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Tag comic art
in Art & Architecture
Of Peaches, Pears, and Politics
Patricia Mainardi– Traviès’s 1831 lithograph shows a man gesturing towards a display of caricatures while saying “You have to admit that the head of state looks pretty funny”. It could serve as a banner for all political cartooning, an art that is at its best in difficult times. Simply put,
in Humanities, Literature
Sneak Preview: Comics Art, by Paul Gravett
Follow @yaleARTbooks In February of 2014, Yale University Press will release an exciting new book on the history of comics: Comics Art, by Paul Gravett, the man the Times of London called, “the greatest historian of the comics and graphic novel form in this country.” The book will explore the varied
Character Sketch: The Comic That Inspired Roy Lichtenstein
Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective, by curators James Rondeau and Sheena Wagstaff (2012), accompanies an expansive Lichtenstein exhibition currently at the Art Institute of Chicago, later moving to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., then to the Tate Modern in London, and finally to the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Staff Holiday Picks: Indie Comics and Graphic Novels
Seven Perfect Gifts for the Lover of Indie Comics & Graphic Novels For several years, Yale University Press has been building a distinguished list of books about comic art and “art comics” of various kinds. Here are a few favorites especially suited for gift-giving to lovers of indie comics.
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Italian Passion for Speed – Cardiff – June 2017
You are here: Home → 2017 → June → 29 → Italian Passion for Speed – Cardiff – June 2017
Posted By Colin Rear in Events, Shows June 29, 2017 0 comment
That there are an awful lot of car events in the UK on every weekend from early Spring to late Autumn is not in question. A quick Google will always turn up both familiar national ones as well as the less well-known local shows, so you may think that the calendar is too crowded to make any more viable. However, if you factor in geography, it becomes readily apparent that an awful lot of those UK events are concentrated over a relatively small part of the land mass of the country, taking place in an area of the country from the Midlands towards London and the South East. Convenient for many, of course, as this is where lot of the population lives, but far from ideal for those who live outside this area. Indeed, when I publish the Events Plan for the Abarth Owners Club for the year, there are almost always “complaints” that there are areas of the country where there are no events taking place at all. The whole of Wales comes in this category. Whilst much of the Principality may be more notable for its splendid scenery and great driving roads with little traffic, there are plenty of people, living along or near the M4 corridor for whom the idea of heading to the Home Counties for an event is a distance too far. Combine this with the fact that journey times to Cardiff from Bristol and even the West Midlands are really not that great and you can see why the idea of holding an event in the Welsh Capital looked attractive. That was doubtless the thinking which led Paul Talbot, keen owner of a Ferrari 348 Spider to conceive the Italian Passion for Speed event. The first time the event was held was in 2016. and despite weather which reminded everyone more of early Spring than the fact that it was only a couple of days before the official start of Summer, it proved sufficient of a success to encourage a repeat for 2017. The venue itself, certainly, proved to be excellent. A large rectangular amphitheatre style space right in the heart of Cardiff Bay, with a large number of bars and restaurants and other attractions such as the Dr Who Experience meant that all the requisite facilities were available, and that there were would be plenty of passers-by to admire the cars, as well as lots for owners to do should they actually decide to have some non-car time during the day. Over 40 varied Italian cars came in 2016, and there was plenty of space for more, which was clearly going to prove useful as the event grew. And grow the event certainly did for 2017. Although many of the bookings came at the every last minute (as is so often the case, it would seem) once it was clear that the weather was going to be very different from 2016, with cloudless sunny skies forecast (and the reality on the day), nearly twice as many cars came along. With the added attraction of a massed choir of over 650 voices, who would perform during mid-afternoon, the crowds were attracted to the Bay on a scale that was orders of magnitude greater than in 2016 as well. This all made the 2017 Italian Passion for Speed a really great day, with a buzzing atmosphere and the chance for many friends to meet up, see each other’s cars and to meet fellow enthusiasts of Italian cars. Here is what was on show.
In 2016, there were 4 Abarths on show. For 2017, that number went up by just one, to 5. Considering the number of people who had said that they were coming, when I advertised the event, and who then did not (for whatever reason), that has to count as a mild disappointment. Certainly the cars that were on show attracted lots of interest, as they always do. Brand recognition is steadily increasing, as you would expect now that it is nearly 9 years since the relaunch of modern Abarth, and following a record sales year in 2016 (thanks partly to a significant increase in the number of dealers), and the fact that there are now over 15,000 Scorpions on British roads. Unlike 2016, when there was an even split between Punto and 500 models, this time all the cars were 500s. Two of them were finished in Cordolo Red, a colour which looks at its absolute best in the bright sunshine that bathed the event. Look closely at my car and the one belonging to Clare Hepworth, though, and despite the fact that both are 180bhp Competizione models, you will soon seen that they are not identical. Joining the red cars were three others, including a much-loved local 595C Turismo and Damien Ward’s subtly modified car, complete with Elaborazione badging to reflect some of the changes he has made.
Oldest of the numerous Alfa models that were on show was Jeremy Dutton’s lovely 105-series 1750 Spider Veloce. He did observe to me that this is not really a “performance” car, and he had consequently waivered over whether to enter it or not. I am sure there were lots of people who were glad that he decided to do so. Like so many terms, “performance car” is one with a somewhat elastic meaning, and outright power and speed of this delightful car may be less than that of most of the rest of what was on show, it certainly did not look out of place. It is now over 50 years since Alfa replaced their Giulia-based Spider model with an all-new design, with the 105 Series Spider making its debut in 1966 together with the Giulia Sprint GT Veloce at an event organised in Gardone Riviera. With its boat tailed styling, it quickly found favour, even before taking a starring role in the film “The Graduate”. The original 1600cc engine was replaced by a more powerful 1750cc unit at the same time as the change was made to the rest of the range, and the car continued like this until 1970, when the first significant change to the exterior styling was introduced on the 1750 Spider Veloce, with the original’s distinctive elongated round tail changed to a more conventional cut-off tail, called the “Kamm tail”, as well as improving the luggage space. Numerous other small changes took place both inside and out, such as a slightly different grille, new doorhandles, a more raked windscreen, top-hinged pedals and improved interior trim. 1971 saw the Spider Veloce get a new, larger powerplant—a 1962 cc, 132 hp unit—and consequently the name was changed from 1750 Spider Veloce to 2000 Spider Veloce. The 1600 Spider restarted production a year later as the Spider 1600 Junior, and was visually identical to the 1300. 1974 saw the introduction of the rare, factory request, Spider-Targa. Based upon the Spider, it featured a Porsche style solid rear window and lift out roof panels, all made out of black GRP type material. Less than 2,000 models of such type were ever made and was the only part solid roof Spider until the introduction of the factory crafted hard top. The 1300 and 2000 cars were modified in 1974 and 1975 respectively to include two small seats behind the front seats, becoming a “two plus two” four seater. The 1300 model was discontinued in 1977. Also, between 1974 and 1976, the early-style stainless-steel bumpers were discontinued and replaced with black, rubber-clad units to meet increasingly stringent North American crash requirements. 4,557 examples of the 1300 Junior were made and 4,848 of the 1600 Junior as well as 16,320 2000 Spider Veloces and 22,059 of 2000 Spider Veloce US version. There were also 4,027 1750 Spider Veloces produced.
There was a second example of the 105 Series here, an S4 model belonging to Simon Addison. The S4 marked the final major change to the long running Spider when it came out in 1990. Mechanically, the biggest different was the use of Bosch Motronic electronic fuel injection with an electric fan. Externally, the Spider lost its front under-bumper spoiler and the rather ungainly rear boot spoiler of the S3, and picked up 164-style rear lights stretching across the width of the car as well as plastic bumpers the same colour as the car. This also marked the first generation of the car with automatic transmission, as well as on-board diagnostics capabilities. The car had remained in production largely thanks to continued demand in North America, though this market had to wait until 1991 for the changes to appear on their cars. European markets were offered a car with a 1600cc engine and carburettors as well as the 2 litre injected unit. As with the earlier S3, the car was not sold new in the UK by Alfa Romeo, but a number of them were imported at the time, and more have found their way to the UK since. Some, such as Simon’s car have been converted to right hand drive, which makes the car more usable in the UK. Production finally ended in 1993, with an all new model, the 916 Series Spider appearing a year later. This car has recently returned from a tour of France, where Simon and his wife Claire were able to enjoy stylish open-topped motoring at its very best.
Nearly 20 years separate the design of those 105 Spiders with the chronologically next Alfa, the 33 Veloce belonging to Bristol resident, and local Alfa Romeo Owners Club Chair, Nick Grange. It surprises most people when they find out that, despite its low survival rate, the 33 is still actually the biggest selling Alfa of all time, with just under a million of them sold between 1983 and 1994. One reason why precious few seem to have survived is that the 33 struggled even when new to gain the affections of the enthusiasts in the way that the model’s predecessor, the AlfaSud, did, so when rust and old age came on, the vast majority of the cars were simply scrapped. There were two distinct generations of the 33. The first ran from 1983 until 1990 and then a major facelift was applied with new front and rear styling to bring the looks more into line with the new 164. A mild facelift was applied to the first 905 series cars in late 1986. Exterior alterations were limited to clear indicator lens, wheel covers and alloy wheels of new design, the adoption of side skirts on all models, and a new front grille. Two-tone paint schemes were discontinued. There were more significant changes inside, with a more conventionally designed dashboard and steering wheel, which superseded the innovative moveable instrument binnacle. All 1.5 variants now had the 105 PS engine from the now discontinued 1.5 QV; a TI (Turismo Internazionale) trim level was exclusive to the front-wheel drive 1.5 hatchback. Changes were made to the suspension, brakes and gearbox, with closer-spaced ratios. A new 1,712 cc 116 bhp engine was introduced on the 1.7 Quadrifoglio Verde, which replaced the 1.5 QV. The 1.7 engine was developed from the 1.5 by enlarging bore and stroke; it also used new cylinder heads, incorporating hydraulic tappets. To cope with the increased power the new QV was equipped with vented front brake discs. The 1.7 QV looked close to its predecessor, but had lost the grey mid-body stripe and gained new alloy wheels, wind deflectors on the front windows, more pronounced side skirts and a rear body-colour spoiler on the boot lid. Inside it featured a leather-covered steering wheel, red carpets, and leatherette-backed sport seats upholstered in a grey/black/red chequered cloth. Diesel models were offered in some continental markets, but these were not sold in the UK, where only 1.5 and 1.7 Green Cloverleaf hatchback models were sold, as well as a market-specific 1.7 Sportwagon estate; all three were also available in “Veloce” versions, outfitted by Alfa Romeo GB with a colour-matching Zender body kit. Nick’s car is one of the first series cars, with that bodykit marking it out as a Veloce.
These days you are more likely to come across a 155 at a gathering of Italian cars than a 33, as this rather boxy saloon has built up quite a following in recent years. One of the very nicest of the remaining cars has to be this one, belonging to Don Crompton. I know a lot of work went into cleaning and detailing it the night before and the result was impressive. The 155 was one of a series of cars built by the Fiat Group on a shared platform, the so called Tipo 3 or Tipo Tre, which sat under the Fiat Tipo, and Lancia Delta 2, as well as the Fiat Coupe. Built to replace the rear wheel drive 75, the 155 was somewhat larger in dimension than its predecessor. The 155 was designed by Italian design house I.DE.A Institute which achieved an exceptional drag coefficient of 0.29, and the rather boxy design gave the car a sizeable boot, as well. The single most significant technical change from the 75 was the change to a front-wheel drive layout. This new configuration gave cost and packaging benefits but many Alfa die-hards and the automotive press lamented the passing of the “purer” rear-wheel drive layout on a car from this sporting marque. Not even the availability of the 155 Q4, which had a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine and a permanent four-wheel drive powertrain, both derived from the Lancia Delta Integrale; making the car essentially a Lancia Delta Integrale with a different body was enough to win the sceptics over. Reception of the model was generally lukewarm. The 75 had been conceived prior to Fiat’s acquisition of the Alfa brand, so as “the last real Alfa” it cast rather a shadow over the 155; the loss of rear-wheel drive was frequently cited as the main cause of the disappointment. Nevertheless, the 155 was entered in Touring Car racing and was successful in every major championship it entered, which gradually improved its image. Belatedly, the factory introduced a wider version in 1995 (the “wide-body”) which as well as a wider track and revised steering based on racing experience or requirements, also brought in new 16-valve engines for the 1.8 and 2.0-litre whilst retaining the 2.5 V6 and making some improvements to cabin materials and build quality. There were several Sport Packs available, including a race-inspired body kit (spoiler and side skirts) and black or graphite-coloured 16-inch Speedline wheels. The more genteel could opt for the Super which came with wood inserts in the cabin and silver-painted alloy wheels. With this version, the 155 really came good. When production ceased in 1998, following the launch of the 156, 192,618 examples had been built.
Matching Don’s 155 colour-wise was the equally lovely 164 Cloverleaf Q4 of Daryl Staddon. A well known car to those in the South West, Daryl’s car was recently featured in an article in Auto Italia magazine, and the writer of the article found much to enjoy, declaring the car to be utterly magnificent. I don’t really need to be told that about a 164, as in the late 1990s, I had the pleasure of driving one for 4 years and 160,000 miles and to this day, it is the car I regret parting with more than any other of the fleet that I have owned over the years. When I bought mine, Alfa were selling a very small number of cars per month in the UK, so they were never that common, and sadly, survival rates are very low. Most people who know anything about the history of the 164 will be aware that this is one of the four so-called Type 4 cars, a joint venture involving Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia and Saab. In 1978 these four marques agreed to each develop an executive saloon based on a shared platform to compete against the likes of the Ford Granada and Opel Rekord (Vauxhall Carlton) as well as more premium saloons by BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the form of the 5-Series and E-Class, respectively. Alfa’s Project 164 started life as Project 154 and was completed in 1981, then still under Alfa Romeo. A year later, that project morphed into the 164 based on the Type Four platform. This new model was designed by Enrico Fumia of Pininfarina, with a wedge shape that afforded it a leading drag coefficient of Cd=0.30. The design would later influence the rest of the Alfa Romeo range starting in 1990 with the major redesign of the 33 and culminating with the 155, and Pininfarina also adapted it (much to the maker’s chagrin) for the 1987 Peugeot 405 and the 1989 Peugeot 605 saloons. Initial testing of the 164’s dynamic elements (engine and drivetrain) began in 1984, where mules based on the then contemporary Giulietta were used. In 1985, the first pre-production 164’s were put through their paces on the road. Heavily disguised, with many false panels and even a false nose design (borrowing heavily from the then equally undeveloped 155), sporting 4 round headlamps, these vehicle mules served to test the 164 for the gruelling 1 million kilometre static and road testing demanded of the design. In 1986 and 1987, the first 150 164’s were given their pre-production testing. In terms of engineering demands, these exceeded every Alfa before, and by quite a substantial margin. In Morocco, desert testing saw 5 grey 164 Twinsparks and V6’s undergo the equivalent of the Paris-Dakar rally. Road conditions varied from good tarmac to off-road conditions, and accelerometers confirmed the superiority of the 164 in terms of passenger comfort. This data was cross-confirmed in the engineering laboratory with a sophisticated dummy in the driver’s seat, with accelerometers both in its seat, and in its ears to mimic that of the semi-circular canals of the ear. The Twinspark and the V6 underwent handling trials at Arese. The Twinspark displayed very mature driving manners at the limit, with minimal skid. The V6 displayed a 25% increase in at-the-limit skid, a natural consequence of its greater nose weight. ABS testing confirmed that the Twinspark has superior braking to the V6. Brake linings of the 164’s were run at maximum braking until they literally glowed with heat, and displayed no deviation in form. The 164 was the first Alfa to feature slotted double-walled disc brakes. At no point were the discs drilled to release excess heat, the original design being demonstrated to be excellent. Sound production was tested in an anechoic chamber, the car being subjected to stress and road noise testing, with instruments and with live subjects at the wheel, on a specially designed rig. Electromagnetic stability of the complex electronic system was also tested, in an anechoic chamber equipped with EM emitters (radar). The 164 engines were run to destruction, the Twinspark proving to be the most robust, and with the longest possible engine life. The V6 displayed only 10% shorter overall engine life. All this testing meant that by the time the production car, called the 164 was unveiled at the 1987 Frankfurt Motor Show – the last model to be developed while the Alfa Romeo was still a fully independent company, even though the launch was a few months after the takeover by Fiat – that the car was far more thoroughly developed and tested than any Alfa preceding it. There were plenty of innovations in the build, too, thanks to the extensive use of galvanised steel for the frame and various body panels for the first time in the brand’s history. Moreover, the car featured advanced electronics thanks to the most complex wiring harness fitted to any Alfa Romeo. For example: it had three onboard computers (one for air conditioning, one for instrumentation, and one for the engine management); air conditioning and instrument functions shared a multiple-mode coded Zilog Z80-class microcontroller for dashboard functioning). The instrumentation included a full range of gauges including an advanced check-panel.. The car was a sensation at launch. For a start, it looked fantastic thanks to Enrico Fumia of Pininfarina’ design. The first 1:1 scale model of the car had been produced in 1982 and design cues had been publicly revealed on the Alfa Romeo Vivace concept car, which was exhibited at the 1986 Turin Motorshow that went on to influence the design of the Alfa Romeo GTV and Spider (916 series) launched in 1993, but the result was distinctive and elegant and very different from any of its rivals, or indeed any of the other Tipo 4 cars. The 164 became the first Alfa to benefit from extensive use of computer aided design, used to calculate structural stresses that resulted in a very rigid but still relatively lightweight chassis. Although sharing the same platform as that of the Lancia Thema, Fiat Croma and Saab 9000, by virtue of the fact that it was the last of the four to enter production, it featured unique front suspension geometry and the most distinctive styling of the lot. In fact, for example, the other cars all shared identical side door panels. Though still voluminous, the 164 had the tightest aperture to the boot, which had a 510-Litre capacity. The interior was spacious and modern, available with standard velour seating or leather trim depending on the model. Its dashboard continued the avantgarde design of the exterior with a centre dashboard that was dominated by a large number of seemingly identical buttons arranged in rows. Air-direction within the ventilation system was controlled by a pair of servomechanisms, which were constructed using notoriously fragile plastic gears that were prone to failure. Depending on the model, the 164 could feature automatic climate control and electronically controlled damping suspension – the latter, for example, in the sports-oriented Quadrifoglio Verde (“Green Cloverleaf “) and 164S models. This suspension actively reduced damping in response to conditions to provide a dynamic compromise between road holding and comfort. At launch, the original 164 range comprised three models: a 148 bhp 2.0 Twin Spark, the 192 bhp 3.0i V6 12-valve and a 2.5 Turbodiesel (badged “TD”). It took a year before the first cars reached the UK and the first eighteen months saw only the 3 litre model offered. The bigger selling 2.0 TS arrived in the simmer of 1990, just before the range was expanded by the 4-cylinder 2.0i Turbo, the sports-oriented 3.0i V6 Quadrifoglio Verde (badged “QV” or “S”) and North American export versions that included the luxury-oriented 164 L (“L” for Lusso) and the 164 S (in essence, the “QV”). Apart from minor running production upgrades, the next change came in 1993 with the launch of the 164 Super. Key differences on the outside consisted of larger bumpers with chrome trimmings added to the upper edge and revised headlights with a slimmer profile. Inside, there were revised instruments and a centre console that featured more delineated switchgear. The range was now also bolstered by a 3.0 V6 24V with a 24-valve engine upgrade and the 3.0 V6 Quadrifoglio 4 (badged “Q4”), which was the most powerful and sole all wheel drive variant built. Production ended in late 1997, with a gap of nearly two years before the replacement model would go on sale.
I replaced my 164 with a 916 Series GTV. According to the DVLA records, that car is also no longer with us (though it lived until relatively recently), but there are plenty of both the GTV and Spider models from this range that are, and there were a couple of them here today. The 916 Series is a range which achieved classic status almost before production ceased, and thanks to the much improved rust protection and build quality standards of the late 90s, the survival rate is good. Prices for the remaining cars did continue to diminish for some time but in recent months they have started to increase suggesting that the market has seen the appeal of these cars, something the owners did not need to be told. The 916 Series cars were conceived to replace two very different models in the Alfa range. First of these was the open topped 105 Series Spider which had been in production since 1966 and by the 1990s was long overdue a replacement. Alfa decided to combine a follow on to the Alfetta GTV, long out of production, with a new Spider model, and first work started in the late 1980s. The task was handed to Pininfarina, and Enrico Fumia’s initial renderings were produced in September 1987, with the first clay models to complete 1:1 scale model made in July 1988. Fumia produced something rather special. Clearly an Italian design, with the Alfa Romeo grille with dual round headlights, recalling the Audi-based Pininfarina Quartz, another design produced by Enrico Fumia back in 1981, the proposal was for a car that was low-slung, wedge-shaped with a low nose and high kicked up tail. The back of the car is “cut-off” with a “Kamm tail” giving improved aerodynamics. The Spider would share these traits with the GTV except that the rear is rounded, and would feature a folding soft-top with five hoop frame, which would completely disappear from sight under a flush fitting cover. An electric folding mechanism would be fitted as an option. Details included a one-piece rear lamp/foglamp/indicator strip across the rear of the body, the minor instruments in the centre console angled towards the driver. The exterior design was finished in July 1988. After Vittorio Ghidella, Fiat’s CEO, accepted the design, Alfa Romeo Centro Stile under Walter de Silva was made responsible for the completion of the detail work and also for the design of the interiors, as Pininfarina’s proposal was not accepted. The Spider and GTV were to be based on the then-current Fiat Group platform, called Tipo Due, in this case a heavily modified version with an all new multilink rear suspension. The front suspension and drivetrain was based on the 1992 Alfa Romeo 155 saloon. Chief engineer at that time was Bruno Cena. Drag coefficient was 0.33 for the GTV and 0.38 for the Spider. Production began in late 1993 with four cars, all 3.0 V6 Spiders, assembled at the Alfa Romeo Arese Plant in Milan. In early 1994 the first GTV was produced, with 2.0 Twin Spark engine. The first premiere was then held at the Paris Motor Show in 1994. The GTV and Spider were officially launched at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1995 and sales began the same year. The cars were well received. At launch, many journalists commented that Alfa had improved overall build quality considerably and that it came very close to equalling its German rivals. I can vouch for that, as I owned an early GTV for eighteen months, and it was a well built and reliable car. In 1997 a new engine, a 24-valve 3.0 litre V6, was available for the GTV along with bigger, 12.0 inch brakes and red four-pot calipers from Brembo. The console knobs were changed from round central to rectangle ones and to a three-spoke steering wheel. Some versions were upgraded with different front bumper mesh to bring the wind noise down to 74 dBA. In May 1998 the cars were revamped for the first time, creating the Phase 2 models. Most of the alterations were inside. The interior was changed with new centre console, painted letters on skirt seals, changed controls and switches arrangement and different instrument cluster. Outside, the main changes included chrome frame around the grille and colour-coded side skirts and bumpers. A new engine was introduced, the 142 hp 1.8 Twin Spark, and others were changed: the 2.0 Twin Spark was updated with a modular intake manifold with different length intakes and a different plastic cover. Power output of the 2.0 TS was raised to 153 hp. Engines changed engine management units and have a nomenclature of CF2. The dashboard was available in two new colours in addition to the standard black: Red Style and Blue Style, and with it new colour-coded upholstery and carpets. The 3.0 24V got a six-speed manual gearbox as standard and the 2.0 V6 TB engine was now also available for the Spider. August 2000 saw the revamp of engines to comply with new emission regulations, Euro3. The new engines were slightly detuned, and have a new identification code: CF3. 3.0 V6 12V was discontinued for the Spider and replaced with 24V Euro3 version from the GTV. 2.0 V6 Turbo and 1.8 T.Spark were discontinued as they did not comply with Euro3 emissions. By the 2001-2002 model year, only 2 engines were left, the 2.0 Twin.Spark and 3.0 V6 24V, until the Phase 3 engine range arrived. The Arese plant, where the cars had been built, was closing and, in October 2000, the production of GTV/Spider was transferred to Pininfarina Plant in San Giorgio Canavese in Turin. In 2003 there was another and final revamp, creating the Phase 3, also designed in Pininfarina but not by Enrico Fumia. The main changes were focused on the front with new 147-style grille and different front bumpers with offset numberplate holder. Change to the interior was minimal with different centre console and upholstery pattern and colours available. Instrument illumination colour was changed from green to red. Main specification change is an ASR traction control, not available for 2.0 TS Base model. New engines were introduced: 163 hp 2.0 JTS with direct petrol injection and 237 hp 3.2 V6 24V allowing a 158 mph top speed. Production ceased in late 2004, though some cars were still available for purchase till 2006. A total of 80,747 cars were made, and sales of the GTV and Spider were roughly equal. More V6 engined GTVs than Spiders were made, but in 2.0 guise, it was the other way round with the open model proving marginally more popular.
When the 156 was launched in 1997, things looked very bright for Alfa. Striking good looks were matched by a driving experience that the press reckoned was better than any of its rivals. The car picked up the Car of the Year award at the end of the year. and when it went on sale in the UK in early 1998, waiting lists soon stretched out more than 12 months. Reflecting the way the market was going, Alfa put a diesel engine under the bonnet, launched a (not very good, it has to be admitted) automated transmission with the SeleSpeed, added a very pretty if not that commodious an estate model they called Sport Wagon and then added a top spec 3.2 litre GTA with its 250 bhp engine giving it a performance to outrun all its rivals. And yet, it did not take long before the press turned on the car, seduced by the latest 3 Series once more, citing build quality issues which were in fact far from universal. The 156 received a very minor facelift in 2002 and a more significant one in late 2003 with a new front end that was a clue to what would come with the car’s successor. Production ceased in 2005.
The 156 GTA cars were launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2001. Named after the Alfa Romeo GTA from the 1960s, the letters GTA meaning Gran Turismo Alleggerita (English: lightened Grand Tourer). 2,973 berlinas and 1,678 Sportwagons were built until the GTA production stopped in October 2005 as the 156 gave way to the Alfa Romeo 159. The GTA came with the 3.2 litre Bussone V6 engine (The big Busso, so called after legendary Ferrari engineer Giuseppe Busso), the largest capacity version of the much loved V6 engine. With a 93 mm bore and a 78 mm stroke giving it a capacity of 3,179 cc, it generated 250 PS (247 hp) and 300 N·m (220 lb/ft) of torque. After market Alfa Romeo specialist Autodelta produced performance versions up to 3.7 litres and 400 PS. The European Touring Car Championship winning 156 GTA was however running a 2.0 litre 4-cylinder 300 PS engine due to class regulations. The GTA variants were equipped with either a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed Selespeed (paddles in steering wheel, hydraulically operated robotised) gearbox, had a lowered and stiffened suspension, a distinctive body kit, wider rear arches and leather interior. The suspension was specifically made for the GTA by Fiat Research Centre and Fiat Auto Design and Development Department. Steering was also made faster, only 1.7 turns from lock to lock compared to 2.1 in normal models. The GTA had also larger brakes (Brembo), with 12″ front discs and 10.8″ at the rear. The front discs were later upgraded to 13 ” to cope with the performance potential. Even though the name suggests a light car, the GTA isn’t any lighter than other 156s, as it was actually 91 kilograms (201 lb) heavier than the 2.5 litre V6 engined version. The GTA did not get the Giugiaro designed facelift introduced to the 156 in 2002, but continued with the acclaimed Walter de Silva design to the very end of production.
Having a rather shorter production life was the GTA version of the smaller 147. Launched in 2002. this car was intended to compete with the most sporting Golf and Focus models of the day. as well as injecting more potency into a range which always seemed like it needed more power. Fitted with a 3.2 V6 engine which produced 247 bhp, the 147GTA was the most powerful hot hatch available at the time, and the modifications to the body, including lower sills and wider wheel arches, if anything, made it look even better rather than endowing it with the sort of “after market look” that can afflict some high end performance versions of regular family cars. Performance figures were impressive, with the car able to achieve a top speed of 153 mph. It had a widened body by 15 mm at each side to accommodate the 225/45R17 tyres. Most models had a 6-speed manual transmissions; whilst a smaller number of other models used the semi automatic Selespeed system. Production ran through to 2004 and in total 5,029 147 GTAs were built, 1004 of which were Selespeeds. Only around 300 came to the UK, so this was never a common sighting on British roads. There were two stunning examples of the car on show here.
Replacement for the much loved 156 was the 159. The Alfa Romeo 159 had a troubled development, being designed in the midst of the Fiat-General Motors joint venture which was terminated in 2005. Originally, the 159 was intended to use GM’s Epsilon platform; however, late during its development it was changed to the GM/Fiat Premium platform. The Premium platform was more refined and expensive, being intended for E-segment executive cars such as an Alfa Romeo 166 successor but that never materialised, so Alfa Romeo attempted to recoup some of the platform development costs with the 159. General Motors originally planned Cadillac, Buick and Saab models for this platform but ending up discarded them over cost concerns. Unfortunately, the 159’s late transition to what was fundamentally made as an E-segment platform resulted in the 159 having excessive weight, a problem shared by its sisters, the Alfa Romeo Brera coupe and Spider convertible. The 159 was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro in collaboration with the Centro Stile Alfa Romeo. The nose featured a traditional Alfa Romeo V-shaped grille and bonnet, and cylindrical head light clusters. Similar to its coupé counterpart, front of the car was influenced by the Giugiaro designed 2002 Brera Concept. Several exterior design cues were intended to make the car appear larger, supposedly to appeal to potential buyers in the United States; however, the 159 was never exported to that region. The interior featured styling treatments familiar from earlier cars, including the 156, such as deeply recessed instruments which are angled towards the driver. Alfa Romeo intended for the 159 to compete more directly with BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi by using higher quality interior materials; however, it has been said that Alfa Romeo misjudged their brand’s positioning relative to the more well-known German luxury automakers. Several levels of trim were available, depending on market. Four trim levels: Progression, Distinctive, Exclusive and Turismo Internazionale (TI) featured across Europe. In the UK there were three levels of trim: Turismo, Lusso and Turismo Internazionale (TI). A Sportwagon variant was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 2006. The 159’s size made it considerably more comfortable than the 156 due to its larger, roomy interior. However, the considerable growth in dimensions deterred many 156 owners from considering the 159 as a direct replacement model, and something seemed to be lost in the character of the new car. Initially offered with a choice of 1.9 and 2,2 litre 4 cylinder and 3.2 litre V6 petrol engines and 1.9 and 2.4 litre diesel units, and an optional four wheel drive system. An automatic gearbox option for the 2.4 JTDM diesel model was also launched in late 2006, and later extended to other versions. In 2007 a four-wheel drive diesel model was released and the 2.4-litre diesel engines’ power output increased to 210 hp, with a newly reintroduced TI trim level also available as an option. For model year 2008 the mechanics and interiors of the 159 were further developed. The 3.2 litre V6 model was offered in front wheel drive configuration, achieving a top speed of 160 mph. All model variants came with Alfa’s electronic “Q2” limited slip differential. As a result of newly introduced aluminium components, a 45 kilograms (99 lb) weight reduction was achieved. For 2009, Alfa introduced a new turbocharged petrol engine badged as “TBi”. This 1742 cc unit had direct injection and variable valve timing in both inlet and exhaust cams. This new engine had 200 PS (197 hp) and would eventually replace the GM-derived 2.2 and 1.9 JTS units.In 2010, all petrol engines except for the 1750 TBi were retired, ending the use of General Motors-based engines in the 159. The only remaining diesel engines were the 136 PS and 170 PS 2.0 JTDm engines. In 2011, the 159 was powered only by diesel engines. In the UK, Alfa Romeo stopped taking orders for the 159 on 8 July 2011. Production for all markets ceased at the end of 2011, after 240,000 had been built.
Follow on to the 916 series GTV and Spider were the Brera and Spider models. Visually similar to the 159 models at the front, the Brera and Spider boasted unique styling from the A pillars rearwards. They were offered with the same range of engines as the 159, and thanks to that strong, but rather heavy platform on which they were built, even the 3.2 litre V6 cars were more Grand Tourer than rapid sports car. Pininfarina was responsible for both models. The Brera was first to market, in 2005, with the Spider following in 2006. Production of both ceased in late 2010, by which time 12,488 units of the Spider and 21,786 units of the Brera had been built. It will be very surprising if these do not attain classic status, and the consequent rise in values, though that has not happened yet. Seen here among the Spiders was Tania Wightmans’ immaculately presented car, which she had clearly spent all evening cleaning, as I know that it had been on the roads the previous day when she joined the Abarth Brecon Beacons Driving Day. Pete Edmunds, owner of the black Brera had clearly been busy too, as he had the squashed insects resulting from a trip to Italy and back to clear off his car before turning up. He had also done an excellent job. The other Spiders were also very well turned out.
There is now an enthusiastic MiTo Owners Club, so where Italian cars are gathered together, it is quite common to get a whole line of the smallest current Alfa assembled, but there was just one of them here. Known internally as the Tipo 955, the MiTo (the name allegedly standing for Mi-lano and To-rino, where it was designed and is built, respectively, and a pun on the Italian word for “myth”), the smallest Alfa ever made is a three-door only supermini, which was officially introduced on June 19, 2008, at Castello Sforzesco in Milan,, going on sale a few weeks later, with UK supplies reaching the country after the British Motor Show in 2008. Built on the Fiat Small platform used on the Grande Punto, and also employed by the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, the MiTo was intended to compete with the MINI and the newer Audi A1. Designed by Centro Stile Alfa Romeo, the design is believed to be inspired by the 8C Competizione. A range of engines has been offered since launch, though sadly the GTA Concept that was shown at the 2009 Geneva Show never made it to production.
The current Giulietta arrived in 2010 as a much awaited replacement for the 147. Spy photos had suggested that the car was going to look very like Fiat’s ill-fated Bravo, but the reality was that it had a style all of its own. A range of very efficient petrol and diesel engines were among the most emissions-efficient in their class at the time, and a 250 bhp Quadrifoglio version at the top of the range made sure there was something for the man who wanted a rapid, but quite subtle hatch. The car has enjoyed reasonable success in the UK, and the car has certainly found favour among Alfa enthusiasts, so it was no surprise to find a couple of them among the displays.
No question about it, this fabulous 1972 Pantera was the loudest car at the event, and by some margin. Designed by American Tom Tjaarda, whose death at the age of 82 was announced a couple of weeks ago, and unlike the Mangusta, which employed a steel backbone chassis, the Pantera was a steel monocoque design, the first instance of De Tomaso using this construction technique. The Pantera logo included a version of Argentina’s flag turned on its side with a T-shaped symbol that was the brand used by De Tomaso’s Argentinian cattle ranching ancestors. The car made its public debut in Modena in March 1970 and was presented at the 1970 New York Motor Show a few weeks later. Approximately a year later the first production Panteras were sold, and production was increased to three per day. The curious slat-backed seats which had attracted comment at the New York Show were replaced by more conventional body-hugging sports-car seats in the production cars: leg-room was generous but the pedals were off-set and headroom was insufficient for drivers above approximately 6 ft. Reflecting its makers’ transatlantic ambitions, the Pantera came with an abundance of standard features which appeared exotic in Europe, such as electric windows, air conditioning and even “doors that buzz when … open”. By the time the Pantera reached production, the interior was in most respects well sorted, although resting an arm on the central console could lead to inadvertently activating the poorly located cigarette lighter. The first 1971 Panteras were powered by a Ford 351 cu in (5.8 litre) V8 engine that produced a severely underrated 330 hp. Stock dynos over the years proved that power was more along the lines of about 380 hp. The high torque provided by the Ford engine reduced the need for excessive gear changing at low speeds: this made the car much less demanding to drive in urban conditions than many of the locally built competitor products. The ZF transaxle used in the Mangusta was also used for the Pantera: a passenger in an early Pantera recorded that the mechanical noises emanating from the transaxle were more intrusive than the well restrained engine noise. Power-assisted four-wheel disc brakes and rack and pinion steering were all standard equipment on the Pantera. The 1971 Pantera could accelerate to 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. In the summer of 1971, a visitor to the De Tomaso plant at Modena identified two different types of Pantera awaiting shipment, being respectively the European and American versions. From outside, the principal differences were the larger tail lamps on the cars destined for America, along with addition of corner marker lamps. The visitor was impressed by the large number of cars awaiting shipment; but in reality, spending the best part of a year under dust covers in a series of large hangars probably did nothing for the cash-flow of the business or the condition of some of the cars by the time they crossed the Atlantic. Late in 1971, Ford began importing Panteras for the American market to be sold through its Lincoln Mercury dealers. The first 75 cars were simply European imports and are known for their “push-button” door handles and hand-built Carrozzeria Vignale bodies. A total of 1,007 Panteras reached the United States that first year. These cars were poorly built, and several Panteras broke down during testing on Ford’s test track. Early crash testing at UCLA showed that safety cage engineering was not very well understood in the 1970s. Rust-proofing was minimal on these early cars, and the quality of fit and finish was poor, with large amounts of body solder being used to cover body panel flaws. Notably, Elvis Presley once fired a gun at his Pantera after it would not start. An L model (“Lusso”) was added in 1972 and a GTS version in 1974, but it was not enough and Ford ended their importation to the US in 1975, having sold around 5,500 cars. De Tomaso continued to build the car in ever-escalating forms of performance and luxury for almost two decades for sale in the rest of the world. A small number of Panteras were imported to the US by grey market importers in the 1980s, notably Panteramerica and AmeriSport. After 1974, Ford US discontinued the Cleveland 351 engine, but production continued in Australia until 1982. De Tomaso started sourcing their V8s from Australia once the American supplies dried up. These engines were tuned in Switzerland and were available with a range of outputs up to 360 PS. The chassis was completely revised in 1980, beginning with chassis number 9000. From May 1980 the lineup included the GT5, which had bonded and riveted-on fibreglass wheelarch extensions and from November 1984 the GT5S model which had blended arches and a distinctive wide-body look. The GT5 also incorporated better brakes, a more luxurious interior, much larger wheels and tires and the fibreglass body kit also included an air dam and side skirts. Production of the wide body GT5 (and similarly equipped narrow body GTS models) continued until 1985, when the GT5-S replaced the GT5. Although the factory has not made its records available, an analysis based on Vehicle Identification Numbers by the Pantera Owners Club of America (POCA) late model (9000 series) registrar has shown that fewer than 252 GT5 Panteras were likely to have been built. The GT5-S featured single piece flared steel fenders instead of the GT5’s riveted-on fibreglass flares, and a smaller steel front air dam. The ‘S’ in the GT5-S name stood for “steel”. Otherwise the GT5-S was largely identical to the GT5. The POCA 9000 series registrar’s VIN analysis indicates that fewer than 183 GT5-S Panteras were built. Concurrent GTS production continued, on a custom order and very limited basis, until the late 1980s. The car continued to use a Ford V8 engine, although in 1988, when the supply of Ford 351 Cleveland engines from Australia ran out, De Tomaso began installing Ford 351 Windsor engines in the Pantera instead. For 1990 the 351 was changed to the Ford 302 cu in (4942 cc, commonly called a “5.0”). Incorporating a Marcello Gandini facelift, suspension redesign, partial chassis redesign and the new, smaller engine, the Pantera 90 Si model was introduced in 1990. Only 38 90 Si models were sold before the Pantera was finally phased out in 1993 to make way for the radical, carbon-fibre-bodied Guarà. Some say 41 were built (with the last one not finished until 1996), of which four were targa models. The targas were converted by Pavesi directly off the production lines. In all, about 7,200 Panteras were built. This is an early example, dating from 1972, though it has been modified, with a wider body than was fitted to those first cars, and adapted for racing (as well as gaining that loud exhaust).
There were slightly fewer Ferrari here than in 2016, which is bit of a surprise, given the weather forecast (Ferrari owners are notoriously reluctant to take their cars out in the wet!), but among those which did come, there was plenty of variety, and these cars proved a huge attraction for the crowds. Oldest of the cars here was a fabulous 328GTB. Introduced at the 1985 Frankfurt Show alongside the Mondial 3.2 series, the Ferrari 328 GTB and GTS (Type F106) were the successors to the Ferrari 308 GTB and GTS which had first been seen in October 1975. While mechanically still based on the 308 GTB and GTS respectively, small modifications were made to the body style and engine, most notably an increase in engine displacement to 3185 cc for increased power and torque output. As had been the case for a generation of the smaller Ferraris, the model name referred to the total cubic capacity of the engine, 3.2 litres, and 8 for the number of cylinders. Essentially the new model was a revised and updated version of the 308 GTS, which had survived for eight years without any radical change to the overall shape, albeit with various changes to the 3-litre engine. The 328 model presented a softening of the wedge profile of its predecessor, with a redesigned nose that had a more rounded shape, which was complemented by similar treatment to the tail valance panel. The revised nose and tail sections featured body colour bumpers integral with the valance panels, which reflected the work done concurrently to present the Mondial 3.2 models, with which they also shared a similar radiator grille and front light assembly layout. Thus all the eight-cylinder cars in the range shared fairly unified front and rear aspects, providing a homogeneous family image. The exhaust air louvres behind the retractable headlight pods on the 308 series disappeared, coupled with an increase in the size of the front lid radiator exhaust air louvre, which had been introduced on the 308 Quattrovalvole models, whilst a new style and position of exterior door catch was also provided. The interior trim also had a thorough overhaul, with new designs for the seat panel upholstery and stitching, revised door panels and pulls, together with more modern switchgear, which complemented the external updating details. Optional equipment available was air conditioning, metallic paint, Pirelli P7 tyres, a leather dashboard, leather headlining to the removable roof panel plus rear window surround, and a rear aerofoil (standard on Japanese market models). In the middle of 1988 ABS brakes were made available as an option, which necessitated a redesign of the suspension geometry to provide negative offset. This in turn meant that the road wheel design was changed to accommodate this feature. The original flat spoke “star” wheels became a convex design, in the style as fitted to the 3.2 Mondial models, whether ABS was fitted or not. The main European market 328 GTS models had a tubular chassis with a factory type reference F 106 MS 100. Disc brakes, with independent suspension via wishbones, coil springs, and hydraulic shock absorbers, were provided all round, with front and rear anti roll bars. There were various world market models, each having slight differences, with right and left hand drive available. The V8 engine was essentially of the same design as that used in the 308 Quattrovalvole model, with an increase in capacity to 3185 cc. The engine retained the Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection system of its predecessor, but was fitted with a Marelli MED 806 A electronic ignition system, to produce a claimed power output of 270 bhp at 7000 rpm. As with the preceding 308 models the engine was mounted in unit with the all synchromesh five-speed manual transmission assembly, which was below, and to the rear of the engine’s sump. The 328 GTS continued in production for four years, until replaced by the 348 ts model in the autumn of 1989, during which time 6068 examples were produced, GTS production outnumbering the GTB (1344 produced) version almost five to one.
The rarest Ferrari present was this wonderfully presented 512M. Just 500 of these were made, only 50 of them in right hand drive, and it is believed that somewhere between 37 and 41 of them are in the UK at present. Many people said that they had never seen one, and that is no surprise. The 512M was the final evolution of the much more familiar Testarossa, which was launched at the Paris Show in October 1984. The Pininfarina-designed car was produced until 1991, with the same basic design then going through two model revisions, with the 512 TR and later F512 M which were produced from 1992 to 1996 before the model was replaced by the front-engined 550 Maranello. Almost 10,000 Testarossas, 512 TRs, and F512 Ms were produced, making it one of the most-produced Ferrari models, despite its high price and exotic design. The Testarossa followed the same concept as the BB512, but was intended to fix some of the criticisms of the earlier car, such as a cabin that got increasingly hot from the indoor plumbing that ran between the front-mounted radiator and the midships-mounted engine and a lack of luggage space. This resulted in a car that was larger, and at 1,976 millimetres (78 in) wide the Testarossa was half a foot wider than the Boxer and immediately condemned for being too wide, though these days it does not appear anything like as wide as it did when new. This resulted in an increased wheelbase that stretched about 64 mm (2.5 in) to 2,550 mm (100 in) which was used to accommodate luggage in a carpeted storage space under the front forward-opening lid. The increase in length created extra storage space behind the seats in the cabin. Headroom was also increased with a roofline half an inch taller than the Boxer. The design came from Pininfarina with a team of designers led by design chief Leonardo Fioravanti, the designer of many contemporary Ferraris. The design was originated by Nicosia, but the guidance of Fioravanti was equally important. Being a trained aerodynamicist, Fioravanti applied his know-how to set the aerodynamics layout of the car. This meant the large side intakes were not only a statement of style but actually functional – they drew clean air to cool the side radiators and then went upward and left the car through the ventilation holes located at the engine lid and the tail. As a result, the Testarossa did not need a rear spoiler like Lamborghini’s Countach yet produced zero lift at its rear axle. The aerodynamic drag coefficient of 0.36 was also significantly better than the Lamborghini’s 0.42. Pininfarina’s body was a departure from the curvaceous boxer—one which caused some controversy. The side strakes sometimes referred to as “cheese graters” or “egg slicers,” that spanned from the doors to the rear wings were needed for rules in several countries outlawing large openings on cars. The Testarossa had twin radiators in the back with the engine instead of a single radiator up-front. In conjunction the strakes provided cool air to the rear-mounted side radiators, thus keeping the engine from overheating. The strakes also made the Testarossa wider at the rear than in the front, thus increasing stability and handling. One last unique addition to the new design was a single high mounted rear view mirror on the driver’s side. On US based cars, the mirror was lowered to a more normal placement in 1987 and quickly joined by a passenger side rear view mirror for the driver to be able to make safe easy lane changes. Like its predecessor, the Testarossa used double wishbone front and rear suspension systems. Ferrari improved traction by adding 10-inch-wide alloy rear wheels. The Testarossa drivetrain was also an evolution of the BB 512i. Its engine used near identical displacement and compression ratio, but unlike the BB 512i had four-valve cylinder heads that were finished in red. The capacity was 4,943 cc, in a flat-12 engine mid mounted. Each cylinder had four valves, lubricated via a dry sump system, and a compression ratio of 9.20:1. These combined to provide a maximum torque of 490 Nm (361 lb/ft) at 4500 rpm and a maximum power of 390 hp at 6300 rpm. That was enough to allow the Testarossa to accelerate from 0–60 mph in 5.2 seconds and on to 100 mph. The original Testarossa was re-engineered for 1992 and released as the 512 TR, at the Los Angeles Auto Show, effectively as a completely new car, with an improved weight distribution of 41% front: 59% rear. The F512 M was introduced at the 1994 Paris Auto Show, with the M standing for “modificata”. That car is easy to spot as it lost the pop-up headlights and gained awkward glazed in units.
With styling that had a close link to the Testarossa, the next V8 Ferrari to be launched, in 1989, was the 348, as a replacement for the 328 GTB/GTS models, and there were several examples of this model here. At launch, the 348 series were not that enthusiastically received by the press who found much to complain about. The 348’s styling differed from previous models with straked side air intakes and rectangular taillights resembling the Testarossa. Launched in two models, a coupe badged 348 tb (Trasversale Berlinetta) and targa roofed 348 ts (Targa), these were soon joined by a fully open car, the 348 Spider. All featured a normally aspirated 3.4-litre version of the quad-cam, four-valve-per-cylinder V8 engine. As with its predecessors, the model number was derived from this configuration, with the first two digits being the displacement and the third being the number of cylinders. The engine, which produced 300 hp was mounted longitudinally and coupled to a transverse manual gearbox, like the Mondial t with which the 348 shared many components. This was a significant change for Ferrari, with most previous small Ferraris using a transverse engine with longitudinal transmission. The “T” in the model name 348 tb and ts refers to the transverse position of the gearbox. The 348 was fitted with dual-computer engine management using twin Bosch Motronic ECUs, double-redundant anti-lock brakes, and self-diagnosing air conditioning and heating systems. Late versions (1993 and beyond) have Japanese-made starter motors and Nippondenso power generators to improve reliability, as well as the battery located within the front left fender for better weight distribution. Similar to the Testarossa but departing from the BB 512 and 308/328, the oil and coolant radiators were relocated from the nose to the sides, widening the waist of the car substantially, but making the cabin much easier to cool since hoses routing warm water no longer ran underneath the cabin as in the older front-radiator cars. This also had the side effect of making the doors very wide. The 348 was equipped with a dry-sump oil system to prevent oil starvation at high speeds and during hard cornering. The oil level can only be accurately checked on the dipstick when the motor is running due to this setup. The 348 was fitted with adjustable ride-height suspension and a removable rear sub-frame to speed up the removal of the engine for maintenance. Despite trenchant criticism of the car, especially its handling, 2,895 examples of the 348 tb and 4,230 of the 348 ts were produced. Paul Talbot’s beautifully presented 348 Spider was joined by a couple of 348 tb models.
Launched in May 1994 as an evolution of the Ferrari 348, just about everything was changed, and improved for the F355, seen here in Berlinetta and Targa formats. Design emphasis for the F355 was placed on significantly improved performance, but driveability across a wider range of speeds and in different environments such as low-speed city traffic was also addressed, as the Honda NS-X had proved that you could make a supercar that could be lived with every day. Apart from the displacement increase from 3.4 to 3.5 litres, the major difference between the V8 engine in the 348 and F355 was the introduction of a 5-valve cylinder head. This new head design allowed for better intake permeability and resulted in an engine that was considerably more powerful, producing 375 hp. The longitudinal 90° V8 engine was bored 2mm over the 348’s engine, resulting in the small increase in displacement. The F355 had a Motronic system controlling the electronic fuel injection and ignition systems, with a single spark plug per cylinder, resulting in an unusual 5 valves per cylinder configuration. This was reflected in the name, which did not follow the formula from the previous decades of engine capacity in litres followed by number of cylinders such as the 246 = 2.4 litres and 6 cylinders and the 308 of 3.0 litres and 8 cylinders. For the F355, Ferrari used engine capacity followed by the number of valves per cylinder (355 = 3.5 litres engine capacity and 5 valves per cylinder) to bring the performance advances introduced by a 5 valve per cylinder configuration into the forefront. 5. The frame was a steel monocoque with tubular steel rear sub-frame with front and rear suspensions using independent, unequal-length wishbones, coil springs over gas-filled telescopic shock absorbers with electronic control servos and anti-roll bars. The car allows selection between two damper settings, “Comfort” and “Sport”. Ferrari fitted all road-going F355 models with Pirelli tires, size 225/40ZR 18 in front and 265/40 ZR 18 in the rear. Although the F355 was equipped with power-assisted steering (intended to improve low-speed driveability relative to the outgoing 348), this could optionally be replaced with a manual steering rack setup by special order. Aerodynamic designs for the car included over 1,300 hours of wind tunnel analysis. The car incorporates a Nolder profile on the upper portion of the tail, and a fairing on the underbody that generates downforce when the car is at speed. These changes not only made the car faster but also much better to drive,m restoring Ferrari to the top of the tree among its rivals. At launch, two models were available: the coupe Berlinetta and the targa topped GTS, which was identical to the Berlinetta apart from the fact that the removable “targa-style” hard top roof could be stored behind the seats. The F355 would prove to be last in the series of mid-engined Ferraris with the Flying Buttress rear window, a lineage going back to the 1965 Dino 206 GT, unveiled at the Paris Auto Show. The Spider (convertible) version came later in the year. In 1997 the Formula One style paddle gear shift electrohydraulic manual transmission was introduced with the Ferrari 355 F1 adding £6,000 to the dealer asking price. This system promised faster gearchanges and allowed the driver to keep both hands on the steering wheel, It proved to be very popular and was the beginning of the end for the manual-transmission Ferrari. Ferrari produced 4,871 road-going Berlinetta models, of which 3,829 were 6-speed and 1,042 were F1 transmissions. The Spider proved to be the second-most popular F355 model, with a total production of 3,717 units, of which 2,664 were produced with the 6-speed transmission and another 1,053 produced with the F1 transmission. A total of 2,577 GTS models were produced, with 2,048 delivered with the 6-speed transmission and another 529 with the F1 transmission. This was the last GTS targa style model produced by Ferrari. This made a total production run of 11,273 units making the F355 the most-produced Ferrari at the time, though this sales record would be surpassed by the next generation 360 and later, the F430.
Surprisingly, given its popularity even now, the 360 Modena was only represented – until a late arrival after most of the cars had gone home – by David Morris’ 360 Challenge Stradale. This was a low production track day focused car based on the 360 Modena. From a handling and braking performance perspective, it was the equivalent of adding a FHP (Fiorano Handling Pack) to the 360, which was available for V12 models such as the 550, 575 or F599 but never separately for the V8’s. It was inspired by the 360 Modena Challenge racing car series so the focus was primarily on improving its track lapping performance credentials by concentrating on handling, braking and weight reduction characteristics, which are essential in pure racing cars. Ferrari engineers designed the car from the outset with a goal of 20% track day use in mind and 80% road use. With only a small 20 bhp improvement in engine power from the Modena (and boasting an improved power-to-weight ratio) the Challenge Stradale accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.1 seconds according to Ferrari, four tenths faster than a Modena, but bald figures do not paint the full picture. For the enthusiastic driver the differences are truly staggering; genuine systematic improvements were achieved to the setup and feel of the whole car. Throttle response from the digital throttle was ratcheted up and feedback through the steering wheel was enhanced. The responsiveness of the controls, the balance of the chassis, the braking performance and the driver feedback all contribute greatly to the overall driving experience. Thanks to CCM brakes borrowed from the Enzo, some lower weight parts and a FHP handling pack, the Challenge Stradale was able to claim an impressive 3.5 seconds improvement per lap of its Fiorano circuit compared to the Modena (the target was 2.5 seconds). In total, the Challenge Stradale is up to 110 kg (243 lb) lighter than the standard Modena if all the lightweight options are specified such as deleted radio, lexan (plexiglass) door window and Alcantara fabric (instead of the leather option). As much as 74 kilograms (207 lb) was taken off on the car by lightening the bumpers, stripping the interior of its sound deadening and carbon mirrors and making the optional Modena carbon seats standard. Resin Transfer Moulding was utilized for the bumpers and skirts, a carry over from the Challenge cars which resulted in lighter bumpers than on the Modena. The engine and transmission weight was slimmed down 11 kg (24 lb) through the use of a smaller, lighter weight sports (yet still stainless steel) exhaust back box and valved exit pipes. The Challenge Stradale also got Brembo carbon ceramic brakes as standard (which later became standard fitment on the F430) which shaved 16 kg off the curb weight and improved handling by reducing unsprung weight and completely eliminating brake fade. Cars fitted with the centre console stereo option, sub speaker box behind the seats and glass side windows re-gained approximately 30 kg over the best selected options (from a weight perspective). Challenge Stradale models are much sought after these days, and when they do come up for sale, they command a huge premium over the regular 360 Modena cars.
The 360 was followed by F430, which debuted at the 2004 Paris Motor Show. Designed by Pininfarina, under the guidance of Frank Stephenson, the body styling of the F430 was revised from its predecessor, the Ferrari 360, to improve its aerodynamic efficiency. Although the drag coefficient remained the same, downforce was greatly enhanced. Despite sharing the same basic Alcoa Aluminium chassis, roof line, doors and glass, the car looked significantly different from the 360. A great deal of Ferrari heritage was included in the exterior design. At the rear, the Enzo’s tail lights and interior vents were added. The car’s name was etched into the Testarossa-styled driver’s side mirror. The large oval openings in the front bumper are reminiscent of Ferrari racing models from the 60s, specifically the 156 “sharknose” Formula One car and 250 TR61 Le Mans cars of Phil Hill. Designed with soft-top-convertible. The F430 featured a 4.3 litre V8 petrol engine of the “Ferrari-Maserati” F136 family. This new power plant was a significant departure for Ferrari, as all previous Ferrari V8’s were descendants of the Dino racing program of the 1950s. This fifty-year development cycle came to an end with the entirely new unit. The engine’s output was 490 hp at 8500 rpm and 465 N·m (343 lb/ft) of torque at 5250 rpm, 80% of which was available below 3500rpm. Despite a 20% increase in displacement, engine weight grew by only 4 kg and engine dimensions were decreased, for easier packaging. The connecting rods, pistons and crankshaft were all entirely new, while the four-valve cylinder head, valves and intake trumpets were copied directly from Formula 1 engines, for ideal volumetric efficiency. The F430 has a top speed in excess of 196 mph and could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, 0.6 seconds quicker than the old model. The brakes on the F430 were designed in close cooperation with Brembo (who did the calipers and discs) and Bosch (who did the electronics package),resulting in a new cast-iron alloy for the discs. The new alloy includes molybdenum which has better heat dissipation performance. The F430 was also available with the optional Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) ceramic composite brake package. Ferrari claims the carbon ceramic brakes will not fade even after 300-360 laps at their test track. The F430 featured the E-Diff, a computer-controlled limited slip active differential which can vary the distribution of torque based on inputs such as steering angle and lateral acceleration. Other notable features include the first application of Ferrari’s manettino steering wheel-mounted control knob. Drivers can select from five different settings which modify the vehicle’s ESC system, “Skyhook” electronic suspension, transmission behaviour, throttle response, and E-Diff. The feature is similar to Land Rover’s “Terrain Response” system. The Ferrari F430 was also released with exclusive Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3 EMT tyres, which have a V-shaped tread design, run-flat capability, and OneTRED technology. The F430 Spider, Ferrari’s 21st road going convertible, made its world premiere at the 2005 Geneva Motor Show. The car was designed by Pininfarina with aerodynamic simulation programs also used for Formula 1 cars. The roof panel automatically folds away inside a space above the engine bay. The conversion from a closed top to an open-air convertible is a two-stage folding-action. The interior of the Spider is identical to that of the coupé. Serving as the successor to the Challenge Stradale, the 430 Scuderia was unveiled by Michael Schumacher at the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show. Aimed to compete with cars like the Porsche RS-models and the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera it was lighter by 100 kg/220 lb and more powerful (510 PS) than the standard F430. Increased power came from a revised intake, exhaust, and an ion-sensing knock-detection system that allows for a higher compression ratio. Thus the weight-to-power ratio was reduced from 2.96 kg/hp to 2.5 kg/hp. In addition to the weight saving measures, the Scuderia semi-automatic transmission gained improved “Superfast”, known as “Superfast2”, software for faster 60 millisecond shift-times. A new traction control system combined the F1-Trac traction and stability control with the E-Diff electronic differential. The Ferrari 430 Scuderia accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, with a top speed of 202 miles per hour. Ferrari claimed that around their test track, Fiorano Circuit, it matched the Ferrari Enzo, and the Ferrari F430’s successor, the Ferrari 458. To commemorate Ferrari’s 16th victory in the Formula 1 Constructor’s World Championship in 2008, Ferrari unveiled the Scuderia Spider 16M at World Finals in Mugello. It is effectively a convertible version of the 430 Scuderia. The engine produces 510 PS at 8500 rpm. The car has a dry weight of 1,340 kg, making it 80 kg lighter than the F430 Spider, at a curb weight of 1,440 kg (3,175 lb). The chassis was stiffened to cope with the extra performance available and the car featured many carbon fibre parts as standard. Specially lightened front and rear bumpers (compared to the 430 Scuderia) were a further sign of the efforts Ferrari was putting into this convertible track car for the road. Unique 5-spoke forged wheels were produced for the 16M’s launch and helped to considerably reduce unsprung weight with larger front brakes and callipers added for extra stopping power (also featured on 430 Scuderia). It accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds, with a top speed of 315 km/h (196 mph). 499 vehicles were released beginning early 2009 and all were pre-sold to select clients.
Next in the Ferrari time-line was the 458, of which there were examples of all the versions produced. An all new design, the 458 Italia was first officially unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. Once more, Ferrari advised that the model incorporated technologies developed from the company’s experience in Formula 1. The body computer system was developed by Magneti Marelli Automotive Lighting. The 458 came with a 4,499 cc V8 engine of the “Ferrari/Maserati” F136 engine family, producing 570 PS ( 562 hp) at 9,000 rpm and 540 N·m (398 lb/ft) at 6,000 rpm with 80% torque available at 3,250 rpm. The engine featured direct fuel injection, a first for Ferrari mid-engine setups in its road cars. The only transmission available was a dual-clutch 7-speed Getrag gearbox, in a different state of tune shared with the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. There was no traditional manual option, making this the fourth road-car after the Enzo, Challenge Stradale and 430 Scuderia not to be offered with Ferrari’s classic gated manual. The car’s suspension featured double wishbones at the front and a multi-link setup at the rear, coupled with E-Diff and F1-Trac traction control systems, designed to improve the car’s cornering and longitudinal acceleration by 32% when compared with its predecessors.The brakes included a prefill function whereby the pistons in the calipers move the pads into contact with the discs on lift off to minimise delay in the brakes being applied. This combined with the ABS and standard Carbon Ceramic brakes caused a reduction in stopping distance from 100–0 km/h (62-0 mph) to 32.5 metres. Ferrari’s official 0–100 km/h (62 mph) acceleration time was quoted as 2.9–3.0 seconds with a top speed of 340 km/h (210 mph). In keeping with Ferrari tradition the body was designed by Pininfarina under the leadership of Donato Coco, the Ferrari design director. The interior design of Ferrari 458 Italia was designed by Bertrand Rapatel, a French automobile designer. The car’s exterior styling and features were designed for aerodynamic efficiency, producing a downforce of 140 kg (309 lb) at 200 km/h. In particular, the front grille features deformable winglets that lower at high speeds, in order to offer reduced drag. The car’s interior was designed using input from former Ferrari Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher; in a layout common to racing cars, the new steering wheel incorporates many controls normally located on the dashboard or on stalks, such as turning signals or high beams. At launch the car was widely praised as being pretty much near perfect in every regard. It did lack a fresh air version, though, but that was addressed with the launch of the 458 Spider at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show. This convertible variant of the 458 Italia featured an aluminium retractable hardtop which, according to Ferrari, weighs 25 kilograms (55 lb) less than a soft roof such as the one found on the Ferrari F430 Spider, and can be opened in 14 seconds The engine cover was redesigned to accommodate the retractable roof system. It had the same 0–100 km/h time as the hard-top but a lower top speed of 199 mph. It quickly became the better seller of the two versions.
The latest of the V8 line is the 488 GTB, and there was a newly acquired example of that here, presented in a really nice deep shade of blue that suits the car just as much as the more commonly seen red and yellow. Launched at the 2015 Geneva Show, the 488GTB followed the lead set by the California T in bringing turbocharging into a modern-day, mid-engined V8 Ferrari supercar for the first time. The engine is completely new when compared with its V8 stablemate, not only in components but also in feel and character. It is a twin-turbocharged 3902cc unit whilst that in the California T is 3855cc. In the 488 GTB, it produces 660bhp at 8000rpm and 560lb ft at 3000rpm. Both outputs are significant increases over the normally aspirated 4.5-litre V8 used in the 562 bhp 458 Italia and 597 bhp 458 Speciale, and also greater than the car’s biggest rival, the McLaren 650S. The torque figure of the 488 GTB is such that it also exceeds the 509lb ft at 6000rpm of the normally aspirated V12 used in the range-topping Ferrari F12 Berlinetta. The mighty new engine in the 488 GTB drives the rear wheels through a revised seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox derived from the 458. It features a new ‘Variable Torque Management’ system which, Ferrari says, “unleashes the engine’s massive torque smoothly and powerfully right across the rev range”. The gear ratios are also tuned to “deliver incredibly progressive acceleration when the driver floors the throttle”. The 488 GTB can crack 0-62mph in just 3.0sec, 0-124mph in 8.4sec and reach a top speed of 205mph. Its 0-62mph and 0-124mph times match the McLaren 650S’s, but the Woking car’s top speed is slightly higher at 207mph. The engine also accounts for the ‘488’ element of the car’s name, because each of the engine’s eight cylinders is 488cc in capacity when rounded up. The GTB suffix, standing for Gran Turismo Berlinetta, is a hallmark of previous mid-engined V8 Ferraris such as the 308 GTB. Not only is the new turbo engine more potent than the 4.5-litre V8 from the 458 Italia, but it is also more economical. Combined fuel economy is rated at 24.8mpg, compared with 21.2mpg in the 458 Italia, and CO2 emissions are 260g/km – a 47g/km improvement. Ferrari’s HELE engine stop-start system features on the 488 GTB. Developments on the dynamic side include a second generation of the Side Slip Angle Control system, called SSC2. This allows the driver to oversteer without intruding, unless it detects a loss of control. The SSC2 now controls the active dampers, in addition to the F1-Trac traction control system and E-Diff electronic differential. Ferrari says the result is “more precise and less invasive, providing greater longitudinal acceleration out of corners” and flatter, more stable behaviour during “complex manoeuvres”. Learnings from the Ferrari XX programme have also been incorporated into the 488 GTB, something that Ferrari says allows all drivers and not just professionals, to make the most of its electronic and vehicle control systems. It also claims the 488 GTB is “the most responsive production model there is”, with responses comparable to a track car. The 488 GTB has lapped Ferrari’s Fiorano test track in 1min 23sec – two seconds faster than the 458 Italia, and half a second quicker than the 458 Speciale. The dimensions of the 488 GTB – it is 4568mm in length, 1952mm in width and 1213mm in height – closely match the 458 Italia from which it has evolved. Its dry weight is 1370kg when equipped with lightweight options – 40kg more than the McLaren 650S. The new look, styled at the Ferrari Styling Centre, features several new aerodynamic features that improve downforce and reduce drag. Most notable is the addition of active aerodynamics at the rear through a ‘blown’ rear spoiler, where air is channelled from the base of the glass engine cover under the spoiler. This contributes to the 50% increase in downforce over the 458 Italia. Also new is a double front spoiler, an aerodynamic underbody, a large air intake at the front that references the 308 GTB, a diffuser with active flaps, new positioning for the exhaust flaps and new-look lights. The interior has been redesigned to be made more usable, including new switchgear, air vents and instrument panel. The multi-function steering wheel remains, while the infotainment system gets a new interface and graphics. The Spider followed the closed coupe model six months later, and supplies of that car are now reaching the UK. It is expected that this will be bigger seller of the car, as was the case with the 458 models.
About as far away as you could get from the “Speed” word in the event title is this 126-Bis, which sneaked in, until an eagle-eyed Mr Talbot spotted it and asked the owner if he would perhaps move it to one side. Even parked away from the rest of the cars, it generated a lot of interest. The 126 arrived in the autumn of 1972 and was produced alongside the 500, which stayed in production until 1976. The 126 used much of the same mechanical underpinnings and layout as its Fiat 500 rear-engined predecessor with which it shared its wheelbase, but featured an all new bodyshell resembling a scaled-down Fiat 127, also enhancing safety. Engine capacity was increased from 594 cc to 652 cc at the end of 1977 when the cylinder bore was increased from 73.5 to 77 mm. Claimed power output was unchanged at 23 PS, but torque was increased from 39 N·m (29 lb/ft) to 43 Nm (32 lb/ft). A slightly less basic DeVille version arrived at the same time, identified by its large black plastic bumpers and side rubbing strips. A subsequent increase in engine size to 704 cc occurred with the introduction of the 126 Bis in 1987. This had 26 PS, and a water cooled engine, as well as a rear hatchback. Initially the car was produced in Italy in the plants of Cassino and Termini Imerese, with 1,352,912 of the cars made in Italy, but from 1979, production was concentrated solely in Poland, where the car had been manufactured by FSM since 1973 as the Polski Fiat 126p. Even after the introduction of the 126 Bis the original model continued to be produced for the Polish market. The car was also produced under licence by Zastava in Yugoslavia. Western European sales ceased in 1991, ready for the launch of the Cinquecento, but the car continued to be made for the Polish market. In 1994, the 126p received another facelift, and some parts from the Fiat Cinquecento, this version was named 126 EL. The 126 ELX introduced a catalytic converter. Despite clever marketing, the 126 never achieved the popularity of the 500, with the total number produced being: 1,352,912 in Italy, 3,318,674 in Poland, 2,069 in Austria, and an unknown number in Yugoslavia.
The other small Fiat was this Seicento Sporting “Abarth”, and it nearly did not make it. First I heard was that it had dumped all its coolant out on the road not far away from the venue. Not long after, though, it arrived in the company of an AA Recovery vehicle, just to be on the safe side. It turned out that the garage who had only completed work on it the day before the event had simply failed to put the cap on the radiator properly, so when the car came to a standstill, the pressurised contents of the radiator found an easy route out. Not only was the car’s owner, Simon Addison, relieved, but lots of event visitors were delighted, too, as this little car punched well above its weight (and value!) in the interest stakes. Lots and lots of people wanted a closer look, with many having fond memories of what was in many ways the precursor to the modern Abarth 500. The Seicento debuted in 1997, as a replacement for the diminutive Cinquecento. It did not differ much from its predecessor, retaining the same engines, chassis and general dimensions, although it did gain a minor 9 cm in length (total length of 3.34 m). At launch, the Seicento was available with three trim levels; a basic ‘S’ with black bumpers and spartan equipment and initially the 899 cc 39 PS FIAT 100 series engine; an ‘SX’ model, a slight upgrade over the ‘S’ with colour-coded bumpers, electric windows, central locking and a sunroof – which was also available as a ‘Citymatic’ with a clutchless manual gearchange – and a ‘Sporting’ with the larger FIAT FIRE series 1108 cc 55 PS engine, 20 mm (0.8 in) lower suspension and anti-roll bars added. Cosmetically, this version gained 13″ alloy wheels, sports seats. An Abarth styling kit was also available with a body kit with optional Abarth 14″ wheels a close-ratio gearbox, sill kick plates, embroidered headrests, leather gear stick and steering wheel, colour highlighted trim in the bumpers, side skirts and a spoiler also available. Both the sporting and the Abarths were available with ABS, air-conditioning and power steering but due to cost not very many owners took up the options. In 1999, the FIRE engine was used in the special ‘Suite’ version, which came with air-conditioning. A special edition ‘Soleil’ model was available in some markets, which was based on the ‘SX’ model but came with a full-length electrically-folding fabric roof. In 2001, after the update, all cars were given clear indicator lenses, with the Sporting model getting a restyled bodykit. Power steering was still an option, in lower end Seicentos. A ‘Michael Schumacher’ edition of the Sporting, with ABS and the Abarth styling kit, was also launched at this time to celebrate the Ferrari driver’s Formula One success, This model was almost identical to the Abarth kit with the exception of chrome gear stick surrounds and Michael’s signature on the boot lid and side skirt. A limited edition plate and number was also on the passenger door. In 2004, the model was withdrawn from the UK market, and production of RHD models ceased, following the arrival of the new and more practical Panda. The LHD model was facelifted, gaining a new design for the wheel rims and the introduction of the new Fiat logo to the rear. In 2005, the name Seicento was replaced by 600 (on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the first edition, in 1955) together with some changes in the front and in versions donations: now the name Fiat is written on the seats. The new versions now were named “Class” and “50 anniversary”, thus reminding the strict relationship between this model and the previous one. Production continued until 2010 by which time over 1.33 million units had been built.
Final Fiat here was Tony Zorzo’s brand new 124 Spider. I had seen pictures of this in recent weeks but never seen in the metal before. The blue paintwork looks great in photos, but on a sunny day like this one, it is truly stunning. Tony had a long wait for this car, as he selected tan upholstery, which not only looks great in its own right but which goes well with the exterior colour. A really lovely car.
There was just one Lamborghini here, a Gallardo, which was one of two cars brought along by its owner (he has a Ferrari as well, and he went home to get it). The Gallardo needs little introduction, as production only ceased in 2014, following an 11 year run, during which time more examples were made than of any previous Lamborghini. An array of different versions were offered during this time, in both fixed and open roof formats, and with all-wheel and rear-wheel drive, as well as various power outputs. A mild facelift was applied in 2008, with new lights front and rear being an obvious visual clue. The car seen here is one of the earlier ones, with the larger rear tail lights.
Representing Lancia were three examples of the much-loved Delta Integrale. It may be 25 years since production of these ceased, but everyone, of all ages, seems to know what they are, and to love the car. These have become much loved classics with a far higher survival rate than the lesser Delta models even though relatively were sold when they were new, thanks to a combination of the fact that they were quite costly and that they only ever came with left hand drive. The Integrale evolved over several years, starting off as the HF Turbo 4WD that was launched in April 1986, to homologate a new rally car for Lancia who needed something to fill the void left by the cancellation of Group B from the end of 1986. The Delta HF 4X4 had a four-wheel drive system with an in-built torque-splitting action. Three differentials were used. Drive to the front wheels was linked through a free-floating differential; drive to the rear wheels was transmitted via a 56/44 front/rear torque-splitting Ferguson viscous-coupling-controlled epicyclic central differential. At the rear wheels wa a Torsen (torque sensing) rear differential. It divided the torque between the wheels according to the available grip, with a maximum lockup of 70%. The basic suspension layout of the Delta 4WD remained the same as in the rest of the two-wheel drive Delta range: MacPherson strut–type independent suspension with dual-rate dampers and helicoidal springs, with the struts and springs set slightly off-centre. The suspension mounting provided more isolation by incorporating flexible rubber links. Progressive rebound bumpers were adopted, while the damper rates, front and rear toe-in and the relative angle between springs and dampers were all altered. The steering was power-assisted rack and pinion. The car looked little different from the front wheel drive models. In September 1987, Lancia showed a more sophisticated version of the car, the Lancia Delta HF Integrale 8V. This version incorporated some of the features of the Delta HF 4WD into a road car. The engine was an 8-valve 2 litre fuel injected 4-cylinder, with balancing shafts. The HF version featured new valves, valve seats and water pump, larger water and oil radiators, more powerful cooling fan and bigger air cleaner. A larger capacity Garrett T3 turbocharger with improved air flow and bigger inter-cooler, revised settings for the electronic injection/ignition control unit and a knock sensor, boosting power output to 185 bhp at 5300 rpm and maximum torque of 224 lb/ft at 3500 rpm. The HF Integrale had permanent 4-wheel drive, a front transversely mounted engine and five-speed gearbox. An epicyclic centre differential normally split the torque 56 per cent to the front axle, 44 per cent to the rear. A Ferguson viscous coupling balanced the torque split between front and rear axles depending on road conditions and tyre grip. The Torsen rear differential further divided the torque delivered to each rear wheel according to grip available. A shorter final drive ratio (3.111 instead of 2.944 on the HF 4WD) matched the larger 6.5×15 wheels to give 24 mph/1000 rpm in fifth gear. Braking and suspension were uprated to 284 mm ventilated front discs, a larger brake master cylinder and servo, as well as revised front springs, dampers, and front struts. Next update was to change the engine from 8 valves to 16. The 16v Integrale was introduced at the 1989 Geneva Motorshow, and made a winning debut on the 1989 San Remo Rally. It featured a raised centre of the bonnet to accommodate the new 16 valve engine, as well as wider wheels and tyres and new identity badges front and rear. The torque split was changed to 47% front and 53% rear. The turbocharged 2-litre Lancia 16v engine now produced 200 bhp at 5500 rpm, for a maximum speed of 137 mph and 0–100 km/h in 5.5 seconds. Changes included larger injectors, a more responsive Garrett T3 turbocharger, a more efficient intercooler, and the ability to run on unleaded fuel without modification. The first Evoluzione cars were built at the end of 1991 and through 1992. These were to be the final homologation cars for the Lancia Rally Team; the Catalytic Evoluzione II was never rallied by the factory. The Evoluzione I had a wider track front and rear than earlier Deltas. The bodyside arches were extended and became more rounded. The wings were now made in a single pressing. The front strut top mounts were also raised, which necessitated a front strut brace. The new Integrale retained the four wheel drive layout. The engine was modified to produce 210 bhp at 5750 rpm. External changes included: new grilles in the front bumper to improve the air intake for engine compartment cooling; a redesigned bonnet with new lateral air slats to further assist underbonnet ventilation; an adjustable roof spoiler above the tailgate; new five-bolt wheels with the same design of the rally cars; and a new single exhaust pipe. Interior trim was now grey Alcantara on the Recaro seats, as fitted to the earlier 16V cars; leather and air conditioning were offered as options, as well as a leather-covered Momo steering wheel. Presented in June 1993, the second Evolution version of the Delta HF Integrale featured an updated version of the 2-litre 16-valve turbo engine to produce more power, as well as a three-way catalyst and Lambda probe. A Marelli integrated engine control system with an 8 MHz clock frequency which incorporates: timed sequential multipoint injection; self-adapting injection times; automatic idling control; engine protection strategies depending on the temperature of intaken air; Mapped ignition with two double outlet coils; Three-way catalyst and pre-catalyst with lambda probe (oxygen sensor) on the turbine outlet link; anti-evaporation system with air line for canister flushing optimised for the turbo engine; new Garrett turbocharger: water-cooled with boost-drive management i.e. boost controlled by feedback from the central control unit on the basis of revs/throttle angle; Knock control by engine block sensor and new signal handling software for spark park advance, fuel quantity injected, and turbocharging. The engine now developed 215 PS as against 210 PS on the earlier uncatalysed version and marginally more torque. The 1993 Integrale received a cosmetic and functional facelift that included. new 16″ light alloy rims with 205/45 ZR 16 tyres; body colour roof moulding to underline the connection between the roof and the Solar control windows; aluminium fuel cap and air-intake grilles on the front mudguards; red-painted cylinder head; new leather-covered three-spoke MOMO steering wheel; standard Recaro seats upholstered in beige Alcantara with diagonal stitching. In its latter years the Delta HF gave birth to a number of limited and numbered editions, differing mainly in colour, trim and equipment; some were put on general sale, while others were reserved to specific markets, clubs or selected customers.
Local dealer Motorline brought a display of the latest Maserati models. These comprised a Ghibli S, a Quattroporte Diesel, a GranTurismo and the latest addition to the range the Levante. This last one is destined to become the marque’s best-seller once production volumes have ramped up and the sales staff who brought the cars told me that it was the one which generated the most interest during the day. It would seem that the world still cannot get enough SUVs, of any size and price.
The older Maserati cars on show were all from the generation known internally as the Tipo 338 and better known as the 3200GT and 4200GT and Spider. After producing BiTurbo based cars for 17 years, Maserati replaced their entire range with a new model in July 1998, the 3200 GT. This very elegant 2+2 grand tourer was styled by Italdesign, whose founder and head Giorgetto Giugiaro had previously designed, among others, the Ghibli, Bora and Merak. The interior design was commissioned to Enrico Fumia. Its name honoured the Maserati 3500 GT, the Trident’s first series production grand tourer. Sold mainly in Europe, the 3200 GT was powered by the twin-turbo, 32-valve, dual overhead cam 3.2-litre V8 engine featured in the Quattroporte Evoluzione, set up to develop 370 PS (365 hp). The car was praised for its styling, with the distinctive array of tail-lights, consisting of LEDs, arranged in the shape of boomerang being particularly worthy of comment. The outer layer of the ‘boomerang’ provided the brake light, with the inner layer providing the directional indicator. The car was also reviewed quite well by the press when they got to drive it in early 1999, though it was clear that they expected more power and excitement. That came after 4,795 cars had been produced, in 2001, with the launch of the 4200 models. Officially called the Coupé and joined by an open-topped Spyder (Tipo M138 in Maserati speak), these models had larger 4.2 litre engines and had been engineered so the cars could be sold in America, marking the return to that market for Maserati after an 11 year gap. There were some detailed styling changes, most notable of which were the replacement of the boomerang rear lights with conventional rectangular units. Few felt that this was an improvement. The cars proved popular, though, selling strongly up until 2007 when they were replaced by the next generation of Maserati. Minor changes were made to the model during its six year production, but more significant was the launch at the 2004 Geneva Show of the GranSport which sported aerodynamic body cladding, a chrome mesh grille, carbon fibre interior trim, and special 19-inch wheels. It used the Skyhook active suspension, with a 0.4 inch lower ride height, and the Cambiocorsa transmission recalibrated for quicker shifts. The exhaust was specially tuned to “growl” on start-up and full throttle. The GranSport was powered by the same 4244 cc, 90° V8 petrol engine used on the Coupé and Spyder, but developing 400 PS (395 hp) at 7000 rpm due primarily to a different exhaust system and improvements on the intake manifolds and valve seats. A six-speed paddle shift transmission came as standard. The GranSport has a claimed top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h) and a 0–62 mph (0–100 km/h) time of 4.8 seconds. There were examples of the 3200GT and the Spyder here.
The event also included Italian bikes. Riders, the local Ducati specialist brought along a comprehensive display of many of the current machines in this iconic brand’s range.
Displayed to one side of these were a small number of privately owned machines, many of which did not stay at the event all that long. These included some more Ducati, a couple of Moto Guzzi and a particularly rare Benelli 1130 Tornado Tre, one of just 150 built, of which only around 7 are in the UK.
THE PRIZE WINNERS
In the middle of the day, I had just returned to the site having wandered away to go and see some of the other attractions of Cardiff Bay and to grab a refreshing ice cream, when event organiser Paul Talbot came up to me and asked if I would be a judge for the competition for “Best Car” and “Best Bike”. To make matters a little easier, he asked Nick Grange to join me in making the decisions. We both observed that this was going to be quite a challenging task, as there were so many splendid cars present. Many of them, of course, belong to people we know and indeed with whom we are good friends, and we concluded that to avoid any charges of “unfair”, we should probably exclude them. Sadly, that ruled out Daryl Staddon’s 164 Cloverleaf Q4 and Don Crompton’s Alfa 155, both of which were otherwise strong contenders. An added difficulty was that neither of us know much about Bikes. Having decided that Riders’ bikes could not win, the obvious answer was to talk to them to get their input. They confirmed what we had both concluded: that Benelli, belonging to Peter Wright, was sufficiently unusual that it was the easy winner.
Picking the car was a little harder. With friends’ cars ruled out, we also decided that anything that was new or almost new was not really a contender, so that really left us with three of the “special” cars parked up in the middle. The Ferraris (328 GTB and 512M) would both have been worthy winners, but the existence of that De Tomaso Pantera was just too hard to ignore. A car that had wowed so many people, plenty of whom had said that they had never seen one before, and in such an excellent condition just had to be the overall champion. No sooner had we placed the trophy on the scuttle when owner Glyn Jones arrived back at the car. He was pretty much dumb-founded to learn that he had won!
An added attraction for the day was a huge choir, comprised from many smaller ones based all over South Wales, who spend part of the morning working out how they were going to stand and testing the acoustics of the area, before delighting those in the area with an hour’s concert. 650 voices can produce a lot of sound, but there were quieter moments as well – which gave us some issues when cars with loud exhausts wanted to depart even though we had originally said that they could not, while the concert was in full flow. Their repertoire was not traditional Welsh, as I had been expecting, but more Folk/spiritual/African in nature, which seemed appropriate as the Choir was also raising money for WaterAid.
One of my former clients, Atradius, is in Cardiff Bay, and every time I visited them, I vowed that if ever there were a sunny day, and I had time, I should go round the area taking photos. That ever happened when I was on work errands, but with such perfect blue skies, I vowed that I really should rectify that during the course of this event, so for an hour or so, I did wander off from the cars, to see just what else is on show. Of course the Welsh Assembly has its home in the Bay, right next to the Atradius building, but there was plenty else to catch the photographer’s eye, so as a change from cars, here are just a few pictures of what else you can see and appreciate whilst in the area.
Definitely not Italian, this early Austin Seven made a brief appearance, parked up at the top of the site, well away from everything other than a couple of rental white vans. I never found out who brought it, or why it was present, but it was certainly something interesting and unusual.
For sure the fantastic weather helped, but there is no question that this was a great event. Not too large as to feel daunting, and with a very friendly atmosphere, generated not least because a lot of the exhibitors knew a least a couple of other people (at the start of the day, and more by the end of it!) there was plenty to see both from an automotive point of view and for those who wanted something else as well thanks to the location. Feedback on the day seemed to be universally positive, so there is no doubt that the event will be repeated in 2018. With that positive feedback from all attendees hopefully reaching a wider audience, it is to be hoped that the event will take another step forward and prove that great events don’t have to be run in England, as they can take place in Wales as well.
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Island of Exiles is here!
I am so happy to say that Island of Exiles, the first installment of The Ryogan Chronicles, is officially out in the world!
Although there are certain similarities in how different books are brought into the world, there is also a lot that changes from release to release. For me, Island of Exiles has been different from the beginning.
When she bought the book, Kate Brauning pushed me past what I thought the story was about, giving me the chance to reexamine the story to add layers and complications. Entangled Teen went above and beyond to support me and the release of this title. I was able to collect blurbs from some great authors, all of whom raved about the story. Then, I found out that not only would my book be a Junior Library Guild selection (a big effing deal, in case you hadn’t heard of them), it would also be found worthy of a Kirkus STAR. ?
? “Readers won’t be able to put this book down, as the excitement begins from the first page and only grows from there. Cameron expertly blends worldbuilding and intriguing characters with page-turning action scenes and a story that builds in tension and complexity. The novel’s commitment to diversity adds new dimensions to the story, as the cast is entirely nonwhite, and the clan recognizes nonbinary gender identities and complex sexual orientations. The lexicon of unique terms and concepts may be intimidating to some readers, but the vocabulary adds fantastic texture to the world without distracting from the plot. This is rare gem of a book that has a lot to offer readers, including magic, action, and intrigue on the edge of a knife. A fresh, original series starter, bolstered by a dynamic protagonist and a welcome sense of depth.” ?
The response today has continued the trend. The love from readers and reviewers has been utterly fantastic, and for the first time in my writing career, I was able to find copies of my new release at my local Barnes & Noble. Not only that, I met a teen reader and she walked away with the first ever signed copy of the novel! There’s no better way to cap off a release day than that.
Also, thank you SO MUCH to everyone who posted “in the wild” pictures of Island of Exiles today! It’s one thing to know theoretically that a book is out in the world, and it’s something entirely different to actually see proof. These posts helped make this release day especially spectacular! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Want quote graphics, inspiration boards, and fun extras? Visit the Island of Exiles page on this site.
In Khya’s world, every breath is a battle.
On the isolated desert island of Shiara, dying young is inevitable. The clan comes before self, and protecting her home means Khya is a warrior above all else.
But when following the clan and obeying their leaders could cost her brother his life, Khya’s home becomes a deadly trap. The only person who can help is Tessen, her lifelong rival and the boy who challenges her at every turn. The council she hoped to join has betrayed her, and their secrets, hundreds of years deep, reach around a world she’s never seen.
To save her brother’s life and her island home, her only choice is to trust Tessen, turn against her clan, and go on the run—a betrayal and a death sentence.
Buy it from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Books-A-Million | IndieBound
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Want to try before you buy? You can! Entangled Teen is posting several chapters of Island of Exiles on Wattpad, one a day until February 20th!
This entry was posted in Blog, Books, Entangled Teen, In the Wild, Island of Exiles, News, Pictures, Ryogan Chronicles on February 14, 2017 by Erica Cameron.
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The Szeklers and the Magyars: A doomed relationship?
When Romania joins the European Union in 2007-2008, it will bring with it one of the largest national minorities in Europe, the roughly one and a half million Magyars of Transylvania. The Magyars are a people whose 20th century history has been defined in reaction to the dissolution of the Kingdom of Hungary after the First World War and the transfer of a quarter of the Kingdom's ethnically Magyar population to other successor states of Austria-Hungary, to what are now the modern nation-states of Slovakia, Serbia, and Romania. After Meciar's post-independence nationalism, Slovakia's Magyars have gained recognition and official status. The situation of the Magyars of Serbia, living in the relatively prosperous northern province of Vojvodina, is more tenuous, aggravated by Serbia's reluctance to leave the criminalized ultranationalism of the past behind. What happens to the Magyars of Transylvania, an old Magyar principality that is even now home to half of the Magyar population in central Europe outside of modern Hungary, is critical.
As it happens, a good chunk of Romania's Magyars seems to be redefining itself as non-Magyar. Recently, the leadership of a population known as the Szeklers, a Magyar-speaking population concentrated in eastern Transylvania that not only retains a distinctive sense of history but is the majority population in a large territory, has agitated for this territory to be made into an autonomous district of Romania to be known as Székelyföld. This failed, not least because of the sensitivities of Romania nationalistst to perceived Magyar expansionism. Already, at least one Internet flamewar has started because of this. What's interesting about this latest crisis in Magyar-Romanian relations is that, as suggested by John Horvath at Telepolis, the call for a Székelyföld has been made despite the Hungarian-Romanian leadership's siding with the Romanian state.
For the past couple of years, a split has emerged within the ethnic Hungarian community in Romania. The Hungarian-Romanian Democratic Alliance (RMDSZ) is the largest ethnic minority party in Romania and used to be considered the de-facto representative of Romania's 2 million ethnic Hungarians. An internal power struggle and disagreement over how best to secure minority rights in Transylvania led to a split within the RMDSZ. One faction, now independent from the main party, favours a more direct approach and direct autonomy; the RMDSZ, meanwhile, favours a more indirect approach and change from within the system.
As a a coalition partner in the present government, the RMDSZ is against the proposed declaration at Szekelyudvarhely, noting that over 16 years of political effort to initiate changed from within is being put to risk. Others, however, point out that after 16 years very little has been achieved by the RMDSZ, and that anything progressive which has been done thus far has been inadequate and usually the result of pressure coming from Brussels under the guise of EU membership, and not the result of the RMDSZ's efforts.
If the Székelyföld became an autonomous district of Romania, perhaps on the model of Catalonia as some have wistfully suggested, the situation for Magyars outside of the Székelyföld would become serious. The Magyars in Slovakia form a coherent majority population in areas close to the Hungarian border, while the Magyars in Vojvodina form another like coherent pocket that could one day become a proposed controversial Hungarian Regional Autonomy. Outside of the Székelyföld, Magyars form a minority vulnerable to assimilation, via individual assimilation, growing Magyar-Romanian intermarriage, and perhaps economic migration to a Hungary steadily advancing into the First World. The Szeklers don't seem to care, not especially. Why? It seems as if, in a democratic Romania where individual rights are generally secure and the Romanian state has to concede minority groups a certain amount of space, the Szeklers don't feel particularly bound to the fate of the Magyars with whom they share a language and the memory of a shared state.
The disassociation of closely related ethnic groups united by some shared features but separated by identities isn't new in central Europe. To Hungary's north, the Czechs and Slovaks have disassociated peacefully despite their cultural similarities; to Hungary's south, the South Slavic peoples of Yugoslavia managed the same task with much more bloodshed. It's rare enough for a minority group to do this, though. The situation bearing the closest similarity to the Szeklers' is that of the Acadians, a Canadian Francophone group concentrated in eastern Canada which traces its origins to a French colony with a separate history from the main French colony in Québec, and which has felt at leisure to distinguish itself from its Québécois neighbours once its fate has been secured by the expansion of official bilingualism. Romania is still far from attaining Canada's debatable level of interethnic peace but it isn't nearly as far as it used to be under Ceaucescu. Assuming that these positive trends continue in the years to come, the split between the Szeklers and the other Magyar-speakers of Romania may only widen, weakening the community's bargaining power at the national level and introducing interesting new dynamics into Hungarian-Romanian state relations. Perhaps ironically, the call for a self-governing Székelyföld might be the thing to do the most for Romanian state unity after the Cold War.
Posted by Randy McDonald at 3:44 AM
You focus on one of the nationality problems in East-Central Europe. Hungarians have the potential of becoming a dominant ethnia but they are passively accepting their dissolution. It is very strange - the ferocious "nem nem soha" Hungarian attitude seems to have disappeared, erradicated by the Communist regime. They dont want to fight anymore, just like the Austrians or the Germans. They want their vacations homes and a modest prosperity.
Dr. Minorka said...
There are serious errors.
"As it happens, a good chunk of Romania's Magyars seems to be redefining itself as non-Magyar."
Wrong! Szeklers are Hungarians. The basis of their drive for territorial autonomy: they are the majority in their counties. Also, there was a Hungarian Autonomous Province, later Maros-Hungarian Autonomous Province, b etween 1952-1968, abolished by the Ceauşescu regime.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Szeklers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Autonomous_Province
Randy said...
I don't disagree with that broadly Hungarian identity. What I was suggesting was that, with the liberalization of the Romanian state removing any need for solidarity, the historical distinctiveness of the Szekler tradition might come to form the basis for a separate ethnic tradition. As the first of your Wikipedia links pointed out, they, along with the Magyars and the Germans, constituted one of the three ruling populations of medieval Transylvania.
Do I think that a Szekler separation is desirable? I honestly don't care one way or the other--it's up to the people involved to determine how they want to identify themselves. They may choose to remain united with the Magyars elsewhere in Transylvania in a common project, or they may choose to forge their own model for territorial autonomy. I freely concede that the likelihood of this may be something I've misjudged, but the possibility does seem to exist.
One very unfortunate thing I find in the issue of Szeklers is what the Romanian press is not well documented and the journalists mislead the Romanian population by spreading hatred.
After World War I., Hungarian culture and human rights have suffered tremendously. Even after the fall of the Ceausescu dictatorship in 1989, the Hungarians still found themselves pulled down by the extremism in Romanian politics, biased Romanian history books and politically manipulated press releases.
The bad thing is that the Romanian population cannot have clear information about the Hungarians and their values in Romania. The word "Szekler" ("Secui" in Romanian) doesn't mean anything to the Romanian population. Lack of information about Szeklers and the aspirations of Hungarians in general is due to a variety of factors: Romania has known many ethnic conflicts in its past, the details of those atrocities were buried by the authorities; the political "flamability" (extremism is very strong in Romania); the biased press: manipulative and deceptive, defamatory.
In other words, one cannot obtain reliable information about Hungarians or Szeklers from the Romanian press, which literally swims in offensive language and false accusations.
Nevertheless, human rights were never Romania's strong point and the problems will not get resolved by themselves.
Hoosier said...
I will try to write a short history on the matter because I see there is a bit of confusion and despite decrying Romanian nationalism ( which no doubt exists and is as bothersome to me as any other kind of exclusive nationalism) I can detect a lot of Hungarian nationalistic mantras ( a quarter of Magyar population has been transfered to the succesor states").
first the demography. In 2002 Transylvania had 7.2 million inhabitants (out of a total of 21million for the whole country). Out of the 7.2 million people 20% declared themselves of Magyar origin and 75% of Romanian origin. back in 1918 when transylvania became part of Romania the province had 5.2mil people - 57% were Romanians, 27% Magyar, 10% German ( Saxon) and 3% Jews. The first modern census in tarnsylvania was done in 1842 and showed a population of 4.2mil (59% Romanian, 25% Magyar and 12% Saxon).
The Szeklers have some characters that separate them from the rest of Magyars in Romania. They are all Catholics while a majority of the Romanian-Magyars are Protestant. They also have a long history of autonomy during the Middle Ages within the principality of Transylvania and a long history of cooperating with their Moldovan neighbors to the East ( Moldova is Romanian historical principality that included the NE part of actual Romania and the current Republic of Moldova annexed by Russian Empire in 1812).
what goes against their plan is that they number only aprox. 4-500.000 of the 1.5 milion Magyar-speaking Romanian citizens (2002 data) and they live in 3 counties in central Romania - they represent 85-90% of population in the counties of Harghita and Covasna and less than 1/3 of the population of county of Mures/Maros but live compactly on its Eastern side near the Harghita county. The area they live is otherwise surrounded by areas compactly inhabited by Romanians. It is a mountainous area with otherwise poor economy and few natural resources. Their economy is also integrated with the Romanian areas. They will need to get most of their food and energy from the rest of Romania while supplying wood and wood products and very little else.
Transyvania as a whole was indeed an autonomous principality within Hungarian kingdom from 10-11th century until 1526 when the kingdom collapsed to the Ottomans.
there is still debate between Hungarian and Romania historians as to whether Romanians were already present in 10th century when Magyar tribes began pushing from Pannonia into Transylvania. both archeological and literary proof (mainly from Magyar documents) supports the presence of Romanian speaking population( called then Vlachs or Olachs in historical sources) at that time. there is also evidence of compactly Romanian inhabited areas of Transylvania that were ruled by Romanian Orthodox nobility - the Maramures, Fagaras, Apuseni, Salaj, Bistrita-Nasaud, Hunedoara up until 16th century. The Romanian nobility was assimilated mostly after 1526 when Transylvania became an independent principality, as most of Magyar nobility fled Pannonia occupied by the Ottomans and flocked in what is now southern Slovakia and Transylvania.
In 1699 Transylvania became a Habsburg possesion directly governed from Vienna and only in 1866 was included in the revived Hungarian kingdom under Habsburg rule.
in the 13th century the Hungarian kings have also colonised the southern Transylvania with Saxon and Svab immigrants that built seven cities ( the German name for Transylvania being Siebenburgen). at the same time the Szeklars who were regarded then as an associated tribe of the Magyars were settled in the Eastern Transylvania.
The Vlachs formed during the Magyar presence in Transylvania the indentured serv population that worked the land of the Magyar nobility. very likely they were the most numerous ethnic gropu from the very beginning but formed the lower classes so little is told about them. Pockets of free Vlachs remained at the fringes of the province in the mountainous areas and Transylvanian Saxon and Magyar sources document Vlach presence in economic documents. The Saxon prospered mostly by trading with the Vlachs in Moldova and Vallachia where they were given commercial privileges. The Transylvania Vlachs remained Orthodox as their brethren south and east of Transylvania despite the orthodox religion not being recognised officially until 1918.
Throughout the Middle Ages the prices of the Moldova and Vallachia had possesions within Transylvania the same way the English monarchs had possesions in France. ther was also continuos trade between the 3 provinces as well as political cooperation or infighting between the provinces.
Magyar presence in Transylvania has left castles, several cities and overall in 1918 a more developed economy than the other Romanian provinces. their plight is related mostly with the backwardness they were forced into by the union with Romania. and I concede the point. but all this is water under the bridge.
Autonomy of the Szeklers Land is probably historically and culturally justified but economically risky. It is obviously unpopular for the majority of the Romanians, even though it could be overcome by skilfull and likely lenghty negociations.
In my opinion this is largely a futile enterprise as both Romania and Hungary are now EU members and should strive to integrate and get closer. But if the Szeklars believe that is in their best interest to become autonomous they should work toward getting their aim peacefully.
Just for the record, I wasn't attempting to take a particular side in the Transylvania question, for any extremist nationalism. This essay was an attempt to look at an interesting question of ethnic identity, nothing more--all comments are welcome!
I think we can all decry the loss of ethnic diversity in Transylvania. This region used to be a lot more diverse than it is today. The German and Jewish populations have all but vanished.
The vibrant pre-1940 urban Jewish communities have been deported by the Magyar authorities to extermination camps between 1940 and 1944. probably tens of thousands of them have been gruesomly killed. of note is that Hungary has ruled between aug 1940 and sept-oct 1944 the Northern and Eastern parts of Transylvania where most of the Jewsih communities were located. While the Jews have been also brutalised and persecuted in Romania during that time there was no deporting of Jews to Germany and no mass-killing have taken place. Actually large numbers of Eastern-European Jews were allowed to transit through Romania and the ones who lived in Romania were allowed to leave it through the Black Sea ports to Palestine via the neutral Turkey.
before 1940 aprox. 760000 Jewish people lived in Romania ( and probably close to half of them were residing in Transylvania). after the war the number has fallen to 420.000. after 1960 most of them have emigrated to Israel and in 1990 only 10000 were counted.
The Transylvania Saxons were also quite numerous in 1930's their number estimated also at 750000. more than 90% of them resided in Transylvania. The ones who had voluntarily joined the Nazis ( a lot of Transylvania Saxons have volunteered to Waffen SS) have withdrawn to Germany in 1944. However, some of them have remained and the 1948 census put their number at around 350000. In the 80's due to economic hardship in Romania and also because West-Germany has subsidised their migration they were allowed to leave. In 1990 only 120.000 were left and their number halfed again by 2002.
I believe Transylvania ( and Romania as a whole) have lost a lot from the mass exodus of these populations that have lived and prospered there for hundreds of years. historical circumstances/tragedies are partly to blame but the main impetus came from the economic distress after 1945. I can not deny a role for Romanian nationalism but all the evidence points for a minor role.
the Magyars and the Szeklars have largely remained and, hopefully, they will find a way to build a good life among the Romanians maintaining at least a bit of the ethnic diversity that has characterised Transylvania during most of its existence.
the economic disparity between Romania and Hungary seems to be closing so there is room for a bit of optimism there.
The point of my posts was that the situation of the Magyar in the countries surrounding Hungary is due mostly to its imperial past. Historically the teritories ruled by Magyars have been ethnically diverse for ages. as long as they were strong enough they could keep it all together. the 19th century has brought a national awakening of these non-Magyar populations. The Slovaks, Romanians, Ukrainians and the Serbs have seceded and joined their conationals. i simpatize with the hurt Hungarian pride but life is life. they were minorities in all these teritories and they have to make peace with this.
I don't disagree that the minority policies of the Kingdom of Hungary were, besides being petty and generally counterproductive, rather short-sighted, and that Hungarian revanchism wasn't a productive force.
Agreed that the gradual closing of the Hungarian-Romanian economic gap is a good thing for both parties, in much the same way as the successful closing of the French-Italian and Swedish-Finnish economic gaps was for those pairs.
There is now a very good Secui article in Romanian language:
http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secui
quite unbiased so the Romanians finally can find out about the Szeklers
Bryce said...
This is a very interesting blog on the demography of the Magyars.
Here is a great website in the Magyar language that might be of interest to you:
Magyar wiki browser
desert said...
WRONG: "As it happens, a good chunk of Romania's Magyars seems to be redefining itself as non-Magyar."
I am Magyar. I am Transilvanian, thus citizen of Romania and over here everyone knows that the Szeklers or Székelys are Hungarians.
There are plenty of good and bad resources on the net, next time document yourself better in the above as well as other questions before posting.
As we Szekelys say, the Szekely is Hungarian, but the Hungarian is not Szekely. You can be made a nobleman by the King, but to become a Szekely, you have to be born as a Szekely.
Personally I think that the Szekelys are an ancient Kara-Bulgar Turkic branch with some Alan (Sarmata) mix.
I'm Szekler and Hungarian in the same time. Lot of people who declare themselves Romanian today are not truly Romanian. Lot of coming from mixed marriages or diverse non-Romanian background. If could be organised a real census when nobody can be forced or persuaded to hide their identity the Romanian number could drop to 50-60%.
Regarding if in the European Union does it matter the nationality question. Yes I think it does. Otherwise why the Romanian still want to dominate Hungarians(build orthodox churches in ethnic Hungarian territories, fill the local administration with Romanians, force the Hungarian to use their language).
I think for Transylvanian (or Szeklerland) people should be allowed to organise a plebiscit if they want or not to be free (like in Scotland).
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Stanford researchers found a brain region that stores your Pokemon game skills
A full set of Gym Badges isn’t the only way to tell a true Pokémon player from a novice. Stanford researchers have now found that those adults who played the video game for hours as a kid, have an area in their brain that holds the memory.
Tucked behind the ear in a region that usually responds to images of animals, this ‘Pokémon hub’ is capable of recognising hundreds of different characters, using pathways that encompass several centimetres of grey matter and include millions of neurons.
The study is small, and was funded by a seed grant, but even so, the authors think it lends credence to the idea that the brain is particularly malleable in young childhood, and especially when objects are placed in a person’s central vision.
“It’s been an open question in the field why we have brain regions that respond to words and faces but not to, say, cars,” says first author Jesse Gomez, a cognitive neuroanatomist who currently works at UC Berkeley.
“It’s also been a mystery why they appear in the same place in everyone’s brain.”
The massive success of Nintendo’s Pokémon video games in the late 90s had all the ingredients for the perfect natural study, although it did take Gomez a good while to convince his supervisor that was true.
Played by children as young as 5-years-old, each version of this game exposes participants to the same characters over and over, held on the same handheld device, with the same small square screen, at roughly the same length from our eyes.
“What was unique about Pokémon is that there are hundreds of characters, and you have to know everything about them in order to play the game successfully. The game rewards you for individuating hundreds of these little, similar‑looking characters,” Gomez explains.
“I figured, ‘If you don’t get a region for that, then it’s never going to happen.”’
It turns out, he was right. Finding 11 adults who were addicted to Pokémon in their youth and started playing no later than age eight, Gomez used a functional MRI scanner while participants identified specific characters.
Compared to the 11 Pokémon newbies, the experienced adults had one part of their brain that was far more sensitive to pictures of Pokémon – the occipitotemporal sulcus. Among non-experts, however, the same neural activity (inherently different to those of faces and animals) was not nearly as apparent, if at all.
When a brain is developing, some research has shown that the wiring of our visual cortex is influenced not by the size or shape of something, but rather by its location in our vision and how much of our vision it takes up, a phenomenon known as eccentricity bias.
In this case, the authors think it is the location of tiny, pixellated Pokémon in a child’s central vision and not their shape, size, or animal-like features, that determines where they get stored in a developing brain – in this case, the lateral visual cortex.
“Our findings suggest that early childhood visual experience shapes the functional architecture of high-level visual cortex, resulting in a unique representation whose spatial topography is predictable,” the authors conclude.
For any parent on the brink of throwing out their child’s video games, however, one thing should be made clear: none of these results imply long-lasting harm, and many of the participants have PhD’s so it’s highly unlikely that Nintendo somehow stunted their intelligence.
Growing up, our brains must somehow organise all the things we see, so it’s not surprising that the objects or faces we see a lot in childhood, like little pixel Pokémon or Jennifer Aniston, can have their own unique area.
This study has been published in Nature Human Behaviour.
A sunken nuclear submarine is leaking radioactive material into the Atlantic ocean
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NASDAQ (Law Essay Sample)
/ Samples / Law / Nasdaq
← Criminal Law Determining the Use of Force →
Check Out Our NASDAQ Essay
Born on 29th April 1938, Bernard Lawrence "Bernie" Madoff is a former non-executive chairman of the NASDAQ stock market, stock broker, investment advisor and the admitted operator of the largest and most notorious Ponzi scheme in the history of the world. On March 2009, he pleaded guilty to 11 federal felonies and admitted to defrauding thousands of investors billions of dollars by turning his wealth management business into a massive Ponzi scheme. Two months after his 71st birthday, on 29th June 2009, Bernie was sentenced to the maximum allowed prison sentence of 150 years (Zambito & Smith, 2008).
A Ponzi is an investment fraud that promises returns to all investors not from actual profit earned by the organization but from their very own money or money paid by other investors. In such a swindle, old investors are paid off with money from new investors
The 11 felony charges to which Bernie pled guilty of were; "investment advisor fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, securities fraud, perjury, false statements, theft from an employee benefit plan, false filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as three counts of money laundering.
Although Mr. Madoff claims he started his fraudulent activities in the early 1990s, federal investigators have reason to believe that the fraud in the investment management sector and the advisory sector began as early as the 1970s. Mr. Madoff goes down in history as the first prominent practitioner who paid a middleman cum broker to execute a customer's order through his brokerage, and this gave him the reputation of the largest dealer in the New York Stock Exchange-listed stocks in the United States, trading over 15% transaction volume. His market-marker division traded up to 5% of the total volume racked up on the New York Stock Exchange.
Illegal Business Behavior Alleged Against Mr. Madoff
The three main illegal business behaviors alleged against Mr. Bernard Lawrence Madoff were fraud, theft, and false statements. When one is fraudulent, it involves a violation of one's trust, hence deceiving someone into willingly giving you something under false pretences. Bernard Lawrence madoff was alleged to have committed securities fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud and investment advisor fraud. It is unethical and illegal to take advantage of innocent and unsuspecting people who have put their trust in an organization or an individual. Bernie's fraudulent activities affected people who had placed their trust in him and they were blinded when they lost all they had. Fraud lacks a place in the conduct of business as it costs innocent people of their hard earned funds, degrades the company's reputation and may even result to the liquidation of such a company whereby employees lose their job and money.
Though theft is much like fraud, not all thefts are fraudulent, as one doesn't have to deceive someone to steal from them. Bernard Lawrence Madoff allegedly stole funds from an employee benefit plan, denying the employees an opportunity to make honorable income. Theft should have no place in the conduct of business as it costs organizations lots of money.
Mr. Bernard Lawrence was also alleged to have sent out deceptive annual reports to clients and filed doctored financial statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission (Clarke, 2009). The reports sent out to clients showed that they (investors) were doing well even if he had not invested their money at all. Falsification and doctoring of information for personal or organizational gain is an unethical and illegal act and should have no place in the conduct of business activities as it misrepresents the wellbeing and financial position of a company, consequently costing the company its reputation.
Types of Parties Impacted by the Actions of Mr. Madoff and how they Were Impacted
First came the clients cum investors in Bernard L Madoff Investment Securities LLC, Mr. Madoff's company, who lost a lot of money and some even lost their life-time savings. Some charities had to shut down after being defrauded by Mr Madoff, as they had also invested in the scheme. Charities are non-profitable organizations and they seemed to put their trust In Mr. madoff.
The employees of Mr. Madoff's investment company lost their jobs owing to his actions. The loss of jobs impacted on their livelihood and to a larger extent their families who directly depended on them.
Owing to the gravity of his actions, Mr. Madoff's business associates lost their reputation in the business world. Banks and financial institutions, which leant money to Mr. Madoff, will not be paid back, affecting their capitalization.
Business Safeguards that May Have Prevented the Harm Caused By Mr. Madoff
One safeguard is to be wary of the red flags. If a deal sounds too good, you probably need to think twice. Operational procedures and safeguards should have been put in place in order to look out for any warning signs or red flags. Throughout my research, I found out that not all the warning signs and red flags that cropped up were paid attention to.
Another safeguard would have been taking an extra step to be an independent auditor and thoroughly go through the financial statements that were allegedly being made. There might have been an actual way to prove when an investor really made an investment for a client. To ensure that the money is actually being invested as stated in the annual financial reports, the auditor ought to investigate thoroughly and look to all the statements, reports and information received from the investment company.
One is left to wander why there were not enough safeguards within the Securities and Exchange Commission that would have helped to uncover fraudulent activities such as those Mr. Madoff carried out. As I carried out my research, I found out that there were numerous complaints sent to the Securities and Exchange Commission with regard to Mr Madoff. On several occasions Mr Madoff was investigate by the Securities and Exchange Commission and no fraudulent activities were found to have been going on. With minimal knowledge about the internal structure of the Securities and Exchange Commission and or how it runs, they surely needed to have more risk management strategies and processes to oversee complaints and investigations. A control system should be in place to monitor and look into any irregularities of all the investment advisors they are keeping track of.
Ways in which Private Investors Might have Better Protected Themselves from Risk
One such way would have been not putting all eggs in a single basket, i.e. separation of functions. According to my research, there was no separation of functions as Mr. Madoff's company did everything for the investors. It acted as the investment advisor, the broker of operations and the company also generated the statements. In this case what may have helped would have been the presence of a third party to oversee the statements, thereby denying Mr Madoff the chance to create false statements without any oversight. The private investors would have separated some of Mr. Madoff's duties and lowered his involvement in their investment activities.
The private investors should have inquired for proof that their stocks were in actual sense being purchased. What they did just blindly believed Mr Madoff, who deceived them that he was buying the stocks. There must have been a way to prove that investment transactions actually took place.
When a deal is too good, one ought to think twice. From my research, I found out that during the flat year for the S&P100, madoff investments' rival, Gateway investments made returns of 5.5% which is well expected, while Mr Madoff reported returns high at 12% (Allen, V., 2008). That particular discrepancy ought to have aroused some doubt. An investor should have asked himself or herself why Mr. Madoff could get that return which no one else could.
Legal Actions that may Possibly be Brought against Mr. Madoff under Criminal or Civil Law
Of the eleven criminal actions brought against Mr Madoff, three were outstanding. These are; perjury, securities fraud and mail fraud. Perjury is described as the willful act of lying while under an affirmation to tell the truth or an oath, both spoken and in writing, concerning matters important to a judicial proceeding. Mr. Madoff perjured himself repeatedly as the investigation on his Ponzi scheme was undergoing. He also lied and misled the Securities and Exchange Commission while under investigation. He gave false information to the Securities and Exchange Commission about the number of clients and investors he had and the type of strategy he used to invest for his clients (Scannell, 2009). This is illegal and unethical.
Mr. Madoff would take money from his clients and pretend to invest the money, and then falsify financial statements and reports, bringing about the securities fraud action. When Mr Madoff said he was making investments, he didn't at all invest and this amounted to defrauding his clients of hard earned cash. He knowingly falsified financial statements and reports to indicate a strong financial position of his company and show that investments were doing well while the investments didn't exist in the first place.
It is unethical and against the law to use the United States Postal Service with an aim of defrauding people of their money, securities or valuables. Mr. Bernard Lawrence Madoff used the United States Postal Corporation to send out falsified financial statements and accounts to his investors and clients and consequently defrauding them of billions of dollars. He therefore committed mail fraud.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Mr. Bernard Lawrence "Bernie" Madoff on 11th December 2008 on a criminal charge of securities fraud. The original complaint estimated the loss by investors at a high of 50 billion dollars, before the Wall Street Journal established later that the figure included the purported false profits that the firm had reported to its clients over the decades (Scannell, 2009).
Determining the Use of Force
Uses and Disclosures of Information
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Post-Conference Tour to St. Petersburg
Payment instruction
The Organizing Committee gladly invites all participants to take part in the post-conference tour to Saint Petersburg.
Please, make your reservation and payment for the tour in your personal account in Additional service section.
Program of the post-conference tour to Saint Petersburg
Train tickets to St. Petersburg from Moscow. Check in the hotel.
Bus city tour
St. Petersburg is the former capital of Imperial Russia, home of the Tsars and one of the world's most beautiful and romantic cities. St. Petersburg was founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703 on the banks of the Neva River and the Gulf of Finland. The entire city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of beautiful palaces and monuments including the Winter Palace. The city is also known as the Venice of the North because of its location on various islands in the Neva River and its many canals and bridges.
During the City Tour you will see the most remarkable sights of the city on the Neva river banks and you will get plenty of unforgettable impressions. You will get acquainted with the history of St. Petersburg and will learn how it started and developed. You will see many of the sights that have made St. Petersburg famous: St. Isaac Square and St. Isaac´s Cathedral, the Spit of Vasilievsky island with Rostral Columns and the Stock Exchange building and the Bronze Horseman monument, Peter and Paul Fortress and legendary battleship «Aurora», Field of Mars and the Summer Garden, the Cathedral of a Saviour-on-the-Spilled Blood and the Winter Palace.
Tour to the Hermitage
Dinner. Free time.
Peterhof Palace And Park Tour
Peterhof is an immensely luxurious and beautifully preserved Imperial estate, founded in 1710 by Peter the Great. It contains several palaces, a number of beautifully landscaped parks and a numerous magnificent statues and fountains. That’s why it’s often called “The Russian Versailles”. This kingdom of playing water contains more that 140 fountains, and every one is unique. Once being seen it will never be forgotten! You will see visit this brilliant residence of Russian emperors and it’s magnificent fountains park. The Grand Palace with its fascinating and elaborate interiors and its expansive gardens with numerous fountains and pavilions are sure to impress.
Lunch
Return to St. Petersburg. Free time or departure to the airport.
Price: 650 Euro per person
Price includs the train tickets Moscow-St.Petersburg, 2 nights accommodation, transfers, English speaking guide, meals, city tour, tour to the Hermitage and tour to Peterhof.
Please be informed that the price is valid if the group is equal to no less than 10 people.
Cancellation policy. Cancellation without penalty is possible till 12:00 (Moscow time) June 01, 2019. In case of late cancellation, payment does not return.
Payment. All services shall be paid completely till June 01, 2019. In case of not payment receipt to the specified date, all unpaid services will be canceled.
©2019 5th EuChemS Inorganic Chemistry Conference. All Rights Reserved
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Sayyid Qutb
Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966) was an influential theorist influencing modern radical Islam. Born in a slum, he still managed both Western and Islamic education. While in the U.S., he developed a hatred for the West, although Richard Bernstein wrote that he did not specifically call for terrorism.[1]
In his analysis, he went farther than the usual interpretation of jahiliyya as the ignorance of Allah. To him, accepting secular government was a refusal to accept the ultimate authority of God. [2] He regarded secularism as the heresy of Al-wala’ wa’l-bara’.
He wrote extensively, and was editor of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood newspaper. Egyptian authorities executed him, by hanging, in 1966, for revolutionary activities, the culmination of which they had seen in his book, Milestones. That book has been described as the first of a new series on revolutionary Salafism; it was not his first.
Qutb was a great influence on Ayman al-Zawahiri, who joined with Osama bin Laden to form al-Qaeda.
↑ Richard Bernstein (August 14, 2005), "The World: What Is Free Speech, And What Is Terrorism?", New York Times
↑ M. A. Muqtedar Khan, "Milestones By Sayyid Qutb: An Executive Summary", IJTIHAD: A Return to Enlightenment
Retrieved from "http://en.citizendium.org/wiki?title=Sayyid_Qutb&oldid=100753159"
Religion Workgroup
Radical Islamism Subgroup
Articles written in American English
Religion Content
Radical Islamism tag
Religion tag
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Legacy Data
uia.org
of World Problems
& Human Potential
Search Strategies
Encouraging competition between health providers
Enhancing competition in provision of medical services
Promoting diversity of clinical health services
Increasing consumer choice in health services
Enabling a competitive environment for provision of health services in order to improve quality and encourage efficiency.
Government financing of basic and essential public health measures leaves the remaining clinical services to be financed privately or by social insurance. Governments can promote diversity and competition in provision of private sector health services by adopting policies that: (a) encourage social or private insurance (with regulatory incentives for equitable access and cost containment) for clinical services outside the essential package; (b) encourage suppliers (both public and private) to compete both to deliver clinical services and other health resources, such as drugs, not protecting domestic suppliers from international competition; and (c) generate and disseminate information on provider performance, on essential equipment and drugs, on the costs and effectiveness of interventions, and on the accreditation status of institutions and providers. These measures would improve quality and drive down costs.
"Managed competition" is a health insurance scheme in the USA. It pursues the three objectives of cost-effective health spending, universal insurance coverage, and cost containment simultaneously though tightly regulated competition among companies that provide a specified package of health care for a fixed annual fee.
Argentina is endeavouring to reform its monolithic social security system, discredited because of past inefficiencies and corruption, by seeking the objectives of competition and accountability. Even when there is little or no direct competition among health insurance funds, as in Japan and Korea, multiple semi-independent insurance institutions may still have advantages over a single large parastatal agency.
Local insurance insurance funds managed by boards composed of representatives of workers, employers and local government, as in Germany, tend to be more accountable to their members.
Where social insurance covers services by government hospitals, competition with the private sector can improve performance. Other approaches are to allow government hospitals to compete with one another as semi-autonomous enterprises, as in the UK in recent years, and to give hospital managers financial and career incentives to meet performance targets, as in Chile.
