is currently home to the most gun-related murders in the world (excluding active war-zones) with guns killing more than 90 people for every 100,000 of population.
From 2010-2015, Honduras saw the highest averages of gun-related homicides, with guns killing 67 out of every 100,000 people there.
Venezuela and El Salvador are close behind over the same five-year period, with 52 and 49 gun-related deaths, respectively, for every 100,000 of population.
The US rate over that period is 4.5 gun-related homicides per 100,000 people. US law enforcement agencies are not required to report on gun killings by police. Often, such incidents are recorded as “justifiable homicides,” and may or may not be included in official homicide statistics, according to the Small Arms Survey.
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Christine Hanefalk Daredevil News February 4, 2012
Great days ahead for Daredevil fans!
Hey all! The many things that have kept me away from the site lately are now behind me and I have to say that I’ve really missed you guys! I hope all of you are well, and bet you’re as excited for Daredevil #9 as I am.
So, what’s new in Daredevil land? Well, quite a bit actually. The Marvel solicitations for April are finally here and we’ll be seeing Daredevil not only in the previously talked about Omega Effect – which sees him appearing in Avenging Spider-Man #6, The Punisher #10 and Daredevil #11 – but in Daredevil #10.1 and Hulk #50 as well. Yep, that’s five appearances in one month, four of which will be major. As if that weren’t enough, we also have the Season One: Daredevil original graphic novel, by Antony Johnston and Wellinton Alves, to look forward to!
For more info on the Omega Effect, I direct you to this interview with Mark Waid at Marvel.com. That’s not the only interview to have come out in the last couple of weeks. There’s the great video interview that Blastoff Comics did with Mark Waid (and which I’ll have reason to get back to in the next few days), as well as an interview by Newsarama which also features some preview art by Paolo Rivera. Gorgeous! He just keeps getting better and better. 🙂
One thing I’m curious about is how Waid will tackle the Daredevil 10.1 issue. In his interview with Newsarama, Waid had the following to say:
I made a list for myself of “everything you would need to know about Daredevil if you’ve never read the series before” — everything from his name to his profession to Foggy’s name to the reasons why he does what he does to his every superpower and so on and so forth — and then I very carefully and very deliberately laced all that information into a story that shows DD in action and sets the stage for the next story arc.
It’s a surprisingly difficult thing to do, actually — not to hit those informational beats, but to avoid boring longtime readers by revealing those details in new and different ways. I think we pulled it off. If not, I look forward to your emails.
It sounds like a pretty big challenge to me! Not that the other issues of Daredevil volume three haven’t been extremely new reader friendly, they certainly have, but cramming everything you need to know about the character as well as everything you need to know about the story with the Omega Drive (in order to follow the next story arc) while not boring new readers with superfluous information takes a great deal of skill. I have no doubt Waid will do a great job with it though, in fact I’m looking forward to see what he comes up with. The only thing I’m not so sold on is the cover. The art by Marcos Martín is great and has been seen before, but I think they could have framed it a little more creatively. The cover as a whole doesn’t look quite finished to me. Then again, I’m getting so spoiled with all the wonderful covers we’ve been seeing lately, and likely shouldn’t complain. 😉
Well, that’s it for now! I’ll see you in the next couple of days. Also, I should note that I always make sure to update the Facebook page as soon as I see anything of interest which means it’s usually more up to date than this site when it comes to new links. If you’re on Facebook, you might want to hit that like button.
Antony Johnston Links Marcos Martin Mark Waid Paolo Rivera
No more print reading for Waid’s Daredevil?
And so the day finally came, the all new Daredevil #1 is here! And all I can say is that Mark Waid, Chris Samnee, Javíer Rodríguez,
Whoa, hold on to your seats! If the Omega Effect felt a bit like a drag in terms of plot progression (though I doubt anyone can
New Daredevil artist and other Daredevil news
I’m writing this from London, back in my hotel room, and with quite a bit of alcohol in my system. However, not even that could keep
Countdown to Lady Bullseye
I’ve become increasingly intrigued with the LadyBullseye character since she was first announced. While I was a little skeptical of the “female version of male villain”
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Home > TOUR > Australia > 10 Best Places to Visit in Australia
10 Best Places to Visit in Australia
chali February 3, 2018 July 7, 2018 Australia 0
Australia is located in the Indian oceans and pacific ocean. Australia is the smallest subcontinent and largest island in the world. There is many places that you discover and an amazing walkout out adventure that you like and enjoy. Where you relax on the beach and sun-kissed. Here you explore the traditional lifestyles of the people to the aboriginal people. In night view of the city look like the hot spot. Australia has very different and something special that they offer to every visitor. Here is the overview of the top 10 best places to visit in Australia.
10. Adelaide
It is the capital of South Australia and also the five largest cities in Australia. Adelaide has more than 1.2 million population. This city is plain with Adelaide rolling hills. There are third Quarters of South Australian live in a metropolitan area of Adelaide. It’s also bordered by the famous region of Australian like the Gulf St Vincent. The history of the Adelaide city is known as by his famous architecture and church to the city inner part which throughout the era of colonial.
9. Darwin
The northern territory is the coastline of hugging in Darwin. It is the most major cities in the international country. Darwin is close to countries but the Indian ocean is only the way that makes this city to the hub of transportation to the past few years. After world war II this city is totally destroyed but now the spirit of the city is not be defeated. This city is a popular destination for the holiday to the tourist and every year there is 85000 tourists visit this year.
8. Hobart
It is the second oldest city in Australia after Sydney. Hobart is a small size and compared to the Australia large mainland city. Hobert city is also a capital of Tasmania island in Australia. The population of Hobart city is more than 300,000. Hobert city is rich with the architecture of Victorian and Georgian. The famous example of architecture in Hobert is Salamanca place. The warehouses terrace dating you back to the 1830s days. Hobart has mild oceanic temperatures to climate it with four different seasons.
7. Brisbane
It is the third largest city in Australia after Melbourne and Sydney. The population of Brisbane is 2.3 million and it is also capital to the state of Queensland. In the whole year, Brisbane has a pleasant, warm climate and spectacular scenery to draw many of locals and the international visitor to make Brisbane one of the fastest growing city in Australia.
6. Perth
After Brisbane, the Perth is the fourth largest city in the Australia and Perth is also a capital of Western Australia. Perth is located on the coastline of southwestern Australia. The city of Perth has his own unique and different character to develop this city. The city is thousands of years ago inhabited. Perth is a fun-loving attitude and youthful atmosphere of around two million people in the city.
5. Melbourne
Melbourne is a second largest city in Australia and also a most populated city in Australia. Victoria is the capital of Melbourne city. It is located in tip southeastern side of Australia the nature of the city is large port Phillip of a bay. Melbourne is also famous for his sports venues, fine restaurants and especially for his shopping. The city of Melbourne is the best and ideal destination for good life seeker and travelers.
4. Cairns
This city is located in the northwest corner of Australia. Cairns is one of the most popular cities in Australia for a destination of vacation. Cairns is a stylish and provincial city with the population of around more than 200,000 people. In Cairns, there is only a few of coastal which is the best destination for travel and adventure but the wildlife of city convert it to more opportunities for the visitor to look pretty cairns.
3. Alice Springs
This city is rich with pioneering charming history, gorges cavernous, aboriginal remote to communities landscape and boundless desert. Alice Springs is located to the heart of Australia to the majors’ city of 1400 kilometers and nine hundred miles only. After a start of tourist boom to this city, the population of the Alice Springs is only 30,000. The traveler hub of this city is only Kata Tjuta, kings canyon and Ayers rock.
2. Great Barrier Reef
It is one of the best and a top destination for scuba divers and underwater lovers. In the Great Barrier Reef, there is one of the world largest systems of the barrier reef. The city is located in the heart of coral sea which is in the Queensland state of Australia. In the Great Barrier Reef, there is around 3,000 cays, coral reefs, and hundreds of islands. Reef of the city is one of the most ecosystems diverse to a world which convert the Great Barrier Reef to the best places to visit in Australia. There is more than million or billion of living organisms over to the billions of years ago.
1. Sydney
it is located on the southeastern coast of Australia. Sydney is a modern day city which is rich in history. A scenic harbor is defined by Sydney. It is capital of the new South Wales. Nowadays Sydney harbor bridge to the famed of under cruises to visitor takes ferries, benzene, and Rolls Royce in the past of the iconic opera house of Sydney.
Now you tell which is your destination you like the best place to visit in Australia and Leave a comment below.
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TWIN DISC UNVEILS HERITAGE GALLERY IN HONOR OF 100TH ANNIVERSARY
Global leader in power transmission technology opens gallery dedicated to the company’s 100-year history
RACINE, Wis. – Aug. 6, 2018 – Twin Disc, Inc. (NASDAQ: TWIN), a global leader in power transmission technology for marine and land-based applications, unveiled the Twin Disc Heritage Gallery on Aug. 2, at the company’s Racine headquarters, in celebration of its 100th anniversary.
The gallery, which takes up roughly 4,000 square feet of the first floor of the Twin Disc corporate headquarters, provides visitors a chance to see how integral Twin Disc has been, both for Racine and the U.S., as well as the world, over the past 100 years.
“In honor of our centennial we wanted to share our proud history with the community of Racine,” said John Batten, president and CEO of Twin Disc. “I can’t think of another town this size that has this many long-lasting companies, and it’s because of the people of this great city that we have been able to grow and thrive for 100 years.”
Twin Disc products, from the first marine transmission prototype to the E-Type flywheel clutch and Power-Shift Transmission, are on display, along with progressing generations of Twin Disc’s machine parts over the company’s 100-year history. Also on display at the gallery are a variety of Twin Disc memorabilia, including the first meeting minutes between the company’s founders, original stock certificates, and a Wallis tractor equipped with a Twin Disc farm factory clutches, which was the original product that helped launch Twin Disc in 1918.
The gallery’s most distinguished feature is a section dedicated to the decade that defines the very backbone of Twin Disc throughout its 100-year history, the lead into World War II, when Twin Disc was asked to design a marine transmission for the Higgins Landing Craft that would be used throughout the South Pacific and the D-Day invasion.
“The transmission only had to last 50 hours and reverse was not needed because we were told they would only be going one way,” Batten said, during his dedication speech to the roughly 100 guests in attendance. “Twin Disc’s engineers, some of whom were veterans of World War I, would not accept a vessel that would deliver our troops into battle and not bring them home safely. Nor would they accept 50 hours of service life.”
More than 40,000 landing crafts (or LCVPs) served U.S. troops during the war, and most did not come back. They were either destroyed in conflict or left in theatre, eventually to become fishing boats, work boats and water taxis. Because those vessels were in use and needed to be serviced, the little company from Racine now had customers around the world, which introduced Twin Disc to lifelong partners in Europe, Asia and Australia.
At the event, Racine Mayor Cory Mason and Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave declared Aug. 2, 2018, Twin Disc Day in both the City of Racine and Racine County.
The Heritage Gallery will be open to the general public by appointment only in the fall, and will also feature a flex space for special exhibits, educational programs and receptions.
About Twin Disc
Twin Disc, Inc. designs, manufactures and sells marine and heavy-duty, off-highway power transmission equipment. Products offered include: marine transmissions, surface drives, propellers and boat management systems, as well as power-shift transmissions, hydraulic torque converters, power take-offs, industrial clutches and control systems. The Company sells its products to customers primarily in the pleasure craft, commercial and military marine markets, as well as in the energy and natural resources, government and industrial markets. The Company’s worldwide sales to both domestic and foreign customers are transacted through a direct sales force and a distributor network. For more information, please visit www.twindisc.com.
Heather Ripley
Ripley PR
hripley@ripleypr.com
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Home > About the Trust > News, blogs and publications > Latest news > 2017 > November 2017 > Hospital trust marks occupational therapy centenary
Hospital trust marks occupational therapy centenary
Staff at Southampton’s university hospitals marked 100 years of developments in occupational therapy with a series of events today (Thursday).
The centenary is being celebrated as part of occupational therapy awareness week, which promotes how the profession improves the lives of patients and helps make the healthcare system more efficient.
Members of the 65-strong OT team hosted a display at Southampton General Hospital’s main entrance which gave visitors the chance to find out more about the role and how it helps minimise the impact of disease and disability through activity.
They were on hand to answer questions on occupational therapy as a career choice, as well as to showcase how the service has developed and grown within University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust over the last 20 years.
OTs work within the trust’s therapy service and play a critical role in helping people of all ages overcome disability caused by physical or psychological illness, accidents or ageing so they can lead full and satisfying lives as independently as possible.
They offer a range of specialist assessments and interventions, such as advice on activities of daily living, cognitive assessments, equipment provision to promote independence and splinting and home hazard assessments, and work closely with other clinicians to ensure appropriate support is in place for discharge.
With increasing pressure on hospital beds, they also play a vital role in earlier discharge for many patients and work across all departments including emergency medicine, child health, cancer care, neurology and medicine for older people.
Rachael Leyland, deputy professional OT lead, said: “Historically the role of an OT focused mainly on equipment provision, assessing patients only when thought to be medically fit for discharge and assisting in ongoing-care packages.
