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Russian Destroyer Almost Collides With US Navy Ship
June 7, 2019 News Daypop
A U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser was forced to execute emergency maneuvers on Friday after a Russian destroyer came within several yards of the American ship, the U.S. Navy said.
The U.S. 7th Fleet said the Russian destroyer put the safety of the USS Chancellorsville and its crew at risk, forcing it to reverse all engines at full throttle to avoid a collision.
Earlier in the week, a U.S. Navy surveillance plane was buzzed by a Russian warplane.
Russian ship nearly collides with U.S. warship in Philippine Sea
Via www.nbcnews.com
Earlier this week, a Russian aircraft intercepted a U.S. aircraft three times in just three…
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Religious denomination among the Unaffiliated who say government aid to the poor does more harm than good by views about same-sex marriage
Religious denomination among the Unaffiliated who say government aid to the poor does more harm than good by views about same-sex marriage (2014) Switch to: Views about same-sex marriage among the Unaffiliated who say government aid to the poor does more harm than good by religious denomination
% of the Unaffiliated who say government aid to the poor does more harm than good who are…
Views about same-sex marriage
African Methodist Episcopal Church
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
American Baptist Churches USA
Apostolic Pentecostal (Evangelical Trad.)
Apostolic Pentecostal (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Christian Reformed Church
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Church of God of the Apostolic Faith
Churches of Christ
Community Church (Evangelical Trad.)
Conservative Baptist Association of America
Conservative Congregational Christian Conference
Eclectic, a bit of everything, "I have my own beliefs"
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
Foursquare Church
Free Methodist Church
Free Will Baptist
General Association of Regular Baptist Churches
Independent Baptist (Evangelical Trad.)
Independent Baptist (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)
Interdenominational (Evangelical Trad.)
Interdenominational (Mainline Trad.)
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Missionary Baptist (Evangelical Trad.)
Missionary Baptist (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)
National Baptist Convention
Nondenominational charismatic
Nondenominational Christian (Evangelical Trad.)
Nondenominational evangelical
Nondenominational fundamentalist
Nondenominational Pentecostal (Evangelical Trad.)
Nothing in particular (religion important)
Nothing in particular (religion not important)
Orthodox Church in America
Other Adventist (Evangelical Trad.)
Other Baptist (Evangelical Trad.)
Other Baptist (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)
Other Baptist (Mainline Trad.)
Other Congregationalist (Evangelical Trad.)
Other Congregationalist (Mainline Trad.)
Other Episcopalian/Anglican (Mainline Trad.)
Other Holiness (Evangelical Trad.)
Other in the "Unitarian and other liberal faiths" family
Other in the New Age family
Other Lutheran (Evangelical Trad.)
Other Lutheran (Mainline Trad.)
Other Metaphysical Christian ("Other Christian" Trad.)
Other Methodist (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)
Other Methodist (Mainline Trad.)
Other Mormon
Other Nondenominational (Evangelical Trad.)
Other Nondenominational (Mainline Trad.)
Other Orthodox Christian
Other Pentecostal (Evangelical Trad.)
Other Pentecostal (Historically Black Protestant Trad.)
Other Presbyterian (Evangelical Trad.)
Other Presbyterian (Mainline Trad.)
Other Reformed (Evangelical Trad.)
Other Reformed (Mainline Trad.)
Other Restorationist (Evangelical Trad.)
Other Restorationist (Mainline Trad.)
Others in "Other Christian" Tradition
Pagan or Wiccan
Pentecostal Church of God
Pentecostal Holiness Church
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Progressive Baptist Convention
Russian Orthodox
Spiritual but not religious
United Pentecostal Church International
Wesleyan Church
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Learn More: Nothing in particular (religion important), Nothing in particular (religion not important)
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View All Books, Music and more
Maps, Atlases, Travel Guides
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Home > Books, Calendars, Maps, Movies, Music And More > Books > History > World War II >
And I Am Afraid of My Dreams
Availability:: Currently Unavailable
In February 1941, Wanda Półtawska was arrested by the Gestapo. She was nineteen years old. Charged with aiding and abetting the resistance movement—a heinous crime in Nazi-occupied Poland—she was sent to the notorious Ravensbrück concentration camp.
Originally written nearly fifty years ago, this powerful story is an enduring testament to the courage of the human spirit.
And I Am Afraid of My Dreams is Półtawska’s account of the four years spent in the camp, where the prospect of death, whether from starvation, exhaustion, or summary execution, was a daily reality. Wanda was used as one o the camp’s “guinea pigs” and became a victim of cruel medical experimentation by Nazi doctors. Many of her friends died or were left with horrific physical and psychological injuries as a result of these experiments. Wanda bravely faced each day and pledged to become a doctor if she ever got out alive.
Wanda Półtawska became a doctor after World War II and went on to study psychiatry and specialize in the treatment of juvenile patients, including the deeply-traumatized “Auschwitz Children.” She worked in the psychiatric clinic of Krakow’s Medical Academy and at Jagiellonian University in Poland. She was also a close friend and advisor to Pope John Paul II, serving on the Papal Commission on Family Matters. Married with four daughters, Półtawska resides in her native Poland.
Mary Craig is an experienced journalist, broadcaster and highly-acclaimed author. Her best-selling autobiography Blessings is an inspirational account of raising two handicapped children. She has also authored biographies of Pope John Paul II and Lech Wałesa.
Size 5.5" x 8.5" - 14cm x 21.5cm
The Ghetto Men: The SS Destruction of the Jewish Warsaw Ghetto April-May 1943 No Greater Ally - The Untold Story Of Poland's Forces In World War II Inside A Gestapo Prison - Letters of Krystyna Wituska 1942-1944 The Krakow Ghetto Pharmacy
Internet Special $43.76
Polish Air Force 1939 Through German Eyes Vol. I The King Of Children - The Life And Death Of Janusz Korczak The Polish Armor Of The Blitzkrieg The Mermaid and the Messerschmitt: War Through a Woman's Eyes, 1939-1940
Books, Calendars, Maps, Movies, Music And More > Books > History > World War II
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“No Complaints”: An Interview with Pete Best, the Original Drummer of the Beatles
Zachary Stockill
Despite missing out on being one of the Fab Four, Pete Best is as happy as ever: "I have no complaints, I’ve enjoyed life. Wouldn’t change anything."
Randolph Peter Best cuts an unassuming figure onstage. Wearing a white moustache, a frizzled taft of white hair, a boyish grin and drooping eyes, today he looks more like a retired auto mechanic than a former Beatle. Still, watching him perform at a tiny music club in a suburb of Santiago, Chile, one couldn’t help being moved by his affection for live music, the apparent zeal with which he plays the drums, and his almost-embarrassed response to the crowd’s adulation. His humility makes it clear that he is no rock star, which is a big reason why Pete Best is so easy to like.
Best has experienced both incredible highs, and devastating lows over his 72 years on this planet, but you wouldn’t necessarily know it by speaking with him today. Offstage he is soft spoken, friendly and just a little bit guarded; he describes himself, above all else, as a simple “family man". When he opened his mouth to answer my questions, revealing an unmistakeable Liverpool accent, I couldn’t help but think: “He really sounds like a Beatle.” But at the same time Pete Best is obviously not a Beatle – lacking the swagger, ego, and commanding presence common to each of his famous former bandmates.
Between 1960 and 1962 Pete was the drummer of a well-travelled, but so far mostly unsuccessful British rock and roll act called variously Johnny and the Moondogs, The Silver Beetles, and, finally, The Beatles. For over two years he held the beat for John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison in dank clubs in the red light district of Hamburg, Germany, playing marathon sets to audiences consisting mostly of strippers and sailors. After honing their craft in Germany, the band returned home to Liverpool where they soon became the city’s top-drawing act, acquiring a ravenous local fan base in the process. And then, one August afternoon, on the cusp of the band’s ascendancy to national stardom, John, Paul, and George instructed Beatles manager Brian Epstein to fire Pete and replace him with a different Liverpool drummer named Ringo Starr. And just like that, Pete was no longer a Beatle, in the process becoming forever confined to the footnotes of rock 'n’ roll history.
The reasons for the Beatles’ dismissal of Best have always been unclear. Some suggest that Pete had fallen out of favour with the rest of the band on account of his introversion; others claim that Ringo was simply a better drummer; some even claim that John and Paul were insecure about Pete’s good looks and popularity with the fans outshining their own. Whatever the reason, on the eve of Beatlemania, Best suddenly found himself to be out of work, missing out on perhaps the greatest party of all time in the process.
In the months and years that followed, John, Paul, George, and Ringo would ascend to previously-unimagined levels of global fame, wealth, and commercial and critical success. Shortly after they sacked Pete, the Beatles achieved the impossible: they became even bigger than Elvis, an insane pipe-dream for the youngsters while sweating it out in Hamburg just a couple of years before.
Following his dismissal from the Beatles, Best tried to make a name for himself in music, but found limited success. Eventually, he returned to Liverpool and settled into a career as a civil servant; he wasn’t playing on the Ed Sullivan Show or rubbing shoulders with the Queen, but at least he could pay the bills. And then, after shying away from the spotlight for 20 years, in the late 1980s Pete began to play various Beatles-related engagements. Rediscovering his passion for live performance in the process, the drummer soon founded his own Pete Best Band, and has toured all over the world for the past three decades.
Backstage in Santiago, I was curious to get to know Pete the human being, as opposed to Pete the ex-Beatle. How does a man cope with such unimaginable disappointment? How does a musician come to terms with losing one of the most coveted gigs of all time? How does someone deal with what I assumed to be a lifetime of incredulous “What if’s?”
I found many of the answers I’d been looking for when I sat down with Pete following his performance. As songs from his old friend Lennon emanated from nearby speakers -- “(Just Like) Starting Over,” “Imagine” and others -- I discovered a man not defeated by bitterness and disappointment, but hopeful about the future, and genuinely content with a life devoted to family, and the music he loves.
Some of the songs you played tonight you played in Germany with the Beatles over 50 years ago. What’s it like playing those songs again?
You still get a buzz from them, because at the end of the day they were great rock 'n’ roll songs. Some of them I haven’t played for 50 years; you get a buzz off it simply because of the fact that it’s part of your heritage. People expect it from you. And you enjoy playing it... Chuck Berry, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, Ray Charles... I could go on and on. They were our heroes, so to keep them still alive even though it’s under the pseudonym of “The Beatles,” it’s still the old rockers from way back. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be here.
So [those old songs] still feel fresh?
Oh, very much so. It’s a little bit like the audience makes it fresh. You may have played the song 50 times, but you still enjoy playing it when the enjoyment comes from the audience, and the adrenaline keeps flowing. It’s a good night... very simple.
You didn’t play very much for a while in the '60s and '70s. What made you want to start playing for people again?
I’d been asked for many years to get up and play so people could see what I could do, and see who this guy was... "This mysterious guy who used to play with the Beatles." [laughs] And I kept turning them down. Then, in 1988, I got asked by the people running a Beatles convention in Liverpool, and I couldn’t get out of it... So I said “OK, let’s get it over and done with.” I picked some friends from the old days, and my younger brother [to play with], and said “Let’s have some fun. It’s going to be a one-off [performance]. Let’s just go out and show ‘em what we could do.” And we did, and the audience went wild. Absolutely wild.
My mother was there that particular night because it was the first time that she’d seen her younger son and her elder son playing onstage at the same time. And when I finished she turned around and said “Pete, you don’t know it but you’re going to be going back into show business.” To which I laughed, and said “No, it’s only a one-off.” And here I am, 30 years afterward! [laughs]
So she was right.
Yeah, she was right.
When I was watching you play tonight, you looked like you were having a lot of fun. I found it inspiring.
If you can’t have fun, then don’t go back on the stage. It’s as simple as that. Simple rule in music: people feel what you’re presenting onstage. And if you’re not enjoying yourself, it comes out in the music. No matter [if] you try to disguise it.
At the end of the day you wouldn’t be where you are without that audience, and you have to thank them for it. The only way you can thank them is [by] making sure your performance is 100%. Simple rules.
What do you see your future looking like? Do you have plans?
When you reach my age... [laughs] you still have plans, but they’re not long-term. I still want to continue playing music, and bringing enjoyment to crowds. I have no ambitions to get a record in the charts or anything like that. My mission is to bring enjoyment to fans, and I enjoy playing music to them, and I’ll continue doing that.
Away from the public, I’m a great family man. And as much as I tour, I love going back home again. I have a wife who I idolize, been married to her for 50 years. I have grandchildren who I idolize as well, two beautiful daughters. It’s nice for me to go back home, and spend time with them.
Have you let go of any disappointment you had about the original disagreement with [the Beatles] in 1962? Is there any lingering bitterness there?
There never was any [bitterness]. Bitterness is a word the media picked up. There was anger and there was resentment because of what happened and the way it happened, because of the way I contributed to the band, but bitterness, no.
It’s like anything else, if you carry it with you, you’re going to end up a bitter and twisted old git. And there’s no need for that. I’ve enjoyed life. There came a time when I was like “Fine. It’s not about thinking about what happened yesterday, it’s about today and tomorrow.” And I think once you come to terms about yourself, then you realize that there’s so much more that your future holds for you, as opposed to your past, that you’re striving for.
My life since then had ups and downs; it hasn’t been a perfect life. But when I look back on it now, I wouldn’t change it. I’m happy, I’m healthy, I have a great band which tours the world. I’m a great family man, I love meeting people, I love laughing and joking with them. I’m still in show business, which I didn’t expect to be.
But maybe my karma; it’s a word we use, being born out east [Author's note: Best was born in British India, and lived there until the age of 5]. Karma’s a word we use an awful lot. Maybe my karma turned ‘round and said “Your time will come some time in the future.”
I have no complaints, I’ve enjoyed life. Wouldn’t change anything.
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Scientists Found a 'Lost' Continent in the Indian Ocean
The continent broke off of Pangaea and sank into the ocean, but there's still some evidence remaining on at least one island.
By Avery Thompson
Wits University
More than 500 million years ago, all the land in the world was made up of two supercontinents, Gondwana in the southern hemisphere and Laurasia in the north. The two supercontinents briefly combined to form Pangaea before breaking up into the continents we know today. Gondwana split up and became South America, Africa, Antarctica, Australia, and the Indian portion of Asia, as well as a number of smaller islands in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.
But it turns out, that's not the complete picture. New evidence collected by a group of scientists from Wisz University and the German Research Centre for Geosciences shows that there was another continent adrift in the Indian Ocean, but most of it sank beneath the waves.
The researchers collected samples of the mineral zircon, which can be used to calculate the age of rocks, from an island off the coast of Madagascar called Mauritius. While most of the island is younger than 9 million years, the researchers found some samples that were more than 3 billion years old.
The researchers concluded that the samples were from a part of Gondwana that no longer exists. The 'lost' continent was named Mauritia, and the researchers believe that more pieces of the continent can be found on other islands in the area.
This discovery changes how scientists believe Gondwana fractured into today's continents around 200 million years ago. Instead of a simple splitting of the supercontinent, the existence of Mauritia proves that Gondwana underwent a much more violent splitting, with many smaller pieces of the landmass left floating, and eventually sinking, into the Indian Ocean.
Source: Wits University
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Thompson Rivers University offers a wide range of programs across the spectrum of post-secondary studies, including degrees, diplomas, and certificates.
Students find diverse paths to learning at TRU.
“We want our graduates out in the world adept at managing complexity, tolerating ambiguity, making connections, asking critical questions—and when we give students opportunities to learn in different spaces, they have a chance to develop those abilities throughout their learning career here and beyond.”
tracy penny light, executive director of cseli
It’s a given: life is messy, plans change, and adaptability is as important as being prepared. At Thompson Rivers University, students are empowered to build on their backgrounds and perspectives, to create their own unique paths to learning. To expand their horizons and to prepare to make change in the world.
By pursuing a wide range of hands-on experiences that go beyond the bricks and mortar of a campus, students can apply their learning in ways that develop problem-solving and communication skills, support their career goals, and fit their lifestyles. The routes to learning include co-op, undergraduate research, study abroad and ePortfolios to name a few.
Supporting the diverse pathways of learners as they approach their education and as they move through it is at the heart of TRU’s approach. The hub of that approach is the Centre for Student Engagement and Learning Innovation (CSELI).
“Anytime we can give students opportunities to participate in different learning experiences, and help them to clearly articulate what it is they learned and how it connects or transfers to other contexts, we foster the development of the kind of skills and abilities we want our 21st century graduates to have,” says Tracy Penny Light, executive director of CSELI.
Showcase learning
Bachelor of Education student Ashley Nordin recounts her learning path to a teaching career—from math courses and practicum experiences to WolfPack athletics curling and volunteering—in an online ePortfolio, which she can share with potential employers and new education students.
About putting her ePortfolio together Nordin says, “I think the athlete in me is always reflecting, always trying to get better.” She applied the same logic to evaluate the classroom management strategies she learned. “I critically looked at what works, and then by allowing other people to see that portfolio page, they can see strategies to take into their own classrooms.”
Blend work, study and family
Business Administration student Katherine Ancheta sees the direct benefit of being involved. During a co-op term as the web and events assistant at TRU’s Wellness Centre she learned how to promote health and wellness services on campus. The experience prompted her to add marketing to her program as a minor.
In addition to classes, work and volunteering on campus, Ancheta is a single mom. “I was balancing a lot of different things,” she says. Completing some of her courses through Open Learning was one way she found more time at home with her toddler.
Kenna Sim travelled to the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine for an anthropology field school in the first year of her sociology major. She followed that with two semesters abroad in Poland in third year.
“In Poland I was taking master’s courses in international relations,” she says—learning which inspired a new direction for grad study. She obtained TRU’s unique Global Competency credential this past year, and is working with a sociology professor to complete an undergraduate research project on interculturalization this fall.
Penny Light is excited to help Sim relay her experiences in study abroad, a co-op at Royal Inland Hospital Foundation, and her undergraduate research into an ePortfolio that will help her showcase herself to prospective graduate schools.
“At TRU we are committed to allowing students to develop their own learning pathways—we want them to learn where they’re at. We celebrate that, we value it,” says Penny Light. “We’re still small enough that students can access all of these opportunities pretty easily. Regardless of where you’re at in your learning career, you can be empowered through learning in these different contexts. That’s what really sets us apart.”
Contact Thompson Rivers University
admissions@tru.ca
900 McGill Road, Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8
Connect with Thompson Rivers University
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Canadian Electrolysis College
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Child Protection in Travel and Tourism
Partners and Donors
Najat Maalla M’jid appointed UN Special Representative on Violence Against Children
Ms. Najat Maalla M’jid of Morocco has been appointed a Special Representative on Violence Against Children at the level of Assistant of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, which was announced on 30 May.
A medical doctor specialized in paediatrics, Ms. M’jid has devoted her life over the last three decades to promoting and protecting children’s rights. She was also an expert-consultant for national and international projects, strategies and policies relating to the promotion and protection of child rights.
Ms. Najat Maalla M’jid chaired the High Level Taskforce on Child Protection in Travel and Tourism from 2015 to 2018. The Taskforce guided the development of the first Global Study on Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tourism that turned out to be a model for multi-stakeholder cooperation.
She provided guidance for the implementation of the recommendations of the Study and fostered leadership that resulted in a global commitment to prioritize action that protects children in the travel and tourism sector.
See here for the Call for Action from the first International Summit on Child Protection in Travel and Tourism.
Tourism boom in Uganda driving demand for orphanages and putting children at risk of sexual exploitation The 49th Asia Region Law Enforcement Management Program (ARLEMP) opened with a focus on measures to prevent transnational child sexual exploitation
The Code of Conduct
Costa Rica: A Sustainable Tourist Destination Committed to Protect Children
protectingchildrenintourism.org
Copyright © ECPAT International.
All rights reserved. Designed by PAPER & PAGE.
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Maison de vacances: 350 m2
10 Capacité
A partir de 4 619 €
Maison de vacances de luxe avec piscine et vue mer à Théoule-sur-Mer
Location pour 10 personnes
Vue fantastique sur la mer depuis la piscine
Grande villa située à Théoule-sur-Mer avec vue mer panoramique sur la baie de Cannes. La propriété est située à 10 mètres au-dessus de la Méditerranée et à seulement 400 m du centre de Théoule-sur-Mer. La propriété possède un jardin de 300 m2, parking pour plusieurs voitures, piscine privée et terrasse avec mobilier de jardin.
La villa est sur trois niveaux et comprend: cuisine, salle à manger, salon, 4 salles d’eau avec douches, 2 salles de bains avec baignoire (une avec hydro massage), 6 chambres avec un total de 6 grands lits et 2 lits simples et 3 toilettes - un pour chaque étage. 4 des chambres ont un balcon avec vue mer.
Chauffage de la piscine: en savoir plus.
Catégorie de maison: villa
Vue vers: Mer
Chambre 1 (A/C) :
1 Chambre (A/C)
3 Toilette(s) séparée(s)
Ville la plus proche : 0,4 km
Nice, 35 km
Cannes, 8 km
Piscine 6,5 x 4,5 m
Profondeur: 0,5 - 2 m
Chauffage piscine (environ + 7 ° en avril, mai, juin, septembre et octobre. Cependant, avec un maximum de 27 degrés).
Climatisation dans toutes les chambres
Chaîne stéréo
31 27/07/2019 17 171 €
1 28/12/2019 7 263 €
Durée de location minimum 2 sem. (Juillet/Août)
EDF & EAU
1,23 € Par personne Par jour
Antibes was founded by the Greeks under the name Antipolis ”the town across from” which means across from another Greek town, Nikaia, - today’s Nice. Unfortunately there’s nothing remaining from that early period, apart from a few objects that can be found at the town museum. With the arrival of the Romans, a very important town was established...
Auribeau-sur-Siagne is a typical, medieval village with narrow streets and old stone houses. There is an abundance of flowers in all colours and their perfumes fill the air. Apart from a walk in the old town, it is recommended to go down to the river on the south west side of the village, but note that the climb up can be pretty tough. A nicely...
Biot is a very popular medieval village which actually dates back to 154 B.C. Biot is also an ancient “Knights of the Temple” domain and you still find old fortifications like Porte des Migraniers from 1566. Despite the fact that Biot is often overrun by tourists in the high season, it keeps its natural charm with its medieval gates, vaulted...
The fortified Haut-de-Cagnes lies at the top of a small mountain. The town is broken up by steep, winding streets, stairways and lots of small, idyllic squares. Haut-de-Cagnes is most interesting because of the old Grimaldi castle from the 14th century. In the square in front of the palace there are several cafés and night clubs and it can be...
Cannes has, actually, only a few sights. Primarily there is, of course, the exceptionally well known La Croisette with its palm trees, expensive restaurants and designer shops, and the very famous hotel Carlton, which has been frequented by a far larger number of celebrities and royalties than any other hotel in Europe. Then, there is the...
Eze is without any doubt one of the most picturesque spots on the Côte d’Azur, and for this reason you must be prepared not to be the only one climbing up to this fabulous mountain village. Crowds are the price to pay for this experience, if you are not in the fortunate position of being able to come out of season. At the summit of the village...
Gattières is an old village with charming medieval streets, small flowery squares and beautiful old fountains. There are old vaulted houses, full of charm and neatly restored facades and gates from the 18th century. One can also find local arts and crafts: silk painting, sculptures, joinery and wrought iron. Gattières is surrounded by a big...
Grasse does not give the feel of a pure tourist town. It is not the souvenir shops that dominate in Grasse. The old city, vielle ville, is big, old and utterly interesting. The streets still appear as in the Middle Ages – narrow passages and stairways, narrow, dark tunnels where the sun never breaks through. If you live in Grasse or near Grasse...
The beach in Juan-les-Pins is narrow but very pleasant. There are lots of shops, restaurants, nightclubs and a casino. The town is seething with excitement in the summer and especially at night time, mostly for young people. It is most lively around the casino, which dates from1908, Palais des Congrés, and the pine grove, Pinedès, which leads...
Château de Marquis de la Gaude, which earlier was a ruin, is now completely restored. This impressive building dominates the whole village but unfortunately it is not possible to get inside as the château is privately owned. Take a walk in the town’s narrow streets and you will discover its beautifully restored pretty facades. La Gaude is a very...
Le Rouret is surrounded by olive groves, pines and cypresses, a real Provencal village, which has retained part of its old stone houses. The village has a square, lined with plane trees, where there is also a church with a free standing bell tower, a fountain from 1851 and a fine little chapel, now transformed into a dancing hall. Le Rouret is a...
Menton has a great many beautifully restored old buildings. An example is the colourful buildings around Place Ardoino including the town hall, Hotel de Ville. The old city, Vieux Menton, has an attractive pedestrian area – full of boutiques and cafés and with a magnitude of small narrow alleys and coloured houses. I f you have had enough of...
This village surprises you with its charm, its beautiful well-restored houses and impressive gates, and its abundance of flowers everywhere – here lots of care has been given to every detail. Mougins has, actually, seduced numerous painters, artists and other celebrities including Picasso (who spend the last 15 years of his life here), Cocteau...
Nice has for centuries been a favourite holiday resort and the city has attracted kings and princes from all over the world, a fact, testified to by the city’s many luxury hotels. In the beginning of the 19th century ”an English colony” flourished, English aristocrats flocked to the coast and ”colonised”, so to speak, most of the coast. It was...
Originally, Roquefort-les-Pins was a fort and thereafter a fief. Roquefort-les-Pins is not a real town, more a conglomeration of small villages separated by beautiful vegetation and pine forests. There are no real attractions in Roquefort-les-Pins, but the quality of life, on the contrary, is superb in this Mediterranean area which offers all...
Baou de St. Jeannet looks incredibly steep and unapproachable, but it is actually possible to climb it. From its top there are great views of the French and Italian Alps. The enormous cliff massif has attracted a great number of artists including Renoir, Poussins, Fragonard and Chagall. St-Jeannet lies on a natural terrace, from where there are...
St-Paul-de-Vence is said to be France’s most visited tourist attraction after Mont St.-Michel. St-Paul-de-Vence is one of the most beautiful and picturesque villages in the area. It is also one of the medieval villages, most intact. Everything is so well kept. Nothing falls into decay. It is overwhelming. St-Paul-de-Vence is enclosed by town...
Théoule-sur-Mer has several attractions. There is, for instance, a former soap factory which is now transformed into a castle and an entire quarter of bowl-shaped luxury villas, designed by the Hungarian architect Antti Lovag. These villas consist of a system of mutually combined bowls with cylindrical corridors, oval door openings, doors of...
On l’appelle "Cité des Violettes" car ici on cultive cette petite fleur depuis presque un siècle. C’est aujourd’hui encore une des principales activités du village. Chaque année en mois de mars une fête est organisée en son honneur avec corsos fleuris et batailles de fleurs. Tourrettes-sur-Loup est un village médiéval fortifié. Il se découvre en...
The old part of the town has retained its medieval character, but is also very lively. In contrast to most of the other villages in the hinterland of the coast, the streets are laid in symmetrical rectangles, according to Roman traditions and plans drawn by the monks of the Lérins islands. Valbonne is enclosed by fortified houses. There are four...
Vence is a picturesque old cathedral town, set on a hilltop at 400 metres altitude. It is well protected to the north by 1000 meter high mountains. Five gates lead into Vence’s medieval quarter. The oldest and most impressive is Porte de Peyra, from the 14th century. Having passed through this you will arrive at Place du Peyra, the town’s most...
Villeneuve-Loubet is especially well-known for being the chef Auguste Escoffier’s (1847-1936) native town. Auguste Escoffier was chef at the Grand Hotel in Monte Carlo and at the Savoy in London, and it was he who created the Bombe Néro and the Pêche Melba. He has his own museum in Villeneuve-Loubet with exhibits of 5000 menu cards from big...
Additionally, Mandelieu-la-Napoule is a fantastic starting point for walking and hiking tours into the Esterel Mountains, Gorges du Verdon and, of course, to the southern Alps. Mandelieu-la-Napoule has one of France’s oldest golf courses, Cannes-Mandelieu Old Course, a very interesting golf course with a nice and original club house - and also...
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FEATURE: The rise of pay-for-play
June 14, 2004 by Matthew Creamer
The debate about product placement in print media is heating up.
The July/August of Islands magazine, a service-oriented travel glossy full of breathtaking vistas of tropical destinations, features a pullout article about Hawaii's local food scene. In many ways, the article - printed on quality paper that the magazine's upscale readership can keep - is an advertiser's dream. But the idea for the packaging did not come from the magazine's advertising side. It came from its editors. With the coverage of Hawaii's boutique farms, restaurants and food festivals already in hand, those who marshaled the story into print wanted to figure out a way to, as editor-in-chief Lisa Gosselin puts it, "enhance our relationship with readers." "On the editorial side," she says, "we wondered if there's an advertiser who would like to overprint this. We ended up going to Aloha Airlines and they decided to sponsor the back of the page, which will allow us to pay for heavier stock and make it a pullout. And they will overprint it and use it for their customers." She adds, "We're not writing about Aloha Airlines. We're not writing about anything we weren't writing about anyway, but we are trying to make it a more useful story for the reader and broaden the audience." The development of this Islands story is decidedly not an instance of pay-per-play, but instead an example of how a back-and-forth between the editorial and business sides can work to further the creative and commercial quality of a publication. It also demonstrates how much the barrier between those two sides, often described as church and state, has been whittled away - and how that's not necessarily a bad thing, despite all the media interest in the issue. Much of the coverage, in publications from The Christian Science Monitor to Advertising Age, has framed explorations of the state of church and state as investigations into whether the most extreme manifestations of the loosening of the editorial-business divide - namely, product placement deals wherein a company, usually an advertiser, pays for placement in editorial content - are becoming commonplace in magazines. While publishing and marketing observers disagree on just how common these deals are, they concur on one point: that publishers and magazine sales staff are now under increasing pressure to think beyond old vehicles like ad pages and advertorials. "Publishers are much more willing to go the extra mile and explore things they might not have explored three or four years ago because they've been hurting," says Tony Silber, managing partner of M10 Report, whose online and print publications cover the magazine industry. "And marketers, to their credit, are always looking for new ways to connect to [current] and potential customers." Says Kim Olson, director of brand PR for General Mills, "It depends on the magazine and publisher, but I see much more openness to [product placement] now than there ever has been before. Where it used to be church and state, there is much more of a willingness to come together and at least discuss it - not always a willingness to do, but a willingness to discuss." Impact on PR pros If it were to become de rigueur, straight-up payment for editorial placement could have major implications for the way magazines are consumed and, by extension, for the marketing efforts, including PR, that go on in between the covers. Like any journalistic outlet, magazines are important to PR pros because of their credibility with readers, who visit them with the presumption that editors and writers are bringing a critical mindset to articles and that they're not influenced by commercial pressures. As a result, many PR experts share magazine editors' distaste at the notion of tainting editorial space with marketing pushes. "No editor I work with would put something in editorial columns that's a pay-for-placement because they'd lose the trust of the reader," says Lauren Swartz, media relations manager for New York-based agency M. Booth & Associates. "The line between editorial and advertising should be clear." "I feel the same way about product placements in magazines as I do in television and movies," says Al Ries, author of The Fall of Advertising & The Rise of PR and, more recently, The Origin of Brands. "I think they destroy the trust that readers and viewers have with the articles or programming." Trust is a word that comes up often in discussions of the marketing effects of product placement. Though magazines are highly valued as marketing vehicles, the public's trust in the media is always low, a trend that hasn't been helped by newspaper scandals at The New York Times and USA Today. That, coupled with magazines' ever-increasing editorial pushing of product, perhaps reaching its apotheosis in shop- ping magazines like Condé Nast's Lucky and Cargo and in the growing availability of custom publications, could do further damage, rightly or wrongly, to that trust. And pretty much everyone agrees that the concept is integral to the role of magazines in society and to the industry's success as a business. "The best thing you can do for an advertiser is to have strong editorial," says Islands' Gosselin. "That means that the readers believe the magazine, they trust it, and they think that it's an authority. Anything that erodes that is equally damaging to the advertiser as it is to the reader. Advertisers are essentially buying the relationship that the magazine has with the reader. If that relationship isn't strong, a reader is going to be less likely to pay attention to the advertising in that issue." The same goes for the companies and products that appear in the editorial space, which is part and parcel of the job for PR. It begs the question: If indeed marketers and advertisers are pushing hard to extend their reach into editorial spaces, traditionally the realm of PR people, shouldn't they try to carve out a role for themselves here? After all, PR people often worry about getting left behind in the marketing mix and having their roles reduced to mere traditional media relations. Wouldn't product placement offer an opportunity to do more integrated work? There are at least two ways to answer this question. For Ries, who has written much about the role of PR versus that of advertising, it's a firm "no." "There is another reason why I think that PR people should avoid pushing for concepts like this," he says. "In my opinion, when a client, or its PR agent, 'pays' for something, it's advertising. PR is all about enlisting the support of independent, objective, third parties. Paying for product placement puts PR people in the same boat as advertising." General Mills' Olson's answer is a bit more complex. "Everything we're being asked to do as marketers is about surrounding the consumers," she says, "and we all know you have to hit them not only once but in five different ways. An ideal program has your PR, advertising, and promotions hitting them several different times on the same messaging. If product placement in magazines helps us surround the consumer, I think that's wonderful. Anything that makes the integration of marketing services easier and make more sense is going to positive." Then, she adds, "A caveat is that it could undermine PR's greatest selling point, which is third-party credibility. We're going to have to be careful about that and we're going to have to be champions of our craft to make sure we're not compromising what ends up being our biggest selling point." Olson points to television as a possible analogy that demonstrates how product placement can devolve from a smart way to get a brand in the public eye to just another way of uselessly saturating consumers with empty messaging. "You had some very skillful things done in the early day," she says. "Where the brand made sense you had some very nice placements. But as you got into reality TV, with smaller and smaller budgets, you have hour-long shows that are commercials for products - whether it's The Restaurant with American Express or American Idol and Coca-Cola. With those things, you have to walk a fine line. The magazines are behind where the television shows have already gone and can learn from the experiences there because at some point you're going to turn off your consumer." Outlets for product placement Hard-news titles will be less likely to entertain product-placement deals than will entertainment-focused publications. Silber says that's the way it's always been. "Product placement is certain magazines is as old as the hills, if you look at shelter magazines or fashion magazines or teen magazines," he says. "If you look at shelter magazines, they are going to have advertisers' products in their decorated spreads of homes." It's worth noting that it isn't just publishers' and advertisers' bottom lines that determine how far marketers will go in pushing the boundary of the church and state divide. The American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) polices the line. ASME posts editorial guidelines on its website that, among other things, mandate that editors have final say over editorial content and that advertising be clearly labeled as such. "If anyone violates [the guidelines] willfully and egregiously, we will kick an editor out of ASME," says executive director Marlene Kahan. "But we haven't done this yet." A violating publication could also be deemed ineligible for the National Magazine Awards. Despite the media attention to the issue, Kahan is optimistic that editors will stand firm in maintaining their product's integrity. "The pressure is not that intense yet, but, depending on the economy and how advertisers view things, that could change," she says. "I think people put more trust in what they read in magazines and, we're guessing here, but I don't think readers will welcome it."
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Tips for Following Through on New Year's Resolutions
Setting realistic goals is the key to following through, according to a psychology professor at DePaul University. (USA-Reiseblogger/Pixabay)
HELENA, Mont. – It's the time of year for resolutions, but the question is how do folks make sure they'll follow through?
Joseph Ferrari, a psychology professor at DePaul University in Chicago, has a few tips for making good on goals this year.
Ferrari, who studies chronic procrastinators, says perhaps the most important piece of advice is coming up with a realistic resolution instead of something big. Otherwise, people could be setting themselves up to fail.
"The problem people have is they set such superhuman goals that when they fail, they think they're subhuman,” he explains. “But no, we're human, and human means we're going to make mistakes."
Ferrari also suggests coming up with a goal that benefits other people rather than just yourself. Mid-year goals might be useful as well.
Ferrari’s tips have been gleaned from research into chronic procrastinators, which he says make up 15 to 20 percent of the population.
As can be the case with people who have unfulfilled resolutions, Ferrari says chronic procrastinators are good at coming up with excuses. But he says persistence is the key to achieving one's aspirations.
"So you wanted to lose weight,” he states. “You ate the jelly doughnut, you ate a half a box. Great. That's life.
“Now the question is what are you going to do moving forward? Are you going to eat the other half, or are you going to say, 'Now I'm going to cut back and try again?'"
Ferrari says social media is a powerful tool for holding folks accountable to their resolutions. He suggests posting on Twitter or Facebook even modest goals, such as walking four blocks.
"Ask your friends, 'Hold me accountable,” he urges. “’Contact me tomorrow to see if I did it.' Well, you'll get people that will ask you, 'Did you do it?'
“You see, you're much more likely to do something if other people know that you're going to do it."
Eric Tegethoff, Public News Service - MT
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Apartment Rental Demand Soars as More Millennials Believe it’s Cheaper than Owning a Home
Article originally posted on HERE on July 8, 2019
In the D.C. suburb of Chevy Chase, Maryland, a massive apartment rental and condominium complex is going up, and apparently it can’t happen fast enough. Demand for rental apartments in and near cities across America is soaring, just when most thought it wouldn’t be. The expectation was that rental demand would fall as millennials aged into their homebuying years.
Apartment demand in the second quarter of 2019 spiked 11% from a year ago. That, in turn, pushed rents up an average 3% nationally to $1,390 per month, according to RealPage, a real estate software and analytics company.
“Demand is proving especially strong in this year’s primary leasing season,” according to RealPage’s chief economist, Greg Willett. “Solid economic growth is encouraging new household formation, and rentals are capturing a sizable share of the resulting housing demand. At the same time, loss of existing renters to home purchase remains limited relative to historical levels.”
Despite the increase, a record 82% of renters say renting is more affordable than owning, according to a new survey from Freddie Mac, up from 67% just a year ago.
“Affordability remains the essential factor when it comes to determining whether to rent or purchase a home, and the cost of housing is having a significant impact on households of every age, size and location,” said David Brickman, president and CEO of Freddie Mac. “For millennials and many Gen Xers, buying a home is no longer just a decision based on housing and housing costs — increasing pressure from student loans and the rising cost of child care are having a significant impact.”
Rental demand is currently highest in the nation’s largest cities, with Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, Houston, New York City and Washington, D.C., leading.
“The metrics that we’ve seen this year have been off the charts,” said Toby Bozzuto, CEO of The Bozzuto Group, which currently has over a billion dollars worth of residential, Class A construction in the works across the North and Southeast. Bozzuto’s Chevy Chase development will offer 530 residential units comprised of 466 apartments, 64 condominiums and over 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurants. It is also connected to a metro rail line, which is exactly what today’s renters — both millennials and downsizing baby boomers—want.
“I think millennials ultimately aspire to have homes. I think it’s still the American dream, but I call it the dream deferred and it’s deferred because of student loans, the lack of having a large amount of equity, and they also enjoy flexibility versus fixity,” said Bozzuto. “This is a generation that likes a sharing economy. They use Uber instead of their own car, so apartments appeal to their needs, flexibility and their desires.”
Apartment construction began booming in 2014, and hasn’t pulled back much despite concern that lower mortgage rates would push renters to buy. There is still a lot of new product in the pipeline, which does pose a risk to developers, especially as construction costs rise and a slowing economy makes it harder to raise rents.
While apartment construction is booming, single-family home construction is not. Homebuilders are still underbuilding for the amount of demand, blaming high costs for land, labor, materials and regulation compliance. A shortage of affordable existing homes for sale in the last several years has pushed prices into the overheated range.
The shortage began to ease slightly in the past year, but seems to be worsening again. The inventory of homes for sale fell in June annually, the first such drop in 10 months, according to Redfin. That may be because a sharp decline in mortgage rates caused homebuying to surge in the late spring.
“The only issue is that as rates go down you still have low inventory and that’s going to limit sales, so prices are going to go up, sales will not be as strong,” said Glenn Kelman, CEO of Redfin, in a recent interview on CNBC.
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Lincoln Property Company Signs WageWorks as 1st Tenant at Union
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Home Features Business
‘Sandy’s House’ honors late Lighthouse Recovery director
by Casey Hamilton
Wednesday, December 12th, 2018 11:46 pm
in Business, Community, News
Photo by AP Imagery
Many people choose to make a difference in their time here on Earth. But when Sandy Rich passed away in November, at the age of 70, she had turned her own hardships into hope, not only for herself, but for many others. In doing so, she left behind an enduring legacy that continues to grow.
As director of Lighthouse Recovery Services, Sandy had been with the organization since its infancy. She even worked without pay for the first 10 months in order to keep the facility up and running. Even though she liked to have fun and cut up with everyone, “when it came to recovery it was time to get serious and save a life,” according to Becky Hamilton, a former participant under Sandy’s directorship and now a supervisor at Lighthouse.
As a matter of fact, all staff at the center are in recovery, including Sandy before her death. She was on her 29th year of sobriety when she passed away, according to her daughter, Jenny Lindsey.
“Lighthouse was almost a bigger part of her family than her children,” says Lindsey. “I can’t express how much that program meant to her.”
It was because of this that Lindsey and her sister, Kim Hartz, requested donations to Lighthouse in lieu of flowers for their mom’s funeral services.
“Sandy had a heart of gold — she cared about everyone who came through that door,”
said Tony Boykin, also a supervisor at the facility.
However, as a female director in an all-male facility, Sandy had to ensure rules were followed. Sometimes to get the men’s attention, “Sandy would take a baseball bat and slap it on the table,” according to Tony, adding that, despite her tough exterior, everyone knew she cared and was always in their corner. Tony said Sandy was well-respected by him and the other participants.
Hamilton said Sandy was “the lifeblood” of Lighthouse, adding that Sandy impacted countless lives by going out of her way and always doing more than her job required.
“She was passionate about recovery and didn’t sugarcoat it,” Hamilton said. “She was always our friend but would give us a kick in the butt if we needed it.”
Even after her retirement in 2014, Sandy remained active in Lighthouse by teaching classes, counseling with participants and attending fundraisers.
Lighthouse Recovery Services’ mission is to provide a chance for someone with substance abuse issues to change their life through safe housing, a twelve-step recovery program and a life skills curriculum.
Originally, Lighthouse served both men and women in separate housing facilities, but when they moved to their current Hall Street location, which consists of just one building, a co-ed living situation was contradictory to the program’s mission. Since then, the program has only been able to serve male participants.
But that will soon be changing due to the addition of “Sandy’s House,” a housing facility that will serve females only. The house will be able to serve up to 9 women at a time, and, according to Hamilton is necessary due to a shortage of women’s recovery facilities in our area. Construction on the house has begun right across the street from the current Lighthouse location.
Lindsey said her mom would be “beyond honored” to have the new house named after her.
“She was so excited about talk of building a women’s house, and she probably thought it was a long time coming,” Lindsey said.
Sandy knew that when it came to recovery, “You have to ‘give it away to keep it,’” and that sharing her story of recovery was the only way to help others through the same process, according to Hamilton.
“Lighthouse is her legacy,” Hamilton said.
New Day Treatment Center location celebrates with ribbon cutting
OCTC surgical technology program receives 3rd consecutive award
Casey Hamilton
Casey Hamilton was born and raised in Owensboro. She, her husband Rob, and children Addison and Jack enjoy being involved in the community they love.
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Broker Search
Vail - 230 Bridge Street
Cell970.390.8808
Direct970.390.7632
Make Me Your Preferred Agent
Since teaming up over 16 years ago, Steve and Hillary McSpadden have helped over 1,000 individuals, couples, and families realize their dreams of living in the mountains either part-time or full-time. The majority of their business has come from repeat customers and referrals to which the McSpadden’s credit their responsive service and infectious passion for the Vail lifestyle.
Steve has resided in the Vail Valley for over 40 years. Launching his real estate career in 1980, he then operated a successful real estate and property management company for 20 years. Steve’s long-standing relationships and abundant knowledge of the Vail Valley and its history make him a tremendous resource to his clients. In her own right, Hillary has contributed to the wide success of two real estate companies, growing one of them from $10 million per year in sales to over $100 million as its Managing Broker. Her negotiating skills and detailed expertise with contracts are two of her specific skills that balance and compliment Steve’s.
As the principle listing brokers on the Landmark Residences, a luxury development in Lionshead Village, the McSpadden’s successfully marketed and sold over $30 million of discretionary real estate during the toughest economic period in Vail’s history. They were resilient and creative in their efforts to preserve the value of the prominent slope-side property. That approach played a part in Hillary being selected to the competitively chosen team of listing agents for The Lion, Vail’s only new luxury development. In their first 3 months on the team they closed nearly $40 million in residential condominiums at the exclusive property.
Both collegiate athletes, Steve ski raced at the University of Colorado and Hillary played Division I tennis. Originally from southern California, Hillary moved to the Vail area in 1991 with a degree in International Business from the University of San Diego and an MBA from the University of Denver.
Steve and Hillary’s combined experience and business savvy creates a dynamic partnership which offers a range of services that can only be achieved with their team approach. In addition to performing at the highest level in real estate sales, the McSpadden Team is backed by the success and marketing reach of Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate, the largest producing real estate company in the Vail Valley with nearly 50% market share.
Docs & Links
141 E Meadow Drive # 4b Ea
4 Beds 4 Baths 2,530 +/- SqFt
3797 Lupine Drive
East Vail
6 Beds 5.5 Baths 5,284 +/- SqFt
Open Wed 07/24 | 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
217 W Beaver Creek Boulevard # e33
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Like Trump, Brazil's Bolsonaro Makes it Clear: If We Want To Avoid Catastrophe, Socialism is the Only Way
By Petr Knava | Think Pieces | October 29, 2018 |
And so it has finally happened. After an election campaign that proved akin to watching a bloody car crash in painful slow motion, last night the people of Brazil elected far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro to the highest office in the land, with the fringe senator winning fifty-five percent of valid votes, over ten points ahead of his opponent, Fernando Haddad of the Workers’ Party. It is a political storm of terrifying consequence that is no less harrowing for how predictable it has proven to be. When the fifth most populous nation on Earth elects a fascist there is scant comfort to be found in analysis, but nevertheless the question hangs heavy in the air, and so we must ask ourselves, honestly and critically: How did it come to this?
Perhaps it’s best to start with where exactly it is that we have ended up. Who is Jair Bolsonaro? Where does he come from, and what does he represent?
Jair Messias Bolsonaro is a six-term federal congressman from Rio de Janeiro and a member of the Social Liberal Party—a small, obscure party that began life in the mid-90s with policies relatively true to its name. Bolsonaro, a former army officer and Rio city councilor, did not start out in the Social Liberal Party, however. A member of the Social Christian Party since 1990 when he was elected a federal congressman under their banner, he only jumped ship to the SLP in January of 2018. Bolsonaro’s time in the Brazilian Congress was marked not by legislative success but by angry rhetoric and fiery counter-establishment sentiment. His joining of the SLP led directly to the resignation of most of the party’s liberal and progressive cohort, with the remainder aligning itself with Bolsonaro’s brand of far-right chauvinistic nationalism. Bolsonaro’s move to the party would also be used to announce the beginning of the congressman’s presidential campaign. His slogan: ‘Brazil above everything, God above everyone.’
Brazil’s system of government is complex. The country is a federal republic consisting of 26 states plus the capital-housing federative unit that is the District of Brasília. Each state has its own legislature and governor. The national legislative body is the National Congress, itself composed of the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate. The country has thirty-five political parties, and the number of seats in the Chamber of Deputies allocated to each state is based on that state’s population, with the members for each state being elected by proportional representation. It is through this legislative morass that Jair Bolsonaro crawled his way to the top. His rise, however, would have been impossible were it not for a series of factors that bear striking similarity to the ones that allowed someone like Donald Trump to become President of the United States, and that are enabling a wave of emboldened right-wing political movements across the globe.
Broadly speaking the factors are:
1) An angry, desperate disaffection with a status quo that is designed to empower capital while reducing the agency of labour to a minimum.
2) An at-best toothless and at-worst complicit political ‘alternative’ represented by, for example, the Democrats in the U.S.
3) A cynical rerouting of that anger towards the most marginalized and vulnerable by extremist right-wing movements tapping into anti-establishment rhetoric.
4) A compliant media providing uncritical coverage and tacit support to these extremist movements.
5) A clever manipulation of the internet and social media by the extremist movements.
It varies from place to place, but in each country that has elected a right-wing extremist in recent years—whether it be Bolsanoro in Brazil, Trump in America, Orban in Hungary, Salvini in Italy, Duda in Poland, or Duterte in the Philippines—the situation has roughly followed those steps. These authoritarian strongmen do not emerge from a vacuum. Like the rise of Hitler and the Third Reich in the 1930s, they are movements tapping into very real economic anger, and using that anger to seize power by blaming a variety of marginalized communities for their country’s woes. They whip up endemic social diseases like xenophobia, sexism, racism, and any and all others in order to create a climate of hatred and fear which helps bolster their support as they convince people that they are the only viable solution to their nation’s ills.
Like most of Latin America, Brazil’s present-day situation is impossible to untangle from the centuries of colonial subjugation it suffered at the hands of a European power, as well as from the more recent decades of neo-colonialism and Chicago school economics practiced by the United States and supranational financial organizations like the IMF and the World Bank that it has been subjected to. Spain and Portugal brought with them onto the continent not just organized European religion, but a pseudo-feudalist, hyper-exploitative, extractive capitalist system which utilised native indigenous labour as well as forcibly imported African slave labour in order to fund economic booms back home in Europe, and which in the process also deeply entrenched class divides into the New World, with fault lines of privilege running starkly alongside racial delineation. Latin America remains a profoundly racist place. Brazil is an incredibly ethnically diverse country, with just under half of its population being classed as ‘pardo’—a rather broad umbrella term for people of mixed heritage—but there can be no mistake as to where the power lies. As with the majority of Latin America, in Brazil the politics, industry, and the media are all overwhelmingly white enterprises.
Despite this ethno-hegemony, however, there have been remarkable strides made. Under the leadership of the immensely popular Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (known popularly as ‘Lula’) the Workers’ Party of Brazil (Partido dos Trabalhadores, or just ‘PT’) used its time in power in the 2000’s to achieve some truly remarkable transformative changes. Millions were lifted out of poverty, advancements were made in LGBTQ+ rights, and indigenous causes made headway. Lula’s hugely popular first administration would be succeeded by a more fraught second one, and then by one headed by his Chief of Staff, Dilma Vana Rousseff. Her leadership would see further championing of progressive causes, but it would also see—as did Lula’s second term—mass protests at a perceived lack of action on a variety of issues, from economic inequality to social unrest and violence.
Because Lula and Dilma, popular and effective as they were, had two huge challenges to face. It is arguable that despite the gains they made they did not ultimately rise to meet these challenges, with the end result being Bolsonaro’s catastrophic victory. The first was the task of rooting out historic and systemic corruption within the Brazilian political system. The systems and inequalities left behind by colonisers and military dictatorships have a habit of sticking around despite best efforts to get rid of them, and people’s memories are much shorter than are the lifespans of these intransigent systems. ‘Corruption’ was one of the key words utilized by Bolsonaro’s highly effective campaign against his Workers’ Party rival, much the same way as Trump’s ‘swamp’ analogy. The second challenge came from the finance world. Lula and Dilma did not go far enough in keeping the forces of Brazilian and international finance and industry from interfering with the country’s politics. Diplomatically, and foolishly—especially from Lula’s second administration onwards—they tried to meet finance and industry in the middle, assuming that they would be met in good faith. Finance and industry meanwhile could of course not countenance compromising with a party which had a strong socialist streak running through it. The elites would obstruct, sabotage, and run roughshod. Over the decade and a half of PT’s stewardship of Brazil, these grievances against the party’s compromises and failures—some perceived, some legitimate—would lead to a wave of discontent with PT rippling through Brazil.
The most immediate cause of Bolsonaro’s victory, however, was not one that could be laid at the feet of PT, but rather the capitalist, oligarchic sectors of Brazil. In 2016, with PT’s popularity at an ebb and sensing an opening, right-wing senators launched impeachment proceedings against President Rousseff that amounted to an illegal, nakedly opportunist judicial coup. (It should also be noted here that had former president Lula been allowed to run against Bolsonaro, it is overwhelmingly likely that he would have won. This despite the wave of discontent against PT and the endless right wing campaign against him. It was made sure however that he would be in prison on corruption charges and so unable to run.) Rousseff was removed from office and a right-wing technocrat called Michel Temer was installed in her place without an election (Temer faced questions over very similar impropriety accusations to the ones that were used to depose Rousseff but who was nevertheless the establishment’s man when it was needed and thus it wasn’t a problem for his presidency). Left-wing commentators at the time called it what it was: A capitalist coup that would send the country down a dark path. Sure enough, Temer would preside over a country of rapidly escalating violence and crippling government-imposed austerity and neoliberal economics and his popularity would plummet. In 2017 his approval rating was at 7%. The country had had enough. Much the same way as the United States was—after decades of cross-party neoliberal consensus—primed for a populist candidate, so too was Brazil in 2018 just waiting for someone to rail against the establishment.
Here the similarities between Trump and Bolsonaro continue. Both were, by most measures—wealth, connections, careers—members of their country’s establishment, but who had been just enough on the fringes of the dominant political establishment that they could semi-plausibly rage against said establishment. In times of desperation, semi-plausible is often enough. Bolsonaro, with his colourful rhetoric, had been a guest on talk shows. His voice was seen as a worthwhile addition to national discourse. The hosts have since publicly said they regret giving him such a platform. As previously mentioned, both Trump and Bolsonaro couched their campaigns in anti-corruption rhetoric, but in order to bolster their support they also relied on far more incendiary, hateful rhetoric so as to rile up the ever-present hatred of ‘the other’ that exists in society. Here, though, Bolsonaro makes even the hateful and dangerous Trump seem like a man carefully measuring his words. Brazil was ruled by a military dictatorship between 1964 and 1985. That regime, due to the scale of its brutality not quite comparing to something like Pinochet’s Chile, is often not talked about quite as much, the horrors of its years de-emphasised with the passage of decades. Despite that whitewashing, it was an awful and regressive, murderous, regime, the scars of which are still very much visible in Brazil. Dilma Rousseff was an activist during the dictatorship and she was famously imprisoned and tortured continuously for days on end by the regime. One of Bolsonaro’s key talking points is his fondness for the days of dictatorship. The others sit at the crossroads of nationalism, authoritarianism, violence, misogyny, racism, homophobia, transphobia, and anti-environmentalism.
This is just a selection:
“I am in favor of a dictatorship, a regime of exception.”
- Open session of the Câmara dos Deputados, 1993
“The pau-de-arara [a torture technique] works. I’m in favor of torture, you know that. And the people are in favor as well.”
- Câmara Aberta TV program, May 23, 1999
“Let’s shoot all the PT members here in Acre [Brazilian state].”
- Campaign event on September 1, 2018
“Pinochet should have killed more people.”
- Veja, December 2, 1998.
“What historic debt do we have with blacks? I never enslaved them. The Portuguese never set foot in Africa. The blacks were delivered by blacks.”
- Programa Roda Viva, July 2018.
“I have five children. Four were boys, on the fifth I got weak and had a daughter.”
- Speech at the Clube Hebraica, Rio de Janeiro, April 3, 2017.
“Through the vote you will not change anything in this country, nothing, absolutely nothing! It will only change, unfortunately, when, one day, we start a civil war here and do the work that the military regime did not do. Killing some 30,000, starting with FHC [then-president Fernando Henrique Cardoso], not kicking them out, killing! If some innocent people are going to die, fine, in any war innocents die.”
“God above everything. There is no such thing as this secular state. The state is Christian and the minority will have to change, if they can. The minorities will have to adapt to the position of the majority.”
- Speech at the Aeroporto João Suassuna, February 8, 2017.
“I will not fight nor discriminate, but if I see two men kissing in the street, I’ll hit them.”
- Folha de São Paulo newspaper, May 19, 2002
“I would be unable to love a gay son. I won’t be a hypocrite here: I would prefer that my son die in an accident rather than appear with a moustache. For me, he would be dead.”
- Playboy, 2011.
“I’m a rapist now. I would never rape you, because you do not deserve it… slut!”
- Speaking to Congresswoman Maria do Rosário, November 11, 2003
For those interested in knowing a bit about Brazil’s likely future president, his latest speech, with English subtitles pic.twitter.com/ssb1hgT4rA
— Octávio Luiz Motta Ferraz (@octavio_ferraz) October 25, 2018
You probably read about how @JairBolsonaro, in 2014, told a female colleague in Congress she was too ugly to "deserve" his rape. That was the 2nd time he told her that. Here's the first time - & he pushed her & called her a "whore" for good measure. Watch (with subtitles): pic.twitter.com/puEvCyseOL
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) October 23, 2018
On his way to electoral victory, Bolsonaro has succeeded in harnessing three very powerful forces of social conservatism in his campaign: faith, family, and tradition. He has preyed on the hatred in some sectors of Brazilian society of the advances made by LGBTQ+ under PT. He has mobilised the term ‘corruption’ and expanded it to cover not just its initial financial connotations, but also—in a still widely religious society—societal corruption. He has promised to do away with this corruption by any means necessary. What that translates to is force. Brazil has one of the most out of control crime problems in the world right now, but few would say that this is due to the police force not being heavy handed enough. Indeed Brazil’s police is almost cartoonishly militarised and brutal. Dissidents know this, the residents of the poor favelas know this. Bolsonaro is using quite specific language. Listen to it carefully if you want a taste of what is to come: A broadening of the police’s powers, further militarisation and the brutality that comes with it, and the expansion of its abuses from just the favelas into all walks of Brazilian life. There are already resistance movements on the ground. Women’s groups in the Brazilian favelas have been reported to be building literal trenches, to at least slow the tide that they know is coming.
Because Bolsonaro has been elected into the presidency from such a small political party, he has no political infrastructure to take with him. As such, his administration will see the further weaving of Brazil’s military into the fabric of power and the legislature. On top of that Bolsonaro also sees his family as something of a political dynasty, so he will stack key positions with members of his clan—again, echoes of Trump. What will emerge in the fifth most populous country in the world over the next months and years is a violently repressive authoritarian regime. It will actively target dissidents and people of alternative views, both in the public sphere and in the private domain. Some of the work will be indirectly outsourced, as violence against women, people of alternative sexualities, ethnic minorities, and left-wing activists will soar as people feel emboldened to act against these groups. These acts will be at best tolerated and at worst encouraged by Bolsonaro’s administration, and they will largely remain unpunished. In addition to all this, Bolsonaro will be a complete and utter disaster for the environment. His campaign has been one of angry opposition, and as such it has lacked in concrete policies. One of the few policies that has been announced repeatedly, however, is his disdain for environmental regulation. He intends to pull out of the Paris agreement as soon as possible, and he has pledged to open up the Amazon rainforest—one of the most vital bulwarks against climate change—for unfettered exploitation. He promises that historic indigenous rights to the forest will be a thing of the past.
So then. Jair Bolsonaro is a monster. That much is clear. But monsters cannot thrive without the right environment. There are lessons to be learned from Bolsonaro, as there are from Trump. Yes social media proved an invaluable tool in spreading both men’s message, and yes hatreds like misogyny and racism were harnessed to increase their momentum. But these would have limited power and fringe appeal if they were not lashed to a critique of the establishment. Neoliberal politics has fragmented society and it has brought so much despair to the vast majority of the world that people, desperate and out of options, are hungry for change. Any change. Some will vote for a figure like Bolsonaro because they too are misogynists and racists and they wish to see those groups punished. But many more will cast their vote as they would throw a Molotov cocktail. They would rather see the establishment burn than legitimise it by accepting more of the same. It is easy for commentators and people with privilege to denounce this attitude, but history has shown time and time again that this will keep happening. Lacking a credible left-wing alternative, in times of crisis people will turn to the strongman. Adolf Hitler and the Nazis are a tired, hackneyed comparison. They are also, however, painfully apt. Not only did they surf the rise of discontent into power and terrible brutality, there was another angle to the story. During Bolsonaro’s campaign we saw a particular trend occurring. As it became likelier that he would win the presidency, stock markets rallied. Businesses rejoiced. Business journals endorsed him. This despite all the horrific stuff that he was on record as saying and believing.