Counter Claim:
Privatization and competition in the provision of medical services encourages medical malpractice and financial fraud. Without effective public regulation, medical standards are liable to fall.
Broader:
Promoting health
Fostering competition
Limiting monopoly consumer services
Addressing acute debt-servicing problems
Facilitates:
Insuring health
Reforming health systems
Providing public health services
Financing essential clinical health services
Reforming pharmaceutical usage in public health
Satisfying customers
Accrediting private sector health services
Providing information on performance and cost
Increasing reliance on private sector health services
Conditions of trade
Type Classification:
G: Very Specific strategies
About the Encyclopedia
The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential is a collaboration between UIA and Mankind 2000, started in 1972. It is the result of an ambitious effort to collect and present information on the problems with which humanity is confronted, as well as the challenges such problems pose to concept formation, values and development strategies. Problems included are those identified in international periodicals but especially in the documents of some 60,000 international non-profit organizations, profiled in the Yearbook of International Organizations.
The Encyclopedia includes problems which such groups choose to perceive and act upon, whether or not their existence is denied by others claiming greater expertise. Indeed such claims and counter-claims figure in many of the problem descriptions in order to reflect the often paralyzing dynamics of international debate. In the light of the interdependence demonstrated among world problems in every sector, emphasis is placed on the need for approaches which are sufficiently complex to encompass the factions, conflicts and rival worldviews that undermine collective initiative towards a promising future.
The Union of International Associations (UIA) is a research institute and documentation centre, based in Brussels. It was established in 1907, by Henri la Fontaine (Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 1913), and Paul Otlet, a founding father of what is now called information science.
Non-profit, apolitical, independent, and non-governmental in nature, the UIA has been a pioneer in the research, monitoring and provision of information on international organizations, international associations and their global challenges since 1907.
www.uia.org
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Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Head Louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) in Central Iran
Saghafipour, Abedin and Nejati, Jalil and Zahraei-Ramazani, Alireza (2017) Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Head Louse (Pediculus humanus capitis) in Central Iran. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS-MASHHAD, 5 (7). pp. 5245-5254.
Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Head Louse.pdf
Abstract Background Recognition of head lice prevalence and related risk factors contributing in spreading the disease is a step forward to the control of this important health problem. This survey was done to determine prevalence and risk factors associated with head louse (Pediculus Humanus Capitis) in Central Iran. Materials and Methods In this descriptive-analytic study, a total of 38,237 suspected cases of head lice infestation that were referred to public health centers in Qom province during 2016 were studied. Data collection was done using standard check list that was conducted and approved by the Health Ministry of the Islamic Republic of Iran and physical examination of the hairs by visual inspections of scalp and hair for the presence of adult lice, nymphs, and eggs (nits) in all of suspected cases. For data analysis, Chi-square and Multiple Logistic Regression Tests were utilized. Results A total of 11,223 (29.35%) out of 38,237 suspected cases of all ages were found to have pediculosis. According to the multivariable logistic regression analysis, a significant relationship was observed between Pediculus capitis infestation and each of these factors: educational grade, family size, family income, having previous history of P. capitis infestation, number of combing per day (P<0.05). Head lice infestation was detected in 33.45% (7,182/21,469) of females and 24.09% (4,041/16,768) of males. Conclusion High prevalence of P. capitis among people of all ages, especially in students who reside in Qom province was attributable to inadequate access to health educators, health facilities, inattention to personal health, and other related factors. Key words: Risk Factors, Head ,Louse ,Pediculus, capitis, Iran
QX Parasitology
mrs Maryam azmoode
http://eprints.jums.ac.ir/id/eprint/61
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Digital Media Women Day
On March 10th, digital media and tech professionals from around the world will gather in Austin at South by Southwest Festival (SXSW), the most important conference for the digital and creative industry. Digital Media Women (#DMW) – founded in Hamburg, Germany – is a network of professional women. The network works for greater visibility for women on all stages – whether conferences, trade media or corporate boards. Women want to and should participate on an equal footing and have a visible influence: open, respected and groundbreaking.
TICKETS HERE
Digital Media Women Day returns to Austin!
We have curated an amazing group of female founders who are investing in, building and creating new solutions. Join us to hear their stories, learn from their experience and network with an incredible group of innovators – everyone is welcome!
Here’s our schedule:
4:00 DMW Welcome
4:30 Investor Insight
Sara Brand is the Founding General Partner of True Wealth Ventures, an early-stage VC fund investing in women-led businesses in consumer health and sustainability sectors. She is also the co-founder of (512) Brewing, the largest draught-only, self-distributing microbrewery in the country. Sara was previously in venture capital and management consulting in the Bay Area as well as a variety of strategic and operational roles in large tech companies. Sara holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in green design and manufacturing from UC Berkeley and a BS in mechanical engineering from UT Austin.
5:00 Female Founder panel
Laurie Felker-Jones (JuiceBox Hero), Hannah Asmussen (Localyze), Jennifer Schäfer (Daily Dress), Haydee Moreno (Almost Home Financial), Freya Oehle (Moderator)
6:00 Network, Mix, Mingle, Meet and enjoy burgers, bubbles and beer
Join us to:
#Connect with senior and aspiring leaders in digital media and tech
#Learn about the most innovative developments in media and tech from the women who are creating them
#Receive visibility through the
#DMW network
This event is hosted by the City of Hamburg …
in which the Digital Media Women (#DMW) network was founded in 2010 by eight Women in Tech. The Digital Media Women Day is curated and organized by, Chelsea Collier (Digi.City | Austin) and Sanja Stankovic (Co-Founder Digital Media Women & Hamburg Startups | Hamburg). Thanks to all our generous partners without whom this event would not be possible.
About #DMW
Net. Work. Power. Digital Media Women (#DMW) is Germany’s biggest network of action-taking-women. We want to give women a stage whether it is at conferences, in the media or managing boards. Our goal is to have women to be equally integrated and to be visibly able to influence: open, deliberate and pathbreaking.
The #DMW is a non-profit association. All women in the organization teams are working on a voluntarily basis in and for the network.
The Digital Media Women association was founded by eight women in Hamburg in 2010 to increase the visibility of many talented, innovative women in media and tech industry. Now, nine years later, the Digital Media Women network is connecting more than 20,000 women and men in Germany and is operating in more than nine German cities.
About Hamburg
Hamburg – hub for creative industries and city on the waterfront – is the most dynamic economic region in northern Europe. Hamburg is the advertising and media capital of Germany and favorite working place for creatives, artists, musicians, game designers and big industry leaders as Facebook and Google. The hanseatic city is one of the top locations in Europe for startups. As the center of the country’s music industry, it attracts both artists and music business professionals and hosts one of the three biggest and most important music business events in Europe: the Reeperbahn Festival. The city of Hamburg has answered the SXSW call for many years and represents one of the biggest delegations. Hamburg companies will be given support in various forms on site by giving opportunities for networking and presentation. The Interessengemeinschaft Hamburger Musikwirtschaft (IHM) and the Reeperbahn Festival play a key role in the organisation.
Digi.City
Digi.City Founder Chelsea Collier connects the tech, government and social impact sectors by publishing content and hosting events though her platform. She also serves as the Editor-At-Large for Smart Cities Connect and as a Co-Founder of Impact Hub Austin. She is a 2018 Marshall Memorial Fellow and a 2016 Eisenhower Fellow. Her research focuses on smart city policy and global best practices. Her work has also been featured in Inc.com, Venture Beat, the Chicago Tribune and dozens of other publications. She lives in Austin, Texas where she is active in the local tech and social impact community. Her masters and bachelor degrees are from the University of Texas at Austin.
Fotocredits: Sanja Stankovic & Katharina Gless
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Directmartialarts
Book Lesson
Children’s Programme
Adult Programme
Carlos Lewis
Direct Martial Arts School
Martial Arts Classes in, Doncaster, Rotherham, Thorne, Barnsley, Sheffield and Milton Keynes.
Book a FREE Trial Lesson
Master Carlos Lewis
Master Carlos Lewis is a Highly Respect Martial Arts Expert, Mentor, Life Coach and a Practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Master Lewis Has been Privileged and Honoured at the highest level being inducted in 2014 into the Mega Magazine Hall of Honour in Atlantic City New Jersey USA, Receiving "Outstanding Contributions to the Martial Arts" Award. In 2015 he was Awarded Master of the Year at the Hall of Honours in Munich, Germany and also in the same year he was inducted into the UK Martial Arts Illustrated Hall of Fame receiving Fighters Award 2015.
He First Started Martial Arts at the age of 5 in 1984 with Judo, this soon opened his eyes to other Martial Arts, being a Fan of Jackie Chan Carlos also started training in Tang Soo Do as this reflected more of the kicking he would see in the Movies. He Went on to study various other martial arts including Taekwondo, Thai Kickboxing, Wing Chun, Boxing and Kung Fu to Name a Few.
He has travelled the World Learning and teaching Many Kinds of Martial Arts with some of the leading Grandmasters and Celebrity Martial Artist. Master Carlos Lewis Established his Martial Arts School in 2003 and has trained students to national and international standard. He Has become a Community Role Model Benefiting Children and Adults through the Philosophy of Martial Arts and Modern Life Skills. He regularly gives Motivational speeches in Schools and Events helping people to find their purpose and achieve their dreams!
In 2015 Carlos was Awarded Master of the Master Arts from the World Wide Martial Arts Council Signed by some of the World’s Leading Grandmasters and Martial Artist.
Master Carlos Lewis is also a High-Level Mentor and Life Coach and has helped People from all over the world to transform their passion into Reality by stepping beyond their limitations and into their full protentional. He believes that Martial Arts has a deep Philosophy of driving personal development, Self-realisation and achieving fulfilment in all aspects of Life.
Martial Arts Classes in
Thorne, Barnsley
Sheffield and Milton Keynes
» Amazing Female Martial Artists Everyone Should Know
» Does Martial Arts Make Kids Violent?
» What are the most significant things martial arts taught me about life?
myMA Website by |
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Happy New Year's From Everything Lucy
Have a Very Happy and Healthy New Year's Eve!
Coming up on the Everything Lucy Blog is very important news on the whys and wherefores of the crisis at the Lucy-Desi Center and Museum. As recently reported, all the board members of the center resigned including Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr. And the root of the resignations and the problems at the center all come down to the Executive Director and the Assistant Director. More coming soon on this crisis.
Lucille Ball Film Preserved in Library of Congress
The Library of Congress has selected 25 motion pictures into their National Film Registry to preserve the nation's movie heritage.
Currently there are 475 films in the registry. Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)starring Lucille Ball as a strip-tease artist along with Maureen O'Hara.
Other films selected include Back to the Future (1985), Dances With Wolves (1990), and Wuthering Heights (1939). Read the full list at the Library of Congress web site.
Lucille Ball Associates to be on Radio
Stu Shostak's guests for his weekly live call-in talk show on Shokus Internet Radio this Wednesday, December 12th at 7pm EST (9pm PST) will be Lucille Ball's closest confidants, Wanda Clark, her personal assistant for 27 years, and Frank Gorey, originally her driver and later her "major domo" for close to 40 years. Both will share behind-the-scenes stories and memories of what it was like to know and work for the famous redhead who was loved by millions for her antics on television and in the movies in a career that spanned over 50 years. Listeners are invited to participate by calling toll-free at (888) 746-5875.
"Stu's Show" airs live each Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. PST on Shokus Internet Radio with rebroadcasts at the same time daily. Access to the station's feed is free, with no registration required, and is available by choosing one of the audio player links on the Shokus Internet Radio web site or via Itunes by selecting Radio/Eclectic and then locating the station's name alphabetically in the list.
Shokus Internet Radio is a service of Shokus Video, and is "TV on the radio for baby boomers", with live call-in talk shows featuring TV celebrities, interactive telephone game shows, classic stand-up comedy from the great comedians, and big band, easy listening music during the morning and afternoon drive times.
The Humor Project and TV Land Sponsor Legacy of Laughter with Lucie Arnaz
The very talented Lucie Arnaz will be joining The Humor Project during their June 20-22, 2008 international conference on "The Positive Power of Humor and Creativity" at Silver Bay Conference Center on majestic Lake George in upper New York State. Sponsored by TV Land, Lucie will be moderating a panel entitled "LOL: Legacy of Laughter" that will feature a number of our world-class conference speakers. In addition, Lucie will be doing an up-close-and-personal concurrent workshop and will be accepting the Laughtime Achievement Award on behalf of her parents, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. You may have noticed last week that Lucy and Desi were voted by TV Land viewers to be #1 among the 100 Greatest TV Icons in history.
Information about the 52nd international conference will be available later this month. This learning-filled, fun-fueled program will also be described in their 2008 Sourcebook, which will be available soon and be mailed in early January. The earlier you register for the conference the lower the prices. For more information or to preorder your tickets, they can be reached at 518-587-8770 to order conference registrations as holiday gifts.
Lucie, Desi Jr. Depart With Clark, Rapaport; Spots Filled With Locals
Another story on the departure of Lucie and Desi Arnaz from the Board of the Lucy-Desi Center from The Post-Journal in Jamestown, New York.
Four members of the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center board of directors, including Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr., have left the board and have been replaced with local residents, organization officials confirmed Tuesday.
Other departures include Wanda Clark, Lucille Ball’s longtime personal secretary, and Mary Rapaport, a Buffalo area resident and an active supporter of the Lucy-Desi community.
Lucy-Desi Center Adds New Board Members
At a meeting of the board of the Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center earlier this month new directors were elected. Added to the Center’s board were Chautauqua County Director of Planning & Economic Development and Industrial Development Agency CEO William Daly, Jamestown attorney C. Edward Fagan, Ludwig Auction & Realty Co. owner Charles L. Ludwig, and Chautauqua Home Rehabilitation and Improvement Corporation Deputy Director Carolyn Seymour. These new members fill vacancies left by Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz, Jr., Wanda Clark and Mary Rapaport.
In announcing the additions to the board, Executive Director Ric Wyman said, “We have made significant strides since the Center was established nearly six years ago. With two buildings on the corner of Third and Main welcoming thousands of visitors to downtown Jamestown each year and plans to open a significantly expanded Lucy-Desi Museum in 2008, it’s been a time of great growth.
“None of this could have happened without the generosity of Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr., who not only served as our founding president and vice-president but who also provided countless valuable objects from their parents, created the Center’s Legacy of Laughter seminar series, and offered support in many other ways.”
Wyman noted that the Center is experiencing its strongest year to date, with new records set for numbers of admissions, on-line traffic, and Lucy-Desi Center Acquisitions Society memberships. The two Center-sponsored annual festivals this year attracted visitors from 37 states, plus Australia, Canada, Croatia, England, Germany, and Puerto Rico. In addition, the Lucy-Desi Center has developed Lucille Ball/Desi Arnaz/“I Love Lucy”- related school curriculum that meet New York State Education Department standards, offered workshops in Laughter Yoga, and partnered with local Girl Scouts, senior facilities, and the Hispanic community. Last summer, the weekly magazine American Profile shared a major story with its three million readers entitled “Jamestown Loves Lucy.”
New Everything Lucy Site Design
You'll notice not only on the Everything Lucy Blog, but also the main "Everything Lucy" website that it has a new look and feel!
This is the promised change almost two-years in the making! It will also more then likely be the very last redesign the site goes through.
For those not aware, youns.com and this blog is owned and run by only one individual and this includes several blogs! This adventure began as a much needed rehaul of the existing site along with the several subwebs that it contained. It had become very dated, not only in look but also in feel and to remain a viable website, it had to be redesigned. As I am a web designer by profession as well as an artist, I was the one to take on the responsibility instead of farming it out. Incidently, I was also the one who programmed the site as well. Now, I don't pretend to be a programmer nor am I, and that can be seen by those who view "under the hood" of the web site and this is one of the main reasons that it took 2 years to get done. I do not have the money to farm the coding of the site out so I had to take the code that I orginially had and "retrofit" it to the new design. This took alot of investing time and trial and error to get it to fit into the new design. So, I don't profess to be a programmer and this is why it has taken so long to get up and running AND this is the main reason that I will not try to do this again!
All the content that existed before in the old site is still retained, although I have added some new content to various sections, it should still be very familiar to those who have frequented the site before. The main "youns.com" site has always existed as a placeholder for three additional subwebs that had always been separate in content and therefore could have always been their own site all by themselves. Therefore, I created 4 distinct and different designs only with a small common design element between them all and I created separate URLs for each of the sites so it will be easier to remember and will stand on it's own. The main site (http://www.youns.com) which is a "kick-off" to the 3 subwebs which include "Everything Lucy", "Online Pet Memorials" and "Ancestry".
Everything Lucy (http://everythinglucy.youns.com) - This subweb is a site that is all about Lucille Ball as is this blog. This was and hopefully still is one of the best resources and knowledge-base on one of my favorite comedians. It is exclusively devoted to Lucille Ball and her career and life. One of the first and formost web sites that featured Lucille Ball on the internet and now it has it's own exclusive Everything Lucy Blog which is updated very frequently with all the news on the internet about our favorite red-head.
Online Pet Memorials (http://petmemorials.youns.com) - This subweb is dedicated to my departed pet, Q-Bert, who passed away 8 1/2 years ago now. It is a free pet memorial site that anyone in the world can post a memorial to their departed pet, whether it be dog, cat or even frog! The Photo Album feature has been updated and should be a joy for all those present and future. Hopefully this site will be a blessing for everyone as a resource to help them through their grief and as a living testament and memorial to the love of their departed pet.
Ritchey and Diehl Ancestry and Geneology (http://ancestry.youns.com) - This subweb is devoted to my ancestry which I've been collecting data on for a number of years and have created a CD-rom of all the published material that has previously existed in different publications. Now I have included it all in one place and available on one CD-rom for all those interested in and related to the Ritchey and Diehl families that I originate from.
I'll be sending out an email blast to those who have requested to be on the various mailing lists for the interested sections of the web to inform them of the new design shortly.
For those who are regular readers to the Everything Lucy Blog, you'll notice that many of the images "disappeared". This is because the location of those original images have changed and I am still trying to find a way to update those older archived Blog entries to update this image location. If anyone knows how, please let me know!
Anyway, while the new design is still fresh there may be quirks that I have not caught. So if you run into anything, please let me know from the contact us page on the main Youns.com site.
Enjoy and let me know what you think! They'll be more changes on the way!
Lucille Ball Film Preserved in Library of Congress...
The Humor Project and TV Land Sponsor Legacy of La...
Lucie, Desi Jr. Depart With Clark, Rapaport; Spots...
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Top Russian security officials tour Egypt, Gulf to discuss Syria, Libya
Kirill Semenov February 5, 2019
Over the space of a week, top officials in the Russian security apparatus toured Saudia Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt with some intriguing proposals on Syria and Libya.
ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images
Nikolai Patrushev (R), Secretary of the Security Council of Russia (R) listens during the first meeting of national security secretaries of Afghanistan, China, Iran, India and Russia, Tehran, Iran, Sept. 26, 2018.
On Jan. 31, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev paid a visit to Abu Dhabi to meet with the United Arab Emirates' national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two exchanged views on the situation in North Africa and the Middle East, with special emphasis placed on developments in Libya and Syria.
On Jan. 29, Patrushev took part in bilateral consultations on security issues in Cairo with his Egyptian counterparts. The talks revolved around the situation in North Africa and the Middle East, counterterrorism and issues related to what are termed "color revolutions” — particularly the upheaval taking place in Sudan. Moreover, the agenda included military and military-technical cooperation, as well as joint efforts in law enforcement. Patrushev was later received by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The talks in Egypt and the UAE followed the visit to Saudi Arabia of Sergey Naryshkin, director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service. The Russian intelligence chief met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the country's defense minister, on Jan. 21 and conducted talks with Khalid bin Ali bin Abdullah al-Humaidan, director general of General Intelligence Directorate. The parties focused on enhancing interagency cooperation in fighting international terrorism and effectively settling regional conflicts. Further details of the visit have not been revealed.
Thus, regardless of the Russian-Turkish joint efforts in Syria, one can speak about intensified contacts between Russian security services charged with supervising the settlement of Middle Eastern conflicts among other matters, with the troika of Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, a powerhouse in the Middle East and in the Islamic world, currently at loggerheads with Turkey and Qatar over regional influence.
While striving to preserve high-level cooperation with Turkey on Syria, Moscow is still seeking to obtain alternative leverage on Ankara on the Syrian track, not least with the help of the trio of Cairo, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh.
Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have been engaged for a relatively long period in northern Syria by supporting the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-dominated alliance hostile to Turkey. Military and political representatives of the three states are widely reported to have visited the city of Manbij in December and Kobani in November, where consultations were held with SDF representatives. The deployment of military units from these states to northern Syria may be under consideration.
However, it is believed that the SDF troops would be unable to counter a Turkish offensive, and that the presence of Gulf and Egyptian troops would not be enough to avert such a military operation. The military representatives of the United Arab Emirates and Egypt may more likely offer guarantees to the SDF in its interaction with Damascus, that is, to preserve the military and political autonomy of the Kurdish-Arab alliance after the Assad regime takes over SDF-controlled territories.
The UAE and Egypt — and at a later stage possibly Saudi Arabia — are willing to further normalize relations with Syria and pave the way for its return to the Arab League. In exchange, they seek to safeguard their own interests and want some guarantees. This primarily concerns limiting the Iranian presence in Syria and its influence on decision-making in Damascus. Preserving both the SDF as a special autonomous part of the Syrian army and self-governance in northern Syria may provide the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia with a certain guarantee that these territories will not house Iranian military facilities and that such a zone free from Tehran-backed forces could expand in the future. Northern Syria, with no Iranian presence on the ground, offers prospects for investments in Syria from Abu Dhabi and Riyadh and could determine their willingness to allocate additional funds to the reconstruction of Raqqa in case it is retaken by Damascus.
In this context, one can say that there are many points of convergence between Moscow and the aforementioned trio of the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, including their opposition to greater Turkish influence in northern Syria aimed at preventing the creation of a Turkish buffer zone and countering Iran's presence in the country. At the same time, Russia will seek to maintain its relations with Turkey and Iran, suggesting that the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt should announce initiatives originating in Moscow that can be supported by Damascus against Turkish and Iranian interests in Syria.
Libya was the second item on the Cairo and Abu Dhabi agendas for Patrushev. It is noteworthy that the Russian Security Council has long been involved in formulating Russian strategy on Libya, which is evidenced, among others, by the meetings between between Patrushev and Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter. The Libyan dossier appears to be part of the Russian-UAE-Egyptian-Saudi portfolio of settling Middle Eastern conflicts. Specifically, in exchange for the UAE, Egyptian and Saudi readiness to promote Russia’s interests in Syria, including Assad’s re-legitimation, Moscow may step up efforts to back Hifter, a protege of the Emirates, Egypt and partly of the Saudis. Against this background, the revealing fact is that Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is allegedly in charge of the Russian private military contractor Wagner group, attended the November talks between Patrushev and Hifter in Moscow. Now some reports suggest the mercenaries are allegedly willing to train the Libyan National Army (LNA) and to potentially engage in the offensive launched by Hifter-led forces in the southwestern region of Fezzan, in Sabha. Should the military campaign end in success, Libya's eastern leader would be able to gain control over El Sharara, the biggest oilfield in the west, and then tighten the noose around the Government of National Accord in the country's northwestern region of Tripolitania. The task of protecting LNA-controlled oilfields might subsequently be assigned to Russian military contractors.
Finally, in the UAE and in Egypt, Patrushev discussed the issue of countering what have been called “color revolutions” — above all, the ongoing developments in Sudan. The interests of Russia, Cairo, Abu Dhabi and Riyadh are on the same page as far as bolstering Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s position is concerned and all are prepared to continue to support him. Sudan remains a key member of the anti-Houthi coalition in Yemen, with its troops, the biggest foreign military unit on the ground, carrying the greatest burden in heavy fighting against the Houthis. A collapse of the Bashir regime and a Sudanese withdrawal from Yemen would seriously dent the coalition headed by the Emirates and the Saudis.
As for Russia, Moscow is developing military and political ties with Khartoum, which includes possibly using Sudanese ports for Russian naval vessels as well as Russian private security firms training the Sudanese military; Moscow recently acknowledged that these contractors are at work in Sudan. Consequently, one should expect Russia and the trio of the UAE, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to further coordinate their efforts in supporting the Sudanese regime. Moscow will be ready to continue giving its helping hand in the form of its military advisers and private military contractors, while Abu Dhabi and Riyadh will keep providing Sudan with necessary funding.
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Found in: Turkey-Gulf relations, Turkish-Kurdish conflict, Syria Conflict, Oil and gas, Libya conflict, Russian influence
Kirill Semenov is an independent analyst with a long record of professional study of political and military issues in the Middle East, with a strong focus on the conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Libya. He is also a non-resident expert of the Russian International Affairs Council. On Twitter: @IbnRasibi
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Composed, Orchestrated, Conducted, and Produced by:
Performed by:
The English Chamber Orchestra
Epic Soundtrax
(December 15th, 1992)
Nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe.
Dances With Wolves
Availability | Awards | Viewer Ratings | Comments | Audio & Track Listings | Notes
Buy it... if you enjoy John Barry's slowly paced, lushly romantic scores and wish to hear one of the last truly effective ones in his career.
Avoid it... if you think that once you've heard one Barry epic, you've heard them all.
Chaplin: (John Barry) So much had been known about Charlie Chaplin's movies and the public persona he attempted to enhance in his own autobiography, and yet the significant (and, to some extent, self-imposed) troubles in his personal life went largely undocumented until Sir Richard Attenborough attempted a revealing bio-epic of the early film star in 1992. As to be expected from this sort of Attenborough venture, the film's scope was grand and the acting credits contained a dozen well-known names. In the title role, Robert Downey Jr. (like Chaplin himself, mired in legal trouble) is convincing both aesthetically and in mannerism, and the film is littered with other high quality performances. But the major faults of the film are the pace at which it steams through Chaplin's life, the emphasis on the sex and other turmoil (an encounter with J. Edgar Hoover is invented to explain that a snub of Hoover by Chaplin at a party is a reason why the FBI pursued Chaplin as a Communist during his later days), as well as the flashback format of the film that includes Anthony Hopkins attempting to get the juicier details out of Chaplin before his decline in the 1970's. Despite these critical complaints about the project, Attenborough's film received some recognition during awards season, and an Academy Award nomination was given to John Barry for his dramatic underscore; it would be the last nomination for the man who had won four "Best Score" Oscars from the late 1960's through the early 1990's.
Barry had met Attenborough back when Barry was still the nameplate on a jazz group, and Attenborough hired Barry to one of his first film score assignments to provide additional jazz source music for The L-Shaped Room. After a collaboration that lasted a few years, the director and composer would never be able to work together until Chaplin, and despite the great anticipation of their reunion, reports indicate that Attenborough was originally horrified by Barry's title theme for Chaplin. But after matching Barry's theme for the character with the tragic opening scene (in which Chaplin is seen taking off his makeup), Attenborough was brought to tears. In the 1990's, Barry's music was becoming far more predictable, with his slow, rolling, lushly romantic style finding fewer and fewer applications on the screen. This style had worked so well in Out of Africa and Dances With Wolves that he won Oscars for those efforts, and in so doing had created a situation in which anything similar for films thereafter would be considered by many to be re-hash. To some extent, his work for Chaplin is highly derivative, though this would be one of the last (if not the final) film for which this music would be a perfect match. Epic tragedy has never been captured quite as well as Barry had accomplished in the last two decades of his career, and his quiet piano and string score for Chaplin is both predictably deliberate and melodramatic.
A delicate piano theme yields to several subthemes throughout the film, all moving at an extremely slow tempo and exhibiting the same chord progressions and bass string/cello counterpoint technique that was heard in Raise the Titanic, High Road to China, and Out of Africa. Pleasant to the last note, each of Barry's themes is simple in construction and painstakingly emphasized in every note. For veterans of film music, these quietly meandering themes will be exactly as expected, so the far more interesting parts of Chaplin will be Barry's more upbeat, out-of-character cues for dancing and the physical moving of Chaplin from London to California. These cues are set to light snare rhythms and pulsating brass, eventually dancing with woodblocks in parts that emulated Rachel Portman's more playful moments. The two "Roll Dance" cues show a glimpse of the old big band and Monte Walsh days for Barry, with the second one offering a snazzy brass rhythm over honky tonk piano. Barry also shows skill in adapting Chaplin's own musical compositions into his score, making generous usage of the "Smile" theme. There is a definite reason why the Downey Jr. club vocal version of "Smile" wasn't heard in the film; to do so would probably have killed Attenborough from humiliation. As with most of Barry's albums, the recording and mixing of Chaplin is exquisite, with the layered strings and delicate piano easily distinguishable in crystal clear quality. One of the last truly effective John Barry scores, Chaplin will be an easy and pleasurable listening experience for any of his collectors. **** @Amazon.com: CD or Download
Bias Check: For John Barry reviews at Filmtracks, the average editorial rating is 3.85 (in 27 reviews)
and the average viewer rating is 3.57 (in 26,643 votes). The maximum rating is 5 stars.
A masterpiece
Sheridan - September 22, 2006, at 11:17 a.m. 1 comment (2322 views)
Where is John Barry?
Eric Y. - May 5, 2006, at 11:40 a.m. 1 comment (2679 views)
4. The California/The Cutting Room (0:30) MP3 (254K) WMA (200K) Real Audio (179K)
6. Chaplin's Studio Opening (0:30) MP3 (254K) WMA (200K) Real Audio (179K)
14. The Roll Dance (0:31) MP3 (254K) WMA (204K) Real Audio (179K)
15. Chaplin - Main Theme/Smile (0:30) MP3 (254K) WMA (200K) Real Audio (179K)
1. Chaplin - Main Theme (3:06)
2. Early Days in London* (4:17)
3. Charlie Proposes (3:01)
4. The California/The Cutting Room (3:45)
5. Discovering the Tramp/Wedding Chase (4:01)
6. Chaplin's Studio Opening (1:58)
7. Salt Lake City Episode** (2:11)
8. The Roll Dance (2:34)
9. News of Hetty's Death/Smile (3:42)
10. From London to L.A. (3:20)
11. Joan Barry Trouble/Oona Arrives (2:15)
12. Remembering Hetty (2:57)
13. Smile (2:05)
14. The Roll Dance (1:47)
15. Chaplin - Main Theme/Smile (4:48)
16. Smile*** (3:38)
* Features re-recorded music from the song "The Honeysuckle and the Rose"
** Rerecorded music from the Charles Chaplin film City Lights
*** Produced by Jonathan Elias, Alexander Lasarenko and Fritz Doddy and not featured in the film
The insert contains notes by Sir Richard Attenborough and a picture of Barry with Attenborough.
or redistributed without the prior written authority of Christian Clemmensen at Filmtracks Publications. All artwork and sound clips from Chaplin are Copyright © 1992, Epic Soundtrax and cannot be redistributed without the label's expressed written consent. Page created 7/7/98 and last updated 2/17/06.
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The Rolling Stones recently celebrated their 50th anniversary as a rock and roll band. It's sort of being done in a low-key manner, hardly the way the group has conducted itself over the years, with a tentative concert schedule and several books being released to coincide with the big event. Given how the world usually goes nuts celebrating any little anniversary as a "big event," this one has been relatively quiet, but has picked up steam now that the group has done a couple of performances and there's been no need for paramedics so far.
Part of this is due to the fact that in the rock and roll world, becoming an "Elder Statesmen" is not considered to be too cool (except to the older fans that still follow them). Everyone remembers the line, "I hope I die before I get too old," from The Who's "My Generation," in the 60's. Of course, The Who still do the occasional performance, too, but in rock and roll, while it's pretty neat to see these old pioneers out there making music, at the same time it's sort of sad, too, because try as they might, they really can't duplicate the magic that they had forty (or fifty) years ago for the most part. In the case of bands like the Stones, with 68 year old Keith Richards, looking not a day over ninety, doing his guitar-slinger thing, and 69 year old Mick Jagger bouncing all over the stage, it's sort of wince-inducing.
That being said, they're still leaps and bounds above most of the up and coming rock talent, musically speaking....try as I might, I can't picture my daughters putting a Mick Jagger poster up in their rooms.......which is one reason why people still shell out triple digits for their tickets. Please keep in mind, that I am by no means degrading what these guys do. Frankly, it's good to see them performing at a pretty high standard and still making new music...not content to rest on their laurels and just conduct an "oldies" tour. What amuses me is the fact that probably none of them ever imagined they would still be doing it when they were the same age their grandparents were when they got their start.
There are numerous reasons that these guys (and ladies) continue to plug away at this business well into their Golden years.......money, of course...fame.....it's the only thing they've ever done.....they love what they're doing......etc..... But what a lot of people may not realize about why these rockers (and others, like 67 year old Eric Clapton and 68 year olds Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page) continue to work could be because their idols and influences continued to work into their 70's and 80's (and sometimes 90's). The musicians that influenced a lot of these older rockers were blues musicians like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Albert King, Otis Rush, Sonny Boy Williamson, Honeyboy Edwards, John Lee Hooker, B. B. King, and Buddy Guy.
Unlike their adoring musical followers, most blues artists over the years haven't really had the luxury of retiring with their millions to large, palatial mansions with classic car collections and multiple houses on multiple continents. While most of them loved what they were doing, many continued and still continue to work because they need to in order to survive. For blues fans though, the fact that their favorites are in their 70's or 80's doesn't bother them in the least, and newcomers to the blues don't seem to mind either, because these old dudes can still bring it.
Blues Legends - 2001 (From Blues Access Magazine. Clockwise from top left, Honeyboy Edwards (86 years old), Robert Lockwood, Jr. (86 years old), Henry Townsend (92 years old), Homesick James (94 years old)
If you think about it, most of the older blues artists that come to mind maintained a high standard of making music and many continue to do so. Artists like Robert Lockwood Jr., Honeyboy Edwards, Pinetop Perkins, Henry Townsend, and Homesick James continued well into their late 80's or 90's while maintaining a pretty high standard. Today, FBF will take a look at an impressive list of artists, all 75 or older, who continue to make some mighty music with no signs of letting up anytime soon.
Buddy Guy - Guy turned 76 earlier this year (July 30). To me, he's playing as well as he did over twenty years ago, when he began his resurgence. He still has the youthful energy and enthusiasm and, man, can he make that guitar talk! Despite looking and performing like he's thirty years younger, he's, amazingly, joined the ranks of Blues' Elder Statesmen. May we all be doing so well when we reach his age.
Magic Slim - The Magic Man, 75 years of age in August, has lately taken to sitting down while performing, but that's his only concession to age. He's still a whirling dervish of traditional Chicago blues and boasts a nearly endless repertoire of blues songs. He just released another phenomenal set of his usual fantastic blues, Bad Boy. Plus, he fronts one of the best bands in the business, the Teardrops.
James Cotton - The 77-year-old Cotton has played with just about everybody who was anybody since the early 1950's, including Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Otis Spann, as well as leading his own group since the 60's, recording several acclaimed albums during that time. He's also battled throat cancer in the mid 90's and has not recorded a vocal since around 2000. That hasn't slowed him down very much though. He can still blow the back off the harmonica. Check him out below at the 2010 Chicago Blues Festival with another Elder Statesman, 84-year-old Matt "Guitar" Murphy, during his return to performing after a lengthy recovery from a stroke.
Henry Gray - At 87 years of age, the legendary piano man had been active since the mid 40's, playing with artists like Robert Lockwood, Jr., Billy Boy Arnold, Morris Pejoe, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), Jimmy Reed, Jimmy Rogers, Buddy Guy, Otis Rush, Elmore James (he played with him the night James died), and Koko Taylor. He's also recorded solo over the same time span, on labels like Chess, Excello, Blind Pig, and Hightone. He continues to tour and record with his band, the Cats, and shows no signs of slowing down.
Lonnie Brooks - The amazing Brooks will soon be 79 years old. He was one of the first blues artists that I ever heard and his hybrid of blues mixed with rock & roll, down-home country (he appeared on Hee Haw once), and the sounds of the Louisiana swamp is a potent mix. Though he hasn't recorded in over a decade, he still tours with his band and occasionally performs with his two sons, Ronnie Baker Brooks and Wayne Baker Brooks, and is well-known for his live shows and his great band.
B. B. King - King just turned 87 in September, but he works a schedule that would wear out a person forty years younger, with relentless touring and performing. His vocals are grittier than in his heyday, but he still delivers, and his guitar playing....forget about it. In his hands, Lucille is a force of nature, powerful as a hurricane. It will be a sad day for all when Mr. King decides to retire, but something tells me that he will be going strong until the Great Bandleader upstairs comes calling and there's nothing wrong with that. Something tells me all the artists we've looked at today will want to go out the same way.
Blues Legends - Freddie King
Ten Questions with......Dick Shurman
New Blues For You (Thanksgiving 2012 Edition)
Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, ...
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Custom Fitting Repair Shop
Virtual Golf
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The stunning Ocean Course at Cabo Del Sol is a signature Jack Nicklaus design ranking in the top 100 courses worldwide, with it's 5th & 17th holes being ranked in the top 500 in the world by Golf Magazine. Stretching along the dramatic scenery of the Sea of Cortez, this course has been hailed as the "Mexican Pebble Beach" by Pacific Golf Magazine and crowned with a similarly modelled 18th hole. Today Los Cabos is lauded as Mexico's number-one golf resort destination. This seaside paradise offers visitors a myriad of resort properties to chose from, an array of water sports and outdoor activities, miles and miles of pristine beaches, championship golf courses designed by the industry's best.
Pacific Dunes
Pacific Dunes was rated the No.1 resort golf course in the country in 2005 by Golfweek magazine. Designed by Tom Doakin 2001, Pacific Dunes doesn't feel like it was built as much as it was discovered. Rippling fairways remain just as they werefound and natural bunkers line the landscape as they have for centuries. The course emerges from shore pines to spectacular 60-foot sand dunes. This world famous championship course comprises two distinct series of nine-holes. The outward nine is interwoven among natural lakes and wetlands, while the back nine makes it way through areas populated with Angophoras and Swamp Mahogany trees, an extension of the natural landscape. Only High Definition Golf™ simulators brings Pacific Dunes to life with vivid realism and unmatched course accuracy.
Like the rest of Princeville at Hanalei, the Prince Golf Course enjoys magnificent views from 300 feet above the Pacific Ocean. It's not the scenery that earned the Prince Course Golf Digest's rating as "Hawaii's No. 1 Golf Course," it's the incredible design Robert Trent Jones, Jr. created to turn rolling terrain into a links-style golf course. This 18-hole, par 72 golf course climbs slopes andcareens down hills as a demanding layout that calls for your best-planned shots.
Rich Harvest Farms
Rich Harvest Farms is a private, 18-hole, 1,800-acre golf course and country club near Sugar Grove, Illinois. The golf course is an extreme test of a golfer's skill. Measuring well over 7,700 yards from the professional tees, the course requires precision with every shot. The famous fourth hole, Devil's Elbow, has one of the most intimidating tree-lined tee boxes and fairways of any golf course. Rich Harvest Farms hosted the 2007 NCAA Central Regional Men's Golf Championships and was the 2009 site of the Solheim Cup, the most prestigious event in women's team golf. It was rated 5th Best New Private Golf Course by Golf Digest in 1997 and three years later, made Golf Digest America's Greatest 100.
PGA National Golf Club, the home of the Professional Golfers' Association of America, is located at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The Golf Club facilities include four championship, 18-hole golf courses within PGA National. The Champion course was opened on November 17, 1981. It was the site of the 1983 Ryder Cup and the 1987 PGA Championship and was the permanent home for the PGA Seniors' Championship from 1982-2000. The course underwent a $4 million renovation in December 2002 and in 2007 became the home of the Honda Classic.
BethPage Black
The Bethpage Black Course is the most difficult of the five golf courses at Bethpage State Park on Long Island. In 2002 the Black Course became the first publicly owned and operated course to host the U.S. Open. It also hosted the 2009 U.S. Open.
The Links at Spanish Bay was built on vast sandy wasteland ideally suited for creating a true links-style course. Development began in 1985, and was planned to protect the native dunes habitat. Prior championship tournaments included the 1993 Shivas Irons Games of the Links and NorCal Toyota Challenge.
Nicklaus North
Winner of numerous awards since its opening in 1996, Nicklaus North has played host to events such as the Skins Game and the Shell's Wonderful World of Golf, welcoming some of golf's biggest names such as Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, Greg Norman, Fred Couples, John Daly, Vijay Singh and Stephen Ames.
Pinehurst No.2
Pinehurst has been the site of more championships than any other golf course in the country. Pinehurst welcomes the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open Championships in 2014.
Blue Monster
The Blue Monster at Doral played host to the Doral Open on the PGA Tour from 1962 to 2006. Since 2007 the WGC-CA Championship has made its home at the Blue Monster. In 2009, the Blue Monster joined the PGA Tour's Tournament Players Club network of courses and rebranded as the TPC Blue Monster at Doral. The famous 18th hole, with its signature fountain, was ranked by GOLF Magazine as one of the Top 100 Holes in the World.
Torrey Pines
Torrey Pines golf course is located on the coastal bluffs of the Torrey Pines Mesa in La Jolla, CA a Southern California coastal community. Both Torrey Pines Golf Courses are Championship 18-hole golf courses and are played by PGA TOUR® professionals during the Buick Invitational of California held each year in January or February.
Wooden Sticks, architect Mr. Ron Garl and his team worked diligently to ensure that every aspect of the golf experience reflects the spirit found in some of today's most famous golf holes. 12 of the 18 holes at Wooden Sticks were each inspired by a different famous golf hole from the PGA TOUR®, including Augusta and TPC Sawgrass.
Banff Springs
The Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Course is a mountain course with challenging layout set in the heart of Canada's Rocky Mountains.
The Monument course was designed by the team of legendary golfer Tom Weiskopf and architect, Jay Morrish. It stretches to 7,028 yards and is a par 72. With wide fairways that wind through lush desert vegetation, natural washes and towering saguaros. The course was listed as No. 8 in America's Top 100 Non-Private Golf Courses by Golf Magazine.
The Ocean course at Kiawah has hosted the 2007 Senior PGA, the 1991 Ryder Cup, the 1997 and 2003 World Cups, the 2001 UBS Cup and 2005 PGA National Championship. In 2012 Kiawah Island Golf Resort will host the 94th PGA Championship, only the fourth course to host each of the PGA of America's major championships. The Ocean Course just ranked 25th in Golf Digest's 100 Greatest U.S. Golf Courses List and 4th on Best Public Course List.
The PGA TOUR®, consistently lists Spyglass Hill's holes 6, 8 and 16 among the toughest on the TOUR, and during the 1999 US Amateur, the stroke average of the field during medal play was in excess of 79.
Harbour Town
The Harbour Town Golf Links hosts the Verizon Heritage golf tournament on the PGA TOUR®. The course is located in the Sea Pines Plantation of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Golf Magazine has rated the course No.1 in South Carolina. Architect Pete Dye designed the course with help from Jack Nicklaus.
BayHill
The Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando Florida is Arnold Palmer's winter home and host course for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Bay Hill made the 2010 Golf Magazine Top 100 You Can Play list coming in at No. 51.
Pete Dye´s classic Teeth of the Dog ranked as the No.1 course in the Caribbean and 43rd in the top 100 courses, worldwide, by Golf Magazine.
HD Golf™ simulators are loaded with practice ranges including: target ranges with selectable distances, chipping and putting greens. Drivers, fairway woods, utility clubs, long and short irons, wedges and putters can all be tested with confidence in the golf simulator environment.
All High Definition Golf™ simulators come with a series of exciting games, designed to build skills and provide hours of entertainmnet. Our golf simulator games include: "Window Smash 1 & 2", "Field Goal Challenge", and the always popular "Tractor Range".
Copyright © 2019 Golf Etc. Bismarck, all rights reserved.
511 Airport Rd., Bismarck, ND 58504 (701) 751-7070
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Home » Musical Biographies - B, 1
Balatka, Hans
Born in Moravia. Began his musical studies as a choir boy. Studied harmony, composition and singing in Vienna. On account of the Revolution of 1848, he came to America and settled in Milwaukee, where in 1851 he founded the Milwaukee Musikverein (Musical Society) of which he was conductor for nine years. In 1860, he was called to Chicago, as conductor of the Philharmonic Society. After the great fire of 1871 he went back to Milwaukee and was afterward for a time in St. Louis, but returned to Chicago and remained there until his death. During the latter part of his life he organized the Liederkranz Society and the Mozart Club and was also conductor of the Chicago Symphony Society. Mr. Balatka was a fine performer on the doublebass, violoncello, violin, guitar and piano and was also an excellent composer. Beside about twenty orchestral works, quartets and choruses and many songs, he wrote a Festival Cantata, and a double chorus for male voices, The Power of Song, which received first prize at the Cincinnati Saengerfest in 1856. Mr. Balatka did much to promote a taste for good music in Chicago and vicinity. He also conducted numerous musical festivals in different parts of the United States.
‹ Balakirev, Mily Alexejevitch up Balfe, Michael William ›
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Top 16 Heavy Funk Bombs Explosion
1. The Soul Seven - Mr. Chicken (4:40)
2. Flame & The Sons Of Darkness - Solid Funk (2:59)
3. The Fabulous Mark III - Psycho (Pts. 1 & 2) (5:22)
4. Innersouls - Just Take Your Time (2:45)
5. The Pharaohs - Black Enuff (2:53)
6. The Highlighters - The Funky 16 Corners (5:17)
7. Maceo & All The King's Men - Better Half
8. The Devils - The X-sorcist (3:13)
9. 35th Street Gang - Dance Of Love (2:25)
10. The Propositions - Something Different (4:07)
11. Unforgettables - Too Much Trouble (2:40)
12. Wille & The Mighty Magnificents - Funky 8 Corners (2:20)
13. Black on White Affair - A Bunch of Changes (3:07)
14. The PCs LTD - Fast Man (2:38)
15. Detroit Sex Machines - The Stretch (5:01)
Link in comments
The Pharaohs - Black Enuff
Posted by FunkyBoss at 4:21 AM 6 comments:
Labels: compilation, deep funk, funk
Keb Darge Presents: The New Mastersounds (2001)
"One of the cornerstone acts of the U.K. retro-soul scene, the New Mastersounds play taut old-school instrumental funk with a contemporary energy and enthusiasm that has earned them rave reviews and led them to collaborate with a number of major acts in Britain and the United States. The New Mastersounds were formed in 1999 by guitarist Eddie Roberts, who was DJ'ing at a weekly club night in Leeds devoted to classic soul and funk. When the event moved to a new venue that covered two floors, Roberts saw the opportunity to add a live band to the mix, and he recruited drummer Simon Allen, who had previously played with Roberts in a band called the Mastersounds. With the addition of Pete Shand on bass and Bob Birch on piano and organ, the new act was complete and in tribute to their old group, Roberts and Allen dubbed the combo the New Mastersounds."
1. New Mastersounds - Nervous (5:14)
2. New Mastersounds - Drop It Down (2:47)
3. New Mastersounds - GT (3:02)
4. New Mastersounds - Turn This Thing Around (4:07)
5. New Mastersounds - Miracles (2:37)
6. New Mastersounds - Python (3:24)
7. New Mastersounds - Hot Dog (2:47)
8. New Mastersounds - It's All Right Now (2:51)
9. New Mastersounds - Stay on the Groove (3:00)
10. New Mastersounds - So Many Pies (4:32)
11. New Mastersounds - Coffee Providers (3:17)
12. New Mastersounds - The Rooster (2:46)
13. New Mastersounds - Bondo Sama (2:49)
14. New Mastersounds - One Note Brown (2:48)
New Mastersounds - Bondo Sama
Labels: acid jazz, funk, jazz-funk
Another 16 Heavy Funk Rarities
1. Gene Anderson - The Gigolo (2:46)
2. Bootsy, Phelps And The Complete Strangers - Fun In Your Thang Pt. 1 (2:38)
3. Soul Combination - Soul Combination (2:20)
5. Jade - Paper Man (2:37)
6. Jamie Eliis - I Gotta See My Baby (2:47)
7. The RDM Band - Butter That Popcorn (2:11)
8. Soul Drifter - Funky Brother (Ian Wright Edit) (2:40)
9. The Blenders - Nothin' But A Party (Part II) (2:17)
10. David Batiste & The Gladiators - Funky Soul (1:54)
11. The Moonlighters - Funky Moon Meditation (3:01)
12. Peter Brown - Hooker Pt.2 (3:31)
13. Soul Patrol - Sweeter Than The Other Side (2:16)
14. Lee Austin - Screwdriver (2:22)
15. Alonzo Smith - Love Machine (3:17)
16. Soul Brothers Six - Give Me Some More Of Your Funky Good Lovin (3:04)
Soul Patrol - Sweeter Than The Other Side
Labels: compilation, deep funk, funk, soul
Soul Brothers Six - Funky Funky Way Of Makin Love
1. Soul brothers six - Funky Funky Way Of Making Love (3:30)
2. Soul brothers six - If It's Alright It;s Goanna Be All Night (5:11)
3. Soul brothers six - When You Goanna Find Another Fool (4:01)
4. Soul brothers six - Give Me Some More Of Your Funky Good Lovin (3:04)
5. Soul brothers six - Let Me Do What We Ain't Doin (3:14)
6. Soul brothers six - Doggone Good Feelin (3:13)
7. Soul brothers six - All I Want Is Your Love (2:56)
8. Soul brothers six - You're My Love (3:19)
9. Soul brothers six - You Gotta Come A Little Closer (3:00)
10. Soul brothers six - Lost The Will To Live (3:07)
11. Soul brothers six - Let Me Be The One (4:14)
12. Soul brothers six - I'm GIving Up On Love (3:28)
13. Soul brothers six - You've Got To Have Rhythm (3:02)
14. Soul brothers six - Makin Love Makes Me High (3:07)
15. Soul brothers six - Wipe That Smile Off Your Face (3:21)
16. Soul brothers six - Share Your Love With Me (2:11)
17. Soul brothers six - Let Me Get Next To You (3:36)
18. Soul brothers six - Nodding (3:17)
Soul brothers six - Let Me Do What We Ain't Doin
Labels: 70's, deep funk, funk, soul
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Dear Frankie (2005)
Lara Croft — Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003)
Reign of Fire (2002)
RocknRolla (2008)
Gamer (2009)
Machine Gun Preacher (2011)
Chasing Mavericks (2012)
Playing for Keeps (2012)
Imagine Me & You (2006)
The Brothers Grimm (2005)
Possession (2002)
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles—The Complete First Season (2008)
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - The Complete Second Season (2008)
300: Rise of an Empire (2014)
X-Men: First Class (2011)
Haywire (2012)
The Counselor (2013)
The Light Between Oceans (2016)
Assassin's Creed (2016)
Pride (2014)
Watchmen: Director's Cut (2009)
Internet Movie Database (IMDB)
Primally, 300 has a grunting, gut impact...Primarily, it's constructed of fudged history and creative slaughtering, making it a somewhat disturbing American busman's holiday.
117 min. Warner Brothers. Director: Zack Snyder. Cast: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, Michael Fassbender, Vincent Regan, Dominic West.
Sometimes a preview, against the odds, tells you exactly what to expect of the movie. Such is the case with 300, the cinematic translation of Frank Miller & Lynn Varley's graphic novel. In its unapologetically fantastic visualization of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae (between the Spartans and the Persians in 480 BCE), both the graphic novel and its faithful adaptation truly provide a spectacle—something to see—but beyond that, all bets are off.
Much as Robert Rodriguez adapted Miller's Sin City to the screen, director Zack Snyder uses the original comic book panels as essential visual touchstones; to achieve the "live-action" snapshots, Snyder filmed his actors surrounded by green screens. The director delivered a loose, unpretentious action-horror flick in his debut feature, a Dawn of the Dead remake, but 300 is a lumbering "beast" or, if you prefer, "monster."
Those terms, used ominously to describe the Persian enemy, betray the story's outsized bias in favor of the Spartans, and its patent unreality. Miller, Varley, and Snyder agree to break out literal beasts (a rhino, giant elephants) and mutant humans in an antic, Attic exaggeration of an already legendary nugget of history: how King Leonidas of Sparta and 300 men played a pivotal role in holding off a massive Persian invasion.
300 agressively paints the Persians as exotic, inglorious Others, presumably to show the subjective viewpoint of the Spartans. Xerxes (an unrecognizable Rodrigo Santoro) is everything the brave and bold Leonidas isn't: dishonorable, soft, and sexually dubious. "Today we rescue the world from mysticism and tyranny!" crows Leonidas, conveniently forgetting that his grudging visit to an oracle was an obligatory Spartan gesture.
The Spartans' harsh warrior culture forbade the sympathy and honor Homer allows for the Trojans in The Iliad, and though the film's xenophobia is consistent with Miller's source material (which predates post-9/11 demonizations), the timing of the film's release puts glamorized martial sacrifice to take down a dehumanized enemy squarely in the middle of our War on Terror. Since the film is such a blood-pumping endorsement of offense as defense, it's hard not to notice the Spartans are depicted as red-caped white guys going against noticably swarthier foes.
As compensation for his more fanciful strokes, Miller takes several of his version's most notable lines—like Queen Gorgo's exhortation "Come back with your shield or on it"—from Greek historian Herodotus and later biographer Plutarch. Gerald Butler (The Phantom of the Opera) plays Leonidas with appropriately steely focus, centered ferocity, and well-protected gloom over his certain fate. Gorgo (a properly tough Lena Headey) proves a good match, swallowing her fear and backing up her husband (the manner in which she does so includes both feminine humiliation and masculine retribution). Snyder's interpolated subplot—about Gorgo petitioning for troop support—takes Miller further from known history; in reality, the 300 Spartans weren't alone, but the pivotal forward line of a much larger force bolstered by Greek army and navy.
Stylistically, there's nothing spartan about the film. Eye-catching designs and splashy visuals reflect the visual impact of the graphic novel and the processing speed of a short-attention-span culture (like a video game, 300 has hyperbolic graphics; as in an NFL broadcast, there's frequent slo-mo better to appreciate the action). The ultimate irony is that movies like Sin City and 300, boiled down, are films for those too lazy even to turn the pages of graphic novels, which produce the original, equally arresting images for considerably fewer hundreds of millions of dollars.
As a Spartan mood piece, 300 communicates the glorification of war, and the values one sought in fighting it: honor, respect, duty, and glory. 300's selective approach to history demonstrates that its true interest isn't in anthropology so much as a timeless machismo. Snyder embraces the Greeks' exaltation of the idealized human form, and while sensual female nudity appears, it's the soldiers in leather undies who command most of the screen time. Their superheroic prowess on the battlefield defines them; emotions—though acknowledged—channel directly into a uniform expression of bloody assault (fillips of dry wit help make the crushing dread bearable). In context, it becomes reasonable to show love for family not through words but by impaling the enemy.
So what will audiences emerging from the multiplex take back with them into the 21st century? "Awesome" bloodlust and a reinforcement of retrogressive cultural attitudes. Primally, 300 has a grunting, gut impact; stirring archetypes; and the visual sweep of a projected nightmare. Primarily, it's constructed of fudged history and creative slaughtering, making it a somewhat disturbing American busman's holiday.
Audio: Dolby TrueHD 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1
Distributor: Warner Home Video
Zack Snyder's 300 has already been issued once on Blu-ray, in an ordinary case with a humble smattering of bonus features. To coincide with the Blu debut of Snyder's Watchmen, Warner has delivered a long-rumored reissue of 300 on Blu-ray as 300: The Complete Experience. Whether or not it's worth an upgrade to early adopters will depend on their level of fanaticism, but there's no question the new version delivers much more substantial extras, tucked within handsome book-style packaging (44 glossy pages with photos, a guide to the disc, cast list, cast and crew bios, and select quotations by the likes of Snyder and Frank Miller. The transfer remains the same, and it's completely true to Snyder's vision, accurately and sharply reproducing the original grainy and stylized imagery. Audio also gets a robust treatment, with Dolby TrueHD 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 options that rock the house with thunderous battle and martial music.
The big reason to upgrade is a new Blu-ray exclusive. Seemingly the entire cast and crew, as well as outside experts like historian Victor Davis Hanson, participate in The Complete 300: A Comprehensive Immersion, "a Multi-Path Interactive Experience" with Focus Point featurettes, Trivia, and Picture in Picture video of behind-the-scenes footage and interviews. As director Zack Snyder explains in his multimedia intro (2:12, HD), one must choose one of three paths (and/or toggle between them on the fly): Creating a Legend (focus on Frank Miller and his cultural and historical inspirations in developing the graphic novel), Bringing the Legend to Life (behind the scenes of the film's production), and The History Behind the Myth (a deconstruction/comparison of the fact and fiction concerning the Spartans). Green, Blue and Yellow icons during playback indicate the presence of material from one or more of the paths; one can also jump to content from a special menu (not unlike Universal's U Control menus).
The Complete Experience edition delivers a cheery commentary with Snyder, screenwriter Kurt Johnstad and director of photography Larry Fong, as well as Snyder's solo Bluescreen Picture in Picture Commentary, in which he compares the Bluescreen composite to the finished feature. Both pack in plenty of information about the film's making.
The rest of the bonus features make return appearances from the previous edition. "The 300 - Fact or Fiction?" (24:36, HD) is a terrific, honest appraisal of how 300 fits into a tradition of telling the story in larger-than-life fashion. Interviewees include author and historian Dr. Victor Davis Hanson, Snyder, Miller, author and historian Bettany Hughes, and Gerard Butler.
"Who Were the Spartans?: The Warriors of 300" (4:32, HD) continues the theme of putting the film into a historical context. Snyder, Miller, Rodrigo Santoro, Hughes, Butler, David Wenham, and Hanson comment.
"Preparing for Battle: The Original Test Footage" (6:43, HD) includes the two-minute test reel, as well as interviews with Snyder, Miller, producers Gianni Nunnari & Mark Canton, and executive producer Deborah Snyder about how they overcame skepticism to get the film a greenlight.
The very cool "Frank Miller Tapes" (14:42, HD) comprises "unfiltered conversations" with Miller and friends including DC Comics President/Publisher Paul Levitz, comic book creator Neal Adams, Snyder, and DC group editor Bob Schreck.
"Making of 300" (5:51, SD) appears to be the film's original EPK, including behind-the-scenes glimpses and interview clips with Snyder, Miller, Butler, Lena Headey, screenwriter Kurt Johnstad, visual effects supervisor Chris Watts, and Spartan trainer Mark Twight.
"Making 300 in Images" (3:40, SD) is an artsy montage, including time-lapse photography, of production footage and set construction.
Twelve "Webisodes" (38:23, SD) cover "Production Design," "Wardrobe," "Stunt Work," "Lena Headey," "Adapting the Graphic Novel," "Gerard Butler," "Rodrigo Santoro," "Training the Actors," "Culture of the Sparta City-State," "A Glimpse from the Set: Making 300 the Movie," "Scene Studies from 300," and "Fantastic Characters of 300."
Three "Deleted Scenes" (3:23, HD) include introductions by Snyder.
A Digital Copy comes in a colorful cardboard sleeve, and BD-Live functionality rounds out the extra enticements. This impressive deluxe set will most likely never be beat for this title: it's hard to imagine what other bonus features could ever be added, and the glossy packaging will add a bit more prestige to your shelf.
All site content © 2000-2019 Peter Canavese. Page generated at 07/18/2019 12:26:26AM.
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Home » News Articles » John Deere Tractor Factory Reaches Manufacturing Milestone
John Deere Tractor Factory Reaches Manufacturing Milestone
Recently, a new cab-model John Deere 4720 compact utility tractor rolled off the assembly line at the state-of-the-art John Deere tractor facility in Augusta, Ga. It seems only appropriate that this particular tractor would stand as the 500,000th compact utility tractor built over the lifetime of this important factory.
�Since the first John Deere 855 Tractor was built in 1991, John Deere-Augusta has been the linchpin-facility for the production of our high-quality compact utility tractors,� says John Jenkins, president, John Deere Worldwide Commercial and Consumer Equipment. �Over the past 15 years the products in the under 60-horsepower category have evolved tremendously. But our goal today remains as singular as when that first John Deere 855 came off the line in 1991: To provide our customers with products that deliver the quality and value they�ve come to expect from John Deere.�
�Speaking on behalf of the Augusta employees, we want to thank the thousands and thousands of customers who have put their trust and faith in the tractors we produce,� says Richard Czarnecki, Augusta factory manager. �This incredible milestone is an indication of their commitment to John Deere, and we want them to know we are equally committed to meeting their needs now and well into the future.�
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Well, that wasn’t so surprising, was it?
I’m talking about yesterday’s announcement that Arthur Sadoun is to succeed Maurice Lévy as chairman and chief executive of Publicis Groupe.
While speculation as to who would succeed the charismatic and energetic Lévy has been going on for years, Sadoun has been the bookies' favourite for the last couple of years, so his elevation to the top spot of the world’s third biggest marcomms holding company will come as no surprise, even if the timing of the announcement was sudden and somewhat unexpected.
Green Square comment as UK ad industry greets Theresa May's Brexit plan
The Drum reports UK ad industry greets Theresa May's Brexit plan with bated breath. Prime minister Theresa May’s much-anticipated reveal of a “bold and ambitious” Brexit from the European Union's (EU) single market has been met with reserved optimism by the country’s advertising industry.
Her admission that Britain cannot remain part of the single market in the wake of the referendum at least goes some way to quelling the tide of uncertainty it sparked. As the Institute Practitioners in Advertising (IPA) director Paul Bainsfar said: “We now know where we stand, at least in the bigger picture. We can no longer bury our heads in the sand.
”Despite some lingering uncertainty for the industry, Tony Walford, partner at mergers and acquisitions firm Green Square praised May for the fact that the overall message was clear as to what is being proposed, “which is good as it will put an end to the uncertainty that has dogged everyone since the vote”.
Tony Walford's industry comment in The Drum - Omnicom's TBWA eyes potential stake in Lucky Generals
Omnicom's TBWA is poised to take a stake in independent agency Lucky Generals in a deal that could be announced as early as next week, The Drum has learned from multiple sources.
It is understood that the founders – Danny Brooke-Taylor, Helen Calcraft and Andy Nairn would remain in the management team and take on senior positions within TBWA should the deal go through. By doing this rather than an outright acquisition, it is hoped that the agency network can tap the culture Brooke-Taylor, Calcraft and Nairn have cultivated at Lucky Generals since its launch in 2013.
Green Square at The Drum Business Jam: How can agencies get the jump on 2017? December 2016
Tony Walford was deligthed to join The Drum Business Jam December event - How can agencies get the jump on 2017?
Exploring what 2017 has in store for agency owners who are looking to grow their businesses, Tony considered what is going to be happening in agencyland, the outlook for growing independent agencies in the UK and where opportunities will lie.
Discussing who will be looking to buy and sell, what the on-going impact of Brexit will be and the result of the US Presidential election, Tony offered insights into what the next 12 months may hold.
Murdoch: Tales of the unexpected
If there’s anyone in the media industry who is guaranteed to spring a surprise, it’s Rupert Murdoch.
And he certainly did that when he announced (through his 21st Century Fox corporation) an audacious bid to fully take over the satellite TV giant Sky. Sky said on Friday that 21st Century Fox had reached a preliminary agreement to acquire the 61% stake in the West London-based broadcaster it did not already own. The new takeover offer would value Sky at about $23bn.
Displaying results 46-50 (of 165)
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The political class: think tanks and public opinion
Michael Harris / June 29, 2015 at 8:35 PM 1,843 views
Think tanks claim to influence the ‘climate of opinion’ – but do they, and how publicly? In the latest in our series on the political class, we look at the public profile of think tanks – or in some cases, their relative lack of profile. To get a first impression of public profile we used Google Trends. Based on Google Search, this shows how often a particular search-term is entered relative to the total search-volume across various regions of the world and in various languages, if desired. There are many tools that can be used to capture and analyse the profile, reach and influence of individuals and organisations of course, but Google Trends is useful because of the ubiquity of the company’s search engine, how easily the popularity of search terms can be compared, and the historical data it can provide. In this way, it can provide an interesting starting-point for examining the profile of issues and organisations with the public, and their profile relative to each other. It’s certainly not a proxy for influence or credibility, but some of the results are somewhat surprising – especially when you consider that think tanks often promote themselves as effective vehicles to influence and inform public opinion. First, which is the most searched for rightwing or centre-right think tank? We looked at the five most well-known think tanks that publish reports on social policy (our area of interest), in terms of web searches only in the UK: Policy Exchange, the Centre for Social Justice, the Adam Smith Institute, the Centre for Policy Studies, and the Institute of Economic Affairs. (The think tank Reform was excluded because the word ‘reform’ is also a regular term, hence it would be difficult to differentiate which searches are for the think tank and which related to another subject; similarly, ResPublica, although it is a much less common word.) The results suggest that Policy Exchange has a considerably higher profile than its ‘competitors’; meanwhile, older think tanks associated with Thatcherism such as the Adam Smith Institute and the Centre for Policy Studies have lost profile in comparison. The Centre for Social Justice has a surprisingly low profile, given its perceived influence on the current Government’s welfare policies. For leftwing or centre-left think tanks, the overall story is of declining profile. (We looked at IPPR, the Smith Institute, the Fabian Society, the Young Foundation, and the new economics foundation; for the same reason as Reform, the think tank Demos was not included). This declining profile is perhaps not that surprising given that we have a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government, but actually the decline started well before 2010. IPPR has the highest profile, with the Smith Institute and the Fabian Society following up. In terms of non-aligned think tanks, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and The King’s Fund have by far the highest profile, with (perhaps surprisingly) the regularly-cited and respected Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Resolution Foundation trailing some way behind (the Institute for Fiscal Studies result is depressed by the need to remove ‘IFS’ as a search term, given that this includes a number of other organisations with the same acronym). Here’s a combined chart for the most popular think tanks (Policy Exchange, the Centre for Social Justice, IPPR, the Fabian Society and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation). Again, there is a slightly surprising picture of declining profile, at least by this one measurement. This impression is reinforced when you compare the most popular think tanks to other campaigning organisations, such as 38 Degrees and UK Uncut. What about the ‘big ideas’ that think tanks help to develop and ‘popularise’? The only one that stands out (because it became a government programme) is the ‘Big Society’; ‘one nation’ (a phrase used across the political spectrum, though previously most associated with the centre-right) has not begun to spike in a similar way (at least so far). Think tanks claim to be skilled in developing catchy phrases that embody a broader political, social or economic argument, but comparing two such phrases associated with selected think tanks – the ‘broken society’ (the Centre for Social Justice) and the ‘squeezed middle’ (the Resolution Foundation) – suggests that such phrases don’t necessarily break out much beyond the political class, compared to other words or phrases used by politicians (for example, ‘scroungers’ and ‘strivers’). This is especially the case when you compare these phrases with more specific phrases that have been (rather effectively) used to promote or denigrate specific policies, for example the ‘living wage’ or the ‘bedroom tax’. This might suggest that if think tanks want to shape public opinion (and through this party and government policy), they should forget about big ideas and focus on framing and naming policies that impact directly on people’s lives.
One thought on “The political class: think tanks and public opinion”
This was an excellent article. I teach Social Media Marketing and think I need to tweak the course material to incorporate this concept. Thanks!
http://allin1panel.com/blog/10-essential-elements-social-media-marketing/
From the archive: What the BBC can learn from social work
abe-laurensDecember 1, 2012 at 8:32 PM3,137 views
To advise, assist and befriend
a-probation-officerAugust 1, 2014 at 11:37 PM1,307 views
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Home \ Channels \ Student Affairs Live \ Trends In Career Development
Trends In Career Development
What are the hot trends and issues in Career Development today? What are some new and interesting ways that data and technology are being incorporated into career development practice? What are the biggest challenges facing employers and career development professionals?What competencies are employers seeking that they weren’t 10 years ago? What partnerships should career services be cultivating on and off campus? What are innovative ways to connect with students in order to increase use and engagement with career services?
On this episode of Student Affairs Live, host Tony Doody talks with Lisa Hinkley, Gary Alan Miller, Trudy Steinfeld, Dan Black, and Manny Contomanolis to answer these questions and many more.
Dan Black
Dan Black is the Global Recruiting Leader at EY, responsible for talent acquisition and recruitment of professionals at all levels across the firm’s 5 lines of business around the world. Additionally, Dan is a past president and longtime board member of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), the leading US organization focused on the employment of the college educated. Prior to his current role, Dan was the EY Americas Director of Recruiting. Before joining recruiting, Dan started his more than 20-year career at EY serving as a certified public accountant and assurance services professional for financial services clients of Ernst & Young LLP. Personally, he remains active in his community and philanthropic organizations such as the March of Dimes, ranking among its top 100 US fundraisers for the past five years. He also serves as a volunteer firefighter for the Archville Fire Department and enjoys playing and coaching sports.
Trudy Steinfeld
Trudy Steinfeld (@trudygsteinfeld) is an Early Careers and Workplace Expert and most recently has been the Associate Vice-President of the NYU Wasserman Center for Career Development. Considered a thought leader in career development and college talent, she is a consultant, coach and facilitator. Trudy is a frequent contributor to: The NY Times, Wall Street Journal, NY Daily News, NY Post, NBC, CBS, and CNN and writes the Career Warrior column for Forbes.com. She is co-editor of Leadership in Career Services and Winning the War for College Talent. She regularly speaks at global and national conferences, is an instructor at Career Services Institute, and is a recipient of multiple awards including being inducted into the NACE Academy of Fellows. Trudy earned her Bachelor’s degree from Ramapo College and holds a Master’s degree from New York University. Trudy is passionate about guiding early and first generation college talent, social impact, coffee, her dog Norm, and the NY Mets.
Gary Alan Miller
Gary Alan Miller has worked in higher education for more than 20 year veteran of higher education and currently serves as Director of University Career services at UNC-Chapel Hill. He previously was Executive Director of the Career Center at Hofstra University. Prior to his time at Hofstra, Gary held other positions at Georgia State University, the University of Washington, and UNC-Chapel Hill, including Assistant Director for Social Media and Innovation with University Career Services and Senior Assistant Dean with Academic Advising.
Gary has provided keynote, plenary and breakout sessions at EACE, NCACE, SCACE, GACE, and MCEEA, as well as a pre-conference session and multiple breakout sessions for NACE. In October 2009 he gave one of the earliest career services association keynotes on the use of social media in career development for NCCDA. In 2013, Gary co-founded with Ray Angle the Innovation Forum for Career Services.
He was a finalist for the 2013 NACE Innovation Excellence Award in Research for a study completed with his UNC colleague Katherine Nobles in 2012 on career center innovation. Resultantly, the pair contributed a chapter in Leadership in Career Services: Voices From the Field (2013, Contomanolis and Steinfeld). In 2015, Gary and Katherine published an eBook titled Collaboration in Career Services. A frequent author, Gary has published more than 25 articles with NACE.
Manny Contomanolis
Manny Contomanolis is Senior Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Career Services at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Manny has more than 35 years of experience in career services and experiential learning and is active as a speaker, media contributor, author, and consultant. Manny is a past President of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), a member of the NACE Academy of Fellows and recipient of the NACE Kauffman award for outstanding contributions to the field.
Manny is a principal in the TruMann Consulting group and has completed more that 70 consulting projects for higher education, corporate, and not-for-profit organizations. Most recently he is a co-editor of and contributor to Winning the War for College Talent and Leadership in Career Services: Voices from the Field.
Manny has a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Buffalo, a Masters degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University, a graduate certificate in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University, and a Bachelors in History from SUNY Cortland.
Lisa Hinkley
Lisa Hinkley is the Associate Vice President for Career and Professional development at Lake Forest College. She serves as the director of the Career Advancement Center and director of the for-credit internship program. She is a member of the President’s Senior Staff team and is charged with leading career preparation efforts for the College. Lisa is actively involved in the National Association of Colleges and Employers, and she regularly presents at regional and national conferences on change management and career development topics. She also serves on the advisory board for the Collegiate Employment Research Institute (CERI), which specializes in researching students’ transition from college to work.
Lisa earned her master’s degree in student affairs administration from Michigan State University and bachelor’s degree in political science from Bradley University.
Category: Student Affairs Live | Thought Leader | Upcoming
Tags: careers | student affairs
Reframing Disability Identity on Campus
Trans* Inclusion on Campus
Admissions Pros in Web Roles
Student Affairs Live Featuring Rey Junco
Janet Pribyl
Hello! Gary talked about career offices being accountable and having the research to support their impact on student retention, success, and learning. Could he and the other panelist please address how we do that? That is, how we measure that impact, specifically. Thank you!
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EP 45: Economist Dan Ariely on Money Mistakes and Motivation 0
I get to be a fan-girl on this episode of the Profit Boss® Radio because of today's guest. It's not often that I have the opportunity to spend an hour with a three-time New York Times best-selling author who is a household name, and that's exactly who my guest is today. Dan Ariely is a world-famous economist who doesn't write about get-rich-quick schemes but has an amazing ability to generate massive interest in economics and irrationality. He is the co-creator of the Center for Advanced Hindsight, a popular two-time TEDx speaker, and creator of the documentary (Dis)Honesty - The Truth About Lies.
He talks directly to the Profit Boss® audience about why women struggle with money, why we continue to make financial mistakes, and what we can do to start building wealth like our male counterparts.
You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2gkihVY
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The Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Flag is one of the main symbols of the state that represents its sovereignty and identity. The Russian term “flag” for Flag comes from the Dutch word “vlag” and means cloth of officially adopted size and colour and commonly with an image of emblem (coat of arms).
The Flag of sovereign Kazakhstan was officially adopted in 1992. It was designed by Shaken Niyazbekov.
The State Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a rectangular breadth of blue colour with the image of the sun in its center with a soaring steppe eagle underneath. Along the flagstaff there is a vertical band with the national ornamental patterns. The images of the sun, rays, eagle and ornament are of golden colour. The ratio of the Flag’s width to its length: 1:2.
In heraldry each colour has its own specific meaning. Thus, a blue-sky colour symbolizes honesty, fidelity and integrity. Moreover, the blue-sky colour has a deep symbolic meaning in Turkic culture. The ancient Turkic peoples always worship the Sky as their God, and their blue-sky banner symbolized devotion to Father Ancestor. The blue colour of the State Flag of Kazakhstan means pure sky, peace and prosperity, and self-colour of the background represents the unity of our country.
According to the heraldic principles the sun symbolizes wealth and abundance, life and energy. That is why the sun rays on the flag have the form of grain, a symbol of wealth and welfare. By representing the sun at its state attributes Kazakhstan reaffirms its commitment to universal values, which also indicates that the new young country is full of life-affirming energy and is open to all countries for cooperation.
The image of the steppe eagle is one of the main heraldic attributes which is used on coat of arms and flags of various peoples for centuries. This image is commonly considered as a symbol of power, insight and generosity. A soaring steppe eagle represents by itself a power of the state, its sovereignty and independence, aspiration to high goals and sustainable future. The image of the steppe eagle on the world outlook of Eurasian nomads has a special place and is associated with such notions as freedom and fidelity, sense of dignity and courage, strength and purity of thoughts. The symbolically rendered silhouette of the golden steppe eagle reflects aspiration of the young sovereign state to the heights of world civilization.
Another important element of the State Flag is a vertical band with the national ornamental patterns. This Kazakh ornament is one of the forms of specific artistic perception of world in strict accordance with aesthetic styles of the people. Representing a harmony of various forms and lines, it is also an expressive means of discovery of the inner world of the people. The national ornament along the flagstaff represents the art and cultural traditions of the people of Kazakhstan.
The Emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The Emblem is one of the main symbols of the state. The Russian term “gerb” for Emblem comes from the German word “Erbe” (legacy) and means hereditary distinctive sign that represents a combination of figures and objects to which a symbolic sense reflecting cultural and historical traditions of the state is given.
The history is an evidence of the fact that the nomads of the Bronze Age that inhabited the territory of modern Kazakhstan identified themselves with a special symbol which is called totem. Its graphical expression further got the name “tamga”. This term has been for the first time used in the Turkic Khaganate.
The Emblem of the sovereign Kazakhstan was officially adopted in 1992. The authors of the State Emblem are Kazakhstan’s famous architects Zhandarbek Malibekov and Shot-Aman Ualikhanov.
The State Emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan has the shape of a circle (wheel). It is a symbol of life and eternity that was especially valued among the nomads of the Great Steppes.
The central heraldic element of the State Emblem is the image of shanyrak (an arched cross-shaped top of the Kazakh yurt) against a sky blue background which irradiates uyks (supports or bearings of the yurt) in the form of sunrays to all sides. On both right and left of shanyrak there are images of mythical winged quarter horses. At the top of Emblem there is a volumetric five-pointed star. There is also the inscription “Kazakhstan” at the bottom of the Emblem. The images of shanyrak, uyks, and mythical horses, as well as the inscriptions “Kazakhstan”, have the colour of gold.
Shanyrak is a main backbone part of the yurt that resembles a blue sky. It is also one of the key elements of Kazakh family dwelling in the traditional culture of Eurasian nomads. The image of shanyrak on the State Emblem of the republic is a symbol of common home and common homeland of all people living in Kazakhstan. The stable development of Kazakhstan depends on welfare of each citizen just like the strength and stability of shanyrak depends on reliability of all its uyks.
The winged mythical horses, tulpars, are the key heraldic element of the State Emblem. The image of the horse stands for such notions as bravery since time immemorial. The wings symbolize a centuries-old dream of multinational people of Kazakhstan to build a strong and prosperous nation. They represent pure thoughts and aspiration to successive and constructive development. The golden wings of racers also resemble golden sheaves of grain that are a sign of labor of the people of Kazakhstan and material welfare of the country.
In centuries past the horns are often used during ceremonial rites of nomads as well as a finial to their fighting banners. The images of heavenly grace, fertility of the earth and the military fortune in the form of various animals’ horns are always considered as integral parts in symbolic compositions of different peoples. Therefore, a winged horse with a horn of plenty is an important typological image which has deep semantic and historical roots.
Another element on the coat of arms is a five-pointed star. This symbol is used by man from ancient times and represents constant aspiration of people to the light of truth and the pursuit of the sublime and eternal matter. The image of a star on the State Emblem reflects the dream of people to build a state open to all countries of the world for cooperation and partnership. Hearts and arms of the people of Kazakhstan are open to representatives from all five continents.
The primary colour of the State Emblem is the colour of gold, which serves as a symbol of wealth, justice and magnanimity. The colour of blue sky symbolizes a serene sky, peace and prosperity.
National Anthem of the Republic of Kazakhstan
The Anthem is one of the main symbols of the state. The Russian term gimn for Anthem comes from the Greek word Gimneo and means solemn, ceremonial song. The Anthem serves as an important sound symbol with a key value for the effective socio-political consolidation and ethnocultural identification of citizens of the country. In the history of sovereign Kazakhstan the national anthem was adopted two times: in 1992 and 2006.
The new State Anthem was adopted in 2006 in order to promote the countrys sound symbolism. It is based on the patriotic song Menyn Kazakhstanym (My Kazakhstan) which is popular among the people and written in 1956, with music by Shamshi Kaldayakov and lyrics by Zhumeken Nazhimedenov. President Nursultan Nazarbayev modified the original lyrics of the song. The corresponding amendments have been introduced to the Decree On State Symbols at the joint session of the Houses of Parliament on January 6, 2006 and the Parliament approved it as a new State Anthem of Kazakhstan.
Line translation of National Anthem of the Republic of Kazakhstan:
Sky of golden sun,
Steppe of golden seed,
Legend of courage -
Take a look at my country!
From the antiquity
Our heroic glory emerged,
They did not give up their pride
My Kazakh people are strong!
My country, my country,
As your flower I will be planted,
As your song I will stream, my country!
My native land – My Kazakhstan!
The way was opened to the posterity
I have a vast land.
Its unity is proper,
I have an independent country.
It welcomed the time
Like an eternal friend,
Our country is happy,
Such is our country.
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People with ten-digit fortunes can live pretty much anywhere they want. As it turns out, many like the same spots.
Of the 2,153 members of the 2019 Forbes World’s Billionaires List, 551 live in just 10 of the world’s 1,860 cities. Billionaires living in this relative handful of locations possess a collective $2.3 trillion of wealth, exceeding the GDP of all but seven nations on earth.
New York City again tops the list with 84 billionaires, whose combined net worth of $469.7 billion is greater than the GDP of Austria. The biggest city in the U.S. and home of the world’s two biggest stock exchanges, New York has housed the most billionaires for five years running. The streak started in 2015 when it beat out Moscow, which has ranked as No. 3 since 2016. The Russian capital had 85 billionaires in 2014, 14 more than today.
China has the most cities in the top 10, with 145 of the nation’s billionaires living in just three places: No. 4 Beijing, No. 6 Shanghai and No. 8 Shenzhen. While all three Chinese cities have fewer billionaires than last year, they still account for 45% of the country’s list members. That percentage may stand to grow even larger as China sprints toward further urbanization; the nation’s city-dwelling population has increased from 48% to 59% since 2009, per Chinese census data.
The same 10 sites were also the most popular on last year’s World’s Billionaires list, albeit with slightly shuffled rankings. San Francisco saw the biggest year-over-year jump, moving up from No. 10 to No. 7 and adding eight billionaires, including Coinbase cofounder Brian Armstrongand Levi Strauss heiress Mimi Haas.
Mumbai is the biggest loser, dropping from No. 7 to No. 10 with a net loss of eight billionaires. Nine fell off the list, including pharma bigwigs Samprada Singh and Basudeo Singh of Alkem Laboratories, whose stock price fell some 20%. Only one new billionaire emerged in India’s most populous city: paint company heir Mahendra Choksi.
Here are 10 cities with the most billionaires from No. 10 to No. 1:
10. Mumbai, 37 billionaires (-8 since 2018)
Total net worth: $184.4 billion
Richest resident: Oil and gas heir Mukesh Ambani, $50 billion
Mumbai is home to what is likely the most expensive residence on earth: Ambani’s $1 billion 27-story palace. It was also the site of one of the biggest, costliest weddings ever, again courtesy of Ambani. He hosted the week-long blockbuster celebration for his daughter Isha and the son of fellow billionaire Ajay Piramal in December 2018.
9. Seoul, 38 billionaires (-3)
Total net worth: $99.9 billion
Richest resident: Samsung chairman Lee Kun-hee, $16.9 billion
All but one of South Korea’s billionaires reside in its biggest city, and all are South Korean citizens. Seoul’s richest people control the nation’s biggest businesses, including global powerhouses Samsung and Hyundai. South Korea is also the world’s fourth-largest online gaming market (over $5.7 billion in revenue, per Newzoo), and the sector has produced five Seoul billionaires, including Maple Story-maker Kim Jung-ju.
8. Shenzhen, 39 billionaires (-5)
Richest resident: Tencent CEO Ma Huateng, $38.8 billion
Designated as a “special economic zone” during Chinese economic reforms of the 1980’s, the Hong Kong-bordering city has become an economic and tourist hub. Every listmaker from Shenzhen is a self-made billionaire, with its second-richest resident Hui Ka Yan working as a factory technician for ten years before founding one of China’s foremost real estate developers. Dorm room founder Frank Wang became the world’s first drone billionaire in 2016, along with an early investor and his marketing chief, both Shenzhen residents.
7. San Francisco, 42 billionaires (+8)
Richest resident: Facebook cofounder Dustin Moskowitz, $11.1 billion
The heart of America’s tech revolution, San Francisco is homebase for founders of Uber, Airbnb and Pinterest. The region’s influx of digital-age companies has made it the most expensive city in the U.S. (The entire Bay Area, including San Francisco and nearby cities, has 82 billionaires, still fewer than New York). One escapee: PayPal cofounder and Trump backer Peter Thiel, who moved to Los Angeles in 2018, reportedly for its greater political diversity.
6. Shanghai, 45 billionaires (-5)
Richest resident: Ecommerce entrepreneur Colin Huang, $13.5 billion
As ecommerce surges worldwide, so do fortunes like Huang’s, which is tied to internet retailer Pinduoduo. All those online-purchased items have created a massive package delivery market. Shanghai, also the world’s biggest port, is home to four major package delivery companies, each with a pair each of billionaires. The city’s richest logistics duo is tied to Yunda Express; its cofounding spouses Nie Tengyun and Chen Liying are worth a combined $5.1 billion.
5. London, 55 billionaires (+0)
Total net worth: $226 billion
Richest resident: Russian bank founder Mikhail Fridman, $15 billion
London, with more five star hotels than any other city, is a mecca for the uber rich. While 20 Brits call the cosmopolitan city home, 35 expatriate billionaires from 23 countries including India, Iceland and Russia have relocated to London. Five, including two Ikea heirs, come from high-taxed Sweden, more than any other nation. Four are Russians, including Russia’s richest woman Elena Baturina, whose husband was removed as mayor of Moscow in 2010. And though he’s not a resident, Chicago hedge fund head Ken Griffinbought a $122 million property just a ten minute walk from Buckingham Palace this January.
4. Beijing, 61 billionaires (-3)
Richest resident: Commercial real estate titan Wang Jianlin, $22.6 billion
Beijing is home to China’s two youngest billionaires, both products of the internet era: 33-year-old cryptocurrency miner Jihan Wu and 35-year-old ByteDance chair Zhang Yiming. The success of his $75 billion internet-era content creation hub has launched Zhang from the city’s No. 13 to No. 2 richest in just a year. He’s only topped by Wang, whose fortune comes from real estate. Tech (17) and real estate (12) are the most popular industries for billionaires in the Chinese capital.
3. Moscow, 71 billionaires (-6)
Richest resident: Natural gas oligarch Leonid Mikhelson, $24 billion
Nearly 80% of all billionaires in Russia live in its capital, which is also its most populous city. Moscow is home to five billionaires sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in April 2018: suspected election meddler Oleg Deripaska, Michael Cohen-tied Viktor Vekselberg, legislative official Andrei Skoch, former Putin judo partner Arkady Rotenbergand trained economist Suleiman Kerimov. Russia’s Great Gatsby (as he’s been called) Kerimov faced money-laundering charged in France that were dropped in June.
2. Hong Kong, 79 billionaires (+2)
Richest resident: Conglomerate kingpin Li Ka-shing, $31.7 billion
Housing prices in the city have quadrupled since the Great Recession, thanks to its government’s tight grip on supply. The booming market has vaulted the fortunes of developers like Lee Shau Kee and Peter Woo, and 29 Hong Kong billionaires (and half of its top-ten richest) count real estate as their chief source of wealth. But a correction may be imminent—a Citigroup survey says that 57% of Hongkongers anticipate a drop in residential real estate prices during 2019.
1. New York, 84 billionaires (+1)
Richest Resident: Media magnate Michael Bloomberg, $55.5 billion
Some Big Apple billionaires were born and raised in New York, including Estee Lauder heir Ronald Lauder, JPMorgan Chase chief Jamie Dimon and Highbridge Capital cofounder Henry Swieca. Dimon and Swieca are two of 40 billionaires in the city whose fortunes were built in finance, the richest of whom is Carl Icahn, one of few hedge fund managers to make money in 2018. And though the city’s most famous landlord now calls the White House home, 17 other real estate billionaires live in New York City. That includes native New Yorker Steven Roth, whose real estate company Vornado owns 70% of Trump’s skyscraper at 1290 Avenue of Americas. But just like in London, NYC’s priciest residence, a $238 million Central Park penthouse, is owned by out-of-towner Ken Griffin (he calls Chicago home).
Carter Coudriet : I am a reporter on the Forbes wealth team, covering the world’s richest people. I also work on Forbes’ daily Alexa briefing. I’m a proud New Jersey native, Penn alumnus…Read More https://www.forbes.com/sites/cartercoudriet/2019/03/07/richest-cities-in-the-world-the-top-10-cities-with-the-most-billionaires/amp/?utm_source=twitter_video&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=forbes&__twitter_impression=true
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The Balkans Today: 21st - 25th November 2016
Neglect, ignorance and industry influence raise doubts about a Romanian pledge to fight the hidden scourge of gambling addiction. Read more.
The campaign for Macedonia's December 11 early general election officially got underway on Monday with rallies planned for Prilep, Ohrid, Lipkovo and the capital, Skopje. Read more.
As the Turkish government continues jailing its opponents, relations with Brussels are feeling the strain. Read more.
Today marks 21 years since the Dayton Peace Agreement was signed in Dayton, Ohio, ending the 1992 to 1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
During his first official visit to Ukraine as Croatia’s Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic, along with his Ukrainian counterpart Vladimir Grojsman and Ukrainian President Petro Porosenko, paid his respects on Monday to the victims of the 2014 Euromaiden protests in Independence Square in Ukraine’s capital, Kiev.
He also paid his respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the monument dedicated to the victims of the Ukrainian famine, the Holodomor, which occurred from 1932-33 under the reign of the USSR.
Vladimir Grojsman and Andrej Plenkovic. Photo: Facebook/Croatian government
Croatian non-profit media outlet Forum.tm has started the first crowdfunding campaign in the history of Croatian media.
The website is trying to raise 4,700 euros through the online Indiegogo platform, by offering a variety of prizes for its readers that want to support their work, ranging from symbolic awards to books and positions as extras in the second season of the new TV series 'Newspapers'.
The president of Serbia’s Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina, NDNV, will boycott the regional conference of the South East Europe Media Organisation, SEEMO, in Belgrade on Monday because Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic will be opening the event, NDNV announced on their website on Monday morning.
Vucic’s attendance at the conference is “a slap to all the journalists who are victims of political violence of the government that Aleksandar Vucic symbolises”, NDNV quoted Sejdinovic as saying in an open letter he wrote to SEEMO.
In the letter, he also claimed that the prime minister is a “proven enemy of press freedom”.
In September, Sejdinovic and his colleague, NDNV programme director Dinko Gruhonjic, received death threats via an anonymous letter, and while the case was reported to the police, no information has so far surfaced about who the possible suspects behind the threats were.
by emma.krstic 11/21/2016 11:16:29 AM
Croatia has filed a diplomatic protest note to Slovenia for erecting a border fence along the Cabranka river, on territory that according to land registers belongs to Croatia, the Croatian Foreign Minister, Ivo Davor Stier, said on Monday.
Stier said that since Slovenia failed to reply to the initial note issued on Wednesday, it has now raised the matter to ministry level.
Davor Ivo Stier. Photo: Facebook/Davor Ivo Stier
by sven.milekic 11/21/2016 12:51:14 PM
Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic praised relations between Serbia and Hungary during a press conference with his Hungarian counterpart Viktor Orban in the southern Serbian city of Nis on Monday, highlighting that new border crossings between the countries and new infrastructure projects are in the plans.
During the press conference, held after the two premiers had a private meeting, Orban announced that a new border crossing with Serbia in the town of Rastina will be opened next year, and another in the town of Rabe in 2019.
In terms of infrastructure, the leaders announced that new rail routes between Budapest and Belgrade, as well as between the Hungarian towns of Baja and Szeged via Subotica in Serbia, would be created.
by emma.krstic 11/21/2016 1:46:45 PM
A group of political science researchers from Macedonia and abroad has launched an online tool called "Electoral Compass", aimed at helping Macedonian voters to find the political parties that are most aligned with their views.
The tool gets users to answer a simple questionnaire on current social and political issues to determine which party they are best matched with.
Its launch on Monday coincides with the start of the election campaign for the December 11 early general elections, which come amid the country’s deep political crisis.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said in Kiev on Monday that both Ukraine in recent years and Croatia in the 1990s were "victims of brutal military aggression" by Russia and Yugoslavia.
Plenkovic stated that Croatia supports the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, and supports the implementation of the policy of non-recognition of the "illegal annexation of Crimea".
Choose FileAndrej Plenkovic in Kiev. Photo: Facebook/Croatian government
Kosovo’s Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, MAST, gave the first certified diplomas to Serbs who graduated from the University of North Mitrovica, in the Serb-run north of the country, after a year-long verification process.
Out of 170 applications by Serb graduates, MAST has certified 130 diplomas.
Although there is an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia for mutual recognition of diplomas, the Serbian minority in Kosovo has faced difficulties in employment due to non-recognition of the diplomas from this university under Kosovo’s educational system.
Photo: University of North Mitrovica official website
Jakob Finci, who launched the famous Sejdic and Finci case in the European Court of Human Rights about the position of minorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has said on the 21st anniversary of Dayton that in order for the constitution to be changed, politicians must first agree.
It was too dangerous to change Dayton, the agreement that ended the Bosnian war of 1992 to 1995, until the entities of Bosnia can decide together on their future, he was quoted by local media as saying.
The Albanian navy vessel "Orik" departed from the port city of Durres today with a staff of 21 on board to join the NATO “Sea Guardian” operation in the Aegean Sea.
Albania’s Defence Minister, Mimi Kodheli, said that as a NATO member, Albania has sent soldiers to every ‘hotspot’ in the world, but now fresh challenges lie closer to home, and their defence forces need to be ready.
A navy officer leaving for the mission. Photo: mod.gov.al
One person was killed and two others were severely injured in a fight between migrants in the Serbian capital of Belgrade on Monday, Serbian police told Tanjug news agency.
A man from Afghanistan was murdered in the brawl, according to Tanjug’s report, while doctors are still working to save the lives of the other two injured migrants.
Police have arrested five people who allegedly participated in the fight.
Migrants in the Serbian capital | Photo: Natalia Zaba/BIRN
About a dozen journalists, including those from Serbian investigative media organisations CINS, KRIK and BIRN, walked out of the South East Europe Media Forum in Belgrade during the session with Serbian Prime Minister, Aleksandar Vucic, protesting over the decision that the PM would only take questions from foreign journalists.
The conference, at which Vucic spoke about the state of the Serbian media and media freedom, was organised by the Central European Initiative (CEI) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO).
Independent media organisations, as well as different international organisations, have long been criticising Vucic and his government for their ill treatment of the media.
by gordana.andric 11/21/2016 7:49:26 PM
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Monday urged member states to ratify accession agreement for Montenegro as soon as possible.
Speaking at the plenary session of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Turkey, Stoltenberg said what remains to be done is the ratification of the accession agreement for Montenegro.
"It has to be done in all 28 parliaments, so I urge those countries who have not yet ratified the accession agreement for Montenegro to do so," Stoltenberg said.
by dusica.tomovic 11/22/2016 5:29:24 AM
Despite the parties having signed a code obliging them to behave decently, observers say Macedonia is in line for another bare-knuckle fight that will likely include intimidation, lies and blatant appeals to ethnic fears. Read more.
The Turkish government’s crusade against the exiled cleric Fetullah Gulen has left staff and students at a chain of schools in Bosnia feeling vulnerable. Read more.
Manushaqe Shehu, the first woman in the Balkans to become a General, says she owes her success to her family’s support - while also leaning on a motto of America’s wartime hero. Read more.
"Serbia’s indefatigable PM is creating an Orwellian world in which two plus two equals five - and no one disagrees - or even notices." Read
Dejan Anastasijevic
Dejan Anastasijevic's blog piece.
Tourist numbers are getting stronger in Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to official figures.
Overnight stays by visitors in September this year were 13.3 percent up on the same month last year.
Polish people made up 7.1 percent of stays, while tourists from Italy made up 6.6 percent of the total figure, and from Turkey, 6.5 percent.
Representatives of 19 chambers of commerce and business associations in Albania are demanding that parliament not repass a law that will mean every business operating in Albania will need to be listed as a member of the central Chamber of Commerce.
The law was initially passed in parliament in September, but was not decreed by Albania’s President, Bujar Nishani, but now parliament is expecting to pass it again.
The business representatives claim that the law is anti-constitutional and that it disrespects their rights to choose which chamber or association they want to belong to.
Montenegro's Ministry of Justice sent a request to Russia on Tuesday to provide a hearing for two Russian nationals - Eduard Vladimirovich Shirokov and Vladimir Popov Nikolajevich - who are suspected of having been at the head of a criminal organisation which had a purpose to "cause bloodshed, attacks on state institutions, to arrest and kill Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic", and permanently destabilise the country.
Montenegro also asked Serbia’s Ministry of Justice to arrest and extradite Serbian nationals Predrag Bogicevic, Nemanja Ristic and Milos Jovanovic, who are accused of being part of an organised criminal group that was preparing terrorist attacks on Montenegro’s election day on October 16, according to Podgorica-based daily Pobjeda.
Montenegrin PM Milo Djukanovic. Photo: gov.me
by dusica.tomovic 11/22/2016 12:27:39 PM
The home of Kosovo’s chief prosecutor, Aleksander Lumezi, was robbed at 4am on Tuesday morning and the culprits remain at large.
A spokesperson for the State Prosecution confirmed for BIRN that unknown persons broke into Lumezi’s house on Xhevat Qena street in the capital, Pristina, and stole a number of items, but did not give any additional details.
Police are investigating the case.
Aleksander Lumezi, the head of Kosovo State Prosecution | Photo: BIRN
Inspectors from Kosovo’s Ministry of Justice have suspended the acting head of the prison in Prizren and three other staff members after they determined that negligence of procedures had occurred when investigating the recent death in detention of Vetevendosje activist Astrit Dehari.
Alongside the acting prison head, two supervisors and one correctional officer were suspended.
The announcement comes 17 days after Dehari died in what the Kosovo Forensic Department said was an act of suicide, after he was arrested on suspicion of terrorism for allegedly throwing an explosive device in parliament.
Kosovo's Ministry of Justice | Photo: BIRN
Azra Basic, who is suspected of war crimes allegedly committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was extradited today from the US.
Basic is under investigation for alleged war crimes against Serbs in the northern town of Derventa in 1992.
Top stories from the Balkans this Wednesday:
Montenegro's ruling party of Milo Djukanovic has reportedly agreed to cede the Bosniak Party three high-ranking cabinet positions in exchange for its support, ending several weeks of wrangling over the formation of a new government. Read more.
Croatian ministers, police and intelligence services will be involved in planning an integrated ‘homeland security’ system to address the risks from terrorism, the refugee crisis and other potential threats to stability. Read more.
A Constitutional Court ruling on a property dispute over military facilities could help Bosnia move towards membership of NATO but also spark a new showdown between the country’s Serbs and state institutions. Read more.
Albania’s former Vice-Minister of Social Welfare and Youth, Gentiana Sula, has been proposed by parliament to head the state office that will be in charge of opening the country’s Communist-era secret police files.
Sula is expected to be voted in to the role tomorrow during the parliamentary session, and with her appointment as chairwoman, the much awaited institution is expected to start work.
Last week, five other members of the office were voted in.
Spaci, former communist prison in Northern Albania. Photo: BIRN
by fatjona.mejdini via null edited by emma.krstic 11/23/2016 10:30:48 AM
After Zagreb Mayor Milan Bandic ruled that all florists traditionally present in the Croatian capital’s Petar Preradovic Square - widely known as the Flower Square – must move their blooms inside their kiosks, citizens began a call on Facebook for people to go and lay a flower in the middle of the square on Wednesday at 4pm.
The Mayor made his decision regarding the florists because their flower displays, according to the city administration, are “choking traffic and communication of pedestrians”.
While florists can be fined up to 1,200 euros for not succumbing to the rule, citizens claim that terraces of bars on the square are blocking the pedestrians more.
Florists on the Flower Square. Photo: Facebook
In a bid to help young Croatians get on the property ladder, the Croatian government plans to offer co-financing on 50 per cent of the monthly rate of home loans for the first four years for first-time buyers, Croatia’s Construction and Planning Minister, Lovro Kuscevic announced on Wednesday.
The government’s new plan, aimed at assisting young people and couples under 45 who are looking to buy their first apartment, is being introduced after it decided to withdraw the previous measure of cutting tax payments on property transactions for the first piece of real estate citizens bought.
Kuscevic reassured the media that this is not an attempt by the government to help banks in giving loans after financial institutions previously threatened to file lawsuits against the government for the financial losses they suffered after they were required to convert loans citizens took out in Swiss francs into euros.
Graffiti has been spotted in Banja Luka, the administrative centre of the Bosnian entity of Republika Srpska, supporting journalist Slobodan Vaskovic, who is reported to have fled the country.
"Fascist, there are those of us who are brave and free like Vaskovic and more than you and your gestapo can imagine," the graffiti reads.
Vaskovic, whose articles were frequently critical of those in power including President of RS, Milorad Dodik, wrote on his blog on Sunday that he had left the country due to safety concerns.
Bosnia and Herzegovina's Constitutional Court has rejected an appeal by Republika Srpska in which RS insisted that it, and not the state, owns the military facilities on the Veliki Zep mountain near the town of Han Pijesak, 70 kilometres north-east of Sarajevo.
The ruling follows years of political bickering related to the ownership of the 63 military facilities previously owned by the former Yugoslav People’s Army in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in which NATO has showed an interest.
Their proper registration in the cadastre as state property has been the last remaining condition for Bosnia’s NATO Membership Action Plan, which has been on the table since 2009, to finally be activated.
by eleanor.rose 11/23/2016 12:51:39 PM
A protest was held in Sarajevo as officials attempted to give a tour of a new pavement outside Bosnia's presidency building intended to improve wheelchair access along one of the capital's busiest boulevards.
The pavement took several months and cost about 180,000 euros to build - a price-tag that provoked the ire of some residents, who say Bosnian state funds should be spent helping the hungry instead.
One protestor lay on the controversial pavement, tapping a spoon against an empty bowl to illustrate the problem of poverty in Bosnia.
The tragic deaths of two Albanian youths, including 20-year-old Ergi Dini, the 2014 winner of the Albanian X Factor talent show, in a motorbike accident on Tuesday has caused the public and authorities to rethink security measures in the country.
The two victims lost their lives while driving recklessly without wearing helmets.
After the news of the accident broke, many Albanians took to social networks to ask the police to be stricter when it comes to enforcing safety measures for motorbike riders.
The 20 years old Ergi Dini who lost his life on Tuesday. Photo: Facebook
NATO’s secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that no one has the right to try to stop Montenegro from joining the military alliance or interfere with elections in the Balkans state.
Stoltenberg saidthat only NATO’s 28 members and Montenegro can decide its membership. He said “it’s up to us to decide, and we have decided to invite Montenegro.”
The Bulgarian nationalistic Patriotic Front coalition, or PF, which is made up of the National Front for Salvation of Bulgaria and VMRO, is ready to form an interim government following the resignation of Boyko Borissov’s government, its leaders announced on Wednesday after a meeting with President Rosen Plevneliev.
Krasimir Karakachanov, president of VMRO, said that the Front has agreed to take the mandate for forming an expert cabinet if the Council for National Security, which President Plevneliev is forming next week, expressed agreement and readiness for this to happen.
After GERB’s resignation over its candidate’s failure in the presidential election in November, Bulgaria’s second-largest party, the Bulgarian Socialist Party, or BSP, refused to form an interim government.
Borissov said on Wednesday that his party, GERB, which remains the largest in parliament, will not support a cabinet formed by the PF.
The Bulgarian nationalistic Patriotic Front coalition and VMRO following a meeting on November 23. Photo: VMRO
Macedonia's main opposition party is still mulling whether to use its published wiretaps of official conversations - known as 'bombshells' - in the election campaign, or concentrate on offering the country 'a way out' of its current impasse. Read more.
Kosovo activists, journalist, artists and NGOs called another rally on Thursday, demanding an international investigation into the death of jailed Vetevendosje activist Astrit Dehari. Read more.
Despite funding setbacks and broken promises of support, the War Childhood Museum will open in Sarajevo in December to exhibit people’s personal mementoes of growing up during the conflict, its director says. Read more.
Workers from the student centre in the Croatian capital of Zagreb are protesting in front of the government building, demanding that a collective agreement that would guarantee their existing rights and introduce some additional ones be signed.
The protesters are calling Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic to address the issue, while the special intervention police have put up a temporary barrier around them to contain the demonstration.
The European Parliament voted on Thursday to freeze EU membership talks with Turkey as a result of the government’s ongoing crackdown following the failed coup attempt in July.
The non-binding motion, which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has already dismissed, was passed by a big majority, with 479 votes for, 37 against and 107 abstentions.
MEPs have vowed to review the temporary freeze when the "disproportionate repressive measures" in Turkey are lifted, the BBC reported.
The motion comes after Brussels warned over the weekend that it may impose economic sanctions on Turkey if the crackdown against the opposition continues, and could abandon accession talks altogether is Ankara restores the death penalty.
Photo: Flickr/Thijs ter Haar
by emma.krstic 11/24/2016 12:50:21 PM
Addressing the European Parliament on Thursday, MEP Kati Piri stated that “the current situation [in Turkey] leaves us [the European Parliament] with no other choice than to call for the temporary freeze of the accession talks."
Her speech was delivered prior to the parliament's vote to halt the membership talks with Turkey because of the government's ongoing crackdown following the attempted coup in July.
Piri also stated that “we [the European Parliament] acknowledge the importance of good EU-Turkey relations, and remain committed to keep Turkey anchored to the EU”, but added that "if we take our own values seriously, we must send a strong political signal."
Watch her speech below:
The Croatian Journalists' Association, HND, and weekly Nacional are organising an event to mark the 20th anniversary of mass protests that took place in 1996 to save the Independent Zagreb Radio 101 station, one of the only media outlets that opposed the nationalist regime of Croatia’s then President Franjo Tudjman.
Faced with losing its broadcasting concession based on the decision of the state council for telecommunications, which at the time was dominated by the ruling right-wing Croatian Democratic Union, HDZ, around 100,000 citizens came to Zagreb's central square on November 21 in 1996 to take part in protests.
Pressured by citizens and even some diplomats, the council’s decision was changed and Radio 101 was allowed to continue to broadcast.
The event, which will be held in Zagreb's Museum of Contemporary Art, will include an exhibition of photos from the protest, a screening of the 'Radio 101 Independence Day' documentary, and a concert with numerous bands on the bill.
by sven.milekic via YouTube 11/24/2016 1:24:45 PM
Primary and secondary students in Bosnia will learn about corruption in school, according to local authorities.
On Thursday it was announced that a working group will plan how schools are to tackle the thorny topic in one of the countries rated the worst for corruption in Europe by Transparency International.
Legal experts and Montenegro’s opposition parties have criticised a court’s decision to grant "protected witness" status to Aleksandar Sindjelic, the main suspect in a plot to kill Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic. Read more.
After spending two months with members of the Salafi movement in Bosnia, social psychologist Srdjan Puhalo says it is time to stop demonizing the community as terrorists. Read more.
The Croatian government's announcement that it is replacing senior executives in state companies without use of public tenders has triggered accusations of a 'political purge'. Read more.
#EU-funded "Before it's too late #DaNeBudeKasno campaign in #Serbia on dangers of firearms&domestic violence… twitter.com/i/web/status/8…
by UNDP/SEESAC via twitter 11/25/2016 9:09:11 AM
War verterans from Bosnia’s Serb-dominated entity Republika Srpska, RS, demanded on Thursday for a referendum to be held on Bosnia's property dispute over military facilities.
RS Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic supported the notion for the referendum.
The call came after the country's Constitutional Court rejected an appeal from RS which insisted that it, and not the state, owns the military facilities on the Veliki Zep mountain near the town of Han Pijesak, 70 kilometres north-east of Sarajevo.
The Constitutional Court confirmed previous decisions made by Bosnia's state court in the first instance and the state court’s Appellate Council in the second instance, the RS authorities will have no more legal remedies and will be obliged to register the military facility in Han Pijesak as the property of the state.
Ranko Ostojic, one of two candidates in Saturday's election for the president of the Croatian opposition centre-left Social Democratic Party, SDP, has called for the party’s members to come out to vote in the biggest possible number at a press conference on Friday.
He said that his opponent, Davor Bernardic, president of SDP's Zagreb branch, is steering away from public debates with him on TV and therefore is not suited to be the party president, who will have to "take part in other battles".
Ranko Ostojic. Photo: Facebook/Ranko Ostojic
Branimir Bunjac from Croatia’s opposition anti-establishment Living Wall party voiced his opposition to sending Croatian soldiers to Afghanistan during a parliamentary debate on Friday on whether additional troops should be sent on international humanitarian and peace operations.
Bunjac said that his party opposes sending soldiers to Afghanistan because it is "not a peace operation, but a military operation" in a war "with no end in sight".
He concluded that Afghani rebels are falsely being referred to as "terrorists" and that NATO's fear of Russia coming closer to "warm seas" over Afghanistan is a motive for the war.
Two crews of Croatian pilots are helping put out massive forest fires in central Israel today after being sent there to help local emergency crews tackle the infernos that are threatening the homes of those living in the region.
The Croatian government confirmed it had sent two crews to Israel after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought international help over the fires.
by sven.milekic edited by emma.krstic 11/25/2016 11:59:01 AM
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned the EU that he will open the gates for hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter Europe if the EU pushes him, the BBC reported on Friday.
"Listen to me: these border gates will be opened if you go any further," the BBC quoted Erdogan as saying in its warning to the EU.
Erdogan’s statement comes after MEPs voted on Thursday to temporarily freeze EU membership talks with Turkey because of the government’s ongoing crackdown on its opponents following the attempted coup in July.
In March, Turkey and the EU signed a controversial ‘one-in-one-out’ migrant deal in which refugees who arrive in Greece and do not apply for asylum or are rejected are sent back to Turkey, but for each one returned, the EU will resettle another who has made a legitimate asylum request.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoga. Photo: Murat Cetinmuhurdar/AP/Beta
Bosnia’s Serb-dominated entity, Republika Srpska, RS, is hosting an auction on December 7 to sell six-month treasury bills, with the hope of raising 5.1 million Bosnian marks (approximately 2.6 million euros) to go towards plugging the holes in the budget deficit, Reuters reported on Friday.
Meanwhile, the IMF, which approved a 553.3-million-euro loan on September 7 to be dispersed over the next three years, is expected to discuss the first review of Bosnia's economic progress at the beginning of 2017. If the review is approved, the IMF will be able to release the second installment of the loan, which will be around 80 million euros, it stated in a press release on Tuesday.
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Super Bowl Police State
According to a Department of Perpetual War (formerly the Department of Defense) “news release,” NORAD “will contribute to security operations” during the Super Bowl in Detroit. “The aerospace command will fly Operation Noble Eagle air defense protection missions in the Detroit and Windsor, Ont., Canada area, officials said. Windsor is just across the Detroit River from Michigan. And NORAD has military assets from both Canada and the U.S,” explains the American Forces Press Service. “Operation Noble Eagle is a defense and civil support mission started after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, to help protect the U.S. homeland.” In other words, the Pentagon is exploiting a premier gladiatorial event watched by millions of Americans in order to get folks accustomed to a “wider portfolio of missions,” as the Carlyle Group-influenced RAND corporation deems it, shorthand for ever-increasing militarization of society.
“The Pentagon has … shown a disturbing interest in high-tech surveillance of American citizens,” writes Gene Healy of Cato. “And key figures in the Bush administration and Congress have considered weakening the Posse Comitatus Act, the federal statute that limits the government’s ability to use the military for domestic police work.” In fact, the high tech militarization of the Super Bowl may be considered part of an effort by the Straussian neocons and NORAD to put a final nail in the coffin of the Posse Comitatus Act. “My view has been that Posse Comitatus will constantly be under review as we mature this command,” declared NORAD Gen. Ralph Eberhart in September, 2002. (For more on the infusion of high-tech into the “security” arrangements at the Super Bowl, see this article.)
“Constitutional authority gives the president and Congress the right to suspend Posse Comitatus during emergencies,” Juliette N. Kayyem and Steven E. Roberts, writing for National Defense Magazine, told us back in December, 2002. “The military services can freely participate in domestic operations with no legal consequences. In fact, following progressively sophisticated terrorism—highlighted by the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing—the armed forces increasingly supplement and assist local and federal law enforcement agencies in the operational, logistical, and technical aspects of anti-terrorism…. The military’s anti-terror responsibilities during so-called ’special security events’ provide the best example of this role. It has become commonplace for the armed forces to help secure high-profile targets from terrorist attacks, such as the Super Bowl and presidential inaugurals.” It is a stretch, to say the least, to declare that the dead Osama bin Laden and his band of dour Muslim cave dwellers are capable of “progressively sophisticated terrorism,” for as we know, or should know if we pay attention, “sophisticated terrorism” is strictly in the province of state intelligence and military operations, as recently pointed out by General Leonid Ivashov, former Chief of Staff of the Russian armed forces.
Nonetheless, Kayyem and Roberts write that “the likelihood of future terrorist acts comparable to those of September 11 suggests that military participation in national domestic security is here to stay. It would not be unreasonable to assume that there might be limited situations, such as an attack with weapons of mass destruction, when the military would need to expand its role from mere support to active deployment.”
This reveals a complete lack of historical understanding, since the “active deployment” of military forces in the “homeland” usually results in military dictatorship. James Madison and the framers of the Constitution understood the threat of standing armies well. “A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty,” Madison wrote. “The means of defense against foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home. Among the Romans it was a standing maxim to excite a war, whenever a revolt was apprehended. Throughout all Europe, the armies kept up under the pretext of defending, have enslaved the people.” Bush, the cardboard cut-out of the Machiavellian Straussians, represents perfectly the “overgrown Executive” and the eventual enslavement of the people through gradual domestic use of the military.
Of course, the would-be slaves, by and large, remain blissfully unaware of their impending slavery. It is nothing short of a stroke of genius to mix police state imagery in with football imagery and thus make slavery palatable to the masses. I have no idea if there will be a “terrorist event” at the Super Bowl later this afternoon—really, it is not necessary, because more distant events can be exploited—for instance the latest installment of the Osama and al-Zawahri audio and video tapes and, more dramatically, the Muslim riots over cartoons portraying the Prophet Muhammad. As for the latter, it is not inconceivable that this is a NATO orchestrated event designed to up the level of violence, as the “Venstre” (or so-called liberals) are out of power in Denmark and the Danish People’s Party with its strong anti-immigration policies are firmly entrenched. But then this is a subject for another blog entry down the road.
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Pirates of the caribbean full movie
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He is caught up in another tangled web of supernatural intrigue. The curse they carry can be broken, only if a once-plundered treasure is restored. Captain Jack's the last of the nine Pirate Lords of the Brethren Court who must come together united in one last stand to preserve the freedom-loving pirates' way of life. Captain Barbossa, Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann must sail off the edge of the map, navigate treachery and betrayal, find Jack Sparrow, and make their final alliances for one last decisive battle. With this, all pirates will stand together and will make their final stand for freedom against Beckett, Jones, Norrington, the Flying Dutchman, and the entire East India Trading Company. .
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(Re)assessing the Islamic State group and its futures - 23-24 August 2016
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Political Islam\
Remaining and expanding: Measuring the Islamic State group’s success in its current phase
Published in Political Islam
By Afro-Middle East Centre
Since its declaration of a ‘caliphate’ on 29 June 2014, the Islamic State group (IS), the brutal successor to al-Qa'ida, has gone from strength to strength. Short of an indiscriminate air bombing campaign whose victims will include civilians and militants, a wide and well coordinated rebellion within IS ranks and/or the civilian population under its control, or a massive troop deployment and ground invasion by the United States or a regional hegemon such as Turkey or Iran, IS is here to stay for the foreseeable future.
It has become common among some commentators to describe IS as losing ground and being on the defensive as a result of the US aerial bombardment in Syria and Iraq. While the control of territory in some places is often fluid, this assertion is not true. Such habitual arguments may stem from a tendency within the Anglophone world to (re)circulate stock claims and media releases of the US government. Or, it might be attributed to the retaking of Tikrit from IS control in Iraq, or IS’s loss of Tal Abyad and Kobane in Syria. But such cherry-picking of facts must also consider that while IS loses territory, it also gains control over other areas, such as the crucial ancient city of Palmyra in Syria, and the provincial capital Ramadi in Iraq’s Anbar province. Further, even in the case of cities where it has lost ground after weeks of sustained US air support in favour of IS opponents, the group has not entirely given up on these cities, as proven by recent clashes in Kobane and Ayn Issa in Syria and fighting near the Iraqi city of Baiji. As for the latest offensive mounted against IS in the Anbar province, it is too early to predict how it might develop, though it must be noted that the recent record of the Iraqi army and its allies does not inspire much confidence.
A better understanding acknowledges that while IS has not been able to add to its rapid advances from last year in Iraq, it now controls about half of Syria’s land mass. Though this does not mean it exercises control over a majority of the population – and includes that part of the Syrian population, such as some tribes on Syria’s eastern edge, that was only nominally connected to the central authority in Damascus, – it is incorrect to suggest that IS is on the defensive or losing territory in Syria.
It should have been evident to any cursory follower of the region that IS would not, at least in the short term, be able to expand much beyond the Sunni regions it already controls in Iraq. To use this fact to suggest that IS is on the defensive represents a misunderstanding of a fundamental part of IS’s strategy which is, first, to capture, and, second, to hold and build the areas it captures. Thus, a prognosis on the organisation cannot be given by looking at the lack of growth in its territorial control. Rather, it is essential to analyse the success or failure of the second phase of IS strategy: its management of territory that it already controls, the activities of its affiliates outside Iraq and Syria, and the influx of foreign fighters into its ranks.
On all these counts, despite occasional problems, IS is faring sufficiently well. First, consider the management of territory it already controls – probably the most complex of the three indicators. A plethora of pro-IS videos point to the group’s establishment of schools, construction of roads, provision of medical and welfare services, setting up of courts and resolution of disputes, along with the formation of police forces to maintain public order (which for IS ranges from the fair use of weights and measures to regulating the modesty of mannequins outside clothing stores). Similarly, ‘immigration (hijra) guides’ issued by IS to those planning on moving to and settling in IS lands mention how the Islamic State will provide adequate housing and salaries for all those who wish to migrate. For example, the South African citizen with the moniker Abu Hurayrah al-Afriqi, who migrated to IS territory last year, joked that internet services there were better than in South Africa.
While it is tempting to dismiss these assertions as pro-IS propaganda, much of it has been verified by other sources. One problem that is frequently raised as confronting civilians under IS control is that of electricity. It is clear the delivery of electricity has been a problem in certain areas, creating resentment amongst locals. However, complainants often also mention IS efforts to provide generators. This is not to suggest that all is well in territories within IS control, or that there is no dissatisfaction among civilians under its control. After all, IS did kill over three hundred members of a single Iraqi tribe last November. Similarly, there are reports of some Syrian tribal leaders becoming dissatisfied with IS because they are no longer able to collect taxes. However, as long as IS maintains a stranglehold over the information coming out of its territories, and the civilian population under its control is unable to arm and organise itself, it will be very difficult to estimate the level of antagonism it is breeding within.
