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__label__cc	0.72951	0.27049	Tag Archives: Lantern slide Images on glass First posted 1 December 2009 In the small town where I live, there used to be a company who became famous for making illustrated postcards. These humorous cards showed cartoon images of seaside holidaymakers and ordinary working people and often had double entendre meanings. The company was known as Bamforths and although the cards they produce are famous worldwide, not many people are aware that they also had a photographic studio. In their early days they were leading producers of magic lantern slides on subjects such as romance, tragedy and the temperance movement. They also produced movies which were seen all over the world. According to Wikipedia, the films made here in Holmfirth, surpassed those made by Hollywood at the time! If the company had not ceased the film making part of their business during the first world war (due to shortages), the place where I live could have been the centre of the worlds film industry. When film making finished they continued with postcard production up to the latter part of the 20th Century. The company closed in the early 1990’s and the daylight photographic studio of the building was turned into homes. The rest of the building was left to rot and a few years ago plans were put forward to develop the site and build a large new development of flats. These were opposed by locals, but the work seems to be going ahead anyway. There are a couple of websites which give a little more detail here; http://www.bamforthpostcards.co.uk/ and http://www.bamforth.0catch.com/ About fifteen years ago I was approached by a local man who had been living behind the derelict Bamforths building and had discovered a pile of old lantern slides covered with pieces of carpet. The slides had suffered some damage from years of weather, but images could still be seen. He gave me the glass positives and I stored them away in my studio. I was reminded of them recently as I walked past the old Bamforths building and noticed workmen knocking down one of the smaller buildings (the little studio where the illustrations were drawn). I approached one of the guys and asked if it would be ok to have a quick search round the back to see if there were any more lantern slides hidden in the undergrowth. He waved me through and I clambered over rubble and weeds to a little area behind a wall where my friend had located the glass images so many years ago. I hadn’t been prepared for the fact that not only had the whole area been left to go wild with creeping plants and nettles, but the nearby houses had used this ‘waste’ ground for years to dump all their grass cuttings, old pushchairs and broken pots. I struggled through and found an old iron bar which I used to dig around and lift rubbish, but all I could find was clear squares of glass and broken pieces of glass which had once held images. The emulsion had completely rotted away from these. It was quite depressing to find no trace of the photographic history, so I went back to the studio and dug around in my own collection for the lantern slides that I had been given years previously. I found some really interesting images, not least of which, are three photographs of the Lusitania in Liverpool docks. Although the search had come to nothing, it had spurred me on to find the Glass lantern slides I had forgotten I owned. How many other great images had been lost to the damp and cold though? If only I had gone to search after I received this small collection. This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged Bamforths, glass positive, Holmfirth, Landscape, Lantern slide, Lusitania, vintage photography on December 1, 2009 by andrewsandersonphoto.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1169
__label__wiki	0.943453	0.943453	New coach serves up experience, energy Mercury Staff Report When newly hired volleyball coach Marci Sanders took inventory of her new program at UTD during her first week on the job, it was a fairly simple task. A quick look in the storage closets of the UTD Activity Center revealed about 20 volleyballs and a few nets. Unfortunately for Sanders, there weren’t any readily identifiable players lurking in there as well. But, Sanders, who comes to UTD from a four-year stint as an assistant coach at Angelo State University, is confident and excited that in the coming weeks she’ll be stocking that closet with enough equipment – and players – to serve UTD’s launch into intercollegiate volleyball by September 2004. “I am very excited about the opportunity of coming in to start a program on the ground level,” said the 27-year-old Amarillo native, who assumed her new position on Jan. 12. “I’ve learned a lot the last few years as a player and as a coach, and am convinced we can build a successful program at UT-Dallas. I’m very much looking forward to the challenge.” Sanders is not far removed from the competitive volleyball arena herself. A three-time all-district performer at Amarillo’s Palo Duro High School, she began her collegiate career in 1995 at College of the Southwest in Hobbs, N.M, where she was the team MVP after two seasons. Upon transferring to Angelo State in 1997, the defensive specialist set numerous ASU, Lone Star Conference and NCAA Division II records. Her career average of 5.52 digs per game is still an NCAA Division II record. After graduating summa cum laude in 1999 from ASU with a degree in kinesiology, Sanders entered graduate school there and assumed the graduate assistant duties in the volleyball program. One year later, she was named ASU’s full-time assistant coach – the position she held before coming to UTD. In 2001, she earned her master’s degree in kinesiology and taught courses in the subject as a lecturer at ASU. Coming from the plains of West Texas where volleyball players can be harder to come by, Sanders is looking forward to picking through the Metroplex’s bumper crop of volleyball talent to fill her fledgling program. “The location (of UTD) was a huge attraction of this position,” Sanders said. “There are so many (volleyball) clubs and quality athletes in this area, that it should be a successful position.” Sanders – herself an Academic All-American at ASU – also stressed the high academic standards of the university as a major recruiting tool. “I like the fact that the academic standards are so high because you’ll have athletes that want to be here and want to be playing instead of just being here for the scholarship,” she said. NCAA Division III rules prohibit the awarding of athletic scholarships. Along with lining out the schedule that UTD will play this fall, Sanders is drawing up her game plan for recruiting this spring. She says her first step will be to find out what talent is available on campus right now. “I know that there are athletes here who would be interested, so one of the first things I’ll try to do is hold a tryout here,” Sanders said. “I’m hoping anyone that is interested will get in touch with me.” Beyond the open campus tryouts, Sanders plans to network with the numerous coaches and club contacts she has built through coaching to round out her roster. The new coach hopes her excitement for developing UTD’s newest athletic program rubs off on the entire university community. “It’s a very fast-paced and dynamic game. You have action every single rally, it’s not one of those sports where you have to wait awhile,” she said. “One of the things I’d like to do is get the faculty and student body more involved in sports. We plan on having a lot of promotional activities between the games and getting people involved.” Postcard from Antarctica UTD faces space issues	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1170
__label__wiki	0.911758	0.911758	These Incredible Photos by Steve McCurry Capture the Beauty of Asia Steve McCurry, "Holi festival, Rajasthan, India", 1996 \| © Steve McCurry / Magnum Photos The American photographer Steve McCurry, who came to international attention for his striking image The Afghan Girl in the 1980s, opens his first survey show in the Netherlands. Featuring over 100 black and white and colour photographs shot between 1979 to 2015, Photographs from the East captures the changing cultural landscape of Steve McCurry’s favourite continent: Asia. Including many stunning portraits shown for the first time, the exhibition brings together a selection of photographs taken during McCurry’s many travels to places like Afghanistan, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Burma, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Tibet and Vietnam. A shunting operation underway near the Taj Mahal, Agra, India, 1983 © Steve McCurry / Magnum Photos With his love of travelling and curious nature, the Magnum photographer has carved out a reputation for capturing intensely beautiful shots that are both lyrically evocative and deeply respectful of his subjects. Fascinated by local customs and religious practices, from flower sellers to the Hindu Holi Festival, McCurry has chronicled not only people’s everyday lives but also their spirit: ‘If you wait, people forget your camera and the soul will drift up into view,’ said the photographer. Predominantly focusing on India and Afghanistan, the exhibition doesn’t follow a chronological or thematic path, but rather allows you to discover McCurry’s keen eye for exquisite glimpses into a disappearing culture. Although alluring, the images also reveal the impact that globalisation has had on these Asian countries over the last 30 years. Flower Seller at Dal Lake, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India, 1999 © Steve McCurry / Magnum Photos The show also includes the film Search for the Afghan Girl that focuses on his famous shot of a then 12-year-old Sharbat Gula in a refugee camp in Pakistan, which adorned the cover of the National Geographic in 1985. Regarded as one of the most iconic images of the twentieth century – and the publication’s most recognizable cover image – it’s still relevant 32 years on as the plight of refugees reaches paramount proportions today. Steve McCurry, "Holi festival, Rajasthan, India", 1996 © Steve McCurry / Magnum Photos Steve McCurry: Photographs from the East is at Museum Helmond, Kasteelplein 1, 5701 PP Helmond, The Netherlands until September 11, 2017.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1172
__label__wiki	0.693401	0.693401	January 02, 2019 - 06:51 PM EST Old Post Office tower on Trump property to remain open during shutdown By Tal Axelrod The Old Post Office tower, which shares facilities with the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., will remain open during the partial government shutdown. The General Services Administration (GSA), an independent government agency that owns the facility, is providing the funding to keep the tower open. "The referenced facility remains open as the funds needed to operate the Old Post Office tower are not associated with the current fiscal year's (FY 2019) appropriations bill. The overall operation of the tower was a part of the government's lease signed in August 2013, and in response to the 'Old Post Office Building Redevelopment Act of 2008,'" a GSA spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill on Thursday. The statement came in response to a request for comment on a report from E&E News that said the tower would be reopening and left it unclear how the funding to reopen the tower was procured. The GSA signed a deal with the Trump organization in 2013 to build the hotel and maintain public access to the 270-foot observation tower. The lease for the tower mandates that the Trump Organization is responsible for the entire Old Post Office site. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-N.J.) denounced the Trump administration on Twitter, accusing it of improperly using tax dollars to benefit the president's business. "The Trump admin is using your tax dollars to keep an @NPS site at his luxury hotel open while the rest of Americans are wading through garbage and locked gates. The corruption and disgrace of this govt are without bottom," he tweeted Wednesday. Several agencies of the federal government have been shut down since Dec. 22, including the departments of Homeland Security, Agriculture, Treasury, Commerce, Justice, Interior and State, among others. Updated at 10:13 a.m. Jan. 3. More in Administration Giuliani: 'I'd love to be a witness' at Senate impeachment trial Capt. 'Sully' Sullenberger pens op-ed in defense of Biden: 'I stuttered once, too. I dare you to mock me'	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1176
__label__wiki	0.856419	0.856419	Is Ice Melt Altering NG Maps? June 9, 2014---National Geographic's… more June 9, 2014---National Geographic's soon-to-be-published Atlas of the World, tenth edition, will show the most dramatic change in Arctic ice since the 1963 publication of the first edition. For more about the National Geographic Atlas of the World and how the shrinking Arctic is changing part of its look, read Shrinking Arctic Ice Prompts Drastic Change in National Geographic Atlas. Josefino Comiso NASA Godard Space Flight Center With the trend that we're seeing now, it's very likely that there'll' be a day within this century that there''ll be no ice in the arctic. There's been a drastic change from the 1980s to the early 1990s to the present, the perennial ice cover in the 1980s was averaging between 7 and 8 million square kilometers. In 2007 when there was this drastic decline, it went down to as low as 3.5m square kilometers, and in 2012 it went down to almost 3 million square kilometers. Juan Jose Valdez Director of Editorial and Research Compared to previous editions of the atlas, the change in sea ice coverage, that graphic portrayal, that white polygon, has significantly changed over time. And in the 10th edition atlas you'll see a significant reduction in area covered by ice. Rosemary Wardley Senior GIS Cartographer On our arctic ocean plate we show two features of the different type of sea ice; there's the limit of multiyear ice and then the maximum extent of sea ice. The maximum extent of sea ice will fluctuate annually with the seasons, it generally decreases in the summer and increases in the winter and so the maximum that we show usually occurs sometime around March. Multiyear ice is ice that has been frozen for up to two summers, and that is generally more stable and doesn't change as much but the studies have shown that it has been steadily decreasing over the past decade. The warming that's being felt in the Arctic is the greatest warming throughout the world. If you lose the ice in the Arctic it doesn't cause an impact of just the Arctic region, it's gonna be global. Expedition Braves Arctic Perils for Climate Science Reindeer Herders of the Russian Arctic In Arctic, Peak Sea Ice Hits Record Low Traversing Glaciers DJ Spooky's Arctic Rhythms What Is the Polar Vortex? James Balog on Disappearing Glaciers Space Category: Jupiter 101 Longest Solar Eclipse Coming Solar System 101 Portable Scanners "Read" Brains on the Go Stuck Mars Rover About to Die?	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1180
__label__cc	0.690233	0.309767	vintagephotosjohnson Commenting on photographic history, images and image makers. 1910 COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHER IN BOSTON January 29, 2012 by vintagephotosjohnson Leave a Comment Flintcoat Roofing Advertisement. Unknown Photographer, Boston, ca. 1910 In the early 1970s I found, in a small antique shop near the North Shore of Boston, MA, a wallpaper sampler book filled with of photographs pasted onto the backs of the wallpaper pages. I could afford to acquire the sample book as they weren’t considered valuable by the shop-owner, as the only thing known about the photographer was that he was a commercial photographer working in Boston at the turn of the 20th century and that he had been much better known for his photographs of boats and ships of the period; and the shop-owner valued those images –several of which he had on display in frames– more highly than he did the work prints pasted into the wallpaper book. Nathaniel L. Stebbins is the best-known commercial photographer from Boston of that era who specialized in views of boats — and these photographs might well be from his studio. But even if they are not by Stebbins they are both charming photographs and a representative example the working practice of a commercial photographer of that era. And as they are still together as a group, they provide a rare opportunity for some insights into the still little-known practices of that era. For the first forty years of its existence the practice of photography had been hampered by the limitations of the known photographic processes. These processes, from the daguerreotype through the wet-collodian on glass plates, had all been, to some degree, complex and awkward to work with; and these complexities had in great measure defined the nature and practices of the working professional photographer. Professional photographers were, most often, either limited to providing portraits in a portrait studio or functioning as a creator of more-or-less static scenic views which were sold most frequently to tourists at established centers of tourism (Egyptian pyramids, Niagara Falls, etc.) or in the form of stereographic views. The posed portrait or the scenic view dominated the first fifty years of photographic production, nevertheless there were always adventuresome photographers who expanded the range of photography’s uses. From the mid 1850s on a few individuals began to make what we would call today commercial or advertising photographs. A portrait of an actor to be used for publicity, views of some rural property kept in a real estate office in the local city, a still life of some machinery or equipment sent by mail to potential customers, an album of photos of these machines carried by the travelling salesmen representing the company, an album of views of local businesses kept in the lobbies of the hotels serving the railroads, or a railroad commissioning a photographer to capture scenic views along its right-of-way, are all examples of expanding the range of uses of the medium and gradually developing a type of photography no longer tied directly to an individual consumer. This group of photographs by this unknown Boston photographer has examples of the categories or types of image that had been developed by the commercial photographer over the preceding fifty years – portraits of individuals and of groups, views of the fine horses and homes of clients, or of both the exteriors and interiors of public institutions, private dwellings, or of industrial spaces. But mixed with these by now traditional subjects are images indicative of the new 20th century. The Vorenberg & Co. Department store, the Boylston Café, and the S. A. Woods Machine Co. were all healthy business concerns based in Boston during the first decade of the 20th century. They may have hired the photographer to provide visual documents for their own records, or to provide photographs to be used in advertising campaigns in the local newspapers or journals. Years of experimentation with faster films and lenses finally led to an larger range of possible subjects that the photographer could capture with his camera; and this happened at the same time as the development of reliable photoengraving processes and half-tone screen printing processes radically enlarged both the number and range of possible ways to distribute the photographic image itself. So during the 1880s through the 1900s many more illustrated magazines, each using more photographs as well as a larger variety of photographic images within each issue, became a source of income for professional photographers. Thus the role of the professional photographer also began to expand and diversify as specialists began to evolve from the generalized professional base. Photographic journals began to publish articles about “photojournalists” and “documentary” and “industrial” and “theatrical” photographers (whose works were being published in the body of the magazines) and “fashion” and “advertising” and “commercial” photographers, (whose works were being published in the advertising sections of these same magazines.) Other new professional roles began to evolve out of this matrix as well. Commercial designers began to incorporate photographs into their designs. Handsome or colorful individuals, many probably recruited from the acting trade, could make a living as professional models. I believe that the turn of the 20th century is an interesting time for photohistorians; because the roles and practices of these photographers was in flux and their products (i.e. their photographs) were full of discovery and still very fresh to the eye — at least to my eye. Many issues and ideas that have since found a place in the work of contemporary creative photographers –narrative staging, sequencing, composite photography- were part of the daily practice of this unknown Boston photographer as well as other commercial photographers of this era. It would take several decades, the rise of Russian Constructivism and the Bauhaus before “artistic” photographers would begin to investigate many of the ideas and activities which had become commonplace practice within the work of these much maligned “commercial” photographers at the turn of the 20th century. More than once this unknown Boston photographer staged and photographed a small event consisting of a series of linked photographs that provided a sequence of actions depicting a small, contained narrative — usually something as simple and everyday as shining shoes or reading the newspaper. To me this has always been a curious and interesting use of the medium by this photographer. By drawing upon a set of established social or cultural norms or even cliches an artist can impose additional levels of emotional layering or cultural meaning into the image that may trigger additional responses beyond its direct subject content or its visual elegance and which can thus hopefully enhance the value of that image to a viewer. The notion of linking still photographs in a linear fashion to create a story was not unprecidented — there was an established tradition of creating comic or dramatic narrative views with a series of stereo cards. (The Sailor’s Return, The Housewife’s revenge, etc. ) And by 1910 the cinema had been developed and already marketed and was established as an important part of the contemporary entertainment mediascape; and several visually literate individuals were responding to that medium’s qualities. In fact, some minor experimenting with forms of narrative were being carried on by several High Pictorialist photographers such as Alvin Langdon Coburn, Rudolph Eickemeyer or Gertrude Kasebier — although these were mostly just a collection of single illustrations used to link together a book of poems or a short story in a literary journal. And there was another interesting photographer named Alexander Black, now mostly forgotten, who published several “visual books” of linked photostories at about this time. But to do this in an advertising venue, where, almost exclusively, only one image would be published on the page of a magazine or newspaper or poster, seems unusual. Perhaps some advertising campaign in a magazine or a newspaper using groups of narrative images will turn up some day. Perhaps, if the photographer was using trained actors as models, the photographer set up the props and simply asked them to play out a little scene, and, by doing so, he hoped to get a more spontaneous look to the images. Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Automobiles: 1900, Boston, Boylston Café, Commercial interiors, commercial photographer: 1900, Hamlin's Wizard Oil, Highland Spring Beer, Highland Spring Brewrey, MA, Massachusetts photographers, Nathaniel L. Stebbins, Press and Brake machinery, Reuter & Co, S. A. Woods Machine Company, store displays: 1900, Underwood's Deviled Ham, Vorenberg & Co. Search Vintagephotosjohnson Welcome to the VintagePhotosJohnson Blog This blog explores the many aspects of photography and photographers. We will discuss the work of image makers, inventors, critics, historians, teachers and curators. In addition, we will look at the formal, informal and accidental contexts in which photographs appear ranging from books and museums to postcards and telephone poles. Bill Johnson is the primary contributor to the blog. Susie Cohen chimes in occasionally. We welcome your contributions and responses. FRANKLIN BENJAMIN GAGE. (1824–1874) JOHN WOOD. (POLAROID PROJECT IV) ROBERT HEINECKEN (POLAROID PROJECT III) JOHN JABEZ EDWIN MAYALL BIBLIOGRAPHY DAVE HEATH (“POLAROID PROJECT” II) ROBERT FRANK SELF PORTRAIT (“POLAROID PROJECT” I) Francis Bedford (1816-1894) Bibliography.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1181
__label__wiki	0.899264	0.899264	Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on LinkedIN Share on Google+ Research partnerships spur innovation Research partnerships between URC universities and Michigan-based companies help lay the groundwork for innovation that can not only sustain the vitality of the state’s businesses but also strengthen the economy of the state and the nation over the long term. The Dow Chemical Company for example, recently awarded four professors at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering and College of Pharmacy a total of up to $3.7 million over five years. The funds support research that could one day lead to medicines that are easier to digest, paints that are less harmful to the environment, and spreadsheet tools that better suit scientists’ needs. “Dow started in Midland, Michigan, and our world headquarters remains in the state 116 years later,” said Dr. Theresa Kotanchek, vice president of Sustainable Technologies and Innovation Sourcing at Dow. “Over the years we have utilized the power of science and engineering to transform the company, and the University of Michigan has played a leading role throughout.” The grants to U-M are part of a major program at Dow to award $250 million to top universities in the U.S. over a period of 10 years to ensure a talent pipeline and research that can address the challenges of the twenty-first century. In another program at U-M, Dow will provide $10 million over six years to support the Dow Sustainability Fellows Program. The Program includes fellowships for master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral students conducting research in such fields as natural social sciences, engineering, business, law, public health, public policy, architecture, and urban planning. These scholars will learn together how to integrate the perspectives of these disciplines to help solve sustainability challenges, including energy, climate change, water, food, housing, transportation, and health. In announcing the program Andrew Liveris, chairman and chief executive officer of Dow, explained that the goal of the collaborative partnership at U-M is to “give rise to the next generation of innovators in Michigan and across the world.” K-12 Education Brief 2019 Benchmark Report: URC Remains Tops in the U.S. in Medicine, Bio Science Talent 11th Annual Economic Impact (2018) Foundation for the Future: URC Contributions to Infrastructure Improvement 11th Annual Economic Impact Preserving Our State’s Freshwater Heritage URC Profile URC Paves the Way for New Mobility Sensors: Developing Smarter Infrastructure Generating Ideas to Power Our World Merit Network – Empowering Michigan Residents by Expanding Internet Access Cybersecurity: Protecting Michigan’s Infrastructure From Attack Revitalizing Detroit Neighborhoods, One House at a Time Engaging Detroit Crossroads of Rural and Urban: MSU Extension & the MSU Product Center Bob Fish	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1183
__label__wiki	0.825536	0.825536	Master Personal Trainer Fairfax Hackley Wins United States Sports Academy 2017 Eisenhower Fitness Award Corey Blake2018-01-03T11:52:06-06:00January 3rd, 2018\|Comments Off on Master Personal Trainer Fairfax Hackley Wins United States Sports Academy 2017 Eisenhower Fitness Award Master personal trainer and former champion bodybuilder Fairfax Hackley, right, has been named the United States Sports Academy’s 2017 Dwight David Eisenhower Fitness Award winner. Hackley was presented the honor by Academy trustee Dr. Gary Cunningham at the Academy’s 33rd Annual Awards of Sport celebration held recently on campus in Daphne, Ala. DAPHNE, Ala. – Master personal trainer and champion bodybuilder Fairfax Hackley has been named the United States Sports Academy’s 2017 Dwight David Eisenhower Fitness Award winner. Hackley was recently presented the honor by Academy trustee Dr. Gary Cunningham of Santa Barbara, Calif., at the Academy’s 33rd Annual Awards of Sport celebration held on the Academy’s campus in Daphne, Ala. Hackley spent more than 20 years in bodybuilding, winning the International Federation of Body Building and Fitness (IFBB) Silver and Gold Awards for Excellence in Administration. He won 12 class titles in the sport and later served as a judge and as director of the Mr. America contest. He has trained numerous celebrities and athletes, including boxers and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters. He has worked closely with the Arnold (Schwarzenegger) Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio, as director of arm wrestling and leading the MMA Workshop. The Dwight David Eisenhower Fitness Award is presented to a person who has shown outstanding individual or cumulative achievement in fitness and has contributed to the growth and development of sport fitness through outstanding leadership activity. As president, Eisenhower founded the President’s Youth Council on Sport and Fitness. This national committee served as the catalyst to the nation’s fitness movement. His work is evidenced today by the number of “physical fitness tests” being administered to the American youth. A resident of Falls Church, Va., Hackley was a multi-sport athlete throughout his youth and college who went on to compete in bodybuilding. He is a member of the International Sports Hall of Fame, serving on its advisory board. Hackley has been featured in USA Today, Muscle & Fitness, People Magazine, Washingtonian Magazine, the Washington Post and Flex. He has appeared on more than 200 television and radio segments. He gives weekly fitness tips on WTOP radio, a commercial radio station in the Washington, D.C., area. He also worked six years as the fitness coordinator for the United States Marshals Service in the Washington, D.C., district. Affectionately known as the “Sultan of Sweat,” Hackley is the owner of Body by Hack, a personal training company based in the Washington, D.C., area. The Dwight David Eisenhower Fitness Award is part of the Academy’s Awards of Sport, which each year honor a wide range of accomplishments in sport and serve as “A Tribute to the Artist and the Athlete,” in conjunction with the Academy’s American Sport Art Museum and Archives (ASAMA). The awards recognize these men and women through the Sport Artist of the Year, Honorary Doctorates, Medallion Series, Distinguished Service Awards, Outstanding Athletes, and Alumni of the Year awards.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1185
__label__cc	0.680403	0.319597	Family Immigration Law As part of a trusted, experienced immigration law firm, the attorneys at Ustun Law Group, PLLC provide legal counsel to help U.S. citizens, legal residents, immigrants, and refugees reunify with their family members or loved ones by obtaining of family-based immigrant visas. Our firm is based in Dallas, TX and serves clients from across the country. In addition to family immigration services, we also provide counsel on business immigration, workplace immigration compliance, and political asylum. We offer each client guidance and assistance backed by first-hand knowledge of U.S. immigration rules, regulations, and laws. Let Us Help You Reunite With Your Loved Ones K-1 Fiancé or Fiancée Visa This type of nonimmigrant visa is issued to the foreign-citizen fiancé or fiancée of a United States citizen so they may travel to the country to marry their partner (referred to as the U.S. citizen sponsor) within 90 days of arrival. After the couple marries, the foreign citizen applies to adjust their status to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States — a Green Card holder. A K-1 visa allows the holder to immigrate to the United States and marry a citizen shortly after arriving, so the fiancé or fiancée must meet some of the requirements of an immigrant visa. Children of eligible K-1 visa applicants receive K-2 visa designations, as they derive their immigration status through their parent. Learn More About the K-1 Visa, Eligibility Requirements & More Family Reunification/Marriage Under U.S. immigration law, citizens can petition for qualified relatives to come and live permanently in the United States. This includes your spouse, unmarried children under the age of 21, and parents (if you are a U.S. citizen over the age of 21). There is an unlimited number of visas for particular categories, so immediate relatives receive special immigration priority and do not have to wait in line for a visa number to become available for them. More Information About Petition for Immediate Relatives Every year people come to the United States seeking protection because they have suffered persecution or fear of persecution in their home country due to: Membership in a particular social group If you are eligible for asylum you may be permitted to remain in the United States. There is no government fee to apply for asylum. You may include your spouse and children who are in the United States on your application at the time you file or at any time until a final decision is made on your case. To include your child on your application, the child must be under 21 and unmarried. For more information about eligibility for asylum in the United States and to schedule your free consultation, please contact Ustun Law Group, PLLC today at 469-994-9407. Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) In many cases of domestic violence, battery, and extreme cruelty of immigrants, the legal resident would withhold their sponsorship as a method of abuse and retaining control over the situation. The VAWA program provides victims the opportunity to self-petition and seek legal immigration status without the sponsorship of a permanent resident or U.S. citizen. Program Eligibility & More Information Conditional Residence/Removal of Conditions If your marriage is less than two years old on the day you were given a permanent residence, your residence status is conditional. On the day you are lawfully admitted to the United States after adjustment of your status or on an immigrant visa, you are given conditional resident status. Your status is conditional because it must be proven that you did not get married to evade United States immigration laws. In order to remove the conditions, you have to file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. Removing Conditions on Permanent Residence Based on Marriage I-601A Provisional Waivers Beginning March 4, 2013, the provisional unlawful presence waiver process was updated to allow certain visa applicants who are parents, spouses, and children, or U.S. citizens to apply for provisional unlawful presence waivers before they leave the United States. It was developed to shorten the time span in which U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are separated from their loved ones while those relatives are completing the process to obtain their immigrant visas. Eligibility Requirements & More Information To learn more about our family immigration services and schedule a consultation, please contact our firm at 469-994-9407 today.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1186
__label__cc	0.62724	0.37276	Spatial distribution of development: The roles of nature and history Henderson, Squires, Storeygard, Weil, 31 January 2017 Economists point to three factors to explain how population is distributed: geographical characteristics, agglomeration, and history. This column, taken from a new Vox eBook, examines how economic and technological development have changed the ways in which two first-nature characteristics – suitability for growing food and suitability for engaging in trade – impact population distribution. Global talent mobility and human capital agglomeration Pekkala Kerr, Kerr, Özden, Parsons, 31 January 2017 The distribution of talent and human capital is highly skewed across the world. As high-income countries engage in a global race for talent, the resulting migration of high-skilled workers across countries tilts the deck even further. This column draws upon newly available data to outline the patterns and implications of global talent mobility. Key results include recent dramatic increases in high-skilled migration flows, particularly in certain occupations, in certain countries, among those with higher skill levels, and from a wider range of origins. The economics, regulation, and systemic risk of insurance markets Hufeld, Koijen, Thimann, 30 January 2017 Despite the importance of insurance, discussions about the macroeconomic role and the risks of insurance markets have been surprisingly limited. This column explores some of the key theoretical and conceptual questions still unanswered in this field, and suggests that a two-fold approach combining a focus on individual firms and an activity-based approach across the sector is needed to tackle systemic risk within the insurance industry. The economic impact of colonialism Acemoğlu, Robinson, 30 January 2017 The immense economic inequality we observe in the world today is the path-dependent outcome of a multitude of historical processes, one of the most important of which has been European colonialism. This column, taken from a recent Vox eBook, discusses how colonialism has shaped modern inequality in several fundamental, but heterogeneous, ways. Self-control and peer groups Battaglini, Díaz, Patacchini, 29 January 2017 Peers and role models play a key role in the choices young people make. This column discusses research suggesting that students who are part of a social circle have more self-control than those who are alone, and the larger this social circle, the greater the self-control. However, having peers who are too similar can be detrimental to self-control. How the Tohoku earthquake affected offshoring Zhu, Ito, Tomiura, 28 January 2017 We still know little about how firms alter their global sourcing patterns when facing uncertainty and shocks. This column uses Japanese firm-level data compiled after the Great East Japan earthquake of 2011 to show that firms in affected areas reacted immediately by offshoring more, but that this affect was significant only in the manufacturing sector. Policies to facilitate offshoring would support such emergency responses in future. Evidence on which aspects of central bank transparency matter Naszodi, Csavas, Erhart, Felcser, 27 January 2017 There is a notable lack of consensus about how central bank transparency affects uncertainty in the economy, as well as how transparency should be measured. This column reviews some recent contributions that highlight how transparency does not have consistent and unambiguous effects on economic uncertainty. Despite this ambiguity, transparency seems to be more often favourable than unfavourable. Assessing the threat to central bank independence de Haan, Eijffinger, 27 January 2017 It has been observed that since the start of the Global Crisis, central banks in most advanced economies have become more powerful and political, but they have not become more accountable. This column discusses why central bank independence matters, and looks at whether it has changed since the crisis. Globalisation and sectoral employment trends in Germany Dauth, Findeisen, Südekum, 26 January 2017 The decline of manufacturing jobs in the US has been the focus of much attention recently, with rising trade with China cited as one explanation. This column describes how the German economy has experienced a similar secular decline in manufacturing and rising service employment, but that growing trade with China and Eastern Europe did not speed up this trend. In fact, rising exports to the new markets have stabilised industry jobs. Electronic money versus money: An assessment of regulation Bossone, 25 January 2017 Electronic money – digital payment instruments that store value – can be seen simply as a technological innovation for holding and accessing regular money. This column argues that how it is used and regulated will determine whether e-money instead serves as a replacement for existing money, and discusses the regulatory implications. Leaning against the wind: Re-evaluating the evidence Svensson, 24 January 2017 The IMF and the Federal Open Market Committee have both suggested that the costs of ‘leaning against the wind’ exceed the benefits. This column responds to claims that the results of the author's research backing up this conclusion could be overturned. It argues that the alternative assumptions necessary to overturn the result are unrealistic, and that the finding that the costs of the policy exceed the benefits therefore seems to be robust. How central bank collateral frameworks distort the economy Nyborg, 24 January 2017 Central banks inject money into the economy against collateral, but we know little about the terms of the exchange. This column argues that market forces or discipline have little role to play in the central bank collateral frameworks that are the foundation of the monetary and financial system. This distorts the financial system and wider economy – in the Eurozone, for example, political influence on these frameworks has created indirect bailouts of some banks and sovereigns. Trading off a ’soft’ and ‘hard’ Brexit Mulabdic, Osnago, Ruta, 23 January 2017 The British government and the EU face a difficult negotiation over the terms of Brexit. This column uses new data on the content of trade agreements to assess the trade impact of Brexit, identifying a tradeoff between the depth of the post-Brexit agreement and the intensity of future UK-EU trade. A ‘harder’ Brexit may have a stronger negative impact on the UK’s services trade and supply chain integration, which have relied more on the depth of the EU. This tradeoff will likely delimit future policy choices. Risk sharing across the US and Eurozone Milano, Reichlin, 23 January 2017 Risk sharing across the Eurozone is well below the levels observed in other federations, including the US. This column argues that the US achieves more intensive risk sharing largely because of a more integrated financial market, and also that the contribution of public institutions to risk sharing is much higher in the Eurozone than in the US. The reason why the Eurozone needs more fiscal transfers to withstand idiosyncratic shocks is not because these institutions should do more to improve risk sharing, but because delegation of risk sharing to national governments threatens the stability of the currency union. New eBook: The Long Economic and Political Shadow of History Michalopoulos, Papaioannou, 23 January 2017 Over the past decades, economists working on growth have ‘rediscovered’ the importance of history, leading to the emergence of a vibrant, far-reaching inter-disciplinary stream of work. This column introduces a new eBook in three volumes which examines key themes in this emergent literature and discusses the impact they have on our understanding of the long-run influence of historical events on current economics. Thomas Schelling, methodological subversive Sethi, 22 January 2017 Thomas Schelling, game theorist and co-recipient of the 2005 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, passed away in December 2016 at the age of 95. This column explores how his lack of concern with professional methodological norms allowed him to generate new knowledge with great freedom, and to make innovations in method that may end up being even more significant than his specific insights into economic and social life. Thomas Schelling: A personal tribute Loury, 22 January 2017 The late Thomas Schelling’s 1960 classic, The Strategy of Conflict, opened up new vistas in the then emergent field of game theory. This personal tribute by a longstanding friend and colleague describes how Schelling’s creative and playful mind, his incredible breadth of interests, and his unparalleled mastery of strategic analysis opened up a new world of intellectual possibilities. Acquired knowledge of managers and firm performance Mion, Opromolla, Sforza, 21 January 2017 Despite the seemingly obvious link between good management and firm performance, establishing a causal link between the two is actually rather tricky. This column examines how Portuguese firms responded to the sudden and unexpected end to the civil war in Angola in 2002, and discovers an immediate spike in export entry rates for firms with at least one manager with previous experience of exporting to Angola. This finding on the impact of acquired knowledge on performance is especially useful for firms looking to operate in foreign markets. How deregulation and globalisation interact to boost economic growth Dougherty, Ben Yahmed, 20 January 2017 Globalisation offers many benefits, some of which cannot be separated from other types of policy. This column examines how the benefits from removing regulations that impede competition are partly contingent on openness to import competition. Using recent firm-level analyses of productivity growth, it argues that those firms that contribute the most to overall growth could also be held back by reduced openness, harming overall advances in incomes. The innovation network Acemoğlu, Akcigit, Kerr, 20 January 2017 Innovation is typically seen as a cumulative process, with new technologies building on existing knowledge - but our knowledge of how progress in a specific area is influenced by knowledge in other, ‘upstream’ areas is limited. Using US patent data, this column identifies a stable ‘innovation network’ that serves as a conduit for cumulative knowledge development. Technological advances in one field can advance progress in multiple neighbouring fields, but will have a stronger influence on more closely related areas. Risk-based capital requirements and international trade Demir, Michalski, Örs, 20 January 2017 The negative impact of higher capital requirements under Basel II on the provision of trade finance has been cited as one of the factors behind the Great Trade Collapse. This column exploits the adoption of the Basel II framework in Turkey in 2012 to investigate how a shock to the supply of trade-specific finance (in this case, letters of credit) affected firm-level exports. Changes in the cost of letters of credit affected Turkish firms’ reliance on trade finance, but the regulatory shock did not affect firm-level export growth. The redistributive function of the EU budget Pasimeni, Riso, 19 January 2017 EU budget reform is a key issue in policy debates, in particular the redistributive effects between member states. This column assesses redistribution within the EU budget over the period 2000 to 2014. It finds that the net redistributive impact of the EU budget is rather small and, contrary to common belief, that the revenue side is more progressive than the expenditure side. Business cycle desynchronisation Belke, Domnick, Gros, 19 January 2017 A high correlation of business cycles is usually seen as a key criterion for an optimum currency area. This column argues that the elasticity with which countries react to the common cycle is equally important. A country with a non-unitary growth elasticity relative to the common area will experience cyclical divergences at the peak and trough of the common cycle. Despite being characterised by highly-correlated business cycles, the Eurozone suffers from widely differing amplitudes. Ending too big to fail Cecchetti, Schoenholtz, 18 January 2017 ‘Too big to fail’ is an enduring problem for financial authorities and regulators. While forbidding government bailouts may be a popular move, the strategy lacks credibility. This column examines the proposals of the Minneapolis Plan to End Too Big to Fail. The plan has many virtues that tackle systemic problems and that build on the Dodd-Frank Act’s crisis prevention and management tools. However, further analysis of the plan is still needed to ensure that its measures aren’t circumvented. Risk, surprises and safe-haven currencies Jäggi, Schlegel, Zanetti, 18 January 2017 Identifying the exact triggers for safe-haven flows in not easy, nor is tracking the ways in which demand for safe havens materialises. This column uses an empirical analysis of movements of the Swiss franc and Japanese yen since 2000 to show that these safe-haven currencies reacted strongly to non-domestic macro surprises, especially during the Global Crisis, and that this is in addition to the expected reaction to general changes in the risk environment. Oddly, for European macro surprises, only German data influence safe-haven currencies. Finance and growth: The direction of causality Chong, Mody, Varela Sandoval, 17 January 2017 Recent research suggests a point beyond which the benefits of financial development diminish, and further development can even hurt growth. This column describes how a negative relationship between credit and growth emerged strongly after 1990 and was particularly pronounced in the Eurozone, consistent with the notion that an overgrown financial sector weakens economic growth potential. It also argues that slower growth leads to more rapid financial sector expansion. Policymakers need to be aware of the possibility that causality runs in both directions. Services by modes of supply: A new data source Cernat, 17 January 2017 The availability of statistics on services by modes of supply has been a longstanding priority for trade negotiators and an important element of other trade policy priorities. Based on a recent Eurostat project, this column presents the first such estimates for EU trade in services. It also explores possible avenues for building a global services dataset by modes of supply building on the latest European initiatives in this area. The surprising prevalence of surprises in export specialisation Daruich, Easterly, Reshef, 16 January 2017 National trade policies have been at the heart of recent policy debates, with many calls for industrial policies to help pick winners. This column shows that while a few export goods account for the bulk of export value within each country, hyper-specialisations are very unstable, making it unlikely that industrial policy will work even in the medium run. The best policy to promote exports would be just to let entrepreneurs exploit new opportunities as they arise. Europe’s rich since 1300 Alfani, 15 January 2017 Recent research into the share of wealth owned by the richest households has given us important insights into trends in inequality. This column shows how we can now estimate the share of wealth owned by the richest households in Europe, and how many they numbered, from 1300 to the present day. Throughout this time, the only significant declines in inequality were the result of the Black Death and the World Wars. Ego trips to the grave: The dangers of status competition Ager, Bursztyn, Voth, 14 January 2017 During World War II, the German military publicly celebrated the performance of its flying aces to incentivise their peers. This column uses newly collected data to show that, when a former colleague got recognition, flying aces performed much better without taking more risks, while average pilots did only slightly better but got themselves killed much more often. Overall the incentives may have been detrimental, which serves as a caution to those offering incentives to today's financial risk-takers. Confusion about the lender of last resort Bindseil, Laeven, 13 January 2017 The scale and scope of central bank lender of last resort operations during the Global Crisis raised concerns that central banks may be taking excessive risks and supporting moral hazard. This column argues that criticism of such operations is misguided. In the crisis, central banks did not make financial losses when acting as lender of last resort, which shows that they have applied their frameworks with prudence. Helicopter money: Loved, not spent Bright, Janssen, 13 January 2017 With growth and inflation in Europe remaining low, the idea of helicopter money is slowly gaining traction with politicians and economists alike. This column presents the results of a survey that asked people how, if they were to receive an extra €200 per month to do with as they chose, they would use the money. There was broad support for the policy among respondents, but only about one in four said they would spend most of the money. The findings suggest that a larger impact might be achieved if instead the money were given to the government to finance projects. Immigration and economic prosperity Jaumotte, Koloskova, Saxena, 12 January 2017 Rapidly ageing populations, the refugee crisis, and growing anti-immigration rhetoric have brought immigration issues to the forefront recently. Using a panel of 18 countries, this column explores the long-term effects of migration on receiving advanced economies’ GDP per capita and labour productivity. Both high- and low-skilled migrants are found to raise productivity and GDP, and these gains appear to be broadly shared across the population. US tariffs are an arbitrary and regressive tax Furman, Russ, Shambaugh, 12 January 2017 Tariffs – taxes on imported goods – likely impose a heavier burden on lower-income households, as these households generally spend more on traded goods as a share of expenditure/income and because of the higher level of tariffs placed on some key consumer goods. This column estimates the tariff burden by income group and by family structure using a new dataset constructed by matching of granular data on trade and consumer spending. The findings suggest that tariffs function as a regressive tax that weighs most heavily on women and single parents. New models for macroeconomic policy Ravn, Sterk, 11 January 2017 Recent economic events cast doubt on the standard macroeconomic models. This column looks at new economic models built on the idea that inequality and income risk matter for the business cycle and long-run outcomes. While still in their infancy, these models show promise in addressing the concerns about the old New Keynesian models, and in bringing about a shift in the way that macroeconomists think about aggregate fluctuations and stabilisation policy. The causes of mortgage default Gerardi, Herkenhoff, Ohanian, Willen, 10 January 2017 Many studies have addressed the question of why people default on their mortgages, but lack of data has meant that much of this research has omitted the effect of the owner's ability to pay. This column uses panel data on defaults and changes in income to show that ability to pay is a much more important determinant of default than previously recognised. If the head of household loses a job, for example, this is equivalent to the effect of a 35% drop in home equity. Policies targeted at increasing ability to pay may be more effective at reducing default than those that try to remedy negative equity. The future of central bank independence den Haan, Ellison, Ilzetzki, McMahon, Reis, 10 January 2017 Over the past 30 years, most central banks across the advanced economies have been given the ability to conduct monetary policy independently from interference by fiscal and political authorities. The latest Centre for Macroeconomics and CEPR expert survey invited views on whether this era of central bank independence is drawing to a close, particularly in Europe. Only 31 of the 70 respondents disagreed with the statement that there will be significant changes in the independence of monetary policy in the UK and the Eurozone in the foreseeable future. The survey also reveals that the well-established proposition among economists that a reduction in central bank independence will lead to higher inflation is no longer taken for granted, but maintaining central bank independence remains desirable. The effectiveness of information campaigns in countering public opposition to immigration Facchini, Margalit, Nakata, 09 January 2017 Far-right parties have made considerable electoral gains around the world lately, fuelled in part by strong anti-immigration rhetoric. This column presents the results of an experiment conducted in Japan to assess whether exposure to positive information about immigration can decrease this public hostility. Such information exposure is found to increase an individual’s likelihood of supporting immigration by between 43% and 72%. This suggests that information campaigns are a very promising avenue for policymakers aiming to redress hostility to immigration. The ascendancy of international data flows Bughin, Lund, 09 January 2017 In around 25 years, the internet has become an integral part of our daily lives, connecting billions of users and businesses worldwide and leading to an explosion in the volume of cross-border digital flows. This column attempts to measure these flows and their impact on global activity in general. Global flows of goods, services, finance, people, and data have raised world GDP by at least 10% in the past decade, with the contribution to growth of GDP from data flows nearly matching the value of global trade in physical goods and services. Unemployment insurance and employment during the Great Recession Boone, Dube, Goodman, Kaplan, 08 January 2017 The Unemployment Insurance programme in the US was significantly expanded during between 2008 and 2014. This column examines the effect of unemployment insurance duration on aggregate employment during the Great Recession using state-level expansions and contractions in insurance generosity. It finds a positive but not statistically significant employment impact of expanding the insurance. This suggests that the substantial insurance value of the extensions during the Great Recession was not offset in any meaningful way by any costs from weaker job growth. Women in competitive environments: Evidence from expert chess Cubel, 08 January 2017 Recent explanations for the persistence of both the gender wage gap and the under-representation of women in top jobs have focused on behavioural aspects, in particular on differences in the responses of men and women to competition. This column suggests that it may not be competition itself that affects women, but the gender of their opponent. Analysis of data from thousands of expert chess games shows that women are less likely to win compared with men of the same ability, and that this is driven by women making more errors specifically when playing against men. Passing of Anthony B. Atkinson Piketty, 07 January 2017 Anthony B. Atkinson passed away on the morning of 1 January 2017 at the age of 72, after a long illness. This column describes how he established a unique place for himself among economists over the past half-decade by putting the question of inequality at the centre of his work while demonstrating that economics is first and foremost a social and moral science, in defiance of prevailing trends. Using lotteries to incentivise safer sexual behaviour Björkman Nyqvist, Corno, de Walque, Svensson, 07 January 2017 Traditional HIV/AIDS education campaigns have not been completely effective in curtailing new infections. One potential reason behind this is that most of the infections occur among individuals who are willing to take risks when it comes to sexual behaviour, and campaigns have failed to specifically target these people. This column describes a new HIV intervention trialled in Lesotho that used a lottery to target such individuals and incentivise safer practices. HIV incidence was reduced by more than a fifth in treatment groups over the trial period. These results, combined with practical and cost advantages, suggest that such interventions could prove invaluable in the fight against HIV. ‘Peak trade’ is premature Tomb, Trivedi, 06 January 2017 It has become consensus to argue that we have approached ‘peak trade’ or the ‘end of globalisation’: that the past five years of stagnant global trade growth are not temporary, but instead reflect persistent forces that are likely to drive a continued stagnation in global trade over the long run. Though this view preceded the Brexit referendum, this column argues that it has now been amplified by the UK’s vote to leave the EU and the prospect that, potentially, US President-elect Trump and other leaders across developed markets will implement protectionist trade policies. The authors consider the arguments for ‘peak trade’, and conclude that, though downside risks to the trade outlook are prominent, there is little evidence – yet – that the current stagnation in global trade is predestined to extend far into the future. The economic impact of Brexit-induced reductions in migration to the UK Portes, Forte, 05 January 2017 The various projections of the impact of Brexit on the UK economy that were produced during the referendum campaign omitted the economic impact of changes in migration to the UK. This column presents plausible scenarios for future migration flows and estimates of the likely impacts. The potential negative impact of Brexit-induced reductions in openness to migration on the UK economy could well equal that resulting from Brexit-induced reductions in trade. Impact of taxing temporary job contracts Cahuc, Charlot, Malherbet, Benghalem, Limon, 05 January 2017 Temporary job contracts account for a substantial proportion of the workforce in countries such as France and Spain, but they can result in high job turnover and instability. This column assesses the impact of government policies that impose taxes on temporary contracts to induce employers to lengthen job durations. Such policies a negative impact on the labour market, reducing the mean duration of jobs and decreasing job creation. The introduction of open-ended contracts with no termination cost for separations occurring at short tenure may be more effective. The effect of foreign investors on local housing markets Sá, 04 January 2017 One of the factors driving house price growth in many countries is foreign investor demand. Using new UK data, this column argues that foreign investment has had a significant positive effect on house price growth in the last 15 years. The effect is not limited to expensive homes but ‘trickles down’ to less expensive properties, and is stronger where housing supply is less elastic. Foreign investment is also found to reduce the rate of home ownership, but there is no evidence of an effect on the housing stock or share of vacant homes. Unusual outcomes and uncertain times Kozeniauskas, Veldkamp, 03 January 2017 Uncertainty shocks are a major avenue of research in the quest to explain business cycles, as well as asset prices and financial crises. This column argues that three conceptually distinct types of uncertainty that are often modelled independently – ‘macro’ uncertainty about an aggregate variable such as GDP, ‘micro’ uncertainty about firms’ individual outcomes, and ‘higher-order’ uncertainty that people have about the beliefs of others – are in fact related because all three are tied to disaster risk. Sexual orientation and earnings Aksoy, Carpenter, Frank, 03 January 2017 Previous studies on labour market discrimination based on sexual orientation have not revealed whether reported differences in earnings have been due to differences in the samples, populations, or outcomes, nor what the likely cause might be. Using a UK-wide dataset of sexual orientation and labour market earnings, this column shows that the overall difference in earnings for men who identify as gay is near zero irrespective of whether they are in a partnership or not, while women with a lesbian orientation have an earnings premium of about 5.5%. Specialisation explains earnings differences that depend on partnership status, though outside London there is some evidence of discrimination. Headquarter separation and multi-plant operation Okubo, Tomiura, 02 January 2017 The core-periphery gap raises important questions for economic geography. Using Japanese data, this column examines firms’ decision to separate non-production activities from production plant facilities. Large plants, plants which intensively purchase materials, and plants located further from the core are more likely to have separate corporate headquarters, though the magnitude of this effect is small. Small-sized plants appear to be especially vulnerable to remoteness from urban cores. Why central bankers favour monetary policy inertia Masciandaro, 02 January 2017 The discussion of the delayed lift-off in US monetary policy is just the latest episode in a long-lasting debate over the causes of inertia in monetary policy. This column approaches the issue by assuming that psychological drivers can influence the decisions of central bankers. Loss aversion is one source of behavioural bias which can explain delays in changing the stance of monetary policy, including the fear of lift-off after a recession.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1191
__label__wiki	0.898565	0.898565	This version was current from September 6, 2011 to April 14, 2012. Note: It does not reflect any retroactive amendment enacted after April 14, 2012. R.S.M. 1987 Supp., c. 26, s. 1; S.M. 1988-89, c. 13, s. 36; S.M. 1989-90, c. 49, s. 2; S.M. 1991-92, c. 20, s. 2 and 3; S.M. 1993, c. 33, s. 2; S.M. 1998, c. 35, s. 2; S.M. 2002, c. 24, s. 50; S.M. 2002, c. 48, s. 28; S.M. 2004, c. 15, s. 2; S.M. 2004, c. 42, s. 93; S.M. 2005, c. 27, s. 162. 2(3) Repealed, S.M. 2005, c. 27, s. 162. 3(2) Repealed, S.M. 2002, c. 8, s. 3. 4.1(3) Repealed, S.M. 2002, c. 8, s. 4. 6 Repealed. (f) repealed, S.M. 2002, c. 8, s. 7; 9(7.1) The board of reference shall file those portions of an award which deal with those matters set out in clauses (6)(b), (6.1)(a) and (6.2)(a) to (e) as a regulation under The Regulations Act. 9(7.2) and (7.3) Repealed, S.M. 2002, c. 8, s. 7. (e) repealed, S.M. 2002, c. 8, s. 7. S.M. 1988-89, c. 15, s. 22 and 23; S.M. 2002, c. 8, s. 7; S.M. 2005, c. 27, s. 162; S.M. 2010, c. 21, s. 2. (d.1) repealed, S.M. 2010, c. 33, s. 56; 21.5(3) Repealed, S.M. 2002, c. 21, s. 6. 21.8 Repealed. 21.10 to 21.12 Repealed. 21.14 Repealed. 21.19(1) Repealed, S.M. 2002, c. 21, s. 10. 21.20 and 21.21 Repealed. (a) repealed, S.M. 2002, c. 21, s. 19; (f) and (g) repealed, S.M. 2002, c. 21, s. 23; (b) repealed, S.M. 2005, c. 27, s. 165; 23 Repealed. 25(2) Repealed, S.M. 2005, c. 27, s. 162. 25(3) Repealed, S.M. 1998, c. 35, s. 4. 25(6) and (7) Repealed, S.M. 1998, c. 35, s. 4. Transitional re trustees' terms of office 25(9) The term of office of each trustee who holds office on October 27, 1998 expires on October 28, 1998. S.M. 1997, c. 27, s. 2; S.M. 1998, c. 35, s. 4; S.M. 2005, c. 27, s. 162. 26(2) Where the vacancy occurs in the year in which the term of office expires, the school board may resolve not to fill the vacancy. of a corporation which, or a subsidiary of which, has a direct pecuniary liability to the other person or to the corporation, partnership, or organization; or (b.2) establish a written policy respecting the appropriate use of the following at schools: (i) the Internet, (ii) e-mail, (iii) cell phones, including cell phones equipped with digital cameras, (iv) digital cameras, (v) any other personal communication devices identified by the board; (i) the policy is reviewed at least once in each year by the school's advisory council, local school committee or school committee, and (s) repealed, S.M. 1996, c. 51, s. 6; (v) provide to school advisory councils, local school committees and school committees any information that is reasonably necessary for their operation; 41(8.1) The school board shall appoint as auditor a person who is entitled to practise as an accountant under the authority of an Act of the Legislature. 41(11.1) Repealed, S.M. 1996, c. 51, s. 6. Standards of the C.I.C.A. (a) comply with the standards of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants for an auditor's standard report; and 41(15) Repealed, S.M. 1996, c. 51, s. 6. S.M. 1988-89, c. 13, s. 36; S.M. 1989-90, c. 49, s. 7; S.M. 1996, c. 51, s. 6; S.M. 1998, c. 35, s. 5; S.M. 2004, c. 9, s. 2; S.M. 2004, c. 24, s. 1; S.M. 2005, c. 27, s. 162; S.M. 2008, c. 25, s. 2; S.M. 2008, c. 29, s. 2; S.M. 2008, c. 4, s. 2; S.M. 2011, c. 3, s. 3. (i.1) bullying, including cyber-bullying, (d) a statement that pupils and staff must adhere to school policies respecting appropriate use of (i) e-mail and the Internet, including policies that prohibit the accessing, uploading, downloading or distributing of material that the school has determined to be objectionable, and (ii) digital cameras, cell phones, including those cell phones equipped with digital cameras, and other personal communication devices identified in the code of conduct; Interpretation: cyber-bullying 47.1(2.1) For the purpose of subclause (2)(b)(i.1), "cyber-bullying" means using the Internet or other information or communication technologies, such as e-mail messages or text messages sent by cell phone or pager, to support deliberate, repeated and hostile behaviour by an individual or group that is intended to harm someone else. (m) repealed, S.M. 1996, c. 51, s. 9; 48(4) Subject to the regulations and notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, a school board may suspend or expel from a school any pupil who, upon investigation by the school board, is found to be guilty of conduct injurious to the welfare of the school. S.M. 1989-90, c. 49, s. 9; S.M. 1996, c. 51, s. 9; S.M. 2002, c. 29, s. 44. (d) repealed, S.M. 2002, c. 8, s. 15;	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1195
__label__wiki	0.842426	0.842426	Help \| Site Index \| Contact Us NIAID > Web Site Links and Policies NIAID Labs at NIAID Web Site Links and Policies NIAID FOIA Staff Margaret Moore, Freedom of Information Office, Chief Susan Boyle, Freedom of Information Act Specialist Natasha Taylor, Freedom of Information Act Specialist Lauren Price, Freedom of Information Act Specialist Kathrine Nguru, Freedom of Information Act Specialist 6610 Rockledge Drive, MSC 6605 E-mail: foia@niaid.nih.gov We will do everything possible to comply with your request in a timely manner. It is the policy of the Department of Health and Human Services to attempt to respond to FOIA requests on a first-come, first-served basis. We cannot provide an estimate as to how much time it will take to process your request. The Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552 provides individuals with a right to access records in the possession of the Federal Government. 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If the information you are requesting is not in the public domain, please follow the suggestions listed below when preparing your FOIA request: Identify the records requested (be as specific as possible, i.e., describe the subject matter of the records, and, if known, indicate the dates of the records, the places where they originated, and the names of the originating persons or offices) State that the records are requested under the FOIA Please express an amount that you are willing to pay for the requested documents Include daytime telephone numbers in case additional information is needed before answering requests Mail, fax, or e-mail the request to the address above It is important to note that FOIA allows agencies to recover part of the costs associated with responding to requests. Department of Health and Human Services regulations describe specific rules for fees, requesting a fee waiver, and reducing fees. Links to Additional FOIA and Privacy Act Policy Information The Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552 Department of Health and Human Services regulations U.S. Department of Justice FOIA Web site Questions about NIH privacy policies should be sent to the NIH Privacy Act Officer. Home \| Help \| Site Index \| Accessibility \| Privacy Policy \| Disclaimer \| Links & Policies \| FOIA \| Contact Us Last Updated November 15, 2007 National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) National Institutes of Health (NIH) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1196
__label__wiki	0.787841	0.787841	Beales Make informed decisions with the FT Keep abreast of significant corporate, financial and political developments around the world. Stay informed and spot emerging risks and opportunities with independent global reporting, expert commentary and analysis you can trust. One of Britain's oldest department stores, which has a shop in Kendal, has warned that it could collapse into administration. It's widely reported that Beales, which began trading in Bournemouth in 1881, could face closure if it fails to find a buyer within the next week. Around 1,000 jobs are at risk at 22 stores across the UK if a deal cannot be done. The firm is currently negotiating with its landlords to try to agree rent reductions. Chief Executive Tony Brown, who led a management buyout of the firm in 2018, is said to be in talks with two interested parties. Beales has stores in the following towns and cities:	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1199
__label__cc	0.546287	0.453713	Dumbed down - here’s the proof Categories: Socialist Workers Party More by: Peter Manson Peter Manson is saddened, but not surprised, by the extraordinarily low level of what passes for debate. Pre-Conference Bulletin No3 was circulated to Socialist Workers Party members last week prior to the annual conference, which will take place at the very beginning of the new year (January 3-5). The current three-month period is the only time of the year when SWP comrades are able to address the whole membership - indeed they are also permitted to form temporary factions during this period. Usually the third PCB contains the most individual contributions, as a small minority of comrades are perhaps moved by earlier submissions to get something off their mind. But there is not much genuine discussion in this one. Around 16 of the 24 pages are taken up by rank-and-file members in 16 contributions from individual members or groups of members, but six or seven of them are from loyal leadership supporters who are basically echoing the central committee line. Contributions entitled ‘Building for the climate strikes in Tower Hamlets’, ‘Relaunching Love Music, Hate Racism in Swansea’ and ‘Building our branch’ tell you all you need to know about their content. As for the other submissions from the rank and file, they are mostly either largely in line with the thinking of the central committee or only mildly critical. But let me start with the three articles from the leadership itself. Firstly there is the CC’s ‘Global revolt: youth and students at the forefront’. As you may gather from the title, the leadership is enthused by the climate protests organised in this country by Extinction Rebellion. For the SWP leadership, when people come out on the streets, it is time to get excited - almost irrespective of the political ideas of either the organisers or those being mobilised. After all, here is our opportunity to intervene - unlike in the left-right battle within the Labour Party, where the SWP merely observes from the sidelines. According to the CC, An important aspect of this movement is that it has emerged partially free from the restraints of parliamentary politics and independently from the phenomenon of Corbynism, allowing a distinct anti-capitalist critique to emerge, pointing to mass mobilisations rather than the ballot box for real change. But fetishising demonstrations and stunt politics is as stupid as fetishising parliamentary votes. The main thing, surely, is the organisation, consciousness and effectiveness of the working class. Something that necessarily has to be mass, not judged according to narrow aims of this or that confessional sect. The article goes on to talk about winning over students (to join the SWP, of course), but the problem is that most of the time those students are not ‘on the streets’ - and certainly not taking part in strikes or other trade union actions (another indication of ‘real politics’). However, “although campus politics can sometimes operate within a bubble, linking up with local trade unionists can be a good experience for students and can concretise our arguments on the importance of the working class”. The second contribution from the leadership is a report headed simply ‘International Socialism journal’ from the “ISJ office”, which is short and to the point: it complains that “levels of sales and subscriptions of the journal could be much higher”. Apparently a good number of SWP branches do not even order copies of the quarterly to sell to their own members, let alone on stalls. But an even greater problem is revealed in the other contribution in the name of the CC, which is the SWP ‘Finance report 2019’. For the leadership, “The question of raising the number of people paying regular subs, and increasing the amount paid, continues to be the most pressing financial issue for the party.” No, you did not misread this: if you are an SWP ‘member’, subscriptions (and the amount you pay) are in effect voluntary. So the CC urges branches to “engage new comrades in a discussion about subs”. After all, Every other organisation does this, from the Labour Party to the RSPB. If we duck the issue we are sending a signal to the new member that we don’t really take the organisation seriously, and neither do we take them seriously. That is one reason why members who don’t pay subs are much less likely to remain in the party. This question is discussed in more detail by two individual comrades, the first being “Mike (Leeds)” (only first names are published for ‘security’ reasons). In his contribution, entitled ‘On membership and finance - it’s not rocket science’, he writes that he was “shocked” when he read the membership figures provided in PCB No2: “There has been a significant decline since 2013, when I last wrote a piece on this subject: from 7,180 members in 2013 to 6,464 in 2019, with the same low proportion paying subs of 30%.” He adds: “this lamentable state of affairs receives little attention by the CC. I look in vain for any attempt to understand this bleak picture, let alone how to remedy it.” He also complains about the “hyper-activity atmosphere created by the weekly exhortation to activity on numerous campaigns and issues”. It reminds him of the “culture of the Socialist Labour League (SLL) in the 1960s and 1970s, with its daily paper Newsline calling on a daily basis for a general strike; a culture which burnt out and disillusioned their members, reducing them to the irrelevant rump of the renamed WRP today”. Combine this with “70% of members not paying subs, and about 20% attending branch meetings regularly and only a minority even taking the weekly paper, let alone selling it,” remarks Mike tellingly. He adds: “We were told last year that paper sales are 3,000 a week - hardly impressive for an activist party, when we apparently have well over 6,000 members!” The word “apparently” is highly pertinent, of course. Another contribution, entitled ‘Pruning the rose bush’, also goes into this central question. It is written by “John (national member)” - a “national member” is, I understand, someone who has been suspended from their branch for disciplinary reasons (such as criticising the leadership outside the PCBs, obviously). He writes: What we should be saying to potential new members is that if they want to join us and are serious about revolutionary politics they need to show it by making a regular financial contribution. It is simply inconceivable to argue that someone who is committed to revolutionary politics cannot pay a regular monthly donation. He also states: We are simply deluding ourselves if we think we have 6,000 members. Who are the 4,000 non-subs-paying members? Have you seen them? Barring a few here and there, you won’t find them on a national demonstration or at the Marxism festival, let alone branch meetings. John concludes: “It is an open secret that the vast bulk of the 4,000 non-subs-paying members are de facto paper members, who beyond signing an application form won’t be seen again.” You can see why the leadership has disciplined him, can’t you? Apart from these two, however, there is nothing of much worth in PCB No3. For example, “Phil (Lancashire)” takes issue with a contributor in PCB No2, who argued that the right to form factions should be a permanent one. In his ‘Do we need more bulletins?’, he writes: “I do not agree at all with this idea. I believe that it would lead to unhealthy factionalism and to members focusing too much on internal party matters at the expense of engaging with the outside world.” However, in total contradiction to this, he states that he approves of another idea suggested by the same comrade in PCB No2: “This is the idea of producing internal party bulletins at intervals through the year, rather than just having the three Pre-Conference Bulletins.” What? Focussing on “internal party matters” throughout the year? There are one or two contributions that make you wonder about the failure of some to grasp basic democratic principles. For example, in ‘Ideas to improve meetings’ by “Miriam and Simon (Newham)”, the comrades contend that the SWP ought to take lessons from Extinction Rebellion: “At each XR meeting everyone is encouraged to speak, more than once, and they do. How many SW branches can say that? We have a conservative - in some branches perhaps even an elitist and patronising - attitude.” So far, so good. But then they continue: We set up a speaker who knows everything and an audience often divided between cadre, questioners and listeners. Branches which still have a top table with chairs in rows exacerbate this hierarchy. No good educator just speaks non-stop for 20 minutes or more at their listeners. What? Speaking for as long as 20 minutes? Never! But it gets worse: More experienced comrades should not speak till others have. They should listen carefully, they should not think they have to put the whole party perspective, or put the whole meeting ‘right’. A long, very articulate and very correct contribution can kill off debate, be intimidating and can be experienced as belittling for those feeling their way ... These comrades evidently do not understand a thing about democratic discussion. Then there is another “John (national member)” - is he the same “John (national member)? We are not told. Anyway, in ‘Challenging offensive language’ he complains about the use of certain words. Even those such as “insane” and “mental” might offend some people with a mental disability - you mustn’t even talk about a “crazy situation”, he says. Crazy. Then there are the half-dozen contributions from pro-leadership loyalists, including those who like to echo the leadership on the great ‘success’ of SWP campaigns. For instance, the CC mentions in passing “the impact that the party can have - for example, by stopping Tommy Robinson in the North West of England” (‘Finance report 2019’). In ‘How we made Tommy cry’, “Paul (Lancashire)” concurs. The defeat of Robinson in this year’s European elections, where he was standing in the North West constituency, was “a massively significant victory,” he writes, “and this significance should not be forgotten about, or downplayed”. Apparently Robinson had “a good chance of winning”, needing just 7% of the vote to become one of the region’s MEPs. But he only got 2% - thanks, of course, to the SWP and its Stand Up To Racism front, which were effectively urging people to cast their vote for ‘anyone but Tommy’. Which planet are these comrades living on? They seriously believe that it was the SWP ‘what done it’ - and that Robinson had a good chance of getting elected in the first place. But “Paul (South London)” agrees. In ‘Armageddon time’ he says that “Comrades in the North West deserve great credit, of course, for their central role in stopping Robinson in the Euro elections.” Apart from that, there are a couple of contributions from comrades taking the leadership’s side in the debate on trans people - ie, against “Sarah (Haringey)”, who in PCB No2 had argued the standard feminist line that transgender men should not be accepted as women in circumstances where they jeopardise ‘women-only’ spaces. In ‘A response to Sarah from Haringey on trans’, five comrades from different parts of the country (perhaps they make up a ‘faction’!) claim that “trans people, and LGBT+ people more generally, have become key targets of rightwing populists, bigots and the far right both in Britain and more widely”. Mind you, “We should not support calls to no-platform trans-critical or transphobic speakers.” As everyone knows, ‘no platform’ should only be used against fascists. However, returning to the importance of ‘correct’ language, they object to the use of “inappropriate pronouns” when referring to trans people. If you’re not 100% sure whether someone is male or female, just use the word ‘they’ instead of ‘he’/’she’. Finally there are those long-term critics, “Anne and Martin (W and NW London)”, who each year make use of the pre-conference period to have a go at the leadership. But this year they are even more vague and apolitical than usual. In ‘Party organisation versus fragmentation’ they claim that, when it comes to organisational disputes, the CC tends to take the side of comrades who are “only interested in personal status and pretension to leadership”. This amounts to the “subordination of organisation to individualism” and “the culture of hierarchy and individual celebrity”. An example of this is, they claim, the fact that the leadership closed down their small SWP branch to merge it with others. As I say, not exactly high-quality debate. paul.demarty@weeklyworker.co.uk More on Socialist Workers Party... Political zombification Mike Macnair finds the second pre-conference discussion bulletin a sad but revealing read... Pretence of democracy Peter Manson reports on the first of three SWP pre-conference internal bulletins. Anti-racism and ‘useful idiots’ The SWP remains trapped in its old bad habits - and never have they been more obviously counterproductive, reckons Paul Demarty	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1200
__label__wiki	0.775643	0.775643	FILE - This April 18, 2019, file photo shows the dome of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. The Democratic-controlled House voted Tuesday, June 18, 2019, to block President Donald Trump’s move to restrict transgender men and women from military service. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File) House Votes To Block Military Transgender Ban June 18, 2019 - 11:25 pm WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled House voted Tuesday night to block President Donald Trump's move to restrict transgender men and women from military service. The House passed, by a 243-183 vote, an amendment to block Trump's transgender ban from remaining in effect. The move still faces an uphill battle and a Trump veto threat against the underlying $1 trillion spending bill, which includes the military budget. The Trump administration's policy bars people who have undergone gender transition from enlisting. It also requires military personnel to serve as their biological gender unless they began a gender transition under less restrictive Obama administration rules. The policy is being challenged in court. "With so much anger and so much hate in the world today, it is time to be kind to people," said Rep. Peter Visclosky, D-Ind. A GOP opponent, Rep. Ken Calvert of California, said the move "risks undermining the readiness of our military at a time when we can least afford it." But Rep. Anthony Brown, D-Md., said such arguments were used to justify segregation of the military. "My service in an integrated armed forces did not harm readiness," said Brown, who is African American. Under the Obama administration, the Pentagon announced that transgender people already serving in the military would be allowed to serve openly. Trump reversed that policy beginning in 2017 with a tweet that the government would not allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the military. An estimated 14,700 troops on active duty and in the reserves identify as transgender, but not all seek treatment. Since July 2016, more than 1,500 service members have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria; as of Feb. 1, there were 1,071 currently serving. The Pentagon says it has spent about $8 million on transgender care since 2016. The military's annual health care budget tops $50 billion. All four service chiefs told Congress last year that they had seen no discipline, morale or unit readiness problems with transgender troops serving openly in the military. But they also acknowledged that some commanders were spending a lot of time with transgender individuals who were working through medical requirements and other transition issues.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1201
__label__wiki	0.668678	0.668678	Federal Agency Move Favors Oil And Gas Industry, Critics Say Bryce Oates An oil and gas operation in Colorado that’s regulated by the Bureau of Land Management. Credit: Bureau of Land Management Oil and Gas Leasing informational video. The Trump administration is moving staff from another agency out of Washington, D.C., citing efficiency and cost savings as reasons. If you want to improve the responsiveness of the Bureau of Land Management, start by filling vacant positions, says an employees’ association. The Trump administration announced last week it will move another federal agency out of Washington, D.C., relocating dozens of management-level employees of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). While the administration claims the move is necessary to increase agency responsiveness, critics of the decision say the BLM reorganization is part of a broader pattern of poor management and lack of respect for the federal workforce. BLM officials made the announcement July 16, explaining the decision to move the Interior Department Agency’s headquarters from the National Capital Region to Grand Junction, Colorado. The bureau has nearly 10,000 employees, with only 550 currently located in Washington, D.C. “This approach will play an invaluable role in serving the American people more efficiently while also advancing the Bureau of Land Management’s multiple-use mission,” said Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, in a statement. “Shifting critical leadership positions and supporting staff to Western states — where an overwhelming majority of federal lands are located — is not only a better management system, it is beneficial to the interest of the American public in these communities, cities, counties and states.” The Palisade Wilderness Study Area near Grand Junction. Credit: Bureau of Land Management If the move is implemented as outlined, 61 BLM employees will remain in DC, 222 will be redistributed in local BLM offices throughout the West and 27 employees will establish the “new headquarters” in Western Colorado. BLM manages 245 million across the country, nearly all of which are located in rural communities of the West. Much like USDA’s decision and rationale to relocate the Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), numerous critics of the BLM relocation plan are not convinced by the administration’s statements about saving money and making the agency more responsive. “I don’t think anyone was complaining about a lack of responsiveness at BLM, particularly the oil, gas and mining industries,” said Jeff Ruch, Pacific director at the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). “If anything, this administration has had an open-door policy so that they get what they want.” Ruch is referring to BLM decisions since 2017 to pursue “increased energy dominance” by opening additional federal lands to fossil fuel and mining development. “The BLM is understaffed as it is,” Ruch said. “The White House has proposed budget cuts each year they have been in office despite a bigger workload of processing more permits for energy and mining.” “If they were interested in actually improving performance,” Ruch said, Interior Secretary Bernhardt “would at the very least appoint a functioning staff. Everyone in BLM is an ‘acting’ appointment. We’re two and a half years in and there has not even been a nomination for BLM director.” Representative Raul Grijalva (D-New Mexico), the lead congressional Democrat on BLM issues and chair of the Natural Resources Committee, said the move would give oil and gas interests more of an advantage in gaining access to public lands. “This administration has been handing over public lands to fossil fuel companies at record speed, and this move is part of that agenda,” Grijalva said. “Putting BLM headquarters down the road from Secretary Bernhardt’s hometown just makes it easier for special interests to walk in the door demanding favors without congressional oversight or accountability. The BLM officials based in Washington are here to work directly with Congress and their federal colleagues, and that function is going to take a permanent hit if this move goes forward. The agency will lose a lot of good people because of this move, and I suspect that’s the administration’s real goal here.” Changes to BLM staff and location of the headquarters have been discussed since the early days of the Trump administration when Ryan Zinke was head of Interior, according to Kate Kelly, Public Lands Director of the Center for American Progress. “While this is a huge blow to the morale and talent at BLM, I don’t think you can overestimate the politics of this decision,” Kelly said. “There are Senate and local elections coming in 2020 in Colorado,” Kelly said. “Plus, Interior Secretary Bernhardt is from Grand Junction, as are many other major players in the oil industry. And, when the BLM employees are redistributed to local offices, every state in the West is going to gain a number of federal employees.” Kelly said that moving key policy staff away from the Capital Region, where the Secretary of Interior and Congress are located, doesn’t make sense. “Like it or not, D.C. is the place where many agency decisions are made,” Kelly said. “From the budget to policy, having staff available on-site where the Secretary sits is very important to informing good decision-making.” Retaining those staff through the reorganization also worries Kelly, who points to the large number of USDA employees choosing to retire or resign rather than relocate to Kansas City. Last week, USDA announced that only 145 ERS and NIFA workers had chosen to move along with the research agencies. Another 250 employees have declined to stick with their employer because of the decision. “Given all the employees who have resigned in recent months in light of this ill-advised relocation, plus those who say they will not relocate, USDA is likely to retain less than 10 percent of the total workforce at these two agencies once all is said and done,” said J. David Cox, president of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), which represents the USDA employees, in a statement. “In addition to the direct costs of the relocation, the resulting brain drain from this massive loss of talent will severely damage NIFA and ERS, and it will take years to rebuild the highly specialized workforce at these agencies.” Congressional opposition to both the USDA and BLM relocations continues to surface, as do concerns about the cost-effectiveness of the agency projections. Questions remain about how congressional action through the budget process can affect both decisions. The BLM’s 245 million acres of public forest, grass and rangelands are located primarily in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. This article was originally published by the Daily Yonder. Study Finds Thousands Live Near Underground Natural Gas Storage Wells Culture1 day ago	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1202
__label__wiki	0.875429	0.875429	500 feet beneath the ocean's surface, the U.S. ballistic missile submarine Colorado receives their orders. Through a radio channel designed to be used if the main base has been wiped out, they're told to fire nuclear weapons at Pakistan. Captain Marcus Chaplin (Andre Braugher) demands confirmation of the orders only to be unceremoniously relieved of duty by the White House. XO Sam Kendal (Scott Speedman) suddenly finds himself in charge of the submarine and facing the same difficult decision. When he also refuses to fire without official confirmation of the orders, the Colorado is targeted, fired upon, and hit. With their submarine crippled, and their own nation against them, the crew of the Colorado must survive unprecedented odds and set up a base of operations on a nearby island. Armed with a cache of nuclear missiles and a team of Navy SEAL's, this is their new home, and this is thei Law & Order: Criminal In... Groundbreaking producer Dick Wolf presides over his popular, Emmy Award-winning Law & Order franchise with Law & Order: Criminal Intent, broadcast on NBC during its first six seasons and then moved to NBC Universal sibling USA Network beginning with season seven. This legal crime drama is unique among the other franchise programs in that it offers an additional dimension by exposing major crimes from the criminal's perspective. Vincent D'Onofrio stars as Det. Robert Goren, an exceptionally bright homicide investigator with well-honed instincts that match up favorably with his criminal quarry. Likewise, his partner, Det. Alexandra Eames (Kathryn Erbe), brings an independence and stylish edge to her work that meshes well in tandem with Goren. Network: USA Network Law & Order: UK The longest running crime series in U.S. television history is making its way across the pond for a UK reworking. Series creator Dick Wolf is set to give Law & Order a makeover-for fans in the UK. Law & Order: UK promises to retain the grittiness of the original series, but be uniquely British. Network: ITV1 actionadventurefantasysci-fi Millions of readers over the world have been held spellbound by this valiant tale vividly told. Now, enter Terry Goodkind's world, the world of The Sword of Truth. In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help... and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence. In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword-to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed... or that their time has run out. This is the beginning. One story. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend. Legends (2014) Based on the award-winning book by master spy novelist Robert Littell, Legends stars Sean Bean (Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings) as Martin Odum, a FBI agent with the ability to transform himself into a different person for each job. Network: TNT "Legit" stars Jim Jefferies as an edgy, foul-mouthed stand-up comedian from Australia, in his mid-30s and living in LA, endeavoring to make his life and career more “legit,” only to find it a difficult, uncomfortable uphill struggle every step of the way. Jim is encouraged in his quest by Steve, his neurotic best friend and roommate, a cyber-law library salesman who struggles to stay on his feet in the wake of a divorce, and Steve’s brother Billy, who suffers from advanced staged Muscular Dystrophy and is confined to a wheelchair. Network: FXX actionadventurecomedydrama Meet Nathan Ford, a former insurance investigator who spent his professional career dedicated to the company that refused a potentially life saving medical procedure for his son. Unemployed and teetering on the edge, Nate enlists the help of the best thieves and grifters in the business, and with their help, he steals from the rich and gives to the poor to help balance the crooks in high power positions. He and his team help provide... leverage. crimedramamysterythriller The service offered by The Lightman Group is truly unique. Simply stated, they can tell if you're lying. It's not the words you speak that give you away, it's what your body and face have to say. Dr. Cal Lightman and his team are experts at reading micro-expressions, the fleeting tics that express, non-verbally, what we are really feeling. With their finely honed interviewing and investigating skills, they have an uncanny ability to dig up the truth. Comedy about one big happy family and their sometimes awkward, often hilarious and ultimately beautiful milestone moments as told by its various members. comedycrimedrama Frank Tagliano (Steven Van Zandt), is a former member of the New York mob. After testifying in a trial in the United States, Tagliano is relocated to Lillehammer in Norway through the FBI's witness protection program. Frank Tagliano was intrigued by Lillehammer when he saw television images of the Winter Olympics in 1994, and therefore chooses to start his new life there. The transition from being a feared and respected gangster in New York, to become an unemployed immigrant in Norway, is not simple. Frank discovers that to get up and in the Norwegian rural society, he must resort to the old, ruthless methods. Network: NRK1	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1203
__label__wiki	0.715089	0.715089	Westwood Cinderella A Buddhist Wedding, Christian Baptism, and a Jewish Funeral Tag Archives: Brody 3.0 Introducing My Mother the Brave and Beautiful Bebs by Elizabeth Stephens “What is hateful to thee, do not unto thy fellow man. This is the whole law; the rest is mere commentary.” Hillel the Great Yeshua Ha’Moshiach a Helen “Bebs” Yaffe as a young girl growing up in Madison, Wisconsin. My mother Helen Yaffe grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, daughter of Minnie and Louis Yaffe. I knew very little of her early life except that her parents owned a grocery store that she and her sisters worked in after school. Helen, aka “Bebs” was the second of the four daughters. Her eldest sister was Doris, followed after her by Sharon and then Miriam, also known as “Mim” who was quite close to her sister “Bebs.” Mim recalls, “For some reason I always felt especially close to Bebs. We never called her “Helen.” Helen was Aunt Helen, your Grandma Minnie’s sister. The story of where the name Bebs came from is that Doris was not yet two when Bebs was born and instead of saying “baby”, she said “Bebs.” Sharon and Doris both had dark hair, Bebs and I were blond. Maybe that made me feel close. Also there was a time when we could fit into each others clothes. Bebs and I often worked in our parent’s grocery store. We liked doing that. Doris and Sharon preferred doing things in the house.” My Great Grandmother Libby Dora (Press) Silverman was married to Aaron Silverman. She was the youngest daughter of Benjamin and Chiah (Ida) Press who lived in Kovna, Lithuania in the 1890’s. They had five children (three sons and another daughter. I don’t know their names). My Grandmother Minnie (Silverman) Yaffe was born in Des Moines, Iowa and was the oldest of seven children. She had four sisters, Mary, Helen, Lillian, and Belle; and two brothers Harry and Mose. Minnie’s parents, Aaron and Libby Dora (Press) Silverman were from Des Moines, Iowa. They lived on 1136 Street. Here’s a photo of my Mother “Bebs” visiting “Grampa Silverman” around 1940 or 41. Grandmother Libby Dora Press Silverman and her husband Aaron Silverman. They lived in Des Moines Iowa. One of their sons, Mose who was born on May 6, 1893 served as a lieutenant in Company B. One Hundred Sixty-eighth Infantry in WWI. In one of their newspaper clippings the headlines read, “SILVERMAN IS LUCKY.” Des Moines Officer Saved From Capture by Armistice. Lieut. Mos Silverman escaped capture by the Germans by the signing of the armistice, according to a letter received Friday by his parents Mr. and Mrs. A. Silverman, 1136 14th Street. He writes that while out searching for the assault battalion for whom he had armistice orders, he wandered behind the German lines and ran into three German officers. All that saved him was the arrival of the battalion, to whom he delivered the orders, which notified the combatants that the war was over.” After the war there was a wedding announcement in the local newspaper which read, “Of interest to DesMoines friends is the marriage of Mr. Mose Silverman, son of Mr. and Mrs. A Silverman, 2401 High Street and Miss Rose Goldstein of Denver, Colo., which took place June 5 in Denver, where the groom is engaged in the advertising business. Mr. Silverman is a graduate of Drake University and was a member of Company B. One Hundred Sixty-eighth Infantry.” Rose Goldstein Silverman and Mose Silverman, my Aunt and Uncle during their early years in Denver, Colorado. Dan Rottenberg, a genealogist in Finding Our Fathers, A Guidebook to Jewish Genealogy wrote, “As European Jews moved from country to country, they would continue to name children after ancestors but would alter those names to suit their new homelands. ‘Names would be modified by only using the first initial, e.g., Abraham becomes Arthur or Alan. Until the nineteenth century, whether or not to take on a family name was left to the individual Jew. Many family names were adopted from the town where the family came from.” The Patriarch and Matriarch of the Silverman Family “Emperor Joseph II of Austria, who issued the Edict of Toleration for the Jews in 1781, was the first to require Jews to take family names—in Galacia, in 1785. Jews were given names based on the size of the registration fee they could afford. The most expensive names derived from flowers and gems, like Rosenthal or Goldstein; for a smaller amount, you could get a name like Stahl (steel) or Eisen (iron); and if you had no money at all, you would be saddled with a nonsensical name…” William Silverglatt, their daughter Sarah Elizabeth, and Miriasha (Schulman) Silverglatt It may very well be that my Great, Great Grandfather William Silverglatt, may have had to purchase the right to use Silverglatt as his family name. Later he changed it to Silverman, which his three children, Aaron, Mendel, and Sarah Elizabeth were known by. Rottenberg mentions that “In 1808 Napoleon required all the Jews of his empire to take family names, but his decree forbade Jews to take names based on localities or adopt names of famous families.” On the other hand, in some parts of Europe, especially southern Germany, Jews were forced to change their names if they were of Biblical origin. Under the Baden law of January 13, 1809, for example, Levites who customarily were named Levi were forced to choose new family names, most of which were derived from place names. Thus some Jews have had family names for less than 150 years.” In attempting to figure out when the Presses, Silvermans, and Yaffes left Lithuania, Dan Rottenberg points to the historic migration of Jews during two periods. “By the laws of 1795 and 1835, the Russian government limited its new Jews to the newly annexed areas, since known as the Pale of Settlement” which included Kosvno, the district the Press family lived bounded by the Baltic Sea, Germany and Russia. To the south, was a town called Brody, located in the Austria-Hungary region. This was the “principal town from which in 1880 began the exodus of over 2 million Jews from the Pale to the United States, Britain, Europe, South America, and Palestine.” According to Rottenberg’s map notes, “In 1882, 500,000 Jews living in rural areas of the Pale were forced to leave their homes and live in towns or townlets (shetetls) in the Pale” [much like those in the film/play Fiddler on the Roof”]. 250,000 Jews living along the Western frontier of Russia were also moved into the Pale. 700,000 Jews living east of the Pale were driven into the Pale by 1891.“In 1882 more than 1.5 million Russian Jews who had managed to live outside the Pale were forced into it, so that by 1885 there were 4 million Jews living inside the Pale.” Finding Our Fathers, A Guidebook to Jewish Genealogy by Dan Rottenberg. Map of the Pale, page 119. “Prior to 1918, Russia had no government bureaus to register births, deaths, and marriages. If pre-1918 records do exist, the Communist government there has been reluctant to share them with the rest of the world. It is know that in czarist Russia, Jewish communities kept their own circumcision books, marriage and divorce registrations, records of burials, cemetery lists and so on…few of these records seems to have survived (Rottenberg:120).” “The greatest single source of Jews since the Middle Ages, by far, has been Poland. In 1939 the Jewish population of Poland was 3.25 million. The Jewish population of the Soviet Union was about 2.8 million—but virtually all Soviet Jews then (and now) lived in areas that had once been part of Poland. Thus on the eve of World War II, nearly 40 per cent of the world’s Jews lived in Poland itself or in formerly Polish territories, and at least another 20 percent were descendants of Polish Jews who had emigrated to America. “Medieval Jews lived in Poland and Lithuania because they were among the last countries to be Christianized. Poland was still a pagan country until the end of the tenth century, and Lithuania did not accept Christianity until about 1400. Pagan kings, having no religion of their own to promote, were much more tolerant of Jews than Christian kings, who believed their salvation depended on the elimination of heretics. While the land of Israel may be the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people, Poland is the more immediate ancestral homeland of most of today’s Jewish population. “Jews have been in Lithuania since the eighth century, and in the eighteenth century their population numbered 250,000. For virtually all of the past six hundred years, Lithuania has been under the rule of some other country. It was once a grand duchy, but in 1385 it was united with Poland. When Poland was dismembered, the section that had been Lithuania came under the aegis of Russia in 1796. In 1918 Lithuania finally became an independent country, but this arrangement lasted only twenty-two years: Lithuania was overrun by the Nazis in 1940, was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1944 and is now a Soviet Socialist Republic.” Benjamin and Chiah (Ida) Press. Taken in Kovna, Lithuania sometime before 1890. Notice the Torah in his right hand. Great Grandmother Libby Dora Press’s parents were from Kovna, Lithuania. This photograph was taken sometime before 1890. Evidently, they had five children, three boys and two girls. The youngest was Libby who married Aaron Silverman. I’m not sure exactly when Louis Yaffe came over but it may have been during the great migration out of Lithuania prior to World War I, since Grandmother Minnie’s brother Mose served as a US Lieutenant in 1918. According to Mim, my Grandfather, Minnie’s husband, “Louis Yaffe was from Lithuania where he was apprenticed to a man who had orchards.” Dan Rottenberg in his genealogical index, wrote that Yaffe is a variation of “Jaffe (also Jaffa, Jaffin, Jofe, Joffin, Ioffe)—Widespread rabbinic family whose branches in Italy, Russia, Austria, Germany, U.S.A., and Britain all descend from Mordecai Jaffe of Prague (1530-1612) and his uncle Moses Jaffe, who traced their ancestry to Samuel ben Elhanan, great-grandson of RASHI (1040-1105).* The name is Hebrew for “beautiful.” Mim recalled, “I think he was around 19 or 20 when he came to the U.S. He had a cousin in Milwaukee who was married to a cousin of Minnie’s. That’s how Minnie and Louis met. When they married Grandpa Louis was a farmer and took Minnie—a city girl—to the farm. Doris and Bebs remembered living on the farm. I don’t know if Sharon remembers it. I don’t. I was probably only 2 or 3 when we moved into the city of Madison.” “Bebs majored in math in college, Doris in humanities (she was Phi Beta Kappa!) Sharon majored in music. She’s amazing. She can play anything she hears.” Your mother suffered from asthma all her short life. It was she who got us all to move to California. She first went to Colorado but the altitude was too much for her, so she went on to California. There she met your Grandma Minnie’s first cousins. She determined to stay in California, so soon after Aunt Lily and Belle and I with my grandfather Aaron Silverman drove from Madison, Wisconsin to Los Angeles. Mim continued, “Bebs booked passage on a freighter after living in Los Angeles for some time. The freighter took her around the world and she got off at Haifa, Israel. “Bebs” had saved her money to go on vacation to Hawaii, but the family told her she needed to spend her money in the homeland, Israel. As soon as Britain hauled down their Union Jack on May 14, 1948, Israel raised its flag featuring the Star of David. Israel’s engaged in a War for its Independence and she needed to support the cause. I am sure they wanted her to find a nice Jewish boy and settle down there. The family seemed to have some means, so I was surprised that she was traveling alone during such perilous times. She must have been very brave. From historic photos, I pieced together that my mother had traveled to many places before arriving in Israel. She had secured passage aboard a freighter bound to Tel Aviv. Bebs aboard the LaSalle. On June 30, 1949, Bebs left Mobile, Alabama. She took this photo from the LaSalle of which a part can be seen. “Bebs” keep your eyes on the road! La Salle July 1949. “Bebs” sunning herself aboard the LaSalle. Gibraltar on July 15, 1949. “Gumboats” with scarves, cigarettes, cognac, etc. for sale to Americans. Bebs said she counted 21 of these boats on one side of the LaSalle. Getting directions in Genoa, July 1949. “Bebs” in Israel July 1949. From Tel Aviv she wrote on August 4, 1949, “It’s pretty doggone hot in Tel Aviv, but tomorrow I’m going to Jerusalem where they tell me it’s cooler. Here I am definitely not making the most of my time because I really don’t have the energy to move. Attended the transcription of the Town meeting of the Air Sunday-you’ll hear it in the USA in about 3 weeks. Also saw La Boheme put on by the Hebrew National Opera. I enjoyed it. More another time. Love, Helen (“Bebs”). So far this is the story that I’ve pieced together of my brave and beautiful mother Bebs early years thanks to Mim and others. Although, I don’t remember her, my youngest daughter Taylor has said on many occasions, “Mom, she must have loved you very much. *”No family can trace its ancestry back to Rashi in an unbroken line (Dan Rottenberg). Regarding Rottenberg’s research on Rashi: “While it’s exciting to think about being related to Rashi, “consider the lineage I constructed after discovering in some old Hebrew books that the Marguilies branch of my family claimed to be descended from Rashi, the famous Talmudic commentator of eleventh-century France. Rashi is supposed to have been descended in the thirty-third generation from Johanan ha-Sandalar, who lived in second-century Egypt. Johanan was a great-grandson of Rabbi Gamaliel the Elder, who was in turn the grandson of Hillel the Great, the sage who lived in Jerusalem during the time of King Herod and Jesus” (Dan Rottenberg in Finding Our Fathers). Posted on January 30, 2014 by James and Elizabeth Stephens • in Elizabeth Stephens • Tagged Abraham, Armistice, Baden Law, Brody, Company B One Hundred Sixty-eighth Infantry, Dan Rottenberg, Des Moines, Drake University, Edict of Toleration, Emperor Joseph II of Austria, Finding Our Fathers, Gamaliel, Hillel the Great, Iowa, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jewish Genealogy, King Herod, Kosvno, Kovna, Levites, Lithuania, Madison, Milwaukee, Mordecai Jaffe of Prague, Napoleon, Nazis, Pale, Pale of Settlement, Phi Beta Kappa, Polish Jews, Press, Rashi, Russian Jews, Silverglatt, Silverman, WWI, WWII, Yaffee, Yeshua Ha'Moshiach • Leave a comment 1.0 “Ausländer! Up! 2.0 “Meet David” 4.0 “Helen and David’s Rendezvous in Tel Aviv” Rob Bonter on 20.0 Angel Corps, the Big Appl… Rob Bonter on 10.0 No Curls and No Hop Skotc… John Register on 24.0 A Perfect Day for Our Bud… James Stephens on 2.0 “Meet David” Elizabeth Stephens Abraham Amamori Gohonzon Amway Armistice Baden Law Bebs Ben Gurion Bible Brody Buddhist Butsudon California Chaim Weizman Company B One Hundred Sixty-eighth Infantry Dan Rottenberg Des Moines Drake University Edict of Toleration Egypt Emperor Joseph II of Austria Finding Our Fathers Florida State University French Gohonzon Haifa Hawaii Hebrew Hillel the Great Iowa Israel James Stephens Japan Japan National Railway Jesus Jesus Christ Jewish boy Jewish Genealogy JNR Joan Crawford Kosvno Kovna Levites Lithuania May 14 1948 Mommy Dearest Mordecai Jaffe of Prague Napoleon Nazarene Church Nazis Nichiren Shoshu NSA Pale Pale of Settlement Polish Jews President Truman Press Psychology Rashi Russia Jew Russian Jews Silverglatt Silverman Star of David stepmother Tel Aviv Union Jack Venice West Los Angeles Westwood Westwood Cinderella Wicked stepmother WWI WWII Yaffee Yeshua Ha'Moshiach Huntington Chinese Winter Garden	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1206
__label__wiki	0.500921	0.500921	C. V. Raman Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, FRS[1] (7 November 1888 – 21 November 1970) was an Indian physicist. He studied light scattering. He won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1930 for his work in this subject. He discovered that, when light passes through a transparent material, some of the deflected light changes in wavelength. This phenomenon is now called Raman scattering and is the result of the Raman effect.He died in his institute garden surrounded by flowers of natural circumstances.[2] He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1954.[3][4] ↑ Suri Bhagavantam (1971). "Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman 1888-1970". Biographical Memoirs of Fellows of the Royal Society 17: 564–526. doi:10.1098/rsbm.1971.0022 . ↑ "Sri Venkata Raman - Biographical". Nobel Peace Prize - Official website. http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1930/raman-bio.html. Retrieved 6 November 2013. ↑ "Raman, Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata". Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.. 2007. http://www.britannica.com/nobelprize/print?articleId=62569&fullArticle=true&tocId=9062569. Retrieved 2007-09-11. ↑ G. Venkataraman, 'Journey into light: life and science of C. V. Raman,' Indian Academy of Science, 1988. ISBN 818532400X. Retrieved from "https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/w/index.php?title=C._V._Raman&oldid=4946353" Indian people This page was last changed on 24 November 2014, at 11:34.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1210
__label__wiki	0.842338	0.842338	Lukoil executive’s daughter found dead near Moscow By \| May 4, 2011 The daughter of an executive at Russia’s second largest oil producer has been found dead in the Moscow region, a police source said on Tuesday. He said the body of Viktoria Teslyuk, daughter of Robert Teslyuk, was found by the roadside near the town of Taldom, about 100 km north of Moscow “when the snow melted.” The source was unable to offer an explanation for the death of the 16-year-old girl, who was reported missing on March 26. The report was confirmed by a source within Robert Teslyuk’s inner circle but there has been no official comment from police or Lukoil. Robert Teslyuk is general director of the Arman oil producing company, a joint venture of Lukoil, Shell and Sinopec, based in Kazakhstan. The kidnapping of the son of Russian software tycoon Yevgeny Kaspersky made world headlines last month. The 20-year-old heir to Kaspersky’s estimated $800 million wealth was released safely in a police sting operation after being held for ransom for a week. ← Coffee and Royal Wedding and Osama bin Laden… FSB charges Russian who betrayed U.S. spy ring… →	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1213
__label__wiki	0.862891	0.862891	Erik Andersson (ice hockey, born 1994) Erik Andersson Erik Andersson (water polo) Erik "Stänk" Andersson (born July 4, 1994) is a Swedish ice hockey player. He is currently playing with HV71 of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Erik is also known for playing the computer game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive where he goes under the name Stanl3y. Andersson made his Swedish Hockey League debut playing with HV71 during the 2013–14 SHL season. Andersson, Erik's career statistics at EliteProspects.com This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Erik_Andersson_(ice_hockey,_born_1994) Erik Andersson may refer to: Erik Andersson (footballer) (born 1997), Swedish football player Erik Andersson (ice hockey, born 1971), Swedish ice hockey player who played for Calgary Flames Erik Andersson (ice hockey, born 1982), Swedish ice hockey player playing for Skellefteå AIK Erik Andersson (ice hockey, born 1986), Swedish ice hockey player playing for Timrå IK Erik Andersson (ice hockey, born 1994), Swedish ice hockey player playing for HV71 Erik Andersson (speedway rider) (born 1984), Swedish speedway rider, competitor in 2007 Speedway Grand Prix of Sweden etc. Erik Andersson (swimmer, born 1984), Swedish swimmer Erik Andersson (water polo) (1896–1985), Swedish water polo player and swimmer Erik Andersson (architect) (born 1971), Swedish architect who designed Sicklauddsbron Erik Andersson (drummer), drummer for Swedish progressive death metal band Godgory Erik Andersen (disambiguation) Eric Anderson (disambiguation) Kent-Erik Andersson (born 1951), retired Swedish hockey right winger This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Erik_Andersson Erik Andersson (born 18 September 1986 in Ljungby, Sweden) is a forward for the Borås HC hockey team in the Swedish HockeyAllsvenskan league. On 28 October 2005 Andersson was named the first in the line of four candidates for Elitserien Rookie Of The Year 2006. The award was eventually won by forward Nicklas Bäckström. After playing two seasons for HV71, Andersson signed with Timrå IK for 2 years on 10 April 2007. Andersson left on 7 May 2009 Timrå IK and signed with HockeyAllsvenskan club Borås HC. Elitserien 2005-06 Rookie of the Year Nominee in 2005. Erik Andersson's career statistics at The Internet Hockey Database "Erik Andersson - player profile and career stats". European Hockey.Net. Retrieved 10 April 2007. "Erik Andersson". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 10 April 2007. Klas Erik "Nello" Andersson (March 17, 1896 – February 23, 1985) was a Swedish swimmer and water polo player who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics, in the 1920 Summer Olympics, and in the 1924 Summer Olympics. He was born and died in Stockholm and was the younger brother of Selma Andersson, Adolf Andersson, and Robert Andersson. In 1912 he was eliminated in the first round of the 100 metre freestyle event. Eight years later at the 1920 Olympics he was part of the Swedish team, which won the bronze medal. In the 1924 water polo competition his team finished in fourth place. This page contains text from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia - https://wn.com/Erik_Andersson_(water_polo) borninafricamedia.com larseniceshelf.net borninafricagroup.com newiceage.net borninafricas.com icemechanics.com nationalhockeyleague.net bismilliceto.net iceconditions.com sangiovanniinpersiceto.net hockeypost.com iceactor.com divingundertheice.com vostokicestation.net bismilliceto.com antarcticicebeauty.com icehauler.com hockeyradio.com icepacks.com miniiceage.org	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1216
__label__cc	0.642967	0.357033	Women's magazine Women's secrets: All the most interesting and relevant for women. › Women's magazine › Miscellanea The combination of name and patronymic for girls 28-08-2018 Miscellanea As soon as the future parents find out about the upcoming visit of the stork, they begin to invent a name for their baby. The appearance of a little princess to the world is always marked by great joy. But the choice of the name sometimes causes problems. Of course, all parents seek to find the right combination of name and patronymic for the girl. Let's talk about it and talk. How to choose a name for the girl by middle name: the main aspects Our people have an excellent proverb: "As you call a ship, so it will sail." Of course, a person cannot be compared with a ship, however, the name given at birth is inextricably linked to our life. If you decide in advance to name your newborn princess in honor of one of your relatives or parents, you really like a certain name, then ignore the middle name. In other cases, it is recommended to take into account certain criteria. Names for girls can be chosen according to the church calendar. If the date of birth of your baby coincides with the name of a person whose name you don’t like, then this idea should be abandoned. You can also look through a special catalog or the so-called encyclopedia of names. According to the characteristics of a particular name, you can choose the right one for the newborn. If you still associate the choice of the name for your daughter with the patronymic, then follow the following rules: Name and patronymic should belong to different sound groups. If the name has more solid sounds, then the middle name should sound soft, and accordingly, vice versa. For example, Victoria Sergeyevna or Angelina Viktorovna. Be sure to name and patronymic baby should be harmonious, and the transition between words - smooth. Given this criterion, pay attention to the alternation of consonants and vowels. If there is a vowel in the ending of the name, then the middle name must begin with a consonant, and vice versa. If the derivative on behalf of the father is patronymic too long, for example, Konstantinovna, Aleksandrovna, etc., then it is better for the daughter to pick up a short name - Anna, Elena, Asya, Zlata. Be sure to take into account the nationality, it is unlikely that incompatible names and patronymic will sound organically and wisely, for example, Zulfiya Alekseevna or Cleopatra Yuryevna. The above aspects are considered the basic rules that should guide the choice of the girl's name, in harmony with the middle name. Do not forget that the name carries an energetic and semantic value. Names contain the information that can leave an imprint on our fate. It is not recommended to name born girls in honor of deceased relatives. It is not advisable to choose a name in honor of the mother or sister, since there is a perception that in this case the little man is already deprived of individuality. Name and middle name compatibility: how to check? If you have already chosen a name for your future baby, then it is quite simple to check its harmoniousness and harmonious combination with the patronymic. Say the name and patronymic several times out loud. If they really fit, then without much effort you will be able to pronounce the phrase, the letters will not be slouched, the transition between words will be smooth and melodic. To date, the web can find a lot of information about the compatibility of female names and middle names. If you doubt the choice, use a special table. For each patronymic, there is a list of the most harmonious and harmonious maiden names. What information carries a middle name? Before choosing a child's first name, read his description. As you know, any name has its origin and characteristics. A number of female names in translation from one or another language directly interpret the character of the girl. You should not choose the girl's names, the characteristic of which will contrast with the patronymic. Both the name and the patronymic according to the description and horoscopes must coincide and harmonize with each other. The name should be a continuation and a full complement of the middle name. If there are negative traits in the patronymic characteristic, then when choosing a name this should be avoided. For example, if a patronymic is characterized by pathological jealousy or imperiousness, then in the name of the baby these signs should not be, otherwise, on the invisible energy level, we will automatically square this character trait. Let's look at the characteristics of the most common derivatives of male middle names: Alexander - girls with such a patronymic are characterized by kindness, energy and pride. Alexey - the representatives of the weak half of mankind, having such a middle name, are distinguished by their dedication, selflessness and appeasability. Andrew - the owner of the middle name derived from this name will be a master of all hands from birth. Valery - girls with such a patronymic, as a rule, are resolute and independent. Vladimir - babies, having a middle name derived from this name, are characterized by vanity, but at the same time they are very sociable. Vasily - girls with such a Russian patronymic are mostly cunning and hardworking. Eugene - derived from this name middle name harbors the energy of good nature and responsiveness. Dmitry - girls with such a patronymic, as a rule, are very jealous and stubborn, they are often considered gossips. Sergey - girls born with such a patronymic, in life are very successful and talented in all endeavors. Yuri - babies, having a derivative from this male name, patronymic, differ in their authority, decisiveness and desire to impose their opinions on others. When choosing a name suitable for the patronymic for the baby, the melodiousness and character trait are the moments to which attention should be paid. Our names are fraught with invisible energy, which in some way affects the fate. The main thing is that the girl was happy, healthy and loved. Do not forget that choosing a girl's name is a serious mission for parents. PreviousHow to eat feijoa NextBlack and white makeup - universal classic makeup Pantyhose dolls Chicken liver cutlets Is it possible to drink distilled water Dependence on computer games. signs of How long does gel polish on nails Chicken with apples in the oven How to make an elastic ass How to make a paper stud What hand is the watch wearing? Reflux gastritis Fasting on water Heartburn after every meal Recipe soft © Copyright 2018 - 2019, Copying of the material is prohibited.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1217
__label__cc	0.538236	0.461764	A Greater … as its first president wanted a greater independence for the republic from the federal Yugoslav authorities. He clashed with Svetozar Vukmanović-Tempo, Josip Broz Tito’s envoy to Macedonia and Lazar Koliševski, the leader of the ruling Communist Party of Macedonia. … of Parma. In her policy, Élisabeth worked to free Parma from Spanish influence; to secure the succession of the duchy for her son and if possibly obtain a greater throne for him with French help; and to secure dynastic marriages for her… … publication of a magazine, The Odinist, although this focused to a greater extent on right-wing and racialist ideas than theological ones. Stephen McNallen first founded the Viking Brotherhood in the early 1970s, before creating the Ásatrú… … their tenure with Queen Brahne was. Since Kuja had stated that Zorn and Thorn were part of a greater, single entity, one can assume that Kuja had created the two to facilitate Brahne’s manipulation, however, this is only one of many… … multiple-family building to cover a greater ground area than half the land upon which it is built; multiple-family dwellings to be restricted to two-storeys in height, unless constructed of brick, concrete, or other similar fire-resisting… Zone two (6500-4000 BCE) contained a greater variation of strata than zone one. Unit 1 only had one stratum, but units 7, 8, 9, 10, and 14 consisted of three strata and a lens in zone two, and unit 6 had two strata. The top portions of… … purple gorilla starts with a greater range, but only one balloon, compared to the green zombie, who starts with two balloons but smaller range. When victorious, certain amount of lucci is given to the player, and zombie points which can be used to unlock different zombies. Zogu enacted several major reforms. His principal ally during this period was Italy, which lent his government funds in exchange for a greater role in Albania’s fiscal policy. During Zogu’s presidency, serfdom was gradually eliminated. For… … (Ravenala madagascariensis – Strelitziaceae). The latter, a Madagascar endemic, has thick, palm-like trunks which push the fan-shaped crown of leaves up into the top layers of the forest. Some Zingiberales prefer a greater degree of light and are found in forest glades or margins, or in open secondary growth along streams and rivers. … packing, in which each atom has six nearest neighbors (at 265.9 pm) in its own plane and six others at a greater distance of 290.6 pm. The metal is hard and brittle at most temperatures but becomes malleable between 100 and 150 °C. Above… … respects, there is little similarity with the late first-row transition metals. Zinc tends to form bonds with a greater degree of covalency and much more stable complexes with N- and S- donors. Complexes of zinc are mostly 4- or 6- coordinate although 5-coordinate complexes are known. Zheng’s territory. It would make Jin stronger and a greater threat to Qin. He pointed out that if Qin gave up attacking the city, Zheng would be willing to be an ally of Qin in the future to potentially fight against Jin. He successfully… Zhang Xueliang, who believed that the Japanese invasion was a greater threat, was persuaded by the CPC to take Chiang hostage during the Xi’an Incident in 1937 and forced Chiang to agree to an alliance with them in the total war against… … scholastic achievement, and foster a greater sense of unity among its members. these women believed that sorority elitism and socializing overshadowed the real mission for progressive organizations. Since its founding Zeta Phi Beta has historically focused on addressing social causes. Zero-risk bias is a tendency to prefer the complete elimination of a risk even when alternative options produce a greater reduction in risk (overall). This effect on decision making has been observed in surveys presenting hypothetical… Zernike returned to the ministry but not with the Anabaptists, as she felt a greater affinity with a more liberal and newly formed church belonging to the Dutch Protestant Association (NPB). There was no building, the 40 church members met… … was unable to renegotiate his debts, he lost his real estate holdings in New York. According to The Wall Street Journal, a habit of personally guaranteeing loans along with giving outside investors a greater share of profits than is customary contributed to Zeckendorf’s financial problems. … kind of triple jump more than twice, and for it to be given full credit on both occasions, one of the two triples must be incorporated into a combination or sequence. The rule encouraged skaters to display a greater variety of skills. … 1963), and photographer Charles Bronson captured the fatal shot, although at a greater distance than Zapruder. Other motion picture films were taken in Dealey Plaza at or around the time of the shooting by Robert Hughes, F. Mark Bell, Elsie… Zakrzewska traveled to Boston as her desire for a greater challenge grew. She fell in love with the city and was offered an appointment as Professor of Obstetrics and Diseases of Women and Children as well as to serve as head of a new…	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1222
__label__cc	0.548065	0.451935	Apr 15, 2001 Issue Group Beta-Hemolytic Streptococcal Pharyngitis KENNETH BROMBERG, M.D. State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn College of Medicine Am Fam Physician. 2001 Apr 15;63(8):1486-1493. In a review of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis in this issue of American Family Physician, Hayes and Williamson1 provide readers with some controversy. After discussing the uncontroversial epidemiology, diagnosis and therapy, the authors end with a prediction that penicillin might not be the drug of choice for the treatment of strep throat in the future. Citing two important sources, the 2000 Red Book2 and the practice guideline developed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America3 (now available on the Internet athttp://www.journals.uchicago.edu/CID/home.html), Hayes and Williamson1 stress the diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis. Because the rate of streptococcal carriage can be high, the way to avoid detection of carriers and unnecessary use of antibiotics is to perform cultures with discrimination. The authors support the use of prediction rules. Logically, cultures should not be obtained in patients who are unlikely to have group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis, such as those with upper respiratory tract infection, nor should cultures be repeated. By reducing the likelihood of treating carriers, this approach goes a long way toward eliminating some of the controversy related to the diagnosis and treatment of strep throat. Hayes and Williamson1 do not address the difference between treating pharyngitis in the general population and treating it in patients with a personal or family history of rheumatic fever. Like immunocompromised patients with fever, patients with rheumatic fever must be aggressively treated. On initial presentation with rheumatic fever, patients are given penicillin G benzathine without waiting for the results of the initial culture. With subsequent episodes of pharyngitis in these patients, post-treatment cultures should be performed to ensure that group A beta-hemolytic streptococci have been eradicated. This treatment approach is also appropriate during outbreaks of rheumatic fever in closed populations, but it is not appropriate for the general population.3 Many infectious disease experts strongly disagree with the notion that there is an ever-increasing rate of penicillin failure in the treatment of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis.4 Although cephalosporins may result in a higher eradication rate for group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, the decision to replace treatment with penicillin or amoxicillin with the more expensive cephalosporins would be based on a resurgence of rheumatic fever from lower rates of streptococcal elimination, which has not been shown to be a problem to date. It is the majority opinion that most penicillin failures occur in carriers in whom the carrier state is not eradicated. Erythromycin is the drug of choice in penicillin-allergic patients. Cephalosporins may be indicated in some situations, such as when erythromycin cannot be tolerated. Under these circumstances, it might be appropriate to use a beta-lactamase–stable medication such as amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium (Augmentin) or an orally administered cephalosporin. However, only first-generation cephalosporins such as cephalexin (Keflex, Keftab) or cefadroxil (Duricef), taken twice daily, would be indicated. These agents have a narrower spectrum and are less expensive than second- or third-generation cephalosporins. These broader spectrum cephalosporins should not be used. Physicians likely have access to the broader spectrum agents because they are currently being heavily marketed. Physicians should avoid the temptation to dispense samples of these agents to patients with streptococcal pharyngitis. In their review, Hayes and Williamson1 do not discuss the use of clindamycin (Cleocin). Because of its activity against resistant pneumococci as well as group A beta-hemolytic streptococci, clindamycin now has a role in the treatment of ear, nose and throat infections. Unlike Streptococcus pneumoniae, group A beta-hemolytic streptococci have not developed resistance to penicillins. Penicillin will probably continue to be effective treatment for streptococcal pharyngitis and part of the effort against rheumatic fever. Kenneth Bromberg, M.D., is associate professor of pediatrics, medicine (infectious diseases) and microbiology/immunology at the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn College of Medicine, Brooklyn. Address correspondence to Kenneth Bromberg, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, SUNY at Downstate Medical Center, 450 Clarkson Ave., P.O. Box 49, Brooklyn, NY 11203. 1. Hayes CS, Williams H Jr. Management of group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal pharyngitis. Am Fam Physician. 2001;63:1557–64.... 2. Pickering LK, ed. 2000 Red book: report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 25th ed. Elk Grove Village, Ill.: American Academy of Pediatrics, 2000. 3. Bisno AL, Gerber MA, Gwaltney JM, Kaplan EL, Schwartz RH. Diagnosis and management of group A streptococcal pharyngitis: a practice guideline. Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 1997;25:574–83. 4. Pichichero ME. Eradication of group A streptococci [Letter]. Pediatrics. 2000;106(2 pt 1):380–2. Continue reading from April 15, 2001 Previous: Heart Failure, Diastolic Dysfunction and the Role of the Family Physician Next: Diary from a Week in Practice Home / Journals / afp / Vol. 63/No. 8(April 15, 2001) / Editorials: Group A Beta-Hemolytic Strepococcal Pharyngitis	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1223
__label__wiki	0.91965	0.91965	Election 2016: Crackdown on welfare payments cornerstone of Coalition's final budget costings By political reporter Stephen Dziedzic Photo: Treasurer Scott Morrison says the Commonwealth was owed around $3.5 billion in welfare debt due to fraud and overpayments. (AAP Image: Adrian Muscat) Related Story: As it happened: Morrison touts billion-dollar election windfall The Coalition has announced a plan to claw back $2.3 billion in savings - largely by cracking down on welfare payments - as it unveils its final budget costings. The Government plans to overhaul checks and balances in the welfare system to recoup just over $2 billion Commonwealth owed about $3.5 billion in welfare debt due to fraud and overpayments Labor sceptical about how much money the Government would be able to claw back The Government predicts it will save just over $2 billion by intensifying its efforts to identify welfare fraud, and using technology more effectively to ensure people receiving Centrelink payments and pensions are not overpaid. The Coalition said the savings would allow it to pay for its election promises, and lift its bottom line by just over $1 billion since the budget in May. Treasurer Scott Morrison said the Commonwealth was owed around $3.5 billion in welfare debt due to fraud and overpayments. The figures broken down: The Coalition says its election promises over the past eight weeks have cost the budget $1.2b To offset that, it will crack down on welfare, bringing in $2.3b over four years The Treasurer says that means a $1.1b boost to the budget He says Labor will increase the deficit by $16b over four years "We are not weakening the system, we at strengthening it, so those entitled to the payment and support which are important get that support, but ensuring that the system doesn't have the leakage and the waste and the overpayments or the abuse of the system which at the end of the day cost Australian taxpayers," Mr Morrison said. He said the Coalition would overhaul the checks and balances in the system and use technology more effectively to recoup the money. "Our existing integrity measures are successfully identifying and recovering fraud and overpayments, and we will build on these ... I think every Australian would expect the Government to be doing that," he said. Opposition's Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen said he was sceptical about how much money the Government would be able to claw back. "Obviously, we would need to know exactly how many people would be affected and how it is different to the $5.7 billion in savings announced since the 2015/16 budget from better compliance," Mr Bowen said. "This Government has a habit of announcing compliance measures with very significant amounts of money attached to them." Spot the difference: Where the parties diverge on policy External Link: Your say on welfare Labor's Finance spokesman Tony Burke said now the Coalition had released its full costings, voters faced a stark choice between the two parties. "The Government is offering the worst of all worlds in these figures. They have continued deficits with no structural reform," Mr Burke said. "Both sides of politics hit surplus in the same year. Both sides of politics have deficits across the forward estimates. But only one side of politics - that is Labor - is dealing with the structural deficit. "Our reforms, year on year, make structural improvements to the budget. Their changes, year on year, see the budget deteriorate structurally." But Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the Coalition's announcements demonstrated its resolve to bring the budget back to surplus and exercise fiscal discipline. "Since we came to government we have made more savings to the tune of $10.3 billion and in this costings announcement here today we can again show that the frugal, modest commitments we have made in this campaign are more than paid for by genuine savings in other parts of the budget," Senator Cormann said. "Unlike the Labor Party, which has been making unfunded spending promises after unfunded spending promises in this campaign, and Labor putting up the size of the deficit, putting the Triple-A credit rating at risk." This article includes interactive context annotations which are not supported on this platform. For the full interactive experience in this article, you will need a modern web browser with JavaScript enabled. Find out more about browser support at ABC News Online. Negative gearing Negative gearing allows property investors who make a loss on running their property to reduce the tax they pay on other income. The Coalition parties have promised not to change the current negative gearing laws, which apply to established and new houses or apartments. Labor wants to abolish negative gearing for established houses from next year, which it claims will make housing more affordable. The Coalition has criticised Labor's plan, saying it would discourage investment, raise rents and reduce home values. But Labor says its plan would help put first home buyers on a level playing field with investors. Australia has more than two million property investors, and more than 60 per cent made a loss in the 2013-14 financial year. The average loss is about $10,000. If someone earned a wage of $80,000, for example, negative gearing would cut their taxable income to $70,000. External Link: Toggle to see the proportion of each profession that negatively gears. A seat is described as "marginal" when the winning candidate from the last election won the seat by less than 6 per cent. That means the candidate received less than 56 per cent of the two candidate preferred vote. If a candidate wins 56-60 per cent, the seat is classified as "fairly safe", and over 60 per cent is considered "safe". For a seat to change hands, a swing of anything more than an absolute majority (50 per cent + 1 vote) is required. For example, if a member holds a seat with 56 per cent of the vote, a swing greater than 6 per cent is required for the seat to change hands. Superannuation concessions are tax breaks designed to encourage people to put more money into superannuation, in theory saving the government money down the track by reducing the burden these people will place on the public purse when they retire. Currently, superannuation is taxed at 15 per cent, with super earnings not taxed at all once you hit 60 years of age. Employers are required to put a minimum of 9.5 per cent of an employee's income into a super fund. The superannuation concession allows people to voluntarily contribute more to their superannuation and still be taxed at the rate of 15 per cent (or 30 per cent if you are really well off), well below the majority of tax rates. In the budget, the Government announced a lowering of the income threshold at which the 30 per cent (rather than 15 per cent) tax rate kicks in on superannuation contributions from $300,000 to $250,000, which matches one of Labor's policy commitments. They also announced the lowering of the annual cap on contributions entitled to the concessional tax rates to $25,000, from the current $30,000 for under-50s and $35,000 for those aged 50-plus. The two moves combined are expected to save a further $2.5 billion over three years. Labor has promised it would raise $14 billion in a decade by putting a 15 per cent tax on super earnings more than $75,000 a year. The concessions have been criticised for disproportionately benefiting the wealthy, who get a much bigger discount on their normal income tax rates than those in lower tax brackets. With many wealthy people likely to be ineligible for the pension on reaching retirement anyway, critics argue that the concessions cost the government far more in lost revenue than it would cost to support wealthy individuals with the aged pension. Superannuation concessions cost the federal budget $30 billion in 2015–16. Gonski The Gonski needs-based funding model was implemented under former prime minister Julia Gillard in 2014 following the independent Gonski review. Under the model every student receives a base amount of funding with extra allocated for students with special needs or from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Government has not matched the funding levels required by Gonski but has agreed to pump an extra $1.2 billion into schools, giving the states funding certainty until 2020. The pledge partially reverses the 10-year, $30 billion cut to education funding contained in the Abbott government's 2014 budget. Labor has promised to fully fund the last two years of Gonski at a cost of $4.5 billion. The announcement was unveiled as part of a decade-long education plan from Labor worth $37.3 billion. Backpacker tax Currently, backpackers who come to Australia for work do not pay any tax until they earn more than $18,200. In the 2015 budget, there was a proposal to tax backpackers on every dollar they earn from July 1, 2016. By imposing this 32.5 per cent tax, the Government would earn $540 million over three years. The Government has now delayed the introduction of the tax by six months until a government review on working holiday visas is complete. That has angered farm groups, who argue they will be in the middle of harvest when any new taxes take effect. Bill Shorten says it is cynical of the Government to delay the matter until after the election but Labor has not committed to scrapping the tax either. The Greens want it dumped altogether. Politicians and the farm sector agree that backpackers should pay some level of tax, but there is widespread concern that the proposed rate is too high. The agriculture and tourism sectors say backpackers would bypass Australia and choose countries like New Zealand or Canada if the tax was implemented. Backpackers make up 25 per cent of Australia's agriculture workforce. In the Northern Territory, they make up 85 per cent. Penalty rates This election campaign is being fought under the shadow of a looming decision from the Fair Work Commission (FWC) which is deciding whether to cut Sunday penalty rates to the same level as Saturday rates. If cut, around two million people who work in the retail and hospitality industries would be affected. The Coalition has vowed to adhere to any ruling by the FWC that cuts Sunday penalty rates. Labor does not want penalty rates cut but has ruled out passing legislation which would guarantee Sunday penalty rates if they win the election. But if elected, Mr Shorten said a Labor government will make another submission to the commission arguing against the cuts. The Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Greens want Labor to protect the Sunday penalties. The FWC will hand down their decision after the July 2 election. External Link: Current penalty rates in Australia Preference deals Australia has a preferential voting system, which means if you vote for a candidate who does not get elected your vote can go to the next preferred party. Under new Senate voting laws passed in March, voters can number 1 to 6 on ballot papers above the line in order of their preference, or number individual candidates below the line. The legislation's aim is to stop the complex preference-swapping deals that led to a number of senators being elected with only a fraction of the popular vote. That is because instead of just voting for a preferred party above the line, often without knowing where their preferences have been directed, voters will now have to specify their choices. The Liberal Party has not ruled out preferencing the Greens ahead of Labor in marginal Victorian seats. If the July 2 election delivers another hung parliament, the Greens say they would prefer a Labor-Greens deal. But both the Coalition and Labor have ruled out forming a governing Coalition with the Greens, raising the prospect of a second election if the first delivers a hung parliament. Refoulement means the expulsion of persons who have the right to be recognised as refugees. The United Nations Convention relating to the status of refugees outlines countries should not return a refugee to the place from which they fled because of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. This is regarded as the principle of non-refoulement. The terms refugee and asylum seeker are often confused and wrongly used in place of the other. An asylum seeker is someone who is seeking international protection, but has not yet had their claim for refugee status determined. A refugee is someone who has been found to be requiring protection. The UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees defines it as "... owing to well‐founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country; or who, not having a nationality and being outside the country of his former habitual residence as a result of such events, is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to return to it." MYEFO The Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook is an update of the budget position around six months after the last budget was delivered. PEFO The purpose of the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Outlook is to provide an update on the budget position in the lead up to the election, taking into account as many of the government decisions made before the election writs were issued. It also outlines other factors which may be contributing to the economic situation the country finds itself in during the election period. In this year's budget, the Coalition announced it would continue the indexation freeze for all Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS) fees until 2020. While not a direct cut to GPs' income, over time GPs would earn relatively less while their costs would increase. The freeze on rebates was initially put in place for four years in 2014 after the unpopular $7.00 GP co-payment was dropped. The Opposition has criticised the rebate freeze, calling it a GP tax by stealth. Labor plans to restore indexation of the MBS from January 1, 2017 which will cost $2.4 billion by 2019-20 and $12.2 billion over a decade. There's also been a lot of talk about privatising Medicare, with Labor accusing the Coalition of having "secret" plans to outsource the payments system. Despite the Coalition considering privatising a swath of Government payments, including Medicare, Malcolm Turnbull has abandoned such plans and said "every element" of Medicare would remain in Government hands. The plan to outsource the system was reportedly well advanced with several companies putting their hands up to take it over. Concessional loans Concessional loans are provided on terms substantially more generous than market loans. Below-interest rates or grace periods are often features of concessional loans. During week three of the election campaign, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce announced a $555-million package in concessional loans for dairy farmers affected by recent milk price cuts. In 2014, the Coalition announced a drought concessional loan scheme which provides up to $150 million to drought-affected farm businesses. Many farmers seeking drought loans have slammed the scheme for delayed access to funds and poor management. Company tax cuts The Coalition is proposing to cut the company tax rate to 25 per cent for all firms in the next 10 years. The changes will be phased in over time, with an incremental increase in the number of firms paying the small business tax rate. Eventually all firms, regardless of size, would pay 27.5 per cent, before the rate falls to 25 per cent from 2026-27. The Federal Treasury predicts the measures would cost the budget more than $48 billion over a decade, while the Parliamentary Budget Office has estimated more than $51 billion. The main argument for the proposal is that it would attract more foreign investment, producing a bigger and more productive economy. Risks of the proposal include companies not increasing investment or taking a large profit instead of increasing employment or wages. Labor is opposed to the proposal, saying Australia cannot afford the cuts, despite the Gillard government arguing for a cut five years ago. Jobs and growth The phrase "jobs and growth" has been widely recognised as the Coalition's catch-cry this election through the party's consistent repetition of the three-word slogan when selling their policies. The mantra has been used to focus attention on the Coalition's plans to strengthen the economy including; corporate tax cuts, the innovation and science agenda and the Youth Employment Package. Earlier this year, the Coalition rolled out the slogan "continuity and change" to try and graft their innovation policy to their traditional credentials in the economy. However, the phrase was quickly killed off after the discovery that it was also a satirical line from the American sitcom, Veep. In 2013, the Coalition chose the slogan "Choose Real Change. A Stronger Australia. A Better Future" to take to the election. Double dissolution election A double dissolution election allows federal governments to resolve a legislative deadlock in Parliament. If the House of Representatives passes a bill twice and the Senate fails to pass that bill twice, the Prime Minister may approach the Governor-General to seek the dissolution of Parliament. If the Governor-General dissolves both houses, this creates a simultaneous election for all members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The big difference between double dissolutions and normal elections is that more politicians need to be elected. Normally, half of the Senators are up for re-election (because they have six-year terms, and elections normally happen every three years). In this year's double dissolution election, all Senate seats are up for grabs. The public service goes into caretaker mode once Parliament is officially dissolved, which happened on May 9. Between the dissolution and the election the Prime Minister cannot make any major decisions without consulting the Opposition. This double dissolution election was triggered by the Senate blocking two parcels of legislation: the ABCC bills and the Registered Organisations Bill. The Australian Building and Construction Commission was set up the Howard government in 2005 as an independent watchdog to monitor the construction industry. It came into being after the Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry, commonly known as the Cole royal commission. In 2012, Labor prime minister Julia Gillard replaced the ABCC with a new regulator — the Fair Work Building and Construction Commission — which provided greater safeguards for workers. In 2014, the Abbott government introduced a bill to the Senate to bring back the ABCC. However, the bill has been blocked twice by the Senate which eventually led to Malcolm Turnbull asking the Governor-General to issue writs for a double dissolution election. One of the Coalition's election promises is to restore the ABCC, arguing it would crack down on lawlessness in the building industry. Labor and unions are staunchly opposed to the ABCC, saying its coercive powers give construction workers fewer rights than accused criminals. Forward estimates The forward estimates are a series of projections, released alongside the budget, which predict revenue and expenses for the next four financial years. As they rely on assumptions about revenue and indicators, they are often subject to change — as the mining boom unfolded, the estimates often undervalued the amount of revenue, and since commodity prices peaked they have had to be revised downwards. But the estimates are seen as a useful way of showing the government's longer-term plans for spending. Deficits Politicians of all stripes are fond of comparing the budget to a family's finances, but this often leads to confusion. When a politician says they are balancing the books and returning the budget to surplus, it gives the impression that they are clearing the government's debt. The reality is that the deficit is just the amount of money the government spends beyond what it receives in a financial year. Just because you return the budget to surplus does not mean that the debt incurred by the previous deficits disappears. Family tax benefits The Family Tax Benefit (FTB) is a means-tested payment that helps eligible families with the cost of raising children. FTB Part A is for families with dependent children between the ages of 0 and 19. The payment is worth a maximum of $234 per child per fortnight but depends on income and the child's age. FTB Part B is for single-parent families and families with one income of $100,000 a year or less. It is worth a maximum of $153 per family a fortnight but depends on the age of the youngest child and the income of any secondary income earner. Legislation has passed which means from July 1, 2016 FTB Part B will be scrapped for couples when their youngest child turns 13. As for FTB Part A, the Coalition has promised to increase the maximum rate payment by $10 a fortnight if Parliament passes legislation to scrap the annual supplements, which are top-up payments sent out at the end of every financial year, once parents have lodged tax returns. However, Labor opposes the plan to scrap the supplements and will instead reduce the FTB Part A supplement by 50 per cent for families earning more than $100,000 per year. It will also maintain the freeze on thresholds until 2020. The NBN is designed to provide access to a minimum level of broadband services around Australia. Former Labor leader Kevin Rudd promised a national network before the 2007 election. Two years later it became a $43 billion government-owned business (NBN Co) that pledged to deliver broadband to every home via fibre cables. Before the 2013 election the Coalition promised a "faster, cheaper" model that would see the NBN rolled out largely to street "nodes" (instead of directly to homes), with the final connection to residences made through the existing copper network. Over the course of the Abbott and Turnbull governments, the Coalition's NBN policy has shifted from a Fibre to the Node (FTTN) focus to a multi-technology mix (MTM), which includes some fibre to the premises (FTTP) as well as a satellite network, and the copper network. The Coalition claimed the new NBN would cost $29.5 billion, as opposed to Labor's $44.9 billion, but the scheme has blown out in cost to $56 billion and is not expected to be finished until 2020, more than four years behind schedule. Labor has vowed to connect two million extra premises to FTTP technology and phase out the Coalition's FTTN technology. People already on the map to receive the FTTN option will still get it, but those customers without an existing contract will be able to get fibre to their houses and businesses. The Opposition said the proportion of home connections would increase from about 20 per cent under the Coalition to 39 per cent under the changes. The plan is said to cost $57 billion and be completed by mid-2022. Currently, about 2.6 million premises are able to access the NBN and about one million are connected. The question of whether or not to legalise same-sex marriage in Australia is a key election issue for many voters. Vote Compass data reveals a majority of Australians back same-sex marriage, but one in four Australians believe marriage should only be between a man and a woman. The Coalition has promised, if re-elected, to hold a plebiscite on same-sex marriage sometime after the election. Malcolm Turnbull says he expects the push for a plebiscite to be passed by the Senate. Whereas Labor leader Bill Shorten has vowed to introduce a bill to legislate same-sex marriage within 100 days of a new Labor government. Mr Shorten says he is opposed to a plebiscite as he believes it would provide a platform for "hate and homophobia". Mr Turnbull has rebutted this argument by saying "Australians are better than that; I believe we can have a discussion". The Australian Electoral Commission has estimated the cost of a plebiscite at $160 million and says if it was held like a referendum, with the 'Yes' and 'No' cases mailed to households, it would need 29 weeks to prepare. Both the Greens and the Nick Xenophon Team want same-sex marriage legalised but are opposed to a plebiscite. A hung parliament results when no party has more than half the MPs in the House of Representatives, which means no party can pass laws without gaining support from other parties or independent members of the House. There are 150 members of the House of Representatives, so to have an outright majority one of the parties needs to hold 76 seats - 75 seats on the floor plus the unused vote of the Speaker. With 89 notional seats, the Coalition can lose up to 13 seats this election on a uniform swing of 3.3 per cent and still hold majority government. With 57 seats leading into the election, Labor needs 19 seats on a uniform swing of 4.0 per cent to form majority government. A uniform swing between these two values could produce a hung parliament where the formation of government would fall to negotiation with the parliamentary cross bench. Further victories for the Greens, or success by the Nick Xenophon Team in South Australia, would increase the size of the cross bench and make it harder for either side of politics to achieve a majority at a close election. Topics: liberals, political-parties, government-and-politics, elections, federal-elections, budget, australia Contact Stephen Dziedzic	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1224
__label__cc	0.690892	0.309108	Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Under the Symbol: PIRS Pieris Pharmaceuticals Announces $32 Million Private Placement and Potential Funding Mechanism for PRS-060 Co-development Opt-in BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 4, 2019 / Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:PIRS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing novel biotherapeutics through its proprietary Anticalin® technology platform for respiratory diseases, cancer and other indications, today announced that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement with existing and new institutional investors to raise $32 million. The private placement was led by BVF Partners L.P., with significant additional participation from EcoR1 Capital, Aquilo Capital Management, Surveyor Capital (a Citadel company), and Samsara BioCapital. The private placement will consist of 9,014,960 units, at a price of $3.55 per unit. Each unit will consist of (i) one share of Pieris' common stock or 0.001 non-voting Series C convertible preferred stock, and (ii) one immediately-exercisable warrant to purchase one share of common stock at an exercise price of $7.10 per share. Each share of non-voting Series C convertible preferred stock is convertible into 1,000 shares of Pieris common stock, provided that conversion will be prohibited if, as a result, the holder and its affiliates would own more than 9.99% of the total number of shares of Pieris common stock then outstanding. The warrants are intended to facilitate Pieris' exercise of its co-development option for PRS-060/AZ1402 following the conclusion of a positive phase 2a study. If top-line results of that study disclose achievement of the primary efficacy endpoint and the stock reaches a pre-specified price, then the warrants will expire sixty days following such disclosure and may only be exercised for cash. Otherwise, the warrants will be exercisable for a period of five years from the date of issuance. The closing of the financing is expected to take place on or about November 6, 2019 and is subject to standard closing conditions. Pieris expects to use the proceeds from the financing for continued development of its immuno-oncology franchise, including PRS-343, its 4-1BB/HER2 bispecific, and PRS-344, its 4-1BB/PD-L1 bispecific in co-development with Servier. The Company also expects to use these proceeds for advancement of its proprietary pipeline of inhalable respiratory drug candidates following proof-of-mechanism with respect to PRS-060/AZ1402, validating the inhaled Anticalin platform as a potential drug class, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes. William Blair & Company, L.L.C. acted as sole placement agent for the transaction. The securities to be sold in this private placement have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws, and accordingly may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws. Pieris has agreed to file a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") registering the resale of the shares of common stock, the shares of common stock issuable upon the conversion of the Series C convertible preferred stock, and the common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants issued in this private placement. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities, nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state. Any offering of the securities under the resale registration statement will only be by means of a prospectus. About Pieris Pharmaceuticals: Pieris is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that discovers and develops Anticalin protein-based drugs to target validated disease pathways in a unique and transformative way. Our pipeline includes inhalable Anticalin proteins to treat respiratory diseases and immuno-oncology multi-specifics tailored for the tumor microenvironment. Proprietary to Pieris, Anticalin proteins are a novel class of therapeutics validated in the clinic and by partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies. Anticalin® is a registered trademark of Pieris. For more information, visit www.pieris.com. Forward Looking Statement: This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the expected closing of the private placement; the expected timing and potential outcomes of the reporting by the Company of key clinical data from its lead programs, references to novel technologies and methods and our business and product development plans, including the advancement of our proprietary and co-development programs into and through the clinic and the expected timing for reporting data or making IND filings related to our programs, and partnering and funding prospects for any such programs. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, our ability to satisfy the closing conditions for the private placement; our ability to raise the additional funding we will need to continue to pursue our business and product development plans; the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies and operating as a development stage company; our ability to develop, complete clinical trials for, obtain approvals for and commercialize any of our product candidates, including our ability to recruit and enroll patients in our studies; our ability to address the requests of the FDA; competition in the industry in which we operate; the timing and nature of data from the phase 2a study of PRS-060/AZD1402; whether or not Pieris opts-into co-development of PRS-060/AZD1402; whether or not any of the warrants to be issued in the private placement will be exercised for cash; the use of any proceeds from any warrant exercise; and market conditions. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factor disclosure set forth in the reports and other documents we file with the SEC available at www.sec.gov, including without limitation the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investor Relations Contact: Maria Kelman SOURCE: Pieris Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1225
__label__wiki	0.826244	0.826244	Boreas on Viewpoint: Convert Hudson River Rails to Multi-Use Trail Paul on ADKX, Wild Center Working on Diversity Sula on ADKX, Wild Center Working on Diversity Some Local Media Was Reluctant to Support Women’s Rights North Country newspapers, the only media during the 1800s, were slow to come around and at times downright resistant to women’s rights. Their job was to report the news, but in order to maintain readership, they also had to cater to their customers — like the old adage says, “give ’em what they want.” That atmosphere made it difficult for new and progressive ideas, like women’s rights, to make headway. The push for women’s rights exposed many inequities early on, but it was difficult to establish a foothold among other important stories of the day. The powerful anti-slavery movement of the 1800s presented an opportunity, for although women and slaves were at opposite ends of the spectrum in the popular imagination — women on a pedestal and slaves treated terribly — they sought many of te same goals: freedom to speak out on their own behalf, the right to vote, and equal pay for equal work. Women passionate about those subjects joined anti-slavery organizations to seek freedom and equal rights for all, regardless of race or sex. What they soon discovered was that white men, who controlled nearly all facets of life, would battle valiantly for the rights of African Americans to be treated as their equals, but refused to do the same for women. A schism developed in the anti-slavery movement over whether or not women should be allowed to speak at meetings and offer their anti-slavery input (by religious and public law, women in many places were forbidden to speak at public gatherings). Some leaders, like William Lloyd Garrison, stood firmly on behalf of equal rights for all, which allowed women to promote their own cause and that of the slaves. Among their leaders was Susan B. Anthony, who carried that message far and wide, including the North Country. Besides frequent visits to the legislative halls in Albany, she delivered private lectures at many locations across the northern counties, from Plattsburgh in the east to Watertown in the west, and stops in between. The message was simple: women were the equal of men, and thus should have equal rights. And while equal pay for equal work was critical, tops on the list was the right to vote, which was seen as the key to obtaining all other rights. It was with great dismay that the truth was recognized: men fought and died by the hundreds of thousands for the rights of African Americans to vote, earn a living, and be free, but denied their own mothers, wives, and daughters some of those same rights for another half century after the war. Newspapers of the North Country for the most part stood strong behind the anti-slavery movement, but did comparatively little to advance the rights of women. As the sole providers of news and commentary, newsmen exerted powerful influence over readers. In the post-Civil War decades, as Anthony and others battled for equality, their efforts were diminished in print by personal attacks, insults, and commentary disguised as humor. The effect was to portray women’s rights advocates as unattractive, unfemale, and unwanted. Susan B. Anthony was a frequent target. After she lectured in Jefferson County, the Lowville Democrat said, “she would give all her old boots to be a man.” The Daily Journal of Ogdensburg said, “it really does seem as though somebody might give Susan a cold potato and let her go.” During the wars against Native Americans out west, when Anthony was on a lecture tour, the Journal wrote, “Susan B. Anthony is bearing down on Texas, and Texans think of emigrating over into the Indian Territory.” Another piece in the Journal said, “Susan B. Anthony is no nearer the climax of her hopes than she was twenty years ago. She has simply thrown away twenty years of her life, which would be worth $200 a year in a cheese factory.” Papers in the north and across the country published a supposedly comical story about a person suggesting they had been knocked across a railroad car by the punch of a prizefighter, only to find out it was Anthony. The Malone Palladium, Ogdensburg Journal, and others ran short items that made fun of her elderly status, comparing it to the age of countries or of the earth itself. Funny, sure, but addressing a woman’s age was never meant as a compliment. A story in the Plattsburgh Republican referred to “the indefatigable old war-nag, Miss Susan B. Anthony.” Much of it seemed petty and certainly not worthy of newspaper editors, but as a public figure, Anthony was an easy target. The best response was to laugh and keep fighting, but such frequent negative portrayals, compared to so few mentions of her accomplishments, painted an unfair picture. Newspapers did publish some articles supportive of suffragettes, and sometimes carried Anthony’s responses to negative or erroneous pieces. When an Iowa editor wrote that the women agitating for rights “were all old maids or childless married women,” newspapers, including the Ogdensburg Journal, featured Anthony’s reply that she was the only one not to have married, and provided a list of 15 prominent suffragists who had a combined 62 offspring. After a visit to promote the cause in England, Anthony was asked if the 1,000 female doctors practicing there were the equal of their masculine counterparts. Utilizing some humor of her own, she replied, “As far as I’ve been able to tell, they kill as large a proportion of their patients, and receive as exorbitant fees for so doing, as male practitioners.” Despite the criticisms “she persisted” (to borrow a modern phrase) and in doing so Anthony helped change America. The Suffragettes wanted equality, including a primary goal of equal pay for equal work. They defined voting rights as the key to fixing all their problems, but history shows that equal pay has been an ongoing issue. It was pushed by Anthony and others in the 1800s, but has been rejected year after year. Finally, in 1920, women won the right to vote, but equal pay didn’t follow. In 1944, exerting new-found power as part of the wartime workforce, New York women finally won the day with a law banning pay discrimination based on sex. A federal statute was expected to follow soon after, but annually for the next 18 years, equal pay was rejected by Congress. In 1962, it was pointed out that 38 countries, including Canada and Mexico, already had equal pay laws, and the so-called “greatest country in the world” lagged far behind. That year marked the first time the measure passed the House of Representatives — but it failed after being watered-down by a rider allowing employers to cut the pay of men to the level of women rather than raise women to the pay level of men. Finally, the Equal Pay Act was passed in 1963 and took effect in June 1964. But as we now know, the fight hardly ended there. For nearly two decades, violations of the new law increased. In 1981, more ground was gained when the Supreme Court allowed women to sue over sex discrimination, including issues of equal pay. But despite subsequent laws passed under several presidents, the inequities continued. In 2000, government figures confirmed that women of equal talent, ability, and education earned only 75 percent of what men earned on the same job. In 2016, a congressional report titled Gender Pay Inequality found that women working full time earn $10,800 less per year than men. Other findings were just as disturbing. On average, women currently earn 79 percent of what men earn, but the older women get, the larger the discrepancy. At 18 to 24, they earn 88 percent of a man’s pay. At age 35, it drops to 76 percent. By age 65, women are paid only 44 percent of what men are paid. As usual, even worse figures apply to women of color: African-American females make only 60 percent of what men are paid, and for Latinas the number is 55 percent. Those numbers also drastically reduce retirement funds. As an advertisement said during the Women’s Liberation Movement: “You’ve come a long way, baby.” But it’s a national embarrassment that 170 years after Susan B. Anthony sought equal pay for equal work, huge inequities still exist, and for the same reasons that were blamed a century ago. Rather than honor women’s history for a month, let’s do something really honorable — stop resisting and provide blanket equality for all. Photos: 1944 headline, Plattsburgh Press-Republican; 1955 headline, North Country Catholic; 1964 headline, Plattsburgh Press-Republican; 2016 Congressional Report Buy Local Christmas Trees, Support Local Growers The Doanes: Bishops Against Women’s Rights 'Bluestockings' Once Battled for Women’s Rights Lawrence P. Gooley Lawrence Gooley, of Clinton County, is an award-winning author who has hiked, bushwhacked, climbed, bicycled, explored, and canoed in the Adirondack Mountains for 45 years. With a lifetime love of research, writing, and history, he has authored 22 books and more than 200 articles on the region's past, and in 2009 organized the North Country Authors in the Plattsburgh area. His book Oliver’s War: An Adirondack Rebel Battles the Rockefeller Fortune won the Adirondack Literary Award for Best Book of Nonfiction in 2008. Another title, Terror in the Adirondacks: The True Story of Serial Killer Robert F. Garrow, was a regional best-seller for four years running. With his partner, Jill Jones, Gooley founded Bloated Toe Enterprises in 2004, which has published 83 titles to date. They also offer editing/proofreading services, web design, and a range of PowerPoint presentations based on Gooley's books. Bloated Toe’s unusual business model was featured in Publishers Weekly in April 2011. The company also operates an online store to support the work of other regional folks. The North Country Store features more than 100 book titles and 60 CDs and DVDs, along with a variety of other area products. Tags: economics, gender, Political History I subscribed to this publication to get away from politics and agendas. Lucky for you the internet is filled with kittens and puppies. Yup and old pick up trucks. Lawrence Gooley says: Two things, James: 1) the article was about history and the constantly broken promise of equal pay, and 2) in a democracy, or a democratic republic, I never thought of “blanket equality for all” as an agenda. Boreas says: Pretty much anything with the word ‘Adirondack’ involves politics, agendas, and history as long as people continue to live in or visit the area. But one does have the option of ignoring political articles. Sandra Weber says: Although I agree with equal pay for equal work, I disagree with several statements, beginning with Paragraph 2. Yes, it was difficult for women’s rights to establish a foothold. But not because there were “other important stories of the day;” it was because of the supreme power held by wealthy white men. These rulers also perpetuated the false notion of “women on a pedestal and slaves treated terribly” to promote themselves as protectors of feeble women and master of uncivilized blacks. Gooley claims that women and slaves “sought many of the same goals: freedom to speak out on their own behalf, the right to vote, and equal pay for equal work.” No, the primary goal of the anti-slavery movement was to wipe the sin of slavery from this nation. Slaves were not asking for equal pay, voting, or freedom of speech. Slaves were asking for freedom from physical and mental brutality and oppression. The article says that women joined anti-slavery groups “to seek freedom and equal rights for all,” including themselves, implying they were self-serving. Women formed and led anti-slavery organizations because slavery was barbaric. Equal rights for all? Radical abolitionists talked about blacks as equals but most anti-slavery advocates viewed blacks as inferior. In New York state, free blacks were not treated as equals nor could they vote (unless they met property ownership requirements). And newspapers of the North Country did not stand strong behind the anti-slavery movement. Nor did all of its residents. There was bitter disagreement between anti-slavery men and Southern sympathizers. When John Brown attacked Harpers Ferry in 1859, local papers printed diverse opinions, from crazy fanatic to hero. White men battled in the Civil War for a variety of reasons, including for African Americans to be set free. Arguments about the social and political rights of blacks came after the war. The term “suffragettes” refers to English suffrage workers. The term began as a slur, but English women adopted it as a positive label. American women called themselves suffragists. The anti-suffragists in the United States used the term suffragettes as an insult.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1227
__label__cc	0.503792	0.496208	Every Olympic and Paralympic Games, people rise up to turn their home cities into host cities, welcoming guests from around the world. From those who share their local knowledge to those who share their passion and expertise—and of course, those who share their homes—there are a myriad of ways that each of us can help to host the world. Our Olympic Games commitment We’re excited to announce that Airbnb is officially partnering with the International Olympic Committee for the next nine years. By joining forces with the IOC and our Airbnb hosts, we’re committed to providing travel experiences that benefit the global sporting community, as well as the local communities hosting the next five Olympic and Paralympic Games. Better for locals We’re working with over one million hosts in Tokyo, Beijing, Paris, Milano-Cortina and LA to welcome the world over the next five Olympic and Paralympic Games, providing travel experiences that create intercultural exchange while benefiting local community and commerce. Better for athletes We’re launching a new category of Experiences, hosted by Olympians. These activities provide financial support for athletes while they train and career opportunities after competing—not to mention unprecedented access to sporting heroes for fans around the world. Better for everyone We’re championing diversity and inclusivity through accessible accommodation and adapted experiences, gender equality in hosting as well as sport, and over the course of the partnership, the IOC and Airbnb will establish programs to provide long-term support to refugees. Interested in hosting? Whether you open your home or just a room, lead a local experience or share your sporting expertise, by joining the Airbnb host community you can help to host the world. Host guests in your home No matter what kind of home or room you have to share, Airbnb makes it simple and secure to host guests throughout the Olympic Games, and beyond. It’s easy to sign up, and it’s free to create a listing. Host an athlete experience Designed and led by locals all over the world, Airbnb Experiences are activities that go beyond the typical tour or class. And now, in partnership with the IOC, we’re inviting Olympians to become experience hosts too. We’re proud to support the International Olympic Committee in its mission to promote Olympism—a philosophy of life that blends sport with culture and education to create a better world.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1230
__label__wiki	0.518571	0.518571	Above & Beyond: Mission X By Major Arthur Tomassetti EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA, July 20, 2001. Mission X was to be the graduation exercise for the Lockheed Martin X-35B, the Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) concept demonstration aircraft. Arthur Tomassetti is go for Mission X in the X-35B. (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics) The STOVL aircraft fulfills only one of three service roles the X-35 Joint Strike Fighter was designed for. The STOVL design will replace the Marines’ AV-8B Harrier. There’s also a conventional-takeoff-and-landing (CTOL) version for the U.S. Air Force, and a beefier version for the Navy’s punishing catapult launches and arrested landings. The call sign of all X-35 test pilots is “Hat Trick,” which is the term for three goals scored by one hockey player in a single game. The sortie was to consist of a short takeoff, climbing to 25,000 feet, making a supersonic dash, and returning to the field for a vertical landing. Each event, in and of itself, was not a breakthrough achievement and had been accomplished on a previous X-35B sortie, but putting them all together on one flight would be an aviation first. Previous STOVL aircraft achieved supersonic speeds when they had been put in a steep dive, but today we would up the ante by making a level supersonic dash. The day started with a pre-sunrise flight brief. The early start allowed our team to complete testing before other units at Edwards started flight operations. Additionally, today the field was to close from 10 to 11:30 a.m. for a memorial service. We planned to be done with our test by 9, so there was little time to spare. Until now, I had flown the aircraft for only three brief vertical takeoffs and landings, which gave me a total flight time of about three minutes. The first flight of the day would basically familiarize me with STOVL flight, allowing me to get a feel for the airplane while completing just a few test points. After landing, the ground crew would hot-refuel the jet (load fuel with the engine running), and I would take off again. The second flight would be Mission X. With all the buildup we had given Mission X over the past three years, I suppose I should have been more excited. Actually, I was more focused on completing all the test events and, more importantly, not making a mistake. Although Mission X consisted of only the three basic events, there were several other test events planned to fill the rest of the sortie. As I was gathering my flight cards (which include tests to perform, the order in which to execute them, pertinent cautions or limitations, and space to make notes), the lead military flight test engineer shook my hand and said, “Good luck, and don’t forget to have fun out there.” I guess I must have looked more worried than excited. I thanked him and walked to the hangar to get my flight gear. After suiting up and completing my preflight, I gave the airplane my traditional pat on the nose. I wouldn’t say I’m superstitious, but that day I wasn’t taking any chances. The first flight went very well, and I was able to get a good feel for the airplane while it was in the STOVL mode. Perhaps the most surprising thing about the flight was that there were no surprises. All that time in the simulator had paid off. In fact, the previous night, the simulator team stuck around late so I could practice the mission profile a few times. Another reason the flight had gone well was that the airplane was very easy to fly. Although the Harrier is a remarkable airplane and an amazing achievement in its own right, it is difficult to fly. It takes a long time to train a Harrier pilot, and he must practice a lot to stay proficient. If the first flight in the X-35B was any indication, we were on the right track to making STOVL flight much easier. During the few minutes it took to refuel, I went over the sequence of events for the Mission X flight. When the test conductor called on the radio to talk about prioritizing the events in the test cards, I realized that we were going to cut it close to the field closing time. There wasn’t any room for mistakes or repeats. The little bit of extra pressure would help keep me on my toes. I was finally ready to go. Once in position for takeoff I moved the Thrust Vector Lever (TVL) back about an inch, initiating the process of converting the aircraft from CTOL mode to STOVL. Behind the cockpit, four sets of doors were opening. This would allow air to flow through the lift fan and enable the vectoring rear nozzle to move through its full range of travel. While the doors were opening, the clutch was engaging, transferring power from the engine to the lift fan. The only noticeable change in the cockpit was an increase in noise as the lift fan spooled up. A “good conversion” call came from the control room, which confirmed the indications in the cockpit. I radioed the chase aircraft that I was ready and slowly advanced the throttle and released the brakes. The aircraft quickly accelerated down the runway, and at 80 knots, after only 200 feet, I vectored the thrust to 60 degrees and the aircraft leapt off the ground. I completed the post-takeoff checks, climbed through 5,000 feet, and converted the aircraft from STOVL mode back to CTOL by moving the TVL fully forward. Single Page Previous Page 1 of 2 Next 1 2 Moments and Milestones: Low and Dark How Things Work: Ejection Seats	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1231
__label__cc	0.611342	0.388658	Man found guilty of murdering pregnant girlfriend A Portuguese factory worker has been found guilty of murdering his pregnant girlfriend. Hugo Quintas, 25, murdered Hayley Richards, 23, at her flat in Trowbridge, Wiltshire last June. Bristol Crown Court heard how Quintas slit Ms Richards' throat after she admitted sleeping with another man. Quintas had denied murder but had pleaded guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of provocation. However, the jury convicted him of murder. Ms Richards had thrown Quintas out of her flat six days before the murder. She had told Wiltshire Police that she was "petrified" of Quintas and was afraid he would "go mad" if he found out she had reported him to police. However, police failed to arrest Quintas following her complaint. The Independent Police Complaints Commission is now investigating the force's handling of the complaint. Quintas' friend, Sergio da Cunha, 30, was found not guilty of perverting the course of justice. He had been accused of washing Quintas' bloody clothes and helping him to catch a flight to Portugal after the murder. (KMcA/SP) Related UK National News Stories Man Found Guilty Of Murdering Three-Year-Old Son A man who killed his three-year-old son in a frenzied knife attack has been found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey. Paul Deya, now 32, murdered his son, in their home on the Lynton Estate in Southwark on 23 November 2009. He was also found guilty of GBH with intent against his wife on the same date. Teen Found Guilty Of Murdering 'Street Drinker' A teenager has been found guilty of murdering a "street drinker" in an unprovoked attack in Hayes. Daryl O'Connor, 18, of Peal Gardens, West Ealing was found guilty this week of killing Tarsen Nahar in April, 2007. He was also found guilty of assaulting Mr Nahar, causing actual bodily harm two weeks previous without motive. Man Guilty Of Murdering 16 Year-Old A 27-year-old man has been found guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering teenager Wesley Sterling at a 16th birthday party. Carleto Salmons, from Thornton Heath, was attending his girlfriend’s son’s birthday party, when he stabbed 16 year-old Wesley through the heart. Man Guilty Of Murdering Son A man has been found guilty of shaking his six-week-old son to death. Ryszard Spiewak, 30, of Clarence Road, Peterborough, was convicted of killing baby Piotr following a trial at Cambridge Crown Court. The Polish national was found guilty of murder and causing grievous bodily harm. He will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on a date yet to be set. Cannabis addict guilty of murdering teenagers A 20-year-old man addicted to cannabis has been jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of murdering two teenage friends. Thomas Palmer was 18 when he stabbed Steven Bayliss, 16, and Nuttawut Moechao, 14, to death in a lane near Wokingham in September 2005.