As Europe smouldered in the aftermath of World War II the international community decided to hold those responsible to account. The Nuremberg trials were convened in order to put Nazi officials and officers in the dock to answer for their crimes. The Nazis would, however, have never risen to power had it not been for the big industrialists of the day, the champion capitalists of the time, providing sometimes tacit, sometimes explicit, often material support. Until the crimes against humanity became so monstrous—and in some cases ever after—much of business both at home in Germany and around the world looked on Hitler and his fascists rather fondly. When the Nuremberg trials were being planned, it was briefly proposed that the key capitalists who had facilitated the rise of the Third Reich should stand trial alongside the Nazis. This was shot down with alacrity by the U.S. and its allies. Business was allowed to walk away scot-free. This will keep happening while capital and ‘pragmatism’ are held to be more important than humanity. Jair Bolsonaro must be opposed with all the might in the world, but so then must be the capitalism that enabled him. If it isn’t, fascism will keep rising. Brazil’s fate hangs in the balance. With the capitalists lusting after the spoils of the Amazon rainforest and the world already on the brink of climate breakdown, so too does the future of our existence on this planet. It is the same story around the world. We are close to catastrophe. A mass, worldwide, grassroots, proactive socialist movement that does not flinch and does not compromise is our only hope at turning the tide before it’s too late.
Image sources (in order of posting): Getty Images, The Street, Twitter, WSJ
← Fear of the Streaming Service in a Post-FilmStruck World
Review: 'Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj' →
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Home Players Aryaman Birla
Born July 09, 1997
Aryaman Birla
- Matches
- 50s/100s
- Highest score
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The IPL 2018 Auction Room was full of successful business professionals – and when left-handed batting all-rounder Aryaman Birla came up on the list it would be no surprise if his surname rang quite a few bells with the high powered figures present.... That’s because his father is one of the most influential people in the business world, and perhaps the most famous tycoon in India - Kumar Mangalam Birla. Aryaman’s base price was 20 lakh and the Royals bidders ended up securing his services for 30 lakh. They might go on to profit massively from their investment. 20 year old Aryaman could no doubt have followed his father into the world of commerce and forged a successful career, but instead he chose to try and make a name for himself in the world of cricket. A degree commerce student from Mumbai, Aryaman chose to play for Madhya Pradesh because there were not enough chances for him in the city. He was selected for the Madhya Pradesh Ranji Trophy team on the back of some solid performances, both with bat and ball, for the Under 23’s team. In five matches and eight innings, Aryaman scored 602 runs with two hundreds and a brilliant double century against Chhattisgarh. Not surprisingly, Birla was declared man of the match following that innings. The double ton was preceded by centuries against Odisha (153) and Uttar Pradesh (137). He also took 10 wickets with his left-arm spin. Royals fans will be hoping that Aryaman’s brave determination to go his own way rather than taking an easier option in life reaps dividends in Rajasthan colours during the upcoming IPL.
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13 Books That 9- to 12-Year-Old Boys Say Are Awesome
by Kari Ness Riedel
Finding the right book is the key to transforming a kid who says they don’t like to read into a self-described “reader.” I find this to be especially true for boys.
To compile this list, I talked with a wide range of 9- to 12-year-old boys, a mix of avid and reluctant readers. Here are the books the kids raved about because they had the perfect combination of suspense, action, and character drama, plus storylines so engaging they didn’t want to put them down.
If they like a heaping of funny with their mystery-adventure:
Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas
by Jonathan W. Stokes
JD, 9, shares, “You just have to read this. It is awesome. I can’t wait for the next one.” Addison Cooke convinces his sister and best friends to hop a plane to South America for the adventure of a lifetime. They are on a mission to rescue their aunt and uncle who have been kidnapped by someone trying to steal ancient Incan treasure. Hilarious characters, fast-paced action scenes, and lots of archaeology references make this a favorite for fans of “Indiana Jones.”
by Stuart Gibbs
Teddy and Summer suspect foul play when Henry the hippopotamus from the FunJungle is found dead. Their quest to find out the truth leads to hilarious predicaments and action-packed scenes. Aden, 10, loves this series because it’s a great blend of animals, mystery, and humor.
Word of Mouse
by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein, illustrated by Joe Sutphin
Isaiah, a talking, reading, and writing mouse, has lost his family and must survive in the dangerous outdoors as he tries to find his way back home. His search introduces him to new friends and his fair share of funny mishaps. “This book is downright hilarious. I was laughing the whole time and couldn’t stop reading it,” raves Ailon, 11.
If they like thought-provoking dramas:
Beyond the Bright Sea
by Lauren Wolk
Crow, an orphan rescued from a boat when she was just born, finds herself on an unplanned journey to discover the truth about where she came from. The story and its characters are compelling and beautifully crafted. Jackson and Aiden, both 10, agree that this is one of their favorite new books. “You really don’t know what is going to happen next and you just can’t stop reading it.”
My Side of the Mountain
by Jean Craighead George
Sam lives in New York, unhappily, with his crowded family. He runs away to the mountains and starts a new life. He faces many dangers and must use his courage and ingenuity to survive in nature while also taking a deep look inside his heart. Kurt, 11, loves this book because "it is sad and makes you think about your life and what is possible."
Left Out
by Tim Green
Landon just wants to fit in with everyone else but his deafness keeps others from seeing what he can really do. As one of the biggest kids at school, he thinks that football might be his way to get in. This is a moving story about overcoming bullies and fighting through obstacles. Aiden, 11, highly recommends this book to kids "who like sports and great books that tackle real issues that everyone can relate to.”
If they like action-packed fantasy with good characters:
Ranger’s Apprentice Series
by John Flanagan
Beck, 9, says “This is one of the best series ever. I raced through every book to find out what happened next.” This is an epic fantasy adventure based on the journey of Will, a 15-year-old boy who discovers that he has been chosen as a Ranger’s apprentice and must be trained to be a protector of the kingdom. Fans of books like Lord of the Rings or The Inheritance Cycle will love the dramatic battles and intertwined relationships in this story.
Can't get enough of Will and his many adventures? Return to the world of the Ranger’s Apprentice in The Royal Rangers series where Will takes on an apprentice of his own.
Janie and Benjamin uncover dangerous secrets from the apothecary’s sacred book as they try to rescue Ben’s kidnapped father. Their mission gets even more dangerous as they must keep these secrets out of the hands of Russians spies. “I love this book. It is full of mystery, action, and drama,” says Carmel, 11.
Sky Raiders (Book #1 of Five Kingdoms)
by Brandon Mull
One Halloween, Cole and his friends realize the spooky haunted house they’re in is actually a portal to the Outskirts, another world that lies somewhere between reality and imagination. As kids are whisked away to this magical land, Cole must figure out how to rescue his friends and find his own way back home. “This book has the perfect mix of action, magic, and real life issues. I love the whole series,” says Brendan, 10.
Half Upon a Time
by James Riley
Elliot, 9, loves this modern spin on classic fairy tales. “It’s a page-turning adventure with very funny characters.” Jack, son of the infamous Jack who stole the magic beans, is looking for a princess to save but he despises most of the snobby royals he’s met. When Princess May falls into his life from the “real” world, they end up on a wild adventure where they must dodge famous fairy tale dangers to find her grandmother.
If they like timeless adventure tales:
by Jules Verne
This classic science fiction book tells the adventures of Captain Nemo and his submarine Nautilus as they travel around the world. Oliver, 10, highly recommends this book. “I was hooked in the first few pages. It’s a gripping story that sucks you in.” Some kids will dive into the original 450-page version, while the abridged version will be just right for others.
by Gary Paulsen, illustrated by Drew Willis
Brian is in a small plane that crashes in the Canadian woods. He finds himself alone in the wilderness with only the clothes on his back and a hatchet his mother gave him. This is a modern-day classic tale of survival that mixes nonstop adventure with the kind of deep introspection that can only come when you’re truly alone. Mason, 12, recommends this book to his friends, “It’s an amazing adventure story that makes you feel like you’re in it as you read it.”
Guts & Glory: The American Revolution
by Ben Thompson
Nathan, 12, loves all things historical and devoured this nonfiction book. Written like your favorite uncle is telling you a story past your bedtime, this series gives a highly engaging look at lesser known characters and events during major historical time periods like the American Civil War and World War II.
Kari Ness Riedel
Kari Ness Riedel is a mom of two boys, and the founder of Bookopolis.com, an online community made especially for 7- to 12-year-old readers to share reviews of their favorite ...
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Acute Misfortune Special Event Q&A
*** Just Announced: Special Guest Moderator JOEL EDGERTON ***
The Ritz is proud to be hosting a special event Q&A for Australian film ACUTE MISFORTUNE, winner of The Age Critics Prize for Best Australian Feature Film at MIFF. Director Thomas M Wright and executive producer Robert Connolly will join us for a filmmakers Q&A following the film.
Thomas M. Wright (Sweet Country, Top of the Lake) makes his feature directing debut with the award winning ACUTE MISFORTUNE, an adaptation of Erik Jensen’s biography of the late artist, Adam Cullen.
Jensen, (founding editor of The Saturday Paper) was an ambitious 19-year-old journalist when he interviewed the infamous Cullen and was invited to write his biography. Working from the artist’s home in the Blue Mountains the two formed a bond that endured, even after Cullen shot Jensen and threw him from a motorbike, until the artist's death four years later at the age of 46. Featuring an acclaimed performance by AACTA Best Actor winner Daniel Henshall (Snowtown, The Babadook) and Toby Wallace (Romper Stomper, The Turning), and executive produced by Robert Connolly (Balibo, The Turning), ACUTE MISFORTUNE reveals the painter and journalist in unparalleled detail.
ACUTE MISFORTUNE was named one of the best films of the year by The Monthly and Screen Daily and was the winner of The Age Critics Prize at Melbourne International Film Festival. The Guardian, in a five-star review, called it “An enthralling, complex triumph… The best Australian Bio-Pic since Chopper”.
Monday 13 May, 6:30pm
Regular Ritz pricing applies
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henderson police department
Back to Peer Advocates
Chris White has been employed with the Henderson Police Department since August of 1997. He worked Patrol for seven years and during that time, he worked as a Field Officer, followed by Traffic Officer where he conducted fatal accident investigations. Chris then worked in Henderson's Training Bureau where he as responsible for not only in-service training, but Academy instruction. Chris was later transferred to Investigations where he currently remains today.
In 2000, Chris was selected to join the Crisis Negotiation Team. He has been involved in excess of one hundred call outs and has logged many hours on the phone as well as face-to-face negotiations. Chris is the Training Coordinator for his team and often teaches basic courses to outside agencies.
As of last year, he became more involved in Henderson's Police Employee Assistance Program (PEAP) as a peer support representative. Chris has received training in Critical Incident Stress Management and has instructed in numerous venues pertaining to various topics as he feels comfortable in/around that arena and welcomes any opportunity to train.
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The History of Stryper pt. 1
A look back at my favorite Christian Band
By: AtariMan76
Hello my Retro Junk friends,and enemies who I'm praying for. Today I thought I would tell you about my favorite Christian Rock band:
The reason for this article is because, sometime soon the new Stryper album "Murder by Pride" is coming out.
Back in 1975, Brothers Michael and Robert Sweet became Christians. Unfortunately, they were quick enough to walk away from Christianity. 6 years later, The Sweet Brothers, Oz Fox, and long time friend of Michael Sweet, Kenny Metcalf formed what started out as a Secular Metal band Called
Roxx Regime
Here's a picture of Kenny Metcalf with "Weird Al" Yankovic
When Kenny Metcalf joined the band as their Keyboardist, he witnessed(shared Christ) to the other three members. A year later Michael, Robert, and Oz dedicated their lives to Jesus. In 1983, God blessed Roxx Regime with a Bass player named Timothy Gaines. Tim had the idea of renaming the band. He two ideas for a name. The scripture Isaiah 53:5:"By his stripes we are healed." from the KJV Bible, and the word Hyper without the H. Hence the name Stryper. Stryper is an acronym which means: Salvation Through Redemption Yielding Peace Encouragement and Righteousness.
In 1984, Stryper did a mini recording called "The Yellow and Black Attack!" The bands that toured with to promote their EP were Bon Jovi, Ratt, The Scorpions, and numerous other Secular Hair Metal bands. This caused many Christians to insist that Stryper was not a true Christian Rock band.
Two years after it's release,
"The Yellow and Black Attack!" was remixed, and re-released. It featured two bonus tracks: An Acoustic version of "My love I'll always show", and "Reason for the Season." After it's rerelease in 1986, many Stryper fans considered "The Yellow and Black Attack!" to be more of an LP, instead of an EP.
In 1985, Stryper released their 1st full-length studio album:
Soldiers Under Command
This album featured 3 hits: the title track, "Makes Me
Wanna Sing"(the song they played live on "Good Morning America"), and "Reach Out." It sold more than half a million copies, and was the first Christian Metal album ever to be certified Gold.
The year was 1986. That was the year for Stryper. They released their major breakthrough album:
To Hell With the Devil
This album features alot of good songs. Two of my most favorite are, "Free", and "The Way." "Free" was the first Christian Rock video ever to gain popularity on MTV. It was played on that channel for 38 days in a row.
Another hit they had that took them into the Mainstream Rock charts was called, "Honestly." According to Michael Sweet, "Honestly" is a love song that he wrote for his wife Kyle Sweet. If you haven't listened to this album, I highly reccommend that you do.
Stryper released their 3rd album "In God We Trust" in 1988. This album's more Pop oriented, but it's still pretty good. This album helped them score another hit on the Mainstream Rock charts, and that hit is "Always There For You." There are some other good Rock songs on here as well, like "Keep the Fire Burning", "It's Up 2 U", and "The Reign." like I said for being Pop oriented, it's not bad.
This album caused alot of controversy when it came out in 1990. The lyrics in every song were hardly focused on God, they were focused more on relationships. Besides tell me if you can see something missing:
That's right. The picture on the right shows them without their bumblebee spandex outfits. Maybe they ditched the bumblebee outfits for the better. Anyway, this is a great album, despite what I just said. I won't mention any of the songs like I did in 90's Christian Rock Article. Anyway, "Against the Law" is NOT an album where the members of Stryper are saying that they're giving up on God. This is an album made for anybody who's a huge fan of Metallica, or Guns n Roses.
The idea of this album is that, you'd better watch yourself, unless you're against the law.
This is the first Compilation disc by Stryper. There's not much to say about it, except for the fact that it has two previously unreleased songs: Believe (which is song about The Gulf War), and Can't Stop the Rock, which was originally a demo Stryper (as Roxx Regime) recorded back in 1983-84. After the release of Can't Stop the Rock: The Best of Stryper, Michael Sweet left his bandmates, and went solo. The three remaining members of Stryper went on without him, but it wasn't long before Stryper disbanded. That's all for now. Be sure to check out my Part 2 article, where I'll talk about Michael Sweet's Solo career, what happened to the other 3 members, and the reunion of Stryper.
Until then, be blessed by the Lord.
Log in to comment on or rate this article. You can even write your own!
Larlem1978 Posted 9 years 1 month ago
Stryper is so underrated;because they sing about God,and their faith,they are often ignored.Shame really,cause they are as talented as"Bon Jovi","Motley Crew","Poison",and other hair bands of the mid 80s,and early 90s.
ProphetSword Posted 10 years 5 months ago
I love Stryper. Those guys rock.
Quote O' Matic
Tevye: I have some advice for you. Get off my land. This is still my home, my land. Get off my land.
-Tevye
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September 23, 2015 / 4:35 PM / 4 years ago
Russia rejects criticism of greenhouse gas plan, will not amend: top Putin adviser
Andrey Kuzmin
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has rebuffed calls for a more ambitious plan to cut its carbon dioxide emissions after environmentalists branded its current pledge inadequate and backward-looking.
The world’s fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases, Russia pledged in March to keep its emissions at 25-30 percent below the level it generated in 1990, the year before the Soviet Union and its vast industrial complex collapsed.
Green groups say the pledge, made ahead of a global warming summit in Paris in December, is far too easy for Moscow to fulfill because 1990 was a time when Soviet industry was a notoriously prolific polluter whereas Russia’s industrial base today is much smaller.
A group of four global climate research groups, known collectively as Climate Action Tracker, have rated Russia’s pledge as ‘inadequate’, worse than the ‘medium’ assessment they have handed out to other big polluters such as China, the United States and the European Union.
But President Vladimir Putin’s top adviser on global warming dismissed such criticism during an interview on the sidelines of a Moscow meeting of the United Nations’ International Panel on Climate Change this week.
“It is their opinion, it does not reflect anything and is not objective,” Alexander Bedritsky told Reuters, saying Russia would stick to its current plan.
“They can say whatever they want, but our commitments are based on around 70 scenarios of how the climate system will be developing.”
It is unfair to compare the Kremlin’s commitments to those of developed economies such as the United States or European Union member states because Russia is still an economy in transition, he added.
Russia’s pledge stresses the importance of increasing energy efficiency and boosting the use of renewables.
“If the contribution of Russian forests is fully taken into account, limiting greenhouse gas emissions to 70-75 percent of 1990 levels by 2030 does not create any obstacles for social and economic development,” it says.
“TRAGIC PLEDGE”
With its gigantic reserves of oil, gas and coal, Russia emits 2 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent a year, making it the fourth largest producer of greenhouse gases after the United States, China and India.
According to Greenpeace, 85 percent of CO2 equivalent emissions in Russia come from its energy industry.
They and other green groups say Russia’s current program is far too unambitious because the Soviet Union was on the brink of collapse in 1990 — the year the program is pegged to — and its greenhouse gas emissions therefore fell sharply as the country’s industrial base shrank.
“This pledge is a tragedy, a catastrophe,” said Vladimir Chuprov, head of Greenpeace’s energy program.
“With this 25-30 percent commitment they are basically saying: ‘Guys, we’re staying in the 20th century with our carbon-centered technology’.”
Chuprov and fellow environmentalists want Russia, the world’s biggest country by territory, to do much more, noting that its richest company - state-owned Gazprom - is the world’s leading corporate emitter of greenhouse gases.
Specifically, Chuprov says Russia needs to expand its use of renewable energy and try to develop new power generating technologies or risk missing out on another technological revolution.
Currently, Russia gets 90 percent of its energy from carbon fuels such as oil, gas and coal, Chuprov said. Green groups estimate that only around 1 percent of the country’s energy needs comes from renewable sources.
Green groups such as Greenpeace or the World Wildlife Fund complain that central government in Russia does not consult them enough when it comes to formulating climate change policies.
Under its existing plan, Russia would fail to meet the goal set out by the United Nations’ International Panel on Climate Change to cut emissions to 50-80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050, he said.
Bedritsky said Russia was already making good progress and that its greenhouse gas emissions would peak at 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. They will then fall or stay flat until 2030, he added.
“Our preparations for the (Paris) summit are not just good, we have achieved excellent results, announced our commitments on time up until the year 2020, and until 2025 and 2030,” said Bedritsky. “We will definitely fulfill our promise.”
Editing by Andrew Osborn and Gareth Jones
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Russia, Kazakhstan Sign Nuclear Cooperation Deal
September 30, 2014 10:13 GMT
Russian and Kazakh officials have signed an agreement on nuclear cooperation.
The agreement was signed during a forum between Russian and Kazakh bordering regions in Kazakhstan’s western city of Atyrau on September 30.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev attended the one-day interregional event.
According to the agreement inked by Kazakh Energy Minister Vladimir Shkolnik and the director-general of Russia's Rosatom nuclear energy corporation, Sergei Kirienko, a nuclear power plant will be constructed in the town of Kurchatov in the Eastern Kazakhstan region.
Kurchatov used to be the center of operations for the Soviet Union's major nuclear test field -- Semipalatinsk Polygon.
The site was officially shut down in 1991.
The agreement also says that some components of nuclear fuel for the future nuclear plant will be produced in Kazakhstan.
Based on reporting by Kazinform and Interfax
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Home » Collections » The Children of Mount Eden - Stories
The Children of Mount Eden - Stories
by Tomás Modesto Galán (Author), Walter Krochmal (Editor), Rhina P. Espaillat (Editor), Ramón Peralta (Illustrator), Carlos Aguasaco (Photographer), Maria Bennet (Translator), Manuel García Cartagena (Introduction), Francesca Suárez Coalla (Contributor)
Available from CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (November 11, 2013)
This book is a collection of stories that will echo in the hearts of all who are familiar with this kind of life, but perhaps can—even more significantly—create the illusion of an echo even in those people, who perhaps unfamiliar with this kind of life but, want to understand it, in order to know how to understand and live together with “the neighbours”, given that we are all neighbours, one of the other. For me, this is the most important and civilized function of literature: to open a door for the readers that allows them to leave their own loneliness behind and instead share the loneliness of the Other. And, Tomás Modesto Galán in this book, manages to achieve this through the voice of a child, but by the experience of an adult—and the sensibility of an artist. I love these stories, stories that with their innocence imitate so well the thinking process of children, and for the profundity of ideas that they present and challenge the intellect. They also remind me of “magical realism” with the almost human like animals in dreamed situations, but with everything, and in this respect it has its’ roots in real life, in the difficult situations that confront the immigrant, the poor and the Other.—Rhina P. Espaillat.
Tomás Modesto Galán is a writer from the Dominican Republic who has been residing in New York since 1986. Before coming to the U.S. he was a Professor of Spanish in the University Autónoma de Santo Domingo. After, his arrival in New York, he has taught at various colleges of the City University of New York and at Pace University. He has also served as the cultural coordinator of the Dominican Cultural Commission in the United States from 2004 to 2008. In addition he has also worked in the capacity of the Commissioner of the Latin American Literary fair, titled Libro Abierto. He founded and co-directed the literary magazine: EMEM—YA. Amongst his many published works, his book, Los Niños del Monte Edén (The Children of Mount Eden) has been translated to English by the poet María Bennett and edited by Walter Krochmall and Rhina Espiallat. Amongst his many literary works to mention a few we have: Diario de Caverna, (Diary of a Cavern, a book of poems, published in 1988). Cenizas de Viento (Wind’s Ashes, a collection of poems, published in 1983). Los Cuentos de Mount Hope (The Stories of Mount Hope—a novel, published in 1995). And, Los niños del Monte Edén (The Children of Mount Eden, a collection of short stories published in 1998). The story “Gatos” (Cats) from this collection received an honorary mention in the Casa de Teatro, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
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Haq's Musings
Riaz Haq writes this data-driven blog to provide information, express his opinions and make comments on many topics. Subjects include personal activities, education, South Asia, South Asian community, regional and international affairs and US politics to financial markets. For investors interested in South Asia, Riaz has another blog called South Asia Investor at http://www.southasiainvestor.com and a YouTube video channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkrIDyFbC9N9evXYb9cA_gQ
The Other Face of Pakistan
Guest Post by Amjad Noorani
Like any young nation, Pakistan has been on a roller coaster ride. Things are looking up now -- and TCF is doing its part.
Here are sample facts about an emerging nation and its modest progress, through sources that underscore Pakistani business, its economy, education, social programs, democratic institutions, an improving infrastructure and quality of life.
TCF is doing its part by addressing the challenges of high illiteracy, access to quality education for the poor, the need for education reform, and providing a replicable model for better education management. Our goal is to make high quality education possible for all children and our commitment was recognized recently by the Clinton Global Initiative.
Good news rarely makes headlines and media stories often depict Pakistan as a problem country subscribing to extremist ideology. Certainly Pakistan has had its ups and downs, reckless spurts and grinding halts. But, against heavy odds, Pakistan is resilient and its people recognize that it must do better to thrive in a competitive world.
From Forbes, there is good news in business. Consumer prices and inflation are checked. Exports in 2011 were up sharply. Despite global recession, its annual GDP growth was 2.8% for 2008-2011 and as high as 7% annually for the period 2004-2007. About 40% of the country's labor force is in services, 40% in agriculture and 20% in industry.
Economists project a 4% GDP growth rate. Sales of consumer electronics is expected to grow 13.3% annually. International icons like Nestle, Pepsi and Unilever are common household names. The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most developed hi-tech sectors. In July 2011, a growing middle class pushed car sales up by 61%.
Democratic processes seem to be taking hold. Tax revenues are going up and there are signs of improving infrastructure in many aspects of daily life. College education is more accessible and overall quality of education is steadily improving. Telecom technology is introducing education to far flung areas, with phenomenal growth in media and communications. Also read about women leading a silent social revolution and a new cadre of excellent journalists and writers on social issues. These are solid indicators of Pakistani progress despite the roller coaster ride of the last 64 years. With 60% of its population under 30 years old, huge challenges remain in critical areas such as education, workforce training, employment, housing, water management, healthcare, etc. Gradually, these are being chipped away with homegrown solutions.
We hope to bring you more good news about TCF and other positive initiatives in Pakistan. Do let us know what you think. Support for TCF is the best route to helping Pakistan. Let's make 2012 a great year for Peace and Progress in Pakistan.
Note: The author is a board member of The Citizens Foundation USA.
Here's a video clip of The Citizens Foundation's brief presentation at a recent Clinton Global Initiative meeting:
Here's a short film about Pakistan:
Inquiry-based Learning in Pakistan
Pasi Sahlberg on why Finland leads the world in education
Intellectual Wealth of Nations
Pakistan Primary Education Crisis
Indian Students' Poor Performance on PISA and TIMSS
Pakistan's Demographic Dividend
India Shining, Bharat Drowning
PISA's Scores 2011
Teaching Facts versus Reasoning
Poor Quality of Education in South Asia
Infections Cause Low IQs in South Asia, Africa?
CNN's Fixing Education in America-Fareed Zakaria
Peepli Live Destroys Western Myths About India
PISA 2009Plus Results Report
Posted by Riaz Haq at 9:21 AM
Labels: CGI, Education, Pakistan, TCF, USA
KA Akhtar said...
Good News Pakistan is an initiative by brothers and social entrepreneurs Majid and Mahmood Mirza. They set up a website simply titled Good News (www.goodnews.pk) , which focuses solely on positive developments coming out of the country. They describe the idea behind the website via Skype as being "to highlight amazing, awesome and inspirational news stories coming from Pakistan, as opposed to the usual negativities that steal the headlines". And they have plenty of examples ready. For instance, did you know that Pakistan has become only the sixth country in the world to map the human genome, joining the ranks of the US, the UK, China, Japan and India, which have all successfully sequenced it. Or, how about the fact that Pakistan has the largest volunteer ambulance organisation in the world started by "living saint" Abdul Sattar Edhi in 1948. Today, the radio-linked network includes 600 ambulances that work in every corner of the country. Or how about the recent news that Dr Umar Saif, an associate professor at the School of Science and Engineering in Lahore, has been recognised by MIT Technology Review as one of the top 35 innovators in the world - joining an elite group of researchers and entrepreneurs selected over the last decade, which includes Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the co-founders of Google, Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, and Jonathan Ive, the chief designer at Apple. These are stories which slipped under the radar.
Then there are serial entrepreneurs like Monis Rahman, who just four years ago set-up Rozee.pk, which is now Pakistan's largest jobs website, with 500,000 unique visitors a month; or Karachi-born freelance designer Vakas Siddiqui laying to rest the myth that Pakistani students are limited to excellence in science and the humanities by being selected as one of the top 28 designers in the world; or filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy who has just been shortlisted for an Oscar in the 'best documentary short' category for her film Saving Face. Whether it be in music, fashion, academia, activism, technology, sports or science these are stories that people do not usually associate with Pakistan and which might just show that there is more to the country than just bombs and beards.For more insight into this project following this link:
http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/activate/2011/10/2011102774650979571.html
Riaz Haq said...
From Aljazeera English:
Pakistan: More to offer than bombs and beards
Some Pakistanis are trying to counter the negative headlines about their country by spreading the good news.
If you did not know anything about Pakistan and happened to pick up a newspaper or turn on the evening news, you might be forgiven for assuming that it is possibly the most broken, troubled and violent country on the face of the earth - a basket case just moments from imploding.
In the all-important arena of international public perception, Pakistan has taken an unprecedented battering in recent years, accumulating more bad headlines than nearly any other country and making places like Afghanistan and Iraq look relatively stable by comparison.
The list of challenges it faces is seemingly unending: terrorism, corruption, drone attacks, natural disasters, poverty, a deficit in leadership, discrimination against minorities, mistreatment of women, attacks on freedom of speech, mass tax evasion, match fixing, the murder of judges, politicians, union organisers and journalists - and that is just the tip of the iceberg.
So pervasive are the headlines pointing to a crisis in Pakistan that after a while they seem to blur into one another. Whether it is "hostages held in Karachi", "al-Qaeda hideout discovered in Swat", "floods bring pain to millions", "suicide bomber explodes in market square", "senior judge in blasphemy case shot dead" or "Pakistan's ISI actively supporting Taliban in Afghan war" the message is uniformly bad news. The result is that for many the image of Pakistan is one of bombers, beards, shaking fists, distressed women and utter hopelessness. It makes for a pretty depressing picture.
I guess that is why the work of Syed Ali Abbas and his Pakistan Youth Alliance (PYA) featured in this week's Activate, Pakistan: The New Radicals, is so refreshing. A courageous young social activist, Ali founded the PYA together with Maryam Kanwer when he was just 21 years old. It was born in the midst of severe political turmoil, as then-President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency rule and fired the chief justice on national television, while the security forces brutally cracked down on dissenting lawyers.
Fed up with watching their country's problems on the television, the PYA initially organised protests and rallies but quickly became more active. Its core premise and mission statement is to take a stand, to get as practically involved on the ground as possible and to exemplify the change they seek through their actions rather than merely proposing it on paper.
Their main goal is to create political and social awareness among the youth of Pakistan and to unite them irrespective of their religion, ethnicity, caste, race or language on an unbiased platform through which they can engage with one another and contribute practically to building a more progressive society in Pakistan - whether through protest, social and relief work or the arts.
Earlier this year, Ali was among a small group instrumental in organising counter protests to the hate filled ones celebrating and glorifying Mumtaz Qadri, the killer of Salman Taseer, the governor of Punjab who was murdered in January over his stance on Pakistan's blasphemy laws and his ardent defence of religious minorities like Christians and Ahmadis. Ali says he did this because: "This is not what the founder of Pakistan and 'Father of the Nation' Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah would have wanted for this country today, especially as he repeatedly stressed the importance of inter-faith unity and religious harmony."...
http://bcove.me/erkfqgrt
Here's a SciDev report on Pakistan's Human Genome Project undertaken with Chinese collaboration at the University of Karachi:
A burgeoning genetics research collaboration between China and Pakistan has yielded its first result: the mapping of the genome of a Pakistani national.
The Beijing Genomics Institute (BGI) and the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), Karachi, had agreed last year to work together on seven genomic projects, train Pakistani scientists, set up a genomics centre in Pakistan, and transfer state-of-the-art technology to Pakistan.
The first project involved sending genetic samples of the first volunteer, former science minister Atta-ur-Rahman, who is also ICCBS patron, to the BGI for mapping.
'Genome mapping' involves locating and identifying genes to create a map, akin to identifying towns and cities, to create a road map. Genome maps help scientists locate genes for human diseases, by tracking the complete genetic information of individuals and, families over generations.
Researchers at the Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), under the ICCBS, and BGI mapped Rahman’s genes in 10 months. ICCBS director Mohammad Iqbal Choudhary announced the results to the media last month (27 June). The results are yet to be published in a scientific journal.
This makes Pakistan the world's sixth and the first Islamic country to completely map a human genetic sequence, Choudhary said.
More projects are underway to gain insights into various population groups in Pakistan; genetic predisposition to disorders, including liver and heart disease; anaemia, diabetes, cancers, Alzheimer's disease and blood disorders, Choudhary told SciDev.Net.
It could lead to "significant advances in their diagnosis and treatment" Kamran Azim, assistant professor at the PCMD, said.
"It is going to take more than two years to complete the genome projects and come up with the final conclusions about different aspects of the country's different population groups," Choudhary said.
BGI scientists are interested in studying the genetic structure and physiology of Pakistan's diverse ethnic groups, particularly those along the Makran coast, Balochistan province, and Kalash Desh in northern Pakistan, Choudhary said.
Manzoor Hussain Soomro, chairman of the Pakistan Science Foundation, observed that the development could pave the way for better medical management and new drugs discovery.
But, he cautioned, such research could also raise ethical, legal and social concerns over confidentiality and misuse of genetic information by prospective employers, insurers, courts of law and family members.
Soomro said that though it is not yet clear who would safeguard the genome mapping data, it should logically be the responsibility of Pakistan's national bioethics committee under the Pakistan Council of Medical Research.
http://www.scidev.net/en/news/china-aids-first-pakistani-genome-map-1.html
Here's an ANI report on gene mapping in Pakistan:
Karachi, June 28(ANI): Scientists at the Karachi University have mapped the genome of the first Pakistani man with the help of the Beijing Genomics Institute.
This has made Pakistan the first country in the Muslim world to map the genome of the first Muslim man.
The achievement places Pakistan in the ranks of the few countries- the United States, the United Kingdom, India, China and Japan- that have successfully sequenced the human genome as well.
"Our nation is a mix of a lot of races," said Professor Dr M Iqbal Choudhary, who heads the project. "Pakistanis are like a "melting pot" i.e. a mix of Mughals, Turks, Pashtuns, Afghans, Arabs, etc."
"According to the researchers, the newly sequenced Pakistani genome has uncovered a multitude of Pakistan-specific sites, which can now be used in the design of large-scale studies that are better suited for the Pakistani population," The Express Tribune quoted Dr Choudhary, who is the director of the International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences at Karachi University, as saying.
The first Pakistani genome has been mapped using a recently developed technology, ten years after the first human genome was discovered.
Dr Panjwani Centre for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research at the University of Karachi took 10 months to accomplish the task. The individual who has been genetically mapped is a resident of Karachi. (ANI)
http://in.news.yahoo.com/pakistan-becomes-first-islamic-country-map-genome-first-111639389.html
Here's a NY Times story on alleged Anthrax sent to Pakistan Prime Minister's office:
The package was intercepted by the prime minister’s security staff in October, according to the spokesman, Akram Shaheedi. The Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, a government laboratory, established that the suspicious white powder it contained was anthrax spores, he said. A criminal case was filed on Tuesday, according to an Islamabad police officer, The Associated Press reported.
Government officials gave contradictory accounts of the identity of the sender, and they offered little sense of motive. While Islamist militants have repeatedly targeted senior government officials in suicide and bomb attacks, an assassination attempt using biological weapons would be an anomaly.
Mr. Shaheedi said that law enforcement authorities had identified the sender as an associate professor at Jamshoro University in the southern province of Sindh. But he could not say whether the professor, a Ms. Zulekha, had been arrested or detained.
A senior police officer in charge of presidential security, Hakim Khan, gave a different account. He denied any knowledge of the suspect Mr. Shaheedi named, but he confirmed that a police team had been sent to Jamshoro to investigate. The packet had been sent from a small post office on the Jamshoro University campus, he said.
Mr. Khan said the case had been registered under a provision of Pakistan’s penal code that deals with the act of sending poison with the intention of causing harm.
In November 2001, suspicious letters containing anthrax spores were sent to three private businesses, including the country’s largest Urdu-language daily, Jang, in the southern port city of Karachi. No motive was ever determined.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/02/world/asia/pakistan-reveals-prime-minister-gilani-was-sent-anthrax.html
Here's a Brown Daily Herald report on an upcoming Pakistani documentary "The Other Half of Tomorrow: Women Changing Pakistan":
Samina Quraeshi is a Renaissance woman in every sense of the phrase. A native of Pakistan, she has worn the hats of author, artist, architect, speaker, academic, photographer, curator — and now filmmaker.
Quraeshi presented clips from her upcoming documentary, "The Other Half of Tomorrow: Women Changing Pakistan," to a rapt audience of roughly 30 students and Rhode Island natives Wednesday night in the Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts. The richly detailed and tenderly shot film tells the stories of women in Pakistan trying to make positive changes in their surroundings as entrepreneurs, public health workers and dance instructors, among other jobs.
In an address before the screening, Quraeshi said her motive behind producing the film was to present the human face of a region often vilified in the media.
"I want to use art to introduce complex cultural nuances," she said. "Sensationalist portrayals begin to warp the public's consciousness of the people who live in (Pakistan)."
Soft-spoken and often dryly humorous, Quraeshi also emphasized that understanding a place's history is essential to understanding its culture.
"During the past Bush era, there was a culture of fear on top of a lack of awareness," she told The Herald. "It made people want to get into their houses and watch their TVs, but all the media coverage was doing was propagating stereotypes."
The film preview was part of a national series called "Caravanserai: A Place Where Cultures Meet," which aims to introduce American audiences to contemporary Muslim artists. The Providence nonprofit FirstWorks competed fiercely with organizations across the country to host Caravanserai in the city, said Kathleen Pletcher, executive artistic director of FirstWorks. Only four other U.S. nonprofits earned a spot as a stop on the tour.
"There's this idea of a caravanserai as a place where weary travelers along the road stop and rest and share their stories," Pletcher said. "It's a very collective act. And that's what we're hoping to do here — connect art with audience."
The next Caravanserai event is a Feb. 7 screening of "Made in Pakistan," a documentary from Pakistani filmmaker Ayesha Khan. Quraeshi's film is slated to be released in October.
http://www.browndailyherald.com/granoff-hosts-pakistani-renaissance-woman-1.2694725#.TywcK-RWGSo
Pakistan is a resilient country, says Anatol Lieven according to Dawn:
In Pakistan’s diversity lies a measure of its resilience. This was argued by distinguished journalist and author Anatol Lieven during his talk at the Oxford University Head Office on Saturday.
Mr Lieven’s talk basically gave a sketch of his book ‘Pakistan: A Hard Country.’ He began by asserting that Pakistan was not a failed state and said the people who had gathered to listen to him were proof of it. Pakistan was not Afghanistan, Chechnya or Somalia. He maintained that his book was about the sources of resilience in Pakistan, which could be sources of stagnation as well (in terms of development). To explain his point, he said he had used the expression ‘Janus-faced’ many a time in the book, and that the editors had made 18 deletions of the phrase, leaving just half a dozen. The book was an attempt at discussing power in the country, how it is exercised and what are its roots – religious, cultural etc. This central theme was set against the background of the war in Afghanistan and the rise of militancy in Pakistan. He told the gathering that when an American publisher read it he was taken aback because he had thought that it would be about the Taliban and an impending Islamic revolution in Pakistan. He added that it also discussed the role of the military and the four provinces and the difference within those provinces.
Mr Lieven said he had spent a lot of time talking about the diversity in Pakistan. For example, how Karachi was different from the rest of Sindh and how Punjab was an immensely varied region. Also, the important role that kinship played in the country’s politics and power struggles. In his view, a measure of its resilience lay in the country’s diversity, because of which, however, it was sometimes difficult to get things done. He argued that Pakistan couldn’t have an Iran-style revolution because it didn’t have a monolithic culture.
Mr Lieven said that as he was a journalist he got quotes from the Pakistani people in their own words. The problem with the West was that it didn’t listen to people directly and therefore had a flawed understanding of things. If you were to know about the tribal justice system in Balochistan, you had to talk to a Baloch sardar, he pointed out.
With respect to militancy in Pakistan Mr Lieven said that although the fear of terrorism was pervasive, and that it had claimed numerous victims, the insurgency was limited, particularly after the 2009 Swat operation in which militants were driven back. However, he added that insurgency was common in the region and, except for Bangladesh, every country had faced it.
Mr Lieven said sympathy for the Afghan Taliban in areas like Peshawar was similar to the support for the mujahideen in the ‘80s. It did not necessarily mean an Islamic revolution. He argued that up to a certain point the situation did appear perilous but the post-Musharraf scenario proved that if the state and the army made a concerted attempt things could be done. He said his book also took issue with the US foreign policy. The US should realise that Pakistan is a much more important country than Afghanistan and that it needs to tread lightly here. He said however that the Osama bin Laden operation had impacted public opinion in the US, and if there was a terrorist attack in the US or India in future, US retaliation could be severe. It was important for Pakistan to continue visible cooperation against international terrorism, he remarked.
Replying to a question, Mr Lieven said one of the reasons he used the word ‘hard’ in the title of the book was that he would often hear the phrase ‘Pakistan is a hard country’ from the locals. He gave the example of a Chaudhry in Punjab who, explaining the killing of his detractors, commented that Pakistan was a hard country....
http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/05/pakistan-is-a-resilient-country.html
Here's an assessment of the impact of energy crisis in Pakistan by Sky News:
Energy shortages across Pakistan are crippling the country's economy and costing businesses millions in lost productivity.
Electricity is cut off for hours at a time, fuel is rationed at filling stations and people are forced to run expensive generators to keep their homes lit.
Pakistan is not producing enough power to meet the growing demand and economists estimate the shortages are shaving 2% off its gross domestic product.
At one time most of the world's hand-stitched leather footballs were made in the town of Sialkot in the Punjab.
It is still a profitable business, but only just.
The power cuts keep production lines idle for hours at a time, orders take longer to make, some have to be flown abroad at great expense to make their deadlines rather than shipped.
"The energy crisis has been here for the last five or six years but it has become very severe over the past couple of years, very very severe," manager Ali Sheikh told Sky News.
"At times it is as if the government is trying to shut industry down altogether. It seems deliberate at times."
Add to that rising unemployment, a negligible tax collection rate, rampant corruption and a security situation that puts buyers off from travelling to Pakistan.
Businessman Asad Bajwa believes many foreigners are now reluctant to visit his factory in Sialkot and orders are down 40%.
But do not write Pakistan off just yet, one leading economist says.
Dr Rashid Amjad , the Vice Chancellor of the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics in Islamabad, said: "The bottom line is we need to revive growth as soon as we can.
"The government has to give it the highest priority and go in for serious economic thinking to ensure macro-economic stability.
"But I still come back to the basic fact that there is a resilience in its people and a resilience in its economy.
"Everybody thinks Pakistan is going to collapse - it never has."
http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16163280
The prices for Pakistan's PAC (Pakistan Aeronautical Complex) computers range from Rs. 8,000 for PAC eBook reader tablet, to Rs. 15,000 for PAC PAD 1 tablet and Rs. 23,500 for PAC nBook.
Check out PakAccounts.com for specs more details.
http://pakaccountants.com/pakistan-introduced-ebook-reader-notebook-tablet-pc/
Here's a link to a video about Pakistan Aeronautical Complex products.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oMbzyTun7Q&feature=related
Here's a piece in Time magazine on Pakistan Fashion Week in Lahore:
Fashionistas the world over will look to the Big Apple as the spotlight falls on New York ahead of the start of its glitzy Fashion Week this Thursday. But, away from the catwalks and cocktail parties of fashion’s North American capital, the industry struts its stuff in far more troubled frontiers. I attended Pakistan’s Fashion Week in the historic, culturally rich city of Lahore last spring. Pakistan carries with it centuries of South Asian expertise in the craft of weaving and flashy garment making, making it, in many ways, a natural spot for such colorful event. Hassan Yasin is the designer for his label HSY and is one of the few Pakistani fashion creators to export to the western hemisphere: “What it does is that it gives us discipline, that’s the most important thing. We’ve been doing fashion weeks in Dubai and in other places for a long time. Without a fashion week it’s very difficult because there is no need, there is no desire to create and the consumer loses out.”
The most obvious question remains: how does such a religiously conservative nation ever teetering on the brink chaos organize itself to put on a fashion show? First and foremost there are practicalities to be dealt with like security, each guest faces a stringent security process in order to enter the venue, running a gauntlet tantamount to an airport security check. Once inside you’ll find patient fashionistas facing a barrage of political questions while prepping for their shows — not exactly what Karl Lagerfeld concerns himself with. Female designers get harangued about women’s rights, the burqa, and blasphemy laws, while male designers are questioned about homosexuality, the tensions with India and the war in Afghanistan. Undoubtedly this is a daunting task, but perhaps the most important interpretation of the event is that of conservatives in the country.
Weighing in is Dr. Khalid Zaheer, a professor of Islamic studies and a dean at the Univeristy of Central Punjab. “If we go for fashion within the acceptable limits, it’s not that it is acceptable, I think it’s desirable,” says Zaheer. He adds that “God is not against beauty. The trouble is that when you start talking about beauty there is a danger of evil creeping into it. The evil is of obscenity and of vulgarity. Many orthodox Muslims have taken this idea too far but many liberals have taken the idea to the other extreme, that is what needs to be done, to bring sanity to most of these people.” Zaheer says that all Pakistanis don’t share his vision in Pakistan, and that organizers of the fashion event must tread lightly given the sentiments of the wider, more conservative public.
Read more: http://globalspin.blogs.time.com/2012/02/06/fashion-week-in-pakistan-can-style-trump-conservatism
Here's Express Tribune on Anatol Lieven's recent speech in Lahore:
“Drama sells beautifully,” said Anatol Lieven, “You see a headline, ‘Pakistan on the edge of destruction’ it does wonders for selling the news. Lieven, a British journalist, was speaking with The Express Tribune at a talk organised by the Oxford University Press regarding his latest book, Pakistan: A Hard Country. Lieven admitted that the ‘West’ is not that well informed about Pakistan and those journalists who were relied on for information also liked their drama.
“No matter how angry the Pakistani government is with the US,” he said, “it is imperative for both to continue real and public cooperation.” Lieven does believe that the government had no clue about Osama Bin Laden’s presence in the country but said he was not sure about the military or intelligence. Conspiracy theories, he said, were rife in Pakistan and could be infuriating. “No one knows who killed General Ziaul Haq. But we all do know that he was killed.”
Calling the US’s decision to send troops during the May 2 raid in Abbottabad last year a ‘bad idea’, Lieven said there was some awareness in the UK and in ‘sensible’ quarters of the Washington establishment about the intrusive nature of that raid. However, he said after the Bin Laden discovery, it was difficult to maintain much of a stance against raids.
Lieven is more concerned about how the US would respond in case a terrorist act carried out in the US is traced back to Pakistan. “The reaction by the US government would be disastrous.” With the mood in the US Congress and on the street turning highly sceptical over the years, Lieven said post 9/11 even the most moderate quarters had lost their reasonableness. “The US congress is not a very sophisticated force. They are very easily provoked,” he said.
Explaining title of his book, Lieven said Pakistan was a resilient country that had over the years faced hard challenges. Lieven believes that though Pakistan was facing its toughest crisis yet, it had always survived. He said the country had bounced back from the ‘increasingly dangerous’ situation in Swat as well as from the aftermath of the recent floods.
Lieven also warned against blaming the West alone. “We cannot deny that there are certain elements in Pakistan that hold a sympathetic view of the Afghan Taliban,” he said, “and resist US policies.”
The author, who has worked for The Financial Times and is currently a professor of international relations and war studies at King’s College in London, has written six books. Lieven said an Islamic revolution in Pakistan could disintegration of the country. “People talk of the Arab Spring in Pakistan,” he said, “Though with its democratic character – no matter how flawed- Pakistan is very different from the Middle East.”
“I have received criticism for being too soft on the military,” he said during the talk later, “but it is unfair to say that the military or the government are doing absolutely nothing,” he said.
Lieven said that in his opinion the military was the only institution in Pakistan that ‘works’, but that did not imply that the military could take over the state. “I hope one thing is clear from my book,” Lieven said, “as far as civil rights, education and boosting the economy is concerned, I am with the liberals – how one gets there is another thing.”
http://tribune.com.pk/story/332633/a-hard-country-an-islamic-revolution-will-break-up-pakistan/
In a Tehelka Op Ed, Kiran Nazish writes: "One way to regulate the media or politics in Pakistan is to have civil society watchdogs and that seems to be working. The civil society in Pakistan seems to be quietly — and perhaps, inadvertently — regaining strength. We don’t know if this could this be a threat to the establishment’s control over the state."
More excerpts:
"In recent years, Pakistani media has been on a wild ride of television ratings. To catch up, Maya Khan, a popular TV host took her show to public parks, where she – with her battalion of likeminded women, ran from ‘couple’ to ‘couple’, with microphones and cameras, exposing them as a social disgrace. "
"If the stars were on their usual path, Maya Khan would not have encountered the kind of public outrage she did. While some jocular humour embellished public anger, and jokes like ‘when in parks, beware of dogs and Maya Khan’, were winning popularity; a group of civil society members took shape. The Citizen for Free and Responsible Media (CFRM) emerged as a group of activists, academics, lawyers and journalists, including unadorned citizens that collectively forfeited against Maya’s actions and ran a campaign to ensure that she identifies such behaviour as unethical and apologises. Which, when she didn’t, aggravated the situation and caused her to get fired by the channel along with rest of the team on her show. The following days CFRM continued pointing out and campaigning against other programmes with questionable content or anchoring style and caused two resignations from the anchor and producer of popular prime time shows.
Maya Khan is not just a person, but also a phenomenon, and the growth of such phenomenon is now being impeded by efforts of groups like the CFRM. This development is significant in Pakistan, especially when, to rephrase a CNN report, ‘Media is becoming more powerful than the military.’"
"Take the NRO issue or the Memogate scandal, a massive outrage from the public has constantly been visible. Pakistan now seems ready to hold the state to account, forcing it to live up to its own commitments. Then the lawyers’ movement, with 10 million signatories, was crucial to restore the chief justice. Not just lawyers, but people from all walks of life took to the streets till the goal was accomplished. A lot happened in between but the resistance could not overcome collective civilian participation. It was the civil society in Pakistan that brought about the change from authoritarianism to democracy. We need to explore how quietly and steadfastly their efforts are having a transformative impact. And whether civil society can help dismantle the power, political and monetary concentration by the military. Pakistan may not have free and independent media yet but behind the barricades and across the checkposts, the civil society is learning how to self-liberate."
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main51.asp?filename=Ws110212Lessons.asp
Here's an Associated Press report on Pakistan's assertive judiciary challenging the military and civilian leadership:
....Some believe the court’s actions are part of a necessary, if messy, rebalancing in a country that has long been dominated by the army or seen chaotic periods of rule by corrupt politicians. Others view the court as just another unaccountable institution undermining the elected government.
The army has been the principal point of contact for the U.S. in the decade since it resuscitated ties with Pakistan to help with the Afghan war. While the army remains the strongest Pakistani institution, recent events indicate it has ceded some of that power to the Supreme Court and the country’s civilian leaders.
The Supreme Court’s activism was on full display Monday.
The court charged Pakistan’s prime minister with contempt for refusing to reopen an old corruption case against the president. Later, it ordered two military intelligence agencies to explain why they held seven suspected militants in allegedly harsh conditions for 18 months without charges.
Some government supporters have accused the court of acting on the army’s behalf to topple the country’s civilian leaders, especially in a case probing whether the government sent a memo to Washington last year asking for help in stopping a supposed military coup.
But no evidence has surfaced to support that allegation, and the court’s moves against the military seem to conflict with the theory. The judges have also taken up a case pending for 15 years in which the army’s powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency, or ISI, is accused of funneling money to political parties to influence national elections.
The court’s actions against the army are a significant turnaround. For much of Pakistan’s nearly 65-year history, the court has been pliant to the army’s demands and validated three coups carried out by the generals.
The Pakistani media have largely applauded the court’s activism against the army, which has also had its power checked by a more active media and the demands of a bloody war against a domestic Taliban insurgency.
“I think the Supreme Court is going too far,” said Pakistani political analyst Hasan-Askari Rizvi. “In the past, it was the army that would remove the civilian government, and now it’s the Supreme Court, another unelected institution trying to overwhelm elected leadership.”
Supreme Court justices are appointed by the president based on recommendations from a judicial commission working in conjunction with parliament. The judges can serve until the age of 65 and can be removed only by a judicial council.
The cases have distracted the government from dealing with pressing issues facing the country, including an ailing economy and its battle against the Pakistani Taliban.
Moeed Yusuf, an expert on Pakistan at the United States Institute of Peace, said the jockeying for power between the army, Supreme Court and civilian government was expected given the shifting political landscape and could be beneficial to the country in the long run.
“No country has managed to bypass several phases of such recalibration before they have arrived at a consensual, democratic and accountable system where institutions finally are able to synergize rather than compete endlessly,” Yusuf wrote in a column in Dawn.
“No single group will totally dominate the system,” said Rizvi. “That will slow down decision making further in Pakistan because nobody can take full responsibility for making a decision.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistans-assertive-supreme-court-signals-power-shift-in-vital-us-ally/2012/02/14/gIQAIZHODR_story.html
Here's a Nashua Telegraph report on US Rotarians' planned visit to Pakistan:
Julie Whitcomb of Mont Vernon, president of the Milford Rotary Club, organized the trip after hosting one of five Pakistani Rotarians who visited the Milford area last year.
“They said, ‘We would love to have people from the United States come visit us because we need you guys to see how it is in Pakistan for real,’ ” she said.
Aside from making personal connections, the group is pursuing several projects.
Sampson, who is head librarian in Mont Vernon, is working to establish a book-exchange program that will provide books and writing supplies for children, which the Milford club plans to make an ongoing project.
Veterinarian Shelley Brooks of Mont Vernon is working to establish a textbook-exchange program between New Hampshire veterinarians and the University of Veterinary and Animals Sciences in Lahore. And Whitcomb’s husband, Matt Gelbwaks, a business consultant, will hold some business seminars.
Sampson said she signed up for the visit after she and her husband, Frank Corey, hosted one of five Pakistani members of Rotary last year.
“I had very little notion of what Pakistan was, just what you see on the TV news,” she said. “Everyone assumed everyone there is like the people we saw on the news, but it couldn’t be further from the truth.”
The Pakistanis toured the Milford police station to get an idea of American law enforcement and visited a Milford insurance agency and propane and oil dealers to get an idea of how business is done. They also visited the casinos in Connecticut to see some of the louder aspects of American life in action.
“It sounds corny, but their visit was one of the more meaningful experiences I’ve ever had. I couldn’t imagine going the rest of my life, never seeing them again,” Sampson said.
This is exactly the goal of the Rotary International program called GSE, or group study exchange. GSE sends thousands of members of Rotary clubs, usually young professionals, around the world each year to stay with each other and make connections which would otherwise never happen.
The connection between southern New Hampshire and Pakistan began when Rick Manganello of the Nashua Rotary club, who at the time was district governor for some 60 Rotary chapters in New Hampshire and Vermont, met some Pakistani Rotarians at a conference.
Although he knew little about the country except that it is one of the fastest-growing countries in Rotary – Pakistan recently divided into two districts because so many new chapters are opening – he was impressed enough from those meetings and subsequent connections that he and his wife visited Pakistan last March for a district conference.
The people there, he said, solidified his desire to make connections.
“They were warm, interesting, friendly,” said Manganello, CEO of Windmill International, a software firm. “I really can’t say enough about them.”
He also was prompted by the fact that most Americans know nothing of Pakistan doesn’t extend beyond news of terrorism.
“The idea is to build bridges, to help bring peace – and Pakistan is a place to build peace,” Manganello said.
As for the question of personal safety, he isn’t too concerned because of the structure of Rotary visits.
“I didn’t consider Pakistan anymore threatening than Honduras or Haiti, where we’ve been many times,” Manganello said. “You’re fairly safe, traveling in small groups, staying in homes of Rotarians. You’re not in big Western hotels, you’re not too visible.”
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/950239-196/pakistan-trip-lets-locals-see-need.html
Here's an excerpt from Pakistani blogger Huma Yousuf's post on "Where Extremes Meet"
The forces that compete to shape contemporary Pakistan were in plain sight in Karachi last Sunday. While at a posh creek-side hotel, literary glitterati from Pakistan and India and the South Asian diaspora in Britain and beyond gathered for the third annual Karachi Literature Festival, at the mausoleum of Pakistan’s founder, the symbolic center of the city, the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (D.P.C.), a coalition of more than 40 religious political parties and extremist groups, drew thousands to its first rally in Karachi.
In short, for all their ideological diversity, the liberal left and the extremist right now agree that Pakistan needs to better protect its interests and negotiate a more equitable partnership with the United States. This consensus could be the basis for a new national discourse that engages the viewpoints of all stakeholders. After all, a shared vision for the country could help bridge its ethnic and sectarian fractures.
But as NATO supply lines reopen this week and a national security committee dithers about how to reframe the U.S.-Pakistani relationship, coherent policymaking still seems far off. Pakistan’s leaders simply have too little interest in representing the views of their constituents, no matter how similar those are.
http://latitude.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/pakistans-liberals-and-fundamentalists-share-worries-about-countrys-future/
Here's a Guardian piece on Pakistan's film industry:
It claims to not only be the most anticipated film in the history of Pakistan, but to be based on true events. And, for once, the Hollywood-style hyperbole can be excused. The feature-length action thriller called Waar ("to strike" in Urdu) is eagerly awaited, despite being out of tune with the trend for movies packed with singing and dancing.
Waar is coming to cinemas in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi and even the restive frontier city of Peshawar later this year. The trailer was viewed more than 500,000 times in the first month when posted on YouTube in January, entering the website's top five videos.
Inspired by real events such as a Muslim extremist assault on a Pakistani police academy in 2009, the film follows a team of anti-terrorist police officers who, with time running out, try to stop a new attack. But the subject matter is not the only attraction, say local critics. With its slick production and use of digital technology, the film, reportedly the country's most expensive ever, is a long way from the staples of local cinema.
"Waar is very, very new," says Sher Ali Khan, film reporter for the Express Tribune newspaper.
In recent years, there has been a series of films dealing with edgy subjects in Pakistan but these were made by, and watched by, the westernised middle classes. "So far the masses haven't accepted these new kind of films. They have catered to the westernised upper middle class. Popular tastes have stayed with the standard styles of plot and production," says Khan. "Waar can be considered the first new wave film to go mainstream."
However, along with Waar, a whole series of similar films is being readied for release in coming months.
One is Kaptaan, a cinematic rendering of the recent life of Imran Khan, the cricketer turned politician who currently tops popularity polls in Pakistan. The film will cover Khan's life since retiring from sport 20 years ago and will dramatise his entry into politics as well as his failed marriage to Jemima Goldsmith, who is played by a Pakistan-American actress.
Tareen is producing Tamanna (Desire), a drama exploring class, adultery and, through flashbacks, the heyday of Lollywood. "It is neither action-based nor Bollywood-style. It is much more a pure drama with a narrative telling the story of three individuals," she says.
Sanaa Ahmed, a film journalist in Pakistan, sees the new developments in Pakistan as part of a broader global trend. "There are a lot of new young people with stories to tell who are figuring out ways to tell it," she says. "It's a new wave."
Lashari says Pakistan needs to "recreate" its cinema. "Everyone here has been following Bollywood but the best we can ever come up with is going to be a B grade knock off. We need to create our own identity," he says.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/17/pakistan-film-fans-prepare-waar
Here's a Dawn report on Lahore Derby in 2012:
THE 66th running of the most cherished annual event of the country’s turf, the Pakistan Derby 2012, scheduled to be run at the Racecourse in Lahore on March 4, has a long tradition to lean on.