“As the profession has grown the role has become increasingly skilled, meaning involvement in patient care starts at an earlier stage in the clinical pathway, attention is focused around supporting patients to reach their full potential – the sooner this starts the better.”
She added: “The team now treat patients who are much sicker with more varied and complex needs and OTs play a key role in determining whether or not a patient needs hospital admission or could be cared for in the community setting.”
The team released 30 silver balloons outside the main entrance to mark the occasion and held a cake sale throughout the day to raise funds for equipment through Southampton Hospital Charity.
Posted on Thursday 9 November 2017
Daily Echo: Centennial celebrations for Southampton university staff
Last updated: 09 August 2018
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Home Sports Country has a good chance of finishing in World Championship: Sathiyan
Country has a good chance of finishing in World Championship: Sathiyan
Vastavam web: India’s number one men’s table tennis player, G Sathiyan, who won three medals on his Commonwealth Games debut, says the country has a good chance of finishing on the podium at the upcoming World Championship.”It has been a great performance. Great experience playing in my first Commonwealth Games. I have played a lot of tournaments, Pro-Tour events. But this is very different from normal Pro-Tour events.Apart from the gold in the men’s team event, the player from the northern Indian state of Tamil Nadu won a silver in the men’s doubles partnering A Sharath Kamal, and a bronze in the mixed doubles with Manika Batra at the Gold Coast Games.
Sathiyan, who has risen to No. 46 in the latest ITTF World Rankings, said the good showing by the country’s players bodes well for the forthcoming World Championship in Sweden and they could even win a medal if they continued the hard work.”Yeah… the World Championship. It is a dream. About two years ago, we won the second division and qualified for the first division. We are all pumped up… high on confidence after the great show in the CWG.
Sathiyan said playing in a multi-discipline event like the CWG was a great learning experience and being successful gave him a lot of confidence going into future tournaments.”It has been a great experience playing in my first multi-discipline event (CWG). Being part of such an event gave me a lot of learnigngs. Being successful in my first Games gives me a lot of confidence going into the forthcoming tournaments,” he added.
“It (the CWG) has been excellent. Table tennis was on a all-time high, winning a medal in every event. Also, we won eight medals for the first time and we won the mixed doubles medal for first time ever in the CWG,” he said.”Also in the women’s singles, Manika did a great great job. She played very good table tennis, set an example for all the girls in the country on what hard work and what women can achieve in the sport.He further said table tennis was on the right track in the country and India would soon be a superpower in the world of table tennis.
“I am very happy that table tennis has got its due importance. The way we have worked hard, we are playing very good. The sport is on the right track. We will soon be a superpower in the world of table tennis,” he added.He said adding a medal in the Asian Games and reaching the top 20 in the rankings were among his targets.
Sathiyan
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We can win the Indian Super League which begins next month...
German tennis star Boris Becker declared bankrupt
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Category: Remedies Tags: cancer research / New Discoveries
U of A oncologist and cell biologist Michael Hendzel (right) was part of a national research team that identified how a new class of cancer drugs known as PARP inhibitors work, opening the door to better targeted therapy for cancer patients. (Image: Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry)
Troy Oakes
By Troy Oakes, July 10, 2019
New research that uncovers the mechanism behind the newest generation of cancer drugs is opening the door for better targeted therapy. PARP inhibitors are molecular targeted cancer drugs used to treat women with ovarian cancer who have the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations.
The drugs are showing promise in late-stage clinical trials for breast cancer, prostate cancer, and pancreatic cancer and are part of an approach known as precision medicine, which targets treatments based on genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. University of Alberta oncologist and cell biologist Michael Hendzel said:
“What we’ve done is identify how the drugs work.
“Knowing how they work will enable us to come up with new applications for them, so we can make this drug as useful as possible for as many patients as possible.”
People with the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation have a defect in their cells’ ability to repair double-strand breaks in the DNA, which puts them at increased risk of developing breast cancer. The PARP inhibitors take advantage of that weakness and further interfere with the proteins known as poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP1 and PARP2), which cells use to repair the daily damage to DNA that occurs normally.
When the cells can’t repair themselves, they die. Normal cells are unaffected. Hendzel, who is also lead researcher for the genomics stability research group at the Cancer Research Institute of Northern Alberta, explained:
“Cells often have redundancy, so, for example, if they have a defect in one way they use to repair damage, they can use a different way to do it.
“But when they have that defect, and you have a drug to interfere with the backup pathway, then you kill those cells.”
The research is the result of a 20-year collaboration between Hendzel’s research lab and the labs of Guy Poirier at Laval University’s Centre de recherche sur le cancer and Jean-Yves Masson of the CHU de Québec’s research center. PARP inhibitors are the first cancer therapies developed to exploit a process known as synthetic lethality, in which cancers with specific mutations are many times more sensitive to the drug than normal cancer cells.
Poirier said that 1 percent of all cancer clinical trials now involve PARP inhibitors and they could be the key to treating some intractable, aggressive cancers.
“PARP inhibitors work for cancers where no other treatment shows promise, such as metastatic pancreatic cancers and castration-resistant prostate cancer.”
Until now, it was not understood how PARP inhibitors work to interfere with cell repair. The new research reveals that PARP proteins regulate double-strand repair in the DNA, and the inhibitors prevent the control of the process that digests away one strand of DNA so it can be matched up with a copy that is used to repair it.
In previous research, Hendzel, Poirier, and Masson were the first to establish that PARP played a role in double-strand break repair. Their new results explain many effects of PARP inhibition that were not previously understood.
The new study shows there is additional potential to develop and improve existing combination cancer treatments where radiation or chemotherapy, which damages DNA, is combined with drugs that target PARP. The results predict what properties a cancer must have in order for PARP inhibition to improve therapeutic effectiveness in combination therapy.
A large number of clinical trials are currently combining PARP inhibitors with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Masson said:
“Our work explains why PARP inhibitors and radiotherapy are a good combo.
“In fact, PARP inhibitors will increase sensitivity to radiation therapy in some patients.”
Hendzel added:
“In an era where we will commonly have complete genome sequences of human cancers, this study will enable the deployment of PARP inhibitors as a precision medicine in combination therapies.”
The study, “Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase-1 Antagonizes DNA Resection at Double-Strand Breaks,” was published in Nature Communications.
Provided by: GILLIAN RUTHERFORD, University of Alberta [Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.]
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Michael Haneke on ‘Happy End’
Jan 08, 2018WSSEntertainment, Latest Updates, What She SaidComments Off on Michael Haneke on ‘Happy End’9
Austrian auteur Michael Haneke’s films are singularly unsettling and voyeuristic; they are uncomfortable, icy and compelling. His 2009 stunner The White Ribbon predicted the Nazi rise to power in Germany via the perpetrators’ childhood cultural traumas. The children went on to kill millions in the Holocaust. Haneke leaves enough space for us to lock in on a psychological level and witness how behaviours can ripple through generations. In fact, three of Haneke’s recent films look at a single family over years. Cache, Amour and his new film Happy End feature characters named variations of George and Anne, last name Laurent, at different times. It stars Isabelle Huppert as Anne Laurent and Jean-Louis Trintignant as her father Georges and Fantine Harduin as a next generation Eve Laurent. The young Eve carries out a shocking plan and finds a partner in her like-minded grandfather. I spoke with Haneke in Toronto, via a translator.
The film reminded me that videos of death are staples on social media.
It’s true. I’m aware there are videos of violence presents, but I haven’t looked at that. I knew social media would be important in the film I didn’t have a social media presence prior to that but did research to find out what people were using, and used that to tell the story. But the starting point of the story was something I read in the newspaper, a true story about a 14 year old in Japan a couple of years ago who over the course of several weeks poisoned her mother and published it on the internet. That story fascinated me and so I researched which social media could be best used for the film and Snapchat seemed to be the way to go.
It seems you’re dealing with psychopaths. …
Who is the psychopath?
The little girl and her grandfather. She carries out her dangerous impulses, and he gets pleasure out of it.
I know people like this. I wouldn’t call it pathological. I think that it’s a normal behaviour but I’m not interested in describing what kind of behaviour it is. I’m simply presenting the behaviour and it’s up to you to interpret it. I don’t find the grandfather Jean-Louis Trintignant’s behaviour pathological in the film Amour. He explained the reason extensively why he killed his wife and the decision to do so and I doesn’t find it pathological, however its fine with me if that’s how you want to interpret it, I’m fine with any interpretation.
Is this a sequel to the Laurent family stories, particularly Amour?
It’s not a sequel. This film isn’t a sequel, one thread deals with something, but I don’t see it as a continuation. Amour ended with a metaphorical ending, not a real ending. Not physical. The story of Amour was based on a personal experience in my family, an elderly aunt to whom I was very close to, whom I loved very much. At the end of her life she wanted my help to commit suicide to end her life and I was unable to do that for her for many reasons. Eventually the aunt did commit suicide on her own and I approved of her action. I was glad she found that release from her suffering but that was what led me to want to deal with the theme in Amour. In this case, Happy End, I wanted to come back and revisit it. We hadn’t seen the real ending in Amour; it was open, metaphorical and here I wanted to present a realistic view of a similar case. How do you go about dealing with the suffering of someone you love so deeply, realistically? Again I take up one of those threads, treat it differently, showing it from a different perspective, it doesn’t make this film in my mind a continuation. That thread is simply one of many other strands that are dealt with in the film.
Why this family, the Laurents?
In my films I always present the family, only family that I know! All authors, real serious authors do that. It’s always the same person writing, it’s the same mind directing the films. Other directors, similar directors were reproached for the same thing; Bergman was always reproached for always making the same story, Cassavettes too. It’s always the same head, the same mind that’s making those stories; it’s always the same, influenced by the same things. You may like it, you may not, you may find it monotonous, but that’s how it is. It’s not like a commercial director who takes scripts and puts them to the screen, but in the case of an author, you’re writing your own scripts and transposing them to them for the film. Otherwise, you’re a journalist. I’m not saying that contemptuously at all. They deal with things, but if you see yourself as an author then you’re telling stories you know about and which you can speak about personally.
You create a sense of dread through wide shots, things happening off-screen, things happen you’re not sure about.
The dread occurs when you don’t understand everything because everything isn’t explained. It’s like real life, in real life, we only capture fragments of things, fragments of situations, you come into a room, you meet someone you don’t know anything about them, you have certain information and the next day you may happen to meet the same person again and see that person in an entirely different light. That’s how we experience daily life. It’s so fragmentary and that fragmentariness, that sense of mystery does make us uncomfortable at times. It’s only in mainstream cinema that claims to represent all of reality that explanations for all of reality and that’s why it’s so dumb because it’s impossible in my films. I’m seeking to capture the fragmentary-ness and mystery of life which then does convey a certain dread. But I think it’s a good thing to respect that.
by @annebrodie
BFCA BTJA AWFJ TFCA FIPRESCI
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Involving children and young people in their care
HomeChildren and young peopleInvolving children and young people in their care
The Children Act says that children and young people must be treated with respect and this means (amongst other things) that they must be listened to. Children’s services must tell the child or young person what is happening and why. In Wiltshire, children and young people working with children’s services are invited and encouraged to be involved in the plans that are made for them, to give feedback on the support they get, and to have a voice in services that work for them.
They can do this in several ways.
Often, it can be difficult for young people to say what they really think to adults. Advocates are specially trained people whose job it is to help children and young people say what they really think and feel when important decisions are going to be made. Advocates can help young people to prepare for meetings or reviews. They can support children and young people to speak, or they can speak on their behalf. They can help to explain children’s rights and support young people working with children’s services who want to make a complaint.
In Wiltshire, those aged 7 or over will be offered the chance to meet with an advocate at different times, and can ask for an advocate at any time, if they
Need to make their views heard at a Child Protection Conference
Are living in care, including private foster care
Are a care leaver
Have a disability and are accessing overnight short breaks in Wiltshire
“I found that having an advocate gave me the confidence to speak out and say what I think.”
The Wiltshire children’s advocacy service is delivered by County Community Projects (CCP).
Contact CCP if you think they can help you, or if you think the service can help a young person you know. But make sure you have the young person's consent to contact CCP on their behalf.
Children in Care Council (CiCC)
The Children in Care Council is for children and young people living in care (11+) or who are care leavers. CiCC’s job is to meet with the corporate parents (senior managers and elected members of the council) who are responsible for making important decisions about the lives of children in living in care in Wiltshire. CiCC makes them aware of issues, is consulted about possible changes, and suggests ideas and solutions.
“It’s about making a change and hearing from the children and young people who are in Wiltshire’s care”
CiCC has also produced a useful guide for children and young people living in care called the File of Facts.
Importantly, CiCC also challenges the corporate parents to keep their Promise to children living in care. The Promise was written by young people to explain what is important to them. The Corporate Parenting Panel, which monitors and oversees the welfare and wellbeing of children and young people who live in care, signed a revised copy of the Promise in November 2017.
Independent visitor scheme
Mind of My Own
Children and young people working with children’s services can use an app called Mind of my own. Mind of my own is a chance to send good news, an opinion, or a complaint to a worker. Social workers and foster carers can help children and young people to access the service, which can be used at any time of the day, but is not for emergencies.
