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__label__wiki	0.869964	0.869964	Interview: Veteran musician, Marc Platt, shines new light on today’s indie music scene By: Jana Ritter AXS Contributor Feb 21, 2019 Marc Platt Singer-songwriter, Marc Platt, has been a well-known fixture of the Los Angeles music scene for nearly four decades. He began his career in 1983, taking an entry-level position at the newly formed label, Rhino Records. The job gave him an invaluable education in every aspect of the business and that same year, Platt released the debut EP of his Power Pop band, The Real Impossibles, which granted him official entry into the industry. The band immediately found its place in the LA club circuit playing shows at popular venues such as Club Lingerie, Madame Wongs, The Roxy and The Central (which later became Viper Room). In 1986, The Real Impossibles released their second EP, Play Loud, which placed them on a few international charts and on major networks such as MTV and ESPN. During the 90’s, Platt formed his next successful band, Stringtown, which included violinist, Don Teschner, who eventually went on to play with Rod Stewart. Platt also eventually moved on to a successful solo career and has since released several albums such as Big City, Tambourine Alley and the upcoming, Beautiful Dreamer. His music has been also featured on several film soundtracks and popular TV shows such as "Queer Eye For the Straight Guy" and "E! True Hollywood Story." Platt has also become a renowned advocate for the new breed of indie musicians trying to break into the industry of today. In a recent interview with AXS, he sheds more insight on the factors that helped his own career path and his efforts to create more opportunities for emerging artists to showcase their talent in Los Angeles and to audiences across the globe. AXS: What initially inspired you to become a professional musician? Marc Platt: Well to be honest, I initially just wanted to play the guitar because I had heard it was the best way to get girls. I started playing in 1967 and quickly discovered my true passion for music. It actually wasn't until 1978, when I was in my first year of Journalism at San Diego State that I ended up getting a really great girlfriend. By the next year, I formed my first band, The Impossibles, with friends Wally Giffen and Gil Ashley. My girlfriend, Jenny, did our artwork. A few years later we played our first gig at the Natural Fudge Company in Hollywood and it was enough for me to know I wanted to pursue a career in the industry. AXS: The LA music scene has always been tough to break into and most people never really do. How did you manage to do it within a few years? Marc Platt: I started out like many other struggling musicians did back in the 80’s. I was fresh out of college and just wanted to keep working on my music and find any kind of paying job related to the industry. It took a solid three months and a strong will to turn down a few good opportunities outside of industry. But I kept looking and finally got an interview at Rhino Records, which at that time was a brand new company with only seven employees and few quirky acts nobody had heard of. I was hired as a jack-of-all-trades kind of guy who did everything from A & R to billing to receptionist work to proofreading, and it was the best possible job I could of asked for. They taught me everything about the music business from the ground up. How to record, press, master, distribute, market…so many valuable skills that I still use to this day. I was also very lucky to have people who were willing to mentor me. My boss at Rhino, Gary Stewart, was very supportive of my music and he helped me through every step of recording my first EP. He set me up with engineer, Ethan James at Radio Tokyo in Venice, CA, which eventually became the legendary studio where The Bangles, The Long Ryders and The Three O’Clock recorded their debut records. Once my EP was recorded and mastered, Gary gave me a press list to send out copies for reviews. My first review was from Mikal Gilmore at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. He gave us an amazing review and then questioned whether “the band" would sound nearly as good live. Then I really started panicking when the calls started coming in. People from MCA, Island Records, Bug Music, etc..suddenly everyone wanted to see my band play live. The problem was that I didn’t even have an actual band yet, so I had to act fast. I called Probyn Gregory to be my bass player and put an ad in Music Connection, which led me to Kelly Fair and Robbie MacDonald who were both excited to be part of something that already had momentum. The next five years completely changed my life. We played shows and went to shows and recorded and hung out with musicians who were also my idols at the time. I had always been a huge fan of the Plimsouls and Peter Case (the band’s front-man) basically took me under his wing and introduced me to everyone. I was making connections with legends like Elvis Costello, Peter Buck (R.E.M.), John Hiatt, Bonnie Raitt, Steve Earle, Jackson Brown, T-Bone Burnett, etc. Just being around these amazing talents was the best education for me as a musician. AXS: How has the industry changed over the years and how do you see it affecting today’s artists? Marc Platt: I think music has never been better and the talent is stronger than ever. Now we have access to three generations of music and so many different genres to draw from, and it’s given artists have a much bigger palette to paint from. Technology has also given people a lot more freedom to create their own sound. But yeah, the industry itself has definitely changed and in many ways it’s become a lot harder for artists to break in. The main difference is that artists have less access to major labels but it also means they have more control over their careers. So, now its up to the artists to find different ways to promote their own music and that’s exactly what I’m trying to help people do. The advice I give everyone is to continue creating music that truly inspires you and try not to do anything with an agenda. Those are the type of artists I want to promote. AXS: Tell about us about radiocandy.net and your Radio Candy Indie Radio Show. Marc Platt: One thing that hasn’t changed about the industry is the value of getting radio play and Internet radio is allowing more artists to reach bigger audiences all over the world. But it’s still very difficult for artists to place their own music without any established contacts. I realized this back in 2011, when I started trying to get my own music placed. So over the last several years, I’ve managed to build a lot of contacts with indie stations all over the world and I realized there should be a service that places indie artists on indie radio stations. Artists need exposure and radio shows need content. In 2015, I created the company, radiocandy.net and have since placed a ton of artists from all over the world get on popular indie radio shows across the US, UK, Australia, Japan, South Africa, etc. Then I was inspired to start my own radio show. A show that would just allow all artists to have a shot at getting played on the radio. The Radio Candy Indie Show has attracted a huge audience and now airs on 10 different stations around the world and features a new selection indie artists every week. Everyone is invited to submit their music by emailing an MP3 file with their best two songs to: candyradiohitsongs@yahoo.com. I listen to all submission and then tag the artists featured each on our Facebook page. AXS: You also host a lot of popular live music events for LA musicians such as the Tuesday Music Club at Social State House. Tell us about that. Marc Platt: In Los Angeles, open mic nights have always been the best way for artists to test out their material and also the only way for new artists to gain experience performing in front of a live audience. The Tuesday Music Club is not an open mic night, but rather a night that showcases an exclusive selection I make of local and touring acts each month. The performers are by invitation only but the show is open to the public and free of charge. So it’s become a really popular event for people who like to get out on a Taco Tuesday and enjoy the amazing talent here in LA. The Tuesday Music Club is held on the first Tuesday of every month at : State Social House (8782 Sunset Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069) The next event will be on Tuesday, March 5, 2019, and will feature the following artists: Zoe Chernov 7:30 p.m. Furious Seasons 8:00 p.m. Dani Hagan 8:30 p.m. Kate Copeland 9:00 p.m. Quincy Coleman 9:30 p.m. Ada Pasternak 10:00 p.m. Find out about upcoming Tuesday Music Club events here. By: Jana Ritter AXS Contributor	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line804
__label__wiki	0.596911	0.596911	The Oldest Profession in the World? by Dr Kate Lister, Researcher at Leeds Trinity University. Special cover feature for Live Encounters Magazine July 2017 Dr. Kate Lister is a researcher at Leeds Trinity University in historical attitudes to sexuality and sex work. She is the curator of the online project and popular Twitter account @WhoresofYore where she tweets the history of illicit sex and works to promote sex worker rights and challenge stigma to over 82,000 followers. The Whores of Yore project is unique in its aims to create a space for academics, artists, sex workers and activists to collect their research. Kate is on the board of the international sex work research hub, works with local charities who support sex workers in the UK. Kate has published on the history of media narratives around sex work, the history of menstruation and sexual violence in historical dramas. ‘Prostitution is the oldest profession is the world’. You heard that one before, right? This article is going to examine that claim, but before we go any further I want you to just close your eyes and imagine what a ‘prostitute’ looks like. You don’t have to describe this to anyone, it’s just for you. Picture that person in your mind and think of some words you associate with this mental image. I don’t know what you thought of, but I know that I did this experiment with a group of my students and set up an anonymous online poll for them to respond to. This is a sample of the results. Slido Poll, 2017 Now, it’s not that these students are particularly hostile to sex work, but these seem to be words we associate with ‘prostitute’. Maybe you were different – I hope so. The reason sex workers resist the word ‘prostitute’ is because of what we associate with it. It’s a word burdened with considerable cultural baggage, none of it positive. When we think of a ‘prostitute’, we think of someone ‘other’ to us. As this brief poll shows, we think we have a very clear idea of what a prostitute is. But what happens when we look backwards to try and find this figure? The biggest challenge facing sex worker rights activists is stigma, and all the research show us that this damaged view of the ‘prostitute’ is far from the truth, yet we persist in trying to identify this figure throughout history. Despite the old adage, sex work is not the world’s oldest profession in the world: medicine is. Anthropologist George Peter Murdock of Yale University, researched the social customs of numerous of tribes around the world, and found that prostitution did not exist in many, so called, primitive societies but the medicine man was universal (Murdock, 1952). Others, such as Mary Breckinridge, have suggested that midwifery is the oldest profession; ‘The midwife’s calling is so ancient that the medical and nursing professions, in even their earliest traditions, are parvenus beside it’ (Breckinridge, 1927). Trying to work out what is the ‘oldest’ profession is actually something of a wild goose chase as professions, and indeed money, are quite recent inventions. Homo sapiens have been wandering around the planet for about 200,000 years and the earliest evidence of coined money dates to 640BC in Lydia, Asia Minor. Even systems of bartering goods, rather than money, depend largely on the domestication of cattle and cultivation of crops, and that dates to around 9000BC (Davies, 2002). This means that for most of human history, we have done without money. Food grows naturally all over the planet, water falls from the sky and animals are as tasty as they are lovely – we do not actually need money. Given that money is arguably the most dominating influence in how we live our lives, it is sobering to remember that the only value money actually has is that which we collectively attach to it. Ultimately, its pieces of paper and discs of metal that we have all agreed are special. We managed perfectly well without it until our ancestors thought that those gold rocks were nicer to look at than the other rocks (but, I digress). Native Hawaiian missionary family, c. 1878 Simply put, without money and commerce there is no need for professions. There would certainly have been roles and responsibilities within social groups (like the midwife and the medicine man), but, despite what the Flintstones taught us, paid ‘jobs’, as we would have recognised them, were not part of prehistory. This is also true of many cultures that don’t use money. There is no evidence of selling sex among the Māori before Europeans arrived in New Zealand carrying with them syphilis and flags. Kammerer, et al. notes that, originally, the northern hill tribes of Thailand had no word for prostitution. Victorian explorers were surprised to discover that the Dyak people of Borneo had ‘no word to express that vice’. When the Christian missionary, Lorrin Andrews, translated the bible into Hawaiian in 1865, he had to invent new words to teach the islanders about the concept of sexual shame, and infidelity (Kammerer et al., 1995; Ruuskanen, 1993, Sanger, 1859). There is very little evidence of prostitution among the native Americans until the Europeans turned up to ‘civilise’ everyone. Even then, the only evidence that exists is that the invaders believed all indigenous women were promiscuous (Bakken and Farrington, 2003). The commodification of sex, and selling of sexual favours as a profession, is firmly linked to the establishment of money and economic markets. The causal effect of establishing commerce with the selling of sex was seen in a pioneering experiment by Yale economist, Keith Chen. In 2006, Chen introduced the use of currency, to a group of Capuchin monkeys, and taught them to buy grapes, jelly and apples with tokens: the female monkeys began trading sex for money almost immediately (Keith Chen, et al., 2006). Of course, an absence of money doesn’t mean that our ancestors cavorted in a cash free Eden, having guilt free sex in a state of moral innocence – of course they traded sexual favours. We are hardwired to want sex, and that gives it its own value. Sex work may not be the oldest profession, but sex is surely one of the oldest currencies? Humans are animals after all. We like to think of ourselves as the cleverest of all the animals (we have Sudoku and university Challenge) but when it comes to instinct, we’re just horny, hungry chimps with better options. What’s more, humans aren’t the only animals that trade sex. In 2007, Michael D. Gumbert published a paper reporting that longtailed male macaques traded grooming to have sex with females (Gumert, 2007). A sort of monkey equivalent of Netflix and chill. Not only were macaques trading sex, but Gumbert observed market forces at work. The currency paid by the males was the length of time spent grooming the female before sex, and the price rose and fell with the availability of females. The more females available, the less males paid for sex, and visa versa. Availability was not the only market force witnessed, females that were highly ranked within the group commanded higher prices and were groomed for longer (Gumert, 2007). Adelie penguins building a nest from rocks Dr Fiona Hunter, a Cambridge University Zoologist, observed that female Adelie Penguins on Ross Island in Antarctica traded sex for rocks (Hunter, 1998). Penguins use rocks to build a platform for their nests, which keeps their eggs off the ice. So valuable are the rocks, that penguins will steal them and get into fights. When the females want to take rocks from male counterparts, they trade sex. Adelie Penguins chose one mate, so all this rock business is extra sneaky. The female approaches a male with the rocks she wants and engages him in a mating dance. Once they have had sex, the she takes the rocks and returns to her mate (who is none the wiser). Dr Hunter recorded several incidents of females ‘cheating’ men out of their rocks by presenting themselves for mating, then stealing his rocks and running away without ever having sex (BBC, 1998). This behaviour is highly significant as it reveals that sex work might not be the result of economic and social factors. Trading sex is not even unique to humans; sex is its own currency. Virginia Henley once wrote “we’re all whores under the skin, whether we give ourselves by calculation or by desire. It’s just that some of us demand a higher price than others” (Henley, 2009). Perhaps you’re reading this and are shouting at the screen ‘I am not a slutty penguin! I have never used sex as payment!’ But, research shows that we all trade on sex to some extent. I am not talking about waggling your genitals at rock merchants. I am talking about the bubbling, unspoken, cracklings of sexual energy that fizz between us all every day, that are routinely manipulated, exploited and used for personal gain. Fine. You’ve never found yourself a few quid short and offered to fellate a barista in return for an iced mocha and a mini muffin, but we all know the value of being sexually attractive – and very few of us are above caring about how we appear to others. If you’ve never batted your eyelids or undone that top button to get your own way; or employed the 25-year-old male model to do your taxes, when the only qualification he had was tussled hair and the calculator on his iphone (just me?) then good for you. But all the research shows us that however un PC we know it to be, we’re nicer to people we fancy, and that behaviour is guided by sexual instinct. Eugen de Blaas The Flirtation Professor Catherine Hakim called this ‘erotic capital’ and argued that ‘meritocracies are supposed to champion intelligence, qualifications, and experience. But physical and social attractiveness deliver substantial benefits in all social interaction… (Hakim, 2011). Numerous studies have also shown that attractive people have an easier time of it than their hotly challenged counterparts. Researchers at Duke University found that CEOs considered attractive tended to have a higher income (Graham, Harvey and Puri, 2016). Researchers at the University of British Columbia study found that people who are attractive not only make a physical impression, but people react far more strongly to their personality traits as well. They concluded “Not only do we judge books by their covers, we read the ones with beautiful covers much closer than others’ (Lorenzo, Biesanz and Human, 2010). Daniel Hamermesh has conducted research into success and attractiveness for over a decade. He found that, around the world, ugly people earn less than average incomes, while beautiful people earn more than the average (Hamermesh, 2013). Depressing? Yes. But, this research shows us how important attraction is in human behaviour. Sexuality frames every aspect of our lives – even if we’re not consciously aware of it. The urge to survive and reproduce are the fundamental instincts driving all life on earth and we all trade on our sexuality. Is it any wonder that as soon as we invented money, just like Chen’s capuchin monkeys, we started selling sex? It was Rudyard Kipling who first coined the phrase ‘the world’s oldest profession’ in the short story, On the City Wall (1898). The tale opens with the immortal line “Lalun is a member of the most ancient profession in the world”. Later that year, the Pall Mall Gazette wrote that a Mrs. Ormiston Chant had ‘implored us to stand shoulder to shoulder and destroy what Kipling has called ‘the oldest profession in the world'” (Pall Mall Gazette, 1898). The expression has since fallen into common parlance as a historical truth. But, perhaps what Kipling wrote after those words offers even more insight into what is, at least, a very ancient profession indeed; ‘In the West, people say rude things about Lalun’s profession, and write lectures about it, and distribute the lectures to young persons in order that Morality may be preserved’ (Kipling, 1898). As Kipling observed, attitudes to selling sex are not fixed but are culturally and morally determined. Researching ancient sexuality is difficult for many reasons, but particularly because historical records are always mediated through the author’s world view. What many historical texts understand as prostitution speak far more of the author’s own culture than the practices being described. Sexual pottery from Peru For example, the Spanish Conquistadors translated the Aztec, Náhuatl word ‘Ahuienime’ as ‘prostitute’ or ‘whore’ (Campbell 1985). But, this translation was done by Spanish Catholics and what they saw as ‘prostitution’ is not what the Aztecs saw at all. The word ‘ahuiani’ is more accurately translated as “the bringer of joy”, and has religious, spiritual connotations (López Austin 1996, Jimenez, 2004). Unable to move beyond their own cultural attitudes, Spanish texts describe the ahuienimeltin as sinful prostitutes. As Ulises Chávez Jimenez argued ‘the Spaniards did not understand the roll of the ahuienimeltin in Aztec religion, where they legitimized cosmic models that allowed a deep communion with the Gods’ (Jimenez, 2004). One of the most contentious areas of study within the history of sex work is the practice of so called ‘Sacred Prostitution’ in the ancient World (also called Temple or Cult Prostitution). It’s also an important area of study as the belief that selling sex was once a sacred exchange directly challenges many of our modern narratives around sexual services. As Mary Beard noted The myth of sacred prostitution provides ‘a model for alternative humanities paraded by our archives, available for new living, for different lives’ (Beard and Henderson, 1997). The figure of the ‘sacred whore’ or ‘sexual priestess’ is a prominent figure in many spiritualist groups today who use sex as a healing ritual. Sacred prostitution is a notoriously difficult subject to research, let alone verify. We weren’t there and all we have left are other people’s accounts. And as we’ve seen, one Aztec’s bringer of joy is another’s Catholic whore. The existence of Temple Prostitution is fiercely debated within academic study and we’re unlikely to have this resolved any time soon. All that is left to try and decipher are a handle of ancient sources and we have no way of knowing if they are factual or fictitious. If a single fragment of Harry Potter was unearthed three thousand years from now, how would historians know if Hogwarts really existed? And it’s not just the Classical sources that are guilty of projecting their own values on to historic sexual practices, but modern commentary must also be carefully scrutinised for prejudice. Sex work is so highly stigmatised and shaped by unhelpful narratives that many historians have been unable to move beyond specific scripts; such as the sex worker as a victim, as perverse, or as a subject of titillation. Take for example, Bonnie MacLachlan’s Sacred prostitution and Aphrodite (1992), which attempts to address cultural and historical differences around sex work, but opens with the statement ‘prostitution is, after all, the most debased form of sex’ (Maclachlan, 1992). MacLachlan’s article works hard to understand ‘the mentality that not only permitted it, but saw it as natural’’; but at no point does MacLachlan consider the ‘naturalness’ of her own attitude that sex work is ‘debased’. She simply accepts moral bias as truth. How can we ever hope to fully understand historical attitudes around sex if they are told through the persistent cultural bias that selling sex is ‘debased’? Many historians have dismissed scared prostitution as myth, or have lumped it in with sex for commercial gain. It has even been argued (falsely) that sacred prostitution led to commercial prostitution (Lerner, 1986). The Khajuraho Temples Of India Even the term ‘sacred prostitution’ closes down, rather than opens up room for debate. As we’ve seen ‘prostitution’ is a highly loaded word and carries myriad connotations, all of which reinforce stigma. It has the effect of othering people who sell sexual services; it creates an ‘us’ and ‘them’. As Lizzie Smith argued, ‘the term “prostitute” does not simply mean a person who sells her or his sexual labour (although rarely used to describe men in sex work), but brings with it layers of “knowledge” about her worth, drug status, childhood, integrity, personal hygiene and sexual health’ (Smith, 2013). Framing ancient sexual practices within this stigmatised word is highly misleading as it transfers modern prejudices on to past institutions and distorts our reading. The ancient Babylonian epic, Gilgamesh (circa 2100 BC) tells the story of a temple prostitute called Šamhat who serves Ishtar and tames the wild man Enkidu through her sexual skills. This is one of the earliest written references to sex work ever found, but it does not claim to be anything but a story. The earliest account of sacred prostitution in a nonfiction text is the Greek Historian Herodotus’ (484–c. 425 BC) account of sixth-century neo-Babylonia. The foulest Babylonian custom is that which compels every woman of the land to sit in the temple of Aphrodite and have intercourse with some stranger at least once in her life. Many women who are rich and proud and disdain to mingle with the rest, drive to the temple in covered carriages drawn by teams, and stand there with a great retinue of attendants. But most sit down in the sacred plot of Aphrodite, with crowns of cord on their heads; there is a great multitude of women coming and going; passages marked by line run every way through the crowd, by which the men pass and make their choice. Once a woman has taken her place there, she does not go away to her home before some stranger has cast money into her lap, and had intercourse with her outside the temple; but while he casts the money, he must say, “I invite you in the name of Mylitta”. It does not matter what sum the money is; the woman will never refuse, for that would be a sin, the money being by this act made sacred. So she follows the first man who casts it and rejects no one. After their intercourse, having discharged her sacred duty to the goddess, she goes away to her home; and thereafter there is no bribe however great that will get her. So then the women that are fair and tall are soon free to depart, but the uncomely have long to wait because they cannot fulfil the law; for some of them remain for three years, or four. There is a custom like this in some parts of Cyprus (Histories, 1). Herodotus is what might be politely termed an ‘unreliable narrator’. He is a historian in much the same way as Disney is a historian. What’s more, he is clearly out to smear the reputation of the Babylonians and is projecting his own negative views around sex onto history – so, is any of this true? We don’t know. His account is not corroborated with any independent sources (not even the ancient Babylonian ones.) But, other accounts of similar customs do exist (but they well may have been rehashing of Herodotus.) Four hundred years after Herodotus, the historian Strabo describes a ritual sexual activity practised at Acilisene in Armenia. Here, people honoured the Persian goddess Anaitis by dedicating their daughters to serve her in the temple before they were given in marriage. Babylonian marriage market, Edwin Long (1875) In De Dea Syria, Greek writer Lucian of Samosata (125 CE –180 CE) describes a ritual practised in Syria where women would have to have sex with a stranger in a public place as an offering of payment to the goddess Aphrodite (Lucian, De Dea Syria). The Augustan historian Pompeius Trogus wrote ‘There was a custom among Cyprians to send their virgins to the sea-shore before marriage on fixed days, for employment in order to get dowry-money, and to make a first-fruit offering to Aphrodite, a dedication to preserve their virtue in the future’ (Pompeius Trogus, Justin). There are several references in the Old Testament to “Qadeshes,” a word many have translated to mean female and male cult practitioners. Professor Gernot Wilhelm discovered a 3,300-year-old document that details a father selling his own daughter to the Temple of Ishtar to serve as a Harimtu. No details are given to the nature of work the girl was expected to do, but Wilhelm suggests it was sacred prostitution (Gernot, 1994). But, none of this makes establishing fact any easier. I started this article by pointing how limiting it is to try look for modern equivalents in ancient sex practices; sex work is not the oldest profession because professions aren’t actually that old. In the same way that the loaded word ‘prostitute’ speaks to modern stigma and very specific narratives around sexual exchange, it’s not the right word to try and understand religious sexual practice. If we’re looking for a temple ‘prostitutes’, we’re looking for the wrong thing. ‘Sex worker’ also isn’t the right term either as that speaks to the professionalism of selling sexual service, rather than erotic spiritualism and worship through sex. Perhaps we need to stop trying to fit past sexual practices into prejudged categories we feel more familiar with. Take, for example, the 800-year-old Hindu tradition of the Devadasi. Devadasi at Tanjore, 1920s Devadasi means ‘female servant of God’ and they are women who are dedicated to the Goddess Yellamma. The earliest written records of dancing temple girls called Devadasi dates to 1230 – 1240 A.D., from the time of Raja Raya III in Maharashtra (B., Sharma and Raghavacharya, 1961). A thousand-year-old inscription in Tanjor Temple lists 400 devadasis in Tanjor, 450 in Brahideswara temple and another 500 in the Sorti Somnath temple (Spring, 1997). Devadasi looked after the temples, they sang and danced in devotion to the deities. They were also courtesans and supported by wealthy patrons who sought out the Devadasi because they were sacred women. They dazzled the courts with their poetry, music and devotion to the Goddess. Classical Indian dances such as Bharatnatyam, Odissi, and Kathak are all legacies of the Devadasi. Sex was a part of their world, but it was incidental; they celebrated art, beauty, love, and the divine. When the British colonised India, they brought with them their rigid world view and were unable to see the Devadasi as anything but ‘prostitutes’. We’ve seen what is associated with that word and all that was then projected on to the Devadasi. So repulsed were they by what they saw, the British set about shaming and dismantling the Devadasi institution. In 1892, the Hindu Social Reform Association petitioned the Governor General of India and to the Governor of Madras to erase the Devadasi; ‘There exists in the Indian community a class of women community commonly known as nautch-girls. And that these women are invariably prostitutes’ (Jamanadas, 2007). The British missionaries taught India what a ‘prostitute’ was and why it was so shameful. Support for the Devadasi disappeared, they were socially shunned and stigmatised. Cut off from patrons and the temple, they tried to earn money by dancing at private events and selling sexual services. Eventually, the Devadasi was outlawed throughout India in 1988. The tradition continues in southern India, but the women are no longer respected. Now they are criminalised, stigmatised and without protection, many abuses occur and impoverished parents dedicate young daughters to the service of the Goddess. You see how powerful and damaging the word ‘prostitute’ can be? Selling sex is not the oldest profession in the world, but it might be the oldest currency in the world. What’s more, trading on our sexuality is a basic human instinct and is witnessed in all human interactions. We’ve always had sex, always enjoyed sex and therefore always traded sex. Trading sex isn’t even unique to humans, but turning it into a profession and then judging it is certainly unique to humans. If we are to ever understand the history of selling sexual services, we need to move beyond modern stigma and unhelpful stereotypes. Sex work is a highly complex experience and always has been. If we approach the study of sex work from a position of hostility, if we do not allow sex workers to speak for themselves and shape the debate being had, all we will succeed in doing is perpetuating the prostitute mythology. Prostitution is not the oldest profession in the world, but it is a very old stigma indeed. Rahab, The Harlot of Jericho by James Tissot Text © Dr Kate Lister	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line806
__label__cc	0.564542	0.435458	© Thomas Meyer Manipulator of emotions TEXT HELGE HOPP PHOTOS THOMAS MEYER Illustrator Christoph Niemann is a man with a charming breed of very clever humor. He sketches for newspapers and magazines in Europe and the United States, he develops delightful apps for children and adults – and never takes himself too seriously. High time to pay a visit to his studio in Berlin. In the morning, when the kids have trotted off to school, bags bulging with packed lunches, their father moves to the front house. This is where his small studio is, in a former shop in the Mitte district of Berlin; it is his realm and he shares it with no-one. This is where he thinks, contemplates. Hopes that inspiration will strike. Tries something, scrunches it up and tosses it in the bin, gets annoyed. It’s not like he’s sitting here waiting to be kissed by his muse – he has never considered himself a genius, more a hard worker. The fruits of his labors – from a simple sketch, a series of travel reminiscences executed in watercolors, a bells-and-whistles app for inquisitive kids or a humorous picture blog – are phenomenal, says his audience. Oh please, it is too flattering – but who is he to disagree? Christoph Niemann has faith in his discipline. “I work from 9 to 6; time and time again, I’m struck by how close my profession is to playing a sport: training, condition, concentration, competitive situations. A major proportion of what I do is sitting around and thinking, and honing and improving my artistry and craftsmanship. Because when inspiration strikes and I have a really great idea, my craft has to perform so that I can turn the idea into reality as best possible.” Indeed, it would be a tragedy if, at that all-important moment, he had forgotten how to handle a pencil. Whatever you do, avoid lumping him in a corner with preconceptions of art, with garret romance. “All the artists I know are super disciplined,” says Niemann. “No-one clatters around their studio in the morning, getting drunk or still sozzled from the evening before, tossing brush-strokes of genius at the canvas between swigs from a bottle of absinthe.” However, the real world is just as important. “I can’t lock myself away and expect to be able to recreate the world.” Niemann’s travel pictures are astonishingly delicate The artist simultaneously demonstrates ownership and style His New York columns have been published as a book Christoph Niemann was born in 1970 in Waiblingen in Swabia, a region where people have a bit of a reputation for paying close attention to detail. His role models are Roland Topor, Sempé, Albert Uderzo, Chaval and Tomi Ungerer, but also the dearly departed MAD Magazine. After studying communication design in Stuttgart, he took the plunge and left for the United States, in 1997, fizzing with the joy of discovering a new life, without a trace of inferiority. Back then, he “only” illustrated: Please draw a picture to go with that text. Niemann is not afraid to fail; “I throw most of what I do away, and that’s the way it should be.” First, he leaves it lying around for a while, “because you always hope that at second or third glance you will suddenly realize just how brilliant and completely ahead of game you were…” Niemann’s great talent – and one reason for his staggering success – is that he focuses on the bizarreness of mundane things, not just the big topics. He explores the drama in the detail, is an idealist with a brushstroke, a man for the small but irresistible gags, a comedian who can spark a grin of acknowledgement. “The audience is the intelligent part that brings my work to life,” he says. “My work is like a switch that triggers an experience in the viewer.” And that is essence of Niemann’s super-smart, very straightforward art: The first glimpse turns the viewer into the recipient of a gift, into an accomplice. Until I was 23 or 24, I didn’t have a single piece of clothing without at least one splash of colored paint, acrylic, watercolor or whatever. Initially, he was astonished that anyone could find his work funny. “The classic situation is that I create an expectation in the viewer or reader which I then subvert in an unexpected way. For this to work, my thought processes have to mirror those of the reader exactly; I have to maneuver him into that position; this is the essence of total communication. The joke comes to life in the mind of the reader, and not so much on the page – which only provides a guideline. This is a completely different approach than if I were creating a gigantic ceiling painting, a piece which aims to make the viewer feel small, intimidate him and leave him standing open-mouthed.” Christoph Niemann working on an illustration for The New York Times’ crime writing supplement So what happened in New York, how does one go about reaching the upper echelons of illustrating, how does one get commissions for the front pages of The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine, how do you become visual columnist for The New York Times? Do you just rock up with some examples of your work? Does one have to apply? Or does it help to know someone who knows someone? Niemann smiles modestly. Which is, in fact, something he does fairly often, and is possibly something that he, who is at first glance neither a superstar nor a revolutionary, cultivates deliberately so that he doesn’t stand out on account of his sheer success. The danger – which one senses he would love to erase – is that one automatically assumes that he is an industrious model student, a real crammer, even. And this is an assumption that leads one straight into a trap. Because Niemann is a cunning expert, an artist who adores picking seemingly harmless things apart with a few strokes of his deadly paintbrush. Where were we? Ah, in New York. So did he spend months cold-calling editorial offices? Nope, replies Niemann. “It’s gigantic machine that needs to produce a constant flow of new things,” is his succinct description of the U.S. media landscape. “They have to be open for new ideas, otherwise they end up lagging behind. The basic attitude is the following: ‘We should look at this portfolio because if we don’t then someone else will and they’ll publish. And if it’s a success then how can we justify our lack of vision?’ If they look at it, like what they see and give you the go-ahead, you just have to deliver. This is not a good moment to play the capricious artist, demanding to be mollycoddled.” Niemann always delivered, always with an unexpected twist. The readers were delighted, they let the editors know success was just around the corner. Niemann looks back: “Before social networks became quite so powerful, if you had published in The New York Times Magazine, Time or Rolling Stone, everyone knew you because everyone had seen your work.” A letter to Christoph Niemann Paintbrushes in Niemann's studio One should always soar elegantly above the crowd Niemann’s studio is an orderly place After eleven years in the United States, the Niemann family – comprised of Weltkunst editor-in-chief Lisa Zeitz and the couple’s three sons – were ready to return home. In 2008, they moved to Berlin. Christoph Niemann, confident in his skills and with a strong reputation, decided to branch out. He started telling more personal stories. Relocating was the shock that made him decide to conclude one phase of his creative work and move to the next level. “It is difficult to remain in one place, in your familiar environment, and then do something completely different. But if your entire system of coordinates is juggled around, like when you move to a different country, it becomes easier to take a fresh look at yourself and your work. The column for The New York Times was a serious commission, and I no longer had an excuse not to do it.” As a personal farewell gesture, he recreated everyday life in New York in minimalist Lego, arranged carefully dried leaves, devoted himself to physics – with a series titled “Unpopular Science” – and dived deep into bathroom design, with a little help from art history. He knows that you can’t force a stroke of genius, but that you can prepare for it. “There is a quotation by Paul Rand: Art is not an intention. Good work is an intention. Art happens when you’re lucky. And I think that is exactly what it’s about, about patient trying. I sit there, sketch something. Push it a centimeter to the left. Aha. Push it a centimeter to the right. What happens if I take a pear instead of an apple? If the pear is five times bigger? If I take a cat instead of a dog? If I replace one adjective with another? Is it better, more powerful? And sometimes things take on a life of their own and you suddenly realize that you’ve hit a nerve and that the impact of the work goes way beyond what you could have planned intellectually.” German President Gauck gifted one of the Brooklyn Bridge cat’s cradle pictures to President Obama And sometimes you dare to try something completely different. For years, Niemann had a huge respect for flat, saturated colors, “they were always a problem for me; throughout my youth, I never managed to get flat colors to work. Then I bought an airbrush only so that I could produce flat backgrounds. In contrast, I could do perfect, ready-to-print drawings with a brush and paint by the time I was eight. Then came computers, and suddenly you could do red on white. That really bowled me over; all you had to do was click and you’d get a perfect area of yellow – wow!” Niemann, the gifted illustrator, is not a dreamer with his head in the clouds; he’s a man who tries things out until he is satisfied with what he sees. But there is always an element of wonder. “Being able to get someone to laugh or cry without physically tickling or hurting them is amazing, it’s crazy and wonderful in equal measure. The fact that we can trigger real emotions with such abstract things as a sequence of words or sounds. For me, it is like a game: how much can I remove and still get the message across?” It’s a game Niemann keeps playing. And success, has he earned it? That modest little smile appears again. “Well, it does help if people know your work, like it and approach you with a certain amount of respect,” he says, “but I don’t sense any form of divine inspiration. Quite the opposite: If I find myself feeling anything magical while working, I usually know it’s rubbish.” There is fresh Niemann fun to be had in Sunday Sketching, Abrams, approx. $34.00 christophniemann.com This story first appeared in Lufthansa Exclusive, the frequent traveller magazine. For more information about Lufthansa Miles & More offers, please click here. Accessoires for every cause! Courage uncovered The sanctions have been eased and Iran is no longer a political outcast. Tehran’s art scene mirrors the spirit of new beginnings in the country – and is shaped by many strong women In the sand, on a field, in a quarry or on a modern pitch … You can play soccer anywhere. Our photo series has some wonderful examples Optimistic Outpost Athens is known for its protests and crises, but that’s not all. When the Greek capital co-hosts the famous Documenta art exhibition, what forces might this unleash?	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line813
__label__wiki	0.940401	0.940401	PRISM: Does the NSA Really Get Direct Access to Your Data? Confusion surrounding the secret NSA surveillance program PRISM continues. Can the NSA really access Internet companies' user data directly, like the initial reports about PRISM suggested? On Friday, both Google's Larry Page and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg strongly denied that, using almost identical wording. SEE ALSO: NSA Surveillance News: Everything You Need to Know "Facebook is not and has never been part of any program to give the U.S. or any other government direct access to our servers," Zuckerberg wrote. Page, in his statement, wrote that Google has not "joined any program that would give the U.S. government — or any other government — direct access to our servers." Despite their claims, two different stories published late Friday by The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal seemed to suggest that both companies have been collaborating with the government. Whether companies have given direct access or indirect access, though, is still unclear. According to Times sources, both Google and Facebook have discussed setting up separate portals where the companies deposit data when they receive requests from the U.S. government. And U.S. officials who talked to the Journal said the NSA receives copies of Google's data through a separate system set up following a court order. And Facebook was one of the companies that implemented this separate server system. In short, there are no back doors, but perhaps there are side doors — although these might very well be standard procedures in cases of wiretap requests. As reported by CNET on Saturday, these systems might not actually give direct access to the NSA. "It's not as described in the histrionics in the Washington Post or The Guardian," a former government official who has knowledge of the program told CNET. "None of it's true. It's a very formalized legal process that companies are obliged to do." The official explained that when the companies receive Section 702 orders, they basically follow the same procedure they follow with regular wiretap orders. Section 702 orders, as explained before, are part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, created by the FISA Amendments Act (FAA) of 2008. This is used to acquire information such as metadata or content created by foreign targets. Companies implement these orders "just as though they would implement a wiretap — there's no direct access to servers," CNET's source said. And these orders, the source explains, are not dragnet orders: "You can't say everyone in Pakistan who searched for 'X'... It still has to be particularized." For Ashkan Soltani, an independent privacy researcher and technologist, this is "a process for submitting [Section] 702 requests and getting responses in a machine-readable form." The 41-page PRISM Powerpoint presentation "could be seen as a business development deck indicating all the various providers that they currently have 'relationships with,'" he told Mashable. The system is "basically a data-ingestion API," he said. Soltani speculated that based on what we know now, PRISM is a "streamlined way" to submit Section 702 orders to the companies for them to review the requests, and it gives the NSA the ability to handle and process the response "in an automated fashion," just like an app like TripIt, which automatically parses information from your flight reservations. Marc Ambinder, a reporter who has written extensively about secrecy and national security, wrote in The Week that "PRISM is a kick-ass GUI [graphic user interface] that allows an analyst to look at, collate, monitor, and cross-check different data types provided to the NSA from Internet companies located inside the United States." Asked if they had ever received a Section 702 order — and what was their answer in case they had — Google spokesman Chris Gaither told Mashable that "due to U.S. legal constraints, we're not allowed to discuss any legal requests issued under the national security laws, including provisions in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)." Meanwhile, The Guardian on Saturday afternoon published another slide from the 41-page PRISM presentation. In the slide, under "PRISM," a paragraph explains that the system does its "collection directly from the servers" of the nine Internet companies previously reported. Perhaps, as Washington Post reporter Timothy B. Lee wrote on Twitter, the author of that slide deck just wasn't using "direct access" correctly. That's a view that Soltani also shares. "I don't think [the NSA] is doing DPI [Deep Packet Inspection] at the 'servers of the providers,'" he said in an online chat with Mashable. "That's really hard. [...] If they can do it for $20 million I think we should hire the NSA to do hosting for most of the companies in the valley." Image courtesy of YouTube, Google Topics: prism, privacy, surveillance, survey, U.S., World	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line814
__label__cc	0.644078	0.355922	Clinical 13 Cognitive 6 Research 5 Behavioral 5 Behavioral Neuroscience 4 Education 3 Government 3 Cognitive Neuroscience 3 Quantitative 3 Other 2 Aging 2 Biopsychology 2 Clinical Decision-making 2 Experimental 2 Health 2 Full time 8 Postdoc 5 Pennsylvania 3 Illinois 2 Maryland 2 California 1 Connecticut 1 District of Columbia 1 Nevada 1 New York 1 West Virginia 1 Abnormal Development Child/Adolescent General Postdoctoral Neuroscience Postdoctoral Fellow Featured Applications are being sought for a postdoctoral position in the Ellman Lab in the Department of Psychology at Temple University. The Ellman Lab focuses on developmental risk factors for psychosis and related disorders (e.g., schizophrenia and depression) during the pre- and perinatal period and in adolescence/young adulthood. The latter studies involve multi-modal assessment of risk factors, including (but not limited to) biomarkers, neuroimaging, cognition, and a variety of psychosocial risk factors. The postdoctoral fellow will focus primarily on multiple large, multi-site studies examining risk for psychosis in adolescence/young adulthood, but could contribute to any of the ongoing studies in the lab and will have opportunities to develop independent research projects. Clinical hours towards licensure will be available, in addition to many potential research opportunities. Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology Preferred Qualifications: Experience with structured interviewing, interest/experience in psychosis. Responsibilities will include conducting clinical interviews, including certification in the Structured Clinical Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes (SIPS), supervision and mentorship of lab graduate students, leading diagnostic consensus meetings across-sites, and manuscript development/preparation. For questions or to submit an application, please contact Lauren Ellman (ellman@temple.edu). Applicants should send a C.V., brief letter describing interests and prior experience, and two publications (that best reflect contributions of the candidate). Salary is based on the NIMH Postdoctoral scale, and funding is available for at least two years (appointments are for one year, but renewable for two years or more, based on progress/merit). There is a flexible start date (Spring/Summer 2020). Review of applications will begin immediately. Temple University - Ellman Lab Philadelphia, PA, USA Postdoc Visiting Assistant Professor, Psychology The Psychology Department at Fairfield University invites applications for a full-time, visiting assistant professor position in clinical psychology beginning September 1, 2020. Applicants must have a strong commitment to excellence in undergraduate teaching. Applicants are expected to have completed a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology or a related field, but ABDs will also be considered. The teaching load is four undergraduate courses each semester. Courses taught would include courses such as abnormal psychology; research methods; general psychology; or psychological statistics. The department consists of ten full-time faculty representing a range of specialties and is housed in a spacious, well-equipped facility in the Bannow Science Center. There is a vibrant culture of undergraduate student-faculty research and a growing institutional emphasis on the health sciences. Psychology is one of the largest majors in the College of Arts & Sciences, offering a Psychology Club, a large internship program, and chapters of Sigma Xi and Psi Chi. The salary and benefits for the position are highly competitive. Fairfield University is a Jesuit institution, consistently ranked as a top comprehensive university in New England, located in the scenic shoreline community of Fairfield, CT, one hour from New York City along Long Island Sound. Our five Colleges and Professional Schools enroll approximately 3,500 undergraduate and 1,200 graduate students. Review of applications will begin immediately. For full consideration, please click https://ffd.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/EmploymentOpportunities/job/Fairfield-CT/Visiting-Assistant-Professor--Psychology_JR0000661 and upload the following materials: a cover letter a curriculum vitae a statement of teaching philosophy and experience sample syllabi and course evaluations (if available) contact information for three references Please direct questions to Dr. Margaret McClure, Department Chair, at mmcclure@fairfield.edu. Note: If you have more than 5 documents to upload to your application, please combine them into 5 or less documents. Fairfield University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, committed to excellence through diversity, and, in this spirit, particularly welcomes applications from women, persons of color, veterans, Jesuits, and members of historically underrepresented groups. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to all qualified individuals with disabilities. Fairfield University Fairfield, CT, USA Full time POST-DOCTORAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITY (Start Date: July 1, 2020) UNLV ACKERMAN CENTER FOR AUTISM AND NEURODEVELOPMENTAL SOLUTIONS The UNLV Ackerman Center is a Multidisciplinary Center for the diagnosis, treatment and case management/navigation for children (infants to young adults) and their families with Autism and other Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Diagnostic Teams: Developmental Pediatrics, Genetics, Neurology, Neuropsychology, Speech/Language, and Behavioral specialties for individual and multidisciplinary evaluations. We have specialty diagnostic clinics for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Complex Autism and Neurodevelopmental Conditions, and Genetics. Treatment Teams include: The Early Start Denver Model for Young children with Autism (birth to 4 years), individual Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) services from 4 to 18 years of age, social skills programs in the center, social skills groups in the community, and Teen Works program for vocational training. Case Management/Navigation: Case Management services for families needing all levels of support services in the community. We also provide Parent Education and Training programs for our families and for the community. Grant-A-Gift Autism Foundation/UNLV Medicine Partnership: There are also opportunities to participate in community outreach and awareness, fundraising activities, and community events. Post-Doctoral Training will primarily include: intake, neuropsychological testing and report writing for individuals referred to our center for evaluation. Post-doctoral fellow will also participate in multidisciplinary diagnostic teams, parent education/training, running a social skills group, and case management. Additional experiences in treatment teams and/or diagnostic teams will be determined based on the Post-Doctoral Fellow’s training needs. Supervision and training will include individual, small group and diagnostic teams (and will involve live and video supervision). Application Requirements: a letter of interest, a current CV, three letters of recommendation and professional references, a recent de-identified assessment report written by the applicant, and a list of psychological/neuropsychological tests the applicant has experience administering. Applicant must be a uthorized to work in the US for any employer This is a full-time, grant-funded position with competitive compensation including benefits. It is a 12-month appointment and begins July 1, 2020. Julie Foutz Beasley, Ph.D., is the Clinical Director of the center and will serve as the clinical supervisor for the Post-Doctoral Position. Please contact Dr. Beasley via email to arrange for an interview and for a tour of our center and facilities ( julie.beasley@unlv.edu ). UNLV Medicine is an EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer UNLV Medicine Las Vegas, Nevada, USA Postdoc Post-doctoral Fellowship in Eating Disorders - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia https://career4.successfactors.com/sfcareer/jobreqcareer?jobId=47361&company=C0000169453P&username = The Eating Disorder Assessment and Treatment Program (EDATP) at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is seeking at least one post-doctoral fellow starting in July/August of 2020. The EDATP is a large and vibrant eating disorder program serving over 400 new pediatric and adolescent patients each year. With a treatment philosophy grounded in the principles of Family Based Treatment, we offer outpatient care, medical stabilization, and an intensive outpatient program. Clinical experiences are available across all levels of care. Fellows will work collaboratively with other mental health providers and disciplines within the fields of medicine, education, and community professionals. Research focuses on neuro-cognition in anorexia, social reward in eating disorders, and sex differences in eating disorders. One post-doctoral fellow will work primarily on the Shifting Perspectives Study in the Timko Research Group (see https://www.med.upenn.edu/timkolab/ ). The Shifting Perspectives study is investigating whether or not adding Cognitive Remediation Therapy (CRT) to Family Based Treatment improves outcome in adolescents with anorexia nervosa. In the first two years of this project we are focused on evaluating whether or not CRT significantly improves flexibility. The post-doctoral fellow will deliver treatment to families in the study and will be responsible for all appropriate documentation of treatment delivery. It is anticipated that the fellow will carry a caseload of approximately 12 families. The fellow will have opportunities for trial related research, manuscript writing, and preparing funding applications. Fellows will have the opportunity to join PolicyLab ( https://policylab.chop.edu/ ), a center within the Research Institute at CHOP. Ideal candidates will have experience working with adolescents with eating disorders, though any experience treating adolescents in a family-based context or individuals with eating disorders will be considered. Under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, fellows will have training experiences in the areas of research and clinical training that will help prepare them for a future career in a pediatric healthcare setting or university-based training program. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is home to the Department of Pediatrics for the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and is consistently ranked among the top children’s hospitals in the country in the U.S. News and World Report’s Honor Roll of the nation’s Best Children’s Hospitals. Please send a cover letter and current CV along with the names and contact information of three references to Dr. Alix Timko (timkoc@email.chop.edu). Review of applications will begin immediately. Job Responsibilities Under clinical supervision, the psychology fellow may engage in the following research, clinical and related activities: Assessment of patients with a variety of medical, developmental, and mental health disorders. Consultation with patients, families, and other professionals within the hospital and other community agencies (e.g., schools, community mental health). Psychological treatment of patients and families in order to support internalizing and externalizing disorders, coping with illness, developmental disorders, and school related problems. Participate in active research projects including tasks related to subject recruitment, assessment and intervention in the context of research, and assisting with regulatory affairs and participation in human subjects research training. Assist with preparation of posters, presentations, and journal articles based on research findings. Participate in the development of new research projects and assisting with grant writing. Umbrella supervision of other psychology clinical and research trainees, such as interns, externs, and research assistants. Required Licenses, Certifications, Registrations Required Education and Experience Ph.D. or Psy.D in psychology from program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). APA/CPA-accredited internship training. Experience and training in pediatric psychology at the extern or internship level. Specific clinical training and skills in pediatric pain management, as well as the application of cognitive-behavioral, biofeedback, and family systems interventions with children and families is preferred. Additional Technical Requirements Organizational and research skills. Skills in working with community agencies, schools, multidisciplinary teams, and other medical professionals. All CHOP employees who work in a patient building or who provide patient care are required to receive an annual influenza vaccine unless they are granted a medical or religious exemption. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for its patients, family members, visitors and employees. In an effort to achieve this goal, employment at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, other than for positions with regularly scheduled hours in New Jersey, is contingent upon an attestation that the job applicant does not use tobacco products or nicotine in any form and a negative nicotine screen (the latter occurs after a job offer). Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability or protected veteran status. VEVRAA Federal Contractor/Seeking priority referrals for protected veterans. Please contact our hiring official with any referrals or questions. CHOP Careers Contact Talent Acquisition 2716 South Street, 6th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19146 Phone: 866-820-9288 Email:TalentAcquisition@email.chop.edu Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA, USA Postdoc	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line815
__label__cc	0.576379	0.423621	Clinical 12 Abnormal 4 Behavioral 4 Government 3 Research 3 Behavioral Neuroscience 3 Biopsychology 2 Lifespan 2 Neuroscience 2 Personality 2 Quantitative 2 Social 2 Testing and Assessment 2 Education 1 Biological 1 Clinical Decision-making 1 Illinois 2 Maryland 2 California 1 Massachusetts 1 New York 1 South Carolina 1 Tennessee 1 West Virginia 1 Cognitive Aging Other Addictive Behaviors Child/Adolescent Counseling Introduction to Psychology Full time Postdoctoral Fellowship in Computational Cognitive Modeling The Computational Decision-making lab in the Department of Psychology at Vanderbilt University seeks applicants for a postdoctoral researcher position. The lab takes a joint experimental and computational modeling approach to study human judgment, decision-making, and reasoning. Current projects in the lab include multi-alternative and multi-attribute choice, decision-making in dynamically changing environments, and diagnostic decision-making based on medical images. For more information about the lab, please visit: https://computationaldecisionlab.wordpress.com Desired Skills : Candidates should hold a Ph.D. in psychology, neuroscience, computer science, mathematics, engineering, or related disciplines. The following skills are also strongly desired: Background in computational modeling Experience designing and running experiments with human participants Solid programming skills Knowledge of Bayesian methods for model fitting and comparison Demonstrated scientific expertise, with publications in refereed journals Additional Information : The appointment can start as early as Summer 2020, but we will consider candidates who can start at a later date (up until Fall 2020). The appointment is for up to two years. The initial appointment is for one year. Renewal for a second year is contingent on availability of funds, satisfactory performance, acceptable progress in carrying out the assigned duties, and mutual agreement. Salary is commensurate with experience. To Apply : Please submit a cover letter including a brief statement of career goals, curriculum vitae, one example publication / manuscript, and contact information of three references. Apply to Dr. Jennifer Trueblood, jennifer.s.trueblood@vanderbilt.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Computational Decision-making Lab, Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University, West End Avenue, Nashville, TN, USA Full time Assistant Professor of Psychology (20-20) Francis Marion University and the Department of Psychology invite applications for a tenure-track, Assistant Professor of Clinical/Counseling Psychology. The Department of Psychology is interested in continuing the excellence of its Master of Science in Clinical Psychology program, which is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) and trains Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) to work in a variety of settings. Thus, the faculty member will teach a combination of undergraduate courses and graduate courses based on the faculty member’s specific area of specialization. While the area of research is open, the faculty member will be expected to establish and maintain a program of meaningful disciplinary research that is engaging to and inclusive of both undergraduate and graduate students. The clinical psychology faculty member should expect to play an active role in training, supervising, and supporting graduate students. Minimum requirements include a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology (licensed or license-eligible preferred) from a program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). The Department of Psychology (comprised of 10 full-time faculty) has approximately 300 undergraduate majors; in addition to approximately 75 graduate students within three accredited/approved programs: Clinical/Counseling, School Psychology, and Applied Behavior Analysis. We offer an energetic, congenial faculty and a collaborative work environment. Generous internal funding, opportunities for research and professional development, competitive summer research stipends, and well-established community partnerships make FMU a great place to work. Also offered are excellent clinical and research facilities at the Center for the Child and the Health Sciences Complex. Francis Marion University (FMU) is a state-supported regional university with a strong emphasis on the liberal arts. Located in sunny Florence, SC, a growing city with a vibrant arts culture, FMU is within easy driving distance of the state capital, Columbia, Myrtle Beach, and Charleston. FMU is consistently rated in the best colleges to work for by The Chronicle of Higher Education with an emphasis on a strong faculty governance. Position to begin: August 16, 2020 Materials Needed: 1) Letter of Interest (Referencing Position Number 20-20 ), outlining teaching and research interests; 2) Curriculum vitae , to include a listing of courses taken in graduate program; 3) Copies of all college transcripts (official transcripts will be required only of the successful candidate). 4) Statement of teaching philosophy; 5) Three letters of reference; and 6) FMU Faculty Application. To obtain an FMU faculty application please click here. Send or e-mail completed Application Packet to: Dr. Charlene Wages, Vice President for Administration and Planning, Francis Marion University, PO Box 100547, Florence, SC 29502-0547. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. As Francis Marion University has continued to be recognized for its diverse student body, it especially welcomes applicants who can affirm and enhance its mission and encourages applications by women and minorities An Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution Francis Marion University Florence, SC, USA Full time Visiting Assistant Professor in Cognitive Science Williams College Program in Cognitive Science invites applications for a two-year position at the level of Visiting Assistant Professor beginning July 1, 2020. Candidates trained in any subfield of cognitive science are encouraged to apply. We seek excellent teachers whose research programs can engage undergraduate students. The teaching load consists of four courses or the equivalent per year. Likely courses include the introductory cognitive science course and a capstone cognitive science course, as well as courses in the candidate’s subfield. We are particularly interested in candidates from historically underrepresented groups as well as individuals who have experience working effectively with diverse undergraduate student populations. Qualifications Candidates should have a Ph.D. in cognitive science or a related discipline at the time of appointment. All offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background check. Further information is available at http://dean-faculty.williams.edu/prospective-faculty/background-check-policy/ . Application Instructions Applications must be submitted online at https://apply.interfolio.com/67891 . Your application should also include a cover letter, a vita, and up to three reprints. In the cover letter, please speak to your ability to work effectively with an undergraduate student population that is broadly diverse with regard to gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, and religion. The cover letter should also include a brief introduction to your research and teaching. Finally, please include evidence of teaching effectiveness (i.e., course evaluations) if available. We will request three letters of reference from finalists in the search. The deadline for applications is January 1, 2020 or until the position is filled. Please contact Safa Zaki, Chair, Program in Cognitive Science, with any questions related to the search. Williams College is a coeducational liberal arts institution located in the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts. The college has built its reputation on outstanding teaching and scholarship and on the academic excellence of its approximately 2,000 students. Please visit the Williams College website ( http://www.williams.edu ). Beyond fully meeting its legal obligations for non-discrimination, Williams College is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community where members from all backgrounds can live, learn, and thrive. Williams College Williamstown, MA, USA Full time	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line816
__label__cc	0.527479	0.472521	Government 1 Research 1 Biological 1 Biopsychology 1 Cognitive 1 Experimental 1 Personality 1 Physiological 1 Positive Psychology 1 Psychopharmacology 1 Quantitative 1 Social 1 Social Cognition 1 Development Clinical Child/Adolescent Industrial/Organizational Health Postdoctoral Full time California Clinical Psychology-Advanced Associate or Full Professor The Department of Psychological Science and the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the University of California, Irvine invite applications for a full-time, tenured faculty position in Clinical Psychology at the rank of advanced Associate Professor or Full Professor. The successful candidate will have a joint appointment in both departments and will serve as the inaugural Director of Clinical Training in the Department of Psychological Science. Candidates must have a Ph.D. from an accredited clinical psychology program and eligibility for licensure. We encourage applications from individuals with the ability to provide leadership in the development, launching, and administration of a clinical psychology Ph.D. program. The new program will be part of a broader initiative in integrated behavioral health at the University of California, Irvine. Evidence of the ability to forge collaborative ties for clinical training and research with faculty in Psychiatry and other health science disciplines in the study of mental disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety disorders) are highly desirable. Applicants should have an outstanding record of research and extramural funding, as well as evidence of excellent teaching and mentoring and a strong commitment to diversity and inclusive excellence. We will begin reviewing applications received by December 2, 2019, but will accept applications until the position is filled. Application materials must be submitted electronically (please refer to the employment link at the following website for instructions): https://recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF05792. Candidates must submit a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae, statement of research, statement of teaching, representative publications, teaching evaluations, and should arrange to have three letters of recommendation uploaded electronically. A separate statement that addresses contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion must also be included in the application materials. Please direct questions about this position to Diane Enriquez at d.enriquez@uci.edu . The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC nondiscrimination policy. A recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity, UCI is responsive to the needs of dual career couples, supports work‐life balance through an array of family‐friendly policies, and is dedicated to broadening participation in higher education. University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA, USA Full time	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line817
__label__wiki	0.634644	0.634644	John's Blog A venture in creativity and connectivity A Candidate Of and For the People July 26, 2018 / johnjbayerl Caption: Marc Elrich (center, in blue shirt) celebrates Montgomery County Council’s passage of a $15/hour minimum wage plan. We’ve just completed a very full and complex primary election season here in Maryland. The Democratic party races included those for U.S. House and Senate, Governor, and the entire state legislature. I live in Montgomery County, a large, populous, relatively affluent, and 65% Democratic county northwest of Washington, DC. This election cycle included Democratic primary races for our County Executive, the nine-member County Council, the school board, circuit court judges, and sundry other county offices, as well as the Central Committees of both parties. Newly retired, I had decided to re-commit myself to the political process as the fateful 2016 presidential race unfolded. I was an early backer of Bernie Sanders’ bid, but shifted my efforts to Hillary after she garnered the Democratic nomination. I volunteered to fill the empty precinct-leadership job for our local Democratic party and spent the presidential election day manning a Democratic candidate information table at our local polling place. Hillary’s defeat was devastating for us Democrats, but after emerging from the trauma of it, I decided to re-double my commitment. After the historic Women’s March of January 2017, my wife and I formed a small Indivisible group and committed ourselves to meeting regularly with a group of similarly minded friends to take up specific political projects. We enlisted our efforts in support of the “Fight for 15” minimum wage campaign in our county and were gratified that our efforts paid off in a victory after a year-long battle within our County Council. We attended rallies and meetings, testified at public hearings, and met privately with Council members who were on the fence. This process acquainted us with many of the local political leaders who would emerge as candidates in our recent primary election. I spent a lot of time this spring reading and getting to know many of the candidates via numerous public debates. The candidate who I ended up focusing the most energy on was Marc Elrich, who I had known from our days living in Takoma Park, MD in the 1980s and ‘90s. Marc is a three-term Councilman-at-Large in Montgomery county, and was running for the County Executive slot the in the Democratic primary. I had known him personally during his multi-term service on the Takoma Park City Council. Marc was also a community organizer, best known for his indefatigable work in getting the Takoma Park Food Co-op started (the Co-op is still flourishing some thirty years later). I reconnected with Marc during the year-long “Fight for 15” which he single-mindedly shepherded through to its final Council approval last fall. Seven other Democratic candidates were also running campaigns in the County Executive primary, two of them fellow Council members who we had witnessed during numerous open Council meetings. At first, I wasn’t convinced that Marc would make the best Executive. His two rivals from the Council, George Leventhal and Roger Berliner, both seemed more polished in their mastery of the Council’s complex political machinations. In addition, George was another Takoma Park political activist who I’d known and admired, and Roger was the father of one of our son’s friends in grade school. One of the highlights of this year’s county elections was the implementation of a long-awaited public-private funding mechanism for candidates who meet the criteria in terms of number of donors and amount raised. To receive the public subsidy, candidates had to limit total individual donations to $150 and refuse financial help from other entities. The entire process is carefully regulated and stands as a major advance in the democratization of our county’s election process, long plagued by large-scale property developer donations to candidates who may then be beholden. Participation in the “public option” is entirely voluntarily. For the County Executive race, three of the candidates opted for it, and another four pursued purely private funding. Both Marc and George were early participants and I actually gave preliminary $50 donations to both of their campaigns. The public option rewards the first $50 from a donor with three times that much in county funding. So my initial $50 to each candidate netted $150 from the county as well. Around New Years, my wife and I decided to unequivocally back Marc. The reason was that Marc was consistently prioritizing the well-being of the county’s middle and lower-income families. Montgomery county had become prohibitively expensive for many working people, such that even county teachers and police often had to live in less expensive areas outside the county. Marc’s championing of the $15 minimum wage had been an attempt to ameliorate the large income gap. He had also been in the forefront to guarantee that a percentage of all new housing units in the county contain affordable units for lower income families. And he was also insisting that new housing constructed around new Metro extensions not obliterate existing low-income housing units. A newcomer to county politics, the wealthy businessman David Blair soon became the lead contender in the Democratic County Executive primary. Blair didn’t participate in the public funding system, opting instead to take unlimited private donations as well as spending some $3 million of his own on his campaign. Blair garnered the endorsement of the Washington Post, which was long opposed to Marc Elrich’s brand of citizen activism, and more comfortable with Blair’s carefully centrist and business-oriented focus. By the spring, I’d maxed out with my $150 contribution to the Elrich campaign. I put up a yard sign and began talking Marc up with friends and relatives. Marc had a fiery pre-election pep-rally attended by the wide spectrum of his political base: labor union members, immigration rights activists, Bernie Sanders’ “Our Revolution” members and supporters, Hispanic and African American civics groups, community-based environmentalists, and an eloquent spokesperson for the burgeoning movement of young people for gun control. I was inspired to volunteer in passing out campaign literature at busy Metro stops. I got a “Marc Elrich for County Executive” tee shirt and started wearing it regularly. By election day, local polling was reporting a close race between Blair and Elrich. I worked the polls for the Democratic party but had to maintain neutrality there for all Democratic primary races. I was encouraged that other groups were out in force advocating for Marc at my polling place, including the Jews United for Justice organization and a polite, articulate young man from the Democratic Socialists of America. The election returns yielded a virtual tie between Blair and Elrich, each with about 30% of the count. Marc was ahead by 80 votes, but the absentee and provisional ballots remained to be hand-counted. This labor-intensive process took over a week to complete and Marc maintained his slim lead. Blair lodged a challenge and a selective re-count was performed. Marc’s victory held for the re-count and Blair finally conceded in late July. But Marc’s victory in the Democratic primary, which usually guarantees success in November against the outnumbered Republicans, had still one more storm cloud on the horizon. A few days after the election, another longtime Democratic Council member, Nancy Floreen, announced her intention to run an independent campaign for County Executive in the fall election. Floreen had spoken out against what she claimed was Marc’s “socialist agenda”, and hoped to garner support from the more centrist, business-oriented elements of the Democratic party. She’ll need to garner some 4,000 signatures before August 6 in order to get on the ballot. This primary election has only confirmed my belief that it is not the time for Democrats to play business-as-usual in the 2018 elections. We need candidates who have a proven track record of working for the 90% of Americans who aren’t sharing in the current economic expansion. Marc Elrich is one of the few politicians I know who has remained committed to improving the lot of the 90% of our citizens who struggle every day to make ends meet. Like Bernie Sanders, he articulates a clear and convincing message of working for the greatest good of the greatest number. He is neither anti-business nor anti-development, but wants to make sure that businesses and developers pay their fare share from the prosperity they continue to enjoy in our wealthy county. John Bayerl, 7/26/2018 ← Finding Relaxation and Focus in Coloring Mandalas Discovering Cognitive Resilience in My Approach to Alzheimers Risk →	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line818
__label__wiki	0.579126	0.579126	Posts Tagged ‘LeAnn Rimes’ My Kind of Country Turns 10 Most of you probably know this already, but for the past seven years, I’ve been a staff writer for My Kind of Country. In honor of the blog’s 10th anniversary, I wrote the following reflection editorial: Do you remember where you were exactly ten years ago? Barack Obama has just defeated John McCain to win his first of two-terms as our 44th President. The United States was beginning to feel the effects of the Great Recession. On our radios, a hot new group out of Georgia was dominating the charts. This week in 2008, Zac Brown Band logged their first of two consecutive weeks at #1 with their debut single “Chicken Fried.” On the album’s chart, it was Taylor Swift’s just-released Fearless, logging its third consecutive week at #1, with no signs of slowing down. In the country blogosphere, J.R. Journey launched My Kind of Country. Our little blog was born ten years ago tomorrow on Dec. 8, 2008. On that day, J.R. wrote: Welcome to the My Kind Of Country blog. Here, you will find reviews, editorials, and discussions about the country music we love – our kind of country. The idea is simple: rather than write lots of negative reviews about the new music that’s coming out – because let’s face it, much of what comes out of Nashville and your country radio dial is crap – we are going to write about the music we love. The music that moves us, drives us, and makes us laugh and cry; the music that touches us. Not that we will spend our time posting fangirl gushes about a select group of artists that are among our favorites. To the contrary, we intend to post about the music we love and tell you why we love it, and of course, how we think it could be improved upon. It’s been an ambitious mission from the start. Erik wrote our first album review, a glowing critique of LeAnn Rimes’ Family, on Dec. 10. Our first spotlight artist? Oh, that was Miss Leslie and her Juke-Jointers in January 2009. Through the years we’ve seen many writers retire their individual perspectives on country music, from our friends Erik, Rainbow, Chris Dean, Megan Morrow, and Razor X to our fearless leader himself, J.R. I won’t begin to assert I’m an historian on all things MKoC. I joined the team in June 2011 after I had become enamored with their Spotlight Artist coverage of Emmylou Harris in April. After reading a few of their reviews, I digitally downloaded her solo albums from the 1970s and composed a post on my own blog, entitled “New Artist Obsession: Emmylou Harris.” I had included a link to their coverage, which garnered the attention of J.R. and Razor X. I had no idea how impressed J.R. would be with my work, nor was I gunning for anyone’s attention. Shortly thereafter he sent me an email and asked me to join the team, an honor I accepted happily and excitedly. My first post was a single review for Julie Roberts’ “NASCAR Party” that ruffled a few feathers with her publicity team. I then contributed two single reviews to their Randy Travis coverage that month, among other reviews, and was off to the races. But this isn’t solely about me. My Kind of Country has and always will be about a passionate group of fans sharing their thoughts and perspectives on country music with a critical ear. Two of our longest contributing writers, Razor X, and Occasional Hope, became members of the team in Feb. 2009. Razor’s first post, “Rediscovering Forgotten Gems” found him taking a look back at albums, with a focus on Randy Travis, he had the urge to revisit. Occasional Hope introduced herself to readers through “Finding Country,” in which she shared how she came to love country music. Paul W. Dennis joined just before I did in 2011. The 9513 had just shuttered and J.R. asked him to continue his Country Heritage series with us. His first post was “Country Heritage: Gary Stewart – A Short Life Of Trouble (1944-2003).” A while back, a friend had asked me if they could take a look at work on MKoC and even proceeded to print it out in order to read it (yes, I also thought that was strange). In doing so, he made a comment I’ve never forgotten. He said the blog had a really great title and I instantly knew what he meant. He didn’t say it, but he was referring to the idea that as a group of writers we’re each sharing the country music we love individually, writing pieces that reflect our love of the genre, not just getting assigned albums and singles we may or may not care enough about to compose a thoughtful post. I hadn’t looked at it that way, but he was correct in every sense of the word. I also often think about how hard it is to keep a blog going and just how many have come and gone in the ten years we’ve been alive. It’s easy for readers to overlook the fact that our positions as staff writers aren’t our full or even part-time jobs. MKoC is a labor of love we create out of passion for country music. It takes a village to keep a blog vital, which is why The 9513 and Country California have ceased publication. Engine 145 only ended once Juli Thanki received a prestigious position with The Tennessan, which has led to exciting opportunities for her in 2019. Ken Morton, Jr’s That Nashville Sound is still going strong and Country Universe is still around, after 14 years, albeit in an abbreviated form. Little did J.R. realize in his inaugural post when he wrote: “much of what comes out of Nashville and your country radio dial is crap.” He never could’ve known the assault on the very ideals of commercial country music that was coming down the line with bro-country and whatever the heck you call what’s followed in its wake. It’s ironic, at least to me, that the peak years for country blogging have coincided with the continued release of literally the worst music our beloved genre has ever produced. At least we’ve learned there are alternatives and still some pretty awesome music being made if you know where to look. I know this post is long, but heck, you only celebrate your tenth anniversary once. We would not be here if it wasn’t for our continued passion for country music, but even more importantly, our readers. Thank you for continuing to make us and our writing a part of your lives. Please continue to comment and engage with us on our posts. We always love reading and responding to whatever you have to say. Tags:Barack Obama, Chris Dean, Emmylou Harris, Erik, Gary Stewart, J.R. Journey, John McCain, Jonathan Pappalardo, Juli Thanki, Julie Roberts, Ken Morton Jr, LeAnn Rimes, Megan Morrow, Occasional Hope, Paul W. Dennis, Rainbow, Randy Travis, Razor X, Taylor Swift, Zac Brown Band Posted in Country Music \| Leave a Comment » EP Review: LeAnn Rimes – ‘Re-Imagined’ Re-Imagined While the craze of mainstream country stars collaborating with mainstream pop acts has garnered major attention, and rightfully so, another trend has been making waves but leaving far too little a wake. In August 2016, Suzy Bogguss released Aces Redux, a complete re-recording of her classic album in the lush acoustic style she favored in recent years. Dixie Chicks completely overhauled the arrangements on their songs for their MMXVI tour and companion concert album. Mary Chapin Carpenter reexamined parts of her back catalog on Sometimes Just The Sky this past March. Rodney Crowell has Acoustic Classics coming out the middle of next month. Artists re-recording their hits have been going on since the beginning of recorded music. A recent cause for this is a little-known fact that when artists switch record labels, they don’t get to take the masters and rights to their discography with them. In other words, the artists entire back catalog is the sole property of their former home, especially if it was a major label. Those re-recorded songs are typically sung as facsimiles of the original hit recording with the hopes a gullible music buying public won’t be able to tell the difference. Very often it’s those re-recordings that make their way onto digital platforms, especially if the artist’s original music hasn’t been licensed by their record label for release in that format. What’s going on here is entirely different and completely by choice. These albums aren’t merely gimmicky cash grabs but thoughtful reexaminations of songs, and in this case of Rodney Crowell different songs entirely. For his new album, he completely re-wrote “Shame On The Moon.” He felt his original composition, which was a massive hit for Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band in 1982, wasn’t composed with the depth and complexity he would bring to the song today. In the case of LeAnn Rimes and her new five-track EP Re-Imagined, she reworked these songs for her Remnants tour last year and decided to commit them to record. Although I’ve been somewhat of a rabid fan of her music since the very beginning, I haven’t been paying too much attention to her lately. This release broke the short drought, which I’m also sure it was intended to do. She opens the collection with “How Do I Live.” Her original version, from 1997, is still one of the cleanest and most masterful pop records I’ve ever heard. She transforms Diane Warren’s lyric into a piano ballad, which might work for some people, but it didn’t work for me. I really don’t care for Rimes in this style, which always comes off heavy, slow and prodding. I had actually forgotten what the original version of “Can’t Fight The Moonlight” sounded like, the one featured on the Coyote Ugly soundtrack in 2000. Listening to it again, it’s clearly influenced by Britney Spears’ debut from a year earlier. I’m more familiar with the dance remix, which worked on an international scale as I’m sure Curb intended at the time. This new version, taken live from a concert, has more in common with the remix but features actually instrumentation. Rimes’ original version of “Blue,” from 1996, is arguably still the greatest record she’s ever made. She gave it new life, in collaboration with The Time Jumpers, on Lady & Gentlemen in 2011. For this version, also taken live from a concert, she goes full-on jazz but doesn’t sacrifice the trademark yodel or the song’s traditional country roots. The revelation, as far as her hit records are concerned, is “One Way Ticket (Because I Can).” Rimes gives the song a gorgeously soft acoustic arrangement stripping the song of any smoke and mirrors. It’s truly impressive what she does with the song, alone, without backup singers to give her a lift. Rimes still has it more than 22 years later. The final track is one of the two songs from Spitfire that elude to the cheating scandal that soured her reputation with the public and ended her first marriage. “Borrowed” was originally produced by Rimes’ long-time collaborator Darrell Brown, who also oversaw this EP. The track was already in this style so nothing about the arrangement really changed. However, this version is a duet with Stevie Nicks. Rimes and Nicks harmonize throughout the song, which is a mistake given the lyrical content. I’m also a huge fan of Nicks and Fleetwood Mac, so I’m saying this with love, but Nicks’ voice isn’t what it used to be but either is Don Henley’s. The age on Nicks’ rasp, which is far too low now, is just unappealing. The majority of this EP feels utterly unnecessary and in place of new music, not really worth much of anyone’s time. Rimes’ voice has changed, too, which she claimed in a 2013 lawsuit was the result of botched dental work. She still has incredible range, which I noted when I reviewed “How To Kiss A Boy” in November 2016, but the clarity is gone. I still recommend checking it out, especially if you’re a fan of Rimes’ work, to hear this new addition to her musical legacy. Tags:Britney Spears, Darrell Brown, Diane Warren, Dixie Chicks, Don Henley, Fleetwood Mac, LeAnn Rimes, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Rodney Crowell, Stevie Nicks, Suzy Bogguss, The Time Jumpers Album Review – Brandy Clark – ’12 Stories’ If you’ve been paying attention to country music in 2013 there’s likely one name on the tip of your tongue – Brandy Clark. The buzz about the songwriter behind such hits as “Mama’s Broken Heart” and “Better Dig Two” has been at fever pitch, and it’s easy to understand why with just one listen to her debut record. Clark has stolen the Linda Ronstadt rulebook that Trisha Yearwood and company made famous in the 1990s, rewritten it, and crafted an album that borrows yet improves upon the past, all the while introducing an artist who is completely and uniquely herself. With12 Stories Clark has redrafted the textbook on how to evolve, and not change, the country genre. At its core 12 Stories is an exercise in immaculate songwriting. Clark has an innate ability to take hefty subjects and morph them into delicious slices of black comedy, skewing the stories to forgo the ache in an effort to focus on creating little vignettes that play like some of the best episodes of television. My favorite of these is “Hungover,” a Sara Evans-like co-write with Shane McAnally and Jessie Jo Dillon about a woman’s realization that her drunken man isn’t going to change. Also stunning is “The Day She Got Divorced,” a wonderfully addicting day-in-the-life about a woman’s itinerary the day her marriage officially ends. Reba had it onAll The Women I Am and it was my favorite track on that project three years ago. “Strips,” the album’s lead single, is the new standard-bearer for cheating songs, with the woman declaring there’s no crime of passion worth a crime of fashion as she ponders killing her husband, stopping only because I don’t look good in orange and I hate stripes. Clark (along with McAnally and Matt Jenkins) has co-written one hell of a clever song, and while the premise is laid on a little thick it works surprisingly well. “Crazy Women” was an excellent yet low-charting single for LeAnn Rimes (from Lady & Gentlemen), and Clark’s version is good, but lacks the punch of personality Rimes brought to her recording. In addition, “Get High,” the only song Clark wrote solo (and the oldest composition on the album) suffers from a weak hook (‘sometimes the only way to get by is to get high’) that leaves the chorus feeling underdeveloped. What elevates 12 Stories into echelon of masterworks is the emotional depth Clark brings to the project. She elegantly weaves a series of ballads between the vignettes that rank among the finest moments on a country album this decade. Weeds-inspired “Pray To Jesus” is a timeless anthem for the working poor that doesn’t stereotype or judge. It acts an affirmation that we’re just trying to better ourselves from within, because the fix doesn’t come from the outside world. It’s the lone socially conscious track on 12 Stories and currently the best song of its kind from this somewhat forgotten sub-genre. “What’ll Keep Me Out of Heaven” is a reflection on the pull between right and wrong framed around two married individuals about to cheat on their spouses. Clark is able to get inside the woman’s psyche (I don’t know what scares me most, the ride up, or the ride down) in way that’s both ordinary and extraordinary; exercising both arguments while letting the listener make their own conclusions. The simple beauty recalls Matraca Berg’s “Lying To The Moon.” Clark and “What’ll Keep Me Out of Heaven” co-writer Mark Stephen Jones teamed up again on “Hold My Hand,” the story of a couple running into his alluring ex-lover, only to have his current love plead for definition in their relationship. Meanwhile “In Some Corner” spins another side of the “Last Call”/”Keep It To Yourself” drunken dialing saga that amazingly hasn’t been played out yet. It’s Clark’s turn to show her moment of weakness and she’s praying he doesn’t call, as she can’t refuse his advances. The strongest track on 12 Stories comes at the end, with an all too common narrative about a woman who marries the mirror image of her always-absent father. “Just Like Him,” (co-written with Dillon and McAnally) beautifully hits upon the unspoken truth that people marry at the level of their self-esteem, thinking they’re only worth the same-gender role models (or lack thereof) they grew up around. The conviction Clark brings to this song is remarkable, showcasing her incredible knack at crafting tales purely from observances – her dad is the antithesis of this character. In truth Clark brings that conviction to the entire project. As a child of the 90s, I came of age in the era when music such as this was the rule and not the exception, when artists were allowed to have real problems that were bigger then which truck was going to transport some beer keg to lake whatever down some dirt road littered with bikini-clad country girls. It makes me sick that every record label in Nashville (even two that confessed to loving it) past on releasing 12 Stories but I’m glad an independent label in Texas picked it up. This is music that needs to be heard. I urge you to pick up a copy, as it’s well worth the money, and time spent listening. Clark is the most important singer/songwriter to come around in a long, long time and 12 Stories is the best album of its kind I’ve heard in many, many years. Tags:Brandy Clark, Jessie Jo Dillon, LeAnn Rimes, Linda Ronstadt, Mark Stephen Jones, Matraca Berg, Matt Jenkins, Reba McEntire, Shane McAnally, Trisha Yearwood Favorite Country Albums of 2011 Who says real country music is dead? Putting aside the commercial successes that forgot about quality, here is my take for music that mattered in 2011. These albums may not have sold a heck of a lot or even garnered the recognition they warranted, but they achived the mark of great music – the songs came first. 