A term race for four-year-old colts and fillies, the Derby exemplifies elegance, colour and grandeur and provides a real test of speed, stamina and endurance of the thoroughbreds’ bloodline for the breeders to improve their quality breeding.
It carries the greatest prestige and the biggest slice of prize-money. Derby winner’s purse this year will be rupees half a million plus a glittering trophy.
The colts or fillies occupying second, third and fourth positions will bring for their owners Rs175,000, Rs85,000 and Rs45,000, respectively besides a special prize for the breeder of the winner.
Lahore being the Derby home is at present afflicted with the Derby fever and the quest for picking the probable Derby winner has already started.
In the race club, stables and the restaurants where race fans, owners, trainers are sitting probable Derby runners are the topic of their discussions with special reference to their past record of achievements and track work they are being given in morning exercises.
The Pakistan Derby was instituted in 1947 after the founding of the new country, Pakistan.
Since then, it has become an event for great horses, great jockeys, owners and trainers. The pomp, pageantry and splendour have never been seen on any other occasion.
Before independence, the event was known as the Punjab Derby and according to available official record it was first introduced in 1924 when a group of equine enthusiasts started holding Meeting races at the Lahore Race Club (LRC).
The Derby was not held in 1978 due to shortage of runners.
Later, the Derby distance was reduced to 1,600 metres in 1979 but was increased to 2,000 metres in1980, two years later it was again brought to international standards in 1982.
Since then the Derby has remained the biggest classic and feature event in the country’s racing calendar.
The Derby is a truly unique and colourful occasion that combined highly competitive and very best racing action with a real taste of day-long equine activity, nothing compares in the rest of the year racing.
The event also attracts a bumper crowd of sports fans, mostly those who otherwise never attend races.
The Pakistan Derby over the 65 years of its inception has both sweet and sour memories.
Among owners, who were lucky to have won the Derby more than once are: H.O. Hay’s, Nawab Jamal Khan Leghari, Sardar Mohammad Khan Leghari, Sardar Ata Mohammad Khan Leghari, H.S. Khawaja, Syed Shah Mardan Shah II, Pir Pagaro VII, Khalida Yasmeen Khan, Zafar Yousuf Khan, Syed Pervez Shah, Sohrab Khan and M. Attiq.
Pir Pagaro had the distinction of winning the Derby four times as a single owner in the country.
Only three women owners have so far won the Derby. They are: Sahibzadi Fareeda Begum, Syeda Abida Hussain and Khalida Yasmeen.
The more fortunate among trainers to win the Derby more than once are: Tymon, Shaukat Ali, Captain Jack Fownes, Khuda Bux Peshamby, M.H. Shah, Fateh Khan, Mohammad Ashraf, Haji Fazal Hadi, Raja Mohammad Azad and Amjad Ali II.
Among the jockeys, the feat has been achieved by Faiz Mohammad, S. Laloo, Bill Alford, Khadim Hussain, F. Hussain, Christopher Fownes, A. Razzaq, Memrez, Flatcher, Salahuddin II, Aamir Pervez and Shahid Rehman.
Jockeys Flatcher and Shahid Rehman are tied up at the top Derby winners with five Derby wins each, Jockey Faiz Mohammad and Salahuddin II four times each are the next in the line.
Many of the lucky owners, trainers and jockeys are not with us today but their names will live in the annals of racing forever.
http://www.dawn.com/2012/02/25/competitive-pakistan-derby-has-a-long-tradition.html
Here's a DNA piece on Western misconceptions about Pakistan:
When Peter Oborne first arrived in Pakistan, he expected a 'savage' backwater scarred by terrorism.
Years later, he describes the Pakistan that is barely documented - and that he came to fall in love with
It was my first evening in Pakistan. My hosts, a Lahore banker and his charming wife, wanted to show me the sights, so they took me to a restaurant on the roof of a town house in the Old City.
My food was delicious, the conversation sparky - and from our vantage point we enjoyed a perfect view of the Badshahi Mosque, which was commissioned by the emperor Aurangzeb in 1671.
It was my first inkling of a problem. I had been dispatched to write a report reflecting the common perception that Pakistan is one of the most backward and savage countries in the world. This attitude has been hard-wired into Western reporting for years and is best summed up by the writing of the iconic journalist Christopher Hitchens. Shortly before he died last December, Hitchens wrote a piece in Vanity Fair that bordered on racism.
Pakistan, he said, was "humourless, paranoid, insecure, eager to take offence and suffering from self-righteousness, self-pity and self-hatred". In summary, asserted Hitchens, Pakistan was one of the "vilest and most dangerous regions on Earth".
Since my first night in that Lahore restaurant I have travelled through most of Pakistan, got to know its cities, its remote rural regions and even parts of the lawless north. Of course there is some truth in Hitchens's brash assertions. Since 2006 alone, more than 14,000 Pakistani civilians have been killed in terrorist attacks. The Pakistan political elite is corrupt, self-serving, hypocritical and cowardly - as Pakistanis themselves are well aware. And a cruel intolerance is entering public discourse, as the appalling murder last year of minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti after he spoke out for Christians so graphically proves. Parts of the country have become impassable except at risk of kidnap or attack.
Many write of how dangerous Pakistan has become. More remarkable, by far, is how safe it remains, thanks to the strength and good humour of its people. The image of the average Pakistani citizen as a religious fanatic or a terrorist is simply a libel, the result of ignorance and prejudice.
The prejudice against Pakistan dates back to before 9/11. It is summed up best by the England cricketer Ian Botham's notorious comment that "Pakistan is the sort of place every man should send his mother-in-law to, for a month, all expenses paid". Some years after Botham's outburst, the Daily Mirror had the inspired idea of sending Botham's mother-in-law Jan Waller to Pakistan - all expenses paid - to see what she made of the country.
Unlike her son-in-law, Mrs Waller had the evidence of her eyes before her: "The country and its people have absolutely blown me away," said the 68-year-old grandmother.
After a trip round Lahore's old town she said: "I could not have imagined seeing some of the sights I have seen today. They were indefinable and left me feeling totally humbled and totally privileged." She concluded: "All I would say is: 'Mothers-in-law of the world, unite and go to Pakistan. Because you'll love it'. Honestly!"
Mrs Waller is telling the truth. And if you don't believe me, please visit and find out for yourself.
http://www.dnaindia.com/world/report_are-we-wrong-about-pakistan_1655373-all
Here's a report in The News on Pakistan's growing life sciences and biotech sectors:
Pakistan is a growing market for life sciences and biotechnologies, and a country where they, as well as public health research and related fields, have great potentials for beneficial social, economic and health impacts. Multilateral cooperation of Pakistan with international partners such as European Union (EU) could significantly increase the footprint of this impact.
These views were expressed by Professor Maurizio Martellini, Secretary General of the Landau Network-Centro Volta and Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Insubria (Como, Italy), at an in-house talk, organised by the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI) on the subject titled ‘Conceptualizing a future cooperation with Pakistan in Bio and Health sectors’.
Elaborating the prospects of cooperation, Prof. Maurizio took stock of Pakistan’s biotechnology and medical industry and said that research in academia is rapidly developing; publications by Pakistani research teams rose to four-folds in the last decade, and the majority of publications from major universities come from the life sciences.
He said that university departments in Pakistan dealing with life science research amount to over 200, with increasing numbers in general and particularly in the biotechnologies and applied science sectors. He was of the view that Pakistan’s biotechnology industry seems also to have been a priority for the government support and in 2010 the country boasted its first biotech plant.
Outlining his vision for cooperation, Prof Maurizio said that cooperation projects which are sustainable in both policy and financial terms should increase the S&T exchanges, favour socio-economical impacts of scientific and technological improvements, and implement improved safety and security good practices and standards, all with medium- and long-term strategies and objectives.
Dr Maria Sultan, Director General SASSI, in her remarks stated that the Pakistan will welcome the cooperation in the bio-safety and security field, however, it requires more broad-based understanding of global concerns and Pakistan’s requirements in this field. Highlighting issues of importance from the Pakistani side she said there is a need to develop a national framework which would encompass the entire scale of pathogens as well as possible gaps in the bio-safety and security area and development of a community of bio-safety in Pakistan for more societal awareness about the issue as well as to include all stakeholders especially the factors which are linked to the bio-economy in Pakistan. She said that the emphasis of cooperation should balance between research and development (R &D) sector in high-tech bio-sciences and bio-safety aspects for disease eradication and epidemic eradication programmes and capacity building in surveillance and equipment for the bio-security and safety mechanism in the country and the international collaborative programmes. She said Pakistani bio-engagement programmes if they are to be run have to rest on the policy of transparency and sustainability aimed at developing bio-economy in Pakistan and the region. Subsequent sanctions on its bio-technology sector could in the future retard or restrict the Pakistan’s capacity to fully utilise its immense potential. The international community should take this matter in account as well, she said.....
http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=94991&Cat=6
Here's a Daily Times story on Karachi Textile Expo 2012:
The textile sector is likely to fetch more than $45 million export orders during three-day 9th Textile Asia 2012 International Exhibition, textile experts said Saturday.
During previous international event in 2011, Pakistan fetched more than $31 million worth of orders for different categories of textile products, they added.
Adviser to Prime Minister on Textile Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig inaugurated the 9th Textile Asia 2012 event at Karachi Expo Centre.
It is the largest annual textile and garment machinery show of textile industry of Pakistan.
This year more than 276 exhibitors from 39 countries representing 369 international brands are participating in the event.
Besides a large number of textile sector’s representatives along with 271 foreign delegates are attending the exhibition.
The demand for textiles in the world is around $18 trillion, which is likely to be increased by 6.5 percent. China is the leading textile exporter of the world’s total exports of $400 billion.
Export of China stands at $55 billion, Hong Kong $38 billion, Korea $35 billion, Taiwan $16 billion, and Indonesia and Pakistan $14 billion.
Pakistan has emerged as one of the major cotton textile product suppliers in the world market with a share of world yarn trade of about 30 percent and cotton fabric about 8.0 percent, having total export of $13.8 billion, which accounts for only 1.2 percent of the overall share. Out of this cotton fabric is 0.02 percent, made-ups 0.18 percent and garments is 0.15 percent.
Textile sector is the backbone of the country’s economy having 56 percent of total exports and 38 percent job creation in the manufacturing sector. Nearly all the world-renowned brands are manufactured in Pakistan keeping high standard of international quality and competitiveness.
Pakistan is the fourth largest producer of cotton yarn and cloth in the world after China, which is number one besides, Pakistan ranks second in export of yarn and third in export of cloth and fourth largest producer and consumer of raw cotton.
The textile sector in 2011 has registered an impressive growth of 38 percent and it was expected after European Union’s (EU) duty free export of 75 products from Pakistan out of which 65 are textile products, the sector would fetch more than $25 billion export target. The EU facility is initially for two years, extendable for third year after which Pakistan would quality for Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) plus status to export duty free to EU as per revised criteria agreed with EU.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\03\11\story_11-3-2012_pg5_12
Here's an AP report on launch of local version of an international glossy magazine in Pakistan:
Pakistan is better known for bombs than bombshells, militant compounds than opulent estates. A few enterprising Pakistanis hope to alter that perception with the launch of a local version of the well-known celebrity magazine Hello!.
They plan to profile Pakistan’s rich and famous: the dashing cricket players, voluptuous Bollywood stars and powerful politicians who dominate conversation in the country’s ritziest private clubs and lowliest tea stalls. They also hope to discover musicians, fashion designers and other new talents who have yet to become household names.
“The side of Pakistan that is projected time and time again is negative,” said Zahraa Saifullah, the CEO of Hello! Pakistan. “There is a glamorous side of Pakistan, and we want to tap into that.”
Pakistan already has a series of local publications that chronicle the lives of the wellheeled in major cities like Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, especially as they hop between lavish parties. But the producers of Hello! Pakistan hope the magazine’s international brand and greater depth will attract followers.
Hello! was launched in 1988 by the publisher of Spain’s Hola! magazine and is now published in 150 countries. It’s well-known for its extensive coverage of Britain’s royal family and once paid $14 million in a joint deal with People magazine for exclusive pictures of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s newborn twins.
The market for English-language publications in Pakistan is fairly small. Most monthly and weekly magazines sell no more than 3,000 copies, said Khan, the consulting editor. But they hope to tap into the large Pakistani expatriate markets in the United Kingdom and the Middle East as well.
Hello! Pakistan will be published once a month and will cost about $5.50, twice as much as what many poor Pakistanis earn in a day. The first issue will be published in mid-April and will focus on the Pakistani fashion scene.
Saifullah, who grew up watching her mother and grandmother read Hello! as she hopped between London and Karachi, said it took her two years to convince the magazine to publish a local version in Pakistan....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/say-hello-to-pakistans-glamorous-side-as-famous-celebrity-magazine-launches-in-the-country/2012/03/24/gIQAtkbIYS_story.html
Here are excerpts of a Bloomberg piece by Indian journalist Pankaj Mishra on Pakistan's "unplanned revolution":
However, I also saw much in this recent visit that did not conform to the main Western narrative for South Asia -- one in which India is steadily rising and Pakistan rapidly collapsing.
Born of certain geopolitical needs and exigencies, this vision was always most useful to those who have built up India as an investment destination and a strategic counterweight to China, and who have sought to bribe and cajole Pakistan’s military-intelligence establishment into the war on terrorism.
Seen through the narrow lens of the West’s security and economic interests, the great internal contradictions and tumult within these two large nation-states disappear. In the Western view, the credit-fueled consumerism among the Indian middle class appears a much bigger phenomenon than the extraordinary Maoist uprising in Central India.
Traveling through Pakistan, I realized how much my own knowledge of the country -- its problems as well as prospects -- was partial, defective or simply useless. Certainly, truisms about the general state of crisis were not hard to corroborate. Criminal gangs shot rocket-propelled grenades at each other and the police in Karachi’s Lyari neighborhood. Shiite Hazaras were being assassinated in Balochistan every day. Street riots broke out in several places over severe power shortages -- indeed, the one sound that seemed to unite the country was the groan of diesel generators, helping the more affluent Pakistanis cope with early summer heat.
Gangsters with Kalashnikovs
In this eternally air-conditioned Pakistan, meanwhile, there exist fashion shows, rock bands, literary festivals, internationally prominent writers, Oscar-winning filmmakers and the bold anchors of a lively new electronic media. This is the glamorously liberal country upheld by English-speaking Pakistanis fretting about their national image in the West (some of them might have been gratified by the runaway success of Hello magazine’s first Pakistani edition last week).
But much less conspicuous and more significant, other signs of a society in rapid socioeconomic and political transition abounded. The elected parliament is about to complete its five- year term -- a rare event in Pakistan -- and its amendments to the constitution have taken away some if not all of the near- despotic prerogatives of the president’s office.
Political parties are scrambling to take advantage of the strengthening ethno-linguistic movements for provincial autonomy in Punjab and Sindh provinces. Young men and women, poor as well as upper middle class, have suddenly buoyed the anti-corruption campaign led by Imran Khan, an ex-cricketer turned politician.
After radically increasing the size of the consumerist middle class to 30 million, Pakistan’s formal economy, which grew only 2.4 percent in 2011, currently presents a dismal picture. But the informal sector of the economy, which spreads across rural and urban areas, is creating what the architect and social scientist Arif Hasan calls Pakistan’s “unplanned revolution.” Karachi, where a mall of Dubai-grossness recently erupted near the city’s main beach, now boasts “a first world economy and sociology, but with a third world wage and political structure.”
Even in Lyari, Karachi’s diseased old heart, where young gangsters with Kalashnikovs lurked in the alleys, billboards vended quick proficiency in information technology and the English language. Everywhere, in the Salt Range in northwestern Punjab as well as the long corridor between Lahore and Islamabad, were gated housing colonies, private colleges, fast- food restaurants and other markers of Pakistan’s breakneck suburbanization....
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-22/pakistan-s-unplanned-revolution-rewrites-its-future.html
Here's Washington Post on International Dance Day celebration in Pakistan:
LAHORE, Pakistan — In an auditorium at a luxury hotel here the other day, an artistic spectacle unfolded that once would have been unimaginable: Women and men danced together.
The occasion was International Dance Day, and to celebrate it, the Pakistan National Council of the Arts put on a cultural show in which young performers displayed different ethnic dance traditions. It is still rare in Pakistan to see any sort of public dancing that commingles the sexes, a legacy of the conservative Islamic policies imposed during the military rule of Gen. Mohammed Zia ul-Haq from 1978 to 1988.
“Pakistan has very rich folk dance traditions,” said Sughra Sadaf, director of the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture. She is among those working to promote traditional dance from the diverse regions of Pakistan, including Balochi dance, Pashtun dance, Sindhi dance, and Bhangra, which is Punjabi in origin.
Even today, the mixing of men and women dancers on the same stage can cause surprise. At another Pakistan National Council of the Arts event in March in Islamabad, the program featured a troupe of men and women performing an illustration of the evolution of dance on the subcontinent.
The men wearing salwars and tunics twirled, arms extended, in the fashion of whirling dervishes. Women loosened their waist-length hair to perform during a Sufi dance.
At one point an audience member turned to another and said: “Men and women dancing on stage together. Imagine that.”
Chaudhry Asif, deputy director of the Lahore Arts Council, said he has never felt pressure from extremists or the government to cancel or postpone activities, “but sometimes we are compelled to do it.”....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/pakistan-dancers-put-on-a-rare-performance/2012/05/07/gIQAPxor8T_story.html
Here's a special CNN report on a Pakistani village by Wajahat Ali:
This is a story affecting millions of Pakistanis — and it does not involve suicide bombings, honor killings, extremism or President Zardari's mustache.
"What would you like to be when you grow up?" I asked Sakafat, a boisterous 12-year-old girl, while visiting a remote Pakistani village in the Sindh province.
"A scientist!" she immediately replied. "Why can't we be scientists? Why not us?"
The confident Sakafat lives in Abdul Qadir Lashari village, which is home to 500 people in Mirpur Sakro. It is in one of the most impoverished regions of Pakistan.
There was a characteristic resilience and optimism in this particular village. This should come as no surprise to anyone who knows anything about Pakistan's often dysfunctional, surreal yet endearing daily existence.
The 500 villagers live in 48 small huts, except for the one "wealthy" family who recently built a home made of concrete. The village chief, Abdul Qadir Lashari, proudly showed off his village's brand-new community toilets, paved roads, and water pump that brings fresh water to the village.
These simple, critical amenities, taken for granted by most of us in the West, resulted from the direct assistance of the Rural Support Programmes Network, Pakistan's largest nongovernmental organization. RSPN has worked with thousands of similar Pakistani villages to help them achieve economic self-sufficiency.
I visited the Sindh village with RSPN to witness the results of using community organizing to alleviate poverty. The staff told me its goal was to teach villagers to "fish for themselves."
Every household in the Abdul Qadir Lashari village was able to reach a profit by the end of 2011 as a result of professional skills training, financial management, community leadership workshops and microloans.
Specifically, a middle-aged, illiterate woman proudly told me how she learned sewing and financial management and was thus able to increase her household revenue, manage her bills, and use a small profit to purchase an extra cow for the family. She was excited to introduce me to her cow, but sadly due to lack of time I was unable to make the bovine acquaintance.
Asked what single thing she felt was most important most for her village, she replied education. Upon asking another elderly lady what she wishes for Pakistan, she repeated one word three times: "sukoon," which means peace.
When it was time to depart, the people of the village presented me with a beautiful handmade Sindhi shawl, an example of the craftwork the villagers are now able to sell for profit.
As I left the village with the dark red, traditional Sindhi shawl adorned around my neck, my thoughts returned to the 12-year-old girl, Sakafat, who passionately asked why she couldn't become a scientist.
I looked in her eyes and could only respond with the following: "You're right. You can be anything you want to be. And I have every confidence you will, inshallah ("God willing"), reach your manzil ("desired destination").
By focusing on education and local empowerment to lift the next generation out of poverty, Sakafat's dream could indeed one day become a reality for all of Pakistan.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/13/world/asia/pakistan-empowerment/index.html
Here's an ET report on revival of Pakistani cinema:
There’s been a lot of hue and cry about the decline of Pakistani cinema, but with a number of feature films under production and a lot of TV directors switching to films, the situation is expected to drastically change and the industry may get its much-needed overhaul. Here is a list of all those projects which are currently under production.
Faisal Aman Khan
Faisal Aman Khan, an independent film-maker who is based in the UK, is directing Kaptaan, a biographical film about the life of Pakistani politician, social worker and former cricketer Imran Khan. Although TOI reported that the film was in post-production stage in 2011, its release date has been moved from February to fall.
Jaami
Music director Jamshed Mahmood Ansari, better known as Jaami, has impressed us lately with his work. From “Mein Tou Dekhoonga” to “Bum Phatta”, Jaami has come at par with the likes of Saqib Malik, who is one of the most established directors of Pakistan but hasn’t been contributing to the music video scenario lately.
Jaami, who has slowly and gradually come to the fore by directing music videos, is all set to make his own film. Unlike most film-makers, who are known to keep their films consistently in the “pre-production phase”, Jaami has already completed one spell of his shoot and the director, along with his crew members, was seen last winter shooting in Muslim Bagh, a place near Quetta. Rumour has it that the second spell of the shoot is about to begin and filming locations are spread out all over Pakistan. We have very high expectations from Jaami.
Yasir Nawaz and Ismail Jilani
Chameli is the brainchild of Ismail Jillani, who has worked for a leading private channel earlier and produced famous documentaries and shows like “George Ka Pakistan” and Yasir Nawaz, who recently made Bhaag Amina Bhaag. For now, we don’t exactly know what to expect from the duo but one thing is for sure, the film will be a commercial venture.
Nadeem Mandviwalla
Nadeem Mandviwalla, who is the owner of Mandviwalla Entertainment, which is responsible for some of the key cinemas in the country and distributes films throughout Pakistan, is now producing a film which is being funded by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR). It revolves around the life of one of Pakistan Army’s martyrs. Although the name of the director is not confirmed yet, one expects hordes of people walking into cinemas when a name like Mandviwalla is involved.
Humayun Saeed
With a CV that boasts walking the ramps for top designers, acting in several dramas, featuring in various commercials, and owning one of the most noticeable drama production companies in Pakistan, the last thing left for Humayun Saeed to do is to make a film. And he’s doing just that with Main Hun Shahid Afridi that revolves around a boy’s struggles in his journey to become a cricketer. The script has been written by well-known TV writer Vasay Chaudhry and will be directed by Osama Ali Raza.
Iram Parveen Bilal
Iram Parveen Bilal, who shares her name with that of Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor’s character in Agent Vinod, has wrapped up the shoot of her film Josh. The film stars model Aaminah Sheikh and RJ and actor Khalid Malik amongst many others and should release. In the past, Bilal took her last short film Poshak to different exhibitions and festivals around the world and brought Pakistan a lot of fame.
Bilal Lashari and Bodhicitta Film Works
http://tribune.com.pk/story/379141/pakistani-cinema-promising-projects-in-the-pipeline/
Here's Google Chairman Eric Schmidt's assessment after his recent Pakistan visit--Part I:
Pakistan, a Muslim country, has spent about half of its independent life under military governments. Today, Pakistani leadership celebrates the ruling coalitions success in almost finishing the first five year term in history (previous leaders indicted by the courts, assassinated by extremists or brushed aside by the generals.) In meetings last week with the senior General, Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, they made the case for a new and updated image of Pakistan: one of the largest democracies in the world, with a vibrant and open press, an upcoming demographic dividend of hardworking young people, and a highly educated elite leadership of the country. Islamabad and Lahore, where we visited, were relatively safe and certainly safer than Afghanistan. It was clear to us that Pakistan has an image problem.
Pakistan also has a power problem, as in electric power. Power is now off two hours out of three all day and all night. Estimates are that the country has enough generation capacity (hydro and oil based) to handle all the load, but corruption, power stealing, poor payment rates and the classic mistake of underpricing power compared to its real generation cost means that industrial production is threatened. Everyone of means has a UPS, and the air-conditioning seldom works on a 45 Celcius day. Our meetings often were literally in the dark, a common enough occurrence that people did not even remark about it.
Pakistanis are on their way to full mobile penetration with more than 110 million users, and all effective political communication programs now rely on SMS. 3G licenses are underway and the start of a real software industry can be seen.
Against this backdrop, another side of Pakistan emerges. The consensus is that the military drives the foreign policy of the country with unforeseen consequences. Alleged use of extremist groups to fight in Kashmir enables a criminal element to flourish, and the hosting of the Taliban in the autonomous regions (called FATA) to the north and west in the mountains turned an ungoverned area into a very dangerous area. The Army Generals explained the difference between fundamentalism (which they support) and extremism (which they fight), and the political leadership explained that the extremism now comes from “seminaries” where youth are indoctrinated, housed and fed in the rural areas where there are no opportunities at all.
Until recently a strong US ally, Pakistan is now on very good terms with China, and has improving relations with India (with whom they have had three wars.) The development of a nuclear stalemate between India and Pakistan seems to have forced them to pursue accommodation and trade is now increasing rapidly. The press are generally hyper-critical of the United States policies in the region and take the view that the India-US relationship is driving much of our countries behavior. The drone strikes are universally condemned as a violation of sovereignty and their constitution and are subject to much negotiation between the two countries. The bin Laden raid is viewed with strikingly different perspectives in the two countries.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/104233435224873922474/posts/4UcNomnhipX
Here's Google Chairman Eric Schmidt's assessment after his recent Pakistan visit--Part II:
...We met a number of impressive Pakistanis, none more so than Masarrat Misbah of Smile Again. Every year, hundreds of young rural women have acid thrown on their faces by men as punishment for some dishonor, including being raped by the men who pour acid on her. This horrific crime, which often leads to death or blindness, requires painful rehabilitation and rebuilding of the woman’s life. Masarrat Misbah’s home in Lahore provides a temporary safe house. The perpetrators, most often direct family members, are seldom prosecuted and almost never convicted of anything. I will never forget the faces of these shy, young women so grievously injured in such an evil way.
Much of what people say and think about Pakistan is absolutely true for most of the FATA provinces (autonomous areas) and for Baluchistan. Pakistan's image problem results from the fact that people outside the country believe the realities of North and South Waziristan and Quetta are reflective of what the larger country looks like. Islamabad and Lahore are certainly safer than people realize, unless you are a politician (many prominent politicians still suffer assassination attempts and threats inside these cities).
Pakistan's major security challenge comes from having two many fronts. FATA represents a Haqqani network and Taliban problem, threatening the establishment in Islamabad. Baluchistan is a persistent separatist movement. Afghanistan is a threat because Pashtuns are allowed to go back and forth undocumented. All of this, including India, is simply too much for a government like Pakistan to take on right now.
We ultimately see three Pakistans: 1) The places where the security issues are true (FATA, Baluchistan, parts of SWAT Valley, and Kashmir); 2) the rest of Pakistan for the average citizen, much larger than the first and which is reasonably misunderstood and relatively safe; 3) The politician's and military's Pakistan, which whether in FATA or Islamabad, is turbulent, unsafe, and complex.
There is a good case for optimism about Pakistan, simply because of the large emergent middle class (#2). The country, vast, tribal and complicated, can follow the more successful model of India. Connectivity changes the rural experience completely.. illiteracy at 43% can be overcome relatively quickly, and providing information alternatives can dissuade young males from a life of terrorism. The well educated elite can decide to further reform the countries institutions to increase confidence in the government. The war in Afghanistan, destabilizing to Pakistan in many ways, winds down after 2014 and buys time for Pakistan to address its real and continuing internal terrorism threat (more than 30,000 civilian terror deaths in the decade.)
Technology can help in other ways as well. The power problem is mostly a tracking problem (tracing corruption and mis-distribution). The problem of extreme crimes (like acid, or stoning) in poorly policed regions can be mitigated with videos and exposes that shame authorities into prosecution. The corruption problem can be tracked and traced using mobile money and transparent government finances. We met with clever Pakistani entrepreneurs who will build large, new businesses in Pakistan in the next few years and global multinational will locate sales and eventually manufacturing in the country.
The emergent middle class of Pakistan won’t settle for a corrupt system with constant terrorism and will push for reforms in a burgeoning democracy. Here’s to the new civil society of Pakistan, who will use connectivity, information and the Internet, to drive a peaceful revolution that brings Pakistan up to its true potential.
Here's a piece on Shehzad Roy's "Chal Parha" GeoTV series to improve education in Pakistan:
Last month, well-known Pakistani pop star, Shehzad Roy made an appearance at Harvard to talk about music, activism and his new documentary series, Chal Parha (Urdu for: Come, Teach), which highlights the extensive issues plaguing Pakistan’s education system.
Having visited over 200 schools across the country, in an interview with DAWN, Roy stated: “In each episode we highlight an issue from public schools, for example, corporal punishment, medium of instruction, population, textbooks, curriculum, teachers.”
He added, “I want to share the lessons that we have learnt; both good and ugly. We want people to know the obstacles standing in the way of improving the structure of education in government schools while also highlighting the remarkable individuals committed to the teaching profession. These people prove the power of individual efforts.”
Broadcast on a local television channel, GEO TV, the show has gained immense popularity, fast making an impact in a country where, according to the non-profit Alif Ailaan, the government spends just 2.4 percent of its national GDP on education and where just over half of children enroll in primary school.
Mariam Chughtai, the founder of Harvard’s Pakistan Student Group told The Diplomat that the singer was invited primarily because the student group “is committed to changing the discourse on Pakistan at Harvard from one of terrorism and challenges, to that of resilience, art and social change.”
“[Roy] embodied for us an activist who is using music to make an impact on the ground, which is why his discussants, Professor Ali Asani and I were able to have a conversation with him in light of how artists have historically played a key role in keeping governments and rulers accountable,” Chughtai said.
“Roy himself spoke of the main learnings he has had in his journey of Chal Parha, including clippings from his show which illustrated these learnings. They represented both strengths and weaknesses of society in being ready for change on education.”
Alongside his music career, which, over the past couple of years, has veered sharply into the direction of socio-political commentary, Roy has managed to rather successfully integrate both his music and humanitarian work
Roy told Dawn, “We have installed thumb-printing attendance machines in the five provinces to bring transparency to the issue of teacher absenteeism. We are now collecting this data and are happy to report that teacher attendance has increased considerably in these schools. Similarly, in the episode on corporal punishment, we are proposing a law banning physical abuse in schools and we plan to diligently pursue this issue in the media.”
http://thediplomat.com/the-pulse/2013/05/16/shehzad-roy-fighting-for-change-in-pakistani-education/
The butterfly effect: Helping Pakistan’s children emerge from their cocoon
The human brain is one of nature’s most fascinating and mysterious creations, with its full potential still unknown. And Prof Tony Buzan is on a quest to understand how it works.
Buzan and his team have picked Pakistan as the starting point for their Butterfly Universe Initiative, a global movement for mental literacy that focuses upon ‘learning how to learn’. The project aims to unleash the potential of five million children in the country by 2020 through mind mapping.
“Our goal is to have a mentally literate world, and for that, everyone must think,” explains Buzan, the inventor of the mind mapping method and a Nobel Peace Prize nominee in 2014. History, according to him, has witnessed every developed country being led by critical thinking — and the creativity and energy he sees in Pakistan’s people makes him think it is the perfect place to begin his mission.
“In this digital age, there are manuals for everything but our brains,” says Buzan. “Our vision is simple: learn how to understand your brain.”
There are three things he looks for in the teachers selected for his project: the ability to imagine, the vision to daydream and the passion to educate. “We as a team gave a formula to our master trainers to train teachers, who will further teach students to broaden their mental horizons and see the flip side of the picture.”
Over the course of the project, the teachers will be shown how to open up their minds, like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon. “The beautiful, vibrant butterfly we see was not always that way — it was a caterpillar that went through the stages of transformation,” Tariq Qureishy, the CEO of Vantage Holding and founder of 100% MAD (Make A Difference), draws a butterfly on a piece of paper to illustrate his point. “Unfortunately, our system never lets our teachers and students evolve beyond the cocoon.”
He hastens to add that the children are not at fault — it is the system and the teachers that share equal responsibility. “Our project is unique because we try to make learning for fun for children and teaching interesting for teachers.”
One thousand trained teachers from four different schooling systems, including The Citizens Foundation and The City School, have already started promoting mind mapping within their schools. “We are targeting 100 schools for a year, where teachers get two hours of training every evening and the students learn through a full-day training programme on Saturdays,” Qureishy shares the plan for the project’s initial phase.
“It is believed that if a butterfly flaps its wings in one place, it can cause a hurricane weeks later in a distant location,” says Qureishy. “The 1,000 butterflies that we have trained have started flapping their wings. It is only a matter of time before the rest of the world joins in.”
http://tribune.com.pk/story/858975/the-butterfly-effect-helping-pakistans-children-emerge-from-their-cocoon/
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I am the Founder and President of PakAlumni Worldwide, a global social network for Pakistanis, South Asians and their friends. I also served as Chairman of the NEDians Convention 2007. In addition to being a South Asia watcher, an investor, business consultant and avid follower of the world financial markets, I have more than 25 years experience in the hi-tech industry. I have been on the faculties of Rutgers University and NED Engineering University and cofounded two high-tech startups, Cautella, Inc. and DynArray Corp and managed multi-million dollar P&Ls. I am a pioneer of the PC and mobile businesses and I have held senior management positions in hardware and software development of Intel’s microprocessor product line from 8086 to Pentium processors. My experience includes senior roles in marketing, engineering and business management. I was recognized as “Person of the Year” by PC Magazine for my contribution to 80386 program. I have an MS degree in Electrical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. www.pakalumni.com http://www.riazhaq.com http://southasiainvestor.blogspot.com
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| EVENTS
The Graphene Gambit
Mark Anderson’s Carbon Trifecta has a simple goal: saving the planet.
M. Sharon Baker
| FROM THE PRINT EDITION |
Carbon Trifecta
ROST-9D
When it comes to taking on global warming, few ideas are as audacious as the one put forward by Mark Anderson, the Friday Harbor-based CEO of Strategic News Service who has a knack for identifying technology trends. The idea sounds simple: Take the tons of carbon dioxide spewing from our industrial plants and transform it into graphene, a form of carbon just one atom thick but 200 times stronger than steel, more conductive than copper, harder than diamond, extremely elastic and one millionth the thickness of a human hair. Turn that substance into “ink” for a 3-D printer and use it to manufacture everything.
Such a plan, Anderson believes, would drastically lower the amount of CO2 sent into the atmosphere while simultaneously creating a new, sustainable manufacturing sector producing graphene-composed objects ranging from buildings and vehicles to electronics and clothing.
Several years ago, Anderson, a longtime fan of graphene, challenged a group of high-tech executives and scientists at his annual “Future in Review” conference to help verify and formalize his idea of using graphene to address global warming. He then sent a copy to every member of Congress. No one responded. In January, tired of waiting for others to act, Anderson formed the Carbon Trifecta (carbontrifecta.org), a Seattle-based nonprofit with the goal of making the idea a reality. “It seems as though no one is working on the most important aspect of the problem of global warming: How do we behave over the next 30-year transition [to renewables] without destroying the planet on the way to saving it?” Anderson explains. “We don’t think industry would find this solution set on its own.”
To lead Carbon Trifecta, Anderson tapped Andrew Himes, a former Microsoft executive who cofounded the Microsoft Developer Network and led the first web development project at Microsoft before becoming a nonprofit startup specialist. He was the founding executive director of the Charter for Compassion International, an organization whose goal is to encourage people to live by the principle of compassion.
“I have known Andrew for over 20 years and he represents the perfect combination of passion, technical knowledge and experience with both for-profit and philanthropic enterprises,” Anderson notes. “Most important, it took him about 10 minutes to comprehend the importance and utility of the Carbon Trifecta, and no time at all to come on board.”
When he first heard about the idea, Himes says he thought, “That sounds way too cool to be true.”
However, after learning more about graphene, what it looks like at the nano level and how it can connect to other nano carbons, Himes says, “I became convinced this could be the idea that could create a sustainable and flourishing future environment for human beings.”
Carbon Trifecta aims to bring Anderson’s grandiose vision to life by supporting and encouraging advances in science, financing, knowledge sharing and cooperation among countries and industries with respect to graphene. The startup nonprofit has a staff of two and is in the midst of raising $3 million in seed funding through Kickstarter, foundations and individual philanthropists.
Scientists are hot on graphene. “The unification of all these amazing properties in a one-atom-thin membrane makes graphene a promising candidate for a variety of applications, from ultra-high-speed optical, electrical and optoelectronic devices to new work in optomechanics, optical and electrical interconnects and biosensors,” says Xiaodong Xu, a scientist at the University of Washington who has been working on the application of graphene in photoelectronics since 2009. A UW colleague, Mehmet Sarikaya, sees graphene as a promising interface between biology and electronics for surgically implanted bioelectric devices that can alter the body’s own processes to treat such afflictions as arthritis and high blood pressure. At Washington State University, Yuehe Lin, a professor in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering and a laboratory fellow at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), has developed a graphene-based portable biosensor that makes it easier to detect harmful bacteria like E. coli.
The Boeing Company has secured a number of patents involving graphene. “Boeing sees potential in using graphene to make aircraft lighter and more fuel efficient while maintaining safety and reliability,” Boeing spokesman Tom Koehler says. “Presently, we are not utilizing graphene on our airplanes due to the maturity of the technology. We will, however, continue to track developments associated with graphene since it offers many opportunities across various markets, including aviation.”
Indeed, most experts say the science needed to deliver on Anderson’s ideas is still years away.
“It’s a wonderful idea, but a hard thing to do,” says James Tour, a professor of materials science and nanoengineering at Rice University in Houston. Tour holds more graphene patents than any other individual in the United States, and he says graphene research is still in a nascent stage, lacks funding and can’t be produced at a reasonable cost. “Graphene is very much a cottage industry,” says Tour.
Tour’s patents are being used to produce nano particles that can be used in laundry detergents and upholstery for brighter colors as well as in LED displays and other electrical and medical applications. To the extent that research is being done at any extensive level, says Tour, it’s happening in places like South Korea and China, where government backs the research.
But Anderson’s grand idea us gaining currency at home, too. In March, Karl Mueller, a chief science and technology officer at PNNL, was co-lead for an initiative presented before 17 national laboratories called CARBON: Carbon Advanced Research for Building Our Nation. The scientists suggested the labs examine ways to combine CO2 with inexpensive energy to create high-performance carbon materials that can be turned into valuable products and industries. One champion of the idea is Blake Simmons, a scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, who is also a member of Carbon Trifecta’s advisory committee. Another participant, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, has worked on ways to use 3-D printers and syringe barrels filled with graphene oxide ink, sometimes referred to as liquid smoke, to build structures that could lead to new electronics and energy storage devices.
The truth is that pure graphene is incredibly difficult to work with. Most research to date has involved using relatively small quantities. One of the biggest challenges Carbon Trifecta faces is finding an affordable way to make large quantities of pure graphene from carbon dioxide.
Today, most graphene produced in the world is of a less pure form that has been reduced from mined graphite through extremely toxic chemicals like hydrazine, which damages the environment. It does not have the many miraculous properties of pure graphene. Some companies use the process for making the silicon in semiconductors to create graphene sheets, but the resulting graphene still has too many defects to be useful.
Pure graphene production began in 2014, but in limited quantities. While the European Union and a few companies such as Samsung have invested significant sums, progress has been slow. To make graphene affordable, Anderson is turning to technology from San Francisco startup Graphene Technologies Inc., which patented a process that involves burning magnesium in a carbon dioxide atmosphere. Jon Myers, cofounder of Graphene Technologies, says he moved on because he couldn’t raise the millions of dollars needed to make headway, and his partners wanted to go in a different direction.
Anderson hopes that raising the profile of graphene and getting the Department of Energy’s national laboratories involved would speed progress toward perfecting the critical stage of making pure graphene.
“If Graphene Technologies used a hypothetical target of [harnessing] 10 percent of the carbon from U.S. power plant emissions, that would be 59 million metric tons of carbon,” says Anderson. That kind of production would make it one of the biggest companies on the planet.
Myers of Graphene Technologies says that making the process work would require multiple breakthroughs, including developing the synthesis process for taking CO2 from smokestacks and transforming it into graphene; optimizing the process to produce the graphene “inks” for use in 3-D printers; optimizing the inks for use in different industries; and developing 3-D printers that use graphene-based inks.
“The technical path is clear, but ambitious,” says Myers, an advisory member of the Carbon Trifecta.
One challenge is clearly environmental. In trying to solve global warming, Anderson could end up creating another problem. Indranil Chowdhury, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at Washington State University, is investigating what effect graphene may have on surface water. Preliminary studies indicate graphene degrades into organic chemicals, some of which are known to be carcinogenic.
Tour points out that even if the nonprofit group creates a 3-D printer ink that “can make anything,” it would still be unlikely to compete against low-cost steel, concrete and aluminum or the infrastructure already in place for those commodities. “Even if they offered me $1 billion and told me to solve it in two years,” says Tour, “there’s no economical solution I know of. While every step can be done, you’re going to lose money at each step.”
“People ask why is it taking so long,” adds Tour, “but it’s really not taking long at all. Graphene was only first discovered in 2004, and we’re not even 15 years in. Typically, it takes much, much longer to get materials massively into products.”
Anderson remains undeterred. “At stake,” he says, “are not only the financial and security futures of our grandchildren, cultures and countries, but also the survival of a large fraction of the plant and animal species alive today. With widespread and rapid support for the Carbon Trifecta, there is no reason we can’t look forward to a future that we all prefer."
The support Anderson envisions encompasses universities, corporations and countries. “Without such widescale international cooperation,” he admits, “the plan won’t work. Rich countries and poor — China and the United States, the EU, UK, and Australia — companies in technology and finance, utilities and chemicals; universities, think tanks, governments, laboratories and individuals can all be productive parts of this new program.”
GRAPHENE: WHAT CAN YOU MAKE OF IT?
Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov’s work on graphene at the University of Manchester earned them the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010. Since then, there has been an explosion in research on graphene around the world, as well as locally.
IN AVIATION
HRL Laboratories, owned jointly by Boeing and General Motors, has developed what it calls “the world’s lightest material” by creating a tiny lattice structure made up of hollow, interwoven graphene tubes that are one-thousandth the thickness of a human hair. Boeing hopes the material will make airplanes lighter. A matchbox-size piece of the material can sit on a dandelion’s puffball. It can absorb a shock and return to its original shape.
IN HEALTH CARE
PNNL, the University of Washington and Washington State University are trying to tap some of the nanomaterial’s properties for use in stem-cell bone repair and in biosensors that detect harmful bacteria. Scientists at the University of Glasgow have found a way to use graphene to power a synthetic, electronic skin that could one day give prosthetics a sense of touch, helping to overcome a major obstacle in this field of research.
PNNL researchers and scientists from Princeton University have used graphene to increase capacity, cycle life and power in traditional lithium-ion batteries, promoting faster charging/discharging. They licensed the technology to Maryland-based Vorbeck Materials, which uses graphene in aerospace antenna systems, clothing and communication devices for the military, coatings and in tires, which reduces rolling resistance, among other applications.
IN FILTRATION
The substance has so much buzz that Apoorv Khandelwal, a senior at Redmond’s Tesla STEM High School, chose graphene to produce the filters for a system he designed to make seawater drinkable. The project made him a finalist for the prestigious Regeneron Science Talent Search competition earlier this year. Alas, Khandelwal had trouble with the graphene and had to patch it with other substances.
Seattle-Area Tech Firm Icertis Reaches ‘Unicorn’ Status With $115M Funding Round
The contract-management solutions company will use the capital to augment its technology and expand its global reach
SaaS, Contract Management, Venture Capital
Seattle Customer-Data Management Firm Amperity raises $50M
The funds will be used to expand the company’s capabilities and industry reach
Data management, Machine Learning
Facebook's Hiring Goals Will Make Its Growing Seattle-Area Workforce Far More Diverse
The tech giant wants to hire far more women, African-Americans and Hispanics
Diversity, Workforce
Seattle-Based Money-Transfer Service Remitly Raises $220M
The ‘fintech’ startup serves the growing market for sending and receiving funds across borders
Fintech, Funding
Leaders in Healthcare
Tech Impact Award
Edmund H. Lee
Director of New Business & Conflicts
Geoff F. Palachuk
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How Avara Construction Became One of the 100 Best Companies to Work For
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Charles L. Quarles
Research Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology
Charles Page Chair of Biblical Theology
Discipline: Biblical Theology
Teaching Since: 2013
Area: Biblical Studies
View Curriculum Vitae
Email: cquarles@sebts.edu
CONTACT Charles L. Quarles
B.A., University of Mississippi
M.Div., Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary
Ph.D., Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary
Quarles is a Magna Cum Laude Graduate of the University of Mississippi where he received the University’s highest awards in both of his majors (Classical Greek and Sociology). He received his Master of Divinity Degree with Honors and his Ph.D. in New Testament and Greek from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary.
He is an experienced pastor, missionary, and theological educator. He served as Senior Pastor of three churches in North Mississippi and East Tennessee for over ten years. He served as a missionary of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in Bucharest Romania from 1999 to 2002. He has served as a professor of New Testament and Greek at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, the Bucharest Baptist Theological Seminary, the University of Bucharest, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and Louisiana College. He has also served as an adjunct professor and visiting professor respectively at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has served on volunteer mission trips in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Russia, and Kazakhstan.
He has published research in numerous international journals including New Testament Studies, Novum Testamentum, the Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus, and the Bulletin for Biblical Research. In additional to many Bible studies, articles in reference works, and reviews, he is the editor or author of six books including Buried Hope or Risen Savior: The Search for the Jesus Tomb; The Cradle, the Cross, and the Crown: A Comprehensive New Testament Introduction (with Andreas Kostenberger and Scott Kellum); The Sermon on the Mount: Restoring Christ's Message to the Modern Church; and The Illustrated Life of Paul (forthcoming). He is presently writing a Theology of the Gospel of Matthew (2013) and a commentary on the Greek text of Matthew (2017).
He and his wife Julie have been married for twenty-two years and have three children, Rachael, Hannah, and Joshua.
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TechKnow
ALJAZAM (Al Jazeera)
lindsay moran
al jazeera america
john valdez
TechKnow : ALJAZAM : April 10, 2016 8:30am-9:01am EDT
by ALJAZAM
that's why i'm joined by "techknow's" ex-cia operative, lindsay moran, and cara santa maria who can explain it from a neuroscience perspective. now, i've seen "molly" as a club drug but as a therapeutic drug? >> the military once used this as what they imagined could be a truth serum and now there's evidence that suggests that it could help ptsd sufferers. >> yeah and you know, scientists have long been intrigued by the sort of empathic benefits of mdma but now for the first time, there's an fda backed study so that they can see if these results are scientifically quantifiable. >> this serene treatment room nestled in the woods of south carolina... couldn't be further than the pulsing lights and booming music at this electronic music festival. at festivals and nightclubs the illegal drug "molly" or "ecstasy" is part of the culture. called "molly" or "x" on the street, mdma is really methylenedioxy-methamphetamine. it's a psychoactive drug first developed as a blood-clotting agent - later patented as a diet drug. when taken, mdma acts on the brain by causing the neurons to release mo
that's why i'm joined by "techknow's" ex-cia operative, lindsay moran, and cara santa maria who can explain it from a neuroscience perspective. now, i've seen "molly" as a club drug but as a therapeutic drug? >> the military once used this as what they imagined could be a truth serum and now there's evidence that suggests that it could help ptsd sufferers. >> yeah and you know, scientists have long been intrigued by the sort of empathic benefits of mdma but now...
TechKnow : ALJAZAM : April 6, 2016 4:30am-5:01am EDT
, that's where the mercury polution is most intense. >> we'll share our findings with lindsay moran she's an ex -cia anaylist. that's our team, everything we've been seeing... it's for this... now let's do some science. hey guys welcome to techknow i'm phil torres joined by lindsay moran and marita davidson. this upcoming episode is an important one to me it takes place in peru where i've done alot of my research and it is a tale of contrast we will see a rainforest full of new species and then we will see the devastation that humans have done to extract gold. >> and as we know with devastating stories like this, where there is a lot of damage science can play a role here not just in monitoring and discovering what's going on but in trying to help process. >> i think this is a story having looked at some of the images that one image of the devastation pretty much says it all. >> absolutely, this is an important story it's one that is very near and dear to my heart and it starts in the peruvian rainforest. the amazon rainforest for more than 50 million years it's been a cradle of life. thi
, that's where the mercury polution is most intense. >> we'll share our findings with lindsay moran she's an ex -cia anaylist. that's our team, everything we've been seeing... it's for this... now let's do some science. hey guys welcome to techknow i'm phil torres joined by lindsay moran and marita davidson. this upcoming episode is an important one to me it takes place in peru where i've done alot of my research and it is a tale of contrast we will see a rainforest full of new species...
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Researchers: Mammograms before 50 can be lifesaving
by Meagan Morris
Sep 09, 2013 at 7:38 pm EDT
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women should wait until age 50 to get a mammogram. However, a new study finds that women who get them sooner are less likely to die of breast cancer.
The American Cancer Society recommends that women get yearly mammograms starting at age 40. That advisory has caused quite a bit of controversy, especially since the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force only recommends yearly screenings starting at age 50. However, a new study published today in the journal Cancer backs up the ACS.
For the study, researchers analyzed data from 7,301 women diagnosed with breast cancer at one Boston area hospital between 1990 and 1999. The researchers followed the women until 2007 and found that of the 609 people who died from breast cancer, 71 percent didn’t receive regular cancer screenings. The other 29 percent did receive regular screenings.
Of those who died, half were under age 50, while 13 percent were 70 or older.
The results suggest that women should receive “less, or less frequent screening at ages older than 69 years, but more, or more frequent screening [at ages] younger than 50 years” and that breast cancer is more aggressive in younger women, meaning they need yearly mammograms to detect the cancer in the early stages.
“Breast cancer is primarily a disease of older women, but younger women tend to have faster-growing cancer,” Dr. Barbara Monsees, a professor of women’s health and radiology at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri, told NPR.
“There are people who feel that screening doesn’t reduce death rates, that it’s all in treatment,” Monsees added. “This study corroborates prior studies that [show] screening mammograms save lives.”
However, other physicians aren’t convinced. Dr. H. Gilbert Welch, a professor of medicine at Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, says that the study only tells “half the story.”
“If, among women who live, 30 percent were screened and 70 percent were not, everyone would agree that screening had no effect,” Welch told LiveScience.
Ultimately, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Speak to your doctor if you’re under 50 and unsure whether or not to get a mammogram.
More on women’s health
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Malawi |English
AAmaXhosa love meat, and during rituals where animals are slaughtered, no part is wasted - the head, feet and tripe (stomach) are all eaten. Beef tripe and sheep tripe are both a delicacy, and are usually cooked like a stew. Tripe is eaten on its own, or with samp (dried corn kernels that have been stamped and chopped until broken) or stiff mieliepap (maize meal porridge). Samp is a staple dish of the Xhosa people, and it can be eaten on its own or mixed with mashed potato. It can also be cooked with beans and eaten with meat and gravy.
Sheep heads and trotters, and chicken feet and heads are eaten as snacks, accompanied by samp or mieliepap. A cow head can feed a family and is not as expensive as regular meat such as steak and brisket, which is why it’s so popular. A cow head is usually given to men when they attend a ritual, while the women are given tripe.
A popular summer meal known as “African salad” is umphokoqo, a crumbly maize meal with sour milk or butter milk. Other well-loved side dishes are umqa, umxhaxha and umkhuphu. Umqa is a stiff maize meal porridge and can be cooked with curried cabbage or spinach, umxhaxha is a combination of pumpkin and corn, and umkhuphu is maize meal and beans. Another favourite is boiled mielies which can be eaten as a snack. In townships, eating mealies is called “playing the harmonica”. They’re also eaten after funerals, and served at the gate of the home where the funeral is. Guests are given water to wash their hands, and there will be dishes filled with corn at the gate, which guests eat before the main meal is served.
IIn Xhosa culture, meals were not typically controlled by time like they are in the European culture. Eating in the morning would be done before families dispersed to do their daily chores, otherwise people ate when they were hungry. Meals would be cooked in the morning and late afternoon when people returned from the fields or from herding cattle and so on. Usually if people felt hungry during the day they would eat whatever had been left over from the morning meal.
Things have changed a lot, since Africans have been greatly influenced by European eating habits, and now we look at our watches before eating because meals have titles nowadays. African cuisine has also become very popular for tourists who flock to the townships for authentic African meals.
Fatima Dike is a Cape-Town based playwright, director and teacher, and is well versed on Xhosa culture. Her writing career started in 1976 and spans decades of written plays and directing work. She has been a writer in residence at The Open University in Milton Keynes, London and has lectured at John Carroll University in Cleveland Ohio. Since 2005 she has been a member of SIT, an international organisation that brings university students from the US to South Africa to study multiculturalism. They are hosted by black families in Langa where they live as family members and are encouraged to speak Xhosa as much as possible. Fatima is also a founder member of a multi-disciplinary company called Umbonowethu, which teaches drama, photography and dance.
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Special Olympics Canada Menu
Alberta Guardian
Provincial Sponsorship Guidelines
Alberta Law Enforcement Agencies
Kick Off Conference 2020
Law Enforcement Torch Run is the largest grass-roots fund-raiser and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics in the world. In 2012, the international program raised more than $46 million US to support Special Olympics programs; the total raised since the Torch Run’s inception in 1981 is $400 million US. More than 85,000 law enforcement officers from thousands of agencies have aligned themselves with this worthwhile cause.
In Alberta, Law Enforcement Torch Run has been active since the late 1980s. In recent years it has been successful in raising more than $400,000 annually for Special Olympics, and over $620,000 in 2017.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Alberta program is represented by the Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, Alberta Sheriffs, Alberta Corrections, RCMP, Medicine Hat Police, Lethbridge Police Service, Canadian Pacific Railway Police, Canadian National Railway Police, Calgary Transit Public Safety and Enforcement Section, Alberta Community Peace Officers Association, Tsuu T'ina Police, Lacombe Police Service and Camrose Police Service.
What started in Wichita, Kansas in 1981 as a flicker of hope for Special Olympics has now become a roaring flame of stability for Special Olympics athletes worldwide because of a vision seen through the eyes of a young police chief, Richard LaMunyon. Chief LaMunyon wanted to support Special Olympics within his community and he quickly saw that the lessons learned by the Special Olympics athletes on the field easily transferred into their daily lives. The training and competition allowed individuals to focus on their ability, not their disability.
He proposed the idea of police officers participating in a Torch Run supporting Special Olympics and raising funds from fellow officers, private individuals and the business community. Through this event the torch has become the “Flame of Hope” and the men and women within the Law Enforcement community the “Guardians of the Flame”.
The mission of the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics is to raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics movement worldwide.
The mission of Special Olympics Alberta is to enrich the lives of Albertans with intellectual disabilities through sport.
Responsible for our own decisions and actions
Being honest and ethical, doing the right thing
Treat others as we want to be treated
Representing ourselves in a manner that reflects positively on our various agencies while striving for excellence
Conducting ourselves beyond the expectations of our communities and stakeholders.
Advocating for:
Special Olympics athletes
Law enforcement members and first responders
About Special Olympics Alberta
Special Olympics Alberta is committed to enriching the lives of Albertans with an intellectual disability through sport. They provide athletes, of all ages and abilities, the opportunity to realize their full athletic potential, with appropriate training, coaching and competitions, to develop life skills, a healthy body, and self-esteem.
For more information on how to get involved, please contact Lorrie Sitler at 780-415-8352 or by email. For general inquiries email here.
2019 Free Our Finest Airdrie
2019 Free Our Finest Red Deer
Special Olympics Alberta
Alberta Guardian- Quarterly Newsletter
©2019 Alberta LETR
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Lord Michael Bates
Paymaster General, Member of Parliament
Michael Bates was born in Gateshead in 1961 and educated at Heathfield Senior High School and Gateshead College. He is also a graduate of the Said Business School, University of Oxford (MBA,98).
He served as Member of Parliament for the Langbaurgh parliamentary constituency (now Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) from 1992 to 1997. Between 1994 and 1997 he held a number of ministerial posts including Government Whip, Sponsor Minister for the North East of England and HM Paymaster General.
Between 1998 and 2005 he was Director of Research & Consultancy for Oxford Analytica a firm which provides analysis of global economic, business and political trends.
He was appointed as a Member of the House of Lords in May 2008. He served as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2006—2010 holding a number of shadow ministerial roles between 2008—2010 including: Energy & Climate Change, Cabinet Office and Children, Schools and Families.