There are two versions of the app called Mind of my own One and Mind of my own Express. Mind of my own One gives young people the chance to offer their views on whatever they want, whenever they want. Comments can be sent to the workers of their choice, including to an advocate.
When children are younger or have complex needs, a worker can help them to use Mind of my own Express which helps them to express their likes, dislikes and views on lots of different things.
I found that having an advocate gave me the confidence to speak out and say what I think
Children in care council
Do you know how to complain?
Are you being treated fairly? Are you being heard? Do you know how to complain?
Wiltshire Council has made a set of commitments to children and young people living in care. These are the things that young people have told us are important to them and which we aspire to provide.
Our Corporate Parenting Panel, which monitors and oversees the welfare and wellbeing of children and young people who live in care, signed a revised copy of the Promise in November 2017.
Commitment to children in care - Councillor signed PDF (64kb)
In Involving children and young people in their care
Worried about a child?
Children's services: who to contact
Out of hours safeguarding
Special educational needs and disability (SEND)
Get Connected (Wiltshire)
Young people mental health
Schools support and safeguarding
Parenting and family support
Accessing children's services
Youth offending
Activities and events for under fives
Last updated: 6 March 2019 | Last reviewed: 6 March 2019
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Town of Forest Petition for Judicial Review: Highland Wind Farm
Reynolds Oliveira LLC - January 10, 2014
Legal Wisconsin
Town officials in St. Croix county are suing Wisconsin's Public Service Commission after the regulator reversed itself and approved the Highland Wind Farm last year. Emerging Energies is seeking to erect 44 wind turbines, each standing up to 500-feet tall, in the Town of Forest. In February 2013, Wisconsin's Public Service Commission denied a permit for the project due to noise concerns, but Emerging Energies officials urged the commission to reopen the case, citing new technology that permitted the project owner to control the turbine speeds at night. The PSC agreed and approved the permit shortly after.
Attorneys at the law firm Reynolds Oliveira LLC filed a petition with the Wisconsin Circuit Court requesting that the PSC's decision be reviewed. The full petition as filed with the court can be downloaded in its entirety by clicking the links on this page. The Petition is in one file and accompanying Exhibits are in the second file. A portion of the petition is provided below showing some of the Grounds for Reversal articulated by the Town of Forest.
The exhibits included with the petition are as follows:
Exhibit A: Order Denying Motions for Reconsideration and Rehearing (December 20, 2013)
Exhibit B: Final Decision on Reopening (October 25, 2013)
Exhibit C: Order to Modify Second Prehearing Conference Memorandum (June 25, 2013)
Exhibit D: Second Prehearing Conference Memorandum (May 31, 2013)
Exhibit E: Order to Reopen (May 14, 2013)
Exhibit F: Final Decision (March 15, 2013)
GROUNDS FOR REVERSAL
I. The Commission Lacked Jurisdiction to Issue a CPCN for the Project
27. The Commission lacked jurisdiction to grant Highland's CPCN because the Project under curtailment, as approved by the Commission, would produce less than 100 megawatts - which is the minimum overall energy output a project must have in order to fall under the Commission's jurisdiction. Wis. Stat. 196.491(1)(g).
28. Highland's curtailment plan effectively placed the Project below the Commission's 100 megawatt jurisdictional threshold. See Town of Forest's Brief in Opposition to CPCN and Curtailment Plan, pp. 6-9. Highland admitted that, by curtailing the Project's turbines to reduce noise output, it would also reduce each turbine's power output. Tr. p. 1737. Based on the curtailment levels Highland proposed for each turbine, as well as the projections of power output loss Highland provided, the Town submitted evidence that the Project's overall output would have been reduced to approximately 92 megawatts - or approximately 8 megawatts below the Commission's jurisdiction. Town of Forest's Brief in Opposition to CPCN and Curtailment Plan, pp 8-9.
II. The Commission Deprived the Parties of their Right to Due Process and Made Material Errors of Law and Fact in Finding that the Project Only Needs to Comply with Noise Limits "95% of the Time."
29. In its final decision, the Commission determined that "a showing of compliance by Highland at or above 95% of the time is adequate for the Commission to consider the Project in compliance with applicable noise limits." Final Decision on Reopening, p. 35.
30. This finding is faulty in three ways: it was made without any due process to the parties; it is contrary and irreconcilable with the Commission's own conclusions of law; and it is unsupported by substantial evidence in the record.
A. The Commission deprived the parties of their due process rights by making this finding without giving the parties notice or an opportunity to present evidence or arguments on the issue.
31. Maximum noise limits attributable to wind projects are established by section PSC 128.14(3), Wisconsin Administrative Code. This section provides, in relevant part, that "an owner shall operate the wind energy system is that the noise attributable to the wind energy system does not exceed 50 dBA during the daytime hours and 45 dBA during the nighttime hours." Wis. Stae.128.14(3).
32. How compliance with the PSC 128 limits is determined was not at issue in the original proceeding. See generally Briefing Memorandum; Decision Matrix. There was nothing in the Commission's original briefing memorandum or decision matrix to suggest that the Commission would consider this issue in the decision. See. id.
33. In its original decision, the Commission merely referred to the testimony of a single expert, who had opined that he would consider a wind farm to be in compliance with noise limits if it did not exceed those limits "95% of the time." Final Decision, p. 18. The Commission noted that it might be "helpful" in future cases to evaluate "some sort of percentage-based standard." Id. at 18-19. But the Commission made no finding that a 95% compliance level would be sufficient for a CPCN, or that it would become the standard in this or future cases. See id.
34. When the Commission reopened the proceeding, it never identified the issue of what should be the standard for compliance with the noise limits under PSC 128. See generally Order to Reopen. To the contrary, the Commission made clear that the scope of the reopened proceeding was to be limited to the issues identified in the second prehearing conference - none of which referenced a compliance level or percentage-based standard. See Second Prehearing Conference Memorandum, p.1; Order to Modify Second Prehearing Conference Memorandum, p.1.
35. In fact, throughout the reopened proceeding, the Commission consistently prohibited the parties from introducing any evidence that did not address the very narrow questions presented for reopening. See, e.g., Order Denying Appeal of Evidentiary Ruling for Reopened Preceding, pp. 1-2. Consistent with the scope of the proceeding set by the Commission, neither parties nor staff introduced evidence or made arguments on a compliance level or percentage-based standard. Again, consistent with the scope of the proceeding, the staff's reopening Briefing Memorandum and Decision Matrix, which identified and informed the Commission of the issues in a proceeding, made no mention that a percentage-based standard or compliance showing was at issue. See generally Briefing Memo on Reopening; Decision Matrix or Reopening.
36. Yet, when the Commission made its final decision, it found that the Project could be built and operated should Highland show compliance with noise limits "95% of the time." Final Decision on Reopening, pp 35, 49. Without notice or an opportunity to present evidence and legal argument on this issue, the parties never had any input on an issue that goes to the very core of protecting public health: whether the Project will be too loud at any given time.
37. The Commission's failure to provide adequate notice of the compliance issue amounts to a procedural effort that deprived the parties of their due process rights and impaired the fairness of the proceeding.
B. The Commission's determination to impose a 95% compliance standard was contrary to its interpretation of law and its previous orders.
38. In its original decision, based on the recommendations of Wisconsin's Wind Siting Council, the Commission concluded that the applicable noise limits in PSC 128 were "absolute limits" - as opposed to average limits. Final Decision, p. 6; see also Wis. Stat. 196.378(4g)(e). In other words, the Commission found that, in order to receive a CPCN, a project could not exceed the 45 dBA limit at any time. See id.
39. However, the Commission's decision that the Project only had to comply with noise limits "95% of the time" clearly allowed the Project to exceed the very noise limits the Commission had previously decided could not be exceeded. See id.
40. The Commission made no attempt to explain or reconcile its decision with its previous interpretation of the applicable noise limits. See generally Final Decision on Reopening. Nothing in the Commission's final decision, and nothing in the record, suggests a reason for the Commission to reverse its previous interpretation that these limits could not be exceeded. Nor does anything in the Commission's decision or in the record provide a basis for an exception to the notion of absolute maximums. Id.
41. Therefore, the Commission's determination to set a compliance standard of 95%, and therefore allow the Project to violate noise limits, is an error if law.
C. The Commission's determination is not based upon substantial evidence in the record.
42. The Commission made the "95% of the time" finding without substantial evidence in the record to support it. As previously noted, the Commission's decision rests on a single statement made by one witness during cross-examination in the original proceeding. See Final Decisions on Reopening, p. 6. Nothing else in the entire record addressed, directly or indirectly, the 95% compliance issue.
43. Without a record on this issue, the Commission did not and could not define what it meant by a standard of 95% of the time." See e.g. Final Decision on Reopening, pp. 35, 49. The Commission's undefined use of "time" leaves the Project free to be out of compliance in a wind range of circumstances. It could be read to mean the Project can operate any turbine at any noise level on any home for 5 out of every 100 minutes, hours, days, weeks, or months - consecutively or not. With such an undefined standard, the public is left to experience loud noise levels that can be harmful to their health for substantial periods of time - and the wind farm operator is left free to violate the law 5% of whatever time period it finds most beneficial to its interests.
44. Therefore, having no evidence to even define it, the Commission's determination setting a compliance standard of 95% lacks a basis in substantial evidence and is an error of fact.
III. The Commission's Determination that the Proposed Project Would not "Unreasonably Interfere" with The Comprehensive Plan is Contrary to Law and Lacks a Substantial Basis in Evidence.
45. In its final decision, the Commission made an erroneous conclusion of law in not giving appropriate deference to the Town's interpretation of its own land use and development plan. See Wis. Stat. 196.491(3)(d)(6), 227.49(3).
46. The Commission cannot grant a CPCN for a project unless the project "will not unreasonably interfere with the orderly land use and development plans for the area involved." Wis. Stat 196.491(3)(d)(6).
47. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has held that municipal governments are entitled to deference in their interpretation of their own land use laws. See Ottman v. Town of Primrose, 332 Wis. 2d 3, 14, 796 N.W.2d 411, 416 (2011); see also Marris v. City of Cedarburg, 176 Wis. 2d 14, 33 498 N.W.2d 842, 842 (1993). The Court noted that deference is owed to municipalities because "locally elected officials are especially attuned to local concerns. 332 Wis. 2d at 29, 796 N.W. 2d at 424.
48. But the Commission did not defer to the Town's interpretation of its own land use plan. See Final Decision on Reopening, p. 14. The Commission concluded that the Project would not "unreasonably interfere" with the Town's land use plan merely because the Town's land use plan "does not expressly limit support for renewable energy to small-scale development" and because wind projects are "typically placed in rural areas." Id.
49. The finding was wholly inconsistent with the evidence introduced by the Town. The Town's evidence made clear to the Commission that the Project would conflict with provisions in the Comprehensive Plan that limit industrial development - so as to preserve the Town's scenic qualities and rural character. See id. at p. 13.
50. Specifically, the Town informed the Commission that the Comprehensive Plan envisions "maintaining the rural character of the town; siting and designing large-scale businesses and developments to avoid conflicts with preserving the town's rural character and limiting development, such as the proposed project, to only the hamlet of Forest and along State Highway 64." The Town also informed the Commission that "although the Comprehensive Plan supports renewable energy development in the town, it should be read to mean small-scale renewable energy development, not development of the size and scope of the proposed project." See id.
51. The Commission's finding that the Town's Comprehensive Plan "does not expressly limit support for renewable energy to small-scale development" was not enough to support its conclusion that the Project would not "unreasonably interfere" with the plan. Much to the contrary, the fact that the Comprehensive Plan was silent on this specific issue was yet another reason for the Commission to defer to the Town's interpretation - rather that imposing its own inconsistent interpretation.
52. In sum, the Commission failed to give the Town the deference due under Wisconsin law, and reached a conclusion wholly inapposite to the evidence in the record. Even under the most deferential standard of review, the Commission's disregard of the Town's interpretation of its own land use plan was clearly inconsistent with section 196.491(3)(d)(6), Wisconsin statutes. See Ottman v. Town of Primrose, 332 Wis. 2d 3, 14, 796 N.W.2d 411, 416 (2011); see also Marris v. City of Cedarburg, 176 Wis. 2d 14, 33 498 N.W.2d 842, 842 (1993).
140110 Petitionfor Judicial Review
Download file (518 KB) pdf
140110 Petition Exhibits A F
http://www.windaction.org/posts/39631-town-of-forest-petition-for-judicial-review-highland-wind-farm
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Commissioning starts at first Belarus unit
Unit 1 of the first nuclear power plant to be built in Belarus has started the commissioning phase, AtomStroyExport (ASE), the engineering subsidiary of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom, has announced.
Unit 1 of the Ostrovets plant (Image: Rosatom)
The plant, near Ostrovets in the Grodno region of Belarus, is being built using the Russian VVER-1200 reactors to give 2340 MWe net capacity online. The first unit is scheduled for commissioning this year, with the second unit to be brought online in 2020.
ASE, general contractor for the project, said on 5 April the first stage of commissioning had started and that this comprised testing of equipment of the first and second circuits of the reactor facility, which will include hydraulic tests and circulation flushing.