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1234
__label__cc	0.729127	0.270873	The Remarkable Progress of Two Sisters with Autism Measles Update Dr. Toni Bark & Flu Shot Efficacy, Logic By Anne Dachel Toni Bark, MD is a knowledgeable and outspoken expert when it comes to vaccine efficacy and safety. I've interviewed her before. Dachel Interview: Dr. Toni Bark on Autism - AGE OF AUTISM AofA Q&A: Dr. Toni Bark Illinois MD on Pediatric Health and ... And after seeing lots of reporting on the flu vaccine recently, I again talked with Dr. Bark. Here are examples of what press coverage has been like: In October, reporter, Sharyl Attkisson had her own concerns about the flu vaccine. Govt. Researchers: Flu Shots Not Effective in Elderly, After All An important and definitive "mainstream" government study done nearly a decade ago got little attention because the science came down on the wrong side. It found that after decades and billions of dollars spent promoting flu shots for the elderly, the mass vaccination program did not result in saving lives. In fact, the death rate among the elderly increased substantially. NewsMax, Nov 3, 2014, Flu-Shot Coverup? CDC Accused of Ignoring Data Showing Vaccine Doesn't Work Dr. David Brownstein, editor of the newsletter Dr. David Brownstein's Natural Way to Health. "There are no good studies showing that the flu vaccine is effective for seniors." . . . "When you take apart and break down a recent study that the government uses to promote the flu vaccine to senior citizens, you'll find that 217 elderly people had to take the high-dose flu vaccine to prevent a single case of flu. Also, every single person was exposed to possible adverse effects," said Dr. Brownstein. "In addition, most flu vaccines contain mercury and formaldehyde," says Dr. Brownstein. "Both are poisons and should never be injected into any human being. "The government has been hiding the truth about flu vaccines from us for years," he said. "I'm glad a respected reporter like Sharyl Attkisson is speaking out." What? The flu vaccine that is heavily promoted for seniors and is not really effective and it may even be dangerous? What Dr. Brownstein was talking about on NewsMax in November, the rest of the media picked up on a month later. NewsMax, Dec 16, 2014, Why This Season's Flu Shot Won't Work The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has announced that this year's flu shot doesn't match the major strain that's causing the majority of cases spreading across America. A mutated version of the influenza A (H3N2) component that's contained in this year's flu shot is the most common strain that's currently circulating. But since the strain has changed since this season's vaccine was formulated, that means that the flu shot you may have gotten a month ago will do even less than usual to keep you from getting flu. NBC News, CDC Warning: Flu Viruses Mutate and Evade Current Vaccine - NBC News "We are recommending strongly still that people who haven't been vaccinated get vaccinated. Every year vaccine is the best way to protect yourself against the flu," the CDC's flu expert Dr. Joe Bresee told NBC News. US News, Dec 4, 2014, Severe Strain of Influenza Could Bypass Vaccine "If we have a severe season, with H3N2 virus predominating, getting a vaccine, even if it doesn't provide as good protection as we would hope, would be more important than ever and remains the single most effective way to protect yourself against the flu," Frieden said Thursday. "We want to urge people who haven't been vaccinated to get a vaccine now." At the same time as the admission that the annual flu shot DOESN'T work, lots of stories told us about mandating this ineffective vaccine for all health care workers in an increasing number of states. It seems efficacy isn't important when it comes to vaccine promotion. News-Press (FL), Dec 3, 2014, About 1000 Lee Memorial workers miss flu shot deadline The health system delayed the vaccination deadline to Friday, to allow its workers more time to comply, said health system spokeswoman Mary Briggs. Those who either don't get vaccinated or file for an exemption will face disciplinary action, which could lead to termination, Briggs said. As of Tuesday, 9,053 employees had been vaccinated, or about 86 percent of the health system's roughly 10,500 full- and part-time staff. Another 390 have received exemptions for medical or religious reasons. About 1,000 people have not yet complied with the new policy or sought exemptions. . . . Employees, including non-medical administrators, and volunteers who have been exempted will have to wear protective masks if they are working within six feet of patients. This does not include their activities in public areas, such as entryways and cafeterias. Stickers on employee badges will indicate those who have gotten a flu vaccination and those who have not and should be wearing a mask. Chicago Tribune, Dec 4, 2014, Nurses, get the flu shot Public health experts urge most Americans to protect their health - and shield those around them - by getting a flu shot every year. That's particularly vital for people like nurses, who care for elderly and ill people. That's why the Cook County Health and Hospitals System requires all of its workers to be vaccinated against the flu. There are patients to protect. But some of the Cook Countysystem's nurses seek a pass. The union that represents most of the system's nurses, the National Nurses Organizing Committee, has appealed to the Illinois Labor Relations Board to stop Cook County health officials from forcing nurses to get a flu shot. Litchfield (MN) Independent Review, Dec 10, 2014, Hospital mandates flu vaccination for employees Meeker Memorial Hospital is mandating all employees get the flu vaccine this year in preparation of the flu season, according to Kyle Rasmussen, chief executive officer at Meeker Memorial Hospital. He said 93 percent of employees have received the flu vaccine this year, up from 81 percent last year "Medical staff was supportive we moved in this direction," Rasmussen said. If employees decline to get vaccinated this year, they will be required to wear masks at work, Rasmussen said. WHJL, Johnson City (TN), Dec 10, 2014, Are all TN healthcare workers required to get the flu shot For years there's been a major push to vaccinate more Americans against the flu. Recently that push has extended to those working on the front lines of the healthcare industry. Alabama, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts require all workers to get flu shots and those who do not could lose their jobs. In Tennessee, it's up to local healthcare providers to enforce policies that require workers to get vaccinated. "Our policy for Mountain States Health Alliance is to require all of our team members, physicians, and vendors to receive the flu shot," said Mountain States Health Alliance Human Resources Vice President Jamie Parsons. Parsons told News Channel 11, Mountain States has very few exceptions. WTAE, Pittsburgh, Dec 10, 2014, Halth Department urges Health Care workers to get vaccinated The Allegheny County Health Department is urging all health care workers in Allegheny County to get vaccinated against influenza. Vaccination against the flu will help to protect not only health care workers but also their patients. Health care workers include staff involved in patient care as well as other personnel who work in patient areas and can play a role in the transmission of flu. SYR--TV, Syracuse (NY), Dec 19, 2014, Health care workers must get flu vaccinations or wear face masks As of Tuesday morning, all workers at St. Joseph's Hospital must get the flu vaccine or get a face mask -- but employees say this is nothing new. . . . "This year, we raised our goal to 98 percent and we are finding a lot of the folks that had to wear masks for almost six months during flu season last year, have decided to be vaccinated this year," says Judy Sokolowski, employee health nurse manager at St. Joseph's Hospital. What's really going on here? Here is what Dr. Bark had to say about mandating the flu vaccine for health care workers: "This was a very interesting story. . . . [when HHS/CDC advisors recommended 90 percent or more of health care workers get the flu shot]. "And not just health care workers--we're not talking about doctors and nurses. We're talking about janitors, and people that work in the laundry, and the cafeteria, and the IT guys that are off campus where there's no patients. All these people are being forced to have flu shots. And I said, these guys are first, then it'll be teachers. . . in schools that get federal dollars, so public schools, public preschools. Then It will go to . . . federal workers, city workers, state workers. Eventually it'll be, you can't go in public, you can't go shopping in the grocery store. I'm kind of making it sound Orwellian, but I actually think that's where we're headed. "Let me just tear this apart for you because I know many people getting their masters, or their PhD, or med students, or residents, and they're being told they have to get the flu shot or wear masks. And they're opting to wear masks. "Okay, let's talk about that for a second. You wear a mask. You wear a mask all winter, even though you don't have a fever, you don't have sneezing or coughing. You don't have a runny nose. Why are you wearing a mask? You're not contagious. And on the other side, you can get a flu shot, and as we know-we'll talk about this year's strain-you can get a flu shot and what's the percentage of people who get sick in the winter and actually have influenza anyway? It is such a small percentage. In any winter, seven percent of the population are diagnosed with " flu." [This] means a flu-like symptom, upper respiratory symptom with coughing, sneezing, fever. It does not mean influenza. "Out of that seven percent-only seven percent of those people actually have influenza. So it's a small percentage. There's all these other things going around that can knock you on your back and make you sick. . . . "So the workers at the healthcare/industrial complex- which I'm calling it these days-they go ahead and get the flu shot and then they have fever and they're coughing and sneezing and they don't have to wear a mask. They're clearly contagious, but because they got the flu shot, they're not forced to wear a mask. "Now think about that for one minute and let's fast forward to the news last week where the CDC said, we've been looking at the H3N2, that are one of the strains that are covered in the flu shots every year, and it's one of the serious strains. . . . "They've been looking at these strains, and guess what: fifty-two percent of them are not covered in this year's flu shot. Forty-eight percent are, fifty-two percent aren't. Which means over half of the population who got the flu shot are not going to be protected at all, whatever protection the flu shot gives you, . . . they won't even be protected for the right strain of the serious influenza. Are they going to be forced to wear a mask? And if not, why not? "My point is that mask wearing is punitive. It has never been shown to be effective for people who aren't acutely sick and shedding viruses. If you're just walking around, it's just interfering between you and your patient. "Can you imagine doing a psych evaluation or doing a therapy session where you've got a mask on and you're not even sick and your psychotic patient has to watch you with a mask on your face? Yet your colleague could have taken the flu shot and now have fever and coughing and sneezing and spreading viruses, and they don't have to wear a mask. "We know this is just punitive behavior. It has nothing to do with shedding viruses and keeping patients healthy because, so far the large Cochran studies looking at, Do we see decreased flu-like symptoms or flu-like diagnoses in the hospital or in nursing homes, are they reduced when health care workers get the flu shot, and the answer is, no. They are not reduced. "So we have a lot of things that are punitive in terms of, if you don't do what policy is telling you, and it's just to . . . harass you. There's no rationale behind it. "And now we've got preschool teachers being told in this one instance, that they're going to have to get flu shots. This is just the beginning. . . . There was a state mandate that was attempted in New York, and the New York Nurses' Union challenged it and was going to take it to state court, and the state backed down. "You know why? Because they would never win in court with a jury, with evidence. There was no evidence to support this. SO, instead of making a statewide mandate sfor health care workers or teachers or whomever, what they've done at least in the healthcare system is that, if you get whatever percentage, and I believe it's ninety percent, if you get ninety percent of your medical center with the flu shot, . . . you can get a certain amount of federal dollars. "There's an incentive. It's incentivized and there's big cultural pressure to say, "It's not worth it. I don't want to walk about for four or five months with a mask on my face. It's not worth it. It interferes between me and my patients. Or if you're an IT guy, it's I don't want to sit around with a mask all day. So there's a lot of conflict, but it's all about conforming. . . to the social norm and doing what's best for pharma, as usual. This really isn't what's best for patients. It's never been shown to be what's best for patients. Hand washing makes more sense. Not wearing the same tie and the same doctor coat over and over again is also great because we know that those things carry lots of germs. "So hand washing and wearing a mask for when you're acutely ill-whether you've had a flu shot or not-that would make sense. Let's do something that makes sense. But that's not what's going on here. It's a lot of nonsense." Anne Dachel is Media Editor for Age of Autism and author of The Big Autism Cover-Up: How and Why the Media Is Lying to the American Public, which is on sale this Fall from Skyhorse Publishing. Posted by Age of Autism on January 05, 2015 at 05:50 AM in Anne Dachel \| Permalink \| Comments (10) Greek tragedy? Primitive civilization that injects its infants with mercury on the day they are born? Science fiction? Hitler reincarnated and working for WHO or the CDC? In conclusion- Get your flu shot or get your yellow star. Posted by: Cherry Sperlin Misra \| January 06, 2015 at 04:09 PM I wonder how a catholic hospital would feel forcing a flu shot on a pregnant woman that could cause a miscarriage. We need to educate them. I believe they would join our concern. When I had a miscarriage I was shocked. So rare in my family . They said "it always happened at 1/4 pregnancies. It was just under diagnosed. Years later when I heard that lie about autism I got the aha moment. Sure enough I had had flu shot and another vaccine at 8 weeks pregnancy. The fetal dearh was discovered at 10 weeks in an ultrasound. They said it had happened 2 weeks earlier. Click click click. For gods sake don't get shots when pregnant Posted by: Anita Donnelly \| January 06, 2015 at 12:06 AM From my observation - mostly vaccinated people or those living with vaccinated get flu. Flumist contains live flu virus and it is a primary source of flu outbreaks, epidemics and deaths. Posted by: no-vac \| January 05, 2015 at 06:53 PM "...All these people are being forced to have flu shots. And I said, these guys are first, then it'll be teachers. . . in schools that get federal dollars, so public schools, public preschools. Then It will go to . . . federal workers, city workers, state workers. Eventually it'll be, you can't go in public, you can't go shopping in the grocery store. I'm kind of making it sound Orwellian, but I actually think that's where we're headed." I think our public health bureaucracies have been tending "Orwellian" for recent decades .. this "mandatory" flu shot being just the latest "compulsory" requirement .. for everyone that once lived in the "land of the free". Of course .. just as Orwell predicted .. the compulsory compliance with BIG BROTHER will always be couched in the rhetoric of "newspeak" .. where a "civic duty" to supposedly protect the health of others .. actually means a "civic duty" to protect the profits of BIG BROTHER'S most favored pharma corporations. I agree .. this is just the first baby step to impose absolute control over choices regarding someone's health. Posted by: Bob Moffitt \| January 05, 2015 at 02:23 PM One has to wonder if the hospital staff really ever takes the flu shot... How difficult would it be to shoot the shot down a drain and put on a "Hug me, I'm vaccinated" sticker ??? Is there anyplace more dangerous for a "well baby" these days than a waiting room ? Posted by: cmo \| January 05, 2015 at 01:53 PM Jeannette, Great minds think alike! I have suggested to people going to the hospital (for childbirth, surgery, and illness) to request nurses and doctors who have not just had a flu vaccine, most especially a nasal flu vaccine. I also asked this years ago at my son's autumn orthodontist appt., clarifying that the woman who worked on his teeth had not received a nasal flu vaccine in the month prior (didn't ask that of the orthodontist as he was my only choice in the office). I do think we should all begin to request medical and dental staff who have not had any live virus vaccines in the past 6 wks., not to mention the DTaP or TDaP, as we now know recipients can harbor pertussis in their throats and transmit pertussis that way, even if the recipient is asymptomatic. I have gone so far as to talk to mothers of young children about not putting their children in daycare, pre-school, or elementary-school settings (i.e. consider home-schooling) as they are exposing their children to goodness knows what type of man-made, lab-created, animal-organ-cultured viral strains, and who knows what else, from numerous vaccines. When my children's high school had a flu vaccine clinic years ago, I kept my kids home that day, both in protest and for their safety, and raised as much of a ruckus as I could with both the school principal and school board. If it hadn't been just before finals, I might have kept them home all week. The school did not have a flu vaccine clinic again while my kids were students there :) Take-home message: Be vocal! Refuse not only vaccines, but refuse to be treated by the recently-vaccinated...for your own health, and to raise awareness about that which most people haven't a clue. Posted by: Laura Hayes \| January 05, 2015 at 01:47 PM As we're on topic of the oft-times mercury containing flu vaccine, I noticed while reading a post on mercury contaminated HFCS now being called fructose ( http://naturalsociety.com/newly-renamed-high-fructose-corn-syrup-contains-toxic-mercury/ ) the same site recently posted the Autism Media Channel video of Dr. Thompson speaking about flu vaccine for pregnant women: http://naturalsociety.com/epidemiologist-cdc-says-never-give-pregnant-wife-flu-shot/ Posted by: Jeannette Bishop \| January 05, 2015 at 01:38 PM I don't suppose as hospital patients who might sometimes be in a mostly conscious state we could request preferentially to be treated by someone who doesn't get the flu shot? I personally think that would indicate I would stand a slightly better chance of getting better care (or more respect for wanting to opt out of some forms of "care") from such an individual. Excellent and important article, Anne! Insightful comments by Dr. Toni Bark that all need to read, too! Her comments remind me of a comment by AoA commenter "Linda1" in response to Ginger Taylor's article the other day: "Would like to propose another bill that would require every health care worker to wear a mask throughout the year, not only during flu season, since the flu vaccine is not 100% effective (not even close), is not guaranteed to match the circulating strains, does not protect against the transmission of influenza like illnesses, which are just as much a threat to patient health and well-being as the flu, and these contagious respiratory infections can be caught and transmitted all year long. Masks just for the unvaccinated is not enough. If they really want to protect the patient population from these infectious diseases, then ALL employees of health care facilities should be masked AT ALL TIMES at work. AND, all recipients of the live flu virus vaccine should be banned from visiting or entering any health care facility, day care, school, business, place of worship or place of food storage or preparation (such as a supermarket or restaurant) for a full month after vaccination at which time they would have to provide laboratory evidence that they are no longer shedding flu virus in order to have the ban lifted." Posted by: Linda1 \| January 03, 2015 at 08:47 PM Anne, Dr. Bark, and Linda 1, you are ALL spot-on! Time for Americans to wake up, REFUSE the useless, dastardly influenza vaccine, and take back our medical choice freedom and parental rights from these profiting tyrants who don't give a whit about anybody's health...just their own wealth and power. And those who are kowtowing to them, i.e. our elected officials, need to be ousted and thrown in jail (along with the profiteers) for being complicit in these crimes against humanity. Posted by: Laura Hayes \| January 05, 2015 at 09:55 AM Flu hits Kalamazoo adults, kids -- even doctors and nurses -- hard: http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/12/kalamazoo_adults_kids_hard_hit.html KALAMAZOO, MI -- Fever, chills, cough, and body aches have made the holidays miserable for hundreds in Kalamazoo County -- including hospital workers. Short staff and patients seriously ill with the flu have stretched hospitals to their limits, health officials said at a press conference Tuesday jointly hosted by Bronson, Borgess and the county health department. Even hospital medical staff, for whom vaccination is mandatory here, are falling ill. Situations like this are probably occurring all across the country. I'm surprised that this article (mlive) stated that the staff are vaccinated yet the flu continues to breakout. Other articles don't state this. Of course they all end with get your flu shot. I know several people who got the flu from someone who had the flu shot and even developed the flu from the shot. My two nieces, nurses got the flu shot and both came down with the flu. Flu cases are up. I understand willful ignorance is rampant among the medical professional when it comes to vaccines but this is ridiculous. You have a lot of sick doctors & nurses treating patients when they themselves are contagious for up to 28 days after either the flu shot or the flumist. Is this not a Greek tragedy or what? Posted by: Danchi \| January 05, 2015 at 09:40 AM Benedetta on Autism and PANDAS	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1237
__label__wiki	0.754901	0.754901	ALS NEWS > Press Release Brian Wallach, Glynis Murray, Lisa Cross Bonahoom, Jamey Spakes and Hugh Macdonnell receive 2019 ALS TDI Leadership Awards. The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) is proud to announce the 2019 Leadership Award recipients. The ALS TDI Leadership Awards are presented each year to honor those who lead us in the battl... Emily Dhondt Photos in order from left to right: Glynis Murray, Hugh Macdonnell, Brian Wallach, Lisa Cross Bonahoom, Jamey Spakes. The ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) is proud to announce the 2019 Leadership Award recipients. The ALS TDI Leadership Awards are presented each year to honor those who lead us in the battle against ALS. This year's recipients include Brian Wallach, Glynis Murray, Lisa Cross Bonahoom, Jamey Spakes and Hugh Macdonnell. The recipients were chosen from nominations made by members of the ALS community. Stephen Heywood Patients Today Award—Brian Wallach This award is presented to a person with ALS who has been an exemplary community advocate for ALS research and awareness. They are knowledgeable of current research, willing to inform the community about research trends and advancements, and eager to serve as an educator for those unfamiliar with ALS. They challenge ALS researchers to remain firmly planted within the ALS community and focus on people with ALS today, in the hope of accelerating treatments and cures as quickly as possible. This person is a role model for people with ALS, encouraging them to find the strength and determination to fight this disease through research each and every day. Since he was diagnosed with ALS at the end of 2017 at the age of 37, Brian Wallach has been pushing the boundaries of how ALS is seen not just from within the community, but in the world. Last year, along with his wife Sandra, Brian founded I AM ALS, a patient-led, patient centric community with a goal to reshape public understanding of this disease, provide key resources to the community, and create opportunities for patients to lead the fight against ALS and search for a cure. When Brian is not traveling, he has been seen on The Today Show, in People Magazine, walking the streets of Chicago in a kilt, and all over the internet as a huge advocate for ALS. Most importantly, he is the father to two young, beautiful girls. Stephen Milne Adventurous Spirit Award—Glynis Murray This award is presented to a member of the ALS community who strives to find new and innovative ways to fundraise, advocate, and raise awareness for ALS research. The recipient of this award constantly explores bold new approaches to engage others in the fight to end ALS. They are driven by a commitment to excellence in ALS advocacy as they inspire their community to support the mission of the ALS Therapy Development Institute. There are very few people who work as hard at spreading awareness than Glynis Murray. The love of her life and husband, Vince, was diagnosed with ALS the day before their wedding and passed just two years later. Now, she flies around the country to support ALS fundraisers—dressing like a dinosaur, training K9 gladiators, planning bar crawls, singing in the car, and even getting a pepper tattoo to support the #ALSPepperChallenge! She continues to work tirelessly for the cause to make sure that no one else loses the ones they love to ALS. Mary Lou Krauseneck Courage & Love Award—Lisa Cross Bonahoom & Jamey Spakes This award is presented to a member of the ALS community who demonstrates unwavering courage and optimism. The recipient of this award selflessly leads by example to uplift and inspire those around them. They believe in the power of positivity and remain committed to finding treatments for ALS. This individual consistently serves as a model of strength, courage, and love in the ALS community. Lisa Cross Bonahoom was the first in her family to get ALS, as they soon found out they have a familial version of the disease when another sister was in the process of being diagnosed. Along with helping her sister through the diagnosis process, Lisa is actively working to help find treatments by volunteering her genes as well as her time at different fundraising events. Her courage and energy have led many friends to give time and money to the cause. Her warmth and love for life inspires hope in others as they continue to fight to end ALS. The love that Jamey Spakes has for his wife Alison, and the ALS community, is evident in everything he does. Jamey founded the 447 Foundation, in honor of the mere 447 days that Alison lived with this dreadful disease. Each year, Jamey holds a huge golf event to support the research here at ALS TDI. Many in the community know Jamey for his kindness and generosity; as he donates to every Facebook birthday fundraiser, and reaches out to help any time a person with ALS needs help. Fran Delaney Challenge & Respect Award—Hugh Macdonnell This award is presented to a member of the ALS community who has shown true leadership by engaging the community to advocate for, and accelerate, research. Through involvement in fundraising and awareness events, this person demonstrates unique ability to organize and inspire others to help end ALS. They challenge those around them to join the fight against ALS, and actively spread awareness of the ALS Therapy Development Institute’s work and mission. Hugh Macdonnell lost his mother in law, Betty Anne Chapman, to ALS in 2013. Not only does Hugh’s entire family work to make sure others don’t suffer the loss theirs did, but he has marshalled scores of people in his community to join the fight. With Hugh’s help and leadership, the Tri-State Trek’s Team CRUSH ALS has raised over $1M for the research here at ALS TDI. To learn more about the Leadership Summit or register to attend, click here. Emily joined the ALS Therapy Development Institute in March 2017 after moving to Boston. As the Digital Marketing Manager, she spends her days sharing the stories of people living with ALS and the mission of ALS TDI. Emily is from Tampa, FL and graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Advertising in 2014. In her free time she enjoys traveling, eating, improv, running, and spending time with friends and family. “Embrace the glorious mess that you are” - Elizabeth Gilbert	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1239
__label__cc	0.504372	0.495628	Earl Warren (March 19, 1891 – July 9, 1974) was an American jurist and politician, who served as the 30th Governor of California (1943–1953) and later the 14th Chief Justice of the United States (1953–1969). He is best known for the decisions of the Warren Court, which ended school segregation and transformed many areas of American law, especially regarding the rights of the accused, ending public school-sponsored prayers, and requiring "one man–one vote" rules of apportionment of Congressional, state and local legislative districts. He made the Supreme Court a power center on a more even basis with Congress and the Presidency, especially through four landmark decisions: Brown v. Board of Education (1954), Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), Reynolds v. Sims (1964), and Miranda v. Arizona (1966). Warren is one of only two people to be elected Governor of California three times, the other being Jerry Brown. Before holding these positions, he was the District Attorney for Alameda County, California, and the Attorney General of California. Warren was also the nominee for Vice President of the Republican Party in 1948. He was appointed to chair what became known as the Warren Commission, which was formed to investigate the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Full article... American History USA Articles Roe v. Wade, Polarized Politics, and the Age of Judicial Activism Far from settling the debate on abortion, Roe v. Wade ignited it and made it a central issue of the American political debate. Books/Sources Earl Warren's Masonic Lodge: Herbert Phillips' Fifty Year History of Sequoia Lodge - E. Herbert Phillips Earl Warren: A Public Life - G. Edward White The Life and Legacy of Chief Justice Earl Warren Ed Cray's Presentation on Earl Warren Previous: 1953 Iranian coup d'état Next: Home economics Next: New Look (policy) The Postwar and Modern Age (1945-present)	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1242
__label__cc	0.691022	0.308978	← Feature Length, Honest Muhammad Movies in the Offing? Geller Agonistes—Truth in Advertising About the Jihad Against Israel → Muhammad’s Nuptial Example To Be Law In Egypt?—Constitution Writers Discuss Sanctioning Marriage of Nine-Year-Old Girls Posted on 28th September 2012 \| Comments Off on Muhammad’s Nuptial Example To Be Law In Egypt?—Constitution Writers Discuss Sanctioning Marriage of Nine-Year-Old Girls Muhammad depicted in a prominent frieze which adorns the U.S. Supreme Court Building, despite the efforts of the jihadist Muslim Brotherhood offshoot Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) to have the sculpture removed in accord with Sharia mandates that proscribe, as CAIR stated, “portraying any prophet in paintings, sculptures or other artistic representations.” One of Ayatollah Khomeini’s early actions after toppling Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, and seizing power, was lowering the marriage age in Iran as per these canonical hadith: Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 88: Narrated ‘Ursa: The Prophet wrote the (marriage contract) with ‘Aisha while she was six years old and consummated his marriage with her while she was nine years old and she remained with him for nine years (i.e. till his death). Sahih Muslim Book 008 Number 3311 ‘Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah’s Apostle (May peace be upon him) married her when she was seven years old, and she was taken to his house as a bride when she was nine, and her dolls were with her; and when he (the Holy Prophet) died she was eighteen years old. Time Magazine reported in November, 2001: In Iran the legal age for marriage is nine for girls, 14 for boys. The law has occasionally been exploited by pedophiles, who marry poor young girls from the provinces, use and then abandon them. These practices are sanctioned as per article 1041 of “The Civil Code of the Islamic Republic of Iran”: Marriage before puberty [i.e., before “nine lunar years” for girls, p. 118] by the permission of the Guardian and on condition of taking into consideration the ward’s interest is proper. (p. 103) Indeed, as the late David Littman observed in 2010, when a bill was introduced to the Iranian Parliament attempting to raise the marriage age for young girls from 9 to 15 years it was overruled by the ruling mullahcracy. They stipulated it would be against Islamic teachings to alter the law as “Islamic scholars had put a lot of efforts into these laws,” notably, invoking Muhammad’s example. “Thus,” as Littman aptly concluded, “making it sacrosanct for the mullahs.” Now we learn the traditionalist Muslim ascension to power in Egypt, epitomized by the popularly elected Constituent Assembly is considering the same course of action. Specifically, statements have been made by the body in the Constituent Assembly designated to write Egypt’s new constitution regarding, …the possibility of sanctioning marriage of sexually mature girls even if they were at the age of nine. Egypt’s The National Council for Women (NCW) reportedly lamented this discussion, but conceded it was a popular expression … of outdated traditions still prevailing in the Egyptian society.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1244
__label__wiki	0.919873	0.919873	sign up for latest shows & talent news info@allelectricproductions.co.uk Special Interest Shows About AEP Theatre Productions > Special Interest > Mark O’Shea – Blood, Sweat & Snakebites Mark O’Shea – Blood, Sweat & Snakebites Mark O’Shea The Making of “O’Shea’s Big Adventure” Mark O’Shea has conducted biological fieldwork and snakebite research projects in the Tropics since the early 1980s and has been involved with television since 1986. Following years of working behind the scenes of natural history documentaries for the BBC and other channels, including on-location filming in Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea, he was invited to move to front of camera for a film about anacondas in Venezuela, for Discovery Channel. The film was entitled “Giant Snake” and was followed by three invitations to make films for the Channel 4 adventurous documentary strand “To the Ends of the Earth”, he made “Black Mamba”. Mark was then offered a six-part mini-series that became a 13-part full series, followed by a second series. Between 1999 and 2003 he presented 34 herpetological adventure documentary films, comprising four series of “O’Shea’s Big Adventure” for Animal Planet and Discovery Channel worldwide (aka “O’Shea’s Dangerous Reptiles” Channel 4). At the onset of ‘OBA’ Mark decided he wanted to reflect genuine biological fieldwork and that meant not only the thrill of success but also the disappointment of failure – the downs as well as the ups. The ‘Number One’ OBA Golden Rule was “No Set-ups”! There would be no set-up captures, no captive or pre-caught specimens in reserve in case the elusive ‘quest’ species failed to materialise, not even retakes of genuine captures if the camera stopped running, sound was compromised or the presenter (Mark) made a hash of it, and no choreographed captures to make the presenter look good on camera. Another aspect he wanted to promote in ‘OBA’ was that it was not necessary for a species to be Big or Dangerous to be an interesting ‘quest’ species and although they made films about pythons, king cobras and Komodo dragons, it was not their size or danger they were highlighting. Even small reptiles could become quest species and they made films about the 3 inch luminous lizard of Trinidad and the 3 inch green-blooded lizards of New Guinea. Blood, Sweat and Snakebites tells the story of the making of these films, the successes, the failures and the important scientific discoveries they made en-route. It also takes you behind the scenes and shows how Mark and his crew lived, worked, travelled, slept and ate on the filming expeditions. Searching for and filming elusive wildlife in spectacular and remote locations is challenging and sometimes dangerous but it certainly allows you to appreciate the Natural World we live in and what it takes to bring it to your screens. Visually illustrated in Powerpoint Book Now / find out more sign up for latest shows & talent news Image gallery login © 2019 All-Electric Productions Web Design by Obi Media	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1248
__label__wiki	0.989674	0.989674	Architects keen on conservation status for Pearl Bank Pearl Bank Apartments, built in 1976, reflect a period when architects designed innovative high-rise and high-density structures. Melody Zaccheus If the 38-year-old Pearl Bank Apartments gets the conservation green light, it could pave the way to preserve other buildings which have played a role in Singapore's residential architectural history. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has conserved more than 7,000 buildings, mostly shophouses and bungalows. Now, for the first time, it has received an application to preserve a multi-strata private development. If it gives its nod to Pearl Bank, architects say this will make it easier to protect other buildings with architectural, historic and social significance - such as the first Housing Board blocks in Queenstown which were built in 1960. Conservation architect Lim Huck Chin listed other unique structures such as the Colonnade condominium in Grange Road, which was completed in 1987. There is also The Arcadia which was completed in 1983. Designed by local architect Chua Ka Seng, it features garden terraces on each level and was inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Mr Lim said they are "physical emblems of our housing history which deserve protection". Conserving such buildings will also recognise the contributions of local architects, said experts. Mr Gan Eng Oon, Mr William Lim and Mr Tay Kheng Soon of local company Design Partnership, known as DP Architects today, were behind the commercial and residential development Golden Mile Complex in Beach Road. The 16-storey building, completed in 1973, reflects a period when architects and planners designed innovative high-rise and high-density structures in the city, said architect and urban historian Lai Chee Kien. Dr Chang Jiat Hwee, an assistant professor at the Department of Architecture at the National University of Singapore, said it is important to recognise architects such as Mr William Lim and Mr Tay, who also designed the 31-storey People's Park Complex. "They are the two most important post-independence architects of Singapore... (who) produced important and influential ideas on architecture and urbanism in Asia," he explained. However, public opinion on modernist architecture is divided. The Golden Mile Complex and People's Park Complex, for instance, have been described by some as "dingy" and "ugly". These modernist buildings, which usually feature extensive use of concrete and are geometric in design, do not fit into conventional ideas of heritage buildings which tend to be from the 19th century or earlier. But experts argue that these modern structures act as markers of different eras and add character to the landscape. They also represent Singapore's early nation-building efforts. Like Pearl Bank, these buildings came after the Ministry of National Development first pushed for condos in 1972 to get the middle and upper-middle classes to prefer them to landed properties for efficient land use, said Dr Lai. Singapore Heritage Society's honorary treasurer, Dr Yeo Kang Shua, an assistant professor of architecture at Singapore University of Technology and Design, said that without such structures, there will be a gap in Singapore's residential architectural history. Already, several iconic developments - including the country's first two condos, the 1974 Beverly Mai in Tomlinson Road and Futura in Leonie Hill by local architect Timothy Seow - were demolished recently after collective sales. Beverly Mai introduced the concept of shared facilities and maisonettes while Futura had living areas that looked like space-pods. Architect Chang Yong Ter said: "We should look into selectively conserving these various sites as they serve as milestones of our evolving housing strategies." Significant buildings Formerly called Woh Hup Complex, the 16-storey building located between Nicoll Highway and Beach Road was completed in 1973. Its stepped terrace design cuts down on traffic noise and allows for natural ventilation and light. There have been several attempts to sell the property collectively over the past few years. People's Park Complex The 31-storey mixed use People's Park Complex (above) in Chinatown was the first of its kind in South-east Asia. It was designed by DP Architects, the same company behind Golden Mile Complex, and completed in 1973. The Colonnade Designed by world-renowned American architect Paul Rudolph, the 28-storey condominium in Grange Road features overhangs and balconies. Its staggered design provides occupants with shade from the sun. It was completed in 1987 at a cost of $180 million. This article was published on May 8 in The Straits Times.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1252
__label__cc	0.691594	0.308406	Revision Notes on Management of Natural Resources Natural Resources are obtained from earth and its environment. Natural resources are classified as- Renewable resources which are continuously available for use. They do not get exhausted with time. For Example, Sunlight, Wind, Water etc. Non-renewable Resources are those which gets exhausted with time. They are present in limited amount on the earth. For Example, Minerals. Natural Resources are also classified as biotic and abiotic resources. Biotic Resources can be obtained from forests, animals etc. For Example, Fossil Fuels. Abiotic Resources are those that come from non-living and non-organic material. There are three important terminologies used which are as follows- Refuse: Say no to things that are offered to an individual. For Example, an individual say no to buy plastic products. Reduce: Minimize the use of anything. For Example, minimize the use of fans, tubelights etc. Reuse: To use the things again and again is defined as reuse. Repurpose: When a particular thing cannot be used for a purpose, it can be used for another purpose. Recycle: When the material can be used to make the needed things. Why do we need to manage the resources? We need to manage the resources because they are present in limited quantity. With the increase in population, the demand for resources are increasing. So, there is a need to manage the resources to minimize their use and preventing the exploitation of resources. Forests and Wildlife Forests are biodiversity hotspots. Biodiversity is defined as different types of organism present on the earth. The main aim of conservation is to preserve the biodiversity. The loss of biodiversity will lead to loss of ecological stability. Stakeholders who are- They are the people living around the forests are dependent on forest and its products. Forest department of the government owns the land and also control the resources from forests. Industries that use forest produce .For Example Timber, Paper, Resin, Gum medicines, Sports equipment industries. Wildlife and natural enthusiast who want to conserve the nature. Bamboo is used to manufacture huts, baskets and also for food storage. Implements used in agriculture, fishing is largely made up of wood. The government of India has recently instituted an Amrita devi bishnoi national award for wildlife conservation in the memory of an Amrita Devi bishnoi who sacrificed her life to protect the trees in 1731. Management of Forest Local communities have been working traditionally for conservation of forests and trees. Magsaysay Award recipient Sunderlal Bahuguna gave momentum to the Chipko Andolan. The Chipko Andolan was started in Reni in Garhwal. It was started by villagers especially by women at Reni village who tried to stop the commercial wood contractors from cutting the tree by hugging the trunk of the trees. People Participation in the Management of Forests The acceptance of locals who live in harmony with natural resources is vital for forest conservation measures. In 1972, the West Bengal forest department found that they have failed in maintaining the degraded Sal forests. Surveillance and policing had led to complete alienation of the people which led to clashes between forest officials and villagers. So, to overcome this, department was forced to changed the strategy. Forest officer A.K. Banerjee involved villagers in protection of 1272 hectares of badly degraded Sal forests in Arabari forest range of Midnapore district. In return he allowed villagers to collect fuelwood and fodder on payment of nominal fee. Also 25% of final harvest was given to village community. Methods of Forest Conservation One of the most common method of forest conservation is silviculture. It is a method in which trees are grown and cultivated. Social forestry deals with the management and protection of the forest. Agroforestry includes land management for the cultivation of trees or shrubs. Red Data Book It is a document for recording the list of the endangered and rare species of animals, plants, fungi as well as some local species also. Water for all Water is required for fulfilling the basic needs of individuals. Human activities have altered the availability of water in various regions. Rain in India are due to monsoon. Common irrigation methods such as dams, canals and tanks are used in various parts of India. These methods are maintained by local people. This helps in storing water which can be used in agriculture. Not only in agriculture, daily needs of the common people can be met through this water. Ganga Action Plan This plan was launched by Shri Rajeev Gandhi in 1986. It is to improve the water quality of ganga by treatment, diversion and interception etc. It also includes treatment of domestic sewage and industrial effluents before releasing them into water bodies. Large dams are made to store water that can be used in irrigation, in generating electricity etc. Indira Gandhi canal in Rajasthan areas has helped a lot in bringing greenery in different regions. Dams control floods, provide water supply, electricity, waste management, recreation and wildlife habitat etc. Criticism about large dams addresses three problems in particular- social problems, economic problems and environment problems Construction of dams causes problems such as excessive sedimentation, water logging, sudden floods, soil erosion, large scale deforestation, health hazards, loss of livelihood etc. Ancient Method of Watershed Management System Different methods of watershed management system are known since ancient times. One of the method known as Khadins in Rajasthan which consists of a long earthen embankment built across the lower hill slopes. The area enclosed by the embankment is called as ‘bund’ which collects huge amount of rainwater which flows down the slopes. Subsequently this water saturated land is used for crop production. Figure 1: Khadin in Rajasthan- An ancient method of watershed management. Talabs are other mode of watershed management system known so far. It stores water for drinking and household consumption purposes. Others include kulhs in Himachal Pradesh,, Ahar and Pynes in Bihar, Eris in Tamil Nadu, Bundhis in Madhya Pradesh, Surangams in Kerala etc. Coal and Petroleum They are the non-renewable natural resources. Coal is formed by the remains of the trees buried inside the earth. Petroleum is formed by the bacterial decomposition of dead plants and dead animals. High pressure and temperature are needed for the formation of petroleum. Both coal and petroleum are fossil fuels. They are getting used up at higher rate, so there are more chances that they get exhausted soon. Disadvantages of Fossil Fuels - Burning of fossil fuels release large amount of carbon-dioxide, sulphur dioxide and other harmful gases. This causes air pollutions and the harmful effects of air pollution. This also raises the earth temperature and thus leads to global warming. Steps to minimize the pollution from Fossil Fuels Reduce the use and burning of fossil fuels. Use of CNG in transport vehicles to reduce pollution. Alternative sources of energy such as Hydroelectricity, nuclear, solar, wind power and biogas should be used. Thanks for registration. Register and Get connected with our counsellors. Revision Notes on Our Environment Things around us... Revision Notes on Electricity Charge Protons and... Revision Notes on Acids, Bases and Salts The taste... Metals and Non-metals Revision Notes on Metals and Non-metals Elements... Carbon and its Compounds Revision Notes on Carbon and its Compounds Two or... Control and Coordination Revision Notes on Control and Coordination... Chemical Reactions and Equations Revision Notes on Chemical Reactions and Equations... Sources of Energy Revision Notes on Sources of Energy The largest... Revision notes on Heredity and Evolution The study... Revision Notes on Periodic Classification of... How do Organisms Reproduce Revision Notes on How do Organisms Reproduce... Magnetic Effect of Electric Current Revision Notes on Magnetic Effect of Electric... Revision Notes on Light Reflection and Refraction... Revision Notes on Life Processes All the processes... The Human Eye and the Colourful World Revision Notes on The Human Eye and the Colourful...	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1253
__label__wiki	0.675099	0.675099	WWE® Partners with Hire Heroes USA Business Wirevia The Motley Fool, AOL.com Dec 17th 2012 11:35AM WWE®Partners with Hire Heroes USA ALPHARETTA, Ga. & STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- WWE (NYS: WWE) today announced a partnership with Hire Heroes USA, an organization committed to serving our nation's veterans through personalized and customized job search training and assistance. To support Hire Heroes USA's mission, WWE will make a donation and utilize all its assets, including TV broadcasts, live events, digital and social media to generate awareness and raise funds. In addition, Hire Heroes USA will partner with WWE to implement a veterans hiring initiative and enhance WWE's military hiring practices. The partnership, which will expand WWE's commitment to the military through the support of programs that create job opportunities for U.S. military veterans and their spouses, will be featured during the 10th anniversary of WWE Tribute to the Troops. This annual holiday special airs on USA Network this Wednesday, December 19 at 9 p.m. and on NBC this Saturday, December 22 at 9 p.m. With a narrowly tailored mission and a personal approach to each unemployed or transitioning veteran and spouse, Hire Heroes USA has helped more than 600 veterans find employment in the past two years. In 2012 almost 2,000 new veterans registered for Hire Heroes USA assistance and nearly 400 more were helped at two-day workshops focused on providing assistance to wounded, ill, or injured service members. "WWE has a clear commitment to supporting the US military and the top organizations that help military veterans and their families," said Brian Stann, President and CEO of Hire Heroes USA. "Like us, WWE follows verbal support with action, making a tangible difference in the lives of those who have sacrificed so much in defense of this nation. We are proud to partner with WWE so that together we can help reduce veteran unemployment." "WWE has a long history of supporting our armed forces because we are extremely grateful for the sacrifices of our nation's heroes," said Vince McMahon, Chairman and CEO, WWE. "It is an honor for us to partner with Hire Heroes USA and support programs that will help our veterans." WWE's longstanding commitment to the military in the U.S. and abroad includes its annual Tribute to the Troops events, Tickets for the Troops program and regular visits to military bases, hospitals and fundraisers that support military personnel and their families. The United States Department of Labor estimates that the military discharges 160,000 active service members and 110,000 Reserve and National Guard members annually. Statistically, about 32,000 of those veterans will join the ranks of nearly 1 million veterans already unemployed. For more information about Hire Heroes USA, please visit www.hireheroesusa.org. About WWE'S Corporate Social Responsibility WWE's global community outreach programs address important social issues, including education, diversity and inclusion, military support and fulfilling wishes and dreams. WWE and its Superstars and Divas support a wide range of programs, partners and initiatives that strive to positively impact children and families worldwide, including the "Be a STAR" anti-bullying campaign, WrestleMania Reading Challenge, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Make-A-Wish, WWE Tribute to the Troops and many more. For more information log onto http://www.wwe.com/inside/overtheropes/wweinyourcorner. About WWE WWE, a publicly traded company (NYS: WWE) , is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 600 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Istanbul and Tokyo. Additional information on WWE (NYS: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/. About Hire Heroes USA Founded in 2007, Hire Heroes USA is a national, nonprofit organization headquartered in Alpharetta, Ga. Hire Heroes USA is dedicated to creating job opportunities for US military veterans and their spouses through personalized employment training and corporate engagement. Hire Heroes USA has gained national-recognition for its comprehensive "recruitment to placement" continuum of veteran assistance and corporate engagement, resulting in one veteran hired every business day. For more information visit www.hireheroesusa.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, logos and copyrights are the exclusive property of WWE and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television and pay-per-view programming distribution agreements; the need for continually developing creative and entertaining programming; the continued importance of key performers and the services of Vincent McMahon; the conditions of the markets in which we compete and acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; our exposure to bad debt risk; uncertainties relating to regulatory and litigation matters; risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of our markets; uncertainties associated with international markets; the importance of protecting our intellectual property and complying with the intellectual property rights of others; risks associated with producing and travelling to and from our large live events, both domestically and internationally; the risk of accidents or injuries during our physically demanding events; risks relating to our film business; risks relating to increasing content production for distribution on various platforms, including the potential creation of a WWE Network; risks relating to our computer systems and online operations; risks relating to the large number of shares of common stock controlled by members of the McMahon family and the possibility of the sale of their stock by the McMahons or the perception of the possibility of such sales; the relatively small public float of our stock; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition, our dividend is dependent on a number of factors, including, among other things, our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan (including alternative uses of capital), our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends, general economic and competitive conditions and such other factors as our Board of Directors may consider relevant. Matthew Altman, 203-352-1177 Matthew.Altman@wwecorp.com Hire Heroes USA Megan Whitson, 678-248-8126 mwhitson@hireheroesusa.org Michael Weitz, 203-352-8642 Michael.Weitz@wwecorp.com KEYWORDS: United States North America Connecticut Georgia INDUSTRY KEYWORDS: The article WWE® Partners with Hire Heroes USA originally appeared on Fool.com. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1256
__label__wiki	0.761107	0.761107	Pragati Archives Crafted with love by Madhu Menon Panel contributors Why Pragati? Towards the Second Freedom Struggle Liberalism is distinguished by its focus on the primacy of the individual in all spheres of human life—political, economic, and social. Individual well-being is the standard to assess suitability of norms, customs, policies, and institutions. As Adam Smith and Friedrich Hayek have demonstrated there is no conflict between pursuit of self-interest and social good. Liberalism helps identify the rules necessary to achieve the harmony between self-interest and social good: limited government, rule of law, private property, free competition, and voluntary interactions. India’s liberalism has evolved through stages that first emphasised earthly life and materialism, then social reforms and political independence, and now economic and social freedom. Ancient liberalism of materialism The culture as old as India’s would obviously have a strand of thought that is labelled today as liberalism or libertarianism. Liberalism is a philosophy for living life on this earth. It does not directly concern itself with, or rather leaves individuals free to choose their beliefs, about after-life. The major focus of much of Indian philosophy has been on the life before and after the one on earth and their interconnections: to explain the status in the current life by considering what was done in the previous lives and to predict the future life by evaluating the conduct in this life. Nevertheless, many thinkers brought in earthly enjoyments and material aspects to articulate a philosophy of living this life, Charvaka being the most prominent of these thinkers. Their focus on the good and virtuous life to be lived on this earth could be seen as the first stage of liberalism in India. Modern liberalism in India took roots during the social reform movements of the middle and late nineteenth century. Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Gopal Krishna Gokhale and others launched a systematic attack on anti-life social practices like sati and the ban on widow remarriage through movements like the Brahmo Samaj and Arya Samaj. These movements influenced a large section of the population, particularly in eastern and western parts of India, where they still have a following. Despite the start much remains to be done in this area of social reforms. With the rise of demands for independence from the British, the social reform liberalism gave way to the liberalism of political independence. Liberalism of political freedom Intense discussions and debates engaged all activists not only about strategies and tactics to get the British to quit India. They also focused on the type of political and economic system that India should adopt post-independence. Social reformers as well as freedom fighters all worked under the banner of the Congress Party. The exposure to and attraction of Fabian socialism for many leading freedom fighters shaped the debates about India’s future political and economic institutions. Socialists formed a separate Congress Socialist Party and the liberals formed a liberal group, but they all worked under the Congress Party umbrella. The Indian National Congress was the pre-eminent arbiter of the freedom struggle, whether of social reforms or political independence. Jawaharlal Nehru’s affection for Fabian socialism as well as Soviet communism was the most critical factor in determining India’s path towards democratic socialism. Nehru shaped political institutions so that democracy could take root despite a very large illiterate and poor population, and an inexperienced political leadership. India was the shining star of democracy among the countries that achieved independence from the colonisers in the first of half of the twentieth century. India’s democracy, however much chaotic and dynastic, is widely viewed as her singular achievement. Soviet-style five-year plans came to rule the economic life of independent India. Rapid, large-scale industrialisation was deemed to be impossible without the state dominance of the ‘commanding heights of the economy.’ Indian people were seen lacking in resources, capital, and entrepreneurial and managerial talents. The Indian government therefore took over the responsibilities of economic development. No one asked if the people of India did not have the capital and the talent, where the government of India would acquire them from. Despite the existence of private airlines, railways, automobile factories, steel mills, and power plants, there was a lack of confidence in India’s private sector. Many of these companies had successfully competed in international markets. India’s share of trade in manufactured goods and machinery was higher at the time of independence than it has been any time since. Nonetheless the state dominated the economy. Despite the all-powerful planning commission and all-pervasive five-year plans, Nehru left alone whatever remained of the private trade and industry. He did however try to collectivise agriculture in line with the Soviet model. This attempt united all the disparate liberal groups in the country, leading to the formation of a new political party, the Swatantra Party. This party of farmers, small traders, and liberal intellectuals became the main opposition party in the Parliament after the 1967 general elections. With the successful war against Pakistan and the campaign slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’ (Eliminate Poverty) Indira Gandhi decimated the Swantantra Party in the 1971 election. It never recovered from the blow. The first political challenge to central planning was summarily squashed, but it proved successful in convincing the political establishment not to try collectivisation of agriculture again. Lessons of Swatantra Party’s failure though remain to be systematically analysed and understood. Indira Gandhi changed the focus of planning from state-led growth to state-directed redistribution. The lack of certainty of electoral victory, unlike her father, induced Indira Gandhi to use the machinery of the state for electoral politics. Redistributive populist policies became the norm: nationalisation of banking and insurance industries, subsidies to vote banks defined by caste, class, or religion, licensing of firms and industries, heavy import tariffs and restrictions. A few of these policies, it must be noted, were necessitated by the inherent contradictions of the state-led growth. The state dominance of the economy had stifled private initiative and the resources required to fulfil grandiose plan targets were forever short. The state had to engage not in just sectoral but even firm-level planning and allocate each ounce of capital very carefully, balancing all the time necessities and luxuries so as not to squander any amount of resource. Nehru’s democratic socialism metamorphosed into Indira Gandhi’s license-permit-quota socialism. She produced the unique brand of Indian socialism. The slippery slope of planning—the logic of more and more intensive and extensive government interventions and controls—just could not be escaped. Liberalism of economic freedom B R Shenoy’s famous Note of Dissent on the Second Five-Year Plan can be seen as the foundation from which the challenge to planning and the loss of economic freedom began. Until his death in 1978, he tirelessly argued for denationalisation, privatisation of public sector enterprises, responsible monetary policy, rejection of foreign aid, open competition, free trade and the abolition of central planning. A D Shroff, a Bombay businessman, started the Forum of Free Enterprise to educate the public about the vices of planning and virtues of private markets. M R Pai has ably carried forward the mission of the Forum. Minoo Masani, one of the founders of the Swatantra Party, launched several freedom organisations. His journal, Freedom First, and the Indian Liberal Group continue to discuss and apply liberal principles and policies. A new farmer organisation took shape under the leadership of Sharad Joshi. He had resigned from the Indian Administrative Service to become a farmer, but the plight of agriculture under the policy of forced industrialisation turned him into a political activist. He founded Shetkari Sanghathana, the only farmer’s organisation that demands removal of all subsidies in exchange for freedom to trade. Its political arm, the Swatantra Bharat Party, has played a noteworthy role in the politics of Maharashtra state. Madhu Kishwar’s magazine Manushi provides uniquely gendered liberal analysis of the economic and social problems. All these sustained attempts were inadequate given the scale of the problem. Nonetheless, India did begin on the path of liberalisation in 1991 when faced with a severe foreign-exchange crisis by opening up international trade and abolishing the license-permit raj. The real challenge then lies in further liberalisation of the domestic sector—the agenda set out by Dr Shenoy decades ago. The little progress on this second phase of reforms is clear indicator of the lack of understanding on the part of political and intellectual leadership of the broader framework of policies and institutions that can harmonise personal interest with public interest. Two men politically responsible for the 1991 liberalisation are the then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao and his finance minister, Manmohan Singh. Mr Rao publicly repudiated his own policies and has proclaimed that they were a mistake. Dr Singh has shown little enthusiasm in explaining and defending them with the general public. Reforms are seen as the domain of technocrats. Without the public support, the harder reforms of privatisation of PSUs, liberalisation of agriculture and labour markets, abolition of the reservation for the small-scale sector, rationalisation of subsidies would be impossible to implement. And without these reforms, India will not be able to sustain its high-growth rate trajectory. New liberal organisations have come up since the 1990s to bolster the efforts of the earlier ones. Some of these have survived and continued the struggle whilst some have not. But all these experiences have created a stronger breed of committed liberals in India than ever before. Though the Association of Youth for a Better India (AYBI) in Mumbai did not survive, one of its founders established another organization—Praja, which is doing remarkable work in accountability in Mumbai. Lok Satta, Liberty Institute, Indian Liberal Group (ILG), Liberal Group Kerala, and Centre for Civil Society (CCS) are the old hands in the Indian liberal canvas. Jayaprakash Narayan’s Lok Satta movement has transformed itself into a political party and has won a seat in the Andhra Pradesh assembly. Recent elections have seen a whole new wave of alternative politics which independent candidates as well as new parties and groups entering the political playground. Whilst most of these parties argue for liberal governance in their policy prescriptions, some like the Jago Party are more aggressively liberal when it comes to economics. Sanjeev Sabhlok’s Freedom Team of India aims to recruit 1500 liberal political leaders before general elections 2014. Flowering of younger liberal organisations—Prabodh, Centre for Public Policy Research, Pratigya, Liberal Youth Forum—hold out the hope of a much larger and diverse liberal network. The Friedrich Naumann Foundation has had an important role in supporting liberal initiatives in India. India’s first freedom struggle gained political independence from the British in 1947. Successful flourishing of the democracy since then has fulfilled the political part of the liberal project. However the Indian state has continued to dominate the economic and social life of its citizens. The Second Freedom Struggle shall then deliver economic and social freedom to the people of India. To the Second Freedom Struggle! 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__label__cc	0.503816	0.496184	Review - STATE OF EMERGENCY, Steve P. Vincent Review Written By The first book in the Jack Emery series (THE FOUNDATION) looked at the potential for corruption, using a major media organisation to further somebody's political ambitions by coercion. This time around, STATE OF EMERGENCY looks at another interesting scenario: the use of a major government arm to further a personal and political agenda. It's a sobering, realistic scenario that plays out as an inexperienced president panics in the face of a series of terrorist attacks on American soil. Handing over control to the calm, competent and seemingly unassuming head Administrator of FEMA seems like a reasonable solution in times of extreme threat, but somewhere in the Presidential advisor ranks you would have thought somebody would be whispering a version of my favourite mantra when things seem to be getting increasingly pear-shaped: Trust No-One. Believe No-One. If in doubt, see point One. Needless to say one of the first steps of the new Emergency Management Regime is to start to remove citizens rights. Curfews, restrictions on sales of alcohol, control of the media - the sorts of things that you'd expect when a totalitarian regime rolls out. The State Guard is called into protect key sites and maintain law and order. Frequently tasked way above their capabilities they struggle to manage the fallout from rationing, the prison camps into which opponents are whisked away, and the riots that ensue. The whole country is starting to fall apart. Officials in FEMA are starting to wonder. And things aren't rosy in the ranks of the terrorist cells as well. As with all thrillers of this nature the threat is big, the resistance is small, and... the world needs a hero. In STATE OF EMERGENCY Jack Emery is that hero, but he's supported by other journalists, every-day citizens, and importantly, a FEMA official who puts her own life on the line to expose the level of madness that's taken control of the country. Of course you're going to have to accept some of the old energiser bunny aspects of hero's of this nature - doesn't matter how tight the squeeze, or how bad the situation, they are going to find a way out (you expect), but exactly how isn't always apparent. As with the earlier novel (and novella) in this series, the action is high-octane. There's leaping and bounding about at a rapid pace - on the part of the goodies and the baddies. The baddies are reasonably nuanced though, avoiding the madder than mad on a mad person's day out cliché. Of course Hall is a threat, and absolutely single-minded in his pursuit of his own agenda, but some of his motivations almost make sense, and there's no questioning the level of commitment that he's bringing to his task. To be a good thriller, any book needs to allow the reader to park their disbelief and any niggling concerns about a few unlikely procedural questions, and cheer for the hero. It doesn't hurt when you can sort of see what the baddie is getting at either. STATE OF EMERGENCY is such a book, and another fun, escapist outing with Jack Emery in charge of saving the day, ably assisted, for a change, by some women with brains, bravery and chutzpah to spare. Jack Emery Book Number (in series) What is the true cost of security? Amid a wave of unprecedented terrorist attacks on American soil, a panicked and inexperienced president declares a state of emergency and hands over control of the country to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The quiet and unassuming Administrator Hall soon becomes the most powerful man in America. Determined to stop the attacks, Hall enforces his order across the US, using a newly empowered State Guard to deal with anyone who gets in his way. As totalitarianism descends across the country, battle-weary reporter Jack Emery is faced with a terrifying new reality when friends, colleagues, and sources are imprisoned before his eyes. Among weekly terrorist attacks, FEMA atrocities, and the clamp tightening on every element of society, Jack becomes one of the few struggling to stop the madness. This time though, he's on the wrong side of the law and fighting the very government he's trying to save.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1259
__label__cc	0.593352	0.406648	Current – Ongoing Who are the people seeking asylum who arrived by boat? People who arrived by boat seeking asylum in Australia come from many different countries and came via different routes. The countries represented include, Iran, Iraq, Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Syria, Vietnam, Burma/Myanmar, Nepal, Kenya, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Sudan, PNG, Tibet and the Rohingyans who are classed as Stateless. Many had to flee because they were in immediate danger and many came from countries where there is no queue because there is no process available to register with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). There are millions of displaced people seeking refuge in the world and the UNHCR system cannot cope with the increasing volume of people. The people who came by boat seeking protection are families, single males and females, single parents, older people, and unaccompanied minors under the age of 18. Ages range from 0 to over 46 with the age group of 26 to 35 year olds being the largest. These people come from a variety of backgrounds and situations. They are professionals, skilled tradespeople, artists, journalists, lawyers, doctors, nurses, teachers, farmers; some have double degrees and doctorates and some have not had the opportunity of any education. They are mothers, fathers, grandparents, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, friends and neighbours. The people who made the journey to Australia by boat are seeking protection from their experiences of persecution, trauma, torture, abuse, prejudice and discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity, political beliefs. People who arrived by boat were interviewed by immigration on their arrival and placed in immigration detention facilities around Australia for processing. The time spent in these centres increased over time from several months to years when processing was stopped. On July 19th 2013 it was determined that all people arriving by boat would not be settled in Australia and would be sent to offshore detention centres, Nauru and Manus Island, for processing. There are still hundreds of men women and children in these centres. For those in mainland detention centres people were gradually released on Bridging Visas which lasted for periods of 3, 6 or 12 months. These visas allowed access to Medicare and 89% of Centrelink. Some had work rights and others didn’t. Now all the people on Bridging Visas have been invited by the Minister to apply for a temporary protection visa (TPV) or a safe haven enterprise visa (SHEV). It has been stated categorically that no-one who arrived by boat will be given a permanent visa. This is very different for plane arrivals who are given the opportunity to apply for a permanent visa. It has also been stated categorically that no-one on Nauru and Manus Islands will be allowed to settle in Australia. Some are here for medical reasons but only on a temporary basis. The people in this category are now being issued with a 6 month Final Departure Bridging Visa and are expected to return to Manus or Nauru or go back to their country. They have been cut off from all financial support and case management support. Recent News.. Asylum Seeker and Refugee Assistance (ASRA) Program August 22, 2019 “I choose humane” – Sign the pledge now! April 9, 2019 Are Thousands of Asylum Seekers in Australia About to be Thrown off Income Support? June 5, 2018 Ashgrove lends a hand May 30, 2018 We need a hand fundraising for Bardon Units May 30, 2018 Send us a message here There are many ways you can help people in need. From offering accommodation, or by making a donation. Donate to us now through Givenow.com.au. All donations are tax-deductable through our partner Communify Qld. Asylum Circle works within Communify Qld; a community organisation providing services and support to asylum seekers as well as across the wider community. Employment program by Red Cross. © 2020 Asylum Circle All Rights Reserved. Contact, Links & Resources \| Privacy \| Disclaimer \| If you can offer temporary accommodation for people on temporary visas we’d love to talk to you. Donate here through Givenow.com.au. All donations are tax-deductable through our partner Communify Qld. Get in touch to ask a question or find out more.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1261
__label__cc	0.689846	0.310154	An Eye for an Eye: Chronicles of an Obsession By: A. Venger Narrated by: Alex Hyde-White Categories: Fiction, Historical In the early 2000s a memoir titled An Eye for an Eye: Chronicles of an Obsession was found in a safe in Tel Aviv, Israel. The safe belonged to A. Venger (a pseudonym). Not long before his death A. Venger told one of his sons that he had written a memoir. In it, he confesses to having committed a murder. He assured his son that everything in the book actually happened. After World War II, some 30 years later, when A. Venger lived in Israel, he returned to his native Germany on business. As an adult back in Germany, he serendipitously crossed paths with the policeman responsible for deporting his family to concentration camp Auschwitz, which resulted in their death. A. Venger's troubled past turned into an obsession, that led him on a path of revenge. Meticulously planned, he took justice into his own hands. He committed the perfect murder. Today, three generations later, the impact and aftermath of World War II are still very much alive. A. Venger's family members are still divided over the truth of his memoir. This super-paced short story is an autobiographical drama. What's better, revenge or no justice at all? You be the judge! ©2012 seasidepress.org (P)2018 seasidepress.org Getting There: A Book of Mentors The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1262
__label__wiki	0.638315	0.638315	You are here: Home » Shop » Gallery » Trust Your Instinct By: Danuta Solowiej Cast by Lunts Castings Issue: The Medal, no. 75 (2019) Edition: up to 100 Category: Gallery Tag: solowiej-wedderburn Danuta Solowiej (b. 1962) was born in Białystok, Poland. Her art education started with tapestry and painting at the Art Lyceum in nearby Supraśl. She then completed her masters in sculpture at the Fine Arts Academy in Warsaw, specialising in medallic art under Professor Zofia Demkowska. She came to London in 1987 with her husband-to-be, the wood-carver Hugh Wedderburn. In 1988 she was an inaugural student of a contemporary medal course at the Royal College of Art in London, where she was later a visiting lecturer for over two decades. Since her arrival in London she has been an active member of BAMS and later of FIDEM. In 2017 she became a freeman of the Goldsmiths’ Company and was presented with the freedom of the City of London. Solowiej works in several media, but modelling and polychromy are her preferred choices. Her focus on the tactile aspects of sculpture is reflected in the scale of her work. Exhibiting, teaching or making are important to her, but come in no particular order of preference as she finds that they influence and nurture each other. Over the years she has received a number of awards and commissions, some of which are represented in national and private collections worldwide. The plaster heads from her Witnesses series were shown in the British Museum’s 2018-19 exhibition Witnesses: émigré medallists in Britain, along with a selection of medals from the museum’s collection. About her BAMS medal, Trust Your Instinct, the artist writes: ‘I work by elimination, in pursuit of pure form. I’m after the synthesis of an idea. I would like to think that I’m in step with Matsuo Basho, who said that “The haiku that reveals seventy to eighty percent of its subject is good. Those that reveal fifty to sixty percent, we never tire of.” I hope my medal falls within these parameters. I often think that medals are akin to haiku. ‘The medal Trust Your Instinct is a reflection on our reasoning as individuals versus herd behaviour. Is symmetry-breaking a sign of rebellion or wisdom, does one exclude the other, who is the odd one out, is it ever clear? Taking advantage of the anatomy of the medal, its two-sidedness and the edge, I find it helpful to think this through.’ Solowiej, Danuta Greetings From King’s Cross	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1270
__label__wiki	0.807285	0.807285	Welcome to School News Rogers Stadium Budget Talk Jeremy Herbstritt Foundation donation Wrestling: Donation to capital campaign Capital Campaign podcast Class of 1969 donation Fall 2019 donations Rogers Stadium demolition Rogers Stadium: Phase 2 Phase 2 progress report Facility dedications Dave Schaub family jumping pits Jeremy Herbstritt and Lt. Jonas Martin Panik U.S. Navy Memorial Track Light up the Field Light up the Field, Aug. 12-14 Light up the Field, live Virtual video tour "Robby's Raiders" Remembering Coach Ed Gannon 2019-20 athletics Raiders Soccer Academy District 6 championship anniversary Penn State Football Coach James Franklin Mal Smith scores 100th career goal Band performance at Penn State women's soccer vs. Michigan State Search for missing chain XC state qualifiers Football: 2019 district champs Game Day cheer champs Letter of intent signing, Fall 2019 Off-season, preseason football preparation 2018 football podcast Girls' soccer: Shippensburg summer camp Girls soccer: 2018 returning varsity letter winners Hole-in-one Boys' soccer: District 6 champs XC: Mountain League race winners Curtin Bowl 2018 Rocky Run Girls' soccer: Mountain League MVP Video: Colton Burd Video: Ashton Wetzler Girls' basketball: Teacher Appreciation Night Bellefonte wrestling beats undefeated PV Girls' basketball: Honoring veterans Indoor track breaking records PIAA-sponsored unified bocce Wrestling honors Brock Port Letter of intent signing, winter 2019 Photo gallery: Letter of intent signing, winter 2019 Video: Noah Badger Video: Cati Besch Video: Rees Kelley Video: Chris Persiko Video: Caleb Rockey Video: Cam Stephens Deb Moore named AD Wrestling: 2018-19 accomlishments NISCA Academic All-American Special Olympics Geri Ryan Track Meet Majorette squad: State champs Natalie Giacobe: Tournament Indoor Association scholarship recipient Letter of intent signing, spring 2019 Video: Moryelle Fernandez Video: Kyle Myers Video: Shaelah Pepperman Baseball: First-team Mountain League All-Stars Baseball: District 6 champions Lacrosse: Inaugural season Softball: District 6 All-Stars Softball: District 6 champions Snyder Award winners Soccer standout Gabbie Pighetti Video: Gabbie Pighetti Track star Brett Pope Video: Brett Pope Softball player Rianna Trexler Video: Rianna Trexler Softball infielder Alexis Wetzler Video: Alexis Wetzler Football: District 6 champions Video: 2017 district football champs PA Football Writers All-State team Cheer: District champs Girls' basketball: Teacher Appreciation Night, Dec. 15 Video: Teacher appreciation with girls' basketball Coach Stacey Miller honored Halftime, half-court shot Softball: 2018 District 6 champs Baseball: 2018 District 6 champs Backpack Weekend Food Program Bellefonte eLearning Academy BeLA vs. cyber charter schools Response from PA Department of Education House Bill 526, Senate Bill 34 Q&A with Rebecca Leitzell Bellefonte Reads, 2019-20 Jared Box Project, 2019 “Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus” Bellefonte Reads book drive One Book, One Bellefonte Community Literacy Night Bellefonte Reads book distribution night, Feb. 15 Budget Talk series Rogers Stadium costs Charter school costs What is a charter school? District spending on charter schools Charter School Law Charter school reform Donations to student meal accounts Allison Rowles Kris Vancas Tammy Way Steph Hillard Naomi Rupert Shannon Albert Duffy Besch Deborah Lightner Judy Davidson Kevin Harman Charleen Casbourne Sommer Garman Marisa Maines Kathy Ellenberger Alex Tucker BASD Goes Global The Global Read Aloud Greece/Italy 2019 Ecosystems of Ecuador China, 2017 Leadership in Global Education Teachers for Global Education Teacher Ashlie Crosson Abroad in Morocco Teachers Go Global World languages at BASD World Language Summer Camp registration April Spanish department events World Language Week Monster projects World Language Summer Camp Ché Malambo World Languages Week Monster Project, 2019 IDEA Hub PSAYDN Youth Hub Central HESE at High School IDEA Hub: Where ideas become reality Red Raider magazine LinkedIn blog series It's who you know Find your earning potential The power of ProFinder Learn something new with LinkedIn Road map to job search success Red Raiders podcast BAHS Bands Drive-Thru Flu Clinic Rogers Stadium (5) 2018 Football season Mini-Thon CentreREADY BAMS in Space (2) Centre County Suicide Prevention Task Force School safety measures Q&A with Gina MacFalls Safety-Care ICAN Talk Clinic Life Skills Café Kent's Fest, 2018 Special Olympics 2018 2018 Homecoming King and Queen Field trip to the movies #BAHSWhatLiftsYou Special Olympics Geri Ryan Tack Meet Kent’s Fest, 2019 ACRES Employment Readiness program Life skills dance, 2019 Sensory walk Three-hour delay option Youth author Annie Cernuska "The Hunter Voyage" First published book My book voyage Q&A with Stephen Kozan An impact on education Remembering Lt. Jonas Panik, Class of 1993 #IAmDowntownBellefonte People of Bellefonte "Oof, That's Tough" podcast "Invisibly Ill," by Kate Rarrick IADB, 2019 2019 National Distinguished Principal Proposed elementary building project National Elite Ms. Agriculture USA State College Spikes, July 26: BASD Employee Appreciation Night Herbie’s Home “Town Loop” New Teacher Orientation and Induction BAMS Summer Book Club Opening Day with Sam Glenn Marion-Walker PTO 5K and one-mile run/walk/stroll National History Day scholarship Chain Reaction Club HeroScaping PSBA recognition Miss Bellefonte Blue Band at Penn State Charlie “The Spaniard” Brenneman CareerLink partnership Mobile Ag Education Science Lab Penn State football: Educator Appreciation Day National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference Youth author Daniel Weaver BAHS English team grants Mock Constitutional Convention Shoe drive Bellefonte Lights Winter Market CCRRA poster contest AP District Honor Roll PA Farm Show Summer Badminton Open Gym Centre County Library Young Author and Illustrator Contest Teacher recalls Hurricane Irma relief efforts BAMS Beautification Day New BAMS VP Mike Baughman Teacher Induction Opening Day with Jon Gordon Benner Elementary School garden Alphabet fashion show Mini-Thon at Bellefonte Elementary Schools that Teach tour Red Hill Fossil Site State College Orthodontics design contest Girls Wanna Run Paint the Plow School bus safety measures Veterans Day at Benner Jump Rope for Heart Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority poster contest Empty Bowls project PMEA District 4 Band Fest BAMS Animal Club 2019 Variety Show BAMS production of "Cinderella" Benner student holds annual donation drive Adopt-A-Class PMEA Chorus Festival District response to Momo Challenge Author visit with Kathy Miller Lip Sync and Variety Benefit Show Board donation to Capital Campaign CIU No. 10 Elementary Reading Competition Pleasant Gap student supports American Heart Association CPI students enhance Benner garden Marion-Walker’s Got Talent Key Club District Convention Brandon Snook: Eagle Scout Drive Safe Week STEM Camp registration Young Author and Illustrator Contest Yearbook Program of Excellence CATArt Bluebird nesting boxes Esther Raab Holocaust Museum and Goodwin Education Center Isaac Awards Bellefonte Elementary School memorial 2018-19 retirees Cheryl DeCusati Memorial Scholarship Cheryl DeCusati memorial Graduation, 2019 Open gym: Badminton Free summer meal programs Historic Bellefonte Walking Tours Engine of Central PA partnership District response to shooting in Texas Cool School Challenge INFRA Grant Farewell to two school board members Doughnuts serve as inspiration for art Poster contest winners Music students headed to Disney World All Pro Dad Backpack Program packing update Benner Booster Night Benner boosters get donations Veterans Day events at Marion-Walker Benner students make patriotic flag Benner Elementary supports its PTA Bellefonte Science Night, Nov. 14 Veterans Day events at Centre Crest Students make Election Day possible Students, grads work voting locations WJAC featured students working precincts Meccanoid robot Con Con Gift-wrapping event, Dec. 17 Marion-Walker, Pleasant Gap holiday shows School board welcomes new members Polar Bear Plunge PMEA District Chorus Fest Mr. Bellefonte, Jan. 25 Max Theuer, Mr. Bellefonte 2018 BAMS in Space preparations Olympian Greg Fredericks 'The Wizard of Oz' OTDA Grant High school welcomes students from Puerto Rico Artist of the Week: Phoebe Rowland Dairy Princess Gretchen Little BAMS in Space: Proof of Performance Snow Day Challenge Boston Invitational Model United Nations Conference 2018 Variety Show, Feb. 27 PMEA Region 3 Band Fest Students speak to astronaut Scott Tingle aboard ISS District response to March 14 Walkout Henrietta Lacks cells OTDA field trip Mini-Thon, March 23 Senior Institute 5K, March 24 ‘Anything Goes’ State Legislative Leadership Conference Artist of the Week: Jessica Sidwell Benner science fair PMEA Citation of Excellence award State College Spikes High School Baseball Stadium Series Carton 2 Garden contest Outer space broadcasts 24 Challenge PA-05 Congressional Art Competition Activities part of ELA, government curriculum at Pleasant Gap Pennies for Peace BAHS ceiling art Bamboo fly fishing rods 2018 Isaac Awards Miss Bellefonte, Lissi Przybys 2018 TechXcellence Class of 2018 graduation Public Relations Director Brit Milazzo See below for the full Charter School Law, or click here to review Charter School Law uploaded on the state Department of Education website: Charter School Law. You can also review cyber charter school policy, here: Cyber Charter Schools 24 P.S. §§ 17-1701-A - 17-1732-A DATE OF ISSUE: May 22, 2019 REPLACES: 24 P.S. § 17-1701-A, Charter Schools, issued October 1, 2004 This Basic Education Circular (BEC) provides a general overview of Pennsylvania’s Charter School Law (CSL), 24 P.S. §§ 17-1701-A – 17-1751-A, and serves as a guide for school districts, charter schools, parents, students, and other interested individuals on the authorization and establishment, operation, oversight, and closure of a charter school. While this BEC includes information applicable to all charter schools, it is geared specifically to brick-and-mortar charter schools authorized by local boards of school directors. The intent of the General Assembly, in enacting the CSL, was to provide opportunities for teachers, parents, pupils, and community members to establish and maintain charter schools that operate independently from the existing school district structure as a method to accomplish the following: To improve pupil learning; To increase learning opportunities for all pupils; To encourage the use of different and innovative teaching methods; To create new professional opportunities for teachers, including the opportunity to be responsible for the learning program at the school site; To provide parents and pupils with expanded choices in the types of educational opportunities that are available within the public school system; and To hold the schools established under the CSL accountable for meeting measurable academic standards and provide the school with a method to establish accountability systems. At the heart of these principles is the idea that charter schools will serve as laboratories of innovation. All charter schools must operate according to the terms of their charter agreement, the CSL, and all applicable laws. Charter Application Process The State Charter Appeal Board (CAB) Notification of Charter to PDE Terms and Conditions of a Charter Amendments to Charters Charter School Boards of Trustees Applicability of the School Code and School Laws to Charter Schools Renewal or Closure of Charter Schools Enrollment and Attendance Issues Discipline Policies and Weapons Possession Major Grant Programs Charter School Facilities Employment and Certification of Charter School Teachers and Administrators Healthcare and Retirement Benefits Related BECs 1. Charter Application Process A charter school is a public school that operates independently of school districts pursuant to a charter issued by a local board of school directors. Individuals interested in establishing a new, conversion, or regional charter school must submit an application to the local board of school directors of the school district(s) in which the charter will be located. An existing public school or portion of an existing public school may become a charter school through a conversion process, which requires more than 50 percent of the teaching staff and more than 50 percent of parents of students attending the school to sign a petition in favor of the conversion. If a charter school is created through the conversion process, the chartering school district must redraw attendance zones or make other school assignment arrangements so that students who do not wish to attend the charter school may attend a district school. A regional charter school operates pursuant to a charter issued by multiple boards of school directors. If the proposed charter school will be physically located in more than one school district, the CSL requires the applicant to: (1) apply as a regional charter school and (2) secure an affirmative vote of a majority of all the directors of each school district involved. A charter school applicant that intends to enroll students from more than one school district is not necessarily required to apply to operate as a regional charter school; in these cases, the CSL provides the applicant the choice. McKeesport Area School District v. Propel Charter School, 888 A.2d 912 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2005). Whether an applicant is seeking to establish a new, conversion, or regional charter school, the CSL outlines specific requirements and timelines that must be adhered to by both the applicant and the school district(s) throughout the application process. Evaluation of Application Charter schools are intended to provide parents and pupils with expanded choices within the public school system. The CSL requires that a charter school be accountable to parents, the public, and the Commonwealth, with a delineation of that accountability clearly reflected in the charter. Each school district may identify criteria to use in the evaluation of a charter application. The CSL requires a charter applicant to, at a minimum, demonstrate how the proposed charter school will provide a comprehensive learning experience to students and will serve as a model for other public schools. Application criteria are based on the CSL and should be made publicly available. Additionally, a charter applicant must demonstrate that it has sustainable support from teachers, parents, other community members, and students to be granted a charter; further, a charter applicant must detail strategies for meaningful parent and community involvement. The State Charter Appeal Board (CAB) has defined sustainable support as “support sufficient to sustain and maintain the proposed charter school as an on-goingentity.” Brackbill v. Ron Brown Charter School, 777 A.2d 131 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2001). Sustainable support is measured in the aggregate and not by individual categories. Carbondale Area School District v. Fell Charter School, 829 A.2d 400, (Pa.Cmwlth. 