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The most popular statistics about "depression"
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Substance use among adults in the United States as of 2017, by any mental illness
U.S. college students feeling too depressed to function as of fall 2018
Percentage of U.S. college students that have felt they were too depressed to function as of fall 2018
Percentage of elderly that have experienced depression as of 2017, by country
Percentage of seniors aged 65 years and older in developed countries that had experienced depression as of 2017, by country
Number of work related suicides Japan 2018, by age group
Number of suicides related to problems at work in Japan in 2018, by age group
Good mental health status among U.S. residents in 2018, by generation
Percentage of U.S. residents who reported excellent or very good mental health as of 2018, by generation
Share of Americans who bought medication because of anxiety/depression 2018, by age
Suicide thoughts among U.S. adults by major depressive episode 2017
Suicide thoughts, plans and attempts among U.S. adults as of 2017, by major depressive episode*
Number of trazodone hydrochloride prescriptions in the U.S. 2004-2016
Number of trazodone hydrochloride prescriptions in the U.S. from 2004 to 2016 (in millions)
Depression diagnosis rates among U.S. adolescents and millennials in 2016, by state
Percentage of adolescents and millennials with a diagnosis of depression in the U.S. in 2016, by state
Substance use among youths in the U.S. by major depressive episode 2017
Substance use among youths in the United States as of 2017, by major depressive episode*
Mexico: suicide rate 2010-2016
Number of suicides per 100,000 inhabitants in Mexico from 2010 to 2016
Adults reporting depression in select countries by age 2013
Adults with self-reporting depression in selected countries as of 2013, by age group
Self-reported stress caused by workplace in Great Britain (GB) 2016/17, by country
Averaged estimated prevalence of self-reported stress, depression or anxiety caused or made worse by work by country in Great Britain between 2014/15 and 2016/17 (in 1,000)
U.S. adults who experienced select types of loneliness as of 2018
Percentage of U.S. adults who said they felt select aspects of loneliness always or sometimes as of 2018
Number of bupropion prescriptions in the U.S. 2004-2016
Number of bupropion prescriptions in the U.S. from 2004 to 2016 (in millions)
Citalopram out of pocket price in the U.S. 2004-2016
Citalopram out-of-pocket cost in the U.S. from 2004 to 2016 (in U.S. dollars)*
Share of adults with depression in the U.S. 2013-2016, by ethnicity and gender
Percentage of adults in the U.S. with depression from 2013 to 2016, by ethnicity and gender
Co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder U.S. 2017, by employment
Co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder among U.S. adults as of 2017, by employment status*
Suicidal thoughts among U.S. women 2008-2017
Percentage of U.S. women who had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year from 2008 to 2017
Reasons for boys contacting Childline in the United Kingdom (UK) 2017/18
Main reasons for boys contacting Childline in the United Kingdom (UK) from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018*
Rate of suicide Canada 2007-2016
Suicide rate in Canada from 2007 to 2016 (per 100,000 population)*
Persons with serious psychological distress in the U.S. by ethnicity 2015-2016
Percentage of persons with serious psychological distress in the past month in the U.S. in 2015-2016, by ethnicity*
U.S. students with disabilities/disorders, by frequency and likelihood to seek help
Students in the United States with disabilities or disorders in 2016, by frequency of depression/anxiety and likeliness to seek counseling
Type of professional seen among U.S. adults with a major depressive episode 2017
Type of professional seen by U.S. adults with a major depressive episode who received treatment in 2017*
Any mental illness in the past year among U.S. Hispanic adults 2008-2017
Percentage of U.S. Hispanic or Latino adults with any mental illness in the past year from 2008 to 2017
Mental illness among U.S. women 2008-2017
Percentage of U.S. women who had any mental illness in the past year from 2008 to 2017
Number of hospitals stays among children in the U.S. with depression by age group 2010
Number of hospitals stays among U.S. children with depressive disorders in 1997 and 2010, by age group
Importance of public dollar in preventing suicide in U.S. 2019
Importance of investing public dollars in the prevention of suicide in the U.S. as of 2019
Share of adults with depression in the U.S. from 2007 to 2016, by gender
Percentage of adults in the U.S. with depression from 2007 to 2016, by gender
Suicidal thoughts among U.S. Hispanic adults 2008-2017
Percentage of U.S. Hispanic or Latino adults who had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year from 2008 to 2017
Rate of self-reported stress caused by workplace in Britain 2015/16, by country
Average rate of self-reported stress, depression or anxiety caused or made worse by work by country in Great Britain between 2014/15 and 2016/17 (per 100,000 employed)
Number of citalopram prescriptions in the U.S. 2004-2016
Number of citalopram prescriptions in the U.S. from 2004 to 2016 (in millions)
Additional health conditions among those with major depression in the U.S. in 2016
Share of those in the U.S. with major depression who had been diagnosed with additional health conditions as of 2016
Major depressive episode in the past year among U.S. Hispanic adults 2005-2017
Percentage of U.S. Hispanic or Latino adults with a major depressive episode in the past year from 2005 to 2017
Any mental illness among U.S. men 2008-2017
Percentage of U.S. men who had any mental illness in the past year from 2008 to 2017
Depression among those who served/not in U.S. military 2015-2016, by gender
Percentage of Americans being diagnosed with a depressive disorder in 2015-2016, by military service and gender
Long-term care service users in the U.S. with dementia or depression 2015-2016
Percentage of U.S. users of long-term care services with dementia or depression in 2015 and 2016, by provider type
Major depressive episode in the past year among U.S. women 2017, by age
Percentage of U.S. women with a major depressive episode in the past year as of 2017, by age
Number of British Army personnel assessed with a mental disorder 2007/08-2018/19
Annual number of United Kingdom (UK) Army personnel assessed by MOD Specialist Mental Health Services with a mental disorder from 2007/08 to 2018/19
Mental health treatment or counseling among U.S. adults 2002-2017
Number of U.S. adults who received mental health treatment or counseling in the past year from 2002 to 2017 (in millions)
Anxiety and depression levels in England 2012, by gender
Anxiety and depression levels of adults as measured by the European quality of life-5 dimensions test (EQ-5D) in England in 2012, by gender
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The good and the bad of mtr
Nov 26, 2018, 5:00 am SGT
http://str.sg/oXQs
Claire Huang
Hong Kong Correspondent
huangjy@sph.com.sg
The MTR Corporation runs the most valuable metro railway in the world. It recorded a full-year profit of HK$17 billion (S$3 billion) last year. A rise in passenger numbers, advertising within its stations and the building of commercial and residential properties above new stations to fund railway expansions were among the factors that contributed to the operator's growth over the years.
Rail lines: 11 Stations: 93 Route length: 230.9 km Passenger journeys on time: 99.9 per cent
Some key delays
Oct 25, 2018: Trains were delayed on two rail lines - Tseung Kwan O Line and Kwun Tong Line - making it the second delay in a month.
Oct 16, 2018: Unprecedented six-hour disruption on four key lines - Island, Tsuen Wan, Kwun Tong and Tseung Kwan O lines - after a software and settings issue.
Aug 5, 2017: Services on the Kwun Tong line disrupted by a signalling fault.
May 2017: Thousands of passengers were stranded after an overhead cable snapped near Hung Hom station, disrupting service on the East Rail Line.
April 27, 2014: Service disruption on East Rail Line caused by the breakdown of a router of the data network transmission at Fo Tan Railway House.
Moving Hong Kong's transport system forward
There was an uproar in May over sub-standard work on the HK$97.1 billion Sha Tin to Central link. Reports of the subcontractor cutting corners, shoddy work and accusations of safety lapses led to the departure of four managers and the early exit of chief executive Lincoln Leong Kwok-kuen. An inquiry is ongoing to look into the Hung Hom MTR Station site for the future Sha Tin-Central link. The commission is investigating if steel reinforcement fixing works at the station - which is still under construction - has been carried out in line with specifications. The hearings are scheduled to end next month.
Previously, the West Kowloon terminus project was plagued by budget overruns and delays, including reports that the major residential-commercial complex next to the terminus was sinking due to the construction of the rail station. The terminus is the Hong Kong section of the newly launched controversial high-speed rail plugging the territory more deeply into the mainland's transport network. The project has run into fierce opposition over a joint checkpoint, where part of the West Kowloon station was effectively ceded to the mainland for faster immigration procedures.
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on November 26, 2018, with the headline 'The good and the bad of mtr'. Print Edition | Subscribe
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Lonzo Ball Debuts Pelicans Uniform In Classic Air Jordan 11s
Damian Lillard Responds To Shannon Sharpe’s Rant About His Contract
Portland Trail Blazers superstar Damian Lillard inked a four-year, $196 million super max contract extension this summer, which will likely keep him with the Blazers through the 2024-25 season. That’s obviously good news for Portland, as Dame led the team all the way to the Western Conference Finals last season, while earning All-NBA honors for the fourth time in seven seasons.
That said, FS1’s Shannon Sharpe doesn’t think the 28-year old All Star is making a smart career decision by staying in Portland. During a recent episode of “Undisputed” Sharpe was critical of Lillard’s super max contract, saying that Dame will soon be forgotten when he doesn’t win any titles with the Blazers.
“When’s the last time Dame Lillard took less than the max? So, what Dame Lillard is gonna be is a guy that’s probably gonna make $400 million with no titles.”
“He’s gonna be one of the richest players in NBA history, with zero titles. Nobody remembers the guy who made a bunch of money playing sports — only if you won titles, Dame. And if you don’t believe me, ask Kevin Garnett.”
“At the end of the day, if you play a sport, it’s about titles.”
Lillard caught wind of Sharpe’s comments late Thursday night, and responded with the following tweet:
“1st of all I took less on my first max ext Do your homework. but whatever the easiest thing to have an opinion on is stuff that don’t involve you cuz you don’t have to deal with the consequences. And u dnt kno If I’ll win it lol… if I’m forgotten I’ll be a rich forgotten mf”
Check out Sharpe’s full comments about Lillard’s contract and his ability to win titles in Portland, as well as Dame’s response, below.
Eve, late, News, No, son, story, summer, twitter
Andre Iguodala Reportedly Being Pursued By The Rockets
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Child life specialist Kimberly Wartak plays with a toddler at Surrey Memorial Hospital’s HEAL clinic. The clinic – the only one of its kind in the Fraser Health region
CARING FOR KIDS: ‘Something right happens here’
The HEAL clinic at Surrey Memorial Hospital provides comfort and care for neglected, physically and sexually abused children and youth.
Sheila Reynolds
Dec. 4, 2015 7:00 p.m.
As the designated Regional Pediatric Centre in the Fraser Health region, Surrey Memorial Hospital offers specialized and unique care to babies, children and youth from Burnaby to Hope. The Leader provides an inside look at how B.C.’s second-largest hospital has grown and adapted to treat its youngest and most vulnerable patients.
A three-month-old boy is brought to the doctor for a routine check-up. The doctor notices a bruise on his forehead the parent says is from his older sister tossing a toy at him. Less than a month later, the baby is in emergency with a bleeding mouth. It’s a minor injury the mom explains happened when he bumped his head with hers. But in just weeks, he’s brought to the hospital again, this time, barely conscious. There is severe bruising on his head and arms, and X-rays show an earlier rib fracture.
A 13-year-old girl keeps coming to school overtired and unable to concentrate. She seems sad and when her teacher asks, the girl says she’s been living at a relative’s house and it’s “different” there. When questioned further, she eventually confides her uncle has been touching her in bed at night and forcing her to do things she doesn’t think are right.
Another child is often seen by neighbours playing in the yard by himself when he should be at school. His clothes are getting dirtier by the day and he appears to be getting thinner. When police knock on the door, they discover a home stacked with garbage. Mom and dad are high and there’s no food in the fridge.
These scenarios serve as examples of children being abused and neglected. And unfortunately, the stories aren’t entirely unfamiliar to the HEAL (Health Evaluation Assessment and Liaison) team at Surrey Memorial Hospital.
In existence since 1995, it is the Fraser Health region’s only Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN)-designated team, identifying the health needs of mistreated children. There are just four other such teams in B.C.
The Surrey HEAL clinic, housed across the street from the hospital, welcomes young people from newborns to 18-year-olds.
It is non-acute, meaning it doesn’t treat children and youth needing immediate medical attention. Instead, it sees patients who have been referred – often from the Ministry of Children and Families, doctors and nurses, or police – for physical and/or psychological care.
Prior to their arrival, a child’s records are examined to see if any patterns can be established.
“For example,” explains nurse Nancy Bell (above left), “if the main concern is neglect, I look for different things than, say, if it was sexual abuse.”
Besides registered nurses, the team includes physicians, psychologists, social workers and child life specialists.
But once a young person walks through the clinic doors, they’re the ones in charge.
“It’s really important to our team that this be an invitin g, warm place for them,” says Christene Buchanan (below left), HEAL clinic coordinator. “This is a crisis moment for them – often their world has been turned upside down. They still have their own worries, wondering what happens next.”
As such, everything proceeds only at the pace the child wants.
For the younger patients, a typical visit begins with a certified child life worker who invites them (and caregiver if desired) to play and have some fun in a private, kid-friendly room. They may colour or do a puzzle. It’s a casual process meant to make the children feel safe and comfortable in an unfamiliar place.
“We find when we have that one-on-one time, we make them understand they’re the boss,” says child life specialist Kimberly Wartak.
But while the children play and interact, the child care worker is observing carefully. Is there aggression? Can they distinguish colours? Do they understand consequences? Are they able to match items? Interspersed are plenty of positive messages about why they’re at the clinic.
All the while, nurses and social workers wander in and out, getting to know the child, sometimes joining in on the play and documenting observations.
“I often say it’s like a well-choreographed dance – we know when to come in…” says Wartak.
The appointment, which lasts between an hour and an hour-and-a-half, also includes a physical exam, but again, only at the young patient’s pace. There’s a doll on the exam table they’re welcome to do their own check-up on and they can touch and try out whatever medical equipment they want.
When it’s the child’s turn, the exam is non-intimidating and entirely on their terms, with each step explained before anything is done. If the child isn’t comfortable with something, they’re free to say so and their wishes are honoured.
Social workers at the HEAL clinic work mainly with parents and caregivers, helping them cope with the often difficult situation. The abuser may well have been a relative or friend, so they have that to deal with on top of helping the child.
Recommendations for the child’s care needs – such as follow-up medical appointments or appropriate community resources or counselling – are shared with guardians. The goal is to help both the child and parent succeed.
“Sometimes, they just need a little help with that,” Bell says.
The centre sees kids and youth three days a week for consultations. The team saw 197 children last year, most for medical concerns related to abuse, but some requiring psychological care. Sexual abuse continues to be the most common reason for visits, followed by physical abuse and neglect.
The cases can be troubling, but the HEAL team knows its child-focused approach is effective. They see it regularly when a patient who was ambivalent coming through the door doesn’t want to leave at the end of the appointment.
“Something right happens here that they feel that comfort,” Bell says.
ON WEDNESDAY: SURREY’S FORENSIC NURSING SERVICE
Other stories in this series:
• Bringing Joy to the world
• Shelter from the storm
• Surrey’s kids-only ER sees 100+ children per day
• ‘I think of it as putting them back together’
• ‘They’re saying that our youth matter’
Anton blames feds for DNA police cost shift
RCMP probe man’s death in Surrey
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YOTAs Brandon Dyck Sends Verbal to Florida Southern
Florida International Extends Head Coach Randy Horner
MIAMI (Oct. 31, 2016) – FIU Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia announced on Monday the contract extension of [...]
6 Fun Facts about Open Water Swimming
By Erin Himes, Swimming World College Intern While wrapped up in the awe of Olympic swimming, I found myself with a lot of questions about a [...]
Ten US Olympians on Roster for USA College Challenge
USA swimming and the Big Ten Conference announced Monday the rosters for the upcoming USA College Challenge, scheduled for Nov. 12-13 in Ind [...]
Division II Meet Recap Drury Splits With Missouri St
The recently top-ranked Drury women took on Division I Missouri State and showed why they deserve that #1 spot. Read the recap of that meet [...]
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This week saw the end of the 2016 FINA World Cup, with Katinka Hosszu and Vlad Morozov grabbing the third and final cluster of the series. R [...]
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How To Train For Long Course Meters Without Long Course Meters
By Jason Tillotson, Swimming World College Intern. Within the swimming community it is often argued that competing at an elite level in long [...]
Scottsdales Madeleine Kovacs Sends Verbal Commitment to Vermont
View full post on swimmingworldmagazine Contact Swim.ae for swimming lessons in Dubai. _____________________________________________________ [...]
New Mexico State University Adds Katherine Harston for 20172018 Season
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John Kerry softens US demand that Assad must go
The US secretary of state says that Assad's downfall can happen at the end of a Syria peace process, not the beginning
Mr Kerry made clear that America could accept a Syrian peace settlement that left Assad in power for an interim period Photo: AP
By Nabih Bulos in Amman and David Blair
7:46PM BST 19 Sep 2015
John Kerry softened America’s demand yesterday that Syria’s dictator must step down, declaring that the timing of Bashar al-Assad’s departure was open to negotiation.
The US secretary of state retreated from the earlier US position that Assad’s removal must be the first step towards resolving Syria’s civil war.
He spoke as the regime carried out a series of air strikes near the ancient city of Palmyra, which has fallen into the hands of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil). The Syrian air force flew as many as 25 sorties, killing perhaps 26 people on the ground, including Isil fighters.
Assad has been emboldened by Russia’s decision to provide direct military support. In recent weeks, Russian tanks and troops have been deployed in Syria, along with a small number of advanced jet fighters.
Russia’s goal appears to be to prevent Assad from suffering more battlefield defeats while also complicating any escalation of America’s air campaign against Isil targets in Syria.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, left, andswers a question about the ongoing crisis in Syria during a news conference in London with US Secretary of State John Kerry Photo: AP
Britain is considering whether to join the air strikes in Syria and Mr Kerry visited London to discuss the situation with Philip Hammond, the Foreign Secretary.
Mr Kerry made clear that America could accept a Syrian peace settlement that left Assad in power for an interim period. "We're not being doctrinaire about the specific date or time [for Assad’s departure] - we're open," said Mr Kerry.
“It doesn't have to be on day one or month one. There is a process by which all the parties have to come together and reach an understanding of how this can best be achieved.”
Mr Kerry noted that Isil and other extremists emerged from Assad’s campaign against Syria’s largely Sunni population. By intervening directly in Syria, Russia may allow an escalation of this offensive – and end up boosting Isil.
Mr Kerry said that was a “lack of logic” in Russia’s position that “they are bringing in more equipment to shore up Assad at the same time they say they are going after" Isil.
The secretary of state added: “We're prepared to negotiate, is Assad prepared to negotiate? Really negotiate? Is Russia prepared to bring him to the table and actually find the solution to this violence?”
Mr Kerry said: “Right now, Assad has refused to have a serious discussion and Russia has refused to help bring him to the table in order to do that. So that's why we are where we are."
The latest Syrian air strikes took place on the Palmyra front, about 90 miles east of the city of Homs. Isil has destroyed some of the most important monuments in the Roman-era city, in line with its belief that all relics of the pre-Islamic world are idolatrous.
Last month, Isil blew up the Temple of Bel in what was described as a “tragedy for humanity” by Maamoun Abdul Karim, the head of Museums and Antiquities in the Syrian regime. The terrorists also murdered Khaled al-Asaad, the retired manager of Palmyra’s museum and a renowned antiquities scholar, who was beheaded.
Jihadists sit on top of a former Syrian army fighter jet after they seized the Abu Duhur military airport, the last regime-held military base in northwestern Idlib province on September 9 Photo: AFP/Getty
Elsewhere, Islamist rebels in north-west Syria executed at least 56 government troops after overrunning Abu al-Duhur military air base in Idlib province. On Friday, opposition supporters uploaded images of uniformed corpses lined up on the ground, with a bearded fighter shown with his foot planted on the head of a dead soldier.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based group, confirmed the executions on Saturday, saying that at least 71 soldiers had been killed.
Abu al-Duhur, a strategically important air base 30 miles south-east of Idlib city, had been under siege for more than two years.
It was the last remaining stronghold for regime forces in Idlib province, which was overrun by a loose coalition of Islamist factions called the Army of Conquest in a ferocious campaign in March.
The official media confirmed the fall of the air base, but insisted that all of the regime’s forces had escaped. However, this report was contradicted by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which said that no surviving soldiers had managed to reach territory held by the regime.
thetelegraphnews
Follow @telegraphworld
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Olympic Torch passion and surprise
Jan. 26, 2010 7:00 a.m.
Thomas Rockwood with the Emerald Lake Lodge Cheer Crew.
Kathryn Cameron
Special to The Star
Five torch bearers met at the Field Visitor Centre on Thursday afternoon, January 21, 2010. Four had known for some time that they would carry the Olympic Flame. The four received instructions on how to light and carry their torches, then each told what the experience meant to them personally.
Former Alberta Premier Peter Lougheed said he was thrilled to carry the Olympic Torch through the streets of Calgary for the Winter Games in 1988. He told the group he felt priviledged to be the final torch bearer in Alberta in 2010, and the person to pass the Olympic legacy to British Columbia.
BC Lions Coach Wally Buono talked about his years playing football as a Montreal Alouette, his years coaching the Calgary Stampeders and his career now as coach in Vancouver – a career that has covered all three of Canada’s Olympic cities. He said it was an honour to accept the Olympic Flame at the British Columbia border.
Daniel Lefebvre of Calgary works as an advisor for Own The Podium, a national program to support high performance athletes through competition, training and coaching. Although still recovering from recent hip surgery, Daniel expressed his joy to carry the Olympic Torch in the village of Field.
Thomas Rockwell, age 16, of Ottawa, Ontario applied last summer to be a torch bearer. He couldn’t believe his luck to be chosen! Accompanied by his Mom, and best friend Zak Fowler, Thomas said he was having the trip and experience of his lifetime.
Four torch bearers, but five torches for this leg of the relay . . . everyone waited expectantly for the fifth torch bearer to arrive. A flurry of activity at the front entrance . . . and Premier Gordon Campbell entered the building to welcome and congratulate the torchbearers. But, no, he wasn’t the missing torch bearer.
Torch Relay organizers looked at the clock, said it was time to go to the border and invited 15 year-old Zak Fowler of Ottawa to take the place of the missing torch bearer. His smile lit up the room as he pulled on his suit!
The convoy travelled to the Alberta/British Columbia border in Kicking Horse Pass for the provincial handover from Peter Lougheed to Wally Buono. They returned to Field for the Olympic Torch Relay through the village, lead by Zak. He carried the flame across the bridge to the train tracks. The flame was passed to Daniel who carried his torch up the hill and past the crowd assembled at the school. Premier Campbell invited the students of Field Elementary School to join him in an impromptu, heartfelt rendition of “Oh! Canada” as the torch passed them. Daniel passed the flame to Thomas who proudly carried it back out to the TransCanada Highway.
It was a magical event!
The convoy packed up and headed west to Golden, for their Torch Relay and Celebration that evening. With excitement still flowing freely, Field invited the torchbearers to stay for supper at the community hall before returning to their homes and hotels. Food and music rounded out a pretty spectacular day in Field – Day 84 of the 2010 Winter Games Olympic Torch Relay.
KHMR welcomes the Torch, hears announcement from Premier
2010 Olympic Torch rides the rails in style from Revelstoke to Craigellachie
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Davis Tells Knesset Committee - UK Must Unequivocally Recognise Notion of Israel as Jewish State and Drop Palestinian ‘Right of Return Within Israel'
Posted on May 23 2012, 11:41 AM
Idea of Jewish-Diaspora “Big Conversation” to be Aired at Full Knesset Session
Mick Davis, Chairman of the Board of the UK’s Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) and the United Jewish Israel Appeal (UJIA) yesterday called for a major overhaul of Israel’s engagement with Diaspora Jewry, in the form of an ongoing “Big Conversation” between Diaspora Jewish leaders and the Government of Israel.
The comments were made in evidence provided by Mr Davis at a session of the Knesset Subcommittee on Diaspora Affairs focusing on the UK. Addressing members of Knesset, representatives of the major Government departments and key analysts and NGOs Davis characterised UK Jewry as a community that “continues to thrive, enjoying a wide and diverse infrastructure of communal provision, despite demographic and economic risks”
Davis noted that discourse around the UK in Israel often distorts the reality and that this risks harming the bilateral relationship between the two countries. He described the UK Jewish community as one that is both worried about, and deeply protective of Israel.
In his presentation Davis highlighted the many changes and improvements to the UK Jewish community’s Israel advocacy infrastructure that have been implemented since the war against Hizbollah in Lebanon in 2006. He provided anassessment of the campaign against Israel’s legitimacy in the UK, explaining that the current scenario was “not a burning platform” but if not tackled effectively risks moving in that direction. He set out the intention of UK communal leaders to turn London into “a hub of fighting delegitimisation”. He explained that “the JLC and its partners see the assault upon Israel’s legitimacy as an attack on Jewish identity, and fight it as such.”
Calling for a “big, open and direct” conversation in which Diaspora voices are heard in Israel he suggested that “every hib of delegitimisation should also be a hub of this conversation” suggesting that “this will galvanise Diaspora communities against the wedge that the delegitimisers try to open”. He set out a series of mutual responsibilities for Israel and Diaspora Jewry in this regard calling on the Diaspora to ensure that Israel “permeates institutional Jewish life” and asking Israel to “promote the integrity of a people rooted in a set of Jewish values”. He also suggested that some responsibilities were mutual, such as “the promotion of Hebrew as a language that binds us”. Davis stressed that any suchconversation must recongise the primacy of the Israeli position on security and existential matters.
Responding to a query from a UK Diplomat about the role that the British Government could play, Davis suggested that “unequivocal recognition of the notion of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people” was required. He added that acknowledgement of the need to end to the idea of a Palestinian Right of Return "within the State of Israel", coupled a clear recognition that the solution to the Palestinian refugees' issues must be found with the future State of Palestine by the UK Government would help to undermine attempts to attack the fundamental legitimacy of the Jewish State.
Responding to the presentation Committee Chair Einat Wilf said that she would be taking the suggestions to the full plenum of the Knesset. She also proposed the idea of a senior policy advisor being appointed within the Prime Minister’s office who would be able to advise specifically upon the impact of key Israeli policy decisions within Diaspora communities.
To view the presentation in Hebrew click here.
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Jewish Community Leaders meet Prime Minister Theresa May
Posted on September 06 2017, 2:49 PM
L: Dan Rosenfield, Sarah Anticoni, Josh Holt, Claudia Mendoza;
R: Hilda Worth, Gerald Ronson CBE, Jonathan Goldstein, Jonathan Arkush, Debbie Fox
A delegation of Jewish community leaders met today with Prime Minister Theresa May to discuss a wide range of policy issues affecting the community. The agenda, formulated by the Jewish Leadership Council in coordination with its member organisations, reflects our community’s concerns, both on the domestic front and internationally.
The meeting with the Prime Minister allowed the delegation to raise concerns, share ideas and best practices and highlight the community’s contribution to British society in areas such as social care, mental health education, security, and the UK’s relationship with Israel.
The following were among the issues discussed with the Prime Minister:
The rise in antisemitic incidents - 2016 saw the highest number antisemitic incidents ever recorded across Britain;
The need for greater capacity in Jewish secondary schools, ideas for expansion and an expected new free school application;
The future of adult social care and independent social care operators across the community, with a particular focus on the government’s forthcoming Green Paper;
Cuts to statutory funding of community-based mental health services, their affect, and new ways of tackling this issue;
The scope and impact of the community’s Safer Dating programme for 16-25 year-old women;
Communal efforts to support refugees, which have raised over £1m to date, as well as collaborative inter-faith, grass-roots programmes to re-house refugees;
The delegation thanked the Prime Minister for speaking out against antisemitism and for her unwavering support for, and defence of, the State of Israel, particularly in the lead up to the Centenary of the Balfour Declaration later this year. Leaders also welcomed the new Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, as well as the announcement of an additional £2 billion of funding for social care.
Prime Minister Theresa May said:
“I was pleased to meet community leaders today to hear directly about the issues that are most important to Jewish people in the United Kingdom.
“I want to take this opportunity to reaffirm my long-standing and total commitment to the security of the Jewish community and I will do everything possible to fight anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred and prejudice in our country.
“Today’s meeting was also an opportunity for me, as Prime Minister, to celebrate the incredible contribution that the Jewish community makes to our country.”
Jonathan Goldstein, Chair of the Jewish Leadership Council said:
“It was an honour and a privilege to lead the communal delegation as JLC Chair to meet with the Prime Minister and discuss a range of issues affecting Anglo Jewry. Mrs May reiterated her strong support for our community and is committed to working together to address our concerns.
“The JLC’s annual meeting with the Prime Minister is unique in our communal calendar. It facilitates direct engagement with the heart of government and gives voice to the entire community on matters of national importance.
“As JLC Chair, I am committed to deepening the partnership with the Prime Minister and to working with the government and across our membership to tackle the challenges we face and make a profound difference in the life of every British Jew.”
Board of Deputies of British Jews President Jonathan Arkush said:
“I conveyed to the Prime Minister the Jewish community’s concerns on extremism and community cohesion. I also asked that the Prime Minister that, in this year of the centenary of the Balfour Declaration, she use her influence to ensure that the already close ties between the UK and Israel become even stronger.”
The Prime Minister meeting was arranged and coordinated by the Jewish Leadership Council (JLC) and was supported professionally by Claudia Mendoza, the JLC’s Director of Policy and Public Affairs.
Members of the delegation were:
Jonathan Goldstein, Chair of the JLC (Delegation Chair)
Sarah Anticoni, Chair of PaJeS
Jonathan Arkush, President of the Board of Deputies
Debbie Fox, Vice Chair of Jewish Care
Josh Holt, President of the Union of Jewish Students
Gerald Ronson CBE, Chairman, Community Security Trust (CST)
Dan Rosenfield, Chair of World Jewish Relief
Hilda Worth, Co-chair of Jewish Women’s Aid
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National Editorial
A moment of hope and danger in Sudan
Omar Al Bashir’s departure looks like a victory for people power, but the future remains unclear
Sudan's Defence Minister Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf said that a military council would run the country for a two-year transitional period. Reuters
After 30 years, the Sudanese people have called time on Omar Al Bashir’s presidency. What began in December as unrest over price rises and food shortages quickly escalated into a nationwide movement. Tens of thousands of Sudanese massed outside the defence ministry compound in the capital Khartoum today and for eight hours, waited to hear the news they had longed for: that the president had finally capitulated to months of dissent and stepped down. Appearing on state television, Sudan’s defence minister, Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf, declared that for “a transitional period of two years, the armed forces will take power with the representation of the people to pave the way for the people”. He also announced that Mr Al Bashir would be arrested and the 2005 constitution would be cancelled. With strands of the army appearing alongside protesters and trading fire with Mr Al Bashir’s security forces on Tuesday, this had seemed like a victory for people power, symbolised by the widely shared image of 22-year-old student Alaa Saleh, her white-robed figure standing atop a car roof as she pointed skywards. But following the televised announcement of the handover of power, Sudanese people will be wondering exactly what the future holds.
Sudan's Defence Minister Awad Mohamed Ahmed Ibn Auf made his announcement on state television. Sudan TV / Reuters
Since he came to power in a military coup in 1989, Mr Al Bashir has failed to unite the country and his people have been suffering, particularly since the secession of oil-rich South Sudan in 2011. Half the population earn less than $2 a day, the prices of fuel and commodities have risen steeply in recent months and the government-protected Janjaweed militia continue to carry out atrocities. Sudan stands on the cusp of real change but there are dangers ahead. Its future is far from determined and the threat of further violence is ever-present. Mr Al Bashir will be eager to avoid charges of genocide levelled at him by the International Criminal Court in 2010 for his suppression of an independence movement in Darfur. Despite his arrest, the former president might retain some leverage with military officials keen to avert chaos. Meanwhile, two years of military rule might do little to placate protesters who demanded a “civilian transitional government”. For now, an all-out collapse of government authority and widespread disorder, with different groups and militias fighting for supremacy, appears to have been averted. Such an outcome would have devastated the country and would have been felt across Africa and the Middle East.
Now that Sudan’s military has assumed power, it should work towards holding presidential elections. They must be free and fair, to appease millions of disenchanted Sudanese, who will not settle for more of the same. It is worth remembering that Mr Al Bashir is not just a man but the face of a wider system, constructed and perpetuated over the course of 30 years. The fate of many people within the ruling party and the country’s feared intelligence services are inextricably tied to his. How the military now deals with them will set the tone moving forward. But the hope that has characterised these protests must not give way to years of opaque military rule. With the assistance of the international community and regional powers, the army must peacefully oversee a proper transition to civilian rule. The fate of millions depends on it.
Updated: April 11, 2019 06:14 PM
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The day collective responsibility died: Fox warns May of Brexit "betrayal"
Disgraced former defence secretary Liam Fox
Liam Fox has been accused of "burning collective responsibility to the ground" after he issued a stark warning to Theresa May over Brexit negotiations
Dr Fox warned the prime minister that extending talks would be a "complete betrayal," of Brexit voters, telling Business Insider that she should commit to instead leaving the EU with no deal instead.
The international trade secretary told the website that if, at the end of Article 50 talks, there was no deal in place, the UK government should crash out, rather than request more negotiating time.
Asked whether the UK should seek to extend negotiations if no deal was secured by the time Britain is due to leave next March, the disgraced former defence secretary said that Mrs May should instead "leave without a deal."
He said: "The public have told us, it wasn't a consultation, to leave the European Union, and the public already wonders why it's going to take more than four years after the referendum for us to fully remove ourselves from the EU.
"To attempt to extend our membership even longer, many voters would regard as a complete betrayal by the political class, and I think they would be right."
He accused the EU of pushing Britain towards a no-deal scenario, saying that "if [the EU] keep saying no to everything they will end up with no deal".
Labour MP Virendra Sharma MP, a champion of the campaign group Best for Britain, which is campaigning for a second referendum, said that the government had "had more negotiating positions than the kama sutra on Brexit".
He said: "Last week the foreign secretary warned that the British public would blame the EU for a no deal outcome, but now we're back to the haggard old line 'no deal is better than a bad deal'.
"I know it's hot, but this is the day collective responsibility burned to the ground.
"Fox said that a deal with the EU would be the easiest in history. If that's true then he's woefully incompetent at his job, because he's absolutely bombing at his job."
Last year Dr Fox said a post-Brexit deal with the EU would be “the easiest in human history”. He said: “We are already beginning with zero tariffs, and we are already beginning at the point of maximal regulatory equivalence, as it is called. In other words, our rules and our laws are exactly the same.”
Yesterday the EU's chief negotiator ruled out allowing the UK to collect customs duties on its behalf, a key UK proposal for post-Brexit trade.
Michel Barnier said the UK wanted to "take back control" of its money, law and borders - but so did the EU.
The EU would not delegate "excises duty collection to a non-member", he said.
But in his Business Insider interview, Dr Fox insisted that the prime minister's Chequers plan was not dead and accused the EU of putting "political ideology" before both a Brexit deal and the wellbeing on EU citizens.
"They [the EU] simply don't want to make this particular method work," he said.
"So it's clear that it is possible, but it requires political will to do so. The question will be whether the EU 27 leaders are willing to see the Commission's political ideology put ahead of the economic well-being of the people of Europe."
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After big win, LSU to host Kentucky
The Tigers won their biggest game of the season at Vanderbilt on Saturday - now it's Kentucky time at home.
After big win, LSU to host Kentucky The Tigers won their biggest game of the season at Vanderbilt on Saturday - now it's Kentucky time at home. Check out this story on thenewsstar.com: http://tnsne.ws/1R8lSFG
GLENN GUILBEAU, Gannett Louisiana Published 8:14 p.m. CT Jan. 4, 2016
Vanderbilt Commodores guard Camron Justice (0) and Commodores guard Matthew Fisher-Davis (5) block out LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) during the second half on Saturday.(Photo: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports)
BATON ROUGE – LSU Football is over – except for recruiting.
So, bring on LSU Basketball as the Tigers (8-5) will host No. 9 Kentucky (11-2) at 8 p.m. Tuesday on ESPN fresh off a 90-82 victory at highly regarded Vanderbilt. LSU’s ratings percentage index jumped from No. 168 to No. 144 with the win over the Commodores, who fell from No. 42 in the RPI to No. 59. That RPI could jump significantly more with a win over the Wildcats, who are No. 6 in the RPI.
LSU has announced a sellout for the 13,215-seat Pete Maravich Assembly Center for Tuesday’s game.
“Our fans are always excited to see good basketball,” LSU coach Johnny Jones said on his radio show Monday night. “Kentucky has another great basketball team, and the Tigers are fun to watch. So this is an opportunity for our fans to be exposed to a great night in the P-MAC. We’re looking forward to a great atmosphere. It’s going to be an exciting night for us.”
Fans will also get to see the nation’s best freshman – if not the nation’s best player – and the projected first selection of the NBA Draft this summer in LSU forward Ben Simmons, who is coming off one of the best games of his career. Simmons scored 36 points with 14 rebounds and four assists in the Tigers’ win in Nashville, Tennessee. Vanderbilt had no answer for him as the Commodores tried different players and different defenses on the versatile 6-foot-10 superstar. Fouling him also did not work. Simmons made 16 of 19 free throws.
“He really took over the game,” Jones said.
Not taking over games and being too unselfish were the criticisms of Simmons as the Tigers dropped five games in November and December - usually to lesser opponents.
“I was just being aggressive. I knew their bigs couldn’t guard me,” Simmons said. “That’s just my mentality with everybody. It doesn’t matter who it is.”
That mindset may not work as well against Kentucky, which may use 6-8 senior forward Alex Poythress against Simmons. Poythress averages 9.4 points and 7.3 rebounds a game. Freshman Jamal Murray, a 6-4 guard who was the No. 9 point guard in the nation out of high school in Kitchener, Ontario, leads the team with 16.8 points a game. Isaiah Briscoe, the No. 10 point guard in the nation last year out of Newark, New Jersey, is averaging 11 points and 5.5 rebounds a game.
Simmons was named the SEC freshman of the week for his effort in the Vanderbilt game and for his 21 points and 12 rebounds in a 77-71 loss to Wake Forest earlier last week. He is third in the SEC in scoring with 20.5 points a game and is second in the nation with 13.1 rebounds a game.
“For him to be able to perform on that stage at that level against a team of that caliber, I think says a lot about Ben, his awareness and his abilities,” Jones said.
“They’ve got one of the best players in the country who can beat you 10 different ways,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said Wednesday on the SEC teleconference. “We’ve got to be who we are and maybe make them change. But you better have a game plan A and B against them, because he can go for 40. He is a 6-9 point guard-ish guy that will go to next to the basket, make free throws, so you can’t foul him. And in transition when he brings it up, he’s a great playmaker.”
Greg Hilburn
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With summer sessions underway, ULM halfway to August camp
Adam Hunsucker
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Updated: Athletic Director Scott Eaton terminated
Stephen Wilder
Former Athletic Director Scott Eaton spoke to the crowd when NKU announced their decision to go to Division I in December 2011. President Mearns announced today he is terminated for ethical misconduct.
Filed under Featured Story, Sports
Updated: March 19, 3:15 p.m.
NKU President Geoffrey Mearns announced March 18 that Athletic Director Scott Eaton has been terminated from his position for ethical violations. Eaton was suspended on March 12 and an investigation was conducted, leading Mearns to terminate him, according to a letter sent to the Board of Regents.
Today Mearns confirmed that there is “no evidence of conduct that would give rise to criminal charges.”
At this point, Mearns said in an interview with The Northerner that he was unable to provide specific information about the misconduct because the investigation is ongoing. But he did confirm that there is no information for NCAA compliance issues. There is also no evidence of similar misconduct from other university employees, according to Mearns.
Mearns said he did not know when he would be able to release more information; the timeline depends on the Cincinnati law firm Dinsmore & Shohl’s investigation.
In the letter, which was also sent to all NKU students, faculty and staff, Mearns said that Eaton failed to comply with the NKU’s ethical principles and code of conduct. “His conduct did not meet his responsibility to the university and lacked fundamental integrity.”
The investigation into Eaton’s actions began March 8 and with the help of the law firm, Mearns received information that led him to suspend Eaton on March 12. The investigation, according to Mearns’ letter, is ongoing to “determine the impact and full scope of Mr. Eaton’s misconduct.”
Starting with the letter and email to the NKU community, Mearns said he is working hard to be as transparent as possible, as opposed to “other institutions who have not acted with the same level of dispatch and have not been particularly forthcoming with the public.”
“In my judgment, it is in the interest of the university to be honest with all of its constituents.”
Gerard St. Amand will be the acting athletic director during the search for a new director. Amand recently announced his resignation from his position as vice president for university advancement.
Eaton was appointed athletic director in 2009, and has been an administrator at the university since 1998. In 2007-2008 he served as interim vice president for student affairs.
In his position as athletic director, he helped lead NKU Athletics into Division I and played a major role in launching the $6 million Go Gold campaign.
Before starting at NKU, Eaton worked as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Brown University in Rhode Island. He received his master’s degrees from Fitchburg State College and Springfield College. He earned a doctorate from Boston University.
Letter to Board Chair from President Mearns
Link to NKU Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct
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Review: English band The 1975 rocks PNC Pavilion
From the editor-in-chief: My thanks to The Northerner
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Home » Bookstores » Rent Increase Drives Book Shop to Close
Rent Increase Drives Book Shop to Close
From Crain’s New York:
The Drama Book Shop, known for its exhaustive collection of plays and books on theater and as hallowed ground for the Broadway set, will shutter its store at 250 W. 40th St. early next year. Its owners hope to reopen—likely in a smaller space—elsewhere in the Theater District or nearby.
The decision came after what has become an increasingly common death knell for beloved businesses across the city: a sharp rent increase. The 100-year-old bookstore’s lease for the space it has occupied for almost 20 years expires at the end of January.
While some retail businesses around the city have been surprised by rent spikes handed to them by their landlords, Allen Hubby, a vice president at the bookshop whose aunt, Rozanne Seelen, has owned the store for several decades, said they had expected its time in the space to come to an end at the close of its lease.
Recent rent escalations for the space have brought its monthly bill to about $20,000, Hubby said, a price it was already struggling to pay.
“We knew it was getting too expensive,” Hubby said. “It’s hard to cover a $20,000 rent when most of the books you offer only cost about $10. Not to mention salaries, the costs of buying the books, electricity, taxes. We can’t afford it.”
The landlord of the building had initially proposed a 50% rent increase for the bookshop to renew its lease, Hubby said, terming the offer a nonstarter.
“At this point that’s already so far out of the reality of our situation,” Hubby said. “We didn’t expect that the landlord would agree to reduce our rent, which is really what we need.”
In the Drama Book Shop’s case, rent increases have not been the shop’s only woes. Sometimes shoppers will come into the store and use the expertise of its staff to find books or plays, Hubby said, only to leave and buy the merchandise online.
“Most of the things we sell you can now get on Amazon, and although people often don’t realize it, we actually sell most of our items for lower prices,” Hubby said. “It’s bad for everyone, except Amazon.”
Link to the rest at Crain’s New York
PG says the OP notes the human side of every small business and the tragedies and disappointments involved with a business failure or major financial setback.
PG notes that a bookstore is a public business and when it fails or closes, many people are likely to notice. An author operates a much less public business and when an author fails and can’t afford to be a full-time or even part-time author any more, business publications are unlikely to write stories about the business closure, but the personal disappointment and even tragedy can still be the same.
In each case, it’s the loss of a cherished dream which has consumed untold hours of work and an individual passion that is ultimately frustrated at great emotional cost.
As PG has mentioned uncounted times before, indie publishing through Amazon, Kobo and others has allowed countless authors to afford to continue their life’s passions when the traditional publishing business structure would have resulted in failure, both financially and, even more important, emotionally.
7 Comments to “Rent Increase Drives Book Shop to Close”
DaveMichOctober 25, 2018 at 9:22 AM
I’ve read enough of these now that whenever the word “beloved” is applied, my BS meter pegs.
James F. BrownOctober 25, 2018 at 2:02 PM
@DaveMich
+1, LOL.
Terrence OBrienOctober 25, 2018 at 10:50 AM
Even more interesting would be a follow-up in three years about what replaced the bookstore, how it is doing, and whether it is beloved by its customers.
DaveMichOctober 25, 2018 at 12:21 PM
…and whether it is able to pay the rent.
AnonymousOctober 25, 2018 at 12:25 PM
I’m hearing Gomer Pile’s ‘Surprise surprise surprise’ …
Ashe Elton ParkerOctober 25, 2018 at 3:17 PM
The OP clearly doesn’t realize that this or any other bookshop is free to move into an area where the rent is lower. Provided they have the capital, such a move would prevent their permanent closure. Also, the bookshop apparently made little to no effort of informing browsers that their books are not only right there for the purchasing, but also cheaper than those that could be found online. Because, personally, if I’m looking for a print book and I’m right there in a bookshop that has what I want at a reasonable price, I’ll buy from the b&m shop instead of ordering online, paying for shipping, and waiting for days to get the book.
Oh, yeah, but then OP couldn’t lament the loss of their “beloved” bookshop.
J.M. Ney-GrimmOctober 25, 2018 at 7:11 PM
An author operates a much less public business and when an author fails and can’t afford to be a full-time or even part-time author any more, business publications are unlikely to write stories about the business closure, but the personal disappointment and even tragedy can still be the same.
Yes! Thank you, PG. Well said.
EFF calls for reforms – – to the reforms! Dreams
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Discover 1 Airports in Algiers, Algeria in this map. The most exciting sights, the best hotels, a diverse nightlife, recommended restaurants and more for your Algiers vacation. Updated constantly, free and available for desktop/smartphone/tablet.
Algiers (Arabic: الجزائر, Berber languages: ⴷⵣⴰⵢⴻ, French: Alger) is the capital and largest city of Algeria. In 2011, the city's population was estimated to be around 3,500,000. An estimate puts the population of the larger metropolitan city to be around 5,000,000. Algiers is located on the Mediterranean Sea and in the north-central portion of Algeria. Sometimes nicknamed El-Behdja (البهجة) or alt... (read more on Wikipedia)
Capital of Algeria | Calling code: +213 ((0)21) | Area: 363.00 km²
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Algiers International Airport / Houari Boumediene Airport / Aéroport d'Alger (ALG) (Dar El Beïda, Algiers Province, Algeria)
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Home/Featured Interviews/Exclusive Interview of Andrew Salgado
Featured InterviewsProdigy
Exclusive Interview of Andrew Salgado
I often say that art is the only aspect of my life that defines who I am. Without art, I’m nothing. It dictates nearly every element of my life, what I do, how I do it, and why.
-Andrew Salgado
Times of Youth: For those who don’t know about you and your work, can you tell us a little about yourself?
I’m 32, half-Mexican, born and raised in Canada, trained with a BFA in Canada and an MFA at Chelsea College in London. In the shortest sense, I’m a figurative painter with a fairly abstract bent. I’ve lived in East London for the past 8 years; now, its home.
Times of Youth: What does art mean to Andrew Salgado?
Times of Youth: When did you realize that being an artist was your calling?
I think I have always known that I’d be in the creative sphere. As a young kid I avoided sports in favor of taking art classes from the local creative community. I was fortunate in that I had a lot of support in this regard; my neighbor was a celebrated watercolorist who first taught me how to paint; I had excellent tutelage throughout my teens and also in young adulthood. However, it was a seminal high-school teacher who really made me focus on my talents and push me into art as a career choice – believe me, this is not an easy career-path. When I began university my parents forced me into Science, but after the first semester I gave the ultimatum, either I go into Fine Art, or I drop out. That was an easy decision and I was fortunate that they supported me through my first degree.
Times of Youth: Who are your favorite classic artists, and how did they influence your career path?
I believe in what I almost call a historical flat-lining of art history. In the sense that I think one can be equally inspired by totally (seemingly) disparate artists, modes, and eras. Off the top of my head, favorites are Bacon and (Daniel) Richter (Gerhard does little for me). But who cannot find themselves in awe of DaVinci. The Florentine Renaissance makes my knees weak. I also love Veronese, Vermeer, Caravaggio and Zurbaran and Ribero. The Byzantine period captivates me – those flattened faces and aggressive lines. I mean, realistically the list goes on and on, so could be quite silly for me to tell you all of my influeces. However, today I often look to Condo, Ghenie, Cecily Brown, Justin Mortimer, and even more contemporary peers, like Dale Adcock who is a genius in his own right and has become a very good friend. I own a huge painting by Dale and I think it resonates with the same incomprehensibly mystery and mastery, as say, the Sistine Chapel, but on a totally different level. I like to look at work that is totally dissimilar to inform my practice. I collect things, ideas, colors, pairings…I keep them in my head or as visual aides until they materialize on canvas. Sometimes this happens months or even years later. Actually, just this morning I re-stretched a painting from 2012 for a collector and noted how the background on that piece was a precursor to the background on a painting I’m working on now for a solo outing at VOLTA BASEL this June with my gallery, Beers London. I think as an artist we need to constantly consume. It is tiresome, but my eyes are hungry. I never stop. I once met an artist asking for help and I told him to digest everything visually; he told me he didn’t want to look at other artists because his style was totally unique to him. I couldn’t help my outburst – I told him that was the stupidest thing I’d ever heard. Picasso himself said it best – good artists borrow, but great artists steal. There’s nothing new, we’re only paraphrasing and reorganizing what has already been said, but the real talent is translating it in a manner that makes it look unquestionably fresh. I mean, there’s only so many words in the arsenal of the English language, but a strong author can still stop you in your tracks and make you go “wow, how did he write that?”
Notes (2014), Oil on Canvas with mixed media, 170x230cm
Times of Youth: How would you describe your style?
Never as portraiture. That’s the worst. A portrait is a one-dimensional representation of a subject that aims for likeness as its primary goal. To be totally honest, I don’t really care if my painting looks nothing like the subject. I like this idea that there are things brewing beneath the surface of the picture plane; these extra meanings that occur when the sutures of the canvas are ripped apart. I think that’s why I like painting people I don’t know – strangers. My process of painting them is exploratory. I often compare it to vampirism, its selfish, I take what I need from them and toss them aside. But ultimately how I paint is intensely personal, almost masturbatory. Don’t come into my studio while I’m working because this process of accident, chaos, crisis, and finally self-revelation and resolution has to occur. It can be a long, and difficult process, but I fundamentally believe in change, experimentation, and risk as formative aspects of my practice. But back to the first question: in short, I call myself an abstract figurative painter. It leaves it up for interpretation.
Times of Youth: Of all your solo exhibitions so far, which one has been the most memorable?
I think as young, working artists, its important to define yourself with the art you are doing now. I am not the artist I was in 2012, or 2013, even. I’m already growing from who I was in 2014. I’m who I am now, and as such, my most relevant work should always be the work I’m currently working on. If its not, I’m not pushing myself hard enough. I have no time for artists who don’t aspire to better themselves. And believe me, there are a lot of one-trick ponies out there. I think the peers catch on first, and eventually, the buyers and critics. My favorite young artists are the ones that make me think; that shock and scare me. That leave me feeling perplexed, perhaps unsure. I don’t want my thoughts to be confirmed and I don’t want to confirm anyone else’s – I want each body of work to have an element of surprise, for both me and my viewer.
Times of Youth: Tell us more about your upcoming solo exhibitions, especially ‘Youth In Trouble’.
The body of work I’m currently working on is ‘This is Not the Way to Disneyland’ which, as mentioned, will be a solo presentation at VOLTA over ART BASEL in Switzerland with Beers London. Later, in December, I will debut another new body of work, ‘Youth in Trouble’ over ART BASEL WEEK in Miami, which will be accompanied by a monograph of the same name, cataloguing my work and practice to date. I think I’ve gone a bit more pop, I don’t know. Something feels very strangely colorful. I don’t like to talk about it too much because in all honesty the work is being made and I myself don’t even know where it will truly end-up. ‘This is Not the Way to Disneyland’ though, is quite dark. The title was taken from the words ostensibly spoken by the 13 year old victim of William Bonin and his four friends, all of whom were homosexual pedophile serial murderer-rapists in the 70’s who picked up a boy in Florida on his way to Disneyland, who, at one point along the journey apparently said these horrific words. But I’ve always loved the idea that something which appears to be joyful might be subversive. And as a homosexual and a victim of a hate-crime myself in 2008, my work has often dealt with ideas of misanthropy and human nature. I’ve created something for the show that I’ve dubbed the Mickey Swastika, which I find both hilarious and totally appropriate for a lot of reasons.
Times of Youth: Among your works, which one is your most favorite? Why?
Come on, that doesn’t exist. I’ll tell you which I hate: The Bewildered Pursuit. What a piece of garbage! My gallery won’t let me take it off my website because for some reason it became that piece for me. Its kinda like Van Morrison denouncing Brown Eyed Girl.
Times of Youth: Besides paintings, we heard that you’re also collaborating with RAINS, a Danish fashion house to help with their new range of luxury garments. Do tell us how did that come about and your experience.
Yes. This is super exciting. I can’t give too much away but I get asked often to collaborate with various brands, but unless it respects both my art, and the other brand, I don’t feel its right. With RAINS, it was an immediate click. I knew we could do it and do it well. You should start to see/hear a lot more about this later in the year. These things take some time. But I can promise you the designs are stunning.
Youth in Revolt (2015), Oil on Canvas, 200x200cm
Times of Youth: Did you ever expect, when you started out at first, that you’d get this far?
I’m not sure how far I am, to be honest. The accusation I hate more than any, is “well, now that you’ve made it … “ which is offensive. There’s always room to grow. I’ve been fortunate to have experienced a modicum of success at a relatively early age. If anything, that lights the fire to continue to prove and establish my worth as an artist. There is never time to sit back and put your feet up and think “man, am I good!” That just can’t happen. And if it does, quit.
What is the first word that comes to your mind when you read the following-
Colors: Inspire
Parents: Guide
Life: London
Love: Everyone
London: Home
Times of Youth: How does it feel like to be one of the most lauded artists of today’s times?
I think that’s a gross overstatement. I would appreciate the label, but I have a long way to go. A lot to learn. Hopefully, a long future ahead of me where I actually can grow into that label. But that’s a lifelong pursuit. That doesn’t just happen at 32.
Times of Youth: Do tell us how fans can contact you to share their appreciation/feedback/suggestions.
You can visit my site at www.andrewsalgado.com
Join my facebook page at www.facebook.com/andrew.salgado.artist
Or to inquire about pricing and availability, and to register interest for future work, please email [email protected]
Terrorists Don't Have A Religion, So Stop Racism In Its Name!
Exclusive Interview of KAMBAKHT's Movie Producer, Eyad Ibrahim
Candid Interview of the Mystical Photographer Thomas Dodd
Exclusive Interview with Ben Churchill – The Food Illusionist
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How Three Gifts To UT Gave All Texans A Fourth: The Gift Of The Stars
Three Texans gave the land – including a couple of mountains – for the McDonald Observatory.
By W.F. StrongDecember 13, 2017 10:01 amArts & Culture, Stories From Texas
Dave Hensley/Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
As it is Christmastime I got to thinking about the great gifts – money and property – given to the state of Texas over the years. I’m going to tell you about three such gifts that led to a priceless fourth.
In 1926, a bachelor banker died in Paris, Texas… a rich bachelor banker that is. His estate was worth about $1.2 million. Today, that would be about $17 million, enough to buy a Whataburger for everybody in Dallas and Houston, with enough left over to What-a-size the fries. In his will, the banker left 90 percent of his money to The University of Texas to buy a telescope and build an observatory.
The banker’s name was William Johnson McDonald.
Well, as you might expect, Mr. McDonald’s relatives didn’t like him leaving all that money for a telescope. They believed that anyone who would do such a thing must be, by definition, a bit crazy. So they sued.
Fortunately, Mr. McDonald had shared his telescope dream with his barber. He said that astronomy was a young science of great potential if it had the right funding, and hoped that, “one day a telescope would be built that would allow astronomers to see the gold-plated streets of heaven.”
He was also well-known as an amateur scientist, so the jury had little trouble believing that his wish was the product of a sane mind. Upon appeal, his relatives got more than Mr. McDonald had left them, but UT ended up with about $800,000, which is still 11 million in today’s dollars.
Once UT had the money, they had to go shopping for a mountain to put the observatory on. That must have been fun. Mountain-shopping has got to be something that you get to do only once or twice in a lifetime.
Lucky for UT, they were located in a state that had west Texas in it, with some of the finest stargazing potential in the North America. After driving several thousand miles, inspecting various sites for altitude, dark skies, cloudless nights and poor prospects of rain, they found what they were looking for out by Fort Davis. It had no official name but was called Flat Top Mountain by the locals. It was part of a ranch perfectly named for that region: The U Up U Down Ranch.
President Harry Benedict of UT wrote a letter to the owner of that mountain, Mrs. Violet McIvor. He told her of McDonald’s gift and of the university’s great need for a mountain to put the observatory on. Benedict wrote that her mountain was ideally suited for such an observatory, that “optical tests already made showed that the Davis Mountains region was the best in Texas, perhaps the best in the United States, for astronomical purposes.” He asked her if she might consider giving her mountain to science.
I think Violet surprised him when she did just that. She wrote back almost immediately and gave UT the entire top of the mountain, 200 acres. She also gave UT the land to build a road to the summit. The resulting highway, Spur 78, is to this day the highest highway in Texas.
UT built the observatory and named it for William Johnson McDonald. The mountain was officially named Mt. Locke after Violet’s grandfather, G.S. Locke, from whom she had inherited it. Violet wrote to UT and said she was delighted “to have her grandfather’s name perpetuated in the Davis Mountains.” She said, “He would have been pleased to leave his name among the mountains which he had known and loved so long.” Anyone with a scientific leaning can’t see the name Mt. Locke without thinking of the British empiricist, John Locke, who believed that the best science was one steeped in observation.
I asked Mrs. Julie McIvor, who, along with her husband Scott, still live on and operate the U Up U Down Ranch, why her grandmother-in-law, Violet, would have simply given away such a valuable piece of real estate, one that would be worth millions today. She said, “That generation was different. They believed in giving back.They were building a great state and a great country. She loved that she could do her part to empower a better future for Texas, and America.”
As gifts inspire gifts, only five months after Violet gave her mountain to UT, the estate of long-time Fort Davis Judge Edwin H. Fowlkes, donated the adjoining mountain, known as Little Flat Top. The Fowlkes estate donated a total of 200 acres and that mountain was formally named Fowlkes Mountain in his honor. Sheri Eppenauer, who is the granddaughter in law of Judge Fowlkes, said that he was a civic-minded man and always did what he thought was best for the people of Fort Davis and the region.
Three gifts to Texas; an observatory and two mountains. These collectively gave us a fourth gift – one of the world’s leading centers of astronomical research – in fact, these gifts gave us the heavens themselves, as McDonald predicted.
I want to thank Mrs. Julie McIvor and Mrs. Sheri Eppenauer of Fort Davis for their kind assistance with this commentary. They are family descendants of the donors, Mt. Locke and and Mt. Fowlkes respectively.
Texas Standard For December 13, 2017
A Win In Alabama Won’t Translate Unless Texas Democrats Can Turn Purple Counties Into Blue
Harris County To Sue Pharmaceutical Companies For ‘Opioid Epidemic’
Trump Administration Says It’s Time To Go Back To The Moon
After The Flood: Woman Who Survived Katrina, Then Harvey, Starts Over — Again
Fired Special Ed. Director: The State Knew About Misconduct Allegations When It Hired Me
If An Actor Can Memorize ‘Hamlet,’ He Can Remember Where To Keep His Hands
Did Hurricane Harvey Really Leave More Than 12 Million People Without Homes?
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Martin expected to return for LSU
BATON ROUGE – Top signee Jarell Martin, a freshman forward from Baton Rouge, is expected to return to action after m...
Martin expected to return for LSU BATON ROUGE – Top signee Jarell Martin, a freshman forward from Baton Rouge, is expected to return to action after m... Check out this story on theadvertiser.com: http://usat.ly/1c8nJSZ
Louisiana Published 11:03 p.m. CT Nov. 21, 2013
BATON ROUGE – Top signee Jarell Martin, a freshman forward from Baton Rouge, is expected to return to action after missing the last two games with an ankle injury when the LSU basketball team hosts Southeastern Louisiana on Friday night at 7 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
“He was able to practice, so we’re looking forward to him being back and a part of what we’re doing,” LSU coach Johnny Jones said in an LSU sports information release on Thursday. “We just want to make sure that he’s able to do it at the pace as well, and we just have to be mindful that his condition probably won’t be at the same level that it was at the beginning of the season.”
Martin sprained his right ankle in the opening seconds of LSU’s season opener against Massachusetts.
“It’s going to be a little bit different for him, and we haven’t had the opportunity to see him in this type of action yet,” Jones said. “So, it’ll be interesting for him as well as for us. Hopefully, he’ll go hard early on, and we’re able to get him out, rest him and see how he feels. Then get him back in again and just play him in some spurts. Hopefully, he can give us some positive minutes during that time.”
The Tigers are 2-1 on the season after an 81-54 win over the University of New Orleans on Tuesday night at home in which freshman forward Jordan Mickey scored 16 points with 11 rebounds, and senior guard Andre Stringer scored 19. SLU is also 2-1 after a 108-54 win over Champion Baptist last week. SLU has a 63-62 win at Rice and an 89-53 loss at Missouri.
“We look forward to improvement since our last outing,” Jones said. “We have to make sure we come out at the beginning of that game and try to establish ourselves early on, making sure that we hit on all the cylinders that we need to.”
LSU will play in the Old Spice Classic in Orlando, Fla., over the Thanksgiving holidays. The Tigers play St. Joseph’s at 7:30 p.m. Thursday night and play either Memphis or Siena on Friday. A third game follows on Sunday.
Glenn Guilbeau
LSU close to giving fans what they deserve
Tyler Horka
Kellen Mond talks about what led to 7-OT win
Madisen Carter
See the LSU Football 2019 Schedule
Erik Hall and Justin Parham
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Unbiasing Academia
I'm not surprised that John Tierney's new article on Jonathan Haidt has gotten a lot of attention from conservatives; it involves a liberal academic telling them something they already know: that academia discriminates against them.
He polled his audience at the San Antonio Convention Center, starting by asking how many considered themselves politically liberal. A sea of hands appeared, and Dr. Haidt estimated that liberals made up 80 percent of the 1,000 psychologists in the ballroom. When he asked for centrists and libertarians, he spotted fewer than three dozen hands. And then, when he asked for conservatives, he counted a grand total of three.