10. Concrete – Sunny Sweeney Led by the top ten “From A Table Away,” Concrete found Sweeney modifying her sound slightly in order to complete with what’s current on country radio. Of course, her version of slightly is different than most as she’s crafted an outstanding traditional country album worthy of her talents. There are too many highlights here to pick a favorite but the honky-tonkin’ “Drink Myself Single” and the revengeful “Amy” are among the years best songs. Tags:Connie Smith, Gene Watson and Rhonda Vincent, George Strait, LeAnn Rimes, Lori McKenna, Matraca Berg, Miranda Lambert, Pistol Annies, Sunny Sweeney, Vince Gill Top 45 favorite country singles of 2011 Here’s my picks for the best of the best, the cream of the crop for country singles in 2011. See, the year wasn’t all bad, now was it? 45. Steel Magnolia – “Last Night Again” A flirty romance tale finding a couple eyeing each other from across the room is made even sweeter knowing Megan Lindsay and Joshua Scott Jones are an item in real life. 44. Terri Clark – “Northern Girl” How refreshing is it to hear a singer singing about where they’re from and instead of a bunch of cliches, it relays to personal experience? Clark, from Canada, sings lovingly of her homeland here and shows just how great her voice still is after more than fifteen years in the industry. If you haven’t paid Clark much attention in a while, she’s worth checking out. 43. Miranda Lambert – “Baggage Claim” A Beyonce inspired ditty that says everything Reba McEntire wished she could’ve said in “Who’s Ever In New England.” This guy ain’t got a place to come back to. 42. Jacob Lyda – “I’m Doing Alright” This light and breezy tale is an exercise in being comfortable in your everyday life, something we could use more of in our world. Lyda co-wrote it with legendary songwriter Paul Overstreet (whose son Chord is Sam Evans on Glee) and it has that old-time feel of a great country song. Lyda didn’t make waves in 2011, but he sure deserved to. Tags:Adele, Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas, Ashton Shepherd, Billy Currington, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Chris Young, Dierks Bentley, Eden's Edge, George Strait, Grace Potter, Jacob Lyda, Jason Aldean, JT Hodges, Justin Moore, Keith Urban, Kellie Pickler, Kenny Chesney, Lady Atebellum, LeAnn Rimes, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Randy Houser, Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Ronnie Dunn, Sara Evans, Steel Magnolia, Sunny Sweeney, Taylor Swift, Terri Clark, The Band Perry, Toby Keith, Trace Adkins, Vince Gill, Zac Brown Band My lack in recent updates is partly do to an exciting opportunity I accepted over a month ago. I’m now a staff writer for My Kind of Country, a popular country music blog. That doesn’t mean this blog is going anywhere, it’s just an extension of my love for country music. My duties are to write single reviews for new country songs and album reviews for their spotlight artist series. Here’s what I’ve written so far: Single Review – Thompson Square ‘I Got You’ Single Review – George Strait ‘Here For A Good Time’ Single Review – Randy Travis ‘Look Heart, No Hands’ Single Review – Randy Travis ‘If I Didn’t Have You’ Single Review – LeAnn Rimes ‘Give’ Single Review – Julie Roberts ‘NASCAR Party’ I can’t believe how much I’ve already written. Six already?! I have many more in the pipe line, and as I write them, I’ll link them to my blog so they’ll be easy to find in one place. Thanks again to J.R. Journey for inviting me to blog about my favorite subject to a much wider audience. In the coming months, I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes me. Now I just have to find the balance to write my own blog along with all the MKoC work I do. That shouldn’t be too hard. Tags:George Strait, J.R. Journey, Julie Roberts, LeAnn Rimes, My Kind of Country, Randy Travis, Thompson Square Posted in Country Music, Music Criticism, Music Reviews \| Leave a Comment »	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line819
__label__wiki	0.874011	0.874011	Posts Tagged ‘Loretta Lynn’ EP Review: J.P. Harris (with Nikki Lane, Kristina Murray, Kelsey Waldon and Leigh Nash) – ‘Why Don’t We Duet In The Road’ J.P. Harris Why Don’t We Duet In The Road J.P. Harris, whose sound is described as ‘booming hippie-friendly honky-tonk,’ found the inspiration for Why Don’t We Duet In The Road in the collaborative spirit of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s seminal Will The Circle Be Unbroken. The EP finds Harris covering iconic duets with some of Nashville’s most innovate female singer/songwriters, in an effort to bottle his experiences in Music City with a record aimed at prosperity over commercial viability. Harris hunkered down in Ronnie Milsap’s former studio to record the four-track album, which he self-produced in a single six-hour session. What resulted is rough around the edges, fueled by twangy guitars and a gorgeous interpretation of outlaw country. No one better exemplifies the modern outlaw spirit than Nikki Lane, who burst onto the scene in 2011 blending rockabilly and honky-tonk. She teams with Harris on “You’re The Reason Our Kids are Ugly,” which finds the pair embodying the spirit of Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn’s 1978 original. Harris’ choice of Lane to accompany him is a smart one. You can hear her ballsy grit as she uses her smoky alto to channel Lynn’s feisty spirit without sacrificing her distinct personality. The least familiar of Harris’ collaborators is likely Americana darling Kristina Murray, who joins him for an excellent reading of George Jones and Tammy Wynette’s “Golden Ring.” The pair is brilliant together, with Murray emerging as a revelation with her effortless mix of ease and approachability. I quite enjoyed the arrangement, too, which has the perfectly imperfect feel of a band completely in sync with one another. Harris is the star on “If I Was A Carpenter,” which finds him with the criminally underrated Kelsey Waldon. Her quiet assertiveness, which could’ve used a touch more bravado, is, unfortunately, no match for his buttery vocal. Waldon’s contributions are by no means slight; he’s just magnetic. The final selection, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner’s “Better Move It On Home,” finds Harris with the most recognizable vocalist of the bunch, Leigh Nash. She’s best known as the lead singer of Sixpence None The Richer, the band that hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 with the iconic “Kiss Me” in 1998. She’s since gone on to a solo career, which includes a country album released in September 2015. She taps into that grit here, and erases any notion of her pop sensibilities, but proves she doesn’t quite measure up to Parton on the 1971 original. The pair had an uphill battle ahead of them from the onset and they didn’t quite deliver. That being said Why Don’t We Duet in the Road is a fantastic extended play highlighting five uniquely talented vocalists. If country artists continue to churn out releases of this high a quality than 2017 is going to be a very good year, indeed. Grade: A NOTE: Why Don’t We Duet in the Road is offered as a random colored double 7” limited to 500 copies, which as of press time are about halfway to sold out. Rolling Stone Country also has the tracks accessible for streaming, which I highly recommend. The EP is also available on iTunes as of January 6. Tags:Conway Twitty, Dolly Parton, George Jones, J.P. Harris, Kelsey Waldon, Kristina Murray, Leigh Nash, Loretta Lynn, Nikki Lane, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Porter Wagoner, Ronnie Milsap, Sixpence None The Richer, Tammy Wynette Album Review: Loretta Lynn – ‘White Christmas Blue’ White Christmas Blue The crop of Christmas albums has been hit or miss this year with big band affairs aptly showcasing Chris Young and Brett Eldridge’s vocal prowess and Kacey Musgraves’ continued decent into her own quirkiness. Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood had the most disappointing record, a haphazard affair unbecoming from an artist (Yearwood) with impeccable song sense who knows better. Loretta Lynn has released the years most intriguing holiday record, White Christmas Blue, which comes a full fifty years since her Owen Bradley produced Country Christmas. The album is a full-on traditional affair and a delight at every turn. I usually find fiddle and steel out of place on a Christmas album, but White Christmas Blue is changing that perception for me. The album is mostly comprised of holiday standards, with jovial renditions of “Frosty The Snowman” and “Jingle Bells” sitting comfortably along side “To Heck With Ole Santa Claus,” one of the album’s strongest cuts and a personal favorite of mine. “Blue Christmas,” a full-on honky-tonker in Lynn’s hands, is also excellent. The ballads don’t hit as hard. It may be the starkness she brings to “Away In A Manger,” “Silent Night” and “Oh, Come All Ye Faithful” that didn’t do it for me or the fact I’ve heard them so often, in so may different versions, their simple beauty has begun to wear thin. “’Twas The Night Before Christmas” was a complete surprise, a perfect way to end the album. White Christmas Blue also boasts two original numbers. “Country Christmas” is a rerecording of the title track from the last album and Lynn hasn’t lost any of the spunk she brought to the original. The other, the title track, is a rather somber affair, which finds Lynn with everything she wants – except her honey: It’s Christmas Eve and I’m still all alone It’ll be Christmas day when you come home Icicles hanging from the eves, snow is glistenin’ from the trees My Christmas time with you is over due You turn into my white Christmas blue I should be saying ho ho ho instead of bu bu bu Oh Santa Claus would no want you to break my heart in two I cannot recommend this album enough. Tags:Brett Eldredge, Chris Young, Garth Brooks, Kacey Musgraves, Loretta Lynn, Owen Bradley, Trisha Yearwood Album Review: Brandy Clark – ‘Big Day In A Small Town’ Big Day In A Small Town In recording 12 Stories Brandy Clark said she made a concept record about a small-town woman and her journey through our world. The finished product didn’t completely fulfill that vision (the song sequence was changed), but it did introduce us to a compelling and complex heroine framed with sonic touches that made 12 Stories an album that respected the past in order to create the future. Big Day In A Small Town ultimately builds upon its predecessor by giving our heroine a backbone formed on the foundation of experience woven by Clark’s eye for detailing the emotional complexities of everyday life with razor-sharp precision. Our main character reached this authoritative state (elevated with an eclectic sonic backdrop spearheaded by Jay Joyce) by having lived and come out the other side with a clear picture of how she wants to move forward with her life. Her circumstances will never be without turmoil, but for her to live as her authentic self means she has to embrace who she is at her messiest while attempting to establish some type of order to her state of affairs. To fully understand her newly enlightened state, we need to fill the gaps in her back-story. Those details come courtesy of the brilliant “Homecoming Queen,” in which she finds herself at twenty-eight realizing she’s holding onto a superficial falsity that is as empty as the dead-end town she calls home: Too bad love ain’t a local parade In your uncle’s Corvette on a Saturday With all the little girls waiting on you to wave When you’re 17 That you won’t always be Homecoming queen It’s worth reiterating that our heroine isn’t a single construct but a composite sketch of women everywhere. She’s the one-time “Homecoming Queen” as much as she’s the mother with “Three Kids No Husband.” Both scenarios find her living out the reality of her situation including the latter, a co-write with Lori McKenna that beautifully details the laundry list of different people our heroine has become to keep her family running smoothly. Her backbone manifests as a take-no-prisoners frankness that unapologetically stings any man who crosses her path. This change in her attitude is best exemplified by the subtle twist in “You Can Come Over,” a lush slice of piano pop that finds the man able to visit but not allowed inside. Cyclone-wrapped “Girl Next Door” shoves the man to the curb, instructing him to look to the neighbor for his idea of the perfect woman. That feistiness is even more fully formed on “Daughter,” an outstanding takedown in which the woman wants karma to bite him in the ass by his own offspring. The track is modern day Loretta Lynn at her finest, down to a 1960s inspired arrangement and bold lyric that pushes even Lynn’s stretchiest envelope. Through it all she still has weaknesses, and they take the form of the deliciously banjo-drenched “Love Can Go To Hell.” Once she realizes what it’s like to be alone, that life might not be all she imagined when she kicked him to the curb. The up-tempo number (my favorite amongst the eleven tracks) is the album’s most commercial, but its infectiousness is more Dixie Chicks than Bon Jovi. Clark travels even further into classic country on the wonderful “Drinkin’ Smokin’ Cheatin,’” the proof that through it all morality still wins. As much as playing the good girl makes her miserable, our heroine can’t help but draw a line she won’t cross. By the end of Big Day In A Small Town, our heroine isn’t any better or worse off than she was three years ago. Clark closes the album on a sober note, with the slow-burning ballad “Since You’ve Gone To Heaven,” a striking look at life in the wake of a father’s death. It’s the album’s sole break in the story and one of its most vivid tracks. It would be easy to compare Big Day In A Small Town to 12 Stories, but to do so would be unfair to the distinctive characteristics that make each album uniquely their own. If Clark set out to prove anything it’s that she didn’t have to sacrifice her unique individuality while working with a producer very much the antithesis of Dave Brainard. Joyce’s choices do overwhelm a couple of songs, but he mostly stays out of Clark’s way, letting her narratives take center stage and command our complete and undivided attention. Tags:Brandy Clark, Dave Brainard, Jay Joyce, Loretta Lynn, Lori McKenna Concert Review: Loretta Lynn in Cohasset, MA Loretta Lynn escorted by her daughter Patsy onstage at the South Shore Music Circus, August 22, 2015 In the immortal words of the almighty Chris M. Wilcox, we need to revere the living icons of country music and ‘Love ‘em while They’re Here.’ His 2012 piece is a subtle battle cry of sorts, a wake up call to seek out concerts the talent we’re fortunate still has the energy and stamina to traverse the country and put on shows. Wilcox’s article is met with added urgency for the mere fact a good number of the artists he cited have died since it was published. One legend still going strong, at 83, is Loretta Lynn. I had the good fortune of seeing her live for the first time last Saturday, August 22, at the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset, MA. I’ve seen many a legend there through the years and have witnessed many incredible evenings of music under their tent. But this may’ve been the most special night of all. The night began with Lynn’s daughter Patsy taking the stage with some housekeeping and other general announcements. She got the crowd going with talk of an autographed box set and lyric book available at the merchandise booth. Once she was done, Lynn’s band The Coal Miners (which features her son) took the stage for some opening numbers to get the crowd going. They began with a feisty “Mama Tried” and ended with “Good As I Once Was.” The pair is random on paper, but the Toby Keith hit really isn’t terribly far off from the Merle Haggard classic sonically. I was pleasantly surprised when Patsy returned with her sister Peggy for a couple of tunes. They opened with a contemporary number before closing with the crowd pleasing “Tulsa Time.” I was kind of remiss they didn’t perform “Nights Like These,” but I was likely the only one in the crowd to distinctly remember their sole “hit” from the late 1990s. Once Loretta came out to a standing ovation, she literally didn’t let up for just over an hour. A blessing of country music from her era is the length of songs. At about two minutes or so each, you can cram in quite a bit in a short amount of time. And boy did Lynn give us everything she’s got. I’m not as familiar with everything in her vast catalog, but I was surprised just how many of her hits I was familiar with, at least on some level. Lynn ran through the requisite classics – “Fist City,” “The Pill,” “Don’t Come Home A Drinkin,’” “You’re Lookin’ At Country,” “Blue Kentucky Girl” and “You Ain’t Woman Enough.” Lynn executed each of her iconic songs with precision – no false notes or signs her voice has significantly aged. The poignant “Dear Uncle Sam,” which she said she wrote at the start of the Vietnam War was an emotional highlight. For a forty-nine year old song, the message in “Dear Uncle Sam” rang loud and clear. Everyone was chocked up when she got to the final verse. It was a lesson that great songs really do stand the test of time. Lynn didn’t go off a set list, which allowed for audience requests. I hate that distracting option, but it didn’t hinder the flow at all. No matter what we threw at her, she gave all the gusto she had. Her son joined her on “Feelings,” the only one of the duets with Conway Twitty that was performed. Lynn also gave a gorgeous reading of “Love Is The Foundation” and added even more humor to “One’s On The Way” by upping the number of kids in the title (“Four’s on The Way”). I’ve always found that song to be a little cutesy, but it’s one of the most honest portrayals of motherhood in country music history. The only negative aspect of the evening, and it was very minor, was Lynn’s overall attitude. She seemed a little sad – frustrated when she didn’t feel her voice was making it. Lynn explained to the audience how she’s much better when she’s sung on consecutive nights opposed to coming back after three or so weeks without a performance. Towards the end of the hour she had to rest and her band took over with a couple more songs. Once they made the decision to have Lynn sing “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” you knew the once-in-a-lifetime night was drawing to a close. The concert was magnificent. I truly couldn’t have asked for anything more from a woman who’s given so much goodness to the betterment of country music. It would’ve been wonderful to hear her talk more about the individual songs, (she did say no one would probably remember “I’m A Honky Tonk Girl” after she performed it), but she chose to fit in as much music as she could instead. There’s no arguing about the gift of hearing great music instead of a lot of talking. She also focused solely on the hits, leaving out tracks from Still Country and Van Lear Rose. What surprised me, though, was how modern everything sounded. I didn’t feel like I was listening to tracks designed for a 1960s/1970s musical landscape. Lynn’s songs are so expertly composed they transcend decades and trends. No matter what generation you were from, and there were some kids in the audience, you could relate to what Lynn was singing. It’s a good thing, too, because five new albums are coming – Patsy teased them at the start of the night. I couldn’t be more thrilled to have had this rare chance to see Loretta Lynn live. If she hadn’t come to that venue, I never would’ve sought her out. I urge anyone who’s never been to one of her shows to run if given the chance. Chris M. Wilcox is correct, we really do have to love ‘em while they’re here. Tags:Chris Wilcox, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Patsy Lynn, Peggy Lynn, The Coal Miners, The Lynns, Toby Keith Posted in Concert Reviews \| 1 Comment » The Best Country Albums of 2013 The statistic is getting old, fast. If your name isn’t Miranda, Carrie, or Taylor and you’re a solo female artist, then you’re probably not going to have many hit singles. It’s too bad because the strongest country music released this year comes from female artists who aren’t scared to go against the grain and say what needs sayin.’ I’m always amazed at the good quality music that’s released each year – and these are ten such releases, all of which should be apart of your musical catalog. 10. Alan Jackson – The Bluegrass Album Now a legacy artist, Jackson proves he isn’t done doing what he does best – crafting simple songs framed in equally uncomplicated melodies. But he nicely updates his formula this time around by making a bluegrass record, proving he isn’t done with experimentation. May he never go to the lows of Thirty Miles West ever again. 9. Jason Isbell – Southeastern The best modern album by a male country singer released this year. Southeastern is a tour-de-force of emotion and strength – a modern masterwork from a man who’s just getting started reaching his potential. 8. Patty Griffin – American Kid In an effort to pay tribute to her father Patty Griffin has given us one of the best discs to tackle the many facets of death in recent memory. One listen to her spiritual anthem “Go Where Ever You Wanna Go” and you’ll be hooked into taking this journey right along with her. Be sure to catch, “Please Don’t Let My Die In Florida.” It’s the best song against retirement in the Sunshine State I’ve ever heard. 7. Pistol Annies – Annie Up When most people criticize modern country they take aim at the songwriting, which has been modified to appeal to a younger demographic. The other complaint is the addition of rock and hip-hop sounds into the music. Even worse, then all of that is the diminishing of traditional country instruments in modern sound. Annie Up is a fantastic country album both vocally and lyrically. Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe, and Angaleena Presley defied the sophomore slump by recording another killer record. Tracks like “Pretty Ain’t Pretty,” “Dear Sobriety,” and “I Hope you’re The End of My Story” are among the best of the year. I just wish the CD didn’t so blatantly throw its lack of steel guitar and fiddle in our faces. If these country songs retained the hallmarks of classic country, I’d have this ranked much higher. 6. Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison – Cheater’s Game One of the year’s most refreshing albums came from this husband and wife duo, who’ve never recorded a LP together until now. Both give us fantastic numbers; Willis shines on a cover of Hayes Carll’s “Long Way Home” while Robinson is perfect on Robert Earl Keen’s “No Kinda Dancer.” But it’s Robison’s self-penned material that shines brightest, making me long for the days when his no-fuss songwriting was a regular fixture on country radio. 5. Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell – Old Yellow Moon Ever since a glimpse at the track listing a year ago, I can’t help but shake the feeling this decades-in-the-making collaboration is merely an above average album, not the transcendent masterwork it could’ve been. Covers of “Invitation to the Blues” and “Dreaming My Dreams” are very good, but feel like doorstops. Surely Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell could’ve dug a little deeper into their combined musical legacies instead of spending their time covering country classics. In any event, it’s still among my most played CDs this year which means they did something right. 4. Ashley Monroe – Like A Rose Like A Rose redefines the sophomore record by building on the tremendous potential set by the artist’s debut. Monroe brings a sharper pen and keener ear to these 9 songs that are standards, more than mere pieces of music. Observances on out-of-wedlock pregnancy (“Two Weeks Late”), drunken flings (“The Morning After”), and adulteresses (“She’s Driving Me Out of His Mind”) are rarely this fully formed, from someone so young. At its best Like A Rose is a modern masterpiece from a woman who’s just getting started forming her artistic identity. As far as female vocalists go, Monroe holds her own with all the genre greats from Loretta Lynn and Connie Smith to Tammy Wynette and Dolly Parton. Her buttery soprano is a modern wonder, shifting from honky-tonk twang to contemporary pop with ease far beyond her 26 years. God only knows where she’ll go from here. 3. Vince Gill & Paul Franklin – Bakersfield Twenty years ago when Vince Gill was accepting the ACM Song of the Year trophy for “I Still Believe In You” he quipped about the state of modern country saying, “I’ve been watching this show tonight and I’ve marveled at how country music has grown. And I want you to know that in my heart country music hasn’t changed, it has just grown. And that’s the healthiest thing we got goin’” He went on to share a lesson he learned from his parents, that a person’s greatest strengths are embedded in their roots. For Gill that optimistic view of commercial country doesn’t hold up today, but as a legacy artist he’s clearly taking his parents’ innate wisdom to heart. Teaming up with Steel Guitarist Paul Franklin to cover a set of Merle Haggard and Buck Owens tunes is no easy undertaking, but the pairing has resulted in one of the only perfect country albums of 2013. Instead of merely covering the hits, the duo dug deep into the artists’ catalog and unearthed gems even they weren’t familiar with going in. The added effort gave the album unexpected depth but a flawless reading of “I Can’t Be Myself,” a favorite of Gill’s since his late teens, gave the album it’s heart and soul. 2. Kacey Musgraves – Same Trailer Different Park If you view Kacey Musgraves as yet another castoff from a reality singing competition, she placed seventh on Nashville Star in 2007, then you’re missing out on the most promising newcomer signed to a major Nashville label in years. Musgraves didn’t win the Best New Artist CMA Award (beating Florida-Georgia Line) by accident. She won on the sheer strength of her debut album, an exceptional collection of songs bursting with a depth of clarity well beyond her 24 years. “Merry Go ‘Round” and “Follow Your Arrow” are just the beginning, introductions to the deeper material found within. She’s only just scratched the surface, which makes the prospect of future recordings all the more exciting. 1. Brandy Clark – 12 Stories Not since Clint Black reinvigorated Merle Haggard’s legacy on his classic Killin’ Time has a debut album come so fully formed, from an artist with such a clear prospective. Clark’s brilliance isn’t an updated take on classic country but rather the next evolution of the 90s female renaissance – a group of individualists (Trisha Yearwood, Pam Tillis, Patty Loveless, etc) who owe their genesis to Linda Ronstadt and the rulebook she crafted through Prisoner In Disguise and her definitive take on “Blue Bayou.” Clark is the first newcomer to work with the formula in more than 20 years, and she often exceeds what her forbearers brought to the table. “What’ll Keep Me Out of Heaven” and “Pray to Jesus” are two of the best songs Yearwood has yet to record, while “The Day She Got Divorced” is as perfect a story song as any I’ve ever heard. Nashville, while admitting their admiration for the album, found 12 Stories too hot to touch. It’s shameful the adult female perspective has been silenced in Music City since without it country music has lost a major piece of its cultural identity. Where would we be as a genre today if the likes of Kitty Wells, Loretta Lynn, and Emmylou Harris had been regulated to offbeat labels and kept off of radio? Clark is fortunate she’s found success writing for other artists, but country music would be far better off if she found success as a singer, too. Tags:Alan Jackson, Angaleena Presley, Ashley Monroe, Brandy Clark, Bruce Robison, Buck Owens, Emmylou Harris, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Isbell, Kacey Musgraves, Kelly Willis, Kitty Wells, Linda Ronstadt, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, Miranda Lambert, Pam Tillis, Patty Griffin, Patty Loveless, Paul Franklin, Rodney Crowell, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill Posted in Country Music, Country Music Coutdowns \| 1 Comment » Album Review – Garth Brooks – ‘Blame It All On My Roots: Five Decades of Influence’ Blame It All On My Roots: Five Decades of Influence When the message came down a few months ago that “the sevens have aligned” on Garth Brooks’ website, I was over the moon excited for his return to country music, in any form. He’s the precursor to the country-rock of today and the main reason country artists in his wake have been so lucrative on the road. But he’s also the only one who got it right. At his core, Brooks is a song man. If you stripped away his mesmerizing stage show, put aside his never-before-seen album sales, and listened to the music, you’ll find a legacy of incredible songs. I cannot say that about any genre superstar (Kenny Chesney, mostly) who’s risen to similar levels since he retired. But even more then his ear for great songs, I was far more interested in seeing how the new generation (those born after 1997/1998) would respond to Brooks’ return. Without the ability to digitally download or stream his music and no memory of a live Brooks’ special on TV (let alone seeing him in person with his full band), would they care? Time will be the ultimate judge, but the ‘Garth Brooks magic’ remains as strong as ever. His Black Friday concert special was watched by an estimated 10 million people and the accompanying boxed set has just surpassed One Direction as the #1 album in the country, all-genre. Blame It All On My Roots – Five Decades of Influence is more then just an 8-disc set; it’s a celebration of Brooks’ residency in Las Vegas. For the past four years, he’s been performing weekends in the Encore Theatre at Steve Wynn’s Hotel & Casino. But instead of bringing his legendary live act, Brooks performs a one-man show where he tells his life story though the music that built him – just his voice, a guitar, and a hooded sweatshirt. The boxed set extends that idea to four CDs, 11 songs each, with Brooks covering a handful of these songs in full broken down asCountry Classics, Classic Rock, Blue-Eyed Soul, and Melting Pot. The most obvious disc is Country Classics, where Brooks covers everyone from Conway & Loretta to George Jones, Merle Haggard, and Keith Whitley. He’s trying to fill some big shoes here and the results are far more underwhelming then they should be. Opener “Great Balls of Fire” and closer “Jambalaya” comes off as cheesy karaoke while he isn’t quite convincing as a hillbilly on “White Lightnin’.” I really wanted to love “After The Fire Is Gone,” his sole duet with Trisha Yearwood, but the pair didn’t bring any ache to their vocals, merely turning in gorgeous performances that fail to convey the sense they’re a couple on the outs. He’s better on the more traditional numbers like “The Bottle Let Me Down” and “Act Naturally,” and I really enjoyed his take on “Unwound.” But my favorite track by a mile is “Good ‘Ol Boys Like Me.” I’ve always thought Brooks’ does a wonderful job on more tender songs (like “She’s Every Woman”) and this selection from Don Williams’ catalog fits him like a glove. Classic Rock is a bit better, with Brooks turning in three of the set’s best tracks. It’s not surprising he does a fantastic job on “Against The Wind,” seeing that Bob Seger is one of his major influences and the inspiration behind “That Summer.” Brooks’ is equally wonderful on Elton John’s “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,” on which he gives one of the most passionate vocals of any song on any disc. Listening to it, I felt like I was back in the Fresh Horses era. But the highlight is one I wasn’t familiar with going in, Billy Joel’s stunning rock opera “Goodnight Saigon.” The song is an ode to the Vietnam War that Brooks tares into with vengeance. The rest of the disc is mostly bad karaoke, with songs like “Addicted To Love,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” and “Somebody To Love” that fail to translate when anyone but the original artist is singing them. But I do have to give Brooks credit for doing the Eagles justice and turning in an above average “Life In The Fast Lane.” Blue-Eyed Soul is by far my least favorite disc, mostly because soul music just isn’t my taste. But he does cover songs I actually like. “Midnight Train to Georgia” is my favorite, as Brooks puts his own stamp on the song. Other favorites are “Lean On Me” and “Drift Away,” but they become disjointed in Brooks’ hands, loosing the flow of the original versions. He’s in top form on “Ain’t No Sunshine,” but even Brooks cannot get me to enjoy “Stand By Me,” no matter how great his vocal may be. The rest of the record is just ok, with “Shout” being the only real clunker. Melting Pot is where Brooks covers a bunch of tracks that didn’t fit categorically on the other discs. It’s hands down the best of four, and the one I enjoy most, because of the song selection. He does a wonderful job on rock standards “Mrs. Robinson” and “Maggie May” while turning in another of the box sets’ best performances with “Amie,” one of Pure Prairie League’s best known hits. “Operator (That’s Not The Way It Feels)” and “Wild World” are just as good, as is “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight” although I would’ve chosen a different James Taylor song, like “Sweet Baby James” instead. I just happen to like some of Taylor’s other songs better. In addition to the four discs of covers, Blame It All On My Roots also has The Ultimate Hits two disc set and DVD and a DVD of his Las Vegas show. Repackaging his 2007 collection is pointless, but Brooks’ has made a career out of repackaging his albums, so this is hardly a surprise. The four albums of covers are the real draw and while they’re good, they fail to be anything exceptional because Brooks stays too faithful to the originals (especially on “Don’t Close Your Eyes”). I would’ve liked to see him put his own stamp on the tracks, opposed to just covering them faithfully. That being said, Blame It All On My Roots is still worth checking out, especially for those like me who’ve been Garth fans since they can remember. Tags:Billy Joel, Bob Seger, Conway Twitty, Don Williams, Eagles, Garth Brooks, George Jones, James Taylor, Keith Whitley, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, One Direction, Pure Prairie League, Steve Wynn, Trisha Yearwood Concert Review – Miranda Lambert & Pistol Annies at the Bank of America Pavilion Miranda Lambert does whatever she wants. That much is evident from this second leg of her On Fire tour, which rolled into Boston Friday night (July 27) during a week that saw Lambert perform on Good Morning America and co-host The View. I’ve been following Lambert’s career for nine years now, ever since she first stepped on the Nashville Star stage in 2003. Her “Greyhound Bound For Nowhere” original song night performance solidified my adoration and I knew, if given the chance, she could be the top female singer in country music. It was a slow climb, but she made it, even when I had doubts country radio would ever stop giving her a cold shoulder. And judging by the enthusiastic crowd at the show, it seems I’m not the only one to ride on the Miranda train. The show kicked off with Loretta Lynn speaking via tape, telling the crowd her stance that country music will always be okay as long as Lambert’s around, followed by a fabulous montage of strong women set to Beyonce’s “Run The World (Girls).” Lambert then came out with guns blazing on “Fastest Girl In Town,” which set the tone for the night. Rockers of all shapes and sizes followed as she rolled through “Kerosene” and her charging cover of John Prine’s “That’s The Way The World Goes ‘Round.” She then slowed down long enough to perfectly execute “Over You,” which came sans any backstory before revving up again on “Heart Like Mine.” A fascination for Lady Gaga drove her first interaction with the crowd, and led into a countryfied cover of Gaga’s hit “You and I.” Lambert did an incredible job with the song, as country as any hit last year, and she had enough spunk in her delivery to pull it off. Probably the most palpable display of Lambert’s angst came with “Baggage Claim,” which she sang in tribute to the end of a long work week. The song came complete with rolling flight tickers on the video wall and roused the audience, who dug into the Beyonce-like groove of the tune. One of the night’s more bizarre moments came when launching into her all but forgotten “Dead Flowers,” a treat for me (I love the song) but a let down for the audience as the artsy metaphors never really connected with mainstream country fans. Choosing to include it within the set further exemplifies Lambert’s rebel spirit, as most singers would never again touch a single that failed to reach the top 30. But the energy of the song works really well, even if the lyrical content doesn’t quite connect. Lambert took her first of two breaks half way through the set as stage handlers brought three microphone stands (complete with oval shaped named tags and retro microphones) on the stage. The audience was then greeted to a short video piece on the Pistol Annies, before the trio emerged with “Hell On Heels.” I was surprised to see the crowd go bonkers for them as their lack of airplay and indie spirit should’ve been a deterrent. The short set was followed by the fabulous “Bad Example” and a cover of Lynn’s “Fist City.” The Lynn cover was obvious, but proved a let down as Angaleena Presley’s thin vocals kept the song from translating to this overtly mainstream crowd. But they came back strong, finishing with the fan favorite, “Takin’ Pills.” There’s a sense with the Pistol Annies that even fourteen months after their formal debut, they still have to explain themselves and defend their coupling. The gimmicky “Holler, Lone Star, and Hippie Annie” schtick is getting a little old. If they just let the music lead the way, they’d be fine. But with that aside, they put on a great show. Given their backgrounds and passion for traditional country music, they almost beg to play club shows of their own – something I’d die to see. Presley didn’t shine as bright on the big stage with her voice, but she made up for it with an adorable country charm and square dancing bits that had Lambert declaring “now that’s country!” all the while warming her way into my heart. Ashley Monroe is fabulous in much the same way, but as an adept vocal stylist, she shines brightest for the three of them. The Pistol Annies set was followed by a detour into straight-up rock and roll, which didn’t sound much different from Lambert’s own material. That may prove a problem for those who want Lambert to stay in her “country lane,” but the energy works well backed with her twangy vocals, and she benefits from avoiding the country hick status made famous by her male counterparts. That energy drives her cover of Kacey Musgraves’ “Mama’s Broken Heart,” a song begging for release as a single. Lambert followed up with “Famous In A Small Town,” “White Liar,” and “Gunpowder and Lead.” Lambert referenced her stint co-hosting The View one just one occasion, talking about being in New York City among all the models (and View guest Jessica Alba). This short diversion about diversity transitioned nicely into her song “All Kinds of Kinds.” The emotional highlight of the evening came through “The House That Built Me,” her signature song. She backed it with personal family photos and images from her childhood that brought new meaning to the lyrics. But it also proved how adapt she is at taking a complete 360 and turning out a vulnerable ballad. Like her fabulous ACM performance from 2009, she just stood there, sang, and delivered. Lambert closed the set with one encore song, a back-to-my-roots cover of Patsy Cline’s “Crazy.” Backed solely by an acoustic guitar, she turned in the night’s standout vocal and brought a perfect amount of class to the song. But it also felt a bit contrived. Of all the Patsy Cline songs, you cover “Crazy?” Talk about going with the only song of Cline’s the audience would know. It’s too bad as she should’ve shown imagination by going with “Faded Love” or “Leavin’ On Your Mind.” Of course it doesn’t excuse the fact covering Cline is a crucifixion to the trailblazers of the genre, following the recent death of Kitty Wells. When the woman who made it possible for you to even stand on the Pavilion stage and call yourself a country singer dies, you pay respects with 1) a mention of her name and 2) a performance of “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.” But through and through, Lambert does whatever she pleases, no matter who it may piss off. She’s built her career on bucking convention and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon. If this performance is any indication, she’ll be a female country leader for many years to come. The same may also be true for her opening act J.T. Hodges (country’s version of Matt Nathanson), who warmed up the crowd with a gumption rarely seen from newer performers. During his set he rolled through many songs from his self-titled debut, due out Aug 21, including highlights “Leaving Me Later” and “Green Eyes Red Sunglasses.” He threw in a cover of Garth Brooks’ “Rodeo” for good measure and got the crowd pumping on his infectious debut single “Hunt You Down,” my second favorite single of last year. And even though most of his set was loud, he kept it memorable solely with his attitude. Hodges knew his mission to wake up the crowd and stopped at nothing to do so. Not only did he mention his admiration for our “title town” (sports), he also ran through the audience to make sure he got everyone’s attention. He won me over as a fan, I can tell you that. Tags:Angaleena Presley, Ashley Monroe, Beyonce, Garth Brooks, J.T. Hodges, Jessica Alba, John Prine, Kacey Musgraves, Kitty Wells, Lady Gaga, Loretta Lynn, Miranda Lambert, Patsy Cline, Pistol Annies Posted in Concert Reviews, Country Music \| Leave a Comment » Remembering Kitty Wells, with the music leading the way Over the past twenty-four hours, much has been said about the legacy of Kitty Wells (check out this from The New York Times), the first true female country star. Her pioneering efforts towards the advancement of country music, especially for women, place her among the most important country singers who ever will live. For modern country music listeners its hard to imagine a time when Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette weren’t icons and legends but in the 1950s, their careers wouldn’t have even been possible. At that time, females weren’t looked at as lead performers much less recording stars. That all changed 60 years ago with the release of “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angles,” an answer song to Hank Thompson’s “The Wild Side of Life:” Wells’ landmark recording was bold to say the least, and even banned from most country stations due to its subject matter that men are the reason most women cheat. But the song managed a climb to #1 and earn a spot in the history books: While “It Wasn’t God” remains Wells’ most lauded career achievement, her lengthy career spun other classic singles as well, most notably “Making Believe,” which climbed to #2 for an unheard of fifteen straight weeks in 1955: Another of her classic singles, “Searching (For Someone Like You)” hit #3 in 1956: Her timeless and classy approach to country music endeared her to fans around the world as did her marriage to fellow country star Johnnie Wright. At the time of his passing last fall, they had been married 70 years. Here’s one of their many duets, the gospel song “Singing His Praise:” Wells also had many other hit singles up through the early 1970s. They include: “Amigo’s Guitar” (#5, 1959): “Password” (#4, 1964): I’ll leave you with a first rate tribute song in honor of Wells, here’s Laura Cantrell’s “Kitty Wells Dresses,” released last year: Tags:Dolly Parton, Hank Thompson, Johnnie Wright, Kitty Wells, Laura Cantrell, Loretta Lynn, Tammy Wynette Album Review – The Little Willies – “For The Good Times” The Little Willies **** 1/2 Isn’t it refreshing? The first new country album of 2012 also marks the year’s first great one. A sequel of sorts to the one-off side project from Jazz/pop vocalist Norah Jones and vocalist Richard Julian (among others), For The Good Times features a smart mix of tunes originally written and sung by the likes of Dolly Parton, Ralf Stanley, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Lefty Frizzell, and band namesake Willie Nelson. Like their 2006 debut, For The Good Times consists mainly of cover songs but this is hardly another in the “covers album” sub-genre. Instead they leave their own mark on each recording, making it sound like their own. I’ve been really digging the retro sound the band has cultivated making For The Good Times feel like a long lost album from the 1960s and not a new project from 2012. The record opens with their take on Stanley’s “I Worship You,” an acquired taste for country fans, like myself, who haven’t grown up listening to songs with distinct changes in tempo. The slow burning chorus, complete with the crescendoing drums and guitars, is the perfect compliment to the heavy twang from Jones and Julian, but the song truly shines when it picks up steam and becomes a rockabilly stomp. I only wish “I Worship You” didn’t keep the back-and-fourth in tempo, it feels quite awkward to me when it changes from fast to slow and the heavy twang on the chorus becomes grating as the song progresses. While “I Worship You” may not have been a slam dunk, the other places The Little Willies experimented with sound and texture come off much better. I’m in love with Cal Martin’s “Diesel Smoke, Dangerous Curves” which features a gorgeous almost snake-like guitar riff and the magical combination of Jones and Julian, who work extremely well together when they use the contrast of their voices on different parts of a song. Throughout the album he sounds a lot like Lyle Lovett while she comes like a gypsy woman plucked from another era. The conviction in their vocals helps to enhance the overall mood of the record and they don’t just play their parts perfectly, they sound like they’ve been making this music all their lives. I’m always amazed when a singer, such as Jones, can exist in multiple musical landscapes seemingly without transition. I was never one to consider her as serious country vocalist but her take on Lynn’s iconic “Fist City” easily rivals the original. It’s always tricky when a vocalist tries to take on one of Lynn’s classics since you need the right amount of ferocity in your delivery to pull it off without sounding like a cheap imitation, or worse, a singer simply trying to show they have country cred. Jones aces the exam and the arrangement of drums, guitar, and piano give her the perfect backdrop to let loose and tap into the growl in her voice. This is my first favorite song of 2012 because Jones and company pull off what could’ve been an epic mess by lesser musicians. Another such slam dunk is their smoky and bluesy take on Williams’s “Lovesick Blues.” For a song with such honky-tonk beginnings it’s quite alarming to hear it given a jazzy club treatment but it works. In their attempt to honor opposed to discriminate against, they’ve given the song a new lease on life. Given that this isn’t the first time Jones has covered Williams, “Cold, Cold Heart” appeared on Come Away With Me, she knows how to handle the material quite well. The same though can’t be said for their take on Parton’s “Jolene.” I was slightly disappointed in how they turned it into a ballad given that it was done before by Mindy Smith on Just Because I’m A Woman – The Songs of Dolly Parton in 2003. But while they failed to bring anything new to the song, there’s nothing wrong with how they interpreted it, just that it had been done before. Given how they took on “Fist City” and “Lovesick Blues” with such attack, I was hoping for more from this one. But the slight disappointment in “Jolene” is easily forgotten on tracks like Cash’s “Wide Open Road” and Frizzell’s “If You Got The Money (I Got The Time).” Prior to this album I wasn’t familiar with “Road,” but their fast paced take on the song makes me wonder how it slipped under my radar. Julian takes on the bulk of the work here and pulls it off wonderfully. But more than his vocal, I’m really enjoying the arraingment what at first, when the guitars some screeching in on the opening chords, can sound a little loud turns out to be quite delightful. The fast-paced drum throughout may just be one of my favorite production choices on the whole project. Sonically, it doesn’t get much better this for country music in any era let alone in 2012. “If You Got the Money” benefits from a very similar arrangement and works equally as well. The blending of both Jones and Julian’s voices here works pretty well although she does tend to overpower him. While that could’ve been purposefully done, it would’ve been just as effective to hear both vocalists on a more even playing field. But, no matter what, I’ll prefer this pair to the likes of Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley any day. Given that they’re known as The Little Willies, leaving out a homage to their namesake would make an album of theirs seem incomplete. Here they cover his “Permanently Lonely,” Scotty Wiseman’s “Remember Me” which he covered last November on his Remember Me, Vol. 1, and of course, “If You Got the Money.” The aforementioned “Money” is the lone uptempo number of the group. Both “Lonely” and “Remember Me” are gorgeous ballads showcasing the best of what Jones and Julian have to offer. “Remember Me” is given a straightforward piano-driven arrangement not unlike Jones’s solo work and the best indicator for her jazz/pop fans that she isn’t turning completely away from the singer they love (which is a farce in and of itself – a new solo album from her is expected this summer). But no matter what the style, she pulls it off with the brilliance she’s mastered during her years in the big leagues. Plus, it isn’t jazzy at all bur rather the best in 1970s honky-tonk ballad tradition. Along the same lines, Julian takes “Permanently Lonely” to much the same places. It’s another I hadn’t known previously and he digs deep into the lyric and pulls out a stunning emotional conviction that’s only heightened by the slow and brooding piano-led arraignment. Another of my favorite tracks, “For The Good Times” has an arrangement that would make Charlie Rich smile. When Jones comes in on the opening line, “Don’t look so sad/I know it’s over” I instantly have a smile on my face. No matter the subject matter, there is something inherently comfortable in everything Kris Kristofferson writes and I feel like I’m being visited by a friend. I have to give Jones credit here for handling the song with tender care and pulling off another stunning achievement. For The Good Times is the year’s first great country album because it displays a level of appreciation for the material being covered lacking in almost any covers project coming out of Nashville today. Instead of trying to make these songs fit within today’s market, the band uses a retro sound to transport the listener back to when these songs were commonplace on the radio. In addition, the combination of Julian and Jones on vocals only heightens that feel as Jones is able to tap into not only her gravel but her twang. She isn’t a jazz/pop singer doing country songs but rather a full-fledged country singer. In the era of imitation, that is nearly impossible to achieve. Tags:Cal Martin, Charles Kelley, Charlie Rich, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams Sr, Hillary Scott, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, Lefty Frizzell, Loretta Lynn, Lyle Lovett, Mindy Smith, Norah Jones, Ralph Stanley, Richard Julian, Scotty Wiseman, The Little Willies, Willie Nelson Album Review – Miranda Lambert “Four The Record” Four The Record Miranda Lambert is by and large my favorite contemporary female artist because of her intrinsic ability to blend both the artistic and commercial sensibilities of country music on her records. She appeals to country radio with singles ready for heavy rotation yet restrains from populating her albums with gutless filler like her fellow artists. Four The Record was recorded in six days, the week following her wedding to Blake Shelton. Sessions began at 10am and lasted until midnight each day. Lambert has said she likes getting into a vibe and hunkering down to complete a record. This technique works in her favor, making the album every bit as cohesive as diverse. Plus, she’s using it to further her individuality. It sounds like nothing else coming out of Nashville right now and the uniqueness sets her apart from her peers. Lambert is also a prime example of the quintessential songwriter. She knows how to write a killer song yet has a knack for selecting outside material from some of the most unique and interesting songwriters. Its one reason why listening to a Lambert album is such a joy. Four The Record features many such moments from Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings gorgeous “Look at Miss Ohio” to Brandi Carlile’s folksy “Same Out You.” I love the Welch/Rawlings ballad for it’s captivating story. Lambert has a way of making everything she sings sound interesting and she succeeds here. The air of mystery holds together the brilliant lyric – she’s running around with her ragtop down to escape the pressures of getting married. She’s fleeing her obligations to do the right thing, yet we never really know why she’s bolting to Atlanta. She’s reclaiming her independence but not without the guilt of what she’s leaving behind. It’s a story song for the ages, made even more appealing by the understated production and backing vocals by Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town. “Same Old You,” another understated winner, fell into Lambert’s lap after Carlile felt she couldn’t sell it like Lambert. I love the folksy vibe of the production here – the gentle strum of the lead guitar sets it apart from the rest of the album. But what brings the song to new heights is the Loretta Lynn-like quality of Carlile’s lyric. (Lynn is the common dominator the bonds Lambert’s friendship with Carlile). It’s refreshing when the narrator finally sees what’s in front of her – that no matter what day of the week, he’s just the same old person and he’s never going to change. When Lambert sings about how hurt his mama’s going to be when she finds out there won’t be any wedding to cap off this relationship, it shows her maturity. I like how she’s drawn to songs that bring new depths to her feistiness. She’s every bit the same woman, but doesn’t have to resort to killing off her man to prove it. Another track to display this growth is Don Henry and Phillip Coleman’s “All Kinds of Kinds.” A sweeping ballad about diversity, it not only defines the link binding all the songs together, but spins a unique angle on acceptance. The beautiful flourishes of Dobro give the song a soft quality I find appealing and the metaphor of circus acts as a means of driving home the main point showcases the songwriters’ cleverness in crafting their story. Her overall growth continues in Kacey Musgraves, Shane McAnally, and Brandy Clark’s gritty “Mama’s Broken Heart” as well as in the six songs she wrote or co-wrote herself for the project. I love the driving production on this song, especially on the chorus. The loud thumping drums and guitars help it become a standout moment on the album. I also adore how the songwriters spun the old adage of it’s not you’re parents (fill in the blank) into the hook line, “it’s not your mama’s broken heart.” I’ve heard rumblings this might be in contention for release to country radio and I’m all for it. What a joy it would be to hear this song coming through my radio speakers. As for the six she wrote or co-wrote herself, Lambert never fails to disappoint. My favorite of these is “Easy Living,” which Lambert co-wrote with Scotty Wray. She was going for the vibe of sitting on the back porch, strumming a guitar, while listening to an AM radio. I love “am radio” effect cut underneath the song which is actually Randy Scruggs reading the Oklahoma Farm Report. I wish I could hear what he’s saying but for this distinctive effect to work, it couldn’t be too distracting from the overall song. I also admire the acoustic production, which brings to mind Shania Twain’s “No One Needs To Know.” Another Lambert co-write is the emotional “Over You” written with Shelton about the death of his brother Richie when he was 24 and Shelton only 14 (he died in a car accident). They wrote the track in his honor as to say you may be in heaven but you’re still a part of our lives. They took the approach of crafting the song more as a break-up ballad than a song of death, which aids in its universal appeal but makes it easy to forget the overall message they are trying to convey. I also would’ve liked a more traditional production but the emotion in Lambert’s vocal saves the song from being slightly below what it could’ve been. Not surprisingly, it’s being downloaded like crazy on iTunes and is likely the second single from the project. Her other moment of collaboration with Shelton is their duet “Better In The Long Run.” Pinned by Ashley Monroe, Lady Antebellum’s Charles Kelley, and Gordie Sampson, it features Shelton’s most committed vocal in years. While not up to the iconic nature of country’s legendary duet-pairings, it’s still above average, and works as their first serious duet together. Lambert takes the liberty of pinning two of the album’s ballads solo, her way of making sure she can still write a great song on her own. I love the sweeping nature of “Safe,” a song she wrote about her feelings towards Shelton, but was taken aback by “Dear Diamond.” It’s a great lyric and all, and I love Patty Loveless’s harmony vocal, but I wasn’t expecting the song to be a ballad. With its biting lyrics, I thought it would have a bit more drive. One song with plenty of drive is “Fine Tune,” a prime example of a song that probably won’t be a single but adds to the depth of the record. I thought my CD was broken when I first heard it, as I wasn’t expecting the vocal treatment. Writers Luke Laird and Natalie Hemby recorded the demo with a filter on the microphone, inspiring Lambert’s treatment of the song. I love the overall vibe here, especially after understanding Lambert’s reasons for the offbeat recording method. And while it works for this one song, I wouldn’t want to hear a whole album recorded like this. In the end, Four The Record is essentially an album of all kinds of songs linked together by their overall diversity. I love that Lambert is taking more risks here by delivering an album that isn’t coasting on her success but using it as a springboard to bring outstanding material to the masses. She’s using her newfound clout to hopefully introduce some very talented singers and songwriters to people who would otherwise not have heard of them. In a world of singles, Lambert is the rare albums artist with the richest discography of any country singer since the turn of the millennium. Four The Record not only adds to her growing legacy, but also pushes her career forward in a big way. Tags:2011 CMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Album Review, Ashley Monroe, Blake Shelton, Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark, Charles Kelley, Dave Rawlings, Don Henry, Four The Record, Gillian Welch, Gordie Sampson, Kacey Musgraves, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Little Big Town, Loretta Lynn, Luke Laird, Miranda Lambert, Natalie Hemby, Patty Loveless, Phillip Coleman, Randy Scruggs, Scotty Wray, Shane McAnally, Shania Twain Posted in Country Music, Movie Reviews \| 1 Comment »	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line820
__label__wiki	0.790452	0.790452	Southhaven Light House D.R. Stennon by Kathy Warnes The Eastland, renamed the Wilmette, hauled freight and passengers, served as a Navy training ship, sank a U-Boat in Lake Michigan, and listed to the right! “It was still in sinking condition, I assure you. It constantly shied to the right, and once in a while felt as though it wanted to lie down in the water.” Ernie Pyle The Twin Screw Steamer Eastland – later the U.S.S. Wilmette- lived several incarnations throughout the 43 years between its 1903 launch in Port Huron, Michigan, and its scrapping in the Chicago River in 1946. The Eastland also survived a mashed potato mutiny, countless freight and passenger trips on Lake Michigan and Lake Erie, a deadly roll over in the Chicago River, years of naval recruit training on its decks, and World War I and World War II. The Eastland Meets Lake Huron and Lake Michigan On May 6 1903, a celebrating crowd of 6,000 people watched Frances Elizabeth Stufflebeam, otherwise known as Mrs. John Pereue, christen the Eastland with a symbolic bottle of champagne. Built by the Jenks Ship Building Company in Port Huron for the Michigan Steamship Company to carry fruit and other cargo between Chicago and South Haven, Michigan, the Eastland slipped into a side launch in the Black River in Port Huron, Michigan. After a fitting for engines and boilers, the Eastland began her maiden voyage on July 16, 1903, with Frances Pereue’s husband, Captain John Pereue in command, traveling to Mackinac and then to South Haven, Michigan. The Mashed Potato Mutiny A month after the Eastland’s maiden voyage, Captain Pereue faced one of his first challenges.On August 13, 1903, the Eastland left Chicago bound for South Haven with 550 passengers. At noon about two hours out of South Haven when the Eastland had reached the middle of Lake Michigan, seven firemen banked the fires under the boiler and let the steam run down to 80 pounds. They left the fire hole and confronted Captain Pereue, telling him that they wouldn’t continue firing the boilers because they hadn’t been served mashed potatoes as they had requested The cook explained that the first crew at dinner had eaten all the mashed potatoes but that more were being prepared and would be ready in a few minutes. In the meantime the men were offered plain boiled potatoes. Captain Pereue tried to convince the firemen, all from Chicago, to return to work, but they refused. The ringleaders, Glenn Watson and William Madden, fought hard before they were subdued and put in irons and their four companions were driven below deck as prisoners. Captain Pereue put a Chicago policeman who happened to be aboard in charge of the men guarding the seven firemen. In the meantime, the Eastland had come to a halt because of low steam, and curious and alarmed passengers flocked to the lower decks. Ship’s officers, dining room waiters and volunteers donned working clothes and went below to fire the boilers in shifts and finally they raised the steam to 200 pounds and the Eastland steamed ahead. When the Eastland arrived in South Haven an hour later than usual, the mutineers were all manacled and marched to the police station to wait for the arrival of United States Marshal O’Dinn of Grand Rapids. The firemen gave their names as Mike Davern, Ben Myers, Glenn Watson, Frank Leplant, Ed Flemming, Mike Smith, and William Madden. The firemen claimed that the food served was unfit to eat and was mostly leftovers from other tables. The Marine Firemen’s Union supported the Eastland firemen and declared that they planned to call a strike on the steamer and that no firemen would work on her. General Manager Leighton of the Michigan Steamship Company said that the company would prosecute the case. The United States Marshal was scheduled to hold an examination of the men before the Circuit Court Commissioner. Two days later, five of the imprisoned mutineers were released because investigators discovered that they weren’t involved in the mutiny, having been relieved of their watches before the strike. Glenn Watson and Ed Fleming were still being held, awaiting the arrival of the United States Marshal. After a conference with the attorney for the boat company and Union Delegate McKiffen from Chicago, papers charging Watson and Fleming with mutiny were drawn up to be served when the Marshal arrived. Firemen Worked In Fiery Conditions A fireman commented about the working conditions of firemen when he discussed the mashed potato mutiny with a Duluth Herald Reporter. The reporter quoted the fireman’s remarks in the Duluth Herald of August 19, 1903. The fireman wasn’t surprised that the Eastland’s firemen had mutinied because their working conditions were hellish. Firemen blistered and sweltered in 150 degree temperatures without a hint of fresh air because the ventilators were usually about forty feet from the men and the air that did reach them wasn’t fresh. He said that freighters and more modern boats had less trouble with their firemen, because they were easy to steam. Firemen had a worse time on older vessels built 15 or 20 years earlier. The owners of the older vessels added two or three feet to the decks to increase their carrying capacity, but they didn’t add any extra power. The owners still expected captains to make the same time, so the captains in turn pressured the firemen to work harder. The fireman said, “Coming up from the hold, weak and faint from their hard labors in the stifling fire room, the cook is frequently the first person they run afoul of and he generally gets the benefit of their ill humor.” The fireman concluded his remarks by noting that when firemen jumped port they generally jumped from an older boat and the strikes that on the surface were based on flimsy reasons were really caused by a long line of harsh conditions that the firemen have endured. Trifling events usually symbolized the last straw. At an August 20, 1903, hearing in Benton Harbor, Michigan, the Eastland’s owners declared that the company would drop the mutiny charges against the two firemen from the ship. Firemen Glenn Watson and Edward Fleming were bound over to the United States District Court at a hearing before United States Commissioner Harvey. Although the ship’s officers agreed with the officers of the firemen’s union not to press the mutiny charges and the company agreed to drop the charges, the government officers felt that the case should not be dismissed. At the close of the hearing, Deputy United State Attorney Covell took the prisoners Glenn Watson and Edward Fleming to jail at Grand Rapids. According to the Duluth Herald, Captain Pereue and Mate Charles Richardson were in Chicago all day on August 20, 1903, aboard the dry docked Eastland. The captain said, “Although I made the mutiny charges, General Manager Leighton has been acting for the company in adjusting the matter. He gave me to understand that Watson and Fleming were not to be prosecuted by officers of the company. Therefore, I did not go up to the hearing at Benton Harbor today.” The Eastland Sails for Ten Peaceful Years, and Then Rolls Over in The Chicago River No more mashed potato mutinies disturbed the peaceful voyages of the Eastland. In 1907, the Michigan Steamship Company sold the Eastland to the Lake Shore Navigation Company, which operated it for five years on Lake Erie. In 1913, the St. Joseph-Chicago Steamship Company bought the Eastland and returned it to Lake Michigan waters. On the morning of July 24, 1915, 2,500 employees of the Western Electric Company and their family and friends boarded the Eastland which was moored in the Chicago River. They planned to enjoy a day of cruising on Lake Michigan and picnicking and dancing. The Eastland rolled over on its side while still moored to the dock, and more than 800 people were killed, most of them drowning in the Chicago River. The Eastland disaster was the third largest maritime disaster in the United States, behind only the Titanic and the Sultana. Political infighting, corruption, and attempted cover-ups marred the aftermath of the Eastland disaster. Various owners had attempted to cover up the fact that the Eastland was prone to listing and hard to control. The St. Joseph-Chicago Steamship Company raised the Eastland, but it had to finance the salvage operation and pay damages to the survivors. The Company moved the Eastland to the North branch of the Chicago River while it decided her fate. The Eastland Becomes The USS Wilmette On December 20, 1915, Captain Edward A. Evers of the Ninth Naval Training Group bid $46,000 against several competitors for the hulk of the Eastland. He planned to convert the crippled Eastland into a training vessel for the Illinois Naval Reserve. Renovations to the Eastland began in 1916, and continued until America entered World War I in April 1917. On January 17, 1918, the United States Navy took charge of modifying the Eastland for gunboat service in the North Atlantic. By October 1918, the Eastland’s name had been changed to the USS Wilmette and she had been outfitted and ready to serve. The Eastland’s bow had been removed so she could fit through the Welland Canal and she had been fitted with a false bow so she could travel under her own steam to Boston, when the November 11, 1918, Armistice brought World War I to a close. Captain Evers regained command of the US S Wilmette and she reported for active duty on August 3, 1920. Now radically changed, cut down, and renamed, the USS Wilmette steamed 150,000 miles on the Great Lakes introducing thousands of Midwestern farm boys to their sea legs. In June 1921, Ernie Pyle, a member of the Naval Reserve, went for a three week Naval Reserve training cruise. He recalled his cruise in one of his newspaper columns in his book Home Country, noting that the Wilmette “constantly shied to the right.” On June 7, 1921, the USS Wilmette left her dock at the end of Randolph Street in Chicago and steamed out into Lake Michigan, on the mission of sinking a captured German submarine, UC-97, which the USS Hawk had towed into Lake Michigan. Gunner’s Mate J.O. Sabin, who had fired the first American shell in World War I, and gunner’s Mate A.F. Anderson, who had fired the first American torpedo in the War were aboard waiting to carry out their part of the mission. The two mates fired thirteen shells and ten of them sunk the UC-97 in ten minutes. In August 1943, in the midst of World War II, the Wilmette cruised McGregor and Whitefish Bays in Lake Huron with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Admiral William Leahy, James F. Byrnes and Harry Hopkins aboard plotting war strategies. The government chose the Wilmette for this secret mission, because of her comfortable cabins which were holdovers from the Eastland. After the end of World War II, the Navy put the Wilmette in mothballs to await her fate and in 1946, the government offered her for sale. On October 31, 1946, her new owner judged the USS Wilmette to be worth about $2,500. He moored her on the South Branch of the Chicago River and eventually workers and their burning torches reduced her to scrap. A tiny piece of material loosened from the Wilmette by the torches floated down the Chicago River on a voyage to Lake Michigan. By early 1947, 43 years after her launching in the Black River at Port Huron, a piece of the Eastland had returned to Lake Michigan. Bonansinga, Jay. The Sinking of the Eastland: America’s Forgotten Tragedy. Citadel, 2004. Hilton, George W. Eastland: The Legacy of the Titanic. Stanford University Press, 1995. Mansfield, J.B. History of the Great Lakes. Chicago: J.H. Beers & Company, 1899. Pyle, Ernie. Home Country. Amereon, Ltd., 1985.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line823
__label__wiki	0.784777	0.784777	Immune cells in the brain have surprising influence on sexual behavior by Misti Crane, The Ohio State University Researchers have found a surprising new explanation of how young brains are shaped for sexual behavior later in life. Immune cells usually ignored by neuroscientists appear to play an important role in determining whether an animal's sexual behavior will be more typical of a male or female, according to research led by Kathryn Lenz, an assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at The Ohio State University. The study, which was done in rats, appears in the Journal of Neuroscience. To better understand the role of the mast cells in sexual behavior, Lenz and her colleagues silenced the cells in male fetal rats and then observed the rats' development later in life. The researchers paired one of these male animals with a female that was receptive to mating and watched to see whether the male sexually pursued the female—basically, whether he chased her and mounted her. The experimental males were far less interested than typical males, acting almost like females. The researchers also manipulated female newborn rats, activating the mast cells with a stimulating chemical. As adults, they acted like males. "It's fascinating to watch, because these masculine females don't have the hardware to engage in male reproductive behavior, but you wouldn't know it from the way they act," said Lenz, a researcher in Ohio State's Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research. "They appear to be strongly motivated to try to engage in male sexual behavior with other females." The researchers found that estrogen (which plays a major role in development of masculine traits in rats) activates mast cells in the brain and that those mast cells drive the animal's sexual development. Though scientists know that sex differences are programmed by hormones during early development, they have limited information about the cellular-level changes that contribute to the manner in which the brain and behavior are formed. "We're really interested in the fundamental mechanisms that drive brain development and sex-specific brain development, and this study found that mast cells—immune cells involved in allergic responses—play a key role," Lenz said. If human development mirrors what was seen in this animal study, it's possible that relatively minor influences—such as an allergic reaction, injury or inflammation during pregnancy—could steer sexual behavior development in offspring, Lenz said. It's even conceivable that taking antihistamines or pain relievers during pregnancy could play a role, she said. Furthermore, this discovery could help explain risks for psychiatric and neurological disorders that are more common in males, including autism, she said. "These mast cells in the brain appear crucial for life-long brain development, even though there are relatively few of them, and this should really open our eyes to the potential role of different immune cells in the human brain. There's so much we don't know, and we need to pay attention to all the cells in the brain and how they talk to each other," she said. The study focused on the pre-optic area of the brain, which is part of the hypothalamus. "This is the most sexually dynamic area of the brain—we know that it's highly important for male-type reproductive and social behaviors such as mounting and for initiating maternal behavior in female animals," Lenz said. Previous work by the researchers uncovered the role of another type of brain cell, microglia, in directing sexual behavior. In the new study, they found that mast cells activate the microglia. "This new mast cell discovery is really one of those accidents of science," Lenz said, explaining that another researcher was conducting some unrelated work on sex differences in gene expression and noticed that there appeared to be some differences in mast cell genes depending on whether the brains were from a male or female. In addition to the behavioral changes documented in the study, the researchers examined cellular-level changes as well. Female newborn rats exposed to a dose of the masculinizing hormone estrogen had an increase in mast cells in the brain. Those cells released histamine, which stimulated other brain cells (the microglia) to activate male-typical brain patterning. Allergies during pregnancy contribute to changes in the brains of rat offspring More information: Kathryn M. Lenz et al. Mast Cells in the Developing Brain Determine Adult Sexual Behavior, The Journal of Neuroscience (2018). DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1176-18.2018 Journal information: Journal of Neuroscience Provided by The Ohio State University Citation: Immune cells in the brain have surprising influence on sexual behavior (2018, August 14) retrieved 20 January 2020 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-08-immune-cells-brain-sexual-behavior.html The search for the origin of mast cells Estrogen may protect against depression after heart attack Why male immune cells are from Mars and female cells are from Venus Study shows female mammalian phenotype results from repression of male-linked genes by methylation Sex and aggression controlled separately in female animal brains, but overlap in male brains Reward improves visual perceptual learning—but only after people sleep Neuron found in mice could have implications for effective diet drugs Research suggests expanding amblyopia treatment approaches Professors create free research-backed games to train your brain Study finds link between blood fats and artery size in people with MS	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line826
__label__wiki	0.840459	0.840459	Schlagwort-Archive: Jethro Toe Clive Bunker (Jethro Tull) Happy birthday to drummer Clive William Bunker, who was born on the 30th December 1946 in Luton, Bedfordshire (UK). Clive was the original drummer in Jethro Tull and a member from 1968 until 1971. With the band, he recorded the first four classic studio albums „This Was“ (1968), „Stand Up“ (1969), „Benefit“ (1970) and „Aqualung“ (1971). Clive Bunker began playing in a band called „The Warriors“ in the sixties. Later he formed with guitarist Mick Abrahams the band McGregor’s Engine, before both founded in 1967 with Ian Anderson and Glenn Cornick Jethro Tull. Shortly after the release of the LP „Aqualung“, Clive Bunker decided to leave the band, get married and spend more time with his wife. Barriemore Barlow, a school friend of frontman Ian Anderson, took over his place. Clive about his decision: „I had always told Ian, ‚If I find the right lady, I’ll be gone,‘ and I did just that. That was just at the start of their world touring in 1972, and I wouldn’t have been back in England for ages at a time. So I thought that I might as well end it then. Besides, Barrie was always in the background anyway, so I knew I wasn’t going to put them in a difficult situation. You must understand that back then, we didn’t have any time off; it was non-stop work, and I wanted to spend time with my wife.“ After his life with Jethro Tull, Clive played with many acts like Blodwyn Pig, Robin Trower, Aviator, Manfred Mann, Jack Bruce, Gordon Giltrap, Uli Jon Roth, Electric Sun, Steve Hillage, Solstice, Glenn Hughes and Jerry Donahue. Finally in 1998, Clive Bunker’s debut solo album „Awakening“ was released feat. contributions by old Tullers Ian Anderson, Martin Barre and longtime friends Andy Glass, Dave Lennox, Jim Rodford, John Batrum, Vikki Clayton and Graham Dee. Interesting note: Doane Perry, who became the new Jethro Tull drummer in 1984, was taught one of his first drum lessons ever by Clive Bunker! I did an interview with Doane and he talks about this historic meeting – you can stream the conversation here (the topic starts at appr. 19:10 min)! Get your Jethro Tull stuff here (for Austrian customer): Veröffentlicht unter Music Diary \| Verschlagwortet mit Andy Glass, Andy Johns, Aqualung, Aviator, Awakening, Barriemore Barlow, Benefit, Blodwyn Pig, Burton Silverman, Clive Bunker, Clive William Bunker, Cream, Dave Lennox, David Palmer, Dee Palmer, Doane Perry, Electric Sun, Glenn Cornick, Glenn Hughes, Gordon Giltrap, Graham Dee, Ian Anderson, Jack Bruce, Jeffrey Hammond, Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, Jerry Donahue, Jethro Toe, Jethro Tull, Jim Rodford, John Batrum, John Burns, John Evan, Manfred Mann, Martin Barre, Martin Lancelot Barre, Mick Abrahams, Paris, Robin Trower, Solstice, Stand Up, Steve Hillage, This Was, Uli Jon Roth, Vikki Clayton, Wild Turkey \| Kommentar verfassen Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 17th November! Martin Barre & John Glascock (Jethro Tull – 1978) On the 17th November two remarkable things happened, which are connected to the British Rock band Jethro Tull: In 1946 guitarist Martin Lancelot Barre was born in Kings Heath, Birmingham. Barre joined Jethro Tull in 1969 after the departing of Mick Abrahams and his first recordings with Ian Anderson & Co. can be heard on the second Tull album „Stand Up“ (1969). Martin Barre was the long time member in the line-up beside singer, flute player and acoustic guitarist Ian Anderson. He left Jethro Tull in 2011 and concentrated on his solo works. Barre’s signature solo on the 1971 Jethro Tull standard „Aqualung“ is still considered as one of the most outstanding guitar solos. It was voted by the readers of „Guitar Player“ magazine as one of the top rock guitar solos of all time. And on the 17th November 1979, John Glascock, the bass player for Jethro Tull from 1976 until 1979, died at the age of only 28 years. Glascock suffered a congenital heart valve defect, which was worsened by an infection caused by an abscessed tooth. Before joining Jethro Tull to replace Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond on bass, Glascock was a member of the Blues band Chicken Shack and later of the progressive Rock band Carmen. Ritchie Blackmore mentioned John’s fantastic skills in an interview with „Guitar Player“ in September 1978; „John Glascock is a brilliant bass player, the best in the business in rock.“ John Glascock’s playing can be heard on the Tull albums „Too old to Rock’n’Roll: Too young to die!“ (1976), „Songs from the Wood“ (1977), „Heavy Horses„, the live album „Bursting Out“ (both 1978) and some parts on „Stormwatch“ (1979). Veröffentlicht unter Music Diary \| Verschlagwortet mit Andrew Giddings, Barriemore Barlow, Black Sabbath, Blodwyn Pig, Carmen, Chicken Shack, Clive Bunker, Dave Mattacks, Dave Pegg, David Goodier, David Palmer, Dee Palmer, Deep Purple, Doane Perry, Don Airey, Eddie Jobson, Fairport Convention, Frank Zappa, Gerry Conway, Glenn Cornick, Ian Anderson, Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, Jethro Toe, Jethro Tull, John Evan, John Glascock, John O'Hara, Jonathan Noyce, Mark Craney, Martin Allcock, Martin Barre, Martin Lancelot Barre, Matthew Pegg, Mick Abrahams, Paris, Paul Burgess, Peter-John Vettese, Scott Hammond, Steve Bailey, tony iommi, Tony Williams, Wild Turkey \| 1 Kommentar Veröffentlicht unter Music Diary \| Verschlagwortet mit A Passion Play, Andy Johns, Aqualung, Barrie Barlow, Barrie Barriemore Barlow, Barriemore Barlow, Blodwyn Pig, Brian Ward, Bridget Procter, Bursting Out, Carmen, Chicken Shack, Clive Bunker, Curved Air, Darryl Way, Dave Pegg, David Palmer, David Pegg, Dee Palmer, Elizabeth Edwards, Fairport Convention, Francis Wilson, Glenn Cornick, Heavy Horses, Ian Anderson, Ian Scott Anderson, J.E. Garnett, Jay L. Lee, Jeffrey Hammond, Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, Jethro Toe, Jethro Tull, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, John Evan, John Evans, John Glascock, John Miles, Joseph Nash, Katharine Tullborn, Keith Howard, Kerry Livgren, Led Zeppelin, Living in the Past, Lou Toby, Martin Barre, Mick Abrahams, Minstrel in the Gallery, Mister Methane, Mr. Methane, Passion Play, Patrick Halling, Peggy, Rita Eddowes, Robert Plant, Robin Black, Ron Kriss, Shirt Sleeve Studio, Smokey Bastard, Songs From The Wood, Storm. Yngwie Malmsteen, Stormwatch, Tandoori Cassette, The Gods, The Repertoires, Thick As A Brick, Thing Moss, Toe Fat, Trevor White, War Child \| 1 Kommentar Welcome to my Music Diary – today for the 28th March! John Evans (Jethro Tull) Happy birthday to Mr. John Spencer Evans aka John Evan, who was born on the 28th March 1948 in Blackpool (UK)! Before John became the keyboarder for Jethro Tull, he played for The Blades. Then the band name was changed into The John Evan Band. Bassist Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond (who became a member of Tull in 1971) thought, that this would sound better instead of ‚John Evans Band‘. During that time in the sixties and especially in Blackpool, Evan crossed already paths with people like Jeffrey, Barriemore Barlow and Ian Anderson, who founded Jethro Tull in 1967. After playing as a session musician for the album „Benefit„, John Evan joined Jethro Tull in April 1970. One year later, he composed the legendary piano intro for Tull’s biggest hit „Locomotive Breath„, which was recorded for the historic rock album „Aqualung„. Until the big band split in 1980, John’s keyboard playing is featured on the LPs „Thick as a Brick“ (1972), „A Passion Play“ (1973), „WarChild“ (1974) „Minstrel in the Gallery“ (1975), „Too old to Rock’n’Roll: Too young to die!“ (1976) „Songs from the Wood“ (1977), „Heavy Horses“ (1978) and „Stormwatch“ (1979). On the 14th April 1980 the last Jethro Tull show with John Evan, Barriemore Barlow and David Palmer took place at the Hammersmith Odeon in London. After that, Ian Anderson changed the line-up completely – only guitarist Martin Barre remained. With David Palmer, John Evan started the band project Tallis, which didn’t succeed and so he decided to stop his career as a musician and founded his own construction company. Veröffentlicht unter Music Diary \| Verschlagwortet mit A Passion Play, Alex Melomane, Andy Johns, Barrie Barlow, Barrie Barriemore Barlow, Barriemore Barlow, Blades, Blodwyn Pig, Bursting Out, Carmen, Chicken Shack, Clive Bunker, Curved Air, Darryl Way, Dave Pegg, David Palmer, David Pegg, Dee Palmer, Fairport Convention, Glenn Cornick, Heavy Horses, Ian Anderson, Ian Scott Anderson, Jeffrey Hammond, Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, Jethro Toe, Jethro Tull, John Evan, John Evan Band, John Evans, John Evans Band, John Glascock, John Spencer Evans, Living in the Past, Lou Toby, Martin Barre, Melomane, Mick Abrahams, Minstrel in the Gallery, Music Diary, Passion Play, Peggy, Robin Black, Songs From The Wood, Stormwatch, Tallis, The Blades, The Gods, Thick As A Brick, Toe Fat, War Child \| Kommentar verfassen Music Diary – 7th November Welcome to my personal music diary – today for the 7th November! Back in 1999 my long time favorite band Jethro Tull stopped during the „j-tull.com“ tour in Munich at the Rudi-Sedlmayer-Halle. Beside brand new songs like “Spiral”, “Hunt by Numbers” or “AWOL” Ian Anderson and his band surprised us with some nice tunes like “Jeffrey goes to Leicester Square”, “Hunting Girl” and a special performance with Leslie Mandoki (“Back to Budapest”). Jethro Tull – Munich (Rudi Sedlmayer Halle)(07.11.1999) Ticket © Alex Melomane The support was by The Mark Gillespie Band and I can remember that the Tull members Jonathan Noyce and Andrew Giddings joined for some songs on stage. Alex Melomane Veröffentlicht unter Music Diary \| Verschlagwortet mit Andrew Giddings, awol, Doane Perry, Hunt by numbers, Ian Anderson, j-tull.com, Jethro Toe, Jethro Tull, Jonathan Noyce, Leslie Mandoki, Mark Gillespie, Martin Barre, München, Munich, Soulmates, Spiral, Thread \| Kommentar verfassen Music Diary – 23rd July Welcome back to another site in my music diary – today for the 23rd July! So – I will take you back in the year 2000 when I added another Jethro Tull vinyl single to my collection. This one is from 1968 and it’s the UK release of „Love Story“ with „A Christmas Song“ on the flipside. There is also a different and misprinted version on which Ian Anderson is miscredited as „Ian Henderson“ as the composer. Veröffentlicht unter Music Diary \| Verschlagwortet mit 1968, 23. Juli, 23.07., 23rd July, A Christmas Song, Blodwyn Pig, Christmas Song, Chrysalis, Clive Bunker, David Palmer, Glenn Cornick, Ian Anderson, Ian Henderson, Island Records, Jethro Toe, Jethro Tull, Martin Barre, Mick Abrahams, Music Diary, Musiktagebuch, Paris, Wild Turkey, WIP-6048 \| Kommentar verfassen Music Diary – 21st June Hello dear Musicmaniacs around the world! On the 21st June 1997 I attended another Jethro Tull gig – this time in Munich at the Rudi-Sedlmeyer-Halle. And this one was very remarkable because the setlist was full with fine surprises like „A Song for Jeffrey„, „Skating away“ or „Acres Wild„! And as another surprise Mr. Leslie Mandoki joined the band for the tune „Back to Budapest„. Full setlist and review you can finde here (just scroll down to 21/06/1997): https://melomaneblog.wordpress.com/category/concerts-june/ And today one of the Tull family has his birthday: Mr. Don Airey (Keyboard Player), who toured with the band during the „Crest of a Knave“ worldtour in 1987, was born back in 1948! Happy bday! Veröffentlicht unter Music Diary \| Verschlagwortet mit 21. Juni 1997, 21st June 1997, Andrew Giddings, Black Sabbath, Dave Pegg, David Coverdale, Deep Purple, Deutschland, Doane Perry, Don Airey, Donald Smith "Don" Airey, Donald Smith Airey, E.L.O., Electric Light Orchestra, ELO, Fairport Convention, Germany, Glenn Tipton, Halford, Ian Anderson, Jeff Lynne, Jethro Toe, Jethro Tull, Jonathan Noyce, Judas Priest, Leslie Mandoki, Martin Barre, München, Munich, Music Diary, ozzy osbourne, Rainbow, Richtchie Blackmore, Rob Halford, Ten, tony iommi, Whitesnake, Wishbone Ash \| Kommentar verfassen	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line829
__label__wiki	0.527941	0.527941	20 Things You Didn’t Know About Andreas Halvorsen Allen Lee 3 months ago Andreas Halvorsen is a Norwegian investor who is well-known and respected for his business savvy and expertise in the hedge fund sector of business. He is widely regarded as one of the top experts in the business throughout the globe. We were interested in learning more about his life and how he came to become so successful in the business. After looking into her personal and professional life, we made some interesting discoveries that we’d like to share with you. Here are 20 things you didn’t know about Ole Andreas Halvorsen. 1. He was born in 1961 Andreas Halvorsen is the name that he is best known by, but the name given to him at birth was Ole Andreas Halvorsen. He was born in 1961 in the country of Norway. This is the country of his citizenship and he grew up, attending schools in Norway. Even in his youth, he was an extraordinarily energetic person. 2. Halvorsen was in the Norwegian military Andreas Halvorsen attended the Norwegian Naval Academy and graduated from the institution. After graduation, he went on to become a member of a Norwegian SEAL team. The group that he joined in Norwegian is Marinejegerkommandoen (MJK), which is a special warfare unit of the Norwegian Special Operations Command. This team was founded in 1953. He wasn’t just one of the team, he became the leader of the group, which tells us that he’s shown his natural ability in the leadership arena throughout most of his life. You can’t accuse Andreas Halvorsen of being a late bloomer. 3. He has a college education Mr. Halvorsen enrolled in classes at Williams College. He completed his courses and earned his degree in economics in 1986. One of the first realizations that Andreas had was that formal education was necessary for the development of the skills and the knowledge base that he would need to build any kind of a future in business. 4. Halvorsen built a solid foundation He continued his education after receiving his bachelor’s degree and applied for acceptance to the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. It’s difficult to secure admission as only a small percentage of applicants are accepted. Andreas met the criteria for qualification and was admitted into the prestigious school. He graduated with his MBA in 1990. 5. Halvorsen was recognized early in his life, for excellence One of the marks of a true leader is to put forth the effort to excel in important undertakings. When it came to the preparatory phase of his life, Andreas was completely committed to his education, and his dedication and overall successfulness was recognized formally. While he was in attendance at Stanford, he was the recipient of the Alexander A. Robichek Student Achievement Award in Finance. He was also an Arjay Miller Scholar. 6. He started out in a high position after college So impressive was Andreas’ educational track record that his first job after completing his studies was in the investment banking sector of the Morgan Stanley company. His next job was at Tiger Management Corporation in the role of senior managing director, and in addition, he served as an analyst for the firm and the director of equities. He was also appointed to the management committee of Tiger, and he sat on the advisory board as well as the supervisory board for the Jaguar Fund N.V. which was the largest fund for the company. 7. He founded his own investment firm After gaining experience working for Tiger, Andreas made the decision to start his own company. He founded the Viking Global Investors company in 1999. He is a founding partner and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the company. 8. Halvorsen is a multi-billionaire Andreas Halvorsen has an estimated net worth of $3.7 billion as of October of 1999. He is listed as number 568 on the Forbes’ magazine list of the top billionaires in the world. Halvorsen is regarded as a self-made tycoon who went out on his own to earn his fortune. He’s shown his skill in the management of assets in the hedge fund business. 9. His new company is highly successful Halvorson traded equities at Tiger management and learned under one of the most highly regarded mentors in the business. This was the Tiger Management owner Julian Robertson. After striking out on his own with Viking, Halvorsen’s company does over $25 billion in asset management business at the Connecticut based hedge fund business. 10. He was one of the highest-earning managers In 2018 Andreas Halvorsen was named as the ninth highest-earning hedge fund managers for the year by Forbes magazine. This is an annual list that the publication produces based on the current statistical date found on select groups throughout the world. This was quite a distinction out of thousands to be within the top ten. Things changed within a year’s time and he was no longer included in the list for 2019. 11. Andreas Halvorsen is married with a family Halvorsen is married to his wife Diane Halvorsen. The couple has three children together. They make their home in the United States, living near the business that he founded in Darien, Connecticut. Mr. Halvorsen is 58 years of age. 12. He’s known as a “Tiger Cub” Andreas Halvorsen was one of an elite group of successful protege’s of the great Julian Robertson of Tiger Management. As such, he and others who worked under Robertsons’ mentorship have become known as “Tiger Cubs.” He is considered to be the most successful of all of the cubs, carving out a niche for himself and amassing a personal fortune of $3.7 billion, making him a part of the wealthiest people in the world group. 13. His business strategies are impressively effective Halvorsen went out to raise $2 billion for the Viking Global Opportunities fund in 2014. The focus on illiquid investments was a priority. This included investing in public and private companies which are difficult to trade. This was something that Viking has been known for doing. The invested in Alibaba and First Data before anyone else did. This has increased their opportunities in the sector. 14. Andreas has a unique investment philosophy Halvorsen is a stock picker who believes that there must be a thoughtful analysis as well as a disciplined valuation over time which includes a portfolio made up of investments in the long and short terms. Deviation in stock price developments is a part of his formula and this, in turn, amounts to a profitable spread over time. It is worth noting that the top 20 long term investments of Vikings appreciated by 26.5 percent during 2014. 15. His professors expected great things from Andreas When Andreas attended Stanford University in the institution’s graduate program, he came into contact with professors who were impressed with him even as a student. One of his professors named Jack McDonald taught him when he was getting his MBA. He shared that it came as no surprise to him that Halvorsen went out and established a multi-billion dollar company. He showed all of the signs of being an astute businessman and a great leader even while he was still a student in college. This is the natural leadership that is evident in nearly every phase of his life. 16. He has a strong sense of integrity Not every successful businessman or rich tycoon has integrity, but it’s something that is a big part of Mr. Halvorson’s character. It has been his unusually strong sense of personal integrity that has given him the advantage of gaining credibility with those in big business that he’s been dealing with for several decades now. He’s honest and dependable and he didn’t have to do anything dishonest or unethical to become successful in his chosen profession. He’s a very trustworthy person with a sense of integrity that is rare in the business world today. Investors as well as the top leaders and executives in business trust his judgment and his word. Some of this may come from his time in the military. 17. Halvorsen was a competitive skier Here is another bit of trivia that many people don’t know about Andreas Halvorsen. When he was an active student at Williams College, he was also a part of the ski team there. He was good at it and he enjoyed participating in competitive skiing as a sport. He has carried his passion for the sport for all of these years and has passed it on to his own children. Andreas and his wife enrolled their three kids at a ski racing academy, which is a prestigious New England high school. 18. His advice is highly valued Andreas Halvorsen is a busy man but he still finds time to speak for select groups. He spoke at the Milken Institute in 2013 to discuss a variety of topics within the investment arena. Although the opportunities to hear him speak are rare, they do happen on occasion. He’s one of the most brilliant hedge fund managers on the face of the earth today. One of the most important things that attendees at the lecture came away with that day was the fact that there are two major problems with management teams within the industry. These are the underappreciation for good management teams and the second is that poor management teams do not get enough attention for the damage that they can do in a short period of time. Executive leadership that lets a poor management team slide for too long will soon realize the loss and the need to go in and fix the mess created. The moral of this story is to ensure you have a great management team, turn them loose to do their jobs and appreciate their efforts. 19. His curriculum vitae is beyond impressive After conducting a thorough investigation of the life and career of Mr. Ole Andreas Halvorsen, we can sum up our findings with one statement. It’s far beyond impressive. The fact that he’s a multi-billionaire isn’t the most impressive thing about him. It’s more about the man behind the fortune, how he lives his life, what he did to become successful and all of the little things that combine to make him a person that many high ranking business executives look up to. Perhaps one of his most admirable traits is his personal sense of integrity, but there are many poor people who also have integrity. He is a natural-born leader with a love for success and although he’s been known to take some risks, he doesn’t go overboard with it. He is a man of patience who doesn’t look for instant gratification in the business and investment world, instead, he’s calculating and he uses his vast database of head knowledge to proceed forward in business ventures and investment strategies. It’s obvious that he knows what he’s doing because of his rampant success in business and the fact that he’s amassed a fortune of billions. 20. There are things that we can learn from Andreas Halvorsen Anyone who is pursuing a career in business, and in the financial sector, in particular, can learn from Andreas Halvorsen. He stands as an example of how taking your time to do things the right way, to build a proper foundation, and commit yourself to achieve your goals can lead you in the right direction. Granted, not all of us have his natural leadership ability, but there are certain aspects of his personality and philosophies that we can emulate. He’s an inspiration that teaches us all that one of the most important things to possess in business is a good name, respect and a high level of integrity because they can take you a long way in the business world. Allen Lee is a Toronto-based freelance writer who studied business in school but has since turned to other pursuits. He spends more time than is perhaps wise with his eyes fixed on a screen either reading history books, keeping up with international news, or playing the latest releases on the Steam platform, which serve as the subject matter for much of his writing output. Currently, Lee is practicing the smidgen of Chinese that he picked up while visiting the Chinese mainland in hopes of someday being able to read certain historical texts in their original language.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line832
__label__wiki	0.789843	0.789843	mimik access mimik video mimik blog About mimik mimik team mimik family & community Careers@mimik Contact mimik Author: Sasan Author Archives: Sasan mimik and Zappware announce strategic partnership Today mimik and Zappware announced a strategic partnership in which mimik’s award-winning micro-cloud solution will be offered through Zappware’s technology platform. mimik appoints Allen Salmasi to Boards of Directors VANCOUVER, British Columbia, August 8, 2016: mimik technology, a company dedicated to distributed micro-cloud and micro-service technology, today announced the appointment of Allen Salmasi to its board of directors. “We are excited to have Allen join the mimik team,” stated Siavash Alamouti, President and Chief Executive Officer. Allen is an internationally recognized technologist, distinguished leader, serial entrepreneur and successful investor in the communications, SaaS and pharmaceutical industries. His entire carrier has been focused on cutting edge technologies with founding and leadership roles in impactful companies like Omninet, Qualcomm, NextWave, and PacketVideo, and startups like OncoSynergy, Virtuosys and Max2 to name a few. He shares our vision of digital freedom and putting people in direct control of their digital lives. I’m confident that his experience as a cutting edge technology entrepreneur and diverse background across industries will add tremendous value in deploying and scaling our distributed micro-cloud technology platform globally in order to revolutionize the way we communicate and put people in control of their digital lives. Mr. Salmasi commented, “I’m most excited to be joining the mimik Board of Directors and support their impressive team with a game changing technology platform. mimik platform can revolutionize our digital lives which today is fragmented across incompatible networks and operating systems. mimik utilizes the power of any computing device to form an edge based distributed micro-cloud enabling incompatible devices to communicate seamlessly through micro-services. mimik access, as the first application of the platform already addresses many pain points of the casual users and exhibits the power of the platform which I believe will become even more crucial with internet of things. I’ll be working with the executive team and the Board to help the company roll out this unique technology globally and across different industry sectors.” About Mr. Salmasi Allen Salmasi is currently Chairman and CEO of NLabs Inc., a New York-based venture capital firm. Prior to NLabs, he served as chairman and CEO of NextWave Wireless Inc. (NWI), a company he formed in 2005 that was subsequently acquired by AT&T in 2013. NWI was spun-off from NextWave Telecom Inc. (NTI), a company he had founded in 1995 which was acquired by Verizon Wireless in 2005. Prior to NextWave, Mr. Salmasi was a member of the Board of Directors, President of the Wireless Communications Division, and Chief Strategic Officer of QUALCOMM Inc. between 1988 and 1995. He initiated and led the development of wireless business, including chipset and handset products, licensing and standards programs for CDMA technology. Prior to QUALCOMM, at Omninet Corporation, a company he founded in 1984 and served as its Chairman of the Board and CEO, he envisioned and led the development of the OmniTRACS system and service, the world’s first and currently the largest commercial terrestrial mobile satellite communications service. From 1979 to 1984, Mr. Salmasi was employed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Mr. Salmasi is also the Chairman of the Board of OncoSynergy Inc., a San Francisco-based biotech company with a portfolio of oncology drugs under development. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Korea Information and Communications Co., Ltd (KICC), the largest payment processing company in Korea, and a member of the Board of Trustees of Barnard College of Columbia University. Mr. Salmasi received two B.S. degrees with honors in Electrical Engineering and Management Economics from Purdue University in 1977. He also received two M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University in 1979 and in Applied Mathematics from the University of Southern California in 1982. Prior to the formation of Omninet, he completed his doctoral coursework at University of Southern California towards a Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering (Engineer’s Degree) in 1983. Mr. Salmasi received Purdue University’s Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineer Award (OECE) in 1999. President William Jefferson Clinton awarded Mr. Salmasi for his innovations and contributions to wireless industry in 1999. mimik has pioneered a distributed micro-cloud technology that enables devices to create clusters by physically discovering and establishing peer to peer connection between one another. The technology allows discovering micro-services running on any cluster and enabling micro-service level communication. This unique capability enables ad-hoc and real-time formation of mesh networks across different devices, OS, and networks. mimik offers its platform to third-party developers via SDKs and APIs to enrich the experience for consumer, connected home, automotive, health and other vertical applications. For more information visit www.mimik.com Phil Belanger, Chief Marketing Officer Email: phil.belanger@mimik.com mimik wins most innovative product award at CableLabs Winter Conference 2016 Vancouver, B.C. and Orlando, FL, February 11, 2016—CableLabs Innovation Showcase has named mimik the winner of the ‘most innovative product’ award at this year’s CableLabs Winter Conference held in Orlando, Florida. During the February 9 – 12 event, mimik showed how its software platform turns every digital device into a micro-cloud server with super-node capability. The software has a small memory footprint and can be ported on any computing device including cable set-top-boxes (STBs) to provide mimik’s advanced features. Every device with mimik application (smartphones, PCs, tablets, game consoles, NAS devices, etc.) becomes a micro-server that can quickly and seamlessly create a virtual cloud. This enables fast, secure, and personalized cross-device sharing, access, and control of any digital content, including sensor and IoT devices. “We are thrilled to have been chosen by CableLabs from hundreds of applicants to showcase the mimik software platform, and proud to have been voted by the cable industry professionals as the most innovative technology. Our platform is the result of many years of R&D and empowers consumers to take control of their digital assets as well as access and share content in a new way. This is what we call digital freedom,” says Siavash Alamouti, President & CEO of mimik. mimik has pioneered a distributed micro-cloud, micro-service technology. The company has collaborated with major global service providers, device OEMs, and IP vendors. Available in the App Store, this month the company launched its first consumer branded product called “mimik access”. This app makes it easy to instantly access and share digital content across devices and platforms. mimik’s technology is a patented, transformative edge-based micro-cloud technology. For more information, visit www.mimik.com Tensorcom names Siavash Alamouti to Board of Directors Siavash Alamouti, Inventor of Alamouti MIMO Code and Visionary Behind WiGig, a Key Addition to Team January 06, 2016 01:42 PM Eastern Standard Time CULVER CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Tensorcom, a member of the NantWorks family of companies, today announced the appointment of Siavash Alamouti to its board of directors. “Siavash has been advising Tensorcom for several years and we are fortunate to have him join our Board of Directors. He has a long and impressive track record in the wireless industry, which includes designing some of the early mobile data protocols and inventing the Alamouti MIMO code, which is now included in nearly every device. Siavash was also the visionary behind WiGig, the missing piece in the wireless ecosystem that provides multi-gigabit seamless wireless data transmission across devices. We look forward to his insights as we further develop and advance our strategic direction and product roadmap,” said Patrick Soon-Shiong, founder and Chairman of Tensorcom. “We first started the initiative for WiGig in 2005, when I was the CTO for Intel’s Mobile Wireless Group. After 10 years, it is finally becoming a reality and WiGig products are starting to appear. Tensorcom has a unique position due to its development of an extremely small and low power solution, which has the potential to significantly accelerate the adoption of WiGig in phones and IoT devices. I’m enthusiastic to join the Tensorcom board and help take the company to the next stage of growth and development,” said Alamouti. “We invested in WiGig and Tensorcom to accelerate availability of multi-Gig wireless data transport for medical devices. Our vision now includes many applications and use cases for the technology within and outside of the health sector, and we are excited to see that it is finally becoming a reality. Siavash will be instrumental while we are preparing for commercial launch and help us focus on the various opportunities and engagements. Siavash is known for his technical knowledge, passion for the use of technology for the benefit of mankind and commercial pragmatism. He is a great addition to our team,” said Fay Arjomandi, CEO of Tensorcom. About NantMobile NantMobile, a member of the NantWorks ecosystem of companies, is committed to developing mobile technology that provides enriched day-to-day enjoyment, utility, and wellness to consumers. Our patented technology transforms the way people interact with the world based on interconnectivity and the recognition of objects, sounds and moving images from any mobile computing device, capturing intent, time and location in real-time and delivering personalized, digital experiences accordingly. NantMobile’s core product, the iD Browser application, is a mobile recognition platform that allows people to browse the physical world around them, unlocking digital experiences, coupons, content and information from featured brands that they know, like and trust. Visit www.nantmobile.com and www.idbrowser.comfor more information. mimik technology at the international CES 2015 mimik at the International Consumer Electronics Show VANCOUVER, British Columbia, December 23rd 2014—mimik technology is introducing its patented software platform to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 6-9, 2015. The CES is the world’s premier gathering place for consumer technologies. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for more than 40 years and the global stage where innovations are introduced to the marketplace. mimik President and CEO, Siavash Alamouti — an industry leader known for his contributions in technology— will attend the CES. “We are very excited to be at CES 2015 to introduce mimik and our software solutions that improve consumer experience with digital devices and content.” “We have music, video, photos, and files spread across many devices that don’t talk to each other”, Mr. Alamouti states. “This has been creating a fragmented and poor user experience and will get even worse when all our other gadgets become connected to the Internet in the future. mimik software empowers people to easily access, share, and control all their digital assets from any device and any place, privately and securely”. mimik’s patented technology enables service providers to cost-effectively deliver personalized services such as media entertainment, TV, and communications to any connected device or screen, connected from anywhere in the world. The mimik system introduces a flexible liquid-cloud architecture that allows its solutions to be ported onto a combination of cloud servers, set-top boxes, gateways, or even HDMI dongles without costly infrastructure build out. Mr. Alamouti continues, “Our mission is to liberate consumers from the fragmented world of networks, OS, devices, TV subscriptions, monitoring, and home-automation systems, etc. and to empower them to control everything centrally and intuitively. We have developed a multi-screen and cross-platform solution that makes the consumer’s life a lot easier. We have a truly unique and winning technology that is sure to impress our guests at CES in January.”. mimik technology is a software company dedicated to providing a personalized multi-screen experience for all digital content. For more information, visit www.mimik.com or to arrange a meeting at CES, contact Sam Armani at sam.armani@mimik.com or call her at +1-604-307-3840. For Appointments during the CES in Las Vegas, contact: Sam Armani, Vice President of Business Development Email: sam.armani@mimik.com Phone: +1-604-307-3840. www.mimik.com Email: marketing@mimik.com mimik microcloud technology to be showcased during IBC 2014 The end-to-end software platform simplifies consumers’ digital lives by making their devices extensions of one another VANCOUVER, British Columbia, September 10th 2014 – mimik technology announced today that it is showcasing its cutting-edge mimik.360™ platform and exciting new concepts for 2015, during IBC2014 in Amsterdam. mimik technology provides new personalized multi-screen and cross platform services that creates a tailor-made experience for consumers, and new revenue streams for service providers. Through mimik’s innovative 360 solution, multiple users can simultaneously access their TV and other media anytime, anywhere, and on any connected device. President and CEO, Siavash Alamouti, states, “We are very excited to be at IBC2014 to introduce mimik technology— an important innovation and step toward digital freedom for consumers.” mimik technology is an end-to-end software platform that simplifies consumers’ digital lives by making their devices and services extensions of one another with ubiquitous and intuitive personalized access. It is comprised of three main components: mimik.MXP™ – core middleware containing an array of adaptable building blocks mimik.UX™ – unified apps and user interfaces for portable devices and TV screens mimik.CLD™ – online management tools and services on mimik cloud servers mimik’s patented technology enables service providers to cost-effectively deliver personalized services such as media entertainment, TV, and communications to any connected device or screen, connected from anywhere around the world. mimik.360 introduces a flexible liquid cloud architecture that allows its solutions to be ported onto a combination of cloud servers, set-top boxes, gateways, or even USB dongles without costly infrastructure build outs. “Our team has developed a state-of-the-art system that provides seamless access to any digital content or service on any device or screen. Integrating content management with networking produces an unparalleled user experience”, said Alamouti. “Our mission is to liberate consumers from the fragmented world of networks, OS, devices, TV subscriptions, monitoring and home automation systems, etc. and to empower them to control everything centrally and intuitively. We are committed to providing a multi-screen and cross platform solution that creates a tailor-made experience for the consumer”, he added. To arrange an appointment in Amsterdam: mimik technology appoints new President and CEO Siavash Alamouti to lead mimik as President & CEO VANCOUVER, British Columbia, February 24th 2014—Formerly known as Disternet Technology, mimik technology inc. today announced that Siavash Alamouti has been appointed to the position of President & CEO, succeeding Dr. Sharif. “I am excited to have Mr. Alamouti join our team and take the company to the next level. This is an exciting opportunity. Siavash’s passion and vision as a technologist with amazing business acumen is invaluable to mimik at this stage. We could not have found a better candidate. Now I can focus on our roadmap and new innovations to fulfil our long-term vision,” said Dr. Sharif. Dr. Sharif will continue in an active role as Chief Scientist. Mr. Alamouti states, “Dr. Sharif co-founded Disternet and brought the company to this stage in the stealth mode for the last 4 years. Thanks to his leadership and hard work of the entire mimik team, we now have a highly differentiated and commercial-grade product ready to launch in the market. He will now focus on our future roadmap. I look forward to working with him and the rest of the team to bring the mimik vision to reality and continue innovating.” Before joining mimik, Siavash Alamouti was the Group R&D Director at Vodafone where he managed R&D, corporate venture and IPR for the entire group. Mr. Alamouti has over 20 years of experience in the communications industry. He is most well-known for the invention of the Alamouti code which laid the foundation for the real-life application of MIMO technology and is adopted in almost all wireless standards globally. Before Vodafone he was an Intel Fellow and CTO of The Mobile Wireless Group where he championed Mobile WiMAX and WiGig technologies. He has served in various capacities as CTO and other executive positions for start-ups such as Vivato, and large companies including Cadence Design Systems, AT&T Wireless, and MPR Teltech. Mr. Alamouti has B.A.Sc and M.A.Sc. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. “I am excited to join the mimik family with its solid technology base, intellectual capital, and the tremendous growth potential of its liquid cloud architecture which will delight consumers and at the same time enable service providers to deliver highly personalized services to their customers.” Alamouti said. “We are at the very early stages of the mobile internet revolution. We need to finally do what we did with voice telephony with internet. We have many devices today that do not communicate with one another. Our content including TV subscriptions is spread across multiple devices, operating systems and screens. At mimik we have created a platform to free the consumer from these limitations and provide seamless access to any digital content or service on any device or screen. We marry content management with networking to create a superior personalized user experience.” mimik technology is a software company dedicated to providing a personalized multi-screen experience for all digital content. mimik.360™ platform enables service providers to cost-effectively deliver personalized services such as interactive TV, communications, user-generated media, media apps, and home automation to any connected device or screen — from inside the home and around the world. mimik’s unique liquid cloud architecture enables our software components to be ported onto low-cost home gateway platforms, set-top boxes, cloud infrastructure, and USB dongles. This flexibility allows telcos, service operators, and OTT providers to deploy mimik.360 without costly infrastructure build- out, and manage their capex and opex spending. mimik is headquartered in Vancouver BC, Canada with offices in London and Madrid. For more information, visit www.mimiktech.com or email marketing@mimiktech.com More about mimik… mimik improves H2 Wellness’s profit margins with hybrid edge cloud The emergence of hybrid edge cloud computing VMblog Expert Interviews: Siavash Alamouti of mimik Talks Edge Cloud H2 Wellness Partners with mimik for Health and Wellness Cloud Services mimik’s Decentralized Cloud Platform Unleashes the Power of Edge Devices mimik technology Joins Lime Microsystems’ Software-Defined Radio Ecosystem mimik and 3BLACKDOT partner to create new gaming experiences Mimik Unleashes the Server Power of Edge Devices Startup Shifts Cloud Services to IoT Edge computing startup mimik wants to decentralize the cloud Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss out on technology and edge computing news mimik enables all computing devices to act as cloud servers to create a larger and faster cloud with better data privacy and lower cost. Welcome to the real edge cloud. E: info@mimik.com ©2019 mimik technology inc. All Rights Reserved.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line834
__label__wiki	0.789585	0.789585	Difference between revisions of "MA" From Monoskop Dusan (talk \| contribs) (→‎Issues) Revision as of 18:56, 21 May 2016 (edit) (undo) * [http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/anno-plus?aid=maa Scans of the full run in ÖNB-ANNO]. * [http://library.hungaricana.hu/en/view/ORSZ_PIMU_Pimbf_B_06/ Bibliography], comp. Ilona Illés, 1975. ==Literature== MA group in Vienna, c. 1922. MA journal, cover, 1924. Design by Lajos Kassák. MA was a Hungarian group of artists and writers and an avant-garde magazine, both active between c1916 and 1926. MA refers to the movement 'Magyar Aktivizmus' [Hungarian Activism], and was also derived from the Hungarian for 'today'. 2 Literature Founded by the writer and artist Lajos Kassák, the magazine MA: Internacionális aktivista müvészeti folyóirat first appeared in November 1916, and until it was banned on 14 July 1919 it was published in Budapest, at first edited solely by Kassák and from 1917 onwards together with Béla Uitz. From 1 May 1920 until its demise in mid-1926 MA was published in Vienna under Kassák's sole editorship. It was the most important forum for Hungarian Activism, and over the years its members included Sándor Bortnyik, Péter Dobrovic (1890–1942), Lajos Gulácsy, János Kmetty, János Máttis Teutsch, László Moholy-Nagy, Jószef Nemes Lampérth, Béla Uitz among others. The first issue had a Cubist cover by the Czech artist Vincenc Benes and an article by Kassák entitled "A plakát es az uj festészet" [The poster and the new painting] (MA, 1:1, pp 2-4), which set the revolutionary tone of the group. The article suggested that painting should aspire to the same aggressive power as that achieved by posters: "The new painter is a moral individual, full of faith and a desire for unity! And his pictures are weapons of war!". Many members of the MA group did in fact produce posters during the short Communist regime under Béla Kun in 1919; Uitz, for example, designed Red Soldiers, Forward! (1919). MA (15 Jan 1925). PDF. MA (15 Jun 1925). PDF. The above PDFs are sourced from Bibliothèque Kandinsky. Scans of the full run in ÖNB-ANNO. Bibliography, comp. Ilona Illés, 1975. Oliver A.I. Botar, "From the Avant-Garde to 'Proletarian Art'. The Émigré Hungarian Journals Egység and Akasztott Ember, 1922-23", Art Journal 52(1): "Political Journals and Art, 1910-40", College Art Association, Spring 1993, pp 34-45; exp.version as "From Avant-Garde to 'Proletkult' in Hungarian Émigré Politico-Cultural Journals, 1922-1924", in Art and Journals on the Political Front 1910-1940, ed. Virginia Hagelstein Marquardt, University Press of Florida, 1997, pp 100-141. (English) Edit Toth, From Activism to Kinetism: Modernist Spaces in Hungarian Art. Budapest-Vienna-Berlin, 1918-1930, Pennsylvania State University, 2009, 335 pp. Dissertation. (English) Éva Forgács, Tyrus Miller, "The Avant-Garde in Budapest and in Exile in Vienna: A Tett (1915-6), Ma (Budapest 1916-9; Vienna 1920-6), Egység (1922-4), Akasztott Ember (1922), 2x2 (1922), Ék (1923-4), Is (1924), 365 (1925), Dokumentum (1926-7), and Munka (1928-39)", in The Oxford Critical and Cultural History of Modernist Magazines, Vol. 3: Europe, 1880-1940, Oxford University Press, 2013, pp 1128-1156. [1] (English) Hungary#Avant-garde MA in NYPL Digital Library Ma journal at DADA Companion MA journal at Hungarian Wikipedia Avant-garde and modernist magazines Poesia (1905-09, 1920), Der Sturm (1910-32), Blast (1914-15), The Egoist (1914-19), The Little Review (1914-29), 291 (1915-16), MA (1916-25), De Stijl (1917-20, 1921-32), Dada (1917-21), Noi (1917-25), 391 (1917-24), Zenit (1921-26), Broom (1921-24), Veshch/Gegenstand/Objet (1922), Die Form (1922, 1925-35), Contimporanul (1922-32), Secession (1922-24), Klaxon (1922-23), Merz (1923-32), LEF (1923-25), G (1923-26), Irradiador (1923), Sovremennaya architektura (1926-30), Novyi LEF (1927-29), ReD (1927-31), Close Up (1927-33), transition (1927-38). Entretiens politiques et littéraires (1890-93), Moderní revue (1894-1925), Volné směry (1897-1948), Mir iskusstva (1898-1904), Vesy (1904-09), Poesia (1905-09, 1920), Zolotoe runo (1906-10), The Mask (1908-29), Apollon (1909-17), Ukraïnska khata (1909-14), Der Sturm (1910-32), Thalia (1910-13), Rhythm (1911-13), Trudy i dni (1912), Simbolul (1912), The Glebe (1913-14), Ocharovannyi strannik (1913-16), Revolution (1913), Blast (1914-15), The Little Review (1914-29), Futuristy (1914), Zeit-Echo (1914-17), The Egoist (1914-19), L'Élan (1915-16), 291 (1915-16), Orpheu (1915), La Balza futurista (1915), MA (1916-25), SIC (1916-19), flamman (1916-21), The Blindman (1917), Nord-Sud (1917-18), De Stijl (1917-20, 1921-32), Dada (1917-21), Klingen (1917-20, 1942), Noi (1917-25), 391 (1917-24), Modernisme et compréhension (1917), Anarkhiia (1917-18), Iskusstvo kommuny (1918-19), Formiści (1919-21), S4N (1919-25), La Cité (1919-35), Aujourd'hui (1919), Exlex (1919-20), L'Esprit nouveau (1920-25), Orfeus (1920-21), Action (1920-22), Proverbe (1920-22), Ça ira (1920-23), Zenit (1921-26), Kinofon (1921-22), Het Overzicht (1921-25), Jednodńuwka futurystuw (1921), Nowa sztuka (1921-22), Broom (1921-24), Život (1921-48), Creación (1921-24), Jar-Ptitza (1921-26), New York Dada (1921), Aventure (1921-22), Spolokhi (1921-23), Gargoyle (1921-22), Veshch/Gegenstand/Objet (1922), Kino-fot (1922-23), Le Coeur à barbe (1922), Die Form (1922, 1925-35), 7 Arts (1922-28), Manomètre (1922-28), Ultra (1922), Út (1922-25), Dada-Jok (1922), Dada Tank (1922), Dada Jazz (1922), Mécano (1922-23), Contimporanul (1922-32), Zwrotnica (1922-23, 1926-27), Secession (1922-24), Stavba (1922-38), Gostinitsa dlya puteshestvuyuschih v prekrasnom (1922-24), Putevi (1922-24), Klaxon (1922-23), Akasztott Ember (1922-23), MSS (1922-23), Perevoz Dada (1922-49), Egység (1922-24), L'Architecture vivante (1923-33), Merz (1923-32), LEF (1923-25), G (1923-26), The Next Call (1923-26), Russkoye iskusstvo (1923), Disk (1923-25), Irradiador (1923), Surréalisme (1924), Almanach Nowej Sztuki (1924-25), La Révolution surréaliste (1924-29), Blok (1924-26), Pásmo (1924-26), DAV (1924-37), Bulletin de l'Effort moderne (1924-27), ABC (1924-28), CAP (1924-28), Athena (1924-25), Punct (1924-25), 75HP (1924), Le Tour de Babel (1925), Periszkop (1925-26), Integral (1925-28), Praesens (1926, 1930), Sovremennaya architektura (1926-30), bauhaus (1926-31), Das neue Frankfurt (1926-31), L'Art cinématographique (1926-31), Dokumentum (1926-27), Kritisk Revy (1926-28), Novyi LEF (1927-29), i 10 (1927-29), Nova generatsiia (1927-30), ReD (1927-31), Dźwignia (1927-28), Tank (1927-28), Close Up (1927-33), Horizont (1927-32), transition (1927-38), Discontinuité (1928), Munka (1928-39), Quosego (1928-29), Urmuz (1928), Unu (1928-32), Revista de Antropofagia (1928-29), 50 u Evropi (1928-29), Documents (1929-30), L'Art Contemporain - Sztuka Współczesna (1929-30), Adam (1929-40), Art concret (1930), Zvěrokruh (1930), Alge (1930-31), Le Surréalisme au service de la révolution (1930-33), Levá fronta (1930-33), Kvart (1930-37, 1945-49), Nová Bratislava (1931-32), Linja (1931-33), Spektrum (1931-33), Nadrealizam danas i ovde (1931-32), Ulise (1932-33), Die neue Stadt (1932-33), Mouvement (1933), PLAN (1933-36), Karavan (1934-35), Ekran (1934), Axis (1935-37), Acéphale (1936-39), Telehor (1936), aka (1937-38), Plastique (1937-39), Plus (1938-39), Les Réverbères (1938-39). 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__label__wiki	0.742226	0.742226	Quebec to cover ‘revolutionary’ cancer treatment for types of leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma Cindy Sherwin Reporter @CSherwinCTV Contact Published Tuesday, October 8, 2019 8:41PM EDT Last Updated Tuesday, October 8, 2019 9:49PM EDT MONTREAL - Quebec will now cover the cost of a breakthrough immunocellular cancer treatment for young patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and adults with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, who meet the criteria. "The therapeutic value was demonstrated," said Health Minister Danielle McCann on Tuesday, adding, "this kind of immunotherapy treatment is the way of the future, and we are at the forefront." The health care investment represents $35-million annually for the province. CAR-T cell therapy was approved by Health Canada last year for the two life-threatening cancers, when standard first line treatments are ineffective, or when patients have suffered relapses. However, up until now, access to the treatment has been limited to patients who are part of studies. Now that the therapy is on RAMQ's list, it's estimated about 60 adults and ten children will benefit annually in Quebec. "It's exciting, because we actually empower the patient's own immune system to target and attack and destroy this cancer,' says Dr. Isabelle Fleury, a hematologist-oncologist at Maisonneuve Rosemont Hospital, one of two centres in Quebec where the treatment is offered. It’s also where pivotal immunotherapy research was conducted, which helped lead to the therapy’s regulatory approval. Six-year-old St-Jean-sur-Richelieu resident Olivia Labelle was treated with CAR-T two months ago at Ste-Justine Hospital, the second centre accredited to administer the therapy. "She did really great, and her leukemia is in remission," according to her pediatric hematologist-oncologist, Dr. Henrique Bittencourt, who calls the treatment "revolutionary." Dr, Bittencourt cautions that CAR-T, an immunotherapy and gene therapy combined, is not always the answer. Some pediatric patients relapse, but Bittencourt says 50 per cent of patients are still in remission about three-and-a-half years later. As young Olivia zoomed around a Ste-Justine hallway, only pausing to hang upside-down on a sofa next to her doctor, it was difficult to imagine how sick she'd been only months earlier. "It's reassuring," her mother Anabelle Soucy-Cote sighs. "We've learned to appreciate the good moments." After two rounds of chemotherapy failed, 64 year old Richard Vallieres became eligible for CAR-T therapy to help him recover from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Dr. Fleury was there with him in his Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital room as he received his re-engineered immune cells on Tuesday. "Of those (adult patients) who respond to CAR-T, 70 per cent are still in remission two years later, so it's a giant step," Fleury says. CAR-T stands for chimeric antigen reception T-cell therapy. In simple terms, this is how the personalized treatment works: a patient's own immune cells, T-cells, are extracted from their blood using a special machine the T-cells are then genetically altered to train them to recognize and kill cancer cells the genetically re-engineered cells are then injected back into the patient's body the modified cells multiply and when successful, stay in the patient's body Currently, the patient's cells have to be sent to the United States to be modified. There are plans to develop a similar type of cell transformation laboratory at Maisonneuve Rosemont. Minister McCann told CTV other provinces are in the process of analyzing whether they will follow Quebec's lead. Two hospitals in Ontario are developing treatment centres of their own. In the meantime, "Quebec will also be able to provide care for people who are coming from other provinces in Canada," the health minister explained. 'Eat a steak the same day': New tonsil procedure at MUHC short, mostly painless Online tool helps reduce number of meds prescribed to elderly patients: Montreal study	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line839
__label__cc	0.57034	0.42966	The Stool Pigeon and the Indian Lake by Irving Bronsky, M.D. Boston Rd & Claremont Pky, Bronx, NY 10460 Neighborhood: Bronx, East Bronx Like 0 Google +1 0 Retweet 0 It never occurred to me that Norman would chicken out and become a stool pigeon. He was aggressive, a good athlete, a gambler, (for baseball cards and streetcar transfers), a veteran explorer of our neighborhood and Crotona Park. He was a very persuasive talker, a take-over guy and besides, he loved banana and mustard sandwiches. It was his idea that we organize a trip to the Floyd Bennett Airport. When he squealed to his mother about our plans we labeled him “Stooley,” short for stool pigeon, a nickname that stuck to him for the rest of his life. We were nine years old that bright summer morning when Norman told us about an airport “just on the other side of Crotona Park.” (When I was older, I learned that it was about thirty miles south of my home, on an island off the coast of southern Queens.) There were five of us in the group and the other four had just finished playing “off the bench.” This game is played with a “Spaldeen,” a pink, soft rubber ball which is thrown against the slatted wooden back of a concrete bench that stands on the park side of Fulton Avenue. There are two players to a side and on the fielding team one player stands in the street and the other on the opposite sidewalk. You scored when the ball rebounded off a slat and bounced in the gutter or on the opposite sidewalk. One base for every bounce, four bounces, a home run. Since I was one of the worst players on the block I was not picked in the first choosing of sides. The game had been long and exciting and it finished in great style when Norman hit a home run, an uncatchable smash which reached the building on the other side of the street and fell into the cellar. I cheered this magnificent shot and then announced that it was my turn to pick. I would choose the best player from the losing side to be my partner. Not to be. At this point Norman announced that we would go to Floyd Bennett Airport. “I know it is just on the other side of the park. We can walk there.” I was angry for not getting my pick and I argued loudly with him. His decision was final; there would be no more “off the bench” that morning. There was nothing I could do about it. All through my childhood and adolescence I was not a good athlete; it wasn’t until after World War II and I was in my first year of college, a pre-med student, that I allowed myself to be successful. I made the football team on a scholarship but I quit halfway through the season because training, practice and the weekend games interfered with my studying. When I was forty seven years old I was a low handicap golfer and I qualified for the trials for the Israel National team which was being organized to play in the International Macabbi Games in 1969. As a child and adolescent I had feelings of inferiority and sabotaged any natural ability I had. I was an overly-exuberant winner and a bad loser. Occasionally I struck out in punchball; in sandlot football I was afraid to tackle the ball-carrier’s head. In public school I was ashamed when I had to do the standing broad jump because much shorter kids than me out-distanced me. In fistfights I was afraid to hit my rival in the face, fearful that something terrible would happen. I almost never a won. There were four of us sitting on the stoop and Norman stood facing us. His spiel was seductive and easily led us to agree to go to the airport. I suggested that we take along sandwiches. This idea was happily and immediately accepted. We agreed to take sandwiches from home, telling our mothers that we wanted to have a picnic lunch in the park. The five of us dispersed homeward to prepare for this great adventure: Norman, Tevie (Herbie), Lobo (Natie), Putzie (Paulie), and myself, Itchy (Irving). I had never questioned the fact that Norman was the only one without a nickname. (Another distinguishing feature about Norman’s family is that his mother had come from England and spoke with an English accent. She wore flowered dresses all year round. She was very erect in her bearing, foreign looking, and when she walked her ample bosom projected straight out as if clearing the way for her. Today we would call her regal. Behind her back the grownups never called her Rose, her given name, but called her Queenie. In common with the other mothers on the block, though, she was often shouting down messages to Norman through the kitchen window of their first floor apartment in the new buildings on Fulton avenue. His father was also different from all the fathers on the block: He was a native born, much older than Rose and everyone on the block, including his family, called him Mr. Feinberg. For years he suffered from a crippling arthritis and was confined to a wheelchair, unable to work. He smoked cigarettes using an ivory cigarette holder which he kept fixed between his teeth, blowing the smoke out of his nose. He was doing this years before we saw Franklin D. Roosevelt do it.) Flinging open the door of my house, I rushed into the kitchen, finding my mother busy preparing lunch. I breathlessly told her about our idea of having a picnic in the park and she bought it without any questions. I told her that Tevie, Lobo, Putzie and Norman were my picnic companions and they were bringing sandwiches also; my mother sliced four thick slabs of seeded rye bread and heavily spread butter on them. She made two jumbo sandwiches filling them with a “feinkuchen” (omelet.) She put them in a brown paper bag and handing it to me she said, “Don’t go too far in the park.” There were four of us waiting by the bench for Norman. He was late. We were eager to get going and as time went by I volunteered to go to his home. I ran up the double set of steps of the courtyard of Norman’s building and standing under his kitchen window I shouted up to Norman. His head popped out of the kitchen window, as if he had been waiting for me. He had a big bulge in his cheek and he was chewing slowly. In his right hand he was holding a banana and mustard sandwich. He told me to come up and I did. He was waiting for me by his open apartment door and motioned for me to come in. We stood in the hall of his apartment and he whispered to me, “You don’t know what happened. Somehow my mother guessed we were going to the airport and now I have to stay home. What lousy luck.” She called from the kitchen, asking us to come in. When I walked in she bent down and gently pinched my cheek, saying, “I love your rosy cheeks.” Then she said that “It is not wise to make a journey of such a great distance without an adult along.” Norman supported his mother saying, “My mother is right. It’s no good to go past the Indian Lake. If you ask me, you don’t know what’s on the other side.” I mumbled “It ain’t so far,” and ran out of the apartment. When I came out into the courtyard and was skipping down the upper set of steps Norman shouted behind me, “You can’t miss it. It’s just on the other side of the lake.” The four of us entered the park, heading in the direction of Indian Lake and the airport. The park is about a mile wide and we were no more than half way across when we were attracted by the cheering noises of a large crowd, coming from the stadium. Putzie suggested that we detour there because “They have baseball games with uniforms and even umpires, guys in black suits.” Putzie was the best athlete on the block and his recommendation was quickly accepted. He led the way, running quickly and easily, with Lobo right behind him. Tevie and I were struggling to keep up. There was a baseball game in progress and the players wore uniforms; this was the first time I had ever seen uniformed play. There were two men dressed in black suits, wearing small, black, peaked caps, and I identified them as the umpires. The contest was between two semi-professional teams, one from a west side neighborhood of the Bronx and the other from our east side. area. Putzie was the only one who had seen a major league game, the Bronx Bombers at the Yankee Stadium. We knew about the Yankees from the radio broadcasts which I sometimes heard in the candy store, when the older fellows asked Mr. Nathan, the owner, to put on the game. Some of my bubble-gum tickets had pictures of Yankee players. It was fascinating to see my first real baseball game, in a stadium, a small one, but still with a laid-out playing field. All the previous games I had seen were sandlot games. The stands were full and the noisy, enthusiastic crowd roared its approval at anything the home team did. The first base and third base foul lines were lined with children sitting on the ground. We found seats on the foul line just past third base and we settled comfortably onto the dry, dusty earth. The Indian Lake and Floyd Bennett airport were forgotten. After fifteen minutes of joyful spectating something happened to make us continue with our original mission. A grounder hit down the third base line would have hit Putzie in the head but he ducked in time, avoiding a disaster. This near-accident prompted the umpires to clear both foul lines. We had to move behind the home plate screen where our view of the game was obstructed by the people and children already there. Tevie, the oldest of our group, reminded us of our original destination by pointing in the direction of Indian Lake. “What about it, guys? Do we stay or go? Which is it?” After a brief discussion, Lobo, the natural leader of our group, quietly resolved our conflict. Firmly, clearly, he said, “The airport. That’s where we’re going, right?” We were on our way. A few minutes on we found ourselves standing on the top of a hill, the Indian Lake below us, and beyond that, Boston R. and Claremont Parkway. The lake seemed so big and deep and there were rowboats. (I had been to the lake for the first time the year before, with my siblings. We accompanied Zaydeh to the lakeside, so that he could “throw away his sins.” Just prior to Yom Kippur, the day of atonement, Zaydeh, the president of our Fulton Avenue schul, led the male congregants pond-side, for the ritual dumping of their sins into the water. Afterwards, the men stood around talking, gossiping, mingling with hundreds of worshipers from other schuls in the area. While my Zaydeh was chatting, my brother Sid and I explored the lake. We walked to the end of the lake where the rowboats were tied up and heedless of the danger we tried to climb into one. The park attendant responsible for the boats gruffly growled at us, “Scram, you snotnoses, before I kick your asses for you.” We ran back to the safety of Zaydeh’s area. …There was a huge boulder adjacent to the lake, about three times higher than I was. This was the Indian Rock, with a brass dedication plaque embedded in its side and little steps carved in its side, leading to its top. Sid was the first one up and for a few moments he wouldn’t let me climb to the top, shouting, “I am the King of the hill.” This brought a sharp rebuke from Zaydeh, telling him not to disturb the seriousness of the situation. It also allowed me to make it to the top.) We briefly discussed this Indian Rock, relating it to the western movies that we sometimes went to Saturday afternoons at the Deluxe movie, or the Fenway, on Washington avenue. Based on the stereotypical good-guy, bad-guy movies, it was easy to project the Indian Rock into a fort. Suddenly I realized that I was famished and the powerful odor coming from my butter-stained, brown bag enhanced my appetite. I took out one of the sandwiches, waved it around, saying, “Listen, guys, let’s eat something and then we’ll be ready to charge down the hill. What do you say?” There was a brief moment of hesitation but when Tevie took out one of his sandwiches and bit deeply into it, that was the signal for all of us to sit down to eat. We ate quickly, except for Tevie. We were up and around, restlessly waiting for him to finish, anxious to make the charge down the hill to the besieged fort, the Indian rock. Even before Tevie took his last bite we began to run down the hill. Putzie was in the lead, with Lobo behind him and I was just one step ahead of Tevie. Suddenly I noticed a dollar bill lying on the side of the asphalt path and I stopped running, transfixed by what I had discovedred. I called out, “Hey, look. There’s a buck on the ground.” Before I could pick it up Tevie had scooped it up, saying loudly, “It’s mine. I found it. No aikies.” According to street law, if he said this before anyone could say “Halfie no aikes,” then he didn’t have to share his find. I said, “It ain’t fair, no. I saw it first. C’mon Tevie, be fair.” He refused, repeating, “no aikies.” I doubled the loudness of my demand but he refused, finding a new excuse, sing-songing, “Finders keepers, losers weepers.” Lobo mediated the dispute by convincing Tevie that the dollar should be shared by the four of us and I accepted the compromise. The usually gentle Tevie grumbled his acceptance of Lobo’s wise decision. We forgot the airport, we forgot the lake, forgot the Indian rock. Instead we headed in the direction of the street on the other side of the park. There were stores there and we agreed that we would go to a candy story where each one of us could buy what he wanted with his twenty five cents. Just before we left the park we saw a man with a pony, selling rides for a nickel each. Without a word being said we made a new decision about what to do with the money. For the next hour we were living in the wonderful world of the Wild West. Each of us had five, rip-roaring, bronco-busting rides on the docile pony. It was just like in the movies where my favorite cowboy, Buzz Barton, always got the bad guy and rode off at the end, the lone rider. When our money ran out, we stood around for a few minutes watching other children have pony rides. Then Putzie brought us out of our western reveries by shouting, “The last one to the Indian Rock is a rotten egg.” I was the rotten egg, since I got a late start–and even Tevie beat me. While the other three were climbing onto the rock, playing “Cowboys and Indians,” I took off my sneakers and socks and sat on the paving-stone lake rim. I dangled my feet into the cool water and by sliding slightly forward, I could just reach the muddy bottom. The soft sliminess of the silted bottom was pleasantly sensuous as I moved my feet in and out of it. I was fascinated by the muddy waters coming up to the surface. I was shocked to hear a park attendant shouting at me, as he ran in my direction. I hastily withdrew from the water and gathering up my sneakers and socks I ran part of the way up the hill. He stopped, breathing heavily, and pointed his long arm accusingly at me. He yelled, “What do you want to do? Get yourself drowned or something?” I retreated a little further up the hill. With a grunt of disapproval and a dismissing wave of his hand, he moved off. Resocked and reshod, I joined my friends on the rock. They were playing “Cowboys and Indians.” Lobo and Putzie were on top, “in the fort,” and Tevie had been unsuccessfully storming it. I joined him and the both of us were unsuccessful in getting to the top. I complained loudly that it wasn’t fair so we switched. Tevie and I were the brave defenders of the fort and Putzie and Lobo were the indians. Somehow, they succeeded in getting to the top. I didn’t care because we were having a great time. After a while we got tired of the game and we began to play tag. When we tired of that game we walked to the end of the lake where the rowboats were moored and we watched two couples take out two boats. We discussed the possibility of getting a rowboat but realized that we couldn’t, because we had no accompanying adult and we had no money. We moved to a new part of the lake and began to skip flat stones across the surface, competing to see who could get the most bounces. It was Putzie, of course. We watched a man fishing with a thin string and a U-shaped pin for a hook. He had a ball of dough at his feet and he pinched off a piece, finger-rolled it into a little bait-ball and put it on the end of his improvised hook. Then he threw it into the water. Four times he pulled his line out of the water without the bait on it. But the fifth time the line jerked in the water, he pulled gently on it and then more strongly. With a swift motion he pulled his hook out of the water and wiggling desperately on it was a two inch fish. He plucked the fish off his hook and put it into a glass jar, half-filled with lake water. I watched the little darter in his glass jail, feeling sorry for it. Somehow, watching the trapped fish reminded me of Norman and I reminded the group that we never got to the airport. The rest of the group was just as surprised as I was that we had forgotten about it. We were hungry and it was too late in the day to go on. We decided to make the trip on another day. Lobo looked towards home, saying that it was late in the day and it was time to start back. Without waiting for the others I took off, shouting, “The last one up the hill is a rotten egg.” This time Tevie was the rotten egg. The return trip was quick and uneventful. When we got to Fulton avenue we saw a crowd of people standing in front of the new buildings. My mother and father were there, along with my two brothers and sister. In the same worried cluster were Putzie’s parents, Tevie’s mother and Lobo’s mother and oldest sister. My heart began pounding and I had trouble breathing. I knew I was going to be punished. I felt worse when Norman came running towards us, shouting, “You guys are in trouble. You’re going to get it. What took you so long? Did you get to the airport? Everyone has been going crazy looking for you.” Before anyone could answer he told us what happened. His mother told my mother and she had contacted the other three mothers. Putzie’s older brother was sent to look for us around Indian Lake but we were at the stadium at the time. Later in the day, as the anxiety increased, Tevie’s father and my father, both out of work at the time, went to look for us. We were probably wild-westing it with our pony at the furthest reaches of the park, and when they returned without us the rumor spread that we had been kidnapped. Panic on Fulton Avenue. My mother tearfully embraced me, kissed me repeatedly and thanked God for bringing me home safely. Then with a serious look and a stern command, she ordered me to go “upstairs.” My father’s red-faced angry looks made me fearful that I was going to get a beating. He had never beaten me before although he had spoken of it, occasionally reached for his belt, or gave me a stern look. That was enough to scare me into behaving. When I was upstairs, sitting in the kitchen, hungry and apprehensive, my mother came in alone. She gave me something to eat which I was unable to enjoy because I didn’t know what form the punishment would take. Hanging on the wall above the table was the Lukshen Strop (the noodle strap), the cat-o-nine tails, and looking at it now made me shiver fearfully. My mother decided to use her own instrument of punishment and I was momentarily relieved that it wasn’t going to be a whipping. She talked and talked until I cried hysterically for her to stop. She began her tongue lashing, constantly repeating in a quiet, tense voice, “How could you be such a bad boy. You’ll kill me. After all the sacrifices I made for you children.” She used these sentences in various combinations, occasionally putting in fresh material such as, “You must be crazy to do what you did. That’s what the car accident you had did to you. Don’t you care what happens to me?” I cried long and hard. I promised again and again, and then again, that I will never again do anything like. That ended the first round. Then she started guilt-whipping me again about making her suffer, about shortening her life, and I cried and repented, and then repented and cried. Finally, I was sent to bed full of remorse, promises to be good and loaded with guilt. The following day when the guys met, we decided that Norman had tattle-taled; one of the others called him a stool-pigeon. From that moment he became Stooley. He finally had a nickname like the rest of us. Tagged: Old New York Twitter Email Facebook del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Rate Story § One Response to “The Stool Pigeon and the Indian Lake” Hildy Feinberg says: Dear Dr. Bronsky, Well, I am Norman’s daughter, and wanted to thank you for bringing such joy to me with your Bronx tale!! Saturday, Nov. 6 was the 39th anniversary of my father’s death, and while I was only 12 when he unexpectedly and tragically passed, your story brought back some incredible memories of my dad. Yes, I remember him being a character, and I remember him telling me that he was nicknamed “stooley” (I don’t ever recall him telling me why!) and I remember my “Queenie” grandmother and her English accent. I even remember him talking about his buddy Irv— Thank you for sharing your story– I will pass it on to my children and know that they will get a true kick out of knowing a bit about their grandfather who they never had the pleasure of knowing! Hope that you are well– and thank you again. 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However, I had a rule that I wouldn’t take my car to anywhere above 23rd Street. About five years ago, because of an increase in traffic, I moved my boundary to 14th Street. But recently, things […] Co-op City Boro Park Caroll Gardens The East River Letter From Abroad 3 Bleecker Street Herald Square South Ferry Stuyvesant Town Tudor City Beechhurst Citifield Pomonok Howard's Beach JFK/LGA Kew Gardens Hills Randall's Island The Catskills Prall's Island site map \| about \| RSS feed \| top of page \| all materials © 2020 MrBellersNeighborhood \| programming & design by Foliovision	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line843
__label__cc	0.666345	0.333655	TVC / Promo Carex Come Clean Brand attack’ promo for Greenpeace targeting Carex for their use of illegal palm oil in their products. The film is a recreation of their own commercial whose message is subverted y changing the score and adding a brutal ending. The track was written and composed by Luisa Gerstein. Click HERE for the original ad. OBR Studios DOP: E. info@muratgokmen.com Instagram: @muratgokmen Murat Gökmen is an award winning director working in documentary, short film and commercials. On commercial work, he has partnered with brands including Google, Audi, Ancestry, Greenpeace and Vauxhall and agencies and platforms including BBH, Karmarama, The New York Times, Condé Nast and Vice. His documentaries have been screened at film festivals across the world and as a Producer he worked on the Emmy Award winning documentary for The New York Times, The Forger. His first narrative short, Talk To Leon, started its festival run in August 2019 after premiering at the Rhode Island International Film Festival. For all enquiries, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Murat Gökmen	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line846
__label__wiki	0.693573	0.693573	14 Songs, 1 Hour 3 Minutes In the liner notes to this 2001 release, Eric Clapton explained that “reptile” was a term of endearment among the locals he grew up with in England. He dedicated the album to his beloved uncle Adrian, and though it's not always explicit, the songs exude feelings of familial affection and security. Part of that comes from Clapton’s easy fusion of everything he'd done well in the previous decade: a murmuring fusion of folk-soul-jazz (“Reptile,” “Modern Girl,” “Believe in Life”), meaty blues revivalism (“Got You on my Mind”), and rumpled acoustic rambles (“Find Myself”). “Travelin’ Light” and “Second Nature” elucidate Clapton’s perennial affinity for J.J. Cale (although the latter song could also pass as a Sheryl Crow ringer), while “I Want a Little Girl” exemplifies the R&B naturalism that Clapton didn’t perfect until he passed 50. For all its diverse pleasures—both subtle and brazen—Reptile is most distinguished by its forays into '70s-style soul music, a new look for Clapton. Backed by Billy Preston and the surviving members of The Impressions, Clapton summons the spirit of Curtis Mayfield and Donny Hathaway on “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight” and “Broken Down.” Reptile Eric Clapton Got You On My Mind Travelin' Light Believe In Life Come Back Baby Find Myself I Ain't Gonna Stand for It I Want a Little Girl Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight Modern Girl Superman Inside Son & Sylvia ℗ 2001 Reprise Records for the U.S. and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the U.S. Rick the strange one , 02/14/2010 What is wrong with you people This is one of the best Clapton has ever done mixing jazz with old time, and the jordarse you can't beat it m lee , 10/01/2012 Reptile is one of the most beautiful songs, but it's not Blues but great jazzy song. Cyndi Kane , 06/05/2011 Particularly enjoy "Superman Inside". Pretty nice work from the master. More By Eric Clapton 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Eric Clapton The Cream of Clapton The Breeze: An Appreciation of JJ Cale The Road to Escondido Live from Madison Square Garden No Stranger to the Dark: The Best of Gregg Allman J.J. Cale & Eric Clapton Candace Devine Memphis (Bonus Track Version) Exception to the Rule	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line847
__label__cc	0.509063	0.490937	Ethiopia next to pass anti-gay Bill Ethiopia's Council of Ministers last week endorsed a measure by lawmakers to put homosexuality on a list of offences considered "non-pardonable" under the country's amnesty law, and is widely expected to pass the Bill when it is put to the vote next week. In Ethiopia, same-sex acts are illegal and punishable by up to 15 years in prison. A 25-year jail term is prescribed for anyone convicted of infecting another person with HIV during same-sex acts. Ethiopia's president often pardons thousands of prisoners during the Ethiopian New Year. When the Bill becomes law, the president will lose his power to pardon prisoners facing charges ranging from homosexuality to terrorism. Homosexuality is criminalised in many African countries. Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni has most recently come under international fire for passing anti-gay laws that prompted local media to out gay people and open them up to physical attack from homophobic citizens. Uganda's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community credits evangelical Christian pastors with sparking the anti-gay sentiment that led to the present-day legal repercussions for homosexuals in the country. Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF has long been known for its anti-gay stance, with President Robert Mugabe describing homosexuality as "evil". Human rights NGOs such as Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe are often the targets of harassment, arrests and raids. – Sapa-AP Anti Gay Laws	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line855
__label__cc	0.657657	0.342343	Humanity ‘at a crossroads’ as damage to planet poses growing risk to health, UN environment agency warns A laboratory specialist researching on avian influenza at a human health lab. (file) Human activity is damaging the planet so badly, exacerbated by climate change, that it will increasingly put our health at risk, warns a major report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), released on Wednesday at the UN Environment Assembly, currently taking place in Nairobi. In a statement, UN Environment described the Global Environment Outlook, which was produced by 250 scientists and experts from more than 70 countries, as the most comprehensive and rigorous assessment completed by the United Nations in the last five years. Unless environmental protections are drastically scaled up, the report says, there could be millions of premature deaths by the middle of this century, with pollutants in freshwater systems becoming a major cause of death by 2050. The science is clear. The health and prosperity of humanity is directly tied with the state of our environment - Joyce Msuya, Acting Executive Director, UNEP In addition, more chemicals, known as endocrine disruptors, will have an adverse effect on male and female fertility, as well as the neurological development of children. The UN Environment Assembly is the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment, where environmental ministers from around the world are meeting to tackle critical issues such as food waste, accelerating the spread of electric mobility, and the crisis of plastic pollution in the oceans. “The science is clear. The health and prosperity of humanity are directly tied to the state of our environment,” said Joyce Msuya, Acting Executive Director of UNEP. “We are at a crossroads. Do we continue on our current path, which will lead to a bleak future for humankind, or pivot to sustainable development? That is the choice our political leaders must make, now.” Change outdated business models to save the planet On a more optimistic note, the report makes clear that the science, technology, and financing exists to move towards a more sustainable global economy, and ensure that the worst-case scenario is avoided, but political leaders, together with much of the public and private sector, is still wedded to outdated, polluting models of production and development. Ensuring a near-zero-waste economy by 2050 will require a new global business approach, and the report shows that “green investment” of just 2 per cent of countries’ GDP would deliver long-term growth comparable with a “business as usual” approach, but with fewer impacts from climate change, water scarcity and loss of ecosystems. As well as policy changes that address entire systems such as food and energy, the report advises the adoption of low-meat diets, and a big cut in food waste: these two measures alone would cut by half the amount of food we will need to produce in order to feed the projected 9-10 billion people on the planet in 2050. At present, the report states, a third of global edible food is wasted, and more than half of food produced in industrialized countries is thrown away. ♦ Receive daily updates directly in your inbox - Subscribe here to a topic. ♦ Download the UN News app for your iOS or Android devices. UN Environment Programme Bonn: At UN climate conference, Congo Basin youth spotlight their work protecting fragile forest ecosystem Earth Hour: UN joins iconic landmarks ‘going dark’ globally with a call to protect environment In major new report, UN environment chief urges ambitious action to save planet from 'pollution menace' News Tracker: Past Stories on This Issue Environment and health at increasing risk from growing weight of ‘e-waste’ Around 50 million tonnes of electronic waste, or e-waste, is being thrown away each year, according to a new joint United Nations report – which exceeds the combined weight of all the commercial airliners ever made, or alternatively, enough Eiffel Towers to fill the whole of Manhattan. World simply ‘not on track’ to slow climate change this year: UN weather agency The world is heading in the wrong direction to slow climate change after another year of near-record temperatures, the head of the UN’s weather agency said on Thursday.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line860
__label__cc	0.684472	0.315528	Sonny Fortune Returns to U.Va.'s Brooks Hall Nov. 6 Marian Anderfuren, manderfuren@virginia.edu October 18, 2011 — Jazz virtuoso Sonny Fortune, whose last concert at the University of Virginia was sold out, is returning to Brooks Hall Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. The concert, co-sponsored by the Charlottesville Jazz Society and the University's WTJU-FM, will feature a different supporting cast, as Fortune will be with his longtime East Coast touring band, including Bob Butta on keyboards, James King on bass and Nasar Abadey on drums. Fortune is well known for his stints with jazz greats like Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner and Buddy Rich, and he has released many acclaimed recordings on Blue Note and other labels. His most recent CD is "Last Night at Sweet Rhythm." Renowned jazz critic Nat Hentoff wrote of him: "On alto, tenor, flute, clarinet, baritone saxophone – and as an intriguingly personal composer – Sonny is the embodiment of the sound of surprise in this music, and he ought to be a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master." To hear a sample of Fortune's music, tune in to jazz programming on WTJU (91.1 FM) in the days leading up to the concert. Tickets are available at the door only, beginning at 6 p.m. The cost is $15 for general admission, $10 for members of the Charlottesville Jazz Society, and $5 for students Fortune will conduct a free master class on Nov. 7 at Albemarle High School, open to all music students. This class is made possible by a generous donation in memory of Paul Burns. Brooks Hall is located next to the Rotunda on University Avenue. For information visit here or here, or call 434-249-6191. Marian Anderfuren Director of Media Relations U.Va. Media Relations manderfuren@virginia.edu 434-243-2293	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line861
__label__cc	0.720473	0.279527	Faroe Islands 'closed for maintenance' in April 2020 AFP Relax News November 13, 2019 The Danish archipelago has come up with a solution to the problem of mass tourism: closing access to visitors and only welcoming volunteers who take part in projects to preserve the environment. The Danish archipelago has come up with a solution to the problem of mass tourism: closing access to visitors and only welcoming volunteers who take part in projects to preserve the environment. The initiative, which is set to last for two days, will take place on April 16 and 17, 2020. Located between Iceland and northern Scotland, the Faroe Islands have yet to fall victim to mass tourism. However, the Faroese are well aware of the charms of their green and snowy landscapes. The tourist office of the Danish autonomous region reports that 111,000 people traveled to the archipelago last year, and the numbers of tourists visiting some of the Islands' attractions have risen by 10% in recent years. To tackle the consequences of a steep increase in tourism, the Faroese have decided to encourage visitors to roll up their sleeves and help set up structures that preserve the attractions of the islands. In 2019, only volunteers were allowed to travel to the archipelago over a period of two days when it was officially "closed for maintenance, [and] open for volontourism." One hundred people from 25 countries took part in the project, which consisted of marking out hiking trails in the busiest locations and setting up observatories for the most popular views. In the wake of the success of this initiative, the islands are set to close for maintenance a second time on April 16 and 17, 2020. Volunteers will not have to pay for food, accommodation or transport, but they will have to pay for return flights from their countries of origin. Virgin Atlantic is offering a special fare of €223 from Copenhagen on April 15. The volunteers will participate in 14 projects located all over the archipelago. If you would like to join in, you have to register in advance at www.visitfaroeislands.com. If you do not want to take part, you can still travel to the Faroe Islands some other time, only not on April 16 and 17 of next year. Vervotech Continues to Expand its Horizon by Integrating Strategic Suppliers Austrian hamlet besieged by selfie-taking tourists considers code of conduct and cap on visitors Selfie-taking Frozen fans overrun Austrian village Day tripping: 10 suggestions for game-planning and packing for a day of sightseeing Move Over, Kyoto: Kanazawa Is Cheaper and Has All the Japanese Culture Without the Crowds PureWow Where to Take the Best Photos in Dublin, Ireland	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line862
__label__wiki	0.960798	0.960798	Gunman in Texas church, victims identified as local men PMN Politics The gunman who opened fire in a Texas church on Sunday, killing two before being shot dead by parishioners, was identified as Keith Thomas Kinnunen, who lived in the nearby town of River Oaks, state officials said on Monday. His two victims killed at West Freeway Church of Christ in White Settlement, Texas, were identified as Anton Wallace, 64, of Fort Worth and Richard White, 67, also of River Oaks, the Texas Department of Public Safety said. A live video caught the terrifying moment when the gunman stood next to the pews wearing a dark hood and started firing a long gun before members of the church’s volunteer security team shot him in the church located in a suburb northwest of Fort Worth. “A man entered the church and sat with parishioners. During the service, the man removed a shotgun from his person and fired the weapon,” the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement. “The gunman has been identified as Keith Thomas Kinnunen, 43, from River Oaks,” the statement said. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told reporters on Monday the shooter had been to the church several times in the past and may have been mentally ill, but authorities were still investigating a possible motive. “They welcome people who are transient or homeless into their church. They welcomed this guy into their church,” Paxton said. Local TV station NBC DFW, citing unidentified law enforcement sources, said Kinnunen had a criminal record that included charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in 2009. A Texas Department of Public Safety spokeswoman did not immediately confirm that. The Fort Worth Fire Department said three people, including the suspected shooter, were transported from the scene in critical condition on Sunday. Two, including the suspect, died en route to the hospital, said Macara Trusty, a spokeswoman for local emergency services provider MedStar, said in a phone interview. The third died later, the Dallas Morning News reported. Two more people sustained minor injuries as they ducked for cover inside the church, Trusty said. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick praised the church’s volunteer security guards for taking down the shooter. “Because of the quick action of these two men, this evil event was over in six seconds,” he said in a statement issued on Sunday. One of the two guards said in a Facebook post that he was acting against evil. “The events at West Freeway Church of Christ put me in a position that I would hope no one would have to be in, but evil exists and I had to take out an active shooter in church,” he said. Patrick said a new state law allowing concealed carry in places of worship enabled the parishioners to stop the gunman. The law, which took effect in September, was passed in the wake of a shooting at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, in 2017 that left 26 dead. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton praised the law and encouraged other states to allow citizens to carry concealed weapons for defense in case of active shooters. Gun control advocates and some religious leaders have criticized such laws, arguing that weapons have no place in houses of worship. “I do hope that through this tragedy, more churches will prepare the way this church did, not just in Texas but really across the nation,” Paxton said. “This is the model for the future.” (Reporting by Barbara Goldberg; editing by Bill Tarrant and Dan Grebler)	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line867
__label__cc	0.528566	0.471434	You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘Tuggeranong Arts Centre’ tag. June 14, 2019 in Music is the best thing, Writing is the best thing too \| Tags: Bali 9, capital punishment, collaborations, death row, drone music, John Fry, Kimmo Vernonnen, KV Productions, making music, minimalist folk music, Myuran Sukumaran, Pete Lyon, secular hymns, Six Heads, The Cashews, Tuggeranong Arts Centre \| Leave a comment Surrounded by the paintings of Myuran Sukumaran , April 2018. Photo credit: Tuggeranong Arts Centre One of the joys – and, to be frank, surprises – of the last few years has been collaborating on music projects. I’ve spent much of the last three decades in my writing room with only a cup of coffee for company, so it’s wonderful to work in a different form and with others, even if, in the main, I continue to be focused on the words. There has been THE WEIGHT OF LIGHT, for which I was commissioned by the Hume Conservatorium to write the libretto for a new song cycle, with the music composed by James Humberstone – this work was developed by The Street Theatre in Canberra, where it had its premiere in 2018, before being performed in Goulburn and Sydney. During the writing of THE WEIGHT OF LIGHT, James and I took a few days out to write ‘Yes of Love’, a song in support of Australia’s push to enshrine marriage equality. Late last year, Andrew Bull AKA Hyperconfidence, asked me to write and – gasp – perform some spoken-word lyrics, which he turned into a dance track called ‘We are Freedom’. There’s been a fourth music project bubbling away. Back in February last year, the Tuggeranong Arts Centre invited me to spend a day sitting in ‘Another Day in Paradise’, a travelling exhibition of paintings by Myruran Sukumaran, a convicted drug smuggler who the Indonesian Government executed by firing squad in April 2015. Other artists participated in the event, which was called ‘The Final Hours’. I decided to invite my old friend Pete Lyon to join me – he is a singer-songwriter who for many years has performed with the popular acoustic-pop duo The Cashews. I first wrote about this project here. Inspired by Sukumaran’s work, Pete and I left the Tuggeranong Arts Centre at the end of the day with the sketches of five songs, most of which were recorded on Pete’s phone. We then developed the songs: I rewrote, edited, and polished the lyrics; and together we reflected on the music we had made in the Arts Centre, slowly rebuilding them into songs that people might be interested in listening to. Although my musicianship is extremely limited, from the beginning of this project I said that I would like to try and play some of the music, even ‘write’ some of it – in other words, put my fingers on a piano’s keyboard or on some guitar strings and see what happened. Gear in Goulburn, June 2018 For the rest of the year, once every few weeks, Pete and I met up to work – in Goulburn, before we moved to his place in Canberra, where he has a small studio. Slowly we layered up the tracks, adding vocals and harmonies. We put the work aside, before we came back to it, adding new elements and re-recorded parts that needed improving. One of the things I love about collaborative projects is the discussion about creative choices, and both Pete and I were keen to make simple songs in which listeners would be able to find room to reflect on Sukumaran’s work, either directly or indirectly. Even though we both have a longstanding position on the death penalty, we were not making a protest album – our goal was to make a suite of secular hymns. We also chose to limit our musical pallet to piano and acoustic guitar, which would be recorded as raw as possible. Imperfections were embraced. Although our original intention was to finish the work by the end of 2018, we decided to put the songs aside for much of the summer (my mother died just after Christmas) before doing one or two final sessions. The songs were then mixed and mastered by by Kimmo Vennonen of KV Productions. An album cover was designed by John Fry of Six Heads. And now, here we are with THE FINAL HOURS available for listening and purchase through Bandcamp. All proceeds of the songs will be donated to an Australian art-in-prison program. Art work by John Fry, Six Heads, Melbourne Four of the songs were directly inspired by particular paintings of Sukumaran’s. For example ‘If I Were You’ is a response to his portrait of his mother; and ‘Indonesian Flag’ is a response to the last painting he made, which is of the Indonesian flag – when exhibited it was shown away from the wall so viewers could see that on the back were the signatures of those to be executed, some of whom took the opportunity to leave messages about wishing Indonesia well. The last song, ‘He They I We’, Pete first recorded in the last half an hour of the original day in the Arts Centre – singing in Indonesian, a language he learned while living for a time in Sarawak, Borneo, he says in essence, we will not forget Myruran and his fellow executed prisoners. Making THE FINAL HOURS has been an intense, exposing, and rewarding experience. Intense because of the subject matter (in more ways than one); exposing because for the first time I have directly helped make some music; and rewarding because it is always thrilling to make new work, no matter what the form, and because it seemed that one minute Pete and I were spindly 20-year-olds housemates and strumming guitars at midnight, the next – i.e. 30 years later – we had the opportunity to make something tangible, maybe even lasting. As always, I’ve learned that taking risks can be a good thing, although I know I’m sufficiently privileged to not be in a position where I feel that I have no choice but to risk my life. Words and music from the final hours May 5, 2018 in Music is the best thing, Writing is the best thing too \| Tags: Another Day in Paradise, death penalty, mercy, Myuran Sukumaran, Pete Lyon, song-writing, The Bali 9, The Final Hours, the human spirit (is a mighty beast even when extinguished), the possibility and redemption of change, Tuggeranong Arts Centre \| 2 comments ‘Self-Portrait’ by Myuran Sukumaran (2015, detail) The closer it got, the more agitated I became. Back in February this year the Tuggeranong Arts Centre in Canberra invited me to participate in The Final Hours, a day-long, vigil-like residency to be held in conjunction with Another Day in Paradise, the exhibition of paintings by Myuran Sukumaran, an Australian man convicted for drug-trafficking and sentenced by the Indonesian government to be killed by firing squad. (Another Day in Paradise was first presented, in 2017, at the Campbelltown Arts Centre.) I’ve been a long-time opponent of the death penalty and had followed the story of ‘The Bali Nine’, as did most Australians, so I said yes to the Tuggeranong Arts Centre’s invitation, but decided that I would collaborate with Pete Lyon, a singer-songwriter and good friend – no doubt I didn’t want to do this alone. In the weeks before The Final Hours, Pete and I met twice. At our first meeting, we talked about our approach – we decided that it might be best to simply see what happened on the day and when surrounded by Myuran’s art work. At our second meeting, we sat down with Pete’s proposed equipment set-up to confirm what we’d take with us (it had to fit in the back of a small car); this discussion also included making notes on the preliminary themes or ideas we might explore, such as raw, authentic, reflective, compassionate, hope, and the possibility and redemption of change. While our proposal was for Pete to write the music and I would write the lyrics, we had also indicated that I might try and write some of the music, which is a bit like asking a dog to be a cat. Not wanting to make a fool of myself – the gallery would be open to the public – I practiced a set of very basic guitar chords as well as some scales and notes on the piano in my house, the piano I used to play by ear as a teenager. While I adore music, my musicianship is extremely limited; Pete has spent the majority of his life writing, performing, and recording. But when in doubt (which is almost always the case), just jump in, hey? After all, that was my approach to THE WEIGHT OF LIGHT, a song cycle I wrote with composer James Humberstone, which has gone on to become something much bigger than either of us and is still being performed. In the gallery and to work. Image courtesy of the Tuggeranong Arts Centre The day came for The Final Hours to commence and by 8am Pete and I had set up the gear in the gallery. It was time to get down to work. We chose the nearest series of paintings, titled ‘Prison Life’, plucked out some notes on guitar and keyboard (one of which was another instrument from my childhood but ended up in Pete’s hands); meanwhile I banged together some lyrics – we practiced the song once, then pressed the record button on the laptop. We chose another painting, selected some more notes and lyrics, and pressed record again. Until, rather miraculously, we had five demos, or sketches. Done, for now It was intense, of course, and gut-wrenching – Myuran’s work is powerful, unapologetic, intellectually and emotionally open, and confronting for those of us lucky enough to have to do nothing more than engage, reflect, and respond. However, the experience was also surprisingly uplifting, even joyful: the human spirit, even when extinguished, is a mighty beast. But also because Pete and I have known each other for thirty years; back in the late 1980s we used to live in a Canberra share-house together and mucked around with guitars in the living-room, eventually recording some songs together but never releasing or performing them. I threw myself headlong into literature, and Pete found collaborators who could actually play their instruments and sing a note. But there we were, on 29 April 2018, sitting in a corner of a gallery, passing guitars between us, pressing keys and buttons, creating music. What happens now? Both of us are committed to developing the songs as much as we can, eventually making them available by the end of the year on a platform yet to be decided. Right now we are not sure how the development process will unfold, or what the final outcome will be, but we very much would love to share the experience given to us by Myuran Sukumaran and the Tuggeranong Arts Centre. Orang ini tak akan terlupakan. Animals and other human catastrophes: those we care for, and those who need our care June 25, 2017 in General sprays \| Tags: an ideal city, animal care, animals, biodiversity, black Labradors, Canberra, engangered animals, extinct animals, extinction, kangaroo cull, Marion Mahoney Griffin, Marion Mahony Griffin, northern corroboree frog, regent honeyeater, spotted quol, Tasmanian tiger, the impact of humans on the environment, the love of animals, thylacine, Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Walter Burley Griffin, wildlife in the ACT \| 4 comments Millie ‘Tubs Malone’ Featherstone: the best place in the house. It was always going to be a challenging day, and by challenging I mean gut–wrenching – after seventeen years of good living, Millie was to draw her final breath. Being a black Labrador, she had been a most loyal and intelligent companion. At dawn every morning, I would hear the clip-cop of her paws on the floorboards as she came to say hello to me in bed. We walked together every day. She loved going in the car, which was something I appreciated because living in regional New South Wales means I travel a lot; she would stand on the backseat and rest her head on my shoulder as I drove, as if she was pretending to be a pirate’s parrot. At the end of every day, she would sit beside me on the couch as I watched the news on TV or listened to music. In her last two years, however, Millie had been suffering from arthritis, especially in her back legs. Despite excellent veterinary treatment, her daily walks had gone from ten-kilometre adventures up and down hills to a ten-minute stroll to the nearest street corner and back. A heat-wave had also knocked her around, to the point that she was panting all day. One morning, on one of her strolls, she developed a bad limp; as I carried her home in my arms I knew the time had come. Keep reading at the Sydney Morning Herald, where the story was published on 26 June 2017. It was commissioned by the Tuggeranong Arts Centre in relation to the 2017 Empire Global Art Award. Correction to the attribution: I am a resident of the Southern Tablelands in New South Wales (not ‘the southern highlands’).	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line869
__label__wiki	0.659598	0.659598	Eight Arrested For Illegal Currency Trade - Lagos Police Command By Ijeoma Esek Lagos State Police Command says it arrested eight suspects for illegally trading in currency during a raid on markets in Ikeja. The command’s spokesperson, Bala Elkana, said the arrests were made following credible intelligence reports as well as collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria and other security agencies. According to the police spokespereon, the sum of over 2.4 million naira was recovered during the raid. The police spokesperson noted that unauthorised trade in the local currency is punishable under the CBN Act for persons or group of persons. If convicted, the offenders will be liable to imprisonment for not less than six months or a fine not less than 50,000 naira or both.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line870
__label__wiki	0.527598	0.527598	As well as Liverpool is doing this season, there are already clouds on how good next season could be. The reason is the moving of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) to January-February, which means Liverpool will be without three key players (Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita) for over six weeks of the season. When asked about it at a press conference last week, manager Jurgen Klopp went off on a massive rant (paywalled) about scheduling, and FIFA and UEFA and everything. The other thing is it doesn’t help African players. We will not sell Sadio, Mo or Naby now because they have a tournament in January and February — of course not — but if you have to make a decision about bringing in a player it is a massive one because before the season you know for four weeks you don’t have them. That’s a normal process and as a club you have to think about these things. It doesn’t help the players, for sure. This is a very valid second-order impact of having the African Cup of Nations in the middle of the European season. As the timing of the AFCON gets regularised in winter, European clubs will be loathe to hire Africans into their leagues. And that is bad news for African footballers. While elite players such as Salah or Mane might never be in the need for a job, the problem with the unavailability mid-season is that clubs will start accounting for that while making decisions on recruitment. The marginal African player playing in the second or third division in a major European footballing country will find it marginally more difficult to get a next good contract. The marginal African player at the top of his country’s league will find it marginally more difficult to get recruited to a (nowadays coveted) European club. And as African players play less for European clubs (this will happen in due course), there will be fewer African role models. Because of which fewer African kids will want to take up football. Because of which the overall level of football in African countries will go down. This is the problem with dependence on external factors, like African football does with European football. That the best African footballers want to play in Europe means that the wishes of Europe will automatically have an impact on football in Africa. This means that Africa cannot schedule its continental tournament at the time of the year that is most convenient to it without impacting its own players. This is a rather common problem. A quick analogy I can think of is the impossible trinity of macroeconomics – an independent monetary policy, free capital flows and a fixed exchange rate. The moment you peg your currency to another, what happens in the other currency automatically starts affecting you. So what should African Football do? Clearly, climatic conditions mean that for most of Africa it’s optimal to host the tournament in (the northern hemisphere) winter. Clearly, there is no point of hosting such a tournament if the best African footballers don’t take part. But doing so will marginally jeopardise the marginal African footballer. And that is not good for African football. There are no easy answers to this puzzle. Author SKPosted on January 20, 2020 Categories economics, football, sportTags afcon, african cup of nations, europe, football, impossible trinityLeave a comment on Afcon in winter The general impression in sport is that attack is “stud” and defence is “Fighter“. This is mainly because defence (in any game, pretty much) is primarily about not making errors, and being disciplined. Flamboyance can pay off in attack, when you only need to strike occasionally, but not in defence, where the real payoff comes from being consistent and excellent. However, attack need not always be stud, and defence need not always be fighter. This is especially true in team sports such as football, where there can be a fair degree of organisation and coaching to get players to coordinate. This piece in The Athletic (paywalled) gives an interesting instance of how attacking can be fighter, and how modern football is all about fighter attacking. It takes the instance of this weekend’s game between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool F.C., which the latter won. Jack Pitt-Brooke, the author, talks about how Liverpool is fighter in attack because the players are well-drilled in attacking, and practice combination play, or what are known in football as “automisations”. But in modern football, the opposite is true. The best football, the type played by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City or Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, is the most rigorously planned, drilled and co-ordinated. Those two managers have spent years teaching their players the complex attacking patterns and synchronised movements that allow them to cut through every team in the country. That is why they can never be frustrated by opponents who just sit in and defend, why they are racking up points totals beyond the reach of anyone else. Jose Mourinho, on the other hand, might be fighter in the way he sets up his defence, but not so when it comes to attacking. He steadfastly refuses to have his teams train attacking automisations. While defences are extremely well drilled, and know exactly how to coordinate, attackers are left to their own forces and creativity. What Mourinho does is to identify a handful of attackers (usually the centre forward and the guy just behind him) who are given “free roles” and are expected to use their own creativity in leading their team’s attacks. As Pitt-Brooke went on to write in his article, That, more than anything else, explains the difference between Klopp and Mourinho. Klopp wants to plan his way out of the randomness of football. Mourinho is more willing to accept it as a fact and work around it. So while the modern manager — Klopp, Guardiola, Antonio Conte — coaches players in ‘automisations’, pre-planned moves and patterns, Mourinho does not. Jurgen Klopp the fighter, and Jose Mourinho the stud. That actually makes sense when you think of how their teams attack. It may not be intuitive, but upon some thought it makes sense. Yes, attack is also being fighterised in modern sport. Author SKPosted on January 13, 2020 Categories football, sport, studs and fightersTags football, jose mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, liverpool, spurs, studs and fightersLeave a comment on Studs and Fighters and Attack and Defence In his excellent piece on Everton’s failed recruitment strategy (paywalled), Oliver Kay of the Athletic makes an interesting point – that players seldom do well when they move from a bigger club to a smaller club. During his time in charge at Arsenal, George Graham used to say that the key to building a team was to buy players who were on the way up — or, alternatively, players who were desperate to prove a point — but to avoid those who might see your club as a soft landing, a comfort zone. “Never buy a player who’s taking a step down to join you,” Graham said. “He will act as if he’s doing you a favour.” This, I guess, is not unique to football alone – it applies to other jobs as well. When someone joins a company that they think they are “too cool for”, they look at it as a step down, and occasionally behave as if they’re doing the new employer a favour. One corollary is that working for “the best” can be a sort of lock in for an employee, since wherever he will move from there will be a sort of step down in some way or the other, and that will mean compromises on the part of all parties involved. Thinking about footballers who have moved from big clubs and still not done badly, I notice one sort of pattern that I call “two steps back and one step forward”. Evidently, I’m basing this analysis on a small number of data points, which might be biased, but let me play management guru and go ahead with my theory. Basically, if you want to take a “step down” from the best, one way of doing well in the longer term is to take “two steps down” and then later take a step up. The advantage with this approach is that when you take two steps down, you get to operate in an environment far easier than the one you left, and even if you act entitled and take time to adjust you will be able to prove yourself and make an impact in due course. And at that point in time, when you’ve started making an impact, you are “on the way up”, and can then step up to a club at the next level where you can make an impact. Players that come to mind that have taken this approach include Jonny Evans, who moved from Ferguson-era Manchester United to West Brom, and then when West Brom got relegated, moved “up” to Leicester. And he’s doing a pretty good job there. And then there is Xherdan Shaqiri. He made his name as a player at Bayern Munich, and then moved to Inter where he struggled. And then he made what seemed like a shocking move for the time – to Stoke City (of the “cold Thursday night at Stoke” fame) in the Premier League. Finally, last year, after Stoke got relegated from the Premier League, he “stepped up” to Liverpool, where, injuries aside, he’s been doing rather well. The risk with this two steps down approach, of course, is that sometimes it can fail to come off, and if you don’t make an impact soon enough, you start getting seen as a “two steps down guy”, and even “one step down” can seem well beyond you. Author SKPosted on January 8, 2020 Categories arbit, football, workTags careers, dead end, evans, everton, football, shaqiri1 Comment on Two steps back, one step forward Spurs right to sack Pochettino? A few months back, I built my “football club elo by manager” visualisation. Essentially, we take the week-by-week Premier League Elo ratings from ClubElo and overlay it with managerial tenures. A clear pattern emerges – a lot of Premier League sackings have been consistent with clubs going down significantly in terms of Elo Ratings. For example, we have seen that Liverpool sacked Rafa Benitez, Kenny Dalglish (in 2012) and Brendan Rodgers all at the right time, and that similarly Manchester United sacked Jose Mourinho when he brought them back to below where he started. And now the news comes in that Spurs have joined the party, sacking long-time coach Mauricio Pochettino. What I find interesting is the timing of the sacking – while international breaks are usually a popular time to change managers (the two week gap in fixtures gives a club some time to adjust), most sackings happen in the first week of the international break. The Pochettino sacking is surprising in that it has come towards the end of the international break, giving the club four days before their next fixture (a derby at the struggling West Ham). However, the Guardian reports that Spurs are close to hiring Jose Mourinho, and that might explain the timing of the sacking. So were Spurs right in sacking Pochettino, barely six months after he took them to a Champions League final? Let’s look at the Spurs story under Pochettino using Elo ratings. Pochettino took over in 2014 after an underwhelming 2013-14 when the club struggled under Andre Villas Boas and then Tim Sherwood. Initially, results weren’t too promising, as he took them from a 1800 rating down to 1700. However, chairman Daniel Levy’s patience paid off, and the club mounted a serious challenge to Leicester in the 2015-16 season before falling away towards the end of the season, finishing third behind Arsenal. As the Elo shows, the improvement continued, as the club remained in Champions League places through the course of Pochettino’s reign. Personally, the “highlight” of Pochettino’s reign was Spurs’ 4-1 demolition of Liverpool at Wembley in October 2017, a game I happened to watch at the stadium. And as per the Elo ratings the club plateaued shortly after that. If that plateau had continued, I suppose Pochettino would have remained in his job, giving the team regular Champions League football. This season, however, has been a disaster. Spurs are 13 points below what they had scored in comparable fixtures last season, and unlikely to finish in the top six even. Their Elo has also dropped below 1850 for the first time since 2016-17. While that is still higher than where Pochettino started off at, the precipitous drop in recent times has meant that the club has possibly taken the right call in sacking Pochettino. If Mourinho does replace him (it looks likely, as per the Guardian), it will present a personal problem for me – for over a decade now, Tottenham have been my “second team” in the top half of the Premier League, behind Liverpool. That cannot continue if Mourinho takes over. I’m wondering who to shift my allegiance to – it will have to be either Leicester or (horror of horrors) Chelsea! Author SKPosted on November 20, 2019 Categories analytics, football, sports analyticsTags elo, football, mourinho, pochettino, spursLeave a comment on Spurs right to sack Pochettino? EPL: Mid-Season Review Going into the November international break, Liverpool are eight points ahead at the top of the Premier League. Defending champions Manchester City have slipped to fourth place following their loss to Liverpool. The question most commentators are asking is if Liverpool can hold on to this lead. We are two-thirds of the way through the first round robin of the premier league. The thing with evaluating league standings midway through the round robin is that it doesn’t account for the fixture list. For example, Liverpool have finished playing the rest of the “big six” (or seven, if you include Leicester), but Manchester City have many games to go among the top teams. So my practice over the years has been to compare team performance to corresponding fixtures in the previous season, and to look at the points difference. Then, assuming the rest of the season goes just like last year, we can project who is likely to end up where. Now, relegation and promotion introduces a source of complication, but we can “solve” that by replacing last season’s relegated teams with this season’s promoted teams (18th by Championship winners, 19th by Championship runners-up, and 20th by Championship playoff winners). It’s not the first time I’m doing this analysis. I’d done it once in 2013-14, and once in 2014-15. You will notice that the graphs look similar as well – that’s how lazy I am. Anyways, this is the points differential thus far compared to corresponding fixtures of last season. Leicester are the most improved team from last season, having scored 8 points more than in corresponding fixtures from last season. Sheffield United, albeit starting from a low base, have done extremely well as well. And last season’s runners-up Liverpool are on a plus 6. The team that has done worst relative to last season is Tottenham Hotspur, at minus 13. Key players entering the final years of their contract and not signing extensions, and scanty recruitment over the last 2-3 years, haven’t helped. And then there is Manchester City at minus 9! So assuming the rest of the season’s fixtures go according to last season’s corresponding fixtures, what will the final table look like at the end of the season? We see that if Liverpool replicate their results from last season for the rest of the fixtures, they should win the league comfortably. What is more interesting is the gaps between 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4. Each of the top three positions is likely to be decided “comfortably”, with a fairly congested mid-table. As mentioned earlier, this kind of analysis is unfair to the promoted teams. It is highly unlikely that Sheffield will get relegated based on the start they’ve had. We’ll repeat this analysis after a couple of months to see where the league stands! Author SKPosted on November 13, 2019 Categories analytics, football, sports analyticsTags analytics, football, leicester, liverpool, man city, premier league3 Comments on EPL: Mid-Season Review Amazon and Sony Liv Amazon is pretty bad at design of products they’re not pioneers in. They’ve built a great shopping engine (25 years ago) and a great cloud service (15 years ago), but these were both things they were pioneers in. Amazon being Amazon, however, they have a compulsive need to be in pretty much every industry, and so they’ve launched clones of lots of other businesses. However, their product design in these is far from optimal, and the user experience is generally very underwhelming. Prime Video has a worse user experience than Netflix. The search function is much worse. The machine learning (for recommendations) isn’t great. The X-ray is good, but overall I don’t have as pleasant a time watching Prime as I do with Netflix. However, the degree to which Prime Video is worse than Netflix is far far smaller than the degree to which Amazon Music is worse than Spotify. The only thing going for Amazon Music (which I only use because it comes free with my prime delivery membership in India) is that they have inventory. Spotify in India has been unable to secure rights to a lot of classic rock and metal bands, such as Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin and Dream Theater. And these form a heavy part of my routine listening. And so I’m forced to use Amazon Music (Apple Music has these bands as well, but I have to pay extra for that). The product (Amazon Music) is atrocious. The learning is next to nothing. After five months of using the service to exclusively listen to Classic Rock and Heavy Metal, and zero Indian music, the home page still recommends to me Bollywood, Punjabi and Tamil stuff! History is not properly maintained. Getting to the album or playlist (the less said about playlists on Amazon, the better) I want takes way too much more effort than it does on Spotify. In other words, the only thing that keeps Amazon going in businesses they’re not pioneers in is inventory – Prime Video works because it has movies and shows other streaming services don’t have. Amazon Music is used because it has music that Spotify doesn’t. I figured it is a similar case with Sony Liv, Sony’s streaming service in India. They sit on a bunch of lucrative monopolies, such as rights to broadcasting Test cricket in a lot of countries (all three Test series being played right now are on Sony, for example), Champions League football and so on. Beyond that it’s an atrocity to watch them. I remember missing a goal in the Liverpool-Porto Champions League quarterfinal because of a temporary power cut. There was no way in the broadcast to go back and see the goal. If I by mistake pause for a couple of seconds, I’m forever behind “live” (unless I refresh). Yesterday during the classic Ashes Test, the app simply gave up when I tried to load the game. The product is atrocious (actually more atrocious than Amazon Music), but people are forced to use it only because they have a monopoly on content. And in that way, it is similar to Amazon, which can get away with atrocious products only because they have the inventory! I’m glad the Premier League is on Hotstar, which is mostly a pleasure to watch! (actually back in the day when I had cable TV, the star sports bouquet had significantly superior production values to the sony-zee-ten bouquet) Author SKPosted on August 26, 2019 Categories business, entertainment, mediaTags amazon, cricket, football, rights, sony liv, spotify, streaming, TV1 Comment on Amazon and Sony Liv This is Anfield I had a massive fanboy time this morning, as I went on my long-awaited (nearly 14 years) pilgrimage to Anfield, home of the Liverpool Football Club. As I had mentioned in my post last night, this was the explicit purpose of my visit to Liverpool, and I had left home with only three bookings – train to Liverpool, hotel in Liverpool and the Anfield tour. So after having polished off a “large Full English” (in hindsight, I’m thankful for that) at a local cafe close to my hotel, I took an Uber to Anfield. The driver was also a Liverpool fan and we spent time chatting about last afternoon’s game, when Liverpool played insipidly to draw across Stanley Park with Everton. I was in good time for the tour (that was to start at 11), and spent the time walking along the outside of the Main Stand. There are benches dedicated to Liverpool’s greatest players of all time, and the floor is tiled with names of members (not all members I think – perhaps those that made contributions to rebuild the Main Stand 3 years ago). I paid my respects at the Hillsborough Memorial and walked back to the Kop end where the entrance to the Stadium Tour is situated. The tour started on the sixth floor of the newly redeveloped Main Stand (if you’ve wondered why TV broadcasts of Liverpool games suddenly started showing a very high angle, this is the reason). Our guide Terry first took us to the hall where there were photos of “Liverpool’s six great managers”. The choices were interesting – Shankly, Paisley, Fagan, Dalglish, Houllier and Benitez. As the Elo ratings show, these were all definitely managers who improved Liverpool, sometimes in a significant way (though the last two also let things slip considerably towards the end of their reigns. I sensed some sort of discomfort in the group. Evidently, a majority were Liverpool fans, but talks about “the purpose of the club being to win trophies” and talking up of the number of trophies won so far brought up the painful reality that we’ve “AJMd” on a league, a europa league and a champions league in the last five years itself, and look on course to AJM the league once again. Nobody really wanted to point out that things aren’t going as well as we would like. In any case, the tour moved on and our guide Terry was excellent, though sometimes he went back to familiar cliches. Describing the miracle of Istanbul, for example, he made the familiar joke of “Milan had Kaka, and we had Djimi Traore, and yet we managed to win”. We moved on to a view of the pitch from the highest tier of the main stand, my first impression was that this is a rather “cosy” stadium. Now, the only other stadiums I’ve been to are the behemoths Camp Nou and Wembley, and in comparison to them, Anfield looked rather intimate. That also suggested why the crowd at Anfield is sometimes like “Liverpool’s 12th man”, as a poster outside the away dressing room claimed. The small stadium means the crowd noise can reverberate easily around the stadium. The Anfield Road End is yet to be redeveloped, and once that happens the stadium will become “taller”, meaning the noise levels might get higher. Looking at the pitch from up the Main Stand gave me another regret – that I haven’t watched a game at Anfield (though I did watch Liverpool play at Wembley). Hopefully sometime in this lifetime I’ll fulfil that! There were cutouts of various players placed near the dressing rooms. Salah’s was the most popular as everyone lined up to take a selfie with him. Rather than waiting there, I managed selfies with cutouts of all of Firmino, van Dijk and Alisson. The dressing rooms were impressive (especially the Home dressing room). I also found the differences between home and away dressing rooms interesting – the home room is soundproof while the away room isn’t. The home room has lighting control to adjust the lighting to the pitch. The away room has no such facilities. These are subtle differences we don’t appreciate as TV viewers, but can have a profound impact on the game. And based on this, I don’t mind the draws at Manchester United and Everton that much! Author SKPosted on March 4, 2019 Categories descriptive, football, personal, travelTags anfield, football, liverpool, stadiumLeave a comment on This is Anfield Football Elo Application This morning, I discovered the Club Elo Ratings, and promptly proceeded to analyse Liverpool FC’s performance over the years based on these ratings, and then correlated the performance by manager. Then, playing around with the data of different clubs, I realised that there are plenty more stories to be told using this data, and they are best told by people who are passionate about their respective clubs. So the best thing I could do is to put the data out there (in a form similar to what I did for Liverpool), so that people can analyse how their clubs have performed over the years, and under different managers. Sitting beside me as I was doing this analysis, my wife popped in with a pertinent observation. Now, she doesn’t watch football. She hates it that I watch so much football. Nevertheless, she has a strong eye for metrics. And watching me analyse club performance by manager, she asked me if I can analyse manager performance by club! And so I’ve added that as well to the Shiny app that I’ve built. It might look a bit clunky, with two unrelate graphs, one on top of the other, but since the two are strongly related, it makes sense to have both in the same app. The managers listed in the bottom dropdown are those who have managed at least two clubs in the Premier League. If you’re interested in Premier League football, you should definitely check out the app. I think there are some interesting insights to be gleaned (such as what I presented in this morning’s post). Author SKPosted on December 20, 2018 Categories data, football, sportTags football, interactive, R, shinyLeave a comment on Football Elo Application Built by Shanks This morning, I found this tweet by John Burn-Murdoch, a statistician at the Financial Times, about a graphic he had made for a Simon Kuper (of Soccernomics fame) piece on Jose Mourinho. NEW: @KuperSimon digs into where it went wrong for Mourinho and Man United https://t.co/tpsHhY1PPK Data from @clubelo show his infamous third season problem: José always reached his peak within his first two seasons at a club, and after that things went downhill rapidly pic.twitter.com/At1iswfX9j — John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) December 18, 2018 Burn-Murdoch also helpfully shared the code he had written to produce this graphic, through which I discovered ClubElo, a website that produces chess-style Elo ratings for football clubs. They have a free and open API, through which Burn-Murdoch got the data for the above graphic, and which I used to download all-time Elo ratings for all clubs available (I can be greedy that way). So the first order of business was to see how Liverpool’s rating has moved over time. The initial graph looked interesting, but not very interesting, so I decided to overlay it with periods of managerial regimes (the latter data I got through wikipedia). And this is what the all-time Elo rating of Liverpool looks like. It is easy to see that the biggest improvement in the club’s performance came under the long reign of Bill Shankly (no surprises there), who took them from the Second Division to winning the old First Division. There was brief dip when Shankly retired and his assistant Bob Paisley took over (might this be the time when Paisley got intimidated by Shankly’s frequent visits to the club, and then asked him not to come any more?), but Paisley consolidated on Shankly’s improvement to lead the club to its first three European Cups. Around 2010, when the club was owned by Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett and on a decline in terms of performance, this banner became popular at Anfield. The Yanks were subsequently yanked following a protracted court battle, to be replaced by another Yank (John W Henry), under whose ownership the club has done much better. What is also interesting from the above graph is the managerial change decisions. At the time, Kenny Dalglish’s sacking at the end of the 2011-12 season (which ended with Liverpool losing the FA Cup final to Chelsea) seemed unfair, but the Elo rating shows that the club’s rating had fallen below the level when Dalglish took over (initially as caretaker). Then there was a steep ascent under Brendan Rodgers (leading to second in 2013-14), when Suarez bit and got sold and the team went into deep decline. Again, we can see that Rodgers got sacked when the team had reverted to the rating that he had started off with. That’s when Jurgen Klopp came in, and thankfully so far there has been a much longer period of ascendance (which will hopefully continue). It is interesting to see, though, that the club’s current rating is still nowhere near the peak reached under Rafa Benitez (in the 2008-9 title challenge). Impressed by the story that Elo Ratings could tell, I got data on all Premier League managers, and decided to repeat the analysis for all clubs. Here is what the analysis for the so-called “top 6” clubs returns: We see, for example, that Chelsea’s ascendancy started not with Mourinho’s first term as manager, but towards the end of Ranieri’s term – when Roman Abramovich had made his investment. We find that Jose Mourinho actually made up for the decline under David Moyes and Louis van Gaal, and then started losing it. In that sense, Manchester United have got their sacking timing right (though they were already in decline by the time they finished last season in second place). Manchester City also seem to have done pretty well in terms of the timing of managerial changes. And Spurs’s belief in Mauricio Pochettino, who started off badly, seems to have paid off. I wonder why Elo Ratings haven’t made more impact in sports other than chess! Author SKPosted on December 20, 2018 Categories analytics, data, football, sportTags bill shankly, football, liverpool, manager1 Comment on Built by Shanks Bankers predicting football So the Football World Cup season is upon us, and this means that investment banking analysts are again engaging in the pointless exercise of trying to predict who will win the World Cup. And the funny thing this time is that thanks to MiFiD 2 regulations, which prevent banking analysts from giving out reports for free, these reports aren’t in the public domain. That means we’ve to rely on media reports of these reports, or on people tweeting insights from them. For example, the New York Times has summarised the banks’ predictions on the winner. And this scatter plot from Goldman Sachs will go straight into my next presentation on spurious correlations: Different banks have taken different approaches to predict who will win the tournament. UBS has still gone for a classic Monte Carlo simulation approach, but Goldman Sachs has gone one ahead and used “four different methods in artificial intelligence” to predict (for the third consecutive time) that Brazil will win the tournament. In fact, Goldman also uses a Monte Carlo simulation, as Business Insider reports. The firm used machine learning to run 200,000 models, mining data on team and individual player attributes, to help forecast specific match scores. Goldman then simulated 1 million possible variations of the tournament in order to calculate the probability of advancement for each squad. But an insider in Goldman with access to the report tells me that they don’t use the phrase itself in the report. Maybe it’s a suggestion that “data scientists” have taken over the investment research division at the expense of quants. I’m also surprised with the reporting on Goldman’s predictions. Everyone simply reports that “Goldman predicts that Brazil will win”, but surely (based on the model they’ve used), that prediction has been made with a certain probability? A better way of reporting would’ve been to say “Goldman predicts Brazil most likely to win, with X% probability” (and the bank’s bets desk in the UK could have placed some money on it). ING went rather simple with their forecasts – simply took players’ transfer values, and summed them up by teams, and concluded that Spain is most likely to win because their squad is the “most valued”. Now, I have two major questions about this approach – firstly, it ignores the “correlation term” (remember the famous England conundrum of the noughties of fitting Gerrard and Lampard into the same eleven?), and assumes a set of strong players is a strong team. Secondly, have they accounted for inflation? And if so, how have they accounted for inflation? Player valuation (about which I have a chapter in my book) has simply gone through the roof in the last year, with Mo Salah at £35 million being considered a “bargain buy”. Nomura also seems to have taken a similar approach, though they have in some ways accounted for the correlation term by including “team momentum” as a factor! Anyway, I look forward to the football! That it is live on BBC and ITV means I get to watch the tournament from the comfort of my home (a luxury in England!). Also being in England means all matches are at a sane time, so I can watch more of this World Cup than the last one. Author SKPosted on June 13, 2018 Categories arbit, football, investment bankingTags football, goldman sachs, ing, monte carlo, nomura, predictions, ubs, world cup1 Comment on Bankers predicting football	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line872
__label__cc	0.565157	0.434843	Fatal superbug reported in Melbourne Health Minister Jill Hennessy says no cause for panic despite two deaths 29 June 2015 12:40pm Victorian hospitals are on high alert for a type of bacteria producing a condition with the complex title klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC), which is thought responsible for the death of two patients at St Vincent’s Hospital last year. KPC has infected dozens of people in Victoria over the past three years. According to Kumar Visvanathan, an infectious disease specialist at St Vincent’s, 28 cases of the infection have been diagnosed at the hospital since 2012. A spokesman for the Department of Health also said that while 18 of the 57 people had died with the bacteria detected in their system, it was unclear if the bug was actually responsible for their deaths. The non-responsiveness of the superbug to modern antibiotics has reportedly forced doctors to use drugs from the 1940s, which carry more side effects. This approach prompts fears that the bacteria will stop responding to the old drugs at some stage, leaving KPC-infected patients unprotected. The first diagnosed cases of KPC in Victoria involved patients who are thought to have been infected after receiving medical care overseas, where the superbug had become more prevalent over the last few years, particularly in Greece, Italy, India and South-East Asia. However, an outbreak among patients this year has forced health authorities to proceed with a statewide review of the problem and order hospitals to use maximum infection control procedures. KPC can be present in the bowels without causing disease, a state described as ‘colonisation’. In some cases, people can by ‘populated’ by the bacteria for up to four years without suffering illness. They can also develop urinary and blood infections, and depending on the individual’s immune system and its responsiveness to antibiotics, it can be fatal. Common signs and symptoms include fever, rapid pulse rate, redness, swelling, and pain or heat at a specific site on the body. The bacteria is not spread through the air or by coughing or sneezing. There is currently no vaccination available for preventing KPC. Victoria’s Health Minister Jill Hennessy has excluded the possibility of an extended public health risk posed by the bacteria. “All health service CEOs and chief medical officers have instituted a response to make sure we are better able to identify, contain and address any issues relating to KPC,” said Minister Hennessy, adding that she did not want Victorians to feel frightened about using their public health services. “We are simply taking additional steps to make sure that we manage this issue properly to make sure our health services are safe.” Health Check: Should you take probiotics when you’re on antibiotics? Black death makes a comeback Greek Australians at risk of antibiotic misuse	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line874
__label__cc	0.642701	0.357299	Newburgh Press Finance January 16, 2020 by Fredrick Flores Worth Comparing these two stocks: Sanofi (NYSE:SNY), Flexion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLXN) Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) Sanofi (NYSE:SNY), ended its previous trading session at $51.25 showing a gain of 0.270000000000003 or 0.53 percent with respect to the price of $50.98 when stock market opened. The company traded 1.07 Million shares over the course of the trading day. Giving the average volume of 1.79 Million over the course of 3 consecutive months. Which signifies a pretty good change over the time with its shares outstanding of 2.48 Billion. Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) is currently trading lower than its price target which is set to $55.25 by the analyst. The stock is -1.14% Below its 1-Year High which is $51.84. SNY has a difference of 28.13% from its 1 year low which stands at $40.00. The company is currently rated by analyst who are keeping a close eye on the stock as 1.4. Where 1 means Buy, 2.5 meaning Hold and 5 as Sell. Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) Performance Snapshot The stock performed exceptionally bad in the previous week which depicts an decrease of 0.53 percent in the shares price. The company added about 2.93% in its share price over 1-Month. While taking about the performance of the stock over 1-year interval is 21.33 Percent. SNY currently shows 2.09% as its year to date performance. Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) Price Insight The stock needs to grow about $4 to reach its price target. In order to seek the stock’s directional movements, 20-Days, 50 Days and 200-Days moving averages are 1.1%, 6.42% and 15.21 percent respectively. The stock trades about 0.1 percent of its Float giving its total shares Outstanding are 2.48 Billion. SNY gained about 23.29 percent in 6 months showing its Average True Range of 0.63. The company currently has a RSI and Beta of 63.43 and 0.64. While talking about Sanofi (NYSE:SNY) valuation ratios, the stock trades with a P/S and P/B of 3.1 and 1.95 which is significantly better and attractive as compared to its peers. Flexion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLXN) Flexion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLXN), closed the last trading session at $18.24 with decrease of $-0.23 or -1.25 percent against the opening price of $18.47. The trading day volume of the company stands at 617353 shares while the average trading volume of Flexion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLXN) is 867.37 Million over the course of 3 consecutive months. Which signifies a pretty good change over the time with its shares outstanding of 42.64 Million. The price target of Flexion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLXN) is currently set at 29.2 by the analysts. The stock is $-20.63 Below its 1-Year High which is $22.98. FLXN hit its 1-Year low price of $8.76. The company is currently rated by analyst who are keeping a close eye on the stock as 1.8. Where 1 means Buy, 2.5 meaning Hold and 5 as Sell. Performance Indicators of Flexion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLXN) The value of the stock decreased by -11.97% during the previous week performance. Looking at the 1 month performance of Flexion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLXN), the stock dipped -7.86%. While the 1 year performance shows a positive percentage of 29.91 and year to date performance stands at -11.88%. Flexion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLXN) Analytical Review The stock needs to grow about $10.96 to reach its price target. In order to seek the stock’s directional movements, 20-Days, 50 Days and 200-Days moving averages are -7.08%, -1.42% and 32.95 percent respectively. The stock trades about 20.34 percent of its Float giving its total shares Outstanding are 42.64 Million. FLXN gained about 65.82 percent in 6 months showing its Average True Range of 1.02. The company currently has a RSI and Beta of 42.63 and 1.49. While talking about Flexion Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FLXN) valuation ratios, the stock trades with a P/S and P/B of 13.23 and 96 which is significantly better and attractive as compared to its peers. Which is the most compelling pick right now? Uniti Group Inc. (NASDAQ:UNIT), Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.- Petrobras (NYSE:PBR-A) Are you willing to Put your Money on these stocks? TransCanada Corporation (NYSE:TRP), Unisys Corporation (NYSE:UIS) Copyright © 2020 Newburgh Press – Designed & Developed by ZThemes	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line876
__label__cc	0.647662	0.352338	10564 5th Ave NE, #203 Seattle, WA 98125 Read Our Reviews Facebook Phonak Hearing Aids Resound Hearing Aids Starkey Hearing Aids Unitron Hearing Aids Levo System Hearing Aid Videos Beyond Hearing Aids Industry News Feed Musicians' Hearing Loss and Prevention Online Hearing Survey so you can hear Our staff of hearing professionals will provide you with the best care in the industry. We provide a wide range of hearing care services to improve your quality of life. Better Hearing We offer the latest hearing technology, products and accessories provided by many manufacturers. Take your hearing health seriously! Complete our survey to assess your hearing health needs today! We carry the latest in hearing aid technology. Browse our complete selection and find the right fit for you. Experiencing ringing, buzzing, whooshing or hissing sensation in your ears? Contact us for solutions today. Researchers Seek Answers for Varying Results with Cochlear Implants A cochlear implant is an electronic device capable of restoring hearing in a profoundly deaf person by directly stimulating the nerve endings in the inner ear. This technology enables people who have become deaf to be able to communicate orally again, even by telephone, and children born deaf to learn to speak and to benefit from normal schooling. However, results can be extremely variable, with implants having only little benefit for some patients, without any means of predicting failure based only on purely clinical factors. Using data from brain imaging techniques that enable visualising the brain's activity, a neuroscientist at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and a Parisian ENT surgeon have managed to decipher brain reorganisation processes at work when people start to lose their hearing, and thus predict the success or failure of a cochlear implant among people who have become profoundly deaf in their adult life. The results of this research may be found in Nature Communications. A cochlear implant is an electric device designed to counter the loss of hearing linked to an inner ear deficiency, either congenital or acquired. First used as experimental devices in the 1970s, they have become commonplace since the 1990s. They provide many deaf people with a significantly improved ability for oral understanding and thus a considerable boost to their quality of life. However, despite the technological advances, there are still some 5 to 10% of adult patients who have become deaf for whom this technique remains stubbornly ineffective. Why? In order to find an answer to this question crucial for clinical practice, Diane Lazard, an ear, nose and throat surgeon at the Institut Vernes (Paris) and Anne-Lise Giraud, neuroscientist in the UNIGE's Faculty of Medicine, have sought to identify which brain factors might be linked to the success or failure of implants. The two scientists have studied how the brain of a deaf person manages to represent the sound of the spoken word and its capacity of re-using these representations after a cochlear implant. Anne-Lise Giraud explained: 'The test went like this. We presented some visual stimuli to the subjects, in the form of written word, and asked them to determine whether two words, without the same orthographic ending, rhymed or not - for instance wait and gate. Subjects would then have to recourse to their memory of sounds and, using functional neuroimaging (fMRI) techniques, we observed the neural networks in action.' Whereas the researchers were expecting that the subjects would be slower and less accurate that those in a control group of people without any hearing difficulty, to their surprise they found that certain deaf people completed the task quicker and more accurately than their normo-hearing counterparts. The 'super-readers' and their reorganised brains For 'Super-readers', who appear to be able to handle written words quicker than those with no hearing impediment, the brain has opted to replace orality by written exchanges and has restructured itself accordingly. The brain circuits used by such 'super-readers', and which are situated in the right hemisphere, are organized differently and thus cochlear implants give poor results. The other deaf people, those who carried out the task at the same speed as the control subjects, remain anchored to orality and therefore gain more benefit from cochlear implants. Unlike the 'super-readers', the latter manage to master lip-reading as deafness encroaches, and therefore maintain a central phonological organization very similar to that of normo-hearing people, which uses the left hemisphere of the brain. There are therefore two categories of subjects whose brain circuits function very differently. This research points to the essential role played by the interactions between the auditory and visual systems in the success or failure of cochlear implants. Their outcome will indeed depend on this cortical reorganization. For 'super-readers', the fact of having adapted to deafness by developing certain "supra-natural" visual capabilities constitutes a handicap for the use of implants. Is it possible to go back in time? 'It's difficult to say at the moment,' says Diane Lazard, 'but the idea is also to be able to spot in advance the people who will have a propensity for the written stimulus and to offer them active means for remaining with orality, particularly with auditory prostheses and speech therapy used much earlier than is currently practised.' But as Anne-Lise Giraud explains, 'Equally we do not know why certain people quite unconsciously choose one direction rather than the other, but predisposition surely plays a part, because we all learn to integrate auditory and visual information by the time we are three. Certain people manage this better than others and, with deaf people, those who integrate the audio-visual elements best will probably have a tendency to remain more aligned with orality.' Such results also explain why it is so important to be able to equip congenitally-deaf children during their first few months, i.e. before the onset of the reorganization of the visual and auditory brain circuits, a process which may compromise their ability to access orality. Live Speech Mapping Musicians' Earplugs and Monitors Site Designed by Audiology Design \| © Northgate Hearing Services 2020 All Rights Reserved	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line877
__label__cc	0.669769	0.330231	Challenge Complete: Antonym Challenge Slowly, Slowly in the Wind: Review Death in the Memorial Garden Give-Away Winner! Reminder: Death in the Memorial Garden E-book Give... Challenge Complete: 150+ Reading Challenge Catch as Catch Can: Review Challenge Complete: Back to the Classics 2013 Mount TBR: My Signup Color Coded Challenge: My Signup Color Coded Challenge 2013 Mount TBR and Color Coded Challenges What An Animal Reading Challenge VI Challenge Complete: GoodReads Reading Challenge Death in the Memorial Garden Blog Tour So You Think You Know Vintage Mysteries? Death of an Old Girl: Review Monthly Key Word Challenge What's in a Name 6 My Day in Books Outdo Yourself Challenge 2013 Saturday Snapshot: Mom's Wedding Portrait The Bone Is Pointed: Review Christmas Spirit Challenge 2012 Vintage Mystery Scattergories Vintage Mystery Reading Challenge 2013: Scattergor... The School of Night: Review Crime Fiction Alphabet: Letter Z Not in the Flesh: Review Saturday Snapshot: Brownies! Secret Santa Exchange 2012 Challenge Complete: Death by Gaslight The Penguin Book of Victorian Women in Crime: Revi... Crime Fiction Alphabet: Letter Y Travel the World in Books Reading Challenge Here I am signing up for my very own Mount TBR Reading Challenge (click link for rules and sign-up page). I'm such a bookaholic that I'm going straight for Mt. Everest with the hopes that I'll be able to build a rocket ship when I reach the top and shoot on up to Mount Olympus on Mars. But the official sign up is to try and knock out 100 of my very own books that just happen to be in gigantic piles of TBR books stacked up around my backroom. I don't have a TBR shelf. Oh, no. I have "Mount TBR"...possibly a whole mountain range. Mt. Everest: Read 100 books from your TBR pile/s 22. Unhappy Hooligan by Stuart Palmer (3/24/13) 38. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes (6/7/13) 39. Murder on Safari by Laura Lippman (6/8/13) 40. The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Sanders (6/12/13) 41. Murder Within Murder by Frances & Richard Lockridge (6/14/13) 42. Break Any Woman Down by Dana Johnson (6/17/13) 43. The Chinese Parrot by Earl Derr Biggers (6/18/13) 44. The Father's Day Murder by Lee Harris (6/18/13) 45. Death in Zanzibar by M. M. Kaye (6/25/13) 46. Jack on the Gallows Tree by Leo Bruce (6/26/13) 47. The Listening by Kyle Dargan (6/28/13) 48. Mystery Train by David Wojahn (6/28/13) 49. Death & the Gentle Bull by Frances & Richard Lockridge (6/29/13) 50. The Mummy Case Mystery by Dermot Morrah (7/3/13) 51. Dead Man Control by Helen Reilly (7/6/13) 52. The Hollow Chest by Alice Tilton [Phoebe Atwood Taylor] (7/12/13) 53. The Call of the Wild by Jack London (7/14/13) 54. Spotted Hemlock by Gladys Mitchell (7/18/13) 55. London Particular (aka Fog of Doubt) by Christianna Brand (7/22/13) 56. The Case of the Careless Kitten by Erle Stanley Gardner (7/23/13) 57. Mist on the Saltings by Henry Wade (7/26/13) 58. The Mind of the Maker by Dorothy L. Sayers (7/31/13) 59. Till Death Do Us Part by John Dickson Carr (8/2/13) 60. The Long Farewell by Michael Innes (8/3/13) 61. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton (8/6/13) 62. Andersen's Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen (8/20/13) 63. The Door by Mary Roberts Rinehart (8/22/13) 64. Poems & Prose by Christina Rossetti (8/27/13) 65. A Bullet in the Ballet by Caryl Brahms & S. J. Simon (8/28/13) 66. This New & Poisonous Air by Adam McOmber (9/3/13) 67. Murder & Blueberry Pie by Frances & Richard Lockridge (9/3/13) 68. The Croquet Player by H. G. Wells (9/4/13) 69. Malcolm Sage, Detective by Herbert Jenkins (9/8/13) 70. Famous Ghost Stories edited by Bennett Cerf (9/13/13) 71. The Temple of Death by A. C. & R. H. Benson (9/16/13) 72. The Dreadful Hollow by Nicholas Blake (9/19/13) 73. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson (9/24/13) 74. Death Knocks Three Times by Anthony Gilbert (9/27/13) 75. The Mystery Lovers' Book of Quotations by Jane Horning (9/27/13) 76. The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson (10/1/13) 77. Foundation by Isaac Asimov (10/4/13) 78. The Haunted Dolls' House by M. R. James (10/9/13) 79. Murder at Cambridge by Q. Patrick (10/15/13) 80. Dead of a Counterplot by Simon Nash (10/20/13) 81. The Water Room by Christopher Fowler (10/25/13) 82. Gently Go Man by Alan Hunter (10/27/13) 83. Once Upon a Crime by M. D. Lake (10/28/13) 84. Through a Glass, Darkly by Helen McCloy (10/29/13) 85. Mystery & Crime: NYPL Book of Answers by Jay Pearsall (10/30/13) 86. By a Woman's Hand by Jean Swanson & Dean James (11/2/13) 87. Maid to Murder by Roy Vickers (11/3/13) 88. Shell Game by Richard Powell (11/4/13) 89. Kemp's Last Case by M. R. D. Meek (11/4/13) 90. The Murder Stone by Charles Todd (11/8/13) 91. Death Is in the Air by Kate Kingsbury (11/10/13) 92. Evidence of Things Seen by Elizabeth Daly (11/12/13) 93. Check-Out Time by Kate Kingsbury (11/13/13) 94. The Small Hours of the Morning by Margaret Yorke (11/15/13) 95. The Dorothy Parker Murder Case by George Baxt (11/19/13) 96. The Patient in Room 18 by Mignon G. Eberhart (11/20/13) 97. The Tragedy of X by Barnaby Ross [Ellery Queen] (11/25/13) 98. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (11/27/13) 99. The Tragedy of Y by Barnaby Ross [Ellery Queen] (11/30/13) 100. The Birds' Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin (12/1/13) Yippee! Complete! 101. The Tragedy of Z by Barnaby Ross [Ellery Queen] (12/3/13) 102. Murder Your Darlings by J. J. Murphy (12/4/13) 103. The Quiet Road to Death by Sheila Radley (12/8/13) 104. Maigret's Christmas by Georges Simenon (12/12/13) 105. A Habit for Death by Chuck Zito (12/17/13) 106. A Christmas Promise by Anne Perry (12/20/13) 107. Wycliffe & the Guilt Edged Alibi by W. J. Burley (12/21/13) 108. Ransom Game by John Buxton Hiltom (12/23/13) Labels: Mount TBR Challenge Margaret @ BooksPlease said... Bev, I'm confused. Are you using 2012's sign up for next year? I too have mountains of books to read and was thinking of joining in the challenge for 2013. Bev Hankins said... No...forgot to change the link. Fixed now.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line890
__label__cc	0.677532	0.322468	My Seventy Year Old Eyes By Hala Deeb Jabbour Jerusalem Dilemma! June 15, 2017 June 12, 2017 Hala Deeb Jabbour Throughout history, from ancient Biblical mentions to Roman and Greek days and to date, Jerusalem has seen more ink spent on discussing it than probably any other city in the world. Books, treatise, news articles, texts of speeches, scripts of dialogues ad infinitum have pondered about its fate. People have argued and killed for it. They still are! I happen to have been born in that venerated city in 1943 when its address was: Jerusalem, Palestine. Therefore, aside from a political affiliation with it, I have historical roots and cultural, as well as religious identification that do not erode simply because Israel now claims it, or since I now have an American citizenship. It is too much a part of my very essence, and it will be for as long as I am alive. As I write this, more ink is being expended on the hundreds of articles being written about it, and, especially, since President Donald Trump has declared that he will not move the American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem any time before six months. The argument is that, yes, while he had promised to do so during his campaign, he would now like to “give Peace a Chance,” so to speak, while he seeks to make the ultimate deal in order to make that happen. Sean Spicer, speaking for the Administration, and seeking to allay far-right zealots in Israel, as well as in the US, said that moving the Embassy was not a question of “If,” but only “When.” Hence, to begin with: do I believe Donald Trump? Actually, it is hard to say. He is, after all, very unpredictable and controversial. Nevertheless, he guaranteed to execute his election pledges, as he had promised them during his campaign, and, since he assumed the Presidency, he has been systematically doing just that while being consistently obstructed by Democrats. Not surprising, since Republicans obstructed Obama anywhere they could. It is, mainly, childish tit-for-tat strategy that only goes to prove how dysfunctional our politics are. I, and you, may agree, or disagree with Trump, disparage his agenda, get infuriated at some of his executive orders, but we cannot deny that he has mostly kept to his word. Should the Opposition and the Mainstream Media fail in their vindictive and zealous attempts to impeach him, he might yet succeed in delivering on Israeli/Palestinian peace. Am I being naïve again for believing in the possibility of yet another effort at this elusive peace? Perhaps. It would not be the first time on this obdurate matter. After all, President Obama could not have done any more to disappoint me on that question. So, only time will tell what this Administration will do! President Trump had also mentioned on a number of occasions that he has assigned his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as the point-man on this mission. I had never heard of Mr. Kushner before our latest Presidential Campaigns and Election. Since then, I see a young, handsome, pensive fellow who appears to be a thoughtful husband and caring Dad. He is also of the Jewish faith. From what I hear and read, he has contributed to Democratic, as well as Republican causes, organizations and politicians. This tells me that he is more likely to be an amalgamation of a conservative-liberal-progressive man than a fanatic ideologue. That would not surprise me at all. Polling says that many young Jewish Americans, while feeling a strong religious, cultural and traditional connection to Israel are quite liberal and progressive, and that the two-state solution is an appealing and realistic idea to them, and one that they support. Is Mr. Kushner of that mindset? I do not know. He has deep-rooted ties to Bibi, which might mean that he could assume a far-right continuation of the Israeli Government’s criminal policies. However, my instincts whisper that I should give him a chance, although my dismal political experiences in life murmur that I should be cautious. Again, only time will tell whether Jared could deliver on that front, or only throw the Palestinian people under the bus for another time during their miserable history! Important to note that as I survey the world, I am finding that the old political dinosaurs who are remnants of the Holocaust, World War II, the Cold War, and Communism are slowly and surely dying out, as are their set-in-stone passé beliefs. A welcome generational shift is taking place and with it the attitudes and convictions of another era. Unfortunately, quite a few of these old dinosaurs are still around in our US government. I believe that most – not all – of the “Russian Meddling” hullabaloo is due to that, and that Donald Trump’s idea (for which he has been unduly vilified) of a rapprochement with Putin and Russia is not a bad one at all. This does not mean that Putin’s intentions are pure. But then, no politicians are. Right? Also, old habits and mindsets are difficult to change! Nevertheless, my hope is that young Jewish men and women could change the old trajectory in the Middle East which has been dogging our world for far too long. There have been back-channel and secret talks going on between the Palestinians and Israelis since 1967/68. They never stopped. Then we had Oslo and all the promise of that Peace, which was shattered! However, during all those years, and as a reminder for the many with self-inflicted amnesia and denial, there was an underlying acceptance of the fact that West Jerusalem would always be Israeli territory, and that East Jerusalem would be Palestinian territory despite all of the Israeli Government’s unlawful efforts to demolish anything Palestinian in many parts of East Jerusalem and to create new and newer “facts on the ground” that strive to change the landscape and the demographics. Nevertheless, there have always been tacit understandings that hovered over all the tenuous peaceful efforts. The first one is that the Holy Places and Landmarks would, in any peaceful settlement, be administered by a triumvirate of the three religions: Jewish, Christian and Muslim – with representation from all the different sects of these three religions. The second contemplation was that the smaller area of East Jerusalem plus the suburb of Abu Dis (that lies East of Jerusalem, and that has really become a part of it) would constitute the capital of the Palestinian State. Voila! Israel will then have Jerusalem/Yerushalayim as its Eternal Capital, and the Palestinians will then have Jerusalem/Al-Quds as their desired capital. Win-Win situation, if you ask me! Would that Sanity, Legality, Justice and Balance prevail for the politicians to arrive to that outcome that should end the Jerusalem Dilemma fairly and equitably! Does that mean that all the problems would have been eradicated should this occur? Not unless we are all naïve! However, all can be dealt with when there is a sincere effort to maintain peaceful coexistence. We have seen it happen throughout history. For this reason, if nothing else, the present peace negotiators would do well to include the many smart and mature Israeli members of the Peace Camp, as well as members of Hamas – both of whom have been marginalized. Peace has to include all parties/factions in order for everyone to feel vested in it, and responsible for its success. At the end of the day, Bibi and Israeli Governments since 1948, have been spinning the narrative to their advantage (read below article from The Intercept) https://theintercept.com/2017/06/05/a-50-year-occupation-israels-six-day-war-started-with-a-lie/ However, lies are short-lived, and they have not managed to spin the steadfast, perseverant Palestinians out of existence. They cannot. So, when many in Israel, as well as among the Palestinians and Arabs, question: One State, or Two, I maintain what I have outlined in my blog of 11/15/2014: https://myseventyyearoldeyes.com/2014/11/15/two-states-or-one/ In brief: Two States to begin with, and after that let the younger future generations make the decision as to whether they would like to combine themselves into One State; into a Federation, or into anything that their bright, young, modern minds could come up with. When Peace prevails, and when the Jerusalem Dilemma is resolved innovations and ideas would find fertile terrain in which to thrive. The Israel/Palestine conundrum has caused too much turmoil in our already stressed world. I’ll keep hoping for the Better Angels amongst us to prevail and to solve the Jerusalem Dilemma and all the related issues once and for all! Nothing is impossible! Published by Hala Deeb Jabbour I am a grandmother, a writer and a cosmopolitan woman. I love people and enjoy sharing my thoughts, as well as reading the thoughts and opinions of others. View all posts by Hala Deeb Jabbour Previous postBewildering! Next postPuzzling 2 thoughts on “Jerusalem Dilemma!” Riad Dimechkie says: You are MUCH more optimistic than I am. I wish what you say will come true but I really don’t believe it will. People don’t give up power and right now no one is likely to force Israel to do so. Certainly not the Arabs who are experiencing more turmoil, destruction and indifference to the Palestinians’ plight than ever; not the Americans who increasingly see us as only $100B arms customers or despicable terrorists; not the majority of the Israelis who are quite comfortable with the status quo (developing allies with certain Arab regimes and non-state actors, partnering with African states and indifferent about the Arab hinterland for trade). Sorry, but I really don’t see cause for optimism and certainly not in Donald or Jared. My only comment is that there is no logical way to achieve a 2-state solution. As long as there are illegal Jewish settlements scattered all over Palestinian land, it will never happen. You just can’t unscramble an egg. The ad-nausium talk of a two-state solution is a political diversion that’s designed to make Israel look like it’s interested in a solution, and a cover up of the reality of apartheid. Author’s Favorite Oh Jerusalem A WOMAN OF NAZARETH By: Hala Deeb Jabbour Buy From: Amazon & iUniverse E-book available on Nook 28 Years Later: A look back at A Woman of Nazareth As the carnage in the Middle East, as well as all across the world, continues unabated, these six posts from my site are even more relevant today than they were when I first published them five years ago. How very tragic! Two States or One Jerusalem Dilemma Victims Are Cool Quite Criminal Jerusalem Photo Library Encyclopedia of Palestine Problem	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line891
__label__wiki	0.568744	0.568744	The Oil Industry’s Most Promising Dividend Stocks Of 2020 The oil and gas industry… What The Market Is Overlooking In The Occidental Deal Occidental Petroleum has caught a… Saudi Arabia's Final Attempt To Boost Aramco's Valuation As the Aramco IPO nears,… This Supermajor Is Leading The Energy Sector By Irina Slav - Dec 30, 2018, 4:00 PM CST ConocoPhillips is the best-performing energy stock on the S&P 500 Energy Index this year. The news is all the more impressive because it is the only stock with a positive performance on the index in the year to date, Bloomberg reported this week, adding that the S&P 500 Energy Index has itself booked a 25-percent slide since the beginning of 2018, on track to finish with the worst annual performance since the 2008 crisis. Conoco clearly stands out. In fact, the supermajor has been standing out in the oil crowd for a while now. Earlier this year, when the company announced it would be parting with some of its acreage in the Permian and South Texas, some were confused: wasn’t everyone flocking to the Permian? But Conoco made it clear it’s not an “at all costs” situation for it. The company offloaded some non-core assets worth US$250 million to focus on its priorities, among them higher shareholder returns and a focus on higher-return projects. As of April this year, Conoco’s average sustaining cost per barrel was US$40. At the start of February, the company announced it will lift the 2018 dividend by 7.5 percent and buy back shares worth US$2 billion, despite booking a loss for 2017. During that year, Conoco also paid down US$7.6 billion in debt and bought back US$3 billion in shares. Besides, it reported a 200-percent organic reserve base replacement rate. With such a track record after the 2014 price meltdown, what’s not to love about Conoco? The strategy it is using to recover from the crisis is what other supermajors are using, too: raise dividends, buy back shares issued in the heat of the crisis, pay down debt. However, it’s booking better results than the other supermajors. Related: ExxonMobil Faces Off With Venezuela’s Navy Earlier this year, after it announced the Permian and South Texas asset sale, Conoco also said it will be divesting its business in the UK section of the North Sea. The price tag for the assets was an impressive one: US$3 billion for fields producing a total 67,000 bpd of oil equivalent as of the third quarter of this year and infrastructure. The supermajor is in exclusive talks with Ineos for the assets. Conoco also pursued Venezuela’s PDVSA aggressively to enforce a court ruling awarding the supermajor with a US$2-billion compensation for the forced nationalization of its operations in Venezuela by the Chavez government. Conoco seized PDVSA assets in the Caribbean, which eventually forced the state-owned company to negotiate a payment schedule. This victory in a long-running dispute cannot have passed investors by. The latest in the good news department for Conoco shareholders was the announcement of the 2019 budget, which revealed the company is rather upbeat about the future despite the recent slide in international oil prices. Conoco said it planned to pay shareholders more than 30 percent of cash from operations and buy back another US$3 billion worth of shares. It also said it would achieve free cash flow generation at oil prices of US$40 a barrel for West Texas Intermediate. Conoco is not inventing the wheel. The company is using tactics that would make the most sense in a hypervolatile oil price environment. And these tactics are working better than they are working for its peers. The Biggest Oilmen Of 2018 Natural Gas Prices Could Fall Further Why The Oil Price Bear Market Persists Is The World’s Most Indebted Oil Company About To Be Privatized? Saudi Aramco Shoots For The Highest Possible Valuation Another OPEC Producer Looks To Back The Aramco IPO	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line892
__label__wiki	0.839229	0.839229	@wbsc Hosted by: JPN Softball Canada names preliminary rosters for 2020 season Softball Canada has announced the lists of athletes for the Women and Men’s National Teams in 2020. The Women’s National Team will try to win their first-ever Olympic medal in Tokyo 2020. The Men’s team will be focused on the Pan American Championship, which is a qualifier for the WBSC Softball World Cup 2021. Canada Women’s National Team A total of 21 athletes have been named to the Women’s National Team Athlete Pool for the 2020 season. These athletes are currently training full time and will compete at various events leading up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. The list includes the 15 players that earned the Olympic berth at the WBSC Americas Softball Qualifier. Congratulations @SoftballCanada!!!! See you in Tokyo 2020!! #RoadToTokyo #Softball pic.twitter.com/Qk0SrkPvMP — WBSC Softball 🥎 (@WBSCsoftball) September 2, 2019 “It is nice to have the Olympic qualification behind us and to be able to shift our focus to prepare for the Olympic Games” stated Mark Smith, Softball Canada’s High Performance Director and Head Coach of the Women’s National Team program. “A lot of hard work went into preparing for the 2019 season, however, the next eight months will define how we will be remembered in Canadian softball history.” Canada had a very successful 2019 season, winning the gold medal at the Canada Cup, the silver medal at the Pan American Games, in addition to qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Canada Men’s National Team Canada also unveiled the list of 44 athletes who have been named to its 2020 Men’s National Team Athlete Pool. The Athlete Pool includes 15 players from the 2019 World Championship Team, and eight new members to the Athlete Pool. The Canadian Men’s National Team won a bronze medal at the 2019 WBSC World Championship this summer in the Czech Republic. Their focus in 2020 will be on the WBSC Americas Men’s Pan American Championship, which will act as a qualifier the 2021 WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup - due take place in Auckland, New Zealand. The WBSC is recognised as the sole competent authority in Baseball and Softball by the International Olympic Committee. In compliance with:	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line894
__label__wiki	0.932173	0.932173	Wike Is A Courageous Politician — Jonathan Former President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated the Rivers State Governor, Mr, Nyesom Wike as he marks his 52nd birthday on Friday, describing him as a courageous politician. In a goodwill message the former President personally signed, Jonathan commended Wike for the good works he is doing towards the growth and development of Rivers State. He said: “I felicitate with you, your friends and well-wishers as you celebrate your birthday. You are a courageous politician who has remained dedicated to service and impactful leadership to the people of Rivers State and Nigeria at large. “As the Governor of Rivers State, you have been steadfast on the path of development.” He added that the Governor has continued to channel his energy towards improving the lives of his people”. Related Topics:Goodluck JonathanNyesom Wike Buhari Congratulates Boris On Electoral Victory Dickson Plotting To Take Rivers’ Oil Wells — Wike ‘Keep Praying For The Country’ — Ex-President Jonathan Urges Nigerians Armed Forces Remembrance Day: Wike Calls For Defeat Of Insurgents Wike Inaugurates Rivers State Ease Of Doing Business Council Wike To Armed Forces: Heaven And Nigerians Will Never Honour Those Involved In Election Rigging 2023: I’ll Not Impose Anybody On Rivers State — Wike 2023 Presidency: Seun Kuti Sends Serious Warning To Ex-President Jonathan Kelvin Agbogidi Very courageous to the core Nickson Charles Exactly you have spoken well oga goodluck Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma has accused sponsors of the nationwide protest on Sunday and Monday of attempting to bring down the government of President Muhammadu Buhari. Uzodinma also urged the federal government and security agencies to investigate the real intention of the sponsors of such protest across the nation The governor spoke on Monday when scores of the supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State staged a solidarity rally for him over his victory at the Supreme Court. According to him, the nationwide protest by the PDP members was an attempt to overthrow the federal government. “Why are they organising a nationwide protest on an event that happened in Imo? If they didn’t have ulterior motive to bring down the government, you they could have held the rally in Imo State, where the supreme Court passed a judgement?” He insisted: “We are one united and indivisible country. We did not challenge the election on the grounds of violence or over voting, but we asked the court to add our votes which INEC did not include” The governor urged the people of the state to go about their normal businesses because “I’m in charge and it is by the grace of God that I’m your governor”. State Deputy chairman, Ugochukwu Nzekwe, while addressing the mammoth crowd, stated that the party members were on a solidarity rally to show that the people of the state were happy with Senator Hope Uzodinma as their new governor. The newly installed governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma has raised alarm that there is an alleged plan for him to be impeached. Uzodinma said the plan is the handiwork of The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in Imo State. Oguike Nwanchukwu, the Chief Secretary and Media Adviser to the governor said that the plan has already been exposed. “We know the game plan of the PDP because we are aware that they have been secretly inciting Imo State House of Assembly members to think of how to impeach the governor. So they are trying to rake up anything they can, even falsehood, to incite the public.” Recall that the former governor of the State, Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic party was sacked by the court on Tuesday, January 14th and Hope Uzodinma of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was declared the winner of the just concluded governorship election. The supreme court has upheld the elections of Simon Lalong, governor of Plateau state, and Bala Mohammed, his Bauchi counterpart. In Plateau, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared Lalong, who contested the March election under the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner, but Jeremiah Useni, his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rival, had challenged his victory. Useni had earlier lost at the tribunal and court of appeal. Mohammaed Abubakar of the APC had also challenged the victory of Mohammed who contested under the platform of the PDP. Like Useni, Abubakar lost at the tribunal and appeal court but headed to the supreme court. At the apex court on Monday, Sylvester Ngwuta, the judge who headed the seven-man panel, dismissed the appeal filed by Useni and Abubakar.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line895
__label__cc	0.725775	0.274225	Epistle Reading: Acts of the Apostles 8:26-39 In those days, an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert road. And he rose and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a minister of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go up and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” And he said, “How can I, unless some one guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. Now the passage of the scripture which he was reading was this: “As a sheep led to the slaughter or a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so he opens not his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken up from the earth.” And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, pray, does the prophet say this, about himself or about some one else?” Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this scripture he told him the good news of Jesus. And as they went along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What is to prevent my being baptized?” And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he replied, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught up Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. Gospel Reading: Luke 9:7-11 At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by Jesus, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen. Herod said, “John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him. On their return the apostles told him what they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a city called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him; and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and cured those who had need of healing. Philip the Apostle of the 70, one of the 7 Deacons, Theophanes the Confessor, Bishop of Nicaea, Holy Martyrs Zenais and Philonilla, Nectarios, Arsakios, Sisinios and Philotheos Kokkinos, Patriarchs of Constantinople, Ethelburga, Abbess of Barking, Kenneth October 11, 2018 Bible, Daily Readings, Devotional, Orthodoxy, Reading, Scripture	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line896
__label__wiki	0.797033	0.797033	This 50-year-old dog walker retired after making more than $1 million — working just three days a week Kristin Morrison started a business doing what she loves. Read More... When Kristin Morrison was in her mid-20s, she had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. It was the mid-1990s. She had no career and no direction. She was living in Tiburon, Calif., just over the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, taking classes and trying to figure things out. Then one day she went for a walk, and everything changed. “When I talk about it, I get chills,” she says now. On that hike she met a woman walking two dogs. The woman wore a T-shirt that advertised a dog-walking business. “It wasn’t a thing, like it is now,” she says. “I thought, ‘Can people get paid for this?’ ” Morrison introduced herself. The two got to talking. The woman hired her. Three months later Morrison had started her own business, Woof! Pet Sitting Service. “I just realized this is what I should be doing,” she says. “I loved to walk, and I love animals. … To be able to combine the two was mind-blowing to me.” Don’t miss: Here’s the No. 1 highest paid, most in-demand job in every American state — in one chart By 2013, when she sold the business for an amount she says she can’t reveal, it had more than 30 employees and had generated “millions of dollars in revenues,” Morrison says. By then she had been working just three days a week for more than a decade. Her income broke the $100,000 barrier in the early 2000s, and from there “it went up and up and up,” she says. According to the U.S. Census, the average person in Morrison’s Marin County, Calif., made $44,000 in 2001 and $72,000 today. -Morrison now runs a business advising others on building pet-sitting and pet-walking businesses, and continues to make “a six-figure income,” she says. It is, aptly, called “The Six-Figure Pet Business Academy.” Many people dream of working for themselves. Many, of course, dream of making money doing something they love. Many also dream of working three days a week. Morrison managed to do all of that. -How did she do it? The turning point, she says, came in the early 2000s. Even though the company had been up and running for years and was growing successfully, she was still working seven days a week and often 12 to 14 hours a day. It’s a tale familiar to many or most small-business owners. “I woke up one day and realized, ‘I have no life,’ ” she recalls. She made a drastic change. She slashed her involvement in the day-to-day minutiae of the business so she could focus on the big picture, dealing with clients and key matters like hiring the right employees. “I thought, ‘My business is growing, I need to grow, too. I need to be the captain of the ship, on deck, instead of being in the belly of the ship,’ ” she says. She stopped walking or sitting pets herself. And she promoted one of her employees to take over day-to-day management. “In a year I went from working seven days a week to three days a week, and… I doubled what I’d made the previous year, doing a lot less work.” The reason, she says, was that she “had more freedom, and I was making more money, because I had more energy. … I would connect with the clients. I was able to more thoughtfully deal with things. I was also able to look at who was on my team who was dragging us down.” She expanded the business to the entirety of Marin County and into Sonoma County. “It’s a numbers game,” she says. Morrison struggled early on. “I didn’t know what I was doing,” Morrison says. “I had never run a business before. I didn’t know how to get clients. I wasn’t a very good boss in the beginning. I told people what to do. I was like, ‘They work for me,’ ” rather than, ‘They work with me.’ You really need to be a team.” She took business classes at a local community college and read a lot of books on how to run a business. Eventually she figured things out. These days nonveterinary pet-care services are big business. Pet owners are on track to spend more than $6 billion on grooming, walking, sitting and related services this year, according to the American Pet Products Association, a trade body. What’s her advice for those dreaming of following her path into dog walking, or just into starting a business? “Don’t give up your day job [too soon],” she says. “That’s like asking a business to support you before it’s ready.” You need to advertise. “Hire a Facebook advertising expert,” she says. “Facebook FB, +0.05% ads are very important, and there’s a learning curve.” For locally based services such as dog walking, also look at advertising on Nextdoor.com, a social-media site serving local communities. Look at your competitors before setting your price. And try to set yours in the middle of the pack. Don’t be the low bidder, Morrison warns: Customers are wary of any company whose prices seem unrealistically low. Anyone who wants to get work as a dog walker needs to establish contacts with local veterinary clinics, dog groomers and other related businesses. “They’re your direct line [to pet owners],” Morrison says. Give them your business cards and, if possible, leaflets. Check with your local humane society to see if it offers classes and training. Oh, and get business insurance. “I wouldn’t go into business without it. I wouldn’t even think of it,” says Morrison. “There’s special pet sitters’ insurance.” Oh, and here’s an inside trick: If you’re starting out in business as a pet sitter, look for cats instead of dogs. They’re usually much more flexible and lower-maintenance. The Moneyist: A letter from a reader on the poverty line: ‘I know what it means to go hungry for five days until you get your next paycheck’ Dorian Slows in Bahamas; Direct Florida Hit Seen Less Likely Don’t believe these Social Security myths, and what to do if someone gets your Social Security number Amazon HQ2 surpasses 400 employees. Here's how it will grow in 2020 and beyond. Asia Markets: Asian markets mixed as investors digest economic data ahead of central bank meetings 3 Stocks to Buy Ahead of the Next Market Crash 3 Fast-Growing Technology Stocks You Need to Know About Aurora Cannabis stock drops after earnings, as revenue misses revised target	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line899
__label__wiki	0.669053	0.669053	Oxford VR awarded Immersive Healthcare of the Year for automated VR therapy Oxford VR has been recognised at the Immersive Perspective Awards 2018, hosted by Virtual Perceptions, winning the Immersive Healthcare of the Year award. This follows a period of unprecedented growth for the business and a highly successful launch of its research into the use of immersive VR technology for mental health. The accolade comes on the back of research led by Oxford VR’s Chief Clinical Officer, Daniel Freeman, into the use of VR to deliver psychological therapy via a computer-generated virtual coach. The results of the research, which focused on fear of heights, were published in the Lancet Psychiatry to global acclaim. The research proved Oxford VR’s therapy has the potential to transform mental health for millions by combining state-of-the-art immersive technology with world-class, clinically validated science. “Mental health is a growing concern in our society,” says Barnaby Perks, CEO of Oxford VR. “Around one in four of us will experience a clinical psychological disorder at some point in our lives. While we don’t lack high-quality, evidence-based psychological treatments for many mental health problems, we are short of the skilled clinicians who can effectively deliver them. “VR therapy has been used in the past to treat certain mental health conditions, specifically phobias, but it has always required a therapist with the appropriate skills and knowledge to guide the patient through the treatment. With access to therapists limited, there are delays in treatment. However, Oxford VR has now broken new ground by proving the effective use of automated VR therapy to treat mental health disorders. This treatment will be faster and significantly cheaper to deploy, and will complement existing traditional clinical therapies excellently,” Barnaby explains. “Our fear of heights intervention has shown the potential of automated VR treatment, and we are now developing interventions for a wide range of significant mental health problems including psychosis, social anxiety, OCD, depression and addiction,” says Barnaby. “We are extremely proud to have been recognised for our work with immersive VR technology for automated mental health therapies. I believe we are well-placed to develop treatments that are faster and significantly cheaper for health services to deploy and, crucially, effective and engaging for users.”   Currently supported conditions The theory Building the virtual world © Copyright OxfordVR 2019 Company registration no. 10472107 Terms & Conditions \| Privacy Policy \| Site by Herd Our Website uses cookies to improve your experience. Please visit our Cookies page for more information about cookies and how we use them.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line901
__label__cc	0.691809	0.308191	The Central Bank of Afghanistan canceled the license of Habib Bank AfghanistanEconomicsLocal NewsNews Reporter: Latifa Sahil Officials from the Central Bank of Afghanistan have announced that they canceled the license of the central bank branch in Afghanistan. The central bank spokesman Emel Hashour told the media that “the bank’s ban on the bank’s execution has been ordered by the Supreme Banking Authority of Iran to cancel the license.” He says that the Pakistani bank has no advantage in developing the economy, and has not even provided its customers for two years, even a thousand Afghans. According to Mr. Hashour, according to Afghan law, all the capital of banks operating in Afghanistan should be Afghan, but the bank has not complied with Afghan law. While Pakistan’s Habib Bank is one of Pakistan’s largest banks established in 1947, it now has close to 1,800 branches inside and outside Pakistan.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line902
__label__wiki	0.79498	0.79498	Tag Archives: aquatic centre Past/Lives Flashback #8: Sydney Olympic Park – Homebush, NSW By Michael Wayne on April 10, 2013 \| 7 Comments Original article: NSW State Abattoirs/Sydney Olympic Park – Homebush, NSW It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since I last visited this place. The blood-soaked history of Sydney Olympic Park is perhaps the most heavily researched article on Past/Lives, yet all that knowledge is quick to fall away when you’re actually standing on site, inhabiting the space where it all went down. The post-Easter Show cleanup only serves to strip back the gaudy decorations designed to distract from the past, leaving today’s visitors with one of two visions: the glorious Olympics, or the violent abattoirs. Apart from the hubbub surrounding the Easter Show, change visits the Olympic zone about as often as I do (read: not much). The stadium seems to have settled on ANZ as its name for the time being, just as the arena’s heart still belongs to Allphones. During my refresher course on the ins and outs of the Olympic era of the site’s history, I laughed when I learned the arena’s actual name is the ‘Sydney Super Dome’. For the first time ever, Allphones sounds comparatively low-key. So since change is such a stranger here, it’s going to be more beneficial to take a look at some of the landmarks around the Olympic site that betray its brutal past. We didn’t touch on too many last time, with the Abattoir Heritage Precinct being the natural focus. First up is Olympic Park station, the last stop of the train line which delivers thousands of Easter Show-goers to the park each year… Abattoir platform, 1982. Image courtesy Graeme Skeet/NSWrail.net …just as it delivered hundreds of thousands of animals to their deaths each year for decades, some as recently as 25 years ago. Granted, it isn’t the exact same station (although if it was, abattoir workers would have enjoyed the most stylish station in Sydney), but its location is approximate to the original. A complete train line (with stations opening from 1915) served the abattoir and the nearby brickworks, with country trains deviating from the existing rail network at Lidcombe and Flemington to deposit country animals to the abattoir. Employees could catch their own trains from a small platform at the end of Pippita Street, Lidcombe. As the abattoir declined, the need for employees did so as well, and in 1984 the abattoir line was closed, with the facility itself closing in 1988. The entire Homebush Salesyard Loop, on which the Olympic Park line is based, was closed in 1991. In 1996, the Pippita Street station became the last of the abattoir stations to be demolished, and interestingly, the street itself was absorbed into the huge Dairy Farmers site nearby (now, why do you think that’s there?). The brand-spanking-new Olympic Park loop line opened in 1998, with most of the Homebush Salesyard Loop repurposed to be a part of it. Now, since that was a little…dry, let’s get wet. The Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre was the first part of Olympic Park to be constructed following the closure of the abattoir, unless you count Bicentennial Park, which opened in 1988. The Aquatic Centre opened in 1994, with the rest of the park completed by 1996. As such, the Aquatic Centre is the ‘middle child’ of the Olympic Park, with a design sensibility halfway between Bicentennial Park and the stadiums that followed. It’s a strange beast, and one made even stranger by my near-absolute certainty that when it first opened, its entrance was in fact this: Sometime in 1995, I attended a birthday party at the exciting new Aquatic Centre, which was rumoured on the playground to have a whirlpool and slides. I don’t remember any slides, but I do have a distinct memory of our posse leaving behind a rubber WWF wrestler toy, tossed high up in those bushes on the left in a fit of excitement…while we were hanging around the entrance. Does the Iron Sheik still reside in those bushes today, subsisting on a diet of ants, rainwater and the occasional small bird? Nearly 20 years later, I still wasn’t game enough to climb up and find out. But I did go in for a closer look… The appearance of those bolt marks, where the original entry sign was probably attached, seems to validate my memory of this being the main entrance. The doors underneath now serve as an emergency exit. If anyone can shed some light on this mystery, drop a line in the comments below. My theory is that when the Aquatic Centre opened, the entrance was here because it faced away from the abattoir site (and at the time, a huge construction site), but when the rest of the park was completed, the entrance was moved around to the opposite end of the facility, a spot which pretty much faces the Abattoir Heritage Precinct (and everything else, in keeping with the Olympic spirit of inclusion and togetherness). Today’s entrance looks a lot more ‘Olympic’ anyway, so it was probably a change for the best. Still… Our last stop is just down the road from the Aquatic Centre. Back in the 70s and 80s, Swire (then Woodmasons Cold Storage) would have been one of the places to store the freshly processed animal carcasses on ice before being shipped to the nearby butcheries and markets. For a cold storage facility (and for Dairy Farmers), this was the perfect location…when the abattoir was there. How it’s still able to do business is a stone cold mystery, but I guess that’s why they’re no longer Woodmasons. See you next time, when we’ll attempt to go for a drive… Posted in: industrial, infrastructure, Parramatta River, railway, special feature, sports centres, state government \| Tagged: 2000 Olympics, abattoir, Abattoir Heritage Precinct, Allphones Arena, ANZ Stadium, aquatic centre, Australia Centre, Bicentennial Park, brickpit, brickworks, D'Arcy Wentworth, Dairy Farmers, Flemington, Glebe Island, Glebe Island Abattoir, goods line, Homebush, Homebush Bay, Homebush Salesyard Loop, industrial, Iron Sheik, John Fahey, Metropolitan Meat Industry Board, New South Wales, Nick Greiner, NSW, NSW Premier, NSW State Abattoir, offal, Olympic Games, Olympic Park Station, Olympics, Parramatta Road, Pippita Street, platfrms, Playfair, pollution, rail, Rhodes, Royal Easter Show, runoff, Saleyards, State Brickworks, Strathfield, Susan Murphy, Swire Cold Storage, Sydney, Sydney 2000, Sydney Olympic Games, Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, Sydney Olympics, Sydney Royal Easter Show, Sydney Super Dome, Thomas Playfair, toxic waste, trains, Under Rookwood, V8 Supercars, Wentworth Estate, Woodmasons Cold Storage, Woolmasons Cold Storage, WWF	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line903
__label__wiki	0.623186	0.623186	Mobile Digital Television on Track to Reach Two-Thirds of U.S. Households by Early Next Year by Pearl \| Aug 4, 2011 WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Mobile Digital Television is on track to reach two-thirds of U.S. households by early 2012, as dozens of TV broadcast stations are now installing new transmission equipment that will allow live, local TV signals to reach viewers wherever they go in a local market. Based on a new survey of member plans, the Open Mobile Video Coalition of America’s (OMVC) broadcasters today announced that 96 stations are now on-the-air with Mobile DTV and that the total number of Mobile DTV stations is expected to grow to 126 in 48 markets by the end of the year. “Our stations throughout the country are now deploying the equipment needed to bring Dyle mobile TV to millions of viewers” In addition, OMVC announced today that its Mobile DTV Trust Authority, managed by Neustar, is now operational and in discussions with several companies developing new Mobile DTV products operating with conditional access. Manufacturers of Mobile DTV capable devices are entering into agreements directly with Neustar to obtain the digital certificates and keys necessary for secure use of Mobile DTV service by these devices. Recently, the Mobile Content Venture (MCV), a joint venture of 12 national television station groups, including Belo Corp., Cox Media Group, E.W. Scripps Co., Gannett Broadcasting, Hearst Television Inc., Media General Inc., Meredith Corp., Post-Newsweek Stations Inc. and Raycom Media, all of which are part of the standalone entity known as Pearl Mobile DTV, LLC, as well as Fox, ION Television, and NBC, announced Dyle™ mobile TV, its new consumer brand for services delivered through MCV member stations. Dyle mobile TV will feature content from NBC, FOX, Telemundo and ION, as well as local news, weather and other local content, across 32 markets, reaching 50 percent of the U.S. population in 2011. “Our stations throughout the country are now deploying the equipment needed to bring Dyle mobile TV to millions of viewers,” said Erik Moreno and Salil Dalvi, co-GM’s of MCV. “We’re very excited about the rollout of the Dyle service to consumers,” they added. “OMVC members are making the investments needed to make Mobile DTV available to millions of viewers,” said Colleen Brown, CEO of Fisher Communications and chair of the Mobile 500 Alliance. The Mobile500 Alliance represents more than 400 local TV broadcasters who are planning to add Mobile DTV capability to their digital broadcasts. “Mobile DTV channels now being transmitted are providing viewers with the latest news, emergency weather information, traffic updates, and their favorite programs,” Brown continued. Coming Soon: Device Profiles, Model Conditional Access System The OMVC’s Mobile DTV Forum is working to complete Consumer Electronics Device Profiles for new programming services later this summer. The profiles are baseline technical guidelines that will give CE manufacturers details about how broadcasters will implement new services and the inputs needed to build consumer electronics products that receive Mobile DTV. The Mobile DTV Forum is comprised of TV technology companies, consumer electronics firms, and broadcasters. In the fall, the OMVC will initiate a model Conditional Access System in the Washington, D.C. market, a move designed to help CE companies test gear that receives, decodes, and displays mobile broadcast signals. Conditional Access is an essential element in Mobile DTV, to facilitate both robust audience measurement and the eventual deployment of subscription programming. Last month, OMVC announced a new Predictive Model for reception of UHF Mobile DTV signals, a tool intended to predict signal coverage in automobiles and for personal viewing. OMVC is also making available recorded Mobile DTV signals, a new library of content that will help broadcasters and product developers improve Mobile DTV service and consumer products. About the Open Mobile Video Coalition Representing over 900 TV stations across the country, the Open Mobile Video Coalition is a voluntary association of television broadcasters whose mission is to accelerate the development of mobile digital television in the United States. The OMVC is composed of 36 members that own and operate over 500 commercial television stations, as well as the Association of Public Television Stations, Corporation for Public Broadcasting and the Public Broadcasting Service, which represent an additional 360 public television stations. Membership in the OMVC is open to all U.S.-based television broadcasters. For more information, please visit: www.OMVC.org. OMVC Anne Schelle, 443-857-0200 anne.schelle@omvc.org or Arland Communications Dave Arland, 317-701-0084 Dave@ArlandCom.com “NEXTGEN TV” MONIKER RESONATES WITH CONSUMERS PLANNING MAIN TV SET UPGRADE October 16, 2019 PHOENIX MODEL MARKET ADDING SECOND NEXTGEN TV TRANSMISSION SITE AND SINGLE FREQUENCY NETWORK October 15, 2019 SCRIPPS’ WMYD TELEVISION TO HOST DETROIT’S FIRST NEXT-GEN TELEVISION STATION May 15, 2019	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line908
__label__wiki	0.79767	0.79767	Image Credit: Tova Mozard and Barnett Cohen The Urgency of Quiet & Cops Are Actors Barnett Cohen & Tova Mozard Saturday, Mar 16 2019 Non-monetary donation to the FREE bar or FREE boutique The Urgency of Quiet & Cops Are Actors are two distinct performances that converge for one night only. Circling around the gaps between the body and the self–where rehearsal ends and performance begins–both pieces challenge the critical distance inherent in spectatorship. The Urgency of Quiet suggests the audience switch off one sense to amplify another, to engage with performance beyond the visual realm. Cops Are Actors asks viewers to see through metonymy, hesitations beneath a show of force. Though differing in content and delivery, both works puncture the fourth wall while forming subtle yet radical departures from preconceived notions of performance. The Urgency of Quiet is written and directed by Barnett Cohen in collaboration with Lea Madda, Pearl Marill, Carolina Vargas, and Dre Matthews. Astral Props are a collaboration between Cohen and Eric Holbreich of House of 950. Cops Are Actors is choreographed and directed by Tova Mozard. Actors/Cops are Darnell Baldwin, Al Burke and Chuck Saale. Barnett Cohen originally received formal theatrical training, with an emphasis on breath and vocal work, at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. He then embarked upon a career as a visual artist with an interest in multiple disciplines, employing a wide-range of media—sculpture, painting, video, installation, and performance–-that collectively serve as meditations on the space between thought and the self and between the self and the body. His work has been exhibited at such venues as House of the Book (Los Angeles), 356 Mission (Los Angeles), Human Resources (Los Angeles), Vox Populi (Philadelphia), City Limits (Oakland), The International Center for Photography (New York), and La Galerie SEE Studio (Paris.) In 2019, he will present new work at The Neutra VDL House (Los Angeles), and at JDJ in Garrison, New York. He received a BA in English literature from Vassar College, an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts, attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, and will be in-residence at the MacDowell Colony in 2019. Tova Mozard (1978) is a Swedish artist living in Stockholm and Los Angeles. Mozard holds an MFA from the Malmö Art Academy, Sweden and has also studied photography at the University of California, Los Angeles. She has exhibited extensively, both in Sweden and internationally, and is represented in several public and private collections. The uncertainty one experiences as a viewer encountering the photographs and video works of Tova Mozard is related to the extent to which we are used to reading images and their contents. Mystery is a key element in her photographs, along with the information that has been omitted. The sense of finding yourself in the middle of a story is striking. Although Mozard’s compositions are made up of decayed environments, film sets and bizarre characters, making her photographs visually attractive, the viewer is left with a feeling that is both nostalgic and saturated. Mozard’s work reveals the nature of the relationship between the camera, the protagonist and the director. Sometimes relying on fiction and other times delving into her own biography, she takes on different roles in front of and behind the camera, testing the limits of directing and acting. Looking back, nostalgia and alienation are characteristic aspects of Mozard’s pictorial world. She exploits them in an evocative way, cleverly playing with our receptivity and empathy on various levels.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line909
__label__wiki	0.821447	0.821447	Fleury has emotional return, leads Knights to win ESPN News Services Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made 28 saves in his return to the lineup and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-1 on Tuesday night. It was Fleury’s first game in net since the death of his father, Andre, at the age of 63. Fleury, who hadn’t started since a 4-2 loss to Edmonton on Nov. 23, improved to 11-6-5 against Chicago and 69-38-13 in December. While the Golden Knights outshot Chicago 16-8 in the second, the Blackhawks had more high-danger chances through two periods (8-7). Fleury didn’t look as though he missed any time whatsoever, flashing leather and making highlight-reel saves to thwart every Chicago effort, including back-to-back attempts by Jonathan Toews on the doorstep late in the second. Postgame analysis and highlight show airing each night throughout the season from Barry Melrose and Linda Cohn. Watch on ESPN+ Fleury rejoined the team last Thursday, but didn’t play in losses to the New York Islanders and New York Rangers, with Malcolm Subban making the starts. All told, Subban started seven games in Fleury’s absence. Fleury is 12-6-2 this year with a 2.54 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. Vegas is in fourth place in the Pacific Division, but also three points ahead of the Vancouver Canucks for the second wild-card berth in the Western Conference. The Golden Knights play the first of back-to-back road games at St. Louis Thursday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Pats QB Stidham not focused on Brady’s future Astros’ Altuve confident ‘everything will be fine’ Mercedes to debut 2020 car on Valentine’s Day Australian Open 2020 bracket, scores, schedule, analysis	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line910
__label__wiki	0.563696	0.563696	Naples Hotels Naples Hotel Accommodation Search 1,875 hotels in Naples See Naples hotels on a map Where to stay in Naples Pizza lovers rejoice, and prepare your taste buds for a slice of the best food and drink Italy can offer, in the ancient city of Naples. Founded in 470 BC, the UNESCO World Heritage listed historical center is Europe's largest, and it retains influences from its Greek and Roman past. Naples also benefits from a spectacular setting, with the snow-capped dome of the snoozing Mount Vesuvius over to the East, and the brooding Campi Flegrei volcano to the West. Like the Neapolitan ice cream it lends its name to, Naples is a layered city – with a flavor for everyone. For a great introduction to Naples, start at Piazza del Plebiscito. The open square is perfect for relaxing with a morning cappuccino, or sampling an ice cream cone from a wooden gelato wagon. Wander from the columned San Francesco di Paola church down to the ocean for sweeping views of the city, harbor, and mountains. If the sight of Mount Vesuvius looming in the distance captures your imagination, then leave the city behind and hike to the top, where you can look directly into its cavernous crater. On your way down, visit the World Heritage Site of Pompeii - which was famously destroyed by the volcano's wrath in 79 AD. Tour the museum, and see poignant plaster casts of the bodies of people unable to escape the heat and ash, frozen in time. Roman artifacts from the site are also on display at Naples' National Archaeological Museum, which is just a 5-minute walk from Naples Cathedral. If you're in the city during a religious feast day, you'll notice a lot of activity here. 'The Blood Miracle' ritual takes place 3 times a year, with lavish processions culminating in a passionate ceremony at the Cathedral - during which a vial of Saint Januarius's solidified blood apparently transforms into liquid. Hotels in Naples Whether you want to sample Southern Italy's finest service, or are visiting on a tight budget, Naples hotels cover the whole spectrum. Chink wine glasses on a balcony, overlooking the impossibly blue Mediterranean, before heading to your 5-star hotel room, where you can swim into a sea of soft pillows. If sharing a friendly beer in a social hostel is more your style, Naples has you covered, and you can enjoy WiFi access, and a comfortable bed, without denting your wallet. Mid-range hotels provide all the basics, along with air-conditioned rooms and huge flat-screen televisions – perfect after a long day exploring. Stay in the historical center to sink your teeth into the city's main sights and restaurants. If you think margarita is a boring pizza choice, just take a seat at one of the area's restaurants to have your opinion shattered. Nothing beats the simple taste of browned mozzarella, plump cherry tomatoes, and a drizzling of freshly pressed olive oil - especially when tasted in the birthplace of pizza. Don't forget to wash it down with a shot of Naples' own sour Limoncello liquor. Hotels located around Central Station are generally cheaper than the center, or you could choose to stay outside the city, in the pretty new town of Pompei. How to get to Naples Naples Airport serves the city and offers limited trans-Atlantic flights, alongside a comprehensive selection of European routes. A cheap bus service links the terminal to the city center. If you're already in Italy, Napoli Centrale train station is well connected, and long distance bus services are readily available to help you hop between cities. If you've rented a car, you can drive north to Rome, along the A1, in around 2 hours. A Naples travel guide – Roman relics, medieval castles and Neapolitan pizza Seaside promenades lead around the bay on a Naples city break, and Mount Vesuvius hovers magically on... Where to Stay in Naples – a neighborhood guide Naples is a dizzying assault on the senses. One of Italy’s largest cities, whose historic districts... Naples Shopping Guide – where and what to shop and buy Generations-old, family-run craft shops, antique hideaways packed with quirky treasures, and bustling... All special hotel deals in Naples, Italy Last minute hotel deals in Naples, Italy	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line911
__label__wiki	0.77551	0.77551	Tag Archives: Blue Corn Music All Americans Will Enjoy Grupo Fantasma’s Latest LP Courtesy: Blue Corn Music Veteran Latin music act Grupo Fantasma is set to release its latest full-length studio recording next week. The album, entitled American Music Vol. VII is in fact the band’s seventh full-length studio recording. Despite what the album’s title might seem to infer, the band’s past six album – the first of which was released in 2002 – are not entitled American Music. Rather, the title is a hint to the fact that Latin music is part of the American musical community in whole. The 13-song, 55 minute album is another solid collection of songs that will appeal just as much to Latin music fans as it will to the most devoted fans of Grupo Fantasma. That is despite the fact that the album’s vocals are presented almost entirely in Spanish. One of the songs featured in the album, that serves to show what makes this record so appealing comes slightly past the album’s halfway point in the form of ‘Let Me Be.’ It will be addressed shortly. When considered alongside the clear sociopolitical commentary and Latin vibes of ‘The Wall,’ the two songs together show even more what makes this record such an interesting new offering from the veteran Latin-Funk act. ‘LT,’ which comes early in the album’s run, is yet another notable addition to the album’s body. It will be addressed later. Between this work, the other two noted here and the rest of the album’s offerings, the whole of American Music Vol. VII shows itself to be a record that will appeal to every American. Grupo Fantasma’s forthcoming full-length studio recording American Music Vol. VII is a positive mew musical statement from the veteran Latin-funk outfit. That is because it is a record that shows from start to finish, Latin music is part of the overall American musical community. ‘Let Me Be,’ which comes a little more than halfway through the record’s almost hour-long run, is just one of the songs featured in the album that serves to support that statement. That is evident in part through the song’s musical arrangement, which crosses the band’s standard Latin elements with a very 1960’s-era style funk sound, complete with horns, guitars and vocals. Not having liner notes to refer to, one cannot identify the vocalists featured in this song, but their talent and style is undeniable. That aside, the use of the vocals, saxophones, trumpets and guitars lends itself collectively to a comparison with some of Carlos Santana’s greatest works. As the song enters its bridge, a little more than halfway through its almost four-minute run time, it features a moment that can easily be liked to Ken Barry’s timeless hit, ‘One, Two, Three.’ The overall production is an engaging and enjoyable musical arrangement that is just one part of what makes this song stand out among the LP’s offerings. Its lyrical content is just as important to note. The vocalists presented in this song sing proudly of being comfortable in themselves, not caring what others say and do. They sing in the song’s lead verse, “I don’t need the people who always think they’re right/They always feel the need to tell me/How well I should be/I always take you with a grain of salt/And I come back to tell them/Mind your own business/Just let me be.” They go on to sing in the song’s second verse, “You may know me a little or you don’t know me at all/You feel the need to tell me your unwanted opinions/I can only take it and try to be polite/So just you keep your judgment to yourself.” The group leaves zero doubt by this point as to the statement being made in these words. This is a proud, self-confident musical middle finger of sorts to people who feel the need to interject themselves into everyone’s business except for their own. Every person in this country knows and knows of someone of that nature, including this critic. In other words, this is a statement to which any listener can relate in terms of its lyrical theme. At the same time, the infectious groove presented in the song’s musical arrangement will leave listeners with a smile on their faces just as much. The combination of the elements’ pairing makes the song a work that is sure to be a fan favorite, and just one of the album’s best songs. As previously noted, the seriousness and urgency of ‘The Wall,’ which is obviously a statement about events going on in the news at this moment, is another of AMVS’ body. ‘The Wall’ is not the first time that Grupo Fantasma has delved into the world of Latin rap. Even with that in mind, it shows itself to be another work of Latin musical elements (and even again some old school funk) that will especially reach some of the band’s younger listeners who might be less familiar with the organization. The vocalist – again who cannot be identified here being that no liner notes were sent to this critic with the album – raps, “Everybody listen up/’Cause this is happening now/the moment is so critical/I set it to loud/If you can hear me in your ear…Life or liberty/the justice for publicity/When it comes to everybody/Please come and get me/Oh history/Don’t even live to see/That can of worms/Digging holes in your legacy/Walls are bound to fall/Expose treachery/My pot is melting/Best with your recipe.” It’s a brief statement, but a powerful one nonetheless. The reference to the wall at America’s Mexican border that Donald Trump keeps demanding is clear and present, as is the virtual indictment of Trump’s character. The vocalist even directly addresses the immigration issue connected with the wall, which has been just as prevalent in the news. Considering the energy in the song’s arrangement and the fire in that energy, the message sent in the song’s lyrical content is illustrated and delivered clearly and expertly. The combination of the elements makes the song in whole another important standout addition to AMVS, and more proof of what makes the record such a strong new offering from the band. It still is not the last of the album’s most notable works. ‘LT,’ which comes early in the album’s run, is one more key song to discuss. ‘LT’ stands out because of its musical and lyrical content alike. The song’s musical arrangement is another familiar Latin-tinged piece that wastes no time getting listeners on their feet and moving with its combination of horns and percussion. Lyrically, it is just as certain to get listeners’ attention, as the vocalist here sings, “There she lays/Looking sexy/there’s nowhere else I’d rather be/Pressed myself against her gently/But she pushed me off and said to me…I want you to take me to my fantasy/slow down now/Stay away from the kiss.” There’s also a mention here of a dance floor, and trying to seduce the woman with some dance moves. This is hardly the first time that any musical act has gone down this road. However, in the case of Grupo Fantasma, the group’s approach to the topic, both musically and lyrically gives the topic a new take, and one that is certain to keep listeners engaged and certainly entertained, if not more. When it is considered along with the previously discussed songs and the rest of the record, the whole of the LP becomes a work that every American will enjoy. Grupo Fantasma’s forthcoming seventh full-length studio recording American Music Volume VII is another stirring success for the veteran Latin music act. That is because from start to finish, as has been evidenced in the songs discussed here. Those songs, together with the album’s other eight tracks – especially the likes of ‘Yo Quisiera,’ the very Santana-esque ‘Nosotros’ and rather Cuban style ‘Que mas Quieres de Mi’ – make this record a record that any of the band’s longtime fans will enjoy. The same can be said of those who might be less familiar with the band’s work. From start to end, the band mixes its Latin roots with plenty of other elements that are all their own unique part of America’s musical consciousness. Keeping that in mind, the album in whole proves to be another work from Grupo Fantasma that every American will enjoy. American Music Volume VII will be released March 29 on Blue Corn Music. More information on the record, the band’s current live schedule and all of the group’s latest news is available online now at: Website: http://www.grupofantasma.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/grupofantasmamusic Twitter: http://twitter.com/grupofantasma Posted in Celebrities, Concerts, Internet, Music \| Tagged Blue Corn Music, celebrities, entertainment, facebook, Grupo Fantasma, internet, music, Phil's Picks, Twitter, Wordpress \| Leave a reply	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line913
__label__cc	0.581943	0.418057	Tag Archives: Sal Poalantonio ESPN Releases 2014 NFL Draft Broadcast Schedule Posted on May 2, 2014 by philspicks Officials with ESPN have announced the full schedule for its networks’ coverage of this year’s NFL Draft. Coverage of the 2014 NFL Draft begins next Thursday, May 8th on ESPN at 8pm ET. The broadcast will come live from New York’s Radio City Music Hall and will be simulcast on ESPN Radio beginning at 7pm ET. ESPN Radio’s broadcast of the NFL Draft will be anchored by Dari Nowkhah. Nowkhah will be joined by ESPN analysts Louis Riddick, Mark Schlereth, and ESPN.com senior NFL writer John Clayton. Freddie Coleman will host a post-first round broadcast beginning at 11:30pm ET. He will be joined by ESPN Insider Adam Caplan. Nowkhah and company will be back on the air the next morning, May 9th. The post-show broadcast that evening will come live at 11pm. It will be hosted by Kevin Winter. Winter will be joined by Adam Caplan for the broadcast. ESPN Radio’s draft coverage will also be available online at ESPNRadio.com. ESPN will carry coverage of Round 1 live with limited commercial interruption in the broadcast’s first hour for the third straight year this year. Baltimore Ravens great and NFL veteran Ray Lewis will join NFL Draft host Chris Berman as part of ESPN’s NFL Draft commentator team for the first round of the draft. Berman, who is now in his thirty-fourth year of covering the NFL Draft, will also be joined by ESPN NFL analysts Jon Gruden and Mel Kiper, Jr. Kiper is himself in his thirty-first year of covering the draft’s first round. Suzy Kolber will be on the floor, bringing viewers live interviews with draftees throughout Round 1 while NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter will have reports from an additional set. Trey Wingo will anchor the second through seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Rounds two through seven will be carried on television on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU. He will be joined by ESPN NFL analysts Trent Dilfer, Mel Kiper, Jr., and Todd McShay as well as NFL Insiders Chris Mortensen, and Adam Schefter and ESPN Front Office Insider Bill Polian. As an added bonus for viewers, ESPN will have a number of reporters imbedded with various teams throughout the networks’ coverage of the draft. Ed Werder will have live reports from the Houston Texans’ camp while Josina Anderson and Britt McHenry will have reports from the Rams and Jaguars respectively. Sal Paolantonio will be embedded with the Browns and Michele Steele with the Buccaneers. Bob Holtzman will have all the latest from the Minnesota Vikings camp. The complete broadcast schedule for the ESPN family of networks’ draft coverage is available below. ESPN NFL Draft TV schedule (May 8-11): Date Time (ET) Show Network Thurs., May 8 2-3 p.m. SportsCenter Special: On the Clock ESPN 3-4 p.m. NFL Insiders (from Radio City Music Hall) ESPN 4-5 p.m. NFL Live presented by Experian ESPN 6-7:30 p.m. SportsCenter Special: On the Clock ESPN 7:30-8 p.m. SportsCenter Special: Draft Countdown presented by Oberto ESPN 8-11:30 p.m. NFL Draftpresented by Bud Light (Round 1) ESPN 11:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m. ESPNU Draft Recap: Day 1 ESPNU Fri., May 9 2-3 p.m. SportsCenter Special: On the Clock ESPN 6-7 p.m. SportsCenter Special: Draft Countdown presented by Oberto ESPN 7-11:30 p.m. NFL Draftpresented by Bud Light (Rounds 2-3) ESPN/ 11 p.m.-12 a.m. ESPNU Draft Recap: Day 2 ESPNU Sat., May 10 10-11:30 a.m. SportsCenter Special: On the Clock ESPN 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. SportsCenter Special: Draft Countdown presented by Oberto ESPN 12-8 p.m. NFL Draftpresented by Bud Light (Rounds 4-7) ESPN Sun., May 11 12-1 a.m. SportsCenterU ESPNU 1-3 p.m. SportsCenter Special: NFL Draft Grades presented by Snickers ESPN *Schedule subject to change. More information on the NFL Draft and the ESPN family of networks’ NFL coverage overall is available online at http://www.facebook.com/NFLonESPN. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com. Posted in Celebrities, Internet, Sports, Television \| Tagged 2014 NFL Draft, Adam Caplan, Adam Schefter, athletes, Baltimore Ravens, Bill Polian, Bob Holtzman, Britt McHenry, celebrities, Chicago Bears, Chris Berman, Chris Mortensen, Cleveland Browns, Dari Nowkhah, Ed Werder, ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN2, ESPNRadio.com, ESPNU, facebook, football, Freddie Coleman, Houston Texans, internet, Jacksonville Jaguars, John Clayton, Jon Gruden, Josina Anderson, Kevin Winter, Louis Riddick, Lovey Smith, Mark Schlereth, Mel Kiper Jr., Michele Steele, Minnesota Vikings, National Football League, NFL, NFL Insiders, NFL Live, Phils Picks, Ray Lewis, Sal Poalantonio, sports, SportsCenter, St. Louis Rams, Suzy Kolber, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Television, Todd McShay, Trent Dilfer, Trey Wingo, Wordpress \| Leave a reply	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line914
__label__cc	0.52279	0.47721	The Short Life and Untimely Death of the MyRA Mark Iwry, a Visiting Scholar at the Wharton School and a nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, has also served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Retirement and Health Policy. Previously he served as the Benefits Tax Counsel at Treasury, Research Professor at Georgetown University, partner in the law firm of Covington & Burling LLP, Of Counsel to the law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, and Principal of the nonpartisan Retirement Security Project. Exactly four years ago, the US Treasury launched a new retirement saving vehicle, the “myRA”. Announced by President Obama in the State of the Union address, and widely supported in the financial industry and retirement policy community, the myRA (short for “my Retirement Account”) was a Treasury-provided Roth IRA invested in US savings bonds. The myRA was designed as a new component of a much broader long-term strategy (the “automatic IRA” proposal) to narrow the nation’s retirement coverage gap. And it could also function as a “starter account” to instill lifelong habits of saving in millions of Americans who lacked access to an employer plan and who had never saved before. Less than 18 months after myRA’s launch, the Trump Administration decided to cancel it, citing high cost and low takeup. In fact, however, the real story behind the short life and sudden death of the myRA has yet to be told. The US Retirement Plan Coverage Gap That story begins with the retirement coverage gap. America’s private retirement system has accomplished a great deal: pensions, 401(k)s, and IRAs help tens of millions of working families accumulate meaningful retirement benefits, while providing $30 trillion of investment capital to fuel economic growth. Yet too many retirees still have only meager benefits, and one of three working families is left uncovered by private pensions. The Automatic IRA Proposal To address this coverage gap, in 2006 I developed a broad-based “automatic IRA” legislative proposal with my colleague David John. (At that time I was affiliated with the Brookings Institution and he with the Heritage Foundation.) Under our plan, most employers that did not offer pensions or 401(k)s would need to let their employees use the payroll system to save a portion of their pay in private-sector IRAs. Unless employees elected to opt out, they would be automatically enrolled in the auto IRA, with a set amount deducted from their paychecks which would then be invested in low-cost target date funds. Employers would receive a tax credit for participating plus an additional credit for each employee who contributes, but they would not make employer contributions and would not have to comply with ERISA or face any risk of ERISA fiduciary liability. The auto IRA proposal — designed to potentially cover up to 30 to 40 million workers — enjoyed immediate bipartisan co-sponsorship in Congress. In 2008, the idea was endorsed by both Presidential candidates, Barack Obama and John McCain; once elected, President Obama continued to support it. Genesis of the MyRA Proposal In general, auto IRA contributions would be deposited in private-sector Roth IRAs with the default investment being a low-cost target date fund. But participating employers would have the option to instead send employees’ payroll contributions to Roth IRAs maintained at Treasury and invested in US savings bonds. This savings bond idea, which grew largely out of suggestions from the financial services industry, was first called “Retirement Bonds” or “R Bonds;” but it was later renamed “myRA” because the bonds would be held in IRA accounts. The financial industry viewed small balances in U.S. savings bonds as noncompetitive with their retirement investment products, and therefore they found the myRA idea to be nonthreatening. My Treasury colleagues and I designed myRAs as a starter account for first-time savers unaccustomed to taking market risk: simple and liquid, with principal guaranteed (eliminating the risk of investment losses), zero fees, no minimum investments, and a value always equal to the owner’s contributions plus interest on the bond. Like other IRAs, the myRAs would have been tax-favored and portable, and their owners could roll them over into commercial IRAs and 401(k)s at any time. Also, to make doubly sure they would not compete with private-sector investments, we capped contributions to myRAs once their balance reached $15,000 per participant. We pitched myRAs to Treasury and the White House as a versatile tool to support the broader auto IRA initiative along with other aspects of the private pension system, while also potentially serving as a stand-alone retirement saving vehicle. Meanwhile, though, prospects of auto IRA enactment dimmed amid the extreme partisanship in Congress, intensified by the party-line enactment of President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. Accordingly, I also turned to several state Treasurers and legislators, to explore the possibility of states adopting auto IRAs. The idea was to pilot auto IRAs in a few states to obtain proof of concept, and then to nudge Congress to enact federal legislation creating a uniform, nationwide auto IRA program. The MyRA Is Launched By the final year of the Obama Administration, and with support from AARP and others, this state-based auto IRA effort began to bear fruit. California, Oregon, and Illinois prepared to launch auto IRA programs and requested Treasury’s permission to use the myRA as their programs’ initial and ongoing “safe” investment. California also wanted myRA to be the state auto IRA’s only investment for an up-to-three-year transition period, until the state decided on a permanent default investment. These states pressed for – and received – assurances that Treasury intended to make myRAs available for up to hundreds of thousands of potential auto IRA participants in Oregon and Illinois, and up to an estimated 3 to 5 million people in California. Meanwhile, as Treasury geared up to provide myRAs to the state auto IRAs, it also began offering myRAs to individuals who might wish to sign up. When the Trump Administration took office, however, it recognized that the myRA could be instrumental in assisting state auto IRA programs, a plan strongly supported by the Obama Administration. Being opposed to state auto IRAs, the Trump Administration then informed the states that myRAs would not be available to their programs after all. Shortly thereafter, it terminated the myRA, arguing that startup and annual operating costs were too high given the relatively small number of myRA accounts (30,000) opened to date. The Administration’s announcement did not mention that future takeup rates were projected to be low because it had rejected states’ demands for millions of myRAs in the next one to three years. Nor did it acknowledge that myRAs were designed as long-term investments promoting lifelong saving patterns for millions of workers, and not simply a short-term experiment to be evaluated based on little more than one year’s take-up. Moreover, no mention was made of the potential role for the myRA in facilitating automatic rollovers, promoting saving of income tax refunds, holding benefits for missing participants, supporting a potential federal auto IRA program, or otherwise supporting and expanding our private pension system. What Hope for the Future? Given the substantial long-term benefits that myRAs (or R Bonds) could bring to the US retirement marketplace, it’s a good bet that we have not heard the last of these. By administrative action or legislation, they will be back – not as the only solution to the coverage gap, but in a valuable supporting role, working in tandem with other components of our private pension system to help make America into a nation of savers. Views of our Guest Bloggers are theirs alone, and not of the Pension Research Council, the Wharton School, or the University of Pennsylvania. December 6, 2019 \| RetireSecure Blog auto-IRA programs, myRA, retirement, retirement coverage gap	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line920
__label__wiki	0.712139	0.712139	Wanda Corazon Teo Filipina travel agent and politician Filipina travel agent and politician Intro Filipina travel agent and politician Countries Philippines Occupations Politician Type Politics Birth 4 November 1952 (Kidapawan, Cotabato, Soccsksargen, Philippines) Star sign Scorpio Wanda Corazon Teshiba Tulfo-Teo (born November 4, 1952) is a Filipino travel agent serving as the current Secretary of the Philippines' Department of Tourism. She is also at present the Chairperson of the Intramuros Administration. She was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to replace Ramon Jimenez Jr. in the secretaryship in June 30, 2016. Teo initially stated that she would change the present tourism slogan coined by her predecessor Jimenez, "It's More Fun in the Philippines", during her term, but she later decided to instead improve on it because of its positive effects that resulted in invaluable tourist arrivals in the Philippines. She admitted she is incompetent for the job by saying, “I had nothing to show as my accomplishments.” Career beginnings Teo has been actively working in the tourism sector for more than two decades as a co-owner of a travel agency, Mt. Apo Travel and Tours, president of the National Association of Independent Travel Agencies (NAITAS). and a member of Davao Travel Agencies Association (DTAA), the Davao Association of Tour Operators (DATO) and the Davao Regional Tourism Council (DRTC). Tulfo-Teo is the fourth child and second daughter of retired PC Brigadier General Ramon Tulfo (1915-2010) and Caridad Teshiba (born 1925), she also the sister of prominent journalists Ramon, Jr. (Mon), Ben, Raffy and Erwin Tulfo. Teo's husband Roberto is currently a member of the board of directors of government-owned bank Land Bank of the Philippines. She obtained her BS degree in business administration from St. Theresa's College. The contents of this page are sourced from Wikipedia article. The contents are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license. comments so far. http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/47807/caridad-tulfo%E2%80%93how-she-brought-up-the-infamous-brothers http://news.abs-cbn.com/life/01/11/17/tourism-department-to-launch-improved-slogan http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/903195/duterte-appoints-dot-chiefs-husband-as-land-bank-director http://politics.com.ph/mon-tulfos-sister-dutertes-tourism-secretary-wanda-corazon-teo/ http://www.mindanews.com/top-stories/2016/06/14/duterte-names-3-more-cabinet-secretaries/ http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/travel/ph-travel/136795-its-more-fun-in-the-philippines-retain-wanda-teo-dot https://www.philstar.com/opinion/2018/04/03/1802190/wanda-teo-tourism-head#5UqkCjUFYjvCZWlz.99 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9wWER-5E1Y Trending today in Ramon Santos Filipino composer Fernando Amorsolo Filipino painter Ronald dela Rosa Filipino police officer Perfecto Yasay Jr. Filipino politician Peter Scully Australian serial rapist and child murder Manuel V. Pangilinan Filipino businessman Wesley So Filipino chess grandmaster Napoleon Abueva Filipino sculptor Filipina singer and actress José Rizal Filipino writer, nationalist; National Hero of the Philippines See trending people worldwide See trending people in Philippines	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line922
__label__cc	0.647006	0.352994	\| Newer Entries » MEGATECH 2010 The 8th edition of the International Machinery Exhibition of Garment & Textile Technology MEGATECH Pakistan 4 – 6 MARCH 2010, KARACHI EXPO CENTRE is poised to introduce overseas suppliers of textile & garment materials, accessories & parts and machinery to the textile industry of Pakistan. This will complement their efforts for high quality, value added products and assist them to further develop their business in the export markets. The event is an excellent platform for textile machinery manufacturers to maximise their exposure, establish new business leads and strengthen existing contacts with the local market. The show is well attended by textile and garment manufacturers, exporters, key decision makers and distributors from across Pakistan. Textile Manufacturers . Garment Manufacturers . Knitwear Manufacturers . Garment & Textile Machinery Importers & Exporters . Leather Goods Manufacturers . Laundry Operators & Drycleaners BRIDGING THE INTERNATIONAL & LOCAL TEXTILE MARKETS Pakistan is ranked as the world’s fourth largest producer and the third largest consumer of cotton, with a spinning capacity of 2.89 million kgs of yarn and weaving capacity of 8.94 million sqm of cloth. The textile industry of Pakistan contributes over 50% to the country’s total exports with an investment of US$ 7 billion over the past six years. Textile exports in the last fiscal year were US$ 9.48 billion. There are more than 4000 textile related industrial units operating in Pakistan out of which 90% of the units are using latest machinery and imported parts. In order to facilitate the local textile industry, the Government of Pakistan has allowed duty free import of a wide range of textile machinery and equipment. This has opened a gateway of opportunities for leading machinery and equipment manufactures. The unprecedented developments in the textile industry have increased the importance of MEGATECH Pakistan in this region. Over the years the show has gained an excellent reputation at an international level and is recognized as a business-intensive event for the textile and garment industry. Last year, the event had the presence of more than 400 companies representing 28 countries. The show was visited by 8,000 business professionals affiliated with the textile and garment industry. In addition, there was a High Level Technical Textiles Conference, which brought together eminent industry professionals to share their knowledge and technical expertise with the participants. The 8th edition of the International Machinery Exhibition of Garment & Textile Technology – MEGATECH Pakistan is scheduled from 4 – 6 March, 2010, at the Karachi Expo Centre. It is poised to introduce international suppliers of textile machinery and its related parts & accessories to the textile industry of Pakistan and to discuss areas of mutual interests with their Pakistani counterparts. This year, the exhibition will have special emphasis on technical textiles and textile engineering, enlightening the trade visitors with new technology and modern methodologies being used for textiles and garments manufacturing. MEGATECH 2010 is also organising a ‘Knowledge Village – Pavilion’ for leading local textile research and development universities/institutes to display their research projects with the latest innovations and developments catering the local textile industry. The pavilion is aimed at creating synergy between textile industry and research centres of local textile university/institutes to explore new avenues of business in the textile industry. The 3rd International Technical Textiles Conference co-located with MEGATECH 2010, will emphasise on the advancements in Medical and Geo textiles. The conference will be a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights of experts from U.K., India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan about the nature and prospects of technical textiles. With the strong support of Ministry of Textile, Board of Investment (BOI), Engineering Development Board (EDB), leading textile associations of Pakistan, and The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI); MEGATECH Pakistan 2010 is geared up as the first show of the season and is attracting a good number of visitors from leading textile cities especially from Faisalabad, Lahore and Karachi. In addition, 16 international and local publications are supporting the event providing global and nationwide coverage. Many international textile machinery manufacturing companies are joining MEGATECH Pakistan to showcase the products to their target market as it continues to attract key visitors from all the major textile cities of Pakistan. MEGATECH being the preferred show of the local textile industry will once again be an ideal opportunity for textile machinery manufacturers to increase their business leads and increase their existing market portfolio. Pakistan’s textile industry is the major contributor to the national economy in every aspect, be it exports, share in manufacturing or employment generation. Pakistan holds the distinction of being the world’s 4th largest producer of cotton as well as being the 3rd largest consumer of the same. In the period July 2007 – June 2008, textile exports were US$ 10.62 Billion and accounted for 55% of the total exports. The International Machinery Exhibition of Garment and Textile Technology (MEGATECH Pakistan) is a leading annual exhibition that is organised by Pegasus Consultancy to boost the capabilities of the Pakistani textile industry. The 7th edition of the show will be held at the Karachi Expo Centre from 3rd to 6th March, 2009. MEGATECH PAKISTAN 2009 will broaden opportunities for the foreign textile machinery manufacturers to enter Pakistan’s textile market and engage in profitable business ventures. More than 300 international and local companies are expected to participate in the show mainly from Italy, Turkey, China, Germany & Taiwan. At the same time, the leading local textile and garment players as well as prominent buyers from the Middle East and South Asian region will witness new technologies for upgrading their production facilities. Exporters, importers and trade associations will benefit greatly by interacting with their international counterparts and exploring new avenues for expansion of textile trade. Another important feature of MEGATECH PAKISTAN is the 2nd Technical Textiles Conference, scheduled to be held from 4 – 5 March, 2009. The conference is a joint collaboration of Pegasus Consultancy and Textile Institute of Pakistan to highlight the application of nonwoven fabrics as technical textiles. The conference will be addressed by eminent international speakers from countries like U.K., Hong Kong, India and Turkey. Distinguished professors from the leading textile universities of Pakistan will also present technical papers at the conference. The show is endorsed by the Ministry of Textile Industry & Textile Commissioner’s Organisation, while it is also actively supported by government bodies and trade associations including Board of Investment (BoI), Engineering Development Board (EDB), Textile Machinery Manufacturers and Supplier’s Association of Pakistan (TEXMAP), All Pakistan Bedsheets & Upholstery Manufacturers Association (APBUMA). Others include Pakistan Bedwear Exporters Association (PBEA), Pakistan Cloth Merchants Association (PCMA), Pakistan Knitwear & Sweater Exporters Association (PAKSEA), Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PRGMEA), All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA), Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA), Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) and Towel Manufacturer’s Association of Pakistan (TMA). MEGATECH Pakistan 2009 willalso be covered by a large number of local as well as foreign media partners, including 15 supporting publications from different parts of the world. Tags: All Pakistan Bedsheets & Upholstery Manufacturers Association, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association, All Pakistan Textile Processing Mills Association (APTPMA), APBUMA, APTMA, Board of Investment, BOI, BRIDGING THE INTERNATIONAL, China, distributors VISITOR PROFILE, EDB, Engineering Development Board, establish new business leads, exporters, exposure, FCCI, Garment & Textile Machinery Importers & Exporters, Garment Manufacturers, garments manufacturing, Germany, global and nationwide coverage, High Level Technical Textiles Conference, India, international and local companies, International Machinery Exhibition, Italy, key decision makers, Knitwear Manufacturers, Lahore and Karachi, Laundry Operators & Drycleaners, leading textile associations of Pakistan, Leather Goods Manufacturers, LOCAL TEXTILE MARKETS, magatech KARACHI EXPO CENTRE, Medical and Geo textiles, MEGA TECH, MEGA TECH 2010, MEGA TECH Pakistan, MEGA TECH Pakistan 2010, MEGATECH, MEGATECH 2010, MEGATECH 2010 clips, MEGATECH 2010 images, MEGATECH 2010 picture, MEGATECH 2010 pictures, MEGATECH 2010 videos, MEGATECH karachi, MEGATECH Pakistan, MEGATECH Pakistan 2010, Ministry of Textile, modern methodologies, Pakistan, Pakistan accessories, Pakistan annual exhibitions, Pakistan Bedwear Exporters Association, Pakistan Cloth Merchants Association, Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association, Pakistan Knitwear & Sweater Exporters Association, Pakistan parts and machinery, Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association, Pakistan Textile Exporters Association, Pakistani counterparts, Pakistani distributors, Pakistani exporters, Pakistani key decision makers, Pakistani products, PAKSEA, PBEA, PCMA, PHMA, PRGMEA, PTEA, range of textile machinery and equipment, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, technical textiles and textile engineering, TEXMAP, textile & garment materials, textile and garment manufacturers, textile cities especially from Faisalabad, textile industry of Pakistan, textile machinery manufacturers, Textile Machinery Manufacturers and Supplier’s Association of Pakistan, Textile Manufacturers, The 3rd International Technical Textiles Conference, The 8th edition of the International Machinery Exhibition of Garment & Textile Technology, The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the foreign textile machinery manufacturers, the Government of Pakistan, the third largest consumer of cotton, The unprecedented developments, TMA, Towel Manufacturer’s Association of Pakistan, Turkey, U.K. China says military talks with India successful Both sides say they are willing to work hard together to ensure peace and tranquility on the border. PHOTO: AFP BEIJING: China’s Defence Ministry said on Wednesday that a recent visit by an Indian military delegation had been successful and would benefit relations after a freeze in ties last year over a visa row. “Last year, Sino-Indian military exchanges experienced some difficulties, but both sides worked hard to find a good way of resolving this,” ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told a news conference, according to a transcript posted on the ministry’s “Both sides said that they were willing to work hard together to ensure peace and tranquility on the border and further promote exchanges between their militaries,” Yang said. India and China, emerging rivals for resources and global influence, fought a border in the 1960s and have been wary neighbours ever since. China also occupies a part of the Himalayan region of Kashmir which India claims as its own. Yang said he believed the visit had been conducive towards promoting trust and the development of military relations. “China hopes that China and India can further promote the development of military ties,” Yang said, without giving any other details. China last August denied a visa to an Indian general in charge of operations in the disputed Kashmir region, which lead to a suspension of military contacts between the two growing powers. India protested in 2009 against a Chinese embassy policy of issuing different visas to residents of Indian Kashmir. New Delhi bristles at any hint that Kashmir, where a separatist insurgency has raged for two decades, is not part of India. India’s old rival Pakistan also claims Kashmir. Posted in World news \| Leave a Comment » Tags: China, India, military, successful, talks West queries China over Pakistan nuclear ties Beijing’s nuclear ties with Islamabad have caused unease in Washington, Delhi and other capitals. PHOTO: FILE VIENNA: Western nations pressed China at closed-door nuclear talks to provide more information and help address concerns about its plans to expand an atomic energy plant in Pakistan, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday. But China showed no sign of reconsidering its position on building two more reactors at the Chashma nuclear power complex in Pakistan’s Punjab region, said the sources who attended a June 23-24 meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). Beijing’s nuclear ties with Islamabad have caused unease in Washington, Delhi and other capitals. They are worried about Pakistan’s history of spreading nuclear arms technology and the integrity of international non-proliferation rules. Washington and other governments have said China should seek approval for the planned reactors from the NSG, a 46-nation, consensus-based cartel that seeks to ensure nuclear exports do not get used for military purposes. Beijing is likely to shun such calls, arguing that the construction of two additional units at Chashma would be part of a bilateral deal sealed before it joined the NSG in 2004. China also supplied the facility’s first two reactors. The United States and European countries made statements at the meeting in the Dutch town of Noordwijk that “both expressed concern and asked the Chinese to provide more information”, one diplomat who attended the talks said. “The Chinese came back and said that as far as they were concerned Chashma 3 and 4 came under the agreement that was grandfathered when they joined in 2004 and that is as far as they feel they need to go,” the diplomat added. The NSG’s annual plenary session addressed a range of nuclear-related issues, and agreed to tighten guidelines for the transfer of sensitive enrichment and reprocessing technology that can be used to develop nuclear weapons. But a statement about the talks did not mention Chashma. “It is a very sensitive topic,” said one European official. Possible compromise? Another diplomat who declined to be named said: “A number of countries expressed concern and requested more information. There was a brief response from China.” Close relations between China and Pakistan reflect a long-standing shared wariness of their common neighbour, India, and a desire to hedge against US influence across the region. Chinese nuclear companies have not issued detailed information about when they will start building the new units, but contracts have been signed and financing is being secured. To receive nuclear exports, nations that are not one of the five officially recognised atomic weapons states must usually place all their nuclear activities under the safeguards of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency, NSG rules say. When the United States sealed a nuclear supply deal with India in 2008 that China and other countries found questionable because Delhi, like Islamabad, is outside the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Washington won a waiver from that rule after contentious negotiations. Pakistan wants a similar civilian nuclear agreement with the United States to help meet its growing energy needs. But Washington is reluctant, largely because a Pakistani nuclear scientist, Abdul Qadeer Khan, admitted in 2004 to transferring nuclear secrets to North Korea, Iran and Iraq. The first diplomat suggested that a possible way forward on Chashma was if China said that the two new reactors would be the last it claims do not need approval from the NSG. “What in reality is needed is something that says: this is it, this is the end. And if Chashma 3 and 4 are the end, that is possibly a price worth paying,” the diplomat said. Nuclear analyst Mark Hibbs said he believed China would press ahead with its Pakistan reactor plans and that there were divisions among other NSG states on how to respond to this. “A kind of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell policy’ would be very damaging for the credibility of the NSG,” said Hibbs, of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Tags: China, nuclear, Pakistan, queries	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line923
__label__wiki	0.579689	0.579689	LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF QUEZON CITY QUEZON CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT PHILIPPINE NGO COUNCIL FOR HEALTH, POPULATION AND WELFARE, INC. (PNGOC) Grand Launching and Blessing of Klinika Bernardo Sundown Clinic “QC Local Government: Taking a Step Forward in Males Access to Comprehensive Sexual Health Care” December 4, 2012 @ 3:00 – 6:00 PM Quezon City Health Department (QCHD) takes a big step forward to counter the spread of HIV and STI infection among the MSM and generally its male population. It has been reported that the city is among the cities of the whole country that contributes the highest number of new HIV infections reported monthly to the National AIDS Registry through the National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health (DOH-NEC). Quezon City Health Department has recorded 266 new HIV cases only within the period of January to August 2012. This is almost 70% higher compared to same period of the previous year with only 181 cases and more than 61% or 166 of which engages in the “very risky” sex among males having sex with males (MSM). This staggering data made the local government of QC take immediate actions and considered the establishment of a male-focused clinic, named “KLINIKA BERNARDO”, operating beyond regular office hours and days to accommodate the varying available schedules of the male sector especially the young working male population. The clinic was blessed by Fr. Dan Cancino of the St. Camillus Brothers and the grand launching was supported by Philippine NGO Council for Population, Health and Welfare, Inc. (PNGOC), Family Health International 360 and the USAID: Reaching out for most at-risk Population Project. “Dito sa QC, welcome ka! Kaya Magpa-test ka na!” the main tagline of the new clinic goes claiming that the city is a safe place for the LGBT. QC aims to establish an enabling community for all, whether straight, bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender (LGBT). Thus, the city promotes non-discriminatory acts and policies to all marginalized individuals including the LGBT community. Hence, it claims to be an “LGBT-friendly” city. It is a city where genuine freedom is respected and upheld with appropriate responsibility.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line929
__label__cc	0.545875	0.454125	← The renewable energy backlash – part 1 Denial Tango → by Matthew Lockwood \| November 14, 2011 · 10:07 pm The renewable energy backlash – Part 2 In the previous post, I reviewed the current controversy about the costs of expanding offshore wind, and the argument made by organisations like Policy Exchange that we could meet our 2020 carbon targets more cheaply simply by bringing in a carbon tax and switching from coal to gas in power generation. The PEx argument raises a number of challenges. First, it presents a dilemma to those (like us) sympathetic to the perspective of The Breakthrough Institute (TBI) who have been arguing since the mid-2000s that carbon pricing will never work as a strategy to tackle climate change, because climate change isn’t a classic polllution problem. Its causes are too systemic, and we do not have existing cheap enough low carbon alternatives, so carbon pricing will just raise costs and piss people off. Instead, we have to invest in clean energy technology development and get breakthroughs that will provide us with big cost reductions. The dilemma arises because if large scale deployment of renewables (when they are still expensive) is a crucial part of bringing costs down in the long run (TBI and Joe Romm of Climate Progress had a major exchange about this), these costs may also piss people off. And it does seem as if a credible committment to deployment at some scale is needed to bring in the sort of investment that may eventually reduce costs. This can be seen clearly in the case of offshore wind in the UK, where the commitment of successive Secretaries of State have now brought in large players like Mitsubishi and Siemens with investments both in production of turbines and R&D facilities. This is a weakness in PEx’s argument about technology policy, since many studies show that demand-pull is as if not more important than supply-push in innovation, and that learning-by-doing and economies of scale are key for reducing costs in manufacture and installation. Deployment at scale is needed for that. PEx also have what looks like a deliberately naive proposal that we could meet the targets through on-shore wind, but they know as well as the rest of us that planning would make that impossible. Offshore wind is partly the price we pay for not wanting onshore wind. However, it still leaves the political dilemma. The experience of countries like Germany and Spain is relevant. Germany has over 1 GW peak of solar PV (equivalent to about 100 MW of baseload generation), and this has helped bring down the costs globally of PV, and built up a domestic manufacturing industry (although this is now threatened by Chinese competition). But this hybrid technology/industrial policy will cost the German public somewhere in the region of €70 billion. Spain’s subsidies were so generous they sparked a huge surge in PV investment, but were ultimately politically unsustainable and were reversed. Is technological breakthrough just as politically difficult as carbon pricing? But the PEx argument also contains a potential trap. It may be cheaper to reduce emissions in the UK to 2020 by relying on gas and nuclear instead of offshore wind (although gas prices may not fall from currently high levels, and the costs of new nuclear are opaque. But the argument from some (e.g. WWF) is that this won’t help us after 2020 when we will increasingly need renewables to meet much more stringent targets. The gas industry argues that gas with CCS will be a key post-2020 technology, but this is still untried, and to depend on it would be highly risky. This is an important argument. Gas and nuclear are powerful commercial lobbies, and much of the current critical noise about renewables looks very much like the gas industry in particular trying to compete for some kind of commitment from Government about gas in the future electricity mix. There are two real dangers here. One is that delaying the development of renewables in the UK (especially those, like offshore wind, in which the UK is an important market) will kill them off (which is indeed a likely objective of gas and nuclear lobbies). The second is that if the UK builds a lot of gas-fired capacity now, and CCS for gas turns out not to work, it will nevertheless very hard politically for a future government to turn that capacity off. Again, a policy like a future emissions performance standard has an underlying credibility problem. Where does all this leave us? First, it’s not clear how serious any of this is, in terms of actual influence on policy. So far Huhne has been robustly defending offshore wind, and although Osborne made some comments at Tory Party Conference about competitiveness, he hasn’t blocked Huhne on recent decisions (indeed he has just released £103 m to the Scottish Executive for clean energy projects. Across the broad population, renewable energy does remain popular. But that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be taken seriously. The gas lobby and the Mail and Express will doubtless continue to chip away at the issue. There is some evidence of limited willingness to pay for renewables. Policy could change very quickly if there were a change of Minister, or if the economy deteriorated (which it looks like it will). So what should be done? The most fundamental point is to keep renewables options open. Most renewables technologies are still much younger than gas and nuclear, and if they are pushed out now, we will never know how far their costs can be reduced. Nuclear fusion in particular received vast subsidies, and there is a strong case for continuing and expanding support to renewables to level the playing field. Of course, innovation in renewables won’t happen just in the UK, and we are already benefitting from lower cost Chinese solar PV, but there is a case for the UK playing a role in developing the renewables technology in which the UK may be a major market. Thus the biggest problem with the PEx argument is that it seems to assume away all political economy. There may still be a role for gas looking ahead, but only if credible ways way can be found to avoid future lock-in and the squeezing out of renewables options. I’m not sure if this can be done, but if it can, it’s a subject for another post. However, it is also true that supporters of renewable energy policy need to stop simply saying we have to deploy renewables just because we have a European target, and start making a case for renewables policy on particular grounds. This could be technology development, green growth or even building a new interest group for clean energy policy (in Germany, the development of renewable industries also provided a new political constituency to support renewable and wider climate policies). It could also possibly as a global public goods policy: if Japan (solar PV), Denmark (wind), Germany and Spain (wind and solar) can all play their role in helping to bring technologies down the cost surve, a rich country like Britain should do as well (although this may not work so well in times of economic crisis). Some in the environmental movement do have a more sophisticated account of renewables policy, but some don’t and need to get one. We have to be doing this for a reason, and PEx and others are right to say that doing it just to cut carbon now doesn’t actually stand up. That policy should also be fit for purpose. If it is about creating more technological options and bringing down costs, then it should be defensible as well-designed, and not excessively expensive in itself. What this means in practice is paying more attention to the principle that both demand pull (deployment) and supply push policies (R&D support, tax credits, infrastructure support etc.) should be designed within a single integrated framework, with all the elements working together (this is the approach proposed by The Breakthrough Institute in a recent set of proposals for the US). It also means having a full range of support mechanisms, especially through the valley of death. There has been an increasing amount of funding going to offshore wind RD&D, both via the ETI and NAREC. But we still don’t have a working publicly-funded test site for new offshore turbine designs. It looks like we may eventually get one next year, but it’s been a long time coming. Waves of deployment should be more closely associated with the phasing of development of new generations of turbines, and experience gained with construction of platforms, than a timetable determined by targets. Lastly, options within renewables policy should be kept open – including meeting targets through heat as well as electricity. Offshore wind costs could come down sharply if there are unexpected breakthroughs in materials, in turbine design, or in construction techniques. But equally, there may be unexpected breakthroughs in other smaller-scale technologies. Solar PV has fallen more quickly in cost in the last five years than was expected. It is not easy, but the Government has to steer a path between credible deployment policies and a flexible approach that responds to technological change. In the end, the backlash in itself may be self-limiting. If gas prices stay high, then concern about the additional costs of offshore wind may be easier to stoke up, but it is also les easy credible to present gas as a cheap alternative. If gas prices do fall sharply, then concerns about the costs of renewables is likely to drop away. But if it leads to clearer thinking and more robust arguments for supporting renewable energy, then it will have played a useful role. Filed under Energy prices, Renewable energy, UK politics Tagged as Energy prices, Innovation, Renewable energy policy 3 responses to “The renewable energy backlash – Part 2” Tim Coote I do find this debat rather too abstract: unless you work from the numbers, it’s much too easy to conjure up unrealistic assumptions in the targets of lobbying. Surely, of all debates, you’ve got to work from what’s possible and what’s meant by all of the terms. For example, how can you get baseload generation of PV? Much of the reason for gas is as the backup baseload for non-stored renewables or as a substitute for coal, rather than a target end state technology. Have you tried playing with the decc calculator (referenced here with lots of other numerical info: http://bit.ly/vfJZlx) From a policy perspective, the more interesting question to me (and what I perceive as the source of the backlash) is the route for channelling the funding (eg tax carbon + reduce taxes elsewhere, as per the Economist’s discussions), or get the energy companies to collect and channel the funds (the energy companies didn’t seem to do a very good job with the rubbish cfl lightbulbs that they handed out.) Tim – not sure what you mean by your last comment. Taxing fossil fuel use is not a polticially easy route – http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15730087 Eliot Whittington Very interesting. I’m sort of wondering how to square a sensible proposal based on these ideas with the car crash that is the EU ETS. At the moment I’m hearing a lot of unhappiness with how renewables, efficiency, nation state policies obscure a straightforward policy based on carbon price regime. Now you can construct an argument for some policies for clear market failures (e.g. around innovation or cost-effective efficiency measures), which is where we are today in the EU, but the political economy you guys talk about leads you into problems I think. The mindset I describe implies the carbon price will do the heavy lifting & other policies will pick up missing pieces of the puzzle. I suspect the reality is that the carbon price will never be politically palatable at levels that will drive the real changes required, so other policies need to do much more – which then exposes them to further backlash. The further complicating factor is the overlapping governance of the EU & its member states. Political accountability for keeping the lights on really sits at the national level, so EU-wide policies will always struggle to deliver the coherence, clarity & stability business actors want.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line931
__label__wiki	0.553892	0.553892	By The Editors February 6, 2014 Islamic Political Theology Top 10 PT Texts 100 Years of Political Theology: An Islamic Perspective (by M. Owais Khan) Around the Network, Pedagogy Let’s be clear. There is no academic field called “Islamic Political Theology”. So naturally there are hardly any books on Islamic Political Theology. Political Theology is largely a field of study within Christian Theology. This field, as I understand it, examines the relationship between the way we describe God and the way we describe the political. In the history of the Church there has been a strange correspondence between the two. A number of shared concepts, narratives, myths and symbols sustain each. From the editor: We continue our series of “Top 10 lists,” offering different perspectives on the field of political theology in response to Ted Smith’s “Political Theology Start-up Kit” posted last month at the Religion in American History blog. This week, Owais Khan offers a perspective on what the important texts are in the distinctive landscape of Islamic political theology. Let’s be clear. There is no academic field called “Islamic Political Theology”. So naturally there are hardly any books on Islamic Political Theology. Political Theology is largely a field of study within Christian Theology. This field, as I understand it, examines the relationship between the way we describe God and the way we describe the political. In the history of the Church there has been a strange correspondence between the two. A number of shared concepts, narratives, myths and symbols sustain each. Given this genealogy, the question now discussed among scholars of Islam is whether or not such a theo-political problem exists in Islamic thought and civilization. Given the present political climate, the answer seems to be an emphatic yes, however, the issue is more complicated. The critique of the secular within the anthropology of religion has upset the political assumptions about modern governance in so far as explanations that advocate a simple understanding of unmediated representative authority are no longer possible. Secular modernity’s political is unproblematically described as being devoid of any transcendent, religious, or mythical basis. Critiques of nationalism, rule of law, publicity, citizenship and war; all expose the constant permanence of something beyond pure immanent explanations. However, this insight into what is called the post-secular, did not emerge in a vacuum. Challenges to the secularization thesis became most palpable when postcolonial scholars demonstrated the persistence of religion in liberation movements outside of the west. After 9/11, so-called Islamism occupies a privileged role in the west in exposing the limits of the secularization thesis. As such, there is an uncomfortable relationship between the rise of so-called Islamism on the one hand and the rise of political theology in Western academic discourses on the other. In that sense, so-called Islamist scholars have been arguing against the very possibility of a secular politics long before scholars within the west opened the question. This does not mean that the so-called Islamist scholars are alone in theorizing the question of politics in this manner. Many non-European scholars have put forward similar theses regarding the illusions of secular modernity. Although, I am suspicious of the “Islamist” canon as constructed in western academia, the selections below outline the works that I think remain central to most of the current academic discourse. They mark interesting points of departure for thinking about whether or not there is a similar theo-political problem in Islamic thought and if so, how does one analyze it. Note: my selections are limited to titles available in English language. 1) Muhammad Iqbal’s Asrar-I Khudi translation into English with Notes and Introduction by R. A. Nicholson (Lahore: Farhan Publishers, 1977) On his own admission, Iqbal argues that his poetry more than his prose housed most of his sophisticated philosophical arguments on modernity and its discontents. These poems outline a program of self upliftment for Muslims during the height of British colonialism. Despite Pakistani nationalist revisionism on Iqbal’s legacy, Iqbal has enjoyed a prominent position among modern Muslim activist across the globe. 2) Ibn Khaldun’s Muqaddimah translated from the Arabic by Franz Rosenthal; abridged by N. J. Dawood. Princeton, 1969 The writings of Ibn Khaldun have enjoyed a long tradition of Ottoman state commentary. It is perhaps the longest lasting and most influential statement on the Philosophy of History and political theory within the Muslim tradition. It was also influential on many European thinkers such as Giambattista Vico, long before the rise of German Historicism. 3) Sayyid Qutb’s In the Shade of the Qur’an, translation by M.A. Salahi and A.A. Shamis (Leicester, UK: Islamic Foundation, 1999) Qutb is perhaps one of the most misunderstood figures within Islamic political discourses today. His exegesis of the Quran, which was largely written from jail, took over 15 years of his life. 4) Sayyid Abul a‘la Maududi, Islamic Law and Constitution trans. Khurshid Ahmad, (Lahore: Islamic Publications Ltd., 1992) Maududi’s works have been scantly translated into English. This work outlines his most detailed analysis of law and the modern state available in English. 5) Khomenei’s Islamic Government translated by Hamid Algar, (Tehran: 2005) This book was a set of essays written in support of Iran’s Constitutional Theocracy. It makes arguments in support of an Islamic government and its specific characteristics. Iran’s central role in the Muslim world makes these essays important in understanding modern political thought today. 6) Muhammad Asad’s Principles of State and Government in Islam (Berkeley, Univ. of Berkeley Press: 1961) Asad spent a large portion of his life serving the newly formed Pakistani state. In this book he puts forward his most concise treatment on the role of Islam in modern governance. 7) Shariati’s On the Sociology of Islam translated by Hamid Algar (Mizan Press: 1979) Shariati was an ideologue for the Iranian revolution. He was able to bridge the gap between an emerging intellectual class and the classically trained ‘ulema of his day. 8) Sherman Jackson’s Islam and Blackamerica (Oxford: 2005) Jackson’s book is a serious attempt to work through the problem of Black suffering in America by using classic Islamic theology. As such it is an excellent example of contemporary Islamic political theology. 9) Malcolm X’s Autobiography The Nation of Islam was a successful theo-political statement that impacted African Americans and the civil rights movement. Malcolm X’s contested legacy is encapsulated in his brilliant autobiography. As a theologian, Malcolm blended third world Marxism with Islamic theology to create a radical black politics of Islamic internationalism. 10) Weal Hallaq’s The Impossible State (Columbia: 2013) This book exposes the difficulties between reconciling the modern state and Islamic law. It is the latest statement on the possibility of an Islamic state. Hallaq engages Schmitt, Islamists and Islamic legal theorists in outlining the often-overlooked tensions between the project of creating an Islamic state and the structures of modern sovereignty. 3 thoughts on “100 Years of Political Theology: An Islamic Perspective (by M. Owais Khan)” M. Owais Khan says: Dear Matthew, Prof. Naquib al-Attas is a philosopher and spent most of his academic career thinking about, science and epistemology in the modern world. What he is most famous for is his often misunderstood notion of the Islamicization of Knowledge. This idea had a profound impact on many Muslim intellectuals from around the world. The International Islamic University of Malaysia appointed him director of the Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization (http://www.iium.edu.my/istac/about-us/historical-background). He was intimately involved in the institute’s design and research agenda. During his tenure many Muslim intellectuals moved to IIUM in order to work with him. Due to unfortunate academic politics, Prof. al-Attas was marginalized and distanced himself from the institute. Around that time, many of IIUM’s international faculty left as well. At present, the idea of the Islamcization of Knowledge has been reduced to a caricature as a flat epistemological program of merely slapping the word “Islamic” in front of any discipline (such as the very controversial notion of Islamic Science). However, a closer reading of al-Attas shows that he was proposing something much more substantial. For instance, if one pays attention to his analysis of the secular and his focus on the potentialities of adab within the process of learning, then I think one can appreciate a broader picture of what he was trying to achieve. It is important to keep in mind that he was talking about the secular and bodily habitus long before these things became popular. I am not sure how enduring his ideas will be in the future, however, they surely had a profound impact on Muslim intellectuals in the 20th century. Matthew Petersen says: Thank you very much! My copies of “The Concept of Education in Islam” and “Prologomena to the Metaphysics of Islam” are filled with underlinings and notes. And given how critical he is of just slapping “Islamic” in front of everything, it’s odd (and a little sad) that that’s been the result of his work. Well, its a bit confusing because there was ambiguity around what “Islamicization” meant. It meant different things to different people. At the same time al-Attas was formulating his ideas, there was also a very influential academic by the name of Ismail Faruqi who was also talking in terms of Islamicization. Faruqi was less sophisticated as a philosopher. His ideas moved in a more reductive, political direction. Although, I am not hundred percent clear on the exact history, I believe his more popularized version caught on in policy of education circles.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line932
__label__cc	0.706935	0.293065	How Preserved Wood is Made Today's Wood Preservatives Preservative Use Categories CheckMark Quality Best Management Practices Project Contest Utility Poles Field Treatment Find SDS Handling and Disposal Tech Archive About WWPI Uses / Aquatics Preserved Wood in Aquatic Environments Environmental Assessment Model released! See more below. Wood’s structural, economic, environmental and aesthetic benefits make it the preferred building product in a wide variety of construction applications – including bridges, boardwalks, piers and structures in or near waterways and wetlands. Starting in the 1990s, the potential impacts of preserved wood used in our most sensitive ecosystems – aquatic environments – was the focus of close scientific study. Various governmental agencies, universities and the preserved wood industry have undertaken extensive efforts to understand the potential effects of preserved wood in aquatic environments. This continuing work has produced a substantive base of scientific knowledge about the behavior of preserved wood and the level of risk it represents when used in aquatic environments. A worldwide review failed to find a single case where appropriately produced and installed treated wood products resulted in a significant adverse environmental impact. Studies of preserved wood in the most sensitive aquatic environments have shown that the risks associated with preserved wood are small and easily manageable. The full benefits of using preserved wood products can best be achieved when site-specific project risks are properly evaluated; applicable mitigating measures are utilized to minimize and manage potential risk; the appropriate preservative is selected for the intended application; and the material is properly installed and maintained. When these measures are properly considered on a project basis, there is a high probability the preserved material will have a long service life and the potential risks will be minimal and manageable for environmentally safe use. WWPI and others in the preserved wood industry have prepared a number of materials to guide the safe use of preserved wood in aquatic environments. The Treated Wood in Aquatic Environments guide provides guidance in selecting, installing and managing wood preservation systems in aquatic and wetland environments. The new online Environmental Assessment Model evaluates structures above and below water built with wood treated with one of 11 of the most commonly used preservatives. Instructions on how to use the model are outlined in the Help section of the model and in the publication Screening Level Assessment Process and Worksheets. Online Environmental Assessment Model Improvements in technology, combined with advances in scientific knowledge, have allowed researchers to develop sophisticated models that can predict actual activities. Such models are used widely today, from weather forecasting to identifying financial trends in the stock market. In the early 1990s, pioneering preserved wood researcher Dr. Kenneth Brooks developed the first models to estimate the potential migration of preservatives and metals from preserved wood immersed in water and exposed to weather. This work led to the development of the new online Environmental Assessment Model. The new model offers a user-friendly interface and simplifies the process of estimating the potential migration of preservatives used in or over water and in sensitive environments. The model is also available in a Microsoft® Excel-based version available for download. This model has been peer-reviewed, repeatedly field-tested and proven to protect the environment. It is used by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Park Service, Environment Canada and Canadian Department of Fisheries & Oceans as well as a host of local and state regulatory bodies. Predicting Impacts Nearly all materials, man-made or natural, placed in an aquatic environment will introduce chemicals which, if present in large enough concentration, can either immediately or over time pose a potential threat to plant and animal life forms dependent upon that environment. A certain quantity of the chemicals used to preserved wood will migrate from treated wood structures built in aquatic and wetland areas into the water column and surrounding sediments. The question is how much and when will the preservatives move into the environment and under what circumstances might they represent a significant risk. The online Environmental Assessment Model is a flexible tool that can estimate potential migration of chemicals from preserved wood in water for 11 of the most commonly used preservatives. These include CCA, ACZA, ACQ, CA-C, Copper Naphthenate, Creosote and Pentachlorophenol. Click here to review the online model or go to the Technical Library for the Excel version and other materials. Details on how to use the model are outlined in the publication Screening Level Assessment Process and Worksheets. Copyright 2020 \| Western Wood Preservers Institute	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line934
__label__wiki	0.917061	0.917061	Brandon Allen NFL football Professional football Football Sports Brandon McManus Mackensie Alexander Troy Fumagalli Anthony Barr Xavier Rhodes Courtland Sutton Shelby Harris Kirk Cousins Ameer Abdullah Josey Jewell William Parks Andy Janovich Eric Wilson Irv Smith Jr. Davontae Harris Everson Griffen Dre'Mont Jones Dalvin Cook Stefon Diggs Bisi Johnson Kyle Rudolph Kareem Jackson Malik Reed A.J. Johnson Alexander Johnson Tim Patrick Trae Waynes Jayron Kearse Noah Fant Eric Kendricks Mike Zimmer Minnesota Vikings Denver Broncos San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings 11/17/2019 Denver Broncos quarterback Brandon Allen prepares to throw a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) Denver Broncos quarterback Brandon Allen looks to throw a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) Denver Broncos kicker Brandon McManus (8) celebrates with teammates after making a 47-yard field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Denver Broncos tight end Troy Fumagalli, center, catches a 3-yard touchdown pass between Minnesota Vikings defenders Mackensie Alexander, left, and Anthony Barr, right, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Denver Broncos tight end Troy Fumagalli, center, celebrates with teammates after catching a 3-yard touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton, right, catches a pass over Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes, left, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) fumbles as he is sacked by Denver Broncos defensive tackle Shelby Harris (96) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. The Broncos recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) Denver Broncos' Josey Jewell (47) celebrates with teammates after recovering a fumble by Minnesota Vikings' Ameer Abdullah during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Minnesota Vikings' Ameer Abdullah (31) fumbles the ball as he is tackled by Denver Broncos' Will Parks while returning a kickoff during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson (50) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith (84) celebrates after catching a 10-yard touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith (84) catches a 10-yard touchdown pass ahead of Denver Broncos cornerback Davontae Harris, right, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen celebrates after sacking Denver Broncos quarterback Brandon Allen, rear, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Denver Broncos quarterback Brandon Allen, center, is sacked by Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen (97) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, left, runs from Denver Broncos defensive end Dre'Mont Jones, right, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) is tackled by Denver Broncos defenders during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs, right, celebrates with teammate Bisi Johnson, left, after catching a 54-yard touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) celebrates with teammate Bisi Johnson, right, after catching a 54-yard touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph celebrates after catching a 32-yard touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph catches a 32-yard touchdown pass in front of Denver Broncos strong safety Kareem Jackson (22) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) is sacked by Denver Broncos defensive tackle Shelby Harris (96) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook (33) runs from Denver Broncos defenders Malik Reed (59) and A.J. Johnson (45) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) Minnesota Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes (26) breaks up a pass intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick (81) in the end zone during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 27-23. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Fans react during the second half of an NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Minnesota Vikings safety Jayron Kearse, right, breaks up a pass intended for Denver Broncos tight end Noah Fant (87) in the end zone during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 27-23. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) Denver Broncos fullback Andy Janovich (32) scores on a 1-yard touchdown run in front of Minnesota Vikings middle linebacker Eric Kendricks, right, during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone) FILE - In this Nov. 17, 2019, file photo, Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer reacts to a call during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, in Minneapolis. The Vikings and San Francisco 49ers play in a divisional playoff game on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn, File)	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line936
__label__wiki	0.557639	0.557639	The Spirituals An exuberant experience of conversation and singing. There are nearly 5,000 spirituals in existence. Their organizing concept is not the melody of Europe, but the rhythm of Africa. They were composed by slaves, bards whose names we will never know, and yet gave rise to gospel, jazz, blues, and hip-hop. Joe Carter lived and breathed the universal appeal and hidden stories, meanings, and hope in what were originally called “sorrow songs.” This was one of our first weekly shows, and it’s still one of our most beloved. Play Unedited Joe Carter Image by Allan Cole, © All Rights Reserved. Joe Carter was a singer, performer, teacher, and traveling humanitarian. He performed for more than 25 years in opera and musical theater, portrayed Paul Robeson in a one-man musical, and introduced people around the world to the spiritual. He died of leukemia at age 57, on June 26, 2006. [music: “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” performed by Joe Carter] Krista Tippett, host: This hour, an exuberant experience of conversation and singing the spirituals. There are nearly 5,000 spirituals in existence. Their organizing concept is not the melody of Europe, but the rhythm of Africa. They were composed by slaves, bards whose names we will never know, and yet gave rise to gospel, jazz, blues and hip-hop. Joe Carter lived and breathed the universal appeal and the hidden stories, meanings, and hope in what were originally called “sorrow songs.” Joe Carter: What we’re talking about is human suffering, and how do we survive when the worst happens? What are the mechanisms? I can sing “Motherless Child” in Siberia; they know what it means. They’ve been through hell. I can go to Scotland and Ireland and Wales and sing these. They understand the sentiment. The songs have become symbolic, I think, of that universal quest for freedom, that yearning for freedom, and that part of us that says, “I will not be defeated.” Ms. Tippett: I’m Krista Tippett, and this is On Being. This was one of our first weekly shows and it’s still one of our most beloved. Joe Carter remained relatively unknown through his death in June, 2006. But he performed for more than 25 years in opera and musical theater and he portrayed Paul Robeson in a one-man musical. I spoke with him in a music recording studio in 2003, with his pianist Tom West nearby for whenever Joe might feel called to burst into song. Ms. Tippett: Tell me what you think of when I ask the question about how this music played a role in your earliest religious life, and what songs, or what song, comes into your mind first and why. Mr. Carter: It takes me back to my childhood in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and my church, which was Union Baptist Church, the main black church in Cambridge at the time. We didn’t have spirituals in the church, and we didn’t have African-American gospel music. It was a period of time when there were a lot of African Americans who were saying, we’re not connecting to our history. We want to show everyone that we can be integrated. So we were singing European anthems, so I never heard it in my church except when there was a baptism. And when the preacher would go into the baptismal pool and he’d come out, he’d immediately begin to sing [singing] “Everybody sing amen, amen, hallelujah, amen, amen, amen.” There was no pipe organ, no piano, he was just singing a cappella and the church would begin to rock. And as a child I remember — wow, what is that? There’s something special about that song, about that music — and I was always excited when I got a chance to hear it, but I didn’t get to hear it very often in my church. Another time I heard it was on recordings. We had an old scratchy — I think it was a 78 recording, and it was a choir called the Wings Over Jordan Choir, and they were an African-American radio choir in the early days. And it was something we didn’t hear very often. They were spirituals. Whenever we played this record it was almost a total hush in the room, in the family, because it was the story of Mary McLeod Bethune, who was a relative of ours, and it tells the story of how this little girl was the first one born free in her family, how she wanted to learn to read and write, and in the background you’d hear the Wings Over Jordan Choir singing spirituals. [music: “I Will Trust In The Lord” performed by the Wings Over Jordan Choir] And somehow it was during those experiences I realized there was something very special about this music that was different than jazz, blues, and rock and roll that we played on the record player, or even some of the gospel songs. This was something that was even more powerful. And I think I had developed a real desire to learn about it. Ms. Tippett: So tell me what years are we talking about — when were you born, when were you growing up? Mr. Carter: I was born in 1949. So I was a child of the ’50s and the ’60s. And then the civil rights movement came along, and everyone was singing spirituals. And in Cambridge we had all the folk singers. And when I was 15 years old I got into a folk singing duo with my best friend at the time, with David Levithan who’s Jewish, and David told me, “Joe, your people have wonderful music.” And this was the first time I’d ever heard someone say that. So he wanted to come to my church to hear the music. So he came to Union Baptist Church on a Sunday morning and heard Bach. He said, “Joe, that ain’t it.” [laughs] And so I began to search for places that I could share this music with David and hear it myself. So we would go into the ghetto in Boston and we’d go around little store-front churches and we’d go, “This is it! This is it! You hear the tambourines beating and the people? Oh, yeah.” [laughs] Ms. Tippett: Oh gosh, there’s so much I want to pursue here. First of all, it’s very intriguing to me that you started on that journey with a Jewish friend because I think so many of the stories that the spirituals captured came from the Hebrew Bible, the story of the exodus. Mr. Carter: Absolutely, that’s true. We had a folk-singing duo, David and I, called the Dithy Ramble Duo. And we sang “This Train Don’t Carry No Gamblers” and those songs that were popular in the ’60s. And that was kind of a beginning. Ms. Tippett: Tell me what your family’s connection was with the world in which the spirituals were created, which was the world of black slavery. Mr. Carter: I think it’s only as an adult I really began to understand that because my parents were very careful not to talk about their pains and the things that the ancestors went through because they didn’t want us to grow up with, so-called, a chip on our shoulders. They want us to be free and to realize that prejudice was an evil thing and we must not let it be found in us. But later I realized my grandparents were born right after slavery. So all of my great-grandparents were born slaves, my grandparents grew up on the plantation, my parents as children were on the plantation as share croppers and moved to the North mainly to flee the persecution of racism and brought us to a place that was an international community. And every once and a while I would hear my mother or my father singing a little song very quietly, they wouldn’t sing openly — or my grandparents. And I’d say, “What’s that song?” “Oh nothing, nothing, nothing.” Ms. Tippett: Do you think that these were songs that they really carried around inside them. They weren’t consciously humming them. Mr. Carter: Yeah they did. I think they heard them from their parents and their grandparents and they were just songs that they sang for comfort. Ms. Tippett: So I think — and it was only as I prepared to speak with you — that we celebrate this music now, right? American culture as a whole celebrates this music. We don’t think very hard or very often about where they came from and how that is speaking to us also through this music. And it was also — this question that James Weldon Johnson raises in the book that you gave me from 1925, the book of spirituals, about who wrote this music — that there must have been bards, that there were great artists at work. Is there folklore around that that came down to you through your family? Is there a memory of that? What do you think, or what have you learned? Mr. Carter: Well, I discovered a few things as a teenager. I met a woman by the name of Jessie Anthony who was — I think she was over 80 when I met her. And somehow, she was coming to our church. And we young people would go to her house to collect her, to bring her to church and so on. Well, here was an African-American woman whose parents were slaves in Virginia. And she sang the spirituals. And she’d heard me sing in church, so she just sort of took me under her wing. And she was going to teach me these songs. And she had a suitcase full of stories that she’d collected over the years of the spirituals. And she would tell me, she’d say, “Child, when they sang this song, this is what they were talking about, you know? A lot of people don’t know this.” And she had stories for every song. Ms. Tippett: OK, tell me a story. Mr. Carter: One of the stories I seem to remember that she told, it was about — Emancipation Day had come. There was a group of former slaves, now, on an island off the coast of South Carolina. My parents were from South Carolina, all my family. And they were waiting for the emissary of the government to arrive in his little boat to tell them that they had received the deeds to their land, because the government had promised them not only freedom, but 40 acres and a mule. This was going to be a great, wonderful day. And the former slaves had gathered together on the island waiting with bated breath. And finally, they saw the boat of the officer approaching. And they could tell, even from the distance, that his face was not happy and his countenance was somewhat sad. And they said there was a groan that just came from the crowd. And one of the older women from the crowd just stood up and began to make up a song on the spot. Do you want me to show you what that song is? Ms. Tippett: Yeah, I do. Mr. Carter: I’ll go to the piano. She sang, [singing] Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen Nobody knows but Jesus Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen Glory, hallelujah And then she spoke, looking to the people around her, she said, Sometimes I’m up, sometimes I’m down Oh, yes, Lord Sometimes I’m almost level to the ground Oh, nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen Ms. Tippett: And sorrow songs, is that what the spirituals were called routinely? Mr. Carter: Yeah, that’s what I’m told. Ms. Tippett: And it does connote — it connotes what’s in the music, but it connotes something different from the title “spiritual.” Mr. Carter: Mm-hmm. Because they were the expression of the great pain and the sorrow. But at the same time, they were always looking upward. They were always reaching. There was always some level of hope, as opposed to the concept of the blues. The blues was just singing about your troubles, and there was no hope. But there’s always the glory hallelujah someplace saying, “Oh, and on that glory hallelujah, then we fly.” So in the midst of the night, we can fly away to freedom while we’re singing these songs. And this is another. [singing] I am a poor pilgrim of sorrow Down in this wide world alone No hope have I for tomorrow I’ve started to make heaven my home. Sometimes I’m tossed and driven, Lord Sometimes I don’t know where to roam I’ve heard of a city called heaven I’ve started to make heaven my home Ms. Tippett: I’m Krista Tippett and this is On Being. Today experiencing the hidden stories, meanings, and hope of the spiritual. This is one of our earliest and most beloved shows, with the late, singular musician and humanitarian, Joe Carter. Ms. Tippett: It seems to be grounded in the experience of sorrow, but making a connection with that, between that and the larger human spirit, and the larger experience of God, which is not just about the sorrow. Mr. Carter: Yeah. I think that the sorrow became the entrance, the open door, into a whole new world of experience. The slaves could not experience the normal world. They couldn’t go out and go shopping. They couldn’t buy a house. They couldn’t do all the things that the normal white person did. They were slaves, you know? They were whipped, and they had chains. And they found a secret door to take them into that world where the tears are wiped away. Ms. Tippett: But the tears are cried first, aren’t they? Mr. Carter: Yeah. Ms. Tippett: You talked about the secret power of these songs. And I think so much of what we’re learning now in our advanced day is how important it is to embrace suffering in life in order to move forward. Ms. Tippett: And maybe they did not have a choice. Mr. Carter: No, they didn’t. Ms. Tippett: But it’s almost like there’s healing in that moment, even though it doesn’t take the pain away. Mr. Carter: And that’s one reason, I think, that African-American religion and culture has become so powerful in the world. One of the things that I think about when I think about this body of music. I realize that it was the foundation for most other American music. And this music has changed the face of music in the 20th century. And the story behind the creation of the spirituals, it’s a miraculous story. Normally, when you hear the story of African-American music in a documentary or something, you go back to Ella Fitzgerald or Louis Armstrong. And I say, “well, that’s great. But if you really want to know the story behind the story, find out who Louis’ grandmother was and what she was singing. What were the songs he learned when he was a baby? And what were the messages of those songs?” And the thing that we find is that in the midst of all of the most horrible pain, some of these powerful individuals lived transcendent, shining lives. They were able to rise up above. They were able to be loving and forgiving in the midst of it all. Mammy was taking care of master’s baby. It was mammy, not master’s wife, that was nursing that little baby. Mammy could have poisoned the child. She could have smothered the child. But she loved that child like it was her own child. Because there was something in her faith that said, “You’re supposed to be loving. You’re supposed to be kind. You’re supposed to be forgiving. And there’s no excuse if you are not.” We have songs like — the interesting thing — you don’t find mean-spirited sentiments in the spirituals. They’re the most noble sentiments. Now, you find a song like this: [singing] “It’s me, it’s me, it’s me, oh, Lord, standing in the need of prayer…” Not my brother, not not my sister, not the preacher, not the deacon, not the doctor, not the lawyer, not the master? Wait a minute. These are people who were victims. They were in the midst of the most horrible situation, but they said, “I’m taking responsibility for who I am today, and it’s me standing in the need of — I’m the one that has the proud heart today. Come and fix me.” Ms. Tippett: And again, I mean this is not only sound theology and psychology, it’s extremely mature spirituality, right? Ms. Tippett: What was it that came together in the lives and the spiritual sensibility of those slaves that connected them so powerfully to — really those are the best attributes of Christianity that you’re talking about. They’re not often practiced. James Weldon Johnson talked about this as the verging of the spirit of Christianity with the vestiges of African music or an African sensibility. Do you have any ideas about what made that such a special fusion? Mr. Carter: Well, I’ve thought about it a lot, and one thing that occurs to me, if we go back to the cultures of the slaves that came from many different African nations and languages, one thing they had in common was they believed in a supreme deity. But they believed he was very busy and very, very holy, and in order to get to him, you had to go through the ancestors. It wasn’t very dissimilar to the way Europeans felt with the saints, and so on. When slavery took place — and there was also this concept that you commune with deity with magic, shining songs. If your songs come forth with great fervor, you not only reach deity, but deity comes and possesses you, becomes part of you, and gives you the strength to do whatever you’ve got to do to win your battles, to harvest your crop. And when people were taken suddenly as slaves, when they were literally kidnapped from their normal lives, whatever those lives were, they were taken away from the land of their ancestors. The spirit of the ancestors couldn’t cross the water. And so, when they were taken on these boats away from their homes, they experienced the most deep desolation possible, because not only were they being removed from their friends and kindred, but they were being removed from their God. And they had no way to get to God, because the ancestors were way back in Africa on the land. And I imagine when the slaves heard about this Jesus — now, the master’s religion, first of all, you’ve got to realize this: They were not impressed by the master’s Christianity, may I say. Ms. Tippett: Well, right. This is why it’s even surprising to me that they adopted Christianity. Mr. Carter: Exactly, because they saw all of the brutality, they saw all the hypocrisy, and were the brunt of it. But they heard about this Jesus, this man of sorrow who suffered, and they identified. And then they were told that Jesus is the Son of the High God. “No. Wait, the Son of the High God? We can get to the High God through this guy? And his story sounds like our story? He’s born in terrible circumstances, he’s mistreated. He’s finally abused and killed. My goodness. Maybe He will carry us to the High God.” [music: “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” performed by Tom West] Ms. Tippett: After a short break, more conversation and song with Joe Carter. Subscribe to On Being on Apple Podcasts to listen again any time and discover everything we create. Watch your feed in coming days. We’re going to be releasing the songs Joe was singing this hour for you to download. They were never made available as an album in his lifetime. I’m Krista Tippett and this is On Being. Today, for the anniversary of Joe Carter’s death, we’re returning to my 2003 conversation with him — one of our very first shows and one of our most beloved. Joe embodied the beauty, sorrow, and hidden meanings within the spirituals, songs composed by nameless bards in slavery, and yet a tradition that gave us gospel, blues, jazz, and hip-hop. Ms. Tippett: Were there songs reaching back to the ancestors? Do you think they felt that, also, that old belief that was planted in them of their songs reaching to God? Mr. Carter: I think in the early days of slavery, yes. Because for a long time there were a lot of ancestors from Africa who were still there on the plantations. So they got that sense. For example, with Mary McLeod Bethune — her grandmother came over from Africa with two sisters, and she remembered the songs and stories and sang those songs to the children. Now nobody in my family now remembers any of the songs, but we have the stories of her singing the songs to the children and so on. And it was through the songs that the faith was transmitted. Ms. Tippett: Really, it’s taking the story whole and passing it on. It’s pretty good bible study. Mr. Carter: And then the story of slavery. Ms. Tippett: The exodus. Being captive in a foreign land. Mr. Carter: Yes. The Jews in Egypt. “Go down, Moses, way down to Egypt land and tell old Pharaoh, ‘Let my people go!’” And sometimes I imagine how some of those songs were used and I imagine someone on the plantation, the master, who is always very happy when he hears the slaves singing because he knows where they are, he knows they’re not escaping, as long as he can hear them. An old master comes out one day. He says, “Hey, Joe. Big Joe. I don’t hear nobody singing down there. You guys strike me up one of them good, old spiritual songs. You know how I like them. Give me one of them good, old songs.” And often when I go to the schoolchildren, I have them sing with me. I say, “OK. Now pretend you’re going to be — you’re all slaves, OK? And master wants us to sing a song, but we don’t really want to sing for master, do we?” “No. No, we don’t.” I say, “Well, I’ll tell you something. Master loves our singing, but he doesn’t listen to the words we say. He doesn’t have a clue. So we can say anything we want. So, let’s give the master a good old song.” Ms. Tippett: What do you sing with the kids? Mr. Carter: [singing] When Israel was in Egypt land, Oppressed so hard they could not stand, Go down, Moses, way down in Egypt’s land And tell old Pharaoh, Let my people go! And after we go through the song, they go, “Hey, old master, how was that one?” [laughs] One of the connections also that I learned about that period of time from my grandparents was, my grandfather was a storyteller. And he would regale the family, every time we were together, with slavery stories. That’s what he always talked about. And there was a slave by the name of John who was the star of all of these stories. And you never knew whether the story was true or not, but it was always funny, and it got your attention, and Grandpa was a good storyteller. There was also always a moral at the end of the story. But the one theme that went through all of these stories was that John had outsmarted the master. He was always ahead of the master. So there was this concept — the master doesn’t really understand us. We play a role for him and he sees us in a certain way, and we’ll play that role as much as we can so that we won’t get whooped. So we’ve got to understand his thinking, but he can never understand our thinking. And so, the spirituals were — all of the spirituals, all of the songs were masks. As well as these transcendent, wonderful moments. They were also signals for escape. For example, we’re gonna do another song now, which goes right along with what I was just… This was one of my grandmother’s favorite songs. [singing] Steal away, steal away, steal away to Jesus I’ve got to steal away, steal away home I ain’t got long to stay here My Lord He calls me, He calls me by the thunder The trumpet sounds within my soul And I ain’t got long to stay here Green trees are bending, poor sinner stands a tremblin’ And I ain’t, I ain’t got long to stay, to stay here It’s like you get into the stream of that living water. And there’s no past, present, and future. It’s just right now, and right now everything is all right. You know, there’s a story about Elijah and a woman whose son died. She had received this son as a miracle, actually. And the prophet told her that she was going to have this son at a certain time and she did, and the son dies. And she says, “Send for the man of God. Send for that prophet.” And Elijah sends a servant. She says, “No, no, no. I want to see the man. Now, you gave me the promise, I have a child, and my child has died. I’m having a tragedy right now.” And when Elijah rode, coming close to her, he said, “Woman, how is it with thee?” She said, “It is well with my soul.” And there was something that you can find even today in those, especially the older people who really have faith, you say, “How are you doing?” And you just see that smile. And it doesn’t say that I’m doing OK. It doesn’t say that everything’s OK in my life. Sometimes they’ll say, “I’m blessed.” Sometimes they’ll say, “It is well.” So the sense of well-being does not depend on whether things are good or bad or up or down because, if we had to live that way as slaves, we would constantly be buried underneath the ground, because the circumstances were so horrible and so bad we had to find, as I say, that secret door. Ms. Tippett: We talked about how there was this subversive power of the words of the spirituals, saying things which really contradicted the interests of the masters, for example. But also there were more overt codes and real practical references in some of the spirituals. And give me an example of that, where there was almost a secret language. Mr. Carter: “Steal Away To Jesus.” And when someone said, [singing] “I ain’t got long to stay,” everybody knew, hey, I’m going to be escaping tonight, and I want you to be supporting me. Someone is going to meet us on the other side of the river. “Green trees are bending, poor sinner stands a-tremblin’.” And maybe they had a signal where someone would shake a leaf in a branch of a tree across the river and you’d go on to safety to the Underground Railroad, hopefully. “Swing low, sweet chariot, coming for to carry me home. I looked over Jordan, what did I see?” Ms. Tippett: Wait, wait wait. “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” — what’s going on there that’s not overt? Mr. Carter: Well, first, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” was a death song, as most of them were in some way. And it was often sung when a child died. It was a way to evoke one’s dignity, to say, even though I’m a slave, God has to send a golden chariot down from the sky. I’m going to have dignity. My child’s going to have dignity. “I looked over Jordan and what did I see? A band of angels coming after me, coming for to carry me home.” But then later you get, “If you get there before I do, tell all my friends I’m coming up there too.” So the master never knew what they were singing about. You see? Ms. Tippett: I did not know that. Mr. Carter: So I think at some point someone realized, “Maybe I don’t have to die in order to have a little heaven.” Freedom. And, of course, they thought that if they got to the Mason-Dixon line and crossed, they would have true freedom. And then, unfortunately, they got across the Mason-Dixon line and still found there was oppression, and found that somehow they had to revert back to the original spiritual meanings of the songs because the political meanings never delivered them. [singing] Swing low, sweet chariot, comin’ for to carry me home. Swing low, sweet chariot, I said it’s comin’ for to carry me home. Well, I looked over Jordan and what did I see comin’ for to carry me home. Well it was a band of angels comin’ after me, comin’ for to carry me home. If you get there before I do, comin’ for to carry me home. Tell all my friends I’m comin’ up there too, comin’ for to carry me home. Why don’t you swing low, sweet chariot, comin’ for to carry me home. Oh, swing low, sweet chariot, oh, it’s comin’ for to carry me home. It’s comin’ for to carry me home. Oh, it’s comin’ for to carry me home. Ms. Tippett: I can do a much more whimsical listen knowing what you just told me about some of the practicalities and codes behind that. Mr. Carter: And I think there were so many of the songs, even “Wade in the Water”: “God’s going to trouble the water,” another image of people going to the river to be baptized and also going to the river to escape to freedom. And the story was that a certain season, the angels would come and trouble the water, as they say, which, I don’t know, they put their wings in or their toenails or whatever. But whatever happened, once they touched the waters, if you got in the water, and you were sick, you’d be healed. So here’s this guy, 38 years he’s been going. And Jesus comes by and says, “What’s your problem?” He says, “Can’t you see? I’m a lame man. And every time the angels come to trouble the water, somebody gets in before me.” And Jesus said, “Do you want to be healed?” “Well, yes. Of course, I do.” “Then take up your bed and walk.” They loved this story, because this was about self-sufficiency. We are not victims. We’re powerful individuals, and we are people of faith. And so they sang — let me just do a little bit of that song. [singing] Wade in the water, wade in the water, children Wade in the water, God’s gonna trouble the water Who’s that yonder dressed in white, God’s gonna trouble the water Well, it must be the people called the Israelites, God’s gonna trouble the water Children, wade in the water, wade in the water, children Wade in the water, God’s gonna trouble the water. Well who’s that yonder dressed in red, God’s gonna trouble the water It must be the people that Moses led, God’s gonna trouble the water Wade in the water, God’s gonna trouble, gonna trouble the water Ms. Tippett: What this makes me think of is how the politics of freedom can actually distract from this inner freedom and dignity, which the slaves possessed and which we find so expressed in this music even today. Mr. Carter: And maybe in the same sense that sometimes religion can distract from spirituality. You get a structure, a form. You get a program, and somehow, after a while, the real thing is as elusive as the Holy Grail. Ms. Tippett: Right. And you can lose this sense that these slaves who created this music obviously had that — at every moment, they were full of grace. All was well with their souls no matter what was going on around them, no matter what rights they had or what their legal status was. Mr. Carter: No, it must be said that there were certainly slaves who were trying to escape, slaves who were willing to get involved in revolution and insurrection and so on. But I think the larger community had a spiritual identity that guided them. Ms. Tippett: And we have to be so careful not to be glorifying slavery, right? So what are we talking about here? What are we getting at? Mr. Carter: I think what we’re talking about human suffering, and how do we survive when the worst happens? What are the mechanisms? And I think that African Americans have shown the world, and other peoples have done it, too. Other peoples are doing it all the time, and it’s the same process. It doesn’t matter who the people are. It doesn’t matter whether the song is an actual song of notes and music or whether it’s the spirit of a people expressed in some other way, but you’ll find — for example, when I sing these songs, I can sing “Motherless Child” in Siberia; they know what it means. They’ve been through hell. I can go to Scotland and Ireland and Wales and sing these. They understand the sentiment. As a matter of fact, you go to Wales right now, you’ll find African-American spirituals in Welsh in the Welsh hymnbook, part of their worship. So the songs have become symbolic, I think, of that universal quest for freedom, that yearning for freedom and that part of us that says, “I will not be defeated.” Let me do a little bit of “Motherless Child.” Ms. Tippett: That’s the one I was humming at my computer this morning as I was making notes for this. I’m not sure why. [laughs] Mr. Carter: [singing] Sometimes I feel like a motherless child Oh, Lord, sometimes I feel like a motherless child A long ways from home A long ways from my home Ms. Tippett: I’m Krista Tippett and this is On Being. Today, experiencing the hidden stories, meanings, and hope of the spiritual. This is one of our earliest and most beloved shows, with the late, singular musician and humanitarian Joe Carter. [music: “Motherless Child” performed by Joe Carter] Ms. Tippett: The paradox of the spirituals in their context of slavery was that they gave themselves over, in some sense to suffering and to the hardness of life and really to an essential powerlessness. This is where we are; this is where we live. But there was an “and.” “And, I am beloved, I’m graced, I am blessed, I have dignity, I’m alive, and what I experience now is not all there is.” There’s a surrender and there’s an incredible power at the same time in the spirituals, and when life is halfway better, maybe the surrender goes away and the power is diminished, too. Am I making any sense? Mr. Carter: Yeah, that’s one of the horrible problems that we have to deal with, with the whole issue of progress, you know? Because in the process, we may lose something. But you know something? Because I have been living with these songs, these songs have become the strength of my life. Because I realize even though I am not in slavery, as my grandparents or great-grandparents were, I deal with all of the difficulties of life that nobody escapes. Ms. Tippett: No. And even somebody who’s perfectly free and perfectly rich and perfectly powerful in the world’s terms doesn’t escape from suffering, right? Mr. Carter: That’s right. And the worst kind of bondage is that which takes place in the inside. When we look back to the slavery days, we were bound, but it was the master who was really the slave. And I think some of us understand that now. But I experience in my own life great strength from telling the stories and looking back, because I see what they went through, and I haven’t experienced anything like what my ancestors did. And I complain about everything. Ms. Tippett: I wonder if it is at all disturbing to you that this music with its sensibility has, is considered now to be a defining part of American culture as a whole? You could say maybe that it’s been co-opted, embraced. Does that bother you? Because that necessarily takes it out of its context, doesn’t it? I mean, is it OK for a white person to celebrate this as much as… Mr. Carter: I think it’s a good question. And my answer is this: When any music or art becomes this transcendent thing that helps people through, it then becomes a property of the universe. It becomes a property of the world. And to tell the story of the spiritual, it’s not an African story. It is an African-American story. It’s the blending of the two cultures. And the fact that George Gershwin was influenced greatly by the spirituals, I think it’s a wonderful thing that this man could reach out of his neighborhood, go down to South Carolina and listen to the elders sing and come back and say, “This is a treasure.” And then translate that through his genius and give to the world as so many others have. There are many European composers like Dvořák who were influenced by this music. And today — it’s true with any kind of art — there has to be the sensitivity of the person who is observing and participating. And some people don’t get it no matter what you do. And there are other people, you don’t have to say anything, and they get it from the get-go. And one of the things I would say about the development of African-American music and culture — the powers that be found it much more attractive to promote the blues and to promote the image of the black man singing the blues with a bottle of wine in his back pocket singing about less-than-noble sentiments, while we had this whole treasure. And the Paul Robesons and the Marian Andersons and others who came and brought this music forth, they didn’t make the big commercial successes. Well, Robeson, and Anderson did for a while, but they’re among the few. In order to make a commercial success, you’ve got to sing soul, you’ve got to get away from anything that is spiritual and change the message. Ms. Tippett: Soul as opposed to spiritual. That’s interesting. Mr. Carter: I just have a certain personal feeling about it because we still have a problem, because there are still people who don’t want to tell the truth about who we are. And if the truth is really told, then you’ve got to go back and tell the story of the love and the forgiveness and the power of many of the ancestors. They weren’t all loving and forgiving. Some of them were mean-spirited. Some of them did whatever they had to do, I’m sure. But as a national identity, this music became the embodiment of a spirit of goodwill, a spirit of forgiveness, a spirit of “I’m going to survive no matter what.” Ms. Tippett: Dignity. That’s the word that keeps coming up. Mr. Carter: And by the way, this woman that I told you about, Jessie Anthony, she was the most dignified soul I’d ever met. The last time I saw her, she was, I think, 88 years old. Her parents were born slaves. And she began to sing the spirituals. She sang at the Boston Public Library, she sang at Harvard, demonstrating the music. And she said, “Joe?” I said, “Yes, Ms. Anthony?” She said, “I want you to go into my bedroom and look under my bed and tell me what you see there.” And so I went into her bedroom. I said, “You got a suitcase.” She said, “Yes, I do, child.” I said, “What’s in the suitcase?” And she smiled. She beamed at me. She said, “In that suitcase, I’ve got my going-home clothes. Ooh, I’ve got a beautiful dress in there. Jesus is coming for me any day, don’t you know, child?” And she just started laughing. I’ll never forget that image. Here was someone who’d gone through all of the changes in culture and society, and now was living in an elder apartment complex in Boston, all of her children in Washington, D.C., and everything. And she was still singing her songs. And she was holding her head up high every place she went. She was the kind of person who just commanded your respect. And when the young people — whenever we’d go to her house, she would tell us the stories of these songs and everything. And then, she would always end singing one little song. Give me a C, Tom. And she’d sing, “Children, if you don’t remember anything I’ve told you, if you don’t remember any songs that I’ve sung for you, I want you to remember this one.” [singing] Be ready when he comes Be ready when he comes Oh, Lord, he’s coming again so soon Now, Joe, you be ready. [laughs] Ms. Tippett: Thank you so much, Joe Carter. Mr. Carter: It is my pleasure to be here. Thank you. [music: “Let The Work That I’ve Done Speak For Me” performed by Joe Carter] Ms. Tippett: Joe Carter was a teacher, performer, and traveling humanitarian. He died at the age of 57 of leukemia on June 26th, 2006. Staff: On Being is Chris Heagle, Lily Percy, Mariah Helgeson, Maia Tarrell, Marie Sambilay, Erinn Farrell, Laurén Dørdal, Tony Liu, Bethany Iverson, Erin Colasacco, Kristin Lin, Profit Idowu, Casper ter Kuile, Angie Thurston, Sue Phillips, Eddie Gonzalez, Lilian Vo, Damon Lee, and Jeffrey Bissoy. Ms. Tippett: Special thanks this week to Tom West and Tom Mudge. Our lovely theme music is provided and composed by Zoë Keating. And the last voice that you hear singing our final credits in each show is hip-hop artist Lizzo. On Being was created at American Public Media. Our funding partners include: The George Family Foundation, in support of the Civil Conversations Project. The Fetzer Institute, helping to build the spiritual foundation for a loving world. Find them at fetzer.org. Kalliopeia Foundation, working to create a future where universal spiritual values form the foundation of how we care for our common home. Humanity United, advancing human dignity at home and around the world. Find out more at humanityunited.org, part of the Omidyar Group. The Henry Luce Foundation, in support of Public Theology Reimagined. The Osprey Foundation — a catalyst for empowered, healthy, and fulfilled lives. And the Lilly Endowment, an Indianapolis-based, private family foundation dedicated to its founders’ interests in religion, community development, and education. This Far by Faith: Stories from the African American Religious Experience Author: Juan Williams The Books of the American Negro Spirituals Author: James Weldon Johnson Artist: Performed by Joe Carter Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen Poor Pilgrim of Sorrow Wade in the Water Motherless Child Let the Work That I've Done Speak for Me “Let the Work That I’ve Done Speak for Me” Public Theology Reimagined Chuck Colson, Greg Boyd, and Shane Claiborne How to Be a Christian Citizen: Three Evangelicals Debate To be Evangelical is not one thing, even on abortion. This conversation about Christianity and politics with three generations of Evangelical leaders — Shane Claiborne, Greg Boyd, and the late Chuck Colson — feels more relevant in the wake of the 2016 election than it did when we first recorded it. We offer this searching dialogue, which is alive anew, to a changed political landscape. Subscribe to On Being with Krista Tippett	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line937
__label__cc	0.733398	0.266602	« Aborted babies are still being used in today’s vaccine production: Expert Abortion is bad for women’s health. Here’s why. » Court Lets Ohio Defund Planned Parenthood in Major Pro-Life Victory Michael Foust \| ChristianHeadlines.com A federal appeals court Tuesday upheld an Ohio law that strips Planned Parenthood of state funding, handing pro-lifers in the state a major victory three years after the law was passed. Former Republican Gov. John Kasich signed the law, which prohibits money from the Department of Health going to organizations that perform or promote abortions. Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, gets roughly $1.5 million from the department each year. Judge Jeffrey Sutton, writing for the 11-6 majority, ruled that the law does not violate the U.S. Constitution because it does not prohibit women from obtaining abortions. The ruling overturned a lower court decision. “Planned Parenthood must show that the Ohio law, if implemented, would impose an undue burden on a woman’s right to an abortion,” wrote Sutton, who was nominated by President George W. Bush. “Its vow to keep performing abortions sinks any pre-enforcement action, and any speculation about what would happen if it changed its mind is just that.” Further, Sutton wrote, Ohio “may choose to subsidize what it wishes – whether abortion services or adoption services, whether stores that sell guns or stores that don’t,” as long as “the subsidy program does not otherwise violate a constitutional right of the regulated entity.” “The Supreme Court has never identified a freestanding right to perform abortions,” Sutton wrote. “To the contrary, it has indicated that there is no such thing.” Four of the 11 judges in the majority were nominated by President Trump, according to Politico. Pro-life and religious liberty groups applauded the decision. “Ohio Right to Life is absolutely thrilled that Planned Parenthood will not get any more of our state tax dollars,” said Michael Gonidakis, president of Ohio Right to Life. “Thanks to this very encouraging decision, Ohioans of conscience won’t have to worry about whether their tax dollars are going towards abortions.” Mat Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel, agreed. “We celebrate that the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the Ohio law that blocks nearly $1.5 million in taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood,” Staver said. “Planned Parenthood does not have a constitutional right to receive taxpayer funds for abortions and the state of Ohio should withhold all public funding. Not one penny of taxpayer dollars should ever go to fund the killing of innocent children. This entry was posted on Friday, March 15th, 2019 at 5:22 pm and is filed under News & Commentary. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed. Called to Give Life - Second Edition Code: BCTG The Winning Side Code: BTWS	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line939
__label__cc	0.748558	0.251442	By onespecialone Each Christmas we aim to share Christ’s love in a BIG tangible way with families who are experiencing hardships. Our special families are nominated by other organizations and prayerfully selected. It’s always a blessing at Christmas to be able to bless others. This fundraiser is the way we can do that– and we are trusting GOD to provide for these families— by moving YOU—and hundreds of others like you, to be generous. Because GOD has been so generous to send HIS son as a gift to us, we are motivated to give. Read the stories below to learn about the families who will benefit from One Special Christmas this year. Join our mission by coming to the auction and buying SUPER COOL handmade one-of-a-kind items or you can simply make a donation by clickin the link below: Emily Chapman Valenti One Special Family # 1 They came through the door with their overnight bags and smiles on their faces. As they kicked their shoes off one of the children excitedly said, “Did you hear the news?!” Mom said, “What news?” with the most normal tone she could muster. She gave him the opportunity to share his exciting news, and bore the heaviness she had been holding in her heart all night. She wanted to spare them just a little longer. In a few short minutes she would have to tell them the worst news they’d ever received. She would be telling her 9 yr old son and 13 yr old, daddy’s little girl, that their father had passed away the night before. It all happened so fast. Just last night she made plans to leave the hospital for a few hours to meet the plumber at their home and then meet a representative about being chosen as a recipient of One Special Christmas before going back to being by her husband’s side. This morning there was no reason to go back. Even though he had been diagnosed with cancer in August of 2018, he was only 38 yrs old, and the treatments had been working until just a few weeks ago. Doctors recently told them that time was short, and they were advised to enjoy the time he had left and to begin hospice care. But even when you know the unthinkable is coming– it is still unthinkable. And the kids weren’t prepared. Neither was mom. They had been together for seventeen years, almost their whole adult life. She was thankful for that, but as she struggled to process how it happened so fast, she said, “I just wish I could have had even one more day.” Unfortunately, we can’t give them one more day, but together we can offer them a little peace and alot of love. There are many uncertainties in the days to come as they navigate life without him. Mom has taken off weeks of work, unpaid, to be with her ailing husband, so funeral and household expenses are overwhelming her. Christmas honestly wasn’t a consideration until she was nominated by Novant Health Hospice to be one of our special families. Let’s wrap our arms around this family during this time and help them feel GOD’S great love for them. We can ease some of their financial burden and give them the Christmas morning they desperately need this year. “Mama, if we get a place before Christmas can we have a Christmas tree?” her daughter asked from their room in the homeless shelter just a few weeks ago. They had been living there since April. The 44 year old mother was recently reunited with her daughters after years of separation. For three years, while in their father’s care, this mother was unable to see or talk to them. The lack of a legal custody agreement or money to retain a lawyer kept her constant attempts at seeing them unsuccessful. She had almost completely given up hope and started a new life in North Carolina, when a miracle changed everything. A friend told her about a hotline she could call to report her troubles in gaining access to her children. She called the hotline and finally… A breakthrough– Within a few days she was on her way to Atlanta to get the girls. She had just one problem– she didn’t have adequate housing for them. She stayed with a friend for a short time, before moving into the homeless shelter with her middle school aged daughters. She was determined to get a home for them as soon as possible. For months she worked two jobs- morning, noon, and night, often having to walk to and from work. Being together with her girls was all she had been dreaming of for years, and all she wanted for them was to have a home where they could, “be kids and not have a care in the world like kids are supposed to do.” So on this past Saturday afternoon when she took me from room to room in the home she had worked so hard to provide with the help of Fifth Street Ministries, you can imagine how she beamed with pride– especially when she explained why she already had a humble little silver Christmas tree on a table in her living room. There’s no TV. No dining room table. She is sleeping on the couch so her girls can have the beds. And her daughter has to sit in just the right place near a window to get a WiFi signal from who knows where to do homework. But you will not hear one complaint. Not from these girls. And definitely not from this mama. This family was nominated by Tonya Reid, the McKinney Vento Homeless Education Program District Liaison from the Iredell-Statesville School System, who has witnessed this mother’s great fortitude over these past few months in very trying times. Reid explained that, “This family would benefit greatly from having One Special Christmas. It would help pave the way to a better future for each family member. Through the ups and downs, uncertainties and hardships that the family has experienced ….they are together. I have watched mother make decisions and sacrifices to gain and improve her family’s way of living. They are grateful for all that has come their way to help them. Each girl possesses their own personality and way of being that attracts people to them. They are funny, ambitious and have goals in life. They both are respectful and helpful to their mother. They are deserving of a life-changing Christmas!” “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I can’t get excited about this,” the wearied mother of two young boys, told us from the meeting room of the hotel where she has been living. It is evident that she has an extraordinary measure of mettle as she details the events of the last 19 months– the most harrowing chapter of her life. She is strong, but she is tired and doesn’t expect good things. She just can’t. The abuse. It came out of nowhere when her youngest son was born prematurely. She doesn’t know what happened or why the father of her children snapped– one day he was just a different person. She stayed and endured the abuse for a while thinking it was the only way should could provide for her two year old autistic son, and her newborn baby– until her toddler was hurt trying to protect her. Then homelessness. With no family to turn to for help, no one to watch her boys, and no transportation it became impossible to provide a home. The Brookwood Inn. Exhausted and losing hope she ended up at a hotel with enough money for a one night’s stay. Social Services had advised her that they would be removing her children from her care if she couldn’t provide adequate housing by the next day. In desperation, she shared her impossible predicament with Denise Sharrow, the hotel’s manager. Denise, seeing that it would be devastating for them to be separated from each other, felt compassion and said, “Tell them you live here. We will figure it out.” Moving forward. Since that night, Denise has continued to help her stay afloat at the hotel, as needed, with the help of the Acts of Kindness Family Ministry. Not only this, but she met another mom, with similar struggles, who has been living at the hotel, and they have become allies. Her friend stays at the hotel and cares for all of the children, while she works 50 hours per week. This is an especially GOD-ordained friendship, as her friend shares the unique understanding of having an autistic child. The two friends have become like family and help each other out. Together they have enough income to afford the expenses of a home, but it would take them a very long time to save enough for a deposit and first months rent. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could help end this difficult chapter? Together we could help them get into a new home this Christmas… “They say there’s no cure and the doctor says I’ve got two years. But I believe I’m gonna win. Someone has to teach these kids to drive… I’m not the best dad, but I’m the only one they’ve got” This past August the breadwinning husband and father of a 12 yr old son and 14 yr old daughter went to the ER with excruciating pain. He expected to be diagnosed with kidney stones. But instead, he was given one devastating blow after another– stage 4 cancer in both kidneys and both lungs, diabetes, a narrowing heart valve, and COPD. He couldn’t go back to work and he had no short term disability through his job. He can start receiving Social Security in 6 months, but until then, his income isnt enough to fully provide for his family. They trust that GOD will provide, but have no clue how it will happen. His children are special people– both of them uniquely gifted and kind. They are understanding about not being able to afford Christmas this year. In fact, his daughter is such a kind-hearted girl that one year when she was younger she requested that her presents be given to other children who needed them. Her family laughs about how she cried that Christmas morning when she still had gifts under the tree. This year she is just happy to be spending it with her dad. But in light of the difficulties her family has experienced this year, wouldnt it be amazing if we could help bring a little peace and joy to this special family this Christmas? Perhaps we could help bear a little of their burden and make this world feel like a softer place. Let’s show them BIG LOVE by allowing these kids to experience a memorable, joyful Christmas with their dad.