IS’s service delivery is also ‘subsidised’ by the Iraqi and Syrian governments, which have continued paying salaries to state employees living under IS control, especially in Mosul and Raqqah. Presumably, the respective governments want to use the salaries as leverage over civil servants (especially if these areas are recaptured), and because they do not want to create further antagonism against themselves. This has been useful for IS, but could become a problem if the two governments decided to cease salary payments. To what extent the drying up of these monies could affect IS coffers is difficult to establish. What is clear, however, is that this situation allows IS some financial leeway in not having to pay some of those providing municipal and other services. A huge issue that is alienating many people is IS brutality and conservatism, even though some see it as necessary to maintain peace and order in a time of war. And there is the often-repeated criticism that IS discriminates against its local recruits in favour of foreigners by giving the latter higher salaries and more benefits.
Despite these – often serious – problems, in order to survive, IS just needs to ensure is that the population living in its territories likes it better than the alternatives. And the alternatives, for many, are not appealing. In Iraqi areas controlled by IS, where many people are still stinging from their perceived betrayal at the hands of Baghdad after they had helped defeat IS’s predecessor, al-Qa'ida in Iraq, a common sentiment among the people is that while IS is bad it is the least of the evils besetting them.
The second indicator of IS’s health is the activities of its affiliates outside Iraq and Syria. With the announcement of certain prominent organisations such as Boko Haram in Nigeria, sections of the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban, and the Caucasus Emirate in Russia pledging their allegiance to IS, the group’s international profile is on the rise. While some seasoned jihadi leaders – such as the recently deceased Nasir al-Wuhayshi of al-Qai'da in the Arabian Peninsula, and the Jordanian Abu Muhammad al-Maqdisi – have not accepted IS, and have condemned it for causing divisions among jihadis, even they do not simply dismiss the group.
More crucially, with the recent high profile attacks in Afghanistan, Yemen, Kuwait, France, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia being linked to IS sympathisers, IS does not seem like an actor that is restricted to the Syrian and Iraqi theatres. While it is unlikely that the IS central leadership in Iraq or Syria was directly involved in or gave its blessings to these specific operations, there is definitely an exchange of personnel and tactical information between IS's provincial groups – such as those in Chechnya, Libya and Egypt – and the centre in Iraq and Syria. This is another way of understanding IS’s claim of it ‘expanding’; its expansion cannot only be measured in terms of an increase in territorial control within Syria and Iraq, but must consider the spread of its tentacles in the rest of the world.
Our third indicator is the inflow of foreign fighters into IS’s ranks. The group’s propaganda and battlefield exploits are succeeding in attracting an increasing number of sympathisers and the number has increased in the last few months. While most Muslim organisations and scholars have condemned IS and its brutal methods, it cannot be denied that there is a tiny minority that finds IS’s claim that it is building an Islamic utopia, or challenging the global order through its perverse sense of retribution, quite appealing. The total number of foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq has already surpassed the number of fighters attracted by the nearly decade-long 1980s conflict in Afghanistan. Though it is unclear what percentage of this has joined IS, it can be assumed that of the fighters going to Syria, an increasing percentage is linking with IS.
*IS then, contrary to some claims, is far from exhausted. Indeed, it would not be far-fetched to suggest that it will survive into the foreseeable future. Its slogan, ‘remaining and expanding’, is bearing fruit, even if that does not translate into taking over all of Syria or Iraq and the continuation of its lightning advances from 2014. IS strategists have an evolving understanding of what ‘remaining and expanding’ entails. At this stage, they do not see it as necessarily involving a quick stretch of sovereignty over all of Syria or Iraq. The measure of success is simpler: continued existence as a pseudo-state, providing services to the population under their control, and increasing sympathy throughout the world, whether through more immigrants, regional affiliates, or lone wolves willing to carry out attacks in its name.
IS in Africa: Containment and fragmentation
The battle for Fallujah and the challenge for Iraqi unity
The Paradox of Survival and Expansion: How the Islamic State group can stand up and fight
Evolving Saudi foreign policy: Same goal, different threat perceptions
ISIS in Africa: Reality far different from IS propaganda
Last modified on Tuesday, 06 October 2015 14:28
More in this category: ISIS in Africa: Reality far different from IS propaganda »
Upgrading Morocco-SA ties: good for both, but no difference …
The 'European' refugee crisis
Remaining and expanding: Measuring the Islamic State group’s…
Expanding UN mandate in South Sudan: Militarising politics?
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All analyses in chronological order
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An old craft creates opportunities for Albania’s new generation
Where We Work » Eastern Europe » Albania » An old craft creates opportunities for Albania’s new generation
By Daniela Zampini
A year ago, during a cold winter day in the far northeast of Albania, 58-year-old Hate Ora heard an item on a local television broadcast that would change her life: authorities were launching a “Territorial Employment Pact for Youth” to provide work for young people in the Kukes region, one of the country’s most remote and marginalized areas.
Ora, a weaver of traditional Albanian rugs, got up from her chair and informed her family that she would go and find out in person what it was all about. “Maybe I am not young anymore,” she says with a smile, “but I know the importance of having a job. It is not so easy for a woman in Kukes, young or old as she may be, to find employment. And even when there are jobs, traditional families are not so happy to let women go work outside of the household.”
Ora had worked for more than 20 years in a state-owned factory that produced traditional Albanian handicraft for export. With the collapse of the Communist regime in the early ‘90s and the transition to a free-market economy, she found herself jobless, along with 1,000 other women from the surrounding communities. Ora struggled to continue working from home.
“It was very difficult,” she recalls tearfully. “For many years we have been living, the four of us, in a 25m2 room, where I also carved out some little space to install my working tools. We were cooking there, sleeping there…when I would get an order for carpets, I would work very long hours. It was a way to survive, for me and for my family.”
Today, thanks to her determination and the MDG-Fund-supported “Territorial Employment Pact” (Y-TEP), Ora has transformed herself from an informal worker into a successful woman entrepreneur. At her newly refurbished workshop, she offers on-the-job training and employment opportunities to young women from her community, combining her long experience and their new energies in the manufacturing of traditional Albanian textile handicraft, particularly colourful carpets.
Ora is a beneficiary of the MDG-Fund’s UN Joint Programme on Youth Employment and Migration, a collaboration between four UN agencies and the Albanian government to create decent work opportunities for marginalized young people and to help the country manage the internal migration of youth in search of jobs.
In the case of the Y-TEP initiative, the Joint Programme consulted community members to assess income-generating opportunities. Feasibility studies were then carried out for the economic activities that had been identified, including an analysis of specific training needs such as technical and entrepreneurial skills training and small enterprise management.
“I brought my ideas on how traditional handicrafts could be a source of employment for women from the community. I would like to pass on my craft and train other young people in this trade,” says Ora, who participated in the community dialogues.
The Albanian Artisans Association helped Ora organize her ideas into a business plan as part of the Y-TEP -- a commitment signed by more than 40 local and national actors to a common set of interventions. She received basic entrepreneurship training and business advisory services, together with access to small credit.
Ora started attending artisans’ fairs and produced promotional materials and leaflets to distribute to customers. “The other members of the Albanian Artisans Association, small artisans like me, showed me how I could diversify my products. So I did, and more customers started approaching me.”
Her business plan persuaded a local bank to finance the construction of a decent workshop in the centre of the town. “Now I have moved into the new workshop; my son is working with me full time, dealing with financial planning, finding new customers and helping out with other things.” Ora has registered as a small enterprise and is now back to contributing to her pension scheme.
She has also become an employer, taking advantage of the work-training contracts available through the Y-TEP to bring three other young women to her workshop and train them on-the-job. Recently, Ora was contacted by a French enterprise interested in the production of handmade clothes. Together with other women from Kukes, she is currently producing some samples, which, if accepted, will generate further employment opportunities for young women in Kukes.
As part of the commitments under the Y-TEP, the Municipality of Kukes is even giving Ora a corner of the handicrafts section inside the town’s newly built museum where she can display her products.
With all these successes, Ora points to the Y-TEP and the support of the MDG-Fund as the turning point for her. “Perhaps it is because I have struggled so much throughout my life, but I know that when you are given an opportunity you need to grab it. Is that what you call ‘being entrepreneurial’?”
The UN Joint Programme “Albania: Youth migration: Reaping the benefits and mitigating the risks,” is financed by the MDG Achievement Fund and targets under-employed youth and young people working informally in subsistence agriculture in the regions of Shkodra and Kukes. A collaboration between the Albanian government, local authorities and four UN agencies (ILO, IOM, UNDP/UNV and UNICEF), the programme has already benefitted more than 940 youth.
The programme's approach is to strengthen the capacity of labour market institutions through a youth employment action plan; to devise strategies that minimize the risks of migration of youth from rural areas; and to increase the positive impact of migration through better allocation of resources for youth employment. The Programme also supports the return to Albania of young professionals working abroad and the mobilization of resources through public-private partnerships for youth employment.
Click here to read about the MDG-F's work in Albania.
Click here to read other success stories from the MDG-F's work to fight poverty and improve livelihoods around the world.
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New updates on the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
We are now two weeks away from the Royal Wedding, and Prince Harry’s Press Secretary has released even more information on the big day. Leading up to the wedding itself, even more information will be released.
We are now just over two weeks away from the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince Henry of Wales and Ms. Meghan Markle. As they have travelled around the UK in the months since their engagement last November, Prince Harry and Ms. Markle have been incredibly grateful for the support they have received from members of the public.
The crowds that have turned out in Nottingham, Cardiff, Brixton, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Belfast, Bath and elsewhere have given Ms. Markle a welcome to the United Kingdom marked by warmth, enthusiasm, and a real sense of fun.
We said from the outset that Prince Harry and Ms. Markle were keen to make sure that members of the public would have the opportunity to feel part of the celebrations on their wedding day. This is their way of expressing their gratitude for the messages of support they have received from around the UK, the Commonwealth, Ms. Markle’s home country of the United States, and right around the world. In today’s briefing I want to share more details of what people can expect to see in the day’s leading up to the wedding, and on the day itself, and explain what the public can expect in Windsor.
The first thing I would like to share is that Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are very much looking forward to welcoming Ms. Markle’s parents to Windsor for the wedding. Mr. Thomas Markle and Ms. Doria Ragland will be arriving in the UK in the week of the wedding, allowing time for Prince Harry’s family, including The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, to spend time with them before the big day.
Both of the bride’s parents will have important roles in the wedding. On the morning of the wedding, Ms. Ragland will travel with Ms. Markle by car to Windsor Castle. Mr. Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle of St George’s Chapel. Ms. Markle is delighted to have her parents by her side on this important and happy occasion.
In addition to having the support of The Queen, his father The Prince of Wales, and his brother Prince William as Best Man, Prince Harry is also keen to involve his mother’s family in his wedding. All three siblings of Diana, Princess of Wales will be in attendance and Lady Jane Fellowes will give the reading. Prince Harry and Ms. Markle both feel honoured that Lady Jane will be representing her family and helping to celebrate the memory of the late Princess on the wedding day.
As we said back in November, this wedding will be guided by tradition, allowing everyone to celebrate what makes Royal Weddings so special, but also one which reflects the personalities of Prince Harry and Ms. Markle. We have been announcing details over the last couple of months and in the final week ahead of the wedding you can expect to hear more about the arrangements, including:
• The Instrument of Consent;
• Details of the Bridesmaids and Page Boys;
• The work of florist Philippa Craddock and the Crown Estate gardeners who have been growing and preparing the flowers that will fill the church;
• An update from Claire Ptak, the baker who will make the wedding cake, and the chefs who have been working in the Palace kitchens to make the final preparations and;
• We will publish the full Order of Service on the website on Saturday morning so members of the public can follow the service at home.
I will now take you through the high level outline of what you can expect to see from the evening of Friday 18th May. The key moment for the day before will be the arrival of the bride at her accommodation. We expect this to happen early evening.
On the day itself we expect Windsor to be very busy. The council has worked with partners including Thames Valley Police to plan what will be a fantastic day of celebrations.
As the Royal Borough of Windsor has said, work is well underway to ensure the occasion is a memorable and joyous one for all involved and they are working closely with a wide range of partners.
Rail operators will be putting on extra trains and there will be park and walk and park and float services to help people get into town. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and book all travel arrangements early so they can make the most of their trip. I would very much appreciate the media’s assistance in spreading the message that visitors to Windsor will have a chance to be part of a very special day, but those who will be heading to the town really do need to plan their journeys carefully.
The Royal Borough has confirmed that preparations include:
• A 6,000 space pre-booked car parking area at the Review Ground, just off the Long Walk;
• Food stalls and facilities, including big screens showing live footage of the wedding and Procession, on the Long Walk and in Alexandra Gardens;
• Viewing areas along the whole Procession Route (Castle Hill, High Street, Sheet Street, Kings Road, Albert Road and the Long Walk);
• A team of 140 Royal Borough Ambassadors have volunteered to help steward the event and assist visitors throughout the day;
• The town centre will be decorated with bunting and ceremonial banners along parts of the Procession Route and;
Live entertainment from local groups throughout the town centre.
In order to make sure everyone can get through expected traffic, the members of the public who have been invited to be inside the grounds of Windsor Castle for the wedding will be arriving from around 0900hrs. As a reminder, 1,200 people have been nominated by Lord Lieutenants from across the country for their work supporting their communities. Many of these people are sharing their stories with their local media and supporters – the couple are very pleased that their wedding has provided a platform to celebrate the inspiring work of community and youth leaders from around the UK.
The first thing these people gathered will see on the morning of the wedding will be the arrival of guests between 0930hrs and 1100hrs. Guests will be arriving at the Round Tower by coach and will be seen walking to the South Door of St George’s Chapel.
Members of The Royal Family will begin to arrive from 1120hrs, and enter St George’s Chapel via the Galilee Porch. Some will be on foot, and others will arrive by car.
Prince Harry and his brother The Duke of Cambridge will arrive at St George’s Chapel most likely by foot and will enter via the West Steps. This will allow Their Royal Highnesses to acknowledge all of the people gathered in the Castle precincts, including the 200 charity representatives gathered in the Horseshoe Cloister at the bottom of the steps.
Also around the time Royal Family arrivals begin, a pooled media facility will cover Ms. Markle and Ms. Ragland’s departure from the bride’s overnight location. We expect the journey into the Castle to take them along part of the Long Walk, allowing members of the public gathered there to see the car as it passes. There will also be a brief stop at the Castle where Ms. Ragland will head onto the Chapel and Ms. Markle will be joined by some of the Bridesmaids and Page Boys before she continues her journey to the church, where she will enter via the West Steps.
The Service will take around an hour, and we look forward to announcing more details of this in the weeks ahead.
After the Service has concluded, the newly married couple will process out of the church and acknowledge the 200 representatives of Prince Harry’s charities gathered in the Cloister. The couple are delighted that these people who will be such an important part of their official work in the years to come will be the first people they see after their wedding.
As the couple step into their Carriage, close family members will gather on the West Steps to wave them off on their Procession. As a reminder, we expect the Carriage Procession to take just under 25 minutes. Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are very much looking forward to this part of the day. It will be their chance to express their gratitude for the goodwill and warm wishes they have received from all quarters in the months since their engagement.
Members of the congregation will file out of the church onto the grass to see the start of the Procession before walking to the reception at St George’s Hall. All guests will be attending the reception.
The public elements of the event will be over at this stage. The final thing you can expect to see is the Bride and Groom departing Windsor Castle for the evening reception at Frogmore House.
In the days that follow, we will facilitate interviews with some of those who have been involved in the wedding, as happened in 2011, for example with the hairdresser and dressmaker.
The formal photographs, which will be taken by Alexi Lubomirski, will be released during the week.
SOURCE: The Royal Family
The Carriage Ride For Prince Harry & Meghan Markle’s Wedding
Madame Tussauds London unveils Meghan Markle wax figure
Congratulations, The Duke & Duchess of Sussex are married !
Meghan Markle & Prince Harry Arrive in Windsor For Final Royal Wedding Preparations
Meghan Markle & her mother Doria arrive at Cliveden House
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The Oct. 11 news announcement of the alleged plot: Attorney Gen. Holder is at right; speaking is Preet Bharara, U.S. Atty. for the Southern District of NY. Also shown: Lisa Monaco, an assistant attorney general, and FBI director Robert Mueller. (AP)
When it comes to the Iranian assassination plot, where's the motivation?
ASK THIS | October 21, 2011
A former CIA station chief points out that Iran had little reason to hatch such a crazy plan; while advocates of a more hostile approach to Iran are the big winners from its exposure.
By Haviland Smith
twopond@comcast.net
Iran's shadowy Quds Force is being accused of having initiated an assassination attempt against the Saudi Arabian ambassador in Washington. The press, with a few exceptions, appears to have accepted this story on face value, without asking enough questions.
The most important question, when it comes to assessing the likelihood of such a story, is who are the winners and losers?
We are being asked to believe that the Iranians, a people with a long and varied history of nasty but effective intelligence operations, virtually all of which have been in their national interest to carry out, set up what is clearly a sloppy, bush league operation.
But what could conceivably have prompted them to undertake such an operation? The risks were obvious. Such a Keystone Kops operation, when publicly uncovered -- just as it has been -- was bound to redound to the deeply embarrassed disadvantage of the Iranians.
By contrast, there is no plausible advantage to the Iranians in this operation, even if it were to succeed. And even if they had sought the death of an ambassador, they could have easily killed one in any number of places far better suited, for the Iranians, to that sort of operation.
The Iranians would appear to have had nothing to gain if this plot succeeded, and everything to lose if it failed. Of course, Iranians can’t be totally ruled out since the evidence, while shaky, does point to them. But the press and others would do well to put aside Iranian clumsiness or internal dirty tricks in this mystery, and ask: Who outside Iran benefited from this alleged plot’s exposure?
Who, by contrast, benefited from this alleged plot's exposure? If the purpose of the exercise was to get the United States to be more bellicose with Iran, which appears already to have happened, then we might look to those American interests, in and outside of Washington, who would like us to be at war with Iran. We might also look at Saudi Arabia and other Arab Gulf states, who deeply fear Iran, with its growing hegemony in the Gulf and its nuclear program. Or we might look at the Israelis, who have already tried on a number of occasions to stiffen our back against the Iranians either by endorsing their attack on Iran or doing it ourselves. Or we might look at the FBI itself, looking for a public victory against would-be terrorists.
And who loses? Any and all people, groups and nations that would like to see America and Iran reach some sort of understanding without engaging in hostilities. That includes a lot of folks.
Haviland Smith is a retired CIA Station Chief who served in Eastern and Western Europe and the Middle East, as Chief of the Counterterrorism Staff, and as Executive Assistant in the Director’s office.
E-mail: twopond@comcast.net
Posted by ACitizen
I'm all for Muslim on Muslim violence. I thought it has been stupid to stand between Sunni and Sheite and Kurds, let them have at it. Also Pashtoons, they love fighting. If it wasn't us they were shooting at it would be each other. Just get out of they way it's much cheaper.
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Guest Column NIGERIANNEWS GUEST COLUMNS
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Daniel Akerejah -
a capacity building and international education expert was Manager for Africa at the influential Institute of International Education, New York and the 1999 AD gubernatorial flag bearer in Edo State. Currently lives in Lagos.
Olodi Apapa, Lagos
Email Daniel Akerejah
BELOVED COUNTRY NIGERIA: STEP BACK FROM THE PRECIPICE
by Daniel Akerejah
We will get there as the lyrics in the title track album of one of my all time favorite groups, Osibisa’s WOYAYA says “It will be hard we know and the road will be muddy and rough as we get there, heavens know that we will get there and we know we will” Let us put national interest above all other parochial interests. Yes, we can do it and we will do it. Nigeria has come to stay and we will not go the way of Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia or the Soviet Union. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
This is an optimistic piece. My optimism is derived from my age long enthusiasm for the glorious possibilities of the Nigerian nation project. The clock is ticking as March 28, 2015 beckons like a colossus. Political frenzy and all manners of postulations and permutations abound. The question still comes up about the possibility of another postponement as we get closer to election date. There is no doubting the fact that Nigerians have been experiencing a sustained period of political, social and economic instability since we attained political Independence in 1960. It is regrettable that despite a superlative revenue profile, the most recent period from 1999 has been the most traumatic since the Nigerian civil war with a depressingly worsening poverty for the overwhelming majority of the population. The late Obafemi Awolowo left us the immortal phrase “After Darkness Comes a Glorious Dawn”. Despite all the negative prognostications about the disintegration of Nigeria, I believe that we must step back from the precipice with a credible 2015 presidential election and embrace our glorious dawn as a nation.
We must concede these are indeed times of pervasive darkness in our beloved country, Nigeria. This country was full of promise at independence in 1960 and almost universally acclaimed to be a budding dominant superpower on the African continent. What went wrong? When shall we finally step into our glorious dawn as a stable and respected nation? These questions may be answered by the outcome of the 2015 elections. While acknowledging the presence of several peripheral candidates in all the countrywide contests, of particular importance is the presidential election that pits incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against three-time candidate Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress (APC). There are certainly those who would argue with the assertion that Nigeria is bedeviled by a hopelessness that has stunted our development in all sectors. The country is drifting unstopped towards disintegration of the failed state variety. This is clearly visible to everyone except to the few who are profiting from our commonwealth in and out of the corridors of state. At this time in our history after many missed opportunities, 2015 presents Nigeria with another golden chance of righting the ship of state for good governance and purposeful leadership towards our true destiny as a great nation. We may finally begin to fulfil the promise of nationhood widely touted at independence in 1960.
For full disclosure, I am a member of the APC and the1999 Alliance for Democracy (AD) governorship flag bearer in Edo State. I give due respect and recognition to all those who laboured in the trenches to shepherd this formidable party that is now poised to rescue Nigeria from the evils of a corrupt one party state. The issue for me has always been the interface of the personal interest of some and our collective national interest. For this reason, the personal interest of any citizen must not be allowed to supplant the national interest, including the inordinate personal ambitions of any individual. Every day since my first foray into Nigerian politics with the advent of civlian rule in 1998, I think of what I can do to help my country get back on the course of development that she deserves and to make Nigeria a truly great and respected nation. Like most Nigerians I have had the privilege of meeting, I am prepared to work tirelessly to see the enthronement of a stable and progressive nation. The current crop of politicians holding Nigeria back from becoming a truly democratic and developed country must be stopped by the collective will of the people in the 2015 elections. We must work to build a nation that is devoid of ethno-religious chauvinism and dominanting pseudo patriotism of the looting variety. In this regard, the defeat of any incumbents in the elections will be the beginning of real democracy practice in Nigeria and the final signal to the end of Executive, Legislative and Judicial impunity now part of the fabric of our beleaguered entity. Nigerians must finally wake up from our long slumber as voters to reject further bondage and speak loudly about our abhorrence for the pervasiveness of impunity in the governance of our country, including the squandering of our commonwealth by a few.
Whither Nigeria as we again come to the starting lineup of political office seekers in 2015? The United States can make all the predictions about the disintegration of Nigeria but the Nigerian people have the ultimate say about what becomes of our country in 2015 and beyond. Our continued quest for that magic shock to jolt some badly needed sanity into our national life must bring forth incorruptible and courageous men and women of integrity to finally bring Nigeria back from the precipice. I am an admirer of the story of the legendary United States Treasury agent, Elliott Ness, who was sent to the city of Chicago during the prohibition era to tackle the mob anarchy that had almost rendered Chicago a failed city due to unbridled corruption and other vices. Elliott Ness’ group became known as the “Untouchables” because they could not be bribed, corrupted or intimidated by threats of death from carrying out their lawful duty to save Chicago from total collapse. Nigeria, at this crucial juncture in our checkered history, really must install our own equivalent of the “untounchables” to rescue this beautiful country and potential world power from the continued drift to a failed state. The Jonathan Administration may score itself high despite all the negative indices to the contrary but it is obvious that the best best efforts of the administration pale in comparison to what the country needs to develop at this time.
On March 28, Nigerians must come out to vote massively for change and prepare to hail the enthronement of a real departure from governance as usual and vote to elect Muhammadu Buhari as President. I am personally wishing for a Buhari revolution as I expect a change in the trajectory of governance in Nigeria. At the same time, I am mindful of the various criticisms of both Buhari and Jonathan by fellow Nigerians and particularly Wole Soyinka. On President Jonathan, Wole Soyinka said “I will not vote for the continuation of this government. . . There has been a failure of leadership. . . To encourage anyone to vote for this regime is a travesty of intelligence”I agree and my sentiments exactly. On Buhari, Soyinka posits that “The grounds on which General Buhari is being promoted as the alternative choice are … not only shaky, but pitifully naive. We know that human beings change” Yes, I do agree that human beings do change. Apologies and respect to Uncle Wole Soyinka’s treatise and opinion on the “crimes” of Buhari’s military regime of 1983-1985. These times call for a citizens’ proclamation of forgiveness for Buhari whether or not we share Wole Soyinka’s view. Buhari is now being called upon to lead in the democracy and civilian supremacy environment of today’s Nigeria despite his controversial antecedents as a military Head of State. And yes, Wole Soyinka has now endorsed Buhari for president. This is the time for Buhari as his incorruptible and courageous credentials stand him heads and shoulders above the rest. We must make a choice as the country’s march to a failed state of the last 16 years has established the necessity of a Buhari presidency. We must choose business as usual or chart a new course of leadership for our potentially great country. Nigeria deserves a new course and Buhari must of necessity be forgiven to lead this charge.
There are ominous trends apparent in Nigeria today and the country is losing the basic existential reason for remaining a corporate entity with inviolate territorial integrity. The Boko Haram insurgency has exposed the rot in the leadership of our national institutions such that two hundred schoolgirls remain in captivity nearly one year after their abduction. To add insult to all the shame are the frequent reports of troops from neighbouring countries traversing our teritorries at will? Where is that Nigerian military establishment touted as the finest in Africa and a toast of international peacekeeping operations in times past? Nigeria ranks third among countries having extremely poor people, according to the World Bank. We cannot continue to dwell on the mere rhetorical “giant of Africa” tag but must seize the moment to rise up to the true meaning of this tag. This election provides a beginning opportunity. There is no doubt that the cynicism and depression in the land has been anchored by corruption, resurgent ethnic and religious bigotry. The educational system is in a state of decline. There is a general lack of confidence in the area of security and government’s ability to protect citizens. There is a precipitous decline in the quality of life of the overwhelming majority of our citizens. We must hold these facts to be very real that Nigeria’s development has been strangulated by runaway corruption at all levels of our public and private lives. Despite claims as Africa's giant and current status as Africa’s biggest economy, Nigeria was not only one of the world’s least prosperous countries in 2014, but also one of Africa’s poorest surpassed by smaller countries like Benin, Cameroon, Mali and Niger according to a recent annual global prosperity survey. This is unacceptable and untenable in a country blessed with abundant natural and human resources, the twin essential ingredients of development. These are the major issues perceived as diminishing the quality of life in Nigeria. They must be addressed forthwith as had never been seen before. We have the human and material resources but have been lacking in leadership and political courage.
The six years of the current occupant of Aso Rock is more than enough and voters in a free and fair election must send Goodluck Jonathan to a well deserved retirement in Otuoke. He has tried his best as his supporters would claim but his best is not good enough for Nigeria at this juncture in our checkered history. Change at this time is sine qua non to Nigeria's march forward in this century and beyond. We have stayed with the same medicine for too long and this patient has not improved while the prognosis is truly frightening. National policy particularly in the Jonathan Presidency has been rather long on platitudes and very short on real commitment and constructive actions. As a matter of great emergency, Mr Buhari must come galloping out of Daura like a victorious warrior prince to slay the corruption dragon which has rendered Nigeria comatose and made the country a laughing stock in the comity of nations. A Buhari Presidency must hit the ground running with some carefully crafted and courageously implemented executive actions and principles within the first few days after inauguration. It must begin with the selection of a cabinet and staff of truly patriotic men and women of unimpeachable integrity, away from the usual appointments to positions just for the sake of sharing booties and spoils of electoral advantage. A President Buhari will have to seek out such persons, constitute a cabinet and staff of non-hustlers and god-fathered individuals. Nigeria needs a crop of new even if yet untested individuals rather than the usual recycled government to government persons with the already apparent abysmal performance over the decades. Talents abound in this great and blessed land thatdonot just want the jobs but are itching to get the job done in true service to country.
In deference to the details in the APC Manifesto, there must be immediate and distinct policy and performance departure from what had been the norm in the last sixteen years. The politics must not necessarily be smart but must produce great and decisive policies that are smart and effective. The people must immediately feel and know the difference in their quality of life and living standards. As a further antidote to the disinformation campaign to impugn Mr. Buhari’s integrity, a President Buhari must live up to his billing as incorruptible, resolute, courageous, non-religiously nationalistic and patriotic. The expectations of Nigerians are very high for a positive restoration of broader initiatives that will strengthen democratic inclusion and institutions. The following are a few recommendations that will surely signal that the country is going to savor a real change from the status quoaway from mere political sloganeering as opponents have postulated. Anything short of these will be business as usual but with different actors and there will be election consequences in just another four years:
An immediate and unconditional reversal of all petroleum pump price increases and the institution of a price regime of N50per litre for petrol; N20 per litre for Kerosene (the fuel of the masses) and a proportionate price set for diesel and other petroleum products. If Venezuela, a fellow OPEC country, can have N7 a litre for petrol, these prices cannot be unreasonable for a low income population like Nigeria. The mass of Nigerian population will be relieved while the beneficiaries of anomalies inherent in the system will kick and try to disparage the efficacy of such. But the first real test of a committed and a courageous administration would have been established.And we must get all our refineries working at installed or close to installed capacity in the long term.
A temporary institution of an exchange control regime that pegs the exchange rate of the Naira atN100 to the US Dollar. Some traditional economists and other institutional apologists will kick and cry foul but a steadfast and courageously patriotic leader will weather the storm in the interest of the long suffering mass of the population. A people already bludgeoned into submission by the unrelenting hardships in a blessed land of plenty due to unbridled corruption and the failure of leadership. Afterall, exchange rate intervention or what some call manipulation is a regular feature of the international system. Countries high and low must always act in their best interest and Nigeria must not be an exception.
An immediate declaration and publication of the assets of the President, Vice President and all members of the new administration. The administration must give a damn because it is the law of the land that they have sworn to uphold. Transparency and serious anti corruption must begin with this. There must be an immediate end to our judicial inertia. The EFCC must be directed to press for the expeditious adjudication of cases languishing in the system since 2003 within the first year of the administration. There must be no more judicial or prosecutorial excuses for delays while indicted former governors and legions of officials are roaming free with impunity and disdain for the system of justice. We no longer need the national shame of the United Kingdom and other countries successfully prosecuting and jailing our indicted fellows while we stand aside and look. The cynicism of the Nigerian people would be abated and confidence restored in our system of justice. The laws of the land as no respecter of any persons, high or low in society must be proclaimed and visibly enforced for all to see.
A formal declaration of war against all manners of insecurity in the land with a special security session convened to finally end the scourge of Boko Haram and allied terrorist groups. The police, the military and other security agencies must be reminded that they are national institutions answerable only to the needs of the people as proffered by extant laws rather than the governments of the moment.
A focused and sustainable emergency plan to reverse the endemic neglect and decay of critical infrastructure, including roads, rails, bridges, water systems and electricity.Initiate, within sixty days, an aggressive public works program to reduce the staggering unemployment of our population while building and restoring critical public infrastructure. The leadership initiative must strive for more effective government at federal, state and local levels. The primary focus in each of these broad initiatives of good governance, political leadership, quality of life, and economic development will send a strong positive message to the Nigerian people. This is what is needed to begin to earnestly address the ominous situation of chronic unemployment in our country.
An enabling environment for open communication and national discourse will be a powerful means of motivating and building national morale in the endeavor to build a Nigeria free of the excesses of national security establishment in the muzzling and cowing of freedoms, including speech, assembly and association.
Muhammadu Buhari must accomplish the rescue of Nigeria from the corrupt mob that held Nigeria and our people down since independence. I have often divided Nigeria’s political periods into three periods as inspired by our most notable transitional federal elections for ease of analysis and civic understanding. These are the 1959 period which ended with the first military coup on January 15, 1966. The 1979 period ended with the overthrow of President Shehu Shagari in 1983. We are now in the 1999 period with the current civilian dispensation which commenced in 1999. We are straddling the 1999 period and the third time to finally get our act together, by holding free, fair, and violence-free elections. I believe that the outcome of the 2015 elections will be the seminal defining moment in the political history of Nigeria and her evolving democratic culture. We will get there as the lyrics in the title track album of one of my all time favorite groups, Osibisa’s WOYAYA says “It will be hard we know and the road will be muddy and rough as we get there, heavens know that we will get there and we know we will” Let us put national interest above all other parochial interests. Yes, we can do it and we will do it. Nigeria has come to stay and we will not go the way of Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia or the Soviet Union. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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If I were to promise you, dear reader, that this blog would begin with a discourse on the evolution of marketing language in a retail environment, segue into some poorly-researched blah about cognitive responses to exclamation marks, before shooting off into a rambling yarn about the time I fist-bumped Lou Carpenter from Neighbours, would you read on? I imagine you would not (although some may skip to the end just for the Lou from Neighbours bit). Any article that tried to cover such a multitude of topics in any meaningful way would be dense, sprawling or simply unreadable. The same is, of course, true for copywriting. But how often are we presented with a brief that, rather than asking for the illumination of one compelling thought, effectively give us a lift of ‘benefits’ – each one, we are assured, no more or less important than the next. Even the briefs that take the time to talk about message hierarchy rarely extract one clear direction. ‘This is what we want to say’ they promise us. But often that primary ‘this’ is accompanied by a swarm of others that positively cannot be further than a bee’s shinbone away from the main message. And then we sigh, pick up our pencils and try once again to force an elk into a balloon. Such extensive and varied briefs customarily result in work that is opaque and jumbled. In amongst the grappling claims, there is undoubtedly something extraordinary and persuasive. If only anyone with eyes and a mind had the time or attention to extract what matters from that which does not. Grumpy old writers may well point an inky finger at content marketing and an era where brands have a platform to say everything and anything they think matters. This is probably churlish, but there has been a notable shift in how difficult it can be to persuade a client to be economical with their messaging. And perhaps this is understandable. A model that reduces complex or elaborate products or services to their single most remarkable feature perhaps isn’t quite as full-bodied an exchange as it deserves. But, whatever compromises a copywriter or agency is prepared to make, there is one character in this murky dance who will not budge an inch – customers. There may be 14 outstanding things about your product – and those 14 things may very well be indistinguishable in their brilliance. But present that to a customer in the kind of format that demands immediacy and they will engage in between one and zero of your points. In extraordinary circumstances, a customer may engage with two – and when that happens copywriters all over the world get the afternoon off to go and play Laser Quest. The argument we use, to varying effect, is that great brands need to give customers a reason to find out how great they are. Dropping everything that makes you incredible under the noses of your customers is not, as some imagine, an act of storytelling or transparency, it’s effectively nothing more than commercial fly-tipping. The question is one of balance – the harmony between content and volume that leaves you saying just enough to engage and just little enough to intrigue. Less isn’t especially more, but perhaps perpetually seeking and demanding ‘more’ from our messages is what leads to so many simple and convincing propositions appearing so desperately insipid. Less can be more lucid, more substantial and more inspiring. But in simple terms of lines on a page, ‘more’ is not an endorsement in itself. Oh, and if you’ve just arrived directly from the opening sentence, I fist-bumped Lou from Neighbours outside the Pizza Express in Norwich. Now, was that worth coming back for? I think we can all agree that it was.
Brussels: As the EU’s united investment scheme for research and innovation, Horizon 2020 has been heralded as a break from the past compared to previous framework programmes. With a significant emphasis on simplification, faster time to grant and addressing the major challenges facing European society, the European Commission has allocated nearly €80bn of funding to the R&I framework programme as it seeks to attract research proposals from across the university, research and business sectors. By realising its objectives, Horizon 2020 aims to encourage economic growth, job creation and bring more innovative and scientific breakthroughs to market.
Robert-Jan Smits © European Union, 2015
One of the areas where the R&I framework programme seeks to bring particular benefits is helping to address the challenges facing Europe’s environment. This year’s Green Week 2015 in Brussels at the beginning of June, focused on Nature and biodiversity, and discussed how ‘protecting Nature and maintaining Europe’s competitiveness must go hand in hand’ as such ‘policies can play a key role in creating jobs and stimulating investment’.
Green agenda
During this year’s event, Robert-Jan Smits, director general of DG Research and Innovation in the European Commission, took part in the session ‘Nature protects’, which discussed examples of how Nature-based solutions can ‘effectively mitigate the impacts of natural hazards’, including climate change, and how natural infrastructure can have a ‘positive impact on local livelihoods and the environment’. In an exclusive interview with Portal, Smits began by outlining his enthusiasm for this major conference on European environmental policy.
“Green Week is a fantastic initiative, and it is very inspiring to see the number of enthusiastic people that were there, including the young people who have an enormous commitment to the green cause.
“During the ‘Nature protects’ workshop, we tried to remove the idea that the green agenda will be at the expense of job creation or competitiveness, which is not the case; the green agenda, economic growth, competitiveness and job creation can go hand in hand,” commented the director general.
“Recently, the Danish Environmental Protection Agency published a report which showed that over the last 15-20 years, EU legislation in the field of the environment has not only led to a better quality of life with lower air pollution,
but that there have been benefits for competitiveness and the creation of jobs. Nature-based solutions offer enormous potential for new jobs, for economic growth, for SMEs, and for all stakeholders to get together.”
Evaluation to resolution
Whereas EU policy has traditionally been concentrating on collecting data concerning the impact citizens and industry have on the environment, Smits observed that there had now been a step change that sees greater emphasis on developing solutions to help protect the environment.
“We have a long tradition in our environment programme focusing only on data collection, with hardly any priority on real remedies. We now have a big break with the past and are looking for concrete solutions, or are using data analysis to undertake problem-solving activities.
“Whilst we are continuing to collect data, because this remains essential, we are going to really invest in bringing solutions to the citizen. Consequently, Nature-based solutions is an area where we are going to devote significant financial resources in the years ahead under Horizon 2020, including the next calls and notably under the 2016-2017 Work Programme, because we really want to have demonstrations of Nature-based solutions.
“At the Green Week workshop, we focused very much on the issue of flooding. Each year we read about flooding in the UK, Italy, Hungary, etc., and how with Nature-based solutions we can find an approach to address this issue, for example through the creation of natural basins. But Nature-based solutions are also about the greening of cities and deserts, agriculture in the cities, and finding new ways to cool buildings through plants.
“Consequently, we really want to see and finance large scale demonstrators that show Nature-based solutions can work, and see groups of stakeholders and countries get together around such demonstrators, after which hopefully others will follow.”
Victims of success
Within the first six months of 2015, nearly 4,000 projects have received funding from the Commission under Horizon 2020. Over 45,000 research applications were received by the Commission between December 2013 and March 2015, including more than 17,000 during the first seven months, nine times the available funding.
Brussels has been pleased with the high participation rate, but figures also reveal a low success rate for applicants, averaging around 14% for Horizon 2020, compared to 19-22% for the Seventh Framework Programme. Smits said the situation was “the biggest problem” that he faces.
“We have put enormous attention on Horizon 2020 simplification by inserting a lot of measures to really make it much easier for applicants to have access to the programme. In addition, with our Participant Portal, we have a quicker time to grant and simpler application forms with everything now being electronic.
“Yet we are now becoming the victims of our success – we are flooded with proposals and up to now we have received around 50,000. The success rate in certain areas has now dropped to 12%, and that is extremely worrying. These results show that we have been successful with our simplification efforts, because the barriers to the programme have been reduced. It also indicates that we are getting it right with our challenge-based approach, as Horizon 2020 steps away from the thematic approach. The SME Instrument is also very popular, because we see that 20% of the applicants now are new commerce, mostly SMEs.
“So whilst we are successful on the one hand, we are facing a huge oversubscription on the other. This is not sustainable and the fear is that if the success rate is lower than 10%, researchers may be discouraged in making applications. The aim is therefore to increase success rates and consequently we are increasingly introducing a two-stage application procedure: the first stage asks for a proposal outline that is just a couple of pages long; this stage will have a low success rate. This is then followed by a second stage with a possible 30% success rate. This method is helping to manage the oversubscription problems.”
One of the goals of Horizon 2020 is to encourage the greater involvement of businesses, and one of the techniques the Commission has introduced to realise this goal is the creation of the SME Instrument. Managed by the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, the near €3bn tool ‘helps high-potential SMEs to develop groundbreaking innovative ideas for products, services or processes that are ready to face global market competition’. Smits provided a further insight into the instrument’s success.
“There’s an increase in the participation, notably from SMEs, but also from industry, which can be explained through the SME Instrument. We are putting more emphasis on innovation, demonstrators, proof of concept, first-of-a-kind, pilot lines, and technology transfer and deployment. Because of this greater emphasis on innovation, we see that in the first calls of Horizon 2020, there is an increase in the number of industrial and SME participants.”
Break from the past
Horizon 2020 and its predecessors share the common themes of investing in ICT, nanotechnology, space research, as well as researcher training, and addressing major health, environment, energy and climate challenges. Portal asked the director general what makes this framework programme so much more significant to the future of Europe.
“Firstly, we are putting greater emphasis on the deployment of research results and getting these to market. We therefore have demonstrators and proof of concepts, as well as the InnovFin SME Guarantee Facility, which allows us to give grants through the European Investment Bank (EIB) and European Investment Fund to those projects that we feel are really close to the market. This is a big novelty compared to previous framework programmes as we put more emphasis on the deployment of research results than ever before.
“Second is the big emphasis on SMEs – 20% of the Horizon 2020 budget is going to be given to small and medium sized enterprises. This means many newcomers will become involved, which is healthy for the system.
“Third is the radical simplification. In my organisation, there is one person who is called ‘Mr Simplification’, and his job is purely to scout for critical comments on the web about our programme and then immediately take action to remedy them. For example, when UK participants complained that they had a problem with accounting in euros and had to transfer constantly between accounts in pounds and euros, we immediately addressed this issue.
“Finally, the challenge-driven approach is also a big novelty. Rather than being prescriptive, we are now identifying a societal problem, be it an ageing population, obesity, Ebola, vaccine development, and state this as the challenge, and allow the science community to develop the best solution. It’s a completely different way: less prescriptive and more open.”
The deal between the Commission, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament on the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) sees €2.2bn drawn from the budget of Horizon 2020 and invested into the new fund under the Investment Plan for Europe. One of the worries within the research community has been whether universities and research technology organisations will be able to take full advantage of the EFSI following the budget reallocation. Smits commented that the EFSI would offer “enormous potential for innovative projects”.
“If you look at the lists we have drawn up, there are thousands of projects which different EU member states have put forward. There are some very interesting innovation projects, including in the areas of ICT, Industry 4.0, the Internet of Things and energy systems, etc. We now need to make sure that the innovators in Europe are aware of the EFSI and that the fund is not just available for major infrastructure projects, but also for innovative projects; the EIB is playing its role in assessing and evaluating each project,” commented Smits.
Risk sharing
The Commission has already worked very closely with the EIB in supporting investment in research and development projects through the Risk-Sharing Finance Facility (RSFF). The instrument saw the EU institution and the EU bank collaborate financially to ‘improve access to … debt finance for participants of European R&D projects’.
“The RSFF loans supported very high risk research and innovation projects which led to competence in the field of investing in R&I in the EIB,” Smits explained. “Over the last six years, we have been awarded €12bn in loans to innovative projects. Thanks to the RSFF the bank now has great skill in innovation, allowing it to assess projects and undertake due diligence, since, for example, investing in the Paris Metro is very different to investing in the next-generation biorefinery, Industry 4.0 project, or next-generation manufacturing.
“The due diligence competency of the EIB has been developed, and the bank is able to effectively assess innovation projects. We now need to make sure that we bring forward good projects which then can benefit from the EFSI.”
Introduced under Horizon 2020, and replacing the RSFF, is InnovFin, a joint initiative between the EIB Group and the Commission as part of Horizon 2020. According to the EIB, the instrument “consists of a series of integrated and complementary financing tools and advisory services offered by the EIB Group, covering the entire value chain of research and innovation in order to support investments from the smallest to the largest enterprise”. By 2020, it is anticipated that InnovFin will make available over €24bn of debt and equity financing to innovative companies, thus supporting €48bn of investment in R&I.
The Commission is currently finalising the next work programmes under Horizon 2020, covering the years of 2016-2017, with a budget of €10bn during 2016 alone, an 11.6% increase on 2015. Portal asked Smits what developments scientists and researchers could expect to see in the next two years.
“The 2016-2017 work programmes will support more than ever the political agenda of President Jean-Claude Juncker, be it on the Energy Union, Smart Cities, the Circular economy or the Digital Single Market.”
Brussels has made major advances in funding research and innovation with the creation of Horizon 2020. The success of the programme is underlined by the significant interest from the research community and the number of funding applications submitted. Coupled with a challenge-based approach, simplification and new tools to encourage the involvement of industry, the latest R&I framework appears to satisfy many of the demands of scientists and researchers.
The EU institution has now also attempted to allay fears that a cut in the budget of Horizon 2020 following the creation of the EFSI would damage opportunities presented in the framework programme. As the new fund begins its work this summer, along with the final adjustments to the new work programmes and an ever-increasing number of applicants to Horizon 2020, it will again be up to the research community to witness themselves that this R&I programme is truly a successful break from the past.
Robert-Jan Smits
DG Research & Innovation
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Marijuana in the Media
by kashamaar on April 21, 2017 - 10:51am
Marijuana, being considered one of the most relevant topics of today’s day and age, has recently been discussed about its legalization in the country. Before and after Justin Trudeau’s campaign and election, many different opinions and subjective thoughts have been made towards the subject, creating a storm of controversy in today’s media. This is based on his proposal to legalize pot, loosely influenced by Colorado’s success after legalizing the substance all throughout the state. Although the substance is earning a great reputation in the process, the youth that consumes this media information tends to give in to society’s peer pressure. This creates a major ethical dilemma as the young adolescents that take part in this activity are putting the development of their brains at risk. As beneficial as cannabis may be for certain people, it is crucial that it remains out of the hands of young children as it could seriously cause harm to them in the long term. Today’s entertainment media serves as an icon for the younger generations to come and it is by their values that they live.
According to The Globe and Mail, there is an affirmation that marijuana use among adolescents, although less harmful than other drugs, is highly threatening to the brain’s functioning as well having a permanent effect on brain development (Kalant, 2014). Additionally, the potency of the substance has skyrocketed since the 1960s, as the percentage of the natural chemical THC contained in marijuana has evolved from 1% to upwards of 30% nowadays (Barton, 2014). The article is concluded with a research statement from the BMJ, disclosing that the restraint or delay of usage can result in “broad health and social benefits.”
In his study, Primack examined the correlation between the media coverage of marijuana and the attitudes and opinions of teenagers regarding the substance. This was done by surveying well over a thousand students at a high school in suburban Pittsburgh. This study would ultimately seek to uncover the correlation of marijuana use with the consumption of media in order to determine how cannabis is portrayed in the media. The study resulted in a few conclusions; students who listen to over 3-4 hours of music per day are more likely to have consumed marijuana than students who listen to one hour of music or less per day. A simple explanation as to why this may be is the fact that: “…lyrics related to marijuana are currently either more prevalent—or that marijuana is portrayed in more of a positive light in music—than has been previously thought.” (Primack, 2010). Given this data, it is definite that music plays a major role in the influence of marijuana usage among young people today, as this has been the case for the past 40 years in the music industry.
In her study on the primary themes present in mainstream media on cannabis use in Canada, Haines-Saah (2014) examined marijuana usage in relation to the media. Throughout her research, there is a clear substantiation that the use of marijuana in films has made a large influence on general consumption. “In the articles associated with the Popular Culture or Professional Sports themes, it was apparent that a type of moral double standard was at play, whereby marijuana use was normalized for social elites…” (Haines-Saah, 2014). These stories were constructed to condone, and in some cases, celebrate the recreational use of marijuana among the ‘elite.’ This can be demonstrated through films such as the Cheech and Chong film series where the substance becomes a major part of the personas involved. Other examples of musicians that advocate and celebrate the use of cannabis include Bob Dylan, Snoop Dogg as well as the Beatles.
In John Markert’s Hooked in Film: Substance Abuse on the Big Screen, there is evidence of a developing attitude and outlook on marijuana use, based on the role it played in entertainment films. Starting from anti-pot propaganda films in the 1930s, the depiction of marijuana in the 1970s slowly changed from a hazardous drug to a substance that is completely harmless. “ This later evolved to a point where in the present day, production companies in the entertainment media have no problem marketing and promoting the use of cannabis. A great example displayed in the text was the Woodstock festival and the rise of the hippie counterculture as both promoted the recreational use of marijuana through the form of music. This provided a favorable view on the substance, linking it with trends deemed provocative enough for the youth to follow.
From a deontological perspective, this is a moral conundrum that requires an effective solution, for as human beings, we are duty bound to protect our children from the dangers of the world. This is an example of virtue ethics as it deals with the rightness or wrongness of the character and the habits of the actor. Where the ‘habit’ can possibly result in harm or self-destructive behavior, it is clear that the substance can be associated with wrongness. Unfortunately, due to the use of cannabis as a framing device in most entertainment media, the portrayal of marijuana in films and music make it extremely difficult to persuade young men and women to resist the urge to fit in. However, there is a subtle and honest way to get the message across. This would be done using the Internet as a tool to reach out and educate the younger generation. VICE Magazine had come out with a video in French where a young man describes his experiences with pot, affirming that things did not turn out well in the end. This effectively establishes an understanding for viewers to grasp that cannabis consumption was not made for everyone and that it may result in harmful consequences. The video later suggests that the viewers should proceed to their website for any additional information on the subject if they have ever experienced something similar with the substance. This results in a beneficial way to inform the youth about the truth behind this substance and the various outcomes that may result from the elongated use of it.
Barton, Adriana. "Your kid's brain on pot: The real effects of marijuana on teens." The Globe and Mail. The Globe and Mail, 16 Oct. 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2017.
Eff, Billy. "Pourquoi je badtripe quand je fume du weed - Vice du jour." VICE Video. VICE Magazine, 2017. Web. 20 Apr. 2017.
PRIMACK, BRIAN A., KEVIN L. KRAEMER, MICHAEL J. FINE, and MADELINE A. DALTON. "Media Exposure and Marijuana and Alcohol Use Among Adolescents."Substance use & misuse. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 22 Dec. 2010. Web. 21 Apr. 2017.
Haines-Saah, Rebecca J., Joy L. Johnson, Robin Repta, Aleck Ostry, Mary Lynn Young, Jeannie Shoveller, Richard Sawatzky, Lorraine Greaves, and Pamela A. Ratner. "The privileged normalization of marijuana use – an analysis of Canadian newspaper reporting, 1997–2007." Critical Public Health. Taylor & Francis, 24 Mar. 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2017.
Markert, John. Hooked in film: substance abuse on the big screen. Lanham: Scarecrow Press, 2013. Print.
kashamaar
Media Ethics (Winter 2017, section 18)
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2019 – KIA SOLUTO
On April 10, 2019 May 4, 2019
1 Comment on 2019 – KIA SOLUTO
The Korean brand has just introduced in the Philippines the KIA Soluto, a small sedan intended for Asian markets, originally introduced in the Chinese market in 2017, where it is known as Hyundai Pegas.It is a sedan of 4,300 mm in length, with an inter-axle distance of 2,570 mm, which means a large habitability, in addition to a trunk with a capacity of 475 liters.The new Kia Soluto has a lot of design in common with the models that the Korean brand sells in other parts of the world, besides the front tiger nose which is used in most of the models of the Korean brand.However, in the Philippines it is the access model of the KIA, where it has a starting price that starts from the equivalent of 43,600 reais at the current exchange rate.As for the interior, the KIA Soluto comes with a low cost design, with a simple panel and a very austere equipment. The infotainment system with a 7.0-inch touch screen, which includes compatibility with the Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems, stands out in the central console.In addition, it has ABS brakes with EBD breathable car cover, front airbags, rear view camera, rear parking sensors, multifunction steering wheel, air conditioning and four electric windows, with the controls mounted on the center console.The KIA Soluto is uniquely equipped with a 1.4i CVVT petrol engine that develops 95 hp of power and a maximum torque of 132 Nm in combination with a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission.For the time being the manufacturer has not expressed its intentions to take this model to other regions of the globe, although perhaps the markets of Latin America are within the company’s plans.
2019 – KIA SORENTO US VERSION
KIA Motors is presenting at the Los Angeles Show the 2019 line of the Sorento. The average crossover arrives with a number of improvements in the look and finish, plus new infotainment technologies and driver assistance. In the US market, the SUV will be offered in five trim versions, with two engine options.The crossover presents slight visual changes. The main innovations are focused on the front of the body, with a more detailed grid, headlamps with LED lighting in the highest versions, redesigned fog lights with LEDs in the top-of-the-line version and a more striking format. There are also new 17- to 19-inch alloy wheels, rear lights with new internal LED design, redesigned bumper and redesigned exhaust tips.Inside, the Sorento now features changes in the center console, the air vents and the steering wheel, now four-spoke. The model offers items such as Nappa leather seats, panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, multimedia system with 7.0-inch screen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, wireless charging for smartphones, among others.It also has a new Harman Kardon sound system with 10 speakers, 11-channel amplifier and 630 watts of power. Also among the equipment, the Sorento now offers as standard the frontal collision warning system, blind spot warning, adaptive cruise control, rear cross traffic warning, 360 degree view cameras, driver attention alert and warning output.The engine used by the Sorento is a 2.4-liter GDI block, which produces up to 187 horsepower, arising coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. There is also the 3.3 V6 GDI block, up to 294 hp, with an eight-speed automatic transmission and AWD traction option.
2019 – KIA SPORTAGE US VERSION
After its passage through the Paris Salon 2018, the refurbished KIA Sportage will be ready to hit the market, where it will begin its trade journey from the fourth quarter of this year. This crossover is one of the most important models for the Korean manufacturer and this mid-life upgrade adds aesthetic, mechanical and equipment improvements that will surely appeal to customers.Outwardly the revamped Sportage can be recognized by its newly redesigned front bumper that now includes larger air intakes, redesigned optical groups and new antinebline headlamps, while retaining the brand’s ‘Tiger Nose’ feature.At the rear the lanterns and the bumper are new, while the exterior renovation is completed with new colors for the bodywork and new designs of alloy wheels, which according to the level of finish, are available in up to 19 inches diameter.
The interior debuts a new steering wheel as well as improvements in upholstery, trim and materials, while the most relevant improvements in the equipment include a new 7.0-inch touch-screen infotainment system and some improvements in the roadside assistance package , such as speed control with limiter, driver fatigue detector, parking assistant with peripheral camera system, etc.The most important mechanical novelty of the upgraded KIA Sportage 2019 is hybridization, as the Korean crossover debuts a mild-hybrid 48 volt system which, thanks to an electric motor-based energy recovery system, has enabled improvements in fuel consumption and emissions.A new 1.6-liter diesel engine will debut with 115 or 136 horsepower. The engines can be combined with a six-speed manual transmission or seven-speed dual clutch automatic.
2019 – KIA TELLURIDE
In an unconventional way that went unnoticed by some of the brand’s followers, KIA introduced its new large SUV. This is the new Telluride KIA, which is now a reality and has been revealed to the American public.During the last months we have been able to follow the development of this new Korean all-terrain. Anticipated by the KIA Telluride Concept, it was still unclear whether the name of the conceptual model would ultimately be retained, but so it will be. KIA’s new 8-seat SUV will be called Telluride and the first time it appeared before the public was at the New York Fashion Week 2018.For this first exposure, the KIA decided that the new Telluride would debut a very special ‘outfit’. Fashion designer Brandon Maxwell was inspired by the state of Texas for the theme in which the KIA Telluride is decorated. The idea is to convey that the car is in the Old West. The bodywork comes out painted in a dark green color that contrasts with the elements in a copper tone. The steppe, stairs to access the roof of the vehicle and the extra protections give you a more adventurous and rude air.The 265/50 R20 off-road tires that surround the wheels, protections in the lower parts of the vehicle and the breathing tube to cross small rivers, make it clear that these are not purely visual modifications. With this setup, the KIA demonstrates the capabilities of the new Telluride away from the asphalt and in the big city.Leaving aside all those elements with which it is decorated especially for that occasion, the fact is that there are no surprises in relation to the photos of prototypes that have emerged recently. If we compare it with the conceptual model, the biggest changes are in the front and rear of the vehicle. It premieres headlights and lanterns, grille, bumper and other components with which it rationalizes its image and adapts to the canons we know for a production vehicle.If we pay special attention to the interior of the KIA Telluride, in addition to natural wood inserts, double-stitched leather upholstery and the choice of colors, the cabin offers a warm, comfortable and above all technological environment. The huge touch screen that crowns the center console and instrumentation frame helps create that feel.Another fact that has been confirmed by the KIA is that the new Telluride will be propelled by a V6 engine. What is certain is that the brand did not give more details about the mechanical part, although we can expect it to be a 3.3-liter TwinTurbo V6 engine with about 370 hp, which had been reporting different information. The engine will be coupled to an automatic transmission.The production of the new KIA Telluride will be in the plant that the brand has in the state of Georgia, USA. Soon KIA will release the remainder of the missing information from its new SUV which, remembering, will in principle be sold only in North America.
2018 – KIA K5
The KIA K5 facelift has just been introduced in South Korea. This is the Korean version of the model known here as KIA Optima, so the new K5 advances the news that this model will be available in other markets. The new KIA K5 has a lot of news both aesthetic and technical, however, at first glance is not very different from its predecessor. As with any commercial mid-life upgrade, the K5 has undergone some touch-ups in a number of small areas, but its technical base and the vast majority of its body panels remain the same.The changes mainly affect the front and rear, where new bumpers, optics and inserts come in. As in the case of the front grille, which, despite still having the same profile, loses its usual shape with trapezoidal motifs in favor of more classic vertical blades. The headlights are a similar case, at first glance they are identical, but the interior elements have changed in shape and distribution.The front bumper has been well modified, the lower central opening is larger in size and features a trapeze shape, with two very steep side pillars. Next to them arises a large air intake with large auxiliary headlights, now of straight forms instead of circular ones. As we can see in the detail images below. In the rear the bumper has also been modified, but only slightly, since the part that presents more news is the lower, now revealing an aggressive diffuser with visible vertical blades and a chrome exhaust.Inside there are not so many changes, but the new K5 has a redesigned steering wheel and in the catalog we find new color options for upholstery and coverings. In the same way, the equipment was expanded and the infotainment system was improved.This presentation brings forward the new KIA Optima, which should have the same aesthetic and equipment improvements as the Korean K5. Its release will be sometime in 2018, so it will certainly be featured in any of the upcoming major European or US salons.
2018 – KIA LIGHT TACTICAL VEHICLE
KIA is one of the largest Korean-origin automakers operating globally, along with Hyundai, where together they form a strong auto group. In its current product line we can find urban, utility, compact, sedans and SUVs, including electric vehicles, but what not everyone knows is that it also manufactures military vehicles, such as the KIA Light Tactical Vehicle.The vehicle that is currently produced, which closely resembles the AM General NXT 360 from the US Army, is actually the third generation of the model that is manufactured for military applications. It is built on a modular platform that allows a wide variety of configurations in two wheelbase lengths, as well as a load capacity of up to seven tonnes.In any of its configurations, the KIA LTV is driven by a turbodiesel engine that sends 225 horsepower and 500 Nm of torque to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. It has the capacity to climb up to 60% and cross rivers with a hawk depth of 76 cm in the specifications of the KLTV141 armored vehicle.The functions of the KIA Light Tactical Vehicle are similar to those of a Humvee, especially in the transportation of troops and equipment. There are also other manufacturers taking their first steps in the military industry, such as Iveco with its Light Multirole Vehicle (LMV), Spanish company UROVESA with its VAMTAC, Venezuelan Tiuna and GAZ Tigr in Russia, among others. Including Lamborghini, which before producing the current Urus already had an all-terrain with military functions, the LM002, besides Toyota with its Mega Cruiser.
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Pamela Evohn (Worrell) King »
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James William Morrow, Jr.
Published December 4, 2018
JAMES WILLIAM MORROW, JR., age 94, of Clinton (Hanover Twp.) died peacefully on Monday afternoon, December 3, 2018 in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his family.
Born October 27, 1924, in Coraopolis, the son of the late James W. Sr. and Olive (Dailey) Morrow. He attended the Clinton Wesleyan Church.
Early in his life he worked in the coal mines of West Virginia and then for many years at Robert L. Lutz Garbage Company in the North Hills. After retiring, he worked at the J.M.S. Machine Company in Burgettstown.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Leona (Harvey) Morrow, on May 14, 2001, and his second wife, Mary P. (Work) Morrow on March 7, 2018; two sons, James Morrow and William A. Morrow; a brother, Don Morrow; and two sisters, Edith Hughes and Nancy Hughes.
Surviving are his children and their spouses, Robert and Debi Morrow of Washington, Randy Morrow of Clinton, Kathy and her late husband, Jack Murin of Aliquippa, Arlene and John Luich of Cabot, Nancy and Ed Carr-Foster of Clinton, and Kandi Connors of Clinton; a daughter-in-law, Karen Morrow of Burgettstown; a stepson, Alvin E. Work Jr. and Mary Jean Clarke of South Carolina; a step-daughter, Janet Jean and Robert Cubbage of Texas; a brother, Frank Morrow of Natrona Heights; and sisters, Adamae Murin of Clinton and Mary Lou Desmond of Georgia. Also surviving are twelve grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren.
Friends will be received in the MOODY FUNERAL HOME, Route 30, Clinton, on Thursday, December 6, 2018, from 4 to 8 p.m. where a service will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. with the Reverend Ted Chapman of the Clinton Wesleyan Church officiating. He will be laid to rest in the Hopewell Hebron Cemetery,
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U.S. and Japanese elementary school teachers participate in group activities during We Can bilateral training at the Ryukyu Middle School, Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 24, 2019. The training is in support of Japan’s Ministry of Education’s mandatory English curriculum roll-out for 5th and 6th grade students. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Peter Reft)
Japanese & U.S. Teachers Boost Bilateral Future
by Staff Sgt. Peter Reft
Upon first glance, a first-time observer might think this colorfully-dressed group of fully-grown adults are teaming up for a children’s contest to win prizes and candy, with huge smiles on their faces and laughter filling the ears. The “We Can!” bilateral training program is the result of a partnership between the U.S. and Japanese governments to roll out new English language curriculum for all Japanese students across the country by 2020.
Team Kadena middle school staff shared activity-driven English lessons to Okinawa elementary teachers in support of the Foreign Language Initiative at the Ryukyu Middle School (RMS) May 24, 2019.
Dr. Tracy Rice, regional English Language Coordinator, developed the “We Can!” training program in support of the Department of Defense Educational Activities (DoDEA) role in the bilateral agreement, enabling RMS to host training for local Okinawa teachers.
“The Foreign Language Initiative is a joint effort between the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DoDEA, and the State Department to foster positive relationships between Japan and the U.S. by providing training for local Okinawa teachers,” said Dr. Rice.
The bilateral training program began in 2018 after Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology revised foreign language requirements for elementary students.
“This endeavor began through collaborative meetings between the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DoDEA, and the State Dept. in May of 2018,” said Dr. Rice. “There have been several training sessions to include follow-up network workshops on Saturdays.”
The RMS training sessions provide Japanese teachers with teaching activities designed to fully engage students with English language classes.
“The training is focused on interactive cooperative learning and team building challenges that enhance English language acquisition skills,” said Dr. Rice. “The engaging activities are aligned to the We Can! books and can easily be implemented with students in the classroom.”
Okinawa teachers who participated in the “We Can!” training appreciated the format of the lesson demonstrations.
“This is very productive, Dr. Rice has so many ideas, and I was very impressed and touched with her creativity,” said Yuko Sakurai, Ginowan City Kakazu Elementary School teacher. “I was so impressed after our last session that I couldn’t sleep last night because I was making a numbers card game lesson plan with ice cream flavors, an idea I got from this training.”
Not only are RMS staff engaged with the training program, but U.S. students also participate in the cooperative learning environment.
“The Kadena English for Speakers of Other Languages team students are an integral part of the professional development, and they assist with heading English language activities,” said Dr. Rice. “Many of these students are also bilingual.”
Dr. Rice and DoDEA support for the Foreign Language Initiative aim not only enhance national educational programs, but also to further improve international relations between the U.S. and Japan.
“This is an innovative way to foster relationships between Japan and the U.S. while providing educations opportunities for all students,” said Dr. Rice.
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Posted by Holly Castillo
By: Holly Castillo
Memento:
/m-‘men-to/n, pl, -tos or toes [ME, fr. Latin for remember]
something that serves to warn or remind, a souvenir, token of remembrance, to keep from forgetting
What do you get when you take 2 members from the ex-Elektra recording artists VAST and 2 of their friends? You get Memento, a band with striking chords, a powerful sound and somewhat religious lyrics.
Justin Cotta, the vocalist, guitarist, pianist and lyricist, describes his emotions through his songs, dealing with a variety of subjects, which range from anything from suicide and religion to heartache. Next to Justin is Space: guitars, Steve Clark: drums, and Lats, who plays the bass.
Memento opened for Lennon and cKy on February 18, 2003 at the Culture Room in Ft. Lauderdale, where they turned a whole new crowd onto their combination of hard rock and hair metal. Besides the fact that the singer has a very strong Australian accent and is hard to understand, the antics on stage were a bit odd as well. Justin Cotta got on his knees as if he were praising his bassist, Lats. However, Memento did put together an entertaining show, and the crowd seemed to enjoy them as well, but, like any crowds, they mosh just to mosh. The between-song, inebriated ramblings of the group put a damper on things while most people struggled to figure out what they were talking about.
With influences such as AC/DC and Alice in Chains to Elvis and classical piano, these four men do put their best feet forward when doing a show. Their music definitely sounds better when cranked all the way up (and live), so they get credit for that. But their CD, Beginnings, does them no justice whatsoever. Beginnings, which hit stores February 25th, was produced by Toby Wright (Alice in Chains and Korn) and was mixed by the great Brendan O’Brien (Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Stone Temple Pilots), so it’s bound to be excellent, right? Wrong. The songs tend to drag and lack the fast-paced beats of music these days.
Memento as a whole isn’t a horrific band per se, yet they do seem to not be trying as hard as other struggling artists today. They appear to have been handed a recording contract on a silver platter since two of the members were already signed to VAST. If you like artists that don’t give a damn about how their music sounds or the energy put into it, or bands who are just in it for the money, then Memento is for you.
entertainmentmementomusic
0 0 103 01 March, 2003 Entertainment, Music March 1, 2003
View all articles by Holly Castillo
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Vespa 946
Today the Vespa 946 re-affirms its legend.
BACK FROM THE FUTURE. Unique as the year in which it was born, 2013. The essentiality of the design endows even the most impersonal function with style and individuality. The Vespa 946 is a pure expression of a style synonymous, in the minds of millions of travellers and devotees, with freedom of movement and expression. A far-sighted projection of sustainable mobility, whose form and substance crystallise the fundamental aesthetic and dynamic values of the history of the two-wheeler.
MADE FOR DISTINCTION. The Vespa 946 is made to man’s measure. And to the measure of the universe. Low consumption and reduced emissions. Fully digital instrumentation. A throbbing technological heart, perfect for long distances and city travel. Superior construction quality to make it a winner on every road, the means to reach every destination.
ECO-SUSTAINABLE BY VOCATION. The way to guard against imitations is to look beyond the immediate future. The Vespa 946 has ABS braking and ASR traction control. The 4-stroke 125 cc monocylinder engine is a response to requirements that may still be nascent. And it guarantees the best performance in its category. Electronic injection, three-valve distribution, reduced friction and improved fluid dynamics sharply reduce consumptionand emissions, establishing a new benchmark over and beyond current regulations.
CONCEIVED THROUGH PASSION. Real luxury is realising a more ambitious and fascinating dream every day. Today the Vespa 946 re-affirms its legend. It enhances the classical values of tradition: the shape of the handlebar, the proportions of the fairing, the plunging curves of the saddle all come from the earliest drawings. Every detail reflects a choice and a reference to Italian-style production. A craftsman’s approach in a futuristic dimension.
Attention to detail has been an integral part of the project right from the start. But when the Vespa 946 moves along the production line, then it really becomes a unique item. From the first stitching on the leather handle grips to the final polish, everything is done by hand, with the same care as a couturier for his creations. From the press shop to the tumble finishing, the attention and passion is that of an artist’s atelier. Because a craftsman is an artist.
Inspiration ID: #00617 Uploaded by: NationalTraveller.com Views: 7443 Source: http://vespa.com/en/946
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Resume Reading — Ingenious: Richard Saykally
Ingenious: Richard Saykally
The chemist tells us why water is wet.
1. Why is water wet? 0:38
2. What does a water cluster look like? 1:17
3. Is another form of liquid water possible? 1:08
4. Why does water lose density as it turns into ice? 1:25
5. Why are there 17 different kinds of ice? 1:46
6. How is the surface of water different from bulk water? 1:34
7. Why is there intense debate about what ions do at the surface of water? 2:02
8. Why is the rate of water evaporation so hard to measure? 3:41
9. What do you think of California’s current drought? 6:06
10. What is a water dimer and why is it important in understanding our atmosphere? 2:42
11. Is it just a coincidence that water is essential for life on Earth? 0:54
12. What has water taught us about the hydrogen bond? 1:59
13. Why did you invent a new laser to study water? 0:59
14. What is the “universal water force field?” 1:01
15. What predictions could you make with the universal model of water? 1:58
16. What is it about water that makes it ripe for pseudoscientific speculation? 2:59
17. Who inspires you? 1:56
18. What would you be if you weren’t a scientist? 2:01
Matter Chemistry
Brian Gallagher By Brian Gallagher Produced by Yvonne Bang June 11, 2015
Donning his regular work attire—jeans and a Hawaiian shirt—Richard Saykally tells me in four words the answer to a question I…By Brian Gallagher
Donning his regular work attire—jeans and a Hawaiian shirt—Richard Saykally tells me in four words the answer to a question I had often pondered in the shower: Why is water wet?
“Strong tetrahedral hydrogen bonding,” he said. The reply didn’t provide the instant illumination I was hoping for, but then, water is not simple. Saykally’s research group at the University of California, Berkeley (where he is a professor of chemistry) studies water with an exotic-sounding list of apparatuses, including cavity ringdown spectroscopes, terahertz lasers, and supersonic beams.
His goal is to develop a “universal water force field,” a computer model of water that could predict the behavior of water in any circumstance, down to the atomic scale. I was properly impressed by this ambition, but not particularly intimidated: Saykally made sure of that by offering more than once to play me a ditty on his harmonica.
The video plays at the top of the screen.
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Why is water wet?
When my daughters were very little we had an interesting revelation on that subject. I was actually giving both of my daughters a bath when they were very young and my youngest daughter said, “Daddy? Why is water wet?” And the proper answer is: strong tetrahedral hydrogen bonding, which they then related to their teachers for years afterward whenever the subject of water came, they’d say, “Strong tetrahedral hydrogen bonding!” But that’s the correct answer. That’s what makes water wet.
What does a water cluster look like?
A water cluster is an arrangement of two or more water molecules. So they adopt various structures. Two water molecules doesn’t really have much of a shape; three water molecules makes a three-membered ring; four makes a squarish-looking ring; five makes a pentagon; and when you get to six water molecules, the morphology changes from being cyclic planar to being a three-dimensional cage; and thereafter seven, eight, nine and so on look like three-dimensional cages. The water eight—the eight-fold cluster—looks like a distorted cube, and then all larger clusters build on that cubic shape. These are the most stable forms that you would then find at very close to the absolute zero of temperature.
Is another form of liquid water possible?
This is currently the most hotly debated subject about water. It has been postulated for quite some time that in the deeply supercool region of water—that is, when water is cooled below its freezing point—that there may exist two different types of liquid. Ordinary liquid water we would call the low-density form and it’s proposed that there is a high-density form of water and that there’s a phase transition between these two types in the super cold region. And this debate has come up a number of times but right now it’s being ferociously debated. Actually, one of my colleagues in this department—a very famous theoretical chemist—and his former student are at the forefront of this, and it has not been resolved yet.
Why does water lose density as it turns into ice?
When water freezes into ordinary ice, which is the kind that makes the ice cubes that float in our highballs, this happens at what we would call zero degrees centigrade, at atmospheric pressure. When water freezes into ice it creates a very open structure. That form of ice comprises arrays of six membered rings that are stacked on top of one another to make channels and most of that ice is actually empty space. When you melt the ice to make liquid water, you break about 10 percent of the hydrogen bonds in the ice and it becomes much more disordered and compact, so the liquid being more disordered is denser than the ice. When the ice freezes, it makes this very open network and the density drops by an order of 10 percent. But that’s only true for the familiar form of ice that we call ice 1h, for hexagonal. There are actually 16 crystalline forms of ice. All the other forms are actually denser than liquid water. Only one of the 16 forms is actually less than.
Why are there 17 different kinds of ice?
Only the familiar form of ice that we call ice one is less dense than the liquid. All the other forms are denser than the liquid and they form at high pressures. When you squeeze the lattice of ice 1h, you force it into more compact arrangements. Like I said, the crystal structure of ice 1h has a great deal of empty space in it, so when you squeeze on it by applying high pressures, you force it into more compact structures; well you fill in that empty space more. And the harder you squeeze, you form more and more compact and dense structures until you reach what we call a close-packed limit, which hasn’t really been reached yet. So as technology evolves to apply higher and higher pressures, you can collapse ice to denser and denser forms. So I don’t think we’re done yet. There are 16 crystalline forms and as technology evolves, we’ll probably be able to generate another six or eight. In addition to the 16 crystalline forms of ice, there are also amorphous or glassy forms of ice that are by definition disordered, and there are a whole family of those. It used to be believed that there were two types of amorphous ice, but now we realize there are actually many, of varying density.
How is the surface of water different from bulk water?
At the surface of water there’s a different hydrogen-bonding arrangement. In the bulk water, every water molecule makes approximately four hydrogen bonds with other water molecules at tetrahedral angles; not perfect, as in the case of ice 1h. So it’s a disordered tetrahedral network. But at the surface when water molecules terminate the bulk, there are necessarily fewer hydrogen bonds. So the average number of hydrogen bonds for water molecules on the surface is perhaps two and a half or something like that. So there are dangling O-H (oxygen-hydrogen) bonds at the surface of water and this makes the surface layer behave differently than the bulk. So you have the outermost layer of liquid density, as we would call it, defining the surface and then you become more ordered as you move from that outermost layer of liquid density into the true bulk. So the surface layer has fewer hydrogen bonds; it’s more mobile and has different bonding properties.
Why is there intense debate about what ions do at the surface of water?
That has been one of the most controversial subjects involving water for decades because the behavior of ions at the surface of water has profound implications in biology and other areas of science; so it’s an important subject in a practical sense. The behavior of ions in water has classically been described through what we would call the dielectric continuum theory and this is in most of the textbooks on water until recently and this says that there should be no ions at the surface of water. But, we need to be a little more specific; let’s call it the air-water interface or the interface of water with the hydrophobic domains of proteins. In those cases there should be no ions at all at those interfaces because of a phenomenon called image-charge repulsion that emerges in this dielectric continuum theory.
But that theory is outdated and over the years experiments have accumulated that clearly demonstrated that some ions prefer to be at the surface rather than in the bulk. My group has established a number of different ions as cases where that is obeyed. Those ions prefer the surface and we’ve numerically verified the energies and forces with which they are drawn to the surface. So this is in violation of the textbook description of ions at the surface of water.
Why is the rate of water evaporation so hard to measure?
It has been very hard to measure over the years because it’s a surface phenomenon, very subject to contamination problems; and perhaps most importantly, evaporation of water is a very rare event. If you’re a water molecule in a glass of water, or even at the surface of water in a glass of water, the probability of you evaporating is very low. It’s a very rare event when a water molecule leaves the surface and therefore it’s extremely difficult to model that phenomenon by computer simulations. And the experiments are very problematic because contamination of the surface is a very big problem.
And the other problem is that most of the experiments that have addressed that observe simultaneous evaporation and condensation because in those experiments, there’s a layer of water vapor and contact with the liquid water, and so you get condensation of the vapor to the liquid at the same time you’re having the liquid evaporate into the gas phase and it’s very difficult to separate those two processes. So what my group did, to try to separate those processes, is use liquid microjet technology where we would make a microjet of water, that was perhaps 10 microns in diameter, in a vacuum system and then we could arrange the conditions to look at evaporation without having any condensation obscure our results.
So those are our recent experiments and our results agree quite well with theoretical calculations that have been done by David Chandler’s group, where they were able to transcend this limitation on being able to simulate very rare events because of this beautiful rare event methodology that the Chandler group has developed called transition path sampling. In that methodology, they’re able to directly observe the details of how a water molecule evaporates even though it’s a very rare event and they show in their very recent paper that a water molecule evaporates from the surface when it collides with another liquid molecule in such a way [as to] to give it enough kinetic energy to escape the surface tension, let’s call it, of the surface, and it does so where the surface has a capillary wave, as we call it. There will be an anomalously large fluctuation in the surface topology. So it’s like a wave breaks away from the liquid and when that wave breaks away, it strains the hydrogen bonds in surface water molecule and weakens it enough that the molecule can escape.
What do you think of California’s current drought?
Well, I think this needs to be taken very seriously. I’ve actually spent quite a bit of time in the last month thinking about this and educating myself on the drought situation and how some of the technology that’s being proposed to mitigate it can be implemented. So first of all there’s a lot of misinformation floating around. We hear that this is the worst drought in the history of California. We have to qualify that. In the written history since the government of California has been formed, this is probably true. But in the natural history of California, we know there have been far, far worst droughts. Let’s see, it was how many years ago … Centuries ago, there’s evidence from tree rings that have been recently studied by fossil experts that show that there have actually been 150-year droughts not all that far back in California’s natural history—let’s say 500 years or something like that ago. I forgot the exact dates. But there has been a record of far worse droughts than what we’re experiencing now. It is fully possible that this could turn into a 50-year drought or 100-year drought, which would be devastating, unless we have reliable sources of water that don’t rely on precipitation.
So desalinization seems to be the wisest course of action for coastal areas like California, where we have an ocean very nearby. If we can figure out how to cheaply desalinate ocean water and do it in a manner that doesn’t add a lot of carbon dioxide to our atmosphere, this would be a very big step forward for the long-term wellbeing of California. And I actually just came from spending 10 days in San Diego where the largest desalinization project in the western hemisphere is nearing completion at Carlsbad, north of San Diego. There’s a $1 billion desalinization plant that’s scheduled to come into operation in a couple of months and I’ve gotten very interested in the physics and chemistry of these desalinization plants. And right now, desalinization is very expensive and very energy demanding and it won’t really be an environmentally acceptable way to produce fresh water unless we can make it much, much more efficient and less polluting.
Some colleagues of mine and I put together a short proposal during my time in San Diego with the title of, “Towards Green, Efficient Desalinization.” The technology that people are thinking about right now is using what we call carbon nanotubes as a way to filter the salt out of seawater. It’s possible that that can be done with much less energy input because the resistance to pushing water through these tubes may be much lower than with current technology, but this must be established through fundamental laboratory science that I’m proposing to do and other people are proposing to do. We need to study the behavior of ions at the interface of water, our previous subject, with these carbon membranes, and it’s possible that the nature of that interface is such that with proper geometry, water can flow through tubes of pure carbon with very low resistance so that you could use much lower pressures to force the seawater through the desalinating membranes. That’s a very exciting prospect. And then that would greatly mitigate the energy consumption.
And then there are ways to think about how to sequester the carbon dioxide produced by, let’s say, combusting natural gas as a means of producing electricity, to sequester the carbon dioxide produced in that combustion in deep aquifers of very salty water that’s the product of desalinization. You get very concentrated salt brines that cause a problem in disposal. So if one could actually use those brines to store the carbon dioxide that would be a big advance too. People are thinking about all those directions; and at the same time, hoping California isn’t embarking on 100-year drought!
What is a water dimer and why is it important in understanding our atmosphere?
A water dimer is a cluster of two water molecules where one water molecule donates a hydrogen bond to the other. It’s very important in a theoretical sense because it is the prototype of a hydrogen bond. In a practical sense, there has been a lot of discussion about the potential role of this water dimer in the atmosphere. There are some important reactions in the atmosphere—for example, the formation of acid rain—that would proceed much faster if there were indeed water dimers present in the atmosphere. For example, the reaction of sulfur trioxide SO3 with a water molecule to make sulphuric acid, and subsequently acid rain, would require the collision of three gaseous molecules. But if instead, an SO3 molecule could collide with a water dimer, it would greatly speed up the reactions and the subsequent formation of acid rain.
And also, from the point of view of absorption of sunlight, the water dimer absorbs in a different part of the electromagnetic spectrum than just a water monomer, a single water molecule, and could potentially play an important role in global warming. So there’s been a lot of interest in ascertaining: Are there appreciable concentrations of water dimers in the atmosphere, and if so where would they be most probably located? The answer seems to be that water dimers can form effectively if the relative humidity is high and that happens in the equator regions. So it seems that as wet air from the tropics around the equator rises, water dimers can form in the atmosphere quite effectively and whether then they can be transported to other regions of the atmosphere is a current question.
Is it just a coincidence that water is essential for life on Earth?
No, it’s something intrinsic about water in that the strong tetrahedral hydrogen bond network that water makes is a very flexible environment for chemical processes to happen. It has the right properties to dissolve many ions; it has the right properties to cause what we call hydrophobic materials to fold up in special ways; and it would be hard to design a liquid that is that versatile that can adopt so many different configurations in the liquid and so on. It’s really quite special.
What has water taught us about the hydrogen bond?
The nature of the hydrogen bond itself has been vigorously debated for decades. It was originally thought that the hydrogen bond was a manifestation of what we call the dipole moment of water molecules—that there’s a positive end and a negative end to each water molecule and the hydrogen bond occurs when those two dipoles interact in an attractive fashion. But as sophistication of both experiment and theory evolved, it led to a more complex description based on quantum theory where we know now that indeed the major source of the attraction between two water molecules that comprises its hydrogen bond is this dipole-dipole interaction as it’s called, but there are others. There’s also something called induction where this dipole of one water molecule distorts the electron cloud of the other one and that adds some attraction to it. There’s also something called dispersion, which is a strictly quantum mechanical effect where the electron clouds of the two molecules interact in an attractive fashion. And then the fourth component is repulsion—that as you bring any two objects, any two molecules or atoms, close enough together, their electron clouds start to overlap and it becomes very repulsive, and that limits how close you can bring two water molecules together. So now we understand that the hydrogen bond is really a sum of those four different interactions that we call electrostatics, induction, dispersion, and repulsion.
Why did you invent a new laser to study water?
Two water molecules will vibrate relative to one another by the stretching motion or the bending motion of that hydrogen bond and those frequencies occur in the far infrared region of the spectrum—or in the terahertz region, as it’s called. It’s the same region of the spectrum. So the most direct probe of a hydrogen bond is to actually look at the stretching and bending vibrations of that hydrogen bond itself and that happens in the far infrared or terahertz region of the spectrum. So we developed technology based on far infrared lasers to be able to look at, to be able to measure those motions in water molecules and that’s what led to our many studies of water clusters.
What is the “universal water force field?”
This is what I was telling you is the ultimate object of our research in studying water clusters, both theoretically from our experiments and with quantum chemistry; [it’s] to produce the perfect model for water. We want to combine all the information available from studies of water clusters with our terahertz laser spectroscopy, from quantum chemical calculations, and from condensed phase measurements—we want to put all that information together and make a computer model of water that will answer any question you ask. Any question that is in principle answerable could then be answered by a computer calculation if you had the perfect water model. And that perfect water model is what we have been calling the universal first principles model of water.
What predictions could you make with the universal model of water?
If we had the perfect water model and we had a great deal of computer time, we could do simulations that would test this idea of, “are there two kinds of liquid water connected by a first-order phase transition.” That sort of thing could be done. We could do computer calculations of the surface of water and accurately determine what the surface looks like and how that surface changes as we bring the surface of water into contact with the hydrophobic domain of a protein, for example. Any question at all that you would have about water, that is in principle answerable, could be addressed by a computer calculation using the perfect water model.
The reason we can’t do that now is because, like I said, there are 100 or more models—computer models for water—and they all do some things well. None of them do everything well and in particular these models were developed for room temperature water or in a narrow temperature range, so when you take these computer models for water developed at room temperature and you apply them in the supercool region to the study of, “are there two kinds of liquids in the supercool region,” the first thing that comes to mind is [that] this water model is not capable of giving reliable results in that very low temperature range. It wasn’t produced with that in mind. So if we had a universal first principles model it would work at all temperatures, all pressures, etcetera.
What is it about water that makes it ripe for pseudoscientific speculation?
Well, since we live on a water planet and water is very much a part of every human being’s daily life, it has been recognized from early on that water is essential and it has these unusual properties. So if you go back to the Greeks, the Greek formulation of chemistry was that there were four elements: earth, air, fire, and water, right? And in fact, there were several competing philosophies. It’s only recently in science where we actually are making careful measurements of things that we claim to be correct. Modern science works on the basis of, you make a prediction from your theory or your laws of chemistry and physics and you test it against experiment. That wasn’t the case and so all of these pseudosciences have evolved based on this early idea of water being so essential an element. So homeopathy evolved out of that sort of thinking.
Even in the modern context, one of the interesting debates is, is there anything unique about so-called structured water? There are companies that sell bottled, structured water and they make claims that the structured water somehow penetrates your cell walls more effectively and has all kinds of health benefits and all this. There’s no scientific basis to that at all. You can’t make structured water. Doesn’t make any sense because the hydrogen bond in water lives for a few picoseconds—10-12 seconds—and these hydrogen bond structures of water are rearranging very rapidly so you don’t have water clusters existing as isolated entities in water despite a lot of these claims. But still you can go to the store and find bottled water that’s supposed to have these magic structural properties and so on.
Well, my own personal hero in science has been Charles Townes. Charles Townes passed away recently and was a very famous physicist here at U.C. Berkeley. Charles Townes was a co-inventor of the laser who got the Nobel Prize in 1950 … I forgot the dates but he got the Nobel Prize for inventing the laser. He discovered the first molecules in space and most recently, in collaboration with his post-doc Reinhard Genzel established the first characterization of a black hole—a detailed characterization of the black hole that exists in the center of our galaxy—he’s just a fantastic scientist. And one of the most exciting things for me to come to Berkeley, which I did in 1979, was to be able to interact with Charles Townes, who had been a hero of mine since I went to graduate school. One of the first things that happened to me when I joined the research group of (Robert) Claude Woods at the University of Wisconsin in graduate school is [that] he handed me the book from Charles Townes called, Microwave Spectroscopy, and he says, “Read this, this is the Bible.” And so Charles Townes has always been a great hero of mine and I think I have great choice in heroes.
What would you be if you weren’t a scientist?
If I weren’t a scientist? Well, the story is, I grew up in the very north of Wisconsin in a town of like 100 people; and if you grow up in Wisconsin, you are necessarily a great fan of the Green Bay Packers football team. So in my early days, I aspired to become a Green Bay Packer football player and I was torn between number 66, Ray Nitschke, who is the middle linebacker and considered the toughest linebacker in football; or being number 31, Jim Taylor, famous fullback for the Green Bay Packers. I wanted to be a Green Bay Packer but the sad news is, God did not cooperate very well in that. As I was in my high school sort of era, I wanted to become a rock star and played in rock bands all my life. So if I weren’t a scientist, hmmm … Oh, the other thing that happened when I was an undergrad, I, through luck of the draw, became a chemistry major and really liked introductory, or freshman chemistry, but then came organic chemistry and after a year and a half of organic chemistry, I became an English major. But I worked my way back to chemistry. So you know maybe … I love to write. I write a little poetry and I write stories and stuff just for fun. I might be a writer. Or maybe a rock star. But I can’t sing.
Brian Gallagher is the assistant research editor at Nautilus.
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Biology Animals
Parasites Are Us
How biological invaders challenge our idea of self and other.
Robert V. Levine By Robert V. Levine Illustrations by Jason Holley April 21, 2016
Jerry Coyne is an evolutionary biologist at the University of Chicago. His research on population and evolutionary genetics has been…By Robert V. Levine
Jerry Coyne is an evolutionary biologist at the University of Chicago. His research on population and evolutionary genetics has been widely published in professional and trade journals and his 2009 book, Why Evolution Is True, established him as a leading force in the study of evolution. Jerry is also an internationally famous defender of evolution against proponents of creationism and intelligent design. He is a highly respected scientist.
This, however, is a more personal story about Coyne. It goes back to 1973, when he was a mere 24-year-old graduate student at Harvard. As he moved through the program, Coyne was becoming well versed in the intellectual tools of his trade—genetics, evolutionary logic, research methods, and the like. But when it came to real-life contact with nature, his experience was pretty much “limited to unexciting fruit flies crawling feebly around food-filled glass tubes.”1 He was even more frustrated working at Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology. This was the same museum that was founded by the great Swiss naturalist Louis Agassiz, under the guiding philosophy to “study nature, not books.” But, aside from fruit flies in a sterile lab, the only nature Coyne was seeing were stuffed mammals in a display case on his way to the Pepsi machine. When given the opportunity to take a summer field course in tropical ecology in Costa Rica, Coyne didn’t hesitate. He never imagined how close to nature he would get.
Unwelcome Guest: Botflies attach their eggs to mosquitoes’ wings. Then, when the mosquito bites a mammal, the egg hatches, and burrows inside that mammal. It will live there, eating the host’s tissue, until it’s big enough to survive on its own.Stephen J. Krasemann / Science Source
Toward the end of his stay in Costa Rica, Coyne was walking through the forest when he heard a mosquito getting closer and closer, and finally, it bit him on the head. “Not too far from the crown and I scratched it,” he recalled.2 But, unlike a usual mosquito bite, this one didn’t want to go away. When, after a few days, the bump had grown to the size of a pea, Coyne consulted with a fellow student who was an entomologist. His friend got up on a bunk bed. “She looked at my head and pulled the hairs back, and she said, ‘Oh my God, there is something moving in there,’ ” Coyne said. She spotted what appeared to be a tiny hose protruding from the mosquito bite. Then she realized the hose was wiggling. It was a breathing tube, like a little straw. That meant there was something live on the other side of the tube. The two biologists knew right away it had to be a maggot.
The maggot turned out to be a botfly, a hairy insect that lives in tropical regions in Central and South America. It has a biologically ingenious and, most humans would think, rather disgusting strategy for ensuring the survival of its young. The process works something like this: After a pregnant female lays her eggs, she flies in the air and grabs on to a mosquito. Then, in midflight, she glues her eggs to the mosquito’s wings. The mother leaves. The mosquito, who probably has no idea anything has happened, continues doing what it always does, which is to fly around until it finds a warm mammal and sucks its blood. When the mosquito finds its prey, the mammal’s heat triggers the eggs to hatch. One of the newly hatched larva—a tiny maggot—burrows its way inside the mammal through the mosquito bite, sets up a little home, and sticks its breathing tube out the opening. Botflies feed on the mammal’s tissue until, after about six weeks, they’ve grown big enough to survive on their own, and then they exit through the hole in their host’s skin. Coyne happened to be the host this time around.
The maggot raises difficult questions about the division between self and non-self.
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He soon learned removing the botfly wouldn’t be easy. The best solution would have been to cut it out with a sterile scalpel. But finding a good surgeon was a problem in a remote tropical forest. “There was a woman in the course who had botflies in her butt,” Coyne recalled to me. She found someone to surgically remove them, but it wasn’t a pretty scene. “This guy took her in a back room and started cutting them out with a Swiss army knife. I remember we could all hear her screaming when this was happening. I found myself thinking, ‘Do I really want to go through this?’ ”3
He was tempted to try yanking the maggot out by pulling on its protruding spiracle. But Coyne knew that was probably the worst thing he could do. “Like all marvels of evolution, the botfly maggot has devices to keep you from pulling it out because it makes its living in your body,” he explained. “So it has a pair of hooks on the anal end, the other end, that are dug into your flesh so if you try to pull the thing out it just digs in and you’ll break it in two. That’s the thing you want to avoid because it can cause a serious infection.”4
The most common treatment where Coyne was living was known as the “meat cure.” He was told to strap a slab of meat—a steak, maybe—to his head. This cuts off the maggot’s air supply, and the maggot, thinking the steak is part of Coyne’s flesh, burrows into it searching for air. Once the maggot gets far enough, he would just have to pull off the steak with the worm in it. It made sense, but Coyne respectfully declined. “The idea of toiling in the tropical heat every day with a T-bone strapped to my head was not something that I wanted to do.”
Meanwhile, the symptoms were getting worse. “It’s a terrible itch and from time to time it would like move or twitch and you would feel this sort of sharp pain in your skull or you could feel it grinding up against it,” Coyne recalled. “And when I went swimming or took a shower, it would sort of freak out because its airhole would be cut off, then it would really go nuts. You know, make a lot of pain. So I tried to avoid getting my head under water.”
The lump was also getting noticeably bigger, and Coyne was all too aware why. “It was eating my muscles and tissues and scalp,” he said. “It’s turning human flesh into fly flesh.” Like any normal person, Coyne was initially disgusted. “I freaked out completely,” he said. But then the scientist in him took over. This was biology in its elegance. “You know, when you really think about it, it’s amazing how an animal can take human flesh and turn it, using its own genes, into a fly.”5 How astonishing, he thought, that “something was transforming my molecules into their own. The idea that a fly could convert you into a fly. That really amazed me.”6 And the fact that this fly, by eating him, was in a very literal sense becoming him? “That’s the part that made me like it,” he says.7
Coyne returned to Boston a few weeks later and went straight to the Harvard health clinic. “Nobody had ever seen anything like this at Harvard,” Coyne recalled. Within minutes he was surrounded by about 20 doctors. “I had to explain it to them. They were all poking and prodding but none of them seemed to know what to do with this. So I figured it wasn’t worth it to put myself in the hands of people who’d never treated anything like this before and were more likely to screw it up. The botfly wasn’t that painful and I knew it was going to come out on its own after a while,” Coyne told me.8 He decided to just try to enjoy and marvel at what was happening inside him as much as he could.
“This behavior might seem weird to a lay person,” he said, but “I make my living on flies. I work with fruit flies. I’m a geneticist, and here is a fly making its living on me.” Coyne was intrigued to find himself inside a food chain instead of on his usual perch as a consumer at its end. The botfly was fattening up on Coyne, and Coyne was becoming increasingly fond of the botfly. “I was getting more and more curious when it would come out. I didn’t want to kill it.”9
The botfly kept growing. Within a couple of weeks it had become the size of an egg, then a quail egg. Coyne started wearing a baseball cap. One night he was at a Red Sox game at Fenway Park with his friend Sarah Rogerson. “Every once in a while I would rub my head, throughout the whole gestation of this thing, just to check on it. During the game, when I rubbed my head I felt something coming out of the lump. “Jerry kept saying, ‘Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. It’s coming out. I can feel it,’ ” said Sarah. “A foul ball came up where were sitting and it hit one of those wooden seats in Fenway and we narrowly escaped getting hit because we really weren’t paying much attention to the game at all.”10
What if the visitors didn’t simply destroy you but fundamentally changed you?
It didn’t come out right away. Sarah and Coyne went back to his apartment. He kept checking to feel the lump. Sometime later in the evening, he reached up and said, “It’s gone. It’s out.” He told Sarah they had to find it. “I turned on the light and there it was on the pillow and it was horrifying,” Coyne said. It was a fat, white worm, about an inch and a half long. It was bulbous on one end and tapered to a little tail on the other. And it had little black teeth. Forever the evolutionary biologist, Coyne was struck by the painlessness of the exit. “You know, it’s painful when it’s in there but when it comes out it does so very painlessly.” This, he realized, was another evolutionary invention. “If the worm did it painfully, then the horse or the monkey or whoever it is infecting would just slap it and kill it.”
But mostly he wanted to save the fly. He looked at his baby on the pillow and decided to try to rear it into an adult fly. “I’d prepared a jar of sterile sand and I took the worm and dropped it in the sand and put on a top with an airhole,” Coyne said. “But unfortunately it died.”11 Looking back, he said that he was sorry he “didn’t just put it into a jar of alcohol to preserve it.”12 Coyne felt extremely sad afterward. “You know in the temperate zone in Boston the botfly is not going to make it. It just can’t live and so it was doomed from the start. I wanted to see it complete its life cycle but unfortunately it didn’t quite make it. I did the best I could with what I knew.” He felt the loss. “It added richness into my life, it really did. People still get completely horrified when I tell them the story even though to me it’s sort of a nice story.”13 And, he told me, “It was my botfly.”14
Jerry Coyne’s maggot was clearly an intruder—a hit-and-run thief who conned its way into Coyne’s body, stole what it needed, and, when Coyne was no longer useful, went off to live an independent life. It was a parasite. But the maggot also raises difficult questions about the division between self and non-self. The maggot was never invited into Coyne’s head. For those weeks it lived there, however, wasn’t the maggot in many ways literally Coyne? After all, other than the tip of its breathing tube, the maggot existed completely inside his body. Besides, the maggot was flesh-and-blood Coyne in the most literal sense: Almost the entirety of its physical bulk consisted of Coyne’s tissue. And then there was the boundary. To protect itself from infection, Coyne’s body had encapsulated the maggot in a little pocket under the surface of the skin. The pocket became the maggot’s home. The same physical boundary separating Coyne from the “lifeless” air outside himself—his epidermis—was now also separating the maggot from its own outside. So was the pocket more Jerry Coyne or maggot?
The psychologist in me loves watching the quirky ways people draw their personal boundaries. It’s interesting how emotional we get when we believe somebody or something has crossed into our personal territory. But, the fact is, psychological feelings are trivial in cases like this. It didn’t make much difference whether Coyne thought of his botfly as himself or his guest. Their relationship was a matter of life or death—certainly for the botfly and potentially for Coyne. Biologically speaking, all that mattered was that Coyne let the botfly survive.
And biologically is where the line between self and other is most critical. It is so important that we have, over the course of evolution, developed what is arguably the most complex biological system (other than perhaps our nervous system) in any living vertebrate to do the job: our immune system. The immune system is our border patrol. It consists of a roving bag of cells that patrol our body 24/7. Its job is to identify trespassers, assess their danger, and eliminate them if necessary. These watchguards are exquisitely tuned to distinguishing the fingerprints of intruders from their own body’s cells and molecules. One of their specialties is spotting parasites.
Coyne’s immune system had tracked the invader, labeled it as non-self, probably assessed that it was a temporary visitor who posed a limited danger, and decided it would be safer to contain rather than kill or remove it. Antibodies were dispatched to seal the maggot securely in a little pocket. All Coyne did was decide to let biology run its course.
The anatomy of the self sounds simple. There is my body and then there is everything foreign to my body. Not so, it turns out. When it comes to the self-other boundary, the anatomical lines can be as messy and confusing as the ones we draw in our minds. Perhaps even more so.
Consider, for example, what are known as “molecular mimics,” a type of parasite whose very specialty is confusing self and other. “These parasites are really crafty,” says parasitologist Paul Crosbie. “They get inside the host’s body and stick some of the host’s protein on the outside of their own cells.”15 It’s how they survive. Some mimics even raid the macrophages, our combat troops, the very antibody cells whose job is to kill and devour parasites. The parasites then pull off pieces of the macrophages and stick them on their own surface as camouflage. Other parasites have learned to mutate their appearance to match that of the host’s cells. As Crosbie says, these molecular mimics fool the host’s immune system into thinking, “It’s okay, that’s one of my cells.” These sneaks, these miniature secret agents, are the biological world’s masters of disguise.
Don’t go looking for the serenity of Mother Nature in the world of microbiology. This is a savage little jungle full of con men and killers. When Darwin argued that nature was a bad place to prove that God had a benevolent design, he pointed to parasites as primary evidence. “It is derogatory that the Creator of countless systems of worlds should have created each of the myriads of creeping parasites,” he wrote.16
In place of a tongue you see a slimy, multilegged creature, its beady eyes staring straight at you.
If you’re looking for a lesson in con artistry, may I recommend a group of mimics that operate as intracellular invaders? These trespassers don’t just disguise themselves as host cells. They sneak right inside the actual cells and wear the host’s membrane as their disguise. The immune system, which is a network of cells itself, only interacts with the surface of other cells. Antibodies, which are part of the immune system, don’t cross cell membranes. So once an assailant manages to get inside a cell, it’s home free. It enters a safe haven where it can grow, reproduce, and, in some cases, plan its next attack.
Species of Plasmodium, the protozoa that cause malaria, are a good example of these parasites. They enter the host’s body through a mosquito bite and immediately look for a liver cell to get into. Penetrating the cell membrane is a formidable task, but the parasites come well-armed for their invasion. Their heads contain a ring of chambers that operate like the barrel of a revolver. When the parasites find a liver cell, they shoot out a blitz of molecules that opens a hole in the cell membrane. These protozoa can’t swim, but they are equipped with little hooks that they use to grab the sides of the hole and pull themselves through. As they’re doing this, the chambers on their heads shoot off another volley of molecules that clump into a protective shroud around the parasites, giving them cover as they work their way inside. When the parasites are completely in, the host cell’s resilient meshwork conveniently—for the parasites, that is—seals the hole shut. The entire operation takes about 15 seconds. It is a breathtaking military operation.17
Once inside the cell, the parasites start multiplying—eventually producing 40,000 or so offspring, called merozoites. The merozoites then spill out of the liver into the host’s bloodstream to begin doing serious damage. But they face a problem: How can they escape the liver cell without getting killed by antibodies? The solution is a disguise. The parasite pulls off the membrane of the infected cell with its little claws and wraps the membrane around itself. Safely disguised as a wandering liver cell, the parasite can wander through the host’s bloodstream to find new targets. Imagine this. It’s like a B-movie prison break where the escapee mugs a guard and steals his uniform to make his getaway. When the parasites cut loose, however, they steal the guard’s entire skin.
In the bloodstream, the protozoa pick out a healthy red blood cell to attack. Their military forces fire off another 15-second barrage of molecules as the parasite claws its way into its new home. Once safely inside, they strip off the liver cell costume and comfortably construct their lethal malaria factory. They begin drinking up the hemoglobin that fills the cell and, fortified with this precious nutrition, rapidly multiply. The growing horde of parasites eventually consumes the entire contents of the red blood cell, which turns into nothing more than a bundle of parasites surrounded by the original cell membrane. When there is no more hemoglobin to drink, the parasites, wrapped in the host’s membrane, move through the bloodstream until they find another healthy blood cell to invade. The process continues from one red blood cell to another, accelerating its pace as the number of parasites exponentially increases at each new stop. Blood cells eventually become infected en masse, and the host falls ill with malaria.
Our immune system is supposed to be our foremost judge and jury for deciphering what is us and what is outsider. This remarkably complex and sophisticated biological system has been honed over the course of evolution to ensure that we and our species endure. It’s a Darwinian masterpiece, homeland security at its finest. If this biological system is so easily misled, is it any wonder we get confused about personal boundaries on the far more subjective level of social behavior?
One might argue that mimics like the parasites that cause malaria are just a band of thieves. Their only interest in our bodies is to steal what they can use. Molecular mimics are simply more sophisticated at being sneaky. Just because they live inside our skin doesn’t mean they are now us. This argument gets shakier when the parasite lives inside our actual cells but, still, one might say, a bloodsucker is a bloodsucker.
What, however, if the visitors didn’t simply destroy you but fundamentally changed you? Parasites like those that cause malaria are akin to irresponsible hotel guests who could care less about trashing their suite. But there are other intracellular invaders who move in with the full intention of staying for the long run. These visitors act more like home buyers. Like most new buyers, they like to personalize the new place to suit their needs. There are, in fact, plenty of parasites like these who completely renovate their new quarters. For example, the larva of the parasite that causes trichinosis, a type of roundworm infection caused by eating raw or undercooked pork or wild game, move inside the host’s cell and, over the next three weeks, first demolish and then reconstruct almost its entire interior: The trichina tear down existing filaments. They even rebuild the roads in and out by modifying the capillaries that control the blood flow to the cell. And the final takeover: They grow additional nuclei. They actually grow new nuclei.18 The host’s tissue is just a pile of lumber as far as these architects are concerned. The trichina don’t just hide inside the host. They transform the host’s insides.
My own nomination for the weirdest biological crossover is Cymothoa exigua, also known as “the tongue-eating louse.” This frightening parasite destroys an entire organ in its host and then replaces it with itself. It invades the mouth of a fish, devours the fish’s tongue and then squats down and neatly positions itself where the tongue was, attaching itself to the tongue’s exposed muscles. The new tongue—the louse—does everything the old one did. It feeds its host just as in the pre-invasion days, gripping and eating prey like a normal tongue. So, which is the host and which is the guest?19
The louse lives off the fish’s blood and other fluids. It’s—trust me—beyond nauseating to look at. When the fish opens its mouth, in place of a tongue you see a slimy, multilegged creature, its beady eyes staring straight at you, its creepy claws reaching out to grab you or anything else that looks like food. But ugly as it may look, the louse doesn’t appear to cause any significant damage to its host. In fact, it keeps the fish alive.
Imagine (apologies for the image) this hijacked fish were you. I’m sure you’d agree that the tongue you were born with is part of your self. But if a tongue-eating parasite moved in, you’d be acutely aware there was a foreign creature living in your mouth. Why, though, should you consider the parasite-tongue to be any less a part of yourself than your original tongue used to be? Is it because your new tongue once lived outside you, or that it has its own genes? Functionally, after all, it’s the same arrangement as before: Both your old and new tongues take in food that keeps you alive, which in turn keeps your tongue alive. What if you had a disease that required your original tongue to be surgically removed? Once it was outside your body, lying pathetically across the room on a table, would you still consider it part of you? Probably not, or maybe you would say it used to be part of you. What if the doctors now fixed the tongue and sewed it successfully back in place? You would probably say it is part of you again, wouldn’t you? So why is the parasite tongue forever an outsider? Just because it happens to have legs and eyes?
Parasites in Paradise
“The sweller”
What: Thread-like nematode called the filarial worm
Where: Tropical and subtropical areas of Southeast Asia, South America, Africa.
How: Larvae inside mosquitos are transmitted via bite to human flesh, where they hatch in lymphatic and subcutaneous tissues.
Outcome: Elephantiasis, or gross enlargement, of the limbs and genitals. Affects 170 million people worldwide.
“The eye worm”
What: Loa loa, a filarial nematode, or roundworm
Where: Native to Ethiopia, inhabits rainforests in West Africa and equatorial Sudan. Loa loa have also been found in India.
How: Infected flies bite humans, transferring larvae onto our skin, which then travel into our bloodstream and subcutaneous tissue via the bite wound. They have been found in spinal fluid, urine, peripheral blood, and lungs.
Outcome: Most infected people don’t show symptoms. Some may have itchy, non-painful swellings across the body, muscle and joint pain, and fatigue. Occasionally the loa loa enters the eyeball—when this happens, it can cause severe pain, inflammation, and blindness.
“The pee climber”
What: Vandellia cirrhosa, a small, thin, translucent and sharp-toothed catfish.
Where: Exclusively in the upper Amazon River and Orinoco River basins in northern South America. Usually buried in riverbeds, emerging only to feed or mate.
How: Numerous people report instances of Vandellia cirrhosa climbing up their urethras after they urinated in rivers, though no doctors have been able to corroborate this.
Outcome: The experience is painful, but short-lived, as the fish tend to die pretty quickly after entering our bodies.
At what point do self and non-self merge? What if your own cells were built by an outsider and customized to house that outsider—who would be the tenant and who would be the landlord? Who makes that call? Richard Feynman once said about quantum mechanics, “If you think you understand quantum theory, you don’t understand quantum theory” If you’re not, by now, as confused as I am by what biology teaches us about the notion of a self, I offer one more organism: The mitochondrion.
Parasites are predators. It’s a one-sided relationship whereby the parasite wins and the host loses. At first glance, the tongue-eating louse fits this definition. After all, the little critter invades its victim and bites off its tongue. But, soon after, the louse and its host enter into a remarkable collaboration, what biologists refer to as a mutualistic relationship. Unlike Jerry Coyne’s parasite, the louse is there to stay. It had better, because separation would spell starvation for both parties. Mutualism—give-and-take relationships with outside organisms—are equally essential to human survival. Every one of our cells is a microcommunity, each populated by multitudes of hard-working organelles with their own DNA. Without their work, we wouldn’t last a second. Perhaps the best example of these collaborators are the mitochondria.
Mitochondria are the tiny organelles that generate the ATP molecules that provide the cell with energy. The mitochondria are the cell’s power plant. There are lots of them, anywhere from a few hundred in cells that don’t use much energy to thousands in energy hogs like the cells in our liver, muscles, and brain. It is mutualism at its best. Our life depends on them. They in turn are provided with a safe haven and a steady source of nutrients. The two of us exist as one. Or so it seems.
The mitochondria are so ubiquitous and embedded in our cells’ functioning that it’s easy to forget they’re not technically us. Biologically speaking, the mitochondria are independent organisms. Eons before the formation of complex organisms like our own, they foraged through nature as free-living bacteria. Nowadays the mitochondria live a more domesticated life, commingling safely within the comfort of our cells. But they remain, in the last analysis, not really us: The mitochondria are the only organelles in animal cells that carry their own genetic material, their own DNA (mDNA).20 Mitochondria can grow, replicate, divide, and fuse independently of the cell surrounding them. And our own cells are incapable of manufacturing the mitochondria. Sure, they work for our welfare and we work for theirs, but where it counts—the perpetuation of one’s DNA—they are autonomous agents. “They are much less closely related to me than to each other and to the free-living bacteria under the hill,” observes the biologist Lewis Thomas. “There they are, moving about in my cytoplasm, breathing for my own flesh, but strangers.” The mitochondria are, by definition, others.
Sort of, that is. “I was raised in the belief that these (mitochondria) were obscure little engines inside my cells, owned and operated by me or my cellular delegates, private, sub-microscopic bits of my intelligent flesh,” Thomas remarks. But, as he learned more about these organelles, when he understood just how much claim they had to their own individuality, he was forced to alter his view of his own self: “Looked at this way, I could be taken for a very large, motile colony of respiring bacteria, operating a complex system of nuclei, microtubules, and neurons for the pleasure and sustenance of their families.”
Organisms living within organisms are nothing special in the world of microbiology. If you look inside many house plants, for example, you’ll find a little insect called a mealybug carrying out a life of its own. Look inside the mealybug and you’ll find collaborations of bacteria living their own lives. And inside these bacteria are smaller, separate bacteria.21 And there are plenty of other outsiders. The mitochondria, like the mealybugs, mock the notion of a self. Squint into a microscope, and these organelles within organelles look like independent creatures, each going about its own work. Step back, however, and the mitochondria appear to simply be one of many elements that compose the single complex unit we call a cell.
Are the mitochondria us or them? It doesn’t much matter how we answer this question. The fact is there are genetically independent organisms living, seamlessly enmeshed, throughout our bodies. Selves within selves. We’re like those Russian matryoshka dolls that open to reveal a succession of progressively smaller dolls inside. There are the little mitochondria dolls inside the bigger mitochondria dolls inside the biggest doll of all—us. But, hold on, how can we be sure there’s not a bigger doll yet? It’s a tough question.
Is there anything in the mix we’re left to call our own? Lewis Thomas leaves us with a modest plea: “I only hope I can retain title to my nuclei.”22 It will be interesting, as microbiologists dig deeper into our structure, to see whether even this turns out to be true. For starters, what about those trichinosis parasites who enter our cells and grow their own nuclei?
Where does one draw the line between self and other? In biology, the answer boils down to genetics. A self, as Richard Dawkins famously argued in his classic book The Selfish Gene, is nothing more than a set of DNA intent on replicating itself. Different DNA, different self. By this definition, my mitochondria are individuals separate from me. Yet, even to geneticists, my mitochondria’s genetic individuality represents the essence of my own individuality, not simply who I am today but who I descend from. How can my ancestral fingerprint not be me?
But if the mitochondria are me, doesn’t this mean I have two sets of genes? Aren’t I a mosaic of both my own cellular DNA and that of my mitochondria? The fact is that all of the “others”—whether they are parasitic or mutualistic, cheaters or straight-shooters, long-term residents or one-night stands—have a significant characteristic in common: They each carry their own DNA. And this means that, for however long they are inside their host’s body, two genetically distinct organisms are living under the same skin and, to one extent or another, are biologically intertwined. Deep down, at the core of our tissue, we are a gigantic, symbiotic array, a ragtag assortment of organisms. All of these are to some degree us.
Then again, results are more important than who gets credit for what. The fact is that somehow—miraculously really—when the pieces are tossed together, the machine we call our body actually works. And the reason it does has less to do with competing than cooperating. As evolutionary biologists Lynn Margulis and Dorion Sagan point out, “Life did not take over the globe by combat, but by networking.”23
Robert V. Levine is a professor of psychology at California State University, Fresno and former president of the Western Psychological Association. His previous books include A Geography of Time and The Power of Persuasion: How We’re Bought and Sold.
References1
1. Coyne quoted in Forsyth, A. & Miyata, K. Tropical Nature Charles Scribner’s, New York, NY (1984).
2. Krulwich, R. & Abumrad, J. producers and co-hosts, Radiolab (WNYC/NPR); interview with Jerry Coyne, Dec. 12, 2008.
3. Jerry Coyne, personal communication, Feb. 16, 2010.
4. Coyne, interview by Krulwich.
5. Ibid
10. Ibid
12. Jerry Coyne, personal communication, February 16, 2010.
13. Coyne, interview by Krulwich.
14. Jerry Coyne, personal communication, Feb. 16, 2010.
15. Paul Crosbie, personal communication, Feb. 26, 2010.
16. Darwin quoted in Zimmer, C. Parasite Rex Free Press, New York, NY (2001).
17. Zimmer, Parasite Rex.
19. Brusca, R. & Gilligan, M.R. Tongue replacement in a marine fish (Lutjanus guttatus) by a parasitic isopod (Crustacea: Isopoda). Copeia 3, 813–816 (1983).
20. Lane, N. Power, Sex, Suicide: Mitochondria and the Meaning of Life Oxford University Press, New York, NY (2005). See also Saey, T.H. Repairing a cell’s faulty batteries. Science News 177, 16 (2010).
21. Lane, Power, Sex, Suicide, 111–14.
22. Thomas, “Organelles as Organisms.”
23. Margulis, L. & Sagan, D. “Rethinking life on Earth: The Parts; Power to the Protoctists,” Earthwatch 11, 25–29 (1992).
An excerpt from an unpublished book that Robert V. Levine is currently working on.
Science Practice Why Physics Is Not a Discipline
Animals Parasites Are Us
Paleontology Reading the Book of Life in Prehistoric Dung
Psychology Not All Practice Makes Perfect
Philosophy This Philosopher Helped Ensure There Was No Nobel for Relativity
As originally published, this excerpt did not include this series of footnotes stating attribution and sourcing.
Reading the Book of Life in Prehistoric Dung
By Eliza Strickland
Meet the Neighbors You’ll Never See
By Jessica Green & Amy Maxmen
The Unique Merger That Made You (and Ewe, and Yew)
By Ed Yong
When Evolution Is Infectious
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Reality is darker than James Bond
By Peter Coates - posted Tuesday, 5 December 2006 Sign Up for free e-mail updates!
The death of Alexander Litvinenko on November 23, 2006 has resurrected Cold War visions of evil KGB assassins plotting the end of James Bond through ingenious, high tech and always drawn out means.
While Mr Bond always survives Litvinenko did not. His death has become a major issue in Britain due to: public interest in his lingering demise; initial suspicions that he was poisoned with Thallium; confirmation it was radioactive Polonium-210; and suggestions by British intelligence that it was former Russian agents that may have killed him.
One could listen to Count von Münster, Hanoverian envoy to the Russian Court at St Petersburg, who many years ago described the Tsarist Constitution as “absolutism tempered by assassination”. After a brief democratic experiment Russia appears to be returning to the same bad habits.
Litvinenko succeeded in gaining political asylum in Britain in 2000. He formerly worked on organised crime matters for the Russian Security Service (FSB) and before that the KGB. He specialised in crime groups rather than the traditional Russian intelligence areas of obtaining foreign secrets and crushing domestic opposition.
The UK government has quickly discounted the possibility that the government of Vladimir Putin, President of Russia since 2000, ordered Litvinenko’s death and more diplomatically speculated that “rogue elements” in Russian intelligence may have done the deed.
It may be a coincidence but other figures dealing in information critical of Putin have since also come to grief.
On November 28, 2006, Yegor Gaidar, a Russian economist and former liberal political leader, collapsed in Ireland where he had been presenting a book critical of Putin’s economic policies. Two days later Gaidar's Irish doctors said he was poisoned, however Gaidar was quickly flown to Moscow so removing the possibility of an independent assessment of his illness.
Seperately on December 2, 2006 doctors reported that Mario Scaramella a colleague of Litvinenko also had received large dose of Polonium-210 (smaller than that present in Litvinenko but potentially deadly).
Polonium-210 is a highly radioactive isotope, so much so that minute amounts were used as power sources on satellites and Russian moon rovers. It is produced in deadly quantities in nuclear reactors by a small number of scientific institutes in Russia and several other countries. Safe transportation of Polonium-210 requires expert handling.
This appears to point to the involvement of a well connected, well funded, supply chain for the substance, be that a state body or organised crime.
It is notable that Russian intelligence used thallium poisoning concealing radiation years ago. On April 7, 2005, long before the Litvinenko affair emerged a former Russian intelligence officer Boris Volodarsky is on record as stating:
I'm reminded of the 1955 attempt on Nikolay Khokhlov, a defector from the KGB. He drank a cup of coffee at a public reception in Germany in 1957 and fell ill. In his blood the doctors found traces of thallium, a metallic substance commonly used as rat poison. But the appropriate treatment had little effect and it was not until weeks later when Khokhlov was close to death that imaginative doctors at a US Army hospital in Frankfurt found the hitherto undreamed-of answer. The thallium had been subjected to atomic radiation so that the metal would slowly disintegrate in the system, giving symptoms as common as gastritis as a patient slowly died of radiation poisoning. By that time, the thallium would have disintegrated and left no trace even for an autopsy.
6 posts so far.
Peter Coates has been writing articles on military, security and international relations issues since 2006. In 2014 he completed a Master’s Degree in International Relations, with a high distinction average. His website is Submarine Matters.
» Trump not that bad - January 18, 2017
» 'Killer' drones for Australia? - March 2, 2015
» Australia: the future junior ally of Japan - February 5, 2015
» Future submarine choices: more than a one horse race - December 11, 2014
» Russian gunboat diplomacy in Australia's region - November 21, 2014
All articles by Peter Coates
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There are 15 schools around Boynton Beach, FL offering education programs. 6,085 students graduated with degrees from Boynton Beach education schools in 2010. 3,112 of all these students graduated with masters degrees and 1,665 of all these students graduated with certificates.