"This is a statistically impossible lack of diversity," Dr. Haidt concluded, noting polls showing that 40 percent of Americans are conservative and 20 percent are liberal. In his speech and in an interview, Dr. Haidt argued that social psychologists are a "tribal-moral community" united by "sacred values" that hinder research and damage their credibility -- and blind them to the hostile climate they've created for non-liberals.
"Anywhere in the world that social psychologists see women or minorities underrepresented by a factor of two or three, our minds jump to discrimination as the explanation," said Dr. Haidt, who called himself a longtime liberal turned centrist. "But when we find out that conservatives are underrepresented among us by a factor of more than 100, suddenly everyone finds it quite easy to generate alternate explanations."
In blog years, this is an age-old argument. I find it particularly intriguing because it completely reverses the standard argument about discrimination. Conservatives are usually reluctant to agree that women and minorities are still often victims of structural or personal bias--despite numerical underrepresentation and some fairly compelling studies showing that hiring is not race or gender blind. Yet when it comes to conservatives in academia, they suddenly sound like sociologists, discussing hostile work environment, the role of affinity networks in excluding out groups, unconscious bias, and the compelling evidence from statistical underrepresentation.
Meanwhile, liberals, who are usually quick to assume that underrepresentation represents some form of discrimination--structural or personal--suddenly become, as Haidt notes, fierce critics of the notion that numerical representation means anything. Moreover, they start generating explanations for the disparity that sound suspiciously like some old reactionary explaining that blacks don't really want to go into management because they're much happier without all the responsibility. Conservatives are too stupid to become academics; they aren't open new ideas; they're too aggressive and hierarchical; they don't care about ideas, just money. In other words, it's not our fault that they're not worthy.
Besides, liberals suddenly argue, we shouldn't look for every sub-population to mirror the composition of the population at large; just as Greeks gravitated towards diners in 1980s New York, and the small market business was dominated by kKoreans, liberals are attracted to academia, and conservatives to, well, some other profession. Today Paul Krugman writes:
Every once in a while you get stories like this one, about the underrepresentation of conservatives in academics, that treat ideological divides as being somehow equivalent to racial differences. This is a really, really bad analogy.
And it's not just the fact that you can choose your ideology, but not your race. Ideologies have a real effect on overall life outlook, which has a direct impact on job choices. Military officers are much more conservative than the population at large; so? (And funny how you don't see opinion pieces screaming "bias" and demanding an effort to redress the imbalance.)
I have no idea what distinction one is supposed to make between beliefs and something you "can't change". Could Paul Krugman become a devout Baptist and a supply sider tomorrow, if the financial incentives were right? I devoutly hope not. I presume that Paul Krugman holds the beliefs he does because they are his best guess at what is true, and that he could no more change his beliefs than he could change his native language. It is easier (in most cases) to pretend different ideas than a different race--but we rightly think that it was horrific to force blacks to "pass" as a condition of being treated like a full human being. That era imposed terrible costs on those who passed, and a cost to society, in the form of lost diversity.
Beyond that, the comparison to the military doesn't really work. When you click the link, you don't find a military that's wildly more conservative than the public at large. Surveys regularly find that around 80% of professors vote mostly Democratic, where somewhere around 45% of American voters lean Democratic; and 9% of professors vote mostly Republican, while about 45% of Americans lean that way. In the latest Gallup poll, about 28% of voters directly identify with each party in the latest survey, though historically Democrats have been about 5-7 points higher.
By contrast, in the military, according to Krugman's link, 41% of the troops identify as Republicans (down from 62% just seven years ago), while 32% identify as independent, and presumably, 27% identify as Democrats.
In other words, a professor is almost twice as likely to support the Democratic party as a member of the general population, and about 80% less likely to support the GOP. By contrast, a military officer is about 40% more likely to identify as a Republican as someone in the general population, and about as likely to identify as a Democrat. In fact, the only profession I could find that skews 80% towards Republicans is Southern Baptist ministers. I suspect both professors and ministers would resent the comparison.
Professors might rightly rejoinder that no one's demanding that the Southern Baptist Conference start recruiting liberals to balance things out. I'm not sure this is quite true, actually, as there are quite a lot of liberal baptists attached to the American Baptist conference, and probably even some within the Southern conference who would like to move it to the left. But certainly, I don't know many professors who are demanding some sort of liberal baptist affirmative action.
On the other hand, I don't actually know many conservatives who want quotas for conservatives, either--I'm sure they're out there, but even David Horowitz didn't go that far. Most of the people I talk to think, like James Joyner, that this may be a problem without a solution. It is just my impression, but I think what conservatives want most of all is simply recognition that they are being shut out. It is a double indignity to be discriminated against, and then be told unctuously that your group's underrepresentation is proof that almost none of you are as good as "us". Haidt notes that his correspondence with conservative students (anonymously) "reminded him of closeted gay students in the 1980s":
He quoted -- anonymously -- from their e-mails describing how they hid their feelings when colleagues made political small talk and jokes predicated on the assumption that everyone was a liberal. "I consider myself very middle-of-the-road politically: a social liberal but fiscal conservative. Nonetheless, I avoid the topic of politics around work," one student wrote. "Given what I've read of the literature, I am certain any research I conducted in political psychology would provide contrary findings and, therefore, go unpublished. Although I think I could make a substantial contribution to the knowledge base, and would be excited to do so, I will not."
Beyond that, mostly they would like academics to be conscious of the bias, and try to counter it where possible. As the quote above suggests, this isn't just for the benefit of conservatives, either. Just as excluding blacks and women from academia by tacit agreement allowed for a certain amount of wrong-headed groupthink, so does excluding people with different political views. No, I'm not saying you have to hire a Young Earth Creationist to be a biology professor, but I don't see why it should matter in a professor of Mathematics or Sociology.
Trying to be more conscious of one's own bias, and even to attempt to work against it, should not be such a hard task for people as brilliant, open-minded, and committed to equality and social justice as I keep hearing that liberal academics are. So it doesn't really seem like so much to ask.
Update: A commenter points out that I misread Paul Krugman; he was referring only to officers. According to the Huffington Post on the same survey "These Military Times survey results show that support for the Republican Party among senior members of the Army, the group most likely to identify as Republican, declined significantly between 2004 and 2006 before leveling off at about 49% in 2007. Also interesting is that the data show no corresponding change in support for the Democratic Party." So a skew of about 66%--but still not nearly as large as the skew in academia, where registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans something like five to one.
Megan McArdle is a columnist at Bloomberg View and a former senior editor at The Atlantic. Her new book is The Up Side of Down.
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A Conversation With Mark Lynas, Climate Advisor to the Maldives
The latest installment in our ongoing series of exchanges with experts on the subjects of health, design, food, travel, and sustainability
Nicholas Jackson
With his most recent book, The God Species: Saving the Planet in the Age of Humans, long-time environmental journalist Mark Lynas has caused quite a stir by arguing, among other things, that we must rely on genetically-modified foods to feed the planet and turn to nuclear power as a way to combat global warming. While these recommendations are controversial, Lynas explores the social and political implications at length in the book, which looks at how humans have become God-like in our influence on the planet. In addition to writing books -- he is also the author of Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet and High Tide: The Truth About Our Climate Crisis -- Lynas serves as the climate advisor to the Maldives, an island nation that is working to become the first to go completely carbon-neutral.
Here, Lynas discusses carbon-neutral nations and why the whole world needs to be carbon-neutral by 2050; how the rapid development of China, India, and other emerging economics are making the decisions in Washington and Paris less important than ever before; and why people need to be a little bit more skeptical of localization.
What do you say when people ask, "What do you do?"
I wear a lot of hats. I'm a writer of books about global warming and a popular science take on our environmental crises. But I also advise the leader of a small country, President Nasheed of the Maldives. And I do quite a lot in my local area in various community groups. I'm a bit of a busybody. I'm also principal child-carer, which requires an increasing amount of the time as my wife Maria's communications consultancy career takes off.
What new idea or innovation is having the most significant impact on how people think about sustainability or the environment?
I'd say carbon-neutral nations. The Maldives wants to be the first, achieving carbon neutrality by 2020. But there are others also in the game, including Costa Rica, Samoa, and Ethiopia. This is what matters -- we need the whole world to be carbon neutral by 2050 realistically. I make the analogy with slavery: You didn't seek to cut it by 20 percent by such and such a date, and 45 percent a decade or two later; the only option was to eliminate it completely. So it must be with our use of fossil fuels.
What's something that most people just don't understand about what you do?
That's easy! When I reveal I work for the President of the Maldives, people imagine I spend half my time lying around on a tropical beach. Actually, the Maldives is indeed a beautiful country, but almost all my work is done from home in Oxford, and at various intergovernmental meetings in tedious conference centers around the world. I get to the capital, Male, at most two or three times a year.
Christopher Wharton, Professor of Nutrition
Katie Weeks, Editor of Eco-Structure Magazine
Kevin Dooley, Sustainability Consortium Director
Suzy Amis Cameron, Environmental Activist
What's are some emerging trends that you think will shake up the sustainability world?
Undoubtedly the rapid development of China, India, and the other emerging economies. That's a game-changer in sustainability terms, because it shifts the main theater of action away from the West and over to the East and South. What we decide in Washington and Paris doesn't matter so much anymore.
What's a sustainability trend that you wish would go away?
I wish people were more skeptical of the idea of localization. Of course it is important to love and be rooted in your home area. But, at the same time, there is a lot to be gained from trade, even in environmental terms. For example, it is much more water-efficient to grow wheat in a well-watered area and import it into a desert place than to try to grow it locally, and probably more carbon-efficient too, as the transport energy cost is relatively minor.
What's an idea you became fascinated with but that ended up taking you off track?
There are lots of those. Probably most of my current fascinations will end up in that basket. I don't really regret much though, as it all adds to the learning experience.
Who are three people you'd put in a sustainability Hall of Fame?
Well, President Nasheed would obviously be one. He is championing the rights of small island states to stay alive. On a different note, I'd suggest Stewart Brand, the American environmentalist who has been very influential. I'm also a big fan of Bill McKibben, who has combined being a masterful writer with also being an uncompromising activist.
What other field or occupation did you consider going into?
Meteorology. But I was no good at math, which turned out to be important.
What website or app most helps you do your job on a daily basis?
I love WordPress, which I use to run my blog. The instantaneous nature of publishing on the Internet is a marvel -- but it can also be dangerous.
What song's been stuck in your head lately?
"This Charming Man," by The Smiths.
Nicholas Jackson is a former associate editor at The Atlantic.
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Debt Rattle March 7 2019
March 7, 2019 Posted by Raúl Ilargi Meijer at 10:19 am Finance Tagged with: Brexit, Cohen, Fed, Fox, household debt, Huawei, meaningful vote, microplastics, Nadler, pensions, stress tests, totoaba, UBI, vaquita
Edward Hopper Le Bistro or The Wine Shop 1909
• US Credit Card Debt Rises to Record $870 Billion (ET)
• Fed Scraps ‘Qualitative’ Test For US Banks In 2019 Stress Tests (R.)
• Beware The ‘Japanification’ Of Europe – ING Economists (MW)
• Huawei Hits Back, Sues America, Claims US Hacked Its Servers (Age)
• Nadler’s ‘Obstruction’ Quest (WSJ Ed.)
• Michael Cohen Asked His Former Lawyer To Seek Pardon From Trump (WSJ)
• Democrats Bar Fox From Hosting Primary Candidate Debates (AFP)
• EU Urges UK To Offer ‘Acceptable’ Brexit Plan (BBC)
• Brexit Meaningful Vote Will Go Ahead, Says No 10 (G.)
• Monthly Income Lasts Just 19 Days For Over Half of Greek Households (K.)
• Italy’s Welfare Revolution Kicks Off As ‘Citizens’ Income’ Goes Live (R.)
• Red Wolf: The Struggle To Save One Of The Rarest Animals On Earth (G.)
• China Prosecutes 11 People In $119 Million Totoaba Fish Bust (AFP)
• Microplastics Found ‘Absolutely Everywhere’ (G.)
Let’s wind it down in an orderly fashion and call it a day. This is hopeless.
Americans expanded their credit card debt by $26 billion in the last quarter of 2018, making it reach $870 billion—a record. “The increase in credit card balances is consistent with seasonal patterns but marks the first time credit card balances re-touched the 2008 peak,” the Federal Reserve Bank of New York stated in a quarterly report (pdf) released Feb. 12. The credit card debt rose for the 24th consecutive quarter; and balances sliding into 90 or more days of delinquency have increased since 2017. Total household debt increased by $32 billion in the last quarter and finished the year at more than $13.5 trillion. The largest chunk of that sum is mortgages at $9.1 trillion—virtually unchanged from the quarter before. Student loans stood at nearly $1.5 trillion and auto loans at almost $1.3 trillion.
Americans hold about 480 million credit cards, which is about 100 million more than in 2010, but still a bit fewer than at the precipice of the 2008 recession. Consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of growth in the world’s largest economy and is expected to hold strong this year. However, credit inquiries, which are one sign of consumer demand, slipped in the second half of 2018 to the lowest level recorded by the New York Fed. Another signal of weaker demand, the closing of credit cards and other accounts, jumped to its highest level since 2010. [..] The report also showed that Americans have continued to turn away from home equity lines of credit, or HELOC, which can free up funds for other purchases. HELOC balances dropped to $412 billion in the fourth quarter, the lowest level in 14 years.
And while we’re at it let’s scrap the Fed.
The U.S. Federal Reserve said on Wednesday it would no longer flunk banks based on operational or risk management lapses during its annual health check of the country’s domestic banks. The “qualitative” portion of the 2019 test, however, will still apply to the U.S. subsidiaries of five foreign banks subject to the annual exam. The move, which is a big win for major banks, such as Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and JP Morgan, Bank of America and Citigroup, forms part of a broader effort by the Fed to overhaul its annual “stress-testing” process, which the industry has long criticized as too onerous and opaque. Since the 2007-09 global financial crisis, the Fed has put the country’s lenders through strict annual tests to see whether they would have enough capital to withstand a major economic downturn.
For the largest lenders, that test also included a so-called “qualitative objection,” that gives the Fed the discretion to fail banks due to risk management or operational failures, even if they have sufficient capital. Most banks that have failed the tests in the past stumbled on the qualitative objection. Banks that receive an objection from the Fed are required to adjust their capital distribution plans. [..] The Fed will still examine domestic banks for operational and risk management problems, but will address them through enforcement actions rather than a public flunking. The U.S. subsidiaries of five foreign lenders – Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, UBS, Barclays and TD Bank – would also still be subject to the qualitative objection.
And scrap the ECB and BOJ too. Their only goal is to preserve zombies.
BTW, does anyone seriously think it’s not too late yet for Europe? Asking for a friend.
The eurozone is beginning to resemble Japan with its low-growth and low-inflation environment, coupled with still very loose monetary policy, according to economists at ING. This raises questions about the European Central Bank’s tool kit and firing power. Interest rates haven’t gone up in either the eurozone or Japan since the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Conversely, the Federal Reserve has raised rates nine times since the crisis years, presumably giving it room to cut them again should the economy need a boost. The Bank of Japan is considered the most hesitant of its peers to normalize monetary policy. And already since the mid-1990s, Japan has been struggling with a high public debt ratio and stubbornly low inflation and growth rates.
None of that bodes well for a hawkish central bank approach. The eurozone looks like it entered a similar trend of late, said ING economists Carsten Brzeski and Inga Fechner, one day ahead of the European Central Bank’s next policy update. “An end to current unconventional monetary policy, i.e. the negative deposit rate and ample liquidity, is not insight and the ECB is expected to do everything it can to avoid an unwarranted tightening of its monetary stance.” “Last year, Japan’s debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 238%, and since 1994, headline inflation has been negative for almost half of the time. This trend has also emerged in the eurozone in recent years,” said Brzeski and Fechner, pointing at Greece, as well as Spain and Italy, in the aftermath of the European sovereign debt crisis. Though deflationary risks have disappeared in the eurozone, consumer prices haven’t exactly been soaring.
The power of US intelligence.
Huawei has accused the US of hacking its computers in a defiant press conference where the Chinese telecommunications giant announced it had taken legal action in a Texas court to overturn a US ban. Huawei’s rotating chairman Guo Ping said in China that the US Congress had failed to produce any evidence to justify its ban which prevents US agencies, private companies that deal with US agencies and recipients of US loans or grants from using Huawei’s gear. The Trump Administration has accused Huawei of being a national security risk because it was a tool of the Chinese government. But Guo fired back, saying the US “has hacked our servers and stolen our emails and source code”.
“Despite this, the US has never produced any evidence supporting their allegations that Huawei poses a cyber security threat.” He added: “The US is trying to block us from 5G markets in other countries.” Guo said that a section of the US National Defense Authorisation Act that names Huawei not only damages the company’s reputation but stops Huawei from servicing customers outside the US. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has publicly urged other countries, particularly in Europe, to ban Huawei from 5G if they want to continue to deal with the US. Germany and Britain are due to make decisions this month.
They’ll simply shift from collusion to -now- obstruction to yet another term. Just as long as it takes.
Well, we’re off on the march to impeachment, as we predicted last year even as Democrats said it wasn’t on their minds. With Chairman Jerry Nadler’s subpoena swarm from House Judiciary this week, and his assertions that President Trump obstructed justice, the articles of impeachment are apparently awaiting only the collection of the readily available details to fill in the blanks. “Do you think the President obstructed justice?” asked ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. “Yes, I do,” replied Mr. Nadler. “It’s very clear that the President obstructed justice. It’s very clear—1,100 times he referred to the Mueller investigation as a witch hunt, he tried to—he fired—he tried to protect [Michael] Flynn from being investigated by the FBI. He fired [FBI director Jim] Comey in order to stop the Russian thing, as he told NBC News.”
Credit Mr. Nadler for candor that Democrats didn’t display when they campaigned last year. Then they talked only about holding the President “accountable.” Now they claim they already have enough to impeach Mr. Trump, though as Mr. Nadler admitted Sunday, “you have to persuade enough of the opposition party voters, Trump voters . . . that you’re not just trying to steal the last—to reverse the results of the last election.” That may be harder than he imagines, and not only because of Mr. Nadler’s Freudian slip there of “steal.” Based on the public evidence so far, Mr. Trump hasn’t obstructed justice in any of the examples Mr. Nadler cited. Mr. Nadler wants to turn the President’s exercise of his normal constitutional powers into impeachable offenses.
The case against Mr. Nadler’s obstruction theory has been made in these pages by former Attorney General Michael Mukasey and appellate lawyer and our contributor David Rivkin. Attorney General William Barr also made the case in his 2018 memo to the Justice Department when he was still in private life. A President can obstruct justice while in office but only if he is committing a per se illegal offense. That is, if he suborns perjury or destroys evidence, or commits “any act deliberately impairing the integrity or availability of evidence,” as Mr. Barr put it. Presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton committed such acts in Mr. Barr’s view, but Mr. Trump has not as far as we can see.
On the other hand, a President cannot obstruct justice when he takes actions that are consistent with his Article II powers under the Constitution. That includes in particular firing inferior executive-branch officers such as Mr. Comey. Such acts may be politically stupid, but they aren’t obstruction.
Less than 100% truthful.
Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for President Donald Trump, directed his attorney last spring to inquire about the possibility of a presidential pardon, weeks after federal agents raided his properties, Cohen’s lawyer said Wednesday. The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Stephen Ryan, Cohen’s attorney at the time, discussed the possibility of a pardon with lawyers for Trump in the weeks after the Federal Bureau of Investigation in April raided Cohen’s home, office and hotel room. The president’s lawyers, including Jay Sekulow, Rudy Giuliani and Joanna Hendon, dismissed the idea of a pardon at the time, people familiar with the discussions said.
But at least one of them, Giuliani, left open the possibility that the president could grant Cohen one in the future, they said. In testimony before the House Oversight Committee last week, Cohen said: “I have never asked for, nor would I accept, a pardon from Mr. Trump.” Lanny Davis, a lawyer for Cohen, said Wednesday that in the months after the FBI raid, Cohen was open to a pardon from the president. “During that time period, he directed his attorney to explore possibilities of a pardon at one point with Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani as well as other lawyers advising President Trump,” Davis said. He referred to the discussions with the president’s lawyers as the “ongoing ‘dangling’ of a possible pardon.”
It’s all about money, nothing else.
The Democratic Party said Wednesday it will not allow Fox News to host any of its primary candidate debates, after published revelations suggested the network is a “propaganda” vehicle for President Donald Trump. National Committee (DNC) chairman Tom Perez said a story in this week’s New Yorker magazine on the White House’s apparently close relationship with the channel prompted the decision. “Just to be clear, Fox News will not serve as a media partner for the 2020 Democratic primary debates,” Perez said on Twitter. “Recent reporting in the New Yorker on the inappropriate relationship between President Trump, his administration and Fox News has led me to conclude that the network is not in a position to host a fair and neutral debate for our candidates,” he added in a statement to The Washington Post.
News of the move enraged Trump, who suggested on Twitter he would “do the same thing with the Fake News Networks and the Radical Left Democrats” — despite having no authority over Republican debate broadcasting rights. Trump often refers to CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post and MSNBC as “fake news.” US presidential debate and primary debate broadcast rights are coveted prizes for American media outlets. The events traditionally draw broad viewership, and the series of debates beginning this year – aimed at winnowing the Democratic field of over a dozen candidates – will likely have large television audiences.
I’m thinking if they haven’t so far, what are the odds?
The UK has been urged to table fresh proposals within the next 48 hours to break the Brexit impasse. EU officials said they would work non-stop over the weekend if “acceptable” ideas were received by Friday to break the deadlock over the Irish backstop. The UK has said “reasonable” proposals to satisfy MPs’ concerns about being tied to EU rules had already been made. It comes as Jeremy Corbyn has met with Tory MPs to discuss possible alternatives to the PM’s deal. The Labour leader held talks with ex-Tory minister Nick Boles and Sir Oliver Letwin, who favour a closer, Norway-style relationship with the EU.
He said he had discussed the so-called “Common Market 2.0 option” – which would see the UK remain in the EU’s single market by staying part of the European Economic Area – but would not commit to backing it at this stage. There have been few visible signs of progress ahead of Parliament’s second vote on the Brexit deal next Tuesday. MPs emphatically rejected the terms of withdrawal negotiated by Theresa May in January. If they do so again, they will get to choose between leaving without a deal or deferring the UK’s exit date from the EU beyond the scheduled 29 March. The PM is seeking legally-enforceable changes to the backstop – an insurance policy designed to prevent physical checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Telegraph today: “Brexit deal ‘will be defeated by 100 votes’, ministers believe, after talks in Brussels collapse..”
Downing Street has insisted the meaningful vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal will go ahead as promised on Tuesday, despite negotiations in Brussels stumbling. The prime minister’s spokesman repeated the line on Wednesday that the government is determined to secure “legally binding changes” to the Irish backstop, despite the attorney general, Geoffrey Cox, returning empty-handed from the talks. Shortly before leaving Brussels, he conceded “strong views” had been expressed during three hours of “robust” discussions. Downing Street said the talks had been “difficult”, but stressed the vote would take place on Tuesday, as committed by May.
If it is lost, MPs will vote on successive days on whether to block a no-deal Brexit and whether to extend the departure date. With it increasingly being assumed No 10 will not secure significant EU concessions on the backstop, May is expected to try to sell her plan to MPs and the public later in the week, potentially with a speech. There are no plans as yet for the prime minister or Cox to return to Brussels, but it is understood this could happen if required. Sunday night is the final deadline for any changes, as the government needs to publish and print copies of deal documents on Monday, and publish the motion MPs will then vote on.
[..] Cabinet ministers are pessimistic about the prospects of wooing enough waverers in parliament to win the second meaningful vote. May will then come under intense pressure to offer MPs a free vote on a no-deal Brexit, with her cabinet deeply divided. The opportunity to vote on this was only secured after scores of frontbenchers made it clear they were willing to resign, and the cabinet ministers Amber Rudd, Greg Clark and David Gauke wrote to the Daily Mail rejecting the idea of a no-deal departure.Senior EU diplomats said the bloc’s deputy chief negotiator, Sabine Weyand, offered a “gloomy” analysis of the talks. According to a diplomatic note, Weyand told the ambassadors: “Cox’s asks are going well beyond where Barnier can go.”
“..49.1 percent of households have a main pension as their primary source of income..”
The Greek economy’s scars from the decade-long financial crisis and the internal devaluation are more than obvious. Despite the slight improvement in certain income-related indexes, three in 10 households get by on an annual income of less than 10,000 euros, while pensions comprise the main source of income for almost half of all households, according to a survey published on Wednesday by the Institute of Small Enterprises of the Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen & Merchants (GSEVEE). In this first survey after the completion of the bailout programs, GSEVEE found that 43.9 percent of households reported a decline in their incomes last year compared to 2017.
Almost half of the households surveyed (48.9 percent) reported income stability, up from one in three (35.6 percent) in 2017, while 7.1 percent said they had seen an increase, up from just 2 percent in 2017. At the same time, the share of households on an annual income of less than 10,000 euros remained quite high, at 31.7 percent, against 34.2 percent in 2017. The biggest income bracket is that of households with earnings of between 10,000 and 18,000 euros per year, accounting for 39.8 percent in 2018 against 37.5 percent in 2017. This illustrates the shift of a number of households that were in the bottom bracket to a higher one; however, it also points to declines in the incomes of some households that in 2017 had been in the over-18,000 euros per annum bracket.
The bulk of Greek households find themselves in the bottom two income tiers. More than one in eight (12.7 percent) households say their incomes do not suffice to cover their basic needs, and more than half (52.5 percent) say their monthly income is not enough to carry them through all 30 days, sufficing instead for an average of just 19 days per month. All this is explained by the fact that 49.1 percent of households have a main pension as their primary source of income, even if that has been significantly reduced in recent years.
Neoliberalism is killing the EU as a project, maybe not in Germany, but certainly in Italy and Greece. Still, labeling a basic income project ‘welfare’ is leading, Reuters.
Italy’s flagship welfare reform kicked off in busy but orderly fashion on Wednesday as thousands of poor and unemployed people applied in post offices and tax assistance centers for the “citizens’ income” scheme. The populist 5-Star Movement, which governs with the right-wing League and has long promoted the measure, hopes it will lift its flagging fortunes ahead of European Parliament elections in May. Despite a steady flow of applicants, warnings of chaos and long queues proved misplaced, as many people appeared to heed advice not to sign up on the scheme’s first day.
“This is so helpful, it will give me some breathing space to get to the end of each month,” said 36-year-old Svetlana Guerra as she left a small tax assistance center (CAF) in a densely populated quarter of south-eastern Rome. Guerra, a Ukrainian-born widow who has lived in Italy for 19 years and survives thanks to odd jobs paid under the counter, said she expected the citizens’ income to give her about 280 euros ($315) per month to help her pay her rent. Guerra is one of millions struggling to make ends meet in a country in its third recession in 10 years and where the economy has barely grown since the start of the century.
Italians in absolute poverty, defined as not having enough money to buy a basket of basic goods and services, rose to 5.1 million in 2017, according to statistics office ISTAT. That is a more than threefold increase in a decade. Italy has traditionally had a generous pension system and offered limited-term state benefits for those laid off from work, but until last year it was virtually unique among rich countries in having no means-tested welfare scheme.
The previous center-left government aimed to fill that gap, but the “inclusion income” program it launched ahead of elections a year ago set aside just 2 billion euros and was widely deemed inadequate. The citizens’ income, a rallying call for 5-Star since its foundation in 2009, will cost 7 billion euros this year and is expected to go initially to 2.7 million people, according to ISTAT. Critics say Italy’s strained public finances cannot afford it. The 5-Star Movement was easily the biggest party at the March 2018 national election but has seen its support slide since then and been overtaken in opinion polls by the League.
Make America Great Again must start with its wildlife. That’s much greater than millions working bullshit jobs where they drive an hour a day from the burbs. Nothing great about that.
First, define greatness.
Attempting to locate one of the rarest animals on the planet, US government scientist Joe Madison pointed an antiquated VHF tracking antenna at a tangle of thick vegetation and twiddled some dials on the receiver. A red wolf, judging by the beeps, was in the vicinity but well-hidden. “Did you hear that beep? That’s a six-year-old male we just heard,” said Madison, a Tennessean with a sandy-coloured beard who is manager of the US Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) red wolf program. “I mean, obviously I don’t see anything.” Sightings of red wolves are uncommon not only due to their elusive nature but also their plummeting population. Only around 30 of the creatures remain in the wild, in a corner of North Carolina, with 18 of them fitted with radio collars that Madison attempts to pick up with his antenna.
Photograph: Salwan Georges/The Washington Post/Getty Images
An FWS assessment in 2016 warned this vestige could completely vanish within eight years. The scenario now is even grimmer. “We’re already way ahead of where that projection was,” Madison said. “If we stay on the current trajectory it won’t be that long before we lose the population. In fact, we are down to one known breeding pair.” Faced with hardening opposition to the wolves’ presence from some nearby landowners, the FWS has gradually pulled back. Wild releases of captive pups have stopped, as has the sterilization of encroaching coyotes to avoid hybridization. In June, the Trump administration unveiled a plan, several years in the making, that would scale the red wolves’ protected area back to its federally owned core and allow people to shoot the species without repercussions on private land.
Conservation groups argue this plan will swiftly snuff out the red wolf and have taken the fight to the courts. “The impression we’ve gotten is that Fish and Wildlife have got tired of trying to save controversial species like wolves,” said Dr Ron Sutherland, an ecologist and red wolf expert at the Wildlands Network. “They don’t have the budget or the backing of Congress. It’s easier to let the wolves decline to the point where they can just pull the plug and we’re very nearly at that point. This wasn’t a thing started by Trump but Trump could certainly finish it off.”
I’m sure this is a priority for Beijing. Stop trading with these countries or they won’t stop.
Chinese authorities have prosecuted 11 people for smuggling $119 million worth of Mexican totoaba fish swim bladders, one of the country’s biggest busts related to the trafficking of an endangered species used in traditional medicine. Mexico has urged China for years to crack down on totoaba smuggling over fears that illegal fishing operations in the Gulf of California are also killing off the world’s smallest porpoise, the near-extinct vaquita marina. The Jiangmen city procuratorate in southern Guangdong province said the 11 people are suspected of smuggling nearly 20,000 swim bladders worth more than 800 million yuan ($119 million) from Mexico. The group of smugglers, led by an individual named Liang Weihua, transported the fish parts in “large quantities” and sold them to consumers in China.
“This crime lasted for more than three years,” said the Guangdong-based procuratorate, a legal supervision agency, on its website. The smuggling route involved a number of neighbouring countries, including Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, it said, adding that the case is currently under further investigation. The critically endangered totoaba fish has been in steep decline since the 1940s, largely because of its reputed healing powers in Chinese medicine. The fish’s swim bladder can fetch up to $20,000 on the black market in China, where it is believed to have beautifying properties and cure a host of ailments, from arthritis pain to discomfort during pregnancy. In fact, they are so prized that some Chinese simply display them in fancy cases in their homes.
“..more than 400 types of bacteria on 275 pieces of microplastic collected from local beaches. They included bugs that cause gastroenteritis and wound infections in humans..”
Microplastic pollution spans the world, according to new studies showing contamination in the UK’s lake and rivers, in groundwater in the US and along the Yangtze river in China and the coast of Spain. Humans are known to consume the tiny plastic particles via food and water, but the possible health effects on people and ecosystems have yet to be determined. One study, in Singapore, has found that microplastics can harbour harmful microbes. The new analysis in the UK found microplastic pollution in all 10 lakes, rivers and reservoirs sampled. More than 1,000 small pieces of plastic per litre were found in the River Tame, near Manchester, which was revealed last year as the most contaminated place yet tested worldwide. Even in relatively remote places such as the Falls of Dochart and Loch Lomond in Scotland, two or three pieces per litre were found.
“It was startling. I wasn’t expecting to find as much as we did,” said Christian Dunn at Bangor University, Wales, who led the work. “It is quite depressing they were there in some of our country’s most iconic locations. I’m sure Wordsworth would not be happy to discover his beloved Ullswater in the Lake District was polluted with plastic. “Microplastics are being found absolutely everywhere [but] we do not know the dangers they could be posing. It’s no use looking back in 20 years time and saying: ‘If only we’d realised just how bad it was.’ We need to be monitoring our waters now and we need to think, as a country and a world, how we can be reducing our reliance on plastic.”
[..] “Microplastic has been found in our rivers, our highest mountains and our deepest oceans,” said Julian Kirby, a plastics campaigner at Friends of the Earth who helped collect water samples for the new UK study. He urged MPs to back legislation “to drastically reduce the flow of plastic pollution that’s blighting our environment”. Research by the National University of Singapore found more than 400 types of bacteria on 275 pieces of microplastic collected from local beaches. They included bugs that cause gastroenteritis and wound infections in humans, as well as those linked to the bleaching of coral reefs.
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Betting big in packaging: Anantshree Chaturvedi
FlexFilms International’s Anantshree Chaturvedi discusses his rise to CEO, his biggest lesson regarding leadership and how he plans to keep disrupting the flexible packaging industry.
Anantshree Chaturvedi
Vice Chairman & CEO, FlexFilms International
While attending school in Switzerland, Anantshree Chaturvedi learned a valuable lesson in leadership. “I became president of my school at age 15, over kids who were much older than me,” he tells The CEO Magazine. “At that time, I wrote a report with my by-line because no-one else had helped me with it. But the next day, nobody on my committee was talking to me, they were all upset. I asked them why and they said it was because I had only my name on the report.
I pointed out that I was the only one who’d done the work. But they said, ‘It doesn’t matter, we’re still mad at you.’ From then on, I realised that being a leader is all about sharing responsibility with your team and working towards a mutually beneficial result.
Prioritise the team
It means keeping your team always at the forefront. Even if there are directives that a CEO does themselves, they must always acknowledge their team’s effort because even if you do 90% of the work yourself, it’s that other 10% that makes it magic.”
Anantshree is Vice-Chairman and CEO of FlexFilms International, the global film-manufacturing arm of one of the largest fully integrated flexible packaging companies in India, Uflex. The FlexFilms range mainly consists of six types: biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET) films, biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) films, cast polypropylene (CPP) films, metallised films, AlOx-coated films and specialty films.
From the start, Anantshree was told by his father, and Uflex founder, Ashok Chaturvedi, that he had to earn a leadership position in the business. “Most Asian companies, and to a certain extent European and US family businesses as well, have this culture of the senior leadership team coming from members of the founding or promoter families,” he notes. “But in our case, it was made clear to me by my father and the other company leaders that Uflex was merit-based.”
Working in politics
Instead of going straight into Uflex, however, Anantshree decided to broaden his business knowledge by working in a variety of areas, beginning with politics.
“My first job was working for the late US Senator Edward Kennedy,” Anantshree recalls. “I was, of course, the most junior person in his office and had to clean the shelves and the room. But starting my career in a government job gave me an insight into how the largest enterprise in the world – the US government – works; how they look at resources, how they manage their time and how they manage their focus towards adding value in people’s lives.”
From there, Anantshree went on to DreamWorks Animation, TJ Maxx, Accenture, and JP Morgan, all of which equipped him with different skills. “I worked a summer in JP Morgan and it taught me that I didn’t want to be a banker,” he says. “I wanted to work in manufacturing, not spend my life reading analytic numbers. And yet, I learned the value of having financial strength and a solid auditing partner.”
We want to make radical, disruptive innovations.
Anantshree joined Uflex in 2008, equipped with the experience he had gained overseas. “I came in with a certain level of credibility to be able to say, ‘I know that this is our system and process, but here’s what I learned at DreamWorks’, or ‘Here’s what I learned at Accenture’,” he explains.
Anantshree joined the company at a time it was looking to expand. “Uflex only had manufacturing facilities in Dubai and India, and I knew we wanted to go to Mexico,” he states. “So, I thought now might be the right time for me to learn how to build this organisation from the ground up. To be at the plant level; to be the guy who is there while the pipes are going in and talking to the contractor when they are laying down the foundation.”
Anantshree went on to build his first plant in Mexico.
Today's specialty is tomorrow's commodity
“Following my first plant, I then participated in building in Egypt, Poland, and the US,” he adds. He was later named the new CEO of FlexFilms and is now based in New York to manage the company’s US and Latin American businesses.
With a solid base in India and in several countries overseas, Anantshree plans on exiting the highly commoditised market and diversifying the company product range. “We have a saying: ‘Today’s specialty is tomorrow’s commodity,’” Anantshree explains. “Right now, there are high-growth areas like holograms, cylinders and specialised packaging. And then, of course, there are segments that have been overly commoditised like our film business.
So, it’s an interesting proposition for us to take products that have been commoditised over the past few years and refocus them on creating value there. Not purely through machine and process efficiency, but by finding improvements and maybe a new product line within the commodity business so that we can breathe new life into the marketplace.”
He adds that the company is not afraid to take risks when it comes to creating a new product. “We are not interested in waiting for someone else to validate the product stream of a product line and then jumping into it,” says Anantshree.
“We want to make radical, disruptive innovations. If you look at the history of the company, especially over the past few years, we have taken large leaps into disruptive technology. One of our new plants that’s coming up, for example, is disrupting the existing ecosystem of Tetra Pak’s near-monopoly position. It is providing an alternative non-aerated liquid packaging solution to the industry."
"Why hasn’t anyone else taken this risk so far? I can’t answer that. But we are the first movers. We are willing to take bets on unconventional, unproven ideas because we’re confident about our ability. We’re confident that what we do best is to innovate and create new products that have a groundbreaking impact.”
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‘ABOUT’ COLLECTION
NSA Halts Controversial Surveillance Tactic of Collecting American Emails About Foreign Targets
Officials tell The Daily Beast the decision came as a result of intel analysts failing to comply with measures designed to protect citizens’ constitutional rights.
Betsy Woodruff
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
The National Security Agency will no longer use a controversial surveillance tactic that lets the spy agency sift through electronic communications to find communications about its surveillance targets, according to an official who has been briefed on a pending ruling from the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC).
The FISC ruling is expected to be publicized soon, and to indicate that the NSA has stopped using this surveillance tactic because it couldn’t fully comply with procedures designed to protect Americans’ constitutional rights.
The New York Times first reported that the NSA will stop engaging in this particular surveillance tactic, known as “about” colletion.
It’s a significant change in how the U.S. government surveils people, which will cheer civil liberties advocates and worry conservatives who argue muscular surveillance is necessary to stop terrorism.
The surveillance tactic at issue is known as “about” collection, and allowed under Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act. Section 702 lets the NSA store and read internet communications pertaining to foreign targets that move through American companies. “About” collection is the process by which the NSA searches through those electronic communications it collects as they’re in traffic in transit across the Internet backbone. Civil liberties advocates believe “about” collection may result in the NSA reading emails between Americans without a warrant.
This process is now going to stop.
“The NSA has secretly spied on Americans’ internet communications for years, continuously searching through the contents of emails and web-browsing activities in bulk,” said Patrick Toomey, an ACLU attorney who works on surveillance issues. “This kind of warrant-free, suspicion-free surveillance is exactly what the Fourth Amendment prohibits. Putting an end to this spying is an important step, but it is only a start to the broader reforms of Section 702 that are badly needed to safeguard Americans' privacy.”
The official who spoke with The Daily Beast said the intelligence community will stop doing “about” collection because its analysts couldn’t fully comply with minimization procedures designed to keep them from violating Americans’ Fourth Amendment privacy rights.
NSA analysts conduct “about” collection when they spy on foreigners who they believe are outside the United States. Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act lets the NSA read the emails and listen to the phone calls of people who aren’t U.S. citizens and aren’t in America.
When the NSA engages in “about” collection, it searches through internet communications (without a warrant, of course) for references to a person it is surveilling. And that means NSA analysts may sometimes look at emails sent by American citizens without first getting a warrant.
To try to protect Americans’ Constitutional rights, the highly secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has required that NSA analysts take certain steps to minimize how much their spying––including “about” collection––impacts Americans’ rights. Those steps are called minimization procedures. Civil liberties advocates worry they don’t sufficiently protect Americans’ constitutional rights.
The NSA’s apparent struggles to comply with minimization procedures may be the reason the FISC it didn’t authorize any surveillance under Section 702, as indicated by a report on the court released last week.
The NSA’s decision to end “about” collection is also significant because the agency previously told the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB)––a bipartisan watchdog agency––that it would be difficult to stop “about” collection without stopping all “upstream surveillance.” The term “upstream surveillance” refers to the NSA’s practice of scanning communications in bulk as they pass over the Internet backbone, and saving copies of any that contained a term on the agency’s list of selectors.
This new ruling could mean one of two things: that either the NSA misinformed the PCLOB when it said it probably couldn’t stop doing “about” collection without stopping all “upstream surveillance,” or it found a way to do the former without doing the latter.
Regardless, this is a major change in how the U.S. government spies on foreigners it’s trying to surveil. And it’s the rare restriction in surveillance that has happened without Congressional involvement.
“There is a short list of things that civil liberties advocates honed in on as the biggest problems with 702,” said Julian Sanchez, who follows surveillance issues for the libertarian Cato Institute. “The other major one is the backdoor search loophole. But ‘about’ collection was probably the second on the list.”
“I think this is a useful narrowing of this very broad collections program,” he added, “something that’s at least a little bit closer to the traditional concept of surveillance, where the target is a person or account and not everything in the universe of communications that refers to that person or account.”
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Trump and Bannon ‘Personally Intervened’ to Save Seb Gorka
Seb Gorka’s job as a White House national security aide was on the line; lucky for him he has friends in the highest places.
Mark Wilson/Getty
When the White House backed off its efforts to dump Sebastian Gorka on another federal agency, the controversial counterterrorism advisor had the president himself to thank, The Daily Beast has learned.
After news emerged last week that the Trump administration was setting the stage to move the British-born national security aide out of the White House, President Donald Trump and his chief strategist Stephen Bannon “personally intervened” to put a halt to Gorka’s White House eviction, two senior administration sources said.
Last Friday, The Daily Beast broke the news that the Trump administration had been actively exploring options to remove Gorka from the West Wing, where he serves as “deputy assistant” to the president, and place him at another federal agency. News of Gorka’s looming departure from the White House came amid security clearance issues and a mounting controversy over his involvement with a far-right Hungarian group notorious for its collaboration with the Nazi regime during the World War II. Gorka also holds fringe, clash-of-civilization views that many have criticized as anti-Muslim and extreme.
Senior administration sources described the situation to The Daily Beast last week as “a pain in the ass,” and said that Gorka—“biding his time” on the federal payroll—had virtually zero substantive duties at the White House or role in its decision-making or national-security policy decisions.
However, Gorka owes his continued presence in the White House to President Trump himself, who views him as a robust communicator of the administration’s anti-terrorism, anti-ISIS policies, particularly on conservative radio and TV interviews.
Gorka and Bannon are close. They worked together at Breitbart News—the far-right Trump-boosting outlet that Bannon once ran as a “dictator,” according to former employees—where Gorka served as national security editor even as he was also a paid consultant for the Trump campaign.
As the White House explored alternative employment for Gorka, staffers there dropped hints to other agencies that he was in Trump’s good graces. According to a senior administration official, who described the comment as a subtle suggestion that Gorka should be given a post in the official’s office, the White House referred to Gorka in those interagency communications “a friend of the president.”
Following The Daily Beast’s initial report last week, rumors swirled that Gorka’s expulsion from the White House was mere moments away. That’s when Bannon stepped in.
“[Bannon] put a stop to it—he’s loyal and a friend’s job was in danger and reputation was getting dragged through the mud,” another Trump administration official said, noting that Bannon had acted “decisively” to lobby for one of his ideological and personal allies in the West Wing. Trump then privately assured Gorka that his job was safe for now.
It was at this point that interagency chatter regarding moving Gorka out of the White House abruptly ceased.
According to multiple administration sources, a White House faction led by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, isn’t pleased with this development. Kushner, who warred with Team Bannon last month, also co-founded with Bannon the Strategic Initiatives Group, an informal think tank within the White House. Though Gorka was a member of the group, one White House source says Kushner now views him as a “clown” and wants nothing to do with him.
Still, Gorka is sitting pretty this week.
He told a reporter with Ami Magazine that he had personally met with Trump in the wake of reports of his impending departure, according to a since-deleted tweet from the Jewish publication. The president, Gorka said, assured him that “he’s not being asked to step down.”
But he did not shut the door on a White House departure. “I will be in the White House as long as the president wants me there, and if he needs me to do something somewhere else, I will do whatever he needs me to do,” Gorka told Fox News Radio.
The White House also seemed to leave the door open to a future move. Asked about reports of Gorka’s ouster on Monday, press secretary Sean Spicer said he had “no personnel announcement at the time. I have no belief that he is currently leaving the White House.”
The initial pressure to place Gorka at another agency riled some administration officials who viewed him as a liability—no matter where he was. One official at an agency to which the White House had shopped Gorka saw it as an attempt to offload a staffer with few official duties and mounting public relations baggage without having to upset the president and Gorka’s other White House allies.
For now, Trump’s affinity for Gorka and his ability to communicate administration policy on national security matters means he is staying put, even if his official duties remain sparse.
“The president really likes him and appreciates him as a good spokesperson for the administration, but he isn’t part of the [National Security Council] policy making process,” a senior administration official said of Gorka last month, adding that his contributions to foreign policy have been minimal, with National Security Adviser Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster’s team overshadowing the relevance of his input. Officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive personnel matters.
Gorka ignored questions about his future employment plans after a speech to the Republican National Lawyers Association’s annual policy conference in Washington on Friday morning. He rushed to the elevator as New York attorney and RNLA vice-chair Larry Levy tried to keep a physical barrier between Gorka and a Daily Beast reporter.
“We’re not taking press questions at this time,” Levy said as he attempted to block a hallway at the National Press Club.
Gorka simply asked The Daily Beast on Friday morning if we had emailed the White House press shop. He had previously asked that questions be put in an email to him directly. He hasn’t responded to multiple requests for comment since.
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Debts pile up as rival Libyan governments struggle for power
Wednesday, 6 Mar 2019
by ulf laessing
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) - Libya's parallel government in the east has sold bonds worth more than $23 billion to fund its wage bill, bypassing the central bank in Tripoli and creating a potential financial black hole if the country reunifies, bankers and diplomats said.
The eastern government's finance ministry has been selling the debt to a parallel central bank in the east and the proceeds of the sales are used to pay eastern state employees via local banks, in large part using dinars printed in Russia.
The debt has been piling up since 2014, when the country split into two administrations - one in Tripoli and the other in the east - as a result of the power struggle that followed the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
The eastern government is backed by Khalifa Haftar, a general whose Libyan National Army (LNA) controls the east and has been deployed in the south since January, taking control of oilfields. The recent success of the LNA has led its supporters to urge Haftar to order his troops north to take Tripoli.
The United Nations has been trying to overcome Libya's divisions but the rival camps have dug in, with the east setting up its own government ministries and oil company.
In Tripoli, the U.N.-backed authorities and central bank control an annual budget worth 40 billion dinars ($29 billion), but they only partly fund the east, mainly paying wages of public employees hired before 2014.
But since then, the east has hired thousands of soldiers as well as public servants to staff its new ministries.
To cover the wage bill and fund its army, which has just fought a three-year battle for control of Benghazi, the east has raised 32 billion dinars ($23 billion) since 2014 via bonds, bypassing Tripoli.
This year, bonds worth around 7 billion dinars will be issued, eastern central bank governor Ali Salim al-Hibri told Reuters in an interview in Benghazi.
In order to charge annual interest of 3 percent on the bonds, the east suspended a general ban on such payments under Islamic law.
As the east is suffering a shortage of banknotes, its central bank has had 10 billion dinars printed in Russia - cash that has been used to pay wages and interest on the bonds, diplomats say.
The bonds are sold by the eastern finance ministry to its own central bank branch, now installed in a new building in Benghazi.
Inside, most desks have no computers or telephones, while some offices are empty as staff have little to do. Libya's oil revenues and foreign reserves worth $80 billion are managed by the Tripoli central bank.
But there is little concern in Benghazi about how the eastern bonds will be paid back.
"The law allows me to delay payment of the principal for 15 years," Hibri said. "So there is no problem."
Diplomats are less relaxed, describing the bonds as a liability that Libya will have to cover once the two governments and banks unify under an eventual political deal.
Both central banks will be audited this year, part of a U.N. peace plan to unify the two branches.
"The east has sold bonds they don't plan to settle. How do you value them in a future deal, at face value or less?" asked one Western diplomat.
He said trouble loomed for state banks that are paying public salaries as the central bank has used part of their deposits to pay interest on the bonds. They might struggle to pay private depositors, entrepreneurs say.
Hibri said he is considering starting a secondary bond market to raise 10 billion dinars from citizens and state bodies in the east, such as social insurance funds and banks.
The east has been spending 400 million dinars every month for public salaries and basic services, said Hibri.
On top of this comes up to 245 million dinars for the salaries of the Libyan National Army, which claims to have tens of thousands of soldiers. Diplomats say part of that money is used to buy equipment.
Military spending is set to increase since the LNA launched a southern offensive in January. Hibri said his bank had sent 82 million dinars in cash to supply banks in the main southern city of Sabha.
In a small reprieve for the east, Tripoli as agreed to public pay salaries from 2018 worth 177 million dinars a month, Hibri said.
The eastern debt comes on top of an estimated 65 billion dinars that the Tripoli authorities have piled up since 2014, turning to the central bank there to fund a welfare state and expensive public services.
This debt is covered by interest-free quasi loans from local banks to the central bank. Tripoli has also been printing money, this time in Britain.
Husni Bey, a prominent business leader, said borrowing in both west and east had added to the national debt, increased inflation and put local banks at risk.
Like the east, the Tripoli administration has been hiring since 2014, putting members of armed groups on the payroll in a vain attempt to buy loyalty.
University graduates have also been added, swelling the number of public servants in Libya to 1.8 million from little over one million in 2010, diplomats say.
There is little room for development as the budget is almost entirely spent on wages, fuel subsidies, funds for the state oil firm NOC and benefits such as medical treatment abroad.
As a result, Libya has launched no major infrastructure plan since 2011, leaving roads and hospitals in poor shape.
With no budget, most state bodies, especially in the east, do little real work. NOC east employs about 500 people in a Benghazi building but managers admit they have nothing to do as oil exports are handled by Tripoli.
"We are ready to work but we are waiting for orders," said a bored-looking senior manager, sitting in a spacious office with an almost empty desk and a phone that never rings.
Worse, there is almost no budget to rebuild Benghazi and Derna, two eastern cities where whole districts were destroyed by fighting.
It will cost 50 billion euros to rebuild Benghazi alone, said Osama al-Kaza, head of a reconstruction committee, showing a video of a futuristic city design with trams and artificial lakes.
"We only have a budget of 500 million dinars to restore basic services," he said. "But the city is destroyed."
(Reporting by Ulf Laessing; Editing by Giles Elgood)
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Shop All Amana
Cohens in Montgomery, AL is an authorized dealer of Amana Products. The Amana Corporation is an American brand of household appliances. It was founded in 1934 by George Foerstner as The Electrical Equipment Co. in Middle Amana, Iowa, to manufacture commercial walk-in coolers. The business was later owned by the Amana Society and became known as Amana Refrigeration, Inc. It is now owned by Whirlpool Corporation.
In 1947, Amana manufactured the first upright freezer for the home, and in 1949 it added a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer. In 1950 the company was sold to a group of investors, including its founder, and became Amana Refrigeration, Inc. In 1954 it began making air conditioners. Amana was acquired in 1965 by Raytheon, which had invented the microwave oven in 1947, and introduced the commercial Radarange Model 1611 in 1954. In 1967 Amana introduced a consumer model of the Radarange, the first popular microwave designed for home use. Amana has since expanded into manufacturing a variety of other appliances, including furnaces, ovens, countertop ranges, dishwashers, and clothes washers and dryers. In 1997 the company was purchased by Goodman Global, a heating-and-cooling manufacturer who sold it to Maytag (now part of Whirlpool) in 2002. Goodman still owns Amana's air conditioners and heater division, and Amana home appliances are now owned and manufactured by Whirlpool Corporation. Amana Under Counter Wine was spun off and is now marketed under the Aficionado marquee. Amana continues to be innovative, having introduced curved fronts to its refrigerators in 2000, and in 2009 collaborating with Thom Filicia on a series of colorful designs which debuted at the International Builders' Show in Las Vegas.
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Tag Archives: Göppingen
September 5, 2018 Aviation343rd Fighter Squadron, 44-14049, 55th Fighter Group, Ace, Aerial Combat, CPL F.W. Bandy, CY J, Fighter, Fighter Pilot, Göppingen, Heinkel He 111, Mustang, North American Aviation, North American Aviation P-51 Mustang, North American Aviation P-51D-5-NA Mustang 44-14049, P-51, P-51D, P-51D-5-NA, Pretty Patty II, RAF Wormingford, SGT W.G. Holmes, TSGT F.S. Westbrook, William H. Allen, World War IIBryan Swopes
LT William H. Allen in the cockpit of his P-51D Mustang, Pretty Patty II, along with his ground crew, TSGT F.S. Westbrook, SGT W.G. Holmes and CPL F.W. Bandy. (F. Birtciel)
5 September 1944: Lieutenant William H. Allen, U.S. Army Air Corps, was a fighter pilot assigned to the 343rd Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group, based at RAF Wormingford, Essex, England. After escorting a bombing mission to Stuttgart, Lt. Allen, flying his North American Aviation P-51D-5-NA Mustang, 44-14049, Pretty Patty II, (identification markings CY J) and his flight, which included Lieutenant William H. Lewis, attacked an airfield north of Göppingen, Germany.
Lieutenant Allen became an Ace in one day when he shot down five Heinkel He 111 twin-engine bombers as they took off at two-minute intervals.
The flight of Mustangs shot down a total of 16 enemy aircraft.
LT William H. Allen and his ground crew pose with their P-51D Mustang, Pretty Patty II. (F. Birtciel)
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Katie Couric explores gender identity in NatGeo documentary
Journalist talks to experts, families in examining evolving science, definition of gender.
Katie Couric explores gender identity in NatGeo documentary Journalist talks to experts, families in examining evolving science, definition of gender. Check out this story on USATODAY.com: http://usat.ly/2k4nUJK
Bill Keveney, USA TODAY Published 2:13 p.m. ET Feb. 3, 2017 | Updated 3:44 p.m. ET Feb. 6, 2017
Katie Couric, right, talks to transgender Virginia teen Gavin Grimm during the National Geographic Channel documentary, 'Gender Revolution.'(Photo: Eric Kruszewski, National Geographic)
Corrections & clarifications: An earlier version of this story mischaracterized traits associated with gender non-conforming people. The story also misstated the topic of Couric’s discussion with Yale University students.
If you have questions about gender identity, a topic that's increasingly part of the public conversation, Katie Couric understands. She does, too.
Couric takes her journalism skills on the road in Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric, a two-hour National Geographic Channel special (Monday, 9 ET/PT), meeting sex and gender experts, trans men and women and college students whose identities go beyond binary gender roles. The documentary ties into a larger effort by NatGeo, which devoted its magazine's January issue to the topic.
"I hope I have provided the tools and the terms for people to have a conversation about gender in society and learn the stories of people who are maybe struggling with this issue or dealing with it firsthand," she says in an interview.
Couric, who anchored NBC's Today and the CBS Evening News and now serves as Yahoo's global news anchor, approached the topic with "respectful curiosity. I tried to be the Everyperson and ask the kind of questions that those who are not very familiar with the topic would ask: How does a child know with certainty that he or she is different than the gender they were assigned at birth? How can the partner of someone who transitions stay with that partner even though they're now a different gender identity? What are the biological underpinnings? It's a lot for people to wrap their heads around."
In Revolution, Couric talks with experts about identity, genetics and brain chemistry but also meets with people dealing with non-traditional gender situations, including a family raising a 5-year-old trans girl and a longtime married couple now dealing with one spouse's transition.
Transgender 5-year-old Ellie Ford is featured in the National Geographic Channel documentary, 'Gender Revolution.' (Photo: Chris Wrobleski, National Geographic)
Couric credits Caitlyn Jenner for increasing the visibility of transgender people, but says it helps to meet a broader swath of that population.
"We’ve often viewed gender non-conforming people in a way that sees them as such anomalies that we’ve other-ized them," she says. "We all know that when you know someone that may not conform to whatever the norm is, it’s much easier to accept them as just people with the same hopes and dreams that all of us have."
Couric says it's hard to put a specific number on the gender non-conforming population.
"Many people live their lives in secrecy or never really act on their feelings of gender identity, so I don't really know if we know their true number,” she says. The historical rejection of people who are different in that way has led to higher rates of suicide still evident today.
National Geographic magazine focused entirely on gender in its January issue. (Photo: National Geographic)
Revolution explores the societal conflict brought on by evolving gender identities and roles, as Couric visits Gavin Grimm, a Virginia trans teen whose use of the high-school boys’ bathroom resulted in a school-board prohibition and then a lawsuit by Grimm that is heading to the Supreme Court.
Couric acknowledges a backlash — “a natural ebb and flow of social change" — and that people can be afraid of what they don’t understand. She hopes the documentary, with its explanation of terms and expert commentary, will help people become more comfortable talking about the topic. (Couric will host a live after-show at 11:01 p.m. ET Monday on NatGeo's Facebook page.)
She also visits places where social acceptance is growing. She meets the transgender owner of a group of successful California fast-food restaurants that hire and promote trans workers, and she speaks to a group of Yale University students who talk openly and comfortably about their gender identities.
"I think this is a social movement brought together by greater visibility, social media and changing attitudes — primarily by the youth of America — that transcends politics," Couric says. "I don't think we're going to be putting the genie back in the bottle when it comes to a broader definition of what gender identity is."
Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2k4nUJK
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Home > News > Intel plans to plant 14nm chip factory in Ireland,it may cost 7 billion euros
Intel plans to plant 14nm chip factory in Ireland,it may cost 7 billion euros
A few days ago, Intel’s $1 billion was just reported to expand capacity in the United States. There is another news today, Intel will also invest in Ireland to build a factory.A few days ago, Intel’s $1 billion was just reported to expand capacity in the United States. There is another news today, Intel will also invest in Ireland to build a factory.
According to foreign media reports, Intel's expansion of the Irish manufacturing base will invest 7 billion euros, plus other plans announced last year, may allow Intel to build two new semiconductor factories in Ireland. It is reported that part of the expansion of the Irish factory is to meet the demand for its 14-nanometer chip.
Just last week, Intel announced details of its expansion plan in Oregon, USA. It is understood that the D1X fab built this time belongs to the third part of Intel's planned expansion. The two parts of the previous construction were the first two phases of D1X. Intel plans to begin expansion of the plant later in 2019 and is expected to be completed in the next few years.
In the past few years, the global semiconductor industry has experienced a wave of climax, but with the release of capacity in 2018, trade wars, weak consumer demand, etc., the semiconductor industry has entered a downward cycle.
Analysts believe that Intel's ability to expand against the trend is mainly due to the global server growth, the PC industry is welcoming the tide. In particular, in 2018, Intel's PC chip showed a shortage of price increases. The global expansion will effectively alleviate market demand and respond to the new market brought about by the 5G outbreak in advance.
to know more intel's product click below link:
https://www.ventrontech.com/supplierpage/Altera(Intel-Programmable-Solutions-Group).html
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Review: ‘The History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment’ DVD & Blu-Ray
November 20, 2013 by Joe Israel
If I’m being honest, I was pretty skeptical when this History of WWE set was first announced on the 2013 calendar. I had trouble believing this would even be released, and once it was confirmed, I was nervous that it would be impossible to put 50 years worth of history onto 2 Blu-rays. It was pretty much a sure thing that most of the matches included would be repeats, but it still was a big task to distill the WWE down to under 20 matches. I don’t think I’ve ever been more wrong when it comes to forecasting my thoughts on a WWE release. This serves as a great primer for the WWE, and a must have for any fan’s collection.