The programme for commissioning water-cooled power reactors consists of four stages, ASE said. These are: pre-commissioning; physical start-up; energy start-up; and experimental-industrial operation.
"The main goal of the first stage is to check the performance of the design parameters of the systems and equipment of the reactor unit before starting to load the fuel," said Vitaly Polyanin, vice president and director of the Belarusian project at ASE. The hermetic enclosure of the reactor building is also being tested, he said.
An intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Belarus specifically on cooperation in the construction of a nuclear power plant in Belarus was signed in March 2011.
Belarus New build
Steam generators installed at second Belarus unit IAEA assesses emergency preparedness in Belarus
Ostrovets 1 Nuclear Power in Belarus
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JUGGERNAUGHT
"Bring The Meat Back"
By Rusty Coffinnails
South Africa's Juggernaught is described as "Man Rock" and with song titles such as "Bring The Meat Back", "Beef or Chicken", "Booty Call" one can understand why. The first track is "Bad Idea". It starts off with a promising sound and after the first minute and a half it spirals downward to an annoying unregular beat with a singer that sounds a bit like Adam Sandler.
Now I can not say the entire album was a loss, the 2nd track titled "Train" is good stuff that has a nice beat, good guitars, and the lyrics are a bit dark (the way I like it) and everything came together and worked. If they could have worked out a sound and style from this song and built from that they would have been a force to be reckoned with.
It took several attempts to listen to this album in its entirety, due to my self preservation instinct. With the title track "Bring The Meat Back" I could not help but get thoughts of a late 70s velvet lounge where a no name bad plays tired old stuff for tip money and the jar is empty.They seem to use a Funk/Blues mishmash that could work yet this attempt at it is somewhat clumsy and hard to "get into".
I will say that they are a very unique band and that they have nailed "Man Rock" Unrefined, ugly, simple and disorganized... It's a guy thing. Sex and food how can they miss? After all it might be just what they are after.
www.juggernaughtmanrock.co.za
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Keeping lid on lawsuits carries big price tag for Reading
Last year the city paid more than $450,000 to outside law firms to handle cases. The city solicitor wants to manage more items in-house this year.
By Don Spatz
Lawsuits against city range from exasperating to silly
Reading fighting more than 70 legal battles
Reading's suits, by the numbers
Charles D. Younger is the city solicitor.
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Reading has been busy in court the last few years, but its track record has been pretty good.
It has resolved 139 suits brought against it since 2004, with no payout to plaintiffs in two-thirds of them. The cost for its attorneys was more than $1 million.
At the moment, the city has more than 70 cases under way in county, state and federal courts, or in agencies such as the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.
"It's tough keeping track (of the cases), but the attorneys handling them do a good job of it, and keep me in the loop," said Charles D. Younger, city solicitor since 2000.
Much of the heavy lifting on everything from civil suits to labor contracts is done by attorneys from 27 outside law firms the city has hired.
Last year Reading spent more than three times its $150,000 budget for those outside lawyers.
Younger has three other attorneys on his in-house staff who handle many of the day-to-day issues. He said his goal this year is to manage more items in-house.
But outside attorneys will keep the suits having what Younger called a potential for a huge payout.
Among their cases:
The win: Last month, the city won a federal court case brought by former Police Officer Mark S. Groff, who claimed the city had illegally fired him. A jury said the city had the right to fire him for fraternizing with the Pagans motorcycle gang.
The settlement: Three weeks ago, the city announced it would pay $250,000 to settle a federal lawsuit brought by a city man beaten so badly with a flashlight - by Groff - that his skull was fractured. The beating was a month before the firing, but the city did not list that as one of the causes of Groff's dismissal.
Should Reading move all of its legal counsel in house?
The city's current liability insurance deductible is $100,000 to $150,000, depending on the type of case. Insurers pay awards above that.
Since the insurers are paying most of the big-ticket cases, they want attorneys with whom they're comfortable and so they give the city a list, Younger said.
And the insurers also will do a cost/benefit analysis. Younger said they'll order some cases settled, even at a high cost, because they don't want them going to trial where a jury might award even more.
"We have to go along with that," he said. "If the insurer says go to settlement, we'd be hard-pressed not to settle."
The suit by a retired city planner, the late David E. Solinger, is a case in point.
In September 2006, Solinger stepped on the stub of a metal sign post at Eighth and Penn streets, injured his left foot, and sued the city for damages in a so-called slip-and-fall complaint.
The city normally denies those outright because property owners have the primary liability for sidewalk injuries, Younger said. The city isn't liable if it was unaware of a dangerous problem on a sidewalk when somebody got hurt.
"The city generally takes a hard line," Younger said. "We're not going to throw money at them; it's counterproductive."
But the Solinger case was different.
Younger said Solinger had serious injuries with serious consequences that led to the amputation of his left leg. And the city couldn't say it was unaware of the dangerous condition: the sign had been sheared off in an accident involving a city police car.
The insurer ordered settlement.
The city settled for $950,000, with the insurer paying $700,000.
Limiting liability also was the reason the city settled for $250,000 with the beating victim, Francis Nunez.
And it's why it settled for $1.75 million with Denise Wise, the widow of Police Officer Michael H. Wise II, killed by a fellow city officer who believed he was shooting at a drug suspect during a 2004 shootout.
The city paid $750,000; the insurer paid $1 million.
Younger said the city has a good track record in court.
"If you pay less than what they demanded, that's a good outcome," he said.
Although he acknowledged the city should have settled some suits for less than what it paid its attorneys, he said some cases are more important than the money because they preserve the city's rights. He would not identify them.
Younger said the office has made progress, but could make more.
The office is trying to improve its tracking processes to get away from the stacks of paper that cover every inch of Younger's desk, tables and even the floor. Some older cases are still tracked on index cards.
That also might allow faster responses he said are needed to the legal requests coming from the administration and City Council.
But he doubts the city would allow him to hire more in-house attorneys; he was lucky to protect those he has from the 2013 budget cuts.
About two decades ago when the city operated on the commission form of government, it had five part-time solicitors who did all the legal work.
Younger said he doesn't know how they did it, but there's no way all the work can be done in-house now.
Contact Don Spatz: 610-371-5027 or dspatz@readingeagle.com.
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Disaster Scenarios
10 People Who Survived the Impossible
by Patrick J. Kiger
Fell Out of an Exploding Airplane
Rescue workers pulled eight survivors from the wreckage of a French airliner in 1972. That same year, Vesna Vulovic fell out of an exploding plane and somehow survived. STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images
A 22-year-old flight attendant went down in history for surviving the longest fall from a plane. On Jan. 26, 1972, Vesna Vulović took off from Copenhagen on a Yugoslav Airlines flight to Belgrade, on a work assignment caused by a scheduling mix-up. As the aircraft flew over what is now the Czech Republic, it suddenly exploded. Rescuers eventually found Vulović in the still-smoking fuselage, her legs poking out of the wreckage with the 3-inch (nearly 8-centimeter) stiletto heels torn off her shoes by the impact. She lost a massive amount of blood and spent the next three days in a coma with a fractured skull, three broken vertebrae and assorted other injuries, but somehow she managed to hang on. Vulović was the only one of the 28 people on board to survive [sources: Bilefsky, Connolly].
Officially, Vulović had fallen more than 33,000 feet (10 kilometers), and Guinness World Records eventually recognized her as the person who survived the longest fall without a parachute. In the late 2000s, two Czech investigative journalists claimed that, based on previously secret records from the Czech Civil Aviation Authority, the official story that Croatian nationalists had blown up the plane was false. In reality, the airliner had been shot down by a Czechoslovakian fighter pilot mistaking it for enemy aircraft. They said Vulović only fell about 2,500 feet (800 meters) [source: Connolly]. Even if that is so, she still survived a fall about 27 times the average height that kills victims of falling accidents [source: Lau et al.].
10 Possible Future Disasters
The Heart-breaking End of Legendary Adventurer Sir Ernest Shackleton
Can drones be used for search and rescue?
10 Disaster Survival Tips for Pets
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Agholor Embraces a ‘Golden’ Complement
(Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - If iron really does sharpen iron in the NFL, Nelson Agholor should become a much-improved player over the second half of the 2018 season.
Philadelphia's best slot receiver and top yards-after-catch option no longer possesses those titles with the arrival of the ultra-productive Golden Tate to the Novacare Complex.
Acquired at the trade deadline last week from Detroit for a third-round pick, Tate figures to knock Agholor out of top three options for Carson Wentz in the passing game, a list which also includes the lengthy Alshon Jeffery and top tight end Zach Ertz.
Agholor, who is currently second on the team with 41 receptions, isn't concerned, however.
“We’re playing football now,” Agholor said at his locker after Monday's walkthrough practice following the team's bye week.
When pressed about potentially seeing the football less with Tate's arrival, the Southern Cal product brushed that off.
“I’m going to continue to be the player I can be so that [the coaches] utilize me to make plays," Agholor said. "If anything, I know that having a guy like [Golden] on my team is going to continue to increase my game, because I’m a student of the game. If there are things that he can do that I don’t have in my game right now, then I’m going to learn from it, I’m going to add that to my game."
Tate, meanwhile, has immersed himself in Doug Pederson's playbook in an attempt to learn as much of the offense as possible before Sunday night's game against Dallas, a team he already gashed for eight receptions and 132 yards earlier this season while with the Lions.
"I don’t have anything to do," Tate joked. "I’m just going to spend a lot of time in this place and prepare to fit right in.”
Offensive coordinator Mike Groh noted that Tate has experience learning a new offense having gone from Seattle to Detroit and noted how smart a player the former Notre Dame star is.
“He’s got background in learning some new systems, so he’s a smart guy,” Groh said. “He can relate it to things that he was doing in Detroit most recently, and we just try to build from there. It’s not necessarily as hard during the season because you’re focused on a game plan as opposed to in training camp when you’re learning the entire playbook, like everything is going in, so that you can draw from that as a resource throughout the season.
“So right now, he knows he has a select number of plays that are in the game plan, and we’ll just try to go from there.”
The offense as a whole could also be getting more pieces back for what figures to be a second-half run at the NFC East crown. Running back Darren Sproles should be getting closer to a return from a hamstring injury while tight end Richard Rodgers and perhaps Mack Hollins or Mike Wallace at receiver could return from injured reserve.
"All those guys, obviously we’re hopeful that they’ll return at some point,” Groh said. “But when that time comes, we’ll cross that bridge. Right now we’re just worried about the guys that we know can play on Sunday and trying to get those guys ready to go.”
When Pederson's offense is at its best Wentz is getting everyone involved and the more the merrier, according to Agholor
“We kind of invite getting all our other weapons back," Agholor said. "We let the coaches handle the personnel, the schematic part. But for us, we’re like juiced up to see our brothers back out there."
Filed Under: 2018 Philadelphia Eagles, Golden Tate, Mike Groh, Nelson Agholor
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Amazing Images Of Snow in Las Vegas
Tampa Bay’s Morning Krewe
Travis Daily
Nights With Keebler
The Current with Roxanne Wilder
Tampa Bay’s Morning Krewe On Demand
Launa’s Ladies Of Country Music
Game MizConduct
PG: Parental Guidance (Needed)
Theme Parks and Rec Podcast
QYK Guitar Pull
Trending In Tampa Bay
QYK Music News
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Geno February 22nd
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 20: Snow falls on a replica Sphinx head at Luxor Hotel and Casino during a winter storm on February 20, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The National Weather Service in Las Vegas issued a winter weather advisory for the area overnight. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
While it gets cold in Las Vegas, you don’t expect to see palm trees with a coating of snow!
Rare Winter Storm Hits Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 20 A photographer uses an umbrella to protect his camera from snow as he and other visitors take photos at the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign during a winter storm on February 20, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The National Weather Service in Las Vegas issued a winter weather advisory for the area overnight. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 20: The light on top of Luxor Hotel and Casino illuminates snow falling during a winter storm on February 20, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The National Weather Service in Las Vegas issued a winter weather advisory for the area overnight. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 21: Snow covers palm trees during a winter storm on February 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The National Weather Service in Las Vegas issued a winter weather advisory for the area overnight. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 21: (L-R) Heather Parr, Harvey Johnson, 2, and Luna Rubio, 1, all of Nevada, sled down a slope during a winter storm on February 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The rare event in Las Vegas dumped up to eight inches of snow in some parts of the city. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 20: A palm tree outside the Red Rock Casino is covered in snow during a winter storm on February 20, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The National Weather Service in Las Vegas issued a winter weather advisory for the area overnight. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 21: Hotel-casinos on the Las Vegas Strip are seen in the distance behind people playing in the snow on the west side of town during a winter storm on February 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The rare event in Las Vegas dumped up to eight inches of snow in some parts of the city. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - FEBRUARY 21: (L-R) Armando Garcia, 7-month-old Bella Garcia and Bella Garcia, all of Nevada, prepare to take a photo with snowmen they built on the west side of town during a winter storm on February 21, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The rare event in Las Vegas dumped up to eight inches of snow in some parts of the city. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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Research Provides Clues to Treat Depression, Autism and Other Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Alterations in a naturally occurring chemical in the brain called serotonin have been linked to a number of neuropsychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder as well as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Randy Blakely, Ph.D., executive director of Florida Atlantic University’s Brain Institute and a professor of biomedical science in FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, and his team, have been studying this mood-regulating gene in the brain that carries signals across the synapse, or the gap between nerve cells. The supply of serotonin is tightly regulated by the serotonin transporter (SERT) and inappropriate shifts in SERT activity can have dramatic consequences.