On average, 6,214 students graduate from education programs in Boynton Beach each year. This accounts for around 36% of students who Florida schools graduate from education programs. More specifically, 1,665 students graduated with education certificates, 13 with a degree at the associate's level, 802 with a bachelor's level degree, 3,112 with a degree at the master's level, and 493 with a degree at the doctorate level.
15 education schools are located in Boynton Beach. Of these, while 11 schools are private, four schools are public. While private education school tuition varies from $5,100 to $30,900, tuition at a public education school varies from $2,158 to $3,835.
Average tuition for programs in education is $14,770. The highest tuition for education programs, which is $30,900 each year, is at Lynn University, while the lowest tuition in Boynton Beach, which is $2,158 every year, is at Palm Beach State College.
Education schools in Boynton Beach offer certificates, associates degrees, bachelors degrees, masters degrees, and doctoral degrees.
Education Program Completions 2006 - 2010 in Boynton Beach, Florida
Bachelor 2007: 988
Education Program Availability in Boynton Beach, Florida
Boynton Beach schools offer a total of 181 education programs. Of these programs, close to 35.4% are programs at the master's level. The remaining programs are certificates and degrees at the bachelors level, the doctoral level, and the associates level.
Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School — Salary by Percentile
Education Administrators, Elementary and Secondary School — Employment Trend
Boynton Beach vs Florida Education Employment
Employed in Boynton Beach: 9.215% (2335)
15 Nearby Matching Schools
Early Childhood Education Schools in Boynton Beach, Florida
Three early childhood education schools are in Boynton Beach, FL. Two schools are private. One school is public. Early Childhood Education Schools in Boynton Beach, Florida
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Schools in Boynton Beach, FL offer a total of 22 programs in educational leadership. Of these programs, close to 45.5% are programs at the master's level. The remaining programs are certificates and degrees at the doctoral level. Educational Leadership Schools in Boynton Beach, Florida
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On average, 788 students graduate from programs in Boynton Beach, FL in elementary education per year. This accounts for around 19% of elementary education students who Florida schools graduate. Ten students graduated with elementary education certificates. Elementary Education Schools in Boynton Beach, Florida
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On average, 669 students graduate from programs in Boynton Beach, FL in ESL per year. This accounts for 95% of ESL students who Florida schools graduate. 669 students graduated with ESL certificates. ESL Schools in Boynton Beach, Florida
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Boynton Beach special education schools offer certificates, bachelors degrees, masters degrees, and doctoral degrees. 275 students graduated with special education certificates. 62 students graduated with a bachelor's level degree in special education. Special Education Schools in Boynton Beach, Florida
1,087 students graduated with teaching certificates. Four students graduated with a degree in teaching at the associate's level. 727 students graduated with a teaching degree at the bachelor's level. Teaching Schools in Boynton Beach, Florida
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Average tuition for visual communications programs is the cost. Boynton Beach visual communications schools offer certificates and associates degrees. 30 students graduated with visual communications certificates. Visual Communications Schools in Boynton Beach, Florida
The number of students who graduated with education degrees dropped by 2.2% from 2008 to 2010. In particular, the number of undergraduate students fell by 186 students. The number of students which certificate programs graduate climbed by 430 students. Education Schools in Margate, Florida
Education schools in Clearwater, FL offer certificates, associates degrees, bachelors degrees, masters degrees, and doctoral degrees. 402 students graduated with certificates in education. 11 students graduated with an associate's level education degree. Education Schools in Clearwater, Florida
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Average tuition for programs in education is $4,526. The highest tuition for programs in education is at Rasmussen College-Florida. The highest tuition for education training is $13,520 every year. Education Schools in Ocala, Florida
On average, 843 students graduate from education programs in Gainesville, FL every year. This accounts for 5% of education students who Florida schools graduate. 213 students graduated with certificates in education. Education Schools in Gainesville, Florida
16 education schools are located in Bradenton, FL. Nine schools are private. Seven schools are public. Education Schools in Bradenton, Florida
Average tuition for education programs is $16,452. The highest tuition for education programs is at the University of Miami. The highest tuition for training in education is $37,836 every year. Education Schools in Coral Springs, Florida
Average tuition for programs in education is $13,311. The highest tuition for education programs is at Rollins College. The highest tuition for training in education is $37,640 every year. Education Schools in Sanford, Florida
There are 22 schools located by Hollywood, FL offering education programs. In 2010, 7,209 students graduated from programs at Hollywood education schools. 3,460 of all these students graduated with masters degrees. Education Schools in Hollywood, Florida
On average, 348 students graduate from programs in Cape Coral, FL in education per year. This accounts for 2% of education students who schools in the state of Florida graduate. 81 students graduated with certificates in education. Education Schools in Cape Coral, Florida
22 education schools are located in Davie, FL. 14 schools are private. Eight schools are public. Education Schools in Davie, Florida
Education schools in Fort Myers, FL offer certificates, associates degrees, bachelors degrees, and masters degrees. 81 students graduated with education certificates. 36 students graduated with an associate's level degree in education. Education Schools in Fort Myers, Florida
Education Schools in North Miami, Florida
The number of students who graduated with education degrees decreased by 3.4% from 2008 to 2010. In particular, the number of undergraduate students fell by 182 students. The number of students which certificate programs graduate increased by 326 students. Education Schools in North Miami, Florida
Average tuition for education programs is $16,452. The highest tuition for education programs is at the University of Miami. The highest tuition for training in education is $37,836 per year. Education Schools in Oakland Park, Florida
Titusville schools offer certificates, associates degrees, bachelors degrees, masters degrees, and doctoral degrees for education students. 319 students graduated with education certificates. 11 students graduated with a degree in education at the associate's level. Education Schools in Titusville, Florida
246 students graduated with certificates in education. Two students graduated with an education degree at the associate's level. 595 students graduated with a bachelor's level degree in education. Education Schools in Jupiter, Florida
Average tuition for an education program at Florida Keys Community College is $2,847. On average, public tuition at Florida education schools is $4,100. Private tuition is $19,537. Education Schools in Key West, Florida
There are two schools located by Panama City, FL offering education programs. In 2010, 37 students graduated from programs at Panama City education schools. 37 of all these students graduated with certificates. Education Schools in Panama City, Florida
Education Schools in Pompano Beach, Florida
Pompano Beach schools offer a total of 249 education programs. Of these programs, about 37.8% are programs at the master's level. The remaining programs are certificates and degrees at the bachelors level, the doctoral level, and the associates level. Education Schools in Pompano Beach, Florida
The number of students who graduated with education degrees dropped by 1.4% from 2008 to 2010. In particular, the number of undergraduate students dropped by 158 students. The number of students which certificate programs graduate went up by 424 students. Education Schools in Delray Beach, Florida
Education Schools in Pensacola, Florida
652 students graduate from education programs in Pensacola, FL, on average, every year. This accounts for 3% of education students who Florida schools graduate. 106 students graduated with certificates in education. Education Schools in Pensacola, Florida
Schools in Lauderhill, FL offer a total of 249 education programs. Of these programs, approximately 37.8% are master's level programs. The remaining programs are certificates and degrees at the bachelors level, the doctoral level, and the associates level. Education Schools in Lauderhill, Florida
On average, 5,029 students graduate from education programs in Riviera Beach, FL per year. This accounts for around 30% of students who schools in the state of Florida graduate from education programs. 963 students graduated with certificates in education. Education Schools in Riviera Beach, Florida
Education Schools in Pinellas Park, Florida
Schools in Pinellas Park, FL offer certificates, associates degrees, bachelors degrees, masters degrees, and doctoral degrees in education. 402 students graduated with education certificates. 12 students graduated with a degree in education at the associate's level. Education Schools in Pinellas Park, Florida
The number of students who graduated with degrees in education climbed by 8.4% from 2008 to 2010. In particular, the number of undergraduate students went up by 82 students. The number of graduate students decreased by 79 students. Education Schools in Sarasota, Florida
There are 22 schools conveniently located near Coconut Creek, FL offering education programs. In 2010, 7,209 students graduated from programs at Coconut Creek education schools. 3,460 of all these students graduated with masters degrees. Education Schools in Coconut Creek, Florida
2,140 students graduate from programs in Kissimmee, FL in education, on average, every year. This accounts for approximately 15% of students who schools in the state of Florida graduate from education programs. 477 students graduated with education certificates. Education Schools in Kissimmee, Florida
The number of students who graduated with degrees in education dropped by 3.4% from 2008 to 2010. In particular, the number of undergraduate students fell by 182 students. The number of students which certificate programs graduate climbed by 326 students. Education Schools in Miami Beach, Florida
Education schools in Weston, FL offer certificates, associates degrees, bachelors degrees, masters degrees, and doctoral degrees. 1,864 students graduated with education certificates. 22 students graduated with an associate's level education degree. Education Schools in Weston, Florida
Education Schools in Tallahassee, Florida
Tallahassee schools offer a total of 86 programs in education. Of these programs, close to 33% are master's level programs. The remaining programs are certificates and degrees at the bachelors level, the doctoral level, and the associates level. Education Schools in Tallahassee, Florida
Schools in Daytona Beach, FL offer certificates, associates degrees, bachelors degrees, masters degrees, and doctoral degrees for students pursing education. 141 students graduated with certificates in education. 11 students graduated with a degree in education at the associate's level. Education Schools in Daytona Beach, Florida
The number of students who graduated with degrees in education decreased by 2.8% from 2008 to 2010. In particular, the number of undergraduate students decreased by 87 students. The number of students which certificate programs graduate increased by 144 students. Education Schools in Wellington, Florida
Education Schools in Dunedin, Florida
The number of students who graduated with degrees in education went up by 9.9% from 2008 to 2010. In particular, the number of undergraduate students increased by 97 students. The number of graduate students dropped by 110 students. Education Schools in Dunedin, Florida
Schools in Boynton Beach, FL offer a total of 181 education programs. Of these programs, approximately 35.4% are master's level programs. The remaining programs are certificates and degrees at the bachelors level, the doctoral level, and the associates level. Education Schools in Boynton Beach, Florida
788 students graduate from programs in North Port, FL in education, on average, each year. This accounts for 5% of students who Florida schools graduate from education programs. 167 students graduated with certificates in education. Education Schools in North Port, Florida
Education Schools in Tamarac, Florida
22 education schools are located in Tamarac, FL. 14 schools are private. Eight schools are public. Education Schools in Tamarac, Florida
156 students graduated with certificates in education. 35 students graduated with a bachelor's level degree in education. Six students graduated with a master's level degree in education. Education Schools in Melbourne, Florida
Education Schools in Deerfield Beach, Florida
The number of students who graduated with degrees in education decreased by 2.3% from 2008 to 2010. In particular, the number of undergraduate students went down by 186 students. The number of students which certificate programs graduate climbed by 423 students. Education Schools in Deerfield Beach, Florida
Schools in Palm Coast, FL offer a total of 37 education programs. Of these programs, about 67.6% are programs at the bachelor's level. The remaining programs are certificates and degrees at the masters level and the associates level. Education Schools in Palm Coast, Florida
Education Schools in Port Orange, Florida
Schools in Port Orange, FL offer certificates, associates degrees, bachelors degrees, masters degrees, and doctoral degrees for education students. 266 students graduated with certificates in education. 11 students graduated with a degree in education at the associate's level. Education Schools in Port Orange, Florida
Average tuition for programs in education is $17,385. The highest tuition for education programs is at the University of Miami. The highest tuition for training in education is $37,836 every year. Education Schools in Hialeah, Florida
488 students graduated with education certificates. 11 students graduated with an associate's level education degree. 1,076 students graduated with a bachelor's level education degree. Education Schools in Apopka, Florida
Education Schools in Lake Worth, Florida
Schools in Lake Worth, FL offer certificates, associates degrees, bachelors degrees, masters degrees, and doctoral degrees for education students. 959 students graduated with certificates in education. Four students graduated with an education degree at the associate's level. Education Schools in Lake Worth, Florida
The number of students who graduated with education degrees dropped by 1.9% from 2008 to 2010. In particular, the number of undergraduate students went down by 181 students. The number of students which certificate programs graduate went up by 430 students. Education Schools in North Miami Beach, Florida
Lakeland schools offer certificates, associates degrees, bachelors degrees, masters degrees, and doctoral degrees in education. 697 students graduated with education certificates. 12 students graduated with an education degree at the associate's level. Education Schools in Lakeland, Florida
277 students graduated with certificates in education. Two students graduated with an associate's level education degree. 618 students graduated with a degree in education at the bachelor's level. Education Schools in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
7,290 students graduate from programs in Sunrise, FL in education, on average, each year. This accounts for 43% of students who Florida schools graduate from education programs. 1,864 students graduated with certificates in education. Education Schools in Sunrise, Florida
Education Schools in Plantation, Florida
Schools in Plantation, FL offer certificates, associates degrees, bachelors degrees, masters degrees, and doctoral degrees for education students. 1,864 students graduated with certificates in education. 22 students graduated with a degree in education at the associate's level. Education Schools in Plantation, Florida
Four education schools are located in Port St. Lucie, FL. Two schools are private. Two schools are public. Education Schools in Port St. Lucie, Florida
Deltona schools offer certificates, associates degrees, bachelors degrees, masters degrees, and doctoral degrees for students pursing education. 343 students graduated with education certificates. 11 students graduated with a degree in education at the associate's level. Education Schools in Deltona, Florida
Approximately 7 schools across the nation offer Boynton Beach students online education degrees at the following degree levels:
These online education schools offer students in Boynton Beach the opportunity to pursue credentials in education through one of 137 online education programs. In 2010, there were 4654 online education school graduates from these programs. Online Education Schools
1. Barry University
2. Broward College
3. Florida Atlantic University
4. Florida Memorial University
5. The Florida National College
7. Keiser University - Ft Lauderdale
8. Lynn University
9. Nova Southeastern University
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Written by Sandra Fitzpatrick
There have been two major movies in 2006 about Superman. One, Superman Returns, was promoted like crazy and disappointed millions of viewers. The other, Hollywoodland, has had very little publicity despite an all-star cast and is much more deserving of its audience.
Hollywoodland explores the death of actor George Reeves who was best known for playing the Man of Steel on television in the 1950’s. One night, during a party he and his fiancée were hosting, Reeves said goodnight, went upstairs and put a bullet in his brain. The case was labeled suicide but police became suspicious when covered up bullet holes were found in the floor and ceiling of the room. But the case was closed and no conclusive evidence of foul play was ever found.
The script is well crafted and shifts between Reeves before his death, and a fictional detective named Louis Simo (Adrien Brody). Simo is at the bottom of the barrel, living in a cheap motel with his cheap assistant, and drinking too much booze. When he is hired by Reeves’ mother to investigate the death, he sees it as a way to win back the respect of his ex-wife (Molly Parker) and little boy (Zach Mills).
As the story chugs along, slow paced but never boring, the trail leads Simo to a big shot studio manager and his beautiful wife. Eddie Mannix (Bob Hoskins) had every motive to kill Reeves – his wife was openly having an affair with the younger hunk, and had even bought him a house – but perhaps Mrs. Mannix (Diane Lane) herself was to blame. Her husband’s mistresses never sparked her jealousy, but thoughts of “the boy” having a wandering eye were enough to drive her insane.
Past and present come together through the eyes and imagination of Simo who wanders the completely convincing streets of 50’s Hollywood. Brody is well cast and not only for his offbeat looks. The role is a challenging one and he has an expressive physicality that works well with the character.
Of course Diane Lane is always spectacular and this film is no exception. She plays a savvy older woman who seduces Reeves and turns him into a kept man. Her sassy exterior doesn’t hide her love for him, or the hurt when he dumps her for a young starlet. Bob Hoskins plays her husband, and he is another safe bet to turn a minor role into a memorable one.
Believe it or not the best thing about this movie is Ben Affleck as George Reeves! I don’t dislike Ben, but I’ve never been that impressed or surprised by him either. Well I’m impressed now. This is his best performance to date, and worthy of an Oscar nomination. He plays the character with charm, but under the surface lurk vulnerability and frustration at a career that isn’t headed where he wants it too.
Clocking in at just under two-hours, Hollywoodland would have benefited from being about 15 minutes shorter. But I’m not going to penalize it for being too much of a good thing. It is still an intriguing look at the glamour and mystery of a bygone era.
I give Hollywoodland 7 out of 10 stars.
Copyright © 2008-12 PopcornPhilosophy.com
Hosted by Hodge Productions - Graphic elements by Designia
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Conservationist and founder/CEO Johnny Morris serving as Honorary Chair
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Bass Pro Shops is excited to sponsor National Hunting and Fishing Day this Saturday, September 24 with activities taking place across the country. The 2016 event marks the tenth year Bass Pro Shops has supported National Hunting and Fishing Day, which was established by Congress to recognize hunters and anglers for their leadership in fish and wildlife conservation.
This year noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder/CEO is serving as honorary chair. A lifelong sportsman with a passion for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation, Morris is one of the country’s foremost leaders working to ensure natural habitats, wildlife and the outdoors remain healthy for future generations to protect and enjoy.
“America’s sportsmen and women are among our nation’s most active conservationists and it’s important we recognize and celebrate everything they do to protect outdoor habitat and ensure thriving populations of wildlife,” said Morris. “I’m proud to lend my support and raise awareness for hunters and anglers, America’s conservation heroes through National Hunting and Fishing Day and I encourage everyone to get outside and enjoy it!”
Morris joins a distinguished group that has included Jim Shockey, Eva Shockey, Craig Morgan, Bill Dance, T. Boone Pickens, Louise Mandrell, Hank Williams Jr., Jeff Foxworthy, Wade Boggs, Arnold Palmer, the USA Olympic Shooting Team, Tony Stewart and others.
Led by avid sportsman President Theodore Roosevelt, early conservationists urged sustainable use of fish and game, created hunting and fishing licenses, and lobbied for taxes on sporting equipment to provide funds for state conservation agencies. These actions were the foundation of the North American wildlife conservation model, a science-based, user-pay system that would foster the most dramatic conservation successes of all time.
Each year sportsmen and women are funding more projects that enable more public access areas to be open. Through license sales and excise taxes on equipment, hunters and anglers pay for most fish and wildlife conservation programs. On average, hunters spend $1,638 every year on the sport. Portions of these funds are allocated to support conservation.
Other National Hunting and Fishing Day 2016 sponsors include National Shooting Sports Foundation, Yamaha, Bass Pro Shops, Realtree, Smith and Wesson, Gunbroker.com, Keep America Fishing, Ducks Unlimited, National Wild Turkey Federation, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Safari Club International, National Rifle Association, Berkley and Izaak Walton League.
For more information, visit http://www.nhfday.org.
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Pit Bulls No Longer Considered Vicious In Ohio
Posted by Laurie Kay Olson on May 29, 2012
On May 22 the Ohio law covering vicious dogs was changed to remove the
specific reference to pit bulls. While pit bull owners are applauding
the rewording of the law, others are concerned that it may lead to more
attacks by the dogs that are notorious for their aggressive behavior.
Lisa Wooley, a dog owner in Hilliard, Ohio, spoke with PetsLady.com about the change in the wording of the The American Pit Bull Terrier -- demon or dog? law. She said that she is conflicted about the change because it is a complicated issue. "Any dog can be vicious. Even my mutt could be. . . if he had been trained to be," Lisa commented, referring to her beloved Labrador-Spaniel mix. The proper training and upbringing in a dog can make all the difference in a dog and that dog's ability to curb aggressive tendencies.
Patricia Wolff-Keaton, also of Hilliard, owned a Great Dane-Rottweiler mix for many years that many people mistook for being a pit bull. One of her neighbors is a pit bull owner and she knows the dog to be very sweet and even tempered. A vociferous champion of dogs, Tricia told PetsLady.com that she wholeheartedly agrees with the change in the law, to the point that she had called her state representatives and encouraged them to vote to change the law. She agrees with Lisa that training is crucial and that any dog can be made vicious through abuse or neglect. She also cited a 2010 case in Ohio where a pit bull that had attacked twice had been given cocaine by its owners.
"I wish people would realize that pit bulls are just dogs," she said.
Karen Delise, Director of Research at the National Canine Research Council, has written a book about the myths and social realities of animal aggression in her book, The Pit Bull Placebo. This well-researched book reviews the truths behind dog attacks and how the pit bull, once one of America's most respected dog breeds, has fallen from grace. For a free PDF download of Karen's book, click here.
The origins of the pit bull breed are believed to go back to the Molussi tribe in ancient Greece. They liked to use sturdy, muscular dogs in warfare. The dog was most likely used for other purposed, including commercial trading. Through the centuries the dogs were spread throughout Europe via the Roman Empire and crossbred through many generations of bull dogs. The dogs were widely used for "baiting" or fighting for entertainment purposes. When English immigrants came to the New World they brought along their dogs. In America the dogs were also used in fighting rings. However, as people pushed west the dogs took on a wider and more humane role as they herded livestock and guarded family and crops. It wasn't until 1898 that the American Pit Bull Terrier became a recognized breed by the United Kennel Association.
Detractors of the pit bull say that breeders and owners have created a number of myths around the breed that has allowed for attacks to become more common over the past 30 years. They claim that such myths as "It's the owner not the breed," or "Fatal statistics about pit bulls are false," are perpetuated by those who support the breed. These detractors believe that the breed is unpredictable and has a reckless nature that is bound to lead to the tragic pit bull attacks that the American public has been witness to over the years. Blogs such as Maul Talk Manual and The Truth About Pit Bulls discuss problems with the denial of issues with pit bulls as a breed and unethical breeding practices when it comes to pit bulls.
Whichever side of the issue you look at it certainly is a contentious one. While specific reference to pit bulls has been removed from the law, it does not exclude them from being vicious. The change in the law is merely a rewording that takes the focus off pit bulls so that they are not solely seen as vicious. The law states that a vicious dog is one that has seriously hurt or killed a person, or has killed another dog. This leaves the field wide open as to the particular breeds involved.
Cute Swinging Jack Russell Terrier Of The Day
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PetsLady's Pick: Cute Grumpy Rein-Dog Of The Day
PetsLady's Pick: Funny Scaredy Dog Of The Day
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Partners / Alpha Sigma Alpha
We are an organization dedicated to developing women of poise and purpose.
A Sorority. This is who we are; an organization of sisterhood, heritage, leadership and service. Alpha Sigma Alpha offers an experience of fun campus activities to a lifetime of community impact. By fostering close friendships between members, Alpha Sigma Alpha develops women of poise and purpose who strive to continue improving the world around them. We inspire women to lead, to serve and most of all to make a difference.
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Why It Matters How We Talk to Our Kids about Gender Roles
The views expressed in this post are those of a Spoke contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Red Tricycle.
The year was 1973, and my first act of subversion (or at least that was how the principal described it) was to allow the girls a turn to play with the large red rubber playground balls. Until my arrival as a fifth-grade teacher at the public school in an urban area near Boston, girls were given jump ropes to play with during recess while boys were given large red rubber balls. They were assigned separate areas of the blacktop lot where recess took place to use the balls and jump ropes.
The boys had a lively game of “punchball” each day which along with promoting lots of physical activity and social interaction, looked like tons of fun. Chatting about the day’s game continued in the classroom well after recess had ended. I asked the girls in my class if they had any interest in playing punchball, and they wholeheartedly agreed that they did, but reiterated to me the rule of the school—that balls were for boys only.
When asked about the jump ropes, the boys were less interested in using them until I mentioned that boxers and other athletes jumped rope to stay in shape. When I later displayed some magazine photographs of Mohammad Ali and other sports figures using a jump rope, they definitely became more enthusiastic.
I put the topic of recess equipment on our agenda for our next class meeting, and it was decided after much discussion that the kids would take turns trading off the use of the balls and jump ropes, every other day. While most of the boys weren’t thrilled with the arrangement initially, everyone agreed that this was the fair thing to do. Everyone that is, except the principal.
Once news of this new arrangement reached him, I was called into his office. He was quite upset with me that I was interfering with what had always been the tradition at the school. His branding of me as a “woman’s libber” was not meant as a compliment, but I was determined to keep up the new turn taking. I reminded him of the recently passed Title IX law of the Education Amendments Acts of 1972, which essentially extended equal access to athletic programs for girls and boys and as far as I was concerned that included our red punchballs and jump ropes.
It was the first of many small but hard-fought battles against rigid gender stereotyping that I would wage for my students both male and female in the years to follow. I was reminded of this particular challenge recently when a friend forwarded this article about a gender neutral nursery school in Sweden that specifically sets out to tackle gender stereotypes.
It is a fascinating article, well worth the read. The nursery school described in the article has taken serious measures to address all areas of gender stereotyping, well beyond my attempt at mixing up recess, back in the day. And while I am not an enemy of gender or advocating for gender policing, as an educator, I have always felt a responsibility to challenge rigid gender roles in any educational community that I have been a part of.
As a nursery school Director, I dissuaded my staff from calling attention to gender by addressing the students not according to their gender, but as children. Teachers were discouraged from having the children line up in two lines, one for boys and one for girls. When I was growing up in the fifties and sixties this was not only common practice, but many schools had separate entrances, with the words “Boys” and “Girls” etched in stone above the doors. It really makes you wonder what they thought would happen if a child used the wrong door!
Every nursery school teacher has heard a child announce with confidence, “Those dolls are for girls to play with” or “She can’t play with that, that’s a boy’s toy.” In my experience, the best response to such proclamations is a neutral, “Why is that a boy or girl’s toy?” and “I think boys and girls can play with any toys they want.” Children from an early age should get the message loud and clear that it is what’s so great about playing; there are no girl toys and no boy toys—just toys!
As a parent or caregiver, you are in a position to send a message about gender that is open and inclusive. Yes your son may, or may not, gravitate toward vehicles and balls, and yes your daughter may or may not, always choose the princess dress-up, and whatever their choices or preferences, all of it is perfectly okay. What is not okay is not giving children space and opportunity to explore it all.
By the time my fifth graders moved on to sixth grade, all of the classes in the middle school were sharing all of the playground equipment, we even instituted a coed punchball game on Friday, yes, radical for the time, but lots and lots of fun!
Original: What About Gender Roles? www.littlefolksbigquestions.com
Featured Photo Courtesy: VABo2040 via Pixabay
Gay Cioffi
little folks big questions
I am a parent and grandparent with over four decades of experience in early childhood education. I share my passion, wisdom and experience, with parents and the people who care for and about children at Little Folks Big Questions, where we're out to answer the questions parents face in today's world.
Parenting > Why It Matters How We Talk to Our Kids about Gender Roles
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Publishing In The Digital Devices Boom: The Importance of APIs
In Digital by Edward Nawotka April 26, 2011
The number of digital reading devices are multiplying. Publishers can best handle this distribution opportunity by developing an API.
By Oren Michels, CEO, Mashery.com
Let me begin by saying something curiously unpopular: Publishing has never been in a better position.
Oren Michaels, CEO, Mashery.com
That may be difficult to believe, with bookstores closing, prices under continual pressure, and pundits bemoaning the death –- thank you, Internet –- of book culture. I’ll grant some of that; the traditional channels of getting the word out, involving pulp, presses, and real estate, seem to be giving way to new means of distribution. It is more accurate to say that they are shrinking to accommodate digital transmission. And to some extent this creates adjustments in the existing structure of the business, the same as big retailers did, and before that did paperbacks, book clubs, publisher-owned stores, serialized works sewn into bindings, and lots more going further back in the industry’s long history.
We attach ourselves to certain practices, and assume the world has always been that way, but the greater reality is change. And indeed, important breaks like digitization and digital transmission will cause adaptation and turmoil in some parts of the business. The trick, then, is to be among those who figure out what the big changes are really about, and be among those who act on them.
The first thing is to ask, “What is it that publishing does at its core, and how much will that be impacted by new technology?” Publishing is the packaging of information in accessible formats, and the fostering of a culture around that. This means securing and working with authors likely to produce desirable content, then effectively spotting and exploiting markets in ways that create a high likelihood of profitability, so the process can keep going. Anything else is less relevant to the process than horse feed is to horse racing – you have to have it, but it isn’t what you DO.
Next, let’s consider the new digital technology. To paraphrase MIT professor (and popular author) Sherry Turkle, just because we grew up with the Internet, that doesn’t mean the Internet is grown up. Web pages and online stores are now transforming into mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, connected readers, and more. Without getting into the technical details, these harness very different methods to offer the public constant connectivity to a ceaseless flow of information and communications.
The good news for publishers is that people use these devices for reading more than any other activity, and are likely to for some time to come. Reading is still the most efficient way to consume information, and for many of us, still the most fun. In fact, the average American reads over 35,000 words a day (the equivalent of roughly one third of an average novel). As a whole, our consumption of the written word has increased from 26% of our daily dose of information in 1960 to over 36% in 2008 –- the increase largely accounted for by digital reading. Authors are often great personalities, and that personal aspect of creation, communicating who they are and what they do, can be an iconic means of offering insight and delight to readers.
Content will become much more personalized, and more responsive to its owner’s location and context, and visible via new means of discovery. This creates new opportunities for leveraging existing content, and creating new ways to spot and exploit markets. Early efforts include “push to purchase” bestseller lists on iPad bookstores, author interviews on video, related games, or fan fiction pages.
The trick is to find the effective means, and get them out quickly, to partners and others who want your content on their machines. The new digital transformation is happening across hundreds of devices, wired and wireless, and in dozens of different cultures and contexts, at home and overseas. The challenge to publishers is the same challenge facing anyone marketing their wares in this new ecology -– finding effective, appropriate ways to make it onto all those devices.
Too often, content providers approach new distribution as a “mobile” strategy — porting similar content to one device, then another in succession. This linear approach will inevitably leave content providers behind given the sheer number of devices and platforms available and growing. Each device has its own design “rules,” which go beyond programming challenges to the right way information should look and act on the “screen.” Layout and navigation matter, both for intuitive delight and cultural relevance (where things appear on a Web page can be different from one country to another, and it is the same with mobile devices.) as well as capabilities unique to each device — like tactical interfaces, 3D or screen size.
How can any single outfit handle this distribution opportunity? The answer is in developing an API (application programming interface), the means by which content is utilized by an ecosystem of skilled developers developing applications for different consumer devices. Some of the developers may be in-house, while others are independent. There are thousands of them around the world, with individual knowledge of different devices and cultures. Content owners select and place the material they want in the appropriate databases, and programmers use APIs to access that content and transform it into the right product for an iPhone, say, or an e-reader, even the screen on a refrigerator.
Don’t laugh at that last one. Developers from connected TV manufacturers like Samsung have leveraged APIs from organizations like the Associated Press to put headlines onto their television sets. Internet enabled refrigerators are also now displaying AP headlines and display of meal plans or recipes are a natural next step. Someone with the right content will put out APIs for that kind of publishing.
More than worrying about the mobility business, publishers need to focus on being in the API business. Companies like Mashery offers ways that companies can expose their content, using APIs, to an ecosystem we have built of over 100,000 developers (and growing) worldwide. We consult with companies about what they might offer, if that is appropriate, and offer mechanisms to contact and foster developer communities. We also have the technology for controlling the access to content, the necessary security to set rules the client wants, and tools for monetizing content in new ways.
Among our publishing clients are, besides the AP, The New York Times, which along with several hundred applications consuming its content–got its best-seller list in prime position in the iPad bookstore; USA Today, which got out one of the first (and number one news) iPad apps using APIs, and The Guardian UK, which uses Mashery to enable the selling of content to tiers of partners – each subscribing to different layers of access to amount and depth of their content services.
That is my API pitch, delivered in service of a greater point. There are good ways at hand to focus on your core business, which is more valuable than ever in a world rich in information and still short on meaning. The important things is not to get bogged down into which device or software version you need to obsess about today, but instead focus on optimizing channels of discovery and distribution, by leveraging broadly applicable standards and a vast network of knowledgeable, skilled developers.
DISCUSS: Is Publishing’s Obsession with the Kindle and iPad Elitist?
Edward Nawotka
A widely published critic and essayist, Edward Nawotka serves as a speaker, educator and consultant for institutions and businesses involved in the global publishing and content industries. He was also editor-in-chief of Publishing Perspectives since the launch of the publication in 2009 until January 2016.
Tags: API, digital distribution, digital publishing, E-books, E-readers, ipad, Kindle, Mashery.com
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http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2009-08-16-track-worlds-day-2_N.htm
Bolt scorches 100 field in world-record 9.58 seconds
BERLIN (AP) — Olympic champion Usain Bolt set a 100-meter world record in the track and field world championships Sunday night, outrunning Tyson Gay and the rest of the field in a blistering 9.58 seconds in the final.
Bolt shaved 0.11 seconds off the record he set at the Beijing Olympics, beating defending champion Gay, who set a U.S. record of 9.71 seconds.
"I made sure if I ran a good perfect race, there was no worries," Bolt said.
Gay took the silver medal just ahead of Jamaica's Asafa Powell, who won bronze in the fastest 100 ever with a time of 9.84
"I did my best," said Gay, a three-time world champ. "I did good. It just wasn't good enough."
The race had been the most anticipated event of the world championships and lived up to its billing. Bolt won the Olympic gold in Beijing last year with a world record performance of 9.69.
Labels: Olympics, Usain Bolt
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Landslide group on the rocks
The Connaught Telegraph Wednesday, March 26, 2008Exclusive By Frances Toner ftoner@con-telegraph.ie THE Dooncarton Landslide Committee, set up in the aftermath of the devastating 2003 north Mayo landslide, is set to be dissolved amidst a storm of controversy. It has emerged the majority of the committee have resigned over a €10,000 funding allocation from Shell E&P Ireland under its local grants scheme to erect safety barriers along a dangerous stretch of road overlooking the cliffs of Broadhaven Bay between the villages of Glengad and Seanbhaile. Chairman of the group, Mr. Gerard McDonnell, told The Connaught Telegraph that he applied for the funding without committee consent and this has caused a furore, leading to the resignation of five of the group's seven members. However, joint treasurer, Mr. Gerry Sheeran, said the committee was in fact dissolved entirely at an emergency meeting, not attended by the chairman, on Friday. The voluntary committee has been toiling tirelessly for almost five years to rebuild the local cemetery that was swept away on September 19, 2003, when a sudden downpour of rain caused 200,000 cubic metres of debris to hurtle down the Dooncarton mountainside. The disaster swept homes, livestock and five human remains from the local cemetery out to sea. Mr. Sheeran said he is saddened the group has come to such an abrupt and contentious end but said the committee were not consulted ahead of this funding application and he was quite sure they would never have approved such an application had it been put to them. He is now calling on the Corrib Gas Partners to withdraw their funding allocation on that basis. "This application for funding, was not put to the committee because I knew there was no point," said Mr. McDonnell on Monday. "I decided to take the initiative and get the money to erect safety barriers on what is a very dangerous stretch of road, where a young motorist was lucky to escape with his life after his car went off the road there in very recent months. "Unfortunately, some people aren't happy the money is coming from the Corrib Gas Partners. "Of course it is regrettable five people have resigned but it is understandable due to the controversial nature of the Corrib gas pipeline in north Mayo. "Sadly, this kind of controversy is a fact of life for a lot of committees in the parish of Kilcommon." "It's a pity it ended this way," agreed Mr. Sheeran. "But we're not going to be used by Shell, who are manipulating voluntary groups to buy local support. "This idea of funding for local groups only came when their backs were against the wall and we don't want any part of it." Responding to calls from former committee members to withdraw the funding allocation, Mr. Colin Joyce, communications advisor with Shell E&P Ireland, said: "We haven't been made aware of changes in structure of the Dooncarton Landslide Committee. "When we are we will review this funding allocation." Mayo County Council have agreed to match the Corrib Natural Gas Local Grants Programme allocation, amounting to €20,000 in total, to erect 300 metres of safety barrier in 2008 with a further 300 metres to be erected in 2009. "This is a project which will benefit the entire community who use this stretch of road and provide enhanced protection to local residents, walkers and traffic users," explained Mr. McDonnell.
The Connaught Telegraph Wednesday, March 26, 2008
28 March 2008 - 5:32pm
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Sci-Fi Watcher
Netflix Science Fiction & Fantasy Reviews
‘Bright’ Netflix Film Review
Ted Braxton January 14, 2019 Movies
Please Share Share Tweet Reddit Pin it Stumble Share Share
The best way to describe Netflix’s movie Bright would be a 90’s buddy cop film set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. It’s filled with shootouts, car chases, and fairytale creatures. Somehow it just works and is an entertaining thrill ride from start to finish.
In this alternate reality, the City of Los Angeles is divided between the races. Elves are the wealthy elite, humans are the middle class, and orcs are treated as second-class citizens. Caught in the middle of it all, police officer Daryl Ward (Will Smith) is stuck with his rookie partner Nick Jakoby (Joel Edgerton), the only orc on the force.
Things are not going well for Jakoby who must weather a hostile partner and a humiliating hazing from other officers. Conspirators also wait in the shadows looking for an opportunity to put an end to his career. The sour relationship between Ward and Jakoby changes after responding to a call where they find a magic wand. This weapon of mass destruction is desired by many and the two officers will have to fight through gangs, rogue police officers, and a faction of elves to protect it at any cost.
Ward and Jakoby are very entertaining throughout the film. In the beginning, you can really feel the tension between the two, which takes on a humorous tone as the action intensifies. Besides these two, most of the other characters are one-dimensional. The main antagonist Leilah (Noomi Rapace), while having plenty of screen time, does not offer much else. She’s only used to push the story forward and is a waste of what could have been a great villain.
There are plenty of action sequences with gunfights, car chases, and explosions. While human and orc combat styles give off a clumsy brutish feeling, the elves make it look like art. This is where Noomi Rapace’s character shines. Leilah and her associates are a fearless wrecking crew that can murder a room full of people in seconds.
The world of Bright takes mystical creatures and inserts them into modern times in a believable way. Fairies are a pesky nuisance, orcs hang out on street corners, centaurs work as riot policeman, and the elves are just beautiful.
Elves are the most detailed looking race in the movie, maybe because they look like humans from a distance. Just seeing the pointed ears, the hypnotic eyes, and the way they move, you can really tell a lot of effort was put into making them look authentic.
Bright is a very entertaining concept of action and fantasy all rolled into one. While the two main characters, Ward and Jakoby do a good job of keeping the interest of the viewer, the rest is just window dressing. The plot is slightly above average but the action makes up for it. The world is beautifully detailed and turns the City of Los Angeles into a modern-day fantasy realm. This is Netflix’s best original movie to date and is well worth watching.
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‘The Titan’ Review: Dawn Of A New Species
Sci-Fi Watcher Copyright © 2019. All rights reserved.
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28 November 2019 | London
Categories 2019
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E: Hanna.Russo@mbi.london
The Screen Awards are presented by Screen International, the leading film industry resource covering the international film markets. With analysis from some of the most knowledgeable writers and data analysts in the business Screen International delivers analysis, opinion and commentary on the issues, people and products shaping the worldwide film industry.
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Shona Gold, Director of Sales and Marketing, VUE
Shona started her career in brand management on the Nestle Graduate scheme and moved to General Mills three years later heading up the marketing for Haagen-Dazs. In 2006 Shona joined Lonely Planet as Marketing Director EMEA. She progressed to General Manager EMEA before joining the Global executive team and taking up the role of Chief Marketing Officer & Global Trade Sales Director in 2014. Shona has been at Vue since 2015 and is now leading all things brand and sales.
Kate Gardiner is Head of Fox Searchlight Pictures UK, overseeing the theatrical marketing and distribution of the Fox Searchlight slate. During ten years at Searchlight, she has delivered highly successful and award-winning campaigns for a diverse range of titles from BLACK SWAN to THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL; STARRED UP to ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS: THE MOVIE. Recent successes include Academy Award winners THE SHAPE OF WATER and THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI. Prior to her current role, Kate held positions at Twentieth Century Fox and BBC Films.
Eva Yates, Commissioning Executive, BBC Films
Eva Yates is BBC Films’s Commissioning Executive, with a particular focus on new and emerging talent, and low-budget filmmaking. Alongside her feature and shorts slates, she oversees and executive produces on iFeatures with Creative England, and Microwave with FilmLondon, both in partnership with the BFI. Most recently for BBC Films, she has executive produced Remi Weekes’s debut His House starring Wunmi Mosaku and Sope Dirisu, Sacha Polak’s Dirty God and short films including Ruth Paxton’s Be Still My Beating Heart starring Maxine Peake. Prior to joining the BBC, she worked for 8 years as an executive at Film4, where she EP’d Rungano Nyoni’s I Am Not A Witch, which won the BAFTA for Outstanding British Debut; Tinge Krishnan’s Been So Long starring Michaela Coel and Arinze Kene and nearly 20 shorts including Kibwe Tavares’s Jonah starring Daniel Kaluuya and Aneil Karia’s bafta-nominated Work. Other credits include American Honey, Carol, 45 Years, Suffragette and Duke of Burgundy. During this period, she worked closely with Wellcome Trust on the Wellcome Screenwriting Fellowship, and advised for BIFA and on numerous new talent schemes. She began her career in arts at BBC Scotland, and in production and development roles including Revolution Films and UKFC.
Phil Cairns, Press & Publicity Manager, Film4
Phil Cairns has worked as a film publicist for more than 20 years. Currently press & publicity manager at Film4, his career has included stints at Premier, Buena Vista International (UK), Tartan Films, Electric Pictures and the BFI London Film Festival, working on films including Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Brooklyn, No Country For Old Men, Kill Bill and The Sixth Sense
Geraldine Moloney, Policy Consultant, Film Distributors’ Association
Geraldine Moloney has worked in the UK film industry for 40 years, publicising an extensive range of feature films from production through to release. During that time, she has worked for most of the major US studios, as well as for major international independent distributors. She has experience working in-house as part of the distribution marketing team, within a PR agency and also as a freelance consultant. Her diverse work has included the UK launch of many much-loved classic films through the 70’s; 80’s, 90’s and into the 21st Century; movies such as Star Wars Episode 1, Christopher Nolan’s cult classic Memento and from Bond through to Bollywood.
Working as a consultant, Geraldine has been employed as a specialist publicist on high-profile releases, strategising awareness campaigns from production through to release both within the UK and internationally.
More recently, she has moved into roles focusing on Public Affairs issues affecting the film industry. Firstly, working with the Motion Picture Association in Europe as a communications consultant on issues around content protection; and more recently advising the Film Distributors’ Association on digital issues impacting the sector and general policy issues. Geraldine’s role at FDA has also enabled her to contribute to a wide range of training programmes for distributors. The most recent of which has been a cross-sector paid internship programme for young people looking to develop a career in the business-sectors of the industry.
Samantha Joly, Marketing/Publicity Manager, See-Saw Films
Samantha Joly is the Marketing and Publicity Manager for See-Saw Films. Joly oversees all aspects of the marketing and publicity for See-Saw’s film and TV productions in the UK, Australia and as part of See-Saw’s continued expansion into the US. She works closely with the company’s distribution partners around the world and takes on the role of Unit Publicist on selected film and TV projects. Current titles include the upcoming thriller Widows from Academy Award®-winning director Steve McQueen and co-writer and bestselling author Gillian Flynn. Set to be released worldwide by Twentieth Century Fox in November 2018, Widows’ all-star cast includes Oscar® winner Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Rodriguez, Cynthia Erivo alongside Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall and Daniel Kaluuya.
Joly, who most recently served as Production and Marketing Executive, is a seven-year veteran of See-Saw Films, having begun her tenure with the company as Producer’s Assistant. Joly started her career in documentary television in 2009, moving into film publicity and production, before joining See-Saw in 2011.
Joly reports directly to co-managing directors Iain Canning and Emile Sherman and Chief Operating Officer for TV Hakan Kousetta.
Dominic Rowell, Commercial Director, Vue UK & Ireland
Dominic started his career in brand management working for Nestle and Pepsi Co before moving into retail where he led marketing, advertising and CRM for Sainsbury’s, McDonald’s and Carphone Warehouse.
In 2008 Dominic moved to Australia to be the Global Marketing Director for Lonely Planet, a subsidiary of BBC Worldwide. In 2010 he was appointed Managing Director of Lonely Planet Digital.
In 2013 Dominic joined Metro as Executive Director where he was accountable for newspaper circulation and all digital products.
Dominic has been Commercial Director for Vue UK & Ireland since January 2015, where he is leading all things brand, F&B, pricing and digital.
Ben Roberts, Director, BFI Film Fund
Ben Roberts is the Director of the BFI Film Fund, the UK’s largest public investor in film. He is responsible for overseeing the BFI’s wide-ranging support for talent development, feature film development and production, and audience development across exhibition, distribution and international sales.
He has over 15 years’ film industry experience across international sales, studio acquisitions, UK distribution and film finance gained from his time as CEO of Protagonist Pictures since 2007, and before that at Universal Pictures International and the independent UK distributor Metrodome.
Chris Bird, Worldwide Head of Film Licensing, Amazon
As a media distribution executive specialising in content acquisition and marketing, Chris Bird has over the last 15 years worked across a number of key UK distribution sectors. From start-up organisations such as Momentum Pictures and LOVEFiLM, to international studios such as NBCU and Sony, he has worked through the development on the online distribution age, and delivered retail growth to TVOD/EST, and customer subscription growth to subscriptions platforms such as LOVEFiLM and Amazon through curation, management and commissioning of content.
As a content commissioner Chris has been responsible for bringing as series of successful, exclusive 1st run TV shows to Amazon Prime. Series such as Outlander, Vikings, Extant and Black Sails as well as securing the AMC output of drama show for Amazon. Chris also led the commissioning of the BBC1 hit Ripper Street Season 3 to Amazon Prime in 2014, and brought The Grand Tour to Prime Video in 2016.
Chris now leads global film acquisition for Amazon Prime, responsible for movie content on Prime Video Worldwide, and has teams in London, Munich, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Miami, working to invest in film development for the Prime Video business worldwide.
Key Appointments:
Amazon – WW Head of Film Licensing
Director Content Strategy; Prime Instant Video EU
LOVEFiLM – Head of Marketing Services/Director Content Strategy
Universal Pictures – International Marketing Manager EU
Sony Pictures – Marketing Manager (Home Entertainment)
Momentum Pictures – Product Management
Yung Kha, Publicist, Dogwoof
After cutting her teeth in a commercial agency working on accounts for Universal Pictures, Momentum Pictures and ITV amongst others, Yung moved in house to the ICA as film and digital arts press officer. Since starting with Dogwoof in May 2010; Yung has has worked on releases including Dreams of a Life, The Spirit of ‘45, Blackfish, Dior and I, BAFTA winning The Act of Killing. Yung was born in Ban Mê Thuột, Vietnam.
Simran Hans, Film critic, The Observer
Simran Hans is a culture writer and film critic for The Observer. Her writing has also appeared in Dazed & Confused, The Guardian, The New Statesman and Sight & Sound. From 2015 to January 2018, she co-programmed the Bechdel Test Fest.
Jonathan Sadler, Consultant, Magus Marketing
I have worked in filmed entertainment distribution for over eighteen years in senior positions at Universal Pictures, Momentum Pictures, Revolver Entertainment and Arrow Films, playing a key role in marketing, acquiring and distributing film and TV content across all platforms, internationally.
During this time, I have created marketing campaigns for iconic films such as Amelie, American Beauty, Shakespeare in Love, The Mummy, The Hunt, Love is All You Need, Cinema Paradiso – 25th-anniversary release, Donnie Darko – 15th-anniversary release and, most recently, Heathers – 30th-anniversary release.
I have also worked agency-side in commercial and creative roles as well as in the music industry, at Warner Music International, and was previously the video buyer for two UK retail chains.
I am now running my own consultancy and virtual agency, Magus Marketing, helping independent producers and filmmakers bring their content to multi-platform audiences.
Rosie Alison, Heyday Films
Rosie Alison was a documentary producer/director for ten years, working on many television films about writers, dancers, actors and playwrights. Her documentary credits include The South Bank Show, Omnibus, Bookmark, and Grand Designs. In 2001 Alison joined David Heyman’s production company Heyday Films, where she has been Co-Producer of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS (written and directed by Mark Herman), and IS ANYBODY THERE? (written by Peter Harness, directed by John Crowley), Executive Producer of PADDINGTON 1 and 2 (written and directed by Paul King), and THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS (written and directed by Derek Cianfrance), and Producer of TESTAMENT OF YOUTH (written by Juliette Towhidi, directed by James Kent) and the forthcoming THE SECRET GARDEN (written by Jack Thorne, directed by Marc Munden.) She has also been a producer on various BBC TV dramas, including David Hare’s intelligence thriller PAGE EIGHT, and Christoper Hampton’s ghost story THE THIRTEENTH TALE (directed by James Kent), and the forthcoming Andrea Levy adaptation THE LONG SONG (written by Sarah Williams, directed by Mahalia Belo). Alison is also the author of a novel, The Very Thought of You, which was shortlisted for the Orange Prize in 2010.
Uzma Hasan, Producer, Little House Productions
Uzma Hasan is co founder and producer at venture capitalist backed Little House Productions. Her latest feature Nirpal Bhogal’s Firstborn premiered at Edinburgh International Film Festival 2016 ahead of a worldwide sale to Netflix. Her first feature The Infidel (2010) was released internationally to commercial and critical acclaim, was remade by Viacom India as Dharam Sankat Mein (2015) and as a musical that ran at Theatre Royal Stratford. She is currently producing the adaptation of Gautam Malkani’s cult novel Londonstani for the BFI.
Uzma is developing projects with a diverse range of talent including Ritesh Batra (Rail D’Or winner for The Lunchbox), Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw, novelist Nikesh Shukla as well as with Amazon Studios, the BFI and Creative England.
She is a non executive director on the board of Channel 4, and Ingenious Media backed Babber Films and Chisel Films. She consults for the International Film Festival Rotterdam and sits on the selection committee for the British Independent Film Awards.
Uzma has worked internationally with companies including Focus Features, Doha Film Institute and Tribeca Enterprises on the development, production and exploitation of feature films. In 2010, she was nominated for HRH Prince’s Trust Mosaic Arts & Culture Award; in 2012 she was nominated for the Asian Woman of Achievement Award and became a Woman of the Future Ambassador; and in 2013 she won the British Muslim Award
for Services to Creativity.
She attended Harvard University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences as a Kennedy Scholar to read Film and Literature.
Claudia Yusef, Head of Development, Number 9 Films
Claudia Yusef is Head of Development at Number 9 Films (Colette, Their Finest, Made in Dagenham, Carol), where she works with producers Stephen Woolley and Elizabeth Karlsen. Prior to this she was Talent Development Executive for the Scottish Film Talent Network, which forms the Scottish element of the BFI Network, designed to identify and support new and emerging talent. Before this she worked as a development executive at 42 Management and Production.
Number 9 is currently in development with So Much Love, a fantastic and original take on a vibrantly creative period in the life and career of British soul icon Dusty Springfield, written by award winning and Oscar nominated screenwriter Phyllis Nagy (Carol), which is being co-developed with Studio Canal. Also in development is Mothering Sunday, which is being adapted by Alice Birch from the novel by Graham Swift, and co-developed with Film 4.
Nish Panchal, Literary Agent, Curtis Brown
Since 2014, Nish has been a Literary Agent at Curtis Brown. He specialises in writers, directors, producers and authors working across film, television and theatre. Prior to joining Curtis Brown, Nish worked for the development team at BBC Films, working with world-class filmmakers across a slate of award-winning films.
Caragh Cook, Managing Director, Organic
Caragh Cook has been instrumental in building ORGANIC, which opened its doors twelve years ago, into a fully integrated communications agency for the entertainment industry, with a focus on film and television PR. Cook has worked for seventeen years in the film and television sector, specialising in publicity. She joined ORGANIC from the London office of Rogers & Cowan in 2011 where she worked across UK, International and personal publicity and prior to that at DDA PR where she started her career in 2001, working on UK and international campaigns for films that included The Lord of the Rings Trilogy; Million Dollar Baby; Wedding Crashers and Gangs of New York.
After joining ORGANIC in 2011, Cook helped grow the team and the agency’s PR business, and the following year, in 2012, the agency’s achievements were recognised at the Screen Awards when ORGANIC was awarded PR Team of the Year. The company launched an international division in 2013 and ORGANIC now has a stable of clients that includes sales agents, producers, and international distribution companies and has a presence at every major international film festival. In the past five years, ORGANIC has also significantly developed its television and SVOD business with a raft of retained clients. ORGANIC now has a thriving workforce of over thirty, working with almost every film studio and independent film distributor in the UK. The team takes a fully integrated approach in delivering their PR and social marketing services. The company went on to win PR Team of the Year (Agency) two further times in 2015 and 2017.
Organic is part of TargetMCG, the UK’s leading media and communications group specialising in the arts, culture and entertainment sectors. TargetMCG is part of Havas, the world’s fifth largest advertising network, based in the Havas Village in King’s Cross.
Calum Gray, Head of Sales, Embankment Films
Calum is Head of Sales at Embankment Films Ltd. He was previously Head of Sales at Celsius Entertainment, Director of Sales at Independent Film Sales and Head of Sales at Mercury Media. He has sold such titles as Oldboy, McQueen, The Wife, What We Did On Our Holiday, Starred Up, Gimme Danger, Metro Manila, Exit Through The Giftshop, We Need To Talk About Kevin and Safety Not Guaranteed. Calum was voted one of Screen International’s 50 future leaders in Sales and Acquisitions in 2012 and has lectured on film distribution for the NFTS, Film Wales, The European Documentary Network and Creative England.
Matt Aspray, CEO, Motion Picture Solution
CEO of Motion Picture Solutions, Matt Aspray has been integral to the growth of the London-headquartered distribution and exhibition-focused film services company since he joined as employee number 1 back in 2006. With a background in product design and development, Matt’s drive has elevated MPS from a specialist provider of engineering and technical support for major premieres to a day-and-date facility that now handles content mastering, localisation, digital rights management and distribution for worldwide releases. Matt’s recent commercial successes include the launch of MPSLabo, an LA-based joint venture with LatAm’s LaboDigital, and the establishment of a pan-European content distribution partnership with Gofilex. In his spare time, Matt wears loud trousers.
Gareth Ellis-Unwin, Head of Film, Creative Skillset
Gareth Ellis-Unwin is the Head of Film for Creative Skillset, the industry-led skills body for the screen-based industries. He is leading on delivering the BFI’s action plan, Future Film Skills, and also manages the Skills investment Fund known as the film levy.
Gareth was previously co-Founder and CEO of multi-award-winning Bedlam Productions, which was formed in 2000. He was producer of the critically acclaimed The King’s Speech, the highest grossing British independent film to date, which won four Academy Awards including Best Film and seven BAFTAs, including Best Film and Outstanding British Film. His other credits as producer include Zaytoun, BAFTA-nominated British war film Kajaki: The True Story and Exam, which was also nominated for a BAFTA and won Spirit and Dinard awards. Most recently he completed Steel Country, starring Andrew Scott and Denise Gough, which is starting its festival campaign summer 2018. Gareth Ellis-Unwin will remain involved with Bedlam’s current projects as a non-executive director of the company.
Caroline Cooper Charles, Producer and Film Executive
Caroline’s 20 year career within the film industry has evolved from running her first production company with acclaimed music video director Dawn Shadforth to her most recent combined roles as Strategic Development Executive for Screen Yorkshire and Talent Development Executive for Scottish Film Talent Network. Along this journey she has spent time as Head of Film at Creative England, Head of Creative Development at Warp X, managed the UK Film Council’s nationwide short film programme through her company Lifesize Pictures and spent a year as Director of the Sheffield International Documentary Festival.
Alongside her various positions Caroline has continued her own producing career through her company Universal Spirits and is currently Executive Producing a number of features.
Caroline has particular expertise in identifying and cultivating new and evolving voices and is passionate about championing talent based outside of London.
James Norrie, Director of Global Sales and Acquisitions, AMP International
Over a 20-year career, James has overseen the sales of a diverse range of films, including blockbusters The Passion Of The Christ, What Women Want and Apocalypto and other critical and commercial successes such as Before The Devil Knows You’re Dead, An Ideal Husband, The Edge of Love and Miss You Already on which he was an executive producer.
James was directly responsible for finding an acquiring TIFF Midnight Madness movie Baskin written and directed by the ferocious new talent Can Evrenol; Welcome to the Jungle with Jean-Claude Van Damme and Adam Brody (UK/US: Universal) and Viking epic Northmen: A Viking Saga (UK: eOne / US: Starz). In 2016 he set up AMP International with Inderpal Singh and Bob Portal of Alliance Media Partners launching sales on cult sci-fi hit The Endless, Sam Rockwell starrer Blue Iguana and Anna And The Apocalypse (Orion releasing Christmas 2018) on which he is an executive producer.
Lawrence Francis, Director, Premier
Lawrence is a company director at leading integrated creative agency PREMIER, with responsibility for strategy and business development across the agency’s extensive portfolio of film and entertainment clients. Lawrence’s experience within the film industry began in production, and his career has since seen him bridge various marketing disciplines including advertising, PR, events and social media at various agencies. He has delivered UK and international campaigns for clients including Universal Pictures, SKY, The BFI, Channel 4, Sony, and Disney. Outside of the entertainment industry Lawrence has also led PREMIER’s work with a range of consumer brand clients, including the creation a number of award-winning global campaigns for sexual wellbeing brand Durex, international PR and social media for The Eurovision Song Contest and major fundraising activations for charities including Evelina London Children’s Hospital. Lawrence may also be familiar to some as the “man-on-the-mic” at the UK Film Centre at the Cannes Film Festival, where he has hosted the We Are UK Film event and seminar programme for the last seven years
Lawrence Atkinson, Chief Executive Officer, The DDA Group
Lawrence Atkinson is Chief Executive Officer of The DDA Group, leaders in global film, television and entertainment communications.
Atkinson joined DDA Public Relations in February 2006 as Executive Vice President and subsequently acquired a majority equity stake in the company and assumed responsibility for the agency’s future. He manages the agency alongside Chief Operating Officer John Stannard, President and partner Dana Archer and President, Film & Television, Neil Bhatt.
Founded in London in 1970, with offices in London and Los Angeles, as well as affiliates and associates in most other parts of the world, DDA is the leading global film and entertainment communications agency, offering a bespoke service and a truly worldwide reach for the Creative Industries. DDA provides creative and insightful strategies and, turnkey campaign solutions for film, television and brands.
DDA’s broad portfolio of services includes public relations, strategic consultancy, event production and management, digital & social, insight & analytics, brand partnerships and integration, personal representation, creative design, and awards campaigns.
Previous Employment history
Prior to DDA, Atkinson was Director of Film (UK) for UK Entertainment PR Agency Premier Communications. At Premier, he was responsible for developing and handling business for the agency across all areas of the Film industry, including UK Distribution Campaigns for both major studios and the independent sector, Premieres, Unit and Production Publicity, International Film Festivals and Home Entertainment.
Before Premier PR, Atkinson served as Publicity Manager for the UK Publicity Division of leading international film distributor Buena Vista International (UK) Ltd, operating in both London and at the Walt Disney Studios in Los Angeles. During his six years at Disney, Atkinson was responsible for UK distribution campaigns across a variety of titles from Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, Miramax, Touchstone Pictures and local productions and acquisitions.
Atkinson started his career in film at the Edinburgh International Film Festival in 1995 where he worked in the press office during Artistic Director Mark Cousins’ tenure.
Atkinson is a member of BAFTA, AMPAS, the PRCA, and is on the Board of Trustees of MediCinema, a charity dedicated to improving the wellbeing of patients, their families and carers across the UK through the magic of the shared cinema experience.
Ste Thompson, CEO and founder, POWSTER
Ste is the CEO and founder of POWSTER, a provider of creative services to over 100 film distributors in over 40 countries and music videos and interactive content to the major music labels. Ste has led the POWSTER creative vision since its foundation in 2009, winning many prestigious awards. Ste’s primary skill is product development and innovation. Prior to POWSTER, he developed creative content for the music and brand industry and studied multimedia, computer game design and digital media. Ste is now located in Los Angeles with Powster studios in LA and London.
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In Memory of Leo Juel Tjelmeland
Leo Juel Tjelmeland
Born: March 24, 1925
Died: April 24, 2014
March 24, 1925 - April 24, 2014
From: Nevada, IA | Originally: Nevada, IA
Leo Tjelmeland, age 89, of Nevada, died at his home on Thursday, April 24, 2014.
Visitation was held 1-3 p.m. Sunday at Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada. There was a Prayer Service at 3 p.m. with Pastor Dennis Sandmann officiating. Graveside services were 10 a.m. Monday, April 28, 2014, at Roland Cemetery in Roland, with military honors by American Legion Post #307 of Roland.
Leo Juel Tjelmeland was born March 24, 1925, in Radcliffe, Iowa, to Ward and Gladys (Osmundson) Tjelmeland. He graduated from Milford Township High School in 1942. He served in the United States Army from 1944-46.
On December 9, 1947, Leo married Sally M. Banks at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Leo was a life-long member of Salem Lutheran Church in Roland.
Leo farmed north of Nevada all of his life, retiring in 1996. He also worked for 25 years at the National Animal Disease Lab in Ames. He was a member of the Roland American Legion, Post #307, and enjoyed watching sports as a pastime.
Leo is survived by his children, Sherry (Larry) Ragee of Mesa, AZ, Jim (Brenda Mertens) Tjelmeland of Vinton, Paul Tjelmeland (Lisa White) of Auburn, AL, and Dean (Jolene) Tjelmeland of rural Nevada; eight grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lola Anderson of Nevada, and Delores Campbell of Gilbert, AZ; two brothers, Joel Tjelmeland of Springfield, IL, and Gordon Tjelmeland of Clive; as well as several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife Sally on January 18, 2000; his parents; and five brothers, Harold, Wally, Wayne, Gary, and Keith Tjelmeland.
Memorials in Leo's name may be directed to Salem Lutheran Church of Roland.
Ryan Funeral Home of Nevada was entrusted with the care of Leo and his family.
3 p.m. Prayer Service
Ryan Funeral Home
Nevada, Iowa
Pastor Dennis Sandmann
CASKET BEARERS
Larry Ragee
Jim Tjelmeland
Paul Tjelmeland
Dean Tjelmeland
Lucas Tjelmeland
Roland Cemetery
Roland, Iowa
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NEWS: Tribunal studies dams in Mexico
Brent Patterson
PHOTO: PPT panel by Claudia Campero.
La Jornada (one of Mexico City’s leading newspapers with more than 287,000 readers) reports (in Spanish), “The Mexican government abuses communities in various regions of the country to build dams, participants said at the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal (PPT) prehearing entitled ‘Dams, peoples’ rights and impunity’, held on Monday and Tuesday in Temacapulín… The jury includes Miloon Kothari, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing; Maude Barlow, former senior advisor on water to the UN General Assembly president; and Monti Aguirre, coordinator for Latin America at International Rivers… The ruling the PPT issues on Thursday is not legally binding, but the prestige of this organization, founded in 1979 as an international non-governmental ethics tribunal, has great moral weight and made visible rights abuses in various communities. After two days of presentations of evidence in Temacapulín, the PPT jurors will deliberate in Guadalajara on Wednesday, and on Thursday at 10 am they will announce their decision. On Friday, the judges will go to the Supreme Court of Justice to provide a copy of their decision, the document will also be given to the federal government and the Federal Electricity Commission.”
The full article is at http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2012/11/06/estados/033n1est.
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Category Archives: Jones -Shafroth Act of 1917
Killing Us Softly With the US Colonial Song: Puerto Ricans Matter
December 31, 2017 Adopt Arecibo, Boricua Branches, Carmen Yulin Cruz, Dee Smalling, Family, Heriberto Marin, Inc., Jesse Gonzalez, Jones -Shafroth Act of 1917, Jones Act of 1920, Luis Sanakori Ramos, Padre Antonio Jose Oqendo-Pabon, PROMESA, Ralph Delgado-Tossas, Rose Turner, Spanish-American War of 1898, Theresa Delgado-TossasMsVegatron
This blogpost is dedicated to my 2nd great-grandfather, Juan Eusebio Bonilla Salcedo, who was assassinated in 1890 by the Spanish Civil Guard for being a member of the Puerto Rican Autonomous Party. Juan Eusebio pre-deceased his comrades, who in 1897, took part in La Intentona de Yauco, the last uprising against Spanish colonial rule. It is likewise dedicated to my 3rd great-uncle, Pedro Lajara Guerra-Mondragon, a captain in the Spanish Militia, who took part in El Grito de Lares — the first uprising against The Spanish in 1868. These men spoke truth to power about the conditions of the Boricua people. I am humbled to know that I descend from Puerto Rican revolutionaries who were truth-tellers. Me siento honrado de saber que su espíritu de resistencia está en mis genes. Que descansen en paz eterna.
Finally, this blogpost is dedicated to each and every one of my Boricua Branches. Like branches of a tree, we will continue to grow together. I have been blessed to have made all of your acquaintances. There are way too many names to list, but you know who you are. Besitos y un abrazo fuerte.
L Artist: Rosenda Alvarez, Old San Juan
On Becoming Comfortable with My Rice & Beans & Collard Greens Self
On December 27th, 2013, I wrote one of my first blogposts about what it meant to find my Boricua Branches — my father’s side of my family. I will always say, without an ounce of hesitation, that the best part of taking my DNA tests was finding my Puerto Rican cousins. My father’s absence for 20 years of my life — from the age of 3-years old until 23-years old — resulted in a critical disjuncture in how I saw myself. While I always knew I was half-Puerto Rican, my pre-23 year old self did not know what that meant having been born and raised in Brockton, MA, a suburb of Boston. Brockton was not the diverse community it is today when I was growing up. It was a predominately white community with a small African-American and Cape Verdean population. We were often seen as Black and sometimes as Cape Verdean. Pre-23-year old Teresa was definitely Black culturally-identified. Though I always knew I had a diverse maternal extended family and equally diverse ancestors, having been raised by my maternal grandparents, I grew up within the confines of an African-American community.
I arrived in New York City in the Fall of 1990 to attend graduate school in a city that had one of the largest populations of Puerto Ricans outside of Puerto Rico. With a name like Teresa A. Vega, I had a hard time convincing anyone that I was anything other than a Latina. People assumed that I was either in denial about being a Latina or had some sort of hangup about speaking Spanish. It never occured to most people that maybe I didn’t grow up with my Puerto Rican father, that maybe Spanish wasn’t my first language, or maybe I was raised in a place that didn’t have a Latino community.
Two months after my mother passed away in December 1990, my father walked back into our lives. Boom! There he was. It was nothing short of an earthquake that shook up our lives. My siblings and I had different reactions to his re-emergence. None were more valid than the others. Our reactions were what they were. As I stated in another post, I left graduate school in the Fall of 1991 and moved to Cordoba, Spain, where my father retired, to get to know him. That is a decsion I will never regret. For all his faults — he had many — I learned what I inherited from him and, more importantly, what I didn’t.
Though I had 10 years (1991-2001) with my father before he passed away, he was always a step away from Puerto Rico for me. There was only so much I could learn from him about Puerto Rico as he left the island when he was a child and was raised in New York City. Even though I had been to Puerto Rico before, I felt disconnected to the island because I didn’t know anyone who was related to me and he didn’t remember any relatives there either. When I thought of Puerto Rico, there was always a sadness present due to the loss of family. Sometimes we mourn for that which we know we should have received automatically, but we didn’t. We are just left with a bottomless void…. so I thought.
23andme DNA Cousins in 2017
Receiving my first DNA test results in December 2013 was certainly a life-changing event. I went from having 1200 DNA cousins on 23andme in December 2013 to having 1933 in 2017. On AncestryDNA, I went from having 1800 DNA cousins to over 35,000 today and, on FTDNA Family Finder, I went from having 145 DNA cousins to having 1489. On all three of my DNA tests, the great majority of my matches are Puerto Rican. So, now I know that voids can be filled and hope should ALWAYS be kept alive.
My Boricua Branches, Global Family Reunion, 2015
DNA Cousin Gathering 2016
When I look back over the last 4 years, I realize just how blessed I’ve been in the company of my Boricua Branches. Just knowing and being among them gave me my birthright — my ancestral heritage — back. My cousins have always maintained ties to Puerto Rico. They were never one step away from the island, but always kept one foot there. Over the past couple of years, in addition to meeting my cousins here in New York from all over the country, I’ve also traveled to Puerto Rico and met my cousins there. Like I’ve said before, we are all branches on the same tree that is firmly rooted on the island. It has been my Boricua Branches who taught me what being Puerto Rican truly meant and there is nothing like two back-to-back hurricanes, Irma and Maria, that have brought that message home to me in stark terms.
Happy 100th Anniversary: American Citizens and Colonial Subjects
When Hurricane Irma and Maria hit, my Boricua Branches and I were frantic. Phones were ringing off the hook and FaceBook IMs and text messages were flying back and forth. All of us trying to locate our family and friends. Some of our kin were readily located and others went missing for weeks. For the first time in my life, I feared for my family and friends in Puerto Rico. My cousin Maddy and I called each other trying to find out about our relatives in Yauco and San Juan. So many calls were made to my cousins to find out if they heard from their relatives that I lost count. Every day we checked in with each other to see who had been located and who was still missing. Sometimes all we could do was pray as we waited. Tears flowed as the devastation became known bit by bit.
My Bonilla Cousins in San Juan
Theresa aka T2 and Ralph
Four years earlier, I didn’t know one relative in Puerto Rico and now I had so many to track down. One of the longest waits I had was for Theresa and Ralph to show up. It took a month. The two of them have the honor of being designated as my “First LIVE Puerto Rican cousins that I met in Puerto Rico.” The NYC honor goes to my cousin, Raul Cruz Delgado, who earned that title back in 2013. Though Theresa, Ralph and I are forever linked in the AncestryDNA commercial we filmed together, we are also spiritually-bonded through the libation ceremony — overseen by our primo Luis Sanakori Ramos — that we gave my 2nd great-grandfather that honored both his Taino ancestry and his Puerto Rican revolutinary spirit. Both were with me when I met my Bonilla cousins for the first time, an experience that is forever seared in my mind that is too precious to adequately put into words even today.
Libation Ceremony in honor of Juan Eusebio Bonilla Salcedo
The day I met my Bonilla Cousins on my dad’s 80th birthday
My Boricua Branches and I watched as the President of the United States sat by as both hurricanes devastated our beloved island and offered minimal help. As American citizens, we expected more. We did not ask to become United States citizens, it was a condition imposed on us by the United States in the form of the Jones-Shafroth Act of 1917 which granted Puerto Ricans full American citizenship. A couple of months later, in May 1917, Puerto Ricans began to be drafted to fight in World War I. Over 20,000 Puerto Ricans served in the military then and continue to do so today.
Puerto Rico has been a colony of the United States ever since it was won as a result of The Spanish-American War of 1898. At no point ever have Puerto Ricans been able to control their island. Though Puerto Rico is self-governed through a local constitution whereby Puerto Ricans can elect their own Governor, Assembly and Senate, the United States government still oversees and controls the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. There is no President of Puerto Rico other than the President of the United States. We are not citizens of some other country. We are citizens of the United States of America. It’s a damn shame that I even have to say that in 2017, but I do.
When the current President of the United States, in a heinous, blatantly ignorant act of utter disrespect, threw paper towels at us and joked about about how Hurricane Maria was not that bad compared to Hurricane Katrina, my Boricua Branches — even those cousins who voted for him — and I cringed. It was as clear as day that we did not matter to HIM. We were seen as “The Other” because of the color of our skin and the language that rolled off of our tongues. It did not matter that we were American, that a lot of us were bilingual or only spoke English, or that we only had to move to the mainland for our votes to count.
We also sat by and watched as the Governor of Puerto Rico became politically impotent and agreed with the President’s shenanigans in early October. We were all shocked as both the President and Governor undercounted the death toll by the hundreds, if not thousands, and made light of our very real pain and denied what our own eyes were witnessing. The gaslighting of Puerto Rico’s hurricane victims was in full effect on every television network worldwide. Though the Governor now realizes his mistake, the damage was done. History will remember that it was the Mayor of San Juan who stood up with cojones and spoke truth to power in real time. She represented all Boricuas wherever we are found in the world. Her name is Carmen Yulin Cruz. Say HER name, Say HER name, Say HER name…
It was Carmen, along with many other Puerto Rican activists, who sounded the alarm about the compounded impact that the Jones Act of 1920 would have on Puerto Rican hurricane victims. Under the Jones Act, any foreign vessel must pay expensive tariffs, fees, and taxes to deliver goods to Puerto Rico. These taxes are then passed on to the Puerto Rican consumer. As a result, consumer goods are much more expensive. Of course, humanitarian aid was and has been hindered by this Act which was waived for a month after Hurricane Maria. The United States has since let that waiver expire.
There are many government officials and other Americans who look to blame Puerto Ricans for their current situation. It is far too easy to render blame to people who don’t look like you and who speak a different language than you. It’s so easy to also assign blame to others when you yourself are ignorant of United States history as well as the definition of what a colony is. Puerto Ricans are not responsible for their current situation when the US government calls all the shots, especially as they relate to the Puerto Rican economy. For example, when we look back to 1976, we see that Congress decreed that American companies could relocate to Puerto Rico and operate tax-free and many pharmaceutical and manufacturing companies did just that. However twenty years later, Congress then decided this was too costly and ended these tax breaks. Companies fled the island and took their jobs with them. This pullback ultimately led to the current debt crisis that existed before the hurricanes hit — a crisis that has meant that the Boricua people are at the whim of the United States government (e.g., PROMESA). As far as I am concerned, every president who has been in office has been complicit in the underdevelopment of Puerto Rico. Over the past decade, thousands upon thousands of Puerto Ricans have fled the island for the mainland and poverty has become deeply entrenched. Again, the Boricua people are victims of policies that are regulated by Washington by people who have no ties to the island. We are at the mercy of a President and government that believes that Puerto Ricans don’t matter.
How can you explain the fact that Puerto Ricans have been left to die by the hundreds, if not thousands, and the real body count will never be known? How do you explain that, 100+ days after Hurricane Maria, only half the island has power and may have to wait until Spring to get it —-in the “greatest” country in the world? How can you even look the world in the eye and claim that you want to “Make America Great Again” when the policies that you espouse have resulted in the PREVENTABLE death of innocent people? How can you sleep at night when you just passed a tax-reform bill that treats Puerto Rico like a foreign country and will further devastate and economically ruin American citizens of Puerto Rican descent? It is so clear that the United States is are being led by people who follow a false prophet and adhere to a false religion. Do not talk to me about a Christianity that is 1000% un-Christian. Talk to my hand because the God I KNOW would never let his flock suffer like we are now. NEVER! The devil is real, folks!
Anyone with a heart and soul knows that Puerto Ricans matter. We matter because we are human. How do you not recognize another person’s basic humanity? Throughout history, I know there have been those who walked among us and denied others the right to exist just because they were different from them. I will never understand that.
Some of us are brave though and we follow the ways and knowledge that our ancestors passed down to us. We will stay, resist and fight back against our intended demise, and aid our brothers and sisters by any means necessary in their time of need. We are here for the long-term. Puerto Ricans MATTER! We don’t need anyone’s pity and we are not asking for unjust handouts. We ask for that for which we are due for all 119 years of colonial subjugation. People and companies profited off of Puerto Rico and it is time that the Boricua people receive payment back. We want hurricane relief with no strings attached. We don’t want to be saddled with outrageous debt that we did not create. We want the Jones Act repealed as it has placed an unfair burden on the Boricua people. We want something that goes beyond the current FEMA programs whereby people are able to stay in their homes or are able to be resettled nearby. We want to live in a clean environment with toxin-free water…..among other things.
We are, without a doubt, the canaries in the coal mine. Just a thought, if the current US government does this to us, as American citizens, who else is next given all the forthcoming cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, the ACA, health organizations, etc.?
We Are RESILIENT!!!
“We Puerto Ricans are also a heroic people, because we resisted Spain for five hundred years, and now we have resisted the United States for a hundred and nineteen years. We are like trees that not even a hurricane has been able to uproot, because our roots grow so deeply. Our leaves may be torn off, but they will grow again. These are the fruits of what we have sown
-Heriberto Marin, one of the last survivors of the Jajuya Uprising in 1950
(The New Yorker Magazine, 12/27/2017)
I am proud of the Boricua Branches that I have because they prove time and time again just how resilient we are as a people. I can’t stop bragging about them. Here are just some of the cousins I have who have stepped up, before and after the hurricanes, and set an example to be followed.
In the days after they resurfaced, Theresa and Ralph started to immediately organize to not only help others in need, but also to coordinate hurricane relief donations from the mainland to their home. They then began distributing these donations to places that were not being reached by anyone and they have continued to do so ever since. They even created a Closed FB group, along with Dee Smalling, Rose Turner and others, where they keep track of donations sent, when they are received, and then they post where those donations ended up. This is the only Puerto Rican relief group that I am working with that I can 100% confirm are legitimate and do what they say they are going to do so. They have been delivering food donations, sanitary supplies, solar lights, water filters, tarps, and other items. They have also been working with our other cousins on the island and conscripting them into their great cause. Of course, our mainland Boricua Branches have also been sending supplies in earnest. Together, we are handling it BIG TIME.
Adopt Arecibo Info
Adopt Arecibo Donations Delivered
Adopt Arecibo started out as a small relief organization, but is turning out to be a lot more. Adopt Arecibo now partners with the following organizations:
American Black Cross
Boondocks K-9 Search & Rescue Unit Inc. – CERT
Cajun Commissary
Caras Con Causa
Casa Bonuco
Coalition of Hope
Coblian Med
Comedores Sociales
Commit 2 PR
Connect Relief
Coqui Nation
Cuerpo De Emergencias Medicas Estatal Base De Arecibo
Direct Relief
Disaster Relief Alliance – DRA
Empowered by Light
Familiares en Puerto Rico,Comunicate aqui,con tus fami
Flamboyan Foundation
Fundación Stefano Steenbakkers Betancourt
Fundacion Surfrider Rincon
Fundadacion Oye Aguadilla
Generate Some Love
H3 Tech Conference
Habitat for Humanity, PR
Heath Pro Med
Initiativa Comunitaria
Institute for Socio-Ecological Research
Levantando el Valle Relief
Mano A Mano Aydando Puerto Rico
MAP International
Mentes Puertorriqueñas en Acción
New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS)
Operation Agua
Operation Puerto Rico
Para La Natureleza
Parallel18
PECES, Inc
Power 4 Puerto Rico
Programa de Asistencia Tecnológica de Puerto Rico
Project Coqui_Puerto Rico Relief
proyecto esparciendo amor inc.
Puerto Rican Family Institute, Inc
Puerto Rican National Chamber of Commerce
Puerto Ricans in Action
Puerto Rico Diseña
Puerto Rico Distribución de Filtros de agua/ Water Filter distribution
Puerto Rico Love—Disaster Online Support Team
Puerto Rico Mercy Corps
Puerto Rico por Puerto Rico PRxPR
Puerto Rico Recovery Fund
Raices Cultural Center, A NJ Nonprofit Corporation
Raise Your Hands For PR, Inc.
RBC Maria Relief
Reconstruccion de Puerto Rico
Remote Area Medical
Rescate Playas Borinquen
Samaritan’s Purse
Shop+HirePuerto Rico
Texas United for Puerto Rico
Together Puerto Rico / Juntos Puerto Rico
Tree of Life Counseling Center & Foundation
Unity Warriors Group
Veterans At Sea
Veterans For Puerto Rico
Warrior Angels Rescue
Water Filters for Puerto Rico
Water For Puerto Rico Foundation
Water Mission
Waves 4 Water
World Water Solar
Yonomequito
If anyone one has a charity organization that would like to deliver hurricane relief items to Adopt Arecibo, please feel free to contact me at rrbbgenealogy@gmail.com directly for further info.
Padre Jose Antonio Oquendo-Pabon
What can I say about a cousin who truly lives according to the word of God and could teach those in Washington a thing or two (make that many things) about how to live a Christian life? What can I say about a man, who could leave Puerto Rico in a minute, but has chosen to remain in horrible conditions to minister to his flock despite his own medical problems? What can I say about a man who is keeping a Hurricane Maria Diary to bear witness to all he has seen and who is intent on telling the truth until the very end? This cousin of mine has my utmost respect. He is a true man of God and I KNOW God knows his name. I pray for him every day because the work he has to do is more than noble. I ask people to also send prayers, love and light his way to lift Padre Jose Antonio Oquendo-Pabon up because the work he is doing is not easy. May the blessing of the Lord be with him always. Amen.
Me and my cousin Jesse Gonzalez
A big thank you goes to my cousin Jesse, the founder and CEO of Comelco, Inc., who stepped up and donated a 1-million watt generator to The Mennonite General Hospital in Aibonito, PR, an area that was heavily hit by Hurricane Maria. That act of generosity, not only saved 209 jobs, but will also save countless future lives. The generator left Jacksonville, FL last Thursday and will be received shortly. Jesse is one of the most generous people I know and I love that he has never forgotten where he came from. He is still that kid who grew up in the projects on the Lower East Side. Respect in the highest of the high!
Me and my cousin Luis Sanakori Ramos
My cousin Luis is a treasure, not only to me, but to many of our cousins. We met almost 4 yeara ago. He is our cultural ambassador and educator who connects us to our Indigenous ancestors in very tangible ways. He guided Maddy, Theresa, Ralph and me as we sought to honor Maddy and my 2nd great-grandfather in the way that celebrated his Indigenous Tano roots. Luis has also aided many cousins on their own quests to connect with their Indigenous ancestors and has given them their Indigenous names in a beautiful naming ceremony. He is the founder of the Mobile Indigenous Library, a Fancy Dancer who connects with various Indigenous cross-cultural groups nationwide. Moreover, he also performs healing ceremonies and acts as an Indigenous educator throughout NYC. Luis is a member of the Naguake Indigenous Community in Puerto Rico/Boriken and is working on fostering greater ties with this community in the future.
Our Leaves May Be Torn off, But They Will Grow Again….And Again
It’s the very end of 2017 and around 300,000 Puerto Ricans have already left the island for the mainland and more are packing up ready to go. 2018 is now here. Because we are resilient and love our island, we will never forget those who left us to suffer and die in prime time. We will vote, as American citizens, this coming year, and in 2020, and our votes and voices will be heard nationwide. Make no mistake. Our votes will be our greatest form of resistance.
We WILL remember EVERY name on the lists below.
Here is the full list of Representatives that voted against disaster relief for Puerto Rico:
Justin Amash (R-Michigan)
Jim Banks (R-Indiana)
Andy Burr (R-Kentucky)
Joe Barton (R-Texas)
Jack Bergman (R-Michigan)
Andy Biggs (R-Arizona)
Mike Bishop (R-Michigan)
Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee)
Dave Brat (R-Virginia)
Mo Brooks (R-Alabama)
Ken Buck (R-Colorado)
Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)
Steve Chabot (R-Ohio)
James Comer (R-Kentucky)
Scott DesJarlais (R-Tennessee)
Sean Duffy (R-Wisconsin)
Jeff Duncan (R-South Carolina)
John Duncan (R-Tennessee)
Tom Emmer (R-Minnesota)
Virginia Foxx (R-North Carolina)
Trent Franks (R-Arizona)
Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin)
Thomas Garret (R-Virginia)
Bob Goodlatte (R-Virginia)
Paul Gosar (R-Arizona)
Morgan Griffith (R-Virginia)
Andy Harris (R-Maryland)
Jody Hice (R-Georgia)
French Hill (R-Arkansas)
George Holding (R-North Carolina)
Richard Hudson (R-North Carolina)
Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana)
Walter Jones (R-North Carolina)
Trent Kelly (R-Mississippi)
David Kustoff (R-Texas)
Doug Lamborn (R-Colorado)
Jason Lewis (R-Minnesota)
Barry Loudermilk (R-Georgia)
Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky)
Mark Meadows (R-North Carolina)
Luke Messer (R-Indiana)
Alex Mooney (R-West Virginia)
Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)
Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota)
Ralph Norman (R-South Carolina)
Gary Palmer (R-Alabama)
Steve Pearce (R-New Mexico)
Scott Perry (R-Pennsylvania)
Robert Pittenger (R-North Carolina)
Todd Rokita (R-Indiana)
Keith Rothfus (R-Pennsylvania)
David Rouzer (R-North Carolina)
Mark Sanford (R-South Carolina)
David Schweikert (R-Arizona)
Jamex Sensenbrenner (R-Wisconsin)
Jason Smith (R-Missouri)
Mark Walker (R-North Carolina)
Jackie Walorski (R-Indiana)
Here is the full list of Senators that voted against disaster relief for Puerto Rico:
John Barrasso (R-WY)
Bob Corker (R-TN
Tom Cotton (R-AR)
Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Mike Enzi (R-WY)
Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
James Lankford (R-OK)
Mike Lee (R-UT)
Rand Paul (R-KY)
David Perdue (R-GA)
James Risch (R-ID)
Ben Sasse (R-NE)
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
Luther Strange (R-AL)
Pat Toomey (R-PA)
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Business & Sustainable Development Commission (BSDC)
The Business Commission draws upon the expertise of global private sector and civil society leaders to investigate, articulate and amplify the business case for sustainable development.
Amr Al-Dabbagh
Chairman & CEO, Al-Dabbagh Group H.E Amr Al-Dabbagh is the Chairman and CEO of Al-Dabbagh Group. Stars Foundation, its global philanthropic arm, aims to impact the lives of 100 million people and their communities by 2020 through its initiatives: Philanthropy University, Stars Impact Awards, Centres of Excellence Grants and the Game Changing initiatives. Al-Dabbagh sits on various international boards including London Business School, Eisenhower Fellowship and Cleveland Clinic’s International Leadership Board. He co-authored his first book, “Governpreneurship” in 2012, and published his second book, “Omnipreneurship” in 2016.
Laura Alfaro
Warren Alpert Professor, Business Administration, Harvard Business School Laura Alfaro is the Warren Alpert Professor at Harvard Business School in the Business, Government, and International Economy Unit. Laura was previously Minister of National Planning and Economic Policy in Costa Rica from 2010-2012.
Peter Bakker
President and CEO, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Peter Bakker is a distinguished business leader who until June 2011, was the CEO of TNT NV, the Netherlands-based holding company of TNT Express and Royal TNT Post. Under his leadership TNT rose to the forefront of corporate responsibility via a ground-breaking partnership with the UN World Food Programme and ambitious CO2 reduction targets from its Planet Me initiative, holding multiple-year top-ranking positions in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.
Sharan Burrow
General Secretary, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Sharan Burrow was elected General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) at its Second World Congress in Vancouver in June 2010. The ITUC is the world’s peak labour union body and represents 180 million workers in 162 countries and territories, and has 333 national affiliates.
Ho Ching
Chief Executive Officer, Temasek Holdings Private Ltd Ms. Ho Ching is the CEO of Temasek Holdings, a Singapore investment company, and a Fellow of the Academy of Engineering, Singapore. An active proponent of sustainable development, she is also a patron of Assisi Hospice and advises causes such as the Autism Research Centre.
Bob Collymore
Chief Executive Officer, Safaricom Limited With over 30 years experience in the telecommunications sector, Robert (Bob) Collymore is the CEO of Safaricom Limited, a leading communications company in Africa and pioneer of M-PESA, the world’s most developed mobile payment system. Bob is a respected thought-leader in the African business space and is passionate about how businesses can transform communities through sustainable and responsible action.
John Danilovich
Secretary General, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) John Danilovich is Secretary General of the International Chamber of Commerce, and was formally the US Ambassador to Brazil and to Costa Rica, Chief Executive Officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, and maritime industry veteran.
Begümhan Doğan Faralyalı
President, Doğan Holding Begümhan Doğan Faralyalı is the President of Doğan Holding, one of the largest groups in Turkey active in diverse sectors, particularly in media, owning several TV channels and print media including the most influential daily Hurriyet newspaper. Mrs. Faralyalı has had 15 years of overseas experience before joining the family-owned Dogan Group, including a consultancy at the NY office of Arthur Andersen and the Monitor Group in London. Mrs. Faralyalı is on the Advisory Boards of Stanford Graduate School of Business and Unicredit Bank.
Hendrik du Toit
Chief Executive Officer, Investec Asset Management Hendrik du Toit is Chief Executive Officer and founder of Investec Asset Management and a director of Investec plc and Investec Ltd. Under his stewardship, Investec Asset Management has grown from a small South African start-up in 1991 to an international asset management firm entrusted with over US$110 billion of client assets.
Richard Edelman
President & Chief Executive Officer, Edelman Richard Edelman is the president and CEO of Edelman, the leading communications marketing firm, with 65 offices and 5,500 employees worldwide. Richard has extensive experience in marketing and reputation management, having led assignments with major corporations, NGOs and family businesses in over 25 industries around the world.
Chief Executive Officer, Pearson plc. John Fallon has been the Chief Executive Officer of Pearson plc since 2013. Prior to his current position, John has had a number of roles with Pearson since joining the company in 1997, including being responsible for the company's education businesses outside North America, and a member of the Pearson management committee.
Ken Frazier (2016)
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Merck & Co. Inc. Kenneth (Ken) C. Frazier is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Merck & Co., Inc. Ken has held a broad range of senior management positions since joining Merck in 1992, including as president of Merck with responsibility for the company’s three major divisions, general counsel and secretary of the Astra Merck Group. Ken sits on the boards of PhRMA, Weill Cornell Medical College and other organisations.
Mats Granryd
Director General, GSMA Mats Granryd is Director General of GSMA and a Board member. Mats leads the GSMA in supporting its global membership through a range of industry programmes, advocacy initiatives and industry-convening events. Mats brings to the GSMA a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in the mobile industry. Before joining the GSMA, Mats was President and CEO of Tele2, one of Europe’s fastest-growing telecom operators. Previously, he spent 15 years in a variety of roles at Ericsson.
Helen Hai
CEO, Made in Africa Initiative Helen Hai is CEO of the Made in Africa Initiative, which advises the governments of Ethiopia, Rwanda and Senegal on industrialisation and investment promotion. She is also UNIDO Goodwill Ambassador for industrialisation in Africa and co-founder of C&H Garments, a pioneer Pan-African export-oriented garments manufacturer. Helen trained as an actuary in the UK and has 15 years of international experience in FTSE100 companies. In 2015 she was named Global Young Leader by the World Economic Forum and received the African Business Icon Award.
Svein Tore Holsether
President and Chief Executive Officer, Yara International Mr. Holsether is President and Chief Executive Officer of Yara, a leading global fertilizer company committed in its mission to “Responsibly feed the world and protect the planet”. Previously, Mr. Holsether was President and CEO of Sapa AS for four years, prior to which he held a range of executive and senior position in Orkla, Sapa and Elkem. Mr. Holsether has previously served as Director of the Renewable Energy Corporation ASA, and is a member of the Executive Committee for World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
Founder and Chairman, Mo Ibrahim Foundation Mo Ibrahim established the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in 2006 to support good governance and exceptional leadership on the African continent. Dr Ibrahim is also Founding Chairman of Satya Capital Limited, a private equity fund focused on Africa, and Chairman of TPG-Satya, a Joint African Investment Alliance.
Mary Ellen Iskenderian
President and CEO, Women’s World Banking Mary Ellen Iskenderian is President and CEO of Women’s World Banking, the global nonprofit devoted to giving more low-income women access to the financial tools and resources they require to achieve security and prosperity. She is a permanent member of the Council on Foreign Relations, an Advisor to the Clinton Global Initiative, and sits on the Board of Directors of Fair Trade USA.
Amy Jadesimi
Managing Director, Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL) Amy Jadesimi is the Managing Director of Nigeria-based LADOL. Prior to joining LADOL, Amy established a financial consulting firm in Nigeria, and Goldman Sachs International. She holds an MBA from Stanford Business School.
Donald Kaberuka
Former President, African Development Bank Group Donald Kaberuka is a Rwandan economist and is the former president of the African Development Bank from 2005-2015. Prior to this Mr. Kaberuka served as Rwanda’s Finance Minister from 1997-2005, during which time he led the country’s successful economic reconstruction after the end of its civil war.
Lise Kingo
Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact Lise Kingo is the Executive Director of the UN Global Compact and a recognised expert in corporate sustainability. Prior to joining the UN Global Compact in 2015, Ms. Kingo was Chief of Staff, Executive Vice-President and member of the Executive Management team at Novo Nordisk A/S.
Founder and Executive Chairman, Alibaba Group Jack Ma is Alibaba Group’s lead founder and executive chairman. Jack currently serves on the board of SoftBank Corp., listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. He is also chair of The Nature Conservancy's China Board and a member of its Global Board. In 2014, Jack was elected to the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum. In 2016, he was named a Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocate by the UN.
Lord Mark Malloch-Brown
Chair, Business and Sustainable Development Commission Mark Malloch-Brown is a former Deputy Secretary-General of the UN as well as a previous Administrator of UNDP. He has also served in the British Cabinet and Foreign Office. He is active both in business and in the non-profit world. He remains deeply involved in international affairs.
Andrew Michelmore
Chairman, ICMM Andrew Michelmore has more than 35 years’ experience in the metals and mining industry. Andrew is currently Chairman of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), Chairman of the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health and Chairman of the Council of Ormond College at the University of Melbourne. Andrew strongly believes in supporting the safety, health and education of the people in our local communities.
Sam Mostyn
President, Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Sam Mostyn is the President of the Australian Council for International Development. She is also a non-executive Director of Virgin Australia Holdings Limited, Citigroup Pty Ltd, Transurban Group and Cover-More Group Limited in addition to being a Director of Australian Volunteers International, Australia Council for the Arts, Carriageworks, St James Ethics Centre Foundation, the NSW Climate Change Council and ClimateWorks Australia.
Arif Naqvi
Founder and Group Chief Executive, The Abraaj Group Arif Naqvi established The Abraaj Group in 2002 and has served as its Group Chief Executive since inception, building it into one of the leading private equity firms in the world. Arif is also a Trustee of the Interpol Foundation, is on the Board of the UN Global Compact, a Columbia Global Leadership Council member and is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Art in London.
Mads Nipper
Group President and CEO, Grundfos Before joining Grundfos, Mads Nipper had a long career (1991-2014) in the Lego Group, starting as media consultant and with several managerial positions until his last position as Chief Marketing Officer and member of Group Management (2011-2014). In August 2014, Mads was appointed Group President and CEO of Grundfos. He is a member of several boards, including B&O, and member of the 3GF Advisory Board.
Cherie Nursalim
Vice Chairman, GITI Group Cherie Nursalim is Vice Chairman of GITI Group, a diversified group with real estate development, manufacturing and consumer lifestyle presence throughout the Asia Pacific region. She serves on the International and Asia Advisory Boards for Columbia University and MIT Sloan School of Management respectively. Chairman of the United Nations Global Initiative SDSN-SEA, she also serves on the University of Indonesia Research Center for Climate Change and Singapore Science Center boards.
Ricken Patel
President and Executive Director, Avaaz.org Ricken is the founding President and Executive Director of Avaaz.org, a global civic movement for social change which has rapidly grown since 2007 into the largest online activist community in the world, with over 40 million members in all 194 countries. Ricken was voted “Ultimate Gamechanger in Politics” by The Huffington Post, and named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He was also among Foreign Policy’s 100 Top Global Thinkers in 2012.
Daniel Pinto
CEO, J.P. Morgan’s Corporate & Investment Bank Daniel Pinto is CEO of J.P. Morgan's Corporate & Investment Bank, an industry leader in investment banking, trading markets and investor services such as cash management, clearing and prime brokerage. He is also a member of the firm's Operating Committee. In 2016, Pinto was elected to the Executive Committee of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Paul Polman
Chief Executive Officer, Unilever Paul Polman has been Chief Executive Officer of Unilever since 2009. He is also Chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, a member of the International Business Council of the World Economic Forum, a member of The B Team and sits on the Board of the UN Global Compact and the Consumer Goods Forum.
Vineet Rai
Founder, Aavishkaar and Intellecap Group Vineet is Co-Founder and Chairman of Intellecap, Founder & Managing Director of Aavishkaar, serves on the Board of the WISH Foundation and is an advisor to the Tibetan Entrepreneurship Development Initiative. Vineet has been working at the intersection of business and development, using finance as a tool for over two decades. Vineet has championed an ecosystem-based investment approach in India and is now replicating it in Africa and Southeast Asia.
Grant Reid
President and CEO, Mars, Incorporated Grant F. Reid holds the title of Office of the President and CEO ofMars, Incorporated, a private, family-owned business with a rich history and some of the best-loved brands in the world. The US$35 billion company includes six diverse business segments— Mars Petcare, Mars Chocolate, Wrigley, Mars Food, Mars Drinks and Mars Symbioscience—operating at 421 sites in 78 countries. Founded in 1911, Mars was built on the objective of creating a “mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders,” a tenet that remains ever-present in The Five Principles that unite and guide the company’s 80,000 Associates.
DInara Seijaparova
Chief Finance Officer, National Management Holding 'Baiterek' Dinara Seijaparova is the CFO and Board Member of National Management Holding 'Baiterek' of Kazakhstan. She is also a member of the board of directors of the National Agency of Technical Development of Kazakhstan. Prior to joining Baiterek, she was the CFO of different companies in the oil and gas sectors, overseeing financing operations in the Caspian region including Kashagan, one of the largest and most complex oil projects in the world. She also worked for the World Bank in Washington, DC. She holds an MBA from Stanford Business School.
Sunny Verghese
Co-Founder and Group CEO, Olam From first sourcing cashew from Nigeria in 1989, Sunny Verghese along with his team has stewarded Olam to make it a leading global agri business which includes a portfolio of 47 agri commodities with operations across 70 countries. Sunny is also the Chairman of the Board of the Human Capital Leadership Institute, Singapore, and a Director on the Board of International Enterprise Singapore. Sunny also served on the Board of Trustees of the National University of Singapore until 2013 and was the Chairman of CitySpring Infrastructure Management Pte Ltd.
Gavin Wilson
Chief Executive Officer, IFC Asset Management Company LLC Mr. Wilson has been Chief Executive Officer of IFC Asset Management Company (IFC AMC) since its founding in 2009. He chairs IFC AMC’s Investment Committees and is responsible for its overall strategy and operations. Prior to joining IFC AMC he was a Managing Director with Goldman Sachs in London and worked at McKinsey & Company, the World Bank, IFC and the Bank of England.
Chief Executive Officer, Aviva Across an eventful career Mark has rescued a number of underperforming global companies, consolidating his reputation as a skilled turnaround specialist. Starting out in New Zealand where he was raised, he spent the next 14 years in Asia, culminating in a role as CEO of AIA. Mark Wilson became Group CEO of Aviva in early 2013. He was named in The Sunday Times 2016 list of Britain’s most influential people and was recently named the 2016 UK New Zealander of the year.
Hans Vestberg (2016)
Former CEO of Ericsson Hans Vestberg is a Swedish businessman and the former CEO of telecommunications company Ericsson. Vestberg is also founding member of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development, where he chairs the task group on the post-2015 development agenda. Photo credit: Vogler CC BY-SA 3.0.
Get the latest updates from the Business and Sustainable Development Commission.
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Movies about People with Schizophrenia
A biopic of the meteoric rise of John Forbes Nash Jr., a math prodigy able to solve problems that baffled the greatest of minds. And how he overcame years of suffering through schizophrenia to win the Nobel Prize.
From the heights of notoriety to the depths of depravity, John Forbes Nash, Jr. experienced it all. A mathematical genius, he made an astonishing discovery early in his career and stood on the brink of international acclaim. But the handsome and arrogant Nash soon found himself on a painful and harrowing journey of self-discovery. After many years of struggle, he eventually triumphed over his tragedy, and finally - late in life - received the Nobel Prize.
At Princeton University, John Nash struggles to make a worthwhile contribution to serve as his legacy to the world of mathematics. He finally makes a revolutionary breakthrough that will eventually earn him the Nobel Prize. After graduate school he turns to teaching, becoming romantically involved with his student Alicia. Meanwhile the government asks his help with breaking Soviet codes, which soon gets him involved in a terrifying conspiracy plot. Nash grows more and more paranoid until a discovery that turns his entire world upside down. Now it is only with Alicia's help that he will be able to recover his mental strength and regain his status as the great mathematician we know him as today.
People who read this also read: Movies on Special Needs, Schizophrenia, Special Education, Technology in Education, video clip
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Giving Canada A Bad Name
First, there were charges of inspiring homosexuality.
Now, breaking news of charges that their music isn't creative, distinctive, or cutting edge.
I cry, "Nickleback! I knew Canadian rock, and you, sirs, do not represent Canadian rock."
J'accuse! Ici!
(Be sure and listen all the way through. )
Posted by Studiodave at Wednesday, January 31, 2007 6 comments:
Mayhem of the Mooninites
In their campaign to promote the forthcoming Aqua Teen Hunger Force movie -- which is shrewdly titled Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters and sneak-peekable here -- the good people at Adult Swim have apparently caused the people of Boston to get wicked freaked out:
The suspicious devices which forced bomb units to scramble across Boston today were actually magnetic lights that are part of a marketing campaign for a television cartoon.
The reports forced the temporary shutdowns of Interstate 93 out of the city, a key inbound roadway, a bridge between Boston and Cambridge, and a portion of the Charles River but were quickly determined not to be explosive.
"It's a hoax -- and it's not funny," Gov. Deval Patrick said.
All of the devices are magnetic lights which resemble a character on the show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force", on Turner Broadcasting's Cartoon Network.
The Mooninites offer their rebuttal here.
Posted by Otto Man at Wednesday, January 31, 2007 6 comments:
Special Comment
At this point in time, reminding you to watch Keith Olbermann seems like reminding you to breathe. But in case you missed his latest fact-checking of the State of the Union, Crooks and Liars has you covered here.
After watching Olbermann tear the president's speech in half, I'm starting to think this Onion piece might not be ficticious.
Posted by Otto Man at Wednesday, January 31, 2007 No comments:
A Question for Music Junkies, If Any
Do any of you people know how to find out how many copies an album has sold? In particular, I'm trying to find out how many copies of Disney's Favorite Children's Songs (vol. 1 to 4) were sold. I've looked around on RIAA and Billboard and such, but not luck.
Mrs. Thrillhous insisted we buy these albums, and since she'd just done the whole 9 months of carrying the kid, I couldn't say no. I was expecting a bunch of lame Mickey and Goofy crap, but it's actually really good. A guy named Larry Groce does all the songs; he's like a poor man's James Taylor, and I'm pretty poor. If the name sounds familiar, he had a hit in 1976 called "Junk Food Junkie."
Larry's entry on Wikipedia is pretty weak - no mention at all of his Disney work. I'm thinking Disney sold approximately 3 billion copies of the children's songs, but I'd like to have some evidence before I go off on Wiki.
Posted by Thrillhous at Tuesday, January 30, 2007 7 comments:
Some interesting news from the heartland:
WESTERVILLE, Ohio (AP) -- A high school lunch period was disrupted Monday by a greased, naked student who ran around screaming and flailing his arms until police twice used a stun gun on him, authorities said.
Taylor Killian, 18, had rubbed his body with grapeseed oil to keep from being caught, and got up after the first time he was shocked to continue running toward a group of frightened students huddled in a corner at Westerville North High School, Lt. Jeff Gaylor said.
"That prank went a little farther than he intended, I guess," Gaylor said.
While CNN was unable to provide video of the incident, we here at LLatPoN have the goods. Watch the greased-up insanity here.
Posted by Otto Man at Tuesday, January 30, 2007 4 comments:
If you're the type who pieces together your knowledge of American history from the trivia questions on oatmeal packets and the comic misstatements of our current president, you should click on the video above to get some insight into the awesome world of J.F.K. It's from the same folks who gave you the inside scoop on Washington.
"Did He Give You the Gay?"
Finally, the truth revealed about that website of musicians that can turn you all gay and shit. Read it and weep.
Posted by Otto Man at Tuesday, January 30, 2007 No comments:
I'm saddened to realize that we won't have Katherine Harris to kick around anymore, what with her humiliating defeat in the midterm elections and all.
So let's kick her around one last time. Have at her.
Churchill, Lincoln and Bush
Despite conservatives' insistence that Bush is the second coming of Churchill and Lincoln, rolled into one -- and empowered with special Decider superpowers! -- a closer look at the actual conduct of Churchill and Lincoln proves they're wrong. Glenn Greenwald has the goods.
I know, I know. Conservatives will never let facts or history get in the way of their idolatry of the boy-king. But the rest of us should stay informed.
Posted by Otto Man at Monday, January 29, 2007 3 comments:
From The Desk of .... Yossarian
(Thanks to Yossarian for this little fun nugget).
I just found a religious blog that lists bands that might turn you "gay".
Now I might say that listening to Nickleback (yes, they are on the list) might make you lame, they won't make you a homosexual.
Posted by Studiodave at Sunday, January 28, 2007 12 comments:
Fried CHiPs
A friend forwarded this to me with wise advice: "Just watch from 0:45 to 1:05. 20 seconds of your life that I promise won't be wasted."
Posted by Otto Man at Saturday, January 27, 2007 8 comments:
Due to time constraints today, we're running a classic edition of the FRT.
Nothing quite embodies the wild world of Dixieland jazz like a group of geriatric, white Shriners at a funeral.
Look at them. The liveliest one of the bunch is the dude in the coffin. The rest exude the kind of excitement and joy you'd only see in a urologist's waiting room. (Please insert your own "eight balls" joke here.)
I'd always thought jazz was all about free flowing music and improvisation, but these guys look about as spontaneous as the Nixon Library. Mr. Magoo on the left can't even find the photographer, so how's he supposed to find the rhythm? Welcome to Squaresville, baby. Population: You.
Anyway, the appearance of the mighty mighty Eight Balls can only mean that once again it's time for the Friday Random Ten. You know the drill, so let's do this thing.
1. Hank Williams, "No No Joe" -- A great little bit of Cold War country, this is Williams' ode to Joseph Stalin. "The Kaiser tried it and Hitler tried it / Mussolini tried it, too / Now they're all sittin' around a fire and did you know something? / They're saving a place for you." Man, I bet Stalin cried like a Trotskyite when he heard that part. 7/10
2. The Flaming Lips, "Pilot Can at the Queer of God" -- I have absolutely no idea what this song's about, and I say that having read the lyrics. Whatever. It's still a nice chunky rocker. 8/10
3. Fishbone, "Subliminal Fascism" -- Once upon a time, these guys seemed to be at the forefront of a great fusion of punk rock, funk, and hiphop, with a sharp political edge. Of course, once upon a time, the Commodore 64 seemed to be at the forefront of home computing, too. 3/10
4. Wolf Parade, "Shine a Light" -- I just scored tickets to see these guys in concert and I am, as the kids say, psyched. Apologies to the Queen Mary is an amazing debut album, and they're supposed to be absofuckinglutely phenomenal live. Here's hoping. 8/10
5. Elvis Presley, "It's Now or Never" -- I have a soft spot for the cheesier songs in the King's repertoire, and this one certainly qualifies, what with the mariachi sounds and the "Five Neat Guys" making an appearance on backing vocals. Still, I suppose this isn't even remotely cool. 2/10
6. Curtis Mayfield, "We People Who Are Darker Than Blue" -- I pretty much love everything Curtis Mayfield ever recorded, but this is a bit of a sprawling Black Power anthem, moving through soul lyrics to congo drums to funk groove to a harp interlude (?) and back again. Not great, but I refuse to give Mayfield anything less than a 5/10.
7. De La Soul, "I. C. Y'All" -- A pretty solid collaboration with Busta Rhymes from Art Official Intelligence. This song has more bottom end than Louie Anderson. Oh, that's right. I went there. 8/10
8. Parliament, "Flash Light" -- The gold standard of funk. I made this my cellphone's ring tone last summer, and ever since, I haven't been able to hear the original without wanting to check the caller I.D. 7/10
9. João Gilberto, "Falsa Baiana" -- A nice bit of classic bossa nova from one of the masters. I may not understand a single word, but my body is still always possessed by the power of Latin rhythms. 6/10
10. Stereolab, "The Seeming and the Meaning" -- One of the most inventive and unique bands around, here with one of my favorites, a tune from the Peng! album. Scorching and sweet at the same time, this is Stereolab at its finest. 10/10
Alright, that gives me an underwhelming 6.4 on the coolness scale. It seems that I, as part of the MTV Generation, really can feel neither highs nor lows. What's that feel like? Eh.
Let's see what you've got. Break out your iPod (or steal a friend's), give us the first ten songs that pop up, and, if you damn well feel like it, throw in a Coolness Self-Audit as well.
Posted by Otto Man at Friday, January 26, 2007 7 comments:
Now I just need to pull my arms out with my face
Via Kos, I read this article about how thoroughly Bush screwed up Iraq from a domestic politics point of view.
The biggest complaint I hear from Republicans who may find themselves in competitive '08 races is that Democrats don't own a piece of the Iraq problem. And that was the beauty (politically speaking) of the ISG. There were a few things that didn't thrill some Democrats, but they were generally willing to sign on to most of the bipartisan group's findings. Had Bush bought in, the political pressure would have been on the Democrats to buy in. And the moment Iraq becomes an American problem rather than a Republican problem, the GOP would have a more level playing field.
With the White House wholly rejecting the "get the GOP out of Iraq" card, the president managed to do something many thought was nearly impossible: He strengthened the GOP's ties to the war.
Surely Bush, Rove, Cheney, etc. have been in politics long enough to know what they are doing. Surely they know that the ISG, flawed as it was, was their last, best hope to spread blame to somebody -- anybody -- else. This should completely obliterate any lingering doubts that remained about Bush being perfectly content to see Iraq's immolation continue for two more years -- and let the GOP take the blame for it.
I suppose I should be happy that this deeply unpopular war will be strongly associated with this deeply unpopular president and his party, giving the Democrats an even greater chance to win the presidency in '08. I know it should make me smile contentedly and feel smug, but this political suicide scares the hell out of me.
When people who hold great power aren't concerned at all about the future -- events less than two years away -- this is not a good sign.
Posted by InanimateCarbonRod at Thursday, January 25, 2007 6 comments:
Please Refrain From Tasting the Knob
On Monday, we had this:
WASHINGTON - Two minutes in a microwave oven can sterilize most household sponges, U.S. researchers reported on Monday. A team of engineering researchers at the University of Florida found that two minutes of microwaving a damp sponge on full power killed or inactivated more than 99 percent of bacteria, viruses or parasites, as well as spores.
Today, we have this:
WASHINGTON - Reports about a study that found microwave ovens can be used to sterilize kitchen sponges sent people hurrying to test the idea this week — with sometimes disastrous results. . . . They described how they soaked the sponges in wastewater and then zapped them. But several experimenters evidently left out the crucial step of wetting the sponge.
If ever there was an argument for staying in school, here it is.
Posted by Thrillhous at Thursday, January 25, 2007 6 comments:
U.S. Automakers Oppose Fuel Standards, Profits
The Post has a pair of articles that makes me want to torch my wife's Mustang (she's got a lame 2000, nowhere near as cool as the awesome 1976 Mustang II "mpg" I used to drive). One article is about congress considering an increase in fuel standards for passenger cars, while Bush wants to have control over passenger car fuel standards transferred to the executive branch (shock!) under NHTSA. You remember NHTSA, the agency that took on the auto industry by spiking fuel standards for SUVs and trucks a whopping 1.8 mpg by 2011.
The auto industry, primarily the Detroit-based joints, are deadset against a meaningful increase in fuel standards for cars, which haven't been changed since the mid-1980s. They say that the costs associated with fuel-saving technology are just too steep for them to bear without government giveaways; besides, I don't think anyone could have possibly anticipated that the world's oil supply was limited.
Which brings us to the second article, which is about Ford's gigantic losses in 2006.
Ford Motor Co. lost $12.7 billion last year, a historic amount of red ink that comes as the 103-year-old company scrambles to restructure, cut costs and recapture some of its standing in the auto market.
Nearly displaced by Toyota Motor Corp. as the number-two automaker in the United States, Ford is refocusing on smaller, more fuel efficient cars, renegotiating contracts with its labor unions and closing factories.
So there were several reasons why Ford lost big, but one of the main ones was THEIR CARS AREN'T FUEL EFFICIENT. They have been losing market share for several years to car makers that make FUEL-EFFICIENT CARS, because PEOPLE WANT FUEL-EFFICIENT CARS. If I didn't know better, I'd say that Ford might be able to make some money by building some of them things themselves, maybe some that use this electricity stuff.
I think we know where this is headed; Detroit isn't really opposed to the fuel standards, they just want a free lunch. Congress will increase fuel standards, but they'll also give huge tax credits to Detroit to build more fuel-efficient cars. The CEOs will get more ivory backscratchers, the auto workers pensions will continue to be underfunded, the Mustang II "mpg" will be reborn (okay, I lied when I said it was awesome; it really really sucked), and Toyota will be the world's number 1 car company.
I've got rhythm!
It's been a while, but Steve Martin actually made me laugh today.
Posted by InanimateCarbonRod at Wednesday, January 24, 2007 No comments:
Caption Contest: Coast-to-Coast Dedication
In a first ever here at LLatPoN, we've had a request for a caption contest -- from everyone's favorite pantsless yellow bear Pooh, in the comments here.
So have at it! The viewing public demands it.
Posted by Otto Man at Wednesday, January 24, 2007 14 comments:
Tuesday Night Smackdown
If you missed the terrific response that Sen. Jim Webb gave to the State of the Union last night, you should really take a look. Crooks and Liars, of course, has the video available here.
If you're really pressed for time, though, Norbizness has offered shorter and funnier versions of Bush's SOTU and Webb's STFU speeches here.
Vick Update - Moonajuana
While Michael Vick may be cleared for his "misunderstanding" in the airport, the question remains - what was the residue in the bottle?
Aqua Teen Hunger Force has the answer:
And part 2 (with kick-ass Carl):
Posted by Studiodave at Tuesday, January 23, 2007 5 comments:
As we all wait with giddy anticipation for the trainwreck that will be the State of the Union speech, I thought I'd pass along a disturbing visual that sums up my thoughts on how the speech will go.
It's start off alright -- I predict the state of our union will be some variation of "the strongerest" -- but then Bush will quickly lose control and crash badly in the midst of gibberish language I can't understand.
Posted by Otto Man at Tuesday, January 23, 2007 1 comment:
The State of My Liver
For those of you wondering what to do during the 15 minutes of standing ovations, here is a SOTU drinking game.
The authors became flummoxed when contmplating what to drink for a "human-animal hybrid" mention, so here's a brand-new drink. (Patent pending, patent pending, patent pending)
4 parts Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout
2 parts Smoking Loon Pinot Noir
1 part Trump Vodka
6 parts Jägermeister (for the deer blood)
Muddle with a Scientologist and some feminists.
Garnish with a pickled pig's foot.
If you want to mix your own, you can do so in comments. Just be aware that your intellectual property is my intellectual property.
Posted by InanimateCarbonRod at Tuesday, January 23, 2007 1 comment:
Boot Scooter Boogie
I don't have time to post on this just yet, but it's looking like the Scooter Libby trial is going to have serious ramifications for both Dick Cheney and Karl Rove.
Would it be irresponsible to speculate? No, no. It would be irresponsible not to.
Free Fallin'
As President Bush gets ready to address the nation, it's worth noting just how pissed off that nation is:
President Bush will deliver his State of the Union address Tuesday night to a nation that's strongly opposed to his plan for increasing troops in Iraq and deeply unhappy with his performance as president, according to a CBS News poll.
Mr. Bush’s overall approval rating has fallen to just 28 percent, a new low, while more than twice as many (64 percent) disapprove of the way he's handling his job.
According to the metrics developed by Kung Fu Monkey, we're only one percentage point away from the rock-bottom of Republican support.
A Special Place In Hell
Over the last several years, I kept up to date on the Abramoff scandal by reading piece-part news articles.
Bill Moyers' "Moyers on America" program does an outstanding summery of the events of the rise and pathetic fall of Abramoff, Reed, and Ney. You simply don't understand how heinous their actions are until you see them as the sum of their parts. Take the time to learn how low a political machine can go. They are all available for online viewing here.
If you watch the show, you will see when I say "A Special Place In Hell" it is well earned.
Posted by Studiodave at Monday, January 22, 2007 2 comments:
In All Fairness
Of all the items left on the Democratic agenda, this effort to restore the "fairness doctrine" to the airwaves overseen by the FCC is probably the one that surprises me the most and gets me the most excited.
The fairness doctrine was an evenhanded approach to radio and then television broadcasting, one that had governed our airwaves almost since the dawn of those two media. Even though it had been around for fifty years and withstood challenges all the way up to the Supreme Court, President Reagan's FCC appointees killed it unceremoniously in 1987 and then Reagan vetoed a congressional effort to restore it. As a result, we've been treated to a system in which you can only get your political views aired as long as you're a giant corporation able to purchase a radio station or television network, or a like-minded individual.
Again, I think it's a terrific idea and I hope other congressmen join Rep. Hinchey and Sen. Sanders in pushing it. It would help restore sanity to our national media and, almost as sweet, make Rush Limbaugh go into convulsions he hasn't seen since the last time the maid was late with his hillbilly heroin.
Posted by Otto Man at Monday, January 22, 2007 12 comments:
As If Millions of Voices Suddenly Cried Out in Apathy
The least surprising and least anticipated entries into the democratic presidential '08 field were made this weekend by Hillary Clinton and Bill Richardson, respectively.
I was going to write about how unenthused I am about Hillary's decision to run, but that's been done to death. Seems about a third of people hate her, a third of people don't care, and a third of people like her but don't want her to run for prez. I don't see a winning calculus here.
Bill Richardson also announced the formation of an exploratory committee, surprising some but putting to sleep most everyone else. I do have a couple ideas for his exploratory committee, however. First, they should explore why this guy thinks he can win an election when he can't even get a front-page headline when he announces his committee. Second, they should explore the most memorable incident of Richardson's tenure as a member of Clinton's cabinet, when he gets 40 lashes from John Warner and Robert Byrd for massive incompetence. They can even watch it here. (For Byrd junkies, he keeps it really real in the last couple minutes.)
Richardson is competing with Vilsack for irrelevancy right off the bat. Who are they going to take votes from, Kucinich?
Posted by Thrillhous at Monday, January 22, 2007 6 comments:
Stupor Bowl
Well, it was an exciting day of professional footballing yesterday.
The NFC championship was the first game of the day, with the Chicago Bears taking on the New Orleans Media Narrative That Would Not Die. It was a good game through halftime, as the Saints climbed back from an early deficit to close the gap to 14-16 somewhere near halftime. (Ed. Details on the actual games will be fuzzy as the Yuengling and poker hands were flowing freely at my place.) But the Manning magic manifested itself in this game, as with all games. Here, that meant that the stunning Saints of 2006 started to resemble the bumbling Aints of the Archie Manning era, and the team crumbled more quickly than a powdery beignet at Cafe du Monde. Even with Rex the Sex Cannon under center, the Bears stomped their way to a convincing 39-14 rout and earned a ticket to the Super Bowl -- the first time they've ever done it without a lameass theme song.