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line940
__label__wiki	0.862565	0.862565	669 F. 2d 98 - Universal Minerals Inc v. C a Hughes & Company Universal Minerals Inc 669 F2d 98 Universal Minerals Inc v. C a Hughes & Company Universal Minerals Inc UNIVERSAL MINERALS, INC. C. A. HUGHES & COMPANY. Appeal of UNIVERSAL MINERALS, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation, and Cambria Mining and Manufacturing Company, a wholly owned subsidiary. Argued Dec. 1, 1981. Decided Dec. 30, 1981. Rehearing and Rehearing In Banc Denied Jan. 21, 1982. David W. Lampl (argued), Sanford M. Lampl, Lampl, Sable & Makoroff, Pittsburgh, Pa., for appellants. Burton D. Morris (argued), Robert N. Hackett, Richard A. Moses, Baskin & Sears, Pittsburgh, Pa., for appellee. Before ALDISERT, ROSENN and WEIS, Circuit Judges. ALDISERT, Circuit Judge. This appeal from an appellate decision of the district court, which reversed the judgment of a bankruptcy court in an adversary proceeding, requires us to examine the standard of appellate review of a judicial determination of abandonment of title to personal property. The district court reversed the bankruptcy judge, deeming the abandonment determination clearly erroneous, and entered an injunction in favor of plaintiff-appellee C.A. Hughes & Company. We also must address the nature of our review of the district court's appellate decision. We hold that we must exercise plenary review of the district court's decision; that abandonment is a mixed question of fact and law; and that the district court erred in reversing the judgment of the bankruptcy court. We therefore reverse the judgment of the district court and direct that the judgment of the bankruptcy court be affirmed. Since 1904, appellee Hughes has held both title to a seam of coal under and the right to use the surface of the "Tiley Tract," located in Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Hughes operated a deep mine under the tract from 1912 to 1954; and in the course of its mining operations, Hughes created on the surface of the tract a 25 acre, 250 foot high mountain of culm or coal refuse known as the "Cassandra Pile." Appellant Universal Minerals acquired title to the surface of the Tiley Tract in 1975, and in 1978 it began salvaging coal from the Cassandra Pile. Hughes, claiming ownership of the pile, sued Universal in state court, seeking an injunction, an accounting, and damages. Universal subsequently filed a Chapter XI bankruptcy petition in the district court, which under Rule 11-44 of the Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure stayed the state proceedings.1 Hughes then commenced an adversary proceeding against Universal under Part VII of the Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, see Rule 7001, Interim Bankruptcy Rules, seeking the same relief. Following a three-day trial, the bankruptcy court determined that Hughes had abandoned the Cassandra Pile and entered judgment for Universal. Hughes appealed this decision to the district court pursuant to Bankruptcy Rule 801. The district court held the determination clearly erroneous and reversed the judgment, enjoined Universal from continuing its salvage operations, and remanded to the bankruptcy court for an accounting. Universal now appeals from the judgment of the district court. Appellant's chief argument is that the district court exceeded the proper scope of review. It contends that appellate courts are bound by the factual determinations of the bankruptcy court in the absence of a showing of a "gross miscarriage of justice," and that the district court erred in holding the finding of abandonment clearly erroneous. Appellee joins the issue by contending that abandonment and intent to abandon are not findings of fact within the "clearly erroneous" rule, but "ultimate findings" subject to plenary review on appeal to the district court. First, we must address the question of whether this court has jurisdiction over the appeal. The Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978 included a series of amendments and additions to Title 28 which created a new schema for hearing bankruptcy appeals.2 District courts have appellate jurisdiction over "final judgments, orders, and decrees of bankruptcy courts," and they also have discretion to hear appeals from interlocutory orders of bankruptcy courts. 28 U.S.C. § 1334. On the other hand, this court has jurisdiction of "an appeal from a final judgment, order, or decree of ... a District court (exercising appellate jurisdiction over a bankruptcy matter)." 28 U.S.C. § 1293(b). Although there are a host of potential issues concerning this statement of the appellate authority of this court, the procedural position of the case on appeal presents a narrow issue for decision.3 The district court reviewed the bankruptcy court's decision without commenting on the distinction made in 28 U.S.C. § 1334 between final and interlocutory orders. The bankruptcy court had denied all relief sought in the adversary proceeding, and therefore the bankruptcy court's disposition was final for the purposes of § 1334(a). Once the district court's jurisdiction under § 1334(a) is established, our jurisdiction under § 1293(b) would seem to follow. The bankruptcy court had rendered a final decision, and the judgment of the district court conclusively determined the question presented by this appeal and awarded possession of the property to Hughes. The judgment of the district court certainly was final in the sense that nothing remained for the district court to do. In addition, reversal of its judgment "would be preclusive of any further litigation on the relevant cause of action," Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. Cohn, 420 U.S. 469, 482-83, 95 S.Ct. 1029, 1039-40, 43 L.Ed.2d 328 (1975). Under these circumstances, we conclude that the finality requirement of § 1293(b) is satisfied notwithstanding the remand to the bankruptcy court for an accounting. This interpretation of § 1293(b) is arguably supported by analogy to the traditional interpretation of 28 U.S.C. § 1257, which authorizes Supreme Court review of final judgments or decrees of state courts. Whether the cases interpreting § 1257 should be treated as relevant in determining the proper meaning of § 1293(b) is open to question. Certainly, the institutional considerations and significance of the final judgment rule in the context of the review of state court judgments are markedly different than the considerations pertinent to the review of appeals from the district court's exercise of its appellate jurisdiction over bankruptcy appeals. We leave to another day, however, a more complete discussion of the possible relationship between 28 U.S.C. § 1293(b) and § 1257. Employing the "pragmatic approach" of Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. Cohn, 420 U.S. 469, 486, 95 S.Ct. 1029, 1041, 43 L.Ed.2d 328 (1975), and Radio Station WOW v. Johnson, 326 U.S. 120, 65 S.Ct. 1475, 89 L.Ed. 2092 (1945), two leading cases interpreting and applying § 1257, we will consider the decision of the district court a final judgment for the purposes of § 1293(b).4 We now address the standard of review that we must apply to the decision of the district court. As an appellate court twice removed from the primary tribunal, we review both the factual and the legal determinations of the district court for error. The district court does not sit as a finder of facts in evaluating them as a court of review, and therefore its evaluation of the evidence is not shielded by the "clearly erroneous" standard of Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(a), which applies only to a trial court sitting as a fact finder. We are in as good a position as the district court to review the findings of the bankruptcy court, so we review the bankruptcy court's findings by the standards the district court should employ, to determine whether the district court erred in its review. To the extent the parties challenge the choice, interpretation, or application of legal precepts, we always employ the fullest scope of review: we examine the decision of the court from which the appeal is taken for error, and the legal determinations of the district court as a reviewing tribunal are not shielded by any presumption of correctness. Before evaluating the nature of the abandonment question presented by this appeal, it is necessary to segregate three distinct concepts which are often implicated in the review of judicial findings. These concepts-basic facts, inferred facts, and ultimate facts-are fundamental to the anatomy of fact finding in the judicial process. Basic facts are the historical and narrative events elicited from the evidence presented at trial, admitted by stipulation, or not denied, where required, in responsive pleadings. Inferred factual conclusions are drawn from basic facts and are permitted only when, and to the extent that, logic and human experience indicate a probability that certain consequences can and do follow from the basic facts. See, e.g., Edward J. Sweeney & Sons, Inc. v. Texaco Inc., 637 F.2d 105, 116 (3d Cir. 1980), cert. denied, 451 U.S. 911, 101 S.Ct. 1981, 68 L.Ed.2d 300 (1981). No legal precept is implicated in drawing permissible factual inferences. But an inferred fact must be distinguished from an ultimate fact: An ultimate fact is usually expressed in the language of a standard enunciated by case-law rule or by statute, e.g., an actor's conduct was negligent; the injury occurred in the course of employment; the rate is reasonable; the company has refused to bargain collectively. "The ultimate finding is a conclusion of law or at least a determination of a mixed question of law and fact". It is the province of the fact finder-the jury, the judge in non-jury cases, or the administrative agency-to "find" the basic fact, or that part of an ultimate finding that rests on narrative or historical facts.... (O)nce basic facts have been found, they are seldom dislodged. R. Aldisert, The Judicial Process 694 (1976) (quoting Helvering v. Tex-Penn Oil Co., 300 U.S. 481, 491, 57 S.Ct. 481, 573, 81 L.Ed. 755 (1937)). Smith v. Harris, 644 F.2d 985, 990 n.1 (3d Cir. 1981) (Aldisert, J., concurring). The importance in distinguishing among the three facets of fact finding is reflected in the various standards of judicial review. Where basic facts and facts permissibly inferred therefrom are found by the court sitting as a fact finder, neither the basic facts nor the inferred facts may be disturbed on review unless they are deemed clearly erroneous. Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(a); United States v. United States Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. 364, 394, 68 S.Ct. 525, 541, 92 L.Ed. 746 (1948). "(A) review of ultimate facts," on the other hand, "entails an examination for legal error of the legal components of those findings." Smith v. Harris, 644 F.2d at 990 (Aldisert, J., concurring). We now consider the nature of the question presented to the bankruptcy court, abandonment of title to personal property, to determine the proper standard of review on appeal from its judgment.5 In this bankruptcy proceeding we must apply Pennsylvania law to adjudicate the rights of the parties to the Cassandra Pile. Pennsylvania courts have held that culm or coal, "when severed from the earth, becomes personal property, (and) it may be abandoned as such when it is left on the land of another with the intention of abandoning it." Llewellyn v. Philadelphia & Reading C. & I. Co., 308 Pa. at 497, 502, 162 A. at 429, 430; see Gilberton Coal Co. v. Schuster, 403 Pa. 226, 228-29, 169 A.2d 44, 45 (1961). See also 4 American Law of Mining § 21.1 at 102.2 (1981). Abandonment is not a question of narrative or historical fact but an ultimate fact, a legal concept with a factual component. See, e.g., Gilberton Contracting Co. v. Hook, 255 F.Supp. 687 (E.D.Pa.1966); Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Co. v. Lehigh Valley Coal Co., 294 Pa. 47, 143 A. 474 (1928). It is "a conclusion of law or at least a determination of a mixed question of law and fact," Helvering v. Tex-Penn Oil Co., 300 U.S. 481, 491, 57 S.Ct. 569, 573, 81 L.Ed. 755 (1937), requiring "the application of a legal standard to the historical-fact determinations," Townsend v. Sain, 372 U.S. 293, 309 n.6, 83 S.Ct. 745, 755 n.6, 9 L.Ed.2d 770 (1963). In reviewing the ultimate determination of abandonment, as an appellate court, we are therefore not limited by the "clearly erroneous" standard, Fleer Corp. v. Topps Chewing Gum, Inc., 658 F.2d 139, 154 (3d Cir. 1981), but must employ a mixed standard of review. We must accept the trial court's findings of historical or narrative facts unless they are clearly erroneous,6 but we must exercise a plenary review of the trial court's choice and interpretation of legal precepts and its application of those precepts to the historical facts. See United States v. United States Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. at 394, 68 S.Ct. at 541; Smith v. Harris, 644 F.2d at 990 (Aldisert, J., concurring); cf. Cuyler v. Sullivan, 446 U.S. 335, 341-42, 100 S.Ct. 1708, 1714-15, 64 L.Ed.2d 333 (1980) (review of mixed determinations of fact and law on federal habeas corpus). Thus we separate the distinct factual and legal elements of the trial court's determination of an ultimate fact and apply the appropriate standard to each component. We employ the same approach when we review a jury's findings on a mixed question, but the distinction is more easily understood in that context because of the strict division of competences between the jury and the trial court and the intercession of the seventh amendment. If a jury finds that a party has abandoned an interest in property, we review the court's jury instructions to determine whether the court erred in its explanation of the law, and if we find no error we examine the record to determine whether the evidence was sufficient to justify a reasonable mind in drawing the factual inferences underlying the conclusion. With the sole exception of the different review standard of judicial findings expressed by the phrase "clearly erroneous," we go through the same process when the court sits as both finder of the facts and arbiter of the law. The parties to this appeal do not challenge the bankruptcy and district courts' legal determinations relating to the ultimate fact of abandonment. All agree that culm "may be abandoned ... when it is left on the land of another with the intention of abandoning it." Llewellyn v. Philadelphia & Reading C. & I. Co., 308 Pa. at 502, 162 A. at 430; see also Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Co. v. Lehigh Valley Coal Co., 294 Pa. 47, 143 A. 474 (1928). The sole question on which this case turns is whether Hughes intended to abandon the Cassandra Pile. We agree with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that "intention may and indeed often must be inferred from acts." Llewellyn, 308 Pa. at 502, 162 A. at 430. In this case the bankruptcy judge inferred from the undisputed historical facts that Hughes intended to abandon the culm pile. We do not, however, accept appellee's argument that the inferential status of the bankruptcy judge's finding subjects it to plenary review on appeal to the district court. A person's state of mind is a narrative or historical fact, albeit one that often must be determined by drawing inferences from evidence of his conduct and the surrounding circumstances. Drawing such inferences does not, however, require application of a legal standard to historical facts; it demands application of logic and human experience, see Sweeney v. Texaco, 637 F.2d 105 at 116, and the inference drawn as to intent is a statement of fact and not a holding of law. See, e.g., United States v. Yellow Cab Co., 338 U.S. 338, 70 S.Ct. 177, 94 L.Ed. 150 (1949); Krasnov v. Dinan, 465 F.2d 1298, 1299-1300 (3d Cir. 1972). Therefore, since the inference relates only to a factual component, the review is by the "clearly erroneous" standard.7 See United States v. United States Gypsum Co., 333 U.S. at 394, 68 S.Ct. at 541 ("In so far as this finding and others ... are inferences drawn from documents or undisputed facts ..., Rule 52(a) of the Rules of Civil Procedure is applicable.") The bankruptcy court derived its finding of intent to abandon from the following undisputed basic facts: Upon termination of its deep mining operation, Hughes razed its buildings and cleaning plant and removed its railroad tracks and its generation station. Hughes sold "red dog" from the Cassandra Pile on several occasions; but it never advertised such material for sale to the public, by signs on the pile or otherwise. Hughes made no effort to prevent or to halt burning of the refuse pile, and the pile burned extensively. Reclamation of culm piles was not a common practice until the 1960's, several years after Hughes' mining operations had ceased. Hughes did not list or refer to the Cassandra Pile in 1970 when it prepared a list of all its assets in connection with a proposed bulk sale. The district court did not set aside any of these basic findings, and appellees do not ask us to do so on this appeal. The district court chose, however, to emphasize other facts not mentioned in the bankruptcy court's opinion and to draw opposing inferences from the record. In doing so, the district court erred. A reviewing court may not substitute its own findings for those of the primary tribunal merely because it finds other inferences more likely. Provided that the legal component was correctly chosen, interpreted, and applied by the trial court, (i)t is the responsibility of an appellate court to accept the ultimate actual determination of the fact-finder unless that determination either (1) is completely devoid of minimum evidentiary support displaying some hue of credibility, or (2) bears no rational relationship to the supporting evidentiary data. Unless the reviewing court establishes the existence of either of these factors, it may not alter the facts found by the trial court. To hold otherwise would be to permit a substitution by the reviewing court of its finding for that of the trial court, and there is no existing authority for this in the federal judicial system, either by American common law tradition or by rule and statute. Krasnov v. Dinan, 465 F.2d at 1302-03. We have reviewed the finding of the bankruptcy court according to the standard announced in Krasnov, and we conclude that the district court erred in holding it clearly erroneous. The finding of intent to abandon was not absolutely compelled by the evidence, but this is not the test: rather the test is whether it was permissible, i.e., rationally related to the undisputed basic findings.8 We cannot affirm the district court's decision to set aside the finding of the bankruptcy court without violating the traditional allocation of differing competences to the various levels of our hierarchical judicial system. The inferences drawn by the bankruptcy court were permissible because they were reasonable, and the district court erred when it substituted its own inferences on appeal. The judgment of the district court will be reversed and the cause remanded to the district court with a direction that it enter an order affirming the judgment of the bankruptcy court. The automatic stay in this case is governed by Rule 11-44 because Universal's petition was filed on October 27, 1978. Section 362(a)(1) of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, 11 U.S.C. § 362, imposes an automatic stay of most judicial proceedings against the debtor in all bankruptcy cases commenced on or after the effective date of the Reform Act, October 1, 1979 The two pertinent additions to Title 28, § 1334 and § 1293, are not effective until April 1, 1984; however, a transition provision of the Bankruptcy Reform Act vests the district courts and courts of appeals with the appellate authority they will have after April 1, 1984. Section 405(c)(2) of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, 11 U.S.C.A.App. at 137 The parties relied on 28 U.S.C. § 1291 as a source of appellate jurisdiction. We do not consider whether the district court's decision was "final" within the meaning of § 1291, because we construe the 1978 Amendments as providing a comprehensive and exclusive schema for jurisdiction of bankruptcy appeals The Court in Cox Broadcasting relied in part on the fact that "the litigation could be terminated by our decision on the merits." 420 U.S. at 486, 95 S.Ct. at 1041. In Radio Station WOW, the Court noted that a judgment directing immediate delivery of physical property is reviewable and is to be deemed dissociated from a provision for an accounting even though that is decreed in the same order. In effect, such a controversy is a multiple litigation allowing review of the adjudication which is concluded because it is independent of, and unaffected by, another litigation with which it happens to be entangled. 326 U.S. at 126, 65 S.Ct. at 1479. The district court's choice of a standard of review is of course a decision of law, and our review of that decision is plenary Bankruptcy Rule 810 requires the district court to "accept the referee's findings of fact unless they are clearly erroneous." The standard is identical to that prescribed by Fed.R.Civ.P. 52(a) for appellate review of the findings of a district court, and decisions construing Rule 52(a) are fully applicable in this context. We reject appellant's "gross miscarriage of justice" standard as facially inconsistent with Rule 810 Appellee, relying on dicta in In re Pioch, 235 F.2d 903 (3d Cir. 1956), argues that intent to abandon is "an ultimate finding of fact and ... that such a finding is but a legal inference from other facts and as such is subject to review free of the restraining impact of the so-called 'clearly erroneous rule' applicable to ordinary findings of fact by the trial court." Id. at 905 (footnotes omitted). Chapter VIII. C. of our Internal Operating Procedures forbids a panel to overrule a published opinion of a previous panel. We are constrained to hold, however, that the Pioch dicta is not and has never been law in this court and therefore never achieved the jurisprudential quality of a decision. Numerous decisions announced both before and after Pioch have employed the "clearly erroneous" standard in reviewing findings as to intent. See, e.g., Altman v. Altman, 653 F.2d 755, 758-59 (3d Cir. 1981); McNeil v. McDonough, 648 F.2d 178, 180-81 (3d Cir. 1981) (per curiam); Ostapowicz v. Johnson Bronze Co., 541 F.2d 394, 400 (3d Cir. 1976), cert. denied, 429 U.S. 1041, 97 S.Ct. 741, 50 L.Ed. 753 (1977); Asphalt Industries, Inc. v. C.I.R., 384 F.2d 229, 233 (3d Cir. 1967); Smith v. Onyx Oil & Chemical Co., 218 F.2d 104, 108 & n.2 (3d Cir. 1955). Even Judge Kalodner, the author of Pioch, appears later to have retreated from the position taken in that opinion. See Fine Fashions, Inc. v. Gross, 290 F.2d 871, 875 (3d Cir.) (Kalodner, J., dissenting), cert. denied, 368 U.S. 896, 82 S.Ct. 175, 7 L.Ed.2d 93 (1961); In re Ginsburg, 255 F.2d 358, 364 (3d Cir. 1958) The district court relied on evidence that Hughes regularly inspected the pile; carried liability insurance on the pile; checked the tax levy on the Tiley Tract each year and paid taxes in 1900, 1906, and 1954; and moved quickly to halt Universal's salvage operations by seeking an injunction in state court. Appellant responds by noting that Hughes carried a "blanket policy" of insurance on all of its property and not a separate policy on the Cassandra Pile, and that the pile is "a veritable mountain ... visible from the highway and other roads, and is impossible not to inspect for any person living in this area." Brief for Appellant at 18. We need not resolve this controversy, however, because even if we assume that the additional evidence cited by the district court was fully credible, the bankruptcy court's finding is rationally related to the evidence presented by the entire record, and thus it is not clearly erroneous	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line941
__label__cc	0.533234	0.466766	Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey Frank Sinatra & the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra is a 1998 compilation album by the American singer Frank Sinatra. The three-CD set contains recordings from Sinatra's performances with Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra at the beginning of his five-decade singing career. Many of the songs had never been available prior to the set, as Sinat… Leia mais Biografia do Wikipedia Irene Kral Eve Boswell Ingrid Lucia Pee Wee Russell Georgie Auld Ella Fitzgerald And Count Basie Roberta Gambarini Stations With Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey Radio Plays Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey along with similar artists like: Si Zentner, Roberta Gambarini, Pee Wee Russell, Gracie Fields, Irene Kral… Plays swingin' jazz tunes to get you in the dancin' mood. Woody Herman, Count Basie & Joe Williams, Kay Starr, Red Norvo, The Andrews S… Plays classic and beloved songs from the Great American Songbook. Susie Arioli Band, Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey, George Shearing, Ray Charles… Early Jazz Classics Plays your favorite early jazz classics from back in the day. Count Basie, Anita O'Day, Doc Cheatham & Nicholas Payton, Ella Fitzgerald… Charlie Spivak & His Orchestra Radio Plays Charlie Spivak & His Orchestra along with similar artists like: Will Bradley & His Orchestra, Count Basie & Joe Williams, Judy Ca… Ted Heath Radio Plays Ted Heath along with similar artists like: Buddy Clark, Andy Kirk, Eddie Calvert, Chick Webb & His Orchestra, Go… David Whitfield Radio Plays David Whitfield along with similar artists like: Ruby Murray, Mark Wynter, Emile Ford & The Checkmates, Kalin Twins, N… Kitty Kallen Radio Plays Kitty Kallen along with similar artists like: Ted Heath, Sophie Tucker, Ned Miller, The Impalas, Marion Harris… Isham Jones Radio Plays Isham Jones along with similar artists like: Charlie Spivak & His Orchestra, Count Basie & Joe Williams, Maxin… From Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey I'll Never Smile Again The One I Love (Belongs To Somebody Else) Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear To Tread) Startdust How Am I To Know	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line948
__label__wiki	0.606376	0.606376	Inspirational for women Randy Bachman quotes Quotes & Citates Randolph Charles Bachman, OC OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member of the 1960s and 1970s rock bands The Guess Who and Bachman–Turner Overdrive. Bachman was also a member of Brave Belt, Union and Ironhorse, and has recorded numerous solo albums. Birth: 1943-09-27 Nickname: Randy Bachman Authors info and pictures are takem from Wikipedia When one knows at an early age that their gift, talent and direction is musical, one tends to focus on that and let nothing interfere or impede the forward motion toward the end of that rainbow. And after 50-something years of rockin' out, you still realise there is no end to that distant rainbow until one's last sunset. James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music". Robert Heller Robert Heller, also Joseph Heller, was an English magician, mentalist, and musician. The year of his birth is the subject of some speculation; some sources list it as 1829 while others claim 1830. Alexander III of Macedon , commonly known as Alexander the Great , was a king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon and a member of the Argead dynasty. He was born in Pella in 356 BC and succeeded his father Philip II to the throne at the age of twenty. He spent most of his ruling years on an unprecedented military campaign through Asia and northeast Africa, and he created one of the largest empires of the ancient world by the age of thirty, stretching from Greece to northwestern India. He was undefeated in battle and is widely considered one of history's most successful military commanders. Gerard Arthur Way is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and comic book writer who was the lead vocalist and co-founder of the rock band My Chemical Romance from its formation in September 2001 until its split in March 2013. His debut solo album Hesitant Alien was released on September 30, 2014. He also wrote the comic mini-series The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys and the Eisner Award-winning comic book The Umbrella Academy. Alexander Hamilton was an American statesman and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was an influential interpreter and promoter of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the founder of the nation's financial system, the Federalist Party, the United States Coast Guard, and The New York Post newspaper. As the first Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton was the main author of the economic policies of the George Washington administration. He took the lead in the funding of the states' debts by the Federal government, as well as the establishment of a national bank, a system of tariffs, and friendly trade relations with Britain. His vision included a strong central government led by a vigorous executive branch, a strong commercial economy, with a national bank and support for manufacturing, plus a strong military. Thomas Jefferson was his leading opponent, arguing for agrarianism and smaller government. Selected Quotes Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved. Always think of what is useful and not what is beautiful. Beauty will come of its own accord. I have often said that the lure of flying is the lure of beauty. Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that is the inheritor of our fear. Let him not love the earth too deeply... For fear will rob him of all if he gives too much. QuoteCites.com A weekly email with our favorite quotes about love, life, motivation, inspiration, technology, productivity and ther quotes authors.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line950
__label__cc	0.745282	0.254718	The Shattered Dream That Was America 11/14/2018 November 14, 2018 Asphlex-- It isn’t surprising that so many of us see ourselves at war with the rest of the world. We have been cutting ourselves off from perceived opposition since long before there was such a dream as America. The dream of America has meant many things to many different people, and the first dreamers of freedom were not Americans. Those people dreamed of a future, free from oppression. They saw a faraway land where everything could begin anew; where people could make up their own rules and live the way they always wanted. America was meant to be the one place on earth where people could truly be free. America is not the United States. America is a universal ideal that people have been fighting for since the stone ages. But the fact alone that this idea of universal freedom (a slow-crawling nightmare that has been bonded to slavery and genocide until this very day) has been given a nationalistic title at is the only thing we need to know about just how tenuous the concept of liberty has always been. People take possession of freedom, both their own and the source of its greatness. This, in itself, is the first hypocrisy; it is the first sign that there never will be a free world. I am in a fuming rage today, and I cannot get past it. Oh, this is not specifically to do with the theme of today’s essay, but it is where I shall focus the staunch discontent and percolating anger I have been feeling for years and for years and for years. I am a dedicated student of American history. Sometimes rather desperately I attempt to make connections with the past in hopes of discovering where we might be going in the future. The claim that ‘history repeats itself’ is accurate, but it’s not entirely true. The same mistakes are made, sure, but they are always over different things, all under the guise of what we believe to be freedom. But as the years go by and our beliefs and priorities change (at least nominally), our problems seem more urgent, generation after generation, and those things we obsess over consume every angle of debate. Every era is at war with the one that preceded it. This is how we get ‘revisionist history,’ which is an editorial view on the way things probably were, a debunking of heroism, from both left and right, that turns once admirable or loathsome figures into their equal and opposite extremes. Today we live in an age of cynical judgment. Judgment has always been a part of our national character–and I do not mean to exclude international concerns! We must fully admit that these same problems are a worldwide phenomenon; I realize that every person struggles with a definition of right and wrong, of justice versus tyranny. But I can only speak from my small corner of America, which has been mythologized into something it is not, and never has been. America as a beacon of hope, or a corrupt monstrosity, consuming every part of the world; America the savior or grand oppressor; the thief, an inspiration. My America is all of these. America isn’t even America, because that grand title is spread over two of our seven continents. We have just taken the name for ourselves–United States of America. Even our title sets us apart from the rest of the world, as though we were united against every other idea, and therefore either better or worse ideologically–a nation of warriors for an individual truth. And I make this distinction intentionally. If some people here believe we are better than the rest of the world, while others hatefully scour the news and glare out the window at all the hateful people, then were is the unity? We are not united. None of us have ever been united. The world has turned into a large-scale and very serious board game, chess or Risk or maybe something no one plays anymore, like Stratego, where generals and pawns throw themselves into battle with everybody else, and hope to slaughter the king of the other side. Out current state of warfare–and I guess this has always been the case too–is about destabilizing the nation, setting it against each other. War is about rousing enough misery that the people start demanding change. I mean, look at the collapse of the Soviet Union. We painted it as an oppressed nation, and of course in many ways it certainly was. There was a wall blocking off the west, with guards on atop this hideous, man made mountain, covered with angry graffiti on both sides, and they were not afraid to shoot at people who tried to cross one way or the other. And the fact that people from both systems wanted to escape from the way of life forced upon them is what we need to recognize. The whole system was doomed from the start. Deep inside, no one really believes in equality. Walls. Be try to build walls between each other, which not only keeps the rest of the world out, but our terror of change locks us in a cage of our own comfort. We will not step outside into the rest of the world. We close our minds. We seek comfort in fantasies of a history that never was. We tell fairy tales about made-up versions of real people and console ourselves with these stories, dreaming of a better day. Dreaming of America . . . Our age is cynical, but the past looks mostly the same. Cynicism is the reaction of doubt. I have covered this same ground in a previous commentary, “The Sociology of Cynicism” from 10/26/2018, and will not expand (much) on those statements. But this is the horrible trend we experience all over the world as our expectations come to naught and our dreams refuse to ever come true. And it is not a dejected sulk we fall into, but the hypersensitivity of misdirected outrage, taking the easy way out and blaming the most obvious thing right in front of you. And even this is divided into sub-groups and sub-cultures and sub-genres of what is wrong with the world, another debate, another excuse, another violent, destabilizing war. Fear and hopelessness are not so very different from one another. One is a reaction to uncertainty while the other is simply giving up on the future. On the notion of freedom. On the very idea that was once upon a time supposed to be America. I get into debates–really arguments with people over the idea of freedom. The one thing still relevant is just how many different views people have of what this means to them. That is an example of freedom. ‘My God is better than your god.’ ‘I am right and you are wrong.’ ‘Here’s why . . .’ Some people like to say the absurd oxymoron that ‘freedom isn’t free.’ I understand what they intend this to mean, that every day we have to fight for our liberty and that there will always be people that will try to limit our freedom, or outright take it away from us. But this contradicts the very nature of freedom. Freedom is free, because it cannot be otherwise. The moment that groups of people start fighting over the very nature of freedom, it becomes about imposing one viewpoint over the other, where the triumphant side (before breaking up into their own warlike factions) tells the defeated what they are allowed to believe and what is now appropriate to worship. In this sense one might say that freedom is actually impossible, that living in a world with other people, and their opposing views is just another cage–a metaphoric wall–that will keep everyone from ever really being free. I do not expect anyone to agree with me, and this is perhaps my point in the end. There will be some portions that sound right to you, while the rest is simply the blather of a disordered mind. Others may see that same disorder as the only valid point worth making. And this is freedom. This is the only definition of freedom. Because freedom is free. And that word–that idea–is the only thing we have to look forward to if we want to dream of a slightly better world. Previous postAre Robots About to Replace Us? Next postChildren versus Children: The Democrats and Donald J. Trump 11/15/2018 2 thoughts on “The Shattered Dream That Was America 11/14/2018” arcazia says: I prefer “Historians repeat each other” Asphlex-- says: That is often true, but I have noticed in the current age many history books seem to be attacks on the supposed inaccuracy of other history books. On the left they shoot for a revision to tell the stories of the oppressed, most of which are unavailable and so they write a heroic narrative about someone who probably never existed. On they right they attempt to downplay the significance of progressive events that benefited people at any given time, and it tends to be more about proving others wrong than making a contribution to the understanding of the past. Of course most of the current slate of history writers are acolytes or rivals of most of the others. There are a handful of great writers who write history and even fewer great historians, but it is still a wonderful genre of literature.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line952
__label__cc	0.657732	0.342268	Home > JOURNALS > HASTINGS_SCIENCE_TECHNOLOGY_LAW_JOURNAL > Vol. 1 (2009) > No. 2 Hastings Science and Technology Law Journal Volume 1, Number 2 (Summer 2009) The Patent Prosecution Highway: Is Life in the Fast Lane Worth the Cost Alicia Pitts and Joshua Kim Of Babies and Bathwater - The Impact of In Re Bilski on Life Science Patents Michael J. Shuster and Juleen Konkell A Better Carrot Incentivizing Patent Reexamination James W. Beard Exceeding the Scope of the Patent: Solving the Reserve Payment Settlement Problem through Antitrust Enforcement and Regulatory Reform William J. Newsom KSR Fallout: Questions of Law Based on Findings of Fact and the Continuing Problem of Hindsight Bias Adam Powell All Issues Vol. 11, No. 1 Vol. 10, No. 2 Vol. 10, No. 1 Vol. 9, No. 2 Vol. 9, No. 1 Vol. 8, No. 2 Vol. 8, No. 1 Vol. 7, No. 2 Vol. 7, No. 1 Vol. 6, No. 2 Vol. 6, No. 1 Vol. 5, No. 2 Vol. 5, No. 1 Vol. 4, No. 2 Vol. 4, No. 1 Vol. 3, No. 2 Vol. 3, No. 1 Vol. 2, No. 2 Vol. 2, No. 1 Vol. 1, No. 2 Vol. 1, No. 1	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line955
__label__wiki	0.648058	0.648058	Goodwin Wealth Management: An acquisition opportunity Colette Southam, Lisa Conway Bond Business School Research output: Contribution to specialist publication › Article › Education On November 30, 2007, Blake Goodwin decided to hire a consultant to make an objective assessment of his current situation. Over the past few months, several firms had expressed interest in acquiring Goodwin Wealth Management (Goodwin), and Blake knew that he would soon have to decide whether or not to consider any of these offers since he wanted to prevent what could become a potentially hostile bidding situation. Goodwin’s current share price was at a record high of $22.01 per share, with 115 million common shares outstanding (see Exhibit 1). If Blake did decide to consider an acquisition, he would have to act quickly and take advantage of the stock’s high price. Further complicating the decision was the fact that Goodwin represented a legacy that had been built by Blake’s father, George, and Blake knew that he would be subjected to the influence of his father’s opinions throughout the decision-making process. He wanted to act in a way that would be best for the company and that would protect his family’s reputation. Blake’s decision had become time sensitive, and he asked that his consultant provide him with advice as soon as possible. 9B08N029 Specialist publication Ivey Publishing [Case Studies] Ivey Business School Southam, C., & Conway, L. (2008). Goodwin Wealth Management: An acquisition opportunity. Ivey Publishing [Case Studies], (9B08N029). Southam, Colette ; Conway, Lisa. / Goodwin Wealth Management: An acquisition opportunity. In: Ivey Publishing [Case Studies]. 2008 ; No. 9B08N029. @misc{a28e4f4d93fc42e49a4720c81063ad7a, title = "Goodwin Wealth Management: An acquisition opportunity", abstract = "On November 30, 2007, Blake Goodwin decided to hire a consultant to make an objective assessment of his current situation. Over the past few months, several firms had expressed interest in acquiring Goodwin Wealth Management (Goodwin), and Blake knew that he would soon have to decide whether or not to consider any of these offers since he wanted to prevent what could become a potentially hostile bidding situation. Goodwin’s current share price was at a record high of $22.01 per share, with 115 million common shares outstanding (see Exhibit 1). If Blake did decide to consider an acquisition, he would have to act quickly and take advantage of the stock’s high price. Further complicating the decision was the fact that Goodwin represented a legacy that had been built by Blake’s father, George, and Blake knew that he would be subjected to the influence of his father’s opinions throughout the decision-making process. He wanted to act in a way that would be best for the company and that would protect his family’s reputation. Blake’s decision had become time sensitive, and he asked that his consultant provide him with advice as soon as possible.", author = "Colette Southam and Lisa Conway", journal = "Ivey Publishing [Case Studies]", publisher = "Ivey Business School", Southam, C & Conway, L 2008, 'Goodwin Wealth Management: An acquisition opportunity' Ivey Publishing [Case Studies], no. 9B08N029. Goodwin Wealth Management: An acquisition opportunity. / Southam, Colette; Conway, Lisa. In: Ivey Publishing [Case Studies], No. 9B08N029, 14.11.2008. T1 - Goodwin Wealth Management: An acquisition opportunity AU - Southam, Colette AU - Conway, Lisa N2 - On November 30, 2007, Blake Goodwin decided to hire a consultant to make an objective assessment of his current situation. Over the past few months, several firms had expressed interest in acquiring Goodwin Wealth Management (Goodwin), and Blake knew that he would soon have to decide whether or not to consider any of these offers since he wanted to prevent what could become a potentially hostile bidding situation. Goodwin’s current share price was at a record high of $22.01 per share, with 115 million common shares outstanding (see Exhibit 1). If Blake did decide to consider an acquisition, he would have to act quickly and take advantage of the stock’s high price. Further complicating the decision was the fact that Goodwin represented a legacy that had been built by Blake’s father, George, and Blake knew that he would be subjected to the influence of his father’s opinions throughout the decision-making process. He wanted to act in a way that would be best for the company and that would protect his family’s reputation. Blake’s decision had become time sensitive, and he asked that his consultant provide him with advice as soon as possible. AB - On November 30, 2007, Blake Goodwin decided to hire a consultant to make an objective assessment of his current situation. Over the past few months, several firms had expressed interest in acquiring Goodwin Wealth Management (Goodwin), and Blake knew that he would soon have to decide whether or not to consider any of these offers since he wanted to prevent what could become a potentially hostile bidding situation. Goodwin’s current share price was at a record high of $22.01 per share, with 115 million common shares outstanding (see Exhibit 1). If Blake did decide to consider an acquisition, he would have to act quickly and take advantage of the stock’s high price. Further complicating the decision was the fact that Goodwin represented a legacy that had been built by Blake’s father, George, and Blake knew that he would be subjected to the influence of his father’s opinions throughout the decision-making process. He wanted to act in a way that would be best for the company and that would protect his family’s reputation. Blake’s decision had become time sensitive, and he asked that his consultant provide him with advice as soon as possible. JO - Ivey Publishing [Case Studies] JF - Ivey Publishing [Case Studies] PB - Ivey Business School Southam C, Conway L. Goodwin Wealth Management: An acquisition opportunity. Ivey Publishing [Case Studies]. 2008 Nov 14;(9B08N029). https://www.iveycases.com/ProductView.aspx?id=26467	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line956
__label__cc	0.73914	0.26086	‘Can I really teach without my magic cane?’ Teachers’ responses to the banning of corporal punishment Md Saiful Malak, Umesh Sharma, Joanne Marie Deppeler This paper reports on how teachers are responding to students inappropriate behaviours in public primary schools in Bangladesh. Data in this study were collected after the adoption of a recent government policy that has abolished corporal punishment in primary schools. Semi-structured, one-on-one interviews were conducted with 22 teachers from six public primary schools in one district in Bangladesh. Thematic analysis technique was used to analyse the data. The results revealed that the majority of teachers were in favour of using reactive approaches to responding to students inappropriate behaviours. The findings also indicated that teachers were largely unaware of preventative or positive strategies to teach students who behave inappropriately in the classroom. This paper reports the implications of the findings for policy-makers, and university and school educators. International Journal of Inclusive Education https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2015.1059500 Malak, M. S., Sharma, U., & Deppeler, J. M. (2015). ‘Can I really teach without my magic cane?’: Teachers’ responses to the banning of corporal punishment. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 19(12), 1325 - 1341. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2015.1059500 Malak, Md Saiful ; Sharma, Umesh ; Deppeler, Joanne Marie. / ‘Can I really teach without my magic cane?’ : Teachers’ responses to the banning of corporal punishment. In: International Journal of Inclusive Education. 2015 ; Vol. 19, No. 12. pp. 1325 - 1341. @article{1d678c0f80ec4a4b93fb07af48b7c044, title = "‘Can I really teach without my magic cane?’: Teachers’ responses to the banning of corporal punishment", abstract = "This paper reports on how teachers are responding to students inappropriate behaviours in public primary schools in Bangladesh. Data in this study were collected after the adoption of a recent government policy that has abolished corporal punishment in primary schools. Semi-structured, one-on-one interviews were conducted with 22 teachers from six public primary schools in one district in Bangladesh. Thematic analysis technique was used to analyse the data. The results revealed that the majority of teachers were in favour of using reactive approaches to responding to students inappropriate behaviours. The findings also indicated that teachers were largely unaware of preventative or positive strategies to teach students who behave inappropriately in the classroom. This paper reports the implications of the findings for policy-makers, and university and school educators.", author = "Malak, {Md Saiful} and Umesh Sharma and Deppeler, {Joanne Marie}", doi = "10.1080/13603116.2015.1059500", pages = "1325 -- 1341", journal = "International Journal of Inclusive Education", publisher = "Taylor & Francis", Malak, MS, Sharma, U & Deppeler, JM 2015, '‘Can I really teach without my magic cane?’: Teachers’ responses to the banning of corporal punishment', International Journal of Inclusive Education, vol. 19, no. 12, pp. 1325 - 1341. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2015.1059500 ‘Can I really teach without my magic cane?’ : Teachers’ responses to the banning of corporal punishment. / Malak, Md Saiful; Sharma, Umesh; Deppeler, Joanne Marie. In: International Journal of Inclusive Education, Vol. 19, No. 12, 2015, p. 1325 - 1341. T1 - ‘Can I really teach without my magic cane?’ T2 - Teachers’ responses to the banning of corporal punishment AU - Malak, Md Saiful AU - Sharma, Umesh AU - Deppeler, Joanne Marie N2 - This paper reports on how teachers are responding to students inappropriate behaviours in public primary schools in Bangladesh. Data in this study were collected after the adoption of a recent government policy that has abolished corporal punishment in primary schools. Semi-structured, one-on-one interviews were conducted with 22 teachers from six public primary schools in one district in Bangladesh. Thematic analysis technique was used to analyse the data. The results revealed that the majority of teachers were in favour of using reactive approaches to responding to students inappropriate behaviours. The findings also indicated that teachers were largely unaware of preventative or positive strategies to teach students who behave inappropriately in the classroom. This paper reports the implications of the findings for policy-makers, and university and school educators. AB - This paper reports on how teachers are responding to students inappropriate behaviours in public primary schools in Bangladesh. Data in this study were collected after the adoption of a recent government policy that has abolished corporal punishment in primary schools. Semi-structured, one-on-one interviews were conducted with 22 teachers from six public primary schools in one district in Bangladesh. Thematic analysis technique was used to analyse the data. The results revealed that the majority of teachers were in favour of using reactive approaches to responding to students inappropriate behaviours. The findings also indicated that teachers were largely unaware of preventative or positive strategies to teach students who behave inappropriately in the classroom. This paper reports the implications of the findings for policy-makers, and university and school educators. U2 - 10.1080/13603116.2015.1059500 DO - 10.1080/13603116.2015.1059500 JO - International Journal of Inclusive Education JF - International Journal of Inclusive Education Malak MS, Sharma U, Deppeler JM. ‘Can I really teach without my magic cane?’: Teachers’ responses to the banning of corporal punishment. International Journal of Inclusive Education. 2015;19(12):1325 - 1341. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2015.1059500	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line957
__label__cc	0.674973	0.325027	Creative Is a Verb If You're Alive, You're Creative, First Edition Patti Digh A guidebook for all who call themselves artists and those who need permission to re-insert creativity into their lives. Globe Pequot / Skirt! Pages: 224 • 978-1-59921-883-0 • Paperback • October 2010 • $19.95 • (£13.95) Subjects: Self-Help / General, Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs, Body, Mind & Spirit / Inspiration & Personal Growth, Self-Help / Creativity PATTI DIGH is the creator and author of the award-winning blog 37days.com with over 15,000 subscribers from around the world. She is also author of LIFE IS A VERB (9781599212951, Skirt, 8/08, Bookscan 13,519 RTD), a Books for a Better Life nominee. Patti also conducts "Life is a Verb" retreats and telecoaching sessions to help people wake up and live more intentional, meaningful lives. Patti is an internationally-recognized speaker and storyteller who has worked in over 60 countries and in almost every U.S. state to help individuals, organizations, and communities work more effectively across difference and to bring more mindfulness to their work in the world. Her first book, Global Literacies (Simon & Schuster), was a Fortune magazine best business book for 2000. Comfortable in front of any audience, Patti is a creative and illuminating presence, reaching people from the boiler room to the boardroom, from Tel Aviv to Johannesburg to Hastings, Nebraska. Her intuitive understanding of diverse locations and people is deep, and she is able to find a common story along this vast rainbow of audiences with great humor and insight. A longtime faculty member for the prestigious Summer Institute for Intercultural Communication, her comments and articleshave appeared on PBS and in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, and Fortune magazine, among other international publications. Thousands of readers from around the world have responded to the deeply authentic message of LIFE IS A VERB. As one reader wrote, If the Buddha had two children, two cats, a dog, and a huge crush on Johnny Depp, he might be called Patti Digh. Life is a Verb has been called a soul-help book, not a self-help book. See www.pattidigh.com and www.37days.com What people are saying about Creative is a Verb “Soulful, warm, funny, smart--Patti is the perfect guide for anyone who knows deep down they are an artist but is having trouble finding the doorway." --Susan Piver, NY Times bestselling author of The Wisdom of a Broken Heart "I adore Patti Digh's writing, her depth, her sizzle.This is a classic, and I said it first." --Jennifer Louden, NYTimes bestselling author of The Woman's Comfort Book and The Life Organizer Praise for LIFE IS A VERB: "Damn, girl. You write good." -Lee Hancock, Dallas Morning News "I've said it once and I'll say it again: I adore Patti Digh's book Life is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally. I love her writing, her depth, her sizzle. This is a book that makes me sing with life and the possibilities we all have for transformation and awareness. It is the best antidote I've got these days for the pain and fear raging around us--that and loving hugs, long naps, frevent prayer and letting myself feel whatever I'm feeling." --Jennifer Louden, author of The Woman's Comfort Book "Life is a Verb is brilliantly-crafted, raw, gorgeously-designed, and daringly different from 'self-help' books. It relates, through stories that sparkle and astonish and soar, how to move, to be on your way, to realize who you really are through your actions. Through exercises that you participate in, as if in conversation with the author, you will learn, as she promises in the prologue, 'deeper things—how to know what to care about, how to treat others around you (and yourself), what to question, how to love, what to stand up for, and why you should tell stories and listen to the stories of others.' There is no more important learning. So read it. Inhabit it. Breathe in every word, because every word of this book is essential. Let it animate you. Annotate it to make it your own. And then let it let you change yourself, and become who you were intended to be. Begin now. You have no time to lose." --- Dave Pollard, author of The Natural Entrepreneur, and the weblog How to Save the World "Patti's guide for the last 37 days of life will turn every one of your next 3700 days a fully lived experience. If you had some unsolved fear for death, that would be your season ticket to have a free ride on the train with the author. I have never seen such a simultaneously practical, esthetic and soul-caressing book in my life." --Kichiro Hayashi, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo "I laughed. I cried. I want the t-shirt! Seriously, Life is a Verb may well be the single book that will change the world or maybe only your life . . . Artful, funny, heart-breaking, Digh reminds us that today isn't a dress rehearsal and we can start today celebrating the magic of ordinary life. Reading Life is a Verb is like mainlining goodness. Digh shows us what is real and what matters, and she gives us insiders tips on how to make minuscule life corrections that result in quantum shifts in experience. She reminds us that life can easily be fun. This will surely be the last self-help book you will ever need or want to read." --Patricia Ryan Madson, Stanford Emerita, author of Improv Wisdom: Don't Prepare, Just Show Up "Life Is A Verb is a wonderful treat! Good exercises, stories, and examples. Reading it will help you appreciate just how much can be gained through living with intention. It's also a lot of fun." --Roger von Oech, author of A Whack on the Side of the Head: How You Can Be More Creative "Life is a Verb is at once beautiful, profound and helpful--you can't beat that combination." --Sam Keen, NY Times best-selling author of Fire In the Belly "We need this book." -Naomi Shihab Nye, award-winning poet "Patti Digh writes like her hair is burning. You will dog-ear the pages and circle words and phrases and write in the margins. Patti is a great big, wide open contribution to the planet." --Lisa Gates A book for all who strive to tap into their own creativity	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line964
__label__wiki	0.623801	0.623801	HOME / DOCUMENTS / LATIN AMERICA AND ASIA / FIRST TAKES / What Connects Two Worlds Apart? By Guo Jie For much of my academic career, I’d focused on the faraway lands of Europe. But then, about eight years ago, I acted on an impulse to expand my research horizons to the even farther away lands of Latin America. This move received great support from my home School of International Studies at Peking University.I went through a period of intensive Spanish language training and then read broadly about the region. My understanding gradually broadened further through communication with colleagues and friends from Latin America. After 2013, I ventured to visit more than twelve countries in the region and with each trip, my curiosity grew stronger. The economic trade between Japan and Latin America is the main pillar of its relationship. I began to notice how different Latin America was from Europe. While in Europe diversity is highly concentrated in small spaces, the opposite is true in Latin America, where a strong sense of identity among different groups prevails even when people might seem quite similar to outside observers like me. The staggering income inequality, complex ethnic relations, changing political culture, tortuous economic development, profound social transformations and broken historical processes all left a deep impression on me. Of course, there are also outstanding works in humanities and arts, as well as fascinating geographical formations and changing natural landscapes. For a scholar from East Asia, exploring Latin America is relatively a rare opportunity given to the physical distance and cultural differences which limit contacts between our two regions. Even when two worlds are far apart, it seems that innate curiosity always drives inquiries into foreign people and objects—but it is never easy to build mutual, in-depth understanding of each other. Even time and space are working against us; winter and summer, day and night are both diametrical opposites in East Asia and Latin America. While relations between the two regions are growing ever closer, I want to take a retrospective look into that process of getting close to each other from the beginning. Research indicates that China and Latin America did not have direct interactions in the written history before modern times. The real contact began at the beginning of the 16th century, after Christopher Columbus discovered the New World and Vasco da Gama opened a new route to Asia. At this point, the main transport channel between Europe and China shifted from land to sea. Relations between China and America began to slowly emerge through trade—with Manila as a hub. Later, in the 19th century, and more specifically between 1800 and 1874, a large number of Chinese contract laborers went to Latin America. Hundreds of thousands of these migrants moved to the region during this period, mostly between 1847 and 1874, the first time large groups of Chinese people arrived there. Four other waves of immigration ensued, with mainly free immigrants arriving on Latin American shores between 1890 and 1930. Another wave followed from 1949 to 1950, mostly made up of either senior Kuomintang officials or of those who sought to open their own businesses. In the 1960s and 1970s, more migrants came from Hong Kong, Taiwan and South East Asia. The background of new immigrants after late 1970s was relatively diverse, with some choosing to make Latin America their new home, while others were bent on reimmigrating to places such as North America (United States, Canada) and Europe. The largest numbers of overseas Chinese are concentrated in South and Central American countries, such as Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama, Argentina, Costa Rica and Surinam. Most of these migrants are engaged in business, software, manufacturing, construction, the service sector and the resource industry. While people-to-people exchanges have a long history, the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 is a turning point for official and academic exchanges. Post-1949 China-Latin America relations can be divided into three periods, the first between 1949 and 1970. China’s initial interest in Latin America was driven by a shared affiliation with third world liberation movements. After 1959, the situation changed. On January 1, 1959, the Cuban revolution succeeded; in September, China issued a joint communique with Cuba on the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, Cuba becoming the first Latin American country to do so with the New China. In the context of the Cold War and the aftermath of the Sino-Soviet split, a struggle for leadership of the international communist movement emerged and China began paying special attention to Latin America. After the 1970s, more Latin American countries established diplomatic relations with China, prompting a need for greater mutual understanding. Overall, this first period of bilateral relations was shaped by historical (Cold War) and ideological (revolutionary) factors. The second period of official relations was between the 1970s and the late 20th century. In these decades, the international system went through substantial political, economic and social changes. China and Latin America were experiencing reform and development at the same time. Most Chinese scholars focused on resolving practical problems and they paid most attention to Latin America’s opening up and economic adjustment, comparing it with China’s post-1978 reforms. Other topics that attracted their interest included Latin America’s development strategy, paths and models, as well as social justice movements, democratization, political and ideological changes. The 21st century can be viewed as the third period of China-Latin America relations. Globalization and market forces, somewhat surprisingly, have tightly bound China and Latin America from two different ends of the world. Economic interdependence and cooperation has reached unprecedented levels. China has already become Latin America’s most important Asian trading partner, and it is actively promoting the integration of the Belt and Road Initiative and the region’s development strategy. In recent years, with the acceleration of China’s economic and social transformation, the country has started paying closer attention to case studies from Latin America on issues such as the middle-income trap, urbanization and inclusive growth. Nowadays, “Latin American Fever” and “China Fever” seem to be on the rise. Any combination of topics related to “ China-Latin America”—from trade to politics, society, diplomacy, history and humanities—has not surprisingly become pivotal for both parties as they seek to jointly develop tighter bilateral relations. Like China, the two other major East Asian economies, Japan and South Korea, are increasingly developing connections to Latin America based on their own historical background and current needs. Japan’s first “encounter” with Latin America was triggered by immigration—the flow of people broke geographical barriers. The earliest record of Japanese immigrants arriving in Latin America dates from 1893, when 132 Japanese plantation workers moved from Hawaii to Guatemala to work on coffee and sugar plantations. As Japan confronted a shortage of land for its workers at the time, it began to encourage immigration to Latin America. The first government-supported wave of migrants went to Mexico in 1897. Two years later, Peru received its first batch of Japanese immigrants. In the early 20th century, Japan sent another batch to Brazil, attracted by its coffee boom. Statistics show that nearly 190,000 Japanese migrants came to Brazil between 1908 and 1941. This trend was interrupted during World War II but restarted shortly after and continued until the 1960s when Japan’s economy entered a period of rapid growth. Meanwhile, the economic relationship between Japan and Latin America became the main pillar of their relations. Japan began to import large amounts of energy, minerals, industrial raw materials, as well as cotton, coffee and other agricultural products. This rapid increase of imports was accompanied by direct Japanese investment in Latin America. During the 1960s and 1970s, more than a quarter of Japan’s overseas investment went to the region, mainly towards the heavy equipment industry. After the oil crisis broke out in the 1970s, Japan’s investment in Latin America expanded to iron ore, soybeans, copper, petroleum, aluminum, pulp and paper and other exports. Japanese loans were also crucial to its relations with the region. However, the Latin American economy experienced turmoil in the 1980s, and Japan experienced stagnation in the last decade of the 20th century, prompting a decline in both Japanese imports and direct investment. Although Japan and Latin America gradually grew apart economically, a new “encounter” took place at that time. Like the first “encounter,” it was also driven by the flow of people, but in the opposite direction. To address increasingly serious labor shortage caused by declining fertility and aging population, the Japanese government amended its immigration laws, allowing overseas-born Japanese to obtain long-term residence permits. Many migrants from Latin America returned to Japan, with the number reaching around 300,000 at its peak. History shows that Latin America has often provided solutions to Japan’s domestic problems. Of course, this relationship is also equally important to Latin America since Japan has played a dual role in providing labor and capital while importing products and natural resources from the region. Japan’s economic recovery in recent years and the overall stabilization of economic development in Latin America, as well as its growing importance in global value chains, have contributed to a new strengthening of bilateral economic relations. Japan has become an observer of the Pacific Alliance, a regional trading bloc aiming at forging stronger economic ties with the Asia-Pacific region, and signed Economic Partnership Agreements with three of the Alliance’s four member countries (Mexico, Chile and Peru). Nevertheless, as Japan’s economic structure has evolved from manufacturing to global supply chain management, its demand for natural resources and imports of large-scale production has substantially decreased; hence, Latin American countries mostly position themselves as attractive destinations for Japanese investment at present. In Brazil and Mexico, the top two Latin American economies, the amount of direct investment from Japan is much higher than that of China and South Korea. Compared to China and Japan, South Korea engaged with Latin America rather late. In the early 1960s, because of its limited land and a lack of natural resources, the South Korean government began to encourage immigration to Latin America; the intended purpose of this policy was primarily to target land development on the continent. In 1962, South Korea implemented the overseas emigration law, with the first 103 Korean migrants setting off to Brazil. Many of them were urban middle-class, including businessmen, military officers and doctors. From then until 1968, before the Brazilian government banned agricultural immigrants, four waves of Koreans went to Brazil. Argentina was another destination for agricultural immigrants. In October 1965, 78 Korean immigrants arrived in Buenos Aires. Between 1970 and 1977, about 200 more Korean families moved to Argentina. Many of these migrants aimed to develop land but they were unsuccessful in both Brazil and Argentina. They lacked experience, funds, agricultural knowledge, as well as necessary skills and facilities. Local production conditions were different and the new countries’ agricultural policies were unstable. Faced with failure in the countryside, most agricultural migrants then settled in urban areas. Korean migrants who came to Latin America after the 1980s were mostly investors, mainly concentrated in the fields of retail and wholesale clothing production. At present, about 100,000 Korean migrants live in Latin America, around half of them in Brazil with other relatively large communities in Argentina, Mexico, Guatemala and Paraguay. The overall number of these migrants remains stable, but their mobility within Latin America is high. Such movements are mostly driven by economic or business incentives, but cultural values, religion, family and social connections are also important factors. In addition to immigration, two other factors have attracted South Korea’s attention towards Latin America. The first stemmed from concern about South Korea’s domestic politics—many of its scholars researched democratization processes in Latin America. They used the replacement of military regimes with democracies as an insightful point of reference. Until now, South Korea’s Latin American scholars demonstrate a high degree of concern exists about issues related to Latin American political development. The second factor relates to the Korean business community; Latin America is both a key exporter of raw materials and a lucrative and rapidly developing export market. Since the 1990s, bilateral trade volumes have grown tremendously. Similar to the trade framework between China and Latin America, South Korea’s commerce also primarily involves imports of commodities, including iron ore, energy resources and agricultural products, while exporting manufactured products. Most of its exports are vehicles and auto parts, followed by electrical machinery, mechanical appliances, optical and medical equipment, steel and others. To further facilitate trade and ensure a steady supply of natural resources, South Korea has signed Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with Chile, Peru and Colombia since 2004, and concluded FTA negotiations with six Central American countries (Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama and Guatemala) in 2016. South Korea’s direct investment (FDI) in Latin America has increased significantly in the past 30 years, and now accounts for more than one-tenth of its total FDI in the world. Most investment was in the manufacturing and mining industries, with Brazil, Mexico and Peru as the main destinations. At present, electronics is a key area of South Korean investment in Latin America, with Samsung and LG the two major investors. Most recently, direct investment in the automotive industry has also grown rapidly, led by Hyundai and Kia. South Korea’s investment in Brazil is mainly market-seeking. Investments in Mexico are driven by its proximity to the United States, contributing to global value chain cooperation. Unlike with Brazil and Mexico, South Korea’s engagement with Peru is mostly focused on energy and mining. Thus, immigration and economic cooperation have long been two main pillars of East Asian relations with Latin America, and will continue to play an important role in the future. Meanwhile, with continuing globalization and the deepening of mutual exchange, the ties between the two regions will inevitably expand from the flow of people, goods and capital to other areas, influencing politics, culture and historical processes at large. While the Pacific Ocean will always separate East Asia and Latin America, our peoples are growing closer. Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet once shared a childhood fantasy, stating that if Chileans keep digging down in the ground, they will eventually reach China. For a long time, geography has prompted us to see each other merely as exotic, mythical and magical places. However, reality is sometimes only one step away from magic. East Asia and Latin America are still far away, yet closer than ever before and I believe that there are more wonderful exchanges to come between us in the future. Guo Jie is an associate professor with the School of International Studies at the Peking University, China. Email: angel_pku@hotmail.com; guojie@pku.edu.cn Special thanks are due to Professor Nobuaki Hamaguchi (Kobe University) and Professor Chong-Sup Kim (Seoul National University) for sharing information on Japan and South Korea in our forthcoming book (Cutting the Distance: Benefits and Tensions from the Recent Active Engagement of China, Japan, and Korea in Latin America, Springer, 2018/2019) Latin America and Asia First Takes Bridging Asia and Latin America From Extraction to Construction The Diasporas The Migrant Photography of Haruo Ohara Growing Up Chinese in Uruguay Japanese Peruvians From Vendedor to Fashion Designer Revisiting Circles and Circuits Nikkei Latin America The Japanese Brazilian Community Fried Rice and Plátanos One Day We Arrived in Japan Trade Ties and Beyond Development in Northeast Asia Filling the Infrastructure Gap New Pirates in the Caribbean? Chinese Development Finance and the Andean Amazon Infrastructure Boom Waves of Asian Investments in Brazil Made in China 2025 Understanding the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative China and Latin America Relations A Commercial Hit That's a Product of Censorship Dragon Mart Cancún China-Venezuela Relations K-dramas Flow into Latin America How to Think Globally Living Between Distant Shores Shared Sentiments Inspire New Cultural Centers Telluric Connections, Bodies in Transit Transoceanic Traveling Trash Social Policy Expansion in Latin America Youth in Postwar Guatemala: Education and Civic Identity in Transition Evidence for Hope: Making Human Rights Work in the 21st Century Energy Innovation Ecosystems in Rural Mexico	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line968
__label__cc	0.616433	0.383567	What Would Jesus Do? Probably Not This... Apparently Pat Robertson has forgotten that old rule: "Thou Shalt Not Kill". In a surprisingly un-Christ-like move, Pat has decided that we now need to assassinate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. According to the AP: "We have the ability to take him out, and I think the time has come that we exercise that ability," Robertson said recently on his T.V show. "We don't need another $200 billion war to get rid of one, you know, strong-arm dictator," he continued. "It's a whole lot easier to have some of the covert operatives do the job and then get it over with." Now Pat gets real fanatical: "You know, I don't know about this doctrine of assassination, but if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it," Robertson said. "It's a whole lot cheaper than starting a war ... and I don't think any oil shipments will stop." He thinks we're trying to assassinate him. So we should. Very Christian of you Pat. UPDATE 8/24/05 Apparently now this is just a big misunderstanding. According to Pat on the 700 Club: "I said our special forces could take him out. Take him out could be a number of things including kidnapping," Robertson said on his "The 700 Club" television program. "There are a number of ways of taking out a dictator from power besides killing him. I was misinterpreted." So when you said "if he thinks we're trying to assassinate him, I think that we really ought to go ahead and do it", you must've forgotten what 'assassinate' means. Let me remind you: IT MEANS YOU'RE GOING TO FUCKING MURDER SOMEONE! Any more questions regarding the English language? UPDATE 2 - 8/24/05 DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY YOU DIDN'T SUGGEST WE ASSASSINATE CHAVEZ?? Pat, caught in lie #2 is now trying to weasel his way out of trouble. He says: "Is it right to call for assassination? No, and I apologize for that statement. I spoke in frustration that we should accommodate the man who thinks the U.S. is out to kill him." I guess that makes it all OK now, right? He was speaking in frustration. I think he was speaking out of his ass. Anyone else? Posted by Ryan Michael at 9:02 AM Since his mouth constantly spews more cerebral excrement than any anus possibly could, I'd say you're spot on dude. Spot on... Actually..... Killing Hugo would be a good thing. The Psychic Challenge, Part I Jesus Fish = Bad Driver I Think I've Had It 15th Skeptic's Circle What We Are Up Against What a Quote! More Proof our "Designer" is Stupid I Wanna Play Too! 14th Skeptic's Circle is Up I Normally Defend the Prez, But This Time... More Deception From ID Proponents	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line972
__label__wiki	0.589208	0.589208	Interviews and More Scott Alumbaugh Cattle on the 101 Cattle on the Highway So far, I’ve come across two sources that mentioned using the new state highways (circa 1910-20) as covenient roads for cattle drives. I think it’s an interesting overlapping period. I guess up into the 1920s cattle still needed to be driven to slaughter houses or railroad termini. Up to that point, motorists had to wait for the cattle. At some point, the number of cars exceeded the ability of whomever was responsible for keeping the roads safe from cattle (Highway Patrol?). Both cattle and automobiles shared U.S. 101 until the 1920s, and the Highway Patrol helped decrease accidents; but as the flood of automobiles increased, the long drives through the Gaviota Pass had to be terminated. Merlyn Chesnut, The Gaviota Land: A Glimpse into California History From a Bend on El Camino Real, pg. 84 In those days, Gaviota Pass was a lot twister than it is today. In 1935, the road was straightened in one section to reduce 44 turns to 11. Prior to the improvements, drivers made the equivalent of six and one-half turns in four miles. I’m just trying to imagine rounding one of those bends and coming headlong into a cattle drive. In Cattle on the Conejo, Russell talks about making the forty-mile cattle drive from the ranch, through the San Fernando Valley, over Cahuenga Pass, to the yards in downtown L.A. He titles one chapter “El Camino Real and its Hazards for Cattle.” Which seems to be backward to me: aren’t the cattle the hazard on a highway? Not to a rancher I guess. A small percentage of motorists believed that the highway had been built for them and that they owned it. After a car had smashed into a bunch of cattle on the highway, or had approached with a wild blowing horn and no slackening of speed, we were used to having the driver say, “If you would keep your damn cattle off the highway, this would not have happened.” Practically the entire length of the road had been donated to the public by the ranchers and we knew we had as much right to use it with our cattle as the motorist did with his automobile. Sometimes poetic justice was meted out to this kind of a driver. Some neighbors were moving cattle along the highway from one field to another when a young man in a Model T roadster came along. They asked him to wait a short time, for within a few hundred feet they were turning off the road. He said, “Go to hell, I have as much right to this road as you,” whereupon he drove into the herd. Now it is very difficult for steer to stand 11p on asphalt pavement when it is cold and hard. nearly always they will slip and fall when they make a quick move. One sizable animal fell in front of the Model T. Before the driver could stop, his car was on the back of the steer, which feeling that everything was not all right, got up with a big heave. The car and its driver were pitched over a fifteen-foot embankment. The car landed right across the driver’s back. He at once commenced to yell loudly for help. The boys with the cattle went down and lifted the car off his back. Then one of them stepped up and said, “Now I am going to give you a good licking, and maybe that will teach you not to run into a bunch of cattle.” The driver begged, “I don’t need that. Just let me go and I’ll never run into another one.” Of course, it must have been a little frightening to have his car flipped over a bank while he was in it, and also a little humiliating to think that a mere steer could dismount him from his car. Cattle on the Conejo, 75-76 © Scott Alumbaugh • all rights reserved © 2020 Scott Alumbaugh. Bento theme by Satori	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line974
__label__wiki	0.749153	0.749153	Inverness Town House to be wrapped during £4.2m repairs Inverness Town House is to be covered by a life-sized image of the building while work on a £4.2 million restoration of the building is undertaken. The three-year maintenance project, which starts this year, includes repairs to the 135-year-old building’s roof, windows and stonework. Scaffolding will be erected on the west and front side of the Town House and remain there two years. Highland Council has asked for the wrapping to help hide scaffolding while work is carried out on the building. Inverness city leader Ian Brown said: “These essential works will help to safeguard the future of the Town House for generations to come and will secure an Inverness Common Good Fund major asset. “I am also delighted that Laing Traditional Masonry will be employing three or four apprentices on this project that will help to ensure that traditional skills are passed on to future generations.” The project is being funded by the Inverness Common Good Fund, which owns the Town House, and Historic Scotland. Tags: Historic Scotland, Inverness Building Briefs – January 20th DM Hall welcomes raft of new partners, directors and associates AL_A’s reimagination of Paisley Museum gets £3.8m lottery funding boost	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line975
__label__wiki	0.97161	0.97161	Air Force Club secure second successive AFC Cup title The Iraqi club defeated Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol 1-0 to retain the AFC Cup crown they retained in 2016. Nov 06, 2017 · 05:52 pm AFC Media Iraq’s ‘Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya’ or Air Force Club as they’re more popularly known, claimed their second AFC Cup title in a row after defeating Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol 1-0 in the final. Istiklol had beaten Bengaluru FC 3-2 on aggregate in the Inter-Zonal final, en route to the grand finale. Air Force Club’s defence had been rock solid throughout the tournament, having kept six clean sheets in 10 games and conceding just five goals. Istiklol, meanwhile, had scored 23 times prior to Saturday’s encounter, meaning the tie was billed as a classic attack versus defence. Manuchehr Dzhalilov, who had seven goals to his name, had been the Tajik side’s biggest threat in the 2017 campaign. Three times the striker had a sight of goal on Saturday, but he fired well over from the penalty spot once and saw his other two shots blocked by the visitors’ stubborn defensive line. Further up the pitch, Khaled Mbayed was a rock in the Air Force Club midfield, with his 15 duels won almost double the number of any Istiklol player. Mbayad’s four successful tackles was also more than anyone on the pitch, as the classic 4-4-2 formation provided plenty of resistance. In the end, for the first time in the tournament, Istiklol were unable to register a single shot on target and drew their only blank of the campaign. They have now played Iraqi opposition six times in three seasons and have not scored a single goal in these games. By the time Emad Mohsin rocketed the ball into the back of the net midway through the second half, there only looked like one winner, before Hammadi Ahmed really should have made the winning margin wider but spurned two late opportunities, including a missed penalty. “We were not so good in the first half, but after the break we regrouped and put in a much better performance. We missed a penalty kick but eventually scored the all-important goal,” commented Mohsin on his team’s performance on the night. “It is a historic achievement for us and for Iraqi football. I am delighted that we were able to bring joy to our fans back in Iraq.” With this, Istiklol have now lost two of the last three AFC Cup finals. (With inputs from the-afc.com) Istiklol Air Force Club Football: Midfielder Arda Turan set for Barcelona return after parting ways with Basaksehir Istanbul	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line976
__label__wiki	0.776942	0.776942	SubTopic Network protocols Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS) Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS) is a broadcasting and communications service that operates in the ultra-high-frequency (UHF) portion of the radio spectrum between 2.1 and 2.7 GHz. MMDS is also known as wireless cable. It was conceived as a substitute for conventional cable television (TV). However, it also has applications in telephone/fax and data communications. In MMDS, a medium-power transmitter is located with an omnidirectional broadcast antenna at or near the highest topographical point in the intended coverage area. The workable radius can reach up to 70 miles in flat terrain (significantly less in hilly or mountainous areas). Each subscriber is equipped with a small antenna, along with a converter that can be placed next to, or on top of, a conventional TV set. There is a monthly fee, similar to that for satellite TV service. The MMDS frequency band has room for several dozen analog or digital video channels, along with narrowband channels that can be used by subscribers to transmit signals to the network. The narrowband channels were originally intended for use in an educational setting (so-called wireless classrooms). The educational application has enjoyed some success, but conventional TV viewers prefer satellite TV services, which have more channels. Because of recent deregulation that allows cable TV companies to provide telephone and Internet services, along with the development of digital technologies that make efficient use of available bandwidth, MMDS has considerable future potential. An MMDS network can provide high-speed Internet access, telephone/fax, and TV together, without the constraints of cable connections. This was last updated in November 2010 Continue Reading About Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS) WiMax - The 800 LB wireless gorilla DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is a network management protocol used to dynamically assign an Internet Protocol (IP) ... See complete definition Routing Information Protocol (RIP) Routing Information Protocol (RIP) is a distance vector protocol that uses hop count as its primary metric. See complete definition TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is a standard that defines how to establish and maintain a network conversation through which... See complete definition Dig Deeper on Network protocols and standards EC clears TalkTalk's Tiscali takeover By: Ian Grant Over-the-Top Video: First to Scale Wins –ComputerWeekly.com Deloitte Telecoms, Media, and Technology Predictions 2016 –ComputerWeekly.com	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line979
__label__cc	0.723026	0.276974	Hotel Speranza - Bardolino (Verona) \| Best rate guaranteed Italiano Francais Español Deutsch Located in one of the most characteristic streets of the historical centre of Bardolino, near the shores of Lake Garda, the Hotel Speranza offers a quiet and comfortable environment with the advantage of having, at the same time, all the places of interest at your fingertips . JanuaryJan 2020 Arrival date JanuaryJan 2020 Departure date Hotel Speranza Borgo garibaldi, 51 37011 Bardolino (Verona) www.hotelsperanza.com - info@hotelsperanza.com Privacy Policy: secure.kosmosol.it Bardolino - Verona Data Controller's email address: info@hotelsperanza.com Type of data collected Among the Personal data collected from this website, either independently or through third parties, there are: Cookies, Usage Data, Name, Surname, Address, Zip Code, Province, Telephone Number, Email, Country, State. 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__label__cc	0.704076	0.295924	Issues – Fair Living Wage On the Issues: Strong Working Class, Fair Living Wage Massachusetts cannot maintain an economy that allows full-time, adult workers to remain impoverished. Poverty is devastating to individuals and families, and costly to society in immeasurable ways. I clearly remember the days when my father’s salary, as a middle class worker employed as a newspaper mailer, was sufficient to secure a stable livelihood and a healthy environment to raise a family of seven children. We have lost those days, with today’s wages leaving working adults still in poverty, still struggling to advance, and still creating heavy costs on public assistance programs – costs that are borne by every taxpayer. For this reason, I support policies that help raise families out of poverty, build a strong working class, and promote fair labor practices. For example, I supported a law passed in 2014 which will gradually raise the minimum wage for workers in the Commonwealth, starting from the then-existing rate of $8 per hour up to $11 per hour in 2017. This gradually stepped method, I believe, is responsible and prudent, allowing time for our small businesses and employers to adjust, while also providing a path to stronger wages that can generate economic activity and raise families out of poverty. I also supported an increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit (“EITC”), which is viewed as one of the most effective ways to help working families. The increase in the EITC passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and was signed by Governor Baker. It, along with an increase in the personal exemption on state income, will benefit over 400,000 workers in the Commonwealth. I support policies and proposals to create stability and fairness among our working class – proposals like family and medical leave, and the pregnant workers fairness act, both of which passed in the Senate recently, and I am opposed to the outsourcing and privatization of essential public sector jobs. I’m also proud to be part of an institution that has led the nation, with the strongest steps to date towards pay equity for women. Providing for a decent wage and a fair tax system are the right things to do for our middle class individuals and families. As your State Senator I will continue to advocate for the working class, and for an economy built on fairness and opportunity for every family.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line983
__label__wiki	0.875008	0.875008	Did You Know: The Malay Expression "Alamak!" Is Also Used By The Japanese "あらまあ~!" By Samantha Khor #malay #Alamak #exclamation #culturalsimilarities "Alamak!" Growing up in Malaysia (or even Singapore), that's an exclamation you've definitely heard or even exclaimed out loud when you've messed up or when something goes wrong. Typically attributed to the Malay language, "alamak" is often used to express shock, dismay, concern/worry, or disapproval; similar to English expressions like "Oh no", "Oh dear", and "Oh sh*t". Image via Meme Generator But it turns out that it may not be an exclusively Malay word after all! In fact, we recently discovered that the Japanese also use "alamak" for the same reasons we do, albeit with a slightly different pronunciation. Written as "あらまあ", it is pronounced with an "r" instead of an "l" ("ara ma). You can listen to it here. According to a Quora thread, it is also considered a feminine way to express "Oh my...", as demonstrated by the Japan-exclusive LINE stickers below. Image via LINE It is unknown if "alamak" was assimilated into the Malay language from Japanese or the other way around, though there are theories as to how we came to share a common expression with the Japanese Image via ameblo In a post from 2009, blogger Afzane - who was living in Japan at the time - wrote that his Japanese language teacher posited that the word might have been in use since the Edo period (1603-1867). Usage of the word was brought to Malaya during the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, during which Japanese language schools were set up in the region. He suggested that locals might have learned it from Japanese teachers when they exclaimed "Ara ma!" in exasperation with the students. Similarly, Singaporean blogger Mighty Mouse noted that his Japanese friends insisted that the word originated from Japan and is occasionally heard in Japanese dramas. On the other hand, it is also said that "alamak" is actually a word of Kristang origin (meaning "mother of God") that the Japanese assimilated into their vocabulary hundreds of years ago Image via Instagram @alicekon According to this comment thread, it is more likely that we influenced the Japanese, as the word does not have any root in their language. The Papia Kristang, a Portuguese creole spoken by people of mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry, originated following the conquest of Melaka in 1511 by the Portuguese Empire. As such, it was theorised that the Portuguese might have brought the word to Japan hundreds of years ago when Portuguese explorers first visited Japan in 1543. A variant of the word is also said to be in use in Kenya and Goa, both of which were colonised by the Portuguese many centuries ago. Where do you think the word "alamak" originated from? Let us know your theories in the comments section below! Besides possibly inspiring a Japanese exclamation, some English words were also said to have originated from its Malay counterparts: 14 English Words That Have Malay Origins They aren't obvious either. Ever wondered how the states in Malaysia and the popular township Damansara got their names? Did You Know: Damansara Got Its Name Because Someone Made A Spelling Mistake In The 1890s TIL! The Stories And Facts Behind How The 13 States Of Malaysia Got Their Names Never too late to brush up on your local history knowledge!	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line985
__label__wiki	0.724807	0.724807	3995 - Cole v. Raut Cole v. Raut Marty K. Cole and Tracy S. Cole, as co-administrators of the Estate of Kyle Austin Cole, and Tracy S. and Marty K. Cole, individually, Appellants, Pratibha P. Raut, M.D., and Dr. Raut & Associates, P.A., Respondents. Appeal From Chester County Paul E. Short, Jr., Circuit Court Judge Heard October 12, 2004 – Filed May 25, 2005 REVERSED AND REMANDED Charles L. Henshaw, Jr., of Columbia, for Appellants. Robert H. Hood, Roy P. Maybank, and Deborah Sheffield, all of Charleston, for Respondents. HEARN, C.J.: In this medical negligence action, Marty and Tracy Cole appeal from a verdict in favor of Dr. Pratibha P. Raut and her medical practice. The Coles argue the circuit court erred in charging the jury on assumption of risk. We agree, and reverse and remand for a new trial. FACTS/PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND The day before delivering her son, Kyle, Tracy Cole (“Cole”) was admitted to the hospital. Cole’s obstetrician, Dr. Raut, recommended that she undergo a vaginal birth after Cesarean section (“VBAC”). Although a VBAC carried risks including the possibility that the uterine scar from Cole’s previous C-Section could rupture during labor and deprive the baby of oxygen, this procedure was the recommended method of delivery at that time. Cole signed a consent form acknowledging the risks associated with the VBAC procedure. She consented to a vaginal delivery, induction with medication, augmentation with medication, and retained the option of delivering by C-section if necessary. The consent form specifically stated that Cole: [R]ecognize[s] that during the course of the [procedure], unforeseen conditions may necessitate additional or different procedures or services than those set forth above and . . . further authorize[s] and request[s] that the above named surgeon . . . perform such procedures as are in his [sic] professional judgment, necessary and desirable. The Coles admit that they “elected to face the risks of [VBAC]” and do not allege negligence in the doctor’s choice of treatment to which they had consented. Rather, they complain that Raut’s timing in ordering the C-section was a departure from the standard of care. As part of the VBAC procedure, Raut induced Cole’s labor on February 21, 1997. Despite the decision to proceed with the VBAC, Raut retained a surgical crew on-call in case an emergency C-section became necessary. Cole’s labor progressed slowly. At approximately 1:30 a.m. the following day, a fetal heart monitor indicated changes in the baby’s heart rate. At approximately 2:00 a.m., changes in the baby’s heart rate necessitated administration of oxygen to Cole and continued close observation of the baby’s vital signs. At that time, Raut unsuccessfully attempted to notify the operating room personnel, who were engaged in another surgical procedure, to remain in the hospital. At 2:15 a.m., Cole began to complain of abdominal pains, indicating her uterine wall had ruptured and requiring an emergency C-section. At 2:20 a.m., Raut formally ordered that Cole undergo a C-section delivery. The surgical procedure began at 2:42 a.m., twenty-two minutes after the formal order. Kyle was born at 2:45 a.m. He suffered from brain damage and related problems including cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and a seizure disorder. Kyle died in August 2003 as a result of his conditions. Both parties presented expert testimony. The Coles’ expert testified that in this case, waiting until 2:20 a.m. to order a C-section was “not acceptable.” He maintained that “early warning signs,” including variables in the baby’s heart rate, warranted that a C-section be ordered by 2:00 a.m. According to the Coles’ expert, had Dr. Raut ordered the C-section by 2:00 a.m., the operating room staff should have been able to perform the surgery and deliver the child at the latest by 2:30. The Coles’ expert testified that the baby would have been neurologically normal if he were delivered by “2:30 [a.m.] or 2:33 [a.m.] or 2:32 [a.m.].” The expert stated to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that “the doctor fell below reasonable standards of care when she failed to recognize the non-reassuring tracing [on the fetal heart monitor] at two o’clock and failed to set up for a possible emergency C-section.” Raut presented two expert witnesses who testified that she did not deviate from the appropriate standard of care with respect to the timing of the C-section. One expert testified that there were no signs mandating an emergency C-section until 2:20 a.m. at which time Raut recognized the problem “right away” and “immediately then called for a stat C-section.” During trial, Raut sought to amend her pleadings to include assumption of risk as an affirmative defense. The trial court reserved its ruling until the close of the evidence. At the close of the case, the trial court charged the jury on the law of negligence and on assumption of risk. The Coles objected to the charge of assumption of risk. The jury returned a general verdict for Raut. The Coles then moved for a new trial on the grounds that Cole never assumed the risk of a delayed emergency C-section. The trial court denied the motion. SCOPE OF REVIEW In reviewing a trial court’s decision regarding jury instructions, an appellate court will not reverse absent an abuse of discretion. Clark v. Cantrell, 339 S.C. 369, 389, 529 S.E.2d 528, 539 (2000). “An abuse of discretion occurs when the trial court’s ruling is based on an error of law or, when grounded in factual conclusions, is without evidentiary support.” Id. (citation omitted). The trial court is required to instruct the jury only on principles of law that apply to the issues raised in the pleadings and developed by the evidence in support of those issues. Id. at 390, 529 S.E.2d at 539. The Coles argue the trial judge committed reversible error by instructing the jury on assumption of risk. We agree. “[I]t is reversible error to charge a correct principle of law as governing a case when such principle is inapplicable to the issues on trial.” Miller v. Schmid Labs., Inc., 307 S.C. 140, 142-43, 414 S.E.2d 126, 127 (1992) (quoting Dunsil v. E.M. Jones Chevrolet Co., 268 S.C. 291, 295, 233 S.E.2d 101, 103 (1977)). “In order for the doctrine of assumption of the risk to apply, the injured party must have freely and voluntarily exposed himself to a known danger which he understood and appreciated.” Faile v. Bycura, 289 S.C. 398, 399, 346 S.E.2d 528, 529 (1986) (citation omitted). The specific requirements of the defense of assumption of risk are: “(1) the plaintiff must have knowledge of the facts constituting a dangerous condition; (2) the plaintiff must know the condition is dangerous; (3) the plaintiff must appreciate the nature and extent of the danger; and (4) the plaintiff must voluntarily expose himself to the danger.” Davenport v. Cotton Hope Plantation Horizontal Property Regime, 333 S.C. 71, 79, 508 S.E.2d 565, 569 (1998) (citation omitted). The doctrine of assumption of risk involves an intelligent and deliberate choice between a course known to be dangerous and what is not dangerous. It involves the taking of a calculated risk. Assumption of risk is a matter of knowledge of a danger and the intelligent acquiescence in it. The doctrine is predicated on the factual situation of a defendant’s acts alone creating the danger and causing the accident, with the plaintiff’s act being that of voluntarily exposing himself to such an obvious danger with appreciation thereof which resulted in the injury. Senn v. Sun Printing Co., 295 S.C. 169, 173, 367 S.E.2d 456, 458 (Ct. App. 1988). In the present case, Cole signed a consent form acknowledging the risks associated with the VBAC procedure. The consent form suggests Cole freely and voluntarily exposed herself and her child to a known danger associated with the VBAC procedure, which she understood and appreciated. However, nothing in the record suggests Cole assumed the risk associated with a delayed C-section delivery of her child following her decision to undergo the VBAC. Cole had no knowledge of the danger posed by a delay between the warning signs and the time the C-section was commenced. Moreover, Cole had no knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the delay. Without this knowledge, Cole could not appreciate the nature and extent of the danger or voluntarily expose herself and her child to such a danger. As a result, the trial judge erred in charging the jury on assumption of risk. “The giving of an erroneous instruction is not reversible error, unless the appellant can show that he was injured and prejudiced thereby.” Ellison v. Simmons, 238 S.C. 364, 372, 120 S.E.2d 209, 213 (1961). In Ellison, the court found the trial judge erred in instructing the jury “that pecuniary loss will be presumed where the beneficiaries of the action for wrongful death are the widow and minor children of the decedent, when it is undisputed that all of the decedent’s children are adults.” Id. at 370, 120 S.E.2d 209, 212. However, the court found the error was not reversible because the appellant failed to show the charge was prejudicial when pecuniary loss was undisputed at trial and the judge also charged the jury on the elements to consider in awarding damages. In so holding, the Ellison court distinguished two cases, Wright v. Harris, 228 S.C. 144, 89 S.E.2d 97 (1955) and Citizens Bank of Darlington v. McDonald, 202 S. C. 244, 24 S.E.2d 369 (1943). In Wright, the court stated: [I]t is reversible error to charge a correct principle of law as governing a case when such principle is inapplicable to the issues on trial. Conflicting and irrelevant instructions constitute reversible error[;] and a trial Judge ought to take care not to confuse the jury by charging them on legal principles which are inapplicable to the case on trial . . . . 