Blakely first identified and cloned the SERT gene about 25 years ago, and recently received a $2.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue his research efforts to gain a better understanding of how SERT is regulated. Through this research, Blakely and the team pursue studies that can reveal critical insights into the mechanisms producing overactive SERT, changes that can drive diminished serotonin signaling during development and in adulthood. Blakely’s ultimate goal: to provide new ways of treating several widespread neuropsychiatric disorders associated with perturbed serotonin signaling.
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National Guard soldier from NC killed
The guard and Department of Defense announced Sunday that 1st Lt. Ashley White was among three soldiers killed in Kandahar province on Saturday when their unit was attacked.
Two other soldiers also died as a result of the attack that took White's life. Sgt. 1st Class Kristoffer B. Domeij, 29, of San Diego, Calif., and Pfc. Christopher A. Horns, 20, of Colorado Springs, Colo., were both assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
White was assigned to the Guard's Goldsboro-based Company C, 230th Brigade Support Battalion of the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team. At the time of her death, she was serving with Special Operations Forces as part of a Cultural Support Team (CST), a mission for which she had volunteered.
"We are grieving with her family today. Our prayers are with them during this difficult time," said Maj. Gen. Greg Lusk, adjutant general of North Carolina and commander of the nearly 12,000 men and women of the North Carolina National Guard. "She was a fine soldier who never shied away from the tough jobs. We will miss her."
Funeral arrangements for 1st Lt. White are incomplete at this time.
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Supreme Court upholds lower court ruling on affirmative action
WASHINGTON -- In a major victory for affirmative action, a divided Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the University of Texas admissions program that takes account of race.
The justices voted in favor of the Texas program by a 4-3 vote, an outcome that was dramatically altered by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, who opposed affirmative action.
The university considers race among many factors in admitting the last quarter of incoming freshmen classes. Texas fills most of the freshman class by guaranteeing admission to students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their Texas high school class.
Justice Anthony Kennedy said in his majority opinion that the Texas plan complied with earlier court rulings allowing colleges to take account of race in pursuit of diversity on campus. "The university has thus met its burden of showing that the admissions policy it used ... was narrowly tailored," Kennedy wrote.
The court's three more conservative justices dissented, and Justice Samuel Alito read portions of his 51-page dissent, more than twice as long as Kennedy's opinion, from the bench. "This is affirmative action gone wild," Alito said. The university "relies on a series of unsupported and noxious racial assumptions," he said.
In a separate dissent, Justice Clarence Thomas repeated his view that the Constitution outlaws any use of race in higher education admissions.
Just seven justices participated in the decision since Scalia's death in February. Justice Elena Kagan sat out the case because she worked on it while serving in the Justice Department.
The high court ruled in the case of Abigail Fisher, a white Texan who was denied admission to the university's flagship campus in Austin in 2008. Fisher claimed she was rejected while African-American applicants with lower grades and test scores were admitted. The school said Fisher, who did not graduate in the top 10 percent of her high school class, would not have been admitted with or without race as a factor. But officials did conditionally offer to allow her to transfer in as a sophomore if she maintained a 3.2 grade point average at another public college in Texas.
Instead, Fisher went to Louisiana State University, from which she graduated in 2012, and pursued her lawsuit. Fisher was recruited for the suit by Edward Blum, an opponent of racial preferences who has been remarkably successful in persuading the Supreme Court to hear cases challenging the use of race in education and politics. Blum was behind a major challenge to the landmark Voting Rights Act that resulted in the court eviscerating a key provision of the law, and he also led an unsuccessful challenge to states' widespread practice of counting all their residents, not just those eligible to vote, in drawing legislative districts.
Justices heard Fisher's case once before and issued an inconclusive ruling in 2013 that sent her case back to a lower court and set the stage for Thursday's decision.
In 2003, the justices reaffirmed the consideration of race in the quest for diversity on campus. Their decision then set a goal of doing away with such programs in 25 years.
Separate legal challenges have been filed to affirmative action plans at the University of North Carolina and Harvard University. It was unclear how those cases would be affected by the decision in the Texas case.
Texas is unique in marrying the top 10 plan to a separate admissions review in which race is one of many factors considered. The university's current freshman class is 22 percent Hispanic and 4.5 percent African-American. White students make up less than half the school's freshmen.
Eight states prohibit the use of race in public college admissions: Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma and Washington.
Click here for more stories about the Supreme Court.
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Bills enabling a statewide clergy abuse investigation stalled in Kentucky. Supporters blame ‘politics’
pete madden
Jun 5, 2019, 8:13 AM ET
PlaySTOCK PHOTO/Getty Images
WATCH Lists tie more than 230 Catholic priests to sex abuse in multiple states
A pair of bills that would have opened an avenue to investigate alleged clergy abuse in Kentucky languished in this year’s legislative session, and some supporters of the proposals say partisan politics is to blame.
Amid a national reckoning over allegations of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, Kentucky lawmakers failed to advance or even consider legislation to expand the Attorney General’s powers to investigate crimes, like clergy abuse, that often occur across multiple jurisdictions. Now, the attorney general and his allies are crying foul.
Attorney General Andy Beshear, the highest-ranking Democrat in a state government otherwise controlled by Republicans, is running for governor in what is expected to be a hotly contested campaign. According to Gretchen Hunt, who leads the Attorney General’s Office of Victims Advocacy, Republican lawmakers were reluctant to empower a political rival to conduct a headline-making probe with an election approaching.
“Putting politics above victims and survivors is a bad way to do public policy,” Hunt told ABC News. “The injustice of that is very profound.”
Because Kentucky seats only a part-time legislature, the bills will not return to the floor until 2020, frustrating those eager for Kentucky to join more than a dozen other states where statewide investigations of alleged clergy abuse are already underway.
“It’s a problem,” Rep. Jeff Donohue, a Democrat, who worked with the Attorney General’s Office to introduce one of the stymied pieces of legislation, told ABC News. “I got to have partners to work with towards this, but I’m having trouble finding them. The only explanation is political.”
Timothy D. Easley/AP, FILE
Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear, left, addresses his supporters following his victory in the democratic primary for Governor in Louisville, Ky., Tuesday, May 21, 2019.
In the wake of the Pennsylvania grand jury report detailing a massive coverup of clergy abuse allegations by the Catholic Church, investigations have been launched in Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and the District of Columbia, as well as with the Archdiocese of Anchorage in Alaska.
Spokespersons for attorneys general in several other states told ABC News that their offices did not have the power to launch statewide investigations; they could only take cases referred to them by local prosecutors. Beshear sought to change that in his state, asking lawmakers to allow his office to petition the Kentucky Supreme Court to convene a special grand jury for a similar statewide investigation.
“The major advantage of having a special grand jury is that it consolidates the investigation and prosecution of crimes that may have occurred in numerous counties to numerous victims,” Beshear said in a press release in September. “When needed, this process would work faster, be more efficient and happen on a larger scale for the many victims impacted.”
A pair of bills addressing the issue — HB 65 introduced by Rep. Donahue, a Democrat, and HB 105, introduced by Rep. Lynn Bechler, a Republican — were pre-filed before the start of the legislative session in January and introduced to the House Judiciary Committee.
But even after the Archdiocese of Louisville released the names of 48 priests and members of religious orders who had been credibly accused of child sexual abuse, and six Kentucky men were identified among the nearly 400 Southern Baptist church preachers and volunteers accused of sexual abuse, Rep. Jason Petrie, the Republican Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, did not hold a hearing for either bill.
Kevin R. Morris/corbis/vcg/Getty Images, FILE
An aerial view of the capitol building in Frankfort, Ky.
In response to questions from ABC News, Petrie — who identified “religious liberty” as one his core campaign issues — acknowledged the state had “a gap in prosecutorial coverage.”
He says he met with the deputy attorney general and the state’s chief justice to discuss the proposals before determining that he needed more time than the short legislative session allowed to work out what it would take to make what he called a “fairly significant” change in the law.
“Some topics are just too large,” Petrie told ABC News, “to push through in a short time.”
He further insisted upcoming gubernatorial election “had no bearing" on his decision not to proceed on either bill.
Bechler, the Republican author of one of the bills, told ABC News that while he is concerned the legislation has been shelved until 2020, he also attributed the delay to timing.
“It’s not political at all,” Bechler told ABC News. “I don’t believe that the failure to have it heard had anything to do with [the governor’s race]. This is a bipartisan issue.”
Donohue, the Democrat, however, disagrees, citing “a lack of political courage.”
“This bill could have done something to help the state of Kentucky,” Donohue said of the legislation he introduced. “As the chairperson, [Petrie] has to take responsibility.”
Petrie told ABC News that he plans to continue to work on the issue with his colleagues during interim meetings over the summer in preparation for bringing another bill forward in 2020, though his committee’s first session did not appear to have the issue on the agenda.
For some victims’ advocates, however, too much time has passed already.
“Not to decide is to decide against the very rights you vow to protect,” said Rev. Dr. Beverly Weinhold, a member of the Attorney General’s 2017-18 Survivors Council, in a statement to ABC News. “Your refusal to hear the bill adds one more layer of silence to the collusion of the church.“
Bills to aid Kentucky clergy abuse investigation mired in 'politics,' supporters say
Senator objects to 9/11 compensation fund bill over cost
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Tag Archives: Beius
Elementary Teacher Inspires LMU Soccer Players to Serve Global Community
A pair of Lincoln Memorial University soccer players returned from Europe last week after spending two weeks helping to build homes for deserving families across the globe. Sarah Taylor and Peter Fraser, a pair of Ontario, Canada natives, spent 10 days in Beius, Romania working with Habitat for Humanity.
The pair’s involvement in the international cause can be traced back to Taylor’s elementary school days when she was in teacher Kim Penzhorn’s class. Penzhorn is a team leader in Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village program. She has traveled to Beius three times and the trip Taylor and Fraser joined her on was her second expedition in 2011.
Nine other Canadians joined Taylor, Fraser and Penzhorn on their journey. For many of them it was their first trip to Romania and most of the group had never met before the trip. That was not the case for Taylor and Fraser, who are rising seniors, as both play for LMU Soccer Coach Helio D’Anna and have been classmates at LMU for three years.
Romania became the 50th Habitat for Humanity country in 1996. Beius was the first community in which Habitat was invited to help in Romania. Six other communities, including Cluj-Napoca (Cluj), Pitesti, Radauti, Comanesti, Cumpana and Craiova have since taken up the challenge of ending poverty housing as part of Habitat. According to Habitat, more than 1,200 families in Romania—that previously lived in miserable conditions—now have a safe and healthy home.
Beius is a small town of 12,000 inhabitants located in the northwest of Romania’s Bihor county, near the Romanian-Hungarian border. The town is located in a beautiful valley with many villages surrounded by wonderful mountains. Beius has a rural feel—it would not be surprising, for example, to see a wagon with horses crossing through the town. Since the first Habitat home was built (in 1996), 100 families have been afforded safe shelter. Habitat in Beius offers a hand-up, not a hand out. Partner families pay back the home mortgage over 20 years at no interest and invest 1,000 hours of sweat equity labor on other Habitat homes.
LMU rising senior Sarah Taylor assists with a foundation on a Habitat for Humanity building site in Romania.
Taylor and Fraser spent the first part of their trip insulating and installing drywall in one home and laying a foundation for another in nearby Oradea.
LMU rising senior Peter Fraser helps to pour a cement foundation at a Habitat for Humanity building site in Romania.
Back in Beius for the second half of the trip, the team joined future Habitat homeowners in preparing another foundation and finished some homes that were nearing competition. During the weekend they visited the Bears Caves in Chiscau, a wooden church in Bardet and other attractions in the Beius area.
Peter Fraser, center, helps to put the finishing touches on a Habitat for Humanity home in Romania.
Taylor was the Lady Railsplitter’s points leader a year ago. An All-Region selection, she looks to build on her 10 goal and 11 assist tallies in her senior year. Fraser’s career has been hampered by injury; nevertheless, he is expected to be a key contributor for the Railsplitters at mid-field and on defense.
Sarah Taylor (center) helps to put the finishing touches on a Habitat roof.
Tags: Beius, build, Canada, Canadians, foundation, Habitat, Habitat for Humanity, Lincoln Memorial University, LMU, Romania, roof, Soccer
Categories Athletics, general info
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Guest Post by Julie Sarff
Lily Bilbury needs to find the remnants of the French Blue and find them fast. It’s been three long years since her Italian husband cheated on her, and she is facing financial ruin. In desperation, she teams up with fellow housemaid, Francesca – an irascible Italian fashionista and self-proclaimed psychic. Together they search Villa Buschi for some of the most famous gems in the world, the diamonds that were cut away from the French Blue to make the infamous Hope. But when Lily can’t find the diamonds, and nothing seems to go her way, she briefly contemplates running around ranting drivel and frightening the whole reserved population of Arona, Italy. Follow Lily and several rambunctious rescue kittens on her quest for precious antiquities; a journey which may lead to something far better than long lost gems.