The AFC championship was a classic matchup between the New England Patriots and their perennial prison brides, the Indianapolis Colts. This looked like it was going to be another blowout, with the Pats streaking to a 21-3 lead in the first half. This time, the Manning magic was dispelled, as Peyton Manning -- a man more associated with choking than Dr. Heimlech -- managed to lead his team back from a huge deficit. This was a wild one, with three different linemen scoring touchdowns, two of them on goalline fumbles. but in the end, the Colts executed a terrific late-game touchdown drive to take the lead, and a Tom Brady interception in the last seconds of the game sealed it. Colts win 38-34, and Peyton Manning has now been signed to do every single network television ad. (Look for his new Tampax spot this weekend!)
That gives us a phenomenal matchup for the Super Bowl. Personally, I like both of these teams and their coaches, so I'm torn. As much as I fear the Manning hype, it would be nice to see the Colts win this one and put to rest the endless hours of choke talk from the sports hacks. But I'd be happy to see the Bears win as well. Brian Urlacher survived intimate relations with Paris Hilton. He deserves a little sunshine in his life.
Consider this an open thread for all things football. Feel free to post your Super Bowl predictions, your thoughts on the games, or your rueful complaints about how much you ate/drank yesterday.
Loathe and Behold
Thanks to TPM, I discovered the magic of The Beast's 50 Most Loathsome People in America.
To take just one example from the middle of the pack:
24. Glenn Beck
Charges: If the dumbing down of political commentary continues along this trajectory, the next pundit to make the grade will be a hyena. Even the leather-winged shouting heads at Fox News look like intellectual giants next to this bleating, benighted Cassandra. It’s like someone found a manic, doom-prophesying hobo in a sandwich board, shaved him, shot him full of Zoloft and gave him a show. What makes Beck special, aside from appearing to have derived his entire geopolitical outlook from a five-minute segment about Iran on "The 700 Club," is the folksy "golly gee" manner in which he accuses his guests of collaborating with terrorists. At least Hannity and O’Reilly have the decency to act like bellicose pricks when they’re engaging in breathtaking cheap shots.
Exhibit A: "When I see a 9/11 victim family on television, or whatever, I’m just like, ‘Oh shut up!’ I’m so sick of them because they’re always complaining."
Sentence: Stripped bare, trussed like a turkey and airdropped into Waziristan with an apple in his mouth and an American flag in his ass.
Take a look at the whole list. Just be sure you're not drinking anything when you get to Ann Coulter.
Smokes On A Plane
For those who have been a casual observer of the tragic comedy which is professional sports in Atlanta, you may have missed the 3 ring circus which is the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have a quarterback named Michael Vick in whom they have invested the lions share of their salary budget ($130 million) - only Peyton Manning has a higher salary.
But there the similarities end. You see - Peyton will be playing tomorrow for the AFC Championship whereas Michael Vick got into some trouble going to visit his new coach (for the first time) after the last poor coach got fired after a 7 - 9 season.
Even before this latest "legal misunderstanding," Vick has run into a number of other issues off the field as well. He was sued in 2005 for knowingly giving a woman herpes. After the last home game he shot the bird to several home fans who were booing another loss. He had a little fine with that one.
But this latest event demonstrates particular concern for the "brains" of the Falcons offense. As the quarterback of a professional football team, you need to be fairly intelligent - memorizing hundreds of plays with the ability to process changes to these plays depending on the particular defense and situation on the field in a matter of milliseconds.
Here's a review of the events in Miami's airport on Wednesday:
[Vick was] "reluctant to turn over his water bottle during the screening process" at Miami International Airport (the athlete was booked on an AirTran flight to Atlanta). Vick subsequently relinquished the 20-ounce Aquafina bottle, which was placed in a recycling bin by a Transportation Security Administration screener. Suspicious as to why Vick hesitated in handing over the bottle, TSA screener retrieved the bottle. There, officials discovered that the bottle's label "contained a seam which separated the top and the bottom of the bottle." The concealed compartment, the report notes, contained "a small amount of dark particulate and a pungent aroma closely associated with Marijuana."
(1) He could have smiled and casually tossed the bottle in the trash and nothing would have happened.
(2) He could have not brought liquid in a bottle to an airport after terrorists threatened to blow multiple planes out of the sky in London via liquid in carry-on bottles.
(3) Although I can't guarantee this, but I think you can buy marijuana in Atlanta as well as Miami. I may need to research this before I can commit this fact to our loyal readers, however.
Posted by Studiodave at Saturday, January 20, 2007 7 comments:
Kung Fu Fighting
If you're not a regular reader of John Rogers' blog, Kung Fu Monkey, you're missing out on the greatest thing since curly fries.
Doubt me? Well, let's just jump into the middle of his latest post on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales:
Cheney and Gonzales have dropped the Constitution into a hole in the White House basement and are currently dancing naked around the pit, penises tucked between their legs, screaming "It rubs the lotions on its Amendments!" at the shuddering, terrified document, and there's nary a peep.
Posted by Otto Man at Saturday, January 20, 2007 No comments:
This one's too good to pass up. Have at her.
But don't you dare bring up the fact that she has no family like that mean ol' Barbara Boxer, or Rupert Murdoch will get his Adult Pampers in a bind over it.
Posted by Otto Man at Friday, January 19, 2007 12 comments:
Teach Them Well and Let Them Lead the Way
From an email I received from my wife:
Know how I woke up this morning? With a buck naked kid standing by my head,
finger extended, saying "Mommy, look what came out of my nose!"
Posted by InanimateCarbonRod at Friday, January 19, 2007 5 comments:
For the second straight week, I'm posting an album cover that leaves me absolutely speechless.
I mean, Me and My Bean Bag? Seriously?
I'm hoping this is a pathetic marketing ploy -- this album was released by "Kimbo Records" and the cover shows a "Kimbo Bean Bag" in the photo -- but even then, it just doesn't make sense. I wouldn't think the lowly bean bag would generate enough passion and excitement to merit a haiku, much less a full-length album. But the kid seems amused. I bet that bean bag has provided him with literally minutes of entertainment.
Anyway, with your expectations lowered to subterranean levels, it's time to build them back up again with the Friday Random Ten.
Here's what I've got:
1. Thievery Corporation, "Marching the Hate Machines (Into the Sun)" -- This is one of those musical collaborations that ends up being greater than the sum of its parts. I like the dulcid electronica of TC just fine, and I appreciate the quirky-breathy vocal stylings of the Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne as well. But they come together here in the sweetest union since you got your chocolate into my peanut butter. 9/10
2. Charlie Louvin, "Great Atomic Power" -- This is one of my favorite old bluegrass/country songs, a tune that treats the Second Coming as a nuclear armageddon. Louvin is a country legend and, with a forthcoming album featuring Jeff Tweedy, Elvis Costello and Will Oldham, he seems to be primed to follow in the footsteps of fellow Country Music Hall of Famers like Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn in making friends with a new generation of hipsters. Bring it on. 7/10
3. Dead Kennedys, "Too Drunk to Fuck" -- Talk about your abrupt transitions. Not sure what needs to be said about this song, since the artist and title tell you pretty much everything you need to know. 6/10
4. Propellerheads, "360 (Oh Yeah)" -- Another nice collaboration, bringing together the vocals of De La Soul and the electronica love of the Propellerheads. Actually, it pretty much sounds like a De La tune, which is fine by me. 8/10
5. Chuck Womack and the Sweet Souls, "Ham Hocks and Beans, Pt. 1" -- It may surprise you, given the name of this artist and the title of this song, but this is a 1960s soul tune. I know, I know. Stunning. Sadly, it's a minute-and-a-half long and none too exciting. 3/10
6. The Byrds, "So You Want to Be a Rock'n'Roll Star" -- There's not a lot of hippie-era rock that I love. Most of it belongs to Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Hendrix produced a lot of the rest. But this song is right up there. Short, sweet, and catchy as hell. 8/10
7. Johnny Cash, "Personal Jesus" -- I'm a big fan of the American Recordings albums Cash did at the end of his career, but I can never decide how I feel about this one. Like Milhouse Van Houten and Martin Prince watching the all-nude Top Hat Channel, I find this Depeche Mode cover to be both gross and strangely compelling. 5/10
8. The Subways, "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" -- And while you're at it, hide this cover, too. 3/10
9. Broken Social Scene, "Cause = Time" -- Friends have been recommending BSS to me for a couple years now, but due to my patented combination of forgetfulness and apathy, I only got around to getting some of their songs after the ITunes gift certificates started rolling in after the winter season holiday. (No, no. Fuck you, Bill O'Reilly.) Anyway, I'm kicking myself for not getting to them sooner. This song in particular, a strummeriffic bit of indie rock, is catchy as hell. 9/10
10. The 6ths, "In the City in the Rain" -- The 6ths are one of the forty-three side projects of the Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt, the one where he recruits indie rock all-stars to do the vocals. This is a nice slow number with Sebadoh's Lou Barlow at the mike. Pretty nice. 7/10
Well, that gives me a 6.3 average on the coolness scales, somewhere between Tito Jackson and Tito Puente. Oh well.
Alright, let's see what the rest of you have. Drop your own FRT in the comments below, with or without the coolness self-audit.
Newsweak
The mean old blogosphere normally mocks political pundits for acting as if they were the eye-rolling, back-stabbing, empty-headed, spoiled little shits from the classic teen film Heathers. Well, thanks to Kevin Drum, I'm proud to report that Newsweek's Howard Fineman has apparently decided to take this wonderful trend of political-journalism-as-high-school-gossip to new and exciting depths.
I'd have to say that Fineman's latest column is the single shallowest bit of political commentary I've ever read. I wouldn't be surprised if he had text messaged the column from a matinee showing of Code Name: The Cleaner and had his editors remove all the "sux" and "pwned!" comments before putting it to print.
Nice work, Howie! But I think yer mom is here to pick you up, dood.
Posted by Otto Man at Thursday, January 18, 2007 6 comments:
Surge!
It's official. The War in Iraq is now more unpopular than the War in Vietnam ever was. Ever.
The Palme d'Haire
At long last, the polls are open over at the Poor Man for their yearly wingnut awards. Be sure to head over there to bask in the stupidity of the nominees and cast your vote.
Just be careful not to smoke too close to Christopher Hitchens. Every fiber of that man's body has been soaked in gin, and he's liable to spontaneously combust at the first spark.
This has been linked all over the internets, but I thought I'd join in:
MR. LEHRER: Let me ask you a bottom-line question, Mr. President. If it is as important as you've just said - and you've said it many times - as all of this is, particularly the struggle in Iraq, if it's that important to all of us and to the future of our country, if not the world, why have you not, as president of the United States, asked more Americans and more American interests to sacrifice something? The people who are now sacrificing are, you know, the volunteer military - the Army and the U.S. Marines and their families. They're the only people who are actually sacrificing anything at this point.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, you know, I think a lot of people are in this fight. I mean, they sacrifice peace of mind when they see the terrible images of violence on TV every night. I mean, we've got a fantastic economy here in the United States, but yet, when you think about the psychology of the country, it is somewhat down because of this war.
Now, here in Washington when I say, "What do you mean by that?," they say, "Well, why don't you raise their taxes; that'll cause there to be a sacrifice." I strongly oppose that. If that's the kind of sacrifice people are talking about, I'm not for it because raising taxes will hurt this growing economy. And one thing we want during this war on terror is for people to feel like their life's moving on, that they're able to make a living and send their kids to college and put more money on the table.
I remember what New York was like after 9/11. People did everything imaginable. Donations of clothing and food skyrocketed. Outside the door to virtually every school gymnasium or church basement, people were lined up around the block to donate blood -- so much so that the Red Cross couldn't even find a way to store it all. Tributes and gifts scattered around all the firehouses. Networks set up to help find the missing and, when that failed, to help comfort the people who'd lost loved ones. All of that, and no one even had to ask.
We, as a country, would've done anything in the wake of 9/11. Just think about what we've done before. During the Second World War, our grandparents welcomed the rationing of key food staples, the abandonment of luxury items like silk stockings, the implementation of massive scrap drives for rubber, steel, and tin, etc. They took on double shifts and long hours in defense plants and grew their own food in "victory gardens" to help out. The Greatest Generation not only accepted the government's expansion of the income tax to all brackets, but willingly, time and time again, ponied up their own spare change -- still very spare, in the shadow of the Depression -- to buy U.S. War Bonds and help fuel the war effort.
Yet what we were asked to do after 9/11? Nothing. Actually, less than nothing, for we were told that the most patriotic thing we could do would be to go shopping, to splurge on our own basest consumer instincts and engage in our own self-gratification. The president might as well have told us all to "masturbate for freedom."
As others have noted, President Bush has insisted, over and over again, that this war is the crucial struggle of our generation, a pivotal battle which we cannot lose. And yet he went to war not only with a fraction of the troops we needed, but with a fraction of our national strength as well. Ridiculous.
I suppose we shouldn't be surprised that President Bush doesn't want to impose on the American people. His is a life bathed in privilege and excuses, one where he's always been bailed out of the tough spots -- Vietnam, his failed businesses, the 2000 election -- by his daddy's rich friends. He's never had to sacrifice anything more significant than Schlitz.
Why would he dare ask us to do any more?
The Solution to Outrage Fatigue
Hey, kids! I know these past six years have probably dried you all out, but if you have any outrage left in your tanks, head on over to TPM Muckraker to soak in the latest news. Personally, I thought I'd run dry, but this story struck a strategic outrage reserve buried deep inside me.
Apparently, the Bush Administration has been stealthily firing U.S. Attorneys in the middle of their terms, under an obscure clause in the latest version of the Patriot Act. So far, it seems they've fired seven in all, but there might be more. And in a stunning coincidence, a lot of the ones fired were the very ones busy investigating Republican corruption! Wow, what are the odds?
Update: Tim F. at Balloon Juice has the best zinger so far: "I only hope that the estate of Richard Nixon is getting royalties."
Geaux Bandwagon!
If you're like me, and your favorite team has already been shown the door in the NFL playoffs -- nice play-calling, Herm Edwards! -- you're probably trying to decide which of the final four teams to support.
Well, after watching this video, I have my choice.
It's been a while since the last caption contest, so feel free to caption this glorious image of The Decider.
Posted by Otto Man at Tuesday, January 16, 2007 10 comments:
Curmudgeon alert
75% of the LLatPoN gang turns 35 this week (all the twice-yearly posters, Otto Man is able to post so much because of his youth -- and the fact his stamina hasn't been dulled by needy children). I just finished Douglas Adams' Salmon of Doubt and found this quote to be timely and apt.
Anything that is in the world when you're born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works.
Anything that's invented between when you're fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it.
Anything invented after you're thirty-five is against the natural order of things.
Posted by InanimateCarbonRod at Monday, January 15, 2007 5 comments:
Mark Twain on George W. Bush
Mark Twain is, without contest, my favorite author of all time.
More than any writer before or since, Twain somehow managed to combine excellent story-telling, first-class sarcasm, and biting social commentary in a nice tight package. I've always loved him for the first two traits, but the more and more this country comes under the sway of the Banana Republicans, I'm really appreciating his clear-eyed take on patriotism and democracy.
For instance, take this passage from The Papers of the Adams Family:
Against our traditions we are now entering upon an unjust and trivial war, a war against a helpless people, and for a base object — robbery. At first our citizens spoke out against this thing, by an impulse natural to their training. Today they have turned, and their voice is the other way.
What caused the change? Merely a politician's trick — a high-sounding phrase, a blood-stirring phrase which turned their uncritical heads: Our Country, right or wrong! An empty phrase, a silly phrase. It was shouted by every newspaper, it was thundered from the pulpit, the Superintendent of Public Instruction placarded it in every schoolhouse in the land, the War Department inscribed it upon the flag.
And every man who failed to shout it or who was silent, was proclaimed a traitor — none but those others were patriots. To be a patriot, one had to say, and keep on saying, "Our Country, right or wrong," and urge on the little war. Have you not perceived that that phrase is an insult to the nation?
For in a republic, who is "the Country"? Is it the Government which is for the moment in the saddle? Why, the Government is merely a servant — merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them. Who, then, is "the country?" Is it the newspaper? Is it the pulpit? Is it the school-superintendent? Why, these are mere parts of the country, not the whole of it; they have not command, they have only their little share in the command. They are but one in the thousand; it is in the thousand that command is lodged; they must determine what is right and what is wrong; they must decide who is a patriot and who isn’t.
In a monarchy, the king and his family are the country; in a republic it is the common voice of the people. Each of you, for himself, by himself and on his own responsibility, must speak. And it is a solemn and weighty responsibility, and not lightly to be flung aside at the bullying of pulpit, press, government, or the empty catch-phrases of politicians. Each must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, and which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide it against your convictions is to be an unqualified and inexcusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let men label you as they may. If you alone of all the nation shall decide one way, and that way be the right way according to your convictions of the right, you have done your duty by yourself and by your country — hold up your head! You have nothing to be ashamed of.
Only when a republic's life is in danger should a man uphold his government when it is in the wrong. There is no other time.
This Republic's life is not in peril. The nation has sold its honor for a phrase. It has swung itself loose from its safe anchorage and is drifting, its helm is in pirate hands.
"The nation has sold its honor for a phrase." I can't think of a better single-sentence condemnation of the Bush Administration's empty slogans and dead hearts.
I want my goddamn country back. I only hope there's enough of it left to salvage once the Bush gang gets done stripping it for parts.
Posted by Otto Man at Sunday, January 14, 2007 8 comments:
"Dewey, You Fool! Your Decimal System Has Played Right Into My Hands! Ha Ha Ha Ha!"
Courtesy of Shakespeare's Sister, we're proud to reveal our own entry in the grand filing system of the blogosphere.
Make your own here.
Over at Crooks & Liars, you'll have the pleasure of watching Sen. Chuck Hagel -- the last sane Republican, apparently -- smack the sanctimonius taste right out of Joe Lieberman's mouth.
After a week in which Holy Joe emerged as the poster boy for escalation in Iraq *and* backtracked away from the investigation of Bush's bungled handling of Hurricane Katrina, it was nice to see him given a much deserved wedgie on national television.
In light of the clear difference of opinion between these two senators, I'd like to propose a hostage exchange with our Republican counterparts. We'll give you Lieberman in exchange for Hagel. Clearly, the insane one belongs on your circle, and the clear-eyed guy has a seat waiting here in the Reality Based Community. Deal?
Posted by Otto Man at Sunday, January 14, 2007 No comments:
At least I ain't a chicken
The video Kung Fu Monkey put up under the title "George Bush is Leeroy Jenkins" gets my five-star must-see rating.
Posted by InanimateCarbonRod at Saturday, January 13, 2007 4 comments:
"There's a New Sheriff in Town ..."
... and his name is Representative Barney Frank.
Check out the video at Crooks & Liars linked above to watch him kick Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-Kindergarten) up and down the aisles of the House chamber.
If you're not familiar with McHenry, you should first check out this appearance on CNN where he accuses Democrats of engineering the whole Mark Foley scandal as an electoral gambit. Also, Tom DeLay has anointed him "the next Tom DeLay." That should tell you all you need to know.
This smackdown couldn't have happened to a bigger douchebag.
Posted by Otto Man at Friday, January 12, 2007 1 comment:
I keep thinking the Bush administration is so far gone they're beyond satire, but the brave souls at the Onion keep proving me wrong.
WASHINGTON, DC—The recent departure of Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary Of Defense has reportedly left his former staff noticeably tense and preoccupied in anticipation of the sweeping changes his successor is likely to bring. "At first I didn't care what the new guy [Robert Gates] had in mind, just so long as punch-in was still noon, shoes remained optional, and we were given plenty of time to keep up with our multiplayer online gaming," said Assistant To The Secretary Of Defense For Nuclear And Chemical & Biological Defense Programs Dale Klein, adding that he hoped Gates would not break the May 12-to-Oct. 1-summer-vacation tradition. "First thing today, though, I walk in and someone hands me a briefing on joint-transformational delivery-system initiatives that they just absolutely need me to read right away. Not a good sign." Several staffers also expressed concern that a recent memo urging them to construct a viable exit strategy for American military personnel in Iraq could affect their regular Margarita Mondays.
Well played, folks. Well played.
Posted by Otto Man at Friday, January 12, 2007 No comments:
"Homer, Would You Like to Present Your Rebuttal?"
Courtesy of TBogg, I'm happy to bring you Homer J. Simpson's rebuttal to the Decider's recent speech. Enjoy.
This week's album cover ... uh ... This week ....
Yeah, I've got nothing.
In any case, I'm pretty sure the deep sadness of this album cover speaks for itself, like one of those tacky oil paintings of a depressed clown or an extended commentary by retarded manchild John Madden. It's just wrong.
Maybe the Friday Random Ten can help ease the pain. You all should know the drill by now -- set your computerized, electronic music box to random and give us the first ten songs that show up. If you damn well feel like it, conduct a Coolness Self-Audit as well, rating the songs on a scale from a craptacular Welkian zero to a perfect Funkadelician ten.
1. Lush, "Sweetness and Light" -- If there were ever a perfectly apt band name and song title, this is it. Lush stood at the forefront of the shoegazer movement, and this is a strummy, fuzzy little number. A little too ethereal at times, but it certainly gets the job done. 7/10
2. Tortoise & Bonnie Prince Billy, "Daniel" -- Yes, the Elton John song. Covered here by Tortoise and one of the many alter egos of alternafolk hero Will Oldham. I never really cared for the original, but this is just edgy and dark enough to make it work beautifully. 9/10
3. Ramasutra, "Marder" -- Who doesn't love South Asian electronica? Me, apparently. 5/10
4. Tapes 'n' Tapes, "Insistor" -- T'n'T is one of those music blog favorites that I've never really understood. (See also, "The National," "Of Montreal," and "The Arctic Monkeys.") Actually, T'n'T doesn't really belong on that list, as I merely think they're good -- and this song is good -- just not as mindblowingly, pantsshittingly great as the hip bloggers all tell me. Those other bands I mentioned can burn in hell. Yeah, I'm lookin' at you, Of Montreal. 6/10
5. Jurassic 5, "If You Only Knew" -- I love this group, but this is definitely the weak link on Power in Numbers. Eh. 5/10
6. Willie Eason, "Franklin D. Roosevelt, a Poor Man's Friend" -- A six-minute blues tribute to the death and legacy of FDR. It's a little plodding at times, especially the blow-by-blow description of his passing, but the general sentiment is nice. Sort of a "George W. Bush Doesn't Like Black People" of an earlier generation. Except it's, you know, favorable. 4/10
7. Modest Mouse, "Gravity Rides Everything" -- One of my all-time favorites. This song just doesn't get old. Not even the Volkswagen ad took the shine of this one. 10/10
8. Silversun Pickups, "Lazy Eye" -- I stumbled across this band only recently, thanks to multiple recommendations -- including a TBogg post that features the video for this very song. If you miss the heyday of the Smashing Pumpkins, you should definitely check this one out. The album version is better than the single used at TBogg's, because it has a nicely warped synthesizer interlude. 8/10
9. Gloria Jones, "Tainted Love" -- This is the original, '60s soul version of a song that Soft Cell would turn into their one-hit wonder in the '80s. It blows that nancy-boy, synthesized piece of shit right out of the water. 9/10
10. Neil Young, "One of These Days" -- I picked this song up after watching the imminently enjoyable DVD of Heart of Gold. Young's entering the last years of his career, but he's doing it with a lot of style and class. This is a nice, sweet, reflective ballad. If you like that kind of crap. 7/10
I stumbled pretty badly there in the middle, but a nice string of songs at the end helped bring me back up to a 7.0 average. I did it by a whisker, but I finally passed Coolness 101! Goodbye, G.E.D.!
Feel free to drop your own snark about my choices in the comments below or, better yet, give us your own FRT.
Courtesy of Kos, I'm pleased to hear that the Democrats will hold their 2008 convention in Denver.
Hotline has the scoop:
Colorado is a marquee states for Democrats, who have, in the past two years, gobbled up the governor's mansion, control of the state legislature, and two congressional seats.
But Denver's bid was shot through with holes from the start. The first technical submission was greeted with dismay by party regulars; revised bids were better. Labor unions threatened to balk unless Denver began to unionize its hotels; others wanted to extract compromises from the DNC and the state about union participation. The DNC worried about whether Denver could raise the $50 million necessary to stage the marquee event for the '08 Dem nominee. Promises by out of state governors to raise millions were greeted skeptically.
Kos details the ways in which the problems were addressed, but the upshot is that the Democrats under Dean have made a smart choice. The West and Southwest are and will continue to be the major growth region for the party, and anything we can do to make ourselves better known there is a good move.
Plus, as someone who's dreading the prospect of Hillary Clinton as the nominee -- not just because she's a DLC centrist, but because I'd love to break the Bush-Clinton-Bush dynastic cycle -- holding the convention in someplace other than New York City will diminish her campaign at least a little bit.
With the Decider getting ready to sell an unconvinced nation on his plans for Operation: Double Down, I thought this image I stole from Norbizness would be fitting for a caption contest.
If you need inspiration, check out the latest over at TCR. Apparently, a key motivation for the bold, stupid direction of President Take My Ball and Go Home is ... spite.
Christ, I wish I were kidding.
Have at him!
Meme! I'm Gonna Live Forever!
I regret to inform our three regular readers that I have been targeted by the latest meme flowing through these here internet tubes. It's hard to believe that anything can get through these days, what with all the porn and pornlike men's aerobic championship videos, but here we are.
This latest meme is actually an interesting one, focused on questions about art and culture and all that shit. Here we go:
1. Name a book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies: Personally, I think this question is a little flawed. I don't really go around giving away copies of books, and if I did, I'd make a career out of it by working for those Gideon people, sneaking into hotel rooms and planting Bibles in nightstands.
But there are books I've loaned out to a few friends. (Take that, you stupid library!) Chief among these would be David Sedaris's Me Talk Pretty One Day, which is probably the funniest thing I've ever read, and Dan Savage's Skipping Toward Gomorrah: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Pursuit of Happiness in America, which is the funniest socially-critical thing I've ever read.
2. Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music: This is an interesting one and I could probably answer it a million ways.
As the regular contestants on our Friday Random Ten will attest, I have a serious soft spot for lesser-known R&B, funk, and soul songs that have gained greater fame as sampled beats in hiphop songs. It's hard to pinpoint where this obsession came from, but one of the earliest finds was a terrific scorching bit of organ-driven jazz called "Mystic Brew" by Ronnie Foster. It's a great song on its own, but what really sold me was that finding it finally answered the question of where the backing music for Tribe Called Quest's "Electric Relaxation" came from. Ever since, I've developed a subconscious habit of keeping an ear out for where rhythms and beats have surfaced in later songs, and vice versa.
3. Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue: This is another hard one, seeing how I'm a film junkie. I could go with any of a number of classic films that I can, and have, watched over and over. They're mostly comedies, like Raising Arizona, Blazing Saddles, The Big Lebowski, and Stripes, with a couple epic westerns in the mix, like The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and The Magnificent Seven.
But based on empirical studies, I'd have to give the nod to GoodFellas. It seems I am physically incapable of turning this movie off whenever I stumble upon it on cable. Doesn't matter what part of the movie I come in on, I generally toss the remote across the couch and let it roll. Scorcese is a genius, regardless of what the Oscar clowns may say, and this is his masterpiece. I still can't believe that Kevin Crapner's Dances with Cliches won Best Picture that year instead of this. Boooooo!
4. Name a performer for whom you suspend of all disbelief: This one's easy. Philip Seymour Hoffman.
No matter what he plays -- whether it be an uptight nerd (Big Lebowski, 25th Hour) or a comatosely cool slacker (Almost Famous, Along Came Polly); a pompous asshole (Scent of a Woman, The Talented Mr. Ripley) or a meek loser (Boogie Nights) -- I tend to buy it completely. (In fact, looking over those titles, I'm struck by the fact that I only really liked a few of those films, but loved his acting in every one.) My God, he's a man who's been known for playing big, loud, bearish men and the second I saw him in Capote as a diminutive, dainty socialite, I was gone.
The lovely and talented Malibu Stacy and I once saw him play the loser brother in a production of Sam Shepherd's "True West," where he and John C. Reilly (another potential answer here) were trading the leading roles each night. He nailed it perfectly. My only regret was that we couldn't get tickets to see them switch the tables and see him work the uptight brother for a while.
5. Name a work of art you'd like to live with: Another easy one, as there's a single print that appears in both my home and office: Jasper Johns' "Map" (1961).
I'm a sucker for Pop Art in general and Johns' work in particular. I couldn't tell you why this one is my favorite, but at some subconscious level, it's always seemed to sum up a vibrant, liberal vision of American patriotism to me. It has energy, chaos, diversity and passion. And it's my country, dammit, no matter how many miniature American flags the Republican Party spews out for the dittoheads.
Plus, it's got all them pretty colors in it what I like.
6. Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life: As an ex-pat Southerner living in the North, I've always had a soft spot for Southern fiction. It always seems to breathe life into a past that's half-forgotten even when you live in the region. I'll go with Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men, as it never lets me forget the good and bad of the South, all rolled into one.
7. Name a punch line that always makes you laugh: I'll follow Mike's lead here and go with a classic bit of Woody Allen -- when Annie Hall parks her car a full yard off the street, and Allen's character says reassuringly, "No, no. It's OK. We can walk to the curb from here." Never fails to make me laugh.
Alright, now for the hardest part -- passing this along. I always hate doing this, because it feels vaguely like sending along a chain letter. A chain letter that requires homework. But these are some interesting questions and I'm genuinely curious how a pack of cultured sophisticates like Norbizness, Travis G., and Mr. Furious answer them.
Tag, fuckers. You're it.
"I Like My Beer Cold, My TV Loud, and My Homosexuals Faa-laaaaaming"
Over at the With Leather, best sports blog named after a Chris Berman pickup line, I stumbled across a YouTube video so surreal, so hilarious, and so disturbing that I've decided I can't even steal it for our place. You'll just have to go there yourself and check it out.
With Leather titles it "The Gayest Thing You'll See All Day," but I bet this one holds the title all year long.
Least. President. Ever.
In a famous zinger, author and biographer Irving Stone once noted, "'Calvin Coolidge believed the least government was the best government; he aspired to become the least president the country had ever had; he attained that desire."
Well, look out, Zombie Coolidge, because George W. Bush is giving you a run for the money. More and more, it's looking like Dubya might wind up winning not just the title of Worst President Ever, but Least President Ever too. Craig Crawford at Congressional Quarterly makes the case:
With a new Congress that’s run by Democrats, a restive public that’s pining for change and a government in Iraq that’s descending into chaos, the way forward in Washington might not include George W. Bush.
Despite the power he has to ramp up his use of the veto, and his tenacious hold on his powers as commander in chief, Bush faces a tough challenge to remain relevant in the waning 24 months of his presidency. Indeed, if not for his war-making clout, this president might be the lamest lame duck ever.
There was something almost sad about Bush putting his own name on an op-ed piece in The Wall Street Journal that laid out his legislative agenda on the eve of the formal Democratic takeover of Capitol Hill. Clearly gone are the days when Vice President Dick Cheney could use a private meeting with Republican lawmakers to set the congressional priorities list. Now, it seems, the president is positioning himself as just another spectator on the outskirts of power — firing off letters to the editor. Perhaps he should start his own blog.
Daaaaaaamn.
While I'm wary about writing off the president just yet -- as many did with Clinton after the 1994 midterms, only to eat crow later on -- I am looking forward to many months of The Decider stamping his feet like a spoiled yuppie kid and demanding that everyone do as he says.
(Thanks to Crooks and Liars for the link.)
I know, I know. It's the first week of January, so what am I doing posting yet another Christmas album cover?
Well, to be honest, I don't have much of a justification. Sure, I could chalk it up to post-traumatic stress disorder from the long and bloody War on Christmas, or the fact that our tree will likely remain up until mid-March. But I think I'll just let the awesomeness of this album cover make the case for me.
First of all, there's the simple fact that it's a Six Million Dollar Man Christmas album. (I guess we now know how Santa knows when you've been sleeping, etc. -- bionic vision, my friends.) But get a load of the titles of his four adventures. "Christmas Lights" sounds pretty boring, but the other three have real potential. "The Toymaker" could be a showdown with Batman's old nemesis, while "The Kris Kringle Caper" sounds like a precursor to Bad Santa. But the real winner here is "The Elves' Revolt." I have an image of Herbie the Would-Be Dentist seizing power in the workshop, only to be removed in a reindeer commando raid. Chilling, chilling stuff.
Anyway, the lingering presence of Steve Austin, Secret Santa, can only mean that it's time once again for the Friday Random Ten. You know the drill -- set the iPod to random and forthrightly admit the first ten songs that show up. Here's mine:
1. The Chemical Brothers, "Galvanize" -- Whether you know it or not, you've already heard this song a trillion times. It's a catchy song that's being used in the Budweiser ads currently airing on network TV every three minutes. (That's none other than Mos Def instructing you that there's a party over here, so you might as well be here, where the people care ... so ... don't .. hold ... back!) Even though it's been beaten to death by our corporate overlords, it's still a solid tune. 7/10
2. The Beatnuts, "Who You're Fuckin' With" -- It's only 50 seconds long, but this tune has a hook that's catchy as hell. I just wished they'd developed it into a full-length song. 6/10
3. RJD2, "Through the Walls" -- I really, really like the Since We Last Spoke album, but this song is the rare exception. Its guitar riffs and breathy vocals always remind me of Rick Springfield singing "Jesse's Girl." Sad, but true. 5/10
4. Spider Harrison, "Beautiful Day" -- This is an incredibly funky R&B number, with some nice guitar and organ hooks and soulful vocals. I came across this tune through a great collection, The Funky 16 Corners. If you're looking for lesser-known soul strutters, this is the place. 7/10
5. The Church, "Under the Milky Way" -- Hey, remember high school? 6/10
6. The O'Jays, "Love Train" -- Well, this makes for two separate beer commerical anthems in a single FRT. (Assuming we can count Coors Light as "beer." I tend to lump that weak brand in with all the other mildly minerally-enhanced water products, like Vitamin Water or Fresca.) Unlike the Budweiser ad, this one's so annoying I'm going to hold it against the O'Jays. Sorry, boys, but that's the price you pay for hitching your wagon to the Coors Empire. 5/10
7. Band of Horses, "The Great Salt Lake" -- I didn't have the time or sobriety to do one of those "Best of 2006" lists that make up most of the non-porn traffic on the internets these days, but if I had been so inclined, Band of Horses would've made it there. It's solid, if occasionally listless, indie rock along the lines of the Shins and their ilk. 7/10
8. Dr. Octagon, "Trees" -- Dr. Octagon is one of the 38 personae of schizophrenic hiphop genius Kool Keith. This is a funky little number that seems to be channelling the musical sensibilities of electrofunk bands like Zapp or Laid Back for environmental ends. How many times have we seen that before? 8/10
9. Hank Williams, "Cold, Cold Heart" -- A classic tune from a country superstar. It's hard to believe that a genius like Hank Sr. was in any way related to a mouthbreathing sellout like Hank Jr., but apparently that's the case. So sad. 6/10
10. Danger Doom & Talib Kweli, "Old School" -- If you haven't discovered The Mouse and the Mask, the join collaboration of Danger Mouse and MF Doom, you've missed out on one of the most entertaining hiphop CDs of the past couple years. The songs aren't simply catchy, but they're liberally sprinkled with dialogue stolen from the shows on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. Beautiful all around. 9/10
Alright, that gives me a 6.6 rating. While some people might relent in the face of consistently mediocre showings like I've had in the past few months here, I'm hoping that my musical lethargy is in its last throes. Hey, that attitude's working for the president, right?
As always, feel free to lambast me for my ratings above, or else drop your own Friday Random Ten in the comments below. May the power of Steve Austin be with you!
"Looks Like I Picked the Wrong Week to Quit Sniffing Glue"
Some things never change. Like conservatives and their legal use of hard core, mind altering drugs. How about conservative judges who put in prison, the poor who sell drugs to support themselves? Surely, a Supreme Court Justice would stand firm against such a weak personality trait. Opps! AP reports:
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The FBI's file on former Chief Justice William Rehnquist -- made public more than a year after his death -- offers insight into hallucinations and other symptoms of withdrawal that Rehnquist suffered when he was taken off a prescription painkiller in 1981.
When Rehnquist checked into a hospital in 1981 for a week long stay, doctors stopped administering the drug, causing what a hospital spokesman at the time said was a "disturbance in mental clarity."
The FBI file, citing one of his physicians, said Rehnquist experienced withdrawal symptoms that included trying to escape the facility and discerning changes in the patterns on the hospital curtains. The justice also thought he heard voices outside his room discussing various plots against him.
The doctor said Placidyl is a highly toxic drug and that she could not understand why anyone would prescribe it, especially for long periods.
Prior to his hospitalization, Rehnquist occasionally slurred his speech in his questions to lawyers at Supreme Court arguments. Those problems ceased when he changed medications, the doctor said.
And by the way, the story also indicated that "an additional 207 pages were withheld under the federal disclosure law, and the FBI said an entire section of his file could not be found." I believe that is held under the "What Happens in Tijuana Stays in Tijuana Statute of 1953"
Fun Fact of the Day : During their hayday, on the street Pacidyl were known as "jelly-bellies".
Posted by Studiodave at Thursday, January 04, 2007 4 comments:
The Spider Menace
Courtesy of TCR, I see that the Bush administration will have to contend with yet another terrorist-sympathizing, al-Qaeda-enabling, freedom-hugging civil liberties lover. His name? Spiderman.
It's only a matter of time before J. Jonah Jameson orders his Fox News minions to denounce him right away.
Justice Sunday
January is all about football gab. Who will win the Super Bowl? Will there be any good commercials this year? How drunk will I be by half time?
And then there's the predictions. Most people base it either on who they like or who they think has the best football team, as if either of these things matter. The real question is, who does God want to win? The winner always thanks him afterwards, so obviously God is calling the shots.
It's pretty hard to tell who God wants to win; I can't even tell if he meant for me to enjoy the wardrobe malfunction so much. Let's go by something obvious: the coachs' religion. From what I can tell from their bios, 11 coaches are Christian and one is Jewish. The Jewish one, Marty Schottenheimer, has been dubbed "the coach who can't win in the playoffs," which tells you all you need to know about God's views of Jewish football coaches. Of the Christians, we've got Catholics (Parcells, Mangini, Edwards, Belichick, and I think Coughlin), evangelicals (Holmgren, Dungy), Mormons (Billick, Reid), and Indeterminate (Payton, Smith).
Last year the two evangelicals lost in the playoffs to Bill Cowher, who is essentially godless (i.e., Protestant). In fact, 2006 was a pretty lousy year for evangelicals across the board, what with the elections taking a decidedly moderate turn and those Colorado preachers gaying it up with their meth buddies. I'm thinking God will throw the evangelicals a bone.
So, here's my call: the Colts beat the Seahawks for Super Bowl XXXetc.
You got a better system? Let's hear it.
Posted by Thrillhous at Wednesday, January 03, 2007 14 comments:
Log Cabin Republicans
A commenter over at Dependable Renegade noted that President Dress-Up is well on his way to becoming a one-man version of the Village People. I think he's right.
So far, we've already had Bush the Cowboy, Bush the Construction Worker, Bush the Biker, Bush the Cop, and of course, Bush the Military Man.
The Decider has almost finished running the table, and only needs to work on a Bush the Indian costume. Be patient. It's only a matter of time.
Nostradumbass
Over at Glenn Greenwald's place, Anonymous Liberal has an amazing collection of incredibly wrong predictions from Bill Kristol over the past few years.
Why is this important? For this unprecedented track record of wrongness, Kristol is being rewarded with the plum position of a featured column in Time Magazine.
I guess all the Presidential Medals of Freedom had already been doled out to Tenet, Bremer and the other true American heroes.
To help ring in the new year, the fine people at The Poor Man have posted a list of the top ten congressional investigations they're hoping to see from the new Democratic Congress.
The whole list is solid, though I could probably live without an in-depth investigation into their #9 choice. Probably.
The year that was, courtesy (okay, shamelessly plagiarized) by Harper's:
Thousands of people died in the Iraqi civil war, which was costing the United States $100,000 a minute. U.S. forces began to negotiate with Sunni insurgents, and the Pentagon, short of buglers who can play taps at military funerals, ordered 700 automated digital bugles. Oil companies announced record profits; President George W. Bush said that America is “addicted to oil” and also asked Congress to pass laws outlawing human/animal hybrids. Scientists in Taiwan bred three glowing pigs. Samuel Alito was confirmed to the Supreme Court, and a study found that Antonin Scalia is the funniest of the Supreme Court justices. Robert Grenier, director of the CIA counter-terrorism center, was fired for opposing “excessive” interrogation techniques like waterboarding, and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney shot and severely injured a fellow hunter while aiming at quail. Osama bin Laden released a tape in which he warned of new attacks on the United States; he also called on his followers to travel to Sudan and fight against the U.N. forces in Darfur. Al Qaeda members were communicating via social networking website MySpace.com, and the Taliban established a “mini-state” in Peshawar. Iran announced that it had successfully produced low-grade enriched uranium; to celebrate, men in traditional dress danced with uranium samples. U.S. senators insisted that attacking Iran must remain an option. “I can drink beer out of my leg,” said Matthew Braddock, a 25-year-old National Guardsman who lost his left foot and nine inches of his left leg to a mine in northern Iraq. “How many people can do that?”
Ariel Sharon was still alive, and war erupted between Hezbollah and Israel. Authorities in the United Kingdom announced the discovery of a terrorist plot to blow up as many as ten passenger planes in the air. Riots over blasphemous cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad broke out in India, Indonesia, Kashmir, Palestine, Thailand, the autonomous Somali region of Puntland, and Afghanistan. Yanni was arrested for allegedly hitting his girlfriend, and Keith Richards fell out of a coconut tree. Coretta Scott King, Gordon Parks, Octavia Butler, Stanislaw Lem, James Brown, Don Knotts, Syd Barrett, Betty Friedan, Milton Friedman, John Kenneth Galbraith, Slobodan Milosevic, Abu Mussab Al Zarqawi, Kenneth Lay, Gerald Ford, and “Grandpa” Al Lewis died. The Massachusetts legislature voted to make health insurance mandatory for all state residents by July 2007, and a whistleblower accused AT&T of providing the National Security Agency with full access to customer phone calls and Internet usage records. Polls found that while only 36 percent of Americans worry a great deal about global warming, 90 percent were prepared to fight its effects by caulking. Twenty percent of U.S. teenagers admitted to huffing household products in order to get high. SAT scores in the United States showed the largest decline in 31 years, and after 15,000 tries a California scientist was able to teach starlings some grammar. At least 2.5 million American children were taking antipsychotic drugs; the same number of Kenyans were close to starvation. The United Nations said that 1,200 people were dying in Congo each day, and Zimbabwe faced an acute tampon shortage. At a zoo in the Netherlands three bears ate a monkey.
Even though Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death two days before the U.S. midterm elections, the Republican Party lost its majority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Hussein was later hanged. The Pentagon classified homosexuality as a mental defect akin to retardation, and Russian President Vladimir Putin kissed a young boy on the stomach. Kansas raised its minimum marriage age to 15. NASA said that there might be water on Saturn's moon Enceladus, as well as on Mars, and researchers discovered that the buried lakes of Antarctica are connected to one another by secret rivers. Dick Cheney was retaining fluids. Starbucks announced plans to add 28,000 new locations to its extant 12,000, and Chinese Wal-Mart workers unionized. Americans had nearly $800 billion in credit-card debt. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld resigned. Researchers in Chicago verified that a quantum computer does not have to perform any calculations in order to arrive at results. In New York City a corpse flower bloomed, and construction began at Ground Zero. The human population reached 6.5 billion, and scientists found that new infectious diseases were emerging at a faster rate than they had in the past. “These are good times,” said a scientist, “for pathogens.”
So I don't come off as a complete pathogen, let me say all y'all should subscribe to this magazine. It's cheap -- $15 a year, and the Harper's Index alone is worth it.
As If Millions of Voices Suddenly Cried Out in Apa...
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SHAKESPEARE AND THE LEGACY OF LOSS
By Emily Hodgson Anderson
(Michigan, 2018) xiv + 228 pp.
Reviewed by Robert Shaughnessy on 2019-04-12.
What new remains to be said about David Garrick? As Emily Hodgson Anderson observes at the outset of this by turns fascinating, diverting, and provoking book, his career (both as a performer and pioneering bardolator) and its legacy have been exhaustively discussed. Thomas Davies's Memoirs appeared within a year of Garrick's celebrity funeral in 1779, an event which itself attracted thousands of spectators to witness the passage of the cortège from the actor's home in Adelphi Terrace to Westminster Abbey. In its wake have appeared both popular biographies (most recently, Ian McIntyre's gargantuan bestseller Garrick) and the large body of scholarship that has addressed what used to be termed "the age of Garrick." Anderson's theme, beginning with Garrick, is "the dynamic of desire and loss embedded in all acts of performance" (2), a topic previously explored by, most influentially, Joseph Roach and Peggy Phelan. Anderson's particular point of departure is Garrick's obsessive determination to become a histrionic living monument to Shakespeare and, simultaneously. to make Shakespeare a permanent commemoration of himself. Garrick's preoccupations were shared by his contemporaries and successors: after examining his self-fashioning debut as Richard III in 1741 and his failure to master Othello, Anderson probes the peculiarities of Laurence Sterne's relationship with his--and Shakespeare's-- Hamlet; Garrick's Florizel and Perdita, his adaptation of The Winter's Tale, and its showcasing of Mary Robinson and Sarah Siddons (whose Lady in Macbeth is also considered at some length); Charles Macklin's Shylock and Kitty Clive's Portia; Garrick's 1756 retirement season; and Siddons's post-retirement staged readings.
As this spread of material suggests, this is not a linear, chronologically-ordered account of Garrick or of eighteenth-century Shakespearean performance. Indeed, Anderson directly challenges the tendency of theater history to map the trajectories of its biographical subjects from first-entrance debut to last-act exit (a narrative that Garrick himself stage-managed rather well). On the contrary, she argues
time in the theater does not move in a strictly linear fashion, complicating the very notion of an exit, and making the end of a performance often hard to track.
This fact in turn revises how we think about the relationship of performance to loss. If endings need not be permanent, then the performer need never truly disappear...[T]heatrical time is simultaneously cyclical and futuristic, with the same actor enjoying (he hopes) the experience of entering and exiting and entering again. Loss in this experience becomes transient -- the invitation for an actor or a performance to live again (14).
In its most developed forms, Garrick's performative memorializing of Shakespeare became "that which could bring the dead back to life, to live next to, and not through, the successors who otherwise stand in for them" (15). This reading of Garrick, Anderson avers, offers nothing less than "a new way of thinking about theater and theater history: not in linear, chronological terms," but (citing an anonymous pre-publication reader of her monograph) as "a network of signification that moves across time." Actors, she writes, are "emblems of vitality who broker an experience that can transcend loss and time" (17).
These are bold and intriguing claims, and the study delivers on them when it casts new light on familiar topics. Though the triumph of Garrick's aforementioned "debut" as Richard III played a crucial part in his self-mythologizing, Anderson sets that performance against his struggle with Othello, which is in turn compared with Aphra Behn's Oroonoko as dramatized by Thomas Southerne.
For Garrick, Anderson writes, "success in Richard III and then in subsequent Shakespearean plays and roles...depended on a growing investment in merging with his character, en route to his larger project of styling himself as Shakespeare brought to life: not as a substitute for, but a revival of the man himself." Performing in blackface, on the other hand, "demand[ed] that the actor always and obviously be recognized as the imperfect surrogate for a black body that isn't there," attempting (and failing) to create "an illusion of verisimilitude that Garrick was hoping to transcend" (52-3).
Here and elsewhere, Anderson's rethinking of the historical evidence is fresh and persuasive. But I was less convinced by her sustained attempts, here and throughout, to render theater history in terms of Shakespearean themes and narratives, though she is, of course, hardly the first chronicler of Shakespearean performance (myself included) to do so. To explain Garrick's performances of Richard III and Othello, she explicates both Othello and Oroonoko, stressing their investment "in issues surrounding memorialization: who is worthy of being remembered, and how these memories can be preserved" (31). To sum up her argument here, she claims that Garrick's project "attempts to do for Shakespeare what Othello's observers, for all of Othello's aspirations, never can: to bring Shakespeare back into the present moment and to speak for him in his own persona. Or, as Othello would say, to 'speak of me as I am' "(54). Though this is resonant, stylish, and neat, I wonder if it is just too neat, with the messiness and contingency of history reduced (or, if you prefer, enlarged) to serve a satisfying Shakespearean pattern.
Anderson weaves a similar pattern in her chapter on Charles Macklin's Shylock and Catherine (Kitty) Clive's Portia: for the former, she says, "[t]he story of how Charles Macklin came to play Shylock is a story of debt" (117); for the latter, "in going head to head with Macklin's Shylock she proves herself to be as powerful, and as strategic about her power, as the character of Portia that she represents" (125). Quoting these remarks out of context is perhaps unfair, for Garrick, Macklin, Clive and others would have been well aware of (and actively played upon) the Shakespearean dimensions of the theatrical and real-life scenarios they inhabited. More troublingly, when linking Sterne's obsession with Hamlet to the agonizing circumstances of Garrick's death, Anderson notes the writer's morbid wish to bequeath his skull to the theater profession so that it could posthumously act as Yorick. She also tells us what the autopsy of Garrick's corpse revealed: he was not, as had been suspected, suffering from a kidney stone, but rather lacked his right kidney ("on moving the peritoneum covering the kidneys, the coats of the left only remained, as a cyst full of puss, and not a vestige for the right could be found"). She concludes that "[i]f Sterne's skull represents a surviving physical artefact that his audiences can appropriate at will, Garrick's missing kidney becomes in another sense emblematic" (79). However apt the metaphor, or emblem, the subject of this witticism is a man dying in gross indignity and extreme pain. Even an apt metaphor can sometimes operate in questionable taste.
Fortunately, it is not representative of the book as a whole. I was particularly engaged by the section on Siddons's half-public, half-private negotiation of the indeterminate relationship between performing and reading Shakespeare in the years after her retirement from the stage. Anderson brings these events vividly to life. At the Argyll Rooms, she writes, "fitted up in a style of great magnificence, complete with Corinthian pillars and gilt lamps, Siddons read in front of the orchestra, at the far end of the grand saloon, an oblong room containing three tiers of boxes, draped in scarlet, and illuminated by chandeliers" (152). Anderson cogently argues that these readings are more significant than has been previously recognized. Besides creating a physical and cultural space beyond the theater in which the aging Siddons could subtly confront the industry's gender norms, they also redefine the boundaries of what constitutes performance itself. Audiences came to hear Siddons perform all the parts of Hamlet, and she reportedly excelled as Polonius, Ophelia, and the prince. More than that, Anderson says, she became "free, in the process, to stimulate a new type of imaginative freedom among those who attended" (155).
In a deft move, Anderson traces the theatrical legacy of loss beyond the eighteenth century into the nineteenth, and in so doing unsettles the long-established opposition between the Shakespearean stage and the Romantic closet: rather than being opposed to or dismissive of performance, she concludes, Hazlitt and company were "in mourning" for it (157). This, she writes, was Garrick's "final legacy": "what Garrick and Siddons had done for Shakespeare through performance, Hazlitt could now, in the interstices of his imagination, do for them" (161). As this eloquent and nuanced study of loss richly demonstrates, there is much to be gained from doing so.
Robert Shaughnessy is Professor of Theatre at Guildford School of Acting, University of Surrey. His most recent books are Shakespeare in Performance: As You Like It (Manchester University Press, 2018) and Shakespeare in the Theatre: The National Theatre, 1962-1975: Olivier and Hall (Arden Shakespeare, 2018). His About Shakespeare: Bodies, Spaces, and Texts is forthcoming from Cambridge University Press.
Leave a comment on Robert Shaughnessy's review.
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NBA: Lakers win over Kings dampened by Farmar injury | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper
Posted on: Wednesday, April 14, 2010
NBA: Lakers win over Kings dampened by Farmar injury
By Mike Bresnahan
LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum watched Tuesday's game from the locker room.
It wasn't long before they were joined by Jordan Farmar.
The reserve guard left in the second quarter because of a strained left hamstring, another injury issue for the Los Angeles Lakers to address as the playoffs come closer to arriving.
The Lakers held off the Sacramento Kings, 106-100, at Staples Center and moved within a game of Orlando for the league's second-best record with one game remaining.
But nobody seemed to care about that.
The upcoming first-round matchup against Oklahoma City was a talking point, as was Farmar.
It's not that the Lakers will fail to function without Farmar's 7.3 points a game, but the last thing they want is more people in the trainer's room this late in the season.
Bryant sat out Tuesday because of a broken right index finger and has also been bothered by a sore right knee. Bynum also skipped the game, his 12th in a row because of a strained left Achilles' tendon.
Bryant is expected to play in the playoff opener and Bynum remains resolute that he'll be there too, but it's unclear if Farmar will make it back in time, thinning an already shaky batch of reserves.
"We don't like injuries at all," Pau Gasol said. "I feel bad for Jordan. Hopefully it won't be too bad, but I had two strained hamstrings this year and it's just tough. We're trying to get Andrew back and we're trying to get Kobe as healthy as possible. It's hard, but it's part of the game."
Farmar was injured when he landed after a dunk. His status is day-to-day.
Gasol had 28 points, Shannon Brown had 24 and the Lakers' reserves actually played well against Sacramento.
Gasol continued his solid push in recent games, making 12 of 15 shots and taking eight rebounds. Brown, starting in Bryant's place, made 10 of 19 shots and seemed to shake off the torn ligament and bone bruise in his right thumb that had bothered him for weeks.
Sasha Vujacic had 13 points off the bench and Luke Walton had nine.
But Lamar Odom had five points on one-for-four shooting and Ron Artest had two points on one-for-seven shooting, neither looking particularly sharp.
Most of the chatter was about Oklahoma City, understandably, though Coach Phil Jackson wasn't in a talkative mood when asked what he initially thought after the Lakers realized they'd be playing the Thunder.
"Pass the salt and pepper, please," he said, smiling.
He apparently had a late dinner Monday.
He later said the younger, faster Thunder could give the Lakers some problems.
"They're very quick," he said. "They have foot speed on us and we're going to have to have good transition, take care of the ball well, do those type of things."
Jackson also launched the first round of mind games, making sure everybody knew that Thunder forward Kevin Durant was averaging a league-high 10.3 free-throw attempts a game.
"I think a lot of the referees are treating him like a superstar," Jackson said. "He gets to the line easily and often. He's got the ability to create fouls. That's a big part of scoring, to get to the foul line."
The Lakers swept the regular-season series against the Kings for the first time since 1997-98 and were helped when rookie-of-the year candidate Tyreke Evans was ejected in the third quarter for complaining about a non-call after he scored.
In other news, the Lakers (57-24) hold the tiebreaker with Orlando (58-23) and would clinch the NBA's second-best record if they win tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers and Orlando loses against Philadelphia.
Until then, they'll try not to lose anybody else to injury.
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Browse: Home / Books & Movies, Reviews / Closer All the Time
Closer All the Time
Any discussion of candidates for the title Fiction Laureate of Maine will quickly conjure the usual subjects: Stephen King, Elizabeth Strout, Carolyn Chute, Rick Russo. All have carved out a unique niche in our literary landscape. But when it comes to capturing the ethos of the people and culture of the Pine Tree State, perhaps no one nails it like author Jim Nichols.
Nichols’ latest novel, Closer All the Time (Islandport Press), is a lovingly rendered series of connected vignettes centered on the fictional coastal community of Baxter. Though the author’s insights clearly mark him as a member of the clan, he does not shy away from depicting the dark underside of small-town life in Maine: the petty feuds that endure for generations, the xenophobia masquerading as rugged individualism, the temptation to escape the tedium of a long winter with a bottle of coffee brandy, and the tensions between “natives” and newly arrived people “from away,” who have lots of money and little sense of the way things have always been done.
One of the first stories — all of which are named after the character at the heart of the action — is “Early,” about a recent widower struggling to extricate himself from the emotional void opened when his beloved Evangeline passes away. Early (so named for his propensity to be the first one out on the flats each morning) rouses himself to explore some off-limits clamming grounds, legality be damned.
Running into a younger acquaintance, Johnny Lunden, the two start rhythmically raking the flats, and it is here, in his description of the work, that Nichols’ prowess is on full display. I have never raked a clam flat in my life, but there is an undeniable verisimilitude to Nichols’ description that will put any reader right beside the two men, feeling the adrenaline rush of doing something outside the bounds of the law. Of course, things do not go as planned. Chased by the clam cops, Early and Johnny have to jettison their catch and barely escape being caught. But afterward, it’s clear that Early has finally begun to lift himself out of the grief and depression that had been threatening to swallow his life.
If these interwoven tales have a main character, it’s Johnny, a combat veteran trying to readjust to civilian life. Nichols begins the book with a story of Johnny succumbing to the lure of “just one more drink,” because “Sarah was working at the Realty, the boys wouldn’t be home for a couple of hours, and it would be rude to just walk out.” This also ends badly, and in the final story Johnny is getting ready to leave rehab. Sarah is long gone and he hasn’t seen his son in years, but despite the despair on the surface, Johnny is bemused and hopeful. “He had always thought that one day he would get fed up and quit, and when they sentenced him to the VA, he figured the time had come. He’d go through the program and get it started, and once he got out he’d find a way to hang on.”
In Nichols’ telling, a resident of Baxter never has to hang on alone. All that’s necessary to rouse the network of family and friends is to swallow one’s pride.
These beautiful stories follow a chronological progression, focusing first upon the youth of the town, then the tender infatuations of adolescence and the heartbreak and tribulations of adult life. The soul of the book is Baxter, a place where the locals scrape and struggle and try to understand why. Nichols makes it clear that despite the travails and confusion, there is always a tendril of hope that connects back to the community.
— Bill Lundgren
Categories: Books & Movies, Reviews
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Brazil: Porte Alegre 2002
Tony Saunois, Committee for a Workers International, 15 February 2002
The southern Brazilian city of Porto Alegre hosted for the second year running the World Social Forum – billed as an alternative to the World Economic Forum, the international gathering of the representatives of capitalism, which took place at the same time in New York.
16,000 delegates from a multitude of diverse organizations from all over the world attended the Forum in Porte Alegre along with tens of thousands of people came from all over Latin America and the world. The theme of this massive international gathering was ‘Another World Is Possible’. The local PT (Workers Party) led state government had billboards throughout the city announcing the same slogan and promise.
Diverse organisations
Represented amongst the tens of thousands present were every imaginable campaign or grouping that is in conflict with neo-liberal policies and with every other aspect of capitalist society. Every day representatives of a variety of oppressed and exploited peoples could be found at the city’s principle university – venue to the main conference settings. From Brazil thousands were present representing health workers, water workers, the landless MST movement, students and the indigenous peoples. Human rights campaigners from Paraguay, Argentina and other countries, Palestinians, Iraqis and others came to represent their cause. Environmentalists, Greens, Gay rights campaigners, campaigns for access to drugs at affordable prices for those infected with HIV and an array of other interests lobbied every day. These were joined by lobbyists for Esperanto and other groups.
The sheer size of the gathering and the different interests represented clearly refuted speculation by capitalist commentators and analysts that the anti-capitalist movement had died following the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11 th 2001 and Bush’s ‘war against terrorism’. Porte Alegre this year took place not only following the events that followed September 11 th. The mass social explosion and toppling of five Presidents in Argentina, the forthcoming election in Brazil and the recent decision of the Brazilian CUT trade union federation to call a general strike on March 21 st, formed the decisive background to WSF.
Porte Alegre demonstrated that the anti-capitalist movement continues and is growing in support amongst certain groups. This was shown in the unofficial youth camp in Porte Alegre that this year was attended by up to 10,000 people, compared with 3/4,000 last year. The largest delegation at the Forum came from Brazil. Significantly the second largest delegations, with 1,400 each, came from Argentina and Italy.
Reflected at this years World Social Forum was the growing opposition to the neo-liberal policies and globalisation of the world economy that were the overwhelmingly dominant tendency in capitalism during the 1990’s. The policies of privatisations, lowering of tariffs, greater integration of the world economy have massively widened the gap between the rich and poor. The tightened grip on the neo-colonial world by the main western imperialist powers has deepened the huge gulf between the so-called colonial world and the imperialist countries. It has also resulted in a much sharper division between rich and poor within all countries.
Increasing exploitation
The consequences of modern capitalism – the growing gap between rich and poor, increasing exploitation and outbreak of national, ethnic and religious clashes - have produced massive opposition to both these horrors and even to capitalism itself. This is what was reflected at Porte Alegre in the idea that "Another World Is Possible", something that was supported by all those present.
However, while tens of thousands came to Porte Alegre looking for an alternative to the capitalist world, in the official WSF activities there was no explanation of what is the alternative to capitalism. At Porte Alegre there was in reality two conferences – the official meetings and the unofficial discussions, lobbies and events.
While the youth, workers and other groups exploited by capitalism rallied to the idea that "another world is possible" at the Forum there was no explanation of what this world was to be or any perspective of how to fight to achieve it.
In the official conferences, representatives from numerous organizations, including trade union, NGO’s intellectual and others were developing a set of alternative ideas to neo-liberalism and globalisation. The ideas that they were developing point to an attempt to offer a new set of "reformist policies" to replace the neo-liberalism of the 1990’s. However, the ideas that they overwhelmingly put forward amounted to a programme to build a more humane version of capitalism – capitalism with a human face.
Also present in Porte Alegre were some capitalist politicians and their representatives who have been party to implement the neo-liberal policies of the 1990’s. Amongst them were representatives of the French President Chirac, four French Cabinet Ministers, the Belgian Prime Minister, Mario Soares, former Portuguese Socialist Party President responsible for helping prevent a socialist revolution in Portugal in the 1970’s, and Mary Robinson , the former Irish President who is now working with the UN.
The presence of these representatives of capitalism point to the emergence of a wing of capitalist representatives who are now being compelled to develop alternative capitalist policies to the neo-liberal programmes of the 1990’s. This is being forced on them by the onset of the economic crisis and the prospect of "other Argentinas". Their presence also helped to act as a check on some of the more radical intellectuals who were present.
However, the brutality of capitalism in the more period is a product of the deepening economic crisis of capitalism that means that, even in the main imperialist countries, the reforms and concessions that could be paid for during the post Second World War upswing of capitalism can no longer be afforded. Attempts to create a more "humane capitalism" will not be able to satisfy the demands of the protestors outside the official sessions of the World Social Forum or eliminate the worsening social conditions that are being created internationally by the deepening economic crisis.
Multi-class composition
The World Social Forum had a multi-class composition and reflected the different class interests and objectives of those participating in it – in both the official and unofficial sessions. The workers, youth and others protesting outside the official sessions were looking for an alternative to capitalism and a means of fighting against it. The radical intellectuals in the main sought to develop ideas that would remove the brutality and poverty of capitalism, but without challenging the basis of it or explaining the need for an alternative to the market.
It is necessary to build a socialist alternative in the anti-capitalist movement with a programme that can overthrow capitalism and imperialism, and begin to build another world – a socialist one. Some proponents of the ‘new reformist’ ideas that are emerging quite skilfully attack the brutality of modern capitalism and argue that the rule of capital needs to be challenged. However, they do not explain how this is can be done and all of them put forward proposals that remain within the framework of the market or capitalist economy but with constraints and checks applied.
Susan George for example, from ATTAC France and one of the most radical leaders of the anti-capitalist movement, outlined the devastating situation that exists in the capitalist world today. She argued that a multiple crisis confronts the world in relation to poverty, the environment, and democracy where "citizens can not be heard". 50% of the world lives on US$2 or less per day and the rest of the world faces lay offs and over capacity. The devastating situation facing the neo-colonial world was illustrated by Brazil that, between 1980 and 2000, had paid US$587 billion back to the world banking system only to find itself with a debt four times greater than that which existed in 1980!
She correctly argued that conditions were now being driven back to those that existed in the 19th century as every gain made during the last 100 years is now under attack by the "establishment".
However, having made a devastating criticism of capitalism, she then limited herself to proposals that should be put forward within the market economy. To meet the domination of the new global economy, Susan George argued, international action was now needed as national reforms had been implemented in the past. These measures should include the cancellation of foreign debt, an international tax not only on financial transaction but on mergers should be implemented together with a clampdown on tax havens. These steps should she argued finance a world "Marshall Plan" similar to that which was implemented after the Second World War in western Europe. The multi-nationals should be legally controlled.
What her programme does not face up to is the fact that the driving force of capitalism itself as a system is the maximization of the profits of major companies at national and international level. What Susan George failed to answer is how and which organisations should implement such a programme? What should the movement do when the multi-national corporation and financial system refuse to accept such controls on their interests she did not address.
The question of controlling the multi-national companies was a recurring theme put forward by some of the more radical intellectuals at the Forum. This was the major theme by Kevin Danaher from ‘Global Watch USA’. He explained that the "interests and right of humanity" had become "subordinate to capital, money values and the transnational corporation". Going further than some other speakers he supported the abolition of the IMF and World Bank and wanted the separation of corporations from the state.
Having pointed out the power and control the multi-national companies have, Danaher then leaves this to one side and seems to imagine that they will meekly accept controls being imposed on them by parliaments whose members’ interests are overwhelmingly linked to the interests of the major companies and capitalism.
Going further than any of the other intellectual Danaher went on to argue the need to build a mass movement based on alliances. Once this was achieved then individual multi-nationals such as Exxon should be targeted one at a time for a campaign against them and then be nationalised. However, even this was not argued from the point of view replacing capitalism with socialism. The idea is to convince companies to behave better. "If the big ones get the message then the smaller corporation will get the message."
Ultimate goal
In answer to questions from members of the CWI he accepted that socialism would develop internationally and was the ultimate goal. However, he argued that socialism should not be spoken about because it, as a word it had become "polluted" under the regimes in eastern Europe. The issue was therefore if "capital was to rule or civil society".
Walden Bello from the Philippines clearly spelt out that his proposal to transform the plight of the mass of the world’s population remained within capitalism. His ideas centre on dealing with the excesses of capitalism and the dominant trend of globalisation during the 1990’s. The IMF is now obsolete, he argued, and its power should be emasculated and some institutions abolished. No new centralized power is necessary what should be strengthened is "to give more space to space and compromise. There needs to be a system of multi-checks and balances" Organisations such as the ILO should be strengthened along with regional trading blocks such as Mercosur in Latin America.
As the CWI has explained previously the onset of a world economic recession will see the checking, and in some cases a partial reversal, of the dominant trend of globalisation of the world economy. This will result in the emergence of clashes both between the various regional blocks and individual countries that could see the adoption of policies such as trade tariffs and other measures to try and protest their own interests. As recent events in Argentina have demonstrated, others steps such as state intervention into sectors of the economy will also be adopted, representing a change from the dominant tendency of the 1990’s.
However, such measures, which may also involve some temporary concessions being given to workers, the middle classes and others, will not fundamentally change capitalism’s character. Furthermore so long as capitalism exists, any concessions won through struggle or given by governments seeking to win support, will ultimately be undermined and possibly taken away by new crises.
However, any such measures taken by different representatives of the capitalist class will not resolve the horrors facing the mass of the population in the different regions of the capitalist world. Implicit in Bello’s argument was the illusion idea that the regional capitalist leaders in such blocks as Mercosur would be better than the imperialist western powers in their dealings with the working class, the middle class, land workers and others suffering under capitalism. The history of Latin American itself, where practically every single country has experienced a brutal military dictatorship at some time over the last fifty years, undermines Bello’s illusion.
An international feature today is the very sharp rightward move of the trade union leaders away from any idea of class struggle and towards the acceptance of capitalism and "partnership" with bosses. The result is that, in many countries, the privileged trade union bureaucracy is an important obstacle currently confronting workers seeking to fight for their interests. In the Forum this was clearly illustrated by a representative of the International Metal Workers Federation. Marcelo Melentacchi, who said the trade unions should negotiate with the multi-nationals because "we want them to contribute to the economy and society", in other words try to be their partners!
A theme present in many of the contributions from the official speakers was the need to maintain the diversity of the anti-capitalist movement and to forge alliances. This was used as an argument against "sectarianism" and any idea that one group could conduct the struggle alone.
Socialists support the idea of unity in struggle of all those oppressed by capitalism. At the same time it is the working class that has the central role to play in the struggle to overthrow capitalism and build socialism. This is because under capitalism it develops a collective understanding and common class interest that enables it to be the decisive force in ending the capitalists’ private ownership and control over the decisive sectors of the economy and society.
However, many speakers attempted to diminish the role of the working class and in effect tried to "de-class" the anti-capitalist movement. The role of other groups was emphasized along with emphasis on the need for alliances. Danaher argued this point: "You are a workers for only eight hours a day. You are a consumer for a certain number of hours. But you are a citizen for twenty four hours a day."
Even trade union representatives such as Willie Madisha from COSATU emphasized that the trade unions and workers were too weak and needed alliances with other forces. While underestimating the strength of the workers movement, these statements did not refer to those countries where workers and their families are a minority of the population. For such leaders these are coded statements that they will do not intend to lead a struggle to replace capitalism and use the issue of forging alliances with other forces as an excuse not to struggle for socialism. They ignore experiences like January’s two-day general strike in Nigeria, two weeks before the Forum, which was supported by the overwhelming majority of people in Africa’s most populous country and showed in practice how the working class could lead an entire nation in struggle.
As recent events in Argentina, and the massive general strike in South Africa against privatisation last year, have demonstrated the working class and others exploited by capitalism can either force trade unions to act or go over the heads of the trade union leaders and struggle against the effect of capitalism and the policies introduced by its representatives.
Even most radical leaders of the movement failed to outline a clear perspective or proposals to organise the movement forward and take it forward. The question of building a political alternative to capitalism and an organised force of workers and others exploited by capitalism is, as events in Argentina have demonstrated, more urgent than ever. New mass parties of the working class, that are democratically controlled, in which the leadership is accountable and not corrupt, with a fight socialist programme are needed.
Susan George argued that the movement should be strengthened, maintain its diversity and as an international movement, rest on strong national alliances. These alliances should be based on the workers, peasants and intellectuals. However, this perspective was not developed to concrete proposals but left in the air with abstractions. Porte Alegre, Susan George commented, was creating a "new world order. A society of society was being created." But then cautioned, " not to expect too much too soon."
Danaher, urged the targeting of specific multi-national companies, boycotting the likes of GAP and building alternative organic economies.
The Forum in Porte Alegre in many respects represented a new phase in the emergence of the anti-capitalist movement. In particular the question of the programme and ideas that it supports was a central part this events. The youth and workers who can to these events were looking for a clear alternative to capitalism. However nothing was put forward by the leaders of the movement that offered an alternative to the capitalist rule of society.
This contradiction is certain to increase in the coming period and lead to conflict within the movement about the way forward. The need to build a socialist current within the anti-capitalist movement as an alternative to the idea of creating a better version of capitalism is more urgent than ever because of the deepening crisis and mass struggles that are now emerging in Latin America and internationally. The upheavals in Argentina clearly show that the mass of workers and middle class are now prepared to fight against neo-liberal policies and even capitalism. What is now needed is to campaign for socialism to be seen as the only viable alternative to capitalism. The emblem of the World Social Forum – ‘Another World is Possible’ is correct. However it is essential to add that ‘A Socialist World is Necessary’ and explain what programme and task are necessary to achieve it.
Sudan masses mobilise against state repression - No support for ‘transitional government’!
Algeria: Victory to the revolutionary struggle of the Algerian people!
Sudan: Oppose bloody crackdown with a revolutionary struggle to overthrow the regime and for socialism!
Nigeria: Stop police attacks on worker-activists - Defend workers’ rights!
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America as Obstacle
Posted on 27 April 2011 10 November 2011
Daniel Levy is one of the most respected Israeli peace advocates in the United States. Best known for his role as a senior policy adviser to former Israeli Minister of Justice Yossi Beilin, Levy was a member of the Israeli delegation to the Taba Summit with the Palestinians in January 2001, and of the negotiating team for the “Oslo 2” Agreement from May to September 1995, under Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
The former Director of Policy and International Efforts at Heskem, the Israeli headquarters of the joint non-governmental Israeli-Palestinian Geneva Initiative, Levy was the lead Israeli drafter of the legendary Geneva Accord. Today, he is a member of American Jewish peace organization J Street‘s Advisory Council, and a favorite target of right wing attacks.
With such a distinguished career, Levy’s candor, and his willingness to consider new approaches to Mideast peacemaking makes him a breath of fresh air. I met with him on April 21 in Washington, DC to discuss the bleak state of Israeli-Palestinian affairs and what hope one may find for the future.
Mitchell Plitnick: When I spoke to him about a week ago, Aaron Miller said that the Palestinian effort to get a UN General Assembly resolution recognizing their statehood was “dumb.” What do you think of this effort?
Daniel Levy: As part of a strategy of pursuing two states, that gets beyond the failed effort that is dependent on good faith negotiations with Israel mediated by a United States, it has merit; but only as part of such a strategy.
Palestinians who are pursuing UN recognition have probably not developed the other parts of that strategy. So the vote won’t make a decisive difference. But, even as a very incomplete and partial strategy, it can bring some benefit. It certainly makes more sense than carrying on with the same failed path. If you’re an Israeli, or a sympathizer with Israel who supports a two-state solution, this should be a welcome development.
I think it’s interesting to see at least some of what constitutes the coalition of those opposed to the Palestinians’ UN move. It’s a coalition of those who reject two states, who don’t want a viable two-state dispensation, whether it’s Ali Abunimah coming from a Palestinian rights-based (rather than state-based) approach, or a panoply of actors in Israel who, even if some articulate some kind of support for a two-state solution, are in practice opposed to it and support entrenching the occupation.
Mitchell Plitnick: The United States recently postponed an April 15 meeting of the Quartet where, it was rumored, the European Union was going to propose putting forth a proposal for a peace agreement to restart negotiations. Do you think the EU is trying to take a more active role in brokering an Arab-Israeli peace agreement, perhaps mounting a challenge to the United States’ exclusive stewardship of the Israel-Palestine conflict?
Daniel Levy: I don’t think we’re in a place where the EU is going to take the lead on this issue. Nor will its member states, certainly not in an overtly confrontational way. The EU and the E3 (Great Britain, France and Germany) have articulated a set of parameters. Look at the statement of Great Britain’s ambassador to the United Nations after the US veto of the Security Council resolution calling on Israel to halt all settlement activity. On behalf of Great Britain, France and Germany, he set out those parameters. They have since been repeated by other officials. The EU and E3 would like to see the Quartet articulate that set of parameters.
[Note: The parameters are borders based on those that existed before the Six-Day War in 1967 with equivalent land swaps as may be agreed between the parties; Security arrangements that, for Palestinians, respect their sovereignty and show that the occupation is over; and, for Israelis, which protect their security, prevent the resurgence of terrorism and deal effectively with new and emerging threats; A just, fair and agreed solution to the Palestinian refugee question; and a plan to share Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine].
I’m not sure those parameters are about resuming negotiations. I think they’re mainly about drawing a line in the sand in terms of what is and is not reasonable to include in a visioning of two states, thereby creating a more realistic conversation and a moment of truth, especially in Israel. This is in no small measure a response to a frustration, almost desperation, with such a seemingly unreasonable Israeli interlocutor, which many would probably identify as being distinct to the Netanyahu-Lieberman government, but may well go much deeper than that.
I think there’s a difference between the EU (together with maybe the UN and Russia as well) and the US both in terms of content and intentionality. The EU is probably thinking, “Can this be helpful and constructive as an input” into the Israeli debate I mentioned. The US is looking at this more from the perspective of “How do we find a paper formula which helps get us back to negotiations, helps us avoid a September vote at the UN and is not disruptive to our domestic politics, having just launched a presidential re-election campaign?” Those produce two different sets of parameters in terms of content. Maybe not totally incompatible, but different in terms of emphasis.
Mitchell Plitnick: What are the limits to US involvement?
Daniel Levy: We need to acknowledge that American domestic politics will not allow the US to lead on this issue in a way that is conducive to advancing a breakthrough. Most people would look at this as being patently obvious, this administration included. US leaders are sufficiently boxed in politically and lack maneuverability to carry the peace process forward. If that is the case, for anyone caring about Israel’s future and the Palestinians, it is worth considering what would get us out of the impasse, whether it is the UN or Quartet playing a more active role.
Now, when you read President Obama’s Libya speech, one might take from it that there would be a logic in the Americans seeing the Israel-Palestine conflict dealt with more by the United Nations than by the US. From the point of view of American strategic interests, one might also draw the conclusion that the US cannot politically carry this burden, that while this conflict is hugely consequential for the United States, it would be better for the US to be a little less in control of it. But that is a counterintuitive notion for any power, certainly for the United States. Leaving this to others gets to the very heart of what the traditional pro-Israel community defines as red lines, precisely because no other entity will treat Israel as favorably as America will. “Favorably,” to the extent of becoming irresponsibly indulgent.
The question for everyone is will a changing Middle East change the equation. Can the US allow such a defining issue as Israel-Palestine to continue to be so mismanaged with such unhelpful consequences to American interests?
That this is the case has been articulated by every CENTCOM commander since 9/11 in congressional testimony and elsewhere. Or does a new dynamic include the enhanced role of Arab public opinion? Does this mean the US should change its political playbook on this issue, including how much it allows domestic politics to restrict its actions? Likewise, the EU will have to ask itself: Given that we need the Mideast to get beyond this conflict, if that means us stepping up more than we have previously, can we do that?
Mitchell Plitnick: Let’s shift the subject to domestic Israeli politics. Even if Avigdor Lieberman is indicted, it seems like the general Israeli shift to the right is a real and lasting trend. However, Israeli politics have swung back before. Do you see any chance of this happening now?
Daniel Levy: I agree with what you say about the Israeli rightward shift. And one has to recognize that there is no Israeli Jewish Left, certainly not in parliamentary terms. Kadima is many things, some constructive and encouraging, but “Left” is not one of them. Labor/Liberal Zionism, which founded the state, never came to grips with the fundamental question of how you effectively marry “democratic” and “Jewish”, and how do you, in a pragmatic, humane and liberal way address the Palestinian issue. They had their chance and failed. The swing to the right has been overwhelmingly built on that failure.
Those unaddressed, unsettled questions that Labor Zionism bequeathed, took practical form — martial law over Arab citizens of Israel until 1966, the beginning of the settlements, all under Labor Zionism. But it’s created a situation today where Israel’s three largest parties are vying for the legacy of Revisionist Zionism. Kadima, Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu are all led by people who would say they are the true heirs of Jabotinsky.
One can distill a more pragmatic and moderate form of government from that, especially regarding internal Arab issues. But that’s not a Left.
First, it has to be recognized how entrenched the shift to the right is, not only because there hasn’t been a mainstream Zionist narrative worthy of the term “liberal” for a long time. But also one needs to look at the social demographic profile of Israel today. Many people talking about Israel don’t know what they’re talking about, including some US policy makers. They interact with a tiny sliver of contemporary Israel.
The sector from whence one would expect a liberal shift to come – namely secular, urban, Ashkenazi Israelis—is somewhere between 15-20% of the population today. Another demographic bloc that could produce change has been excluded from power – the Arabs. In Zionist circles, Arab Knesset Members (from non-Zionist parties) are viewed as untouchables in terms of coalition governments. So if you want change, you’re talking about ultra-orthodox, modern orthodox, Sephardic communities and Russian communities, all with a relatively shallow grounding in liberal democratic politics. You’re talking about a sea change there.
I don’t think it’s impossible that a majority of Israelis could one day embrace liberal values, through a coalition of somewhat oppressed minorities. Current realities don’t serve Shas or the ultra-orthodox; and at a certain level they do have shared interests with Arabs and Russian immigrants.
But fostering liberalism in those communities is unlikely to be a short-term project, though it is worthy and I don’t rule it out. A more moderate, Livni-led government could emerge that could be instrumentalized to address the occupation, but that would not constitute a liberal politics or a break with worrying anti-democratic trends inside Israel. (It is worth paying attention to the possibility that under certain circumstances a two-state solution and retreat into a more “demographically pure” Israel could exacerbate those anti-democratic trends – think for instance about the narrative of post-withdrawal Judaization of the Negev and Galilee.) What’s needed is a new progressive Israeli narrative, at least to begin winning over adherents. But progressive Israeli politics is not vying for political power in the near to medium term future.
Lieberman does matter, personalities matter. If he were gone, it would change things, perhaps not dramatically, but it would change things a little. One has to understand and locate Lieberman’s politics not only in a Russian paradigm but also in the demographic obsession of post-Oslo Labor Zionism. That was the fertile breeding ground for a lot of the most ugly and anti-democratic politics we are now seeing in Israel.
Mitchell Plitnick: Israel’s policies seem to be more and more incompatible with those of most of their liberal Jewish supporters here in the US. While this has affected nothing on Capitol Hill, there does seem to be at least the potential for Israel to become a right-wing/Republican issue in the future. Republicans, especially in the current House of Representatives, with their cozy relationship with Netanyahu, seem to be trying to encourage this. Do you think being supportive of Israeli policies is becoming a partisan issue? And if so, is that bad for Israel and the Palestinians, and what should peace advocates do about it?
Daniel Levy: There is definitely a significant cohort of liberal American Jews deeply committed to Israel, in their lives, identity and in their own liberalism. But there is a very large group of liberal US Jews, Democrats, who by default would call themselves supporters of Israel, but for whom Israel is not really a part of their lives on a day-to-day basis, in their hearts and their politics. And there is a growing orthodox cohort, non-liberal, Republican, for whom Israel factors very prominently.
In the general scheme of things, I don’t think this is all that impactful, which is why the political constraints on American diplomacy are not necessarily based on correct readings. They probably exaggerate the political price to be paid. On the Republican side, with the almost complete phasing out of international realist Republicans from Congress, and with the strength of the Christian Zionist wing, you have very little dissent on Israel in the Republican caucus. It’s just really just a handful of libertarians, most of whom have the surname Paul.
On the Democratic side, there are a variety of views on this issue, because there are Democrats who allow their liberal politics to also apply to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Republicans know they can keep their side united and that Democrats will split, so they can make hay with this a little. Bibi and much of the Israeli right act and think like Republicans. They have little compunction about playing domestic US politics; they feel they can do so with impunity, and they seem to be right.
I think that over time this will be more and more of a headache for Democrats, because there is a constituency for non-Eric Cantor/Steny Hoyer politics on Israel. It’s the anti-war movement, foreign policy progressives, liberal human rights folks, and citizens who become more aware of Israeli-Palestinian realities.
If this trend continues, as it has for the last decade, this will be more of a headache for Democrats as long as they allow the Right to define what is pro-Israel and what US interests in the region are. We basically have a Democratic caucus saying, “Honestly, no, really, we’re just as pro-Israel as Republicans, no, really we are.”
You never hear them making the argument that not compromising on settlements, saying no to engagement with adversaries (Israel’s as well), encouraging wrong-headed Israeli policies is not good for the US or Israel, let alone the Palestinians. The Democrats are making it too easy for a hawkish Republican caucus to define and control this issue.
This article is licensed to Souciant courtesy of Babylon Times.
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We don’t seem to be willing to accept the obvious, that the strategy of the current Israeli government (and probably its predecessors as well), with the acquiescence of the Israeli public, is to talk about a peace settlement with the Palestinians and, simultaneously, to prevent it. They have decided that they prefer the status quo–a military occupation and huge military expenditures, occasional casualties, continuing settlement of the West Bank, and an exclusively Jewish Jerusalem–to the uncertainties of a two-state solution. And that status quo is sustainable as long as the United States is willing to tolerate it. However, Americans will some day realize that the interests of their country and those of its client Israel are divergent. At that point the sway of the peculiar coalition that comprises the Israel lobby in the US will crumble quickly, and Israel will find itself exceedingly vulnerable. I can only wonder what scenarios the Israelis are contemplating for the day when the United States is no longer the enabler of their hypocritical stance to negotiating with the Palestinians.
Pingback: Bibi Insults Obama Again, Before He Even Gets Here | Palestine Note
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Is someone trying to destroy Harbinger and LightSquared?
Posted in Financials, LightSquared, Operators, Spectrum at 5:42 pm by timfarrar
Am I the only person to be somewhat suspicious about the timing of this week’s revelations of withdrawal requests from Harbinger’s funds and investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission and U.S. Attorney’s office into whether the firm “misled investors” and “improperly allowed some clients to withdraw money following the financial crisis while barring others from doing so”? Though these stories have just emerged, it appears that the withdrawal requests were submitted at the end of September, while the investigations began this summer. As a result, I have to wonder if the timing of these stories was intended to derail the next stage of LightSquared’s plans.
This last week has seen wireless operators such as US Cellular and Leap Wireless state explicitly that they could be open to becoming wholesale customers of LightSquared. T-Mobile also appears to be keeping its options open, given it has not yet struck a deal with Clearwire as was being negotiated back in September, and T-Mobile also indicated potential interest in LightSquared’s capacity this week. Whether or not these operators want to do a deal with LightSquared today, it is certainly in their interests for LightSquared to survive, and to be available as a potential source of capacity when they do reach a decision on 4G. That would, at the very least, help to hold down the price of alternative spectrum (from a source such as Clearwire or a future FCC auction), and their expressions of support come at an important moment for Harbinger.
LightSquared stated over a month ago that it had “already signed wholesale distribution agreements” and was “in advanced negotiations with numerous potential partners”. It also said that the company intended “to accelerate its planned implementation of the Phase 2 agreement, which now will take effect by the end of the year”. With today’s successful launch of the SkyTerra-1 satellite, I had expected to see an announcement of at least some of these partnerships in the very near future, in conjunction with additional equity investments (whether from wholesale partners, or perhaps more likely from other financial investors) to validate the valuation that Harbinger has placed on LightSquared. However, with Harbinger’s clients fuming, we will have to wait and see whether the recent revelations will delay or even derail these plans.
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"Lens on Latin America" explores the genius and turmoil of Latin America in the 1960s and 70s
The "Lens on Latin America" exhibition is on display at the International House of Philadelphia until Mar. 22. Photo: Nigel Thompson/AL DÍA News
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A new photography exhibit sponsored by the Da Vinci Art Alliance spotlights themes from Latin America's most trying and revolutionary time.
by nigelt
Nigel Thompson
"Lens on Latin America" explores the...
By Nigel Thompson
On Jan. 7, the Da Vinci Art Alliance and Lightbox premiered a new photography exhibition at the International House of Philadelphia. Titled “Lens on Latin America,” it explores themes from the 1960s and 70s in Latin America - a defining era in the continent’s modern history.
“There was change everywhere,” said David Acosta, the exhibition’s curator.
Despite leaving his native Colombia in the late 1960s for the United States, Acosta always kept up with Latin America’s art and film scene, making him the perfect person to curate the new photography exhibition.
“Even though I moved away, I always stayed connected,” said Acosta. “I fell in love with it.”
Politically, the 1960s and 70s produced some of the worst dictators in the histories of many Latin American countries, along with sweeping revolutions. However, amidst all the turmoil arose a distinct Latin American identity.
For Sonia Gonzalez, an artist with two pieces in “Lens on Latin America,” that identity was founded through struggle.
“It was a learning experience to find genius, and what they sacrificed to find that genius,” she said.
Examples of this genius include novelists like Gabriel García Márquez and Carlos Fuentes, new Cuban filmmakers like Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, and La Generación de Ruptura in Mexico.
Every photo featured in the exhibition is an exploration of that struggle and discovery.
Gonzalez’s two pieces represent not only her humble beginnings in Puerto Rico, but also her resilience through faith.
“I grew up Catholic when the church was the answer to everything,” she said. “From that spiritual connection came strength and emotion—which goes into my work.”
Acosta also emphasized how “Lens in Latin America” communicates the unseen or rarely talked about in the U.S. One of those being its own government’s intervention into many of the governments of Latin America during the 1960s and 70s. Much of the leaders it put in place to stem the spread of Communism became dictators.
“There is a struggle that not many Americans see as a result of the negative effects of U.S. foreign policy,” said Acosta.
In the process of delving into that history, the exhibition also breaks the U.S. bubble that depicts Latin America as a far away land.
“Just 90 miles away is a completely different world,” said Acosta, referring to Cuba.
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But beyond educating Americans about the history and impact of Latin American culture in the 1960s and 70s, it also grants the same insight for members of the Latinx community. Where Gonzalez’s work explored the common ground many find in faith, photographer Tony Rocco’s work in “Lens on Latin America” embraces a neglected part of many Latin American societies.
Though native to Philadelphia, Rocco’s parents are from Colombia, where approximately 10 percent of the population is black or Afro-Colombian. In all of Latin America, there are approximately 130 million afro-descendants, or a quarter of the total population. However, that demographic also makes up about half of those living in extreme poverty in the country.
Whereas the Latin American population during the the 1960s and 70s fought against oppression, Rocco’s photographs in “Lens in Latin America” suggest that those struggles were accompanied by the same discovery of genius for those still subject to turmoil.
While the 1980s stuck out more in his mind, the 60s and 70s mirrored Rocco’s development when taking the photos featured in the exhibition.
“It was a time of tremendous growth,” he said, “and when I took those photos I was exploring and learning a lot about my Latino heritage.
Gonzalez and Rocco are just two of the 17 artists, both Latinx and non-Latinx, featured in “Lens in Latin America.” The exhibition is open until Mar. 22.
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Spirit of Harrogate are a passionate British spirits business with exponential sales growth
Spirit of Harrogate (SOH) Limited was founded in August 2014 by Marcus Black and Mike Carthy - 2 local Yorkshire businessmen who had a vision to create local products and put something back into the region they had lived, raised families and worked in for most of their professional careers.
SOH launched its first product - 'Slingsby' London dry gin in 2015 and this was closely followed with Slingsby Yorkshire Rhubarb gin.
In its first year, the business had sales of £133k (6 months trading) and in its second year, it turned over £586k. Feb 2018 saw the year end 2018 with a turnover of £2.9m. Looking ahead, the business is forecast to achieve a 2018/19 turnover of £7.3m.
Slingsby is the fastest selling gin in both Harrods and Harvey Nichols, (the UKs most luxurious retailers) and is also now widely available across the UK in Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Asda and Booths. In Marks & Spencer, it is regionally the number one best-selling gin and now enjoys a listing nationally. Similarly, in September 2017, it launched into 12 John Lewis stores. Within 3 months of the first order being placed, the number of stores listing the gins increased to 22 and Slingsby now proudly enjoys a national listing. According to the latest UK market data, the Rhubarb gin is enjoying a staggering 19,642% growth year on year in the grocery multiples. Off trade, the products are available in some of the UK’s finest establishments such as L’enclume, the Ritz Club London, the Holborn Dining rooms and the Hotel du Vin and Malmaison hotel groups. Put simply, the products are flying!
Spirit of Harrogate’s ethos is ‘relax, indulge and socialise’ producing products which are the essence of why people flocked to the Northern spa town of Harrogate, located in the beautiful green Yorkshire countryside centuries ago and still do so today. The town epitomises relaxation and in the fast pace of today’s modern world we aim to restore and share the ‘Spirit of Harrogate’ across the globe.
The name Slingsby comes from William Slingsby who discovered the famous waters of the Tewit Well in 1571. Subsequently, people visited Harrogate for the healing properties of this water; the same water used in the Slingsby range of products.
Slingsby gin is made using 24 botanicals, 12 of which are locally sourced from the kitchen garden at Rudding Park in Harrogate and a further 5 of which are also sourced from Yorkshire. The water used in the gin is taken from the famous spa waters of Harrogate, combined with the finest pure single grain spirit. The rhubarb used in the rhubarb gin is sourced from Wakefield, part of the famous Rhubarb triangle. A further 2 products are also made by the Spirit of Harrogate, a 57% navy strength gin and a smooth, 7 times distilled vodka.
The key ingredients are hand-grown local plants synonymous with the beautiful and restorative nature of Harrogate including primrose, sweet cicely, nettle, rhubarb, milk thistle, rosehip and Taylors of Harrogate green and jasmine tea. Their master distiller, based at Langley Distillery, Birmingham, has 35 years’ experience producing outstanding quality gins. They expertly combine Harrogate aquifer water, pure single grain spirit and carefully selected botanicals which is masterfully finished in North Yorkshire.
SLINGSBY LONDON DRY GIN
Made with the finest locally sourced botanicals, Harrogate aquifer water and pure single grain spirit. An initial burst of refreshing citrus and grapefruit gives way to juniper, sweet cicely and Taylors of Harrogate jasmine scented green tea. Enjoy with a premium tonic water. We recommend on ice with a twist of grapefruit peel and fresh blueberries.
SLINGSBY RHUBARB GIN
Beginning life as one of their development gins, they have taken their London Dry Gin and masterfully infused this with the finest Yorkshire rhubarb, sourced from the famous 'Rhubarb Triangle'. An initial sweetness of rhubarb and raspberry is followed by the bitter tang of the pink grapefruit citrus base. A tart rhubarb finish rounds off the drink, leaving an unforgettable flavour on the palate. Enjoy with premium elderflower tonic water, on ice with a fresh raspberry to finish.
SLINGSBY NAVY STRENGTH GIN
One glimpse of the sleek, black bottle indicates that this is something very special. Bottled at 57% ABV, Slingsby Navy Strength Gin continues the tradition of the Royal Navy’s ‘proof test’, whereby gunpowder can still ignite if gin is accidentally spilled upon it. The citrus from the grapefruit is more pronounced than their London Dry Gin and once the citrus has mellowed, it allows the softer and earthier botanicals to become more dominant. Enjoy with a premium tonic water on ice with a wedge of pink grapefruit.
SLINGSBY VODKA
Crafted using the finest English wheat, seven times distilled and blended with Harrogate spring water drawn from the world-famous Harrogate aquifer. This produces a bold, characterful vodka with a soft and elegantly smooth finish. Enjoy with a premium mixer or add to cocktails.
Spirit of Harrogate Ltd employs 25 staff and runs a retail unit in Montpellier Parade in Harrogate. The retail unit offers gin experiences where consumers can visit the store and learn more about the History of Gin or experience a cocktail masterclass. The aim of the experiences are to educate customers about gin in general and to help them understand how the product is made and how it has been developed over the years. Since opening in November 2015, the store has welcomed over 20,000 visitors and is now the number 1 thing to do in Harrogate on Trip Advisor. Experiences have been so popular, they have invested a further £300k in renovations on the unit earlier this year to integrate a ‘distil your own’ gin experience whereby customers can make their own personalised bottle of gin. Having this retail and experience element of the business, allows Spirit of Harrogate Ltd to listen to customers and their feedback on the products and brand.
Slingsby has gained brand recognition on a global scale and are proud to have won over 23 awards from around the world including San Francisco, New York, London and China. The brand has also played on the international stage in 2017, becoming the official gin and vodka supplier to the British Lions rugby tour to New Zealand. Something which as a business, they were very proud to support.
THE SPIRIT OF HARROGATE EXPERIENCE
Spirit of Harrogate likes to do things differently and so they opened the Spirit of Harrogate flagship store to provide consumers with a unique experience. Visitors are welcome to step inside and discover their range of gins, development gins which is where the best-selling rhubarb gin originated and over 80 tonics sourced from around the world. In addition to this, visitors are able to book onto one of the gin experiences where they can discover the history of gin and how we make the gin, try different styles of gin and learn how to make their signature serves. They are welcome to try not only their own Slingsby Gin, but also their range of over 250 alternative gins to explore their favourite flavour profile. Their brand-new experience, which launched in October 18, allows guests to discover the art of distillation and create their very own personalised bottle of gin.
World Duty Free listing for Slingsby London Dry and Yorkshire Rhubarb Gin launched in April 2018;
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Political Matters: June 2018
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Resisting oil pipelines
Native-led resistance to oil pipeline projects is rising, and the focus is on Minnesota and British Columbia. In the North Star State, there’s growing opposition to the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Program, as the Calgary-based pipeline company calls its project.
There is an existing Line 3 oil pipeline bringing tar sands crude oil from Alberta to Superior, Wisconsin. Enbridge would like to replace that 50-year old pipeline with a new larger pipe, which would run along a different corridor in Minnesota – skirting the present pipeline’s route through the Leech Lake and Fond du Lac reservations. What the company calls the “American component” of the proposed Line 3 project will cost $2.9 billion.
As Winona LaDuke reported in The Circle, Administrative Law Judge Anne O’Reilly recommended, on April 23, that Enbridge be allowed to build a replacement pipeline; however, she said that it should be built in the existing corridor of pipelines running across Minnesota to Superior. The judge also noted that “she could not order sovereign tribes to grant an easement,” LaDuke wrote.
Both Enbridge and the Leech Lake Band objected to the judge’s recommendation that a new pipeline be routed through the old corridor. Enbridge, in a filing with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission in early May, called the judge’s recommendation “fatally flawed,” because the pipeline “cannot be built over the known and express opposition of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, a sovereign nation having jurisdiction over portions of that route,” according to a report by Dan Kraker of Minnesota Public Radio (MPR).
And MPR also reported that the Leech Lake Band called the judge’s recommendation “the worst of all route alternatives because it completely disregards both the Band’s sovereignty and the real safety and environmental issues” posed by building a new line along the current route. The Line 3 route covers some 40 miles of the reservation, including the most bountiful wild rice waters in Minnesota.
In British Columbia resistance is mounting to the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, a $7.4 billion scheme to shuttle tar sands sludge through a pipeline to the West Coast. Kinder Morgan, an “energy infrastructure” firm with its headquarters in Houston, Texas, is behind the Trans Mountain project.
“New tar sands pipelines have been met by insurmountable resistance, including the 10-year-long and counting resistance to TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline,” Tara Houska and Stewart Phillip recently wrote in the Houston Chronicle. “Indigenous-led movements stopped two other Canadian tar sands pipelines: TransCanada’s Energy East to Canada’s East Coast and Enbridge’s Northern Gateway to its West Coast. Trans Mountain Expansion and [Enbridge’s] Line 3 can expect the same fate.”
Houska is a member of the Couchiching First Nation and national campaign director for Honor the Earth; Phillip is the president of the Union of British Columbia Chiefs.
The authors explained that the Trans Mountain Expansion “would transport an extra 590,000 barrels per day of bitumen, diluted with toxic chemicals, to the western coast of British Columbia, increasing tanker traffic seven-fold. The terminus point is metro-Vancouver where approximately 2.4 million people would be impacted.”
Houska and Phillip wrote that both the Trans Mountain Expansion and Line 3 pipelines “ignited furious opposition. Resistance is particularly fierce in British Columbia and Minnesota, all in defense of the water, the climate and Indigenous rights. A total of 150 Indigenous Nations along the proposed pipeline routes and beyond signed the Treaty Alliance Against Tar Sands Expansion and pledged to ensure tar sands oil remains in the ground.”
The authors add that opposition to these two pipeline projects has been “spearheaded by Indigenous women” and has gained “widespread and diverse support.”
My first foray into activism that involved environmental protection and defense of treaty rights was with the Black Hills Alliance, which in the late-1970s and early ’80s beat back the grand plans of energy companies to turn the Black Hills into a “national sacrifice area” for the energy needs of the United States. Coal and uranium mining and processing, and a nuclear energy center with up to 12 reactors in one site were on the drawing board.
In the aftermath of Wounded Knee II and a regime of federal counter-insurgency warfare on the Pine Ridge and Rosebud reservations, the American Indian Movement and traditional Lakota were adept at resistance to corporate land grabs. The Black Hills Alliance created a coalition of Indians, ranchers and environmentalists to defeat the energy companies.
Enbridge, Kinder Morgan and their ilk have huge financial resources and can bide their time in pursuit of their projects. Stopping these companies will require an organized, creative and committed corps of activists. Of course, the stakes – the survival of our planet – are great.
mordecai specktor
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New Orleans singer Messy Mya shot dead
Messy Mya, the 22-year-old comedian and Youtube sensation, was shot dead on Sunday November 14th, 2010. According to reports, Messy Mya was shot shortly after attending the baby shower of his girlfriend.
“Mya was shot at around 8pm and lay dying in the street in New Orleans surrounded by a huge crowd. It has been reported that one onlooker took photos of Mya and circulated the images on the social networking site, Twitter.
The photos have since been “re-tweeted” numerous times, and the YouTube star has now become one of the most mentioned names on the site. 22-year-old Mya, who’d gained a large fan-base after uploading his humorous videos onto the Internet, left a message on his own Twitter page early on Sunday that simply read: ‘Finally the baby-shower today’.
Messy Mya.
Reports have been circulating overnight that the 22-year-old YouTube star ‘Messy Mya’ was shot to death in New Orleans last night after attending his girlfriend’s baby shower.
The rumor, which also states that Twitpic photos of the injured man circulated on Twitter just after the shooting, has not been confirmed by any local news sources. However, Messy Mya’s Twitter feed has gone silent, and many people have retweeted one of his final tweets, which is a bit creepy in the context of rumors of his death: “#randonthought [sic] I wounder what people be thinkin bout just before they are bout to die.”
On YouTube, Messy Mya has just over three million total upload views. And while the rumors of his death began somewhere around six hours ago, that’s also the time of the last login to his channel.
Bear in mind that not only has their not been an official announcement on his channel or Twitter feed, but none of the links to Messy Mya’s death photos seem to lead to actual photos of the YouTube star, so their existence is very possibly apocryphal.
Messy Mya (22) – a New Orleans based singer and YouTube comedian – was allegedly shot dead during his girlfriend’s baby shower, and the worse part is that his death photos were posted on a social networking website. It is really sad to see how technology turns people so inquisitive, and even someone’s death doesn’t matter to them.
The fans of the singer were really outraged as his death photos were posted on a social networking site where the internet users could download them or even repost them on various other websites. This is an utter disrespect to someone’s death and some strong action must be taken against it.
According to the photos it looks that he was lying dead on the street and a huge crowd gathered around to see what had happened, and a spectator had actually clicked photos of his dead body and posted them on the website. It is really not known how he died or was killed, but it is not appropriate at all to post a dead man’s photographs on the internet just to gain popularity and traffic.
This entry was posted on Monday, November 15th, 2010 at 10:10 am and is filed under Tragedy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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What is this mighty labyrinth - the earth,
But a wild maze the moment of our birth?
Still as we life pursue the maze extends,
Nor find we where each winding purlieu ends;
Crooked and vague each step of life we tread, -
Unseen the danger, we escape the dread!
But with delight we through the labyrinth range,
Confused we turn, and view each artful change -
Bewildered, through each wild meander bend
Our wandering steps, anxious to gain the end;
Unknown and intricate, we still pursue
A certain path uncertain of the clue;
Like hood-winked fools, perplex'd we grope our way
And during life's short course we blindly stray.
Puzzled in mazes and perplex'd with fears;
Unknown alike both heaven and earth appears.
Till at the last, to banish our surprise,
Grim Death unbinds the napkin from our eyes,
Then shall Gay's truth and wisdom stand confest,
And Death will show us Life was but a jest.
Reflection on Walking in the Maze
Hampton Court (c. 1747)
Having penetrated the cave whose small opening was barely visible on the mountain's innocent-looking flanks, he found himself in a deepening cavern whose corridors disappeared into a further more interior gloom. Without thought he gravitated towards one on the right side and began to explore its uneven trench extended in a hollowed curve away from the entrance cavity. The walls grew dimmer but he perceived that they had been marked and hewn with a chisel from the living rock. A few faint pictograms momentarily obtruded themselves in the gloom, to be swallowed up. They nudged his consciousness as he moved along, drawn by an irrepressible sense of curiosity. He accepted the inevitability of his progression without thought or plan and was barely aware of what he was doing until he came to the first branching in the tunnel. Here he devised a simple scheme, deciding to choose the right-hand corridor each time he came to a branch. This served him well until he began to be confronted with multiple branchings and the suspicion that some he had pursued were loops that led back to junctions from a different direction. It was not long before he was lost.
The darkness was complete and corridor walls suddenly gaped beneath his touch where branches ushered in their musty, echoing air. The horror of his dilemma overcame the futility of effort and he groped on in desperation, believing in his ultimate delivery into the entrance chamber and out of the cave. But muffled sounds troubled his ear and the inner sighing of the mountain's breath reminded him that the labyrinthine tunnels must lead to a goal of some kind, a centre not easily found. Even in his despair he wondered what it might be and what might be in it. A distant melancholic moan dampened the small spark of his renewed curiosity and the prospect of a cruel and unwitnessed death delivered by some terrifying monster flooded his brain and caused his body to convulse in fear. Far cry was this from the maze games he had played at fairs as a youth. The ironic comparison briefly interrupted his terror and he remembered the sign that used to be posted at the entrances to the hastily constructed labyrinths. He saw the words very clearly:
Beware the dreadful minotaur
That dwells within the maze.
The monster feasts on human gore
And bones of those he slays.
Then softly through the labyrinth creep
And rouse him not to strife.
Take one short peep, prepare to leap
And run to save your life!
Like a children's jingle, the lines recalled the horror that had been met, for at the end of the tortured course was placed a full-length mirror. Perspicacious though it had been, the joke mocked him now and he was forced by the abyss of sheer terror that yawned before him to take stock, calm himself and begin to think just what it was that he had gotten himself into.
Suiting his dilemma, a classic definition of the labyrinth asserts that it is the structure of a pattern so complex that once inside it is difficult to escape. It can be a series of caverns, a complex building, a design, a closed or open path, a dance, a game or a walk. It is often underground and shrouded in darkness, but the outside and the inside of the labyrinth are sharply distinguished and it must fulfil certain criteria to be worthy of the name. To be properly called a labyrinth, such a patterned structure must entail the work of artifice. Natural caverns may be labyrinthine but a labyrinth is planned. There is a purposefulness of design involving a journey which is really a puzzle, necessitating a certain degree of complexity. The path in the labyrinth must be continuous and there must be an entrance communicating the interior with the exterior.
Basically there are two types of labyrinths: the unicursal or non-puzzle pattern and the multicursal or puzzle pattern. The unicursal type is used by mathematicians to describe a class of problems dealing with the shortest route between two given points involving a method of tracing a figure without covering any part of it more or less than once. It is 'once run' or a 'single course'. Its single route leads into a centre and out again with no choice or puzzle arising. It takes one over the maximum ground, doubling back on itself continually but never crossing itself or branching. In a unicursal labyrinth one is closest to the centre just after entering but then it veers away, and one is forced to journey afar through a tortuous pattern to get back to the centre. In fact, the traveller may be very close to the centre repeatedly but has no way of knowing it. It is always a question of sticking it out to the end.
The multicursal labyrinth is designed with the intention of confusing and puzzling and it contains blind pathways. Its branches may be simple or subdivided and they may or may not rejoin the main path. The goal may be situated at the final extension of what seems to be the main path or it may be located within such a branching loop. To tread this type of labyrinth requires knowledge of a key to solve the problem. Of the most famous labyrinths of the ancient world, the one located at Lake Moeris in Egypt seemed to have combined elements of both types. Herodotus visited it in the fifth century before the Christian era after Egypt had been divided into twelve nomes, whose kings agreed to leave a combined labyrinthine memorial of themselves. "I found it", Herodotus wrote, "greater than words could tell, for, although the temple at Ephesus and that at Samos are celebrated works, yet all the works and buildings of the Greeks put together would certainly be inferior to this labyrinth." He claimed that it surpassed even the pyramids. "It has twelve covered courts, with opposite doors ... all communicating with one another and with one wall surrounding them all. There are two sorts of rooms, one sort above, the other sort below ground, fifteen hundred of each sort, or three thousand in all."
Herodotus was allowed to pass with a guide through the upper rooms only, the lower being strictly prohibited to visitors. Thought to have been built over four thousand years ago, in the time of Herodotus the stone roof and walls were yet beautifully carved and the intricately bewildering pattern of rooms and courts majestically adorned with elegant white columns. Five hundred years later Pliny referred to this same structural wonder as "the most stupendous work on which mankind has expended his labours". He dated its construction at thirty-six hundred years before his time and marvelled that the lapse of centuries had been unable to destroy it. He went on to describe the colossal statues of the gods therein and the great halls reached by steep flights of ninety steps. He stated that some of the enormous doors opened with a terrifying sound "as of thunder" and that most of the halls were shrouded in total darkness.
Beside the careful description of this architectural wonder, the more famous labyrinth at Knossos in which the Minotaur is said to have dwelt appears very sketchy in its outlines. Tradition suggests that it was built by Daedalus, the renowned and clever artificer and engineer at the court of Minos, the Minoan king. It was designed so as to be impossible to discover the exit once inside it, and at its centre was housed the monstrous offspring of Queen Pasiphae, to whom the youth of Attica were supposed to have been regularly sacrificed. Within the framework of this ancient story the myth of Theseus flourished, placing him, the son of the Greek king Aegeus, amongst the youths sent to Crete as sacrificial tribute. Many know the story of Ariadne giving him the sword and thread with which he slew the Minotaur and made his escape out of the labyrinth. But no ones knows the shape of that maze of corridors or where it is actually to be found. The rooms of the elegant palace of Minos at Knossos were so numerous and labyrinthine in design that some came to believe the palace itself to have been the labyrinth. Others have contended that it is to be found in the convoluted passages within the side of Mount Ida at Gortyna. There, in 1770, an intrepid French explorer described how the dangerous part was near the entrance where, if a man stumbled upon the wrong path, he would soon become so "bewildered among a thousand twistings, twinings, sinuosities, crinkle-crankles and turn-again lanes, that he could scarce ever get out again without the utmost danger of being lost".
As far back as Neolithic times, ground plans, pictographs and various emblematic renditions of the labyrinth appeared predominantly in Europe and Asia. It came to be a popular design on the coins of many Mediterranean people and even appeared as border motifs around temples, houses and at the edges of garments. The famous Greek meander pattern is very like the elements of the swastika labyrinth pattern at Knossos. A rounded version of this simple unicursal pattern became conventionalized and was often portrayed on coins bearing a portrait of the Minotaur. Earlier, Egyptian amulets sported labyrinthine designs with up to five false turns in them, whilst some, like the Minoan swastika, contained a star or moon at their centre, which may have symbolized Paradise regained or death at the end of an illusory journey.
Great mystery and dread surround the centre. Death there may lead to immortal life, or it may be delivered by the hands of the lurking murderer as in an ancient Chinese mystery novel, or by a mindless freak of Nature. The centre may be the springboard into another world of enlightenment, and the path leading to it may be likened to the world which is easy to enter but very difficult to leave. The labyrinth is a knot to be untied rather than cut through, and it is surrounded by an aura of difficulty and danger which, nonetheless, lures as surely as life lures the soul into birth and towards the unknown. One recalls the midnight passage of Damodar Mavalankar who, awakened by his Master, followed him unhesitatingly along a lengthy oceanside pathway which suddenly turned into the sea. There, on a small island, a twisting path and thick bushes concealed the entrance to a hidden building which no one could have found unless the occupant wished it. Damodar's description of the vaulted nature of his instructors and of the secrets imparted to him in that labyrinthine sanctuary offer inspiration to anyone who ardently desires to solve the great puzzle of life, but no one can succeed in this until the power at the centre of the puzzle permits it.
The confusion that one experiences in life's labyrinth is much like that undergone in a mirror maze, where hundreds of distorted reflections compound the difficulty of discovering the passageway that may lead to the goal. The maddening glitter of fragmented thoughts and endlessly changing glimpses of one's own nature coexist like a modern gloss painted over the "tragic gardens, with dark avenues of intertwisted ilexes immeasurably old" that form the buried labyrinths of our collective karma and our unconscious self. The tangled web woven long ago runs like an underground maze beneath the convoluted movements of our busy lives. But if one understood the pattern of the pathway, perhaps one would then possess a key to understanding not only individual or collective twists and turns but what the whole broader pattern is about in the first place. Some have thought that labyrinths were symbolic of the sun's annual or sidereal course in the heavens. The spring maze dances and sacrificial rites may well have originated with man's effort to greet the sun back on its course to the centre of the sky. Or, as H.P. Blavatsky asserts, the progression of Races, sub-races, family-races and various sidereal and sub-sidereal cycles was recorded by the labyrinths, pyramids and zodiacs of old. Thus, the individual as a microcosm treads the pathway of a labyrinth which is both unique to his own perception and reflective of a broad universal pattern to which all levels of life address themselves.
Plato used the term 'labyrinth' to depict an elaborate argument, whereas Theocritus used it to designate a fish trap. Lytton Strachey compounded meanings by once writing that the prince consort "attempted to thread his way through the complicated labyrinth of European diplomacy, and was eventually lost in the maze". 'Maze', a word of Scandinavian origin, simply means confusion, bewilderment or dreamy aimlessness and could never be given as a name to a gigantic amphibian of the Carboniferous age like the labyrinthodont, though one may concur that it was an apt term to use in connection with the prince consort. 'Labyrinth' is a very old term which takes its root, la, from a proto-Indo-European source meaning 'stone' (as in) labyrinthos, which means 'place of stone'. The term describes a stone axe and, married to inthos (a pre-Hellenic word for 'place1), means literally 'the place (or house) of the Stone (double) axe', the emblem of Minoan culture.
The oldest labyrinths in the world are probably hidden or forgotten, but pictograms of them amongst American Indians as well as ancient stone and pebble constructions in Scandinavia or ground mazes built by the Zulu indicate that the idea is extremely old and very widespread. A fascinating diffusion of ideas in the Old World resulted in the common use of the name Troy to describe earth or turf mazes and labyrinths. In Britain they were (are) called Troy Towns because of the difficulty to be overcome before reaching the centre. The Welsh called them caerdroia ('the walls of Troy'), which is related to Caer y Troiau ('the City of Windings or Turnings'). Troy Towns were also known in Scandinavia as 'Giant's Street', 'Troll's Castle' or the 'Ruins of Jerusalem'. In medieval Greece they were often referred to as 'Solomon's Prison', which preserves the central idea that runs through all of these examples, which is the puzzling barrier that must be followed until an entrance leading to the central interior can be found.
In medieval Europe, the labyrinth took on peculiarly Christian meanings. It was sometimes seen as representing the path of ignorance leading to the devil (represented by the Minotaur) in the centre. Its convolutions became, thus, the entanglements of a sinful life. Some church labyrinths, however, may have been designed as symbolic pilgrimages for those who could not (or would not) go to Jerusalem. Most of these labyrinths were mosaic patterns worked into the forecourts of twelfth century cathedrals and were often called chemin de Jérusalem. Others were constructed earlier and sometimes included the motif of Theseus slaying the Minotaur at the centre. Not all were constructed on the ground, and where people wished to avoid the arduous trip to Jerusalem or even the penitential act of walking along the mosaic pattern, they might turn to wall labyrinths wherein their symbolic pilgrimage could be made less arduous still - being performed by the rapid tracing of the index finger. At the cathedral of Poitiers there is a wonderful tree-like labyrinth wherein one exits by the same door one entered and, while encountering no stops on the way to the centre, one may have looped the loop many times before getting there. The intention behind the design is nowhere divulged, but it easily reminds one of the repeated incarnations that seem to be required of the human soul before enlightenment can be achieved.
As the intellectual dreariness of the Middle Ages was replaced gradually by more refreshing and tolerant ideas, imaginative notions intimating the ancient Mysteries resulted in the design of remarkable labyrinthine gardens and hedge mazes. Those fashioned 'after the ancient manner' were of very complex patterns planned to bewilder and confuse. A fantastic labyrinth at the palace garden of the prince of Anhalt, Germany, allegorically typified the course of human life. It was composed of hedges, rocks, trees, streams, caverns and tortuous deep-cut paths that were very dark and often covered over. At each turn the visitor was met by some puzzling or terrifying allegory or inscription or, sometimes, by a beautiful statue or flowery dell. Some constructions, like the marvellous Labyrinths de Versailles erected for Louis XIV (destroyed in 1775), exemplified grand flights into the realm of engineering fantasy. There were in this garden thirty-nine groups of hydraulic statuary representing Aesop's fables, each speaking character in the groups emitting a jet-stream of water. Others, like that at Hampton Court, were genuine puzzles which some tried to thread with the help of a formula. These were often called 'wildernesses' in which one could manage to lose one's way, a slip of the memory or imperfect transmission of the formula resulting in much confusion. One is reminded of the delightful episodes depicted in "Three Men in a Boat", where the over-confident Harris volunteered to conduct a party through the Hampton Court maze. "Well just go in here", he said, "so that you can say you've been, but it's very simple. It's absurd to call it a maze. You keep on taking the first turn to the right. Well just walk around for ten minutes and then go and get some lunch." Poor Harris!
In 1886 an elderly English gentleman recalled the lively pleasures sixty years earlier of running the turf maze called Julian's Bower, forty feet in diameter. He described how the villagers of Alkborough played May-eve games around it "under an indefinite of something unseen and unknown cooperating with them". Some of the English Troy Towns are indeed associated with ancient earth-works and scenes of magical lore. This, coupled with their similarity to the mosaic pavement labyrinths of early Christendom and the patterns of the most ancient designs, lends to the lowly turf maze the wonder of antiquity and of hoary practices which, though occult in nature, have always been known to humankind. Like the city of Troy itself, they are shrouded in myth and mystery which is scarcely dispersed by an etymological investigation of the name. Many say that the word 'Troy' comes from the Celtic tro, which means 'to turn in rapid revolution' or to 'dance through a maze', but others push it back further and claim it may come ultimately from the Sanskrit dru, meaning 'to run'. It is significant that the name was not used by the inhabitants of fabled Ilium itself but was popular amongst others in the Mediterranean world at that time. In Northern Europe Troy Town' was used over five hundred years ago as a title for the Cretan labyrinth, and much earlier the Etruscans and Romans made the same connection between Troy, Knossos and labyrinths or mazes of other sorts.
As when in lofty Crete (so fame reports)
The labyrinth of old, in winding walls
A mazy way enclosed, a thousand paths
Ambiguous and perplexed, by which the steps
Should by error intricate, untrac'd
Be still deluded.