228 S.C. at 148, 89 S.E.2d at 98 (citations omitted). The Wright court held an erroneous charge on breach of contract accompanied by a fraudulent act to be reversible error where the causes of action were founded solely in fraud and deceit. The Ellison court analyzed the erroneous charge in Wright, stating “[i]t is readily apparent that such a charge was prejudicial to the appellant.” 238 S.C. at 372, 120 S.E.2d at 213. Similarly, in Citizens Bank of Darlington, the sole issue for trial was the genuineness of a payee’s signature on a check. 202 S.C. at 250, 24 S.E.2d at 373. The court determined that the trial judge erred in instructing the jury on conflicting burdens of proof and erred in charging the jury on estoppel. The court held that it was reversible error for the judge to give conflicting instructions and to instruct on irrelevant issues. Id. at 255, 24 S.E.2d at 375; See also Ellison, 238 S.C. at 372, 120 S.E.2d at 213. The principles enunciated in Wright and Citizens Bank of Darlington have been consistently applied by this court and the supreme court. See Miller v. Schmid Labs., Inc., 307 S.C. 140, 142-43, 414 S.E.2d 126, 127 (1992) (finding reversible error to charge the correct definition of bilateral contract because the issue was irrelevant to whether an employee handbook could form the basis of a contract between an employer and employee); White v. Fowler, 276 S.C. 370, 372, 278 S.E.2d 777, 778 (1981) (stating that when the only reasonable inference from the evidence was that respondent’s actionable negligence caused the accident, a charge on unavoidable accident was irrelevant and prejudicial); Dunsil v. E.M. Jones Chevrolet Co., 268 S.C. 291, 295, 233 S.E.2d 101, 103 (1977) (finding reversible error when “[t]he instructions by the court of irrelevant and inapplicable principles of law was clearly erroneous and may have been confusing to the jury”); Brown v. Howell, 284 S.C. 605, 610, 327 S.E.2d 659, 662 (Ct. App. 1985) (concluding the trial judge’s instruction on avoidable accident was prejudicial when the issue was abandoned at trial). In the present case, the erroneous charge of assumption of risk was irrelevant and inapplicable to the Coles’ allegations. The evidence demonstrates that while Cole may have assumed the risk for the VBAC procedure, she never assumed the risk for a delayed C-Section delivery, which was the basis of the Coles’ causes of action. The assumption of risk charge had the potential to confuse the jury concerning the underlying factual basis of the Coles’ claims and availed Raut with a defense that was not supported by the evidence. As a result, the Coles were prejudiced by the erroneous charge. The Respondents argue that any prejudice occasioned by the erroneous charge is specifically defeated by the “two issue rule.” In essence, the Respondents are asserting that the Coles have failed to demonstrate any prejudice because the jury returned a general defense verdict, and we have no way to discern if it decided in favor of Raut on the assumption of risk defense or against the Coles on their negligence claim. We disagree. As explained above, the trial judge instructed the jury on an inapplicable defense to the Coles’ medical negligence claims. Such an error likely confused the jury with respect to the relevant legal principles as well as the underlying facts of the causes of action subject to the inapplicable defense. Thus, because the Coles’ negligence claims were adversely impacted by the erroneous charge, the Coles’ prejudice is not defeated by the “two issue rule.” The general defense verdict is not independently supported by the negligence cause of action, and the Coles have no other causes of action to support the general verdict. See Ricks v. Jackson, 159 N.E.2d 225, 227 (Oh. 1959) (explaining the two issue rule is used as a means of requiring an affirmative showing of prejudice in order to justify reversal, and finding that despite the two issue rule, an error in charging the jury on contributory negligence was prejudicial and reversible error). Furthermore, we believe applying the “two issue rule” under the circumstances of this case presents an “unusual application” similar to the one that was soundly rejected in Anderson v. South Carolina Dep’t of Highways & Pub. Transp., 322 S.C. 417, 419, 472 S.E.2d 253, 254 (1996). In Anderson, the trial judge submitted the issue of general negligence and the defense of contributory negligence to the jury. The jury returned a general verdict in favor of the defendant. After the verdict, the trial court belatedly granted plaintiff’s motion for a directed verdict on the issue of negligence. The court noted that it had no way to tell whether the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendant due to the plaintiff’s failure to prove negligence or the defendant’s success in proving contributory negligence. As a result, the trial court granted a new trial. The court of appeals reversed, “essentially [finding] the trial court erred by not applying the ‘two issue’ rule to uphold the jury’s verdict.” Id. at 421, 472 S.E.2d at 255. The supreme court declined to adopt “this unusual application of the ‘two issue’ rule” for the following three reasons: (1) the rule is utilized by courts on appeal, not trial courts, (2) the rule is a procedural tool for upholding, not reversing decisions, and (3) such an application would discourage trial courts from correcting errors. Id. Like Anderson, applying the rule in this case could very well have the effect of discouraging trial courts from correcting errors. Here, the trial judge had an opportunity to correct the error by granting the Coles’ motion for a new trial. He did not do so, ostensibly because he did not believe his earlier decision to charge assumption of risk was error. However, were we to accept Respondents’ argument on the “two issue rule,” a trial judge who realizes he or she has made an error during a trial could be inclined not to correct it and to uphold the verdict. Thus, we believe this application of the rule is proscribed by the supreme court’s Anderson decision. Furthermore, accepting the Respondents’ argument to employ the “two issue rule” to affirm the verdict despite an erroneous charge on the defense of assumption of risk would arguably place a heavy burden on trial lawyers to request a special verdict form in every case. Here, the Coles’ attorney objected at every available opportunity, including post-trial, to what he perceived to be an erroneous charge. It was not necessary to also request a special verdict form in order to preserve this objection.[1] The trial judge erred in instructing the jury on the defense of assumption of risk, and the Coles were prejudiced by the erroneous jury instruction. As a result, the verdict is hereby reversed and the case is remanded for a new trial. HUFF, J., concurs and KITTREDGE, J., dissents in a separate opinion. KITTREDGE, J., dissenting: I respectfully dissent. I would affirm the general defense verdict pursuant to the “two issue” rule. In my judgment, this is a difficult case, for we are confronted with an apparent tension between the presumption of validity accorded a general verdict in multi-issue cases—and the concomitant viability of the “two issue” rule in South Carolina—and the principle that an erroneous and prejudicial jury instruction warrants reversal. At bottom, I believe the proper resolution of this appeal turns on the degree of prejudice necessary to merit reversal in the context of an erroneous jury instruction and a general verdict involving two or more issues. The majority, as I do, recognizes that the Appellants might have been prejudiced by the erroneous jury instruction. Where I part company with the majority is their attempt to syllogize from the “potential” for prejudice to an absolute, affirmative finding of prejudice. I characterize the claim of prejudice to the Appellants as nothing more than speculation. I adhere to the view that more is required to satisfy the prejudice prong. This view, I believe, more closely comports with the foundational principle of appellate procedure that “[a]n error not shown to be prejudicial does not constitute grounds for reversal.” Brown v. Pearson, 326 S.C. 409, 417, 483 S.E.2d 477, 481 (Ct. App. 1997). Moreover, such a view maintains the efficacy and even-handed application of the “two issue” rule in this state. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND The trial court instructed the jury that Marty K. Cole and Tracy S. Cole were entitled to prevail if the jury found Dr. Pratibha P. Raut was negligent “in at least one or more of the ways alleged . . . [and that] the defendants’ negligence was the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries.” At the conclusion of the charge on the assumption of risk affirmative defense,[2] the court stated: However, I charge you, on the other hand, if you find that the plaintiff’s injuries and negligence were the result of the defendant’s negligence, then in such circumstance your verdict would be for the plaintiff. Dr. Raut urged the trial court to submit a special verdict form “with specific questions for the jury . . . [including whether] plaintiff has proved [the negligence claim] by the greater weight or preponderance of the evidence.” The trial court denied Dr. Raut’s request for a special verdict form. The Coles did not request a special verdict form, although they were aware that assumption of risk would be charged. The jury returned a general defense verdict. The Coles sought a new trial on the basis that assumption of risk was erroneously charged. The motion was denied, and judgment was entered for Dr. Raut and her medical practice. The Coles appeal only from the trial court’s decision to charge the jury on the assumption of risk defense. While I agree with the majority that it was error to charge the jury on the defense of assumption of risk, I would find the general defense verdict is independently supported by the unchallenged submission of the negligence claim to the jury. This principle is generally referred to as the “two issue” rule. The “two issue” rule—sometimes referred to as the “general verdict” rule—is based on the principle that reversal is inappropriate where no error is found as to one of the issues that may independently support the jury’s verdict. South Carolina is among an apparent minority of states that has adopted the rule. South Carolina’s first recognition of the rule, as best I can determine, came in 1926 in the case of Hussmann Refrigerator & Supply v. Cash & Carry Grocer, Inc., 134 S.C. 191, 132 S.E. 173 (1926). In Hussmann, the plaintiff filed an action in claim and delivery for possession of a refrigerator. The defendants answered with a general denial and a counterclaim. The jury rendered the following verdict: “We find for the plaintiff possession of the goods.” Id. at 194, 132 S.E. at 173. The defendants moved for a new trial on “the ground that it did not appear from the verdict that the jury had passed upon [the counterclaim].” Id. The trial court granted the new trial motion. The supreme court reversed and reinstated the jury verdict. In so holding, the court relied on the principle that later became identified as the “two issue” rule: [W]hen there are several issues in the case submitted to a jury under full instructions, a general verdict in favor of one or the other of the parties, in the absence of objection to the verdict not having passed upon the several issues separately, will be held to have concluded all the issues. Id. at 196, 132 S.E. at 174 (emphasis added). The Hussmann court further noted that “[t]he defendants had no right to remain silent under the apprehension that the irregularity might be corrected against their interest and afterwards complain of it.” Id. at 194, 132 S.E. at 174. The Nebraska Court of Appeals, I believe, properly describes the policy underpinnings of the “two issue” rule: The general verdict rule provides that where a general verdict is returned for one of the parties, and the mental processes of the jury are not tested by special interrogatories to indicate which issue was determinative of the verdict, it will be presumed that all issues were resolved in favor of the prevailing party, and, where a single determinative issue has been presented to the jury free from error, any error in presenting another issue will be disregarded . . . On the appellate level, the rule relieves an appellate court from the necessity of adjudicating claims of error that may not arise from the actual source of the jury verdict that is under appellate review. Therefore, unless an appellant can provide a record to indicate that the result of the trial was a result of the trial errors claimed on appeal, rather than from proper determination of the error-free issues, there is no reason to spend the judicial resources to provide a second trial. Lahm v. Burlington Northern R.R. Co., 571 N.W.2d 126, 131 (Neb. App. 1997) (internal citations omitted). One of the leading South Carolina cases dealing with the “two issue” rule—the case cited most frequently—is Anderson v. West, 270 S.C. 184, 188, 241 S.E.2d 551, 553 (1978) (“[W]here a jury returns a general verdict involving two or more issues and its verdict is supported as to at least one issue, the verdict will not be reversed.”). We are confronted here with the submission to the jury of an error-free negligence claim and a challenged jury charge on the affirmative defense of assumption of risk. I recognize the limited applications of the “two issue” rule, for the “rule may be applied by appellate courts in a few situations.” Anderson v. South Carolina Dep’t of Hwys. & Pub. Transp., 322 S.C. 417, 420, 472 S.E.2d 253, 254 (1996). In Anderson, our supreme court addressed and rejected an “unusual application” of the “two issue” rule. Id. at 421, 472 S.E.2d at 255. Anderson was injured in a fall on a sidewalk, and she sued the South Carolina Department of Highways and Public Transportation on a theory of negligence in maintaining the sidewalk. Anderson moved for a directed verdict as to liability, but the trial court deferred ruling on the motion. The case was submitted “to the jury on the issues of general negligence and contributory negligence, and the jury returned a general verdict for Highway Department.” Id. at 419, 472 S.E.2d at 254. The trial court then granted Anderson’s directed verdict motion, ruling as a matter of law that the Highway Department was negligent in its maintenance of the sidewalk. The trial court granted a new trial since it could not determine “whether the jury reached its verdict for Highway Department on the basis of Anderson’s failure to prove improper maintenance, Anderson’s failure to prove proximate cause, or Highway Department’s success in proving contributory negligence.” Id. On appeal, this court reversed the granting of the new trial, finding the jury verdict should have been sustained under the “two issue” rule. Anderson v. South Carolina Dep’t of Hwys. & Pub. Transp., 317 S.C. 280, 282, 454 S.E.2d 353, 354-55 (Ct. App. 1995). The supreme court granted certiorari and affirmed in result, but rejected the application of the “two issue” rule. Anderson provides a thoughtful analysis of the appropriate application of the “two issue” rule. Of particular note is the court’s discussion of the three reasons for rejecting the “two issue” rule in that case: Initially, the rule is utilized by courts on appeal, not trial courts. Secondly, the rule is a procedural tool for upholding, not reversing, decisions. Thirdly, the practical effects of the Court of Appeals’ application of the “two issue” rule are undesirable. Such an application would discourage trial courts from correcting errors. Because the jury’s general verdict could potentially be upheld anytime it was susceptible of two or more constructions, there would be no incentive for trial courts to correct errors, such as through the direction of a post-trial verdict. Anderson v. South Carolina Dep’t of Hwys. & Pub. Transp., 322 S.C. at 421, 472 S.E.2d at 255. In my judgment, the reasons favoring application of the “two issue” rule predominate in the case before us. First, we would be invoking the rule in the context of appellate review.[3] Next, we would be utilizing the rule to uphold the judgment below. And finally, application of the rule under these circumstances should not discourage trial courts from correcting errors.[4] This court, subsequent to Anderson, applied the “two issue” rule in circumstances procedurally similar to those presently before us. In the case of Bryant v. Waste Management, Inc., 342 S.C. 159, 536 S.E.2d 380 (Ct. App. 2000), Bryant asserted six theories of negligence. The jury returned a general verdict for Bryant. The trial court denied the post-trial motions, from which Waste Management appealed. We agreed with Waste Management that “the trial court erred in instructing the jury that a violation of federal Occupational Safety & Health Administrations . . . regulations constitutes negligence per se.” Id. at 166, 536 S.E.2d at 384. We nevertheless affirmed, and in relying on the “two issue” rule, we noted the speculative nature of Waste Management’s prejudice argument: Waste Management, however, has not shown it was prejudiced by [the erroneous jury instruction] because there existed other bases upon which the jury could find it liable . . . Because the jury rendered a general verdict and could have relied upon any of these [other] allegations of negligence to find Waste Management liable and because there is ample evidence supporting at least one of these [other] allegations . . . we cannot say Waste Management was prejudiced by the jury charge in issue. Id. at 167-68, 536 S.E.2d at 384-85. Bryant is merely one case among many holding that an erroneous jury instruction, absent a showing of resulting prejudice, will not warrant reversal. See Sierra v. Skelton, 307 S.C. 217, 225, 414 S.E.2d 169, 174 (Ct. App. 1992) (affirming general verdict under “two issue” rule, noting that rule applies to “a situation where . . . the trial court erred in the jury instructions”); Piedmont Aviation, Inc. v. Quinn, 294 S.C. 502, 505, 366 S.E.2d 31, 32-33 (Ct. App. 1988) (holding where case is submitted to jury on two causes of action and jury returns a general verdict, error by trial court in its instructions on second theory is of no consequence where verdict is supportable under first theory). I now turn to a related principle—“it is reversible error to charge a correct principle of law as governing a case where such principle is inapplicable to the issue on trial.” Ellison v. Simmons, 238 S.C. 364, 372, 120 S.E.2d 209, 213 (1961). This seems to me the strongest argument of the Coles to receive a new trial. However, this general principle is applied where “[i]t is readily apparent that such a charge was prejudicial to the appellant.” Id. Perhaps the Coles were prejudiced by the giving of the assumption of risk charge. Neither the majority nor I know for sure.[5] We certainly cannot say it is “readily apparent” the challenged charge was the basis of the jury verdict. This uncertainty brings me back to the “two issue” rule. The touchstone of the “two issue” rule is its concern with prejudice. As noted, an appellant must show not only error, but also prejudicial error, to secure reversal of an adverse judgment. The prejudice prong, in the context of the “two issue” rule, is generally established by the mere request at trial for an appropriate special verdict form. See Hussmann, 134 S.C. at 196, 132 S.E. at 174 (noting “the absence of objection to the verdict not having passed upon the several issues separately”); Smoak v. Liebherr-America, Inc., 281 S.C. 420, 421, 315 S.E.2d 116, 118 (1984) (upholding denial of post-trial motion, and affirming general verdict under “two issue” rule with court noting that “the record indicates the trial judge asked the respective attorneys for assistance in constructing a special verdict form to submit to the jury, but received none”). Here, the Coles leave to conjecture the claim of prejudice. After the trial court announced its decision to charge assumption of risk, the Coles voiced no complaint with the general verdict form, and remained silent when Dr. Raut was requesting a special verdict form.[6] I would find that the Coles have failed to establish the critical prejudice prong. The Coles and the majority cite Ricks v. Jackson, 159 N.E.2d 225 (Ohio 1959) for the proposition that prejudice is presumed and the “two issue” rule does not apply when there was a charge on an issue upon which the jury should not have been charged. The Ohio Supreme Court has since retreated from a strict application of the holding in Ricks. That court has since twice applied the “two issue” rule to uphold general verdicts where appellants failed to establish prejudice in connection with erroneous jury instructions. Hampel v. Food Ingredients Specialties, Inc., 729 N.E.2d 726, 739 (Ohio 2000) (applying “two issue” rule to affirm general verdict and noting that Ricks does not set forth a rule of mandatory reversal where a charge is erroneously given); Wagner v. Roche Labs., 709 N.E.2d 162, 166 (Ohio 1999) (applying “two issue” rule to uphold a general verdict and finding an insufficient showing of prejudice, noting that the defendant “failed to request interrogatories that might have explained the jury’s general verdict”). A general verdict is presumptively valid. See Gold Kist, Inc. v. Citizens & Southern Nat’l Bank of South Carolina, 286 S.C. 272, 282, 333 S.E.2d 67, 73 (Ct. App. 1985) (“The appellate courts of this State exercise every reasonable presumption in favor of the validity of a general verdict.”). The Coles concede the negligence claim involved disputed issues of fact and was properly submitted to the jury. The general defense verdict may therefore be sustained on the negligence claim, notwithstanding the erroneous assumption of risk instruction. I do agree with the majority that application of the “two issue” rule places a burden on trial lawyers. I would go further by acknowledging that most of the issue preservation rules are burdensome on trial practitioners. Those rules, however, are designed to encourage precision and clarity of issues. I do not view the burden here as onerous. The request for a special verdict form is not uncommon in our state’s trial courts, as Dr. Raut’s request illustrates. And finally, with the majority’s concern for the burden of requesting a special verdict form, we have introduced a new consideration. The “two issue” rule has served plaintiffs quite well in sustaining general verdicts without the slightest concern for the burden on defendants to request special verdict forms. I believe the “two issue” rule sustains the general defense verdict here. In sum, I accord the general verdict here a presumption of validity and find this appeal presents a proper application of the “two issue” rule. The inability of the Coles to establish prejudice resulting from the erroneous jury instruction is the cornerstone of my view of the case. Since I believe the general defense verdict may be sustained on the negligence cause of action, I would affirm. [1] Although we do not believe a special verdict form was necessary to preserve the Coles’ objection to the charge on assumption of risk, we note that Raut had already requested a special verdict form, which was specifically rejected by the trial judge. To say that the Coles needed to also request a special verdict form to protect their objection to the jury instruction would be to require an exercise in futility. This court does not require parties to engage in futile actions in order to protect their interests on appellate review. See generally Staubes v. City of Folly Beach, 339 S.C. 406, 415, 529 S.E.2d 543, 547 (2000); Dunn v. Charleston Coca-Cola Bottling Co., 311 S.C. 43, 426 S.E.2d 756; Carter v. Peace, 229 S.C. 346, 93 S.E.2d 113 (1956). [2] The doctrine of assumption of risk was largely subsumed by the law of comparative negligence in Davenport v. Cotton Hope Plantation Horizontal Property Regime, 333 S.C. 71, 508 S.E.2d 565 (1998). However, the cause of action in the present case arose in February 1997, prior to Davenport. [3] This factor—invoking the “two issue” rule only at the appellate level—illustrates the undesirable consequences of this court’s short-lived holding in Anderson. This court in Anderson essentially mandated that a trial court apply the “two issue” rule to sustain a general verdict even if the trial court found error in its own rulings. This court’s ruling in Anderson was nothing short of a direct intrusion on a trial court’s ability to alter, amend or set aside a verdict or judgment. In the case before us, application of the “two issue” rule constitutes no such intrusion. [4] The majority advances the argument that the “two issue” rule will discourage trial courts from correcting errors. This argument is premised on the notion that the “trial judge had an opportunity to correct the error by granting the Coles’ motion for a new trial . . . [and] [h]e did not do so, ostensibly because” he believed his ruling to be the correct one. I find nothing in the record to suggest that the trial court somehow realized its error. Absent evidence to the contrary, I believe we must assume that a trial judge makes a ruling because he or she believes the ruling is the correct one. The trial court in Anderson, for example, granted a new trial and did not seek cover behind the “two issue” rule. I believe our fine trial judges are entitled to the presumption that their rulings—even if determined to be in error—are the result of a well-intentioned desire to render correct rulings. [5] The uncertainty concerning prejudice is, in my judgment, the critical feature in the proper resolution of this appeal. The majority and I agree that the Coles might have been prejudiced. As stated at the outset, I part company with the majority in their leap from the “potential” for prejudice to an absolute, affirmative finding of prejudice. The bottom line is that we do not know whether the Coles were prejudiced by the erroneous jury instruction. If the possibility of prejudice arising from an erroneous jury instruction is sufficient to warrant reversal, the majority reaches the correct result. [6] The Coles, to their credit, make no attempt to bootstrap Dr. Raut’s request for a special verdict form to their advantage. See Tupper v. Dorchester County, 326 S.C. 318, 324, 487 S.E.2d 187, 190 (1997) (stating an appellant may not preserve an issue for appeal by way of another party’s objection or challenge). The majority seeks to avoid this principle—and give the Coles a pass—on the basis that a similar motion by the Coles would have been “an exercise in futility.” We do not know what the trial court would have done if the Coles had also requested a special verdict form. Perhaps a request for a special verdict form from both parties would have swayed the trial court to grant the requests. That, of course, is speculation, but I submit it is equally as valid as the majority’s guesswork. My preference is to avoid speculation and apply the rule that one party may not bootstrap or benefit from another party’s objection or challenge.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line986
__label__cc	0.603333	0.396667	Joss Whedon Announces ‘Dr. Horrible’ Will Air On The CW Network Posted July 14th, 2012 by Janice Kay Get ready boys and girls as Joss Whedon made an announcement that rocked geekdom at Comic-Con: Captain Hammer, Dr. Horrible and Penny will be heading to the CW network this fall! That’s right, ‘Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,’ the three part web series created by Whedon and starring Neil Patrick Harris (‘How I Met Your Mother,’Smurfs’), Nathan Fillion (‘Firefly,’ ‘Serenity’) and Felicia Day (‘Supernatural,’ ‘The Guild’) will be seen on the small screen for the first time this upcoming season. And even more exciting is that the sequel to ‘Dr. Horrible’ will also air! Although Whedon has been busy with other projects (like ‘The Avengers’), it that hasn’t stopped him from thinking about a sequel. “We’ve been working on it for about two years,” he announced, “We have a bunch of songs; we know exactly where we’re going. I can’t wait to tell you more about it … That’s gonna start happening hopefully soon … some of the actors in it are kind of successful!” For those who have yet to see the web series (and I truly recommend that you do!), ‘Dr. Horrible’ is the story of Billy (Harris) whose alter ego, Dr. Horrible, is a wannabe evil mastermind aspiring to be a supervillian who secretly worships Penny (Day) and attempts to woo her from Captain Hammer (Fillion). The musical was created and written by Whedon and his wife, Maurissa Tanchareon (‘Dollhouse,’ ‘Spartacus’) along with his brothers Jed and Zack during the Writers’ Strike in 2008. It then debuted at Comic-con becoming a big hit with fans and critics. Afterwards, the series was offered on iTunes and later made available on DVD. It continues to be a staple at Comic-Con with live sing-a-longs every year. Unfortunately, there’s no exact date as to when the series will air but once it’s revealed, you know we’ll let you know! In the meantime, this may be a good time to start brushing up on ‘Everyone’s a Hero.’ Joss Wheldon Janice Kay Janice's first memories of the genre were of watching the original 'Star Trek' and classic 'Doctor Who' episodes (Tom Baker, aka the Fourth Doctor, was her first). Soon, she was introduced to 'Godzilla' and her addiction then spread to books, magazines, movies and comics. Janice continued as a closet geek as her thirst and love for sci-fi grew and was only second to her love of baking. Then one night, on a whim, she answered a tweet to be a writer for ScienceFiction.com and the geek girl insider her was soon set free. Within 3 years she became the Senior Editor for the site. When not writing or editing for ScienceFiction.com, Janice is scouring the internet to feed her sci-fi cravings while defending conspiracy theories, protecting scientific theorems and loving all things science fiction.... and baking cookies. Comic Book Review: ‘Batman And Robin’ #11 Comic Book Review: ‘AvX: Versus’ #4 Exclusive Interview With Jason David Frank, The Original Green Power Ranger SDCC 2015: The CW Releases First Trailer For ‘Vixen’ Syfy’s ‘Nuclear Family’ To Premiere Exclusively On Xbox New Trailer For ‘Untitled Web Series About a Space Traveler Who Can Also Travel Through Time’ (Formally Known As ‘Inspector SpaceTime’) Has Arrived	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line988
__label__wiki	0.816289	0.816289	Rowan Williams, the previous archbishop The Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader of the Church of England and in the Anglican Communion the leader of its mother church. He is the head of the Church, and lives in the English city of Canterbury. The Archbishop is chosen by the English monarch (the church's "supreme governor"), under guidance from senior bishops, acting in cooperation with the prime minister of the UK. The office of Archbishop of Canterbury was founded in the year 597.[1] In that year, Saint Augustine came to England, to the area called Kent. He had been sent by the Pope to convince the local people to become Christians. The people accepted him and Christianity when their King (Ethelbert of Kent) became a Christian. Augustine became the first bishop in the kingdom of Kent and was later recognised as archbishop when a second diocese was created. Since then, there has been an Archbishop at Canterbury in Kent. The Archbishop of Canterbury used to be head of the Roman Catholic Church in England, but in the early 16th century the English church broke away from the Roman church. The new church called itself the Church of England, and now the Archbishop is the leader of that church. The current Archbishop is Justin Welby (from 2013). The archbishop oversees the Province of Canterbury that is all the Church of England dioceses in the south and midlands of England. The dioceses of Wales were also within the Province of Canterbury until 1920 when the Church in Wales became independent. In the north of England another archbishop has the Diocese of York and other northern dioceses (including the diocese of Sodor and Man) to oversee. Both archbishops are members of the House of Lords and rank very high in the official English order of precedence. When a new monarch is crowned the placing of the crown on his head is done by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The principal home of the archbishops is at Lambeth Palace in the south of London rather than at Canterbury itself. Within the Diocese of Canterbury (which consists of eastern Kent and a small enclave in Surrey) the archbishop has at least two assistant bishops. Justin Welby (formerly the Bishop of Durham) became Archbishop on 21 March 2013.[2] ↑ Archbishop of Canterbury ↑ Announcement of the 105th archbishop of Canterbury Other website[change \| change source] Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Archbishop_of_Canterbury&oldid=6005343" Archbishops of Canterbury	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line992
__label__wiki	0.745857	0.745857	Super Bowl XX was the 20th Super Bowl played. The game was played at the Louisiana Superdome on January 26, 1986. The game was between the 15-1 Chicago Bears of the NFC and the 11-5 New England Patriots of the AFC. The game's national anthem was performed by Wynton Marsalis and the halftime show was played by Up With People. The Bears won their first Super Bowl 46-10, but did not go to the White House because of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. In 2010, the Bears did go to the White House, even though Walter Payton and Dave Duerson did not attend due to their deaths.[1][2] 1 The game 2 Most Valuable Player (MVP) The game[change \| change source] The game started badly for the Bears when Walter Payton fumbled the ball and New England got the ball. Kicker Tony Franklin then scored first for the Patriots. Later, the Bears scored when Kevin Butler kicked 2 field goals, and then Matt Suhey scored. In the 2nd quarter, Jim McMahon scored a touchdown, and then Butler kicked another field goal. The Bears then scored 3 touchdowns in the third quarter, and New England would finally score a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but Patriots quarterback Steve Grogan was sacked in the end zone for 2 points.[3] Most Valuable Player (MVP)[change \| change source] The Super Bowl MVP of the game was Bears defensive end Richard Dent, who had 1½ sacks—part of the Bears scoring a Super Bowl-high 7 sacks—and 2 forced fumbles.[4] ↑ "This Super Bowl White House visit says more than most - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. October 6, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2012. ↑ "Ditka on White House visit: A shame Walter Payton won't be there \| ProFootballTalk". Profootballtalk.nbcsports.com. September 23, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2012. ↑ "Super Bowl 20". Pro-Football-Reference.com. January 26, 1986. Retrieved August 23, 2012. ↑ "Super Bowl XX MVP". Nfl.com. January 27, 1986. Retrieved August 23, 2012. Super Bowl XX page II (1968) VIII (1974) IX (1975) XIII (1979) XVI (1982) XVII (1983) XVIII (1984) XIX (1985) XX (1986) XXI (1987) XXII (1988) XXIII (1989) XXIV (1990) XXV (1991) XXVI (1992) XXVII (1993) XXVIII (1994) XXIX (1995) XXX (1996) XXXI (1997) XXXII (1998) XXXIII (1999) XXXIV (2000) XXXV (2001) XXXVI (2002) XXXVII (2003) XXXVIII (2004) XXXIX (2005) XLI (2007) XLII (2008) XLIII (2009) XLIV (2010) XLV (2011) XLVI (2012) XLVII (2013) XLVIII (2014) XLIX (2015) LI (2017) LII (2018) LIII (2019) LIV (2020) LV (2021) LVI (2022) LVII (2023) LVIII (2024) Awards, trophies, records Most Valuable Players Retrieved from "https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Super_Bowl_XX&oldid=6437068" 1986 in the United States 1980s in Louisiana Use mdy dates	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line993
__label__cc	0.712942	0.287058	Who Watches The Watchmen? Before I get to my point, I want to repeat a story I've told before. It's been a while, and I have new readers, so bear with me. My mom, for some unknown reason, is a huge fan of Nancy Grace, a woman who makes me want to put a gun to my head. One time, when I was supposed to meet them for dinner, I used my RAD kit to make a Linux app, the Nancy Grace Missing Toddler app. It ran on my desktop, and I told my mom it activated when a child went missing and Grace was going to discuss it on her show. The app went on alert at that moment, and sure enough, there was a missing child featured on Grace's show that night. The truth, however, was that the app just went off at random intervals, and it was a complete coincidence that this happened. But that didn't stop my mom from pestering me for a Windows version of the app. I bring this up because of an Android app called Virus Shield. As Android becomes the dominant operating system in the computing sphere, crackers have started targeting it with viruses and malware. Google makes it way too easy for apps to get out of the sandbox and nab your data, and since they aren't trying so hard, others are coming up with anti-virus software to combat this stuff (anti-virus for a Linux-based OS. Good going, Google). Virus Shield was one of the most popular apps in this regard. For $3.99, the app would display a shield icon with either an X to say malware had been detected or a checkmark to say you were clean. It had more than 10,000 downloads and was #1 on the new paid apps chart, 4.7 star rating on Google Play. Well, guess what? Android Police just found out the software didn't do anything other than display the shield icon. Literally. They dove into the code. There is not a single line that detects or eliminates malware. It is a total scam. This is supposedly why you should get your apps through Google Play instead of sideloading. Most of your Android viruses and malware come from cracked software that gets sideloaded, but Google maintains that the stuff on Google Play is verified virus and malware free. But thieves, instead of going after identity theft, are doing just fine going old school and selling the AV equivalent of snake oil. If Google really wants a great reputation, they need some way to stop blatant scams like this from happening. No wonder Linus kicked Android out of the Linux kernel repository. Tags: computers, did not do the research, digital rights, don't say i didn't warn you, don't try this at home, haven't we suffered enough, infernal gall, no sir i don't like it, not this shit again, portents of doom, technology is a beautiful thing, that had to hurt, things that make you go hmm, this ought to be interesting, wrong on every level, wtf	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line994
__label__cc	0.631579	0.368421	Letting Go of God August 13, 2018 at 6:00 pm (Reads) (audiobook, memoir, nonfiction, religion) Letting Go of God by Julia Sweeney This book (er … recording, I guess; this is only available on audio, since it’s a recording of her one-woman show, and was never published in print) was name-dropped a couple of times in Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion. I didn’t receive Dawkins’ message as well as I had expected, due to his tone, but I was still interested in reading about others’ experiences with atheism, and I thought hearing about it through comedy would be the way to go. At the very least, I figured Sweeney’s tone wouldn’t be as abrasive as Dawkins’. I’m so glad I did, because this is such an enlightening piece. Sweeney starts her story at age seven, as an Irish-Catholic girl who enters the so-called “Age of Reason”, when she’s no longer considered a child, and can now be accountable to God for any sins she may commit. From there, she takes us through her life as a Catholic, as a believer, and her life as a rationalist, where she tries to make sense of the God she worships. It’s a fascinating journey, told with equal parts comedy and tragedy, one that involves discussions with Mormons and priests, nuns and hippies, and even a stubborn believer in intelligent design. Sweeney’s story is intensely personal, as anyone’s story of faith must be. Major events in her life dictate her faith, such as her brother’s painful death from cancer, and she relates those events with the emotion they deserve. Interestingly, when faced with the possibility that there is no God, she finds herself asking questions about those very events, and asking what they meant to her when she removed God from the equation. Some people would view it as pointless suffering; Sweeney viewed it as an impetus to do more in life to prevent those sorts of things from happening to other people. It’s a perspective I’ve never considered, even though part of me has come to that conclusion on my own, just without putting it into those words. Something else that stood out to me from Sweeney’s story is how religion and faith forces people to look inward, and see the world as a very small place. Once that faith is removed, one looks outward, not just to other people in the world, but beyond, into space, where suddenly everything seems more glorious, more perfect, and more inspiring, even as it humbles us for being such a small part of the cosmic whole. When you look at all of existence as something that was built for us, it’s less impactful than when you look at it as something that developed through the complex building up of happenings that brought us to this point in time. Carl Sagan said something similar in The Demon-Haunted World, but where Sagan gives it to us as something to consider, Sweeney uses it as the point of her own story. Letting Go of God is an insightful, well-written memoir of faith and identity, told in a charming manner that uses emotion and laughter to carry us through Sweeney’s struggles. More importantly, she tells us her own personal journey, without mixing it up into something that is supposed to be a guide for others, like Dawkins did in The God Delusion. As such, it’s a piece that has value for any listener, atheist or agnostic or Christian or anything else. I can see myself revisiting this work many more times in the future. Started: August 7, 2018 Finished: August 8, 2018	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1001
__label__wiki	0.919259	0.919259	Jenna Johnson When a Door Closes The shuttering of St. Columbanus School marks the decline of Black Catholic populations in Chicago Published on April 19, 2017 April 19, 2017 By Sonya Alexander For everything there is a season—innocence, adolescence, first love. One major life experience, though, is not temporary, but changes along with the seasons of life: learning. A solid grammar school education can set a solid foundation for life. For many years, St. Columbanus School served that role in the predominantly African-American neighborhood of Park Manor, providing a culturally rich, warm environment, as well as an academically rigorous one. According to St. Columbanus alumna Leslie Cain-Cauley, who graduated with the class of 1980, what made St. Columbanus special was that it was a family; parents were friends with each other outside of the school and supported the teachers, and the students had pride in the school. In 2015, however, St. Columbanus had to close its doors and merge with St. Dorothy School due to low enrollment. The merged schools became the Augustus Tolton Catholic Academy, which has a STREAM curriculum (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Math). The new school not only marks the end of an era in this community, but points to the variety of changes in the Catholic community as a whole—economic, educational, and social. The merger is far from an anomaly in Chicago’s financially-strapped Roman Catholic community. The Archdiocese of Chicago, which includes not just the city but also suburbs, has the largest Catholic school system in the U.S., and in 2015, there were nine closures and two other mergers in addition to St. Columbanus’s. There were three closures in 2016, and two more have been announced for the end of 2017. For the past decade, the Archdiocese of Chicago has been steadily making budget cuts. There have been several drivers of these financial difficulties. Not only has the archdiocese been significantly affected by the Catholic sexual abuse scandal, paying over $140 million to settle victims’ claims, but it is also facing a precipitous decline in church attendance; according to Crain’s Chicago, Mass attendance in the archdiocese dropped a hefty twenty-six percent from 1995 to 2015. Many factors play a role in these trends. The anemic number of priests in or entering the priesthood and great number of Catholics migrating to the suburbs (primarily an instance of white flight) have hurt the urban Catholic community and caused the numbers to plummet. Unfamiliar as the concept may seem, being Black and Catholic is not an oxymoron. While Black Catholics are a small community, with only 800 parishes predominantly Black out of almost 21,000 Catholic parishes in the U.S., they are a strong and united one. During the Great Migration, when many African-Americans migrated from the South to urban environments in the North and West, the number of Black Catholics skyrocketed. Matthew J. Cressler, assistant professor of religious studies at the College of Charleston, notes in his lecture “Black Catholics: From the Great Migration to Black Power” that the Black Catholic community grew by 208 percent nationwide and by a whopping 400 percent in the Midwest from 1940 to 1970. By 1970, the Windy City had “more Black Catholics than Washington, D.C. or New Orleans.” Now, though, they make up just three percent of the Catholic population in Chicago. Even of the nearly ten thousand Black students currently enrolled in Chicago Catholic schools, the majority (nearly seventy-eight percent) are not themselves Catholic, unlike students of other races. Why, then, has the Black Catholic community declined? The ongoing legacy of white flight may help provide an answer. The movement of whites en masse from cities to suburbs in order to escape the influx of minorities may have begun as early as the 1920s, according to a working paper by University of Pittsburgh economists. On one hand, the Black community overall in Chicago and other urban areas at first became more stable because of white flight, with an increase of home ownership, according to a paper from 2013 in the Journal of Urban Economics. More properties became available, and getting credit and loans became more accessible. But on the other hand, this out-migration had an overall negative effect on Catholic populations in Chicago, including in Black communities. The population of the Archdiocese of Chicago, which covers Cook and Lake Counties, shifted from seventy-seven percent living in the city in 1950 to forty-six percent in 2010, while the population in the Cook County suburbs grew in that time from nineteen to forty-two percent. And when these white Catholic families left the city, they took their finances with them, causing many parishes to struggle economically—including predominantly Black ones. This movement to the suburbs in recent years especially, and the resulting redistribution or loss of resources, has been a factor in the Archdiocese’s severe budgets cuts since 2012—a year they were operating in the red by $40 million. Other changes also affected parishes’ finances, including the decrease in women becoming nuns. Their role as Catholic school teachers was filled by laypeople, who cost more to employ. Beverly Carroll, the founding director for the Secretariat of African-American Catholics, told the National Catholic Reporter in 1998 that there hasn’t been a “mass exodus” of Black Catholics from the Catholic community—but even then she recognized that there had been a steady decline due to systemic racism and parishioners feeling like their needs weren’t being met. As one of the parishes that was ultimately affected by all these factors, St. Columbanus had to close its school to form the Augustus Tolton Catholic Academy. Though St. Columbanus was in the thick of things in the neighborhood, at 71st Street and Calumet Avenue, it had a small-town, family feel, and when it closed, its traditions and history went with it. An essential element to the formula of excellence St. Columbanus School had for the last forty-five years was Principal Sandra E. Wilson. Ask anyone who’s dealt with St. Columbanus, or “St. C.” as it is affectionately called, and they will know who Mrs. Wilson is. She first attended St. Columbanus Church when she went to a Midnight Mass in 1959, and she was so impressed with the ceremony and religion that she converted to Catholicism in 1960. She has been associated with St. Columbanus ever since; in 1976, she became the school’s first principal who was an African-American layperson. When asked what her biggest takeaway is after working in the field for so long, Wilson said, “I’ve always felt guided by God. The reward of this field is to have a positive impact on a young person’s life, and I feel I’ve done that.” Though the closing of St. C is the end of an era, Augustus Tolton Catholic Academy signals a new season in not only the Black Catholic community in Chicago, but in the Catholic community as a whole. While there has been a decades-long decline in Catholic school enrollment numbers, new Archdiocesan superintendent Jim Rigg expects a change in the near future. He told the Sun-Times that he’s ready to overhaul the largest Catholic school system in the country with a “strategic plan” that “represents growth and expansion and optimism.” Its five focuses are financial vitality, academic excellence, leadership, governance, and Catholic identity—all of which are emphasized in the information on Tolton’s website, particularly its mission statement. Cain-Cauley, the 1980 alumna, has two sons who graduated from Augustus Tolton, and she thinks the difference between this reincarnation and St. Columbanus is that Tolton Academy lacks “unity.” The parents stick to their own cliques, she said, and there’s an “us vs. them” mentality between the parents of students from the two schools. Academically, however, the school is well-equipped to prepare students for today’s high-tech world—Tolton is the first Catholic elementary school in Chicago to incorporate a STREAM curriculum. Wilson herself sees Tolton’s curriculum as an exciting new direction for the school and a source of hope—an opinion she’s formed firsthand, by volunteering at the school for the past year and a half. The closing of St. Columbanus may be the end of an era of community vitality and sense of family, but the opening of Augustus Tolton Catholic Academy is the renewal of the school’s original spirit and academic direction. Did you like this article? Support local journalism by donating to South Side Weekly today. Three Day-Care Centers to Close on the Southwest Side Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago will shut them down November 26 By Jacqueline Serrato The Sonic Chemistry of Isaiah Collier The saxophonist talks to the Weekly about his new album and musical déjà vu By Krishna Kulkarni The Last Hail Closing Queen of Peace High School By Isabelle Lim Sonya Alexander Previous Story Previous post: Notes & Calendar 4/12/17 Next Story Next post: Notes & Calendar 4/19/17 Latest from Education Families Left Out in the Cold by Catholic Charities Questions remain about whether the closures were avoidable Education is the Journey The Odyssey Project brings world-class opportunities to Chicagoans who need it most By Morley Musick Queering the Curriculum Making LGBTQ history visible in the classroom By Anna Attie History Is Now A new history helps understand conflicts around education in Chicago today By Jessica Eanes Safe Haven Links Churches and Schools A CPS program provides out-of-school services in churches throughout the city By Siri Chilukuri	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1003
__label__wiki	0.75597	0.75597	Legacy of Excellence Home > Current Students > Online Payments > Transcript Requests Admissions Application Fee Enrollment Deposit Tuition and Fee Bill Number of Transcripts: Student Details Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut District of Columbia Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Last 4 of Social: Last Name while attending: Transcript 1 is to be sent to: Reason for Request: Total Amount: Credit Card CCV: Jan (01) Feb (02) Mar (03) Apr (04) May (05) Jun (06) Jul (07) Aug (08) Sep (09) Oct (10) Nov (11) Dec (12) 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 I hereby request and authorize St. John's College of Nursing to forward my official transcripts as directed above. I understand by clicking 'Process Payment' I am authorizing St. John's College to charge my credit card $10.00 for every transcript requested. © St. John's College HSHS Central Illinois Division HSHS St. John's Hospital HSHS Good Shepherd Hospital HSHS St. Francis Hospital HSHS St. Mary's Hospital Welcome to St. John's College HEA Consumer Information NP3 Program Textbook List Alumni Banquet Distinguished Alumni Winners Distinguished Alumni Nomination Form Young Alumni Award Nomination Form	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1011
__label__wiki	0.547217	0.547217	Hans Florian Zimmer (born September 12th, 1957) is a German composer and record producer. Since the 1980s, he has composed music for over 150 films. His works include The Lion King, for which he won Academy Award for Best Original Score in 1994, the Pirates of the Caribbean series, The Thin Red Line, Gladiator, The Last Samurai, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, and Interstellar. Zimmer spent the early part of his career in the United Kingdom before moving to the United States. He is the head of the film music division at DreamWorks studios and works with other composers through the company that he founded, Remote Control Productions. Zimmer's works are notable for integrating electronic music sounds with traditional orchestral arrangements. He has received fourGrammy Awards, three Classical BRIT Awards, two Golden Globes, and an Academy Award. He was also named on the list of Top 100 Living Geniuses, published by The Daily Telegraph. Known For: Sound Place of Birth: Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany Movies List of Hans Zimmer Hans Zimmer - Der Sound für Hollywood (2011) Score: A Film Music Documentary (2017) Hans Zimmer Revealed: The Documentary (2015) Hans Zimmer: Live in Prague (2017) The Box (2018) Hans Zimmer: Live at Coachella (2017) All Access: Hans Zimmer Live (2017) One Night for One Drop: Imagined by Cirque du Soleil (2019) The Distortion of Sound (2014) Inside Interstellar (2015) Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey (2003)	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1015
__label__wiki	0.600557	0.600557	Didymus Judas Thomas' Hipocritical Oath Blog Stanislaw Rajmund Burzynski, Stanislaw R. Burzynski, Stanislaw Burzynski, Stan R. Burzynski, Stan Burzynski, S. R. BURZYNSKI, S. Burzynski, Arthur Burzynski, Hippocrates Hypocrite Hypocrites Critic Critics Critical HipoCritical 1998 (1/15/1998) 1999 (2/1999) Volume 74 Number 2 pg. 137 – 3 pgs. Tag Archives: orifice USA TODAY and “The Skeptics” selling false hope to cancer patients Posted on December 4, 2013 by didymusjudasthomas Irrespective Insolence Hill ? Sharon Hill ?? Does anyone know SHARON HILL ??? no ? NoNo ?? NO NEVER MATTER NOT HARDLY ! If it’s “Doubtful News”, that’s a “Hint and a Half” that it’s “Doubtful” it’s “News” [1] In fact, I first received confirmation that what flows down-Hill was definitely, NO doubtfully, NOT news, when she displayed her “propensity” for “density” on #Forbes [2] “Orac”, “The Skeptics™” Dope-on-a-Rope Pope. claimed: 4/19/2013 – “also obsessively read anything posted about Eric Merola or Stanislaw Burzynski on any social media.” 5/7/2013 – “If “Orac” was anywhere close to being 75% sure, I would have already reviewed “Doubtful News,” which received “free pub” on Forbes “The Skeptics™” must have got into Liz Szabo’s ear, since she subsequently short-sheeted herself by being unable to answer her own question Maybe Szabo shoulda asked the F.D.A. !! All that Jerry Mosemak (@jmosemak), Connie Mosemak, and Mosemak Creative (@mosemakcreative) wanted to know was what Twitter thought of their Twerk Bob Blaskiewicz, fresh off the AstroTurf campaign with “Orac’s” orifice, seemed ready to really be headed, right in to rectify on Liz’s Liz, do you really want this anywhere around your backside ? Bob-B obviously confused Liz Szabo with being a “journalist“, when she is a “reporter“ Ms. Szabo, is obviously NOT a “journalist” Liz Szabo (USA TODAY) – health reporter, medical reporter covering cancer, heart disease, pediatrics, public health, women’s health, kids/parenting, … The question is, how did a “reporter” like Liz Szabo, manage to get her name as the reporter “headlining” “The Skeptics™” “report,” instead of Robert Hanashiro ? Hanashiro had under his belt: 8/3/2011 – Urine test may help predict prostate cancer risk [4] The best Szabo could cite as support was: 3/19/2008 – “Prostate cancer treatments’ sexual, urinary side effects compared” [5] Exactly how did Liz Szabo “win” that “pissing contest” ? Even a monkey can report the news: 10/18/2013 – Monkeys ‘talk in turns’ [6] If @LizSzabo wanted to do a REAL article on “selling false hope to cancer patients”, then USA TODAY should have done an “investigation” on something like THIS: 8/25/2010, Wednesday [7] Canadian Man Sentenced to 33 Months (2 years 9 months) in Prison for Selling Counterfeit Cancer Drugs Using the Internet Hazim Gaber, 22, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada sentenced in Phoenix, Arizona by U.S. District Court Judge James A. Teilborg Ordered to pay $128,724 ($75,000 fine $53,724 in restitution) Serve 3 years of supervised release following prison term for selling counterfeit cancer drugs using Internet 6/30/2009 – indicted by federal grand jury in Phoenix, Arizona: 5 counts of wire fraud for selling counterfeit cancer drugs through website DCAdvice.com 7/25/2009 – arrested Frankfurt, Germany 12/18/2009 – extradited to United States 5/2010 – plea hearing: admitted selling what he falsely claimed was experimental cancer drug sodium dichloroacetate, also known as DCA, to at least 65 victims (.10/2007 – 11/2007) in: 1. United States 4. Belgium 5. the Netherlands According to plea agreement, charged: $23.68 for 10 grams of purported DCA $45.52 for 20 grams $110.27 for 100 grams Admitted sent victims white powdery substance later determined through laboratory tests to contain: 1. dextrin 2. dextrose 3. lactose 4. starch Contained no DCA According to court documents, along with counterfeit DCA, packages also contained fraudulent certificate of analysis from fictitious laboratory and instructions on how dilute and ingest bogus DCA DCA is experimental cancer drug not yet approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in United States According to plea agreement knew that website DCAdvice.com contained false claims it was only legal supplier of DCA and falsely claimed it was associated with University of Alberta According to information contained in plea agreement, DCA is odorless, colorless, inexpensive, relatively non-toxic experimental cancer drug highly sought by cancer patients Doctor at University of Alberta in Canada published report in early 2007 summarizing results of study, which showed DCA caused regression in several cancers, including: 1. breast cancer 2. cancerous brain tumors 3. lung cancer According to information contained in plea agreement, DCA cannot be prescribed by medical doctor in: 1. it is not approved for use in patients with cancer 2. nor is DCA available in pharmacies As part of plea agreement, agreed to: 1. forfeit 2. cancel 1. website 2. domain name 3. Internet services account related to fraud scheme “Hazim Gaber went from selling false hope to cancer patients to now spending 33 months in a U.S. prison,” said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of Criminal Division “Criminals often seek to exploit the most vulnerable of victims – but offering fake, unapproved medication to cancer patients reaches a new low” “Today’s sentence shows that cyber criminals who prey on the seriously ill cannot elude justice simply by committing crimes outside of our borders.” “Gaber used the Internet to victimize people already suffering from the effects of cancer,” said Dennis K. Burke, U.S. Attorney for District of Arizona “Now he will go to prison for this bogus business and heartless fraud.” “The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to pursuing individuals who prey on those who are living with the affects of cancer,” said Nathan Gray, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Phoenix Division “Today’s sentencing illustrates international law enforcement partners working together to send a message not to use the Internet to perpetuate fraud, especially against those afflicted with a serious medical condition.” Sentencing part of larger department-wide effort led by Department of Justice Task Force on Intellectual Property (IP Task Force) Attorney General Eric Holder created IP Task Force to combat growing number of: 1. domestic 2. international 3. intellectual property crimes protect: 2. safety of American consumers safeguard nation’s economic security against those who seek to profit illegally from American creativity, innovation and hard work IP Task Force seeks to strengthen intellectual property rights protection through heightened: 1. civil enforcement 2. criminal enforcement greater coordination among: 1. federal 3. local increased focus on international enforcement efforts, including reinforcing relationships with key: 1. foreign partners 2. U.S. industry leaders To learn more about IP Task Force, go to http://www.justice.gov/dag/iptaskforce/ Announced: 1. Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of Criminal Division 2. U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke for District of Arizona 3. FBI Special Agent in Charge of Phoenix Field Office Nathan T. Gray Case prosecuted by: 1. Trial Attorney Thomas S. Dougherty of Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section 2. Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Sexton of U.S. Attorney’s Office for District of Arizona Significant assistance provided by: 1. Alberta Justice Office of Special Prosecutions-Edmonton 2. Alberta Partnership Against Cross Border Fraud 3. Competition Bureau of Canada 4. Edmonton Police Service 5. Federal Trade Commission 6. U.S. Postal Inspection Service Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance in case Case investigated by Phoenix FBI Cyber Squad 10-958 Criminal Division 7/30/2013 – United States to Settle Cancer Research Grant Fraud [8] Northwestern University to Pay Nearly $3 Million to United States to Settle Cancer Research Grant Fraud Claims $2.93 million – Northwestern University will pay United States to settle claims of cancer research grant fraud by former researcher and physician at university’s Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Center for Cancer in Chicago Agreed to settlement in federal False Claims Act lawsuit after government investigated claims made by former employee and whistleblower who will receive portion of settlement Alledgedly allowed researcher, Dr. Charles L. Bennett, to submit false claims under research grants from National Institutes of Health Settlement covers improper claims Dr. Bennett submitted for reimbursement from federal grants (1/1/2003 – 8/31/2010) for: 3. travel 4. other expenses 5. professional and consulting services 6. subcontracts that benefited: 1. Dr. Bennett Allegations made in civil lawsuit filed under seal 2009 by Melissa Theis, (2007 and 2008) worked as purchasing coordinator in hematology and oncology at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine, will receive $498,100 in settlement proceeds Suit named defendants: 2. Dr. Steven T. Rosen 3. Lurie Cancer Center Alleged defendants submitted false claims to United States when: 2. Dr. Rosen directed and authorized spending of grant funds on goods and services that did not meet applicable NIH and government grant guidelines Government contends has certain civil claims against Northwestern arising out of Northwestern’s improper submission of claims to NIH for grant expenditures for items that were for personal benefit of: incurred in connection with grants as to which he was principal investigator Northwestern, fully cooperated during investigation, did not admit liability as part of settlement Agreement releases university and all its affiliates and employees, other than Dr. Bennett, from claims made in whistleblower lawsuit Northwestern agreed to pay settlement within 14 business days Agreement covers allegations university submitted false claims to NIH for costs Dr. Bennett incurred on grant-funded research projects involving: 1. adverse drug-events 2. blood disorder known as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura 3. multiple myeloma drugs 4. quality of care for cancer patients Dr. Bennett allegedly billed federal grants for: 1. family trips 2. meals 1. himself and “consulting fees” for unqualified: 2. family members 1. brother 2. cousin At Dr. Bennett’s request, Northwestern allegedly improperly subcontracted with various universities for services that were paid for by NIH grants Allegations investigated by: 1. Federal Bureau of Investigation 2. National Institutes of Health 3. U.S. Attorney’s Office 4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General “Allowing researchers to use federal grant money to pay for personal travel, hotels, and meals, and to hire unqualified friends and relatives as ‘consultants’ violates the public’s trust,” said Gary S. Shapiro, United States Attorney for Northern District of Illinois “This settlement, combined with the willingness of insiders to report fraud, should help deter such misconduct, but when it doesn’t, federal grant recipients who allow the system to be manipulated should know that we will aggressively pursue all available legal remedies,” “The mismanagement or improper expenditure of grant funds is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” said Lamont Pugh III, Special Agent-in-Charge of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General – Chicago Region “The OIG will continue to diligently investigate allegations of this nature to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being properly utilized.” Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent-in-Charge of Chicago Office of Federal Bureau of Investigation said: “The FBI takes allegations of fraud seriously, especially those allegations from insiders who are often in the best position to detect wrongdoing long before it would otherwise come to the attention of law enforcement.” United States represented by: Assistant U.S. Attorney Kurt N. Lindland Under federal False Claims Act, defendants may be liable for triple amount of actual damages and civil penalties between $5,500 and $11,000 for each violation Individual whistleblowers may be eligible to receive between 15 and 30 percent of amount of any recovery Show EmorME the Money ! [9] 8/28/2013, Wednesday $1.5 Million – Emory University False Claims Act Investigation University Overbilled Medicare and Medicaid for Patients Enrolled in Clinical Trial Research at Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute Settlement with Emory University $1.5 million – agreed to pay to settle claims it violated False Claims Act by billing: 1. Medicaid 2. Medicare for clinical trial services not permitted by: 1. Medicaid rules 2. Medicare rules Providers generally not permitted to bill Medicare for medical care and services for which clinical trial sponsor agreed to pay 2. State of Georgia alleged Emory University billed: for services clinical trial sponsor agreed to pay (and, in some cases, actually did pay, thereby resulting in Emory’s being paid twice for the same service) Investigation of Emory University revealed institution’s clinical trial false billing and led to settlement Civil settlement resolves lawsuit filed by Elizabeth Elliot under qui tam, whistleblower, provisions of False Claims Act Ms. Elliot will receive share of settlement payment that resolves qui tam suit United States Attorney’s Office for Northern District of Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens announced reached settlement “This settlement demonstrates our office’s continued commitment to protect crucial Medicare and Medicaid dollars,” said United States Attorney Sally Quillian Yates “Treatment of cancer is expensive, and Medicare and Medicaid dollars should be reserved for patients who need services that properly may be billed to these programs.” “Our investigation of Emory University revealed the institution’s clinical trial false billing and led to today’s settlement,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General for Atlanta region “Protecting Medicare — and taxpayer dollars — remains a top priority.” Mark F. Giuliano, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Atlanta Field Office, stated: “Federal funds, to include those of Medicare and Medicaid, are limited and are to be used as intended” “The FBI will continue to play a role in enforcing federal law that governs the use of these much needed funds.” Attorney General Sam Olens stated, “Cancer research is paramount to saving and extending lives” “However, strict rules govern the use of Georgia Medicaid dollars” “My office takes seriously its obligation to ensure that these resources are used properly.” Case investigated by: 2. Georgia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit 3. United States Attorney’s Office for Northern District of Georgia 4. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General Civil settlement reached by Assistant United States Attorney Darcy F. Coty For further information please contact U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov Internet address for HomePage for U.S. Attorney’s Office for Northern District of Georgia http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan. Emory Settlement Agreement 5/24/1993 – Court Testimony Of Nicholas Patronas, MD: “We have done– we have an experimental protocol at the NIH where we inject a chemotherapeutic agent through the carotid artery, the artery that goes to the brain, and we have three survivals with this technique, by providing massive amounts of chemotherapeutic drugs to the brain that harbors the tumor“ “And we destroy the tumor, but we destroy a large part of the brain as well, and the patients became severely handicapped, and a life that’s not worth living“ “And so I have three cases with this particular experimental protocol which resulted in killing the tumor, but a large part of the healthy brain as well“ “So overall the protocol was abandoned and is not any more in effect because of the serious side effects that we witnessed” Nicholas J. Patronas http://www.cc.nih.gov/drd/staff/nicholas_patronas.html Sharon Hill, you’re just a footnote to this article, because all you did was “cut-and-paste”, and try to pass off David H. Gorski, M.D., Ph.D., FACS and Bob Blaskiewicz as “reliable sources” You’ve gotta be kidding me !!! P.S. A fifth-grader can “cut-and-paste” Are you smarter than a 5th-grader ? [1] – 11/15/2013 – Burzynski exposed in USA Today: http://doubtfulnews.com/2013/11/burzynski-exposed-in-usa-today/ [2] – 5/6/2013 – Critiquing “The Skeptic” Burzynski Critics: A Film Producer, A Cancer Doctor, And Their Critics (page 10): https://stanislawrajmundburzynski.wordpress.com/2013/05/06/critiquing-the-skeptic-burzynski-critics-a-film-producer-a-cancer-doctor-and-their-critics-page-10/ [3] – 5/7/2013 – Critiquing: Is Eric Merola issuing bogus DMCA takedown notices against critics of Stanislaw Burzynski?: https://stanislawrajmundburzynski.wordpress.com/2013/05/07/critiquing-is-eric-merola-issuing-bogus-dmca-takedown-notices-against-critics-of-stanislaw-burzynski/ [4] – 8/3/2011 – Urine test may help predict prostate cancer risk: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/medical/health/medical/cancer/story/2011/08/Urine-test-may-help-predict-prostate-cancer-risk/49790014/1?fullsite=true http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/medical/health/medical/cancer/story/2011/08/Urine-test-may-help-predict-prostate-cancer-risk/49790014/1 [5] – 3/19/2008 – “Prostate cancer treatments’ sexual, urinary side effects compared”: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-03-19-prostate-cancer_N.htm [6] – 10/18/2013 – Monkeys ‘talk in turns’: http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2013/10/131018_witn_monkeys.shtml [7] – 8/2010 http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/August/10-crm-958.html [8] – 7/30/2013 http://www.justice.gov/usao/iln/pr/chicago/2013/pr0730_01.html [9] – 8/28/2013 – Emory University http://www.justice.gov/usao/gan/press/2013/08-28-13b.html [10] – 5/24/1993 https://stanislawrajmundburzynski.wordpress.com/2013/09/25/5241993-court-testimony-of-nicholas-petronas-md/ Posted in bias, biased, Bob Blaskiewicz (Robert J. Blaskiewicz @rjblaskiewicz), critique, critiques, critiqued, critiquing, Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Forbes #Forbes, Gorski ScienceBlogs.com/Insolence ScienceBasedMedicine, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Nicholas Patronas, M.D., Stanislaw Rajmund Burzynski, The Skeptics, USA TODAY \| Tagged ", "10-958 Criminal Division", "75%", "@mosemakcreative", "@NDILnews", "A look at a doctor's cancer claims", "adverse drug-events", "agreed to pay", "Alberta Justice Office of Special Prosecutions-Edmonton", "Alberta Partnership Against Cross Border Fraud", "Alexander J. Walt Comprehensive Breast Center", "Alleged defendants submitted false claims", "American College of Surgeons Committee on Cancer", "American consumers", "Ann Karmanos Cancer Center", "Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute", "Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of Criminal Division", "Assistant U.S. Attorney Kurt N. 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http://usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/15/jeanine-graf-cancer-children/2994675/ http://www.usatoday.co, http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/15/stanislaw-burzynski-cancer-controversy/, http://www.uwec.edu/Staff/blaskir/, http://www.whybiotech.com/?p=3808, http://www.wsusurgery.com/facultyc3/david-gorski/, http://www.wsusurgery.com/research-team-dr-gorski/, https://mobile.twitter.com/, https://mobile.twitter.com/gorskon, https://mobile.twitter.com/oracknows, https://mobile.twitter.com/rjblaskiewicz, https://mobile.twitter.com/ScienceBasedMed, https://twitter.com/, https://twitter.com/gorskon, https://twitter.com/oracknows, https://twitter.com/ScienceBasedMed, https://www.twitter.com/gorskon, https://www.twitter.com/oracknows, https://www.twitter.com/ScienceBasedMed, illegally, illustrates, IMMEDIATE, improper, improperly, include, including, increased, incurred, individual, individuals, inexpensive, information, Inject, innovation, insiders, Insolence, instead, institutions, intellectual property crimes", intended, international, Internet, into, investigated, investigates, investigation, involving, Irrespective, items, jmosemak, journalist, Justice, key, kidding, kids/parenting", killing, know, larger, law, lawsuit, learn, led, legal, liability, liable, Lies, limited, lives, living, Liz Szabo, LizSzabo, local, long, M.D.", made, man", manage, manipulated, massive, matter, may, Maybe, MD", meals, media, Medicaid, medical reporter covering cancer, Medicare, medicine, meet, message, Michigan, million, misconduct, mismanagement, Missouri", money, money after cancer treatments", monkey, months, more, most, much, must, name, named, NatGeo, NATION, National Institutes of Health, nature, need, needed, never, news, NIH, no, NoNo, nor, Northwestern, Not, now, number, obligation, obsessively, obtained, obvious, obviously, off, office, OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL, offices, often, OIG, oncology, only, Orac, Oracolyte, Oracolytes, Ordered, orifice, otherwise, Our, outside, overall, Overbilled, own, paid, paramount, part, particular, partners, patients, pay, payment, pediatrics, penalties, people, percent, permitted, personal benefit", Ph.D, pharmacies, PhD, Phoenix, physician, play, please, portion, position, posted, predict, prescribed, press, prey, preys, priority, prison, private, proceeds, PRODUCTS, profit, programs, projects, propensity, properly, prosecuted, prostate, protect, protecting, protection, protocol, protocols, provided, Providers, providing, provisions, pseudoscience, public, public health, purchasing, pursue, pursuing, question, questionable, r-but-r, rbutr, reached, ready, real, really, receive, received, recipients, recovery, rectify, region, reimbursement, reinforcing, related, relationships, relatively non-toxic experimental cancer drug", relatives, release, releases, remains, remedies, report, reported, reporter, reports, represented, request, research, researcher, researchers, reserved, resolves, 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treatments, trial, triple, trust, try, tumor, Twerk, twice, Twitter, U.S. Attorney for District of Arizona", U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, unable, unacceptable, unapproved medication to cancer patients reaches a new low”, Under”, United States, United States Attorney for Northern District of Illinois", universities, University, unqualified, urinary, urinary side effects compared”, urine, US, USA, USDOJ, use, used, using, utilized, various, victimize, victims, violated, violates, violation, virtualskeptics, vulnerable, wanted, was, WASHINGTON, website, WHAT, when reporter, which, which showed DCA caused regression in several cancers", whistleblower, whistleblowers, will, willingness, win, Wisconsin" http://uwec.edu/Staff/blaskir/, with, within, witnessed, women’s health, worked, working, would, wrongdoing, www.justice.gov/, Years, your \| Leave a reply Pete Cohen films Pat and Steve Clarkson January 15, 2014 Pete Cohen talks to Steve and Mary Jo Siegel January 14, 2014 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__label__cc	0.74458	0.25542	Validation of a drooling questionnaire in Indian children with cerebral palsy Anjana Job, P. Naina, Kamran Asif Syed, Maya Thomas, Mary John, Ajoy Varghese Background: Drooling of saliva is a common problem in children with cerebral palsy. In addition to causing impairment in articulation, drooling also affects socialization, interpersonal relationships and integration into society for these children. There are various methods to assess drooling which measure directly the amount of saliva drooled. However the most convenient and popular method is the use of questionnaires which are mostly western based and need slight modification for the Indian scenario Aim-Validation of a modified questionnaire for the assessment of drooling in children with cerebral palsy. Method: The modified questionnaire was administered to parents of children with cerebral palsy willing to participate in the study. The drooling score was compared with objective tests, namely cotton pad test and drooling quotient. Internal consistency was assessed using the Cronbach's alpha, test retest reliability by Intraclass Correlation and sensitivity analysis by the Receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: The modified questionnaire was found to be easy to administer. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was between 0.867 and 0.879 which implies a high degree on internal consistency. The intraclass correlation and the test retest reliability was found to be statistically significant with a p value < 0.001 which show that the questionnaire was highly reliable for repeat administration as well as administration by different investigators. The ROC Area was found to be 0.94 with a standard error of 0.02 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.88–0.99, which suggests that the score has great specificity, closer agreement between specificity and sensitivity and excellent precision. Conclusion: Our modified questionnaire was easy to administer, highly reliable and valid with high internal consistency. A score of 24 on the questionnaire was found to be the most sensitive and specific point to discriminate between the mild and severe droolers in children with cerebral palsy. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2018.06.029 Sialorrhea Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health Job, A., Naina, P., Syed, K. A., Thomas, M., John, M., & Varghese, A. (2018). Validation of a drooling questionnaire in Indian children with cerebral palsy. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, 112, 55-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2018.06.029 Validation of a drooling questionnaire in Indian children with cerebral palsy. / Job, Anjana; Naina, P.; Syed, Kamran Asif; Thomas, Maya; John, Mary; Varghese, Ajoy. In: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Vol. 112, 01.09.2018, p. 55-60. Job, A, Naina, P, Syed, KA, Thomas, M, John, M & Varghese, A 2018, 'Validation of a drooling questionnaire in Indian children with cerebral palsy', International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, vol. 112, pp. 55-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2018.06.029 Job A, Naina P, Syed KA, Thomas M, John M, Varghese A. Validation of a drooling questionnaire in Indian children with cerebral palsy. International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 2018 Sep 1;112:55-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijporl.2018.06.029 Job, Anjana ; Naina, P. ; Syed, Kamran Asif ; Thomas, Maya ; John, Mary ; Varghese, Ajoy. / Validation of a drooling questionnaire in Indian children with cerebral palsy. In: International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology. 2018 ; Vol. 112. pp. 55-60. @article{0da022ee88db48b7be0923dc5b55d8f5, title = "Validation of a drooling questionnaire in Indian children with cerebral palsy", abstract = "Background: Drooling of saliva is a common problem in children with cerebral palsy. In addition to causing impairment in articulation, drooling also affects socialization, interpersonal relationships and integration into society for these children. There are various methods to assess drooling which measure directly the amount of saliva drooled. However the most convenient and popular method is the use of questionnaires which are mostly western based and need slight modification for the Indian scenario Aim-Validation of a modified questionnaire for the assessment of drooling in children with cerebral palsy. Method: The modified questionnaire was administered to parents of children with cerebral palsy willing to participate in the study. The drooling score was compared with objective tests, namely cotton pad test and drooling quotient. Internal consistency was assessed using the Cronbach's alpha, test retest reliability by Intraclass Correlation and sensitivity analysis by the Receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: The modified questionnaire was found to be easy to administer. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was between 0.867 and 0.879 which implies a high degree on internal consistency. The intraclass correlation and the test retest reliability was found to be statistically significant with a p value < 0.001 which show that the questionnaire was highly reliable for repeat administration as well as administration by different investigators. The ROC Area was found to be 0.94 with a standard error of 0.02 with a 95{\%} confidence interval of 0.88–0.99, which suggests that the score has great specificity, closer agreement between specificity and sensitivity and excellent precision. Conclusion: Our modified questionnaire was easy to administer, highly reliable and valid with high internal consistency. A score of 24 on the questionnaire was found to be the most sensitive and specific point to discriminate between the mild and severe droolers in children with cerebral palsy.", author = "Anjana Job and P. Naina and Syed, {Kamran Asif} and Maya Thomas and Mary John and Ajoy Varghese", doi = "10.1016/j.ijporl.2018.06.029", journal = "International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology", T1 - Validation of a drooling questionnaire in Indian children with cerebral palsy AU - Job, Anjana AU - Naina, P. AU - Syed, Kamran Asif AU - Thomas, Maya AU - John, Mary AU - Varghese, Ajoy N2 - Background: Drooling of saliva is a common problem in children with cerebral palsy. In addition to causing impairment in articulation, drooling also affects socialization, interpersonal relationships and integration into society for these children. There are various methods to assess drooling which measure directly the amount of saliva drooled. However the most convenient and popular method is the use of questionnaires which are mostly western based and need slight modification for the Indian scenario Aim-Validation of a modified questionnaire for the assessment of drooling in children with cerebral palsy. Method: The modified questionnaire was administered to parents of children with cerebral palsy willing to participate in the study. The drooling score was compared with objective tests, namely cotton pad test and drooling quotient. Internal consistency was assessed using the Cronbach's alpha, test retest reliability by Intraclass Correlation and sensitivity analysis by the Receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: The modified questionnaire was found to be easy to administer. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was between 0.867 and 0.879 which implies a high degree on internal consistency. The intraclass correlation and the test retest reliability was found to be statistically significant with a p value < 0.001 which show that the questionnaire was highly reliable for repeat administration as well as administration by different investigators. The ROC Area was found to be 0.94 with a standard error of 0.02 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.88–0.99, which suggests that the score has great specificity, closer agreement between specificity and sensitivity and excellent precision. Conclusion: Our modified questionnaire was easy to administer, highly reliable and valid with high internal consistency. A score of 24 on the questionnaire was found to be the most sensitive and specific point to discriminate between the mild and severe droolers in children with cerebral palsy. AB - Background: Drooling of saliva is a common problem in children with cerebral palsy. In addition to causing impairment in articulation, drooling also affects socialization, interpersonal relationships and integration into society for these children. There are various methods to assess drooling which measure directly the amount of saliva drooled. However the most convenient and popular method is the use of questionnaires which are mostly western based and need slight modification for the Indian scenario Aim-Validation of a modified questionnaire for the assessment of drooling in children with cerebral palsy. Method: The modified questionnaire was administered to parents of children with cerebral palsy willing to participate in the study. The drooling score was compared with objective tests, namely cotton pad test and drooling quotient. Internal consistency was assessed using the Cronbach's alpha, test retest reliability by Intraclass Correlation and sensitivity analysis by the Receiver operating characteristic curve. Results: The modified questionnaire was found to be easy to administer. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient was between 0.867 and 0.879 which implies a high degree on internal consistency. The intraclass correlation and the test retest reliability was found to be statistically significant with a p value < 0.001 which show that the questionnaire was highly reliable for repeat administration as well as administration by different investigators. The ROC Area was found to be 0.94 with a standard error of 0.02 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.88–0.99, which suggests that the score has great specificity, closer agreement between specificity and sensitivity and excellent precision. Conclusion: Our modified questionnaire was easy to administer, highly reliable and valid with high internal consistency. A score of 24 on the questionnaire was found to be the most sensitive and specific point to discriminate between the mild and severe droolers in children with cerebral palsy. U2 - 10.1016/j.ijporl.2018.06.029 DO - 10.1016/j.ijporl.2018.06.029 JO - International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology JF - International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology 10.1016/j.ijporl.2018.06.029	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1024
__label__wiki	0.934122	0.934122	Director Wants Thai Seafood Slavery Film to Act as Warning in Cambodia KUALA LUMPUR - The maker of a new film about a Cambodian boy enslaved on a Thai fishing trawler said on Tuesday he wants to use it to raise awareness and stop people from falling victim to traffickers. "Buoyancy" director Rodd Rathjen is planning a series of screenings in remote Cambodian villages of the film, which shines on the plight of thousands of migrant workers trapped in slavery in the Thai seafood industry. Shot in Cambodia in the Khmer and Thai languages, it follows the story of Chakra, a rural Cambodian boy who sets off to escape his family's poverty but later discovers he has been sold by a broker and trapped at sea. "It can hopefully educate them about what is at stake if they do decide to migrate to Thailand," said Rathjen by phone from Australia, where the film will be screened at the Melbourne International Film Festival on Friday. "Despite how desperate they were for work, it's obviously not worth losing their lives or being exposed to that level of trauma," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Thailand has come under scrutiny in recent years after investigations found labor abuses in its multibillion-dollar seafood sector, one of the world's largest. In response, authorities have introduced a raft of measures to crack down on labor abuses, including banning the use of underage workers and requiring that fishermen are given contracts. There are about 4.9 million migrants in Thailand, according to the United Nations. Most are from poorer neighboring countries, including Myanmar and Cambodia, and work in sectors such as seafood and domestic work. "Buoyancy" had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival in February, when it won a prize. "I think this movie is important because it portrays the real lives of Cambodians," said Sarm Heng, a 16-year-old Cambodian newcomer who played the lead role. "My reason for acting in this movie is to help children of the next generations... so that other boys and girls don't get tricked or trapped and have to suffer like Chakra did." (VOA) Published in Entertainment More in this category: « Stacey Dooley Panorama: BBC sorry for 'IS salute' line Strictly Come Dancing: Who is in the 2019 line-up? »	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1025
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__label__cc	0.743951	0.256049	The Spirit’s Quickening Posted on July 11, 2010 By Test All Things The following article by A.W. Pink was taken from his book “The Holy Spirit” chapter 11. We shall now confine ourselves to the initial operation of the Spirit within the elect of God. Different writers have employed the term “regeneration” with varying latitude: some restricting it unto a single act, others including the whole process by which one becomes a conscious child of God. This has hindered close accuracy of thought, and has introduced considerable confusion through the confounding of things which, though intimately related, are quite distinct. Not only has confusion of thought resulted from a loose use of terms, but serious divisions among professing saints have issued therefrom. We believe that much, if not all, of this would have been avoided had theologians discriminated more sharply and clearly between the principle of grace (spiritual life) which the Spirit first imparts unto the soul, and His consequent stirrings of that principle into exercise. In earlier years we did not ourselves perceive the distinction which is pointed by John 6:63 and I Peter 1:23: the former referring unto the initial act of the Spirit in “quickening” the spiritually-dead soul, the latter having in view the consequent “birth” of the same. While it is freely allowed that the origin of the “new creature” is shrouded in impenetrable mystery, yet of this we may be certain, that life precedes birth. There is a strict analogy between the natural birth and the spiritual: necessarily so, for God is the Author of them both, and He ordained that the former should adumbrate the latter. Birth is neither the cause nor the beginning of life itself: rather is it the manifestation of a life already existent: there had been a Divine “quickening” before the child could issue from the womb. In like manner, the Holy Spirit “quickens” the soul, or imparts spiritual life to it, before its possessor is “brought forth” (as James 1:18 is rightly rendered in the R.V,) and “born again” by the Word of God (I Peter 1:23). James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23, and parallel passages, refer not to the original communication of spiritual life to the soul, but rather to our being enabled to act from that life and induced to love and obey God by means of the Word of Truth; which presupposes a principle of grace already planted in the heart. In His work of illumination, conviction, conversion, and sanctification, the Spirit uses the Word as the means thereto, but in His initial work of “quickening” He employs no means, operating immediately or directly upon the soul. First there is a “new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17; Eph. 2:10), and then the “new creature” is stirred into exercise. Faith and all other graces are wrought in us by the Spirit through the instrumentality of Word, but not so with the principle of life and grace from which these graces proceed. In His work of “quickening,” by which we mean the impartation of spiritual life to the soul, the Spirit acts immediately from within, and not by applying something from without. Quickening is a direct operation of the Spirit without the use of any instrument: the Word is used by Him afterwards to call into exercise the life then communicated. Regeneration is a direct operation of the Holy Spirit upon the human spirit. It is the action of Spirit upon spirit, of a Divine Person upon a human person, whereby spiritual life is imparted. Nothing, therefore, of the nature of means or instruments can come between the Holy Spirit and the soul that is made alive. God did not employ an instrument or means when He infused physical life into the body of Adam. There were only two factors: the dust of the ground and the creative power of God which vivified that dust. The Divine omnipotence and dead matter were brought into direct contact, with nothing interposing. The dust was not a means or instrument by which God originated life. So in regeneration there are only two factors: the human soul destitute of spiritual life, and the Holy Spirit who quickens it. The word and truth of God, the most important of all the means of grace, is not a means of regeneration, as distinct from conviction, conversion and sanctification. This is evident when we remember that it is the office of a means or instrument, to excite or stimulate an already existing principle of life. Physical food is a means of physical growth, but it supposes physical vitality, if the body is dead, bread cannot be a means or instrument. Intellectual truth is a means of intellectual growth, but it supposes intellectual vitality. If the mind be idiotic, secular knowledge cannot be a means or instrument. Spiritual truth is a means of spiritual growth, in case there be spiritual vitality. But if the mind be dead to righteousness, spiritual truth cannot be a means or instrument. “The unenlightened understanding is unable to apprehend, and the unregenerate will is unable to believe. Vital force is lacking in these two principal factors. What is needed at this point is life and force itself. Consequently, the Author of spiritual life Himself must operate directly, without the use of means or instruments; and outright give spiritual life and power from the dead: that is, ex nihilo. The new life is not imparted because man perceives the truth, but he perceives the truth because the new life is imparted. A man is not regenerated because lie has first believed in Christ, but he believes in Christ because he has been regenerated.” (W. T. Shedd, Presbyterian, 1889) Under the guise of honoring the written word, many have (no doubt unwittingly) dishonored the Holy Spirit. The idea which seems to prevail in “orthodox” circles today is that all which is needed for the salvation of souls is to give out the Word in its purity, God being pledged to bless the same. How often we have heard it said, “The Word will do its own work.” Many suppose that the Scriptures are quite sufficient of themselves to communicate light to those in darkness and life to those who are dead in sins. But the record which we have of Christ’s life ought at once to correct such a view: who preached the Word as faithfully as He, yet how very few were saved during His three and a half years’ ministry! The parable of the Sower exposes the fallacy of the theory now so widely prevailing. The “seed” sown is the Word. It was scattered upon various kinds of ground, yet notwithstanding the purity and vitality of the seed, where the soil was unfavorable, no increase issued therefrom. Until the ground was made good, the seed yielded no increase, That seed might be watered by copious showers and warmed by a genial sum, but while the soil was bad there could be no harvest. The ground must be changed before it could be fertile. Nor is it the seed which changes the soil: what farmer would ever think of saying, The seed will change the soil! Make no mistake upon this point: the Holy Spirit must first quicken the dead soul into newness of life before the Word obtains any entrance. To say that life is communicated to the soul by the Spirit’s application of the Word, and then to affirm that it is the principle of life which gives efficacy to the Word, is but to reason in a circle. The Word cannot profit any soul spiritually until it be “mixed with faith” (Hebrews 4:2), and faith cannot be put forth unless it proceeds from a principle of life and grace; and therefore that principle of life is not produced by it. “We might as well suppose that the presenting of a picture to a man who is blind can enable him to see, as we can suppose that the presenting of the Word in an objective way is the instrument whereby God produces the internal principle by which we are enabled to embrace it” (Thos. Ridgley, Presbyterian, 1730 – quoted by us to show we are not here inculcating some new doctrine.) Yet notwithstanding what has been pointed out above, many are still likely to insist upon the quickening power which inheres in the Word itself, reminding us that its voice is that of the Almighty. This we freely and fully acknowledge, but do not all the unregenerate resist, and refuse to heed that Voice? How then, is that opposition to be removed? Take an illustration. Suppose the window of my room is darkened by an iron wall before it. The sun’s beams beat upon it, but still the wall remains. Were it of ice, it would melt away, but the nature of iron is to harden and not soften under the influence of heat. How, then, is the sun to enter any room? Only by removing that wall: a direct power must be put forth for its destruction. In like manner, the deadly enmity of the sinner must be removed by the immediate operation of the Spirit, communicating life, before the Word enters and affects him. “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single thy whole body shall he full of light. But if thine eve be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.” (Matt. 7:22-23) By the “eye” is not here meant the mind only, but the disposition of the heart (cf. Mark 7:22). Here Christ tells us in what man’s blindness consists, namely, the evil disposition of his heart, and that the only way to remove the darkness, and let in the light, is to change the heart, An “evil eye.” is not cured or its darkness removed merely by casting light upon it, any more than the rays of the sun communicate sight unto one whose visive faculty is dead. The eye must be cured, made “single,” and then it is capable of receiving the light. “It is said the Lord opened the heart of Lydia, that she attended onto the things that were spoken by Paul (Acts 16:14). It would be a contradiction, and very absurd, to say, that God’s Word spoken by Paul was that by which her heart was opened; for she knew not what he did speak, until her heart was opened to attend to his words and understand them. Her heart was first opened in order for his words to have any effect or give any light to her. And this must be done by an immediate operation of the Spirit of God on her heart. This was the regeneration now under consideration, by which her heart was renewed, and formed unto true discerning like the single eye.” (Sam. Hopkins, 1792). The soul, then, is quickened into newness of life by the direct and supernatural operation of the Spirit, without any medium or means whatever. It is not accomplished by the light of the Word, for it is His very imparting of life which fits the heart to receive the light. This initial work of the Spirit is absolutely indispensable in order to have spiritual illumination. It is depravity or corruption of heart which holds the mind in darkness, and it is in this that unregeneracy consists, it is just as absurd to speak of illumination being conveyed by the Word in order to have a change of heart, or the giving of a relish for spiritual things, as it would be to speak of giving the capacity to a man to taste the sweetness of honey while lie was devoid of a palate. No, men are not “quickened” by the Word, they must be quickened in order to receive and understand the Word. “And I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God” (Jer. 24:7): that statement would be quite meaningless if a saving knowledge of or experimental acquaintance with God were obtained through the Word previous to the “new heart” or spiritual life being given, and was the means of our being quickened. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Prov. 1:7); the “fear of the Lord” or Divine grace communicated to the heart (spiritual life imparted) alone lays the foundation for spiritual knowledge and activities. “For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth, even so the Son quickeneth whom He will” (John 5:21); “It is the Spirit that quickeneth: the flesh profiteth nothing” (John 6:63). All the Divine operations in the economy of salvation proceed from the Father, are through the Son, and are executed by the Spirit. Quickening is His initial work in the elect. It is that supernatural act by which He brings them out of the grave of spiritual death on to resurrection ground. By it He imparts a principle of grace and habit of holiness; it is the communication of the life of God to the soul. It is an act of creation (II Cor. 5:17). It is a Divine “workmanship” (Eph. 2:10). All of these terms describe an act of Omnipotency. The origination of life is utterly impossible to the creature. He can receive life; he can nourish life, he can use and exert it, but cannot create life. In this work the Spirit acts as sovereign. “The wind bloweth where it listeth (or “pleaseth”) …so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8) This does not mean that He acts capriciously, or without reason and motive, but that He is above any obligation to the creature, and is quite uninfluenced by us to what He does. The Spirit might justly have left every one of us in the hardness of our hearts to perish forever. In quickening one and not another, in bringing a few from death unto life and leaving the mass still dead in trespasses and sins, the Spirit has mercy “on whom He will have mercy.” He is absolutely free to work in whom He pleases, for none of the fallen sons of Adam have the slightest claim upon Him. The quickening of the spiritually dead into newness of life is therefore an act of amazing grace: it is an unsought and unmerited favor. The sinner, who is the chosen subject of this Divine operation and object of this inestimable blessing, is infinitely ill-deserving in himself, being thoroughly disposed to go on in wickedness till this change is wrought in him. He is rebellious, and will not hearken to the Divine command; be is obstinate and refuses to repent and embrace the gospel. However terrified he may be with the fears of threatened doom, however earnest may be his desire to escape misery and be happy forever, no matter how many prayers he may make and things he may do, he has not the least inclination to repent and submit to God. His heart is defiant, full of enmity against God, and daily does he add iniquity unto iniquity. For the Spirit to give a new heart unto such an one is indeed an act of amazing and sovereign grace. This quickening by the Spirit is instantaneous: it is a Divine act, and not a process; it is wrought at once, and not gradually. In a moment of time the soul passes from death unto life. The soul which before was dead toward God, is now alive to Him. The soul which was completely under the domination of sin, is now set free, though the sinful nature itself is not removed nor rendered inoperative, yet the heart is no longer en rapport (in sympathy) with it. The Spirit of God finds the heart wholly corrupt and desperately wicked, but by a miracle of grace He changes its bent, and this by implanting within it the imperishable seed of holiness. There is no medium between a carnal and a spiritual state: the one is what we were by nature, the other is what we become by grace, by the instantaneous and invincible operation of the Almighty Spirit. This initial work of quickening is entirely unperceived by us, for it lies outside the realm and the range of human consciousness. Those who are dead possess no perception, and though the work of bringing them on to resurrection ground is indeed a great and powerful one, in the very nature of the case its subjects can know nothing whatever about it until after it has been accomplished. When Adam was created, he was conscious of nothing but that lie now existed and was free to act: the Divine operation which was the cause of his existence was over and finished before he began to be conscious of anything. This initial operation of the Spirit by which the elect become new creatures can only be known by its effects and consequences. “The wind bloweth where it listeth,” that is first; then “thou hearest the sound thereof” (John 3:8) – it is now made known, in a variety of ways, to the conscience and understanding. Under this work of quickening we are entirely passive, by which is meant that there is no co-operation whatever between the will of the sinner and the act of the Holy Spirit. As we have said, this initial work of the Spirit is effected by free and sovereign grace, consisting of the infusion of a principle of spiritual life into the soul, by which all its faculties are supernaturally renovated. This being the case, the sinner must be entirely passive, like clay in the hands of a potter, for until Divine grace is exerted upon him be is utterly incapable of any spiritual acts, being dead in trespasses and sins. Lazarus co-operated not in his resurrection: he knew not that the Savior had come to his sepulchre to deliver him from death. Such is the case with each of God’s elect when the Spirit commences to deal with them. They must first be quickened into newness of life before they can have the slightest desire or motion of the will toward spiritual things; hence, for them to contribute the smallest iota unto their quickening is utterly impossible. The life which the Spirit imparts when He quickens is uniform in all its favored subjects. “As seed virtually contains in it all that afterwards proceeds from it, the blade, stalk, ear, and full corn in the ear, so the first principle of grace implanted in the heart seminally contains all the grace which afterwards appears in all the fruits, effects, acts, and exercises of it.” (John Gill) Each quickened person experiences the same radical change, by which the image of God is stamped upon the soul: “that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6), never anything less, and never anything more. Each quickened person is made a new creature in Christ, and possesses all the constituent parts of “the new man.” Later, some may be more lively and vigorous at their birth, as God gives stronger faith unto one than to another; yet there is no difference in their original: all partake of the same life. While there is great variety in our perception and understanding of the work of the Spirit within its, there is no difference in the initial work itself. While there is much difference in the carrying on of this work unto perfection in the growth of the “new creature” – some making speedy progress, others thriving slowly and bringing forth little fruit – yet the new creation itself is the same in all. Each alike enters the kingdom of God, becomes a vital member of Christ’s mystical body, is given a place in the living family of God. Later, one may appear more beautiful than another, by having the image of his heavenly Father more evidently imprinted upon him, yet not more truly so, There are degrees in sanctification, but none in vivification. There has never been but one kind of spiritual quickening in this world, being in its essential nature specifically the same in all. Let it be pointed out in conclusion that the Spirit’s quickening is only the beginning of God’s work of grace in the soul. This does not wholly renew the heart at once: no indeed, the inner man needs to be “renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). But from that small beginning, the work continues – God watering it “every moment” (Isa. 27:3) – and goes on to perfection; that is, till the heart is made perfectly clean and holy, which is not accomplished till death. God continues to work in His elect, “both to will and to do of His good pleasure,” they being as completely dependent upon the Spirit’s influence for every right exercise of the will after, as for the first. “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will finish it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6) ← Beware of The ESV The Perpetuity of The Church of Jesus Christ →	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1034