2003). A charter school must be operated by a non-profit entity governed by a board of trustees, and a charter applicant must provide a clear description of the method of appointment or election of members of the board of trustees. In the event that a for- profit entity plays a role in the establishment of a charter school, a charter applicant must further demonstrate that the charter school’s board of trustees will retain real and substantial authority over the operation of the school, educational decisions, and staff. Carbondale Area School District v. Fell Charter School, 829 A.2d 400 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2003); School District of York v. Lincoln-Edison Charter School, 798 A.2d 295 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2002); Brackbill v. Ron Brown Charter Sch., 777 A.2d 131 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2001); and West Chester Area School District v. Collegium Charter School, 760 A.2d 452 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2000), aff’d 812 A.2d 1172 (Pa. 2002). Whether a board of trustees has real and substantial authority is a factual analysis that must be determined on a case-by- case basis through a thorough review of each application. Charter school applications are approved or denied by a majority vote of the local board of school directors. When a charter school applicant submits an application to operate a charter school to the local board of school directors, the local board must take action to approve or deny the application. If the application is denied, the charter school applicant may submit a revised application or may file an appeal with CAB; in the case of an appeal, the appeal must be accompanied by the signatures of the lesser of 1,000 district residents or two percent of the district’s residents on a petition to support the appeal. CAB must review the decision of the local board of school directors. Whether the application is denied or granted by CAB, only the charter school or school district whose decision is reversed may challenge CAB’s decision. Other districts and taxpayers do not have such authority and may not challenge the granting of a charter. See Pennsylvania School Boards Association v. Zogby, 802 A.2d 6 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2002). Obtaining a charter from a local board of directors grants the recipient the permission to operate a public charter school. Written notification of the action taken by the local board of directors, whether the board of directors approves or denies the charter application, shall be sent to the charter applicant, the Department of Education (PDE), and CAB. Multiple Charter School Organizations Act 55 of 2017 amended the Pennsylvania Public School Code (School Code) to add section 1729.1-A to the CSL and permits the consolidation of existing and qualified brick- and-mortar charter schools into a Multiple Charter School Organization (MCSO). Additional information related to MCSOs, including detailed guidance related to the application process, can be found on the Department’s website. The CSL requires a charter school applicant to demonstrate that it will provide adequate liability and other appropriate insurance to cover any obligation of the charter school, its employees, and the board of trustees. 2.The State Charter Appeal Board (CAB) CAB has exclusive jurisdiction over appeals by a charter applicant of a denial of its charter application by a local board of school directors. In order to appeal a denial of its application, the charter applicant must, within 60 days of the denial of its application, obtain the signatures of the lesser of 1,000 district residents or two percent of the district’s residents on a petition to appeal. The CSL requires each person signing a petition to appeal to declare that they are a resident of the school district and to include certain information on the petition; someone other than the signer may not enter the information on behalf of the signer. The circulator of the petition must be a resident of the school district. The petition must be filed with the local court of common pleas for a determination of the sufficiency of the signatures. If the court of common pleas determines that the signatures are sufficient, then the charter applicant may appeal to CAB by filing a petition of appeal setting forth the grounds for the appeal. In addition to hearing appeals related to the denial of a charter application, CAB is authorized to hear appeals related to: (1) the failure of a local board of school directors to act on an application for a charter within the law’s timeline; and (2) appeals from the revocation or nonrenewal of a charter. In these types of appeals, there is no requirement to gather signatures prior to filing an appeal. Once CAB receives and acknowledges a petition to appeal a denied charter application, the matter is assigned to a hearing officer. The hearing officer’s function is to assist CAB in compiling the record, collecting any supplemental information offered by the parties, setting a schedule for filing of briefs and proposed findings of fact, disposing of procedural motions, and holding a hearing, if necessary. After the hearing officer has assembled the record, it is placed on CAB’s next meeting agenda and the parties and counsel appear to present argument of their case. After argument, board members may ask questions of counsel and representatives of the parties. CAB then takes the case under advisement, and a vote to grant or deny the appeal will take place at the next meeting. Action by CAB requires a majority vote of the seven-member body. A written decision affirming or denying the appeal is issued subsequent to the vote of the board members. All final decisions of CAB are subject to appellate review by the Commonwealth Court. A decision of CAB to reverse the decision of the local board of directors shall serve as a requirement for the local board of directors of a school district to grant the application and execute the written charter of the charter school. If the local board of directors fails to approve and execute the charter within 10 days of notice of the reversal by CAB, the charter shall be deemed to be approved and shall be executed by the chairperson of CAB. 3. Notification of Charter to PDE When a school district grants a charter school applicant a charter, the school district becomes the chartering school district. The chartering school district must provide immediate, written notification to PDE’s Division of Charter Schools that a charter has been granted. If the charter is executed by CAB because the local board of school directors failed to do so, CAB should provide the written notification to PDE’s Division of Charter Schools that a charter has been granted. Additionally, the charter school should notify PDE’s Division of Charter Schools. PDE’s Division of Charter Schools will work with the charter school to obtain the necessary documentation for the charter school to be properly identified by PDE as a public charter school and assigned an Administrative Unit Number (AUN). 4.Terms and Conditions of a Charter When authorized, the charter is the legally binding agreement between the chartering school district and a charter school. The CSL does not authorize provisional, temporary, interim, or any other type of charters. The term of an initial charter shall be set by the chartering school district for a period of at least three years, and not more than five years. A charter may be renewed for five-year periods upon reauthorization by the chartering school district or CAB. A district of the first class may renew a charter for a period of one year if the governing board determines there is insufficient data to adequately assess a charter school’s academic performance, and determines that an additional year of data would assist in its decision whether to renew the charter for a period of five years. A one-year renewal of this type shall not be considered an adjudication and may not be appealed to CAB. Conditions placed on a charter school by a chartering school district must enable the district to exercise oversight over the charter school, be consistent with the provisions of CSL, and be mutually agreed upon. For example, an enrollment cap may be mutually agreed to by the parties as part of the charter; if such a mutually agreed upon enrollment cap is in place, the chartering school district may withhold funding to the charter school for any student enrolled over the enrollment cap set forth in the charter. Richard Allen Preparatory Charter School v. School District of Philadelphia, 123 A.3d 1101 (Pa. 2015); see also School District of Philadelphia v. Department of Education, 92 A.3d 746 (Pa. 2014). 5.Amendments to Charters As the CSL does not address a process for amendments to a charter, a charter can be amended only by agreement between the chartering school district and the charter school. The charter renewal process is not the proper means to obtain an amendment to a charter. To the extent a charter school seeks an amendment to its charter that cannot be accomplished through agreement with the chartering school district, it must submit an application to the appropriate district(s) for a new charter. Discovery Charter School v. School District of Philadelphia, 166 A.3d 304 (Pa. 2017). 6.Charter School Boards of Trustees Charter school boards of trustees are subject to the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1101-1113, the Child Protective Services Law, 23 Pa.C.S.§§ 6301 – 6386, the Right to Know Law, 65 P.S. §§ 67.101 – 67.3104, and the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 701-716. As public officials, members of the Board of Trustees of a charter school are required to file Statements of Financial Interest by May 1 following each year of service and the year following termination of service. Certain other charter school officials and employees must also file Statements of Financial Interest. Additional information concerning the requirement to file Statements of Financial Interest may be obtained by contacting the State Ethics Commission at (717) 783-1610. Individual members of a Board of Trustees have certain legal obligations under the CSL and the School Code, including the obligation to be a good and effective steward of public monies and to provide independent governance of the charter school’s administrators. Additionally, effective with the 2018-2019 school year and each school year thereafter, each newly appointed trustee of a charter school’s Board of Trustees is required to complete a minimum of four hours of PDE-developed or approved training in the skills and knowledge necessary to serve as a member of the Board of Trustees. This training must be completed within the individual’s first year of service on the Board of Trustees. If applicable, during the fifth year of an individual’s service on a Board of Trustees, and every four years thereafter, the trustee must complete a minimum of two hours of PDE- developed or approved advanced training. 7.Applicability of the School Code and School Laws to Charter Schools With important exceptions, charter schools are generally exempt from the requirements of the School Code and other laws that apply to school districts. However, sections 1715- A and 1732-A(a) of the CSL explicitly make charter schools subject to specifically enumerated provisions of the School Code and other provisions of law. Additionally, certain statutory or regulatory provisions not listed in section 1715-A and 1732-A, including, but not limited to, 22 Pa. Code Chapters 4 and 10, by their own terms, also specifically apply to charter schools. 8.Oversight A chartering school district is responsible for ongoing oversight of each of the charter school(s) within the district boundaries; in the case of regional charter schools, these responsibilities rest with all chartering school districts. Chartering school districts ensure each charter school is operating in compliance with its charter, the CSL, and other applicable laws. To facilitate a chartering school district’s review of a charter school, charter schools must work cooperatively with chartering school districts. A chartering school district should annually assess whether a charter school is in compliance with its charter and applicable laws. To facilitate that review, the charter school must submit an Annual Report to the chartering school district, which must provide the chartering school district with sufficient and accurate information about the operation of the charter school as well as ongoing access to the charter school’s facilities and records, including but not limited to: (1) all financial audits and financial reports; (2) the charter school’s Annual Financial Reports (AFR) and General Fund Budgets; (3) PSSA, Keystone Exam, or other state assessment results; (4) special education reports from PDE’s Bureau of Special Education, but not including any student identifying information; (5) audit reports from the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General or any Federal agency; and (6) documentation that shows whether the charter school met the measurable goals set forth in the charter school’s application. Charter schools are required to submit an Annual Report to its chartering school district(s) and PDE’s Division of Charter Schools no later than August 1 of each year. An Annual Report that does not provide sufficient information in each required area will be considered incomplete. Failure by a charter school to submit an Annual Report to a chartering school district in a timely and complete manner may constitute a material violation of the charter. Records and Facilities Access Chartering school districts are to have ongoing and reasonable access to records and facilities of the charter school to ensure that charter schools are in compliance with their charters and the law, and that requirements for testing, civil rights, and student health and safety are being met. Ongoing reasonable access to a charter school’s records means that the chartering school district shall have access to records including, but not limited to, financial reports, financial audits, aggregate standardized test scores, and teacher certification and personnel records. Charter schools and chartering school districts shall fully comply with the requirements of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. § 1232g, and its implementing regulations, 34 CFR Part 99, when dealing with student records, including attendance records. Documents and information provided at a Board of Trustees meeting constitute public records and must be accessible by a chartering school district. If the charter school maintains a publicly accessible website, the charter school should post a listing of the dates of Board of Trustees meetings, agendas for those meetings, and copies of minutes of the meetings. When a chartering school district believes it needs additional records and documents, not enumerated above, to meet its oversight responsibilities, the district should submit a written request to the charter school for those additional records and documents. The charter school shall provide access to, or copies of, such records within a reasonable period of time. Chartering school districts are also to have ongoing reasonable access to a charter school’s facilities. Site visits to the charter school by the chartering school district may be beneficial in fulfilling the chartering school district’s oversight responsibilities. Charter schools must allow reasonable site visits by the chartering school district. 9. Renewal or Closure of Charter Schools The procedure to challenge the granting of a charter may involve only the school district to which the charter application was submitted and not a non-chartering district. Similarly, a chartering school district is the only entity that may initiate revocation proceedings against a charter or make the determination to not renew a charter school’s charter. See Fairfield Area School District v. National Organization for Children, Inc., 837 A.2d 644 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2003). Renewal Procedures A charter school should provide written notification to the chartering school district between July 1 and October 1 of the final year of its current charter that it is requesting renewal of the charter. This notification is typically accomplished by submitting a renewal application to the chartering school district. A chartering school district shall establish policies and procedures for the review of a renewal application. Upon receipt of the written notification, the chartering school district should inform the charter school, within 30 days of the receipt of the charter school’s notice, of what additional information beyond the charter school’s Annual Reports and Renewal Application is to be provided to the district for review. Before granting a renewal of a charter, the chartering school district must conduct a comprehensive review of the charter school. The charter school’s Annual Report will provide an ongoing, comprehensive assessment of the charter school’s progress towards its goals; evaluation of these report should be central in renewal deliberations. The chartering school district’s request for information and documents may also include, but is not limited to: (1) all financial audits and financial reports; (2) the charter school’s AFR and General Fund Budgets; (3) PSSA, Keystone Exam, or other state assessment results; (4) special education reports from PDE’s Bureau of Special Education, but not including any student identifying information; (5) audit reports from the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General or any Federal agency; and (6) documentation that shows whether the charter school met the measurable goals set forth in the charter school’s application. Grounds for Revocation, Nonrenewal, and Closure Grounds for revocation or nonrenewal of a charter may include one or more material violations of the charter, the CSL, or other laws applicable to the operation of charter schools; failure to meet requirements for academic performance or standards of financial management; and convictions for fraud. If a chartering school district is seeking to revoke or not renew a charter, the chartering school district must: (1) provide notice of the grounds for such action; (2) hold a public hearing on the planned revocation or nonrenewal; and (3) inform both the charter school and PDE’s Division of Charter Schools of the date of the nonrenewal or revocation hearing. At the hearing, the chartering school district shall present evidence to support the grounds for nonrenewal or revocation and allow the charter school the opportunity to offer testimony. The public shall have 30 days to provide comment on the proposed nonrenewal or revocation. Formal action on the nonrenewal or revocation shall be taken by the board of school directors at a public meeting subject to the Sunshine Act. The charter shall remain in effect until final disposition of any appeal to CAB from a revocation or nonrenewal order issued by a chartering school district. In cases where the health or safety of a charter school’s pupils, staff or both is at serious risk, the chartering school district may take immediate action to revoke the charter and the charter will not remain in effect following disposition by the chartering school district. Immediately upon final revocation or nonrenewal of the charter or decision to close the school, the charter school’s Board of Trustees shall, by Board resolution: (1) designate the person who will be responsible for concluding the affairs of the charter school and (2) provide PDE’s Division of Charter Schools a copy of the Board resolution and the name, address, phone number, fax number, and email address of the charter school’s designated individual. Upon notification that a charter school’s charter has been revoked or nonrenewed or that a charter school has closed, PDE’s Bureau of Special Education will conduct on-site visits to review student files. Additionally, the chartering school district(s) shall conduct on-sitevisits to review student files and obtain copies of student records as necessary to ensure student records are retained and protected. All student records maintained by the charter school must be forwarded to the student’s district of residence. Students attending the charter school shall apply to another school in the student’s district of residence; normal application deadlines will be disregarded under these circumstances. A charter school may appeal the decision of the local board of school directors to revoke or not renew its charter to CAB. 10.Enrollment and Attendance Issues Any student in the Commonwealth is eligible to enroll in a charter school. If more students apply to the charter school than the number of attendance slots available in the school, then students must be selected on a random basis from a pool of qualified applicants meeting the established eligibility criteria and submitting an application by the deadline established by the charter school, except that the charter school may give preference in enrollment to a child of a parent who has actively participated in the development of the charter school and to siblings of students presently enrolled in the charter school. First preference shall be given to students who reside in the district or districts. A charter school shall not discriminate in its admission policies or practices based on intellectual ability or athletic ability, measures of achievement or aptitude, status as a person with a disability, English language proficiency, or any other basis that would be illegal if used by a school district. Further, a charter school may not use achievement tests, entrance examination tests, enrollment forms, admissions interviews, or other means of testing a student’s intellectual ability, disability status, English language proficiency or other basis that would be illegal if used by a school district to grant or deny admission. A charter school also may not require a student to obtain or maintain a particular grade point average to be admitted to the charter school. The chartering school district may conduct periodic audits of the school's applicants, accepted students, and enrolled students. The CSL permits a charter school to have a specific mission or focus that addresses a targeted population of “at risk students,” specific grade levels, or curricula areas such as mathematics, science, or the arts. Charter schools with specific missions may maintain reasonable, non-discriminatory criteria to evaluate prospective students. The evaluation process and criteria used to evaluate prospective students must be outlined in the charter application submitted to the local board of school directors. The process and criteria for evaluation may not vary from what is presented in the charter application without approval of an amendment to the charter. A charter school has no obligation to enroll a child—or make available to the child any free school privileges—until a parent or guardian of the student has provided the school with proof of the child’s age, residence, and required immunizations. In order for a student to continue to receive a tuition-free education from his or her charter school, the parent or guardian should reestablish their residency status with their child’s school upon any changes thereto by providing the school with current proof of residency. Accordingly, charter schools must adopt a policy on student admission and should post its policies and procedures on its website. Charter schools should inform parents or guardians via its enrollment policies of their responsibility to provide the school with residency information at enrollment or at any time after enrollment when residency changes or is questioned to ensure that the parent and charter school can comply with the applicable requirements. During the enrollment process and prior to admission to a charter school, the parent, guardian, or person having control of a student shall provide a sworn statement stating whether the student was previously or is presently suspended or expelled from any public or private school for any offense involving weapons, alcohol or drugs, or for the willful infliction of injury to another person or for any act of violence committed on school property. The school from which the student was suspended or expelled and the dates of the suspension or expulsion must be provided. Any willful false statement shall be a misdemeanor of the third degree. Charter schools must obtain this statement during the enrollment process. If a charter school accepts a suspended or expelled student, the student’s school district of residence is not required to pay the charter school for that student’s enrollment until the suspension or expulsion period has passed and the student has met all the conditions imposed during the suspension or expulsion. For more information related to public school enrollment procedures, please see BEC 24 P.S. §13-1301 - § 13-1306, Enrollment of Students. Notification to District of Residence Charter schools should provide each student’s resident school district with the PDE Charter School Student Enrollment Notification Form within 15 days of the student’s enrollment or change in residency and should notify the relevant school district within 15 days of a student’s withdrawal from the charter school. The PDE Charter School Enrollment Notification Form is available on the Department’s website. Within 10 days of receipt of notice of enrollment, resident school districts must provide a copy of a student’s records to the charter school, including any individualized education program (IEP) for that student. School districts and charter schools should cooperate in the transfer of records. A student who continues for succeeding years at the charter school shall be included on a list of all such students and sent to the district of residence at the beginning of each school year. Within 10 days of student disenrollment, charter schools should provide notice to the student’s school district of residence, and provide a copy of a student’s records, including any IEP, to the resident district or charter school in which the student enrolls. A charter school’s Board of Trustees will set its own kindergarten admission age and that age shall be included as part of the admission policy set forth within the charter application. If a charter school sets an entrance age that is lower than the kindergarten admission age of the student’s school district of residence, the school district of residence does not have the obligation to pay for the student’s enrollment in the charter school. The school district of residence’s obligation to pay for the student’s enrollment in the charter school begins when a student meets the school district’s minimum age for kindergarten. See Slippery Rock Area Sch. Dist. v. Pennsylvania Cyber Charter Sch., 31 A.3d 657 (Pa. 2011). Parents who choose to enroll their child in kindergarten in a charter school that permits a younger age than the school district of residence may be denied transfer to the school district’s first grade if the child does not meet the school district’s age requirement for entrance to school. Charter schools may operate half-day or full-day kindergarten programs, regardless of the type of kindergarten program operated by the chartering school district or a student’s district of residence. If a school district offers a half-day kindergarten program, charter schools with students enrolled in half-day kindergarten programs will receive payments from the student's school district of residence equal to 0.5 multiplied by the charter school tuition rate for each student. If a school district offers a full-day kindergarten program, charter school with students enrolled in a full-day kindergarten program will be entitled to the full charter school tuition rate from the student's district of residence. In November 2016 and July 2018, statutory provisions of the School Code related to truancy and habitual truancy were amended when Act 138 of 2016 and Act 39 of 2018 were signed into law. Specifically, charter schools are required to maintain attendance policies designed to accurately determine when a child enrolled in the charter school has an unexcused absence. Additionally, charter schools must report unexcused absences directly to PDE through the Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS). Each charter school is responsible for enforcing the compulsory attendance laws in accordance with the School Code as they relate to students enrolled in the charter school. Charter school responsibilities include ensuring that students and parents/guardians comply with compulsory attendance laws, ensuring that truancy prevention and elimination efforts are properly implemented, and taking appropriate action when a student enrolled in the charter school is habitually truant. More information on those responsibilities and other compulsory attendance and truancy matters can be found in the Compulsory School Attendance, Unlawful Absences, and School Attendance Improvement Conference BEC (BEC 24 P.S. §§ 13-1326-1354). Students who are enrolled in charter school but, who are at any time during the school term absent for 10 consecutive school days, shall be removed from the charter school’s membership roll unless the charter school has been provided with evidence that the absence may be legally excused or compulsory attendance prosecution has been or is being initiated. Within 10 days of student disenrollment, charter schools should provide notice to the student’s school district of residence, and provide a copy of a student’s records, including any IEP, to the resident district. Students Institutionalized from a Charter School When a student is enrolled in a charter school, but becomes institutionalized (i.e., not placed there by the charter school), the charter school must remove the student from its rolls and notify the student’s school district of residence. These institutions include, but are not limited to, detention homes, drug and alcohol treatment centers, or other residential treatment facilities. The student’s school district of residence is thereafter responsible for the payment of tuition to the host school district pursuant to 24 P.S. §§ 13-1306 and 13-1308. However, if a charter school places a student in a program located outside the charter school facility, the charter school is responsible for paying for that program. Students placed in hospital settings, whether for physical or mental health treatment, are not institutionalized. Accordingly, charter schools cannot unilaterally withdraw students placed in hospital settings for treatment of a physical injury; likewise, charter schools cannot unilaterally withdraw students placed in hospital settings for mental health care. If a student requires placement in a hospital setting for either physical or mental health care, the charter school in which the student is enrolled must pay for educational services provided to the student. Thus, a student placed in a hospital setting, whether for physical or mental health treatment, should remain enrolled in the charter school and should return to the charter school upon discharge from the hospital setting. For more information related to the roles and responsibilities of school entities for students in institutions, see BEC 24 P.S. § 13-1306 Nonresident Students in Institutions. Expulsion or Suspension of Students Charter school applicants must include in the charter application the procedures for suspending or expelling pupils. Charter schools are accountable for the education of their students. A charter school cannot have a policy that allows the charter school to suspend or expel a student for failing to meet the charter school’s academic requirements. The charter school board of trustees shall define and publish the types of offenses that would lead to suspension or expulsion from school. A student who is to be suspended or expelled from the charter school must be afforded due process. The procedures must comply with Section 1318 of the School Code, 24 P.S. § 13-1318 and Chapters 12 and 711 of the State Board of Education regulations. Students who are expelled and who are under 17 years of age remain subject to compulsory school attendance laws and shall be provided an education in accordance with law. For a student under the age of 17 who has been expelled from a charter school, the expelled student’s parent or guardian is required to attempt to find an educational program for the student. The program must be approved by the charter school. If the parent or guardian is unable to find such a program, they must notify the charter school within 30 days of the charter school’s decision to expel the student. Within 10 days of its receipt of that notification, the charter school must make provision for the expelled student’s education. The charter school may not compel an expelled student to return to their district of residence to complete their education. Section 1525 of the School Code, 24 P.S. § 15-1525, provides that a school district may enter into an agreement with institutions of higher education in order to allow its students to attend institutions of higher education while enrolled in the school district and receive credits toward completion of courses at both the school district and at the institutions of higher education. Section 1525 is not applicable to charter schools. A charter school may contract with institutions of higher education to provide course work as part of the charter school’s curriculum. However, the charter school may only grant their students high school credit for such courses. Any decision to grant postsecondary credit must be made independently by the higher education institution consistent with the laws and accreditation rules applicable to that institution. 11.Discipline Policies and Weapons Possession Each charter school’s Board of Trustees must adopt a code of student conduct that includes policies governing student discipline and a listing of students’ rights and responsibilities. The charter school’s code of conduct shall be published and distributed to students and parents or guardians. Copies of the code of conduct must also be available in the charter school. Each charter school’s Board of Trustees must adopt a written policy addressing the possession of a weapon on school property and the charter school must annually submit a Safe Schools Report to PDE’s Office for Safe Schools. All students who have brought or are in possession of a weapon on school property, at any school sponsored activity, on any public conveyance providing transportation to the charter school, or at any school sponsored activity must be expelled from school for at least one year. The Chief Administrative Officer of the charter school may recommend modifications of such expulsion requirements for a student on a case-by-case basis. The Chief Administrative Officer of the charter school shall, in the case of an exceptional student, take all steps necessary to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Additionally, the charter school must report all incidents involving the possession of a weapon on school property to local law enforcement officials. 12.Transportation Transportation must be provided to charter school students to the charter school at which the student is enrolled on such dates and periods that the charter school is in regular session regardless of whether transportation is provided to students attending school district schools. The school district is required to provide transportation to a charter school located up to 10 miles from the school district boundary; however, if the school district is a part of a regional charter school, it must provide transportation to the charter school regardless of the distance to the charter school. School districts are not required to provide transportation for charter school students in the following circumstances: (1) field trips; (2) to or from extracurricular activities; (3) to or from any buildings other than the charter school; (4) outside of the 10-mile radius regardless of whether the charter school a student attends is part of an MCSO. School districts must provide transportation for the early dismissal of charter school students if the early dismissal was on the calendar the charter school provided to the school districts at the beginning of the school year. School districts must provide transportation in excess of 180 days if, on the charter school’s calendar at the beginning of the year, more than 180 days are identified as days the charter school will be in operation. Providing this information on the charter school’s yearly calendar constitutes dates and periods when the charter school is to be in regular session. When severe weather causes a school district to cancel school, start late or dismiss early, the school district’s provision of transportation to public charter school students may be limited to the dates and periods the school district is open and provides transportation to its students. If a charter school believes that a school district is not providing the legally mandated transportation for a student, it may submit a request for a review to the Secretary of Education in accordance with section 1726-A of the CSL. If the Secretary of Education determines that a school district is not providing the required transportation, PDE shall pay funds directly to the charter school for costs incurred in the transportation of its students. Funds paid to the charter school shall be deducted from any and all payments made to the school district. Charter schools that receive such funding must use those funds to provide or contract for transportation for the students who attend the charter school. School districts must provide students eligible under IDEA and protected handicapped students under Section 504 with transportation to the charter school in which they are enrolled. This includes transportation to an Extended School Year program if that program is held at the charter school. However, some students eligible under the IDEA or Section 504 require modifications or accommodations for their transportation to the charter school. Although school districts are required to provide transportation for these students, school districts are not required to provide the modifications or accommodations (such as specialized equipment or personnel to accompany the student) for such students. Provision of modifications or accommodations in a student’s IEP or Section 504 Service Plan are the obligation of the charter school, because it is the charter school that owes the student a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). For example, if a student requires an aide to accompany the student during transportation to and from the charter school, the school district is responsible for the student’s basic transportation, but the charter school is responsible for providing or paying for the costs of the aide (modification and/or accommodation). PDE strongly recommends that, because school districts have expertise and capacity to provide specialized transportation, school districts should provide the specialized transportation of students with disabilities under both IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act, if requested by the charter school, and bill the charter school for such modifications or accommodations above and beyond the normal costs of transportation. 13.Extracurricular Activities The CSL requires a charter school student’s school district of residence to allow the student to participate in the school district’s extracurricular activities if the student is able to fulfill the requirements of participation and the charter school does not provide the same extracurricular activity. The requirements of participation shall apply equally to charter school students and students attending schools of the school district. The student’s school district of residence must accept the charter school’s written confirmation, which may include providing copies of the student’s attendance record and grades, that the student has met the established standards for the extracurricular activity. Charter schools must inform parents that they must authorize release of such information, which may constitute the student’s education record, in order for the resident school district to verify that their children are eligible to participate in extracurricular activities. School districts cannot limit participation of charter school students in extracurricular activities on the basis that the activity is fully enrolled with school district students. Charter school students must be given an equal opportunity to compete for spaces in extracurricular activities. School districts are not required to provide transportation for a charter school student to or from the extracurricular activity. There may be additional requirements that the district of residence and charter school need to consider if the student participating or seeking to participate in extracurricular activities is a student with a disability. The school district of residence may charge the charter school for charter student participation in extracurricular activities, since these costs were part of the per-pupilpayment that is paid to charter schools. This fee is on a cost basis and the school district of residence should neither lose nor make money. The school district of residence may develop policies to establish in which school building charter school students may participate in extracurricular activities, such as the building closest to the charter school or the building the student would be assigned to if attending the public school district. 14.Accountability Charter schools are subject to the same statewide assessment system and federal and state accountability standards as schools within school districts. Charter schools must administer the English Language Arts and Math Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSAs) to every enrolled student in grades 3 through 8 and the Science PSSA to every student in grades 4 and 8. Additionally, the Keystone Exams, which are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in the subject areas of Literature, Algebra I, and Biology must be administered when the student completes the related course or in 11th grade, whichever occurs first. Pursuant to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), schools will be identified for Comprehensive Support and Improvement, Additional Targeted Support and Improvement, and Targeted Support and Improvement based upon the specific federal accountability measures outlined in Pennsylvania’s Consolidated State Plan. Further, charter schools are included in the Future Ready PA Index, which provides comprehensive information about school success, including how schools are performing and making progress on multiple academic and nonacademic indicators. 15.Major Grant Programs Charter schools are, in most instances, eligible to receive state and federal grants administered by PDE. In order to receive any grant, state or federal, a charter school must be party to a Master Agreement, a non-financial, binding agreement, with PDE. Upon notification of a newly executed charter to PDE, PDE’s Division of Charter Schools will work with the charter school to obtain the necessary documentation to initiate a Master Agreement. 16.Charter School Facilities Separate and Distinct Entity A charter school, including a conversion charter school, must be a separate and distinct entity from the school district that grants the charter. Students enrolled in any charter school must be educated: (1) in a building that is separate from buildings used by the school district to educate school district students; or (2) in the case of a partial conversion, in an area of a building that is completely separate from any area that is used to educate school district students. The CSL permits charter schools to incur debt for the construction of school facilities. Any indebtedness incurred by a charter school does not impose any liability or legal obligation on the chartering school district. As part of their AFRs, charter schools must include the amount of bonds or other indebtedness that becomes due during the fiscal year, together with the amount paid on each item of indebtedness. Construction and Renovation of School Facilities A charter school may construct or renovate a facility with state or local funds; however, charter schools are not eligible for reimbursement from the Commonwealth’s PlanCon program. Any construction commissioned by a charter school must be limited to work to its school facilities and may not include work on non-school facilities. Additionally, the CSL requires a charter school to comply with facility laws and regulations that pertain to the health or safety of pupils. Charter schools and their contractors are subject to statutes governing construction projects and construction-related work, including those relating to public bidding for certain projects. Charter schools are advised to contact the Pennsylvania Departments of Labor and Industry, Transportation, and Environmental Protection, as well as local municipalities with jurisdiction over school construction, prior to undertaking any projects to ensure their compliance with law and regulation. Use of a School District Facility 22 Pa. Code § 349.30 provides for the continuation of reimbursement for buildings closed to use, but leased for public school programs or other purposes, see BEC 22 Pa. Code Section 349.28, Closing of School Buildings for further guidance on the continuation or cessation of subsidy payments to school districts when a school building is closed to classroom use. The lease of a school district building to a charter school would justify continuation of school construction reimbursement, if PDE has approved the lease. Proceeds from the lease must be used by a school district to reduce the reimbursable amortization of the building. Reimbursement by the Commonwealth ceases if a district sells a school building that has been converted to a charter school. Therefore, in developing guidelines for the conversion of a public school to a charter school, a school district needs to consider the financial impact of leasing versus selling a building where a previously approved school construction project is being reimbursed, see BEC 24 P.S. Section 7-707,Sale or Lease of Unused and Unnecessary Lands and Buildings, for further guidance. Lease of a Facility A charter school may lease property from public or private entities. In the event that a facility is being constructed or renovated in order to lease it to the charter school, however, that construction or renovation may be subject to certain restrictions. See the Facilities attachment for detailed information. Section 2574.3 of the School Code, 24 P.S. § 25-2574.3, provides reimbursement for leases of buildings or portions of buildings for charter school use, which have been approved by the Secretary of Education on or after July 1, 2001. The approved reimbursable annual rental for approved leases of buildings or portions of buildings for charter school use is the lesser of (1) the annual rental payable under the provisions of the approved lease agreement; or (2) the product of the charter school facility’s enrollment times a legislated dollar amount based on the type of school. The subsidy paid equals the approved reimbursable annual rental multiplied by the aid ratio for a charter school. To qualify for lease reimbursement, a charter school must be: (1) a Pennsylvania approved charter school; and (2) have a signed lease agreement for rental of a building (permanent structure) or portions of buildings and the charter school must use the leased building(s) for educational purposes. If a leased building includes space for both educational and administrative use, the lease costs on that building will qualify for reimbursement under the program. If the central administrative staff is housed in a separate facility, the lease costs for that facility do not qualify for reimbursement under the program. A charter school cannot receive lease reimbursement for: (1) a building owned by the charter school; (2) payments related to the acquisition of a building; or (3) lease rental costs for land and relocatable structures, trailers, and modularized structures, unless the structure meets the conditions of “permanent” construction. Further guidance on the charter school facility lease program is available from the PDE’s Division of School Facilities, which is responsible for administering this program. 17.Employment and Certification of Charter School Teachers and Administrators Employment of Teachers and Administrators Teachers and administrators of charter schools must be direct employees of a charter school’s board of trustees. Richard Allen Preparatory School v. School District of Philadelphia, 123 A.3d 1101 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2015). The CSL defines a charter school administrator as the chief executive officer of the charter school and all other employees of a charter school who by virtue of their position exercise management or operational oversight responsibilities. An administrator of a charter school is prohibited from receiving compensation from another charter school or from a company that provides management or other services to another charter school. Administrators are public officials under the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. Chapter 11. See also New Hope Academy Charter School v. School District of York, 89 A.3d 731 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2014). Any individual who serves as an administrator of a charter school while receiving compensation from another charter school or a company that provides management or other services to another charter school commits a violation of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act. Certification of Charter School Personnel The CSL requires that at least 75 percent of the professional staff members of a charter school hold appropriate Pennsylvania certification. Principals, special education teachers and supervisors, school nurses, and school psychologists employed by charter schools must hold appropriate state certification and cannot be counted toward the 25 percent of professional staff that do not have to hold appropriate certification. In order to be counted toward the 75 percent, an individual must hold an active and valid professional certification and must be properly certified in all areas or subjects they are teaching or hold an emergency permit for the proper area/subject being taught. Only teachers who meet the criteria outlined in 22 Pa. Code § 354.25 may serve as cooperating teachers of individuals participating in student teaching programs (Teacher Preparation). The Chief Executive Officer of a charter school is not considered to be a professional staff member of a charter school. However, an individual’s title does not necessarily convey the person’s job duties and responsibilities. If a CEO actually performs the duties of a principal, that individual must hold appropriate state certification as a principal. For more information on appropriate certification in charter schools, see the Certification and Staffing Policy Guidelines, CSPG No. 24. Induction Programs Each charter school must submit to PDE a plan for the induction of first-year teachers and certain long-term substitutes in accordance with 22 Pa. Code § 49.16. For more information on induction programs, see CSPG No. 20. Evaluation of Charter School Employees ESSA and Pennsylvania’s Consolidated State Plan require PDE to annually collect and report data related to experienced, properly credentialed, and effective/ineffective educators on an annual basis, including administrators and teachers employed by each charter school. The definition of effective educator for that purpose is based upon the Classroom Teacher Effectiveness Evaluation System. In order to comply with the requirements of ESSA and the requirements of Pennsylvania’s Consolidated State Plan, charter schools are required to use the Classroom Teacher Effectiveness Evaluation System as the method for measuring and reporting aggregate totals of effective and ineffective teachers employed by the charter school. As section 1123 of the School Code is not applicable to charter schools, charter schools are not required to evaluate administrators or teachers using the Classroom Teacher Effectiveness Evaluation System for purposes related to an individual’s employment with the charter school. 18.Healthcare and Retirement Benefits Healthcare Benefits Every employee of a charter school shall be provided the health care benefits equal or greater than the employee would receive if he or she worked for the chartering school district. The chartering school district may require the charter school to provide the benefits under the same coverages and costs as the school district’s bargaining agreement, which may include both employee and charter school contributions. The charter school shall make the employer’s contribution to the insurer, a local board, or a contractual representative of school employees, whichever is required to provide the health benefits. The CSL requires that all employees of a charter school be enrolled in the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) unless the charter school employer sponsors another PSERS-approved retirement plan that covers the employees. A charter school employer may also choose to enroll some of its employees in PSERS and enroll others into another plan, provided that such plan is approved by PSERS. If any of the charter school’s employees are enrolled in PSERS as part of their employment with the charter school, the charter school would be considered a “participating” employer. If the employee of a charter school is not eligible to participate in another approved retirement plan or is given the option of participating in another approved retirement plan and chooses not to, then the employee must be enrolled in PSERS. Charter schools are required to make contributions to the Public School Employees’ Retirement Fund for the benefit of its employees, in addition to contributing PSERS contributions by employees which have been deducted from such employee’s paychecks. Section 8327(b)(2) of the Public School Employees’ Retirement Code provides that when a charter school fails to make required employee and employer payments to the Public School Employees’ Retirement Fund, PDE shall deduct the unpaid amount from the Basic Education Funding (BEF) of the chartering school district and remit such payment to the Public School Employees’ Retirement Fund. Accordingly, when the Public School Employees’ Retirement Board certifies to PDE that a charter school has failed to make required payments to the Public School Employees’ Retirement Fund and is determined to be delinquent, PDE deducts the delinquency from the BEF of the chartering school district to pay the fund. The chartering school district may then offset this deduction against any payment due to the charter school. Charter schools or charter school employees may contact PSERS for additional information regarding obligations. 19.Special Education Charter schools, like all other public schools, cannot refuse enrollment to any student based on a disability. Students with disabilities attending charter schools—and their parents—retain all rights and protections under IDEA that they would have if attending their school district of residence. That is, charter schools are responsible for providing a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to all enrolled students with disabilities and may contract with a school district, intermediate unit or other provider to provide necessary services. Within 10 days of receipt of notice of enrollment of the student in the charter school, a school district of residence must provide a copy of a student’s records to the charter school, including the most recent individualized education program (IEP) for that student. School districts and charter schools must cooperate in the transfer of records. Receipt of the records is critical to determining and providing the appropriate educational services for the students. Upon enrollment, a charter school must adopt and implement a student’s existing IEP until its expiration, or promptly convene an IEP team meeting to discuss, develop, and implement a new IEP in accordance with the IDEA or initiate a reevaluation. A school district is not required to pay a charter school the charter school tuition rate for a special education student until that student has been identified as a student with a disability eligible for special education services and has an IEP. Because of privacy laws such as FERPA, the charter school is not permitted to release special education records of students enrolled in the charter school without parental consent. Therefore, to validate to a school district of residence that a student is eligible for special education services, a charter school is required to, and may only, provide the school district of residence with the cover sheet of the most recent IEP. The school district of residence must keep this information secure and confidential and must destroy the IEP cover sheet when it is no longer needed. Upon a student’s disenrollment from a charter school, the charter school is responsible for forwarding the student’s educational records, along with the most recent IEP, within 10 school days after the charter school is notified in writing that the student is enrolled at another school entity. Charter schools must also maintain educational records for special education students consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. Intermediate Units (IUs) will work cooperatively with charter schools that seek assistance for students with disabilities so that these students are provided with FAPE. 20.Career and Technical Education Some students choose to attend a charter school and may also wish to enroll in educational programs offered by a career and technical school. School districts and career and technical schools often enter into negotiated agreements that include the provision of career and technical education to school district students at a certain cost at a career and technical school. However, charter schools are not party to the negotiated agreements between school districts and career and technical schools. When a student chooses to attend a charter school, the student chooses the charter school’s educational offerings, which may not include a career and technical education. A charter school may, but is not required to, contract with a career and technical school to provide a career and technical education option for its students. It is the responsibility of the charter school to decide whether to make a career and technical education curriculum available to the student and, if so, to contract with a career and technical school for the provision of these services. A charter school is required to provide the option for career and technical education if such programming is included in a student’s IEP. If a charter school does provide a career and technical education option, the charter school shall receive the full charter school tuition rate to which it is entitled from the student’s school district of residence, and the charter school must pay the career and technical school the established contractual charge for a student who receives a career and technical education. A student’s school district of residence is not responsible for paying a career and technical school for the career and technical education received by a charter school student. PDE has no authority to withhold payments from the charter school in the event there are disputes regarding payments to a career and technical school by a charter school. Such disputes shall be resolved between the charter school and the career and technical school based on the contractual agreement between them. BEC 24 P.S. § 17-1741-A – 1751-A, Cyber Charter School Use of Physical Facilities BEC 24 P.S. §§ 17-1741-A, Cyber Charter Schools BEC 24 P.S. §13-1301 - § 13-1306, Enrollment of Students BEC 24 P.S. §§ 13-1326 – 13-1354, Compulsory School Attendance, Unlawful Absences, and School Attendance Improvement Conferences BEC 24 P.S. § 1306, Nonresident Students in Institutions BEC 22 Pa. Code § 349.28, Subsidy Payments on Closed School Buildings CSPGs CSPG No. 024, Appropriate Certification in Charter Schools in Pennsylvania CSPG No., 020, Induction 23 Pa.C.S.§§ 6301 – 6386 24P.S. § 3-328 24P.S. § 11-1123 24P.S. § 13-1317.2 24P.S. § 17-1701-A to § 17-1732-A 24P.S. § 8327(b)(2) 65Pa.C.S. §§ 1101-1113 65P.S. §§ 67.101 – 67.3104 65Pa.C.S. §§ 701-716 20 U.S.C. § 1232g 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq. 22 Pa. Code Chapter 4 22 Pa. Code Chapter 10 22 Pa. Code § 349.30 22 Pa. Code Chapter 711 Brackbill v. Ron Brown Charter Sch., 777 A.2d 131 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2001) Carbondale Area School District v. Fell Charter School, 829 A.2d 400 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2003) Discovery Charter School v. School District of Philadelphia, 166 A.3d 304 (Pa. 2017) Fairfield Area School District v. National Organization for Children, Inc., 837 A.2d 644 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2003) McKeesport Area School District v. Propel Charter School, 888 A.2d 912 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2005) New Hope Academy Charter School v. School District of York, 89 A.3d 731 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2014) Pennsylvania School Boards Association v. Zogby, 802 A.2d 6 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2002) Richard Allen Preparatory Charter School v. School District of Philadelphia, 123 A.3d 1101 (Pa. 2015) School District of Philadelphia v. Department of Education, 92 A.3d 746 (Pa. 2014) School District of Pittsburgh v. Provident Charter School for Children, 134 A.3d 128 (Pa. Cmlwth. 2015) School District of York v. Lincoln-Edison Charter School, 798 A.2d 295 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2002) Slippery Rock Area Sch.l Dist. v. Pennsylvania Cyber Charter Sch., 31 A.3d 657 (Pa. 2011) West Chester Area School District v. Collegium Charter School, 760 A.2d 452 (Pa. Cmwlth. 2000), aff’d 812 A.2d 1172 (Pa. 2002) CONTACT BUREAU/OFFICE: Division of Charter Schools Pennsylvania Department of Education 333Market Street \| Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333Phone: 717.787.9744 RA-charterschools@pa.gov \| www.education.pa.gov	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1271
__label__wiki	0.652258	0.652258	No Barriers 2020 Foundation Stones This project is now closed Trailblazers: World War One’s Inspirational Women The First World War was a period of immense change for women, in Britain and across the world. Dr. Elsie Inglis, Sophia Duleep Singh, and Millicent Fawcett are just a few of the trailblazers who created change in their societies during the First World War. One hundred years since women gained the right to vote we launched Trailblazers: World War One’s Inspirational Women – a nationwide project about inspirational women from the First World War and their impact on the societies around them. Trailblazers encouraged young people to explore the incredible lives of women from the First World War, to discover Trailblazing women in their locality, and to develop as future Trailblazers. To stay up to date with our latest projects please sign up to our newsletter. Read more news about Trailblazers: World War One’s Inspirational Women here. Trailblazers of World War One included: Dr. Elsie Inglis – a social and medical reformer, and one of the most highly qualified female doctors of her time. At the start of the war, the British government refused Inglis’s offer to work as an army doctor because she was a woman. Determined to help, Inglis joined the French war effort and was stationed in Serbia where she managed a hospital. Her work was much admired, and she was the first woman to be awarded the Serbian Order of the White Eagle (First Class). Sophia Duleep Singh – the daughter of the last Maharaja of the Sikh Kingdom who was exiled to Britain in 1854. She sold copies of The Suffragette outside Hampton Court Palace, where she lived. She funded suffragette groups and became a high-profile suffragette herself. After the First World War broke out, Duleep Singh worked as a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) nurse where she treated many Indian patients. She also devoted her time to raising funds for Indian soldiers abroad through the soldier’s welfare fund. Millicent Fawcett – a leading advocate for women’s suffrage who was passionate about the right of women to access higher education and have the right to vote. Fawcett was a tireless campaigner and a long-serving president of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies (NUWSS). She believed that the vote could be achieved by campaigning peacefully. Millicent Fawcett was a strong speaker, organiser, and leader. Her contribution was recognised when she was made Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in 1925. Watch our video from the launch of the project at Swanshurst School in Birmingham: How you can get involved in Trailblazers Even though the project has ended you can still access our high quality free resources by clicking the button below. Get your free project resources Join the Trailblazers campaign Share your stories with us on social media using #Women100 and tell us who your trailblazer is with #Trailblazers. @Big_Ideas_Co Big Ideas _bigideas Email us at trailblazers@big-ideas.org Sign up to our newsletter on our subscribe page Trailblazers: World War One’s Inspirational Women is led by Big Ideas and funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), with additional funding from a National Lottery grant from the Big Lottery Fund to work in the Home Nations. Trailblazers is part of Remember Together, which brings diverse communities together to commemorate shared – and often sidelined – heritage, bringing significant marginalised heritage into the mainstream. 465C Hornsey Road Email contact@big-ideas.org @Big_Ideas_Co _bigideas Tweets by Big Ideas Sign up for our newsletter below. You can also choose your preferences if you have already subscribed. Big Ideas uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. By clicking ok you are consenting to this. You can change your settings at any time. OkRead more	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1274
__label__wiki	0.542796	0.542796	Kashmir voices: 'We are angry' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11296951 Image caption The violence began on 11 June after police killed a demonstrating student People in Indian-administered Kashmir tell the BBC News website of their growing resentment against Indian rule, after a summer of dissent. Police shot dead 18 civilians on Monday in the deadliest day since the latest wave of protests erupted three months ago, bringing the number of those killed to more than 80. The latest demonstrations were sparked by reports of a Koran being publicly desecrated in the US. A curfew is in place, and was extended on Tuesday to cover fresh areas as thousands more federal police were deployed across the valley. Shams Irfan, freelance journalist, Pampore Image caption Shams Irfan says the underlying anger is down to the unlawful and cruel Indian rule in Kashmir I live in Pampore, a small town not far from Srinagar and famous for its saffron fields. Yesterday three people were killed by the police during protests against the desecration of the Koran. I left my hometown to go to Delhi for work a couple of days ago, but when I spoke to my father on the phone I could hear gunfire. In the middle of our conversation, a shell landed close to our front door. My cousin was injured. Someone I have known since my childhood was also killed. I am a journalist working for a weekly magazine. There have been huge restrictions on all Kashmiri media in the past few months. Our magazine was shut down again for two days. They say the newspapers are creating the problems, but newspapers only tell the truth and that is what they don't want to hear. We have to be careful not just about what we write in our articles, but also what we say on Facebook and other social networking sites. People have been rounded up by local security forces for saying things on Facebook. Kashmiris are sentimental people. If anything happens around the world with the Koran - they will be against it. Image caption India and Pakistan have fought over Kashmir for six decades now But the underlying anger is really against the unlawful and cruel Indian rule that has been pushing the otherwise peaceful people of Kashmir towards such "violent" protests. It is against the unnecessary fortification of Kashmir by Indian troops that causes real friction. Why do we need a one million-strong Indian army here? To fight against the estimated 500 active militants who haven't done anything major for the past three or four years? Those who get killed are not Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, they are normal people like you and me. They are not on the streets because some jihadi in Pakistan is guiding them, they are out because they are fed up with the suffocating Indian rule. Dr Ishiyaq Gellani, medical doctor, Srinagar I observed the atrocities of the police forces right in front of my house yesterday. A man on a motorcycle who must have gone out to buy food for his family was beaten because he didn't stop and didn't answer the question where he was going. I think he probably didn't hear them. He was thrown to the ground and beaten up. We were just looking from the window, too scared to leave. Image caption The Indian government said it was "deeply distressed" by the violence We are full of fear. I was afraid they might notice me as I was watching and they might break into my house. These kinds of things are routine here. This happened to my neighbours - they forced their way in. There was no particular reason, I don't know what they were looking for. They do it to harass the people, to make them scared. We are stuck in the house, we can't leave because of the curfew. Nobody can leave. People can't even go to the shop and everybody is staying indoors. I am a doctor and I have a pass for essential service so I should be able to go out, but they still wouldn't let me leave the house. I can't even get milk for the kids. The security forces are supposed to be there for our security, but they are killing us and that is what makes us angry. They have no respect. They even kill young children. The protests were peaceful. None of the protesters fired a gunshot. We have had militancy before, but they are no longer active. There isn't a single gun here. Yet they are not firing in the air, they shoot at the people directly. They aim at their heads and bodies. Protests are not going to stop. Everyone is angry. Even the small kids, who wouldn't normally care, know everything now. Khuram Shah, accountant, Srinagar I work in the UK, but I've been on holiday in Kashmir for the past couple of months. This is my birthplace, I grew up here. I am interested in photography and I went out yesterday to the protests just so that I can take photos of what is happening. I saw the clashes between local people and the police, I saw people being killed and a local factory being burnt. I have got all this evidence of the past few days. Image caption More than 80 protesters have died this summer in anti-India demonstrations People gathered to protest against the [desecration] of the Koran. It started as a small rally of about 200 people, but it grew into a few thousand. Protesters started throwing stones at the forces and that provoked the clashes. I am stuck at home now. We can't go out. But despite the curfew there have been further clashes today. Earlier, people had gathered on the road towards the airport, about 200 yards from where I live. People were coming out of the mosque, gathering in one place. I nipped out to see what was happening. People are very angry. They are angry with the government. Kashmir does not belong to India. But this issue has been taken to a new level. The government uses force to implement their strategies and that has been causing major discontent here over the past few months. The government of Kashmir has closed local TV channels. They cannot broadcast the news and people are getting more and more angry because of that. And now because of the Koran issue, Kashmiris have gone ballistic. The government of India has spectacularly failed to solve the Kashmir issue. Kashmir Flashpoint Jammu and Kashmir government	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1276
__label__wiki	0.810282	0.810282	May 20, 2015 News » Local News Downtown Association's Chuck Arnold leaves a legacy By Erin Rook @ErinRookSW Erin Rook Walking down Franklin Avenue toward Drake Park, Chuck Arnold stops mid-stroll to pick up a scrap of paper littering the sidewalk. Affable, with an easy smile and a good-naturedly goofy sense of humor, Arnold has spent much of his nine years as executive director of the Downtown Bend Business Association tending to these easily forgotten details. "I think anybody that's involved in small, local business has to have an entrepreneurial spirit," he explains. "You really need to be able to roll up your sleeves, no task too small, nothing beneath you." Arnold says that delegation is important too—he isn't personally collecting all of the rubbish in downtown Bend—but he sees his commitment to taking care of the little things as a point of leadership. "It takes all of us to own downtown, and it belongs to all of us, so we have to step up and take care of it," he says. "So I'm leading by example in that regard." And Arnold's leadership has not gone unnoticed. He was recently recruited by the City of Redmond, and announced Tuesday he will leave the DBBA in July for a new job as that city's economic development and urban renewal coordinator. With the new position will come a broader range of responsibilities—including such economic drivers as the airport and fairgrounds, as well as downtown—and a budget many times larger. Not that he needs it. Arnold knows a thing or two about getting by in tight times, and finding the resources he needs to get the job done. Just eight months into the job at the DBBA, a lawsuit filed before his arrival caused the association to lose its Economic Improvement District status—and most of its funding. "That dropped us in January of 2007 to basically a $30,000 budget. I was figuring I'd probably have to start looking for another job," Arnold recalls. "But instead, I invited the people who brought the lawsuit to the table and said, 'How would this look if you were doing it?'" Their primary concern: no one had ever asked for their input. By sitting down with stakeholders and listening to their concerns, Arnold was able to enough business and property owners on board to organize a new assessment district. Since then, that assessment district has been renewed three subsequent times, most recently passing with 100 percent approval—an impressive buy-in for a taxing district. "That's important because that basically shows that as an association we've had the ability to unify people behind this idea, this scope of work, and getting things done," Arnold explains. That scope of work includes everything from hand painting over graffiti and hanging flower baskets to coordinating large-scale events that bring thousands of people (and hundreds of dogs) to downtown, such as the Cascade Cycling Classic and Oktoberfest. One of the most popular downtown events, the First Friday Art Walk, has seen strong growth under his leadership, going from a less-than-monthly affair to a "not-to-be-missed" event that Arnold says many retailers call "rent night" because it quite literally enables them to pay their rent. But it's not those big to-dos that have presented the biggest challenge for Arnold and the association—which includes two part-time staff members. Rather, the less sexy behind-the-scenes work of maintaining downtown—whether manually or through lobbying city and other leaders for support and funds—is the hardest part. But it's also one of the most meaningful. "I think that one of the bigger challenges is finding a way to make sure that the City keeps its focus on keeping downtown vibrant," he explains. "Striking that balance with the City, to make sure there are appropriate resources to maintain what the entire community is invested in, has been one of the biggest challenges, and nothing I wouldn't say with the City sitting right here. We have a very open dialogue." And he's found ways to get the work done, regardless of resources. His list of accomplishments includes increasing the association's budget nearly ten-fold, from that woeful $30,000 to $279,000; bringing and sustaining landmarks including the flowers, banners, decorative skis, and bike racks; and personally working to fill vacancies to keep the downtown occupancy rate above 92 percent for the past five years. "Keeping downtown well-maintained and watching out for some of the infrastructure—everything from street lamps to pavers to whatever—is really a response to the broken window theory," Arnold explains. "When urban renewal districts come in they work on projects, building something or creating something. The idea of making sure that something is then maintained in perpetuity is a big, big animal." It's a job that requires a special combination of skills, and Arnold says he's hoping the upcoming national search will turn up a strong candidate. That's part of why he's sticking around through June, to ease the transition. It's also a tough job to walk away from. The anticipation of what's to come feels a bit like awaiting the start of a new school year in a new city, he says, with its characteristic mix of excitement and anxiety. "I do feel very invested," he admits, particularly with big projects like the proposed Mirror Pond-affiliated downtown redevelopment project still in flux. "It is with some sadness that I leave." Still, downtown is a second home to Arnold, and since he and his family will continue to live in Bend, chances are good locals will still be able to spot the friendly face doing his part to keep downtown vibrant. Source Suggests These Books Festivals Under Fire A Japan-Inspired Eatery More Local News » Latest in Local News Local News » Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day! Here's Where to Take Part in the Day of Service by Cayla Clark Yes, We Are Getting a Lot of Robocalls by Laurel Brauns Oregon was the third hardest-hit state for spam calls in 2019 More » Source Weekly Update Podcast 1/16/20 by Nicole Vulcan An advocate for men's mental health, a local hemp documentary and a new space for artists in Bend More » More by Erin Rook A More Livable Bend Bend Livability Project engages community in creating change by Erin Rook Top 5 Additions to the Central Oregon Food Scene Top Local News Stories of the Year Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch... It was once an over-grazed range that became the home of Rajneeshpuram. Now another type of religion occupies the space, along with ranchers committed to land restoration by Brian Jennings The War Wages On Oregon will have 11 dedicated opioid treatment centers by 2019. Where—as a city, state and as a nation—are we in this raging opioid epidemic? by Magdalena Bokowa	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1278
__label__wiki	0.856096	0.856096	5 Stand Out Pop Up Experiences in London London offers some of the best cuisine in the world, from unique twists on traditional English food to the finest Michelin-starred restaurants and incredible global culinary delights. But you don't have to sit down for a 5 course meal to experience some of the city's finest food and drink, pop up style experiences are also a great way to spend and evening in London. Here are 5 examples of fun, pop up style bars and restaurants that you simply must try when you're in town: Basement Galley. This multi-location supper club started as a weekend project for two friends who wanted to host dinner parties using their new recipe ideas. Head Chef Alex Cooper graduated from Le Cordon Bleu School in Paris, and the food on offer is truly sumptuous. The Basement Galley is now a centre for social interaction and networking and operates at several locations across the city. Find out more at www.grubclub.com/basement-galley Quinto Quarto. Adha Battaglia brings Italian cuisine to the streets with this exciting new dining experience. You'll find him at select street markets in the city serving up the finest Italian dishes with the pizzazz and flair of a true showman. Eating at Quinto Quarto is an unforgettable experience. www.quintoquarto.co.uk The Shop At NW10. This funky little café shop sells pretty much everything that isn't nailed to the floor. The art, the furniture, it's all up for grabs. During the day you can relax here and enjoy the coffee and food and at night The Shop At NW10 becomes a vibrant bar that's perfect for social gatherings. www.theshopnw10.com The Dolls House. If you're after a unique and fun dining experience The Dolls House is for you. Set over three floors of a Hoxton house, this groovy restaurant offers snacks and drinks through to a full fine dining in London experience. They also play host to a series of pop-up restaurants where a revolving cast of guest chefs lay on food from around the globe. www.thedollshouse.org Kitchen Party. Describing itself as "an ever-changing orgy of drinking, dining and weird culture", Kitchen Party brings together London's most avant garde chefs and culinary experts in one space, with the installations changing every four to six weeks and the location changing every two to four months. You get a constantly changing, but always delicious, range of food and drink. Be sure to check their website www.kitchenpartypopup.com to see what's on the menu when you're in London. So next time you're looking for fine dining in London, why not try something different to the usual establishments. Variety is the spice of life after all. One Tower Bridge occupies a prime position on London's South Bank, between three of the city's most important icons: Tower Bridge, the River Thames and the Tower of London. It is an exceptional new development of contemporary residencies, thoughtfully designed and luxuriously appointed throughout. Within walking distance of the City's financial heart, close to Canary Wharf, next to a string of world-class cultural attractions and enjoying first-rate transport connections, One Tower Brudge justifies the description 'extraordinary'. This is a London address like no other. Register your interest here.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1280
__label__cc	0.593688	0.406312	Home The Orchestra Musicians Aleksandar Ivić back to the Orchestra overview Sebastian HeeschHande Kueden Born in Zagreb Philharmonic Stradivari Soloists Berlin Aleksandar Ivić received his first violin lessons when he was six. At the age of 16 he began appearing in Croatia as a soloist and chamber player. He completed his studies in Zagreb with Kritijan Petrović, later continuing his training in Cologne with Igor Ozim and the Amadeus Quartet and in Düsseldorf with Rosa Fain. In 1988 he began his orchestral career as a first violin in the Cologne Radio (WDR) Symphony Orchestra; in 1996 he moved to the Berliner Philharmoniker. Ivić has played in a number of chamber ensembles: the Scharoun Ensemble (1997-2002), the Berlin Baroque Soloists (1999-2003) and the Philharmonic Stradivari Soloists (since 2000). He teaches privately in Berlin and gives master classes in Croatia and France.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1281
__label__wiki	0.968867	0.968867	Aaron Hernandez: Timeline of His Football Career, Murder Trials and Death The NFL star received a life sentence in 2015 for the murder of his friend Odin Lloyd. He hung himself in his jail cell two years later. Sander Vanocur, TV Journalist and Host, Dies at 91 The veteran journalist, known for his tough questioning on the frontlines of history, also hosted the HISTORY's 'Movies in Time' and 'History’s Business.' O.J. Simpson’s Freeway Chase: What Happened to the White Ford Bronco More than two decades since the murder suspect's low-speed chase, the infamous car sits in a Tennessee crime museum. Comic Book Fans Were Skeptical That Beetlejuice Could Play Batman Don’t fret, Robert Pattinson. People didn’t want Michael Keaton as the caped crusader, either. By Becky Little The Story of Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Her Mother Gypsy Rose Blanchard's mother, Dee Dee, falsely claimed her daughter was suffering from different illnesses until Gypsy arranged for her boyfriend to kill her mother in 2015. Inside Elizabeth Holmes and the Downfall of Theranos The Theranos founder and self-made billionaire used her charm and uncompromising determination to keep her blood testing company afloat for more than a decade. The Democratic Candidates Running For President in 2020 These nominees are looking to become Commander in Chief. Who Are the Characters in 'Fosse/Verdon'? The show focuses on the real lives of these famous figures. By Clarence Haynes Carol Channing, Broadway’s Beloved Dolly and Lorelei, Dies at 97 The performer passed away at her home in California. By David Sheward Don Shirley and Tony Lip: The True Story Behind Their Friendship The film 'Green Book' is based on a real-life road trip taken by black pianist Donald Shirley and white bouncer Tony Lip and the unlikely friendship that resulted from the journey. The People We Lost in 2018 Here's a look back at some of the legendary musicians, writers, actors, politicians, and self-made entrepreneurs who died this year who forever changed the world through their visionary art and inspirational endeavors. By Eudie Pak How Dick Cheney Went From Yale Dropout to Vice President Decades before Dick Cheney became second-in-command, he made a surprising ascent through the political ranks, with several twists and turns along the way. George H.W. Bush, the 41st U.S. President, Dies at 94 George H.W. Bush, who served his country as U.S. President, vice president, congressman, war hero, and public servant, passed away on November 30, 2018. By Greg Timmons The Incredible Love Story of Ruth Bader and Marty Ginsburg The Supreme Court judge's rise to the top was aided by a fellow brilliant legal mind and inseparable companion of more than 50 years. Who Are the Astronauts Featured in the Movie 'First Man'? Take a look at the real-life space pioneers in the film starring Ryan Gosling, who forever changed the way we see the world. Politicians Who Made Their Mark During Midterm Elections From Newt Gingrich and John Kerry to Abraham Lincoln, these men made a name for themselves thanks to their prominence during midterms. Lady Gaga Goes From Singer to Starlet in 'A Star Is Born' Following in the footsteps of Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga teams up with Bradley Cooper for her big screen debut. Remembering 9/11: A Day That Changed the World We pause to remember the events of that tragic day, as well as honor the victims and the heroism of first responders. By Meredith Worthen John McCain: War Hero, Senator, Maverick Has Died The Arizona senator will be long remembered for staying true to his principles and putting country over politics. Who's in the Movie 'Crazy Rich Asians'? Meet the stars of this summer's most talked about film. By Kim Messina 5 Fascinating Facts About Aretha Franklin In honor of Franklin's passing, here are facts you may not know about the legendary singer. Aretha Franklin Dies at Age 76 The "Queen of Soul" leaves behind a record of more than 20 chart-topping R&B hits and 18 Grammy wins. By David Blatty The RuPaul Effect: How He Brought Drag to Mainstream Culture We take a look at RuPaul's legacy and the empire he's built by simply deciding to be himself — with a whole lot of persona. Sashay! Shantay! How Mister Rogers Changed Children's Television Though "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" was comprised of simple sets and low-tech production values, the show was a radical departure from regular children’s programming.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1283
__label__wiki	0.837412	0.837412	biroto start page Search for cycle routes or tours Go to retrieval with search criteria Go to retrieval with map Search for POIs in the vicinity FAQ and instructions ... of Accommodation ... for providers about touring cyclists biroto.eu Close menubar Multi-day bicycle touring cycle routes and travel reports Quick-Menu Multi-day bicycle touring in Europe Print the page content is only available to registered and logged in users and only as a tourbook! EuroVelo: North Sea Cycle Route - part Shetland to Harwich No. of cycle route EV12 Cycling Guide EuroVelo: North Sea Cycle Route - part Shetland to Harwich Add accommodation, sights or infrastructure Stage planning - add target locations Download GPX file of route Link this route Create a new message to »biroto-Redaktion« Please wait - map data are loading 0.200000000\|0\|2605692 Added on 05 Oct 2011, Cycle route metrics Total distance in km Cumulative elevation gain in m Avg. slope uphill in % Cumulative elevation loss in m GPS track data Information about rights to the gps-track data Rights owner Openstreetmap and Contributors + biroto-Redaktion (biroto.eu) Rights characteristic / license Contains information from OpenStreetMap, which is made available here under the Open Database License(ODbL) Link to the description of the license opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/ GPX file taken from www.openstreetmap.org/browse/relation/1207220 GPX file uploaded by biroto-Redaktion on 18 Feb 2017 Track points in total Track points per km (avg) Start/endpoint Start location Shetland, Scotland, GB (8 m NHN) End location Tendring, England, GB (1 m NHN) Official Internet site of the North Sea Cycle Route European Cyclists Federation The second part of the North Sea Cycle Route is available at North Sea Cycle Route - part Harwich (UK) to Bergen (NO) (EV12) For the following countries there are dedicates routes available for the respective parts of the North Sea Cycle Route: North Sea Cycle Route Germany (D1) Beds4Cyclists (6) Worth visiting (6) Beds4Cyclists, worth visiting and infrastructure Latitude / Longitude Route km Dist. to route Elevation AMSL Rating for cyclists Kirkwall Tourist Information GB-KW15 1DN Kirkwall John oʹGroats GB-KW1 John oʹGroats John o'Groats (Gaelic: Taigh Iain Ghròt) is a small village in the traditional Scottish county of Caithness and the Highlands region of Scotland. John o'Groats is popularly thought of as the northernmost point on the mainland (the counterpart to Land's End in Cornwall) - although not actually the northernmost point (this honour belongs to Dunnet Head nearby), John o'Groats is certainly the northernmost settlement on Great Britain. John o'Groats takes its name from one Jan de Groot, a Dutchman who obtained a grant for the ferry from the Scottish mainland to the Orkney Islands, recently acquired from Norway, from the Scottish King James IV in 1496. Information about copyright by-sa: CREATIVE COMMONS Attribution-ShareAlike creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ Input taken over from: Wikivoyage contributors, 'John o'Groats', Wikivoyage, The FREE worldwide travel guide that anyone can edit, 7 May 2017, 12:59 UTC, <https://en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?title=John_o%27Groats&oldid=3197844> [accessed 8 May 2017] taken over / edited on taken over / edited by biroto-Redaktion Castle of Mey GB-KW14 Thurso The Castle of Mey (formerly Barrogill Castle) is located in Caithness, on the north coast of Scotland, about 6 miles (10 km) west of John o' Groats. The lands of Mey belonged to the Bishops of Caithness. The Castle of Mey was built between 1566 and 1572, possibly on the site of an earlier fortification, by George Sinclair, 4th Earl of Caithness. Originally a Z-plan tower house of three storeys, it had a projecting wing at the south-east, and a square tower at the north-west. The Castle passed to George Sinclair's younger son William, founder of the Sinclairs of Mey, although it later became the seat of the Earls. The Castle's name was changed to Barrogill, and the structure was extended several times, in the 17th and 18th centuries, and again in 1821 when Tudor Gothic style alterations were made, to designs by William Burn. Barrogill passed out of the Sinclair family in 1889, on the death of the 15th Earl, and in 1929 it was purchased by Captain FB Imbert-Terry. The Castle was used as an officers' rest home during the Second World War, and in 1950 the estate farms were sold off. Barrogill Castle was in a semi-derelict state when, in 1952, the estate was purchased by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, the widow of King George VI, who had died earlier in the year. The Queen Mother set about restoring the castle for use as a holiday home, removing some of the 19th-century additions, and reinstating the Castle's original name. She regularly visited it in August and October from 1955 until her death in March 2002; the last visit was in October 2001. In July 1996, The Queen Mother made the property, the policies, and the farm over to the Queen Elizabeth Castle of Mey Trust, which has opened the castle and garden to the public regularly since her death. It is now open. The Trust opened a new Visitor Centre in early 2007, and the visitor numbers for that year topped 29,000. Wikipedia contributors, 'Castle of Mey', Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 4 May 2017, 06:40 UTC, <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Castle_of_Mey&oldid=778618159> [accessed 8 May 2017] Hours of opening Opening times for The Castle and Gardens of Mey will be from 17th May to 30th September inclusive, but will be closed from 29th July to 9th August inclusive. The castle is open every day in season from 10.20 am until last admission at 4.00 pm. The visitor centre, tearoom, shop, grounds and animal centre are open every day during the normal season from 10.00 am until 5.00 pm. Bikeboxes Conon Bridge GB-IV15 Conon Bridge 4 covered bike lockers available. GB-IV1 1HY Inverness Heritage building(s) Inverness is a city at the heart of the Scottish Highlands and the principal centre for administration and commerce. It is the most northerly city in the British Isles. Advertised as "the Gateway to the Highlands" by the local authority, and long regarded as the capital of the Highlands, Inverness is the centre for commerce and industry in the Scottish Highlands, with continuing new investment in traditional industries and new hi-tech industries. It is also said to be one of the fastest growing cities in Europe. ⊙ Inverness Castle. At the end of the western pedestrian zone. It is a relatively new castle built in 1847 to replace a medieval castle blown up by the Jacobites. It houses the Sheriff Court and cannot be seen as a visitor (you at least should try to never see it from the inside). ⊙ Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, Castle Wynd (base of Inverness Castle), ☎ +44 1463 237114. The museum has a collection of Pictish stones and wildlife dioramas, as well as historic weapons. Underwent a major refurbishment in 2006, and now contains many artefacts on loan from the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. ⊙ Old High Church, Church Street. Oldest Church in Inverness, the 'Town Church' of the city. Historic Tour each Friday at 11.30am, June to August. Sunday services at 11.15am, Prayers for Peace and Justice every Friday at 1.05pm, and occasional evening services in the summer, with guest preachers, as advertised. ⊙ Ship Space, 16 Clachnaharry Road, IV3 8QH, ☎ +44 1463 716839. 