Aeneid V
This description could equally suit the complicated steps of the dance celebrated by Ariadne and Theseus on the island of Delos, where they went through the motions of threading the labyrinth. They were also the motions of the ancient Roman funeral ceremonies and of the myriad Troy Dances and Games that tradition preserved through the centuries. There is much to ponder in Carl Jung's observation that many of his mental patients who were not able to draw a maze were more than happy to dance one for him! An ancient tradition it must be which could well up like deeply etched memories from previous lives. The labyrinthine pattern is more than just fascinating to people; it is familiar. We have at some time been there before: in the spring meadow, the corridor of initiation and the fortified city. The labyrinth permits and prohibits at the same time, and it is a double action we know by heart. We also intuitively understand why the labyrinthine design on temples, houses and clothing borders could keep out evil and permit entrance of that which is in sympathy with the interior. Even the simple villager of an older England or a more timeless India makes tangle-thread chalk designs for such apotropaic reasons, never knowing, perhaps, that he is doing what was done by ancient hierophants long ago.
Just so was Troy surrounded by walls and blinds through which even the persistent Greeks could scarcely penetrate. Tactical labyrinths have comprised walls, moats, trenches, ramparts and blinds of all sorts since the earliest cities. The walls of Jericho were not merely walls but part of a system of blinds constructed to protect the sacred centre of a labyrinthine city. Homer, in referring to Ilium, frequently mentioned the 'sacred veil' of the city. Troy was called Troy* by many because it was labyrinthine, which is what the term 'Ilium' means as well. It is certainly significant that in his siege upon the city, Achilles bore a shield on which Oceanus encircled the "dancing floor of Ariadne". It is also meaningful to recall that the walls of Troy were often referred to as Cyclopean, which literally means 'Ring Wall'. The Ring Wall pierced by the Greeks seems to have been echoed in the piercing of the Cyclop's single eye by Odysseus, thus inviting the intuitive to unravel the occult symbolism veiled in these shifting legends. The Secret Doctrine suggests that the latter act was linked with the loss of the sacred Third Eye, and with the sack of Troy there was surely an analogous loss. For in the crumbled debris of Ilium's walls lay all that was left of the tradition of Mystery Religions and priestly Kings that marked an earlier Eastern era.
Thus was the chapter on a more antique race closed. A circling was made in the labyrinth marking cycles, and a movement towards the West was effected which heralded a less spiritual yet more cerebral phase in human evolution. In the ancient story, Aeneas, son of Ilium (Priam), left the ruined city of the Mysteries to seek a new polis of the gods. His adventures took him finally to the Land of Death (the West) and Rebirth called Cumae. In considering this journey one cannot but think of how the motherland of the East (India) has looked to the West and experienced Death (loss of spirituality) before Rebirth in our own cycle. In the Aeneid the story seems to be referring to a subcyclical reflection of the events affecting a much earlier transition from the Third to the Atlantean Race - events which laid down the pattern for many circlings to come in later races. At Cumae, Aeneas goes to the temple of Apollo (the Sun) on whose gate is depicted the emblem of the Cretan labyrinth and the Minotaur. There he is met by Diana (the Moon) and escorted within the temple labyrinth down into Tartarus, where he learns about the origin of men at their birth and whither they go at death.
The travels of Aeneas to the 'death' of the West are almost identical with those of Gilgamesh and even King Arthur's journey to mythical Avalon. In fact, the plot has been told over and again in cultures around the globe and clearly depicts the initiation through death of the mutable into the immortality of spiritual enlightenment. The labyrinth often plays a major role in these stories, for it provides an apprenticeship for the neophyte who must learn to distinguish the correct path. Such practices were intimated by H.P. Blavatsky, who revealed in the last century that "it is a fact, known to the Initiated Brahmins of India and especially to Yogis, that there is not a cave-temple in the country but has its subterranean passages running in every direction, and that those underground caves and endless corridors have in their turn their caves and corridors". This was true also at Epidaurus, where labyrinthine walls concentrically encircled the tholos temple of Aesclepius, and it was probably true at Eleusis where a 'blind march' was preliminiary to full initiation. Shakespeare shows the court party in The Tempest as coming through "forth-rights and meanders", and in the Gospels, Christ went through trials and temptations in the 'wilderness' (maze) before fully taking on the mantle of enlightenment.
La means 'stone' and the journey into the labyrinth is a descent into Mother Earth. A solar guide shows the entrance place, but a lunar guide or sibyl leads the traveller into the labyrinth itself, just as Ariadne showed Theseus the way. The labyrinth is presided over by a goddess, governed by a god and walked by a man. It is the god who is the Judge of the Dead, whilst the goddess provides the means of reaching judgement. The thread-soul partakes of her very substance and must be followed by man to its solar source. He makes a journey much like that depicted in the Egyptian Book of Gates, wherein the solar barque penetrates the first gate in the underworld by magic and so on to the eleventh gate, where the barque is drawn "through the body of the Boat of the Earth". Like Initiates of many other traditions, Aeneas descends into the earth in submission to the sun god (Apollo) and the moon goddess (Diana) in order to realize a true marriage of heaven and earth within himself. Only then can he be fit to establish a new sacred city of the gods and of man. He must fulfil this initiation in the West in order to establish therein the ancient Mysteries of the labyrinth and set the stage for a new mode of consciousness and collective order.
Alone, huddled against the stone fastness of the twisting corridors into which he had stumbled, the lost man sat thinking of all these things. He had calmed himself and taken stock of his situation as well as he could. Thinking about the age-old puzzle of labyrinths and the sacred symbolism attached to them had given him a much needed objectivity and convinced him that nothing ever happened except under karma, and it was therefore significant that he found himself in this predicament. It began to dawn upon him that he had entered into the first stages of initiation and that it was up to him what he made of it and whether he would succeed in passing its trials at all. Having thus decided, he set about trying to think out an actual method of progress that might enable him to locate the goal of this particular labyrinth as well as retrace his steps back to its entrance. He recalled the rather pedantic guidebook he had once casually read which advised visitors to hedge mazes that they should rely upon marks made at nodes (where paths branch off at a juncture). On arrival at a node, the reader was told, you should mark that path by which you just arrived with three marks. If you see, by marks on other paths, that you have already been to that node, mark the arrival path with one mark only. If each path at this node is already marked, you must retrace your steps. If, however, there are one or more unmarked paths leading from the node, select one of them and mark it with two marks as you enter it. You can now make it a rule that on arrival at a node, one should never take a path with three marks unless there are no paths unmarked or with one mark only. When one enters a one-mark path, one adds the two marks always made on leaving a node - making it a three-mark path at that node.
The details of this approach swam in his head for a moment until he realized that in the complete darkness surrounding him he would not be able to see many marks at all. He thought of carving them so that he might trace them with his fingertips but realized that he could not be sure of marking entrances to new pathways correctly across a node. Stretching out in the darkness, he might put the wrong mark on the wrong entrance and confuse himself further if he looped around and approached it coming from another direction. He realized that those who chiselled out these corridors long ago may well have had a formula outlining successions of turns to the right and left, but it was not available to him and he would have to rely upon something much more fundamental to find his way. Even in the extremity of his situation he was aware that the possible methods that might enable him to thread the labyrinth successfully were strikingly analogous to the mental process he was rapidly having to adopt. In the end he decided that the only solid approach would be the long and painstaking one. He would have to rely on endurance in traversing the long course more than he could upon knowledge of the way. Thus he began inching his way, one hand over the other, feeling every bump and scar in the wall as he went. There was no way he could know whether the overall pattern was a unicursal or multicursal one, and so he could not really know if his persistence would, in fact, take him on a single course to the goal, or if he would endlessly double back through deadends and blinds. He realized the risk but simply decided that there was everything to lose and nothing to gain by not attempting the journey, and he chose to place his faith on the route itself.
It was very important to place his hands closely together, for sudden crannies provided good landmarks if needed, and it was hard to rely upon tiny drafts to signal the nearness of a branch. At certain points the air made itself felt but it was not always constant, and he came more and more to rely upon touch as the means by which to gain some knowledge of the terrain. He consoled himself, recalling that he had once been taught that ninety percent of the thoughts and winds of emotion that pass through us are irrelevant. They merely clutter up our minds and senses to the point where it is almost impossible to become single-pointed enough to hit the mark or find the goal. He resolved that, deprived of sight and a formula providing a key, he would block out all irrelevancies and focus all his intelligence and Buddhic perception through his fingertips. He would rely upon them to give him intimations of the broader plan. Through them the sense of equilibrium maintained in the labyrinths of his inner ears would be expanded, and he would begin to feel the balance of the complex corridors in his aura. As his sense of touch increased, he moved along more rapidly, almost unconscious of fatigue. He did not know how long he had been moving nor did he contemplate how much further he would have to go. Nor was there any way of knowing how many of the possible corridors he had felt his way so painstakingly along when he heard a humming sound and became aware that he was approaching some sort of powerful presence there within the bowels of the earth.
He knew he was approaching the central goal of the labyrinth, and it occurred to him that he might indeed be approaching his death. Rapidly, like shards of previous fears, pictures of the monster, the sinister murderer, the faceless devouring agent, rushed through his consciousness. But he had come too far, schooling his thoughts and nurturing a faith stronger than the chiselled stone around him. The tortured fears were banished and he advanced towards what now appeared to be a dim light reflected off the tunnel wall. Whatever waited for him, even death itself, he would meet it squarely. For he had given over his whole life to this sacred quest, focussing everything in him upon the threading of the labyrinthine path until he had become it. He accepted it completely as himself and with it, whatever the goal had in store.
Slowly he rounded the corner from whence the light emanated and beheld before him a threshold leading through a doorway into a lighted chamber. He stepped forward blindly, unable at first to see clearly in the new-found light and thus stumbled slightly over the threshold and into the room. There, before him with kaleidoscopic effect, a rapid succession of sounds and images accosted his senses. Crashing towards him, a gigantic bull-headed man raised his terrible club, only to break into a million wrinkled fragments which fell limply onto the floor. Immediately behind where he had stood, a mirror reflected back the image of a startled-looking, freckled boy who was quickly whisked aside by the hands of one whose physical beauty was surpassed only by the divine radiance of pure spirituality that shone from his face. The man stared at him and then prostrated before his radiance. He could not see, for his eyes were swimming with tears. He could not tell how long he remained there, but he heard the deep melodious voice that swept over him and said: "I have waited for you a long time,"
Back into the sanctuary
of thy fiery heart
I thread my way.
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Warner Bros. Wants To Make An ‘Attack on Titan’ Live-Action Movie Series
January 20, 2017 by Nica De Leon Leave a Comment
Warner Bros. is planning to release an Attack of Titan live-action movie series. The entertainment company is now negotiating Hajime Isayama to get the feature rights for his popular manga series.
Recent reports reveal that the film studio wants to remake the two-part Japanese movie adaptation of the hit manga. The anime version and the video game franchise of Hajime Isayama’s work are very popular to the worldwide audience so the live-action has high success rate.
Once approved, the Attack on Titan movie series will be assigned to David Heyman, as per Deadline. He is one of the producers of Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them.
Attack on Titan focuses on the people living in a walled territory trying to survive from the human-eating titans constantly attacking them and destroying their walls. Eren Yeager, the main protagonist, discovers that he has the ability to transform into a titan. He uses his unexplainable talent to eliminate the titans and stop them from eating the civilians.
However, Eren also discovers that he is not the only titan shifter. There are many like him making him more eager to find out how he got his ability. Having him as a weapon, the Survey Corps decides to launch an attack against the titans outside the walls.
Meanwhile, the second season of Attack on Titan anime is slated to return this spring. Many are already excited to find out what will next happen to the characters of the hit anime series. For the meantime, watch the preview below!
Filed Under: Entertainment, News Tagged With: Attack on Titan, Attack on Titan live-action, Warner Bros.
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Young Justice Season 3 Air Date & Update: More Episodes + New Characters
December 1, 2016 by Nica De Leon Leave a Comment
Warner Bros. has confirmed the return of Young Justice for its season 3. The production for the highly anticipated animated series has already begun which is exciting many fans.
President of Warner Bros. Animation and Warner Digital Series, Sam Register has earlier stated that they are aware of the requests of the avid fans. They know that many are asking for additional episodes for Young Justice season 3 and their wish might be granted, as per Deadline.
Meanwhile, the original cast of the show is expected to return including Kid Flash who sacrificed himself during the previous season to save his friends. Fans might still see Wally West in Young Justice season 3 to continue his life-saving duties. His teammates will most likely come back as well.
Of course, there will be new villains in the upcoming season. New and stronger enemies will keep the superheroes busy. There are so many bad guys in the DC Universe so the teen heroes will not run out of opponents.
The original team in Young Justice includes Robin, Kid Flash, Aqualad, Artemis, Zatanna, Red Arrow, Rocket, Superboy, Miss Martian and Sphere. In season 3, new members might be added to the team. Recent reports reveal that Wonder Girl, Blue Beetle, Beast Boy and Bat Girl will be joining the squad.
The addition of new characters will make the team grow stronger as long as they are united. Hopefully, the teenage superheroes will not go against each other in Young Justice season 3.
The most awaited series is expected to be aired in 2017, though Warner Bros. is yet to confirm this. Reports reveal that the show will be aired on Netflix or Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. The previous seasons were shown on the two cable channels.
Filed Under: Entertainment, News Tagged With: Warner Bros., Young Justice, Young Justice Season 3
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More Regina police to get Taser weapons
The Regina city police will be training more of its officers to use Taser-type weapons, a new report says.
The hand-held devices deliver a powerful electric shock through wires fired at a suspect. They're considered a non-lethal way of subduing a person, but they are not without their detractors.
The RCMP has been using them for years. So have officers on the Regina Police Service's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams.
Now, according to a report being considered by the Regina Board of Police Commissioners, Regina city police are expanding their use to front-line officers.
Taser is a trademark for weapons that are generically known as conductive energy devices, or CEDs.
The Regina police will buy the devices and phase them in over three years. It has already developed policies for their use and says it will train officers in "best practices."
The report says several coroner's inquests have recommended that police be given more options dealing with suspects that don't involve lethal force.
It also notes Taser-type devices have been controversial in some jurisdictions.
Regina police chief Cal Johnston said he would make sure other officers are properly trained and only use the device in approved circumstances.
He said any time one is used, it will be reported to the department's "use of force" board.
Labels: history in Canada, regina, saskatchewan
Dead man's family sues police and Taser company
VANCOUVER -- The parents and sister of a man repeatedly shot by police with a Taser weapon are suing for his death in what their B.C. Supreme Court lawsuit claims is gross negligence.
In June 2004, Robert Bagnell, 44, was jolted with 50,000 volts of electricity while being subdued by Vancouver police officers. A report conducted later by Victoria police said Bagnell died from cardiac arrest due to cocaine-induced psychosis.
Taser International Inc, the maker of the X26 Tasers used on Bagnell, is named in the lawsuit, along with the Vancouver Police Department, police Chief Jamie Graham and five other Vancouver police officers.
The statement of claim, filed Thursday, said two police officers repeatedly shot Robert Wayne Bagnell, who was unarmed and represented no threat to anyone, with two weapons manufactured by the defendant Taser International."
The lawsuit accuses the police department of unlawful acts and gross negligence for failing to train its officer in the use of the Taser.
Bagnell's father, also named Robert, his mother Janna, and sister Patricia Gillman accuse Taser of failing to conduct independent safety testing of its products, and promoting the Taser as "non-lethal when it knew or ought to have known that they were lethal and had caused deaths."
It also accuses police of "concealing the X26 Taser weapons that were used on Robert Wayne Bagnell from persons investigating the circumstances of his death."
It also claims the police department concealed the circumstances of Bagnell's death from his family, and arranged for the cremation of his body when they should have known the family would want an independent autopsy.
A 700-page report by Victoria police looking into Bagnell's death cleared the officers in connection to the death, but recommended better training and tracking of Taser deaths.
The lawsuit asks for general and special damage awards and for an injunction stopping the defendants from selling or using the X26 Taser weapons in British Columbia.
"Although more than 190 people have died after being shot by Taser weapons, including the X26 Taser, the defendants. . .continue to promote and market the weapons as 'non-lethal' weapons," the lawsuit states.
A statement of defence had not yet been filed by the defendants.
Labels: lawsuit, robert bagnell, taser international, vancouver police department
Feds Probe Stun Gun Deaths
With over 180 deaths in recent years among suspects subdued with stun guns, the government is taking a closer look into their use.
The review by the Justice Department, which will initially involve 30 such cases, follows the rapid growth in deployment of stun guns as a nonlethal alternative to bullet-firing weapons. The department's research arm, the National Institute of Justice, said there have been 184 such deaths since 1986, the overwhelming majority since 2000. Amnesty International, which has called for a moratorium on stun gun use, says there have been roughly 160 deaths in the past five years.
The study will not look at whether the use of stun guns was appropriate, John Morgan, the institute's assistant director, said Wednesday. Instead, researchers will make medical assessments of the 30 cases, which include deaths that were attributed to a stun gun and some in which authorities could not determine whether a stun gun caused or contributed to a death, he said.
Two deaths occurred in 1986, one in 1990 and the rest since 2000, Morgan added.
In the remaining 154 cases, stun guns were ruled out as a factor in the deaths, but the study could eventually include those deaths as well, he said, saying the review could take up to two years.
“We hope this will help improve less-lethal technology generally,” Morgan said. “If we find a particular operating characteristic is contributing to a problem, we hope that will be way to improve that technology.”
Taser International of Scottsdale, Ariz., the largest maker of stun guns, said that the devices have saved more than 9,000 lives because police officers have been able to the weapon instead of handguns that fire bullets. Tasers deliver a 50,000-volt jolt through two barbed darts that can penetrate clothing.
“Given that the NIJ conducted a similar study on pepper spray which effectively ended the debate regarding its safety, we are hopeful this study will lead to the same outcome regarding electro-muscular disruption devices,” Taser vice president Steve Tuttle said.
Dalia Hashad, director of Amnesty's USA Program, said the study is a good first step. “We've been asking the federal government for the last six years to take seriously that people are dying after being shot by this weapon,” Hashad said.
A government study last year said more than 7,000 of the nation's 18,000 police agencies used Tasers, up from 1,000 in 2001.
Many of those who died were high on drugs, mentally ill or otherwise agitated, according to an Amnesty International report released in March. Many deaths in the past year occurred after victims were hit by Tasers at least three times and, in some cases, for prolonged periods, the report said.
Some police agencies have tightened their rules on stun-gun use following Taser-related deaths.
One goal of the new study is to get a better understanding of how the body reacts when hit by electricity from the devices.
Researchers will include medical examiners, pathologists, cardiologists and other experts, said Dr. Robert Hunsaker, president of the National Association of Medical Examiners and co-chairman of the group that is designing the study.
The International Association of Chiefs of Police, which has called for careful monitoring of stun gun use, also will be part of the review.
Labels: coroners, international association of chiefs of police, medical examiners, national association of medical examiners, national institute of justice, research, study, US Justice Department
US Justice Department looks into deaths of people subdued by stun guns
Kevin Johnson, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department is reviewing the deaths of up to 180 people who died after law enforcement officers used stun guns or other electro-shock devices to subdue them.
"These deaths raise a question in our mind that should be examined," said Glenn Schmitt, acting director of the department's National Institute of Justice. He said the review will initially focus on 30 deaths, including one from two decades ago.
Most of the deaths occurred within the past four years, corresponding with the mass deployment of stun guns to police departments throughout the country. A number of departments have re-evaluated their use of the weapons because of the fatal incidents.
More than 80 deaths since 1999 were identified in a recent analysis by The Arizona Republic. Amnesty International has identified more than 150 deaths since 2001.
The devices, marketed as alternatives to lethal force, are designed to incapacitate unruly suspects through electric shock.
Taser International, the nation's largest maker of stun guns, has supplied more than 130,000 devices to about 7,000 of the nation's 16,000 police agencies.
The company has maintained that its products are safe and have saved the lives of police officers and suspects.
"As we know, in-custody deaths are part of policing," Taser spokesman Steve Tuttle said when asked about the Justice Department review. "The more we can study and understand the circumstances that lead to in-custody deaths, the more opportunities there are to develop law enforcement tactics and procedures that will help prevent these unfortunate events in the future."
According to Taser, the company is a named defendant in 49 lawsuits alleging either wrongful death or personal injury. An additional 20 lawsuits have been dismissed.
The Justice Department review, which could take up to two years, was proposed last year after law enforcement authorities expressed concern about the increasing numbers of deaths after stun guns were used to incapacitate suspects, Schmitt said.
Schmitt said the review will enlist the help of the National Association of Medical Examiners, the American College of Pathologists, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Teams of medical examiners will begin reviewing individual cases this fall.
Amnesty International called the Justice review a "good first step."
"The fact that the government is doing this is an important acknowledgement that there is a serious problem," said Dalia Hashad, director of Amnesty's USA Program. "People are dying needlessly. It's important that the federal government is taking this responsibility."
Last year, the IACP recommended that law enforcement agencies closely monitor use of the devices after noting safety concerns involving stun guns.
Schmitt said investigators are expected to examine a range of issues in each case, including ages, weight, possible physical impairments, evidence of drug use and other factors that could have contributed to the deaths.
In addition, Schmitt said, investigators will explore a phenomenon known as "excited delirium," in which a shutdown of bodily functions occurs after sensory overload.
Schmitt said the department is not urging any immediate change in the deployment of the devices.
"There is no reason to do anything different for now," he said. "We'll let the research answer the questions."
Labels: international association of chiefs of police, national association of medical examiners, research, study, US Justice Department
Cocaine not stun gun killed man
By ELIZA BARLOW, EDMONTON SUN
A cocaine overdose -- not a police stun gun - is to blame for the death of a 33-year-old city man last Christmas Eve, a medical examiner has found.
Alesandro Fiacco died on the way to hospital after he was shocked with a stun gun by police trying to subdue him.
Witnesses to the bizarre Dec. 24, 2005, incident said Fiacco was behaving erratically and had wandered into traffic near 113 Street and 76 Avenue.
Police said officers made several attempts to bring Fiacco, who was unarmed, under control before the stun gun was used. A senior cop at the scene told the Sun that Fiacco was shocked four times.
Assistant chief medical examiner Dr. Bernard Bannach said yesterday that neither the stun gun nor a condition called excited delirium killed Fiacco.
Excited delirium - known to hit drug and alcohol abusers and some psychiatric patients - has been blamed for four city deaths since 2001 involving men who police had to subdue because of violent behaviour.
Bannach said the condition doesn't occur when the amount of cocaine in the body is at overdose levels.
"Although (Fiacco) may have been exhibiting symptoms of psychotic behaviour, it was the overdose that killed him."
An Amnesty International report earlier this year cited 156 deaths related to stun guns in the U.S. and 14 in Canada since April 2003, two of which were in Edmonton.
But Bannach said there's no convincing medical evidence that a stun gun has ever killed anyone.
He said even if the device malfunctioned and the person it was being used on was electrocuted, death would occur almost instantly.
"In the Fiacco case, he died at least 12 minutes after the last time he was shocked, if not longer."
Staff Sgt. Peter Ratcliff, president of the Edmonton Police Association, said the cop who used the stun gun on Fiacco will be relieved to hear the device didn't kill the man.
A fatality inquiry will be held in the case because Fiacco died in police custody. No date has been set.
Labels: alessandro fiacco, cocaine, dr. bernard bannach, edmonton, excited delirium
Tasered man died of cocaine poisoning: examiner
A man who died on Christmas Eve after being Tasered by city police Edmonton succumbed to cocaine poisoning, the medical examiner has found. In a report released today, the medical examiner has determined Alesandro Fiacco, 33, died from acute cocaine toxicity.
Witnesses said Fiacco had been Tasered by police around 3 p.m. last Dec. 24 at 113th Street and 75th Avenue.
Police had been trying to subdue the man, who had been acting erratically by yelling and flailing his arms in traffic.
A statement from police today said numerous attempts were made to bring him under control. When those attempts failed, an officer used his conductive energy device - or Taser - to subdue him.
He was transferred to an ambulance and taken to hospital. He suffered health problems along the way and was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police haven't said whether the shock from the Taser, used to disable troublesome people with short bursts of high-voltage electricity, contributed to the toxic effect of the high quantity of cocaine in his system.
The provincial Justice Department has ordered a fatality inquiry.
His death and other concerns about Tasers prompted police Chief Mike Boyd to review the department's policy on the devices, which have been the source of controversy since 2001 when Edmonton became the first Canadian force to start using them.
The department adopted a new policy in March requiring officers to report Taser use immediately. Each use of the devices will be investigated by a senior officer.
Labels: alberta, alessandro fiacco, cocaine, edmonton
20th product liability lawsuit dismissed against TASER International
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 6, 2006 -- TASER International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TASR), a market leader in advanced electronic control devices announced that the Circuit Court for the County of Saginaw, Michigan entered a judgment in favor of TASER International ordering the dismissal of the product liability lawsuit filed by Devica Thompson, et. al. against TASER International, Inc. This is the twentieth wrongful death or injury lawsuit that has been dismissed or judgment entered in favor of TASER International.
In the Court order granting TASER International's motion for summary disposition, the Court held that the plaintiff's complaint failed to state a legally recognized claim against TASER International as a matter of law and ruled that the Plaintiff was unable to prove that the ADVANCED TASER® M26 device was a cause of Mr. Thompson's death.
The Court stated that there was no dispute as to his immediate cause of death from metabolic and respiratory acidosis and noted that the autopsy report found high concentrations of lactic acid and carbon dioxide in Mr. Thompson's blood. The Court then stated that lactic acid is typically generated as a by-product of creating energy for muscle contractions without oxygen and held that "accepting as fact that some lactic acid can be produced by muscle contractions induced by a TASER, there is no evidence that this makes the M26's design inherently or unreasonably dangerous."
The Court then concluded "...Any attempt to pinpoint the TASER M26 as a 'but for' cause without which Thompson would have lived would involve nothing more than sheer speculation on the part of a jury. It is equally likely, if not more so, that Defendant's exertions in fighting with friends and officers that night generated more lactic acid than which his body was able to cope."
The Court also noted that Plaintiff's own experts did not conflict with TASER's theory of Mr. Thompson's death, "but explicitly acknowledges that the physical confrontations played an undeniable role in bringing about his acidosis."
In a very significant ruling, the Court also held that "it is equally possible the use of the TASER led to the release of less lactic acid than would have been produced naturally by the additional physical wrestling necessary to subdue an offender if use of the device had not been used."
In ruling that the TASER device was not defective out of a failure to warn, the Court held that there is no evidence that the device would have harmful effects on healthy individuals. The Court also held that, "No warning can guide the officer's discretion if the potential for harm only exists in an offender beset with unobservable latent physical ailments."
"We are very pleased that the Court held that the TASER device was not the cause of this unfortunate death and also to see judges accept the fact that early use of TASER technology to end a struggle is much safer and produces much less lactic acid than what would have been produced naturally by the additional physical struggle had the TASER M26 not been used," commented Douglas Klint, Vice President and General Counsel for TASER International. "The Court's opinion in the Thompson case is one of the first to rule as a matter of law that the TASER device is not the cause of death in cases involving metabolic or respiratory acidosis which is the primary cause of most in-custody deaths; and also to rule that TASER had met its duty to warn," concluded Klint.
"Our strategy of aggressively defending these product liability lawsuits is continuing to show results and we will relentlessly fight these lawsuits with the overwhelming medical and scientific evidence showing that the TASER device was not the cause of injury or death," concluded Klint.
Labels: acidosis, lactic acid, lawsuit, taser international
US Justice Department looks into deaths of people ...
20th product liability lawsuit dismissed against T...
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Groups debate potential dangers of Tasers
Dan Claxton, Missourian
COLUMBIA — With the contentious vote on the prohibition of Taser use in Columbia only days away, experts continue to argue the relative danger of the devices.
Police officials contend that Tasers, when used properly, pose little risk to those they are used against. Opponents say the devices are unreliable and that many factors can make them dangerous.
Detective Jerry Staten is a former Texas police detective that now appears as an expert witness and consultant in Taser-related lawsuits.
Staten said that Tasers deployed correctly are safe. “They are specifically designed to reduce the likelihood of causing serious injury or death,” he said.
That sentiment is echoed by Las Vegas, N.M., Police Chief Garry Gold, who said, “Any mechanical tool is as good as its user. It’s just a tool of choice.”
In June, Gold decided to stop using Tasers in his department. He said the decision wasn’t because of any danger posed by Tasers. Rather, he cited complaints about officers misusing the devices, the growing threat of litigation and the expense of renewing his department’s accreditation.
But Gold said he supports the use of Tasers by law enforcement. “There’s a lot of pros and cons; it’s just dependent on the needs of a particular city,” he said.
Marjorie Lundquist disagrees. An expert on the effects of electricity and radiation on the human body, Lundquist said Tasers too often can be lethal, even though in certain circumstances they can be used without ill effect.
She cited several factors that must be present to keep the risk of serious physical injury from a Taser low:
■It must be administered only on physically fit young adults in good health who are free from drugs, who have no recognized genetic disease and who have not been engaged in vigorous physical activity in the five minutes immediately preceding the Taser shock.
■It must be used only against people whose limbs are not fettered or immobilized in any way.
■The shock should last for no more than five seconds.
Lundquist considers Tasers “very dangerous weapons” because there are many variables involved that police can’t see.
Lundquist said sickle cell trait is one genetic condition that makes Tasers potentially lethal. The trait is most commonly found in people of African ancestry. Lundquist said that even one shock from a Taser can induce a sickle cell crisis, which can be fatal.
Lundquist conducted an extensive study of Taser incidents resulting in death, and found that the more applications of Taser shocks, the greater the likelihood of death.
“My data indicate that it is risky for a person to be shocked more than once," Lundquist said. "And I have concluded that for some people, even one Taser shock is too many."
Lundquist said that when people are shocked with a Taser after being handcuffed, the risk of death increases dramatically because muscle contractions under those conditions are inhibited.
“When a muscle is forced to contract but is physically unable to shorten in length, the only thing that can happen is that the muscle tissue tears,” Lundquist said, adding that it could potentially cause kidney or heart damage, which could lead to death.
The Columbia Police Department recently adopted a set of 52 guidelines for the use of Tasers that includes a prohibition on using Tasers on handcuffed subjects, unless the subject is resisting or showing active aggression.
Lundquist said a major danger in electric shocks is the chemical changes they cause in the body. “What makes Taser shocks most dangerous is the lactic acid that they cause to be released into the blood. This can partially deplete the blood of oxygen,” she said.
Staten argues that it’s all about judgment. “There’s a problem out there with the use of the equipment," he said. "There’s not a problem with the equipment.”
Gold said his department is switching to a less-lethal weapon – the pepperball gun. This weapon fires balls of a pepper-based irritant that burst on impact, allowing an officer to pepper-spray a subject from a distance.
Gold said he believes the pepperball technology is “the next mechanical weapon of choice” that will be used by law enforcement agencies.
Voters in Columbia will decide on Tuesday whether both law enforcement and private individuals will be denied the use but not the possession of Tasers within the city limits. A yes vote will prohibit its use; a no vote will result in no change to the current laws.
Labels: people for a taser-free columbia, stanley harlan
Radio-Canada sells its television documentaries on the taser controversy to Canal+ in France
Le Groupe Canal+, en France, a acheté et diffusera sur ses ondes un condensé de la série de reportages de Radio-Canada Taser: l'arme de la controverse. La série, qui faisait le point sur cette arme de défense, avait été diffusée dans le cadre des émissions Enjeux et Enquête à la SRC et The National sur CBC. Canal+ a acquis les quatre volets de la série pour en faire une version courte, de 26 minutes, présentée dans le cadre de Spécial investigation à différentes heures de la journée entre le 18 et le 24 octobre, sur les ondes de Canal+ et Canal+ Décalé.
And now, back to our regular programming.
Labels: cbc, france
Jurors find ex-officer not guilty in Taser case
The verdict does not, however, end the case. The mother of Pikes' 4-year-old son has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against Nugent and city officials. A malfeasance-in-office charge is also still pending against Nugent.
Labels: barron pikes, cause of death, contributing factor, manslaughter
‘Outrage and advocacy’: Speaker at mental illness conference urges change
“If you have a heart attack, they send an ambulance ... If you have a psychiatric crisis, a cop comes with a pair of handcuffs and a Taser. I wish I wasn’t saying this but it’s true.” - Angela Kimball, director of Montana state policy for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Labels: mental illness, national alliance on mental illness
Defense rests its case in Taser death trial in Winnfield
I couldn't MAKE THIS STUFF UP if I tried!!!
One of today's "expert witnesses" in the manslaughter trail against former Winnfield, Louisiana Police Officer Scott Nugent was Dr. Jeffrey Ho. According to the publication, Mother Jones, Taser International pays Dr. Ho to conduct studies and testify — he got $70,000 during one 12-month stretch (see Mother Jones - Taser's Delirium Defense) - it's a fascinating read. According to sources, Dr. Ho got a ride to the Canadian Braidwood Inquiry, where he admitted he is not a heart specialist, in a Taser jet. Ho also admitted some of his research was co-authored by a former Taser employee who has no medical expertise. Ho is apparently a shareholder in Taser International and some of his research is funded by the company.
According to the news report that follows (see below), the expertise of today's other "expert witness", Dr. Charles Wetli, is sudden death caused by "sickle cell trait". In an article called "Is excited delirium killing coked-up, stun-gunned Miamians?" Dr. Wetli was described as the world's leading expert on excited delirium. Another article said that Wetli is paid to testify as an expert on the "excited delirium" syndrome in "four or five" cases each year, often to defend the police ... Wetli, who said he does not fully understand how excited delirium causes death, said he has cited it "once or twice a year," mostly in police custody deaths. So, in the case of Barron Pikes, it seems Dr. Wetli avoided the very controversial "excited delirium" defense in favour of the "sickle cell trait" defense. WTF??
And then we have the rest of the merry band of Taser-friendlies who have had input into this trial:
Jerry Glas, one of the attorneys defending former Winnfield Police Officer Scott Nugent against manSLAUGHTER, represents Taser International.
"Expert witness" Mark Kroll, Taser shareholder, serves on the corporate board of Taser and has been paid more than $800,000 over the past three years as he has been used as a witness in cases involving Tasers
"Expert witness" Hugh Calkins is a paid consultant for TASER International and sits on one of their Boards.
Taser International is apparently paying for their appearance at the trial.
Renowned New York City medical examiner Michael Baden testified that Pikes, 21, died from cardiac arrest suffered from the repeated Taser shocks. "He was healthy. He was Tasered. He died," Baden testified. "There was no other reason for his death."
By Bret H. McCormick, The Town Talk
WINNFIELD — Scott Nugent’s defense team called its final two witnesses to the stand today, Oct. 28, and then rested its case as the former Winnfield police officer’s manslaughter trial nears its end.
Defense attorney Jerry Glas called two more experts in his attempt to paint reasonable doubt in the minds of jurors that Nugent’s repeated use of a Taser led to the Jan. 17, 2008, death of Barron “Scooter” Pikes.
Dr. Jeff Ho, an emergency medicine expert who studies the effects of Tasers on the human body, testified that he’d “never heard” the theory proposed by the prosecution’s star witness, forensic pathologist Michael Baden, who testified earlier that the Taser’s electrical current could have traveled through blood vessels to Pikes’ heart and caused cardiac arrest.
Forensic pathologist Charles Wetli, whose specialty is sudden death caused by sickle cell trait, also provided testimony that attempted to discredit Baden.
Wetli concluded that it wasn’t the “eight or nine” Taser drive stuns administered by Nugent that led Pikes’ death, but rather the fact that Pikes suffered from sickle cell trait.
The prosecution and defense will make their closing arguments beginning at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 29, in the Winn Parish Courthouse before Nugent’s fate is left in the hands of the jury. If convicted, he would face up to 40 years in prison.
Labels: barron pikes, cause of death, conflict of interest, contributing factor, dr. charles wetli, dr. jeffrey ho, manslaughter, sickle cell trait, taser international
Arizona Deputy Fired For Zapping Frog With Taser
FLORENCE, Ariz. -- A Pinal County sheriff's deputy was fired for allegedly using his Taser on a frog, but now the sheriff's office is being forced to take him back.
CBS 5 News obtained the internal investigation on Deputy Raul Alvarado, who other sheriff's office employees said tortured a frog in August of 2009.
Another deputy told investigators that he saw Alvarado apply his Taser to the frog's back for five seconds and the frog's legs shot straight out. "He's taking it like a champion," Alvarado then reportedly told the other deputy. Alvarado allegedly told a female dispatcher that he planned to take the frog into the desert and perform sexual acts on it.
After the internal investigation was complete, the sheriff's office fired Alvarado but he appealed to the county's merit commission and they ruled that he should get his job back. "Alvarado's polygraph was inconclusive so the county couldn't prove its case," said Joe Robison, chairman of the commission. "We are 100 percent sure he did this. The sheriff wouldn't fire someone, especially for being untruthful, unless he was sure," said PCSO spokesman Tim Gaffney.
The sheriff's office has asked the Pinal County Superior Court to uphold the firing.
In the meantime, the Casa Grande Police Department did a criminal investigation on Alvarado and recommended that prosecutors file charges for felony animal cruelty.
As of now, no charges have been filed against Alvarado.
Defense experts begin testimony in Taser death trial in Winnfield
Bret H. McCormick, The Town Talk
WINNFIELD -- The defense team in the manslaughter trial of former Winnfield Police Officer Scott Nugent rolled out its first two expert witnesses Wednesday in an attempt to convince the jury that Nugent was not responsible for the death of Barron "Scooter" Pikes.
Nugent, 24, is accused by prosecutors of using a Taser on Pikes, also known as Barron Collins, "eight or nine times," which they say led to Pikes' death following his arrest on an outstanding felony drug warrant on Jan. 17, 2008.
The two expert witnesses -- one who took the stand in the Winn Parish Courthouse and the other who appeared via a videotaped deposition -- attempted to poke holes in the testimony of one of the prosecution's key witnesses.
That witness, renowned New York City medical examiner Michael Baden, testified earlier that Pikes, 21, died from cardiac arrest suffered from the repeated Taser shocks. "He was healthy. He was Tasered. He died," Baden testified. "There was no other reason for his death."
Mark Kroll, a biomedical engineering professor at the University of Minnesota whom the defense submitted as an expert in bioelectricity, and Dr. Hugh Calkins, a cardiology professor at Johns Hopkins University, both disputed Baden's theory.
Kroll and Calkins were the first two defense witnesses called by defense attorney Jerry Glas, a New Orleans attorney who also represents Taser International.
Dressed in a long-sleeve white shirt and black dress pants, Nugent sat stoically between his Pineville attorneys, George Higgins and Phillip Terrell, while Glas presented the defense's case.
Calkins particularly took Baden to task, saying his statement "was not consistent with anyone who has any knowledge of the Taser device." Calkins' deposition was recorded Monday night because he was unable to attend the trial.
The defense's two experts testified that research shows Tasers, particularly the TaserX26 model used by Nugent and the "drive stun" method of using the Taser directly against a suspect's body, cause pain but would not lead to the death of a 6-foot, 250-pound, 21-year-old like Pikes.
"It hurts, but there's zero negative effect on the body," Kroll said.
"That's what the drive stun does," Calkins said. "It doesn't cause arrhythmia. It causes discomfort."
Winn Parish chief prosecutor Steve Crews tried to punch holes in the experts' credibility by showing their close relationships with Taser International, which is paying for their appearance at the Nugent trial.
Both Kroll and Calkins have paid positions on Taser International boards, while Kroll has received nearly $800,000 in compensation over the past three years for his role on the board of directors and as a consultant for Taser.
Those relationships, Crews said, show "bias and prejudice" on the experts' part.
The experts said they haven't hidden their relationships with Taser International, but those relationships give them a unique perspective and knowledge on the effects of the devices.
Crews said Pikes' combination of sickle cell trait, an enlarged heart, high blood pressure from trying to escape arrest and being Tased eight or nine times over a 15-minute span formed a lethal combination that could have led to his death.
Calkins, however, said there is "no evidence" that Tasers can lead to someone's death because the electricity only causes blood pressure to rise "a trivial amount," and the electricity charge is "very superficial. "The Taser ECD (Electronic Control Device) played no role, did not cause or contribute to the death of Mr. Collins (Pikes)," Calkins said.
Judge John Joyce, who earlier in the day seated one of the two alternate jurors because one of the jurors was dismissed "due to unusual circumstances," recessed the trial early Wednesday afternoon as the defense's third witness was not in town yet.
The trial will continue at 9 a.m. today with more defense testimony, and the defense could rest its case as early as this afternoon.
Labels: barron pikes, cause of death, conflict of interest, contributing factor, dr. hugh calkins, dr. mark kroll, dr. michael baden, taser international
What the hell is up with Jerry Glas "who also represents Taser International" and Mark Kroll, who "serves on the corporate board of Taser and has been paid more than $800,000 over the past three years as he has been used as a witness in cases involving Tasers" being front and center at the MAN-SLAUGHTER trial of Former Winnfield Police Officer Scott Nugent????? Jerry Glas, as one of Nugent's attorneys and Mark Kroll as an "expert witness"?????? Mark Kroll, who's been known to say "If one ping-pong ball hit to the head does not kill you, 1,000 probably cannot either"?????
If it looks like a conflict of interest, smells like a conflict of interest, sounds like a conflict of interest, walks, talks and acts like a conflict of interest and GETS PAID like a conflict of interest, then it MUST BE a conflict of interest.
Justice must be seen to be done, to be done.
Labels: barron pikes, cause of death, conflict of interest, contributing factor, manslaughter, taser international
Bioelectricity expert in Winnfield manslaughter trial says Taser did not cause suspect's death
thetowntalk.com
WINNFIELD – The Taser shocks administered to Barron "Scooter" Pikes by police were not the cause of Pikes’ death, a bioelectricity expert testified today, Oct. 27, in a trial in Winnfield.
Former Winnfield Police Officer Scott Nugent, 24, is on trial for manslaughter. He is accused of using a Taser to cause Pikes’ death as Pikes, 21, was being arrested in 2008.
The bioelectricity expert, Mark Kroll of the University of Minnesota, testified for two hours today as the defense began presenting witnesses.
Kroll said the Taser X26 used on Pikes generates 2,000 times less electricity than a defibrillator and that the electric shocks “never came close to the heart” as Pikes was Tasered.
Kroll serves on the corporate board of Taser and has been paid more than $800,000 over the past three years as he has been used as a witness in cases involving Tasers. The prosecution said Kroll is biased.
Concerning a shock by the Taser, Kroll said, “It hurts, but there’s zero negative effect on the body.”
If convicted of manslaughter, Nugent could face up to 40 years in prison.
Labels: barron pikes, cause of death, conflict of interest, contributing factor, dr. mark kroll, manslaughter
Ontario Provincial Police closer to getting defibrillator
The lawyer for the family of James Foldi made the same recommendation at the inquest into Mr. Foldi's death, but the recommendation was NOT SUPPORTED by the Niagara Regional Police lawyer, who argued in court that officers are not medical personnel.
So, which is it??
By DANIEL PEARCE, QMI Agency
OPP are getting closer to putting defibrillators in detachments across the province in light of the recommendation of an inquest jury, says the head of the Norfolk County detachment.
"We're in discussions now," said Insp. Zvonko Horvat. "We're moving in that direction. It'll happen sooner rather than later."
Two weeks ago, the jury at the inquest into the death of Jeffrey Marreel, a Delhi man who collapsed at the Norfolk detachment after being tasered and later died, urged all police stations to get the devices.
Any decision, said Horvat, will apply across Ontario, not just in Simcoe.
"It is a decision being made corporately with regional staff and the risk management unit in Orillia," he said. "In all likelihood, that recommendation will be implemented . . . It only makes sense we have them."
Recommendations from inquest juries are not mandatory but are usually acted upon.
The inquest, held in Hamilton, heard that Marreel, 36, a known drug user with a long history of arrests, died from cocaine poisoning. In June 2008, police answered a call at the lakeside hamlet of Fisher's Glen where they found Marreel acting erratically. Police used a Taser to try to subdue him. He was taken to the Norfolk detachment in Simcoe and then rushed to hospital after he collapsed. Evidence at the inquest suggested Marreel may have been suffering from what's known as excited delirium, a potentially fatal condition.
As a result, the jury also urged all police forces to consider excited delirium as a "medical emergency" that requires immediate medical intervention and that police be trained to recognize its signs.
The jury made nine recommendations.
Horvat said "training is always good . . . We felt the jury was fair. Th e recommendations are legitimate concerns."
Labels: coroners inquest, james foldi, jeffrey marreel, ontario, ontario provincial police
Federal Judge allows Civil Rights lawsuit in Texas taser case
Jessica Miller, Fox34 News
Lubbock federal judge Sam Cummings rules a civil rights lawsuit filed against a Lubbock police officer can continue to trial on two of the plaintiff's three claims. Belinda Sarabia's suit stems from a 2009 traffic stop during which she was tased by officer Sadie Hockenberry.
Sarabia admits she had been drinking and was a passenger in the vehicle pulled over in a residential neighborhood after the driver ran a stop sign.
Sarabia also admits she did not get out of the car when ordered to do so by the officer.
According to Sarabia, Officer Hockenberry tried to drag her from the vehicle then tased her more than 20 times to force her to exit.
According to court documents, the taser was activated six times.
Sarabia complains of extreme pain, burns and scarring from the tasings.
Judge Cummings rules Sarabia's claims of excessive force and assault can proceed but dismisses a claim of false arrest.
Police-related deaths higher in British Columbia
British Columbia had twice as many jail and police-related deaths as much more populous Ontario in a recent 15-year period that was the focus of a study on the issue for the B.C. Civil Liberties Association.
The study, released Wednesday and calling for reforms in the investigation and prevention of such incidents, also finds that B.C. had the highest number of deaths a year of any of six provinces and territories for which numbers were available.
“We have what looks like people dying at a higher rate in British Columbia than in any other jurisdiction in the country that provided data,” said David MacAlister, a criminologist at Simon Fraser University and author of the report.
The study covered 1992 to 2007 – the period for which statistics were available. It crunched data from B.C., New Brunswick, the Northwest Territories, Saskatchewan, the Yukon and Ontario. Statistics were not available elsewhere.
In that period, 267 people died in police custody in B.C. – 53 per cent of them accidentally – though the numbers declined from 24 in 1992 to 11 in 2007. That compares with 113 people in Ontario, which provided data only from 1992 to 2006 and has three times the population of B.C.
B.C had the greatest number of deaths per capita, with one per 254,550 people a year, compared with one for every 1.63 million people in Ontario.
Mr. MacAlister, director of SFU’s Institute for Studies in Criminal Justice Policy, said he did not have a theory or explanation to explain why the numbers are so different in B.C.
His research concluded that one person died every three weeks in B.C., every 6.5 weeks in Ontario, every 19.5 weeks in Saskatchewan, every 31 weeks in New Brunswick, every 45.5 weeks in the Northwest Territories and every 71 weeks in the Yukon.
David Eby, executive director for the civil liberties association, said the findings speak to failings in the manner in which B.C. deals with such cases.
“It’s safe to say the safeguards that are supposed to be in place to prevent these deaths in B.C. are not working,” he said in an interview.
He said he was referring specifically to recommendations from various coroners’ inquests and accountability measures when police are accused of using excessive force.
Mr. Eby said the association is hoping the report spurs the government to step up its plans to establish a civilian-led Independent Investigation Office, which would probe in-custody deaths or police cases involving serious injury.
Currently, the Office of the Police Complaint Commissioner, which is a civilian oversight body, investigates public complaints against officers in B.C.’s non-RCMP municipal forces. The federal Commission for Public Complaints Against the RCMP deals with complaints against the Mounties.
Former solicitor-general Mike de Jong has said legislation creating the agency could be tabled next year. Rich Coleman, this week named Solicitor-General in a cabinet shuffle, was not available for comment.
Mr. Eby also said he hopes the report will encourage B.C. to look at how to make recommendations from relevant coroners’ inquests more meaningful.
“It’s embarrassing that B.C.’s numbers are so out of whack,” he said.
Labels: bc civil liberties association, bc independent investigation office, british columbia, OPCC, rcmp
AUSTRALIA: Kevin Spratt demands release of second Taser footage
David Prestipino, PerthNow
TASER victim Kevin Spratt has written to Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan and Attorney General Christian Porter demanding access to vision of a second Taser attack and a copy of his criminal record by 2pm tomorrow.
Mr Spratt was Tasered up to 13 times by police officers in the East Perth Watch House in September 2008.
A week later he was Tasered a further 11 times at the watch house by officers from the Department of Corrective Services while being removed from his holding cell, an incident he says left him with serious injuries including a punctured lung.
Mr Porter told State Parliament Mr Spratt could have access to vision of the second attack so he could determine whether to press charges against those involved.
But Mr Spratt today claimed Mr Porter was deliberately finding ways to stall the vision being released.
"It must show shocking violence against me because, after the Corrective Services Officers took me out of the cell, I had a busted shoulder, a punctured lung and had to be admitted through the emergency department of Royal Perth Hospital for surgery," he said.
Mr Spratt has also asked Mr O'Callaghan for a copy of his criminal record after it was leaked to the media.
The leak is currently being investigated by the Corruption and Crime Commission, with Mr Spratt saying it was misleading and inaccurate.
"The flow chart handed out by the commissioner and deputy commissioners of police and their motivation behind producing the flow chart, I am assured, is currently under investigation by the CCC," Mr Spratt said.
"That is, that the actions of the commissioner of police and deputy commissioner of police are now under direct investigation by the CCC.
"The flow chart itself is seriously misleading and contains serious inaccuracies, which the CCC is obviously very concerned about and inquiring into at this time.
"I am of the opinion that there has been an obvious attempt to publicly destroy me in advance of any criminal trial of the police.
"I have also therefore asked the CCC to closely examine the police commissioner and his deputy as to the actual motivation behind what the Premier has called an 'unprecedented' attack upon a person who has come forward to make a complaint about police misconduct.
"Accordingly I requested a copy of my record of convictions ... so that I could directly address the inaccuracies."
Labels: australia, kevin spratt, torture, video
Two B.C. cops charged over Taser jolt on 73-year-old
A member of the RCMP and a member of the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority Police Service have been charged with assault in the tasering of a 73-year-old man while in hospital.
The charges relate to an incident on April 22, 2010 in which RCMP, responding to a report of a man with a knife causing a disturbance, took the 73-year-old Surrey resident to hospital for treatment and assessment after apprehending him under the Mental Health Act
Statements released Monday by the RCMP and transit police say the man, while in hospital, was subjected to a single application of force from a Taser wielded by the RCMP officer in the push-stun mode.
The transit officer, who happened to be at the hospital at the time, became involved in the situation, say the statements.
The 73-year-old man suffered a facial laceration requiring sutures.
Following an investigation, Constable Mitchell Spears, a member of the RCMP with two years experience, has been charged with one count of assault and one count of assault with a weapon.
Constable Ken Jensen of the transit police has been charged with one count of assault.
Both officers have been suspended with pay.
“Allegations of this nature are troubling for all of us who are entrusted with the public’s confidence. We must now rely on the full process as set out in law to deal with these allegations,” George Beattie, acting chief for the transit police, said in a statement.
Labels: assault, assault with a weapon, mental illness, rcmp, senior citizen, south coast bc transportation authority
Taser shocker
By JOHN COLES, The Sun
TWO cops Tasered a man and punched him repeatedly in the head as dozens of horrified witnesses looked on.
The heavy-handed tactics came after they had already wrestled the man to the ground. While one officer pinned the man down with a knee on his neck, his colleague fired a Taser at the inside of the man's left thigh at point-blank range. The man yelled in agony before the other cop landed four punches in his face.
As around 30 people booed and jeered at the violent scenes, one of the officers shouted: "He's resisting arrest."
But marketing student Chris Parsons - who filmed the incident in Swansea, South Wales, on his mobile phone - said: "It was shocking and really over the top. The cops were just talking to him and then all of a sudden for no reason it just kicked off. They were being really heavy-handed and you can see from the film how they tried to Taser him once before dragging him across the floor and finally doing it. He was shouting, 'What are you doing to me?' And then the second cop hit him over and over in the head."
Chris, 21 - on a night out with pals in the city - added: "The only way they could justify what happened was if the man had been fighting them, but I didn't see any sign of that. I didn't hang around to see how it ended because they'd seen me filming and I wasn't taking any chances after what I'd just witnessed. You'd think they'd show a little more caution these days when everyone has got a phone and camera with them."
After viewing the footage, South Wales Police said: "We have had no formal complaints but we are aware of this incident and are reviewing the operational response. Due to the matter going to court, it would be inappropriate to comment further."
A 29-year-old man has been charged with criminal damage and released on bail.
Labels: britain, video
It’s tough to be a pit bull
Thanks to KV, who provided the following information:
Oct 18, 2010, Deuce the Neopolitan mastiff, Corvallis, Wa. Bit officer, tased, died of suffocation (in his regular muzzle) while being transported to Humane Society. A previous injury caused swelling in his throat. First report said he was a pit bull.
July 12, 2010, Apollo the pit bull, Altoona Pa. Also was pepper sprayed. “After attempts to find the dog's owner failed, Cpl Boyles said Sgt. William Gibbons struck one of the dogs with a Taser. Boyles said he assumed that is what killed the animal."
Jan 3, 2010, Hershey the pit bull, Salem, Or. Fighting another pit bull, still fighting after 4 shocks, collapsed after 5th one.
Aug 27, 2009, Peatross’s pit bull, Danville, Va. Fighting pitbulls were tased, one lived, one died immediately. Also pepper sprayed. Catch pole choking was blamed.
June 5, 2007, Muscub the boxer, Fredericton, New Brunswick. Tasered, died en route to SPCA Police thought he was a pit bull.
June 5, 2005, Palfoss's pit bull, Portland, Or. 3 or more shocks. The Oregon State University's veterinary lab performed a necropsy on the dog. A preliminarly report concludes the pit bull died from circulatory collapse but reaches no judgement on whether repeated taser shocks killed it. Police insist that tasers didn't kill the dog; rather, they say it died from "over-excitement" after multiple 50,000-volt zaps. Earlier that week (June 1) Portland had issued tasers to all street police.
Oct 3, 2003, unidentified pit bull, Albany, NY. 30 sec+ in 5 second bursts, dead when tasing ended. Could not be revived with heart compressions.
In a September 2008 letter, entitled "Taser safety", published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Mark Kroll explains to Canadian doctors why dogs are better models for the human heart than pigs are: “The second erroneous implication is that small swine provide a reasonable model with which to measure the risk of electrical induction of ventricular fibrillation in humans. Swine, especially small ones, are extremely sensitive to the electrical induction of ventricular fibrillation. In pigs, the Purkinje fibers cross the entire ventricular wall whereas in dogs and humans they are confined to a very thin endocardial layer. Activation in swine proceeds from the epicardium to the endocardium, whereas it occurs in the reverse direction in dogs and humans. Thus, swine are much more sensitive to external electrical currents. In humans, even if the barbs of an electronic control device are placed directly on the cardiac axis, no effect is captured with echocardiographic monitoring.”
Labels: animals, canadian medical association journal, dr. mark kroll
Expert testifies in Winnfield trial that Taser killed Pikes
... a day full of testimony and sometimes testy back and forth between one of Nugent's attorneys, Jerry Glas, who also represents Taser International, and one of the state's expert witnesses -- renowned medical examiner Michael Baden from New York City ... "He was healthy. He was Tasered. He died," Baden said. "There was no other reason for his death."
By Billy Gunn, The Town Talk
WINNFIELD -- Barron "Scooter" Pikes lay incoherent on the floor of the police station, eyes wide, mumbling, "I wanna go home," and "Somebody help me," with froth on his lips.
Winnfield Police officers, whom Pikes reportedly told he'd done crack cocaine and PCP, offered bad suggestions: "I wish we had a cart, we could put him in the hole," and "Somebody get a wheelbarrow."
Among the voices heard on a video of the scene talking to Pikes as he lay on the floor was Scott Nugent, who at the time was a police officer. Nugent is now a former police officer on trial for manslaughter in connection with Pikes' death.
"Get up, Barron, the ambulance is on the way. Come on, get up," said Nugent, who later drove the ambulance to Winn Medical Center while two paramedics tried to revive Pikes.
The suspect who officers thought was a drug addict too high for conversation and standing upright turned out to be a young man dying in front of their eyes.
What the trial of Nugent, 24, is about is whether Nugent's eight or nine shocks to Pikes with a Taser led to the 21-year-old felon's heart stopping.
Friday was the second day of testimony in Nugent's manslaughter trial in the death of Pikes, whom some in Winnfield called Barron Collins, the name of Pikes' father.
Pikes was wanted on a felony warrant when Nugent and other officers saw him just after lunch on Jan. 17, 2008, chased him and then handcuffed him. Nugent, in 14 to 15 minutes, used a Tasing technique called a "drive stun" eight or nine times as a way to get Pikes off the ground and into a police car.
Witnesses and lawyers said Pikes was afraid of going to jail.
The video, which defense attorneys wanted kept out of the trial, came almost at the end of a day full of testimony and sometimes testy back and forth between one of Nugent's attorneys, Jerry Glas, who also represents Taser International, and one of the state's expert witnesses -- renowned medical examiner Michael Baden from New York City.
Baden, who was featured in the HBO series "Autopsy," said there was no other way to explain a healthy young man dying of cardiac arrest than to rule it came from a Taser stun gun.
"He was healthy. He was Tasered. He died," Baden said. "There was no other reason for his death."
Glas tried to poke holes in Baden's reasoning -- and thereby try to set up reasonable doubt in the minds of 12 jurors and two alternates -- by saying the way the Taser works is administering pain with electricity in a localized area of the body not near the heart.
He said Baden's theory of Pikes' cardiac arrest about 15 minutes after the last Taser shock was unfounded. Baden at one point noted that Glas didn't have a medical degree.
Baden said that just because the stuns were not administered near the heart -- most of the shocks were on Pikes' back -- electricity can course through blood vessels to the heart, damaging it.
At one point, Judge John Joyce had to reprimand both men for a back-and-forth dialogue that was becoming uncivil.
Also testifying Friday was Alexandria cardiologist Harry Hawthorne, who said Pikes could have died from sickle cell disease. In an autopsy report, Youngsville forensics pathologist Joel Carney said Pikes had the sickle cell trait.
The trial resumes Monday in the Winn Parish Courthouse.
Labels: barron pikes, cause of death, conflict of interest, dr. michael baden, manslaughter
A question of safety - Columbia voters to decide fate of taser use
The company [Taser International] for the first time issued a warning to users to avoid deploying Taser probes into the chest area. “They want to sell the product, but they are still finding out the effects,” Parke said. “The truth is that they do not know the effects of the Taser. Until they can ensure it is not an uncertain weapon, then we should stop using it.”
Brennan David, Columbia Daily Tribune
Are Columbia residents safer when police deploy a Taser than when an officer has to get into an all-out brawl with someone resisting arrest?
Those are questions voters might consider Nov. 2 when they decide whether the use of conducted electrical devices, or CEDs, should be banned in the city. The issue comes to voters after a grass-roots organization and the city couldn’t reach common ground when it comes to the safety of Taser use.
People for a Taser-Free Columbia — the group seeking the ban — and those who support Tasers as a law enforcement tool each have data and anecdotal evidence to support their cases.
On the pro-Taser side, there are stories of aggressive suspects and violent situations that have been curtailed when police displayed or deployed a Taser. In those cases, the Taser is a safer choice because officers don’t have to wrestle with suspects to take them into custody, Columbia police training Sgt. John Worden said.
On the flip side, CED incidents gone wrong have raised eyebrows, including in two Mid-Missouri cases. In 2008, Columbia police tased Phillip McDuffy while he was on a bridge over Interstate 70. McDuffy — who’d earlier threatened to jump from the bridge — suffered two broken arms and a skull fracture and eventually reached a $300,000 cash settlement with the city. That same year, a 23-year-old Moberly man, Stanley Harlan, died after a struggle with police that included several Taser deployments. The city of Moberly agreed last year to pay $2.4 million to his survivors.
With some Taser deployments contributing to injuries or death, coalition organizer Mary Hussmann said she hopes Columbia residents realize CEDs are unpredictable.
After more than three years of discussion, one common denominator has surfaced: Both sides are committed to public safety, but each has a different idea of what constitutes a safe, lawful arrest.
If Proposition 2 passes, it will create an ordinance making it illegal for any Columbia police officer, assistant law enforcement officer or resident to threaten to use or activate any CED within the city limits. That includes, but is not limited to, Tasers, stun guns, stun belts or shock sticks.
A violation of the ordinance would be a Class A misdemeanor that could result in up to a one-year prison sentence.
The ordinance would affect personal CED owners: They, too, would be prohibited from using or threatening to use Tasers within city limits. However, individuals would still be able to own, sell or purchase Tasers. The law would be similar to the municipal ordinance on the books that allows residents to own a gun but not brandish or use it in the city limits. Because people would still be allowed to own Tasers, the ordinance would not conflict with the Second Amendment.
If voters approve Proposition 2, Columbia will join a handful of states and cities with bans or restrictions on Tasers and stun guns. Along the East Coast, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts have Taser bans. Some states, including Indiana and North Dakota, require individuals to obtain a license to carry Tasers or stun guns, and in other states, only law enforcement officers are allowed to possess them.
People for a Taser-Free Columbia argues that CEDs have caused unacceptable physical and psychological pain and that thousands of injuries and hundreds of deaths across the country have occurred after Taser use. The group also objects to the fact officers are allowed to use CEDs against children and the mentally ill, elderly and disabled “merely to obtain compliance.”
Although no death in the United States has been attributed solely to Taser use, supporters of the ban think it’s too risky to deploy a CED on a subject without knowing the person’s medical history. Substance abuse or other health factors combined with a CED deployment can be deadly, according to a U.S. Department of Justice report from June 2008.
Supporters of the ban also believe the device is cruel and is used to punish subjects resisting arrest, Hussmann said.
Columbia police say otherwise.
“We don’t want to hurt anybody, but we have a job to get done,” Worden said. “The public expects us to get it done with a justifiable and reasonable use of force. … If we thought this was unsafe, we wouldn’t subject our officers and citizens to it.”
Taser instructor Officer Jason Baillargeon said the Taser X26 requires 50,000 volts to deploy the probes and shoot them as far as 25 feet. Upon impact, only 1,200 volts are transferred to the subject, he said.
Hussmann counters that officers don’t know how many volts they transfer to the subject. She said she has seen several reports that claim as much as 80,000 volts can be transferred.
The amount depends on a number of factors, Columbia police Chief Ken Burton said Tuesday at a Columbia/Boone County League of Women Voters forum.
“No police use of force is completely reliable and completely predictable,” he said. “Every contact in which a police officer is required to use force in the course of their duties has several variables, one of which is the size of the officer. The size of the suspect. The mental state of the suspect. The physical condition of the officer and suspect are all variables that are completely out of our control. … The use of force by police is never a pretty thing.”
Between Nov. 15 and May 15, Columbia police deployed a Taser 12 of the 27 times officers displayed the device. In three of those cases, officers also combined deployment with a drive stun — when the gun itself is placed against the skin or clothing of a subject. Although internal investigations into officers’ conduct in these cases are incomplete, no injuries were recorded as a result of the Taser use.
During that same six-month period, 30 arrests involved physical strikes or “other” force. “Other” is a Columbia police category to classify any form of use that results in injury to the suspect. Of those arrests, seven resulted in injury to the subject or officer, police records show.
One suspect was allegedly high on PCP, and his arrest required a prolonged struggle that resulted in a concussion, abrasions and bruises to the officer, records show. In another case, a burglary suspect suffered a separated shoulder after he was tackled while resisting arrest.
Residents can expect more of those types of incidents if Proposition 2 is approved because officers would have to resort to strikes and other uses of force, police say.
“Rotator-cuff injuries, broken arms and fingers, ligament and tendon damage, lacerations, back injuries, broken noses, teeth and jaw are injuries that can occur,” Worden said. “You are wrestling a person into custody. If you can think about how you would get hurt in a fight, those things will happen.”
In 2009, Columbia police made 154,591 citizen contacts and 6,833 in-custody arrests, according to a year-end report. Only one baton use was recorded for the entire year; pepper spray was more common, with 85 uses. There were 46 strikes and 11 uses categorized as “other.”
The Taser was deployed or displayed 59 times for the year, 21 of which involved actual deployment. Officers were found to have acted properly in all cases. The 2009 report did not document injuries.
Columbia police began using CEDs in 2005, which, at the time, sparked some interest from the public. But more eyebrows rose when the Columbia City Council approved buying 44 additional Tasers with a $33,000 U.S. Department of Justice grant in 2008. The department had 38 CEDs when that grant was approved.
Hussmann said several concerned residents organized The Coalition to Control Tasers in response to the purchase because little was known about the devices. A justice department report released that year said there was no conclusive evidence indicating a high risk of serious injury or death from the direct effects of CED exposure but acknowledged the device is not risk-free.
“CED technology may be a contributor to ‘stress’ when stress is an issue related to cause of death determination,” the report concluded. “All aspects of an altercation (including verbal altercation, physical struggle or physical restraint) constitute stress that may represent a heightened risk in individuals who have pre-existing cardiac or other significant disease.”
The newly founded organization wanted reports of Columbia police incidents to determine whether CEDs were being properly used and whether they were safe.
But obtaining those reports was difficult, Hussmann said, because police wanted to charge hundreds of dollars to produce those records. The Missouri Sunshine Law allows such fees for public records.
In some cases, records were closed because charges were dropped or never issued on suspects who were tased. Those cases are especially of interest, though, because they might flag instances in which police did not follow protocol, Hussmann said.
“The real essence of what is happening with Tasers is in the details and circumstances of when they are being used,” Hussmann said. “A lot of tasing is not in the public view. The only way to get that is to come up with hundreds of dollars.”
With more officers carrying CEDs — 87 of 110 patrol officers have them — and the difficulty in obtaining CED records, the not-for-profit People for a Taser Free Columbia organized.
Also contributing to the group’s concerns was an October 2009 warning from Taser International, spokeswoman Catherine Parke said. The company for the first time issued a warning to users to avoid deploying Taser probes into the chest area.
“They want to sell the product, but they are still finding out the effects,” Parke said. “The truth is that they do not know the effects of the Taser. Until they can ensure it is not an uncertain weapon, then we should stop using it.”
Columbia police have adopted the guideline.
“Taser is recommending that this is better,” Baillargeon said. “I’m not sure why they changed the policy. Remember, this is not a ‘no shoot,’ but an area that should be avoided.”
People for a Taser Free Columbia eventually gathered more than 4,000 signatures of registered Columbia voters and requested that the city council approve the petition as an ordinance. The council denied that request, instead sending it to the Nov. 2 ballot.
During the same period, Taser policies within the Columbia Police Department were evolving as more information about the device became available. Initially, Columbia police used guidelines provided by Taser International, Worden said. Eventually, they began to adopt Police Executive Research Forum, or PERF, guidelines to distance the department from the manufacturer’s guidelines, which some considered biased.
“Our Taser policy has probably changed more and more than any other policy we have over the last two or three years,” Worden said. “We have gone from a very heavy Taser International policy to one that is PERF guideline-heavy.”
Despite solid policies, though, Worden acknowledged that officers will make mistakes.
Columbia police officers aren’t the only ones who would be affected if Proposition 2 is approved.
The Boone County Sheriff’s Department also would have to revisit its Taser use. Fifty-eight Boone County employees are certified to carry Tasers during patrol and other law enforcement activities that often bring deputies into the city limits to make arrests or follow up on investigations, Sheriff Dwayne Carey said. Deputies also are responsible for serving a significant number of court orders and ex partes within the city limits.
“I call it the fertile circle of Columbia,” Carey said. “It is not uncommon for part of a road to be in the county and the other half in the city. We would be asking a deputy in a high-stress situation trying to decide what use of force will stop the threat then have to think, ‘Am I in the city or county?’ ”
The Boone County Jail also is in the city limits and would fall within the requirements of the proposed Taser ordinance. CEDs were introduced to the jail in 2004, with three Tasers in service, according to jail statistics. Today, there are 11 Tasers at the jail.
Jail Chief Warren Brewer said most Taser use in the jail is in response to physical force that does not rise to the point of deadly force.
“Most individuals that are tased are in a situation where they are being combative or violently self-abusive,” Brewer said. “We have a 20-1 ratio. The last thing we want is for a firearm to get into the hands of 20 to 25 inmates.”
Prisoners have apparently caught on, and just seeing the device is enough to calm some situations. Records show Taser probe deployments have been cut in half since 2004; there were 18 deployments that year and nine last year. On the flip side, jailers have displayed the weapon six times this year, compared to zero times in 2004.
“Some individuals that might have been subject to use before of them don’t want to mess with them anymore,” Brewer said. “If necessary, they voluntarily comply. Word gets around.”
Brewer did not categorize the device as necessary for jailers — they got by for years without them. But the concrete and steel jail environment makes for a dangerous wrestling ring, he said.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the University of Missouri Police Department often assist Columbia police but do not carry Tasers or other CEDs. MU police Capt. Brian Weimer said the cost of CEDs, their upkeep and training are the biggest reasons for not investing.
The state highway patrol is also satisfied with the equipment and tools troopers already have at their disposal. Only the highway patrol’s gaming division and SWAT team use CEDs, spokesman Capt. Tim Hull said.
“Our gaming division uses them because of the close proximity of people in a casino setting. Pepper spray couldn’t be used in those situations,” Hull said. “Our SWAT team uses them for the obvious reasons, but road officers are not assigned Tasers because we have too many other options.”
Hull said those options include the baton and OC spray, also known as pepper spray. He also said the issuance of thousands of Tasers, their upkeep and the continued training would be a much more daunting task for the highway patrol than for a police force of 200 officers.
Taser use by the highway patrol would require legislative approval.
The proposed Taser ban in Columbia has drawn opposition from various city leaders and groups. Mayor Bob McDavid has publicly expressed concern about taking a tool away from police. The Columbia Chamber of Commerce this month announced its opposition to the ban, citing the need for a safe community to draw visitors and businesses.
Keep Columbia Safe also opposes the ban. That’s the group responsible for the April election victory to place cameras in downtown Columbia. Organizer Karen Taylor said CEDs are tools that aid law enforcement.
Med examiner: Minneapolis man's death by police Taser a homicide
Contributing conditions: "prone restraint position, mixed chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan intoxication, schizoaffective disorder, recent conducted energy device [Taser] use and physical exertion during [the] struggle." The medications mentioned are commonly used to treat allergies and severe coughs.
Abby Simons and Paul Walsh, Star Tribune
The death of a 28-year-old Minneapolis man shot with a Taser by Minneapolis police last month was ruled a homicide Friday by the Hennepin County medical examiner.
David Cornelius Smith, whose family has said he suffered from mental illness, died Sept. 17 at Hennepin County Medical Center, eight days after his confrontation with police at the downtown Minneapolis YMCA.
According to the medical examiner, Smith "suffered a cardiopulmonary arrest while being restrained" and died of "anoxic encephalopathy" caused by the heart having stopped, though it was restarted via CPR.
The medical examiner's report listed contributing conditions as "prone restraint position, mixed chlorpheniramine and dextromethorphan intoxication, schizoaffective disorder, recent conducted energy device [Taser] use and physical exertion during [the] struggle." The medications mentioned are commonly used to treat allergies and severe coughs.
Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan said Friday that the officers who shot Smith with a Taser "followed proper protocol and policies."
Smith's uncle, Larry Smith of Oak Park, Ill., said the finding confirmed what the family suspected all along. Smith added that tests finding only cold medicine was in his nephew's system -- not drugs or alcohol -- also is vindication.
"It's been one of those rollercoaster rides -- you can't get excited, you can't do anything because we're still waiting to see what else is going on," Larry Smith said. "We still haven't heard one thing from the police. Not one word of apology, except for 'Too bad, all of this would have been avoided if Smith left the gym.' "
Police say they were responding to a complaint that Smith had harassed a 13-year-old boy and observed that he appeared to be under the influence of something or having a mental health episode.
When officers tried to take Smith into custody, he fought, according to a police warrant. He punched one officer in the face; the other officer's back was injured in the scuffle. The officers shot Smith with a Taser and handcuffed him. When Smith lost consciousness, the officers called for an ambulance and began CPR.
"This is a tragic situation," Dolan said, "and ... I would like to extend our sympathies to the family. ... The unfortunate reality is that in any situation where use of force is required, police officers can act appropriately and still have a tragic result."
The death is being investigated by internal affairs and homicide units, and findings will be forwarded to the Hennepin County attorney's office for review, the chief said.
Smith, who came to Minneapolis from Peoria, Ill., about eight years ago, was buried recently in Peoria.
Larry Smith said the chief's condolences mean little. "His words are not comforting," he said. "It's a little too late."
Labels: contributing factor, david cornelius smith
Forensic expert says Taser caused death
WINNFIELD, La. (AP) - A well known forensic pathologist testifies that the shocks that ex-cop Scott Nugent administered to a handcuffed man caused his death.
Prosecutors called Dr. Michael Baden as an expert witness in the death of Baron Pikes.
baden testified in the O.J. Simpson trial and was the host of the HBO program "Autopsy." Baden told jurors that Pikes did not have any medical conditions that would have killed him, and he did not find any other reason a healthy man would die so suddenly.
Nugent administered eight or nine shocks with a Taser when Pikes refused to comply with orders. Pikes was handcuffed at the time.
On cross examination, defense attorney Jerry Glas worked to discredit Baden, asking him about his qualifications as an expert on electricity and on the Taser.
Labels: barron pikes, cause of death, dr. michael baden, manslaughter
Pit bull Tased by police later dies
Gazette Times
The complaint of a vicious dog at large Monday ended with a pit bull biting one police officer, that officer Tasing the pit bull, and with the dog dying somewhere between its owner’s backyard and the animal shelter.
...Mable Akina said she arrived home Monday to find officers at her door. They told her the dogs were out loose and that they had been alarmed about the aggressive behavior of the big one (Deuce). It was after Akina went to the backyard to check on the dogs that the officers told her that they’d used a Taser (a device that shoots out a temporarily disabling electric shock) — on Deuce. The device is meant to be an alternative to lethal force.
Mable Akina said that both Deuce and the puppy looked fine, however, and she agreed to bring Deuce to the front and put a muzzle on him so that the officers could take him to Heartland Humane Society. That is the normal procedure after an owner is cited in connection with a dog attack.
“When he went into the truck he was fine,” she said. “Just scared.”
An officer later returned to the Akina house to tell them that when the doors to the animal control transport were opened at Heartland’s shelter in south Corvallis, Deuce was dead.
Mable Akina said that the officer suspected that the Tasing might be to blame, but Deuce’s body was transported to Oregon State University for testing to determine a cause of death.
As of Thursday, the pit bull’s body remained at OSU.
“We’re still waiting” to learn the official cause of death, she said
Nugent jurors hear audio interview in first day of Taser trial in Winnfield
Billy Gunn, The Town Talk
WINNFIELD -- After he was shocked for an eighth and final time, Barron "Scooter" Pikes didn't scream in pain anymore, the former police officer accused of killing Pikes said in a taped interview with investigators.
Former Winnfield Police Officer Scott Nugent said he and another officer then helped Pikes out of a police car and into the police station, sat him down in a chair and listened as Pikes told them he had asthma, was on PCP and crack cocaine, and that they'd be sorry for his death.
"He kept falling out of his chair," Nugent said on the recording to State Police investigator Chad Gremillion and others in a Jan. 31, 2008, interview. "He said we were going to regret what we did to him."
The audio recording was played Thursday to a jury of 12, along with two alternates, in the first day of the manslaughter trial of Nugent, 24, who is accused of using a Taser to shock Pikes multiple times before the drug suspect was pronounced dead at a local hospital in January 2008.
Nugent and two other officers were trying to arrest Pikes, who was wanted on an outstanding felony drug warrant. Nugent shocked the resisting Pikes, who attorneys said knew he was going to prison, multiple times after he was handcuffed to get him into a police car.
Nugent also told State Police that he recorded a video of Pikes at the police station. The use of the video as evidence was opposed by Nugent's attorneys, who last week asked Judge John Joyce to suppress it. Joyce has not ruled on the motion, though jurors heard about its existence on Thursday.
The case has generated some racial tensions in Winnfield, a town of about 5,700, which was evident in the eight days it took to seat a jury.
Winn Parish District Attorney Chris Nevils at one point asked Judge Joyce to move the trial to another locale, citing the difficulty in finding black jurors who hadn't formed hardened opinions.
The jury, seated Wednesday, is composed of one black male, one black female, two white males and the rest white females. Both alternates are white females.
Both Nevils and one of Nugent's attorneys, Jerry Glas, said race was not a factor in Pikes' death. Pikes was black. Nugent is white.
In opening statements, Glas blasted some media accounts of Jan. 17, 2008, that Pikes might have been dead before the last two shocks were administered, a claim disputed by witnesses.
Glas said the way Nugent used the Taser on Pikes -- administering "drive stuns," where the Taser itself is pressed against the skin and probes are not stuck into the skin -- threw out the possibility that shocking Pikes caused cardiac arrest.
Glas also said Nugent's actions when the ambulance arrived -- Nugent drove the vehicle so the two paramedics could work to try to save Pikes -- showed the former officer was concerned.
But Nevils had a different take on Jan. 17, 2008, saying Pikes "died at the hands of this man, Scott Nugent."
Pikes "did nothing more than say he didn't want to go to jail," Nevils said. The DA also said Nugent used a Taser on Pikes nine times instead of eight.
"We're going to show you "» that the force used in the case was unreasonable, unwarranted and unnecessary," Nevils told the jury.
Among the witnesses the state will call are a cardiologist; a forensic pathologist; and a doctor who performs autopsies -- Michael Baden, a nationally renowned doctor who had a show on HBO, "Autopsy."
Glas mocked the credibility of Baden, who he said "never met a camera he didn't like," and said a more credible account of Pikes' death is a report by Youngsville forensic pathologist Dr. Joel Carney.
In a report dated March 10, 2008, Carney ruled that the cause of Pikes' death was inconclusive. Carney wrote that sickle cell trait and an enlarged heart could have contributed to the death of the 21-year-old, 6-foot-tall, 247-pound man.
The report also did not show any PCP or cocaine in Pikes' body.
The trial continues today in the Winn Parish Courthouse.
Scotland: Amnesty International calls for probe into 'unlawful' use of Taser stun guns
A HUMAN rights group today called for a "thorough evaluation" of the use of Taser stun guns by police forces. Amnesty International has already branded a six-month pilot scheme in the Strathclyde force area as "unlawful" - a position rejected by the First Minister and police.
Now, one day after the trial ended, the group demanded a probe and called on the Scottish Government to take control.
John Watson, Scottish programme director for Amnesty International, said: "The Firearms Act clearly states that new police deployments of Taser must have written authorisation from Government ministers. And court judgements have made it clear that police use of Tasers must be bound by an appropriate legal and administrative framework. Alas, Strathclyde Police do not want to be bound by these controls and the Scottish Government are failing to exercise them."
Thirty officers took part in the latest trial in South Lanarkshire.
Amnesty said Tasers, which deliver electric shocks to their targets, "have a role" in policing but should be handled by properly-trained people acting on decisions by senior officers. Mr Watson added: "It is controls such as these which have set our policing apart from countries such as the USA and Australia, where the use of Tasers to force compliance on non-violent subjects has become commonplace. The Strathclyde pilot reduces the threshold for use of Taser, removes key safeguards governing their use and normalises the presence of these weapons on Scottish streets."
Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Robert Brown MSP backed the group's call and said: "For months now I have been calling on the SNP Justice Secretary to take full policy responsibility for the use of Tasers in Scottish police forces.
"The Justice Secretary must also clear up the issue over the legality of tasers that Amnesty International Scotland continues to raise."
Campbell Corrigan, Assistant Chief Constable at Strathclyde Police, said: "Our position is that the chief constable has the lawful authority to carry out the Taser pilot and that it was European Convention on Human Rights-compliant."
Labels: amnesty international, scotland
Australia: Sergeant could lose job over Taser initiation rituals
A former Rockingham police sergeant will have to fight to save his job following an investigation into bizarre claims of Taser initiation rituals of junior officers.
The 53-year-old senior officer was one of four police being investigated over allegations Tasers were used in initiation ceremonies on new recruits at the Rockingham police station.
The misuse of Tasers is suspected to have gone on for months and involved up to 22 complaints.
Advertisement: Story continues below The sergeant and a senior constable were stood down from duty, on full pay, while two constables were confined to office work, pending the outcome of the investigation.
The complaints, which came from within the Rockingham station, also included the use of Tasers in a general hooligan way.
The sergeant has been served with a "Loss of Confidence" notice and is now required to show cause as to why Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan should not sack him.
He has 21 days to reply and his response will then undergo an extensive review process before a final decision is reached.
The sergeant has been a member of the WA Police for more than 36 years.
The internal investigation into the conduct of a senior constable involved in the same matter is continuing.
The two contables were considered to have committed only a minor role in the Taserings and underwent internal disciplinary action. This can take the form of fines and/or counselling, but police would not reveal what punishments were received in this case. Both have resumed full active duties.
WA Police recently made international headlines over the Tasering of an Aboriginal man 13 times in August 2008.
Damning internal footage of the East Perth watch house showed nine officers Taser Kevin Spratt, as he lay on the ground screaming in agony.
The matter, which police acknowledged was indefensible, has been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions to investigate whether any officers should be charged over the incident and police are also holding an internal inquiry.
However Mr O'Callaghan has stopped short of saying that Tasers should be banned from the force.
Labels: australia
Family absent from Marreel inquest
By Barbara Simpson — Delhi News-Record
Jeffrey Marreel would become a father. He just wouldn't be alive to experience it.
The 36-year-old Delhi man had a daughter seven months after his death, his mother Margaret said. His now two-year- old daughter is missing out on a father who adored children.
Marreel had a special bond with his two nieces, Margaret recalled. He loved to colour, tickle and wrestle with his sister's children.
Becoming a father may have also been enough for him to kick his cocaine addiction.
"Maybe that would have turned him around," Margaret said. "Who knows?"
This question will remain unanswered. Marreel died in June 2008 after acting erratically in Fisher's Glen. After a weekend cocaine binge, he was discovered chopping a tree and talking to himself by police, a jury at the inquest into his death heard last week.
Marreel was zapped three times with a Taser to no effect. He was taken to the Norfolk OPP detachment in Simcoe where he fell into unconsciousness. Later he died at Norfolk General Hospital.
The use of a Taser was not a factor in his death, testified medical experts last week. Instead Marreel may have been suffering from excited delirium. It is a fatal condition whose symptoms mimic that of cocaine intoxication. Symptoms include agitation, paranoia and unexpected strength.
On Friday, the five-member panel took this condition into consideration, offering suggestions to improve medical care for suspected cases of mental illness and drug abuse.
If paramedics suspect either mental health or drug issues, they must transport the patient immediately for medical care, the jury recommended Friday. Ambulances should also be outfitted with appropriate medication for these incidents and utilize police for medical transportation if the patient cannot be calmed down.
A lack of medical care was offered to her son, Margaret believes. Instead of being taken into the hospital, Marreel was transported to the police detachment.
"That's the mistake they made," she said.
The inquest also heard a defibrillator was not available at the police detachment when Marreel collapsed. The Norfolk detachment still isn't equipped with the device.
In its verdict the jury urged all OPP detachments to be outfitted with an automatic emergency defibrillator. Station personnel should also be trained to utilize the life-saving machine.
While the jury was urged to speak for Jeffrey, the Marreel family was noticeable absent from the inquest. His death has been hard on the family of former tobacco growers.
"It bothers me every day," Margaret said.
Marreel was a naturally hyperactive child, she recalls. A harrowing ordeal, however, changed the behaviour of her then 14-year-old son. The family asked that details about this event not be published.
As Marreel grew up, she didn't keep atop of all his activities, she admitted. She didn't know too much about his drug habit. She also only learned about her son's girlfriend expecting a child at her son's funeral.
"Well, when they're gone, you don't know what they're doing," she said. "Delhi is full of drug addicts. Are they (police) going to do that to them too?"
The Marreel family is awaiting a copy of the recommendations. They are trying to stay away from all the information published on their late relative.
"The less I know, the better," Margaret added.
Labels: jeffrey marreel, ontario provincial police
Keep Columbia Safe says ‘no’ on Taser ban
Columbia Daily Tribune
Grass-roots organization Keep Columbia Safe has announced its opposition to a city ban on the use of Tasers and other conducted electrical devices, or CEDs.
Columbia voters will decide Nov. 2 whether CED use should be allowed within city limits. Keep Columbia Safe, which led a successful effort earlier this year to allow the placement of downtown surveillance cameras, is encouraging voters not to support the ban proposed in Proposition 2.
Passage of Proposition 2 would make it illegal for law enforcement or any other individuals to threaten to use or activate any CED. The ordinance would ban Tasers, stun guns, stun belts and shock sticks within city limits.
The measure originated with a petition drive by the local coalition People for a Taser-Free Columbia.
“We believe Columbia police officers and other public safety professionals deserve the best tools available as they do their duty in difficult, and often dangerous, situations,” said Karen Taylor, Keep Columbia Safe organizer.
Keep Columbia Safe will host a Taser education forum at 5 p.m. next Wednesday at the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, 300 S. Providence Road. Boone County Sheriff Dwayne Carey will speak.
Labels: people for a taser-free columbia
Australia: Tasers become a 'last resort'
Jodie Minus, The Australian
THE NSW government has bowed to pressure from the state Ombudsman to make Tasers a weapon of last resort.
The move follows a series of controversial uses of the stun guns.
But police have failed to act on a recommendation by NSW Ombudsman Bruce Barbour that an adverse complaint finding be made against a riot squad officer who used inappropriate and excessive force when he tasered a Sydney man, his 2009-10 annual report released yesterday reveals.
The changes in Taser operating procedures within the NSW police come amid a national debate about the use of the weapon by police forces, brought to the fore by an incident in Western Australia in which police tasered an unthreatening man 13 times.
Mr Barbour said standard operating procedures for Tasers were left too open to interpretation and the discretion of individual officers. In the annual report he called for them to be upgraded, to make clear that stun guns should only be used in situations where a person is violently confronting or resisting police.
Mr Barbour made the same recommendations in his 2008 report to parliament, The Use of Tasers in the NSW Police Force, but police so far "refused to do this".
But six hours after the annual report was released yesterday, Police Minister Michael Daley and Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione issued a joint statement saying the procedures would be tightened.
"This amendment will simply leave no doubt in (officers') minds that Tasers are to be used as a last resort and that they are no substitution for using negotiation and conflict-resolution skills," Mr Daley said.
Australia: Premier puzzled by release of criminal history
The Premier Colin Barnett says it is unusual that police chose to release the criminal history of the man at the centre of a taser scandal.
Yesterday, the Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan released a timeline of events detailing the original arrest of Kevin Spratt and subsequent incidents where they allege he was violent.
In one of three incidents, Mr Spratt was tasered 13 times at the East Perth Watch House in 2008. On another occasion he was tasered 11 times by officers from the Department of Corrective Services.
Mr Barnett says he was surprised to hear that police had taken the step. "Ah it was unusual. I guess you've got to ask the Police Commissioner why he's done that," he said. "I don't think it detracts or draws us away from the issue that the treatment of that person, Mr Spratt in that situation was unacceptable."
Labels: australia, kevin spratt, torture
The Taser debate, Down Under
Patricia Treble, Macleans Magazine
The video is chilling. Police in Western Australia surround a man writhing and screaming on the floor of a police station after being repeatedly tasered for refusing to comply with a strip search. “Do you want to go again?” one asks. Moments later the Aboriginal man, Kevin Spratt, is tasered again. And again. In total, two officers tasered him 13 times, while nine cops watched. The 2008 incident is only coming to attention after video of it was released last week by the state’s Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) as part of a report into the use of Tasers by police. The reaction was horror. “That particular incident was wrong,” said Western Australia’s acting police commissioner, Chris Dawson. “Clearly, in my view, the officers overreacted.” Premier Colin Barnett echoed the sentiment: “It was excessive use of a Taser that could not be justified.”
And like the video of four RCMP officers confronting Robert Dziekanski—who died after being tasered—at Vancouver’s airport in 2007, this Australian footage, along with the report, has sparked a debate about how Tasers are used. The weapons, which disable a person with up to 50,000 volts of electricity, were introduced in Western Australia in 2007 to prevent injury. Now they account for 65 per cent of reported “uses of force.” (The use of pepper spray, another option, decreased significantly, while the use of firearms has doubled.) And Tasers are being used not to prevent injury, as intended, but to enforce compliance with police orders, especially against Aboriginals and the mentally ill.
Now the Australian Council for Civil Liberties wants a national inquest into use of the Taser. They could look to Canada for help. In June, after an exhaustive inquiry into the Dziekanski death, retired justice Thomas Braidwood concluded in June that “the five deployments of the Taser and the physical struggle with the four RCMP officers contributed substantially to Mr. Dziekanski’s death.” He also blasted the officers for their “shameful conduct.” Earlier he urged police to restrict the use of Tasers until their safety was studied.
As for the two Australian police officers who tasered Spratt, they were fined $750 and $1,200 respectively for using the weapon “for compliance rather than to prevent injury.” Police say criminal charges weren’t considered because Spratt didn’t ask for them. Spratt, now out of custody, is outraged: “I have been tortured in police custody and the police are trying to put a further injustice upon me by blaming me for the failure to prosecute the officers.” The attorney general has called for a review of disciplinary procedures.
Labels: australia, australian council of civil liberties
Justice ministers issue national guidelines on Tasers
VANCOUVER - Federal, provincial and territorial justice ministers have agreed to new general guidelines on Taser use, but the broad recommendations come months after many provinces enacted similar rules on their own.
The new guidelines say "where possible" Taser use should be "avoided" on the pregnant, frail and elderly, as well as on children.
The guidelines add Tasers generally shouldn't be used on people who are already restrained, or who are driving a vehicle, bicycle or snowmobile.
Police officers are also urged to avoid zapping sensitive areas of the body such as the head, throat and genitals.
The guidelines echo those announced in Ontario this past March. Alberta, Nova Scotia and British Columbia clamped down on their Taser use policies last year.
"The development of these new national guidelines is another significant step in strengthening public confidence in police use of this important tool," federal Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said after a meeting of his provincial and territorial counterparts in Vancouver.
The new guidelines say police should avoid giving people successive jolts with a conducted energy weapon — the generic term — or zapping them for too long unless a single deployment fails to allow police to gain physical control of the person.
As well, police forces should establish a training policy and minimum training requirements for officers authorized to use a Taser, as well as for those who train others.
The latter point was underscored in an in-depth review of the Victoria Police Department's use of force policies that was also released Friday.
The report, by Vince Bevan, a retired Ottawa police chief, found that although the Victoria force was among the first in Canada to start using Tasers, its training in the use of the weapons had fallen drastically behind.
The report found that in 2005, all front-line Victoria police officers were trained and certified to use Tasers. But there has only been refresher training twice since then.
The Justice Institute of B.C. had included Taser training in their recruit program, but that was discontinued in 2006. As a result, no Victoria police officer hired since then has been certified to use the weapon.
"Because of the gaps in training, the effect of the death of Robert Dziekanski at Vancouver Airport and the subsequent Braidwood inquiry, few of the qualified officers are carrying the Taser as part of their regular equipment," wrote Bevan.
Among his 80 recommendations, Bevan urged the Victoria force to overhaul its Taser training program.
Bevan's report also noted a lax structure of keeping track of the Tasers in Victoria. Bevan noted they could be signed out by officers to be carried on patrol, but there was no process to ensure they were later returned.
The justice ministers also agreed that better tracking of the devices was needed. The guidelines include a requirement that an accurate inventory of the weapons be maintained, including their location.
Officers should be required to check their conducted energy weapon before and after their shifts and they should be required to submit a report whenever they've discharged one.
Those reports should be available to the public.
David Eby, executive director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, said the national guidelines introduced Friday are hardly a breakthrough.
"It's frustrating for us because they're so far behind," Eby said in an interview. "Most of what we understand they're recommending has already been done."
Eby said the justice ministers would have been better served to look at policy changes around the introduction and testing of new weapons.
When Ontario brought in its guidelines, critics panned the changes as "grossly inadequate," saying they do little to address concerns raised amid incidents that have seen police use Tasers against youths or the mentally ill.
At least 20 people in Canada are known to have died after being struck with a Taser.
Taser International has long insisted the weapon cannot kill.
Despite the myriad of bad publicity surrounding police use of the Taser, the head of the B.C. inquiry into their use rejected calls for an outright ban on the weapons.
Police groups across the country argue conducted energy weapons are less lethal than guns and save lives as a result.
Labels: bc civil liberties association, braidwood inquiry, government of canada - justice department, justice institute of bc, victoria police department
Train police to recognize cocaine-induced delirium, inquest hears
As our friend over at Excited-Delirium said just yesterday: "Justice Braidwood (see Braidwood Inquiry) described 'excited delirium' as "unhelpful". It's looking more and more that the entire concept may be far worse than just a neutral "unhelpful". It's used to justify a response, but ignore the medical risks of whatever is ACTUALLY going on."
Even the RCMP has removed itself from the term "excited delirium."
It's time for ONTARIO to wake the hell up and extricate itself from the church of taser!!
Barb Brown, Hamilton Spectator
Ontario Provincial Police should equip every detachment with automatic defibrillators and ensure that all officers are trained to use them and to recognize a potentially fatal medical condition known as excited delirium.
These are among five recommendations jointly agreed to by coroner's counsel and lawyers with standing at the inquest into the sudden death of a 36-year-old Delhi man who was in the custody at the OPP's Norfolk detachment on June 23, 2008.
Jeffrey Marreel was arrested that morning for creating a public disturbance in the hamlet of Fisher's Glen, about 10 kilometres southwest of Port Dover. An autopsy concluded he died of a fatal cardiac arrest brought on by acute cocaine toxicity.
Dr. Margaret Thompson, an emergency room physician with expertise in cocaine poisoning and the rare, but related medical emergency known as "excited delirium," testified there was enough cocaine in Marreel's system to kill him. She said his aggressive behaviour, including attacking trees and traffic signs, hitting himself with a piece of metal, ranting and shouting incoherently, were indications that he was experiencing excited delirium, which was likely a contributing factor to his death.
The inquest heard Marreel exhibited "superhuman strength" and appeared impervious to pain as up to six police officer struggled to control and restrain him. A senior officer zapped Marreel with a Taser on stun mode several times, however, a report of a cardiologist who has researched Taser effects said the electroshock weapon did not appear to be a factor in Marreel's death.
Coroner's counsel Karen Shea argued that Marreel's death should be classified as an accident, as opposed to have occurred by natural causes, suicide, homicide and undetermined causes. Shea made five recommendations to the jurors at the inquest that were adopted by lawyers for the OPP and the provincial police officer's professional association. The lawyers recommend that:
--The OPP should equip all detachments with automatic emergency defibrillators and ensure officers are properly trained to use the machine.
--Ontario's Ministry of Health and Long Term Care and base hospitals responsible for the training paramedics ensure that all medical emergency personnel are trained to recognize excited delirium as a medical emergency that can potentially be fatal.
--The OPP and Ontario Police College enhance training to ensure that all new recruits of police services in the province are trained to recognize indicators and the potentially lethal effects of excited delirium.
-- The OPP provide updated training annually for its front-line officers on the recognition of excited delirium.
--Ontario's Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services issue directives to all police services in the province to ensure that all police officers receive annual training on the signs and risks associated with excited delirium.
Coroner Jack Stanborough told the jury it must reach a majority decision on each of five questions, including, who was killed, where, when, how and by what means? The jury retired to deliberate at 11:30 a.m.
Labels: dr. margaret thompson, dr. paul dorian, jeffrey marreel, ontario provincial police
Taser jolts didn’t kill man, coroner’s inquest hears
Every time an inquest is held in this province after a person was tasered and died, the coroner parades the same cast of characters, whose testimony goes completely unquestioned and is counterproductive to finding out what really caused the person to die.
If you dig a little deeper, you’ll see that cardiologist Paul Dorion has testified in the past that tasers aren’t quite as non-lethal as they might seem. But he's not being paid to say that here.
See, for example, this post:
It’s pathetic that no one is at the inquest to ask these “expert witnesses” any tough questions!!
Barbara Brown, Hamilton Spectator
A Taser deployed by an OPP officer on a paranoid and out-of-control cocaine binger did not cause the Norfolk man’s fatal heart attack nearly one hour later, says a cardiologist’s report to a coroner’s jury.
Dr. Paul Dorian, a research scientist, cardiologist and pharmacologist, submitted his report to Coroner Jack Stanborough, but was not available to testify Thursday during a third day of evidence at the inquest in Hamilton into the death of Jeffrey Mark Marreel, 36.
The Delhi man suffered a fatal cardiac arrest while in police custody the morning of June 23, 2008, approximately 55 minutes after being jolted several times with a Taser on “stun mode.”
Marreel, who was erratic and agitated from a weekend of snorting, smoking and injecting cocaine, displayed almost “superhuman strength” and showed no response to the Taser or other pain during a struggle with up to six police officers.
Witnesses called Norfolk OPP because the man had been walking around destroying property and generally wreaking havoc near Fisher’s Glen Road and Front Road.
Marreel was eventually restrained by police and placed in the back of a cruiser, where he was briefly examined by a paramedic. He continued to be incoherent and combative and refused medical treatment for two lacerations to his head. Marreel was taken to Simcoe provincial police station.
The prisoner lost consciousness and was observed to have no vital signs. CPR efforts failed and the man was pronounced dead at Norfolk General Hospital.
Dorian noted there has been considerable debate about the potential for Tasers to have cardiac effects and possibly contribute to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. But to have this effect, he said, the Taser would have to be applied to the torso with its current path crossing the heart. In that situation, he said, the cardiac effect would occur “within seconds of application.”
“In (this) situation, the Taser application was approximately one hour prior to the observed loss of consciousness, and appears to have been applied to the subject’s extremities (two jolts to the back of the shoulder and one to the arm). In this circumstance, there is no possibility that the Taser application played any role in the subject’s subsequent cardiac arrest.”
Dorian concluded Marreel’s sudden cardiac death was caused by acute cocaine toxicity.
In other evidence, Dr. Margaret Thompson, a specialist in emergency medicine and medical director of the Ontario Poison Centre, said she believes excited delirium (once called cocaine psychosis) was a contributing factor in Marreel’s death, secondary to acute cocaine toxicity.
The paramedic who examined Marreel in the back seat of the police cruiser noted a somewhat elevated heart rate, but was not able to do a proper assessment because of his combativeness. Thompson said she would not have released such a patient from medical care, given that he was exhibiting symptoms of excited delirium can lead to sudden death.
Coroner’s counsel Karen Shea, Lorenzo Policelli, counsel for the Ontario Provincial Police and William MacKenzie, the lawyer for the police association, are to make closing arguments to the jury on Friday.
Australia: Officers using tasers with inbuilt cameras obscured
The Greens have MY vote!!
The NSW government should conduct an inquiry into police use of tasers, after it was revealed that officers were using them with their inbuilt cameras obscured, the Greens say.
The 146 instances where cameras were obscured in the 18 months to September this year represented 13 per cent of all taser incidents during that period, figures released by the government showed.
NSW Greens MP John Kaye said the high number of times where the safeguard mechanism was being turned off is evidence of systematic abuse.
"It's very clear the training of police and the regulation of the use of tasers is inadequate," Mr Kaye told ABC Radio on Friday.
"It is time for the NSW government to conduct a thorough inquiry into the use of tasers, into the way the training is working and into the way the police are responding to the opportunities to use tasers," he said.
Labels: australia, taser cam
Virginia man dies after police taser him
Karreem A. Ali, 65, Montgomery County, Virginia
(The man had been in critical condition since police tasered him on Sunday)
Three hits from Taser failed to subdue Delhi man
HAMILTON — A Norfolk OPP sergeant zapped Jeffrey Marreel three times with a Taser in an attempt to subdue him, an inquest jury into the death of the Delhi man heard Wednesday.
The Taser was set in dry stun mode, which has been proven ineffective for people with excited delirium.
An OPP training video presented as evidence by the Crown at the John Sopinka Courthouse says operating a Taser in the dry stun mode — where the probes remain on the Taser as opposed to being fired off — is "not effective" in ensuring pain compliance for people with excited delirium.
Norfolk OPP Sgt. Dean Skelding operated his Taser in such a manner when he zapped Marreel on the neck and shoulder area, back and rear left arm on June 23, 2008. He was attempting to have Marreel comply with an order to lie flat on the ground, Skelding said.
He opted for the dry stun mode as opposed to firing off the probes for the safety of surrounding officers.
Skelding's first attempt to administer the five-second zap was unsuccessful on Marreel, who was in a crouched position on Fisher's Glen Road, the jury heard.
"He bucked me off at the one to 1.5 (seconds) one," Skelding recalled.
The next two attempts — on Marreel's back and later on his rear left arm — were administered for the full length of time. This didn't deter Marreel, who eventually ripped off Skelding's body armour.
"The whole front piece came off which made it more dangerous for me," Skelding testified.
Marreel was eventually taken to the Norfolk OPP detachment in Simcoe where officers noticed he had stopped moving as they tried to put a waist restraint on him.
Officers performed CPR while an ambulance was en route to the detachment.
Marreel, 36, was pronounced dead at Norfolk General Hospital shortly after 12 p.m. His cause of death has been ruled "acute cocaine poisoning" by the Ontario Special Investigations Unit.
A juror asked whether Norfolk OPP or Norfolk EMS made the decision to take Marreel straight to the detachment as opposed to the hospital. Skelding reiterated it was the "cooperation of the two," adding paramedics had cleared him.
"As I said, in my notes here, I have, 'EMS has no concerns,'" he said.
Skelding was unable to recall if he had informed paramedics that Marreel had been using cocaine.
"I don't recall," he said. "I had a lot going on at that time."
Skelding was concerned about Const. Ken Decloet who may have been exposed to Hepatitis C through Marreel. He also had to tend to public safety and damage to a cruiser.
While Marreel displayed erratic behaviour, he was able to state his name and the drug he was on, noted lawyer William MacKenzie, who is representing the OPP Association. MacKenzie suggested this reasoning ability may not have been consistent with excited delirium.
OPP Sgt. Liam Brennan, who trains officers in the OPP's western region, agreed with this suggestion. He also stated Skelding did an "excellent job" and he would have "done the same thing" at that scene.
Dr. Jack Stanborough, western regional supervising coroner who is hearing the inquest, was taken aback by this statement.
"I'm a little surprised as an instructor that you would have handled the situation the same way," he said.
Many of Marreel's behaviours — paranoia, incoherent speech and unexpected strength — are listed as symptoms of excited delirium, he pointed out.
"It sounds an awful like what I've heard over the last two days," he said.
Medical testimony is expected to be delivered in the inquest today.
Barbara Simpson
Jeffrey Marreel inquest continues
CD 98.9
Day two of an inquest into the death of a Delhi man in June of 2008 found a senior OPP officer saying he had no choice but to use his taser. 36 year old Jeffrey Marreel died at Norfolk General Hospital after being hit with a taser by OPP in Fishers Glen. The cause of Marreel's death is said to be acute cocaine poisoning. Staff Sergeant Dean Skelding told the court five officers were struggling with Marreel and he put his taser on stun mode and delivered three shocks to the man's body. The officer claims Marreel did not respond to being tased. The inquest continues today.
Officer used Taser to stun addict
Barbara Brown - hamilton spectator
With five police officers struggling to control a crazed, violent coke addict, a senior OPP officer said he had no choice but to fire his Taser several times.
Staff Sergeant Dean Skelding said he delivered three shocks to the body of Jeffrey Mark Marreel, 36, but set the device on “stun mode” only. Skelding said he did not want to risk striking any of his officers with the full impact of the electroshock weapon.
In stun mode, the Taser is held against the person’s body to deliver a penetrating pain but does not completely incapacitate the suspect’s muscles, as it does when the weapon is fired from a short distance with its small, dartlike projectiles attached.
Marreel showed no response to being stunned three times, Dr. Jack Stanborough and the coroner’s jury heard.
The confrontation on June 23, 2008, began when Marreel jumped out from behind a dumpster, wielding a piece of metal at the officers, near Front Road and Fisher’s Glen Road in Norfolk, just northeast of Turkey Point. The man appeared to be in state of “excited delirium” after a weekend of smoking, snorting and injecting cocaine.
Marreel was ranting to himself and shouting obscenities at the police. He ran barefoot up a steep hill and tried to pull down the “Welcome to Fisher’s Glen” sign.
Five officers attempted to restrain Marreel and were joined by a sixth officer, said coroner’s counsel Karen Shea.
Marreel, who was in and out of jail and well known to police, was checked out at the scene by paramedics, who noted lacerations to his head but deemed him fit enough to go to the Simcoe OPP station.
About an hour after his detention, Marreel went into medical distress and was taken to Norfolk General Hospital, where he died from acute cocaine poisoning.
OPP training officer Liam Brennan told the inquest that front-line officers have viewed a training video on excited delirium and have a prisoner care manual usually posted in custody areas, which sets out the signs and symptoms. But Norfolk Constable Ken DeCloet said he felt the training on excited delirium was “woefully inadequate,” given the prevalence of crack addiction.
Excited delirium is a controversial term used to explain the deaths of some individuals in police custody who have exhibited a combination of bizarre symptoms, including agitation, paranoia, violent behaviour, insensitivity to pain, profuse sweating, elevated body temperature, superhuman strength and rapid heart rate.
Lawyer William MacKenzie, who represents the Ontario Provincial Police Association, asked the training officer if he believed Marreel actually experienced excited delirium, given that he was examined by paramedics and not considered in need of medical treatment.
“Not from what I heard, sir,” Brennan said.
A suspect in police custody who is thought to be in the throes of excited delirium, which can be fatal, is supposed to be taken for immediate medical treatment.
The inquest continues today.
Labels: excited delirium, jeffrey marreel, ontario provincial police
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The Top Social Media Channels in the UAE
Over the previous decade, social media and online networking have significantly impacted our lives. It would be no surprise to say that social media has turned into a basic necessity in life.
Approximately 95% of the UAE’s population today are active internet users with 33% of them spending just under 30 minutes daily on social platforms, and a minority (5%) spending over 4 hours on a daily basis.
Several reasons push people to actively use social media; it connects people together so basically it shortens distances while also providing users with educational content as well as entertainment options.
The UAE population is mostly active on three main social media channels. What are these top social media channels and how are they used?
1-FACEBOOK
Facebook is the most used social media channel in the UAE. Every year Facebook has something new to offer. These new features are what make people come back and stay connected with friends and acquaintances.
Each novel feature provided by Facebook gives internet users the chance to share content with others in a creative and engaging way such as the innovative 360 photos and videos.
With the 360 degree photo option, users can share the beauty of a venue or place they love in an immersive way just with a phone.
The like button has also recently evolved by expanding into five different emojis/emotions. It is now called the "reaction button" and it gives Facebook users the opportunity to be more expressive.
On Facebook, users share, upload or like articles, videos or photos but others don’t always have the time to check them right away. Facebook has now given its users the opportunity to save these content for later checking.
All the above new features are what keep Facebook at the forefront of social networking in the UAE. But the most important addition to Facebook is undoubtedly the ability to stream live videos and also share ephemeral stories. These latest updates are extremely popular with UAE users who are now using their mobile phones as "TV stations" to broadcast regular clips and live streams via Facebook.
2-INSTAGRAM
The second most popular social media platform in the UAE is Instagram. After being bought by Facebook a few years ago, the photo sharing app has witnessed a huge improvement in terms of features and design.
Living in the UAE gives you the opportunity to witness and share new concepts and unique sights which are prime content for Instagram posts. After copying the main features of Snapchat in 2016 (especially the "stories"), Instagram has seen a recent jump in number of users and time spent on the app. It has since widened the gap with Snapchat and is currently the number 1 mobile social app for both expats and Emiratis.
Instagram boasts more than 40% penetration rate in the UAE and its growth is very promising with thousands of new users joining every month.
Over the past years, we have also seen the rise of Instagram influencers in the UAE and these have become an integral part of any digital marketing campaign undertaken by companies and reputable brands.
3-TWITTER
Twitter has somehow lost its past popularity especially with the massive growth of Instagram. It is still widely used in the UAE especially among users who follow news, politics and other related topics.
An interesting trend specific to the UAE has seen Twitter become a prime tool for customer relationship management. In fact many local companies use Twitter to answer customer complaints. Just visit the Twitter account of key network operators in the UAE and you'll notice it is full of customer requests and comments.
While Twitter has constantly added new features to its platform, we believe it is currently less appealing to the younger audience who prefers to spend time on more entertaining social apps such as Instagram or Snapchat.
For more information of the different social channels available in Dubai and the UAE and how to make the most out of them, do not hesitate to contact the Clouds Media team. We will be glad to assist you with any digital marketing query.
Clouds Media
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VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Fr. Joercio Goncalves Pereira C.SS.R., rector of the national shrine of "Nossa Senhora Aparecida," Brazil, as coadjutor of the territorial prelature of Coari (area 135,442, population 195,306, Catholics 166,076, priests 11, religious 24), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Virginia, Brazil in 1953 and ordained a priest in 1983.
NEC/.../GONCALVES VIS 20051130 (70)
Published by VIS - Holy See Press Office - Wednesday, November 30, 2005 0 commenti
VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2005 (VIS) - Following today's general audience, the Holy Father received in audience Archbishop Giacinto Berloco, apostolic nuncio to Venezuela.
AP/.../... VIS 20051130 (30)
DECLARATION ON VIOLENCE AGAINST RELIGIOUS IN CHINA
VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2005 (VIS) - Holy See Press Office Director Joaquin Navarro-Valls made the following declaration this morning:
"Over these days, news agencies have reported two disconcerting events carried out against, respectively, the Franciscan Sisters in Xi'an and six priests in the diocese of Zhengding.
"These news items, though it is not possible to verify the exact details of their circumstances, provoke pain and disapproval.
"The violence practiced in Xi'an against a number of defenseless nuns cannot but be firmly condemned.
"And the detention of six priests of Zhengding, like the earlier detentions of priests in other localities, is also a cause for grave concern. As on earlier occasions, the reasons for the coercive measures inflicted upon them are unknown."
OP/VIOLENCE RELIGIOUS CHINA/NAVARRO-VALLS VIS 20051130 (140)
AGREEMENT BETWEEN HOLY SEE AND CITY OF HAMBURG
VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2005 (VIS) - At midday yesterday, in the Town Hall of Hamburg, Germany, the signing took place of an Agreement between the Holy See and the Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The accord regulates relations between the Catholic Church and this city "lande." On the part of the Holy See, the agreement was signed by Archbishop Erwin Josef Ender, apostolic nuncio to Germany, and on the part of the City of Hamburg, by Ole Von Beust, president of the senate.
According to a communique, the agreement "consists of 23 articles and a final protocol regulating the juridical position of the Catholic Church in the Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Among other things, it establishes norms concerning State recognition of Church-run schools, the teaching of the Catholic religion in State schools, Church activities in the fields of pastoral care and of social, healthcare and charitable work, the ecclesiastical levy, and the maintenance of Church buildings listed as monuments. Overall, the role of the Catholic Church is recognized in the society of the Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg."
OP/AGREEMENT HOLY SEE:HAMBURG/... VIS 20051130 (190)
ASIA: DIALOGUE WITH OTHER RELIGIONS DESPITE DIFFICULTIES
VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2005 (VIS) - Made public today was a communique concerning the ninth meeting of the Special Council of the Synod of Bishops for Asia, held in Rome on November 18 and 19, 2005.
The meeting, which was presided by Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, considered the theme of "the Eucharist and missions" and noted the positive impact of the recently-concluded Year of the Eucharist on ecclesial initiatives that aim to make that Sacrament more widely known.
The communique also states that the members of the council noted how "the Catholic Church in Asia often undertakes her activities in an unfavorable social context, in certain nations in which religious freedom is not respected. ... The Church in Asia remains open to dialogue with the great religions of the continent, despite the difficulties provoked by fundamentalist groups in various countries."
The next meeting of the council is scheduled to take place on November 17 and 18, 2006.
SE/SYNOD BISHOPS ASIA/ETEROVIC VIS 20051130 (180)
MESSAGE TO BARTHOLOMEW I FOR THE FEAST OF ST. ANDREW
VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2005 (VIS) - A delegation from the Holy See, led by Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, is in Istanbul, Turkey for the liturgical celebrations of the Feast of St. Andrew, which is commemorated both in the East and West. St. Andrew is patron of the ecumenical patriarchate, which every year sends a delegation to Rome on June 29, the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul.
This morning the delegation attended a solemn liturgy presided by His Holiness Bartholomew I in the Church of St. George in Fanar. At the end of the ceremony, Cardinal Kasper delivered a special message to the ecumenical patriarch from Benedict XVI.
In his English-language message, the Pope affirms:
"This year we commemorate the fortieth anniversary of December 8, 1965, that day on which Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras, dissatisfied with what had occurred in 1054, decided together at Rome and Constantinople 'to cancel from the Church's memory the sentence of ex-communication which had been pronounced.' That momentous event became the basis of a renewed relationship marked by reciprocal respect and reconciliation."
"Indeed, this cancellation marked the beginning of a new season of ecclesial life, a season of dialogue, which has seen significant progress yet remains challenged to continue the rigorous pursuit of its much cherished goals.
"In this regard, it is a source of great satisfaction to me that after a pause of some years our theological dialogue begins once again. I pray that it will indeed be fruitful and am confident that no effort will be spared to make it so. He who puts his hand to the plough must not turn back. Rather, he must persevere and bring his work to completion, sowing the seed and awaiting the abundant harvest that God in His goodness will provide."
Benedict XVI concludes his message with assurances to the Patriarch Bartholomew, the holy synod and all the Orthodox Churches that "the Catholic Church remains irrevocably committed to promoting all suitable and helpful initiatives to strengthen charity, solidarity and theological dialogue between us."
According to a communique made public today, the members of the delegation sent by the Holy Father will meet members of the synodal commission for relations with the Catholic Church. For his part, Cardinal Kasper will visit the leaders of the Christian communities in Turkey, in particular the Armenian patriarch and the Syro-Orthodox patriarch, as well as representatives of the local Catholic community and the chief rabbi of Istanbul.
This year, the communique says, the talks "are particularly important because they focus above all on preparations for the visit by Benedict XVI to the Church of St. George in Fanar." Other subjects under discussion include "the progress of Catholic - Orthodox relations, questions concerning the life and pastoral care of Orthodox faithful in Italy and, above all, following a break of five years, the resumption of official theological dialogue, as decided last September during a pan-Orthodox meeting held at the Fanar and presided by the Patriarch Bartholomew I."
DELSS/FEAST ST. ANDREW/KASPER:BARTHOLOMEW VIS 20051130 (520)
POPE ASSURES AIDS SUFFERERS OF HIS SUPPORT
VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2005 (VIS) - At the end of the general audience, held this morning in St. Peter's Square, Benedict XVI recalled that tomorrow, December 1, is World AIDS Day.
World AIDS Day, said the Holy Father, "is an initiative of the United Nations that aims to draw attention to the scourge of AIDS, and to invite the international community to a renewed commitment to prevent the disease and to assist those who suffer from it. The statistics are truly alarming!
"Closely following Christ's example, the Church has always considered the cure of the sick as an integral part of her mission. Therefore I encourage the many initiatives promoted, especially by ecclesial communities, to eradicate this sickness, and I feel close to AIDS sufferers and their families, invoking upon them the help and comfort of the Lord."
AG/WORLD AIDS DAY/... VIS 20051130 (150)
GOD IS THE ULTIMATE ARBITER OF HISTORY
VATICAN CITY, NOV 30, 2005 (VIS) - More than 23,000 people participated in the general audience, held this morning in St. Peter's Square, during which the Holy Father continued his catechesis on the Psalms.
"On this first Wednesday of Advent, the liturgical period of silence, vigil and prayer in preparation for Christmas, we consider Psalm 136 ... 'on the rivers of Babylon'," said the Pope. "It evokes the tragedy experienced by the Jewish people during the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC, and their deportation to Babylon."
"This heartfelt invocation to the Lord to free His faithful from slavery," Benedict XVI continued, "also expresses the feelings of hope and expectation of salvation with which we began our Advent journey. The backdrop to the first part of the psalm is the land of exile with its rivers and canals, the rivers and canals that irrigated the Babylonian plain where the Jews had been deported; almost a symbolic foreshadowing of the death camps in which, last century, the Jewish people underwent the infamous operation of extermination that has remained as an indelible mark of shame in the history of humanity."
"God, Who is the ultimate arbiter of history, will know how to understand and accept, according to His justice, the cries of the victims, despite the harsh tones they sometimes assume," he went on.
In elucidating the psalm, the Pope also referred to a meditation on the subject by St. Augustine in which, he said, "the great Father of the Church introduces a surprising note: he knows that even among the inhabitants of Babylon there are people committed to peace and goodness, though without sharing the biblical faith. In the end, then, God will lead those people to the heavenly Jerusalem, rewarding them for their pure consciences."
"God will not allow them to perish with Babylon, having predestined them as citizens of Jerusalem, on the condition, however, that, living in Babylon, they do not promote its pride, its grandeur or its overweening arrogance."
At the end of the audience, the Pope greeted a group of Italian prison chaplains, thanking them for the "valuable ministry" they carry out "with evangelical charity alongside those in prison; I give assurances of my prayers for each one of you, and for everyone in institutes of detention, to whom I send my most affectionate greetings."
AG/PSALM 136/... VIS 20051130 (400)
VATICAN CITY, NOV 29, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed:
- Bishop Norbert Trelle, auxiliary of Cologne, Germany, as bishop of Hildesheim (area 30,000, population 5,700,000, Catholics 659,500, priests 426, permanent deacons 81, religious 484), Germany.
- Fr. Pierre Nguyen Van De S.D.B., professor at the mayor seminary of Hanoi, Vietnam, as auxiliary of Bui Chu (area 1,350, population 1,336,400, Catholics 380,130, priests 58, religious 475), Vietnam. The bishop-elect was born in Tri Buu, Vietnam in 1946 and ordained a priest in 1973.
NER:NEA/.../TRELLE:VAN DE VIS 20051129 (90)
Published by VIS - Holy See Press Office - Tuesday, November 29, 2005 0 commenti
ADMISSION TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND HOMOSEXUALITY
VATICAN CITY, NOV 29, 2005 (VIS) - Made public today was the document: "Instruction Concerning the Criteria for the Discernment of Vocations with regard to Persons with Homosexual Tendencies in view of their Admission to the Seminary and to Holy Orders." The document is dated November 4, memorial of St. Charles Borromeo, patron of seminaries, and bears the signatures of Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski and of Archbishop Michael J. Miller C.S.B., respectively prefect and secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education. On August 31, 2005, Benedict XVI approved the Instruction and ordered its publication.
Given below are some extracts from the document, which has been published in English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Portuguese.