Writing the Sweet Delicious Madness mystery series all started after reading a book about the lost and stolen treasures of the antiquity world. These true stories seemed more fabulous than anything a fiction writer could invent. Fights over antiquities between upstanding museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the government of Turkey put a spotlight on the murky underworld of smuggled artifacts and the desire by some in the antiquities world to obtain the treasures at any cost.
As a reader, I have always preferred the stories of the hapless heroine that works her ways into our hearts by being the everyday sort. This kind of heroine isn’t pulled together or polished, but rather struggles to pay her bills, take her kids to school on time. This kind of heroine never has a good hair day. Enter Lily Bilbury, one extraordinary mess who takes a job as a maid in a villa on the romantic shores of Lago Maggiore. It is here that she enters into the world of dusting around Imperial Faberge Eggs while being unable to make her rent payment at home. When a fellow maid, Francesca, claims to be a psychic channeling Carlo Buschi, former owner of the villa, Lily doesn’t pay much attention – after all she has a lot on her mind. She’s trying to obtain a divorce from a cheating husband, she has children to look after, and she is several thousand miles for her closest relatives.
The stakes soon rise for Lily when her big-hearted girlfriend also falls on hard times. After learning that Carlo Buschi was an avid collector of smuggled antiquities, Lily teams up with Francesca to search for the remnants of the French Blue, the diamond that was last seen intact before the French Revolution. The same diamond that was later cut into the Hope.
The search for the diamonds that were cut away from the Hope is the first in a series of mysteries based on stolen and lost antiquities that will lead a very unlikely heroine into the dark world of antique smuggling. Along the way she will fall hard for the new owner of the villa, Hollywood heartthrob Brandon Logan. One part romantic comedy, one part cozy mystery, the first book in the Sweet Delicious Madness series was released March 21st.
*This guest post originally appeared on Dianne Harman's blog.
I am a happily married mother of two. Raised in Colorado, I was lucky enough to spend a couple of years of my life in Northern Italy. I graduated with an M.S. in math and economics from The Colorado School of Mines, and then promptly went to work on the Titan program for Lockheed Martin Astronautics.
I have to say, I worked on the more boring bits of rocketry, but the fun thing was we all got to wear shirts that said, "Actually, it is Rocket Science." Around the same time, I began working as a part-time professor of Economics and Statistics. Some people find these subjects a little dry, but I made my classes super scintillating by dressing up on occasion as Professor Trelawney form Harry Potter and trying to forecast the future. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be the next Carolyn Keene. When I was in third grade, I used to sit on the porch and read Nancy Drew in the morning, and then write my own mysteries in the afternoon. My characters in Sweet Delicious Madness are completely fictitious, but draw on people I met when I lived in Italy. For my first series I wanted to write a Cinderella story, I wanted to ask, what if a perfectly ordinary woman, flawed in many ways, messed up her life the first go around, but got a second chance to meet and fell in love with her own version of Austin's Mr. Darcy. And what if, along the way, she met and learned from other characters who surrounded her; characters that had quirks of their own - a women with a passion for animal rescue, an Italian housemaid who talks to the dead, and a curator of a museum who intimately knows the history of the stolen antiquities market. All of these items synthetized into the making of The Sweet Delicious Madness Series.
In 2015, I am busy tying up loose ends in the fifth book in the series, tentatively titled The Knotty Bride. I am also asking myself a new question: what if Arthur Pendragon had a daughter? I look forward to releasing my newest series, Magda Pendragon: Heir to Arthur in the coming months. Oh, and for the record, I was lucky enough to meet and marry my own version of Mr. Darcy on the first go round. We live our lives in the Colorado sunshine, with an ever-changing collection of adopted dogs and cats.
Connect with Julie:
Posted by A Blue Million Books at 12:00 AM No comments:
Labels: cozy mystery, Delicious, Julie Sarff, Madness cozy mystery series, Sweet, The Hope Diamond
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Cody Alan is the host and executive producer of CMT After MidNite, CMT Radio Live and CMT All Access. A respected veteran personality, producer and programmer in the broadcast industry, Cody's shows originate from Nashville and are broadcast on stations across America. Cody's shows feature the biggest names in country music and entertainment, and his wit, energy and charm shine with big star guests and live interaction with listeners. He brings fans unprecedented access to all things current in country music and entertainment in an environment that's genuine, unpredictable and fun. Dierks Bentley says, "Cody's show always feels fresh and current. Cody cares about country music's past and future, and has always worked to make his shows exciting, interesting and personal."
Named the Academy of Country Music's "National On-Air Personality" in 2013 and 2010, Cody also hosts CMT's weekly Hot 20 Countdown and #1 Music and a Movie, in addition to co-hosting CMT's annual red carpet special live from the CMT Music Awards.
After gigs in South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, Cody made it to the major leagues at age 23 when he landed in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. He's been honored at the Grand Ole Opry, featured in USA Today, GQ Magazine, People Country and Country Weekly; and has been seen on E! News, as well as HLN. Cody has been named Radio and Records Music Director of the Year five times, while Billboard magazine and the Radio Music Awards honored him with the annual title as well.
When not on radio or TV, Cody loves working out, running, watching reality shows, superhero movies, listening to all kinds of music, relaxing in the mountains, eating Mexican food and spending time with family and friends.
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Kacey Musgraves to Play Austin City Limits Music Festival
Kacey Musgraves is among the dozens of artists slated to play the 2019 Austin City Limits Music Festival. She's one of a handful of country and Americana acts set for the October event.
Tyler Childers and Asleep at the Wheel are two others listed on the poster. Headliners include Guns N' Roses, Mumford & Sons, Childish Gambino and the Cure.
The ACL Festival takes place over two weekends at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas: Oct. 4-6 and Oct. 11-13. Per her website, Musgraves will perform on Oct. 4 and Oct. 11, and the shows will be her last in the United States before she finishes the year in the Dominican Republic.
ACL Fest is another iconic festival date for Musgraves in 2019, all scheduled between her international Oh, What a World Tour. The Governors Ball in New York City, Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tenn. and Telluride Bluegrass Festival in Telluride, Colo. are three others she's playing. She'll also play Lollapalooza in Chicago on Aug. 4 and played Coachella in April. She last played ACL Fest in 2016.
It's been a banner year for Musgraves, as her Golden Hour won a triumphant number of awards in and out of country music, including Album of the Year honors at the ACM and CMA Awards and Album of the Year (all genre and in country music) at the Grammys. She also ended Miranda Lambert's streak of ACM Female Vocalist of the Year wins in 2019.
The 30-year-old Musgraves grew up in Golden, Texas, a four-hour drive northeast of Austin. Musically she's given no indication she is working on new music while touring, although several people have expressed an interest to collaborate with her and vice versa.
12 Country Ladies Who Are Changing Everything
Source: Kacey Musgraves to Play Austin City Limits Music Festival
Filed Under: Kacey Musgraves
Categories: Entertainment, Music News
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October 4, 1957 – Soviets Launch Sputnik 1
On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union upped the ante in the Space Race with the successful launch of Sputnik 1, the first Earth-orbiting artificial satellite. Blasted through the atmosphere from the Baikonur Cosmodrome aboard a two-stage R-7 rocket, Sputnik 1 was a 23-inch diameter, 184 pound, aluminum-magnesium-titanium sheathed sphere with two whip-like antennae. Powered by silver-zinc batteries, it entered a low, elliptical orbit emitting a radio signal which could be received on Earth by both Soviet scientists and the curious (and highly-alarmed) American public. Sputnik traveled 18,000 miles per hour, completing an Earth-orbit every 96 minutes. Radio transmissions continued for 22 days, until transmitter batteries were exhausted. The history-making satellite spent 3 months in orbit, traveling a total of 37 million miles, before burning up in atmospheric reentry on January 4, 1958.
While not able to conduct as many experiments as the Soviets had initially hoped, Sputnik was able to gather information during its three-month run concerning the density of the Earth’s upper atmosphere, radio-signal distribution in the ionosphere, and meteoroid detection by penetration of the satellite’s outer hull.
The successful launch of an artificial satellite was one of the primary goals of the International Geophysical Year (IGY), inaugurated on July 1, 1957. The Soviets had first proposed developing such a satellite on May 27, 1954, and President Dwight Eisenhower announced on July 29, 1955 that the United States would send their own version of the technological achievement into space during the IGY. But Sputnik took America and its government by surprise. Americans now had to take Soviet scientific abilities much more seriously. A sense of vulnerability to attack led to panic reactions by the public, as they listened in to Sputnik’s ominous “beep-beep” when it passed directly overhead. The US government responded with renewed commitment to scientific and technological research, and military and educational program revamping and investment. ICBMs, missile defense systems, and satellites were all placed on a developmental fast-track. After several failed attempts, the United States’ first successful launch of its own artificial satellite, Explorer 1, occurred on January 31, 1958.
Numerous references to Sputnik in movies, television shows, and pop songs have made the term part of the American cultural landscape. Replicas and models of the satellite can be found at the United Nations, the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, and the Science Museum in London.
Image Credit: NASA
Posted in Movies, Museums and Exhibits, Radio, Science & Technology, USA Government, World Events and tagged 1950s, 1957, Cold War, Explorer, International Geophysical Year, President Dwight Eisenhower, Race to Space, Soviet Union, Sputnik on October 4, 2018 by Jenny. Leave a comment
September 30, 1957 – Havana Gunfire Threatens Batista Loyalist
Members of Batista’s Servicio de Inteligencia Militar (SIM) security forces
On September 30, 1957, violence struck close to home for Cuba’s embattled President Fulgencio Batista as the New York Times reported that Luis Manuel Martinez, a leader in President Fulgencio Batista’s Progressive party youth movement, was the target of a shooting incident in downtown Havana. Unidentified assailants opened fire on a crowded street, killing a merchant named Sixto Careiro and wounding Martinez and two unnamed victims – a woman and a youth. The youth was arrested when a revolver was found in his possession.
Martinez worked as an assistant editor of the newspaper Tiempo, owned by Batista supporter Senator Rolando Masferrer. According to the Times, he was one of the most active propagandists of the current regime.
Batista, in an NBC interview with Martin Agronsky broadcast on the day of the shooting, reaffirmed for the American viewing audience that he would honor the provisions of Cuba’s constitution by stepping down the following summer, when free elections would be held.
Image Credit: Jim Hale/Arlequin’s World
Posted in Newspapers & Magazines, World Events and tagged 1950s, 1957, Cuba, Fidel Castro, President Fulgencio Batista on September 30, 2018 by Jenny. Leave a comment
September 29, 1957 – The Kyshtym Disaster
Map of the Mayak and Kyshtym area, USSR
On September 29, 1957, an explosion in a steel storage tank containing liquid nuclear waste led to the release of a massive 2 MCi of radioactive material in the eastern Ural Mountains of the Soviet Union. Spent nuclear waste generates heat, and when tank cooling systems failed, containment of the material failed and a non-nuclear explosion occurred on the order of 70-100 tons of TNT. The Kyshtym Disaster, as it came to be called, was the third worst nuclear disaster in history, dwarfed only by the Chernobyl reactor explosions and fire in 1986 and the Fukushima Daiichi multiple reactor meltdowns in 2011.
The incident occurred at Mayak, a nuclear fuel reprocessing plant sequestered in the closed city of Ozyorsk, near the town of Kyshtym. Within ten hours of the release, the radioactive cloud traveled 300-350 kilometers in a northeast direction. Fallout contaminated an area of approximately 800 square kilometers later called the East-Ural Radioactive Trace (EURT). Secrecy surrounding Mayak and its operations led to the suppression of information about the danger to the local population; it was a full week before people began to be evacuated, without explanation. According to an article in Critical Mass Journal by Richard Pollock, people “grew hysterical with fear with the incidence of unknown ‘mysterious’ diseases breaking out. Victims were seen with skin ‘sloughing off’ their faces, hands, and other exposed parts of their bodies.”
Knowledge about the event could only be gathered indirectly. An estimated 200 people died from cancer as a direct result of the explosion and release; massive amounts of contaminated soil apparently were excavated and stockpiled; and an off-limits “nature reserve” was created in the EURT to isolate the affected region. Studies of the effects of radioactivity on plants, animals, and ecosystems later conducted and published by faculty members of the Institute of Molecular Biology in Moscow eventually confirmed the rumors of a major radioactive release.
At the time, the Soviets were hurrying to catch up with American nuclear weapons researchers. In their desire to produce sufficient quantities of weapons-grade uranium and plutonium, they proceeded without full understanding of the safety measures necessary to protect citizens and the environment. Their lack of concern led to open dumping of highly radioactive waste into rivers and lakes. The level of radioactivity in the town of Ozyorsk is currently claimed to be within safe limits, but the “East-Ural Nature Reserve”, as the EURT was deceptively renamed in 1968, is still heavily contaminated.
Image Credit: Jan Rieke/NASA World Wind Screenshot
Posted in Science & Technology, World Events and tagged 1950s, 1957, nuclear weapons, radioactivity, Soviet Union on September 29, 2018 by Jenny. Leave a comment
September 14, 1957 – Cuban President Fulgencio Batista Faces Internal Opposition
Batista’s army executes a rebel.