10AM - 3PM daily. An interactive and evolving museum in Inverness with nautical artefacts & large ships: e.g. 1:10 scale Titanic, Buckie drifter, RNLI lifeboat & more... Free entry. ⊙ Inverness Botanic Gardens (formerly: Floral Hall and Gardens), Bught Lane (next to the sports centre), ☎ +44 1463 713553. Glasshouse and gardens, with a range of exotic plants, plus a cafe. Free. ⊙ Inverness Cathedral (St Andrew’s Cathedral). Scottish Episcopal (Anglican) cathedral, built in 1869. (updated Jul 2015) Wikivoyage contributors, "Inverness," Wikivoyage, The FREE worldwide travel guide that anyone can edit, https://en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?title=Inverness&oldid=3196503 (accessed May 8, 2017). Show further 25 infrastructure objects for this Route ? Code snippet to link to EuroVelo: North Sea Cycle Route - ... If you want to link from your website to this cycle route / this tour, just copy the following code snippet, and set it at an appropriate location in your source code: https://www.biroto.eu/en/cycle-route/united-kingdom/eurovelo-north-sea-cycle-route-part-shetland-to-harwich-ev12/rt00000417 Take over EuroVelo: North Sea Cycle Route - part Shetland ... This feature allows you to edit the GPS track data and the description of the selected route. This processing is performed on the original, not on a copy. You will become the owner of this route! The page with its text, images and graphics is subject to individual property rights. It may be that on parts of the text, individual images and graphics as well as to the GPS tracks additional conditions do apply. Details are always recorded under the symbols within the page, in case of maps on the map itself.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1284
__label__wiki	0.592534	0.592534	Fortune's "40 Under 40" Highlights Crypto and Blockchain Tech The list began in 1993 and was focused entirely as a numeric ranking of wealth through 2003. Coincidently, this timeframe captured the first dot com boom, which many people draw similarities to with the boom of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies. A Modern 40 Under 40 By 2009 the list had become more explicitly a diversified ranking of power and influence. It includes business executives, political figures, sportsmen, fashion designers and artists who are under forty years old. However, the tech field still pervades the list, and this year’s highlights seven individuals that are working with cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Influencers in 2018 #13 - Sumaiya Balbale VP of E-Commerce, Mobile and Digital Marketing, and Andy Dunn SVP, Digital Consumer Brands, Walmart Fortune attributes the tandem of Balbale and Dunn for “transforming” Walmart, particularly in its e-commerce business. Walmart has filed numerous patents for blockchain technology, with a handful applying to e-commerce, and others for things such as medical records and their fresh food supply chain. #20 - Brian Armstrong founder of Coinbase The ranking cites Coinbase as looking to be the Google of Crypto. It is certainly the biggest exchange in the U.S., and facilities the Fiat to Crypto transition. This year has been full of announcements from the Coinbase team of things like adding several new coins, an institutional suite for major investors of $100,000+, a Cryptocurrency Index Fund, and even a philanthropy platform. #22 - Vitalik Buterin co-founder of Ethereum Vitalik Buterin brings the strongest display of youth to the list. The Russian born, Canadian programmer is only 24 years old. The next youngest on the list is 27, and only seven people on the list are in their 20’s. Earlier this year Google expressed interest in hiring him, but Buterin holds true to the deepest cryptocurrency ideals of decentralization and completely community run projects. #24 - Vlad Tenev and Baiju Bhatt founders of Robinhood At age 31 and 33, these two are just outside of the “Millennial” range, but they are clearly in touch with the culture. They have tailored an investment program to onboarding that generation to the investment world in radically different ways than the traditional sense. Their no-fee trading platform began adding cryptocurrencies this year. #25 - Pavel Durov founder of Telegram Pavel is known for supporting privacy rights through his message app Telegram, which is especially popular in the blockchain community. The app has at least 200,000 million users as of March 2018. The ICO for a Telegram cryptocurrency raise $1.7 billion from just 200 private investors before it ever went to public sale. By: BGN Editorial Staff Robinhood Cryptocurrency Exchange	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1286
__label__wiki	0.972203	0.972203	devin-townsend in - CD Reviews, DVD Reviews, News WHITESNAKE's DAVID COVERDALE Discusses 'Shut Up & Kiss Me' Single, Video A two-minute video in which WHITESNAKE mastermind David Coverdale discusses the band's new single, "Shut Up & Kiss Me", can be seen below. The song will appear on the group's upcoming studio album, "Flesh & Blood", which will be released on May 10 via Frontiers Music Srl. "Flesh & Blood" follows the 2011 critically acclaimed ... KATATONIA To Celebrate 10th Anniversary Of 'Night Is The New Day' With European Tour, Deluxe Album Reissue KATATONIA, the Swedish purveyors of dark progressive rock/metal, are starting to make their first moves after an idle year of stillness. Says the band: "We will begin our return with a celebration of our album 'Night Is The New Day', which turns 10 years now in 2019. For the album's 10th anniversary, Peaceville are set ... Astronoid - ASTRONOID ASTRONOID's 2016 debut record, "Air", was a dazzling effort that crept up on unsuspecting listeners, garnering a rabid cult following from those that discovered the band. With members of New England post-black metallers VATTNET VISKAR pulling double duty, ASTRONOID took the integration of shoegaze elements into black metal, popularized by acts such as DEAFHEAVEN, and ... WHITESNAKE's DAVID COVERDALE Has No Plans To Retire: 'I'm Very Reinvigorated, Energized And Very Inspired' David Coverdale has once again said that he is not planning to retire anytime soon, despite his previous comments. Back in 2016, the WHITESNAKE leader announced that he was looking to pull the plug on his career after touring in support of "The Purple Album", the 2015 tribute record to Coverdale's time as the lead ... WHITESNAKE: Complete 'Flesh & Blood' Album Details Revealed; 'Shut Up & Kiss Me' Video Released Fresh off celebrating their 40th anniversary, rock legends WHITESNAKE return with their latest studio album, "Flesh & Blood". This album follows the 2011 critically acclaimed studio album "Forevermore" and 2015's "The Purple Album", a reimagining of DEEP PURPLE classics from WHITESNAKE mastermind's David Coverdale's time in that band. The 13 original, visceral tracks on "Flesh ... DEVIN TOWNSEND Says He Was 'Afraid' His Music Would Get Popular Make Weird Music recently conducted an interview with Canadian heavy music artist Devin Townsend about his forthcoming "Empath" studio album. You can watch the three-part chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). On "Empath": Devin: "What I feel about it, I don't wanna say. I feel like it's brilliant. I feel ... EMPEROR's IHSAHN Praises GHOST: 'They Create An Experience' EMPEROR frontman Ihsahn (real name: Vegard Sverre Tveitan) has praised GHOST for holding the blowtorch high for theatrical rock and roll at a time when rock performances can be pretty stripped down and straightforward. "Bands like RAMMSTEIN or GHOST or all these bands, they create an experience," Ihsahn told the "Scars And Guitars" podcast (hear ... DEVIN TOWNSEND On NICKELBACK's CHAD KROEGER: 'I Feel Like I Owe Him A Real Debt Of Gratitude' Devin Townsend says that he owes Chad Kroeger "a real debt of gratitude" for giving him invaluable career advice. Last August, Townsend surprised longtime fans by revealing his unexpected friendship with the NICKELBACK frontman. Four months later, it was announced that Kroeger would appear on Devin's upcoming "Empath" album, along with guitarists Steve Vai, Mike ... AVATAR To Tour North America With DEVIN TOWNSEND: BLABBERMOUTH.NET Presale Available Swedish metallers AVATAR have announced their return to North America on the aptly named "Avatar Country World Tour 2019". Dates begin on May 16 in Buffalo, New York and stretch coast to coast before wrapping up in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 15, exactly thirty days later. Direct support will come from legendary singer/songwriter and ... DEVIN TOWNSEND Announces 'Empath Europe - Volume 1' Tour Canadian heavy music artist Devin Townsend has announced the dates for the "Empath Europe - Volume 1" tour in November. The trek will follow the March 29 release of his new album, "Empath", via InsideOut Music. The full list of dates are as follows: Nov. 15 - Salle Pleyel, Paris, France Nov. 16 - Trix, ... DEVIN TOWNSEND: 'Empath' Documentary Episode 1 Available Canadian heavy music artist Devin Townsend will release his new album, "Empath", on March 29 via InsideOut Music. In the lead-up to the album's release, Devin will walk fans through how "Empath" came together with a series of documentary episodes recorded as phone conversations during the course of the albums recording. The fist episode, dubbed ... IMONOLITH Feat. THREAT SIGNAL, DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT, Ex-STRAPPING YOUNG LAD Members: 'Hollow' Video Released IMONOLITH — the new metal band featuring vocalist Jon Howard (THREAT SIGNAL, ARKAEA), drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen (DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT), guitarist Brian Waddell (DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT), bassist Byron Stroud (STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, FEAR FACTORY), and second guitarist Kai Huppunen (METHODS OF MAYHEM, NOISE THERAPY) — has released a new single, "Hollow", available to stream/download for ... ROTTING CHRIST: Lyric Video For New Song 'The Raven' Greek extreme metal veterans ROTTING CHRIST have unveiled a video for their new song "The Raven". It is the third track to be released from the band's upcoming album, "The Heretics", which will be released on February 15 via Season Of Mist. Frontman Sakis Tolis comments on the new song: "We proudly present to you ... DEVIN TOWNSEND To Release 'Empath' Album In March; Details Revealed Canadian heavy music artist Devin Townsend will release his new album, "Empath", on March 29 via InsideOut Music. In the lead-up to the album's release, Devin will walk fans through how "Empath" came together with a series of documentary episodes recorded as phone conversations during the course of the albums recording. Watch him explain more ... THE MUTE GODS' 'Atheists And Believers' Album To Feature Guest Appearance By RUSH's ALEX LIFESON THE MUTE GODS, featuring Nick Beggs (STEVEN WILSON, STEVE HACKETT), Roger King (STEVE HACKETT) and Marco Minnemann (THE ARISTOCRATS, THE SEA WITHIN), will release its third studio album, "Atheists And Believers", on March 22. Arriving just over two years after its predecessor, "Tardigrades Will Inherit The Earth", "Atheists And Believers" sees Beggs once again turning ... ROTTING CHRIST: Trailer For 'The Heretics' Album The official trailer for "The Heretics", the new album from Greek extreme metal veterans ROTTING CHRIST, can be seen below. The disc will be released on February 15 via Season Of Mist. The artwork for the disc was created by Greek artist Maximos Manolis. "The Heretics" track listing: 01. In The Name of God (04:14) ... WHITESNAKE Releases Official Slideshow Video For 'Comin' Home' From 'The Purple Album' WHITESNAKE has released an official slideshow video for the song "Comin' Home", taken from the band's 2015 album, "The Purple Album". The effort was billed as "a re-imagination of classic songs from frontman David Coverdale's time as the lead singer for DEEP PURPLE's Mark III and Mark IV studio albums." Coverdale was DEEP PURPLE's vocalist ... THE GUESS WHO Releases 'In America' Video "In America", the new George A. Johnson-directed video from THE GUESS WHO, can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's latest album, "The Future Is What It Used To Be", which was released in September via Cleopatra Records. THE GUESS WHO is responsible for countless rock classics, which still retain a major ... ROTTING CHRIST: 'Heaven And Hell And Fire' Lyric Video The official lyric video for the song "Heaven And Hell And Fire" from Greek extreme metal veterans ROTTING CHRIST can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's new album, "The Heretics", which will be released on February 15, 2019 via Season Of Mist. The artwork for the disc was created by Greek ... LAST UNION: Lyric Video For 'A Place In Heaven' Feat. DREAM THEATER's JAMES LABRIE Italian progressive metal band LAST UNION has released a lyric video for the song "A Place In Heaven". The track, which features a guest appearance by DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie, is taken from the group's debut album, "Twelve", which will be released on December 21 via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records. "Twelve", which also ... Planet Silver Screen - FOUR STROKE BARON The sixty seconds of instrumental synth-pop and dance-floor rhythms that begin FOUR STROKE BARON's newest record, "Planet Silver Screen", serves as both a fake-out and an indication that the following songs will be a fun musical exploration. One minute into the intro track—appropriately titled "Cut"—the beats go away, and a barrage of short, sharp riffs ... IMONOLITH Feat. THREAT SIGNAL, DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT, Ex-STRAPPING YOUNG LAD Members: 'Hollow' Single Due In January IMONOLITH, the new Canadian metal band featuring members of THREAT SIGNAL, DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT and STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, will release its first official single, "Hollow", on January 18, 2019. IMONOLITH was launched following Devin Townsend's announcement that he has put the DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT on indefinite hiatus while he works on other projects. Joining drummer ... ROTTING CHRIST: Lyric Video For New Song 'Fire, God And Fear' Greek extreme metal veterans ROTTING CHRIST will release their new album, "The Heretics", on February 15, 2019 via Season Of Mist. The artwork for the disc created by Greek artist Maximos Manolis. The lyric video for the song "Fire, God And Fear" can be seen below. Frontman Sakis Tolis comments: "Dear metal brothers around! After ... LAST UNION's Video For 'Taken' Feat. DREAM THEATER's JAMES LABRIE Italian progressive metal band LAST UNION has released a music video for the song "Taken". The track, which features a guest appearance by DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie, is taken from the group's debut album, "Twelve", which will be released on December 21 via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records. "Twelve", which also features Mike LePond ... ROTTING CHRIST To Release 'The Heretics' Album In February Greek extreme metal veterans ROTTING CHRIST will release their new album, "The Heretics", on February 15, 2019 via Season Of Mist. The artwork for the disc created by Greek artist Maximos Manolis and can be seen below. "The Heretics" track listing: 01. In The Name of God (04:14) 02. Vetry Zlye (03:13) 03. Heaven And ... DREAM THEATER's JAMES LABRIE Featured In LAST UNION's 'President Evil' Video Italian progressive metal band LAST UNION has released a music video for the song "President Evil". The track, which features a guest appearance by DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie, is taken from the group's debut album, "Twelve", which will be released on December 21 via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records. "Twelve", which also features Mike ... ANNEKE VAN GIERSBERGEN: 'I'm Blessed With An Audience That Is Open To Everything I Do' Jorge Fretes of Spain's Goetia Media recently conducted an interview with former THE GATHERING and current VUUR frontwoman Anneke Van Giersbergen about her forthcoming "Symphonized" orchestral album. You can listen to the entire chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). On the idea behind "Symphonized", which features material across her career ... DEVIN TOWNSEND Announces 'An Evening With' European Acoustic Solo Tour Devin Townsend has announced a very special European "An Evening With" solo acoustic tour, beginning at the end of March 2019 and running through April. The intimate evenings will feature Devin performing tracks from across his catalog, as well as taking part in a question-an-answer session where fans will get to know more about what ... DEVIN TOWNSEND And INSIDE OUT MUSIC Celebrate 20 Years Of Collaboration With New Deal Since 1999, Devin Townsend and InsideOut Music have enjoyed a highly successful and fruitful relationship together, releasing studio albums under his solo guise, DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT and CASUALTIES OF COOL, as well as live releases recorded at landmark shows in Devin's career at the Royal Albert Hall and the Ancient Roman Theatre in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, ... HEART's ANN WILSON Talks About 'Immortal' Album HEART singer Ann Wilson, one of rock's most distinctive and powerful vocalists, recently sat down to discuss her latest solo album, "Immortal". Released on September 14 on BMG, marking her debut for the label, the critically acclaimed album features 10 musically diverse tracks that pay tribute to some of Ann's influences and friends who've recently ...	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1288
__label__wiki	0.721272	0.721272	kataklysm in - CD Reviews, DVD Reviews, News SEPULTURA: North American Tour Canceled Due To Visa Issues Due to a delay in the visa process, Brazilian/American metallers SEPULTURA have had to cancel their previously announced North American tour with UNEARTH, KATAKLYSM, DARK SERMON and ANCIIENTS. Attempts to make new arrangements for this time frame were not fruitful and the camp has determined to reschedule the tour for May 2014. All tickets will ... KATAKLYSM Guitarist Says Door Is Open For Drummer MAX DUHAMEL To Return To Band David E. Gehlke of DeadRhetoric.com recently conducted an interview with guitarist Jean-François Dagenais of Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based death metallers KATAKLYSM. A few excerpts from the chat follow below. DeadRhetoric.com: We'll get to the new album in a second, but first, how is Max [Duhamel; KATAKLYSM drummer who announced on April 8 that he ... TESTAMENT, UGLY KID JOE Singers Interviewed On 'Rich Davenport's Rock Show' TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy and UGLY KID JOE singer Whitfield Crane were interviewed on the latest edition of "Rich Davenport's Rock Show". In the first hour of the program, Billy discusses TESTAMENT's new CD/DVD live package, "Dark Roots of Thrash". Chuck selects four live songs, and also outlines the band's plans for a new album ... KATAKLYSM Vocalist Guests On 'Metal Assault' Radio Show (Audio) Vocalist Maurizio Iacono of Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based death metallers KATAKLYSM was interviewed by Aniruddh "Andrew" Bansal on the latest episode of the "Metal Assault" radio show on the Los Angeles-based station Razor KXRZ. You can now listen to the program using the Mixcloud widget below. (Note: The Iacono interview begins around the one-hour, 13-minute mark.) ... KATAKLYSM Frontman Speaks To Greece's ROCK OVERDOSE (Audio) Zisis Petkanas of Greece's Rock Overdose recently conducted an interview with vocalist Maurizio Iacono of Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based death metallers KATAKLYSM. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below. KATAKLYSM's new album, "Waiting For The End To Come", will be released on October 29 in North America via Nuclear ... TESTAMENT's CHUCK BILLY Interviewed On FULL METAL JACKIE's Radio Show (Audio) Vocalist Chuck Billy of San Francisco Bay Area metallers TESTAMENT was interviewed on the October 18-20 edition of Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below. To see a full list of stations carrying the program and when it airs, go to KATAKLYSM: Third 'Waiting For The End To Come' Track-By-Track Breakdown Video The third in a series of video clips featuring a track-by-track breakdown of "Waiting For The End To Come", the new album from Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based death metallers KATAKLYSM, by the band's lead singer, Maurizio Iacono, can be seen below. "Waiting For The End To Come" will be released on October 29 in North America ... TESTAMENT's BILLY, PETERSON Featured In NUCLEAR BLAST Artist Profile Interview (Video) Chuck Billy and Eric Peterson of Sab Francisco Bay Area thrash veterans TESTAMENT discuss their early days, first albums, concert experiences and the impact of rock music in their Nuclear Blast artist profile interview. Check it out below. "Dark Roots Of Thrash", a DVD/2CD release documenting TESTAMENT's sold-out headlining performance at the Paramount in Huntington, ... KATAKLYSM: 'Elevate' Video Released "Elevate", the new video from Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based death metallers KATAKLYSM, can be seen below. The clip was filmed in Belgrade, Serbia with acclaimed director Ivan Colic from iCode Productions (EX DEO, SOILWORK, MOONSPELL, ALESTORM, KAMELOT). Ivan Colic previously worked with KATAKLYSM frontman Maurizio Iacono on KATAKLYSM's "Push The Venom" video and EX DEO's "Romulus" ... TESTAMENT's CHUCK BILLY Interviewed On 'Behind The Mask' Podcast (Audio) Aaron Lipscomb of the "Behind The Mask" podcast (web site) recently conducted an interview with vocalist Chuck Billy of San Franciscos Bay Area thrash metal veterans TESTAMENT. You can now listen to the chat below. "Dark Roots Of Thrash", a DVD/2CD release documenting TESTAMENT's sold-out headlining performance at the Paramount in Huntington, New ... KATAKLYSM: Second 'Waiting For The End To Come' Track-By-Track Breakdown Video The second in a series of video clips featuring a track-by-track breakdown of "Waiting For The End To Come", the new album from Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based death metallers KATAKLYSM, by the band's lead singer, Maurizio Iacono, can be seen below. "Waiting For The End To Come" will be released on October 29 in North America ... TESTAMENT: 'Native Blood' Performance Clip From 'Dark Roots Of Thrash' DVD "Dark Roots Of Thrash", a DVD/2CD release documenting Bay Area veterans TESTAMENT's sold-out headlining performance at the Paramount in Huntington, New York this past February, will be made available on October 18 (Europe) and October 29 (North America) via Nuclear Blast Records. "Dark Roots Of Thrash" was produced by Get Hammered Productions, directed by Tommy ... KATAKLYSM: 'Elevate' Video Teaser A teaser for "Elevate", the new video from Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based death metallers KATAKLYSM, can be seen below. The full clip will make its online debut on Thursday, October 17. The "Elevate" video was filmed in Belgrade, Serbia with acclaimed director Ivan Colic from iCode Productions (EX DEO, SOILWORK, MOONSPELL, ALESTORM, KAMELOT). Ivan Colic previously ... TESTAMENT's CHUCK BILLY, ERIC PETERSON Speak To REVOLVER UNDERGROUND (Audio) On September 24, vocalist Chuck Billy and guitarist Eric Peterson of San Francisco Bay Area thrash veterans TESTAMENT were interviewed separately by Revolver Underground following a meet-and-greet at the Velvet Margarita in Los Angeles. You can now listen to what they had to say below. "Dark Roots Of Thrash", a DVD/2CD release documenting TESTAMENT's sold-out ... KATAKLYSM: First 'Waiting For The End To Come' Track-By-Track Breakdown Video The first in a series of video clips featuring a track-by-track breakdown of "Waiting For The End To Come", the new album from Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based death metallers KATAKLYSM, by the band's lead singer, Maurizio Iacono, can be seen below. "Waiting For The End To Come" will be released on October 29 in North America ... TESTAMENT: 'Dark Roots Of Thrash' Trailer Released TESTAMENT Frontman Interviewed By RockEyez (Audio) On September 25, Brian Rademacher of RockEyez conducted an interview with vocalist Chuck Billy of San Franciscos Bay Area thrash metal veterans TESTAMENT. You can now listen to the chat in the YouTube clip below. "Dark Roots Of Thrash", a DVD/2CD release documenting TESTAMENT's sold-out headlining performance at the Paramount in Huntington, New ... Former GOD FORBID Guitarist To Play Bass For UNEARTH On Upcoming Tour Former GOD FORBID guitarist Doc Coyle will fill in for UNEARTH bassist John "Slo" Maggard on the Massachusetts band's upcoming U.S. "Tsunami Of Metal Tour" with SEPULTURA. Says Coyle: "I have to say it is a complete and total honor that the boys in UNEARTH have considered me for the position. "UNEARTH and GOD FORBID ... EX DEO/KATAKLYSM Frontman Talks To Neuweltmusic (Video Neuweltmusic conducted an interview with singer Maurizio Iacono (EX DEO, KATAKLYSM) on September 13 at The Button Factory in Dublin, Ireland. You can now watch the chat below. EX DEO's sophomore album, "Caligvla", was released in August 2012 via Austria's Napalm Records. "Caligvla" was mixed by KATAKLYSM guitarist Jean-François Dagenais, who has previously worked with ... TESTAMENT Frontman Talks To Greece's ROCK OVERDOSE (Audio) Zisis Petkanas of Greece's Rock Overdose recently conducted an interview with vocalist Chuck Billy of San Franciscos Bay Area thrash metal veterans TESTAMENT. You can now listen to the chat using the audio player below. "Dark Roots Of Thrash", a DVD/2CD release documenting Bay Area veterans TESTAMENT's sold-out headlining performance at the Paramount ... TESTAMENT Singer, Guitarist Schedule Los Angeles Meet-And-Greet Vocalist Chuck Billy and guitarist Eric Peterson of Bay Area thrash veterans TESTAMENT will take part in a meet-and-greet at the Velvet Margarita (1612 North Cahuenga Boulevard) next Tuesday, September 24 in Los Angeles. The event will start at 10 p.m. PST and a Monster Energy Drink guitar signed by the band will also be ... KATAKLYSM: New Song 'Like Animals' Available For Streaming "Like Animals", a brand new song from Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based death metallers KATAKLYSM, can be streamed below. The track comes off the band's new album, "Waiting For The End To Come", which will be released on October 29 in North America via Nuclear Blast. The artwork by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, HATEBREED) will be featured on ... ALESTORM To Release 'Live At The End Of The World' DVD Scottish folk/power metallers ALESTORM will release a concert DVD, "Live At The End Of The World", on November 13 in Spain, Sweden, Norway; November 15 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Benelux; November 18 in the rest of Europe; and November 26 in North America via Napalm Records. Filmed in January in Australia and New Zealand, ... TESTAMENT: 'Rise Up' Performance Clip From 'Dark Roots Of Thrash' DVD SEPULTURA To Tour North America With UNEARTH, KATAKLYSM Brazilian/American metallers SEPULTURA will embark on a North American headlining tour this fall. Joining SEPULTURA on the "Tsunami Of Metal" trek will be Boston's UNEARTH, Canada's KATAKLYSM, Joey Jordison's SCAR THE MARTYR (select dates), British Columbia's ANCIIENTS (select dates), and openers DARK SERMON from Florida. SEPULTURA will be touring in support of its new album, ... HELL'S DOMAIN: 'In The Trenches...' Lyric Video Released The official lyric video for the track "In The Trenches..." from HELL'S DOMAIN — the Danish thrash metal band featuring former members of HATESPHERE, KOLDBORN, EXMORTEM and ARTILLERY — can be seen below. The song comes off HELL'S DOMAIN's self-titled debut album, which will be released on September 23 via Punishment 18 Records. The CD's ... KATAKLYSM: 'Waiting For The End To Come' Track Listing Revealed "Waiting For The End To Come", the new album from Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based death metallers KATAKLYSM, will be released on October 29 in North America via Nuclear Blast. The artwork by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, HATEBREED) will be featured on the deluxe digipak and LP versions of the effort. The cover by Peter Sallai (SABATON) will ... KATAKLYSM: New Song 'Kill The Elite' Available For Streaming "Kill The Elite", a brand new song from Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based death metallers KATAKLYSM, can be streamed in the YouTube clip below. The song comes off the band's new album, "Waiting For The End To Come", which will be released on October 29 in North America via Nuclear Blast. The artwork by Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ... KATAKLYSM Guitarist Interviewed By U.K.'s BLOODSTOCK RADIO (Video) On August 10, Redd of Bloodstock Radio conducted an interview with guitarist Jean-François Dagenais of Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based death metallers KATAKLYSM at the Bloodstock Open Air festival at Catton Park, Derbyshire, United Kingdom. You can now watch the chat below. KATAKLYSM will embark on a European headlining tour in January 2014. Support on the trek ... KATAKLYSM: New Video Interview With MAURIZIO IACONO; European Tour Announced On August 10, Felicity Hall of GetYourRockOut conducted an interview with vocalist Maurizio Iacono of Montreal, Quebec, Canada-based death metallers KATAKLYSM at the Bloodstock Open Air festival at Catton Park, Derbyshire, United Kingdom. You can now watch the chat below. KATAKLYSM will embark on a European headlining tour in January 2014. Support on the trek ... ← Previous 1 2 … 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 … 54 55 Next →	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1289
__label__wiki	0.719554	0.719554	Search for a new home > Take a closer look > Need help to move? > Why choose us? > Why buy new? > Existing customers> Get moving with Bovis Homes Take a closer look \| Need help to move \| Why choose us \| Why buy new \| Existing customers \| Devon apprentice wins national award An Exeter-based apprentice has beaten off competition from across the country to win the accolade of Apprentice of the Year at a national builder's annual awards. Beth Ricketts, who has been working at Bovis Homes' South West's regional office in Exeter for a year and a half, secured the honour at a recent awards ceremony held in Gloucestershire. “Beth has a great attitude and consistently works to a high standard,” says Roger Morton, Head of Talent at Bovis Homes. “We've had fantastic feedback from customers who have highlighted her brilliant service and expressed how polite she is.” After winning the South West regional apprentice award, Beth, who has been working in the regional customer care department in Exeter, was put through to the national awards, where she bagged the top prize against fierce competition from the country's brightest and best. “I was so surprised, but it's great to be recognised like this.” says Beth, who lives in St Thomas, Exeter. “I'm really enjoying working at Bovis Homes. Every day is different and it's nice to be able to help customers and make them happy once you've sorted their query.” Having previously worked as a carer after leaving Exeter College, Beth has had a lot of experience helping people and has developed excellent communication skills. “I decided to leave the care industry, as I wanted to get more office-based experience and I was looking for a job with working hours that better suited me,” says Beth. “It was a bit of a case of right place at the right time. When I saw the apprenticeship job come up with Bovis Homes, it was just what I was looking for.” The 21-year-old will complete her two-year Business Administration apprenticeship at the end of the year. “I'm not sure what I would like to do next,” says Beth. “I've gained so much experience here at Bovis Homes, so I've got a lot of options – at least I've got a bit of time to think about it.” Bovis Homes has taken on over 100 apprentices in recent years, in both trade and office jobs across the country, learning new skills in a variety of areas including sales, carpentry, plumbing and customer services. Bovis Homes Why buy new? Search for a new home Our continued support Smooth Move Land for sale? Vistry Group PLC Connect and share © 2020 Bovis Homes Limited	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1296
__label__wiki	0.717388	0.717388	HomeWelcome to the BSHS Website The British Society for the History of Science (BSHS) is the main organisation in the British Isles working to bring together people with an interest in the histories of science, technology and medicine and their changing relationship with society.As you will know from the last issue of Viewpoint membership rates have increased slightly this year but we are sure that you will still find membership excellent value for money. In addition to regular issues of Viewpoint and the British Journal for the History of Science, and our active conference programme, membership benefits will shortly be expanded to include a dedicated members’ area of the BSHS website.» Learn more about the BSHS here The BSHS Policy: Statement on Equality and Diversity International Advisers Updates from the BSHS President Policy: Social Media Guidelines Website Writing and Image Guidelines BJHS BJHS Themes BSHS Monographs BSHS Translations Education Forum Archive About BSHS Membership BSHS Policies Policy: Guidance for Chairs Policy: Guidance for Speakers ConferencesForthcoming Meetings Organised or Supported by the BSHS24th International Congress of History of Science, Technology and Medicine, 2013, Manchester2011 BSHS Annual Conference, 14-17 July 2011, University of Exeter Recent Meetings Organised by the BSHS2011 BSHS Postgraduate Conference, 4-6 January 2011, University of Manchester2010 BSHS Annual Conference, 22-25 July 2010, University of AberdeenBSHS Meeting Information and ArchivesAnnual Conference: the largest event in the BSHS calendar, the annual summer meeting was re-established in 2003 and welcomes contributors from all areas of the profession.Postgraduate Conference: an equally important Society institution, the Postgraduate Conference takes place early in the calendar year and is organised entirely by, and for, graduate students.Other Meetings: details of more specialised conference events, plus joint meetings with other societies, including the four-yearly Three Societies Meeting.Interested in organising a meeting?If you have a suggestion for a possible future conference, symposium or public lecture which you think would benefit from BSHS support, we’d like to hear it. The BSHS may be involved at a variety of levels ranging from overall organization to financial or in-kind sponsorship. See BSHS Support for Events for further details. Twitter Conference Postgraduate Conferences Three Societies Meeting Other BSHS Meetings Support for Events GrantsThe British Society for the History of Science operates the following grants schemes:Master’s Degree Bursaries: bursaries of £1,000 to support students taking taught Master’s courses in the history of science or technology. Non-members of the Society are eligible. Deadline: 30 September each year.Research Grants: small grants for specific research purposes, from £50 to £500. There are two cycles per year. Only members of the Society are eligible. Deadlines: 30 September and 31 March each year.Butler-Eyles Travel Grants: grants of up to £100 to assist with the travel costs of attending a BSHS conference. This grant is open to independent scholars and student members of the Society only. There are multiple cycles: candidates should apply by the registration deadline for the relevant conference.Special Projects Grants: grants, usually from £50 to £1500 in value, to fund ‘special projects’ which promote the general aims of the BSHS. There are two cycles per year. Only members of the Society are eligible. Deadlines: 30 September and 31 March each year.Care Grants: grants of up to £100 towards delegates’ care arrangements during the BSHS Annual Conference.The Society also supports the organisation of conferences and events, but not through these grants schemes. For more details of the… Butler-Eyles Travel Grants Carer Grants Engagement Fellowships Master’s Degree Bursaries Outreach and Engagement Project Grants Undergraduate Dissertation Archive Grants PrizesThe BSHS encourages good quality history of science by organising and judging three prestigious biennial prizes, two of which are awarded by the Society:The Singer Prize is awarded by the BSHS every two years to the author of an unpublished essay based on original research into any aspect of the history of science, technology, or medicine. The Prize is intended for younger scholars or entrants into the profession.The Dingle Prize is awarded to the best book in the history of science (broadly construed) published in English and which is accessible to a wide audience of non-specialists. The winner of the 2009 competition was Thomas Dixon, Science and Religion: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2008).The BSHS Slade Prize was awarded biennially between 1999 and 2009 to the writer of an essay (published or unpublished) that made the best critical study of an episode in the history of science focused on conceptual innovation or scientific methodology. Details of the winners are available here. BSHS Singer Prize BSHS Hughes Prize BSHS Pickstone Prize BSHS Ayrton Prize BSHS Great Exhibitions Prize Postgraduate Hub Leaving a Legacy to the BSHS AHRC CDP PhD studentship: The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and its networks of support and influence, 1675-1742 Home/Uncategorized/AHRC CDP PhD studentship: The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and its networks of support and influence, 1675-1742 Applications are invited for the following AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership Studentship at the University of Kent and National Maritime Museum. The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and its networks of support and influence, 1675-1742 Deadline: 7 May 2018, 17:00 Supervisors: Dr Rebekah Higgitt (Senior Lecturer in History of Science, School of History, University of Kent) and Dr Richard Dunn (Senior Curator for the History of Science at the National Maritime Museum) We seek applications from outstanding postgraduate students for this collaborative doctoral award, starting in September 2018. This project aims to develop a new approach to the institutional history of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. Using the Observatory as a central hub, it proposes to explore the local, national and international networks of astronomy, practical mathematics, navigation, education, print and instrument making that supported its work and developing reputation. It will focus on the period of the first two Astronomers Royal, John Flamsteed and Edmond Halley, aiming to better understand the role, milieu and development of this key institution in its foundational years. This research will draw on work on geographies of knowledge, material culture and book history in order to gain a fuller picture of contexts in which mathematical and instrumental knowledge was developed and used. The project will make use of a range of archival sources and object, book and image collections, especially those of the NMM. The student will have the opportunity to enhance the Museum’s cataloguing and interpretation within public programming and displays, and to feed into the development of plans for the 350th anniversary of the Royal Observatory (2025-26), which forms part of the NMM (collectively, with The Queen’s House and Cutty Sark, known as Royal Museums Greenwich). They will also be able to contribute to Dr Higgitt’s research project, Metropolitan Science: Places, Objects and Cultures of Knowledge and Practice in London, 1600-1800, in partnership with the Science Museum. Studentship information The standard tuition fees and stipend (maintenance grant) will be paid by the AHRC to the award holder subject to the eligibility criteria outlined by them. The AHRC stipend for 2018/19 is £14,777 (full-time, pro-rata for part-time) plus an additional stipend of £500 for Collaborative Doctoral Students. The funding is for 3 years (full time) and there is an opportunity to apply for an additional six months of funding from the AHRC’s Student Development Fund, which can (subject to agreement) be used to support appropriate training or a placement based on the student’s individual training needs. The NMM will also provide £1000 per year for three years (subject to agreement) to support the student’s research-related expenses such as travel costs. Applicants should have: a First Class or Upper Second Class Honours degree in an appropriate discipline; a masters degree in an appropriate discipline, although applicants who do not hold a masters degree will be considered if they can demonstrate sustained and relevant experience and meet the criteria outlined in the AHRC guidelines. Candidates must meet the AHRC’s academic criteria and eligibility criteria: www.ahrc.ac.uk. To apply please send the following by email as a single document (Word or PDF) to [email protected]. A cover letter. A current CV, including your academic qualifications to date and anticipated results if you are still studying. Two letters of academic reference to be included with the rest of your application. The deadline for applications is 17.00 on Monday 7 May. Shortlisted applicants will be asked to supply a writing sample on a related topic. Interviews will likely be held on 3 July. For further information please contact Rebekah Higgitt [email protected] or Richard Dunn [email protected]. https://www.kent.ac.uk/scholarships/search/FN05AHRCNM02 By Alison Moulds\|2018-10-12T15:51:35+00:00April 24th, 2018\|Uncategorized\|Comments Off on AHRC CDP PhD studentship: The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, and its networks of support and influence, 1675-1742 About the Author: Alison Moulds Follow @BSHSNews BSHS @BSHSNews The @royalsociety Lisa Jardine Grant Scheme, which supports travel and expenses for research trips and events, is o… https://t.co/rjx3oLaOdg RT @BSECS: In case the Oxford conference just wasn't enough, we're now announcing our 2020 postgraduate/ECR conference CfP... details are h… BSHS Executive Secretary (for current mailing address please contact by email in the first instance) Web: Official BSHS Website Copyright 2017 \| The British Society for the History of Science \| All Rights Reserved. 30% discount off Royal Society Notes and Records BSHS members get an exclusive 30% off a personal subscription to Notes and Records. 20% discount off Ashgate publications BSHS members get an exclusive 20% off all Ashgate publications. 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__label__cc	0.529546	0.470454	Three year outlook for construction worse than feared By Luke McLeod-Roberts2011-04-08T00:00:00+01:00 Output likely to fall more than previously thought, according to analysis The outlook for the construction sector over the next three years is gloomier than previously thought, according to exclusive analysis by Hewes and Associates. The construction data services firm has forecast that after growing by 6.4% in 2010, output in the sector is likely to fall by 3.4% this year, 8% in 2012 and a further 1.8% in 2013. This compares with earlier research by the firm predicting a 3.5% fall in 2011, 5% in 2012 and 1.3% in 2013. The total value of all construction work is predicted to fall from £113.5bn in 2010, to £110.9bn in 2011, £103.9bn in 2012 and £104.1bn in 2013, a drop of 16% from 2007. The largest dips are forecast for public sector work, which is set to reach its nadir in 2012, when output is forecast to dip by over 20% As expected in the wake of widespread public sector funding cuts, the largest dips are forecast for public sector work, set to reach its nadir in 2012, when output is forecast to dip by 21% for public sector housing and 27% in non-housing. “Public spending is about to be scaled back,” said the authors of the report. “A more than offsetting improvement in private sector activity is hoped for, although with households still heavily indebted, monetary policy unable to help and real wage growth in decline, the chances of that appear slim.” The figures do contain some cause for hope, however. Industrial output is one of the areas that is expected to grow over the period. The analysts predict an increase in output for the sector of 6.2% this year and 4.1% in the two subsequent years. But industry commentator Brian Green said he didn’t see “any great signs of breakthrough”. “If we look at the eighties we had large amounts of North Sea oil, in the nineties we had the upside of cheap imports as a result of globalisation. “So far the projections for growth have been optimistic and the forecasts for inflation have been overstated - that will fade.” Output down but predicted to rise Initial figures for January look poor but February is predicted to be better Construction output fell in January Data released by the ONS today shows output in January was below that in December Cost of Carillion’s hospital jobs tops £2bn, watchdog finds National Audit Office probe into the PFI deals says public sector will only pay 1% more	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1304
__label__wiki	0.618555	0.618555	Switzerland and Belgium Information about events and activities in relation with Switzerland and Belgium. Embassy of Switzerland in Belgium All consular services and visa issues are provided by the Regional Consular Centre Benelux in The Hague/Netherlands. Travel advice for Belgium Swiss institutions in the country Companies and businesses that have operations in the country Bilateral relations Switzerland–Belgium The Swiss Abroad Act Other areas subject to national law International legal context The Swiss Abroad Act governs the fundamental rights and obligations of Swiss nationals living abroad. It also defines a variety of services that Switzerland can offer its citizens who are living and/or working abroad permanently or temporarily. Pursuant to the Swiss Abroad Act, Swiss nationals living abroad are Swiss citizens who are not domiciled in Switzerland and are registered with their competent representation. The Swiss Abroad Act governs support from the Confederation for institutions related to Swiss nationals living abroad. Swiss nationals living abroad can apply for social welfare, subject to certain conditions. They can also exercise various political rights that are specified in the Swiss Abroad Act. Registration within 90 days Within 90 days of relinquishing domicile in Switzerland, Swiss citizens aged 18 or over must register with the representation responsible for their new place of residence. Individuals who, on the one hand, have acquired Swiss citizenship through birth abroad and, on the other, reached the age of 18 abroad can register with a representation to avoid losing their citizenship. Consular protection The Swiss Abroad Act governs consular protection for Swiss nationals abroad who require emergency assistance or are situated in a crisis or disaster area. It specifies the assistance that is provided to Swiss nationals domiciled in Switzerland and, to a certain extent, to Swiss nationals living abroad. Consular protection is also available to legal entities, subject to certain conditions. However, there is no legal entitlement to consular protection. Cases are always assessed on an individual basis. The Swiss Abroad Act governs additional consular services of which Swiss nationals living abroad make particular use, e.g. authentication of documents and confirmations. Services based on other federal acts Some services are prescribed in other federal acts. For example, the Federal Act on Identity Documents for Swiss Nationals governs the issue of passports abroad. Numerous other federal acts and ordinances also include provisions on the rights and obligations of Swiss nationals abroad, which is why such pieces of legislation are also worth consulting, e.g.: The Ordinance on Voluntary Old-Age, Survivors’ and Disability Insurance This piece of legislation only governs the insurance scheme of the same name, which Swiss nationals domiciled outside the EU and EFTA can join, subject to certain conditions. Ordinance on Voluntary Old-Age, Survivors’ and Disability Insurance The Ordinance on Military Administration, chapter 5 This piece of legislation governs the exemption from military service while abroad of individuals who are subject to the notification obligation in accordance with the Military Act. Ordinance on Military Administration Bilateral and multilateral agreements In certain circumstances, the rights and obligations of Swiss nationals abroad are ultimately also determined on the basis of applicable bilateral and multilateral agreements. The 1999 Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons between Switzerland and the EU is of relevance for many Swiss nationals living abroad. Agreement between the European Community and its Member States, of the one part, and the Swiss Confederation, of the other, on the free movement of persons FDFA Relations with the Swiss Abroad	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1305
__label__wiki	0.70916	0.70916	Home Economy Despite growth in govt expenditure, GDP slowdown continues Despite growth in govt expenditure, GDP slowdown continues The economic activities which registered growth of over 4.3 per cent in Q2 of 2019/20 over Q2 of 2018/19 are ‘Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication and Services related to Broadcasting’ ‘Financial, Real Estate and Professional Services’ and ‘Public Administration, Defence and other services’ The economic slowdown continues as India’s GDP growth slipped to 4.5 per cent during the July-September quarter, a straight decline for seven consecutive quarters now. All eyes will now be on what steps the government will take next, as finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had spelt out three dozen measures the government had taken to arrest the slowdown early this week in Parliament. While several sectors grew at 7 per cent or more during Q2 2018/19, overall growth has dipped further this year. Private consumption almost halved and fixed gross capital formation moved to the negative territory. Government expenditure was the only component which grew compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. The Q2 data released by National Statistical Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation states that GDP at Constant (2011-12) prices in Q2 of 2019/20 is estimated at Rs 35.99 lakh crore, against Rs 34.43 lakh crore in Q2 of 2018/19, a growth rate of 4.5 per cent. Growth rates of Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) at current and constant prices are estimated at 7.8 per cent and 5.1 per cent during Q2 of 2019/20 as compared to 14.4 per cent and 9.8 per cent respectively during the same period of 2018/19. Growth rates of Government Final Consumption Expenditure (GFCE) at current and constant prices are estimated at 18.9 per cent and 15.6 per cent respectively during Q2 of 2019/20 against 15.4 per cent and 10.9 per cent during the same period of 2018/19. Growth rates of Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) at current and constant prices are estimated at (-) 0.9 per cent and (-) 3 per cent during Q2 of 2019/20 against 16.2 per cent and 11.8 per cent during the same period of 2018/19. The economic activities which registered growth of over 4.3 per cent in Q2 of 2019/20 over Q2 of 2018/19 are ‘Trade, Hotels, Transport, Communication and Services related to Broadcasting’ ‘Financial, Real Estate and Professional Services’ and ‘Public Administration, Defence and Other Services’. What pulled down the growth substantially was agriculture, mining, manufacturing and construction. The quarterly gross value added (GVA) for Q2 2019/20 from ‘Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing’ sector grew by 2.1 per cent as compared to growth of 4.9 per cent in Q2 2018/19.The crops including fruits and vegetables account for about 43 per cent, livestock 39 per cent and forestry & fisheries 18 per cent share of GVA in total GVA of ‘Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing’ sector. Quarterly GVA at Basic Prices for Q2 2019/20 from ‘Mining and Quarrying’ sector grew 0.1 per cent as compared to -2.2 per cent in Q2 2018/19. Quarterly GVA at Basic Prices for Q2 2019/20 from ‘Manufacturing’ grew by (-) 1 per cent as compared to 6.9 per cent in Q2 2018/19. The growth of organized sector (which has a share of more than 75 per cent in Manufacturing) was estimated from available data of listed companies with BSE and NSE. IIP Manufacturing registered growth rate of (-) 0.4 per cent during Q2 of 2019/20 compared to 5.6 per cent during Q2 of 2018/19. Quarterly GVA at Basic Prices for Q2 2019/20 from ‘Electricity, Gas, Water Supply and Other Utility Services’ sector grew by 3.6 per cent as compared to growth of 8.7 per cent in Q2 2018/19. The key indicator of this sector, namely, IIP of Electricity registered growth rate of 0.4 per cent during Q2 of 2019/20 against 7.5 per cent in Q2 of 2018/19.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1308
__label__cc	0.630149	0.369851	Tom Williams M: 704 288 6983 Tom Williams Realty, LLC 704 288 6983 Steele Creek Properties Find a Home in Steele Creek Meyers Park Piper Glen Sardis Woods Wessex Square The data relating to real estate on this website derive in part from the Internet Data Exchange program. Brokers make an effort to deliver accurate information, but buyers should independently verify any information on which they will rely in a transaction. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither website owner nor any listing broker shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, or misprints, and they shall be held totally harmless from any damages arising from reliance upon this data. This data is provided exclusively for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties they may be interested in purchasing. Some IDX listings may have been excluded from this website. © 2020 Carolina Multiple Listing Services, Inc. Based on information submitted to the MLS GRID as of Jan 19, 2020 8:21:am. All data is obtained from various sources and may not have been verified by broker or MLS GRID. Supplied Open House Information is subject to change without notice. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information Nearby School information provided by Onboard Informatics © 2020 Onboard informatics. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, 17 U.S.C. § 512 (the “DMCA”) provides recourse for copyright owners who believe that material appearing on the Internet infringes their rights under U.S. copyright law. If you believe in good faith that any Approved by the CarolinaMLS Board of Directors Feb. 28, 2019 43 content or material made available in connection with our website or services infringes your copyright, you (or your agent) may send us a notice requesting that the content or material be removed, or access to it blocked. Notices must be sent in writing by email to DMCAnotice@MLSGrid.com. The DMCA requires that your notice of alleged copyright infringement include the following information: (1) description of the copyrighted work that is the subject of claimed infringement; (2) description of the alleged infringing content and information sufficient to permit us to locate the content; (3) contact information for you, including your address, telephone number and email address; (4) a statement by you that you have a good faith belief that the content in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, or its agent, or by the operation of any law; (5) a statement by you, signed under penalty of perjury, that the information in the notification is accurate and that you have the authority to enforce the copyrights that are claimed to be infringed; and (6) a physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or a person authorized to act on the copyright owner’s behalf. Failure to include all of the above information may result in the delay of the processing of your complaint. Tom Williams Realty, LLC 6812 Wilgrove Mint Hill Road, Mint Hill, NC 28227 O: 704 288-6983 © 2020 Tom Williams Realty, LLC Terms of Use Privacy Policy Fair Housing Site Map Admin Login	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1310
__label__wiki	0.67067	0.67067	Deal Alert: MINI Offering Sub-$20k Oxford Edition For Students & Grads , Senior Pricing Analyst - August 10, 2017 Oxford Edition Details With distinctive styling and numerous options for customization, the MINI Cooper is a fun alternative to a sea of unexciting cars. However, building one can get get pricey extremely fast. But there's some good news if you're a student or recent grad. Beginning this month, MINI is offering the Oxford Edition — a value-oriented car aimed at students offering a $5,600 advantage in price versus the regular model. With a base price under $20,000, it's the most affordable MINI we've ever seen. So what does the Oxford Edition include? How does it compare to a regular Cooper Hardtop? Who's eligible to buy one? And what's the catch? Here's what you need to know. With an MSRP of $19,750 excluding destination, the Oxford Edition is priced $1,850 lower than the standard 2-door 2018 Cooper Hardtop. Factoring in destination, its sticker price comes in at a mere $20,600. But that's not all. To sweeten the deal, MINI is also throwing in $3,750 worth of options at no extra charge. The list of included add-ons includes: An optional automatic transmission ($1,250 value) 17-inch alloy wheels with runflats ($1,250 value) Heated seats ($500 value) A choice of premium exterior paint ($500 value) An anthracite headliner ($250) Notable caveats with the Oxford Edition are that it isn't available as a 4-door and will only be offered as a Cooper with the entry-level 1.5-liter turbo rated at 134 hp. Upgrading to the more potent Cooper S isn't possible. That said, purists will appreciate the ability to still outfit their Oxford Edition with a manual transmission. However, a notable benefit here is that opting for the automatic results in no subsequent increase in price. Like the standard Hardtop, the car comes with leatherette seats, a 6.5-inch display, Bluetooth, steering wheel audio controls, rear camera with park distance control and more. Oxford Edition buyers will also get a distinctive grille badge and souvenir keychain. For added value, MINI is also offering a 50% discount on the available panoramic roof. It consists of a dual-pane design that covers over 60% of the roof. As a result, the $1,000 option will only add $500 to the price. According to a bulletin sent to dealers, the Oxford Edition will only be built in limited numbers available on a first-come, first-served basis. At the moment, it's unclear how many will be built. A MINI spokesperson could not be reached for comment. To be eligible, you'll have to show proof that you're a current student at an accredited college or university. Recent grads can qualify if they're within 12 months of graduation. Simply have a copy of your transcript or diploma handy when you head to the dealer. Interestingly, MINI is also making the vehicle available to non-students, but with a pretty big drawback. You'll be able to buy one, but you won't get the built-in $1,850 discount over the regular Hardtop. At $20,600, the Oxford Edition appears to be an unbelievable value on paper. A regular Cooper with the same options would ring in at $26,200. That equates to a $5,600 advantage in price. But there's a catch. Because the car already has built-in savings, it's being excluded from all sales promos, namely the $500 College Grad Credit as well as this month's loan offer of 0.9% APR for 72 months. There's also an unfortunate stipulation that says it won't be possible to lease the car through MINI Financial Services. That said, if you're comfortable with the fact that the car is only offered as a 2-door without the option to upgrade to the Cooper S, the Oxford Edition represents a truly outstanding value for those who are eligible. Just be sure to be aware of some of the less-obvious drawbacks. Best Ford Deals & Lease Offers In January Best BMW Deals & Lease Offers In January Best Honda Deals & Lease Offers In January Best Hyundai Deals & Lease Offers In January	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1312
__label__wiki	0.684094	0.684094	Catholic World News McCarrick’s gifts: $600,000 to high-ranking prelates The disgraced former cardinal Theodore McCarrick sent more than $600,000 in cash gifts to Vatican officials and other influential prelates during his term as Archbishop of Washington, the Washington Post has revealed. A legendary fundraiser, McCarrick brought in $6 million in tax-exempt donations to an “Archbishop’s Special Fund,” over which he had complete control. He drew on that fund to send gifts that included, for instance, $19,000 to Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Secretary of State; $6,500 to then-Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, the sostituto who handled everyday Vatican administrative affairs; $5,000 to the late Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, who was the papal nuncio in Washington; and a one-time gift of $250,000 to Pope Benedict XVI shortly after his election. The Washington Post exposé of McCarrick’s cash gifts covers the years from 2001, when he became Archbishop of Washington, until 2018, when he was finally removed from ministry because of multiple sex-abuse complaints. It does not include gifts that he may have given prior to his assignment in Washington—an assignment that was widely attributed to his previous fundraising successes. Prelates who received gifts from McCarrick told the Post that the cash did not influence their decisions. In fact some Church officials indicated that it was not unusual to receive such gifts from the heads of affluent archdioceses. Cardinal James Harvey, the former prefect of the pontifical household, told the Post that “numerous bishops from big cities in the United States sent him monetary gifts to show appreciation for his office’s help, including in making arrangements for visits to the pope.” Cardinal Harvey added: “It never occurred to me that this would be in some way improper.” The revelations about McCarrick’s cash gifts follow the Post’s disclosure of the lavish personal spending by Bishop Michael Bransfield, the former head of the Wheeling-Charleston diocese, who also sent more than $350,000 in cash gifts to influential Church leaders. The Vatican has promised that a full accounting of McCarrick’s rise through the ranks of the hierarchy, and his ability to retain power despite charges of misconduct, will be made public soon. For all current news, visit our News home page. Disgraced former cardinal McCarrick gave more than $600,000 in church funds to powerful clerics, records show (Washington Post) Posted by: Frodo1945 - Dec. 30, 2019 3:47 PM ET USA "Prelates who received gifts from McCarrick told the Post that the cash did not influence their decisions." hahahahahahaha Posted by: Louise01 - Dec. 27, 2019 7:04 PM ET USA How sad...money corrupts. Free eBook: Defining Issues	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1313
__label__wiki	0.723707	0.723707	Home » News » Vatican Release of Pope Francis' first encyclical stresses beauty of faith Pope Francis rides through St Peters Square after Mass on April 28, 2013. Credit: Stephen Driscoll/CNA. By Estefania Aguirre Vatican City, Jul 5, 2013 / 07:04 am ().- The first encyclical of Pope Francis – which had been started by the former Pope, Benedict XVI – has been released today to help strengthen the faith of Catholics worldwide. “We welcome with great joy and gratitude this integral profession of faith, in the form of catechesis written by four hands of the successors of Peter,” said Cardinal Marc Ouellet at the Vatican's press office on July 5. “Together they show forth the Church's faith in its beauty, the faith that is confessed within the body of Christ as the concrete communion of believers,” he added. The encyclical – called “Lumen Fidei” or “The Light of Faith” – was presented at a Holy See press conference with the participation of Cardinal Ouellet, Archbishop Gerhard L. Mueller and Archbishop Rino Fisichella. During its release in a room packed with journalists, Archbishop Mueller pointed out that the document bears only the signature of Pope Francis and not of the former Pope because “the Church has just one Pope.” “The Successor of Peter, yesterday, today and tomorrow is always called to strengthen his brothers and sisters in the priceless treasure of that faith which God has given as a light for humanity’s path,” Pope Francis says in the encyclical's introduction. In it, he stresses that he is “deeply grateful” to his predecessor for having almost completed the first draft of the encyclical, which he says is “meant to supplement what Benedict XVI had written in his encyclical letters on charity and hope.” “As his brother in Christ I have taken up his fine work and added a few contributions of my own,” Pope Francis adds in the introduction. Prior to the release of the encyclical written “by four hands,” Pope Francis went to the Vatican Gardens to bless a new statue of Saint Michael the Archangel alongside Benedict XVI. The statue was blessed “by four hands” to consecrate the Vatican to the Archangel's protection. The release of the faith encyclical – divided into four chapters, an introduction and a conclusion – coincides with the Church's Year of Faith and the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. The first chapter is entitled “We have believed in love” and explains faith as “listening” to the Word of God, particularly his call to see him as a father, not a stranger. It also highlights Jesus as a “trustworthy witness” and calls us to participate “in his way of seeing” and to open ourselves to a love that transforms us from within. “Faith is not a private matter, a completely individualistic notion or a personal opinion,” the Pope adds in the first chapter. The second chapter, entitled “Unless you believe you will not understand,” shows the links between faith and truth and between faith and love. “One who believes may not be presumptuous, on the contrary, truth leads to humility, since believers know that, rather than ourselves possessing truth, it is truth which embraces and possesses us,” says the Pontiff. “I delivered to you what I also received” is the title of the third chapter, which focuses solely on the importance of evangelization. “It is impossible to believe on our own,” says Pope Francis. “Faith is not simply an individual decision.” The chapter explains that faith is not a private relationship between the divine “thou” and the “I,” but rather between the “we.” The Pope also writes of the importance of the Sacraments when transmitting the faith, especially baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist. The final chapter is entitled “God prepares a city for them,” and tells of the link between faith and the common good. The encyclical reveals that the purpose of faith is not merely to build the afterlife, but to help in edifying society. The fourth chapter also stresses the importance of marriage, understood between man and woman. “The 'we' of the family (is) the place par excellence of the transmission of the faith,” said Cardinal Ouellet during the press conference. The encyclical can be accessed in CNA’s resource section, found here. Tags: Faith, Pope Francis, Lumen Fidei Pope stresses relevance of Bl. John XXIII's peace encyclical Bl. Pope John XXIII’s encyclical on peace should remind everyone of the need to “build peace... Days before encyclical's release, Pope condemns culture of waste After revealing that the topic of consumerism will be a key theme in his upcoming encyclical,... Pope confirms faith encyclical nearly done Pope Francis put aside his prepared remarks this morning and told members of the Synod of...	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1314
__label__wiki	0.84986	0.84986	Alberta oilsands facing aboriginal legal onslaught in 2014 Simmering disputes over the oilsands between Alberta aboriginals and the provincial and federal governments will break into the open in 2014 as virtually every one of the many recent changes in oversight of the controversial industry comes under legal and political attack. First Nations plans challenges of new rules for regulatory approvals of energy projects The Canadian Press · Posted: Jan 02, 2014 12:17 PM ET \| Last Updated: January 2, 2014 "All litigation, all the time, is what I see on the horizon," said Larry Innes, lawyer for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation. Over the last 18 months, Ottawa and Edmonton have rewritten the book on resource development. Everything from how aboriginals will be consulted to land use planning to oilsands monitoring to the basic ground rules for environmental assessment has been changed. NEW \| Check out CBCNews.ca/aboriginal Governments say the new regime is more efficient, predictable and transparent. Aboriginals say it violates their rights and ignores their recommendations. So as aboriginal groups in British Columbia prepare for an expected attack on the Northern Gateway pipeline proposal, Alberta aboriginals are pushing back with a long list of lawsuits either now or soon to be before the courts. The Fort McKay First Nation is appealing an approval of Brion Energy's plans for a 50,000-barrel-a-day operation northwest of Fort McMurray. It says the province has violated the constitution by setting up an energy regulator expressly forbidden to hear arguments based on aboriginal rights. The Mikisew Cree and Frog Lake First Nation are before the courts arguing that Ottawa's recent amendments to the Fisheries and Navigable Waters Acts run afoul of their rights. The Beaver Lake Cree is fighting both levels of government in a case that seeks to force them to consider the cumulative effects of oilsands development when issuing new permits. A total of 17 First Nations from around Alberta are trying to get legislation on access to public lands tossed out in a long-running case expected to go to trial this year. The Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation plans to file a lawsuit in January attacking Ottawa's new environmental assessment legislation after the approval of a major oilsands expansion that it says will violate both treaty rights and federal laws. At the same time, the Alberta government's other major oilsands initiatives are running into heavy weather. Joint monitoring program loses support All six First Nations in the oilsands area have requested a statutory review of the Lower Athabasca Regional Plan, the government's attempt to balance development and environmental values. Those same bands, along with many others, have also rejected the province's plans to centralize and control aboriginal consultation. One major band — the Fort McKay First Nation — has pulled out of the Joint Oilsands Monitoring program, the showpiece federal-provincial effort to monitor environmental change in the oilsands. Even the Lubicon Cree First Nation are back in court, with another try in a decades-long attempt to win a reserve and get some royalties on energy extracted from what they say is their land. Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Minister Robin Campbell declined to be interviewed. "We work with aboriginal leaders and communities in a variety of areas and will continue to do so," said spokesman Kevin Zahara. "We will not speculate on possible legal challenges." A big part of the problem is simply the scale of development, said Nigel Bankes, professor of resource law at the University of Calgary. "In the oilsands area, it's really the intensity of the development," he said. "The treaties give the province the power to take up lands and the argument is there must be a limit to that. That can't be an entitlement to take away all lands (to) which First Nations have historically exercised hunting rights." Those concerns grow as governments narrow who has the right to air concerns and what concerns they're allowed to raise. "I think that's a fair characterization," said Bankes, who said that process has been going on for years. "(There's a) very narrow and stringent standing test and I think that does mean there's a level of frustration out there." Not only are bands barred from raising aboriginal rights at regulatory hearings, two have recently been denied the right to even speak at ones concerning oilsands projects on their doorstep. Lawsuits happen when discussion fails, said Joe Jobin, chief operating officer of the Fort McKay First Nation. "First Nations have always tried to work with the government on developing a policy that works for First Nations and for industry," he said. "The frustration is that the input is not being meaningfully considered. It's almost like this attitude, 'Well, if you don't like it, take us to court."' The result is higher costs for everyone and uncertainty for industry, said Bankes. He added Alberta is increasingly resembling lawsuit-happy British Columbia, which has few treaties. "What we're seeing now is the same sort of litigation that we've been seeing in B.C. for a long time. This is now being transplanted to the treaty context of Alberta. "Government has said to itself, 'Things are clearer here, there's more security precisely because we've got treaties.' I guess what the litigation that we're seeing now is calling into question is, is that really true?" Innes said Alberta bands that have traditionally preferred to negotiate are increasingly through with talking. "First Nations who have been investing in the process find the process is stacked against them," he said. "Things are coming to a head." New: Check out CBCNews.ca/aboriginal Special Report: Oilsands 2020 Interactive: The oilsands explained Potentially damaging Jackpine oilsands mine expansion OK'd by Ottawa New environmental review rules anger oilsands critics To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1315
__label__cc	0.626862	0.373138	Home > Book Review > Book Review: Women's Voices and the Practice of Preaching Book Review: Women's Voices and the Practice of Preaching As I opened up the pages of Nancy Lammers Gross’ book, Women’s Voices and the Practice of Preaching, I became intensely grateful for certain truths of my own story. I am the fourth generation of women in ministry in my family, following the footsteps of my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. I grew up in and serve in The Salvation Army which has always affirmed the rights of women to preach the gospel since its inception in 1865. Seneca Falls, NY has been the home of my father’s family, the VanCleefs, since 1682 and is the home of the 1848 Women’s Right Convention. I feel a strong connection to the cause and rights of women. When I was eleven, I proudly sported a t-shirt that said, “Seneca Falls, Birthplace of Women’s Rights.” But, most of all, I have a very wise mother who decided when I was four not to silence my curious mind and outspoken mouth. Instead, alongside a father who let me know that there was no limit to what I could do, she helped to shape them. And so when I sensed God’s call to vocational ministry and to preach the gospel, it never occurred to me that I would do anything but assume my place in front of God’s people proclaiming the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am mindful that my story is atypical. There are many things which squelch the voices of women in the church. Gross identifies forces that affect not only the metaphorical voice of women at large, “the entitlement to speak, the right to articulate one’s viewpoint, one’s perspective on a biblical text or experience in the world” (xix), but also forces that impact women’s physical voices as they work to fulfill God’s calling to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is essential, she posits, for women to connect with both their metaphorical voice and their physical voice to fully embody the truths of the gospel they would preach. Many women experience a disconnect. Gross identifies why and provides guidance for a woman to reconnect with her physical voice and engage her whole self and “full body instrument” to more effectively and truthfully proclaim the eternal truths of the gospel. Gross effectively uses the story of Miriam to establish a Biblical point of reference to encourage women preachers to use their full body instrument to its greatest capacity for the proclamation of the gospel. Though she is more often seen as an ancillary part of the story of the deliverance of God’s people from bondage in Egypt, Gross points out the pivotal role that Miriam played in the life and ministry of her younger brother Moses. Miriam was integral in the preservation of Moses’s life as she watched vigilantly over the precious boy hidden in the reeds, ensuring his physical safety and making a way for his own mother to be his nurse as he became the ward of Pharaoh’s house. The participation of her whole person, voice and body, is seen as she leads God’s people in praise for deliverance. Then again, Miriam played a principal role when she was cast outside the camp with leprous skin having defied Moses’ place before God. The Miriam illustration sets the tone for the remainder of Gross’s work and provides a point of reference not only for the central role women can and should play in the life of God’s people, but also for the challenges and hurdles that must often be overcome as women step into the role of preacher. To help readers more fully understand the complexities many women face in connecting to their own voice, Gross chronicles the stories of women with whom she worked. Each story demonstrates the ways women become disconnected from their bodies and physical voice and how these traumas raise barriers to fully connecting with the truth they proclaim. The women describe how they survived physical and emotional abuse, being diminished and silenced, but then reclaimed their voice in order to proclaim the gospel. Gross concludes, “I learned through my life journey that Truth resides in the gospel of Jesus Christ, and that when it comes to speaking the good news of Jesus Christ, there is a need for the gospel to reside fully in our bodies. Truth and the body go together” (84). Proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God requires the whole of who we are. Gross utilizes the final chapters of the book to walk the reader through exercises to use the full body instrument that God has given each one. Women’s Voices and the Practice of Preaching is a book I will gladly and readily share with women in ministry that I have opportunity to encourage and mentor as well as men in ministry to help them understand obstacles women face. It speaks to issues that are unique to women in ministry and challenges women to claim their voice and their place in proclaiming the gospel. CBE advances the gospel by equipping Christians to use their God-given talents in leadership and service regardless of gender, ethnicity, or class. Together with supporters and ministry partners from 100 denominations and 65 countries, CBE works to inspire and mobilize women and men with the Bible’s call to lead and serve as equals. Reviewer Info LeAnn Van Cleef-Trimmer LeAnn Van Cleef-Trimmer was ordained as a Salvation Army officer in 1991. She received her MDiv with an emphasis on spiritual formation from Northwest Nazarene University in 2016. She served, with her husband, in Salvation Army congregations for 23 years until taking appointments in The... More resources by LeAnn Van Cleef-Trimmer Book Review: Threads of Wisdom Book Review: Becoming His Story Title: Women’s Voices and the Practice of Preaching Nancy Lammers Gross Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1316
__label__wiki	0.68938	0.68938	Employers beware: workplace hazards could cost you dearly Greg McCann and Danielle Skinner Employment and safety Corporate and commercial Construction Insurance In brief - Court of Appeal dramatically increases penalty for safety breaches Two companies convicted of safety breaches have had their fines increased by the Victorian Court of Appeal, from a combined total of $450,000 to a combined total of $1,500,000 following the death of a worker on a building site in Melbourne. Collapse of section of pile driving rig leads to workplace fatality A recent decision of the Court of Appeal in Victoria reinforces the need for employers to be vigilant and thorough in their approach to workplace health and safety. In the case DPP v Vibro-Pile (Aust) Pty Ltd & Frankipile Australia Pty Ltd, two companies received an increase in the fines initially imposed from a conviction and sentence in the County Court for a fatal incident in May 2011, when a worker fell approximately 40 metres to his death. The incident involved the collapse of the top section of a pile driving rig at a building site in Southbank in Melbourne. An employee of Frankipile Australia Pty Ltd was attached with fall protection devices to the top section when it collapsed. The piling rig was being operated by Vibro-Pile. The collapse was caused by a failure to insert particular bolts when erecting the piling rig. Alleged failure of employers to eliminate or reduce risk The prosecution alleged that it was reasonably practicable for the employers to have: Identified and documented the risk of collapse Documented the correct procedure for the erection of the piling rig Provided the necessary induction and training for employees Supervised the erection of the piling rig to ensure the correct procedure was followed According to the prosecution, such measures were suitable and readily available, given what the defendants knew, or ought to have known about the risk. Both companies found guilty of breaching OHS Act Both companies entered a plea of not guilty before the County Court of Victoria. The trial proceeded over 17 days. Both companies were found guilty and convicted of breaching section 21 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Victoria. The maximum penalty that each company faced was in excess of $1 million. The County Court imposed a fine of $350,000 against Frankipile and an aggregate fine of $100,000 against Vibro-Pile. The companies appealed against the conviction and fines imposed, while the prosecution appealed against the manifest inadequacy of the fines imposed by the County Court. Piling companies' safety fines increased to $1.5 million On the 24 March 2016, the Court of Appeal determined that leave to appeal against the convictions should be refused. The court allowed the prosecution appeal against the inadequate sentences imposed. The resentencing resulted in fines totalling $750,000 against each company. The Court of Appeal held that the breach consists of the employers' failure to eliminate or reduce a risk to employee safety and the occurrence of a death or injury is of evidentiary significance only. The gravity of a breach of the OSH Act is not measured by the particular consequences of the breach. The court stated: For example, a very serious breach, involving clear disregard of the safety of workers, might result in only a minor injury - or no injury at all. Conversely, a relatively minor breach could result in a death, in circumstances which could not reasonably have been anticipated. Health and safety of workers and others should not be put at risk The duty to protect the health and safety of employees and others in the workplace is expressed in very similar terms in each jurisdiction within Australia and in New Zealand. The harmonised Work Health and Safety Laws, which were modelled on the Occupational Health and Safety Act in Victoria, have been adopted in Queensland, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, ACT, Northern Territory and Commonwealth locations. Western Australia operates under the Occupational Safety and Health Act which has similar obligations to Victoria. The Work Health and Safety Act in NSW requires persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of workers and others are not put at risk from work carried out as part of the conduct of the business or undertaking. This requires all employers and business operators to take reasonably practicable steps to identify and assess the availability and suitability of ways to eliminate or minimise the risk. Reasonably practicable steps to manage the hazards and risks of your business Adopting a risk-based approach to managing your business will support your workers and executives in providing a safe and productive workplace which will ensure the ongoing profitable viability of your business. Consulting with your workers regarding the operating hazards and risks and considering the requirements of the Work Health and Safety Regulations, codes of practice in your jurisdiction and relevant Australian standards will provide the knowledge to populate and implement a safety management system which is relevant for your business. A safety management system that is compliant with AS 4801 is an excellent tool to ensure that you have a safe, productive workforce, so that the risk of injuries and fatalities is minimised and you avoid appearing as a defendant in prosecution proceedings. Danger of civil actions being taken against you Employees or others who have been impacted by an incident or by activities of your business or undertaking, to whom you owe a common law duty of care, may commence civil proceedings to obtain significant damages. An alleged failure to comply with the obligations set out in the above safety laws is relied upon to assert an allegation of negligence against employers, principal contractors and occupiers in personal injury proceedings. Further, contractors involved in a workplace incident may also suffer a detrimental impact which could lead to potential breach of contract proceedings. Be proactive in your approach to workplace safety To reduce the potential exposure to your business, it is recommended that you: Identify the hazards and risks of your business or undertaking Consult with workers, contractors and the community Obtain legal advice as to the relevant laws, regulations, codes of practice and AS/NZ standards for your business operations Implement a safety management system which meets best practice Risk management for engineers - make sure you keep good records Contracts and other documentary records often provide the strongest defence Fraudulent non-disclosure and misrepresentation in property claim successfully proven Court satisfied that insurer would have declined cover had the misrepresentations not been made Danielle Skinner Special Counsel Greg McCann Partner	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1317
__label__wiki	0.904269	0.904269	Reconsidering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a "bodily injury" Marcus Saw and Laura Tulloch Corporate and commercial Insurance Transport and logistics In brief - Medical evidence necessary to show actual physical damage to brain to satisfy "bodily injury" in Pel-Air appeal The New South Wales Court of Appeal decision in Pel-Air Aviation Pty Ltd v Casey [2017] NSWCA 32 denies plaintiffs suffering from a PTSD condition a claim under the Montreal Convention in the absence of compelling evidence of physical change to the brain. Pel-Air's successful appeal is good news for aviation insurers On 24 June 2015, we reported on the decision of Casey v Pel Air Aviation in our article entitled Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) leads to compensation following aviation accident, and indicated that the damages award was a landmark decision for aviation insurers when a substantial award of damages was handed down. Pel-Air Aviation Pty Ltd appealed the decision to the New South Wales Court of Appeal in Pel-Air Aviation Pty Ltd v Casey [2017] NSWCA 32, and the result handed down on 9 March 2017 will bring a sigh of relief from aviation insurers. NSW Supreme Court awards Ms Casey damages for physical and psychiatric injuries suffered in aircraft accident The plaintiff/respondent to the appeal, Ms Casey, was a nurse employed by Care Flight (NSW) who travelled on board a small aircraft to evacuate a patient and the patient's husband from Samoa to Melbourne. The aircraft, which was due to refuel at Norfolk Island, was unable to land due to heavy weather and was forced to perform an emergency landing in the sea. Miraculously, the aircraft's occupants survived the impact and were rescued after spending 90 minutes in the water. Ms Casey alleged that, as a result of the incident, she sustained physical injuries to her spine and to her right knee and psychiatric injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder and an anxiety disorder. At first instance, the Supreme Court entered into judgment in favour of Ms Casey in the sum of $4,877,604. Issues on appeal include whether PTSD is a "bodily injury" in accordance with Article 17(1) of the Montreal Convention Pel-Air Aviation Pty Ltd appealed the decision and the questions on appeal were as follows: Whether Ms Casey's PTSD is a "bodily injury" in accordance with the 1999 Montreal Convention. Whether the damages award was incorrect in respect of non-economic loss and care and treatment expenses. Whether the evidence justified an award of funds management, particularly if PTSD was not a "bodily injury". Ms Casey brought her claim for damages pursuant to the Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959 (Cth) (Carriers' Liability Act) which incorporates the Montreal Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules for International Carriage by Air (1999) (the Convention) into Australian law. Pursuant to Article 17(1) of the Convention, "The carrier is liable for damage sustained in the case of death or bodily injury of a passenger upon condition only that the accident which caused the death or injury took place on board the aircraft or in the course of any of the operations of embarking or disembarking". Is PTSD a bodily injury? At first instance, Pel-Air conceded that Ms Casey's major depressive disorder, a pain disorder and an anxiety disorder were, at least in part, caused by Ms Casey's physical injuries and by extension could form part of the "bodily injury" compensable under the Carriers' Liability Act. However, Pel-Air disputed that Ms Casey's PTSD was a "bodily injury". On appeal it was argued by Pel-Air that "bodily injury" suggests damage to a person's body, including a person's brain. It was also conceded by Pel-Air that in circumstances where there is physical damage to a person's brain, bodily injury would be proven. However, in circumstances where a person's brain is considered to be malfunctioning as a result of biochemical changes, it was contended by Pel-Air that this change was not sufficient to constitute a "bodily injury". The Court relied upon a Joint Report of the psychiatric expert witnesses, who considered several questions relevant to the matters at issue. Relevantly, the experts concluded that: a reference to "brain function" is a reference to chemical changes in the brain, and while there is evidence which suggests that some persons suffering from PTSD or generalised anxiety disorder can suffer from physical changes to specific areas of the brain, there was no evidence available to the experts to suggest the plaintiff had structural changes in her brain Biochemical changes in brain do not constitute bodily injury, Court concluded Macfarlan JA gave the lead judgment, with Ward JA and Gleeson JA agreeing. Macfarlan JA considered a variety of case examples in order to determine whether Ms Casey's PTSD was a "bodily injury". He concluded that, "if the evidence in a particular case demonstrates that there has been a physical destruction of a part or parts of the brain, "bodily injury" will have been proved". Therefore, it needs to be shown on the medical evidence that there has been an "actual physical damage" to the claimant's brain. In the circumstances of this case, there was no medical evidence to suggest that Ms Casey's PTSD resulted from actual physical damage, which raised the question as to whether the "biochemical changes in her brain…constitute 'bodily injury'". Macfarlan JA concluded that they do not, relying on Morris v KLM Royal Dutch Airlines; King v Bristow Helicopters Ltd [2002] 2 AC 628, where majority of the House of Lords concluded that biochemical changes were not sufficient to constitute "bodily injuries". Macfarlan JA stated at paragraph 51 that: I consider that it is insufficient for a claimant to prove that the function of his or her brain has changed or even that chemical changes have occurred in it. In the absence of compelling medical evidence to the contrary, such malfunctioning or chemical changes cannot fairly be described as "injuries" to the body. Moreover, importance must be attached to the adjective "bodily" as a limiting word. It clearly draws a distinction between bodily and mental injuries - mental injuries are covered only if they are a manifestation of physical injuries, or if they result from physical injuries (including physical injuries to the brain). As such, Macfarlan JA was not satisfied that Ms Casey's PTSD was a "bodily injury". Impact of the decision on Ms Casey's damages and funds management Unfortunately for Pel-Air, despite successfully arguing that Ms Casey's PTSD did not constitute a "bodily injury", Macfarlan JA was not satisfied that the award for non-economic loss would be substantially reduced. The primary judge assessed Ms Casey as having non-economic loss at 80% of the "most extreme case". Despite the PTSD being the "most significant cause of her mental harm", disentangling Ms Casey's psychiatric condition led the Court to consider that her condition "would not be significantly better than it is" and therefore it would suggest the appropriate reduction be only 10%. In terms of the claim for future hospitalisations (an average of 1.5 admissions per year) and gratuitous care (past and future), no reductions were made to account for the removal of the PTSD condition. (However, a