"In continuity with the teaching of Vatican Council II and, in particular, with the Decree 'Optatam Totius' on priestly formation, the Congregation for Catholic Education has published various documents with the aim or promoting a suitable, integral formation of future priests, by offering guidelines and precise norms regarding its diverse aspects. In the meantime, the 1990 Synod of Bishops also reflected on the formation of priests in the circumstances of the present day. ... Following this Synod, John Paul II published the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation 'Pastores Dabo Vobis'."
"The present Instruction does not intend to dwell on all questions in the area of affectivity and sexuality that require an attentive discernment during the entire period of formation. Rather, it contains norms concerning a specific question, made more urgent by the current situation, and that is: whether to admit to the seminary and to holy orders candidates who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies."
AFFECTIVE MATURITY AND SPIRITUAL FATHERHOOD
"According to the constant Tradition of the Church, only a baptized person of the male sex validly receives sacred ordination. By means of the Sacrament of Orders, ... the priest, in fact, sacramentally represents Christ, the head, shepherd and spouse of the Church. Because of this configuration to Christ, the entire life of the sacred minister must be animated by the gift of his whole person to the Church and by an authentic pastoral charity.
"The candidate to the ordained ministry, therefore, must reach affective maturity. Such maturity will allow him to relate correctly to both men and women, developing in him a true sense of spiritual fatherhood towards the Church community that will be entrusted to him."
HOMOSEXUALITY AND THE ORDAINED MINISTRY
"The Catechism of the Catholic Church distinguishes between homosexual acts and homosexual tendencies. Regarding acts, it teaches that Sacred Scripture presents them as grave sins. The Tradition has constantly considered them as intrinsically immoral and contrary to the natural law. Consequently, under no circumstances can they be approved.
"Deep-seated homosexual tendencies, which are found in a number of men and women, are also objectively disordered and, for those same people, often constitute a trial. Such persons must be accepted with respect and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided."
"In the light of such teaching, this dicastery, in accord with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, believes it necessary to state clearly that the Church, while profoundly respecting the persons in question, cannot admit to the seminary or to holy orders those who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called 'gay culture'."
"One must in no way overlook the negative consequences that can derive from the ordination of persons with deep-seated homosexual tendencies.
"Different, however, would be the case in which one were dealing with homosexual tendencies that were only the expression of a transitory problem - for example, that of an adolescence not yet superseded. Nevertheless, such tendencies must be clearly overcome at least three years before ordination to the diaconate."
DISCERNMENT OF THE CHURCH CONCERNING THE SUITABILITY OF CANDIDATES
"The desire alone to become a priest is not sufficient, and there does not exist a right to receive sacred ordination. It belongs to the Church - in her responsibility to define the necessary requirements for receiving the Sacraments instituted by Christ - to discern the suitability of him who desires to enter the seminary, to accompany him during his years of formation, and to call him to holy orders if he is judged to possess the necessary qualities.
"The formation of the future priest must distinctly articulate, in an essentially complementary manner, the four dimensions of formation: human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral. In this context, it is necessary to highlight the particular importance of human formation, as the necessary foundation of all formation."
"Bearing in mind the opinion of those to whom he has entrusted the responsibility of formation, the bishop or major superior, before admitting the candidate to ordination, must arrive at a morally certain judgement on his qualities. In the case of a serious doubt in this regard, he must not admit him to ordination.
"The discernment of a vocation and the maturity of the candidate is also a serious duty of the rector and of the other persons entrusted with the work of formation in the seminary. Before every ordination, the rector must express his own judgment on whether the qualities required by the Church are present in the candidate."
The spiritual director, though bound to secrecy, "represents the Church in the internal forum. In his discussions with the candidate, the spiritual director must especially point out the demands of the Church concerning priestly chastity and the affective maturity that is characteristic of the priest, as well as help him to discern whether he has the necessary qualities. The spiritual director has the obligation to evaluate all the qualities of the candidate's personality and to make sure that he does not present disturbances of a sexual nature, which are incompatible with the priesthood. If a candidate practices homosexuality or presents deep-seated homosexual tendencies, his spiritual director, as well as his confessor, have the duty to dissuade him in conscience from proceeding towards ordination.
"It goes without saying that the candidate himself has the primary responsibility for his own formation. ... It would be gravely dishonest for a candidate to hide his own homosexuality in order to proceed, despite everything, towards ordination. Such a deceitful attitude does not correspond to the spirit of truth, loyalty and openness that must characterize the personality of him who believes he is called to serve Christ and His Church in the ministerial priesthood."
"This Congregation reaffirms the need for bishops, major superiors, and all relevant authorities to carry out an attentive discernment concerning the suitability of candidates for holy orders, from the time of admission to the seminary until ordination. This discernment must be done in light of a conception of the ministerial priesthood that is in accordance with the teaching of the Church.
"Let bishops, episcopal conferences and major superiors look to see that the constant norms of this Instruction be faithfully observed for the good of the candidates themselves, and to guarantee that the Church always has suitable priests who are true shepherds according to the heart of Christ."
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PLENARY INDULGENCE FOR SOLEMNITY IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
VATICAN CITY, NOV 29, 2005 (VIS) - According to a decree made public today, Benedict XVI will grant the faithful a Plenary Indulgence for the forthcoming Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (December 8, 2005). The decree is signed by Cardinal James Francis Stafford and Fr. John Francis Girotti, O.F.M. Conv., respectively penitentiary major and regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary.
"December 8," the text reads, "will mark 40 years since Servant of God Paul VI, Supreme Pontiff, who had already proclaimed the Virgin Mary as Mother of the Church, in closing Vatican Council II dedicated great praise to the Virgin who, as Mother of Christ, is Mother of God and spiritual Mother to us all.
"On this Solemnity, the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI, when he renders public homage of praise to Mary Immaculate, has the heartfelt desire that the entire Church should join with him, so that all the faithful, united in the name of the common Mother, become ever stronger in the faith, adhere with greater devotion to Christ, and love their brothers with more fervent charity. From here - as Vatican Council II very wisely taught - arise works of mercy towards the needy, observance of justice, and the defense of and search for peace."
For this reason, the decree continues, the Holy Father "has kindly granted the gift of Plenary Indulgence which may be obtained under the usual conditions (sacramental Confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer in keeping with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff), with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin, on the forthcoming Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, by the faithful if they participate in a sacred function in honor of the Virgin, or at least offer open testimony of Marian devotion before an image of Mary Immaculate exposed for public veneration, adding the recitation of the Our Father and of the Creed, and some invocation to the Virgin."
The document concludes by recalling that faithful who "through illness or other just cause," are unable to participate in a public ceremony or to venerate an image of the Virgin, "may obtain a Plenary Indulgence in their own homes, or wherever they may be, if, with the soul completely removed from any form of sin, and with the intention of observing the aforesaid conditions as soon as possible, they unite themselves in spirit and in desire to the Supreme Pontiff's intentions in prayer to Mary Immaculate, and recite the Our Father and the Creed."
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VATICAN CITY, NOV 28, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:
- Tula'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi, prime minister of the Independent State of Samoa, accompanied by his wife and an entourage.
- Seven prelates from the Conference of the Polish Episcopate on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Stanislaw Nowak of Czestochowa, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Jan Watroba.
- Bishop Zygmunt Zimowski of Radom, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishops Stefan Siczek and Adam Odzimek.
- Bishop Adam Smigielski S.D.B., of Sosnowiec, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Piotr Skucha.
On Saturday, November 26, he received in separate audiences:
- Archbishop Vsevolod of Skopelos of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America, accompanied by an entourage.
- Thirteen prelates from the Conference of the Polish Episcopate on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Jan Tyrawa of Bydgoszcz.
- Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki of Poznan, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Grzegorz Balcerek, and by Archbishop emeritus Juliusz Paetz.
- Bishop Stanislaw Napierala of Kalisz.
- Archbishop Zygmunt Kaminski of Szczecin-Kamien, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishops Jan Galecki and Marian Blazej Kruszylowicz O.F.M. Conv.
- Bishop Kazimierz Nycz of Koszalin-Kolobrzeg, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Pawel Cieslik and by Bishop emeritus Ignacy Jez.
- Bishop Adam Dyczkowski of Zielona Gora-Gorzow accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Pawel Socha C.M.
- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
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Published by VIS - Holy See Press Office - Monday, November 28, 2005 0 commenti
THIS MORNING, BENEDICT XVI RECEIVED PARTICIPANTS in the meeting of the Latinitas Foundation, which was founded by Paul VI in 1976. The foundation has the dual aim of promoting, on the one hand, the study of the Latin language, classical and Christian literature and medieval Latin, and on the other, the use and spread of Latin through the publication of books in that language. The foundation publishes a quarterly magazine "Latinatis" and every year celebrates the "Certamen Vaticanum," an international competition of Latin poetry and prose. The foundation has also published a dictionary, the "Lexicon recentis Latinitatis," containing more than 15,000 neologisms translated into Latin.
THE INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL COMMISSION is celebrating its annual plenary session from November 28 to December 2, at the Vatican's Domus Sanctae Marthae, under the presidency of Archbishop William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. One of the subjects being considered is that of children who die without receiving Baptism, in the context of God's universal plan of salvation, the uniqueness of Christ's mediation and the sacramental nature of the Church. Attention will also be given to the identity of the nature and methods of theology as "scientia fidei" and to the foundations of natural moral law in keeping with the teaching of John Paul II's Encyclicals "Veritatis splendor" and "Fides et ratio."
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TO YOUNG PEOPLE: WE FIND HAPPINESS ONLY IN GOD
VATICAN CITY, NOV 28, 2005 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from the Holy Father to the young Dutch participants in the first National Day of Catholic Youth, celebrated in Nieuwegein, Netherlands, on November 27.
After pointing out that many of the young people present at this event also participated in World Youth Day, held in August in Cologne, Germany, Benedict XVI writes: "Dear friends, Jesus is your true friend and Lord, enter into a relationship of true friendship with Him. He awaits you, and only in Him will you find happiness. How easy it is to content oneself with superficial pleasures, ... to live only for oneself in the apparent enjoyment of life. But sooner or later one becomes aware that this is not true happiness, because true happiness is much deeper and is only to be found in Jesus."
"For this reason, I invite you to seek the Lord every day, He wants nothing other than your true happiness." On this subject, the Pope invites young people to dedicate moments of the day "to being exclusively in the company of the Lord. ... Recitation of the Rosary may help you to learn the art of praying with the simplicity and depth of Mary. It is important that participation in the Eucharist should be the center of your life. ... Adore God in church and remain kneeling before the tabernacle."
In his Message to the young people the Holy Father writes that it is in the Sacrament of Penance that Jesus "awaits you to forgive your sins and reconcile yourselves with His love. ... What a great opportunity the Lord has given us with this Sacrament for interior renewal and for progress in our Christian lives. I recommend that you make good and constant use of it."
"If you follow Jesus, you never feel alone because you are part of the Church, which is a great family in which you can grow in true friendship with so many brothers and sisters in the faith, scattered in every corner of the world. Jesus needs you to 'renew' modern society. Concern yourselves with increasing your knowledge of the faith, so as to be authentic witnesses thereof. Dedicate yourselves to an ever better understanding of Catholic doctrine," in which "the satisfying response to your deepest questions" is to be found.
The Pope concludes his Message with assurances of his prayers for the young people meeting in Nieuwegein, in the hope that they "generously welcome the call of the Lord. ... Only by responding positively to His call, however demanding it may seem, is it possible to find happiness and peace of heart."
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END CYCLE OF VIOLENCE AND MISERY IN SUDAN
VATICAN CITY, NOV 28, 2005 (VIS) - Today in the Vatican, Benedict XVI received Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, archbishop of Khartoum, Sudan, accompanied by a group of Sudanese pilgrims. The Pope addressed some brief words to the group, expressing his concern for the situation in the country, which has recently emerged from a prolonged period of armed conflict.
"It gives me great satisfaction to welcome you to the Vatican and through you to send heartfelt greetings to the people of your country. I very much appreciate the sentiments which have prompted your visit, and I wish to reassure you of my prayers and deep concern for the peaceful development of civil and ecclesial life in your nation.
"The cessation of the civil war and the enactment of a new constitution have brought hope to the long-suffering people of Sudan. While there have been setbacks along the path of reconciliation, not least the tragic death of John Garang, there now exists an unprecedented opportunity and indeed duty for the Church to contribute significantly to the process of forgiveness and national reconstruction. Though a minority, Catholics have much to offer through inter-religious dialogue as well as the provision of greatly needed social services. I encourage you therefore to take the necessary initiatives to realize Christ's healing presence in these ways.
"The horror of events unfolding in Darfur, to which my beloved predecessor Pope John Paul II referred on many occasions, points to the need for a stronger international resolve to ensure security and basic human rights. Today, I add my voice to the cry of the suffering and assure you that the Holy See, together with the apostolic nuncio in Khartoum, will continue to do everything possible to end the cycle of violence and misery."
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ADVENT GIVES RISE TO HOPE FOR RENEWING THE WORLD
VATICAN CITY, NOV 27, 2005 (VIS) - At midday today, before praying the Angelus with pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, Benedict XVI explained how this liturgical period "of great religious significance," is "permeated with hope and spiritual anticipation."
The Pope explained how, during Advent, Christians experience a dual movement of the spirit: "On the one hand, they raise their eyes towards the final goal of their pilgrimage in history, which is the glorious return of the Lord Jesus; on the other, recalling with emotion His birth in Bethlehem, they bow before the manager. The hope of Christians is directed to the future, but it always remains firmly rooted in an event from the past."
After emphasizing that this is a time in which "Christians must reawaken in their hearts the hope of being able, with God's help, to renew the world," the Holy Father quoted the Vatican Council II Apostolic Constitution "Gaudium et spes" on the Church in the modern world, "a text profoundly imbed with Christian hope ... which reads: 'We are taught that God is preparing a new dwelling place and a new earth where justice will abide, and whose blessedness will answer and surpass all the longings for peace which spring up in the human heart'."
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VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father:
- Appointed Msgr. Mario Grech of the clergy of Gozo, Malta, judicial vicar and pastor, as bishop of the same diocese (area 67, population 32,335, Catholics 31,709, priests 189, religious 135). The bishop-elect was born in Qala, Malta in 1957 and ordained a priest in 1984. He succeeds Bishop Nikol Joseph Cauchi, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
- Appointed Bishop Francisco Cases Andreu of Albacete, Spain, as bishop of the Canary Islands (area 4,106, population 979,606, Catholics 832,665, priests 256, permanent deacons 1, religious 593) Spain. He succeeds Bishop Ramon Echarren Ysturiz, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
- Appointed Bishop Rafael Palmero Ramos of Palencia, Spain, as bishop of Orihuela-Alicante (area 4,415, population 1,260,000, Catholics 1,155,000, priests 401, religious 861) Spain. He succeeds Bishop Victorio Oliver Domingo, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
- Appointed Fr. Benjamin Marc Ramaroson C.M., provincial superior of the Lazarist Fathers in Madagascar, as bishop of Farafangana (area 20,392, population 900,000, Catholics 70,000, priests 36, religious 103), Madagascar. The bishop-elect was born in Manakara, Madagascar in 1955 and ordained a priest in 1984.
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PERIOD OF ADVENT, JOURNEY OF TRUE SANCTIFICATION
VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2005 (VIS) - This evening in the Vatican Basilica, Benedict XVI presided at the celebration of the first Vespers of the first Sunday of Advent, which mark the opening of the new liturgical year.
In his homily, the Holy Father commented on a passage from the First Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians (5, 23-24).
The Apostle, said the Pope, hopes that "each individual will be sanctified by God and remain 'sound and blameless' in 'spirit and soul and body' until the final coming of the Lord Jesus."
The Holy Father pointed out that the hope expressed by the Apostle "contains a fundamental truth, one he seeks to inculcate into the faithful of the community he founded, and that we can sum up like this: God calls us to communion with Him, communion which will be fully realized with the return of Christ, and He Himself undertakes to ensure that we are ready when we reach this final and decisive encounter."
Pope Benedict went on: "The future is, so to say, contained in the present or, better still, in the presence of God Himself, in His indefectible love which does not leave us alone, does not abandon us even for an instant, just as fathers and mothers never cease to follow their children's development.
"Faced with Christ who approaches, man feels called in all his being. ... Sanctification is a gift of God, it is His initiative, but human beings are called to correspond with all their being, leaving nothing of themselves excluded."
"Just as at the center of human history is the first advent of Christ, and at the end His glorious return, so each individual existence is called to measure itself against Him in a mysterious and multifaceted way during the earthly journey, so as to be found 'in Him' at the moment of His return."
"May Mary Most Holy, the faithful Virgin, guide us to make this period of Advent, and the whole of the new liturgical year, a journey of true sanctification, to the praise and glory of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit."
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SPECIAL ENVOY TO CELEBRATIONS AT MARIAPOCS SHRINE
VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2005 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from the Pope, written in Latin and dated November 8, in which he appoints Cardinal Peter Erdo, archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary, as his special envoy to the solemn jubilee celebrations due to take place at the Hungarian shrine of Mariapocs on December 3.
The names of the two monsignors who will accompany the cardinal on his mission were also made public, they are: Msgrs. Istvan Pregun, protosincellus (vicar general) of the eparchy of Hajdudorog, and Miklos Beres, protosincellus of the apostolic exarchate of Miskolc.
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GUARANTEE ACCESS TO FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES
VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2005 (VIS) - Made public today was the address delivered by Msgr. Renato Volante to the 33rd General Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Msgr. Volante is the head of the Holy See delegation to the conference, which is being held at the organization's Rome headquarters from November 19 to 26.
In his speech, which was delivered on November 22, the head of the Holy See delegation expressed his conviction that "food security remains the fruit of action inspired by a strong solidarity," not of action that is "limited to forms of assistance or to interventions that, despite being well organized, often fail to achieve their intended goals."
Guaranteeing adequate food supplies, he went on, "is an essential component of that right to development intrinsic to each individual, people and nation, proclaimed by the international community but often overlooked, ... as the information presented to this conference shows."
Msgr. Violante stressed that "guaranteeing access to agricultural and food resources, is an important way to eliminate poverty and, hence, to put planned strategies into effect."
"It is the heartfelt wish of the Holy See delegation ... that support be given to the activities and practices of rural populations (in which the importance of the family cannot be overstressed). They constitute the basic economic foundation for most developing countries where monocultures and forest and marine resources represent an essential - and, unfortunately, at times unique - means of survival." In this context, Msgr. Volante called for the forthcoming conference on agrarian reform and rural development, due to be held in Brazil in March 2006, to "give 'voice' and support to those people who daily practice small-scale agriculture."
The Holy See representative concluded his speech by referring to the "notable importance for the development of food and agriculture" of "questions concerning the trade in agricultural, forest and fisheries products."
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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION IS A KEY QUESTION FOR POLAND
VATICAN CITY, NOV 26, 2005 (VIS) - Today, Benedict XVI received in audience the first group of prelates from the Conference of the Polish Episcopate who have just completed their "ad limina" visit.
"I recall with emotion," said the Pope at the beginning of his address to the bishops, "the great prayer with which the Poles accompanied John Paul II throughout his pontificate, and in particular over the days of his passage to the glory of the Lord. I am grateful to be able to count upon the same prayerful support. It is something I greatly appreciate and constantly request."
Among the themes he discussed with the Polish episcopate, Benedict XVI laid particular emphasis on the question of Christian education in the light of the Apostolic Exhortation "Ecclesai in Europa," where John Paul II called on the continent "to give greater attention to the training of young people in the faith."
"The faithful and fruitful realization of the mission of education which the Church is facing today, calls for adequate evaluation of the situation of the young people towards whom it is directed," he said. "I am aware that economic difficulties, consistently high levels of unemployment, and concern over guaranteeing material existence all have an effect on the way of life of many Polish families. It is not possible to create truly authentic attitudes without bearing in mind these problems, which also affect young people."
The Holy Father also noted the presence of "many positive phenomena that support and assist education in the faith," such as "a profound sensitivity towards the needs of others, especially those of the poor," and "a real interest for questions of faith and religion."
"Education in faith," the Pope explained, "must consist in the first place of developing that which is good in man. ... In the Church's educational initiatives, it would also be appropriate ... to accustom children and young people to prayer. ... Among the various forms of prayer, a special place is reserved for the liturgy. In Poland, young people participate actively and in large numbers in Sunday Mass."
Going on to refer to the enthusiastic participation of young Poles in Catholic groups, Benedict XVI made particular mention of the "Light and Life" movement. "The spirituality of this movement is focussed on the encounter with God in Holy Scripture and in the Eucharist," he said, calling on the prelates to support it "as being particularly effective in educating in the faith, though without, of course, overlooking other movements."
The Holy Father then addressed the question of cooperation with families and lay associations, in the field of education. "The formation of young generations is the task of parents, of the Church and of the State," he said. "Therefore, ... the Church must collaborate very closely with schools, universities and other lay institutions."
The teaching of religion in schools must "maintain its true evangelical dimension of transmitting and bearing witness to the faith," Pope Benedict observed. As for the catechesis of adults, he called on the bishops to "support those institutions that already undertake" this activity.
The final points of the Holy Father's address to the Polish episcopate concerned pastoral care in universities and in the world of culture and of the communications media.
"After years of scant freedom, the Church in Poland has been able to establish her own universities and theological faculties, most of which have become part of the infrastructure of State-run universities," the Pope said.
He then went on to observe how Poland, with its "rich cultural heritage rooted in Christian values," had entered the European Union, adding that the country "must not lose this heritage." The Pope also highlighted the fact that, in the world of culture, a special role is played by the communications media, "which thus constitute a valuable instrument of evangelization." And he invited the prelates to establish contact "with the world of journalists and other media operators. It may be appropriate to organize special pastoral initiatives specifically for them."
Benedict XVI concluded by quoting the Vatican Council II Declaration "Gravissimum educationis," wherein the Conciliar Fathers remind pastors of "their most serious obligation to see to it that all the faithful, but especially the youth who are the hope of the Church, enjoy a Christian education."
"This exhortation is still relevant," said the Holy Father, "and it may be even more urgent today, in the face of the new challenges presented by current social phenomena."
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VATICAN CITY, NOV 25, 2005 (VIS) - This evening, the Holy Father is scheduled to receive in audience Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
Published by VIS - Holy See Press Office - Friday, November 25, 2005 0 commenti
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY: FAITHFULNESS TO THE MAGISTERIUM
VATICAN CITY, NOV 25, 2005 (VIS) - This morning, Benedict XVI visited Rome's Sacred Heart Catholic University, for the occasion of the inauguration of the academic year.
The day began in the university, prior to the Pope's arrival, with a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general of the diocese of Rome. The Eucharistic celebration was attended by students from all branches of the Sacred Heart Catholic University: Milan, Brescia, Piacenza-Cremona, Campobasso and Rome.
At 11.00 a.m. in the main hall of the "Agostino Gemelli" Faculty of Medicine and Surgery the main celebration began in the Holy Father's presence. The Sacred Heart University was founded by Fr. Agostino Gemelli from whom the famous hospital, which is part of the university, takes its name. A brief speech by Lorenzo Ornaghi, rector of the university, was followed by a greeting from Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, archbishop of Milan, Italy.
The Pope began his address by greeting the academic authorities, then said: "Finding ourselves here together we cannot but think of the time charged with trepidation and emotion we experienced in this hospital during John Paul II's final months. During those days, from all over the world the thoughts of Catholics and non-Catholics alike were directed to the Gemelli hospital where, from his ward, the Pope provided everyone with a matchless lesson on the Christian meaning of life and suffering, bearing personal witness to the Christian message." On this subject, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude for "the attentive care given to the Holy Father."
Highlighting the fact that many thousands of young people pass through the university, the Pope asked: "How do they leave? What culture did they find, assimilate, develop? This is the great challenge: ... to give life to a true Catholic university, one that excels for the quality of its research and teaching and, at the same time, for its faithfulness to the Gospel and to the Church's Magisterium."
"The Catholic university," he went on, "is a great workshop in which, in keeping with the various disciplines, new lines of research are constantly being developed in a stimulating encounter between faith and reason, one that aims to recover the synthesis" between these two elements. This synthesis is "unfortunately contrasted by important currents of modern philosophy. As a consequence, ... the fundamental questions facing man - how to live and how to die - seem to be excluded from the realm of rationality and are left to that of subjectivity. The end result is that the question which gave rise to the university - that of truth and goodness - disappears, to be replaced by the question of feasibility. This then is the great challenge facing Catholic universities: to practice science within the horizon of a rationality different from that which dominates today, in keeping with a form of reason open to the transcendent, to God."
Benedict XVI called on the teachers and students to cast out their nets "into the high seas of knowledge, trusting in the Word of Christ, even when you experience the fatigue and disappointment of not having 'fished' anything. In the great sea of culture, Christ always has need of 'fishers of men,' in other words, of people of conscience, well prepared people who place their professional expertise at the service of the Kingdom of God. And university research, if carried out from the standpoint of faith, is also part of this service to the Kingdom and to mankind."
In closing his address, the Pope referred to the "Paul VI International Scientific Institute of research on human fertility and infertility for responsible procreation," which was founded in November 2000. "It is, he said, "an eloquent example of that synthesis of truth and love that constitutes the living center of Catholic culture."
The Holy Father pointed out how the institute, "which came into being in response to the appeal launched by Paul VI in his Encyclical 'Humanae vitae,' aims to give a secure scientific foundation both to the natural regulation of human fertility and to the commitment to overcome infertility by natural means. Echoing my venerated predecessor's grateful appreciation for this scientific initiative, I trust it may find the necessary support in continuing to carry out its important research activities."
Following his address, Benedict XVI bid farewell to the academic authorities and the students, before returning to the Vatican by car.
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- Nine prelates from the Conference of the Polish Episcopate on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Marian Golebiewski of Wroclaw, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Edward Janiak and by Cardinal Henryk Roman Gulbinowicz, archbishop emeritus.
- Bishop Stefan Cichy of Legnica, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Stefan Regmunt and by Bishop emeritus Tadeusz Rybak.
- Bishop Ignacy Dec of Swidnica.
- Archbishop Tadeusz Goclowski C.M. of Gdansk, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Ryszard Kasyna.
- Archbishop Andre Gaumond of Sherbrooke, Canada, president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, accompanied by Archbishop Vernon James Weisgerber of Winnipeg, and by Msgr. Mario Paquette P.H., respectively vice president and secretary of the same conference.
This evening, he is scheduled to receive in separate audiences nine prelates from the Conference of the Polish Episcopate on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Jan Bernard Szlaga of Pelplin.
- Bishop Andrzej Wojciech Suski of Torun, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Jozef Szamocki.
- Archbishop Henryk Muszynski of Gniezno, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Wojciech Polak and by former Auxiliary Bishop Szczepan Wesoly.
- Bishop Wieslaw Alojzy Mering of Wloclawek, accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Stanislaw Gebicki, and by Bishop emeritus Bronislaw Dembowski.
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Published by VIS - Holy See Press Office - Thursday, November 24, 2005 0 commenti
CHRISTMAS CONCERT TO BE DEDICATED TO EASTERN MISSIONS
VATICAN CITY, NOV 24, 2005 (VIS) - The Vatican's traditional Christmas concert will be held in the Paul VI Hall at 6.30 p.m. on Saturday, December 3. This year it will be dedicated to missions in the east.
According to a communique made public today, the concert aims "to raise public awareness concerning the question of the Church's missionary vocation and to gather funds to support missions in east Asia." One reason for this choice of theme, the communique says, "is because 2006 has been proclaimed as the 'Xavierian Year' (in honor of the patron of missions St. Francis Xavier, on the fifth centenary of his birth), of which the concert will officially mark the opening."
The concert will include various pieces from a new musical on the life of the saint: "Xavier - dreaming of China." It was to that country that the Jesuit saint was travelling on his last missionary journey; however, he fell ill on the island of Sancian, 100 kilometers off the Chinese coast, and died there on December 3, 1552.
Artists from all over the world will participate in the concert "to symbolize the encounter between a diversity of countries, cultures, religions, life experiences, ideals, and musical genres and styles," the communique concludes, and "in order to highlight once again the universality of the Church."
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DIALOGUE BETWEEN CULTURES, KEY FACTOR FOR DEVELOPMENT
VATICAN CITY, NOV 24, 2005 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today received in audience a group of representatives from member States of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), accompanied by Jacques Diouf, director general of the organization, for the occasion of the 33rd FAO Conference which is currently being held.
"This is our first meeting and it allows me to see at close hand your efforts in the service of a great ideal: that of liberating humanity from hunger," said the Pope in his English-language address. He also expressed his "sincere appreciation for the programs which the FAO, in its diverse agencies, has carried out for the past sixty years, defending with competence and professionalism the cause of man, beginning precisely with the basic right of each person to be 'free of hunger'."
The Holy Father went on to refer to the contrast between progress in the areas of the economy, science and technology, and the continuing increase of poverty, expressing the hope that the experience accumulated by the FAO may "help to develop a method adequate to the task of combating hunger and poverty, one shaped by that concrete realism which has always characterized the work of your distinguished organization."
The FAO has, said Pope Benedict, "worked for broader cooperation and has seen in the 'dialogue of cultures' a specific means of ensuring greater development and secure access to food. Today more than ever, there is a need for concrete, effective instruments for eliminating the potential for conflict between different cultural, ethnic and religious visions. There is a need to base international relations on respect for the person and on the cardinal principles of peaceful coexistence and fidelity to commitments undertaken. ... There is likewise a need to recognize that technical progress ... is not everything. True progress ... enables each people to share its own spiritual and material resources for the benefit of all.
"Here I wish to mention the importance of helping native communities, all too often subjected to undue appropriations aimed at profit, as your organization recently pointed out in its 'Guidelines on the Right to Food.' Also, it must not be forgotten that, while some areas are subject to international measures and controls, millions of people are condemned to hunger, even outright starvation, in areas where violent conflicts are taking place, conflicts which public opinion tends to neglect because they are considered internal, ethnic or tribal."
The Holy Father identified one "encouraging sign" in the "initiative of the FAO to convene its member States to discuss the issue of agrarian reform and rural development. This is not a new area, but one in which the Church has always shown interest, out of particular concern for small rural farmers who represent a significant part of the active population especially in developing countries. One course of action might be to ensure that rural populations receive the resources and tools which they need, beginning with education and training, as well as organizational structures capable of safeguarding small family farms and cooperatives."
Finally, the Pope recalled the forthcoming meeting in Hong Kong for negotiations on international commerce, particularly with regard to farm products. "The Holy See, he said, "is confident that a sense of responsibility and solidarity with the most disadvantaged will prevail, so that narrow interests and the logic of power will be set aside. It must not be forgotten that the vulnerability of rural areas has significant repercussions on the subsistence of small farmers and their families if they are denied access to the market. ... Support should also be given to the role of rural women and at the same time to children for whom not only nutrition but also basic education must be assured."
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VATICAN CITY, NOV 23, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father, with the aim of reorganizing the ecclesiastical hierarchy in Albania, appointed:
- Msgr. Dode Gjergji, apostolic administrator of Sape, as bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Stublla, Kosovo in 1963 and ordained a priest in 1989.
- Fr. Ottavio Vitale R.C.I., apostolic administrator of Lezhe, as bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Grottaglie, Italy in 1959 and ordained a priest in 1992.
- Fr. Cristoforo Palmieri, apostolic administrator of Rreshen, as bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Bitonto, Italy in 1939 and ordained a priest in 1967.
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VATICAN CITY, NOV 23, 2005 (VIS) - Following today's general audience, the Holy Father received in separate audiences:
- Archbishop Diego Causero, apostolic nuncio to the Czech Republic.
- Archbishop Giovanni d'Aniello, apostolic nuncio to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Archbishop Martin Vidovic, apostolic nuncio to Belarus.
ARCHBISHOP FOLEY: CINEMA AT THE SERVICE OF MANKIND
VATICAN CITY, NOV 23, 2005 (VIS) - Yesterday evening, Archbishop John P. Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, inaugurated the 9th International Congress on Cinema and Spirituality, which is being held in Rome's "Roma Tre" University on November 22 and 23.
Referring to the theme of this year's gathering, "the temptation to believe," the archbishop said that submitting to such temptation "means starting along the road of the difficult search for Truth in a world such as today's which swings from religious indifference to religious extremism; it means responding to God despite human incredulity, which can never be completely overcome, it means undertaking an act of courage, a leap of quality at the existential level."
The president of the Pontifical Council recalled how in various films "the temptation to believe ... has given rise to a dialogue between human beings and God, a dialogue capable of stimulating spectators to profound reflection, bringing them face to face with their own intimate identity and with their fellow men."
"The great film directors," the archbishop continued, "know how to tell the stories of men and women of all times and cultures to the men and women of today, echoing personal experiences of great intensity. And it is precisely this valuable potential of cinema that leads me to hope that it will continue to place itself at the service of mankind, guiding man to a spiritual understanding of his own essence."
Archbishop Foley highlighted the fact that "cinema has traversed more than one hundred years," yet it "continues to amaze us, to make us think and question ourselves through the masterful art of those artists who have chosen to share their spiritual experience with the spectator."
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LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS: GOD THE SAVIOR
VATICAN CITY, NOV 23, 2005 (VIS) - In the general audience held this morning in St. Peter's Square, Benedict XVI dedicated his catechesis to the opening canticle of the Letter to the Ephesians, "God the Savior." It belongs, he said, to the category of "blessings that appear in the Old Testament and that were further spread by the Jewish tradition."
It is, said the Pope, "a constant stream of praise rising up to God, Who in the Christian faith is celebrated as 'Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.' It is for this reason that, in our hymn of praise, the central figure is that of Christ, in Whom the work of God the Father is revealed and accomplished."
The Holy Father went on to refer to the verbs used in St. Paul's hymn, the first of which is "to choose." God "'chose us in Him,' this is our vocation to sanctity, to the status of adoptive children, and hence to fraternity with Christ. ... The second verb ... designates the gift of grace. ... The grace the Father gives us in the only begotten Son is, then, the epiphany of His love which envelops and transforms us.
"Thus we come to the third fundamental verb of the Pauline hymn. It too has as its object in divine grace which is 'lavished upon us.' What we have, then, is a verb of fullness, we could say (keeping to its original sense) of excess, of giving without limit or reserve."
"And so we reach the infinite and glorious depths of the mystery of God, opened and revealed by grace to those who were called through grace and love. ... The mystery of divine will has a center that is destined to coordinate all existence and all history, leading them to the fullness desired by God. This is the 'plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things' in Christ."
"We are looking at the great fresco of the history of creation and of salvation, which we may consider more deeply through the words of St. Irenaeus who recognized that since the Word of God truly becomes man, sin and death are defeated and all people are renewed in Christ."
Following the audience, the Pope addressed a special greeting to representatives of the Italian National Anti-Usury Consultancy, which is celebrating the tenth anniversary of its creation. "Your presence in such large numbers," he told them, "gives me the opportunity to express my heartfelt appreciation for the courageous and generous activity you carry out in support of the families of people hit by the deplorable social plague of usury. I hope that many people will stand alongside you to support your worthy commitment in the field of prevention, solidarity and education."
The Holy Father also spoke to Polish pilgrims, recalling the recent celebration of the day dedicated to communities of contemplative life. "They represent a great wealth for the Church," he said, "let us thank the nuns and monks for their prayers and for their silent accompaniment of a restless world."
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VATICAN CITY, NOV 22, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father erected the diocese of Ba Ria (area 1,975, population 908,622, Catholics 224,474, priests 191, religious 598), Vietnam, with territory taken from the diocese of Xuan Loc, making it a suffragan of the metropolitan church of Thanh-Pho Ho Chi Minh. He appointed Bishop Thomas Nguyen Van Tram, auxiliary of Xuan Loc, as the first bishop of the new diocese.
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SWISS GUARD TO CELEBRATE ITS 500TH ANNIVERSARY
VATICAN CITY, NOV 22, 2005 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office today, a conference was held to present the calendar of commemorative events for the fifth centenary of the foundation of the Pontifical Swiss Guard, the world's oldest active military corps. Participating in the press conference were Colonel Elmar Th. Mader, commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard and Pier Paolo Francini, head of the Philatelic and Numismatic Office of the Governorate of Vatican City.
Colonel Mader, briefly summarizing the history of the founding of the Swiss Guard, recalled that Pope Julius II (1503-1513) had wanted a troop of guards both for his own personal protection and as the permanent nucleus of a larger army to be formed in case of need. He decided on Switzerland because of the history of the country, the large number of infantrymen available and, above all, the great respect for the Church that characterized the Swiss Cantons. In 1505, with the Bull "Confoederatis Superioris Alemanniae," the Pope ordered the prelate of the papal court Peter von Hertenstein to recruit 200 Swiss soldiers and lead them to Rome under the command of Captain Kasper von Silenen. The guard, with 150 members, crossed the Alps and the Italian regions of Lombardy and Tuscany, arriving in Rome on January 22, 1506.
"For the occasion of the fifth centenary of Julius II's Bull," Colonel Mader went on, "the Holy Father wrote a letter to the president of the Swiss Episcopal Conference and to all the Swiss Guards, both those still in service and those who have been discharged. In his Message, the Holy Father recalls the founding of the Guard, their heroic sacrifice during the sack of Rome (1527) and his gratitude for their centuries-long faithfulness to the pontiff."
All the celebrations "must take into account the fact that former Swiss Guards still feel bound to the corps," said Clonel Mader. And "celebrations must include our own homeland as well as Italy, the Vatican and the city of Rome."
Colonel Mader went on to give details of the celebrations for the fifth centenary, which will begin on January 21, 2006, with a gala reception, followed the next day by Mass in the Sistine Chapel presided by the Cardinal Secretary of State. A guard of honor in St. Peter's Square for the Angelus prayer and the papal blessing will recall the historic arrival of the first guards.
On March 29, 2006, an exhibition entitled "The Pontifical Swiss Guard, 500 years of history, art and life," will be inaugurated in the Charlemagne Wing at the left colonnade of St. Peter's Square. The exhibition will concentrate on the different aspects of the Swiss Guard, both from a historical perspective and as regards its current activities.
On April 7, 2006, around 100 former Swiss Guards will begin a commemorative march from Bellinzona in the Swiss Canton of Ticino. The march will cover various stages and, largely following the old pilgrim route known as the Via Francigena, will reach Rome on May 4. On that day, as 500 years before, the former Swiss Guards will cross the city of Rome where they will be welcomed by the local authorities, then proceed to St. Peter's Square, where they will receive the Holy Father's blessing.
May 6, 2006, the main day of the fifth centenary celebrations, will begin with a commemorative Mass in St. Peter's Basilica. A wreath of flowers will then be laid in the Square of Roman Protomartyrs inside the Vatican to recall the Swiss Guards who fell during the sack of Rome in 1527. At 4.30 p.m., the annual swearing-in ceremony for new recruits will take place; for the first time in history it will be held in St. Peter's Square, rather than in the San Damaso courtyard where it normally takes place. In the evening, a firework display over Castel Sant'Angelo will conclude the day.
The May celebrations also include three concerts, all in the Paul VI Hall. On May 3, the Swiss Army Concert Band will perform a selection of popular music. On May 4, the united choirs of the Olten Cantonal School together with the Swiss Army Concert Band will perform the oratorio "Nicholas de Flue," by the Swiss composer Arthur Honegger with words by Denis de Rougement. On May 5, the choir and orchestra of the Collegium Musicum of Lucerne, with soloists from the Higher School of Music, also of Lucerne, the choir of Freiburg Cathedral and the Vokalensemble of the Swiss Canton of Schwyz will perform the "Carmen Saeculare" by Fr. Theo Flury O.S.B.
The Swiss Army Concert Band will also play a concert of music on Sunday May 7, following the Angelus in St. Peter's Square.
For his part, Pier Paolo Francini outlined details of an issue of Vatican stamps dedicated to the 500th anniversary of the foundation of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.
It is the first time, he said, "that a series of stamps has been jointly issued by Switzerland and Vatican City." The stamps have been designed by the Swiss artist Rudolf Mirer, himself a former Swiss Guard.
The head of the Philatelic and Numismatic Office of the Governorate of Vatican City also announced the coining of a commemorative two-euro coin, scheduled to be released during the first six months of 2006 and dedicated to the Pontifical Swiss Guard on the fifth centenary of its foundation.
Colonel Mader pointed out that the Swiss Confederation has issued a gold coin to commemorate the anniversary, also designed by Rudolf Mirer. Two further coins will be minted for the occasion of the commemorative march: one in gold with the image of Pope Julius II and another in silver, portraying Pope Benedict XVI. Furthermore, he concluded, an official medal of the Holy See will also be produced and awarded to current members of the Swiss Guard.
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- Fr. Jean-Marie Le Vert of the clergy of the archdiocese of Tours, France, head of the "Maison des Vocations," as auxiliary of Meaux (area 5,931, population 1,213,846, Catholics 667,615, priests 179, permanent deacons 28, religious 434), France. The bishop-elect was born in Papeete, Tahiti, in 1959 and ordained a priest in 1987.
- Archbishop Alessandro D'Errico, apostolic nuncio to Pakistan, as apostolic nuncio to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
On Saturday, November 19, it was made public that he:
- Appointed Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, as bishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino (area 1,142, population 80,730, Catholics 78,500, priests 204, permanent deacons 5, religious 640), Italy, while maintaining his title of archbishop. He succeeds Bishop Sergio Goretti, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
- Appointed Bishop Alejo Zavala Castro of Tlapa, Mexico , as bishop of Chilpancingo-Chilapa (area 19,970, population 900,000, Catholics 825,000, priests 139, religious 186), Mexico.
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VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience Cardinal Walter Kasper, prefect of the Congregation for Promoting Christian Unity.
- Pierre Morel, ambassador of France, on a farewell visit.
- Kiko Arguello, co-founder of the Neo-Catechumenal Way.
PRESS CONFERENCE: FIFTH CENTENARY OF SWISS GUARD
VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 2005 (VIS) - At 11.30 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday November 22, a conference will be held in the Holy See Press Office to present the events being organized to mark the fifth centenary of the founding of the Swiss Guard, and the special joint emission, by Vatican City and Switzerland, of stamps to celebrate the event.
Attending the conference will be Colonel Elmar Th. Mader, commander of the Pontifical Swiss Guard and Pier Paolo Francini, head of the Philatelic and Numismatic Office of the Governorate of Vatican City.
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JOHN PAUL II ENRICHED THE CONCEPT OF THE PERSON
VATICAN CITY, NOV 21, 2005 (VIS) - This morning, the Pope visited the offices of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, which are located in the "Casina Pio IV" in the Vatican Gardens. The two academies are headed, respectively, by Nicola Cabibbo and Mary Ann Glendon.
In his address to them in English, the Holy Father expressed his satisfaction that the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences has chosen "the concept of the person in social sciences" as the subject of its plenary assembly this year. He recalled that "human beings are part of nature and, yet, as free subjects who have moral and spiritual values, they transcend nature. This anthropological reality is an integral part of Christian thought, and responds directly to the attempts to abolish the boundary between human sciences and natural sciences, often proposed in contemporary society.
"Understood correctly," he continued, "this reality offers a profound answer to the questions posed today concerning the status of the human being. This is a theme which must continue to be part of the dialogue with science."
"According to God's design, persons cannot be separated from the physical, psychological or spiritual dimensions of human nature. Even though cultures change over time, to suppress or ignore the nature that they claim to 'cultivate' can have serious consequences. Likewise, individuals will only find authentic fulfillment when they accept the genuine elements of nature that constitute them as persons."
The Pope continued: "The concept of person continues to bring about a profound understanding of the unique character and social dimension of every human being. This is especially true in legal and social institutions, where the notion of 'person' is fundamental. Sometimes, however, even when this is recognized in international declarations and legal statutes, certain cultures, especially when not deeply touched by the Gospel, remain strongly influenced by group-centered ideologies or by an individualistic and secularist view of society. The social doctrine of the Catholic Church, which places the human person at the heart and source of social order, can offer much to the contemporary consideration of social themes."
Going on to refer to the late John Paul II, Benedict XVI stressed how his predecessor "enriched and expanded the concept (of the person) in his Encyclicals and other writings. These texts represent a patrimony to be received, collected and assimilated with care, particularly by the pontifical academies."
In closing his address, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude at having the opportunity "of this occasion to unveil this sculpture of Pope John Paul II, flanked by two memorial inscriptions. They remind us of the Servant of God's special interest in the work of your academies, especially the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, founded by him in 1994. They also point to his enlightened readiness to reach out in a dialogue of salvation to the world of science and culture, a desire which is entrusted in a particular way to the pontifical academies."
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POPE RECALLS MEXICAN MARTYRS BEATIFIED TODAY
VATICAN CITY, NOV 20, 2005 (VIS) - Following the Angelus, Benedict XVI greeted the bishops, priests, religious and laity who participated today in the Jalisco Stadium of Guadalajara, Mexico, in the beatification of thirteen martyrs who were killed during religious persecutions in Mexico last century. Three of the martyrs were priests, and ten were lay people. The ceremony of beatification was presided by Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins C.M.F., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.
The Pope recalled the names of the martyrs: Anacleto Gonzalez Flores and seven companions, Jose Trinidad Rangel, Andres Sola Molist, Leonardo Perez, Dario Acosta Zurita, and the fourteen-year-old boy Jose Sanchez del Rio. "They faced martyrdom in order to defend their Christian faith," he said.
"On this Solemnity of Christ the King, whom they invoked at the moment of supreme sacrifice," the Holy Father went on, "they are for us a permanent example and a stimulus to bear coherent witness to our own faith in modern society."
The Pope then recalled that tomorrow, November 21 and the Feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple, marks "pro orantibus" Day, in other words, the day dedicated to religious communities of contemplative life. The Pope expressed gratitude, "in the name of the whole Church, for those people who consecrate their lives to prayer and to the cloister, offering eloquent testimony of the primacy of God and of His Kingdom. Let us remain close to them with our spiritual and material support."
Addressing French-speaking pilgrims, Benedict XVI indicated that on this Sunday, which is given over to remembering victims of road accidents, he entrusted "to the love of the Lord all those people who have died in road accidents, as well as the many injured and their families." At the same time he invited "all motorists to drive carefully and responsibly so as to combat, together with the authorities, this social evil and reduce the number of victims."
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ANGELUS: KINGDOM OF CHRIST, A GIFT OFFERED TO HUMANITY
VATICAN CITY, NOV 20, 2005 (VIS) - Addressing pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square to pray the Angelus at midday, Benedict XVI reminded them that today, the final Sunday of the liturgical year, also marks the Solemnity of Christ the King.
"During His public life," the Pope said, "Jesus inaugurated the new Kingdom which 'is not of this world,' finally realizing it in full with His death and resurrection. Having risen from death, He appeared before the Apostles and said 'all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.' This power springs from the love which God showed totally in the sacrifice of His Son. The Kingdom of Christ is a gift offered to men and women of all times so that everyone who believes in the Word incarnate may 'not perish but have eternal life'."
"'Christ, Alpha and Omega,' is the title of the concluding paragraph of the first part of the Vatican Council II Pastoral Constitution 'Gaudium et Spes,' promulgated forty years ago. ... It reads: 'The Lord is the goal of human history, the focal point of the longings of history and of civilization, the center of the human race, the joy of every heart and the answer to all its yearnings. ... Enlivened and united in His Spirit, we journey toward the consummation of human history, one which fully accords with the counsel of God's love: To reestablish all things in Christ, both those in the heavens and those on the earth'."
The Pope concluded: "'Gaudium et spes' interprets, in the light of the central position of Christ, the condition of contemporary man; his vocation and dignity, and all areas of his life: family, culture, economics, politics and the international community. This is the Church's mission yesterday, today and always: to announce and bear witness to Christ so that mankind, all men and women, may fully realize their vocation."
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ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER SILVIO BERLUSCONI VISITS HOLY FATHER
VATICAN CITY, NOV 19, 2005 (VIS) - At midday today, Fr. Ciro Benedettini, C.P., vice director of the Holy See Press Office, made the following declaration to journalists:
"Today, November 19, 2005, The Holy Father Benedict XVI received in audience Silvio Berlusconi, president of the council of ministers of the Italian Republic.
"Afterwards, the illustrious guest visited Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano.
"In the course of the cordial discussions, opinions on bilateral problems between Church and State in Italy were exchanged, and the mutual desire for collaboration between the parties was reaffirmed, in keeping with the Lateran Pacts.
"The visit of the head of the Italian government also provided the opportunity for an exchange of information on the current international situation."
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MOTU PROPRIO CONCERNING THE BASILICAS OF ASSISI
VATICAN CITY, NOV 19, 2005 (VIS) - With the "Motu proprio" entitled "De Basilicis Sancti Francisci et Sanctae Mariae Angelorum," Benedict XVI has established new norms concerning the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy, which is run by the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in the same city, which is in the hands of the Order of Friars Minor.
The Pope first recalls the universal fame of the Basilica of St. Francis "which holds the remains of the seraphic saint," and that of St. Mary of the Angels "which houses the diminutive but pre-eminent church of Porziuncola." He then highlights the fact that "the Roman Pontiffs, for their part, have always had special ties with, and particular solicitude for, these two major Franciscan churches, ... and have always kept them under their own direct jurisdiction.
"Over the centuries, with their compassionate activities and their testimony, the Conventual Friars and the Friars Minor have kept the spirit and the charism of St. Francis alive, spreading his evangelical message of peace, brotherhood and goodness throughout the world."
The Pope continues by affirming that, in order in order to integrate more effectively the activities carried out in the two basilicas with diocesan, regional and national pastoral care, "we feel it appropriate to modify the current juridical regulations, as established by my venerated predecessor Pope Paul VI, ... updating the norms to reflect current needs."
Consequently, Benedict XVI decrees that the Basilica of St. Francis and the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, with their associated convents, will be assigned a cardinal as papal legate who "although without jurisdiction, will have the task of perpetuating with his moral authority the close ties of communion between those places sacred to the memory of St. Francis and this Apostolic See. He will be able to impart the papal blessing during the celebrations he presides on the occasion of the major liturgical Solemnities."
The Pope further disposes that the bishop of the diocese Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino will, from this moment on, have jurisdiction "over the churches and the religious houses, regarding all pastoral activities carried out by the Conventual Fathers of the Basilica of St. Francis, and by the Friars Minor of St. Mary of the Angels."
The Motu proprio continues: "The Franciscan Fathers, both Conventual and Friars Minor, for all initiatives with pastoral implications, will thus have to ask for and obtain the consent of the bishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino," who will "seek the opinion of the president of the Episcopal Conference of Umbria" [the region of Italy, of which Assisi is part] or, for more wide-ranging initiatives, "of the president of the Italian Episcopal Conference."
"As for the celebration of the Sacraments in the aforesaid basilicas, the norms of the Code of Canon Law and those in force in the diocese are applicable."
Benedict XVI concludes his Motu proprio, which bears the date of November 9, anniversary of the dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, by exhorting "the Sons of St. Francis, to whom the two aforesaid basilicas are entrusted, to follow with generous willingness the norms laid down in this Motu proprio in a spirit of sincere communion with the bishop of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino and, through him, with the regional and national episcopal conferences."
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HUMAN DIGNITY IS NOT DIMINISHED BY GENETIC DEFECTS
VATICAN CITY, NOV 19, 2005 (VIS) - This morning, the Pope received participants in the 20th international conference promoted by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Ministry. This year the conference - which is being held in the Vatican from November 17 to 19 - is considering the subject of the human genome.
In his address, the Pope affirmed that the Church has the possibility of illuminating consciences so that scientific discoveries "may serve for the integral good of the person, in constant respect for his or her dignity."
"Believers," said the Pope, "well know that the Gospel is in intrinsic harmony with the values inscribed in human nature. The image of God is so strongly impressed on man's soul that it difficult for the voice of conscience to be completely silenced. ... Even people who no longer recognize themselves as members of the Church, or who have lost the light of faith, remain attentive to human values and to the positive contribution the Gospel can make to individual and social good."
Benedict XVI went on to highlight the fact that people of our time "are capable of understanding that the dignity of man is not identified with the genes of his DNA, and does not diminish in the presence of any physical diversity or genetic defects. The principle of 'non discrimination' on the basis of physical or genetic factors has entered profoundly into people's consciences and is formally expressed in the Charter of Human Rights. This principle has its most authentic roots in the dignity intrinsic to each human being by the fact of having been created in the image and likeness of God." An analysis of scientific data reveals the dignity of human life "from the first moment of fecundation," he added.
After pointing out how the Church "announces and presents this truth, not only with the authority of the Gospel but also with the strength deriving from reason," the Holy Father affirmed: "It is necessary to guard against the risks of a science and technology that seek complete autonomy from the moral norms written into human nature."
The Pope then went on to mention the need "of giving fresh impulse to pastoral health care ministry" through "a renewal and a deepening of pastoral activity itself, bearing in mind the increased awareness spread by the media in society, and the higher level of education of the people to whom it is addressed.
"We cannot ignore the fact that, ever more frequently, not only legislators but citizens themselves are called to express their view on complex scientific problems. If adequate education - or indeed an adequate formation of consciences - is lacking, false values and misleading information may easily prevail in orienting public opinion."
Benedict XVI concluded by making reference to the applications of genetic engineering, which requires , he said, "a thorough and limpid formation of consciences. Modern scientific discoveries affect the lives of families, involving them in unforeseen and delicate choices which must be faced responsibly." In this context, he stressed that pastoral health care ministry "needs well trained and competent professionals."
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- Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
- Four prelates from the Czech Bishops' Conference on their "ad limina" visit:
- Bishop Pavel Posad of Litomerice, accompanied by Bishop emeritus Josef Koukl.
- Bishop Frantisek Radkovsky of Plzen.
- Bishop Ladislav Hucko, apostolic exarch for Catholics of the Byzantine rite resident in the Czech Republic.
This evening he is scheduled to receive in audience Archbishop William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, accompanied by Archbishop Angelo Amato S.D.B., secretary of the same congregation.
ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 21, BENEDICT XVI will visit the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, which is currently celebrating its plenary session on the theme: "The conceptualization of the human person in the social sciences." During the plenary session, the theme will be considered from various standpoints: from the point of view of the Church's Magisterium by Cardinal Angelo Scola, patriarch of Venice, Italy; in its philosophical aspects by Cardinal Georges Cottier O.P., and by Rocco Buttiglione and Enrico Berti, Italian university professors; and from a sociological and economic viewpoint by Serge-Christophe Kolm of the "Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales" of Paris, France. Also during the session, Mary Ann Glendon, president of the pontifical academy, and the scholar Hans Zacher will present the book: "Democracy in Debate: the Contribution of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences."
ARCHBISHOP JOHN P. FOLEY, PRESIDENT OF THE PONTIFICAL COUNCIL for Social Communications, yesterday participated in the United Nations World Summit on the Information Society, which is being held in Tunis, Tunisia. In his address, the archbishop recalled how new technologies give us "the opportunity to connect and assist those living in the poorest and most isolated regions of the world and to offer a voice to those who in the past have often been unheard and forgotten." He continued: "The challenge of narrowing or even closing the so-called 'digital divide,' the current disparity in the access to digital communications between developed and developing countries, requires the joint effort of the entire international community."
"PILGRIMS AND SHRINES, GIFTS OF THE GOD-LOVE IN ASIA TODAY" is the theme of the second Asiatic congress on the pastoral care of pilgrimages and shrines, which is being promoted by the Pontifical Care for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples and is due to be held in Seoul, Korea, on November 21 to 23. The meeting will be attended by 90 pilgrimage directors and rectors of shrines, who will have the opportunity to share their experiences in order to identify shared pastoral criteria. The work of the congress will be opened by Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao, president of the pontifical council, who will speak on the subject of shrines as "privileged places where God welcomes His people ... and where ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue is favored," especially in a continent such as Asia where shrines are frequented by pilgrims from various Churches and ecclesial communities, as well as by believers from other religious traditions.
CHURCH ONLY SEEKS OPPORTUNITY TO CARRY OUT HER MISSION
VATICAN CITY, NOV 18, 2005 (VIS) - This morning, the Pope received prelates from the Czech Bishops' Conference who have just completed their five-yearly "ad limina" visit.
In his address to them, the Holy Father affirmed that in his individual meetings with the prelates he had learned that the Church in the Czech Republic is "alive and well, and feels the call to be the leavening in a society that is secularized yet at the same time interested ... in the liberating but challenging message of the Gospel."
Benedict XVI expressed the view that "the material and spiritual devastation of the earlier regime has left your fellow citizens, now that they have reacquired complete freedom, with a yearning to make up for lost time, pushing ahead without, perhaps, giving sufficient attention to the importance of spiritual values which give fortitude and consistency to civil and material progress."
Your communities, he went on, "already provide a solid testimony that attracts no small number of people, also from the world of culture. This is a sign of hope for the formation of a mature laity, one that knows how to shoulder its ecclesial responsibilities.
After giving thanks to God because priests and religious are "active and hard-working, disciplined and united," the Pope added that, although this "is a reason for consolation, it should not lead us to forget other aspects that give rise to understandable concern. In the first place, the lack of priests," which "rightly induces you to dedicate special attention to vocational pastoral care . Also from this point of view, commitment to the formation of solid Christian families is particularly important for the life of the Church."
The Holy Father laid emphasis on the importance of the laity's participation "in parish activities, and their introduction to a rich and healthy liturgical life." He continued: "The Christian community is a grouping of people with their own rules, a living body that, in Jesus, exists in the world to bear witness to the strength of the Gospel. It is, then, a group of brothers and sisters who have no goals of power or of selfish interest, but who joyfully live the charity of God, which is Love.
"In such a context," he added, "the State should have no difficulty in recognizing in the Church a counterpart that in no way prejudices its own function at the service of citizens. Indeed, the Church undertakes her activities in the religious sphere, enabling believers to express their faith, yet without invading the area of competence of the civil authorities. ... As is known, the Church does not seek privileges, but only the opportunity to carry out her mission. When this right is recognized, it is really the whole of society that benefits."
Benedict XVI concluded by exhorting the Czech prelates to "continue ecumenical dialogue. I know such dialogue is intense, as is the dialogue with all citizens in the cultural field on the fundamental values upon which all civil coexistence is based."
AL/.../CZECH REPUBLIC VIS 20051118 (510)
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Confederation of Democratic Simulators
Second Life Wiki > Confederation of Democratic Simulators
Confederation of Democratic Simulators (also listed with temporary name A230) is a Microcontinent located at Coordinates 962-963/975-978, Grid Sector I9, inside Little Pacific Ocean.
2 Position and structure
4 Accessibility
5 Land status
Behind this microcontinent is a long story, dating from September 21st 2004. It was founded by one of the oldest groups on the grid. At the beginning, it was named Neualtenburg Project. Neualtenburg was first a Bavarian themed project, first hosted in mainland (Anzere sim, in Snowlands Subcontinent). In 2005, the project moved to a private-owned sim and changed sim name into Neufreistadt. Later, a new sim was added, Colonia Nova. Once this step was made, the group changed name into Confederation of Democratic Simulators', (aka CDS)'. Other sims were added, resulting in the formation of a microcontinent.
On September 21st 2014, the group celebrated its 10th anniversary.
For up to date information about the CDS, visit the website here: [1] The CDS is not a role-playing community.
Position and structure
A230 is made of 6 sims connected in a way that they are more compact. It is placed close to A163 - State Of Mind Microcontinent, inside Little Pacific Ocean, East (and not far) from Estate Continent. The second nearest continent is Sansara, also to East.
The highest private-owned mountains
A view from the castle
There are 6 connected sims: Neufreistadt, Friedsee, Colonia Nova, Alpine Meadow, Locus Amoenus and Monastery. The first 5 are full regions, while the last is a homestead.
Altitude seems to be the highest of all private-owned land, 183 meters in Neufreistadt. There are many mountains in South, while in North land is more flat. There are rivers that flow through land, some of them are navigable, but still water covers only a small part of some sims. Ground is covered with grass (except in winter, when this place becomes a snowland). Ground texture (in summer) is more to brown on mountain top and more to green on water shores.
Wild nature is present. There are many plants and animals waiting you.
Buildings are in an historical European style. There are some large towns, where buildings are very close one to the other (one in the flat North and one in South, on the mountains, surrounded by a fortress wall). There still is plenty of rural land. On top of the highest mountain there is a large Schloss (German for a palace/castle). Since highest altitude is 183 meters and the highest tower of the castle rises to 257 meters, the result is that its height is 74 meters. This place it as one of the highest buildings on the grid and for sure one of the highest medieval constructions.
Please note that many names are written in German and you might also find greeters that use both German and English messages.
The microcontinent has an extensive network of paved roads, that allow access to nearly every parcel. They use large bridges to pass over rivers. A high number of smaller paths (even unpaved) and town streets can also be used. Walking on grass is allowed, there are no ban lines or entity orbs.
Land status
All are welcome to visit, explore, and become a part of the community. Land ownership in the CDS means citizenship, with the right to vote, run for office, and have a say in the direction and projects of the regions.
List Of Microcontinents And Sim Clusters
Retrieved from "https://wiki.secondlife.com/w/index.php?title=Confederation_of_Democratic_Simulators&oldid=1198808"
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Witnify » The March on Washington
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on MLK’s ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech
The March on Washington
By Witnify • November 4, 2013 Uncategorized
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton discusses what it was like to hear Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington.
Submitted by: Witnify
More The March on Washington Stories - Total:
Tagged Civil Rights, Politics and History, Protest, The March on Washington.
« Clayborne Carson on Busing to the March
Jonathan Prinz: ‘Everyone Was Terribly Moved by That Speech’ »
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom or "The Great March on Washington", as styled in a sound recording released after the event, was one of the largest political rallies for human rights in United States history and called for civil and economic rights for African Americans. More...
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Doug Merritt, Director of Marketing and Communications Greater Cleveland Sports Commission
dmerritt@clevelandsports.org
O: 216-363-1315 C: 440-915-4372
CLEVELAND WELCOMES ITS NEXT CHAMPION FACE-OFF:
THE 2016 WORLD YO-YO CONTEST
YO-YO CHAMPS AND FANS DESCEND UPON NORTHEAST OHIO FOR
THE LARGEST COMPETITION OF ITS KIND
CLEVELAND (August 3, 2016) – This week, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission (GCSC) will welcome to Cleveland a thousand yo-yo players and fans from 20+ countries for the 2016 World Yo-Yo Contest, a seven-division battle for the World Yo-Yo Champion titles. The event, regarded as the largest gathering of competitive yo-yo players and fans in the world, will take place today, Aug. 3, through Saturday Aug. 6, at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.
“The Yo-Yo Contest is another amplifier of Cleveland’s positive energy and changing a narrative turbocharged by the Cleveland Cavaliers historical championship run and an equally successful, Republican National Convention,” said David Gilbert, president and CEO, Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. “The event itself will bring more than a thousand competitors and fans from as far as Japan, Iceland and numerous other countries, the majority of whom will see our championship city for the first time as we are shining our brightest.”
Yo-yo contestants vying for one of the seven division world champion titles are selected from a series of preliminary rounds comprised of one-minute yo-yo routines performed by each competitor. Those selected attend the championship event which includes five styles of play: 1A (single yo-yo), 2A (double yo-yo looping), 3A (double yo-yo sleeping), 4A (off string) and 5A (counterweight).
Twenty-year yo-yo veteran and Northeast Ohio native, Steve Brown, led the effort to bring the Yo-Yo Contest to Cleveland, which is also the debut of the competition in the state of Ohio.
“This year’s contest will be the first time in three years that it is back on US soil. How great is it to represent my city and my country one year ago in Tokyo, and to now help bring the sport I love back to Cleveland where the excitement and attitude have never been any higher, “said Steve Brown who is the Head Organizer for the World Yo-Yo Contest coming to Cleveland along with being one of eight “National Yo-Yo masters.”
CLEVELAND WELCOMES THE 2016 WORLD YO-YO CONTEST/Page 2 of 2
In addition to the division competitions, the week will also include the following activities:
Wednesday, Aug. 3
o 8 a.m. GCSC Urban Youth Initiative Meet and Greet – Local youth meet and speak with international yo-yo competitors; a yo-yo basics clinic will be offered.
o 7 p.m. Welcome Party at Punch Bowl Social (informal)
Saturday, Aug. 6
o 6 p.m. Guinness World Record attempt for “Most People Simultaneously Yo-Yoing” coordinated by master yo-yo performer, John Higby, Public Square
All participants will receive a free Duncan.
o 7:30 p.m. Final after-party held outside the Renaissance Hotel on Public Square
Tickets are available for purchase to the public. For general (non-contestant) admission, one-day tickets ($15) or a four-day pass ($45) are available for purchase at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. Admission is free for children five and under. For a schedule of each day’s events, please click here.
The 2016 World Yo-Yo Contest is one of 10 events taking place this year supported/hosted by the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. Other events include the Donate Life Transplant Games of America, USA Junior Olympic Fencing Championships and Junior Volleyball Association Rock n’ Rumble National Tournament.
To view footage from the 2015 World Yo-Yo Contest in Tokyo, please click here.
To learn more about the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission or to keep up-to-date on upcoming events, please visit www.clevelandsports.org or follow up on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.
About the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission The Greater Cleveland Sports Commission prides itself on being one of the most distinguished Sports Commissions in the country, effectively leveraging sports events and activities to further economic development in Northeast Ohio. The philosophy of the Sports Commission sets it apart from others by operating as an economic and community development organization utilizing sports as a vehicle to forward other community agendas. The organization takes the unique approach of becoming a management and financial partner in each event with the goal of producing events that are more successful in Cleveland than other cities in which they have been held. Since 2000, the Sports Commission has been responsible for attracting over 160 sporting events, contributing to more than $450 million in economic activity. For more information, visit www.clevelandsports.org.
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Film production: making television with 16mm cameras
Today’s television cameras are based on the same technology found in modern smartphones and digital cameras. Images are captured by a light-sensitive chip inside the camera and stored as video on a memory card – or transmitted to a server in real-time for live broadcast.
In the 1960s a great deal of television was made using 16mm film cameras. These were high-precision mechanical devices using light-sensitive celluolid film. They required an entirely different approach to shooting, editing, and broadcasting footage.
The dawn of ‘sync-sound’
Portrait of former BBC camera operator David Whitson
The most commonly used 16mm film cameras were the Arriflex 16BL and the Éclair NPR. These cameras were revolutionary because they could be synchronised with a portable tape recorder, such as a Nagra.
Working together, a 16mm film camera operator and location sound recordist could now capture synchronised images and sound.
The ability to shoot pictures with synchronised sound was a huge advantage to documentary film crews. They could use the new cameras to capture unscripted action: following politicians around a campaign trail or capturing footage of university students at a Summer Ball.
The Maysles’ brothers pioneering documentary film Primary is often regarded as one of the first TV attempts to use portable 16mm sync-sound filming. In Britain, documentary series like Man Alive and World In Action took up the new technology and used it to make ground-breaking programmes.
The challenges of 16mm filming
Brian Tufano with an Eclair 16mm film camera.
Despite this new flexibility, 16mm film cameras had many limitations. Even “lightweight” 16mm cameras were incredibly heavy by today’s standards: fitted with a lens and loaded with film, the Éclair NPR weighed over 20kgs. Batteries, spare film, and the separately-operated tape recorder added further bulk. By comparison, the JVC GY-HM650 – widely used by the BBC’s video journalists – weighs only 2.5kgs, including batteries, and does not require separate audio equipment.
Shooting on film limited the length of sequences. A standard 400ft film reel could capture only 11 minutes of footage. It would then need to be removed from the camera, and a new reel installed, before filming could continue. One camera assistant recalled his excitement at being invited to work at the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, only to miss nearly all the match because he was too busy changing film reels.
Limitations such as these forced film crews to plan ahead carefully. On most filming assignments, there was no question of simply switching on the camera and filming whatever happened. 16mm film was expensive. So whenever possible sequences were carefully planned in advance.
Everyone on a crew had a clear idea of the format of the programme they were filming for, and aimed to capture a selection of shots that would enable an editor to assemble a final package. From the 1960s until the 1990s, the limitations of film cameras meant that the basic shape and form of a documentary was often decided before a single frame of film was shot.
Modern television crews are just as professional, and no less efficient. However, with high-capacity memory cards and longer-lasting batteries, they enjoy a great deal more flexibility. They can shoot a wide range of sequences and angles, and wait until “the edit” to make final decisions about what to leave out, and what to include, in the completed programme.
The 16mm life-cycle
The controls of a Rank Cintel Mark 3 telecine scanner
Unlike electronic broadcast camera and modern digital equipment, film cannot be transmitted ‘live’. Instead, exposed film must be sent to a specialist laboratory for processing, to fix the images on the negative.
Prints from these negatives, known in the industry as ‘rushes’, are then delivered to the broadcaster or production company and handed over to specialist editors who cut the raw sequences down into usable chunks and assemble them into the proper order. Editors, often working alongside sound supervisors, add sound effects and soundtracks as they work.
A finished film sequence or ‘film’ is then matched with the original negative. That is then cut by specialist ‘neg cutters’ to produce a final negative for the film. After the sound is mixed and dubbed, the finished film is handed over to a telecine operator who scans the film onto a video tape or (in more recent times) ingests footage directly into a computer server for immediate or delayed transmission on television.
In the case of complicated multi-part documentary series, this process – from shoot, to lab, to edit, to negative cut and dub, to telecine, to broadcast – can take months or years.
However, before the arrival of portable electronic broadcast television cameras, the same process was used to produce news reports.
News camera operators dispatched put exposed reels of film on trains, aircraft, or in private cars to rush them to processing labs as quickly as possible. In the case of particularly urgent footage, processed negative rushes were often telecined directly to broadcast with no or minimal editing.
While 16mm film production seems antiquated and laborious today, when surrounded by the right industrial systems it could be a surprisingly flexible and fast means of television production.
Videos captured during ADAPT’s reenactment exercises with a 16mm television film crew, at a processing laboratory, in an edit suite, and at a telecine facility, can be found on the following pages:
Shooting 16mm film for television
Processing 16mm film
Editing 16mm film for television
Telecine: scanning film for broadcast
Learn more about the careers and experience of the veteran production staff who collaborated with the project by reading the Crew Profiles.
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theme and variations at The Atlantic on men without college degrees vanishing from the work force, the stigma of trade schools, and a bit of news about the Art Institute of Seattle closing
There's a reported decline in the number of men without college degrees in the labor force, a decline that's reported as having steadily grown in the last sixty years.
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/03/decline-men-without-degrees-labor-market/584479/
In the late 1960s, almost all prime-working-age men, typically defined as 25 to 54, worked—nearly 95 percent. That figure had dipped to 85 percent by 2015—a decline most acutely felt among men without college degrees. The trend of men dropping out of the labor force, particularly non-college-educated men, has been building for more than six decades. It has been a slow withdrawal, but a steady one—a flow that began with a sharp decline in opportunities for men who dropped out of high school, and grew to include those who earned a diploma but not a degree.
One of the things I've heard about off and on in the last few years is the idea of free college for everyone. I find that idea dubious at best, and I basically mostly don't regret having gone to college. but I'd be the first to say that getting a degree in journalism in the 1990s was a fast ticket to never getting work in journalism. I know for some authors out there they felt the 1990s were alright for them and that the age of internet journalism screwed them over, but I never made it into journalism as a paying field beyond a very small number of freelance projects.
So for me, looking back on the last twenty some years of never working in the field I got a degree for, I'm inclined to think that what the U.S. should try to do is revitalize the "unskilled" labor market.
Why fewer and fewer men without college degrees are showing up in the work force is anybody's guess. Maybe a stereotypically conservative theory would be that men without degrees are just less willing to put in an honest day's work but that is, obviously, invoking a stereotype about how some social conservatives might think. I did see a comment that if men aren't marrying women because of some kind of lack of jobs that there have been plenty of jobs out there, though this was a polemic offered with the explanation that there was an epidemic of singleness of the sort that is rampant in Reformed and neo-Calvinist circles. The possibility that jobs for men without college degrees, in particular, might not pay nearly enough to raise a family on was not exactly a concern.
A more theoretically liberal theory could be that the men who don't get college degrees are doomed for whatever reason to have less lucrative employment. I wonder about that, though. Men in my age group who trained to be electricians and carpenters must be making more money than ... someone I know about now.
There's a stigma attached to younger men choosing trade schools over college. It's a stigma that, as a college graduate myself, I would say is unwarranted.
https://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2019/03/choosing-trade-school-over-college/584275/
Toren Reesman knew from a young age that he and his brothers were expected to attend college and obtain a high level degree. As the children of a radiologist—a profession that requires 12 years of schooling—his father made clear what he wanted for his boys: “Keep your grades up, get into a good college, get a good degree,” as Reesman recalls it. Of the four Reesman children, one brother has followed this path so far, going to school for dentistry. Reesman attempted to meet this expectation as well. He enrolled in college after graduating high school. With his good grades, he got into West Virginia University—but he began his freshman year with dread. He had spent his summers in high school working for his pastor at a custom cabinetry company. He looked forward each year to honing his woodworking skills and took joy in creating beautiful things. Schooling did not excite him in the same way. After his first year of college he decided not to return.
He says pursuing custom woodworking as his lifelong trade was disappointing to his father, but Reesman stood firm in his decision, and became a cabinetmaker. He says his father is now proud and supportive, but breaking with family expectations in order to pursue his passion was a difficult choice for Reesman—one that many young people are facing in the changing job market.
Traditional college enrollment rates in the U.S. have risen this century, from 13.2 million students enrolled in 2000 to 16.9 million students by 2016. This is an increase of 28 percent according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Meanwhile, trade school enrollment has also risen, from 9.6 million students in 1999 to 16 million in 2014. This resurgence came after a decline of vocational education in the '80s and '90s. That dip created a shortage of skilled workers and tradespeople.
Many jobs now require specialized training in technology that bachelor’s programs are usually too broad to address, leading to more “last mile” type vocational education programs after the completion of a degree. Programs such as Galvanize aim to teach specific software and coding skills; AlwaysHired offers a “tech sales bootcamp” to graduates. The manufacturing, infrastructure, and transportation fields are all expected to grow in the coming years—and many of those jobs likely won’t require a four-year degree.
Taking up a theme from an article last year ...
https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2018/04/25/605092520/high-paying-trade-jobs-sit-empty-while-high-school-grads-line-up-for-university
If there's something I would advise against here in 2019 it would be going to a liberal arts college to study the arts.
Take a recent announcement about the Art Institute of Seattle.
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/i-was-scammed-art-institute-of-seattle-will-close-abruptly-friday-two-weeks-before-end-of-quarter/
The Art Institute of Seattle will close abruptly on Friday, leaving about 650 students in the lurch — without classes, professors, or possibly diplomas.
The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), a state regulation agency, announced the end of the school’s 73-year tenure on Wednesday, just over two weeks before the winter quarter was supposed to end.
Sarah Fuad, 21, moved from Saudi Arabia in 2016 to study fashion design, and was one quarter away from finishing her degree. She was on track to finish a year early — but now, if she doesn’t find a new school, she says she’ll need to leave the U.S. within 60 days.
Fuad said she feels broken. She said, “I’d rather die than go back home with nothing.”
Fuad said her father has spent more than $100,000 on tuition and even more paying for her rent. Her family planned to come to the U.S. for her graduation. By Wednesday, Fuad had already applied to another school.
The Art Institutes, a group of art colleges nationwide, has struggled with financial troubles for years; the company that owned them went bankrupt in 2017 and Dream Center Foundation, a faith-based nonprofit, bought the schools. Court filings show that since the purchase, the schools have grappled with financial issues.
In WSAC’s Wednesday press release, Deputy Director Don Bennett disagreed with Dream Center Foundation’s abrupt decision to close, calling it “deeply troubling and disappointing.”
“It’s incredibly frustrating and distressing to students and it completely disrupts their education,” Bennett said. WSAC will hold information fairs for AI Seattle students on March 12 and 13 and work with around 30 colleges and universities to help transfer credits, waive some graduation requirements and possibly develop a “teach-out,” where students could finish an Art Institute degree through coursework at another school.
Blair Brown, 27, planned to finish her bachelor’s at the institute, studying graphic design, this summer. She and her brothers, who helped pay for her education, spent $39,000, and she’s unsure if she can get this last quarter’s tuition back. She works full time at Amazon Go as an employee trainer.
“Now that we’re closing this quarter, all the work I did … none of that matters,” Brown said. “I’m a pretty confident person, but even me, faced with this, I feel like I was scammed, like I was stupid.”
As much as I love the arts I've been repeatedly writing at this blog that I don't think getting an advanced degree in the arts is necessarily the way to go. The more I read about the various crises associated with arts education and the social criticism of arts education in Anglo-American contexts the more I get a dour sense that Paul Hindemith was on to something in the 1950s when he castigated American music education as being good mainly for creating music teachers who created more music teachers rather than educating students into making musical lives for themselves whether they become professional musicians or not.
Now I'd heard positive things about the Institute twenty some years ago but ... that was twenty some years ago.
The motif of people going to liberal arts schools and coming out the other side with no degree or with a degree and never working in the field they studied for is a set of topics I've had decades to think about. For people who somehow landed work in whatever field it is they studied for, perhaps there's a temptation to think of skepticism about higher education in the liberal arts as a guy shaking fist at cloud. I suppose that's possible, but the quote from the student who felt that she was scammed by the art institute is a quote that could describe a generation or two of people. It might feel to people who enrolled in a school and never finished a degree that they're stuck with the debt either way. To bring things back to Hindemith's admittedly scathing remarks on American musical education, if you have a culture that panders to the idea that each and every student could be that special success story regardless of ability, skill, interest, and drive, there's a possibility that American arts education culture could potentially be a scam, but the kind of scam that is all the worse because the educators really believe in it themselves.
Maybe there's room for folk art, art made by people who aren't making any money from what they do but do it as a way of interacting with artists and staying involved in the arts.
And the stuff I wish I had heard more about in my degree-earning years was how many of the musicians and composers had humdrum day jobs. I wouldn't have heard that Sor had a sinecure in a military position before he left Spain. Not that people talk up Dussek all that much in undergraduate discussions of music but how and why he bailed on a wife and child would be worth knowing about. A history of artists running aground on mundane or catastrophic aspects of domestic life is hardly a new thing.
I recently finished a biography about Joseph Lamb, one of the big three ragtime composers and despite his musical activity he trained in carpentry and worked a fairly normal nine-to-five job while having befriended Scott Joplin and Stark and other figures who played important roles in ragtime. Charles Ives, a bit more famously, was in insurance sales. As I get older these sorts of composers intrigue me because going through a day job that has nothing to do with music has been the story of my life for decades. Although I don't exactly regret getting a degree and training in journalism and music I do feel hesitant at best to commend studying the arts to anyone considering more advanced education. Or, rather, study the arts, but with the idea that it will be a hobby you can share with friends and family. It seems wiser to suggest people go to trade schools rather than liberal arts colleges in this day and age. It seems reckless to talk about college for all not so much because education has no value but because the kind of student debt crises I read about don't seem like they will just end if college is free for all. Societies that I've hear of that get college to work, to go by accounts shared by European friends, have more invested in helping students figue out what they can do with how you test well ... American educational ideas don't seem ... as pragmatic as that ... . We may have too much of a sense of "vocation" entwined in our approaches to education. But I digress.
the mind games paradox (a haiku)
the people who say,
"I don't play mind games" have just
warned you that they do
Labels: poems
Ellul on the supremacy of critics and criticism in the reception of art in technological societies
A few years back Noah Berlatsky made a point, that criticism is not parasitically related to the arts but, quite the reverse.
http://www.theestablishment.co/2016/02/09/on-art-as-criticism-and-criticism-as-art/
The fact is, criticism is not parasitic on art. Quite the reverse; art is parasitic on criticism. As scholar Carl Freedman points out, “The poems, essays, and some of the letters written by Wallace Stevens are literature, while the insurance policies and office memoranda also written by him are not.” For art to be art, someone has to make a critical determination that it is art, and not, say, a laundry list, or an advertisement, or an instruction manual.
The fact that a laundry list or an advertisement or an instruction manual displayed in an art gallery could be seen as art only underlines the point. Anything can be art if you view it as art—which means that it is the critical act which defines art, rather than art which defines criticism. [emphases added] “. . . [T]he foundational act of criticism . . . is the selection of an object, the willed decision to look,” A.O. Scott argues. But that’s surely also the foundational act of art. Art is where the critic looks for it.
Does the critical act happen apart from an institutional context, though? That's a question that he's probably addressed ... but in light of concerns about how guys on the internet have rejected The Last Jedi in ways that are considered, basically, illegitimate, the question as to how institutionally tethered "the critical act" has to be before it counts is its own can of worms. Does "the critical act" define the art if we imagine a world in which The Post is rejected as not art where Transformers: The Last Knight is decreed to be art? Or would someone in Berlatsky's position invoke a conflict between mainstream and indie or between "marketing" and "criticism"?
Let's see ... :
https://newrepublic.com/article/121874/critics-shouldnt-bow-game-thrones-or-marketing-pressure
Commercial art and commercial criticism form a perfect circle of niche attention and promotion. The fact that that niche is considered “mainstream” just serves to neatly erase the choices being made. People are used to thinking of sci-fi fandom, or romance fandom, as a particular audience and market, focused on a particular genre. But mainstream obsessions like “Mad Men” or “Game of Thrones” are seen as the important thing that needs to be covered, not for the particular group interested in “Mad Men” or “Game of Thrones,” but for the general interest of the general reader. The mainstream sees itself as covering the news that matters rather than functioning as part of a particular market. Which is perhaps why The Mary Sue, avowedly a fan site, is able to break out of the cycle and make a critical decision to dump a show they don’t want to support, while Rosenberg, at the mainstream Washington Post, is less able to see the way that marketing and criticism are, in our current moment, inseparable. [emphasis added]
If he thinks marketing and criticism were ever separable that would be the really big mistake. To even suggest that marketing and criticism could be separable can run aground on the question of whether or not criticism that is not connected to some form of monetization and revenue documentation can be "counted" as really being "legitimate" criticism. At the risk of using this blog as an example, you could potentially ready hundreds of thousands of words about the history of what used to be Mars Hill Church in Seattle at this blog, but compared to whatever a Mark Driscoll or a Matthew Paul Turner may decide to officially say in books vetted by publishing industries, everything at this blog simply doesn't exist. A writer once told me that the problem bloggers run into is they are not part of the conventionally institutional press, which at the end of the day only takes itself seriously. Berlatsky may have a point that without a critical perspective publishing a declaration that X isn't even art until declared so, but that would seem to be part of the trouble with "mainstream" that is not going to be evaded by "indie".
In this understanding of the arts, the critic is the gatekeeper and the "decider", who gets to decide whether or not something even "is" art. Berlatsky's way of putting it dovetails pretty readily with Jacques Ellul's description of the role critics play in technological societies. If in the lowbrow genres critics decide to not take those genres seriously, in the middle and highbrow genres, critics wield their power to decide what things belong, a role more or less overlapping with academic activity as well as journalistic activity.
As lofty as the role of the critic may be to writers like A. O. Scott or Noah Berlatsky, Ellul's description of the role of the critic is a bit more jaded.
THE EMPIRE OF NON-SENSE: ART IN THE TECHNOLOGICAL SOCIETY
Jacques Ellul
Copyright (c) 2014 by Papadakis Publisher
translated by Michael Johnson and David Lovekin
... IF so and so can write that, then I can write this. The imaginary museum counts for much lass than the interrelationship between members of this milieu, which has less to do with Rembrandt and Bach and more to do with this little pal I met at a cocktail party. ...
In this vast universe, the art critic finally achieves his principal role. The artist is only a secondary element in relation to the critic who makes and unmakes styles and reputations. ... Let us note that the art critic is a recent development. [emphasis added] This man who is a scholar of the material in question, music or novel, painting or poetry, who knows all that can be known, who is the true expert in all his knowledge of the imaginary museum; that man, a specialist, a meticulous connoisseur of all the techniques, is incapable of producing anything by himself, but, as the occupant of the public podium, he makes his opinions known. He promulgates evaluations, and he reveals the philosophy and meaning of these works. He decrees what is good for the general welfare, and what will be the legacy of our present world for the future. He can add nothing to this legacy but his explanations. The art critic did not exist in the seventeenth century, although there were a few hints. In reality, he is a product of the bourgeois, industrial, mass society; he is a shareholder in the culture, whose conscious and willful reality originates in the same era [emphasis added] (along with the idea of culture), ... The critic owes his existence to the mutation of the bourgeoisie: the bourgeois, perhaps uncultured, harried and involved with other needs, and dedicated to utility, does not possess the same understanding of art as the aristocrat. For the latter, there was no need for explanation. By contrast, the bourgeois, the philistine of the Gilded Age, needed explanations, needed to be led to understanding. And, just as businessmen needed their brokers, so, in matters of art, the bourgeois needed their critics in order to discern what kind of art to buy. And for the Bourgeois buying art is an act of status. He must not make a mistake. First and foremost, the critic guarantees the durability and lasting value of the work in question. The critic is just another business agent whose job is to guarantee status. [emphasis added]
So, in Ellul's reading of the role of the critic in the arts, the role of the art critic was never separable from commerce and marketing. It was, by definition, inextricably entwined in marketing. For all the moments in which arts critics may formally lament bourgeois culture and standards, Ellul proposed that there was virtually nothing more inherently bourgeois than art criticism.
I was inducted into this realization back in my days as a student journalist covering theater productions. It wasn't exactly my primary thing as I was more into visual media and music and animation, but I was game to watch a Harold Pinter play, for instance. But what I saw as nascent journalistic writing the theater folks saw, plainly, as a kind of free advertising. that's not necessarily a wrong way to put things. As Ellul himself put it:
... The art critic is a publicity agent for modern art.
But Ellul continued, pointing out that one of the ways in which criticism, collectively, hoodwinked itself was to mistake the emergence of critical theories as equivalent to vitality in the arts:
[ibid]... The link between the discourse of the critic and art itself is so essential that it appears, for example, in the view of Abraham Moles, as a proof of art's vitality. Everywhere they have proclaimed the death of Art, he asserts; now we are witnessing an "unprecedented flourishing of doctrines and movements," which prove that art is alive. However, these doctrines are the work of critics. They produce an infinite amount of discourse on art, but one must remember that this is not art. ...
As Tom Wolfe so viciously and memorably put it in The Painted Word, things had gotten to a point where critics were saying that without a theory of sight and visual cognition you couldn't even see a painting. Not entirely unlike a narrative in which a priesthood warns the laity that without their interpretation and mediation they cannot comprehend the divine written words, it could be said that art criticism elevated itself to a comparably priestly mediating role, teaching the unwashed what really was and was not supposed to be considered art.
Ellul's damning commentary on the role of the critic was that all too often their work was a necessary precondition for a great deal of modern art to have any meaning, and that retroactively:
Clearly minimalist and post-minimalist paintings and sculptures are nothing, absolutely nothing, without explanatory discourse. We are told that it is a "mental" art, which now requires conceptualization and no longer the sentimentality that has ruled art for too long. I can buy that. But I do not see in what way a red X traced on a white sheet is in any way "conceptual." Now, I must explain. A work like this has no character or any intellectually discernible quality unless the artist or the master know-it-all steps up and reveals the intellectual process, the means of understanding, and the logic of the work. This is what we could call an "instruction manual of poetics." I'll buy that, too. But why should this act of drawing two bars on paper be a greater act of creation than that of a lathe operator in a workshop?
To drive his point home even more aggressively, Ellul wrote:
... The work no longer speaks for itself; the critic speaks in its place and situates the work in the great current that carries art to this point. He becomes the irreplaceable companion on whom the artist relies. ...
I am not at all sure that modern art would have evolved as it has if it were not for the critic. In other words, it is an enormous resource to know that an explicator is behind the artist and whatever he produces; the explicator will take charge of providing a meaning and of decrypting symbols even when non exists. This will happen provided the artist in question falls in line with society and with the current development of sensibilities in artistic milieus. If this happens, the artist no longer has to worry about expressing a "form" attached to a "meaning," and he has the rare privilege of declaring that there is no meaning, that art is pure form; he knows that the critic is the specialist in discovering sense and nonsense, a meaning in pure form that pretends to say nothing. The critic is nothing more than a safety net for a high wire act. The artist, according to the model granted him by modern society, has the added privilege (and one that he always claims) of insulting without consequence the philistine public off which he lives. The critic is there to exalt these insults and to demonstrate that they are really a form of respect for the spectator who is involved in a newly minted reality. But, in order to play this role, the critic becomes a technician of art. He knows its history, its techniques, and its resources better than any artist. And the more the work becomes abstract, the more a technician is required who not only displays his knowledge of technique but, in addition, can elaborate his own techniques for interpretation. He possesses instruments the others do not. The critic, after having become an indispensible character of capitalist bourgeois society, becomes a representative epigone of the technical system. He makes art and the comprehension of art a technique; he leads us to think that there is no such thing as untutored reading or vision (except in those cases where it is false); he establishes himself as the sole judge of success and value, which is precisely the role of the technician. ...
The critic, in his current role, and especially in relation to abstract art, fills a social function of monopolistic mediation based on technical competence. He is the technician for arts and letters, comparable to MBAs and other technocrats. And, like them all, he reduces every art form to an ensemble of techniques. It s not by accident that the denial of meaning and a refusal of anything to say is the result of the ping-pong match between critics and artists. The critic assures his pre-eminence, his social role, his indisputable status by asserting that there is nothing in art which is not hermetic, nothing which is not symbolic in the second or third degree, but that everything is beyond the understanding of the lay person. And the artist plays the same game, assured that his technique will hoodwink the public. ...
If Berlatsky is right to say that it is criticism that defines whether or not something is even art to begin with, this is, at best, an ambivalent and ambiguous reality about art and reception history and commerce.
... IN all cases what the author says is never to be confused with what he wants or would want to say. And it is New Criticism that seizes on an author's real meaning behind what he says. But despite this difference we can conclude with two quite remarkable positions. The first position is the pre-eminent role of the critic, who is situated above the creative artist. Roland Barthes states this position cogently; there is a kind of hierarchy where one goes from the word to the language, from the language to the work, and from there to the criticism, which is the "ultimate act of literary creation, a symbol superimposed on the symbol created by the work." Without the critic the work is sterile, because the critic is essentially the model for the reader; and so, the work must be studied not as an extension of the one who creates it but of the one who reads it. Reading constitutes the work. Hence, criticism is the fine flower, the ultimate point, the supreme creation of the artistic process. ...
Ellul summarizes the role of the critic in the technological society by saying:
... the critic has become the most important person in the world of art, and this relates at all levels to the technicization of society.
The arts critic, though perhaps seeing themselves as a paragon of humanism and philosophy, is functionally the ultimate technocrat, whose word and verdict decides whether or not something is or is not art. If the artist is the prophet in this bourgeois art religion, the critic is the priest, and those who manage to be prophet-priests or priest-prophets get particularly high notices.
But Ellul claimed that what these artists and critics were not doing is rebelling against the technological society. Far from it:
... Art has become one of the primary forces of integrating man into the technological complex, and that is why art is, as well, the bearer of a political-philosophical message of pure entertainment, perfectly bereft of significance and meaning, because man cannot abide with all the dimensions of the technological reality.
I would not so much say it is bereft of meaning as that in a post-Joseph Campbell entertainment industry that has a monomyth and a cosmogonic cycle, the art that emerges in technological/technocratic societies has a potently refined formula of insert-yourself-here.
Aesthetic Theory
Theodore Adorno
Copyright (c) 1997 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota
... Aesthetic experience first of all places the observer at a distance from the object. This resonates in the idea of disinterested observation. Philistines are those whose relation to artworks is ruled by whether and to what degree they can, for example, put themselves in the place of the actors as they come forth; this is what all parts of the culture industry are based on and they foster it insistently in their customers. ...
It isn't necessarily just something consumers do. The art of criticism can play a comparable role to the philistine stipulation that "I" have to be able to find "myself" in the art that I bother to consume. A reader-response critical approach can shift this process from the real or hypothetical consumer to a critical reader response paradigm, something becomes art once the "reader" designates it as such. What a traditionalist or conservative can find ghastly about this approach is that it allows someone to write about an episode of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic as if it were a novel by Balzac. These critical tools don't really bring with them the power to separate lowbrow from highbrow. I thought of linking to a few thousand words by Norman Lebrecht on the history of criticism and its recent decline but I didn't ultimately feel it was necessary. There may be plenty in the tools of critical analysis that have brought with them a redundancy to critical establishments. The internet has, perhaps "democratized" arts criticism to the point where some people can be aghast that people over forty have things to say about Into the Spider-Verse.
What Adorno described generally was an industry that sold to the public the kind of art the public can easily super-impose itself on to. Adorno was able to state that the culture industry had an illusion of freedom and choice to sell. Joseph Campbell's monomyth is a more distilled form of the schematic that guides a lot of popular culture. Despite the aspirational ur-humanism of Campbell's aims his legacy in the 21st century can be thought of as an apotheosis of technocratic means. We may live in an age in which the most paradoxically anti-humanist legacies have been unintentionally fostered by people who thought they were championing a new and more humane approach to the humanities.
Labels: Ellul on the arts
Ellul on the artist as the emblem of a "freedom" that art consumers experience vicariously by buying into the artist's work
While Adorno and Horkheimer theorized that the culture industry sold a simulation of "freedom" to those willing to buy the wares of the culture industry, they were hardly alone in making the suggestion that the artist and associated arts were in some way a stand-in for a freedom that had to be, at best, vicariously consumed. This was a point that Ellul made in The Empire of Non-Sense along with a variety of other points.
... The lie of modern art is in its claim to be the perpetual expression of freedom. These artists who claim to be minimalists, serialists, structuralists, and objectivists convert their subjective nihilism with the system into an object of delight, artistic creativity, and inspiration, and by so doing, they support the illusion of defeating destiny through an act of personal choice. Not only is there no choice, but there is only an abject acceptance of results programmed in advance that betrays man's last line of defense. ...
... we have a freedom that turns back on itself and destroys itself. Adorno has clearly demonstrated what he calls "the fall back into non-freedom." "Music is an example of this dialectical reversal. The technique of the twelve-tone scale is truly its destiny, which enslaves music while liberating it. The musician subdues music through a rational system only to succumb to this system ... Technique is manifest in the arrangement of material according to its criteria. It then becomes a determining factor, which, in its alienated state, opposes the musician and subjects him to its own constraints. ... "
I want to get to Adorno's scathing remarks on integral serialism in a separate post some time later, but it's instructive that when Ellul wanted to demonstrate how technique in a technocratic society overcomes decision-making in the arts, he invoked Adorno's explication of twelve-tone as technique that becomes self-justifying.
The world is hard, closed in, unimaginative, ruled by technique rigorous, and hostile. We have neither leisure nor the possibility of self-expression nor the demonstration of freedom (which surely must exist), and so we place all our hopes on the specialists of freedom and personality. And the artist fulfills that self-imposed role. We cannot do without freedom or resign from being a person. The artist is the specialist in playing the role of freedom. This means that the artist is basically a play actor. All that the modern artist does is meant to call attention to himself and to his comings and goings and not to his work. ... This also relates to the innumerable interviews where we find the minute details of the lives of great modern artists. The reign of "Didyouseemeism" is absolute. The artist who, formerly, sought to create a work is now occupied with creating a personality, and that relates to what we have said about an intent that was especially notable in the generation of Beat Poets--to make an exemplary work of their own lives. And for a lack of anything better, this can be done through drugs and alcohol, and this is, truly, magnificently, a role to undertake. Ultimately (and this is often the case), it is no longer necessary to write a poem or to draw a line: it suffices merely to be there. The drugged artist, because he violates the awful bourgeois morality, is the great artist of his own life. A poet of life experience no longer creates a work but rather provides an act, a product, or an event. [emphasis added]...
The moments where the mask supposedly slips off and you see and hear the "real" artist in interviews and memoirs and documentaries withstanding, the artist is selling something, a vicarious kind of freedom the artist supposedly experiences as being able to make a living being an artist in a technocratic society. In the sense that art is vicarious living ,the artist as persona must continue that process so that people who buy in to the art and the artist are able to feel they are getting their money's worth, at the most literal level, but so that they are able to invest themselves in the artist as a vicarious form of self. In a kind of reversal of "those who worship them will become like them", that is positively what those who venerate artists and stars want, it is an active hope that the veneration of the artist can allow the fan, by the processes of veneration to, somehow, perhaps mysteriously, become like the artist they admire.
... Not only has art become an economic production, a piece of merchandise, but art that challenges and proclaims freedom fulfills an essential function: it's the label, the guarantee that this wonderful society is indeed free because it sanctifies the heroes of freedom and revolution for the admiration of the masses. [emphasis added]...
What Adorno described as the culture industry needed a refined and perfected product and in the form of Joseph Campbell's Hero with a Thousand Faces it arguably got one, the perfected formula of formulaic heroism that can be transposed on to any and every demographic. In this technocratic art regime the more social justice warrior things get the more truly the formula is allowed to be formulaic. If Adorno attempted to define "what" the culture industry was and "what" it was selling, Joseph Campbell more or less provided the template for "how" that product has been put together in the lower brow genres.
This gets me thinking of the abjection of pulp and genre fiction by middlebrow and highbrow art consumers, whether critics, academics or simple consumers. One of the mundane realities of pulp and genre fiction and the lowbrow genres is the pervasiveness of work-for-hire, the reality that a lot of these genres have trademarked characters for which authors and artists can contribute work but which are corporately owned. The kind of artist-as-vicarious-freedom and artist-as-persona-of-freedom in what might be called bourgeois art religion falls apart in the pulp and lowbrow genres more generally because how can the artist represent freedom and a counter-cultural ethos when he or she is writing work-for-hire stories for Marvel or DC or Disney or what-have-you? Now to be sure, many comics writers and artists are pretty liberal and progressive but that matters not a bit to an academic with interests in philosophy and aesthetics. Whether it's a Justin E. H. Smith or a Roger Scruton, that hardly matters, the sticking point is that comics and superheroes and pulp genre stuff is not the stuff of "real" thinking, and would seem to not fit into the things Ellul described above.
Except that ... the escapism and power fantasies of the pulp genre are so front and center that, really, the boot still fits if you watch Toy Story films. For others who wouldn't be caught dead in a theater watching Pixar films ... there are Frank Stella paintings.
That's a matter of the artist and the consumer but we live in an era in which there's a mediating figure in the reception history of art. That figure, of course, is the critic.
Ellul on how artists collapse art and persona in the age of technique
One of the observations Ellul made in his book The Empire of Non-Sense was on how in a technocratic age the artist has shifted from being known for making art to being known as a persona.
Perhaps it could be speculated that in a technocratic era this was, at some level, inevitable. In an era in which any and all art objects can be regarded as commodities; in an era in which formal ideologies are no protection against art objects and art experiences being co-opted and assimilated by formally opposed ideological viewpoints (and for an example of his, we could just point to the ways in which Western musicians and music historians formulated a potent idea that for all his public fealty to the Soviet regime, Shostakovich had to, somehow, be a secret dissident in the music he wrote); in an era in which even art can be mass produced through a series of techniques and formulas; it might stand to a kind of moral reasoning that the thing that you cannot just mass produce is the artist.
Even this idea, put as bluntly as the axiom that you cannot mass produce artists, arguably, might not be entirely true, and it's an implication in mark McGurl's The Program Era on creative writing programs in U. S. higher education in the postwar period. We have a nebulous but seemingly pervasive bad faith relationship to how much of our art and entertainment is literally and figuratively a corporate product. It is easier to suggest that Beethoven was in some sense a "result" of a patronage class endorsement as much as a reflection of Beethoven as an individual composer and musician than to come fully to terms with a more disturbing claim, that corporately created art defines our era and that a great deal of it is impeccably well-made and can even have what in other contexts might be called "heart" and "soul".
It could even be noted that in debates about the legitimacy of this or that artist that invocations of collective and collaborative creativity are normal. For instance, if someone said Duke Ellington was not a singular solitary musical genius on the level of insert-classical-composer-dead-white-guy-here, then people can invoke Afrological ideas or propose that jazz is a more cooperative and collaborative process. Yes ... but similar observations have been made about early and middle Baroque music in which the figure bass provides merely a schematic of the intended musical results, a great deal of which is left up to the performers who were expected to ornament and vary the melodic and other music materials. But in marketing terms, selling Ellington as a brilliant musical genius could go the other way, affirming that he really was a singular musical thinker. We are still beholden at all sorts of levels to the artist-as-seer as a reaction to the increasing development of technocratic and bureaucratic aspects of society. Depending on what we need the artist to be the artist can be part of a countercultural collective who distills and symbolizes an alternative, or the artist can be the non-conformist genius who sees through all the fakery of society to what is really going on.
Ellul's withering theory about the artist in a technocratic age is that these two scripts are standard issue. They do not so much rebel against the technological society as reflect it. The artist becomes the commodity by becoming the personality whose existence more urgently needs to be recognized first before whatever it is the artist may actually make.
The work as an object is rejected and denied; the artist identifies with his art. He is himself a work of art. Long ago Oscar Wilde claimed to make his life an aesthetic work. To achieve this goal, one needs to act outrageously. Humor is not enough. The means are hopelessly the same: alcohol, drugs, sexual inversion, aestheticism, sadism, and at the extreme limits, murder as a fine art. Realistically, we see here a "confusion of genre": the project of making a life successful is a moralist's project. The mistake is to claim that life can be a work of art. Aesthetic criteria are inapplicable (except for self-contemplation, self satisfaction; the claim of life as a work of art has never been more than the parody of Narcissus); to apply Epicurus's thought is not an aesthetic creation. The passage from an aesthetic object to the consideration of one's self as an object is the final pirouette to avoid the problem, a counterfeit profundity and engagement. Anyone who affects this attitude quite simply ceases to be a creator of art. He can convey an example of life (in his capacity as a moralist!), but he conveys absolutely nothing to future generations as a "cultural legacy." I know quite well that many will shrug their shoulders in the face of such an assertion but this is nothing more than a denial of art itself. The adventure of the Beat Generation poets is quite relevant here: Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, William Burroughs ... poets "whose words made everything explode. The limits of the word, of life, of thought ...." Poetry was only an outlet that expressed the pain of living, and they undertook to live this pain. They created for themselves a wisdom. They lived in the slums. They were wandering protesters. They considered themselves saints, prophets, etc. And, clearly, their poetry is a small fragment of their life, with both closely intertwined. But, when one reads these works without a partisan bias, one is dazzled by their poverty of expression, by their childishness ... No, this is not The Drunken Boat. It is a series of blubberings and self-absorption. I am a fascinating personality. Take a close look at me. I'm going to reveal myself. Andre Gide's rheumatism does not interest me. I don't see why I should be interested in the blisters on Kerouac's foot. The life of Kerouac as a vagabond intellectual is interesting in itself but its artistic expression is little more than a trite monologue or else the indirect description of the Beat micro-environment. But, in the end, this expresses the other side of the claim for a connection between art and life.
...Strangely enough, those who have attempted to make their life into a work of art are led to self-destruction. Watts, who explains time and again that LSD broadens our consciousness, sings the same tune; we are only a part of nature; I am no longer limited by my sack of skin, which means that I am diffused into the universe. He sees one's self as the center of decision-making and consciousness, as a pure and simple convention, an arbitrary framework. By all means. But, then, the logical conclusion is suicide., since nothing makes me different from the rest, from little atoms fused with others. And, indeed, the behavior of all these theoreticians was suicidal. The following contradiction resides in all of this art: the aspiration of an aggressive and hyper-developed ego ends with the abrogation of the life instinct.
Ellul here provides a more arcane variant on a put-down South Park used about the Goth kids--they say they hate conformity and conformists being conformists but they all wear black, they all smoke, they all listen to the same bands and read the same books. There's a hipster effect, so to speak, in which the people who aim to not conform to the mainstream culture end up creating a comparably conformist counterculture.
The artist as prophet/priest has never gone away. Even the artists who might say they are not priests nevertheless discover their priestly roles when they decide to get politically engaged. Ellul describes that tendency.
... The artist sees himself as the demiurge ordering chaos. ...
... In other words, we have the great metaphysical claim: art rejoins life, which translates into, "Life has become a form of art," which also implies that, "All the arts have fused into one another," (the former boundaries and classifications being purely cultural and arbitrary). Only a vast array of possible novelties remains. But, this situation (which furthermore mimics the sensual confusion of certain drug experiences) cannot be maintained except by the most advanced technical procedures. I would say, further, that the existence of these procedures produces the idea of the removal of limits. The most characteristic result of the development of technical means in all domains is the inevitable production of a self-generating progression and a rupture of limits in a transgression. The confusion among artistic genres is nothing other than a specific instance of the blind and ineluctable application of technique.
Perhaps, but the total work of art has, since the days of Wagner, been a goal artists have embraced for centuries. The ideal of a work of art uniting all media into a single grand account of the human condition never seems to go away. Technique is part of that, I suippose, but Ellul, since he does have hobby horses, can sometimes seem to forget that even before the emergence of what he describes as the technological society, artists wanted to use techniques to unify massive tetralogical mythologies a la Wagner. Impulses to technique as a stance preceded what Ellul described as "technique" as an ideology characteristic of modern societies. What was different was, perhaps, that Wagner used techniques in symbolic and associative ways and in more contemporary art technique becomes something more solipsistic. Ellul has written about how art shifted from a focus on symbols to technique--techniques have always been developed to express and communicate ideas, symbols, and stories, but art in the more modern era has developed into a milieu in which technique is employed to refine technique. Art was, in that sense, becoming "meta" before the idea of "metanarrative" began to become "a thing".
... Thus, all art is trapped between the desire for revolutionary protests and the technicality of all of its operations, including those that expressed artistic tradition and unique, individual virtuosity. ... Someone claims to be a painter or a musician as an identity and is then recognized as such by a group. This mutual recognition is an intentional awareness that enables the differentiation of a piece of metal in a museum from that which the garage mechanic throws in the trash because it is broken or defective. [emphasis added] But the claim of someone who sues the most modern techniques becomes particularly harmful when the message is reactionary; they fight against an art, an aesthetic, and a society that dates from the nineteenth century. They are unaware that using the techniques of the technical system only entrench them more deeply in that system, transforming them into pillars of the current society and not in the one they imagine and fight against. Don Quixotes no longer exist; neither the folly nor the wisdom of Quixote informs. Instead, only a pretentiousness supported by blind ignorance prevails.
... Literature and art communicate with ideology because everything has become political. The variations on this formula are endless, but they all say the same thing. They warn against disguised propaganda (for the benefit, of course, of an explicit propaganda although not declared as such); they call for involvement with the ideology of the masses, and they rail against economic constraint, and so on. In its totality, we see here art with a message, which, behind its facade of many Marxist explanations, amounts to little more than an art desperately aligned with a society devoid of signifying power, one of the effects of the technical system.
But, in contrast to committed art, we find a counter current: the technicization of society leads to a disengagement from all forms of message, even that of abstraction, and this absence of message leads to a veritable hypertrophy of technical formalism. (Moreover, in this current of thought, there are at least two possible positions: for some, art must express the ineffable; for others, it must exclusively create forms. In one case, one could say that abstract art, "neither, in its means or goals, evokes visible manifestations of the world." The inner man is, thus, freed to produce reality as he feels it. The artist reveals the concealed world within himself. But, in the other case, artistic creation becomes its own end. We need only concern ourselves with the production of a text, a color, or a musical score.) One no longer creates anything; rather, one creates a form that has not yet existed. That is all. Artists of the committed stripe will argue that other artists are anti-revolutionary and are running dogs of the bourgeois order. Those of the abstract stripe will condemn their committed brethren as retarded and retrograde and mired down in past delusions, because there is no longer the possibility of any message in the technical realm. Here we find the major schism in the art of our time, which, in all its expressions, is torn assunder. There is no single style. ...
The impulse to create art that is more or less overtly propaganda on the one hand or hermetically self-contained technique refining technique dominates the art of our era, as this era has been assessed by Ellul as well as Adorno. It was Adorno who wrote that the absolute work of art converges with the absolute commodity. By the later 20th century into our own century, even the artist has become a kind of "good", and in some cases an entertainer like David Bowie could shift from persona to persona to highlight the artifice of the process. In a word, camp has been around that frontloads the artifice and technique of artifice into the work so that it cannot be ignored--there have been artistic movements that reject that impulse throughout the ages, just as the have been artistic movements that revel in that.
But, in the end, Ellul argued that the persona is not necessarily making art, even if the bid at collapsing the boundary between "art" and "life" might convince some people that the persona is art in some way. Maybe ... but the complaints celebrities have made about the inability of some fans to appreciate the difference between the public person(a) and a flesh and blood human being sticks with me. As Bob Dylan once put it, you can never afford to forget that John Lennon was murdered by one of his so-called fans.
That might be a question for art historians and music historians ... what history is there of musicians or artists or writers being killed be zealous admirer/fans? Is that something that could be relatively unique to the era of "technological society" or has that kind of thing been going on for generations and we just don't get taught it at undergrad level art history?
theme and variations at The Atlantic on men withou...
Ellul on the supremacy of critics and criticism in...
Ellul on the artist as the emblem of a "freedom" t...
Ellul on how artists collapse art and persona in t...
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Enhanced Present and Future Value Calculations
Written by: Charles Flock
In addition to the new multi-input aggregates available in XLeratorDB/financial 2008, we have added some new scalar functions that provide even greater flexibility for time-value-of-money calculations.
XLeratorDB was originally designed with the idea of making every EXCEL function available as a SQL Server function. But why stop there? In our latest release we add a dozen new functions to our growing list of functions that you won’t find in EXCEL.
EXCEL provides the capability to calculate: the present value of an annuity with the PV function; the present value of a series of periodic cash flows with the NPV function; and, the present value of a series of irregular cash flows with the XNPV function. You can calculate the future value of an annuity using the FV function. There is also an FVSCHEDULE function, which lets you compound a series of periodic interest rates, but does not contain any amount. All of these functions have been built into XLeratorDB.
We added two new aggregates for the calculation of future values. The NFV function looks like the NPV function and the XNFV looks like the XNPV function, but they calculate the future value rather than the present value.
We find the whole EXCEL paradigm limiting, however. The first limitation is in the scaling of time. The PV function and the NPV function are only concerned with periods, and they are only concerned with the periods contained in the function. We also find that the PV function and the NPV function have different interpretations of periods and return opposing signs, and can be quite confusing. Let’s look at a simple example.
We have 5 cash flows entered in the range A1:A5. We would expect the NPV calculation to be the sum of the PV amounts, with A1 representing period 0, meaning that the PV amount will be equal to the cash flow amount, and A5 representing period 4. We can use the array formula capability of EXCEL to enter that calculation.
Let’s look at the results.
The amounts don’t agree. There are two reasons for this. The first is that for some unknown reason the EXCEL PV function flips the sign on the cash flows. The second, and you can check the EXCEL documentation on this, is that to correctly calculate NPV in EXCEL, the first cash flow should be outside the function. So the formula should look like this:
This produces the following result.
The XNPV function is a little better in that it is designed to include the first cash flow. As with the NPV function, the sign returned by the PV calculation is opposite the sign returned by XNPV. We can use the PV function, in conjunction with YEARFRAC function to replicate the XNPV calculation.
The second limitation has to do with the rates. The NPV and XNPV functions take a single rate for all the cash flows, so a cash flow that is due in 20 days is discounted using the same rate as a cash flow that is due in 20 years. I guess this is OK for quick and dirty calculations, but you would be able to perform a far more sophisticated analysis if you could use a yield curve in calculating the present or future value.
Generally, the yield curve will consist of annual rates for a maturity horizon. It seems straightforward that we would then want to use the annual rates without having to convert them into a ‘period’ rate.
So, we created 4 functions that always use annual rates and always return the present or future value with the same sign as the cash flow. There are 2 for present value calculations: EPV and XPV; and 2 for future value calculations: EFV and XFV. Combined with the SUM function and the XLeratorDB interpolation functions, these provide a very powerful and flexible mechanism for calculating present and future values on large data sets (or even small ones).
The XPV function calculates the present value of a cash flow given a start date, the date of the cash flow, and the rate. The calculation of the discounted amount is very straightforward.
We specified a single rate, 0.159%, which in this case represents the 6-month money market rate and used that value discount the cash flow to today. However, the real value here is in being able to calculate a different rate for the date of each cash flow. To do that will need a yield curve and an interpolation function. We will use the SPLINE_q function for interpolation.
In this example, we have a simple RATES table which consists of a basic US Treasury yield curve, and we have a table contain the future cash flows for some investments that we want to discount using the interpolated US Treasury yield curve. The SQL is pretty concise:
This produces the following result:
The PV has been calculated for each cash flow and then summed and grouped by something called investment id. You could have done this for a million cash flows in just a couple of seconds. There really is no good way to this in EXCEL or in most other tools that I can think of. It’s actually pretty hard to do this in a lot of applications. With this function, though, it’s very simple, flexible, and powerful.
The EPV function works similarly to the XPV function, except that it uses periods instead of dates. I think that the best way to use the function is to always make the period, effectively, a year and to use fractional periods. This way, you can always the market-observable rates and not have to translate rates into semi-annual, quarterly or monthly rates.
One great way to do this is to use the YEARFRAC function. YEARFRAC will automatically convert the number of days between 2 dates into a fractional part of the year, using the specified interest basis code. In our previous example, that could actually become import, because the XPV, like the XNPV function, always uses an actual/365 interest basis. US Treasuries, however, are quoted on the actual/actual interest basis, so you might be interested in using that interest basis. To do that, you could enter SQL that looks like this.
This differs from the previous example because of the change in interest basis from actual/actual to actual/365.
The future value calculation is somewhat more complicated. When analyzing a series of cash flows, the basic calculation requires multiplying the cash flow by a factor which represents the interest rate between the cash flow date and the end date. This rate is generally called the forward-forward rate.
Here’s a simple example. At the end of year 1 we will receive 1,000. If we were to invest that amount for one additional year, what it would be worth at the end of two years’ time? Let’s assume that the one-year rate is 2% and the two-year rate is 3%.
This returns the following result.
Which implies that the one-year rate, one-year from now, is slightly more than 4%. How did we come up with that value?
The one-year forward rate is actually going to be the ratio between the discount factors between the one-year rate and the two-year rate. We can use the XFV function to do that calculation for us.
The forward rate is the ratio between df2 and df1. In order to do a meaningful forward value calculation, this is precisely the rate that needs to be used. But, the EXCEL FV function requires you to do that calculation outside of the function. That’s why we came up with the XFV and the EFV functions. They require three dates and two rates to be input, but that’s the nature of the calculation. Of course, we continue to have an FV function that works just like EXCEL’s.
Like the enhanced present value functions, the enhanced future value functions can be combined with the SUM and interpolation functions providing a powerful tool for doing sophisticated cash flow analysis on data sets of any size. We think that, in many ways, they are actually easier to use than EXCEL, and certainly much easier than exporting data to EXCEL or trying to do this kind of calculation in Reporting Services. Let us know what you think.
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"ALONE" tells the story of Pim who moved from Thailand to Korea to escape the guilt of being the surviving half of a conjoined twin. Flashbacks to Pim's childhood show how the bittersweet relationship with her sister, and their commitment to stay together forever, transforms into a repressive bond that ultimately leads to a separation. After she returns to visit her dying mother, the spirit of her dead sister angrily thrusts herself into Pim's life.
Seconds Apart (2011)
Seth and Jonah are twins with a dangerous ability: telekinesis. Things start to spiral out of control as their classmates die in twisted and bizarre ways. Jealousy begins to divide them and soon they can no longer trust each other, leading up to a horrific battle against themselves.
Sisters (1973)
A journalist witnesses a brutal murder in a neighboring apartment, but the police do not believe that the crime took place. With the help of a private detective, she seeks out the truth.
Death of a Ghost Hunter (2007)
Renowned "ghost hunter", Carter Simms is paid to conduct a paranormal investigation of a supposedly haunted house. Along with a cameraman, a reporter, and a spiritual advocate, she embarks on a three night journey into terror.
Thir13en Ghosts (2001)
Arthur and his two children, Kathy and Bobby, inherit his Uncle Cyrus's estate: a glass house that serves as a prison to 12 ghosts. When the family, accompanied by Bobby's Nanny and an attorney, enter the house they find themselves trapped inside an evil machine "designed by the devil and powered by the dead" to open the Eye of Hell. Aided by Dennis, a ghost hunter, and his rival Kalina, a ghost rights activist out to set the ghosts free, the group must do what they can to get out of the house alive.
Ghost Rider (2007)
In order to save his dying father, young stunt cyclist Johnny Blaze sells his soul to Mephistopheles and sadly parts from the pure-hearted Roxanne Simpson, the love of his life. Years later, Johnny's path crosses again with Roxanne, now a gogetting reporter, and also with Mephistopheles, who offers to release Johnny's soul if Johnny becomes the fabled, fiery Ghost Rider.
Ghost Ship (2002)
After discovering a passenger ship missing since 1962 floating adrift on the Bering Sea, salvagers claim the vessel as their own. Once they begin towing the ghost ship towards harbor, a series of bizarre occurrences happen and the group becomes trapped inside the ship, which they soon learn is inhabited by a demonic creature.
Julia's Eyes (2010)
The story of a woman who is slowly losing her sight whilst trying to investigate the mysterious death of her twin sister.
Ghost Shark 2: Urban Jaws (2015)
When Ghost Shark returns to terrorize Auckland, Mayor Broody calls in an expert ghost shark hunter to protect the citizens and finally defeat the creature.
Four successful elderly gentlemen, members of the Chowder Society, share a gruesome, 50-year old secret. When one of Edward Wanderley's twin sons dies in a bizarre accident, the group begins to see a pattern of frightening events developing.
A newly married couple discovers disturbing, ghostly images in photographs they develop after a tragic accident. Fearing the manifestations may be connected, they investigate and learn that some mysteries are better left unsolved.
The Ghost (2004)
A teenage girl suffering from amnesia discovers that she is somehow connected to a group of people who are being killed off one by one by a vengeful ghost. Min Ji-Won (Kim Ha-Neul) suffers from amnesia caused by an accident almost a year ago. After the accident, Min Ji-Won is a shy person. Prior to the accident, Min Ji-Won was the leader of a gang of four girl bullies. Through pictures, Min Ji-Won learns about the three other members and she wants to learn what happened to them. While Min Ji-Won attempts to unravel the mystery, her former friends are killed one by one ...
Kill Katie Malone (2010)
College students and best friends Ginger Matheson, Jim Duncan, and Kyle "Dixie" Canning, pool their cash to buy a "ghost" in an online auction. The three think it's all a goof, but once they open up the antique box to examine their "treasure," they unleash the vengeful spirit of an Irish servant girl who has been wreaking havoc on her owners throughout the generations
A reporter witnesses a brutal murder, and becomes entangled in a mystery involving a pair of Siamese twins who were separated at birth, one of them forced to live under the eye of a watchful, controlling psychiatrist.