Disc 1 of the Blu-ray contains the 2 hour documentary and 1 hour, 15 minutes of bonus features. Disc 2 runs 4 hours, 25 minutes. The Blu-ray is rated TV-14. As Mark pointed out last week, notable edits include Jesse Ventura’s commentary from the 1988 Royal Rumble and Mike Tyson’s entrance music from Raw.
“Then. Now. Forever.”: The Main Feature
There was a bit of controversy here on the site when we found out the documentary on this release was only going to be 2 hours, instead of the previously speculated 3 hours. I think we all were a little concerned that there just wouldn’t be enough time to properly cover everything that needed to be covered on this DVD. In the end, the short runtime was the right choice. Yes, this could have easily been a 4 hour documentary, hitting on every important moment in the history of the company, but that doesn’t make for a good film. It was possible to get away with this on Rise & Fall of ECW because ECW existed for under 10 years, not 50. It’s not fair to compare the two.
Instead of hitting on every individual moment and every individual superstar, a macro approach was taken in looking at the history. Ultimately, this makes for a more successful storytelling choice in looking at the ups and downs of the company’s history. The most important matches, moments, and wrestlers are discussed in a little more detail, but this is dovetailed into a discussion of the era they represented as a whole. Everyone’s going to have an opinion on certain topics that should have gotten more discussion; it’s pretty much unavoidable for this type of documentary. For me, I found it strange to completely ignore the XFL, which is probably the WWE’s biggest creative disaster in their 50 year history. Overall, though, some great choices were made. The highlight is probably the discussion of the steroid scandal of the early-90’s, which hasn’t really been discussed with such candor before. There also are some great highlights from the talk shows of the era discussing the scandal.
Of course, what is arguably the most important incident in the past 10 years of the wrestling industry could not be included. Now, I didn’t expect the Benoit tragedy to be covered at all, and it IS the right choice to not include it. However, there is something noticeably missing, and someday in the future, it will be interesting to hear from those in the company how this really affected life in the WWE.
One thing that impressed me a lot about this documentary was how well edited it is. If you are a long-time fan of the WWE (like I know a lot of the readers here are), then you aren’t going to learn anything too groundbreaking here. There are new insights from different superstars, especially in regards to controversial topics like the steroid scandal, but for the most part nothing is really going to surprise you. That being said, the WWE did a great job making everything feel fresh through the way the documentary is put together. They transition between the ups and downs pretty well, explaining how the company was able to take each setback they’ve had and turn it into a positive for the future. It makes for a cohesive documentary that stands well on its own, which is impressive for such a broad topic.
The other thing that helps keep things fresh is the huge array of personalities interviewed for the feature. A good deal of the interviews were taken from past releases, but a number of them are new as well (including more thoughts from The Undertaker). Again, the editing is really well done, and the interviews work together very nicely. Even if some of them are old, they work in this new context, and most of them I didn’t recognize anyway. As usual, the WWE reached out to some interesting personalities to be interviewed. My favorite was the ring crew member who was responsible for ringing the bell at the conclusion of the Montreal Screwjob match. Little touches like this made the documentary feel special. I also enjoyed hearing from NBC’s Dick Ebersol, who gave great insight into the significance of Saturday Night’s Main Event. As expected, some classic footage is shown along with the interviews, and with the fast paced narrative, you certainly aren’t going to get bored. There are so many great interviews, I barely even noticed that Vince wasn’t included!
“Irresistable Force Meets the Immovable Object”: The Matches
WWE Championship Match: Bruno Sammartino Vs. “Superstar” Billy Graham (4/30/77) – * 3/4
This match is difficult to review. To modern standards, it’s pretty uninteresting. The majority of the match is restholds and power struggles, which don’t hold up well over time. However, these were probably the two biggest names in pre-Hogan era WWWF, so the match is certainly a worthwhile inclusion.
WWE Championship Match: Hulk Hogan Vs. Andre the Giant (WrestleMania III, 3/28/87) – ** 1/2
As has been reported, this is a new edit of the match from the hard camera only, with no commentary. It makes for an interesting new viewing experience of the classic match. No one is going to pretend that this is a wrestling clinic, but it did exactly what it was supposed to do. A case can be made that this is the biggest match in the history of wrestling.
1988 Royal Rumble Match (Royal Rumble, 1/24/88) – N/A
In hindsight, this is a pretty basic Royal Rumble match, but being the first, it has a ton of historical value. In my opinion, the Rumble is the greatest gimmick match of all time, so even a lesser rumble isn’t too bad. At the time, the line between good guy and bad guy was pretty clear, which is what makes the match fairly by the numbers.
Koko B. Ware Vs. Yokozuna (Raw, 1/11/93) – N/A
An extended squash match. Understandable inclusion since it’s the first match in Raw history, but other than that, it’s nothing memorable.
King of the Ring Finals: Jake “the Snake” Roberts Vs. Stone Cold Steve Austin (King of the Ring, 6/23/96) – **
Another weird match to review here. The match itself is pretty quick since Roberts was “injured”. For getting the Austin character over, though, I think this match worked pretty effectively. It also made Roberts pretty sympathetic. Of course, the highlight is the promo from Austin afterwards. I don’t know if this match really needed to be included on the Blu-ray, but the promo afterwards certainly deserved a place on here.
WWE Championship Match: Bret Hart Vs. Shawn Michaels (Survivor Series, 11/9/97) – *** 1/2
I usually hate matches that feature lengthy brawls around the arena, but it works here because the hatred between the two men is so palpable. That’s impossible to fake, so it takes a situation like this to make it work. Overall, the match has a strange feeling to it because of the politics going on, but in a way that makes it more of a must see. It’s certainly not a bad match, but the lack of a properly built ending does somewhat hurt it.
WWE Championship Match: Triple H Vs. The Rock (SmackDown, 8/26/99) – ** 3/4
For a quick TV match, this is totally fine. Obviously, Rock & Triple H have had better matches, but at the same time, they never have any bad matches. It’s well paced for the time it was given. And being the main event of the first true episode of SmackDown (not counting the pilot), it certainly has historical value.
The Rock Vs. Hollywood Hulk Hogan (WrestleMania X8, 3/17/02) – **** 1/4
A classic match, and a personal favorite for me. Everything is put together wonderfully, from the double turn to the high spots to the post match moments. A great example of how good storytelling can make a match great without doing too many crazy, flashy moves. Of course, the awesome crowd doesn’t hurt either.
Battle of the Billionaires Hair Vs. Hair Match: Bobby Lashley (w/ Donald Trump) Vs. Umaga (w/ Vince McMahon) (WrestleMania 23, 4/1/07) – ***
This match was a lot more fun than I expected it to be. This has more to do with everything going on at ringside and with Stone Cold as ref than with the wrestlers themselves, but I was certainly entertained. Of course, the post-match head shaving is also a lot of fun.
John Cena, Rey Mysterio, & Batista Vs. Chris Jericho, Big Show, & Randy Orton (Tribute to the Troops, 12/20/08) – * 3/4
This isn’t really much of a match, but it gives the audience something fun to watch. It’s very quick, but the wrestlers hit their big moves throughout. It actually works pretty well as a “spotlight” match for a compilation set like this; it shows off a bunch of wrestlers from the era even if it is short.
WWE Championship #1 Contender’s Match: CM Punk Vs. John Cena (Raw, 2/25/13) – **** 1/2
Punk & Cena are incredible together; I’ve given both their Money in the Bank 2011 and Night of Champions 2012 matches very high ratings. This match is no exception. The ending is the part everyone remembers, and it does suffer a bit from “indy match syndrome”. There are a lot of false finishes and big time moves. However, since Punk & Cena had already wrestled each other so many times, it works for the story they are telling here. A great, great match.
Blu-ray Exclusive Matches
Floyd “Money” Mayweather Vs. Big Show (WrestleMania XXIV, 3/30/08) – ** 1/2
The rating for this match is based purely on the entertainment value. While there isn’t much to the match, it’s well put together, and Mayweather ended up making for an outstanding bad guy. At the time, this was a big deal WrestleMania match, so I understand it’s inclusion.
The Undertaker Vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania 25, 4/5/09) – *****
In my opinion, one of the 3 greatest matches in the history of Wrestlemania (along with Savage Vs. Steamboat and Bret Vs. Owen), if not in the history of the WWE. An incredible match.
“Global Phenomenon”: Closing Thoughts
There was a lot of hype to live up to on this set. When the company waits this long to release a compilation set about their own history, there’s bound to be a good deal of expectations. I was a bit skeptical, but overall, I think this was a pretty successful release. The documentary covered most of the important moments in the company’s history, and was told in a compelling way. An effort was made to give the story of the company a nice structure, which is something you don’t always see on WWE’s releases. Especially with superstar biographies, they are often content to just run through the superstar’s career in a basic way. Here, each topic flows together well to show how WWE became the global phenomenon it is now. While it may not be perfect, I can’t see anyone being too upset after watching through the documentary. The Blu-ray exclusive bonus stories are all very short, and may just give further evidence that it was the right choice for the documentary to only be 2 hours. Seeing Vince work with talent on promos was neat, but other than that, there’s not much to these extra stories.
I have mixed feelings on the choices made for the bonus matches. They all make sense as a representative match for the history of the company. A lot of big matches are included, without feeling like a retread of the matches that are always put on DVD’s. Of course, we’ve seen Hogan/Andre countless times, but that match absolutely needed to be included, and they gave us the new edit of the match to make it feel new. The matches do skew a bit modern, but I expected this given the audience most likely to be purchasing WWE DVD’s and Blu-ray’s nowadays. My major disappointment, though, is that the matches aren’t all that good. Out of the 13 matches, sure, you have 3 great in-ring encounters, which isn’t a bad percentage. But when the WWE has pretty much their entire library to choose from, I would have preferred to see some stronger matches. Like the documentary, the match choices were never going to be perfect for everyone, but they made some solid choices, even if the in-ring quality isn’t always great.
The bonus segments included were fun, even if they don’t add too much to overall set. I’m glad we got a classic Austin segment from the Attitude Era, as well as CM Punk’s pipebomb, which I think ushered us from the PG Era to the era we are currently in (which I call the “internet era”). As a whole, I think this a must own for any collector. Even if you already have a good number of the bonus matches, watching them all in one place does feel like a nice representation of the WWE’s history. The documentary is the big selling point, though, and I can see myself revisiting this one pretty often. Simply put, it’s just well made. For me, this is probably the strongest documentary of 2013. Unfortunately, I don’t think the Blu-ray extras add too much. It’s nice to have the documentary in HD, which I think makes the Blu-ray pickup worth it, but don’t expect to be blown away by the extra stories.
My biggest complaint really comes down to the ultimate length of the Blu-ray package. While I have no problem with the doc only being 2 hours, there’s no excuse for such a high profile release being one of the shortest 2-Disc Blu-ray’s the WWE has ever released. I’m usually an apologist when it comes to this, but they easily could have given us more bonus matches to make the Blu-ray a little closer to the 8-9 hour range we’ve become accustomed to. It’s not like there was a lack of footage for this particular topic. This shouldn’t deter you from buying the set overall, but it is an annoyance. If you’ve picked up the DVD or Blu-ray, let us know what you think in the comments below!
Get your copy :: Amazon.com. WWEShop.com.
UK/Europe/Australia :: WWEDVD.co.uk. WWEDVD.com.au.
Posted in 2013 Reviews, Blu-Ray, News, Reviews Tags: blu ray, documentary, history of wwe, history of wwe dvd, History of WWE: 50 Years of Sports Entertainment, hulk hogan, News, reviews, Stone Cold Steve Austin, the history of wwe, the undertaker, vince mcmahon, wrestlemania, wwe blu ray, wwe documentaries, wwe dvd 2013, wwe dvd 2013 releases, wwe dvd review, wwe dvd reviews, wwe superstars
Shaun says:
Just have to say these reviews are fantastic.
Sean-Jacob Peters says:
This review is scotch bonnet.
BUSH says:
I myself grew up watching late 80s Early 90s so I think – agree that instead of rehashing the same material and matches over several different dvds (Hogan \Rock, Jake\Austin, Hogan\Andre etc.) give us ” A Best of WWFE Stars-Wresyting Challenge-PrimeTime” or “Coliseum Home Video Classics”….I just bought a ton of old VHS tapes from this time period and they feature such gems as Warrior\Undertaker, British Bulldog\Undertaker, Texas Tornado\Mr. Perfect Inc. Title Rematch , Piper\Million$Man, Etc Etc….Mostly the un-aired title changes between the 4 PPVs then(Jan, April, Aug, Nov) and other historic segments ( Funeral Parlor, Barber Shop), etc. I think this would go over better financially and viewer likeability far better than a Best of MSG, WCW Vol. 82 or Raw/Smackdown 2020 lol…just food for thought.
I have the UK Blu-ray.
The sound is way out of sync with the picture during the 1988 Royal Rumble match. Is it like this on the US release?
Vincenzzzzzo says:
The reason the XFL or the WBF were not included, is because they had nothing to do with the company. Those were Vince McMahon’s ideas. This is a history of WWE, not the History of Vince McMahon. If this was a full blown documentary on Vince McMahon, then those topics would be included.
I saw it last night, worst wwe dvd i’ve ever seen.
Rocko says:
I bet it is also the first DVD you have ever seen.
“the double turn”
There was no double turn in the Rock/Hogan Wrestlemania match, you idiot. Did you even watch or just make up a bunch of half assed BS and tried to pass it off as a review?
Daniel Bee says:
Is that enough to call him an idiot? Use the comments section to raise a point and I’m sure Joe will answer it. Discussion and is welcomed, name calling aint.
Erik G. says:
Man, Piper looks old
He’s just shy of 60. How should he look?
Jel92114@yahoo.com says:
He should looked ripped like Flair.
Anan says:
I would have added the Warrior/Hogan matc hfrom WM6 or Taker/Hogan from Survivor Series 91. Warrior/Hogan was probably the best match of Warrior’s career aside from his match with Savage at WM7. Survivor Series 91 saw a change as Taker went into the match as a heel while during the match, he was cheered. I don’t think either match signaled the end of Hulkamania exactly.But they stopped it for a time. The 1992 Royal Rumble match would’ve been great too since it was the first and only time the winner won the WWE Championship along with Flair’s post-match interview. For that alone, it’s historic and therefore has value for a set like this.
I also think the main event of Wrestlemania 1 should have been here. Okay. It’s not the greatest match. But that event was Vince’s biggest gamble as it was all of nothing. It paid off thankfully for him. It was the main event of the most important night in the company’s history and therefore should have been here. I don’t think that can be disputed.
However I have no issue with what is included even though I would have added more personally if I was involved with the project.
Anyone know what the extra stories are?
Uh Oh... says:
Oh man, Steve would HATE you! hahaha All repeats!
Well, on a set like this, it’s foolish to not expect repeats.
I’ve thought the same thing about the Mania I main. I was surprised they put it on the MSG DVD instead of saving it for this. God knows it could’ve replaced that Punk vs. Cena match that nobody remembers.
Bill Ledonne says:
Can we please get a DVD with more content from the years 1984 -1989? Basically from the time Hogan first won the belt to the time Macho Man losing the belt at Mania 5. There were tons of great characters, feuds, and matches during that time period and we get very little released from those days.
There’s a number of Ric Flair DVD’s, Best Of Clash Of The Champions, Greatest Stars Of The 80’s and a number of other sets where there’s a good amount of 80’s content. Savage’s DVD has his match with Dibiase from WM4 that took place in 1988.
I think the 90’s are covered more because a lot of adults grew up during that time and therefore those sets will do better as most people will buy them. That isn’t to say the 80’s were bad. Perhaps releases 80’s content is in WWE’s future. Especially when the WWE Network FINALLY launches.
Exactly…wrestling wise, “my era” was the 90’s.
I’ll take the 80s over the 90s, especially in light of the fact that the majority of the 90s best moments have already been released. The important thing is to use content/matches with wrestlers who transcend eras (Flair, Hogan, Savage, Rhodes, Race, Steamboat, Sting, Undertaker, Funks, Austin, Rock, Horsemen, DX, etc).
Joe Israel says:
The only you get with the content, the smaller the audience. That’s just the way it is. Has nothing to do with the actual quality of the content though.
Y2JON says:
Is there a chapter on the ‘Ruthless Aggression’ era at all?
Mark D says:
Not the “ruthless aggression era” per se, however they do discuss the brand extension and the opportunities it afforded guys like: Edge, Orton & Batista by allowing them their first World title reigns.
Lots of big moments in WWE were in Canada….first Rumble, Montreal, Hogan vs Rock.
baxter says:
i really enjoyed it.
this is one of my favorite wwe documentaries.
the only thing that bugs me is when they show the old territory map- they have memphis/jerry jarrett terriotry in east tennessee and nick golas’ territory in west tennesse. its supposed to be flipped they have the territories backwards. theyve done this on every dvd
Picky, aren’t we? 😉
Yea. But they’ve used that graphic in all the docs. Wish they’d update it.
Besides my nitpick, nitpick, the documentary is awesome. I really enjoyed it.
Tom Daskowski says:
I really enjoyed the 3 disc version on regular DVD,(did not find blu ray at my local wal mart)but my only complaint is I wish they would have put some early 1970’s promos on there,the editing was great,seeing Stan Hansen,Ivan Koloff,Jimmy Valiant interviewed was awesome…great to see quick shot of Bobby Duncum Sr. too
I thought the doc was awesome. No need for xfl stuff, that wasn’t WWE or wrestling. I guess benoit and eddie would have added a little something at the end, but that’s a minor complaint. So much great insight from old talent like Bruno and koloff. Then Jake the Snake! So glad he was on here. And obviously all the new guys. Even linda and steph were interviewed and they had a lot of interesting things to add. I also love that they went into the steroid trial and not just the drugs but how it effected business, and even say they had a vince replacement lined up. Lots of good stuff. Overall a solid thumbs up
I have no interest whatsoever in WWE-produced documentaries. NONE. I only buy DVD sets for the matches. In this case, there’s nothing for me. When it comes to WWF footage, I really wish they’d stick to UNRELEASED footage from 1986 to 1993, as well as 1998 through 2002. Any other period in WWF history is either dull, already released or too similar to today’s product and unworthy of a DVD release.
But, what I’d really want to see MOST IS UNRELEASED NWA/WCW footage from 1981 through to June 1994. If they must release more Nitro era footage, I just wish they’d release some of the truly great UNRELEASED moments from 1999 through to June 2000. The earlier period of Monday Nitro has already been well covered and there’s really nothing left to put out.
But, back to the topic of this History of WWE…
Dude, chill out. Everyone has different tastes. Get off the unreleased obsession.
Most people would rather not pay for the same thing over and over again.
You’re right that nobody likes to pay for the same stuff repeatedly. However this set, when it comes to hardcore fans, is ALL about the documentary. It’s foolish to expect anything but a bunch of high-profile matches (read: repeats) on this set. Just plain foolish. The matches are clearly not aimed for you and I. So why get so bent out of shape over it? It wasn’t meant for us anyway.
And how many “truly great moments” were there in WCW from 1999-2000? Are you talking about the moments that were so “truly great” that they put the company out of business? There’s PLENTY of those…but who’s going to pay money to have to re-live that truly horrific time?!?!
In 1999, particularly from January through April, WCW running neck and neck with the WWF and had some great stuff that remains unreleased. Then, in April through June 2000, they repeatedly were putting on free TV main event type match-ups under the Bischoff-Russo “braintrust” in an effort to hotshot/create buzz and get people watching. Very little of that has seen a release. It’s like someone in the company made a blanket statement that WCW 2000 is garbage and stay away from it. Don’t get me wrong, watching a full program from that period might be mind-boggling for some (though better than modern day WWE), but releasing the finest moments would work great. Meanwhile, we seem to have every conceivable moment from the much more dull April through end of December 1998 and other releases full of repeats. It gets frustrating.
Shawn Phelan says:
Got it in the mail today and I’m watching the doc right now. Anyone else find it interesting that the rock was listed as 96-2013 but triple h was 94- present. Maybe the rock has already told them he’s done.
I’m still on the fence as whether I’m gonna get this dvd??. I may get it for the sake of getting it the docs. I don’t really watch on their dvd’s just the matches I watch but then I still have the dvd’s so guess it don’t matter for me but I don’t mean or intend to take away from the job they do my only thing is they put extras on blu rays and nothing really cept for the usual stuff on normal dvd’s (example MITB anthology dvd).
Considering that the main selling point is the documentary, you might just want to save yourself some money and watch it on YouTube (someone’s bound to put it up) or Netflix. There’s really no matches on this set worth having that you probably don’t already own, so there’s no concern of having to watch a fast motion match that will look like a pixelated mess. The documentary should like fine off either of these web-based services.
Now if only they decided to put some decent unseen matches on this release maybe it would be worth considering.
Spritz1999 says:
Going to get the blu-ray today! Can’t wait to see how it holds up! Looks good!
stank says:
My mini-review:
If you know what WWE does on their documentaries going in, then you pretty much know what to expect. They cut out some significant stuff (sex scandals amid the steroid trial) but they make up for it with the sheer number of people interviewed and how well they cover certain aspects of the story of WWE. They do not one, but TWO segments on Andre the Giant, they have Undertaker talk for a good chunk of the DVD and arguably best of all – The Miz isn’t interviewed for this at all, nor is David Otunga.
The doc is well structured and delivers the point they wanted to deliver quite well, it’s not too long of a doc but at two hours it’s roughly the same time as the UFC documentary with TWICE the history behind it and in many ways the documentaries were similar. Focused hugely on the early era of the company, touch on subjects here and there after and then end big with “Here we are now”.
It’s not my favorite structure for a documentary and given that they’re celebrating 50 YEARS, I surely could have gone for a little more meat on the bones. They initially announced this as a three hour documentary, what happened to that last hour? Apparently it got relegated to Blu Ray exclusivity. I’d definitely recommend the documentary, which is very good but a bit bare bones at times, to anyone who likes pro wrestling. The match listing is what it is, the documentary carries the whole release.
I just ordered this on amazon. Looking forward to watching it.
Jonathan Ash says:
The documentary is the main event in this set, and it is a main-event level one for sure. It would make for a great NBC special as well, as opposed to some watered-down edit of WrestleMania like they do every year.
As for the bonus material: It’s about what one would expect for this. I think WWE could have stood to include AT LEAST one or two additional pre-Hulkamania matches; Bruno’s title defense in a cage against George Steele (Philadelphia ’70) is likely the earliest title defense of Bruno’s in their library. Just for a glimpse into that iconic first reign, that should have made it. Also, no Bob Backlund matches at all? THIS is a set where the Backlund-Snuka ’82 cage match would have been an awesome fit, or the famous Backlund-Sheik match that saw Bob’s run on top finally come to an end. That was a huge turning point for WWE and would lead directly to the birth of Hulkamania.
Also: a fine idea would have been to include a bonus disc of 50 years of promos & moments; let the matches stand alone on two discs, with a fourth disc encasing interviews etc. This is where stuff like the Piper-Snuka Pit w/the coconut break would have worked; or “Rock This is Your Life”, or Superstar Graham destroying Backlund’s WWE Championship belt.
In terms of why the documentary ignored the XFL, I think the answer’s easy: that was VINCE McMAHON’s biggest failure, not exactly WWE’s.
SRB says:
My opinion is that WWE is really messing up some of these releases as of late. HBK should be an unreleased collector’s edition, while this release should have been a 3 or 4 disc blu-ray. The HHH set could have easily been longer… When I originally heard this documentary was going to stand out and be 3 hours, this made total sense. Now, this DVD is a wash for me and will easily get lost in the jumble of other releases. It comes off as nothing special, when it really should be much more than that giving how long 50 years really is.
Matt LiLoia says:
Did anyone else notice that for the Rock, it said “Superstar 1996-2013”? Does that mean he’s done for good? Since for HHH it said “Superstar 1994-Present”. Good way to announce you’re retiring Rock
Reply to Dennis
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Man Eats Vinyl Record After Losing Kendrick Lamar Bet
Comeback Charlie via Youtube
Last week, Kendrick Lamar released his highly-anticipated DAMN. album for fans, and while it received critical acclaim, fans started speculating he would be dropping a second album on Easter Sunday. While the Compton rapper's fandom debated all weekend about the potential project, one Reddit user made a bold bet that the album was definitely going to drop.
Unfortunately, the user was wrong about his claim, and he was forced to eat a vinyl record to pay for his bet loss. The user, Cousin Tyrone, who came from a K. Dot subreddit, filmed himself combining the vinyl with some milk in a blender, which created a thick paste-like substance which he proceeded to drink. He told the camera, “Ladies and gentlemen, Kendrick Lamar did not drop a second album tonight. Bottoms up.” As part of his promise, he had some of his friends join him for the ordeal so that they could confirm that he was not falsifying the action in any way.
While many users on the Reddit post of the video were concerned with how poisonous the vinyl could be for someone to drink, Cousin Tyrone confirmed he was doing fine, but he was having some effects after taking laxatives to pass it. He wrote, “I took A LOT of laxatives to help pass the vinyl as fast as possible. It’s been around 16 hours since I did this and I’m still feeling the effects of it. Overall, I do not recommend eating vinyl. I’ll answer more questions if you have any.”
Watch the video below to see a grown man eat a vinyl after losing a bet about a rapper.
Here Are the 2017 Hip-Hop Music Festivals You Need to See
Filed Under: Kendrick Lamar
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You are at:Home»People»Raise a Glass of Berri’s Fruity Gordo to My Friend Tony Spawton
Raise a Glass of Berri’s Fruity Gordo to My Friend Tony Spawton
By Larry Lockshin on Tuesday 27 March 2018 People
My good friend and mentor Tony Spawton passed away on 18 March after a long battle with cancer. Tony was considered the founder of wine marketing as an academic discipline and was the inaugural editor of the International Journal of Wine Marketing which became the International Journal of Wine Business Research, the first academic journal dedicated to wine marketing and wine business. Tony also represented Australia at a number of international conferences of the OIV (the peak organisation of the industry worldwide) when Australia was beginning its long road to international success.
Tony grew up in rural Wales raised by his grandmother. He was a reasonable student, but suffered some health issues during his exams. He studied geology at Aberystwyth University in Wales. He met his future wife, Joy, at a summer camp during that period and decided to study a graduate diploma in management at Salford University to be close to her.
Tony moved to Australia as a 10 pound Pom in 1969. He literally took out the phone book in Sydney after arrival and started calling companies from a phone booth in Circular Quay. He was hired and worked as a brand manager at Colgate Palmolive. After a few other marketing jobs, he decided he wanted to work in the wine business and moved to South Australia. He became the first marketing manager for the Berri Wine Cooperative when the company decided to market its own wine in bag-in-box, along with selling bulk wine to many leading Australian wine companies. Tony told some great stories about marketing wine in the US, including having Gallo buy all the available display spots in his original markets in California to prevent Berri’s wines from being displayed. Another story involved negotiation with a distributor who claimed he wanted a fee for all wines imported in the US and emphasised the point by pulling a gun from his briefcase.
This was one of many incidents where Tony managed to not only survive but to gain from adversity. He met a man in his hotel in LA, who managed Air Mexico Airlines in the US. He called him after the incident with the gun and was taken to the LA airport and flown to Toronto that night. The next day the FBI and US Immigration were looking for him, because he reported the gun incident to the Australian Consulate, but by the time they investigated in the morning he had disappeared and had not even gone through immigration to leave.
When I worked with Tony at the School of Marketing at the University of South Australia, several of these kinds of incidents occurred. Tony was coming back from Paris and an OIV meeting, when the taxi he was in had an accident. Tony’s glasses and his computer were broken and the woman cab driver’s dog was frantically barking and running over everything. Tony managed to get another cab to the airport, but he couldn’t see without his glasses. The Air France staff assigned a person to take him through the airport, by passing all the lines, and got him on the plane home, where they arranged for the same treatment in Bangkok and Sydney.
Another time there was an air worker’s strike in Argentina. Everyone was stuck and there were no hotels available. Tony had been chatting with a nice woman in line at the ticket counter, who invited him to stay at her place. She turned out to have a luxurious villa and Tony was pampered for several days sitting and reading by her pool and served by the maids and cook. The woman arranged for Tony to get a back way into the airport and he managed to get back to Adelaide.
The incessant overseas travel affected Tony’s health and caused him to quit Berri Wine Cooperative to look for other opportunities.
Dr Brice Rankin hired Tony to teach some marketing classes for the Roseworthy Diploma and then hired him to develop a separate Diploma in Wine Marketing in the mid 1980s. He wrote the first courses in wine marketing there and was well-known among a whole generation of wine and viticulture students.
Tony became an academic at the South Australian Institute of Technology and remained with the Elton Mayo School of Management and then the School of Marketing at UniSA from the late 1980s until he retired 2008. During this time, Tony and David Corkindale, the Professor of Marketing, received a $500,000 grant to develop and teach wine export classes for the wine industry. As part of that venture, Tony and Klaus Kilov, a university librarian, started the Wine Marketing Database, which exists to this day as the only wine marketing and tourism dedicated list of publications related to all aspects of the wine industry.
While at UniSA, Tony developed and was program director for a new degree in Marketing and Communications, a combined program across two different schools. The degree is still going strong today. Tony became the Head of the School for two years just before his retirement. He excelled at mentoring and providing advice for the younger academics.
I came to the University of Adelaide on a sabbatical in 1994, when Tony was at the University of South Australia. I knew of him due to the International Journal of Wine Marketing. He invited me to the Wine Marketing class he taught as an elective, where I also met Klaus Kilov. Tony welcomed me and soon we were conducting research together. I moved to the University of Adelaide the following year and Tony soon involved me in some of his executive teaching and workshops for the wine industry.
In 1998, Tony got us invited to South Africa to work with the KWV (the government owned largest winery and only legal exporter after apartheid) to help train their staff in marketing. He had met the director at the OIV. After that successful trip, we developed and taught a wine marketing executive course through Stellenbosch University from 2001-2006. Tony and I had many long hours of discussion and development over those long flights and evenings spent in South Africa.
Through his other contacts, we offered three-day versions of this course in Chile and Argentina (twice) and in Uruguay, Spain, France, New Zealand, and Canada. We made a great team: Tony with his real-world experience of building wine brands and developing markets and my skills in measuring and understanding consumer and buyer behaviour. Tony was a patient and knowledgeable mentor and teacher. He helped me become a better teacher of ‘case studies’ and how to relate to the wine industry in my research and writing. He helped me gain contacts in the GWRDC (Grape and Wine Research Development Corporation), the WFA (Winemakers’ Federation), the AWBC (Australian Wine & Brandy Corporation). I was invited through Tony to help in the data collection and analysis for Strategy 2025 and the plan developed five years after. It was through Tony I first became a columnist for the Australia and New Zealand Wine Industry Journal. And through those contacts I was on the organising committee for the Australian Wine Marketing Conferences during the early and mid 2000s.
The discipline we know as Wine Marketing, the original journal, case studies, and wine executive education were all outcomes of Tony Spawton’s dedication to the Australian wine sector. They all came from a 10 pound Pom, who studied geology in Wales, and eventually became the father of the discipline and the career so many of us enjoy.
Let us toast to the life and career of Anthony Spawton with a glass of Berri’s Fruity Gordo, another of Tony’s great successes.
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Sarah Marquis takes control of Mollydooker in McLaren Vale
Thursday 1 June 2017
Meet The Friendly Faces Of Fermentation From Team Lallemand Australia – Thomas Hamann
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Hi! Welcome to our website!
Weiss Lake RV Park is a small, family-owned RV park and campground
on the north shore of beautiful Weiss Lake, Alabama. We've got seven
acres of camp sites, with room for about 40 year-round RVs and a few
over-night or weekly campers, including limited tent camping.
Just because we're small, though, doesn't mean there isn't lots to do.
We're right on the lake, with over 1/4 mile of shoreline and deep, clear
water. We've got two fishing piers, four boat docks, a boat ramp, space
to store your boat, and one of the few sandy beaches on the lake, with a
large roped-off swimming area.
We cater to both families and retired folks, and love repeat visitors. Most
of our guests leave their RVs here full-time and come up on weekends
and holidays. We've got cook-outs, swimming, boating, fishing off the
piers, picnic tables and plenty of space to relax.
We've got two main rules. First, be safe! Please watch your kids around
the lake and especially around the fishing piers. Second, absolutely no
drugs or alcohol are allowed here. We don't mean to be stuffy, but that's
just the way it is. Our guests want it that way and it's worked out pretty
One last thing. We are NOT fancy. We're not an expensive,
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some small, some right on the water, some a few steps away, some in the
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But if you've got one of those super-duper giant RVs that needs 60 feet
of space, please call us first to make sure we've got a lot available that's
big enough for your needs.
That's it! Give us a call. Come for a visit. We'd love to have you stay
here with us.
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Seagate International ApS v. Host Creatif
The Complainant is Seagate International ApS, Copenhagen, Denmark, represented by Weis & Wise Aps, Denmark.
The Respondent is Host Creatif, California, United States of America.
The disputed domain name <baadbasen.com> is registered with eNom.
The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “Center”) on December 6, 2011. On December 6, 2011, the Center transmitted by email to eNom a request for registrar verification in connection with the disputed domain name. On December 6, 2011, eNom transmitted by email to the Center its verification response confirming that the Respondent is listed as the registrant and providing the contact details.
In accordance with the Rules, paragraphs 2(a) and 4(a), the Center formally notified the Respondent of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on December 9, 2011. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5(a), the due date for Response was December 29, 2011. The Respondent did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondent’s default on January 3, 2012.
The Center appointed Alvaro Loureiro Oliveira as the sole panelist in this matter on January 25, 2012. The Panel finds that it was properly constituted. The Panel has submitted the Statement of Acceptance and Declaration of Impartiality and Independence, as required by the Center to ensure compliance with the Rules, paragraph 7.
The Complainant is Seagate International ApS, a Danish company with its principal place of business at Copenhagen, Denmark. The Complainant is the owner of trademark registration for BÅDBASEN.COM, covering classes 35, 38 and 41 of the Nice Classification System. Under this trademark the Complainant renders online services related to the sale of maritime platforms, such as sailing boats, motorboats and other maritime activities.
Trademark BÅDBASEN.COM is formed by the term “Bådbasen”, which is original and has no signification in Danish or other language. It is in fact an agglutination of two Danish words, resulting an original metaphoric term.
The Complainant contends that the disputed domain name bears its trademark BÅDBASEN.COM, in a clear attempt to create confusion and mislead the consumers, particularly in the Danish market – that is, the same core market as the Complainant’s.
Before starting this proceeding, the Complainant was in contact with the previous owners of the disputed domain name. Apparently the second owner had a direct contact with the Respondent, but no major step was taken to reach that party, despite the efforts of the Complainant.
The Complainant also states that the disputed domain name is disrupting its business, as it is halting the launch of various other services that will rely on the access to the domain names associated to the registered trademark.
In this Panel’s view, the Complainant has satisfied the requirements specified under paragraph 4(a) of the
(i) that the disputed domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights; and
(ii) that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain name; and
(iii) that the disputed domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith.
The Complainant has provided evidence of ownership of the Danish registration for trademark BÅDBASEN.COM. In comparing the Complainant’s trademark to the disputed domain name, the only difference is the substitution of the Danish letter “å” by two consecutive “a” letters. Under the rules of the Danish language this substitution is accepted – particularly when the letter in question, i.e. “å”, cannot be reproduced.
In view of the above, the Panel finds that the Complainant has established that the disputed domain name is identical to the trademark in which the Complainant has rights, in accordance with paragraph 4(a)(i) of the Policy.
The Panel understands that the mark BÅDBASEN.COM is undoubtedly linked to the Complainant, since it is not only registered as a mark in its name, but also has no express meaning in any language.
The Complainant has made out a prima facie case that the Respondent lacks rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name. Although contacted, even if indirectly, the Respondent has not rebutted the Complainant’s contentions.
Besides, the Complainant provided evidence of the renown of its mark. Hence, the Panel understands that the Respondent could not be unaware of the mark and its direct relation to the Complainant.
Thus, the Panel finds that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name.
It is clear to the Panel that the Respondent must have registered the disputed domain name <baadbasen.com> with the purpose of taking advantage of the renown of the Complainant’s mark.
Although not currently operating, the disputed domain name leads to a “teaser” web page, stating that an innovative boat platform will be available at that site in a certain amount of days. By so doing the Respondent is apparently using the disputed domain name to attract consumers in the same field of the Complainant’s business.
The Panel understands that all evidence as above shows that the Respondent obtained the registration and has been using the disputed domain name in bad faith.
The Panel, hence, finds present the third element of paragraph 4(a) of the Policy.
For the foregoing reasons, in accordance with paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders that the disputed domain name <baadbasen.com> be transferred to the Complainant.
Alvaro Loureiro Oliveira
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Tapestry Singers’ spring concert features female composers
Barbara Burt
Tapestry Singers warm up in preparation for rehearsal. Courtesy of Barbara Burt
380 Academy Hill Road
Newcastle Maine 04553
Tapestry Singers will present their spring concert, “Infinite Circle of Song,” at St. Patrick’s Church in Newcastle on Saturday, June 8, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 9, at 5 p.m.
For this concert, Director Beth Preston collected a vast number of works by women composers—some well-known, some relatively undiscovered—to choose the twenty pieces on the final program. These include a 12th century chant by Hildegarde von Bingen and a 17th century madrigal Vittoria Aleotti, but the majority of the works were created by living composers. These range from arrangements of gospel spirituals by Undine S. Moore and others to an aleatoric (chance) piece by Australian composer Sarah Hopkins. Some are familiar favorites, such as “Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye,” arranged by Alice Parker, and “Wanting Memories” by Ysaye Barnwell. Besides singing in Latin and Italian, Tapestry Singers sing “Dance of Zálongo” in Greek.
The Tapestry Singers will be accompanied on various pieces by Sean Fleming on the piano, Anne-Marie D'Amico on percussion, Taylor Briggs on recorder, and Jaja Martin on cello.
In her role as Artistic Director for Tapestry Singers and director of the Lincoln Academy Lincolnaires, Beth Preston has become known for championing the works of living composers. She has been awarded “Distinguished Choral Director of the Year 2010” from Maine ACDA, “Music Educator of the Year 2013” from Maine Music Educators District 3 and “Music Educator of the Year 2019” from the Maine state chapter of National Association for Music Education. This June marks her retirement from 37 years of teaching music in the public schools. She will continue to maintain her private studio, coaching classical and musical theater singers, as well as coaching professional and amateur singers for Heartwood Regional Theater productions. She is currently exploring the possibility of starting a regional children’s choir in September.
Tapestry Singers has benefited from Preston’s connection with young people. This concert includes a small chorus of young singers ranging from 6th grade to high school. And among its regular members of approximately 60 auditioned singers from around Lincoln County and beyond are a number of Lincoln Academy students. The chorus rehearses on Monday evenings throughout the school year at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle.
For more information, visit the website. Tickets for “Infinite Circle of Song” are $15 per adult (no charge for students), and may be obtained from the website, www.TapestrySingersMaine.org or at the door. St. Patrick’s is located at 380 Academy Hill Rd. in Newcastle.
Ralph Doering - Wiscasset Village, 1 BR, $900/mo
Multiple Positions - Spruce Point Inn
Juniper Hill - School Yard Sale, July 20 & 21
Elder Power - Honest, Reliable, Compassionate Caregivers
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Alberta cuts nearly $15 million from wildfire management budget
By: Edmonton Journal
The same day air tankers took to the sky to douse wildfires near Slave Lake, Paul Lane was telling his pilots the grim news that last week’s provincial budget could put them out of work.
Despite coming out of what Lane describes as “the busiest fire season in 25 years,” the provincial government has cut its tanker contracts by $5.1 million, and its base wildfire management budget by a further $9.6 million.
The company of which Lane is vice-president, Air Spray, has been supplying air tanker contracts to the Alberta government for most of the company’s 50-year history.
This year, that contract has been reduced from 123 days to 93 days, putting Lane’s company out of pocket and firefighting coverage at risk.
In Alberta, disasters such as fires and floods are paid for out of emergency funds, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry says that will still be the case with fires this year.
The problem is that none of that cash is factored into the budget; in the case of a particularly severe wildfire year, the money will just have to come from somewhere else.
Base funding includes money for the Fire Smart program and operating the wildfire program (items such as staff, uniforms and technology), while the cost of firefighters, fire equipment, operating fire camps and bases comes out of general revenue when it’s needed.
Lane said two companies provide air tanker services to Alberta, and called cutting the contracts “playing with fire.”
Once the contracts run out Aug. 16, the province will hire the planes on an as-needed basis, guaranteeing work for only three days at a time.
“If we get a longer-term contract somewhere else from Aug. 16, then we’re going to go,” Lane said, leaving the province with no air tankers and nobody to fly them.
“Not only is this bad for us, it’s terrible for the province, because if there are hot, dry days through August and September … then they’re banking on us being here or coming back,” he said.
“This undermines the credibility of the entire air tanker program in the province.”
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« Migrant Clinicians Network
NY Times: U.S. officials defend fake OSHA sting »
Study Finds Lax Safety Standards at Construction Sites
By FERNANDA SANTOS (NYT)
On Nov. 24, 2003, Manuel Falcón, an Ecuadorean laborer, died after falling from the roof of a house he had been working on in South Ozone Park, Queens. Mr. Falcón was not wearing a hard hat, tethering cord or any other safety gear.
When federal safety inspectors investigated the work site after Mr. Falcón’s death, they found three violations and eventually levied a total fine of $2,625. The fine could have been a maximum of $7,000 for each violation, for a total of $21,000. The circumstances of Mr. Falcón’s death, and the minimal punishment that followed, illustrate the core conclusions of a study by the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, which is set for release tomorrow: inadequate supervision of city construction sites and the low penalties imposed on violators make it easy for builders to ignore safety rules.
”The industry fines are considered a cost of doing business and are too minimal to effect a change in behavior,” the association’s president, Benedict P. Morelli, said yesterday.
The study examines reports prepared by federal safety inspectors after construction accidents in New York City between January 2001 and August of this year that resulted in death or serious injury. A total of 156 accidents were analyzed; all but 12 resulted in at least one fatality.
According to the study, inspectors penalized builders at 113 of the accident sites for violations like insufficient guardrails and safety nets. In most cases, fines amounted to no more than $10,000; only six of the violations resulted in fines greater than $50,000, the study says.
In one accident that resulted in unusually high fines, Efrain Gonzalez and four other workers fell to their deaths when a scaffold at a Gramercy Park office building collapsed four years ago at Park Avenue South. Inspectors found seven ”serious” violations, and a fine of $9,750 was levied out of a possible maximum of $49,000. But the inspectors also found two ”willful” violations and the maximum fine of $140,000 was imposed for them.
The inspectors work for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a branch of the federal Labor Department that sets and enforces standards for workplace safety. OSHA’s penalties should at least be severe enough to deter future lapses, said Joel Shufro, executive director of the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, a nonprofit organization supported by about 200 local unions.
The average penalty for serious safety violations, in which severe injury or death is highly likely, is $1,569, according to the trial lawyers’ study. The maximum prison sentence for a safety violation is six months under federal law, but from 1990 to 2003, there were only four cases nationwide in which a builder found to be at fault was imprisoned, the study says.
A spokesman for the federal safety and health agency, Ted Fitzgerald, declined to comment yesterday, saying he had not had a chance to review the study.
In addition to the low penalties, the study lists inadequate supervision as a reason that builders do not feel compelled to comply with safety regulations. Only 28 safety inspectors cover construction and renovation sites in New York City, northern New Jersey, and Westchester and Rockland Counties, allowing inspection of an average of six sites a day in the entire region, the study says.
Nearly half of the 156 accidents examined in the study involved falls from a scaffold, roof or ladder. Immigrant workers were the most common victims, amounting to two-thirds of those killed or injured since October 2001, when OSHA began to include in its reports the language the worker spoke on the job.
”The rapid growth of New York City’s underground construction industry, an industry that employs mostly immigrants and where worker safety often takes the back seat, makes credible enforcement of OSHA safety standards more important than ever,” said Glenn von Nostitz, senior policy adviser for the trial lawyers’ group.
Correction: October 19, 2005, Wednesday An article yesterday about a study finding safety standards lax at construction sites in the New York region, and a picture caption, gave an incorrect location in some copies for a 2001 scaffolding collapse in which five workers were killed. It was at Park Avenue South and 18th Street, not Park Avenue and 44th.
Photos: Efrain Gonzalez died when a work scaffold collapsed in 2001.; Five workers died when a scaffold collapsed in a construction accident at a Gramercy Park office building at Park Avenue South in 2001. (Photo by Edward Keating/The New York Times)
This entry was posted on Saturday, February 11th, 2006 at 12:57 pm and is filed under Health & Safety. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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Rivers: INEC to resume collation of election results
Perez Hilton Friday, 22 March 2019 Edit this post
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed April 13 for supplementary election in Rivers State. Besides, the commissi...
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed April 13 for supplementary election in Rivers State.
Besides, the commission is to resume collation of results of the last governorship and state Assembly elections from April 2 to 5.
INEC, however, noted that election had been concluded in 21 state constituencies.
The collation of the results for the election held on March 9 was suspended due to violence.
The Commission set up a Fact-Finding Committee that visited the state and submitted its report which revealed that while election could not hold in a few areas, they were successfully concluded in others with the declaration of winners in 21 state constituencies. Collation was ongoing at the time of the suspension of the process.
Announcing the outlined activities and timeline to resolve the electoral logjam in the state, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said the commission will on March 30 meet with critical actors in the state after which the headquarters of the commission will release a guideline for the continuation of the process.
Okoye spoke at a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja. He noted that there will also be an inter-agency meeting between the commission and others a day before the stakeholders meeting in Rivers.
Revalidation of observers, the commission said, will be done simultaneously in Abuja and Rivers State between March 25 and March 31.
The state chapters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) disagreed over the new timeline given by INEC to conclude elections in the states.
The APC, through its Publicity Secretary Chris Finebone declared that INEC’s announcement was suspect and received with mixed feelings, since the electoral commission had not shown sufficient good faith.
PDP Chairman Felix Obuah , in a press statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jerry Needam stated that members of the party received the INEC’s news with optimism.
Rivers APC said: “As a major stakeholder in the Rivers State political space, APC received with mixed feelings, INEC’s timeline for concluding the governorship and House of Assembly elections that started on March 9. INEC has not shown sufficient good faith in the way it brought the collation to an abrupt stop (on March 10), without cogent, verifiable and convincing reasons.
“The supposed umpire (INEC) went ahead to announce that collation for 17 local government areas (out of 23 LGAs in Rivers) had been concluded, as against the records provided by our situation room. And to make matters worse, INEC refused, failed or neglected to name the said 17 LGAs where it claimed collation had been concluded.
“INEC curiously announced that it had dropped four LGAs’ collation officers confirmed to be PDP card-carrying members, without the umpire clearing the air about the status of the LGAs’ results the four ad hoc personnel supposedly collated.”
The main opposition APC, which backed the African Action Congress (AAC), since court order did not allow it to present candidates for the elections, also wondered why the four indicted collation officers of INEC would be unfit for the job, while the collations they conducted were acceptable.
The party said: “Why is INEC jittery to name the 17 local government areas, if not for the simple reason that some underhand dealings might have taken place, for which it is covering up? With the violation of the collation process by Governor Nyesom Wike when he stormed the Obio/Akpor LGA Collation Centre (at the council’s secretariat in Rumuodomaya, Port Harcourt in the night of March 9), where his Chief Security Officer (CSO) and security detail shot an army captain and other soldiers in the process, why does it seem that INEC’s body language is suggesting that Obio/Akpor LGA’s collation has been completed?
“To the APC, INEC is up to some mischief, clearly pointing to a clear determination to rig the overall results of the March 9 elections in favour of Wike and the PDP. The signs are visible enough to the blind and loud enough to the deaf. All the shenanigans so far exhibited by INEC only go to confirm that fear.”
PDP chairman said: “Even though we frown at the length of the timeline issued by INEC for the collation, declaration and conclusion of the election process in Rivers State, we received the news with optimism. Rivers State PDP is waiting patiently for the process to be concluded, because the people of Rivers State overwhelmingly voted for our party.
“We urge Rivers people to remain calm, as the mandate they freely gave to Governor Wike and the PDP on March 9 will be affirmed at the end of the collation process. Victory for the PDP will come at the end of the exercise. Rivers State is PDP. The people massively voted for the PDP, as all the figures indicate.”
On the letter by Rivers elders to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in Rivers political crisis, to prevent anarchy, Obuah berated the eminent personalities, including a former governor of the state, Chief Rufus Ada-George; and an ex- Culture Minister Alabo Tonye Graham-Douglas.
He described Ada-George, Graham-Douglas and others as self-acclaimed elders and card-carrying members of the APC, who, according to him, were allegedly working for Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, a former Rivers governor.
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Analysis: What exact control over the Internet is the US giving up and is it bad or not?
The single most important question is this: what does America currently control and therefore, what would we actually be giving up?
By David Gewirtz for ZDNet Government | March 17, 2014 -- 12:08 GMT (05:08 PDT) | Topic: Government : US
One of the problems of being non-partisan, patriotic (but not jingoistic), and strategic is that knee-jerk reactions can't necessarily become talking points. Gut feelings can't become strategy statements. Uninformed personal preferences can't be presented to all of you as if they were considered recommendations.
In other words, smart recommendations need to be backed by doing one's homework.
This, of course, brings us to Friday's announcement that, to quote Vladimir Putin's personal propaganda organ, RT.com (Russia Today), "Amid NSA fallout, US to relinquish top internet oversight role."
My first thought, my knee-jerk reaction was a simple W-T-F. Is the US government out of its mind? How could America possibly give up a strategic resource this important? Is this another case of our weak-willed politicians jumping at every imagined shadow and trying to curry favor with everyone on the planet?
Can we keep it safe and can we keep the schmucks out?
I wanted to stand on my oh-so-beloved leather couch and shout, "What the hell is wrong with you people?" Except, well, my wife doesn't let me stand on my couch (I broke one, once), and no one really listens when I shout back at the TV (which is, fundamentally, why I became a blogger and wound up writing this column). By writing rather than shouting, I don't break furniture, I don't scare my family members, and I protect my oh-so-luxuriously smooth vocal chords.
Where's the homework in all this? As it turns out, there are a few questions. The single most important question is this: what does America currently control and therefore, what would we actually be giving up?
That's what the rest of this article is about.
It's all about our roots
Although this seems like a political discussion, at the root the entire issue of Internet control are the DNS root files. Let's do a 30-second, overly general recap of DNS.
The domain name system is the component of the Internet that helps connect domain names to the actual IP addresses of the server or servers operating the domain. It's how, when you type ZDNet.com into your browser, your browser is actually able to ask a specific machine to deliver the contents of our home page to you.
I sometimes tell people to think of the DNS as a phone book. When you look up someone's name in the phone book (back when we did such things), you'd see a phone number next to the name. So if you wanted to call Bob Smith, you'd look up his name, get a number, and dial the digits.
There are, of course, differences between the Internet and a phone book. First, of course, who uses phone books anymore? I can't recall the last time I actually saw a printed phone book (and I certainly don't miss them). Second, all the looking up goes on electronically in the "cloud" rather than thumbing through pages of paper.
But there are some things that make it a decent analogy. For example, we all know about area codes here in the US. Washington, DC is in the 202 area code and New York City is 212. If you prefix 555-5555 with 202, you ring a phone in DC. If you prefix it with 212, you're dialin' the Big Apple.
Likewise, we have the top-level domains like .com, .net, and so forth. If you go to domain.com, you might be directed to an entirely different site than domain.net. The .com, .net, .uk, and so forth are what are known as top-level domains, or TLDs.
So let's say you want to go to ZDNet.com. The first thing that happens behind the scenes is your computer needs to know who owns and operates the .com TLD. In practice, this is usually one of many mirrored servers because having every single Internet user pounding on one resolver for .com would cause a meltdown.
In any case, your behind-the-scenes browser request finds out from the very tippy-top of the domain tree who "owns" .com, and then asks that server who manages the ZDNet domain. That server (usually operated by a domain registrar) then points your behind-the-scenes browser agent to a variable number of hops that will eventually result in an authoritative address for the server.
If you think about it, then, the folks who "own" .com have a heck of a lot of power, because if they happened to want to, they could -- theoretically -- route all the requests to microsoft.com, apple.com, google.com, facebook.com and zdnet.com to someplace they control. This, in fact, is how hackers sometimes hijack Web sites or generate denial of service attacks. They redirect domain traffic from its actual server cluster to someplace else.
So if .com is queried to point to all the domain name servers that resolve .com domains, you might imagine that there's some Mount Olympus-style resolver in the very upper stratosphere of the domain name system that tells the machines all over the world who operates .com (and many of the other TLDs).
Who runs this thing?
This Mount Olympus root domain resolver has been indirectly operated by the US government since the beginning of the Internet. In effect, the U.S. government has had some say in who tells the world where the .com and the other TLDs live.
This uber-top domain resolver is called the "authoritive root zone file" and is operated by an entity known as the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). IANA is really a set of Internet management functions overseen by the NTIA (National Telecommunications and Information Administration), which, itself, is part of the US Commerce Department.
There's more. Keep reading...
By the way, I'm doing more updates on Twitter and Facebook than ever before. Be sure to follow me on Twitter at @DavidGewirtz and on Facebook at Facebook.com/DavidGewirtz.
So NTIA oversees IANA. It does this by contracting with outside organizations to perform the various functions of IANA, which are described by NTIA as, "The related root zone management functions are the management of the root zone 'zone signing key' (ZSK), as well as implementation of changes to and distribution of the DNS authoritative root zone file, which is the authoritative registry containing the lists of names and addresses for all top level domains, effectively the Internet’s phone book."
In other words, if you want to go to google.com, you get to do so only because .com knows where google is, and IANA knows where .com is.
The actual functions of IANA are run by ICANN. You might of heard of these folks. For years, there were nice and just operated country domains and such storied TLDs as .com and .net.
In recent years, however, they've gone a little wild and introduced a whole pile of TLDs that most of us ignore, like .info, .museum, .name and even .plumbing (which ICANN hopes to sell to some domain registrar who can go to town registering plumbers).
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is a private non-profit that has the Commerce Department contract for operating IANA. The actual zone file maintenance is operated by VeriSign, under another contract approved by Commerce.
Back in 1998, Bill Clinton helped form this whole structure when he moved the operation and control of the domain name system from DARPA and the University of Southern California. The idea in 1998 was that the Internet would eventually be a world entity and therefore should be managed outside of direct US control.
Back then, the plan was for all top-level DNS functions to be out of US control by 2000. Clearly, that didn't happen.
What Commerce announced on Friday
All of that brings us back to what the Department of Commerce announced on Friday, which is that NTIA is beginning the process of releasing control of IANA to an as-yet-to-be-agreed-upon non-governmental organization that oversees all of the root zone authority.
The idea is that ICANN will convene a series of meetings and conferences to allow interested organizations to come to some level of agreement about the eventual root zone authority oversight.
NTIA stated explicitly that it won't agree to some other government taking over from the US, but that doesn't mean governments can't influence the various nonprofits and organizations that will eventually operate the root zone authority.
So is this bad? Is it bad for America?
Short answer: that depends. From a truly technical point of view, the Internet has generally been operated quite successfully by the coordinated organizations who have been running things all these years.
There are two gotchas. The first is that countries like China and Russia may try to have a disproportionate influence in the operation of the Internet that would have otherwise been kept at bay by US government watchdogs. The second is that some of these governments are considered rogue nations and operate their own Internet-based criminal, terrorist, and hacking activities. They might gain an entirely unwanted foothold in Internet governance.
On the move-out-of-NTIA side of the argument is the fact that the Internet is now humanity's network, not just a service of the US government. Planet Earth operates on the Internet as much now as ancient societies operated on the seas. We all (and I mean the global all, not just the "my fellow Americans" all) rely on the Internet and we all need it to run reliably and securely.
Another fact is that, despite the headlines, the US is not giving up control of the Internet. It's been pretty much out of the US government's control for years. Sure, the US government could -- in a fit of apocalyptic desperation -- pull the plug on the authoritative root zones, but that's beyond unlikely given how much America itself relies on the smooth operation of the Internet.
Besides, if things really go bad, America has some very sweet bombers and some really big bombs. I'm not advocating. I'm just sayin'...
On its surface, then, this change is not necessarily a bad strategic decision on the part of our generally useless leadership. It's just the continuation of a process set in action well over a decade ago, and which has been proceeding with reasonable success over the years.
There is an issue though, and it's the issue that is a subplot among every Internet story these days: can we keep it safe and can we keep the schmucks out?
If the root zone authority is operated by highly-respected professionals, no matter from what country, we should be fine. But if the bad guys, the rogue nations, or the various nasty lobbying interests get their hands on it, we're in for a world of hurt.
If you think about it, that makes it all pretty much same ol' same ol'.
P.S. You'll notice I did not address the NSA fuss as part of this story. Many articles claim the US is doing this as a result of Snowden's theft and release of information. I don't consider the two to be connected at all. The US is clearly letting the NSA keep doing what it's been doing, so if this is an attempt to throw any kind of bone to the rest of the world, it's a pretty mealy one at that.
What do you think? When you comment, please let us know if you're American or not so we can better gauge how this is playing outside of the US.
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Australia's 'struggling' e-health records under review
The Australian government has announced an inquiry into the rollout of the AU$1 billion e-health record system implemented under the former government.
By Josh Taylor | November 3, 2013 -- 22:13 GMT (14:13 PST) | Topic: Government
Health Minister Peter Dutton has announced a short review into Australia's "struggling" AU$1 billion Personally Controlled E-Health Record project over its failure to attract doctors to participate.
Since 2011, the former Labor government, in conjunction with the states, has invested over AU$1 billion in the e-health program aimed at improving patient care through making it easier for healthcare providers to access and share information about a patient throughout the medical system.
Unlike the current problems affecting the US government's healthcare website , Australia's e-health system faced the opposite problem: Very little interest from the public and doctors in signing up.
While sign-up for patients had been roughly in line with expectations from the government, reaching over 900,000 to date, the number of documents being created and used in the system is still relatively low, with only a few hundred healthcare professionals putting up the "shared health summary" that lists a patient's details, and around 5,000 documents uploaded in total.
"This defeats the purpose of having a national, electronic system that is meant to help save lives," Dutton said yesterday.
"The government fully supports the concept of electronic health records, but it must be fit for purpose and cost effective."
The Coalition in opposition was always critical of the amount of spending on the project, but went to the election without any specific policy regarding the future of e-health records. As the new health minister, Dutton on Sunday announced a short review to report back to the government by mid December on the state of the project.
The review will be chaired by UnitingCare Health group executive director Richard Royale, who Dutton said is currently overseeing the implementation of Australia's "first fully integrated digital hospital" in Hervey Bay, Queensland.
Assisting Royale will be the Australian Medical Association president Dr Steve Hambleton, and Australia Post's CIO Andrew Walduck.
"The review team's expertise encompasses information technology, patient and medical services, and business administration, which I believe is the right mix to put the electronic records program back on track," Dutton said.
Hambleton told the ABC this morning that there had not been enough focus on making e-health records easy to use.