minor amendment was made to an anomaly to the rate for future care.) Pel-Air contended that if Ms Casey did not have PTSD, she did not require the costs for managing her damages. Pel-Air relied upon the evidence that Ms Casey was able to manage with the assistance of her family members. The Court referred to Ms Casey's treating doctors who referenced her "current cognitive capacity, short term memory problems, concentration, difficulty making decisions and impaired judgment" which ultimately rendered her incapable of satisfactorily managing her affairs. The Court's view was that her family would not continue to be available to assist her. As such, Macfarlan JA made an allowance of $872,000 (calculated by reference to the National Australia Trustee Limited rates) for Ms Casey's fund management, noting that these rates were not considered to be "outside the market". Liquidators' duty of care to guarantors Judgement opens scope of liquidator's duty to creditors being extended to actions beyond selling company's property. Transport & Logistics News - March 2017 Local and international news about shipping, aviation, rail and road transport. Andrew Tulloch Partner Marcus Saw Special Counsel	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1318
__label__cc	0.628569	0.371431	Caleb Q. Washington Gab: @CQW Twitter: @CalebQWash Harvard Classics Volume 11: The Origin of Species The inclusion of The Origin of Species in a collection like the Harvard Classics is an interesting one. The book was only about 50 years old at the time the collection was put together, and it is one of the most recent things in the whole of the classics. The passage of a century has vidicated its inclusion in the series. Darwin wrote The Origin of Species as the culmination of decades of work. The theory of natural selection was so radical, and lacking in support from other theories around it, that the work had to be done in the finest of scientific fashions. I note the significance of theories that come later, because knowledge of plate tectonics and genetics would have made Darwin’s job much easier. The work, as Darwin states, is one long argument. He first lays out the case that domesticated animals very clearly evolve due to the selection of humans. Then, Darwin discusses that the lines between species and varieties within a genus aren’t very well defined, so its not appropriate to think of a species as an immutable definition that doesn’t change based on circumstances. With these two premises asserted, he makes his main argument: that when animals are in a Malthusian state, natural selection will tend to adapt, evolve and create species. The rest of the work focuses on Darwin’s counter arguments to criticism. Rather than spend the whole book discussing cases where natural selection fits nicely with available evidence, most of the book is spent looking at edge cases where evolution has a more difficult time. A well known instance of this criticism is the eye, and Darwin spends significant time looking at how an eye could have evolved through small, beneficial steps. Darwin, as I mentioned before, is hindered by the contemporary knowledge of geology and biology. For instance, without plate tectonics, evolution has difficulty explaining how similar dinosaurs show up in America and Europe when the same present-day animals aren’t native to America and Europe. Darwin spends many pages discussing drifting and migration when present day geology answers the question easily. The Origin of Species ultimately falls into a similar category as The Wealth of Nations. It is a victim of its own success and the revolutionary aspect of the work is lost a bit because the conclusions are so widely accepted today. The interesting parts of both of these works, for the modern reader, is in the meticulous research and examples provided, rather than the revolutionary hypotheses being presented. With Darwin finished, the Harvard Classics is going to start moving into a long section of narrative works, a welcome change from the majority of volumes so far. The next volume is a selection of Plutarch’s Lives, perhaps my favorite ancient work, and I will be reading the Aeneid for the first time after that. Author calebqwashPosted on August 25, 2017 Leave a comment on Harvard Classics Volume 11: The Origin of Species Harvard Classics Volume 10: The Wealth of Nations The foundational tome in economics, The Wealth of Nations, by Adam Smith proved to be a worthwhile and interesting read for reasons the author didn’t intend. I’m going to get the one big complaint about this book right out of the way, if you’ve taken a course or even just an interest in economics, you have gotten the core message from The Wealth of Nations. In that sense, the book is a victim of its own success. Its ideas are embedded into discourse to this day, and the people who talk about economics in any serious way are familiar with his major points. To that extent, The Wealth of Nations is a book that would be extremely influential to a student in a great books program learning economics for the first time. It clearly states its ideas, and it gives mountains and mountains of evidence. There is so much in The Wealth of Nations, that the Harvard Classics uses an abridged version which cuts out much of the those mountains of evidence. Continue reading “Harvard Classics Volume 10: The Wealth of Nations” Author calebqwashPosted on August 9, 2017 Leave a comment on Harvard Classics Volume 10: The Wealth of Nations Always Get The Latest Posts Harvard Classics Volumes 41 & 42: English Language Poetry Parts 2&3 Rod Dreher Undermines His Own Book, “The Benedict Option” Book Released: Galaxy Brainset Harvard Classics, Volume 40: English Poetry, From Chaucer to Gray Harvard Classics 39: Prefaces and Prologues Gloria Apolot on Syllogisms and Donald Trump’s Tweeting Style Dixon Cidor on Why You Should Join and Use Gab ExPraliteMonk on Rod Dreher Undermines His Own Book, “The Benedict Option” William Collins on Rod Dreher Undermines His Own Book, “The Benedict Option” Sven on Book Released: Galaxy Brainset Caleb Q. Washington Proudly powered by WordPress	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1320
__label__cc	0.58466	0.41534	Public Service Feature: The Value of K-9 Officers J. Reyne Moore As Americans take time to reflect today on the events of September 11, 2001, they undoubtedly will remember where they were when they learned of the tragedy that took place. They will also remember the loss of human life and the families that are still impacted by those losses today. But, fewer Americans remember Sirius. Sirius was the only K-9 officer killed in the line of duty during the collapse of the World Trade Center towers. His handler, Lt. Ken Lim, of the Port Authority Police Department barely made it out alive. Unfortunately, there was no saving Sirius who was kenneled for what his handler thought was his own safety, in the basement of the towers. The pair is pictured here prior to the September 11, 2001 events. Although there was a tremendous loss in the K-9 handling community during the events of that week, there was also amazing triumph. An estimated 300 K-9 officers and their handlers took part in the search and rescue operations following the fall of the towers. Even more were deployed to support other sites of the orchestrated terror attacks in PA and Washington, DC. The scenes were dangerous and grim. Rocky piles of rubble and rebar. Dust and debris in the air. Most of the citizens discovered by the K9 teams had already lost their lives. However, using their elite senses of smell and hearing, these dogs were able to identify several survivors within the first 27 hours after the attacks occurred. The power of these animals to persevere through extremely dangerous situations and emergencies is a valuable facet of any police force’s ultimate impact. Calhoun County, SC Sheriff’s Office has three K-9 officers and their handlers to help support local emergencies, search and rescue events and criminal apprehension. Sheriff Thomas S. Summers, Jr. noted in a recent interview that “typically everyone expects the sheriff to have at least a bloodhound. We are a small agency with limited resources. Over the years, we had acquired some dogs and some really good handlers but we’d never had a real solid team before now.” Sheriff Summers instituted the K-9 branch of his force this year stating, “we’ve put together this K-9 unit which is being trained by a very experienced deputy we just acquired from Lexington County. He actually started with me back in 2002. He’s a real good guy; smart at what he does. We’ve got three dogs we are really excited about.” The Sheriff is speaking of K-9 Deputy Adam Clayton who spent about 3 years in Calhoun County learning in 2002 and since then, worked on expanding his skills in Lexington County until earlier this year. “I started out here and everything I have done so far has prepared me for the job I am taking on now leading the K-9 team. Everything that happens in Lexington happens here, too. It just seems like it's on a smaller scale. But it still will happen here and we’re gonna be prepared for when it does happen,” said Clayton. “We have two patrol dogs and one tracking dog. Patrol dogs can respond to anything from suspects on the run or a suspect that is dangerous, maybe in a house or something. They do bite. They do apprehend. Also, they are able to find drugs. Now the blue tick, he is a tracking dog. He tracks people – lost children, endangered adults or bad guys.” Pictured here (L-R): Deputy Adam Clayton and Angus, Sergeant Chris Golden and Blue, and Deputy Patrick Mangum and Axel. Photo courtesy of Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. The blue tick hound, named Blue, is still relatively young and learning. “The puppy – he will be our, for lack of a better term, man-tracking dog. His main focus is gonna be – and the important thing to me – and this is what I tell my K-9 handlers - they can train those dogs to do anything. But when someone calls me and says Sheriff my three year old has wandered away, my dogs better be able to find them. If they can do anything, they better be able to do that. That’s the most important to me. I can catch criminals anytime. But that small child or elderly person who has wandered away from home, that is my focus,” said Summers. “I sent the handlers to a man who trains police K-9s to look at some dogs. And the handler called me and said I know you wanted a blood hound but I found this little blue tick who is awesome. We will bring him back and try him and if we like him, we’ll pull the plug on it. So he brought him back – beautiful little puppy,” said Summers. “We have hosted some other outside agencies to come in and train and they keep saying ‘that dog is phenomenal’. I’ve got real high hopes for little Blue. I think he’s gonna be a real good dog.” Blue (6 months old and partnered with Sergeant Chris Golden) and his K9 teammates Axel (a 4 year old Shepherd partnered with Deputy Patrick Mangum) and Angus (a 17 month old Belgian Malinois partnered with Deputy Clayton) will continue vigorous training to ensure they are compliant and successful in emergency situations when needed. Deputy Clayton confirms, “Training is continual with K9s as it is with any law enforcement officer. It’s something you have to do on a regular basis to make sure you’re on top of your game for when we’re needed.” Although the budget is not large for this unit, they have managed to make it work with what they have. Deputy Clayton said, “We have a wide variety of different things that we use from toys as rewards, we have a bite suit for training and we have different things like tracking harnesses and tracking lines for the dogs tracking people. We will also have our own drugs for training purposes.” Deputy Mangum is a 6-year veteran of the K-9 handling team. He was asked to describe a day in the life for him and his K-9. “A day in the life: you spend a good bit of your time bonding and doing training to prepare for what you may have to do later. You have to be bonded well with the dog or the dog won’t work with you and of course you won’t get the dog to listen to you. It’s a pretty busy day with all the training we do.” Pictured here is Deputy Patrick Mangum’s right upper arm after a training exercise where he impersonated a criminal. The deputy was wearing a bite suit and still sustained bruising and small puncture wounds. But that training doesn’t go unrewarded. “One of the biggest things you reward the dogs with that really gets them excited is verbal praise. We have a tug or a ball or something else that they associate with as far as doing a good job and working for you,” said Mangum. Although these dogs enjoy the praise they are not overly playful. They do not operate under the same rules as a normal household pet. Deputy Mangum explained, “They are working dogs and more like tools. They are friendly but are not like typical take-home pets.” The relationship between a handler can be life or death sometimes. Recently, a SC K-9 met an untimely death during the heat of the summer months. Turbo, a 2-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever trained in explosive detection, passed away on July 28, 2018 in Columbia, SC. He died of a “heat-related work injury” after being left in a police vehicle for over six hours. When asked if something like this happening was a concern in Calhoun County, First Sergeant Ralph Crapse who oversees operations for the Sheriff’s Office noted that the K-9 units are given the utmost care when it comes to being deployed on assignments or travelling around the county. “These dogs have A/C when it’s hot out and heat when it’s cold. They are given the luxury treatment just like a human would have because they are so valuable to us.” Each Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office K-9 travels in a Chevy Tahoe outfitted with a comfort package designed for police K-9 units. Each handler has a responsibility not only to the public but also to the dog with which he or she is partnered. “It’s something we take very seriously here,” affirmed Crapse. Pictured here is the interior of a Chevy Tahoe with upgraded K-9 package including environmental controls. Photo courtesy of odysseysv.com Overall, Sheriff Summers is hoping the people of Calhoun County recognize the importance of this unit and the investment of time, care and resources that it consumes. “The county probably is excited, and listen, it has been such an honor to serve as their Sheriff and I’m looking forward to many more years as their Sheriff. They have been so supportive of everything we have done. And that is how you build good strong law enforcement is to build community support and trust. And that’s what we have here in Calhoun County.” For more information on the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department, see www.calhounscsheriff.com. For more information on the 9/11 memorial, see https://www.911memorial.org/.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1322
__label__wiki	0.937986	0.937986	Home › Cases › Uncertainty for immigrant child about to age out of care Uncertainty for immigrant child about to age out of care An aftercare review was heard in Dublin District Court in respect of a child whose immigration status was uncertain. The child’s application had been made to Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) by the CFA. The CFA made the application last September and a further application was made in January. Following meetings with INIS, the CFA was advised that the application would be rejected but it had not been rejected yet. The CFA was not considered by INIS to be the legal guardian of the child. The natural mother could not sign the documents required as she was not an Irish citizen. The CFA solicitor said: “We are seeing if the office of legal services can liaise with the INIS [to ascertain] if anything could be done. We are pressing the immigration services to give us an update. The child ages out [of care] in January and it is causing her stress.” The judge said: “I am puzzled that INIS does not regard the CFA as a parent of the child.” The solicitor for the GAL said it seemed “to be the position that the parental responsibility of the CFA did not extend to making that application and it [the application] will have to wait until she is 18 years old. The GAL says she [the child] is dependable and has made progress but that does not mean that she could complete the [immigration] process when she turns 18.” He added: “If the application is rejected, the CFA [might] consider if there is a public law challenge. The GAL would ask the CFA to consider bringing a judicial review.” The solicitor for the CFA said: “It will be a matter for the agency then to bring a judicial review and we cannot pre-empt the outcome of the application.” The solicitor for the GAL said an individual from INIS and a time scale could be identified. If there was no progress, the solicitor for the GAL would seek a direction for someone from legal services to give an update about the status of the application. The judge noted the immigration authorities were part of the Department of Justice. He said it would be useful to tease out what INIS was saying about the application as the minor was left in limbo. He directed that an individual from INIS should be identified and a report on the status quo be prepared. The case resumed later with a child in care review. The judge had requested witnesses from INIS to come to court to give evidence in relation to the child’s immigration status and two witnesses from INIS were present in court. The CFA had received a letter from INIS and the contents of the letter were disputed by the CFA. The letter raised serious questions. The judge said: “It would be unfair to the social workers were they to give evidence on the basis of the letter today and I would hope to avoid that.” The CFA needed an opportunity to consider the letter before their integrity was called into question. Counsel for the GAL said the difficulty was the child was turning 18 years in January and it was understood in May 2018 that an application for naturalisation was refused. He said: “There was no action taken on foot of that and then we hoped for a second application for naturalisation. We thought it was made but the indication from INIS was that it would take six to eight months for a decision. The court made a direction that INIS provide an update but there was no reply. At all times we have tried to act expeditiously. It now transpires that no application was grounded before INIS and we are not sure how that happened.” Counsel added that INIS and the CFA had different views. We were not in the business of playing the blame game, counsel said. “We need to work out what the next progression is. We have six months to try and resolve the situation. There may be documentation which challenges the CFA integrity. Without looking backwards, the evidence taken today would look forward as to how to regularise the situation in the best interests of the child. I fully accept that the CFA are in a difficult position and those are my instructions.” The judge said: “This application should be made. The issue of the status [of the child] is an important child welfare issue and that is common case. We also have [the issue of] whether the paperwork was correctly refused and then we have the witnesses. If they [INIS] are talking to you, you do not need to put them in the witness box.” Counsel for the GAL said: “I think if I am to extract information from them, I would like that done by evidence.” The judge said: “There may be a situation where progress could be made to narrow down [the issues]. It is better if the court does not interfere in that process.” The solicitor for the CFA said priority could be given to a fresh application of the child to INIS. Counsel for the GAL said: “I would like to be on a formal footing and a certain degree of evidence. If the court adjourns the matter, we can then discuss this.” The judge said the other matter was the failure of INIS to recognise the CFA as the guardian of the child. Counsel for the GAL said that [issue] will have to litigated in Ireland. The aftercare review was adjourned.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1328
__label__wiki	0.50971	0.50971	About Cedefop News and press > United Kingdom: First 12 institutes of technology announced by UK Government 12 institutes of technology will be established across England to improve skills and career progression. The 12 institutes of technology (IoTs) will specialise in UK level 4 and 5 (EQF level 5) technical training in STEM subjects, including digital skills, advanced manufacturing and engineering. These institutes are designed as collaborative ventures between universities, further education colleges and employers. Leading employers including Airbus, GE Aviation, the Met Office, Microsoft, Nissan and Siemens are set to take part and will be involved in the design and delivery of the curricula, as well as the leadership and governance of the institutes. Employers will also provide seconded staff, programme equipment and additional investment. Growing demand for technical education The UK Government is introducing several initiatives in technical education, including the commencement of T-levels from 2020 (technical courses equivalent to A-levels – EQF level 3). At present, 7% of adults in the UK over the age of 18 undertake training at EQF level 5. This is comparatively low compared to other countries across the OECD. A growing demand for apprenticeships is predicted at this level. Evidence suggests that students completing qualifications at this level have a better rate of progression to further learning, and benefit from improved employability. This initiative is designed to meet future demand in technical disciplines, particularly STEM. Programmes offered by the 12 IoTs will help to provide a progression route into higher levels of technical education (level 6 and above), as well as directly into employment. Competition to select providers The concept of these institutes was first discussed in 2015. In December 2017 the government launched a two-stage competition to select the future IoTs. Applicants bid for a share of a GBP 170 million capital fund; each proposal was a collaboration between at least one further education (FE) provider, one higher education (HE) provider, and at least two employers in the sectors relevant to the institute’s proposed technical specialisations. Some 35 applicants took part in the first stage of bidding. They were checked to make sure they met the eligibility requirements, and were evaluated against assessment criteria relating to the core objectives and critical success factors of the IoT programme. A total of 16 applicants were shortlisted to proceed to stage 2, where a full business case was assessed together with an application for capital funding, in order to confirm viability of the proposal. With the 12 successful bids now announced, the chosen applicants will commence the practical process of getting each IoT ready for operation. The first students are expected to start their courses in September 2019. The first twelve institutes of technology announced Spotlight on VET United Kingdom 2018 Basic skill Sectoral training Related Theme: Reporting on European training policy VET in Europe ReferNet United Kingdom Read more about Spotlight on VET – 2018 compilation Spotlight on VET – 2018 compilation Press & media corner	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1329
__label__wiki	0.619055	0.619055	Gavin Lee Interview ~ Birt Mary Poppins The Musical Enjoy Celebrity Radio’s Gavin Lee Interview ~ Birt Mary Poppins The Musical…. Gavin Lee is a remarkable English actor who starred as Bert on Broadway in the musical Mary Poppins for nearly 10 years. He previously originated the role in the original West End production. He was chosen for the Broadway role because of his critically acclaimed performance as Bert in the West End production. He departed the Broadway production after nearly two years to launch the US National Tour, but returned to the Broadway production in August 2010 until its closing in March 2013. Most recently Gavin Starred in Top Hat in the West End. Belfeld met Gavin in 2006 and told him he would be going to Broadway as ‘Bert’ in Poppins…..a year later he did. Alex met up with him on Broadway to get smug….. Mary Poppins is a musical with music and lyrics by the Academy Award-winning Sherman Brothers with additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe and a book by Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes. The tour will be directed by Anthony Lyn, with choreography by Geoffrey Garratt and musical supervision by Stephen Brooker. Mary Poppins originally ran in the West End from 2004- 2008, directed by Richard Eyre with co-direction and choreography by Matthew Bourne. The musical is based on a series of children’s books by P. L. Travers and the 1964 Disney film, Mary Poppins is the story of a mysterious nanny who magically appears at the Banks household in Cherry Tree Lane in Edwardian London to care for children Jane and Michael Banks.iU’s a household in disarray – until the nanny, Mary Poppins, arrives. With Mary in the Banks’ lives and her no nonsense approach to making the right choices in life, nothing will be the same again.. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family how to value each other again takin them on a magical adventure whisking them away to meet dancing chimney sweeps, shopkeepers and an array of colorful characters. with spectacular sets and costumes, breathtaking dance numbers and songs including the Academy Award-winning “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Feed the Birds,” “You’ll have a “Jolly Holiday”, “Step in Time” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.” Recorded 2007 by Alex Belfield for Celebrity Radio and the BBC. Mary Poppins The Musical Review Chad Kimball Life Story Interview Memphis The Musical Noel Sullivan Life Story Interview ~ Grease The Musical ← Mamma Mia Musical Interview The Dynamos Disney The Lion King On Broadway Nala And Simba Interviews →	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1330
__label__wiki	0.876969	0.876969	Comedian, blending sound effects and characterisations. Rhys Darby is a genre-breaking, boundary leaping comic genius from New Zealand, performing internationally. His sensational blend of sound effects, characterisations and askew observations has been reducing international audiences to a state of bewildered hysteria since he launched himself onto the world circuit in 2002. By combining stand-up story telling with physical theatre Rhys has developed a truly unique style of comedy performance. Before leaving his home shores he enjoyed success as one of the most sought after live acts in the country. More than simply a stand-up ("A one-man special effect" - The Guardian), Rhys is also a prolific comedy playwright. He has written and performed in six plays since 2000, four of which were solo productions in which he took on all the roles. In 2002, he performed his first solo show in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the following year he moved to London to set himself up on the British comedy scene. He quickly became a cult figure on the circuit and a much talked about act amongst the critics and other comics alike. Because his material had such a universal appeal, he has been asked to perform in many other countries including Germany, France, Italy, Holland, Iceland, The Falklands and more recently the Middle East. Rhys plays the character Brian Nesbitt in the cult BBC Radio 2 series, Flight of the Conchords, and is also on the CBBC flagship children's show, Mighty Truck of Stuff, each Saturday morning. Based in the USA, Rhys spends time back in New Zealand each year. Better than your average blockbuster.... Nobody does it better. ... keep reading The Scotsman Rhys Darby does all his own stunts and special effects, and theme music ...and about a dozen characters. Darby stands out in a funny crowd. Rhys Darby is amazing. A storming performance... Astounding physical humour. Time Out, London	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1331
__label__cc	0.638384	0.361616	Home » Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy funds UCLA project Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy funds UCLA project CenterWatch Staff Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD) will provide $100,000 to Dr. Stanley Nelson of the University of California, Los Angeles, to examine the genomes of 40 boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy who are either very mildly affected or very severely affected. The goal is to identify changes in genes other than dystrophin that may affect the course of the disease. "We know that even boys who have exactly the same mutation in the dystrophin gene can have different disease courses," said Dr. Nelson. "It is very likely that other mutations or DNA variants in different genes may play a role in addition to dystrophin." Dr. Nelson will use a relatively new technique known as "exome sequencing" to look only at the parts of the genetic code that spell out the recipe for proteins, known individually as "exons." Because the exons of the genome make up less than 1% of the total genetic material, this method provides a far more practical way to look at the coding regions (genes) for the some 20,000 human proteins without having to sequence the participants' entire genome. For this project, Dr. Nelson will obtain blood samples primarily from boys and men participating in registries and other studies who have out-of-frame deletions or know they have Duchenne from a muscle biopsy data and have been identified as "outliers" for the speed at which the disease is progressing in the skeletal muscles—that is, they have very mild disease or very severe disease based on the age that the ability to walk was lost. The work will be conducted within the Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at UCLA with additional analyses supported by the Genomics and Bioinformatics Core of the NIAMS-funded UCLA Muscular Dystrophy Core Center. Information generated from this project may serve a number of important functions, including providing critical insight into biological functions that affect Duchenne progression; allowing clinical trial sponsors to select participants with more similar disease courses based on genetic data (to design smaller, faster, and more powerful trials); and identifying new targets for drug development. It is also likely that some of the changes identified will be relevant to other forms of muscular dystrophy and muscle disease. "The need to identify genetic modifiers is part of our strategic plan for research," said Sharon Hesterlee, PPMD's vice president for research. "We know this information may greatly speed the conduct of clinical trials by reducing the variability among participants in relation to other benefits. We are pleased to be able to fund Dr. Nelson's work."	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1332
__label__cc	0.720661	0.279339	Because the Federal Head Start Program Performance Standards and the Head Start Act of 2007 require not only a Board of Directors, but also a Parent Policy Council to lead the program, we have "shared governance" in that both governing bodies have specific duties and work together to advise and consent to actions by management. One way the two groups work together is the fact that the President of the Policy Council sits as a voting member on the agency's Board of Directors. A Director can be elected as a Community Representative on the Policy council. Both groups must agree before management can operate. It is a unique and very strong method of assuring that the people being served are part of the planning/governing group! The Board of Directors consists of 12 volunteer voting members. The Policy Council consists of one voting member per class/group so that all children and families are represented. Current Policy Council President is Dezja Green and Current President of the Board of Directors is Grace Anne Wilhelm.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1333
__label__cc	0.736399	0.263601	Dr. Erin Brown BSc (Hon) PhD MD FRCS(C) Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery - Body, Cosmetic Surgery - Breast, Cosmetic Surgery - Face Dr. Erin Brown is a Royal College Board-Certified Plastic, Hand, and Aesthetic Surgeon at our False Creek Healthcare Centre. He is also the Medical Director for Critical Care & Trauma services at the Vancouver General Hospital; and Research Director within the division of plastic surgery for the University of British Columbia. He received his Medical Doctorate (MD) in 1996 and completed his Residency in Plastic Surgery in 2001 from the University of British Columbia. He completed his Fellowship in Hand & Microsurgery in 2002 from the University of California. He also holds a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of British Columbia. Dr. Brown performs a variety of procedures, including, breast augmentation and lifts, liposuction, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), facelifts, and blepharoplasty (eye procedures). He has 11 field related published journals. False Creek Healthcare Centre in Vancouver, BC Dr. Erin Brown is accredited by the following institutions: Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada American Society of Plastic Surgeons Fellowship in Hand & Microsurgery - University of California - Santa Cruz, California - 2002 Fellowship - Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada - 2001 Residency in Plastic Surgery - University of British Columbia - Vancouver, British Columbia - 2001 Medical Doctorate - University of British Columbia - Vancouver, British Columbia - 1996 PhD in Neuroscience - University of British Columbia - Vancouver, British Columbia - 1993 University of Alberta - Bachelor of Science (Honors) - University of Alberta - Edmonton, Alberta - 1988 Honoured as an Angel through the Foundation’s Annual Holiday Angel Campaign Medical Director – Critical Care & Trauma Services, Vancouver General Hospital Fellowship Director – Plastic Surgery, University of British Columbia Director of Research – Plastic Surgery, University of British Columbia Clinical Professor – Plastic Surgery, University of British Columbia 11 Field Related Published Journals Scientific Researcher/Publisher Vancouver General Hospital: Workplace Accident Survivor Saved by Angel of a Doctor	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1334
__label__cc	0.511901	0.488099	Kilglass Kilglass, Roscommon, Ireland The owner of this page hasn't activated it yet. Community Games provides opportunities for children and young people aged between 6 and 16 to develop active healthy lives in a safe environment by taking part in a wide range of sporting and cultural activities. Community spirit and co-operation is at the heart of Community Games with a big focus on participation rather than winning. The Organisation believes that every young person should have the opportunity to take part in sports and art in their local community and grow up understanding the positive impact this can have on your life. Children can participate in a wide range of individual and team events in their local area and then go on to compete at County Level and finally in the Annual Festival which takes place every August. Community Games works with 200,000 children, 10,000 volunteers and over 1.3 million supporters in about 560 areas throughout 30 Counties. Martina Feehily joined Kilglass a Community Games group about 2 years ago Eileen Deehan joined Kilglass a Community Games group almost 4 years ago About Kilglass Eileen Deehan Sign up to view contact details Are you the owner of this page? Region: Ireland	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1338
__label__cc	0.577352	0.422648	Multiple Janesville townhouses damaged in fire Red Cross assisting displaced residents Posted: July 9, 2012 7:30 PM Updated: January 1, 2020 12:04 AM JANESVILLE, Wis. — Seven townhouses were damaged in a fire on Sunday, according to the Janesville Fire Department. Firefighters witnessed a large, black column of smoke as they approached the 3200 block of Midvale Drive about 2:30 p.m. Fire authorities said the fire started in a two-car detached garage and spread to a nearby, two-story, 16-unit townhouse building. The fire spread quickly into the attic of seven of the units before the fire was put out, according to a department news release. The building was built in 1996 and is owned by Paul Caprioli of Brookfield. One firefighter was taken to a hospital after a part of a ceiling fell on top of her. She was treated and released. Fire authorities said two other firefighters were treated at the scene for heat exertion. Three volunteers from the Red Cross assisted displaced residents with food and shelter.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1339
__label__wiki	0.85036	0.85036	MyCHOP Patient Portal Refer a Patient to CHOP Provide Feedback About My Hospital Visit HOW CAN WE HELP YOU? Call 1-800-TRY-CHOP Main menu mobile navigation Utility menu mobile navigation Liver Transplant: Josie’s Story Liver Transplant Program 1-877-ORGAN50 Soon after Josie Crawn was born, her parents, Jamie and Paul, noticed a yellow tint to their baby’s skin. They asked each pediatrician they saw for advice, but neither was concerned at first. At Josie’s 4-month appointment, Jamie took her back to the doctor who had first seen her as infant. Now the doctor was worried, and ordered an ultrasound and another test that would measure Josie’s liver function. That same evening, Jamie and Paul got a phone call with the results. They were told to take Josie to the Emergency Department at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) right away. Her organs were enlarged and her liver function was dangerously low. It was the night of Oct. 14 that they first brought Josie to CHOP. By Halloween, hepatologist Elizabeth Rand, MD, was recommending that Josie be put on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) waiting list. The liver transplant team had spent two weeks evaluating her symptoms and running test after test, but they couldn’t find an explanation for the baby’s advanced liver disease. All they knew for sure was that her condition was only getting worse as time passed and that she would need a liver transplant. Just two days later, transplant coordinator Rebecca Miller, MSN, CRNP, called to say there was a liver that looked like it would be a match for Josie. It was a shock for the family to get the call that quickly. Many families are on the transplant waiting list for months. Josie was taken into surgery on the evening of Nov. 2, and was recovering in the Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit by early the next morning. The night of Nov. 2, when Jamie and Paul found out that an end to the uncertainty and fear they had endured for two weeks was in sight, another family was just beginning their own ordeal. Finding comfort in tragedy Lin and Ron Moyer of East Stroudsburg, PA, were given the terrible news that no parent ever wants to receive. Their 20-year-old son, Ethan, had been in a serious car accident. He passed away that night at Lehigh Valley Hospital. In the midst of their shock that night, the Moyers learned something about their son they had never known: Ethan had registered himself as an organ donor. Doctors explained that his decision meant that his organs, bone, cartilage, blood and skin would all be used to save lives. As soon as it was allowed, Lin, Ron and their daughter, Rachel, began writing letters to the seven people who had received a donation from Ethan’s body. It was therapeutic for them, a way to begin the difficult healing process following their devastating loss. They sent their letters through Gift of Life, the local organ procurement organization, which also manages communication between donor families and organ transplant recipients. One of those letters went to Jamie and Paul, because their daughter Josie had received a portion of Ethan’s liver. The two families began corresponding regularly, exchanging letters and photos, and sharing the details of their stories. The Moyers explained that the other portion of Ethan’s liver had gone to a woman named Alberta Peters, who was treated at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Of the seven families they reached out to, the Moyers only heard back from the recipients of the two portions of Ethan’s liver. Building new relationships Soon the families started talking on the phone, and it wasn’t long before they planned a day in the summer of 2012 to meet in person. “I was nervous that first time we met, even though we’d spoken on the phone and already knew so much about each other,” says Jamie. “They had lost so much, while we had so much to be thankful for. "But that first meeting, when our families got together, was just wonderful," Jamie says. "There were lots of big hugs and they loved on Josie as much as they could. They brought her a blanket and toys that had been Ethan’s. Everyone was just so happy to get to know each other. "There were tears when we all told our stories about what had happened that day, but I think everyone was happy to know that we were there for each other.” For Lin and Ron, the relationships they’ve built with Josie, Alberta and their families are incredibly important. “To meet these people has been phenomenal,” says Lin. “We are so blessed to have them in our lives; they’re like our extended family now. Alberta and Josie are healthy and happy, and might not have been if it hadn’t been for what happened to my son. A part of him lives on through someone else, and that is a beautiful gift to all of us.” Ron adds, “He was such a peaceful, loving person and his death was tragic, but a lot of great things have come from it. He has helped so many people. We’d want nothing more than to have him back, but that’s just not possible. "Now we understand so well that there are blessings in those difficult moments, and eventually you will find out what they are.” The three families plan regular reunions and talk on the phone about once a month. Ethan’s sister, who Josie now calls Aunt Rachel, will have the 2½-year-old as a flower girl in her July wedding. A few months ago, Josie’s father renewed his driver’s license. When he came home he proudly held it up for his wife to see: “Look what it says — I’m an organ donor.” Originally posted: April 2013 Interior Menu General Page Liver Transplant Program Home Patient Outcomes: By the Numbers Transplant Waiting List Main Hospital About CHOP Financial Assistance Policy ©2019 The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is a charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1340
__label__wiki	0.958648	0.958648	https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Houston-man-sentenced-to-80-years-for-two-fatal-13276677.php Houston man sentenced to 80 years for two fatal wrecks in one day By Brian Rogers Updated 8:17 am CDT, Wednesday, October 3, 2018 Blaine Boudreaux, 38, on trial in a Houston courtroom on Tuesday Sept. 25, 2018. He was charged with felony murder stemming from a pair of fatal accidents on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, in Houston. Boudreaux is charged with causing the wreck that killed 6-year-old boy Joshua Medrano after running over homeless military veteran, Leonard Batiste, 61, Blaine Boudreaux, 38, on trial in a Houston courtroom on Tuesday Sept. 25, 2018. He was charged with felony murder stemming from a pair of fatal accidents on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, in Photo: Brian Rogers A Harris County jury late Tuesday sentenced a 38-year-old Houston man to 80 years in prison after convicting him of felony murder for causing a 2015 crash that left a 6-year-old boy dead just minutes after a hit-and-run that killed a homeless veteran. Blaine Boudreaux was sentenced by state District Judge Robert Johnson after jurors deliberated about four hours. “He should spend every day of it behind bars thinking about the people he killed,” District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a release after the verdict. “Hit and run murder is an especially cowardly crime.” Boudreaux was implicated in four wrecks, two of which were fatal over the course of three and a half hours on April 26, 2015, a Sunday afternoon. A DAY OF WRECKS: A timeline of Blaine Boudreaux's alleged crashes During the week and a half-long trial, defense attorneys Billy Skinner and Matt Deluca argued that the prosecutors did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Boudreaux was committing a hit- and-run when he ran a stoplight and caused the wreck that killed 6-year-old Joshua Medrano. After the verdict, Skinner said he was disappointed for Boudreaux’s young son. He also said the district attorney’s office was grandstanding by charging Boudreaux with felony murder instead of intoxication manslaughter, which would have capped punishment at 20 years. “We are really disappointed for Blaine and his family, particularly his son Eli,” he said. “I believe this is a direct result of the DA’s office overcharging the crime for alleged ‘deterrence’ but what they want is the publicity.” Prosecutors detailed a long trail of carnage that began about 3:00 p.m. that day when he rear-ended a mother and her daughter on Fannin near the Texas Medical Center and was given a traffic ticket by a Houston police officer. About an hour later, he rear-ended a man in a smart car at Weslayan and Westpark. Within 20 minutes of that, Boudreaux allegedly caused two more crashes, both of which were fatal. He drove his black Dodge Ram pickup to Spur 5, near the University of Houston, where he ran over 61-year-old homeless military veteran Leonard Batiste. Minutes later, he was going about 60 mph when he ran a stoplight at Lockwood and Interstate 10, colliding with a Honda Civic and killing Medrano. Prosecutors told jurors that police arrested him on the scene for driving while intoxicated and said blood tests showed he had taken the prescription drug Xanax. Joshua Medrano’s family was present during trial and watched during closing arguments as Vehicular Crimes Chief Sean Teare and prosecutor Lynn Nguyen told jurors about Boudreaux’s history of driving while drugged or drunk. “This little boy deserves justice,” Teare said as he held up a photo of a smiling Joshua wearing a blue and white striped polo shirt. “He never got to grow up. Angel and Cynthia never got to see him have a girlfriend or go to prom or have children - it got taken away from him, just snatched away.” brian.rogers@chron.com	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1341
__label__wiki	0.844824	0.844824	2000 National Design Award Winners NDA \| MENU Nominate for 2020 Celebrate design The National Design Awards program celebrates design as a vital humanistic tool in shaping the world, and seeks to increase national awareness of design by educating the public and promoting excellence, innovation, and lasting achievement. Frank Gehry is known for making astonishing buildings, but his achievement is much greater: he has single-handedly made design a public event. Cities clamor for his buildings, and people make pilgrimages to their doorsteps. In 1962, he formed Frank O. Gehry & Associates in Santa Monica, California, and in 1978 he gained widespread public attention for the reinvention of a humble bungalow for his family. His titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, in Balboa, Spain (1997) has transformed the museum and the city. Other projects include Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, a computer science center at MIT, and Vitra Design Museum in Germany. Since winning the Lifetime Achievement Award, he has taken on increasingly complex projects, including designs for a proposed Guggenheim Museum in New York City and a new wing at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. American Originals This honor—created especially for the first National Design Awards—is bestowed on individuals who have achieved the feat of becoming cultural icons by taking highly personal, even iconoclastic, paths to hone a unique vision of design. Morris Lapidus, 1902-2001 Morris Lapidus studied acting at New York University and architecture at Columbia University before embarking on one of the most dramatic careers in the history of American architecture. Today the architect is best known for his design of two of the most glamorous postwar resort hotels in Miami Beach, the Fontainebleau (1954) and the Eden Roc (1955); for inventing the modern storefront; and for a large body of work that includes office buildings, apartment complexes, stores, hotels, and stage sets. It is hard to believe that Lapidus was once dismissed for his stylistic excesses. Today his joyful subversion of European modernism through a uniquely American vernacular of entertainment, spectacle, and whimsy is admired and studied by a new generation of architects. An American original, Morris Lapidus has turned Vitruvius’s trinity of classical architectural principles—commodity, firmness, and delight—on its head, putting delight at the apex of the experience of architecture. John Hejduk, 1929-2000 True romantics are dangerously scarce these days. Thus the death of architect John Hejduk this past 2000 was a loss of devastating proportion. He was his profession’s poet. Hejduk transformed a traditional practice into an intellectual and spiritual voyage that investigated architecture as the expression of ideas—ideas about the human conditions of personal relationships, community, and rites of passage from birth to death. In effect, he created an architecture of the soul. An American original, he forcefully crossed mediums and presaged the current developments in virtual architecture. As Dean of the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art for twenty-five years beginning in 1975, he influenced generations of architects with his passion and deeply imprinted them with his vision. Through his lifelong investigations, Hejduk, ever the transcendental pragmatist, illuminated new corridors of thought and practice. Corporate and Institutional Achievement When Apple rolled out its new iMac in 1998, commentators couldn’t resist hailing the colorful new computers as the fruits of a design revolution. However, this was no conversion: the iMac was an affirmation of Apple’s core values. Since the mid-1970s, Apple Computers has overturned industry standards of speed and functionality with an approach that values design as an integral part of computer engineering. Apple’s first personal computer, the Macintosh, hit the market in 1984, introducing human-centered, easy-to-use applications, “icons,” and the point-and-click mouse at a time when other personal computers required technical expertise. Today, a reinvigorated Apple produces such leading products as the Power Mac G4, PowerBook G4, iPod, iBook, and the company continues to be one of the major suppliers of personal computers to schools and universities. Apple’s new flat-screen iMac, released in 2002, reaffirms the company’s devotion to design as a central tenet of their business plan. Ralph Appelbaum When Ralph Appelbaum began his career three decades ago, designing an exhibition might have meant little more than specifying wall color and pedestal dimensions. Today, the museum designer creates exhibitions that rival movie sets in technical complexity and books in narrative intensity. Appelbaum’s designs have transformed museums from temples into public forums. For each project, he assembles a cast of architects, model makers, historians, and childhood specialists—as well as poets and scientists. The diversity of talent on his teams underscores Appelbaum’s conviction that communication is a holistic enterprise, involving all three dimensions and all five senses. Appelbaum has honed the exhibition into one of the most persuasive and pleasurable means of communicating knowledge. His important projects include the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., the Museum of African American History in Detroit, and various exhibition halls at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Since opening his San Francisco design office in 1949, Lawrence Halprin has been in the business of bringing gardens—and their attending civic graces—to American cities. Remarkably, he romanticizes neither. In fact, the key to Halprin’s success may lie in his acceptance of the reality of his materials—natural forms that grow, change, and simply don’t stay put—and of the people whose lives are affected by his work. The central role of human movement in his landscapes is evident in one of his best-known projects, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C., which Halprin describes as a “walking environmental experience.” One of the first landscape architects to address landscapes damaged by urban freeways, Halprin’s Seattle Freeway Park and the Westchester Wall have become prototypes for integrating highways into communities. Other important projects include Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco and an overlook to the Old City of Jerusalem. Paul Maccready Design today places a premium on beauty, lightness, speed, and sustainability. Paul MacCready’s energy-efficient vehicles have been a paragon of those virtues for decades before they became so urgently fashionable. MacCready’s early innovations earned him the moniker “father of human-powered flight.” In 1977, MacCready made history with his Gossamer Condor, the first successful human-powered airplane. Two years later his Gossamer Albatross broke records as the first human-powered aircraft to cross the English Channel. Supported by NASA, MacCready and his team are currently at work on solar-powered high-altitude aircraft that will someday allow for nonpolluting flights in the stratosphere and the relaying of multichannel-bandwidth communications. Committed to the green evolution of all modes of human transport, he is also deeply engaged in experimentation with new solar- and electric-powered cars and is a leader in global initiatives to develop vehicles powered by batteries and alternative fuels.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1344
__label__wiki	0.647283	0.647283	Jade Starling - Episode 553 Steve Cooper talks with singer/songwriter Jade Starling. Jade is best known as one half of the late 80s duo Pretty Poison who had the #1 platinum hit Catch Me I’m Falling. She returned to the Top 5 on the Sept. 5th 2015 Billboard Club Chart with Better and Better which peaked at #3. That song was not only the 3rd single from the critically acclaimed Captive album but also the highest charted record featuring her since When I Look Into Your Eyes topped the charts in 1988. In addition to Better and Better, Captive has also yielded the Billboard club hits Insominiak and Think About U. Catch Me I’m Falling has continued to reach new fans with features on AMC’s smash hit Breaking Bad & MTV’s Ridiculousness starring Rob Dyrdek and featuring Derek Hough of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. She hs sold millions of records in her career and in this era of social media, has continued to grow in popularity. Her recordings have been featured in scores of movies including such high profile releases as You Don't Mess with the Zohan featuring Adam Sandler, the art house classic Pinero starring Benjamin Bratt and the cult favorite Hiding Out starring Jon Cryer. She has also helped raise money for charities through her philanthropic passions Breast Cancer Awareness and the TJ Martell Foundation as well as her work in the LGBT community and has a new single Party2Life which he performed on the WKTU float at NY Pride. This episode sponsored by Blowfish for Hangovers. Check them out at www.forhangovers.com (Use the promo code COOPER for 20% off.) This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 20th, 2016 at 9:16 pm and is filed under comedy, music, acting, rock, televison, movies, hollywood.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1346
__label__wiki	0.714814	0.714814	Wellington HC 24 homes in the London Borough of Hounslow. Registered office: 8 Waldegrave Road, Teddington, TW11 8GT. Wellington's contact for housing management enquiries at Co-op Homes is Zoe Levine. To access the Members' Area you need to be a member of this co-op. Please log in with the User Name and Password which has been issued to all members by Co-op Homes. If you have forgotten this or are a new user please contact us. HISTORY OF WELLINGTON HOUSING CO-OPERATIVE (WHC) Early days of voluntary action The history of WHC initially discussed with temporary residents of Wellington Road at the start of 1980, dates back to the 1960s. A group of young, single people in outer West London came together through the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and local Folk Clubs. By the mid 1960s they began to move beyond just protesting towards practical co-operative solutions for some of their needs. The Freeman Syndicate was set up to run a range of activities. The Freeman Syndicate Fun Club was run by volunteers on every Friday evening until the early 70s in the White Hart pub in Southall. Folk, jazz, blues, poetry, comedy and drama were mixed with politics and planning new projects. A large van owned by the Syndicate was used for weekend trips and moving members between homes. Occasional concerts were promoted and, with help from Syndicate volunteers and funds, a West London magazine was produced. Many Syndicate members could not find decent affordable housing and several years of discussion led to the formation of Middlesex Housing Association (MHA) in 1969. First attempt to house 54 people for only £10,000 The first MHA proposal, in 1969, was to lease the long-empty Railway Workers Hostel in Southall. This was to be converted into flats, a communal space, restaurant, laundry, shop and a crèche to house 54 people at a cost of £10,000. Voluntary, self-help building work was planned to make this possible without any Government subsidy. Unfortunately British Rail did not lease the building to MHA and it was left derelict for many years. Filling up the empties MHA members looked for other schemes and, from early 1972, set up several organisations which resulted in the first properties being obtained free of charge from Hounslow Council in early 1973. These were renovated entirely by voluntary labour and more properties were then located by volunteers carrying out empty property surveys in the Boroughs of Hounslow, Hillingdon and Ealing. Initial fundraising was aided by members saving £20 a month in loanstock issued by MHA. The 1974 Housing Act made Government subsidy available so MHA began to set up permanent Housing Co-operatives for Green Dragon Lane (GDL) in Brentford and Water Tower (WT) in Southall. First Foothold in Wellington Road The first two houses in Hounslow renovated by volunteers in early 1973 were next to the Staines Road at the end of Wellington Road North. These were eventually demolished for road junction improvement which widened a short stretch of Wellington Road. Road widening blight on all their houses There was a very long standing Greater London Council (GLC) plan to widen the entire length of Wellington Road. This blighted most of the houses along the road as there was no incentive to spend money on maintaining buildings which might soon be demolished. Hounslow Council themselves used some properties as temporary accommodation for homeless people. MHA negotiated to lease increasing numbers of other houses from both Hounslow Council and the GLC throughout the 70s and 80s. Wellington Co-op on the road at last! After the GLC road widening schemes were scrapped, bidding began in 1987 for WHC to become eligible for Government grant funding. This was agreed in 1988 and the first permanent flats for 6 single people were converted from 3 houses by May 1989. Four converted flats for families were finished by May 1991. Other newly built properties were provided on the sites of some houses which had been demolished. Celebrating Co-op history One project, finished in July 1993, was built at the rear of a terrace which still remains in temporary use. A new road was built which Co-op members named ”Toad Lane” after the address of the first Co-op shop opened in Britain. Toad Lane cost £700,000 for two 3 bedroomed houses, five 2 bedroomed flats, including one with disability access, and a 3 bedroomed bungalow for a family including a wheelchair user. End of the road for public subsidy Changes in grant funding rules made in 1988 required private finance as well as Government subsidy to fund future schemes. Only large scale housing associations were able to work under these new rules. The Co-op worked with a large Association to complete projects which were already in the pipeline, but was not encouraged to bid for new projects. Back to the future? WHC properties acquired when the GLC was being abolished which have not been permanently improved are leased to Middlesex Housing Co-op (MHC) for temporary housing. MHC carries on the temporary housing role of MHA and now also owns other properties in the road which are in temporary use. MHC continues to purchase adjacent properties to assemble sites for longer term future co-op developments in partnership with WHC. These will have to wait until grant funding rules are again more favourable to co-ops. Self help instead of waiting for help. MHC has recently renovated some of the Wellington Road houses for continued temporary use, with part of the work being done by self help voluntary labour. This rolling programme has been aimed at younger people, some the children of long-time co-op members, who want to share living in the finished houses. This provides valuable learning about being involved in joining and running a co-operative organisation, including election to the committee which manages MHC. This experience will make it much more likely that participants who apply for permanent rehousing will be accepted by other co-ops.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1347
__label__wiki	0.548737	0.548737	Home > Site accessibility The Australian Sports Commission website provides a wide range of information to all Australians. We have incorporated a number of facilities in our website to enable easier access to our content. As far as is practical, no images have been used to represent text on this website. As a result, all navigational elements and content will be accessible to all users, regardless of the hardware or software used to browse the ASC website. The number of images on pages has been kept to a minimum to shorten the loading time of each page. Documents included on the ASC website are presented in alternative formats. The most commonly accessed documents are provided as standard webpages, which can viewed in a browser or printed and read offline, and RTF and PDF documents are also used in various areas. RTF documents can be opened in most word processor programs including Microsoft Word, Microsoft WordPad, Corel WordPerfect, AppleWorks, and ClarisWorks. Some documents are presented only in PDF format. If you have trouble accessing one of these documents please contact us. Government accessibility standards The Australian Government Information Management Office sets out minimum standards of website accessibility, and the ASC website seeks to comply with these standards in an effort to make our content easily available to all users, regardless of the hardware or software used to access our website, or the constraints under which the user may be operating. The ASC website is regularly tested to ensure ongoing conformance with these standards. The website accessibility standards outline three levels of conformance that describe how well a website answers the requirements. The first level of compliancy assures that a website has fulfilled all checkpoints that are absolutely necessary to provide a minimum standard of accessibility. The second level of compliancy assures that a website has fulfilled all the checkpoints that should be followed to provide a good level of accessibility. The third level of compliancy assures that a website has fulfilled all checkpoints that may be followed to provide an optimal level of accessibility. The ASC website strives to uphold the second level of compliance for all webpages. If you encounter any problems while using of this website, or find that content is inaccessible, please tell us by using the Feedback link at the bottom of every page.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1349
__label__wiki	0.947966	0.947966	Cory McCord, Digital News Editor Published: July 9, 2019, 10:32 pm Tags: Crime, Local, News He said, she said: South Loop incident leads to shooting at gas station, police say HOUSTON – Houston police said an incident on the South Loop led to a shooting Tuesday night. The woman involved in the incident said she was cut off by a man while she was driving on the Loop. She said the man chased her to a gas station on the Loop and Almeda Road, where he got out of his vehicle and started intimidating her. The woman said she called her boyfriend, who showed up to the gas station with another man. She said the man who was involved in the incident on the freeway pulled out a gun and shot her boyfriend. The man involved in the incident on the Loop said the woman hit him and didn't stop. He said he followed her to the gas station to get her information. He said when the woman's boyfriend arrived, he felt threatened so he shot and hit the woman's boyfriend one time. Police said he left the scene because he didn't feel safe and called authorities. What police are saying Police are hoping surveillance video will clarify what happened and determine if the shooting was in self-defense or was a road-rage incident. Is the boyfriend OK? The boyfriend was shot one time in the abdomen and is expected to live, according to police. He underwent surgery Tuesday night.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1350
__label__cc	0.591917	0.408083	The Torture of Absolute Power Robert C. Koehler Detainees sitting in a holding area watched by military police at Camp X-Ray inside Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (Photo: REUTERS) “The existence of the approximately 14,000 photographs will probably cause yet another delay in the military commissions at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, as attorneys for the defendants demand that all the images be turned over and the government wades through the material to decide what it thinks is relevant to the proceedings.” This was the Washington Post a few days ago, informing us wearily that the torture thing isn’t dead yet. The bureaucracy convulses, the wheels of justice grind. So much moral relativism to evaluate. “They did what they were asked to do in the service of our nation,” CIA director John Brennan said at a news conference in December, defending CIA interrogators after a portion of the 6,700-page Senate Intelligence Committee report was made public. Serving the nation means no more than doing what you’re told. God bless America. Flags wave, fireworks burst on the horizon. Aren’t we terrific? But this idea we celebrate — this nation, this principled union of humanity — is just a military bureaucracy, full of dark secrets. The darkest, most highly classified secret of all is that we’re always at war and we always will be. And war is an end in itself. It has no purpose beyond its own perpetuation. This is the context of torture. At least this is what occurred to me as I reflected on the most recent non-news, that the existence of multi-thousands of photographs of U.S. black site operations are out there somewhere, classified but known and pulsing. What more can we learn that we don’t already know? “On Nov. 20, 2002, (Gul) Rahman was found dead in his unheated cell. He was naked from the waist down and had been chained to a concrete floor. An autopsy concluded that he probably froze to death.” So the Los Angeles Times informed us in December, in an article about two psychologists, Bruce Jessen and James Mitchell, who were serving their country in the early days of the War on Terror by developing the CIA’s torture methodology. “When he was left alone,” the article reported, describing another detainee’s experience, “(Abu) Zubaydah ‘was placed in a stress position, left on a waterboard with a cloth over his face, or locked in one of two confinement boxes.’ “In all, he spent 266 hours — 11 days and two hours — locked in the pitch-dark coffin, and 29 hours in a much smaller box. In response, he ‘cried,’ ‘begged,’ ‘whimpered’ and grew so distressed that ‘he was unable to effectively communicate,’ the interrogation team reported. “The escalating torment, especially the waterboarding, affected some on the CIA team. ‘It is visually and psychologically very uncomfortable,’ one wrote. Several days later, another added, ‘Several on the team profoundly affected . . . some to the point of tears and choking up.’” And a few weeks ago, The Telegraph newspaper, quoting from the Senate Intelligence Committee Report, described the experience of Majid Khan, who “was raped while in CIA custody (‘rectal feeding’). He was sexually assaulted in other ways as well, including by having his ‘private parts’ touched while he was hung naked from the ceiling. . . . “‘Majid had an uncovered bucket for a toilet, no toilet paper, a sleeping mat and no light. . . . For much of 2003 he lived in total darkness.’” And the awkward part of all this, for defenders of the military bureaucracy, is that these torture procedures produced no information of any value. We sold our soul to the devil and got nothing at all in return. Bad deal. Whatever details about the torture program remain classified and buried, these stories, along with plenty of shocking photographs, are fully public. There’s enough data here to open a deep conversation about what it means to be a nation and what the limits of power ought to be. What I see instead is a sort of official resignation — on the part of media and government — to the inevitability of out-of-control power in the pursuit of self-defense. Philip Zimbardo called this phenomenon the Lucifer Effect: the utterly corrupting nature of total power over others. Reports of CIA torture are rife with observations that the interrogators were out of control. The information they sought from the utterly powerless detainees in their keep was a treasure to be extracted, like oil or diamonds from the bowels of the earth, and no technique was too inhumane, too morally odious, to achieve that end. Call it human fracking. It’s for the good of America. The awareness that must emerge from a decade-and-counting of torture revelations is that absolute power over others does not keep us safe and should not be pursued. And torture is only a minute fraction of the wrong we promulgate through unchecked militarism, the aim of which is domination of the planet. Step one in the unhealthy pursuit of power is the dehumanization of “the enemy.” The consequences of what we do after that will always haunt us. Robert Koehler is an award-winning, Chicago-based journalist and nationally syndicated writer. His new book, Courage Grows Strong at the Wound is now available. Contact him at koehlercw@gmail.com or visit his website at commonwonders.com. Trump’s Unprecedented Attack on Iran and the Rule of Law 'Let Her In': Outrage Swirls After Six-Year-Old Girl With Downs Syndrome and Heart Condition Turned Away at US Border War & Peace, U.S. Torture, Guantánamo, Human Rights, War Crimes 'Naked, Unapologetic and Insidious' Corruption: Democrats Respond to Trump's Official Statement on Impeachment Charges	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1354
__label__wiki	0.856738	0.856738	Kid Cudi Checks Into Rehab for Depression, Shares Message for Fans ByShawn Setaro Shawn is a Senior Staff Writer at Complex and the host of The Cipher, a critically acclaimed hip-hop podcast that conducts in-depth interviews with the genre’s most interesting and important figures. Shawn is also the former editor-in-chief of Rap Genius, and has written about music and culture for Forbes, The Atlantic, Vibe, The Source, GQ, Esquire, The Sondheim Review, and more. On Tuesday night, Kid Cudi posted on Facebook that he has checked himself into "rehab for depression and suicidal urges." He told fans that "anxiety and depression have ruled my life for as long as I can remember and I never leave the house because of it... I dont trust anyone because of it and Im tired of being held back in my life. I deserve to have peace. I deserve to be happy and smiling." Cudi acknowledged that he wouldn't be around to promote his upcoming releases (his upcoming album Passion, Pain & Demon Slayin' recently had its release delayed due to sample clearance issues). "The album is still on the way," he promised, adding that he also still hopes to perform at ComplexCon on Nov. 5. "I'll be looking forward to seeing you all there for high fives and hugs." He closed with an apology and good wishes for the fans: Love and light to everyone who has love for me and I am sorry if I let anyone down. I really am sorry. Ill be back, stronger, better. Reborn. I feel like shit, I feel so ashamed. Im sorry. Scott Mescudi Cudi's full statement is below. Oh my God. Everyone please pray for Kid Cudi. 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/O099WwA6Ji — Stephen Dacres (@SRDtv) October 5, 2016 RELATED: How Kid Cudi Lost and Found Himself in 2016 NewsComplex News VideosKid CudiComplex VideoComplexCon	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1355
__label__cc	0.724567	0.275433	Transcript: House Speaker Crisanta Duran’s 2018 Legislative Session Opening Day Speech By Colorado Public Radio Staff The following are the prepared remarks of Democrat Cristanta Duran, Speaker of the House on the opening day of the second regular session of the 71st Colorado General Assembly. Thank you and welcome to the second regular session of the 71st General Assembly. 2018 is shaping up as another great year for Colorado. Our overall economy continues to grow and our unemployment rate continues to be one of the lowest in the nation. We continue to attract new jobs, new businesses and new events. Later this month, for the first time, we’ll host the Outdoor Retailer Show, one of many tangible rewards for our forward-thinking conservation policies and commitment to public lands. It should be a point of pride for all Coloradans, especially our military veterans, that the Navy’s newest attack submarine, to be commissioned in March, is the USS Colorado. But the best news for our veterans is that barring further federal delays our new state-of-the-art VA hospital in Aurora will finally open this summer! Members, we are gathered here because we believe in service, in the ability to make positive change, in the power of working together to solve complex problems. And because we love Colorado and what it stands for: Opportunity for all who show responsibility through hard work. A strong sense of community, where people are valued not for their wealth or their connections, but for what they do for others. A spirit of cooperation and inclusiveness. And of course our spectacular vistas and open spaces. From the golden dome of this building we can see three Fourteeners and one of the most vibrant economies in America. So many people are moving here for the mix of sunshine, scenic beauty and economic opportunity that we call the Colorado way of life. Our task over the next 120 days is to preserve and enhance our Colorado way of life, which is so different from the discord and dysfunction emanating from Washington D.C. Coloradans are counting on us to stand strong, to be productive, to defy the unsettling trends we’ve seen elsewhere in America. The eyes of Colorado will be on us, including some special guests who have come to this chamber this morning. The first Latino Speaker of the Colorado House, Ruben Valdez. The first Latina to serve in the House and Senate of any state legislature, Polly Baca. Former Lt. Gov. Gail Schoettler. Denver DA and former representative Beth McCann. Former representatives Fran Coleman, Su Schafer, Rosemary Marshall and Roger Wilson. We also welcome two new members, Rep. Dylan Roberts of Eagle County and Rep. Judy Reyher of Otero County. Rep. Roberts is now the youngest member of the General Assembly, part of a new generation of leaders. If he is a glimpse of the future, our future is bright. The two of you have joined a group of legislators who have shown that through respectful dialogue and inclusiveness we can turn our wide range of experiences and perspectives into policy that truly benefits the people of our state. We can point with pride to what we achieved for Coloradans in the 2017 session, which was widely acclaimed as the most productive in recent memory. We proved that we don’t just talk about not being like Washington D.C. We proved by our actions that here in Colorado, we can work together to get things done. After years of effort, we made a bipartisan breakthrough on a budget restructure called the hospital provider fee. Fixing it saved hospitals around the state from more than half a billion dollars in budget cuts. Those cuts would have impacted every hospital in the state, and would have been fatal to some of our smaller hospitals in rural areas of Colorado. Last session I visited Lincoln Community Hospital in the Eastern Plains town of Hugo. I saw firsthand how essential our rural hospitals are. They are the nursing home, family clinic, ambulance service and sometimes hospice care for their communities. Rural hospitals saved Edward Humphrey. Aside from serving in the Korean War, Ed has lived on the Eastern Plains all his life. He met his wife, Barbara, when he was a hired hand threshing corn for Barbara’s grandparents. He went on to work as a Colorado brand inspector for two decades. Last Friday they celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. If not for Lincoln Community Hospital, Ed might not have been around to mark two-thirds of a century of marriage. In 2016, he experienced life-threatening complications following surgery. But the doctors at Lincoln Community pulled him through. Barbara Humphrey said, “I can breathe easier knowing that Lincoln Community Hospital is open and remains open. Because of the budget restructure, Lincoln Community Hospital continues to save lives every day.” Barbara Humphrey is here with us today, joined by Kevin Stansbury, president and CEO of Lincoln Community Hospital. Also with us is Konnie Martin, CEO of San Luis Valley Health in Alamosa. Konnie and Kevin are from rural hospitals that would have been jeopardized by that half a billion in budget cuts. Working together for families like the Humphreys, we prevented that. To Konnie and Kevin, and to all our rural hospitals across the state, thank you for the lives you save and for the rural way of life that your care helps to preserve. The same bill that saved rural hospitals freed up an additional 100 million dollars that are being used to leverage $1.9 billion in new transportation projects around the state. From Johnstown to the Four Corners, from Rifle to Pueblo, you will see investments in transportation infrastructure from this important bill. Some of the most significant improvements will be felt on our interstate highways. Our bipartisan legislation allows us to fund projects to relieve pressure on I-25 and I-70, as well as many other locally controlled projects. Mike Hillman is mayor of Idaho Springs, one of many Colorado communities where I-70 is a lifeline. He knows the importance of mobility to commerce, to law enforcement, to emergency services, to our Colorado way of life. He knows that a single pothole on Floyd Hill can hurt sales in Idaho Springs. In fact, it happened just a couple of weeks ago. Mayor Hillman has seen the effects of improvements to I-70, and he is looking forward to more projects funded by the hospital provider fee fix. Mayor Hillman, thank you for joining us today! In 2017 we also resolved a thorny issue that we hope will help address our housing needs by spurring more condo development. Our bipartisan legislation will help Colorado homeowners make informed decisions about construction defect claims while ensuring their ability to protect what for most of them is their single biggest investment — their homes. Our goal is to restore some balance to the real estate market and ease a housing crunch that has made home ownership unattainable for too many Coloradans. This bill passed the General Assembly by a combined vote of 97 to 0. For what we can achieve when we check our egos at the door, roll up our sleeves and hammer out bipartisan solutions to problems facing Coloradans, I can think of no finer example than construction defects. Well, maybe except equity in school funding. Because of our work together last year, Colorado is the first state in the nation to fully address equitable local funding for all public school students. In the 2018 session and beyond we must keep striving to eradicate the race- and income-related disparities that continue to exist in Colorado’s schools. The legislation we passed in 2017 prioritizes funding for Colorado kids who have been historically underserved, regardless of the type of school they attend. It strikes a balance that maintains local control for school districts, ensures that funding is allocated based on student need, and creates greater transparency and accountability for charter schools. Hospital funding, transportation investment, construction defects and school funding equity – these are issues that have vexed this legislature for decades. Tearing down roadblocks on these issues gave us some powerful momentum heading into the interim. But today, we start this session with a different set of obstacles. The most disturbing are the allegations of workplace harassment that have swept across the country, reaching into the entertainment industry, news organizations, Congress and more than a dozen state legislatures. Including ours. We must confront these issues head on and successfully reform the culture of the Capitol. There is no place for harassment, hate speech or discrimination in this chamber. As we begin to make changes here at the Capitol, each and every member of this body has a personal responsibility to do our part to create a safe and respectful workplace for all. We must also reauthorize the Colorado Civil Rights Division, which protects Coloradans' freedom from discrimination based on age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, religion and ancestry. And we can’t stop there. The time for cultural change is now. There should be no double standard requiring women and people from underrepresented communities to feel that they have to work twice as hard and be twice as smart to make partner at their law firm, climb the corporate ladder or succeed in public service. It is not lost on me that there are women in restaurants and hotels, immigrants in meatpacking plants and workers in factories who feel they must endure inappropriate behavior just to survive and feed their families. Throughout my time in the legislature I have worked to encourage more women and people from underrepresented communities to enter public service. This work will be for naught unless we promote work environments where the arc of your career is determined by your hard work, qualifications, merit and skill. The hurdles of harassment and discrimination faced by women, people of color and people with disabilities should have been leveled a long time ago, but it is crystal clear that these challenges persist today. People in our country are speaking out like never before about harassment, sexism and discrimination. Let our actions show that the intolerable will be tolerated no more. On this and many other topics, it is imperative that we do the job we were sent here to do – to solve problems for Coloradans. We have plenty of opportunities and plenty of challenges. Members, Colorado’s population is growing by more than 180 people per day. Some of the legislation we’ve passed in recent years has helped us absorb this influx. We have promoted economic development and workforce development programs so that more Coloradans have the education and training they need to get the high-skill, high-tech jobs that our economy is now producing in great numbers. Colorado overall has one of the strongest state economies in America. That’s wonderful because it means lots of opportunities for people in our state. But there are downsides. Wages aren’t rising as fast as the overall economy. And the economy isn’t booming in every community in the state. Many areas of rural and small-town Colorado are treading water, or even drowning. We need to ensure that communities outside the Front Range have the tools to compete in a global economy by providing more broadband service, more teachers and more medical services, just for starters. And because getting to and from work shouldn’t be the hardest part of Coloradans’ daily routine, we have to repair and improve our overburdened roads and expand our transportation options to keep up with our growing population and economy. Forecasts for the next budget indicate that state revenue is substantially exceeding previous estimates, giving us the ability to make new investments in key statewide priorities. Let me be clear: transportation funding is a priority. Our Colorado students are also a priority. We will have the opportunity to address chronically low funding for K-12 and higher education. During this session we will be reviewing every part of the state budget to assure that it balances the priorities and needs of the people of Colorado. Growth has also driven up the cost of housing in many areas of Colorado. The American Dream includes being able to own a home. For more and more middle-income Coloradans, and not just in the Denver area, home ownership is out of reach. Many people feel like they are being pushed out of the very communities they grew up in. And rent increases make it harder and harder to make ends meet. We need to take action to make renting more affordable and homeownership more attainable for Coloradans. As we work together this session, we will also hear bipartisan proposals to allow more judicial discretion in criminal sentencing and to make evidence-based reforms that would make our criminal justice system more effective and save taxpayer dollars, while promoting public safety. To confront an opioid epidemic raging across Colorado and the nation, we are bringing a package of bills to improve training for safe opioid prescribing and overdose prevention and increase access to residential and medication-assisted treatment, so that people who are struggling with substance use disorders have more tools to fight their addiction. Lawmakers and public health officials, first responders and law enforcement will help us to defeat opioid addiction. And make no mistake: The pharmaceutical companies that developed these wildly addictive and highly profitable drugs need to be a part of the solution as well. No family is immune to addiction, including my own. In November I lost my cousin Juan at the young age of 40. He was smart and thoughtful and he loved to laugh and joke around. Some of my favorite memories are of camping with him or fishing together on my Grandpa’s boat on the Pueblo Reservoir. But for much of his life he struggled with substance abuse – alcohol and opioids. Families across Colorado, including in this chamber, have heartbreaking stories of friends and relatives who have suffered from addiction. My thoughts and prayers are very much with all who have been touched by this epidemic. It is our responsibility to come together to tackle this issue. Hard-working Coloradans deserve a secure retirement, but almost half of Coloradans have no employer-sponsored or personal retirement plan. We will see a bill this session to increase access to retirement plans for our friends and neighbors who have none. A secure retirement must also be attainable for the 560,000 current or retired public servants – teachers who have taught us and our children, state troopers who have patrolled our highways and CDOT drivers who have plowed them – all those who have delivered essential services to the people of our state. Steps must be taken to strengthen PERA, the state pension fund, to ensure that we honor the commitment we’ve made to our state and public-sector employees. But it would be unfair to balance PERA solely on the backs of hard-working public servants. Likewise, slashing cost-of-living adjustments for retired state employees could put many of them deeper in the hole every time the cost of living rises. Our goals must include a PERA solution that ensures its long-term solvency while being fair to current employees and retirees. We’ll also consider a variety of proposals to help Coloradans balance the responsibilities of their work and their families. We can increase access to affordable child care, so fewer Colorado moms and dads are forced to choose between keeping a job or staying at home. This isn’t just an issue for families. It’s an issue that impacts our entire economy. We can improve family leave laws so more Coloradans can take paid time off to care for a sick parent or loved one without having to quit their jobs, or risk being fired. We can also address the high cost of health care, especially in rural areas of Colorado where premiums are through the roof. And we can provide additional protections to Colorado consumers. For example, because corporations dictate the “fine print,” Coloradans sign away their rights almost every time they buy a product or service. When something goes wrong, irresponsible corporations need to be held accountable and consumers deserve fair processes that are not tilted against them. Our legislative compass points us in one direction — preserving and enhancing our esteemed Colorado way of life. Our state is blessed with the most beautiful natural environment in America. We must also have a government that works for everyone who works hard, not just the deep-pocketed and the well-connected. A government that creates more opportunities for Coloradans to turn their hard work into economic security. Members, our contribution to the greater good will increase every time we move toward giving all Coloradans who work hard the best possible chance to succeed. Our solutions must be based not on party or politics, but on what will get Coloradans closer to achieving their dreams. Now is not the time to rest on the triumphs of our 2017 session. We have plenty more work to do on behalf of the Coloradans who sent us here. We live in uncertain times. Sometimes it feels like our country is being pulled apart and that the very worst is bubbling up through the cracks. But not in Colorado. And not in this chamber, where we must be a barrier to the forces of division. We have always had our disagreements, and sometimes we cannot reconcile them. But most of the time we find our way to that most essential of Colorado values — setting our differences aside to make real progress. In those moments we find the best in ourselves by living up to what’s best about our state. There’s still more that binds us together than will ever divide us. That’s what we did last year, and I know it’s what we’ll do again this year. It has been the honor of my life to serve as Colorado’s first Latina Speaker of the House and the only Latina speaker in the country. I’m excited to resume our quest to make our Colorado way of life even richer in opportunity – fairer in how it rewards hard work – steadfast in demanding personal and corporate responsibility – and generous in fostering the freedom to succeed. God bless our home — Colorado and its people. And members, let us never forget that we are their servants.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1359
__label__cc	0.619258	0.380742	The Art of the Mass Effect Universe Lowdown: The pictures behind the development of the Mass Effect universe. What is it, exactly, that allows the Mona Lisa to be perceived as highly as it does? I am no expert and I do not know the answer there, but I can testify for my own taste and sense of appreciation. I can claim to prefer science fiction / fantasy inspired art much more than the classics. It's stuff that may not be hung at a museum, protected by safety glass, but it’s much more exciting. If, like me, you are moved by such art, and if, like me, you are a fan of the Mass Effect universe and everything that goes with it, then The Art of the Mass Effect Universe may be right up your street. This coffee table book, released a month prior to the release of the Mass Effect 3 game, is divided to three parts – one for each of the series’ games. Each game’s section includes some cool poster like action images, mostly featuring its heroes and villains. While nice, I find the rest even better: using pictures and a bit of text, the book tells us how each of the building blocks of the Mass Effect universe was developed and often why. We see the thinking behind the Turian body, what Krogans look like without their suits, and how the colors of Shepard’s armor were determined. We even see glimpses into what Tali might look like with her mask off. The result is an impressive collection of impressive artwork with a story for those who want to listen and learn. Overall: Obviously, The Art of the Mass Effect Universe has very limited appeal to outsiders. Insiders should find it an interesting read, a colourful browse, and a lovely piece of memorabilia. 