On September 14, 1957, the New York Times reported that Cuban President Fulgencio Batista had recently suppressed a revolt in the town of Cienfuegos in which officers and personnel of his own Navy had taken sides with Fidel Castro against his regime. The previous day, Batista had announced that he would not be a candidate for reelection the following June (he was constitutionally forbidden to succeed himself) but that the suspension of civil liberties would be renewed for another 45 days.
The Cienfuegos revolt, crushed by Army tanks and aircraft, had been instigated by no more than 100 men, Batista claimed, including “a few dissident, illicit men in the Navy”. According to the Times article there were three sources of opposition to Batista: Fidel Castro’s M-26-7 movement; adherents of former President Carlos Prio Socarras, who was deposed by Batista in 1952; and a group of Opposition parties.
On this day, the Times reported that the island “was an armed camp”. Citizens were fearful of a breakdown of authority resulting in a state of chaos; merchants were losing business, tourism was down, businesses wanted to close but were not being permitted to do so by the government. Soldiers patrolled the streets, rounding up opposition figures, and the jails were full of people accused of revolutionary activities. Citizens had little faith in Batista’s government, but also little confidence that change could be achieved through peaceful means at the ballot box. The Times concluded that “despite the bloody revolt, the terrorism and other efforts of the Opposition to force President Batista out of office, he will undoubtedly continue to control the island as long as his Army, the most powerful branch of the armed forces, remains loyal to him.”
Image Credit: Imagno – Museo de la Revolucion, La Habana, Cuba
Posted in Newspapers & Magazines, USA Government, World Events, World Leaders and tagged 1950s, 1957, Cuba, Fidel Castro, M-26-7, President Fulgencio Batista on September 14, 2018 by Jenny. Leave a comment
Vintage 1957 – A Comedy Revolution
In the 1950s, stand-up comedy went through something of a revolution. In broad outline, comedy of the 1930s most often took the form of physical slapstick in the movies – think the Marx Brothers, Abbot & Costello, etc. In the 1940s, the rising popularity of radio broadcasts ushered in less physical and more verbal comedy. Bob Hope, Jack Benny, George Burns & Gracie Allen, and Henny Youngman all perfected the art of one-liners, story gags, and “groaners” (“I just flew in from St. Louis . . . and boy are my arms tired!” or “Take my wife . . . please!”).
Comedy in the 1950s turned topical. Journalist and author Gerald Nachman, who covered entertainment news for the New York Post, the Oakland Tribune, the New York Daily News, and the San Francisco Chronicle, shines a light on the shift in his 2009 book, Seriously Funny: The Rebel Comedians of the 1950s and 1960s. Nachman provides detailed biographies of 26 comedians, including Woody Allen, Mort Sahl, Lenny Bruce, Sid Caesar, Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart, and Steve Allen. Politics, sex, race relations, drugs, self-angst, pop media and celebrity, all were suddenly fair game for public airing, often in satirical or cynical ways.
How does comedy work? What makes us laugh?
Laughter can be cathartic. It can lighten our spirits in difficult times. The Great Depression and World War II of the 1930s and 1940s were dark times. People looked to comedy for relief from anxiety and despair.
But laughter also serves as a leveler. It can burst bubbles and open eyes, providing a wake-up call for others or for ourselves. It can be a subtle instrument or sharp weapon against complacency, pretension, self-absorption, mindless conformity, and attitudes of superiority and arrogance. It can slip in “under the radar” to powerfully say, “Take a look at yourself and your culture.”
The comedians of the 1950s – subtle or blunt – had new, sometimes uncomfortable things to say. And they were heard.
Image Credits: ABC Films; NBC Television; New York World-Telegram & Sun; Towpilot; Rollins & Joffe; Allan Warren; AP; Concord Jazz
Posted in Books, Comics and Humor, Movies, Newspapers & Magazines, Radio, Rich Or Famous, Television, World Events and tagged 1950s, 1957, Bill Cosby, Bob Hope, Bob Newhart, comedy, George Burns, Jack Benny, Joan Rivers, Lenny Bruce, Marx Brothers, Mel Brooks, Mort Sahl, Phyllis Diller, Sid Caesar, Steve Allen, Woody Allen on September 2, 2018 by Jenny. Leave a comment
September 1, 1957 – Gloria Maria Milagrosa Fajardo Garcia Born in Havana, Cuba
Embed from Getty ImagesGloria Estefan, with her husband Emilio, at the 2014 Tony Awards
On September 1, 1957, a baby girl entered the politically charged world of Havana, Cuba. Her father, Jose Fajardo, was a Cuban soldier and bodyguard to embattled President Fulgencio Batista. Her mother, also named Gloria, was the granddaughter of emigres from Asturias and Logrono, Spain. Baby Gloria was still very young when her family was forced to flee Cuba during Castro’s revolution, landing first in Lafayette, Indiana, then settling in Miami, Florida. Jose joined the United States military, served in Viet Nam, and eventually revisited Cuba as part of the Bay of Pigs invasion. Gloria attended Catholic elementary and secondary schools in Miami, and graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in psychology, minoring in French. During her college years, Gloria worked at the Miami International Airport in the customs department as an English/Spanish/French translator. She was approached by the CIA during this time as a possible employee, due to her language skills.
In 1976, Gloria met Emilio Estefan of the Miami Sound Machine and they married in 1978. Gloria joined Emilio’s band and during the mid-1980s the Sound Machine produced several Top-10 hits and released an album that went multi-platinum. In 1988, the band’s name was changed to Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine; in 1989, the band’s name was dropped and Gloria was credited as a solo artist with the Sound Machine as her backup.
In 1990, Gloria suffered a fractured spine when a semi-truck struck her tour bus. Two titanium rods were implanted near her spinal column and she recovered completely after a year of intensive physical therapy. She later formed the Gloria Estefan Foundation to help others with spinal cord injuries.
Over the years, Gloria Estefan has continued to record chart-topping hits, performed at the 1995 and 1999 Super Bowls and 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, toured the United States and the world, appeared in movies and on television, written children’s books, and become a restaurant and hotel owner. Her awards include seven Grammys, the Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor, the Hispanic Heritage Award, the 1993 National Music Foundation Humanitarian of the Year award, and she has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
A musical based on Gloria and Emilio’s life story premiered on Broadway at New York City’s Marquis Theatre in October of 2015. On Your Feet! shares the story “of two people who – through an unwavering dedication to one another and their pursuit of the American dream – showcased their talent, their music, and their heritage to the world.”
Posted in Music, Rich Or Famous, World Events and tagged 1950s, 1957, Broadway, Cuba, Fidel Castro, Gloria Estefan, Havana, Miami, Miami Sound Machine, On Your Feet!, President Fulgencio Batista on September 1, 2018 by Jenny. Leave a comment
August 22, 1957 – Two Americans Tried in Cuban Court
Who was Russell Masker?
On August 22, 1957, two American men were put on trial in Cuba for carrying unlicensed arms, resisting arrest, and attempting to join the resistance movement of Fidel Castro. The proceedings were held in the Urgency Court in Santiago, created in the 1930s to try terrorists. Russell F. Masker and Thomas M. Miller of Miami, Florida had been arrested on August 9th in the town of San Luis, about thirty miles from Santiago in Cuba’s southeastern Oriente Province, the locus of Castro’s M-26-7 activities. Masker and Miller denied the charges, asserting they had come to Cuba as tourists, had carried no weapons and had not resisted arrest. The New York Times reported that the Urgency Court could sentence the Americans to as much as five years in prison, with no guaranteed right of appeal.
Little is known about Russell Masker and Thomas Miller, either before or after their arrest and trial. Russell Masker makes an intriguing appearance in a Cuban Secret Service (G-2 MINFAR) document dated January 12, 1961. In a report to the secret service department chief, Commander Ramiro Valdes Menedez, about “yanki” (United States) mercenary camps in Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Florida, the following statement appears on page 25:
“Last November 22, the ‘Diario de las Americas’ reported the death of North American Russell F. Masker, victim of a stray shot from Cuban Rolando Martinez Capaneria during military instruction in a camp located in ‘Cayo Sin Nombre’, thirty miles from Cayo Hueso [Key West].”
The American-led Bay of Pigs Invasion against the Castro regime took place in April of 1961. Whose side was Masker on?
Posted in Newspapers & Magazines, USA Government, World Events, World Leaders and tagged 1950s, 1957, Bay of Pigs, Cuba, Fidel Castro, M-26-7 on August 22, 2018 by Jenny. Leave a comment
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Perkins Mansion - Akron Art Museum - Online Collection http://akronartcollection.org/media/Previews/JPEG_15/1987.18.jpg Perkins Mansion One of the most celebrated self-taught artists of the twentieth century, Hawkins spent most of his life in Columbus, Ohio. He focused his art on two main subjects: cityscapes and animals. This painting of the Perkins Stone Mansion was inspired by a postcard sent to Hawkins by Carol Friedman, a former docent at the Akron Art Museum. Using bright colors and broad, flat brushstrokes, Hawkins created an expressive representation of Akron’s historical and architectural landmark. While the building appears to be aflame, Hawkins’ turbulent sky is rather a result of his desire to explore color and reflects the nature of the thick enamel paint he used.
William L. Hawkins
(Union City, Kentucky, 1895 - 1990, Columbus, Ohio)
Perkins Mansion , 1985
42 in. x 46 1/2 in. (106.68 cm x 118.11 cm)
Purchased with funds from Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation, Contemporary Art Society of Akron, and Museum Acquisition Fund
surface detail
One of the most celebrated self-taught artists of the twentieth century, Hawkins spent most of his life in Columbus, Ohio. He focused his art on two main subjects: cityscapes and animals. This painting of the Perkins Stone Mansion was inspired by a postcard sent to Hawkins by Carol Friedman, a former docent at the Akron Art Museum. Using bright colors and broad, flat brushstrokes, Hawkins created an expressive representation of Akron’s historical and architectural landmark. While the building appears to be aflame, Hawkins’ turbulent sky is rather a result of his desire to explore color and reflects the nature of the thick enamel paint he used.
Carl Hammer Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
Purchased by Akron Art Museum, 1987
2015 - : Haslinger Galleries, 4/14/15 - , Akron Art Museum
2009 - 2011 : Haslinger galleries 12/14/09 - 11/6/11, Akron Art Museum
1997 - 1998: "A 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Collection" 11/15/97-1/11/98, Akron Art Museum
1996: "Faith, Face, and Form: Works in the Collection by African-Americans" 3/23/96 - 9/11/96, Akron Art Museum
1995: "Imagined and Observed: Representational Paintings and Drawings of the Past Five Decades" 4/29/95-10/15/95, Akron Art Museum
1991 - 1992: "Focus on the Collection: A 70th Anniversary Celebration" 11/3/91-1/5/92, Akron Art Museum
1990: "William L. Hawkins: Paintings and Drawings" 5/6/90-7/1/90, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH
1988: "Folk Art from Akron Collections" 1/9/88-4/3/88, Akron Art Museum
1986: "William Hawkins: Paintings" 10/17/86-11/18/87, Carl Hammer Gallery, Chicago, IL
Title, name and birthdate at bottom, in enamel
Perkins Mansion, 1985
Even those who have never seen Perkins Mansion would readily agree that William Hawkins's depiction of this Akron landmark is more about the nature of picture making and paint rather than the building's actual appearance. The mansion, completed in 1837 to house the son of one of the city's founders, is now the home of the Summit County Historical Society. Although Hawkins had never visited the site, he had a postcard view of it.1 Like many artists who work from printed images, he chose to use the photograph as a springboard for his imagination.
When this painting was made, Hawkins at age ninety was just becoming one of the most sought-after contemporary American self-trained artists—after over six decades of making a living driving delivery trucks, doing house construction and repair, and holding other such jobs around Columbus.2 In the 1930s, Hawkins had returned to a childhood hobby of making art as a means of supplementing his income, but he did not find his mature style or a national audience until 1981.3
Hawkins's economic situation had never allowed him the luxury of indulging in art purely for enjoyment, so he painted subjects he thought would sell, noting, "if you can't sell it, it isn't worth a damn!"4 Cityscapes, including "portraits" of individual buildings, represent about seventy percent of his output. Hawkins may have been motivated to paint such scenes by his firsthand experience of urban renewal and transformation—a major sociological phenomenon of his lifetime—or simply because he suspected that the pleasure of recognizing a well-known site might inspire a sale. His subject matter often allows viewers to "read" a work in different ways, just as his painting style allows certain latitudes of interpretation.
The printed illustration was for Hawkins a source of inspiration—a familiar tune upon which he could improvise his own riffs and harmonies, like a jazz musician. Perkins Mansion is typical in its flattening and abstraction of illusionistic, three-dimensional photographic space. Seen from the side, the house's main entrance, with its two-story arcade of white columns, has been transformed into a set of yellow stripes; the shadowed spaces between them have become black rectangles.