"The interface between the GP software and the PCEHR is difficult. The time spent on uploading what is a shared health summary needs to be done line by line with the patient, and that is time consuming. The efficiency is not there," Hambleton said.
The review will look at what users were expecting from the system versus what has been delivered, the level of consultation during the development of the system, the level of use of the records, barriers to uptake, usability issues, what needs to be done to fix the system, and the potential for the private sector to "provide solutions" for the e-health system.
The review is open to submissions from the public as well as stakeholder groups, Dutton said.
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Honoring Our Heroes With A Trip Of A Lifetime
53 veterans took an Honor Flight to visit the Washington, D.C. monuments dedicated to their service.
Author: Peter Gallivan
Published: 7:42 AM EDT May 6, 2019
Updated: 7:46 AM EDT May 6, 2019
BUFFALO, N.Y. — At the airport by 5am, these veterans received a hero's send-off. An hour later we were touching down in Baltimore to a hero's welcome, then onto the bus to Washington, D.C. It was just the start to a whirlwind day all put together by Buffalo Niagara Honor Flight.
BNHF President Tom Petrie says it is an honor for him to bring these groups to our nation's capital. "We have 11 World War II, 37 Korean, 5 Vietnam. Biggest trip ever. We've got our first group from Warren, Pennsylvania with us today. So we're excited, it's a big group. All pumped up and ready."
Once in Washington, the first stop was at the Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam Wall. Then over to Arlington National Cemetery for the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. From the Air Force Monument and lunch, we then traveled to the World War II Memorial. The group was greeted by former Senator (and WWII Veteran) Bob Dole. We were told that he is out most Saturdays greeting Honor Flights from around the country. Then it was over to the Iwo Jima Memorial, and a final stop at the 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon.
Accompanying the group were Buffalo Bills rookies Levi Wallace and Taron Johnson, as well as young kids representing Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. The veterans were able to share what they did overseas to a whole new generation, making sure the contributions to our freedom are not forgotten.
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Dali completes its Lektor line-up
Dali has completed its Lektor line-up of speakers with the introduction of the Lektor 3 and subwoofer
The Lektor sub is a compact design, measuring 35.5 x 31 x 39.4cm (hwd), with a 10in long-stroke driver and a 300 watt amplifier housed in an MDF cabinet.
It has a downward-firing bass reflex port, gold-plated RCA connectors, and comes in black ash or light walnut finishes. The Lektor sub costs 699 Euros (£650).
Also new is the Lektor 3 loudspeaker, designed for either hi-fi or home cinema duties. Equipped with a 28mm soft-dome tweeter and a 6.5in mid/bass driver, the Lektor 3 costs 249 Euros (£230).
It joins the 1, 2, 6 and 8 models in the rest of the Lektor range, and like them is available in black or walnut.
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Sci-Tech | Vitamin D gives brain protection to MS patients
Maya Chandra
Vitamin D gives brain protection to MS patients
Maya Chandra 1:39 am, Nov 10, 2015
Yanna Lee
A new Yale co-authored study links higher vitamin D levels to possible neuroprotection for individuals suffering from multiple sclerosis.
The study, published last Saturday in the European Journal of Neurology, draws a connection between higher vitamin D levels in the blood and higher gray matter levels in the brain. For individuals with MS, low vitamin D levels are linked to relapses and lesions in the brain, wrote principal investigator Ellen Mowry, neurology professor at Johns Hopkins University, in a Saturday email to the News. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, a funder of the research, is currently involved in many studies attempting to ascertain the exact relationship between vitamin D and the causes and symptoms of MS, according to the National MS Society website.
“Higher levels of vitamin D in the blood are associated with a lower amount of loss of brain tissue over the course of the study. If this association is true, vitamin D supplementation could be studied as a way to prevent damage to the actual brain tissue,” Mowry said.
MS occurs less frequently in regions closer to the equator, where the exposure to sunlight and to vitamin D is higher, Mowry said. She added that her study aims to further validate that connection between vitamin D levels and MS. However, according to Scott Zamvil, neurology professor at the University of California, San Francisco and co-author on the paper, it is unclear whether vitamin D’s connection to MS is a causal relationship or simply a correlation.
The research was conducted using data from a 2012 study for which Zamvil was the principle investigator. From the data set collected for that study, 65 individuals were eligible for Mowry’s research, Zamvil said. The MRI data for those individuals was analyzed to measure gray matter volume in the brain and brain atrophy — the loss of brain tissue over time.
“The MRI was used to identify an association between the levels of vitamin D and changes we know are happening in brains with MS,” said Emmanuelle Waubant, co-author of the study and neurology professor at the University of California, San Francisco.
The researchers looked at new lesions in the brain, which indicate relapses, and measures of atrophy in the brain. The strongest correlation was drawn between lower vitamin D levels and high levels of brain atrophy, Waubant said, though she added that this does not confirm causality, since there may be another factor that leads to both low vitamin D levels and high brain atrophy.
The study is one of many looking at the role of vitamin D in MS, and has implications for both the understanding of the causes of the disease and the value of vitamin D supplements in treating it, Waubant said. Vitamin D supplements are already used for MS patients with unusually low vitamin D levels, but there are currently trials ongoing to see how those supplements in different forms can be used to treat the disease overall, Waubant added.
Multiple sclerosis is two to three times more likely to occur in women than in men, according to the National MS Society.
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SCIENCE/HEALTH
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Tag: The Legend of Zelda
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Climate actions will usher in opportunities
Vietnam is making efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change via its policies and mechanisms. Dao Xuan Lai, United Nations Development Programme assistant resident representative, and team leader of Climate Change and the Environment, writes about business opportunities and challenges for investors in the country.
Dao Xuan Lai, United Nations Development Programme assistant resident representative, and team leader of Climate Change and the Environment
Climate action in both adaptation and mitigation are creating new types of businesses, attracting vast capital flows into low-carbon investments, creating jobs and spurring innovation and economic growth.
Climate is changing faster than anticipated, and as the Earth’s surface is warming, extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, more severe, and more difficult to predict. This has caused and will continue to cause damage to infrastructure, outbreaks of infectious diseases, and disruption to the supply chain.
For example, a record drought in 2015-2016, the worst in 60 years, and the strong typhoon Damrey in 2017 caused damage to roads, houses, schools, crops and disruptions to the water supply in large parts of Vietnam.
In response, Vietnam has set high priority in climate change adaptation. The Vietnamese government has made large investments into the construction of dykes, dams, and resilient schools and houses for vulnerable communities. But a lot remains to be done, and the government will need to engage and mobilise large capital and advanced technology from the private sector to build climate-resilient infrastructure.
As being most affected, the agriculture sector in Vietnam is applying climate smart agriculture practices, including advanced breeding and cultivation techniques to produce new crops that can thrive in new weather conditions such as drought, floods and brackish waters, and new irrigation technologies such as sprinkler irrigation.
The sector also has adopted and needs to introduce innovative policies to enable new types of business, such as agriculture insurance, and to mobilise investments that will support actions to adapt to the changing climate.
Action in climate change mitigation presents even greater opportunities to attract large investments in coming decades. The world has made strong commitments towards low- and even zero-carbon development to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has started putting in place stringent climate policy by adopting a rulebook to implement the Paris Climate Agreement in December 2018. Vietnam has ratified the agreement and adopted an action plan to implement it.
Investments in low-emission transportation, smart cities and housing, and cleaner energy not only present tremendous climate-intelligent investment opportunities for the private sector and entrepreneurs, but will contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions.
First, the transition to low- and zero emissions mobility will not only help to combat climate change, with additional benefits through improved air quality, reduced noise pollution, reduced fossil fuel dependency, and ultimately reduced transportation costs; but the transportation sector also offers huge opportunity for green innovation in the coming years.
For example, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, an industry research firm focused on helping energy professionals generate opportunities, forecasts that “sales of electric vehicles will increase from a record 1.1 million worldwide in 2017, to 11 million in 2025, and then surging to 30 million in 2030”. China and the US were among the largest electric vehicles markets in 2018.
In Vietnam, the market of electric vehicles is at infant stage, with a small amount of e-bikes and -motorbikes being imported from China and Japan or produced domestically. For example, VinFast introduced two models of e-motorbikes in November 2018. However, the emerging low and zero emissions mobility market offers diverse business, services and job creation opportunities. As demand grows for e-vehicles in Vietnam, there is a need for more players in the e-mobility market, not only to create high quality and price competitive products for customers, but for transformational change in the growing transport sector to reduce GHG emissions.
Furthermore, to reduce air pollution, the government plans to put taxes on greenhouse gas emission from transport vehicles, which would lead to increase costs of using fossil fuel-based vehicles. The government will also enhance the technical standards to control GHG emissions to limit production and importation of high-emission vehicles in Vietnam. These changes will stimulate the use and production of e-vehicles in coming years.
Second, with fast urbanisation, the growing building sector in Vietnam has been attracting large scale investment from both foreign and domestic backers in recent years and will continue as more Vietnamese decide to live in urban areas.
It is estimated that the urban population will reach 52 million in 2025. As the government introduces stricter environmental policies and standards, and people demand higher quality of housing, businesses have growing opportunities to invest in greener homes, and building materials such as non-fired bricks, energy-efficient lighting products, and heating and cooling system equipment.
Third, the global renewable energy market continues to make remarkable progress, with an annual investment of more than $200 million over the past eight years. The significant falling costs for solar electricity, for example, led to a record number of new solar power projects installed in 2017.
Vietnam has witnessed a remarkable boom of investments in solar energy in the second half of 2017 and in 2018 thanks to the adoption of the first feed-in-tariff for solar electricity. Announced deals by both foreign and domestic financiers are estimated to reach $3 billion in more than 120 projects by 2020. These projects will generate more than 6,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
This is a very small portion of Vietnam’s potential of generating 85,000MW of solar photovoltaic generation capacity, as noted in a recent United Nations Development Programme technical report. Although the renewable energy market is at an early stage, there exists a real potential for growth and for smart investment and innovation from the private sector.
Application of blockchain technology and introduction of financial innovative schemes will significantly accelerate these climate intelligent investment opportunities.
For example, application of blockchain technology opens up new opportunities and new ways of doing business in energy markets in Vietnam. Blockchain enables people to buy and sell locally-generated solar energy within their communities.
This means that if a household has solar panels that produce more energy than it needs, the household can sell exceeded electricity to their neighbour directly. The use of blockchain technology not only helps to reduce transaction costs, and but in this case, can make neighborhoods more resilient to power outages.
Financial innovative schemes such as green bonds allow both businesses and the government to mobilise capital to finance a wide range of low-carbon, resilient and environmental projects.
The Climate Bonds Initiative reported the global green bond market to be $221 billion in 2017, an increase of more than 100 per cent from 2016.
Vietnam adopted a roadmap for bonds market in 2017 and regulations on municipal Green Bond in 2018, enabling pilot issuance of municipal green bonds in Ho Chi Minh City and the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, valuing $215 million for 18 environmental and green projects, and $22 million for eight green projects, respectively.
As Vietnam has made a strong commitment to tackle climate change and to fulfil its commitment under the Paris Agreement, the government will need to select priority sectors to make transformational change in the next 10 years of socioeconomic development. This transformational change will offer huge business opportunities and job creation as it requires large investment and advanced technologies, which are available from the private sector.
Looking ahead, the Vietnamese government should set clear directions, reduce risks for investors, and continue providing efficient and client-oriented public services that will enable new markets, new economic sectors, and new business and financial opportunities to emerge.
Climate-smart investments will help Vietnam’s path towards climate resilient low-carbon sustainable development, while safeguarding environmental integrity and leaving nobody behind.
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Home / Los Angeles Schools Wants Some Of New Voter Approved Bond Money
Los Angeles Schools Wants Some Of New Voter Approved Bond Money
June 09, 2018 Money
Currently, the Los Angeles schools have $20 billion in construction and renovation projects for Los Angeles schools’ facilities underway or planned. Unfortunately, the Los Angeles schools’ officials expect a funding shortfall from known resources and are looking to the state legislature for a solution.
According to Los Angeles schools’ chief facilities executive, Guy Mehula, the Los Angeles schools have identified all but approximately $1.6 billion in funding sources for the building projects. There is enough money to complete construction already in progress, but not for the planned future construction of projected needs for the Los Angeles schools in 2009 and 2010.
The Los Angeles schools have hit a brick wall with the state funding guidelines, which use exaggerated long-term enrollment trends for eligibility requirements. Since the Los Angeles schools’ enrollment is projected to continue to decline in future years, they are ineligible for hundreds of millions of dollars in school construction funding from the state.
Though the Los Angeles schools believe the formula is unfair, state officials contend that the Los Angeles schools should have built needed facilities while they were in a growth cycle and that formulas used in other state funding programs have benefited the Los Angeles schools. Kathy Hicks, chief of program services for the state Office of Public School Construction, stated that if the Los Angeles schools had their construction projects ready back when they were in a growth cycle, they would have had the funding at that time.
In November 2006, however, the voters approved $43 billion in bonds. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger plans another $29 billion in general obligation bonds to be submitted to voters in 2008 and 2010, along with $14 billion in other bonds that do not require voter approval.
Under the governor’s Strategic Growth Plan, there will be a $211 billion investment in the state’s infrastructure over the next ten years. in 2008 and 2010, he plans to submit almost $12 billion in bonds for kindergarten through 12th grade education. the Los Angeles schools are aggressively campaigning to secure part of these funds.
The State Allocation Board, which distributes funds to the various school districts across the state, is reviewing a backlog of $318 million in construction and renovation projects. These are school district projects that already had been approved before the state ran out of previous funding. After the portion for schools of this new bond money is received, these previous projects have been reviewed, and disbursement to eligible projects within the backlog has been completed, the board then will approve new projects on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible districts. They generally approve about $102 million in new construction and $83 million in renovation projects each month, according to Hicks.
Unfortunately for the Los Angeles schools, they are ineligible for any further funding from the State Allocation Board, under the current funding guidelines. the Los Angeles schools are looking to the legislature to change the status quo on school construction funding to cover their needs in 2009 and 2010.
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The New HP Regains Top Spot in IA-32 U.S. Server Market and Leads U.S. Shipment Market Share
Also Captures Market Leadership in Overall Server Shipments in the U.S., Outpacing Its Competitors
HP (NYSE: HPQ) today announced it has reclaimed the No. 1 position in U.S. shipments of industry-standard IA-32 servers in the second calendar quarter of 2002, a market it pioneered more than a decade ago with the ProLiant server family. According to calendar year, second quarter 2002 figures for the U.S. server market from industry research firm Dataquest,(1) as a result of the combined market shares of HP and Compaq, the new HP(2) regained the premier spot in the United States for popular IA-32-based server shipments, with 28.7 percent market share, compared with its closest competitor. In addition, HP's shipments grew 18.4 percent sequentially in IA-32-based servers, which is almost three times faster than its closest competitor.
Gartner's second quarter data reinforces HP's unit share leadership in the overall U.S. server market, with 26.4 percent share of shipments, outpacing its competitors in unit market share and sequential growth.
"Despite competitors' efforts to take market share at a time when they thought we were vulnerable, the fact is that they haven't made a dent. Our value proposition resonates clearly with customers and we continue to lead the industry standard server business with HP ProLiant servers," said Mary McDowell, senior vice president and general manager, HP Industry Standard Servers. "Coupled with ongoing improvements in our business operations, these combined market share numbers show that the new HP is already off to a strong start. As a result of our intense focus on addressing customers' needs, HP continues to extend its leadership through innovation and by delivering the highest levels of performance and reliability with our ProLiant family of servers."
"HP continues to address the broad requirements of both enterprise and growing businesses with innovative and industry-defining ProLiant solutions that are highly optimized for Windows, Linux and other key operating systems," said David Petts, general manager, HP Industry Standard Servers -- Americas. "Recent examples include driving new product categories such as blade servers, addressing customers' business and technology requirements through its adaptive infrastructure strategy, introducing ProLiant Essentials management software and bringing Advanced Memory Protection features to the ProLiant family."
Announced in December 2001, the adaptive infrastructure strategy enables organizations to adapt to changing market conditions, conserve valuable human and technology resources, and rapidly respond to their customers in a dynamic business environment.
HP is a leading global provider of products, technologies, solutions and services to consumers and businesses. The company's offerings span IT infrastructure, personal computing and access devices, global services and imaging and printing. HP completed its merger transaction involving Compaq Computer Corp. on May 3, 2002. The company would have had combined revenue on a pro forma basis with the Compaq transaction of approximately $81.1 billion in fiscal 2001 and has operations in more than 160 countries. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com.
(1) Dataquest U.S. Server Statistics, Aug. 9, 2002.
(2) Market share derived by combining the data for both HP and Compaq, which is currently listed separately in Gartner Dataquest's Q-Stats database.
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the possibility that the market for the sale of certain products and services may not develop as expected; that development of these products and services may not proceed as planned; and other risks that are described from time to time in HP's Securities and Exchange Commission reports, including but not limited to, HP's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 31, 2002 and reports filed subsequent to HP's annual report on Form 10-K, as amended on January 30, 2002, for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2001. If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes or any of these assumptions proves incorrect, HP's results could differ materially from HP's expectations in these statements. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.
HP Inc. creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our portfolio of printers, PCs, mobile devices, solutions, and services, we engineer experiences that amaze. More information about HP Inc. is available at http://www.hp.com.
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Nerdy, reserved bookworm Needy Lesnicki, and arrogant, conceited cheerleader Jennifer Check are best friends, though they share little in common. They share even less in ...
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BoJack Horseman Season 4
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George Jones Didn’t Think He Sounded Like Himself During His First Time on the Radio
The Boot Staff
George Jones was making country music for 60 years before his death in 2013. Both in his later days and posthumously, he was and is regarded as an absolute icon -- but, as he recalled to The Boot in 2009, his career didn't take off right out of the gate. Jones also admitted that, the first time he heard one of his songs on the radio, he thought he was listening to someone -- or something -- else!
My first record [was] in February 1954. I was in Houston, Texas.
I put the first single I had in my hand, got out of the car and took it into [the radio station], to Pete Hunter, who was the disc jockey. The song was "There Ain't No Money in This Deal," and there wasn't!
I went back in my car and just couldn't wait to hear it. Really, it didn't sound like me to me. I had a horse-y-type voice, which I learned to live with later on.
It made me proud. You love music, and I thought, "Boy. I've got my first record out, and I hope it's a hit!" And, of course, it didn't get out of the state!
This story was originally written by Pat Gallagher, and revised by Angela Stefano.
Country's Greatest Love Stories: George + Nancy Jones
NEXT: Top 10 George Jones Songs
Source: George Jones Didn’t Think He Sounded Like Himself During His First Time on the Radio
Filed Under: George Jones
Categories: Celebrity News
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A Response to the government's Consultation Exercise on:
Headline Indicators of Sustainable Development
What Is The Association Of British Drivers?
The Association of British Drivers ("ABD") was founded in 1992, by a group of drivers from across the country and from all walks of life who had become concerned that the case for the motor-car was no longer being put effectively in this country. It was felt that the AA and RAC, with their growing insurance businesses, were no longer fulfilling their traditional role, and that the time was right to set up an organisation solely dedicated to representing the interests of all car users — from ordinary motorists who rely on their car for every day mobility to enthusiasts of all kinds.
The ABD — Britain's Leading Drivers' Group
The ABD has taken part in several Consultation exercises in the past, having submitted, inter alia, responses to the Air Quality Strategy, Integrated Transport, Trunk Roads, and Highway Code Consultation Documents. We have been widely quoted in National and some local newspapers, motoring publications, and have appeared on BBC and independent radio and TV broadcasts. Our membership is rising across the country.
The ABD is also represented on the Parliamentary Advisory Council on Transport Safety ("PACTS").
The ABD is entirely independent and is funded by subscription.
Why Is The ABD Interested In The Headline Indicators of Sustainable Development Consultation Document?
We wish to ensure the fairness and balance of the burden of taxation which falls on the motorist, as well as drawing attention to its high overall level, especially in relation to what is spent on transport.
We are deeply concerned about the unscientific way in which alleged environmental problems are being used as justification for measures aimed at both increasing this burden of taxation and at restricting and obstructing drivers.
In all of these contexts, we feel that using road traffic as one of the key indicators of sustainable development is misleading and likely to encourage further punitive and unnecessary measures against the car driver.
Main Points
The consultation document points out that the headline indicators should be easily understood and sensitive to the change they are intended to represent. For most of the indicators proposed these criteria appear to have been satisfied. However, this is not the case for "Transport".
It is inappropriate that "road traffic" rather than overall transport has been chosen. All transport forms create pollution, use resources, emit carbon dioxide and cause congestion and delays. This choice of phrase is particularly inappropriate given that buses are excluded from the definition of "road traffic".
· Buses are currently one of the primary sources of particulates in town centres (Emissions equivalent to 128 cars — NetCen)
· Buses are no more efficient in energy terms than single occupancy cars if they are less than 20% full (Derived from RCEP report 18)
It could be argued that increasing traffic is an indicator of improved sustainability. Increasing traffic is an indication of greater economic activity, greater personal freedom and a higher standard of living just as reducing traffic is indication of reduced congestion. These are all important elements of sustainable development, and the definition of road traffic as the headline indicator creates a conflict between these opposing factors.
New cars are making dramatic improvements and reducing the toxic pollutants in their exhaust gases. Ambient levels of these pollutants are already well within WHO guideline levels at almost all published sites almost all of the time. Emissions were projected to fall 60-80% from 1990 levels by 2010, despite traffic growth (Warren Springs Laboratory).
New cars are also becoming more fuel efficient and reducing their emissions of carbon dioxide.
Road improvements and driver information systems, combined with teleworking and more flexible patterns of travel can bring about a significant reduction in congestion.
A transport system that produces less pollution, consumes fewer resources and creates less congestion, even though the total number of vehicle miles has increased, would surely be said to be "more sustainable", not less.
The effects of improving vehicle exhaust emissions will be shown within the proposed "air pollution" indicator.
The effects of fuel consumption will be shown within the proposed "climate change" indicator.
The remaining major impact from transport for which there is no indicator is "congestion and delay" with its associated impacts on business costs and quality of life. Since much congestion is created by planning policies which locate housing in areas where there are no jobs, leading to long distance commuting, such an indicator would be very important in measuring sustainability.
Conclusion and Recommendation
It is proposed that the indicator "Transport; Road Traffic" should be replaced by an indicator entitled "Transport; Congestion and Delay".
This, combined with the other headline indicators proposed, would give a good sense of whether the UK is moving towards a sustainable transport system.
ABD Home Page Government Policy Page Join Contact the ABD
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← £829,000,000 cut from the Children & Families budget to finance Gove’s Free Schools & Academies
Many Charter schools don’t fund pensions →
Academies drain our education funds, councils warn
Posted on 1 November 2011 by AAA office
From the Guardian
It is the government’s flagship education policy. But councils in England are warning that the academies scheme will drain resources from support services used by thousands of conventional state schools that have not left their local authorities.
Education Guardian has calculated that the huge expansion in the government’s academies programme could cost councils up to £820m over two years.
Councils claim that money to meet these costs will inevitably have to come from other services provided by local authorities, including support for the most vulnerable pupils, at a time when education is facing its sharpest spending cuts for 50 years, according to analysis last week by the Institute for Fiscal Studies.
Analysis of submissions to the government’s consultation on academy funding by the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents all English and Welsh local authorities, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (Cipfa) and the umbrella body London Councils, supplemented by information from six individual councils, shows that councils believe too much money has been given to individual academies by the government, and that ministers are now trying to take cash from local authorities to meet these costs. The claims come after this newspaper revealed in April how some schools appear to have received six-figure windfalls after becoming academies.
Peter Downes, a Liberal Democrat councillor in Cambridgeshire who opposes academies, says: “The whole academies policy has been carried out without any serious assessment of the financial implications. It risks creating extra costs for the education system, at a time when we can ill afford it.”
Academies are funded directly from central government and operate largely without receiving local authority support services, including school improvement and behaviour support. The government says they receive the same amount of money for support services as they would have received had they been a conventional local authority “maintained” school. Academies can then buy in any support they need.
Since summer 2010, 1,525 schools have taken on academy status, or applied to do so. Ministers said last year that they expected only 400 new academies in 2010-12.
The government is therefore seeking to slash the funding for local authorities to provide support services since, ministers say, the growth in academies means there is now less demand for these services.
In January, the government proposed to cut local authority budgets by £148m in 2011-12 and by £265m in 2012-13. But following a legal challenge in May by 23 authorities, which argued that the reductions were calculated unfairly and flouted government guidelines on passing extra costs on to local councils, the government launched a new consultation on academy funding over the summer.
But the consultation proposed to cut local authority budgets even further to take account of the faster-than-anticipated growth in academy numbers. This would see councils lose between £940m and £1.06bn by 2012-13.
Although councils accept that there should be some reduction in funding for their services, they say the proposed cuts go far beyond any likely savings. Other budgets will therefore have to be raided to make up the shortfall.
The LGA surveyed 32 authorities and found them reporting average savings of £15 per pupil because of a falling demand for services as more schools in their areas became academies.
The LGA therefore says council budgets should be cut by a figure of £15-£70 for every academy pupil. But the government says this sum should be more than £200.
Calculations by this newspaper, based on the LGA’s estimated per-pupil savings, suggest that council budgets should therefore be reduced by a maximum of £233m over two years to pay for the academies policy. As ministers are seeking to make cuts of £940m-£1.06bn, councils believe they face an unjustified bill for academies of £707m-£822m.
David Simmons, chairman of the LGA’s children and young people board, says: “We are supportive of the academies policy, but we are concerned that at present the Department for Education [DfE] does not have sufficient funding in its budget to support the number of schools looking to convert, and therefore is looking for money from councils that are already hard-pressed. We need to find a new way to provide funding for schools when they convert.”
The councils argue that individual academies have been overfunded because:
• The government’s formula wrongly gives academies a share of some council budgets for functions which local authorities, rather than academies, have to perform, such as strategic planning and, in some authorities, children’s social care;
• Academies are wrongly given an equal share of funding for school improvement support. Councils argue that, with most schools that have become academies now either rated good or outstanding this is unfair, since councils in the past have rightly focused such resources on weaker schools. The LGA says the government has breached equal opportunities law by not considering the effect of this on disadvantaged pupils in non-academy schools;
• Academies receive a share of what the local authority was spending on its school support services the previous year. With council budgets falling year-on-year, this also represents over-funding.
In their consultation responses, the LGA, London Councils and local authorities including Kent, Somerset and Cambridgeshire have castigated the proposals as unworkable. They describe the government’s methodology variously as “irrational”, “completely unreasonable” and “fundamentally flawed”.
England’s largest local authority, Conservative-controlled Kent, says that, while academies are receiving £230 per pupil in support service payments, the true figure, reflecting the cost of extra services academies must provide once they leave the local authority, should be £40 per pupil. This means a secondary school with 1,000 pupils would gain £190,000 simply by becoming an academy.
Kent also calculates that the overfunding of academies is so acute that, if 30% of its schools were to convert to academy status, payments to them would leave it with no budget at all for services to support the remaining 70%.
Somerset council, another Tory authority, says in its consultation response: “The current proposals would place an unacceptable burden on local authorities and the remaining maintained schools.” John Osman, Somerset county council’s cabinet member for children and young people, says: “We support the statement in the consultation document that academies and maintained schools should be funded fairly and equitably and strongly believe that the current proposals would not deliver this equity.”
Cipfa believes the proposed cuts could be challenged in court. “The [government proposal] … would overstate the amount that should logically be transferred to academies. In that event, local authorities’ remaining maintained schools – and therefore their pupils – would be financially disadvantaged,” its consultation response said. “We believe that, if the methodology is not amended, it is possible that the size of this problem might be so significant as to trigger some further legal challenge.”
Local authority sources say that, in the longer term, academy funding must be cut to come into line with that of maintained schools, in order for the policy to be financially sustainable.
Simon Pickard, a member of Cipfa’s children’s services panel, says: “If more and more schools convert to academy status, sooner or later the policy is going to become unaffordable, so academies will find their budgets will reduce over time.”
A DfE spokesman says per-pupil funding is the same in academies as in maintained schools. He adds: “In the light of the greater numbers of academies converting nationally than initially anticipated, we need to ensure that they and local authorities are funded fairly.
“In July we published a consultation on the appropriate methodology for calculating the amount of funding relating to … relevant services that should transfer from local government to academies in 2011-12 and 2012-13. We are currently considering the responses in detail and will be making an announcement in due course.”
Councils do not know when they are going to get an answer. With budgets so tight, ministers seem unlikely to want to respond positively to the authorities’ claims. The reaction from local authorities, if their arguments are rejected, will be interesting to watch.
A tale of two cities – Darwen and Brighton: DACA, BACA and PACA and the Aldridge Foundation by Sara 23 January 2015 Aldridge Foundation academies have been in the news. In the…
Struggling schools are no better off in academy chains by Sarah 18 December 2014 Struggling schools are no better off in academy chains than…
University of Brighton Trust Free School – Not wanted here by Sara 29 April 2015 In March this year, Brighton & Hove City Council, without…
This entry was posted in News and tagged Councils, Funding, Statistics. Bookmark the permalink.
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Mohafez, Sudabeh
brennt (burning)
DuMont Buchverlag, February 2010, 204 pp.
ISBN: 978 3 8321 9573
Mané is a successful music producer and the firstperson narrator of this original, vibrant and thoroughly contemporary novel. Rescued at the very last minute from her burning flat in Berlin, Mané seeks refuge with her cousin, yet despite being surrounded by loving friends, she is unable to come to terms with the event. She is haunted by the hissing and crackling that continues in her head, and traumatized by the loss of her hearing and her livelihood.
The principal cause of Mané’s distress are two voices that she hears in her head, who torture her with an incessant and malicious commentary, convincing her that the fire was revenge for events that took place in the past. Slowly it becomes apparent that the fire brings to the surface a deeper trauma that has so far been repressed by Mané, a tragic accident that led to the death of her partner and their unborn baby in Iceland, where they had met and lived. Mané feels guilty for their death, not only because she was driving the car, but also because she believes that she never really deserved the love or happiness she knew then. She has tried to suppress these feelings since, but now they erupt with force.
Although Mané does not respond to professional help, she benefits from two new relationships: with a little girl Coraline, and with the fireman Sebastian, who was part of the rescue team. Mané helps to look after the child, whose mother is unfit to care for her. In what develops into a tender love story, Sebastian offers Mané the time and space she needs to open up to him. Crucial to a sense of closure is a trip back to Iceland and on her return, she begins the therapeutic act of writing down her story.
The narrative thrums with immediacy and informality, told to the beat of the music that has so defined Mané’s life. It often resembles a stream of consciousness, artfully portraying Mané’s confused mental state and the ongoing battle with the voices in her head. The song lyrics that open each chapter locate the book firmly in the urbancool lifestyle of 21st-century Berlin, and the story hints at the distress often lying just beneath the surface of this frenzied party culture. This subject matter, coupled with real originality and readability, makes burning a very strong candidate for translation.
Sudabeh Mohafez, born in 1963 in Tehran, is the daughter of a German mother and an Iranian father. She grew up speaking German, Persian and French. She has lived in Germany since 1979 and received her school-leaving certificate in 1982. After studying Music, English Literature and Pedagogy she ran a women’s shelter for many years. Mohafez moved to Lisbon in 2005, but returned to Germany in 2007 where she now lives as a freelance writer in Stuttgart. In 2006, she received the Adelbert von Chamisso Advancement Prize. Aside from numerous fellowships she taught Poetics in 2007 in Wiesbaden and was awarded the MDR Prize for Literature in 2008.
Wüstenhimmel, Sternenland (2004); Gespräch in Meeresnähe (2006)
DuMont Buchverlag GmbH & Co. KG
50735 Cologne, Germany
Email: habermas@dumont-buchverlag.de
Contact: Judith Habermas
www.dumont-buchverlag.de
DuMont Buchverlag was founded in 1956. Stressing the link between literature and art, the firm focuses both on these subjects and also, more recently, on general non-fiction. Its authors include John von Düffel, Michel Houellebecq, Helmut Krausser, Martin Kluger, Judith Kuckart, Thomas Kling, Annette Mingels, Haruki Murakami, Charlotte Roche, Edward St. Aubyn, Tilman Rammstedt and Dirk Wittenborn. The art list covers high quality illustrated books dealing with the periods from the Renaissance up until today, monographs on single artists, such as Botticelli, Velazquez, Kokoschka, Max Ernst and Neo Rauch, and overviews on (for instance) contemporary Chinese art, as well as design, photography and art theory.
Copyright © Donnerstag, 18. Juli 2019, New Books in German
http://archive.new-books-in-german.com
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Robert Kurson
The compelling story of the Apollo 8 mission told by Robert Kurson, the talented author of "Crashing Through" and "Shadow Divers". The author at a visit to the Museun of Science and Industry saw a small capsule from this mission and was moved to tell their story. In 1968 with America in turmoil, NASA sped up the launch of Apollo 8 to make sure Americans were the first to fly , orbit and return from the moon.
The mission was rushed and gave Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders only 4 months to prepare. It was a staggering challenge for a mission with little margin for error. Kurson does a great job telling not only the technological challenge, but the hardship for the astronauts and their families.
Rocket Men is a excellent, well written story of an overlooked mission, which was more dangerous and impactful than the moon landing itself. A great book for fans of adventure and exploration, highly recommended.
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Press Release: Millennials Key Focus of Around the Rings’ Social Networking
ATLANTA – Around the Rings is reaching out to Generation Y through a new MySpace page aimed at opening up the Olympic Movement for the next group of fans.
Launching Friday, Nov. 14, the new site will offer unique content that is an extension of the company’s subscription-based publication through the blog feature.
"We are committed to bringing news about the Olympic Movement to as many people as possible through new portals such as our MySpace page,” says Editor Ed Hula. “The way people get information is changing from paper, books and other traditional media, which we cannot ignore.
"Indeed, in late 1996, Around the Rings was one of the first news publications to become internet-based. We're looking forward to expanding our reach with new media such as MySpace to keep Around the Rings as an industry leader."
A major focus on the site will be highlighting opportunities for youth to become involved in the Olympic Movement. This will include information on the Singapore Youth Games and the Virtual Olympic Congress.
The ATR MySpace will also contain references to various Olympic-related trivia and pop culture, as well as give users access to sites for both Olympians and sport federations.
Regular ATR readers as well as new MySpace friends will be able to leave comments and suggestions about the content at www.aroundtherings.com.
Current MySpace users should log on to http://www.myspace.com/around_the_rings and join the Olympic conversation.
AroundTheRings.com is the only publication devoted to providing original, on-the-scene reporting about the $5 billion dollar business of the Olympic Movement.
ATR is available to readers on a subscription basis. For a free two-week trial, contact Kathy Kuczka at kathy@aroundtherings.com.
Editor Ed Hula is available for interviews; contact publisher Sheila Scott Hula at Sheila@aroundtherings.com or by phone at +1 404 874 1603, ext. 102.
Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, since 1992.
As a service to our readers, Around the Rings will provide verbatim texts of selected press releases issued by Olympic-related organizations, federations, businesses and sponsors.
These press releases appear as sent to Around the Rings and are not edited for spelling, grammar or punctuation.
Your complete source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only.
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Eric Metcalfe
Eric Metcalfe is a Canadian artist, born 1940 in Vancouver. He has exhibited at the University of British Columbia Fine Arts Gallery in 1967, Victoria Art Gallery in 1968; and was included in the 1970 Whitney Museum of American Art exhibition New York Correspondence School, and Morris/Trasov’s Image Bank Postcard Show, in 1971. In 1969 Metcalfe married artist Kate Craig, collaborating together as Dr. Brute and Lady Brute. Metcalfe’s Leopard Reality research led to exhibitions at the Vancouver Art Gallery, collaborations with Mr. Peanut and Marcel Dot, General Idea, and Hank Bull, and performance at the 1974 Decca Dance in Los Angeles. Metcalfe also produced and performed in film and video extensively from 1972, in 1973 co-founding the Western Front artists’ centre in Vancouver and from 1978 curating its performance programme. Metcalfe’s recent Attic Project showed at the Kamloops Art Gallery, The Southern Alberta Art Gallery and the Charles H. Scott Gallery.
Between 1978 and 1999, Eric Metcalfe curated over 400 performances at the Western Front. Inspired by this rich history, Eric has produced four works on paper, and generously donated them to assist Artspeak in our fundraising efforts.
Created in October 2003, this suite of four ‘drawings from memory’ are unique records of four important performance works by international artists presented during that period, and combine the graphic strength of Eric’s diverse and prolific practice. The suite includes renderings of Mona Hatoum’s The Negotiating Table of December 1983, Rose English’s November 1983 performance, Holly Newman’s Short in the Dark of October 1998 and the Kipper Kids performance of October 1979.
All works are goache and pencil on paper, 8.25″ x 11.75″, matted, signed and dated.
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Minister Farrakhan Comes to Prairie View A&M, Nov. 9th
by Deric Muhammad
Anticipation is building, young people are talking and social networking sites are abuzz concerning the arrival of The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan who is set to bring a message of hope, guidance and empowerment to a generation that much of the world has given up on. Yes, Farrakhan is coming to town and his focus is on the future; our youth.
Prairie View A&M University will host the firebrand leader Nov. 9th as part of its “S.P.I.T. Knowledge” lecture series. The series is designed to provide an opportunity for students to become exposed to topics not taught in a “traditional” setting. S.P.I.T Knowledge is an acronym for “Students Participating in Transcendent Knowledge.” The free event will be held in the William “Billy” J. Nicks building also known as “The Baby Dome.” Doors open at 6:30pm.
“We understand that learning takes place inside and outside of the classroom”, stated Isis McCraw, Program Coordinator for Special Programs and Cultural Series at Prairie View A&M. “Our institution is currently making plans to accommodate Minister Farrakhan’s visit after 23 years here on campus.” Minister Farrakhan’s last visit to Prairie View was in 1988.
The “78 years-young” Farrakhan, who after 56 years of service still considers himself a student, will visit Prairie View A&M at a critical hour. At no other time in history has there been a greater need for a “moment of clarity” for young Black America. Unemployment among Blacks is nearly double that of Whites. The income gap between Blacks and Whites continues to widen. Young Black men and women continue to fill the jails of America while most don’t finish college, and what’s most alarming is that those who do (obtain a degree) can hardly find an avenue by which they can turn that degree into a decent living. With young people throughout the country engaged in an ever-expanding “Occupy” protest of Wall Street and the government, what should young Black brothers and sisters be doing in preparation for the future?
Minister Farrakhan comes to Prairie View on the heels of a message of critical importance delivered in Philadelphia on October 9th at the 16th anniversary of the Million Man March. He spoke with a fiery sense of urgency about self-determination, the need for the creation of jobs by and for Black people and the critical subject of agriculture and a return to land ownership, cultivation and the growing of our own food. He decried it foolishness for us to depend on the government to do for Black people what Black people can do for themselves. Prairie View A&M, a school who prides itself on its Agricultural Studies may very well be perfect ground to further develop the seeds dropped by Farrakhan in Philadelphia.
The Minister has a history several decades-long of guidance of youth, student leaders, so-called gangs, etc. He is the one leader who ages in years, yet does not lose his “connection” with every “new” generation. Recent evidence of this is found on his Twitter page @LouisFarrakhan where the Minister takes the time out of his non-stop schedule to hold question and answer sessions on the popular social networking site. While Farrakhan will forever be remembered for bringing 2 million Black men to Washington, D.C. for a historic Million Man March in 1995, he refuses to rest on the laurels of past successes and continues to move with the times and technology that comes along with it.
“We are elated that S.P.I.T. Knowledge has chosen to invite the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan to Prairie View A&M. It has been over 20 years since he’s been on the campus and it’s long overdue”, said PV Alumnus Jesse Muhammad who is a co-organizer of the highly anticipated event. “We consider Minister Farrakhan to be the most prominent leader on the scene today. I say to the students, skip the parties that night and come out to the Baby Dome to gain insight into your purpose.”
You may follow Minister Farrakhan on Twitter by logging onto www.twitter.com Go to the Minister’s page at @LouisFarrakhan then click the “follow” button.
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The Lumia 925 is "one of the best cameras that we've tested".
Published by Ewan Spence at 14:49 UTC, September 30th 2013
Chris Gampat, over on The Phoblographer, has reviewed Nokia's Lumia 925 smartphone from the point of view of the photography community. The 925 is certainly a winner for imaging, but Gampat isn't sure about the rest of the handset.
The issues are around Windows Phone as an operating system, and Gampat has pointed out a number of situations where the handset doesn't act in the way that he expects it to, for example in the lack of a Gmail application or having to have an app for Twitter but using the People Hub to work with Facebook.
Yes, I know that there's an app as well, but a valid point might be that the Facebook app wasn't discovered during his testing, and that's not a good experience for the end user. Discovery is always an issue, but it shouldn't be an issue at such a basic level.
Here's how the Lumia 925 was summed up:
Nokia’s Lumia 925 has been in our hands for a little while now, and when to comes down to just pure photography–this is the best damned phone you can probably get your hands on for a budget price. It also has a solid build quality and excellent LCD screen, but for what it’s worth, the phone also runs on the operating system that is behind the rest: Windows Phone. This results in a major disconnect if you’re coming from an Android phone or iOS device. But if you’re not tethered to either of those, the Lumia 925 is a nice option.
While we'd be ready to challenge the idea of a 'major' disconnect because of the Windows Phone OS, Gampat's view is a valid one for someone not focused on the day to day ins and outs of the smartphone world. You can read it in full on Phoblographer.
Source / Credit: Chris Gampat (The Phoblographer)
Filed: Home > Flow > The Lumia 925 is "one of the best cameras that we've tested".
Categories: Link of Interest
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Uploaded on Jun 16, 2009
Early 1990s. With The Nash Ramblers in Atlanta at The Fox Theater.
Thanks to bluegrassrootstv.
"Those who do not learn the lessons of history ... yada, yada ..."
Latinos Encounter a New ‘Grapes of Wrath’ Situation in California
Seventy-five years ago in The Grapes of Wrath, his classic 1939 Great Depression novel, John Steinbeck depicted a similar confrontation between Californians and down-and-out arrivals to their state. The difference is that in Steinbeck’s book the targets of widespread anger were not immigrants. They were migrants from the Dust Bowl of the South and Southwest who had come to California when drought made their lives as farmers impossible.
“What happens when they come here with diseases and can overrun our schools? How much is this costing us?” a Murrieta protester was quoted as asking the town’s mayor this month.
In The Grapes of Wrath Steinbeck has an angry Californian use almost identical language to say of the Dust Bowl migrants, “They bring diseases, they’re filthy. We can’t have them in the schools. They’re strangers.”
It's not they didn't learn the lessons of history, it's that they don't know or care about history. It's all me-me-me to the anti-Latino Teatard crowd.
DEAR READER: Ironic Times is on hiatus. We will return on August 18th. Please enjoy this Special Edition featuring material from the first six months of the year. — The Editors
"Those who do not learn the lessons of history ......
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Amanda Hocking – Ice Kissed
Bryn Aven has always longed to be a part of the Kanin world. Though she has no social status because she’s a half-breed, she refuses to give up on her dream of serving the kingdom she loves. It’s a dream that brings her to a whole new realm…
Author: Amanda Hocking
Series: Kanin Chronicles, Book 2
Genres: Fae, Fairies, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal, Romance, Supernatural, Young Adult
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Year: 5 May 2015
Bryn Aven has always longed to be a part of the Kanin world. Though she has no social status because she’s a half-breed, she refuses to give up on her dream of serving the kingdom she loves. It’s a dream that brings her to a whole new realm...
Bryn Aven has always longed to be a part of the Kanin world.
Though she has no social status because she’s a half-breed, she refuses to give up on her dream of serving the kingdom she loves. It’s a dream that brings her to a whole new realm… the glittering palace of the Skojare.
The Skojare people need protection from the same brutal rival who’s been threatening the Kanin, and, being half Skojare herself, it’s a chance for Bryn to learn more about her heritage. Her boss Ridley Dresden is overseeing her mission and wants to help. He’s always been her most trusted friend — but as their undeniable attraction heats up, he becomes a distraction she can’t afford.
Brynn is about to discover that the Skojare world is full of secrets, and as she’s drawn in deeper and deeper, she doesn’t know who to trust. As she gets closer to Ridley, she realizes she may not even be able to trust her own heart.
Other Books in "Kanin Chronicles"
Amanda Hocking - Frostfire
Amanda Hocking - Crystal Kingdom
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The Red Army and the Second World War
Part of Armies of the Second World War
Author: Alexander Hill, University of Calgary
In a definitive new account of the Soviet Union at war, Alexander Hill charts the development, successes and failures of the Red Army from the industrialisation of the Soviet Union in the late 1920s through to the end of the Great Patriotic War in May 1945. Setting military strategy and operations within a broader context that includes national mobilisation on a staggering scale, the book presents a comprehensive account of the origins and course of the war from the perspective of this key Allied power. Drawing on the latest archival research and a wealth of eyewitness testimony, Hill portrays the Red Army at war from the perspective of senior leaders and men and women at the front line to reveal how the Red Army triumphed over the forces of Nazi Germany and her allies on the Eastern Front, and why it did so at such great cost.
A major new account which charts the successes and failures of the Red Army from the late 1920s through to the end of the Second World War
Analyses Red Army performances in many military engagements of the late 1920s and 1930s
Draws from up-to-date archival research to provide a wide range of eyewitness testimonies and vantage points, ranging from senior leaders to the men on the front line
'[Hill] offers a tightly written account that integrates battlefield events, organizational, tactical and technological innovation, and political and command changes that enabled the Red Army to survive the disaster of 1941, beginning a long and costly recovery that would lead it to Berlin four years later. This is an important read for anyone with an interest in the Second World War or military reform.' Albert A. Nofi, Affairs Symposium
'… Hill's work is a remarkably thorough, clear, and comprehensive account of previously-neglected technical questions of Soviet military development.' David R. Stone, Slavic Review
1. Of horses and men: the Red Army of the late 1920s
2. Tanks, aircraft and 'deep battle': the Red Army transformed, 1928–1936
3. The 'enemy' within: the Red Army during and in the aftermath of the great purges, 1937–1940
4. More than manoeuvres: Red Army experience in Spain and at Lake Khasan
5. Khalkin Gol
6. Keeping up with the Schmidts and the Suzukis: soviet military equipment and the small wars of the 1930s
7. Voroshilov's 'lightning' war: the Soviet invasion of Poland
8. The Finnish debacle
9. Reform and the road to war
10. Barbarossa: from Minsk to Smolensk
11. Barbarossa: from Smolensk to Moscow
12. The end of 'Typhoon'
13. Lost opportunity
14. More men, women and machines
15. 'Not a step back!'
16. Change at the top
17. Stalingrad and Uranus
18. The wrath of the Gods
19. The defence of the Kursk salient and the battle for Prokhorovka
20. To the Dnepr and beyond
21. The ten Stalinist blows of 1944
22. The end in sight
23. The fall of Berlin and the end of the Reich
Appendix 1. The destruction of the upper echelons of the RKKA in 1937–1941
Appendix 2. Soviet armoured strength and serviceability in the Western military districts of the Soviet Union as of 1 June 1941
Alexander Hill, University of Calgary
Alexander Hill completed both his undergraduate education and doctorate at Peterhouse College, Cambridge, and has taught military history and Russian history at the University of Calgary for more than a decade. During his tenure at the University of Calgary, he has published two other books, The War behind the Eastern Front (2005), on the Soviet partisan movement in north-west Russia during the Second World War, and The Great Patriotic War of the Soviet Union, 1941–1945: A Documentary Reader (2009), as well as many journal articles on the Soviet Union during the Second World War.
At War's Summit
The Red Army and the Struggle for the Caucasus Mountains in World War II
Joining Hitler's Crusade
European Nations and the Invasion of the Soviet Union, 1941
The Battle for Moscow
Slavic Review
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You are at:Home»Afghanistan»Brits leave Marines in charge of Sangin
Brits leave Marines in charge of Sangin
By Dan Lamothe on September 21, 2010 Afghanistan, Infantry, Sangin, The CMC
Marines in an Assault Breacher Vehicle push back mounds of dirt in Sangin, Afghanistan on July 30. Members of 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, secured new area around the former Taliban stronghold over the summer, and now have primary control of it after British forces returned to Great Britain. (Photo by Lance Cpl. Eric Laclair/Marine Corps)
Marine forces formally took over Sangin yesterday, assuming control of the former Taliban stronghold in southern Afghanistan from Great Britain’s 40 Commando, a Royal Marine unit that has been patrolling the area for months.
The change is significant, even if it has received only limited attention in the U.S. mainstream media.
The Brits are leaving Sangin, in northern Helmand province, after four years and 106 deaths — 36 of which occurred this year, according to a Daily Mail report out today. Their struggles to establish and maintain security in the district of about 50,000 people has contributed to growing discontent in the country about the British military’s role in Afghanistan.
More recently, the Brits have reportedly locked horns with Marine commanders, who have altered how business on the ground in Sangin and nearby Musa Qala is conducted. A recent story by The Washington Post’s respected Rajiv Chandrasekaran highlighted those details nicely:
To the south of Musa Qala, U.S. Marines are in the process of moving into Sangin district, where more than 100 British troops – nearly one-third of that country’s total war dead – were killed over the past four years. Senior Marine officers initially resisted being saddled with the area, which they dubbed “the killing fields,” but they relented after pressure from top U.S. commanders.
The influx also has elicited conflicting emotions from coalition partners. British and Canadian officers say they didn’t have the manpower or equipment to confront a mushrooming insurgency by themselves, but they also cringe at the need to be bailed out by the United States.
“There’s a mix of relief and regret,” said a British officer. “We’ve spilled a lot of blood in Sangin and Musa Qala, and we’re quite frankly happy to leave those places, but we don’t want this to look like another Basra,” referring to the southern Iraqi city that U.S. and Iraqi forces had to rescue after it was seized by militias upon a British pullout in 2007.
Commandant Gen. James Conway addressed the differences of opinion between Marine commanders and their British counterparts in an Aug. 24 news conference at the Pentagon, after he returned from his last major trip to Afghanistan. As 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, out of Twentynine Palms, Calif., was preparing to take over Sangin, Conway defended the practice, saying the Corps will conduct business with more, smaller combat outposts.
“We believe that we need to challenge the enemy where he thinks he has strength, and we are less prone, I think, to move into a forward operating base and simply use that as a basis for operation,” he said. “Our mentality is there’s no place in a zone where we’re not going to go.”
British forces will remained focus on Now Zad, Helmand’s provincial capital, and the surrounding area. Marine officials have said the area has seen improvement this summer.
Terminal Lance creator sends ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ to commandant
Pimp My Ride: Afghanistan Edition
Pingback: Battle Rattle - A Marine Corps Times Blog – Sangin insurgents target Marines on foot with IEDs
Pingback: Battle Rattle - A Marine Corps Times Blog – Great footage of 3/7 Marines in Afghanistan
Angel on October 5, 2011 7:04 pm
Oh, a great write-up! No idea how you came up with this article..it’d take me weeks. Well worth it though, I’d assume. Have you considered selling banners on your blog?
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JUGGERNAUT (1974) - a very British disaster movie
(1974, UK)
As the American disaster movie genre gained momentum in the seventies, this British film depicted a grittier, more realistic and suspenseful alternative. Before the list of possible disasters soon ran out, Juggernaut was an early example of a plot that sidestepped natural disasters in favour of man-made terrors - there'd soon be endangered aircraft (Airport '75), subway trains (The Taking of Pelham One Two Three), packed sports stadiums (Two Minute Warning and Black Sunday) and funfairs (Rollercoaster).
Juggernaut, with an entire ocean liner held hostage, matched Hollywood for tension and accurately portrayed the stressfulness of the hostage situation. There’s a taut parallel race against time as the police desperately try to track down the identity of the bomber, while disposal experts tackle the seven booby-trapped drums of explosives - if any three explode, the ship will sink. The blackmailer calls himself ’Juggernaut’ and detonates warning blasts to prove that he’s not bluffing. Either pay up, or lose the ship and all onboard…
There's a scene in the film that's famous, but you probably don’t realise it was shown here first. Where the crucial decision has to be made – to cut the blue wire or the red wire.
Another gripping sequence is the bomb squad’s parachute jump to get to the liner. Rough seas prevent the passengers from abandoning ship, they also make getting onboard a lethal and hazardous task.
Using the disaster movie ploy of having an ensemble cast spread across the poster, it stars Richard Harris and David Hemmings, who engagingly represent the best of the bomb squad. Omar Sharif is the increasingly desperate captain. A young Anthony Hopkins is in charge of the frantic police investigation on land, even though his wife and kids are onboard.
From the US, are actors Shirley Knight (recently seen in Desperate Housewives as Bree’s Mother-In-Law) as a freewheeling ‘guest’ at the captain’s table, and Clifton James (a more deserved and reserved character than the comedy redneck Sheriff Culpepper he’s famous for in Live and Let Die). The supporting cast include the formidable Ian Holm (Alien, Brazil), Freddie Jones (The Elephant Man, Dune), and John Stride (The Omen, Brannigan).
Director Richard Lester, in between the brilliant Three and Four Musketeers films and Superman II, adds to the wry sense of gallows humour among the doomed passengers, in particular the attempts of the entertainment officer (the fantastic Roy Kinnear) to lift their spirits. Once again, Lester adds snippets of dialogue to almost every character onscreen, no matter how incidental.
Not sure why this DVD has been renamed with such a TV movie title as Terror on the Britannic. Even in the UK, the DVD doesn’t go under its original cinema release title, (even though Juggernaut thankfully remains the onscreen title). This kind of retitling is a good way to lose sales.
Even so, this remains just as taut and exciting as it was in the cinema, and is a welcome remastering in 16:9 widescreen.
More Juggernaut images at MoviePoster.com.
Labels: 1970s, disaster movies, UK
numb 05 May, 2015 09:01
I suspect the reason behind the re-titling maybe because of an old b&w movie of the same title of Juggernaut starring Boris Karloff, Joan Wyndham & Arthur Margetson.
ONE MISSED CALL - the sequels (2005) and (2006)
LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT vs THE VIRGIN SPRING
HORRORS OF MALFORMED MEN (1969) - beyond surreal
PAURA - LUCIO FULCI REMEMBERED - VOL 1 (2008) - ne...
APPLESEED: EX MACHINA (2007) - futuristic animatio...
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (1966) - see it
MOON ZERO TWO (1969) - finally on DVD
Update: region 2 DVD news
Update: Japanese Blu-Ray news - and more
DVD news: region 1
THE DEVILS (1971) - Ken Russell's masterpiece
A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS (1964) - Italian style Wester...
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BLACK DYNAMITE (2009) - the man who takes on The Man
BLACK DYNAMITE
(2009, USA)
This is already my favourite spoof of the blaxploitation era because it's the funniest and also the most accurate recreation. To be more precise, it's a homage to the sub-genre where one man takes on all the odds - Shaft, Superfly, The Mack... as opposed to the films where women took on all the odds - Coffy, Foxy Brown, Cleopatra Jones... and nothing to do with the horror subgenre where every iconic monster movie (up till then) was remade for a black audience.
Black Dynamite is a labour of love and is itself low-budget. One of its many strengths is the script, cleverly weaving in so many familiar elements from the originals, as well as layering in the technical distractions the original actors would have had. It's as much an homage to lowest-budget cinema of this era, as it is to this particular genre, making it accessible to anyone with a fleeting experience of early 70s exploitation.
The star, Michael Jai White (Spawn himself), co-wrote the story and the script. A dream role for someone who obviously enjoys the films as an actor and a martial arts stunt performer. The huge cast includes a short cameo from Arsenio Hall (Coming To America), and Sally Richardson-Whitfield (I Am Legend) as Gloria, Dynamite's 'black power' girlfriend.
While many of the action scenes are played for laughs, Michael Jai White also demonstrates dangerous-looking nunchuck and kung fu action in some very impressive long-take fight scenes. While he's aiming at channeling Jim Kelly (Black Belt Jones, Enter The Dragon), he more closely resembles a pumped-up Shaft, which is no bad thing.
The fashions, the language, the hairstyles are funny because they're accurate, rather than exaggerated. When shoes and hair are that high, they don't need to be any bigger. And the soundtrack is so accurately done, I had a hard time telling new music from old - new songs were recorded using authentic analogue techniques and contemporary instruments. They blend completely with library movie music in favour at the time.
Similarly, stock footage of explosions and stunts intercut smoothly with the intentionally 'badly shot' footage. Not since House of the Devil will you be so confused knowing what year you're looking at. Cleverly, they didn't create the look the hard way - by degrading the footage electronically, but by shooting it all on a 16mm stock, a grainy and very contrasty look that matches cheap 1970s' 35mm.
Faltering zooms, microphones peeking into view... aren't laid on too thick and are sometimes so subtle that they make the actual onscreen goofs look intentional. There's one fantastic back-projection gag that made me yearn for more Police Squad!
It's all too short. Several scenes have been abbreviated into montages to keep the story snappy, though after seeing the deleted scenes play out in their entirety, you can see that they weren't working or funny enough.
I'd enjoyed the more sporadic spoofs like Undercover Brother and Austin Powers in Goldmember which played the giant afros for laughs. But this is an intensive, better researched, reverential movie for fans of the originals who enjoy and embrace their style, music and politics.
Released last year on DVD, this is also available on blu-ray in the US and Germany. The DVD has deleted scenes, and some fun, informative featurettes on the movie and music production that don't outstay their welcome.
The Black Dynamite trailer is still live on Icon Home Entertainment's website for the movie.
I previously waded into the blaxploitation horror film cycle here.
Labels: 1970s, action, comedy, recent
47 RONIN - an epic story, revered in Japan
KING NARESUAN (2007) - Thai epics finally hit Amer...
THE IPCRESS FILE (1965) - stylish Michael Caine sp...
The Ghouls: Book Two - more inspiring horror stori...
BLACK DYNAMITE (2009) - the man who takes on The M...
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BIG INVITES FOR YANKEES SPRING TRAINING
The Yankees have invited 44 players to Major League Spring Training camp. Now I'm starting to get psyched.
Here's the list of the Yankees' spring invitees:
Pitchers:
RHP Corey Black
LHP Juan Cedeno
RHP Preston Claiborne
RHP Matt Daley
RHP Shane Greene
RHP Nick Goody
RHP David Herndon
RHP Tom Kahnle
RHP Jim Miller
RHP Bryan Mitchell
RHP Mark Montgomery
RHP Zach Nuding
LHP Vidal Nuno
RHP Mike O'Brien
RHP Kelvin Perez
RHP Branden Pinder
RHP Ryan Pope
LHP Josh Spence
LHP Matt Tracy
RHP Chase Whitley
Catchers:
Francisco Arcia
Kyle Higashioka
J.R. Murphy
Infield:
Greg Bird
Walter Ibarra
Addison Maruszak
Luke Murton
Kyle Roller
Gil Velazquez
Outfield:
Matt Diaz
Ronnier Mustelier
Thomas Neal
2 players I am curious about. Why wasn't Russ Canzler and Mason Williams invited? Not sure I know the answer, but I would have loved to have seen them compete for a spot. It would have been fun. I must have missed something.
Congrats to the guys who got a spot! I can't wait...
Please comment, we have DISQUS, it's easier than ever. Let me know what you think and follow me on Twitter @BleednYankeeBlu and join the group Bleeding Yankee Blue on Facebook, just type it in.