4 out of 5 stars. Posted by Moshe Reuveni at 6/27/2012 10:30:00 pm No comments: Blackout by Mira Grant Lowdown: Shaun & Georgia 2 are back to uncovering the greatest zombie conspiracy ever. And this time, it's personal. The dead first rose for me two years ago in Mira Grant’s (the pen name of Seanan McGuire) Feed. That was the case, literally, with Feed being the first proper zombie book I ever got to read. I liked it so much I voted it the best book of the year at the Hugo's, the most prestigious science fiction award around. A year later came the sequel I did not deem necessary, Deadline. As much as Feed surprised me for the good, Deadline surprised me for the bad. I read it as an overlong drama featuring a hard to relate to hero who made the read seem even longer. Worse, I found it hard to relate to Deadline as a book in the first place since it did not have an ending worthy of a book. Having the impression of being at the wrong end of a cynical publishing trick to make me buy a trilogy where I only wanted one short book, I saw Deadline as the end of my short term romance with the undead. Only that then the living rose up against me. In an unorthodox move for an author, Seanan McGuire published a post on her blog referring directly to my Deadline review. Together with commenting fans she answered my arguments. I was moved, and I also felt really bad to have caused enough of a stir with the author to get her to address my review in the first place. That good old philosophical question at the center of all reviewers’ minds kept stinging my mind: who am I to come between an author and the fruit of her labor? I had to give what has now become a trilogy another chance. And so I did. Armed with my trusty VPN I bought Blackout, the final chapter of the Feed/Deadline trilogy (aka Newsflesh), shortly after its American release date. Off to to the final rising I went, and now I'm here, alive, to tell the tale. Blackout has two tricks up its sleeve. We knew about the first from reading the exposé published at Deadline’s back: Georgia Mason, the newsie blogger hero shot dead at Feed’s end, has been cloned back from the dead. The second trick is the revelation that her brother Shaun Mason, who took over first person narration duties from Georgia for Deadline, has developed immunity to the virus that turns mid 21st century people into zombies. Separately, these two heroes exchange chapters between them as they strive to find their place in the world and find out what’s at the bottom of the worldwide zombie epidemic. With the exception of the chapter by chapter exchange of first person narration between Shaun and Georgia, the mechanics of Deadline follows the path carved by its two predecessors. The hero tells us a detailed tale of much suspense and frequent action for a chapter, building up to a climax and putting us readers at a cliff’s edge upon the chapter’s ending. This is then followed by blog excerpts from the various protagonists that shed more light on events. Perhaps too much light; the trick feels a bit cheap, like the narration at Blade Runner’s theatrical cut. Then again, if you’re after Shakespeare, go and read the original; if you’re after good entertainment, Grant/McGuire knows how to lead a reader through. One of my complaints in my now notorious Deadline review referred to the introduction of cloning as a cheap trick. Now I can take these words back and go find a hat to chew on, because I think Blackout deals with the cloning side of things exquisitely, answering all the questions I found myself asking about the process and then some. Reflecting back, raising people from the dead in a more “conventional” way to the tried and tested zombie technique is not out of place at all for Blackout’s world; it is a repeat of a motif, and a wise repeat if hindsight allows me to say so. One complaint may be removed from the list but another one firmly stays. In my humble opinion, Blackout is way too long for its own good. I understand I am behind the curve when it comes to science fiction literature trends, but there are some good reasons for why I never took to the writings of George R. R. Martin. Look at this blog's history: in six years of book reviewing, I only managed to read a tad more than a hundred books. There is simply no way I would be able to read all the books I want to read during this lifetime (I’m assuming no unexpected risings of the dead). Given it is clear to me there are many more books I should be reading than books I would be able to read, I am now actively applying length filters to prefer the shorter ones. There’s plenty of good stuff around when you look for it even in these times where publishers contract authors to deliver 100,000 words per book: looking at other recent science fiction book purchases of recently published books, the core story of John Scalzi’s Redshirts and the whole of Daniel Wilson’s Amped are about half as long as Blackout. Given their authors' past achievements, I do not think these two will suck due to their shortness of length. Even without my potentially silly discrimination against lengthy reads, I found it more than a bit taxing to read and reread of our hero’s blood testing adventures at every point in time they needed to enter a place with some security pretensions. On the other hand, and while still chewing on that hat of mine, I can see the point to the repetition. Looking back at the whole Feed/Deadline/Blackout saga, it seems obvious to me to zombie scare in Grant’s book is an analogy to our current security/terrorism scare. The constant blood testing is the equivalent of us taking our shoes off on our way to board a plane; the zombie security theater is just the same as our very real airport security theater, porn scanners and all. Blackout’s CDC is our real life's Homeland Security. George and Shaun represent the people whose minds are open enough to ask the questions that need to be asked – starting with the “why”. They are the activist heroes that fight our fight for an open minded society that continuously probes itself and refuses to find itself paralyzed by fear, a society that is now going extinct not only in the USA but in Australia and the UK as well. Just look at how the nonsense propaganda coming from the Coalition’s side here in Australia is making people regard the carbon tax as the most evil thing on earth while also letting mining billionaires go uninterrupted as they dig the earth for the benefit of their back-pockets. Repetition, and length, are minor prices to pay for a point well delivered. My review is getting overlong, so let’s get to the point. A book that seals a lengthy trilogy, a book like Blackout, will ultimately be judged for its ending. Does it deliver? Yes, Blackout rises up to the occasion! (Pun very much intended!) Obviously, I will not expand the point in order to avoid bloopers. What I will say is that the end is satisfying and as conclusive as it possible can be. There are a few open questions remaining here and there, such as the role cigarette companies mentioned in Feed and neglected since play in the whole affair. Overall, though, I have no complaints (alright, perhaps the slight exception is the too convenient closure of the trilogy’s romantic aspects). Again, my judgment here is blinded by the fact I liked the overall message and its relevancy; besides, mental or not, I liked the gang of heroes. The whole package had me conclude my reading with a good taste in my mouth, a taste made even better by the fact I think I can attest to know a real life Georgia Mason like character. She’s not a clone, she’s Asher Wolf, and her real life entanglements with American authorities over matters of freedom of speech prove there is potent relevancy behind Blackout and its predecessors. Overall - Blackout: After balancing the overlong nature of the book with its high octane thrills and worthy message, I will give Blackout 3.5 out of 5 stars. Overall – Newsflesh trilogy: I will now go on to address what I thought of the Newsflesh trilogy as a whole. I would argue the world would have been a better place with Feed on its own. More contentiously, I have argued and I still do that Deadline is too compromised a book by virtue of its endless nature. True, that argument will render many other fine books obsolete; Lord of the Rings comes to mind. However, Newsflesh is not Lord of the Rings, nor was it written in the same world as Lord of the Rings. The latter was a ground breaker, the former is one of many lengthy trilogies. To me the all-conquering argument is that were I to be hit by lightning and die during the course of the year that passed between Deadline and Blackout, I would have never known how Newsflesh ends (unless, of course, I was to rise again as a zombie). I’m happy to forgive Tolkien for his sins because by the time I got to read his books they were all available and I could read them as if they were one extra lengthy book, no waiting required. Now that Blackout is out, you can have your own Lord of the Rings like experience of consecutive reading if you will. On the other hand there is that other Blackout book, the one by Connie Willis, the one that won the Hugo last year. For similar reasons I gave it a similarly damning review to the one I gave Deadline; yet there is a huge gulf between the two. When I started reading Willis’ sequel, All Clear, I simply could not avoid thinking “not that same old sh*t again”, and loaded another book to my Kindle within minutes. It was just loads more of the same tediousness. Grant’s, however, is a different story: An entertaining story. In other words, everything’s relative. With that in mind, I will score the Newsflesh trilogy in its entirety 3.5 out of 5 stars, too. Aside of me having a soft spot for the truth, a value at the trilogy’s core, Newsflesh represents a worthy read. I suspect the younger amongst us, towards whom the books are obviously aimed, would love and benefit from them the most. I had and I still have my misgivings about the series, but I humbly take my hat off before Grant/McGuire. She deserves it for serving the good cause just as much as she deserves it for writing some fine books. Posted by Moshe Reuveni at 6/22/2012 11:59:00 pm 2 comments: The Women on the 6th Floor Lowdown: Spanish maids bring an atmosphere to an otherwise cold French dwelling. As a person with much affection towards France, The Women on the 6th Floor (or Les femmes du 6ème étage as per its original French title) is a bit of a surprise. It’s a film where the traditional French culture is portrayed in a very English / Jane Austen like way, and where it takes some Spanish rays of light to liven things up. Events take place at a Parisian house during the sixties. On the lower floors we have the masters of the house, Jean-Louis (Fabrice Luchini) and his wife Suzanne (Sandrine Kiberlain). They’re living fifty years ago, but to all intents and purposes they look and feel like the 18th century English estate owners we got so used to watching on English dramas: the husband takes care of the finances, the wife is busy doing all sorts of meaningless things with her time, and the two of them acting like a financial unit more than a loving couple. Up on the 6th floor the story is different: that area is populated by poor Spanish maids venturing away from their families and the Franco regime to earn a living. They may be financially poor, but they have their faith and their camaraderie to hold them together in warmth. Against this background we have our plot develop as a new maid, Maria (Natalia Verbeke) arrives from Spain just as our French family gets rid of its old timer of a French maid under not so nice circumstances. Maria steps in, asks for much more than the French maid did, but delivers; the house is clean and even the breakfast eggs are boiled to Jean-Louis’ exact traditional specifications. Maria brings more than boiled eggs with her, though; she brings Spanish character. The initially reluctant Jean-Louis gradually opens up to this warmth, exposes himself to Spanish culture, and drives The Women on the 6th Floor towards a very predictable yet feel goody type of a romantic comedy movie we have seen plenty of times before. The Women on the 6th Floor turns out to be a charming comedy dealing with a clash of cultures; it’s just a coincidence the two happen to be French and Spanish in the film, because it is obvious each of these two roles could be replaced by lots of other cultures and leave the film to still work relatively well. It is well executed if more than a bit naïve, as per the fact Jean-Louis is way too old for Maria; several decades of a gulf is more than enough to breach the reliability factor. Me, I would have liked to see the same film with an elderly woman and a young guy instead. Or am I the naïve one here? Typical scene: All the Spanish women of the 6th floor help Maria on the first day at her new job to sort the house down and secure her position. Charming yet predictable for a movie such as this. Overall: Nice is the word with this one. 3 out of 5 stars. Lowdown: An expert plastic surgeon holds skin experiments on a female patient he locks up in his house. Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar is one of those directors I would do my best to watch whatever comes off his cameras. His are not my favorite films, but his are always interesting and original. The Skin I Live In, or La piel que habito as per its original Spanish title, is no exception. It is also unexceptional in the sense that like all the rest of the movies in Almodóvar’s portfolio, this is a film about women that’s made by a guy who is obviously obsessed with them. Antonio Banderas gives the best performance I have seen of him as Robert, a brilliant plastic surgeon who is much appreciated by his peers. There is something werid about him, though, and that something is Vera, the woman he’s holding at a locked bedroom on the upper floor of his secluded and grandiose house (an Elena Anaya that provides yet another mesmerising performance for The Skin I Live In). Vera seems to be Robert’s wife, the victim of a vicious fire that resulted from a car crash. That car crash seems to have devastated her in more than one way; that is where Robert comes into the picture by conducting cutting edge and unethical experiments to give Vera new skin she can call her own. Or is that the case? The Skin I Live In is one of those films that takes us through a journey to show us how our perceptions can be wrong. Our picture and our understanding of what it is, exactly, that is taking place at Robert’s house continuously changes as The Skin I Live In gradually unravels the tangled web of dark themes surrounding his characters. The result is a well told thriller with well developed character, well developed characters, and excellent film making. Yet again, Almodóvar manages to deliver a thinking person’s film. Notable scene: With its dark themes, nudity and sex scenes, The Skin I Live In is not a children’s film. Nor is it a film for the faint hearted. There are many scenes in which viewers are taken way out of the comfort zone of a normal civilized human being. I found the first of those the most memorable/disturbing. The renegade son of Robert’s housekeeper comes for a visit to Robert’s house while the owner is away. This comes down to that, and the visitor has his mother securely tied up with her mouth gagged as she’s facing the output of the surveillance cameras in Vera’s room. The son then goes to have rough sex with Vera while his mother is not even able to turn away from his picture. The problem with The Skin I Live In, if you want to call it a problem, is that the film can be interpreted in so many ways I feel puzzled as to what Almodóvar was trying to tell us with this creation of his. That, however, is a rich film’s problem; it creates a thought provoking film that one will take a while to forget. For this, and for the excellent piece of filmmaking that The Skin I Live In is, I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars. Lowdown: With much violence, a police detective uncovers the killers of his wife. A movie based on a video game sounds like a disaster about to happen. Unless, of course, one cares for the game – it seems obvious to me, for example, that the soon to be made (?) movie on the Mass Effect world would be an excellent watch. Max Payne, however, would have probably benefited more out of remaining at Rockstar’s game world than showing up in this 2008 film. Mark Wahlberg stars as our Max, a disgruntled police detective with a past so mired he’s been relegated to manage police archives. Apparently, he has been forever traumatized by the murder of his wife and child a few years back that he’s unable to function in society anymore. Further, he’s dead obsessed with finding the killer long after everybody else gave up. Following on his ongoing investigations, Max stumbles upon a Russian speaking beauty (Olga Kurylenko) and her mysterious sister (Mila Kunis). The mysterious death of the first sister brings Max to think he might just find that elusive killer of his, while it sends to rest of the police to regard Max himself as the killer. Violence follows! There are numerous basic flaws with Max Payne. So much so that I’ll list them numerically: Things don’t really make sense: Max can go about town blasting at will without much in the way of implications. All the while, he’s keeping his day job despite not showing up to the office on time. Things are incredibly predictable: There are so few characters here that the second you see a big sign for a pharmaceutical company, you know they have to be behind this. After all, there’s no one else to take the blame. Characterization: Other than Max, everyone else is character-less. Including Kunis’ character, who is supposed to be central. Dialog: The fact Max Payne is based on a video game is no excuse for dialog to look and feel as if it came directly from Grand Theft Auto cut scenes. The combination of it all – the violence and the overall mediocrity of this film – sheds even more light on the shady foundation of American culture. The fact Max Payne can exhibit brutal violence yet abstains from anything sexual places a very sad mirror for contemporary American values. A society like that is two faced; given the rest of the world imports American culture by the ton, we are all paying the price. Worst scene: Kunis rescues Max Wahlberg while carrying a sub machine gun. The acting in this scene is so dreadful it’s amazing to think we’re watching the same Kunis that did so well in Black Swan. Perhaps the fault is with the director, who chose to give the film an ultra realistic video game like look? Overall: Unless you’re after violent action scenes Max Payne is a time waster. 2 out of 5 stars. Lowdown: A girl trained to kill is set out by her father to kill a rogue (?) CIA agent. Want Hanna summarized in one sentence? Here you go: Hanna is a modern action film that’s told in a fairytale kind of a way. That really is all there is to it; the rest is just fine details. We meet our girl Hanna (Saoirse Ronan) and her father (Eric Banna) as they live out in the middle of a snowy wilderness, fending for themselves and totally disconnected from civilization. The father tells Hannah about the world that’s out there, but Hanna herself never experienced it first hand; she heard the dictionary definition but she doesn’t even know what music is. All Hannah does, all day and all night, is hone her killer skills. Next we meet CIA agent Marissa (Cate Blanchett), our baddie for the duration of the film. She has a thing for Bana and his daughter, and when Bana tells his daughter she’s ready to be unleashed to this world and achieve the goal of eliminating Marissa a clash is inevitable. This clash is what the film Hanna is all about, and it includes many dead bodies thrown in as well as Hanna getting her first real contact with the real world through her bumping upon a British family camping out at Morocco. Altogether, Hanna brings with it a James Bond like tale of international treachery and shootings that is told in a fairytale like manner. The fairytale aspect comes out through the Cinderella like story where Blanchett clearly is the evil stepmother. Mostly, though, it comes through the very stylized filmmaking at hand: the cinematography, the atypically long cuts in this day and age of fast editing, and the sets that often directly include fairytale elements. Style is probably the most important theme Hanna has to offer, and that style is probably best attributed to director Joe Wright (Pride and Prejudice, Atonement): one can clearly see this person directorial background in Hanna. The best way of putting it is saying it is clear this is not a director whose background is in making films like Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Yes, Hanna does not suffer from too much depth. What it does have to offer instead is lots of smart action, something the bulk of today’s action films sorely miss. It’s funny to see what a difference an intelligent director can make! I cannot finish this review off without mentioning the exquisite soundtrack The Chemical Brothers have provided Hanna with. In my opinion, this one is reminiscent of the masterful soundtrack that Daft Punk came up with for Tron Legacy. Both gain a lot by being included in real high quality Blu-rays. Notable scene: The best demonstration of the style over substance nature of Hanna is provided by the climax scene, where our Kick-Ass like all conquering child of a heroine runs off Marissa only to have the latter confront her as she comes out of the mouth of the big bad wolf. Don’t ask how Marissa got there in the first place; it doesn’t matter. It’s damn stylish, though. Best scene: Eric Bana fights off a bunch of evil agents at a Berlin train station in a lengthy action scene without any cuts. Oh, how I’d love more action films to be so well directed! Overall: An action film with style but not much more. 3 out of 5 stars. Lowdown: The greatest threat to Los Angeles is the new super weapon introduced to protect it. As far as reasons to sit down and watch a film are concerned, this one has to qualify as one of the silliest. My wife recently bought my four year old son a toy Matchbox style helicopter called “Mission Helicopter”; I couldn’t avoid noting the very non coincidental similarity between this Mission Helicopter and the Blue Thunder helicopter from the 1983 film by John Badham. I have fond memories of that film: I saw it at the cinemas with my father, and its dogfight scenes where Blue Thunder fends for itself against a couple of F-16s were the stuff of many a childhood dream. I therefore set forth to introduce my son to the real version of his toy helicopter. Let me start by saying Blue Thunder is clearly not a film suitable for four year olds. Not necessarily because of the sex scenes, which totally went over my son’s head (for the record, I much prefer he learns about sex through/with me than through surfing for porn at a slightly older age); no, the problem is to do with the movie’s themes. These are of such a grade many adults won’t recognize them. Luckily, everything is wrapped in a good action package we can all enjoy. Blue Thunder takes place at the soon to host the 1984 Olympics Los Angeles. We follow police pilot Frank Murphy (Roy Scheider), a guy who obviously knows more than the book about flying police helicopters but a guy who is also disturbed by old visions of Vietnam to a level that implicates his personal life. Murphy and his new co-pilot (Daniel Stern in an atypical performance) fool around doing things they’re not supposed to with their helicopter, like voyeur-ing on women practicing yoga in the nude, and they pay the price for that. However, they are still deemed the best to test out the new super weapon introduced to deal with securing the upcoming Olympics: Blue Thunder, a helicopter with a kick. Blue Thunder is equipped with stealth and surveillance mechanisms allowing it to eavesdrop unnoticed on virtually anyone. It bites, too, with a canon that’s aimed through the pilot shifting his helmet to “look” at a target. According to Murphy, that’s much more than Los Angeles’ police force needs, especially in the collateral damage department; when he discovers the helicopter comes with an old Vietnam nemesis of his (Malcolm McDowell), you know things would escalate. By the end of the film Blue Thunder and Murphy show us all they can do. Critically speaking, the first thing I want to say about Blue Thunder is that it is obsolete. It was obsolete even at the time the film came out. I’m referring here to the helicopter, not the film: at the time Blue Thunder was released, with its helmet aimed canon, Apache attack helicopters already had their sights tracking the pilot/gunner’s eyes (rather than the movement of the pilot’s head). Which is my way of saying that reality has a way of turning more horrible than we can imagine. One thing that isn’t obsolete with Blue Thunder the film is the message it entails. The theme of the powerful authority trying to be perceived as a power for good when what it actually tries to do is enshrine totalitarian measures is, sadly, one we have to deal with on a regular basis. Londoners, for example, face a string of security measures on the eve of their upcoming Olympics: huge, up to 5 hour long queues at Heathrow airport that one is not allowed to talk about, while missile launchers are to be place on top of residential buildings (see here). Then there is the legislation debated in the UK, where security authorities are to be allowed to everyone’s phone calls and Internet activities (here). It’s all in the name of security, of course; the collateral damage is all but ignored. Not that Australia is immune. We have our Communication Minister, Stephen Conroy, who is still officially supporting Internet censorship in the name of protecting children from pedophiles. Indeed, some limited Internet censorship has already been implemented in Australia. Whether you truly believe this Internet censorship is all to do with fighting pedophilia and has nothing to do with the control of public opinion or looking after the interests of the copyright industry just goes to indicate how naïve you are. I like John Badham’s work. Between WarGames, Short Circuit and this – Blue Thunder – he created a nice portfolio of entertaining films that show what can happen when we let authorities lead non transparent regimes. I’m sure Badham agrees we should work harder to ensure the accountability of those we put at the helm. Let down scene: Blue Thunder has clearly aged, but at its core it is still a satisfying action film. However, excess aging is too noticeable in the special effects department where nothing 1983 could offer can compete with today’s CGI. In particular, those F-16s I raved about at the beginning of my review? To my contemporary eyes they were clearly models imposed on the skies. What used to be an exciting scene, the most exciting scene in the Blue Thunder arsenal, is now the subject of a laugh. Best scene: How daring is the ending? Just compare it to that other dogfighting film from the same era, Top Gun, to see what I'm talking about. Overall: I’m obviously biased, but I like this package of action with a relevant and meaningful message. Blue Thunder gets 4 out of 5 stars from me. Lowdown: A stray dog unites an Aussie mining community at the middle of nowhere. Australia is a country with a chip on its shoulders. Not that this is an Australia exclusive club; I don’t know a country without one. Australia, however, seems to have the need to prove itself more than others. One only needs to check on Australian Olympics medal tally anxiety to witness the problem, or check on the anxieties involving an Australia – England cricket match. One potential theory for Australia’s aggravated syndromes could be the lack of a founding myth. The USA has its war with Britain, tea parties, George Washington and a declaration of independence to rely on; Israel has its holocaust and its war of independence. Australia, however, has nothing to compare to such momentous events. If anything, Australia is in a constant process of reformation, with significant portions of its population – some 30%, if I remember correctly - not made and born here. Rushing to fill this very gap is Red Dog, a film that is more Australian than Australia. Red Dog has us trekking across space and time to the Western Australia of the seventies. Just as it is today, the economy of WA was mining driven; one such mining community is the focus of Red Dog. That is, both Red Dog the film and Red Dog the stray dog that decides to adopt the town as his own. The town is made of a non homogeneous collection of people from all over the world, including – as the movie takes care to tell us – Italy, Russia, the USA, and even Melbourne. Red Dog depicts the place to be full of tough yet gentle men; everyone looks like a bully, but they’re all gentle bullies along the lines of Monty Python's lumberjacks (only that Red Dog's seem to avoid anything sexual like the plague). The exceptions to the rule are the token pretty girl (Rachael Taylor) and, of course, our Red Dog. As one can expect from a feel good film such as Red Dog that’s aimed particularly at making Aussies feel good about themselves (and forget what has been done in our name to the native owners of this land), Red Dog takes its characters and us to short journeys where they/us find themselves/ourselves through the dog. The story is told in flashback mode: Red Dog is about to die, and the local heroes tell his tales to a passing by truck driver who is suspiciously interested in the weird town’s stories. Oh, cynical me. The problem is, Red Dog is one of those films that overfeeds me with cynicism fodder. It is cliché incarnate, drawing a picture so flawless it is obviously telling a lie. Red Dog is schmaltz incarnate, too, and the fact its myth is said to have its roots on a real red dog is completely meaningless. This film belongs together with fifties episodes of The Wonderful World of Disney, not contemporary 21st century cinema. The fact Red Dog was a big hit with Australian box offices is rather worrying. Best scene: That big brute from Melbourne, with a porn style mustache? Behind closed doors, when no one is looking, he’s into knitting. Overall: A shameless pat on our Aussie backs that we shouldn’t really need. 2 out of 5 stars. Posted by Moshe Reuveni at 6/09/2012 12:46:00 am No comments: Lowdown: The extended adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book. There was a distinct period during my pre-teen years when Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox was my favorite book. I distinctly recall borrowing it again and again from the library and gobbling it within a matter of minutes. Not only because of its short children book’s length, but also because it was funny, exciting and quite original. Fast forward to 2009 when director Wes Anderson releases his take on that glorious story, and two issues immediately pop to my head. First, Anderson seem to specialize in turning potentially promising subject matters into films I deem mediocre (refer to The Darjeeling Limited and The Royal Tenenbaums). Second, given the book is very short and a movie needs to have at least 80 minutes to count as a feature film some padding had to be added; can I rest assured that padding won’t scratch the mental image of the book that was once at the top of my charts? George Clooney voices Mr Fox, a human like fox with a craving for stealing food. Even if that craving goes against the wishes of his wife (Meryl Streep). His son, Ash (Jason Schwartzman), is looking up to his father as a role model yet seems unable to repeat his father’s past and current achievements. Against this background, our Fox decides to steal from three nearby human corrupt industrialists. At first things go well; then it turns out things went too well as the victims fight back and the family needs to sort its issues out. To those familiar with the book I will add that the book’s plot is not only extended through the addition of family and other background affairs; the book’s story represents roughly the first half of the film, which then marches onwards with a brand new plot. I know the process of converting a book to the big screen takes its toll (although some times, as with Blade Runner, it can greatly enhance the original). However, I think the case of Fantastic Mr Fox abuses the book way too much; I did not like the additions, nor did I think they offered positive contributions to the book’s spirit. Wes Anderson was on a mission to convey a new message to us with this film but I didn’t get the point; I got a film I didn’t enjoy watching instead. If you’re an Anderson fan than you probably will like Fantastic Mr. Fox given it repeats motifs from the director’s previous works; for me, what didn’t work before didn’t work yet again. The same goes for my four year old, for whom this potential hit was probably his most forgettable film experience thus far. This is all a bit of a pity given the fantastic stop motion animation at hand (one has to watch the Blu-ray’s supplementals to appreciate the achievement) and the multitude of A list voice talents on the film’s payroll (in addition to the previously mentioned we have Bill Murray, Willem Dafoe and Owen Wilson – to name a few). It’s a pity these weren’t enough to sort out the damaged story. Worst scene: Following the successful escapades of Fox & Co at robbing the industrialists, the human villains flood our heroes with cider. This marks the point where the book ends and Fantastic Mr. Fox deteriorates further down its own slippery slope. Overall: The stop motion animation manages to earn this fox 2 out of 5 stars. Lowdown: A Hawaiian guy has to contend with a multitude of family issues. I watched The Descendants with great anticipation. At the shallow level, Hawaii – where the film takes place – is likely to be the subject of my next visit to the USA; it's a geography thing. It’s not the most attractive place that country has to offer, but between Pearl Harbor, volcanoes and telescopes the place doesn’t seem bad either. Second, and more importantly, The Descendants is a film from Alexander Payne, whose previous two features – About Schmidt and Sideways – were simply marvelous. As usual, though, the higher the anticipation the greater the disappointment. George Clooney plays Matt King, the guy around which The Descendants pivots. He’s middle aged and his marriage went past its peak, but that did not prepare him for his wife getting herself at a critical condition, unconscious at the hospital, following a boating accident. In parallel we learn King is in charge of a large piece of land he and his family inherited all the way back from the pre Western days of Hawaii, a land whose worth is now measured in the hundreds of millions. The extended family wants to cash in on the land, while King is rather eccentric in refusing to use the regular money coming from the land. As a result of these two challenges, the wife and the land, our King faces multiple challenges of his own: he needs to get his two daughters on his side and he needs to get the rest of his family on his side. Things are not easy, though, and as King goes along things become even harder. The Descendants’ focus constantly shifts between the daughters and the connection to the land. There can be no denying The Descendants is fine drama that is well made. However, I thought it lacked the spark from previous Payne flicks. Instead, The Descendants feels too slow, too long for its own good, and dare I say even boring. True, there are some very touching moments across, but it just failed to grip me. Ultimately, the only credit I could give The Descendants is to do with it openly dealing with matters of grief and death, subject matters America seems reluctant to consider. Best scene: A very disturbed King goes on an extended run, wearing very casual and non athletic footwear, in order to quickly verify a rumor he heard about his wife. This scene, which other directors would have trimmed very tightly, is reminiscent of Payne’s previous films. However, even this seeming humiliation of an A list Hollywood star lacks the power of Payne’s previous efforts. Overall: A good drama without a sharp edge, The Descendants gets 3 out of 5 stars. Lowdown: A cast out girl fights for personal and cultural survival in a post apocalyptic USA. Coincidences take place all over all the time. The Drowned Cities, the latest book from Paolo Bacigalupi and a sequel of sorts to his Ship Breaker is so full of them that it becomes obvious there are no coincidences here at all; rather what we have on our hands with this YA (young adult) science fiction novel is a carefully tailored analogy of our world today. When even the initials of Drowned Cities correspond to D.C., where the story takes place, I can tell what the author’s intentions are. Having read the book I can vouch for his total success: Drowned Cities is an excellent read, both because of its gripping adventure filled tale and because of the analogy it creates between a post global warming apocalyptic world and the USA of today. The story of The Drowned Cities can be summarized in two sentences if one wishes to. There really is not much happening, especially not in the book’s first half; but as with Bacigalupi’s The Windup Girl, the devil is in the details. Unlike Windup Girl, we do not receive as thorough a description of the world things are set in; there is a hidden assumption the reader is already familiar with the author’s detailed post global warming apocalyptic world, and specifically its post USA incarnation as per Ship Breaker. So we do have details but these are not the setting’s details but rather the most detailed descriptions of the simplest actions and what these convey on our hero characters. Our hero is Mahlia, a young girl who is a victim of circumstances. Her mother was an American but her father a Chinese peacekeeper soldier who returned to civilized China after it became clear the rabble left of what used to be America is not interested in peace. Mahlia fell victim to a religious local militia who, not liking anything that came from China, cut off her right arm and was about to kill her if it wasn’t for the bravery of Mouse, a fellow kid. Now both Mahlia and Mouse live together with their caretaker, Dr Mahfouz, in the ruins of an old Accelerated Age town along the Potomac. Mahlia serves as Mahfouz’ left hand, aiding the ill sighted doctor at his work, but the locals are not fond of her and her race. Then Mahlia and Mouse stumble upon the seriously injured tool, the genetically engineered half man warrior from Ship Breaker, and all hell breaks loose: the world as they know it finds itself in the middle of a war between rivaling militias of child warriors, and these have no appreciation for doctors. Definitely no appreciation for the half Chinese. As I started reading The Drowned Cities I thought it a nice coincidence that the world described in it feels a lot like Afghanistan, right hand removal and all; I found it amusing to think the book’s Afghanistan like world is actually today’s USA. I found it an odd coincidence that it is the Chinese that are portrayed as the civilized people sending their army to help the American rabble lead a good life when the Americans seem intent on living by the sword. I found it amusing the only rational person in the book, the only person who sees the anarchy of the militia led world of the futuristic USA for what it truly is, is a Muslim by the name of Mahfouz. Eventually, I realized there are just too many coincidences about: surely this is all a carefully packaged plan by Bacigalupi serving to issue us with a warning. This time around, the warning is not about the world we will be leaving our children, a world of rising temperatures, diseases and no easy energy in the form of fossil fuels. This time around the warning is to do with the world of the here and now: a world where we are not too tolerant of others’ views and culture, especially if they’re in China or if they’re Muslims; a world where religion has too much of a saying; a world where we let the power of our guns solve our problems, not realizing we are only digging our own holes in the process; a world where books, literature and knowledge are becoming less and less fashionable in the face of easy superficiality. I started reading The Drowned Cities thrilled with excitement over the action it portrays. There really is a minimal number of idle pages on this otherwise high octane action book (again I will stress: action packed despite everything happening could be summarized in a few brief sentences). However, as I started figuring out the analogy at the core of this book I became even more thrilled: I became excited to see how effective this seemingly unpretentious work, aimed at teens, can be. In my book, The Drowned Cities is science fiction at its best. Overall: A thrilling adventure wrapped in a thrilling analogy and deserving 4.5 out of 5 stars. The Monarchy by Christopher Hitchens Lowdown: Hitchens lays down the case against the British monarchy. I have been on the lookout for Christopher Hitchens' The Monarchy for quite a while. This essay was initially published in the nineties and only became available on ebook format a few days ago, probably in an attempt to capitalize on the queen's diamond jubilee. For what it was worth, it worked on me, even though I would have preferred the ebook to be available regardless of special occasions. It shouldn't surprise anyone to learn Hitchens was not a fan of the British monarchy. Contents wise, The Monarchy is split in two: in the first, Hitchens lays down the reasons why the monarchy is bad. If pressed to sum it up in one sentence, he argues the British fetish with the queen and company is similar to religious faith in its nature (and we know what Hitchens thinks of religious faith). The second half looks at the arguments in favor of the monarchy (e.g., "the monarchy does not have political power"), and refutes them one by one. All in all, I would say it's a well laid case against the institution. Style and language count with Hitchens, yet I was still surprised and perhaps even disappointed with Hitchens' approach in laying his arguments. The British monarchy is such a house of cards it cries out for a sweet and witty knockout blow, the way Hitchens is famous for delivering upon the religious authorities with whom he used to debate so often in the past. Alas, such a knockout punch never arrives; instead, Hitchens lays out layer upon layer of articulate arguments. Don't get me wrong, that's perfectly fine, but I was hoping for better comedy values. I mean, Prince Charles is excellent joke fodder, so why doesn't Hitchens have a go? Another aspect I felt missing was an examination of the monarchy through the eyes of a commonwealth member. Hitchens mentions the absurdity of the current queen being the [former] ruler of countries like Pakistan, but does not stop to ask the question of why do some citizens of the commonwealth still wish the queen as their head of state. I argue that many of the Aussie monarchists feel this way because they want to preserve their culture at all costs in the face of non white, non Christian, non English speaking immigration that makes many Aussies feel a minority in their own country. Politicians use and abuse these feelings, hence the need for that good old Hitchens treatment - that, sadly, never came. Overall: The Monarchy is probably too articulate for its own good, while also lacking some important relevancy to the non British in our midst. Still, it is a fine collection of articulate arguments worthy of 3.5 out of 5 stars. Posted by Moshe Reuveni at 6/02/2012 12:33:00 am 2 comments:	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1360
__label__cc	0.597684	0.402316	Genre: Punk, Grunge, Indie Rock Calyx is a three piece band from Pittsburgh, PA who formed in 2014, from the looks of things. Calyx play a killer style of music that incorporates elements of punk, grunge, and indie rock within their sound. Musically, Calyx can be loosely compared to bands such as Thin Lips, Lemuria, Cayetena, California X, and other like-minded bands. Since forming in 2014, Calyx have released a three song EP titled Build Up in July of 2014, a self-titled 12" in March of 2015, a digital single titled Cryin Elvis in August of 2016, a four song 7" titled Make A Freak Feel Clean in October of 2016, and a two song EP titled For To, Oh in October of 2017. This is the band's latest three song demo, which was released on February 10th, 2019. On their latest demo, Calyx offer up three tracks of melodic and infectiously catchy punk, grunge, and indie rock. Overall, Calyx's latest demo makes for an awesome listen and definitely should not be missed. Highly recommended! Enjoy! Calyx on Bandcamp Calyx-Make A Freak Feel Clean EP (2016) Tags: Calyx, Grunge, Indie Rock, Pittsburgh, Punk	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1370
__label__wiki	0.708579	0.708579	Cybermodeler Online Celebrating 21 years of hobby news and reviews Subject & Color Refs Mauve 1/48 P-40M Warhawk Kit First Look By Michael Benolkin P-40M Warhawk Kit Number One of the nicest P-40M kits 1/48 MSRP (USD) The P-40 was an evolutionary development from the Curtiss drawing boards which started with the Model 75. Curtiss' Model 75 created the basic wing and fuselage that would distinguish this unique family, but equipped with a radial engine, this prototype would lead to the earlier P-36 Hawk. As engine technology continued, an Allison V1710 liquid-cooled engine was mounted on the firewall, and the resulting streamlined cowling led to the now-familiar P-40 silhouette. The P-40E was a further development based on combat experience and was the second most produced variant of the Curtiss P-40 family (with the P-40N taking top honors in this category). The P-40E incorporated six 50 caliber machine guns in the wings as well as the modified fuselage of the P-40D. The P-40K was the next step in the line for the Allison-powered P-40 line featuring the same fuselage initially, but yaw instability led to the P-40K-5 with additional area added to the vertical stabilizer, but when this didn't solve the yaw problem, the fuselage was lengthened with the P-40K-15. This lengthened fuselage would be the key improvement that would remain with future Warhawks. The P-40L was the first attempt to create a lighter version of the P-40 by reducing the number of guns from six to four, and reducing internal fuel to 120 gallons. The P-40M was the final step in this design track, featuring additional power and engineering improvements. A little over 20 years ago, a new model company opened in Japan with the brand name of Mauve. Their first kits were the P-40M and P-40N Warhawks in 1/48 scale and based upon my experience with these kits, I was really looking forward to seeing what else these folks were going to produce. Unfortunately, this would never happed as the factory was destroyed in January 1995 when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Kobe region (Mauve was based in Kobe). Even though the factory was destroyed, Mauve evidently had a supply of kits remaining which were acquired by Eduard for their Limited Edition Profipack kit in 2005. The Mauve kit is molded in olive drab styrene and presented on three parts trees plus one tree of clear parts. The kit is a very simple build with a basic Hasegawa-like cockpit and finely scribed surface details. For me, this was one of those kits where you could almost pour glue in the box, close the lid, shake the box, and the kit would fall together. The P-40M and P-40N kits used the same tooling with the exception of the armor-plate behind the pilot, rear deck behind the cockpit and the canopy parts. After building both kits 20 years ago, I stocked up on the Eduard releases to produce new kits after the two Mauve kits were destroyed in the move out to the mid-west. Decals are provided for two examples: P-40M, 129, 44 FS/18 FG, New Guinea, 1943, 'Princess Pat II', as flown by LTC R.B. Westbrook P-40M, 111, 44 FS/18 FG, New Guinea, 1943, 'Reckless Prostitute', as flown by Capt J.A. Bade So why are we looking at the Mauve kit here when I've got the Eduard Profipacks? I happened to find this never-opened P-40M kit on eBay for about $20 USD and thought it would be worth a look. You can still find these kits at kit swaps and eBay for reasonable prices and as I said, the model goes together without any problems. If you want to super-detail this kit, find the Eduard Profipack instead. But if you're looking for a relaxing build that allows you to produce a stunning model without lots of work, grab one (or more) of these kits for your stash. Notice: The appearance of U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Defense, or NASA imagery or art does not constitute an endorsement nor is Cybermodeler Online affiliated with these organizations. Copyright © 2020 TacAir Publications, LLC.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1372
__label__wiki	0.609768	0.609768	Daily Choices Fan Favorite from ‘Duck Dynasty’ Shaves His Beard and No One Recognizes Him August 25, 2019 \| Erika Burch Duck Dynasty is a one-of-a-kind reality show that follows a very unique family around. The show stars American family, “The Robertsons.” They live deep in the Louisiana swampland, but they’re also multimillionaires. The patriarch of the family happened to create a duck caller that revolutionized the hunting game and made the bunch rich beyond measure. The men have something else in common, too: super long beards – until now, when one of the Robertson men decided to shave his, rendering him basically unrecognizable to his fans and even some of his relatives! Bushy Tales Jase Robertson, one of the beloved brothers on the show, is known for his jokes and his fluffy beard, among many other things. Fans have come to know and love his character, fuzz and all. So, they were in for quite a surprise when he told them he was going to lose it. There were mixed feelings from across the board about it. Some fans were really looking forward to seeing Jase with zero facial hair, while others were teary-eyed even thinking about the prospect of him getting rid of the beard. The results of the transformation were so shocking that even his own wife admitted it was hard to recognize him without the beard! All the Quacks The Robertson fortune was built solely off of one thing: duck calls. It’s a pretty crazy thing for an entire fortune to be built off of, but that’s exactly how this family can afford to live the over-the-top lifestyle that they choose to live. But while the Robertsons may seem pretty wild, to say the least, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t also educated. In fact, the family’s patriarch, Phil, not only went to college, but he was actually his school’s star quarterback. The NFL even tried to draft him directly from Louisiana State, but he turned down the offer because football season and duck hunting season interfere with one another. Phil launched his company all the way back in the early 1970s, but it wasn’t until 2012 that it was popularized by the hit reality show. The Famous Fuzz But the crazy-long and super recognizable chin full of hair isn’t exclusive to Jase – it’s a Robertson family staple. Most of the men in the family sport the beard, or at least have (or will) for a portion of their lives. In fact, the long facial locks have become so popularly attached to the family that they won’t even talk about shaving. At least, they wouldn’t until Jase made the announcement that he was going to be losing his beard. The shock that fans first exhibited was understandable, considering how unheard of this move was amongst the family. Although, he wouldn’t be the only one in the group to decide to go with a more clean-cut look. Married at a Young Age Phil Robertson married his wife under unconventional circumstances, as far as modern-day marriages go. Miss Kay, Robertson’s wife and resident patriarch, was only 15 years old at the time they tied the knot. The show features the families of their 4 grown children, Jep, Jase, Willie, and Alan, as they pursue the family business of duck hunting. Some of the family members have gained quite a following since beginning their journey on the show. Willie’s daughter, Sadie, appeared on the hit show Dancing with the Stars. But how would their fans know who to follow, if they didn’t have their famous beards? And what would happen when they decided to get rid of them? Fans may be aware of the controversy that arose when Phil Robertson made anti-LGBTQA comments during his interview with GQ magazine, in January of 2013. The family backed him up in a statement that they released following the incident, saying that the remarks stemmed from his literalistic beliefs in one of the many versions of the Christian bible. The situation angered people so much that the series was actually pulled from the air for a while. In fact, ratings actually dropped quite a bit in the aftermath of that interview, as well. But the show did see the completion of a successful 11 seasons before they finally called it quits. So, did Jase decide to shave his beard because he was no longer going to be on TV? The Handsome One Duck Dynasty viewers have dubbed Jase Robertson as both the best looking and funniest of the entire bunch. However, he earned that title with his full beard in tow. After all, Duck Dynasty ladies love themselves beards so long they could be hiding something within them. How would Jase’s fans feel when he appeared bare-faced? Would they still think he was just as good looking? As it turns out, they would have a hard time recognizing him at all, without his signature style. The Reason of all Reasons The long bushy beard is pretty much a staple on the male side of the Robertson family. When someone mentions Duck Dynasty, it’s hard not to imagine Phil, Jase and the others sporting their wily, speckled gray and brown beards while they crawl through the bush. So, it came as a shock when Jase told the world that he was going to get rid of his beloved facial strands. No one could understand why on Earth he would let go of such a trademark feature. That is until he confessed his reasons for his decision to bare it all. Complicated Birth Jase’s daughter, Mia Robertson, gave the family quite a scare when she was born. She had several complications, including a cleft lip and palate. These conditions occur when a portion of the oral area is malformed, and typically begins during the pregnancy. Although it’s not something that any parent wants their child to have to go through, it is luckily something that can be corrected with surgeries. By the time she was 10 years old, Mia had undergone 5 separate procedures, the first of which took place when she was just a few months old. All of the family members really rallied together to support Mia and her parents during those scary times. Best Fans in the World Cleft lips and palates can make it hard for the person who suffers from them to speak and eat, so the family made the decision to get Mia all of the surgeries that they could that might possibly make things easier for her. In 2014, the Robertson clan came together as she prepared for a bone graft surgery. But the family members weren’t the only ones who rallied. They reached out to fans, who in turn completely amazed them by the amount of support they offered. Letters and thoughtful words on social media came pouring in, but the fans didn’t stop there. They did something truly amazing for Mia and others who suffer from the same thing. Mia Moo The family formed a charity that they dubbed the “Mia Moo Fund,” to raise money for cleft lip and palate research and cures. After experiencing exactly how much the condition could affect someone and their family, they wanted to do as much as they possibly could to help anyone else that was struggling with it, too. But what exactly does the Mia Moo Fund have to do with Jase shaving his beard? As it turns out, quite a bit, actually… Raising the Necessary Funds For the foundation to get off the ground, they needed to put down a pretty substantial amount of money. Fans helped them reach the magic number through their incredibly generous donations as Jase pledged to shave it all off. Everyone was very interested in seeing what their favorite Duck Dynasty boy looked like without all of that fuzz covering up his face. But it wasn’t just the fans that were excited about the prospect of seeing him bare it all. Jase’s wife, Missy, was pretty thrilled about the beard coming off, too. When the couple had first gotten together, it wasn’t nearly as long, and she hadn’t seen him without the beard for over 7 years! Jase made the announcement that if they saw $100,000 in donations, he would shave it all off. Would they be able to make it happen? The Bare-Faced Brother While it’s become expected of the Robertson family men to keep a face full of bushy beard – not all of them choose to do so. Al, Jase’s oldest brother, kept his face bare for most of his time on the show. In fact, Al’s actually known best for being the only man in the family who doesn’t have the signature Robertson beard. But Jase was a different story and was also known in part for his looks – beard included. Some may think that they just let their fuzz grow and grow, but Jase kept his trimmed, so it appeared just the way he and his fans liked it. Which Kind of Person? Superfans of the show, and of Jase in particular, had mixed feelings when Jase made the announcement that he was going to be shedding the signature facial hairstyle. After all, they may remember his famous statement about the “two kinds of people without beards.” Apparently, those two kinds of people are women and children, to which Jase said, “I am neither.” Of course, he was just kidding around when he made the comments, but some fans could have taken it to heart. How was Jase going to feel about his new look once he took the plunge? Was he going to be happy about it, or might he regret it someday? Considering the reasoning behind why he was doing it, chances are he was very happy with his decision. Even though Jase sported his beard throughout the entirety of the series, he wasn’t always completely happy with it. In fact, in 2013 during one interview, he told reporters that he was going to shave it when the show wrapped up. But his reasoning at that point wasn’t quite as charming. Back then, he simply wanted to shed his on-screen persona, so that the paparazzi wouldn’t be able to pick him out of a crowd. With his beard, Jase frequently gets stopped in public by fans who want his autograph or to take a picture with him. He was ready for a life with a bit more privacy. Say Goodbye to the Beard When the time started approaching for him to take his seat in the barber’s chair, Jase began to get nervous. Sure, the reason behind why he was going to lose the beard was very close to his heart, but that didn’t mean he was ready to lose his character just yet. After all, that beard had become a part of him for several years and losing it meant saying goodbye to a big piece of his past. Plus, as a professional duck hunter, those kinds of beards are pretty much standard. But Jase had already made the commitment, and the donations were getting close to reaching the magic number. It was almost time for him to say goodbye to the beard. Call Security Jase’s beard may have earned him all kinds of recognition, but it also set him back a few times. One time when the family was traveling through an airport, Jase was stopped for additional security measures. Why? TSA had to thoroughly search through the facial fuzz to make sure he wasn’t stashing anything illegal in all of that hair. Of course, that search took place right in the middle of duck hunting season when his beard was at its longest and fluffiest. Caveman Status During the same trip when Jase was halted by security while they sifted through his beard, an excited fan stopped him for an autograph. Of course, Jase obliged the fan, and he struck up some small talk with him while he signed his name. As it turns out, the kid wasn’t exactly a fan of Jase’s at all, nor did he have any clue what Duck Dynasty was all about. The “fan” actually thought that Jase was the actor who played the caveman in the old Geico commercials. In his defense, they do both have similarly colored fuzz! Was this mix-up enough to make Jase pick up the trimmers already? 10 Million Dollar Strands Not just everyone who sports a crazy beard like the Robertson boys also has a bank account that could put most people's to shame. But this duck-hunting reality star has stacked himself up a net worth of nearly $10 million over the years. He’s still at it today, too, making various appearances on different shows and at events around the country. Jase Today In 2017, the Robertson family saw the end of their reality show, which marked the end of an Era for Jase and the rest of the clan. But he wasn’t ready to retire just yet. Jase has kept himself fairly busy with television and radio appearances. A large portion of the appearances that he makes are at religious (Christian) events. He also launched his own website, Camoflix, which is a haven for hunters and other outdoorsy types. But the end of the show also meant that it was time for Jase to let go of his beard and letting go of the beard meant making a lot of money for Mia Moo. Shocking Fans Live Jase certainly built up a lot of anticipation when it came to him getting rid of the beard. He appeared on the Fox morning show and announced he’d be going barefaced. But he didn’t just talk about the what, he talked about the why. Just in case any fans weren’t particularly excited about him losing his famous facial fuzz, they wouldn’t be able to be mad at him when they knew why he was doing it. So, he marked his calendar for September 4th – that was the day he decided he was going to take the plunge. Fans were excited, but maybe not as excited as Jase’s wife, who hadn’t seen the face behind that fuzz in over 6 years! Everyone could hardly contain themselves when he walked into that barbershop. After all, Jase was the “good looking one,” but would they still think that when he revealed the rest of his face? When September 4th rolled around, fans were beside themselves with excitement. Jase knew that he had to give the fans what they wanted, which was to see the entire transformation before their very eyes. So, how exactly did Jase pull that off? He went live on Facebook and streamed the highly anticipated cut on his page. Missy held the camera while the barber went to work, buzzing and snipping away until there was hardly anything left. When he spun around in that chair and his wife saw his face for the first time in 7 years, her reaction was priceless! Who’s That Man? The look on Missy’s face when she first laid eyes on her husband post-trim was hilarious. She couldn’t believe the incredible difference in appearance, simply by losing the facial hair! Now, when Jase stood by the rest of his family members, they didn’t even look related anymore. Missy loved the new look and expressed her happiness with the entire thing, both for the way it looked and for what it was going to do for the Mia Moo Fund. Missy admitted to her Twitter followers that Jase’s bare chin has prompted her to flirt with him like he’s a “new man.” Hey, happy wife, happy life! The question on all of his fans' minds after he made the cut was this: was he going to grow it back, or keep the clean-shaven look? As of now, it seems that Jase and the rest of the family are happy with the new look. The whole long-haired beard thing for camouflage doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, anyways – just use camo paint, Jase. Regardless of whether or not he decides to grow it back, cutting it all off served its purpose – it raised a whole lot of money for the Mia Moo Fund. It might surprise some die-hard Duck Dynasty fans to know that the Robertson men hadn’t been growing those beards out for their whole lives. In their teen days, they sported the fresh-faced look (seen here accompanied by a classic mullet.) Yeah, the mullets definitely suit them, too. Faces of the Past Take a look at this blast from the past photograph of the Robertson boys. Jase and his brothers were all just kids in this picture, and they look pretty different than they do these days. We can still see the same Robertson spark in the eyes, though! Future millionaires in the making… The Sergeant “Uncle” Si Robertson is known for his long and unruly beard, among other things. But he hasn’t always had the signature look, either. In fact, in his military days, he had to sport the extreme clean-cut look. He appears to be a completely different person! Happy Marriage Missy and Jase looked so young and innocent in this picture of them as newlyweds. Missy still looks gorgeous, of course, but Jase looks totally different. It’s got to be nice not getting food stuck in his beard anymore! Different Days The family in this picture is a far cry from any of the images that will pop up if you search for Duck Dynasty. Strangely enough, this is the same family, just several years in the past and before everything they owned was camo. Look how adorable these faces are together! They look just as happy these days as they did way back when… Vacation in Paradise When you’ve got millions of dollars, you’re free to take as many luxurious vacations as you want. The young lovers enjoyed their time sunbathing on the islands of Hawaii and eating up the fresh seafood. They’re even wearing their leis. Awww! Phil: Pre-Duck Calling Before his homophobic and misogynistic scandals, Phil was actually pretty adorable and innocent as a young boy. He probably wasn’t thinking about how teenage girls should get married yet, at that point. Alamy Stock Photo Maybe as the strands on his chin continued to grow, so did his Ego… Uh-oh. He probably wasn’t super happy to see this photo of him as a teen circulating the web. Why? Maybe because that’s not exactly the image he’s tried to create for himself. You know, this kind of contradicts his whole “rough and tumble” vibe. Willie admitted during one interview that the boys didn’t have it easy growing up. This picture was most likely taken back in those days. When he was struggling with not having electricity or water some days, he could only dream about the kind of money that he ended up making in his adult life. They may have been living “rough and tumble,” but they were all still adorable! Jase had a hard time grasping their new reality as multi-millionaires, after having grown up in some tough circumstances. He told reporters that his disbelief stemmed from the fact he grew up with his 3 siblings and 2 parents in a 2-bedroom house and often struggled. When this picture was taken, they were already on their way to millionaire status. Of course, they all look very different without the signature Robertson beards. Vacation Times Willie opened up during one interview recently and told reporters that his life and marriage weren’t without trials and tribulations. He admitted that dealing with stress could be a lot, while also raising a family and trying to expand their businesses. So, to get away from it all, they take family vacations to tropical areas where they can hang out together on the beach. They’ve even got on their matching resort wear for this cute family vacation photo! The bare feet are the most important part of the uniform, of course! Willie’s Commitment Korie, Willie’s wife, has said that her husband doesn’t have any current plans to shave his own beard. Apparently, they’re both completely content with him having a face full of hair. Hey, whatever floats your boat! Before Phil was famous for inventing the Robertson duck caller, he was known in his hometown for playing on his school’s football team. Word is he was actually pretty good, but he decided to go in another direction. Hey, considering the fact he’s a multi-millionaire now, he probably has zero regrets about not pursuing a career in sports! He sure looked different back in his school days… Phil lived an entirely different life in his pre-hunting days. This image shows him during his time as a teacher at a high school in his area. He and his wife, Kay, both taught at the school for a few years together. Phil Robertson, the teacher, seems like a completely different person than the duck-hunting wild man you see on the show. Louisiana Living Phil and Kay both grew up in Louisiana. It’s where they spent their own childhoods, where they met and where they had children of their own. They decided that it was also the perfect place to raise their family and nurture their empire, which is exactly what they did. They put down roots and they grew their success beyond belief! They probably couldn’t have imagined exactly how far they would come. Origins of the Beard For the majority of his young life, Phil had a clean-cut face that was free of any facial hair. So, when exactly did he decide to start growing out his beard? When his sons hit their teenage years, Phil stopped shaving and just let it all grow. Apparently, they liked the look, because as soon as they graduated from high school, they followed suit. You would probably never be able to guess that the face in this picture is that of Willie Robertson. Yep, before Willie ran an uber-successful duck hunting business, he played basketball. Lucky for him, he decided against pursuing it professionally and today he’s a multi-millionaire. Willie’s wife, Korie, has seen her husband both with and without his signature beard. But their young daughter, Bella, has only seen her dad with a face full of fuzz. Would she even be able to recognize him without it? The face in this yearbook picture is a far cry from what he looks like today! Willie always had a feeling he wanted to take part in the family business, but he was sure after he got his degree from Harding University. He excelled at his job and became CEO of the company. That certainly gives him something to smile about, which in turn brings out his dimples. Willie’s beard hides his own these days, but you can see them now in the cheeks of his children, Luke and Sadie. Matchmakers Missy and Jase met when they were teenagers attending the same high school. They clicked and started dating almost immediately after meeting. You can see in the photo on the right how in love they were in those days. And in the photo on the left, they still appear very much in love, there are just more family members in tow! Willie met Korie all the way back when they were making arts and crafts at a summer camp in third grade. They didn’t exactly fall in love right away, but they did date later on in junior high. They stayed together throughout middle school and high school and even attended their senior prom together. She was 18 and he was 19 when they went to the dance and hadn’t had any of their children yet. This picture was taken the night of the senior prom. Look how lovely they were in their matching attire. Nice dress, Korie! Sadie’s Tumblr is full of family photos, but the majority of them these days are more recent. But she did post this throwback pic of her and her uncle Jep hanging out on the beach during a family vacation. The Robertson clan loves their beach time, that’s for sure! Sadie’s Tumblr has a pretty impressive following. It should come as no surprise that John Luke, the son of Willie and Korie, wanted to grow out his beard, to follow in the footsteps of all of the men in the family. After all, the beard is pretty much a rite of passage for the Robertson men. How could he not at least try it? He’s off to a nice start! Growing a beard out isn’t the only thing on John Luke’s plate, recently. He also had a lot of planning to do before his recent marriage to Mary-Kate, his girlfriend of several years. The young couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony on the family farm, in front of 700 guests. The two recently announced that Mary-Kate is pregnant with a baby boy. Hobo Style Jase and some of the other men from Duck Dynasty have a very particular style, in which they pretty much wear whatever they want. While fans probably praise him for it, the staff at Trump International Hotel in NYC did not take so kindly to it. In fact, they actually threw him out because they thought he was a homeless person squatting somewhere in the building! Trump Train When Donald Trump was campaigning for his Presidency back in 2016, Willie wasn’t shy about voicing his support. In fact, the Duck Dynasty star vocally endorsed him during a speech at the Republican National Convention, which Trump personally thanked him for. Dinner with Obama Before he jumped on the Trump Train, Willie and his wife attended the WH Correspondents’ dinner and met with a different president. At the dinner in 2013, Obama expressed to the couple that he actually enjoyed watching Duck Dynasty. Little Trump It should come as no surprise that someone who gave several speeches in support of Donald Trump would associate with his son. Not only did he vocally give his support to the campaign, but he also gave financial support in the form of a large donation. Willie and Korie have been known to spend time with Eric and Lara Trump. Colorful Past Al Robertson’s clean-cut appearance may give the illusion that he’s more reserved and collected than some of his family members, but don’t let that face fool you. Al’s actually got quite a bit of history. These days though, he’s definitely calmed down a bit, which probably has a lot to do with the fact he’s had a ton of kids. Mourning Family In 2017, the Robertson clan rallied together to face one of their toughest battles yet. Glenn Durham, a cousin of Korie’s mother, had been fighting cancer for several years when the disease finally overcame him. Everyone was devastated by the loss, but they were all there to support each other through troubling times. Prayers were a large part of the mourning process for the devout Christian family. Fans flooded social media to show their support for the grieving family. Mr. Robertson’s Neighborhood The Robertsons are a super tight-knight family, but they’re also an incredibly large family. This conundrum has led to what they fondly refer to as “Robertson Row.” Robertson Row is actually a cul-de-sac of a beautiful neighborhood in Louisiana. There are 8 homes surrounding the entirety of the loop, 4 of which are inhabited by the Robertson brothers and their families. The other 4 homes are filled with either friends or extended family, hence the nickname for that end of the street. When something so devastating like losing a family member happens, they can come together easily to lean on one another for support. Heartbreaking Times Family members took to social media to express their pain and sadness when Glenn Durham’s battle with cancer came to a devastating conclusion. Glenn was a cousin of Chrys Howard (Korie’s mom,) and Korie happens to occupy a house on Robertson Row. All of the family members on the street (so, the entire street pretty much) came together to support each other after it happened. Chrys and her husband, John, appear on the show as such kind-hearted people, so it’s no wonder that the other family members felt the need to try and lift their spirits up after their loss. Honoring a Memory After Glenn’s passing, fans flooded social media to show their support for the family. Many of the comments were religious in nature, as a lot of the fans of the show are Christians like the cast. “Grieve a period as all we must.... but those who pass in the LORD are not lost to us.... rather only separated for a time that we may anticipate and affirm all the more that sweet and eternal reunion,” wrote someone on one of the pages. Chrys spoke on her own social media about how right before he passed away, she and Glenn were listening to a church sermon on his laptop. She captioned it that he “wanted to know more about God,” right up until he took his last breath. She went on to say that he spent his life preaching to others. I Almost everything today is global, which means that in a single day, we may interact with people from all over the world. Thus, it is important that we know how to treat, transact, and handle different cultures properly to avoid misunderstandings and maintain harmony. Behaving appropriately around other nationalities is also a way of showing respect to one another. II Showing respect for other cultures is a universal deed that every race understands. However, some acts and expressions of one culture can be misunderstood or seen as offensive by another culture. To avoid this, its vital to learn what is polite and impolite. This way, you can build and establish a good relationship with other nationalities. III Respect what is important to other cultures including their beliefs, religion, traditions, and rituals. Even if you do not understand or agree with something. Do not make a comment or state your opinion on sensitive matters. Some cultures are very sensitive about their way of dressing or the food they eat, so you have to respect their customs, and if youre visiting their home or country, abide by their traditions as much as possible. IV Know the appropriate greetings. Greetings vary greatly among cultures. Some do the handshake, others hug and kiss, and some bow to each other. Some cultures are not emotionally open, so kissing or hugging them can be offensive. Learn how to address people properly according to their culture, whether they call each other by their first name or by religious or political position or by their academic achievement. V Avoid using hand signs or gestures because some of them may be offensive to certain cultures. For example, the okay sign for Americans with the pointer finger touching the thumb and the other three fingers up is an obscenity for Brazilians. A cheerful thumbs up for you can be a sign of profanity for another culture. Never use your finger to point at something you are discussing with a Japanese person. Use a whole open hand. VI Its best to avoid asking personal questions about family background, religion, politics, and other sensitive topics because you might unintentionally insult or embarrass the person. Create a general but polite conversation where everyone feels comfortable. Awareness is key, so if you have the opportunity to prepare, make sure you research about the culture of the person or people you will be dealing with. I In 1801 England the homeland and time of Emily Bront the Industrial Revolution was brewing, as reflected in Emily's Wuthering Heights (published in 1847). One of the key plot points reflecting this change was the fact that Heathcliff was able to acquire wealth even though he was not born wealthy. II The setting of Wuthering Heights may have been inspired by a real farmhouse named Top Withens. Though Top Withens is currently in ruins, it was still a working farmhouse during Emily's time. It is located near Haworth Parsonage a remote, windswept hill that has a view of the valley below. III During Emilys time, there was still a great deal of prejudice against women. It was believed that women should stay at home and tend to household chores. Many believe this to be the reason why Emily and Charlotte adopted a male pseudonym when they published their books to prevent their work from being judged by their femininity rather than its merit. IV When Emily was writing her book, her brother Branwell made a visit to Liverpool where he saw many people living in poverty on the streets. When Branwell got back from his visit, he told Emily tales about those poor people; this may have also served as inspiration for Heathcliffs character. V In Emilys hometown, social standing and ownership of property went hand-in-hand. This is another aspect reflected in her book. In one instance, Heathcliff and Catherine are caught spying on the Lintons. When they are caught, only Catherine is welcomed in. Heathcliff is sent home after being deemed ''quite unfit for a decent house'' a judgment based on his social standing. VI During her time and by people's standards, Emily's book was considered a failure. It wasn't until after her death that it caught the attention of the masses, which led to the discovery of what would've been a second book. However, it was never published as it was speculated that a family member burned all of Emily's work after her death. I Reading books is a magical pastime loved by many. Each new story whisks us away from reality and shifts us into a whole new world where we get to experience another place at another time. One of the books most famous for blowing minds is The Alchemist. II Lets buckle up and prepare ourselves for a mini-journey to find out why. First, let me tell you in a sentence how popular this book is: even though he only took two weeks to write The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho has sold more than two million copies of his book around the world. III Paulo wasn't always popular. Did you know that he was admitted to an asylum thrice and then jailed thrice as well? His parents wanted him to be a lawyer but Coelhos heart always directed him towards writing. So, after a year in law school, he dropped out and became a hipster. IV The Alchemist is about inspiring people to go where their hearts lead them. The storys protagonist, Santiago, sets out on a thrilling adventure, leaving everything behind, including his job and family, just to follow his dream. Santiago follows the belief that the universe will conspire to help you reach your dreams, as long as you stay true to them (and yourself). V Paulo Coelho experienced many disappointments and struggles before the success of The Alchemist. The publisher dropped his book because it didnt sell well, but Paulo Coelho, like his main character, believed in his book and in himself. He pushed himself even harder for success, never giving up until he achieved his goals. VI Having dreams is one thing, but achieving them is everything. We were all born to do something, and each one of us has the seeds for success just waiting to receive the right fertilizer. If you need a bit of inspiration, reading The Alchemist will definitely set your heart and mind back on the right track. Happy reading! I The Phantom of the Opera premiered in 1986, with its music produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, along with Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe for the lyrics. The Phantom was the most financially successful stage show until 2014 when The Lion King surpassed it. By 2011, it has been seen by over 130 million people across 27 countries. II The first showing took place at Sydmonton (home of Lloyd Webber) in 1985. The actor who starred as the Phantom was Colm Wilkinson. Sarah Brightman played Kristin, and Clive Carter starred as Raoul. This first production used the original, unaltered lyrics of Richard Stilgoe. III The Phantoms mask was originally designed to cover the entire face of The Phantom all throughout the performance, putting the actor at a great disadvantage. So Maria Bjornson designed a new, classical half-mask to do away with that disadvantage. This allowed the actor to reveal more emotion to the audience and prevented his voice from being muffled and vision obscured. An unmasking sequence of The Phantom was also added to the show. IV Maria Bjornson was assigned to design the sets. Over 200 costumes were made, including the gowns that were used for the Masquerade sequence. Her set designs included the sweeping staircase, the chandelier, and subterranean gondola, and her work has won her multiple awards. Hal Prince (responsible for Cabaret and other major stage shows) directed the production along with Lloyd Webber. V Ray Repp, a Baltimore songwriter, filed a lawsuit alleging that one of the songs from Phantom was based on a song called Til You released in 1978. Lloyd Webber countersued Repps lawsuit, saying that Till You was also plagiarised from the song Closed Every Door by Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. The jury believed Webber. VI The Phantom officially began Broadway at the Majestic Theatre on January 26, 1988. Webber wanted to open one in Toronto after Broadway. However, due to political pressure, it didnt happen. Still, The Phantom of the Opera never stopped showing, becoming the first Broadway show to surpass 10,000 performances on February 11, 2012. I Les Misrables is a French novel published in 1862. It is known as one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. Victor Hugo was responsible for this fictional yet historically-accurate (and if were being honest, depressing) masterpiece. Although the French title is commonly used even in English translations, there have been alternatives. II The novel focuses on the fictional character, Jean Valjeans struggles as an ex-convict and his attempts at redemption. Les Misrables tackles the history of France, touching on its politics, architecture, anti monarchism, philosophy, justice, religion, and the nature of love. Its popularity grew thanks to a proliferation of adaptations in different forms, including stage, film, television, and of course musicals. III Les Misrables was highly anticipated since Victor Hugo was considered one of the greatest poets in France. In 1860, The New York Times announced the novels forthcoming publication. Hugo did not allow the publishers to summarize the story. Instead, he asked them to focus more on his earlier successes. IV After a massive advertisement in April of 1862, the novels first two volumes were released. The following volumes were released in May of 1862. Some critical reactions were negative due to perceived immorality in the subject matter. Some were distressed regarding its apparent sympathy with the revolutionaries, and some complained about its excessive sentimentality. V Les Misrables was banned by The Catholic Church and placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum. Most critical responses were negative due to the controversial issues the novel raised. Of course, there were those who championed the great literary work. Charles Baudelaire praised Hugos success in his review, commending him for drawing public attention to social problems. VI Despite (or perhaps thanks to) the controversy, Victor Hugos novel was a commercial success. Its popularity allowed it to reach not only the entirety of France but all of Europe, and eventually, the world. The novel has now appeared in a number of foreign languages such as Portuguese, Italian, and Greek. I Miss Saigon is a musical that uses Giacomo Puccinis opera, Madame Butterfly as a basis. It discusses the tragic tale of an ill-fated romance between an Asian woman and an American man. The plot was set in the 1970s during the Vietnam War and tells the story of a marriage between a seventeen-year-old girl and an American Marine. II Miss Saigon was created by Claude-Michel Schnberg and Alain Boublil, along with the lyricist Richard Maltby Jr. It premiered in September of 1989 at the Theatre Royal in Londons Drury Lane. After 4,092 performances, it closed in October of 1999 and opened on Broadway in April of 1991. III After the Miss Saigon tour, the show set a world record for opening day ticket sales with more than 4m. Since then, Miss Saigon has been one of the longest-running shows on Broadway. This also paved the way for Schnberg and Boublil's second major success Les Misrables. IV Miss Saigon was inspired by a photograph in a magazine that Schnberg saw. In the photo, there was a Vietnamese mother at Tan Son Nhut Air Base about to board an airplane going to the United States, leaving her child at the departure gate. This became the center of the idea in the plot a mothers ultimate sacrifice. V The musical received negative criticism from those who claimed it was racist and sexist. In the first performance, the white actors Pryce and Burns played the Eurasian and Asian characters. They had to wear eye prostheses and apply bronzing cream in order to have an Asian look. This outraged some viewers who made comparisons to a minstrel show. VI Kims part was played by Lea Salonga in later versions, and the actress won both a Laurence Oliver and Tony Award. However, there was a controversy regarding Leas citizenship. She is a Filipina and the AEA wanted to prioritize its own members. However, they weren't able to find a replacement who could live up to her portrayal of the role, despite hosting extensive auditions. I The Nutcracker is a Russian ballet, formally written as ?????????, ?????