Most strikingly, Hawkins has changed the blue sky of the postcard image into a Jackson Pollock-like swirl of ominous clouds. From about 1981 to 1986, Hawkins painted on fiberboard panel laid flat on a table, a position that allowed such free-flowing swirl patterns. To form a smooth, glossy background, he poured his paint (usually enamel house paint) directly from the can, entirely covering the fiberboard. Next, he painted in silhouettes of the images; then he added details. He often painted back into areas of still-wet paint, as he did in the sky shown here.
Hawkins thought of his multicolored skies as realistic, though on a different level than the instant of reality captured by a photograph. Hawkins told an interviewer that "the sky got a million, trillion different colors. Sometimes it's silver, next time it's red, if the sun is way over. . . . You walk under that sky and it's all kinds of color."5
Added to Perkins Mansion, as to all of Hawkins's paintings, are reminders that these are created images; here we see a painted border or "frame," a title, and a signature with birthdate and birthplace. To him an image was "real" if it had the ability to attract the viewer's eye and interest. "Real" art, to Hawkins, was taking the commonplace—fiberboard, house paint, and a picture postcard—and making something extraordinary.
- Barbara Tannenbaum, 2001
1. The card was sent to Hawkins by former Akron Art Museum docent Carol Friedman, who was corresponding with the artist about an exhibition of his work in Akron.
2. Most of the biographical information here is derived from two essays on Hawkins by Gary J. Schwindler, who interviewed the artist extensively and is preparing a monograph on him. See Columbus Museum of Art, 5–10; and Schwindler (1991), 40–45.
3. In 1981 Hawkins befriended a young Columbus artist, Lee Garrett, who suggested that he work larger, use color photographs as well as black and white for inspiration, and paint on fiberboard instead of paper and cardboard scrounged from trash heaps. Garrett also brought Hawkins's work to the attention of the art world, first in Ohio and then in New York.
4. Schwindler, in Columbus Museum of Art, 8.
5. Gary Schwindler, "William L. Hawkins: Myth in the Making?" Dialogue 11 (July/August 1988): 13.
Columbus Museum of Art. Popular Images, Personal Visions: The Art of William Hawkins 1895–1990. Columbus, Ohio: Columbus Museum of Art, 1990.
Rosenak, Chuck, and Jan Rosenak. Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century American Folk Art and Artists. New York: Abbeville, 1990.
Schwindler, Gary J. "William Hawkins, Master Storyteller." Raw Vision 4 (spring 1991): 40–45.
Text in art
Artists of African Descent
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The Mooseman completes journey onto consoles
Written by Todd Rigney — August 4, 2018 at 11:21
Not every game requires loads of comedy, action, or witty dialogue. Sometimes an adventure can be laid back, quiet, and thoughtful. Indie developer Morteshka's atmospheric The Mooseman aims to provide just such an experience, arriving on consoles now after its release on PC last year.
The Mooseman is the mystical journey of shaman who has "the ability to see all that is hidden to the mortal eye." Our hero's journey will take him through three worlds inspired by Finno-Ugric culture: the Middle World (for mortals), the Upper World (for the gods), and the endless ocean known as the Lower World, a place where the dead dwell. In his travels, the shaman will uncover ancient secrets, artifacts, and mysteries dating back to pagan times. He'll also face a few challenging riddles, which you'll need to solve to learn more about the world's myths and unlock abilities needed to ascend to the Upper World.
Visually inspired by the "Perm animal style", a type of ancient Russian artwork that dates back to 4th century BCE, and accompanied by atmospheric Komi folk music performed by the Perm regional college of arts and culture, The Mooseman has the look and feel of a 2D side-scrolling adventure title in the vein of Limbo and INSIDE, though without the platforming elements of those games. According to Morteshka, the experience is best described as a "solar myth depicting the journey of the Mooseman – half-god, half-human."
Originally conceived as a runner for a 2015 game jam, designers Vladimir Beletsky and Mikhail Shvachko realized the genre couldn't properly support the story they wanted to tell, so they continued work on it – including visiting museums and speaking with historians and scientists – until finally realizing their new vision for the game and releasing it on Steam for Windows, Mac and Linux in 2017. For those who prefer their gaming on consoles, you’re in in luck, as The Mooseman has now been ported to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Details on The Mooseman
Morteshka
Adventure games by Morteshka
The Mooseman 2017
Long ago the world was created out of an eggshell by a god named Yen.
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World::
North Africa & South West Asia::
BY Stuart Littlewood
After 70 Years of Abuse, A Definition of Anti-Palestinian Racism
Is this where the fight-back begins?
What is the matter with the Palestine solidarity movement? Since 1948 (and before that, even) the Palestinians have been viciously abused and dispossessed while the perpetrators and their supporters, including unprincipled politicians of the Western Powers, have continually played the anti-Semitism card.
Lately, bemused spectators were bored witless by the long and ludicrous propaganda campaign to vilify Jeremy Corbyn, bully the Labour Party into making the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of anti-Semitism a cornerstone of their code of conduct and stifle discussion of Israel's crimes against the Palestinian people. The expected riposte never came.
Jewish Voice For Labour, of all people, have now stepped in and struck back with a useful looking definition of Anti-Palestinian Racism which they decribe as "hatred towards or prejudice against Palestinians as Palestinians". In a document faintly mocking the pronouncements on anti-Semitism they suggest that manifestations of anti-Palestinian racism might include the denial of Palestinian rights to a state of Palestine as recognised by over 130 member countries of the United Nations and blaming Palestinians themselves for their plight under brutal military occupation and lock-down. Here's how they put it:
Contemporary examples of anti-Palestinian racism in public life, the media, schools, the workplace, and in the religious sphere could, taking into account the overall context, include, but are not limited to:
1. Denying the Palestinian people their right to self-determination and nationhood, or actively conspiring to prevent the exercise of this right.
2. Denial that Israel is in breach of international law in its continued occupation of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
3. Denial that Israel is an apartheid state according to the definition of the International Convention on Apartheid.
4. Denial of the expulsion of 750,000 Palestinians during the 1948 Nakba and of their right, and the right of their descendants, to return to their homeland.
5. Denial that Palestinians have lived in what is now the land of Israel for hundreds of years and have their own distinctive national identity and culture.
6. Denial that the laws and policies which discriminate against Palestinian citizens of Israel (such as the recently passed Nation State Law) are inherently racist.
7. Denial that there is widespread discrimination against Palestinians in Israel and the Occupied Territories in matters of employment, housing, justice, education, water supply, etc, etc.
8. Tolerating the killing or harming of Palestinians by violent settlers in the name of an extremist view of religion.
9. Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Palestinians — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth of a Palestinian conspiracy to wipe Israel off the map.
10. Justifying the collective punishment of Palestinians (prohibited under the Geneva Convention) in response to the acts of individuals or groups.
11. Accusing the Palestinians as a people, of encouraging the Holocaust.
I am not sure how Palestinians, as genuine Semites living there for thousands of years, will react to No.5 which claims their homeland is "now the land of Israel". Despite being illegally occupied by an apartheid entity most of whose members have no ancestral links to the ancient "land of Israel" it is still Palestine.
Making Peace: Israel/Palestine
Miko Peled: The State of Israel Will Crumble and We Will See A Free Democratic Palestine from the River to the Sea Sooner than Most People Think
New Laws Make Israeli Apartheid Official
What a Difference a Few Kilometers Can Make
For decades activists have been telling the Israel lobby to look in the mirror and address their own racial hatred towards the Palestinians. You must truly hate people to deny them their freedom and even their right to return to their homes and livelihoods. Why has it taken so long for such a simple and obvious weapon to be produced? Doesn't it make you wonder about the true agenda of those in charge of Palestine solidarity? And why is it left to a group of Jews (bless 'em) to do it?
The question now is how best to deliver this somewhat delayed riposte. It might have been most effective while the iron was hot, at the height of the anti-Semitism witch-hunt and media onslaught. Many activists wanted Corbyn to turn on his tormentors and tell them to mend their own vile attitude towards Palestinian Arabs before daring to smear others with accusations of anti-Semitism.
On the other hand it will benefit from careful honing, cool planning and the massing of pro-Palestinian support to make the hit really count.
For reasons we know only too well our politicians won't adopt it as eagerly as they embraced the IHRA's definition of anti-Semitism. But it is at least a starting point in the fight-back especially if deployed by a coalition of genuine pro-Palestine groups and the BDS movement as the centrepiece of a new, high-octane strategy.
Lies, damned lies....
Meanwhile I hope all those who allowed themselves to be suckered by the Israel lobby will hang their heads in shame when they read this report by the Media Reform Coalition: Labour, Antisemitism and the News - A disinformation paradigm. The Executive summary says that an analysis of over 250 articles and news segments from the largest UK news providers (online and television) showed:
• 29 examples of false statements or claims, several of them made by anchors or correspondents themselves, six of them surfacing on BBC television news programmes, and eight on TheGuardian.com
• A further 66 clear instances of misleading or distorted coverage including misquotations, reliance on single source accounts, omission of essential facts or right of reply, and repeated assumptions made by broadcasters without evidence or qualification. In total, a quarter of the sample contained at least one documented inaccuracy or distortion.
• Overwhelming source imbalance, especially on television news where voices critical of Labour’s code of conduct were regularly given an unchallenged and exclusive platform, outnumbering those defending Labour by nearly 4 to 1.
In all, there were 95 clear-cut examples of misleading or inaccurate reporting on mainstream television and online news platforms, with a quarter of the total sample containing at least one such example. On TV two thirds of the news segments contained at least one reporting error or substantive distortion.
The report points to "a persistent subversion of conventional news values". Furthermore, coverage of Labour’s revised code of conduct during the summer of 2018 often omitted critical discussion of the ‘working definition’ of anti-Semitism promoted by the IHRA and wrongly described it as universally adopted. "We established through background case research that although the IHRA is an international body with representatives from 31 countries, only six of those countries have, to date, formally adopted the definition themselves.
• In spite of a call for local authorities to adopt the definition by the UK’s central government in early 2017, less than a third of councils have responded and several of those have chosen not to include any of the controversial examples contained within the working definition.
• Several high-profile bodies have rejected or distanced themselves from the working definition, including the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency (a successor to the body that drafted the original wording on which the definition is based) and academic institutions including the London School of Economics and the School of Oriental and African Studies.
• Mainstream academic and legal opinion has been overwhelmingly critical of the IHRA definition, including formal opinions produced by three senior UK barristers and one former appeals court judge. Virtually none of this essential context found its way into news reports of the controversy. Instead, the Labour Party was routinely portrayed by both sources and correspondents as beyond the pale of conventional thinking on the IHRA definition."
Which all goes to show that Britain's mainstream media has a hill to climb to get back its self-respect.
Stuart Littlewood
Stuart worked on jet fighters in the RAF. Various sales and marketing management positions in manufacturing, oil and electronics. Senior associate with several industrial marketing consultancies. Graduate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (MInstM). BA Hons Psychology, University of Exeter.
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Owen Jones has made a short video discussing Labour’s crisis over anti-semitism. There are some good elements to it, not least the warni...
By Jonathan Cook
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monthly diary
Let in the Light! (March 2018)
In March, the nursery really comes alive. Last year was no exception. Since I’ve been helping with the Instagram account I’ve come to know many of our plants well. I also know Nigella the cat, so I continue to post pics of her because she’s now retired, but more on that soon…
In March the flowers begin to burst in the display garden, and inside the greenhouses, many plants begin to grow rapidly. At this point I don’t have to look for seeds much so I’m an observer. Typically, we’re potting plants up like crazy so it’s nice to have a little break.
From there we take the freshly prepped babies into the greenhouses to continue their growth. When they look especially lovely, flats are moved to retail. That’s where the lovely plants come from, and it’s amazing how much work it takes to keep this cycle going. Working at a nursery has really taught me to respect all of the work done by those who run small specialty nurseries. It doesn’t get more artisanal or bespoke than this… Handcrafted plants. That really should be a thing.
Back at home, I continued to play with houseplants, and I watched many of my own plants grow from seed. Seeds were sown, plans were made, and I worried…
It was time to take down the multi-headed Doug fir, and just like that, before I knew it, it was gone…
The process was quick and honestly painless. I think one paver was broken but I chose not to move it so it wasn’t an issue. It was no big loss because I barely noticed. Suddenly, the south side of the house was flooded with light.
The house and garden felt very different. It has taken months for me to adjust to the change. I’m used to it now but it’s been quite a shift.
Felix Freedom Fridays began in March and I started to take Felix places that month. All year he made frequent visits to Xera Plants with me and this was the first of the season. He loves to meet his friends there, although sometimes he’s a bit distracted by the noises of the city.
That was also the month when Greg from Xera Plants had an Open Garden. I decided to walk over for the physical therapy and I didn’t stay long. It was pretty though but I think that day I was still fairly stressed out about the tree removal. (It hadn’t happened yet.)
On the way back I stopped to admire this kinda fun house near mine. It looks like it could be pretty amazing with a little bit of work. The plants that are there at least fit the look. I’d never seen the house before and thought it was kind of interesting. Part of me would love to have a second story patio like this. I think they’re fun in the city. My favorite bloom that month was definitely my houseplant Huernia zebrina and I still need to propagate this beauty.
Tags Doug fir removal, Felix the Great, monthly diary
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