A luxury ship is haunted by the ghosts of a crew that had disappeared off the ship years before.
Sweeney Todd (2006)
A barber goes on a killing spree... and then enlists a baker for even more gruesome acts.
They Wait (2007)
Jason and his wife, Sarah, leave their adopted home of Shanghai and travel to Vancouver, British Columbia, for his uncle's funeral, staying with his Aunt Mei. Already disoriented, Jason and Sarah are unnerved when their son, Sam, begins seeing ghosts and violent deaths. After Sam is hospitalized, Sarah consults with a pharmacist who's well-informed about Chinese mythology and who tells her that supernatural forces threaten her son.
Twin gynecologists take full advantage of the fact that nobody can tell them apart, until their relationship begins to deteriorate over a woman.
Pay the Ghost (2015)
One year after his young son disappeared during a Halloween carnival, Mike Cole is haunted by eerie images and terrifying messages he cant explain. Together with his estranged wife, he will stop at nothing to unravel the mystery and find their sonand, in doing so, he unearths a legend that refuses to remain buried in the past.
Solstice (2008)
A young girl uncovers a disturbing secret about her twin sister, who committed suicide just a few months before.
The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia (2013)
Sequel to the 2009 mezzo-mezzo supernatural horror purporting to be based on a true story in which a cancer-afflicted teen starts seeing things in the new Victorian house he and his family moved into.
Haunter (2013)
The ghost of a teenager who died years ago reaches out to the land of the living in order to save someone from suffering her same fate.
The Awakening is a British horror thriller film directed by Nick Murphy, starring Rebecca Hall, Dominic West, and Imelda Staunton. 1921 England is overwhelmed by the loss and grief of World War I. Hoax exposer Florence Cathcart (Hall) visits a boarding school to explain sightings of a child ghost.
The Haunting (1963)
Dr. Markway, doing research to prove the existence of ghosts, investigates Hill House, a large, eerie mansion with a lurid history of violent death and insanity.
The Forest (2016)
Set in the Aokigahara Forest, a real-life place in Japan where people go to end their lives. Against this backdrop, a young American woman comes in search of her twin sister, who has mysteriously disappeared.
Crimson Peak (2015)
In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds
and remembers.
Night of Dark Shadows (1971)
A painter and his wife move into a home and find themselves plagued by ghosts and spirits of his ancestors that used to be witches.
Ghost of Mae Nak (2005)
Mak and Nak are a young couple who have just moved into their first home as a married couple. But the house they own has a history much older than them and spirits who won't rest until they get what they want. And this time, love won't conquer all!
Suave, charming and volatile, Reggie Kray and his unstable twin brother Ronnie start to leave their mark on the London underworld in the 1960s. Using violence to get what they want, the siblings orchestrate robberies and murders while running nightclubs and protection rackets. With police Detective Leonard "Nipper" Read hot on their heels, the brothers continue their rapid rise to power and achieve tabloid notoriety.
Lies of the Twins (1991)
An ex-model is seduced into danger by her psychotherapist boyfriend's wicked identical twin.
Dead Ringer (1964)
The working class twin sister of a callous wealthy woman impulsively murders her out of revenge and assumes the identity of the dead woman. But impersonating her dead twin is more complicated and risky than she anticipated.
An adaptation of Mark Waid's "Tower of Babel" story from the JLA comic. Vandal Savage steals confidential files Batman has compiled on the members of the Justice League, and learns all their weaknesses.
The Dark Mirror (1946)
De Havilland plays two roles in this entertaining psychological drama. A sister and her disturbed twin are implicated in a Hollywood murder and a police detective must figure out which one's the killer.
A frustrated man decides to take justice into his own hands after a plea bargain sets one of his family's killers free. He targets not only the killer but also the district attorney and others involved in the deal.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947)
In 1900, strong-willed widow Lucy Muir goes to live in Gull Cottage by the British seaside, even though it appears to be haunted. Sure enough, that very night she meets the ghost of crusty former owner Captain Gregg...and refuses to be scared off. Indeed, they become friends and allies, after Lucy gets used to the idea of a man's ghost haunting her bedroom. But when a charming live man comes courting, Lucy and the captain must deal with their feelings for each other.
Catch a Fire (2006)
Catch a Fire is a 2006 historically based drama about anti-apartheid activists in South Africa, focussing on the life of Patrick Chamusso, an timid foreman at Secunda CTL, the largest synthetic fuel plant in the world, who in 1980 is wrongly accused, imprisoned, and tortured for an attempt to bomb the plant. The injustice transforms the apolitical worker into a radicalised insurgent, who then carries out his own successful sabotage mission.
Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2011)
Nicolas Cage reprises his role as Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider Spirit of Vengeance. In this gritty new vision for the character, Johnny is still struggling with his curse as the devil's bounty hunter - but he may risk everything as he teams up with the leader of a group of rebel monks (Idris Elba) to save a young boy from the devil... and possibly rid himself of his curse forever
Double Impact (1991)
Jean Claude Van Damme plays a dual role as Alex and Chad, twins separated at the death of their parents. Chad is raised by a family retainer in Paris, Alex becomes a petty crook in Hong Kong. Seeing a picture of Alex, Chad rejoins him and convinces him that his rival in Hong Kong is also the man who killed their parents. Alex is suspicious of Chad, especially when it comes to his girlfriend.
He dwells in a world of external night, but the blackness is filled with sounds and scents, tastes and textures that most cannot perceive. Although attorney Matt Murdock is blind, his other four senses function with superhuman sharpness. By day, Murdock represents the downtrodden. At night he is Daredevil, a masked vigilante stalking the dark streets of the city, a relentless avenger of justice.
Twin Sitters (1994)
An evil business executive (played by George Lazenby), is releasing dangerous toxins and the Barbarian Brothers set out to stop his evil work.
Seeking Justice (2011)
After his wife is assaulted, a husband enlists the services of a vigilante group to help him settle the score.
Black Angel (1946)
A falsely convicted man's wife, Catherine (Vincent), and an alcoholic composer and pianist, Martin (Duryea) team up in an attempt to clear her husband of the murder of a blonde singer, who is Martin's wife. Their investigation leads them to confrontations with a determined policeman (Crawford) and a shifty nightclub owner (Lorre), whom Catherine and Martin suspect may be the real killer.
Letters From a Killer (1998)
A man is falsely convicted of the murder of his wife. During his time in jail, he finds comfort from four women with whom he corresponds. After his second court appearance, he is finally freed from prison only to be framed for yet 2 more murders which he did not commit. With the help of his former prison guard, he once again sets out to clear his name
Ghost from the Machine (2010)
Wildly grief-stricken over the accidental death of his parents, young techno-geek Cody (Sasha Andreev) cobbles together an electrical device that he hopes will bring the spirits of mom and dad back from beyond the grave. But the machine's power and Cody's deepening obsession threaten the safety of his only remaining family: his younger brother, James (Max Hauser). Matt Osterman directs this ghostly sci-fi thriller that also stars Matthew Feeney.
The House of the Seven Gables (1940)
In 1828, the bankrupt Pyncheon family fight over Seven Gables, the ancestral mansion. To obtain the house, Jaffrey Pyncheon obtains his brother Clifford's false conviction for murder. Hepzibah, Clifford's sweet fiancée, patiently waits twenty years for his release, whereupon Clifford and his former cellmate, abolitionist Matthew, have a certain scheme in mind.
Hobo with a Shotgun (2011)
A vigilante homeless man pulls into a new city and finds himself trapped in urban chaos, a city where crime rules and where the city's crime boss reigns. Seeing an urban landscape filled with armed robbers, corrupt cops, abused prostitutes and even a pedophile Santa, the Hobo goes about bringing justice to the city the best way he knows how - with a 20-gauge shotgun. Mayhem ensues when he tries to make things better for the future generation. Street justice will indeed prevail.
Out for Justice (1991)
Gino Felino (Steven Seagal) is an NYPD detective from Brooklyn who knows everyone and everything in his neighborhood. Killing his Partner was someone's mistake, because he's now Out For Justice.
An older, reclusive man's best friend and inspiration for living is his 14-year-old dog named "Red". When three troublesome teens kill the dog for no good reason, the grieving man sets out for justice and redemption by whatever means available to him.
Charlie Chan in Egypt (1935)
While investigating the theft of antiquities from an ancient tomb excavation , Charlie discovers that the body of the expedition's leader concealed inside the mummy's wrappings.
Lockout (2012)
Set in the near future, Lockout follows a falsely convicted ex-government agent , whose one chance at obtaining freedom lies in the dangerous mission of rescuing the President's daughter from rioting convicts at an outer space maximum security prison.
Civil Brand (2003)
Forced to work under slave-like conditions in a "prison for profit" program, the inmates of a mostly-African-American female prison, Whitehead Correctional, try to take over the institution. At the core of the story is Frances, who finds herself in prison after being falsely convicted of murder, and who is told that her baby has been murdered, sparking her to lead her fellow inmates in the protest
I Am Wrath (2016)
A man is out for justice after a group of corrupt police officers are unable to catch his wife's killer.
The Brotherhood of Justice (1986)
A group of high school students, led by a rich boy Derek, is sick of school violence and decides to become underground vigilantes named "Brotherhood of Justice". It starts with the idea "watching people", but things quickly get out of control. "Brotherhood of Justice" turns out another gang of violence. Derek wants to stop it but it is too late, so he takes responsibility for it and gives himself to the law.
Pacific Blackout (1941)
Falsely convicted of murder, young Robert Draper (Robert Preston) escapes custody during a practice blackout drill. Under cover of darkness, Draper hopes to find the real killer, who turns out to be a member of a Nazi sabotage ring. Completed shortly before America entered WW2.
Walking Tall: The Payback (2007)
A man goes back to his hometown that is now overrun with crime and single-handedly takes justice into his own hands.
Dark Passage (1947)
Bogey's on the lam and Bacall's at his side in Dark Passage, Delmer Daves' stylish film-noir thriller that's the third of four films Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall made together. Bogart is Vincent Parry who, framed for murder, escapes San Quentin and soon emerges from plastic surgery with a new face. Bacall is Irene Jansen, Vincent's lone ally. In a supporting role, Agnes Moorehead portrays Madge, a venomous harpy who finds pleasure in the unhappiness of others. The chemistry of the leads is undeniable, and they augment it here with exceptional tenderness. Exceptional too are the atmospheric San Francisco locations and the imaginative camera work that shows Vincent's point of view - but not his face - until the bandages are removed. Lest Irene get ideas, the post-surgery Vincent tells her: "Don't change yours. I like it just as it is."
Walking Tall: Lone Justice (2007)
In Dallas, witnesses against a drug-lord are murdered in a safe-house.The testimony of FBI agents becomes the only chance to keep him in prison. They are lodged in another safe-house, but the place is invaded and the agents are executed. However, Kate is only wounded, and her boyfriend Nick believes there is a traitor in the agency and takes her to his ranch to protect her life.
Chaarulatha (2012)
Chaarulatha (also spelled as Charulatha) is a 2012 Indian horror film simultaneously made in Kannada and Tamil languages. The film was directed by Pon Kumaran, a former associate to K. Bhagyaraj and K. S. Ravikumar, and features Priyamani in the lead role. The film was an adaptation of the Thai horror film Alone. Sundar C Babu composed the film's music.] The films story is about conjoined twins. Produced by Global One Studios and distributed by Hansraj Saxena's Sax Pictures, Charulatha released on 21 September 2012 with dubbed Malayalam and Telugu versions with the same title.
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ConocoPhillps loses $1.47B in 1Q, pays 96.4% effective tax rate in Alaska
Andrew Jensen
ConocoPhillips posted a loss of $1.47 billion in the first quarter of 2016, including a $2 million net loss from its Alaska operations.
The state’s largest oil producer increased its output year-over-year by 4.3 percent, from 163,000 barrels per day in the first quarter of 2015 compared to 170,000 in 2016.
It also spent $320 million in capital expenditures in Alaska, down from the $402 million spent in the same period of 2015, which reflects the work done throughout last year to bring the CD-5 site into production last October.
Although ConocoPhillips said Thursday that it is lowering its full-year capital expenditures outlook to $5.7 billion from $6.4 billion, the company announced last week it will spend $190 million to fully drill out CD-5 this year and next, and reach its production target of 16,000 barrels per day this year.
Last fall, ConocoPhillips announced it has sanctioned development of the adjoining Greater Mooses Tooth-1 project that has potential to produce 30,000 barrels per day.
Before reflecting net operating loss credits now the subject of so much debate in Juneau, ConocoPhillips’ unadjusted result in the state was a loss of $52 million. Yet even with the upward revision to a net loss of $2 million after taxes and credits, the company reported paying an effective tax rate of 96.4 percent in Alaska in the first quarter. It was the highest effective tax rate for any jurisdiction where ConocoPhillips operates, ahead of 90.8 percent in the Asia Pacific/Middle East and 65.3 percent in North Africa/Europe. The company's consolidated average rate was 34.5 percent.
Besides production taxes, oil companies in Alaska pay a 12.5 percent royalty plus property and corporate taxes.
In the same period of 2015, ConocoPhillips paid an effective tax rate in Alaska of 35.2 percent on pre-tax income of $225 million.
Revenue totaled $5.02 billion, down from $8 billion a year ago. ConocoPhillips reported its average realized price for crude oil was $31.43 per barrel in the first quarter compared to $48 in the same period of 2015.
The Alaska Department of Revenue estimates that lease expenses and transportation costs on each barrel of North Slope crude are about $46 per barrel.
The company’s loss was less than expected by Wall Street. Losses, adjusted for asset impairment costs and one-time costs, came to 95 cents per share. This was better than the loss of $1.07 per share that analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research expected. Shares were up slightly by 88 cents to $49 as of 10:20 a.m. Alaska time.
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Year : 2014 | Volume : 17 | Issue : 5 | Page : 1-2
Jerome Engel
Jonathan Sinay Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Neurobiology, Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences Director, UCLA Seizure Disorder Center, David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA, 710 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1769, USA
Date of Web Publication 12-Mar-2014
Jonathan Sinay Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Neurobiology, and Psychiatry & Biobehavioral Sciences Director, UCLA Seizure Disorder Center David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA 710 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1769
Engel J. Preface. Ann Indian Acad Neurol 2014;17, Suppl S1:1-2
Engel J. Preface. Ann Indian Acad Neurol [serial online] 2014 [cited 2019 Jul 18];17, Suppl S1:1-2. Available from: http://www.annalsofian.org/text.asp?2014/17/5/1/128642
Epilepsy is among the most common serious diseases of the brain, representing a health burden worldwide equivalent to breast cancer in women and lung cancer in men. It has been estimated that 80% of the people with epilepsy live in the developing world, where access to appropriate medical care is limited, and many people with epilepsy in these regions receive no treatment at all. This treatment gap has been an issue of considerable concern for the International League against Epilepsy and the International Bureau for Epilepsy, which have partnered with the World Health Organization to create the Global Campaign against Epilepsy, designed to improve knowledge, attitudes, and practices about epilepsy in these regions. Interventions are aimed at educating patients, the general public, and medical communities, and until recently, were focused on pharmacotherapy, stigma, and social services. Although surgical therapy has been accepted as an effective alternative therapy for appropriately selected patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy for over a century, the sophisticated technical demands of presurgical evaluation were, until recently, believed to be beyond the means of countries with limited resources. The reports in this volume attest to the fact that this is no longer the case.
The modern era of surgical treatment for epilepsy began at the end of the 19 th century, and this alternative therapeutic approach became widespread with the advent of electroencephalography in the mid-20 th century. The safety and efficacy of surgical treatment was further enhanced with the use of modern neuroimaging, specifically magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography, towards the end of the 20 th century. Surgically remediable epilepsy syndromes are recognized as those with a well-defined pathophysiology, localized lesions that can be surgically removed without incurring unacceptable neurological deficits, and a natural history of unresponsiveness to pharmacotherapy after failure of two appropriate antiseizure drug trials. The prototype of a surgically remediable syndrome is mesial temporal lobe epilepsy, which is also the most common form of epilepsy, and the most pharmacoresistant. Other surgically remediable syndromes include neocortical epilepsies due to structural lesions that can be easily resected, diffuse hemispheric disturbances such as Rasmussen's encephalitis, hemimegencephaly, Sturge-Weber, and large porencephalic cysts, that can be treated by hemispherectomy or hemispherotomy, and gelastic seizures with hypothalamic hamartoma, which is the source of the ictal events. Two randomized controlled trials of surgery for pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy have demonstrated its superiority over continued antiseizure drug treatment, with 64% of patients being seizure free in one trial and 85% in the other, compared to 50% of patients showing a 50% reduction in seizures in drug trial meta-analyses. The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) issued a practice parameter a decade ago recommending surgery as the treatment of choice for medically refractory temporal lobe epilepsy.
Sadly, surgical treatment for epilepsy remains arguably the most underutilized of all accepted medical treatments and represents a major treatment gap in the industrialized world. In the United States, less than 1% of patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy are referred to epilepsy centers where surgical treatment is offered. When patients are referred for surgery, the average duration from onset of epilepsy to surgery is over 20 years. Despite the two randomized controlled trials and the AAN practice parameter, there has been no increase in the number of patients undergoing treatment in the United States since 1990, and no change in the delay to referral for patients who do receive surgical treatment.
The reason for the epilepsy surgery treatment gap in the industrialized world is unknown; it appears to be related to persistent misconceptions about who can benefit from surgery, fear of surgery, and economic issues. There are two happy exceptions to the persistent underutilization of epilepsy surgery, however. One is the increasing application of surgical treatment for infants and young children with severe life-threatening epilepsies due to structural lesions limited to one hemisphere, and the other is increasing availability of surgical treatment in countries with limited resources. In emerging economies, such as those of India, Brazil, and China, epilepsy surgery programs have been developed that offer the same degree of excellence as major epilepsy centers in North America, Europe, Japan, and Australia. The problems in these countries is access, given the overwhelming numbers of patients who might be surgical candidates, amounting to well over a million patients in India alone. Other, smaller countries are now also developing epilepsy surgery programs that offer treatment to patients with surgically remediable epilepsy syndromes that do not require expensive invasive presurgical investigations.
Economic arguments can be made that surgical treatment is more cost-effective for countries with limited resources than continued medical treatment. Now that presurgical evaluation has become sufficiently streamlined, most countries ought to be able to afford at least one epilepsy center with the capability of carrying out video-electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings and magnetic resonance imaging, which would make it possible to operate successfully on most patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy and neocortical epilepsy due to well-circumscribed structural lesions. Such centers could remain busy for years concentrating only on the most clear-cut surgical candidates. In order for countries with limited resources to provide effective surgical treatment for pharmacoresistant epilepsy, the primary investment needs to be in human resources, particularly appropriately trained neurologists, neurosurgeons, clinical neurophysiologists, neuropsychologists, neuroradiologists, psychiatrists, and pathologists. The goal should be to ultimately make surgical treatment available for all of the approximately 10 million people worldwide who could benefit from this alternative treatment, tremendously reducing the global financial and human cost of epilepsy.
Engel J
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H.F. Lenfest, Philanthropist and Owner of Philadelphia’s Newspapers, Dies at 88
Mr. Lenfest and a fellow investor, Lewis Katz, agreed in 2014 to pay $88 million to purchase the Philadelphia publications. Just days after the acquisition, Mr. Katz died in a plane crash.
In 2016, Mr. Lenfest announced that he had donated the three information retailers to a brand new nonprofit that he created, the Institute for Journalism in New Media, which later was renamed the Lenfest Institute for Journalism.
Mr. Lenfest stated the transfer was supposed to increase the publications’ longevity in a brand new digital age.
“My goal is to ensure that the journalism traditionally provided by the printed newspapers is given a new life and prolonged, while new media formats for its distribution are being developed,” Mr. Lenfest stated. “Of all of the ventures I have been involved with in my life, nothing is more important than preserving the journalism that has been delivered by these storied news organizations.”
He stepped down as chairman of the institute in 2017, and Mr. Boardman took his place.
By investing sooner or later of these information retailers in Philadelphia, Mr. Lenfest helped create a means for native journalism to exist and presumably be replicated in different components of the nation, Mr. Boardman stated.
Harold FitzGerald Lenfest was born on May 29, 1930, in Jacksonville, Fla., the son of Harold C. Lenfest and Herrena FitzGerald Lenfest. Mr. Lenfest was often called Gerry as a result of he needed a typical man’s title, Mr. Stein stated.
When Mr. Lenfest was 13, the household moved to a farm close to Lambertville, N.J. He went to Flemington High School and graduated from Mercersburg Academy in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Lenfest graduated from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Va., with a level in economics in 1953, served within the United States Navy, attained the rank of captain, and graduated from Columbia Law School. He married Marguerite in 1955, when she was a senior in faculty.
In addition to his spouse, Mr. Lenfest is survived by his kids Diane Lenfest Myer, H. Chase Lenfest and Brook Lenfest; sisters Marie Schmitz and Lauren Lenfest, and brother Robin Lenfest; and grandchildren Alexa Lenfest, Chase A. Lenfest, Olivia Myer and William Myer.
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Packers Were There, But Fall To Patriots 31-17
November 05 23:00 2018 by John Edmonds
New England won without tight end Rob Gronkowski, running back Sony Michel and guard Shaq Mason. Is it a championship defense -probably not.
The main attraction, of course, will be the two pivots, as Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady will share the same field as combatants for just the second time in each of their soon-to-be Hall of Fame careers.
But it was Brady – with one TD and 294 yards – who looked more composed at shotgun.
Gronkowski wound up playing against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8. In recent years, at times it has broke.
The Packers came charging back and tied it, 17-17, early in the second half. Pass-rush breakdowns against Chicago.
On the ensuing drive, Rodgers was sacked by Flowers and Clayborn to force a three and out. Patriots punt. Packers take over at their 21. That has been the case most of this season.
The numbers against the run don’t look great, but the Pats played light fronts and seemed willing to cede yards on the ground. More practice periods for the offensive situations have been added, and the Packers did go 6-for-13 on third down and 2-for-3 in the red zone against the Patriots, but those conversion rates must continue.
“Whether I’m missing a throw or we’re not in the spot I think we’re going to be at, it’s happening in the worst times”. It was time for Green Bay to finally have a big win this season. Their top priority was getting interior pressure, which is why Adam Butler outsnapped Malcom Brown, Lawrence Guy, and Danny Shelton (and why Flowers played so much inside). Mike McCarthy’s team had a number of excellent opportunities to take control of Sunday night’s game, but once again, their own errors proved costly.
The final in Foxboro was 31-17.
It took the defense to get the offense rolling. Tom Brady says he’s day-to-day.
“We made some plays in the fourth quarter when we needed to”, Brady said. “You know, that’s a tough offense to defend”. I mean, I had no idea.
The Patriots’ defense tightened on Green Bay’s next drive.
The Patriots got the opening kickoff and went on a blistering pace where they were moving faster than Han Solo when he did the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs.
Stephon Gilmore: Didn’t hear much from Davante Adams in this one. Although his snap share has been low due to the addition of Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman‘s return, Patterson has 11 receptions on 15 targets for 114 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Aaron Rodgers has an idea about how the season – one that’s slipping away by the week – can be saved. They connected on six of them, including a touchdown, but they totaled just 40 yards. “The big thing about it not just knocking the ball out, it’s recovering the ball”.
Belichick was impressed with the play of Rodgers thinking that his defense had flawless coverage on the great plays to Valdez-Scantling. I’m just mad that James didn’t get in [the end zone]. “I would’ve had a better stat line”.
“Being a great player, he made plays”.
“Every time we step on the field we have to get a stop”, said Guy after the game. “He has such a presence in the pocket”.
Research For 6G Cellular Network Underway Despite The Late Launch Of Its Predecessor
Original Version Of The Nintendo Switch Is Getting An Upgrade
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Biography – SEMLIN, CHARLES AUGUSTUS – Volume XV (1921-1930) – Dictionary of Canadian Biography
SEMLIN, CHARLES AUGUSTUS, teacher, miner, packer, hotel owner, rancher, politician, and school trustee; b. 4 Dec. 1836 near Barrie, Upper Canada, son of David Semlin and Susannah Stafford; d. unmarried 2 Nov. 1927 in Cache Creek, B.C.
Charles Semlin was educated at a public school and by private tuition in Barrie; he subsequently became a teacher there. News of the Cariboo gold rush in British Columbia led him to give up his career in central Canada. He travelled to the Pacific coast, arriving in Victoria on 12 June 1862. His career as a miner was neither particularly long nor particularly successful. He prospected and mined for three summers in the Cariboo and then became a packer, carrying supplies between Lillooet and Quesnel.
In the spring of 1865 – evidently en route to the Big Bend of the Columbia River, which at the time was experiencing a gold rush of its own – Semlin came to Cache Creek. It would remain his home for the rest of his life. He soon found work in the area at Ashcroft Manor, managing the roadhouse and adjacent ranch of Clement Francis Cornwall and his brother Henry. Several months later he and a partner, Philip Parke, purchased a roadhouse of their own, Bonaparte House. Their advertisements stressed its strategic location at the junction of the wagon roads north to the Cariboo and east to Savona’s Ferry (Savona) and the upper Thompson River. Parke sold out his interest to Wilson Henry Sanford in 1868 and in 1870 Semlin took over Sanford’s share. Semlin traded the hotel to James Campbell in 1870, exchanging it for ranch land. He had been acquiring land in the area since 1867 through pre-emption and purchase. He gradually consolidated his holdings into one of the largest ranches in the region, which he would operate as the Dominion Ranch until his death in 1927.
Although Semlin became a successful rancher – the Dominion Ranch carried 15,000 head of cattle and was one of the most notable of the large interior ranches – he also engaged in many activities typical of early European settlers. He was the first postmaster in Cache Creek, for example. In 1873 he successfully lobbied the government for a public boarding school in the interior, so that the region’s scattered population of school-age children could receive formal education. As an mla, he introduced the legislation of 1874 that led to the establishment of the school in Cache Creek and he oversaw its official opening in June.
During its 16-year existence the Central Boarding School attracted a good deal of controversy [see John Jessop*]. The choice of Cache Creek over the larger community of Kamloops, the actions of the appointed school board (which comprised Semlin, Parke, Campbell, and C. F. Cornwall), and the conditions at the school all drew critical comment in the press. Semlin staunchly defended the institution, at one point even briefly assuming teaching duties there. It finally shut down in 1890. When a rural school district was created for Cache Creek several years later, Semlin, Parke, and Campbell all served as trustees.
Semlin’s career as a politician had begun in 1871, when he was elected in Yale to the inaugural session of the provincial legislature following British Columbia’s entry into confederation that year. His election was fortuitous. He and another candidate having tied for third place in the three-member riding, the returning officer allegedly put their names in a hat and declared Semlin elected when his name was drawn. His first years as a politician were not especially notable. He ran unsuccessfully in Yale in the general elections of 1875 and 1878. Then his fortunes improved; he was returned in 1882 and would retain his seat in the general elections of 1886, 1890, 1894, and 1898. He became leader of the opposition after the election of 1894, largely in consequence of Robert Beaven*’s failure to win re-election.
Even sympathetic newspapers noted that Semlin was not particularly effective as leader of the opposition. An affable and easy-going person, he appears to have been uncomfortable in the divisive atmosphere and raucous debate that characterized the legislative sessions of the late 1890s. Complicating matters was the fact that provincial politicians had not yet embraced the party allegiances of the federal arena; for example, both he and Premier John Herbert Turner were staunch Conservatives. Semlin was really only the titular head of the opposition, since the oppositionists represented all shades of the political spectrum. They were united in their discontent with the Turner government, a fragile base on which to build an effective political force.
By 1897 the land and railway policies of the Turner administration, as well as the actions of individual cabinet ministers such as Charles Edward Pooley and James Baker, were attracting considerable criticism in the national and provincial press. Semlin issued an official opposition platform that summer on behalf of the Provincial party, calling for an electoral redistribution to correct the over-representation of Vancouver Island and the under-representation of the mainland in the assembly, as well as for a reorganization of the civil service, constraints on Asian immigration, and government control of railways. In October 1897 the first gathering of provincial Liberals formulated a similar platform on which to oppose the Turner government. Although the Liberals split over the issue of introducing party lines in the next provincial election, the arrival earlier that year of prominent Manitoba Liberal Joseph Martin had served to give them greater presence.
The Turner government failed to win a clear majority in the election of July 1898, and contested results and delayed polling meant that the exact standings remained in doubt for some time. In a controversial move, Lieutenant Governor Thomas Robert McInnes dismissed Turner and his ministers in early August. He then turned to Beaven and asked him to form a ministry, in spite of the fact that the former premier had failed to win a seat. Beaven was unable to find sufficient support and so McInnes next called on Semlin. Semlin succeeded where Beaven had failed, although Martin had at first been reluctant to serve under him, likely because he hoped to be named leader at a Liberal convention planned for two weeks later in Vancouver. He would then have been well placed to claim the premiership for himself.
Semlin was premier of British Columbia for just 18 months, from 15 Aug. 1898 to 27 Feb. 1900. As many contemporaries later recalled, it was a tempestuous period, in part because of the loose affiliations and informal structures that held political groups together. Uniting such diverse elements would have been a formidable challenge for the most accomplished politician, and Semlin was not a forceful leader. His difficulties also reflected divisions within his cabinet, which included fellow Conservative Francis Lovett Carter-Cotton* as minister of finance and the mercurial Martin as attorney general. The two men detested each other, an animosity that contributed to the disintegration of the government. Semlin’s efforts to initiate wide-ranging reforms compounded his problems. Moves such as legislating an eight-hour day for hardrock miners were angrily denounced by mine owners and led to a lengthy and bitter strike (June 1899–February 1900) in the Kootenays. Similarly, the many dismissals that accompanied efforts to purge the civil service of patronage appointments caused heated protests and further eroded government support.
A speech by Attorney General Martin ultimately led to the collapse of the Semlin government. On 20 June 1899, just after the Kootenay miners’ strike began, Martin addressed a banquet in Rossland. Irate mine owners in attendance began to heckle. The speech deteriorated into a shouting match and ended in a brawl which had to be broken up by the police. Semlin demanded Martin’s resignation, which he tendered only after the caucus had sided with the premier.
When the next legislative session began in January 1900, Martin sat with the opposition. Semlin had not enjoyed a comfortable majority even with Martin in the cabinet; his departure called the government’s survival into question. The fatal blow came with the defeat at the end of February of a major government bill concerning electoral redistribution. When Semlin advised Lieutenant Governor McInnes of the defeat, he requested time to see if he could regain the confidence of the house. After several days of negotiations, he found several opposition figures willing to join his ministry. McInnes ignored this development and dismissed the government, calling on Martin to form a ministry. The lieutenant governor’s decision created an uproar in the assembly, which responded by passing a motion of no-confidence in Martin. The political situation in British Columbia was degenerating into chaos. Martin could not govern without a popular mandate, which he failed to win in the provincial election of June 1900. McInnes then turned to James Dunsmuir* to form an administration.
Semlin, who had represented Yale since British Columbia entered confederation, did not stand for election in 1900. He later commented that “I felt that I had done my share, and that it was time that younger shoulders were taking up the burdens of public life.” He returned briefly to politics, winning a by-election early in 1903, but he opted not to run in the provincial election held that autumn. He campaigned once more, in 1907, but was unsuccessful.
Throughout his time as a politician Semlin had remained active in his community. He was said to have helped to form a local agricultural association in 1888, probably the Inland Agricultural Society of British Columbia of which he was elected president in 1889. He participated in the establishment of the British Columbia Cattlemen’s Association in 1889 and he continued to play a role as the ranching industry faced a series of challenges, including greater competition from ranches in neighbouring Alberta, the formation and proliferation of company-owned ranches, and growing numbers of sheep in the area. Semlin followed other pursuits as well. His interest in Canadian history was well known and he served as president of the Yale and Lillooet Pioneer Society for many years. A good speaker, he was often asked to chair meetings or act as master of ceremonies, a role he continued to fill until well into his eighties.
Although known as a lifelong bachelor – even his death certificate lists him as single – Semlin raised a daughter, Mary, and left much of his estate, valued at just over $50,000 and consisting mainly of stock in the Dominion Ranch Limited, to his grandchildren. One account of his life, written after his death by a friend, states that he had adopted the girl. This appears to be contradicted by the census records of 1881, which list Mary’s mother, Caroline Williams, a native woman, as living with Semlin and using his surname, but which do not describe them as married.
When Semlin died in 1927, the Vancouver Daily Province carried the news on its front page, noting that he was the last surviving member of the province’s first legislature. Its editorial columns reflected on this fact, pointing out that Semlin’s adult life had spanned the history of the province of British Columbia since its formal creation in 1871. In his own community the local newspaper observed that his grave was next to a cenotaph commemorating European pioneers, “of which the deceased was one of the most beloved.”
Jeremy Mouat
BCA, E/C/Se5, 1879-90, 1896-1904; E/D/Se5, 1901-14; GR-1952, file 1928/2; MS-0700. LAC, RG 14, Parl., E-1, vol.1989, 5th session, 8th Parl., Addresses: For copies of all correspondence between the premier, secretary of state, and the lieutenant-governor of British Columbia, having reference to the dismissal of premiers Turner and Semlin. Univ. of B.C. Library, Rare Books and Special Coll. (Vancouver), Charles Semlin fonds. British Columbian (New Westminster), 22 Sept. 1866. R. E. Gosnell, “Prime ministers of B.C., 11: Hon. C. A. Semlin,” Vancouver Daily Province, 23 May 1921: 18-19. Mining Review (Rossland, B.C.), 24 April 1897. Vancouver Daily Province, 3, 11, 13 Nov. 1927. J. D. Belshaw, “Provincial politics, 1871-1916,” in The Pacific province: a history of British Columbia, ed. H. J. M. Johnston (Vancouver and Toronto, 1996), 134-64. Brian Belton, Bittersweet oasis: a history of Ashcroft; the first 100 years (Ashcroft, B.C., 1986). John Calam, “An historical survey of boarding schools and public school dormitories in Canada” (ma thesis, Univ. of B.C., 1962). Canadian men and women of the time (Morgan; 1898 and 1912). Edith Dobie, “Some aspects of party history in British Columbia, 1871-1903,” Pacific Hist. Rev. (Berkeley and Los Angeles, Calif.), 1 (1932): 235-51. Electoral hist. of B.C. S. W. Jackman, Portraits of the premiers: an informal history of British Columbia (Sydney, B.C., 1969). F. H. Johnson, John Jessop: goldseeker and educator; founder of the British Columbia school system (Vancouver, 1971). J. B. Kerr, Biographical dictionary of well-known British Columbians, with a historical sketch (Vancouver, 1890). E. B. Mercer, “Political groups in British Columbia, 1883-1898” (ma thesis, Univ. of B.C., 1937). W. [R.] Norton, “Cache Creek: the provincial boarding school, 1874-1890,” in Reflections: Thompson valley histories, ed. W. [R.] Norton and Wilf Schmidt (Kamloops, B.C., 1994), 26-35. B. C. Patenaude, Golden nuggets: roadhouse portraits along the Cariboo’s gold rush trail (Surrey, B.C., 1998); Trails to gold (Victoria, 1995). W. N. Sage, “Federal parties and provincial groups in British Columbia, 1871-1903,” British Columbia Hist. Quarterly (Victoria), 12 (1948): 151-69. J. T. Saywell, “The McInnes incident in British Columbia (1897-1900), together with a brief survey of the lieutenant-governor’s constitutional position in the Dominion of Canada” (ba graduating essay, Univ. of B.C., 1950). E. O. S. Scholefield and F. W. Howay, British Columbia from the earliest times to the present (4v., Vancouver, 1914), 4. G. F. G. Stanley, “A ’constitutional crisis’ in British Columbia,” Canadian Journal of Economics and Political Science (Toronto), 21 (1955): 281-92.
Agriculture – Stockbreeders
Politicians – Provincial and territorial governments
BEAVEN, ROBERT (Vol. 14)CARTER-COTTON, FRANCIS LOVETT (Vol. 14)JESSOP, JOHN (Vol. 13)MARTIN, JOSEPH (Vol. 15)TURNER, JOHN HERBERT (Vol. 15)DUNSMUIR, JAMES (Vol. 14)GREGORY, FRANCIS BROOKE (Vol. 16)GUICHON, JOSEPH (Vol. 15)More
MACDONALD, RANALD (Vol. 12)McBRIDE, Sir RICHARD (Vol. 14)McLEAN, ALLAN (Vol. 11)SMITH, RALPH (Vol. 14)
BEAVEN, ROBERT
TURNER, JOHN HERBERT
DUNSMUIR, JAMES
McLEAN, ALLAN
MACDONALD, RANALD
McBRIDE, Sir RICHARD
SMITH, RALPH
Jeremy Mouat, “SEMLIN, CHARLES AUGUSTUS,” in Dictionary of Canadian Biography, vol. 15, University of Toronto/Université Laval, 2003–, accessed July 18, 2019, http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/semlin_charles_augustus_15E.html.
Permalink: http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/semlin_charles_augustus_15E.html
Author of Article: Jeremy Mouat
Title of Article: SEMLIN, CHARLES AUGUSTUS
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Lady Warriors find little resistance in rout of SWIC
Southwestern Illinois College 13 18 20 10 61
Wabash Valley College 30 32 33 32 127
WVC sophomore guard Alexis Thomas launches away one of her record-high 11 3-pointers. Thomas scored 33 points in her historic night on Saturday.
Pts: Anjanice Jones - 21
Reb: Milen Hagos - 6
Ast: Anjanice Jones - 4
Pts: Alexis Thomas - 33
Reb: Keya Patton - 8
Ast: 2 Players (#5, #10) - 8
MOUNT CARMEL, Ill. -- In many of the Wabash Valley College women's basketball games you can tell very early on whether an opponent has what it takes to compete with the No. 6 ranked Lady Warriors.
For an undermanned Southwestern Illinois College team, it was evident they didn't have the firepower to compete with the Lady Warriors, who blew past SWIC 127-61.
It's unclear how many teams in the country can defeat the Lady Warriors when they play like they did tonight though. WVC sophomore Alexis Thomas had a historical night, recording 11 3-pointers and 33 points in the Lady Warriors victory. There was some dispute as to whether or not Thomas actually holds the WVC record or not. One alumni unofficially scored 13 3-pointers many years ago, but it was not submitted to the NJCAA. So technically, Thomas appears to hold the record at Wabash Valley College (officially), and just two off the national record regardless of gender. One thing that's not up for debate, she put on an absolute show on Saturday night.
"11 threes in a game is something I've never been a part of," WVC women's basketball head coach Jack Trosper said. "I told people this all year long, she's the best shooter I've ever coached and it's not really close. How well she can shoot, how fast she can get it off, she needs no time, no space. We've seen that in practice a lot, she's someone who consistently works hard, does what she's supposed to and it was awesome to see her kind of reap the benefits tonight with that shooting performance."
You could tell very early on it was Thomas' night and there was little SWIC could do to stop her other than deny her the ball. When the sophomore had the slightest bit of room, she was in total rhythm.
"The first three went in and after that I knew," Thomas spoke of her sharpshooting performance. The goal was just wide open. Pretty much everything I threw up there was going in."
She scored four 3-pointers in the first four minutes of the ballgame, giving you the feel it was going to be a big night for her. With Thomas' unconscious shooting and a Lady Warriors team burning SWIC in the full-court, they blazed right past SWIC in the first half.
Thomas finished 18 points, all on 3-pointers in the first half and the Lady Warriors led 62-31.
The sharpshooting Thomas continued her spectacular shooting night right out of the break, coolly knocking down three more 3-pointers within the first three minutes of the first half, pushing her to nine 3-pointers and 27 points.
WVC's regular platooning kept Thomas on the bench for much of the remainder on the second half, but she came out eyeing the official record at WVC in the fourth quarter. Thomas began the fourth quarter on the floor and nailed her 10th 3-pointer of the night just around two minutes into the quarter. She set the record at 11 threes with 6:10 remaining in the game and was immediately pulled by coach Trosper after hitting the last one. The players, coaches and Thomas all knew what the record was and how close Thomas was.
The Lady Warriors cruised for the remainder of the game, defeating SWIC by an astonishing 66-point margin. Coach Trosper felt it was arguably their most complete game of the season.
"I thought it was a complete game for us," coach Trosper said. "Some games the score can show different things, but today I thought we played a complete game from start to finish. They made a lot of shots, but they took a lot of tough ones. For us, something I was really proud of was they made six twos all game. It just showed we controlled the paint and things like that. Then we were able to score, make a lot of shots, we shared the ball well, I think we had 39 assists in the game. That kind of shows how well we move the ball and when someone makes 11 threes in a game, that certainly helps too."
Interestingly enough, Thomas said practice is more difficult for the Lady Warriors than games. It seems crazy to think about, but with their deep rotation of talent, it's no wonder why the Lady Warriors come out so well prepared against opponents.
"That's how it should be, that's something that's important in our program," coach Trosper said. "We're talented and we know we have a talented group and so we want to make sure we're getting better each day no matter what's happening. The only way to do that is to have great practices and competitive practices. Coming down the stretch, having the success we've had, it could be easier to relax and take a few games off, a few days off, but that's only going to hurt us later if we do that. It's our jobs to try to keep making practices as competitive as possible so when that time does come, where we're going to be a highly contested game, our girls are going to be prepared for it."
Joining Thomas in double-digits on her historic scoring night, sophomore Jordyn Dawson with 16 points, sophomore Kyra Hogan scoring 16 points, Julia Luna scoring 11 points, freshman Pearl Dean with 10 points and eight rebounds, and freshman KK White with 10 points.
The Lady Warriors controlled just about all aspects of the game, outrebounding SWIC 50-21, dishing 39 assists to SWIC's 13, outscoring SWIC 70-10 in the paint, and notably having just three turnovers.
Wabash Valley improved to 19-0 with the victory and remain unblemished.
They'll have a week off before returning to action at Southeastern Illinois College. The game's scheduled for a 1 p.m. tip-off. Coach Trosper's hoping his girls will continue their strong play as the season winds down.
"We'll take a little bit more time so we're more rested," coach Trosper said. "We're at game 19 so far, so it's been a long season so far. It's important that we get some rest when we can, so we'll definitely utilize this "bye week" from the bumps and bruises. These next 10 games will be very impactful as to how we play in March."
WVC -- 30 32 33 32 -- 127
SWIC -- 13 18 20 10 -- 61
WVC scoring: Thomas 11 0 33, Dawson 7 2 16, Hogan 7 2 16, Luna 3 2 11, Dean 5 0 10, White 5 0 10, Patton 4 1 9, Aikens 4 0 8, Hunter 4 0 8, Hunt 2 0 4, Joyner 1 0 2.
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HealthMedicine 10
Hibernating hamsters could provide new clues to Alzheimer's disease
Science Daily/American Chemical Society
Syrian hamsters are golden-haired rodents often kept as house pets. Cold and darkness can cause the animals to hibernate for three to four days at a time, interspersed with short periods of activity. Surprisingly, the hibernation spurts of these cute, furry creatures could hold clues to better treatments for Alzheimer's disease (AD), according to a recent study.
When hamsters and other small mammals hibernate, their brains undergo structural and metabolic changes to help neurons survive low temperatures. A key event in this process appears to be the phosphorylation of a protein called tau, which has been implicated in AD. In the brains of hibernating animals, phosphorylated tau can form tangled structures similar to those seen in AD patients. However, the structures disappear and tau phosphorylation is rapidly and fully reversed when the hibernating animal wakes up. Coral Barbas and colleagues wondered if determining how hibernating hamsters' brains clear out the tangled proteins could suggest new therapies for AD.
So the researchers used mass spectrometry to analyze metabolic changes in Syrian hamster brain before (control), during and after hibernation. A total of 337 compounds changed during hibernation, including specific amino acids, endocannabinoids and brain cryoprotectants. In particular, a group of lipids called long-chain ceramides, which could help prevent oxidative damage to the brain, were highly elevated in hibernating animals compared with those that had recently woken up. The largest change for any metabolite -- about 5-fold more in hibernating animals compared with control animals -- was for phosphatidic acid, which is known to activate an enzyme that phosphorylates tau. The Syrian hamster is an excellent model to study substances that could help protect neurons, the researchers say.
The authors acknowledge funding from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, the Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases and the San Pablo CEU University Foundation.
Tagged: hibernation Alzheimer's, amino acids, endocannabinoids, cryoprotectants, long-chain ceramides
HealthMedicine 10, Women/Prenatal/Infant10
Postpartum depression linked to mother's pain after childbirth
New study underscores importance of managing pain during recovery
Science Daily/October 14, 2018
While childbirth pain has been linked to postpartum depression, the culprit may be the pain experienced by the mother following childbirth, rather than during the labor and delivery process.
Previous research has demonstrated the pain associated with giving birth may increase the risk of postpartum depression but has not specified which part of the labor process (e.g., before, during or after delivery) may be the source of the problem. This is the first study to differentiate postpartum pain from labor and delivery pain and identify it as a significant risk factor for postpartum depression.
"For many years, we have been concerned about how to manage labor pain, but recovery pain after labor and delivery often is overlooked," said Jie Zhou, M.D., M.B.A., lead author of the study and assistant professor of anesthesia at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston. "Our research suggests we need to focus more on helping new mothers manage pain after the baby is born."
Symptoms of postpartum depression -- including extreme sadness, low energy, anxiety, crying episodes, irritability and changes in sleep or eating patterns -- affect about 1 in 9 women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Postpartum depression can lead to lower rates of breastfeeding and poor bonding with the baby.
In the study, Dr. Zhou's research group reviewed pain scores (from the start of labor to hospital discharge) for 4,327 first-time mothers delivering a single child vaginally or by cesarean delivery (C-section) at Brigham and Women's Hospital between June 1, 2015 and Dec. 31, 2017. They compared pain scores to the mothers' Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EPDS) scores one week after delivery.
Dr. Zhou found postpartum depression was significantly associated with higher postpartum pain scores. Mothers with postpartum depression demonstrated more pain-related complaints during recovery and often needed additional pain medication. Women in the postpartum depression group were more likely to have delivered by C-section. They also had more reports of inadequate postpartum pain control.
A number of factors can contribute to postpartum depression. Researchers determined postpartum depression was higher among women who were overweight or obese; who suffered from a torn perineum (the area adjacent to the vaginal opening); who had a history of depression, anxiety or chronic pain; and whose babies were smaller and had lower Apgar scores, a scoring system used to assess the physical health of newborns one minute and five minutes after birth.
"While ibuprofen and similar pain medications are considered adequate for pain control after childbirth, clearly some women need additional help managing pain," said Dr. Zhou. "We need to do a better job identifying who is at risk for postpartum pain and ensure they have adequate postpartum care."
Tagged: postpartum depression, postpartum depression pain, childbirth pain, childbirth pain depression, postpartum pain score, postpartum depression overweight obese
Findings Reveal Brain Mechanisms at Work During Sleep
Oct. 16, 2012 —
Science Daily/Society for Neuroscience
New findings presented today report the important role sleep plays, and the brain mechanisms at work as sleep shapes memory, learning, and behavior. The findings were presented at Neuroscience 2012, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health.
One in five American adults show signs of chronic sleep deprivation, making the condition a widespread public health problem. Sleeplessness is related to health issues such as obesity, cardiovascular problems, and memory problems.
Today's findings show that:
Sleepiness disrupts the coordinated activity of an important network of brain regions; the impaired function of this network is also implicated in Alzheimer's disease (Andrew Ward, abstract 909.05).
Sleeplessness plays havoc with communication between the hippocampus, which is vital for memory, and the brain's "default mode network;" the changes may weaken event recollection (Hengyi Rao, PhD, abstract 626.08).
In a mouse model, fearful memories can be intentionally weakened during sleep, indicating new possibilities for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (Asya Rolls, abstract 807.06).
Loss of less than half a night's sleep can impair memory and alter the normal behavior of brain cells (Ted Abel, PhD, abstract 807.13).
Other recent findings discussed show:
How sleep enables the remodeling of memories -- including the weakening of irrelevant memories -- and the coherent integration of old and new information (Gina Poe, PhD).
The common logic behind seemingly contradictory theories of how sleep remodels synapses, aiding cognition and memory consolidation (Giulio Tononi, MD, PhD).
"As these research findings show, we cannot underestimate the importance of a good night's sleep," said press conference moderator Clifford Saper, PhD, MD, from the Harvard Medical School, an expert on sleep and its deprivation. "Brain imaging and behavioral studies are illuminating the brain pathways that are blocked or contorted by sleep deprivation, and the risks this poses to learning, memory, and mental health."
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: System Under Stress
Nov. 14, 2012 —
Science Daily/University of New South Wales
Australian researchers have discovered for the first time that reduced heart rate variability -- or changes in heart beat timing -- best predicts cognitive disturbances, such as concentration difficulties commonly reported by people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). This adds to the growing body of evidence linking autonomic nervous system imbalance to symptoms of this poorly understood disorder.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is characterised by medically unexplained, disabling fatigue and neuropsychiatric symptoms of at least six months' duration. The disturbance underlying the symptoms in CFS is still poorly understood.
"We have studied autonomic function in CFS for some time and our findings clearly indicate a loss of integrity in stress-responsive neural and physiological systems in CFS. Patients with this condition are hyper-responsive to challenges arising both from within the body and from the environment," says lead researcher, Associate Professor Ute Vollmer-Conna of the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.
"Even when they sleep, their stress-responsive neural systems are on high alert, signalling that it is not safe to relax. I think this condition may be understood by analogy to post-traumatic stress disorder, just that in CFS the original trauma is most likely a physiological, internal one, such as a severe infection."
In a study of 30 patients with CFS and 40 healthy individuals, UNSW researchers recorded the heart beats of participants (via ECG) and analysed cardiac responses to cognitive challenges, and associations with mental performance outcomes.
The patients with CFS performed with similar accuracy, but they took significantly longer to complete the tests than people without the condition. They also had greater heart rate reactivity; low and unresponsive heart rate variability; and prolonged heart rate-recovery after the cognitive challenge.
Resting heart rate variability (an index of vagus nerve activity) was identified as the only significant predictor of cognitive outcomes, while current levels of fatigue and other symptoms did not relate to cognitive performance.
"This is the first demonstration of an association between reduced cardiac vagal tone and cognitive impairment in CFS. Our findings confirm previous reports of a significant loss of vagal modulation, which becomes particularly apparent when dealing with challenging tasks. The current results are consistent with the notion that CFS represents a 'system under stress'," Associate Professor Vollmer-Conna says.
The findings could lead to new ways to improve cognitive difficulties in people with CFS, including biofeedback assisted retraining of autonomic functioning, the researchers say.
Exposure to Light at Night May Cause Depression, Learning Issues
Science Daily/Johns Hopkins
For most of history, humans rose with the sun and slept when it set. Enter Thomas Edison and colleagues, and with a flick of a switch, night became day, enabling us to work, play and post cat and kid photos on Facebook into the wee hours.
According to a new study of mice led by a Johns Hopkins biologist, however, this typical 21st-century scenario may come at a serious cost: When people routinely burn the midnight oil, they risk suffering depression and learning issues, and not only because of lack of sleep. The culprit could also be exposure to bright light at night from lamps, computers and even iPads.
"Basically, what we found is that chronic exposure to bright light -- even the kind of light you experience in your own living room at home or in the workplace at night if you are a shift worker -- elevates levels of a certain stress hormone in the body, which results in depression and lowers cognitive function," said Samer Hattar, a biology professor in the Johns Hopkins University's Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.
Published in the Nov. 14 advance online publication of the journal Nature, the mice study demonstrates how special cells in the eye (called intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells, or ipRGCs) are activated by bright light, affecting the brain's center for mood, memory and learning.
But the study involved mice, so why are we talking about humans? Hattar offers some insight: "Mice and humans are actually very much alike in many ways, and one is that they have these ipRGCs in their eyes, which affect them the same way," he said. "In addition, in this study, we make reference to previous studies on humans, which show that light does, indeed, impact the human brain's limbic system. And the same pathways are in place in mice."
The scientists knew that shorter days in the winter cause some people to develop a form of depression known as "seasonal affective disorder" and that some patients with this mood disorder benefit from "light therapy," which is simple, regular exposure to bright light.
Hattar's team, led by graduate students Tara LeGates and Cara Altimus, posited that mice would react the same way, and tested their theory by exposing laboratory rodents to a cycle consisting of 3.5 hours of light and then 3.5 hours of darkness. Previous studies using this cycle showed that it did not disrupt the mice's sleep cycles, but Hattar's team found that it did cause the animals to develop depression-like behaviors.
"Of course, you can't ask mice how they feel, but we did see an increase in depression-like behaviors, including a lack of interest in sugar or pleasure seeking, and the study mice moved around far less during some of the tests we did," he said. "They also clearly did not learn as quickly or remember tasks as well. They were not as interested in novel objects as were mice on a regular light-darkness cycle schedule."
The animals also had increased levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that has been linked in numerous previous studies with learning issues. Treatment with Prozac, a commonly prescribed anti-depressant, mitigated the symptoms, restoring the mice to their previous healthy moods and levels of learning, and bolstering the evidence that their learning issues were caused by depression.
According to Hattar, the results indicate that humans should be wary of the kind of prolonged, regular exposure to bright light at night that is routine in our lives, because it may be having a negative effect on our mood and ability to learn.
"I'm not saying we have to sit in complete darkness at night, but I do recommend that we should switch on fewer lamps, and stick to less-intense light bulbs: Basically, only use what you need to see. That won't likely be enough to activate those ipRGCs that affect mood," he advises.
Stress Management Counseling in the Primary Care Setting Is Rare
Science Daily/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
While stress may be a factor in 60 to 80 percent of all visits to primary care physicians, only three percent of patients actually receive stress management counseling, say researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Nerurkar and colleagues examined data from the 2006 to 2009 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey involving more than 34,000 office visits and 1,263 physicians. They were looking for evidence of doctors who provided stress management help, which included counseling at the visit, providing "information intended to help patients reduces stress through exercise, biofeedback, yoga, etc.," or referrals "to other health professionals for the purpose of coping with stress."
What they found is that stress management counseling by physicians rarely happens in the primary care setting. Just three percent of physicians offer stress counseling, mostly for their more complex patients, particularly those coping with depression.
"Our research suggests that physicians are not providing stress management counseling as prevention, but rather, as a downstream intervention for their sickest patients," says Nerurkar. "Considering what we know about stress and disease, this clearly points to missed opportunities."
The researchers also found that stress management counseling was associated with longer office visits.
"We know that primary care physicians are overburdened. With the volume of patients they see, there simply may not be enough time to provide stress management counseling during the office visit," says senior author, Gloria Yeh, MD, MPH, Director of the Integrative Medicine Fellowship Program at Harvard Medical School and BIDMC. "The fact that we found that so few physicians are counseling their patients about stress supports this, and highlights the need to rethink how primary care is being delivered."
A key step towards incorporating stress management counseling into primary care may be restructuring primary care delivery and payment to support team-based care.
"New payment models designed to promote wellness will enable team-based primary care practices to add counseling and coaching staff to address stress, mental illness and behavioral change more effectively," says co-author, Russell S. Phillips, MD, Director of the Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care.
These changes could help shift counseling to earlier in the disease process.
"Our findings make us wonder whether stress management counseling, if offered earlier to more patients as prevention, could lead to better health outcomes," says Nerurkar, "But more research is needed to establish the role that stress management might play clinically."
In addition to Nerurkar, Yeh and Phillips, co-authors include Asaf Bitton, MD, MPH and Roger B. Davis, ScD of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Nerurkar is supported by an Institutional National Research Service Award from the National Institutes of Health. Davis is supported in part by the Harvard Catalyst and the Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center.
Extended Sleep Reduces Pain Sensitivity
Science Daily/American Academy of Sleep Medicine
A new study suggests that extending nightly sleep in mildly sleepy, healthy adults increases daytime alertness and reduces pain sensitivity.
"Our results suggest the importance of adequate sleep in various chronic pain conditions or in preparation for elective surgical procedures," said Timothy Roehrs, PhD, the study's principal investigator and lead author. "We were surprised by the magnitude of the reduction in pain sensitivity, when compared to the reduction produced by taking codeine."
Results show that the extended sleep group slept 1.8 hours more per night than the habitual sleep group. This nightly increase in sleep time during the four experimental nights was correlated with increased daytime alertness, which was associated with less pain sensitivity.
In the extended sleep group, the length of time before participants removed their finger from a radiant heat source increased by 25 percent, reflecting a reduction in pain sensitivity. The authors report that the magnitude of this increase in finger withdrawal latency is greater than the effect found in a previous study of 60 mg of codeine.
According to the authors, this is the first study to show that extended sleep in mildly, chronically sleep deprived volunteers reduces their pain sensitivity. The results, combined with data from previous research, suggest that increased pain sensitivity in sleepy individuals is the result of their underlying sleepiness.
Significant Link Found Between Daytime Sleepiness and Vitamin D
Dec. 14, 2012 —
A new study suggests that there is a significant correlation between excessive daytime sleepiness and vitamin D, and race plays an important factor.
Results show that in patients with normal vitamin D levels, progressively higher levels of daytime sleepiness were correlated inversely with progressively lower levels of vitamin D. Among patients with vitamin D deficiency, sleepiness and vitamin D levels were associated only among black patients. Surprisingly, this correlation was observed in a direct relationship, with higher vitamin D levels associated with a higher level of sleepiness among black patients.
"While we found a significant correlation between vitamin D and sleepiness, the relationship appears to be more complex than we had originally thought," said David McCarty, MD, the study's principal investigator. "It's important to now do a follow-up study and look deeper into this correlation."
The study, appearing online in the Dec. 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, involved a consecutive series of 81 sleep clinic patients who complained of sleep problems and nonspecific pain. All patients eventually were diagnosed with a sleep disorder, which in the majority of cases was obstructive sleep apnea. Vitamin D level was measured by blood sampling, and sleepiness was determined using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.
According to the authors, this is the first study to demonstrate a significant relationship between sleepiness and vitamin D. They noted that it is logical for race to affect this relationship because increased skin pigmentation is an established risk factor for low vitamin D.
The study was not designed to examine causality. However, the authors' previous and current research suggests that suboptimal levels of vitamin D may cause or contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness, either directly or by means of chronic pain.
Dopamine Regulates the Motivation to Act, Study Shows
Jan. 10, 2013 —
Science Daily/Asociación RUVID
The widespread belief that dopamine regulates pleasure could go down in history with the latest research results on the role of this neurotransmitter. Researchers have proved that it regulates motivation, causing individuals to initiate and persevere to obtain something either positive or negative.
The neuroscience journal Neuron publishes an article by researchers at the Universitat Jaume I of Castellón that reviews the prevailing theory on dopamine and poses a major paradigm shift with applications in diseases related to lack of motivation and mental fatigue and depression, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, etc. and diseases where there is excessive motivation and persistence as in the case of addictions.
"It was believed that dopamine regulated pleasure and reward and that we release it when we obtain something that satisfies us, but in fact the latest scientific evidence shows that this neurotransmitter acts before that, it actually encourages us to act. In other words, dopamine is released in order to achieve something good or to avoid something evil," explains Mercè Correa.
Depression After Heart Attack: Threat Perception Has to Be Addressed
Science Daily/Université du Luxembourg
"Survivors of heart attacks are three times more likely to develop depression during the first six months after their heart attack, than people with no heart disease. If left untreated this contributes to a worse prognosis, for instance further cardiac events and possibly death.
The causes for this high prevalence of depression after heart attacks are still unclear," said Prof. Claus Vögele, Professor of Clinical and Health Psychology at the University of Luxembourg and lead author of the publication entitled "Cardiac Threat Appraisal and Depression after First Myocardial Infarction."
Thirty-six cardiac patients were interviewed five to fifteen days after their first heart attack, six to eight weeks later, and again six months later. They were questioned on their level of fatigue, general health, disease-specific symptoms, work, and family. Depression levels were assessed with questionnaires and clinical diagnoses were established using a structured, clinical interview. To investigate their individual ways of coping with this experience, patients were questioned on rumination, affiliation seeking, threat minimisation, information seeking, and seeking meaning in religion.
The findings are among the first to show that the way patients think about their heart attack has an immediate effect on the likelihood of developing depression. For example, if they continue to perceive their heart attack as a serious threat then they are more likely to experience depression, even weeks after the attack. On the other hand, if patients have ways to focus their thoughts on their recovery and know how to ask for support from their friends and family, then this risk for depression is much reduced.
"These results can be used to help patients to have a more positive outlook on life, even after such a dramatic and life-threatening event," said Prof. Vögele, who is head of a research group on Self-regulation and Health at the University of Luxembourg. "Psychological interventions in the immediate time after the infarct, for instance during the first two weeks, may protect patients from developing depression, and thereby contribute to a smooth recovery."
Reviewing Alcohol's Effects On Normal Sleep
Science Daily/Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research
Sleep is supported by natural cycles of activity in the brain and consists of two basic states: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Typically, people begin the sleep cycle with NREM sleep followed by a very short period of REM sleep, then continue with more NREM sleep and more REM sleep, this 90 minute cycle continuing through the night. A review of all known scientific studies on the impact of drinking on nocturnal sleep has clarified that alcohol shortens the time it takes to fall asleep, increases deep sleep, and reduces REM sleep.
"This review has for the first time consolidated all the available literature on the immediate effects of alcohol on the sleep of healthy individuals," said Irshaad Ebrahim, medical director at The London Sleep Centre as well as corresponding author for the study.
The onset of the first REM sleep period is significantly delayed at all doses and appears to be the most recognizable effect of alcohol on REM sleep, followed by a reduction in total night REM sleep.
"One consequence of a delayed onset of the first REM sleep would be less restful sleep," said Idzikowski. "The first REM episode is often delayed in stressful environments. There is also a linkage with depression."
Circadian Rhythms Can Be Modified for Potential Treatment of Disorders
Science Daily/UC Irvine-
UC Irvine-led studies have revealed the cellular mechanism by which circadian rhythms -- also known as the body clock -- modify energy metabolism and also have identified novel compounds that control this action. The findings point to potential treatments for disorders triggered by circadian rhythm dysfunction, ranging from insomnia and obesity to diabetes and cancer.
UC Irvine's Paolo Sassone-Corsi, one of the world's leading researchers on the genetics of circadian rhythms, led the studies and worked with international groups of scientists. Their results are detailed in two companion pieces appearing this week in the early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Don’t Ignore the Snore: Snoring May Be Early Sign of Future Health Risks
Science Daily/Henry Ford Health System
https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/2013/01/130124122741_1_540x360.jpg
Here's a wake-up call for snorers: Snoring may put you at a greater risk than those who are overweight, smoke or have high cholesterol to have thickening or abnormalities in the carotid artery, according to new research.
Credit: © Tracy King / Fotolia
Here's a wake-up call for snorers: Snoring may put you at a greater risk than those who are overweight, smoke or have high cholesterol to have thickening or abnormalities in the carotid artery, according to researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
The increased thickening in the lining of the two large blood vessels that supply the brain with oxygenated blood is a precursor to atherosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries responsible for many vascular diseases.
"Snoring is more than a bedtime annoyance and it shouldn't be ignored. Patients need to seek treatment in the same way they would if they had sleep apnea, high blood pressure or other risk factors for cardiovascular disease," says lead study author Robert Deeb, M.D., with the Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery at Henry Ford.
"Our study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that isolated snoring may not be as benign as first suspected. So instead of kicking your snoring bed partner out of the room or spending sleepless nights elbowing him or her, seek out medical treatment for the snorer."
The study reveals changes in the carotid artery with snorers -- even for those without sleep apnea -- likely due to the trauma and subsequent inflammation caused by the vibrations of snoring.
Study results will be presented January 25 at the 2013 Combined Sections Meeting of the Triological Society in Scottsdale, Ariz. It has been submitted to The Laryngoscope journal for publication.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) -- a sleep disorder that occurs due to the collapse of the airway in the throat during sleep and causes loud snoring and periodic pauses in breathing -- has long been linked to cardiovascular disease, along with a host of other serious health issues.
But the risk for cardiovascular disease may actually begin with snoring, long before it becomes OSA. Until now, there was little evidence in humans to show a similar connection between snoring and cardiovascular risk.
For the Henry Ford study, Dr. Deeb and senior study author Kathleen Yaremchuk, M.D., reviewed data for 913 patients who had been evaluated by the institution's sleep center.
Patients, ages 18-50, who had participated in a diagnostic sleep study between December 2006 and January 2012 were included in the study. None of the participants had sleep apnea.
In all, 54 patients completed the snore outcomes survey regarding their snoring habits, as well as underwent a carotid artery duplex ultrasound to measure the intima-media thickness of the carotid arteries.
Carotid intima-media thickness, a measurement of the thickness of the innermost two layers of the arterial wall, may be used to detect the presence and to track the progression of atherosclerotic disease. Intima-media thickness is the first sign of carotid artery disease.
Compared to non-snorers, snorers were found to have a significantly greater intima-media thickness of the carotid arteries, the study finds.
The study also revealed no statistically significant differences in intima-media thickness for patients with or without some of the traditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease -- smoking, diabetes, hypertension or hypercholesterolemia.
"Snoring is generally regarded as a cosmetic issue by health insurance, requiring significant out-of-pocket expenses by patients. We're hoping to change that thinking so patients can get the early treatment they need, before more serious health issues arise."
The Henry Ford research team plans to conduct another long-term study on this topic, particularly to determine if there's an increased incidence of cardiovascular events in patients who snore.
Dietary Nutrients Associated With Certain Sleep Patterns
Feb. 6, 2013 —
Science Daily/Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
A new study shows for the first time that certain nutrients may play an underlying role in short and long sleep duration and that people who report eating a large variety of foods -- an indicator of an overall healthy diet -- had the healthiest sleep patterns.
Credit: © WavebreakmediaMicro / Fotolia
"You are what you eat," the saying goes, but is what you eat playing a role in how much you sleep? Sleep, like nutrition and physical activity, is a critical determinant of health and well-being. With the increasing prevalence of obesity and its consequences, sleep researchers have begun to explore the factors that predispose individuals to weight gain and ultimately obesity. Now, a new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania shows for the first time that certain nutrients may play an underlying role in short and long sleep duration and that people who report eating a large variety of foods -- an indicator of an overall healthy diet -- had the healthiest sleep patterns.
The authors found that total caloric intake varied across groups. Short sleepers consumed the most calories, followed by normal sleepers, followed by very short sleepers, followed by long sleepers. Food variety was highest in normal sleepers, and lowest in very short sleepers. Differences across groups were found for many types of nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
"Overall, people who sleep 7 -- 8 hours each night differ in terms of their diet, compared to people who sleep less or more. We also found that short and long sleep are associated with lower food variety," said Dr. Grandner. "
Permanent Stress Can Cause Type 2 Diabetes in Men
Science Daily/University of Gothenburg
Men who reported permanent stress have a significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than men who reported no stress. This is the finding of a 35-year prospective follow-up study of 7,500 men in Gothenburg, by the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.
Since the 1970s, a large population based cohort study has been undertaken at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg to monitor the health of men born in Gothenburg between 1915 and 1925.
Using this unique material, researchers are now able to show that permanent stress significantly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Of the total sample, 6,828 men without any previous history of diabetes, coronary artery disease or stroke were analysed. A total of 899 of these men developed diabetes during the follow up.
Stress at baseline in this study was measured using a single item question in which they were asked to grade their stress level on a six-point scale, based on factors such as irritation, anxiety and difficulties in sleeping related to conditions at work or at home. At baseline, 15.5% of the men reported permanent stress related to conditions at work or home, either during the past one year or during the past five years.
The results show that men who have reported permanent stress had a 45 percent higher risk of developing diabetes, compared with men who reported to have no or periodic stress. The link between stress and diabetes has been statistically significant, even after adjusting for age, socioeconomic status, physical inactivity, BMI, systolic blood pressure and use of blood pressure-lowering medication.
"Today, stress is not recognized as a preventable cause of diabetes" says researcher Masuma Novak, who led the study. "As our study shows that there is an independent link between permanent stress and the risk of developing diabetes, which underlines the importance of preventive measure."
Stress at Work Very Unlikely to Cause Cancer
Science Daily/BMJ-British Medical Journal
Work-related stress is not linked to the development of colorectal, lung, breast or prostate cancers, a study suggests.
Around 90% of cancers are linked to environmental exposures and whilst some exposures are well recognised (such as UV radiation and tobacco smoke), others are not (psychological factors such as stress).
Stress can cause chronic inflammation which has been shown to have various roles in the development of cancer, plus stressed individuals are more likely to smoke, consume excessive amounts of alcohol and be obese -- all of which are cancer risk factors.
So far, only a few studies have examined the associations between work-related stress and cancer risk. These also had unclear conclusions.
Researchers from the IPD-Work Consortium, led by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health and University College London therefore carried out a meta-analysis of 12 studies involving 116,000 participants aged 17 to 70, from Finland, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and the UK.
Psychological stress at work was assessed using a validated measure, job strain. Job strain was categorised into: high strain job (high demands and low control), active job (high demands and high control), passive job (low demands and low control) and low strain job (low demands and high control).
Data on cancer events were obtained from national cancer or death registries and hospitalisation registries.
Rates were adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic position, BMI, smoking and alcohol intake. Those with a BMI under 15 or over 50 were excluded from the study.
Results showed that 5,765 out of 116,056 (5%) participants developed some form of cancer in the average 12 year follow-up. Researchers found no evidence of an association between job strain and overall cancer risk. They suggest that many of the previously reported associations may have been chance findings or influenced by possible unmeasured common causes of stress and cancer, for example shift work.
Researchers conclude that the meta-analysis provided "no evidence for an association between job strain and overall cancer risk" suggesting that work-related psychological stress is unlikely to be an important factor for cancer. And although reducing work stress would improve the well-being of the general population, it is unlikely to have a marked impact on cancer burden at population-level.
Insomnia Is Linked to Increased Risk of Heart Failure
Science Daily/European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
People who suffer from insomnia appear to have an increased risk of developing heart failure, according to the largest study to investigate the link.
The study, which is published online today in the European Heart Journal, followed 54,279 people between the ages of 20-89 for an average of more than 11 years, and found that those who suffered from three symptoms of insomnia had a more than three-fold increased risk of developing heart failure compared to those with no insomnia symptoms.
Dr Lars Laugsand, a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Public Health, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, said: "We related heart failure risk to three major insomnia symptoms including trouble falling asleep, problems staying asleep, and not waking up feeling refreshed in the morning. In our study, we found that persons suffering from insomnia have increased risk of having heart failure. Those reporting suffering from all three insomnia symptoms simultaneously were at considerably higher risk than those who had no symptoms or only one or two symptoms."
However, he stressed that although the study shows that insomnia is linked to an increased risk of heart failure, it does not show that it causes it. "We do not know whether heart failure is really caused by insomnia, but if it is, insomnia is a potentially treatable condition using strategies such as following simple recommendations concerning sleeping habits (often referred to as sleep hygiene), and several psychological and pharmacological therapies. Evaluation of sleep problems might provide additional information that could be used in prevention of heart failure."
He said further research would be required to establish whether or not insomnia caused the condition. "It is still unclear why insomnia is linked to higher heart failure risk. We have some indications that there might be a biological cause, and one possible explanation could be that insomnia activates stress responses in the body that might negatively affect heart function. However, further research is also needed to find the possible mechanisms for this association."
Dr Laugsand and his colleagues collected data from men and women enrolled in the Nord-Trondelag Health study (HUNT) between 1995 and 1997 and who were free from heart failure when they joined. Heart failure is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood around the body at the right pressure. It usually occurs because the heart muscle has become too weak or stiff to work properly. The researchers followed the study participants until 2008, by which time there had been a total of 1412 cases of heart failure.
When participants joined the study they were asked whether they had difficulty going to sleep and staying asleep, with the possible answers being "never," "occasionally," "often" and "almost every night." They were also asked how often they woke up in the morning not feeling refreshed (non-restorative sleep): "never, few times a year," "one to two times per month," "once a week," "more than once a week."
After adjusting for factors that could affect the results, such as age, sex, marital status, education, shift work, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, body mass index, physical activity, smoking, alcohol, any previous heart attack, depression and anxiety, the researchers found that having difficulties going to sleep and staying asleep almost every night, and having non-restorative sleep more than once a week were associated with an increased risk of heart failure when compared with people who never or rarely suffered from these symptoms. There was a trend showing a link between the frequency of the symptoms and the increased risk, although most of these findings did not reach statistical significance.
When they looked at the number of symptoms, the researchers found a statistically significant three-fold (353%) increased risk of heart failure for people who had all three insomnia symptoms, compared to those with none, after adjusting for most confounding factors apart from depression and anxiety. When they adjusted their findings to include depression and anxiety, the risk was still significant, with a slightly more than four-fold risk (425%) of heart failure.
The authors write in their paper: "We found a moderate risk increase related to the individual insomnia symptoms. However, the risk among those with all the three insomnia symptoms simultaneously was particularly high even after adjustment for established cardiovascular risk factors and psychological distress. This finding may be interpreted as suggesting that compromising some aspects of sleep may be somehow compensated for, and the net effect on cardiovascular disease may be limited. For example, having difficulty falling asleep might be compensated for by a satisfactory depth and a good continuity of sleep. However, if the initiation of sleep is poor and combined with repeated awakenings and superficial sleep, there may not be any compensatory mechanisms."
Anxiety, Depression Identify Heart Disease Patients at Increased Risk of Dying
Mar. 19, 2013 —
Science Daily/Journal of the American Heart Association
Heart disease patients who have anxiety have twice the risk of dying from any cause compared to those without anxiety, according to new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Studies show that depression is about three times more common in heart attack patients. The American Heart Association recommends that heart patients be screened for depression and treated if necessary.
Anxiety and depression each influence risk of death in unique ways. Anxiety, for example, increases activity of the sympathetic (adrenaline-producing) nervous system that controls blood pressure. "People who worry a lot are more likely to have difficulty sleeping and to develop high blood pressure," Watkins said. The link between depression and mortality is more related to behavioral risk factors, she said. "Depression results in lack of adherence to medical advice and treatments, along with behaviors like smoking and being sedentary."
Short and Poor Sleepers Have a Higher Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Science Daily/Wageningen University and Research Centre
People who sleep poorly or not long enough have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. This does not apply to people who sleep less than 6 hours, but wake up feeling fit and rested. Researchers from Wageningen University and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) studied the link between the duration and quality of sleep and the incidence of cardiovascular disease among a group of 20.000 people.
The research team concluded that people who sleep for less than 6 hours and who also sleep badly are doubly unfortunate. The research showed that this group has a 65% higher risk of cardiovascular disease compared with people who sleep soundly for seven to eight hours. Short sleepers who wake up feeling fit and rested have the same chance of suffering a heart attack or stroke as longer sleepers.
The findings imply that sleep can be added to the list of traditional positive lifestyle factors (healthy eating habits, not smoking, moderate alcohol consumption and sufficient physical activity). People who follow these 'lifestyle rules' have a 57% lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and their chance of dying from cardiovascular disease is 2/3 lower.
Adult Health Habits Influence How Much We Shrink With Age
Apr. 1, 2013 —
Science Daily/University of Southern California
Even if you didn't eat your veggies or drink your milk as a child, your height is still in your hands, reveal new findings by economists from the University of Southern California, Harvard University and Peking University.
Using unique data from a new massive longitudinal survey of 17,708 adults beginning at age 45, the researchers show for the first time that lifestyle choices we make in adulthood -- and not just the hand we're dealt as children -- influence how tall we stand as we age.
"Had we only examined the correlations between measured height and health, we would have missed this important insight," said John Strauss, professor of economics at USC, and an investigator on a study published in the April 2013 issue of the American Economic Journal: Applied Economics. "The evidence shows that it is not only early-life events that are associated with how we age, but health decisions in later life as well."
While prior work has looked for the connection between height and health -- both in childhood and adulthood -- the researchers are the first to examine height loss as we age. They show that regardless of your maximum height, the loss of height over time is also an important indicator for other health issues as we age.
For example, the research reveals an especially strong relationship between height loss and cognitive health. Those who had lost more height were also much more likely to perform poorly on standard tests of cognitive health such as short-term memory, ability to perform basic arithmetic and awareness of the date.
Among the socioeconomic factors that correlate to height loss, urban dwellers had much less height loss than those in rural areas, the researchers found, in a country where there has been significant migration to urban areas in the last few decades. In addition, having completed primary school, rather than being illiterate, is associated with 0.9 cm less height shrinkage in men -- a large difference when considering that overall average height loss for men is 3.3 cm. Completing high school meant an additional 1 cm less in shrinkage.
For women, having completed primary school was the difference in 0.6 cm of shrinkage, compared to average overall height decrease of 3.8 cm.
"Height has been recognized as an acceptable proxy for childhood health conditions, but there are complications there," says USC economist Geert Ridder, a co-investigator on the study. "Some of adult health might be determined by childhood circumstances, but people shrink differentially, and that shrinkage is also a measure of adult health conditions."
All humans go through physical changes with age, including an increase in body fat and decrease in bone mass. But a decrease in height can be further exacerbated by certain kinds of arthritis, inflammation of spine joints or osteoporosis, which other studies have shown are associated with such lifestyle choices as diet, exercise and smoking.
The researchers used new data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, a groundbreaking sampling project led by USC economist Strauss, Yaohui Zhao of the China Center for Economic Research (CCER) at Peking University and Gonghuan Yang of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, that covers 150 counties randomly chosen throughout China.
The baseline for the survey was collected from June 2011 to March 2012 and includes both subjective self-reported responses to survey questions as well as objective physical measurements such as blood tests. These physical measurements and personal interviews will be followed-up with the same 17,708 people every two years -- capturing, for the first time, critical data about human aging in the most populous and most rapidly aging country in the world.
For example, recent changes in social security policy and health insurance in China provide a valuable opportunity for researchers to study how health care actually affects health and aging in a large population, with insights for other developing health care systems worldwide, as well as an opportunity to identify possible under-diagnosis of various chronic conditions.
The researchers will also be able to examine the role specific historical events in China may have had on long-term health, including whether there are health and aging differences among those who were "sent-down" during the Cultural Revolution.
The baseline CHARLS data is publicly available to researchers at http://charls.ccer.edu.cn. The research is supported by the National Institute of Aging, the China Natural Science Foundation, the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health and the World Bank.
To estimate full adult height for older study participants, the researchers examined relationships between current height and the length of limbs, which do not shrink with age, from younger survey participants who have not yet started shrinking.
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Eating mushrooms may reduce the risk of cognitive decline
Science Daily/National University of Singapore
Researchers found that seniors who consume more than two standard portions of mushrooms weekly may have 50 percent reduced odds of having mild cognitive impairment.
A team from the Department of Psychological Medicine and Department of Biochemistry at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has found that seniors who consume more than two standard portions of mushrooms weekly may have 50 per cent reduced odds of having mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
A portion was defined as three quarters of a cup of cooked mushrooms with an average weight of around 150 grams. Two portions would be equivalent to approximately half a plate. While the portion sizes act as a guideline, it was shown that even one small portion of mushrooms a week may still be beneficial to reduce chances of MCI.
"This correlation is surprising and encouraging. It seems that a commonly available single ingredient could have a dramatic effect on cognitive decline," said Assistant Professor Lei Feng, who is from the NUS Department of Psychological Medicine, and the lead author of this work.
The six-year study, which was conducted from 2011 to 2017, collected data from more than 600 Chinese seniors over the age of 60 living in Singapore. The research was carried out with support from the Life Sciences Institute and the Mind Science Centre at NUS, as well as the Singapore Ministry of Health's National Medical Research Council. The results were published online in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease on 12 March 2019.
Determining MCI in seniors
MCI is typically viewed as the stage between the cognitive decline of normal ageing and the more serious decline of dementia. Seniors afflicted with MCI often display some form of memory loss or forgetfulness and may also show deficit on other cognitive function such as language, attention and visuospatial abilities. However, the changes can be subtle, as they do not experience disabling cognitive deficits that affect everyday life activities, which is characteristic of Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.
"People with MCI are still able to carry out their normal daily activities. So, what we had to determine in this study is whether these seniors had poorer performance on standard neuropsychologist tests than other people of the same age and education background," explained Asst Prof Feng. "Neuropsychological tests are specifically designed tasks that can measure various aspects of a person's cognitive abilities. In fact, some of the tests we used in this study are adopted from commonly used IQ test battery, the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS)."
As such, the researchers conducted extensive interviews and tests with the senior citizens to determine an accurate diagnosis. "The interview takes into account demographic information, medical history, psychological factors, and dietary habits. A nurse will measure blood pressure, weight, height, handgrip, and walking speed. They will also do a simple screen test on cognition, depression, anxiety," said Asst Prof Feng.
After this, a two-hour standard neuropsychological assessment was performed, along with a dementia rating. The overall results of these tests were discussed in depth with expert psychiatrists involved in the study to get a diagnostic consensus.
Mushrooms and cognitive impairment
Six commonly consumed mushrooms in Singapore were referenced in the study. They were golden, oyster, shiitake and white button mushrooms, as well as dried and canned mushrooms. However, it is likely that other mushrooms not referenced would also have beneficial effects.
The researchers believe the reason for the reduced prevalence of MCI in mushroom eaters may be down to a specific compound found in almost all varieties. "We're very interested in a compound called ergothioneine (ET)," said Dr Irwin Cheah, Senior Research Fellow at the NUS Department of Biochemistry. "ET is a unique antioxidant and anti-inflammatory which humans are unable to synthesise on their own. But it can be obtained from dietary sources, one of the main ones being mushrooms."
An earlier study by the team on elderly Singaporeans revealed that plasma levels of ET in participants with MCI were significantly lower than age-matched healthy individuals. The work, which was published in the journal Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications in 2016, led to the belief that a deficiency in ET may be a risk factor for neurodegeneration, and increasing ET intake through mushroom consumption might possibly promote cognitive health.
Other compounds contained within mushrooms may also be advantageous for decreasing the risk of cognitive decline. Certain hericenones, erinacines, scabronines and dictyophorines may promote the synthesis of nerve growth factors. Bioactive compounds in mushrooms may also protect the brain from neurodegeneration by inhibiting production of beta amyloid and phosphorylated tau, and acetylcholinesterase.
The potential next stage of research for the team is to perform a randomised controlled trial with the pure compound of ET and other plant-based ingredients, such as L-theanine and catechins from tea leaves, to determine the efficacy of such phytonutrients in delaying cognitive decline. Such interventional studies will lead to more robust conclusion on causal relationship. In addition, Asst Prof Feng and his team also hope to identify other dietary factors that could be associated with healthy brain ageing and reduced risk of age-related conditions in the future.
Tagged: mushrooms cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment, MCI, mushrooms dementia, mushrooms cognitive impairment, ergothioneine, bioactive compounds, beta amyloid, mushroom consumption, phytonutrients, hericenones, erinacines, scabronines, dictyophorines, neurodegeneration
Exercise/Athletic 4, Aging/Exercise & Brain 6, Memory6
Exercise may be the best medicine for Alzheimer's disease
Science Daily/University of Maryland
Regular, moderate exercise could improve memory and cognitive function in those at risk for Alzheimer's disease in a way no drug can. Scientists studied the effects of exercise on a group of older adults with mild cognitive impairment and found that brain activity associated with memory, measured by neuroimaging, improved after 12 weeks of a moderate exercise program.
New research out of the University of Maryland School of Public Health shows that exercise may improve cognitive function in those at risk for Alzheimer's by improving the efficiency of brain activity associated with memory. Memory loss leading to Alzheimer's disease is one of the greatest fears among older Americans. While some memory loss is normal and to be expected as we age, a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, or MCI, signals more substantial memory loss and a greater risk for Alzheimer's, for which there currently is no cure.
The study, led by Dr. J. Carson Smith, assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology, provides new hope for those diagnosed with MCI. It is the first to show that an exercise intervention with older adults with mild cognitive impairment (average age 78) improved not only memory recall, but also brain function, as measured by functional neuroimaging (via fMRI). The findings are published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
"We found that after 12 weeks of being on a moderate exercise program, study participants improved their neural efficiency -- basically they were using fewer neural resources to perform the same memory task," says Dr. Smith. "No study has shown that a drug can do what we showed is possible with exercise."
Recommended Daily Activity: Good for the Body, Good for the Brain
Two groups of physically inactive older adults (ranging from 60-88 years old) were put on a 12-week exercise program that focused on regular treadmill walking and was guided by a personal trainer. Both groups -- one which included adults with MCI and the other with healthy brain function -- improved their cardiovascular fitness by about ten percent at the end of the intervention. More notably, both groups also improved their memory performance and showed enhanced neural efficiency while engaged in memory retrieval tasks.
The good news is that these results were achieved with a dose of exercise consistent with the physical activity recommendations for older adults. These guidelines urge moderate intensity exercise (activity that increases your heart rate and makes you sweat, but isn't so strenuous that you can't hold a conversation while doing it) on most days for a weekly total of 150 minutes.
Measuring Exercise's Impact on Brain Health and Memory
One of the first observable symptoms of Alzheimer's disease is the inability to remember familiar names. Smith and colleagues had study participants identify famous names and measured their brain activation while engaged in correctly recognizing a name -- e.g., Frank Sinatra, or other celebrities well known to adults born in the 1930s and 40s. "The task gives us the ability to see what is going on in the brain when there is a correct memory performance," Smith explains.
Tests and imaging were performed both before and after the 12-week exercise intervention. Brain scans taken after the exercise intervention showed a significant decrease in the intensity of brain activation in eleven brain regions while participants correctly identified famous names. The brain regions with improved efficiency corresponded to those involved in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease, including the precuneus region, the temporal lobe, and the parahippocampal gyrus.
The exercise intervention was also effective in improving word recall via a "list learning task," i.e., when people were read a list of 15 words and asked to remember and repeat as many words as possible on five consecutive attempts, and again after a distraction of being given another list of words.
"People with MCI are on a very sharp decline in their memory function, so being able to improve their recall is a very big step in the right direction," Smith states.
The results of Smith's study suggest that exercise may reduce the need for over-activation of the brain to correctly remember something. That is encouraging news for those who are looking for something they can do to help preserve brain function.
Dr. Smith has plans for a larger study that would include more participants, including those who are healthy but have a genetic risk for Alzheimer's, and follow them for a longer time period with exercise in comparison to other types of treatments. He and his team hope to learn more about the impact of exercise on brain function and whether it could delay the onset or progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Tagged: exercise dementia, exercise Alzheimer's, mild cognitive impairment
Memory May Decline Rapidly Even in Stage Before Alzheimer's Disease
Science Daily/American Academy of Neurology
Memory and thinking skills may decline rapidly for people who have mild cognitive impairment, which is the stage before Alzheimer's disease when people have mild memory problems but no dementia symptoms, and even more rapidly when dementia begins, which is when Alzheimer's disease is usually diagnosed.
"These results show that we need to pay attention to this time before Alzheimer's disease is diagnosed, when people are just starting to have problems forgetting things," said study author Robert S. Wilson, PhD, of Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.
"The changes in rate of decline occur as the brain atrophies due to the disease, first mainly in the hippocampus during the initial symptomatic stage, referred to as mild cognitive impairment, then in the temporal, parietal and frontal cortex during the dementing illness phase of Alzheimer's disease," said David S. Knopman, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., and Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, who wrote an editorial accompanying the article.
Tagged: mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's Disease, Alzheimer's disease, memory decline, memory problems
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Home > Catalogue > From Modernism to Postmodernism
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From Modernism to Postmodernism
American Poetry and Theory in the Twentieth Century
Series: Cambridge Studies in American Literature and Culture (No. 149)
Jennifer Ashton
(ISBN-13: 9780511145063 | ISBN-10: 0511145063)
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Introduction: modernism's new literalism
MODERNISM/POSTMODERNISM
“As we move into the twenty-first century,” observes Marjorie Perloff in a recent book, “the modern/postmodern divide has emerged as more apparent than real.”1 Coming not only from a distinguished critic, but also the foremost academic champion of an avant-garde that – whatever disagreements its individual members have about their place in postmodernism – has defined itself against modernism, this observation is a striking one. After all, the divide once seemed crucial to many literary historians, including Perloff herself. Why now does it seem irrelevant, or perhaps more to the point, why did it use to seem so fundamental? What was the crucial difference between modernism and postmodernism? That is, what is the difference between, say, T. S. Eliot or Wallace Stevens and the poets most often identified with postmodernism, particularly those affiliated with the language movement in American poetry (Charles Bernstein, Lyn Hejinian, Ron Silliman, Steve McCaffery, Barrett Watten, Bob Perelman, Susan Howe, Michael Palmer, to name a few)?2 Certainly by customary definitions, the difference would seem incontrovertible. Where, for example, the modernism of Eliot has been identified with the autonomy of the text (or what postmodernism calls the “closed” text) and the determinacy of its meaning, the postmodern text is “open” and its meaning is indeterminate. And where the participation of the reader was thought to be irrelevant to the text in modernism, it has become not just relevant but crucial to the text in postmodernism. But if the divide appears obvious in the context of these stark oppositions, Perloff has strong reasons for denying it.
For even when postmodern poetry was most committed to describing itself as a repudiation of modernism, it was also insisting on a continuity between its values and those of a certain subset of modernist writers. Laura (Riding) Jackson, Louis Zukofsky, and above all Gertrude Stein are invoked with almost ritual frequency as modernist practitioners of a thoroughly postmodern aesthetics.3 But this subset of postmodern modernists has proliferated to the point that now (as we will see in Perloff's own analysis) even Eliot has come to seem increasingly connected to the values of postmodernism – i.e., to the open text, to the solicitation of the reader's participation, and to the indeterminacy of meaning. As the modernist poets to whom postmodernism was once most opposed turn out today to be its most sympathetic precursors, the differences between them do indeed become “more apparent than real,” and what was announced as a break with the modernist tradition looks instead like its perpetuation.
The argument of this book, however, is that those differences, far from being merely apparent, are real, and that the modern/postmodern divide remains intact, both historically and theoretically.4 I am arguing first that the literary history that eliminated the divide is mistaken, which is to say that Stein and (Riding) Jackson (if not Zukofsky) are not committed to the open text and the values of indeterminacy; and second, that the theoretical difference between a literature committed to the text's dependence on readerly participation, and a literature not so committed – a literature committed instead to the irrelevance of the reader and to the absolute autonomy of what Stein calls the work that “exists in and for itself” – is fundamental.This project is thus at once both a literary-historical and a theoretical argument: it is an attempt to alter the currently received history of twentieth-century American poetry by showing that Stein and (Riding) Jackson have been and continue to be misunderstood as postmodernists avant la lettre. And it is meant to show that this historical misunderstanding is itself a function of a more pervasive theoretical effort – beginning for my purposes with the early New Criticism of the 1920s and continuing through the work of critics like Perloff herself – to displace what, in its broadest terms, we might call the “meaning” of a text by the reader's experience of it, a displacement Perloff calls “literalism.”5
Perloff announces the growing inconsequentiality of the modern/postmodern divide in a book called 21st-Century Modernism: The “New” Poetics. In putting scare quotes around “new,” she means to suggest that the poetics in question, far from being new, can be traced at least as far back as the earliest works of Eliot:
InThe Poetics of Indeterminacy (1981) I drew a sharp distinction between Eliot's symbolist mode and the more “literalist” indeterminacy of John Ashbery. Twenty years later, in the context of recent poetic developments, I would qualify my earlier reading by noting that the comparison was to the later Eliot, not the poet, then largely unknown, made familiar by Christopher Ricks's superb edition of the hitherto unpublished poems written between 1909 and 1917. (7–8)
Perloff goes on to explain how the Eliot whom she formerly saw as the antithesis of Ashbery's (and for that matter, the language poets') “poetics of indeterminacy” has earned this limited admission to the “New” Poetics. She cites J. C. Mays's reading of “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” where “images [tend] to balloon away from their referents and assume an uncontrollable life of their own” (25–26), a reading that, Perloff discovers, resembles her own reading of Stein as “stress[ing] composition rather than representation, the play of signifiers rather than the pointing relation of signifier to signified” (54). But if terms like “uncontrollable” and “play” give us a “poetics of indeterminacy” in Stein and now Eliot, what makes their indeterminacy “literalist”? Perloff never explicitly defines the term, but what she means by it is perfectly clear when she says that Prufrock approximates “Constructivist notions of ‘laying bare the device,’ of using material form – in this case, language – as an active compositional agent, impelling the reader to participate in the process of construction.”6 Certainly any focus on the “material form” of the text – which in this context refers to its physical appearance on the page, the sounds of its syllables – cannot help but “impel the reader to participate” (25–26) if only because our eyes, ears, etc. are required to read or listen to it. But what is distinctive about literalism in this context is that the materiality of the text is also understood to produce its indeterminacy. Every text is material, but the literalist text understands its materiality as an invitation to its reader, and hence as the condition that makes every reading both different from and equal to every other in constituting the text.
Let us take a comparatively early example of a text from the language movement that does everything Perloff understands as “literalism”: Lyn Hejinian's Writing Is an Aid to Memory (1978), whose most visible formal feature is the ragged positioning of its lines in relation to the left margin. This raggedness is not random, however; it works according to strict principle, for each line is placed where the first letter of its first word would occur in an alphabet typed across the page in order from ‘a’ to ‘z’:
how ness posites
autobiography sees the world
by early beginning with the top narrate
much intention is retrospective and much
extension is prospective
for illusion of men can be so many scandals
shifting quite but admirable victed
sequences. . .7
We can easily see what might count as “literalist” about this text, in the sense that here and throughout the poem its most literal constituents (the letters forming the words, rather than the meaning of the words) are its organizing principle. And the arrangement of those letters confronts us as well with the most literal mechanical conditions of their production (the typewriter keys striking, the carriage advancing). In a gesture that echoes Perloff's definition of literalism, Hejinian remarks in her 1983 essay “The Rejection of Closure,” that such formal devices as these not only “foreground process,” but also “serve to ‘open’ a poetic text” by “invit[ing] participation” in that process.8
Certainly the amputated suffixes and roots of words (e.g., “ness,” “posites,” “victed”) that are the linguistic hallmark of Writing Is an Aid to Memory invite the reader to entertain multiple possibilities: is it “evicted” or “convicted”? “Apposites,” “opposites,” or an alteration of “posits”? And what about the (necessarily “prospective”) “extension” of options for “ness,” which are as many as the adjectives we can bring to mind? But Hejinian imagines her readers as more than participants in the composition of the text; she imagines them as agents of its composition. Thus, the “open text,” she says, foregrounds not just “the process of the original composition” but also that of “subsequent compositions by readers,” becoming, in other words, not one composition but many (The Language of Inquiry, 43). Where the “closed text” is imagined to have a meaning that exists independent of the interpretations of its readers and therefore remains unaffected by them, the open text is reconstituted every time it is read. And because it is reconstituted every time it is read, there is no prior meaning to be discovered through interpretation. Rather, insofar as every encounter between the reader and the poem becomes a new composition, every new reader becomes a writer of the poem, so that the relation of the reader to the “open text” is no longer to understand what it means, but to become, again quite literally, who its author is. (And as we shall see later in this discussion, authorship under these conditions is no longer understood as producing a meaning or meaning to produce, but as literally causing an effect. Indeed, strictly speaking, we might say that the open text never really has any meaning and is thus never interpreted at all.)
If the hallmark of literalism is a text's ability to compel our attention to its physical features, and more generally, to make us think of language in terms of its material constituents – letters and phonemes overwhelming words and sentences – Perloff's chapter on the Russian Constructivist poet Velimir Khlebnikov seems to present us with an uncontroversial example of literalism. But her account of the literalist Khlebnikov also makes her account of the alleged literalist Eliot all the more controversial. For in its effort to foreground the material constituents of language, what Khlebnikov's “zaum” poetry of the teens and 1920s supposedly shares with the language poetry of the 1980s and 1990s, Perloff argues, is the desire to dissociate language from understanding: “But, from the perspective of contemporary poets like Susan Howe and Bruce Andrews, what is more interesting than phonemic repetition as such is Khlebnikov's own sense of how phonemic and morphemic play can produce a poetic language beyond (za) mind or reason (um) – what Khlebnikov and his fellow-poet Kruchonykh called zaum” (21st-Century Modernism, 123). We have already noted, in the example of Hejinian, how the participation invited by her “phonemic and morphemic play” is supposed to make the reader the producer of the text rather than the discoverer of its meaning. But if we can see the uncoupling of language from reason in that example, it's hard to see what makes this literalization of language count as going “beyond” reason. According to Perloff, “Khlebnikov's stress on the materiality of the signifier, the graphic and phonic characteristics of language” embodies the cause of “resistance to an Establishment ‘poetry’.” Once Khlebnikov's cause also becomes the “cause of Eliot or of Stein” as well as of “Concrete Poetry” (which was even more uncontroversially literal in its commitment to “material form” than Khlebnikov's zaum poetry), literalism seems not to involve pushing language beyond reason, but never to let it get there in the first place (128). In identifying zaum poetry with Concrete Poetry, Perloff suggests that both make the text “concrete” by making the reading of it consist of experiencing its form (registering the shape of the letters, words and lines) rather than interpreting its meaning.9 Or to turn this around, the concrete or zaum poem seems to make the reader into someone who experiences the poem rather than understands it by making the poem become an object rather than a text. In this respect poetic literalism – the transformation of readers into experiencing subjects and of texts into concrete objects – has an important analog in the history of art in the last century, where painting and sculpture undergo a similar transformation.
Indeed, the term “literalism,” used as a way of talking about how art becomes an object (or rather, never ceases being one), finds its first currency not in Perloff or in any of her twenty-first-century modernist texts (including the twentieth-century ones), but in “Art and Objecthood,” Michael Fried's 1967 essay on the emerging movement in painting and sculpture that is most often identified as “minimalism.”10 While Perloff does not cite Fried as a source for the term, her understanding of literalist poetry corresponds quite precisely to Fried's understanding of literalist “art.” In works like Tony Smith's six-foot cube entitled Die (1962) or Robert Morris's Untitled (Ring with Light) (1965–66), every material aspect of the work, including not just the visual and tactile (and even aural in some other examples) form of the object itself, but also of the environment in which it is beheld, is relevant to its status as object:
There is nothing within [the beholder's] field of vision – nothing that he takes note of in any way – that declares its irrelevance to the situation, and therefore to the experience, in question. On the contrary, for something to be perceived at all is for it to be perceived as part of that situation. Everything counts – not as part of the object – but as part of the situation in which objecthood is established and on which that objecthood at least partly depends. (Fried, “Art and Objecthood,” 155)
If, in the example of Hejinian's open text, the relevance of everything about the reader's experience makes her the author of the text in question, at the moment when everything about the object and its situation becomes relevant to the beholder's experience, the beholder's experience itself comes to constitute the object. Indeed, the beholder's experience is, as Fried explains, the “everything” on which the object's very “objecthood” depends. And so, inasmuch as “the experience of literalist art is of an object in a situation” it is “one that, virtually by definition, includes the beholder” (153).
When Fried refers to this relation in terms of the “special complicity that the work extorts from the beholder” (155) – i.e., her participation – the literalist object begins to look exactly like language poetry's “open text.” Moreover, this solicitation of the beholder translates into an aesthetics of indeterminacy in Fried's account of literalism, just as it yields a poetics of indeterminacy in Perloff's. For despite (or rather, entirely because of) the obdurate materiality of the object, the possibilities it affords are infinitely expansive, as many and varied as the beholders who might approach it: “The beholder knows himself to stand in an indeterminate, open-ended – and unexacting – relation as subject to the impassive object on the wall or floor” (155). But while Fried demonstrates the same set of concerns that Perloff does around the treatment of the work of art as an object of experience, and thereby, as something that exists necessarily in relation to a subject, “Art and Objecthood” is an argument against literalism for its repudiation of modernism, whereas 21st-Century Modernism celebrates literalism for its successful embrace of modernism. “Ours may well be the moment,” Perloff writes in the last line of the book, “when the lessons of early modernism are finally being learned” (200). Learning “the lessons of early modernism,” however, by which Perloff means learning the lessons of the writers who count as modernism's true avant-garde, also means unlearning the lessons of what she takes to be the critical legacy of mainstream modernism: “Of course, ‘Prufrock’ was. . .to become a celebrated modern poem, but the New Critical classic. . .is not ours” (27). If, in other words, the lessons attributed to Stein, Khlebnikov, and now the avant-garde Eliot are those of the “open text,” the ones that need to be unlearned are those of the New Criticism, with its notorious commitment to the autonomous (in Hejinian's terms, “closed”) text.
In this respect, literalism in poetry does seem to follow the same course of resistance as literalism in art, for according to Fried, what literalism rejects in modernist painting is precisely its autonomy, the idea that “what is to be had from the work is located strictly within it” (“Art and Objecthood,” 153). Whereas the modernist work of art not only makes no claims on the beholder, but “finds intolerable” the very idea of any relation to an audience, “literalist art,” writes Fried,
addresses itself to the beholder alone. Someone has merely to enter the room in which a literalist work has been placed to become that beholder, that audience of one – almost as though the work in question has been waiting for him. And inasmuch as literalist work depends on the beholder, is incomplete without him, it has been waiting for him. And once he is in the room the work refuses, obstinately, to let him alone.(163)
Like the literalist object that awaits the beholder, the “open text” awaits its reader, and both are “incomplete” alone. But resisting the autonomy of the text by making the text dependent on the reader's experience of it becomes problematic when language proponents like Perloff or Hejinian turn to Stein as their mascot. For if literalism refuses the autonomy of the work of art by calling upon the beholder (or reader) to participate in its situation – indeed, to create its situation – Stein, by contrast, insists on the autonomy of the work of art precisely by refusing any relation whatsoever between the work and anyone who might experience it, including the author herself. In short, Stein refuses literalism.
Stein begins a 1936 lecture called “What Are Master-pieces and Why Are There so Few of Them” by commenting on the fact that she finds herself before an audience, a situation, she argues, that is antithetical to the creation of masterpieces:
One of the things that I discovered in lecturing was that gradually one ceased to hear what one said one heard what the audience hears one say, that is the reason that oratory is practically never a master-piece . . .It is very interesting that letter writing has the same difficulty, the letter writes what the other person is to hear and so entity does not exist there are two present instead of one and so once again creation breaks down. I once wrote in writing The Making of Americans I write for myself and strangers but that was merely a literary formalism for if I did write for myself and strangers if I did I would not really be writing because already then identity would take the place of entity.11
Stein explains what she means by identity with the example of her relation to her dog: “I am I because my little dog knows me but, creatively speaking the little dog knowing that you are you and your recognising that he knows, that is what destroys creation” (Writings, 355). What matters here is not so much the latter recognition (although it too is crucial to her logic), but the dog's, since it will turn out that all kinds of things (especially things that are not masterpieces), none of which possesses its own faculties of recognition, can be functions of identity just as persons can. Insofar as the recognition in which identity consists arises out of a relation between an object and a subject who may as well be a dog, the relation is one of pure memory: all that is required to produce the dog's recognition, and in turn your identity, is its having been in your presence. Moreover, the object, whether it be the dog's mistress, the literalist work of art, or the “open text,” only achieves its identity – which produces what Fried would call its objecthood – out of the situation in which it is experienced. And even though such an object, as Fried explains, “must remain the center or focus of the situation,” nevertheless “the situation itself belongs to the beholder.” The dog's experience of having seen you before can only belong to the dog. Thus the object of identity – always the object of a subject's experience – can never be an entity because it can never, as Stein puts it, “exist in and for itself”; it can only exist for someone (Writings, 357). Indeed, the whole point for Stein of insisting that the masterpiece is an entity is to insist that it cannot be an object. And the whole point of insisting that it cannot be an object is to insist that what it is can never be a function of anyone's experience of it – or, to put this slightly differently, that what it is can never be a function of what it is for someone.
For Stein, then, a masterpiece can never be an “open text” because it can never “invite participation.” This is not to say, of course, that readers do not or cannot have responses to or experiences of a work of art (in a trivial sense we can't help but do so); only that their responses and experiences have nothing to do with what makes it art. This is nothing if not a commitment to the autonomy of the work of art, and in fact, it's a commitment to one of the most important, if only intermittently influential New Critical arguments for that autonomy, William W. Wimsatt and Monroe C. Beardsley's “The Affective Fallacy,” which contends that specific readerly responses – particularly emotional ones like happiness or sadness – are not only not required to grasp the meaning of a poem but are in fact altogether irrelevant to that meaning. But the reason these New Critical doctrines – the autonomy of the work of art and the affective fallacy – have been only intermittently influential is that they have always been at odds with two other, equally foundational, ones: namely, that the poem must not mean but be, and that paraphrase is heresy.12
The logic whereby the heresy of paraphrase entails the requirement that the poem must not mean but be, and further, the logic whereby both render impossible the kind of autonomy that Stein (and Fried) imagine for art, find concise expression in the aptly titled chapter called “The Poetic Experience” in I. A. Richards's Science and Poetry (1926). The famous phrase “heresy of paraphrase” occurs much later in the work of Cleanth Brooks, but the critical principle behind those words – that the best interpretation of a poem is the poem itself – is already in place when Richards urges that the best way to grasp the reasons for “thinking [poetry] valuable” is to “begin by reading slowly, preferably aloud, giving every syllable time to make its full effect upon us.”13 Because our focus in such an exercise is not, according to Richards, the sentences, or even exactly the words, of the poem, but the separate syllables of the words; and further, because what we are after is “the sound of the words ‘in the mind's ear’ and the feel of the words imaginarily spoken,” this “reading” of the poem (which is above all a repetition of the poem) produces not an account of the meaning of the poem, but an experience of what Fried would call its objecthood (Richards, Poetries and Sciences, 23). As we will see in chapter 3, Richards occupies a somewhat anomalous position in the New Criticism because in elaborating this claim for the sensory effects of the poem he explicitly embraces the readerly “affect” that Wimsatt and Beardsley (and for that matter, William Empson, John Crowe Ransom, Cleanth Brooks, and a host of others) reject as “fallacy.”14 By the latter critics' reasoning, Richards has already given up the grounds on which the poem can count as autonomous. But by Fried's (and, I am arguing, Stein's) reasoning, the others also give up the autonomy of the text when they commit themselves to locating the “meaning” of the text in what Ransom calls its “objective features” and what Brooks calls its “formal” features.15 Indeed, by treating the objecthood of the text as if it were equivalent to the meaning of the text, the New Critical commitment to the heresy of paraphrase cannot help but entail a commitment to the affective fallacy – if the meaning of a text is reducible to the text's objecthood, it can only consist of the reader's affect.16
Thus, when Richards says that “it is never what a poem says that matters but what it is” the moment when the poem has to “be” rather than “say” is also the moment when it becomes an object rather than, in Stein's terms, an “entity” or in Fried's terms, “art” (Richards, Poetries and Sciences, 33). For the moment when the text becomes an object is precisely the moment when it can no longer be autonomous, since everything that constitutes the text's objecthood – the “sound” and “feel” of its constitutive syllables – belongs entirely to the experience of someone – just what Stein insists it cannot do and still be a masterpiece. The New Critical poem becomes, in other words, the very kind of literalist text that Perloff says “foregrounds the material form of language” and “impels our participation in its construction” (21st-Century Modernism, 25–26).
In this context, it should hardly be surprising that someone like Perloff is fond of quoting Charles Bernstein's statement that “the poem said any other way is not the poem,” itself a paraphrase of Brooks's “heresy of paraphrase” doctrine (cited in 21st-Century Modernism, 12).17 Yet neither she nor Bernstein nor anyone else currently subscribing to that claim recognizes its patent repetition of the theoretical commitments of the New Criticism, and the recognition never takes place because the proponents of language poetry rightly understand themselves as committed not to the autonomy of the poem but to its objecthood. While the literalism celebrated by Perloff and by language poetry more generally appears to have corrected one New Critical mistake – that of equating objecthood with autonomy – it has simply reinstated the more foundational one – that of equating experience with interpretation. Perloff's concluding statement in 21st-Century Modernism, – that “the lessons of modernism are finally being learned” (200) is, therefore, in some sense right, if we take the modernism whose lessons are being learned to
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Calif. PAC Refusing to Pay $11 Million Campaign Finance Penalty
Ben Adler
Friday, October 25, 2013 | Sacramento, CA | Permalink
California Labor Federation's Art Pulaski speaks to a Yes on 30/No on 32 election night rally in November 2012. The controversial $11 million donation went towards the opposition to this union coalition.
CPR file photo/Andrew Nixon
California’s campaign finance agency has told the Small Business Action Committee to do something called “disgorgement” – that is, pay the state the $11 million donated last fall by an Arizona non-profit organization.
“We don’t have the money. It’s not there. It’s been spent. And we disagree with them on the issue entirely. And so at this point, no, we’ll be fighting them and not paying,” says SBAC spokeswoman Beth Miller.
Phillip Ung with the public interest group Common Cause says he hopes disgorgement will succeed, but “in previous cases, when people have followed all the rules and made all the notices to the donors, there was no fault to the PAC if somebody was dishonest with the PAC.”
In this case, the PAC was exonerated by both the Fair Political Practices Commission and the Attorney General’s office.
Non-Profit Political Groups Must Pay California's Largest Election Rules Fine
A pair of out-of-state non-profits will pay California’s largest ever fine for election rules violations. An investigation revealed they failed to divulge the donors of an $11 million contribution during the 2012 elections.
Capitol Bureau Chief
Capitol Bureau Chief Ben Adler first became a public radio listener in the car on his way to preschool – though not necessarily by choice. Now, he leads Capital Public Radio’s state Capitol coverage, which airs on NPR stations across California. Read Full Bio
@adlerben Email Ben Adler
Gavin Newsom Promised College Savings Accounts For Kindergarteners. He’s Taken A $50 Million Step
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Evan Dando and Juliana Hatfield to tour Australia together this December
Long time friends and musical collaborators Evan Dando and Juliana Hatfield will tour Australia together this December. Performing the entire set side by side, the duo will deliver acoustic versions of their expansive back catalogues, including The Lemonheads, Blake Babies, their own solo material and a selection of covers.
In 1986, a then 19 year old Juliana first introduced herself to Evan in a Boston pizza shop, having watched The Lemonheads perform the evening prior. According to an interview in Melody Maker, “Evan was in front of me in the line with his girlfriend. I introduced myself. I said, 'I liked your show last night.' Then I told him the name of my band, the Blake Babies, and he said his mom had come to see us. He came to see us after that.” Under the watchful eye of the media, the two went on to form a close friendship and musical bond that has lasted over 25 years.
Evan Dando formed The Lemonheads in 1986, and within a few short months they had released their debut EP which is now one of the most sought after recordings of the 80s. The band went on to release 10 studio albums including the 1992 classic masterpiece, It's A Shame About Ray. Juliana played bass and provided backing vocals on the record, which included the singles ‘Confetti’, ‘My Drug Buddy’, ‘It’s A Shame About Ray’ and the bands most commercially successful song ‘Mrs. Robinson’.
The Blake Babies also formed in 1986, with Juliana Hatfield sharing vocals and songwriting responsibilities with bandmate John Strohm. The band were adored by US college radio stations, and resulted in yet another collaboration between Hatfield and Dando, with Evan filling in on bass for a short while. When the trio disbanded in 1990, Juliana turned her attention to her own material. She has since released 12 solo records, including the much loved 1993 album Become What You Are, which stemmed the singles ‘Spin The Bottle’ and MTV favourite ‘My Sister’. Juliana is currently working towards the release of a covers album.
Join Evan and Juliana this December as they tour Australia together for the very first time. Support for all shows comes from Bambino Koresh, the new project for members of Smudge, Sneeze and Godstar.
Sun 16th - Brisbane, The Zoo - tickets from Handsome Tours, the Zoo and Oztix
Tue 18th - Melbourne, the Corner Hotel - tickets from Handsome Tours, the Corner Hotel & Polyester Records
Thu 20th - Sydney, Metro Theatre - tickets from Handsome Tours, the Metro Theatre and Ticketek
Sat 22nd - Perth, the Rosemount Hotel - tickets from Handsome Tours, Moshtix, Heatseeker and Heatseeker outlets
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A fabulous charity event including open bar, hors d’oeuvres, dessert, music, basket raffles, a silent auction, and featuring a comedy show with former Miss New Jersey and current “Target Mom” Dena Blizzard!
Please join us in support of six year old Luke Martine of Cherry Hill and the other 1200 individuals worldwide affected by Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome (CCHS). All proceeds go to the CCHS Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization committed to raising awareness and advancing research for this chronic, life threatening, “orphan” disease.
Kick off the holiday season with cocktails, friends, a full heart, and laughs! A former Miss New Jersey, Dena Blizzard is now a comedian crowned “Target Mom” based on her viral Back to School Rant with over 96 million views. She was recently seen on LIVE with Kelly as a Top 5 Co-Host Winner and starred in her own one-woman Off Broadway show.
Please view our flyer for further details, and feel free to download and share with members of your community.
This event begins on November 24, 2018, at 7:30PM Eastern Standard Time.
Indian Springs Golf Club, 115 S. Elmwood Road, Marlton, NJ 08053.
Purchase tickets here.
-237 days left
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Buy Stone Roses
Like lightning in a bottle, The Stone Roses debut album captured the energy of an emerging movement which would influence the British pop scene for the better part of a decade. The Stone Roses received critical accolades for its quality of songwriting and perfect illustration of the “Madchester” movement – an indie rock phenomenon that fused guitar pop with drug-fueled rave and dance culture through the late eighties and early nineties. The album originally peaked at #19 on the UK charts, but incredibly re-charted four times over the next 20 years (in 1995, 2004, 2005, and 2009), twice reaching the Top Ten.
Lead vocalist Ian Brown and guitarist John Squire formed their first band together, a punk inspired group called The Patrol in 1980. Three years later, bassist Gary “Mani” Mounfield and the group started to migrate towards sixties-influenced pop. Around the time the band adopted the name Stone Roses, drummer Alan “Reni” Wren joined, completing the quartet that would record this album. Through the late 1980s, the group recorded and released several demos and singles as their popularity grew in Central England.
The group started recording their debut album in Wales in 1988 with producer John Leckie, who had previously worked with Pink Floyd. The lead single “Elephant Stone”, was left off the original album but included in later versions. Another non-album single, “Fool’s Gold”, became a hit in the U.K. The completed album contains simple but catchy hooks, bright and rich guitar riffs, and a rhythm section that blends sixties psychedelic pop and eighties dance grooves in a masterful way.
Stone Roses by Stone Roses
Released: April, 1989 (Elektra)
Produced by: John Leckie
Recorded: Various studios, London, England & Monmouthshire, Wales
I Wanna Be Adored
She Bangs the Drums
Bye Bye Badman
Elizabeth My Dear
(Song for My) Sugar Spun Sister
Made of Stone
Shoot You Down
This Is the One
I Am the Resurrection Ian Brown – Lead Vocals
John Squire – Guitars
Gary Mounfield – Bass
Alan Wren – Drums, Piano, Vocals
A long, noisy intro gives way to Mounfield’s fade-in bass and Wren’s drums to introduce the opener “I Wanna Be Adored”. The song sets the pace for the album with catchy hooks, droning guitars, and emotionally nuanced lyrics. The Top 40 hit “She Bangs the Drums” is more of a melodic pop song but does contain cleverly suggestive lyrics and innuendo by Brown. “Waterfall” is the first song on the album with a definite sixties vibe, from Squire’s chiming guitar riffs to the well harmonized vocals to combine for an infectious riff and melody. This results in the most indelible song on the early part of Stone Roses, if not the entire album. The song is followed by a reprise called “Don’t Stop”, which is a totally tripped-out, psychedelic version of “Waterfall”, with backwards masking and sped up tape effects in an experimental track which is, perhaps, a little too long for its own good.
The pop parade continues with “Bye Bye Badman”, another great song with a sixties vibe but also with modern drum beats and guitar motifs of differing styles. The true genius of the song is the vocal melodies which deliver the quasi-violent lyrics with incredible accessibility. The album cover displays an abstract painting by Squire, which “Bye Bye Badman” was named after. After a short shot at the queen, set to the melody of “Scarborough Fair”, Squire’s jangly guitar chords drive the intro of “Sugar Spun Sister”. The song later grows into a more intense arrangement, with ever more the potent electric guitars starting with the second verse. “Made of Stone” sounds the most like 1980s rock, it is darker than most songs on the album but still being a rewarding listen. The choruses do bring the song up a bit more than the verses and the great musical arrangement throughout by dual guitars, driving bass, and drums, make it the last great song on the album.
The Stone Roses concludes with three adequate but weaker songs. “Shoot You Down” employs a much more cool jazz in approach, with crafty guitar work throughout, a rhythm like a moderate dance song, and an acapella vocal hook. After what seems like a false start, “This Is the One” meanders in a choppy motion, never really hooking the rhythm until the second verse, but after this song gets a bit repetitive. The closer “I Am the Resurrection” starts with upbeat drum beat, joined only by bass during first verse before strong guitars introduce the chorus. The song proper is punk rock in its attitude but Brit-pop sonically and the long outro starts as a funky groove before it grows more psychedelic as it moves along.
As The Stone Roses gained popularity and critical acclaim, the group was in no way humble about their accomplishment. Lead vocalist Brown proclaimed in late 1989;
We’re the most important group in the world, because we’ve got the best songs and we haven’t even begun to show our potential yet.”
Of course, this measure of hubris proved unwise. The closing track’s title was a deFacto preview of the title their follow-up album, Second Coming, which would not be released until five years later. In between, the Stone Roses rode a roller coaster of ups and downs from the high of their legendary Spike Island concert in 1990, the lows of the lawsuit that ensued when they tried to terminate contract with Silvertone Records. Ultimately, the group never quite reached their potential and officially disbanded in 1996.
Author Classic Rock ReviewPosted on April 12, 2014 April 12, 2014 Categories Album ReviewsTags 1989 Albums, 2014 Reviews, Album Reviews by Ric Albano, British Artists, The Stone Roses
One thought on “The Stone Roses”
Panther says:
A couple of things: 1) Reni (drummer) joined Squire and Brown (and Pete Garner and Andy Couzens) in May 1984, and Mani joined (following Pete Garner’s departure) in late 1987. Your chronology on this is reversed. 2) This is the first review (indeed, the first opinion) of this album I’ve ever seen that called the last three tracks the weakest. I can kind of see your point about ‘This is the One’ (the band members were ‘iffy’ about this song, but Leckie really made it fly), but it’s a general consensus that “I Am The Resurrection” is the album’s highlight and the best thing the band ever did — an 8+ minute masterpiece.
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