__label__cc	0.523912	0.476088	Valley Stream, New York provides its residents and visitors with a bridge between the hustle and bustle of Manhattan and the quiet splendor of Long Island. With a population of 37,511, Valley Stream is a nice getaway from the city while still having amenities close by. With these and other benefits to offer, Money Magazine thought Valley Stream ranked as the best place to live in New York in 2017. Valley Stream Homes for Sale Valley Stream in Recreation & Parks Valley Stream Weather Valley Stream Local Amenities For a village close to 40,000 people, Valley Stream is represented well by many elementary schools, three high schools, and one junior high. Four numbered elementary districts can be found in Valley Stream, including three with the village name in it. The other is Hewlett-Woodmere. Each district consists of three or four elementary schools. The Valley Stream Central High School District consists of Central, North, and South high schools and Valley Stream Memorial Junior High. If you live on the north end of the city, your children may attend Elmont Memorial High School. There will be plenty of chances to get a good education at all levels. Because the Parks and Recreation office is by one of the swimming pools, the Valley Stream workers are right on top of the job. There are many opportunities for relaxation and fun activities throughout the village. Arthur J. Hendrickson Park (123 W. Merrick Rd.) offers such activities as miniature golf and bocce ball courts, as well as a kiddie playground and a memorial to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. The pool, open during the summer months, offers a kiddie water park, an Olympic pool and a diving pool, among others. Fireman’s Field Memorial Sports Complex (120 Albermarle Ave.) has baseball, softball, and lacrosse fields as well as a children’s playground. Arlington Park (W. Merrick and Arlington) has the playground and a soccer field. Barrett Park (Jadwin St. and Cochran Place) gives opportunities for baseball, basketball, handball, and tennis. There is also a community center where yoga classes are offered as well as tae kwan do and arts and crafts. Valley Stream has warm and humid conditions through the summer, with the average high topping out at 83 degrees in July. The average temperature then slides to 39 on Jan. 30 before rising once again. If you think Valley Stream is snowy and cold, think again. The average snowfall is around 23 inches and rainfall is double that amount. This suggests a wetter climate with less snow, with the exception of the nor’easters that may go through. With numerous parks, swimming facilities and sports programs such as Valley Stream Little League, a running club and a swim team, there are plenty of chances to walk around and enjoy the village. There are opportunities to read books and watch movies at the Henry Waldinger Library or catch a concert at the Village Green. There are numerous areas in Valley Stream that are hot on the real estate market, with the Hungry Harbor and Golf intersection and South Valley Stream among the top neighborhoods in which to settle down. Salespeople, office workers and other office workers who either live in the city or commute to other areas tend to settle in Valley Stream. The majority of homes for sale in Valley Stream tend to be two-story properties in the $300,000 to $500,000 range, which is within buying range for a family of four with an annual income of $140,000.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1038
__label__cc	0.573448	0.426552	Posted on October 5, 2009 October 5, 2013 by The Barefoot Bookworm “Nationalism” (Essay) To define the controversial political ideology ‘Nationalism’, we must first define ‘Nation’. It is a community of people linked by race, religion, language, or geographical location. Nationalism is the ideology that such a community forms a separate sociopolitical group; nationalists seek to safeguard the interests of this particular group, as well as take precautions necessary to preserve what they see as its distinct identity. Nationalism as a phenomenon can be found in virtually every society in the modern world, but scholars suggest the roots of modern nationalism are European. It rose to prominence after the Napoleonic period. As the nation-states of Europe came into their own, it was necessary for their success to have a shared belief that could hold their people together. The 18th and 19th centuries were also a time of expansionist tactics and empire-building. While it certainly lent ferocity to their own nationalist sentiments, colonialism is regarded by some as the reason for the spread of the ideology to non-Western societies. A lack of non-Western classical texts on the subject written in the pre-colonial era is cited as evidence for this. I disagree, and in this essay I shall attempt to discuss the place of nationalism in the subcontinent, specifically Pakistan. Asian cultures, particularly those found in the subcontinent, are very strongly collectivist. The importance of the whole is stressed; the individual is important only because of the purpose he or she serves in the betterment of the whole. This concept is clearly seen in early Islamic texts and even the Quran itself: Muslims are a part of one nation, the umma that does not recognize any secular divide. The Quran states that God has divided people into distinct groups so that the identity of each may be preserved. This can be seen as laying part of the groundwork for the nationalist movements that led to the independence of the subcontinent and the simultaneous formation of Pakistan. European thinkers assumed the philosophy of nationalism would fade into incongruity in the 20th century, but the First World War proved them wrong; not only that, but the period also turned out be a golden age for nationalist movements in British India. It motivated the people like never before; it brought the nexus of Indian identity away from the throne and focused on the common people. In some ways, it created that identity; the subcontinent is a land history shows to have been invaded many times, an ancient melting pot of cultures spread by the sword. From the Aryans to the Mughals, all the rulers were of foreign descent. Yet, only the British faced stiff opposition. It cannot be doubted that nationalist movements played a significant part in the perception of people. The two-nation theory, the Aligarh movement are examples of the strong influences affecting people in the era. The effects did not die out when the ‘stimulus’ of British rule was removed. They can still be seen in policy-making and national aims. Pakistan has lost many soldiers and precious decades on the issue of Kashmir. It has served as a propaganda tool and a direct influence on government policies: trade with India, the political “other”, our perennial rival. Similar sentiments can be seen reflected in Indian policies and media, despite Mahatma Gandhi’s own views. Both countries have been in a prolonged stand-off with each other for generations now and have also fought wars. ‘National spirit’, as psychological support, has helped keep morale high during such times. That same national spirit is found not just in the political sphere of Pakistani life, but also in the social and personal. Patriotism is a considered a virtue. The media plays an active role in perpetuating this view, but an analysis of school textbooks also reveals just how strongly nationalist ideologies are inculcated in the average Pakistani. Events such as August 14 (Independence Day) and September 6 (Defense Day) are celebrated with fervor, even if the intensity of it varies. This in turn encourages civic values for the good of the nation: hard work, honesty, social awareness and the like. According to Lipson, nationalism is correlated with development in the arts and other hallmarks of culture. It also promotes unity, and provides motivation for the preservation of indigenous cultures. Even in the dry world of economics we can see markets derive benefits from nationalist measures that favor local merchants in various ways. Put together, it seems nationalism is a required element for the optimum functioning of human societies. But is nationalism really like such a positive element? Critics feel nationalism is a parasitic ideology that has outlived its usefulness. The very definition is uncertain, because it assumes the nation is a homogenous group of people. It ignores the diversity between populations and reduces people to a ‘checklist’ of characteristics. As a result, nationalism often provides cover for xenophobia and warmongering. Evidence for this is apparent in the political and military history of Pakistan. On the individual level, it has an even more insidious complication: a love for one’s country seems inevitably linked to a love of the military. It is no surprise that Pakistani has often been under military rule, and ideological opposition to this can be seen as slowly ebbing away. Secondly, even the concept of ‘national identity’ is tenuous. Some say it is a myth created by intellectual out of romantic, elitist inclinations. As a result, national identity is an explosive term: traditions such as honor killings are defended as part of our distinct culture. In this way nationalism may also pose a hurdle to the development of a progressive, tolerant society. The lack of nationalist ideology will not, however, guarantee the smooth transition such a Pakistani society. Religious fundamentalists are often against a secular nationalist approach, because the idea of a nation other than the umma is an anathema to fundamentalist thinking. As discussed earlier, the umma itself is symbol of nationalism. This means there must be multiple forms of this ideology. That may be one reason why it is such a controversial one, yet its adherents are from diverse backgrounds. In this case, a tolerant form of nationalism may be just as crucial to the prosperity of Pakistan as a retrogressive, intolerant form would be harmful. Nationalism is a social and political phenomenon that has long been predicted to end, but it is a reality here to stay—as the global and local situation heats up with dangers such as the spread of extremism and wars, a positive form of nationalism will most certainly rise to the challenge to combat these. It’s a matter of survival. N.B. This essay was later published in the magazine “Ideas Evolved”. “The Great Issues of Politics” by Leslie Lipson, 9th edition “Nationalism“: The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy Posted in Beaconhouse National University, Coursework, English Writing Skills, School of Media and Mass CommunicationTagged Politics, Published Previous Article “Aeschylus: Prometheus Bound and Other Plays” (Book Report) Next Article “Loneliness” « Feb Oct »	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1039
__label__cc	0.722835	0.277165	Andréa Novais Samory Santos Professional Shortage in Brazil This article will explain you how educational matters are affecting the Brazilian economy and what is the current administration doing to solve this problem. Recently, the Brazilian president Dilma Roussef announced the plan Brasil Maior, a protectionist program that aims to avoid the deindustrialization of the country. Among other measures, the program aims to decrease the import of foreign workforce. Brazil economic growth has been starting to get in conflict with the lack of qualified workforce in the country. Hiring an IT professional, for example, can take a long time and nothing gives you any guarantee that this professional will stay with you as Brazilians change jobs very easily, with not hesitation of leaving the current job for another one that provides a better salary or benefits. Lack of qualified workforce is not a new problem in Brazil. Back in 1942, the industry realized this need for qualified professionals and decided that they would train the students themselves. This is how SENAI - Portuguese for “National Service of Industrial Learning” – was created and has been training millions of professionals over the years. Private universities have been popping up everywhere and nowadays it is relatively easy to get a higher education degree and a lot cheaper than it was 10 years ago. The problem is that more than ever education has become a product and the quality of many of these universities is questionable. Another problem is that the curriculum is set by the federal government and every university has to meet its demands. As the curriculum focuses a lot on research, private universities have theirs hands tied as they are not able to develop courses that are focused on more practicable careers. Many states such as São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro also run technical schools and public universities that are known for its excellence and have had an import role in the consolidation of these states as those where you find qualified workforce. However, as social inequality among states is a characteristic of Brazil, some of the Northern and Northeastern states can hardily afford the cost of a state technical school or university and for that, rely on federal initiatives. The fact that states in the Southeast and South concentrate most of the public education institutions has also contributed for migration and for the significant increase of the population in these cities, besides intensifying competition. Having that in mind, the federal government has launched programs focused on education. Several technical schools have been created and access to university has been granted the poorest ones and this has also impulsed the rise of 20 million Brazilians from class D to C. As part of this effort to include people and keep up with the economic growth, three new federal programs were created: Pronatec, Science Without Borders and the National Engineering Plan. Pronatec – National Program of Access to Technical Learning and Employment - is a project launched earlier this year with the purpose of expanding technical education and job generation, specially in areas where these options were not so available, such as the North and Northeast. As a technical degree, it is mainly taken by students who are still pursuing a high school degree and it works as a benefit for both students and companies: students graduated from these technical schools will be better prepared for the market and, therefore, will be able of making enough money to afford a college tuition fee. The estimate is that by 2014, the program will create 200 new schools and generate 8 million opportunities for professional training. Science Without Borders Science Without Borders is a federal program that aims to promote the expansion and the internationalization of science and technology, as well as the Brazilian innovation and competitiveness through exchange and international mobility. The program is going to offer 75 thousand scholarships in four years to promote exchange, so that undergraduate and graduate students can make their internship abroad and get in touch with more competitive teaching methods. Besides investing in Brazilian students, it also aims to attract researchers who want to establish in Brazil or who want to work with Brazilians researchers. The program gives priority for certain fields, being among them: Engineering and other technological areas; Computer science and IT; Biotechnology; Petroleum, gas and mineral coal; Aerospace technology; Nanotechnology. Among the universities participating on the program are giants such as Harvard, Yale, Oxford, University of Tokyo and Ultrecht University. Besides the learning of an specific subject, the program also enforces the learning of a foreign language (mostly English). National Engineering Plan Engineering is a high status career in Brazil. Salaries are high and it is always associated with prestige and success. However, the demand for these professionals has been a problem in Brazil as there is a significant shortage of engineers. The main reasons are the prices of the tuition fee for this course and its level of difficulty. Students who come from public schools tend to suffer from an extreme deficiency in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry and this comes to the surface when these students take classes that require a basic knowledge in Mathematics, for example. The result is that out of 130 thousand students who start an Engineering course every year, only 35 thousand will graduate. Aware of the situation, the National Confederation of Industry created the National Engineering Plan. Still in its initial stage, the plan still does not have a guideline set. We do not know yet how the program is going to deal with this lack of engineers, but at least it demonstrates that the federal government is aware of the negative impact this shortage will have over the country's economic growth. The democratization of higher education in Brazil took a negative direction as it was mainly impulsed by economic matters. Both private and public universities struggle with a curriculum that no longer supplies the needs of the market. Such practice results in many professionals who, when compared to foreign professionals, for example, are not qualified despite having a bachelor's degree that takes 5 years to get. Another problem is that public higher education in Brazil tends to be better than the private one, specially regarding scientific research. As they are the universities with the better status, there is a fierce competition for places at these universities, a level of competition that sometimes reaches 110 applicants per place. The result is that those who come from private schools are more likely to be accepted at these universities and the poorest ones are left with no options as they can not afford a private university and, many times, can not achieve the very high grades that the government requires from those students who are granted with scholarships. From the socioeconomic point of view, the question is if these initiatives will really change anything in the lives of people from classes C, D and E or if they will just move on with the myth of public education in Brazil. Other Related Information Salaries in Brazil Social Classes in Brazil 7 Things to Consider Before Hiring in Brazil	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1040
__label__wiki	0.74981	0.74981	Tag Archives: Recruitment 75th Anniversary of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service By Laura Brown Seventy-five years ago today marks the creation of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS). Established on July 31, 1942, the WRCNS was the last of the three services to open its doors to women during the Second World War—the Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division (RCAF-WD) and the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC), having been created a year before. Those serving with the WRCNS were commonly called “Wrens,” the nickname used by their British counterparts, who were members of the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS). The women who joined the navy in Canada did so with the expectation that they would not serve on ships; rather, they carried out duties on shore so that more men could serve at sea. The need for women to staff positions on land became particularly important with the increased casualties that came with the Battle of the Atlantic. The first class of Wrens consisted of only 67 members, but by the end of the war, nearly 7,000 women had enlisted with the WRCNS. Wrens trained on “land ships” designated “Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship.” For example, HMCS CONESTOGA at Galt (now Cambridge), Ontario became the basic training centre for the WRCNS beginning in the fall of 1942. Other training locations included HMCS CORNWALLIS in Halifax, and HMCS ST. HYACINTHE in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, which hosted a communications school. Following training, recruits took on a variety of jobs, including work as cooks, mailroom workers, drivers, visual signalers, and plotters (locating and tracking the positions of vessels). Operations Plotting Room, Naval Service Headquarters, Ottawa, Ontario, December 1943. (MIKAN 3203640) A Royal Canadian Navy press release from August 1943 noted that while not all of the tasks carried out by Wrens were glamorous, they were crucial for the success of Canada’s naval operations in the war: “Some of their jobs are routine, but they are jobs that must be performed efficiently to make sure that Naval personnel is well fed or paid on time; that Navy families are taken care of; that ships are built and ready for combat as soon as possible; that the men are trained to fight on these ships and that the ships are there to meet the enemy.” Whether working in a kitchen or in a secret position, many Wrens found that their service brought new opportunities and new friendships. This sentiment was echoed by Commander Isabel MacNeill at the end of the war when the WRCNS basic training centre at Galt was closed: “Most of us came here as strangers. We leave with many happy associations which we shall remember all our lives.” A Wren at Signal Hill, St. John’s, Newfoundland [ca. 1942–1945]. (MIKAN 450992) Members of the WRCNS made important contributions to the war effort both in Canada and overseas. Approximately 1,000 Canadian women served with the WRCNS abroad during the war, of which half were posted to Newfoundland, a location that was considered an “overseas posting” as Newfoundland did not become part of Canada until 1949. Commander Adelaide Sinclair, Director of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service, July 1944. (MIKAN 3526940) Library and Archives Canada has a rich collection of documentation about the WRCNS, including the fonds of Adelaide Sinclair, the Director of the WRCNS from 1943 to 1946, whose service was recognized in 1945 through the award of the Order of the British Empire. Check out the links below to learn more about the incredible stories of Canada’s first members of the WRCNS. Second World War military personnel files (MIKAN 158523) Royal Canadian Navy Headquarters Central Registries (MIKAN 157647).This series in the Department of National Defence fonds contains includes a variety of documentation on the WRCNS, including information on recruitment and staffing. Dobson family fonds (MIKAN 106782). This fonds consists of documentation belonging to a family that was highly involved in the WRCNS during the Second World War. Edith Archibald Dobson was one of the first women to join the WRCNS in August 1942, and eventually became a Lieutenant-Commander. Her twin daughters, Joan and Anne, also joined the WRCNS in 1942 and served as wireless Isabel Janet MacNeill fonds (MIKAN 101945). A long-serving member of the WRCNS, Isabel MacNeill became the first woman to command a land ship in the British Commonwealth. Katherine A. Peacock fonds (MIKAN 101865). Katherine Peacock served with the WRCNS during the Second World War and later became a federal public servant. Colour photos of Canadian Second World War soldiers. Laura Brown is a Military Archivist in the Government Archives Division. Posted in Military Heritage \| Tagged Recruitment, Royal Canadian Navy, Second World War, Women and War, Women in the Military, Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service, WRCNS, Wrens \| 2 Replies Images of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps now on Flickr Posted on August 12, 2016 by Library and Archives Canada Blog During the Second World War, Canadian women were mobilized to serve in the armed forces. Approximately, 50,000 women enlisted and a majority of them served with the Canadian Army. A variety of tasks were assigned to the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC) formed in 1941. These women enrolled from a sense of patriotism or a desire to see the world, no different from their male counterparts of the time. However, they faced skepticism and harassment at home and abroad. Their perseverance coupled with wartime labour demands enabled women to work in numerous fields of work, such as mechanical and technical repairs, communications, drafting, or driving vehicles. The Canadian government and the Department of National Defence in 1943 started a recruitment drive and public relations campaign to support women contributing to the war effort. Over time their salaries increased, and public and military opinions began to change in favour of women serving in the armed forces. The thousands of women who served their country during wartime gained new skills and expertise, confidence, and a much improved respect and support from Canadians. The CWAC was an opportunity and milestone for those choosing to step away from traditional gender roles in Canada. Posted in Flickr, Military Heritage \| Tagged Canadian Army, Canadian Women’s Army Corps, CWAC, Recruitment, Second World War, Women and War, Women in the Military \| 2 Replies 75th Anniversary of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps On August 13, 1941, after many months of cross-country campaigning during the early days of the Second World War, women were given the opportunity to join the Canadian Army. Like the Royal Canadian Air Force, which created a women’s division a month earlier, the army recognized that women could be placed in non-combatant roles to release more men to fight overseas. At first the Canadian Women’s Army Corps (CWAC) was not a formal part of the military and operated instead as an auxiliary organization. However, on March 13, 1942 the CWAC was officially integrated into the Canadian Army. Uniforms and insignia, including badges displaying the figure of Athena were issued to army women or “CWACs” as they were commonly called. Second World War Recruiting Poster, “Shoulder to Shoulder – Canadian Women’s Army Corps – An Integral Part of the Canadian Army” ca. 1944 (MIKAN 2917721) While many Canadians were supportive of women in khaki, some were apprehensive and even fearful, viewing the acceptance of female soldiers into the military as a disturbing lapse of traditional gender roles in society. In 1943 the government launched an extensive advertising campaign in an effort to address such concerns and to encourage enlistment. Recruitment materials, such as the poster above and the film Proudest Girl in the World presented female recruits as professional, respectable, and feminine, as well as eligible for various types of work. Before commencing basic training at one of Canada’s regional training centres, recruits were given a test to determine the job for which they were best suited. In 1941 there were 30 different jobs or “trades” available and, by the end of the war, that number nearly doubled. Some positions open to CWACs were unconventional for women at the time (such as working as a mechanic) but the most numerous trades were those associated with traditionally female work, including cook, laundry worker, or typist. Personnel of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps at No. 3 CWAC (Basic) Training Centre, April 6, 1944 (MIKAN 3207287) During their war service, many CWACs hoped for a posting outside of Canada, though only a few thousand were successful in obtaining such positions. Among them was Molly Lamb Bobak, Canada’s first female war artist. In addition to her paintings and sketches created to document the contributions of the CWAC, Bobak produced an illustrated diary, which today is held at LAC and available in digitized format. Peppered with self-deprecating humour, this work provides a frank and funny view into army life. You can learn more about Bobak by consulting this blog post. Second Lieutenant Molly Lamb Bobak, Canadian Women’s Army Corps, London, England, July 12, 1945 (MIKAN 3191978) Out of the three branches of the military—army, air force and navy—the army saw the highest enlistment of Canadian women during the Second World War with a total of 21,624 recruits. The many documents related to the CWAC in LAC’s collection, some of which you can find below, help illustrate the important service of Canada’s first army women. Department of National Defence fonds, Canadian Military Headquarters, London Series. This series contains records about CWACs posted overseas and addresses topics such as training, accommodation, and publicity. Mary Bishop Rodrik Papers. Rodrik was the niece of First World War flying ace, Billy Bishop. Included in this series are documents related to Rodrik’s service in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps during the Second World War. View footage of CWAC activities, including ceremonies and training in Canadian Army Newsreels Find colour photos of Canadian Second World War soldiers. Laura Brown is a Military Archivist in the Government Archives Division at Library and Archives Canada. Posted in Military Heritage \| Tagged Canadian Army, Canadian Women’s Army Corps, CWAC, Recruitment, Second World War, Women and War, Women in the Military \| 2 Replies 75th Anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division Posted on July 4, 2016 by Library and Archives Canada Blog When Canada entered the Second World War on September 10, 1939, Canadian women were not permitted to enlist in the armed forces. As in the First World War, nursing was the only opportunity women had to help in the war effort. Looking for other ways to “do their bit,” many women turned to volunteer work, paid labour, or joined unofficial military organizations that permitted members to wear uniforms and practice drills. By 1941, mounting pressure from women wishing to join up, as well as an impending shortfall of male recruits, forced the Canadian government to examine the potential role that women could play in the military. At the same time, the expansion of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Canada resulted in a need to staff ground positions at its newly opened centres across the country. The authorities, therefore, decided that the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) should be the first service to begin accepting women. The Canadian Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (CWAAF) was formed on July 2, 1941, its name changing to the Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division (RCAF-WD) seven months later. By the summer of 1942, Canadian women were serving in all three branches of the armed forces – the air force, army, and navy. Second World War Royal Canadian Air Force Recruiting Poster, “Men, Women The RCAF Needs You Now!” [1943] (MIKAN 2999983) Despite their title of “airwomen,” the female members of the RCAF stayed on the ground during their war service. Women may have not been permitted to fly planes, but the messages in recruiting posters, newspapers and films, such as Jane Marsh’s National Film Board film, Wings on her Shoulder (1943), reinforced the idea that the roles women could play were every bit as important to the war effort. In fact, the jobs that women took on in the RCAF-WD, such as working as typists, cooks, and parachute packers, were essential, and recruits were reminded that every military support role taken by a woman would release a man to go and fight. The RCAF-WD promoted this idea with its motto, “We Serve that Men May Fly.” In total, 17,038 women donned the blue cap and uniform to serve in the RCAF-WD during the Second World War. Unidentified airwomen demonstrating parachute packing technique, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 1943 (MIKAN 3583064) Two women who took on unique roles within the Women’s Division were Willa Walker and Jean Davey. Walker joined the service in 1941, excelled in her training, and eventually achieved the rank of Wing Officer, the commanding officer of the RCAF-WD. Jean Flatt Davey also joined the RCAF in 1941 and became the first female member of its Medical Division. She later attained the role of Chief Medical Officer of the RCAF-WD. RCAF Women’s Division Personnel, undated. Jean Flatt Davey and Willa Walker are seen third and fourth from the left, respectively (MIKAN 4674254) You can learn more about these women by exploring the Willa Walker fonds and the Jean Flatt Davey fonds. In these collections, as well as in other private and government collections at Library and Archives Canada, you can find a range of documents related to the RCAF-WD. This documentary heritage is a reminder of the remarkable contributions made by Canada’s first airwomen during the Second World War. Department of National Defence fonds, Directorate of History and Heritage Photograph and Illustrations Sub-series Royal Canadian Air Force second central registry and file classification system. This series contains a range of RCAF-WD records, including those related to policies on marriage, publicity, and recruitment Find colour photos of Canadian Second World War soldiers Posted in Military Heritage \| Tagged RCAF, RCAF-WD, Recruitment, Second World War, Women and War, Women in the Military \| 6 Replies 1915: Would you follow this example? The recruiting posters below are part of a remarkable collection of more than 4,000 posters from many combatant nations, acquired under the guidance of Dominion Archivist Dr. Arthur Doughty as part of a larger effort to document the First World War. An English and French version of a poster using the same imagery, but with text conveying very different motivations. (MIKAN 3667198 and MIKAN 3635530) As the deadly stalemate on the Western Front continued through 1915, warring nations were forced to organize recruitment drives to raise new divisions of men for the fighting. The two battles referenced in the poster were certainly not great victories for the Canadian Expeditionary Force, which had only recently commenced military operations. The desperate defence at St. Julien, an action during the Second Battle of Ypres, along with the inconclusive May 1915 Battle of Festubert, were all that authorities had to draw upon to raise fresh troops for service overseas. The sentimental verse and patriotic imagery was conventional for this type of poster. It would appeal to Canadians with strong ties to Britain, but would offer little encouragement to French Canadians, First Nations’ communities, or to other groups to sign up. One interesting element is that the text is not a simple translation: in English the theme is heroic sacrifice, whereas in French it is about ending the carnage and restoring “progress.” These posters offer a realistic depiction of a soldier early on in the war. This lance-corporal is armed with the Ross rifle, whose serious defects have featured in Canadian histories of the First World War. He is wearing short ankle boots and puttees (long lengths of cloth wrapped around his calves), which were cheaper to manufacture than knee-length boots but offered less protection from cold or wet. Steel helmets had not yet been developed, leaving his head and upper body vulnerable to any flying debris or shrapnel. He is also burdened by the MacAdam shield-shovel (hanging at his hip). This invention was the result of a collaboration between Minister of Militia Sir Sam Hughes, and his secretary, Ena MacAdam. It attempted to combine a personal shield with a shovel. The shovel blade had a sight hole in it that was supposed to allow a soldier lying on the ground to aim and fire his rifle through the hole while shielded behind its protection. However, the shovel was too heavy and dirt would pour through the hole. Also, the shield was too thin to stop German bullets! Thankfully, this failed multi-tool quietly disappeared from the standard equipment issued before the First Division crossed from England to France. This poster is an important artifact of its time. It shows that in 1915, Canadians soldiers fighting overseas still had a very long road ahead of them. Sam Hughes holding the McAdam shield-shovel (MIKAN 3195178) War Records Survey Poster collection First World War posters Flickr album Battle of Second Ypres Posted in Military Heritage \| Tagged archives, Battle of St. Julien, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Dominion Archivist, Festubert, First World War, Military Uniforms, posters, Public Archives of Canada, Recruitment, Second Battle of Ypres, Sir Arthur Doughty, Sir Sam Hughes, War Posters \| 1 Reply	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1043
__label__cc	0.679609	0.320391	The Big Ten is No Longer “Big” College Basketball Sports by Cameron Peek January 17, 2017 January 17, 2017 0 Week after week there is talk about the No. 1 team in the nation (Villanova this week), the Big East, the ACC, and Grayson Allen. No one is talking about the Big Ten. There is a reason for that. Maryland leads the conference with a 4-1 record, ranked No. 25 in the country. The Terrapins might be 16-2 overall, but they haven’t played one ranked team this year. They also have yet to play Wisconsin, Purdue or Minnesota. One might remember that Maryland is relatively new to the Big Ten Conference along with Rutgers, who is 0-6 in conference play. Minnesota has recently dropped out of the top 25 ranking after losing to Michigan State this past week. Wisconsin is sitting at No. 17 and Purdue is ranked No. 21. Neither team holds the top spot in the conference. (Photo courtesy of impact89fm.org) The Big Ten simply is not the hard-hitting, nitty-gritty conference that it used to be. There is not a single team that dominates. Any team could lose on any given day, which sounds like March Madness. However, it isn’t the exhilarating type of March Madness where teams are upsetting high-ranked ball clubs. It is a lot of average teams beating and losing to mediocre teams, with respect to the rest of the nation. For a girl who grew up watching Drew Neitzel shoot threes consistently with both hands, and heard about Isiah Thomas and his two years at Indiana, it is obvious that the Big Ten isn’t what it used to be. All of the teams have at least one loss in conference play and teams are struggling to get wins on the road. The only true press that the Big Ten is receiving currently is from select standout players in the Midseason top 25 ranking for the Wooden Award this year. Those few are Melo Trimble (Maryland), Ethan Happ and Nigel Hayes (Wisconsin), and Caleb Swanigan (Purdue). Now this article is not to denounce the Big Ten but rather to breakdown the conference and its struggles this year. What happened to the hoosiers? Indiana is one of those teams that could make a great tournament run, but will the Hoosiers even make it to the tournament? The Hoosiers started off the season with a four-point victory over Kansas. Then the team proceeded to lay an egg at IPFW in its fourth game of the season. They also beat North Carolina, but lost to Butler. If their season continues at this pace, it will be the season that “missed it by that much.” Losing has been more of a theme this year than Tom Crean ever thought possible. The Hoosiers lost to Butler by five, Nebraska by four, Wisconsin by seven and Maryland by three. They are that close. Indiana is typically a team that gets by. The past two years they have made it to the tournament and last year they made it to the Sweet 16. They have scorers and they have a great coach. They just need to finish. Sparty on or Sparty off? The Spartans are sitting near the top of the conference despite losing key players Denzel Valentine, Bryn Forbes and Deyonta Davis to the draft last year. Freshman Miles Bridges (ncaabasketball.com) The freshmen are clicking at the perfect time. Miles Bridges is coming off an ankle injury that sidelined him for the end of the preseason and beginning of conference play. Nick Ward is contributing 6.5 rebounds per game and has been named Big Ten freshman of the week twice. Joshua Langford and Cassius Winston are maturing into great role players for the Spartans, which will be key in March. This might sound like a lot of positive conversation, but let’s not forget some key losses this season. The Spartans lost to Northeastern, Baylor, Duke, Penn State, Kentucky and Arizona. More recently, Michigan State got the job done against No. 24 ranked Minnesota, but lost to Ohio State on Sunday. This puts them at 4-2 in conference play with a tough week ahead. Wisconsin is now the consistent leader Wisconsin is just about the only team that has been consistently competing over the last few years. This year itself has not been stellar, yet the Badgers find themselves on a 16-game home winning streak. The Badgers are similar to West Virginia in the way that they have multiple players averaging good numbers and are balanced in their scoring. Sophomore Ethan Happ is a 6’10” forward pulling down 9.2 rebounds per game and shooting 62.3 percent from the field. Everyone else on the team is shooting good percentages, but nothing stellar for Division I basketball. They also only allow 60.2 points per game (ninth in the country). It is the Badgers’ defense that keeps them in games. The seniors also demand an intensity from each other and their standout sophomore Happ. Bronson Koenig, Nigel Hayes and Zak Showalter know what it means to get wins and make a run in the tournament. They made it to the Sweet 16 last year before losing to Notre Dame and the National Championship in 2015 (but lost to Duke). They are a good ball club, but to compare them to UCLA, Oregon, or Villanova is another story. The Boilermakers got a win over Wisconsin, but have losses to Iowa and Minnesota. Sophomore Caleb Swanigan is ranked first in the country in rebounds per game, pulling down 12.6 on average. This was key against Wisconsin when Swanigan had 18 points and 13 rebounds to secure the win. The let down is they turned around and took a five point loss to Iowa soon after, despite being ahead by nine at the half. Caleb Swanigan of Purdue (News-Sentential.com) This has been the trend for all of conference play thus far in the Big Ten. A team might come out and get a key win, but then come out flat the next game. There is no domination and as a fan, it’s been a tough year to watch so far. The Boilermakers do have a couple things going for them. They start mostly juniors with the exception of Swanigan. Next year they will be a year smarter and more experienced, which can’t hurt. Purdue also lost to Villanova by only three points at the beginning of the season. They have hope. Some people might chalk it up to rebuilding years. Others might say some coaches need to make an exit. As someone who has grown up respecting Thad Matta, Matt Painter, Tom Izzo and Tom Crean, I hope the latter is not the truth. The Big Ten will bounce back. For all my fellow Big Ten fans, there is hope and March isn’t here quite yet. The tournament will see fewer Big Ten teams this year, but no one can predict what they might do. You can ‘Like’ The Game Haus on Facebook and ‘Follow’ us on Twitter for more sports and eSports articles from other great TGH writers along with Cam! Big Ten ConferenceCaleb SwaniganDrew NeitzelIndiana HoosiersMarylandMatt PainterMelo TrimbleMichigan State SpartansPurdue BoilermakersTom IzzoWisconsin A Wild Ride: The Minnesota Wild Dota Pit Season 5 Event Preview Cameron Peek	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1045
__label__wiki	0.55483	0.55483	September 27, 2017 September 28, 2017 Alex Corvadt Alex Corvadt \| Science and Technology (Feature picture – The U.S. Navy’s “dazzler”, a non-lethal laser rifle used to stun incoming boat drivers) Turning fiction into reality In the age of cheap electronics, the U.S. military is struggling to adapt. Around the world, terrorist cells are taking advantage of the cheap availability of increasingly complex technology. In the war-zones across the Middle-East for example a $3 million dollar Patriot missile was used to shoot down a quad-copter that cost $300 on Amazon. These inexpensive drones are being used to drop grenades and incendiary bombs onto soldiers, whilst also performing aerial reconnaissance. The problem is that whilst America retains its edge in terms of technology on the battlefield, that may not matter when groups such as the Islamic State can achieve the same capabilities for relative pennies on the dollar. Lasers have long been the domain of science fiction. They will soon be a reality as the leading weapons manufacturers compete to create the first battlefield prototypes. Unlike in the movies, the laser beams will be invisible and silent. But their key appeal is that they provide a cheaper alternative to take down vehicles and targets at less than $1USD a shot. A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter prepares to depart Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, on Jan 7, 2012. U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht In what is claimed to be a world first, Raytheon tested a high-energy laser attached to an AH-64 Apache helicopter. The company claims that it’s the first time a “fully integrated” laser weapon system has been successfully tested from a helicopter “over a wide variety of flight regimes, altitudes and air speeds”. Lasers give the U.S. military more flexibility for engaging its targets. A U.S. defense inquiry found that lasers are an extremely viable weapon, especially due to their accuracy – they fire on in a straight line as opposed to conventional bullets which fall along an arc. A lasers greatest appeal is in their non-lethal nature. To take out a power generator for instance, or to knock out a militants escape vehicle, a laser is a far better option with limited collateral damage potential as opposed to a $115,000 Hellfire missile. The High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HEL MD) onto which ATHENA was mounted. Image: US ARMY We have shown that a powerful directed energy laser is now sufficiently light-weight, low volume and reliable enough to be deployed on tactical vehicles for defensive applications on land, at sea and in the air” Robert Afzal, Senior fellow for laser and Sensor systems, Lockheed The most powerful to date Lockheed Martin has finished developing a 60 Kilowatt (kW) laser system that will begin field testing with the U.S. Army. In their press release, the company claimed that they’d successfully achieved a 58kW laser blast, which was a world record in terms of strength for the beam. The company believes that lasers will be used on the battlefield to disable drones and incoming rockets by heating their internal components and causing them to fail. Deployed on the battlefield, a laser-armed vehicle could provide cover for troops from mortar, rocket and drone attacks. This is not the first such weapon unveiled by the company. The prototype laser system will replace its previous 30kW iteration known as ATHENA (pictured above). ATHENA was proven to be capable of disabling a truck from a mile away. America’s Next Sea Wolf: The Zumwalt is ‘too’ invisible SpaceX: The interplanetary Rocket System announcement and colonizing Mars The Afloat Forward Staging Base (Interim) USS Ponce (ASB(I) 15) (U.S. Navy photo by John F. Williams/Released) Land, air and sea The most successful branch of the military has been the U.S. Navy which has extensively tested laser weapons aboard its ship the USS Ponce. A 30kW laser has been mounted and tested on the ship, proving especially effective (as seen as in the video above) at taking out fast-attack boats and drones that may threaten the ship. As the technology continues to be developed, it is doubtless that it will become a mainstay on the battlefield. While it may be a ‘cheaper’ alternative to a missile or air-defense system, lasers are still considered dangerous thanks to their ability to permanently blind people. While current technology is promising, there are still issues with their weight, size and ability in inclement weather such as fog, dust and rain. Alex Corvadt Writer - The Global Quorum Previous Syria: US and Russian special forces fight a shadow war Next Catalonian Independence: Understanding why Post your thoughts Cancel reply	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1047
__label__wiki	0.968051	0.968051	The family Harry Dunn, mother Charlotte Charles, left, and father Tim Dunn, right, arrive with their partners at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, where they are meeting British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, Wednesday Oct. 9, 2019. 19-year old Harry Dunn was killed in a road accident Aug. 27, involving an American diplomat's wife who left the country under Diplomatic Immunity after reportedly becoming a suspect in the fatal crash. (Jonathan Brady/PA via AP) Late teen's family wants US diplomat's wife to lose immunity LONDON (AP) — The parents of British teenager who was killed in a traffic accident involving an American diplomat's wife are planning a trip to the United States as they lobby for the woman's legal immunity to be lifted. Harry Dunn was riding a motorcycle that collided with a car outside a British... FILE - In this Monday, April 29, 2019 file photo, Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg speaks during a news conference after the company's annual shareholders meeting at the Field Museum in Chicago. Boeing has taken the chairman title away from CEO Dennis Muilenburg as the aircraft maker continues to struggle with fallout from two deadly plane crashes, Friday, Oct. 11, 2019. (AP Photo/Jim Young, Pool, File) Boeing names new board chairman in setback to CEO CHICAGO (AP) — Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg has lost his title as chairman of the troubled aircraft manufacturer, nearly a year after the first of two crashes of its 737 Max that together killed 346 people. Boeing announced late Friday that company directors decided to separate the two jobs and... FILE - IN this Sept. 28, 2019, file photo, Errol Spence Jr., center, celebrates his victory over Shawn Porter during the WBC & IBF World Welterweight Championship boxing match in Los Angeles. Authorities say welterweight boxing champion Spence was seriously injured but is expected to survive after crashing his Ferrari in Dallas. Dallas police say the crash happened just before 3 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019, when Spence's Ferrari crossed the median into oncoming traffic and flipped over several times. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu, File) Boxer Errol Spence seriously injured in Dallas Ferrari crash DALLAS (AP) — Welterweight boxing champion Errol Spence crashed a speeding Ferrari in Dallas early Thursday and was badly injured but is expected to survive, police said. The crash happened just before 3 a.m., when Spence's Ferrari crossed a median into oncoming traffic and flipped over several... Trump says accidents happen in diplomat wife accident LONDON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump says he's planning to get involved in the case of an American diplomat's wife who left the U.K. after she was involved in a fatal wrong-way crash. Trump on Wednesday called what happened "a terrible accident" and said his administration would seek to speak... US fighter jet crashes in Germany, pilot ejects to safety BERLIN (AP) — The U.S. military says an F-16 fighter jet has crashed in western Germany. The pilot was able to eject to safety. Police said the plane came down in the Zemmer area, between the city of Trier and the U.S. Air Force's Spangdahlem Air Base. Base spokeswoman Angela Watson confirmed the... In this Monday, Oct. 7, 2019 photo s truck stands between damaged cars in Limburg, Germany. The truck drove into a line of eight cars in Limburg late Monday afternoon, pushing the vehicles into each other. Police said seven people were taken to hospitals and the driver also was slightly injured. He was detained. (Thorsten Wagner/dpa via AP) Syrian arrested over incident in Germany with stolen truck BERLIN (AP) — A Syrian man has been arrested after apparently commandeering a truck and driving into a line of cars in a western German town, leaving eight people slightly injured, prosecutors said Tuesday. Frankfurt prosecutors said they can't yet give any information on a possible motive for the... Medals are pictured on a coffin one of the four victims of last week's knife attack during a ceremony in the courtyard of the Paris police headquarters Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019 in Paris. France's presidency says the four victims of last week's knife attack at the Paris police headquarters will be posthumously given France's highest award, the Legion of Honor. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) Paris police knife attack victims given France's top award PARIS (AP) — France's interior minister on Tuesday posthumously bestowed France's highest award, the Legion of Honor, on the four victims of last week's knife attack at the Paris police headquarters. Christophe Castaner honored the victims during a morning ceremony at the site of the killings in... FILE - In this May 19, 1953, file photo, Dag Hammarskjold, recently appointed secretary general of the United Nations who is on a visit to Sweden, smokes his pipe at a news conference at the Foreign Office in Stockholm. In a report released Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, the head of the latest investigation into the mysterious 1961 plane crash that killed Hammarskjold says an external attack may have downed the aircraft and is urging the U.S., Britain, South Africa and Russia to provide more information. (AP Photo/File) UN: More needed from UK, US and others on Hammarskjold crash UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The head of the latest investigation into the 1961 plane crash that killed U.N. Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold is reiterating that an external attack may have downed the aircraft — and is urging the U.S., Britain, South Africa and Russia to provide more information to help... FILE - In this Wednesday, May 8, 2019 file photo, workers stand near a Boeing 737 MAX 8 jetliner being built for American Airlines prior to a test flight in Renton, Wash. The union representing Southwest Airlines pilots is suing Boeing and calling the grounded 737 Max unsafe. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association said on Monday, Oct. 7, 2019 it filed a lawsuit against Boeing that Boeing rushed the plane into service and misled pilots by saying it was little different than previous versions of the 737. The union says those claims turned out to be false. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File) Southwest pilots' union sues Boeing over grounding of plane DALLAS (AP) — The union representing Southwest Airlines pilots is suing Boeing, saying its pilots are losing money because the company rushed an unsafe plane into service only to have the 737 Max grounded after two deadly crashes. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association said in the lawsuit filed... FILE - In this March 11, 2019, file photo, rescuers work at the scene of an Ethiopian Airlines flight crash outside of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ethiopian Airlines’ former chief engineer Yonas Yeshanew, who is seeking asylum in the U.S., says in a whistleblower complaint filed with regulators that the carrier went into maintenance records on a Boeing 737 Max jet after it crashed this year, a breach he contends was part of a pattern of corruption that included routinely signing off on shoddy repairs. (AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene, File) Key points from Ethiopian Airlines whistleblower complaint Key takeaways from The Associated Press' exclusive story on a former top engineer at Ethiopian Airlines who filed a whistleblower complaint that the carrier went into maintenance records on a Boeing 737 Max jet a day after it crashed this year: — Yonas Yeshanew said in his complaint filed with...	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1048
__label__cc	0.537813	0.462187	Tag: birthday Monday’s Music Moves Me: March Birthdays (Part 1) Patrick, our guest conductor for this month, has given us an easy one this week: Musicians who celebrate a birthday in March. I found this list and started, and had to stop myself at 14 because I kept seeing musicians that I wanted to include. Finally, I said “save some for next week!” Since the playlist is a wee bit long, you might want to click this link and save it for later. Anyway, Happy Birthday to… Harry Belafonte, who celebrated his 92nd birthday on March 1. The song I chose for him is “Jamaica Farewell,” from his 1956 album Calypso. My aunts used to play this one all the time and it about drove me nuts… Larry Carlton, session guitarist extraordinaire who has done some amazing solo albums. He turned 71 on March 2. “Bubble Shuffle” is from his 1989 album On Solid Ground. Larry is known as “Mr. 335,” because his guitar of choice is generally a Gibson ES-335, though he’s playing a Les Paul Studio here. Karen Carpenter, one half of the Carpenters, who would have been 69 on March 2 had bulimia not shortened her life to just under 33 years. “Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft” is from their 1977 album Passage. In the words of one commenter, this song proves that Karen Carpenter could sing the phone book and get an emotional response. Arthel “Doc” Watson, who would be 96 on March 3 but who died in 2012. He is a legend in bluegrass, folk, country, blues and gospel guitar, blind since before his first birthday, who could also play the banjo, harmonica, and probably anything else you gave him. I heard Howlin’ Wolf’s version of “Sittin’ On Top Of The World” years ago, but Doc’s is amazing. British blues-rocker Chris Rea‘s celebrated his 68th birthday on March 4. He’s now doing more straight-ahead blues, but he recorded “On The Beach,” in 1986 for the album of the same name. He re-recorded it in 1988 and it reached #9 on the US Adult Contemporary chart. Great song no matter what. The late Andy Gibb‘s would have been 61 on March 5. Sadly, he died just after his 30th birthday in 1988 of natural causes brought on by years of drug and alcohol addiction. “I Just Want To Be Your Everything” was a #1 hit in the US and Canada in 1977. Wes Montgomery died of a heart attack in 1968 when he was just 45, but we celebrated his 96th birthday on March 6. “Bumpin’ On Sunset” is from his 1966 album Tequila, his last album for Verve Records, and features a string section conducted by Claus Ogerman. Wes’ unusual approach to the guitar was particularly conducive to playing octaves, which he does almost all the way through this piece. Micky Dolenz, drummer and sometimes front man for The Monkees as well as a former child actor who starred in the series Circus Boy, turned 74 on March 8. “Randy Scouse Git,” a 1967 composition by Micky that was released under the name “Alternate Title” in the UK because the original title was deemed to be taboo for British audiences (despite the fact that Micky heard it on a British TV show) nonetheless became a #2 hit there. It was also released on the US album Headquarters and is on a number of compilation albums. The late Peter Tork said it was one of his favorite Monkees songs. Mark Lindsay, former lead singer for Paul Revere and The Raiders, turned 77 on March 9. “Arizona” was his greatest solo hit from 1970. Shoulda stayed with The Raiders, Mark… He now lives in Maine. Moving up a little further into March, Jerry Reed would turn 82 on the 20th if he hadn’t died in 2008. A fantastic guitarist (he was honored as a Certified Guitar Player by his buddy Chet Atkins), singer, songwriter and all-around funny guy, Jerry starred in the Smokey and The Bandit movies and provided the music for them, including the song “East Bound and Down,” which reached #2 on the US and Canada country charts in 1977. The incredible Sister Rosetta Tharpe, singer and guitarist who was influential in blues, rock, and gospel, would be 104 the same day as Jerry. “Didn’t It Rain” was recorded live in 1964 in Manchester, England as part of The British Tours of “The American Folk Blues Festival”. I don’t know what the second song is, but it rocks pretty heavy, too. Christian rocker and fantastic guitarist Phil Keaggy turns 68 on March 23. “In The Light of the Common Day” is from his 1991 album Beyond Nature, a collection of instrumental guitar pieces. It’s a great album that I recommend highly. The lovely Chaka Khan, who started with Chicago’s The American Breed, which morphed into Rufus in the ’70’s, shares a birthday with Phil Keaggy. She’ll turn 66 this year. “I Feel For You” is the title track from her 1984 solo LP. A song written and originally done by Prince, it features Stevie Wonder’s harmonica and Grandmaster Melle Mel’s rapping. This song reignited her career, reaching #1 in the UK and on the R&B and Dance charts and #3 on the Hot 100 and was certified gold in the US and UK. Finally, a very, very happy 102nd birthday on Wednesday to Dame Vera Margaret Lynn, DBE, better known as just Vera Lynn, whose version of “The White Cliffs of Dover” was a huge hit with the troops during World War II. And that’s Monday’s Music Moves Me for March 18, 2019. Monday’s Music Moves Me is sponsored by X-Mas Dolly, Callie, Cathy, Alana, Michelle and Stacy, so be sure and visit them, where you can also find the Linky for the other participants. John Holton Monday's Music Moves Me 25 Comments March 18, 2019 March 12, 2019 4 Minutes The Friday 5×2: 3,235 Weeks My birthday is Sunday, so I’m going to play some of my favorite songs. I have a lot of favorite songs, so keeping it down to ten was a chore, and some of you who know me personally might be asking yourself “Why did he pick _____ instead of _____?” And the answer is, because it’s my birthday. Les Baxter, “The Poor People Of Paris” According to most of the sources I’ve read, this was #1 the day I was born. Bobby Vee, “The Night Has A Thousand Eyes” I just like this one. Featuring Bobby Vee this week reminded me. It’s good to sing along to. Three Dog Night, “Out In The Country” I’ve always liked the guitar in this one. Ryu Sakamoto, “Ue O Muite Arukou (Sukiyaki)” I understand why they called this one “Sukiyaki,” but it really detracts something from the meaning of the lyrics. So here it is, with the English translation of them. Dee Clark, “Raindrops” Chicago’s Dee Clark recorded this on Chicago’s Vee Jay records, but that’s not the reason I chose this. I’ve always liked the way the melody goes abruptly from major to minor at the end of the verse. The Ventures, “Walk, Don’t Run” It was a choice between this one and “Hawai’i Five-O” and this won. The Beatles, “Free As A Bird” The story goes that Yoko found a tape with a couple of songs John Lennon recorded and sent them on to the other three Beatles, who added their voices and instruments and turned this into the first new Beatles song since the group broke up in 1970. The first time I heard it, my heart jumped into my throat, and even now, it gives me the shivers. George Harrison, “When We Was Fab” George Harrison is the reason I started playing the guitar. The Quiet Beatle had a wicked sense of humor, as demonstrated here. Chicago, “Poem 58” Begins with an extended jam by Terry Kath, Jimi Hendrix’s favorite guitar player. Wish I had known that when I was in high school, where Jimi was worshipped and Terry was laughed at. Django Reinhardt, “Limehouse Blues” Django’s solo is incredible: he plays so fast, but you can hear every note, and it builds from single notes to octaves to full chords and dissonance. This was fun. I’ll have to do it again soon. That’s your Friday 5×2 for March 23, 2018. John Holton The Friday Five 16 Comments March 23, 2018 2 Minutes #1LinerWeds: It’s True… One-Liner Wednesday is brought to you each week by Linda Hill and this station. Now a word from Arby’s. I’m thinkin’ Arby’s! John Holton One-Liner Wednesday 24 Comments July 19, 2017 1 Minute Monday’s Music Moves Me: #1 Songs on My Brothers’ Birthdays Permit me to be sappy here for a minute: God blessed me with three wonderful brothers. Well, Mom had a lot to do with it, as did Dad and Tex, who was her second husband. Here are the #1 songs in the US and UK on the days they were born. I’m not going to tell you which year; figure it out if you want to know that badly. Jim (December 11): US: Elvis Presley, “Jailhouse Rock” You have to figure that Elvis would be in here somewhere. UK: Harry Belafonte, “Mary’s Boy Child” A Christmas song, which you might expect, it being two weeks before Christmas. Kip (November 13): US: The Kingston Trio, “Tom Dooley” The folk boom was in full swing when this one reached #1. UK: Tommy Edwards, “It’s All In The Game” Simply a beautiful song. Pat (September 9): US: Glen Campbell, “Rhinestone Cowboy” Haven’t heard much about Glen, who was in the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease the last I heard about a year ago. UK: Rod Stewart, “Sailing” Had to listen to this to make sure this wasn’t the Christopher Cross song of the same name. And just for good measure, on my birthday, March 25: US: Les Baxter & His Orchestra, “The Poor People of Paris” A delightful little tune from the days when delightful little tunes made it to the Hot 100. UK: The Dream Weavers, “It’s Almost Tomorrow” I had never heard this one. Another video of this song had Ed Sullivan saying that they were a group from the University of Florida. Special thanks to BirthdayJams for their help. That’s Monday’s Music Moves Me for June 5, 2017. Monday’s Music Moves Me is sponsored by X-Mas Dolly, Callie, Cathy, and Stacy, so be sure and visit them, where you can also find the Linky for the other participants. John Holton Monday's Music Moves Me 44 Comments June 5, 2017 June 1, 2017 2 Minutes Monday’s Music Moves Me: Happy Birthday! We’re tasked with finding artists who were born on May 8 and thus having a birthday. The Blogger’s Best Friend tells us these musical artists are having a birthday today, so… Happy 77th to Toni Tennille, born this day in 1940. Here’s “Do That To Me One More Time” from 1979. Happy 76th to John Fred, born this day in 1941. A one-hit wonder! Here’s John & His Playboy Band with “Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)” from 1968. Happy heavenly birthday to singer and TV actor Rick(y) Nelson, born this day in 1940. Here he is with “Hello Mary Lou,” from 1961, featuring the James Burton solo that made hundreds of kids want to play the guitar. Happy 73rd to Gary Glitter! Here’s “Rock & Roll (Part 2)” from 1972. And happy 66th to Philip Bailey, drummer with Earth wind & Fire, who had a huge hit with Phil Collins in 1984, “Easy Lover.” Finally, a happy heavenly birthday to the lovely Miyoshi Umeki, born this day in 1929. Here’s “Sayonara,” from 1953. And happy birthday to you, if today is your birthday. That’s Monday’s Music Moves Me for May 8, 2017. John Holton Monday's Music Moves Me 17 Comments May 8, 2017 May 5, 2017 1 Minute	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1049
__label__wiki	0.582075	0.582075	Tag Archives: Mario Casas 10/14/15 (Part One): The Sisterhood of the Flying Broom 31 Days of Halloween, 800 Bullets, Accion Mutante, Alex de la Iglesia, alternate title, armed robbery, auteur theory, battle of the sexes, Carmen Maura, Carolina Bang, El dia de la bestia, favorite films, feminism, Film auteurs, foreign films, Gabriel Delgado, Guillermo del Toro, horror movies, horror-comedies, Hugo Silva, Jaime Ordonez, Kiko de la Rica, Las Brujas de Zugarramurdi, love story, Macarena Gomez, Mario Casas, men vs women, misogyny, paganism, Peter Jackson, romance, Santiago Segura, Secun de la Rosa, small town life, Spanish film, special-effects extravaganza, Terele Pavez, The Day of the Beast, The Last Circus, witches, Witching and Bitching, writer-director, Zugarramurdi Occupying a common ground somewhere between cinema-fantastique auteur Guillermo del Toro and legendary surrealist Alejandro Jodorowsky, the films of Spanish writer-director Alex de la Iglesia are, without a doubt, one-of-a-kind treasures, little islands of individuality adrift in a cinematic sea of homogeneity. Since the early ’90s, de la Iglesia has used genre films like feature-length debut Accion mutante (1993) and El dia de la bestia (1995) to address everything from organized religion to societal responsibility, from the vagaries of the child adoption system to the horrors of the Spanish Civil War. Beginning with 2002’s 800 Bullets, de la Iglesia began to move further afield from the scrappy supernatural-themed films that began his career to focus on more “mature” films, albeit ones which still bore very little resemblance to anyone else’s. El crimen perfecto (2004), The Last Circus (2010) and As Luck Would Have It (2011) might have been more grounded in reality than de la Iglesia’s previous films (although The Last Circus is a pretty surreal cake, no matter how you slice it) but were no less quirky and ground-breaking. Since As Luck Would Have It was his most linear, “normal” film yet, I found myself wondering if the wild man of Spanish cinema had decided to walk the straight and narrow, so to speak. For his most recent film, however, de la Iglesia opted to go a little further back in his career: all the way back to the outrageous El dia de la bestia, as it turns out. Witching and Bitching (or the Witches of Eastwick-referencing original title, Las brujas de Zugarramurdi) (2013) combines action, slapstick, sly black humor and the supernatural in truly invigorating ways, offering up a treatise on the eternal battle of the sexes that manages to lob grenades at both sides while still finding plenty of room for romance, some sneaky asides about Spanish pop culture and some pretty awesome SFX setpieces, including a climatic battle with a massive, ancient goddess that would make Peter Jackson smile. In other words: that magnificent bastard de la Iglesia has done it again. De la Iglesia has always been masterful with his opening segments and Witching and Bitching continues this trend. After a nicely atmospheric intro featuring some good, old-fashioned witch action (think “bubble bubble toil and trouble/big black cauldron type stuff), we get jumped into a thoroughly dynamic credit sequence that manages to juxtapose images of famous female actors, politicians, historical figures and celebrities with those of witches, pagan symbols, fertility statues, arcane images and serial killers, as if to make the claim that pigeonholing women is just about as stupid and pointless an exercise as possible. De la Iglesia seems to be making the statement that women, like men, are a little bit of every archetype: that old cliché of “the Madonna or the whore” is just as worthless today as it was a hundred years ago. The film, proper, begins with Jose (Hugo Silva), his young son, Sergio (Gabriel Delgado) and accomplice, Antonio (Mario Casas), fleeing a badly botched jewelry store heist. They make off with a dufflebag filled with gold wedding rings but Tony’s girlfriend has taken off with their getaway car (in her defense, Antonio never bothered to let her know that he would be using her car for an armed robbery, so her reaction is kind of understandable), leaving them stranded as the cops begin to bear down. Springing into action, Jose carjacks a taxi, taking the driver, Manuel (Jaime Ordonez), and his passenger hostage. All that Jose wants to do is get to the French border and he sees Manuel’s taxi as his golden parachute. Meanwhile, Jose’s highly irate ex-wife, Silvia (Macarena Gomez), has heard about the botched robbery on the news and is rushing over to rescue her poor son and slap Jose upside the head so hard that it jogs his common-sense loose. Along for the ride are bickering cops Calvo (Pepon Nieto) and Pacheco (Secun de la Rosa), who are both convinced that Silvia somehow abetted her low-life ex-husband with the robbery. As luck would have it, all of these disparate characters converge on the titular town of Zugarramurdi, where they will find themselves in the midst of an ancient coven of witches, led by Graciana (Carmen Maura), her elderly mother, Maritxu (Terele Pavez), and daughter, Eva (Carolina Bang). The witches are seeking to resurrect a pagan goddess, in order to replace the reigning patriarchy with a matriarchy and right the countless wrongs that have been inflicted on women since the dawn of time. As love affairs pop up left and right, however, loyalties will be tested: when Eva experiences the first pangs of true love, she must make the impossible decision to either betray her family and her gender or her own heart. As with all of de la Iglesia’s films, there’s a lot going on in Witching and Bitching: at times, the film seems to move from one complex setpiece to another, with very little room in-between to catch one’s breath. This only ends up being an issue if the film’s setpieces are lacking which, fortunately, is not a problem that de la Iglesia ever seems to be saddled with. From the dynamic, thrilling and hilarious opening robbery (seeing SpongeBob Squarepants get all murdery with a shotgun is, to be frank, a sublime joy that my mind never knew it was missing) to the jaw-dropping special effects showcase that ends the film (I wasn’t lying about Peter Jackson approving: it’s one hell of an awesome sequence), there’s very little about the movie that isn’t captivating, visually stunning or flat-out hilarious. As a comedy, Witching and Bitching works on a variety of levels, from the silly and slapsticky (Eva serves “finger food” that consists of actual fingers; the various chase scenes remind of Scooby Doo cartoons, at times) to the more subtle and cutting (Eva’s family frequently reminds her that she should be out engaging in “fist-fucking, golden showers and zoophilia,” not falling in love with a wimpy man…they didn’t send her to “the worst schools” just to suffer this indignity!). In addition, there’s plenty of commentary on the “battle of the sexes” from both sides: neither men nor women escape the film’s withering glare unscathed. As a horror film, de la Iglesia’s movie is, likewise, a home-run – despite the near-constant comedy, he manages to sneak plenty of pure horror beats into the mix, as well. The town of Zugarramurdi is ridiculously atmospheric, coming across as nothing so much as the return of the fog-shrouded hamlets of Hammer Studios’ glory days. There’s a nicely tense bit involving a mysterious person reaching up through a toilet-bowl that’s nearly Hitchcockian in its sustained sense of suspense and the previously mentioned climax, featuring the massive, ancient and blind goddess (brilliantly depicted as a towering combination of the Venus of Willendorf and one of Jackson’s trolls from LOTR) is a real showstopper: they even manage to throw in a nifty mid-air “witches’ battle” to keep things lively. Despite the nearly constant spectacle, the cast of Witching and Bitching manages to hold their own against the onslaught. Hugo Silva is a charismatic hero and he’s ably paired up with Mario Casas to give the film a pair of sympathetic (to a point) protagonists. Jaime Ordonez is, likewise, pretty great as the kidnapped taxi driver: the scene where he decides to “join” the gang, only to be met with mass confusion by Jose and Antonio (“Does this mean you want a cut or something? How do we know we can trust you?”) is an easy highlight and Ordonez’s nervous, fidgety energy contrasts nicely with Silva’s more traditional heroism and Casas’ kind-of/sort-of nice-guy dumbass. On the female side of things, Carmen Maura, Carolina Bang and Terele Pavez pretty much steal the film from the rest of the cast: the bit where Pavez puts in razor-sharp steel teeth and Maura scuttles across the ceiling, like a fly, are undeniably badass, as is Bang’s ridiculously hot-headed Eva whenever she’s on-screen. More importantly, none of the witches ever come across as overly shrill or needlessly bumbling: unlike many genre films that purport to detail a (literal) battle of the sexes (Jake West’s Doghouse (2009) comes immediately to mind), there’s never the notion that de la Iglesia has unfairly stacked the deck against his female antagonists. In fact, one of the most interesting aspects of the film is the way in which the notion of feminism is handled. Early on, we get a pretty much never-ending stream of misogyny from the likes of Jose and Manuel: even nice-guy Tony joins in after he realizes that his girlfriend actually “holds the reins” in their relationship. This is qualified, of course, once we get to Zugarramurdi and get the other half of argument from the female participants. As Graciana makes plainly clear, men are really afraid of women because they realize that God is actually female and are too terrified to admit the truth: by bringing about the return of their goddess, the women hope to usher in a new, enlightened era, one where women are not subjugated, abused and ridiculed. In a way, neither gender makes it out of Witching and Bitching completely intact, although most of de la Iglesia’s sharpest rocks are reserved for the lunk-headed men in the film. Ultimately, de la Iglesia’s latest film is proof-positive of why I absolutely adore his movies: they’re big, brash, colorful, lively, funny and intelligent…pretty much any and everything that I possibly hope to find at the theater. While del Toro and Jackson might be better known, I’d argue that de la Iglesia is, without a doubt, the more accomplished, interesting filmmaker: he has a way of blending the fantastic and the mundane in some truly invigorating ways. While The Last Circus will probably always be my favorite de la Iglesia film (if there are flaws in that film, I haven’t found them), Witching and Bitching is an instant classic and should be required viewing for genre fans. Start with this one, start with The Last Circus or pick a random title out of a hat: whatever you do, make yourself familiar with the films of Alex de la Iglesia. If you love films as much as I do, I’m willing to guarantee that you might just find yourself with a new favorite director.	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1051
__label__wiki	0.951896	0.951896	Other Desert Cities: A Review Wednesday, Dec 21 2011 New York and theater thisgaudygildedstage 10:19 am The hottest ticket on Broadway right now is Other Desert Cities, a family/political drama by playwright Jon Robin Baitz, who my be best known for creating the television drama Brothers & Sisters. Like that show’s early days, Other Desert Cities explores big political issues by filtering them through a family’s internal rifts, recriminations, and love for one another. In this case, the play focuses primarily on the Wyeth family’s Christmas gathering in Palm Springs, California, where the elder Wyeths, Polly and Lyman, played by Stockard Channing and Stacy Keach, live. Polly and Lyman are Old Guard Republicans who remain active in a certain kind of Republican circle. Lyman was a former actor, much like Reagan, and was appointed an ambassador during his administration. Polly is friends with Nancy. Polly and Lyman have taken in Polly’s sister, Silda, played by Judith Light, who has had a drug problem. Now out of rehab with no place to go, she resents living with her sister in part due to their former success as a screenwriting partnership, which broke up with Polly’s turn to Republican conservatism. As Silda constantly reminds her, Polly is a Jew who plays the part of a transplanted-Texas WASP. Rounding out the family gathering are the Wyeth “children,” both of whom are adults. Rachel Griffiths plays Brooke, an emotionally delicate writer who suffered from a six-year emotional breakdown after the publication of her first novel but who now insists that she knows how to manage her depression. Trip Wyeth, played by Matthew Risch, who will soon be replaced by Justin Kirk, is a producer on a cheesy Judge Judy type of television show in which celebrities serve on a jury and decide cases. The plot centers around Brooke’s new book, a memoir detailing her perspective on the death of the Wyeth’s other, older son Henry, who had joined a cult that blew up an army recruiting station, killing a janitor. Guilt stricken by this turn of events, Henry apparently jumped overboard off a ferry and drowned himself 30 years ago. Brooke’s memoir dredges up the past, reopening all of the family’s old wounds. Here’s a clip of the play, a scene in which Brooke gives her parents copies of her book: Overall, this play was interesting and enjoyable, and the performances are great. Griffiths, Channing, Light, and Keach all deserve Tony nominations. But PJ and I were both confused by the plot’s details. I couldn’t keep straight the sequence of events — when did Henry kill himself, when did Lyman become an ambassador, and how old was everybody when each of these events happened. Presumably the former was in 1974(ish), since the play is set in 2004. But I kept getting confused in the dialogue; I needed more reminders of how everything was connected. I’m willing to assume that this is my fault for not keeping up, but it did affect my enjoyment of the play nevertheless. I liked it, but I wasn’t as wowed by it as others seem to be. It felt more like Sturm und Drang over actual substance. I’m sure it will win the Tony for Best New Play, however. The real excitement will be whether Griffiths or Channing will win Best Actress in a Play!	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1053
__label__wiki	0.838174	0.838174	The world’s first billion-dollar game Anna Morris November 23, 2016 Games No Comments Video games now dwarf the film business – and World of Warcraft is king of them all. At BlizzCon, William Leith meets the men who revolutionised online gaming I’m at the Anaheim Convention Centre, in Orange County, California, with 26,000 World of Warcraft fans. If you didn’t know, World of Warcraft is, by most measures, the biggest computer game on the planet. It is played by 11 million people worldwide. That’s the population of Greece. According to research, the average player spends around 20 hours a week playing it. That’s more than half the time you’re supposed to spend doing your job. And when you play World of Warcraft, you have to concentrate. I don’t suppose many people concentrate on their jobs for 20 hours a week. So World of Warcraft is a game. But you could compare it with the workforce of a whole country. In the world of video games, then, Warcraft is huge. And, in case you hadn’t noticed, in the world at large, video games are huge. The industry pulls in $60 billion (£37.5 billion) a year globally. Compare that with the music business, which takes $30-$40 billion, and the movie industry, which rakes in around $27 billion. But games are growing – fast. Just four years ago, video games made some $40 billion a year. In four years’ time, some analysts predict, that figure will be pushing towards $100 billion. It’s not outrageous to say that games are taking over the entertainment industry. Soon, they might be its mainstay. And this has happened right under our noses; lots of us haven’t been paying attention. Did you know the Super Mario Bros games have sold more than 200 million copies? Or that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 sold 4.7 million copies in its first day? Or that, collectively, World of Warcraft players have spent more than 50 billion hours playing this game? That’s nearly six million years! So who are these Warcraft people? And why is the game so insanely popular? The first thing to say about them is that they are incredibly polite and sweet. It’s hard to believe they are obsessed with a war game. But then, when you look under the surface, Warcraft is not exactly a war game. It’s a game about getting a job and helping people while your nation happens to be at war. It’s also set in a weird place, at a weird time; it reminds me of feudal England, if feudal England were full of aliens and weird sci-fi monsters. You might say it’s like a hardcore, computer-age version of The Lord of the Rings. So I’m sitting here, with these 26,000 fans – or, more properly, game players or geeks – waiting to hear a major announcement about World of Warcraft. Most of the geeks are men. Some have interesting facial hair and creative tattoos. More people than you’d think are dressed as characters from the game. Some look like animals, or monsters, or medieval wenches. Some of the women have dressed up to look sexy. This, by the way, is BlizzCon, an annual event dedicated to aficionados of Blizzard Entertainment, the company behind Warcraft. Right now, everybody is waiting for Mr Warcraft to appear – the president of the company, Mike Morhaime. The lights go down. The auditorium fills with rumbling noise and operatic music. Giant screens all around us flash with light and pictures. A voice, filled with foreboding, intones: “Let the carnage begin!” The screen pulses with clips. It’s an instant history of 20 years of Blizzard games. It might almost be a history of the entire industry. First, figures darting around. Then they dart around brandishing weapons, hitting each other. As the years go by, the figures become more lifelike, and then more gruesome and fantastical, until we get to World of Warcraft itself; now the screens are filled with hideous monsters, to a soundtrack of diabolical laughter; they might be creatures from deep inside your worst nightmares. Armoured beings with crustacean limbs, prehistoric birds, crows, massed armies of hellish furies. And other creatures – a beautiful humanoid woman with the figure of a model; a rather fetching horned devil. Bats. There is screeching. A voice says: “You must rally the Horde and lead your people to their destiny!” Then Mike Morhaime walks on stage. He is a slight man in middle age with short, grey hair and a stubble beard. He has the air of being very shy. The crowd cheers respectfully. To gamers, Morhaime falls somewhere between Steve Jobs and Steven Spielberg, whom he slightly resembles. He wears jeans and trainers and a short-sleeved World of Warcraft shirt. He has a special Blizzard ring, which employees get after 15 years’ service at the company. Outside the gaming world, nobody knows much about Morhaime, or about Frank Pearce, who was there at the beginning with him. Mike is a geek; Frank is a super-geek. They grew up loving games when not many other people did – Mike in California, Frank in Michigan. They studied computer science at UCLA. They pushed the world of gaming through all its stages – car racing, puzzle, player versus player, and now what’s known as MMORPG, massively multiplayer online role-playing games. Mike is the shy one. Frank is the very shy one. “It is so cool,” Morhaime says, “to be here with the most dedicated gamers in the world. There are people here from every state, and 48 other countries.” While he’s saying this, I do a quick calculation. To subscribe to World of Warcraft in North America costs $15 a month. Minimum 2.5 million subscribers there, this means that Blizzard must generate… close to $450 million a year, just on this one game, just in North America. Of course, they have two other major products – Starcraft II, a science fiction epic, and Diablo, a Gothic world, where the monsters are nastier. “It’s safe to say we’ve come a long way,” says Morhaime, “since our first game, RPM Racing.” And now something big is about to happen in the Warcraft world. Morhaime introduces another guy. This is Chris Metzen – to give him his full title, he is Blizzard’s senior vice-president, story and franchise development. You can sense the excitement. Metzen is due to unveil something major – what’s known as a new “expansion’”. In other words, a whole new gaming zone is about to open in the World of Warcraft. Azeroth, the land depicted in the game, with its forests and plains, its deserts and mountains, its 12 playable races of creatures, its cities and oceans, its entire cultures where you can lose yourself – Azeroth, the virtual land that has become a magnet for millions of people, is about to get bigger. Metzen is going to tell us about the discovery of a new continent. Volts of excitement pass through the 26,000 geeks; Metzen is, in effect, their Christopher Columbus. He strides along, clenching his fist. He’s a man in his thirties, with a busy T-shirt and a sculpted beard. “I am geeked out of my mind right now!” he says. He tells us he will unveil the new land. The crowd rumbles. “Today we will celebrate as one! Today you will be honoured as one! The land that you’re about to adventure through… is a place that is lost to time. A place of balance and harmony and beauty and hope. Behold what the future has in store for you all!” The lights go down. The screens light up. Music fills the room. It is oriental in tone. On the screen, we see mountains, and trees, and mist, and villages – it’s an oriental landscape. Filled with pandas. It’s called Pandaria. This is the new continent. Pandas! They are peaceful and wise. They are chubby and attractive. They look a bit like the panda in the film Kung Fu Panda. And now the crowds break up. They are moving, in their thousands, to the other side of this giant convention centre. They are moving towards an area where there are long desks, with hundreds of screens lined up on the desks, waiting for them. They are going to play World of Warcraft. Within minutes, they will be immersed in Pandaria. Later, I catch up with Mike Morhaime. But not before I see what’s on offer at BlizzCon. To the outsider, it’s an enormous hangar, filled with acres of desks, with computers on the desks, and geeks sitting at the computers, playing the games they normally play at home. It looks like the trading floor of the biggest bank in the world. Along the side of this enormous space are endless things that would appeal to a Warcraft player; galleries of artwork, artists giving masterclasses in how to draw Warcraft characters, someone giving you a demonstration of how to make the processor in your computer work faster, using liquid nitrogen. There’s a costume contest. There is merchandise for sale, of every kind you can imagine, including Warcraft playing cards and blankets. But mostly, this is a place where people sit at computers and play the game they love. For these people, it’s almost a job. Morhaime is still wearing his oversized shirt. We sit down. The thing is, I say, that he’s one of the most influential people in the world of computer games. He’s helped to create a game that people have wanted to play for billions of man-hours. Somehow, he’s found the sweet spot in the human brain. What’s his story? “Oh,” he says, “I wasn’t expecting that. My story? OK. I grew up in Southern California. I’ve lived here all my life. I got my first games console in sixth grade [Year 7]. The Bally Professional Arcade Game Console. I loved it. I could get this thing to do stuff.” Morhaime says he kept detailed records. “I tracked everything. The high scores. Every time somebody beat a high score. I had a notebook. There was no persistent storage on this device.” He sits there, coiled. He sees the world through a digital viewfinder. “As I got older,” he says, “I became fascinated with how computers worked. How everything evolved. And so I decided to go into electrical engineering… Things were moving so fast. I was just so fascinated.” He looks down at the table, and then upwards, across the room. “I’ve just always been interested in the capabilities of different devices,” he says. “And getting them to talk to other devices. All the inputs and outputs on them, you know.” I nod. He sits still in his chair. This is the guy who, along with his friends Allen Adham and Frank Pearce, started a gaming company called Silicon & Synapse in 1991. At first, they wrote code for other people’s games, and then began to create their own, starting with RPM Racing, a driving game (RPM stands for Radical Psycho Machines). Then they invented The Lost Vikings, in which three Vikings had to solve puzzles. The friends had a tiny office. They kept hiring people. They weren’t very good with money. They would sit at their desks, in their own world, and when the phone went, someone would pick it up and yell, “What?” in an aggressive manner. Over time, the games became more and more complex. They created Warcraft, in which humans battled orcs. And then they worked out a way of storing the game on many servers, so lots of people could play at the same time. World of Warcraft was born. Now the company is based in Irvine, half an hour down the road. They have their own campus, like a college. Why is World of Warcraft so appealing? Morhaime thinks for a second. “Well, it’s basically boy scouts, right? It’s a boy scout achievement system.” The Irvine campus is lovely. You go through the front gate, and find yourself in a clipped courtyard, surrounded by ultra-modern white buildings. There are neat lawns, a volleyball court, a gym, hiking trails and a library. Outside the main building is a huge statue of a monster riding a wild boar – characters from World of Warcraft. At the boar’s feet is a plaque, with the words “Embrace your inner geek”. On the wall inside is a map of the world, lit up to display where people are currently playing World of Warcraft. There is dense light across Western Europe and the east and west coasts of America. You can spot Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. There’s a strip of light running across Russia. China is bright. You can see the border between North and South Korea. It’s bright in the South. But nobody plays World of Warcraft in the land of Kim Jong Il. “We encourage everyone here to geek out,” says Bob Colyaco, my guide. He walks me around. The place is full of toys – figurines and soft toys and statues and swords and shields, all based on Blizzard games. People sit working at desks that overflow with toys. Colyaco shows me the global network operational centre, or GNOC. It’s like those rooms you see in films about the moon landings – people at desks, surrounded by screens with maps and data on them. Every server, worldwide, must be able to relay information to and from a gamer’s computer in a couple of milliseconds. If not, the game wouldn’t work. You’re not allowed to go inside the GNOC. Frank Pearce’s office is upstairs. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a room containing more statuettes and figurines; there are shelves and shelves of them, representing the population of Azeroth. There are night elves and blood elves and dwarves and orcs. There are trolls, tauren, undead and gnomes. Soon, I suppose, there will be pandas. These are creatures you can be in World of Warcraft. And then, when you become one of these creatures, what you do is this: you get a job. You learn how to do that job. You might be a blacksmith or a herbalist. Over time, you get better and more productive. It’s engrossing. Some say it’s addictive. What it is, really, is work. Pearce apologises for the mess, even though the office is not messy. It’s just full of toys. “Whenever we release a licensed product, even if I’m not comped a copy, I normally buy it for myself,” he says. We sit down. He has the reputation of being geeky, but a fiend for detail. I ask him to describe himself – what sort of mind does he have? “Left brain,” he says. “Mike,” he goes on, “is better at relationships and interacting with people than I am.” Pearce says he thinks he’s “evolved a bit” over the years. How? “Well, I used to have attention to detail,” he says. I think I can see what he means. He means that he’s one of these people who could sit there, staring straight ahead, and see, in his mind’s eye, every bit of a digital algorithm, all the instructions in the right order. But now he’s lightened up a bit. He tells me that, when it comes to gadgets, sometimes he’s an early adopter, sometimes not. “I don’t have an iPhone,” he says. “I still carry my BlackBerry.” He tells me about World of Warcraft taking off. “We felt if we achieved one million subscribers worldwide, that it would be a huge success for us. But we didn’t know whether or not we would achieve a million. And when we launched, we had 400,000 in North America in the first month.” I’m wondering how that must have felt, the sheer, unalloyed joy. “We had to deploy more hardware to support additional players,” says Pearce. Back at the convention, I sit down at a computer and enter Pandaria. Pretty soon, I can make my panda run and jump and strike things with his paw. I can run up and down hills, into and out of buildings, and interact with other pandas. Soon, I will have to decide what type of panda I’m going to be. What work will I do? Then I’ll have to serve my apprenticeship. I can see why this game, and lots of games like it, are so immensely popular. As studies have suggested, they keep you busy. They keep your mind engaged. They represent a version of the world that is more honest and simple than our own, where hard work brings reasonable rewards, and people know you by your deeds. This is what the brain loves the most – doing productive work, and reaping reasonable rewards. It’s the world as it might have been without modern banking, without the consumer society and all the anxieties that go with it. Moving my panda around, feeling happy, I suddenly see the sort of world that this, and other games, depict – a world without computers. Rising Popularity of Mobile Gaming A Fantastic Journey: Final Fantasy 15 is Here The Top 5 Winning Apps for iPad 5 Xbox One Secrets Uncovered: Become an Expert in Minutes Anna Morris	cc/2020-05/en_head_0055.json.gz/line1058

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