Labels: bobby wilson, corey black, greg bird, jayson nix, jr murphy, juan rivera, kyle roller, mark montgomery, matt daley, matt diaz, ronnier mustelier, russ canzler, ryan pope, slade heathcott, thomas neal, vidal nuno
TRAVIS HAFNER IS A YANKEE...
And we let Raul Ibanez go... why?
Look, we'll have a more in depth analysis on this toss up between Travis Hafner and Raul Ibanez later. I will have analysis, as well as one of our writers here on BYB, because everyone in Yankeeland is scratching their head on this one. That being said, I don't want to dilute the fact that we DO now have a lefty bat with power in Travis Hafner.
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, HERE, the deal with Hafner is a 1 year deal, a low base salary plus incentives. He'll be the DH. There is no doubt Hafner will be effective in the Bronx. I like him, I always have although, I would have liked him better if it was 2004.
Credit to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, HERE... he had the story first. Good work.
Welcome Travis Hafner... don't get hurt.
Labels: raul ibanez, travis hafner
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKIE ROBINSON
We all know Jackie Robinson's amazing story. He did the impossible and broke through the color barrier. Without Jackie, there would be no Larry Doby, no Elston Howard and yes, no Derek Jeter.
Jackie's a hero, he's iconic and let's not forget that with his story of courage and race comes his story about believing in himself. He had a goal, he knew what he was capable of and his drive and determination should be celebrated as well. He did it.
Happy Birthday Jackie. 42 will always be in baseball because of you. It may have been the smartest decision Major League Baseball has ever made.
Labels: derek jeter, elston howard, jackie robinson, LARRY DOBY
ALEX RODRIGUEZ & HIS FINAL ACT
I once wrote that the best thing for Alex Rodriguez should do is to walk away from the Yankees, this great game and retire, lock himself up somewhere and just close out the world. I wrote it in October when I wrote THE ALEX RODRIGUEZ PILE ON IS NOW RELENTLESS. I said: "If I'm Alex Rodriguez, I retire from baseball at the end of 2012, I take my daughters and just hang out on my compound in Florida. It will be quiet, calm and I would shut everyone out....the pounding that Alex is unfairly getting regularly by the press, ALL press. The past 48 hours, it's come to a head. It is so overwhelming, so relentless that, I have to say, it's just not fair for anyone to be bashed as bad as this man has been."
I felt bad for the guy then. It was he and several others that just stunk up the playoffs for the Yankees. Yet, the world jumped down Alex’s throat, and he wasn't even playing! Yes, he contributed to the loss, which is why he was benched in the first place, but at the time, I felt alittle bad for him. No one needs that kind of abuse, from the fans, the press, etc. It’s a lot of pressure and could drive anyone batty. Sure, he’s a millionaire, he’s expected to deliver, I get all that, but my point was, enough was enough and the best thing he could have done then was just walk away from the game. For him, it couldn’t be fun anymore.
Fast Forward to this New Times story (HERE) that links ARod and some others to a PEDs facility in Miami. Well, if proven true, and I stress truth here, Alex needs to walk away. Ken Rosenthal wrote an interesting piece yesterday titled, Will Injury be end for ARod?, in it he says… "A-Rod might be voided by his own body.
Specifically, a doctor might determine that Rodriguez is suffering from a career-ending injury. In that event, A-Rod still would collect the $114 million remaining on his contract, even though he would never play again.
The scenario would not be the same as retirement — if Rodriguez retired, he would forfeit all of his money.
The Yankees, though, would be almost entirely free of their obligation — they would collect from insurance up to 85 percent of the money that Rodriguez is guaranteed, but only after he missed a full season, according to major-league sources."
And sure, the other side of this is everyone is talking about the Yankees and the voiding of ARod’s contract and we'll have a story on it on BYB tonight. Sure, it sounds like a piece of cake, but it ain’t happening. There are way too many variables that go into that and it’s almost easier to just not do it. The Yankees were the ones who made a huge mistake signing Alex Rodriguez to that big of a contract in the first place. Sure, you can yell at ARod for demanding that kind of dough, but that’s what you do in sports, you aim high and see what you get. The Yankees were blinded by the idea of getting the All-Time Home Run record back to the Yankees and didn’t know any of this was going to happen, none of us did. It did and now the Yankee have egg on their face.
But back to Alex. It is my opinion that time is up. At this point, I guess we can chalk this report up as an accusation. MLB will investigate and we will wait patiently. But say the investigation proves that Alex IS innocent. Do you think it really matters in the eye of the public? It doesn’t matter, Alex is toast no matter what, and you know what? That sucks. It’s sad, but true and what was once the greatest baseball player in this generation will be forced out of the game with too many skeletons in his closet, true or untrue, it doesn’t matter and like I said, he should just hang it up and move to a compound somewhere counting his money. Sad.
Why do I think that way? Because of 1 thing my 10 year old asked me two days ago when all this stuff broke… “Why do baseball players take drugs if they are already talented?” That stayed with me. Good question. I didn’t have an answer… I still don’t, do you?
Labels: alex rodriguez
HOW THE YANKEES STACK UP: CENTERFIELD
It's been an interesting journey for BYB. Our series HOW THE YANKEES STACK UP is insanely popular. It's because of you, but it's also because of the creator, Steve Skinner. So far we've examined Catcher, First base, Second base, Shortstop, Third base and Left Field. Now... we examine Centerfield. Keep enjoying this series... I am.
--Casey
It is one of the most storied positions on the most storied team. Center field in the Bronx has been occupied by the likes of Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Bernie Williams. Names that lie close to the heart of every Yankees fan.
The current keeper of center field is Curtis Granderson. Whether or not his name gets mentioned with the others may very well depend on his performance in 2013.
Following this season, Granderson is a free agent, and he is coming off a somewhat disappointing 2012 where he hit a career-low .232, but remained productive by slugging 43 HR with 106 RBI. It seems that in 2012 it was an all-or-nothing proposition for the multi-talented outfielder.
Between 2010 (when he came to the Yankees) and 2011 it looked as though Granderson’s work with hitting coach Kevin Long was paying off as he raised his average 15 points (from .247 in 2010 to .262 in 2011) and added power (24 HR in 2010 to 41 HR in 2011). While his power has stayed, the 30 point fall in batting average last year is concerning, and given the team’s self imposed salary cap ($189 million) it means that the Yankees will most likely look elsewhere for a center fielder in 2014 – unless Granderson can make himself invaluable during 2013.
The potential for Granderson is still there at age 32. We have caught glimpses of his speed (he stole 25 bases in 2011) and he certainly has proven that he can deposit balls beyond the outfield wall with regularity (84 HR the past two seasons). With consistency at the plate, he could give the team some help at the heart of the order. As bad as his average was in 2012, he still was one of the better hitters with runners in scoring position (hitting .254).
This year will determine if number 14 will remain in pinstripes, and I’m betting that one of the genuine good guys in Major League Baseball will prove his worth.
Here is what the rest of the division will look like in center field:
Toronto Blue Jays: 27-year old Colby Rasmus will be the primary center fielder for the Blue Jays. Like Granderson, he has shown decent power (25 HR in 2012) but inconsistency at the plate (hitting .225). He is solid in the field (7 assists in 2012, including a double play) and can hit in the clutch (.276 with RISP).
Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles most talented player will occupy center field in 2013. Adam Jones at age 27 is just beginning to enter the prime years of his career and will be trying to build on a 32 HR, 82 RBI, 103 runs scored performance from last season. He is decent in the field (Gold Glove winner) and smart on the base paths (stealing 16 bases in 2012), and will remain the player at the heart of the order for the O’s for years to come.
(In Photo: Sam Fuld)
Tampa Bay Rays: As of this writing it would appear that some sort of combination of Sam Fuld and Brandon Guyer will play center field for the Rays in 2013. Fuld is 31 years old and hit .255 with seven stolen bases in 44 games for the team last season. Guyer is 27 and has played in a total of 18 games with the big league club.
Boston Red Sox: In 2011 it appeared that center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury’s career was taking off. That season he hit .321 with 32 HR and 106 RBI in an otherwise disappointing campaign for the team. Last year was riddled with injuries, and rather than building on 2011, he took a step back. The 29-year old still has his best years ahead of him and should greatly improve (if healthy) upon the .271, 4 HR performance (in 74 games) from 2012 – especially since it is a contract year (he’ll be a free agent in 2014).
Here is how we see the AL East center fielders stack up:
Baltimore: Adam Jones’ star only continues to rise.
New York: “Grandy” will become more consistent at the plate and put up numbers similar to his 2011 season with the “Bombers”.
Boston: If Ellsbury stays with the club – and healthy – for the entire season, he could be mentioned as an MVP candidate.
Toronto: Like Granderson, Rasmus needs to improve his batting average to be considered a legitimate threat in the Blue Jays lineup.
Tampa Bay: Only time will tell if Fuld or Guyer is the answer for the Rays in centerfield.
--Steve Skinner, BYB Guest Writer
Labels: adam jones, bernie williams, brandon guyer, colby rasmus, Curtis Granderson, jacoby ellsbury, joe dimaggio, mickey mantle, sam fuld, steve skinner
ALEX RODRIGUEZ PROVES MY CASE
I’m not even going to delve into the current PED mess floating around baseball right now. I will say this though, whether it's true or not, whomever linked Alex Rodriguez to this story has just done me a HUGE favor. What I’m about to say may blow your minds: Frank Thomas is the greatest power hitter of the last 25 years! WHAT? Yes! That's right, I said it.
Let’s all jump in our “way-back” machines to that magical year of 1990. The Yankees were dreadful. I was 11, really had nothing to cheer about (except for my hero Donnie Baseball). But it was another first baseman that competed for my heart way back then.
All of my friends and cousins instantly fell in love with Ken Griffey Jr. They did nothing but talk about his greatness and they all competed to see who could accumulate the most Griffey baseball cards. Not me, I was at the baseball card shop (do they even exist anymore?) seeking out Frank Thomas.
Sure Griffey was fast and made playing centerfield look effortless, but there was something about this linebacker-sized guy playing first base and hitting monstrous home runs that caught my eye.
Thomas had a stellar career with the White Sox. He came back from a torn triceps muscle and continued putting up power numbers. Aside from all that thought, he had a terrific eye. He amassed over 1600 walks in his career. (A number that I’m sure is padded because of the fear opposing pitchers had facing him.) Ultimately it was the broken foot in 2004 that was the beginning of the end for Thomas.
When he finally called it quits in 2010, after sitting out all of 2009, Thomas had amassed a .301 lifetime batting average, 521 home runs, 1704 RBI, and a .974 OPS. His .301 puts him ahead of both Griffey and ARod. He’s currently tied for 18th all-time for home runs with 6 known or suspected PED users in front of him (Bonds, Rodriguez, Sosa, McGwire, Palmeiro, and Manny Ramirez) and 22nd in RBI. He did all of this playing his home games in pitcher friendly Comisky Park.
Over the weekend Thomas was quoted as saying that all of this talk about PEDs makes his accomplishments much more special, read HERE. And he’s correct. He’s never been linked to anything. Thomas came up as rookie as a large man and retired as the same large man. For the most part he was never flashy, never controversial, seemed to be a terrific teammate. Unless something earth shattering comes out over the next year he should be a first ballot Hall of Famer – something Alex Rodriguez will never accomplish.
--Lem Allen, BYB Contributor
Email me at: bybcurmudgeon@gmail.com
Labels: alex rodriguez, barry bonds, don mattingly, frank thomas, ken griffey jr, lem allen, manny ramirez, mark mcgwire, rafael palmeiro, sammy sosa
PEDs HAVE DESTROYED THIS GREAT GAME OF BASEBALL
"Hi Boys and Girls, my name is (INSERT VIOLATOR HERE), I play for the (INSERT TEAM HERE), but I tested positive for drugs and cheated. I am now suspended for 50 games. What I did was wrong. Don’t be like me. I am not a role model. A role model works hard to achieve their goals.”
Looks like we have a big problem in Major League Baseball if this New Times story is true, read HERE. The above statement was a statement I put together in the summer when Melky Cabrera was caught cheating and admitting to using PEDs, read WHEN SUNSHINE TURNS TO DARKNESS for insight on that. Now look, because this issue of PEDs use is such a wicked web, and I'm no lawyer, I can't sit here and tell my audience that I have it all figured out. I don't. Sure, there are accusations everywhere about who used, who didn't and when they could have used and when they didn't use. Bottom line, the only one that truly knows is that player and God. BYB would love to ban all players that are caught, but something needs to happen for me to go further. These players would either need to admit it, like Melky Cabrera, or they would need to be found guilty. I know, I know, it's no easy task, none of it is, but it's so hard to just read a news item and just point fingers. I'm trying to give the benefit of the doubt. I feel like I can't just blanket the whole thing and jump on the "accusation wagon". None of us truly know. Again, It's a wicked web and it makes me queasy.
(Note: not the actual incident)
Late yesterday I came home from work and went to throw out some garbage in my kitchen. I opened up the can and found my son's Alex Rodriguez card in the trash. Puzzled, I asked him about it. He told me a kid in his class told him that ARod cheated and told me he didn't want it anymore. Now look, he's 10. He's old enough to read the Internet and thanks to athletes who use and get caught, he knows what PEDs are now. Unfortunately for me, I now have to parent alittle harder to explain not only cheating, but Performance Enhancing Drugs. Not exactly something in my parent handbook. But, it's funny, when he said he threw out ARod's card, in some regard, I was proud of him. He understood right from wrong. Cheating isn't allowed, he got it. In another regard, I was crushed. If these reports of Alex Rodriguez, Nelson Cruz, Gio Gonzalez and Bartolo Colon and others are true, and I stress the importance of truth here, It is the ultimate blow to baseball, to sports and Bud Selig has to wake the hell up.
The report simply said this: "Major League Baseball is gathering and reviewing information regarding Tuesday's report in the Miami New Times that linked at least seven Major Leaguers to performance-enhancing substances via a recently closed clinic in Miami, but also expressed confidence that the developments demonstrate the scope of the sport's anti-doping efforts.
The newspaper said that records it obtained connect the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, the Nationals' Gio Gonzalez, the Rangers' Nelson Cruz and others to Anthony Bosch, the former owner of Biogenesis, an anti-aging clinic in Coral Gables, Fla. In the cases of some, Bosch's handwritten notes indicated that players obtained human growth hormone and other substances from him." Here is the full story from MLB.com HERE.
Here is a portion of MLB statement. Full statement is HERE: “We are always extremely disappointed to learn of potential links between players and the use of performance-enhancing substances. These developments, however, provide evidence of the comprehensive nature of our anti-drug efforts. Through our Department of Investigations, we have been actively involved in the issues in South Florida. It is also important to note that three of the players allegedly involved have already been disciplined under the Joint Drug Program... Vigilance remains the key toward protecting the integrity of our game. We have the best and most stringent drug testing policy in professional sports, we continue to work with our doctors and trainers to learn what they are seeing day-to-day and we educate our players about the game’s unbending zero-tolerance approach. We remain fully committed to following all leads and seeking the appropriate outcomes for all those who use, purchase and are involved in the distribution of banned substances, which have no place in our game... We are in the midst of an active investigation and are gathering and reviewing information. We will refrain from further comment until this process is complete.”
When it now trickles down to my son, I have some thoughts on this. Trust me. PEDs are running wild and my kid is crushed. When that happens, I want to circle the wagons. So, in other words, this is more about baseball now... This is about my family.
So, I simply revisit an idea that Bleeding Yankee Blue had that was ignored by Major League Baseball this past summer. Once again, I believe that if implemented, it will surely end this epidemic, or at least slow it down to a grinding halt. Quite simply, we shame these offenders. I detailed this idea when Melky Cabrera was caught, and admitted his guilt. The idea is simple: You put these players in front of a camera. You have them talk directly to the fans, to the kids. You make them read a script and, I'll use Bartolo Colon as the example here below, remember he was another player who admitted guilt:
(Below is the statement I would force failed testers to use as a new policy suggested by BYB)
“My name is Bartolo Colon, I pitch for the Oakland Athletics this season, but I tested positive for drugs and cheated. I am now suspended for 50 games. What I did was wrong. Don’t be like me. I am not a role model. A role model works hard to achieve their goals.”
This Public Service Announcement should be shown on MLB or Sports productions around America, at the Super Bowl, before Tennis matches and on baseball pre-game shows. Everyone should see it. But that's not all, that player should also pay a nice fat fine. This hits these players in the ego and in the pocketbook and in addition to all of that, these violators should be suspended for an entire 162 game season meaning, that season is erased. In other words, if they are caught in August of 2013, there stats don't count. On their baseball card it would read "Suspended for PEDs", just like it would read "Out for Season with Injury."
Quite frankly, this is the smartest, most comprehensive idea to keep players from using. I am sick of my son asking me why players "cheat" if they're already talented. Pretty smart question for a 10 year old, I don't have an answer, do you? I'm tired of explaining why PEDs are bad. Now it's time for the players to explain to kids why it's bad, so, a Public Service Announcement from the player himself should do the trick. Why? Because I may be a parent, but I do my job, I guide my kids. I also teach about personal responsibility. So why not have these guys do it too? Hey ARod, if this report is true, why don't you tell my son why you cheated? (In fairness, ARod denies the charge by the New Times, read HERE.)
Why don't you tell my kid why it's wrong Alex? Why don't you tell my kid why he shouldn't do it? I already do, but kids worship athletes and you guys need to set the example!
And message to MLB... Implement my idea. It's easy to do! From this point forward, if a player violates the PEDs agreement, it should be considered a violation of MLB Rules and it would automatically void any involvement from the Players Association. These players need to step forward like men and take their lumps. They need to do it without protection of lawyers, agents, the Player's Association or their teams. If they are so "adult" about making a decision to cheat, then they need to be "adult" about handling their punishment on their own.
Sure, read this post and poke holes in it if you want, you're entitled. But I know I'm not the only one who thinks that enough is enough. It's time to drop the hammer. Shame these violators, because we all know MLB will never ban these violators from baseball. So, do the next best thing, take away their stats, embarrass them and let them talk directly to the kids about personal responsibility, because I gotta tell ya, your little PEDs handbook just ain't working. Wake up Bud, wake up.
Labels: alex rodriguez, bartolo colon, gio gonzalez, MELKY CABRERA, nelson cruz
TEAM CHEMISTRY: IT'S IN THE GENES
Chemistry- the hard-wired genes of a team, the talent pool, the potential for growth- the camaraderie between players and the glue that holds the team together at its seams. As ESPN Boston’s Jack MacMullan explained in his article Unlikeable Red Sox Flunked Chemistry, following the Boston Red Sox demise in 2011, “… People say we make too much of the value of good chemistry and camaraderie. They are wrong; it matters. When things get tough, teams with unified players step up. They rely on guys who believe in leadership and accountability — and each other — to turn things around.”
Many analysts are saying that teams like the Braves, Padres and Diamondbacks, who are being touted as this year’s youngsters, need chemistry to glue together the raw young talent. Kirk Gibson, a young manager, may be the guy to lead the newbies in Arizona. The Braves are looking for a player who can step in like Chipper Jones has for so many years. The core of good chemistry is good leadership and clear expectations.
Setting expectations for a team is essential. Otherwise, if expectations are unvoiced, unrealistic or unmet, you run into problems- many of these unearthed themselves in Boston and could be brewing in New York if egos aren’t managed properly. Who is going to step up this year for the Yankees? We have our veterans like Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter back, but I think it’s time for Robinson Cano to show his leadership skills and take on a deeper role in the Yankee clubhouse.
Oakland was never expected to win last year, but the gritty team came a long way. No big stars, no big deal. “The 51-year-old (Bob) Melvin, a former big league catcher who grew up in Menlo Park and played at Cal, took over from the fired Bob Geren in June 2011. Melvin led the Diamondbacks to the NL West title in 2007 and also won 93 games in his rookie season with Seattle in 2003.” (Read HERE.)
Melvin just got a contract to extension to 2016 and Oakland may have the right mix this season between frugally careful general manager Billy Beane, “modern day” manager Bob Melvin, and a young raw team that fits way under the salary cap at $59.5 million.
But does good chemistry stem from good management and a thrifty payroll? Not exactly. Of course we need the guys in the jerseys to mesh. And that means, like I said before, we need people to step up, player to player and empower, motivate, and excite not just the team, but the fans too. We want to see happy players, who are enthusiastic, who run with passion, who laugh and smile, who are edgy and fired up and who never give up. Good character is at the route of good chemistry. “Although the assembled talent was at first glance glittering, when the late-season malaise kicked in and it was time to roll up their Brooks Brothers sleeves and wade into the muck of an everyday slump, far too many of the big-name players turned up their noses and balked,” said MacMullen about the 2011 Sox. He could have been saying the same thing about the 2012 Yankees at the end of last season.
So, how do we know we have the right formula this Spring to win this Fall? Will newly signed Dan Johnson mesh with Kevin Youkilis? Will Youkilis mesh with Jeter? Is there really beef between Joba and Youk? Our guys need time to build new relationships and renew old ones. And we need to give them their time and so does the media!
This is our team, like it or not, so let’s hope that they ace chemistry and not flunk it.
--Suzie Pinstripe, BYB Opinion Columnist
Labels: bob geren, bob melvin, chipper jones, dan johnson, derek jeter, joba chamberlain, kevin youkilis, kirk gibson, Mariano Rivera, Robinson Cano, suzie pinstripe
GUESS WHERE CHRIS DICKERSON JUST SIGNED...
So news broke earlier today that Chris Dickerson has signed a deal with the Baltimore Orioles. Good for him. You can read about it HERE. The deal is a minor league deal and an invitation to Spring Training.
For all of you that suddenly hate Dickerson for going to the enemy... think again. This is a guy that was let go by the New York Yankees so we could sign guys like Thomas Neal and Matt Diaz. Confused yet? I am. Dickerson did what he needed to do, look for a job and you know what? He got one because he's actually a good ballplayer. I knew he'd latch onto a team! Look, we all knew what Dickerson brought us as a player and while I have nothing against Diaz and Neal, from my personal standpoint, Dickerson deserved a shot.
I wish Chris well. On Twitter he was personable, he always interacted with the fans, and he even announced it today and thanked us who rooted and supported him while he was in pinstripes. That Tweet is below.
Take a minute, congratulate the dude, and we'll probably see him this season.
Good luck Chris, you are the man!
Labels: chris dickerson, matt diaz, thomas neal
NICK JOHNSON GETS INJURED RETIRING
(In Photo: Disorderly Orderly Movie)
Sure, that title is just me poking fun at good old Nick Johnson, because it seemed like every season the kid played, he got hurt. The most games he ever played in a season was 147 and that was with the Nationals in 2006. 2000 was supposed to be his rookie season, but he was out because he was hurt. He'd get hurt a lot, what can I say. When Nick Johnson was on, he was effective at the plate. I loved his stance, his uniform was always dirty, he looked like a throwback, or at least had that throwback mentality. The difference is a throwback would always be in the lineup. Nick was always sidelined. That being said, it's my opinion that he was a good Yankee, he just had a worse injury streak than Mr. Fragile himself, Eric Chavez.
So yeah, it's being reported HERE that Nick Johnson is calling it quits, he's officially retiring. Let's hope he doesn't get hurt doing it.
Good Luck Nick.
Labels: eric chavez, nick johnson
THE SECOND COMING OF DEREK JETER
I don't have to tell you just how devastated I was the night Derek Jeter fell to the ground in the playoffs. I gasped... we all did. At that moment, we all saw the writing on the wall. It was over, our champion was down.
Combine that with this slow off-season and there hasn't been much to get happy about if you're a Yankee fan. We all feel like the rug has been pulled out from under us ever since Jeter went down. We're in a weird funk, so much so that I personally didn't even realize just how close we were to Pitchers & Catchers. It's crazy to me to think that we've been in the month of January trying to blame everyone in Yankeeland for this lousy off season.... then, yesterday we got a truly great piece of news! Derek Jeter was not only taking batting practice, but he was in the field working on his glove work as well. I mean, are you freaking kidding me? How exciting is that?
According to the Associated Press (HERE), "Derek Jeter worked out on a baseball field Monday for the first time since breaking his left ankle last October.
The 38-year-old New York Yankees captain fielded 55 grounders on the grass in front of the infield dirt at shortstop at the team’s minor league complex. He also hit in a batting cage.
'Everything went well,' Jeter said as he drove out of the complex."
Now, truth be told, Jeet could have a cast on his leg and he'll tell you he feels great, so reading a quote from him saying that everything went well almost seems like a throwaway line to me. I don't care. I DO care that he's on the field and took a bunch of grounders. That means a lot, trust me.
(In Photo: Matt Diaz)
It's a miracle and to be honest, it let's me forget about us signing guys like Matt Diaz... no offense to Matt Diaz by the way, but you know what I mean.
This is a big moment for Jeter and the Yankees. You have to assume that Derek will work as hard as possible to get out there on Opening Day. That's the precedent he has set for years and will put forward again right now. Jeter knows what it means to be a New York Yankee. This is a guy that will hide an injury to play. Not because he's a selfish player, but because he knows his talent can help the club win. He also knows the fans, Yankee brass and the world expects it. It's values like that... combined with dedication, determination and pure blood and guts that make up Derek Jeter's entire career. There is no one better. That's the damn truth.
Thinking about the lack of energy when it comes to Yankee brass and this off-season gets many of us down, but reading about Jeter yesterday really made me forget about all of it, because at the end of the day, guys who have only heard about Derek but never played with him will see something special if he's leading the charge. Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, God willing, will all be there ready to go. They are no spring chickens, that's for sure, but they are leaders that have been doing this since the beginning, as a team... as New York Yankees. They GET the Yankee way of doing things. Throw in Jorge Posada as a special instructor and we really have something going. The Core Four will be back! Sure, only for a little while, but with them comes a different feeling if you're playing as their teammate... it's pride, it's confidence, it's the ability to try harder. In the end, if these new players see Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera coming back from serious leg injuries like they did and they take the field ready to go... let's just say, no one will want to be left behind! I no longer see no-name players anymore... now I see the light. We CAN do this.
The Yankees breed champions. We've heard it a thousand times, but something happens when you put on the pinstripes. Don't believe me? Ask no-name Scott Brosius about that. He was probably the worst Yankee pickup on paper. Yet, he became a huge part of that Yankees run in the late 1990's even winning the MVP in the 1998 Word Series. Something happens when you put on the pinstripes. Ask Charlie Hayes about that... how about Shane Spencer... or Hiroki Kuroda.
(In Photo: Russ Canzler)
My point is, who cares that Russ Canzler is joining us this season? The pinstripes make players shine and with Jeter leading the charge, it is my estimation that new Yankee stars can be born in 2013.
Sure, on paper, we look like an OK club, and if we hit a good losing streak, Yankee brass will get hell, and they know it, but what if we don't? What if we win? What if we win, not because we're lucky, but because no-name talent believe in themselves enough to scratch out an extra run or 2? What if these guys we've been sarcastically ripping on actually start to believe they CAN do it all because an iconic legend, Derek Jeter says they should? And I don't verbally, I mean physically.
When Jeter takes the field after an injury like that, wearing the pinstripes and holding the brim of his hat with a smile on his face, you can't sit there and tell me a player is going to think they CAN'T. No. They think they WILL. Why? Because we have the greatest Captain that has ever graced Yankee Stadium and not only that... he's the best damn Captain in baseball. We are damn lucky as fans and they are damn lucky as his teammates. And hey, at the end of the day, the Yankees will do well, as long as our captain stands tall. Trust me on this, with Jeter there... there ain't nothing that can get in our way. I believe that.
Labels: andy pettitte, charlie hayes, derek jeter, hiroki kuroda, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, matt diaz, russ canzler, scott brosius, shane spencer
JUAN RIVERA SIGNS WITH THE YANKEES
It's true, that right handed bat that Brian Cashman wanted?? Juan Rivera apparently is it. I'm not kidding. It is being revealed by Andrew Marchand of ESPN that Juan Rivera has signed a minor league deal with the Yankees, read HERE. According to Marchand, "It is a minor league deal, allowing Rivera to compete with Matt Diaz and Russ Canzler to be a right-handed-hitting outfielder for the Yankees."
No surprises here from me, I'm defeated. Look, it's always nice to have a Yankee reunion of course, and you all remember Juan right? He had a nice short visit with us and also had a good run with teams like the Angels and Dodgers. He's a decent hitter, not a great fielder, but hey, this must have been what the Yankees were talking about when they wanted a right field outfielder with alittle pop. Rivera has that and he's cheap.
Look, who knows who's going to come out of this outfielder competition between Diaz, Canzler, Thomas Neal and Rivera, but I'm at peace with the Yankee penny pinching and I'm not gonna get nuts about it. It's not worth it. And yes, I understand Neal's a left fielder, but they are collecting all these guys to compete, that's it.
I will tell you something. I understand why so many people are nuts with the Yankees off season, me included at timed. It's shows in BYB's readership today. A ton of fans read "I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE" and it really resonated with a lot of you. I know you're all feeling the same way. I just have to say, hang in there.
Fans are truly disappointed with the Yankees lack of movement. I am too, but my New Year's resolution was to not be angry anymore. There are more important things going on in life, I can't get upset...besides, "Pitchers and Catchers" is 16 days away. I can't wait!
Labels: juan rivera, matt diaz, russ canzler, thomas neal
"I'M MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE"
Here's another installment from my good friend Dave Goode, a die-hard Yankee fan... and my friend.
As your blog says, The Yankees are looking to 2014. I am going to be like a bear and go to sleep. You can wake me just in time for Spring training 2014. It is my opinion that this Yankee team sadly reminds me of being a young Yankee fan.
(In Photo: Jake Gibbs)
I remember being around 11 years old and seeing that 1967 Yankee roster... an aging Mickey Mantle in one of his last years. Jake Gibbs as catcher, Charley Smith at 3B. There was Tom Tresh, Joe Pepitone, Ruben Amaro, Steve Whitaker and many other so-so players past there prime.
Last season they BATTLED to barely make the playoffs with so-so pitching and no clutch hitting. Now I see this off season and there is nothing. It has been the "Off Season of Stugots."
Yeah, we signed Kevin Youkilis because we had no choice. Alex Rodriguez is down through mid-summer at best and he "could" be out all season, read HERE. Youk could surprise us, true, but his better days are behind him. We couldn’t even get a so-so Scott Hairston to sign with us, never mind a Justin Upton who ended up going to the Braves. Plus, instead of going after Michael Morse, we signed Dan Johnson, a .237 lifetime hitter. To me, it's pathetic. BYB blogs have talked all the players the Yanks have missed the boat on and I'll tell you, I wish I could talk to both of the Steinbrenner boys and tell them that's it's been a disappointment.
We are in the toughest division in baseball and after the Toronto Blue Jays made that trade with the Miami Marlins, things just got tougher. Plus, who's left to sign? Michael Bourn? I don’t see that happening. I've been in sales for over 30 years. We usually have mock sales sessions. But look, until you actually interact with customers, it is all nonsense. That is why the time is NOW to get the kids on the farm up to the bigs! Another year down on the farm won't matter that much. not when we sign guys like Dan Johnson. Instead of waiting, give the kids a shot. My gut tells me they can't do any worse and it will mature them and give them the big league experience they need. Who knows, we may actually get luck too! Forget about Giancarlo Stanton. The Yankees just won't spend the money.
I think the only way the boys wake up is if us fans revolt. I back BYB's idea, hit them in the pocket book. Read YANKEE FAN'S REVOLT: "ENOUGH'S ENOUGH". Let the attendance dwindle, let food and souvenir sales fall flat and all revenue sources dry up and if in 2014 they put a team that can win #28 on the field, we will be back, but not before! Hey, when they spend money, fans will spend money. As was said in the movie Network. " I'm mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore!"
Finally, on paper, I don’t see a team that can go out win the division, a pennant and a #28 championship, so wake me in 2014. Hopefully I'm wrong. If I'm not, hopefully next winter these guys will wake up and go after some quality players. Hey, it never hurts to start looking early... right?
--Dave Goode, Die-hard Yankee fan
Interviewed for his 30 plus years experience as a vendor at Yankee Stadium
THE VENDOR FROM THE HOUSE THAT RUTH BUILT
Labels: charley smith, dan johnson, Dave Goode, giancarlo stanton, jake gibbs, joe pepitone, justin upton, kevin youkilis, michael bourn, mickey mantle, ruben amaro, steve whitaker, tom tresh
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BMC’s Beginings
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Meet BMC Members
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Police accountability work in New York City is shaped by almost daily events and headlines. BMC maintains the ability to respond rapidly – through direct action and media commentary – to issues and police actions that affect members of the Central Brooklyn community. At the same time, we work on long-term solutions that address the culture of policing and the policies that enforce it.
BMC is a campaign member of Communities United for Police Reform (CPR), “an unprecedented campaign to end discriminatory policing practices in New York, bringing together a movement of community members, lawyers, researchers and activists to work for change. The partners in this campaign come from all 5 boroughs, from all walks of life and represent many of those most unfairly targeted by the NYPD. Together we’re fighting for reforms that will promote community safety while ensuring that the NYPD protects and serves all New Yorkers.”
BMC has formed the Police Accountability Working (PAW) Group. PAW members participate in and lead actions that will help ensure a healthy and mutually respectful relationship between the people of Central Brooklyn and those paid and entrusted to “protect and serve” us. Your leadership is needed now, more than ever. Email us at [email protected] to join the BMC PAW Group.
BMC’s current police accountability activities include:
Policy and Legislative Campaigns: Through BMC’s membership in Communities United for Police Reform (CPR), PAW members are part of citywide efforts to design, advocate for, and implement structural reforms to the NYPD and criminal justice system.
Mass Mobilizations: PAW members help organize demonstrations and acts of resistance aimed at challenging abusive policing practices and related forms of social injustice. These activities are often coordinated with allies and other social justice movements. Public demonstrations are not only an expression of outrage, but are strategically designed to bring public awareness to specific issues and to, over time, advance a policy agenda.
Political Education: Forums and teach-ins that provide a deeper understanding of the broader struggle for human rights.
Cop Watch Trainings: Hands-on trainings that position Central Brooklynites to video record police actions.
Know Your Rights Trainings: Trainings that enable ordinary people to understand their rights and options when involved in confrontations with the police and other law enforcement officials.
Click here for a list of CPR members and BMC Police Accountability Allies
We are aligned with CPR’s framing of the current policing problems in NYC and the remedies we are working towards. The following was originally posted on changethenypd.org.
“Stop and frisk” and other discriminatory policing practices have spiraled out of control. In 1994, Mayor Giuliani and the NYPD adopted controversial “broken windows” policing strategies, which promote aggressive enforcement of minor offenses on the theory that this will prevent serious crime. Under Mayor Bloomberg, the NYPD has dramatically expanded this flawed strategy. Each year, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are wrongfully stopped, frisked, or searched. Many wrongfully receive a summons, or are even arrested. Some are even sexually or physically assaulted by NYPD officers. They are being targeted by an increasingly confrontational and arrogant police force, often humiliated in their own homes, schools and neighborhoods.
In 2011, the New York Police Department made over 684,000 street stops – a 14% increase over 2010 (and a 603% increase since 2002, Bloomberg’s first year in office)! Close to 90% of the stops resulted in no arrest or summons whatsoever.
Even when these stops yield arrests, almost all are low-level, many resulting directly from citizens questioning the rights of the police to stop them in the first place. While most of these arrests don’t result in criminal convictions, they often trigger severe consequences – including job loss, eviction, and even deportation of permanent residents who are not citizens.
Stop and frisk and other “broken windows” policing aggressively targets low-income communities of color, young people, homeless people, LGBT people, people with disabilities, immigrants, and women. Many people who have been stopped have reported intense harassment by police. Young people expect to be stopped every day, often multiple times a day, even in school.
These policies make us ALL less safe, by creating an atmosphere of fear of the police, instead of trust.
These policies are an outrage, violating our fundamental rights and even the most basic fairness in our city. This is not an acceptable approach to public safety in New York.
New York City needs a fundamentally different approach to policing and public safety, one based on cooperation and respect for communities – not on targeting and harassment.
We need to encourage policing and public safety practices based on cooperation and trust with community members.
Community members need to feel safe, and need to know that the NYPD will be held accountable. Someone needs to police the police.
Many stops, searches, summons and arrests are driven by the pressure on officers to hit quotas and stop a certain number of people and make a certain number of arrests. The police department needs to get rid of the system that turns members of our community into a way to hit quota targets.
Communities United for Police Reform is pushing for legislation that would substantially reduce the number of encounters between police and residents that are based on profiling and discrimination. We are calling on the New York City Council to pass legislation ending discriminatory “stop and frisk” practices and related discriminatory policing, ensuring respect of New Yorkers’ rights, and far more vigorous oversight of the NYPD. Additionally, we are calling for reforms to the citizen complaint process, so that reports of abuse, unlawful stops and improper behavior is taken far more seriously. Most importantly, making meaningful change in the way the NYPD interacts with New Yorkers every day will require a concerted effort in communities around the city. We will be on the streets, educating people about their rights, monitoring and documenting police abuse. And we will be in the courts and on the steps of City Hall and the state capitol, demanding change to the NYPD until these policies end. We need you to join our powerful movement to stop police violence.
Know Your Rights Trainings
Do you know your rights when you are approached by police or law enforcement?
BMC is currently providing Know Your Rights Trainings which will equip you and your community with the information you need when confronted by law enforcement officials. You will leave with an understanding of what law enforcement officials can and can’t legally do during routine stops and searches, and how to protect your rights from being violated.
Interested in scheduling a Know Your Rights training for your school, church, block association, or other neighborhood group in Central Brooklyn (Bed-Stuy or Crown Heights)? Fill out this form and we’ll make it happen.
Central Brooklyn Analysis
Why I’m Still Protesting
City Limits, Mark Winston Griffith, Dec 26, 2014
In every instance, we have explicitly fought against acts of violence in our communities, whether practiced by police or civilians. And over the years, we’ve protested gun trafficking and mourned neighbor-on-neighbor crime. Which is why, in the wake of the recent killing of two police officers just blocks away from my organization’s office, preceded by the shooting of a young woman in Baltimore, my organization has continued our social justice and community healing work, despite calls by Mayor de Blasio, Governor Cuomo and others to end it. Read More.
The Mayor and The Protestors
WNYC, The Brian Lehrer Show, Dec 23, 2014
BMC’s executive director, Mark Winston Griffith and Board Member, Monifa Bandele, the senior programs & outreach manager at The National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, join Opal Tometi, Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter and executive director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration and Josmar Trujillo of New Yorkers Against Bratton to respond to Mayor Bill De Blasio’s call for a “temporary pause in protests in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of two NYPD officers.”
“We’ve always asked for peace, we have never advocated for violence… [The fatal shooting of two NYPD officers in BedStuy] is an alien act.” – Mark Winston Griffith. Read More.
People Get Your People
Deep Dish TV, Ferguson and Beyond, Dec 8, 2014
From Ferguson and Beyond, a town hall meeting organized by #BlackLivesMatterNYC, in Bed-Stuy. The panel included activists from the front lines of Ferguson and organizers fighting against police brutality in New York City. Here Brittany Brathwaite from Girls for Gender Equity talks about how those in institutions of power can use their privilege to effect change, and how racism and police brutality are a public health issue.
Ferguson and Beyond
From Ferguson and Beyond, a town hall meeting organized by #BlackLivesMatterNYC, in Bed-Stuy. The panel included activists from the front lines of Ferguson and organizers fighting against police brutality in New York City.
Broken Windows, Broken Policy
Amsterdam News, Djibril Toure, July 31, 2014
As a longtime resident of Bedford-Stuyvesant, who directly experienced stop-and-frisk abuses and police misconduct and was a plaintiff in the initial federal lawsuit against discriminatory NYPD practices after the 1999 murder of Amadou Diallo by NYPD officers, I am greatly saddened by the fact our city appears to be risking a repeat of history, despite a difference in rhetoric and tone. Read More.
Stop and Frisk: the Human Impact
Center for Constitutional Rights, Jan-March 2013
The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) launched an interactive map that houses podcasts of people telling their stories about being stopped by the New York Police Department (NYPD). This website illustrates the impact of stop and frisk on communities in New York.
BMC partnered with CCR to documented the impact of stop and frisk in Central Brooklyn. Listen here.
BMC on Twitter
The Brooklyn Movement Center (BMC) is a community organizing group based in Bed-Stuy. BMC brings together residents of Bed-Stuy and Crown Heights to identify issues of importance to them, build power and improve conditions in their community.
Brooklyn Movement Center
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Urinary Reference Values For Stone Risk Factors In Children
UroToday - Borawski, et al in the January 2008 issue of The Journal of Urology collected 24-hour urine samples from 48 healthy subjects with no history of stone disease, endocrine abnormalities, or urological surgeries over a three and a half year period. All the children were toilet trained and age 3 to 18 years of age. The 24-hour urine samples were evaluated for urinary calcium, oxalate, uric acid, citrate, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, and potassium levels. They were all adjusted for urinary creatinine. Also, in a separate analysis of these 24-hour urine samples, urine chemistries were adjusted for body weight in kilogram.
The groups were divided into 4 age groups; group 1 (3 to 5 years old), group 2 (6 to 10 years), group 3 (11 to 15 years), and group 4 (16 to 18 years).
The group found that urinary pH and volume decreased with increasing age, although the difference in pH did not reach statistical significance. When the urine samples had unadjusted urinary parameters they failed to show statistical difference among the age groups. When they were adjusted for urinary creatinine and body weight all the urinary parameters including calcium, oxalate, uric acid, citrate, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, and potassium decreased with increasing age. These were all statistically significant except for calcium itself.
From their study the group concluded that differences exist, not only between adults and children for normal urinary metabolic parameters but also among different age groups within the pediatric population. They go on to further state that stone risk factors in 24- hour urine samples decrease with increasing age in healthy, non-stone forming children.
Urinary reference values for stone risk analysis is children is playing a crucial role in the care of this patient population. Only recently has it become adopted in very few laboratory values. Although noted in the study that nephrolithiasis is a relatively rare occurrence in the pediatric population, it is on the rise. They state that 7% of stone disease in North America will be found in children younger than 16 years of age. We have noticed a rise in our practice here at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with seeing over 1600 patients with stone disease over the past 3 years. There was an editorial comment at the end of this paper by Julian Wan from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Wan states that the main flaw with the paper, which was acknowledged by the authors, is that the sample size is very small. I agree with Dr. Wan that it would be extremely useful to perform a multi centered analysis with a large cohort of patients, hopefully numbering in the thousands so we can get a study with enough power to truly state normal values and parameters for our pediatric patients.
Borawskia KM, Sura RL, Miller OF, Pake CYC, Premingera GM, Kolon. TF
J Urol. 179(1): 290-294, January 2008
10.1016/j.juro.2007.08.163
Reported by UroToday Contributing Editor Pasquale Casale, M.D
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Reproduced for blog with permission of UroToday.
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Lies about the OAS, and some true stuff too!
This was all taken from the Windsor Star, and shows just how one sided the newspaper really is. Note for instance that most of the pictures were taken from behind the police line. They continue to bed with politicians at the expense of truth and one day I hope will see that what they are publishing is not in fact a newspaper, but a form of government propaganda.
an article from day 2: There have been 53 OAS-related arrests, 45 of which were for breach of peace, a section of the Criminal Code that allows the police to detain protesters for 24 hours without formal charges. Of the 45 people held for breach of peace, 35 were detained following attempts Sunday afternoon to block a bus carrying OAS delegates on Riverside Drive. OAS Shutdown Coalition leaders say the breach of peace charge was used to detain protesters for otherwise innocent activities, like carrying bottles of water or jaywalking.
These were the eight people out of the total arrests that were mentioned in the paper, an obvious smear campaign against the protesters:
David Solnit, a 36-year-old Californian, was arrested early Sunday morning on an immigration warrant related to a 14-year-old criminal conviction for mischief. Solnit used washable paint to write the names of Nicaraguans killed by U.S.-backed Contras on the windows of a military recruiting office in 1986. He believes police used his mischief conviction to revoke his status as a legal visitor to Canada. Solnit is being held in the Windsor Jail. His first hearing is scheduled this morning.
Arthur Foelsche, a 24-year-old student from Vermont, was picked up on his way to breakfast Sunday morning on an immigration warrant. He was to appear in Toronto on an unrelated immigration matter later this month and he believes his arrest is related. Immigration officials say he will likely have his first hearing Wednesday, but they would not elaborate on the reason for his detention.
Kyle Patton, 24, from Guelph, was detained Saturday evening for violating a condition of his release on a previous charge. He promised not to participate in demonstrations, but was picked up downtown following an impromptu gathering. He was released from the Windsor Jail on $1,400 cash bail Monday afternoon.
A 16-year-old young offender from Mississauga was arrested at about 1 p.m. Saturday for possession of a prohibited weapon. He was wearing a punk-style studded bracelet, which is among the weapons banned by the Criminal Code.
Josh Shook, of Guelph, was arrested for mischief near the riverfront after Sunday's rally.
Jason Ellis, from Ohio, was arrested Sunday morning near the Ambassador Bridge for possession of a prohibited weapon, a switchblade. He was remanded in custody at the Windsor Jail.
An unidentified activist was arrested for trespassing early Friday morning after he was found in Dieppe Gardens. He was released soon afterward without charges.
This was an 'article' about a social leader. With no facts at all they attack this woman, downplay her role as a leader and publicly declared her an anarchist trouble maker who was just here to cause trouble, violently. Such strong words from this reporter who backed them up with no facts and apparently didn't do his research kinda makes me want to give him a kick in the ass (yes that would be violent my friend). If we look at this article we can see that is was systematically arranged to downplay the importance of protest and to make the protesters look like evil people, while the city and the police were knights in shining armour.
OAS protests
Violence can't be condoned
The sight of those hundreds of uniformed police officers surrounding a concrete compound in the middle of downtown Windsor raised unsettling questions in the minds of many thoughtful Canadians.
Why did it take so much muscle to protect the annual meeting of the Organization of American States, they wondered -- a group most people hadn't heard of until last week? (okay, first of all, what's with the punctuation?) Was such a show of para-military force really necessary in a peaceful country like Canada?
The answer to the second question, unfortunately, is yes. And part of the reason lies in the frustrated politics (what do you think he means by that?) of people like Maude Barlow, chair of the Council of Canadians.
It sounds so patriotic, the Council of Canadians. (I love that line, you can feel the cynicism and disgust) But as Barlow has revealed, it harbors at least one extreme and angry view of the world. (What is it?)
In an interview, Barlow stopped just short of advocating violence against police and mass destruction of private property.
(okay so normally a news report would require you back up a statement like that with some quotes, or at least a date and name of publisher of said interview, but this leads me to wonder if there ever was such an interview, and if there was was it taken completely out of context, he surely didn't want the reader to decide if that's the case.)
Barlow said she was shocked by the "brutality" (quotation marks=lie) shown by police when she took part in a protest on the streets of Windsor on Sunday. "It was like nothing I've ever seen," said Barlow, who took part in recent clashes (nice power word!) on the streets of Seattle and Washington.
With the exception of pepper-spraying two photographers, the 2,200 police officers protecting the foreign ministers of the Windsor OAS summit behaved with commendable professionalism and restraint, considering the provocations they faced from protesters who pitched rocks and taunts while trying to damage vehicles and block traffic. (okay this has problems for a couple of reasons; first-how many rocks were there to how many police, I'm sure the 4 or 5 rocks that were thrown was in no way a threat to the whole police force on hand, especially when they're wearing riot gear. second-how come it's okay to pepper spray people who are having sit ins on the sidewalk, peacefully singing, and people who were just dancing around, I mean unless they were like line dancing I don't see them as being a danger to anyone, and how about those people who we're not even there to protest, they were just walking around
checking out an event that was more exciting than those lame concerts the city puts on? Oh I guess it's okay to pepper spray them, but you better leave those Windsor Star guys alone! That's quite possibly the dumbest thing in this whole article. I mean two of their own guys got pepper sprayed and they still don't see a problem? Third-taunts? Hello, sticks and stones, my friend, since when did it become illegal to yell at cops? Fourth-Damage vehicles? with what? rocks? It's not like they were storming around with crowbars and baseball bats! I mean I seen allot of those people and very few of them looked like they could wreck a vehicle with a couple rocks, a screwdriver, or a studded bracelet or any of that other stuff they say were weapons. And maybe it's just me, but I mean the cops had guns, this tanky thing, trucks, jeeps, pepper spray, Billie-clubs, give me a couple rocks to if I see that staring back at me, and hey, the rocks were probably free!)
It was supposed to have been much worse -- and it would have been, had police not been organized and put up such a show of force. As well, hundreds of the more dangerous U.S. political troublemakers (um, I think the word you were looking for was protesters, wasn't it?) were turned back at the border, their tools of vandalism confiscated. (apparently tools of vandalism include anything needed to repair your house, car, or a bad meal)
Which brings us back to why the ominous number of police surrounding the OAS conference was necessary. (oh-yeah, that was the point of this article, you were going to single handedly give us an official explanation without even asking the government for their answer.)
According to Barlow, the kind of rampaging mob violence which caused millions of dollars in damage to downtown Seattle is a justifiable expression of political opinion if people refuse to see the world the way she does. (I know you work for a paper, so you should have access to these kind of things, but did you miss the news the day of the protest in Seattle? Well I'll tell you about it, the riot police were all nervous, a couple young guys got a little jumpy, one of them lost control, without permission and attacked a protester who admittedly was getting in his face, then all hell broke loose. Research, my friend)
The way police kept the peace in Windsor, on the other hand, was "brutal" (why is this always in quotation marks?) because it denied her and the anarchists the chance to make a statement to the world by violently preventing other people from conducting public business. (um, I think the point was to stand in the middle of the street so their cars, or vans couldn't get to the meeting, not much violent about that!)
While Barlow acknowledges that the anarchist movement (the anarchist movement? okay anarchists don't want any rule, blah, blah, blah, how do they organize a movement? The very fact that these people are coming out to protests would tend to imply that they are anything but, but they already hunted after the commies right?) brings a dangerous element to demonstrations, she refuses to condemn the actions: "I don't approve of violence, there are times when I have an understanding of it." (This is an out of context quote and it's so obvious. I have an understanding of violence in certain situations as well; if some one could've killed Hitler earlier so many Jewish people would not have died, if I knew some one was oppressing people and putting others lives at danger or children into slavery I would surely rejoice if I heard that some one had "brutally" beaten them to death.)
While Barlow's son is a police officer in Ottawa and she worries about his safety, she says that she must continue to support protesters who are able to attract public attention through "direct action." (wow, now let's make her look like a bad mother, we will surely alienate her from our readers after this!)
The Council of Canadians says its 100,000 members are "building stronger communities and a just Canada."
They could start by demanding that Barlow resign for her views on violence and property damage. (well Canada's kinda got it's head up it's ass right now, and I think it would be a good start to get it back on track if we should ask you to resign from writing anything again and maybe move to central America for a while until you get some appreciation of what the hell people go to protests for. I mean if those are Barlow's views at least she's not hiding behind some newspaper article that personally I think might have been writing by a ten year on facts gathered by the mayors office.) Canadian taxpayers shouldn't have to spend millions of dollars to protect themselves and their guests from hooligans. (maybe not, but it wasn't our choice, we'd told the government we didn't need that much protection for the event, they got it anyway. On another note, it is funny that you make a declaration about what Canadians have to protect themselves from, it seems to me that you are the enemy, my friend. Canadians should be able to trust their newspapers as a source of truth, but over and over again articles like this prove that theory completely wrong.
P.S.-Please don't take any of this personally, It is a review of an article, I in no way intend this as a personal attack, for all I know somebody might have made you write it.)
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Self-Publishing Suckage: the regret of an independent author
(Me at the Vegas Valley Book Festival on November 6th)
Last July, I used CreateSpace to publish my first novel, a vampire thriller called Bloodsucking Vegas: a vampire noir. I did so with an abundance of hope and a certain measure of fear. After all, I was an unknown author venturing into a treacherous marketplace without any help or guidance from an agent, an editor, or a big, established publishing house.
What I did have was an unshakeable belief in what I had created: an entertaining potboiler that was both a variation on -- and an homage to -- a genre that has permeated our popular culture. Call it hubris, if you like. Plus, for a guy who was raised on a steady diet of B-movies and pulp fiction, the book was incredibly fun to write.
Now, I knew I hadn't written the Great American Novel; nor did I mean to. The creation of Bloodsucking Vegas: a vampire noir was less about art than it was about craft. I had crafted a deliberate entertainment designed to follow some rules of genre while breaking certain others, all in the spirit of play.
I also had the example of other artists (such as Cory Doctorow, Jonathan Coulton, and the band OK Go) who have foregone the traditional means of using a vertically-integrated corporation to represent them in the marketplace. Instead, these artists rely on the internet and social media to engender interest and to propagate their particular products. Like them, I seized the opportunity to determine both the production and the distribution of my work.
And now, roughly 5 months since the release of Bloodsucking Vegas: a vampire noir, I'm taking the time to assess what I've accomplished and learned (or not).
Since Bloodsucking Vegas: a vampire noir "went live" on July 14th, I've sold a few hundred copies, and I've given away almost as many, sending them to everyone from family members and local newspapers to radio stations and independent bookstores.
The response I've gotten from readers of the book has been overwhelmingly positive, which is gratifying. The few criticisms I've received have been categorical in nature, from people who just hate vampires or who object to any depictions of sex and violence. In essence, the only negative comments I've gotten have come from people who already dislike the type of entertainment that my book is an example of.
All I can say to that is the finest whiskey will never please an ardent teetotaller.
But the more troubling response to Bloodsucking Vegas: a vampire noir has come from the marketplace itself -- in the form of a deafening silence. Media organs (the antennae of the industry) have largely ignored my attempts to contact them, and bookstores have balked at my attempts to furnish them with my product.
True, there are technical and circumstantial hurdles to my entry into the mainstream marketplace. My book's cover absolutely sucks because I couldn't find a graphic designer in time. I do not have a publicist out beating the bushes in order to flush attention towards my work, and my book has not (yet) been accepted for distribution by one of the big wholesalers like Ingram. But I have addressed these particular hurdles with complimentary review copies and attractive invoicing terms.
So I can boil down the real reason for such resistance to my book to a single notion: the negative stigma attached to the self-published work.
On a personal note, it's one thing to have someone react negatively to your creation. An artist can live with the notion that their work rubs some people the wrong way. But to have your work summarily dismissed without a glance is especially frustrating. It's like getting found guilty of a crime without the benefit of a trial.
And I was warned. More than one person admonished me to resist the easy path of self-publishing because of the tarnish of vanity that could stain my artistic reputation, such as it was (or is). It's a stain, I've been told, that could taint my entire career (should I manage to ever have one).
Yet I plunged onward, into the breach of independent publishing, cocksure in my idealistic fervor that quality -- like murder -- will out.
So here I am, 5 months into my publishing career with a book I can easily give away but have a hard time selling. It's like I'm throwing copies of my book into a hole, never hearing them hit bottom.
Do I sound bitter? Well, I shouldn't. All I've done so far is taken the measure of the obstacles in front of me. I haven't actually given up.
But I will concede the following: The stigma of self-publishing is richly deserved.
I'll say it again, in more direct terms: Almost all self-published authors absolutely suck. And their work isn't worth what it is printed on, be it paper or the screen of a Kindle.
The media and the marketplace are right to be suspicious of independent authors. In my experience (and I say this with the full knowledge of how self-aggrandizing it sounds), I am just about the only self-published author worth reading.
I am being quite serious about this. Since the (self)publication of Bloodsucking Vegas: a vampire noir, I have made a concerted effort to acquaint myself with the works of my fellow independents, looking for kindred souls who might want to partner up for a book-signing or two. And I have been stunned by the pervasively sorry quality of what I've found.
Whether it's a historical novel, a romance, an autobiography, or a regional history, not only is the vast majority of self-published work written at a truly awful level of craftsmanship; it often lacks competent levels of copy-editing. Examples I've found include the number "1" where the pronoun "I" should be, blatant anachronisms, shifting verb tenses where the present and the past are inconsistently commingled, and rampant misspellings. This is writing that would doom a high-school term paper, let alone a published book.
But it isn't my intention to throw stones at individual authors or books, so I'm not going to name names. I'm making a larger point here, besides the fact that my single biggest regret since the publication of Bloodsucking Vegas: a vampire noir is that my book has been stigmatized with the taint created by what surrounds it.
My larger point is this: Until the overall level of quality in independent authorship rises, books like mine are like little chips of diamond buried in a mountain of sewage. I had a vague idea of this before publishing my novel, but, in the 5 months since the release of Bloodsucking Vegas: a vampire noir, my sense of this proportion has only grown more acute.
So, in the end, I maintain my naive and idealistic conviction that the quality of my book will eventually be recognized. It's just that, since this past July, I've become painfully intimate with the layers of dreck that Bloodsucking Vegas: a vampire noir will have to rise through. These layers are deep and thick and smelly, and I sympathize with anyone who regards these piles of the self-published with horror.
I now have a better appreciation of agents and publishers as gatekeepers of quality. But I still stand by my assessment of my own novel. The quality of Bloodsucking Vegas: a vampire noir is as high as anything in its genre. It needed no gatekeepers to moderate its access to the marketplace.
Still, it would be nice to have the services of a marketing team!
Now, I realize that a call for better quality amongst the rank-and-file self-published is tantamount to a cry for increased literacy across the board. In other words, I know that the very nature of the self-publishing industry prevents the installation of market-wide artistic standards. We can't all be Shakespeare, even though each of us has, within our grasp, more publishing power than he ever dreamed of.
But isn't it pretty to think so?
Fellow independent authors, it's true we have the tools to conquer the marketplace without the help of agents or editors or publishing conglomerates. We can be revolutionaries, overthrowing the tyranny of a marketplace ruled by a few, elite publishers. But we won't win until we become better craftsmen (and women).
Kathleen Valentine February 20, 2011 at 10:51 AM
Hmmmm, well, I can see some of your points but I have to make a strenuous objection to this: "Whether it's a historical novel, a romance, an autobiography, or a regional history, not only is the vast majority of self-published work written at a truly awful level of craftsmanship; it often lacks competent levels of copy-editing."
As the indie author of five books I find those words pretty unfair. I will admit that a lot of indie books are badly done -- but so are a lot of trad-pub books. I have yet to read a trad-pub, "bestselling" romance that was even moderately readable. On the other hand I've read a lot of indie novels that I thought were superb. I've blogged about quite a few of them.
Yes, it is difficult carving out one's niche. Those of us who are indie authors also need to be indie marketers and that takes patience, dedication, and innovation.
I wish you luck.
"In my experience (and I say this with the full knowledge of how self-aggrandizing it sounds), I am just about the only self-published author worth reading.I am being quite serious about this."
What a condescending, arrogant, egotistical, prick this so-called author is. This blog makes me want to analyze his book in great detail and then write a scathing review on amazon, picking it apart and making derogatory remarks about him, like he does with other indie authors.
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Learn About American History at Gadsby’s Tavern Museum
The Gadsby’s Tavern Museum is a two-building complex built in 1785 and named after a prominent Englishman who ran the buildings in the late 1700s. The buildings served as a central meeting point for political and social endeavors throughout this time and beyond, with special visitors like George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and other notable Presidents and patrons.
Now, the building serves as a stunningly preserved museum and recreational center where you can walk in the footsteps of our founding fathers. It offers a handful of fun activities, like period dance classes where you can learn to waltz like the best of them, as well as historic beverage classes where you can taste the indulgent cocktails of centuries past. Check out their website for all the fun offerings and special events. Admission is only $5 to explore, so don’t wait to visit.
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