-?????? and romanized as Shchelkunchik, Balet-feyeriya. The original choreographers of this ballet were Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov, and it was scored by none other than Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky the first Russian composer whose brilliant, lasting music had become a sensation internationally. II Like other ballets before it, The Nutcracker was a failure during its original production. However, in the late 1960s, The Nutcracker reached its peak and became wildly popular. It has been performed in many different places, and now by countless ballet companies. It is commonly performed during the Christmas season and is loved in North America. III The Nutcracker has become one of the greatest compositions of all time. Its music was set in a romantic period containing familiar melodies that are used in some films and on television. One of the best examples is The Trepak, also known as Russian dance it has since become one of the most popular pieces in ballet, along with Waltz of the Flowers and March. IV Tchaikovsky once argued with his friend, who bet that the composer wouldnt be able to write a one-octave scale melody in the sequence. Tchaikovsky questioned whether it mattered if the notes were flowing in a higher or lower order. This led to the Adagio, from the Grand pas de Deux, which always follows the Waltz of the Flowers. V It is said that one of Tchaikovskys influences in his melancholic composition was his sister. When he was traveling in Paris, he read about his sisters death. He was, as you can imagine, devastated. However, unlike most grieving brothers, he set his sadness to music. This is rumored to be the inspiration for the descending melody in the Adagio of the Grand Pas de Deux. VI There have been many recordings since the first 1909 version of The Nutcracker Suite. It was famed conductor and composer Herman Fincks who conducted the 1909 recording, working with the London Palace Orchestra. Because of the ballets length, it was perfectly suited for LP albums. I The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, commonly known as Coachella or Coachella Festival, is an annual music and arts festival held at the Empire Polo Club located in Indio, California. It was formed by Paul Tollett and Rick Van Santen in 1999 and is organized by Goldenvoice, a subordinate company of AEG Presents. II The first Coachella Festival took place over two days in October of 1999. After learning that there were no events held in 2000, Coachella decided to run their festival annually, beginning in April 2001, as a one-day event. In 2002, the festival organizers decided it would be more efficient if they returned to the original two-day format. III In 2003, Coachella began to allow tent camping as an option for lodgings. The campground site now lies just beside the venue grounds and it even has its own entrance on the south side of the venue. In 2010, one of the added features to the festival was being able to park your car next to your camp. IV Coachella features famous musical artists, as well as those who are still starting their careers. It is one of the largest, most popular, and most profitable music festivals in the world. For the three years spanning 2013 to 2015, each Coachella event set new records for festival attendance and gross revenues. V In addition to hosting live music, Coachella also showcases visual arts, including installation art and sculptures. Many of the pieces are interactive, providing a whole new level of entertainment for the punters. Throughout the years, the art has grown drastically. Paul Clemente, Coachellas art director, said that they were committed to making the installations better and more engaging every year. VI In the early years of Coachella, the art pieces they used were recycled from the previous years Burning Man festival due to budget constraints. Between the years 2010-2015, Goldenvoice started renting pieces and even commissioning them specifically for the festival. I Lollapalooza is a four-day music festival that happens every year at Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois. The event provides a platform for non-profit organizations, political groups, and artists from all different backgrounds. This four-day music festival has an estimated 400,000 people in attendance each year. II Lollapalooza is one of the biggest and most recognizable music festivals globally, and one of the longest-running events in the United States. It was formed by Perry Farrel in 1991 as a farewell tour for his band. Lollapalooza ran until 1997 and was revived in 2003. It also toured through North America between 1997 and 2003. III In 2004, during their comeback, the organizers expanded the music festival to two days per city. However, most of the events were canceled because the tickets didn't sell as well as expected. In 2005, Farrell and the William Morris Agency partnered with Capital Sports Entertainment (now C3 Presents) and made some changes which resulted in a three-day weekend event. IV Steve Albini, a recording engineer, guitarist, and journalist has criticized Lollapalooza. He commented that Lollapalooza is the worst example of corporate encroachment. He added that it is little more than a scheme to exploit money from people. Many other accusations have since been circulating about the event. V Unlike previous festivals such as Woodstock, A Gathering of the Tribes, and the US Festival, which were only one-day events, Lollapalooza toured across the United States and Canada from mid-July until late August 1991. The lineup brought together artists from alternative rock, industrial music, and rap backgrounds. VI Another important concept was the introduction of nonmusical features, such as freaky performances by the Jim Rose Circus SideShow. Theres also a tent that features different kinds of art pieces, virtual reality games, and information tables for political and environmental non-profit groups. I Ultra Music Festival is an outdoor electronic music festival that happens once a year in the month of March. It was founded by Russell Faibisch and Alex Omes who named it Ultra in honor of a Depeche Mode album from 1997. It was first held in Miami Beach near a building at Bicentennial Park. II The first festival was held for a day in 1999. The artists included Paul van Dyk, Rabbit in the Moon, Josh Wink, and DJ Baby Anne. While this seemingly successful beach festival had an estimated 10,000 concert-goers, Faibisch and Omes still suffered a financial loss of around $10,000 to $20,000. III Even though Ultra Music Festival shares its name with Ultra Records, the entities are not directly affiliated. However, both announced that they would be having a global alliance in August 2012, allowing them to collaborate on marketing and cross-promotion. In Miami, a flagship event was held. IV In 2013, just in time for their 15th anniversary, the festival took place for two consecutive weeks every Friday to Sunday in the month of March. The combined attendance totaled 330,000 people. In 2014, Ultra Music Festival returned to their original schedule, which is a single-weekend format. V In 2014 many notable acts like David Guetta, Afrojack, Tisto, Zedd, and more were included in the festival line-up. Many people attempted to gate-crash, wanting to hear their favorite musicians but not able to get a ticket as the event sold out after only five minutes. One of the security guards was left in a critical condition as a result of the gate-crash. VI In 2015, many people wondered if there would be another Ultra Music Festival after the hectic events of the year prior. Luckily, the organizers announced that the 2015 edition would still be held, but security was taken to greater lengths in a bid to avoid anything like the mayhem that went down the year before. I The Sundance Film Festival, which was previously known as the Utah/US Film Festival and then as the US Film and Video Festival, is an independent film festival that takes place every year. This festival is organized by the Sundance Institute and happens every January in Park City, Utah, at the Sundance Resort. II Recognized as the largest independent film festivals in the United States, Sundance had more than 46,660 attendees in 2016. The festival contains a number of competitive divisions, including short and feature-length dramas and documentary films. Groups that are outside of the competition like NEXT, Midnight, Spotlight, New Frontier, and others also contribute to the festivals program. III The festival has changed drastically over the decades. Since the creators were from outside the Hollywood system, they started as a low-profile and low-budget festival. Now, setting the scene for Hollywood celebrities to make a media spectacle has become the Sundance thing. Even luxury lounges were set up by companies not affiliated with Sundance. IV The 2009 film Official Rejection, recorded how the small filmmakers had a hard time getting into film festivals in the late 2000s. Many speculated that the Sundance film festival was getting controlled by large studios and sponsoring corporations to prevent small filmmakers from entering while providing more space for huge filmmakers. V A contrast was made between the 1990s when small-time filmmakers with tiny budget films could get distribution deals from New Line Cinema or Miramax Films, and the 2000s when huge multi-million dollar films dominated the industry. Kevin Smith, an American filmmaker, actor, and comedian doubted that Clerks (one of his movies made in the 90s) would be accepted at Sundance today. VI One of the changes Sundance made in 2010, is a new programming category called NEXT. It features fresh and unconventional films that were produced with only a limited budget. These movies were mostly produced by small and up-and-coming filmmakers. I In 1960, Harper Lee published her novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, which instantly became a success and was widely read in America. The book has since been taught in different American schools, usually high schools, and middle schools. It aims to emphasize prejudice and tolerance, won the Pulitzer Prize, and has become a part of classic modern literature. II Lee based the plot and characters on her perception of her surroundings growing up. Her inspiration came from family and neighbors, and even an event from Monroeville, Alabama in 1936, when she was only ten years of age. Despite showing rape and racial inequality issues, Lees novel was notorious for its humor and warmth. III In the novel, Atticus Finch, the narrators father, was acknowledged as a moral hero in the eyes of most readers. To Kill a Mockingbird was claimed to be one of the most widely read books in America during the 20th century. Atticus Finchs heroic image, while only fictional, had an excellent influence on readers. IV Since the novel is both Bildungsroman and Southern Gothic, racial injustice and loss of purity were major themes. According to scholars, Lee raised many issues such as compassion, courage, class, and gender roles. Despite its success and choice of themes, some public schools opted to have it removed and challenged the book due to its racial references. V The novel turned into the well-received 1962 film, using the same title with Gregory Peck playing the role of Atticus Finch. Universal Pictures once questioned Alan Pakula, the film producer, regarding the script he was using for the film. However, from its two-million-dollar budget, the film was a box office success, grossing more than twenty million dollars. VI To Kill a Mockingbird was initially titled "Go Set a Watchman" and it is the only book that Lee has ever published. Since 1964, Lee has never accepted any publicity regarding her personal life nor the novel. Still, To Kill a Mockingbird was a triumph, having won three Oscars and being nominated for five more. I The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha is known as El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha in modern Spanish. Nowadays, the masterpiece is more simply referred to as Don Quixote, a Spanish novel written by Miguel de Cervantes. It was divided into two parts, the first published in 1605, and the second in 1615. II During the Spanish Golden Age, Don Quixote was one of the most influential literary works in the country. It was given the label the first modern novel and often considered as one of the best works of literature ever made. The novel had a significant impact on the literary community. The philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer even cited Don Quixote as one of the four greatest novels ever written. III Many believe the Castilian novel Amadis de Gaula, a great piece of literature from the 16th century, to be one of the influences for Don Quixote. Another likely influence was Tirant lo Blanch, once described as the best book in the world. Cervantes also used various Italian poems from Orlando Furioso as references. IV The story revolves around a Hidalgo (a nobleman without a hereditary title) named Alonso Quixano as he journeys in La Mancha. He read a lot of chivalric romances, and develops an obsession, wanting to revive chivalry by becoming a knight-errant. He hopes to serve his nation under the name Don Quixote de la Mancha. V Don Quixote is usually seen as a comic novel on the surface. However, in the 19th century, the novels imagery became a social commentary. Many critics interpreted the work and its rather delusional hero as a tragic novel. This interpretation sees Don Quixote's idealism and self-imposed nobility as insane and useless. VI In the 20th century, the novel filled an important canonical space as a foundation stone of modern literature. Harold Bloom (an American literary critic) recognizes Don Quixote as the first modern model for literature and sees it as important that the main character accepts the necessity of death and opposes Freuds reality principle. I Swan Lake is a Russian ballet that was composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky between the years 1875 and 1876. It was initially written as ????????? ????? and romanized as Lebedinoe Ozero. It has become one of the most popular ballets ever, despite the fact that its first performances were a failure. II Swan Lake is a two-act ballet influenced by Russian and German folk tales. The story tells of a princess named Odette, who turned into a swan under a sorcerers spell. Julius Reisinger originally choreographed the ballet. It first premiered at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, in March of 1877. III Ivan Vsevolozhsky asked Tchaikovsky to create something that could feature both opera and ballet. The composer of the original libretto and plot idea is still unknown. However, it was believed to be an adaptation of folk tales like The White Duck and The Stolen Veil. IV Pepita provided Tchaikovsky with detailed instructions regarding the music composition, specifically the number of bars and tempo. However, when Tchaikovsky visited the United States, his ability to complete the work was delayed as he spent twenty-five days conducting concerts for the Carnegie Hall opening. V The ballet was adapted into many different versions. In terms of music and choreography, most ballet companies follow the stagings from the 1895 revival created by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov. Swan Lake is commonly performed in four acts of four scenes each, but there are also performances presented in three acts and four scenes. VI Productions all over the world have ended the show differently. Some still followed the tragic ending, while others altered it to leave the audience less traumatized. In 1968, Swan Lake was honored when a cultivar of white roses was named Schwanensee. During a political coup in Russia in 1991, the ballet was broadcast for three days in a row in order to keep news updates from reaching the people. I The Little Prince is a French novella, originally named Le Petit Prince. This novella was published in April of 1943, written by a French aristocrat, Antoine de Saint-Exupry. It became the most popular work of Saint-Exupry and is considered the 20th centurys best book in France. It has also been translated into 300 different languages. II The Little Prince is a narrated story from the perspective of the pilot whose plane crashes, leaving him stranded in a desert. This story was based on Saint-Exuprys experience in the Sahara in 1939. He and his copilot-navigator tried to break the speed record, having a prize of 150,000 francs. However, their aircraft crashed near the Wadi Natrun valley. III The novella became one of the best-selling during the time. Aside from that, it is also the most translated non-religious book ever published and sells about two million copies annually. It is a multi-layered fable and has been adapted into different art forms and media such as cassette tape, disc, film, graphic novels, opera, ballet, and concert music. IV Since The Little Prince was originally published in French, it was often used as a learning material for French-language students. Aside from being translated into 300 languages and dialects, it was also translated in indigenous languages such as Toba Qom and was also printed in Braille for blind people. V Although The Little Prince is a childrens book, it indicates various observations in life and human nature. Saint-Exuprys wide appeal in the novella resulted in numerous adaptations over the decades. The title character has also been adapted into different promotional roles such as environmental protection. VI Saint-Exupry has also been given an extension of copyrights in France. Because of his exceptional services to the nation, his estate received the civil code designation Mort Pour la France (Died for France) and he was granted another 30 years. This means that The Little Prince will not fall out of copyright until 2044. I The Smithsonian Folklife Festival began in 1987; it is an international cultural heritage exhibition that happens every year, spanning two weeks around the Fourth of July, right in time for Independence day. This event is held in the National Mall, Washington DC. II The festival offers free access to the public to encourage cultural exchange. Did you know that more than one million visitors attend this two-week-long celebration each year? This is what makes this festival the largest annual cultural event in the United States. Indeed, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival has featured tradition bearers from 90 countries (and counting). III The festival has two sets of programs, one running throughout the days and the other in the evenings. The programs cover music, songs, dances, celebratory performances, crafts and cooking, storytelling, illustrations of workers culture, and narrative sessions solely for the discussion of cultural issues. Visitors participate by enjoying the music, eating traditional foods, learning as much as they can, and conversing with people about the festival program presents. IV The Smithsonian Folklife Festival is focused on bridging cultures and teaching us how to appreciate each others differences through entertainment. The festival not only focuses on bridging cultures but also on raising awareness of topics that may be sensitive (a feature prominently presented in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival of 2012). V As you can probably imagine, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival is very rich in culture. Not only does this festival showcase American culture but also those of other nations. This has been central to the festival from its inception, with China featured in the very first festival in 1967. VI The latest festival was sadly shortened to two days and downscaled due to the effect of the 2018-2019 US Government Shutdown which was the longest in history. It happened when Donald Trump and the 115th United States Congress couldnt agree on an appropriations bill to fund the operations of the federal government. I The Sleeping Beauty is another composition of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Just like his past works, it originally appeared in Russian, written as ?????? ?????????, and romanized as Spyashaya Krasavitsa. The Sleeping Beauty is a ballet performed in three acts, and it took Tchaikovsky over a year (between 1888 and 1889) to perfect its score. II Tchaikovsky started composing this ballet when Ivan Vsevolzhsky, the director of Imperial Theatres in St. Petersburg, convinced him to do so. The scenes were based on La Belle au bois dormant by Charles Perrault. The Sleeping Beauty first appeared in 1890, and Tchaikovsky worked with Marius Petipa to bring it to life. III In January of 1890, The Sleeping Beauty premiered in the Mariinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg, where the show almost instantly became one of Russias most popular ballets. Although Tchaikovskys earlier work, Swan Lake, was initially a failure, he did not hesitate to accept Vsevolzhskys commission. IV Tchaikovsky based his ballet scenario on the Brothers Grimm fairytale, as interpreted by Perrault. In this version, the parents of the princess survive the 100-year sleep too, allowing them to celebrate the wedding of their daughter. After getting suitably inspired, Tchaikovsky happily informed the Imperial Theatre director of his vision. V The Sleeping Beauty focused on two main conflicting forces between the Lilac Fairy and Carabosse. Each of these has a leitmotif to represent it, running through the entire show. However, in Act III, these two motifs are given a break and the focus shifts to individual characters in court dances. VI In March of 2007, The Walt Disney Company filed a registered trademark with the US Patent and Trademark Office for the name Princess Aurora. Disney acquired music for its animated film in 1959 and their production was released on television. I Mama Mia! was a musical romantic comedy movie in 2008. The movie was written by Catherine Johnson, based on some of her earlier work from 1999. Phyllida Lloyd directed the 2008 film. The movies main characters are portrayed by Christine Baranski, Dominic Cooper, Colin Firth, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgrd, Meryl Streep, and Julie Walters. II The plot of Mama Mia! Revolves around a young bride-to-be who invited three men to her wedding, suspecting one of them is her mystery-shrouded father. The film was produced as a collaboration between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Relativity Media, under Playtone and Littlestar Production, also co-produced Mama Mia! III The movie was mostly filmed on the small Greek island of Skopelos, Thessaly. The outdoor scenes were captured at the seaside of Damouchari, while the central location site was set at Kastani beach. Real trees were used in the film, and the crew had to water them daily and ensure they were given enough access to daylight for growth. IV In one of Brosnans scenes, playing the character of Sam, he runs down an escalator and through the porte-cochere. Here, New York mounted police were represented, along with the citys famous yellow cabs. Surprisingly, this scene was actually captured at Lloyds Building on Lime Street, in the city of London. V Mama Mia! had its worldwide premiere in June of 2008 at Leicester Square, London. Universal Pictures Distributed the film. After a week, the movie premiered again in Sweden. In the following years, it was theatrically performed in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany. VI The movie received varying reviews, both positive and negative. Critics praised the production values and musical numbers. However, they were not satisfied with the plot and the casting calling Brosnan and Skarsgrd inexperienced singers. Nevertheless, the movie was the fifth highest-grossing film of 2008, making $615 million out of a $52 million budget. I Japan is jam-packed with rich culture, beautiful scenery, modern technology, and amazing food. Before heading to the land of the rising sun, though, it is imperative that you learn and respect their customs and traditions to avoid offending locals. II If youre visiting a Japanese home or any indoor place that has tatami mats, make sure to take your shoes off and place them by the front door before entering. Some homes and hotels provide their guests slippers, so feel free to use those. Also, the proper way to greet a local is by bowing your head as a sign of respect. The rule is, the longer and deeper your bow is, the more respectful you are. III While most western countries are used to tipping, you wont have to in Japan. In fact, tipping is highly discouraged and is seen as an insulting gesture. Japanese restaurants take pride in providing excellent service and neither desire nor expect additional compensation in return. The same is true for cabs and hotels. IV When it comes to public transportation, you have to be careful not to slam cab doors. Japanese cabs have doors that close on their own, so theres really no need to close it yourself at all. When using the subway or the shinkansen, practice courtesy at all times. Take note that eating and talking on the phone is highly discouraged. V A popular destination among tourists is Japans public hot spring baths. The traditional practice when bathing in a Japanese hot spring is to do so completely naked. So, if youre iffy about having other people see so much of you, you might want to skip this. If youre still willing to try out the unique experience, take comfort in knowing that everybody is required to wash thoroughly prior to bathing. VI You couldnt possibly visit Japan and not try their incredible cuisine. Ramen is a Japanese staple, and everyone is expected to slurp their noodles when eating. Its your way of telling the cook that you are enjoying the food. You dont need to exaggerate your slurp though just do so at an appropriate volume. I Going on a trip to an Arab country might seem daunting, especially for women, which is why it's essential to familiarize yourself with the culture - and laws - in advance of any trip. Learning about the dos and don'ts in Arab countries will help you have a pleasant visit. II It is a common misconception that all Arabs are Muslims, but this is false. While the majority of Arabs are Muslim, Christianity and Judaism are also practiced in some Arabic societies. III Traditional Arab countries have specific rules regarding interacting with women. For instance, when a woman enters a room, men have to stand up. Also, women are not allowed to eat or mingle in a room with men. Unless you're a woman, do not shake hands with an Arab woman until she offers her hand first. You can't talk, hug, or flirt with women in private either. IV Observant Muslims are prohibited from eating pork, as stated in their religious text, the Qur'an. They're also not allowed to consume alcohol, unscaled fish, and carnivorous animals. Their primary meat source is lamb. Pita bread is another staple. When an Arab offers you food, politely refuse initially, but do accept eventually. V When an Arab offers you a drink such as coffee or tea, you can't refuse as it's more than just an offer of refreshment. Such drink offers are a sign of friendship, so refusing is the height of rudeness. Now, when you're offered a beverage, make sure to take it using your right hand. This rule isn't just for taking drinks when eating or drinking, you must also only use your right hand as the left hand is thought to be unclean. VI Guests must also be careful with body language when communicating with Arabs. For instance, when shaking hands with someone, make sure to use your right hand. Your left hand should grasp the person's elbow. Putting your hand on your heart and bowing your head slightly is a sign of respect and can be used as a greeting as well. I Going to India for the first time might give you quite the culture shock. So, take a deep breath and acknowledge that youre going to be in a completely different world and you have to be open to unconventional things. II India is a highly conservative country, so you cant wear short skirts and cropped or low-cut tops, despite the humidity. While youre not exactly going to get arrested for doing so, it is considered disrespectful to walk around in revealing clothes. This is especially true when visiting religious temples. So, when packing for your trip, make sure to bring long pants, shirts, and scarves. III When visiting temples, remember that you need to take off your shoes before going inside. Also, beware of scammers who roam around mosques and temples. Some will perform a religious rite such as placing a red dot on your forehead and ask for a huge amount of money in return. IV One of the most distinct habits that make Indians unique is their head bob. When you visit India, make sure that you have a proper understanding of what the various head bobs mean (its not as simple as you might think). A nod doesnt necessarily mean yes, and side to side shake doesnt mean no. The Indian head waggle can mean many different things depending on the situation, so make sure to study up on this. V The streets of India are filled with flea markets that offer a variety of goods. As such, you have to practice your haggling skills in order to get the best deals. Haggling is a normal day-to-day practice in India, so dont worry. A good technique is to politely walk away from a pricey deal. Doing this will trigger some merchants to lower the price as they dont want to lose a potential sale. VI When youre in India, you have to be extremely patient with schedules not being adhered to religiously. For instance, trains dont always leave and arrive on schedule. Dont expect people to arrive at the agreed time either. You dont want this to ruin your trip, so avoid unnecessary frustration and always expect and plan for delays. I Mexico has a vast and colorful history, so make sure to add a visit to your bucket list. When you do go, though, take note that their restroom door labels may be a bit confusing. M doesnt stand for Males, but for Mujeres, meaning ladies. II When you get to Mexico, you will be given a piece of paper along with your stamped passport. Whatever you do, do not lose this piece of paper. It serves as your break-away paper, which will be asked for when you leave the country. In the event that you do lose it, youll be required to pay a fine. III Mexico is a humongous country, so getting from place to place can be quite tough. Thankfully, it has an exemplary bus network that could get you to where you need to be, and even allow you to see the beauty of its countryside on your journey. There are different classifications of buses that have corresponding prices. The primero and platino are the first-class buses that offer comfy seats and restrooms. IV Yes, Mexico is famous for its amazing beaches, but there is so much more to explore in this rich and colorful country. Go ahead and check out the beautiful countryside, canyons, mountains, plateaus, fishing villages such as Celestun, and small, old-fashioned towns such as Valladolid. Mexico is a huge country and there are countless sites to see beyond beaches and resorts. V You have to understand the concept of Mexican time, which means 35-45 minutes after the agreed time. Basically, you should not expect anything or anyone to be on time. What you should expect is a whole lot of delay, so it's best to embrace their concept of time and use it as an opportunity to cultivate patience. Otherwise, youll end up getting constantly frustrated. VI You might think that Mexico is an unsafe place with a high crime rate. On the contrary, the country is actually pretty safe for tourists. Every year, millions of people flock to Mexico, and instances of violence against tourists are rare. Mexicans are also very friendly and hospitable, so theres no reason to be paranoid. Just take care and act rationally. I Apart from being the home of K-pop and spicy noodles, there abundant reasons to visit South Korea. Koreans use their very own alphabet called Hangul (great script). It might look overwhelming in the beginning, but its pretty easy to learn. Not that you need to do it, but it will help since street signs and menus are normally written in Hangul. II While many public bathrooms in Korea use regular toilets, youll also find a lot of traditional squat toilets around. Some toilets, on the other hand, are very modern and have a toilet seat warmer and bidet that you can switch on with a remote control. III One of the things to look forward to in South Korea is their amazing food. Samgyeopsal, bibimbap, and toppoki are just some of the dishes you need to try. When eating at a restaurant, you can call the attention of servers by shouting Yogiyo! meaning Im here! Or, you could simply press the call button on your table. When youre done eating, head to the counter to pay your bill. IV While South Korea is a modern country with state-of-the-art technology, its values remain traditional. Koreans adhere to Confucianism, a philosophy that centers around social harmony. So, when youre visiting the country, kindness is key. V South Korea has an impressively efficient and affordable transport system. When you get to Korea, the first thing you need to get a hold of is a T-Money card. This can be used to pay for bus and subway rides. Caps are also plentiful, and the fare is affordable. Tip: do not ride in deluxe cabs because theyll charge a higher rate for not much extra by way of service. VI South Korea has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. However, you do need to know that their law tends to favor locals over foreigners. For instance, if you get caught in a brawl with a Korean, just walk away. The moment you fight back, you run the risk of getting arrested by the police. And it likely wont work out in your favor, regardless of the circumstances that led to the altercation. I China has 5,000 years' worth of history thats almost completely void of Western influence. That said, first-timers might find its culture and traditions a bit overwhelming. While locals in the Land of the Red Dragon tend to be lenient toward foreigners, its still polite to learn their customs. II Wherever you are in China, expect that its going to be crowded. With 1.4 billion people, China is the most populous country in the world. So, dont be surprised if the Chinese are not familiar with the concept of personal space. For instance, public bathrooms have very low partitions, so much so that you can actually see the person in the next cubicle. III When greeting someone, you need to adhere to a certain etiquette. When youre introduced to a Chinese person while you are seated, rise and remain standing for a while. Also, you should pay respect to elders as seniority is valued in China. When youre with a group of people, make sure to greet and address the oldest person first. IV Chinese names can be a little confusing at first, but remember that their surname comes before their first name. Unless youre close to a person, you should address them by their full name. These days, though, most Chinese people use English names to avoid confusion. V Make sure to learn Chinese eating etiquette to ensure you have a great dining experience every time you eat. When youre at a formal event, your host will tell you where you should sit, so you have to wait to be seated. The biggest mistake you can make is to sit to the right of the host because that seat is reserved for their most-esteemed (usually the oldest) guest. VI Youre most likely going to have to use chopsticks when eating, so here are some things you need to be mindful of when doing so. First, it is considered bad luck to stick your chopsticks into your bowl of rice. And it doesnt matter how delicious your food is, you should not lick your chopsticks. Also, dont use these utensils to point at a guest. I Russia is the biggest country in the world by land mass, yet its not as packed with tourists as other nations. Russia is a beautiful land filled with intriguing remnants of history, colorful heritage, and incredibly friendly people; so its definitely worth visiting at least once in your life. II Contrary to popular belief, Russians dont actually drink vodka all the time. Russians do have a distinct way of drinking vodka though: theyll down a shot and either sniff a piece of rye bread or eat a pickle. III Russians dont have a word for cheers, so instead, they simply toast before each drink. The toast could range from a few words to a long speech. Another common misconception is that the term na zdorovie! means cheers! but it doesnt, so dont say it! You can say za zdorovie, as that means to your health, but dont overdo it. As we mentioned, it should really be a different toast each time. IV While young Russians can generally communicate well in English, the language isnt used much in Russia, especially in faraway provinces. Its helpful to learn their alphabet as street names, maps, station names, and menus are usually written in Cyrillic. Its also wise to learn basic Russian words in order to help you communicate with locals. Here are some: privyet = hello, spasiba = thank you, izvinite = excuse me, paka = bye. V The Russian currency is called the Ruble. When exchanging local money for Rubles, do not accept torn and marked bills. Do not fold them either. Russian banks charge extra when you exchange damaged Rubles, even those with small folds. VI In spite of political conflicts with western countries, Russians are generally very friendly and hospitable to tourists. Its true though that Russians do not smile a lot in the streets. They actually find it quite odd to smile at random strangers, but they are really cheerful in the presence of friends and loved ones. Russians arent huge fans of small talk, so try to avoid that. Theyre really nice and kind though, so dont mistake their aloof aura for rudeness! I The Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the most majestic sites in the world. What makes it even more incredible is the fact that we still havent been able to figure out how these great pieces of architecture were built. All we know for sure is that people all over the world travel thousands of miles just to catch a glimpse of the mysterious archaeological treasures. II Egypt has received a significant amount of negative publicity from the media, so its not surprising that people tend to stay away. There are certain places you need to avoid due to terrorism include the Western Desert and the Sinai Peninsula. Stick to tourist attractions as those are pretty much the safest places in Egypt, and be especially cautious if you are a woman traveling alone. III Its helpful to learn some Arabic phrases, and locals will appreciate the fact that you went out of your way to learn the language. Being able to communicate even on a basic level will go a long way. Some useful Egyptian Arabic words include: salam = hello, shukran = thank you, afwan = youre welcome, aywa = yes, ia = no, mashi = okay, and haram = pyramid. IV The tap water in Egypt isnt safe to drink, so opt for bottled water and make sure the seal isnt broken. Also, stay away from raw fruit and veggies, salads, and undercooked meat. V Many tourists want to ride a camel, but when you see the sad state of these camels, you might change your mind. Due to the decline of tourism in Egypt, it seems business has been prioritized over the animals welfare. Should you still decide to ride a camel, dont get fooled by some merchants who charge higher: the standard fee is 50 Egyptian Pounds for a 30-minute ride. VI If youre visiting a religious site such as a mosque, make sure to dress modestly. In some places, women will be asked to cover their hair with a scarf. Tourists are also asked to remove their shoes before entering. Try not to visit during prayer time as you dont want to be rude and disrupt worshippers. I Italy is one of the best countries to travel to in terms of history, culture, art, architecture, and food. Apart from the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa, tourists also look forward to witnessing and experiencing the uniquely Italian way of life. II Italians are affectionate in nature, and this is apparent in the way they greet each other. If you want to give it a try, just give them a kiss on each cheek. This is applicable to everybody, whether its an old lady or a young lad. In fact, its only going to look and feel awkward if you try a different approach, so just go for it. III The cost of coffee in Italy depends on where youre ordering it. If youre going to order at the counter, then youll get charged about 1 to 1.50 EUR a cup. However, if you order while seated at a table, theyll charge you more in the form of a service fee. Also, cappuccino is considered a breakfast-only drink. So dont order it after 11 AM. IV Italians love having croissants and other pastries in the morning, paired with a warm cappuccino, black coffee, or a cold refreshing glass of orange juice. Restaurants and hotels dont usually serve savoury meals at breakfast time, so you might as well embrace this sweet practice. While were on the subject of food, heres another tip: do not add ketchup to your pizza. Youre going to anger a lot of Italians if you do. V Italians are deeply fond of food. They love food so much that they even added another meal between lunch and dinner called aperitivo. This takes place at around 5 PM, a time when bars will serve you with all sorts of snacks such as crisps and pizza. VI The Italian way of life is very laid back. Dont be surprised if lunch and dinner occur a lot later than youre accustomed to. Also, if you bump into someone, regardless of whether youre in a hurry, you have to greet them and chat with them for a while. Always use the phrase, buona giornata, meaning have a good day, before parting ways. I With its countless famous landmarks and mouth-watering cuisine, its no surprise France is a top travel destination. Before you book your tickets, its important to know the dos and donts as a tourist. First of all, you have to learn some basic French terms, such as bonjour = hello, sil vous plait = please, and au revoir = goodbye. II When youre out exploring the city, its not advisable to take cabs. Theyre very expensive, and riding in a cab will hinder you from seeing the beauty of France. The major landmarks in Paris arent that far apart from each other, so walking from one site to another is a pleasure. III Paris is the fashion capital of the world, so it goes without saying that you need to step up your wardrobe. Do not even consider wearing sweatpants when roaming around the streets or worse, when dining at a restaurant. French people are very stylish, but they prefer simple rather than over-the-top looks. Youll normally see them wearing muted tones, and they dont wear too much make-up or accessories. So, keep your look simple but chic. IV The French love socializing over food and coffee. Youll notice that theyre very laid back when dining at restaurants or cafs, and thats because they love to savor their food and drink while hanging out with friends and family. Dont expect service to be fast, either. V France has one of the most elegant and scrumptious cuisines out there, and it comes with proper table manners. When dining at a French restaurant, remember to place your napkin on your lap upon sitting. Do not cut bread, instead, break it with your hands. VI Arguably, the most famous landmark in France is the Eiffel Tower, and visiting this site is really a must. Its so iconic that its become a sort of ritual for every tourist to go see it. But, some tourists settle for seeing the tower from afar. We recommend that you actually go up the tower as youll have a much better appreciation of its beauty if you do. Mitch Perfecto \| January 16, 2020 Whoever Said These Buildings Are Ugly Is Clearly Mistaken Appreciating the beauty of magnificent architecture of tall towering buildings is not at all difficult to do. While most people find modern buildings with the latest design trends.. Erika Salen \| January 13, 2020 The “Blind Side”-The True Story Behind The Movie When “The Blind Side,” was released in theaters in 2009, it was a roaring success which grossed over $300 million and stole the hearts of many. The film quickly became the feel-good-movie.. Andres Caluag \| January 09, 2020 Swiss Cheese Makers Discover That Cheese Tastes Better Aging To Hip Hop Researchers in Switzerland have made an astonishing revelation: cheese is much tastier when exposed to hip hop music. The study has 9 wheels of Emmental cheese, each weighing 22..	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1373
__label__wiki	0.586015	0.586015	It’s Actually OK to Be Proud of the Military on Independence Day Thomas Spoehr / July 03, 2019 / Leave a comment Naval cadets march in formation at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. (Photo: Paul Souders/Getty Images) Thomas Spoehr Thomas W. Spoehr, a retired Army lieutenant general, is director of the Center for National Defense at The Heritage Foundation. Some are hyperventilating over reports that this year’s annual Independence Day celebration in Washington will feature remarks by President Donald Trump, military flyovers, and stationary displays of Army equipment, including tanks. The Washington Post highlighted the increased costs of the event and expressed anxiety over how there was a chance that tanks and other heavy equipment could damage the grounds surrounding the National Mall. Time magazine, referring to the celebration as “controversial,” said it “blurs the lines between politics and the military, and offers visuals reminiscent of Chinese or Russian events.” National Public Radio described its frantic search to find the true cost for the celebration and quoted Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., saying, “There’s going to be a big price tag for this, and the taxpayers will have to pick up the tab.” Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., echoing Van Hollen, speaking about the cost said, “We haven’t heard anything. It’s disturbing.” But Fourth of July celebrations have been taking place on the National Mall for at least 38 years and have typically featured live performances by the Beach Boys, Jimmy Buffett, the National Symphony Orchestra, and other nationally known performers. They always feature world-class fireworks and a big parade. So, why the sudden interest in the cost of the celebration? Is adding a flyover—the same thing we do for big football games—and a stationary display of a handful of tanks—really grounds for extraordinary consternation and newfound frugality on the part of congressional leaders? Do we even remember the reason we celebrate Independence Day? It was the day our nation declared its independence from Great Britain. Would the simple act of declaration have sufficed to achieve our freedom? Hardly. It took a long and bloody eight-year war in order for America to gain its independence. Subsequent wars, such as the War of 1812, were fought to maintain that freedom and protect the nation. In those wars, it was the American military and the men and women who served in uniform that gave our Declaration of Independence actual meaning. Now, it seems we have reached a point where some think Independence Day is only about barbecues, concerts, and fireworks, and that introducing elements like a military flyover or (gasp!) stationary displays of tanks somehow sullies the festivities and introduces an undesirable martial element. It was the nation’s armed forces that actually won the independence and maintained it at great cost over the past 240-odd years. Others find fault with the president’s decision to make remarks at the celebration, citing potential problems with traffic, cost, and possible politicization of the holiday. Yet those same people have never expressed concerns over the president’s traditional speaking role on Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery. Indeed, it’s altogether appropriate and fitting for the president of the United States to address the nation on Independence Day, reminding us of the blessings of liberty and the sacrifices made to achieve the freedom we all now enjoy. The small town where I grew up in Illinois was near the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. Fifty years later, I can still remember the pride and awe I felt when the sailors and military marching bands from the base marched down Main Street at our Independence Day parade. That same spirit and appreciation for our military is no less appropriate in Washington today than it was in Lake Bluff, Illinois, then.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1374
__label__cc	0.742349	0.257651	Dallas ISD P-TECH and Early College High School/Collegiate Academies Dallas ISD is expanding opportunities for students, thanks to an exciting partnership with the Dallas County Community College District and Institutes of Higher Education. We have 9 traditional Early College High Schools (ECHS), and 18 Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools (P-TECH). All schools will enable students to: Earn an Associate of Arts, Associate of Applied Science or Associate of Science degree - tuition free while in high school. Earn as many as 60 hours of tuition-free college credit. Eliminate thousands of dollars in college tuition costs. Graduate from a four-year university in less time than their peers. P-TECH schools will enable students to do the above as well as: Enter the job market with a work-ready skill. Develop workplace skills through mentorships and internships with industry partners. The P-TECH and Early College High Schools/Collegiate Academies are designed to serve incoming ninth grade students who have the determination to attend college, are first-generation college students, and have been historically underrepresented in higher education. Each school will accept 125 ninth grade students per year. The model begins in ninth grade, and students will only be accepted into the program as freshmen. They will move together as a cohort as they progress through high school. Each school will have a higher education partner and offer its own academic pathway leading to an Associate of Arts, Associate of Applied Science or Associate of Science degree. The career pathways available to students will range from health sciences, information technology and cyber security to early childhood education, criminal justice, business and others. P-TECH/ECHS/Collegiate Academies What is an Early College High School/Collegiate Academy? What is a P-TECH? P-TECH Industry Partners Collegiate Academies by Campus P-TECH/ECHS Brochure P-TECH/ECHS/Collegiate Academy Home Tweets by DISD_PTECH_ECHS	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1375
__label__cc	0.540574	0.459426	Aussie and US uni collaboration to work on next-gen autonomous systems Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price has announced a $3 million collaboration agreement between Australian and US universities to develop the next generation of autonomous vehicles. The University of Melbourne, Macquarie University, the University of New South Wales and Queensland University of Technology will join forces with Boston University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The universities will explore whether the way in which living creatures receive, process and react to environmental and contextual information can be applied to robots to improve their perception, navigation and spatial awareness. Defence Industry Minister Melissa Price said autonomous capability was a key priority for Defence because of its important safety and efficiency benefits: “Autonomous vehicles help keep troops a safe distance from harm and present solutions to a range of problems faced by our military personnel in the field.” “This project is aimed at developing a truly autonomous vehicle capable of learning, adapting to unexpected situations and pursuing complex goals in dynamic and challenging environments. It is a tremendous opportunity for our scientists to collaborate with their counterparts in the United States on research that is vital for the future defence and security of Australia,” Minister Price added. The funding was awarded under the AUSMURI program, a sister program to the US multidisciplinary university research initiative (MURI). AUSMURI supports Australian universities, which are part of successful bids in the US MURI process. Designed to encourage collaboration between Australian universities and their US counterparts, AUSMURI provides funding of up to $1 million per year for three years, supporting research in high-priority areas for Defence. A total of $25 million from the Next Generation Technologies Fund will be invested in the AUSMURI program over the next nine years. The Next Generation Technologies Fund, managed by DST, is a new government initiative introduced with the Defence Industry Policy Statement in 2016. Together with the Defence Innovation Hub and the Centre for Defence Industry Capability, these three policies form the integrated Defence innovation system. With an investment of $730 million over the decade to June 2026, the Next Generation Technologies Fund is a forward-looking program focusing on research and development in emerging and future technologies for the “future Defence force after next”. The Next Generation Technologies Fund is focused on the following nine priority areas as determined by the Defence White Paper 2016: Integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance Space capabilities Enhanced human performance Medical countermeasure products Multi-disciplinary material sciences Quantum technologies Trusted autonomous systems Advanced sensors, hypersonics and directed energy capabilities “In addition to providing critical Defence capability, the AUSMURI program will help to grow local skills and expertise in key areas,” Minister Price said. Further information regarding the Next Generation Technologies Fund is available here.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1377
__label__cc	0.659816	0.340184	Consultoría Mundial de Petróleo y Gas El lenguaje Experiencia Geográfica Materiales de referencia Precios de petróleo y gas Cushing, Ok WTI Spot Price FOB, (US$/bbl) Europe Brent Spot Price FOB, (US$/bbl) Henry Hub Natural Gas Spot Price, (US$/MMBtu) SEC Compliance SEC Comment Letters Twenty First Century Petroleum Statistics View our poll – 2020 Vision-How We See Our Greatest Challenges Thank you for your interest in DeGolyer and MacNaughton’s TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY PETROLEUM STATISTICS, (known as TWENTIETH CENTURY PETROLEUM STATISTICS through the 71st edition). Starting now, you have access to the 73rd edition (published in 2019 using data through 2017), which is now exclusively available online. TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY PETROLEUM STATISTICS is an authoritative source of information that now offers the utility of worldwide electronic availability. For your convenience, we have also provided a link to historical data prior to 1960, which is data not included in the compiled document. The data and information contained in this document was initially prepared in 1945 by the office of the Director of Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves, Navy Department, Washington, D.C. The Director, Commodore W.G. Greenman, requested that DeGolyer and MacNaughton exclusively maintain the ‘handbook’ on an annual basis, since demand indicated that there was a practical need for such information. DeGolyer and MacNaughton have been publishing this ever since as a ready reference for industry colleagues, clients, researchers, libraries, and students. We are looking forward to expanding the content, usability, and dynamic relevance of this one-of-a-kind publication series. Note that, for this edition, the following is new: A section including Unconventional Resources Data A fun poll of our users: “2020 Vision-How We See Our Greatest Challenges” In the publication of the TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY PETROLEUM STATISTICS, we have made free use of information published by the American Petroleum Institute, the Oil and Gas Journal, World Oil magazine, the Energy Information Administration (EIA), and other public-domain sources from around the world. Sources are cited herein, and we greatly appreciate permission granted for the use of such data provided. Please register to access and download the TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY PETROLEUM STATISTICS information: All information is required. Twenty First Century Petroleum Statistics Form This site uses cookies to better your experience. Click the "x" to close this window and accept. Click here to learn more about cookies.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1378
__label__wiki	0.838098	0.838098	Our vision, mission, aims Join DPT #ProudofDPT Celebrating Achievement Awards 2019 Four steps to safety Safe nursing staff levels Research, development, innovation Research studies - open for recruitment Common questions about research Want to start your own research project? Useful links for organisations we work with Annual reports and corporate governance statements Countering fraud CQUIN programme Infection prevention and control reports Mortality review policy Monthly expenditure exceeding 25K Reducing the risk of infection Safer staffing levels Select a page... Our Board of Directors Our vision, mission, aims Our services Board meetings Working here Julie Dent Julie joined the Trust, as Chair, in March 2013 and was reappointed in 2017 for a further two year term, until 2019. Julie has plenty of experience leading and managing change, having chaired Torbay NHS Care Trust from 2009 until 2013. She was previously Chair of Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust, Chief Executive of South West London Strategic Health Authority and Chair of the London Probation Trust. Julie received the CBE in 2005 for services to the NHS. Melanie Walker Melanie was appointed Chief Executive in 2014. A nurse by background, Melanie has worked at all levels and in all settings in the NHS. She has a long history of working in mental health services and has also been a commissioner. Melanie was formerly Chief Executive of Newham Primary Care Trust and came to us from her role as Chief Executive of The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust in Harlow, Essex. Melanie is a trustee and board member for NHS Providers, representing mental health trusts across the country. Melanie received an MBE in 2019 for services to the NHS. You can follow Melanie on Twitter: @DPT_ChiefExec Martin Beaman Martin is a Physician by background and has 40 years of NHS experience having originally trained in London. He was a Consultant Renal Physician at the RD&E for over 20 years and the Post Graduate Dean for Medical Education across the South West for many years before retiring at Easter 2019. He brings experience of both board level and clinical management and has an MBA in Health Executive Management. He also has an interest in clinical governance and patient safety and chairs the Quality and Safety Committee. Martin joined us as a Non-executive Director in July 2019. David Gebbie David is a corporate lawyer with more than 25 years' of experience in private practice and industry. He has significant board-level experience in a number of executive and non-executive roles and particular experience in commissioning the provision and procurement of services and contract management. David joined us as a Non-executive Director on 1 December 2016. Gerry Marshall Gerry previously had a career in the National Probation Service, and was Chief Executive of Thames Valley Probation Trust and the Probation Chiefs' Association lead for Restorative Justice and Diversity and Equality. Gerry is Chair of trustees of Circles UK, a trustee of the Howard League for Penal Reform and an adviser to the Desmond Tutu Foundation. He is a national assessor for the Restorative Services Quality Mark and works as a criminal justice consultant. Gerry took up his post as a Non-executive Director on 1 December 2016. Mary Moore Mary took up her role as a Non-executive Director of the Trust in April 2014. She has held a number of senior roles previously, including Chief Executive and Lead Partner of Sheppard Moscow Asia Pacific and was most recently the Manager and Principal Psychologist of Manpower Services Commission. Her particular interests are in developing and leading healthy and productive organisations and in enabling sustainable systemic change. Ian Turner Ian Turner is a Chartered Accountant and retired as a partner from the Accounting and Professional Services firm, KPMG in 2003. He has since worked in a number of organisations in a Non-executive Director, Executive,Trustee and advisory capacity. Between 2007 and 2017 he was a Non-executive Director at Weston Area Health NHS Trust, where he spent time as Chair of the Audit Committee and as Vice Chair. He is currently Deputy Chief Executive and Finance Director of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) which represents Finance Professionals within the NHS. He is also a Trustee and Chair of Audit and Finance of RICE, a Charity researching into the Care of the Elderly; the Healthcare Supply Association (HCSA), a membership organisation for procurement professionals in the NHS, and Brunelcare – a Bristol-based housing association and social care charity. Associate Non-executive Director Robin Aitken Robin is a chartered accountant and experienced finance director. After qualifying, he started his career in industry with 7 years at the BBC. Since leaving there, he has spent 20 years as a finance director and adviser to a variety of start-ups and growing businesses, helping them build effective finance functions and raise funding. He is also a visiting lecturer at the School of Management at the University of Bath. Robin joined us as an Associate Non-executive Director on 1 July 2018. Dr David Somerfield David was appointed as a Consultant Psychiatrist in South Devon in July 1999, joining the Trust when it was created three years later. He became the Trust's Medical Director in April 2006, then Co-Medical Director in April 2010. David was subsequently appointed as Chief Operating Officer in 2014 and in 2018 has been appointed, once again, to the Medical Director role. David continues to work clinically and is also our Caldicott Guardian. Previously, David was a lecturer in old age psychiatry at the University of Bristol and a senior registrar, also in Bristol, prior to moving to Devon. You can follow David on Twitter: @d_medical Director of Nursing and Professions Chris Burford Chris first joined the Trust in 2002 as locality operations manager for Teignbridge, moving on to other Trust operational roles in Exeter in 2007 before becoming managing partner for the newly formed Adult Directorate in 2010. In 2016 he was appointed Deputy Director of Nursing and Interim Director of Nursing and Practice in April 2019. Chris has held a number of senior operational and nursing roles throughout his 37 year NHS career in London and the South West, originally trained as a general nurse in Cheltenham and later mental health nurse in London. Chris' special interests include learning from people's experiences of our mental health services and engaging people, families and staff in everything that we do. He is a qualified management coach and has a keen interest in staff leadership and development programmes. He is a specialist mental health advisor to Care Quality Commission. Chief Operating Officer and Director of Workforce Susan joined the Trust in March 2015 as Managing Partner for Secure Services, before being appointed Deputy Chief Operating Officer in 2017, Interim Chief Operating Officer in 2018 and Chief Operating Officer in February 2019. Sue also is the Director of Workforce. Susan originally trained in the Midlands and has held various senior roles, leading operations and transformation across the East and West Midlands with more than 30 years' experience working within health and local government. Susan’s previous post before commencing with the Trust was as Deputy Director of Integrated Commissioning for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Director of Finance and Strategy Phill Mantay Phill Mantay joined us as Director of Transformation and was appointed as Director of Strategy and Business Development and Interim Director of Finance in February 2019. He has worked in the NHS in the South West since 2001, has a professional background in finance and has held a Board Director portfolio of transformation for the past few years. In this role Phill holds a portfolio responsibility for business development, strategy and partnerships and is the Senior Information Risk Owner for the organisation. Director of Research and Development and Medical Education Dr Peter Aitken Dr Peter Aitken trained as a general practitioner specialising in liaison psychiatry before being appointed as a Consultant in Liaison Psychiatry and Senior Lecturer in Medical Education at St George's Hospital Medical School in 1999. Peter joined the Trust in January 2003 and became the Director of Research and Development in May 2004. Peter is a non-voting member of the Board. You can follow Peter on Twitter: @DrP8tken Site by Optix	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1385
__label__wiki	0.508304	0.508304	Visiting Prague Prague Tours EEC Goes Green List of e-posters Industry Satellite Symposia E-poster presentations Partners & Exhibitors List Medial Partners 5th European Congress on Endometriosis Homepage > Conference Information > Visiting Prague Prague, in Czech – Praha, is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic and fourteenth-largest city in the European Union. It is also historical capital of Bohemia proper. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people. The City of Prague “The Mother of Towns”, “The Golden City”, or “The City of a Hundred Spires”, these are just a few of the many attributes that the Czech metropolis nestling above the river Vltava has earned for itself. Prague as a major destination of visitors arriving in the Czech Republic, with its appeal of architectural monuments of all styles, the traditional hospitality of its people and the excellent beer served by Czech pubs, as well as the remarkable mix of Czech, German and Jewish cultures, is considered one of the most beautiful cities, and not just in Europe. In 1993, the city’s historical center was rightfully added to the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage. For lovers of historical monuments, Prague is, literally, a paradise. The grand Baroque palaces of the Hradčany quarter join forces to form a monumental gateway to Prague Castle, with its magnificent Gothic cathedral consecrated to St Vitus. The Lesser Quarter boasts a profusion of intimate corners and pleasant restaurants; fine burghers houses blend with splendid aristocratic palaces and charming gardens here. The Old Town of Prague offers its visitors a network of twisting medieval lanes and the Old Town Square. When exploring the remains of the former Jewish town, its synagogues, the Old Jewish Cemetery or the extensive collections of the Jewish Museum (one of the most valuable to be found in Europe), you are certain to experience a mysterious spiritual atmosphere. The Charles Bridge, the most beautiful promenade site in Prague, is alive with street artists and musicians. More about Prague Prague is a city of very high standards, offering both historical and modern conference venues, hotels, restaurants and places of interest. It's a beautiful city with a rich history. Thanks to its location in the center of Europe, Prague has always been an important crossroads of trade and culture. In the course of its thousand-year history, Prague has always been the political, cultural, and business center of the country. Prague, often called “Golden” or “Hundred-spired”, belongs to the architecturally unique European towns, attractive for tourists from around the world. Visitors find themselves enjoying a living museum of European architecture from Romanesque time to the present. The dominant feature of the city is Prague Castle, which houses the gothic St. Vitus’s Cathedral and which had been the seat of Czech kings since 1087, until 1918 when it became the seat of presidents of the Czechoslovak Republic, and since 1993 it has been the seat of the president of the Czech Republic. Prague has one of the oldest universities in Europe; the Charles University which was founded in 1348. You can also walk around the places that are connected with the lives of more than 100 personalities famous world-wide. These and many more people have lived in Prague: King Charles IV, Rudolph II, J. A. Comenius (Komenský), W. A. Mozart, Franz Kafka, A. Einstein, A. Pick, M. Curie-Sklodowski, Madeleine Albright, Václav Havel, Miloš Forman... With a widely opened pro-market economy, stable democratic government, stable currency and well-known working skills of the people, this country provides a great opportunity to host a conference in order to meet scientists and business people from all over the world. GUARANT International spol. s r. o. Na Pankráci 17, 140 21 Prague 4 E-mail: eec2019@guarant.cz Print Site map Homepage © 2019 GUARANT International spol. s r. o.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1390
__label__cc	0.52044	0.47956	Printed Annual BooksBlack & White 2018 Print Edition Printed on 100# Premium Matte \| 33x28cm \| 116 Pages Dodho Magazine has become one of the most influential online magazines for contemporany photography present day. We are committed to discovering and promoting the best photographers around the world. You may also be interested in our digital edition Oliver Klink \| Photographer of the year 2018 \| He was educated as a physicist and photo- grapher. His images have been featured in National Geographic, Days of Japan, Black and White Magazine, My Modern Met, 6 mois Magazine (France), DailyMail (UK), among others. He was awarded Top 50 Artist (2016) and Top 200 (2017) at Photolucida- Critical Mass, Top 50 Artist “Seeing in Sixies” by Lenswork Magazine (2017), Spotlight winner of Black and White Ma- gazine Portfolio edition (2018), Best of the Best Black and White Emerging Photographers by BWGallerist (2016) and Grand Prize winner at the Rayko International Photo Contest (2014). He has had solo exhibits at Middlebury Institute of International Studies, Monterey, California; Conti Museum, Festival de La Luz, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Black Rapid Gallery, Seattle, WA; PhotoCentral Gallery, Hayward, California. Nick Gandano \| Anthracite \| He is the alter ego of Carlos Aguilar, a professional photographer dedicated to real estate and social photography on the Spanish Costa del Sol. From the personal and artistic point of view, I continue to learn day by day, looking for my way in photography. Anthracite is the most metamorphic mineral coal and has the highest carbon content. Its colour ranges from black to metallic grey depending on how light falls on it. The anthracite project is made up of ordinary people, people around me, friends, acquaintances, colleagues or even I. Sometimes the miracle occurs, a certain lighting can interpret a gesture or a look in a special and different way. The light falls on the face of the portrayed transforming it, getting the person to become at that precise moment a character. Anup was \| The Mara \| He born in Nairobi, Kenya. A memorable activity while growing up there was visiting the nearby Nairobi National Park where he spent many hours watching wild animals roaming in their natural environment. The experience became the foundation for a career in wildlife photography. After higher education in England, and three university degrees unrelated to photography, he returned to Kenya and developed his passion for wildlife photography. He received the National Geographic call that most photographers dream of for his first assignment for the magazine in 2003. This was followed by seven more full length stories and having nearly 100 features in every major magazine in the world. By now, Anup had got fascinated by fine art photography and wondered if he could hit the sweet spot between documentary and fine art photography. Emmanuel Monzon \| Urban Sprawl Series \| He is a photographer and visual artist based in Seattle, WA. He graduated from the Academy of Beaux-Arts in Paris, France with honors. His work has been featured throughout the US, Europe and Asia (through exhibitions, selections and various awards). Through his work, he explores and questions the signs of urban sprawl in our visual field. His photographic process is being influenced by his background as a plastic artist. There is no judgement in my work, no denunciation, I am in the statement (if critic there is, whether it is political or social, it does not belong to me and I leave it to the audience). This visual environment is my raw material and it is my graphic material. My field work is a country where the landscape is shaped by and for mobility, it forms a sort of generic visual disorder throughout the territory. Alain Schroeder \| Kid Jockeys \| He is a Belgian photojournalist born in 1955. In 1989 he founded Reporters, a well-known photo agency in Belgium. He has illustrated over thirty books dedicated to China, Persia, the Renaissance, Ancient Rome, the Gardens of Europe, Thailand, Tuscany, Crete, Vietnam, Budapest, Venice, the Abbeys of Europe, Natural Sites of Europe, etc. Belgian titles include, « Le Carnaval de Binche vu par 30 Photographes », and « Processions de Foi, Les Marches de l’Entre-Sambre-et-Meuse ». Publications include National Geographic, Geo, Paris-Match,… He has won many international awards including a Japan Nikon Award 2017 for the Rohingya series, the TPOTY Travel Photographer of the Year Award 2017 with the series Living for Death and the series Kushti, and 1st prize at World Press Photo 2018 for the series Kid Jockeys in the category Sports Stories,… and participated in numerous exhibitions worldwide. He is represented in Belgium by Reporters and in France by the photo agency HEMIS. Olivier Robert \| Hokkaido, The silence of winter \| These photographs were shot in Hokkaido where I’ve spent 10 years photographing minimalist landscape sceneries.My project consists in using the esthetic value of the man-made objects that are often considered as insignificant ones. I like the way they pertain to the landscapes. These elements like snow fences, vineyards poles or greenhouses deeply call me to mind for their singular expression in the snowfields and sometimes for their spiritual presence like the gorgeous Torii of Konpira Shrine. The snow fences are typical elements of the landscapes in the snowy regions of Japan. Although these fences seem to have been randomly dropped, they are particularly efficient and have been methodically installed ac- cording to the wind direction. I’ve always been attracted to their presence on the pristine snow and the way they organize the sceneries, playing elegantly with trees like notes on a musical score. Julien De Wide \| Untold \| He was born in 1976 and is a professional photographer since 1996. He received his first camera at age 10 and started photographing his skateboarders friends. At 16, he travels to Kurdistan and makes his first personal photographic report that will be exhibited in Brussels. After studying photography, he began his career as a fashion photographer for women’s magazines such as Elle and Marie Claire. After meeting with Grand Master Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, Julien travels to India in Dharamsala. This is the beginning of a journey that will take him from Rishikesh to Bangkok where he lived for three years. Now, Julien splits his time between Belgium and Thailand, working as a photographer and filmmaker. The search for truth and purity determines his work. Julien is extremely grateful to his mother and grandfather, both photographers. Joshua Sariñana \| Image of structure \| Dr. Joshua Sariñana’s passion for photography coincided with his interest in the brain and mind. After studying neuroscience at UCLA and MIT, Sariñana switched his focus to the practice and theoretical study of photography.He has had a solo exhibition at the Griffin Museum of Photography, shown at the Month of Photography Los Angeles, the Houston Center for Photography, the Los Angeles Center of Photography, Photoville, and the Center for Fine Art Photography. Sariñana was named as a Critical Mass 2017 Top 200 Finalist. His work has been recognized by the Sony World Photography Awards, Latin American Fotografía, iPhone Photography Awards, and American Photography. His work has been published in several periodicals, including Silvershotz, Better Photography, and SHOTS Magazines. Sariñana’s work has been featured on The Guardian, Buzzfeed, Bored Panda, Time, CNN, and an iPhone 6 commercial ad. Thomas Phoon \| TeaHouse \| Thomas got interested in photography equipment before he actually knew what photography was all about, it’s an ironic story: His brother-in-law wanted to upgrade his camera, and since Thomas had friends who owned a camera store, he offered to research the best brands and see if he could get a good deal. The best bargain could arrange was to buy two new DSLR cameras at a discount, and by this fluke came own a new DSLR camera. Thomas first turned his eye towards a variety of subjects: birds, landscape, portraits and travel photography. But his interest sharpened as he started exploring the camera’s ability to make images of things that are not possible to see with the naked eye. He started using more long exposures, experimenting with macro photography, and making long trailing blurs using various panning techniques. In his hunger for more knowledge he would look for documentaries about photography. He discovered one about the documentary photographer James Nachtwey, who said that he tries to reveal the many things happening in our world, which are not necessarily seen by most people. The mission of his life is to go to these people and tell their stories. Joxe Inazio Kuesta \| In the streets of Bangladesh \| I am an amateur photographer with a passion for street and documentary photography. I studied economics and business and I work as a civil servant for the Goverment of the Basque Country. Photography has not been my lifelong hobby. In fact, it all started off after some travel experiences. It was back september 2005 that I traveled to the north of India. My photographic gear that time was a compact camera, and when back home I took a look at my pictures I noticed that it was not what I saw: most of the pictures were blurred, and so on. In november that year I went to Syria and it happened all the same. The pictures did not look as what I recalled from those places. That was the main reason why I attended a photography course organized by a non-profit organization called “Sociedad Fotográfica de Gipuzkoa” in Donostia- San Sebastian (Spain). This is where, thanks to its members, I learned the basics of photography. After that, my knowledge grows by reading magazines and books —especially from authors of the Magnum agency—and seeing a lot of photos. Printed Annual BooksLife in Color 2017 Print Edition	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1392
__label__wiki	0.587346	0.587346	Title 22 → Chapter I → Subchapter K → Part 103 Title 22: Foreign Relations PART 103—REGULATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION AND THE CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION IMPLEMENTATION ACT OF 1998 ON THE TAKING OF SAMPLES AND ON ENFORCEMENT OF REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING RECORDKEEPING AND INSPECTIONS §103.1 Purpose. Subpart B—Samples §103.3 Requirement to provide a sample. Subpart C—Recordkeeping and Inspection Requirements §103.4 General. §103.5 Violations. §103.6 Penalties. §103.7 Initiation of administrative enforcement proceedings. §103.8 Final agency decision after administrative proceedings. §103.9 Final agency decision after settlement negotiations. §103.10 Appeals. §103.11 Payment of final assessment. §103.12 Reporting a violation. Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2651a; 22 U.S.C. 6701 et seq.; Pub. L. 114-74, 129 Stat. 584. Source: 64 FR 73813, Dec. 30, 1999, unless otherwise noted. This part is intended to implement sections 304(f)(1) and 501 of the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act of 1998 (Act), 22 U.S.C. 6701 et seq. The Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations promulgated by the Department of Commerce, 15 CFR Parts 710 through 722, also implement sections of the Act. The following are definitions of terms as used in this part only. Bureau of Export Administration (BXA). The Bureau of Export Administration of the United States Department of Commerce, including the Office of Export Administration and the Office of Export Enforcement. Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC or Convention). The Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction, and its annexes opened for signature on January 13, 1993, and entered into force on April 29, 1997. CWCIA. The Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act of 1998. (22 U.S.C. 6701 et seq.) CWCR. The Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations promulgated by the Department of Commerce. (15 CFR parts 710 through 722.) Executive Director. The Executive Director, Office of the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State. Facility agreement. A written agreement or arrangement between a State Party to the Convention and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons relating to a specific facility subject to on-site verification pursuant to Articles IV, V, and VI of the Convention. Final decision. A decision or order assessing a civil penalty, or otherwise disposing of or dismissing a case, which is not subject to further administrative review under this part, but which may be subject to collection proceedings or judicial review in an appropriate federal court as authorized by law. Host Team. The U.S. Government team that accompanies the Inspection Team during a CWC inspection to which this part applies. Host Team Leader. The head of the U.S. Government team that hosts and accompanies the Inspection Team during a CWC inspection to which this part applies. Inspection assistant. An individual designated by the Technical Secretariat to assist inspectors in an inspection, such as medical, security and administrative personnel and interpreters. Inspection Team. The group of inspectors and inspection assistants assigned by the Director-General of the OPCW's Technical Secretariat to conduct a particular inspection. Lead agency. The executive department or agency responsible for implementation of the CWC declaration and inspection requirements for specified facilities. The lead agencies are the Department of Defense (DOD) for facilities owned and operated by DOD (including those operated by contractors to the agency), and those facilities leased to and operated by DOD (including those operated by contractors to the agency); the Department of Energy (DOE) for facilities owned and operated by DOE (including those operated by contractors to the agency), and those facilities leased to and operated by DOE (including those operated by contractors to the agency), including the National Laboratories and components of the nuclear weapons complex; and the Department of Commerce (DOC) for all facilities that are not owned and operated by or leased to and operated by DOD, DOE or other U.S. Government agencies. Other departments and agencies that have notified the United States National Authority of their decision to be excluded from the CWCR shall also have lead agency responsibilities for facilities that are owned or operated by (including those operated by contractors to the agency), or that are leased to or operated by, those other departments and agencies (including those operated by contractors to the agency). Office of Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions. The office in the Bureau of Arms Control of the United States Department of State that includes the United States National Authority Coordinating Staff. Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). The entity established by the Convention to achieve the object and purpose of the Convention, to ensure the implementation of its provisions, including those for international verification of compliance with it, and to provide a forum for consultation and cooperation among States Parties. Party. The United States Department of State and any person named as a respondent under this part. Perimeter. In case of a challenge inspection, the external boundary of the site, defined by either geographic coordinates or description on a map. Person. Any individual, corporation, partnership, firm, association, trust, estate, public or private institution, any State or any political subdivision thereof, or any political entity within a State, any foreign government or nation or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision of any such government or nation, or other entity located in the United States. Respondent. Any person named as the subject of a letter of intent to charge, or a Notice of Violation and Assessment (NOVA) and proposed order. Secretary. The Secretary of State. Technical Secretariat. The Technical Secretariat of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons established by the Chemical Weapons Convention. United States National Authority. The Department of State serving as the national focal point for effective liaison with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and States Parties to the Convention and implementing the provisions of the CWCIA in coordination with an interagency group designated by the President consisting of the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the heads of agencies considered necessary or advisable by the President, or their designees. The Secretary of State is the Director of the United States National Authority. (a) Voluntary provision of a sample. The Host Team Leader will notify appropriate site representatives of any request by an Inspection Team to take a sample. At the request of the appropriate site representative, this notification will be in writing. A site representative may volunteer to provide a sample to the Inspection Team, or may communicate to the Host Team Leader any reason for which the representative believes a sample should not be required. (b) Notification of requirement to provide a sample. If a sample is not provided pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section, the Host Team Leader will notify, in writing, the owner or operator, occupant or agent in charge of an inspected premises of any requirement, under paragraph (c) or (e) of this section, to provide a sample pursuant to a request, made in accordance with paragraph (k) of this section, of an Inspection Team of the Technical Secretariat. (c) Requirement to provide a sample. Pursuant to section 304(f)(1) of the CWCIA, unless a lead agency advises the United States National Authority pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section, the owner or operator, occupant or agent in charge of the premises to be inspected is hereby required to provide a sample pursuant to a request, made in accordance with paragraph (k) of this section, of an Inspection Team of the Technical Secretariat that a sample be taken in accordance with the applicable provisions contained in the Chemical Weapons Convention and the CWCIA. (d) Consultations with the United States National Authority. After consulting with the Host Team Leader, a lead agency that finds that any of the following conditions, as modified pursuant to paragraph (j) of this section if applicable, may not have been satisfied shall promptly advise the United States National Authority, which, in coordination with the interagency group designated by the President in section 2 of Executive Order 13128, shall make a decision: (1) The taking of a sample is consistent with the inspection aims under the Convention and with its Confidentiality Annex; (2) The taking of a sample does not unnecessarily hamper or delay the operation of a facility or affect its safety, and is arranged so as to ensure the timely and effective discharge of the Inspection Team's functions with the least possible inconvenience and disturbance to the facility; (3) The taking of a sample is consistent with the applicable facility agreement. In particular: (i) Any sample will be taken at sampling points agreed to in the relevant facility agreement; and (ii) Any sample will be taken according to procedures agreed to in the relevant facility agreement; (4) In the absence of a facility agreement, due consideration is given to existing sampling points used by the owner or operator, occupant or agent in charge of the premises, consistent with any procedures developed pursuant to the CWCR (15 CFR parts 710 through 722); (5) The taking of a sample does not affect the safety of the premises and will be consistent with safety regulations established at the premises, including those for protection of controlled environments within a facility and for personal safety; (6) The taking of a sample does not pose a threat to the national security interests of the United States; and (7) The taking of a sample is consistent with any conditions negotiated pursuant to paragraph (j) of this section, if applicable. (e) Determination by United States National Authority. (1) If, after being advised by the lead agency pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section, the United States National Authority, in coordination with the interagency group designated by the President to implement the provisions of the CWCIA, determines that all of the conditions of paragraph (d) are satisfied and that a sample shall be required, then the owner or the operator, occupant or agent in charge of the premises shall provide a sample pursuant to a request of the Inspection Team of the Technical Secretariat. (2) If, however, after being advised by the lead agency pursuant to paragraph (d) of this section, the United States National Authority, in coordination with the interagency group designated by the President to implement the provisions of the CWCIA, determines that any of the conditions of paragraph (d) are not satisfied and that a sample shall not be required, then the owner or the operator, occupant or agent in charge of the premises shall not be required to provide a sample pursuant to a request of the Inspection Team of the Technical Secretariat. (f) Person to take a sample. If a sample is required, the owner or the operator, occupant or agent in charge of the inspected premises will determine whether the sample will be taken by a representative of the premises, the Inspection Team, or any other individual present. The owner or the operator, occupant or agent in charge of the inspected premises may elect to have a representative present during the taking of a sample. (g) Requirement that samples remain in the United States. No sample collected in the United States pursuant to an inspection permitted by the CWCIA may be transferred for analysis to any laboratory outside the territory of the United States. (h) Handling of samples. Samples will be handled in accordance with the Convention, the CWCIA, other applicable law, and the provisions of any applicable facility agreement. (i) Failure to comply with this section. Failure by any person to comply with this section may be treated as a violation of section 306 of the Act and section 103.5(a). (j) Conditions that restrict sampling activities during challenge inspections. During challenge inspections within the inspected premises the Host Team may negotiate conditions that restrict activities regarding sampling, e.g., conditions that restrict where, when, and how samples are taken, whether samples are removed from the site, and how samples are analyzed. (k) Format of Inspection Team request. It is the policy of the United States Government that Inspection Team requests for samples should be in written form from the head of the Inspection Team. When necessary, before a sample is required to be provided, the Host Team Leader should seek a written request from the head of the Inspection Team. (l) Requirement to provide a sample in the band around the outside of the perimeter during a challenge inspection. In a band, not to exceed a width of 50 meters, around the outside of the perimeter of the inspected site, the Inspection Team, during a challenge inpsection, may take wipes, air, soil or effluent samples where either: (1) There is consent; or (2) Such activity is authorized by a search warrant obtained pursuant to section 305(b)(4) of the CWCIA. This subpart implements the enforcement of the civil penalty provisions of section 501 of the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act of 1998 (CWCIA), and sets forth relevant administrative proceedings by which such violations are adjudicated. Both the Department of State (in this subpart), and the Department of Commerce (in part 719 of the CWCR at 15 CFR parts 710 through 722) are involved in the implementation and enforcement of section 501. (a) Refusal to permit entry or inspection. No person may willfully fail or refuse to permit entry or inspection, or disrupt, delay or otherwise impede an inspection, authorized by the CWCIA. (b) Failure to establish or maintain records. No person may willfully fail or refuse: (1) To establish or maintain any record required by the CWCIA or the Chemical Weapons Convention Regulations (CWCR, 15 CFR parts 710 through 722) of the Department of Commerce; or (2) To submit any report, notice, or other information to the United States Government in accordance with the CWCIA or CWCR; or (3) To permit access to or copying of any record that is exempt from disclosure under the CWCIA or the CWCR. (a) Civil penalties—(1) Civil penalty for refusal to permit entry or inspection. Any person that is determined to have willfully failed or refused to permit entry or inspection, or to have willfully disrupted, delayed or otherwise impeded an authorized inspection, as set forth in §103.5(a), shall pay a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $39.,229 for each violation. Each day the violation continues constitutes a separate violation. (2) Civil penalty for failure to establish or maintain records. Any person that is determined to have willfully failed or refused to establish or maintain any record, or to submit any report, notice, or other information required by the CWCIA or the CWCR, or to permit access to or copying of any record exempt from disclosure under the CWCIA or CWCR as set forth in §103.5(b), shall pay a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $7,846 for each violation. (b) Criminal penalties. Any person that knowingly violates the CWCIA by willfully failing or refusing to permit entry or inspection; or by disrupting, delaying or otherwise impeding an inspection authorized by the CWCIA; or by willfully failing or refusing to establish or maintain any required record, or to submit any required report, notice, or other information; or by willfully failing or refusing to permit access to or copying of any record exempt from disclosure under the CWCIA or CWCR, shall, in addition to or in lieu of any civil penalty that may be imposed, be fined under Title 18 of the United States Code, or be imprisoned for not more than one year, or both. (c) Other remedial action—(1) Injunction. The United States may, in a civil action, obtain an injunction against: (i) The conduct prohibited under 18 U.S.C. 229 or 229C; or (ii) The preparation or solicitation to engage in conduct prohibited under 18 U.S.C. 229 or 229D. (2) In addition, the United States may, in a civil action, restrain any violation of section 306 or section 405 of the CWCIA, or compel the taking of any action required by or under the CWCIA or the Convention. [64 FR 73813, Dec. 30, 1999, as amended at 81 FR 36793, June 8, 2016; 82 FR 3170, Jan. 11, 2017; 83 FR 237, Jan. 3, 2018; 84 FR 9959, Mar. 19, 2019; 85 FR 2022, Jan. 14, 2020] (a) Issuance of Notice of Violation and Assessment (NOVA). The Director of the Office of Export Enforcement, Bureau of Export Administration, Department of Commerce, may request that the Secretary initiate an administrative enforcement proceeding under this section and 15 CFR 719.5. If the request is in accordance with applicable law, the Secretary will initiate an administrative enforcement proceeding by issuing a Notice of Violation and Assessment (NOVA). The Office of Chief Counsel for Export Administration, Department of Commerce shall serve the NOVA as directed by the Secretary. (b) Content of NOVA. The NOVA shall constitute a formal complaint, and will set forth the basis for the issuance of the proposed order. It will set forth the alleged violation(s) and the essential facts with respect to the alleged violation(s), reference the relevant statutory, regulatory or other provisions, and state the amount of the civil penalty to be assessed. The NOVA will inform the respondent of the right to request a hearing pursuant to paragraph (e) of this section and the CWCR (15 CFR parts 710 through 722) at 15 CFR 719.6, inform the respondent that failure to request such a hearing shall result in the proposed order becoming final and unappealable on signature of the Secretary of State, and provide payment instructions. A copy of the regulations that govern the administrative proceedings will accompany the NOVA. (c) Proposed order. A proposed order shall accompany every NOVA. It will briefly set forth the substance of the alleged violation(s) and the statutory, regulatory or other provisions violated. It will state the amount of the civil penalty to be assessed. (d) Notice. The Secretary shall notify, via the Department of Commerce, the respondent (or respondent's agent for service of process or attorney) of the initiation of administrative proceedings by sending, via first class mail, facsimile, or by personal delivery, the relevant documents. (e) Time to answer. If the respondent wishes to contest the NOVA and proposed order issued by the Secretary, the respondent must request a hearing in writing within 15 days from the date of the NOVA. If the respondent requests a hearing, the respondent must answer the NOVA within 30 days from the date of the request for hearing. The request for hearing and answer must be filed with the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ), along with a copy of the NOVA and proposed order, and served on the Office of Chief Counsel for Export Administration, Department of Commerce, and any other address(es) specified in the NOVA, in accordance with 15 CFR 719.8. (f) Content of answer. The respondent's answer must be responsive to the NOVA and proposed order, and must fully set forth the nature of the respondent's defense(s). The answer must specifically admit or deny each separate allegation in the NOVA; if the respondent is without knowledge, the answer will so state and will operate as a denial. Failure to deny or controvert a particular allegation will be deemed an admission of that allegation. The answer must also set forth any additional or new matter the respondent believes supports a defense or claim of mitigation. Any defense or partial defense not specifically set forth in the answer shall be deemed waived, and evidence thereon may be refused, except for good cause shown. (g) English required. The request for hearing, answer, and all other papers and documentary evidence must be submitted in English. (h) Waiver. The failure of the respondent to file a request for a hearing and an answer within the times provided constitutes a waiver of the respondent's right to appear and contest the allegations set forth in the NOVA and proposed order. If no hearing is requested and no answer is provided, the Secretary will sign the proposed order, which shall, upon signature, become final and unappealable. (i) Administrative procedures. The regulations that govern the administrative procedures that apply when a hearing is requested are set forth in the CWCR at 15 CFR part 719. (a) Review of initial decision—(1) Petition for review. Any party may, within 7 days of the Administrative Law Judge's (ALJ) certification of the initial decision and order, petition the Secretary for review of the initial decision. A petition for review shall be addressed to and served on the Executive Director of the Office of the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street, N.W., Room 5519, Washington D.C. 20520, and shall also be served on the Chief Counsel for Export Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, N.W., Room H-3839, Washington, D.C. 20230, and on the respondent. Petitions for review may be filed only on one or more of the following grounds: (i) That a necessary finding of fact is omitted, erroneous or not supported by substantial evidence of record; (ii) That a necessary legal conclusion or finding is contrary to law; (iii) That a prejudicial procedural error has occurred; or (iv) That the decision or the extent of sanctions is arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of discretion. (2) Content of petition for review. The petition must specifically set forth the grounds on which review is requested and be supported by citations to the record, statutes, regulations, and principal authorities. (3) Decision to review. Review of the initial decision by the Secretary is discretionary, and is not a matter of right. The Secretary shall accept or decline review of the initial decision and order within 3 days after a petition for review is filed. If no such petition is filed, the Secretary may, on his or her own initiative, notify the parties within 10 days after the ALJ's certification of the initial decision and order that he or she intends to exercise his or her discretion to review the initial decision. (4) Effect of decision to review. The initial decision is stayed until further order of the Secretary upon a timely petition for review, or upon action to review taken by the Secretary on his or her own initiative. (5) Review declined. If the Secretary declines to exercise discretionary review, such order, and the resulting final agency decision, will be served on all parties personally, by overnight mail, or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested. The Secretary need not give reasons for declining review. (6) Review accepted. If the Secretary grants a petition for review or decides to review the initial decision on his or her own initiative, he or she will issue an order confirming that acceptance and specifying any issues to be briefed by all parties within 10 days after the order. Briefing shall be limited to the issues specified in the order. Only those issues specified in the order will be considered by the Secretary. The parties may, within 5 days after the filing of any brief of the issues, file and serve a reply to that brief. The Department of Commerce shall review all written submissions, and, based on the record, make a recommendation to the Secretary as to whether the ALJ's initial decision should be modified or vacated. The Secretary will make a final decision within 30 days after the ALJ's certification of the initial decision and order. (b) Final decision. Unless the Secretary, within 30 days after the date of the ALJ's certification of the initial decision and order, modifies or vacates the decision and order, with or without conditions, the ALJ's initial decision and order shall become effective as the final decision and order of the United States Government. If the Secretary does modify or vacate the initial decision and order, that decision and order of the Secretary shall become the final decision and order of the United States Government. The final decision and order shall be served on the parties and will be made available to the public. (c) Computation of time for the purposes of this section. In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by this section, the day of the act, event, or default from which the designated period of time begins to run is not included. The last day of the period is computed to be included unless it is a Saturday, a Sunday, or a legal holiday (as defined in Rule 6(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure), in which case the period runs until the end of the next day that is neither a Saturday, a Sunday, nor a legal holiday. Intermediate Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays are excluded from the computation when the period of time prescribed or allowed is 7 days or less. (a) Settlements based on letter of intent to charge—(1) Approval of settlement. Pursuant to §719.5(b) of the CWCR (15 CFR parts 710 through 722), the Department of Commerce may notify a respondent by letter of the intent to charge. If, following the issuance of such a letter of intent to charge, the Department of Commerce and respondent reach an agreement to settle a case, the Department of Commerce will recommend the proposed settlement to the Secretary. If the recommended settlement is in accordance with applicable law the Secretary will approve and sign it. No action is required by the ALJ in cases where the Secretary approves and signs such a settlement agreement and order. (2) Refusal to approve settlement. If the Secretary refuses to approve the recommended settlement, the Secretary will notify the parties and the case will proceed as though no settlement proposal had been made. (b) Settlements following issuance of a NOVA—(1) Approval of settlement. When the Department of Commerce and respondent reach an agreement to settle a case after administrative proceedings have been initiated before an ALJ, the Department of Commerce will recommend the settlement to the Secretary of State. If the recommended settlement is in accordance with applicable law, the Secretary will approve and sign it. If the Secretary approves the settlement, the Secretary shall notify the ALJ that the case is withdrawn from adjudication. (2) Refusal to approve settlement. If the Secretary of State refuses to approve the recommended settlement, the Secretary will notify the parties of the disapproval, and the case will proceed as though no settlement proposal had been made. (c) Scope of settlement. Any respondent who agrees to an order imposing any administrative sanction does so solely for the purpose of resolving the claims in the administrative enforcement proceeding brought pursuant to this part. This reflects the fact that the Government officials involved have neither the authority nor the responsibility for initiating, conducting, settling, or otherwise disposing of criminal proceedings. That authority and responsibility is vested in the Attorney General and the Department of Justice. (d) Finality. Cases that are settled may not be reopened or appealed. Any person adversely affected by a final order respecting an assessment may, within 30 days after the final order is issued, file a petition in the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit or for any other circuit in which the person resides or transacts business, to appeal the order. (a) Time for payment. Full payment of the civil penalty must be made within 30 days of the date upon which the final order becomes effective, or within the time specified in the order. Payment shall be made in the manner specified in the NOVA. (b) Enforcement of order. The Secretary, through the Attorney General, may file suit in an appropriate district court if necessary to enforce compliance with a final order issued pursuant to this part. This suit will include a claim for interest at current prevailing rates from the date payment was due or ordered or, if an appeal was filed pursuant to §103.10, from the date of final judgment. (c) Offsets. The amount of any civil penalty imposed by a final order may be deducted from any sum(s) owed by the United States to a respondent. If a person learns that a violation of the Convention, the CWCIA, this part, or the CWCR (15 CFR parts 710 through 722) has occurred or may occur, that person may notify: United States National Authority, Office of Chemical and Biological Weapons Conventions, Bureau of Arms Control, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, Telephone: (703) 235-1204 or toll-free (877) CWC-NACS ((877) 292-6227), Facsimile: (703) 235-1065.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0047.json.gz/line1396

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